cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Robust Stabilization Based on Topological Connectedness

In this paper we investigate under what conditions the stabilizability of a given plant G(? o ,s) implies the stabilizability of every plant G(?,s) {G(?,s) | ? ?}. These new general conditions for robust diagonal stabilization of a plant set are based on topological connectedness. When the conditions of our main theorem are satisfied, we say that the set {G(?,s)} is topologically path connected. It turns out that the path connectedness of {G(?,s)} is a necessary condition for the robust stabilization of the set but no constructive or easily comparable criterion for checking path connectedness has until now been put forth.
Analysis and simulation of multistage interconnection networks under non-uniform traffic

The performance of multistage interconnection networks is known to degrade severely with nonuniformities in the traffic distribution. On the basis of simulation and analysis, the authors study the effect of nonuniform traffic patterns simulation and analysis when two multistage networks are used in parallel to interconnect processors and memory modules in a shared-memory system. The networks considered are identical copies of buffered multistage networks. The authors consider the following two strategies for distributing the total traffic between the two networks and study the conditions under which each strategy is effective: (1) distribute the traffic randomly among the networks; (2) route the nonuniform component of the traffic to one network and the uniform component to the other. They also derive approximate analytical expressions for the time taken for tree saturation to occur with a single hot spot and the time taken for recovery when the hot spot disappears. >
The Structure of Performance-Vested Stock Option Grants

U.S. executive compensation traditionally relies on stock options that vest over time. Recently, however, a growing number of institutional investors have called for the use of performance-vested options that link vesting to the achievement of performance targets. We examine the factors influencing the structure of performance-vested stock option grants to U.S. CEOs. We find that performance-vested options comprise a greater proportion of equity compensation in firms with lower stock return volatility and market-to-book ratios, and in those with new external CEO appointments, providing some support for theories on the options’ incentive and sorting benefits. However, firms with larger holdings by pension funds are less likely to completely replace traditional options with performance-vested options, and make traditional options a greater percentage of option grants, suggesting that token performance-vested option grants may also be used to placate pension funds that are calling for their use. In addition, our exploratory examination of performance-vesting criteria finds similarities and differences to prior studies on the choice of performance measures in compensation contracts.
The effects of cluster size-dependent aggregation on thin film formation

The early stages of thin film formation by thermal atom deposition are modeled by a system of kinetic rate equations which describe atomic clustering phenomena. Specifically, a set of discrete kinetic rate equations, used to model small atomic clusters, is coupled to a set of kinetic moment equations which model large atomic clusters with a continuum description. Cluster growth and dissociation processes are assumed to occur via single-atom transitions. Growth behavior is investigated as a function of cluster size, x, with an aggregation parameter w(x) = Wo xr for 0 <~ r < 1. Results from this statistical approach illustrate how size-dependent aggregation influences the cluster size distribution during the early stages of nucleation and growth. In several theoretical studies of thin film formation, a kinetic formulation of hierarchical discrete rate equations has been used to describe cluster sizes 1-8. These rate equations are coupled, non-linear, and extremely complex. Thus, they are difficult to solve unless some simplifying physical assumptions are introduced. From a computational standpoint, these approaches must solve a large system of equations to obtain specific clustering details since the number of atoms in the largest cluster dictates the number of discrete equations that must be solved. We have recently outlined an atomic clustering model which includes many processes that occur during thin film formation by energetic atom deposition 9. Our benchmark studied the early stages of a deposition process (i.e. substrate coverage ~< 10%) for the first atomic monolayer with the assumptions that thermal, single atoms were deposited at a constant rate, cluster growth and decay resulted only from mobile single atoms, only single atoms could evaporate off the substrate, and aggregation and dissociation rate constants did not depend on cluster size. Following Zinsmeister's approach 7, these assump
Hypomagnesemia and hypokalemia: a successful oral therapeutic approach after 16 years of potassium and magnesium intravenous replacement therapy.

Electrolyte abnormalities are very common problems in clinical practice, and if chronic, their management can be difficult. Hypokalemia, deﬁned as a serum potassium level 20% of hospitalized patients have been reported to have some degree of hypokalemia [1]. Hypomagnesemia is also common and has been observed in as many as 50% of critically ill and Intensive Care Unit patients [2]. Patients with severe electrolyte deficiencies may be treated with intravenous (IV) or oral replacement regimens. We discuss a case in which a patient was treated for 16 years with an IV electrolyte replacement regimen. Using a stepwise approach, we were able to stop the IV replacement therapy and transition the patient to an oral electrolyte replacement.
The Instructional Consecpences of Criterion Referenced Clarity

What has been the impact of CRTs on instruction? What are some dangers involved in specifying instructional targets? Why should we focus on score-based inferences? How should we evaluate the quality of our CRTs?
Merchant of Mercy, Merchant of Death: How Values Advocacy Messages Influence Jury Deliberations

This exploratory study addresses the ability of values advocacy messages to influence target publics’ behavior beyond consumer purchase decisions. In doing so, it fills a gap in the research by extending our understanding of the persuasive premises of values advocacy messages beyond rhetorical (de)construction; consumer behavior; and the establishment of typologies, definitions, and methods of inquiry. Using focus group methodology, target audience members (n=37) of a contemporary values advocacy campaign reflect upon the messages presented in the context of jury deliberations. The findings show that focus group participants would likely reduce punitive damage judgments if exposed to values advocacy messages. The social and cultural implications exposed by participants’ comments reflect ongoing concern among critical scholars about the ability of corporations to manipulate public behavior and indicate the ethical conundrum between corporate and community speech.
Is DST status associated with depression characteristics

Depressed inpatients have a DST non-suppression rate that is several times greater than that of depressed outpatients. To explore what clinical features of depression might explain this difference, 25 depressed inpatients who were DST non-suppressors were compared with 16 DST suppressors, using 70 clinical variables. Those variables that were different between these two groups of inpatients were then used to compare depressed inpatients and outpatients. Three variables that were significantly associated with DST status in depressed inpatients were also found to differentiate between depressed inpatients and depressed outpatients. DST suppression was associated with a family history of alcoholism, with the symptom hypersomnia, and with a younger age at index interview.
Dystroglycanopathy muscles lacking functional glycosylation of alpha-dystroglycan retain regeneration capacity.

Abstract In dystroglycanopathies, lack of glycosylated alpha-dystroglycan (α-DG) alters membrane fragility leading to fiber damage and repetitive cycles of muscle degeneration and regeneration. However the effect of the glycosylation of α-DG on muscle regeneration is not clearly understood. In this study, we examined the regenerative capacity of dystrophic muscles in vivo in FKRP mutant and LARGE myd mice with little and complete lack of functionally glycosylated α-DG (F-α-DG) respectively. The number of regenerating fibers expressing embryonic myosin heavy chain (eMyHC) in the diseased muscles up to the age of 10 months is higher than or at similar levels to wild type muscle after notexin and polyethyleminine insults. The process of fiber maturation is not significantly affected by the lack of F-α-DG assessed by size distribution. The earlier appearance of a larger number of regenerating fibers after injury is consistent with the observation that the populations of myogenic satellite cells are increased and being readily activated in the dystroglycanopathy muscles. F-α-DG is expressed at trace amounts in undifferentiated myoblasts, but increases in differentiated myotubes in vitro . We therefore conclude that muscle regeneration is not impaired in the early stage of the dystroglycanopathies, and F-α-DG does not play a significant role in myogenic cell proliferation and fiber formation and maturation.
Strategies for Employee Retention: A Ranch Manager’s Perspective: Management of people is integral to the management of rangelands

Strategies for Employee Retention: A Ranch Manager’s Perspective: Management of people is integral to the management of rangelands DOI:10.2458/azu_rangelands_v32i4_Johnson
AMI after low-dose IV epinephrine for anaphylaxis.

3raise interesting questions. We agree that a 10-hour onset delay seems long, but penicillin remains a more likely cause of anaphylaxis than ibuprofen, which the patient had taken in the past, and regardless of the inciting agent, the case illustrates important points. We did not suggest that our patient suffered a large myocardial infarction. A troponin elevation to 2–3 times normal does not suggest major damage, but is consistent with infarction. Based on the minor nature of this infarct and its presumed pathogenesis, our cardiologists chose to do a CT angiogram because they believed the risks of invasive angiography were greater than the potential benefits in this young person without concomitant disease. All acute coronary syndromes (ACS) protocols recommend ASA in the presence of ST elevation; however, if in this situation (anaphylaxis with epinephrine-induced coronary vasospasm) occurs in the future, we would not necessarily administer ASA, since ASA and NSAIDs can exacerbate anaphylaxis. We have no specific comments about Dr. Shah’s letter 2 as it illustrates the reason we wrote this case report. Our hope was that it would educate others about the potential harm associated with intravenous (IV) epinephrine. (This patient has been advised that she is never again to receive epinephrine.) We have found the same opinion split in our emergency department community and were surprised to find no definitive answer in the literature. We agree that, in all but extreme cases, intramuscular epinephrine is the correct choice and that the lateral thigh is the correct place. We recognize that this case report does not rule out a role for IV epinephrine in extreme anaphylaxis and shock, although the IV route is associated with a shorter action duration. (It is interesting to speculate that the shorter IV duration may have been less dangerous in a case like this.)
Housework Battles and Gender Strategies

Chapter 6 argues that gender structure can be both constraining and enabling. On the one hand, gender ideology defines the “essential qualities” of both men and women, and thereby constrains the range of acceptable behavior. On the other hand, this ideology provides resources and rules for agents to organize their behavior. By exploring the micro-level processes of spousal negotiation, we can see couples “do gender” by employing different strategies in assuming or rejecting housework.
On Convex Finite-Dimensional Variational Methods in Imaging Sciences and Hamilton--Jacobi Equations

We consider standard finite-dimensional variational models used in signal/image processing that consist of minimizing an energy involving a data fidelity term and a regularization term. We propose new contributions from a theoretical perspective which give a precise description on how the solutions of these optimization problems depend on the amount of smoothing effects and the data itself. The dependence of the minimal values of the energy is shown to be ruled by Hamilton--Jacobi equations, while the minimizers $\mathbf{u}(\mathbf{x},t)$ for the observed images $\mathbf{x}$ and smoothing parameters $t$ are given by $\mathbf{u}(\mathbf{x},t)\;=\;\mathbf{x}-t\,\nabla\,H(\nabla_{\mathbf{x}}E(\mathbf{x},t)),$ where $E(\mathbf{x},t)$ is the minimal value of the energy and $H$ is a Hamiltonian related to the data fidelity term. Various vanishing smoothing parameter results are derived illustrating the role played by the prior in such limits.
Merging ecology and genomics to dissect diversity in wild tomatoes and their relatives.

To understand the origin, history, and function, of natural biological variation, from nucleotide to community levels, is a fundamental promise of ecological genomics. The most fruitful systems for this work are those that possess both ecological and genomic resources. Such systems provide an opportunity to precisely dissect genetic and developmental mechanisms, and to connect genotypes to phenotypes, as well as to directly demonstrate the ecological and evolutionary relevance of this phenotypic variation. Here we synthesize findings emerging from our efforts to understand two fundamental evolutionary processes − speciation and adaptation – using ecological genomics approaches. Many of these studies have been in the wild tomato clade (Solanum section Lycopersicon), a group that has both exceptional diversity and genomic tools. We also highlight the expanding taxonomic reach of this work, especially in two genera – Capsicum and Jaltomata – that are closely related to Solanum. Parallel approaches in these ecologically and reproductively diverse clades enable us to examine novel questions and traits that are not captured within Solanum, while leveraging the power of comparative studies to understand shared ecological and evolutionary patterns. By synthesizing findings from phenotypic, ecophysiological, genetic, and comparative perspectives, our ultimate goal is to understand the complex mechanistic and evolutionary contributions to the formation of new traits and species diversity.
City Country: The Paradox of Country Music in Urban America

No other genre in American music has maintained such a popular presence on the national conscience as country music. Though it is not the only distinct “American” style of music in the United States, this genre has consistently maintained a strong listener base and standard themes of content, more so than any other variation of music. Country music as a commercial industry began between 1920 and 1925 in the rural South.1 Since those grassroots beginnings, the genre has become synonymous with the city of Nashville and songs about love, loss, and drinking. In the 21st century, the popularity of country music hit a new peak with skyrocketing presence in American cities. This once distinctly, rural musical style has evolved to appeal to all Americans, rural and urban alike, leaving one to wonder why that is so. Country music’s popularity in American cities results from the urbanization of the genre especially by mass media and contemporary country artists integrating their music with other genres.
Intensive or Extensive Colonization: The Debate Over French and British Models of Rule in German East Africa, 1890-1894

Scholars of colonial Africa have largely moved away from drawing a contrast between French and British colonies through the categories of direct (for the former) and indirect rule (the latter), but in doing so lose the historical importance of those categories. The debate in Germany over the shape of the nation's nascent African empire in the 1890s was conducted largely in terms of whether to follow the British model of "extensive" colonization or the French "intensive" model. That debate was especially prominent in the case of German East Africa, where one school of thought proposed a focus on the Swahili coast as the primary site of German rule, while another supported the evangelization and exploitation of the interior through direct rule. My paper will explore that debate in the early 1890s, as the new colonial administration tried to figure out how to govern the Great Lakes region. Heinrich Wissmann, described the Great Lakes as East Africa's "other coast" in proposing a model of intensive colonization in the east and west. His opponents argued for the extensive missionization and economic administration of the interior. The debate demonstrates the importance of the categories of direct and indirect rule for colonial debates.
Troubleshooting the Fluorescence Microscope

The fluorescence microscope is being used increasingly in clinical laboratories as a diagnostic tool. A troubleshooting guide for the fluorescence microscope is presented to aid laboratorians in investigating system malfunctions.
The Illusion of Chaos: Why Ungoverned Spaces Aren't Ungoverned, and Why that Matters

Scholars and policymakers are worried about “ungoverned spaces” — areas of limited or anomalous government control inside otherwise functional states. Ungoverned spaces are the latest incarnation of persistent concerns about governance: that under- or poorly governed areas will spawn instability or shelter violent non-state actors who can launch attacks, interdict access to fossil fuels and transit lanes, or pursue criminal activities.Policies to mitigate these risks are broadly based in the belief that bringing ungoverned spaces more fully under states’ control is both possible and beneficial. While the United States has undertaken direct action against some violent nonstate actors in ungoverned spaces, most policies have aimed to encourage host states to more fully integrate these areas.Ungoverned spaces exist because integrating them offers few benefits and may pose high costs to host regimes. Moreover, the term “ungoverned spaces” is a misnomer — these areas are not ungoverned. They are simply ruled by subnational authorities. Failure to understand why ungoverned spaces exist and persist may lead policymakers to underestimate the costs of integrating them. Moreover, integration efforts may create some of the very instability they seek to avert by disturbing the status quo that sustains vested interests and manages a variety of risks. Policymakers should be realistic about the limited problems posed by ungoverned spaces, the political and financial costs of integration policies, the need to prioritize among goals, and the intelligence requirements needed to make fine-grained assessments.
Surveillance on foodborne pathogens in foods in Shanxi province in 2010

Objective To investigate and identify the contamination of main foodborne pathogens in Shanxi province.Methods According to the standard operation procedures in the handbook of 2010 National Surveillance on Foodborne Pathogens.Results Among 1 576 food samples tested,149(9.45%) pathogenic strains were isolated.The positive rate for L.monocytogenes was the highest(9.50%),followed by V.parahemolyticus(8.22%),S.aureus(3.02%),E.sakazakii(1.11%) and Salmonella(0.87%).A high prevalence of foodborne pathogens was shown in meat(49.33%),the main contaminating bacteria were Salmonella and L.monocytogenes,followed by salad(17.39%),the main contaminating bacteria were L.monocytogenes and S.aureus;raw aquatic(16.94%),the main contaminating bacteria were L.monocytogenes and V.parahemolyticus;cooked meat(9.84%),the main contaminating bacteria were L.monocytogenes,S.aureus and Salmonella;Chinese salad(8.89%),the main contaminating bacteria was S.aureus;fresh juice(6.67%),the main contaminating bacteria was S.aureus;fresh and frozen aquatic products(5.00%),the main contaminating bacteria was V.parahemolyticus.The detection rate was 1.11% for E.sakazaki in baby formula milk powder/rice noodles/valley powder/soy.Conclusion Foodborne pathogens were frequently found in retail foods in Shanxi,it was necessary to strengthen the monitoring of food.
The Effects of Medicaid Home and Community-based Services Waivers on Unmet Needs Among Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Background Several states have passed Medicaid Home and Community-based Services (HCBS) waivers that expand eligibility criteria and available services for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Previous research has shown considerable variation in these waivers, but little is known about the extent to which they address the health care needs of children with ASD. Objective To determine the effects of Medicaid HCBS waivers, and their characteristics, on unmet health care needs among children with ASD. Methods We used data from the 2003, 2007, and 2011 waves of the National Survey of Children's Health with detailed information on the Medicaid HCBS waiver programs of 35 states. Quasi-difference-in-difference-in-differences models were used to determine the effects of waivers and their characteristics on parent report of unmet health care needs of children with ASD compared with children without ASD. Results Greater waiver cost limits per child, estimated costs of services, and enrollment limits were associated with significant decreases in the adjusted rate of unmet health care needs, with considerable variation by household income level. Conclusions These findings suggest that Medicaid HCBS waivers significantly decrease the unmet need for health care among children with ASD, most substantially among those who would not otherwise qualify for Medicaid. The findings regarding the effects of specific aspects of these waivers can inform the development of insurance policies in other states to address the needs of children with ASD.
Profile Retrieval Estimation Techniques

Retrieval techniques, applicable to problems where measurements have to be blended, satisfy an equation that can be approximated by a Fredholm integral equation of the first kind. A variety of inversion techniques, that have been used in radiometric remote sensing of temperature and moisture profiles, are outlined to solve this equation focusing on the wide variety of supplementary information that may be used in addition to radiance information. Techniques, such as regularization and iterative methods, are introduced because of their simplicity and explicit use of an initial guess.Methods based on Backus-Gilbert and Kalman approaches are shown for diagnosis problems. Statistical techniques are illustrated emphasizing the use a priori information to constrain the solution. Final remarks give the current scenario on this subject.
Abstract 4105: Cathepsin L inhibition reverts epithelial mesenchymal transition in prostate and breast cancer cells

The Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) is a key event in tumor migration and invasion processes whereby epithelial cells lose polarity together with cell-cell contacts associated with loss of epithelial markers such as E-cadherin and then undergo a dramatic remodeling of the cytoskeleton associated with expression of mesenchymal markers such as vimentin, as well as increased production of extracellular matrix (ECM)-degrading proteases. Snail is a gene that promotes epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) by using its zinc finger domains to bind to target genes that would otherwise stop EMT. Cathepsin L (Cat L) is a cysteine protease involved in cell invasion and has recently been associated with poor prognosis in Colon and Breast Cancer with Cat L being localized in the nucleus. We have shown previously that Snail-mediated EMT can be antagonized by muscadine grape skin extract (MSKE), a natural product rich in anthocyanin. In preliminary data we found that Snail, an inducer of EMT, could up-regulate Cat L activity and expression in breast cancer cells. We hypothesized that antagonizing Cat L activity would lead to mesenchymal epithelial transition (MET). We utilized breast and prostate EMT models to analyze Cat L activity using gelatin zymography and subsequently treated mesenchymal cells with 1μM, 5μM or 20μM Z-FY-CHO (Cat L specific inhibitor) or MSKE for 72 hours. We performed western blot analysis and immunofluorescence for EMT markers as well as invasion and migration assays. Our data indicates that mesenchymal MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells showed higher Cat L expression and activity as compared to epithelial MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Interestingly, immunofluorescence analysis revealed cells displaying a higher snail expression have an increase in Cathepsin L activity and expression as well as Cat L being localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus. Additionally, mesenchymal breast (MDA-MB-231, MCF-7 cells overexpressing Snail) and prostate (ARCaP-M, ARCaP-E cells overexpressing Snail) cells displayed decreased expression of vimentin and Cat L expression and activity when treated with Z-FY-CHO or MSKE, while E-cadherin increased suggestive of MET. This was associated with decreased cell migration and invasion. We also show for the first time that treatment with MSKE or Z-FY-CHO changes the localization of Cat L from nuclear to cytoplasmic. Based on these results, the inhibition of Cat L could play a role in reverting EMT and preventing tumor progression. Citation Format: Liza J. Burton, Bethany Smith, Manu Platt, Valerie Marah. Cathepsin L inhibition reverts epithelial mesenchymal transition in prostate and breast cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 4105. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-4105
on managing: Disagreeing Agreeably

“If you want to get along, go along.” —Sam Rayburn. I first read the Rayburn quote in political science class. We were studying policy making and why politics as usual often prevails. One explanation was the Rayburn adage. Elected officials get ahead through alliances and accommodation. Going against the establishment can sideline a promising career, can leave the principled politician tilting at windmills.
Nanoscale silicon for subcellular biointerfaces

Semiconductor nanomaterials are emerging as a class of materials that can push the fundamental limits of current biomedical devices and possibly revolutionize healthcare. In particular, silicon nanostructures have been proven to be attractive systems for integrating nanoscale machines in biology because of their tunable electronic and optical properties, low cytotoxicity, and the vast microfabrication toolbox available for silicon. Studies have demonstrated that the implementation of next-generation silicon-based biomedical devices can benefit from the rational design of their nanoscale components. In this review, we will discuss some recent progress in this area, with a particular focus on the chemical synthesis of new silicon nanostructures and their emerging applications ranging from fundamental biophysical studies to clinical relevance.
Acoustic S- and P-Wave Character of the Intermolecular 60 and 175 cm−1 Raman Bands from Liquid Water

The acoustic character of the intermolecular 60 cm−1 and 175 cm−1 Raman bands from liquid water, that is, their respective S-wave (transverse acoustic, shear) and P-wave (longitudinal acoustic, dilatational) nature seems hitherto unappreciated. Consideration of these two intermolecular vibrations as acoustic modes indicates that both are collective, involving second- and third-nearest-neighbor interactions.
Shaping City Government Through Effective Technology Management: The Changing Role of Public Libraries

Governments and communities increasingly rely on well-managed, accessible technology resources to improve their daily lives. Rapidly-advancing innovation and widespread use of electronics now require rapid adaptation of city services to meet the needs of local citizens. A well-known fixture in the array of city services is the public library. Technological advancements have transformed the needs and expectations of traditional library patrons and have shifted priorities towards effectively managing choices in technology the facility should offer. This study will examine the issues, attitudes, and trends shaping services in public government, specifically the public library. Using data gathered from a survey distributed to 92 patrons of a small, suburban library, we explore the relationship between personal variables such as age, gender, race and level of education and the value library patrons place on services and technologies offered (digitized media, internet access, electronic resources, and so forth). This study will assist government and library professionals in achieving a fuller understanding of the technologies that different demographics prioritize and will assist in guiding decision-making processes for technology implementation and management at a local level.
Respiratory events after adenotonsillectomy requiring escalated admission status in children with obstructive sleep apnea

Abstract Objectives To characterize postoperative respiratory complications following adenotonsillectomy (AT) in children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and to identify variables associated with pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission. Methods Retrospective analysis of 133 pediatric OSA patients with prior AT. Assessment of the postoperative hospital course informed patient stratification based on respiratory event severity, PICU admission status, and unscheduled escalation of care. Results Thirty-six (26.8%) patients were admitted to the PICU. Compared to non-PICU admissions, these patients were significantly younger and with greater preoperative apnea-hypopnea indices, comorbidities, and percentage of post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) time requiring supplemental oxygen. Seventy-one respiratory events occurred in 59 patients, with 60.6% affecting PICU patients. Fifteen severe events occurred, affecting 31% of PICU patients. Of 14 unscheduled escalations of care, 7 were PICU admissions who, compared to planned PICU admissions, spent significantly more time in the PACU and exhibited a trend towards greater PACU time on supplemental oxygen. Conclusions Pediatric patients requiring post-AT PICU care have more risk factors for respiratory compromise. Total PACU time and total PACU time requiring supplemental oxygen may indicate patient risk for postoperative respiratory complications and need for intensive care. Future work includes prospective determination of appropriate post-AT PICU admission.
The two major glucokinase isoforms show conserved functionality in β-cells despite different subcellular distribution

Glucokinase (GCK) is crucial to regulating glucose metabolism in the liver and in pancreatic β-cells. There are two major GCK isoforms, hepatic and pancreatic GCKs, which differ only in exon 1. However, the functional differences between the two GCK isoforms remain poorly understood. Here, we used a β-cell-targeted gene transfer vector to determine the impact of isoform-specific GCK overexpression on β-cells in vitro and in vivo. We showed that pancreatic GCK had a nuclear localization signal unique to the pancreatic isoform, facilitating its nuclear distribution in β-cells. Despite the difference in subcellular distribution, overexpression of GCK isoforms similarly enhanced glucose uptake and β-cell proliferation in vitro. Overexpression of hepatic or pancreatic GCK also similarly enhanced β-cell proliferation in normal diet mice without affecting fasting glucose and intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests (IPGTT). Our further study on human GCK sequences identified disproportional GCK amino acid variants in exon 1, while mutations linked to maturity onset diabetes of the young type 2 (MODY2) were disproportionally found in exons 2 through 10. Our results therefore indicate functional conservation between the two major GCK isoforms despite their distinct subcellular distribution.
Eliminating Singular Causes: Reply to Nancy Cartwright

In “Regular Associations and Singular Causes,” Nancy Cartwright argues that the idea of singular causation enters into, and cannot be eliminated from, the usual account of generic causal facts recently discussed by philosophers. The problem (see her article for details and references) is that it seems that the idea of singular causation must be used to decide when to hold fixed intermediate factors K, between factors C and E, when assessing the generic causal significance of C for E. Thinking in terms of relative frequency and classes, Cartwright thinks that only the subset of such a K consisting of individuals whose K-ness was not caused by C should be held fixed, where the other K’s (those whose K-ness was caused by C) belong in the background context they would have actually fallen into were it not for the action of C (p. 81).
Multifaceted Role of Heat Stress Proteins in the Kidney

The kidney represents an ideal “laboratory” for assessing the role of physiologic stresses on stress proteins. This organ is equally well suited for assessing the protective effects of stress proteins against known renal insults. As a metabolically active organ that operates on the brink of “hypoxic disaster” and is capable of concentrating therapeutic agents to levels far higher than present in the circulation, the kidney is vulnerable to diverse stressors that include oxygen deprivation, ischemia, and nephrotoxin. Stress proteins exert potent stabilizing effects on epithelial cell architecture that represent reversible or “sublethal injury.” Stress proteins also promote cell survival, partly by interrupting the apoptotic pathway that contributes to organ failure. HSPs target different checkpoints in the cell death pathway, often utilizing distinct functional domains within a single HSPs to exert multiple cytoprotective effects. In sharp contrast to their protective effects in the intracellular milieu, recent evidence shows that HSPs in the extracellular compartment are pro-inflammatory. Given the relative paucity of treatments available to prevent injury or promote renal recovery, manipulation of endogenous stress proteins represents a promising arena for defining new approaches to nephrologic problems that contribute to substantial human morbidity and mortality
Wasted talent: Battling exclusionary forces among senior entrepreneurs:

One of the phenomena involving social exclusion is the barriers to confronting senior entrepreneurs, silver entrepreneurs or older entrepreneurs. Often forced into retirement prematurely, they stil...
Effects of a histone deacetylase 3 inhibitor on extinction and reinstatement of cocaine self-administration in rats

A challenge in treating substance use disorder is that successful treatment often does not persist, resulting in relapse and continued drug seeking. One approach to persistently weaken drug-seeking behaviors is to pair exposure to drug-associated cues or behaviors with delivery of a compound that may strengthen the inhibition of the association between drug cues and behavior. We evaluated whether a selective histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) inhibitor could promote extinction and weaken contextual control of operant drug seeking after intravenous cocaine self-administration. Male Long-Evans rats received a systemic injection of the HDAC3 inhibitor RGFP966 either before or immediately after the first extinction session. Persistence of extinction was tested over subsequent extinction sessions, as well as tests of reinstatement that included cue-induced reinstatement, contextual renewal, and cocaine-primed reinstatement. Additional extinction sessions occurred between each reinstatement test. We also evaluated effects of RGFP966 on performance and motivation during stable fixed ratio operant responding for cocaine and during a progressive ratio of reinforcement. RGFP966 administered before the first extinction session led to significantly less responding during subsequent extinction and reinstatement tests compared to vehicle-injected rats. Follow-up studies found that these effects were not likely due to a performance deficit or a change in motivation to self-administer cocaine, as injections of RGFP966 had no effect on stable responding during a fixed or progressive ratio schedule. In addition, RGFP966 administered just after the first extinction session had no effect during early extinction and reinstatement tests, but weakened long-term responding during later extinction sessions. These results suggest that a systemic injection of a selective HDAC3 inhibitor can enhance extinction and suppress reinstatement after cocaine self-administration. The finding that behavioral and pharmacological manipulations can be combined to decrease drug seeking provides further potential for treatment by epigenetic modulation.
Flat Ontologies, Cosmopolitanism, and Space at Carolina Forts

English forts in the Carolina Colony embodied the ongoing struggle between the ambitions of imperial impositions and the aspirations of frontier autonomy. This tension is acutely reflected in the spatial organization of forts. Whereas colonial authorities sought to separate Europeans, Africans, and Native Americans through the formal segregation of the built environment, life on the frontier encouraged a fluidity in space and identity. The theoretical construct of flat ontologies can be used to explore how frontier forts were a catalyst for complex and emergent spatial relations that subverted hierarchical space. Archaeological data from early 18th-century forts on the Carolina frontier exemplify the connective processes of flat ontologies that blurred space and identity.
Cool Platforms: Media Markets

Media of communication present challenges to regulators and antitrust analysts. While it has become traditional to view media as "platforms" that support "multi-sided markets," it is far from clear that media markets for inputs and outputs are usefully treated as belonging to a new and unique category of business enterprise. Most firms produce multiple products or services and make or buy multiple inputs. A price change for any one of these inputs or outputs affects the demand and supply of all other inputs and outputs, either through demand or supply relationships or both. Media are different from other firms because they supply goods that are non-rivalrous, subject to network effects and important to political processes. Calling such firms "platforms" and subjecting them to an analytical island reserved for "multi-sided markets" does not advance our understanding of media antitrust and regulatory policy issues.
Increasing doses of ketamine curtail antidepressant responses and suppress associated synaptic signaling pathways.

Abstract Clinical findings show that a single subanesthetic dose of ketamine elicits rapid antidepressant effects. Accumulating data suggests that ketamine blocks the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor and results in specific effects on intracellular signaling including increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein expression, which augments synaptic responses required for rapid antidepressant effects. To further investigate this potential mechanism for ketamine’s antidepressant action, we examined the effect of increasing ketamine doses on intracellular signaling, synaptic plasticity, and rapid antidepressant effects. Given that ketamine is often used at 2.5−10 mg/kg to examine antidepressant effects and 20−50 mg/kg to model schizophrenia, we compared effects at 5, 20 and 50 mg/kg. We found that intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of low dose (5 mg/kg) ketamine produces rapid antidepressant effects, which were not observed at 20 or 50 mg/kg. At 5 mg/kg ketamine significantly increased the level of BDNF, a protein necessary for the rapid antidepressant effects, while 20 and 50 mg/kg ketamine did not alter BDNF levels in the hippocampus. Low concentration ketamine also evoked the highest synaptic potentiation in the hippocampal CA1, while higher concentrations significantly decreased the synaptic effects. Our results suggest low dose ketamine produces antidepressant effects and has independent behavioral and synaptic effects compared to higher doses of ketamine that are used to model schizophrenia. These findings strengthen our knowledge on specific signaling associated with ketamine’s rapid antidepressant effects.
Neuropathic arthropathy (Charcot joint)

Abstract In patients with diabetes mellitus, Charcot foot is a severe diabetes-related complication that occurs approximately in roughly 0.5–0.8% of the population. When it develops, it can lead to devastating consequences, including foot deformation, foot ulcer, foot infection, osteomyelitis, debility, limb loss, and is an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality. Diabetes mellitus is the most commonly associated disease state with this condition. Charcot foot is a manifestation of (diabetic) peripheral neuropathy and early diagnosis and appropriate intervention allows for accommodation of this condition while maintaining a functional limb. Imaging, blood work, and astute clinical reasoning will assist in correct diagnosis. However, the condition itself is not well understood and only recent advances into our understanding of the molecular underpinnings of the condition is allowing for more complete management strategies to develop. In its advanced form, surgical interventions is possible. An informed physician will improve outcomes for this patient population.
Assessing Bond Strength in 304L Stainless Steel Plate Welded Using Plastic Explosives

Explosive bonding is a dynamic joining method used to rapidly create metallurgical bonds between two metals. These interfaces can exhibit strengths greater than the parent materials and contain little porosity. Bond quality, however, is highly dependent on processing parameters. Explosive bonds fueled by ammonium nitrate have been extensively characterized, but processing windows for plastic explosives have not. Here, bond strength in 304L stainless steel plate explosively bonded using rubberized/plastic explosives are assessed using shear by tension loading of single-lap-joint specimens. The effects of collision velocity and collision angle on bond quality and strength are investigated and used to define a processing window. Failure modes varied across both the process space studied and within individual bonds. Microstructural analysis across fractured interfaces is combined with fractography to describe the different failure modes and variable strength across bond interfaces.
Inventory positions in US manufacturing: A competitive dynamics approach

Abstract We investigate competitive interactions in the context of inventory management by examining how the leader firm's past inventory management affects the challenger firm's current inventory management and how the challenger firm's past inventory management affects the leader firm's current inventory management. The leader and the challenger firms in an industry are respectively the firms holding the highest and second highest market share. We also investigate the moderating effects of market share gap and industry growth on this dynamic relationship. Based on a sample of 4897 firm-year observations in the U.S. manufacturing sector and covering the period 1987–2015, we find that the inventory management decisions of a firm are significantly affected by the actions of its main rival. This dynamic relationship, triggered as a result of competitive imitation in inventory management, is found to be significantly moderated by market share differences between the two firms. We also offer a mathematical model that illustrates the competitive action-reaction cycle regarding inventory decisions, and we extend the existing literature on competitive dynamics to recognize strategic and tactical inventory decisions.
MRD assessment using NGS in patients with acute myeloid leukemia undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: Meta-analysis.

e19002Background: The presence of measurable residual disease (MRD) preceding hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is increasingly recognized as a risk fac...
Debris flow prediction with machine learning: smart management of urban systems and infrastructures

Understanding the interaction of debris flow with different arrangements of buildings and providing an accurate and real-time predictions for the corresponding flow distribution has become a challenging task. Two parts of this problem, namely new constructions and rapid reaction, have made this as a daunting topic. Although the numerical methods can provide precise predictions, their applicability due to the above-mentioned issues is challenging as one has to redo the computations when new buildings are added. In this paper, thus, a deep learning model is developed to efficiently predict the spatiotemporal distribution of debris flow as it interacts with different building arrangements. As such, we employed U-net as the base model, which is combined with the residual network to alleviate the gradient vanishing issue. An autoregressive strategy is proposed to help the model capture the dynamics of the debris flow, where the output at the previous timestep is used as the input to predict the current timestep. A synthetic dataset based on the numerical methods is used to train the residual U-net model. The results indicate that the proposed method can predict the general trend at different timesteps, and its robustness is verified using an extensive sensitivity analysis.
Ectasia After Corneal Refractive Surgery: A Systematic Review

The incidence of ectasia following refractive surgery is unclear. This review sought to determine the worldwide rates of ectasia after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), and small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) based on reports in the literature. A systematic review was conducted according to modified Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Publications were identified by a search of eight electronic databases for relevant terms between 1984 and 2021. Patient characteristics and preoperative values including manifest refractive spherical refractive equivalent (MRSE), central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior keratometry, postoperative residual stromal bed (RSB), and percent tissue altered (PTA) were summarized. In addition, annual rates of each refractive surgery were determined, and incidence of post-refractive ectasia for each type was calculated using the number of ectatic eyes identified in the literature. In total, 57 eyes (70 eyes including those with preoperative risk factors for ectasia) were identified to have post-PRK ectasia, while 1453 eyes (1681 eyes including risk factors) had post-LASIK ectasia, and 11 eyes (19 eyes including risk factors) had post-SMILE ectasia. Cases of refractive surgery performed annually were estimated as 283,920 for PRK, 1,608,880 for LASIK, and 96,750 for SMILE. Reported post-refractive ectasia in eyes without preoperative identifiable risk factors occurred with the following incidences: 20 per 100,000 eyes in PRK, 90 per 100,000 eyes in LASIK, and 11 per 100,000 eyes in SMILE. The rate of ectasia in LASIK was found to be 4.5 times higher than that of PRK. Post-refractive ectasia occurs at lower rates in eyes undergoing PRK than LASIK. Although SMILE appears to have the lowest rate of ectasia, the number of cases already reported since its recent approval suggests that post-SMILE ectasia may become a concern. Considering that keratoconus is a spectrum of disease, pre-existing keratoconus may play a larger role in postoperative ectasia than previously accounted for in the literature.
Electron Transfer Going the Distance: Mn-Doped ZnSe as a Model Photocatalytic System

Time-resolved photoluminescence and transient absorption spectroscopy are used to examine the influence that long excited state lifetimes of Mn-doped nanocrystals have on the mechanisms of photoind...