cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Scaling of the spring in the leg during bouncing gaits of mammals.

Synopsis Trotting, bipedal running, and especially hopping have long been considered the principal bouncing gaits of legged animals. We use the radial-leg spring constant krad to quantify the stiffness of the physical leg during bouncing gaits. The radial-leg is modeled as an extensible strut between the hip and the ground and krad is determined from the force and deflection of this strut in each instance of stance. A Hookean spring is modeled in-series with a linear actuator and the stiffness of this spring krad is determined by minimizing the work of the actuator while reproducing the measured force-deflection dynamics of an individual leg during trotting or running, and of the paired legs during hopping. Prior studies have estimated leg stiffness using kleg, a metric that imagines a virtual-leg connected to the center of mass. While kleg has been applied extensively in human and comparative biomechanics, we show that krad more accurately models the spring in the leg when actuation is allowed, as is the case in biological and robotic systems. Our allometric analysis of krad in the kangaroo rat, tammar wallaby, dog, goat, and human during hopping, trotting, or running show that krad scales as body mass to the two-third power, which is consistent with the predictions of dynamic similarity and with the scaling of kleg. Hence, two-third scaling of locomotor spring constants among mammals is supported by both the radial-leg and virtual-leg models, yet the scaling of krad emerges from work-minimization in the radial-leg model instead of being a defacto result of the ratio of force to length used to compute kleg. Another key distinction between the virtual-leg and radial-leg is that krad is substantially greater than kleg, as indicated by a 30–37% greater scaling coefficient for krad. We also show that the legs of goats are on average twice as stiff as those of dogs of the same mass and that goats increase the stiffness of their legs, in part, by more nearly aligning their distal limb-joints with the ground reaction force vector. This study is the first allometric analysis of leg spring constants in two decades. By means of an independent model, our findings reinforce the two-third scaling of spring constants with body mass, while showing that springs in-series with actuators are stiffer than those predicted by energy-conservative models of the leg.
Investigation of sex-dependent effects of cannabis in daily cannabis smokers

Background Women exhibit an accelerated progression from first cannabis use to cannabis use disorder (CUD) and show pronounced negative clinical issues related to CUD relative to men. Whether sex-dependent differences in cannabis’ direct effects contribute to the heightened risk in women is unknown. This analysis directly compared cannabis’ abuse-related subjective effects in men and women matched for current cannabis use.
DDB, a Putative DNA Repair Protein, Can Function as a Transcriptional Partner of E2F1

The transcription factor E2F1 is believed to be involved in the regulated expression of the DNA replication genes. To gain insights into the transcriptional activation function of E2F1, we looked for proteins in HeLa nuclear extracts that bind to the activation domain of E2F1. Here we show that DDB, a putative DNA repair protein, associates with the activation domain of E2F1. DDB was identified as a heterodimeric protein (48 and 127 kDa) that binds to UV-damaged DNA. We show that the UV-damaged-DNA binding activity from HeLa nuclear extracts can associate with the activation domain of E2F1. Moreover, the 48-kDa subunit of DDB, synthesized in vitro, binds to a fusion protein of E2F1 depending on the C-terminal activation domain. The interaction between DDB and E2F1 can also be detected by coimmunoprecipitation experiments. Immunoprecipitation of an epitope-tagged DDB from cell extracts resulted in the coprecipitation of E2F1. In a reciprocal experiment, immunoprecipitates of E2F1 were found to contain DDB. Fractionation of HeLa nuclear extracts also revealed a significant overlap in the elution profiles of E2F1 and DDB. For instance, DDB, which does not bind to the E2F sites, was enriched in the high-salt fractions containing E2F1 during chromatography through an E2F-specific DNA affinity column. We also observed evidence for a functional interaction between DDB and E2F1 in living cells. For instance, expression of DDB specifically stimulated E2F1-activated transcription. In addition, the transcriptional activation function of a heterologous transcription factor containing the activation domain of E2F1 was stimulated by coexpression of DDB. Moreover, DDB expression could overcome the retinoblastoma protein (Rb)-mediated inhibition of E2F1-activated transcription. The results suggest that this damaged-DNA binding protein can function as a transcriptional partner of E2F1. We speculate that the damaged-DNA binding function of DDB, besides repair, might serve as a negative regulator of E2F1-activated transcription, as damaged DNA will sequester DDB and make it unavailable for E2F1. Furthermore, the binding of DDB to damaged DNA might be involved in downregulating the replication genes during growth arrest induced by damaged DNA.
High-Energy Neutron Spectroscopy with Thick Silicon Detectors

The high-energy neutron component of the space radiation environment in thick structures such as the International Space Station contributes to the total radiation dose received by an astronaut. Detector design constraints such as size and mass have limited the energy range of neutron spectrum measurements in orbit to about 12 MeV in Space Shuttle studies. We present a new method for high-energy neutron spectroscopy using small silicon detectors that can extend these measurements to more than 500 MeV. The methodology is based on measurement of the detector response function for high-energy neutrons and inversion of this response function with measured deposition data to deduce neutron energy spectra. We also present the results of an initial shielding study performed with the thick silicon detector system for high-energy neutrons incident on polyethylene.
Overview of Mechanisms of Action of Lycopene

Dietary intakes of tomatoes and tomato products containing lycopene have been shown to be associated with decreased risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases in numerous studies. Serum and tissue lycopene levels have also been inversely related to the risk of lung and prostate cancers. Lycopene functions as a very potent antioxidant, and this is clearly a major important mechanism of lycopene action. In this regard, lycopene can trap singlet oxygen and reduce mutagenesis in the Ames test. However, evidence is accumulating for other mechanisms as well. Lycopene at physiological concentrations can inhibit human cancer cell growth by interfering with growth factor receptor signaling and cell cycle progression specifically in prostate cancer cells without evidence of toxic effects or apoptosis of cells. Studies using human and animal cells have identified a gene, connexin 43, whose expression is upregulated by lycopene and which allows direct intercellular gap junctional communication (GJC). GJC is deficient in many human tumors and its restoration or upregulation is associated with decreased proliferation. The combination of low concentrations of lycopene with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 exhibits a synergistic effect on cell proliferation and differentiation and an additive effect on cell cycle progression in the HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cell line, suggesting some interaction at a nuclear or subcellular level. The combination of lycopene and lutein synergistically interact as antioxidants, and this may relate to specific positioning of different carotenoids in membranes. This review will focus on the growing body of evidence that carotenoids have unexpected biologic effects in experimental systems, some of which may contribute to their cancer preventive properties in models of carcinogenesis. Consideration of solubility in vitro, comparison with doses achieved in humans by dietary means, interactions with other phytochemicals, and other potential mechanisms such as stimulation of xenobiotic metabolism, inhibition of cholesterogenesis, modulation of cyclooxygenase pathways, and inhibition of inflammation will be considered. This review will point out areas for future research where more evidence is needed on the effects of lycopene on the etiology of chronic disease.
Protein Kinase C as a Transducer of Nuclear Signals

PKC3 mediates the signal transduction response to a wide variety of growth factors, hormones, and neurotransmittens (for reviews, see Refs. 1 and 2). PKC is activated by DAG, which is generated by hydrolysis of membrane phosphohipids in response to receptor-mediated activation of PLC and PLD. Tumor-promoting phorbol esters, which mimic DAG, can also directly activate the kinase. The resulting senine and thmeonine phosphorylation of cellular proteins, only a few of which have been charactenized, can lead to shortand long-term changes in gene expression and to the initiation of cell proliferation. The specific cellular response to PKC activation is determined by cell identity and by interactions between the PKC signaling pathway and other signal transduction pathways. Although much has been learned about the mechanisms involved in PKC activation at the plasma membrane, how PKC regulates nuclear events remains vague. At least two general mechanisms through which PKCmediated signals might be received and interpreted in the nucleus can be envisioned. It is well established that PKC can activate “downstream” protein kinase cascades leading to the nucleus, where they modulate programs of gene expression. In addition, recent studies indicate that PKC itself may be translocated to the nucleus, where it directly phosphorylates nuclear regulatory proteins. Here, we will review recent evidence implicating PKC in the transduction of nuclear signals and will consider the potential mechanisms that may mediate translocation of activated PKC to the nucleus. For a general consideration of the structure, function, and regulation of PKC, the reader is referred to several more comprehensive recent reviews (3-6).
Binding-energy predictions of positronium-atom systems

A large amount of work has been performed on positron and positronium (Ps) binding to atoms. Positron binding was treated in our last paper [Phys. Rev. A 83, 032504 (2011)], of which the present paper is a continuation. For Ps binding, 12 atoms have been found to bind with Ps, and 2 atoms have been found not to bind with Ps. We fit the known binding energies to a simple expression involving a few common physical properties and then use it to predict the Ps-binding energies of the other atoms. The model and results appear to be reliable.
Studies on the effect of different carbohydrates on chick growth.

SummaryWhen the rate of growth of chicks is used to measure the nutritional efficiency of carbohydrates they fall in the following order: dextrin, cerelose, sucrose, and lactose. Cellulose, sulfasuxidine, reticulogen, fish solubles, or vit. B12 do not change the significant differences observed when these carbohydrates are fed. However, the lactose-fed birds do give the greatest response to reticulogen, fish solubles and the higher levels of vit. B12. The excretion times of chickens fed these different carbohydrates are in the following decreasing order: dextrin, sucrose, and lactose. The possibility of these nutritional differences being explained by the synthesis of known and/or unknown factors is discussed.
Direct Sums and Direct Products

The concept of direct sum is of utmost importance for the theory. This is mostly due to two facts: first, if we succeed in decomposing a group into a direct sum, then it can be studied by investigating the summands separately, which are, in numerous cases, simpler to deal with. We shall see that almost all structure theorems in abelian group theory involve, explicitly or implicitly, some direct decomposition. Secondly, new groups can be constructed as direct sums of known or previously constructed groups.
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) and abscesses at the vulva, vagina, groin, breast, and postoperative wounds are vulvar manifestations of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. Nearly two-thirds of cultures revealed MRSA. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) is largely effective against MRSA along with other common vulvar abscess microbes, such as Proteus, Escherichia coli, and group B streptococcus. Decolonization includes nasal decolonization with mupirocin and topical body decolonization with skin disinfectants. Oral antibiotics for decolonization have not been shown to be efficacious unless an active infection is present.
Differential properties and regulation of methionine adenosyltransferase isoforms from the rat

S-Adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) is important as a metabolic donor of methyl, α-aminobutyryl, aminopropyl, and possibly 5’-adenosyl groups. Synthesis of this compound from methionine (Met) and ATP is catalyzed by the enzyme methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT; EC 2.5.1.6) according to the equation $$ {\text{Met}}\,{\text{ + }}\,{\text{ATP}}\, \to \,{\text{AdoMet}}\,{\text{ + }}\,{\text{P}}{{\text{P}}_{\text{i}}}\, + \,{{\text{P}}_{\text{i}}}. $$
Determinants of Successful Ph.D. Student Placement in Faculty Positions: the Mediating Role of Publication Record

Search committees recruiting junior faculty in marketing face increasingly complex tradeoffs among relevant dimensions; e.g., the perceived quality of the degree-granting institute, candidate’s publication records, language of undergraduate instruction, length of the program and previous work experience. Consequently, it is important for new Ph.D. candidates to understand how to improve their academic standing during the search for a tenure track position. Findings suggest that a mediation model best describes the placement process. The purpose of this study is to inform candidates what kind of qualifications hiring institutions seek, thus helping candidates position themselves before going to the job market.
AlgU Controls Expression of Virulence Genes in Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000

ABSTRACT Plant-pathogenic bacteria are able to integrate information about their environment and adjust gene expression to provide adaptive functions. AlgU, an extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factor encoded by Pseudomonas syringae, controls expression of genes for alginate biosynthesis and genes involved with resisting osmotic and oxidative stress. AlgU is active while these bacteria are associated with plants, where its presence supports bacterial growth and disease symptoms. We found that AlgU is an important virulence factor for P. syringae pv. tomato DC3000 but that alginate production is dispensable for disease in host plants. This implies that AlgU regulates additional genes that facilitate bacterial pathogenesis. We used transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) to characterize the AlgU regulon and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) to identify AlgU-regulated promoters associated with genes directly controlled by this sigma factor. We found that in addition to genes involved with alginate and osmotic and oxidative stress responses, AlgU regulates genes with known virulence functions, including components of the Hrp type III secretion system, virulence effectors, and the hrpL and hrpRS transcription regulators. These data suggest that P. syringae pv. tomato DC3000 has adapted to use signals that activate AlgU to induce expression of important virulence functions that facilitate survival and disease in plants. IMPORTANCE Plant immune systems produce antimicrobial and bacteriostatic conditions in response to bacterial infection. Plant-pathogenic bacteria are adapted to suppress and/or tolerate these conditions; however, the mechanisms controlling these bacterial systems are largely uncharacterized. The work presented here provides a mechanistic explanation for how P. syringae pv. tomato DC3000 coordinates expression of multiple genetic systems, including those dedicated to pathogenicity, in response to environmental conditions. This work demonstrates the scope of AlgU regulation in P. syringae pv. tomato DC3000 and characterizes the promoter sequence regulated by AlgU in these bacteria.
Integrating Vehicles and the Electricity Grid to Store and Use Renewable Energy

The world could be powered by renewable energy: more energy from the sun hits the earth in one hour than all of the energy consumed on our planet in an entire year. Achieving a low-carbon economy is less technology dependent than it is dependent on new, well-designed energy law that broadly shifts private incentives towards efficient use of renewable energy using of “game-changing” technology such as Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) motor vehicles that could shift the world to a low-carbon economy.V2G vehicles integrate separate energy conversion systems: the electricity grid and light vehicle transportation fleet by storing electricity from the grid when it is not needed and returning it to the grid when it is needed. The total U.S. light vehicle fleet power capacity is about 39 times the power generation capacity of the U.S. electrical generation system. The grid could use power stored in idle V2G batteries whenever needed, yet each vehicle would be tapped only within the constraints of its drivers’ specific schedule and driving needs. 20,000,000 V2G cars (just 10% of the U.S. fleet) with an average peak power rating of only 50 Kw would have the combined power capacity equivalent to the entire U.S. Electric grid. This fleet would be the backup system for a fully renewable (e.g., solar and wind) energy generation system. The benefits of a V2G system could be enormous: dramatic reductions in CO2 emissions and the adverse health effects of air pollution from burning fossil fuels and a more robust electric grid. A renewable energy V2G system could replace fossil fuels in many regions of the world.
Epigenetics in Multiple Myeloma.

Multiple myeloma is characterized by clonal proliferation of plasma cells within the bone marrow resulting in anemia, lytic bone lesions, hypercalcemia, and renal impairment. Despite advanced in our understanding of this complex disease in recent years, it is still considered an incurable malignancy. This is, in part, due to the highly heterogenous genomic and phenotypic nature of the disease, which is to date incompletely understood. It is clear that a deeper level of knowledge of the biological events underlying the development of these diseases is needed to identify new targets and generate effective novel therapies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), which are single strand, 20-nucleotide, noncoding RNA’s, are key regulators of gene expression and have been reported to exert transcriptional control in multiple myeloma. miRNAs are now recognized to play a role in many key areas such as cellular proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and stress response. Substantial advances have been made in recent years in terms of our understanding of the biological role of miRNAs in a diverse range of hematological and solid malignancues, In multiple myeloma these advances have yielded new information of prognostic and diagnostic relevance which have helped to shed light on epigenetic regulation in this disease.
Bank Mergers in North America: Comparing the Approaches in the United States and Canada

This Article provides a summary comparison of the processes in the United States and Canada for governmental approval of bank mergers. The topic came to prominence in 1998 when four of Canada's five largest banks unveiled plans that would have resulted in the Royal Bank of Canada merging with the Bank of Montreal and the Toronto Dominion Bank combining with the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce ("CIBC"). These proposed mergers were rejected by the then Finance Minister, Paul Martin. The reasons given included: (1) the resulting banking industry structure would have concentrated too much economic power in the hands of too few financial institutions; (2) the combinations would have reduced competition in the Canadian financial services sector; and (3) the reduction in the number of banks would have reduced the Canadian government's flexibility to address future concerns. Although the government rejected the 1998 mergers, the Finance Department in 1999 acknowledged that business combinations could be an appropriate business strategy in some circumstances. The government promised guidance as to when such combinations of large banks would be permitted. In 2001, the Department of Finance set forth its broad outlines for bank merger policy. One of the obvious differences with U.S. law is that the Canadian approach explicitly provides that the views of the public and political leaders are to be incorporated into the merger approval process. Since the issuance of the bank merger policy, the government has promised specific guidance about what types of combinations will be permitted, but it has yet to complete that policy document. This Article provides a comparison, in summary form, of the U.S. and Canadian approaches to the approval of bank mergers. It starts with a brief explanation of U.S. bank merger law and then lays out the evolving Canadian approach to large bank mergers. It concludes with a discussion of whether the Canadian approach will help the regulators of Canadian financial institutions address the deficiencies identified in the 1998 transactions.
Allometric length-weight relationships for benthic prey of aquatic wildlife in coastal marine habitats

We developed models to estimate the soft tissue content of benthic marine invertebrates that are prey for aquatic wildlife. Allometric regression models of tissue wet weight with shell length for 10 species of benthic invertebrates had r2 values ranging from 0.29 for hermit crabs Pagurus longicarpus to 0.98 for green crabs Carcinus maenas. As a class, bivalves had the highest r2 values (0.84) and crustaceans the lowest (0.48). Energy and nutrient content of soft tissue is also presented for the 10 benthic species. The energy content was lowest in crabs, and ranged within 2.20–4.71 kcal g-1 dry weight. Fat content was highly variable (range: 3.5–16.0%), and protein content ranged within 43.1–68.1% and was highest for shrimp Palaemonetes pugio. Comparison between classes of organisms of the amount of soft tissue per unit shell length showed that crustaceans yield five times more soft tissue per unit shell length than bivalves, and four times more than gastropods. The models we present use simple measures, such as the length of shell or wet weight of the entire animal, to quantitatively estimate the amount of available soft tissue in benthic prey that are usually consumed in total (with shell and soft tissue intact) but for which only the soft tissue is used for nutritional gain. This information can be combined with energy and nutrient content data to calculate energy or nutrient based carrying capacities that can help assess available resources for shorebirds, waterfowl and marine mammals.
Personal reflection and experience of a Fulbright Scholar: teaching a mental health course in Vietnam’s changing culture

AbstractThis paper documents the experience of developing and teaching a course on mental health for undergraduate social worker students during a semester in Vietnam. Social work is a profession at the early stages of development in Vietnam, requiring much curriculum development. There are over 40 universities with undergraduate social work education programs, but few of the faculty have had training or experience in practicing social work. The paper will summarize the main reasons for developing such a course given the current state of mental health need and services in a changing culture, as well as the current state of professional social work education and the newly established profession of social work. The author describes the contexts underlying the course—the status of social work and social work education in Vietnam, the context of mental health and mental illness in Vietnam, and curriculum adaptation to the cultural context. From this experience, the lessons learned about the role of cross-cult...
Adrenal responses of large whales: Integrating fecal aldosterone as a complementary biomarker to glucocorticoids.

Abstract Until now, physiological stress assessment of large whales has predominantly focused on adrenal glucocorticoid (GC) measures. Elevated GC concentrations in feces (fGC) are known to reflect stressful disturbances, such as fishing gear entanglement and human-generated underwater noise, in North Atlantic right whales ( Eubalaena glacialis ). However, there can be considerable variation in GC production as a function of sex and life history stage, which may confound the interpretation of fGC levels. Additionally, GC antibodies used in immunoassays can cross-react with other fecal metabolites (i.e., non-target steroids), potentially influencing fGC data. Here, aldosterone concentrations (fALD; aldosterone and related metabolites) were measured in fecal samples from right whales (total n = 315 samples), including samples from identified individuals of known life history (n = 82 individual whales), to evaluate its utility as a complementary biomarker to fGC for identifying adrenal activation. Concentrations of fALD were positively correlated with fGCs in right whales ( r = 0.59, P P
versat: a verified modern SAT solver

This paper presents versat, a formally verified SAT solver incorporating the essential features of modern SAT solvers, including clause learning, watched literals, optimized conflict analysis, non-chronological backtracking, and decision heuristics. Unlike previous related work on SAT-solver verification, our implementation uses efficient low-level data structures like mutable C arrays for clauses and other solver state, and machine integers for literals. The implementation and proofs are written in Guru, a verified-programming language. We compare versat to a state-of-the-art SAT solver that produces certified "unsat" answers. We also show through an empirical evaluation that versat can solve SAT problems on the modern scale.
A Diagnostic Surprise: Primary Hodgkin’s Lymphoma of the Lung:

An 81-year-old male presented to the emergency room with a 3-month history of progressive shortness of breath, productive cough with white sputum, and generalized weakness with 10-pound weight loss...
Examining age, sex, and race characteristics of velopharyngeal structures in 4- to 9-year old children using magnetic resonance imaging.

Objective:The purpose of this study was to quantify the growth of the various craniofacial and velopharyngeal structures and examine sex and race effects.Methods:Eight-five healthy children (53 white and 32 black) with normal velopharyngeal anatomy between 4 and 9 years of age who met the inclusion criteria and successfully completed the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were included in the study.Results:Developmental normative mean values for selected craniofacial and velopharyngeal variables by race and sex are reported. Facial skeleton variables (face height, nasion to sella, sella to basion, palate height, palate width) and velopharyngeal variables (levator muscle length, angle of origin, sagittal angle, velar length, velar thickness, velar knee to posterior pharyngeal wall, and posterior nasal spine to levator muscle) demonstrated a trend toward a decrease in angle measures and increase in linear measures as age increased (with the exception of posterior nasal spine to levator muscle). Only har...
Cell transplantation for gastroparesis

Pathogenesis of gastroparesis results from dysfunction at various levels of a complex neuromuscular network involving the interplay between central nervous system, enteric nervous system, interstitial cells of Cajal, and smooth muscle cells. Current therapies, whether pharmacologic or device-based (electrical stimulation), fail to restore proper function of this network. The ideal treatment would involve replacing disease or dead cells while maintaining appropriate spatial and temporal function of the network. Transplantation of stem cells offers a potential means to accomplish such a feat. In this chapter, we discuss the progress that has been made discovering various stem cell populations that may be suitable for such cell-based therapies. We focus on embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, neural stem cells, enteric neural progenitors, and progenitors of interstitial cells of Cajal.
Bend testing for miniature disks

A bend test was developed to obtain ductility measurements on a large number of alloy variants being irradiated in the form of miniature disks. Experimental results were shown to be in agreement wi...
Evaluating Sample Medications in Primary Care: A Practice-Based Research Network Study

Article-a-at-Glance Background No reports have objectively evaluated safety of samples in primary care practices. A study was conducted to determine adherence to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) recommendations for safe distribution of medication samples to minimize medication errors. Methods In 2004, 17 urban and rural primary care practices participated in a two-phase observational study: (1) a site visit to collect inventory data and perform assessment of medication sample dispensing procedures and (2) a survey questionnaire for providers and patients upon sample medication provision. Results No practices were compliant with all seven ISMP recommendations. Twelve of 17 practices had policies for sample medication dispensing, and 7 had policies for labeling. Sample medication use was evaluated for 585 office visits and 27 patient surveys. Fifty-eight sample medications were dispensed during 55 of 585 patient visits. Common reasons for using sample medications included availability and need for a short-term trial for a chronic medication. Verbal communication only was provided most of the time for patient education regarding appropriate sample medication use and side effects. Discussion Primary care practices in this research network did not follow safe and appropriate sample medication dispensing procedures as outlined by ISMP. Both labeling and patient instructions were inadequate and may increase the risk for medication errors.
Residual Veterinary Pharmaceuticals in Animal Manures and Their Environmental Behaviors in Soils

The worldwide heavy use of veterinary pharmaceuticals in confined animal-feeding operations has resulted in annual discharge of 3,000–27,000 tons of drug chemicals via livestock manure into the environment. More than 50 major antibiotics have been detected in poultry, swine, cattle, and horse manures at 0.01–765 mg kg−1 dry manure mass. In animal manures, most veterinary pharmaceuticals degrade rapidly via biochemical reactions, demonstrating a half-life time 2–30 days. In soils, veterinary pharmaceuticals interact with soil minerals, organic matter, and organisms and are subject to sorption, photohydrolysis, oxidation, and biodegradation. The soil distribution coefficient (Kd) values of animal pharmaceuticals range from 0.3 to 6,300 L kg−1, varying with the chemical species and soil properties. The persistence of veterinary pharmaceuticals in soils is influenced by soil type, organic matter content, pH, moisture content, and temperature. Though certain antibiotics such as roxithromycin, sarafloxacin, and virginiamycin are persistent, the vast majority of veterinary pharmaceuticals are degradable (half-life <30 days) in soils. The sorption, rapid degradation, and physical attenuation limit residual pharmaceuticals in the top 30-cm soil of agricultural land at generally less than 1 μg kg−1, posing little impacts on soil microorganisms, fauna, and plants. Nevertheless, veterinary pharmaceuticals could migrate from manured fields to water bodies via surface runoff and leaching. In North American drainage ditches and streams, up to 290 ng L−1 of animal antibiotics had been detected, although the concentrations were far below the no-observed-effect concentration levels of veterinary pharmaceuticals to aquatic organisms. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria have been identified in animal manures and livestock-handling workers, indicating the risk of antibiotic-resistant genes spread in association with veterinary pharmaceutical overuse and manure disposal. Future research should focus on developing standard composting protocols to eliminate residual veterinary pharmaceuticals and antibiotic-resistant pathogens from animal manures and on cultivating animal-feeding methods alternative to drug administration.
Visual Diagnosis: Severe Ulceronecrotic Eruption with Systemic Symptoms.

1. Kevin Kilgallon, MD* 2. Jagadisharaje Urs, MD* 3. Esteban Fernandez Faith, MD† 1. *Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 2. †Division of Dermatology, Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH A 13-year-old boy with a worsening skin eruption presents to a primary care clinic for a follow-up visit after a recent evaluation in the emergency department. The rash started 3 weeks earlier and continues to worsen despite supportive care and a short course of oral corticosteroids. The rash started on his left abdomen and quickly spread, becoming generalized. There are also multiple erythematous papules and plaques with large hemorrhagic crusts leaving punched out ulcerations on the neck, axillae, trunk, upper and lower extremities, buttocks, inguinal folds, and genitals (Fig). Similar but fewer lesions are present on the face. There are multiple purpuric papules with central vesicles involving the legs and dorsal feet. Palms, soles, and mucous membranes are not involved. In the past week, he reports having subjective fevers, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. His growth chart also shows an 8.1-lb (3.7-kg) weight loss in the past 17 days. Due to the appearance and severity of the rash, he is emergently referred to and evaluated in the dermatology clinic later that day. …
Performance Estimate of Inverse Rashba–Edelstein Magnetoelectric Devices for Neuromorphic Computing

We propose a new design for a cellular neural network with spintronic neurons and CMOS-based synapses. Harnessing the magnetoelectric and inverse Rashba–Edelstein effects allows natural emulation of the behavior of an ideal cellular network. This combination of effects offers an increase in speed and efficiency over other spintronic neural networks. A rigorous performance analysis via simulation is provided.
Comparing 3 Suture Techniques After Muscle Laceration Repair

Background: Skeletal muscle lacerations are a relatively common injury. Compared with nonrepaired lacerations, surgically repaired muscle lacerations regenerate faster, develop less scar tissue, have a higher return to baseline strength, and have lower incidence of hematomas. Despite the benefits of repair, the optimal repair technique is still unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the biomechanical properties of common muscle repair techniques to determine the optimal repair. Methods: Forty-two fusiform porcine muscle specimens were dissected and used for this study. Three suture techniques were used for comparative analysis: Figure-eight, Mason Allen, and Perimeter. Each muscle was transected and then repaired using one of the 3 techniques. Fourteen muscle-tendon specimens were prepared for each group and tested for tensile failure using a material testing system. Biomechanical properties, including peak failure point and stiffness, were compared for differences between the suture groups by 1-way analysis of variance. The average time per repair technique was also recorded. Results: The Perimeter technique showed a statistically significant higher peak failure point than the Mason Allen technique (P = .03). Both the Figure-eight (P = .047) and Perimeter techniques (P < .001) were significantly stiffer than the Mason Allen technique. The repair time was comparable across all 3 techniques. Conclusions: The Figure-eight and Perimeter repairs were found to be similar in peak failure point and stiffness, whereas the Mason Allen technique showed significantly lower stiffness and peak failure point. The Figure-eight was the quickest repair to perform. The Figure-eight technique may be strongly considered for muscle laceration repairs due to its simplicity and efficiency.
C0-estimates and smoothness of solutions to the parabolic equation defined by Kimura operators

Abstract Kimura diffusions serve as a stochastic model for the evolution of gene frequencies in population genetics. Their infinitesimal generator is an elliptic differential operator whose second-order coefficients matrix degenerates on the boundary of the domain. In this article, we consider the inhomogeneous initial-value problem defined by generators of Kimura diffusions, and we establish C 0 -estimates, which allows us to prove that solutions to the inhomogeneous initial-value problem are smooth up to the boundary of the domain where the operator degenerates, even when the initial data is only assumed to be continuous.
‘How I show up for Brown and Black students’: Asian American male mathematics teachers seeking solidarity

The ratio of Asian American teachers to Asian American students is the most disproportionate of all racial groups, where Asian American students are least likely to have an Asian American teacher. ...
When are Worry and Rumination Negatively Associated with Resting Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia? It Depends: The Moderating Role of Cognitive Reappraisal

Recent research has highlighted the importance of testing interactions between adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies when examining their associations with mental health. However, there has been little work on the interaction between adaptive strategies such as cognitive reappraisal and two forms of repetitive negative thinking (RNT)—worry and rumination. Furthermore, prior research has exclusively relied on self-report measures to assess mental health as the primary outcome and more research is needed to understand the psychophysiological correlates of emotion regulation. To address these limitations, we tested the interaction between cognitive reappraisal and RNT when predicting resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia, which measures heart rate variability across the respiratory cycle and is conceptualized as a transdiagnostic biomarker for psychopathology and emotion regulation capacities. We also predicted depression symptoms as a secondary outcome in an attempt to replicate prior research. In a sample of 233 undergraduates, we found that RNT had a negative association with resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia, but only among participants who reported low levels of cognitive reappraisal use. The effect of RNT on depressive symptoms was not moderated by cognitive reappraisal use. Overall, these results suggest that worry and rumination might have the most detrimental links with physiological functioning when people do not frequently use cognitive reappraisal to regulate affect. This study also underscores the necessity of utilizing psychophysiological measures when modeling interactions between regulatory strategies.
Cost, Risk-Taking, and Value in the Airline Industry

This chapter develops empirical measurements of the shape of airline firms’ cost functions as they relate to price variation of oil-based inputs and outputs during the 1998–2009 periods. Using the estimates, we assess the value-added potential for hedging and risk taking with respect to oil prices. We find reasons to believe that the potential value-added of hedging fuel costs with oil derivatives is somewhat limited on average, but that it varies across the business cycle. Our evidence helps explain why, although many airlines hedge, also many do not hedge, why hedging is incomplete, and why hedging intensity varies over time within many airlines.
Hospital Safety-Net Burden Is Associated With Increased Inpatient Mortality and Perioperative Complications After Colectomy

Abstract Background Colectomies are common yet costly, with high surgical-site infection rates. Safety-net hospitals (SNHs) carry a large proportion of uninsured or Medicaid-insured patients, which has been associated with poorer surgical outcomes. Few studies have examined the effect of safety-net burden (SNB) status on colectomy outcomes. We aimed to quantify the independent effects of hospital SNB and surgical site infection (SSI) status on colectomy outcomes, as well as the interaction effect between SSIs and SNB. Methods We used the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's State Inpatient Databases for California, Florida, New York, Maryland, and Kentucky. We included 459,568 colectomies (2009 to 2014) for analysis, excluding patients age Results Adjusting for patient, procedure, and hospital factors, colectomy patients were more likely to die in-hospital at high-burden SNHs (adjusted OR [aOR]: 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.25-1.51, P Conclusions Our study demonstrated that colectomy patients at SNHs have poorer outcomes, and for patients with SSIs, this disparity was even more pronounced in the likelihood for a complication. SNB should be recognized as a significant hospital-level factor affecting colectomy outcomes, with SSIs as an important quality metric.
Acute inflammation, mediated by lung neutrophils, confers enhanced protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in mice

Inflammation plays a crucial role in the control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) infection. In this study, we demonstrate that an inflammatory pulmonary environment at the time of infection mediated by liposaccharide (LPS) treatment in mice confers enhanced protection against M.tb for up to 6 months post infection. This transient protective inflammatory environment was associated with a neutrophil and monocyte/macrophage influx as well as increased inflammatory cytokines. In vitro infection of neutrophils from LPS treated mice demonstrated that LPS neutrophils exhibited increased recognition of M.tb, and had a greater innate capacity for killing M.tb. Finally, partial depletion of neutrophils in LPS treated mice showed an increase in M.tb burden, suggesting neutrophils conferred the enhanced protection observed in LPS treated mice. These results indicate a positive role of an inflammatory environment during initial M.tb infection, and suggests that acute inflammation at the time of M.tb infection can positively alter disease outcome.
Visitors’ attendance motivation and meaning making at a public science event

Opportunities to engage with science exist in a variety of non-formal educational contexts, but rarely have studies examined ways to leverage science interest and learning at community science even...
High-intensity interval training in cardiac rehabilitation

Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are increasing in the United States. Engaging in physical activity and improving cardiorespiratory fitness improve health and can decrease risk for morbidity and mortality. Physical activity is safe in individuals with cardiovascular disease and leads to a number of ameliorative health outcomes, although it is underutilized in general and especially in females and minorities. High-intensity interval training imparts the same or greater benefits to the general population as continuous endurance training, namely, in improving VO2max, quality of life, and metabolic health, among others. A main reason many individuals choose high-intensity interval training is due to the lower time commitment than continuous endurance training. High-intensity interval training has similar effects on individuals undergoing cardiac rehabilitation. High-intensity interval training has been fairly well studied in patients with coronary artery disease and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, but less well studied in patients with other conditions or procedures. Further research is needed among females, under-reached populations, and other disease conditions, and to establish guidelines for prescribing high-intensity interval training to cardiac rehabilitation patients.
Tiempo de gracia y tiempo de destino: Rafael Sánchez Ferlosio y la infrafilosofía

Este ensayo contrapone las nociones ferlosianas de “gracia” y “destino” y las lleva al terreno de la decision existencial. Introduce una nocion de “infrapolitica” entendida como practica teorica a ...
Using a MoCA Score to Predict the Probability of Medical Decision-Making Capacity in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or Dementia (1844)

Objective: To assess whether the MMSE and/or MoCA could be employed as screening tools to gauge medical decision-making capacity in patients with dementia Background: Although cognition is routinely assessed at clinical visits using screening tools such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE), a patient’s capacity to make their own medical decisions is not, and the available capacity assessment tools can be time consuming to use in practice. Employing the MoCA or MMSE as a concurrent screen for capacity could allow clinicians to better anticipate and direct goals of care conversations with patients and families. Design/Methods: 127 patients with MCI or dementia were recruited from the University of Chicago Memory Center. The MMSE, MoCA, and a formal medical decision-making capacity assessment tool were administered to all patients. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression models were fit for MMSE, MoCA, age, and gender as predictors of capacity. ROC curves were generated to assess sensitivity and specificity. Cross-validation was performed to estimate the area under the ROC curve (AUC). Results: The mean (±SD) MoCA score for the cohort was 16±7. The mean MMSE score was 20±7. Approximately 40% (51/127) of patients were determined to have capacity using the formal capacity tool. The best model to predict capacity incorporated the MoCA alone, and the cross-validated AUC was .898 (95% CI: .792–.929). The probability of having capacity with a MoCA of 22 was 75% (95% CI: 63%–87%). The probability of having capacity with a MoCA of 15 was 24% (95% CI: 13%–35%). Conclusions: By employing the MoCA as a screen for capacity, clinicians can utilize a common clinical tool to better inform their conversations about goals of care with patients and families. Validation of these findings in an independent dataset is warranted. Disclosure: Noam Margalit has nothing to disclose. Dr. Alshaikh has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mastrianni has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for CVS Caremark. The institution of Dr. Mastrianni has received research support from Brain Research Foundation.
Combined density functional theory/kinetic Monte Carlo investigation of surface morphology during cycling of Li-Cu electrodes

Abstract We employed a combined density functional theory and kinetic Monte Carlo approach in order to investigate the nanoscale behavior of lithium stripping and plating on lithium-copper nanoalloys. Density functional theory calculations were used to develop an atom-by-atom understanding of the nucleation behavior of lithium on copper surfaces with different surface morphologies. We found that nanometric pits resulted in significantly more favorable lithium deposition when compared to pristine or lightly-defective Cu surfaces, which is in agreement with previous experimental studies. We then used density functional theory and constrained ab initio molecular dynamics to develop interaction and reaction parameters for a larger-scale kinetic Monte Carlo model in order to provide insight into the stripping and plating behavior of nanostructured Li-Cu nanoalloy anodes. Substantial losses in capacity and strong indications of morphological change were observed for a wide range of Cu:Li ratios over 100 cycles. We observed a complex relationship between the nanoparticle composition and the properties of the formed solid-electrolyte interphase.
Multiple Endocrine Adenomatosis

Multiple endocrine adenomatosis is a familial disorder characterized by pluriglandular abnormalities, most commonly expressed as hypersecretory syndromes. The underlying histological abnormality consists of hyperplasia, adenoma, or even carcinoma.