cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessing Discrimination of Nicotine in Humans Via Cigarette Smoking.

INTRODUCTION Nicotine's interoceptive stimulus effects likely help explain smoking's reinforcing efficacy, but human studies have been limited by difficulties controlling dosing via tobacco inhalation. Our objective was to describe a procedure to study nicotine discrimination via smoking. METHODS Dependent smokers abstinent overnight (>12 hours) were first "trained" to discriminate between two cigarettes differing in nicotine content, based on four puffs of exposure, and then tested on whether they successfully acquired that discrimination. After piloting with Quest brand commercial cigarettes, 29 subjects engaged in the main study with cigarettes available through NIDA (Spectrum; 16mg vs. 0.4mg nicotine content). Discrimination training first involved two trials, one with each cigarette, prior to six testing trials. Due to results with the first 20 subjects, the remaining nine received two training trials with each cigarette (four total). Subjective perceptions were also assessed during each testing trial, and puff choice between the two cigarettes available concurrently was assessed after testing, on the last two trials. RESULTS All five pilot subjects successfully discriminated Quest 1 versus Quest 3 (defined by at least five out of six trials correct, ie, >80%). Yet, only 10 of 20 subjects (50%) were able to discriminate the two Spectrum cigarettes based on two training trials. After changing to four training trials, eight of nine subjects were able to discriminate (89%). Subjective perceptions and puff choice differed between cigarettes more in those able versus unable to discriminate them. CONCLUSIONS With sufficient training exposures, smokers can discriminate nicotine between cigarettes differing in nicotine contents. IMPLICATIONS The interoceptive stimulus effects of nicotine are critical to understanding reinforcement from cigarette smoking behavior. Because of the very recent availability of Spectrum research cigarettes from NIDA, with specific known amounts of nicotine content, the study of nicotine discrimination in humans via cigarette smoking may now be feasible. Our results demonstrate that, with sufficient training, smokers can behaviorally discriminate nicotine from four puffs' exposure between cigarettes differing in nicotine contents. Future research should evaluate human discrimination of nicotine from greater amounts of cigarette smoke exposure, as well as in response to other procedural variations.
The Numbers of Ants in Ant Colonies

The number of ants in an ant hill is a question of perennial interest. Forel's estimate of a maximum of half a million to a hill was not supported by Yung's actual enumerations (1900) which showed that of five hills of Formica rufa only one approximated one hundred thousand ants, the other four being well below that number. These lower figures were substantiated by the subsequent maximum enumerations of 2500 for a colony of Camponotus pennsylvanicus by Pricer (1908), of 8239 for one of Formica exsectoides by Andrews (1929), and of 12,358 for a nest of Pogonomyrmex barbatus by Wildermuth and Davis (1931). These and other like results led Bodenheimer (1937) to conclude that the populations of ant colonies vary, depending upon species and stages of development, from a few dozens to about a hundred thousand. This general statement has been supported by the counts of Pickles (1935, 1936) whose work was apparently unknown to Bodenheimer. Cory and Haviland (1938), however, subsequently described a nest of Formica exsectoides which they estimated to contain 238,510 ants (probably subject to a slight reduction according to Forbes (1938). This number more than doubles Bodenheimer's maximum limit but even it falls well below Forel's half million. In most of these contributions comment is made on the paucity of information of any kind in the literature on the size of populations in ant colonies. The following account contains an estimate of the number of immature individuals in an active nest of the dusky ant, Formica fusca Linn., that had been raided by the slavemaking species Formica sanguinea Latr. I am indebted to Dr. Falconer Smith for the identification of these species and to Professor C. T. Brues for references to the literature.
The Developing Concepts and Developing Thoughts of Strengthening the County Economy—Inquisition of A Few Issues into the County Economy Development in the Under-developed Areas

To develop county economy in the underdeveloped areas is the basic project of wholly establishing a welltodo society to accelerate the early realization of modernization in our country. The underdeveloped areas will have to set the correct developing concepts and sort out the train of developing thoughts.
Update on second trimester medical abortion.

Purpose of review To review recent literature on second trimester abortion with medical methods. Recent findings Across studies published in the recent past, it is apparent that women prefer shorter procedures and procedure times. Several randomized controlled trials have confirmed adding mifepristone to the second trimester medication abortion regimen results in shorter abortion intervals from first misoprostol administration to complete fetal expulsion. A study of simultaneous administration of mifepristone and misoprostol yielded shorter mean 'total' abortion times, presenting several logistical advantages. Recent studies on the continuous dosing of misoprostol have produced critical evidence to support continued dosing until expulsion. These studies had a more practical design compared with previous protocols that capped the number of misoprostol doses. Summary Second trimester surgical abortion is well tolerated and increasingly expeditious. Further research is needed to refine second trimester medical abortion methods, specific to the mifepristone, misoprostol dosing interval. A 12-hour mifepristone to misoprostol interval may be the optimal interval balancing patient preferences and logistical considerations. Pragmatic dosing, including continuous dosing of misoprostol, could yield results that better inform clinical guidelines and reduce burden on patient, provider, and health facility.
Sub 2-μm macroporous silica particles derivatized for enhanced lectin affinity enrichment of glycoproteins.

A new, mechanically stable silica microparticle with macrosized internal pores (1.6 μm particles with 100 nm pores) has been developed for chromatography. The particles are characterized by an exte...
Otvečat: Otvetit'—A Point in Russian Aspectology

(1953). Otvecat: Otvetit'—A Point in Russian Aspectology. WORD: Vol. 9, Slavic Word No. 2, pp. 377-380.
Benefit-Risk Summary of Crizotinib for the Treatment of Patients With ROS1 Alteration-Positive, Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

On March 11, 2016, after an expedited 5-month review, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded the crizotinib metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) indication to include the treatment of patients whose tumors harbor a ROS1 rearrangement. The approval was based on a clinically meaningful, durable objective response rate (ORR) in a multicenter, single-arm clinical trial (ROS1 cohort of Trial PROFILE 1001) in patients with ROS1-positive mNSCLC. The trial enrolled 50 patients (age range: 25–77 years) whose tumors were prospectively determined to have a ROS1 gene rearrangement by break-apart fluorescence in situ hybridization (96%) or reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (4%) clinical trial assays. Crizotinib demonstrated an ORR of 66% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 51%–79%) with a median duration of response of 18.3 months by independent radiology review and 72% (95% CI: 58%–84%) by investigator review. Patients received crizotinib 250 mg twice daily and had a median duration of exposure of 34.4 months. The toxicity profile in ROS1-positive patients was generally consistent with the randomized safety data in the U.S. Product Insert from two ALK-positive mNSCLC trials. The most common (≥25%) adverse reactions and laboratory test abnormalities included vision disorders, elevation of alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase levels, nausea, hypophosphatemia, diarrhea, edema, vomiting, constipation, neutropenia, and fatigue. There were no treatment-related deaths. A favorable benefit-to-risk evaluation led to the traditional approval of crizotinib for this new supplemental indication.
Antibodies to the RNA-binding protein hnRNP A1 contribute to neurodegeneration in a model of central nervous system autoimmune inflammatory disease

Neurodegeneration is believed to be the primary cause of permanent, long-term disability in patients with multiple sclerosis. The cause of neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis appears to be multifactorial. One mechanism that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis is the targeting of neuronal and axonal antigens by autoantibodies. Multiple sclerosis patients develop antibodies to the RNA-binding protein, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNP A1), which is enriched in neurons. We hypothesized that anti-hnRNP A1 antibodies would contribute to neurodegeneration in an animal model of multiple sclerosis. Following induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) by direct immunization with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, mice were injected with anti-hnRNP A1 or control antibodies. Animals were examined clinically, and the central nervous system (CNS) tissues were tested for neurodegeneration with Fluoro-Jade C, a marker of degenerating neural elements. Injection of anti-hnRNP A1 antibodies in mice with EAE worsened clinical disease, altered the clinical disease phenotype, and caused neurodegeneration preferentially in the ventral spinocerebellar tract and deep white matter of the cerebellum in the CNS. Neurodegeneration in mice injected with hnRNP A1-M9 antibodies compared to control groups was consistent with “dying back” axonal degeneration. These data suggest that antibodies to the RNA-binding protein hnRNP A1 contribute to neurodegeneration in immune-mediated disease of the CNS.
A new species of the ant genus Bothriomyrmex Emery, 1869 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Caribbean region

Bothriomyrmex enigmaticus sp. nov. is described from the island of Hispanola based on one nest collection. This is the first collection of the genus Bothriomyrmex (Emery, 1869) from the Caribbean region, and the second species to be described from the Americas. While sharing several characters with B. paradoxus (Dubovikoff & Longino, 2004) from Costa Rica and Honduras, B. enigmaticus sp. nov. diverges in several key characters, including palp formula. However, a morphometric comparison to Palearctic species of the tribe Bothriomyrmecini suggests affinities to B. paradoxus , Chronoxenus wroughtoni (Forel, 1895) of the eastern Palearctic, and to a lesser extent an undescribed species of Arnoldius (Dubovikoff, 2005) from Australia and B. corsicus (Santschi,1923) of the western Palearctic.
The Use of Disposable Pollination Units in Almond Orchards

SummarySingle Nonpareil almond trees, each with one-third of its limbs grafted to the compatible variety Milow, were caged with either a disposable pollination unit (DPU) or a colony of honeybees. For each variety, fruit set as a percentage of total flower production on selected limbs was not significantly lower with DPUs than with colonies. Also, more fruit was set on Nonpareil by DPU bees, which foraged almost exclusively for nectar, than by colony bees, nearly half of which foraged for pollen. The data suggest that DPUs may be useful as a means to obtain controlled foraging in pollination research.
Periodic limb movements of sleep: empirical and theoretical evidence supporting objective at-home monitoring

Introduction Periodic limb movements of sleep (PLMS) may increase cardiovascular and cerebrovascular morbidity. However, most people with PLMS are either asymptomatic or have nonspecific symptoms. Therefore, predicting elevated PLMS in the absence of restless legs syndrome remains an important clinical challenge.
Can Carbon Nanotubes Extend the Lifetime of On-Chip Electrical Interconnections?

Current carrying capacity of copper interconnects is being severely limited due to their increasing resistivity with scaling and reliability constraints. Metallic carbon nanotubes (CNT) are promising candidates that can potentially address the challenges faced by copper and thereby extend the lifetime of on-chip electrical interconnects. This paper provides an overview of the state-of-the-art of CNT interconnect research and discusses both advantages and challenges of this emerging nanotechnology.
Management of digital mucous cysts: a systematic review and treatment algorithm.

Digital mucous cysts (DMC) are benign, highly recurrent lesions of the digits. To date, there is still no treatment agreement on the treatment of DMC. Herein, we review available data on treatment modalities, including both surgical and nonsurgical techniques, and to provide a practical algorithm for the management of DMC. A systematic review was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases. Articles studying the management of DMC were included in this review. A total of 40 articles were included in the review. The five most frequently used treatments for DMC were surgery (n = 849), expression of cyst content (n = 132), sclerotherapy (n = 119), corticosteroid injection (n = 108), and cryotherapy (n = 103). Surgery yielded the highest cure rate among all treatment modalities (95%) compared to sclerotherapy (77%), cryotherapy (72%), corticosteroid injection (61%), and expression of cyst content (39%) (P < 0.001). Surgery should be considered as the first-line treatment for DMC. Second-line treatments include sclerotherapy and cryotherapy. Third-line treatments include corticosteroid injections, expression of cyst content, and less-studied modalities. Surgery showed the highest cure rates. Future adequately designed randomized controlled trials are warranted to compare different treatment modalities.
Soft materials: A remedy for thinning hair

Vast beds of 'hair' coat many living systems, and usually exhibit shear-thinning behaviour — their flow resistance lessens with speed. But with geometric tweaks, such beds can also show shear-thickening and asymmetric ratchet-like behaviour.
It’s Salsa Time! A Team Activity

This article provides information on a team-building activity in which student teams make salsa. I usually use this exercise on the day that I form teams to provide an opportunity for teams to work...
Differences between incarcerated and non-incarcerated patients who die in community hospitals highlight the need for palliative care services for seriously ill prisoners in correctional facilities and in community hospitals: A cross-sectional study.

Background:Incarcerated populations worldwide are aging dramatically; in the United States, prisoner mortality rates have reached an all-time high. Little is known about the incarcerated patients w...
Effective elastic–plastic response of two-phase composite materials of aligned spheroids under uniaxial loading

Abstract In this study the incremental elastic–plastic double-inclusion model previously developed for two-phase particulate composites of spherical particles is extended to two-phase particulate composites of aligned spheroidal particles. The study is limited to the effective elastic–plastic response under uniaxial loading of composites consisting of purely elastic particles and elastic–plastic matrix of the von Mises yield criterion with isotropic strain hardening. The incremental elastic–plastic double-inclusion model is formulated through the use of the matrix tangent moduli, and evaluated by comparison of the model predictions with the exact results of the direct approach using representative volume elements containing many particles, and with available experimental results. It is shown that the incremental elastic–plastic double-inclusion formulation gives good prediction of the effective elastic–plastic response of two-phase composites of aligned spheroidal particles under uniaxial loading at moderate particle volume fractions. A unique feature of the present study is that during elastic–plastic deformation the composite matrix is treated as a two-phase material consisting of both an elastic and a plastic region.
Obesity and reproduction: a study to determine how effectively medical education enhances awareness of the reproductive risks related to obesity.

OBJECTIVE To explore awareness of the reproductive versus the medical risks of obesity in a medical and non-medical college educated population. METHODS An exploratory prospective research design was used. A 26-question online survey was developed and offered to a sample of medical students/residents (n=325) and non-medical college students (n=102). The data were analyzed using Graph Pad software. RESULTS 102 non-medical undergraduate students (28% male and 72% female) and 325 resident physicians and medical students (46% male, 47% female, 7% unspecified) responded. Both groups reported higher awareness of the general risks of obesity as compared to the reproductive risks. As expected, lay students reported less awareness of female reproductive issues as compared to the medical group (all p-values <0.01). Over 90% of respondents would be motivated to lose weight before pregnancy if they knew of these risks, with more than half planning to have children in the future. CONCLUSION This exploratory study found that despite having at least a college education, the populations studied had relatively low levels of awareness of obesity-related reproductive risks. The medical population had much more knowledge about the other health risks of obesity. The survey provided initial data that might be used to consider knowledge gaps and strategies for engaging and educating medical trainees and the public about the reproductive risks of obesity.
Intent Based Relevance Estimation from Click Logs

Estimating the relevance of documents based on the user feedback is an essential component of search, retrieval and ranking problems. User click modeling in search has focused primarily on factoring out the position bias. It is easy to see that the query type (generic queries vs specific queries) and user intent (purchase vs exploration) also introduce a bias in the click signal. In other words, the results not matching with the user intent will not be clicked. In this paper, we outline a technique to model the interplay of query, user intent and position bias with respect to the relevance of the retrieved search results. In particular, we define two intents namely purchase and explore, and estimate the relevance of the documents with respect to these two intents. We also relate them to the relevance estimates from considering only the position bias. We empirically demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach by comparing its performance against the well-known CoEC measure and the recently proposed factor model approach for relevance estimation.
Clockless Spintronic Logic: A Robust and Ultra-Low Power Computing Paradigm

Asynchronous logic offers the advantages of no clock tree, robust circuit operation, avoidance of worst-case timing margins, and a reduced emission spectrum. Thus, computational paradigms are sought to attain advantages of clockless logic by leveraging the complementary characteristics of emerging devices and CMOS transistors within novel circuit designs. This paper introduces Spin Torque Enabled NULL Convention Logic (STENCL), which exploits the physical characteristics of non-volatile Domain-Wall (DW) and memristive devices to realize the Quasi-Delay-Insensitive (QDI) NULL Convention Logic (NCL) asynchronous design methodology. First, a formal algorithm is developed to transform NCL-based threshold m-of-n gate realizations to STENCL, in order to generate the corresponding input memristance and NULL module memristance required for nominal currents achieving DW device biasing. Second, hysteresis and set/reset conditions are realized by determining the corresponding current fluctuations required to move the DW within each threshold logic gate to realize all 27 foundational NCL gate structures, which are then simulated to assess energy and delay metrics. Third, a case study of a four-stage pipelined 32-bit IEEE single-precision floating point co-processor implemented as a dual-rail STENCL architecture is compared to a conventional CMOS-based NCL design implemented by an IBM SOI1250 45nm CMOS process. Fourth, a sensitivity analysis is performed to assess the impact of write accuracy and drift on memristor and DW device operation. Results indicate that STENCL-based designs achieve between 2-fold to 20-fold reduction in energy consumption with up to 8-fold reduction in area, over an equivalent CMOS-based NCL design for 32-bit full adders. Comparisons for various four-stage pipelined 32-bit IEEE single-precision floating-point co-processors and ISCAS benchmarks further substantiate those benefits for operation within acceptable tolerances at identical process technology nodes.
Mini-Review: Stemflow as a Resource Limitation to Near-Stem Soils.

Stemflow, the main precipitation and solute supply to soils near tree stems, can play a wide array of roles in ecosystem functioning. However, stemflow’s ecohydrological functions have been primarily studied in forests with voluminous stemflow because resource subsidy is currently considered stemflow’s only impact on near-stem soils. This common assumption ignores controls that stemflow generation may exert via resource limitation (when stemflow < open rainfall). We reviewed selected literature across numerous forests to evaluate the predominance of stemflow as a resource limitation to near-stem soils and characterized the concentrated, but meager, solute flux from low stemflow generators. Global observations of stemflow were highly skewed (skewness = 4.6) and leptokurtic (kurtosis = 28.8), where 69% of observations were ≤2% of rainfall. Stemflow ≤2% of rainfall is 10-100 times more chemically enriched than open rainfall, yet low volumes result in negligible solute fluxes (under 1 g m-2 y-1). Reduced stemflow may be the global and regional norm, creating persistently dry near-stem soils that receive infrequent, salty, and paltry precipitation flux. Ignoring stemflow because it results in scarcity likely limits our understanding of ecosystem functioning as resource limitations alter the fate of soil nutrients, energy flows, and spatial patterning of biogeochemical processes.
The 15 kDa selenoprotein (Sep15): functional studies and a role in cancer etiology

The 15 kDa selenoprotein (Sep15) is one of several recently identified selenoproteins. It contains a single selenocysteine residue in the middle of a 162-amino acid open reading frame and has no detectable homology to known proteins. The human Sep15 gene spans 51 kb, has 5 exons and is located on chromosome 1 at position p31. The gene contains two single nucleotide polymorphisms in the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) including one in the SECIS element, that are distributed differently between Caucasians and African Americans. Sep15 localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum where it is tightly bound to UDP-glucose:glycoprotein glucosyltransferase, a protein involved in the quality control of protein folding. Sep15 may be involved in the chemopreventive effect of dietary selenium. This hypothesis is based on its differential expression in normal and malignant tissues, the distribution and functional consequences of natural polymorphisms within its gene, and the location of the Sep15 gene in a region that is often altered in a variety of cancers.
Uncertainty: Risk in real estate

This chapter discusses the usage of non-normal probability distributions to examine and perhaps explain real estate returns. This requires demanding mathematics, but with today's modern computing power the challenge is manageable. Such distributions permit a more robust view of the variation investors face. The chapter provides a theoretical foundation for non-symmetrical distributions based on owner involvement in the operation of the investment. The positive influence the owner exerts, on an average, appears to locate more probability mass on the right. Furthermore, the chapter discusses the real estate. With the advent of plentiful data for real estate, these financial models are not being carelessly borrowed just because they are in place and work elsewhere. Both real estate and stock involve different risks.
Compact Series Power Combining Using Subquarter-Wavelength Baluns in Silicon Germanium at 120 GHz

This paper presents an explicit analysis of the bandwidth and port imbalance of a subquarter-wavelength transmission-line (t-line) transformer and verifies this with the design of a two-stage D-band power amplifier (PA). Series power combining techniques incorporate both stacked heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) and power combining using an 8-way sub-quarter-wavelength t-line transformer above 100 GHz. The extremely compact power combining methodology leads to a small die area of 0.62 mm2 and a record 254-mW/mm2 output power per unit die area. The PA has been fabricated in a 90-nm silicon germanium BiCMOS technology and produces more than 21-dBm output power over the frequency range of 114–130 GHz with a peak output power of $160~{\mathrm{mW}}\approx 22~{\mathrm{ dBm}}$ at 120 GHz and a 3-dB small-signal bandwidth of 35 GHz. This output power is 32% higher than the highest prior art, while the chip area is 77% smaller.
Caged Proline in Photoinitiated Organocatalysis.

Organocatalysis is an emerging field, in which small metal-free organic structures catalyze a diversity of reactions with a remarkable stereoselectivity. The ability to selectively switch on such p...
House Dust Mite-Induced Allergic Lung Inflammation Is Not Exacerbated in Sickle Cell Disease Mice.

Aim Asthma appears to be a common comorbid condition in children with sickle cell disease (SCD), and such individuals may be at a higher risk for increased morbidity and mortality. However, several reports have indicated that asthma severity is not particularly high in those with SCD, and airway hyperreactivity and wheeze may be independently associated with SCD. In SCD mice, exacerbated allergic airway disease (AAD) has been observed in response to the model antigen ovalbumin (OVA). We sought to determine if allergic lung inflammation is also exacerbated in SCD mice when they are exposed to the human allergen, house dust mite (HDM). Methods and results Eosinophil counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were determined by cytocentrifugation and increased in both wild-type (WT) and SCD mice after acute exposure to a high dose (25 µg) of HDM, which then decreased in chronically exposed mice. WT mice exposed to a low dose of HDM (1 µg) followed the same pattern of eosinophil flux, but SCD mice did not induce much eosinophilia after acute exposure to HDM. As was observed in previous studies, lung lesions similarly increased in severity in both WT and SCD mice after acute exposure to HDM, which remained elevated after chronic exposure. Furthermore, serum HDM-specific IgE titers similarly increased and selected serum cytokines were similar in both WT and SCD mice. Conclusion These results contrast with previous reports of exacerbated AAD in SCD mice exposed to OVA and support the alternative hypothesis that asthmatic responses are normal in those with SCD.
Ultrasonic debridement management of lower extremity wounds: retrospective analysis of clinical outcomes and cost

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess wound healing outcomes following direct, low-frequency, high-intensity, ultrasonic debridement as a surgical adjunct for non-healing lower extremity w...
Enantiospecific Total Synthesis of l-2‘,3‘-Dideoxyisonucleosides via Regioselective Opening of Optically Active C2-Symmetric 1,4-Pentadiene Bis-epoxide1

A new method for the synthesis of l-2‘,3‘-dideoxyisonucleosides is described. The readily available, optically active C2-symmetric bis-epoxide (2S,4S)-1,2:4,5-diepoxypentane (5) was prepared by a short route from readily available starting materials. The key step of the new synthesis is the opening of 5 with nucleophiles, which proceeds highly regioselectively; e.g., reaction with sodium sulfide affords a 5:1 mixture of the tetrahydrothiophenediol 9a and the tetrahydrothiopyrandiol 14, and reaction with sodium hydroxide gives exclusively the tetrahydrofurandiol 9b via a preferred 5-exo cyclization. These five-membered diols 9a,b can be converted in only four steps into the modified dideoxyuridine and adenosine isonucleosides 4a−c, one of which (4c) has shown good antiviral activity. In addition, we have examined the opening of the analogous six-carbon bis-epoxide, (2S,5S)-1,2:5,6-diepoxyhexane (23), which affords a 3:1 mixture of the hexahydrothiepinediol 24 and the tetrahydrothiopyrandiol 25 with sodium ...
Laser Safety Standards: Historical Development and Rationale

As early as 1965, there had already been several attempts to develop some initial EL’s, and these were generally two or three values: One for q-switched ruby laser irradiation, and one for non-q-switched ruby laser irradiation. It became clear quickly that one or only a few EL values are not feasible to control hazards to health from laser radiation [1]. Radiometric factors, such as: wavelength, exposure duration, and laser pulse characteristics, and biological factors related to the target biological structure/organ (e.g., the retinal image size), influence the limits. Hence, the sliding scales of values as a function of exposure duration and wavelength are more akin to a collection of a large number of limits for different chemical agents, than a few values for a single substance. It became clear by 1971, after the first decade of laser use, that detailed hazard evaluation of each laser environment was too complex for most users, and a scheme of hazard classification evolved. Today, most countries follow a scheme of four major hazard classifications as defined in Document WS 825 of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The classifications and the associated accessible emission limits (AEL’s) were based upon the EL’s. The EL and AEL values today are in surprisingly good agreement worldwide. There exists a greater range of safety requirements for the user for each class of laser.
An Explication of Visual Enactment in Advanced Style: Fashioning a Challenge to the Ideology of Old Age

In this essay, we use the outfits of Advanced Style and their challenge to the ideology of old age to theorize the rhetorical strategy of visual enactment. We propose that visual enactment involves...
TREND: a platform for exploring protein function in prokaryotes based on phylogenetic, domain architecture and gene neighborhood analyses.

Key steps in a computational study of protein function involve analysis of (i) relationships between homologous proteins, (ii) protein domain architecture and (iii) gene neighborhoods the corresponding proteins are encoded in. Each of these steps requires a separate computational task and sets of tools. Currently in order to relate protein features and gene neighborhoods information to phylogeny, researchers need to prepare all the necessary data and combine them by hand, which is time-consuming and error-prone. Here, we present a new platform, TREND (tree-based exploration of neighborhoods and domains), which can perform all the necessary steps in automated fashion and put the derived information into phylogenomic context, thus making evolutionary based protein function analysis more efficient. A rich set of adjustable components allows a user to run the computational steps specific to his task. TREND is freely available at http://trend.zhulinlab.org.
Maple syrup urine disease: biochemical, clinical and therapeutic considerations

Abstract Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is an autosomal-recessive disorder caused by a deficiency of the branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex (BCKDC). Patients with MSUD show variable degrees of enzyme deficiency leading to several distinct phenotypes. Classic MSUD patients exhibit pronounced branched-chain ketoacidosis, marked cerebral edema, and severe neurological impairments. Intermittent and intermediate forms of MSUD show lesser degrees of metabolic and clinical derangements. A thiamine-responsive form responding to the vitamin supplement and an E3-deficient form (see later) have also been described. Levels of residual BCKDC activity present in the patients guide regimens for dietary therapy. MSUD is genetically heterogeneous since the BCKDC is encoded by six different genetic loci. Using the tools of molecular biology, several mutations in these six loci have been identified. A tight association of genetic lesions in the E2 locus with the thiamine-responsive MSUD phenotype was demonstrated. Restriction in the intake of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) is the standard therapy to reduce the risk of metabolic decompensation. Domino liver transplantation has become an effective approach to control BCAA levels. Small-molecule inhibitors of the regulatory kinase may hold promise for reactivation of residual BCKDC activity in patients with various forms of MSUD. Naturally occurring and knock-out animal models with classic and intermediate MSUD phenotypes, respectively, are available. Taken together, these advances will impact our approaches to developing effective therapies to mitigate the disease manifestations.
Remaking A Motet: How And When Josquin'S Ave Maria … Virgo Serena Became The Ave Maria

How and when did Josquin’s Ave Maria … virgo serena become one of the most famous Renaissance motets? It is widely held that the motet’s modern standing is directly rooted in its Renaissance reception. And yet beyond its relatively robust circulation and placement at the beginning of Petrucci’s first printed book of motets, little evidence remains as to how Josquin’s now-famous motet was perceived during and shortly after the composer’s life. In responding to this paucity of information, Part I of this article traces a reception history for Ave Maria that considers how the motet was reworked in parody masses and motets, analysing the specific ways in which later composers both engaged with and departed from Josquin’s techniques. Part II turns to the work’s modern reception, mining the scholarly literature, survey texts and recordings for clues as to how the motet’s significance has shifted throughout the twentieth century. The article concludes by proposing that this site-specific approach may be useful in comprehending the extensive stylistic changes that occurred between c. 1480 and the mid-sixteenth century.
Prognostic Models in Acute and Acute on Chronic Liver Failure

Acute liver failure has a variable course that has the potential to be rapidly progressive and fatal depending on the etiology. Prognostic models have been developed to help determine the patient’s severity of illness, clinical course, and those who would most benefit from liver transplant. These models include the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease, Child-Pugh Score, King’s College Criteria, Clichy Criteria, and several others. This has ultimately transitioned into the development of prognostic models for acute on chronic liver failure as well. However, prognostic models have been shown to have a myriad of shortcomings. Future prognostic models will ultimately require more advanced statistical analysis to better account for the dynamic nature of liver failure, the multitude of etiologies, and the variables that reflect underlying liver dysfunction.
Near-optimal combination of high performance and insensitivity in a shock compressed high explosive single crystal

Achieving the desired combination of superior detonation performance and insensitivity to shock initiation has been a long-standing goal in high explosive (HE) science and technology. Having previously established the shock insensitivity of 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethene (also known as DADNE or FOX-7) single crystals to 20 GPa (extended to 25 GPa in this work), the FOX-7 detonation response was determined through wave profile measurements in ∼250 μm thick single crystals shock compressed to 64 GPa. Quite unexpectedly, FOX-7 demonstrated the classic Chapman–Jouguet (C–J) detonation response—reaction completion in the detonation front (<0.7 ns) at pressures of 44 GPa and higher—not observed in other insensitive high explosives. The experimentally determined C–J pressure (35 GPa), detonation wave velocities and the detonation products equation of state—together with shock insensitivity to 25 GPa—demonstrate that FOX-7 single crystals display a near-optimal combination of high performance and shock insensitivity, not observed in another HE crystal.
COVID-19 and Effect on Liver Transplant.

The Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted all aspects of liver transplantation. We reviewed the literature regarding COVID-19 clinical outcomes, treatment, and vaccination of liver transplant candidates and recipients. Patients with chronic liver disease, especially with cirrhosis, have higher morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 than patients without liver disease. Increased mortality has not been consistently seen in liver transplant recipients, in whom severe disease is more strongly associated advanced age and medical comorbidities, rather than with transplant-specific factors. While several targeted COVID-19 therapies have reported hepatotoxicity, these therapies may be safe and effective in patients with liver disease and liver transplant recipients. Questions remain regarding whether SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted via the donor liver and whether transplant is safe in patients and/or donors with recent or active COVID-19. COVID-19 has significantly affected the care of liver transplant candidates and recipients. Guidelines for the safe practice of liver transplantation are rapidly evolving, and current recommendations are discussed.
Using outside readings to help students understand what economists do

How does one learn how to think like an economist without understanding what economists do? Using outside readings can be an effective and straightforward pedagogical tool to teach economic concept...
The high fertility cycle

Over the past 2 decades, a reproduction revolution has occurred in the dairy industry in which average 21-d pregnancy rates have more than doubled from around 14% to more than 30% in many herds. Much of this increase in reproductive performance has been driven by development and adoption of fertility programs. Despite the dramatic increase in 21-d pregnancy rates, substantial variation exists among herds using the exact same reproductive management, suggesting that factors other than fertility programs can affect fertility. Change in body weight or body condition score postpartum or during the periparturient period dramatically affects embryo quality, reproductive outcomes, and transition cow health. Although some cows lose body weight or body condition score after calving, some cows maintain, whereas some cows even gain body weight or body condition score during this time period. Surprisingly, milk production during early lactation is not affected based on body condition score change during the first 3 weeks postpartum; however, peak milk measured near 60 DIM was less in both primiparous and multiparous cows that either gained or maintained compared to cows that lost body condition during the 1st 30 DIM. The high fertility cycle coupled with the dramatic increases in reproductive performance due to the development and adoption of fertility programs is a new paradigm that we can now use to explain much of the variation in reproductive performance among herds. The high-fertility cycle: how timely pregnancies in 1 lactation may lead to less BCS loss, fewer health issues, greater fertility, and reduced early pregnancy losses in the next lactation.
A Comparison of the Scholastic Records of Athletes and Non-Athletes

(1925). A Comparison of the Scholastic Records of Athletes and Non-Athletes. American Physical Education Review: Vol. 30, No. 4, pp. 187-192.
Target Recognition Via Late Time Scattering

Since the development of the Singularity Expansion Method (SEM), several authors have attempted to identify targets via their SEM parameters.1 There have been several approaches using resonance annihilation filters, known as the E-pulse, K-pulse, S-pulse, etc.2, 3, 4, 5 There have also been some attempts using signal-processing techniques such as ARX, IV, ARMAX,6,7 and GLRT.8
INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES FOR TEACHING CROSS-CULTURAL DESIGN: A Pedagogical Example Using Nigerian and South African Spatial Forms

This paper discusses instruction on Nigerian and South African spatial forms presented to a Design studio in a Southwestern US University. The goal was to increase students’ ability to synthesize design ideas for different cultural settings using design theories, their utilization of examples from non-Western perspectives as references for discussing design, and their ability to solve design problems in different cultural settings. The author presents these instructional strategies as a pedagogical model for design educators.
Isolation and sequencing of cDNA clones encoding Drosophila chromosomal protein D1. A repeating motif in proteins which recognize at DNA.

Abstract Drosophila melanogaster D1 is a satellite DNA-associated protein which preferentially binds DNA sequences containing runs of AT base pairs. Clones encoding this polypeptide have been isolated from a lambda gt11 cDNA library by immunological screening with a D1 antiserum. The deduced sequence of the D1 polypeptide is 355 amino acids long and contains 10 copies of a repeating motif consisting of a glycine-arginine-proline (GRP) tripeptide located within a cluster of basic amino acids. Three copies of a similar motif have previously been observed in a mammalian satellite DNA-binding protein, high mobility group protein I (Lund, T., Dahl, K. H., Mork, E., Holtlund, J., and Laland, S. G. (1987) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 146, 725-730), suggesting that this motif may be a general feature of proteins which bind AT-rich satellite DNA and perhaps other AT-containing DNA as well.
Abstract 111: Outpatients Referred for Carotid Doppler Evaluation Who Have Elevated Coated-Platelets Demonstrate Early Cognitive Impairment

Background: Coated-platelets, a subset of procoagulant platelets observed upon dual agonist stimulation with collagen and thrombin, support a robust prothrombinase activity and provide a unique measure of platelet thrombotic potential. Our recently published data show that coated-platelet levels are increased in large artery stroke compared to controls, and higher levels are associated with early stroke recurrence. Because carotid occlusive disease and recurrent strokes are known risk factors for cognitive decline, we investigated the impact of coated-platelets on cognitive function among patients referred for carotid Doppler evaluation. Methods: Sixty consecutive patients without known dementia or stroke referred for carotid Doppler evaluation were screened for evidence of cognitive impairment using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Coated-platelets were determined at baseline and are reported as percent of cells converted to coated-platelets. Differences in mean coated-platelet levels between groups were assessed using the independent t-test and ANCOVA. Results: Fifty-seven percent (34/60) had evidence of cognitive impairment (MoCA<26, range 17-25). Mean coated-platelets for patients with cognitive impairment were significantly higher compared to patients with normal cognitive function (42.7 ± 11.5% vs. 34.1 ± 12.3%; mean ± SD; p=0.008), which remained significant after adjusting for age, remote history of stroke, carotid stenosis, and statin use (p=0.013). Conclusions: Coated-platelets are elevated in patients at risk for cerebrovascular disease who have cognitive impairment compared to those with normal cognition. The increased prevalence of vascular risk factors and range of abnormal MoCA scores (17-25) suggest that the cognitively impaired individuals are in the early stages of vascular cognitive impairment. The key finding in this study is the existence of a link between coated-platelets, cerebrovascular disease risk, and early vascular cognitive impairment, which is in keeping with the chronic disease model of vascular dementia etiology.
A study of aging of lead aerosols. I. Observations.

Abstract The alteration of the size distribution of lead aerosols was studied by the sensitive analytical technique of anodic stripping voltammetry and using Andersen Samplers (multistaged cascade impactors) to collect and sort the aerosol by size. It was found that lead aerosol size distributions do not vary greatly from one source area (essentially an area of heavy automobile traffic) to another, and that the lead aerosol size distribution does not respond noticeably to change of weather within a source area for 24 h sampling times. Short-term aging in clear air was studied by comparing the lead size distributions at three locations from downtown Chicago (a source area) with those found several kilometers downwind over Lake Michigan (a non-source area). Long-term aging in clear air was studied by comparing the size distributions of lead aerosols of various ages collected on Lake Michigan. Ages were assumed to be the travel time from shore to the sampling location, computed by a simple trajectory analysis. The aging studies did not show a clear-cut systematic alteration of the lead aerosol size distribution, although the large particle end of the distribution showed reduced relative concentrations for aerosols ages of 6 h or older. These results suggest very little modification of the shape of the lead aerosol size distribution by non-precipitative atmospheric mechanisms for equivalent particle radii larger than 0.2 μm.
Characterization of the cyn operon in Escherichia coli K12.

Abstract Escherichia coli can overcome the toxicity of environmental cyanate by hydrolysis of cyanate to ammonia and bicarbonate. This reaction is catalyzed by the enzyme cyanase, encoded by the cynS gene. The nucleotide sequence of cynS has been reported (Sung, Y.-c., Anderson, P. M., and Fuchs, J. A. (1987) J. Bacteriol. 169, 5224-5230). The nucleotide sequence of the complete cyn operon has now been determined. The cyn operon is approximately 2600 base pairs and includes cynT, cynS, and cynX, which encode cyanate permease, cyanase, and a protein of unknown function, respectively. Two cyanate-inducible transcripts of 1500 and 2500 nucleotides, respectively, were detected by Northern blot analysis. S1 nuclease mapping experiments indicated that two different cyn mRNAs have a common 5'-end and two different 3'-ends. One 3'-end was located within the coding region of cynX, whereas the other 3'-end includes the entire DNA sequence of cynX. The longer transcript contained 98 nucleotides complementary to lac mRNA produced by the predominant lac transcription termination sequence. Termination vectors were used to show that both 3'-ends were generated by sequences that caused transcriptional termination in vivo. Expression vectors were used to demonstrate that a protein corresponding to the expected size was synthesized from the DNA fragment containing the open reading frame designated cynX. The predicted amino acid sequence of cynX indicates that it is a very hydrophobic protein. The level of cynX expression was significantly less than that of cynT or cynS expression.