cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of Gut Microbiota on Hepatic Lipogenesis and Disease Pathogenesis

Liver, a major metabolic organ in the human body, plays a key role in the macronutrient metabolism. Accordingly, the liver is intertwined with an array of biochemical pathways that are central in keeping energy homeostasis. Loss of this delicate balance, however, may lead to a spectrum of liver diseases such as NAFLD, NASH, fibrosis, cirrhosis and HCC. The etiology of liver disorders is often multifactorial and greatly influenced by host genetics, diet and various environmental factors. Among the environmental factors, the gut microbiota has emerged as one of the key player that can profoundly influence host metabolism. Akin to a double-edged sword, the gut microbiota and their metabolites exert both beneficial and deleterious extra-intestinal effects to the host. As a vascular firewall that receives 70 % of blood enriched with gut-derived factors via portal vein, the liver is thus aptly placed at the crossroad between host health and disease. In this chapter, we focus on the influence of gut microbiota and their metabolites in hepatic lipogenesis and disease pathogenesis.
Characteristics of Asian and Pacific Islanders admitted to U.S. drug treatment programs in 2005.

Objective. We determined how Asian and Pacific Islanders (APIs) differ from clients from other ethnic groups in regard to drug use and admissions to drug treatment programs. Methods. We used national survey and treatment admissions data to characterize drug problems and first-time adult admissions to publicly funded drug treatment programs in the U.S. in 2005. Results. APIs accounted for 1.9% of illicit drug use in U.S. adults and for 1.3% of adult clients entering drug treatment for the first time. Compared with other ethnic groups, APIs were significantly more likely to be entering treatment for the first time. Stimulants were the primary drug problem for 57.3% of API first-time treatment clients, a significantly greater proportion than other ethnic groups. This figure had increased from 45.3% in 2001, significantly greater than the increase among Caucasian or African American clients. API first-time admissions had used drugs less frequently (13.6 days in the prior 30 days), began drug use at a slightly older age (mean = 20.7 years), and had a shorter period between start of use and first admission (mean = 9.4 years) than other racial/ ethnic groups. Conclusion. Stimulant use was the predominant problem of API clients enter- ing treatment for the first time. APIs were underrepresented in the treatment system relative to their share of the population with drug problems. Diverse groups were aggregated to form the API category. Information on APIs needs to be disaggregated to develop more culturally appropriate and effective treatment.
Dichlorvos for control of stored-product insects in port warehouses: low-volume aerosols and commodity residues.

A formulation of 90% dichlorvos and 10% heavy aeromatic naptha (HAN) was applied at a rate of 42.8 μ g/liter in Gulf Coast port warehouses for control of stored-product insects, principally, cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne (F.), red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum Herbst, and almond moth, Cadra cautella (Walker). Efficacy was assessed by observing mortality among caged insects exposed at various locations in the warehouses and by monitoring natural infestations. A prototype rotary-whip aerosol dispenser produced excellent control of caged insects and a heavy natural population. Success was attributed to thorough distribution of the insecticide by the large volume of air circulation inherent to the prototype. A conventional thermal aerosol machine produced excellent control when auxiliary fans were used to distribute the insecticide. Flour, cornmeal, milled rice, bulgur, and CSM (cornsoya-milk) were exposed to all treatments. Some packaging materials permitted buildup of residues in excess of 0.5 ppm, but all residues dissipated to less than 0.5 ppm after 7 days and to undetectable levels within 30 days.
Sciences du démantèlement des installations nucléaires : le retour d’expérience Areva sur leur déploiement et leurs besoins

AREVA a acquis un retour d’experience dans le domaine du demantelement des installations nucleaires qui couvre un spectre tres large de metiers sur une tres grande diversite d’installations, dans des environnements differents, et sur toutes les etapes du demantelement jusqu’aux operations de deconstruction finale des bâtiments. De ce retour d’experience, des enseignements sont tires sur l’etat et les besoins de developpements technologiques, dans les domaines classiques de l’assainissement et du demantelement, et dans d’autres domaines plus larges qui contribuent tout autant a la reussite de ce type de projets.
A Comparison of Theoretical and Experimental Electrokinetic and Dielectrophoretic Flow Fields (Invited)

Electrokinesis and dielectrophoresis, technologically important particle and fluid transport mechanisms in microscale flow channels, are respectively linear and (initially) quadratic in the electric eld applied along the flow channel. Ideal electrokinesis is a special case of general electrokinesis in which the flow velocity is everywhere proportional to the applied electric eld. Experiments to establish the validity and practicality of ideal electrokinesis employed a novel particle-image velocimetry (PIV) analysis methodology that provides accurate optical-diraction-limited velocity elds. This methodology extracts measurements from the particle-displacement histogram from a flow video, providing single-pixel-resolution measurements of mean velocity from an ensemble of O(10 3 ) images. The resulting PIV measurements validate the theory of ideal electrokinesis within 1% over complicated geometries, issuing a license to apply the theory for design and analysis. At a suciently high electric eld, dielectrophoretic transport of suspended particles overcomes electrokinetic transport in regions of the flow. This applied eld is a threshold between two technologically important flow regimes: lamentary and trapping dielectrophoresis. These flows are quantied and compared to simulations based on ideal electrokinesis and linear dielectrophoresis with good agreement. Simulations, analysis, and experimental observations are used to develop a practical continuous-flow particle concentrator design. Nomenclature t time delay between subimages in correlation pair x, y Cartesian independent variables of the lter basis function Dielectric constant of the fluid Electrostatic potential
Analysis of Malaria Epidemic Situation and Countermeasures after Basically Eliminating Malaria in Tongling from 1997 to 2003

Objective To analyze malaria epidemic situation after basically eliminating malaria in Tongling so as to adjust malaria prevention and control strategy. Methods Surveillance data of malaria from 1997 to 2003 were analyzed. Results Totally 66 malaria cases were reported in seven years. Of them, 65 were local cases and 1 was imported case. The general incidence was 2.72 /100,000. The ratio of male to female was 1.75:1. Conclusions Malaria epidemic situation of Tongling city had been stable in the seven years. Standard treatment, blood smear examination of unknown fever patients, anti-malarial prophylaxis for key population in pre-transmission season, health education and migrants management were still effective measures for malaria control.
Analysis of on the death causes and life expectancy in residents from surveillance points inof Guizhou,2013

objective: To understand the influence of major death causes on the life expectancy in residents from surveillance points inof Guizhou.,so as to provide scientific basis for prevention and control.Method : based Based on the data of 'causes of death of 2013' data,calculate the sequence,mortality,and life table and Cause cause eliminated life expectancy table were calculated,calculate life expectancy and Cause cause eliminated life expectancy were analyzed. Results: The residents from surveillance points in Guizhou total mortality is 503. 34 /100,000,in mortality among males is 644. 80 /100,000 in male,mortality amongand female is 370. 94 /100,000 in female. The residents' life expectancy is 79. 11 years,which of men is 76. 01 years in male and,women is 82. 67 years in female. Top five cause of death was cerebrovascular diseases,heart disease,malignant tumor,Chronic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and accidental damage. The largest impact on residents' life expectancy is heart disease and cerebrovascular disease.Conclusion: The key of to improve the level of residents ' health and life expectancy is effective Effectively control of chronic non- communicable disease is the key to improve the level of residents' health and life expectancy.
Designing convergent chemistry curricula

Scientific convergence is a common theme of modern research, but undergraduate chemistry is commonly taught as an isolated discipline. Here we discuss curricular updates at three different institutions that are independently seeking to increase convergence in introductory chemistry courses.
Impact of Water on Condensed Phase Ethanol Guerbet Reactions

The effect of water on higher alcohol and noncondensable gas formation in condensed-phase ethanol Guerbet chemistry over Ni/La2O3/γ-Al2O3 catalysts is investigated. Addition of 10 wt % water to anhydrous ethanol has a modest effect on conversion rate but significantly reduces both n-butanol and C6+ alcohol yields and increases noncondensable gas yields. Removal of water formed during Guerbet condensation reactions was accomplished by installing a recirculating loop that passed the reacting solution through a bed of 3 A molecular sieves at low temperature. Removal of reaction water further reduces gas selectivity to less than 10% and increases alcohol selectivity to greater than 75% at 50% ethanol conversion. Water present in reaction is postulated to adsorb on the nickel surface as −OH, increasing C–C bond breakage of the adsorbed acetaldehyde intermediate, and also interact with basic sites responsible for the condensation reaction, weakening their activity.
Iloprost (ZK36374), a stable analogue of prostacyclin, preserves platelets during simulated extracorporeal circulation.

Contact between blood and synthetic surfaces of an extracorporeal circuit results in extensive alterations in platelet function. These platelet abnormalities have been reproduced in vitro by recirculating heparinized (5 units/ml) human blood at 37° C in a silicone rubber circuit (0.1 m2) containing a spiral coil membrane oxygenator (0.9 m2). During control recirculation trials, platelet counts fell to 29% ± 8% (mean ± standard error of the mean) of initial levels within 30 minutes, and sensitivity to the soluble agonists, adenosine diphosphate and epinephrine, disappeared. Plasma levels of the platelet-specific protein platelet factor 4 rose to 2,600 ± 200 ng/ml, indicating extensive platelet granule release. Similarly, plasma concentrations of thromboxane B2 rose from 100 pg/ml to 500 ± 200 pg/ml at 120 minutes, and transmission electron microscopy demonstrated disruption of platelet subcellular architecture. In contrast, when iloprost, a stable prostacyclin derivative (1 ng/ml), was added to the circuit prior to recirculation, the thrombocyte count remained at 85% ± 4% of initial values. Platelets incubated or recirculated for 2 hours in the presence of iloprost responded normally to both adenosine diphosphate and epinephrine after separation from the drug by gel-filtration. Furthermore, plasma concentrations of platelet factor 4 remained below 300 ng/ml, plasma levels of thromboxane B2 failed to reach detectable levels, and platelet ultrastructure remained intact. Thus, iloprost effectively preserves the circulating platelet count, prevents platelet granule release, and preserves platelet functional and morphological integrity during simulated extracorporeal circulation.
Nonstandard Methods in Prediction

Recent developments in the theory and application of signal prediction are reviewed. In particular, three recently developed general methodologies for designing predictors under nonclassical operating conditions are presented. These three methodologies are robust prediction, high-speed Levinson modeling, and ACM nonlinear prediction. The first of these three methodologies deals with the design of linear predictors for situations in which the spectral model for the signal to be predicted is uncertain. In this context, a general formulation is presented through which the design of effective predictors can proceed in such situations. The second methodology involves the fitting of linear stochastic models to signals that are sampled at high rates relative to their underlying dynamics. Here, a representation of discrete-time signals based on divided-difference operators is used to develop Levinson-type algorithms that remain numerically stable in this high-speed regime. The third methodology involves the application of a family of fixed and adaptive nonlinear predictors, based on the approximate conditional mean (ACM) technique for recursive nonlinear filtering, to signals with a non-Gaussian component. This methodology is discussed in the specific context of intereference suppression in wideband digital communication systems; and this is seen to be a much more effective approach to such problems than are the traditional fixed and adaptive linear prediction approaches heretofore applied in such applications.
Linking science and decision making to promote an ecology for the city: practices and opportunities

To promote urban sustainability and resilience, there is an increasing demand for actionable science that links science and decision making based on social–ecological knowledge. Approaches, frameworks, and practices for such actionable science are needed and have only begun to emerge. We propose that approaches based on the co- design and co- production of knowledge can play an essential role to meet this demand. Although the antecedents for approaches to the co- design and co- production of knowledge are decades old, the integration of science and practice to advance urban sustainability and resilience that we present is different in several ways. These differences include the disciplines needed, diversity and number of actors involved, and the technological infrastructures that facilitate localto- global connections. In this article, we discuss how the new requirements and possibilities for co- design, co- production, and practical use of social–ecological research can be used as an ecology for the city to promote urban sustainability and resilience. While new technologies are part of the solution, traditional approaches also remain important. Using our urban experiences with long- term, place- based research from several U.S. Long- Term Ecological Research sites and U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Urban Field Stations, we describe a dynamic framework for linking research with decisions. We posit that this framework, coupled with a user- defined, theory- based approach to science, is instrumental to advance both practice and science. Ultimately, cities are ideal places for integrating basic science and decision making, facilitating flows of information through networks, and developing sustainable and resilient solutions and futures.
Is Power Conversion Efficiency Running out of Steam as a Comparison Tool

Power conversion efficiency has been the standard means of comparing the performance of the power converter as it provides a simple and direct way to evaluate a given converter's performance while evaluating the heat sinking and cooling requirements at the same time. The efficiency tool works very well when we have established standard input and output voltages that are more or less fixed in value. As the output voltage of the DC-DC converters for the PC and telecommunications markets started moving steadily towards the sub-one volt range, it became apparent that this method does not truly represent the performance in the same way we are used to. This paper explains why that is and propose an alternative methods that measures the performance "almost" independent of the output voltage that gives a much more accurate and unambiguous idea about the converter's performance so we introduce the concept of the effective loss resistance
Investigation of vital signs monitoring errors due to subject's orientation, clothing and distance from a SFCW radar

In this paper, a stepped frequency continuous wave (SFCW) radar is utilized to investigate the effect of subject orientation, cloth, and location in detected vital sign accuracy. The accuracy of SFCW radar to detect cardiac rate is validated using a full-wave electromagnetic scattering model and compared to experimental results. Effect of subject's clothing, position (orientation), and range have been experimentally investigated and acceptable heart rate identification has been demonstrated.
Casein Kinase I Isoform Hrr25 Is a Negative Regulator of Haa1 in the Weak Acid Stress Response Pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Haa1 is a transcription factor that adapts Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells to weak organic acid stresses by activating the expression of various genes. Many of these genes encode membrane proteins such as TPO2 and YRO2 . How Haa1 is activated by weak acids is not clear. Here, we show that casein kinase I isoform Hrr25 is an important negative regulator of Haa1. Haa1 is known to be multiply phosphorylated. We found that mutations in HRR25 lead to reduced Haa1 phosphorylation and increased expression of Haa1-target genes, and that Hrr25 interacts with Haa1. The other three casein kinase I isoforms, Yck1, Yck2, and Yck3 do not seem to play critical roles in Haa1 regulation. Hrr25 has a 200-residue C-terminal region including a proline and glutamine-rich domain. Our data suggest that the C-terminal region of Hrr25 is required for normal inhibition of expression of Haa1-target genes, TPO2 and YRO2 , and important for cell growth, but not required for cell morphogenesis. We propose that Hrr25 is an important regulator of cellular adaptation to weak acid stress by inhibiting Haa1 through phosphorylation. IMPORTANCE Our study has revealed the casein kinase I protein Hrr25 to be a negative regulator of Haa1, a transcription factor mediating the cellular response to stresses caused by weak acids. Many studies have focused on the target genes of Haa1 and their roles in weak acid stress responses, but little has been reported on the regulatory mechanism of Haa1. Weak acids, such as acetic acid, have long been used for food preservation by slowing down the growth of fungal species including S. cerevisiae . In the biofuel industry, acetic acid in the lignocellulosic hydrolysates limits the production of ethanol, which is undesirable. By understanding how Haa1 is regulated, we can make advances in the field of food sciences to better preserve food and engineer acetic acid-resistant strains that will increase productivity in the biofuel industry.
Development of selective attention in preschool-age children from lower socioeconomic status backgrounds

Although differences in selective attention skills have been identified in children from lower compared to higher socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds, little is known about these differences in early childhood, a time of rapid attention development. The current study evaluated the development of neural systems for selective attention in children from lower SES backgrounds. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were acquired from 33 children from lower SES and 14 children from higher SES backgrounds during a dichotic listening task. The lower SES group was followed longitudinally for one year. At age four, the higher SES group exhibited a significant attention effect (larger ERP response to attended compared to unattended condition), an effect not observed in the lower SES group. At age five, the lower SES group exhibited a significant attention effect comparable in overall magnitude to that observed in the 4-year-old higher SES group, but with poorer distractor suppression (larger response to the unattended condition). Together, these findings suggest both a maturational delay and divergent developmental pattern in neural mechanisms for selective attention in young children from lower compared to higher SES backgrounds. Furthermore, these findings highlight the importance of studying neurodevelopment within narrow age ranges and in children from diverse backgrounds.
Chapter 7 Plasmalemmal Properties of The Sprouting Neuron

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the plasmalemmal properties of the sprouting neuron. Various lines of evidence indicate that sprouting—that is, the development of morphological polarity of the neuron—is accompanied by a transient regional membrane differentiation that is different from the one observed in the maturing neuron. This phenomenon appears to be the result of the insertion of a specialized type of membrane at or near the growing tip. In terms of their topography and composition, the plasmalemmal domains of the sprouting neuron, essentially that of the growth cone and distal neurite versus that of the perikaryon and proximal neurite, are quite different from the domains distinguishable in the mature neuron. The emergence of the first growth cone from the postmitotic neuron initiates the development of this cell's extreme polarity. The expression of cellular polarity at the membrane level raises the question of how specialized domains and intervening gradients are being established. The mechanism of membrane expansion is also discussed in the chapter. The development of neuronal polarity has to be seen in the context of the dramatic increase in cell surface experienced by the sprouting neuron. At least in theory, membrane expansion may occur in random fashion or as a localized phenomenon by the insertion of membrane components at a specific site.
How Can Designed Reference Points in an Animated Classroom Story Support Teachers’ Study of Practice?

The notion of reference point has been proposed by Wise, Padmanabham, and Duffy to allude to artifacts shared in an online learning experience and that participants might refer to as they interact online. Representations of instructional practice in the forms of video records, animations, and so on, are examples of such reference points that have been useful in teacher education. Each classroom episode, however, can be seen to contain many different events, and audiences seem to respond differently to different events. To investigate what varies as participant attend to different events, we propose a refinement of the definition by Wise, Padmanabham, and Duffy, calling the whole artifact a reference object and saving the expression reference point for subsets of a reference object. The study reported in this chapter provides evidence that use of an animated classroom story, as a reference object, with breaches of instructional norms installed in it, as reference points, is associated with the presence of comments of high quality—measured by the presence of markers of evaluation of and reflection on actions of teaching as well as proposal of alternative actions of teaching in the comments—from teachers.
C1q/TNF‐Related Protein 3 (CTRP3) Function and Regulation

As the largest endocrine organ, adipose tissue secretes many bioactive molecules that circulate in blood, collectively termed adipokines. Efforts to identify such metabolic regulators have led to the discovery of a family of secreted proteins, designated as C1q tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related proteins (CTRPs). The CTRP proteins, adiponectin, TNF-alpha, as well as other proteins with the distinct C1q domain are collectively grouped together as the C1q/TNF superfamily. Reflecting profound biological potency, the initial characterization of these adipose tissue-derived CTRP factors finds wide-ranging effects upon metabolism, inflammation, and survival-signaling in multiple tissue types. CTRP3 (also known as CORS26, cartducin, or cartonectin) is a unique member of this adipokine family. In this review we provide a comprehensive overview of the research concerning the expression, regulation, and physiological function of CTRP3. © 2017 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 7:863-878, 2017.
The relationship of family history and risk of type 2 diabetes differs by ancestry.

Abstract Aim Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in a first-degree relative is a risk factor for incident diabetes. Americans of African ancestry (AA) have higher rates of T2DM than Americans of European ancestry (EA). Thus, we aimed to determine whether the presence, number and kinship of affected relatives are associated with race-specific T2DM incidence in a prospective study of participants from the Genetic Study of Atherosclerosis Risk (GeneSTAR), who underwent baseline screening including a detailed family history. Methods Nondiabetic healthy siblings (n = 1405) of patients with early-onset coronary artery disease (18–59 years) were enrolled (861 EA and 544 AA) and followed for incident T2DM (mean 14 ± 6 years). Results Baseline age was 46.2 ± 7.3 years and 56% were female. T2DM occurred in 12.3% of EA and 19.1% of AA. Among EA, 32.6% had ≥ 1 affected first-degree relatives versus 53.1% in AA, P Conclusions The presence of any first-degree relative with T2DM does not discriminate risk in AA given the high race-specific prevalence of diabetes. Accounting for the number of affected relatives may more appropriately estimate risk for incident diabetes in both races.
Fundamental Concepts for Environmental Processes

Living microorganisms consume organic material in wastes, and use its energy to sustain normal activities, to grow, and to reproduce. A biological process, either natural or artificial, involves biochemical reactions, nutrient balance, microbial population balance, and waste disposal. This chapter introduces biological concepts for environmental control processes. The specific topics covered include: cellular interactions, biochemistry, photosynthesis, chemosynthesis, respiration, microbiology, ecology, ecosystem, waste treatment, pollution indices, and biological interactions.
A note on a symmetry relation of the onsager type valid in certain theories of mixtures

This note concerns the proof of a certain symmetry relation of the Onsager type which holds for certain theories of mixtures. Roughly speaking, it is shown that if the momentum supplies are allowed to depend upon constituent accelerations, then the entropy inequality forces these quantities to be related to the free energy of the mixture in a special fashion. It is shown that in a linearized isotropic theory this special relation forces a certain set of material constants to obey a symmetry relation of the Onsager type. Mixture theories which are special cases of the one studied here have been proposed in the literature.
Systemic therapy regimen outcomes in metastatic phyllodes tumors of the breast.

11554Background: Phyllodes tumors of the breast (PT) account for < 1% of all primary breast neoplasms. Metastatic PT (MPT) are less common, limiting development of standardized treatment approaches...
Using simulation to design a worklife integrated practice unit

Fragmentation is a common problem in the United States healthcare delivery system. For patients with complex medical conditions requiring multiple providers, this problem is particularly perplexing. One solution being developed, called an Integrated Practice Unit (IPU), involves a co-located multidisciplinary team of providers addressing a patient’s medical condition over a full care cycle. In this paper, we use simulation to design a WorkLife IPU that treats medical issues arising in the workplace from minor illnesses to acute non-urgent injuries. More specifically, we determine a patient appointment schedule and the number of resources required to achieve patient throughput, clinic closing time, and patient waiting time targets set by the IPU management.
Polar bear evolution is marked by rapid changes in gene copy number in response to dietary shift

Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) and brown bear (Ursus arctos) are recently diverged species that inhabit vastly differing habitats. Thus, analysis of the polar bear and brown bear genomes represents a unique opportunity to investigate the evolutionary mechanisms and genetic underpinnings of rapid ecological adaptation in mammals. Copy number (CN) differences in genomic regions between closely related species can underlie adaptive phenotypes and this form of genetic variation has not been explored in the context of polar bear evolution. Here, we analyzed the CN profiles of 17 polar bears, 9 brown bears, and 2 black bears (Ursus americanus). We identified an average of 318 genes per individual that showed evidence of CN variation (CNV). Nearly 200 genes displayed species-specific CN differences between polar bear and brown bear species. Principal component analysis of gene CN provides strong evidence that CNV evolved rapidly in the polar bear lineage and mainly resulted in CN loss. Olfactory receptors composed 47% of CN differentiated genes, with the majority of these genes being at lower CN in the polar bear. Additionally, we found significantly fewer copies of several genes involved in fatty acid metabolism as well as AMY1B, the salivary amylase-encoding gene in the polar bear. These results suggest that natural selection shaped patterns of CNV in response to the transition from an omnivorous to primarily carnivorous diet during polar bear evolution. Our analyses of CNV shed light on the genomic underpinnings of ecological adaptation during polar bear evolution.
Some extremal functions in Fourier analysis. II

We obtain the best approximation in L1(ℝ), by entire functions of exponential type, for a class of even functions that includes e−λ|x|, where λ>0, log |x| and |x|α, where −1<α<1. We also give periodic versions of these results where the approximating functions are trigonometric polynomials of bounded degree.
Building Data Programs

Data Science degrees, programs, and initiatives are emerging at a rapid pace at universities and colleges in the U.S. and abroad. Data Science, however, is as much a practice as it is a discipline, raising the questions of whether and how Data Science should be treated in academia. Should it be its own major, department, or division at a university? And what are the foundational elements that comprise a degree in Data Science? Here, we discuss the institutional barriers to developing and implementing Data Science/Analytics programs, the role of faculty, and resources for curriculum. We also feature different models taken by top U.S. institutions for incorporating Data Science on campus, how to access data, as well as potential solutions to the common challenge of faculty burden. Lastly, we go through top recommendations produced by national forums, with hundreds of researchers, convening to discuss these topics.
Depressive role impairment and subthreshold depression in older black and white women: race differences in the clinical significance criterion.

Objectives We examined race differences in the DSM-IV clinical significance criterion (CSC), an indicator of depressive role impairment, and its impact on assessment outcomes in older white and black women with diagnosed and subthreshold depression. Design We conducted a secondary analysis of a community-based interview study, using group comparisons and logistic regression. Setting Lower-income neighborhoods in a Midwestern city. Participants 411 community-dwelling depressed and non-depressed women ≥ 65 years (45.3% Black; mean age = 75.2, SD = 7.2) recruited through census tract-based telephone screening. Measurements SCID interview for DSM-IV to assess major depression and dysthymia; Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale to define subthreshold depression (≥16 points); Mini-Mental State Examination, count of medical conditions, activities of daily living, and mental health treatment to assess health factors. Results Black participants were less likely than Whites to endorse the CSC (11.8% vs. 24.1%; p = .002). There were few race differences in depressive symptom type, severity, or count. Blacks with subthreshold depression endorsed more symptoms, though this comparison was not significant after adjustments. Health factors did not account for race differences in CSC endorsement. Disregarding the CSC-eliminated differences in diagnosis rate, race was a significant predictor of CSC endorsement in a logistic regression. Conclusions Race differences in CSC endorsement are not due to depressive symptom presentations or health factors. The use of the CSC may lead to underdiagnosis of depression among black older adults. Subthreshold depression among Blacks may be more severe compared to Whites, thus requiring tailored assessment and treatment approaches.
Leveraging transfer learning techniques for classifying infant vocalizations

Infant vocalizations serve various communicative functions and are related to several developmental factors. Different types of vocalizations depict distinct spectro-temporal patterns, which can be recovered and learned using emerging end-to-end machine learning systems. A common problem in such systems is the limited availability of labelled data preventing reliable training. Transfer learning can be used to mitigate this problem by taking advantage of additional data resources relevant to the problem of interest. We propose a transfer learning framework which relies on neural network fine-tuning, and explore various types of architectures, such as a convolutional neural network (CNN) and long-term-short-memory (LSTM) recurrent neural networks with and without an attention mechanism. Our target data come from the Cry Recognition In Early Development (CRIED), while the source data come from three publicly available resources: the Oxford Vocal (OxVoc) Sounds database, the Google AudioSet, and the Freesound repository. Our results indicate that the neural network architectures trained with the proposed transfer learning approach outperform the corresponding networks solely trained on the target data, as well as neural networks pre-trained on large-scale image datasets and adapted to the target data (e.g., VGG16). These suggest the effectiveness of adaptation techniques combined with appropriate publicly available datasets for mitigating the limited availability of labelled data in human-related applications.
Identification of the C‐Glycoside Synthases during Biosynthesis of the Pyrazole‐C‐Nucleosides Formycin and Pyrazofurin

C-Nucleosides are characterized by a C-C rather than a C-N linkage between the heterocyclic base and the ribofuranose ring. While the biosynthesis of pseudouridine-C-nucleosides has been studied, less is known about the pyrazole-C-nucleosides such as the formycins and pyrazofurin. Herein, genome screening of Streptomyces candidus NRRL 3601 led to the discovery of the pyrazofurin biosynthetic gene cluster pyf. In vitro characterization of gene product PyfQ demonstrated that it is able to catalyze formation of the C-glycoside carboxyhydroxypyrazole ribonucleotide (CHPR) from 4-hydroxy-1H-pyrazole-3,5-dicarboxylic acid and phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate (PRPP). Similarly, ForT, the PyfQ homologue in the formycin pathway, can catalyze the coupling of 4-amino-1H-pyrazole-3,5-dicarboxylic acid and PRPP to form carboxyaminopyrazole ribonucleotide. Finally, PyfP and PyfT are shown to catalyze amidation of CHPR to pyrazofurin 5′-phosphate thereby establishing the latter stages of both pyrazofurin and formycin biosynthesis.
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in bladder cancer: not a matter on how much but on who it is effective

In this study published in Urologic Oncology , Waingankar and the group form Mount Sinai (1) perform an analysis on the impact of pathological complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) on conditional surviving, meaning the updated probability of surviving after having survived each additional year after the treatment.
Liver, simultaneous liver-kidney, and kidney transplantation from hepatitis C-positive donors in hepatitis C-negative recipients: A single-center study.

Transplantation of organs from hepatitis C virus (HCV)-antibody (Ab) and -nucleic acid test (NAT) positive donors into HCV-negative recipients has been proposed to expand the donor pool and shorten waiting times. Data on early single-center outcomes are lacking. Nineteen liver (LT, including seven simultaneous liver-kidney [SLKT]) and 17 kidney transplant (KT) recipients received organs from HCV (+) donors; of these, 13 were HCV NAT (+) in each group. All patients who received organs from HCV NAT (+) donors developed HCV viremia post-transplant except for 2 KT recipients. Patients were treated with a variety of direct-acting antiviral regimens, with high rates of sustained virologic response among those with at least 12 weeks of follow-up past the end of treatment: 12/13 (92%) and 8/8 (100%) among LT/SLKT, and KT recipients. Median time to treatment start was 42 days (interquartile range [IQR] 35-118 days) and 40 days (IQR 26-73) post-LT/SLKT and KT, respectively. One death occurred in a SLKT recipient unrelated to HCV or its treatment. There was no significant increase in rejection, proteinuria, or changes in immunosuppression in any group. Organs from HCV-viremic donors can be utilized for HCV-uninfected recipients with good short-term outcomes.
Valuing Florida Water Resources: Prices of Waterfront Properties

This 9-page fact sheet written by Tatiana Borisova, Xiang Bi, Tara Wade, and Kurt Oehlbeck and published by the UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics Department explores the relationship between water quality and sale prices of waterfront properties, that is, the amenity value provided by water resources to waterfront communities. Being near to water to water generally increases the value of a residential property. However, poor water quality may decrease waterfront property prices. In other words, investments in restoring water quality can translate into increases in property value and tax collection. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fe1062 This paper is a part of a series “Economic Value of Florida Water Resources”.
Associations Between Dust Storms and Intensive Care Unit Admissions in the United States, 2000-2015.

Anthropogenic climate change is influencing the incidence of dust storms and associated human exposure to coarse particulate matter (PM2.5-10) in the United States. Studies have found adverse health consequences related to dust exposure. These consequences include respiratory disease exacerbations and premature mortality, resulting in increased health care utilization. However, the impact of dust storms on critical care demand has not been studied in the United States. We seek to quantify the relationship between dust storms and surges in critical care demand by investigating the association between dust storms and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions at nearby hospitals from 2000 to 2015. ICU data were acquired from Premier, Inc. and encompass 15-20% of all ICU admissions in the United States. Dust storm, meteorology, and air pollutant data were downloaded from the U.S. National Weather Service, the U.S. National Climatic Data Center, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency websites, respectively. Associations between ICU admission and dust storms, controlling for temperature, dew point temperature, ambient PM2.5 and ozone, as well as seasonally varying confounders, were estimated using a distributed lag conditional Poisson model with overdispersion. We found a 4.8% (95% CI: 0.4, 9.4; p = 0.033) increase in total ICU admissions on the day of the dust storm (Lag 0) and a 9.2% (95% CI: 1.8, 17.0; p = 0.013) and 7.5% (95% CI: 0.3, 15.2; p = 0.040) increase in respiratory admissions at Lags 0 and 5. North American dust storms are associated with increases in same day and lagged demand for critical care services at nearby hospitals.
Polymerized Molecular Receptors as Adsorbents to Remove Micropollutants from Water.

ConspectusOrganic micropollutants (MPs) are increasing in number and concentration in water systems as a result of human activities. Often from human origin, these micropollutants build up in the e...
Effectiveness of Advanced Nitrogen-Removal Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems in a New England Coastal Community

Wastewater is a major source of nitrogen (N) to groundwater and coastal waterbodies, threatening both environmental and public health. Advanced N-removal onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) are used to reduce effluent N concentration; however, few studies have assessed their effectiveness. We evaluated the total N (TN) concentration of effluent from 50 advanced N-removal OWTS in Charlestown, Rhode Island, USA for 3 years. We quantified differences in effectiveness as a function of N-removal technology and home occupancy pattern (seasonal vs. year-round use), and examined the relationship between wastewater properties and TN concentration. RX30 systems produced the lowest median TN concentration (mg N/L) (13.2), followed by FAST (13.4), AX20 (14.9), and Norweco (33.8). Compliance with the state’s regulatory standard for effluent TN concentration (19 mg N/L) was highest for RX30 systems (78%), followed by AX20 (73%), FAST (67%), and Norweco (0%). Occupancy pattern did not affect effluent TN concentration. Variation in TN concentration was driven by ammonium and nitrate for all technologies, and also by temperature for FAST and pH for Norweco. Median daily (g N/day) and annual (kg N/yr) N loads were significantly higher for year-round (5.3 and 2.3) than for seasonal (3.7 and 0.41) systems, likely due to differences in volume of wastewater treated. Our results suggest that advanced N-removal OWTS vary in their compliance with the state regulatory standard for effluent TN and can withstand long periods of non-use without compromising effectiveness. Nevertheless, systems used year-round do produce a higher daily and annual N load than seasonally-used systems.
Evaluation of Prediction Accuracy for Volume of Distribution in Rat and Human Using In Vitro, In Vivo, PBPK and QSAR Methods.

Abstract Volume of distribution at steady state (Vss) is an important pharmacokinetic parameter of a drug candidate. In this study, Vss prediction accuracy was evaluated by using: (1) seven methods for rat with 56 compounds, (2) four methods for human with 1276 compounds, and (3) four in vivo methods and three Kp (partition coefficient) scalar methods from scaling of three preclinical species with 125 compounds. The results showed that the global QSAR models outperformed the PBPK methods. Tissue fraction unbound (fu,t) method with adipose and muscle also provided high Vss prediction accuracy. Overall, the high performing methods for human Vss prediction are the global QSAR models, Oie-Tozer and equivalency methods from scaling of preclinical species, as well as PBPK methods with Kp scalar from preclinical species. Certain input parameter ranges rendered PBPK models inaccurate due to mass balance issues. These were addressed using appropriate theoretical limit checks. Prediction accuracy of tissue Kp were also examined. The fu,t method predicted Kp values more accurately than the PBPK methods for adipose, heart and muscle. All the methods overpredicted brain Kp and underpredicted liver Kp due to transporter effects. Successful Vss prediction involves strategic integration of in silico, in vitro and in vivo approaches.
A Case-Control Study of Prone Positioning in Awake and Nonintubated Hospitalized Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients

To determine the association between prone positioning in nonintubated patients with coronavirus disease 2019 and frequency of invasive mechanical ventilation or inhospital mortality DESIGN: A nested case-matched control analysis SETTING: Three hospital sites in Bronx, NY PATIENTS: Adult coronavirus disease 2019 patients admitted between March 1, 2020, and April 1, 2020 We excluded patients with do-not-intubate orders Cases were defined by invasive mechanical ventilation or inhospital mortality Each case was matched with two controls based on age, gender, admission date, and hospital length of stay greater than index time of matched case via risk-set sampling The presence of nonintubated proning was identified from provider documentation INTERVENTION: Nonintubated proning documented prior to invasive mechanical ventilation or inhospital mortality for cases or prior to corresponding index time for matched controls MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We included 600 patients, 41 (6 8%) underwent nonintubated proning Cases had lower Spo(2)/Fio(2) ratios prior to invasive mechanical ventilation or inhospital mortality compared with controls (case median, 97 [interquartile range, 90-290] vs control median, 404 [interquartile range, 296-452]) Although most providers (58 5%) documented immediate improvement in oxygenation status after initiating nonintubated proning, there was no difference in worst Spo(2)/Fio(2) ratios before and after nonintubated proning in both case and control (case median Spo(2)/Fio(2) ratio difference, 3 [interquartile range, -3 to 8] vs control median Spo(2)/Fio(2) ratio difference, 0 [interquartile range, -3 to 50]) In the univariate analysis, patients who underwent nonintubated proning were 2 57 times more likely to require invasive mechanical ventilation or experience inhospital mortality (hazard ratio, 2 57;95% CI, 1 17-5 64;p = 0 02) Following adjustment for patient level differences, we found no association between nonintubated proning and invasive mechanical ventilation or inhospital mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 0 92;95% CI, 0 34-2 45;p = 0 86) CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant association with reduced risk of invasive mechanical ventilation or inhospital mortality after adjusting for baseline severity of illness and oxygenation status
Brian Morey Boom, Ph.D., an Appreciation

On the occasion of the retirement of Brian Boom. PhD from his position as the Vice President for Conservation Strategy at the New York Botanical Garden, this appreciation summarizes his long and fruitful career.
Rural disparities in end-of-life care for patients with heart failure: Are they due to geography or socioeconomic disparity?

Purpose The impact of rurality and socioeconomic deprivation on end-of-life (EOL) care for patients with heart failure (HF) is unknown. We analyzed claims to describe the prevalence and predictors of EOL health care utilization for patients dying with HF in a predominantly rural state. Methods We used the MaineHealth Data Organization's All-Payer Claims Data to identify 15,168 patients ≥35 who died with HF between 2012 and 2017. The primary outcome was health care utilization during the last 180 days of life (EOL definition for this analysis), including emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and hospice utilization. Patient characteristics analyzed included age, gender, comorbidities, area deprivation index (ADI), and rurality. Findings Among 15,168 patients ≥35 who died with HF, 48% had ≥2 hospitalizations, 72% had ≥2 ED visit, 29% had an ICU stay, 2% initiated dialysis during EOL, and 64% received hospice. Rural patients were more likely to have an ICU admission and have ≥2 hospitalizations. Patients residing in areas with higher ADI were more likely to be hospitalized, admitted to the ICU, and started on dialysis. Both rural patients and those living in higher ADI areas were less likely to receive hospice. After multivariable adjustment, rurality and ADI were independently associated with a decreased likelihood of receiving hospice (OR 0.62 [95% CI: 0.53-0.72] for the most rural patients and OR 0.64 [95% CI: 0.57-0.72] for the highest ADI). Conclusion Both rurality and local area deprivation drive disparities in EOL care for patients dying with heart failure.
Loneliness and Daily Alcohol Consumption During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Aims This pilot study aimed to identify associations of loneliness and daily alcohol consumption among US adults during the Coronavirus Disease-2019 pandemic. Method Participants completed daily assessments for 30 days. Results Results suggest people who feel lonelier on average drink more alcohol, however, people who feel lonelier than usual drink less. Conclusion Findings highlight the need to disaggregate within- and between-person components of alcohol use.