cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The many domains of TFPI.

If tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) were a product like a smart phone or computer operating system, no doubt we would all be complaining that it came in too many versions. This relatively small (32 kDa) protein, thought to be the major plasma inhibitor of the initiation of clotting (reviewed by Broze and Girard (1)), has five domains: an acidic N-terminal domain, three Kunitz-type protease inhibitor domains, and a basic C-terminal domain. TFPI exists in multiple versions in plasma, including the “full-length” TFPIalpha molecule as well as various C-terminally truncated forms, some of which are in mixed disulfides with LDL. Although the latter have little or no anticoagulant activity, they are the predominant TFPI species in plasma. An alternatively spliced variant, TFPIbeta, is on the surface of endothelial cells and other cell types; it lacks the Kunitz 3 and basic C-terminal domains and instead is GPI-anchored via an alternate C-terminal sequence (2). Other alternatively spliced TFPI mRNAs have also been detected, although it is not clear if they are expressed into protein. The first two Kunitz domains of TFPI function as protease inhibitors, with Kunitz 1 inactivating factor VIIa and Kunitz 2 inactivating factor Xa. The Kunitz 3 domain, N-terminal acidic domain and C-terminal basic domain are all thought to contribute to TFPI function, as removing them diminishes TFPI anticoagulant activity (1). In the present issue of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Peraramelli et al. employ chemical synthesis of peptides (including the use of peptide ligation to assemble them into larger proteins) to create versions of TFPI that contain just the isolated Kunitz 2 domain of TFPI, as well as combinations of Kunitz domains 1 and 2, or of Kunitz domains 2 and 3. They then utilize these precisely defined truncations of TFPI to explore the contributions of Kunitz domains 1 and 3, as well as the basic C-terminal domain, to the inactivation of factor Xa—which appears to be the major target of this protease inhibitor. This clever approach confirms previous studies of the functional contributions of the various TFPI domains (1), and extends them to identify, among other things, which portions of TFPI outside Kunitz domain 2 contribute to the initial encounter complex, and which contribute to the isomerization of TFPI bound to factor Xa to bring about the formation of the tightly-bound (and fully inhibited) TFPI/factor Xa complex.
Listeria monocytogenes 10403S HtrA Is Necessary for Resistance to Cellular Stress and Virulence

The HtrA serine protease has been shown to be essential for bacterial virulence and for survival after exposure to many types of environmental and cellular stresses. A Listeria monocytogenes 10403S htrA mutant was found to be sensitive to oxidative and puromycin-induced stress at high temperatures, showed a reduced ability to form biofilms, and was attenuated for virulence in mice.
Activation of an Fe 16 wt%, Cr 11 wt% Nickel Alloy After Scribing

Abstract The scratching electrode technique was used to study the transient current response of a nickel alloy of 16 wt% iron (Fe), 11 wt% chromium (Cr) immersed in a solution of 0.01 M sulfuric acid (H2SO4) −0.01 M potassium chloride (KCl) solution. The transient current response went activation caused by the removal of the passive film and repassivation resulting from the reformation of the film. The transient electrochemical response was acquired by scribing a rotating cylindrical electrode with a Vickers diamond. For each impact of the stylus on the electrode, the force was measured with a transducer and compared with the width of the scratch. The surface morphology of the scratches showed surface deformation occurred in the region surrounding the scratch. The plastic zone around the scratch was estimated by Hill's analysis, which was used to explain microindentation of materials. The total area of activation consisted of the scar and surrounding areas. The activating charge density was 14.2 μC/cm2 fo...
Personal Precautions to Violence in Prison

Although studies have documented increased levels of violence in U.S. prisons, little attention has been given to how this violence shapes inmate behaviors and life-styles. This article presents results from a survey of 300 adult males incarcerated in a maximum-security facility, providing data on the types, prevalence, and social correlates of personal precautions to violence. A factor analysis of responses revealed two distinct dimensions of precautionary behavior. The more fearful, older, and socially isolated inmates primarily used avoidance behaviors to reduce the threat of victimization. On the other hand, younger inmates who use the inmate culture as a source of status and privilege tended to employ more aggressive or proactive techniques to deter attacks.
Changes in remnant and high-density lipoproteins associated with hormone therapy and progression of coronary artery disease in postmenopausal women

Abstract Objective This study examined the effect of hormone therapy (HT) on the plasma concentration of remnant lipoprotein cholesterol (RLP-C) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) subpopulations and the contribution of HT-related changes in these lipoproteins to the progression of coronary heart disease (CHD) in postmenopausal women. Methods Study participants were 256 women who completed the Estrogen Replacement and Atherosclerosis (ERA) trial, a placebo-controlled, randomized trial that examined the effects of 3.2 years of conjugated equine estrogen (CEE, 0.625 mg/day) or CEE (0.625 mg/day) plus medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA, 2.5 mg/day) on postmenopausal women with established coronary atherosclerosis. Quantitative coronary angiography and plasma RLP-C and HDL subpopulations were assessed at baseline and at follow-up. Results Relative to placebo, both CEE and CEE + MPA caused a significant reduction in plasma RLP-C concentrations and a significant increase in α1 and α2 HDL subpopulations. However, in the HT-treated subjects, faster progression of coronary atherosclerosis was observed in women who experienced the greatest reductions in RLP-C and in preβ1 HDL subpopulations. Conclusions Our data suggest that individual variability in RLP-C and HDL subpopulation response to HT is a predictor of CHD progression. Lipoprotein response to HT may be an indirect marker of susceptibility to other harmful effect of HT in postmenopausal women with established CHD or an indication of formation of dysfunctional lipoproteins.
Timelines from Text: Identification of Syntactic Temporal Relations

We propose and evaluate a linguistically motivated approach to extracting temporal structure necessary to build a timeline. We considered pairs of events in a verb-clause construction, where the first event is a verb and the second event is the head of a clausal argument to that verb. We selected all pairs of events in the TimeBank that participated in verb-clause constructions and annotated them with the labels before, overlap and after. The resulting corpus of 895 event-event temporal relations was then used to train a machine learning model. Using a combination of event-level features like tense and aspect with syntax-level features like the paths through the syntactic tree, we were able to train a support vector machine (SVM) model which could identify new temporal relations with 89.2% accuracy. High accuracy models like these are a first step towards automatic extraction of timeline structures from text.
Effect of zinc supplementation of pregnant women on the mental and psychomotor development of their children at 5 y of age

Background: A negative effect of prenatal zinc deficiency on brain function has been well established in experimental animals, but this association in humans is controversial. Objective: We evaluated the effect of prenatal zinc supplementation on the mental and psychomotor development of 355 children whose mothers participated in a double-blind trial of zinc supplementation that resulted in increased head circumference and birth weight. Design: The children took 6 tests—the Differential Ability Scales, Visual Sequential Memory, Auditory Sequential Memory, Knox Cube, Gross Motor Scale, and Grooved Pegboard tests—at a mean age of 5.3 y. The scores were compared between the children of women who received a daily oral dose of 25 mg Zn during the second half of pregnancy and the children of women who received placebo. Results: There were no differences in the test scores of neurologic development between the 2 groups. We analyzed the scores in 4 subgroups on the basis of maternal body mass index, because the increases in birth weight and head circumference due to the supplementation occurred only in the children of women with a body mass index (in kg/m 2 ) < 26.0 in the original trial. No differences in the scores were found between these subgroups. Conclusions: Zinc supplementation of women in the latter half of pregnancy had no effect on the neurologic development of their children at age 5 y. It is not known whether our findings of no positive effect in the population with apparently inadequate zinc nutriture can be readily extrapolated to other populations. Am J Clin Nutr 2003;77:1512‐6.
Digital micromirror device for optical scanning applications

Recent mechanical and nonmechanical optical scanning devices do not meet the fast scanning requirements for contemporary and emerging applications and can only steer optical beams over relatively narrow angles. A variety of important applications require fast optical scanning devices that can steer laser beams rapidly to an arbitrary location and with no moving parts. We introduce a new optical scanning technique that can be used to collimate and steer optical beams for precision alignment in either 2-D free-space optical (FSO) communications links or image scanners. This nonmechanical technique is capable of rapidly redirecting the optical beams to arbitrary locations without greatly sacrificing other parameters such as aperture size, efficiency, and scanning range. A digital micromirror device (DMD) beam-steering system was successfully demonstrated and exhibited better performance results when compared with other available systems.
Factors Influencing Brown Trout Reproductive Success in Ozark Tailwater Rivers

Abstract The reproductive success of brown trout Salmo trutta in White River, Arkansas, tailwater reaches is highly variable, resulting in the need for supplemental stocking. A better understanding of the physical and biotic factors affecting reproduction and survival would enhance the contribution of wild fish. We compared fecundity, reproductive chronology, physical habitat, water quality, trout density, food availability, diet, predation, and competitive interactions among four tailwater reaches to identify factors influencing brown trout reproductive success. The fecundity and condition factor of prespawning brown trout were significantly lower at Beaver Tailwater, a reach known for reproductive failure, than at other sites, among which no differences were found. Brown trout spawning was observed from 11 October to 23 November 1996, and juvenile emergence began on 28 February 1997. Significant among-site differences were detected for spawning and juvenile microhabitat variables, but the variables fell...
On quartet interactions in the California Current system

Abstract. Sea surface height (SSH) altimetry observations for 1992 to 2009 off California are used to show that observed quasi-zonal jets were likely driven by near-resonance interactions between different scales of the flow. Quartet (modulational) instability dominated and caused non-local transfer of energy from waves and eddies to biannual oscillations and quasi-zonal jets. Two types of quartets were identified: those composed of scales corresponding to (a) quasi-zonal jets, annual and semiannual Rossby waves and mesoscale eddies, and (b) biannual oscillations, semiannual Rossby waves and mesoscale eddies. The spectral centroid regularly shifted into the domain of low-order modes. However, the spectrum of SSHs does not demonstrate a power behavior. This says that the classical inverse cascade is absent. For a case with bottom friction, quartet instability required the existence of a certain level of dissipativity in the flow.
The Role of Hunger and Satiety in Weight Management

Hunger is a craving, desire, or urgent need for food, an uneasy sensation occasioned normally by the lack of food and resulting directly from stimulation of the sensory nerves of the stomach by the contraction and churning movement of the empty stomach, metabolic, nutrient, environmental (orosensory and social), and psychological factors. Hunger leads to initiation of eating. Eating activates inhibitory signals producing satiety. Satiety is the quality or state of being fed or gratified to or beyond capacity mediated in the short term by mechanical factors related to swallowing and gastric distention, chemical factors related to taste and smell, and psychological factors (sensory-specific satiety) and in the long term by chemoreception of nutrients and gastrointestinal (GI) peptides and neuroendocrine and neuronal factors and is a major motivation for terminating eating (1).
Cooperative group provisioning with latency guarantees in multi-cloud deployments

Given a set of datacenters and groups of application clients, well-connected datacenters can be rented as traffic proxies to reduce client latency. Rental costs must be minimized while meeting the application specific latency needs. Here, we formally define the Cooperative Group Provisioning problem and show it is NP-hard to approximate within a constant factor. We introduce a novel greedy approach and demonstrate its promise through extensive simulation using real cloud network topology measurements and realistic client churn. We find that multi-cloud deployments dramatically increase the likelihood of meeting group latency thresholds with minimal cost increase compared to single-cloud deployments.
Réacteur offshore : une énergie nucléaire économique et flexible

Le laboratoire d’ingenierie et de science nucleaire du MIT (Etats-Unis) developpe un nouveau concept de centrale nucleaire flottante, economiquement interessant et d’un niveau de surete sans precedent. Fonde sur les techniques eprouvees utilisees pour les reacteurs a eau legere et les plateformes offshore , l’OFNP peut etre construit par un chantier naval puis transporte jusqu’au site d’exploitation au large des cotes et relie au reseau par des câbles sousmarins, pour fournir une production flexible et mobile.
Convergence Acceleration Techniques for Coupled Adaptive Cartesian-Strand Grid Solutions

Convergence acceleration techniques are evaluated for a two-dimensional strand and Cartesian grid overset framework using a novel computational infrastructure. The method is based on a coupled multigrid algorithm tailored to the unique grid topology of near-body strand grids and off-body nested Cartesian grids. For the strand grids, which are automatically generated prismatic grids extruded from the body surface, efficient directional coarsening is achieved by agglomerating the unstructured surface and structured strand directions independently. For the nested Cartesian grids, a block-structured approach makes use of existing multi-level grid data, requiring no additional coarse mesh construction. A modular, multi-language computational infrastructure is used to couple near- and off-body solvers using overset domain connectivity algorithms that take advantage of the compact strand and Cartesian grid storage. Results are presented which show dramatic multigrid speed-up for strand and Cartesian grids independently, and together as a coupled system.
A Method of Separating Small Quantities of the Coproporphyrin Isomers 1 and 3

Quantitative separation of the naturally occurring coproporphyrin isomers (1 and 3) has hitherto been impossible. Crystallization has usually permitted identification of the porphyrin predominating in any given mixture, such as obtained for instance from urine and feces.1-4 This, however, has required that relatively large amounts of porphyrin be available. The present investigation was undertaken with the purpose of finding a means by which mixtures consisting of as little as 5-10 γ of total coproporphyrin could be resolved quantitatively.We have found that the methyl esters of coproporphyrins 1 and 3 are quantitatively adsorbed on Brockmann's A12O3∗ under the conditions noted in the following. The ester of coproporphyrin 3 may be eluted quantitatively with 35% acetone in water while that of copro-1 remains adsorbed, and is later removed by elution with pure acetone. The various steps in the procedure are as follows: (1) Esterification of the total, free porphyrin mixture in methyl alcohol saturated with...
Instrument development: getting started

The four steps involved in instrument development are: concept identification; item construction; validity testing and reliability testing. The clinician who has begun to identify characteristics associated with a patient group has in reality begun the process of instrument development. The challenge for clinicians and researchers is to transform those observable phenomena into a instrument that measures the attribute of the group. Only with reliable and valid measures can true relationships and differences be determined and effective intervention programs be formulated.
Fuzzy Collaborative Robotic Pong (FLIP)

There are a growing number of aerospace applications demonstrating the effectiveness of emulating human decision making using fuzzy logic. Main research challenges include situational awareness and decision making in an uncertain time critical spatio-temporal environment. In this effort, a MATLAB simulation environment of the classic arcade game PONG is utilized and a fuzzy logic system has been created that uses real-time reasoning and awareness to represent a single a human player. A second fuzzy system was then created that uses real-time collaboration as well as fuzzy reasoning and awareness capabilities to play two human players. This collaboration strategy is based on the researcher’s experience and learning lessons from watching two recent professional tennis matches. After an iterative process of tuning the system, both the singles and doubles games proved difficult for human players to beat. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the fuzzy logic collaborative robotic system. HERE are a growing number of aerospace applications demonstrating the effectiveness of emulating human decision making using fuzzy logic. The main research challenges include situational awareness and decision making in an uncertain time critical spatio-temporal environment. A completely autonomous, collaborative team of robots would be very useful in applications including, but not limited to, space robotics, celestial body exploration & colonization, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, homeland security and disaster relief.
Activation Energies of Plasmonic Catalysts.

The activation energy of a catalytic reaction serves not only as a metric of the efficacy of a catalyst but also as a potential indicator of mechanistic differences between the catalytic and noncatalytic reaction. However, activation energies are quite underutilized in the field of photocatalysis. We characterize in detail the effect of visible light excitation on the activation enthalpy of an electron transfer reaction photocatalyzed by plasmonic Au nanoparticles. We find that in the presence of visible light photoexcitation, the activation enthalpy of the Au nanoparticle-catalyzed electron transfer reaction is significantly reduced. The reduction in the activation enthalpy depends on the excitation wavelength, the incident laser power, and the strength of a hole scavenger. On the basis of these results, we argue that the activation enthalpy reduction is directly related to the photoelectrochemical potential built-up on the Au nanoparticle under steady-state light excitation, analogous to electrochemical...
Effect of Sulfur-Containing Compounds on Growth and Hydrogen Sulfide Production by Bacterium tularense.

Summary and Conclusions1. Of all the substances studied, cystine, cysteine, and to a much lesser extent thioglycollic acid were the only compounds effective in promoting growth of Bad. lularense. 2. Under the conditions described it is confirmed that cystine or cysteine is an essential component of media for cultivation of Bad. tularense, as was found previously.1, 4 The effectiveness of glutathione could be ascribed to the cysteine moiety of the tripeptide, while that of thioglycollic acid may not be due to the utilization of the acid per se but to some intermediary metabolic product common to cystine and cysteine. 3. Inasmuch as practically no stimulation of growth of Bad. tularense by methionine and homocystine was observed, it appears justifiable to conclude that cystine and cysteine were not elaborated from these compounds. It is of interest to note that this is in contrast to results reported with animals.12-184. Whenever definite growth of Bad. tularense was observed hydrogen sulfide was formed. It...
Fabrication of Ti3C2Tx MXene Transparent Thin Films with Tunable Optoelectronic Properties

MXenes, a new class of 2D transition metal carbides and carbonitrides, show great promise in supercapacitors, Li-ion batteries, fuel cells, and sensor applications. A unique combination of their metallic conductivity, hydrophilic surface, and excellent mechanical properties renders them attractive for transparent conductive electrode application. Here, a simple, scalable method is proposed to fabricate transparent conductive thin films using delaminated Ti3C2 MXene flakes by spray coating. Homogenous films, 5–70 nm thick, are produced at ambient conditions over a large area as shown by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The sheet resistances (Rs) range from 0.5 to 8 kΩ sq−1 at 40% to 90% transmittance, respectively, which corresponds to figures of merit (the ratio of electronic to optical conductivities, σDC/σopt) around 0.5–0.7. Flexible, transparent, and conductive films are also produced and exhibit stable Rs values at up to 5 mm bend radii. Furthermore, the films' optoelectronic properties are tuned by chemical or electrochemical intercalation of cations. The films show reversible changes of transmittance in the UV–visible region during electrochemical intercalation/deintercalation of tetramethylammonium hydroxide. This work shows the potential of MXenes to be used as transparent conductors in electronic, electrochromic, and sensor applications.
Primary Intracranial Synovial Sarcoma

Background. Synovial sarcoma is an aggressive soft tissue sarcoma with uncertain histological origin. The pathology frequently presents as a localized disease, especially near large joints around the knee and thigh. Intracranial disease, which is rare, has been reported as metastasis from synovial sarcoma. We report a case with no obvious primary extracranial pathology, suggesting primary intracranial disease; this has not been reported in the literature. Case Description. A 21-year-old male, with a prior right skull lesion resection for atypical spindle cell neoplasm, presented with headaches, gait instability, left arm weakness, and left homonymous hemianopsia. CT of head demonstrated a right parietal hemorrhagic lesion with mass effect, requiring surgical decompression. Histopathology revealed synovial sarcoma. FISH analysis noted the existence of the t(X;18)(p11.2;q11.2) chromosomal translocation. PET scan did not show other metastatic disease. He underwent stereotactic radiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy. At 2-year follow-up, he remained nonfocal without recurrence. Conclusion. We report the first known case of primary intracranial synovial sarcoma. Moreover, we stress that intracranial lesions may have a tendency for hemorrhage, requiring urgent lifesaving decompression.
Analysis on epidemiological characteristics of metabolic syndrome of residents in Beidaihe district of Qinhuangdao city

[Objective]To understand the epidemic status of metabolic syndrome(MS) of residents in Beidaihe district of Qinhuangdao city,provide the basic data for MS prevention and treatment.[Methods]From August to October 2010,the face-to-face questionnaire was conducted in residents aged 20-92 years old in Beidaihe district by random sampling of epidemiological method.The weight,height,blood pressure,blood lipids and fasting blood glucose of 3 572 investigated objects were measured,and 3 569 offered effective data.The data were analyzed according to the standard of Chinese diabetes society(CDS) 2004.[Results]The prevalence of MS was 5.72%,that of males was higher than that of females,and the difference was significant(P0.01).The prevalence of MS increased with increasing of age,and there was statistical significance(P0.01).There was significant difference in prevalence of MS among people with different education levels and economic status(P0.01).[Conclusion]The prevalence of MS of residents in Beidaihe district of Qinhuangdao city is high,which indicates that there is risk of cardiovascular disease.
What makes the chemo drug work better? Development of an expression cloning method for genes that affect spindle poison sensitivity in mammalian cells

4412 (a: Introduction) Chemotherapy is standard procedure for cancer treatment to eradicate small group of cancer cells that escaped surgical removal, or to control tumor growth. In contrast to radiation therapy and surgery, which treat localized tumors, chemotherapy drugs treat whole body. Since normal cells will be exposed to the drug as well, side effect is major problem of chemotherapy. Patients on chemotherapy commonly experience nausea, vomiting and hair loss. Large dose of drug may leave damage on normal cells, which may result in secondary tumor years later. Clinical studies have demonstrated that treatment of malignant germ cell tumor with topoisomerase poisons such as etoposide increases the rate of secondary leukemia. By developing a method that enhances the effect of chemotherapy, we would require less drug dose and it may help to reduce chemotherapy side effects. (b: experimental procedures) A class of chemotherapy drugs, spindle poisons (e.g. taxol, vinblastine), inhibits mitotic spindle function, activates the mitotic spindle checkpoint, arrests cells in mitosis, and then causes cell death by mechanisms that are poorly understood. To investigate the signal transduction pathways involved in modulating these processes and to isolate factors that serve to sensitize cells to spindle poisons, we developed a cDNA library expression cloning method that identifies genes whose expression increases the substrate attachment of cells arrested in M phase with spindle poisons, due to mitotic exit and/or mitotic apoptosis. (c: summary of results) Here we identify and validate seven cDNA’s from the screen that induce spindle poison sensitivity. We then characterize HeLa cell lines that stably express two of the cDNA’s. pSC3 encodes a fragment of human S8/p45/TRIP1/Sug1, a component of the 19S proteasome regulatory complex. Stable expression of pSC3 decreased the proteasome activity and increased the levels of apoptosis in cells treated with spindle poisons or proteasome inhibitors. Cells stably transfected with pSC3 exhibited decreased expression of BubR1, a kinase required for activation of the mitotic checkpoint in response to treatment with spindle poisons. pSC29 encodes the bromodomain from thyroid hormone receptor coactivator isoform 2. Cells stably transfected with pSC29 also exhibited significantly decreased expression of BubR1. Thus these cDNA fragments both appear to affect stability of a spindle checkpoint component. (d: conclusions) The screening method described provides a general approach for revealing genes and gene fragments whose expression modulates cellular responses to spindle poisons. These genes may be a target for development of drug used in combination with spindle poisons.
Wafer level integration of an advanced logic-memory system through 2 nd generation CoWoS® technology

State-of-the-art silicon interposer technology of chip-on-wafer-on-substrate (CoWoS®) has been applied for the first time in fabricating high performance wafer level system-in-package (WLSiP) containing the 2nd-generation high bandwidth memory (HBM2). An ultra-large Si interposer up to 1200 mm2 made by a two-mask stitching process is used to form the basis of the 2nd-generation CoWoS® (CoWoS®-2) to accommodate chips of logic and memory to achieve the highest possible performance. Yield challenges associated with the high warpage of such a large heterogeneous system are resolved to achieve high package yield. Compared to alternative interposer integration approach such as chip-on-substrate first (CoS-1st), CoWoS® offers more competitive design rule to result in better power consumption, transmission loss, and eye diagram. CoWoS®-2 has positioned itself as a flexible 3D IC platform for logic-memory heterogeneous integration between logic SoC and HBM for various high performance computing applications.
Development and validation of a childhood self‐efficacy for functional constipation questionnaire

BACKGROUND Children with functional constipation fear painful bowel movements leading to stool withholding behavior. Self-efficacy is the belief that an individual can accomplish a given goal. If children with constipation avoid defecation because they think that they are unable defecate comfortably, this low self-efficacy may prevent treatment success. The aim of the current study was to develop and validate a constipation specific self-efficacy scale. METHODS The self-efficacy for functional constipation questionnaire (SEFCQ) was developed by the authors and evaluated by 10 children and seven experts. Ninety-nine healthy children and 122 children with functional constipation completed the SEFCQ and three other questionnaires measuring related constructs. KEY RESULTS Minor changes were made in wording based on feedback from experts and children. Factor analysis showed two scales, a 7 item Action scale (Cronbach's α = 0.88) and a 7 item Emotion scale (Cronbach α = 0.86). The SEFCQ total scale correlated positively with general self-efficacy (r = .32, P < .001) and quality of life (r = .20; P < .01) and negatively with anxiety (r = -.15; P < .05). Scores on the SEFCQ were higher in children without functional constipation compared to those with functional constipation (53.33 + 3.38 vs 39.34 + 7.19, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES We developed a constipation specific self-efficacy questionnaire with good initial internal reliability, excellent face validity and adequate content validity. A low self-efficacy for defecation, may make the child resist their physical urge to defecate and hence, the need for further studies to assess its effect on treatment outcomes.
Selective Induction of Optical Magnetism

An extension of the Maxwell–Faraday law of electromagnetic induction to optical frequencies requires spatially appropriate materials and optical beams to create resonances and excitations with curl. Here we employ cylindrical vector beams with azimuthal polarization to create electric fields that selectively drive magnetic responses in dielectric core–metal nanoparticle “satellite” nanostructures. These optical frequency magnetic resonances are induced in materials that do not possess spin or orbital angular momentum. Multipole expansion analysis of the scattered fields obtained from electrodynamics simulations show that the excitation with azimuthally polarized beams selectively enhances magnetic vs electric dipole resonances by nearly 100-fold in experiments. Multipolar resonances (e.g., quadrupole and octupole) are enhanced 5-fold by focused azimuthally versus linearly polarized beams. We also selectively excite electric multipolar resonances in the same identical nanostructures with radially polarized...
Integrated CMOS-compatible Q-Switched-Mode-Locked Laser at 1.9µm with On-Chip Artificial Saturable Absorber

We present a CMOS-compatible, Q-switched mode-locked integrated laser at 1.9µm with a compact footprint of 23.6×0.6×0.78mm, a Q-switched rate of 720kHz, a mode-locked rate of 1.2GHz, and pulse durations of 215fs.
First-pass accumulation of salicylic acid in gut tissue after absorption in anesthetized rat.

Purpose. The purpose of this paper is to report the study on the first-pass accumulation kinetics of salicylic acid (SA) in gut tissue after absorption by simultaneously analyzing drug contents in the lumen, gut tissue, and blood in anesthetized rats. Methods. Sodium salicylate (5.4 mg as SA) in 0.4 ml normal saline was administered into a closed 10-cm jejunal loop. Drained mesenteric blood from the loop area was collected every minute, while lost blood was replaced through infusion of oxygenated blood from donor rats. At 3, 10, 20, 40, or 60 min after dosing, SA remaining in lumen, accumulating in gut tissue, and appearing in blood were analyzed by HPLC. All the data were fitted into a linear two-consecutive (lumen and gut tissue) first-order kinetic model. Results. After absorption, significant amounts of SA accumulated in gut tissue before appearing in blood, e.g., at 3 or 20 min after dosing, 74.4 or 54.4% of absorbed SA accumulated in gut tissue, respectively. Practically all administered SA was recovered. The estimated mean absorption time from the lumen and mean transit time in gut tissue of SA were 20.4 and 18.5 min, respectively. Conclusions. The above results indicate that gut tissue may act as a reservoir for drug accumulation during the first pass after oral absorption. Thus, the rate of transport of drug into blood circulation after oral administration may significantly differ from the true rate of absorption through the gut membrane. The potential transport resistance from gut tissue to blood should probably be considered in the modeling of GI absorption.
What is a Context

In this chapter, I examine a variety of criteria for context individuation, with an eye towards identifying and distinguishing various theoretical projects in semantics and pragmatics for which they would be appropriate. The discussion is organized around six possible desiderata for contexts: (1) that they metaphysically determine proposition expressed, (2) that they be non-trivial (in a sense explained in the text), (3) that they provide epistemic illumination of how hearers understand what proposition was expressed, (4) that they be (in various senses) finite, (5) that they be non-intentionally characterized, and (6) that they be context-insensitively characterized. Particular attention is directed to the conceptions of context developed by Lewis, Stalnaker, and Davidson(ians).
Race, Income, and Environmental Inequality in the U.S. States, 1990–2014

Objective To examine state‐level environmental inequality trends over time by constructing a new, longitudinal data set and comparing change in environmental and economic inequality. Methods We use Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) RSEI (Risk‐Screening Environmental Indicator) database to create measures of exposure to industrial air toxins and inequality in exposure by race and poverty status. Measures were calculated for each of three periods: 1990–1994, 2000–2004, and 2010–2014. Results Exposure declined but inequality persisted. The geographic patterns displayed by race‐ and poverty‐related environmental inequality differ. But, states with higher levels of race‐based inequality had higher levels of exposure. Poverty‐based environmental and economic inequality exhibited a moderate, positive relation that was spatially patterned. Conclusion While environmental quality improved, we saw little progress in reducing environmental inequality. Though both race‐ and poverty‐based inequality remain, they result from different mechanisms. Future research should examine the relations between deindustrialization and economic, environmental, and political inequality.
High culture, black culture: Strategic assimilation and cultural steering in museum philanthropy:

This article provides a case study of race and big-gift cultural patronage, a theoretically and empirically understudied phenomenon, by investigating million-dollar donations to the Smithsonian Ins...
Genetic Variants in Circadian Rhythm Genes and Self-Reported Sleep Quality in Women with Breast Cancer.

Introduction: Women diagnosed with breast cancer (BC) are at increased risk of sleep deficiency. Approximately 30–60% of these women report poor sleep during and following surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and anti-estrogen therapy. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between genetic variation in circadian rhythm genes and self-reported sleep quality in women with BC. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited women with a first diagnosis of breast cancer at five sites in Nebraska and South Dakota. Sixty women were included in the study. Twenty-six circadian genes were selected for exome sequencing using the Nextera Rapid Capture Expanded Exome kit. 414 variants had a minor allele frequency of ≥5% and were included in the exploratory analysis. The association between Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score and genetic variants was determined by two-sample t-test or ANOVA. Results: Twenty-five variants were associated with the PSQI score at p Conclusions: These exploratory results demonstrate an association of genetic variants in circadian rhythm pathways with self-reported sleep in women with BC. Testing this association is warranted in a larger replication population.
The magnitude of the exercise pressor reflex is influenced by the active skeletal muscle mass in the decerebrate rat

The exercise pressor reflex is composed of two components, namely the muscle mechanoreflex and the muscle metaboreflex. The afferents evoking the two components are either thinly myelinated (group ...
Connectomic Alterations Linked to Transdiagnostic Risk for Psychopathology at the Transition to Adolescence

Abstract BACKGROUND Convergent research identifies a general factor (“P factor”) that confers transdiagnostic risk for psychopathology. However, brain functional connectivity patterns that underpin the P factor remain poorly understood, especially at the transition to adolescence when many serious mental disorders have their onset. OBJECTIVE Identify a distributed connectome-wide neurosignature of the P factor and assess the generalizability of this neurosignature in held out samples. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This study used data from the full baseline wave of the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) national consortium study, a prospective, population-based study of 11,875 9- and 10-year olds. Data for this study were collected from September 1, 2016 to November 15, 2018 at 21 research sites across the United States. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES We produced whole brain functional connectomes for 5,880 youth with high quality resting state scans. We then constructed a low rank basis set of 250 components that captures interindividual connectomic differences. Multi-level regression modeling was used to link these components to the P factor, and leave-one-site-out cross-validation was used to assess generalizability of P factor neurosignatures to held out subjects across 19 ABCD sites. RESULTS The set of 250 connectomic components was highly statistically significantly related to the P factor, over and above nuisance covariates alone (ANOVA nested model comparison, incremental R-squared 6.05%, χ2(250) =412.1, p CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The general factor of psychopathology is associated with connectomic alterations involving control networks and default mode network. Brain imaging combined with network neuroscience can identify distributed and generalizable signatures of transdiagnostic risk for psychopathology during emerging adolescence.
Topological Amorphous Metasurfaces Based on Electromagnetic Duality

Photonic topological insulators (PTIs) promise immunity to wave propagation losses associated with arbitrary sharp bends and defects caused by fabrication imperfections. However, current realizations so far are based on ordered and periodic lattices, wherein specific crystalline symmetries are responsible for topological phases. In this work, we examine electromagnetic-dual metasurfaces, wherein the modal degeneracies underpinning the topological phases are mainly the result of the complementary local response of the constituent cells rather than a precise lattice arrangement. This allows for PTIs with disordered and nonperiodic patterns, which support robust pseudospin modes at their interface. In addition, we show that the appearance of pentagon and heptagon shaped cells in our hyperunifrom hexagonal metasurface is associated with localized cavity modes. These real-space topological defects are elementary lattice imperfections that cannot be removed by local perturbations, and thus the new zero-dimensional modes have equal robustness to their topological onedimensional edge modes counterparts
Use of Endocrine Consultation for Hemoglobin A1C ≥9.0% as a Standardized Practice in an Emergency Department Observation Unit.

Abstract Objective Severely uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with poor long-term outcomes and may remain unrecognized. A high frequency of uncontrolled DM has been identified in the acute-care setting, including the emergency department observation unit (EDOU). We assess the use of standardized endocrine consultation in the EDOU for hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) levels ≥9%. Methods Standard practice in our EDOU includes universal HbA1C screening and endocrine consultation for HbA1C levels ≥9.0%. As part of a quality improvement program, EDOU patients with HbA1C levels ≥9.0% had an endocrinology consult. One-month follow-up phone calls assessed the effects of consultation after discharge. Results HbA1C tests were administered to 3688 (95.7%) of 3853 EDOU patients, of which 7.0% (n = 258) were found to have an HbA1C level ≥9% (mean ± SD, 11.7 ± 1.8%; range, 9%-16.6%). Endocrine consults were completed for 73.6% (190/258) patients with severely uncontrolled DM. Among the 190 patients, 92.1% (n = 175) had discharge DM medication adjustments. For known patients with DM (n = 142), injectable diabetes medication prescriptions increased from 47.2% (67/142) on EDOU arrival to 78.2% (111/142) upon discharge. Newly diagnosed DM injectable prescriptions increased from 0% (0/48) on arrival to 72.9% (35/48) upon discharge. A total of 72.6% (n = 138) were contacted at a 1-month follow-up and 94.9% (n = 131) reported taking DM medications, compared with 68.2% (n = 94) before consult. Conclusion HbA1C screening coupled with endocrine consultation for HbA1C levels ≥9.0% was assessed as a performance improvement study and is shown to have valuable results. Further investigation is required to determine the long-term clinical impact and cost analysis for this novel approach.
Fully Integrated Electronic-Photonic Biosensor for Label-Free Molecular Sensing in Advanced Zero-Change CMOS-SOI Process

We demonstrate the world’s first fully integrated electronic-photonic label-free molecular sensor in a CMOS 45RFSOI commercial process. Real-time kinetics with 100nm lipid nanoparticles, mimicking SARS-CoV-2 particles, are presented utilizing micro-ring resonators integrated with on-chip electronics.
A Substituted Diphenyl Amide Based Novel Scaffold Inhibits Staphylococcus aureus Virulence in a Galleria mellonella Infection Model.

Antimicrobial compounds can combat microbes through modulating host immune defense, inhibiting bacteria survival and growth, or through impeding or inhibiting virulence factors. In the present study, a panel of substituted diphenyl amide compounds previously found to disrupt bacterial quorum sensing were investigated and several were found to promote survival in the Galleria mellonella model when provided therapeutically to treat a Gram-positive bacterial infection from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain MW2. Out of 21 tested compounds, N-4-Methoxyphenyl-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-propanamide (AMI 82B) was the most potent at disrupting S. aureus virulence and promoted 50% larvae survival at 120 and 96 h when delivered at 0.5 and 5 mg/Kg, respectively, compared to untreated controls (p 144 h) at a delivery concentration up to 5 mg/Kg. Further assessment with mammalian cells suggest AMI 82B hemolytic effects against erythrocytes has an HL50 greater than the highest tested concentration of 64 μg/mL. Against HepG2 hepatic cells, AMI 82B demonstrated an LD50 greater than 64 μg/mL. AMI 82B lacked direct bacteria inhibition with a minimal inhibitory concentration that exceeds 64 μg/mL and no significant reduction in S. aureus growth curve at the same concentration. Assessment via qPCR revealed that AMI 82B significantly depressed quorum sensing genes agr, spa, and icaA (p < 0.05). Thus, AMI 82B therapeutic effect against S. aureus in the G. mellonella infection model is likely an influence on bacterial quorum sensing driven virulence factors and provides an interesting hit compound for this medically important pathogen.
Laboratory simulations of supernova shockwaves: Formation of a second shock ahead of a radiative shock

Supernovae launch spherical shocks into the circumstellar medium (CSM). These shocks may interact with both the intergalactic magnetic field (IGM) and local mass accumulations (possibly with their own local magnetic fields). The latter interaction may trigger star formation. The shocks have high Mach numbers and may be radiative. We have created similar shocks in the laboratory by focusing laser pulses onto the tip of a solid pin surrounded by ambient gas; ablated material from the pin rapidly expands and launches a shock through the surrounding gas. The shock may then be allowed to interact with (a) mass accumulations, (b) magnetic fields, or (c) allowed to expand freely. We will present examples of each type of experiment, but mainly discuss a new phenomena observed first in (c); at the edge of the radiatively heated gas ahead of the shock, a second shock forms. The two expanding shocks are simultaneously visible for a time, until the original shock stalls from running into the heated gas. The second shock remains visible and continues to expand. A minimum condition for the formation of the second shock is that the original shock is super‐critical, i.e., the temperature distribution ahead of the original shock has an inflexion point. In a non‐radiative control experiment the second shock does not form.
Habitat Association, Size, Stomach Contents, and Reproductive Condition of Puerto Rican Boas (Epicrates inornatus)

The Puerto Rican boa occurs in a variety of habitats, including wet montane forest, lowland wet forest, mangrove forest, wet limestone karst, and offshore cays, and from sea level to 480 m. Mean SVL of 49 encountered boas (live and road-killed) was 136.9 ± 35.1 (range = 38.8-205 cm), with a mean mass of 952.1 ± 349.0 g (n = 47; range = 140-1662 g). Prey in digestive tracts (n = 29) included remains of black rats, house mice, three species of anoles, bats, common ground-doves, domestic fowl chicks, and invertebrates. Females were in reproductive condition in late April through mid-August and had an average brood size of 21.8 ± 6.0 (n = 9, range = 13-30).