cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
OUTER MEMBRANE LIPOPROTEIN E (P4) OF HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE IS A NOVEL PHOSPHOMONOESTERASE

Haemophilus influenzae exists as a commensal of the upper respiratory tract of humans but also causes infections of contiguous structures. We describe the identification, localization, purification, and characterization of a novel, surface-localized phosphomonoesterase from a nontypeable H. influenzae strain, R2866. Sequences obtained from two CNBr-derived fragments of this protein matched lipoprotein e (P4) within the H. influenzae sequence database. Escherichia coli DH5alpha transformed with plasmids containing the H. influenzae hel gene, which encodes lipoprotein e (P4), produced high levels of a membrane-associated phosphomonoesterase. The isolated approximately 28-kDa enzyme was tartrate resistant and displayed narrow substrate specificity with the highest activity for arylphosphates, excluding 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolylphosphate. Optimum enzymatic activity was observed at pH 5.0 and only in the presence of divalent copper. The enzyme was inhibited by vanadate, molybdate, and EDTA but was resistant to inorganic phosphate. The association of phosphomonoesterase activity with a protein that has also been recognized as a heme transporter suggests a unique role for this unusual phosphohydrolase.
Graphical systems and two-dimensional mathematical expressions

The additional facilities needed to generate two-dimensional mathematical expression displays and their implications to a graphical language system are discussed and result in a linguistic based graphical system. An elementary mathematical expression display system is used to motivate and illustrate these additional facilities and is defined utilizing a linguistic based graphical meta system. The use of the elementary system is illustrated for the evaluation of expressions, the display of expressions on different display devices and the use of the entire elementary system by a text formatting program to produce linear and two-dimensional text.
The Advantages Of An E-Mail Survey

In the past, an effective survey encompassing an extensive list of interviewees has always been an extremely time-consuming and expensive undertaking. And yet, it is the primary method for obtaining reliable data from variable sources data on which sound decisions can be made. Using the telephone to do the survey may be impractical if the respondents reside over a large geographical area. This process is very time consuming and the cost, in many cases, is prohibitive. To conduct a survey by mail is also very costly with some survey costs exceeding $1.00 per questionnaire mailed. Also, the response time is slow and the response rate is low. Now, there is a new and innovative way to obtain the needed information. This new method is fast and the cost is negligible. This new method involves conducting a survey over the internet. This paper describes how a survey was transmitted to some 1,500 CPA firms throughout the United States with a 10% response.
Hiatal Herniation After Transhiatal Esophagectomy: an Underreported Complication

The incidence and presentation of hiatal hernias after esophagectomy (HHAE) are not well characterized, and may be changing with increased survival from esophageal cancer. The aims of this study were to define the incidence and presentation of HHAE in our population of patients undergoing transhiatal esophagectomy (THE), as it may have implications for management. A retrospective cohort study (2004–2013) was performed of esophageal cancer patients who underwent THE. To determine the presence or absence of HHAE independent of the original radiology report, a radiologist sub-specializing in body imaging independently reviewed post-operative computed tomography images. A time-to-event competing risk analysis was performed to estimate the cumulative incidence of HHAE. Among 192 patients, the two-year cumulative incidence of HHAE was 14 % (95 % confidence interval 7.5–21 %). Of the 22 patients determined to have HHAE by independent expert radiologist review, only 11 (50 %) were identified by the original interpreting radiologist. Seven patients were symptomatic, and each underwent hiatal hernia repair (4 via laparotomy, 3 via laparoscopy). HHAE is not rare and is often unrecognized. As more patients with esophageal cancer survive, the number of patients becoming symptomatic and requiring repair may also rise. Therefore, it is important to consider this diagnosis when following patients long-term after esophagectomy.
Further Remarks on Concentric Polygons

(1965). Further Remarks on Concentric Polygons. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 72, No. 9, pp. 960-965.
Multiple-Race Mortality Data for California, 2000-2001

OBJECTIVES To examine mortality rates and quality of race reporting for multiple-race individuals in California using the new multiple-race data available on the death certificate. METHODS Death date were drawn from California vital statistics for 2000 and 2001. Denominator data were drawn from the 2000 census Modified Race Data Summary File. The authors calculated mortality rates and relative standard errors for multiple-race individuals as a whole and by county, and for the three largest reported multiple-race groups (African American and white, American Indian/Alaska Native and white, and Asian and white). RESULTS Decedents reported to be of more than one race were disproportionately young, Hispanic, male, and never-married. Age-adjusted mortality rates for multiple-race groups were approximately one-sixth as high as rates for single-race individuals. There was substantial variability in rates for multiple-race decedents according to county of residence. CONCLUSIONS Mortality rates for multiple-race people were implausibly low, and death certificates for multiple-race individuals were geographically clustered. Race reporting on death certificates will need to be improved before accurate death rates can be calculated for those of multiple races.
Impaired glucagon-stimulated glucose output in livers of acutely uremic rats.

Abstract The role of glucagon in the pathogenesis of abnormalities of glucose metabolism associated with renal failure remains undefined. We have evaluated glucagon-stimulated glucose and cyclic AMP output and amino acid uptake in isolated perfused livers of rats with experimentally-induced ARF and sham-operated controls. ARF animals exhibited azotemia, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperglucagonemia. During stimulation with physiologic (3 × 10 −10 M) or supraphysiologic (3 × 10 −8 M) glucagon concentrations, glucose output was lower in livers of ARF rats than in those of controls, whereas cyclic AMP responses were similar or exceeded those of controls. Hepatic glycogen content was lower in rats with ARF and the stores were exhausted at the end of perfusions. Additional studies in livers of fasted animals revealed no significant differences in glucose output or amino acid uptake between ARF and control livers perfused with physiologic levels of glucagon. These experiments suggest that the decreased glucagon-stimulated glucose output in isolated perfused livers of acutely uremic rats is due primarily to glycogen depletion rather than to impaired gluconeogenesis. Normal or increased cyclic AMP responses to glucagon suggests intactness of the hormone receptor-adenylate cyclase system.
Thoracic Surgery in Chronic Granulomatous Disease: a 25-Year Single-Institution Experience

Introduction Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a genetic disorder in which phagocyte dysfunction leads to recurrent infection. Persistent pulmonary infections sometimes require thoracic surgical intervention. We reviewed our 25-year experience to identify outcomes and prognostic factors associated with thoracic surgery in these patients.
Chinese Herbal Medicine-Derived Products for Prevention or Treatment of Diseases Affecting Quality of Life

Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has been used for several thousands of years to treat human illness, which makes CHM the best source to provide valuable and unique information for modern drug discovery and development. Development of CHM products as adjunct therapies to augment the efficacy and offset the toxicity of Western medicine is an excellent approach for rapid advancement into US FDA-approved new drugs. Developing CHM products as high-quality dietary supplements must particularly emphasize standardization through qualitative and quantitative quality controls on single herbs and multiple herbs of the prescription formulas by using the most advanced scientific technology, especially toxicity profile testing. A combination of advanced medicinal chemistry and natural products chemistry, coupled with cutting-edge life science technology, will play a very important role for converting CHM products, especially the pure single active principles, through modification and synthesis into clinical trial candidates very efficiently and effectively. This chapter presents ten case studies of promising new drug discovery resulting from CHM-derived products: compounds from Curcuma longa (Jiang Huang), Antrodia camphorata (Chang-ku), Apium graveolens (Han Qin), Momordica charantia (Ku Gua), Monascus purpureus (Hong Chi), Astragalus membranaceus (Huang Chi), Scutellaria decoction (Huang Chin Tang), Eucommia ulmoides (Tu Chung), Ligusticum wallichii (Chuan Chiung), and Lycium barbarum (Kou Chi Tzu).
Banking on the future: progress, challenges and opportunities for the genetic conservation of forest trees

Genetic diversity provides the essential basis for the adaptation and resilience of tree species to environmental stress and change. The genetic conservation of tree species is an urgent global necessity as forest conversion and fragmentation continue apace, damaging insects and pathogens are transported between continents, and climate change alters local habitat suitability. Effective and efficient genetic conservation of tree species presents a substantial challenge because of the lack of basic information about many species, inadequate resources, and a historical lack of coordination within and between conservation sectors. Several cooperative efforts are already under way and are achieving conservation success, but much work remains. The Gene Conservation of Tree Species—Banking on the Future workshop in 2016 enabled the exchange of information and the creation of collaborations among tree conservation stakeholders. Several key themes emerged during the meeting’s presentations and dialogue, which are further explored in this paper. In situ conservation of species is the long-term goal and is often the most efficient approach for preserving the genetic diversity of many forest tree species. Whether existing reserves adequately protect species and are sufficient for future conservation needs is uncertain. Ex situ conservation is an important complement to in situ efforts, acting as an insurance measure against extinction, providing material for restoration, enabling additional research opportunities, and educating the public. Networks of botanic gardens, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations must continue to coordinate ex situ and in situ efforts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of tree conservation efforts. Assessing and prioritizing which species and populations require genetic conservation and prioritizing among them is a critical need. Two key tree restoration needs are for wider dissemination of planting stock, particularly stock with resistance to insects and pathogens, and for specific silvicultural prescriptions that facilitate restoration efforts. Effective genetic conservation of forest trees will require ongoing cooperation among widely diverse groups of scientists, managers, and policymakers from the public and private sectors.
Do Mixed-Flora Preoperative Urine Cultures Matter?

Objectives To determine whether mixed-flora preoperative urine cultures, as compared with no-growth preoperative urine cultures, are associated with a higher prevalence of postoperative urinary tract infections (UTIs). Methods This was a retrospective cohort study. Women who underwent urogynecologic surgery were included if their preoperative clean-catch urine culture result was mixed flora or no growth. Women were excluded if they received postoperative antibiotics for reasons other than treatment of a UTI. Women were divided into two cohorts based on preoperative urine culture results-mixed flora or no growth; the prevalence of postoperative UTI was compared between cohorts. Baseline characteristics were compared using χ2 or Student t tests. A logistic regression analysis then was performed. Results We included 282 women who were predominantly postmenopausal, white, and overweight. There were many concomitant procedures; 46% underwent a midurethral sling procedure and 68% underwent pelvic organ prolapse surgery. Preoperative urine cultures resulted as mixed flora in 192 (68%) and no growth in 90 (32%) patients. Overall, 14% were treated for a UTI postoperatively. There was no difference in the proportion of patients treated for a postoperative UTI between the two cohorts (25 mixed flora vs 13 no growth, P = 0.77). These results remained when controlling for potentially confounding variables in a logistic regression model (adjusted odds ratio 0.92, 95% confidence interval 0.43-1.96). Conclusions In women with mixed-flora compared with no-growth preoperative urine cultures, there were no differences in the prevalence of postoperative UTI. The clinical practice of interpreting mixed-flora cultures as negative is appropriate.
Influence of Selected Surface Disinfestants, Fungicides, and Temperature on Seed Germination and Initial Growth of Southern Seaoats (Uniola paniculata)

Abstract Seeds of southern seaoats (Uniola paniculata L.) were removed from storage at 4C (39F) and treated with the following selected surface disinfestants, fungicides, or combinations of these chemicals: nontreated (control), 1.3% sodium hypochlorite [NaOCl (chlorine bleach)], 2.6% sodium hypochlorite, RTU® (12.6% thiram + 0.34% thiabendazole), RTU®-PCNB (24% pentachloronitrobenzene), 1.3% sodium hypochlorite and RTU®, 2.6% sodium hypochlorite and RTU®, 1.3% sodium hypochlorite and RTU®-PCNB, or 2.6% sodium hypochlorite and RTU®-PCNB. Following treatment, seeds were germinated at an 8/16 hr thermoperiod of 35/20C (95/68F). The seed treatments and germination thermoperiod utilized were based on three preliminary trials that investigated the influence of selected surface disinfestants, fungicides, and temperature on seed germination of the species. Germination was recorded every 3 days for 30 days. Seed treatment was highly significant (P = 0.0001) for both total percentage germination and total percenta...
Becoming Madam Chancellor: Angela Merkel and the Berlin Republic

Since 2005, Angela Merkel has transformed not only the way Germans see themselves but also the way that politicians worldwide, male and female, perceive women in power. The East German daughter of a Protestant pastor, this physicist-turned-politician has deployed her life experiences to cultivate a unique set of leadership skills. Her pragmatic, data-driven, and future-oriented approach to politics - grounded in a commitment to democratic pluralism, human rights, and personal responsibility - has produced extraordinary paradigm shifts in many national policies in the wake of major crises. As the first English-language scholarly book to provide an in-depth account of her career and influence, Becoming Madam Chancellor examines Merkel's achievements across six key policy domains, contextualizes these within broader German history before and after reunification, and uncovers the personal and political factors that have contributed to Chancellor Merkel's hard-earned status as the world's most powerful woman.
Multigenic and dietary analysis of bladder cancer risk on special reference on nucleotide excision repair and folate intake

2898 Deficiencies in both DNA repair capacity and dietary folate intake may synergistically lead to elevated cancer risk. The nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway removes the majority of helix distorting lesions, but NER-related polymorphisms may alter protein function and individual capacity to repair damaged DNA, conferring a predisposition to cancer. To explore the association between NER gene polymorphisms and bladder cancer (BC) risk, we examined five polymorphisms in four core NER genes in 459 Caucasian BC patients and 430 Caucasian healthy controls. The polymorphisms were studied for gene-gene and gene-nutrient associations for BC risk. The specific polymorphic loci examined include: XPA (A/G at 5’ untranslated region), XPC (polyAT), XPD exon 23 (Lys751Gln) and exon 10 (Asp312Asn) and XPG (His1104Asp). The presence of one or two copies of the XPA G-allele variant was associated with increased BC risk (OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.09 - 2.29). The risk was further modified for younger individuals ( P for trend = 0.001). The XPD exon 10 variant genotypes and XPG variant genotypes were also associated with an increased BC risk in various subgroups of individuals. A gene-smoking interaction was evident as well. There was a significant trend for an increased risk of BC in individuals possessing a higher number of putative high-risk alleles ( P for trend = 0.004). The highest risk group with more than 5 putative high-risk alleles, had a two-fold increased risk (OR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.31 - 3.14) compared to the lowest risk group with less than 2 putative high-risk alleles. Since dietary folate is essential for efficient DNA repair and synthesis, we also studied the joint effects between these polymorphisms and dietary folate equivalents (μg DFE/kcal/day) as assessed from a food frequency questionnaire. We have previously shown that BC cases have a lower intake of DFE compared to healthy controls, and that low DFE is associated with a statistically significant increased risk for BC. In the present study, the risk for individuals with the XPA variant allele was 1.23 (95% CI = 0.70 - 2.14), while the risk for low DFE was 1.25 (95% CI = 0.62 - 2.53), and individuals with both low intake of DFE and XPA variant alleles had an OR of 2.06 (95% CI = 1.20 - 3.53). Similar findings were observed for XPC , XPD and XPG polymorphisms with intake of DFE. This large study offers a simultaneous analysis of multiple polymorphic genes and new insights for the role of NER polymorphisms in risk for BC. These data suggest that individuals with low intake of dietary folate and deficient DNA repair are at a greater risk for BC. Supported by the NCI grants CA 91846, CA 74880, and CA 86390.
José Jorge Mendoza , The Moral and Political Philosophy of Immigration: Liberty, Security, and Equality . Reviewed by

A review providing an overview and assessment of Jose Jorge Mendoza's The Moral and Political Philosophy of Immigration.
Generation, Characterization, and Modeling of Polymer Micro- and Nano-Particles

Polymer micro- and nano-particles are important in many technological applications, including polymer blends or alloys, biomaterials for drug delivery systems, electro-optic and luminescent devices, and polymer powder impregnation of inorganic fibers in composites. They are also critical in polymer-supported heterogeneous catalysis. This article reviews recent progress in experimental and simulation methods for generating, characterizing, and modeling polymer micro- and nano-particles in a number of polymer and polymer blend systems. A description of the use of gas atomization (of melts) and microdroplet (solution) approaches to generation and characterization of spherical polymer powders and microparticles represents their unique applications, giving the non-specialist reader a comprehensive overview. Using novel instrumentation developed for probing single fluorescent molecules in submicrometer droplets, it is demonstrated that polymer particles of nearly arbitrary size and composition can be made with uniform size dispersion. This interesting finding is ascribed to new dynamic behavior, which emerges when polymers are confined in a small droplet of solution the size of a molecule or molecular aggregates. Solvent evaporation takes place on a time scale short enough to frustrate phase separation, producing dry pure polymer or polymer blend microparticles that have tunable properties and that are homogeneous within molecular dimensions. In addition, it shows how a number of optical methodologies such as Fraunhofer diffraction can be used to probe polymer particles immobilized on two-dimensional substrates or levitated in space using a three-dimensional quadrupole (Paul) trap.
Surgical Management of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip

This chapter will discuss the surgical management of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the upper and lower lips in relation to the primary tumor, regional disease, and recurrent disease. In order to plan the most effective surgical approach, clinical examination and head and neck imaging are required to accurately stage the tumor and assess the presence of regional metastases. Biopsy is essential to confirm the diagnosis, assess the tumor thickness and histologic grade, and look for other prognostic information such as perineural involvement and mode of invasion. In larger tumors clinical examination and CT scanning to rule out mandibular involvement and neurological testing combined with MRI to assess the mental nerve may be necessary. In T3–4 tumors where the risk of occult nodal metastasis is increased (Positron Emission Tomography), PET scan may be useful especially for the upper lip where the primary echelon nodes may be in the intra-parotid nodes rather than the cervical nodes. Finally a distant metastatic work-up is rarely warranted as most lip cancers present early (stages I–II) and distant metastases are very rare. In one analysis of bone metastases, only 4 of 186 cases of lip carcinoma (2.14 %) showed bone metastasis, (one with associated axillary nodes). All cases were stages II–IV.
Endless generations of nuclear weapons

The commonly held view that future nuclear weapons developments will be only relatively minor is incorrect. Vigorous research could lead to many new types of nuclear weapons, of radically different design and function.
The Boreo-Alpine Insects

The boreo-alpine insects (including the arctic-alpine or boreo-montane insects) represent a most interesting component element of the mountain autochthonous insects of the Central and South European mountains. They are of considerable ecological and biogeographical importance and present complex problems of origin, evolution and distribution.
Reply to Hilary Putnam’s ‘An Examination of Grünbaum’s Philosophy of Geometry’

Referring to my philosophical account of physical geometry and chronometry, H. Putnam1 says (p. 211): “Grunbaum has in my opinion failed to give a true picture of one of the greatest scientific advances of all time.” I have not found one single argument in Putnam’s 50 pages that could serve to sustain this judgment. Nay, reflection on fundamental mathematical and physical errors on which he rests much of his case has enabled me to uncover substantial new support for my position from the general theory of relativity and from elsewhere in physics.
Diagnosis and treatment of gastric antral webs in pediatric patients.

Gastric antral webs are mucosal structures, varying from fenestrated diaphragms to mucosal crescents, resulting in varying degrees of foregut obstruction. Patients commonly present with vomiting, failure to thrive, and abdominal pain. Prevalence is unknown, and diagnosis can be difficult. We performed an IRB-approved retrospective review of patients from 4/1/2015–4/1/2018 at a Level I Children’s Surgery Center undergoing gastric antral web resection. Data obtained included demographics, preoperative workup, surgical repair, and outcomes. Twenty-one patients were identified; 67% were male with an average age of 30 months at diagnosis. Initial diagnosis was established by a combination of fluoroscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in all patients. Patients presented with emesis (76%), failure to thrive (57%), need for post-pyloric tube feeds (33%), and abdominal pain (14%). Web localization without intraoperative EGD (n = 3) was initially challenging. As a result, intraoperative EGD was combined with operative antral web resection to facilitate web localization (n = 18). Web marking techniques have evolved from marking with suture (n = 1) and tattoo (n = 2), to endoscopic clip application (n = 12). All 21 patients underwent web resection, 2 were performed laparoscopically. Twenty underwent Heineke-Mikulicz pyloroplasty during the initial surgery. Average length of stay was 5.5 days. There were no intraoperative complications or deaths. Permanent symptom resolution occurred in 90% of patients immediately, with a statistically significant decrease in emesis (p < 0.001), failure to thrive (p < 0.001), and need for post-pyloric tube feeding (p = 0.009) within 6 months of surgery. Gastric antral webs should be considered in the differential diagnosis for a child with persistent vomiting. Web resection with the use of intraoperative endoscopic localization can result in permanent symptom resolution in the majority of these patients.
Cross-component garbage collection

Embedding a modern language runtime as a component in a larger software system is popular these days. Communication between these systems often requires keeping references to each others' objects. In this paper we present and discuss the problem of cross-component memory management where reference cycles across component boundaries may lead to memory leaks and premature reclamation of objects may lead to dangling cross-component references. We provide a generic algorithm for effective, efficient, and safe garbage collection over component boundaries, which we call cross-component tracing. We designed and implemented cross-component tracing in the Chrome web browser where the JavaScript virtual machine V8 is embedded into the rendering engine Blink. Cross-component tracing from V8's JavaScript heap to Blink's C++ heap improves garbage collection latency and eliminates long-standing memory leaks for real websites in Chrome. We show how cross-component tracing can help web developers to reason about reachability and retainment of objects spanning both V8 and Blink components based on Chrome's heap snapshot memory tool. Cross-component tracing was enabled by default for all websites in Chrome version 57 and is also deployed in other widely used software systems such as Opera, Cobalt, and Electron.
Estimating Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in the United States, 2013-2016

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the most commonly reported bloodborne infection in the United States, causing substantial morbidity and mortality and costing billions of dollars annually. To update the estimated HCV prevalence among all adults aged ≥18 years in the United States, we analyzed 2013-2016 data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to estimate the prevalence of HCV in the noninstitutionalized civilian population and used a combination of literature reviews and population size estimation approaches to estimate the HCV prevalence and population sizes for four additional populations: incarcerated people, unsheltered homeless people, active-duty military personnel, and nursing home residents. We estimated that during 2013-2016 1.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4-2.0%) of all adults in the United States, approximately 4.1 (3.4-4.9) million persons, were HCV antibody-positive (indicating past or current infection) and that 1.0% (95% CI, 0.8-1.1%) of all adults, approximately 2.4 (2.0-2.8) million persons, were HCV RNA-positive (indicating current infection). This includes 3.7 million noninstitutionalized civilian adults in the United States with HCV antibodies and 2.1 million with HCV RNA and an estimated 0.38 million HCV antibody-positive persons and 0.25 million HCV RNA-positive persons not part of the 2013-2016 NHANES sampling frame. Conclusion: Over 2 million people in the United States had current HCV infection during 2013-2016; compared to past estimates based on similar methodology, HCV antibody prevalence may have increased, while RNA prevalence may have decreased, likely reflecting the combination of the opioid crisis, curative treatment for HCV infection, and mortality among the HCV-infected population; efforts on multiple fronts are needed to combat the evolving HCV epidemic, including increasing capacity for and access to HCV testing, linkage to care, and cure.
A free-choice high-fat, high-sucrose diet induces hyperphagia, obesity, and cardiovascular dysfunction in female cycling and pregnant rats

The main objective of these studies was to characterize metabolic, body composition, and cardiovascular responses to a free-choice high-fat, high-sucrose diet in female cycling and pregnant rats. I...
Magnetic Field Sensor Based on Varistor Response

We present, in this paper, a non-conservative approach for building reliable magnetic field sensors based on the resistive and magnetoresistive responses of a varistor diode. These sensors can be built on a ceramic platform of a material which is a solid solution of the ilmenite–hematite consisting of 55 moles% ilmenite, FeTiO3, and 45 mole% of hematite, Fe2O3. This material is abbreviated as IHC 45. These sensors would be suitable for many applications in which a semiconductor Hall effect sensor is currently used. In addition, our ceramic sensors would be suitable for applications in high temperature, energy exploration and well logging, and radiation-dominant environments. The resistive mode sensor is expected to operate reliably and efficiently over the range of 0 $\text{m}\Omega $ /Oe at 0.5 mA which drops to a value of 24.2 $\text{m}\Omega $ /Oe at 2 mA. In the magnetoresistive mode, the sensor has the sensitivity of $142.6~\Omega $ /ln(Oe) and it is 15.6 $\text{m}\Omega $ /Oe at 2 mA. The magnetoresistive mode device also exhibits at room temperature a relatively large magnetoresistive ratio (MR%) of 57% at the modest field of just 4000 Oe making it potentially an attractive candidate for applications in spintronics and magneto-electronics.
Dance Trends: Touch as a Teaching Tool in Dance Class: When and How to Use Tactile Feedback

The use of touch to guide student learning, also known as tactile feedback, is a long-standing element of the dance educator's toolkit. It is a valuable pedagogical technique when used properly. To...
Commentary: Treatment failure and success: a commentary on defining and treating pediatric treatment-resistant depression – reflections on Dwyer et al. (2020)

Nearly two in five youth with major depressive disorder fail to respond to first-line interventions. As such, treatment-resistant depression represents a formidable challenge for clinicians and researchers. In fact, even considering the diagnosis of treatment-resistant depression in children and adolescents requires (a) defining treatment-resistant depression and, by extension, treatment failure; (b) defining recovery; (c) understanding its developmental trajectory; and in addition to (d) understanding the evidence for treatment interventions in this population. Accumulating data suggest that treatment-resistant depression is heterogeneous and that this heterogeneity may inform interventions. Additionally, these data suggest that substantially more nuance is needed in evaluating the 'adequacy' of prior treatments whether they are psychotherapeutic or psychopharmacologic. Last, adjunctive interventions that focus on neuromodulation, glutamatergic, GABAergic, and inflammatory pathways remain poorly understood in youth with treatment-resistant depression despite very significant advances in adults with treatment-resistant depression.
Characteristics and factors affecting mortality of patients admitted for chemotherapy in the United States during the year 2017.

e19025Background: Over the past two decades, there has been a tremendous increase in the chemotherapy options available to cancer patients. In terms of overall, progression-free survival, and tempo...
Interdomain Routing and Reliability

As the Internet becomes the critical information infrastructure for both personal and business applications, fast and reliable routing protocols need to be designed to maintain the performance of those applications in the presence of failures. The interdomain routing protocol, Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), is the glue that pieces together the various diverse networks or ASes that comprise the global Internet today. This chapter focuses on the interdomain routing protocol and its reliability by (i) providing an overview of BGP, (ii) offering a framework for understanding how undesirable routing states such as persistent routing oscillation, transient routing failures, or transient routing loops can arise, (iii) presenting a methodology for measuring the extent that these undesirable routing states can affect the quality of end-to-end packet delivery, and (iv) describing proposed solutions for reliable interdomain routing.
Biofeedback augmenting lower limb loading alters the underlying temporal structure of gait following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Abstract Biofeedback has recently been explored to target deviant lower extremity loading mechanics following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) to mitigate the development of post traumatic osteoarthritis. The impact this feedback has on the structure of the stride interval dynamics—a barometer of gait system health—however, have yet to be examined. This study was designed to assess how feedback, used to alter lower-extremity loading during gait, affects the structure of stride interval variability by examining long-range stride-to-stride correlations during gait in those with unilateral ACLR. Twelve participants walked under three separate loading conditions: (1) control (i.e., no cue) (2) high loading, and (3) low loading. Baseline vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) data was used to calculate a target 5% change in vGRF for the appropriate loading condition (i.e., high loading was +5% vGRF, low loading was −5% vGRF). The target for the load condition was displayed on a screen along with real-time vGRF values, prescribing changes in stride-to-stride peak vertical ground reaction forces of each limb. From time-series of stride intervals (i.e., duration), we analyzed the mean and standard deviation of stride-to-stride variability and, via detrended fluctuation analysis (i.e., DFA α), temporal persistence for each feedback condition. Both the high and low loading conditions exhibited a change toward more temporally persistent stride intervals (high loading: α =0.92, low loading: α = 0.98) than walking under the control condition (α = 0.78; high vs. control: p = .026, low vs. control: p = .001). Overall, these results indicate that altering lower extremity load changes the temporal persistence of the stride internal dynamics in ACLR individuals, demonstrating the implications of the design of gait training interventions and the influence feedback has on movement strategies.
Fructan-sensitive children with irritable bowel syndrome have distinct gut microbiome signatures

Background Dietary fructans may worsen gastrointestinal symptoms in children with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Aim To determine whether gut microbiome composition and function are associated with childhood IBS fructan-induced symptoms. Methods Faecal samples were collected from 38 children aged 7-17 years with paediatric Rome III IBS, who previously completied a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled crossover (fructan vs maltodextrin) trial. Fructan sensitivity was defined as an increase of ≥30% in abdominal pain frequency during the fructan diet. Gut microbial composition was determined via 16Sv4 rDNA sequencing. LEfSe evaluated taxonomic composition differences. Tax4Fun2 predicted microbial fructan metabolic pathways. Results At baseline, 17 fructan-sensitive (vs 21 fructan-tolerant) subjects had lower alpha diversity (q Conclusions Fructan-sensitive children with IBS have distinct gut microbiome signatures. These microbiome signatures differ both at baseline and in response to a fructan challenge.
Multi-Layer Combinatorial Fusion Using Cognitive Diversity

Multiple scoring systems (including rank and score functions; MSS) have been widely used in multiple regression, intelligent biometric systems, multiple artificial neural nets, combining pattern classifiers, ensemble methods, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), data and information fusion, preference ranking, and deep learning. Combining MSS has achieved numerous successful results in a variety of domain applications. However, the reasons why this happens remains an active area of investigation. Combinatorial fusion analysis (CFA) combines MSS using the rank-score characteristic (RSC) function and cognitive diversity (CD). The RSC function was proposed to characterise the predictive behaviour of a scoring system. It was subsequently used to define the notion of “cognitive diversity”, which measures the dissimilarity in the representation of information between two scoring systems. In this article, we first examine characterizations of and diversity between scoring systems. Then, we review combinatorial fusion analysis with a variety of domain applications, including biometric systems in cognitive neuroscience, and joint decision making with visual cognitive systems. Finally, we demonstrate that multi-layer combinatorial fusion (MCF) on the Kemeny rank space is a viable machine learning and AI framework for preference ranking and reinforcement learning. This work provides a scientific foundation and technological insights for the use of Combinatorial Fusion in ensemble methods, data and information fusion, preference ranking, and deep reinforcement learning with applications to a variety of domains in data science and informatics for secure and sustainable societies.
Kathryn Virginia Anderson (1952-2020)

Summary: Developmental geneticist Kathryn Anderson, who defined fundamental mechanisms underlying fly and mouse embryogenesis, is remembered by her former postdoc and friend, Tamara Caspary.
Localization Safety Validation for Autonomous Robots

This paper presents a method to validate localization safety for a preplanned trajectory in a given environment. Localization safety is defined as integrity risk and quantified as the probability of an undetected localization failure. Integrity risk differs from previously used metrics in robotics in that it accounts for unmodeled faults and evaluates safety under the worst possible combination of faults. The methodology can be applied prior to mission execution and thus can be employed to evaluate the safety of potential trajectories. The work has been formulated for localization via smoothing, which differs from previously reported integrity monitoring methods that rely on Kalman filtering. Simulation and experimental results are analyzed to show that localization safety is effectively quantified.
Structure of correlation tensors in homogeneous anisotropic turbulence

We extend the theory of isotropic tensors, developed by Robertson, Batchelor, and Chandrasekhar, to cover the general case of turbulence with a pseudovector-preferred direction, without assuming mirror-reflection invariance. Attention is focused on two-point-correlation functions, and it is shown that the form of the decomposition into proper and pseudotensor contributions is restricted by the homogeneity requirement. We present the somewhat unexpected result that the vector- and pseudovector-preferred-direction cases yield different results: A pseudovector-preferred direction allows the correlation matrix one more functional degree of freedom than does the "proper" vector case. We present an explicit form of the two-point-correlation tensor in the presence of a uniform mean magnetic field which may be appropriate for use in analysis of magnetic fluctuations in plasma containment devices or the interplanetary medium. A procedure for determining the magnetic helicity from experimental data is presented.
Interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein. Gene characterization, protein repeat structure, and its evolution.

Abstract The gene for bovine interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) has been cloned, and its nucleotide sequence has been determined. The IRBP gene is about 11.6 kilobase pairs (kb) and contains four exons and three introns. It transcribed into a large mRNA of approximately 6.4 kb and translated into a large protein of 145,000 daltons. To prove the identity of the genomic clone, we determined the protein sequence of several tryptic and cyanogen bromide fragments of purified bovine IRBP protein and localized them in the protein predicted from its nucleotide sequence. There is a 4-fold repeat structure in the protein sequence with 30-40% sequence identity and many conservative substitutions between any two of the four protein repeats. The third and fourth repeats are the most similar pair. All three of the introns in the IRBP gene fall in the fourth protein repeat. Two of the exons, the first and the fourth, are large, 3173 and 2447 bases, respectively. The introns are each about 1.5-2.2 kb long. The human IRBP gene has a sequence that is similar to one of the introns from the bovine gene. The unexpected gene structure and protein repeat structure in the bovine gene lead us to propose a model for the evolution of the IRBP gene.
A game theoretic flow and routing control policy for two-node parallel link communication networks with multiple users

This paper is concerned with deriving an optimal flow and routing policy for two-node parallel link communication networks with multiple competing users. The model assumes that every user has a flow demand which is not fixed and which needs to be optimally routed over the network links. The flow and routing policy for each user is derived by simultaneously maximizing the total throughput and minimizing the expected delay for that user. Instead of considering the utility functions which combine the two objectives in a multiplicative fashion, as is typically done in the literature, We consider the utility functions that combine them in a linear additive fashion. We introduce two preference constants into each utility function so that each user can adjust its utility to reflect its own preferences. Because of the fact that the network resources are shared in a competitive manner by all users, this multiuser multi-objective optimization problem is formulated as a non-cooperative game problem among all the users. When the preference constants satisfy a condition, we show that this network game admits a non-symmetric flow and routing control policy that satisfies the Nash equilibrium solution. We discuss the properties of this equilibrium and illustrate the results with an example.
Policy-Relevant Research within the Community Colleges: An IHE Focus for the Future

Grounded in policy-relevant research, the Institute of Higher Education at the University of Florida is focused on supporting local, state, and national postsecondary policy development as well as training the next generation of institutional leaders. IHE conducts rigorous scholarship focused on postsecondary policy analysis and supporting the evaluation needs of local colleges/universities within the state of Florida. Given the current economic and political climate surrounding community colleges, two data points emerge as defining for the two-year sector. Specifically, data surrounding the financial support of community colleges as well as the number of community college students transferring between the two- and four-year sectors are crucial for future success. Both variables are especially important given the federal proposal for free community colleges and the growing focus on baccalaureate degree production.
STRESS-INDUCED ENHANCEMENT OF ANTIGEN-SPECIFIC CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNITY

The studies described here demonstrate that the activation of the physiologic stress response systems of the body can enhance immune function in vivo. This enhancement is observed as a large and long lasting increase in allergic contact sensitivity or delayed-type hypersensitivity, an immune reaction which involves an Ag-specific, cell-mediated immune response. In contrast, acute stress has no effect on the course of irritant contact sensitivity, an immune reaction that does not involve an Ag-specific memory response. A comparison of infiltrating leukocyte numbers in sections of inflamed skin from unstressed and stressed animals shows that stress induces a significant and persistent increase in numbers of leukocytes at the site of the delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction. These results demonstrate that a relatively mild behavioral manipulation can enhance an important class of immune responses that mediate harmful (allergic dermatitis) as well as beneficial (resistance to certain viruses, bacteria, and tumors) aspects of immune function. The implications that these studies have for clinical, diagnostic, and experimental manipulations involving cell-mediated immune function are discussed.
From terabytes to insights

For scientists and engineers tapping the NSF's high-performance cyberinfrastructure, the path to wisdom follows a route both miraculous and familiar.
High efficiency paralleled three-phase current source front-end rectifiers for data center power supplies with current balancing and hot-swap

This paper develops a three-phase front-end power conversion stage for data center power supplies based on 400 Vdc power delivery architecture, which has been proven to have higher efficiency than traditional AC architectures. The front-end stage is based on three paralleled three-phase current source rectifiers, which have several benefits for this application. A control method is introduced for paralleled three-phase current source rectifiers to achieve balanced outputs and individual rectifier module hot-swap, which are required by power supply systems. By using SiC power semiconductors, the power conversion efficiency of the front-end stage is improved and the whole efficiency of the data center power supply system can be further increased.
tert-Butyl compounds of gallium

The tert-butyl substituted compounds of gallium have been synthesized and characterized: [(tBu)2Ga{μ-OCH(CF3)2}]2 (1), [(tBu)2Ga(μ-O2CEt)]2 (2), [(tBu)2Ga(μ-O2CCF3)]2 (3), [(tBu)2Ga{μ-OC(Ph)N(H)}]2 (4), [(tBu)2Ga{μ-OC(Me)NPh}]2 (5), (tBu)3Ga[OC(Ph)NMe2] (6), (tBu)3Ga[OP(Ph)2NH(nPr)] (7), (tBu)2Ga[ON(H)C(O)Ph] (8), [(tBu)2Ga{μ-O2S(CF3)O}]2 (9), (tBu)2Ga(μ-Cl)2Li(HOiPr)2 (10), and [Li(HOiPr)4][(tBu)2GaCl2] (11). X-Ray crystallographic characterization was obtained for compounds 1–6 and 8–11. Compounds 10 and 11 exhibit three-dimensional hydrogen bonded networks in which augmentation of the O–H⋯Cl hydrogen bond is proposed to be due to the increased acidity of alcohols bonded to the Lewis acidic lithium ions. A discussion of the dependence of the puckering of the chair-like conformation in eight-membered cyclic compounds of the Group 13 metals is presented.
Medication issues in older individuals with CKD

Older US adults bear a substantial burden of chronic disease and take an average of five prescription and non-prescription medications per day. Recent data suggest that over 20% of older adults have chronic kidney disease (CKD) as defined by an impaired glomerular filtration rate. These individuals often have multiple comorbidities, including diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Although patients with CKD may receive substantial benefits from prescribed medications, they are also at high risk for adverse drug events and polypharmacy. In this review, we outline the risks and benefits of medication use in the CKD population as a specific case within geriatric pharmacoepidemiology as a framework.