cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The pro-inflammatory profile of depressed patients is (partly) related to obesity

Many people with major depressive disorder (MDD) show evidence of systemic inflammation, including elevations in inflammatory factors, but the cause is unclear. The purpose of this analysis was to determine if obesity might contribute to the pro-inflammatory state in MDD patients. Blood was obtained from 135 MDD patients and 50 controls. Serum was extracted and assayed for interleukin (IL) -1β, IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-17, interferon-γ (IFNγ), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), C-reactive protein (CRP), leptin, and adiponectin using single- or multi-plex human immunoassay kits. The primary analysis contrasted IL-6, TNFα, and CRP between MDD and control groups with body mass index (BMI) as a covariate. The other analytes were compared in an exploratory fashion. IL-6 (but not TNFα or CRP) showed significant differences between MDD and controls even after covarying for BMI. Obese controls and obese MDD groups were significantly higher in IL-6 than both lean groups, but the two obese groups did not differ from each other. In the exploratory analyses, the IL-2 level showed robust and significant differences between MDD and controls even after covarying for BMI. Both lean and obese MDD were higher than lean and obese controls. Adiponectin levels were also lower in the MDD sample than controls. Prior findings of higher IL-6, and CRP in MDD patients may be explained, at least in part, based on obesity. High IL-2, however, was associated with depression and not obesity. The results have significant implications for the understanding of pathophysiology and, potentially treatment of MDD.
Optimal Resource Action Planning Analytics for Services Delivery Using Hiring, Contracting & Cross-Training of Various Skills

We address the problem of optimal resource action planning, which is faced by firms in the services business in the context of planning delivery of services with an expected demand outlook for various skills. Firms have the option of cross-training a chosen number of resource-units from a primary skill type into secondary skills, tertiary skills, and so on. They have the option of further hiring and increasing the system availability of any chosen skill type. They also have the option of contracting out a required amount of any chosen skill type. We address the problem of identifying the optimal set of planned resource control actions, in terms of both the timing and extent of hiring, cross-training, and contracting combination, so that they are well positioned to meet the actual demand. We present a mathematical model that can be described in terms of a constrained network flow and map it to a mixed integer linear programming formulation. The model considers practical constraints such as minimum residence time that a resource unit needs to spend in a skill-type into which it gets cross-trained or hired, minimum acceptable contracting duration for a contracted skill type, first order and higher orders of cross-training for a skill type, with lead-times, logical business rules associated with cross-training transfer sequences, as well as firm-specific targets on service levels and resource utilization, in determining the optimal resource action plan.
β-cell regenerative efficacy of a polysaccharide isolated from methanolic extract of Tinospora cordifolia stem on streptozotocin -induced diabetic Wistar rats.

The use of herbal supplements either as extracts or plant-derived individual molecules has significantly increased in the process of drug discovery and development for their potential efficacy or reduced risk in treating human disorders. Tinospora cordifolia (T. cordifolia) is a widely used herbal source to treat various human ailments, including diabetes mellitus. The present study was aimed on evaluating the antidiabetic property of a novel polysaccharide isolated from the methanolic extract of T. cordifolia stem. Bioassay guided fractionation was followed to isolate a compound from the methanol extract. The compound was administered orally at a dose of 20 mg/kg.b.wt for 60 days to control and STZ-induced diabetic male Wistar rats. It was found that plasma glucose was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced compared to normal. Oral administration of the compound significantly decreased HBA1c, triglycerides and total cholesterol and at the same time markedly increased hemoglobin, tissue glycogen and HDL cholesterol. Also the compounds restored the altered carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes, insulin, C-peptide, (14)C-glucose oxidation levels to near normal. In addition, the histological studies revealed that there was regeneration of β-cells in the pancreatic sections. The expression of Glut-4 mRNA and protein in the gasrtocnemius muscle were significantly enhanced after the compound treatment. These results confirm that the novel polysaccharide possesses hypoglycemic, glucose oxidizing, hypolipidemic and β-cell regenerative properties and hence it could be developed into potential oral hypoglycemic drug with lesser side effects.
What The CPAs Think About The Proposed Financial Statement Presentation

The Financial Accounting Standards Board and the International Accounting Standards Board jointly issued a Discussion Paper soliciting comments on a proposed financial statement presentation. This paper presents the results from 605 CPA’s responses to selected questions asked in the Discussion Paper.
Analysis of Concentration-Survival Time Curves of Arsenite-Injected Roaches Having Different Resistances

In a previous paper (1) the authors presented an analysis of concentration-survival time curves for the American and oriental cockroaches, Periplaneta americana (L.) and Blatta orientalis L., injected with sodium metarsenite and then kept at approximately 80° C. and 65-80 percent relative humidity without food or water. These curves exhibited regions of inflection and critical zones. Certain characteristics of the curves, including the inflections, were explained on the basis of a hypothesis which took into consideration the electrolytic dissociation of the poison in the blood of the injected insects, as well as other physiological processes such as detoxification, excretion, the latent period, and the fundamental lethal reaction, that would be expected to take place. Further analysis of the data of these experiments, particularly of the five replicate experiments 5 A-E, with P. Americana , have yielded results of interest from the standpoint of the question, Why can some individual insects of a species survive a given dosage of insecticide for a longer time than other individuals? In this paper the results of the further analysis are reported and discussed.
The Holy Lance and the Hereditary German Monarchy

Legend has it that even in the modern world the holy lance of the mediaeval Roman Empire has played a significant role in reflecting the concepts of men. It has been reported that in 1914 the German Emperor Wilhelm II, as “Emperor of the World,” wished to have a reconstruction of the labarum of Constantine, as a symbol of dominion in the East, and a copy of the holy lance, as a symbol of dominion in the West, carried before him under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. In England in 1960 another legend arose which reported that in 1938, on the evening of Hitler's entry into Vienna, the holy lance was brought before the German Chancellor with the acclamation “Mein Fuhrer! Der Schicksalspeer.” During the height of the battles of the Second World War, Hitler supposedly had the sacred object brought to his personal headquarters as a talisman of victory, and when the tide turned against the Nazis he ordered it buried near Nuremberg where the American troops, according to this story recovered it. Lord Glentanar is re...
ROLE OF ANAEROBIC DIGESTION IN ALLEVIATING ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS IN THE UNITED STATES

The United States has been confronted with an array of environmental problems in recent times. New types of pollutants are permeating groundwater aquifers and the stratosphere threatening air and water quality, the global climate, and the quality of life. Bioprocesses, specifically anaerobic digestion, can play an important role in stabilizing organic wastes, in detoxifying hazardous wastes, in modulating the greenhouse effect of pollutants, and in recovering renewable energy from the pollutant carbon. This paper examines the probable role that anaerobic digestion, in particular, two-phase anaerobic digestion, can play to alleviate current environmental problems in the United States.
Pinky Violence: Shock, awe and the exploitation of sexual liberation

ABSTRACTThis article examines Pinky Violence films, exploitation movies from 1960s and 1970s Japan, focusing specifically on radical portrayals of gender and sex. Utilizing the subversive space of exploitation cinema, Pinky Violence films provide alternative constructions of gender and female sexuality through the character of the sukeban: the girl gang boss. An evaluation of both the cultural and the historical factors that led to the development of Pinky Violence films demonstrates how the changing post-war society indelibly influenced new iterations of gender for Japanese women. An assessment of the tropes of the films and an analysis of the ideology behind them pinpoints Pinky Violence as an unvalued, and hence understudied, area in transgressive Japanese cinema. By doing so, the article ultimately attempts to position Pinky Violence films as a valuable source of untapped material that can offer a unique insight into constructions of gender in Japanese cinema.
Numerical Simulation of the Splashdown Problem

The study of a solid object falling through air and splashing into water has many applications to civil, naval, and aerospace engineering. Of interest is the magnitude of the force at impact and the resulting air-water interactions during submersion. To study this problem, a numerical simulation was done of a truncated wedge falling into water from a fixed height. Solutions were generated with a time-accurate finite-volume method which solved the unsteady "compressible" Navier-Stokes equations for the air and the unsteady "incompressible" Navier-Stokes equations for the water. The volume of fluid model was used to govern the air-water interactions and a deforming mesh algorithm was employed to move the object freely through the computational domain. The effects of viscosity, air compressibility, turbulence modeling, time-step size, and grid resolution were studied to obtain an accurate simulation of splashdown.
Molecular Identification, Systematics, and Population Structure of Prokaryotes

Prokaryotic systematics is today perhaps one of the most fascinating and fast advancing fields in microbiology. It has become a widely respected scientific discipline, not least because of the application of new ideas and molecular techniques to bacterial identification and classification. Systematics describes the diversity of prokaryotes and classifies or arranges them into groups based on their common similarities. Although a major reason for establishing systematics has been to provide proper identification of bacterial strains, this discipline has developed into a global, multidisciplinary research field providing a phylogenetic framework for various areas within microbiology, including bacterial taxonomy, microbial ecology, clinical microbiology, population genetics, and environmental microbiology.
The ER structural protein Rtn4A stabilizes and enhances signaling through the receptor tyrosine kinase ErbB3

ErbB3 and ErbB4 are receptor tyrosine kinases that are activated by the neuregulin (NRG) family of growth factors. These receptors govern various developmental processes, and their dysregulation contributes to several human disease states. The abundance of ErbB3 and ErbB4, and thus signaling through these receptors, is limited by the E3 ubiquitin ligase Nrdp1, which targets ErbB3 and ErbB4 for degradation. Reticulons are proteins that influence the morphology of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by promoting the formation of tubules, a response of cells to some stressors. We found that the ER structural protein reticulon 4A (Rtn4A, also known as Nogo-A) increased ErbB3 abundance and proliferative signaling by suppressing Nrdp1 function. Rtn4A interacted with Nrdp1 and stabilized ErbB3 in an Nrdp1-dependent manner. Rtn4A overexpression induced the redistribution of Nrdp1 from a cytosolic or perinuclear localization to ER tubules. Rtn4A knockdown in human breast tumor cells decreased ErbB3 abundance, NRG-stimulated signaling, and cellular proliferation and migration. Because proteins destined for the plasma membrane are primarily synthesized in the sheet portions of the ER, our observations suggest that Rtn4A counteracts the Nrdp1-mediated degradation of ErbB3 by sequestering the ubiquitin ligase into ER tubules. The involvement of a reticulon suggests a molecular link between ER structure and the sensitivity of cells to receptor tyrosine kinase–mediated survival signals at the cell surface.
Delivery of Biologically Active Molecules to Mitochondria

Mitochondria are subcellular organelles that produce the energy necessary for cellular functions and metabolic processes such as oxidative phosphorylation, gluconeogenesis and fatty acid oxidation. These organelles also play a pivotal role in signaling pathways, cell survival and cell death. Due to these functional characteristics, mitochondria have become an attractive target for the delivery of drugs and biomolecules for a variety of mitochondrial dysfunctions. In order to efficiently deliver biological active molecules to mitochondria, mitochondria-targeted pharmaceutical nanocarriers and other strategies have been developed. Lipophilic cations like triphenylphosphonium (TPP), for example, are well-known for their selectivity to mitochondria and they are commonly incorporated into liposomes to carry drugs and antioxidants. Szeto-Chiller (SS) peptides are an alternative to lipophilic cations to deliver antioxidants to mitochondria, as these peptide antioxidants are also taken up by cells and accumulate within mitochondria. Dequalinium chloride based on its self-assembly capability and its strong affinity to mitochondria has also been used to deliver drugs and DNA in the form of DeQAlinium-based- lipoSOMES (DQAsomes). In this chapter, we describe the use of these strategies and their mechanisms to deliver biological active molecules to mitochondria.
Resistivities of curing epoxy systems 1. Bisphenol-A diglycidyl etherlm-phenylene diamine

In order to make optimum use of an epoxy system, one must know, among other things, how it cures under various conditions and to what extent the cure proceeds. Among our current areas of study are the curing and structure, and resultant physical properties, of several common epoxide/hardener systems. This paper investigates the epoxide/amine system, of which bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether/m-phenylene diamine is an example.
Hardness of Approximation (Invited Talk)

The talk will present connections between approximability of NP-complete problems, analysis, and geometry, and the role played by the Unique Games Conjecture in facilitating these connections.
Shift Work and Shift Work Sleep Disorder: Clinical and Organizational Perspectives

Throughout the industrialized world, nearly one in five employees works some form of nontraditional shift. Such shift work is associated with numerous negative health consequences, ranging from cognitive complaints to cancer, as well as diminished quality of life. Furthermore, a substantial percentage of shift workers develop shift work disorder, a circadian rhythm sleep disorder characterized by excessive sleepiness, insomnia, or both as a result of shift work. In addition to adverse health consequences and diminished quality of life at the individual level, shift work disorder incurs significant costs to employers through diminished workplace performance and increased accidents and errors. Nonetheless, shift work will remain a vital component of the modern economy. This article reviews seminal and recent literature regarding shift work, with an eye toward real-world application in clinical and organizational settings.
Chapter 9 – Vitamin K

Vitamin K is best known for its function in blood clotting. Vitamin K is the generic descriptor for 2-methyl-1,4-napthoquionone and its derivatives exhibiting quantitatively the antihemorrhagic activity of phylloquinone. Sources of vitamin K include synthesis by the gut microbiome and vitamin K–rich foods, such as green leafy vegetables and vegetable oils. Vitamin K is fat soluble and requires micellularization for absorption. It functions in blood clotting through the posttranslational modification of glutamate residues to produce γ-carboxyglumate (Gla) residues; Gla proteins include a series of clotting factors. It may also function in bone and cardiovascular health. The predominant clinical sign of vitamin K deficiency is coagulopathy, which results in prolonged clotting time and can lead to anemia.
Teaching Bonhoeffer: Pedagogy and peripheral practices:

Some of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s major writings emerged from the experience of planning and leading an innovative seminary at Finkenwalde, where there was a strong focus on intentional communal practi...
The Bargaining Robot

The primary threat of the rise of the machines is not to competition itself, but to the bargaining power of consumers, given any level of competition in the market. By enabling firms to interact with each consumer on an individual basis, technology will permit firms to tailor price to the highest level each individual consumer is willing to pay and to use tailored marketing to break each consumer’s will to hold out for a better deal, reducing consumer welfare for any given level of competition. By giving consumers more outside options, the promotion of competition can limit the effects of technology-enhanced bargaining power. Antitrust may promote greater competition by reinvigorating merger enforcement and restrictions on exclusionary conduct, embracing no-fault monopolization, banning oligopoly, promoting intrabrand competition, or promoting competition within the firm as a substitute for competition between firms.
Brief note: Applying developmental intergroup perspectives to the social ecologies of bullying: Lessons from developmental social psychology ☆

Abstract Over the past decades, the field of bullying research has seen dramatic growth, notably with the integration of the social-ecological approach to understanding bullying. Recently, researchers (Hymel et al., 2015; Hawley & Williford, 2015) have called for further extension of the field by incorporating constructs of group processes into our investigation of the social ecologies of bullying. This brief note details the critical connections between power, social identity, group norms, social and moral reasoning about discrimination and victimization, and experiences of, evaluations of, and responses to bullying. The authors highlight a parallel development in the bridging of developmental social-ecological and social psychological perspectives utilized in the field of social exclusion that provides a roadmap for extending the larger field of bullying research. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled [VSI: Bullying] IG000050.
Increased Ovipositional Attractancy to Surfactant-Treated Broccoli by the Diamondback Moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae): Tests of Potential Mechanisms

Studies were conducted to investigate potential mechanisms by which treatment of broccoli leaves with the surfactant Latron CS-7® causes increased diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), oviposition. The importance of vision on oviposition was investigated by use of choice and no-choice tests conducted in the presence of light and in complete darkness. Females oviposited 10.7 and 12.8 times as many eggs on treated plants relative to nontreated plants in the presence and absence of light, respectively, indicating that females do not prefer treated plants based solely on visual cues. Greenhouse studies showed that moths continue to lay significantly more eggs on surfactant-treated plants up to 3 d after initial treatment of plants with Latron CS-7. No difference was observed in larval development or survival on treated versus nontreated plants. Scanning electron microscopy indicated a dramatic difference in wax crystallite morphology of surfactant-treated plants relative to nontreated plants. Ovipositio...
Immunotherapy in the Elderly

Abstract Context Immunotherapy has historic and contemporary presence in prostate, urothelial (UC), and renal cell (RCC) carcinomas. However, robust data on utility and generalizability of these treatments in older patients are lacking. Objective To systematically evaluate evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy in elderly patients with prostate cancer, UC, or RCC. Evidence acquisition PubMed/Medline, Embase, Web of Knowledge, and Cochrane Library databases were searched up to October 2017 and according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses statement. A narrative review of studies was performed. Evidence synthesis Twenty-one reports were included regarding prostate cancer (four studies), UC (eight), and RCC (nine). In prostate cancer, sipuleucel-T improves survival (median age >70 yr) and similar results were seen in the PROSTVAC phase 2 trial. Ipilimumab has not improved survival independent of age; data for programmed cell death 1 inhibition is evolving. In metastatic UC, ≥50% of patients enrolled in pivotal checkpoint inhibitor studies were aged ≥65 yr. Three studies reported similar objective response rates (ORRs) in patients aged Conclusions Contemporary immunotherapy has informed practice in genitourinary malignancies independent of patient age. Trial reporting of outcomes by age will be important to understand the generalizability of ongoing investigations for elderly patients. Patient summary With the growing use of immunotherapy in genitourinary malignancies, benefits appear to apply independent of age. As the field advances, detailed reporting on outcomes and toxicities by age will be informative for both patients and physicians when discussing treatment options.
Reliability and Normative Reference Values for the Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) Tool in Youth Athletes

Background:The Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) measure is a newly developed vestibular and ocular motor symptom provocation screening tool for sport-related concussions. Baseline data, psychometric properties, and reliability of the VOMS are needed to further understand the applications of this tool, especially in the youth population, where research is scarce.Purpose:To establish normative data and document the internal consistency and false-positive rate of the VOMS in a sample of nonconcussed youth athletes.Study Design:Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:A total of 423 youth athletes (male = 278, female = 145) between the ages of 8 and 14 years completed baseline VOMS screening before the start of their respective sport seasons. Internal consistency was measured with Cronbach α and inter-item correlations.Results:Approximately 60% of youth athletes reported no symptom provocation on baseline VOMS assessment, with 9% to 13% scoring over the cutoff levels (score of ≥2 for any in...
The effect of specific gravity on several mechanical properties of some world woods

The effect of specific gravity upon modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity in static bending, and maximum crushing strength in compression parallel to the grain was examined for commercially important timbers of various world-wide origins. Data sets were compiled from world literature according to geographic origin. The logarithmic regression of specific gravity vs. the particular mechanical property was calculated by least squares for each data set in the green and air-dry condition. For all data sets, the calculated regression proved to be significant at a 95% confidence level as determined by correlation analyses. Published relationships (U.S. Forest Products Laboratory 1974) were compared to the calculated regressions for the commercially important timber species of the United States and were found to fall within our 95% limits of confidence for each property and moisture content. Covariance analyses revealed significant differences in specific gravity-mechanical property relationships between hardwood and softwood groups. Covariance analyses between data sets from different geographic locations revealed no conclusive trends. Global equations for specific gravity-mechanical property relationships for all data included in this study were shown by correlation analyses to be valid at 95% level of confidence.
Future Directions Incorporating Novel Medications to Reduce Repeat Overdose

The use of opioids has risen dramatically in the USA and led to an increase in opioid use disorders and deaths due to opioid-related overdoses. Current treatments for opioid use disorder are not without drawbacks, so that new treatments may be helpful in reducing opioid use. This paper reviews current pharmacologic treatments for opioid use disorder as well as emerging novel treatments that may change or improve approaches to treatment. The current treatments for opioid use disorder are methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. Of the three, methadone has been the most studied and longest treatment used. However, because of limitations with prescribing and safety concerns with methadone, buprenorphine is becoming a widely used pharmacologic treatment alternative. Naltrexone remains less commonly utilized. New treatments such as lorcaserin and medicinal cannabis have potential to make an impact in addressing the opioid epidemic; however, controlled human studies are needed to assess their full potential. Current treatments for opioid use disorder are beneficial, but have the disadvantage of abuse potential, compliance concerns, and prescribing limitations. Novel pharmacologic treatments may be able to address these concerns. Future research should continue to evaluate the efficacy of novel medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder.
Transgenic Rodent Models

Publisher Summary This chapter reveals that rodent species have played many important roles in the field of toxicology from their use as tools to study mechanisms of toxic injury to that of surrogates in the assessment of toxic potential for humans. They have found such diverse applications because they can be reared and propagated easily under a variety of laboratory conditions. They are relatively inexpensive to breed and maintain. They are fecund, providing large litters in short periods of time, and their lifespan is short, which permits the studies of the effects of chronic exposures. Rodents have played a critical role in the efforts that have led to our understanding of the mammalian genome and of the genetic mechanisms by which the genome functions in replication, in DNA repair, and in the processes that are central to the reproductive transmission of genetic information to progeny.
Promotion by Others through Social Networks.

ABSTRACTAlthough self-promotion may be the most direct way people self-present, it carries social costs. We propose a novel phenomenon – promotion by others – wherein social networks may afford sim...
Annals On Call - Diuretic Resistance

In this episode of Annals On Call, Dr. Centor discusses diuretic resistance in patients with heart failure with Dr. Joel Topf. Listeners will gain knowledge to help make better-informed choices whe...
Design and Implementation of a Competency-Based Family Medicine Clerkship Curriculum.

Background and objectives Competency-based medical education (CBME) has been incorporated into graduate medical education accreditation and is being introduced in undergraduate medical education. Family medicine (FM) faculty at one institution developed a CBME FM clerkship to intentionally maintain the integrity of FM specialty-specific teaching during their institutional CBME curricular revision. Methods From the five FM domains (Access to Care, Continuity of Care, Comprehensive Care, Coordination of Care, and Contextual Care), 10 competencies and 23 FM educational activities (EAs) were defined. The set of EAs encompasses the wide scope of care available to FM clerkship students. Students complete four required EAs (preventive care, care transitions, chronic disease management, and acute care) and select four additional EAs matching their interests. EA selection frequency and course evaluations were assessed for the first cohort of learners (N=156; February 2016-July 2017). Results The most frequently selected EAs were: information coordination, procedures, and care of the family. The least selected were: patient e-communication, end-of-life care, and shared medical decision making. Student perceptions of the experience were strong prior to and after implementation. Conclusions Having both required and selective EAs ensures a robust FM experience tailored to students' interests. The FM CBME curriculum allowed comparable clinical experiences despite variations in clinical sites and preceptor scope. Because of its breadth, FM is uniquely suited to address multiple competencies; this demonstrates the educational value of required FM clerkships to institutional leaders interested in implementing CBME curriculum. The CBME framework can provide a structure for more intentional student-clinic assignments based on EAs available at specific sites.
Multiple Marginalizations: What Bioethics Can Learn From Black Feminism.

Increasing the visibility of marginalized voices is fundamental to bioethics. Toward this end, various feminist and critical-race theories have provided insights into the experience of disability a...
Impulsive-Analytic Disposition in Mathematical Problem Solving: A Survey and a Mathematics Test.

The Likelihood-to-Act (LtA) survey and a mathematics test were used in this study to assess students’ impulsive-analytic disposition in the context of mathematical problem solving. The results obtained from these two instruments were compared to those obtained using two widely-used scales: Need for Cognition (NFC) and Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS). The exhibited correlations of the LtA scores with the NFC, BIS, and a math test provide evidence of the criterion validity of the analytic LtA items, and suggests further revision of the impulsive LtA items to improve the overall measurement validity of the LtA scale. Students LtA scores were found to be marginally correlated to their math scores and correlated to their confidence levels in the math items.
Markov modelling of run length and velocity for molecular motors

Abstract Molecular motors are nanometer scale proteins involved in various in-tracellular processes such as cargo transport, muscle contraction and cell division. The steps in the chemo-mechanical cycle that use ATP hydrolysis to generate motion along the cytoskeletal tracks can be characterized by stepping rates depending only on the current state, permitting modeling of the cycle as a Markov process. To learn more about the nature of motor mo-tion, cell researchers have conducted in vitro experiments in which molecular motors pull beads along filaments attached to glass slides and their veloc-ity and run length until detachment from the microtubule are recorded. In this article a formula is derived for distance traveled until detachment. Combining this with a standard result for time to absorption for Markov processes gives a formula for velocity. Two kinesins, and two variants of myosin VI, for which there are run length and velocity measurements in the literature are considered. In each case the derived formulas for run length and velocity have a generalized Michaelis-Menten form as functions of ATP concentration. The degrees of the numerator and denominator polynomials increase with the complexity of chemo-mechanical cycle. The degrees of the Michaelis-Menten form determine the maximum number of of reaction rates that can be determined from experimental data on run length and velocity, however consistency conditions may reduce this number and restrict which rates can be determined.
Treatment versus Punishment: Understanding Racial Inequalities in Drug Policy.

CONTEXT Many observers believe that the policy response to the opioid crisis is less punitive than the crack scare and that the reason is that victims are (stereotypically) white. METHODS To assess this conjecture, we compile new longitudinal data on district-level drug-related deaths and (co)sponsorship of legislation on drug abuse in the House of Representatives over the past four decades. Using legislator fixed effects models, we then test how changes in drug-related death rates in legislators' districts predict changes in (co)sponsorship of treatment-oriented or punitive legislation in the subsequent year and assess whether these relationships vary by race of victim or drug type. FINDINGS Policy makers were more likely to introduce punitive drug-related bills during the crack scare and are more likely to introduce treatment-oriented bills during the current opioid crisis. The relationship between district-level drug deaths and subsequent sponsorship of treatment-oriented legislation is greater for opioid deaths than for cocaine-related deaths and for white victims than for black victims. By contrast, district-level drug deaths are not significantly related to sponsorship of punishment-oriented bills. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the racial inequalities and double standards of drug policy still persist but in different forms.
Development and Validation of a Photo-Evidence Tool to Examine Characteristics of Effective Drinking Water Access in Schools.

Background Federal law requires water access in schools where meals are served. Schools report high rates of water accessibility in cafeterias, but observations indicate lower adherence. Although observation is costly, it permits a more detailed assessment of a water source to determine whether it provides effective access that encourages water consumption and thus, healthy hydration for students. Methods To offer a less costly alternative to observations, researchers developed and validated a photo-evidence tool to examine characteristics of effective school drinking water access. Two observers recorded characteristics of 200 water sources in 30 schools, including type, wear, cleanliness, and water flow, and examined obstructions and beverage promotion near sources, as well as, drinking vessel availability. Observers photographed sources which were coded by a separate research team. Agreement between observation audits and photograph coding was assessed through percent agreement, and kappa statistics and correlation coefficients. Results Kappas indicated substantial (K > 0.60) or near perfect agreement (K > 0.80) for all characteristics of effective drinking water access with exception of wear. There was moderate agreement (r = 0.66) for water source cleanliness. Conclusions Development and validation of a photo-evidence tool to examine characteristics of effective drinking water access in schools.
Administrative Response to Consequences of COVID-19 Emergency Responses: Observations and Implications From Gender-Based Violence in Argentina

Many governments across the globe enacted mandatory stay-at-home orders to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the many consequences of these governmental protection orders is to confine potential perpetrators and victims of gender-based violence in close proximity thereby reducing the opportunity for survivors to report abuse and get assistance. In this essay, we describe the multilevel governmental response in Argentina to address gender-based violence during the first month of mandatory stay-at-home order amid the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. National and provincial governments enacted innovative and coordinated responses to gender-based violence that targeted systemic causes of gender-based violence, ensured continuity of existing services, and generated new communication strategies to allow nonverbal reporting during the pandemic. The Argentinean example suggests that governmental organizations should consider the gendered effects of government responses to emergencies and respond through a multilevel and cross-sectoral response to protect groups disproportionately affected by the crisis and resulting policy.
The History of Gun Law and the Second Amendment in the United States

The current heated debate over the right to possess and carry firearms is nuanced and complex, and the history dates back to the Constitution of the United States. Over time, the Second Amendment has become a rallying cry for gun rights activists and a flashpoint for their opponents. Understanding the historical interpretation of the law can inform future legislation and policy.
Foundations and Applications of Decision Theory. Volume 1: Theoretical Foundations. Volume 2: Epistemic and Social Applications. Edited by C. A. Hooker, J. J. Leach, and E. F. McClennen (Book Review)

These two volumes contain twenty-five papers resulting from an international colloquium on the Foundations and Applications of Decision Theory, which was held during the Spring of 1975 at the University of Western Ontario. The papers in the collection reflect the wise, interdisciplinary perspective of the colloquium: decision theory is considered from a variety of points of view, including political, social, and economic theory, specialized applications, as well as foundational exploration.
Deep Reinforcement Learning Based Energy-efficient Task Offloading for Secondary Mobile Edge Systems

In order to support last-mile wireless connectivity of computation-intensive applications, edge systems can benefit from secondary (i.e., opportunistic) utilization of licensed spectrum. However, spectrum sensing for such secondary utilization can end up causing considerable energy consumption for already energy-constrained mobile devices. In this paper, we propose an energy-aware task offloading strategy for secondary edge systems that aims to find trade-offs between channel sensing and task offloading for mobile device energy optimization. The proposed strategy employs a Deep Reinforcement Learning based approach that rewards secondary mobile devices for taking part in cooperative spectrum sensing by allowing them to offload their compute-intensive tasks to edge servers in order to conserve energy. Using simulations, we demonstrate how effectively the proposed strategy can capture dynamic channel states and enforce intelligent offloading decisions. Results show our strategy’s benefits over optimization-based approaches and demonstrate its practicality for real-world use-cases where devices are controlled by different stakeholders.
Proximal Gastrectomy Is a Viable Alternative to Total Gastrectomy in Early Stage Proximal Gastric Cancer.

Background Total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy is a life-extending procedure for patients with nonmetastatic proximal gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, yet it can be a life-altering procedure with negative impact on quality of life.1 Perioperative recovery often involves the need for supplemental nutrition (either enteral or parenteral). Furthermore, long-term effects of early satiety, dysphagia, sustained weight loss, and difficulty in maintaining a healthy weight, dumping syndrome, and intestinal overgrowth are not unusual. Although the alternative of untreated cancer is clearly unacceptable, these lifestyle consequences are not benign. Methods A retrospective review of patients who had undergone laparoscopic total and proximal gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma was conducted. Patient demographic data, pathologic parameters, and short-term and long-term clinical data were compared between total gastrectomy and proximal gastrectomy cohorts. Results Seventeen patients were included in the study: 13 had undergone laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) and 4 had undergone laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy (LPG). Patients who had LPG, given the nature of the procedure, were confined to early stage (up to T2) tumors in the gastric cardia or GE junction. Patients who had LTG tended to be larger, later stage tumors (but not exclusively). The mean operative time was greater for LTG than for LPG (247 ± 54 versus 181 ± 49 min, respectively, P = .036). Length of hospital stay (9.0 ± 3.2 versus 5.0 ± 0.8 days, P < .001) and readmission for postoperative complication (38.5 versus 0%, P = .009) were also higher in the LTG group. There was no significant difference in terms of mean estimated blood loss or blood transfusion rates, overall complications, or anastomotic stricture requiring endoscopic dilation between the patients who underwent LTG and those who underwent LPG. Conclusion In early stage tumors (T1b or T2), proximal gastrectomy (PG) should be considered to mitigate diminished quality of life. PG with esophagogastrostomy, which can easily be performed minimally invasively, can be more tolerable for the patient, with no anatomic basis for dumping syndrome or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and a greater reservoir for more normal meal habits when compared to total gastrectomy (TG) with Roux-en-Y reconstruction.
Can Tenants in Privately Owned Apartments Be Drug Tested

This article is the winner of the Apartments manuscript prize [sponsored by the National Multi Housing Council (NMHC)] presented at the 2001 American Real Estate Society Annual Meeting.Drug use is a serious problem in many apartment complexes where innocent tenants are victimized by violent crime, robberies and burglaries perpetuated by drug dealers and users. Recently the popular press has been reporting that apartment owners are requiring prospective and existing tenants to submit to drug tests. This article addresses the legalities of drug testing tenants under federal law in privately owned apartment. Federal statutes that may offer tenants legal recourse against landlords include the Fair Housing Act Amendments of 1988, the Rehabilitation Act of 1974, Section 504, and the Civil Rights Act of 1866.
Handling Diverse Protein Interaction Data: Integration, Storage and Retrieval

In this chapter we review current approaches to store, retrieve and integrate diverse protein interaction data. To incorporate the heterogeneous results of computational predictions and protein interaction experiments, methods of data integration have been widely used which provide efficient presentation, and analysis of interaction data. Among them statistical meta-analysis and supervised machine learning methods are becoming very popular in this respect. While integration methods reduce complexity of system representation, the databases provide efficient storage and retrieval of data. A large variety of interaction databases exist which differ in scope, type and coverage of data as well as query search capabilities. We categorize the databases of protein interactions into comprehensive, specialized, structural and databases developed for network analysis. This gives a rough grouping of resources based on how they might be used. In particular, one might often start with a comprehensive database search and afterwards perform a refined search of the obtained results using a database with a more specific focus.
The generalized Riemann integral

The Generalized Riemann Integral is addressed to persons who already have an acquaintance with integrals they wish to extend and to the teachers of generations of students to come. The organization of the work will make it possible for the first group to extract the principal results without struggling through technical details which they may find formidable or extraneous to their purposes. The technical level starts low at the opening of each chapter. Thus readers may follow each chapter as far as they wish and then skip to the beginning of the next. To readers who do wish to see all the details of the arguments, they are given. The generalized Riemann integral can be used to bring the full power of the integral within the reach of many who, up to now, get no glimpse of such results as monotone and dominated convergence theorems. As its name hints, the generalized Riemann integral is defined in terms of Riemann sums. The path from the definition to theorems exhibiting the full power of the integral is direct and short.
STIRRUP EFFECTIVENESS IN REINFORCED CONCRETE BEAMS WITH AXIAL FORCE

A study of the effectiveness of web reinforcement in reinforced concrete beams subject to axial forces is reported, involving the testing of 60 simply supported reinforced concrete T-beams and eight restrained reinforced concrete T-beams. The primary variables were axial force, the amount of web reinforcement, the concrete strength, and the shear span to depth ratio. Secondary variables were the web reinforcement yield point and the amount of flexural reinforcement. Measurements were made of applied loads, deflections, web reinforcement strain, and diagonal tension crack width. The effectiveness of the web reinforcement was found to be unaffected by the presence of axial forces. The design procedures for beams with web reinforcement contained in the ACI Building Code, ACI 318-63, were found to be conservative. Relationships are proposed which more closely reflect the variation of ultimate shear strength with variation of relevant parameters.
Smartphone applications to support weight loss: current perspectives

Lower cost alternatives are needed for the traditional in-person behavioral weight loss programs to overcome challenges of lowering the worldwide prevalence of overweight and obesity. Smartphones have become ubiquitous and provide a unique platform to aid in the delivery of a behavioral weight loss program. The technological capabilities of a smartphone may address certain limitations of a traditional weight loss program, while also reducing the cost and burden on participants, interventionists, and health care providers. Awareness of the advantages smartphones offer for weight loss has led to the rapid development and proliferation of weight loss applications (apps). The built-in features and the mechanisms by which they work vary across apps. Although there are an extraordinary number of a weight loss apps available, most lack the same magnitude of evidence-based behavior change strategies typically used in traditional programs. As features develop and new capabilities are identified, we propose a conceptual model as a framework to guide the inclusion of features that can facilitate behavior change and lead to reductions in weight. Whereas the conventional wisdom about behavior change asserts that more is better (with respect to the number of behavior change techniques involved), this model suggests that less may be more because extra techniques may add burden and adversely impact engagement. Current evidence is promising and continues to emerge on the potential of smartphone use within weight loss programs; yet research is unable to keep up with the rapidly improving smartphone technology. Future studies are needed to refine the conceptual model’s utility in the use of technology for weight loss, determine the effectiveness of intervention components utilizing smartphone technology, and identify novel and faster ways to evaluate the ever-changing technology.
Decentralization and Power: The Political Geography of Sharing, Maintaining, and Expanding Resources and Coercion

Why do central governments decentralize power to subnational units? Given that decentralization necessarily involves a reduction in relative power in favor of state or provincial governments, why would central governments allow this change? This paper posits that decentralization, if it increases the efficiency of governance or the center's ability to govern, can actually increase overall central control despite reducing relative control. I first present a simple model illustrating the logic of this theory, where the central government balances its ability to govern with the agency costs that decentralization involves. I then use cross-national time-series regressions to demonstrate that factors explaining levels of decentralization are the same factors that we should expect if central governments were making decisions in accordance with the theory presented here.