cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Three Classes of Mutations in the A Subunit of the CCAAT-Binding Factor CBF Delineate Functional Domains Involved in the Three-Step Assembly of the CBF-DNA Complex

The mammalian CCAAT-binding factor CBF (also called NF-Y or CP1) consists of three subunits, CBF-A, CBF-B, and CBF-C, all of which are required for DNA binding and present in the CBF-DNA complex. In this study we first established the stoichiometries of the CBF subunits, both in the CBF molecule and in the CBF-DNA complex, and showed that one molecule of each subunit is present in the complex. To begin to understand the interactions between the CBF subunits and DNA, we performed a mutational analysis of the CBF-A subunit. This analysis identified three classes of mutations in the segment of CBF-A that is conserved in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and mammals. Analysis of the first class of mutants revealed that a major part of the conserved segment was essential for interactions with CBF-C to form a heterodimeric CBF-A/CBF-C complex. The second class of mutants identified a segment of CBF-A that is necessary for interactions between the CBF-A/CBF-C heterodimer and CBF-B to form a CBF heterotrimer. The third class defined a domain of CBF-A involved in binding the CBF heterotrimer to DNA. The second and third classes of mutants acted as dominant negative mutants inhibiting the formation of a complex between the wild-type CBF subunits and DNA. The segment of CBF-A necessary for DNA binding showed sequence homology to a segment of CBF-C. Interestingly, these sequences in CBF-A and CBF-C were also homologous to the sequences in the histone-fold motifs of histones H2B and H2A, respectively, and to the archaebacterial histone-like protein HMf-2. We discuss the functional domains of CBF-A and the properties of CBF in light of these sequence homologies and propose that an ancient histone-like motif in two CBF subunits controls the formation of a heterodimer between these subunits and the assembly of a sequence-specific DNA-protein complex.
Wind noise in hearing aids: I. Effect of wide dynamic range compression and modulation-based noise reduction.

The objectives of this study were: (1) to examine the effect of wide dynamic range compression (WDRC) and modulation-based noise reduction (NR) algorithms on wind noise levels at the hearing aid output; and (2) to derive effective strategies for clinicians and engineers to reduce wind noise in hearing aids. Design: Three digital hearing aids were fi tted to KEMAR. The noise output was recorded at flvelocities of 0, 4.5, 9.0, and 13.5 m/s in a wind tunnel as the KEMAR head was turned from 0 ° to 360 ° . Study sample: Flow noise levels were compared between the 1:1 linear and 3:1 WDRC conditions, and between NR-activated and NR-deactivated conditions when the hearing aid was programmed to the directional and omnidirectional modes. Results: The results showed that: (1) WDRC increased low-level noise and reduced high-level noise; and (2) different noise reduction algorithms provided different amounts of wind noise reduction in different microphone modes, frequency regions, fl ow velocities, and head angles. Conclusions: Wind noise can be reduced by decreasing the gain for low-level inputs, increasing the compression ratio for high-level inputs, and activating modulation-based noise reduction algorithms.
International Diplomacy and the Prelude to the 2003 Invasion of Iraq African News Coverage and Assessment

Using framing as a theoretical and methodological framework, this study presents an analysis of the interpretation that the sub-Saharan African press put upon events prior to the 2003 Americanled military invasion of Iraq. It was found that the press opposed policies and efforts intended to initiate military action. This opposition was based on the contention that a westernled attack on Iraq, without an international consensus, would produce great political, economic and social upheaval in the Middle East, which might destabilize and have a negative impact upon African states.
An exploratory study of the emerging role of electronic intermediaries

It is often argued that as electronic markets lower the cost of market transactions, traditional roles for intermediaries will be eliminated, leading to "disintermediation." We discuss the findings of an exploratory study of intermediaries in electronic markets that suggest that markets do not necessarily become disintermediated as they become facilitated by information technology. We explore thirteen case studies of firms participating in electronic commerce and find evidence of certain new emerging roles for electronic intermediaries, including aggregating, matching suppliers and customers, providing trust, and providing interorganizational market information. Two specific examples are discussed in greater detail to illustrate an unsuccessful strategy for electronic intermediation (BargainFinder) as well as a successful one (Firefly).
An immunocytochemical localization of the cortical granule lectin in fertilized and unfertilized eggs of xenopus laevis

At fertilization, the vitelline envelope surrounding the egg of Xenopus laevis is modified by the addition of an electron-dense component termed the “F layer.” The F layer functions as a block to polyspermy and as a block to the escape of macromolecules from the perivitelline space, thereby causing an osmotically driven envelope elevation. F-layer formation has been hypothesized to result from interaction between a cortical-granule lectin, released in the cortical reaction, and a jelly-coat ligand. Evidence for this hypothesis was sought by determining the location of the cortical-granule lectin both before and after fertilization, using a specific antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase. The cortical-granule lectin was localized only in the cortical granules of the unfertilized egg and was located predominantly in the perivitelline space and the F layer of a fertilized egg. These observations support the hypothesis that the F layer is formed by a cortical-granule-Iectin–jelly layer-ligand interaction.
Investigating the Radioresistant Properties of Lung Cancer Stem Cells in the Context of the Tumor Microenvironment

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for ~85% of all lung cancer. While recent research has shown that cancer stem cells (CSC) exhibit radioresistant and chemoresistant properties, current cancer therapy targets the bulk of the tumor burden without accounting for the CSC and the contribution of the tumor microenvironment. CSC interaction with the stroma enhances NSCLC survival, thus limiting the efficacy of treatment. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of CSC and the microenvironment in conferring radio- or chemoresistance in an in vitro tumor model for NSCLC. The novel in vitro three-dimensional (3D) NSCLC model of color-coded tumor tissue analogs (TTA) that we have developed is comprised of human lung adenocarcinoma cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells and NSCLC cancer stem cells maintained in low oxygen conditions (5% O2) to recapitulate the physiologic conditions in tumors. Using this model, we demonstrate that a single 5 Gy radiation dose does not inhibit growth of TTA containing CSC and results in elevated expression of cytokines (TGF-α, RANTES, ENA-78) and factors (vimentin, MMP and TIMP), indicative of an invasive and aggressive phenotype. However, combined treatment of single dose or fractionated doses with cisplatin was found to either attenuate or decrease the proliferative effect that radiation exposure alone had on TTA containing CSC maintained in hypoxic conditions. In summary, we utilized a 3D NSCLC model, which had characteristics of the tumor microenvironment and tumor cell heterogeneity, to elucidate the multifactorial nature of radioresistance in tumors.
History and Evolution of the Johnson Criteria.

The Johnson Criteria metric calculates probability of detection of an object imaged by an optical system, and was created in 1958 by John Johnson. As understanding of target detection has improved, detection models have evolved to better model additional factors such as weather, scene content, and object placement. The initial Johnson Criteria, while sufficient for technology and understanding at the time, does not accurately reflect current research into target acquisition and technology. Even though current research shows a dependence on human factors, there appears to be a lack of testing and modeling of human variability.
Characteristics and Needs of Students Interested in Financial Planning

This study attempts to develop a profile of college students who are most interested in financial planning and would, therefore, be prime candidates for enrolling in a basic financial planning course. It was found that a student's educational and career aspirations both appear to be contributing factors in an individual's perceptions of and attitude towards financial planning. Also, there appears to be no difference in the degree of interest in financial planning displayed by business and nonbusiness majors.This study also identifies those financial planning areas that students find most interesting. Students appear to be most interested in those areas that provide economic security. This information is useful for the development of course content.
Software Resilience and the Effectiveness of Software Mitigation in Microcontrollers

Commercially available microprocessors could be useful to the space community for noncritical computations. There are many possible components that are smaller, lower-power, and less expensive than traditional radiation-hardened microprocessors. Many commercial microprocessors have issues with single-event effects (SEEs), such as single-event upsets (SEUs) and single-event transients (SETs), that can cause the microprocessor to calculate an incorrect result or crash. In this paper we present the Trikaya technique for masking SEUs and SETs through software mitigation techniques. Furthermore, test results show that this technique can be very effective at masking errors, making it possible to fly these microprocessors for a variety of missions.
A FORMAL APPROACH TO AERODYNAMIC MODELING FOR STORE SEPARATION

The prediction of store separation from an aircraft is normally done using a combination of wind tunnel test data. These tests include measurements of the store forces and moments in the presence of the aircraft as well as independent measurements of the store aerodynamics by itself combined with measurements of the local flowfield around the aircraft through which the store must traverse. These methods are rather ad hoc. A formal approach to aerodynamic mathematical modeling of store separation from a parent aircraft is put forward. This approach is then expanded to show how it incorporates both approaches in present use.
Plant Hormones (Auxins) as a Factor in the Hatching of Aedes Trivittatus (Coquillett) Eggs

Aedes trivittatus (Coquillett) breeds in temporary pool situations. It passes the winter in the egg stage and the larvae often may be found during summer in the temporary pools formed by rains. It is observed that there is plenty of plant growth in these pools and the most common plants are Blue-grass ( Poa sylvestris Gr.) and nodding Fescue-grass ( Festuca nutans Willd.). As first instar larvae are usually observed in these pools immediately after a rain, it was thought that these grasses have something to do with the eggs hatching.
Reoperation for a type I aortic dissection: case report.

Surgery for the repair of a type I aortic dissection presents several difficulties for the surgeon and the perfusionist. One must safely support the patient, while at the same time provide the surgeon with a bloodless field in which to operate. Often, this requires cessation of the circulation for varying amounts of time. Deep hypothermia allows for an extension of the arrest period, while other techniques - retrograde cerebral perfusion and antegrade cerebral perfusion - provide an additional degree of cerebral protection.Recently, we utilized these techniques concurrently on a 43-year-old female who presented for a reoperation for a type I aortic dissection. Combining these techniques allowed us to adequately support the patient during an anticipated lengthy period of circulatory arrest and insured a successful operation without any adverse cerebral or other organ dysfunction.
Angular Distributions of Protons from the Reaction F 19 (d, p)F 20

A Teflon (C${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$) target was bombarded with 3.6-Mev deuterons from the Rochester 26-inch cyclotron, and the angular distributions of the resulting proton groups were determined using an ionization chamber detector. The following table gives the angular momentum transfer (determined by comparison with the Butler curves) and the cross sections corresponding to the indicated levels in ${\mathrm{F}}^{20}$: These ${\mathrm{F}}^{20}$ states were found to have even parity, and the ground-state spin was determined to be 1.
Project and Problem Based Learning for Circuits, Systems, VLSI and Digital Signal Processing Courses

Project-based and problem-based learning are widespread and proven pedagogical techniques to achieve a variety of learning outcomes. In this paper, several projects in the circuits, systems, VLSI and signal processing areas are described. The projects can be implemented using both project-based and problem-based learning and as part of an Electrical and Computer Engineering curriculum without the need for additional expensive resources. Learning outcomes in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) are emphasized such that students achieve analytical, design, software and communication skills. The VLSI design project also has an entrepreneurship component. Assessment results are provided.
The Use and Abuse of Definitions in Constitutional Law; A Critique of Justice Roberts's Dissent in Obergefell v. Hodges

Justice Roberts’s dissent in the Obergefell v. Hodges -- the case in which the Supreme Court found a constitutional right for same sex couples to marry -- rested on a faulty premise. The premise was that it is up to states, not the Court, to change the "definition of marriage" by extending it to same sex couples. He had no objection to recognizing that marriage is a fundamental right in constitutional law. His objection was that same sex couples cannot marry under most legal definitions of marriage, and that the Court cannot invoke the right to marry as a basis for changing the definition of marriage. But his argument works only if the Court has no obligation to find a constitutional meaning for the term. I argue here that it has such an obligation. I argue further that an analogy with the concept of “person” throws light on how that obligation should work. And finally, I argue that the most plausible constitutional definition would include same sex couples.
High performance liquid chromatographic determination and clearance time of aflatoxin residues in swine tissues

Liver, kidney, and muscle tissues from swine given a single oral dose of 1.2 mg aflatoxins/kg body weight and from young pigs fed an aflatoxin-contaminated diet (0,400, or 800 ng/g feed) for 10 weeks were analyzed for aflatoxin residues. Extraction was performed according to the method of Stubblefield and Shotwell. Aflatoxin residues were detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and residue levels were correlated with withdrawal times. Residues were present in liver and kidney but not muscle by 12 h post-dosing; residues were detected in muscle by after 24 h. Residue levels decreased over the 72 h period in all tissues. No aflatoxin residues were detected in the muscle from any pig 72 h post-dosing or in those pigs fed the 400 ng/g diet, but were present in the muscle of pigs fed the 800 ng/g diet.
“I Can Actually Be a Super Sleuth” Promising Practices for Engaging Adolescent Girls in Cybersecurity Education

Utilizing qualitative data gleaned from focus groups with adolescent girls participating in a cybersecurity summer program (N = 38, mean age = 16.3), this study examines the following research ques...
Load Transient Mitigation for Stand-Alone Fuel Cell Power Generation Systems

In this paper, a load transient mitigation technique for stand-alone fuel cell (FC)-battery power generation systems is proposed. The technique can be used not only to improve the output power quality of the overall system, but also to mitigate or eliminate the electrical feedback stresses that are caused by load transients upon fuel cells. As a result, the durability of the fuel cell can also be improved. System analysis and controller design procedure for the proposed technique are given in this paper. Simulation studies have been carried out on FC-battery power generation systems using the dynamic models developed for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) and solid-oxide fuel cell (SOFC). Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed technique in preventing load transients from affecting the fuel cell performance.
Sequence and Consequence: from Truckling Knave to Trickling Blood

Dickens had about as many styles as he had children, and he switched from one style to another — from melodrama to naturalistic description; from rhetorical preachment to comic high-jinks — about as often as he dipped his pen in his inkwell. This is another of those facts about Dickens that we all know well, and yet very seldom do we consider that those shifts from one style to another are themselves responsible for generating some of the meaning the reader of Dickens perceives as he reads. As Seymour Chatman surmises: ‘If narrative structure is indeed semiotic — that is, communicates meaning in its own right, over and above the paraphrase-able contents of its story — it should … be quadripartite… It should contain (i) a form and substance of expression, and (2) a form and substance of content.’3
The Impact of Secularity on Attitudes of Gender Equality: A Multi-Level Analysis of 49 Nations

This research uses a series of hierarchical linear regression models fitted to data from the 2014 World Values Survey ( WVS ) and national statistics for 49 countries to specify the relationship between variables at the macro, meso, and micro level with attitudes of gender equality. In addition to the development of an updated and more robust Gender Equality Scale, the findings show that economic development increases support for gender equality, in line with Inglehart’s postmaterialist hypothesis. A history of communist rule and income inequality also increase attitudes of gender equality. Secularity has the greatest explanatory power in the equation; the results show that being educated, female, and less religious significantly increases one’s likelihood to support gender equality.
“How Philly Moves”: from urban branding to kinesthetic sympathy through an aesthetic of blur

ABSTRACTThis article investigates the production and mural aesthetic of the “How Philly Moves” mural, photography, and dance project. The project enables scholars to trace different intensities of dialogic encounter throughout its process, exploring how the remediation of a dance event leaves kinesthetic and rhythmic traces. This project, works against commodifying tendencies while within dominant frameworks and cultivates what I call “kinesthetic sympathy,” an ethic and aesthetic of rhythmic resonance that acknowledges the ongoingness of the subject while inspiring a sense of kinetic impact in the viewer or participant, part of a spectrum of affective connection constituted through rhythmic intimacies.
Multiple Roles for B-Lymphocytes in Sjogren’s Syndrome

Sjogren’s syndrome (SS) is a complex heterogeneous autoimmune disease resulting in loss of salivary gland and lacrimal gland function that may include multiple systemic manifestations including lymphoma. Multiple cell types participate in disease pathogenesis. This review discusses evidence for abnormal B cell subpopulations in patients with SS, critical roles of B cells in SS and the status of B cell–directed therapies in the management of patients with SS.
β-Lactamase Inhibitors Enhance the Synergy between β-Lactam Antibiotics and Daptomycin against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

The evidence for using combination therapy for the treatment of serious methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections is growing. In this study, we investigated the synergistic effect of daptomycin (DAP) combined with piperacillin-tazobactam and ampicillin-sulbactam against MRSA in time-kill experiments. Six of eight strains demonstrated synergy between DAP and the β-lactam-β-lactamase inhibitor (BLI) combination. In 5/8 strains, the synergy occurred only in the presence of the BLI, highlighting a role for BLIs in peptide-β-lactam synergy.
Maximizing Information Yield From Pheromone-Baited Monitoring Traps: Estimating Plume Reach, Trapping Radius, and Absolute Density of Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Michigan Apple

Novel methods of data analysis were used to interpret codling moth (Cydia pomonella) catch data from central-trap, multiple-release experiments using a standard codlemone-baited monitoring trap in commercial apple orchards not under mating disruption. The main objectives were to determine consistency and reliability for measures of: 1) the trapping radius, composed of the trap's behaviorally effective plume reach and the maximum dispersive distance of a responder population; and 2) the proportion of the population present in the trapping area that is caught. Two moth release designs were used: 1) moth releases at regular intervals in the four cardinal directions, and 2) evenly distributed moth releases across entire approximately 18-ha orchard blocks using both high and low codling moth populations. For both release designs, at high populations, the mean proportion catch was 0.01, and for the even release of low populations, that value was approximately 0.02. Mean maximum dispersive distance for released codling moth males was approximately 260 m. Behaviorally effective plume reach for the standard codling moth trap was < 5 m, and total trapping area for a single trap was approximately 21 ha. These estimates were consistent across three growing seasons and are supported by extraordinarily high replication for this type of field experiment. Knowing the trapping area and mean proportion caught, catch number per single monitoring trap can be translated into absolute pest density using the equation: males per trapping area = catch per trapping area/proportion caught. Thus, catches of 1, 3, 10, and 30 codling moth males per trap translate to approximately 5, 14, 48, and 143 males/ha, respectively, and reflect equal densities of females, because the codling moth sex ratio is 1:1. Combined with life-table data on codling moth fecundity and mortality, along with data on crop yield per trapping area, this fundamental knowledge of how to interpret catch numbers will enable pest managers to make considerably more precise projections of damage and therefore more precise and reliable decisions on whether insecticide applications are justified. The principles and methods established here for estimating absolute codling moth density may be broadly applicable to pests generally and thereby could set a new standard for integrated pest management decisions based on trapping.
Infective Endocarditis in Hemodialysis Patients.

Background and aim of the study Infective endocarditis (IE) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The study aim was to evaluate the demographic, clinical, microbiological and inpatient mortality data of IE in hemodialysis patients. Methods Data were analyzed for all IE patients admitted to the authors' 800-bed tertiary care hospital between January 2001 and December 2014. These data included demographics, comorbidities, clinical and microbiological characteristics, echocardiographic findings, complications, outcomes, and in-patient mortality. Results A total of 296 patients, including 52 on hemodialysis, was admitted with a diagnosis of IE. The median age of patients with ESRD (28 females, 24 males) was 55.9 ± 15.47 years. The prevalences of comorbidities such as hypertension (80%) and diabetes mellitus (46%) were significantly higher in ESRD patients, whereas other comorbidities were similarly distributed in both groups. The mitral valve was the most commonly involved (55.8%), followed by aortic (21.7%), tricuspid (21.2%) and pulmonary (1.9%) valves. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism (40%), followed by Enterococcus sp. (13.7%), Gram-negative staphylococci (13.7%), coagulase-negative staphylococci (11.5%), and Streptococcus sp. (5.7%). Polymicrobes were found in 11.5% of patients and cultures were negative in 19%. The mean ejection fraction in these patients was 42 ± 4.19% and the mean area of vegetation was 63.5 ± 40 mm2. The in-hospital course of 11 patients was complicated by embolic events, while three patients had acute heart failure and one patient had heart block secondary to IE. A total of four patients (7.7%) died during the index hospitalization. Conclusions IE in patients receiving chronic hemodialysis is a very frequent occurrence. Its diagnosis is complex and its presence should be considered in all hemodialysis patients with bacteremia. In the present study the etiology was shown to be multifactorial, with the mitral valve being the most commonly involved and S. aureus the most common organism.
Dynamic assessment of microbial ecology (DAME): a web app for interactive analysis and visualization of microbial sequencing data.

Summary Dynamic assessment of microbial ecology (DAME) is a Shiny-based web application for interactive analysis and visualization of microbial sequencing data. DAME provides researchers not familiar with R programming the ability to access the most current R functions utilized for ecology and gene sequencing data analyses. Currently, DAME supports group comparisons of several ecological estimates of α-diversity and β-diversity, along with differential abundance analysis of individual taxa. Using the Shiny framework, the user has complete control of all aspects of the data analysis, including sample/experimental group selection and filtering, estimate selection, statistical methods and visualization parameters. Furthermore, graphical and tabular outputs are supported by R packages using D3.js and are fully interactive. Availability and implementation DAME was implemented in R but can be modified by Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), and JavaScript. It is freely available on the web at https://acnc-shinyapps.shinyapps.io/DAME/. Local installation and source code are available through Github (https://github.com/bdpiccolo/ACNC-DAME). Any system with R can launch DAME locally provided the shiny package is installed. Contact bdpiccolo@uams.edu.
Monitoring of Response and Resistance in Plasma of EGFR-Mutant Lung Cancer Using Droplet Digital PCR

The identification of oncogenic driver mutations has led to the rapid rise of genotype-directed treatments. However, genetic analysis of tumors remains cumbersome and a morbid experience for patients. Noninvasive assessment of tumor genotype, so-called "liquid biopsy," such as plasma genotyping represents a potentially transformative tool. Here we describe a genotyping protocol of cell-free plasma DNA (cfDNA) using Droplet Digital™ PCR (ddPCR™). ddPCR emulsifies DNA into ~20,000 droplets in which PCR is performed to endpoint in each droplet for both mutant and wild-type DNA. Droplets are run through a modified flow cytometer where mutant and wild-type DNA emit different colored signals. The count of these signals upon Poisson distribution analysis allows sensitive quantification of allelic prevalence.
Essay Review: ELSI's Revenge

Les travaux de Kay (L.) et Condit (C.M.) sur le genome et le code genetique sont decrits ainsi que leur contribution a la recherche par leurs ouvrages et leurs travaux scientifiques
The Effect of Mental Set and States of Consciousness on Vigilance Decrement: A Systematic Exploration

Previous research by the authors and others has shown the human operator to be a notoriously inefficient monitor. Unless motivation is unusually high and stringent and unusual methods are employed, infrequent, aperiodic, and near-threshold signals are rarely detected. Failure to heed such cues or signals in either the natural or manmade environment in hundreds of military, industrial, or everyday situations could--and often does--;prove disastrous. To increase the alertness level and reduce the typical vigilance decrement researchers have increased and decreased the signal rate, signal variability, signal intensity, and signal complexity. Both positive and negative feedback have been provided and environmental stimulation has been systematically increased, decreased, and varied in quality. In fact, nearly everything imaginable has been tried with only moderate success in increasing the level of sustained alertness.
Teaching the evolution of behavior with SuperDuperWalker

SuperDuperWalker is a software-based framework for experiments on the evolution of locomotion. It simulates the behavior of evolving agents in a 3D physical simulation environment and displays this behavior graphically in real time. A genetic algorithm controls the evolution of the agents. Students manipulate parameters with a graphical user interface and plot outputs using standard utilities. The software supports an inquiry cycle that has been piloted in CS193T: Biocomputational Developmental Ecology at Hampshire College.
The personal, social, and economic determinants of cardiovascular disease.

Personal, social, economic, and environmental factors all contribute to the increased incidence of cardiovascular disease in the United States. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Restaurant Impacts on Outdoor Air Quality: Elevated Organic Aerosol Mass from Restaurant Cooking with Neighborhood-Scale Plume Extents

Organic aerosol (OA) is a major component of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in urban environments. We performed in-motion ambient sampling from a mobile platform with an aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS) to investigate the spatial variability and sources of OA concentrations in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a midsize, largely postindustrial American city. To characterize the relative importance of cooking and traffic sources, we sampled in some of the most populated areas (∼18 km2) in and around Pittsburgh during afternoon rush hour and evening mealtime, including congested highways, major local roads, areas with high densities of restaurants, and urban background locations. We found greatly elevated OA concentrations (10s of μg m–3) in the vicinity of numerous individual restaurants and commercial districts containing multiple restaurants. The AMS mass spectral information indicates that majority of the high concentration plumes (71%) were from cooking sources. Areas containing both busy roads and restaurants...
The Effects of Peri-Operative Dexamethasone on Patients Undergoing Total Hip or Knee Arthroplasty: Is It Safe for Diabetics?

Abstract Background Peri-operative dexamethasone has been shown to effectively reduce post-operative nausea and vomiting and aide in analgesia after total joint arthroplasty (TJA); however, systemic glucocorticoid therapy has many adverse effects. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of dexamethasone on prosthetic joint infection (PJI) and blood glucose levels in patients undergoing TJA. Methods A retrospective chart review of all patients receiving primary TJA from 2011 to 2015 (n = 2317) was conducted. Patients were divided into 2 cohorts: dexamethasone (n = 1426) and no dexamethasone (n = 891); these groups were subdivided into diabetic and non-diabetic patients. The primary outcome was PJI; secondary measures included glucose levels and pre-operative hemoglobin A1c (A1c) values. Statistics were carried out using logistic and regression models. Results Of the 2317 joints, 1.12% developed PJI; this was not affected by dexamethasone (P = .166). Diabetics were found to have higher rate of infection (P Conclusion Although diabetic patients were found to have a higher infection rate overall, this was not affected by administration of intravenous dexamethasone, nor was the post-operative elevation in serum glucose levels. In this study population, peri-operative intravenous dexamethasone did not increase the rate of PJI and was safe to administer in patients undergoing TJA.
Yap/Taz regulate alveolar regeneration and resolution of lung inflammation

Alveolar epithelium plays a pivotal role in protecting the lungs from inhaled infectious agents. Therefore, the regenerative capacity of the alveolar epithelium is critical for recovery from these insults in order to rebuild the epithelial barrier and restore pulmonary functions. Here, we show that sublethal infection of mice with Streptococcus pneumoniae, the most common pathogen of community-acquired pneumonia, led to exclusive damage in lung alveoli, followed by alveolar epithelial regeneration and resolution of lung inflammation. We show that surfactant protein C-expressing (SPC-expressing) alveolar epithelial type II cells (AECIIs) underwent proliferation and differentiation after infection, which contributed to the newly formed alveolar epithelium. This increase in AECII activities was correlated with increased nuclear expression of Yap and Taz, the mediators of the Hippo pathway. Mice that lacked Yap/Taz in AECIIs exhibited prolonged inflammatory responses in the lung and were delayed in alveolar epithelial regeneration during bacterial pneumonia. This impaired alveolar epithelial regeneration was paralleled by a failure to upregulate IκBa, the molecule that terminates NF-κB-mediated inflammatory responses. These results demonstrate that signals governing resolution of lung inflammation were altered in Yap/Taz mutant mice, which prevented the development of a proper regenerative niche, delaying repair and regeneration of alveolar epithelium during bacterial pneumonia.
Tuned in: Musical rhythm and social skills in adults:

In music, we “feel the beat” through rhythm. During successful social interactions, individuals establish an interpersonal rhythm through back-and-forth exchanges. Consequently, these two disparate...
Race in the Labor Market: The Role of Equal Employment Opportunity and Other Policies

Fifty years have passed since the release of the Kerner Commission’s findings, conclusions, and policy recommendations. This article first reviews recent trend and cross-section analysis on racial employment and earnings inequality before synthesizing the evidence on racial inequality’s causes and speculating how these factors might shape future African American outcomes. In conclusion, it offers a framework for addressing the nation’s persistent racial inequality.
New insights into the mechanisms behind mechanical itch

Gentle tactile stimuli, such as insects crawling on the skin, can cause itching sensation called mechanical itch. Recent studies have begun to shed light on the neural mechanisms of mechanical itch. Interestingly, the neural pathway for mechanical itch is apparently different from that for chemical itch triggered by the activation of pruriceptors with various mediators. Mechanical itch dysesthesia is frequently seen in patients with chronic itch. Mechanisms of this dysesthesia are plausibly involved in central sensitization. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of mechanical itch under normal and pathological conditions.
Real Time Analysis of a Multi-Agent Based Distributed Control Strategy for Islanded AC Microgrids

This paper presents a distributed control approach for attaining a reliable active power sharing performance on an islanded AC microgrid with inductive interconnection lines. Despite the lower complexity of the conventional decentralized schemes, their power sharing performance is poor as they only rely on their local measurements. Also, their voltage and frequency regulation suffer from high level of deviation based on the local droop terms and the line dominant impedance. The centralized schemes also never gained the high level of popularity as they are highly vulnerable in terms of communication failures and cyber-attacks. In order to ensure a superior active power sharing performance, a distributed control algorithm based on the consensus multi agent concept is proposed. Through intercommunication between the bus agents, the proper power sharing based on the supply-demand theory is achieved. The effectiveness of the proposed distributed controller at the secondary layer is verified through real time simulation studies under different load profiles. A comparative approach with respect to the typical averaging based distributed control highlights the differences.
Abstract 14156: Automated Electronic Medical Record Mapping to Identify Acute Precipitants of Atrial Fibrillation and Oral Anticoagulation Use

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) that is associated with acute precipitants frequently recurs and is associated with long-term morbidity and mortality. Leveraging a large electronic medical r...
A Behavioral Lifestyle Intervention to Limit Gestational Weight Gain in Pregnant Women with Overweight and Obesity.

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an antenatal behavioral lifestyle intervention on total gestational weight gain (GWG) and perinatal outcomes. METHODS Pregnant women with overweight and obesity in South Carolina were recruited into a theory-based randomized controlled trial (n = 112 intervention, n = 105 standard care), which was designed to target weight self-monitoring, increased physical activity, and improved dietary practices. RESULTS Participants were racially/ethnically diverse (44% African American). Intervention and standard care participants had similar total GWG at delivery (12.9 ± 6.9 vs. 12.4 ± 8.3 kg, respectively), but intervention participants had a smaller standard deviation (P = 0.04) in total GWG. The treatment effects were moderated by race/ethnicity and prepregnancy BMI. Among African American participants with overweight, intervention participants gained 4.5 kg less, whereas, among African American women with obesity, intervention participants gained 4.1 kg more than standard care participants. Total GWG among White participants was similar regardless of weight status and group assignment. Fewer intervention participants than standard care participants had adverse pregnancy outcomes (P ≤ 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The behavioral lifestyle intervention favorably impacted GWG in African American participants with overweight but not African American participants with obesity. The intervention's overall favorable impact on perinatal outcomes suggests that the mechanisms beyond total GWG may drive these outcomes.
Multiculturalism and its impact on the Iraqi political reality

The lack of awareness of the importance of constructive interaction between cultural groups at the social and political level, Led to an increase in the number of problems of multiculturalism in Iraq after the year (2003), contributed to the spread of societal violence and led to the aggravation of security and political problems that were directly reflected on his political reality, and the continuing conflict between Partisan forces influencing power, and their lack of clear-cut ideological trends is one of the reasons for their failure to develop the political process, as a result of their endeavor to manage power according to their narrow sectarian orientations, Out of balance to create a common collective will that reflects the interests of a pluralistic society.The issue of solving this problem requires a strong and positive will characterized by rational intellectual maturity, and believes in social interaction to advance the integration process, and in a manner that guarantees the rights, freedoms and interests of everyone fairly and dealing with them on the basis of the principle of citizenship, which entrenches the culture of dialogue, tolerance and peaceful coexistence, and in turn promotes the bonds of societal homogeneity and its culture Conscious and independent political, to weaken the power of belonging and sub-loyalty in favor of the unified national identity, and supports the process of political stability in all its dimensions.
Quantifying value-based determinants of drug and non-drug decision dynamics.

A growing body of research suggests that substance use disorder (SUD) may be characterized as disorders of decision making. However, drug choice studies assessing drug-associated decision making often lack more complex and dynamic conditions that better approximate contexts outside the laboratory and may lead to incomplete conclusions regarding the nature of drug-associated value. The current study assessed isomorphic (choice between identical food options) and allomorphic (choice between remifentanil [REMI] and food) choice across dynamically changing reward probabilities, magnitudes, and differentially reward-predictive stimuli in male rats to better understand determinants of drug value. Choice data were analyzed at aggregate and choice-by-choice levels using quantitative matching and reinforcement learning (RL) models, respectively. Reductions in reward probability or magnitude independently reduced preferences for food and REMI commodities. Inclusion of reward-predictive cues significantly increased preference for food and REMI rewards. Model comparisons revealed that reward-predictive stimuli significantly altered the economic substitutability of food and REMI rewards at both levels of analysis. Furthermore, model comparisons supported the reformulation of reward value updating in RL models from independent terms to a shared, relative term, more akin to matching models. The results indicate that value-based quantitative choice models can accurately capture choice determinants within complex decision-making contexts and corroborate drug choice as a multidimensional valuation process. Collectively, the present study indicates commonalities in decision-making for drug and non-drug rewards, validates the use of economic-based SUD therapies (e.g., contingency management), and implicates the neurobehavioral processes underlying drug-associated decision-making as a potential avenue for future SUD treatment.
HJB Equation, Dynamic Programming Principle, and Stochastic Optimal Control

The paper is an extended version of lecture notes from a mini-course given by the author in the workshop Optimal Control and PDE in Tohoku University in 2017. The main objective of the lecture notes is to give a short but rigorous introduction to the dynamic programming approach to stochastic optimal control problems. The manuscript discusses, among other things, the classical necessary and sufficient conditions for optimality, properties of the value function, and it contains a proof of the dynamic programming principle, and a proof that the value function is a unique viscosity solution of the associated Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation.
A microfluidic-based filtration system to enrich for bone marrow disseminated tumor cells from breast cancer patients

Disseminated tumors cells (DTCs) present in the bone marrow (BM) are believed to be the progenitors of distant metastatic spread, a major cause of mortality in breast cancer patients. To better understand the behavior and therapeutic vulnerabilities of these rare cell populations, unbiased methods for selective cell enrichment are required. In this study, we have evaluated a microfluidic-based filtration system (ParsortixR, Angle PLC), previously demonstrated for use in circulating tumor cell (CTC) capture, to capture BM DTCs. Performance using BM samples was also compared directly to enrichment of CTCs in the peripheral blood (PB) from both metastatic and non-metastatic breast cancer patients. Although the non-specific capture of BM immune cells was significant, the device could routinely achieve significant cytoreduction of BM and PB WBCs and at least 1,000-fold enrichment of DTCs, based on labeled tumor cell spike-in experiments. Detection of previously characterized DTC-associated gene expression biomarkers was greatly enhanced by the enrichment method, as demonstrated by droplet digital PCR assay. Cells eluted from the device were viable and suitable for single cell RNA sequencing experiments. DTCs in enriched BM samples comprised up to 5% of the total cell population, allowing for effective single cell and population-based transcriptional profiling of these rare cells. Use of the Parsortix instrument will be an effective approach to enrich for rare BM DTCs in order to better understand their diverse molecular phenotypes and develop approaches to eradicate these cells to prevent distant disease development in breast cancer patients.
From “an open field” to established “waves”: Public relations scholarship through the lens of Public Relations Review

Abstract Public Relations Review is the oldest academic journal of public relations, celebrating its 45th year in 2020. This research analyzes the journal through a bibliometric census and co-citation analysis of every article in its history. Initial findings were shared with 17 senior scholars, who provided their insights on the history of the journal and its impact on the growth of the discipline. The interviews produced multiple themes regarding the impact of the journal and the evolution of research. Findings from the mixed-methods analysis include that research in the journal has grown exponentially and become more cohesive over time, that Public Relations Review has been a responsive vehicle for scholarly growth, that a wide variety of economic incentives have driven the agendas of the journal (and of researchers), and that fostering healthy disagreement among researchers is among the next steps forward for the discipline.
Electronic Spectra of Molecules and Ions in Crystals Part II. Spectra of Ions in Crystals: Part II. Spectra of Ions in Crystals

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the electronic spectra in ionic crystals. The lowest energy spectra that occur both in the transition and post-transition ions in solids arise from electron jumps occurring principally within the metal ion. The analogy between the two groups has been illustrated for the low oxidation levels of the metal where s or d electrons are available to make a transition. An analogy may also exist for the higher oxidation levels in which no electron shells of the metal ion are available to make low-energy transitions. These ions exist in the form of molecules rather than as discrete ions. The same is true in the higher oxidation levels of the post transition metal ions. The problem of finding a zeroth-order approximation in terms of which the spectra maybe understood qualitatively is presented, and that may serve as a starting point for calculation. This was a straightforward problem for molecular crystals, and for the f- and d-electron states of rare earth and transition metal ions.