cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Information effects and mass support for EU policy control

Democracy requires an active and informed citizenry. Citizen engagement is all the more critical in complex environments such as the European Union (EU). This article examines how having an informed public matters for support for European-level policy competencies. Is public skepticism of EU authority shaped by a lack of knowledge, or are attitudes about policy jurisdiction in Europe’s multilevel system unbiased by information? Our analysis of collective opinion in 27 issue areas reveals that, in nearly every case, a paucity of knowledge about the EU reduces popular support for European policy control. Further analyses show that possessing knowledge of Europe’s institutions affects support for EU authority in areas involving cross-border political issues. In contrast, we find no consistent biasing effect on opinions about control over economic issues.
The Politics of Common Knowledge: Ideas and Institutional Change in Wage Bargaining

Domestic economic institutions change through processes of conflict and bargaining. Why do the strongest groups in such conflicts ever change their minds about the acceptability of institutional arrangements they once opposed? Drawing on the cases of Ireland in 1986–87 and Italy in 1989–93, this article demonstrates how the process of common knowledge creation between employers and unions changed the course of negotiations over national wage bargaining institutions. Common knowledge creation happens when existing institutions are in crisis. The institutional experimentation that follows such crises, characterized by deep uncertainty, places a premium on persuasive argument. The ideas most likely to serve as the basis for newly common knowledge will have analytical and distributive appeal to both unions and employers, and they must be ratified in public agreements, which I call common knowledge events. Common knowledge events establish new social facts, which can change the payoffs associated with different institutional outcomes. This can lead even powerful actors to accept institutions they had previously opposed.The author thanks Marius Busemeyer, Mary Louise Culpepper, Keith Darden, Orfeo Fioretos, Archon Fung, Peter Hall, Andrew Martin, Cathie Jo Martin, Victoria Murillo, Kathleen Thelen, and Gunnar Trumbull, along with three anonymous reviewers and the editors of IO, for comments and conversations that improved this article. Ben Ansell and Vikram Siddarth provided valuable research assistance. Financial support from the John F. Kennedy School of Government and the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University is gratefully acknowledged. Any remaining errors are my own.
Mean Girls: Adolescent Female Athletes and Peer Conflict in Sport

The purpose of this study was to explore adolescent female athletes’ experiences with peer conflict. In-depth, semistructured interviews (N = 15) were conducted with female athletes participating in high school/club-level sport. Inductive and deductive content analysis was then completed, and 4 distinct themes emerged regarding interpersonal conflict in the sport domain: causes of sport peer conflict, manifestations of sport peer conflict, outcomes of sport peer conflict, and attempts to reduce conflict. Findings imply that sport peer relationships can result in conflict behaviors that are both consistent with developmental literature and distinctive within the adolescent sport domain.
A highly conserved mouse gene with a propensity to form pseudogenes in mammals.

Abstract A mouse cDNA clone corresponding to an abundantly transcribed poly(A)+ mRNA was found to be represented by 200 copies in mammalian genomes. To understand the origin and nature of this sequence family, we studied two genomic members and two cDNA clones from mouse liver. The DNA sequence of the coding strand of a full-length cDNA clone was shown to have an open reading frame capable of encoding a 25-kilodalton polypeptide that has not been previously described. In vitro transcription-translation experiments verified the presence of an open reading frame encoding a protein of the predicted size. Restriction analysis of genomic DNA and DNA sequence analysis of genomic clones indicated that many of the 200 members of this family represent processed pseudogenes, with one or a small number of active structural genes. The vast majority of the genomic copies are heterogeneous in length, truncated at their 5' ends with respect to the mRNA, and do not appear to have intervening sequences. Two distinct genomic members of this family were sequenced and found to represent incomplete copies of the mRNA. Both are 5' truncated at slightly different points with respect to the mRNA. Both pseudogenes have multiple base changes, insertions, and deletions relative to the mRNA, and one of them encodes the poly(A) tail of the mRNA. The expression of this gene family is highest in rapidly dividing cells such as early mouse embryos and testis, but was seen in all tissues tested. This gene shows extremely high sequence conservation, extending to chicken, amphibian, and nematode genomes. Surprisingly, the gene appears to exist in only one copy in these organisms.
Endoplasmic reticulum membrane tubules are distributed by microtubules in living cells using three distinct mechanisms

Abstract Background: The microtubule-dependent motility of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) tubules is fundamental to the structure and function of the ER. From in vitro assays, three mechanisms for ER tubule motility have arisen: the ‘membrane sliding mechanism' in which ER tubules slide along microtubules using microtubule motor activity; the ‘microtubule movement mechanism' in which ER attaches to moving microtubules; and the ‘tip attachment complex (TAC) mechanism' in which ER tubules attach to growing plus ends of microtubules. Results: We have used multi-wavelength time-lapse epifluorescence microscopy to image the dynamic interactions between microtubules (by microinjection of X-rhodamine-labeled tubulin) and ER (by DiOC 6 (3) staining) in living cells to determine which mechanism contributes to the formation and motility of ER tubules in migrating cells in vivo . Newly forming ER tubules extended only in a microtubule plus-end direction towards the cell periphery: 31.4% by TACs and 68.6% by the membrane sliding mechanism. ER tubules, statically attached to microtubules, moved towards the cell center with microtubules through actomyosin-based retrograde flow. TACs did not change microtubule growth and shortening velocities, but reduced transitions between these states. Treatment of cells with 100 nM nocodazole to inhibit plus-end microtubule dynamics demonstrated that TAC motility required microtubule assembly dynamics, whereas membrane sliding and retrograde-flow-driven ER motility did not. Conclusions: Both plus-end-directed membrane sliding and TAC mechanisms make significant contributions to the motility of ER towards the periphery of living cells, whereas ER removal from the lamella is powered by actomyosin-based retrograde flow of microtubules with ER attached as cargo. TACs in the ER modulate plus-end microtubule dynamics.
Patterns of traffic accidents and violations related to drinking and to some medical conditions.

A comparison was made of the types of accidents and violations incurred by 256 drivers with alcoholism as a primary diagnosis, 126 drivers with another medical condition and a drinking problem as a...
High-rate error-correction codes for the optical atmospheric channel

We evaluate two error correction systems based on low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes for free-space optical (FSO) communication channels subject to atmospheric turbulence. We simulate the effect of turbulence on the received signal by modeling the channel with a gamma-gamma distribution. We compare the bit-error rate performance of these codes with the performance of Reed-Solomon codes of similar rate and obtain coding gains from 3 to 14 dB depending on the turbulence conditions.
Chemical Influence on Feeding Behavior of Leptinotarsa Beetles

Among the various interactions that occur between insect and plant, the phenomenon of host plant specificity is particularly intricate and important. Many plant-feeding insects depend on very restricted groups of taxonomically related plant species for their existence. The mono-phagous and oligophagous feeding habits of these insects reflect the unusual modes of adaptation that have evolved in phytophagous insects.
Stress-Induced Quadrupole Splittings of Li 7 NMR in KCl: Li +

Measurements of stress-induced first-order electric quadrupole splittings of the ${\mathrm{Li}}^{7}$ NMR line in KCl: ${\mathrm{Li}}^{+}$ are reported for the temperature range 1.3 to 4.2 K. Data are presented for uniaxial stresses up to --- 287 bar applied parallel to [001], [110], and [111] with the magnetic field rotated in the plane perpendicular to the stress. No splitting is observed for stress parallel to [001]. For stress parallel to [110], a splitting proportional to ${sin}^{2}\ensuremath{\beta}$ is observed, where $\ensuremath{\beta}$ is the angle between the magnetic field and [001]. A splitting independent of magnetic field direction is observed for stress parallel to [111]. Data for the temperature and stress dependence of the quadrupole splitting with stress parallel to [110] and the magnetic field parallel to $[1\overline{1}0]$ are presented. The splittings are consistent only with the $〈111〉$ or $X{Y}_{8}$ model of the ${\mathrm{Li}}^{+}$ impurity site. By fitting the temperature and stress dependence data with a linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) tunneling model a value of $\frac{{e}^{2}Q}{h}=71\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3$ kHz is obtained for the quadrupole interaction of a nucleus localized in one well. The fit also quantitatively determines the response of the impurity site to stress.
Effect of ascorbic acid on diabetogenic action of alloxan.

SummaryAdministration of ascorbic acid to rats which are given low doses of alloxan increases the diabetogenic action of the alloxan. To obtain this effect the alloxan must be given within a minute after the administration of the ascorbic acid. d-Isoascorbic acid? on the other hand, does not produce the potentiation of the alloxan diabetes.
The Prevalence of Reinvention Reforms in Local Governments and Their Relationship with Organizational Goal Clarity and Employee Job Satisfaction

ABSTRACT:Drawing on a sample of U.S. local government employees, this study examines whether the prevalence of reinvention reforms within cities affects the perceived clarity of organizational goals and job satisfaction of workers. Results from an ordered logistic regression and a series of simulated predicated probabilities indicate that job satisfaction and goal clarity are at their highest levels in cities that have a strong reinvention focus; conversely, the probability of average or below-average job satisfaction is higher in cities with a weaker reinvention focus and when goals are more ambiguous. Findings further suggest that reinvention reforms may clarify goals for workers and improve job satisfaction, but that organizations should take separate steps to clarify goals for employees.
Encapsulated Hydrogels by E-beam Lithography and Their Use in Enzyme Cascade Reactions

Electron beam (e-beam) lithography was employed to prepare one protein immobilized hydrogel encapsulated inside another by first fabricating protein-reactive hydrogels of orthogonal reactivity and subsequently conjugating the biomolecules. Exposure of thin films of eight arm star poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) functionalized with biotin (Biotin-PEG), alkyne (Alkyne-PEG) or aminooxy (AO-PEG) end-groups to e-beam radiation resulted in cross-linked hydrogels with the respective functionality. It was determined via confocal microscopy that a nominal size exclusion effect exists for streptavidin immobilized on Biotin-PEG hydrogels of feature sizes ranging from 5 to 40 μm. AO-PEG was subsequently patterned as an encapsulated core inside a contiguous outer shell of Biotin-PEG. Similarly, Alkyne-PEG was patterned as a core inside an AO-PEG shell. The hydrogel reactive end-groups were conjugated to dyes or proteins of complementary reactivity, and the three-dimensional (3-D) spatial orientation was determined for both configurations using confocal microscopy. The enzyme glucose oxidase (GOX) was immobilized in the core of the encapsulated Alkyne-PEG core/ AO-PEG shell architecture, and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was conjugated to the shell periphery. Bioactivity for the HRP-GOX enzyme pair was observed in this encapsulated configuration by demonstrating that the enzyme pair was capable of enzyme cascade reactions.
Development and Application of the Information Collection Terminal Remote Fault Diagnosis System

According to the huge workload of the current terminal device of the energy metering automation systems,operation and maintenance personnel shortages,failure and fault conditions of the terminal and more diverse and complex diagnostic procedures,the researchers designed an information collection terminal power intelligent fault diagnosis system,including main control system diagnosis and diagnostic subsystems.The system has quick,on-line,automatic fault diagnosis of terminal functions,ensuring a terminal fault is timely and effective solution to improve the diagnosis of terminal efficiency,reduce the maintenance workload of the terminal site.
Experimental research on composite material case of SRM under influence of temperature

Based on to engineering practice,mechanical properties experimental schemes of composite material were designed under the influence of temperature.The influence of temperature on mechanical properties of epoxy resin matrix and composite material unidirectional plate were analyzed.The influence of temperature on burst pressures of composite material vessels and cases were studied.The mechanical properties of materials and failure mechanism of components were obtained.The experiment results were used to establish the quantitative relationship of typical structural features and macroscopic mechanical properties.The important material parameters provide reference for the structural design of composite material case.
Influence of intracellular Ca2+ and alternative splicing on the pharmacological profile of ANO1 channels

Anoctamin-1 (ANO1) is a Ca(2+)-activated Cl(-) channel expressed in many types of cells. Splice variants of ANO1 have been shown to influence the biophysical properties of conductance. It has been suggested that several new antagonists of ANO1 with relatively high affinity and selectivity might be useful for experimental and, potentially, therapeutic purposes. We investigated the effects of intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) at 100-1,000 nM, a concentration range that might be achieved in cells during physiological activation of ANO1 channels, on blockade of ANO1 channels expressed in HEK-293 cells. Whole cell and excised patch configurations of the patch-clamp technique were used to perform tests on a variety of naturally occurring splice variants of ANO1. Blockade of ANO1 currents with aminophenylthiazole (T16Ainh-A01) was highly dependent on [Ca(2+)]i Increasing [Ca(2+)]i reduced the potency of this blocker. Similar Ca(2+)-dependent effects were also observed with benzbromarone. Experiments on excised, inside-out patches showed that the diminished potency of the blockers caused by intracellular Ca(2+) might involve a competitive interaction for a common binding site or repulsion of the blocking drugs by electrostatic forces at the cytoplasmic surface of the channels. The degree of interaction between the channel blockers and [Ca(2+)]i depends on the splice variant expressed. These experiments demonstrate that the efficacy of ANO1 antagonists depends on [Ca(2+)]i, suggesting a need for caution when ANO1 blockers are used to determine the role of ANO1 in physiological functions and in their use as therapeutic agents.
Information Economics in Perspective

Discusses the information-knowledge spectrum and the properties of information which lend themselves to econometric studies. Identifies the value analysis of information and suggests further studies.
High-Throughput Platform for Identifying Molecular Factors Involved in Phenotypic Stabilization of Primary Human Hepatocytes In Vitro

Liver disease is a leading cause of morbidity worldwide and treatment options are limited, with organ transplantation being the only form of definitive management. Cell-based therapies have long held promise as alternatives to whole-organ transplantation but have been hindered by the rapid loss of liver-specific functions over a period of days in cultured hepatocytes. Hypothesis-driven studies have identified a handful of factors that modulate hepatocyte functions in vitro, but our understanding of the mechanisms involved remains incomplete. We thus report here the development of a high-throughput platform to enable systematic interrogation of liver biology in vitro. The platform is currently configured to enable genetic knockdown screens and includes an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay–based functional assay to quantify albumin output as a surrogate marker for hepatocyte synthetic functions as well as an image-based viability assay that counts hepatocyte nuclei. Using this platform, we identified 12 gen...
The Intersection of Genetics and Social Work: An Interview With Michie Hesselbrock, PhD

Dr. Michie Hesselbrock, Professor Emeritus at the University of Connecticut’s School of Social Work, is an important contributor to research of social work practice with persons with addictions. In...
COMMUNITY EFFECTS OF INTRODUCED SPECIES

Though reported species introductions are a biased sample of all introductions, one may nevertheless fruitfully examine their consequences to cast light on community ecology theory. In particular, they would appear to be ideal tests for two broad classes of community models: (1) equilibrium island biogeography, and (2) limiting similarity. Examination of substantial lists of introductions shows little support for either the naive form of equilibrium island biogeography theory or its sophisticated variant, in which species replacement is predominantly within groups of ecologically similar species. Nor is there much evidence for limiting similarity. Both these observations march with similar results drawn from statistical examination of non-experimental systems, and point to the conclusion that interspecific competition, though viewed over at least two decades as the main force structuring communities in ecological time, is very difficult to demonstrate with data at hand.
Shifting environmental concern in rural eastern Oregon: the role of demographic and place-based factors

Public opinion can impact the success of natural resource management policies and programs. In this case study, we assess the degree to which demographic and place-based factors are associated with changing public opinions on climate change, wolves, renewable energy, and land development regulations in rural northeast Oregon. Based on cross-sectional telephone survey data collected in 2011 and 2014, our observations suggest declining support for eliminating wolves, increased support for renewable energy, and increasingly favorable views of regulations that limit development in rural landscapes. We find that while demographic change and local events contribute to some of the observed shifts in opinion on wolves, exogenous factors acting at state and national levels likely contribute to shifting opinions on climate change, renewable energy, and land use regulations.
Evaluation of left ventricular diastolic function profile in patients with pulmonary hypertension due to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

Background Echocardiography plays an important role in the diagnostic work up of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We sought to determine the left ventricular (LV) diastolic profile by echocardiography in patients diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH) due to PH-HFpEF. Hypothesis The study of LV diastolic function by echocardiography has limitations in patients with HFpEF and PH, and certain LV diastolic determinations convey a worse prognosis. Methods We included patients with postcapillary PH and diagnosis of PH-HFpEF. Investigators reviewed Doppler echocardiograms completed within 3 months of the diagnostic right heart catheterization. Results We included 149 patients with a mean ± standard deviation age of 63 ± 14 years; 58% were women. LV diastolic function profile was determined as normal (41%), grade I (34%), and grade II and grade III (25%). Pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance were higher and cardiac output lower in patients with LV diastolic dysfunction profile; however, pulmonary artery wedge pressure was not significantly different among grades of LV diastolic function. Although there was an association between the presence of LV diastolic dysfunction profile and long-term survival (P = 0.03), it disappeared when adjusting for age and gender. Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction, paradoxical septal motion, and higher RV systolic pressure remained the only variables significantly associated with poor survival. Conclusions The profile of LV diastolic dysfunction by conventional echocardiography is highly variable in patients with PH-HFpEF and has no significant impact on long-term survival. A more severe RV function and higher right ventricle systolic pressure were associated with worse survival.
Site-specific seismic hazard analysis for Calabrian dam site using regionally customized seismic source and ground motion models

Abstract Probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) are performed for routine applications using source models and ground motion models (GMMs) recommended by a government agency (e.g., US Geological Survey) or an expert panel (e.g., SHARE project). For important projects, site-specific PSHA involves critical analysis of GMMs and sources for the application region. We adopt the latter approach for a dam site in Calabria (southern Italy), a high seismic hazard region. We consider area sources as well as fault sources coupled with background zones, tailoring a model developed in the SHARE project for the subject site. We identify several problems with assigned maximum magnitudes for fault and in-slab subduction sources. We also add two sources not previously considered – the crustal Lakes fault and the Calabrian arc subduction interface. We select GMMs that are better constrained in the hazard-controlling range of magnitudes and distances than those typically used in prior Italian applications. Short-period median spectral accelerations at the 2475-year return period exceed those from prior SHARE studies by about 10–15%, and those from the Italian building code by amounts ranging from 15% to 96%. Despite the site being located in a region with finite faults capable of generating large events, the 2475-year hazard is dominated by source zones that allow for earthquakes directly beneath the site.
Powers of One: The Mathematicalization of the Occult Sciences in the High Persianate Tradition

Occultism remains the largest blind spot in the historiography of Islamicate philosophy-science, a casualty of persistent scholarly positivism, even whiggish triumphalism. Such occultophobia notwithstanding, the present article conducts a survey of the Islamicate encyclopedic tradition from the 4th–11th/10th–17th centuries, with emphasis on Persian classifications of the sciences, to demonstrate the ascent to philosophically mainstream status of various occult sciences (ʿulūm ġarība) throughout the post-Mongol Persianate world. Most significantly, in Persian encyclopedias, but not in Arabic, and beginning with Faḫr al-Dīn Rāzī, certain occult sciences (astrology, lettrism and geomancy) were gradually but definitively shifted from the natural to the mathematical sciences as a means of reasserting their scientific legitimacy in the face of four centuries of anti-occultist polemic, from Ibn Sīnā to Ibn Ḫaldūn; they were simultaneously reclassified as the sciences of walāya, moreover, which alone explains the massive increase in patronage of professional occultists at the Safavid, Mughal and Ottoman courts in the runup to the Islamic millennium (1592 CE). I argue that the mathematicalization, neopythagoreanization and sanctification of occultism in Ilkhanid-Timurid-Aqquyunlu Iran is the immediate intellectual and sociopolitical context for both the celebrated mathematization of astronomy by the members of the Samarkand Observatory in the 9th/15th century and the resurgence of neoplatonic-neopythagorean philosophy in Safavid Iran in the 10th/16th and 11th/17th, whereby Ibn Sīnā himself was transformed into a neopythagorean-occultist—processes which have heretofore been studied in atomistic isolation.
Using machine learning to identify air pollution exposure profiles associated with early cognitive skills among U.S. children

Abstract Data-driven machine learning methods present an opportunity to simultaneously assess the impact of multiple air pollutants on health outcomes. The goal of this study was to apply a two-stage, data-driven approach to identify associations between air pollutant exposure profiles and children's cognitive skills. Data from 6900 children enrolled in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort, a national study of children born in 2001 and followed through kindergarten, were linked to estimated concentrations of 104 ambient air toxics in the 2002 National Air Toxics Assessment using ZIP code of residence at age 9 months. In the first-stage, 100 regression trees were learned to identify ambient air pollutant exposure profiles most closely associated with scores on a standardized mathematics test administered to children in kindergarten. In the second-stage, the exposure profiles frequently predicting lower math scores were included within linear regression models and adjusted for confounders in order to estimate the magnitude of their effect on math scores. This approach was applied to the full population, and then to the populations living in urban and highly-populated urban areas. Our first-stage results in the full population suggested children with low trichloroethylene exposure had significantly lower math scores. This association was not observed for children living in urban communities, suggesting that confounding related to urbanicity needs to be considered within the first-stage. When restricting our analysis to populations living in urban and highly-populated urban areas, high isophorone levels were found to predict lower math scores. Within adjusted regression models of children in highly-populated urban areas, the estimated effect of higher isophorone exposure on math scores was −1.19 points (95% CI −1.94, −0.44). Similar results were observed for the overall population of urban children. This data-driven, two-stage approach can be applied to other populations, exposures and outcomes to generate hypotheses within high-dimensional exposure data.
When Acetylcholine Unlocks Feedback Inhibition in Cortex

Acetylcholine promotes cognitive function through the regulation of cortical circuits. In this issue of Neuron, Urban-Ciecko et al. (2018) demonstrate how this neuromodulator can rapidly boost synapses from pyramidal to somatostatin neurons, unlocking a new computational ability in the cortical microcircuitry.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea as a Risk Factor for Atrial Fibrillation: A Meta-Analysis

Objectives: To conducted a meta-analysis assessing the relationship between Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and the risk of Atrial Fibrillation (AF).Methods: We searched PUBMED, Medline, and Cochrane Library using the keywords “atrial fibrillation”, “obstructive sleep apnea” and “sleep disordered breathing (SDB)”. All subjects included had established diagnosis of OSA/SDB. We then compared the occurrence of AF versus no AF. Analysis done with Comprehensive Meta- Analysis package V3 (Biostat, USA).Results: A total of 579 results were generated. Duplicates were removed and 372 records were excluded based on irrelevant abstracts, titles, study design not consistent with the stated outcome, or full-text unavailable. Twelve studies meeting the inclusion criteria were reviewed in full-text; 2 of these articles were eventually removed due to unconfirmed OSA diagnostic modality, and one was also removed based on a control group inconsistent with the other studies. Therefore, a total of 9 studies were included (n=19,837). Sample sizes ranged from n=160 patients to n=6841 patients. The risk of AF was found to be higher among OSA/SDB versus control group (OR; 2.120, C.I: 1.845- 2.436, Z; 10.598 p: <0.001). The heterogeneity observed for the pooled analysis was Q-value; 22.487 df (Q); 8 P-value; 0.004, I-squared; 64.424 Tau2; 0.098, suggesting appropriate study selection and moderate heterogeneity.Conclusion: OSA/SDB is strongly associated with AFib confirming the notion that OSA/SDB populations are high risk for development of AF. Prospective studies are needed to ascertain the effect of the treatment of OSA/SDB for the prevention of AF, a growing health burden with serious consequences.
Cuba: The New Frontier of Study Abroad Programs for U.S. Students

The growing reconciliation between the United States and Cuba has created a unique opportunity for U.S. business and hospitality students to observe and experience first-hand an economy in marked t...
Evaluation and selection of internal reference genes from two- and six-row U.S. malting barley varieties throughout micromalting for use in RT-qPCR.

Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is a popular method for measuring transcript abundance. The most commonly used method of interpretation is relative quantification and thus necessitates the use of normalization controls (i.e. reference genes) to standardize transcript abundance. The most popular gene targets for RT-qPCR are housekeeping genes because they are thought to maintain a static transcript level among a variety of samples. However, more recent studies have shown, several housekeeping genes are not reliably stable. This is the first study to examine the potential of several reference genes for use in RT-qPCR normalization during barley malting. The process of malting barley mechanizes the imbibition and subsequent germination of barley seeds under controlled conditions. Malt quality is controlled by many pleiotropic genes that are determined by examining the result of physiological changes the barley seed undergoes during the malting process. We compared the stability of 13 reference genes across both two-and six-row malting barleys (Conrad and Legacy, respectfully) throughout the entirety of the malting process. Initially, primer target specificity, amplification efficiency and average Ct values were determined for each of the selected primer pairs. Three statistical programs (geNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper) were used to rank the stability of each reference gene. Rankings were similar between the two- and six-row with the exception of BestKeeper’s ranking of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). A consensus ranking among programs was determined using RefFinder. Our results show that Actin (ACT) and Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) were the most stable throughout micromalting, while GAPDH and Cyclophilin (CYP) were the least stable. Two reference genes are necessary for stable transcript normalization according to geNorm and the best two reference genes (ACT and HSP70) provided a sufficient level of stability.
Patient awareness/knowledge towards oral cancer: a cross-sectional survey.

Oral cancer (OC) is associated with multiple risk factors and high mortality rates and substantially contributes to the global cancer burden despite being highly preventable. This cross-sectional study sought to assess current knowledge, awareness, and behaviors of patients in rural communities surrounding OC risk. An anonymous 21-question survey was distributed to patients in waiting rooms of a large integrated medical-dental health system serving north-central Wisconsin. Survey results were summarized via descriptive statistics. Odds ratios surrounding health literacy on OC risk factors were obtained using unconditional univariate logistic regression analysis. Of 504 dental and 306 medical patients completing the survey, 62.2% were female, Caucasian/White (92%) with 41% having a ≤ high school diploma/equivalent. Current smoker/smokeless tobacco use was reported by 34%, while 39% reported former tobacco exposure. Alcohol use was reported by 54% of respondents at the following frequencies: 20+ cigarettes per day were more knowledgeable about tobacco and OC risk compared to non-smokers and those who smoked ≤ 19 cigarettes/day (p = 0.0647). Patients who were alcohol consumers exhibited higher knowledgeability surrounding increased OC risk with alcohol and tobacco exposures compared to alcohol abstainers (p = 0.06). We concluded that patients recognized links between tobacco and OC risk but demonstrated lower knowledge of other causal factors. Strategic patient education by providers could increase awareness of OC risk.
Artifacts, Contested Histories, and Other Archaeological Hotspots

As a contemporary act, historical archaeology must interweave past and present. This happens in a wide variety of locales, including field sites, classrooms, laboratories, and public venues. At every node of practice the charged fields of prior knowledge and archaeological expertise intersect and sometimes clash. This article explores such hotspots as they relate to the archaeology of World War II, drawing on the author’s experience leading a community-engaged research project at Amache, the site of a Japanese American internment camp during the war. Such research provides the opportunity to collaborate, not just with descendants, but also with survivors, people who once lived at the site under study. Such situations energize historical archaeology, but also destabilize the discipline, calling into question some of the archaeologist’s most basic tools, including terminology. Thoughtful contemporary engagements, however, can create new opportunities to expand conceptual frameworks.
Fluoroscopy-Guided Suture Anchor Placement for Acetabular Labrum Repair.

Abstract A narrow safe angle exists for placing suture anchors into the acetabular rim during arthroscopic acetabular labrum repair. Intra-articular suture anchor placement has been reported, and cadaver studies have shown the highest risk of errant suture anchor placement at the anterior acetabular rim. We describe a technique using intraoperative fluoroscopy to guide suture anchor placement into the anterior and superior acetabular rim, which may reduce the risk of iatrogenic injury during arthroscopic acetabular labrum repair.
Occipital Condyle Screw Placement for Occipitocervical Fixation

Craniocervical stabilization using the occipital condyle can be a valid option to occipital plating. This chapter aims to describe the surgical technique using polyaxial screw and rod constructs with two illustrative cases. We reviewed our experience with patients treated with OC fusion with condylar fixation and summarized the key aspects of the procedure, in order to appropriately place an occipital condyle screw. Patient positioning and use of intraoperative navigation and fluoroscopy aid the surgeon in the appropriate and safe placement of instrumentation. We detail our best trajectory for screw placement and also detail potential pitfalls to be aware of preoperatively. In conclusion, instrumentation via occipital condylar screws is a feasible alternative to occipital plating that we found to also be biomechanically similar to occipital plating.
Management of Interferon-Free Direct-Acting HCV Antiviral Therapy Failure

Chronic hepatitis C is one of the major causes of chronic liver disease worldwide with a progressive course that leads to the development of liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma if remains untreated. The landscape of chronic hepatitis C treatment has evolved rapidly since 2011 with the arrivals of multiple combinations of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies with the excellent sustained virological response, in the 90%. Despite the outstanding efficacy, antiviral resistance and treatment failure still remain in a small fraction of patients in the current direct-acting antiviral therapies. Recently approved DAAs and future combination therapies focus on targeting the viral resistance and treatment failure using complementary antiviral regimens.
An integrated web framework for HAZUS-MH flood loss estimation analysis

Flood emergency management practices cover various aspects of flooding, such as demography, infrastructure, economy, transportation, and agriculture. Emergency managers and local authorities work to understand existing and potential impacts of flooding in their communities. HAZUS is one of the most widely used GIS-based desktop software packages designed to help emergency managers to simulate floods and observe their possible effects in their communities. Using HAZUS, emergency managers can prioritize regions to receive help, allocate resources, and plan mitigation measures in the disaster area. However, the system has limitations in terms of its technical requirements, the number of flood scenarios and data options, accessibility, and performance. In this study, we present an integrated and scalable web framework for HAZUS-MH flood loss estimation analysis. By taking advantage of the Iowa Flood Center’s extensive flood inundation map repository for Iowa, we could enable interactive analysis between flood map raster and census data to demonstrate flooding impacts in Iowa communities. High-resolution pre-computed flood inundation maps allowed us to execute damage and loss analyses within seconds. Using visualization techniques on the web, users can access damage and loss analysis without specific software or technical expertise. Moreover, by connecting new data sources, we also enabled many different analyses through the web-based system, including agricultural damage and loss analysis and flooded transportation segments. The generalized architecture of the system allows the framework to analyze any region and community.
Optimization Operation of Multi-energy Complementary System based on Interval Model

It has become an inevitable choice for the development of the energy industry to build a distributed multienergy flow co-generation system. It forms a multi-energy complementary co-generation system by coupling cold, heat, gas and electricity through energy production, transmission, conversion, supply, storage, energy using equipment and protection, measurement and control equipment. This paper is based on interval theory to describe the uncertainties of cold, hot and electric load, distributed energy output and operating conditions, using the transfer matrix to construct the relationship between the input and output of multiple energy sources, and the coupling modeling of the multi-energy complementary system. Considering the impact environment, economy and other factors, multi-objective optimization is carried out for the system. The interval linear programming based on affine operation is used to solve the model, which can effectively solve the problem that the interval operation is too conservative, and simulated verify the validity and rationality of the model and method.
Intravenous Lipid Emulsions in the NICU

The clinical goals of intravenous lipid emulsions (ILEs) have changed since their initial development. In the past, 100% soybean oil was used to provide energy and prevent an essential fatty acid deficiency. Now, different oil sources are used with the goal of improving nutritional status and preventing common neonatal comorbidities. We now have a better understanding of specific ILE constituents, namely, fatty acids, vitamin E, and phytosterols, and how these components contribute to complications such as intestinal failure-associated liver disease. This review addresses the development and composition of different ILEs and summarizes how individual ILE ingredients affect infant metabolism and health.
Ta’wīl in the Qur’an and the Islamic Exegetical Tradition: the Past and the Future of the Qur’an

The Qur’an addresses the issue of its own interpretation, and in doing so, both expands and limits the exegetical possibilities open to Muslim commentators. Many Qur’anic verses are irreducibly multivalent, and the Qur’an repeatedly describes itself as speaking in metaphor and symbol, suggesting the necessity of human interpretive effort in arriving at its meaning; at the same time, it sternly cautions against the human misreading of its “signs” or verses. Despite this warning, the openness of Qur’anic language and imagery invites different interpretive approaches and has led, since earliest Islamic times, to the development of a vibrant tradition of Islamic exegesis (tafsir), which includes theological, legal, philosophical, and mystical commentaries. Taken collectively, these works significantly expand the range of potential meanings of the Qur’anic verses. However, many influential works of Islamic exegesis aim to provide a limited set (or even a single) legitimate interpretation of the individual Qur’anic verses, in an effort to discourage the continued exploration of the text’s meaning for later readers. In this essay, I explore this paradoxical situation, and argue that the Qur’an itself suggests that its own meaning may continue to develop or be revealed over time.
Macro-scale sensitivity through meso-scale hotspot dynamics in porous energetic materials: Comparing the shock response of 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB) and 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazoctane (HMX)

The sensitivity of an energetic material is strongly influenced by its microstructure. This work distinguishes the roles played by the microstructure (i.e., the meso-scale) in the macro-scale shock sensitivity of two different materials: TATB and HMX. To quantify sensitivity, we develop a meso-informed energy deposition model for a porous TATB material, following procedures from the previous work on HMX. Simulations of reactive void collapse in TATB are employed to calculate the rate of initiation and growth of hotspots. These rates are expressed as surrogate models, expressing meso-scale (hotspot) quantities of interest as functions of shock strength P s and void size D v o i d. The hotspot ignition and growth rate surrogates for TATB are compared with those for HMX, providing insights into meso-scale physics underlying shock sensitivity of these two energetic materials. The surrogate models are then used in a meso-informed ignition and growth (MES-IG) model to close macro-scale simulations of the shock response of porous TATB. We also obtain the run-to-detonation distances and generate Pop-plots to quantify macro-scale sensitivity. It is shown that Pop-plots for HMX-based energetic materials accord with behavior observed in experimental studies; however, there is a significant discrepancy between MES-IG predictions and experiments for TATB; the causes for this difference between HMX and TATB are discussed, pointing to areas for future work.
Application of the Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology to cystic salivary gland lesions.

Background Cystic salivary gland lesions present diagnostic challenges on fine-needle aspiration (FNA) specimens that are related to sampling limitations and a broad differential diagnosis. This study evaluated the benefit of applying the Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology (MSRSGC) to a series of cystic salivary gland lesions. Methods The pathology archives at the Johns Hopkins Hospital were searched to identify cystic salivary gland FNA specimens over a 19-year period (2000-2018). Patient demographics, cytomorphologic features, and clinical and surgical follow-up were recorded. The MSRSGC was applied to the cases. The risk of malignancy (ROM) and the risk of neoplasia (RON) were calculated for each category. Results One hundred seventy-eight cases were identified (96 males and 82 females) with a mean age of 53 years (range, 4-90 years). After the MSRSGC was applied, there were 52 nondiagnostic cases (29.2%), 80 nonneoplastic cases (44.9%), 35 cases of atypia of undetermined significance (AUS; 19.7%), 3 benign neoplasms (1.7%), 3 salivary gland neoplasms of uncertain malignant potential (SUMP; 1.7%), 4 cases suspicious for malignancy (SFM; 2.2%), and 1 malignant case (0.6%). One hundred fifty-six of the 178 patients (87.6%) had follow-up data available. The RON and ROM values for cases with surgical follow-up were 33.3% (3 of 9) and 22.2% (2 of 9) for the nondiagnostic category, 42.9% (9 of 21) and 19% (4 of 21) for the nonneoplastic category, 76.5% (13 of 17) and 29.4% (5 of 17) for the AUS category, 100.0% (2 of 2) and 50.0% (1 of 2) for the SUMP category, and 100% (2 of 2) and 100% (2 of 2) for the SFM category, respectively. Conclusions Applying the MSRSGC to cystic salivary gland lesions improves patient management by preventing unnecessary surgery for nonneoplastic conditions. The ROM was highest in the SFM category (100%), which was followed by the SUMP, AUS, nondiagnostic, and nonneoplastic categories. Less than adequate specimens may increase the diagnosis of AUS.
Determinants and health consequences of modifiable sleep health disparities

Abstract Socially disadvantaged groups with restricted self-determination or autonomy are disproportionately burdened by poor sleep health, which likely contributes to disparities in the wide array of commonly observed, recalcitrant poor health outcomes. The aim of this chapter is to identify and summarize the thrust of the evidence regarding sleep health disparities among mainly racial/ethnic minorities as well as summarize both determinants that are largely modifiable and health consequences of sleep health disparities using selective studies as key examples. To better conceptualize how societal ills can produce observable biological differences across socially constructed groups, I use the socioecological framework with a life-course perspective as a conceptual model to frame the biological embodiment of social disadvantage in ways that can lead to sleep disparities and its health sequelae. Directions for future research will center around a range of potentially effective interventions and research approaches to address sleep health disparities in order to achieve sleep equity.
Split-brain madness

With “facts” and metaphors regarding differential functioning of our two hemispheres proliferating faster than our understanding, the potential for a new insanity defense to emerge to fit certain Jekylland-Hyde-like defendants clearly exits. And with psychologists of varying stripes entering the courtroom with greater frequency and in newer capacities, the dangers of entanglement and error grow. This paper analyzes a split-brain insanity defense on the grounds of legal, logical, psychological, and current neuropsychological evidence. In addition, the likelihood, import, and place of this defense in the historical context of insanity defenses is examined. The concept of “personal responsibility,” which has been both asserted and denied by experts in split-brain or split-psyche cases, is tried; and a closing summary to the jury is offered.
Modeling the autoignition of fuel blends with a multistep model

There is growing interest in using biodiesel in place of or in blends with petrodiesel in diesel engines; however, biodiesel oxidation chemistry is complicated to directly model and existing surrogate kinetic models are very large, making them computationally expensive. The present study describes a method for predicting the ignition behavior of blends of n-heptane and methyl butanoate, fuels whose blends have been used in the past as a surrogate for biodiesel. The autoignition is predicted using a multistep (8-step) model in order to reduce computational time and make this a viable tool for implementation into engine simulation codes. A detailed reaction mechanism for n-heptane-methyl butanoate blends was used as a basis for validating the multistep model results. The ignition delay trends predicted by the multistep model for the n-heptane-methyl butanoate blends matched well with that of the detailed CHEMKIN model for the majority of conditions tested.