cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Designing Agencies: Public Choice and Public Law

In most scholarship on bureaucracy, the existence of administrative agencies is the starting point for analysis. Yet, from the perspective of institutional design, there is no necessary reason to assume that a supreme legislature will choose to delegate policymaking authority to a bureaucracy. Even if delegation to some bureaucratic entity results, legislatures might sub-delegate to legislative bureaucracies rather than agencies located within the executive branch. Once an executive bureaucracy exists, however, the menu of available bureaucratic structures will influence subsequent legislative decisions about whether to delegate authority in a specific instance. This book chapter asks how agencies are and should be structured, conditional on an affirmative decision by a legislature to delegate policymaking authority. This is the core problem of agency design. Instead of attempting a comprehensive survey of all public choice work on agency design, the chapter discusses some of the more common and obvious areas of overlap, tacking back and forth between public choice theory and agency design problems in public law. Rather than insist on a particular application or interpretation, the chapter tries to illustrate the many ways in which these traditions fit together. Part I discusses relevant theoretical priors about the creation of a bureaucratic structure, focusing on questions like what drives bureaucratic behavior, what is the political problem that agencies are supposed to help solve, and what new problems does reliance on agencies to develop public policy produce? Part II analyzes the conceptual relationship between the design of agency decisionmaking structures and the extent of control by other political institutions like the legislature. Part II then applies these theoretical insights to one administrative law doctrinal dispute (legislative rules) and one constitutional law doctrine (nondelegation). Part III turns to the problem of vertical bureaucratic structure by focusing on the twin problems of bureaucratic centralization and insulation, particularly in the context of the unitary executive debate. Part IV shifts from vertical bureaucratic structure to horizontal problems by emphasizing public choice and doctrinal disputes about the relationship among administrative agencies.
Global Warming Will Bring New Fungal Diseases for Mammals

Fungi are major pathogens of plants, other fungi, rotifers, insects, and amphibians, but relatively few cause disease in mammals. Fungi became important human pathogens only in the late 20th century, primarily in hosts with impaired immunity as a consequence of medical interventions or HIV infection. The relatively high resistance of mammals has been attributed to a combination of a complex immune system and endothermy. Mammals maintain high body temperatures relative to environmental temperatures, creating a thermally restrictive ambient for the majority of fungi. According to this view, protection given by endothermy requires a temperature gradient between those of mammals and the environment. We hypothesize that global warming will increase the prevalence of fungal diseases in mammals by two mechanisms: (i) increasing the geographic range of currently pathogenic species and (ii) selecting for adaptive thermotolerance for species with significant pathogenic potential but currently not pathogenic by virtue of being restricted by mammalian temperatures.
Using the internet for pollution prevention

From DIE to solvent substitutes—it is all on the internet these days. But you need to know where and how to look. And how to avoid those tempting “information rabbit holes.”
Clinical management and patient outcomes among children and adolescents receiving telemedicine consultations for obesity.

Rural residents report lower likelihood of exercising, and higher rates of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes compared to their urban counterparts. Our goals were to (1) investigate the outcomes of telemedicine consultations for pediatric obesity on changes/additions to diagnoses, diagnostic evaluation or treatment, and (2) determine whether changes in diagnostic and management recommendations made by the consultant were associated with improvements in patient nutrition, activity level, and weight. We conducted a retrospective medical record review of patients referred to a University-affiliated Children’s Hospital Pediatric Telemedicine Weight Management Clinic for a diagnosis of obesity. Of the 139 children and adolescents who received pediatric weight management consultations during the study period, 99 patients met inclusion criteria. Weight management consultations resulted in changes/additions to diagnoses in 77.8% of patients and changes/additions to diagnostic evaluation in 79.8% of patients. Of patients seen more than once, 80.7% showed improvement in clinical outcomes. Of patients seen more than once, 80.6% improved their diet, 69.4% increased activity levels, 21.0% showed slowing of weight gain or weight maintenance, and 22.6% showed weight reduction. Improvements in clinical outcomes were not associated with changes/additions to diagnoses (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.98; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 0.25–3.98) and were weakly associated with changes/additions to diagnostic evaluations (OR = 2.23; 95% CI = 0.58–8.73). However, changes/additions to treatment were associated with improvement in weight status (OR = 9.0; 95% CI = 1.34–76.21). Obesity consultations were associated with changes/additions to diagnoses, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment. Treatment changes were associated with improvement in weight status. Telemedicine weight management consultations have the potential to result in modifications in patient care plans and outcomes.
Goal-Oriented Hypertension Management: Translating Clinical Trials to Practice

Several clinical trials using a blood pressure (BP) treatment algorithm focused on a predetermined goal have achieved better control rates than those of national survey data. These trials reached the Sixth Joint National Committee on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC VI) diastolic blood pressure (DBP) goal of 90% of volunteers and systolic blood pressure (SBP) goal of 60% of volunteers. We evaluated BP control of 437 consecutive patients after at least one year of follow up in a specialist clinic which employed “goal-oriented management,” ie, treating to a specific BP goal without a formal drug treatment algorithm, to determine whether JNC VI goals could be achieved. Overall, 276 (63%) patients achieved SBP goal, with 376 (86%) at DBP goal and 358 (59%) at both goals. Only 23% of patients were on monotherapy, with 34% requiring 2 drugs and 37% requiring 3 or more medications. There was no substantial difference in BP control rates among age, gender, and ethnicity subgroups. However, in the 20% of patients who were diabetic, only 52% had a BP of
An assessment of uncertainty in forest carbon budget projections

Estimates of uncertainty are presented for projections of forest carbon inventory and average annual net carbon flux on private timberland in the US using the model FORCARB. Uncertainty in carbon inventory was approximately 29% (2000 million metric tons) of the estimated median in the year 2000, rising to 11% (2800 million metric tons) in projection year 2040, with this range covering 95% of the distribution. Relative uncertainties about net flux were higher and more variable than relative uncertainty estimates of carbon inventory. Results indicated that relatively high correlations among projected carbon budgets for the regional forest types led to greater total uncertainty than under assumptions of independence among types, indicating that an accurate portrayal of correlations is important. Uncertainty in soil carbon, closely followed by uncertainty in tree carbon, were most influential in estimating uncertainty in carbon inventory, but uncertainties in projections of volume growth and volume removals were most important in estimating uncertainty in carbon flux. This implies the most eAective ways of reducing uncertainty in carbon flux are diAerent from those required to reduce uncertainties in carbon inventory. Analyses as presented here are necessary prerequisites to identify and reduce uncertainty in a systematic and iterative way. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.
Jaw muscles of Old World squirrels

The jaw, suprahyoid, and extrinsic tongue muscles were studied in 11 genera, belonging to five tribes, of Old World squirrels. Significant variation in most of the adductor muscles is evident. The most primitive state of sciuromorphy is seen in the African tree squirrels Paraxerus and Funisciurus, especially as reflected in the anterior deep masseter. A derived state of sciuromorphy is found in five genera of Old World squirrels and perhaps evolved independently in each. Reduction of the temporalis muscle was observed in three genera, distantly related to one another. A unique arrangement of the superficial masseter is reported in the Asian giant tree squirrels, Ratufa. The arrangement of the masseter in the African pygmy squirrel, Myosciurus, is very similar to that of the South American pygmy squirrel, Sciurillus. We present hypotheses about the functional significance of these differences. In the derived state of sciuromorphy, which is found in three cases in squirrels that feed extensively on hard fruits, the anterior deep masseter is well positioned to increase the strength of the power stroke of the incisor bite. Among the pygmy squirrels, the position of the anterior deep masseter suggests that it plays a more significant role in molar chewing.
A rapid prototyping method for microfluidic devices using a cutting plotter and Shrinky Dinks

This paper describes a method for rapid prototyping of microfluidic devices in Shrinky Dinks polymers by using a cutting plotter. The new method can produce microchannels with controlled dimensions ranging from 5.8 mm to 330 µm, and fluid tests with a dye solution showed no leakage for channel lengths over 1.5 cm. The total processing time to produce devices with this method is less than 10 minutes, which makes it suitable for rapid prototyping of microfluidic designs prior to full-scale development. Additionally, the instrumentation and materials are relatively low cost and can be implemented outside of a clean room environment, thus enabling the development of microfluidic chips by a wide range of researchers.
Comment on ``Neutron knockout of 12 Be populating neutron-unbound states in 11 Be''

A recent paper [Phys. Rev. C 83, 057304 (2011)] used knockout from ${}^{12}$Be to populate two states near 3.9 MeV in ${}^{11}$Be and observed their neutron decay---but treated the two as a single state. The authors used a branching ratio for the upper state from an experiment that also did not separate the two states. Thus, their energy for ${}^{11}$Be(3.96 MeV) and the spectroscopic factor connecting it to ${}^{12}$Be(gs) are questionable.
Microcomputer Instruction and Perceptions of Effectiveness by Special and Regular Education Elementary School Teachers

Instructional goals and perceptions of microcomputer effectiveness were assessed in a sample of special and regular education teachers with access to computers. For both groups of teachers, discrepancies existed between their perceptions of effective uses of the technology and the types of microcomputer instruction their students received. Differences were also noted between the special and regular educators in some areas. A chi-square analysis also indicated that special and regular education teachers differed in their perceptions of who benefits most from this type of instruction. Visual inspection of the data suggested further differences in their goals for microcomputer instruction, assessment of effective uses of technology, and perceptions of its limitations. The development of instructional goals and the effects of the diffusion of responsibility on the implementation of those goals are discussed.
Sacroplasty for Symptomatic Sacral Hemangioma: A Novel Treatment Approach: A Case Report

Painful vertebral body hemangiomas have been successfully treated with vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty. Sacral hemangiomas are uncommon and as such painful sacral hemangiomas are rare entities. We report what we believe is only the second successful treatment of a painful sacral hemangioma with CT-guided sacroplasty. A 56-year-old woman with a history of right-sided total hip arthroplasty and lipoma excision presented to her orthopedic surgeon with persistent right-sided low back pain which radiated into her buttock and right groin and hindered her ability to walk and perform her activities of daily living. MRIs of the thoracic spine, lumbar spine and pelvis showed numerous lesions with imaging characteristics consistent with multiple hemangiomas including a 2.2×2.1 cm lesion involving the right sacrum adjacent to the right S1 neural foramen. Conservative measures including rest, physical therapy, oral analgesics and right-sided sacroiliac joint steroid injection did not provide significant relief. Given her lack of improvement and the fact that her pain localized to the right sacrum, the patient underwent CT-guided sacroplasty for treatment of a painful right sacral hemangioma. Under CT fluoroscopic guidance, a 10 gauge introducer needle was advanced through the soft tissues of the back to the margin of the lesion. Biopsy was then performed and after appropriate preparation, cement was then introduced through the needle using a separate cement filler cannula. Appropriate filling of the right sacral hemangioma was visualized using intermittent CT fluoroscopy. After injection of approximately 2.5 cc of cement, it was felt that there was near complete filling of the right sacral hemangioma. With satisfactory achievement of cement filling, the procedure was terminated. Pathology from biopsy taken at the time of the procedure was consistent with hemangioma. Image-guided sacroplasty with well-defined endpoints is an effective, minimally invasive and safe procedure. Patients with painful sacral hemangiomas can be treated with this technique with no significant complications.
Thyroid Function in Legg-Perthes Disease

The thyroid function of ten patients with Legg-Perthes disease was studied by means of clinical examination, chemical serum protein-bound-iodine determination, and twenty-four-hour thyroid uptakes. Salivary radioactive iodine concentration was also measured in seven of the ten patients. Three patients had slightly elevated serum protein-bound-iodine levels, but the other tests and subsequent normal protein-bound-iodine determinations satisfactorily ruled out hyperthyroidism. Two patients showed definite asymmetry of radioactive-iodine uptake in the thyroid gland. We cannot rule out the possibility of hyperfunctioning adenoma in these patients, but over-all thyroid function was normal. There was no evidence of hypothyroidism in any of the patients.
Development of alloanti-Jka in a patient with hemolytic anemia due to autoanti-Jkb

Autoanti-Jkb and a transient autoanti-E were identified in a patient with autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and red blood cells negative for Jkb and E antigens were transfused. Twelve weeks after transfusion, the autoantibody appeared to have developed broad specificity. However, autoadsorption studies revealed that the broad reactivity was due to the development of alloanti-Jka in addition to the autoanti-Jkb. Distinguishing this combination of alloanti-Jka plus autoanti-Jkb from an autoantibody with broad specificity will be important in selecting Jka antigen-negative red cells for subsequent transfusions. This case emphasizes the importance of additional serologic testing to detect alloantibodies in patients with broadly reactive warm autoantibodies.
Low-Energy Implantation of Si and Sn into GaAs

(100) GaAs was implanted with 29 Si + at energies of 10keV or 20keV and 119 Sn + at an energy of 60keV. The doses used for the Si + implants were from 1 × 10 13 crrr 2 to 1 × 10 16 cm -2 , whereas the Sn + doses ranged from 1.5×10 12 cm -2 to 1.5×10 15 cm -2 . Implanted samples were rapidly thermal annealed (RTA) in either an argon or arsine ambient at 950°C or 900°C for 12 seconds. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results indicate that the annealing ambient has a dramatic effect on the defect annealing kinetics for 10keV implants but not the 20keV Si + implants. For the 10keV implants reducing arsenic loss via use of an arsine ambient or a Si 3 N 4 cap results in a dramatic decrease in the dislocation loop density. The defect morphology is not related to the as implanted morphology (amorphous or crystalline) but is related to the species. Hall effect measurements revealed an increase in the mobility by a factor of 1.5 times for high dose Si + and Sn + implanted samples when RTA was carried out in an arsine instead of an argon ambient. This is despite little or no change in the extended defect morphology or carrier concentration, indicating that the point defect concentration influences the mobility.
Eosinophilic esophagitis: update on clinicopathological manifestations and pathophysiology.

Purpose of reviewOver the course of the last year, a number of studies have brought new insights into the clinical presentation, pathogenesis, and treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis, some of which will be summarized here.Recent findingsThis swell of research and clinical need resulted in revision
Prophylaxis and Acute Medication Treatment Patterns in Migraine Patients Initiating Migraine Prophylactic Therapy (P2.206)

Objective: To describe prophylactic and acute medication treatment patterns including timing, medication type, and duration of use in migraine patients initiating prophylaxis. Background: Current treatment options for migraine prophylaxis are associated with poor tolerability and low treatment persistence. Methods: Truven Health MarketScan ® Research Databases were used to identify adults in the US with a migraine diagnosis who initiated migraine prophylactic medication (index event) between 2008 and 2011. The prophylactic medications evaluated were topiramate, beta-blockers, and tricyclic antidepressants. Patients were required to have 12 months of pre- and post-index continuous enrollment. Results: Data from 107,122 patients (mean [SD} age 41 [12] years; 83[percnt] female) were included: 52,275 (49[percnt]) initiating topiramate, 22,658 (21[percnt]) initiating beta-blockers, and 32,189 (30[percnt]) initiating antidepressants. Persistence with migraine prophylactic medication was low: 80[percnt] of patients had a >90 day gap in their migraine prophylaxis in the first year. The gap in therapy occurred early in treatment (mean 95 days), and only 10[percnt] of these patients restarted prophylactic therapy within that year. Switching from the index medication to another prophylactic medication or adding prophylaxis was uncommon (13[percnt]). One year after initiating prophylaxis, 65[percnt] of patients were not receiving any of the index prophylactic therapies. Most patients initiating migraine prophylaxis (81[percnt]) also used acute medication in the first year. Opioid use was more common than triptan use (53[percnt] vs 48[percnt]). Patients who used opioids had a mean of 6.1 opioid claims/patient during the year. Opioid use was common (40[percnt]) among patients without other chronic pain conditions (mean of 3.6 opioid claims/patient during the year). Conclusions: Migraine patients initiating prophylactic medication had poor persistence, with early gaps in therapy. Patients were unlikely to switch prophylactic treatments and most discontinued prophylaxis by the end of the first year. A substantial proportion of patients initiating prophylactic migraine therapy also received opioid therapy. Disclosure: Dr. Lenz hold stock and/or stock options in Amgen. Dr. Bonafede has received personal compensation for activities with Truven Health Analytics/AMGEN as an employee. Dr. Maiese has received research support from Amgen, Inc. Dr. Woolley has received personal compensation for activities with Amgen.
Novel modes in a Wilson-Cowan network

Spontaneous [1] and synaptically-driven neural activity exhibit a wide variety of dynamics. In the latter case, recent experiments using spike-triggered LFPs [2] have been able to classify stimulated behavior into two distinct categories: 1) traveling waves with smooth attenuation when the input is weak; and, 2) localized responses when the impulse is strong. Unfortunately, our knowledge of the mechanisms behind these differences is lacking on both the cellular and network scales. This study, employing the spatiotemporal mean-field Wilson-Cowan equations [3], provides a model for the nature of these two modes at the population level. Just as in [2], we detect damped traveling waves with exponential decay when the input is relatively small. When the stimulus increases, the activity stays localized as evidenced by the large slope in the peaks of the activity.
African American Internet Use for Information Search and Privacy Protection Tasks

This study used in-depth observations to investigate the differences in digital literacy among African American young adult Internet users. Sampled Internet users participated in one-to-one real-time observation sessions, in which each user completed Internet-related functions in two dimensions: 1 information search and 2 privacy protection. Observations recorded whether and how quickly each participant completed the assigned tasks. We found that few participants were able to complete assigned information tasks and could control basic features in browser settings. The findings also indicated that levels of digital literacy were more related with their online access experiences than with sociodemographic characteristics. We discussed policy implications of the findings and suggested potential areas of policy concern and remedies.
Comparative trends in forage nutritional quality across the growing season in 13 grasses

The objective of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is to convert erodible cropland to perennial vegetation. Under severe drought, CRP land is frequently utilized for grazing; thus, there is a ...
What Lies Beyond Neuroticism? An Examination of the Unique Contributions of Social-Cognitive Vulnerabilities to Internalizing Disorders:

Extensive research has identified various social-cognitive vulnerabilities for internalizing disorders. However, few studies have assessed multiple disorders simultaneously, so it is unclear whether these vulnerabilities are transdiagnostic or specific risk factors. Their unique associations with disorders are also uncertain, given that they correlate strongly with neuroticism and one other. Psychiatric outpatients completed self-report and interview measures of six disorders (depression, generalized anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, social anxiety, panic, obsessive-compulsive disorder), and personality (the Big Five, neuroticism facets, and four vulnerabilities: anxiety sensitivity, intolerance of uncertainty, perfectionism, experiential avoidance). All constructs were modeled as latent variables using structural equation modeling. All four vulnerabilities were closely associated with neuroticism, loading on its anxiety facet in factor analyses. Furthermore, after accounting for the contribution of neuroticism facets, intolerance of uncertainty and experiential avoidance were not uniquely associated with any disorders, and perfectionism was only related to obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, anxiety sensitivity accounted for substantial unique variance in several disorders (i.e., depression, social anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and panic). We discuss theoretical and clinical implications of these results.
What’s True in Mathematics?

In the last chapter we made the assertions that the statements The number \({2}^{n-1}({2}^{n} - 1)\) is a perfect number for each positive integer n for which 2 n − 1 is a prime number. If 2 n − 1 is a prime number for some positive integer n, then n is a prime number. are true, and we promised arguments that demonstrate them without any doubt. We will provide these in this chapter.
Abstract 860: Alteration In Blood Pressure Monitoring Technique Impacts Hypertension Treatment

Objectives : Our study investigated the hypothesis that current methods of blood pressure (BP) assessment in an ambulatory clinic result in significantly different BP measurements than those obtained by following the American Heart Association (AHA) recommendations as well as the hypothesis that these BP differences result in treatment variation. Methods: This was a randomized, cross-over study in 40 patients with hypertension presenting to the UNMH Adult Internal Medicine Clinic. BP was measured in all patients in random order by the clinic staff using the traditional triage method and by the Principal Investigator using the AHA-recommended method. Trained observers documented BP techniques used. Two complete patient profiles were constructed for each patient one with the AHA BP and one with the triage BP. A panel of blinded providers including internists, a cardiologist, and a clinical pharmacist was asked to provide hypertensive treatment recommendations for each profile. Results: Only DBP differed significantly (77.6 mmHg ± 11.9 vs. 80.4 mmHg ± 10.5; p=0.02) between the triage and AHA methods, respectively. However, individual BP results varied greatly between the two methods. SBP readings differed by ≥5 mmHg in either direction for 68% of patients while 78% of patient’s DBP readings differed by ≥2 mmHg in either direction. Overall, 65% of patients were not at their goal BP when measured with the AHA method compared to 52% with the triage method (p Conclusions: When comparing the two methods of BP measurement, clinically significant differences were observed in a large percentage of patients. This difference significantly impacted hypertension treatment recommendations. Inaccurate BP assessment may lead to inappropriate treatment of hypertension.
Reversal of the effects of freezing on oxidative phosphorylation in the Mycobacterium phlei system.

Abstract It was previously shown that exposure of electron transport particles from Mycobacterium phlei to heat (50°) for 10 min increased the level of phosphorylation and eliminated the requirement for soluble coupling factors. In contrast, particles subjected to freezing followed by slow thawing exhibited decreased P:O ratios. This loss in activity was restored following heat-treatment of the frozen particles. Mixture of ATP and Mg++, soluble coupling factors and cryoprotective agents like glycerol and dimethyl sulfoxide protected the ETP from the effects of freezing.
RELEASE OF ENTEROTOXIN FROM WASHED CELLS OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS

Enterotoxin was detected in lysates from washed cells of Staphylococcus aureus treated with toluene, lysozyme, and acetone-dry powder; but no toxin was detected in lysates from washed cells disrupted by sonication, grinding, or freezing and thawing.
Near-UV Photodissociation of Tryptic Peptide Cation Radicals. Scope and Effects of Amino Acid Residues and Radical Sites

Peptide cation-radical fragment ions of the z-type, [●AXAR+], [●AXAK+], and [●XAR+], where X = A, C, D, E, F, G, H, K, L, M, N, P, Y, and W, were generated by electron transfer dissociation of peptide dications and investigated by MS3-near-ultraviolet photodissociation (UVPD) at 355 nm. Laser-pulse dependence measurements indicated that the ion populations were homogeneous for most X residues except phenylalanine. UVPD resulted in dissociations of backbone CO─NH bonds that were accompanied by hydrogen atom transfer, producing fragment ions of the [yn]+ type. Compared with collision-induced dissociation, UVPD yielded less side-chain dissociations even for residues that are sensitive to radical-induced side-chain bond cleavages. The backbone dissociations are triggered by transitions to second (B) excited electronic states in the peptide ion R-CH●-CONH- chromophores that are resonant with the 355-nm photon energy. Electron promotion increases the polarity of the B excited states, R-CH+-C●(O–)NH-, and steers the reaction to proceed by transfer of protons from proximate acidic Cα and amide nitrogen positions.
Cultural Norms and Definitions of Violence

Cultural norms play a key role in establishing and maintaining patterns of violent and aggressive behavior in many distinct contexts. Norms influence social–cognitive and behavioral attributes that can decrease or increase the likelihood of violent behavior, depending on the content and strength of those norms and how deeply they are internalized by the individual. Many of these norms are embedded in the broader culture as well as the proximal community of each developing individual. Information about cultural norms is conveyed through learning processes during human social interaction in families (e.g., harsh parenting and domestic violence between partners and siblings) and in neighborhood settings (e.g., school, workplace). Keywords: aggression; culture; norms; parenting; peers; violence
EFFECT OF THE HELIOTHIS NUCLEAR POLYHEDROSIS VIRUS INFECTION ON FOOD CONSUMPTION BY HELIOTHIS ZEA

Frass production by Heliothis zea (Boddie) larvae infected at varying mortality levels with Heliothis nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) was determined and used to estimate the effect of the virus on larval food consumption. Treatment in the early stages was essential to substantially reduce food consumption. Reduction in food consumption was also directly related to NPV dosage. Food consumption by larvae surviving NPV treatment was not significantly different from the untreated larvae. Field tests indicated that NPV applications must be timed against 1st- or 2nd-stage larvae to achieve an appreciable mortality level and prevent infected larvae from reaching the damaging late developmental stages. Preliminary maximum treatment levels for use of Heliothis NPV for suppression of H. zea on soybean are presented.
Distribution of Au-Rich mRNAs and mRNA binding proteins in human saliva

3507 Identification of signature mRNAs in human saliva gives great potential for the discovery of diagnostic biomarkers for oral and systemic diseases. Our laboratory has shown that saliva contains several signature human mRNAs that can be used for diagnostic biomarkers for oral cancer (Li, Y., M. A. St John, et al. (2004) Clin Cancer Res 10(24): 8442-50; Li, Y., X. Zhou, et al. (2004) J Dent Res 83(3): 199-203). Analysis of these normal salivary transcriptome core (NSTC) mRNAs revealed that the majority of them (110 out of 200; 55%) contained AU-rich elements (AREs). Sequence elements rich in A and U nucleotides or AU-rich elements (AREs) have been known for many years to target mRNAs for rapid degradation as well as stabilization. We hypothesized that the ARE elements and ARE binding proteins are involved in RNA stability and turn over control in human saliva. IL-8, one of the four oral cancer specific salivary RNA biomarker, contains 16 ARE motifs was used for hypothesis testing. Experiments on mRNA stability assay using radio labeled in vitro transcribed IL-8 mRNA suggests that ARE is required for stabilization in saliva. Point mutations of respective ARE motifs of IL-8 abolish the macromolecule binding and destabilize the IL-8 mRNA in saliva. Further, evidences were obtained that support the presence of mRNA binding proteins in saliva that could regulate the stability of ARE mRNAs in saliva. Known ARE binding proteins such as AUF1 and TTP have been identified through western blot in saliva supernatant. Additional salivary mRNA binding proteins are currently being identified by mRNA/protein cross-linking followed by mass spectrometry. The study of regulation and expression of ARE binding proteins in human saliva is underway. All together these studies indicate that ARE binding proteins and certain high molecular weight macromolecules confer stability to mRNAs in saliva. This analysis highlights the multitude of salivary mRNAs that contain ARE motifs (55% versus 5-8% in normal cells and tissues) are their translational utility for saliva-based diagnostics. Supported by PHS Grant R01 DE 15970.
Nutritive, Post-ingestive Signals Are the Primary Regulators of AgRP Neuron Activity

The brain regulates food intake by processing sensory cues and peripheral physiological signals, but the neural basis of this integration remains unclear. Hypothalamic, agouti-related protein (AgRP)-expressing neurons are critical regulators of food intake. AgRP neuron activity is high during hunger and is rapidly reduced by the sight and smell of food. Here, we reveal two distinct components of AgRP neuron activity regulation: a rapid but transient sensory-driven signal and a slower, sustained calorie-dependent signal. We discovered that nutrients are necessary and sufficient for sustained reductions in AgRP neuron activity and that activity reductions are proportional to the calories obtained. This change in activity is recapitulated by exogenous administration of gut-derived satiation signals. Furthermore, we showed that the nutritive value of food trains sensory systems-in a single trial-to drive rapid, anticipatory AgRP neuron activity inhibition. Together, these data demonstrate that nutrients are the primary regulators of AgRP neuron activity.
Energy democracy and social movements: A multi-coalition perspective on the politics of sustainability transitions

Abstract This study develops research on social movements, political coalitions, and sustainability transitions with a multi-coalition perspective. The perspective begins with a typology of coalitions based on two pairs of goals—general societal change versus the sociotechnical transition of an industry or technological system, and sunrising versus sunsetting of systems and structures. Mapping the diversity of energy-transition coalitions makes it possible not only to identify the various wings of a broader industrial transition movement in a specified time and place but also to show the dynamics of how coalitions interact and change over time. Drawing on case studies of four energy-transition coalitions in New York State that approximate the four ideal types, the study shows differences in the goals, strategies, organizational composition, and frames of the coalitions. The study then shows the mechanisms that enable integration across coalitions, including the role of bridge brokers and new frames. As the networks of the energy-transition coalitions become more connected, the organizations make use of a wider set of frames, including the newer frame of energy democracy. Thus, the study develops an approach to the study of energy democracy that shows how it can serve as a frame that bridge brokers use to integrate coalitions.
C–N Cross-Coupling via Photoexcitation of Nickel–Amine Complexes

C–N cross-coupling is an important class of reactions with far-reaching impacts across chemistry, materials science, biology, and medicine. Transition metal complexes can elegantly orchestrate diverse aminations but typically require demanding reaction conditions, precious metal catalysts, or oxygen-sensitive procedures. Here, we introduce a mild nickel-catalyzed C–N cross-coupling methodology that operates at room temperature using an inexpensive nickel source (NiBr2·3H2O), is oxygen tolerant, and proceeds through direct irradiation of the nickel–amine complex. This operationally robust process was employed for the synthesis of diverse C–N-coupled products (40 examples) by irradiating a solution containing an amine, an aryl halide, and a catalytic amount of NiBr2·3H2O with a commercially available 365 nm LED at room temperature without added photoredox catalyst and the amine substrate serving additional roles as the ligands and base. Density functional theory calculations and kinetic isotope effect exper...
Diagnostic Tools for Assessing Dissociation in Children and Adolescents

The recent development of screening and diagnostic instruments specific to the dissociative disorders allows for effective early identification and proper treatment of patients with these disorders. These disorders have been under- and misdiagnosed in the child and adolescent population as well as in adults. This article reviews instruments that are currently in use in screening for or diagnosing dissociative disorders in children and adolescents, and it reports on the results obtained from administration of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Dissociative Disorders (SCID-D) to adolescent patients. It concludes with a summary of the clinical applications of the SCID-D in the adolescent population and a sample interview report on an adolescent diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder/multiple identity disorder.
Electromagnetic scanning of pork carcasses in an on-line industrial configuration.

The objective of this study was to test and validate electromagnetic scanning of whole pork carcasses in an on-line, integrated, industrial configuration. The electromagnetic (EM) scanner was installed in two pork processing facilities (Plant A and Plant B). Plant A was a small pork fabrication plant that further processed chilled pork carcasses. Carcasses were delivered to Plant A by refrigerated trucks. The amount of EM energy absorbed by the carcasses was recorded as they were conveyed through the EM field. A plot of the absorption units over time (EM scan curve) was used to obtain predictive variables for estimating carcass and primal cut composition. Forty-eight whole, chilled carcasses (Group A) were electromagnetically scanned and conveyed onto the fabrication line. The average percentage carcass lean for Group A was 49.1% (range = 36.5 to 59.5%). Right carcass sides were removed from the processing line, fabricated into primal cuts, and dissected into fat, lean, and bone. Prediction equations were developed from EM scans for weight of total dissected carcass lean (R2 = .830; root mean square error = 1.80 kg), percentage of carcass lean (R2 = .820; root mean square error = 2.29%), and weight of dissected ham, longissimus muscle, and shoulder lean. In Plant B, the electromagnetic scanner was installed at the end of a pork slaughter line to ensure carcass scanning at a consistent carcass temperature. Fifty whole, pre-rigor eviscerated carcasses (Group B) were electromagnetically scanned before entering the chill cooler where fat and loin tissue depths were obtained by an optical grading probe. The average percentage carcass lean for Group B was 46.7% (range = 30.1 to 57.3%). Prediction equations were developed from EM scans for weight of total dissected carcass lean (R2 = .904; root mean square error = 1.59 kg), percentage of carcass lean (R2 = .863; root mean square error = 2.05%), and weight of dissected ham, loin, and shoulder lean. Statistical equations developed for the prediction of dissected primal cut lean were superior from EM scans of Group B (prerigor) carcasses. Electromagnetic scanning proved more statistically efficient than optical probes for predicting weight of dissected carcass lean and percentage of carcass lean. Statistical comparison of EM scan equations from Groups A and B are not completely valid because two different populations of carcasses were tested at different times of the year. The results of this study show that EM scanning has the potential to accurately predict pork carcass composition in a fully automated, on-line industrial configuration.
Drugs of abuse: management of intoxication and antidotes.

Illicit drug intoxications are an increasing public health problem for which, in most cases, no antidotes are clinically available. The diagnosis and treatment of these intoxications requires a trained clinician with experience in recognizing the specific signs and symptoms of intoxications to individual drugs as well as polydrug intoxications, which are more the rule than the exception. To make the diagnosis, the clinical observation and a urine toxicology test are often enough. Evaluating the blood levels of drugs is frequently not practical because the tests can be expensive and results may be delayed and unavailable to guide the establishment of a, treatment plan. Other laboratory tests may be useful depending on the drug or drugs ingested and the presence of other medical complications. The treatment should be provided in a quiet, safe and reassuring environment. Vital signs should be closely monitored. Changes in blood pressure, respiratory frequency and temperature should be promptly treated, particularly respiratory depression (in cases of opiate intoxication) or hyperthermia (in cases of cocaine or amphetamine intoxication). Intravenous fluids should be administered as soon as possible. Other psychiatric and medical complication should receive appropriate symptomatic treatment. Research on immunotherapies, including vaccines, monoclonal and catalytic antibodies, seems to be a promising approach that may yield specific antidotes for drugs of abuse, helping to ameliorate the morbidity and mortality associated with illicit drug intoxications.
A versatile and sensitive method for measuring oxygen.

Oxygen dependence of the lifetime of the excited triplet state of phosphorescent molecules can be used to measure the oxygen concentration in aqueous media. These measurements are insensitive to much of the optical interference that limits the usefulness of measurements based on the oxygen dependent quenching of luminescence intensity. The measurements also extend to significantly lower oxygen concentrations than are normally attainable using oxygen electrodes. The phosphorescence lifetimes can be accurately measured from a few microseconds to seconds, permitting a wide dynamic range of oxygen concentration measurements. With currently available probes, for example, it is possible to make continuous measurement of oxygen concentrations from 10−4 M to 10−8 M in a single experiment.
The Interaction Of Cold Atmospheric Plasma Jet And A Capacitive Target With Dc Field: The Reflection And Absorption Of Guided Ionization Wave

Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) is being widely studied for medical purposes especially for cancer treatments 1. At the time when CAP is applied on cells, the cells also change the plasmas and cause an indirect effect back to the cells. Therefore, the feedback mechanism from cells to plasmas cannot be ignored. This presenting research focuses on how the electric field of a cell membrane, as a capacitive target, changes CAP jet. A simulated electric field is generated by a grid which is consists of two layers of insulated wires. The layers are connected to batteries, and the floating DC voltage can provide an electric field up to 106V/m. Both grid potentials and positions are variables in this research.
Surgical Repair of Acute TFCC Injury

Triangular fibrocartilage complex tears are a common source of ulnar-sided wrist pain and distal radioulnar joint instability. Symptoms recalcitrant to conservative management or injuries in high-demand athletes may indicate surgical management. Both open and arthroscopic techniques offer improvements in objective measures, patient-centered outcome scores, and return to work, but may be complicated by nerve irritation, persistent wrist instability, and pain. Recently developed knotless arthroscopic techniques are not well studied but may limit morbidity.
Chapter 8 – Ceramic Biomaterials

Ceramics compose a significant segment of biomaterials usage, including the use of more inert and insoluble monolithic inorganics in orthopedics and in dentistry. Separately, calcium inorganic precipitation is a crucial feature in bone mineralization. It is also noted that a range of trace minerals including magnesium, zinc, and selenium are found which serve no structural need but could be regulatory ions in physiological response. In this chapter, common ceramic biomaterials are presented along with their attributes and methods to achieve useful structures whether as monoliths, particulates, porous structures, or as bioactive glasses.
AirMAP: Scalable Spectrum Occupancy Recovery Using Local Low-Rank Matrixapproximation

We propose AirMAP, a framework for enabling scalable database-driven dynamic spectrum access and sharing. We bring together the merits of compressive sensing and collaborative filtering to provide accurate radio occupancy map while reducing the network overhead cost and overcome the scalability issue with conventional approaches. We start from an observation that close-by users have a highly correlated spectrum observation and we propose to recover the spectrum occupancy matrix in the borough of each sensing node by minimizing the rank of local sub-matrices. Then, we combine the recovered matrix entries using a similarity criterion to get the global spectrum occupancy map. Through simulations, we show that the proposed framework minimizes the error while reducing the network overhead. We also show that the proposed framework is scalable when considering high frequencies.
Physical, on the fly, capacity degradation prediction of LiNiMnCoO2-graphite cells

Abstract A physics-based, reduced order model was developed to describe the capacity degradation in LiNiMnCoO2-graphite cells. By starting from fundamental principles, the model captures the effects of four degradation mechanisms: (i) SEI growth on the anode, (ii) electrolyte oxidation on the cathode, (iii) anode active material loss, and (iv) cathode active material loss, the last two due to chemomechanical fracture. The model is computationally efficient (∼1 ms/cycle) and enables physical, real-time, capacity loss calculations for automotive applications. Results demonstrate that under storage conditions, SEI growth and electrolyte oxidation are the major degradation mechanisms, in agreement with experiments. In contrast, batteries subjected to electric currents of a wide amplitude, close to the upper cutoff voltage, electrolyte oxidation contributes ∼50% of all the degradation mechanisms, consistent with recent experiments in the literature. Chemomechanically induced active material losses are maximal in the anode at high states of charge and maximal in the cathode at low states of charge. Results quantify the contribution to degradation from each individual mechanism, highlighting, for the first time, the need of physics-based, on-the-fly descriptions that go beyond traditional coulomb counting approaches. Finally, the identification of the individual degradation contributions enables the possibility of tailoring the charge/discharge sequence to extend battery life.
Sparse Multi-task Inverse Covariance Estimation for Connectivity Analysis in EEG Source Space

Understanding how different brain areas interact to generate complex behavior is a primary goal of neuroscience research. One approach, functional connectivity analysis, aims to characterize the connectivity patterns within brain networks. In this paper, we address the problem of discriminative connectivity, i.e. determining the differences in network structure under different experimental conditions. We introduce a novel model called Sparse Multi-task Inverse Covariance Estimation (SMICE) which is capable of estimating a common connectivity network as well as discriminative networks across different tasks. We apply the method to EEG signals after solving the inverse problem of source localization, yielding networks defined on the cortical surface. We propose an efficient algorithm based on the Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers (ADMM) to solve SMICE. We apply our newly developed framework to find common and discriminative connectivity patterns for α-oscillations during the Sleep Onset Process (SOP) and during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. Even though both stages exhibit a similar α-oscillations, we show that the underlying networks are distinct.
Nonlinear epsilon-near-zero materials explained: opinion

Epsilon-near-zero materials have recently come onto the scene as promising new nonlinear optical materials. However, this field is quite crowded and it is prudent to ask whether they possess any key features which will elevate them above other candidates. It is our opinion that they in fact possess two such features, a simultaneous intrinsic and extrinsic enhancement to light matter interaction. Here we elucidate these enhancement mechanisms and compare them to other manifestations found in literature, explaining why this combination is unique to epsilon-near-zero materials.