cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Making things stick in the fight against atherosclerosis.

Prevention of atherosclerotic vascular disease through systemic risk factor management has had great success, but cardiovascular disease is still the leading cause of death. One approach to this treatment gap is complementary arterial wall–based therapy that inhibits either the trigger of atherosclerosis, lipoprotein retention, or its pathobiological consequences, nonresolving inflammation. A recent article by Kastrup et al describes a technical advance that brings this approach closer to reality. The investigators have developed and validated a drug-eluting adhesive biogel that has the durability and stability to provide chronic therapy directly to plaques in the setting of pulsatile arterial blood flow. This advance expands the opportunity to develop drugs that retard atherosclerotic plaque progression and promote plaque resolution and regression. Currently available therapeutic strategies directed against atherosclerotic vascular disease focus primarily on reducing systemic risk factors, notably hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, smoking, and hypertension. Lipid therapy, particularly with statins, is very effective, because it lowers the probability that apolipoprotein B100–containing lipoproteins (apoB LPs) will enter and be retained in susceptible regions of the arterial wall, which is the trigger for the pathobiological responses that initiate and promote atherogenesis.1 Indeed, if we could imagine a world where everyone’s plasma apoB LP level was maintained at a very low level starting in the early teenage years, which is the age at which atherosclerotic lesions usually first appear, the current leading cause of death would be close to nonexistent.2 However, although tremendous progress has been made in reducing heart disease, this ultimate goal is currently unachievable due to the difficulty of implementing effective lifestyle changes and limitations related to drug safety and compliance. Therefore, translational biomedical researchers have turned their attention to complementary approaches that target atherogenic processes in the arterial wall. It is in this context that we can appreciate a technical advance …
iProbe-d: a hot-carrier and oxide reliability simulator

In this paper we describe a hot-carrier and oxide reliability simulator, iProbe-d. In this program, a probabilistic timing approach is employed to find the most susceptible devices to hot-carrier degradation and/or oxide breakdown in a CMOS VLSI digital circuit design under expected operating conditions. After the damage in each device is determined, a combination of damaged-transistor model, RC delay and critical path analysis is used to estimate the impact of hot-carrier effects (HCE) on circuit performance; namely, the increase of circuit delay. The results can then be used to improve the reliability of the circuit prior to fabrication. >
Blood pressure response to controlled diesel exhaust exposure in human subjects

Exposure to traffic-related air pollution is associated with risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. We examined whether exposure to diesel exhaust increased blood pressure (BP) in human subjects. We analyzed data from 45 nonsmoking subjects, 18 to 49 years of age in double-blinded, crossover exposure studies, randomized to order. Each subject was exposed to diesel exhaust, maintained at 200 μg/m(3) of fine particulate matter, and filtered air for 120 minutes on days separated by ≥2 weeks. We measured BP pre-exposure, at 30-minute intervals during exposure, and 3, 5, 7, and 24 hours from exposure initiation and analyzed changes from pre-exposure values. Compared with filtered air, systolic BP increased at all of the points measured during and after diesel exhaust exposure; the mean effect peaked between 30 and 60 minutes after exposure initiation (3.8 mm Hg [95% CI: -0.4 to 8.0 mm Hg] and 5.1 mm Hg [95% CI: 0.7-9.5 mm Hg], respectively). Sex and metabolic syndrome did not modify this effect. Combining readings between 30 and 90 minutes, diesel exhaust exposure resulted in a 4.4-mm Hg increase in systolic BP, adjusted for participant characteristics and exposure perception (95% CI: 1.1-7.7 mm Hg; P=0.0009). There was no significant effect on heart rate or diastolic pressure. Diesel exhaust inhalation was associated with a rapid, measurable increase in systolic but not diastolic BP in young nonsmokers, independent of perception of exposure. This controlled trial in humans confirms findings from observational studies. The effect may be important on a population basis given the worldwide prevalence of exposure to traffic-related air pollution.
Intramuscular air as a complication of pulse-lavage irrigation. A case report.

Intramuscular air in the setting of infection can be an indicator of a rapidly escalating and potentially life-threatening infection, such as gas gangrene or necrotizing fasciitis. For a patient with diffuse pain in an extremity and air in the tissue planes as seen on imaging studies, surgical exploration has been strongly recommended1-6. Iatrogenic causes of air in fascial planes are underreported. We present the case of a child with septic arthritis of the hip that was treated with open irrigation and debridement by the on-call service. There was temporary use of pulse lavage during the operation, resulting in intramuscular and subfascial air. The following day, the medical team that accepted the patient from the on-call service had no knowledge of the use of pulse lavage and, when confronted with a confusing clinical picture and dramatic radiographs, proceeded with urgent surgical exploration. This case demonstrates an iatrogenic cause of intramuscular air and illustrates the importance of good communication between on-call and accepting services. In accordance with local Human Resources and Research Center (institutional review board) policies, the parents of the patient were informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication, and they consented. A ten-year-old boy presented with a history of decreasing ability to walk over a period of five days prior to presentation and fever of as much as 102° F (38.9° C). He was described as a previously healthy young man except for mild asthma, which was well-controlled with albuterol and Flovent (fluticasone propionate) inhalers. There was no history of trauma or injury. The examination was notable for an inability to bear weight on the right lower extremity, and the elicitation of pain with passive range of motion of the hip. There was no pain or swelling in the thigh, knee, or …
A General Linear Model for Trends in Tropical Cyclone Activity

The ACE index is used to compare tropical cyclone activity worldwide among seven decades from 1945 to 2014. Some increase in tropical cyclone activity is found relative to the earliest decades. No trend is found after the decade 1965-1974. A comparison of the six cyclone basins in the study shows that the Western Pacific Basin is the most active basin and the North Indian Basin the least. The advantages of using a general linear model for trend analysis are described.
An International Trade Theory for Our Time: Trade Theory of Hyper-Globalization and Hyper-Information Flow

Throughout the course of modern history, there have been ever changing theories regarding trade. International trade in particular, has been the subject of much controversy regarding the potential benefits and detriments that may come along with certain practices. This paper will analyze the evolution of trade theory beginning with the mid-1500s and mercantilism, progressing through the 20th Century trade theories, and proposing a new trade theory for the 21st century, namely: Trade Theory of Hyper-Globalization and Hyper-Information Flow.
A Case Study of the Grey Oaks Community and Club: Creation of a High-Performance Culture Through the Innovative Use of a Data-Driven Business Plan

ABSTRACTGrey Oaks, a premier country club and gated residential community established in Naples, Florida, developed and used a collaborative and highly feedback-driven system to build adaptive capacity and foster proactive change. Special attention has been given to the unique use and refinement of its business plan and planning process through the feedback management received from club members. This highly adaptive business plan helped Grey Oaks to endure the economic downturn that began in 2008, and the company’s ability to thrive in the midst of economic instability has demonstrated the effectiveness of the plan as a model capable of sustaining the cultural and financial health of the club and community. The Grey Oaks planning model has been an innovation in its industry, and other organizations can greatly benefit by studying the implementation and utilization of this evidence-driven model.
Evolution of tsunami warning systems and products.

Each year, about 60 000 people and $4 billion (US$) in assets are exposed to the global tsunami hazard. Accurate and reliable tsunami warning systems have been shown to provide a significant defence for this flooding hazard. However, the evolution of warning systems has been influenced by two processes: deadly tsunamis and available technology. In this paper, we explore the evolution of science and technology used in tsunami warning systems, the evolution of their products using warning technologies, and offer suggestions for a new generation of warning products, aimed at the flooding nature of the hazard, to reduce future tsunami impacts on society. We conclude that coastal communities would be well served by receiving three standardized, accurate, real-time tsunami warning products, namely (i) tsunami energy estimate, (ii) flooding maps and (iii) tsunami-induced harbour current maps to minimize the impact of tsunamis. Such information would arm communities with vital flooding guidance for evacuations and port operations. The advantage of global standardized flooding products delivered in a common format is efficiency and accuracy, which leads to effectiveness in promoting tsunami resilience at the community level. Language: en
Designing Help Systems Using the GOMS Model: An Information Retrieval Evaluation:

Using the GOMS model (Card, Moran, and Newell, 1983), a help system was developed which was complete and well structured. The content of this help system was determined from the goals, operators, methods, and selection rules needed to perform HyperCard™ authoring tasks. The index to these methods, which was an integrated part of the system, was determined from the hierarchical goal tree provided by the GOMS analysis. To determine the effectiveness of using GOMS as a design aid for help systems, the GOMS help system was compared to a state-of-the art interface developed by Apple® Computer which was modified slightly for experimental purposes (Original help system). Two groups of 14 users, using one of the two help systems, retrieved help information about 56 tasks separated into 4 sessions. The results indicated that the GOMS users were significantly faster than the Original users with the largest speed difference occurring in the first session. However, no reliable differences were found for retrieval acc...
A Comparison of the Effect of Intercultural Sensitivity on Employee Performance in Cross-Cultural Service Encounters: London vs. Florida

ABSTRACT The significant increase in service offerings throughout the world has caused marketing scholars to focus their attention on the problems and characteristics of the service encounter. With the growth in global business, more attention is being paid to cross-culture service encounters. This study adds to that trend by attempting to measure the effect of intercultural sensitivity on the cross-cultural performance of service employees in two service-dependent areas: London and Florida. The results indicate that employees with high intercultural sensitivity scored significantly higher in terms of service attentiveness, revenue contribution, interpersonal skills, and social satisfaction as they relate to cross-cultural encounters. There was no significant difference in scores for motivation-to-work, primary rewards (compensation, recognition, etc.), and job satisfaction.
Use of a Simplified Data Monitoring Tool Improves Prospective Outcomes Monitoring at a District Hospital In Rwanda

Serious infections occurred in 24% of patients. Average LOS for burn patients was 8.2 2.3 days, vs 9.7 0.0 days in the U.S. An inverse relationship was seen between TBSA and LOS in Rwanda, in contrast to ABA data’s direct correlation from 080% TBSA. Burn size associated with 50% case fatality in Rwanda was approximately 45% TBSA, vs 70% in the U.S. Examination of care processes demonstrated lack of guidance on appropriate burn care, including virtual absence of excision/grafting (Table).
External Morphology of the Adult Male of Matsucoccus bisetosus

The external morphology of adult males of the pineinfesting genus Matsucoccus has not been studied previously in detail. The male of M. bisetosus Morrison is described and compared with adult males of other Coccoidea. The M. bisetosus male appears to be one of the least specialized of coccid males yet studied. Primitive morphological features of M. bisetosus include the presence,of a prothoracic precoxal ridge, interpreted as possibly a vestigial trochantin, and the structure of the mesopostontum which is relatively broad, narrowly separated from the scutellum, lacks the prominent postnotal apophyses characteristic of all other known male Coccoidea, and is covered by the metanotum on only its posterior half. On the basis of these features, Matsucoccus is believed more similar to the Aphidoidea than is any other known group of Coccoidea. Comparisons with males of other Margarodidae and with Orthezia indicate that male Matsucoccus have more morphological features in common with Orthezia males than with those of other margarodids, including the Xylococcini. It is therefore suggested that the tribe Matsucoccini of Morrison should be removed from the subfamily Xylococcinae and placed in a separate subfamily, the Matsucoccinae.
Cholinergic Porphyrin Lacrymation and Paradoxical Mydriasis in the Rat. Possible Hame Nature of Choline Esterase.

Waddell1 first reported the pilocarpine mydriasis in the rat and attributed it to peripheral parasympathetic depression. Koppanyi and Sun2 ascribed the paradoxical response to a ganglion paralysant action. Barnard, Tyllas and Mizock3 could not relate the anomalous pilocarpine response to corneal anesthesia but they noticed and failed to report that acetylcholine gave the same response. Both pilocarpine and acetylcholine would provoke the secretion of “bloody tears” in a certain number of rats, particularly younger ones. Cytologic examination of the tears failed to show erythrocytes and sections of the harderian gland excised at the height of the response showed neither the expected hyperemia nor rhexis. Repeated pilocarpine administrations over a period of weeks appeared to exhaust the mechanism and this was attributed to a traumatic fibrosis but here again histologic examination of the gland failed to bear out the assumption.The discovery of the fluorescence of this structure4 and of the porphyrin nature...
Robert Weinstock, MD, 40th President of AAPL: Elder statesman of forensic psychiatry and rebel with a cause.

“Ambiguity is exciting.” One doesn't often hear those words uttered; in fact, I've never heard them said before. However, this sentiment may help to explain Dr. Robert Weinstock's passion for ethics, forensic psychiatry, and the intersection of the two. Clarifying ambiguity seems to provide him
Analysis and Countermeasures of Fracture of 220 kV Post Insulator

This paper aims at the fracture of post insulator used in 220 kV substation in Henan. According to the theoretical calculation and the experiment, the fracture reasons are analyzed, and it is pointed out that the reasons are unsuitable assembling on-site and so on. Countermeasures relevant to the problem are proposed.
Effect of ursolic acid on apoptosis and expressions of Bcl-2/bax in HL-60 cells

Objective To investigate the effect of UA on the apoptosis and expressions of Bcl-2/bax in HL-60cells.Methods HL-60 cell line was cultured in vitro.MTT methods was used to detect the inhibitory effect of UA on proliferation.Flow cyetmetry was used to observe the effect of UA on the apoptosis and cycle distribution of HL-60 cells.The influence of UA on the bcl-2 and bax protein expression of HL-60 cells was analyzed with western blot.Results UA markedly inhibited proliferation of HL-60 cells in a concentration-dependent manner,UA induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells in a concentration dependent manner,and decreased the proportion of cells in the G1 phase.UA can efficiently up-regulated bax and down-regulated bcl-2 protein expression of HL-60 cells in a concentration dependent manner.Conclusion UA inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis on HL-60 cells partly by upregulating expression of bax and down-regulating expression of bcl-2.
Crystal structures of 2-(4-nitro-phen-yl)-3-phenyl-2,3-di-hydro-4H-1,3-benzo-thia-zin-4-one and 2-(2-nitro-phen-yl)-3-phenyl-2,3-di-hydro-4H-1,3-benzo-thia-zin-4-one.

The crystal structures are reported of the isomeric compounds 2-(4-nitro­phen­yl)-3-phenyl-2,3-di­hydro-4H-1,3-benzo­thia­zin-4-one, (I), and 2-(2-nitro­phen­yl)-3-phenyl-2,3-di­hydro-4H-1,3-benzo­thia­zin-4-one, (II), both C20H14N2O3S, being the para-nitro and ortho-nitro forms, respectively, the meta-form of which is known [Yennawar et al. (2013). Acta Cryst. E69, o1679]. The six-membered thia­zone ring fused with a benzene ring displays a screw-boat conformation with a total puckering amplitude of 0.627 (1) A in (I), and a near screw-boat conformation with a total puckering amplitude of 0.600 (1) A in (II). The dihedral angles between the planes of the substituent nitrophenyl and phenyl and rings with the benzene ring of the parent benzo­thia­zone moiety are 75.93 (5) and 82.61 (5)° [in (I)], and 76.79 (6) and 71.66 (6)° [in (II)]. Weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen-bonding inter­actions between aromatic H-atom donors and both a nitro-O atom and a thia­zone O-atom acceptor in (I) and a thia­zone O atom in (II) are present, forming in (I) a centrosymmetric 22-membered cyclic dimer which is extended through a similar inversion-related 14-membered cyclic hydrogen-bonding association into a zigzag chain structure extending along c. In (II), a single inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bond gives a chain structure extending along b. In addition, weak C—H⋯π inter­actions are present in both structures [minimum C⋯ring-centroid separations = 3.630 (2) and 3.581 (2) A, respectively].
Polyatomic Molecular Spectra

The mechanism for electromagnetic radiation to interact with polyatomic molecules is similar to the process discussed previously for diatomics. Molecular vibrations and rotations cause changes in electric dipole moments that occur at resonant frequencies. At these frequencies, molecules can interact with radiation (via emission, absorption, or scattering). The difference is that polyatomic molecules have more rotational and vibrational modes, and each of these modes gives rise to additional possible resonances.
KNN in the Jaccard space

The first step of the K-nearest neighbor classification is to find the K-nearest neighbors of the query. A basic operation in calculating Jaccard distance is to count the number of ones in a binary vector - population count. This article focuses on finding the K-nearest neighbors in a high-dimensional Jaccard space. There are two main contributions. First, software methods for population count are improved and implemented in Advanced Vector Extensions. They are faster than the hardware instruction. Second, a new method for KNN is proposed. Jaccard distance is a metric. After the K-nearest neighbors of a vector are found, their K-nearest neighbors must be in a hypersphere with a radius determined by the triangle inequality. Sequential computation and parallelization by OpenMP and POSIX Threads are implemented. The new method is up to six to 11 times faster than the classic method.
Ecophysiological Responses of Tsuga canadensis (Eastern Hemlock) to Projected Atmospheric CO2 and Warming

Abstract Tsuga canadensis (Eastern Hemlock) is a keystone tree species currently experiencing high mortality in southeastern US forests due to Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae; HWA) invasion. Investigating the impacts of concurrent climate change on Eastern Hemlock is important given its potential direct effects on this species and possible interactions of climatic factors with the continued spread of HWA. We conducted a 2-factorial experiment in controlled-environment growth chambers to test for the main effects and interactions of projected atmospheric CO2 concentrations and transitional-season warming on gas-exchange traits of Eastern Hemlock saplings collected from a northern Georgia field site. We hypothesized that elevated CO2 would increase photosynthesis and that warming would not influence photosynthesis, given the demonstrated capacity for photosynthetic temperature-acclimation in this species. Saplings in elevated CO2 exhibited ∼30% greater leaf-level photosynthesis (A) and ∼35% greater m...
Multielectron Transfer at Cobalt: Influence of the Phenylazopyridine Ligand

The dicationic complex [CpCo(azpy)(CH3CN)](ClO4)2 1 (azpy = phenylazopyridine) exhibits a reversible two-electron reduction at a very mild potential (−0.16 V versus Fc0/+) in acetonitrile. This behavior is not observed with the analogous bipyridine and pyrazolylpyridine complexes (3 and 4), which display an electrochemical signature typical of CoIII systems: two sequential one-electron reductions to CoII at −0.4 V and CoI at −1.0 to −1.3 V versus Fc0/+. The doubly reduced, neutral complex [CpCo(azpy)] 2 is isolated as an air-stable, diamagnetic solid via chemical reduction with cobaltocene. Crystallographic and spectroscopic characterization together with experimentally calibrated density functional theory calculations illuminate the key structural and electronic changes that occur upon reduction of 1 to 2. The electrochemical potential inversion observed with 1 is attributed to effective overlap between the metal d and the low-energy azo π* orbitals in the intermediary redox state and additional stabiliz...
A randomized, single-blind, single-dose study evaluating the pharmacokinetic equivalence of proposed biosimilar ABP 980 and trastuzumab in healthy male subjects.

This study compared the pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles of the proposed biosimilar ABP 980 and trastuzumab in healthy males. In this single-blind study, 157 healthy males were randomized 1:1:1 to a single 6 mg/kg intravenous infusion of ABP 980, FDA-licensed trastuzumab [trastuzumab (US)], or EU-authorized trastuzumab [trastuzumab (EU)]. Primary endpoints were area under the serum concentration–time curve from time 0 to infinity (AUCinf) and maximum observed serum concentration (C max). To establish equivalence, the geometric mean ratio (GMR) and 90% confidence interval (CI) for C max and AUCinf had to be within the equivalence criteria of 0.80–1.25. The GMRs and 90% CIs for C max and AUCinf, respectively, were: 1.04 (0.99–1.08) and 1.06 (1.00–1.12) for ABP 980 versus trastuzumab (US); 0.99 (0.95–1.03) and 1.00 (0.95–1.06) for ABP 980 versus trastuzumab (EU); and 0.96 (0.92–1.00) and 0.95 (0.90–1.01) for trastuzumab (US) versus trastuzumab (EU). All comparisons were within the equivalence criteria of 0.80–1.25. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were reported in 84.0, 75.0, and 78.2 of subjects in the ABP 980, trastuzumab (US), and trastuzumab (EU) groups, respectively. There were no deaths or TEAEs leading to study discontinuation and no binding or neutralizing anti-drug anti-bodies were detected. This study demonstrated the PK similarity of ABP 980 to both trastuzumab (US) and trastuzumab (EU), and of trastuzumab (US) to trastuzumab (EU). No differences in safety and tolerability between treatments were noted; no subject tested positive for binding anti-bodies.
VTE and Recent Drug Eluting Stent (DES) Placement

If a patient with recent stent placement develops a VTE, triple oral antithrombotic therapy may be indicated if the stent was placed within the past 6 months. The most evidence based regimen is a combination of clopidogrel, aspirin, and warfarin.
Growth or stagnation? Farming in England, 1200–1800

Estimates of English income in Broadberry et al.’s British economic growth, 1270–1870 are founded upon a fourfold growth of farm output, and output per farm worker, over this interval. This article shows, using four separate tests, that farm output growth must have been much more limited. The tests are, first, whether in 1300 there was enough work at harvest to employ all the labour force; second, whether the value of output per worker in agriculture was greater than the annual earnings of workers; third, whether the implied relative outputs per acre of arable versus pasture were reasonable; and fourth, whether a much shorter medieval work year was possible. An alternative index of farm output consistent with the labour supply, wages, and farm rents is derived. This shows much less growth during the period 1270–1800. Overall economic growth in England during these years must consequently have been far less than Broadberry et al. estimate.
Familial influences on the use of controlling feeding practices with adolescents.

Abstract Little is known about what factors influence a caregiver to use controlling feeding practices with adolescents. The present study examines potential predictors (e.g., parent and child eating, parent and child weight, and the home environment) of the use of controlling feeding practices among adolescents, an age group that has not received much attention. Parents (N = 54, M age = 43.63 years, SD = 6.42; 94.4% female) of adolescents ages 12–17 (N = 54, M age = 13.94 years, SD = 1.75; 43.6% female) completed measures assessing their child feeding practices, eating patterns and the home environment. Adolescents completed measures of their eating patterns. Regression analyses were used to determine the most salient predictors of controlling child feeding practices, specifically restriction of food intake and pressure to eat. After controlling for adolescent age, parental dietary restraint was significantly associated with restriction and accounted for 15.2% of the variance in the use of restriction, F (1, 51) = 10.4, p
Distinctive Mechanisms of Adversity and Socioeconomic Inequality in Child Development: A Review and Recommendations for Evidence-Based Policy.

This review proposes separate and distinct biological mechanisms for the effects of adversity, more commonly experienced in poverty, and socioeconomic status (SES) on child development. Adversity a...
A fully integrated electronic platform for multiplexed intermolecular force spectroscopy

This paper reports a handheld, fully integrated and programmable electronic system which interfaces a multiplexed ultradielectrophoretic (uDEP) force spectroscopy array for probing intermolecular affinities. The platform can be wirelessly programmed to generate electrokinetic force profiles for characterization of molecular interactions. As an example application, we demonstrated the platform's capability in distinguishing specific and non-specific bindings.
The urine anion gap in context

From its introduction in the late 1980s, the urine anion gap (UAG), calculated as [(Na+ + K+) – (Cl−)] has been used to roughly estimate whether urine ammonium is increased or decreased in the evaluation of hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis ([1][1],[2][2]). This is the context in which the use
The Requirement of Conduct

The discussion of liability systems in Chapter 3 disclosed that there are many variations of the conditions for liability and, thus, many possible systems. One condition required in all the systems proposed was that of behavior on the part of some person as the occasion for liability. Even in the fictitious random system, wherein one person could be liable for the non-voluntary acts of another, it was a basic prerequisite of liability that someone did something.
Environmental implications of microbial cellulose

Abstract The strong, tough, highly pure cellulose synthesized by microorganisms is just emerging as a new industrial product with exciting new applications in medicine, in foods, and in paper and packaging as well as potential for use in industrial separations. Making a polymer by bioprocessing is inherently much less damaging to the environment than are petrochemical processes, and this cellulose may substitute for plastics and for special grades of paper. This would eliminate some petrochemical processing and the highly pollutional steps for pulping and bleaching of wood cellulose. Wastes that contain cellulose can be converted to sugars that are substrates for the microorganisms that make cellulose. Microbial cellulose produced rapidly by Acetobacter xylinium in a rotating disk reactor is a gel with 100 to 200 parts of water per part of cellulose. Much of the water can be removed mechanically so that little drying is needed to get a product resembling parchment in its appearance and properties. Small amounts of microbial cellulose added to paper greatly improve its strength. This new cellulose may compete well with existing polymers and paper on its own merits, and environmental benefits may make the cost comparisons even more favorable.
Activation of androgen receptors protects intact male mice from memory impairments caused by aromatase inhibition

Although 17β-estradiol (E2) is known to regulate hippocampal function, the specific contributions of hippocampally-synthesized E2 remain unclear. Infusion of the aromatase inhibitor letrozole into the dorsal hippocampus (DH) of ovariectomized mice disrupts object recognition and object placement memory consolidation, suggesting that DH-synthesized E2 is essential for memory. However, the role of DH-synthesized E2 in memory among male rodents is unknown. Here, we examined effects of aromatase inhibition on memory consolidation in male mice. Intact and gonadectomized mice were infused with vehicle or letrozole into the DH immediately post-training in object placement and object recognition tasks. Letrozole blocked memory in both tasks among gonadectomized males only, suggesting that circulating androgens, or a rise in hippocampal androgens due to aromatase inhibition, may support memory consolidation in intact males. To test this hypothesis, intact males were infused with the androgen receptor antagonist flutamide into the DH after object training. A dose-dependent impairment was observed in both tasks, indicating that blocking androgen signaling can impair memory consolidation. To test if hippocampal androgen receptor activation protected intact males from the impairing effects of letrozole, a non-impairing dose of flutamide was co-infused with letrozole. Co-administration of both drugs blocked object placement and object recognition memory consolidation, demonstrating that letrozole impairs memory in intact males only if androgen receptors are blocked. Together, these data suggest that DH-synthesized E2 and androgen receptor activation may work in concert to mediate memory consolidation in intact males, such that androgen receptor activation protects against memory impairments caused by aromatase inhibition.
A fluidized-bed reactor for the photocatalytic mineralization of phenol on TiO2-coated silica gel.

Abstract TiO2 photocatalysis represents a promising class of oxidation techniques that are intended to be both supplementary and complementary to the conventional approaches for the removal of refractory and trace organic contaminants in water and air. Powdered TiO2 dispersion systems employed in most studies require an additional separation step to recover the catalyst from the effluent water, which represents a major drawback for large scale applications. The optimization of photocatalytic treatment systems involves merging the benefits of catalyst immobilization on a retainable support, thus eliminating the need for downstream catalyst separation, maximization of photon-exposed catalyst area, and continuous operation. Aiming to integrate such conditions into a single system, a bench-scale annular photo-reactor with concentric UV-C lamp was built to study the photocatalytic mineralization of phenol on fluidized silica gel beads coated with sol-gel-synthetized TiO2. Reactor efficiency was investigated for different silica particle diameters (224, 357 and 461 μm), fluidized-bed concentrations in the bulk liquid (5, 10, 20 and 30 g L−1), initial phenol concentrations in the aqueous solution (0.25 mmol L−1 to 4.0 mmol L−1), and single and multiple sol-gel depositions. Then, the resulting optimum reactor configuration was compared to that of the same process on suspended Degussa P25 TiO2 nanoparticles under similar experimental conditions. The latter is expected to be more efficient, but post-treatment catalyst recovery, being an energy intensive process, represents a major limitation for large scale applications. Process efficiency was measured as a function of the accumulated energy necessary for the mineralization of 50% of the initial dissolved chemical oxygen demand (COD), or, Q0.5. Results showed that for any given mass of fluidized bed material, photo-oxidation efficiency increases with decreasing particle size (even for bed concentrations with similar equivalent surface area), decreasing initial phenol concentrations, and increasing number of sol-gel coatings. It was found that, for any given particle size and contaminant mass, there is an optimum bed concentration of 20 g L−1 for which Q0.5 reaches a minimum. Finally, under the optimum configuration, the fluidized-bed reactor efficiency is only 30% lower than that of photocatalysis on suspended TiO2 nanopowder, thus making the proposed fluidized system a viable alternative to slurry-TiO2 reactors.
(Un)theorizing citizen science: Investigation of theories applied to citizen science studies

Abstract This article provides an analysis of theories and methodologies that have been applied in citizen science research. This study suggests a significant contribution of citizen science to var...
On Combinatorial Models for Affine Crystals

We biject two combinatorial models for tensor products of (single-column) Kirillov-Reshetikhin crystals of any classical type $A-D$: the quantum alcove model and the tableau model. This allows us to translate calculations in the former model (of the energy function, the combinatorial $R$-matrix, etc.) to the latter, which is simpler.
Analytical Design of LC Filter Inductance for Two-Level Inverters Based on Maximum Ripple Current

Single-phase inverters play a crucial role in transferring the power from renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, or even a hydrogen-based fuel cell to the load and/or the electric-power grid. In order to attenuate the high-frequency switching components of the inverter's generated voltage and to minimize the distortion of the injected current at the grid/load side, the LC filter is usually employed. This paper proposes a simple closed-form formula to analytically calculate the required inductance of an LC filter in a single-phase full-bridge inverter controlled with unipolar switching pattern. The derived equations demonstrate that the LC filter inductance value depends on modulation index. Moreover, it proves that the angle at which the maximum peak-to-peak ripple current occurs is not a fixed value, and it varies based on modulation index. Furthermore, the simulation results of a 6.6 kW single-phase inverter are provided for two cases of modulation index to confirm derived closed-form equations.
MD and DO: Differing Medical Degrees and the Associated Perceptions.

Abstract Purpose To highlight perspectives about differing medical degrees and graduate medical education amongst current allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) radiology residents. Materials and Method Two hundred sixty-eight radiology residents were interviewed using an approved Association of Program Coordinators in Radiology (APCR) survey designed to evaluate perceptions of allopathic and osteopathic radiology residents regarding type of medical degree and their career development. The surveys were kept anonymous with no identifiable information. Residents in their first through fourth years of training replied with an approximate equal distribution amongst the different years. Results Based on the 268 respondents, DOs’ more so than MDs’, reported that their degree type altered their medical careers (P Conclusion This survey-based study does reveal perceived differences in the residency recruitment process based on degree type. Future discussions to bridge this perceived gap will be important, especially in light of the recent ACGME merger between the 2 educational pathways.
Should I be Concerned? Surgical Training in the Time of COVID19

As the US healthcare system restructured to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, medical training was significantly disrupted. During the peak of the crisis, three surgical trainees in different stages of their residency shared their experiences and concerns on how this pandemic affected their training. The article is intended to generate discussion on the concerns of derailment and stagnation of surgical training and difficulties faced at all levels of surgical training to perform clinical duties and fulfill academic responsibilities during the early months of the COVID pandemic.
Polymer‐Based Mechanochromic Composite Material Using Encapsulated Systems

The development of mechanochromic or self-reporting polymers that can indicate damage or fatigue of materials with an optical signal has become of paramount interest to ensure the reliability of the materials and prevent catastrophic failure. This technology can potentially find usefulness for various applications, including in situ monitoring of mechanical events and structural health monitoring systems. An emerging and versatile approach to achieve mechanochromic properties relies on the encapsulation of dye solutions that can be released and activated (chemically or physically) when the walls of the capsules are mechanically damaged. While the mechanochromic effect can be achieved with different types of dyes and operating principles, this framework can also be designed with encapsulating-containers of different shapes and shell materials, such as microcapsules, hollow glass fibers, vascular networks, and micelles, making this concept applicable to a broad range of polymer matrices. An overview of the different encapsulation approaches that have been employed to prepare mechanochromic polymers is given, with a focus on the containers used for this purpose. A brief description of the containers' preparation is provided, and their associated chromic operating principles and progress in their designs are reviewed.
Proportionality’s Function

In this paper I argue that punishment should be proportional to desert; that desert turns solely on culpability and not on results: that culpability is a function of what the actor perceives are the risks of his act to others’ interests and the reasons he perceives that might justify, excuse, or aggravate taking those risks; that because culpability is a complex function, ordinally ranking acts in terms of culpability is quite difficult; that converting the ordinal ranking into cardinal measures of deserved punishment must perforce be controversial; and that deserved punishment, which is deserved suffering, must somehow deal with the fact that the actor may have already suffered undeservedly (or may have benefitted undeservedly).
Laboratory Yeast Strains Rely On Oxidative Phosphorylation For Efficient ATP Production

Even though it is a well-accepted fact that the energy metabolism of yeast is likely to impact all cellular activities, surprising little is known about the ATP homeostasis of particular yeast strains that are commonly used in cell biological studies. Therefore, we determined key parameters such as oxygen consumption and fermentation rates of the lab strain SEY6210. Our data indicated that even at high glucose concentrations, SEY6210 produces 30-50% of cellular ATP from oxidative phosphorylation. Loss of respiration, either by disrupting ATP synthase function or by growth in anaerobic conditions, was not fully compensated by fermentation and as a result affected energy intensive processes such as the maintenance of the plasma membrane proton gradient and the associated import of nutrients.
Mechanical Metrics of Virtual Polycrystals (MechMet)

The details of polycrystalline microstructure often influence the early stages of yielding and strain localization under monotonic and cyclic loading, particularly in elastically anisotropic materials. A new software package, MechMet (mechanical metrics) provides a convenient finite element tool for solving field equations for elasticity in polycrystals in conjunction with investigations of microstructure-induced heterogeneity. The simulated displacement field is used to compute several mechanical metrics, such as the strain and stress tensors, directional stiffness, relative Schmid factor, and the directional strength-to-stiffness ratio. The virtual polycrystal finite element meshes needed by MechMet can be created with the Neper package or any other method that produces a 10-node, tetrahedral, serendipity element. Formatted output files are automatically generated for visualization with Paraview or VisIt. This paper presents an overview of the MechMet package and its application to polycrystalline materials of both cubic and hexagonal structures.
The reduced risk of septic shock/sepsis with laparoscopic surgery among ulcerative colitis patients with preoperative chronic steroid use

BACKGROUND Preoperative steroid use has been associated with worse surgical outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether laparoscopic surgery reduces the risk of septic shock/sepsis among ulcerative colitis patients with preoperative chronic steroid use. METHODS Patients with ulcerative colitis undergoing a total abdominal colectomy were identified from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database (2005-2019). Patients were stratified based on preoperative chronic steroid use and operative approach (open versus laparoscopic). The primary outcome was septic shock/sepsis. Multivariable regression models were used to assess the association between laparoscopic surgery and rates of septic shock/sepsis among steroid users and non-steroid users in both the elective and emergent settings. RESULTS Among 8,644 patients undergoing a total abdominal colectomy, 67.1% were steroid users and 32.9% were non-steroid users. Compared with an open approach, elective laparoscopic surgery was associated with lower rates of septic shock/sepsis, albeit with higher readmission rates for both steroid users (15.1% [laparoscopic] vs 12.0% [open], P = .005) and non-steroid users (12.6% [laparoscopic] vs 9.4% [open], P = .019). On adjusted analysis, ulcerative colitis patients with chronic steroid use undergoing an elective laparoscopic total abdominal colectomy demonstrated a reduced risk of septic shock/sepsis compared to open surgery (odds ratio 0.61, 95% confidence interval 0.49-0.76, P < .001). Similar findings were seen among chronic steroid users undergoing emergent laparoscopic procedures (odds ratio 0.54, 95% confidence interval 0.31-0.95, P = .031). CONCLUSION Laparoscopic surgery was associated with a reduced risk of septic shock/sepsis among ulcerative colitis patients with preoperative chronic steroid use, suggesting that minimally invasive surgery may be a promising option among this unique patient population.
Theoretical Investigation of a Novel Three-Phase Alternating Current Liquid Metal Vortex Magnetohydrodynamic Generator

Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) generators are a class of devices that directly convert mechanical energy of a flowing fluid into electrical energy. However, due to the production of low magnitude voltages at low fluid velocities, they are not very useful for harvesting energy from the everyday environment at a watt scale. This work theoretically investigates a novel three-phase alternating current liquid metal vortex MHD, capable of generating power on a scale of watts and voltages on a scale of volts from a wide range of environmental energy sources. A new theoretical approach is utilized, where the induced fields and the stator fields are calculated independently which makes it easy to analyze different operational modes of the system. The effect of the number of poles and the slip value on the generated power and current is studied. The obtained analytical and numerical results are in good agreement and provide a robust foundation for the generator design and experimental characterization.
Advantages of Laboratory Natural Selection in the Applied Sciences

In the past three decades laboratory natural selection has become a widely used technique in biological research. Most studies which have utilized this technique are in the realm of basic science, often testing hypotheses related to mechanisms of evolutionary change or ecological dynamics. While laboratory natural selection is currently utilized heavily in this setting, there is a significant gap with its usage in applied studies, especially when compared to the other selection experiment methodologies like artificial selection and directed evolution. This is despite avenues of research in the applied sciences which seem well suited to laboratory natural selection. In this commentary we place laboratory natural selection in context with other selection experiments, identify the characteristics which make it well suited for particular kinds of applied research, and briefly cover key examples of the usefulness of selection experiments within applied science. Finally, we identify three promising areas of inquiry for laboratory natural selection in the applied sciences: bioremediation technology, identifying mechanisms of drug resistance, and optimizing biofuel production. Although laboratory natural selection is currently less utilized in applied science when compared to basic research, the method has immense promise in the field moving forward.
Low energy, organic solvent-free co-assembly of zein and caseinate to prepare stable dispersions

Abstract Water-insoluble zein (corn prolamins) has great potential for use as delivery systems. In this study, stable zein nanoparticle dispersions were produced using a pH-cycle method to form complexes with sodium caseinate (NaCas) without using an organic solvent. NaCas was mixed with zein at pH 11.5 and the subsequent neutralization to pH 7.0 enabled the co-assembly of zein and NaCas. The mean hydrodynamic diameter of spherical nanoparticles was smaller than 100 nm based on dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The nanodispersions were stable during 30-day storage at 4 °C. The freeze-dried sample showed excellent re-dispersibility. The current study showed the promise of this novel method to prepare zein nanoparticles for applications such as delivery systems.
The Design of Non-wetting Surfaces with FluoroPOSS

Functional non-wetting materials are of interest for a diverse array of applications. Factors contributing to the wettability of a surface include surface free energy and surface roughness. More recently, surface texture has been found to be of equal or greater importance, especially for surface that repel low surface tension liquids, such as short-chain hydrocarbons and alcohols. This chapter describes recent work in the design and production of wetting-resistant surfaces utilizing fluorinated Polyhedral Oligomeric SilSesquioxanes (FluoroPOSS), as well as the development of dimensionless design parameters to aid in the preparation of such surfaces. FluoroPOSS compounds are organic/inorganic hybrid materials that exhibit low surface energy attributes, as well as an octahedral structure, which results in useful migration and aggregation characteristics when blended into polymer matrices. Wetting-resistant surfaces containing FluoroPOSS are produced either by techniques that specifically incorporate all three critical parameters for wetting-resistance, or by the modification of substrates already possessing the desired surface texture.