cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Domino Reaction Catalyzed by Zeolites with Brønsted and Lewis Acid Sites for the Production of γ‐Valerolactone from Furfural

The development of more carbon efficient and economically viable lignocellulosic biomass conversion technologies is critical for the sustainable production of liquid transportation fuels and chemicals. The molecule g-valerolactone (GVL) has gained attention as a versatile platform chemical for the production of liquid alkenes, as a solvent for biomass processing, as an approved fuel additive, and as a precursor for renewable polymers. Biomass-derived GVL is currently produced by the multistep processing of the carbohydrate fractions of lignocelluloses, wherein acid catalysts transform sugars into levulinic acid (LA), and noble-metal catalysts reduce LA to GVL with molecular hydrogen (H2). [5,6] This strategy suffers from several limitations that hinder the large-scale manufacture of GVL. In particular, the LA-reduction step necessitates precious-metal catalysts (e.g., Ru or Pt) or high H2 pressures (> 30 bar), which have been shown to negatively impact the economics of GVL-derived transportation fuels. Formic acid has emerged as an alternative to molecular H2, but noble metals and/or harsh conditions are still required to carry out the hydrogenation step. Inexpensive supported transition metals (e.g., Cu/ Al2O3) are active but suffer from leaching and/or sintering during the reaction. For the large-scale production of GVL, catalytic schemes are required that maximize product yields without the use of precious metals, high H2 pressure, or an excessive number of unit operations. Transfer-hydrogenation (TH) reactions, such as the Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley (MPV) reaction, offer an attractive alternative to molecular H2 for the reduction of targeted functional groups. The interaction between the catalyst, the hydrogen donor, and the acceptor molecule can be modulated to impact activity and selectivity. Many catalysts are active for TH reactions, including organometallic compounds, transition metals, and metal oxides featuring acid/base properties. Pure-silica zeolites containing a small amount of tetravalent heteroatoms with open coordination sites (e.g., Zr or Sn) have also been used as solid Lewis acids to promote TH reactions. Wise and Williams used homogeneous Ru complexes and Chia and Dumesic used heterogeneous metal oxides to produce GVL from levulinate derivatives by TH reactions with high yields. Corma and co-workers demonstrated the efficacy of Sn-Beta and Zr-Beta zeolites for the intermolecular MPV reaction between alcohols and ketones in organic solvents. Sn-Beta and other tin-containing silicates have also been shown to transform hexoses, pentoses, and trioses through intramolecular hydride and carbon-atom shifts in both organic and aqueous media. Herein, we report an integrated catalytic process for the efficient production of GVL from furfural (Fur) through sequential TH and hydrolysis reactions catalyzed by zeolites with Bronsted and Lewis acid sites (Scheme 1). In our
MILLIAN PRINCIPLES, FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, AND HATE SPEECH

Hate speech employs discriminatory epithets to insult and stigmatize others on the basis of their race, gender, sexual orientation, or other forms of group membership. The regulation of hate speech is deservedly controversial, in part because debates over hate speech seem to have teased apart libertarian and egalitarian strands within the liberal tradition. In the civil rights movements of the 1960s, libertarian concerns with freedom of movement and association and equal opportunity pointed in the same direction as egalitarian concerns with eradicating racial discrimination and the social and economic inequalities that this discrimination maintained. But debates over hate speech regulation seem to force one to give priority to equality or to liberty. On the one hand, egalitarian concerns may seem to require restricting freedom of expression. Hate speech is an expression of discriminatory attitudes that have a long, ugly, and sometimes violent history. As such, hate speech is deeply offensive to its victims and socially divisive. Though one might well be reluctant to restrict speech, it might seem that the correct response to hate speech, as with other forms of discrimination, is regulation. On the other hand, libertarian concerns may seem to constrain the pursuit of equality. Though one may abhor hate speech and its effects, the cure might seem at least as bad as the disease. Freedoms of expression are among our most fundamental liberties. Offensive ideas are part of the price one must pay to protect these constitutional rights.
Trends and Patterns of Latin American Urbanization, 1750–1920

This paper finds its point of departure in population figures for 8 Latin American countries and 61 cities during the period 1750 to 1920 (Tables 2–9, pp. 435–43). This span is a convenient one for the study of Latin American urban development. Prior to the mid-eighteenth century, population statistics, at least those available from printed sources, become sparse and unreliable, and one begins to get totals of householders rather than head counts. Moreover, the wide swings in current estimates of regional populations for the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries make relative urbanization rates problematical even when one has good data for towns. For the time being, the functional scale for urban places proposed by Hardoy and Aranovich (1969; 1970) seems a more appropriate index for the Hapsburg and early Bourbon periods than a purely quantitative one. After 1920, when more frequent and modern national censuses facilitate data collection, a new era in Latin American urban development commences, marked by economic nationalism, broadened political participation, centralized economic planning, import substitution, the politicoeconomic ascendancy of the United States, and massive internal migrations.
Physiological indices of seawater readiness in postspawning steelhead kelts

Management goals to improve the recovery of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) stocks at risk of extinction include increasing the proportion of postspawning fish that survive and spawn again. To be successful, postspawning steelhead (kelts) migrating downstream to the ocean must prepare physiologically and physically for a seawater transition. We sampled blood, gill filaments, and evaluated the external condition of migrating kelts from an ESA-listed population in the Snake/Columbia River system over two consecutive years to evaluate their physiological readiness for transition to seawater. We chose attributes often considered as measures of preparation for seawater in juveniles, including gill Na+,K+ ATPase activity, plasma electrolytes and hormones to consider factors related to external condition, size and sex. We found kelts in good external condition had plasma profiles similar to downstream-migrating smolts. In addition, we found more than 80% of kelts ranked in good external condition had smolt-like body silvering. We compared measures from migrating kelts with samples obtained from hatchery fish at the time of spawning to confirm that Na+, K+ ATPase activity in kelts was significantly elevated over spawning fish. We found significant differences in gill Na+, K+ ATPase activity in migrating kelts between the years of sampling, but little indication of influence of fish condition. We conclude that the postspawning steelhead sampled exhibited a suite of behaviours, condition and physiology characteristic of fish prepared for successful transition to a seawater environment.
No evidence for bilinear condensate in parity-invariant three-dimensional QED with massless fermions

Numerical lattice simulations with a carefully taken continuum limit strongly indicate the absence of a bilinear condensate in three-dimensional massless QED for any even number of two-component fermions, ${N}_{f}\ensuremath{\ge}2$, solving a long-standing open question.
Pediatric cardiovascular grafts: historical perspective and future directions

Tissue-engineered cardiovascular patches, cardiac valves, and great vessels are emerging solutions for the surgical treatment of congenital cardiovascular abnormalities due to their potential for adapting with the growing child. The ideal pediatric cardiovascular patch/graft is non-thrombogenic, phenotypically compatible, and matches the compliance and mechanical strength of the native tissue, both initially and throughout growth. Bottom-up tissue engineering approaches, in which three-dimensional tissue is built layer-by-layer from scaffold-less cell sheets in vitro, offer an exciting potential solution. Cell source variability, sheet patterning, and scaffold-less fabrication are promising advantages offered by this approach. Here we review the latest developments and next steps in bottom-up tissue engineering targeted at meeting the necessary design criteria for successful pediatric cardiac tissue-engineered grafts.
Zinc Availability in the Chick as Affected by Phytate, Calcium and Ethylenediaminetetraacetate

Abstract IN THE original description of zinc deficiency in the chick, O’Dell and Savage (1957) reported that the zinc in soy protein was less available than that in casein and gelatin. This difference between plant and animal proteins for the chick has been confirmed in several laboratories (Morrison and Sarett, 1958; Moeller and Scott, 1958; Ziegler et al., 1958) and similar observations have been made with swine (Smith et al., 1962). The observation that the addition of phytic acid to animal protein diets decreased the availability of zinc both to the chick (O’Dell and Savage, 1960) and to the pig (Oberleas et al., 1962), has led to the hypothesis that the difference in availability between animal and plant protein is due to the phytate content of the latter. Several groups of investigators have shown that autoclaving either the total diet or the plant protein source makes the zinc more available (Supplee…
Two Types of Procedural Dissatisfaction with Institutions: Lessons from Faculty Senate Reform *

n their seminal work on public attitudes toward national government institutions, John R. Hibbing and Elizabeth Theiss-Morse emphasized how perception of decision-making processes colors evaluation of policy-making bodies. Why do people especially tend to dislike what Congress does? Hibbing and TheissMorse concluded, in part, that it is because conflict-laden legislative decisions are made in view of the public-and most people don't like what they see. In a characteristically blunt passage, they wrote:
The Impact of Publicly Owned Hotels on Competing Properties

Substantial public subsidies, and even outright public ownership, of hotels have become common in the United States as communities target tourism as an integral economic development tool. A critica...
Silk as a Biomaterial to Support Long-Term Three-Dimensional Tissue Cultures

Tissue engineering has broad and diverse impacts on a variety of different applications from tissue regeneration to drug screening. While two-dimensional (2-D) cell culture platforms are suitable for tissue interfaces where planar surfaces are relevant, three dimensional (3-D) tissue models have enhanced relevance and sustainability over 2-D devices. The improvements between 2-D and 3-D functions and sustainability are related to the limitations of 2-D systems to support proper cellular morphology and signaling over time, resulting in cell overgrowth or changes in viability. For sustainable (long-term) cultures, 3-D silk protein scaffolds provide biocompatibility, porous features for transport, robust yet tunable mechanical properties, retain size and open porous structures for extended time frames due to slow proteolytic biodegradation, avoid specific cell signaling, and require no chemical cross-linking. Silk degradation can be extended for months to years without premature collapse of structures (that ...
Discussion on calculation method of carbon disulfide and determination in workplace air with GC-FPD

[Objective]To develop a method for determining carbon disulfide in air by gas chromatography.[Methods]Solution was separated with gas chromatography and determined with FPD detection,the desorption efficiency of toluene to carbon disulfide from activated carbon was observed.[Results] Quadratic equation was a better calibration method of standard curve,y = 0.001,x2 + 0.081 x + 0.118 7,r = 1.The errors were below 6%.The repeated RSD was below 2%.The lower limit of quantization was 0.21 μg/ml.Determination of the concentration of carbon disulfide solution could satisfy the work requirements.Toluene as a desorption solution,the desorption efficiencies were between 20%-27%,the results were much lower.[Conclusion]The established GC-FPD separation and detection,quadratic fitted standard curve method can be used for quantitative determination of carbon disulfide solution.The techniques of desorption on activated carbon disulfide with toluene as desorption solution even other desorption solution need to be further studied.
Change of Leukotriene E4 Levels in Serum and Urine of Infants with Early Wheezing before and after Intervention and Its Clinical Significance

Objective To explore the change of leukotriene E4(LTE4) levels in serum and urine in acute period of early wheezing in infants after being intervened by leukotriene(LTS) receptor antagonist for 12 h and 72 h and its clinical significance. Methods Serum and urine samples of the patients diagnosed with infant early wheezing within 24-hours hospitalization were collected,and all the patients took the LTS receptor antagonist.There were 38 patients who provided serum samples,and 77 patients who provided urine samples 12 h after medication;there were 10 patients who provided serum samples,and 13 patients who provided urine samples 72 h after medication.The concentration of LTE4 in serum and urine before and after intervention were detected respectively,and the changes of LTE4 levels in serum and urine in infant early wheezing patients after being intervened by LTS receptor antagonist for 12 h and 72 h were observed. Results The LTE4 concentration in serum in infant early wheezing group after intervention for 12 h,median(M) was 90.66 ng·L-1 and interquartile range(Q) was 459.32 ng·L-1.Compared with the LTE4 concentration in serum before intervention(542.37 ng·L-1,788.65 ng·L-1),there was a significant discrepancy between them(Pa0.01).The LTE4 concentration in serum in infant early wheezing group after intervention for 72 h,M was 67.97 ng·L-1 and Q was 167.69 ng·L-1,compared with the LTE4 concentration in serum before intervention(310.53 ng·L-1,630.36 ng·L-1),there was a significant discrepancy between them(Pa0.05).The LTE4 concentration in urine in infant early wheezing group after intervention for 12 h,M was 7.00 ng·L-1 and Q was 12.74 ng·L-1.Compared with the LTE4 concentration in urine before intervention(7.84 ng·L-1,15.40 ng·L-1),there was no statistical discrepancy between them(Pa0.05).The LTE4 concentration in urine in infant early wheezing group after intervention for 72 h,M was 3.92 ng·L-1 and Q was 9.52 ng·L-1.Compared with the LTE4 concentration in urine before intervention(1.96 ng·L-1,5.74 ng·L-1),there was no statistical discrepancy between them(Pa0.05). Conclusions After being intervened by the LTS receptor antagonist for 12 h and 72 h,the LTE4 concentration in serum decreased significantly.It revealed that LTS receptor antagonist can decrease the serum LTE4 concentration in infant early wheezing patients in a short time(≤3 days),It provides the experimental basis for the use of LTS receptor antagonist in acute period of infant early wheezing.After being intervened by the LTS receptor antagonist for 12 h and 72 h,the urinary LTE4 concentration didn′t change significantly.It revealed that application of LTS receptor antagonist for a short time(≤3 days) didn′t significantly influence the urinary LTE4.
Convention attendance and gaming volume in South Korean casinos

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to advance a theoretical model by estimating the effects of convention attendance on gaming volume (both monthly coin-in and table game drop). Design/methodology/approach – Performance monthly data from two casinos in South Korea are used to test the research model. Specifically, time series regression modeling was performed on the data with the dependent variables including coin-in and table drop and the independent variables including convention attendance and hotel occupancy. Findings – The hotel occupancy variable was found to significantly increase slot coin-in at a rate of 113,603,912 KRW (approximately US$93,500) per month at Casino A. Interestingly, this variable had a significant negative relationship with coin-in per month at Casino B. Meanwhile, the hotel occupancy variable failed to produce any significant effect in the table drop model at both casinos. The convention attendance variable also had no significant effect on both coin-in and table drop at bot...
"I Broke My Ankle": Access to Orthopedic Follow-up Care by Insurance Status.

Objectives While the Affordable Care Act seeks to reduce emergency department (ED) visits for outpatient-treatable conditions, it remains unclear whether Medicaid patients or the uninsured have adequate access to follow-up care. The goal of this study was to determine the availability of follow-up orthopedic care by insurance status. Methods Using simulated patient methodology, all 102 eligible general orthopedic practices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, were contacted twice by a caller requesting follow-up for an ankle fracture diagnosed in a local ED using a standardized script that differed by insurance status. Practices were randomly assigned to paired private and uninsured or Medicaid and uninsured scenarios. Results We completed 204 calls: 59 private, 43 Medicaid, and 102 uninsured. Appointment success rate was 83.1% for privately insured (95% confidence interval [CI] = 73.2% to 92.9%), 81.4% for uninsured (95% CI = 73.7% to 89.1%), and 14.0% for Medicaid callers (95% CI = 3.2% to 24.7%). Controlling for paired calls to the same practice, an uninsured caller had 5.7 times higher odds (95% CI = 2.74 to 11.71) of receiving an appointment than a Medicaid caller (p < 0.001), but the same odds as a privately insured caller (odds ratio = 1.0, 95% CI = 0.19 to 5.37, p = 1.0). Uninsured patients had to bring a median of $350 (interquartile range = $250 to $400) to their appointment to be seen, and only two uninsured patients were able to obtain an appointment for $100 or less up front. In comparison, typical total payments collected for privately insured patients were $236 and for Medicaid patients $128. When asked where else they could go, 49 (48%) uninsured callers and one Medicaid caller (2%) were directed to local public hospital EDs as alternative sources of care. Of the practices that appeared on Medicaid's published list of orthopedic providers accepting new patients, 15 told callers that they did not accept Medicaid, 11 did not treat ankles, nine listed nonworking phone numbers, and only three actually scheduled an appointment for the Medicaid caller. Conclusions Less than one in seven Medicaid patients could obtain orthopedic follow-up after an ED visit for a fracture, and prices quoted to the uninsured were 30% higher than typical negotiated rates paid by the privately insured. High up-front costs for uninsured patients and low appointment availability for Medicaid patients may leave these patients with no other option than the ED for necessary care.
Operative Versorgung suprakondylärer Humerusfrakturen im Kindesalter

Hintergrund Obwohl suprakondylare Humerusfrakturen die haufigsten kindlichen Ellbogenfrakturen sind, besteht Uneinigkeit uber die optimale operative Versorgung mit lediglich schwacher Empfehlung fur ein rein radiales Einbringen der Kirschner-Drahte. An unserer Klinik ist die gekreuzte Kirschner-Draht-Osteosynthese nach wie vor das Standardverfahren.
Education and the minimum wage in the United States

This article shows that, across the US states, the level of education has a causal effect on the minimum wage. More specifically, it argues that a one-percentage point increase in the proportion of...
Compact delay matching solution for reference clock in PCB

This paper proposes a compact delay matching solution for reference clock in PCB. The proposed method provides up to 70% area saving compared to the traditional length matching methods. It also provides design and layout flexibility. Effectiveness of the matching network, electrical static performance, and component variation impacts are simulated and compared to conventional methods.
1710c Unexpected invitation to become a co-author or: how i learned to stop worrying and love systematic reviews

All of us are recipients of health care, and most of the ICOH Congress participants also provide health services. As patients and providers we expect that the service being rendered stands on a solid scientific base. Nowadays, with the expansion of publications and communication channels, we hear a lot about evidence-based practice (EBP) and systematic reviews. Systematic reviews, are the most important type of scientific review because they are central to evidence-based practice, but they can be misunderstood or even intimidating to some. Examination of the contributions of systematic reviews to occupational health and the processes to get familiarised, became a user and participate in the implementation of evidence-based practices to prevent work-related disorders. Locating pertinent Cochrane resources and reviews, and defining what are answerable questions and eligible sources of evidence for a Cochrane Review. Examples will focus on a Cochrane review that examined the effectiveness of enforcement tools for preventing occupational diseases and injuries and a second one that examined interventions to promote the use of hearing protections and other efforts to control noise and promote hearing loss prevention. To be able to offer evidence-based practices, occupational health professional need to recognise the need and approaches that will allow him/her to be a lifelong learner, by keeping current with evidence-based professional practice, and engage in continuing competence and professional development activities. Disclaimer The findings and conclusions in this abstract have not been formally disseminated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy.
Quality control in microbiology. I. Utilization of reference laboratory data.

To determine the pathogenicity, epidemiology, susceptibility to antibiotics, and frequency of each biochemical characteristic of microbial isolates, the data obtained at different laboratories should be acquired by the use of tests of equal reactivity: This report compares the results obtained at two institutions, and the usefulness of the comparison in detecting breaks of technic and errors in identification keys.
Should parents see their teen's medical record? Asking about the effect on adolescent-doctor communication changes attitudes.

Objective Parents routinely access young children's medical records, but medical societies strongly recommend confidential care during adolescence, and most medical centers restrict parental records access during the teen years. We sought to assess public opinion about adolescent medical privacy. Materials and methods The Cornell National Social Survey (CNSS) is an annual nationwide public opinion survey. We added questions about a) whether parents should be able to see their 16-year-old child's medical record, and b) whether teens would avoid discussing sensitive issues (sex, alcohol) with doctors if parents could see the record. Hypothesizing that highlighting the rationale for adolescent privacy would change opinions, we conducted an experiment by randomizing question order. Results Most respondents (83.0%) believed that an adolescent would be less likely to discuss sensitive issues with doctors with parental medical record access; responses did not differ by question order (P = .29). Most also believed that parents should have access to teens' records, but support for parental access fell from 77% to 69% among those asked the teen withholding question first (P = .01). Conclusions Although medical societies recommend confidential care for adolescents, public opinion is largely in favor of parental access. A brief "nudge," asking whether parental access might harm adolescent-doctor communication, increased acceptance of adolescent confidentiality, and could be part of a strategy to prepare parents for electronic patient portal policies that medical centers impose at the beginning of adolescence.
Simultaneous quantification of N-butylthiophosphoric triamide and dicyandiamide in urea formulation by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry.

A new liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method employing a mixed-mode zwitterionic stationary phase was developed for simultaneous determination of urease inhibitor (N-butylthiophosphoric triamide) and nitrification inhibitor (dicyandiamide) in urea fertilizer. Molecular modeling based on density functional theory calculations was employed to provide an insight into the interaction mechanism of urea, dicyandiamide, and N-butylthiophosphoric triamide with zwitterionic stationary phase in chromatographic separation system. The detection of analytes was performed on a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer in multiple reaction monitoring mode using positive electrospray ionization. The ion transitions monitored were m/z 85→68 for dicyandiamide and m/z 168.2→74 for N-butylthiophosphoric triamide, respectively. The standard calibration curves of dicyandiamide and N-butylthiophosphoric triamide were linear over the range of 1.0 15 ppm (coefficient of determination = 0.9984), 0.05 1 ppm (coefficient of determination = 0.9995), with limit of detection of 25 and 5 ppb, respectively. The recoveries of low, middle, and high concentrations were from 96.7 to 105.8% for N-butylthiophosphoric triamide and 94.4 to 105.8% for dicyandiamide with accuracy (relative error %) of ≤5.8% and ≤5.8%, the precision (coefficients of variation) was ≤2.0% and ≤2.9%, respectively. The validated method was successfully applied on real urea samples to determine N-butylthiophosphoric triamide and dicyandiamide simultaneously.
An innovative technique based on voltammetric profiling and current–voltage characteristics for determination of residual direct-current voltage of liquid crystal cells

ABSTRACTGeneration of residual direct-current (DC) voltage (VrDC) induces a serious image sticking of liquid crystal displays (LCDs). In this study, an innovative technique to determine the VrDC of...
Effects of a potassium channel opener on brain injury and neurologic outcomes in an animal model of neonatal hypoxic–ischemic injury

Hypoxia–ischemia (HI) is the most common cause of brain injury in newborns and the survivors often develop cognitive and sensorimotor disabilities that undermine the quality of life. In the current study, we examined the effectiveness of flupirtine, a potassium channel opener, shown previously in an animal model to have strong anti-neonatal-seizure efficacy, to provide neuroprotection and alleviate later-life disabilities caused by neonatal hypoxic–ischemic injury. The rats were treated with a single dose of flupirtine for 4 days following HI induction in 7-day-old rats. The first dose of flupirtine was given after the induction of HI and during the reperfusion period. The effect of treatment was examined on acute and chronic brain injury, motor functions, and cognitive abilities. Flupirtine treatment significantly reduced HI-induced hippocampal and cortical tissue loss at acute time point. Furthermore, at chronic time point, flupirtine reduced contralateral hippocampal volume loss and partially reversed learning and memory impairments but failed to improve motor deficits. The flupirtine treatment regimen used in the current study significantly reduced brain injury at acute time point in an animal model of neonatal hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy. However, these neuroprotective effects were not persistent and only modest improvement in functional outcomes were observed at chronic time points.
Religious Minorities in Christian, Jewish and Muslim Laws (5th–15th Centuries): edited by Nora Berend, Youna Hameau-Masset, Capucine Nemo-Pekelman and John Tolan, Turnhout, Brepols, 2017, 454 pp., €85.00 (paperback), ISBN 978-503-56571-2

This volume represents the conclusion of a five-year project sponsored by the European Research Council (ERC) focusing on the legal status of religious minorities of the Euro-Mediterranean world. O...
The role of elasticity in thixotropy: Transient elastic stress during stepwise reduction in shear rate

Despite the wide-spread use and importance of thixotropic materials, accurate theoretical descriptions are still limited to a handful of model transient flow conditions. We employ an iterative series of tests to experimentally probe the complex dynamics exhibited by thixotropic materials. We use flow cessation tests to identify transient elastic stresses during stress jump tests. It is shown that the evolution of the elastic stress closely follows that of total stress in the series of stress jump tests, indicating that elasticity is a significant contributor to thixotropy.
Improving the Body Imaging Division at the University of Virginia Health System

This field-based case explores the University of Virginia's Body Imaging Division (BID) along with the group's new director, Arun Krishnaraj, who is trying to assess and ameliorate the frustrations, confusions, delays, and other issues BID and its patients are dealing with.Krishnaraj knew instinctively that there was much untapped potential in BID and significant value that could be created for the patients receiving care there. In addition, the entire health system and all BID employees would benefit from removing the waste in the various processes. The key would be moving beyond individual definitions of the issues toward a commonly accepted description of both the problem and the best approach to finding real solutions.The case challenges the students to define a problem-solving process and implement Lean/A3 thinking to address BID's problems. The case can be sued to show how Lean thinking can be applied in a nonmanufacturing setting, specifically health care. Excerpt UVA-OM-1597 Jul. 3, 2018 Improving the Body Imaging Division at the University of Virginia Health System A 64-year-old gentleman presented to the hospital with a fever and elevated white blood cell count, which are signs of an infection. After admission and treatment with antibiotics, the patient did not respond as expected. A CT scan of the abdomen was ordered, which revealed an organized fluid collection in the abdominal cavity. The referring physician requested that the fluid collection be aspirated and potentially drained under image guidance to determine if the fluid collection was the source of infection. —Arun Krishnaraj . . .
Targeting triglyceride metabolism for colorectal cancer prevention and therapy.

BACKGROUND Triglycerides (TG) are one of the major constituents of body fat and energy reservoir, which consist of an ester derived from glycerol and three free fatty acids. TG lipase, monoacylglycerol lipase, fatty acid synthase, and HMG-CoA reductase are some of the key enzymes related to TG metabolism, and their roles in colorectal cancer (CRC) initiation and progression are under investigation. Methods: The literature search was performed based on various published papers, mostly on triglyceride metabolism relevant to CRC in PubMed, Google Scholar and other search engines. The gene expression profiling of some of the TG metabolic pathway mediators was performed by transcriptomic and/or proteomic data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database using R program and cBioportal software. Results and discussion: Accumulating pieces of evidence suggest that TG profiling may be used as a biomarker for the diagnosis and/or prognosis of CRC. Dysregulation of TG metabolism is associated with the initiation and progression of CRC. Most of the TG anabolic pathway mediators are overexpressed and/or overactivated during CRC tumorigenesis, while most TG catabolic pathway mediators are downregulated and/or inactivated based on literature search and correlated with TCGA data. Metabolic enzymes of TG and FAs metabolic pathways are involved in CRC tumor growth survival and metastasis. Conclusion: Overall studies from the previous literature and our TCGA data analysis demonstrated that the area of research on TG-associated lipid metabolic pathways holds great promise and warranted detailed investigations in this area for the implementation of novel preventive and therapeutic strategies against CRC.
Cost management and corporate payout decisions

We investigate the relationship between cost management and dividend payout decisions. Prior studies document that firms with consistent earnings or transitory losses tend to pay out dividends (Skinner and Soltes in Rev Acc Stud 16:1–28, 2011). Ham et al. (J Financ Econ 136: 547–570, 2020) suggest that dividends contain information about the level of permanent earnings. In addition, sales changes influence cost management because cost management has a direct effect on earnings. Prior research shows that when a firm experiences a temporary sales decline, managers are resistant to cutting resources (as quickly as they increase resources when sales grow) due to the expectation that sales will rebound (Anderson et al. J Account Res 41:47–63, 2003). We find that cost stickiness is positively associated with dividend yield. Furthermore, we show that this positive association is concentrated in firms with: (a) selling, general, and administration (SGA (b) higher ability managers; and (c) no successive sales decreases.
Fiber/Matrix Interface Studies Using Fragmentation Test

Some fiber-resin composite interface work done at the Naval Research Laboratory is reviewed beginning with several applied studies and progressing to more fundamental work. Butadiyne (diacetylene) was evaluated as a novelcarbon-fiber surface treatment applied via vapor deposition polymerization. Results of its application to high-strength carbon fibers, high-modulus carbon fibers, and aramid fibers are summarized. Reduction of carbon-fiber surface polarity by annealing under hydrogen was evaluated as a means to decrease the sensitivity of the interface to moisture. In the above experiments the fragmentation test was used to determine relative levels of adhesion and the mechanisms of failure at the fiber/matrix interface. Comparisons of the adhesion of high-modulus and high-strength carbon fibers to epoxy and cyanate matrices were used to evaluate models for the fragmentation test. For high-modulus fibers the adhesion was poor and a friction factor approach may be suitable for modeling this type of interfacial failure. For high-strength fibers the adhesion was much higher and possibly limited by the shear properties of the matrix. The simple mechanics models discussed previously do not explain adhesion changes where chemistry is the only variable. In a study of three matrix resins with comparable mechanical properties a linear dependence was shown between measured "good" adhesion and relative resin model compound basicity.
Biocontrol Systems in Food Intake

Energy balance is maintained by a multiple-sensor, closed feedback system, with a regulated input as well as output. Food intake is one of the major effector elements for regulating input in this system. In this chapter I would like to discuss the system controlling feeding behavior as a problem in psychobiology, or more specifically, in behavioral physiology (Jacobs, 1965). I shall first outline the currently accepted view of feeding regulation, note its limits, outline an alternative view consistent with current trends in the literature, and report some behavioral and physiological evidence in agreement with it.
Tripled Comparison in Automatic Classification

In order to classify a given set, assume that the only available information about the resemblance between the elements of the set to be classified is of the following type: for each triplet (i,j,k) one knows which of the elements i and j is “more similar” to k. This structure is called a Triordonnance defined on the set to be classified. This report deals with new techniques to solve the above mentioned problem.
ESSAYS ON SCIENCE AND SOCIETY: In Search of Einstein's Genius.

Steve C. Wang is a lecturer in the Department of Statistics at Harvard University. He earned his B.S. from Cornell University and his Ph.D. in statistics from the University of Chicago. He has taught statistics and mathematics at the University of Chicago and Williams College. His research interests include applying statistics to paleobiology, endocrine diseases, and image recognition.
The human LT system. III. Characterization of a high molecular weight LT class (complex) composed of the various smaller MW LT classes and subclasses in association with Ig-like molecules

Abstract Cytotoxic activity (lymphotoxin (LT)) present in supernatants from lectin stimulated human lymphocytes in vitro is composed of a heterogeneous system of biological macromolecules which can be separated into multiple classes and subclasses on the basis of their molecular weight and charge. These studies further characterize a large molecular weight human LT class, termed complex (MW >200,000 d), which elutes in the void volume off Sephadex G-150 or Ultrogel AcA 44. Immunological studies on the complex, employing various rabbit anti-LT class and subclass antisera, revealed this material is a macromolecular assemblage of the smaller MW α, β, γ LT classes and subclasses. Furthermore, the reactivity of this material with anti-human Fab′ 2 (IgG) indicates these smaller molecular weight LT components can associate with immunoglobulin or Ig-like molecules. The materials present in the LT complex class appear to be noncovalently associated, since conditions of high ionic strength dissociate certain small MW LT components, while low ionic strength buffers may cause these components to reaggregate with the complex. When subjected to velocity sedimentation on sucrose gradients or gel filtration on Ultrogel AcA 22, LT complex activity elutes as several discrete peaks of activity in the 200,000 to 1,000,000 MW range. These findings suggest the concept that LT molecules can form discrete and specific macromolecular structures which contain the smaller MW LT classes. Moreover, these structures can also associate with immunoglobulin-like molecules to form secondary LT-Ig complexes. This may have important biological significance in explaining how nonspecific cell toxins could play a role in specific or nonspecific cell lytic reactions in vitro .
Model Checking Abstract Components within Concrete Software Environments

In order to model check a software component which is not a standalone program, we need a model of the software which completes the program. This is typically done by abstracting the surrounding software and the environment in which the entire system will be executed. However, abstracting the surrounding software artifact is difficult when the surrounding software is a large, complex artifact. In this paper, we take a new approach to the problem by abstracting the software component under test and leaving the surrounding software concrete. We compare three abstraction schemes, bitstate hashing and two schemes based on predicate abstraction, which can be used to abstract the components. We show how to generate the mixed abstract-concrete model automatically from a C program and verify the model using the SPIN model checker. We give verification results for three C programs each consisting of hundreds or thousands of lines of code, pointers, data structures and calls to library functions. Compared to the predicate abstraction schemes, bitstate hashing was uniformly more efficient in both error discovery and exhaustive state enumeration. The component abstraction results in faster error discovery than normal code execution when pruning during state enumeration avoids repeated execution of instructions on the same data.
Mitochondrial endonuclease G is important for apoptosis in C. elegans

Programmed cell death (apoptosis) is a tightly regulated process of cell disassembly in which dying cells and their nuclei shrink and fragment and the chromosomal DNA is degraded into internucleosomal repeats1,2,3. Here we report the characterization of the cps-6 gene, which appears to function downstream of, or in parallel to, the cell-death protease CED-3 of Caenorhabditis elegans in the DNA degradation process during apoptosis. cps-6 encodes a homologue of human mitochondrial endonuclease G4,5, and its protein product similarly localizes to mitochondria in C. elegans. Reduction of cps-6 activity caused by a genetic mutation or RNA-mediated interference (RNAi) affects normal DNA degradation, as revealed by increased staining in a TUNEL assay, and results in delayed appearance of cell corpses during development in C. elegans. This observation provides in vivo evidence that the DNA degradation process is important for proper progression of apoptosis. CPS-6 is the first mitochondrial protein identified to be involved in programmed cell death in C. elegans, underscoring the conserved and important role of mitochondria in the execution of apoptosis.
Photoluminescence-based measurements of the energy gap and diffusion length of Zn3P2

The steady-state photoluminescence spectra of zinc phosphide (Zn_3P_2) wafers have revealed a fundamental indirect band gap at 1.38 eV, in close proximity to the direct band gap at 1.50 eV. These values are consistent with the values for the indirect and direct band gaps obtained from analysis of the complex dielectric function deduced from spectroscopic ellipsometric measurements. Bulk minority carrier lifetimes of 20 ns were observed by time-resolved photoluminescence decay measurements, implying minority-carrier diffusion lengths of ≥ 7 µm.
Brief Summary of Jetty Island History

More than 50,000 people annually come to a two-mile long, man-made island in Everett, Washington to relax on sandy beaches, wade in warm and shallow water, join guided nature hikes, watch wildlife, kayak around the perimeter and kite board with steady afternoon winds. Jetty Island is recognized today as one of Snohomish County’s top recreational and wildlife resources but if the founders of Everett had achieved their goals then the riprap jetty would have more closely resembled Seattle’s Harbor Island. Today’s Jetty Island is not only a top tourist destination but also a wildlife conservation area. Its sandy beaches, mud flat and salt water marshes provide important habitat not as readily available elsewhere in Snohomish River delta. It supports an abundance of wildlife, including bald eagles, Chinook salmon, osprey, bull trout, and blue heron. In fact, observers have identified 115 species of birds in the vicinity of the island. Everett’s treasured island may not have realized the potential envisioned by city founders but it stands in sharp contrast to Seattle’s Harbor Island, an industrialized and toxic Superfund site.
Role of Cation Complexants in the Synthesis of Alkalides and Electrides

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the requirements, design, and methodology involved in the synthesis of alkalides and electrides, culminating with the recent designed synthesis of a thermally stable electride. Solid alkalides and electrides are formed by precipitation, crystallization, or solvent evaporation from solutions that contain complexed cations and either alkali metal anions or solvated electrons. No quantitative equilibrium data are available for complexant-free alkali metal solutions in the solvents used to synthesize alkalides and electrides (MeNH 2 , EtNH 2 , Me 2 O). It is the irreversible decomposition of oxa–complexants rather than decomplexation that limits the temperature stability of alkalides and electrides that contain crown ethers and cryptands. Research with alkalides and electrides would certainly have been simpler if crown ethers and cryptands were able to withstand the strong reducing power of alkali metal anions and trapped electrons. In the study of the decomposition products of some thirty solid alkalides and electrides that contained CH 2 -O-CH 2 -CH 2 -O-CH 2 groups, it was found that the initial products were ethylene and a glycolate.
Parallelizing 1-Dimensional Estuarine Model

Wave simulation is an important problem in engineering. Wave simulation models play a significant role in environment protection. Thus far wave simulations have been mostly done in serial. In order to meet the demand for increased spatial and temporal resolution and uncertainty analysis in environmental models for ecological assessment and water resources management, it is essential to develop high-performance hydrodynamics and water quality models using parallel techniques. In this paper, we propose algorithms for parallelizing 1-dimensional estuarine models. We have implemented these algorithms using PVM. Our experiments show that these algorithms are efficient and the performance of the parallel estuarine model is excellent.
Isolation and characterization of a disulfide-linked human stem cell factor dimer. Biochemical, biophysical, and biological comparison to the noncovalently held dimer.

Distinct from the noncovalently linked recombinant human stem cell factor (rhSCF) dimer, we report here the isolation and identification of an SDS-nondissociable dimer produced during folding/oxidation of rhSCF. Experimental evidence using various cleavage strategies and analyses shows that the isolated dimer is composed of two rhSCF monomers covalently linked by four disulfide bonds. The cysteines are paired as in the noncovalently associated dimer except that all pairings are intermolecular rather than intramolecular. Other structural models, involving intertwining of intramolecular disulfide loops, are ruled out. The molecule behaves similarly to the noncovalently associated dimer during ion-exchange or gel permeation chromatography. However, the disulfide-linked dimer exhibits increased hydrophobicity in reverse-phase columns and in the native state does not undergo spontaneous dimer dissociation-association as seen for the noncovalent dimer. Spectroscopic analyses indicate that the disulfide-linked and noncovalently associated rhSCF dimers have grossly similar secondary and tertiary structures. In vitro, the disulfide-linked dimer exhibits approximately 3-fold higher biological activity in supporting growth of a hematopoietic cell line and stimulating hematopoietic cell colony formation from enriched human CD34+ cells. The molecule binds to the rhSCF receptor, Kit, with an efficiency only half that of the noncovalently associated dimer. Formation of intermolecular disulfides in the disulfide-linked dimer with retention of biological activity has implications for the three-dimensional structure of noncovalently held dimer and disulfide-linked dimer.
Tourism and Sherpas, Nepal

Abstract Despite nearly 40 years of involvement in tourism and its heavy demands for wage labor, Nepalese Sherpas have found ways to reconstitute traditional productive relations in their new economy. This article takes a cultural approach to tourism capitalism. Sherpa reciprocal labor in the form of kinship, and other types of exchanges, has been reconstituted in mountain tourism alongside well-established patterns of wage labor. It is suggested that the Sherpa logic that informs and shapes Sherpa economic endeavors is a cultural logic revolving around tendencies toward both independence and interdependence into which new tourism opportunities can fit.