cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Novel Anti-inflammatory Role of GPR120 in Intestinal Epithelial Cells

GPR120 (free fatty acid receptor-4) is a G protein-coupled receptor for medium- and long-chain unsaturated fatty acids, including ω-3 fatty acids. Recent studies have shown GPR120 to play cardinal roles in metabolic disorders via modulation of gut hormone secretion and insulin sensitivity and to exert anti-inflammatory effects in macrophages and adipose tissues. However, information on anti-inflammatory role of GPR120 at the level of intestinal epithelium is very limited. Current studies demonstrated differential levels of GPR120 mRNA and protein along the length of the human, mouse, and rat intestine and delineated distinct anti-inflammatory responses following GPR120 activation in model human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells, but not in model mouse intestinal epithelial endocrine cell line STC-1. In Caco-2 cells, GPR120 was internalized, bound to β-arrestin-2, and attenuated NF-κB activation in response to 30-min exposure to the agonists GW9508, TUG-891, or docosahexaenoic acid. These effects were abrogated in response to small interfering RNA silencing of β-arrestin-2. Treatment of STC-1 cells with these agonists did not induce receptor internalization and had no effects on NF-κB activation, although treatment with the agonists GW9508 or TUG-891 for 6 h augmented the synthesis and secretion of the gut hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 in this cell line. Our studies for the first time demonstrated a GPR120-mediated novel anti-inflammatory pathway in specific intestinal epithelial cell types that could be of therapeutic relevance to intestinal inflammatory disorders.
RNA metabolism in cultures of corneal stromal cells from patients with keratoconus.

AbstractTotal cellular RNA was extracted from cultured keratoconus and normal human corneal stromal cells. The translational activity of these RNAs was examined in a cell-free translation system derived from reticulocyte lysate. Results indicated that keratoconus cells can be separated into two groups, as has been shown previously. Group I keratoconus cells contained the same amount of total RNA as normal cells. RNA activity and the rate of mRNA synthesis in this group of keratoconus cells were also normal. By these criteria it seems that the protein synthesizing system is functioning properly, and group I keratoconus cells should have a normal rate of protein synthesis. These results correlate well with previous findings. Group II keratoconus cells, in contrast, contained more RNA than normal cells. The translational efficiency of RNA was so markedly reduced that the elevation in RNA content did not compensate for the decrease in translational efficiency. It is likely that the reduced protein and collage...
Risk factors of 207 cases of 0 to 2-year-old girl early breast development

Objective To investigate the risk factors associated with breast development in infants and young children, and to raise awareness of the disease. Methods 207cases of infant girls with premature thelarche,87cases of healthy infant girls without secondary sexual characteristics were measured in serum estradiol,follicle stimulating hormone,luteinizing hormone levels,then filled out the survey questionnaire. Results Family near polluting factories,the mother early age at menarche,high frequency use of plastic products(bottles,tableware,toys,food packaging materials,et al.),the mother during pregnancy often online,often eat animal food or high-protein diet,often eat fried food,drinks,puffed food sucker pigmented foods containing preservatives,feeding patterns(formula feeding,mixed feeding),estradiol value were closely related to 0to 2-year-old girl's breast early development. Conclusion Environmental pollution around the family,the mother early menarche,bad eating habits,regular internet users during the mother's pregnancy,feeding with formula feeding or mixed feeding mainly elevated serum estradiol are closely related to 0to 2year-old girl's premature thelarche.
Development of a model describing regulation of casein synthesis by the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway in response to insulin, amino acids, and acetate

To improve dietary protein use efficiency in lactating cows, mammary protein synthesis responses to AA, energy substrates, and hormones must be better understood. These entities exert their effects through stimulation of mRNA translation via control of initiation and elongation rates at the cellular level. A central protein kinase of this phenomenon is the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), which transfers the nutritional and hormonal stimuli onto a series of proteins downstream through a cascade of phosphorylation reactions that ultimately affect protein synthesis. The objective of this work was to further develop an existing mechanistic model of mTOR phosphorylation responses to insulin and total essential AA to include the effects of specific essential AA and acetate mediated by signaling proteins including protein kinase B (Akt), adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK), and mTOR and to add a representation of milk protein synthesis. Data from 6 experiments in MAC-T cells and mammary tissue slices previously conducted in our laboratory were assembled and used to parameterize the dynamic system of differential equations representing Akt, AMPK, and mTOR in their phosphorylated and dephosphorylated states and the resulting regulation of milk protein synthesis. The model predicted phosphorylated Akt, mTOR, AMPK, and casein synthesis rates with root mean square prediction errors of 16.8, 28.4, 33.0, and 54.9%, respectively. All other dependent variables were free of mean and slope bias, indicating an adequate representation of the data. Whereas mTOR was not very sensitive to changes in insulin or acetate levels, it was highly sensitive to leucine and isoleucine, and this signal appeared to be effectively transduced to casein synthesis. Although prior work had observed a relationship with additional essential AA, and data supporting those conclusions were present in the data set, we were unable to derive significant relationships with any essential AA other than leucine and isoleucine. The signaling properties and dynamics of AMPK under nutrient depletion and sufficiency, the responses to additional essential AA, and the consequent effects on protein synthesis remain to be better understood.
Triple PI therapy--perhaps more is not better.

Nadler and colleagues presented data from a study in which 6 patients received lopinavir/ritonavir in addition to amprenavir. When coadministered with
Full Assessment of Micromachine Friction Within the Rate-State Framework: Theory and Validation

Model parameters are extracted from the experimental results in a companion paper (Shroff and de Boer in Tribol Lett 63(3):31, 2016) according to rate-state friction theory. Perturbation theory and state-space modeling are used to compare predictions for the stick–slip to steady sliding bifurcation line with experimental results using these extracted parameters. The line is well predicted in k/N b − v p space. The average behavior of the stick–slip oscillations is in good agreement with the state-space simulations. We estimate the memory length d c using a state-space model and find that it lies between the monoplane chain length and the average asperity diameter. This work indicates that rate-state theory extends from the µm scale to the nm scale in the few contacts situation.
THUNDER IN THE MOUNTAINS

This paper summarizes the pioneering work leading to the development of scientific studies of the physics of shock-compressed matter at Los Alamos and culminating in the publication of the article “Compression of Solids by Strong Shock Waves,” by M. H. Rice, R. G. McQueen, and J. M. Walsh, Solid State Physics, Vol. VI, 1958. The work had its beginning during World War II when it became clear that development of a plutonium weapon would probably require the use of high explosives. It was immediately obvious to the staff that an entirely new level of sophistication in explosives technology would be required and that the equations of state of metals must be thoroughly understood. Following a suggestion by C. Critchfield, R. W. Goranson started a program to obtain equation-of-state data from shock-wave experiments. This program, begun late in 1944 and made possible only by the current and subsequent developments in explosive fabrication technology and electronic instrumentation, was continued after the war by Goranson and his successors. Nevertheless, the program remained relatively fallow until about 1950 when an influx of enthusiastic young staff were able to take advantage of a maturity of technical facilities. Centrally important to the new thrust were, (1) an optical diagnostics group which had developed a thorough familiarity with the technique in studies of shocked gases, (2) a charter to “work in various aspects of hydrodynamics in unusual areas,” and (3) the overall supervision which, in consonance with general Laboratory policy, looked favorably on research without restriction. In the summer of 1952, J. M. Walsh with M. H. Rice and C. M. Fowler, developed the flash-gap technique that made possible rapid and ultimately essential mass production of shot assemblies. Their recognition of the potential of impedance-matching techniques enabled them to begin a highly efficient major experimental program. The investigations of R. G. Shreffler and W. E. Deal on explosively driven plates prompted the group, strengthened by R. G. McQueen and S. P. Marsh, to expand the work into the megabar region over the next few years. Meanwhile, a discrepancy between flash-gap data and older pin data prompted D. Bancroft, E. Peterson, and F. S. Minshall to investigate iron in detail and discover the 130-kbar phase transition. Also at that time, relaxed security restrictions made publication possible. Prominent in the early work was the involvement of D. S. Hughes from the University of Texas and the reinvention of the dc capacitor by M. H. Rice. This capacitor permitted improved velocity resolution over that of pins and required less assembly time.
The Material Atlantic: Clothing, Commerce, and Colonization in the Atlantic World, 1650-1800

In this wide-ranging account, Robert DuPlessis examines globally sourced textiles that by dramatically altering consumer behaviour, helped create new economies and societies in the early modern world. This deeply researched history of cloth and clothing offers new insights into trade patterns, consumer demand and sartorial cultures that emerged across the Atlantic world between the mid-seventeenth and late-eighteenth centuries. As a result of European settlement and the construction of commercial networks stretching across much of the planet, men and women across a wide spectrum of ethnicities, social standings and occupations fashioned their garments from materials old and new, familiar and strange, and novel meanings came to be attached to different fabrics and modes of dress. The Material Atlantic illuminates crucial developments that characterised early modernity, from colonialism and slavery to economic innovation and new forms of social identity.
Risk-informed/performance-based fire protection for nuclear power plants

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) revised the fire protection requirements for commercial nuclear power plants to allow them to voluntarily change their fire protection licensing basis, permitting their use of riskinformed/performance-based evaluations for program changes without NRC pre-approval [Refs. 1-2]. The existing deterministic fire protection requirements [Ref. 3] established engineering margin through post-fire survival of safety systems capable of safe reactor shutdown. These requirements were developed before the staff and industry had the benefit of Probabilistic Risk Assessments (PRAs) and performance-based methods such as fire modeling.
Lipid-derived reactive aldehydes link oxidative stress to cell senescence.

Genotoxic stress can induce proliferative cells to undergo accelerated senescence, where they remain viable but enter an irreversible cell cycle arrest similar to that of replicative senescence, including characteristic changes in gene expression, metabolism, and cell morphology.1 Even though transformed and tumor cell lines are considered immortal, they can be induced to undergo accelerated senescence. This extends to tumors in vivo, where ionizing radiation or chemotherapy promotes therapy-induced senescence (TIS). Although it remains controversial whether cancer cell senescence is a desirable outcome of cancer treatment, there is limited evidence to suggest that senescent cells in tumors may have beneficial effects, potentially including stimulation of antitumor immunity.
Changes in spatial behaviour patterns by mangrove tree crabs following climate-induced range shift into novel habitat

Climate-mediated range shifts into eco-evolutionary novel habitats have the potential to alter the ecology and behaviour of range-expanding species. Of particular concern are behaviours that have a strong impact on the ecology and life history of expanding species. Behaviours that control the spatial patterns of habitat use may be particularly important. We examined site fidelity and foraging foray behaviour of the mangrove tree crab, Aratus pisonii, in its historic mangrove habitat and the recently colonized eco-evolutionary novel salt marsh. In the mangrove, A. pisonii showed both strong site fidelity to individual trees and a foraging pattern wherein they made foraging forays that decreased in frequency as their distance from the home tree increased; but they displayed neither behaviour in the salt marsh. Chemical cues from faeces appear to be the mechanism behind site fidelity in the mangrove and may suggest the mechanism for the loss of this behaviour in the salt marsh where substrate is regularly submerged, potentially preventing establishment of such cues. The loss of site fidelity may affect the foraging behaviour and predation risk of A. pisonii in the salt marsh, leading to a shift in its ecology and bioenergetics. As more species are forced to shift ranges into eco-evolutionary novel habitats, it is important to understand how this shift may affect their life history, behaviour and ecology in indirect ways.
Do Age and Experience Level Affect Views of Pilots’ Towards Cockpit Automation

Pilots trained over the last 20 years are more likely to have learned to use cockpit automation as an inherent part of their training when compared to pilots trained in earlier eras who first learned to fly and then were trained in the use of automation. Cockpit automation facilitated the elimination of the flight engineer from the crew and shifted the remaining cockpit crew member’s focus from hands on control to programmers and monitors of automated systems that can control the vertical and horizontal flight path for most of the flight. Some airline companies are accepting applicants for pilot training with no previous flight experience, this trend is unprecedented in the history of commercial flight in the US. While automation has improved the safety and efficiency of commercial flights, it has created new concerns relating to loss of manual flying skills and issues of mode confusion and the phenomenon of automation surprises. This paper analyzes the correlation between the pilots’ perspectives and their demographics. A total of 77 pilots who operate highly automated cockpit systems participated in this research. Each question was analyzed regarding correlation by using R software and the Spearman Correlation Analysis method. Some of the questions revealed there is a significant difference towards cockpit automation when we consider the pilots’ perspectives. This survey also revealed the pilots perspectives about their companies. Older pilots are more likely to think that their companies do not allow them to fly manually often enough. Although airline company policies are similar, the survey responses reflected that older pilots are not happy with those policies as well. Three demographic specifications were used for the Spearman’s Correlation Analysis. Age was one specification and the other two were Flight Time correlation and Seat correlation (Captain versus First Officer). The total number of questions for five dimensions was 37 and 9 of these questions resulted in significantly different answers when considering the demographics. The answers provided by end users (pilots) should be considered when engineers create automated systems that are to be used and monitored by humans. Airliners that are 100% autonomous are not possible in the foreseeable future. Automated aircraft control systems should be designed to exploit the best qualities of both the technology and the human operators across different demographics.
Modified Radical Mastectomy

Modified radical mastectomy combines a total glandular mastectomy with a level I and II axillary lymph node dissection. Although largely supplanted by less radical procedures, it is still required occasionally in the treatment of invasive breast cancer. This chapter lists the indications, essential steps, common technical variations and complications of the procedure. A detailed template operative note is included.
Tuskedness in African elephants – an anatomical investigation of laterality

Evidence for brain and behavioral laterality is ubiquitous across the animal kingdom, ranging from invertebrates to humans. The elephant (Elephas maximus, Loxodonta africana and Loxodonta cyclotis) serves as an interesting model for the study of lateralization given its unique morphology and behavioral repertoire in foraging, and previous reports have documented side preferences in the use of the trunk among Asian elephants (E. maximus). Some authors have even discussed the potential laterality of tusk use among elephants; yet, there are no empirical studies of actual tusk use or appropriate tusk measurements. Here, we undertake an anatomical investigation of laterality in the tusk weights from 683 African elephants (L. africana and L. cyclotis). The vast majority of individuals (94.29%) showed asymmetries in tusk weight, with the left tusk being significantly heavier than the right on average (30.65 vs. 30.24 kg; P < 0.05). Although the age of the individuals in our sample was unknown, the tusks of African elephants continue to grow throughout life and thus individuals with larger tusks should experience greater opportunities for disproportionate wear. Consistent with the view that the reported asymmetries result from behavioral lateralization, that is, side preferences in tusk use in rooting, stripping bark and during agonist interactions, we show that individuals with larger overall tusk pairs had a higher degree of tusk laterality (P < 0.001). The restricted nature of the dataset limited a number of questions that could be examined, but follow-up research in this area could study differential tusk use in the wild and how this relates to trunk side preferences.
Femtosecond Raman Microscopy Reveals Structural Dynamics Leading to Triplet Separation in Rubrene Singlet Fission

Singlet fission generates multiple excitons from a single photon, which in theory can result in solar cell efficiencies with values above the Shockley–Queisser limit. Understanding the molecular structural dynamics during singlet fission will help to fabricate efficient organic photovoltaic devices. Here we use femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy to reveal the structural evolution during the triplet separation in rubrene. We observe vibrational signatures of the correlated triplet pair, as well as shifting of the vibrational frequencies of the 1430 and 1542 cm–1 excited state modes, which increase by more than 25 cm–1 in 5 ps. Our results indicate that the correlated pair separation into two individual triplets occurs concurrently with the loss of electron density from the tetracene backbone in rubrene. This study provides new insights into the triplet separation process and proves the utility of structurally sensitive ultrafast vibrational techniques to understand the mechanism of singlet fission.
Review of Listening in Action: Teaching Music in the Digital Age

Rebecca M. Rinsema argues for a reconceptualization of the role that listening to music should play in the classroom. Bringing together perspectives from musicology, music education, and music philosophy, she works to extend pedegological models to recognize the creative engagement embedded within students' everyday music listening expeirences.
Using SPARQL to query bioportal ontologies and metadata

BioPortal is a repository of biomedical ontologies--the largest such repository, with more than 300 ontologies to date. This set includes ontologies that were developed in OWL, OBO and other languages, as well as a large number of medical terminologies that the US National Library of Medicine distributes in its own proprietary format. We have published the RDF based serializations of all these ontologies and their metadata at sparql.bioontology.org . This dataset contains 203M triples, representing both content and metadata for the 300+ ontologies; and 9M mappings between terms. This endpoint can be queried with SPARQL which opens new usage scenarios for the biomedical domain. This paper presents lessons learned from having redesigned several applications that today use this SPARQL endpoint to consume ontological data.
Brief Treatment of Vaginismus

Sex therapy, which can be considered a form of brief cognitive/ behavioral therapy, is often dated from the 1970 publication of Masters and Johnson’s Human Sexual Inadequacy, although elements of the sex therapy treatment programs had been used by behavioral and rational-emotive therapists for many years previously. In contrast to psycho-dynamic or other “depth” therapy approaches, sex therapy focuses on anxiety reduction, skill training, and specific behavioral procedures to eliminate the target problem (Lopiccolo, 1990).
Enhancing Self-Monitoring during Self-Regulated Learning of Speech

Self-monitoring is a process we use to direct attention to enhance metacognitive awareness of some aspect of our cognitive and behavioral functioning. To study the metacognitive effects of self-monitoring in conjunction with behavioral and motivational influences during learning, researchers have developed models of self-regulation, and this chapter describes a social-cognitive version and its application to speech in second language and second dialect learning. We discuss several key problems in self-directed efforts to learn a second language or dialect and describe the results of an experimental investigation indicating that discrimination training significantly enhances the effects of self-monitoring on the learning of a second language or dialect. A comparison between traditional language laboratory and a self-regulated language learning laboratory is also included.
Vitamin-Responsive Genetic Abnormalities

This review will focus on certain aspects of vitamin-responsive genetic disorders. To be included, a condition must be gentically determined, and its characteristic chemical and/or biochemical manifestations must be alleviated by larger than physiological amounts of a particular vitamin or by use of an unusual route of administration of that vitamin. Such conditions have recently attracted much attention from human geneticists and from those concerned clinically and biochemically with inborn errors of metabolism. Previous reviews provide adequate coverage of the clinical features of these conditions and of many details concerning the history, structure, and the biochemical role of the particular vitamins to be discussed (Frimpter et al., 1969; Mudd, 1971, 1974a, 1977; Scriver, 1973; Rosenberg, 1976). In general, these matters will be beyond the scope of this chapter. Here, emphasis will be on the general properties that characterize vitamin-responsive conditions, the mechanism or mechanisms underlying vitamin responsiveness, and the implications of our present understanding of these matters both for those concerned with individual patients with metabolic diseases and for those concerned with more general aspects of human nutrition.
A Novel Surgical Technique for Management of Giant Central Calcified Thoracic Disk Herniations: A Dual Corridor Method Involving Tubular Transthoracic/Retropleural Approach Followed by a Posterior Transdural Diskectomy.

Background Thoracic disk herniations (TDHs) represent only 0.15% to 1.8% of surgically managed disk herniations but have posed a particular challenge to spine surgeons. Numerous surgical approaches have been cited in the literature with varying degrees of success, technical complexity, and complication profiles. Objective To report a case of a combined lateral retropleural and dorsal transdural approach for complex thoracic discectomy. Methods In this report, we describe a combined lateral/retropleural and posterior transdural approach for a patient with a giant calcified TDH that was not amenable to safe removal using a single approach. Results In complex situations such as this, a dual corridor approach allows for improved visualization and maximal resection opportunity and opens up yet another option to address recalcitrant TDH. Conclusion The staged dual corridor approach is safe and represents a further surgical option for extremely difficult TDH.
Next Generation Genetic Algorithms: A User’s Guide and Tutorial

Genetic algorithms are different from most other metaheuristics because they exploit three key ideas: (1) the use of a population of solutions to guide search, (2) the use of crossover operators that recombine two or more solutions to generate new and potentially better solutions, and (3) the active management of diversity to sustain exploration. New ideas that are also introduced in this chapter include (1) the use of deterministic recombination operators that are capable of tunneling between local optima, and (2) the use of deterministic constant time move operators.
GIS Derived Viewsheds of Mountaintop Tombs in Western Tibet: A Preliminary Survey

This study examines 31 Cubic Mountaintop Tombs in Western Tibet with GIS-derived Viewsheds. The purpose of this preliminary survey is to determine if this unique type of tomb found only on this part of the Tibetan Plateau and believed to date from the Bronze to Iron Ages was constructed and designed to be seen by passers-by below or were they intended to be hidden from view. This preliminary survey represents the first such effort to utilize Digital Elevation Models (DEM) in constructing Viewsheds of archaeological sites on the Tibetan Plateau. Initial findings indicate one Mountaintop Tomb was constructed in a location visible to both passers-by below and the highest local mountain peak.
Combinations of starch and digestible fiber in supplements for steers consuming a low-quality bromegrass hay diet.

Five steers (690 kg) with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were fed 100% bromegrass hay or 60% bromegrass hay:40% concentrate at 90% of their ad libitum DMI. The concentrate consisted of ground corn (GC) and(or) soybean hulls (SBH): 1) 100% SBH; 2) 66% SBH/33% GC; 3) 33% SBH/66% GC; or 4) 100% GC. Increasing level of corn inclusion decreased (linear, P .10) among treatments. Microbial efficiency increased (quadratic, P = .10) as the level of corn inclusion increased. Molar percentage of ruminal acetate decreased (linear, P < .01) with increasing level of corn, whereas molar percentage of butyrate increased (linear, P < .10). Carboxymethylcellulase activity was greatest (quadratic, P = .08) for 66% SBH/33% GC and paralleled NDF digestion in the rumen. Increasing level of corn decreased (linear, P < .07) in situ DM digestibility of SBH after 4, 8, and 12 h of incubation.
Direct-acting antiviral therapy slows kidney function decline in patients with Hepatitis C virus infection and chronic kidney disease

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is common and can accelerate chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies against hepatitis C have consistently shown rates of sustained viral remission. However, the effect on kidney function is unknown. In a retrospective observational cohort study of HCV-infected patients receiving DAA therapies from 2013 to 2017, the slopes of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline were compared in the three years before DAA therapy to the slope after therapy. Pre- and post-treatment albuminuria values were also compared. In all, 1,178 patients were included; mean age of 56, 64% male, 71% white, 21% were diabetic, and 42% with cirrhosis. In patients with eGFR less than 60ml/min per 1.73m2, the annual decline in eGFR in the three years prior to treatment was -5.98 ml/min per year (95% confidence interval -7.30 to -4.67) and improved to -1.32 ml/min per year (95% confidence interval -4.50 to 1.88) after DAA therapy. In patients with eGFR greater than 60ml/min per 1.73m2 the annual decline in eGFR in the three years prior to treatment was -1.43 ml/min per year (95% confidence interval -1.78 to -1.08) and after DAA therapy was -2.32 ml/min per year (95% confidence interval -3.36 to -1.03). Albuminuria improved significantly in patients without diabetes, but not in those with diabetes. Predictors of eGFR improvement included having CKD at baseline and being non-diabetic. Events of acute kidney injury were rare, occurring in 29 patients, and unrelated to antiviral therapy in 76% of cases. Thus, DAA therapy for HCVs infection may slow CKD progression.
What Makes Dual Enrollment Work? High School Counselor Perspectives

Research about dual enrollment (DE) participation indicates high school students’ success on various academic achievement measures including enrollment, achievement, attainment, and persistence in ...
Input and Output

Java classes for persistent storage of numerical data are presented in this chapter. Streams to write and read data using the native Java platform, Python language and the jHepWork classes used for input and output of data arrays, histograms and mathematical functions are included. In addition, third-party Java and Python libraries are described, such as the Google’s protocol buffer format and memory-based databases implemented in Java.
COVID-19: Emergency Medicine Physician Empowered to Shape Perspectives on This Public Health Crisis

COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) has sparked a remarkable public response in the United States The following publication highlights the integral role that Emergency Medicine (EM) providers are afforded as a result of the public health circumstances By embracing the unique outlet of direct patient coordination of care, EM providers can correct public misconceptions and promote more appropriate social distancing practices to the greater community
Stepping into the Void: Remunerating, Valuing, and Understanding Nephrologists

In “Understanding Work: Moving Beyond the RVU,” Rosner and Falk ([1][1]) ask kidney organizations, policy makers, and health systems to help transform a “fundamentally flawed” approach to physician compensation. Under the current system, essential care for people with kidney disease is
What $2.5 Billion Can Buy: An Evaluation of the Broadband Initiatives Program

This paper investigates whether the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP), implemented as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) had an impact on farm productivity, defined as per capita farm sales, in the counties that received any BIP funding. Appropriate techniques are utilized to account for selection bias (the probability that a county will receive BIP funding) and spatial autocorrelation (the tendency of neighboring counties to have correlated outcomes). The findings suggest that BIP funding had a small but short-term impact on per capita farm sales. However, the main effect of BIP funding was not direct, but instead a regional spillover.
Isolation of the Buchnera aphidicola flagella basal body from the Buchnera membrane

Buchnera aphidicola is an intracellular bacterial symbiont of aphids and maintains a small genome of only 600 kbps. Buchnera is thought to maintain only genes relevant to the symbiosis with its aphid host. Curiously, the Buchnera genome contains gene clusters coding for flagellum basal body structural proteins and for flagellum type III export machinery. These structures have been shown to be highly expressed and present in large numbers on Buchnera cells. No recognizable pathogenicity factors or secreted proteins have been identified in the Buchnera genome, and the relevance of this protein complex to the symbiosis is unknown. Here, we show isolation of Buchnera flagella from the cellular membrane of Buchnera, confirming the enrichment of flagellum proteins relative to other proteins in the Buchnera proteome. This will facilitate studies of the structure and function of the Buchnera flagellum structure, and its role in this model symbiosis.
Imaging the response to deep brain stimulation in rodent using functional ultrasound.

In this study, we explored the feasibility of using functional ultrasound (fUS) imaging to visualize cerebral activation associated with thalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS), in rodents. The ventrolateral (VL) thalamus was stimulated using electrical pulses of low and high frequencies of 10 and 100 Hz, and multiple voltages (1-7 V) and pulse widths (50-1500 s). The fUS imaging demonstrated DBS-evoked activation of cerebral cortex based on changes of cerebral blood volume, specifically at the primary motor cortex (PMC). Low frequency stimulation (LFS) demonstrated significantly higher PMC activation compared to higher frequency stimulation (HFS), at intensities (5-7 V). Whereas, at lower intensities (1-3V), only HFS demonstrated visible PMC activation. Further, LFS-evoked cerebral activation was was primarily located at the PMC. Our data presents the functionality and feasibility of fUS imaging as an investigational tool to identify brain areas associated with deep brain stimulation. This preliminary study is an important stepping stone towards conducting real-time functional ultrasound imaging of DBS in awake and behaving animal models, which is of significant interest to the community for studying motor-related disorders.
Issues versus Affect: How Do Elite and Mass Polarization Compare?

Conventional wisdom holds that political elites harbor more ideologically constrained issue attitudes and are more polarized on such issues than their mass counterparts. In contrast, the mass publi...
The Impact of Mask-Wearing in Mitigating the Spread of COVID-19 During the Early Phases of the Pandemic

Abstract Masks have been widely recommended as a precaution against COVID-19 transmission. Several studies have shown the efficacy of masks at reducing droplet dispersion in lab settings. However, during the early phases of the pandemic, the usage of masks varied widely across countries. Using individual response data from the Imperial College London — YouGov personal measures survey, this study investigates the effect of mask use within a country on the spread of COVID-19. The survey shows that mask-wearing exhibits substantial variations across countries and over time during the pandemic’s early phase. We use a reduced form econometric model to relate population-wide variation in mask-wearing to the growth rate of confirmed COVID-19 cases. The results indicate that mask-wearing plays an important role in mitigating the spread of COVID-19. Widespread mask-wearing within a country associates with an expected 7% (95% CI: 3.94% — 9.99%) decline in the growth rate of daily active cases of COVID-19 in the country. This daily decline equates to an expected 88.5% drop in daily active cases over a 30-day period when compared to zero percent mask-wearing, all else held equal. The decline in daily growth rate due to the combined effect of mask-wearing, reduced outdoor mobility, and non-pharmaceutical interventions averages 28.1% (95% CI: 24.2%-32%).
Asthma and the social determinants of health.

Abstract Objective To synthesize the growing body of literature on the role of social determinants of health (SDoH) in asthma and asthma disparities. Data Sources A pubmed.gov search was performed to identify published literature on SDoH, asthma, asthma disparities, and race and ethnicity. Current asthma statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were reviewed. Study Selections Relevant articles on SDoH, asthma, asthma disparities, and race and ethnicity were reviewed in detail. Results Black and Latinx Americans have a higher asthma prevalence and greater asthma morbidity than White Americans and also bear a disproportionate burden of SDoH. Inequities in SDoH are rooted in structural racism and population-level injustices that affect the socioeconomic status, physical environment, and health care access/quality of Black and Latinx Americans. There is evidence that racial/ethnic inequities in SDoH, such as socioeconomic status, neighborhood environment, housing, environmental exposures, and health care access/quality, contribute to excess burden of asthma prevalence/incidence, morbidity, exacerbations, and abnormal lung function among certain racial/ethnic populations. In addition, Black and Latinx communities experience high levels of long-term stress, which may increase asthma risk through direct effects on the immune system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical activation. Long-term stress may also mediate the effects of SDoH on asthma. Conclusion Although there is clear evidence linking SDoH to excess asthma risk and implicating SDoH in asthma disparities, the extent to which asthma disparities are explained by inequities in SDoH and the relative contributions of each of these SDoH to asthma disparities remain unclear. This knowledge is needed to effectively develop and test systems-level interventions targeting SDoH, with the ultimate goal of meaningfully reducing racial/ethnic asthma disparities.
RFLP Mapping of the Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda L.) Genome

A genetic linkage map of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.), a commercially important forest species, is being developed using restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) as molecular markers. The genome of loblolly pine (2x=2n=24) is very large (10E10bp), which presents some difficulty in detecting single-copy sequences on Southern blots. Recombination size has been conservatively assessed at 2,000 cM; therefore, 20 cM-saturation can be achieved with 200–300 RFLPs. A single 3-generation pedigree, obtained from a commercial tree breeding program, was selected to construct the map. This pedigree was chosen on the basis of its high level of heterozygosity, as determined from isozyme and RFLP analyses. Several restriction enzymes were chosen for their ability to digest loblolly pine genomic DNA and reveal polymorphisms. Random cDNA clones are currently being screened to identify RFLPs in the parent lines. Thus far, approximately 30% of the clones have revealed polymorphisms. These clones will be used for segregation analysis of RFLPs in progeny DNAs. The completed map will be valuable in understanding the structure and organization of the loblolly pine genome, as well as assisting in the genetic improvement of this species.
Epidemic Typhus: a Forgotten but Lingering Threat

The impact of louse-borne, or epidemic, typhus, which is caused by Rickettsia prowazekii, on populations is of historical significance but has passed from current concern. Whenever large numbers of people were crowded together under less than sanitary conditions, typhus appeared. Louse-borne typhus remains endemic in the mountainous regions of the Americas, the Himalayas, Afghanistan, and Africa. The disease is maintained in an endemic cycle of transmission that remains barely detectable. Occasionally, conditions that favor epidemic transmission occur. Epidemic typhus spreads into populations at higher elevations, where colder conditions prevailed and infestations with lice were prevalent. Epidemic typhus is characterized clinically by sudden onset, sustained high fever of about 2 weeks duration, a maculopapular rash, and altered mental state. There is effective antimicrobial therapy for the typhus fevers. The response to tetracyclines or chloramphenicol is rapid and efficacious. Most patients become afebrile within 48 h of treatment, and single-dose doxycycline therapy is effective in epidemic situations. Strategies for control of epidemics of louse-borne typhus in refugee camps must include two elements of intervention: (i) antimicrobial treatment of patients with suspected cases and (ii) delousing of the entire population at risk. Long-term louse control or eradication depends on correction of the complex environmental, economic, cultural, educational, and political factors that contribute to louse infestations.
Disk drive pivot nonlinearity modeling. I. Frequency domain

This paper describes studies done at HP Labs on the actuator pivot bearing nonlinearity of a small disk drive. The nonlinear frictional behavior of the pivot bearing varies with actuator position, from drive to drive, and with time and temperature. This nonlinear behavior has made the traditional linear disk drive models inadequate. The paper shows how the swept-sine/describing function method was used to develop a nonlinear model of the pivot. This model departs from the classical friction models, but does a good job of matching laboratory frequency domain measurements.
Terrain based routing protocol for sparse ad-hoc intermittent network (TRAIN)

We propose and investigate a new approach of terrain and location based routing (TRAIN) designed to improve performance for sparse ad hoc networks where relatively large node separations and terrain blockage can result in periods of intermittent connectivity. Building on DSR, we developed a procedure where a mobile node, through use of terrain and location data, can determine whether there is line of sight (LOS) to another node. Knowledge of trajectories is combined with terrain information to forecast link conditions. Performance assessment was conducted by simulation using OPNET Modeler TM 10.5. Our results show that TRAIN can improve throughput relative to unmodified DSR by as much as a factor of two when path blockage occurs.
Effects of nifedipine and nitroglycerin on left ventricular systolic dysfunction and impaired diastolic filling after exercise-induced ischemia in humans

Abstract Objectives. This study sought to determine whether calcium antagonist, compared with nitroglycerin, administration attenuates left ventricular dysfunction after exercise-induced ischemia in humans. Background. Exercise-induced ischemia impairs left ventricular systolic function and diastolic filling after exercise. The mechanism of this phenomenon is unknown but may relate to intracellular calcium overload. Methods. Echocardiography was performed in 131 patients before and 30 min, 2 h and 4 h after exercise stress test. Ischemia was defined as a reversible thallium stress defect. No medication, sublingual nitroglycerin or nifedipine was randomly given to each patient at peak exercise. Results. Isovolumetric relaxation time was significantly prolonged from rest (100 ± 19 ms [mean ± SD]) to 30 min (118 ± 20 ms, p Conclusions. Exercise-induced ischemia impairs systolic function and diastolic filling after exercise. Sublingual nifedipine but not nitroglycerin attenuates this process and suggests that altered calcium homeostasis may play a role in left ventricular dysfunction that occurs after exercise-induced ischemia.
Microwave scattering properties of dielectric cylinders with defects

There are many types of dielectric cylindrical objects used in varieties of industries. These objects include solid rocket propellant, synthetic rubber products, carbon black rubber products, plastics, glass, and hollow cylinders. Study of the microwave scattering properties of a defective cylindrical dielectric once compared with those of a non-defective one, may provide information about the detection and characterization of the defect. It may also be possible to study the scattering properties of such objects in order to arrive at a set of optimum detection parameters such as frequency and polarization.
IL-33 promotes IFN-γ production by group 1 innate lymphoid cells in viral hepatitis (IRC8P.490)

Innate immune response is the first line of the defense against the viral pathogens. The damage associated molecular patterns (DAMP) molecule IL-33 has been proved to be critical for T cell response in viral persistent infection. However, its role in modulating the innate immune response in viral infection is not clear. Herein, we injected the mice with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) Clone 13 and found that the hepatic gene expression of IL-33 was upregulated at 1 day post-infection (dpi) and reached the peak at 6 dpi. Deficiency of IL-33 not only led to impaired anti-viral T cell responses (low IFN-γ and TNF-α), but also resulted in less numbers of IFN-γ+ innate immune cells, such as NK and γδT cells at 16h postinfection. Treatment of recombinant IL-33 (rIL-33) significantly increased the percentages of IFN-γ +γδT cells. In vitro, rIL-33 inhibited proliferation of IL-17+γδ T cells, but increased IFN-γ+γδ T cells in a dose-dependent manner. rIL-33 treatment also upregulated IFN-γ and granzyme B expression in NK cells in vitro culture. More importantly, hepatic dendritic cells (DC) in IL-33 knockout mice expressed lower level of IL-12 compared with control mice, indicating that deficiency of IL-33 may impair the DC priming. Our data reveal the key role of IL-33 in promoting IFN-γ production by group 1 innate lymphoid cells and subsequently regulate the anti-viral T cell response in viral hepatitis.
Nonlinear Internal Waves - A Wave-Tracking Experiment to Assess Nonlinear Internal Wave Generation, Structure, Evolution and Dissipation over the NJ Shelf / Analysis

Abstract : The thrust of this project is the investigation of non-linear internal waves which appear as waves of depression when propagating on a near-surface interface and as waves of elevation when propagating on a near-bottom interface. Waves of depression will initiate the generation of waves of elevation as they propagate into shallow water where the interface depth below the surface nears its height above bottom. We have had the good fortune to observe (by shipboard wave-tracking and from bottom moorings) both waves of depression and of elevation propagating inshore from the Oregon shelf break into shallow water. We have now also had the further good fortune to make systematic and comprehensive studies of the generation, structure, evolution and dissipation of non-linear internal waves over the New Jersey shelf within the context of the heavily-instrumented combined acoustic / environmental array deployed in summer 2006. The long-term goal of this program is to understand the physics of small-scale oceanic processes including internal waves, hydraulics, turbulence and microstructure that act to perturb and control the circulation in coastal oceans and, in doing so, affect the propagation of sound and light. Ongoing studies within the Ocean Mixing Group at OSU emphasize observations, interaction with turbulence modelers and an aggressive program of sensor / instrumentation development and integration.
Atomic Transition Probabilities and Lifetimes

The determination of atomic transition probabilities and lifetimes is an active research area, as may be seen from the following three indicators: (a) the number of research papers since the publication of the first general bibliography(1) in 1962 has grown from 650 to nearly 3000; (b) the data known in 1962 covered roughly 105 spectral lines, a number which has increased by an order of magnitude, to roughly 106; (c) the accuracy of the numerical data has significantly improved and is now, on average, typically in the range from 10% to 25% versus roughly 25%-50% 15 years ago. The numbers show that the improvement in accuracy lags behind the other two advances, and the relatively large uncertainties point to the continuing difficulties in performing accurate determinations, a central subject which will come up many times throughout this chapter. A further indication for the steady growth and development is that several approaches which dominate the field now did not even exist in the early 1960s or had not been developed to a practical state for large-scale production of highquality data.