cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A cis Repression Sequence Adjacent to the Transcription Start Site of the Human Cytomegalovirus US3 Gene Is Required To Down Regulate Gene Expression at Early and Late Times after Infection

Human cytomegalovirus has two enhancer-containing immediate-early (IE) promoters with a cis repression sequence (CRS) positioned immediately upstream of the transcription start site, designated the major IE (MIE) promoter and the US3 promoter. The role of the CRS upstream of the US3 transcription start site in the context of the viral genome was determined by comparing the levels of transcription from these two enhancer-containing promoters in recombinant viruses with a wild-type or mutant CRS. Upstream of the CRS of the US3 promoter was either the endogenous enhancer (R2) or silencer (R1). The downstream US3 gene was replaced with the indicator gene chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT). Infected permissive human fibroblast cells or nonpermissive, undifferentiated monocytic THP-1 cells were analyzed for expression from the US3 promoter containing either the wild-type or mutant CRS. With the wild-type CRS, the maximum level of transcription in permissive cells was detected within 4 to 6 h after infection and then declined. With the mutant CRS and the R2 enhancer upstream, expression from the US3 promoter continued to increase throughout the viral replication cycle to levels 20- to 40-fold higher than for the wild type. In nonpermissive or permissive monocytic THP-1 cells, expression from the US3 promoter was also significantly higher when the CRS was mutated. Less expression was obtained when only the R1 element was present, but expression was higher when the CRS was mutated. Thus, the CRS in the enhancer-containing US3 promoter appears to allow for a short burst of US3 gene expression followed by repression at early and late times after infection. Overexpression of US3 may be detrimental to viral replication, and its level of expression must be stringently controlled. The role of the CRS and the viral IE86 protein in controlling enhancer-containing promoters is discussed.
The 2004-2005 Amendments to the Community Reinvestment Act Regulations: For Communities One Step Forward and Three Steps Back

In 2001, the four federal banking agencies that enforce the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) began a review of CRA regulations they adopted in 1995. The review lasted until they issued amendments in 2004 and 2005. The review process was controversial, tortuous, and divisive. By the time it was over, residents of the communities the CRA was intended to benefit, including low- and moderate-income and predominantly minority neighborhoods, gained a victory in their efforts to promote community reinvestment and economic development, but also lost significant ground. The victory was strengthened regulation of subprime and predatory lending. The losses included a reduction in the number of banks and savings associations subject to more rigorous CRA standards, a loss in the amount of publicly available data about small business and small farm lending, and the elimination of community development lending and investment and retail banking service requirements for large savings associations. As a result of the amendments to the CRA regulations, underserved communities face a reduction in loans, investments, and services. This article describes the CRA and the 1995 CRA regulations, identifies some of the key issues in the CRA amendment process, describes the amendments to the regulations, evaluates the amendments' likely effect on underserved communities, and offers suggestions to advocates about how they can use the amended CRA regulations to help underserved communities and how to prevent further cutbacks in CRA protections.
Protein-Specific Differential Glycosylation of Immunoglobulins in Serum of Ovarian Cancer Patients

Previous studies indicated that glycans in serum may serve as biomarkers for diagnosis of ovarian cancer; however, it was unclear to which proteins these glycans belong. We hypothesize that protein-specific glycosylation profiles of the glycans may be more informative of ovarian cancer and can provide insight into biological mechanisms underlying glycan aberration in serum of diseased individuals. Serum samples from women diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC, n = 84) and matched healthy controls (n = 84) were obtained from the Gynecologic Oncology Group. Immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, and IgM) concentrations and glycosylation profiles were quantified using multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry. Differential and classification analyses were performed to identify aberrant protein-specific glycopeptides using a training set. All findings were validated in an independent test set. Multiple glycopeptides from immunoglubins IgA, IgG, and IgM were found to be differentially expressed in serum of EOC patients compared with controls. The protein-specific glycosylation profiles showed their potential in the diagnosis of EOC. In particular, IgG-specific glycosylation profiles are the most powerful in discriminating between EOC case and controls. Additional studies of protein- and site-specific glycosylation profiles of immunoglobulins and other proteins will allow further elaboration on the characteristics of biological functionality and causality of the differential glycosylation in ovarian cancer and thus ultimately lead to increased sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis.
Isotropic Periodic Sum Treatment of Long-Range Electrostatic Interactions in Combined Quantum Mechanical and Molecular Mechanical Calculations.

The isotropic periodic sum (IPS) method was extended to describe long-range electrostatic interactions in combined quantum mechanical and molecular mechanical (QM/MM) calculations. The resulting method, designated QM/MM-IPS, was tested for two ion association processes and a model SN2 reaction in aqueous solution. Potential of mean force (PMF) profiles and radial distribution functions computed from the QM/MM-IPS simulations were compared with those obtained by using the existing QM/MM-Ewald sum and cutoff (QM/MM-Cutoff) methods. In contrast to the QM/MM-Cutoff method, with which PMFs of ion separation tend to display a spurious linear drift, the QM/MM-IPS method successfully eliminates such artifacts, in excellent agreement with the QM/MM-Ewald results. The PMF obtained with the QM/MM-IPS method for the SN2 reaction that transfers an NH3 group between two chloride anions closely resembles that from the QM/MM-Ewald simulations. Compared with QM/MM-Ewald, the QM/MM-IPS method reduces the computational cost by 60-70% when a local region of 12 to 14 A is used. These results suggest that the QM/MM-IPS method can be used as a reliable and efficient alternative to the QM/MM-Ewald method to incorporate long-range electrostatic effects in simulating solution-phase chemical reactions.
Studies on the Enumeration of Marine Anaerobic Bacteria

Considerable difficulty has been experienced in estimating the abundance of marine anaerobic bacteria although they have been demonstrated1 in nearly all samples of water or mud examined. Most of the conventional procedures2 such as the incubation of plates in anaerobic jars have failed to yield reproducible results and moreover, the use of such complicated, space- and time-consuming apparatus is entirely impracticable aboard a rolling boat at sea. The application of oval tubes as described by Anderson3 for the enumeration of anaerobes has exceeded expectations.Ordinary round glass tubes with sealed ends as used by Roux4 and Burri5 are satisfactory for the cultivation of anaerobes but the curvature of the glass makes it virtually impossible to count the colonies which develop, particularly when it is necessary to use a hand lens. The Kimball Glass Company fabricated special oval tubes for us with flat, parallel sides, thereby obviating this difficulty. The oval tubes are 6×14 mm. in cross-section and 380 ...
A Pine Looper, Phaeoura mexicanaria (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), in Southeastern Montana with Notes on Its Biology

Phaeoura mexicanaria (Grote) reached outbreak proportions on ponderosa pine in southeastern Montana in 1969 and 1970. The looper is univoltine and overwinters in the duff as pupae. Adults emerge in late June, mate, and lay eggs. Eggs hatch in about 12 days and larvae begin feeding on the foliage. Larval feeding continues through August, then they leave the tree to pupate in the duff. Natural enemies include parasites, predators, and fungal and bacterial pathogens. The looper population collapsed in 1970, primarily because of a widespread bacterium.
CO-Induced Diffusion of Ni Atoms to the Surface of Ni–Au Clusters on TiO2(110)

The growth, surface composition, and chemical activity of Ni–Au clusters on TiO2(110) have been studied by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), low energy ion scattering (LEIS), and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), as well as density functional theory (DFT) calculations and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. STM images of similar coverages of pure Au and pure Ni on TiO2(110) illustrate that Au clusters are larger with lower cluster densities, indicating that Au is more mobile on the surface than Ni. Consequently, bimetallic Ni–Au clusters can be grown by nucleating Au at existing Ni clusters. A sequence of STM images acquired from the same region of the surface after various depositions of Au on Ni seed clusters demonstrates that new clusters of pure Au are not formed on the surface. Furthermore, the size of the existing clusters increases with each Au deposition due to the incorporation of incoming Au atoms. For bimetallic clusters of varying compositions with a total coverage of 0.25 ML, ...
Synthesis and Characterization of 2,5-bis[(3,4-ethylenedioxy)thien-2-yl]-3-Substituted Thiophenes

Synthesis and functionalization of 3-bromothiophene afforded novel 2,5-bis[(3,4-ethylenedioxy)thien-2-yl]-)-3-substituted thiopehene monomers with blue emission characteristics and having a quantum yield of 3–5%. Cyclic voltammetry was employed to investigate the electrochemical behavior of the four monomers reported here. Polymer films were deposited by repeated potential cycling. These materials are considered for use in tailoring properties in opto-electronic device applications.
Deriving respiration from pulse wave: a new signal-processing technique

Investigations of autonomic nervous system activity using spectral analysis of heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) variability is very popular in many scientific disciplines, and yet only half of all studies involving spectral analysis control for respiration. Because respiration modulates HR and BP variability, knowledge of the respiratory rate is necessary for the proper interpretation of HR and BP power spectra. We devised and validated a new signal-processing technique to derive respiration from the blood pressure wave. This technique is based on the relationship between oscillations in the area under the dicrotic notch of the pulse wave and respiration. The results of our view signal-processing technique yielded significant correlations between protocols of the actual number of respiratory cycles and our blood pressure-derived respiratory cycles and their respective spectra for a number of standard autonomic tests (P < 0.05). Our method will allow retrospective extraction of the respiratory wave and as such afford a more precise interpretation of HR and BP spectra.
Status of Secondary College Students in Tangshan

It makes investigation of the second-level institute's students through questionnaire,observation analysis and interview to get the information of these student's present study situation.By studying the second-level institute student's characteristics and analyzing the reasons of the situation,it proposes some suggestions.
Prevalence and related risk factors on smoking among pupils in Shandong province

Objective To study the prevalence of smoking and its influential factors among pupils in Shandong.Methods A multi-stage stratified-cluster random sampling method was used in the survey.6050 students from 3 different cities of Shandong province were selected as the study population.A self-administered anonymous questionnaire was designed and the survey was conducted by trained investigators.Results The rate of attempting smoking among pupils under study in Shandong province was 6.0％ while the current smoking rate was 1.2％.The average age of children who initiated smoking cigarette was 7.8 ± 2.1 with 80.5％ of them due to curiosity.34.7％ of them got the cigarettes from their families.In terms of the motivation of buying cigarettes,74.3％ of them claimed that the access to purchase was easy.Data from multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis showed that the smoking behavior of pupils was influenced by their familial or surrounding environments.Conclusion Tobacco control programs on pupils should be strengthened with more powerful control measures including health education. Key words: Smoking; Influence factors; Pupil
In vitro fertilization: a perinatal perspective.

The decade ahead will witness a dramatic increase in the availability of in vitro fertilization and its successful outcome. Offered here is an introduction to the potential obstetric concerns surrounding the IVF pregnancy and the crucial role to be played by the obstetrician-gynecologist and the perinatologist not only in providing counseling and referral, but also in monitoring the IVF pregnancy and in the long-term surveillance of the IVF offspring.
Transposition of the Great Arteries

This highly lethal and numerically important malformation is beginning to yield to a combination of palliative and corrective approaches, making it urgent that the diagnosis be suspected more often in the cyanotic newborn and established without delay. It is now possible to save the majority of infants born with transposition and, at a later date, to correct the anomaly completely in many.
FE prediction of thermal performance and stresses in an automotive disc brake system

This study aims to identify thermal effects in the structure and the contact behavior of a disc-pad assembly using a finite element approach. The first analysis is performed on the disc-pad model in the absence of thermal effects. The structural performance of the disc-pad model is predicted in terms of factors such as the deformation and von Mises stress. Next, thermomechanical analysis is performed on the same disc-pad model with the inclusion of convection, adiabatic, and heat flux elements. The predicted temperature distribution, deformation, stress, and contact pressure are presented. The structural performance between the two analyses (mechanical and thermomechanical) is compared. For this contribution, we were able to find and use some experimental results on the contact pressure distributions inner brake pads to validate our thermomechanical model. This study can assist brake engineers in choosing a suitable analysis method to critically evaluate the structural and contact behavior of the disc brake assembly.
Eccentricity and spin-orbit misalignment in short-period stellar binaries as a signpost of hidden tertiary companions

Eclipsing binaries are observed to have a range of eccentricities and spin-orbit misalignments (stellar obliquities). Whether such properties are primordial or arise from post-formation dynamical interactions remains uncertain. This paper considers the scenario in which the binary is the inner component of a hierarchical triple stellar system, and derives the requirements that the tertiary companion must satisfy in order to raise the eccentricity and obliquity of the inner binary. Through numerical integrations of the secular octupole-order equations of motion of stellar triples, coupled with the spin precession of the oblate primary star due to the torque from the secondary, we obtain a simple, robust condition for producing spin-orbit misalignment in the inner binary. In order to excite appreciable obliquity, the precession rate of the stellar spin axis must be smaller than the orbital precession rate due to the tertiary companion. This yields quantitative requirements on the mass and orbit of the tertiary. We also present new analytic expressions for the maximum eccentricity and range of inclinations allowing eccentricity excitation (Lidov–Kozai window), for stellar triples with arbitrary masses and including the non-Keplerian potentials introduced by general relativity, stellar tides and rotational bulges. The results of this paper can be used to place constraints on unobserved tertiary companions in binaries that exhibit high eccentricity and/or spin-orbit misalignment, and will be helpful in guiding efforts to detect external companions around stellar binaries. As an application, we consider the eclipsing binary DI Herculis, and identify the requirements that a tertiary companion must satisfy to produce the observed spin-orbit misalignment.
Mathematical modeling of the methionine cycle and transsulfuration pathway in individuals with autism spectrum disorder

Previous research has shown a connection between metabolic abnormalities in the methionine cycle and transsulfuration pathway and autism spectrum disorder. Using clinical data from a case-control study investigating measurements of transmethylation and transsulfuration metabolites, a steady-state model of these metabolites in liver cells was developed and participant-specific parameters were identified. Comparison of mean parameter values and parameter distributions between neurotypical study participants and those on the autism spectrum revealed significant differences for four model parameters. Sensitivity analysis identified the parameter describing the rate of glutamylcysteine synthesis, the rate-limiting step in glutathione production, to be particularly important in determining steady-state metabolite concentrations. These results may provide insight into key reactions to target for potential intervention strategies relating to autism spectrum disorder.
Transgenic Plants and Associated Bacteria for Phytoremediation of Organic Pollutants

Transgenic plants and associated bacteria constitute a new generation of genetically modified organisms for the treatment of polluted soil and water. This article focuses on the latest progresses in the development of transgenic organisms, including plants and associated bacteria, for the phytoremediation of major classes of organic environmental pollutants, such as chlorinated compounds, explosives, and pesticides. Phytoremediation is defined as the use of higher plants for the cost-effective, environmentally friendly rehabilitation of soil and groundwater contaminated by toxic metals and organic compounds. Phytoremediation involves a range of mechanisms, including uptake of pollutants from soil (phytoextraction), enzymatic transformation inside plant tissues (phytotransformation), volatilization into the atmosphere (phytovolatilization), and microbial degradation in the root zone (rhizoremediation). However, many persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as explosives and polychlorinated biphenyls, are only slowly taken up and degraded by plants, resulting in accumulation and potential release of toxic metabolites into the environment. Similarly, bacteria naturally living in symbiosis with plants often do not possess the enzymatic machinery necessary for the efficient biodegradation of POPs. These limitations have led to the idea of genetic modification of plants and their associated bacteria by the introduction of key bacterial or mammalian genes known to be involved in the metabolism of xenobiotic pollutants, following a strategy similar to that used for the development of transgenic crops.
Learning through Making: Emerging and Expanding Designs for College Classes

As higher education institutions seek to prepare an increasingly diverse population of students for a rapidly changing future, makerspaces offer a pedagogical approach for engaging all learners in active thinking and hands-on learning while promoting creativity, problem solving, and collaboration skills. In this paper, we discuss ways to integrate makerspaces and maker-centered learning within undergraduate and graduate college courses that reach students from majors ranging across the college and university curriculum. We highlight four courses, each taken by students at different points within their academic programs of study: a) digital media production & 3D modeling in a first-year seminar, b) poetry writing and 3D modeling and printing in a flipped learning course, c) wiki page building workshops for future teachers, and d) learning, media, and technology undergraduate/graduate courses. Makerspace experiences are ongoing features of each course, but not in the same ways, offering models that faculty can use in adapting their courses to include more active and applied learning for students.
Foundations of Stochastic Decomposition

In Chapter 2, we explored the Successive Sample Mean Optimization method, SSMO, whereby the stochastic linear program (P) could be solved using a sequence of randomly generated observations of \(\tilde \omega \), {ω t }. This method yields a sequence of iterates, all accumulation points of which are optimal solutions (with probability one). In our discussions of SSMO, we identified two major characteristics of SSMO that prevent it from being computationally efficient. That is, it becomes increasingly difficult to update the sample mean objective function from one iteration so that it can be used in the next iteration. In addition, as the sample size increases, the evaluation of the sample mean function and its sub gradients becomes increasingly difficult. Given the number of such evaluations typically required in cutting plane methods, the prospects for SSMO as an efficient solution procedure are limited.
Studies on primer-dimer formation in polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

A viable mechanism for primer-dimer formation in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) process has been proposed based on experimental results. This mechanism results in a kinetic description of the primer-dimer formation process with the Taq DNA polymerase enzyme, the two primers and the dNTPs as the starting materials. The possible impact of this primer-dimer formation on the selectivity and yield of PCR process is discussed.
Tapping Into the Potential of African American Alumni of Urban Schools

The purpose of this study was to identify and understand how African American alumni of urban high schools perceived that they could best contribute to their former schools. Despite numerous improv...
A First Look at Thermal Attacks in Multi-Tenant Data Centers

Oversubscription increases the utilization of expensive power infrastructure in multi-tenant data centers, but it can create dangerous emergencies and outages if the designed power capacity is exceeded. Despite the safeguards in place today to prevent power outages, this extended abstract demonstrates that multi-tenant data centers are vulnerable to well-timed power attacks launched by a malicious tenant (i.e., attacker). Further, we show that there is a physical side channel -- a thermal side channel due to hot air recirculation -- that contains information about the benign tenants' runtime power usage. We develop a state-augmented Kalman filter that guides an attacker to precisely time its power attacks at moments that coincide with the benign tenants' high power demand, thus overloading the designed power capacity. Our experimental results show that an attacker can capture 53% of all attack opportunities, significantly compromising the data center availability.
Taxa: An R package implementing data standards and methods for taxonomic data

The taxa R package provides a set of tools for defining and manipulating taxonomic data. The recent and widespread application of DNA sequencing to community composition studies is making large data sets with taxonomic information commonplace. However, compared to typical tabular data, this information is encoded in many different ways and the hierarchical nature of taxonomic classifications makes it difficult to work with. There are many R packages that use taxonomic data to varying degrees but there is currently no cross-package standard for how this information is encoded and manipulated. We developed the R package taxa to provide a robust and flexible solution to storing and manipulating taxonomic data in R and any application-specific information associated with it. Taxa provides parsers that can read common sources of taxonomic information (taxon IDs, sequence IDs, taxon names, and classifications) from nearly any format while preserving associated data. Once parsed, the taxonomic data and any associated data can be manipulated using a cohesive set of functions modeled after the popular R package dplyr. These functions take into account the hierarchical nature of taxa and can modify the taxonomy or associated data in such a way that both are kept in sync. Taxa is currently being used by the metacoder and taxize packages, which provide broadly useful functionality that we hope will speed adoption by users and developers.
Dehydroepiandrosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels in combat veterans with or without a history of suicide attempt.

Objective The goal of this study was to determine whether combat veterans who have made a suicide attempt postdeployment can be distinguished from combat veterans who have never made a suicide attempt based on differences in psychological and biological variables. Methods Demographic and clinical parameters of suicide attempters and non-attempters were assessed. Blood samples were assayed for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). Results Suicide attempters had higher Scale for Suicidal Ideation and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)-suicidal thoughts item scores in comparison with non-attempters. There was a trend toward higher MADRS scores in the suicide attempter group compared with non-attempters. Suicide attempters had significantly lower levels of DHEA and DHEAS compared with non-attempters. Scale for Suicidal Ideation scores in all study participants combined negatively correlate with DHEA and DHEAS levels. DHEAS levels negatively correlate with Scale for Suicidal Ideation scores in suicide non-attempters but not in suicide attempters. DHEA/DHEAS ratios positively correlate with total adolescence aggression scores, total adulthood aggression scores, and total aggression scale scores in suicide attempters but not in suicide non-attempters. Conclusion There are psychobiological differences between combat veterans with or without a history of suicidal behaviour.
AIDS and good theory-making

Since the writings of the 18th century philosopher David Hume it has been known that certainty about physical causes and effects is not to be had from mere association, even if the temporal sequence is correct. In fact, according to Hume, absolute certainty about positive causation is not to be had, even when we can do direct experiments — but most scientists ignore this most extremely pessimistic view of causal knowledge (or else they view the high degree of inductive certainty gainable with experiment to be ‘good enough’).
Climbing the Electronic Capitol Hill: Personal and Professional Reflections on Teaching about Congress

Abstract The Information Revolution, particularly evidenced by the Internet, e-mail and online access to government documents, has significantly affected the way Congress conducts business. The author reflects on the changes that he has had to make during his seven years of teaching a course on Congressional Office Operations for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Graduate School. Through personal experiences, interviews, and historical perspectives, he describes changes in information resources, constituent communications, and press operations on Capitol Hill and how these changes have affected course content. He also describes how the events of September 11, 2001, and the anthrax mail problem have forced consideration of an electronic Congress. Serials Review 2002; 28:287–294.
Cognition and Capabilities in Entrepreneurial Ventures

The exploring of entrepreneurial opportunities is about the development of new ideas and the building of those ideas into thriving businesses. But to develop new business opportunities, various resources and capabilities are needed to bring the new ideas to reality. Starting a new business usually involves dealing with very limited human and capital resources to the extent that bootstrapping often starts ventures. Furthermore, entrepreneurship usually occurs in complex and dynamic environments, so it is a nontrivial challenge for researchers to constructively make inroads in addressing this important issue. Given these challenges, it is both fascinating and important to probe why some people and not others choose to pursue and develop a potential opportunity. Indeed, the skills and capabilities utilized in pursuing a new venture and developing its full potential tend to be unique and demanding.
Photodynamic therapy and paraptosis: an update

Two death pathways have been associated with photodynamic therapy (PDT): apoptosis and paraptosis. The former is characterized by caspase activation and nuclear fragmentation while the latter is associated with an unfolded protein response leading to an extensive pattern of cytoplasmic vacuole formation. In this study, we explore some of the determinants of a response involving paraptosis after photodynamic therapy in cell culture using a human-derived ovarian cancer cell line: OVCAR-5 cells. Experimental results are consistent with the hypothesis that paraptosis is evoked by ER photodamage. This leads to an extensive pattern of cytoplasmic vacuolization. While activation of JNK and related MAP kinases has been associated with paraptosis, the JNK antagonist SP600125 did not prevent a paraptotic response to ER photodamage in OVCAR-5. Translocation of the nuclear HMGB1 to the cell periphery had been proposed as a potential marker for paraptosis. We found this effect was not a reliable marker for paraptosis. Targeting the ER for photodamage may, however, be a useful approach to eradicating malignant cells with an impaired route to apoptosis.
Divergent effects of lipids on stroke.

A large study provides causal evidence of the opposing effects of plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels on ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke in a Chinese population and suggests there is a a net benefit associated with LDL lowering.
Famine, affluence, and philosophers’ biases

Moral relativists often defend their view as an inference to the best explanation of widespread and deep moral disagreement. Many philosophers have challenged this line of reasoning in recent years, arguing that moral objectivism provides us with ample resources to develop an equally or more plausible method of explanation. One of the most promising of these objectivist methods is what I call the self-interest explanation, the view that intractable moral diversity is due to the distorting effects of our interests. In this paper I examine the self-interest explanation through the lens of the famine debate, a well-known disagreement over whether we have a moral obligation to donate most of our income to the global poor. I argue that objectivists should reduce their confidence that the persistence of the famine debate is due to the distorting influence of self-interest. If my argument is on target, then objectivists may need to supply a stronger explanation of moral disagreement to defend their view against the threat of moral relativism.
Mild, efficient, and solvent-free synthesis of 4-hydroxy-2-quinolinones

Abstract Malonic acid monoanilides were obtained in excellent yield from the reaction of anilines with Meldrum’s acid under solvent-free conditions. The malonic acid monoanilide intermediates were then treated with methanesulfonic acid anhydride (MSAA) to produce 4-hydroxy-2-quinolinones in excellent yield. It should be noted that both reactions had to be run under mild conditions to avoid the decarboxylation of the malonic acid monoanilide intermediate.
Innovations in Teaching Advertising: Teaching Digital on a Shoestring Budget:

The field of advertising is becoming increasingly integrated with public relations and social media (Kim, 2012). As a result, many employers expect new graduates to understand how to navigate this ...
Enhancing Colorimetric LAMP Amplification Speed and Sensitivity with Guanidine Chloride

Abstract Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a versatile technique for detection of target DNA and RNA, enabling rapid molecular diagnostic assays with minimal equipment. The global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has presented an urgent need for new and better diagnostic methods, with colorimetric LAMP utilized in numerous studies for SARS-CoV-2 detection. However, the sensitivity of colorimetric LAMP in early reports has been below that of the standard RT-qPCR tests, and we sought to improve performance. Here we report the use of guanidine hydrochloride and combined primer sets to increase speed and sensitivity in colorimetric LAMP, bringing this simple method up to the standards of sophisticated technique and enabling accurate and high-throughput diagnostics.
Aβ42-α7-like nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract Synaptic dysfunction with amyloid-β (Aβ)-rich plaques and hyperphosphorylated tau-containing neurofibrillary tangles are the primary pathological features of the Alzheimer's disease (AD). Soluble Aβ, especially Aβ1-42 (Aβ42), can suppress synaptic activities by interacting with α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7nAChRs) and downstream N-Methyl- d -Aspartate glutamatergic receptor (NMDAR) activities. The high-affinity binding of Aβ42 to α7nAChRs recruits filamin A (FLNA) to enable Aβ42 signaling and subsequent tau phosphorylation leading to neurofibrillary lesions, eventual neurodegeneration, and formation of amyloid plaques. Aβ42-α7nAChR complex levels increase in an age-dependent manner. Elevated Aβ42-α7nAChR association is prevalent in brains of AD, including apolipoprotein E e4 (APOE e4) carriers, and to a lesser extent, aged subjects. Age-dependent increases in Aβ42-α7-like nAChR complexes were also noted in lymphocytes and were most abundant in AD and mild cognitive impairment due to AD cases. These data suggest that increased lymphocyte Aβ42-α7-like nAChR complexes may be a potential biomarker for amyloid pathologies. Importantly, these data also suggest that therapeutic strategies that interfere with or diminish Aβ42-α7nAChR association may reduce Aβ-driven pathology and cognitive deterioration during aging and AD.
The Effect of Self-Efficacy and Role Understanding on Teachers’ Emotional Exhaustion and Work Engagement in Inclusive Education in Macao (SAR)

This study examined responses from 508 full-time teachers working in inclusive schools in Macao (SAR). The intention was to understand the teachers’ perceptions about their roles and how they respo...
Numerical study on MRI RF-induced heating for the trauma screw implanted in three human models

This study investigates the radio frequency (RF)-induced heating for a common medical implanted device, the trauma screw, in different human models under 1.5 T and 3 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. Three different human models, Duke, Ella, and Fats from the virtual family project, are used in the simulations. The human models and the device are loaded in a generic 32 ports RF coil. The screws with suitable sizes are implanted in four regions (hip, knee, shoulder, and wrist) for each human model. From the simulation results, the RF-induced heating near the device shows significantly difference within the models. Consequently, the clinically relevant RF induced heating can be patient specific and needs to be investigated individually.
Direct determination of cellulosic glucan content in starch-containing samples

A simple and highly selective analytical procedure is presented for the determination of cellulosic glucan content in samples that contain both cellulose and starch. This method eliminates the unacceptably large compounding errors of current two-measurement methods. If both starch and cellulose are present before analytical hydrolysis, both will be hydrolyzed to glucose causing bias and inaccuracy in the method. To prevent this interference, the removal of starch prior to cellulosic quantification is crucial. The method presented here is a concise in-series procedure with minimal measurements, eliminating large compounding errors. Sample preparation consists of a starch extraction employing enzymatic hydrolysis followed by a simple filtration and wash. The samples are then subjected to a two-stage acid hydrolysis. The concentration of glucose is determined by ion exchange high-performance liquid chromatography with a Pb2+ column and a refractive index detector. The cellulosic glucan content is calculated based on the initial dry weight of the starting material. Data for the native biomass materials studied show excellent reproducibility, with coefficients of variance of 3.0% or less associated with the method. This selectivity for cellulosic glucan by the procedure was validated with several analytical techniques such as liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC–MS), Raman spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance.
Machine Learning to Predict Treatment in Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Objectives This study seeks to (1) demonstrate how machine learning (ML) can be used for prediction modeling by predicting the treatment patients with T1-2, N0-N1 oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) receive and (2) assess the impact patient, socioeconomic, regional, and institutional factors have in the treatment of this population. Methods A retrospective cohort of adults diagnosed with T1-2, N0-N1 OPSCC from 2004 to 2013 was obtained using the National Cancer Database. The data was split into 80/20 distribution for training and testing, respectively. Various ML algorithms were explored for development. Area under the curve (AUC), accuracy, precision, and recall were calculated for the final model. Results Among the 19,111 patients in the study, the mean (standard deviation) age was 61.3 (10.8) years, 14,034 (73%) were male, and 17,292 (91%) were white. Surgery was the primary treatment in 9,533 (50%) cases and radiation in 9,578 (50%) cases. The model heavily utilized T-stage, primary site, N-stage, grade, and type of treatment facility to predict the primary treatment modality. The final model yielded an AUC of 78% (95% CI, 77-79%), accuracy of 71%, precision of 72%, and recall of 71%. Conclusion This study created a ML model utilizing clinical variables to predict primary treatment modality for T1-2, N0-N1 OPSCC. This study demonstrates how ML can be used for prediction modeling while also highlighting that tumor and facility realted variables impact the decision making process on a national level.
Work Engagement and Patient Quality of Care: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review:

Past research has demonstrated that work engagement among health care professionals influences patient quality of care. There is, however, no estimate of the strength of this relationship, and exis...
Introduction: Politics, Humanity, Power and Justice

This volume brings together a variety of scholars and intellectual disciplines from around the world and across academia. Differences of person, place, culture, history and expertise do not alienate but rather fructify the perspectives of the ongoing conversation of the politics of humanity. The latter is a struggle for justice, for human rights, to be sure, but also for the availability, sustainability and fair distribution of food, clothing, shelter, health care, culture and living environment, and all the concrete conditions necessary to make political rights real and ensure they are flourishing. A politics of humanity therefore demands a humane justice, where everyone universally and each person singularly is accorded respect, where equality, liberty and solidarity intersect supportively. It is not despite differences but because of them that there is discourse, dialogue and conversation, and the aspirations of the present volume. Each author, each chapter raises insights and arguments, solicits a hearing, provokes questions and discussion, while not losing sight of their concrete conditions, the learning, dedication and sensitivity, the cooperation and collegiality that guide research, stimulates truth through constructive criticism, and makes justice possible and worthwhile, despite shortcomings and the great labors—of thought and action—that remain to be done.
How to Support Patients Near the End of Life Whose Pain Is Best Treated With Surgery

For seriously ill patients whose pain is best treated with surgery, it is important to discuss and explore treatment goals preoperatively. Knowing which health states a patient would tolerate helps the surgeon identify interventions that are overly burdensome, overreach survival goals, or undermine the patient's quality of life. Surgical success should be defined by how well an intervention aligns with patients' goals. Early integration of specialty palliative care can help identify surgical patients with unmet needs, optimize symptom management, clarify preferences, and improve end-of-life care.
Hyperhomocysteinemia, vascular function and atherosclerosis: effects of vitamins.

Homocysteine is a metabolic product of methyl group donation by the amino acid methionine. Moderate elevation of plasma homocysteine (>15 μM) is most commonly caused by B-vitamin deficiencies, especially folic acid, B6 and B12. Genetic factors, certain drugs and renal impairment may also contribute. Homocysteine has several potentially deleterious vascular actions. These include increased oxidant stress, impaired endothelial function, stimulation of mitogenesis, and induction of thrombosis. Homocysteine also appears to increase arterial pressure. In humans, experimental induction of hyperhomocysteinemia by methionine loading rapidly causes profound impairment of endothelium-dependent dilatation in both resistance and conduit arteries. This endothelial dysfunction can be reversed by administration of antioxidants. Epidemiological evidence suggests that homocysteine acts as an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis, thrombosis and hypertension. Prospective studies have shown that elevated plasma homocysteine concentrations in the top quintile of the population (>12 μM) increase risk of cardiovascular disease by about 2-fold. There are currently no data available from randomized, controlled trials of the effects of lowering plasma homocysteine on atherothrombotic events. Nonetheless, it would seem appropriate to screen for and treat hyperhomocysteinemia in individuals with progressive or unexplained atherosclerosis. Folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12 are the mainstay of therapy. Treatment of moderately elevated plasma homocysteine in patients without atherosclerosis should be deferred until the completion of randomized outcome trials.
Differences in the College Enrollment Decision across Race

We find the determinants of the college enrollment decision differ greatly between whites and blacks. Within race, differences exist between black males and females, and to a lesser extent between ...
How to Promote Self-Determination for Young Children With Disabilities: Evidenced-Based Strategies for Early Childhood Practitioners and Families

Fran Martin, an early interventionist, arrives at the apartment of Jenny, a 3-year-old child with Down's syndrome, to provide services for Jenny and her mom, who is a single parent. Jenny is wearing a pretty pink dress that she chose to wear today. When she enters the family room, Fran is happy to see that the furniture has been rearranged to encourage Jenny's emerging gross motor activity while ensuring her safe use of the space. The toys provided are attractive and interesting to encourage Jenny's activity. Although Jenny has motor movement delays because of a cardiac condition and a number of surgeries to repair her malformed feet, she is beginning to pull up and shift her weight in a standing position. Fran talks with Jenny's mother about both her hopes and her concerns for her daughter. Fran and Jenny's mother continue to discuss ways to provide a safe environment that promotes movement that is both stimulating and interesting.
A framework for investigation into extended enterprise resilience

This article proposes a framework for investigation into 'extended enterprise resilience' based on the key attributes of enterprise resilience in the context of extended enterprises. Such attributes, namely agility, flexibility, adaptability and connectivity, are frequently defined as supporting attributes of enterprise resilience, but the issue is how they can be more effectively applied to extended enterprises. The role of information technology in assisting connectivity and collaboration is frequently recognised as contributing to resilience on all levels, and will likewise be employed on the level of extended enterprise systems. The proposed framework is based on the expanded application of two primary enablers of enterprise resilience: (i) the capability of an enterprise to connect systems, people, processes and information in a way that allows enterprise to become more connected and responsive to the dynamics of its environment, stakeholders and competitors; (ii) the alignment of information technology with business goals. The former requires inter-and intra-level interoperability and integration within the extended enterprises, and the latter requires modelling of the underlying technology infrastructure and creation of a consolidated view of, and access to, all available resources in the extended enterprises that can be attained by well-defined enterprise architecture.
Aging sensitizes mice to behavioral deficits induced by central HIV-1 gp120

The number of older adults with HIV-1 disease is increasing but little is known about how age influences behavioral deficits associated with HIV-1 infection. The purpose of this study was to determine in a murine model if aging influenced sickness behavior following central injection of HIV-1 gp120. In initial studies, behavioral deficits induced by acute and repeated intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of gp120 were greater in aged mice than in adults. Furthermore, repeated ICV injection of gp120 increased hippocampal levels of IL-1 beta and IL-6 mRNA in aged mice but not in adults. To determine if IL-6, which is elevated in aged brain, affects expression of the gp120-binding target, CCR5, microglia (BV-2 cell line) were incubated with increasing concentrations of IL-6. Cell surface expression of CCR5 was increased by IL-6 in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, IL-6 increased gp120-dependent chemotaxis. These results suggest that aging increases the sensitivity of mice to behavioral deficits caused by ICV gp120, perhaps by increasing expression of CCR5 and augmenting production of cytokines.
Hepatic function after porto-systemic shunt.

Abstract Advanced hepatic injury can be identified by the appearance of jaundice, coagulopathy, or encephalopathy but these conditions are late, irreversible findings and represent the end stage of a long insidious process. Currently available methods for assessing “liver function” (SGOT, SGPT, GGT, LDH, etc.) do not actually measure liver function. In this study we prospectively evaluated “true” liver function in patients undergoing porto-systemic shunt. Effective hepatic blood flow [low dose galactose clearance (EHBF)], hepatocyte transport (theophylline levels at 24 hr), and hepatic conjugation ability [acetaminophen metabolism to its glucuronide and sulfate conjugates ((S + G)/A) and acetaminophen remaining at 24 hr (A24)] were measured in normal males (NL) and in patients pre- and post-8-mm H-graft portacaval shunt (PCS). All data are means ± SEM, analyzed by Student's t test, and significance was accepted if P