cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Photo-driven electron transfer from the highly reducing excited state of naphthalene diimide radical anion to a CO2 reduction catalyst within a molecular triad

The naphthalene-1,4:5,8-bis(dicarboximide) radical anion (NDI−˙), which is easily produced by mild chemical or electrochemical reduction (−0.5 V vs. SCE), can be photoexcited at wavelengths as long as 785 nm, and has an excited state (NDI−˙*) oxidation potential of −2.1 V vs. SCE, making it a very attractive choice for artificial photosynthetic systems that require powerful photoreductants, such as CO2 reduction catalysts. However, once an electron is transferred from NDI−˙* to an acceptor directly bound to it, a combination of strong electronic coupling and favorable free energy change frequently make the back electron transfer rapid. To mitigate this effect, we have designed a molecular triad system comprising an NDI−˙ chromophoric donor, a 9,10-diphenylanthracene (DPA) intermediate acceptor, and a Re(dmb)(CO)3 carbon dioxide reduction catalyst, where dmb is 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine, as the terminal acceptor. Photoexcitation of NDI−˙ to NDI−˙* is followed by ultrafast reduction of DPA to DPA−˙, which then rapidly reduces the metal complex. The overall time constant for the forward electron transfer to reduce the metal complex is τ = 20.8 ps, while the time constant for back-electron transfer is six orders of magnitude longer, τ = 43.4 μs. Achieving long-lived, highly reduced states of these metal complexes is a necessary condition for their use as catalysts. The extremely long lifetime of the reduced metal complex is attributed to careful tuning of the redox potentials of the chromophore and intermediate acceptor. The NDI−˙–DPA fragment presents many attractive features for incorporation into other photoinduced electron transfer assemblies directed at the long-lived photosensitization of difficult-to-reduce catalytic centers.
Sentence Ordering using Recurrent Neural Networks

Modeling the structure of coherent texts is a task of great importance in NLP. The task of organizing a given set of sentences into a coherent order has been commonly used to build and evaluate models that understand such structure. In this work we propose an end-to-end neural approach based on the recently proposed set to sequence mapping framework to address the sentence ordering problem. Our model achieves state-of-the-art performance in the order discrimination task on two datasets widely used in the literature. We also consider a new interesting task of ordering abstracts from conference papers and research proposals and demonstrate strong performance against recent methods. Visualizing the sentence representations learned by the model shows that the model has captured high level logical structure in these paragraphs. The model also learns rich semantic sentence representations by learning to order texts, performing comparably to recent unsupervised representation learning methods in the sentence similarity and paraphrase detection tasks.
The role of fluid overload in the prediction of outcome in acute kidney injury

Our understanding of the epidemiology and the impact of acute kidney injury (AKI) and fluid overload on outcomes has improved significantly over the past several decades. Fluid overload occurs commonly in critically ill children with and without associated AKI. Researchers in pediatric AKI have been at the forefront of describing the impact of fluid overload on outcomes in a variety of populations. A full understanding of this topic is important as fluid overload represents a potentially modifiable risk factor and a target for intervention. In this state-of-the-art review, we comprehensively describe the definition of fluid overload, the impact of fluid overload on kidney function, the impact of fluid overload on the diagnosis of AKI, the association of fluid overload with outcomes, the targeted therapy of fluid overload, and the impact of the timing of renal replacement therapy on outcomes.
Oncology's Trojan Horse: Using Viruses to Battle Cancer.

In 2016, the American health care system was faced with more than 1.6 million new cases of cancer, and individuals older than 65 years of age will be affected disproportionately. Many older individuals are poor candidates for traditional treatments (e.g., chemotherapy, radiation) because of actual or potential treatment-related adverse events. Researchers continuously look for novel therapeutic strategies, and an exciting new one is on the horizon: virotherapy. Viruses' ability to infect and kill human cells makes them promising cancer treatments. The greatest success has been seen in acute lymphocytic leukemia. To date, four genetically engineered oncolytic viruses have been approved globally by several countries' health regulatory agencies, but several challenges remain. Only one, talimogene laherparepvec (T-Vec), is available in the United States. Treatment-naive patients tend to respond better than patients receiving T-Vec as second-line therapy. Other good candidates for T-Vec include elderly patients who do not tolerate checkpoint inhibitors (the leading immunotherapy in advanced melanoma). Researchers continue to look for ways to increase oncolytic viruses' clinical potency. Once they do, these agents will become effective cancer therapy. Abbreviations GM-CSF = Genetically modified colony-stimulating factor, HIV = Human immunodeficiency virus, HSV-1 = Herpes simplex virus, OV = Oncolytic virus.
Red imported fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are unsuitable prey for a native antlion (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) in Florida

Summary We examined the suitability of Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) as prey for a native antlion, Myrmeleon crudelis Walker (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae), in south Florida. We found that average growth rate was significantly lower and mortality was significantly higher for M. crudelis larvae fed S. invicta workers than for M. crudelis larvae fed Dorymyrmex bureni (Trager) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) workers. Thus, S. invicta appears to be unsuitable prey for M. crudelis and may have a negative impact on M. crudelis and other ant predators in areas where it invades.
Characterization of Karenia brevis blooms on the West Florida Shelf using ocean color satellite imagery: implications for bloom maintenance and evolution

Satellite ocean color remote sensing techniques, coupled with in situ data, were used to examine the spatial extent and evolution of four Karenia brevis blooms on the West Florida Shelf (WFS) in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2011. Observations were obtained with the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS-Aqua). These four blooms were delineated by combining remote-sensing reflectance at 555 nm and normalized fluorescence line height. In 2004 and 2005, the WFS was affected by several hurricanes, including the category 5 storm Hurricane Katrina. These hurricanes led to increased river discharge and vertical mixing which favored bloom intensification and dispersion. No hurricanes passed over the WSF in 2006; however, storms in south Florida may have aided bloom intensification via increased river discharge. In 2011, a bloom appeared off Venice, Florida, where several small creeks discharge. The bloom moved south toward Charlotte Harbor where it intensified and lingered for several months as it received nutrients from riverine discharge and upwelling events. While it is difficult to identify initiation stages of a K. brevis bloom (<∼50,000 cells L−1) using satellite imagery, the techniques used here provide information about bloom evolution (size, duration, and advection) and insight into factors affecting bloom dynamics.
Subclavian Artery Disease: Diagnosis and Therapy

The diagnosis of brachiocephalic disease is often overlooked. Symptoms include arm claudication and vertebrobasilar insufficiency. In patients who have had the use of the internal mammary artery for coronary bypass surgery, the development of symptoms of myocardial ischemia should alert the clinician to the possibility of subclavian artery stenosis. Also, in patients who have had axillofemoral bypass, lower-extremity claudication may occur. Recognition involves physical examination and accurate noninvasive testing. Endovascular therapy has proven to be effective in alleviating symptoms in properly selected patients.
Principles of Energy Transduction and Alternating Access of ABC Exporters

ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters to drive the energetically uphill translocation of substrates including the export of amphiphilic molecules out of the cell by harnessing the energy of ATP hydrolysis. Dedicated motor domains, the nucleotide binding domains (NBDs), bind and turn ATP over to power conformational rearrangements in the transmembrane domain (TMD) which binds and transports substrates. Although numerous investigations have defined the architecture and described the ATP-coupled conformational rearrangements for a number of ABC transporters, a general model of the transduction of ATP energy to the work of substrate remains elusive. We utilized double electron-electron resonance (DEER) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to describe the ATP- and substrate-coupled conformational cycle of the mammalian ABC efflux transporter P-glycoprotein (Pgp), or ABCB1, which has been extensively studied owing to its role in the clearance of xenobiotics and clinical implications in cancer resistance to chemotherapy. Pairs of spin labels were introduced at residues selected to track the putative inward-facing (IF) to outward-facing (OF) transition. Our findings illuminate how ATP energy is harnessed in the NBDs in a two-stroke cycle and elucidate the consequent conformational motion that reconfigures the TMD, two critical aspects of Pgp transport mechanism. Along with a novel, fully atomistic model of the OF conformation in membrane, the insight into Pgp conformational dynamics harmonizes mechanistic and structural data into a novel perspective on ATP-coupled transport. When considered in the context of previous studies of ABC exporters, these findings reveal mechanistic divergence within the efflux class of ABC transporters.
Predictors of depression in outpatients with heart failure: An observational study

Abstract Background Depression is a common comorbidity of heart failure. Little is known about the influence of heart failure symptomatology and coping resources, such as social support and social problem-solving, on depression. Objective To examine whether individual and clinical characteristics, heart failure symptomatology, and the subcomponents of social support and social problem-solving increase the likelihood of depression in outpatients with heart failure. Methods A secondary data analysis of a cross sectional study with 201 outpatients with heart failure was conducted. The following self-report questionnaires were used to collect data: the Heart Failure Symptom Survey, the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List-12, the Graven and Grant Social Network Survey, the Social Problem-Solving Inventory Revised-Short, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies – Depression scale. Descriptive statistics examined patient characteristics. Logistic regression explored predictors of depression from among individual and clinical characteristics, heart failure symptomatology, and subcomponents of social support (i.e., belonging, tangible, and appraisal support) and social problem-solving (i.e., positive and negative problem orientation; rational, impulsiveness/carelessness, and avoidance problem-solving styles). Results The sample was primarily Caucasian (86.1%) male (62.6%) with an average age of 72.57 years. Individuals who were unmarried, experienced a higher symptom burden, and those who perceived less belonging support were more likely to be depressed. The subcomponents of social problem-solving did not influence depression. Conclusions Belonging support was the most beneficial type of social support related to depression. Components of social problem-solving were not related to depression. Assessment of marital status, heart failure symptomatology, and perceived belonging support is needed to identify potential stressors and available social support in order to promote psychological adaptation.
K0of Invariant Rings and NonabelianH1

Abstract We give a description of the kernel of the induction mapK0(R) → K0(S), whereSis a commutative ring andR = SGis the ring of invariants of the action of a finite groupGonS. The description is in terms ofH1(G, GL(S)).
Supply, Demand, and Equilibrium: A Class Experiment

This note explains the intuition and analytics behind the class experiment that is commonly called "Trading in a Pit." Following the experiment, we derive supply and demand and discuss market efficiency. This note is part of the refresher course in economics at Darden. Excerpt UVA-G-0593 Rev. Aug. 18, 2009 Supply, Demand, and Equilibrium: A Class Experiment Today's class experiment goes back to an exercise by, among others, Vernon Smith, the 2002 Economics Nobel Laureate. The experiment mimics trading on the floor of commodities markets around the world. It illustrates the power of the supply and demand framework. With supply and demand, we could actually predict with reasonable accuracy the number of tons of wheat bought and sold each day and at what price. During the experiment in class, we discovered that decentralized markets are extraordinarily efficient tools, which is why policymakers often prefer them to centralized markets. Competition among traders ensures that only those transactions materialize that will maximize the total profits of consumers and producers. With a simple example, this note summarizes and discusses our main findings from the experiment. Predicting Equilibrium Prices and Quantities Consider a market for homogeneous goods such as wheat. There are six buyers and six sellers of a given amount of wheat. Sellers make money when they sell above the value on their cards, which is the production cost of the wheat. Buyers, on the other hand, make a profit when they buy wheat at a lower price than the value on their cards, which is their willingness to pay. Take the following values for buyers' willingness to pay and for sellers' production costs. . . .
Development of an Automated Pressure Sensitive Thermesthesiometer and Its Application in Characterizing the Thermal Response of Human Tissue with Respect to Warm Surfaces

An advanced thermesthesiometer has been developed to measure the heat flux, touch-force, and internal temperature profile of a simulated body part coming into contact with a warm surface. A suitably chosen material with properties resembling those of human tissue is used for bare skin simulation and is thermally regulated using a programmable logic controller (PLC). An automated driving mechanism provides variable touch-occurrences and pressures over specially engineered test-surfaces with varying effusivities and surface roughness. Each test-surface is thermally regulated at a specific temperature to aid in quantifying prior research on human subject testing and pain threshold measurements. This study not only emphasizes the instrument design but also demonstrates its potential use in human-subjective feedback testing with respect to steady state and transient heat transfer processes.
Robustness to missing synchrophasor data for power and frequency event detection in electric grids

Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU) data provides time synchronized measurements of important electrical and power signals in AC power grids. The sheer volume of three phase electric grid PMU data, typically measured at 60 samples second, necessitates the use of automatic event (anomaly) detection for grid monitoring and control. However, this becomes an unwieldy task in cases of PMU data dropouts due to the unobservable state of the grid. Hence, robustness to missing phasor measurements would be critical in order to monitor and control the electric grid in an orderly manner. This paper illustrates an approach for interpolation of PMU data in case of missing data points by optimal filtering of phasor data along with event detection. It is shown that optimal filters can be estimated on the basis of non linear recursive search optimization on real-time PMU data and these filters can be used to generate forecasts in case of missing PMU measurements. The approach is illustrated on phasor data obtained from a microPMU system developed by Power Standards Lab for data ride-through in case of dropouts.
Electrically conductive, polymer nanofibers fabricated by electrospinning and electroless copper plating

This paper reports the development of electrically conductive, polymer nanofibers fabricated by electrospinning and electroless copper plating. The electrospun nanofibers were made using a precursor consisting of styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS) block copolymer and silver trifluoroacetate. For process development and materials characterization, the fibers were electrospun as a thin membrane on glass slides. After electrospinning, each sample was exposed to an argon plasma in order to stimulate the formation of Ag metal within the fibers. Using Ag as a catalyst, copper coatings were formed on the fibers by electroless plating. It was found that high quality copper could readily form on the polymer nanofibers, rendering the originally highly resistive nanofiber membranes electrically conductive while simultaneously optically translucent. To characterize the electrical behavior of the plated fibers under mechanical load, samples were electrospun on a solid, elastic SIS thick film, plasma treated, electroless plated and subjected to elongation. One sample maintained measurable resistances for elongations of up to 167% of its unstretched value.
Neuropsychology Within a Tertiary Care Epilepsy Center

Epilepsy is a prevalent condition characterized by variations in its clinical presentation, etiology, and amenability to treatment. Through history, neuropsychologists have played a significant role in performing research studies on changes in language, memory, and executive functioning in patients with epilepsy, including those undergoing surgical treatment for medically refractory seizures. These studies provided a foundation for establishing neuropsychologists as critical members of interdisciplinary clinical teams specializing in evaluation and treatment of epilepsy. This article describes a number of elements of specialized neuropsychological practice that have evolved over the years within a tertiary care epilepsy center. Through diagnostic interview and objective testing, the neuropsychologist is able to provide a more complete and objective understanding of a patient's cognitive and behavioral functioning than what is obtained by other clinicians through brief office visits. While assessment of cognition, mood, and behavior is the most commonly provided service to patients with epilepsy from all age groups, there are many instances when neuropsychologists in surgical settings are called to perform more specialized procedures, including the intracarotid amytal (Wada) procedure, electrocortical stimulation mapping of language eloquent brain regions, and functional brain imaging procedures. While working as a neuropsychologist on an interdisciplinary epilepsy care team requires specialized knowledge and clinical training, it is extremely satisfying due to the diversity of the patient population and the particular challenges resulting from the often unique manner that cognition and behavior can be affected in patients with epilepsy across the lifespan.
Structure and Function in Cilia and Flagella

Cilia and possibly flagella were first observed by Leeuwenhoek (1677, 1679) toward the end of the seventeenth century. The case for Leeuwenhoek’s priority of discovery of cilia has been elegantly presented by Dobell (1958). The accuracy of Leeuwenhoek’s observations has been noted by Hughes (1959) who has also remarked upon the general hiatus in important microscopical observation throughout the eighteenth century, partially based on the technical limitations of available instruments.
Further genetic and enzymological characterization of the three Bacillus subtilis deoxyribonucleic acid polymerases.

Bacillus subtilis has three DNA polymerases. Polymerase III is necessary for DNA replication while polymerase I is involved in DNA repair. Four independent mutations leading to loss of polymerase I activity were mapped by transformation between mdh and phoP. Since one of these mutant strains produces a heat-labile polymerase this locus is likely the polymerase I structural gene. Some polymerase III mutants fail to grow at elevated temperatures and have a greatly increased mutation rate. The structural genes for polymerases I and III are unlinked. Purified preparations of the three B. subtilis DNA polymerases have been characterized. Polymerases II and III catalyze a high rate of synthesis in the absence of a full deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate complement, the mechanism of which is probably a truncation of the normal synthetic process. Arabinosylcytosine triphosphate competitively inhibits polymerases II and III as well as DNA synthesis in toluene-treated cells. This analogue is incorporated by these polymerases. Single-stranded DNA is a potent inhibitor of polymerases II and III but not I. The B. subtilis polymerases are readily separable by column chromatography and respond differently to high ionic strength, heat, sulfhydryl reagents, arylazopyrimidines, and various templates. The differences and similarities of the three B. subtilis enzymes relative to the correspondingly numbered Escherichia coli enzymes are discussed.
Modular Equations and Theta—Function Identities in Notebook 1

Chapters 19-21 in Ramanujan’s second notebook are devoted almost exclusively to modular equations (Part III [3, pp. 220–488]). Ramanujan clearly loved modular equations, and, as the content of Chapters 34 and 35 makes manifest, he found many applications of these equations. Thus, it is surprising that the first notebook contains several dozen modular equations that he failed to record in his second notebook. Some of these are easy to prove with the help of modular equations in the second notebook, and so Ramanujan might have considered them less important and not worthy of repeating in his second notebook. However, many of them are apparently not so easy to prove. Some have degrees not examined in the second notebook. For example, on page 298 Ramanujan records a modular equation of degree 49. Not only does Ramanujan not consider modular equations of this degree in his second notebook, but apparently no one else had found a modular equation of degree 49 up until that time. Even at this writing, we know of no other modular equation of degree 49.
Genomic Applications in Melanoma

Advances in molecular techniques have confirmed that melanoma encompasses several neural crest-derived malignancies that cluster in groups with shared features including exposure to known risk factors, histomorphology, mutational/molecular profiles, and clinical behavior. Multiple targeted therapy and immunotherapeutic approaches have advanced the field of melanoma therapy. The growing understanding of the mutational and molecular underpinnings of both benign and malignant melanocytic lesions, including the identification of driver mutations such as BRAF p.V600E/K and others, has not only opened multiple opportunities for intervention and revolutionized melanoma therapy but also provided tools for diagnosis and prognostication. In this chapter, we comprehensively review the molecular landscape of melanocytic tumors including the most frequently affected pathways, epigenetic changes, and chromosomal aberrations. Examples of practical application of this knowledge are represented by chromosomal copy number evaluation techniques such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) for diagnosis of problematic lesions, gene expression profile for prognostication, and evaluation of tumor neoantigens that could facilitate complete responses with immunotherapy. The applicability of testing will likely continue to grow as targeted therapies are increasingly tested and employed in the adjuvant setting in earlier-stage disease. This chapter represents a brief snapshot of our current understanding of melanoma and some of the approaches currently in use or likely to be deployed in the near future.
Impact of complementary and alternative medicine offerings on cancer patients’ emotional health and ability to self-manage health conditions

Abstract Objectives This descriptive study investigated how cancer patient characteristics and utilization of CAM resources, services, and activities at a regional cancer center were associated with patients’ understanding of their health needs, emotional health, and their ability to self-manage their condition. Design Cross-sectional questionnaire. Sixty-one patients completed a mailed 17-item paper and pencil survey about their sociodemographics, use of CAM offerings, barriers, and perceived benefits. Setting Mail-based survey completed by cancer patients in a southern state. Main outcome measures As a result of participating in the center’s cancer support services, patients indicated if: (1) they had a better understanding of their health needs; (2) their emotional health has improved; and (3) they take better care of themselves when they are at home and in the community. Results Participants reported using 0.93 (±1.20) CAM activities (e.g., yoga), 0.62 (±0.71) resources (e.g., the library), and 1.62 (±1.34) services (e.g., monthly support groups), although also reported experiencing 0.74 (±0.81) barriers (e.g., transportation) to accessing these offerings. Perceived benefits were interrelated, where those perceiving CAM offerings to improve their understanding of their health needs also perceived improved emotional health (χ 2 = 27.93, P Conclusions Greater utilization of CAM offerings was also associated with greater perceived benefits. These results highlight the benefits of CAM therapies for cancer patients’ well-being. Integration of CAM therapies in standard cancer care should be encouraged to complement cancer treatment.
Broadcast Approach for the Single-User Energy Harvesting Channel

This paper proposes a broadcast strategy for the single-user slowly fading channel in which the transmission power is supplied by an energy harvesting unit. In this strategy, the channel state information (CSI) is known only to the receiver, and the transmitter is assumed to be oblivious to the CSI. The broadcast approach enables preventing outage events in the face of the lack of CSI at the transmitter. In the proposed broadcast approach, the transmitter splits its message into multiple superimposed information layers. This facilitates sustaining reliably decodable transmission rates adapted to the unknown state of the randomly-varying fading state of the channel. The objective is to characterize the optimal allocation of the randomly varying harvested power over time and across information layers in the contexts of maximizing the average communication rate and minimizing the likelihood of outage. First, the setting in which the transmitter has non-causal and complete information about the state of the energy harvesting process is considered. A closed-form characterization of the optimal allocation of power across layers is established, and an algorithm that analytically determines the exact optimal allocation of power over time is provided. Furthermore, an online algorithm is proposed for a setting in which the energy harvesting process is known only causally to the transmitter.
Shapes and distributions of soft tissue scatterers

What causes scattering of ultrasound from normal soft tissues such as the liver, thyroid, and prostate? Commonly, the answer is formulated around the properties of spherical scatterers, related to cellular shapes and sizes. However, an alternative view is that the closely packed cells forming the tissue parenchyma create the reference media, and the long cylindrical-shaped fluid vessels serve as the scattering sites. Under a weak scattering or Born approximation for the extracellular fluid in the vessels, and assuming an isotropic distribution of cylindrical channels across a wide range of diameters, consistent with a fractal branching pattern, some simple predictions can be made about the nature of backscatter as a function of frequency in soft tissues. Specifically, a number of plausible shapes would predict that backscatter increases as a power law of frequency, where the power law is determined by the function governing the number density of the vessels versus diameter. These results are compared with some historical models developed over the last 100 years in scattering theory and point to the need for higher spatial resolution and higher bandwidths to obtain more precise measures of the key parameters in normal tissues, and to better identify the dominant structures responsible for backscatter in everyday clinical imaging.
Response to "Underestimation in Self-Assessment"

To the Editor: It is always gratifying when someone voluntarily reads my manuscripts carefully enough to raise insightful criticisms. Dr. Panjwani discusses important boundary conditions of self-enhancement, and I generally agree with her; however, this would not be a proper reply without a
Comparing abduction and retroduction in Peircean pragmatism and critical realism

Abduction as a method for sociological explanation is increasingly gaining interest, but questions remain as to what exactly it is and how it differs from other methods of inquiry. This paper compa...
Gestational Age Dependency of Umbilical Cord Serum IL-6 Levels for Detecting Fetal Inflammation.

Objective The fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS) is characterized by elevated concentrations of inflammatory cytokines in fetal blood, with preterm delivery and morbidity. Umbilical cord serum interleukin-6 (UC-s-IL-6) is an ideal marker for detecting FIRS. However, the effect of gestational age (GA) on UC-s-IL-6 levels has not been reported. This study aimed to determine the relationship between GA and UC-s-IL-6 levels, and GA-dependent cutoff values of UC-s-IL-6 levels for detecting fetal inflammation. Study Design UC-s-IL-6 concentrations were measured in 194 newborns (44 extremely preterm newborns (EPNs) at 22–27 weeks' GA, 68 very preterm newborns (VPNs) at 28–31 weeks' GA, and 82 preterm newborns (PNs) at 32–34 weeks' GA). Linear regression analyses were used to correlate GA and UC-s-IL-6 levels. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves analyses were performed for detecting the presence of funisitis, as the histopathological counterpart of FIRS. Results A significant negative correlation between GA and UC-s-IL-6 levels was found in newborns with severe funisitis (r s = − 0.427, p = 0.004) and those with mild funisitis (r s = − 0.396, p = 0.025). ROC curve analyses revealed the area under the curve for detecting funisitis were 0.856, 0.837, and 0.622 in EPNs, VPNs, and PNs, respectively. The UC-s-IL-6 cutoff value in EPNs (28.1 pg/mL) exceeded those in VPNs and PNs (3.7 and 3.0 pg/mL, respectively). Conclusion UC-s-IL-6 levels were inversely correlated with GA especially in newborns with funisitis. Such GA dependency of UC-s-IL-6 should be considered for detecting fetal inflammation. Key Points
How Much is Too Much? A Test to Protect Against Excessive Fines

Fines are the most common form of punishment in the United States, and are disparately imposed against poor people of color. The stories of fines ruining lives abound. Yet until last year, in most state courts, it was not clear whether a person could challenge financial punishment imposed against them as unconstitutional. That changed when the Supreme Court held in Timbs v. Indiana that the Eighth Amendment’s Excessive Fines Clause applies to the states. Despite the fact that all state and federal courts must now be equipped to decide whether financial punishment violates the Eighth Amendment, the Supreme Court has not provided a concrete test for deciding whether a fine is constitutionally excessive. It has only said that a fine is excessive if it is “grossly disproportional” to the gravity of the offense. This article provides the guidance lacking in the Court’s case law by supplementing the grossly disproportional test. After examining the Court’s Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment jurisprudence, it offers four factors for courts to consider when deciding whether a fine is excessive: (1) whether the defendant is able to pay the fine; (2) whether fines are a significant revenue source in the sentencing jurisdiction; (3) whether other jurisdictions impose similar fines for similar crimes; and (4) whether the sentencing jurisdiction disproportionately imposes fines against minority defendants. As many courts decide for the first time whether fines are excessive, this article serves as a road-map to help guide the analysis.
The Proper Role of Government in the Market Economy The Case of the Post-COVID Recovery

Abstract The long-lasting, widespread COVID-19 pandemic has imposed huge challenges on public health as well as economic recovery. Governments must take an active role in designing and enforcing economic policies to address various problems that pure market forces cannot, such as externalities and the absence of risk markets. Covid-19 has exposed deficiencies in current arrangements and the need to develop better institutions. We also need to develop better understandings of the relationship between government, the market, and other institutions within society.
How America was Tricked on Tax Policy: Secrets and Undisclosed Practices - Book Review.

In this well-argued and persuasive book Professor Bogenschneider dismantles much of the dogma of US tax policy. The crux of Bogenschneider’s argument is a discussion of 11 deceptions in tax policy ranging from (#1) the idea that tax cuts for the wealthy will cause economic growth, to (#7) the idea that workers don’t pay taxes because the income tax rates are progressive, to (#11) the idea that tax cuts for large corporations will cause a decrease in the prices of consumer goods. Notably, the other 8 deceptions not listed are of such significance and worthy of discussion on their own merits and to not mention of them here feels like leaving a suitcase or child behind on the platform in the train station. This intense feeling of the significance and novelty of Bogenschneider’s argumentation, and the ease with which it is presented, is an argument to read the book. Perhaps an important further point of introduction is that in the title Bogenschneider refers to the tricking of America, yet make no mistake, this is a book of international tax law and policy.
Randomized control trial of unconditional versus conditional incentives to increase study enrollment rates in participants at increased risk of lung cancer.

Abstract Introduction : Understanding how incentives and their timing influence study enrollment rates is important to efficient study design and increasing the generalizability of findings. This 2-arm, parallel randomized trial evaluated how conditional versus unconditional mailed incentives of a $20 gift card affected study enrollment in a sample of participants screened for lung cancer screening. Methods : Eligible participants included Black and White adults who underwent lung cancer screening with low-dose CT and had negative screening results at two North Carolina imaging facilities in 2018. We used a stratified randomization scheme, by sex and race, to assign incentive type (conditional vs. unconditional). We used the Tailored Design Method with six points of mailed contact to engage participants. We compared study enrollment rates using chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses. Results : After adjusting for sex, race, age, smoking status, participant residence, and screening site, participants who received unconditional incentives were 74% more likely to enroll than those who received conditional incentives (adjusted OR= 1.74 (95% CI: 1.01, 3.00). Conclusions : Type of incentive can play a role in increasing study enrollment, especially mailed surveys that target individuals who currently or previously smoked. Unconditional incentives may be worth the initial cost to engage study participants.
Strategies for Communicating about Biomedical Policy

Biomedical policy communications are directed primarily to the members of the relevant attentive public and tend to be more sophisticated in language and content than many biomedical information messages focused on consumers. The growth of electronic communications is making the direct participation in the policy formulation process easier for those citizens attentive to an issue and concerned about a particular policy or issue. Given the general experience of attentive citizens in accessing, evaluating, storing, and recalling information, the emergence of new information technologies will primarily change the speed of information access and the speed and ease of contacting. The major change emanating from new information technologies may be faster and improved communications between interest groups and their members, or among the members of an interest group. New information technologies are expanding the opportunities for direct communications to policy makers. The general model of biomedical communications for policy purposes outlined in this chapter has important implications for the design, delivery, and assessment of communications to attentive and potentially attentive citizens. The assessment of policy communication efforts is not only expensive, but also sometimes difficult because it involves asking individuals about their personal policy preferences and political activities.
Abstract 631: Maternal Separation (msep) Alters Baroreflex Function And Renal Blood Flow Responsiveness

An impairment of the baroreflex buffering has been shown to precede the development of hypertension. Formerly, we reported that MSep, a model of behavioral stress during early life, impairs chronic blood pressure control and renal filtration capacity. Thus, the aim of this study was to study the baroreflex function and renal blood flow regulation in MSep rats. We used 3 month-old MSep male rats, anesthetized with isoflurane. Femoral vein catheter was fitted to infuse saline (3 ml/hr, baseline), PE (phenylephrine, 1 ug/ml, 9 ml/hr) or SNP (sodium nitroprusside, 0.5 ug/ml, 9 ml/hr). Femoral artery catheter was fitted to collect blood pressure and HR data (ADInstruments). In addition, a flow probe was placed in the left renal artery for renal blood flow (RBF) assessment (Transonic). After 45 minutes of baseline, PE infusion (2 min) was performed. Following 30-minute recovery period, SNP infusion (2 min) was achieved. Delta heart rate (HR)/Delta mean arterial pressure (MAP) relationship shows a significant difference in the slopes between MSep vs. control rats (-0.5 ±0.07 vs. -1.08 ±0.08, p<0.05). PE-induced decrease in RBF was attenuated in a dose dependent manner in MSep rats (max. delta RBF -4.8±0.8 ml/min) compared to controls (max. delta RBF -7±1.5 ml/min, p<0.05, respectively). Yet, renal vascular resistance (MAP/RBF) was not different between MSep and control rats along the 2-min period (slope: 0.43±0.02 vs. 0.42±0.03 mmHg/ml/min, respectively). These data suggest that MSep rats fail to increase HR in response to a vasodilatory agent and lower HR in response to vasoactive stimulus. Furthermore, attenuated alpha-adrenergic-induced renal vascular responses support the existence of a compensatory mechanism in response to an increased sympathetic outflow to the kidney, as previously suggested. The contribution of the different components of the autonomic nervous system is the focus of ongoing studies.
New York City’s Conflicts of Interest Law: Compliance Versus Ethical Capacity

Using the municipal government example of New York City as a point of reference, this article pursues a critical understanding of the break between compliance-based approaches and theoretically preferred methods of increasing ethical integrity in the public sector. In doing so it explores the ethical aspects emphasized by the New York City conflicts of interest program and what the program suggests about the understanding that exists between government and the public. Legal documents and official guidance are subjected to qualitative analysis utilizing a multistage cycle of coding. The results demonstrate that the documents emphasize prohibited behaviors and examples of what not to do, rather than a more deeply rooted or individually focused ethical scheme. The discussion concludes that reliance on compliance approaches fails to address ethical capacity and is symptomatic of the rift between a disheartened public and its government.
Vegetables and Fruits

Vegetables are the edible portion of plants eaten with (or as) the main course. They are in salads and soups. Vegetables may be processed into beverages or vegetable starches, eaten fresh or lightly processed, dried, pickled, or frozen. They impart their own characteristic flavor, color, and texture to diets, and undergo changes during storage and cooking. Ranked next to the cereal crops wheat, rice, and corn, potatoes are the most prolific vegetable crop grown for human consumption.
An Exploration of the X-Rated World and Its Related Consequences

This paper explores how the widespread use of pornography came to be. It starts with exploring how our bodies influence our genders and that our genders shape our sexuality and finally how we interact with the opposite sex. The paper investigates how expectations for a cer- tain gender can have a direct influence on our relationships with the opposite sex. It stresses that to have a healthy relationship is to have a healthy understanding of sex by gaining information about our body, gender, and sexuality from reliable sources. The investigation touches upon the reasons why individuals cannot obtain reliable information, perhaps because trusted sources were not available during primary or secondary socialization or lack of time to devote to face-to- face relationships in adult life. Finally the paper also introduces a personal reflection sharing why the author feels her relationship has developed into a healthy one and how she deals with the modern influences on her relationship.
Chemoembolization of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with cisplatinum, doxorubicin, mitomycin C, ethiodol, and polyvinyl alcohol: a 2-center study.

Background Unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma has a poor prognosis, with a median survival of 5 to 8 months without treatment. Response and survival after chemoembolization were evaluated. Methods Lobar or segmental chemoembolization with cisplatinum, doxorubicin, mitomycin-C, ethiodol, and polyvinyl alcohol particles was performed at monthly intervals for 1-4 sessions until the entire intrahepatic tumor burden was treated. Cross-sectional imaging and clinical and laboratory evaluation were performed before treatment, 1 month after treatment, and then every 3 months. A second cycle of treatment was performed for intrahepatic recurrence. Toxicity was assessed using NCI CTC v.3.0. Response was evaluated using RECIST criteria, and survival was estimated with Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results Sixty-two patients were treated. Thirty-seven had pathologically proven cholangiocarcinoma, and 25 had poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of unknown primary, likely cholangiocarcinoma. One hundred and twenty-two total procedures were performed during the initial cycle of treatment (mean, 2.0 per patient). Twenty patients received a second cycle, for a total of 165 procedures. There were 5 major complications. Thirty-day disease-specific mortality was 0%. Forty-five of 62 patients were evaluable for morphologic response after completion of their initial cycle: 11% (n = 5) partial responses, 64% (n = 29) stable, and 24% (n = 11) progressed. Median time to progression from first chemoembolization was 8 months, with 28% free of progression at 12 months. Median survival from time of diagnosis was 20 months, with 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival of 75%, 39%, and 17%, respectively. Median survival from time of first chemoembolization was 15 months, with 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival of 61%, 27%, and 8%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in survival between patients with cholangiocarcinoma and those with poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Patients who also received systemic chemotherapy had improved overall survival (median 28 vs 16 months, P = .02; HR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.13-3.33). Conclusions Chemoembolization provided local disease control (PR + SD) of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and adenocarcinoma of unknown primary in 76%. Overall survival after chemoembolization showed the best outcomes for those receiving multidisciplinary integrated liver-directed and systemic therapies.
The Net Effect of the Business Cycle on Crime and Violence

The paper analyzes the causal effects of the business cycle on crime. Among the main conclusions are that robbery and burglary are countercyclical, motor vehicle theft is pro-cyclical, and criminal homicide is acyclical. We also analyze suicide patterns, finding that while suicide rates overall are countercyclical, suicide rates by younger teens are actually procyclical. The paper begins with a discussion of causal mechanisms linking economic conditions to crime and violence, both overall and for youths. We investigate the effect of short-term fluctuations in economic activity on crime and violence (and on arrest rates) using the quasi-experimental analysis of the last 13 business cycles (beginning in 1933). We then develop and implement a second approach, a regression analysis on detrended data, and report the results. The regression analysis generally confirms the qualitative results from the quasi-experimental approach, and provides estimates of magnitudes.
Analytical Definability in a Playful Universe

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses definability in analysis (second order number theory) that is independent of the Zermelo-Fraenkel axioms that can be settled on the basis of appropriate determinacy hypotheses. It is shown that one can construct inner models and keep fairly good control on the class of determined projective sets. Classical descriptive set theory was the establishment of closure and structure properties for the classes. Every set is constructible in the sense of Godel, yields an almost complete structure theory for the projective sets. The countable analytical sets are defined in the chapter.
Survival and Death of Salmonella Typhimurium and Campylobacter jejuni in Processing Water and on Chicken Skin during Poultry Scalding and Chilling

Salmonella Typhimurium and Campylobacter jejuni were inoculated in scalding water, in chilled water, and on chicken skins to examine the effects of scalding temperature (50, 55, and 60°C) and the chlorine level in chilled water (0, 10, 30, and 50 ppm), associated with the ages of scalding water (0 and 10 h) and chilled water (0 and 8 h), on bacterial survival or death. After scalding at 50 and 60°C, the reductions of C. jejuni were 1.5 and 6.2 log CFU/ml in water and 2 log CFU/cm2 on chicken skins; the reductions of Salmonella Typhimurium were 5.5 log CFU/ml in water and 2 log CFU/cm2 on skins, respectively. The age of scalding water did not significantly (P > 0.05) affect bacterial heat sensitivity. However, the increase in the age of chilled water significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the chlorine effect. In 0-h chilled water, C. jejuni and Salmonella Typhimurium were reduced by 3.3 and 0.7 log CFU/ml, respectively, after treatment with 10 ppm of chlorine and became nondetectable ...