cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Activity loss and depression in age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most frequent cause of severe vision loss in older persons and is associated with high rates of disability and depression. The authors evaluated 51 patients with bilateral AMD to investigate the interrelationships of disease severity, disability, and depression and focused on loss of valued activities as an emblematic disabling consequence of AMD. They characterized depression by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies–Depression (CES–D) score, a syndromal state based on the CES–D, and as a level of distress (Index of Affective Suffering; IAS). Thirty subjects (58.8%) had loss of a valued, discretionary activity. They had worse visual acuity and more depressive symptoms and were represented in higher IAS levels than other subjects. Visual acuity was significantly correlated with IAS levels, but not with CES–D scores or syndromal depression. A regression model demonstrated that activity loss mediated the relationship between visual acuity and IAS level. Affective distress occurs in AMD, largely to the extent that valued activities are relinquished because of vision loss. IAS levels best illuminated this relationship, suggesting the value of this dimension of affective functioning in studies of the consequences of chronic disease.
A cellular basis for Wolbachia recruitment to the host germline.

Wolbachia are among the most widespread intracellular bacteria, carried by thousands of metazoan species. The success of Wolbachia is due to efficient vertical transmission by the host maternal germline. Some Wolbachia strains concentrate at the posterior of host oocytes, which promotes Wolbachia incorporation into posterior germ cells during embryogenesis. The molecular basis for this localization strategy is unknown. Here we report that the wMel Wolbachia strain relies upon a two-step mechanism for its posterior localization in oogenesis. The microtubule motor protein kinesin-1 transports wMel toward the oocyte posterior, then pole plasm mediates wMel anchorage to the posterior cortex. Trans-infection tests demonstrate that factors intrinsic to Wolbachia are responsible for directing posterior Wolbachia localization in oogenesis. These findings indicate that Wolbachia can direct the cellular machintery of host oocytes to promote germline-based bacterial transmission. This study also suggests parallels between Wolbachia localization mechanisms and those used by other intracellular pathogens.
Counter‐science: African American historians and the critique of ethnology in nineteenth‐century America

The intersections between social and scientific definitions of race were never so con‐spicious nor so consequential as in the nineteenth century. And never was this more true than when such definitions were made to apply to African Americans. We have a scholarship of considerable depth detailing the ways in which African Americans were subjected to the terms of racial science; we need now to ask how those terms were resisted, by whom, and through which rhetorical resources. This essay examines how postbellum African American historians contested racial science and constructed a rhetoric of vindication by appropriating certain scientific claims even as they asserted extra‐scientific grounds for full citizenship rights.
Determination of uncertainty in parameters extracted from single spectroscopic measurements

The ability to quantify uncertainty in information extracted from spectroscopic measurements is important in numerous fields. The traditional approach of repetitive measurements may be imprac- tical or impossible in some measurements scenarios, while chi- squared analysis does not provide insight into the sources of uncer- tainty. As such, a need exists for analytical expressions for estimating uncertainty and, by extension, minimum detectable concentrations or diagnostic parameters, that can be applied to a single noisy measure- ment. This work builds on established concepts from estimation theory, such as the Cramer-Rao lower bound on estimator covariance, to present an analytical formula for estimating uncertainty expressed as a simple function of measurement noise, signal strength, and spec- tral overlap. This formalism can be used to evaluate and improve instrument performance, particularly important for rapid-acquisition biomedical spectroscopy systems. We demonstrate the experimental utility of this expression in assessing concentration uncertainties from spectral measurements of aqueous solutions and diagnostic parameter uncertainties extracted from spectral measurements of human artery tissue. The measured uncertainty, calculated from many independent measurements, is found to be in good agreement with the analytical formula applied to a single spectrum. These results are intended to encourage the widespread use of uncertainty analysis in the biomedi- cal optics community. © 2007 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. DOI: 10.1117/1.2815692
Synchronized oscillations during cooperative feature linking in visual cortex

A neural network model of synchronized oscillations in the visual cortex is presented to account for recent neurophysiological findings that such synchronization may reflect global properties of the stimulus. In these experiments, synchronization of oscillatory firing responses to moving bar stimuli occurred not only for nearby neurons, but also occurred between neurons separated by several cortical columns (several mm of cortex) when these neurons shared some receptive field preferences specific to the stimuli. These results were obtained for single bar stimuli and also across two disconnected, but colinear, bars moving in the same direction. The model and computer simulations obtain these synchrony results across both single and double bar stimuli using different, but formally related, models of preattentive visual boundary segmentation and attentive visual object recognition, as well as nearest-neighbor and randomly coupled models. >
Part-of-Speech Tagging for English-Spanish Code-Switched Text

Code-switching is an interesting linguistic phenomenon commonly observed in highly bilingual communities. It consists of mixing languages in the same conversational event. This paper presents results on Part-of-Speech tagging Spanish-English code-switched discourse. We explore different approaches to exploit existing resources for both languages that range from simple heuristics, to language identification, to machine learning. The best results are achieved by training a machine learning algorithm with features that combine the output of an English and a Spanish Part-of-Speech tagger.
Discovery of the Lipoproteins, Their Role in Fat Transport and Their Significance as Risk Factors

The idea of a fat transport system in the plasma of mammals evolved slowly over three centuries. At the turn of this century, it was discovered that plasma globulins contained lecithin and that the digestion of plasma proteins with pepsin liberated small amounts of fat and cholesterol. The high density lipoprotein (HDL) was first isolated from horse serum in 1929 and the low density lipoprotein (LDL) in 1950. It was then shown that flotation of plasma in the ultracentrifuge revealed an array of lipoproteins that included VLDL, LDL and HDL and permitted quantitation. Subsequently, it was discovered that the free fatty acids (FFA) in plasma were bound to albumin and varied with feeding and fasting. From further studies, it was concluded that lipoprotein-bound triglycerides were delivered to adipose cells for uptake after meals; during fasting, the fat cells secreted FFA, which provided fuel for many tissues. The protein components of the lipoproteins (apopeptides) were characterized in the period from 1960 to 1970 and the LDL-receptor was identified in 1974. Fat transport was then established as a receptor-mediated delivery system of lipoproteins to targeted tissues. Defects in this system due to genetically altered or absent receptors explained dyslipidemias, which promoted atherosclerosis, xanthomatosis and Alzheimer's disease.
Distributed synchronization protocols for multimedia services on Internet

In this paper we present a distributed architecture for the existing and the emerging Internet for providing synchronized virtual channels (SVCs) to support presentation of multimedia information. The SVC architecture (SVCA) provides both intra-stream and inter-stream synchronization using resources available over the Internet and implementing distributed transmission scheduling mechanisms. We also propose a set of quality of presentation (QOP) parameters that quantify the quality of multimedia presentation from the user's point of view. Based on these parameters, we evaluate the proposed architecture and provides trade-offs between the QOP parameters and the required network resources to maintain this quality. Subsequently, these trade-offs are used to generate an optimal schedule for transmission of multimedia information over the SVCA. We also present protocol mechanisms to realize the SVCA. >
A Robust Kolmogorov-Smirnov Detector for Misbehavior in IEEE 802.11 DCF

The CSMA/CA protocols are designed under the assumption that all participant nodes would abide to the protocol rules. This is of particular importance in distributed protocols such as the IEEE 802.11 distributed coordinating function (DCF), in which nodes control their own backoff parameters. A selfish node may deliberately modify its random assignment and gain unfair access to the network resources. This would result in an increased observed collision probability for the rest of the nodes, that would increase their backoff windows as a result, further increasing the benefit of the selfish nodes. In this work, we develop of a robust non parametric batch detector based on the Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K-S) statistics that does not require any modification on the existing CSMA/CA protocols, and we apply it to detect misbehaviors in an IEEE 802.11 DCF network using the ns-2 simulator. We show that our method has a performance comparable to the optimum detectors with perfect information for the majority of misbehaviors, and it is able to detect any deviation from the protocol after just a few transmissions from the offending terminal.
Sphincter electromyography and multiple system atrophy.

Electromyographic studies of the sphincter in patients with multiple system atrophy have shown increased duration and polyphasia of motor unit potentials. These electrophysiological markers have been used to argue for the selective degeneration of sacral motor neurons in Onuf's nucleus in patients with multiple system atrophy. Studies comparing sphincter electromyographic changes in patients with multiple system atrophy and Parkinson's disease have shown significant differences between these two patient populations. Despite the controversy surrounding this claim, recent studies using quantitative electromyographic techniques support the view that reinnervation of the anal sphincter muscles may be a useful diagnostic marker for distinguishing multiple system atrophy from Parkinson's disease. A critical review of these data is needed to assess the validity and reliability of electromyographic changes in multiple system atrophy.
Optimization of the Closure-Weld Region of Cylindrical Containers for Long-Term Corrosion Resistance Using the Successive Heuristic Quadratic Approximation Technique

Welded cylindrical containers are susceptible to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in the closure-weld area. An induction coil heating technique may be used to relieve the residual stresses in the closure-weld. This technique involves localized heating of the material by the surrounding coils. The material is then cooled to room temperature by quenching. A two-dimensional axisymmetric finite element model is developed to study the effects of induction coil heating and subsequent quenching. The finite element results are validated through an experimental test. The container design is tuned to maximize the compressive stress from the outer surface to a depth that is equal to the long-term general corrosion rate of the container material multiplied by the desired container lifetime. The problem is subject to several geometrical and stress constraints. Two different solution methods are implemented for this purpose. First, an off-the-shelf optimization software is used. The results however were unsatisfactory because of the highly nonlinear nature of the problem. The paper proposes a novel alternative: the Successive Heuristic Quadratic Approximation (SHQA) technique. This algorithm combines successive quadratic approximation with an adaptive random search within varying search space. SHQA promises to be a suitable search method for computationally intensive, highly nonlinear problems.
When can cyclodextrins be considered for solubilization purposes

This communication is intended to address the question: How can one determine, with minimum experimentation, if cyclodextrins (CDs) might be the right choice as solubilization enhancers for a given poorly water-soluble drug? The cyclodextrin utility number, U(CD), a dimensionless number, is introduced to assess the feasibility of the use of CDs in dosage forms. U(CD) is a lumped-parameter consisting of the dose of the drug, the workable amount of CD, the binding constant, and the drug solubility in the absence of CDs. U(CD) was been extended to ionizable drugs that show synergistic increase in solubility due to ionization and complexation. U(CD) is a guiding and not a predictive tool that the formulator can use.
A Power-Aware Autonomic Approach for Performance Management of Scientific Applications in a Data Center Environment

In the recent years, computer servers and data center facilities that provide high performance computing (HPC) for scientific applications have largely increased in numbers and have become great consumers of electrical power. Supercomputers often run at their peak performance for an efficient execution of scientific applications, and therefore consume an enormous amount of power that results in increased operational cost. Furthermore, an increase in the power consumption results in an increase in the temperature of the physical HPC systems, which in turn translates into increased failure rates and decreased reliability. Slowing down these HPC systems by reducing the individual speed of the processors, results in a loss of execution performance of the scientific application, due to the variation in processing speed. Another cause of the degradation in the execution performance of scientific applications is the variation in the computational resource availability due to its utilization by other applications executing on the same computing node in a space shared manner. The variations in processor availability can lead to severe performance degradation in the execution environment due to load imbalance and a violation of the performance objectives, such as meeting a deadline, and therefore it may result in high penalty in terms of revenue loss to the service providers. In this chapter, a utility based power-aware approach has been presented that uses a model-based control theoretic framework for executing scientific applications. The approach and related simulations indicate that the performance and the power requirements of the system can dynamically be adjusted, while maintaining the predefined quality of service (QoS) goals in terms of deadline of execution and power consumption of the HPC system, even in the presence of computational resource related perturbations. This approach is autonomic, performance directed, dynamically controlled, and independent of (does not interfere with) the execution of the application.
Building teams over distance: A solution through digital art mediated practices

Applying team building in distributed teams is challenging. To address this problem, I propose a research agenda to use digital art mediated practices to support team building for distributed teams. The research will lead to designs and tools to help distributed teams conduct art mediated activities over distance and thus help teams build trust and cohesion. The proposed research consists of three major components: (1) design concepts based on theoretical foundations, (2) experiment design, and (3) qualitative investigations.
Reducing Latency in Tor Circuits with Unordered Delivery

Tor, the popular anonymous relay tool, incurs significant latency costs—partly due to extra network hops, but also due to TCP’s strict in-order delivery. We examine the problem of TCP’s head-of-line blocking in Tor, although this problem affects any application multiplexing streams atop TCP. Using uTCP and uTLS, techniques for enabling unordered delivery in TCP and TLS, respectively, we eliminate head-of-line blocking between Tor circuits sharing a TCP connection, without sacrificing Tor’s security. The small code footprint of uTCP and uTLS, and the minimal changes required to Tor, suggest the feasability of our approach. A micro-benchmark indicates that the integration of uTCP and uTLS can noticeably lower application-perceived latency.
Voter Viewpoint Discrimination: Reconsidering a First Amendment Challenge to Voter Participation Restrictions

The Supreme Court's recent decision in Shelby County v. Holder has generated a flurry of scholarly thinking about alternative ways to approach legislatively enacted restrictions on voting rights. One alternative that deserves additional attention is the possibility of challenging voter participation restrictions (such as voter ID laws) as viewpoint discriminatory under existing First Amendment doctrine. Many of these laws, after all, are perceived as embodying a legislative choice to burden some voters but not others based on legislative expectations about how the most burdened voters are likely to vote. A viewpoint discrimination approach therefore seems ripe for further exploration. Part 1 of this paper explains why a First Amendment, viewpoint based challenge to at least some such laws is indeed appropriate. Part 2 uses existing First Amendment doctrine to ground the approach in existing case law, and to specify what it would look like in the election law context.
Common issues in the medication use processes in nursing homes: a review of medication use quality improvement strategies

Background: A continuous evaluation of safety practices in nursing homes and long-term care (LTC) facilities is needed.Numerous studies have highlighted the deficiencies in safety processes of nursing homes compared with institutional practicedespite the fact that many residents in the nursing home setting also suffer from complex medical conditions and are receivingmultiple medications to treat the comorbidities. As part of larger grant initiative, an extensive search was conducted to identifycommon problems in nursing facilities and potential strategies for improvement. This review highlights common problems in themedication use process in nursing facilities and strategies to improve processes and general resident safety based upon pertinentfindings from the literature. Findings: There are proven medication safety strategies utilized in institutions that should be a foundational practice in nursingand LTC facilities. These strategies include, but are not limited to, reduction of polypharmacy and increased sensitivity to andprioritization of medication therapy monitoring processes, which will assist in the creation of a culture of safety. Specific goals ofthis process includes frequent education and encouraged use of best practices surrounding handling of high-alert medications,proper drug administration ( e.g. , crushing medications), drug interactions and reporting of adverse medication events. Conclusion: Medication use process failures are common in nursing and LTC facilities. However, an integrated approach canbe used to mitigate some of the common problems. Pharmacists and nurses should work more closely to implement provenmedication safety strategies. Implementing these strategies in concert with improved communication between team members canbenefit residents by preventing avoidable events and hospitalizations.
Industry's Contributions and Needs in Graduate Education

The General Electric Company provides, within its Advanced Technical Programs for Engineers and Scientists, a logical sequence of courses for the development of these men. Within this framework of courses is the Honors Program for Graduate Study, which enables the motivated engineer or scientist to complete requirements for the Master's degree. The opportunity is also present to continue his further educational development through the Advanced Engineering Program, the Creative Engineering Program, or a Tuition Refund Program.
A Smart Method for Developing Game-Based Virtual Laboratories

Virtual laboratories are one popular form of implementation of virtual reality. They are now widely used at various levels of education. Game-based virtual laboratories created using game engines take advantage of the resources of these game engines. While providing convenience to developers of virtual laboratories, game engines also exhibit the following shortcomings: (1) They are not realistic enough. (2) They require long design and modification periods. (3) They lack customizability and flexibility. (4) They are endowed with limited artificial intelligence. These shortcomings render game-based virtual laboratories (and other virtual laboratories) inferior to traditional laboratories.This paper proposes a smart method for developing game-based virtual laboratories that overcomes these shortcomings. In this method, 3D reconstruction and pattern recognition techniques are adopted. 3D reconstruction techniques are used to create a virtual environment, which includes virtual models of real objects and a virtual space. These techniques can render this virtual environment fairly realistic, can reduce the time and effort of creating the virtual environment and can increase the flexibility in the creation of the virtual environment. Furthermore, pattern recognition techniques are used to endow game-based virtual laboratories with general artificial intelligence. The scanned objects can be recognized, and certain attributes of real objects can be added automatically to their virtual models. In addition, the emphasis of the experiments can be adjusted according to the users’ abilities in order to get better training results. As a prototype, an undergraduate student laboratory was developed and implemented. Finally, additional improvements in the approach for creating game-based virtual laboratories are discussed.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Modular Multi-Stage Axial Compressor Design: A Conceptual Study With an Example

Increasingly, companies are becoming more interested in reducing cost. Initially, cost reduction efforts were focused on the manufacturing and service side since the majority of the budget was consumed during that phase. However, recent studies indicate that up to 80% of the life cycle costs (LCC) has been embedded in the engine’s DNA at the end of the development and design phase. This fact is motivating many companies to consider cost cutting initiatives much earlier in the development cycle than before. One concept to aid in such cost reduction is the modular design of expensive and development-intensive components, such as multi-stage axial compressors. With sufficient planning, any potentially negative impact on performance can be addressed and almost entirely eliminated. Conceptually, the compressor is divided into five (5) functional modules. In the successful modular design, the core module size is maximized, while all other modules are held to a minimum. It is the objective of this approach to utilize the core module in all the compressors, thus, maximizing commonality and minimizing all relevant development, design, manufacture, procurement, and service costs. This paper introduces the modular concept with an example; a multi-stage high pressure compressor (HPC) design is carried out to the preliminary meanline phase. The compressor is consequently divided up into its five (5) modules, and a modular upgrade is then developed for a different application using the same core. Discussion is presented as to the advantages and potential limitations.© 2006 ASME
Power and Communication in Worker Cooperatives: An Overview

Technical communication research has critically engaged with organizational trends toward flattened organizations like networks, horizontal arrangements, and adhocracies, assemblages that hybridize...
Geological and Geochemical Characteristics of P and Mn Layering Mineralization of Hougou-Dapingshan Area in Mianxian,Shaanxi Province

Hougou-Dapingshan area,where three manganese(Mn)-phosphor(P) metallogenic belts were discovered recently in Lower Cambrain Tananpo Formation,located in the middle-eastern segment of the South Qinling Mn-P Metallogenic Zone.There were four Mn orebodies and one P orebody in the Ⅱ metallogenic belts.It is often that Mn-P orebodies were separated with a texture of upper Mn seam and lower P seam.The geochemical characteristics of the surface and deep rocks samples of major trace elements from the Ⅱ metallogenic belts were analyzed.The results show that the material source of Mn-P orebodies is similar,but both sedimentary environment including the sedimentary redox conditions,sedimentary area and water body condition is different.These are possible major reasons for P and Mn separate layering mineralization.
Effect of time interval and overdistension on repeated urodynamic studies.

AbstractRepeated urodynamic testing of the lower urinary tract is often needed both clinically and experimentally. The objective of this study is to find out the time interval needed if repeated urodynamic tests are required even if overdistension occurs initially. Three hundred forty urodynamic studies were performed using five female rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Two groups of experiments (with or without bladder overdistension) were performed at the following time intervals: immediate, 15, 30 and 45 minutes after the initial urodynamic study.All urodynamic parameters (pressure, capacity, compliance and detrusor strength) were reproducible after a 30-minute waiting period. In case of overdistension, a 45-minute period is required.
Ultrastructure of Rabbit Ova Recovered from Ovarian Follicles and Inseminated in Vitro

Rabbit ova were obtained from presumably preovulatory ovarian follicles of gonadotropin-treated does and inseminated with uterine sperm in vitro. Ova were serially sectioned for light and electron microscopy 0, 1 1/2, 3, 6, and 9 hours after in vitro insemination. Control ova were maintained in culture for 25 hours and examined by light microscopy for cleavage. Little difference in fertilization rate (i.e., ova fertilized/ova inseminated) was observed when criteria were based on ultrastructural evidence (56.5%) and on light microscopic evidence 25 hours post-insemination provided by cleavage of control ova (54.8%). Therefore, observations of cleavage (as in controls here) can be an accurate criterion for fertilization in the rabbit, at least under the in vitro conditions used in this study. After insemination of ova recovered from preovulatory follicles, the developmental sequence was as follows: after 1 1/2 hours, sperm penetration into the vitellus; after 3 hours, male pronuclear formation and second polar body extrusion; after 6 hours, male and female pronuclear enlargement; and after 9 hours, pronuclei in apposition. This sequence compares favorably with the normal temporal sequence of events already well known for fertilization of ovulated ova in the rabbit. Penetrating sperm cells within the matrix of the zona pellucida and the supplementary sperm cells lying in the perivitelline space had undergone the acrosome reaction. Changes associated with the acrosome reaction took place before the penetration of the zona pellucida. The presence of a number of supplementary sperm, usually five to six per ovum, within the perivitelline space of the already activated ovum indicated that the block to polyspermy in these experiments operated mainly at the level of the vitelline membrane, as is the case in the normal fertilization process. The vitelline membrane block to polyspermy occurred rapidly after penetration of the fertilizing sperm into the vitellus and was associated with cortical granule breakdown. Ultrastructural details of rabbit ova recovered from ovarian follicles and inseminated in vitro revealed no distinguishable characteristics when compared with reported observations of ovulated rabbit ova undergoing fertilization in vivo.
Current periodontal therapy

Current periodontal therapy consists of a multitude of categories for study and concern. Therapy for Disease, Esthetics and Implant obligates the clinician to truly become a scientist, therapist and artist to fulfill these categories of therapy. Excellent technical skills must be combined with sound biologic knowledge for a successful, predictable and lasting outcome.
Abstract 1926: Hippo pathway effectors YAP/TAZ integrate tissue mechanics and Wnt signaling to regulate microRNA biogenesis

Although mechanical cues including extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness are known to regulate cell and tissue behavior, it remains unclear how these mechanical cues integrate with biochemical signals to control these processes. The Hippo pathway and its transcriptional coactivators YAP and TAZ, which have emerged as major regulators of organ size, proliferation and cancer development, are thought to be involved in this integration. In addition to being regulated by the canonical Hippo pathway, YAP/TAZ have been found to mediate responses to both biochemical and mechanical signals including ECM stiffness and Wnt signaling. Moreover, recent studies have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) are sensitive to mechanical cues and YAP/TAZ may regulate miRNA biogenesis through mechanotransduction. Although misregulation of YAP/TAZ and miRNA expression are frequently observed in multiple cancers, which appears to be associated with the altered mechanics of the tumor microenvironment, the signaling mechanisms controlling these processes remain poorly understood and controversial. Here we examine how YAP/TAZ integrate biochemical and mechanical signals to regulate miRNA biogenesis. We found that Wnt3A and stiff ECM synergistically lead to nuclear accumulation and activation of YAP/TAZ. Surprisingly, ECM stiffness induces miRNA-18a expression while Wnt3A signaling has an opposite effect on miRNA-18a expression depending on the stiffness of the cellular microenvironment. Thus, YAP/TAZ activity may define a mechanism by which cells respond to ECM stiffness and Wnt signaling to control miRNA biogenesis. Citation Format: Siyang Han, Celeste M. Nelson. Hippo pathway effectors YAP/TAZ integrate tissue mechanics and Wnt signaling to regulate microRNA biogenesis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1926.
The Reverberations of a Graduate Study Abroad Course in India: Transformational Journeys.

Faculty in a transdisciplinary graduate program in holistic health studies, which is grounded in transformational learning led a study abroad course in India. The focus of the course is on perspectives of health and healing in India, including an understanding of Yoga, meditation, Ayurvedic medicine, and Tibetan medicine. The purpose of this phenomenological research is to describe the experiences of 13 holistic health studies graduate students who participated in this graduate study abroad course. Qualitative data were collected from students at the time of application to the course, 1 month after returning from India, and 1 year later. In addition, student applications, posttrip reflection papers, photographs, notes taken by faculty at a 1-year reunion, and results of an electronic survey were used as data. Results suggest that students experienced “mind, body and spirit” transformations with reverberations on personal, community, and global levels.
Bacillus wiedmannii sp. nov., a psychrotolerant and cytotoxic bacillus cereus group species isolated from dairy foods and dairy environments

A facultatively anaerobic, spore-forming Bacillus strain, FSL W8-0169T, collected from raw milk stored in a silo at a dairy powder processing plant in the north-eastern USA was initially identified as a Bacillus cereus group species based on a partial sequence of the rpoB gene and 16S rRNA gene sequence. Analysis of core genome single nucleotide polymorphisms clustered this strain separately from known B. cereus group species. Pairwise average nucleotide identity blast values obtained for FSL W8-0169T compared to the type strains of existing B. cereus group species were <95 % and predicted DNA–DNA hybridization values were <70 %, suggesting that this strain represents a novel B. cereus group species. We characterized 10 additional strains with the same or closely related rpoB allelic type, by whole genome sequencing and phenotypic analyses. Phenotypic characterization identified a higher content of iso-C16 : 0 fatty acid and the combined inability to ferment sucrose or to hydrolyse arginine as the key characteristics differentiating FSL W8-0169T from other B. cereus group species. FSL W8-0169T is psychrotolerant, produces haemolysin BL and non-haemolytic enterotoxin, and is cytotoxic in a HeLa cell model. The name Bacillus wiedmannii sp. nov. is proposed for the novel species represented by the type strain FSL W8-0169T (=DSM 102050T=LMG 29269T).
Coherent Fourier Transform Two-Dimensional Electronic- Vibrational Spectroscopy using an Octave-Spanning Mid-IR Probe

Two-dimensional electronic-vibrational spectroscopy is presented using a sequence of two ~40 fs 400 nm pulses and an octave-spanning broadband mid-IR pulse (~20 fs) to measure correlated electronic and vibrational dynamics.
US-Russian Cooperation on Fissile Material Security and Disposition

This chapter is concerned with the legacy of the Cold War in terms of securing the abundance of fissile material produced by the two superpowers. The massive reduction of nuclear arsenals has created the challenge of storing and disposing of, in a secure and safe fashion, huge quantities of weapon-quality plutonium and highly enriched uranium. The authors present the results and perspectives of US-Russian cooperation on this new and often neglected security threat.
Hall Effect Formulae and Units

The two most widely used units for the Hall coefficients are SI units, m3/A-sec = m3/C, and the hybrid unit Ohm-cm/G (which combines the practical quantities volt and amp with the cgs quantities centimeter and Gauss). Two numbers for the same quantity expressed in these two units are simply related by R(SI) = 100 x R(hybrid) because the unit m3/C transforms to Ohm-m/Tesla which is one hundredth of the unit Ohm-cm/G.
Longevity and Resilience at the Interface of Family, Business and the Environment

This symposium aims to facilitate research focused on understanding factors influencing the longevity and resilience of family businesses in varied contexts. Five papers presented includes new work...
Social work with the Wealthy

In not offering a precise prospectus, psychiatric care often stimulates anxiety in families and an impulse to control through demand and litigation
Risk-stratified clinical pathways decrease the duration of hospitalization and costs of perioperative care after pancreatectomy

Abstract Background Postoperative pancreatic fistula is associated with adverse events, increased duration of stay and hospital costs. We developed perioperative care pathways stratified by postoperative pancreatic fistula risk with the aims of minimizing variations in care, improving quality, and decreasing costs. Study Design Three unique risk-stratified pancreatectomy clinical pathways—low-risk pancreatoduodenectomy, high-risk pancreatoduodenectomy, and distal pancreatectomy were developed and implemented. Consecutive patients treated after implementation of the risk-stratified pancreatectomy clinical pathways were compared with patients treated immediately prior. Duration of stay, rates of perioperative adverse effects, discharge disposition, and hospital readmission, as well as the associated costs of care, were evaluated. Results The median hospital stay after pancreatectomy decreased from 10 to 6 days after implementation of the risk-stratified pancreatectomy clinical pathways (P Conclusion Implementation of risk-stratified pancreatectomy clinical pathways decreased median stay and cost of index hospitalization after pancreatectomy without unfavorably affecting rates of perioperative adverse events or readmission, or discharge disposition. Outcomes were most favorably improved for low-risk pancreatoduodenectomy and distal pancreatectomy. Additional work is necessary to decrease the rate of postoperative pancreatic fistula, minimize variability, and improve outcomes after high-risk pancreatoduodenectomy.
Self-Reliant and Ecologically Aware: A Christian Appreciation of Buddhism

This chapter details an appreciation of Buddhism by a Christian environmental theologian through noting commonalities in the emergence of the two religions, a comparison between Siddhartha Gautama and Jesus of Nazareth as their respective central figures and an analysis of their teachings, an examination of the chief virtues of both traditions, and contributions from Buddhism to Christianity in terms of “self-reliance” in one’s spiritual journey and ecological awareness and responsibility in living out one’s faith.
Receptor-Dependent Modulation of G Protein-Gated Muscarinic K+ Channel by Arachidonic Acid Metabolites

Intracellular 5-lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid were found to modulate the cardiac G protein (GK)-gated muscarinic K+ channel (KACh) in a stimulatory manner. The pathway could be activated by various receptor agonists, such as phenylephrine (α1-adrenergic agonist) and platelet-activating factor. The arachidonic acid metabolite-mediated activation of the KACh channel was independent from muscarinic ACh and adenosine receptors, which are directly coupled to GK. However, the activation was dependent on intracellular GTP and was inhibited by GDP-βS, suggesting arachidonic acid metabolites may directly stimulate GK.
The Influence of Leadership Style on Telecommutersin the Insurance Industry: A Contingency Theory Approach

This study examining how telecommutes’ in the insurance industry view their supervisor’s leadership style and how this determination influences the employee’s perceptions of their supervisor’s communication competence and their communication satisfaction with their supervisor, as well as their own job satisfaction and organizational commitment. The study applied Contingency Theory as a theoretical underpinning. The results indicated that for supervisors to be perceived as leaders they must effectively communicate task related information more than relational oriented messages. These findings add to research by identifying situations in which leaders are to behave in a fashion unique to the computer mediated work setting
The FKBP12 subunit modifies the long-range allosterism of the ryanodine receptor.

Abstract Ryanodine receptors (RyRs) are large conductance intracellular channels controlling intracellular calcium homeostasis in myocytes, neurons, and other cell types. Loss of RyR’s constitutive cytoplasmic partner FKBP results in channel sensitization, dominant subconductance states, and increased cytoplasmic Ca2+. FKBP12 binds to RyR1’s cytoplasmic assembly 130 A away from the ion gate at four equivalent sites in the RyR1 tetramer. To understand how FKBP12 binding alters RyR1’s channel properties, we studied the 3D structure of RyR1 alone in the closed conformation in the context of the open and closed conformations of FKBP12-bound RyR1. We analyzed the metrics of conformational changes of existing structures, the structure of the ion gate, and carried out multivariate statistical analysis of thousands of individual cryoEM RyR1 particles. We find that under closed state conditions, in the presence of FKBP12, the cytoplasmic domain of RyR1 adopts an upward conformation, whereas absence of FKBP12 results in a relaxed conformation, while the ion gate remains closed. The relaxed conformation is intermediate between the RyR1-FKBP12 complex closed (upward) and open (downward) conformations. The closed-relaxed conformation of RyR1 appears to be consistent with a lower energy barrier separating the closed and open states of RyR1-FKBP12, and suggests that FKBP12 plays an important role by restricting conformations within RyR1’s conformational landscape.
The a2 Milk Company

The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) became the most valuable company listed on the New Zealand stock exchange in 2018 by capitalizing on a biochemical discovery related to the protein composition of cow’s milk. Because many people find the A1 protein difficult to digest, and that protein may be related to a variety of other health problems (e.g., diabetes and heart disease), a2MC sold dairy products (milk and infant formula) containing the A2 protein only primarily in Australia and China. With sales of NZ$730 million in 2017 and a desire to grow, a2MC formed a strategic relationship with Fonterra, the world’s sixth largest dairy company, in February 2018. But one month later, Nestle, the world’s largest dairy company, confirmed that it had begun selling A2 infant formula in China and people speculated that it would start selling A2 products in Australia and New Zealand later in the year. a2MC’s retiring CEO Geoffrey Babidge and newly appointed CEO Jayne Hrdlicka must decide how to respond to Nestle’s entry and how to keep growing profitably. Can this successful entrant become a successful incumbent with a sustainable competitive advantage? This comprehensive case was designed with four objectives in mind: 1) to illustrate the drivers of competitive advantage and the determinants of sustainability; 2) to explore various tactics firms use to enter markets (i.e., judo strategy) and the barriers that prevent incumbents from responding; 3) to assess industry and market attractiveness using Porter’s Five Forces or some other framework; and 4) to analyze strategic evolution and scope expansion over an 18-year period in an entrepreneurial firm. The setting is particularly appealing to students because it shows how technology, namely biochemistry, can be used to disrupt and revitalize a mature industry.
Vascular and Biology 04

Background: Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) functions physiologically to promote angiogenesis by inducing vascular branching and smooth muscle recruitment. However, we have previously reported to this Society that in an experimental breast cancer model, over-expression of Ang-1 led to tumour inhibition and that expression of Ang-1 in clinical breast cancer specimens was infrequent. We now report a morphological analysis of the tumour microvessels in this model in an attempt to ascertain a mechanism for tumour inhibition. Methods: Ang-1 over-expressing and vector-transfected xenograft tumours used in previous tumourigenicity assays were fixed routinely and sectioned. Endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells were immuno-stained with monoclonal antibodies to CD-31 and smooth muscle actin, visualized with confocal fluorescence microscopy and quantitated with image analysis. Tumours were also immuno-stained for markers of proliferation and apoptosis. Results: Ang-1 expressing tumours displayed striking differences in microvascular morphology at the leading edge of the tumour when compared with controls. Although the number of microvessels was not altered, the peripheral vessels in the Ang-1 tumours were much less ectatic than the dilated immature tumour vessels seen in controls. They were surrounded by a closely adherent continuous layer of smooth muscle cells, absent in controls. In these vessels the ratio of smooth muscle cells to endothelial cells was increased threefold (P < 0.01) and luminal diameter decreased twofold (P < 0.05) compared with controls. The rates of tumour cell proliferation and apoptosis were decreased twofold (P < 0.001) compared with controls. Conclusions: Ang-1 over-expression induced stabilization of microvessels at the tumour periphery, which resulted in a decreased rate of tumour growth.
Henry George and the Crisis of Inequality: Progress and Poverty in the Gilded Age: by Edward T. O'Donnell, New York: Columbia University Press, 2015, Pp. 376, $38.00 (hbk), $37.99 (e-book), ISBN 9780231120005, ISBN 9780231539265

Over the past decade, intellectuals have drawn parallels between the turmoil and splendor of the Gilded Age and the current U.S. economy. Edward T. O'Donnell joins this chorus as he examines the tr...
Electrochemical detection of exogenously administered melatonin in the brain

Melatonin (MT) is an important electroactive hormone that regulates different physiological actions in the brain, ranging from circadian clock to neurodegeneration. An impressive number of publications have highlighted the effectiveness of MT treatments in different types of sleep and neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. The ability to detect MT in different regions of the brain would provide further insights into the physiological roles and therapeutic effects of MT. While multiple electrochemical methods have been used to detect MT in biological samples, monitoring MT in the brain of live animals has not been demonstrated. Here, we optimized a square wave voltammetry (SWV) electroanalytical method to evaluate the MT detection performance at CFEs in vitro and in vivo. SWV was able to sensitively detect the MT oxidation peak at 0.7 V, and discriminate MT from most common interferents in vitro. More importantly, using the optimized SWV, CFEs successfully detected and reliably quantified MT concentrations in the visual cortex of anesthetized mice after intraperitoneal injections of different MT doses, offering stable MT signals for up to 40 minutes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first electrochemical measurement of exogenously administered MT in vivo. This electrochemical MT sensing technique will provide a powerful tool for further understanding MT's action in the brain.
Predicting Obstructive Sleep Apnea Status With the Reflux Symptom Index in a Sleep Study Population

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS Otolaryngologic symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and their diagnostic utility are not well studied. We aimed to elucidate the prevalence of otolaryngologic symptoms among patients being evaluated for OSA. Given findings that the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) was strongly associated with OSA status, we evaluated the diagnostic utility of the RSI for predicting OSA status. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional. METHODS We recruited 101 adults presenting for ambulatory polysomnograms to the Northwestern Sleep Disorders Center from July 2017 to July 2018. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ), RSI, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire, Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22, Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation, Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire 7, and Headache Impact Test were administered. Polysomnogram results were subsequently obtained. Patients with OSA (apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 5) and without OSA were compared. RESULTS Of the 101 participants, 98 had valid sleep study results. Of those, 72 were diagnosed with OSA and 26 were not. The two groups differed significantly in age and body mass index (BMI). Of the questionnaires, only the RSI and LCQ means differed significantly, with worse symptoms in the OSA group (P = .003 and .014, respectively). Upon univariate regression, age, BMI, and RSI were associated with OSA status. Using regression coefficients, a clinical score of 2 (RSI) + 1.5 (BMI) + age yielded a diagnostic model (C-statistic = 0.807, P < .001). A threshold score of 104.21 was 76.4% sensitive and 73.1% specific. CONCLUSIONS Patients with OSA have worse symptoms of laryngopharyngeal reflux as measured by the RSI. The addition of the RSI to the recognized factors of age and BMI improves diagnostic utility for OSA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 2 Laryngoscope, 2020.