cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation and Optimization of Chemical Treatments for Reducing Yellow Discoloration of Channel Catfish (Ictalurus Punctatus) Fillets During Cold Storage

ABSTRACTThe effects of chemical treatments on color change of yellow discolored catfish fillets during both refrigerated and frozen storage were investigated in this work. For the refrigerated storage (4°C), the effects of concentration of sodium bisulfite on reducing the yellow discoloration were studied. Compared to the untreated fillets, sodium bisulfite treatments with concentrations ranging from 0.75 to 1.50% could evidently reduce the yellowness and increase the brightness of the fillets after 7 days refrigerated storage. Since no notable improvement was observed when increasing the concentration of sodium bisulfite beyond 1.0%, the concentration range of 0.75–1.0% is recommended in this work. For the frozen storage (−20°C), the effects of sodium bisulfite and sodium bicarbonate treatments were investigated. Both 1.0% sodium bisulfite and 0.5% sodium bicarbonate treatments made the fillets slightly less yellow and less red. The 1.0% sodium bisulfite treatment also made the fillets slightly brighter....
Managing mercury exposure in northern Canadian communities

Mercury is a toxic metal that can cause deleterious neurologic effects at any age, although the fetus is especially at risk.[1][1] Most Canadians are exposed to mercury through diet, specifically fish consumption.[2][2] Several Canadian clinical guidance publications assist health professionals in
A Collaborative Approach towards Securing Spectrum Sensing in Cognitive Radio Networks

Abstract Cognitive radio (CR) is introduced to accommodate the steady increment in the spectrum demand. Spectrum sensing is used to detect the unexploited sub-bands in the radio environment. In order to improve the accuracy of the spectrum sensing, the cooperative spectrum sensing method is assumed to be the best method to be used. However, misbehaving sensing nodes might falsify the spectrum sensing data to prevent legitimate nodes from utilizing the spectrum. Hence, wireless security has become an important issue in cognitive radio networks to ensure a reliable spectrum sensing and a fair resource allocation and management. A node misbehaves during the spectrum sensing phase by sending false sensing data to other cooperative sensing nodes. In this paper we propose a novel collaborative approach during spectrum sensing phase to monitor sensing nodes’ behavior and identify the misbehaving sensing nodes. The proposed approach measures the node's reliability through a value called belief level (BL). The clustering method is used to divide all the sensing nodes in a specific number of clusters. Each cluster has a cluster head (CH) which is responsible for collecting sensing reports from different cognitive nodes in the same cluster about each other and identifying the misbehaving sensing nodes. Simulation results show the added value and the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Concordance Between Life Satisfaction and Six Elements of Well-Being Among Respondents to a Health Assessment Survey, HealthPartners Employees, Minnesota, 2011.

INTRODUCTION We assessed and tracked perceptions of well-being among employees of member companies of HealthPartners, a nonprofit health care provider and health insurance company in Bloomington, Minnesota. The objective of our study was to determine the concordance between self-reported life satisfaction and a construct of subjective well-being that comprised 6 elements of well-being: emotional and mental health, social and interpersonal status, financial status, career status, physical health, and community support. METHODS We analyzed responses of 23,268 employees (of 37,982 invitees) from 6 HealthPartners companies who completed a health assessment in 2011. We compared respondents' answers to the question, "How satisfied are you with your life?" with their indicators of well-being where "high life satisfaction" was defined as a rating of 9 or 10 on a scale of 0 (lowest) to 10 (highest) and "high level of well-being" was defined as a rating of 9 or 10 for 5 or 6 of the 6 indicators of well-being. RESULT We found a correlation between self-reported life satisfaction and the number of well-being elements scored as high (9 or 10) (r = 0.62, P < .001); 73.6% of the respondents were concordant (high on both or high on neither). Although 82.9% of respondents with high overall well-being indicated high life satisfaction, only 34.7% of those indicating high life satisfaction reported high overall well-being. CONCLUSION The correlation between self-reported life satisfaction and our well-being measure was strong, and members who met our criterion of high overall well-being were likely to report high life satisfaction. However, many respondents who reported high life satisfaction did not meet our criterion for high overall well-being, which suggests that either they adapted to negative life circumstances or that our well-being measure did not identify their sources of life satisfaction.
Influence of Fibrinogen and Globulins on Blood Rheology at Low Shear Rates: Comparison among Elephant, Dog and Man

In earlier studies on low-shear rheology of human blood (1,2,3), we have attributed the shear thinning behavior of blood to two major factors, namely erythrocyte deformation during cell-cell interactions and erythrocyte aggregation resulting from cell-protein interactions.
Evolution of the HIV-1 transgenic rat: utility in assessing the progression of HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorders

Understanding the progression of HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) is a critical need as the prevalence of HIV-1 in older individuals (>50 years) is markedly increasing due to the great success of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Longitudinal experimental designs, in comparison to cross-sectional studies, provide an opportunity to establish age-related disease progression in HAND. The HIV-1 transgenic (Tg) rat, which has been promoted for investigating the effect of long-term HIV-1 viral protein exposure, was used to examine two interrelated goals. First, to establish the integrity of sensory and motor systems through the majority of the animal’s functional lifespan. Strong evidence for intact sensory and motor system function through advancing age in HIV-1 Tg and control animals was observed in cross-modal prepulse inhibition (PPI) and locomotor activity. The integrity of sensory and motor system function suggested the utility of the HIV-1 Tg rat in investigating the progression of HAND. Second, to assess the progression of neurocognitive impairment, including temporal processing and long-term episodic memory, in the HIV-1 Tg rat; the factor of biological sex was integral to the experimental design. Cross-modal PPI revealed significant alterations in the development of temporal processing in HIV-1 Tg animals relative to controls; alterations which were more pronounced in female HIV-1 Tg rats relative to male HIV-1 Tg rats. Locomotor activity revealed deficits in intrasession habituation, suggestive of a disruption in long-term episodic memory, in HIV-1 Tg animals. Understanding the progression of HAND heralds an opportunity for the development of an advantageous model of progressive neurocognitive deficits in HIV-1 and establishes fundamental groundwork for the development of neurorestorative treatments.
Prescribing Patterns in a Psychiatrically Referred Sample of Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine the pattern of psychopharmacologic interventions in a psychiatrically referred sample of youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS This retrospective chart review aimed at collecting demographic and clinical information, including data on DSM-IV-TR criteria-based psychiatric disorders and related current medication treatment and response. Data were collected in December 2011. Clinicians identified the target disorder for each medication and any adverse events. Level of psychopathology and therapeutic response was assessed by the clinician-rated Clinical Global Impressions scale (CGI). RESULTS Psychiatrically referred youth with ASD (n = 54) suffered from multiple psychopathologies (mean = 2.3) and had a marked level of morbidity (range of baseline CGI-Severity of Illness mean scores, 4.3-5.6). The most prevalent psychopathology was ADHD (83%), anxiety disorders (67%), bipolar spectrum disorder (43%), and mood disorder not otherwise specified (44%). The majority (80%) of the subjects received combination therapy (mean ± SD number of psychotropic medications = 3 ± 1.5). Forty percent of the participants responded on all treatment target symptoms (CGI-Improvement scale score ≤ 2), and an additional 10% experienced response versus nonresponse on a relatively greater number of target symptoms. Half of the subjects reported an adverse event, most commonly weight gain (28%) and sedation (12%), both from antipsychotic medication use. CONCLUSIONS Psychiatrically referred youth with ASD suffer from multiple highly impairing psychiatric disorders that require combination pharmacotherapy. These findings highlight the need for further research to guide clinical decision-making and treatment.
Vitamin D and the Breastfeeding Infant: Family Medicine Clinicians' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices.

Background:The American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Academy of Medicine recommend vitamin D supplementation for breastfeeding infants. However, compliance with this recommendation is poor. Maternal supplementation with vitamin D is a safe and effective alternative to achieving vitamin D sufficiency in breastfeeding infants, and mothers have indicated a preference for self-supplementation over infant supplementation.Research aim:We sought to explore Family Medicine clinicians’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding vitamin D supplementation recommendations for breastfeeding dyads.Methods:Fifty-six Family Medicine clinicians (including faculty physicians, resident physicians, and nurse practitioners/physician assistants) completed an online, anonymous survey regarding their knowledge and practices concerning vitamin D supplementation for breastfeeding infants.Results:The vast majority of clinicians (92.9%) correctly identified the American Academy of Pediatrics’ 2008 recommended dose for v...
Long-Term Continence Outcomes in Men Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy: A Prospective 15-Year Longitudinal Study

Purpose: We examined the time dependent rates of urinary continence following open retropubic radical prostatectomy.Materials and Methods: A total of 1,995 men treated with radical prostatectomy were enrolled in a prospective longitudinal outcomes study. The UCLA-PCI-UFS (UCLA-Prostate Cancer Index-Urinary Function Index) was administered at baseline, and 3, 6, 12, 24, 96, 120 and 180 months after open retropubic radical prostatectomy. Urinary continence was defined by 1 pad or less in 24 hours. Two multiple regression models were constructed to evaluate the association of time since open retropubic radical prostatectomy with the UCLA-PCI-UFI score and urinary continence.Results: The decrease in urinary continence rates between baseline and 15 years (99.6% vs 87.2%, p <0.001), and 2 and 15 years (95.3% vs 87.2%, p = 0.021) were statistically significant. Urinary continence rates were consistently higher in the younger group at all time points.Conclusions: A significant decrease in urinary continence rates...
Sexual abuse history and pelvic floor disorders in women.

Objectives Sexual abuse rates in the general female population range between 15% and 25%, and sexual abuse is known to have a long-term impact on a woman’s health. The aim of this study was to report the prevalence of sexual abuse history in women presenting to clinicians for pelvic floor disorders (PFD) and to determine whether a history of sexual abuse is associated with a specific type of PFD.
A Positive Approach to Multiculturalism and Diversity Management in the Workplace

In this chapter, we make the case for the value of and the critical contributions positive constructs can make in leveraging multiculturalism in the workplace. The chapter starts with an overview of diversity in the workplace. We then introduce workplace positivity in general, and more specifically several work-related positive constructs and approaches that emerged as offshoots of the positive psychology movement. Diversity as a demographic differentiator across groups has been marked by a history of prejudice and an inferiority perspective that can lead to a deficit approach to multiculturalism and diversity management. In this chapter, we distinguish this perspective from a positive approach that go beyond reducing, neutralizing, or even overcoming the negative, to also challenge the status quo and find new ways to understand, appreciate and leverage the full potential of a diverse workforce. Linkages between diversity, multiculturalism and positivity are then proposed. Directions for future research and practice end this chapter.
LUMPING AND SPLITTING THE PARKINSON PLUS SYNDROMES Dementia with Lewy Bodies, Multiple System Atrophy, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, and Cortical-Basal Ganglionic Degeneration

The atypical parkinsonian or Parkinson Plus syndromes are often difficult to differentiate from Parkinson's disease and each other. In this article, the clinicopathological characteristics of dementia with Lewy bodies, multiple system atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy, and cortical-basal ganglionic degeneration are discussed. These disorders, although clinically distinct, may have more similarities than previously thought, based on modern immunocytochemical techniques and new genetic findings. These intriguing interconnections at a basic molecular level have provided the scientific rationale for lumping these diseases into two groups, the synucleinopathies and the tauopathies.
Supersonic Pulse, Plasma Sampling Mass Spectrometry: Theory and Practice

Supersonic pulse, plasma sampling mass spectrometry is described, with an emphasis on the physical mechanism by which species originally within the plasma are incorporated into the supersonically expanding noble gas pulse. This new method is based on the release of a short burst of noble gas into the high vacuum environment of an ECR-microwave plasma. Upon expansion through the plasma region, species originally present in the plasma become incorporated in the noble gas pulse and are detected by quadrupole mass spectrometry. The mechanism of the incorporation process is investigated through measurement of the time-of-flight velocity distributions of both the noble gas and species incorporated into the pulse. Incorporation is shown to be the result of supercooled noble gas clustering around the incorporated species, which act as nucleation sites for the condensation. It is this unique sampling method which makes this technique capable of providing a chemical snapshot of the plasma composition. Practical applications of this technique include the investigation of the composition of diamond deposition plasmas and the etching of silicon with chlorine. The investigations of diamond plasmas include the observation of a plasma that contains at least 40% of the radical species C2H3.
Random Anisotropy Spin-Glass

In this seminar some recent work on a new type of spin-glass will be discussed.1–4 The model consists of a conventional Heisenberg model together with a random uniaxial anisotropy term, $$\mathcal{H} = - \sum {{J}_{{ij}}}{\mkern 1mu} {{S}_{i}}{\mkern 1mu} \bullet {{S}_{j}} - D\sum {{({{\hat{n}}_{i}}{\mkern 1mu} \bullet {{S}_{i}})}^{2}}$$ (1) Here n i is a unit vector denoting the orientation of the uniaxial anisotropy axis on the i th site. The orientation of the axes is assumed to be random with no correlation between the axes on different sites. In general, a model with m spin components in d dimensions will be considered.
Processive Kinesin-14 HSET Exhibits Directional Flexibility Depending on Motor Traffic.

Summary A common mitotic defect observed in cancer cells that possess supernumerary (more than two) centrosomes is multipolar spindle formation [ 1 , 2 ]. Such structures are resolved into a bipolar geometry by minus-end-directed motor proteins, such as cytoplasmic dynein and the kinesin-14 HSET [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. HSET is also thought to antagonize plus-end-directed kinesin-5 Eg5 to balance spindle forces [ 4 , 5 , 7 , 9 ]. However, the biomechanics of this force opposition are unclear, as HSET has previously been defined as a non-processive motor [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Here, we use optical trapping to elucidate the mechanism of force generation by HSET. We show that a single HSET motor has a processive nature with the ability to complete multiple steps while trapped along a microtubule and when unloaded can move in both directions for microns. Compared to other kinesins, HSET has a relatively weak stall force of 1.1 pN [ 17 , 18 ]. Moreover, HSET’s tail domain and its interaction with the E-hook of tubulin are necessary for long-range motility. In vitro polarity-marked bundle assays revealed that HSET selectively generates force in anti-parallel bundles on the order of its stall force. When combined with varied ratios of Eg5, HSET adopts Eg5’s directionality while acting as an antagonizing force brake, requiring at least a 10-fold higher Eg5 concentration to surpass HSET’s sliding force. These results reveal HSET’s ability to change roles within the spindle from acting as an adjustable microtubule slider and force regulator to a processive motor that aids in minus end focusing.
SJARACNe: a scalable software tool for gene network reverse engineering from big data.

Summary Over the last two decades, we have observed an exponential increase in the number of generated array or sequencing-based transcriptomic profiles. Reverse engineering of biological networks from high-throughput gene expression profiles has been one of the grand challenges in systems biology. The Algorithm for the Reconstruction of Accurate Cellular Networks (ARACNe) represents one of the most effective and widely-used tools to address this challenge. However, existing ARACNe implementations do not efficiently process big input data with thousands of samples. Here we present an improved implementation of the algorithm, SJARACNe, to solve this big data problem, based on sophisticated software engineering. The new scalable SJARACNe package achieves a dramatic improvement in computational performance in both time and memory usage and implements new features while preserving the network inference accuracy of the original algorithm. Given that large-sampled transcriptomic data is increasingly available and ARACNe is extremely demanding for network reconstruction, the scalable SJARACNe will allow even researchers with modest computational resources to efficiently construct complex regulatory and signaling networks from thousands of gene expression profiles. Availability and implementation SJARACNe is implemented in C++ (computational core) and Python (pipelining scripting wrapper, ≥3.6.1). It is freely available at https://github.com/jyyulab/SJARACNe. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Cushing Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment

Pituitary corticotroph adenomas (causing Cushing disease, CD) are the most common cause of endogenous Cushing syndrome (CS) in children although their prevalence varies within age groups. The initial workup of a patient suspected to have CS involves the demonstration of hypercortisolemia and/or excess urinary free cortisol excretion, the loss of the normal circadian rhythm of cortisol production, and the lack of suppression of cortisol secretion after low-dose dexamethasone suppression test. The identification of the source of CS involves the measurement of the morning corticotropin (ACTH) levels, imaging studies (pituitary magnetic resonance imaging and adrenal gland computed tomography), and other tests, including high-dose dexamethasone suppression and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) stimulation. The first-line management of CD is the transsphenoidal (TSS) resection of the pituitary adenoma. In cases where TSS fails, radiation and/or medical therapy and medical or surgical (bilateral) adrenalectomy may eventually lead to control of the hypercortisolemia.
Comment: Response to “Rights of Children, Rights of Parents, and the Moral Basis of the Family”

As I understand Professor Schoeman’s paper, he seems to be making three main points: (1) the usual analysis of parent-child relationships in terms of rights and obligations does not do justice to the nature of the relationship; (2) an analysis which realizes the importance of intimacy (i.e., relationships which involve sharing ourselves with others) in the parent-child relationship more adequately captures the essential nature of the relationship; and (3) relationships of intimacy, because they require privacy and autonomy, are best maintained and fostered when coercive state intervention is prevented.
If I had something to Add, I would: Meeting Topic Competences and Participation

Abstract. Most employees participate in workplace meetings, and their experiences in meetings can vary greatly, which can lead to positive or negative effects on both job attitudes and behavior. In...
Beyond the Courtroom: Accountability for Grave and Systemic Human Rights Violations

Achieving accountability for grave and systemic human rights abuses is not simple or straightforward. Questions arise on whether individualised, court-based forums can adequately tackle the norms, institutions and systems that underpin endemic injustices. There are many exciting accountability innovations happening around the world. An overlooked innovation is the inquiry procedure under the UN treaty bodies. This procedure, in theory, holds significant potential, as it is exclusively directed towards investigating and remedying ‘grave and systemic’ human rights issues. Although, several treaty bodies can conduct inquiries, the CEDAW Committee is the only treaty body to have built up a body of jurisprudence. At this early stage in the history of the inquiry procedure, this article asks: what contribution have the inquiries from the OP-CEDAW made to reconceptualising accountability for systemic violations of human rights? To answer this question, the article begins by mapping the prominent blockages to accountability in traditional, individualised court-based accountability forums. It then proceeds to evaluate whether the inquiries under the OP-CEDAW can overcome these blockages. There are multiple strengths to pursuing accountability for grave and systemic abuses through the inquiry procedure. The institutional design, particularly the active role provided for civil society organisations (CSOs) and the CEDAW Committee, means that human rights abuses do not go unchallenged because of costs or technical legal rules. The intense focus on one specific grave and systemic issue sheds light on the embedded and interwoven structures and attitudes that underpin endemic human rights violations. In turn, this gives the CEDAW Committee a strong basis on which to propose targeted recommendations to prevent further violations. The article concludes by identifying areas for reflection and future reform as the UN treaty bodies continue to conduct inquiry procedures.
Lincoln Biography and National Reconciliation in the Films Birth of a Nation and Lincoln

This essay explores how Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln (2012) invoked, argued with, and sometimes paid homage to D. W. Griffith’s Birth of a Nation (1915). It argues that the films’ portrayal of Lincoln as a national hero is inseparable from the fantasy that if Lincoln had lived into the postwar period, the nation would have reunited peacefully and without racial conflict. Birth of a Nation exemplified and helped to popularize that narrative, which represented congressional Reconstruction policy as a disaster for white southerners and for the nation. Historians have long since discredited that version of history, but it lives on in fantasies about Abraham Lincoln and his tragic death, and the film Lincoln unfortunately perpetuates and extends it.
Cerebrospinal meningitis: a global disease with regional variability?

Introduction. In this edition, Szymanski et al. present the results of their retrospective study of the clinical differences between patients with meningococcal meningitis and pneumococcal cerebrospinal meningitis at the Regional Specialistic Hospital in Wroclaw, Poland. Clinical reflections. The authors found that compared to patients with N. meningitidis, patients with S. pneumoniae were older, more frequently had chronic comorbidities, and had higher rates of pneumonia, longer hospitalisations, and higher mortality. Patients with N. meningitidis had higher rates of haemorrhagic rash and DIC. Clinical implications. These characteristics and outcomes reflect previous reports from Western Europe and the United States.
Book Review: Sarbani Sen Vengadasalam. (2019). New Postcolonial Dialectics: An Intercultural Comparison of Indian and Nigerian English Plays. Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing

Vengadasalam’s book offers a comparison of the literary and artistic practices and philosophies of three authors, two from India (Rabindranath Tagore and Badal Sircar) and one from Nigeria (Wole Soyinka), by examining their dramatic works: four plays in total, which offer an evaluation of the pre and post-independence national environment. Vengadaslam posits that the existing terminology for examining their work in the postcolonial context is insufficient and suggests a new term: “intercultural” to fully explore the magnitude of these writers’ art and the extent of their influence.
Predictive Analytics Approach to Evaluate Wage Inequality in Engineering Organizations

AbstractWage inequality is a source of many social and economic problems, and is the target of mitigating programs both nationally and internationally. The primary step toward developing effective ...
Classification Criteria, Epidemiology and Genetics; and Pathogenesis

Takayasu arteritis (TAK) is a granulomatous large-vessel vasculitis, predominantly affecting the aorta and/or its major branches. Younger age is often used to distinguish it from patients with another form of large-vessel vasculitis, giant cell arteritis, but older age at onset has been well recognized. The incidence and prevalence of TAK varies by geographic region with the highest estimated prevalence in Japan at 40 per million. The strongest genetic susceptibility is with the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Class I allele HLA-B52. The etiology of TAK is unknown and the pathogenesis is poorly understood. Histopathology of affected vessels show mixed inflammatory infiltrate comprising of macrophages with variable amounts of T- and B-lymphocytes and plasma cells. Cell-mediated autoimmunity appears to play a major role in TAK with recent studies demonstrating the importance of T-helper subsets Th1 and Th17.
Leelamine suppresses cMyc expression in prostate cancer cells in vitro and inhibits prostate carcinogenesis in vivo

Aim Leelamine (LLM) inhibits growth of human prostate cancer cells but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of LLM on cMyc, which is overexpressed in a subset of human prostate cancers. Methods The effect of LLM on cMyc expression and activity was determined by western blotting/confocal microscopy and luciferase reporter assay, respectively. A transgenic mouse model of prostate cancer (Hi-Myc) was used to determine chemopreventive efficacy of LLM. Results Exposure of androgen sensitive (LNCaP) and castration-resistant (22Rv1) human prostate cancer cells to LLM resulted in downregulation of protein and mRNA levels of cMyc. Overexpression of cMyc partially attenuated LLM-mediated inhibition of colony formation, cell viability, and cell migration in 22Rv1 and/or PC-3 cells. LLM treatment decreased protein levels of cMyc targets (e.g., lactate dehydrogenase), however, overexpression of cMyc did not attenuate these effects. A trend for a decrease in expression level of cMyc protein was discernible in 22Rv1 xenografts from LLM-treated mice compared with control mice. The LLM treatment (10 mg/kg body weight, 5 times/week) was well-tolerated by Hi-Myc transgenic mice. The incidence of high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, adenocarcinoma in situ, and microinvasion was lower in LLM-treated Hi-Myc mice but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion The present study reveals that LLM inhibits cMyc expression in human prostate cancer cells in vitro but concentrations higher than 10 mg/kg may be required to achieve chemoprevention of prostate cancer.
Chasing Beta, Losing Alpha

In this paper, we tackle the Beta anomaly, namely the fact that high-Beta assets tend to be associated with lower risk-adjusted returns than low-Beta assets, and connect it to mutual funds' expectations. We present a model with two types of investors, mutual funds and hedge funds, with heterogeneous market expectations and margin constraints. We show that the Beta anomaly is especially present for stocks purchased by over-optimistic mutual funds. On the empirical side, we first introduce a mutual fund-level measure of market expectations. Then, portfolio analyses and regressions confirm the model's prediction. The results are robust to alternative definitions of the mutual funds’ market beliefs variable that correct for stock picking, and carry predictive power for mutual funds' returns.
Ultrasensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and antigen using single-molecule optofluidic chip

Nucleic acids and proteins are the two most important target types used in molecular diagnostics. In many instances, simultaneous sensitive and accurate detection of both biomarkers from the same sample would be desirable, but standard detection methods are highly optimized for one type and not cross-compatible. Here, we report the simultaneous multiplexed detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNAs and antigens with single molecule sensitivity. Both analytes are isolated and labeled using a single bead-based solid-phase extraction protocol, followed by fluorescence detection on a multi-channel optofluidic waveguide chip. Direct amplification-free detection of both biomarkers from nasopharyngeal swab samples is demonstrated with single molecule detection sensitivity, opening the door for ultrasensitive dual-target analysis in infectious disease diagnosis, oncology, and other applications.
Pediatric quality measures: The leap from process to outcomes

Value-based reimbursement arrangements tie financial incentives to achieving quality measures to ensure savings are not from withholding care. For patients and their families, the delivery of high-quality care is simply the expectation. Defining and measuring pediatric quality, however, is not standardized which has led to a large proliferation of metrics across multiple stakeholders. The majority of these measures are process rather than outcomes metrics often chosen for the ease at which the data can be obtained. In order to drive greater value, outcomes measures should be preferentially selected. However, measuring outcomes in children presents multiple unique challenges. Compared to adults, children are generally healthier, their outcomes may take more time to manifest, and their clinical variability is greater. Another challenge is the amount of healthcare data being generated by providers, provider networks, payors, government agencies, and many others. This should help in understanding pediatric quality outcomes, but the massive volume of data requires new analytic tools. Artificial intelligence techniques such as machine learning offer faster, more precise, and larger scale evaluation of quality outcomes. Its implementation necessitates identifying expertise in the way of data scientists as well as additional infrastructure components to evaluate data governance, security, regulatory compliance, and ethics. Despite these prerequisites, much progress is being made in outcome insights that drive value benefiting children and families.
Low‐Velocity Impact Response of Sandwich Composites with FRP Facesheets and Nanoclay‐Wood Flour Modified Polyurethane Foam

Sandwich composite structures are widely used in aerospace, marine, automotive, and other commercial applications due to their high strength to weight ratios, high bending stiffness, high energy absorptions capabilities, and light weight. Traditionally polymer foams serve as the core material for sandwich composites, mainly because of their low density and energy absorption mechanisms due to their cellular structure In an effort to use more environmentally friendly materials, as well as a transition towards the fabrication of more “greener” composites; the fillers used for modifying polyurethane (PU) foam are all derived from natural sources. Three organically-modified nanoclays (Cloisite® 10A, Cloisite® 30B, and Nanomer® I.28E) and maple wood flour were used as fillers. Sandwich panel were fabricated with carbon/epoxy face sheets using vacuum assisted resin infusion molding. Low-velocity impact test was carried out using a drop-weight test system. Three samples of five different sandwich constructions, consisting of neat face sheets and neat and modified foam cores, were tested at energy levels of 10, 20, and 30 joules (J). Transient response data was collected for each sample, which included time, load, energy, velocity, and deflection. Results of the studies showed enhancements in peak load values for nanophased cores in comparison to neat cores.
CADRE: Carbon-Aware Data Replication for Geo-Diverse Services

Internet services replicate data to geo-diverse sites around the world, often via consistent hashing. Collectively, these sites span multiple power authorities that independently control carbon emissions at each site. Serving data from a carbon-heavy site increases the service's carbon footprint, but it is hard to place data at sites that will have low emission rates without replicating to too many sites. We present CADRE, a carbon-aware data replication approach. CADRE forecasts emission rates at each site and replicates data to sites that combine together to yield low carbon footprints. It makes replication decisions online, i.e., When data is created, and thus avoids emissions caused by moving data frequently in response to changing emission rates. CADRE uses the multiple-choice secretary algorithm to replicate objects with large footprints to low emission sites. It models carbon footprints for each object using the footprint-replication curve, a graph that maps replication factors to expected carbon footprints. CADRE also achieves availability goals, respects storage capacity limits and balances data across sites. Compared to consistent hashing, our approach reduces carbon footprints by 70%. It also supports and enhances the state-of-the-art green load balancing, reducing the carbon footprint by an additional 21%.
Navigating family roles and relationships: system youth in the transition years

During young adulthood, many transitions occur in family relationships. This paper explores family roles for young adults in the transition years who have been in the custody of the child welfare system and have mood challenges. To capture the voices of this less studied subpopulation, we conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with 44 young adults in a Midwestern state. Through coding interview transcripts, we identified how these young people defined family and issues they were navigating in family relationships. These young people were commonly resolving family history issues especially related to ambiguous and actual losses, as well as the legacy of this history in their present-day family relationships. Professionals who intervene with this population should be prepared to help young people as they navigate these family transitions and change the future by rewriting family narratives.
Global ocean response to orbital forcing in the Holocene

[1] Global upper ocean evolution in the Holocene is studied in two coupled ocean-atmosphere models under orbital forcing conditions at 3, 6, 8, and 11 ka. The annual mean sea surface temperature (SST) changes in the early to mid-Holocene are found to be forced mainly by the annual mean insolation forcing with an overall symmetric response of colder equator ( 1°C in the Arctic). This SST change is consistent with a synthesis of mid-Holocene paleo-SST records. In contrast, the temperature response in the thermocline is dominated by an antisymmetric pattern with a cooling (warming) in the Northern (Southern) Hemisphere midlatitudes. The thermocline response is determined predominantly by surface water subduction, and ultimately, the insolation forcing in local late winter.
Seeing is believing: Ras dimers observed in live cells

The concept that Ras proteins may function as oligomers was first described almost three decades ago when Santos et al. (1) found evidence for wild-type or mutant H-Ras multimerization using radiation inactivation assays. The idea was largely dropped when the myriad of crystal structures of H-Ras that followed over the ensuing decades suggested that Ras proteins are functional monomers. Inouye et al. (2) briefly resurrected the idea when they reported detecting H-Ras dimers by cross-linking and protein fragmentation complementation. In addition, these authors reported that forced dimerization of nonmembrane-targeted H-Ras activated Raf-1 kinase activity. Also suggestive of signaling from higher-order assemblies of Ras proteins is an extensive literature from Hancock and colleagues (3⇓–5) who analyzed the contribution of nanoclusters of five to eight Ras molecules to signaling through the two canonical Ras effector pathways, Raf–MEK–ERK and PI3K–AKT. More recently, two groups using molecular-dynamic modeling and a variety of biophysical methods have reported dimerization of the G domains of N-Ras (6) and H-Ras (7) when tethered via C-terminal lipid modifications to artificial phospholipid bilayers. Finally, Nussinov and colleagues (8), using similar techniques, very recently reported two different modes of dimerization of bacterially expressed, and therefore unprocessed, K-Ras4B in solution, one involving α-helices 3 and 4 and the other involving β-sheet interactions of the effector binding region. Importantly, both modes of dimerization were dependent on GTP binding. This flurry of activity was fueled in part by the recent discovery that Raf kinases, the Ras effectors that signal down the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, function as dimers (9⇓–11). In PNAS, Nan et al. (12) lend another voice to the growing buzz. They use superresolution photoactivated localization microscopy (PALM) to reveal K-Ras4B dimers in living cells.
Deliberative, search-based mitigation strategies for model-based software health management

Rising software complexity in aerospace systems makes them very difficult to analyze and prepare for all possible fault scenarios at design time; therefore, classical run-time fault tolerance techniques such as self-checking pairs and triple modular redundancy are used. However, several recent incidents have made it clear that existing software fault tolerance techniques alone are not sufficient. To improve system dependability, simpler, yet formally specified and verified run-time monitoring, diagnosis, and fault mitigation capabilities are needed. Such architectures are already in use for managing the health of vehicles and systems. Software health management is the application of these techniques to software systems. In this paper, we briefly describe the software health management techniques and architecture developed by our research group. The foundation of the architecture is a real-time component framework (built upon ARINC-653 platform services) that defines a model of computation for software components. Dedicated architectural elements: the Component Level Health Manager (CLHM) and System Level Health Manager (SLHM) provide the health management services: anomaly detection, fault source isolation, and fault mitigation. The SLHM includes a diagnosis engine that (1) uses a Timed Failure Propagation Graph (TFPG) model derived from the component assembly model, (2) reasons about cascading fault effects in the system, and (3) isolates the fault source component(s). Thereafter, the appropriate system-level mitigation action is taken. The main focus of this article is the description of the fault mitigation architecture that uses goal-based deliberative reasoning to determine the best mitigation actions for recovering the system from the identified failure mode.
A Realistic Look at STEM and the Role of Community Colleges

American policy makers, educators, and others are concerned that predicted workforce shortages in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields will have a catastrophic impact on the economy. This article takes a realistic look at the “STEM problem,” identifying how community colleges can be a part of the solution. We provide evidence that shortages in STEM workers vary by geographic locale. Furthermore, STEM achievement is not consistent across ethnic groups or between men and women. These gaps may be due to unequal access to STEM degree programs and the shortage of quality STEM teachers.
Total chemical synthesis and biophysical characterization of the minimal isoform of the KChIP2 potassium channel regulatory subunit.

The potassium channel accessory subunit KChIP2 associates with Kv4.2 channels in the cardiac myocyte and is involved in the regulation of the transient outward current (Ito) during the early phase of repolarization of the action potential. As a first step to biophysically probe the mechanism of KChIP2, we have chemically synthesized its minimal isoform, KChIP2d, using Boc chemistry solid phase peptide synthesis in conjunction with native chemical ligation. The synthetic KChIP2d protein is primarily alpha-helical as predicted and becomes more structured upon binding calcium as assessed by 1H-NMR and CD spectroscopy. Synthetic KChIP2d is in a monomer-dimer equilibrium in solution, and there is evidence for two monomer binding sites on an N-terminal peptide of Kv4.2. Planned future studies include the incorporation of fluorescent and spin labeled probes in KChIP2d to yield structural information in parallel with electrophysiologic studies to elucidate KChIP2d's mechanism of action.
Effects of Reacting Flow on Continuum Breakdown in Hypersonic Aerothermodynamics

This study investigates the effects of continuum breakdown on the surface aerothermodynamic properties (pressure, stress, heat transfer rate) of a sphere in Mach 25 flows in regimes varying from continuum to a rarefied gas. Results are generated using both continuum (CFD) and particle (DSMC) approaches. The DSMC method utilizes a chemistry model that calculates the backwards rates from an equilibrium constant. Tests of this model are run to confirm its validity and to compare it to the CFD chemistry model. The inclusion of reacting nitrogen flow did not significantly change the amount of continuum breakdown in the flow. Hence, there is little change in the maximum heat flux or the integrated drag on the surface of the sphere. The second part of this study examines the effect of reacting air flow on continuum breakdown and the surface properties of the sphere. As the global Knudsen number increases, the amount of continuum breakdown in the flow and on the surface increases. This increase in continuum breakdown significantly affects the surface properties, causing an increase in the differences between CFD and DSMC.
Reinterpreting network measures for models of disease transmission.

Abstract Several network measures have been defined elsewhere that quantify the distance between two nodes, and the centrality of a node, in a network. Recently, Stephenson and Zelen have presented a new measure based on statistical estimation theory and applied it to a network of AIDS cases. We show that their measure can be reinterpreted as the electrical conductance in an electrical network and compare it with three other closeness measures: maximal flow, first passage time, and random hitting time. An improved algorithm for calculating the Stephenson and Zelen measure is also presented.
UV Emission and bust properties of high redshift galaxies

The number density of the high-redshift (z >2) galaxies discoveredover the last few years with the Lyman-break technique is only afactor of a few lower than the number density of galaxies in the LocalUniverse. Thus, understanding the properties and the nature of thesehigh-redshift systems is instrumental to our understanding of thecosmic evolution of galaxies and their stellar content. I brieflyreview the observed characteristics of the Lyman-break galaxies,relate these galaxies to their most likely low-redshift counterparts,and discuss the implications of dust obscuration on the globalproperties of the Lyman-break population. Finally, the observationalproperties of the high-redshift population are set in the framework ofa simple evolutionary model for the stellar, metal and dust content ofgalaxies, to derive the intrinsic star formation history of theUniverse.
Surface segregation in a dilute copper–silver alloy

The equilibrium surface composition of a Cu-0.83 at. % Ag alloy has been studied over the range from 600°–400°C. Above 450°C the alloy consists of a single phase, whereas below that temperature the material separates into copper-rich and silver-rich phases. The kinetics of equilibration appear to be controlled by grain boundary diffusion, leading to more rapid equilibration than expected on the basis of lattice diffusion-controlled kinetics. In the single-phase regime, silver segregates to the surface with an average enthalpy of segregation of −24 kJ/mol and an entropy of segregation of 0.94 J/mol K, and displays a trend of increasing equilibrium silver surface concentration with decreasing temperature. Theoretical estimates of the enthalpy of segregation yield the somewhat more negative values of −60 and −47 kJ/mol, respectively. In the two-phase regime, the surface continues to be enriched in silver, but the silver surface concentration decreases with decreasing temperature as a result of the rapidly decreasing equilibrium solubility of silver in copper.
Pictures Are Worth a Thousand Words and a Moral Decision or Two: Religious Symbols Prime Moral Judgments

Symbols represent information we have previously learned or experienced, but they can also serve to encourage thoughts and behaviors that are consistent with this knowledge/experience in order to maintain social cohesion. Secular pictures representing moral rules have been shown to influence moral decisions, but there is no empirical evidence to demonstrate that religious pictures (e.g., crucifix) encourage the same outcome. Two studies examined whether religious pictures would influence decision making (lexical, moral) and whether personal religious belief was a moderating factor. Results overall showed that religious pictures influenced decision making. In Study 1, lexical decisions were faster to religious than nonreligious words when primed with religious pictures. In Study 2a, participants rated morally ambiguous actions as less morally appropriate when primed with religious pictures. This occurred to a greater degree for religious participants. In Study 2b, there was a priming effect of religious ve...