cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing using two next-generation sequencing technologies for phylogenetic analysis of the rumen bacterial community in steers

Next generation sequencing technologies have vastly changed the approach of sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene for studies in microbial ecology. Three distinct technologies are available for large-scale 16S sequencing. All three are subject to biases introduced by sequencing error rates, amplification primer selection, and read length, which can affect the apparent microbial community. In this study, we compared short read 16S rRNA variable regions, V1-V3, with that of near-full length 16S regions, V1-V8, using highly diverse steer rumen microbial communities, in order to examine the impact of technology selection on phylogenetic profiles. Short paired-end reads from the Illumina MiSeq platform were used to generate V1-V3 sequence, while long "circular consensus" reads from the Pacific Biosciences RSII instrument were used to generate V1-V8 data. The two platforms revealed similar microbial operational taxonomic units (OTUs), as well as similar species richness, Good's coverage, and Shannon diversity metrics. However, the V1-V8 amplified ruminal community resulted in significant increases in several orders of taxa, such as phyla Proteobacteria and Verrucomicrobia (P < 0.05). Taxonomic classification accuracy was also greater in the near full-length read. UniFrac distance matrices using jackknifed UPGMA clustering also noted differences between the communities. These data support the consensus that longer reads result in a finer phylogenetic resolution that may not be achieved by shorter 16S rRNA gene fragments. Our work on the cattle rumen bacterial community demonstrates that utilizing near full-length 16S reads may be useful in conducting a more thorough study, or for developing a niche-specific database to use in analyzing data from shorter read technologies when budgetary constraints preclude use of near-full length 16S sequencing.
Inducing Emotional Response in Interactive Media: A Pilot Study

Video games, entertainment, education, and training media have been developed for many years, and eliciting emotional experiences is an integral part of that process. Production and editing of the media in order to produce the desired emotional experiences can be expensive and cumbersome to media designers. This paper presents a pilot study intended to show that such experiences can be induced with after-the-fact audio-visual effects. As subjects of the user study, players are given the same virtual environment with two emotional states: fear, and peace. Over 70 % of players report feeling the proper emotional response in both environmental states, revealing that it is indeed possible to induce emotional response with after-the-fact audio-visual effects, hinting at future possibilities for drag-and-drop emotional experience filters.
The Reproductive Decline in Male Rats

The aging male rat exhibits a gradual decline in reproductive function, but fertility is usually maintained throughout the normal lifespan (Meites et al., 1980; Steger et al., 1981). Only when the endocrine system is challenged by experimental manipulations or when the various components of the reproductive axis are closely examined, do age-related defects become apparent. This review will attempt to point out the “normal” aging events affecting the reproductive processes in the male rat, as well as the more common pathological findings seen in certain rat strains. Changes in hypothalamic neurotransmitter function and gonadotropin-releasing factor levels in relationship to male endocrine function have already been discussed in the chapter by Simpkins and will not be covered in this review.
USE OF NOVEL ORAL ANTICOAGULANTS IN ADULT FONTAN PATIENTS

Background: Thromboembolic complications are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with Fontan physiology. Current clinical practice for prevention and treatment of these complications involves the use of vitamin K antagonists and/or antiplatelet agents. Novel oral anticoagulants (
Development, implementation and evaluation of a unique African-American faith-based approach to increase automobile restraint use.

OBJECTIVE: Despite generalized intervention programs, restraint use among African Americans remains below national levels, especially among children. This study describes the development and implementation of a community participatory faith-based youth injury prevention program. METHODS: Through a partnership with the African-American faith-based community and our injury prevention group, a unique multigenerational intervention program was developed targeting motor vehicle restraint use. Once developed, the program was initially evaluated by comparing outcomes between control and intervention churches. The main objective was to observe adult and pediatric restraint use before and after program implementation. RESULTS: Overall, there was excellent recognition and participation in the program. Following program implementation, significant improvements were observed in restraint use compared to control churches. In particular, there was a 72% reduction in unrestrained children, a 25% increase in children being secured in the rear-seat position and a nearly 20% increase in driver restraint use. CONCLUSIONS: The development and implementation of a culturally sensitive intervention program can significantly improve restraint use in a minority population. Partnering with the community in all phases of the program is essential to its success. Language: en
Factors affecting workforce participation and healthy worker biases in U.S. women and men.

Abstract Purpose To investigate potential attenuation of healthy worker biases in populations in which healthy women of reproductive age opt out of the workforce to provide childcare. Methods We used 2013–2015 data from 120,928 U.S. women and men aged 22–44 years participating in the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. We used logistic regression to estimate adjusted prevalence odds ratios (PORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between health and workforce nonparticipation. Results Women and men reporting poor health were more likely to be out of the workforce than individuals reporting excellent health (POR: 3.7, 95% CI: 3.2–4.2; POR: 6.7, 95% CI: 5.7–7.8, respectively), suggesting potential for healthy worker bias. For women (P Conclusions These results are consistent with attenuation of healthy worker biases when healthy women opt out of the workforce to provide childcare. Accordingly, we might expect the magnitude of these biases to vary with the proportion of women with differing numbers of children in the population.
“Synthesis-on” and “synthesis-off” modes of carbon arc operation during synthesis of carbon nanotubes

Abstract Arc discharge synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) remains largely uncontrollable, due to incomplete understanding of the synthetic process itself. We show that synthesis of SWCNTs by a carbon arc may not constitute a single continuous process, but may instead consist of two distinct modes. One of these, a “synthesis-on” mode, produces the majority of the nanomaterials. During the synthesis-on mode, proportionally more carbon nanotubes are collected than in another mode, a “synthesis-off” mode. Both synthesis-on and synthesis-off modes for a typical arc configuration, employing a hollow anode filled with a mixture of powdered metal catalyst and graphite, were characterized by using in situ electrical, imaging, and spectroscopic diagnostics, along with ex situ imaging and spectroscopy. The synthesis-on mode duration is rare compared to the total arc run-time, helping to explain the poor selectivity found in the final collected products, a known inadequacy of arc synthesis. The rarity of the synthesis on mode occurence may be due to the synthesis off mode being more favorable energetically.
Maternal concerns and perceptions of elementary school-age children's weight status.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics associated with maternal concerns for her child becoming overweight, and how these concerns are related to her perceptions of her child's weight. Design A school-based sample of 55 children and their mothers from Houston, Texas, participated in a cross-sectional survey. Mothers reported on their concerns and perceptions regarding their child's weight. Child and mother height and weight were directly assessed to calculate body mass index (BMI). Covariate-adjusted logistic regression models were conducted. Results Over one-third of mothers misperceived their child's weight status [9% (n = 5) overestimated; 27% (n = 15) underestimated]. Mothers of sons were less accurate compared with mothers of daughters. For every one unit increase in maternal BMI, mothers had 13% higher odds of being concerned of their child becoming overweight. Concerned mothers had 82% lower odds of underestimating their child's weight. Practice Implications In order for school-based childhood obesity prevention and intervention programs to be successful, parents must accurately perceive their elementary school-age child's weight status. School nurses can be vital to these efforts through proper training and resources. Nurses can use the “School Nurse Childhood Obesity Toolkit” and motivational interviewing techniques to address parental concerns and perceptions prior to teaching behavior modification strategies to children/families.
Functional importance of lysyl oxidase family propeptide regions

The lysyl oxidase family of proteins is primarily known for its critical role in catalyzing extracellular oxidative deamination of hydroxylysine and lysine residues in collagens, and lysine residues in elastin required for connective tissue structure and function. Lysyl oxidases have additional important biological functions in health and disease. While the enzyme domains are highly conserved, the propeptide regions are less uniform, and have biological activity, some of which are independent of their respective enzymes. This review summarizes what has been published regarding the functions of the propeptide regions of this family of proteins in the context of extracellular matrix biosynthesis, fibrosis and cancer biology. Although much has been learned, there is a need for greater attention to structure/function relationships and mechanisms to more fully understand these multifunctional proteins.
First bite syndrome following transcervical arterial ligation after transoral robotic surgery

OBJECTIVE To assess the incidence of first bite syndrome (FBS) in transoral robotic surgical (TORS) patients undergoing transcervical arterial ligation. METHODS Retrospective case series of all patients diagnosed with FBS following prophylactic transcervical arterial ligation of branches of the external carotid system between March 2010 and December 2016 at a single academic center. RESULTS Six patients with FBS after TORS with transcervical arterial ligation were evaluated, representing 7% of all patients who underwent neck dissection with concomitant transcervical arterial ligation (6 of 83). Median presentation of FBS was 63 days, with an average duration of 66 days. Treatment ranged from observation to botulinum toxin injection. CONCLUSION Patients who undergo transcervical arterial ligation to minimize bleeding complications following TORS are at risk of developing first bite syndrome. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4. Laryngoscope, 128:1589-1593, 2018.
Complex noradrenergic dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease: Low norepinephrine input is not always to blame

The locus coeruleus-noradrenergic (LC-NA) system supplies the cerebral cortex with norepinephrine, a key modulator of cognition. Neurodegeneration of the LC is an early hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this article, we analyze current literature to understand whether NA degeneration in AD simply leads to a loss of norepinephrine input to the cortex. With reported adaptive changes in the LC-NA system at the anatomical, cellular, and molecular levels in AD, existing evidence support a seemingly sustained level of extracellular NE in the cortex, at least at early stages of the long course of AD. We postulate that loss of the integrity of the NA system, rather than mere loss of NE input, is a key contributor to AD pathogenesis. A thorough understanding of NA dysfunction in AD has a large impact on both our comprehension and treatment of this devastating disease.
A Prospective Study of Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses to Hepatitis B Vaccination in Habitual Marijuana Smokers

Exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in vitro and in animal models can significantly impair the differentiation, activation and function of dendritic cells, T cells and B cells. However, studies directly assessing the impact of marijuana smoking on human immunity are lacking. A prospective study of immune responses to a standard hepatitis B vaccination was therefore carried out in a matched cohort of 9 marijuana smokers (MS) and 9 nonsmokers (NS). In addition to their regular marijuana use, MS smoked four marijuana cigarettes in a monitored setting on the day of each vaccination. Blood samples were collected over time to assess the development of hepatitis B-specific immunity. The majority of subjects from both the NS (8) and MS (6) groups developed positive hepatitis B surface antibody titers (>10 IU/L) and of these 6 NS and 5 MS were classified as high antibody (good) responders (>100 IU/L). The development of a good response correlated with the presence of hepatitis B-specific T cell proliferation and cytokine production, resulting in a clear distinction regarding the immune status of good responders versus non-responders. However, even though there were slighter more non-responders in the MS cohort, there were no significant differences between MS and NS with respect to peripheral blood cell phenotypes or vaccination-related changes in hepatitis B responses. While a larger cohort may be required to rule out a small suppressive effect, our findings do not suggest that habitual marijuana smoking exerts a major impact on the development of systemic immunity to hepatitis B vaccination.
Effect of casing surface roughness on the removal efficiency of non-aqueous drilling fluids

Abstract The primary function of natural gas well cementing is to provide downhole zonal isolation. However, the residual non-aqueous drilling fluid in cement and on the surface of the casing can weaken the bond of hardened cement to the casing. In this paper, the amount of remaining drilling fluid both in cement and on the casing is quantified by the fluorescent dye method, which is verified by other two methods, mass difference and laser scanning. The essential factor - surface roughness that can significantly affect the amount of residual drilling fluid - is investigated. Results show good correlations between the thickness of the remaining drilling fluid and the surface roughness. The comparison of mud removal efficiency of two commercial spacers indicates that microemulsion can remove more drilling fluid than the common spacer, as pointed out in the literature; however, microemulsion is also apt to remain on the casing and thus reduce the bonding between cement and the casing.
"A dream for me": Idioms of progress among Peruvian migrants in Madrid

In this article, I examine idioms of progress among Peruvian migrants in Madrid, Spain. Since the first waves of migration from Peru in the 1980s, Spain has represented for many Peruvians the possibility of realizing aspirations to socioeconomic betterment. Open-ended interviews and participant observation with Peruvians living in Madrid highlighted the importance of superacion (overcoming, surmounting) in contextualizing migrants’ desires for socioeconomic improvement. As an ideology of individual and collective progress intimately tied to Peruvian histories of violence, superacion promises to benefit migrants’ communities and overcome entrenched racial hierarchies that associate indigeneity with poverty. In Madrid, I observed that desires for superacion among Peruvian migrants often buttressed a moral conduct toward their family, region, and nation. I discuss the ways by which gender and nationality become important lines of difference as migrants negotiate their own conceptions of progress in the face of Spain’s decadent modernity and hostile racism. Lastly, I investigate the relationship between superacion and another powerful narrative of progress in Spain: consumerism. Analyzing an excursion through a Madrid IKEA with Peruvian migrants, I suggest that consumerism’s discourses of universalized access are in fact implicated in the same kind of class and racial exclusions that subtend superacion. I conclude by pointing toward the myriad narratives and subjects of progress at play in transnational settings, and suggest that rather than subscribe to models of migrant assimilation, attention must be paid to the local contexts and articulations of progress by which migrants strive for better lives.
Transposons Take Remote Control

A family of retroviral-like elements in the human genome has a pervasive influence on gene expression.
“Out of Egypt I Called My Son”: Migration as a Male Activity in the New Testament Gospels

This essay offers a narrative analysis that shows the New Testament gospels construct migration as a male activity in two interrelated ways. First, they diminish the role of women in the journeys of Jesus. Second, they frame the migrations and border-crossings that occur in their story of salvation history in masculine language and imagery. That the gospels construct migration as a male activity raises the question of whether they can serve as sources that promote an inclusive notion of justice for im/migrants and others on the move. I suggest they still can, but this requires a model of interpretation that gives primacy to the reader and accounts for the complex factors of migratory experiences, including women’s experiences, in the world in front of the text.
Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids potentiates glutathione oxidation in human airway epithelial cells exposed to ozone

The health benefits of dietary fish oil consumption have been widely reported. Eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids, two omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil, have been associated with anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving effects through their metabolism to specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) and displacement of arachidonic acid (AA). However, the 5 and 6 double bonds in EPA and DHA respectively are targets for lipid peroxidation by ozone (O3), a major photochemical pollutant to which millions of Americans are exposed. Products of unsaturated fatty acid peroxidation by O3 have been proposed to mediate functional and inflammatory effects of O3 exposure. Thus, cellular supplementation with omega-3s has the potential to both promote and help resolve inflammation during O3 exposure. To investigate this paradox, we supplemented 16-HBE human airway epithelial cells (HAEC) expressing the fluorogenic glutathione redox potential (EGSH) sensor roGFP overnight with EPA, DHA, the monounsaturated fatty acid oleic acid (OA), or the saturated fatty acid stearic acid (SA). Alterations in EGSH were monitored in real time using live-cell microscopy during exposure to O3. We found that supplementation with EPA and DHA, but not OA or SA, caused a marked potentiation of the O3-induced increases in EGSH, evident as both an accelerated response time and increase in the magnitude of response. Notably, the potentiation of GSH oxidation occurred at O3 concentrations as low as 0.08 ppm, the current National Ambient Air Quality Standard level. These results suggest that membrane fatty acid saturation is a determinant of the oxidative responses to O3 in HAEC. These findings may have implications for dietary recommendations for populations exposed to O3. This abstract does not necessarily reflect EPA policy.
Detecting Gaussian Signals Using Coprime Sensor Arrays in Spatially Correlated Gaussian Noise

Coprime sensor arrays (CSAs) can estimate the directions of arrival of O(MN) narrowband planewave sources using only O(M + N) sensors with the CSA product processor. All previous investigations on the product processed CSA's performance for detecting Gaussian signals assumed spatially white Gaussian noise. Considering the product and conventional delay-and-sum beamforming processors applied to the CSA geometry, this paper derives the detection gain for each processor under the deflection metric when the background noise is spatially correlated. The conditional probability distribution functions are also derived in closed form to evaluate and compare the receiver operating characteristic performances. Despite the nonlinear processing, the product processed CSA's detection performance closely rivals its conventional beamforming (CBF) counterpart, while also demonstrating greater robustness than the CBF to spatially correlated Gaussian noise.
SiC MOSFET Aging Detection Based on Miller Plateau Voltage Sensing

Harsh operating environment and high temperature swings introduce die and packaging related degradations in SiC MOSFETs causing potential system failures. This paper proposes a new SiC MOSFET state-of-health monitoring approach based on Miller plateau voltage sensing. To age the SiC devices in a short time, power cycling test is applied. During the aging process, the device's static parameters and switching transients are evaluated. From the comprehensive assessment results, the Miller plateau voltage is found to be a promising aging precursor for SiC devices. Targeting at aging detection, a practical monitoring circuit is proposed for Miller plateau voltage measurement. Experimental results reveal that the proposed method is valid for on-board SiC MOSFET aging detection during system start-up within microseconds.
Head Drop Episodes in a Toddler: A Case Report of Tuberous Sclerosis with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease

Introduction: Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant neurocutaneous disorder characterized by development of hamartomas in the brain, skin, kidneys, lung and heart. These benign tumors rarely progress to malignancy but can lead to organ dysfunction. Two tumor suppressor genes have been implicated in the pathogenesis of TSC. The TSC1 gene, found on chromosome 9q3, codes for the protein hamartin, while the TSC2 gene, found on chromosome 16p13, codes for tuberin. Common renal manifestations of TSC include angiomyolipomas (85.4%), renal cysts (44.8%) and renal cell carcinomas (4.2%). Less than 2% of patients with …
Wide Voltage Range High-Efficiency Sigma Converter 48V VRM With Integrated Magnetics

In this paper, a high-efficiency and power-density single-stage 48V voltage regulator module (VRM) based on a Sigma converter power architecture is proposed for CPU in data center applications. The proposed converter overcomes the limitation of wide voltage range operation in the Sigma converter architecture by utilizing a variable gain LLC converter by which the voltage distribution among the buck converter and the LLC converter in the quasi-parallel structure is maintained in the ranges that allow the highest possible conversion efficiency. A magnetic integration method is proposed for the variable gain LLC converter by which a PCB winding matrix transformer structure and resonant inductor are integrated with a single core structure and minimum winding requirement to achieve the required gain characteristics. A wide voltage range Sigma converter prototype is built that can operate with input voltage range of (40-60V) and output voltage range of (1.3-1.8V) while providing a maximum output current of 120A, the designed converter can achieve a maximum efficiency of 95.2% and a power-density of 700W/in3.
Determination of a macro- to micro-scale progression leading to a magnetized plasma disruption

We report the observations of a plasma jet evolving through a macro- to micro-scale progression sequence. This leads to a fast magnetic reconnection that results in the jet breaking off from its originating electrode and forming a force-free state. A sausage-like pinching occurs first and squeezes an initially fat, short magnetized jet so that it becomes thin. The thin jet then becomes kink unstable. The lengthening of the jet by the kinking thins the jet even more since the kink is an incompressible instability. When the jet radius becomes comparable to the ion-skin depth, Hall and electron inertial physics become important and establish the environment for a fast magnetic reconnection. This fast reconnection occurs, disrupting the jet and establishing a force-free state. X-ray bursts and whistler waves, evidence of a magnetic reconnection, are observed when the plasma jet breaks off from the electrode. This experimentally observed sequence of successive thinning from pinching followed by kinking is reproduced in a three-dimensional ideal Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) numerical simulation. The results of the experiment and the numerical simulation, together demonstrate a viable path from macro-scale MHD physics to micro-scale non-MHD physics where fast reconnection occurs.
Asymptotic (h tending to infinity) absolute stability for BDFs applied to stiff differential equations

Methods based on backward differentiation formulas (BDFs) for solving stiff differential equations require iterating to approximate the solution of the corrector equation on each step. One hope for reducing the cost of this is to make do with iteration matrices that are known to have errors and to do no more iterations than are necessary to maintain the stability of the method. This paper, following work by Klopfenstein, examines the effect of errors in the iteration matrix on the stability of the method. Application of the results to an algorithm is discussed briefly.
Disordered proteins follow diverse transition paths as they fold and bind to a partner

Transition paths of macromolecular conformational changes such as protein folding are predicted to be heterogeneous. However, experimental characterization of the diversity of transition paths is extremely challenging because it requires measuring more than one distance during individual transitions. In this work, we used fast three-color single-molecule Forster resonance energy transfer spectroscopy to obtain the distribution of binding transition paths of a disordered protein. About half of the transitions follow a path involving strong non-native electrostatic interactions, resulting in a transition time of 300 to 800 microseconds. The remaining half follow more diverse paths characterized by weaker electrostatic interactions and more than 10 times shorter transition path times. The chain flexibility and non-native interactions make diverse binding pathways possible, allowing disordered proteins to bind faster than folded proteins.
Participation Is Associated With Well-Being Among Community-Based Veterans: An Investigation of Coping Ability, Meaningful Activity, and Social Support as Mediating Mechanisms

Importance Occupational therapy practitioners can use therapeutic activity to promote veterans' well-being, but the mechanisms through which participation promotes well-being are poorly understood. Objective To examine whether coping ability, meaningful activity, and social support mediate the relationship between participation and two indicators of veterans' overall well-being: life meaning (psychological well-being) and life satisfaction (subjective well-being). Design Explanatory cross-sectional design. We used two multiple mediation models to test whether coping ability, meaningful activity, and social support explained the relationship between participation and both life meaning and life satisfaction. Models were adjusted for demographic characteristics and service-related health conditions (e.g., posttraumatic stress disorder). Setting Community. Participants Three hundred eighty-nine community-based veterans attending college. Intervention None. Outcomes and measures Measures of participation, coping ability, meaningful activity, social support, life meaning, life satisfaction, and service-related health conditions. Results Meaningfulness of activity partially explained the relationship between participation and both psychological well-being (B = 0.16, standard error [SE] = 0.04, 99% confidence interval [CI] [0.07, 0.27]) and subjective well-being (B = 0.14, SE = 0.03, 99% CI [0.07, 0.24]). Social support partially explained the relationship between participation and subjective well-being (B = 0.05, SE = 0.02, 99% CI [0.01, 0.11]). These findings persisted when symptoms of service-related health conditions were accounted for. Conclusions and relevance Veterans' participation is associated with a greater sense of meaningful activity and social support, which in turn promotes psychological and subjective well-being. Occupational therapy practitioners may promote veterans' well-being by supporting engagement in activities that elicit meaning and enable social interaction, although further study is needed. What this article adds This is among the first studies to test mechanisms underlying the relationship between veterans' engagement in activities and their overall well-being. Results may inform treatment theories for activity-based interventions in the veteran population. For example, results indicate that occupational therapy interventions that facilitate engagement in meaningful and shared activities could be developed to promote veterans' well-being.
The origin of the elements: a century of progress.

This review assesses the current state of knowledge of how the elements were produced in the Big Bang, in stellar lives and deaths, and by interactions in interstellar gas. We begin with statements...
Condensing water vapor to droplets generates hydrogen peroxide

It was previously shown [J. K. Lee et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A, 116, 19294-19298 (2019)] that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is spontaneously produced in micrometer-sized water droplets (microdroplets), which are generated by atomizing bulk water using nebulization without the application of an external electric field. Here we report that H2O2 is spontaneously produced in water microdroplets formed by dropwise condensation of water vapor on low-temperature substrates. Because peroxide formation is induced by a strong electric field formed at the water-air interface of microdroplets, no catalysts or external electrical bias, as well as precursor chemicals, are necessary. Time-course observations of the H2O2 production in condensate microdroplets showed that H2O2 was generated from microdroplets with sizes typically less than ∼10 µm. The spontaneous production of H2O2 was commonly observed on various different substrates, including silicon, plastic, glass, and metal. Studies with substrates with different surface conditions showed that the nucleation and the growth processes of condensate water microdroplets govern H2O2 generation. We also found that the H2O2 production yield strongly depends on environmental conditions, including relative humidity and substrate temperature. These results show that the production of H2O2 occurs in water microdroplets formed by not only atomizing bulk water but also condensing water vapor, suggesting that spontaneous water oxidation to form H2O2 from water microdroplets is a general phenomenon. These findings provide innovative opportunities for green chemistry at heterogeneous interfaces, self-cleaning of surfaces, and safe and effective disinfection. They also may have important implications for prebiotic chemistry.
A Data Driven Approach Reveals That Anomalous Motor System Connectivity is Associated With the Severity of Core Autism Symptoms

This study examined whether disruptions in connectivity involving regions critical for learning, planning, and executing movements are relevant to core autism symptoms. Spatially constrained ICA was performed using resting-state fMRI from 419 children (autism spectrum disorder (ASD) = 105; typically developing (TD) = 314) to identify functional motor subdivisions. Comparing the spatial organization of each subdivision between groups, we found voxels that contributed significantly less to the right posterior cerebellar component in children with ASD versus TD (P <0.001). Next, we examined the effect of diagnosis on right posterior cerebellar connectivity with all other motor subdivisions. The model was significant (P = 0.014) revealing that right posterior cerebellar connectivity with bilateral dorsomedial primary motor cortex was, on average, stronger in children with ASD, while right posterior cerebellar connectivity with left-inferior parietal lobule (IPL), bilateral dorsolateral premotor cortex, and supplementary motor area was stronger in TD children (all P ≤0.02). We observed a diagnosis-by-connectivity interaction such that for children with ASD, elevated social-communicative and excessive repetitive-behavior symptom severity were both associated with right posterior cerebellar-left-IPL hypoconnectivity (P ≤0.001). Right posterior cerebellar and left-IPL are strongly implicated in visuomotor processing with dysfunction in this circuit possibly leading to anomalous development of skills, such as motor imitation, that are crucial for effective social-communication. LAY SUMMARY: This study examines whether communication between various brain regions involved in the control of movement are disrupted in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We show communication between the right posterior cerebellum and left IPL, a circuit important for efficient visual-motor integration, is disrupted in children with ASD and associated with the severity of ASD symptoms. These results may explain observations of visual-motor integration impairments in children with ASD that are associated with ASD symptom severity.
Sex differences in the association between parental monitoring and substance use initiation among adolescents

Abstract Introduction Parental involvement and supervision (i.e., “parental monitoring;” PM) is generally inversely associated with substance use among youth; yet, specific features of this association remain unclear. This study examined PM as a prospective predictor of substance use initiation across adolescence and whether associations generalize across a range of substances and by sex. Methods Participants were enrolled in a longitudinal cohort study of high school students from Southern California. We assessed, among never-users at baseline (2014; participants were in 10th grade), the role of PM in 8 substance use initiation outcomes (initiation of 7 individual substances or categories of substances: alcohol, cigarettes, electronic (e-) cigarettes, cigars, marijuana, stimulants, or opioids, as well as the total number of substances initiated) at follow-up (2017; 12th grade), controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. Multiplicative interactions assessed differences by sex. Results In adjusted main effects models, PM was associated with lower odds of initiation of all substances (OR range: 0.60 for cigarettes to 0.82 for alcohol) and male sex was associated with increased odds of initiating use of cigarettes (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.02, 1.73) and cigars (OR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.32, 2.52) over follow-up. There were also significant PM × sex interactions for cigarettes (p = 0.038), e-cigarettes (p = 0.042), and marijuana (p = 0.044), whereby lower PM was associated with greater odds of initiation among females, compared to males. Conclusions PM is associated with reduced odds of initiating use of multiple substances among adolescents, particularly for females. Future research of the mechanisms underlying these associations can point towards intervention targets to prevent or delay substance use initiation among youth with low PM.
Factors Influencing Oral Bolus Hold Type: Tipper or Dipper

Purpose: This retrospective study investigated the impact of age, sex, and swallow task on bolus hold location during cued liquid swallows in healthy, community-dwelling adults. Furthermore, we inv...
Nicotinic Acid Metabolism VII. MECHANISMS OF ACTION OF CLOSTRIDIAL α-METHYLENEGLUTARATE MUTASE (B12-DEPENDENT) AND METHYLITACONATE ISOMERASE

Abstract Methylitaconate (MeIT) is identified as the intermediate in the conversion of α-methyleneglutarate (αMG) to dimethylamaleate (DMM). α-Methyleneglutarate mutase catalyzes the B12 coenzyme-dependent conversion of α-methyleneglutarate to methylitaconate. Analogous to other B12-dependent reactions the coenzyme serves in this process as a carrier of the hydrogen that is abstracted from αMG and replaced by the acrylyl moiety of αMG through an intramolecular rearrangement. That carbon 5' of the 5'-deoxyadenosyl moiety covalently bonded to the cobalt is the specific site on the B12 coenzyme involved in the hydrogen carrying function was shown by (a) incorporation of tritium from [5'-3H]dimethylbenzimidazolycobamide coenzyme (DMBC) into both the substrate and the product of αMG mutase and (b) transfer of tritium from 2-amino[1-3H]-ethanol to MeIT and αMG in a coupled system containing αMG mutase, unlabeled B12 coenzyme, and ethanolamine deaminase, an enzyme known to transfer tritium to the 5'-methylene group of the coenzyme from 2-amino[1-3H]ethanol. Interaction of labeled B12 coenzyme with the two purified enzymes in the coupled reaction and proportionality of tritium recovery in products to amount of [5'-3H]DMBC added indicates a dissociable enzyme-coenzyme complex or a transfer of tritium between enzyme-bound and free coenzyme. The tritium transferred from [3H]DMBC to αMG is incorporated into one (or both) of the methylene carbons of the 5-carbon chain of the molecule and none is present in the α-methylene group. The solvent, water, does not appear to participate in the hydrogen transfer reaction catalyzed by αMG mutase. The second isomerization involving the migration of the double bond of methylitaconate to form dimethylmaleate is catalyzed by a sulfhydryl enzyme, methylitaconate isomerase. Using 3H2O and 2H2O, proton exchange with the solvent during this reaction was demonstrated. A hydrogen on position 3 of MeIT and in the reverse direction on a methyl group of DMM exchanges with the solvent.
Effect of Specific Immune Mouse Serum on the Growth of Salmonella enteritidis in Nonvaccinated Mice Challenged by Various Routes

Salmonella enteritidis was injected intravenously, intraperitoneally, or subcutaneously into specific pathogen-free mice. The number of organisms in the blood, liver, spleen, peritoneal cavity, and draining inguinal lymph node was determined by daily enumeration. Opsonization of the organism with hyperimmune serum increased the rate of phagocytosis, resulting in rapid blood clearance together with an alteration in the relative numbers of organisms accumulating in the liver and spleen. Serum treatment also brought about a substantial increase in the number of bacteria killed during the first 60 min of the infection. However, the survivors of this initial period of inactivation then multiplied rapidly in the liver and spleen, ultimately resulting in the death of the animal from a generalized infection. Attempts to passively protect mice with hyperimmune serum were uniformly negative. The effects of treatment of the virulent S. enteritidis with hyperimmune serum were consistent with the general thesis that cellular rather than humoral factors play the major role in the expression of an effective antibacterial immunity against salmonella infections.
Attention Deficit Disorder and Hyperactivity

Attention deficit disorder (ADD) is the diagnostic term used to describe children with developmentally inappropriate difficulties in attention and impulsivity in the DSM-III (American Psychiatric Association, 1980). It replaced the term hyperkinetic reaction of the DSM-II (American Psychiatric Association, 1968) and includes what is commonly referred to as hyperactivity as one of two subtypes of the disorder. Thus, according to DSM-III criteria, the child who presents with problems in attention, impulsivity, and motor overactivity would be diagnosed as ADD with hyperactivity (ADD/H), and the child who presents with inattention and impulsivity in the absence of hyperactivity would be diagnosed as ADD without hyperactivity (ADD/WO).
Restoring Law in Comparative Law and Economics

This article examines the explanatory potential and limitations of the use of economic models and quantitative analytic techniques in comparative law. It suggests that the incorporation of comprehensive, rigorous legal analysis in both the design of empirical models and the interpretation of quantitative results can improve the accuracy of descriptive and prescriptive conclusions by addressing concerns related to variable selection; data selection, collection, and coding; the robustness of causal claims; and appreciation (or lack thereof) for the complex roles and functions of laws and their interactions with social norms and other institutions. This article argues that, while large-scale quantitative research methods can provide valuable information to inform policy decisions and strategies, the limitations of their explanatory and predictive powers must be acknowledged and tempered by context-specific, nuanced analysis of legal rules and systems, especially when guiding reform efforts within and across countries.
Estimating state of charge and state of health of rechargable batteries on a per-cell basis

Much of current research on State-of-Charge (SOC) and State-of-Health (SOH) tracking for rechargeable batteries such as Li-ion focuses primarily on analyzing single cells, or otherwise treat a set of series-connected cells as a homogeneous unit. Since no two cells have precisely the same properties, for applications involving large batteries this can severely limit the accuracy and utility of the approach. In this paper we develop an model-driven approach using a Dual Unscented Kalman Filter to allow a Battery Monitoring System (BMS) to monitor in real time both SOC and SOH of each cell in a battery. A BMS is an example of a Cyber-Physical System (CPS) which requires deep understanding of the behavior of the physical system (i.e., the battery) in order to obtain reliability in demanding applications. In particular, since the SOH of a cell changes extremely slowly compared to SOC, our dual filter operates on two timescales to improve SOH tracking. We show that the use of the Unscented Kalman Filter instead of the more common Extended Kalman Filter simplifies the development of the system model equations in the multiscale case. We also show how a single “average” cell model can be used to accurately estimate SOH for different cells and cells of different ages.
Bystander CD8 T cell-mediated demyelination after viral infection of the central nervous system

Multiple sclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease of the CNS, is characterized by immune-mediated demyelination. Many patients have a remitting-relapsing course of disease with exacerbations often following unrelated microbial illnesses. The relationship between the two events remains obscure. One possibility is that T cells specific for the inciting microbial pathogen are able to effect demyelination at a site of ongoing inflammation within the CNS. This possibility was examined in mice infected with mouse hepatitis virus, a well-described model of virus-induced demyelination. Using transgenic TCR/recombination activation gene 2(-/-) mice with only non-mouse hepatitis virus-specific T cells, we show that CD8 T cells are able to cause demyelination in the absence of cognate Ag in the CNS, but only if specifically activated. These findings demonstrate a novel mechanism for immune-mediated neuropathology and show that activated CD8 T cells may serve as important mediators of bystander demyelination during times of infection, including in patients with multiple sclerosis.
System modeling, performance analysis, and evolutionary prototyping with hardware description languages

Performance modeling, simulation and analysis of the system behavior through virtual prototyping, form the core steps of the system design process. Past CAD support to link the high level conceptual modeling phase with the implementation phase has been virtually non-existent. In this paper, we describe our work to use VHDL to build design libraries that support conceptual modeling. These library components can be instantiated for rapid prototyping, simulation, and performance analysis. They include high level structures to allow construction of system models containing both interpreted and uninterpreted components. This helps in creating a strong design environment in VHDL which can support the entire design cycle. In addition, the design libraries have been linked with a graphical design environment. This graphical environment provides a single framework in which the designer can (i) build the design, (ii) simulate the design for correctness, and (iii) visualize performance results and capacity measures. >
Leadership styles and their effect on the structure of communication response patterns among global virtual teams

The goal of this paper is to examine the overall structure of different response patterns of global software learning teams and understand how these response activities are affected by different types of leadership arrangements (i.e., emergent versus assigned leaders). Results from a two-semester study with 24 teams enrolled in global software development courses at Universities in Turkey, Panama, and the US reveal that the presence of different team leadership arrangements resulted in differences in the communication response patterns among group members. Assigned leader groups tended to show more distributed communication response patterns than those teams with Emergent leaders. Moreover, the communication responses within Assigned leader groups tended to be more directed toward non-leaders than those that occurred within Emergent leader groups. Finally, results of this study indicate that Assigned leader groups tend to develop a very different structure of communication than that which occurs in Emergent leader groups.
Utility of Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients With Occult Primary Breast Cancer

Background Although carcinoma presenting as axillary metastases is assumed to be due to breast cancer, identification of the primary lesion may prove problematic. We investigated the ability of breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to identify the primary tumor, thereby confirming the diagnosis and broadening treatment options.
Developmental and cytogenetic abnormalities induced in the purple sea urchin by environmental levels of benzo(a)pyrene.

The teratogenic effects of environmental levels of the mutagen, benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), were investigated using the purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) and were related to embryonic cytotoxicity and genotoxicity as evidenced by the presence of aberrant chromosome arrangements during mitosis. Developmental abnormalities were observed in gastrulae treated with initial BaP concentrations of 1 to 50 ng/ml relative to solvent (ethanol)-treated control embryos. However, genotoxic effects were significant at the lowest BaP dose tested, 0.5 ng/ml. When compared to seawater and ethanol control embryos, fewer mitotic figures and increased frequencies of abnormal mitoses were present in BaP-treated gastrulae. Micronucleus formation, a widely used test of genotoxicity in mammals, was observed in embryos exposed to 1 to 50 ng/ml BaP. Grossly abnormal test embryos had high incidences of mitotic aberrations and were composed of large numbers of pycnotic, karyolytic, and multinucleated cells. The results from this cytogenetic analysis demonstrate that mitotic inhibition and aberrations are more sensitive indicators of BaP-induced damage than are developmental effects and suggest that cytogenetic analysis be included in the standard 48-hr sea urchin bioassay procedure when testing contaminants suspected of being mutagens. Cytologic-cytogenetic analysis is particularly suited for use with invertebrates and appears to be as sensitive as more laborious and expensive routine cytogenetic methods which involve karyotyping such as the sister chromatid exchange test.