cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimal Bankrupts — Deadbeats on an International Treadmill

One of the most famous bankers in US history was Charlie (nee Carlos) Ponzi, who ran a small financial institution in one of the Boston suburbs in the 1920s. Charlie promised to pay his depositors or investors 30 percent interest a month. All went well for three or four months; the number of investors increased rapidly and the earlier investors received their interest payments on a timely basis. Then in the fourth or fifth month, the inflow of new funds was smaller than the interest payments on the outstanding deposits, and Charlie defaulted on his promises. Eventually Charlie went to jail.
A nonlinear stochastic growth model on discrete time domains

In this paper, we introduce nonlinear stochastic dynamic problems on discrete time domains where events may occur at unevenly spaced time points. We define Euler equation and transversality condition for the problem. We prove that the Euler equation and the transversality condition are sufficient for the existence of the optimal solution. Next we generalize discrete time Cagan type rational expectation model to multivariate case. As an application of the main results, we obtain an explicit solution to a log-linearized nonlinear stochastic growth model.
Abnormalities in High-Energy Phosphate Metabolism in First-Episode Bipolar Disorder Measured Using 31P-Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Abstract Background Brain energy metabolism is critical for supporting synaptic function and information processing. A growing body of evidence suggests abnormalities in brain bioenergetics in psychiatric disorders, including both bipolar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia. 31 P magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 31 P-MRS) provides a non-invasive window into these processes in vivo . Using this approach, we previously showed that patients with bipolar disorder show normal ATP and phosphocreatine (PCr) levels at rest but cannot maintain normal ATP levels in the visual cortex during times of high energy demand (photic stimulation). Since ATP is replenished from PCr via the creatine kinase (CK) reaction, we have now measured the CK forward reaction rate constant (CK k f ) in BD. Methods We studied 20 patients experiencing a first episode of BD and 28 healthy controls at 4 Tesla and quantified CK k f using 31 P Magnetization Transfer MRS ( 31 P-MT-MRS) as previously described. Results We found a significant reduction in CK k f in the BD group (F=4.692, p=0.036), while brain ATP and PCr concentrations, as well as brain parenchymal pH were normal. Conclusions These results pinpoint a specific molecular mechanism underlying our previous observation of an inability to replenish brain ATP during times of high energy demand in BD.
Requirements for testing of active interrogation systems

ACTIVE-INTERROGATION (AI) systems automatically determine if special nuclear material (SNM) is present in an object (e.g., an intermodal cargo container) by observing the radiation emitted by the object when it has been exposed to an external radiation source. Active interrogation systems range from those that only indicate the presence of high-Z materials, to fissionable material detection, to those that detect specific SNM materials [1].
Effects of liquid nitrogen pretreatment on the osmotic dehydration and quality of cryogenically frozen blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.)

Abstract Blueberries are a widely consumed fruit known for their high antioxidant content. Due to their short shelf life at refrigerated temperatures, they can be frozen or dried to overcome perishability limitations. Liquid nitrogen pretreatment may be able to increase the permeability of blueberries’ skin, thereby amplifying the effects of osmotic dehydration through increased transfer of moisture and solids. This study evaluated the effects of liquid nitrogen pretreatment on osmotic dehydration and the resulting physicochemical properties of cryogenically frozen blueberries. Blueberries were immersed in liquid nitrogen (− 196 °C) for 10 s and then thawed. Pretreated and un-pretreated samples were placed in a 60°Brix sucrose solution (40 °C) for 8 h, followed by cryogenic freezing. Liquid nitrogen pretreated blueberries experienced greater moisture loss and solids gain than un-pretreated samples after osmotic dehydration, while having similar anthocyanin and total phenolic contents. This study demonstrated that liquid nitrogen pretreatment facilitates water and sugar diffusion in blueberries during osmotic dehydration while maintaining nutritional quality.
Air quality impacts of implementing emission reduction strategies at southern California airports

Abstract Reducing aviation emissions will be a major concern in the coming years, as the relative contribution of aviation to overall emissions is projected to increase in the future. The South Coast Air Basin of California (SoCAB) is an extreme nonattainment area with many airports located upwind of the most polluted regions in the basin. Techniques to reduce aviation emissions have been studied in the past, and strategies that can be implemented at airports include taxi-out times reduction, ground support equipment electrification and aviation biofuel implementation. These strategies have been analyzed only at the national scale, their effectiveness to improve air quality within the SoCAB given the local meteorology and chemical regimes is unclear. This work studies how the adoption of the techniques at commercial SoCAB airports affect ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations. In addition, potential impacts on public exposure to PM2.5 and O3 resulting from changes in the concentration of these pollutants are estimated. In addition, the work calculates aviation emissions for each scenario and simulate the transport and atmospheric chemistry of the pollutants using the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model. The simultaneous application of all reduction strategies is projected to reduce the aviation-attributable population weighted ground-level PM2.5 by 36% in summer and 32% in winter. On the other hand, O3 increases by 16% in winter. Occurring mostly in densely populated areas, the decrease in ground-level PM2.5 would have a positive health impact and help the region achieve attainment of national ambient air quality standards.
Mechanistic study of the hydrodeoxygenation of lignin-derived oxygenates on a CoPt bimetallic catalyst: reaction of anisole on Co-modified Pt(111)

Temperature programmed desorption and high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy were used to characterize the adsorption and reaction of anisole (C6H5–OCH3) on Pt(111) and Co-decorated Pt(111) surfaces. On both surfaces anisole was found to undergo O–CH3 bond cleavage to form an oxocyclohexadienyl-structured intermediate (C6H6O) which bonds to the surface in a η5-π configuration. Interaction of the O atom in this intermediate with Co adatoms was found to facilitate selective cleavage of the C–O bond to produce adsorbed benzene or phenyl groups. In parallel with this pathway, unselective decomposition of adsorbed anisole was also found to occur. The results obtained in this study along with those previously reported for the reaction of anisole on Zn-decorated Pt(111) surfaces provide further insight into how the addition of a second more oxyphilic metal to Pt affects surface reaction pathways and the hydrodeoxygenation selectivity of lignin-derived aromatic oxygenates.
Popular 20th Century Office Reprographic Processes—A Guide to Identification and Preservation:

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the major reprographic processes from the past two centuries and present specific information on each to aid in identification, maintenance, and care. For ...
Case report: Ampicillin-induced stone formation causing bilateral ureteral obstruction during pelvic surgery.

Numerous medications can predispose patients to stone formation. Some induce metabolic changes that alter urine chemistries, such as topiramate, which can cause a mixed renal tubular acidosis. Others or their breakdown products form stones composed of the drugs themselves, like those that are renally excreted and become supersaturated in the urine in a favorable environment.1,2 Like all stones, they can cause obstruction and infection. Here we present a case of ampicillin stone formation in an 11-year-old girl during a pelvic reconstructive procedure, which required ureteral stenting to prevent obstruction from an institutional guideline's perioperative antimicrobial dosing. While there are many reports of amoxicillin and ampicillin crystalluria, there is only one account in the literature of an adult with resultant ureteral obstruction requiring intervention.3, 4, 5 Our case is the first report, to our knowledge, in a child, and highlights the potential for significant crystal formation and if unrecognized, complete urinary obstruction. Since ampicillin is a commonly administered perioperatively, awareness of ampicillin stone formation during surgery is important.
Amphiphilic Peptides for Efficient siRNA Delivery

A number of amphiphilic cyclic peptides-[FR]4, [WR]5, and [WK]5-containing hydrophobic and positively-charged amino acids were synthesized by Fmoc/tBu solid-phase peptide methods and evaluated for their efficiency in intracellular delivery of siRNA to triple-negative breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468, in the presence and absence of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE). Among the peptides, [WR]5, which contains alternate tryptophan (W) and arginine (R) residues, was found to be the most efficient in the delivery of siRNA by improving the delivery by more than 3-fold when compared to other synthesized cyclic peptides that were not efficient. The data also showed that co-formulation of [WR]5 with lipid DOPE significantly enhanced the efficiency of siRNA delivery by up to ~2-fold compared to peptide alone. Based on the data indicating the efficiency of [WR]5 in siRNA delivery, peptides containing arginine residues on the ring and tryptophan residues on the side chain, [R6K]W6 and [R5K]W5, were also evaluated, and demonstrated improved delivery of siRNA. The presence of DOPE again enhanced the siRNA delivery in most cases. [WR]5, [R5K]W5, and [R6K]W6 did not show any significant toxicity in MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, and AU565 WT cells at N/P ratios of 20:1 or less, in the presence and absence of DOPE. Silencing of kinesin spindle protein (KSP) and Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) was evaluated in MDA-MB-231 cells in the presence of the peptides. The addition of DOPE significantly enhanced the silencing efficiency for all selected peptides. In conclusion, peptides containing tryptophan and arginine residues were found to enhance siRNA delivery and to generate silencing of targeted proteins in the presence of DOPE.
Universal Services: The Foundation for Effective Prevention

Universal services play an important role in defining and shaping public health efforts in multiple domains. In the area of child protection, however, preference has been given to developing interventions which target support to parents who have failed in their parenting responsibilities or who demonstrate high levels of risk. Despite increased investments in this approach, a singular reliance on targeted interventions and reactive child protection policies have not reduced the prevalence of poor outcomes for children living in the most disadvantaged circumstances. This chapter argues that doing better with these most challenged families requires the development of a universal base of preventive services available for all families. By recognizing the universal needs of all children and the universal challenges caretakers and communities face in addressing these needs, a public health response which includes assistance to all families can maximize the impacts of more focused efforts. This universal option is not about giving everyone a new entitlement; it is about raising awareness around our collective responsibility for child protection and ensuring all families are provided access to the level of support they require. The chapter outlines the rationale for this approach and suggests specific best practice standards to guide the development of a more effective child protection policy, one which builds on a universal foundation of support for all new parents.
Effect of Gastric Acid Suppressants on Response to a Physical Activity Intervention and Major Mobility Disability in Older Adults: Results from the Lifestyle Interventions for Elders (LIFE) Study.

OBJECTIVES Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine2 receptor antagonists (H2 RAs) are associated with pharmacologic effects that may be detrimental to mobility and response to physical activity. Mobility disability and injurious fall outcomes in PPI and H2 RA users were compared with nonusers in this secondary analysis of data from the Lifestyle Interventions for Elders (LIFE) study. METHODS Participants ages 70-89 years were randomized to a physical activity (PA) or successful aging intervention and evaluated by medication use. Confounders included baseline demographic characteristics, physical function, cognitive function, sleep quality, and acid reflux symptoms that were adjusted via propensity score weighting. Outcomes were incident and persistent major mobility disability (MMD and pMMD) and injurious falls. Weighted proportional hazard models evaluated independent and interaction effects of PPIs and H2 RAs. RESULTS No interaction was found between PPIs and H2 RAs and the PA intervention. Drug use associations were significant for H2 RAs (hazard ratio [HR] 1.74 [95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12-2.68]) and PPIs (HR 1.32 [95% CI 1.02-1.70]) compared with nonusers for pMMD. PPIs were associated with increased injurious falls compared with nonusers (HR 1.44 [95% CI 1.06-1.96]). Pooling of data from the H2 RA and PPI exposure groups showed a 26% increase in MMD (HR 1.26 [95% CI 1.07-1.48]), a 44% increase in pMMD (HR 1.44 [95% CI 1.16-1.77]), and a 48% increase in injurious falls (HR 1.48 [95% CI 1.15-1.91]) compared with nonusers. All direct comparisons between PPIs and H2 RAs were nonsignificant. CONCLUSIONS Compared with nonusers, participants using either PPIs or H2 RAs had an increased risk of MMD, pMMD, and injurious falls. It is not known if these effects are related to the individual pharmacology of each medication, reduced acid secretion, or the underlying disease state. Further study is required to determine causality.
Leptin's hunger-suppressing effects are mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis in rodents

Leptin informs the brain about sufficiency of fuel stores. When insufficient, leptin levels fall, triggering compensatory increases in appetite. Falling leptin is first sensed by hypothalamic neurons, which then initiate adaptive responses. With regard to hunger, it is thought that leptin-sensing neurons work entirely via circuits within the central nervous system (CNS). Very unexpectedly, however, we now show this is not the case. Instead, stimulation of hunger requires an intervening endocrine step, namely activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis. Increased corticosterone then activates AgRP neurons to fully increase hunger. Importantly, this is true for 2 forms of low leptin-induced hunger, fasting and poorly controlled type 1 diabetes. Hypoglycemia, which also stimulates hunger by activating CNS neurons, albeit independently of leptin, similarly recruits and requires this pathway by which HPA axis activity stimulates AgRP neurons. Thus, HPA axis regulation of AgRP neurons is a previously underappreciated step in homeostatic regulation of hunger.
Transforming Activity of AML1-ETO Oncoprotein Is Independent of CBFβ and ETO but Requires Homo-Oligomeric Interaction.

AML1/RUNX1 and CBFb encode two critical transcription factors essential for the generation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). In acute myeloid leukemia, where leukemic stem cells (LSCs) have been functionally identified, AML1 and CBFb also represent the most commonly mutated targets. While animal models indicate that AML1 fusions per se are not sufficient to induce full-blown leukemia, they enhance self-renewal and expand targeted HSC and early progenitors, a property also reported for other oncogenic transcription factors involved in acute leukemia. Although attempts had been made to identify the critical domains required for AML-ETO (AE) mediated transformation, conflicting results were presented from most of these studies using exploited wellestablished cell lines, which suffer from the pitfall of carrying irrelevant genetic aberrants that may not reflect the normal biology of the disease. The only available structure/ function data on primary cells was limited to NHR2 of the ETO portion of the fusion, but it does not distinguish the functional contribution between homo-oligomerization and hetero-oligomerization. The lack of comprehensive structure/function data has not only significantly impeded the progress of understanding the biology of the disease, but also hinders the development of specific therapeutics. To this end, we performed extensive functional analysis to identify the key components essential for AE-mediated transformation of primary hematopoietic cells. In spite of the critical role of CBFb for wild type AML1 functions and its direct involvement in chromosomal translocation, we demonstrate that multiple AE single point mutants defective in CBFb interaction were still capable of transforming primary hematopoietic cells. Consistently, shRNA mediated knockdown of the endogenous expression of CBFb in primary cells did not compromise the transforming activity of AE, strongly suggesting a dispensable function of CBFb in AE mediated transformation. On the other hand, we demonstrate that NHR2 as the only domain in the ETO portion of the fusion is essential for transformation, but its heterooligomeric function including interaction with transcriptional repressor ETO family proteins is dispensable for the transforming activity. In contrast, synthetic FKBP homooligomerization modules could functionally replace NHR2, indicating that AE mediated transformation is critically dependent on homo-oligomeric property of the resultant fusion. Moreover, the transformation can also be abolished by a small molecule inhibitor that specifically dissociates homo-oligomerization. Together, these results not only identify the essential components and refine potential avenues for therapeutic targeting of AE oncogenic complexes, but also strongly endorse a common homo-oligomerization dependent mechanism shared by the most prevalent leukemia associated transcription factors.
Pricing open source software

In this paper, we examine the issue of pricing open source software. We compare three different pricing mechanisms: commercial software, open source software dual-licensing, and open source software support. We investigate whether the open source software pricing models are viable under monopoly and duopoly when an open source software vendor competes with a commercial software vendor. Our model considers the motivation for and the barrier to open source software adoption, which provides a better picture of the open source software market. We identify the factors that affect the optimal pricing strategy of the commercial and the open source software vendors. Our results can give pricing guidelines to the open source software vendors in the case of monopoly and duopoly, which is not clear in the current state.
Dealing with your first complications: Strategies for anticipation, management, communication, and support

Abstract The first years of practice are a time of high pressure and rapid professional maturation. Young surgeons are more likely than their senior colleagues to encounter clinical issues they have never considered. At the same time, because their referral systems are not developed, they will see a higher proportion of patients with urgent conditions that compound the risk for clinical complications. This paper examines how to deal with the non-clinical aspects of your first complications and specifically how to prepare for and manage yourself, your patients, your practice, and your relationships after these adverse events.
Influence of post-deposition selenization and cadmium chloride assisted grain enhancement on electronic properties of cadmium selenide thin films

We report on the growth, grain enhancement, doping, and electron mobility of cadmium selenide (CdSe) thin films deposited using the thermal evaporation method. The optical measurement shows CdSe is a direct bandgap material with an optical bandgap (Egap) of 1.72 eV. CdSe thin films were deposited on fluorine doped tin oxide glass substrates with different thicknesses, and grain size and mobility were measured on the films. CdCl2 was deposited on the films, and the films were subjected to high temperature treatment for several hours. It was found that both grain sizes increased significantly after CdCl2 treatment. The mobility of electrons was measured using the space charge limited current technique, and it was found that the mobility increased significantly after CdCl2 treatment. It was discovered that postdeposition selenization further improved the electrical properties of CdSe thin films by increasing the electron mobility-lifetime product and the photo/dark conductivity ratio. CdSe films after postselenization also showed significantly lower values for midgap states and Urbach energies for valence band tail states.
Neural basis of basic composition: what we have learned from the red–boat studies and their extensions

Language is our mind's most powerful generative system for the expression of meaning and thought. What are the neural mechanisms of our ability to compose complex meanings from simpler representati...
Unmet needs in the acute treatment of migraine attacks and the emerging role of calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonists: An integrative review.

Background Migraine is a prevalent and chronic disease associated with high rates of disability and significant financial and socioeconomic burden. Current acute treatments for migraine attacks include both migraine-specific (e.g., triptans, ergotamines) and nonspecific (e.g., nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) medications; however, significant unmet treatment needs remain. Objectives The authors sought to characterize the nature and drivers of unmet treatment needs in the acute treatment of migraine attacks and describe emerging migraine-specific treatments, that is, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonists. Data sources PubMed searches were conducted using search terms for studies of unmet migraine treatment needs and CGRP receptor antagonists. Additionally, studies presented at recent headache-focused congresses were included. Conclusions Forty percent of people with migraine report at least 1 unmet treatment need. Many people are unable to use migraine-specific or nonspecific agents because of contraindications, precautions, and tolerability issues. Disease burden (disability, headache severity/frequency) remains high even in those receiving migraine-specific medications. The oral CGRP receptor antagonists, ubrogepant and rimegepant, demonstrated efficacy in reducing migraine pain, migraine-associated symptoms, and disability, with a low adverse event profile, similar to placebo. Implications for practice The availability and use of CGRP receptor antagonists may help reduce the extent of unmet needs in the treatment of migraine attacks, resulting in more patients receiving treatment and better outcomes for people with migraine. Nurse practitioners are well positioned to increase rates of migraine diagnosis/treatment (another key unmet need), using consensus guidelines to guide their approach.
Ultrasound-Enabled Noninvasive Management of Inadvertent Carotid Cannulation.

INTRODUCTION Despite ultrasound use, accidental carotid cannulation is possible during placement of a central venous catheter (CVC), requiring operative repair of the carotid artery and removal of the catheter. CASE PRESENTATION We report 2 cases-a 59-year-old Hispanic man and an 86-year-old white man-of inadvertent placement of a CVC into the left common carotid artery, removed via a pull-and-pressure technique under real-time ultrasound guidance. No complications occurred and follow-up imaging was negative for fistula creation, hematoma, or cerebral infarcts. DISCUSSION Prior cases have reported accidental carotid cannulations that required operative repair. Our discussion focuses on the complications of removal of CVCs from the common carotid, and the utility, feasibility, and safety of using real-time ultrasound guidance in the removal. CONCLUSION While operative removal of CVCs accidentally placed in the carotid is recommended, an ultrasound-enabled pull-and-pressure technique may prevent complications and avoid need for surgical repair in critically ill patients.
Early Report on Published Outcomes in Kidney Transplant Recipients Compared to Nontransplant Patients Infected With Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Abstract Background Kidney transplant recipients (KTR) present unique characteristics, including disease vintage, immunosuppression, and single functioning kidneys. We conducted preliminary analyses to assess the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on outcomes in KTR compared to nontransplant patients. Methods We evaluated published information in peer-reviewed journals between January 1, 2020, and April 24, 2020, with available data on acute kidney injury (AKI), renal replacement therapy (RRT), intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and death and compared clinical outcomes in KTR vs nontransplant recipients with COVID-19. Results A total of 19 published articles were identified, including a total of 88 KTR and 5342 nontransplant patients. The sample size varied between 2 and 2634. Mean age was 58.6 years vs 58.9 years in KTR vs nontransplant patients. Patient-level incidence of AKI (27.5% vs 13.3%, P Conclusion Early results suggest that the KTR are at significantly higher risk of AKI, RRT, and ICU stay from SARS-CoV-19 infection compared to the general population. The risk of death may not be significantly different.
Law librarianship in the age of AI: Edited by Ellysa Kroski, Chicago, American Library Association, 2019, 190 pp., $66.99 (paperback), ISBN 978-08389-4627-5

Artificial Intelligence (hereinafter AI) has moved from the realm of futuristic science fiction to the everyday work world. Television ads tout the ability of IBM’s Watson to forecast agricultural ...
The effects of charter school enrollment losses and tuition reimbursements on school districts: Lifting boats or sinking them?

We analyze a natural experiment in which policymakers in Pennsylvania first implemented, and later removed, reimbursements to districts for students exiting to brick and mortar and cyber charter sc...
Exercise Improves Endothelial Function Associated with Alleviated Inflammation and Oxidative Stress of Perivascular Adipose Tissue in Type 2 Diabetic Mice

Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT), a type of adipose tissue that surrounds the blood vessels, has been considered an active component of the blood vessel walls and involved in vascular homeostasis. Recent evidence shows that increased inflammation and oxidative stress in PVAT contribute to endothelial dysfunction in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Exercise is an important nonpharmacological approach for vascular diseases. However, there is limited information regarding whether the beneficial effects of exercise on vascular function is related to the PVAT status. In this study, we investigated whether exercise can decrease oxidative stress and inflammation of PVAT and promote the improvement of endothelial function in a T2D mouse model. Diabetic db/db (5-week old) mice performed treadmill exercise (10 m/min) or keep sedentary for 8 weeks. Body weight, fasting blood glucose levels, glucose, and insulin tolerance were determined. The cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ, and TNF-a) and adiponectin levels, macrophage polarization and adipocyte type in PVAT, oxidative stress, and nitric oxide (NO) expression in the vascular wall were evaluated. The adhesion ability of primary aorta endothelial cells was analyzed. Our data showed that (1) diabetic db/db mice had increased body weight and fasting blood glucose level, compromised glucose tolerance, and insulin sensitivity, which were decreased/improved by exercise intervention. (2) Exercise intervention increased the percentage of multilocular brown adipocytes, promoted M1 to M2 macrophage polarization, associating with an increase of adiponectin and IL-10 levels and decrease of IFN-γ, IL-6, and TNF-a levels in PVAT. (3) Exercise decreased superoxide production in PVAT and the vascular wall of diabetic mice, accompanied with increased NO level. (4) The adhesion ability of aorta endothelial cells to leukocytes was decreased in exercised db/db mice, accompanied by decreased intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) expressions. Of interesting, coculture with PVAT-culture medium from exercised db/db mice could also reduce ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expressions in primary endothelial cells. In conclusion, our data suggest that exercise improved endothelial function by attenuating the inflammation and oxidative stress in PVAT.
On the validation of ability measures in school psychology: Do established psychometric standards matter?:

In this rejoinder, we address Kettler’s comments regarding our article for this special section regarding the validation practices employed with recently translated and adapted versions of the Wech...
Human Microbiota Flagellins Drive Adaptive Immune Responses in Crohn's Disease.

Background and Aims Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are characterized by dysregulated adaptive immune responses to the microbiota in genetically susceptible individuals, but the specificity of these responses remains largely undefined. Therefore, we developed a microbiota antigen microarray to characterize microbial antibody reactivity, particularly to human-derived microbiota flagellins, in inflammatory bowel disease. Methods Sera from healthy volunteers (n = 87) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and from patients recruited from the Kirklin Clinic of University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital, including patients with Crohn's disease (n = 152) and ulcerative colitis (n = 170), were individually probed against microbiota bacterial flagellins of both mouse and human origin and analyzed for IgG and IgA antibody responses. Circulating flagellin-reactive T effector (CD4+CD154+) and T regulatory (CD4+CD137+) cells were isolated and evaluated in selected patients. Resulting adaptive immune responses were compared with corresponding clinical data to determine relevancy to disease behavior. Results We show that patients with IBD express selective patterns of antibody reactivity to microbiota flagellins. Patients with Crohn's disease, but not patients with ulcerative colitis, display augmented serum IgG to human ileal-localized Lachnospiraceae flagellins, with a subset of patients having high responses to more than 10 flagellins. Elevated responses to CBir1, a mouse Lachnospiraceae flagellin used clinically to diagnose CD, correlated with multi-Lachnospiraceae flagellin reactivity. In this subset of patients with CD, multi-flagellin reactivity was associated with elevated flagellin-specific CD154+CD45RA– T memory cells, a reduced ratio of flagellin-reactive CD4+ T regulatory to T effector cells, and a high frequency of disease complications. Conclusions Patients with Crohn's disease display strong adaptive immune response to human-derived Lachnospiraceae flagellins, which may be targeted for prognosis and future personalized therapies.
Associations in preventive sexual health service utilization and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) interest among young Black women in the United States, 2018.

Despite declines in HIV prevalence among all U.S. women, HIV remains a serious concern for Black women. PrEP is an effective biomedical intervention and has high acceptability among Black women. Th...
Myeloperoxidase immunohistochemical staining can identify glomerular endothelial cell injury in dense deposit disease.

Previous studies have demonstrated residual complement-mediated deposits in repeat kidney biopsies of C3 glomerulopathies (C3G) (dense deposit disease (DDD) and C3 glomerulonephritis) following eculizumab treatment, despite some clinical improvement. With residual complement deposition, it is difficult to determine whether there is a reduced complement-mediated endothelial cell injury. We validated that myeloperoxidase (MPO) immunohistochemical staining identified glomerular endothelial cell injury in crescentic glomerulonephritis and C3G. We report that MPO staining in the glomerular endothelium of the post-treatment kidney biopsy was significantly reduced after 3 years of eculizumab treatment and clinical improvement in a 5-year-old boy with initial DDD and secondary crescent formation. We find that immunostaining for MPO is a useful method to compare glomerular endothelial injury in C3G following eculizumab treatment. This finding also supports the notion that eculizumab, a C5 blocker, may not mainly block C3 deposits in the glomeruli but significantly blocks final activation of the complement cascade, thus reducing glomerular endothelial cell injury.
Decentralized secure protocol for inter-vehicle communication networks

In this paper, we propose a secure protocol for intervehicle communication (IVC) networks without the use of centralized roadside infrastructure. Future vehicles may use wireless IVC networks to exchange safety-critical information among each other. IVC networks do not have a centralized control, and instead rely on vehicles to coordinate with each other to exchange information. Because of the open medium, security is a concern in IVC networks. Vehicles need a mechanism to authenticate the safety-critical information that will be exchanged in IVC networks. A trusted third party Certificate Authority (CA) can provide such a mechanism through public-key certificates. However, the disadvantage of using public-key certificates is that drivers can identify each other. The certificate will allow privacy concern. In this paper, we propose to use RSA public key algorithm and Digital Signature Algorithm (DSA) to solve the security and privacy concerns in IVC networks. The paper presents a detailed description of our protocol, and shows its performance analysis in terms of processing times.
Transfer of the T-DNA from Agrobacterium Tumefaciens to Plant Cells

We have devised a technique to follow the transfer of the A. tumefaciens Ti-plasmid from the bacterium to the plant cell. This assay, based on co-cultivation procedure of Marton et al. (Nature 277:129,-131, 1979), does not depend upon the expression of the T-DNA but rather assays the physical presence of the T-DNA in the infected plant cells. Numerous controls have indicated that we are, on Southern blots, detecting T-DNA sequences within the plant cell and not merely T-DNA sequences from contaminating bacteria. We have also shown that the DNA is transferred to the plant at a bacterial/plant interface and not by transformation of naked Ti-plasmid DNA. Our results indicate that multiple copies, on average, of the T-DNA can be transferred to the plant cells within hours of the initiation of co-cultivation, but most of this DNA is rapidly degraded in the plant cell. Rearrangements in the T-DNA have occasionally been seen. Regions of the Ti-plasmid far from the T-region have sometimes been detected in the plant by a sensitive dot blot analysis. Preliminary evidence suggests that deletion of the right border repeat from the Ti-plasmid (which results in an extremely attenuated plant response with respect to virulence) does not markedly decrease the transfer efficiency of the mutant Ti-plasmid to the plant.
Noble Metal Complexes in Cancer Chemotherapy

Platinum coordination complexes form a new class of active anticancer agents in animals and man. Cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II), the most widely investigated drug, is now in experimental clinical use against a wide variety of cancers in man. The dose-limiting toxicity in man is renal tubular damage. Hydration of the patient and the use of osmotic diuretics have minimized this effect and allowed higher doses with largely improved responses. Combination chemotherapy with the drug has also produced significant response rates in a variety of cancers. The mode of action of the drug is not yet clear, but most likely involves a primary lesion on nuclear DNA and the stimulation of a host reaction to the cancer. So far, only square planar and octahedral complexes of platinum, with a variety of inorganic and organic ligands, have shown marked activity in animal studies.
The Two Operons of the Histidine Utilization System in Salmonella typhimurium

Abstract We have constructed an F factor bearing the genes (hut) responsible for the synthesis of the histidine-degrading enzymes in Salmonella typhimurium. This was accomplished by transducing the genes from the chromosome onto an F factor from Escherichia coli bearing the gal-bio region, which brackets the hut genes but does not include them. Recovery of this nonhomologous transduction was made possible by deleting the homologous hut region from the chromosome. Studies of the control of enzyme synthesis in heterozygous merodiploids showed that the hut region is composed of two operons. One operon includes the structural genes for histidase and urocanase, the first two enzymes of the pathway, and a promoter-operator complex controlling their expression in cis. The second operon includes the structural genes for 4-imidazolone-5-propionate amidohydrolase and N-formimino-l-glutamate formiminohydrolase, the last two enzymes of the pathway, and a promoter gene controlling their expression in cis. Located between these two operons is a regulatory gene, whose product presumably represses both operons in trans. The target site of catabolite repression of histidase and urocanase is the promoter of their operon, as is the case in the lac operon of E. coli.
Unfulfilled plans and financial stress : Unwed mothers and unemployment

ABSTRACT Unwed mothers and their families find themselves in especially fragile social and economic positions, and employment for them presents unique challenges. Using the mother-only subset of the Fragile Families1 public-use baseline and one-year follow-up data, our paper describes the financial stressors experienced by unwed mothers with unfulfilled employment plans. Our findings offer a clarification of the social structural constraints within which unwed mothers cope with employment barriers. Most unemployed mothers met their families' basic needs. However, results suggest efforts to engage unwed mothers in work activities must consider employment barriers and facilitators.
The Fulcrum Point of Equal Access to Justice: Legal and Non-Legal Institutions of Remedy

“Equal access to justice” would mean that different groups in a society would have similar chances of obtaining similar resolutions to similar kinds of civil justice problems. If people had equal access to justice, a society’s institutions of remedy would work to equalize how they handled their civil justice problems and to ensure that similar problems were resolved similarly, even when different kinds of people - whether rich or poor, men or women, of any race or ethnicity - experienced them. When justice scholars and practicing attorneys address the problem of equalizing access to civil justice, they often begin by thinking about expanding access to law. But, when members of the public confront problems that raise issues in civil law, they do not share the same law-centric perspective of these attorneys and academics. In the United States and other developed nations, most civil justice problems are never taken to law. When one examines how people actually handle their civil justice problems, one observes both a widespread resignation to these problems and an enormous variety of attempted remedies, a minority of which involve the explicit use of law. A comparative analysis of the design and function of both legal and nonlegal institutions of remedy for civil justice problems reveals potential solutions to the problem of equalizing access to justice in an unequal society. By stepping back from law, we can expand and equalize access to substantive justice by selectively redesigning institutions of remedy so that they are remedial and give members of unequal groups more common and more equal experiences with their justice problems. This innovative approach relies on and bolsters the notion that access to justice is for everyone.
Analyzing individual and group differences in multijoint multiwaveform gait data using the Parafac2 model

SUMMARY Locomotion research often involves analyzing multiwaveform data (e.g., velocities, accelerations, etc.) from various body locations (e.g., knees, ankles, etc.) of several subjects. Therefore, some multivariate technique such as principal component analysis is often used to examine interrelationships between the many correlated waveforms. Despite its extensive use in locomotion research, principal component analysis is for two-mode data, whereas locomotion data are typically collected in higher mode form. In this paper, we present the benefits of analyzing four-mode locomotion data (subjects × time × joints × waveforms) using the Parafac2 model, which is a component model designed for analyzing variation in multimode data. Using bilateral hip, knee, and ankle angular displacement, velocity, and acceleration waveforms, we demonstrate Parafac2's ability to produce interpretable components describing (i) the fundamental patterns of variation in lower limb angular kinematics during healthy walking and (ii) the fundamental differences between normal and atypical subjects’ multijoint multiwaveform locomotive patterns. Also, we illustrate how Parafac2 makes it possible to determine which waveforms best characterize the individual and/or group differences captured by each component. Our results indicate that different waveforms should be used for different purposes, confirming the need for the holistic analysis of multijoint multiwaveform locomotion data, particularly when investigating atypical motion patterns. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
EDKM: efficient distributed key management for mobile ad hoc networks

Mobile ad hoc networks are dynamically reconfigured networks. Their major properties are mobility of devices, lack of central control authority, and existence of resource-constrained devices. Particularly, it is prudent to assume that there are no shared secret keys distributed by key distribution authority at initialization of the network. We propose a new efficient hierarchical binary tree model (EDKM) to form ad hoc group under such assumptions. Our trust model employs a new key distribution scheme to bring an alien device to the group and to exchange a secret key at that moment. EDKM is distributed, self-organizing, and can be deployed incrementally in the network. Moreover, EDKM provides complete backward and forward security in case of modification in membership and does not increase processing or storage requirements in comparison with other HBT schemes. The proposed group key management system is based on one-way hash function and secret key cryptography, and therefore, EDKM is practical, efficient and respectful to the constraints of mobile ad hoc networks.
Genetics of serine pathway enzymes in Methylobacterium extorquens AM1: phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and malyl coenzyme A lyase.

Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 is a facultative methylotrophic bacterium that uses the serine pathway for formaldehyde incorporation as its assimilation pathway during growth on one-carbon compounds. A DNA region from M. extorquens AM1 previously shown to contain genes for the serine pathway enzymes malyl coenzyme A (CoA) lyase and hydroxypyruvate reductase has been characterized in more detail. Insertion mutagenesis revealed an additional region required for growth on one-carbon compounds, and all of the insertion mutants in this region lacked activity for another serine pathway enzyme, the acetyl- CoA-independent phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase. Expression analysis with Escherichia coli of DNA fragments that included the malyl- CoA lyase and PEP carboxylase regions identified five polypeptides, all transcribed in the same direction. Three of these polypeptides were expressed from the region necessary for the acetyl-CoA-independent PEP carboxylase, one was expressed from the region containing the malyl-CoA lyase gene, and the fifth was expressed from a region immediately downstream from the gene encoding hydroxypyruvate reductase. All six genes are transcribed in the same direction, but the transposon insertion data suggest that they are not all cotranscribed.
Phase transitions in a non-monodisperse dusty plasma

Summary form only given. In semiconductor manufacturing, contamination due to particulates significantly decreases the yield and quality of device fabrication, therefore increasing the cost of production. Dust particle clouds can be found in almost all plasma processing environments including both plasma etching devices and plasma deposition processes. Many experiments have been conducted over the past decade on such colloidal plasmas in an attempt to discover the character of the systems formed, but additional work is needed in order to fully understand the physics behind these structures. The majority of complex plasma experiments to date have employed monodisperse spheres when forming ordered dusty plasma systems. However, in the majority of plasma processing environments the particle size distributions are obviously more randomized and disperse. This paper reports experiments carried out in a GEC rf reference cell modified for use as a complex plasma system. Non-monodisperse particles were used to determine the manner in which phase transitions and other thermodynamic properties depend upon the overall dust grain size distribution. Two dimensional (2D) plasma crystals were formed in an Argon plasma using assorted glass spheres with specific size distributions. Employing various, standard optical techniques, the pair correlation function was then determined for different pressures and powers and compared to measurements obtained for monodisperse spheres.
Spontaneous versus Reinforced Olfactory Discriminations

When the major response domains in the rat olfactory bulb that are evoked by odorant enantiomers are compared, some of these odorant pairs do not show significantly different activity patterns. Such pairs are not spontaneously discriminated in a behavioral test. We show here that even these similar odorants appear to evoke different activity patterns when every data point in a glomerular activity array is compared. These odorants also can be discriminated if they are subjected to differential reinforcement. These data suggest that the method chosen to assess olfactory discrimination will reveal different olfactory capabilities of rats. The small differences in glomerular activity that probably exist between any pair of odorants may serve as a basis for odor discrimination when rats are differentially reinforced, thereby establishing the remarkable limits of rat olfactory perception. At the same time, the major differences in glomerular responses appear to serve as the normal basis for spontaneous odor discrimination.