cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Augmentation of bilirubin UDP glucuronyltransferase activity in rat liver homogenates by glutethimide. 1.

SummaryThis study demonstrates that glutethimide is as effective as phenobarbital in increasing the specific activity of hepatic bilirubin UDP glucuronyltransferase activity in Sprague–Dawley rats. The data also indicate that the effect is dose-dependent and can be elicited by as little as 4 days of therapy. Both glutethimide and phenobarbital increase enzyme activity to normal levels in heterozygous Gunn rats, but fail to stimulate any activity in homozygous Gunn rats, who presumably lack the genetic capacity to synthesize this enzyme.
Quantifying the effects of hydroponic systems, nutrient solution, and air temperature on growth and development of basil (Ocimum L.) species

xv CHAPTER 1. LITERATURE REVIEW 1 An Overview of Basil 1 Basil Diversity 1 Hydroponic Production 3 Light 4 Air Temperature 5 Nutrient Solution 7 Planting Density 8 Conclusions 9 Literature Cited 9 CHAPTER 2. HYDROPONIC GREENHOUSE BASIL PRODUCTION: COMPARING SYSTEMS AND CULTIVARS 19 Abstract 19 Introduction 20 Materials and Methods 21 Basil Cultivar Selection 21 Propagation 21 Hydroponic Systems 22 Greenhouse Culture 22 Data Collection and Calculation 24 Experimental Design and Statistical Analyses 24
Mycobacterium chelonae peritonitis associated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

This case report documents successful diagnosis and therapy in a case of Mycobacterium chelonae peritonitis associated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and reviews problems associated with CAPD peritontis resulting from the rapidly growing mycobacteria, M. chelonae and Mycobacterium fortultum .
Optimization for the modeling of woodblock gasification process and control parameter

This paper comprehensively analyzes the characteristics of biomass woodblock gasification process,establishes the gasification process model based on least squares support vector machines,taking gasification temperature and agent equivalent into consideration and comparing gas calorific value,gasification efficiency and gas generation rate,proposes the multi-object optimization function between the index of control parameter and gasification performance and calculates the optimal target value of control parameter.Simulation experiment shows that the optimization meets the requirements of the program and realizes the optimized control of gasification process.
Epidemiological investigation of goiter before and after discontinuation of salt iodization in some excessive iodine townships of Cheng'an County

[Objective]To study the effect of the discontinuation of iodized salt on the incidence of goiter among residents in excessive iodine regions.[Methods]Children aged 8-10 years old were randomly selected from 2 excessive iodine townships,the endemic goiter was diagnosed by B-ultrasound,and the consumption status of iodized salt among residents was detected.[Results]The incidence rate of goiter among children before the discontinuation of iodized salt was 10.57%,that at one year after the discontinuation was 5.36%,and the difference was statistically significant(χ2=4.84,P0.05).There was significant difference in coverage rate of iodized salt between before the discontinuation of iodized salt and one year after the discontinuation(χ2=104.53,P0.01).[Conclusion]Cheng'an County is the aquagenic excessive iodine region,and residents should use the non-iodized salt.
Research on Electric Power Dispatching Exchange Network Recording Scheme Based on Soft-switch Technology

The new generation of dispatching exchange network based on soft-switch technology can provide voice, data, instant messaging and other multimedia applications, which is well meeting the demand of electric power dispatching production operation. This paper analyzes the realization ways of different IP recording modes, and proposes the integrated dispatching exchange network recording scheme for the power grid, power plants and other different recording scenarios. It can ensure the smooth migration from the traditional power dispatching exchange network to the new generation of the soft exchange network.
On Modeling the Mechanical Behavior and Texture Evolution of Rolled AZ31 Mg for Complex Loadings Involving Strain Path Changes

An accurate description of the deformation response of AZ31 Mg under changing strain paths requires consideration of its strong anisotropy and its evolution with accumulated plastic deformation. The general held belief is that without modeling de-twining it is impossible to describe the effect of the pre-strain on hardening behavior in low cycle compression-tension-compression and tension-compression-tension tests, respectively. In this paper, it is shown that using the viscoplastic self-consistent crystal plasticity model in conjunction with the pre-dominant twinning reorientation (PTR) scheme it is possible to accurately model the reorientation of the microstructure for such complex loadings. Comparison with recent data reported by Hama et al. [1, 2] shows that the stress-strain response is also very well predicted.
Hospital-Associated Infections

Hospital-associated infection (HAI) in immunocompromised patients can result in high rates of morbidity and mortality. Infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) are especially worrisome because of the limited choice of remaining antibiotics available when a patient becomes colonized or infected with an MDRO. It is therefore important that immunocompromised patients be cared for in an environment that limits the risk for acquiring infections. However, with healthcare being increasingly delivered in settings other than the traditional inpatient hospital wards, a bigger effort will need to be set forth to prevent or rapidly diagnose HAI. The last few years have seen a significant increase in the number of singleplex and multiplex molecular assays for the detection of many of the organisms responsible for HAI, but more is needed as infections caused by organisms like Legionella pneumophila and Aspergillus species are still diagnosed with methods that have relatively low yield and are slow to provide actionable results. Finally, the use of novel techniques for outbreak investigations will provide new information on transmission of infectious agents in healthcare settings and allow stronger, evidence-based recommendations to be developed for prevention of HAIs in the immunocompromised host.
Faster, More Accurate Quantification of Diffusion and Correlated Motions in Lipid Bilayers

We examine the statistical properties of an ensemble of individually diffusing molecules to address two related issues: correlated motion and diffusion. We are able to robustly quantify correlated motions within lipid bilayers. We are also able to more accurately assess the error bars associated with typical diffusion measurements, and to provide a new technique for measuring diffusion coefficients.
Prehospital Management, Transportation, and Emergency Care

Abstract Along with the specialized treatment at regional burn centers, advancements in emergency care, transportation, and communication have contributed to marked improvements in patient outcomes. This chapter reviews current procedures for the prehospital and initial emergency care following a burn injury.
Role of Catalyst Preparation on the Electrocatalytic Activity of Ni1–xFexOOH for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Ni1–xFexOOH thin films prepared via cathodic electrodeposition have been demonstrated to be highly active catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in basic media. Integration of these catalysts with light-absorbing semiconductors is required for photoelectrochemical fuel generation. However, the application of cathodic potentials required for typical electrochemical catalyst deposition limits the library of compatible photoanode materials. Sputter deposition of catalysts circumvents this limitation by enabling facile catalyst layering without cathodic potentials. In this work, we compare the structure and OER activity of sputter-deposited and electrodeposited Ni1–xFexOOH thin films. Electrochemical cycling converts sputtered Ni1–xFex metallic films to the desired oxides/(oxy)hydroxides. Both film preparation methods give catalysts with similar electrochemical behavior across all compositions. Additionally, OER activity is comparable between the deposition methods, with maximum activity for films ...
Rethinking family-guided practices in early intervention evaluation: A pilot study

Family-guided practices during intervention are prevalent in the United States for children from birth to age three and supported by legislation, but as norm-referenced scores for children are used...
Socio-geo: Social network routing protocol in delay tolerant networks

Social based routing has emerged as one of the most efficient routing solutions for Delay Tolerant Networks. It opportunistically relays data to more sociable nodes that have a higher probability of meeting the destination. Many researchers have tried to find the most appropriate metrics that can reflect the real world, such as frequency, freshness, and/or centrality. However, these metrics are mainly used to represent sociality between nodes without considering the actual social relationship between people. In this paper, we propose a novel social network routing protocol that exploits the human friendship information in order to perform routing. First, by collecting data from online social network services, we generated a new dataset trace that includes real social relation information in addition to users' mobility patterns. With the geolocation information that incorporates social relationship information, our protocol can improve the probability estimate of encountering destinations and deliver data packets.
Synthesis of a Fluorescently Labeled 68Ga-DOTA-TOC Analog for Somatostatin Receptor Targeting.

Fluorescently labeled imaging agents can identify surgical margins in real-time to help achieve complete resections and minimize the likelihood of local recurrence. However, photon attenuation limits fluorescence-based imaging to superficial lesions or lesions that are a few millimeters beneath the tissue surface. Contrast agents that are dual-labeled with a radionuclide and fluorescent dye can overcome this limitation and combine quantitative, whole-body nuclear imaging with intraoperative fluorescence imaging. Using a multimodality chelation (MMC) scaffold, IRDye 800CW was conjugated to the clinically used somatostatin analog, 68Ga-DOTA-TOC, to produce the dual-labeled analog, 68Ga-MMC(IRDye 800CW)-TOC, with high yield and specific activity. In vitro pharmacological assays demonstrated retention of receptor-targeting properties for the dual-labeled compound with robust internalization that was somatostatin receptor (SSTR) 2-mediated. Biodistribution studies in mice identified the kidneys as the primary ...
Extraovarian gonadotropin negative feedback revealed by aromatase inhibition in female marmoset monkeys

Whereas the ovary produces the majority of estradiol (E2) in mature female primates, extraovarian sources contribute to E2 synthesis and action, including the brain E2-regulating hypothalamic gonad...
Bromodomain proteins: repairing DNA damage within chromatin.

Genome surveillance and repair, termed the DNA damage response (DDR), functions within chromatin. Chromatin-based DDR mechanisms sustain genome and epigenome integrity, defects that can disrupt cel...
To Duel or Not to Duel? That Is a [Futuristic] Question

The Russian futurists were masters of scandal and provocation as ways of promoting their ideas, and their exhibitions, disputes, and performances often caused public outrage. One of the little-known scandals took place on the opening night of Pink Lantern cabaret in Moscow on October 19, 1913. Following Vladimir Mayakovsky’s taunting declamation of his poetry and Konstantin Balmont’s improvised speech honoring the futurists, Mikhail Larionov and Natalia Goncharova engaged in a confrontation with the public already irritated by the provocative performances and alcohol. As a result, Goncharova slapped a gentleman across the face, which led him to challenging Larionov to a duel. Larionov refused the challenge, however, in a bizarre twist, Goncharova counter-challenged, causing the discussion of what is and is not futuristic behavior.Using newspaper articles, interviews, and futurists publications, the paper analyzes this scandal through the prism of Commedia dell’Arte. Recognizing Mayakovsky as the red clown and Larionov as his naive and cowardly white counterpart, the spectators experienced the cognitive dissonance when Goncharova as the futuristic Columbine took center stage and challenged the public to a duel. Looking at this incident in the broader context of dueling in European history, the paper also addresses the role of the duel in Russian culture and juxtaposes Goncharova’s never-acted-upon challenge with the tragic final duel of Alexander Pushkin fought to defend the honor of his wife and Goncharova’s namesake.
Simulated Soil Organic Carbon Changes in Maryland Are Affected by Tillage, Climate Change, and Crop Yield

The impact of climate change on soil organic C (SOC) stocks in no-till (NT) and conventionally tilled (CT) agricultural systems is poorly understood. The objective of this study was to simulate the impact of projected climate change on SOC to 50-cm soil depth for grain cropping systems in the southern Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. We used SOC and other data from the long-term Farming Systems Project in Beltsville, MD, and CQESTR, a process-based soil C model, to predict the impact of cropping systems and climate (air temperature and precipitation) on SOC for a 40-yr period (2012-2052). Since future crop yields are uncertain, we simulated five scenarios with differing yield levels (crop yields from 1996-2014, and at 10 or 30% greater or lesser than these yields). Without change in climate or crop yields (baseline conditions) CQESTR predicted an increase in SOC of 0.014 and 0.021 Mg ha yr in CT and NT, respectively. Predicted climate change alone resulted in an SOC increase of only 0.002 Mg ha yr in NT and a decrease of 0.017 Mg ha yr in CT. Crop yield declines of 10 and 30% led to SOC decreases between 2 and 8% compared with 2012 levels. Increasing crop yield by 10 and 30% was sufficient to raise SOC 2 and 7%, respectively, above the climate-only scenario under both CT and NT between 2012 and 2052. Results indicate that under these simulated conditions, the negative impact of climate change on SOC levels could be mitigated by crop yield increases.
Surface texturing by indirect laser shock surface patterning for manipulated friction coefficient

Abstract Various surface engineering techniques have been developed to improve the tribological performance at tribo-contacts. In particular, research efforts have been put on either enhancing the wear resistance through surface strengthening processes or manipulating the coefficient of friction (COF) through surface patterning processes. A new material process integrating both strengthening and patterning effects might lead to broader impacts in tribology research and applications. In this study, a novel laser-based surface processing technique, named indirect-laser shock surface patterning (indirect-LSSP), is developed. This process utilizes the laser-induced shockwave loadings to introduce the surface strengthening and patterning effects simultaneously, leading to the fabrication of anti-skew surfaces with arrays of micro-indentations for the enhanced wear resistance and manipulated friction values. Indirect-LSSP experiments were carried out on AISI 1045 steels. The 3D surface profiles after LSSP were characterized. The hardness of surface patterns prepared by laser processing was measured. The friction values as affected by laser processing parameters were measured by sliding tests. The relationships among laser processing parameters, micro-feature characteristics, and COF were discussed.
Retina and Choroid Imaging with Transcranial Back-illumination

We present an alternative illumination scheme for retinal imaging. It is based on near-infrared light delivered transcranially at the temple and light diffusion towards the retina. This unique transmission geometry simplifies absorption measurements and enables clear imaging as deep as the choroid.
Emergency Department Visits in a Cohort of Persons with Substance Use: Incorporating the Role of Social Networks.

Background: Frequent emergency department (ED) visits often suggest inappropriate use for low acuity needs and multiple comorbidities, including substance use disorders. Objective: This study exami...
Channel, Tube, and Film Flow

In previous chapters, we derived the differential equations governing the motion of an incompressible Newtonian fluid by requiring mass conservation and enforcing Newton’s second law of motion for infinitesimal fluid parcels. The governing equations are accompanied by initial, boundary, and interfacial conditions, as required. In this chapter, we proceed to derive analytical and semi-analytical solutions for an important class of steady and unsteady flows with rectilinear or circular streamlines. The engineering significance of these flows, combined with their ability to demonstrate the salient mechanisms of momentum and vorticity transport at steady or unsteady state, justify a extensive consideration.
Breaking bad news of a breast cancer diagnosis over the telephone: an emerging trend

This study evaluated how breast cancer diagnoses were shared with patients. Current members of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation’s Army of Women cohort were sent one email with a link to a survey assessing how their breast cancer diagnosis was communicated, a description of their support system during treatment, basic demographic information, and breast cancer diagnosis details. Participants (n = 2896) were more likely to be given their diagnosis over the telephone in more recent years (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.06–1.08). Up until about 10 years ago (1967–2006), breast cancer diagnoses were communicated in person more often than by telephone. Since 2006, more than half of participants learned about their diagnosis over the telephone. From 2015 to 2017, almost 60% of participants learned about their diagnosis over the telephone. Among those who heard the news in person, a steady 40% were alone. Characteristics of those who received the news over the telephone included having identified support members, heterosexual identity, and a diagnosis of in situ breast cancer. Receiving a telephone call about breast cancer diagnosis may be the norm rather than the exception in health care today. Trends in practice, as well as current best practices based primarily on expert opinion, may not provide optimal care for women diagnosed with breast cancer. Patient outcome research to guide future practice, such as the impact of modes of delivery of bad news, is urgently needed to determine appropriate patient-centered approaches for notification of breast cancer diagnoses.
Modeling the Feasibility of Using Solar Thermal Systems for Meeting the Heating Requirements at Corn Ethanol Production Facilities

While ethanol use as a vehicle fuel has been promoted as a renewable alternative to fossil fuels, current production methods of ethanol from corn feedstock rely heavily on the combustion of nonrenewable fuels such as natural gas. Solar thermal systems can provide a renewable energy source for supplying some of the heat required ethanol production. In this paper, a model to analyze the feasibility of using solar thermal energy to reduce natural gas consumption in ethanol production is described and applied. Sites of current ethanol production facilities are used to provide a realistic analysis of the economic feasibility of using solar thermal energy in the ethanol production process. The results show that it is not reasonable to expect to replace all of the natural gas consumption in the heating processes in ethanol production but that application of solar thermal energy can be applied to a specific subsystem such as the preheating of boiler makeup water. Profitability of systems for replacing a fraction of the natural gas is analyzed. It is found that both location and local natural gas prices are important in determining whether to pursue such a project and that solar thermal systems should have long-term profitability.
Inpatient management of hypercalcemia portends a poor prognosis among gynecologic oncology patients: A trigger to initiate hospice care?

Abstract We aim to describe survival outcomes of gynecologic oncology inpatients treated with intravenous bisphosphonates for hypercalcemia and develop a risk stratification model that predicts decreased survival to aid with goals of care discussion. In a single-center, retrospective cohort study of gynecologic oncology patients admitted for bisphosphonate therapy for hypercalcemia. Survival from hypercalcemia to death was assessed by Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Univariate log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards modeling were used to develop a risk stratification model. Sixty-five patients were evaluable with a median follow-up of 83.5 months. Mean age was 59.2 years, 64.6% had recurrent disease, and 30.8% had ≥2 previous lines of chemotherapy. Median survival was 38 days. Our analysis identified four risk factors (RFs) [brain metastasis, >1 site of metastasis, serum corrected peak calcium >12.4 (mg/dL), and peak ionized calcium >5.97 (mg/dL)] that predicted survival and were used to build a risk stratification score. Sum of RFs included 35 patients with 1 RF, 11 had 2 RFs, and 19 had ≥3 RF. Median survival for 1, 2, or ≥ 3 RFs was 53, 28, and 26 days respectively (p = .009). Survival at 6 months was 28.6%, 18.2%, and 5.3% for each group respectively. Hospice enrollment was 26.2%, and did not vary by group (p = .51). Among gynecologic oncology patients, inpatient management of hypercalcemia with bisphosphonates portends poor prognosis. Individualized risk stratification may help guide end-of-life discussions and identify patients who may benefit most from hospice care.
A View from Industry: Securing IoT with Azure Sphere

Every year, 9 billion new devices powered by single-chip computers-MCUs-are deployed; all with little to no cybersecurity and most with no network connectivity. These devices are in your home, in your office, and in every industrial or commercial setting on the planet. Azure Sphere offers to improve MCU computing by bringing cloud connectivity, intelligence, and high security to these devices. The Azure Sphere solution consists of three components: a new class of cross-over MCUs incorporating Microsoft silicon security technology, a new OS built around a custom Linux kernel, and a cloud-based security service that guards every Azure Sphere-based device on the planet for its deployed lifetime. In this talk, I will explain the market scenarios Azure Sphere addresses, dig into the silicon and software architecture that compose the Azure Sphere solution, review some of the project's history, and demo the Azure Sphere experience. Finally, I will look towards the future and discuss research problems out on the horizon. Specifically, I'll explore some scenarios around the convergence mobility, IoT and facial recognition via machine learning where strong security and privacy guarantees are especially important.
Corruption in Africa – Part 2

In order to succeed in minimizing corruption in the African countries, one must start by examining the nature of institutional arrangements in each country with a review to modifying them. This calls for the reconstruction and reconstitution of the post-colonial state through democratic constitution making to provide a new set of laws and institutions that reflects the values of each country’s relevant stakeholders. Most of today’s African countries have incentive structures, which actually encourage and enhance corruption. Increasing government intervention in the market-place is not likely to reduce corruption as the evidence from more than 50 years of government attempts to control venality in Africa’s public sectors shows. The most effective way to deal with corruption in Africa is to engage the people in comprehensive institutional reforms that modify existing incentives and produce new ones, which are capable of successfully inducing participants in both political and economic markets to undertake only activities that produce the outcomes desired by society. Thus, to cleanup corruption from the African economies, improve both productive and allocative efficiency, and generally enhance development, national leaders must engage their people in democratic institutional reforms to provide society with transparent, accountable, and participatory governance structures.
Who Volunteers for Cannabis Research? Examining potential research participation in cannabis research among emerging adults

Research on cannabis users has the potential to suffer from volunteer bias. The sensitive nature of substance use might play an influential role in studies investigating cannabis consumption, particularly in the emerging adult population. The present study examined cannabis use and willingness to participate in cannabis-related research in emerging adults. Undergraduates enrolled in a psychology course (N = 262) reported frequency of use and willingness to participate in hypothetical research studies on cannabis that varied in type and compensation. Logistic regression analyses revealed that women were more likely to participate in a survey for a prize, and both women and non-cannabis users were less likely to participate in a lab study for science. In addition, those who used cannabis less frequently were less willing to participate in an ingestion study for science and an ingestion study for pay. These findings reveal important trends exist in potential participation for cannabis-related research in the emerging adult population, specifically around gender and cannabis use. The results suggest cautious interpretation for the generalizability of studies on cannabis in undergraduate students. Most work might be free of bias but the results of laboratory administration of cannabis might prove difficult to generalize to women and infrequent users of cannabis.
‘Work Conquers All’: psychiatry, agricultural labor, and the Juliano Moreira Colony in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1890–1958)

This article explores the varied forms of labor used at the Juliano Moreira Colony in Rio de Janeiro during the first half of the twentieth century. It investigates the ideological justification psychiatrists made about the therapeutic value of work, and in particular, agricultural work, as a dominant medical regimen in the Colony. It is suggested that the Colony’s elision with labor resonated with a state that placed work and the worker as socio-political and cultural national centerpieces. Its appeal to the state was most likely the reason why the colony model became the predominant hospital structure when a muscular public health structure reorganized mental health services throughout the nation. The labor of the mentally ill in the Colony had no great generative use-value since their efforts were not sufficient to make the Colony sustainable. Moreover, labor therapy was not able to fully rehabilitate the majority of patients so that they could leave the institution and enter the labor force. Indeed, the presidency of Getulio Vargas (1930–1945, 1951–1954), with its championing of the working classes, inflected the idea of labor with new significance. Therefore, the performance of labor in the Colony, in and of itself, had potent symbolic value. The work of the mentally ill in agricultural fields or carpentry workshops, although non-productive, can be understood as repertoires of social and political claim-making.
Assessing factors associated with discharge from opioid agonist therapy due to incarceration in the United States

The following study investigates factors associated with discharge from OAT due to incarceration in a sample of 64,331 discharges in the United States. Multinomial regression investigated the association between demographic factors, prior arrest, referral source (i.e criminal justice agency) intravenous drug use, types of drug used, length of prior treatment and discharge due to incarceration compared to completing treatment or discharge due to other reasons. African Americans, Latinx, and Native Americans were at greater risk of discharge due to incarceration compared to whites. Referral to OAT from criminal justice agencies and self-referral was associated with increased risk of discharge from OAT due to incarceration compared to referral from a health care provider. Substance use of heroin, benzodiazepines, synthetic opioids, cocaine and non-prescription use of methadone were associated with discharge due to incarceration. Risk of discharge due to incarceration was higher for patients who reported intravenous drug use and who reported a co-morbid psychiatric problem. These findings enrich a nascent body of literature on mechanisms associated with attrition from OAT due to incarceration and emphasize the need for programs to divert people with OUD from incarceration to increase engagement and retention in OAT.
Synthesis of air-stable two-dimensional nanoplatelets of Ruddlesden-Popper organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites.

We present a simple and facile method to synthesize nanoplatelets of 2D Ruddlesden–Popper (RP) perovskites of the type (CH3(CH2)3NH3)2(CH3NH3)Pb2I7 where n = 2. The 2D RP nanoplatelets are synthesized from bulk 2D RP crystals via a reflux pre-treatment mediated-ultrasonication method. The as-synthesized 2D RP nanoplatelets are highly air-stable even after two months of storage under an ambient atmosphere. The bulk 2D RP crystals and 2D RP nanoplatelets are characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Kelvin probe force microscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), photoluminescence, time correlated single photon counting measurement, etc. A significant blue shift in the ultraviolet-visible absorption spectrum, high photoluminescence in the UV region, and the modified work function of the nanoplatelets indicate a strong quantum confinement effect. The quantum confinement in the nanoplatelets is further confirmed using XPS. A photodetector fabricated using these 2D RP nanoplatelets exhibits a high photodetectivity of 3.09 × 1010 Jones.
Fluorescence quenching of the SYBR Green I-dsDNA complex by in situ generated magnetic ionic liquids

Magnetic ionic liquids (MILs) with metal-containing cations are promising extraction solvents that provide fast and high efficiency extraction of DNA. Hydrophobic MILs can be generated in situ in a methodology called in situ dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction. To consolidate the sample preparation workflow, it is desirable to directly use the DNA-enriched MIL microdroplet in the subsequent analytical detection technique. Fluorescence-based techniques employed for DNA detection often utilize SYBR Green I, a DNA binding dye that exhibits optimal fluorescence when bound to double-stranded DNA. However, the MIL may hinder the fluorescence signal of the SYBR Green I-dsDNA complex due to quenching. In this study, MILs with metal-containing cations were selected and their fluorescence quenching effects evaluated using Fӧrster Resonance Energy Transfer and quantified using Stern-Volmer models. The MILs were based on N-substituted imidazole ligands (with butyl- and benzyl- groups as substituents) coordinated to Ni2+ or Co2+ metal centers as cations, and paired with chloride anions. The effects of NiCl2 and CoCl2 salts and of the 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquid on the fluorophore complex were also studied to understand the components of the MIL structure that are responsible for quenching. The metal within the MIL chemical structure was found to be the main component contributing to fluorescence quenching. Fӧrster critical distances between 11.9 and 18.8 A were obtained for the MILs, indicating that quenching is likely not due to non-radiative energy transfer but rather to spin-orbit coupling or excited-state electron transfer. The MILs were able to be directly used in qPCR and fluorescence emission measurements using a microplate reader for detection, demonstrating their applicability in fluorescence-based detection methods.
Dynamic control over feedback regulation identifies pyruvate-ferredoxin oxidoreductase as a central metabolic enzyme in stationary phase E. coli

Abstract We demonstrate the use of two-stage dynamic metabolic control to manipulate feedback regulation in central metabolism and improve stationary phase biosynthesis in engineered E. coli. Specifically, we report the impact of dynamic control over two enzymes: citrate synthase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, on stationary phase fluxes. Firstly, reduced citrate synthase levels lead to a reduction in α-ketoglutarate, which is an inhibitor of sugar transport, resulting in increased stationary phase glucose uptake and glycolytic fluxes. Reduced glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity activates the SoxRS regulon and expression of pyruvate-ferredoxin oxidoreductase, which is in turn responsible for large increases in acetyl-CoA production. The combined reduction in citrate synthase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, leads to greatly enhanced stationary phase metabolism and the improved production of citramalic acid enabling titers of 126±7g/L. These results identify pyruvate oxidation via the pyruvate-ferredoxin oxidoreductase as a “central” metabolic pathway in stationary phase E. coli, which coupled with ferredoxin reductase comprise a pathway whose physiologic role is maintaining NADPH levels. Highlights Dynamic reduction in α-keto-glutarate pools alleviate inhibition of PTS dependent transport improving stationary phase sugar uptake. Dynamic reduction in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activates pyruvate flavodoxin/ferredoxin oxidoreductase and improves stationary acetyl-CoA flux. Pyruvate flavodoxin/ferredoxin oxidoreductase is responsible for large stationary phase acetyl-CoA fluxes under aerobic conditions. Production of citramalate to titers 126 ± 7g/L at > 90 % of theoretical yield.
A selective WDR5 degrader inhibits acute myeloid leukemia in patient-derived mouse models.

Interactions between WD40 repeat domain protein 5 (WDR5) and its various partners such as mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) and c-MYC are essential for sustaining oncogenesis in human cancers. However, ...
Chapter 30. Progress in the Development of Radioimaging Agents

Publisher Summary One recent classification system views radioimaging agents as either substrate nonspecific in which the compound does not participate in a specific chemical reaction or substrate specific in which the substrate must participate in a definite chemical reaction or take part in a specific ligand-substrate interaction. Radioactive gases for lung ventilation, labeled cells as blood pool or spleen imaging agents, tagged particles for delineating capillary beds, and radiocolloids for uptake in the reticuloendothelial system are examples of substrate non-specific radiodiagnostics, Enzyme substrates or inhibitors, receptor binding ligands, metabolically trapped biomolecules and their models, and antibodies to site-associated antigens are prime examples of substrate specific radiopharmaceuticals. At present, there are 48 radiopharmaceuticals available. Technetium labeled (Tc-99m) ligands, colloids, and particles are predominate on the NDA list, but many of these substances would be classified as substrate nonspecific agents. A few organic radiopharmaceuticals, both substrate nonspecific and substrate specific, have achieved commercialization; these include radioiodinated rose bengal, fibrinogen, oleic acid, human serum albumin, hippuric acid, as well as radiomercury chlormerodrin and Se-75 selenomethionine. Contemporary research concerns of radiopharmaceutical chemists are the development of convenient and rapid labeling methods for introducing radiohalogens into biologically important carrier molecules, preparation and evaluation of radio halogenated imaging agents, synthesis and structural studies on metal ion radionuclide-containing pharmaceuticals, rapid incorporation of positron-emitting isotopes into imaging agents, antibody transport of imaging nuclides to target tissues, and quantitative structure-distribution studies of radioactive diagnostics.
Transverse Bending of Laminated Anisotropic Plates

This technical note is motivated by an earlier paper on laminated anisotropic plates which are symmetric about their midplanes, as well as by a recent reconsideration of the effect of transverse shear deformation in the theory of bending of homogeneous isotropic plates.
Proof of a Pyloro-Oxyntic Reflex for Stimulation of Acid Secretion

In 7 dogs with innervated antral pouch, gastric fistula, and Heidenhain pouch, acid secretion and serum gastrin (radioimmunoassay) were measured in response to distention of the antral pouch with 0.1 m NaHCO 3 or 0.1 m HCl at 0-, 10-, 20-, 30-, and 40-cm pressure. Distention with 0.1 ivt NaHCO 3 caused graded increases in serum gastrin and in acid output from both the gastric fistula and Heidenhain pouch. Acidification of the antral pouch abolished gastrin release and acid secretion from the Heidenhain pouch in response to distention, but did not abolish acid secretion from the gastric fistula. These results indicated that antral distention causes acid secretion by at least two mechanisms, only one of which is gastrin-dependent. Proof that the gastrin-independent mechanism is a pyloro-oxyntic reflex was obtained by showing that vagal denervation of the antral pouch completely abolished the response of the gastric fistula to distention of the antral pouch with acid. In addition to abolishing the pyloro-oxyntic reflex, antral vagal denervation also had these effects: (a) decreased the increment in serum gastrin caused by alkaline antral distention, and (b) increased the amount of acid secreted in response to any given increment in serum gastrin.
Differential Privacy Applications to Bayesian and Linear Mixed Model Estimation

We consider a particular maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) and a computationally intensive Bayesian method for differentially private estimation of the linear mixed-effects model (LMM) with normal random errors. The LMM is important because it is used in small-area estimation and detailed industry tabulations that present significant challenges for confidentiality protection of the underlying data. The differentially private MLE performs well compared to the regular MLE, and deteriorates as the protection increases for a problem in which the small-area variation is at the county level. More dimensions of random effects are needed to adequately represent the time dimension of the data, and for these cases the differentially private MLE cannot be computed. The direct Bayesian approach for the same model uses an informative, reasonably diffuse prior to compute the posterior predictive distribution for the random effects. The empirical differential privacy of this approach is estimated by direct computation of the relevant odds ratios after deleting influential observations according to various criteria.
Image restoration in cryo-electron microscopy

Image restoration techniques are used to obtain, given experimental measurements, the best possible approximation of the original object within the limits imposed by instrumental conditions and noise level in the data. In molecular electron microscopy (EM), we are mainly interested in linear methods that preserve the respective relationships between mass densities within the restored map. Here, we describe the methodology of image restoration in structural EM, and more specifically, we will focus on the problem of the optimum recovery of Fourier amplitudes given electron microscope data collected under various defocus settings. We discuss in detail two classes of commonly used linear methods, the first of which consists of methods based on pseudoinverse restoration, and which is further subdivided into mean-square error, chi-square error, and constrained based restorations, where the methods in the latter two subclasses explicitly incorporates non-white distribution of noise in the data. The second class of methods is based on the Wiener filtration approach. We show that the Wiener filter-based methodology can be used to obtain a solution to the problem of amplitude correction (or "sharpening") of the EM map that makes it visually comparable to maps determined by X-ray crystallography, and thus amenable to comparative interpretation. Finally, we present a semiheuristic Wiener filter-based solution to the problem of image restoration given sets of heterogeneous solutions. We conclude the chapter with a discussion of image restoration protocols implemented in commonly used single particle software packages.
QCD at large θ-angle axion cosmology

We use the chiral Lagrangian to investigate the global properties of the N-flavor QCD vacuum as a function of the θ parameter. In the case of exact quark degeneracy we find evidence for first-order phase transitions at θ = π · (odd integer). The first-order transitions are smoothed by quark mass splittings, although interesting effects remain at realistic quark masses. We emphasize the role of the η′ condensate in our analysis. Finally, we discuss the implications of our results on the internal hadronic structure of axion domain walls and axion cosmology.
Applicability of mobile agents to quality of service management for military digital avionics systems

Describes a general infrastructure to develop mobile Guardian Agent applications, which can provide increasingly complex functionality with acceptable levels of QoS for military digital avionics systems. Given that the Guardian Agent approach will be pursued as the de facto standard for integrating Joint Battlespace Infosphere (JBI)-like functionality on future and legacy military digital avionics systems, solutions must be developed to deal with the shift in computational complexity and load that needs to be accommodated by strategic assets or other potential host nodes. If such solutions are not developed, strategic assets could eventually become as resource constrained as their tactical counterparts.
Relationship maintenance on Twitter: implications from loyalty leaders

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to look into Twitter usage as represented by top US retail corporations in a quantitative manner. This study aimed to determine the dominant purpose of Twitter usage by major US retail companies and to what extent the relationship maintenance strategies were incorporated in Twitter. In addition, the study tested a proposed model that delineates relationship as a precursor of brand loyalty. Design/methodology/approach – A content analysis was conducted comparing two groups of retail corporations – one came from the “top 100 customer loyalty brand leaders” identified by Brand Keys (2011a), and the other came from the Fortune 500 retailers, but excluded those from the top 100 loyalty leaders list. Findings – Study results indicated Twitter as an important channel for corporate communication and relationship maintenance. For the retail industry, Twitter was mainly used for consumer relations. Access was the most widely used strategy followed by assurance and positivity. ...
Pancreatic mucinous cystic neoplasm in a transgender patient

Cystic pancreatic lesions are increasingly more frequent detected clinical entities. Mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN) is a hormone-related pancreatic tumor (HRTP) with a strong predominance in young and middle-aged females. Here, we present the case of a 31-year-old surgically transgendered female-to-male patient with a history of alcoholic pancreatitis, on chronic testosterone therapy. He was found to have a pancreatic MCN and underwent distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a transgender patient with a history of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and pancreatic MCN. We consider possible mechanisms for the pathogenesis to explain this patient’s neoplasm.
Nixon or Obama: Who Is the Real Radical Liberal on Health Care?

* Abbreviation: ACA — : Affordable Care Act Changes in health care policy, either proposed or enacted, often bring about heightened rhetoric and polarizing characterizations. Regardless of the potential availability of data to help guide policy deliberations, decisions regarding our health care system are almost always ultimately political. Such decisions often revolve around the philosophical debate regarding the appropriate role of government in our society and in the lives of the American people. Over time, and swings of the political pendulum in the United States, the political labels assigned to similar policy initiatives may change. As most post–World War II presidents have promulgated some type of health care reform or plan, there are opportunities to examine these trends and to gain perspective on what might be seen as a modest attempt at reform in one political era, but may be viewed as extreme in another. Often, one of the major parties will reflexively view, judge, or label the other’s proposals as extreme for political advantage. At different times, and in different eras, the political environment in the United States has resulted in similar plans being promulgated by presidents of different political parties. In the specific case of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), often termed “ObamaCare,” there are many similarities to the health care plans proposed by Richard Nixon in 1971 and 1974: the Nixon National Health Strategy. Recently, the reforms associated with the ACA have been described by the speaker of the House of Representatives and other members of Congress as “radical liberalism” and “socialized medicine.” Speaker Boehner has opined that “ObamaCare is hurting our economy, it’s hurting middle-class workers, and it’s hurting the ability to create more jobs,” and that Republicans want to replace it with “common-sense reforms.”1 Although many have strong opinions regarding Richard Nixon, few likely would characterize him or any … Address correspondence to Gary L. Freed, MD, MPH, Child Health Evaluation and Research Unit, University of Michigan, 300 N Ingalls Bldg, Rm 6D18, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0456. E-mail: gfreed{at}med.umich.edu
Aquello es ahora, y esto fue entonces: Walter Lippmann y la crisis del periodismo

Ante la actual crisis del periodismo, McChesney busca respuestas en dos obras no muy conocidas del consagrado Walter Lippmann, escritas durante la grave crisis democratica de 1920: A test of the News y Liberty and the News . En estos textos, Lippmann defiende un acceso suficiente a informacion de calidad para logar una opinion publica saludable, como base de todo sistema democratico. Ello autoriza a considerar el periodismo un servicio publico que no puede abandonarse a las veleidades del mercado o a la presion gubernamental, y promueve la inversion publica para facilitar la aparicion de medios independientes.
Ethical and Social Issues in the Information Age

This thoroughly revised and expanded fourth edition of the successful Ethical and Social Issues in the Information Age provides an up-to-date examination of the ethical, social, and policy challenges stemming from the emergence of cyberspace, the convergence of telecommunication and computing technologies, and the miniaturization of computing, telecommunication, and information-enabling devices. This accessible textbook/reference broadly surveys thought-provoking questions about the impact of these new technologies, with particular emphasis on the rapid growth of a multitude of computer networks, including the Internet. It assumes only a very modest familiarity with basic computer literacy. Students at all levels who need to learn about computer ethics, the legal aspects of computing, network security, computer crime investigation, and biometrics will find this well-documented work an invaluable resource. The book is also highly useful for practitioners needing such insights for their work.