cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Myocardial nuclear factor-κB activity and nitric oxide production in rejecting cardiac allografts

Background. Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is a rapid response transcription factor for genes whose products are critical for inflammation and immunity. In a rat model of heterotopic cardiac transplantation, we studied NF-κB DNA binding activity and nitric oxide (.NO) production in untreated allografts and whether inhibition of NF-κB suppresses.NO production and prolongs graft survival. Methods. In allograft recipients and isograft controls, NF-κB was assayed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay, daily from transplant until rejection. Myocardial.NO was directly detected in explanted allografts by electron spin resonance spectroscopy on day 6 after transplant. The potent inhibitor of NF-κB, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC; 250 mg/kg s.c.) was administered daily from transplant until day of rejection. The extent of graft lymphocytic infiltrate was assessed by routine hematoxylin and eosin staining. Immunohistochemical staining of NF-κB was per formed to identify the cell type responsible for NF-κB activity. Results. A time-dependent increase in myocardial NF-κB activity was seen in untreated allografts as compared with isografts as determined by PhosphorImage analysis. Peak NF-κB activity occurred in allografts on day 4 with a ninefold increase as compared with isografts (24.0±3.7% vs. 2.7±0.5; P<0.05). On posttransplant day 6, electron spin resonance spectroscopy analysis of allografts demonstrated.NO identified by a triplet nitrogen signal centered at g=2.012 with hyperfine splitting of 17.5 Gauss, which is consistent with nitrosoheme formation and low-field signals at g=2.08 and g=2.03 consistent with nitrosomyoglobin. These signals were not seen in native hearts of allograft recipients. With PDTC administration, a threefold decrease in NF-κB activity within the transplanted heart was observed on posttransplant day 5 as compared with untreated allografts (9.7±1.6% vs. 23.5±2.5%; P<0.01). PDTC prolonged graft survival as compared with untreated allografts (11.7±0.3 vs. 6.6±0.2 days; P<0.05) and reduced the intensity of the nitrosoheme and nitrosomyoglobin signals. Allograft mononuclear cell infiltrate correlated with peak NF-κB activity with peak infiltrate on posttransplant day 4. PDTC treatment had no effect on the extent of infiltrate. Immunohistochemical staining localized NF-κB to the infiltrating mononuclear cells on posttransplant day 5. Conclusion. These data support a role for NF-κB in allograft rejection.
Toward the Ultimate Limit of Connectivity in Quantum Dots with High Mobility and Clean Gaps.

Colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) are highly versatile nanoscale optoelectronic building blocks, but despite their materials engineering flexibility, there is a considerable lack of fundamental understanding of their electronic structure as they couple within thin films. By employing a joint experimental–theoretical study, we reveal the impact of connectivity in CQD assemblies, going beyond the single CQD picture. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) demonstrates connectivity motifs across different CQD sizes and length scales and provides the necessary perspective to build robust computational models to systematically study the achievable degree of connectivity in these materials. We focused on state-of-the-art surface ligand treatments, taking into account both the degree of connectivity and nanocrystal orientation, and performed ab initio simulations within the phonon-assisted hopping regime. Importantly, both the TEM studies and our simulation results revealed morphological and electr...
Evaluation of the Health Behavior Approach to School STD Education

This study evaluated the efficacy of the sexually transmitted diseases secondary school curriculum, STD: A Guide for Today's Young Adults (Yarber, 1985), sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control. Six school districts around the nation participated, comprising 566 experimental group subjects, 387 no-STD-education group subjects, and 161 present STD education group subjects. STD attitudes were measured by a 27-item scale that assessed belief, feeling, and intention to act, and knowledge was determined by a 10-item scale. A quasi-experimental design involving experimental and two control groups, and a pretest, posttest and delayed test were utilized. The study concluded that the curriculum was effective in changing the students STD-related attitudes and knowledge toward being more health conducive, although the impact diminished over a six-week period.
Improving Financial Statement Footnotes: Evidence from Derivative and Hedging Disclosures

I investigate whether changes in derivative and hedging footnote disclosures required by SFAS 161 affect investor and analyst uncertainty. My study is motivated by accounting standard setters' and researchers' interest in disclosure effectiveness, and by prior research linking financial disclosures to measures of uncertainty. For a broad sample of firms, I use textual analysis to measure changes in the amount and salience of derivative and hedging information caused by SFAS 161. Using a difference-in-differences design to study the effects of these changes, I find that uncertainty is reduced for firms adopting SFAS 161. In addition, I show that this reduction tends to be greater for firms whose disclosures were more affected by SFAS 161, consistent with the new disclosures improving investor understanding. I also find that improvements to the qualitative and quantitative content of disclosures have more impact than improvements to disclosure salience.
Lorentz Microscopy and Electron Holography of Nanocrystalline Magnetic Materials

This paper employs an analytical model for the phase shifts imparted on a beam electron by a spherical particle with a uniform magnetization. Model image simulations of Fresnel and Foucault type Lorentz microscopy contrast are presented. Estimates of a lower particle size limit for which no magnetic information can be extracted from the images are given and compared to similar estimates for the electron holography observation method. It is concluded that conventional Lorentz methods have a lower particle size limit of around 30 nm (for cobalt particles), while electron holography can be used to even smaller sizes.
Studies on the Polymodal Distribution of Hepatic Lysosomes and Peroxisomes

SummaryA fraction has been obtained from highly purified rat liver mitochondria which contains lysosomes and peroxisomes exhibiting a bimodal distribution on a linear sucrose density gradient. This fraction, which represents less than 1% of the total protein of the original mitochondria, was obtained after removal of the bulk of the heavier particles by lower speed centrifugations. The sucrose concentrations at which the two peaks (for lysosomes) and major peak and shoulder (for peroxisomes) equilibrate are highly reproducible as shown by statistical analysis.
Disparities and predictors of emergency department use among California's African American, Latino, and White children, aged 1-11 years, with asthma.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine factors associated with use of emergency departments by African American, Latino, and White children aged 1-11 years in California. Methods I conducted a secondary analysis of parental reports of emergency department use by children with asthma (defined as doctor's diagnosis of asthma). An overall sample of 1313 children with asthma was identified from the California Health Interview Survey, 2001. Results African American children were 1.82 times (95% CI 1.23-1.25) and Latino children were 1.23 times (95% CI 1.21-1.25) more likely than White children to visit the ED for asthma symptoms. Severity of symptoms, having private health insurance, being from a single-family home, and childhood disability factors were also associated with emergency department use. Conclusions Health insurance type, being from a single-parent home, and asthma severity and disability predict the use of emergency department use for African American, Latino, and White children with asthma in California.
Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Children with PHACE Syndrome.

Background Practitioners who work with children with posterior fossa, facial hemangiomas, arterial anomalies, cardiovascular anomalies, and abnormalities of the eye (PHACE) syndrome need information about neurodevelopmental outcomes to provide appropriate anticipatory guidance and education for parents. This study aimed to determine the neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with PHACE syndrome and identify which children may be at greatest risk for delays. Methods Children with a diagnosis of PHACE syndrome (ages 4–18 yrs) were recruited from the PHACE Syndrome International Clinical Registry and Genetic Repository. Participants (n = 25) underwent a neurodevelopmental evaluation at a children's hospital tertiary care referral center between 2009 and 2013. Children completed standardized neurocognitive tests assessing multiple domains. Parents completed standardized questionnaires assessing behavioral and emotional functioning. Results Results were analyzed according to cohort and individual subject. Mean scores for the cohort did not differ significantly from test norms in most domains. The only subtest that the cohort scored lower on than test norms was Word Structure, a language task. Forty-four percent of the sample scored within the normal range in all domains, 28% had one score in the at-risk range (1–2 standard deviations [SDs] below the mean), 12% had two or more scores in the at-risk range, and 16% had at least one score in the impaired range (>2 SDs below the mean). Conclusion Although most children in this cohort of patients with PHACE syndrome did not have significant neurodevelopmental deficits, a subset of patients had delays in multiple areas. Practitioners who work with these children should routinely ask about neurocognitive and developmental skills. Children with more severe phenotypes should be referred for appropriate evaluations and intervention services.
Providing relief from cancer pain by assisting in the search for meaning.

Pain is a common, distressing symptom experienced by cancer patients and their family caregivers. An important aspect of coping with cancer pain is the ability to make meaning of the experience. Th...
Desk Reference of Clinical Pharmacology

Since the publication of the bestselling first edition of CRC Desk Reference of Clinical Pharmacology, dramatic discoveries in molecular medicine along with rapid technological advances have revolutionized the diagnosis and resulted in new medications to be used in the treatment of a broad range of human diseases. To stay abreast of these ra
Write up! A Study of Copyright Information on Library-Published Journals

INTRODUCTION Libraries have a mission to educate users about copyright, and library publishing staff are often involved in that work. This article investigates a concrete point of intersection between the two areas - copyright statements on library-published journals. METHODS Journals published by members of the Library Publishing Coalition were examined for open access status, type and placement of copyright information, copyright ownership, and open licensing. RESULTS Journals in the sample were overwhelmingly (93%) open access. 80% presented copyright information of some kind, but only 30% of those included it at both the journal and the article level. Open licensing was present in 38% of the journals, and the most common ownership scenario was the author retaining copyright while granting a nonexclusive license to the journal or publisher. 9% of the sample journals included two or more conflicting rights statements. DISCUSSION 76% of the journals did not consistently provide accurate, easily-accessible rights information, and numerous problems were found with the use of open licensing, including conflicting licenses, incomplete licenses, and licenses not appearing at the article level. CONCLUSION Recommendations include presenting full copyright and licensing information at both the journal and the article level, careful use of open licenses, and publicly-available author agreements. External Data or Supplements: Schlosser, Melanie, 2016, "Data from: Write Up! A Study of Copyright Information on Library-Published Journals", http://dx.doi.org/10.7910/DVN/R36SVZ , Harvard Dataverse.
A Synthetic Knob for Modulating Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance is a worldwide public health problem. The lack of effective antibiotic therapies against resistant pathogens has led to prolonged treatments, increased morbidity, an increased number of hospital admissions, and burgeoning health care costs [1]. According to the CDC report entitled “Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, 2013”, antibiotic resistance causes over 23,000 deaths and two million infections annually in the United States alone. Pathogenic bacteria are increasingly resistant to existing antibiotics leaving clinicians with few or no options for treatment. For combating both the short- and long-term ineffectiveness of antibiotics, we have developed a novel approach to modulate the intrinsic antibiotic resistance level of bacteria. By utilizing this novel synthetic knob, we can decrease bacterial antibiotic resistance and develop antibiotic therapies at doses that were previously unachievable. The ability to reduce the dose of antibiotics that are currently in use or utilize current antibiotics that currently could not be used will have important implications for treatment of infectious diseases.
Management of Breast Cancer during Pregnancy: Are We Compliant with Current Guidelines?

Introduction The purpose of this study was to evaluate the management of patients with breast cancer in pregnancy treated at the Advocate Health Care, to determine whether these patients were treated according to guidelines for pregnant patients, which aim to maximize both fetal and maternal outcomes. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed at the Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Christ Medical Center, and Illinois Masonic Medical Center from 2002 to 2012 on patients diagnosed with breast cancer during pregnancy using ICD-9 (International Classification of Diseases - 9th version) codes. Results Eleven patients between 12 and 37 weeks' gestation matched the search criteria. One patient terminated the pregnancy. Patients in our study were treated appropriately according to guidelines with the following exceptions. Trastuzumab was used in one patient during pregnancy which likely caused the oligohydramnios resulting in an induction of labor at 33 weeks. Three patients were delivered preterm between 34 and 36 weeks without an obstetric indication. Two patients underwent sentinel node biopsy. Conclusion The diagnosis of breast cancer in pregnancy is an infrequent but devastating diagnosis that is likely to increase. Although sentinel lymph node biopsy is not generally recommended in pregnancy, this may be an outdated guideline as using a low-dose lymphoscintigraphic technique appears to be safe in pregnancy.
Shock and Microstructural Characterization of the $$\alpha$$ α – $$\omega$$ ω Phase Transition in Titanium Crystals

A multicrystal comprised of a small number of large crystals of high-purity titanium and a $$[0001]$$ oriented high-purity single crystal titanium sample were shock loaded using gas gun plate impact experiments. Tests were performed at stresses above the $$\alpha {-}\omega$$ phase transition stress (for high-purity polycrystalline specimens) to observe the behavior of oriented crystals under similar conditions. Post-mortem characterization of the shocked microstructure was conducted on the single crystal sample to measure textures, and quantify phases and twinning. The apparent activation of plastic and transformation mechanisms was dependent upon crystal orientation. Specifically, the $$[0001]$$ crystal showed a higher Hugoniot elastic limit than the $$[10\bar{1}0]$$ or $$[3\bar{1}\bar{4}4]$$ orientations. The slope of velocity as a function of time was lower in the $$[0001]$$ orientation than the other orientations during plastic deformation, indicating sluggish transformation kinetics for the $$\alpha$$ to $$\omega$$ phase transition for the $$[0001]$$ oriented crystal. Microtexture measurements of a recovered $$[0001]$$ oriented single crystal revealed the presence of retained $$\omega$$ phase after unloading, with orientations of the constituent phase fractions indicative of the forward $$\alpha \rightarrow \omega$$ transition, rather than the reverse $$\omega \rightarrow \alpha$$ transition, suggesting that the material never achieved a state of 100% $$\omega$$ phase.
THU0247 The presence of ANTI-RO and ANTI-LA antibodies is associated with tubulointerstitial damage in lupus nephritis

Background Moderate-to-severe tubulointerstitial damage (TID) is associated with poor renal outcomes in lupus nephritis (LN) independent of glomerular pathology 1 . Specific antibody profiles associated with TID in LN have not been identified. Unlike glomerular damage, TID is not associated with anti-dsDNA or complement levels 1 . An association between TID and the presence of anti-Ro/La antibodies has been proposed in Sjogren9s syndrome 2 . Whether these antibodies are associated with TID in LN is not known. Objectives To study an association between anti-Ro/La antibodies and moderate-to-severe TID in LN. Methods We identified all patients who fulfilled ACR and/or SLICC criteria for SLE. Patients were included if they had an index renal biopsy consistent with LN between January 2005 and July 2015 and had complete data on TID and anti-Ro/La. Medical history, demographic and laboratory data were ascertained from chart review. TID was defined as the presence of moderate or severe tubular atrophy and/or interstitial fibrosis from the renal biopsy reports. Results of the 157 LN patients, 39 (25%) had moderate/severe TID (Table). As expected, moderate/severe TID was associated with older age, class III/IV±V LN and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at biopsy. Anti-Ro antibodies were present in 55 (47%) of patients with none/mild TID and 17 (44%) of patients with moderate/severe TID (p=0.74). Both anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies were present in 11 (9%) of patients with none/mild TID vs 11 (28%) of patients with moderate/severe TID (p=0.003). In the logistic regression model adjusted for age, eGFR and LN class, the presence of both anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies was associated with a 3-fold increase in the odds of TID, OR 3.1, 95% CI (1.1–9.1), p=0.04. Conclusions The presence of anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies is associated with moderate/severe TID, independent of age, LN class and eGFR. Understanding the role of anti-Ro/La in the mechanisms underlying TID in LN may lead to novel preventive and therapeutic strategies. References Yu F, et al. Kidney Int 2010;77:820–9. Francois H, et al. Nat Rev Nephrol, 2016;12(2):82–93. Disclosure of Interest None declared
A Linear Resolvent for Degree 14 Polynomials

We discuss the construction and factorization pattern of a linear resolvent polynomial that is useful for computing Galois groups of degree 14 polynomials. As an application, we develop an algorithm for computing the Galois group of a degree 14 polynomial defined over the 7-adic numbers. This algorithm is of interest since it only makes use of the aforementioned linear resolvent, the polynomial’s discriminant, and subfield information of the polynomial’s stem field.
Legitimacy in International Environmental Law

The problem of legitimacy is one of the oldest in political theory. What gives some people the right to govern others? Conversely, apart from fear of punishment, why should those subject to authority obey? These questions have been central preoccupations of philosophers since the time of Plato. Traditionally, the weakness of international institutions made legitimacy a less pressing issue in international law than in domestic law. But as international institutions develop with the power to bind non-consenting states, this has begun to prompt concern about the problem of legitimacy. In recent years, legitimacy has begun to emerge as an issue not only in international law generally, but in international environmental law more specifically. The growing severity and complexity of international environmental problems has increased the need for institutions with greater legislative, administrative and adjudicatory authority. This article surveys the various potential bases of legitimacy of international environmental law, including state consent, democratic decisionmaking, participation, and expertise. It argues that international environmental law faces a dilemma. On the one hand, effectively addressing problems will require more authoritative systems of international governance, which do not depend on consensus among states. But, without a firmer basis of legitimacy, states will be unwilling to entrust international environmental institutions with the necessary decision-making authority.
Wireless personal and local area networks

Wireless communication is a technical and business revolution. Mobile phones are a common site in most cities around the world. Wireless personal and local area networks provide digital connectivity among mobile computing devices, including desktop, laptops and personal digital assistants (PDA). This chapter focuses on the competing standards that are vying for dominance in the booming wireless market. To prepare the reader, a broad review of wireless technology is provided. The various organizations that support the competition standards are outlined. The chapter concludes with some predictions, anticipating the outcomes of a very volatile marketplace.
Data-enriched interpolation for temporally consistent population compositions

This research evaluates the performance of areal interpolation coupled with dasymetric refinement to estimate different demographic attributes, namely population sub-groups based on race, age structure and urban residence, within consistent census tract boundaries from 1990 to 2010 in Massachusetts. The creation of such consistent estimates facilitates the study of the nuanced micro-scale evolution of different aspects of population, which is impossible using temporally incompatible small-area census geographies from different points in time. Various unexplored ancillary variables, including the Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL), the National Land-Cover Database (NLCD), parcels, building footprints and the proprietary ZTRAX® dataset are utilized for dasymetric refinement prior to areal interpolation to examine their effectiveness in improving the accuracy of multi-temporal population estimates. Different areal interpolation methods including Areal Weighting (AW), Target Density Weighting (TDW), Expectation Maximization (EM) and its data-extended approach are coupled with different dasymetric refinement scenarios based on these ancillary variables. The resulting consistent small area estimates of white and black subpopulations, people of age 18-65 and urban population show that dasymetrically refined areal interpolation is particularly effective when the analysis spans a longer time period (1990-2010 instead of 2000-2010) and the enumerated population is sufficiently large (e.g., counts of white vs. black). The results also demonstrate that current census-defined urban areas overestimate the spatial distribution of urban population and dasymetrically refined areal interpolation improves estimates of urban population. Refined TDW using building footprints or the ZTRAX® dataset outperforms all other methods. The implementation of areal interpolation enriched by dasymetric refinement represents a promising strategy to create more reliable multi-temporal and consistent estimates of different population subgroups and thus demographic compositions. This methodological foundation has the potential to advance micro-scale modeling of various subpopulations, particularly urban population to inform studies of urbanization and population change over time as well as future population projections.
Clinician Guide to Microbiome Testing

Recent recognition that the intestinal microbiome plays potential roles in the pathogenesis of multiple common diseases has led to a growing interest in personalized microbiome analysis among clinical investigators and patients. Permissibility of direct access testing has allowed the emergence of commercial companies offering microbiome analysis to patients seeking to gain a better understanding of their symptoms and disease conditions. In turn, physicians are often asked to help with interpretation of such tests or even requested by their patients to order them. Therefore, physicians need to have a basic understanding of the current state of microbiome science. This review examines how the perspective of microbial ecology, which is fundamental to understanding the microbiome, updates the classical version of the germ theory of disease. We provide the essential vocabulary of microbiome science and describe its current limitations. We look forward to the future when microbiome diagnostics may live up to its potential of becoming integral to clinical care that will become increasingly individualized, and microbiome analysis may become incorporated into that future paradigm. However, we caution patients and providers that the current microbiome tests, given the state of knowledge and technology, do not provide much value in clinical decisions. Considerable research remains to be carried out to make this objective a reality.
A versatile custom cryostat for dynamic nuclear polarization supports multiple cryogenic magic angle spinning transmission line probes.

Abstract Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) with cryogenic magic angle spinning (MAS) provides significant improvements in NMR sensitivity, yet presents unique technical challenges. Here we describe a custom cryostat and suite of NMR probes capable of manipulating nuclear spins with multi-resonant radiofrequency circuits, cryogenic spinning below 6 K, sample exchange, and microwave coupling for DNP. The corrugated waveguide and six transfer lines needed for DNP and cryogenic spinning functionality are coupled to the probe from the top of the magnet. Transfer lines are vacuum-jacketed and provide bearing and drive gas, variable temperature fluid, two exhaust pathways, and a sample ejection port. The cryostat thermally isolates the magnet bore, thereby protecting the magnet and increasing cryogen efficiency. This novel design supports cryogenic MAS-DNP performance over an array of probes without altering DNP functionality. We present three MAS probes (two supporting 3.2 mm rotors and one supporting 9.5 mm rotors) interfacing with the single cryostat. Mechanical details, transmission line radio frequency design, and performance of the cryostat and three probes are described.
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: An Idea Whose Time Has Gone?

The development of the International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR) classification of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in the 1990s represented a significant change in thinking about childhood-onset arthritis. It combined the similar but disparate concepts of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile chronic arthritis to create mutually exclusive categories of JIA1. Always intended as a stepping stone rather than as a final categorization schema, the weaknesses of the ILAR classification are by now well documented, including lack of validation, overly restrictive exclusion criteria, and inclusion criteria often not assessed clinically. Clearly, creating disease nomenclature is difficult. An ideal classification system brings together disorders that share key elements of pathophysiology, clinical features, prognosis, and response to treatment. In this issue of The Journal, Professor Alberto Martini and colleagues continue the quest to improve the categorization of childhood-onset arthritis2. Under the sponsorship of the Pediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organization (PRINTO), an international group of 13 senior pediatric rheumatologists applied established consensus methodologies to propose new JIA classification criteria. The results are predictably controversial. Perhaps most puzzling is the proposal that JIA, despite its name, is no longer a collection of arthritides but rather simply “a group of inflammatory disorders that begins before the 18th birthday and persists for at least 6 weeks.” There is little here to distinguish JIA from all other chronic inflammatory diseases of childhood. The motivation is to keep systemic arthritis within JIA while dropping the requirement for arthritis (more on this later). They preserve “JIA” because the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency use the term in product labeling, a plausible rationale, although neither agency strictly adheres to ILAR nomenclature. Reasonable alternatives would have been to allow systemic JIA to have an arthritis exception or to remove it from JIA … Address correspondence to Dr. T. Beukelman, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, 1600 7th Ave. South, CPP 210, Birmingham, Alabama 35233-1711, USA. E-mail: tbeukelman{at}peds.uab.edu
The Effect of El Niño on Flood Damages in the Western United States

AbstractThis paper quantifies insured flood losses across the western United States from 1978 to 2017, presenting a spatiotemporal analysis of National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) daily claims a...
Sideways and stable crack propagation in a silicone elastomer

We have discovered a peculiar form of fracture that occurs in a highly stretchable silicone elastomer (Smooth-On Ecoflex 00–30). Under certain conditions, cracks propagate in a direction perpendicular to the initial precut and in the direction of the applied load. In other words, the crack deviates from the standard trajectory and instead propagates perpendicular to that trajectory. The crack arrests stably, and thus the material ahead of the crack front continues to sustain load, thereby enabling enormous stretchabilities. We call this phenomenon “sideways” and stable cracking. To explain this behavior, we first perform finite-element simulations that demonstrate a propensity for sideways cracking, even in an isotropic material. The simulations also highlight the importance of crack-tip blunting on the formation of sideways cracks. Next, we provide a hypothesis on the origin of sideways cracking that relates to microstructural anisotropy (in a nominally isotropic elastomer). To substantiate this hypothesis, we transversely prestretch samples to various extents before fracture testing, as to determine the influence of microstructural arrangement (chain alignment and strain-induced crystallization) on fracture energy. We also perform microstructural characterization that indicates that significant chain alignment and strain-induced crystallization indeed occur in this material upon stretching. We conclude by characterizing how a number of loading conditions, such as sample geometry and strain rate, affect this phenomenon. Overall, this paper provides fundamental mechanical insight into basic phenomena associated with fracture of elastomers.
Mimicking user behavior to improve in-house test suites

Testing is today the most widely used software quality assurance approach. However, it is well known that the necessarily limited number of tests developed and run in-house are not representative of the rich variety of user executions in the field. In order to bridge this gap between in-house tests and field executions, we need a way to (1) identify the behaviors exercised in the field that were not exercised in-house and (2) generate new tests that exercise such behaviors. In this context, we propose Replica, a technique that uses field execution data to guide test generation. Replica instruments the software before deploying it, so that field data collection is triggered when a user exercises an untested behavior B, currently expressed as the violation of an invariant. When it receives the collected field data, Replica uses guided symbolic execution to generate one or more executions that exercise the previously untested behavior B. Our initial empirical evaluation, performed on a set of real user executions, shows that Replica can successfully generate tests that mirror field behaviors and have similar fault-detection capability. Our results also show that Replica can outperform a traditional input generation approach that does not use field-data guidance.
Status of Rare Endemic Species: Molecular Phylogeny, Distribution and Conservation of Freshwater Molluscs Truncilla macrodon and Truncilla cognata in Texas

Freshwater bivalves in the family Unionidae are one of the most endangered groups of animals in North America. In Texas, where over 60% of unionids are rare or very rare, 15 species have been added to the state's list of threatened species, and 10 are under consideration for federal listing. Due to insufficient survey efforts in the past decades, however, primary data on current distribution and habitat requirement for most of these rare species are lacking, thus challenging their protection and management. Although the species are listed as valid, there was no genetic confirmation to test for the possibility of ecophenotypes, which complicates conservation efforts. In this paper, we present genetic and distributional data for two rare Texas species, Truncilla macrodon and Truncilla cognata, and we suggest appropriate conservation measures. Tests of genetic affinities of these species using three gene regions, cox1, nad1 and ITS1, supported recognition of T. cognata and T. macrodon as full species. Analysis of historic and current species distribution showed that both these regional endemics are particularly vulnerable, and their distribution range has been reduced in the last 80 years.
Paleoproduction and environmental change at Mono Lake (eastern Sierra Nevada) during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition

Abstract The late Quaternary limnological history of Mono Lake (~16.6–4.3 cal kyr BP), a hydrologically closed basin in the eastern Sierra Nevada (California), is inferred based on a multi-indicator analysis of a long (~10.8 m) composite sediment core constructed from overlapping deepwater piston cores. The composite core, dated by 14C and tephra correlation, shows variations in sedimentology, magnetic susceptibility, elemental geochemistry and stable isotopes through time, consistent with changes in aquatic productivity, hydroclimate, and volcanism. In the late Pleistocene, deepwater stratigraphy was influenced by high-amplitude water-level changes and runoff from a glaciated watershed. In contrast, Mono Lake's elevation was lower in the Early to Middle Holocene; low-amplitude water-level changes, wave reworking of the shoreline, and water-column stratification were important controls on facies during that time. The data suggest that the chief controls on organic facies development in Mono Lake – productivity, preservation, and dilution dynamics – are sensitive to climate changes that influence lake-level elevation, water chemistry, and the position of deltas. The study shows that deepwater sediments from certain locales in Mono Lake are well-preserved, continuous, and can be reliably dated with 14C applied to terrestrial materials. When paired with precisely dated paleoshoreline data, these sediments provide a high-resolution archive of deglacial and Holocene environmental information for the eastern Sierra Nevada.
Managing morning commute congestion with a tradable credit scheme under commuter heterogeneity and market loss aversion behavior

This study investigates the impact of a tradable credit scheme (TCS) on managing morning commute congestion by considering commuters’ value-of-time and schedule delay heterogeneities, and loss aver...
Sales Education for Engineering Students: What Drives Interest and Choice?:

Universities increasingly make their sales curriculum available for groups other than dedicated sales students. This study investigates engineering students’ drivers that predict interest in sales ...
Association between muscle mass and insulin sensitivity independent of detrimental adipose depots in young adults with overweight/obesity

Less muscle mass has been associated with greater insulin resistance, but whether the association is independent of deleterious adipose depots in young adults with overweight/obesity who are at high risk for type 2 diabetes (T2DM) but are otherwise metabolically healthy is not known. The objective of this study was to determine whether muscle mass is independently associated with insulin sensitivity (IS) in young adults with overweight/obesity. Cross-sectional Clinical Research Center study of 132 adults, 21–45yo, BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 and metabolically healthy without T2DM. Primary independent variable: percent ideal appendicular lean mass (ALM) calculated as measured ALM divided by predicted ALM for age, weight, and height, calculated using validated NHANES data-based equation. Primary dependent variable: IS by Matsuda index. Mean age was 34.3 ± 6.8 years, and mean BMI 35.8 ± 5.8 kg/m2 (mean ± SD). Individuals in the highest % ideal ALM tertile had mean IS 45% higher than the lowest tertile [6.94 ± 0.85 vs 4.80 ± 0.56 (mean ± SEM), p = 0.008] (sex interaction p = 0.003). Men in the highest % ideal ALM tertile had mean IS twice the lowest tertile (5.47 ± 0.68 vs 2.68 ± 0.34, p = 0.001), which remained significant controlling for visceral/subcutaneous and intermuscular adipose tissue, and intramyocellular and intrahepatic lipids (p = 0.03). The association was not significant in women. Muscle mass is associated with IS independent of detrimental adipose depots in young men with overweight/obesity, at risk for T2DM but currently metabolically healthy. Muscle mass relative to sex, age, weight, and height-specific norms may be used to ascertain individual T2DM risk associated with low muscle mass.
Prophylaxis with tetracyclines in ARDS: Potential therapy for COVID-19-induced ARDS?

There is an immediate need for therapies related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), especially candidate drugs that possess anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects with low toxicity profiles. We hypothesized the application of pleiotropic tetracyclines as potential therapeutic candidates. Here, we present a retrospective multi-institutional cohort study evaluating ventilatory status in patients who had taken a tetracycline antibiotic within a year prior to diagnosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The primary outcomes were the need for mechanical ventilation and duration of mechanical ventilation. The secondary outcome was the duration of intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Data was evaluated using logistic regression and treatment effects regression models. Minocycline or doxycycline treatment within a year prior to ARDS diagnosis was associated with a 75% reduced likelihood for mechanical ventilation during hospital stay. Furthermore, tetracycline antibiotic therapy corresponded to significant reductions in duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay in ARDS patients. These data suggest tetracyclines may provide prophylactic benefit in reducing ventilatory support for ARDS patients and support further evaluation in a randomized prospective trial.
Greater trochanteric fractures with lntertrochanteric extension identified on MRI: What is the rate of displacement when treated nonoperatively?

Abstract Introduction . Despite the ability of MRI to identify intertrochanteric (IT) fracture extension for greater trochanteric (GT) fractures, there is no consensus about which fractures require operative intervention. Previous studies have suggested GT fractures with >50% extension into the IT region might benefit from fixation. We sought to evaluate the rate at which GT fractures with IT extension displaced, requiring operative fixation. Patients and methods . This is a Retrospective Chart Review performed at a Level 1 Trauma Center. Patients included all nonoperatively treated GT fractures (OTA/AO 31A1.1) with IT extension identified on MRI between 2010 and 2017 at our institution. Patients lost to follow up prior to radiographic evidence of healing or fracture displacement were excluded. Patient charts and imaging were reviewed for demographic data, treatment plan, percent extension into the IT region (as determined from coronal MRI images), and clinical and radiographic evidence of fracture healing. Percent extension into the IT region was measured using coronal T1-weighted MRI images. The primary outcome measures were fracture displacement requiring operation and nonunion. Results . Seventeen patients met initial inclusion criteria, with two subsequently excluded due to no radiographic follow-up. Of the 15 patients, zero had displacement of their IT fracture. None required operative intervention. All 15 patients healed their fractures. Fourteen of 15 (93%) had IT extension of 50% or less across the IT region. One patient had initial IT extension of 60%, this patient also healed without displacement. Discussion . Incomplete intertrochanteric femur fractures are a relatively newer diagnosis that have become more prevalent with the increased usage and availability of MRI. Currently, there is no consensus on the ideal treatment of these injuries. To our knowledge, this is the largest series of its kind to help guide treatment of these GT fractures with IT extension. Conclusions . Fractures with less than 50% extension into the IT region have a low likelihood of future displacement and high union rates when treated nonoperatively. Level of evidence . IV
Do manufacturing firms in Bangladesh acquire ISO certificates to offset the handicap of credit constraints

Formal credit market imperfection scenarios in developing economies can very well impede firms as well as the country’s productivity and growth. Then how does a manufacturing firm sustain in an emerging economy with an under-developed financial market? This paper tries to investigate how a severely financially constrained manufacturing firm of an emerging economy can survive, prosper, and enter the global market. This paper presents evidence that small manufacturing firm uses internationally recognized standards like ISO to condense the adverse effect of the premature credit market. Standardized small firms were also found to experience a significantly less negative effect on export compared to those without standards. The analysis also pointed out that firms tend to rely on ISO standards more when facing major to severe financial obstacles, especially small enterprises. Empirically, the predicted probability of getting standardized is 0.32 times greater for a firm facing major to severe financial constraint compared to the one with no constraint. Smaller firms with ISO standards have significantly higher evidence of experiencing increased export basket during the sample period.
Mark L. Haas: The Clash of Ideologies: Middle Eastern Politics and American Security

The author of the work being reviewed here is Associate Professor in the Political Science Department and the Graduate Center for Social and Public Policy at Duquesne University. His work has often...
Activated alpha 2-macroglobulin and transforming growth factor-beta 1 induce a synergistic smooth muscle cell proliferative response.

Abstract The role that soluble binding proteins might play in regulating transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1)-induced growth of smooth muscle cells (SMC) is unknown. alpha 2-Macroglobulin (alpha 2M) is the major plasma binding protein for TGF-beta. Reaction of alpha 2M with methylamine (alpha 2M-MA) forms "activated" alpha 2M which binds TGF-beta and specific cell surface receptors. The objectives of these studies were to determine whether native alpha 2M or alpha 2M-MA influences growth responses of cultured rat aortic SMC to TGF-beta 1. Results demonstrated that native alpha 2M was not mitogenic. Treatment with alpha 2M-MA or TGF-beta 1 stimulated a 3- or 3.5-fold increase in [3H]thymidine incorporation, respectively. Cotreatment with TGF-beta 1 and alpha 2M-MA resulted in a 70-fold increase in [3H]thymidine incorporation. SMC bound alpha 2M-MA in a specific and saturable manner and expressed alpha 2M receptor/low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP). A modified form of alpha 2M-MA (alpha 2M-MA-cis-dichlorodiammine platinum), which bound TGF-beta 1 but did not bind alpha 2M receptors, failed to enhance TGF-beta 1-induced growth. In summary, results demonstrated that alpha 2M-MA enhanced TGF-beta 1-induced growth responses and that this effect was dependent on alpha 2M-MA binding to alpha 2M receptor/LRP.
Design of a fibrin sheet with a microengineered vascular network for the modular design of engineered myocardium

One of the major challenges facing the design of a functional cardiac tissue patch is the perfusion and adequate delivery of nutrients to metabolically active cells in the construct. Using computational modeling for fluid flow optimization, BioMEMS technology was used to design a branched microvascular network in a thin fibrin scaffold. The branched network within the thin fibrin sheet supported fluid perfusion and it was shown that individual layers within a stacked construct could be perfused discretely. These findings suggest that this fibrin scaffold with a branched microvascular network can be used for the modular design of a multilayered engineered tissue such as a perfused cardiac patch.
A 16-core voltage-stacked system with an integrated switched-capacitor DC-DC converter

A 16-core voltage-stacked IC integrated with a switched-capacitor DC-DC converter demonstrates efficient power delivery. To overcome inter-layer voltage noise issues, the test chip implements and evaluates the benefits of self-timed clocking and clock-phase interleaving. The integrated converter offers minimum voltage guarantees and further reduces voltage noise.
Super welder in augmented reality welder training system: A predictive control approach

Skills needed for critical manual welding operations typically require a long time to develop, and shortage of skilled welders has thus become an urgent issue the manufacturing industry is currently facing. This paper proposes an innovative augmented reality welder training system to help accelerate the training process of the unskilled welder. In this teleoperated system, unskilled welder perceives weld pool image with an auxiliary visual signal (arrow with direction and amplitude) superimposed upon, and make speed adjustment. As the first study of this kind, this paper aims to establish a machine algorithm calculating the optimal welding speed for unskilled welder to follow, referred to as super welder. In particular, dynamic experiments are conducted in order to correlate the welding speed to the fluctuating 3D weld pool surface characterized by its width, length, and convexity. Moving Average (MA) model is firstly identified and an Auto Regressive Moving Average (ARMA) model is then proposed to improve the modeling performance. A model-based predictive control (MPC) algorithm is proposed to derive an analytical solution to determine the optimal welding speed, and simulation is performed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed control algorithm. To further demonstrate the super welder's performance, automated welding experiments are conducted. Results verified that the proposed controller is able to track varying set-point and is robust against different welding currents.
The Centrality of Agriculture: Between Humankind and the Rest of Nature

The Centrality of Agriculture: Between Humankind and the Rest of Nature Colin A. M. Duncan. Montreal: McGill-Queens University Press, 1996.