cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ascorbic acid-catalyzed degradation of cyanidin-3- O-β-glucoside: Proposed mechanism and identification of a novel hydroxylated product

BACKGROUND: Many brightly colored fruits and vegetables owe their pigmentation and beneficial health effects to anthocyanins. Unfortunately, anthocyanins in the presence of ascorbic acid are readily degraded over juice processing and storage, which adversely affects color stability and potential health benefits. OBJECTIVE: This project focused on the effect of ascorbic acid as a catalyst in anthocyanin degradation. METHODS: The project involved searching for novel pigmented compounds in a simple model system composed of the most common anthocyanin cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and ascorbic acid, and a second model system consisting of blackberry extract supplemented with ascorbic acid. Degradation products were identified by HPLC-PDA and HPLC-MS. ESR was used to monitor hydroxyl radical formation in the model systems. RESULTS: Over 72 hours at ambient temperature, 67% of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside was lost in the model system during which time an unknown pigmented compound was formed. The unknown compound was also formed in a more complex model system consisting of blackberry extract and ascorbic acid. HPLC with PDA monitoring at 510 nm was used to detect a novel compound and HPLC-ESI-MS3 allowed a proposed structure to be built based on the fragmentation patterns. The unknown structure formed via oxidation of cyanidin 3-O-glucoside by ascorbic acid was identified as 6-hydroxy-cyanidin3-O-glucoside. The mechanism was substantiated with malvidin-3-O-glucoside and ascorbic acid, which produced a hydroxylated malvidin-3-Oglucoside. Production of hydroxyl radical in the base and blackberry model systems was confirmed by ESR. CONCLUSIONS:We propose that the pigmented compound is formed from hydroxyl radicals via the Haber-Weiss reaction. The addition of food grade hydroxyl radical scavengers to juices may be a viable treatment to prevent ascorbic acid-catalyzed degradation of anthocyanins.
Electrophysiological-anatomic correlates of ATP-triggered vagal reflex in dogs

To test the hypothesis that afferent traffic of the ATP-triggered vagal reflex travels mainly in the right vagus nerve, we quantitated the response of the sinus node pacemaker activity and atrioventricular (AV) nodal conduction to increasing doses of intra-atrial ATP under baseline conditions, in the presence of aminophylline, and subsequently after either right followed by left cervical vagotomy or vice versa. In addition, the effect of right vagal C-fiber afferent blockade on the action of ATP in the sinus node was also determined. Because vagal efferent traffic to the sinus and AV nodes travels mainly via the right and left vagus nerves, respectively, the working hypothesis predicted that left vagotomy would have a much smaller effect than right vagotomy on the negative chronotropic action of ATP in the sinus node and predicted similar effects of left vs. right vagotomy on the negative dromotropic action of ATP on AV nodal conduction. ATP suppressed sinus node automaticity and AV nodal conduction in a dose-dependent manner. The attenuation of the action of ATP on the sinus node by right vagotomy was much more pronounced than that caused by left vagotomy, while the negative dromotropic action of ATP in the AV node was similarly attenuated by right vs. left vagotomy. In addition, sinus node automaticity, which was only mildly attenuated by left vagotomy, was markedly suppressed by right vagal C-fiber afferent blockade. It was concluded that in the dog, afferent vagal traffic triggered by intra-right atrial ATP travels under these experimental conditions mainly via the right vagus nerve.
Urinary excretion of µ‐aminopropionitrile and cyanoacetic acid

Human serum did not convert beta-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) to the deaminated, nonlathyrogenic metabolite, cyanoacetic acid (CAA). Instead, its enzymic activity for oxidizing benzylamine was inhibited by BAPN (I50 = 2 X 10(-3) M). BAPN was found in the urine within one hour of oral administration. Oral 250 mg BAPN at 6-hr intervals each day for 21 days resulted in urinary BAPN recoveries approximating 16% of the total dose. BAPN was not detected in urine in specimens collected later than 7 hr after cessation of BAPN dosage. Urinary CAA appeared more slowly than BAPN and increased gradually to approximately three times that of urinary BAPN. After BAPN was discontinued, there was prolonged urinary excretion of BAPN-derived CAA. These along with earlier findings in experimental animals suggest that unexcreted BAPN is sequestered in tissues where it is metabolized to CAA before slowly released.
Protein Energy Metabolism in Chronic Kidney Disease

CKD patients with protein energy wasting (PEW) have increased morbidity, mortality, and diminished quality of life. This dysfunctional metabolic state is characterized by anorexia, ineffective utilization of nutrients, and augmented muscle protein catabolism, which leads to loss of lean body mass. A multitude of factors contribute to PEW, including inflammation, oxidative stress, hormonal dysregulation, resistance to the actions of insulin and growth hormone, and metabolic acidosis. These factors trigger muscle breakdown through activation of the ubiquitin proteasome system, oxidation of branched-chain amino acids, and apoptosis. Several treatments for PEW have been proposed in the KDOQI guidelines, including nutritional goals to maintain protein stores. Potentially relevant treatments that have yielded controversial results so far include aerobic and resistance exercise, treatment with human growth hormone, and bicarbonate supplementation. Other potential treatments requiring additional study for safety and efficacy in humans include ghrelin administration and testosterone treatment. Understanding the etiology of this maladaptive metabolic state is important for development of new therapies for treatment of PEW. The current pathophysiology of PEW remains elusive and treatment of PEW in the CKD population remains difficult.
A comparison of nocturnal primate behavior in exhibits illuminated with red and blue light

Abstract Over evolutionary time, light from the sun, moon, and stars has provided organisms with reliable information about the passage of time; but modern artificial lighting has drastically altered these cues. Evidence is accumulating that exposure to light at night—particularly blue wavelengths—from computer screens, urban light pollution, or as an occupational hazard of night-shift work has major implications for human health. Nocturnal animals in zoos are generally housed on reversed light cycles and are illuminated by blue or red artificial light so that daytime visitors can observe their active behaviors. However, previous research suggests that exposure to light all 24 h of the day and exposure to blue light during the dark phase can be harmful to human and animal health. Information about the consequences of lighting design for animal health and behavior is needed to formulate evidence-based guidelines for the exhibition of nocturnal animals in zoos. This study was conducted with nocturnal strepsirrhines at two facilities, one where the standard practice was to house nocturnal primates under blue light, and the other red. We experimentally changed the color of light illuminating habitats during the dark phase using an ABA study design and recorded continuous behavior data. We hypothesized that activity levels and time allocated to specific active behaviors would be lower under blue light compared to red. The overall percent of time spent performing active behaviors was lower when subjects were housed under blue light compared to red (generalized linear mixed models: pottos (N = 4), F 1,1169 = 54.0, p 1,689 = 26.4, p 1,482 = 99.1, p 1,312 = 8.4, p = 0.005). These changes were largely due to increased time spent moving around exhibits and examining objects under red light. We were also able to measure concentrations of the timekeeping hormone melatonin in the saliva of the aye-aye and found that levels were significantly lower in blue light compared to red (F 1,85 = 18.0, p
Fabrication of pentacene organic field-effect transistors containing SiO/sub 2/ nanoparticle thin film as the gate dielectric

Pentacene organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) were fabricated and investigated with thermal oxide and a self-assembled SiO/sub 2/ (SA-SiO/sub 2/) nanoparticle thin-film as the gate dielectrics. SA-SiO/sub 2/ film functions well as a gate dielectric with a breakdown field larger than 0.57 MV/cm and leakage current less than 2 nA/mm/sup 2/ with an applied voltage of 20 V. Being a low-cost and low-temperature process, self-assembly is extremely suitable for OFET fabrication. Dual-gate pentacene FETs containing SA-SiO/sub 2/ thin-film are presented as a new structure with good performance.
Ranibizumab for the Prevention of Radiation Complications in Patients Treated With Proton Beam Irradiation for Choroidal Melanoma.

PURPOSE To investigate the safety and potential efficacy of ranibizumab for prevention of radiation complications in patients treated with proton irradiation for choroidal melanoma. METHODS Forty patients with tumors located within 2 disc diameters of the optic nerve and/or macula were enrolled in this open-label study. Participants received ranibizumab 0.5 mg or 1.0 mg at tumor localization and every 2 months thereafter for the study duration of 24 months. The incidence of adverse events, visual acuity, and other measures of ocular morbidity related to radiation complications were assessed. Historical controls with similar follow-up meeting the eligibility criteria for tumor size, location, and baseline visual acuity were assembled for comparison. RESULTS Fifteen patients with large tumors and 25 patients with small/medium tumors were enrolled. Thirty-two patients completed the month 24 visit. No serious ocular or systemic adverse events related to ranibizumab were observed. At 24 months, the proportion of patients with visual acuity ≥ 20/200 was 30/31 (97%) in the study group versus 92/205 (45%) in historical controls (P < .001). The proportion of patients with visual acuity ≥20/40 was 24/31 (77%) in the study group versus 46/205 (22%) in controls at 24 months (P<.001). Clinical evidence of radiation maculopathy at month 24 was seen in 8/24 (33%) patients with small/medium tumors versus 42/62 (68%) of controls (P = .004). Three patients with large tumors developed metastases. CONCLUSIONS In this small pilot study, prophylactic ranibizumab appears generally safe in patients treated with proton irradiation for choroidal melanoma. High rates of visual acuity retention were observed through 2 years.
Characterizing Website Behaviors Across Logged-in and Not-logged-in Users

Users on today's Internet are subjected to a barrage of advertising and privacy concerning practices. However there is a gap in understanding the treatment of not-logged-in and logged-in users on websites. To address this gap in understanding, we create accounts and crawl 345 popular websites from 14 Alexa website categories while both not-logged-in and logged-in to determine -- for the first time -- how users are treated when logged-in versus not-logged-in with respect to the types and rat of ads and privacy concerns. We establish that logged-in users are treated to more ads and more privacy concerns on average and the website category greatly impacts the amount of ads/concerns users are subjected to. We also note that 42\% of website crawled leaked PII and identify that age/gender/zipcode are more valued than user/first/last name personal information. Finally, we observe that 463 unique third parties received at least one piece of PII, indicating that user PII is leaked more aggressively than previously known.
The impact of persistent dysphagia (PD) after induction chemotherapy in patients with locoregionally advanced (LRA) adenocarcinoma (ACA) of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction (E/GEJ) receiving a trimodality treatment regimen.

160 Background: For patients with LRA ACA of the E/GEJ who receive pre-operative therapy, advanced pathologic stage at surgery is strongly associated with recurrence and death. Identification of such patients prior to resection, however, is problematic. Given the morbidity of esophageal resection, alternative treatment strategies may be desirable in this patient population. Methods: Between 2/08 and 1/12, 60 evaluable patients with LRA ACA of the E/GEJ enrolled in single arm phase II trial of induction chemotherapy, surgery, and post-operative chemoradiotherapy. A clinical stage of T3, N1 or M1a (AJCC 6th) was required for eligibility. Induction chemotherapy with epirubicin 50mg/m2 d1, oxaliplatin 130mg/m2 d1, and fluorouracil 200mg/m2/day continuous infusion for 3 weeks, was given every 21 days for 3 courses and was followed by surgical resection. Adjuvant CRT consisted of 50-55Gy @ 1.8-2.0 Gy/d and 2 courses of cisplatin (20mg/m2/d) and fluorouracil (1000mg/m2/d) given as 96 hour infusions during weeks ...
Rosewood occidentalism and orientalism in Madagascar

As both a lucrative timber commodity and endangered species, rosewood ties the forests of Madagascar to the far ends of the globe. While the United States and Europe fund rosewood conservation, logging exports to China fuel a growing demand for classical furniture dating back to the Ming Dynasty. Conflicting demands for rosewood are often portrayed in terms of an East-West tension. Indeed, accounts of many global conservation resources, including ivory, rhino horn, tiger parts, and shark fin, fit this portrayal. In breaking with these accounts, I analyze global demands for rosewood in terms of two overlapping conservation and commodity assemblages. Both global assemblages have reterritorialized the forest of northeastern Madagascar. Via NGO offices in the United States, the conservation assemblage delineates vast tracts of forest for protection and identifies the communities that are to be its managers. Via rosewood importers in China, the commodity assemblage drives thousands of loggers into these protected forests in search of rosewood. Yet, rather than representing irreconcilable vantages, these global assemblages demonstrate a fundamental congruence. Both conservation and commodity assemblages blur global rationalities with situated cultural elements, creating the illusion of either a universal science uncorrupted by culture, or a cultural eminence uncorrupted by capitalism. Analyzing rosewood in terms of assemblage reveals not the stark contrast of an increasingly bifurcating global order, but rather an emergent space of global connectivity that complicates binary understandings of East and West, while simultaneously speaking to the reality of these geopolitical imaginaries.
Dissemination and Implementation Strategies of Lower Extremity Preventive Training Programs in Youth: A Clinical Review:

Context:Neuromuscular preventive training programs effectively reduce injury and improve performance in youth athletes. However, program effectiveness is directly linked to program compliance, fidelity, and dosage. Preventive training programs are not widely adopted by youth sport coaches. One way to promote widespread dissemination and compliance is to identify implementation strategies that influence program adoption and maintenance. It is unknown how previously published programs have followed the elements of an implementation framework. The objective of this review was to evaluate how elements of the 7 steps of implementation, developed by Padua et al, have been performed in the evidence of lower extremity preventive training programs.Evidence Acquisition:A systematic review of the literature from 1996 through September 2016 was conducted using electronic databases. Investigations that documented implementation of a sport team-based neuromuscular preventive training program in youth athletes and measu...
Drinking Motives and Alcohol Use: The SERVe Study of U.S. Current and Former Service Members

Objective:Hazardous drinking in the armed forces is a significant problem. Alcohol use motivations, known risk factors for problem drinking, have been underexplored in this population. Our study extends knowledge about drinking motives among current and former U.S. service members and provides recommendations on their utility in identifying alcohol-related problems by examining the factor structure of multidimensional drinking motives and their association to alcohol use.Method:Post-9/11 separated service members and current reservists were recruited from 35 Oregon employers to participate in a workplace study of supervisor support. The resulting sample (N = 509; 84% male; mean age = 39) completed a baseline assessment, which included a comprehensive drinking motives assessment.Results:Drinkers comprised 88% of the sample, with a mean Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) score of 5.4 (SD = 4.6); 23.9% scored 8 or more. The four-factor structure of the Drinking Motives Questionnaire-Revised, s...
Associations of the trunk skeletal musculature and dietary intake to biomarkers of cardiometabolic health after spinal cord injury.

PURPOSE Skeletal muscle atrophy and poor dietary habits may contribute to increased adiposity and impaired metabolic health after spinal cord injury (SCI). The relative association of trunk muscle cross-sectional areas (CSA) versus dietary habits to central adiposity and impaired metabolic health after SCI remains unclear. METHODS Twenty-two men with motor complete SCI completed five-day dietary recalls for 4 weeks. Trunk muscle CSAs as well as visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue (VAT and SAT, respectively) were quantified using magnetic resonance imaging. Basal metabolic rate (BMR), glucose effectiveness, insulin sensitivity and lipid profile were measured after overnight fast. RESULTS Antero-lateral trunk muscle (r = -0·79, P < 0·001) and posterior trunk muscle (r = -0·56, P = 0·008) CSAs normalized to total trunk CSA were negatively related to VAT. Antero-lateral trunk muscle ratio (TMR) was positively related to BMR (r = 0·54, P = 0·01), and posterior TMR was positively related to peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak; r = 0·71, P = 0·003). After accounting for total TMR as a co-variate, total fat (r = 0·47, P = 0·04) and protein (r = 0·61, P = 0·004) intakes were positively related to fasting insulin levels. CONCLUSION Trunk muscle CSAs normalized to total trunk CSA were negatively associated with central adiposity. Both trunk muscles and dietary macro-nutrients are related to markers of metabolic health. The study highlights the significance of developing an exercise intervention with a healthy dietary regimen to attenuate the development of central adiposity associated metabolic disorders after SCI.
NAECON tutorials: Trusted systems and electronics

As software and embedded systems take on more responsibilities in such fields as consumer products, medical devices, automobiles, airplanes, defense systems, financial systems, and manufacturing, the need to ensure that they behave as expected has become critical. Users must be able to trust that these systems are safe, reliable, secure, and appropriately responsive to the task at hand. Many strategies and tools have been developed to ensure safety and reliability, especially at the hardware level, and these continue to be modified and extended to work for embedded systems and complex software. But major challenges exist in the continually evolving area of security. We will review commonly accepted definitions of trust in various domains and look at some strategies for enhancing tools for developing trusted systems in general and secure systems in particular.
Epimorphin regulates the intestinal stem cell niche via effects on the stromal microenvironment.

The role of subepithelial intestinal myofibroblasts (ISEMFs) in the gut stem cell niche is controversial. We provide novel evidence supporting ISEMFs as important niche contributors. We show that t...
Gel purification of soil DNA extracts

Many methods have been developed for extracting nucleic acids from soils or other environmental samples. They can be grouped into two general categories: (i) cell separation followed by lysis [3, 11, 12], and (ii) direct lysis of cells in situ [1, 2, 5–7, 9–11, 13, 15]. Releasing DNA from cells is only the first step, additional purification must be performed in order to produce DNA of sufficient quality for subsequent enzymatic reactions. Several approaches have been tried, including the inclusion of PVPP [2, 3, 5], selective precipitation of DNA [3, 5], hydroxyapatite columns [12], gel filtration [14], and gel electrophoresis [2, 7, 15].
Sequential Estimation of the Mean of a Normal Population

We consider the problem of estimating the unknown mean µ of a normal population when the variance σ2 of the population is also unknown. As estimator we shall use the sample mean 0078-0304n of a sample of size n, so that the problem is simply that of choosing n. (In particular we shall consider two rules for determining n sequentially.) As a measure of the loss incurred when a sample of size n is taken we choose the quantity $$L = A \cdot |{x_n} - \mu + n,$$ (1) where A is some positive known constant; this involves the assumption that the cost of sampling is proportional to the sample size and that the unit of cost is chosen so that each observation costs one unit. (The use of the absolute value of the error of estimate, rather than its square, as the loss due to error of estimate is somewhat unconventional but in the present case causes no mathematical difficulties.)
Mammalian mutagenesis: future directions.

Future research in mammalian germ-line mutagenesis will benefit from the reciprocal relationship that can exist between the production of mutations and their analysis. Thus, mutagenesis experiments supply altered genes, and thereby tools for basic studies; while, in turn, information on gene structure and function helps in understanding mechanisms of mutagenesis.
Estimating Wave Generation on Restricted Fetches

The applicability of one-dimensional wave generation models to fetches that are restricted in width as well as length is considered. An analytical estimation approach, the spectral contribution method, is developed and compared with the established effective fetch method. Estimated wave fields are compared with measured results from four sites with varying degrees of fetch restriction. For width restricted fetches, the spectral contribution method is a more efficient estimator than the effective fetch method. Two one-dimensional wave generation models and two directional distribution models are investigated. For limited fetches, the JONSWAP spectrum appears slightly superior to the Bretschneider spectrum and the Pierson, Neumann, and James distribution yields better estimates than the Longuet-Higgins, Cartwright, and Smith distribution.
Analogies and Differences between Ferroelectricsand Ferromagnets

We describe the similarities and differences between ferromagnets – materials that have a spontaneous magnetization that is switchable by an applied magnetic field – and ferroelectrics, which have an analogous electric-field switchable electric polarization. After comparing the driving force for ion off-centering that causes the polarization in ferroelectrics with the physics of spin polarization that causes the magnetization of ferromagnets, we analyze the mechanisms of domain formation and resulting domain structures in both material classes. We describe the emerging technologies of ferroelectric and magnetoresistive random access memories, and discuss the behavior of magnetoelecric multiferroics, which combine ferromagnetism and ferroelectricity in the same phase.
Fractured pediatric central venous catheters - Repair or replace?

Abstract Introduction Central venous catheter (CVC) fracture is a common complication. The aim of this study is to examine risk factors resulting in CVC fracture and compare outcomes of children undergoing CVC repair versus replacement. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted from 2000 to 2016 for children with tunneled CVCs. Children with CVC fractures were compared to those without to identify risk factors resulting in fracture. Children with fractured CVCs were divided into repair or replacement treatment groups and outcomes compared. A logistic regression model determined independent predictors of CVC-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) after fracture. Results In the 236 children with CVCs, the fracture rate was 29.2%. Fractured CVCs were more common with double lumen CVC (p = 0.040) and children whose indication was total parenteral nutrition (p = 0.003). Given children often underwent multiple repairs or replacements. 98 CVC repairs and 41 replacements were analyzed. CVC replacements had longer durability than repair (181.98 vs. 98.9 days, p = 0.038). There were no differences in CLABSI incidence for repair vs. replacement (OR 0.5 CI 0.05–4.97) after controlling for other factors. Conclusions CVC fracture is a frequent complication in children with tunneled CVCs. CVC repair has no increased incidence of CLABSI but eliminates the intraoperative and anesthetic risks of CVC replacement. Type of study Retrospective cohort study. Level of evidence Level III.
Candidate Heterotaxy Gene FGFR4 Is Essential for Patterning of the Left-Right Organizer in Xenopus.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect, yet its genetic causes continue to be obscure. Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) recently emerged in a large patient exome sequencing study as a candidate disease gene for CHD and specifically heterotaxy. In heterotaxy, patterning of the left-right (LR) body axis is compromised, frequently leading to defects in the heart’s LR architecture and severe CHD. FGF ligands like FGF8 and FGF4 have been previously implicated in LR development with roles ranging from formation of the laterality organ (LR organizer) to the transfer of asymmetry from the embryonic midline to the lateral plate mesoderm. However, much less is known about which FGF receptors (FGFRs) play a role in laterality. Here we show that the candidate heterotaxy gene FGFR4 is essential for proper organ situs in Xenopus and that frogs depleted of fgfr4 display inverted cardiac and gut looping. Fgfr4 knockdown causes mispatterning of the LR organizer (LRO) even before cilia on its surface initiate symmetry-breaking fluid flow, indicating a role in the earliest stages of LR development. Specifically, fgfr4 acts during gastrulation to pattern the paraxial mesoderm, which gives rise to the lateral pre-somitic portion of the LRO. Upon fgfr4 knockdown, the paraxial mesoderm is mispatterned in the gastrula and LRO, and crucial genes for symmetry breakage, like coco, xnr1 and gdf3 are subsequently absent from the lateral portions of the organizer. In summary, our data indicate that FGF signaling in mesodermal LRO progenitors defines cell fates essential for subsequent LR patterning.
Assessing undergraduate student and faculty views on animal research: What do they know, whom do they trust, and how much do they care?

Research using animals is controversial. To develop sound public outreach and policy about this issue, we need information about both the underlying science and people’s attitudes and knowledge. To identify attitudes toward this subject at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, we developed and administered a survey to undergraduate students and faculty. The survey asked respondents about the importance of, their confidence in their knowledge about, and who they trusted to provide information on animal research. Findings indicated attitudes varied by academic discipline, especially among faculty. Faculty in the biological sciences, particularly those who had participated in an animal research project, reported the issue to be most important, and they reported greater confidence in their knowledge about pro and con arguments. Among students, being female, a vegetarian/vegan, or participating in animal research were associated with higher ratings of importance. Confidence in knowledge about regulation and its adequacy was very low across all groups except biological science faculty. Both students and faculty identified university courses and spokespersons to be the most trusted sources of information about animal research. UW-Madison has a long history of openness about animal research, which correlates with the high level of trust by students and faculty. Nevertheless, confidence in knowledge about animal research and its regulation remains limited, and both students and faculty indicated their desire to receive more information from courses and spokespersons. Based on these findings, we argue that providing robust university-wide outreach and course-based content about animal research should be considered an organizational best practice, in particular for colleges and universities.
High-amplitude focusing of ultrasound in air using time reversal

In this study, time reversal (TR) signal processing methods are used to create a focus of airborne ultrasound (between approximately 30 kHz and 50 kHz) in a room. There are unique challenges presented by ultrasonic sources, such as the highly directional nature of the sources, and attenuation of ultrasound in air. The aim of this study is to create a TR focus whose amplitude is as high as possible using the clipping processing method. Because ultrasonic sources tend to be very directional, this study explores the impact of using methods to make the sources more omnidirectional, which increases the number of reflective paths that contribute to the TR focus. This study explores various configurations of source and microphone in the room to determine which configuration yields the highest amplitude. Because thermoviscous loses for ultrasound are higher than for audible frequencies, a smaller room is used in the experiments to increase focal amplitudes.In this study, time reversal (TR) signal processing methods are used to create a focus of airborne ultrasound (between approximately 30 kHz and 50 kHz) in a room. There are unique challenges presented by ultrasonic sources, such as the highly directional nature of the sources, and attenuation of ultrasound in air. The aim of this study is to create a TR focus whose amplitude is as high as possible using the clipping processing method. Because ultrasonic sources tend to be very directional, this study explores the impact of using methods to make the sources more omnidirectional, which increases the number of reflective paths that contribute to the TR focus. This study explores various configurations of source and microphone in the room to determine which configuration yields the highest amplitude. Because thermoviscous loses for ultrasound are higher than for audible frequencies, a smaller room is used in the experiments to increase focal amplitudes.
Proteomic analysis of the left ventricle post-myocardial infarction to identify in vivo candidate matrix metalloproteinase substrates.

Left ventricular remodeling post-myocardial infarction (MI) involves a multitude of mechanisms that regulate the repair response. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a major family of proteolytic enzymes that coordinate extracellular matrix turnover. Both MMP-7 deletion and MMP-9 deletion reduce of the left ventricle post-MI, but the mechanisms have not been fully clarified. Both MMP-7 and MMP-9 have a large number of known in vitro substrates, but in vivo substrates for these two MMPs in the myocardial infarction setting are incompletely identified. Advances in proteomic techniques have enabled comprehensive profiling of protein expression in cells and tissue. In this chapter, we describe a protocol for the proteomic analysis of in vivo candidate MMP substrates in the post-MI left ventricle using two-dimensional electrophoresis, liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, and immunoblotting.
Artificial scaffolds that mimic the plant extracellular environment for the culture and attachment of plant cells

Plant growth and development involves an intricate program of cell division and cell expansion to generate different cell types, tissue patterns and organ shapes. Plant cells are stuck together by their cell walls and the spatial context of cells within tissues plays a critical role in cell fate specification and morphogenesis. An in vitro model system to study plant development and its regulation by various extrinsic and intrinsic factors requires the ability to mimic the physical interactions between cells and their environment. Here, we present a set of artificial scaffolds to which cultured tobacco BY-2 cells adhere without causing morphological abnormalities. These scaffolds mimic native plant cell walls in terms of their fibrous nature, charge, hydrophobicity and piezoelectricity. We found that the extent of plant cell adhesion was essentially insensitive to the stiffness, fiber dimension, and fiber orientation of the scaffolds, but was affected by the piezoelectric properties of scaffolds where adhesion increased on piezoelectric materials. We also found that the plant cell wall polysaccharide, pectin, is largely responsible for adhesion to scaffolds, analogous to pectin-mediated adhesion of plant cells in tissues. Together, this work establishes biomimetic scaffolds that realistically emulate the plant tissue environment and provide the capability to develop microfluidic devices to study how cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions affect plant developmental pathways.
Mixed Monotonicity for Reachability and Safety in Dynamical Systems

A dynamical system is mixed monotone if its vector field or update-map is decomposable into an increasing component and a decreasing component. In this tutorial paper, we study both continuous-time and discrete-time mixed monotonicity and consider systems subject to an input that accommodates, e.g., unknown parameters, an unknown disturbance input, or an exogenous control input. We first define mixed monotonicity with respect to a decomposition function, and we recall sufficient conditions for mixed monotonicity based on sign properties of the state and input Jacobian matrices for the system dynamics. The decomposition function allows for constructing an embedding system that lifts the dynamics to another dynamical system with twice as many states but where the dynamics are monotone with respect to a particular southeast order. This enables applying the powerful theory of monotone systems to the embedding system in order to conclude properties of the original system. In particular, a single trajectory of the embedding system provides hyperrectangular over-approximations of reachable sets for the original dynamics. In this way, mixed monotonicity enables efficient reachable set approximation for applications such as optimization-based control and abstraction-based formal methods in control systems.
Fluorogenic probes for thioredoxin reductase activity

Abstract The thioredoxin system is vital in maintaining the cellular redox state and is implicated in various cancers and other diseases. It comprises of thioredoxin reductase, thioredoxin and NADPH. Various methods have been developed for the detection and quantification of the thioredoxin reductase enzyme. Most of these methods suffer the shortfall of poor specificity, hence there is need to develop more robust and specific techniques. Recently, there has been an increased interest in fluorescent probes that can target thioredoxin reductase. This review highlights the progress in the synthesis and application of the different fluorescent probes that have been employed for this purpose.
Defining steps in RAVE-catalyzed V-ATPase assembly using purified RAVE and V-ATPase subcomplexes.

The vacuolar H+-ATPase (V-ATPase) is a highly conserved proton pump responsible for the acidification of intracellular organelles in virtually all eukaryotic cells. V-ATPases are regulated by the rapid and reversible disassembly of the peripheral V1 domain from the integral membrane Vo domain, accompanied by release of the V1 C subunit from both domains. Efficient reassembly of V-ATPases requires the Regulator of the H+-ATPase of Vacuoles and Endosomes (RAVE) complex in yeast. Although a number of pairwise interactions between RAVE and V-ATPase subunits have been mapped, the low endogenous levels of the RAVE complex and lethality of constitutive RAV1 overexpression have hindered biochemical characterization of the intact RAVE complex. We describe a novel inducible overexpression system that allows purification of native RAVE and RAVE–V1 complexes. Both purified RAVE and RAVE–V1 contain substoichiometric levels of subunit C. RAVE–V1 binds tightly to expressed subunit C in vitro, but binding of subunit C to RAVE alone is weak. Neither RAVE nor RAVE–V1 interacts with the N-terminal domain of Vo subunit Vph1 in vitro. RAVE–V1 complexes, like isolated V1, have no MgATPase activity, suggesting that RAVE cannot reverse V1 inhibition generated by rotation of subunit H and entrapment of MgADP that occur upon disassembly. However, purified RAVE can accelerate reassembly of V1 carrying a mutant subunit H incapable of inhibition with Vo complexes reconstituted into lipid nanodiscs, consistent with its catalytic activity in vivo. These results provide new insights into the possible order of events in V-ATPase reassembly and the roles of the RAVE complex in each event.
THE SIMPLE ANALYTICS OF PILLAR ONE AMOUNT A

Pillar One Amount A proposes to reallocate a portion of the global profit of multinational enterprises (MNEs) from their Residence (home) and Source (host) jurisdictions to their Market (sales destination) jurisdictions. The reallocation creates a new taxing right for Market jurisdictions, enabling them to levy a corporate income tax (CIT) on their “received” share of MNE global profit. To avoid double taxation, jurisdictions with nexus under current international Residence and Source tax principles must give up the right to tax their “relieved” share of MNE global profit. This article uses a simple analytics approach to clarify several likely impacts of Amount A. First, Amount A can be separated into a direct (tax base) effect and an indirect (tax rate) effect; the direct effect appears to be the more important driver for both the jurisdictional and overall impacts of Amount A. Second, although the EIA predicts a small overall impact of Amount A on global CIT revenues, the country-level impacts can be large for both “winning” and “losing” tax jurisdictions. Third, the overall impact of Amount A on global CIT revenues is likely to be much larger than predicted due to jurisdictional tax games that boost the direct (tax base) effect. Fourth, the creation of new taxing rights under Amount A essentially applies sales-based global formulary apportionment (GFA) to MNE profit. Sales-based GFA rewards Market jurisdictions with large markets and poorly performing MNEs and punishes those where MNEs earn above the global average return on sales. In sum, Amount A has several unintended consequences including distortion of market signals and encouragement of gaming behaviors by MNEs and tax authorities, which would lead to greater tax complexity and disputes.
Intersectional trauma: COVID-19, the psychosocial contract, and America's racialized public health lineage

This comparative review explores how, during COVID-19 and recent American public health disasters, including the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, Hurricane Katrina, and Hurricane Maria, early failures in public health communications, porous epidemiologic oversight, and lax crisis management created significant gaps in outreach and treatment for historically disenfranchised racial/ethnic minorities In consideration of each event's broader specter in terms of population health inequities, a highly salient but underresearched dynamic emerges: the development of heightened psychological sequelae including depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress, factors linked to civic and health care system disengagement and poorer overall health This excess mental illness morbidity can be said to fall under the umbrella of intersectional trauma, or psychological harm and psychosocial vulnerability produced through the accumulation of cultural, political, economic, and ecologic stressors tied to salient identity markers such as race or ethnicity During COVID-19, reports have presaged race- and class-specific disparities in infections and mortality, with evidence highlighting adverse effects on the "psychosocial contract," public trust and faith in government and health care systems which is borne from relational experiences tied to one's identity markers We discuss how COVID-19's kinetic and fluid political dynamics may add to the burden of mental illness and trauma in racial/ethnic minority communities in the United States and further entrench said disparities, closing with potential strategies for mitigation (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)
Sharing the Sky: Regulating Unmanned Aircraft in American Airspace Via Cooperative Federalism

The federal government's approach to regulating the new American airspace has restricted rather than promoted unmanned aircraft operations. The changing airspace, however, should be embraced, but that can only be accomplished if the federal government is willing to pragmatically modernize its approach to aviation regulation. To definitively embrace the changing airspace, the federal government must resign its exclusive sovereignty of the NAS. Rather than expanding congressional and executive agency authority, the opposite should happen. Utilizing a Cooperative Federalism system--similar to the federal government's approach to environmental regulation--the federal government through legislative action would resign its exclusive sovereignty over national airspace regulation. This resignation would allow the FAA to reclassify the NAS to include a state controlled and regulated Airspace Class designated for civilian unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operations--specifically recreational UAS operations.
Why Should I Become an Associate at a Large Law Firm? And If I Do, Then What Should I Expect and How Do I Succeed and Survive?

Despite horrific accounts about working in “Big Law” from former partners and associates, every year top law students from all over the country accept junior associate positions at large law firms. This article discusses whether someone considering working for a large law firm should do so and what they should expect when they work at a large law firm. This article provides a first-hand look at the advantages of working at a large law firm, what to expect, how to succeed, and how to make partner. This article also provides practical, tangible advice for junior attorneys starting out at large law firms about how to approach work assignments, work-life balance, billable requirements, how to bill, pro bono, and how to deal with clients, colleagues, and opposing counsel. Much of the advice in the article, which I have given throughout the years to many law students and junior associates, also applies to any junior attorney starting his/her practice at any organization, including a small firm, medium-sized firm, a corporation (as in-house counsel), or a governmental entity (such as the state attorney’s office). The advice is also useful to summer associates and law students who intern or extern. This article concludes that working at a large law firm is not right for everybody, but it is right for some people. It can be a tremendous building block in your career, and you can be happy after making the decision to work at a large law firm. Succeeding at a large law firm takes a tremendous amount of commitment, perseverance, and hard work.
Distinguishing between toxic alcohol ingestion vs alcoholic ketoacidosis: how can we tell the difference?

Anion gap metabolic acidosis (AGMA) is common in patients presenting for emergency care. While some disease processes and ingestions are easily excluded, diagnosing toxic alcohol (TA) ingestion can...
Iatrogenic Arteriovenous Fistula Secondary to Coronary Artery Dissection Caused by Contrast Injection Into a Chronically Occluded Right Coronary Artery.

Coronary arteriovenous fistulas and coronary cameral fistulas are rare anomalies that involve the abnormal communication between a coronary artery and a venous structure, such as a coronary vein or a right-sided cardiac chamber. Iatrogenic coronary arteriovenous fistulas and coronary cameral fistulas can be uncommon complications of coronary artery angiography and intervention. Acquired coronary arteriovenous fistulas that develop during percutaneous coronary intervention of chronic total occlusions have been previously reported in the literature. However, a coronary arteriovenous fistula resulting from contrast injection into a chronically and totally occluded right coronary artery during diagnostic coronary angiography is very rare. We present a unique case of a contrast-induced iatrogenic right coronary dissection leading to a coronary arteriovenous fistula communicating to the right atrium through the middle cardiac vein. J Med Cases. 2021;12(10):411-414 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc3754
Transferable Sharing Rights: A Theoretical Model for Regulating Airbnb and the Short-Term Rental Market

This short essay proposes a theoretical model for regulating the short-term rental market, which is typified by online markets such as Airbnb.com. The basic mechanism proposed here is a "transferable sharing right" (TSR), which is modeled on existing transferable development rights regimes. The proposed TSR regime would provide cities a means of regulating short-term rentals while also charging a fee equal to externalities and lost city revenue resulting from short-term rentals. Further, TSRs could be used to re-invest in neighborhoods where short-term rentals occur or to drive economic development to neighborhoods where cities seek to encourage tourism.
The Salt Controversy and Hypertension

Excess sodium intake is linked to higher blood pressure (BP), which, in turn, increases risk of stroke, coronary artery disease, heart failure and renal disease. However, defining ‘‘excess’’ sodium intake is controversial. Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 recommended that specific groups (persons with hypertension, all middle-aged and older adults, and all blacks [ie, 70% of the US adult population]) should limit sodium intake to 1500 mg ⁄d. For other adults, the recommendation is 8 g of sodium per day. There was also an 8.6% increase in CV death and hospitalizations for congestive heart failure in the group with <3 g of sodium excretion per day, indicating a J-shaped curve between sodium excretion and CV events. Stolarz-Skrzypek and colleagues also reported an association of lower sodium excretion and higher CV mortality. In this prospective population study of 3681 participants (who were family members of participants enrolled in the Flemish study on genes, environment, and health outcomes and the European project on genes in hypertension), 2096 participants were normotensive at baseline. CV deaths across tertiles of 24hour urine sodium excretion were highest (50 of 1220) in the low sodium excretion tertile (mean Na 106 mmol ⁄d) compared with 24 of 1250 in the middle sodium excretion tertile (mean Na 165 mmol ⁄d) and 10 of 1211 in the highest sodium excretion tertile (mean 250 mmol ⁄d; P=.001). Although systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure changes over time aligned with changes in sodium excretion, this association did not translate into higher risk of hypertension and CVD complications from blood pressure. Reasons proposed for why low sodium could increase CVD include an increase in sympathetic nervous system activation, decreased insulin sensitivity, and activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosteronesystem with progressive sodium restriction. What conclusions can we draw from the available data without large-scale prospective studies specifically addressing this question? Our take on the current situation is that the 2300 mg of sodium daily, as recommended by the original American Heart Associations guidelines, represents the best balance of what a hypertensive patient can likely achieve and which is usually within the nadir in these J-curve associations. To convert sodium to salt, multiply the sodium figure in milligrams (mg) by 2.5 and then divide by 1000.