cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assurer Reputation for Competence in a Multi-Service Context*

We experimentally examine determinants of the transferability and durability of an assurer's flagship-service reputation for competence in a multi-service context. Economic and psychology theories agree that transferability will increase when a new service and a flagship service require relatively similar, as opposed to relatively dissimilar, competencies. These theories disagree, however, regarding the durability of an assurer's flagship-service reputation following a performance failure in a new service. Economic theory requires some reciprocity for transferability and durability, and, accordingly, predicts that a new-service failure will inflict more damage on a flagship-service reputation when the new and flagship services require relatively similar, as opposed to relatively dissimilar, competencies. Psychology theory, in contrast, predicts that a new-service failure will tend not to damage the flagship-service reputation, even when the new and flagship services require relatively similar competencies. Thus, unlike economic theory, psychology theory predicts that relatively similar competencies between a new and a flagship service can improve the transferability of an assurer's flagship-service reputation for competence without reciprocally threatening its durability. Experimental findings indicate that reputation transferability increases when the new and flagship services require relatively similar, as opposed to relatively dissimilar, competencies. They also indicate that a new-service failure damages the flagship-service reputation only when, and to a greater degree when, the new and flagship services require relatively dissimilar, as opposed to relatively similar, competencies. Thus, empirically, greater similarity in the competencies required by a new and flagship service simultaneously enhances the transferability and durability of the assurer's flagship-service reputation. These empirical findings are better explained by psychology theory than by economic theory.
Gamma spectroscopy analysis of archived Marshall Island soil samples

Four samples of archival Marshall Islands soil were subjected to non-destructive, broad energy (17 keV–2.61 MeV) gamma-ray spectrometry analysis using a series of different high-resolution germanium detectors. These archival samples were collected in 1967 from different locations on Bikini Atoll and were contaminated with a range of fission and activation products, and other nuclear material from multiple weapons tests. Unlike samples collected recently, these samples have been stored in sealed containers and have been unaffected by approximately 50 years of weathering. Initial results show that the samples contained measurable but proportionally different concentrations of plutonium, 241Am, and 137Cs, and 60Co.
New perspective on glycoside hydrolase binding to lignin from pretreated corn stover

Non-specific binding of cellulases to lignin has been implicated as a major factor in the loss of cellulase activity during biomass conversion to sugars. It is believed that this binding may strongly impact process economics through loss of enzyme activities during hydrolysis and enzyme recycling scenarios. The current model suggests glycoside hydrolase activities are lost though non-specific/non-productive binding of carbohydrate-binding domains to lignin, limiting catalytic site access to the carbohydrate components of the cell wall. In this study, we have compared component enzyme affinities of a commercial Trichoderma reesei cellulase formulation, Cellic CTec2, towards extracted corn stover lignin using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and p-nitrophenyl substrate activities to monitor component binding, activity loss, and total protein binding. Protein binding was strongly affected by pH and ionic strength. β-d-glucosidases and xylanases, which do not have carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) and are basic proteins, demonstrated the strongest binding at low ionic strength, suggesting that CBMs are not the dominant factor in enzyme adsorption to lignin. Despite strong adsorption to insoluble lignin, β-d-glucosidase and xylanase activities remained high, with process yields decreasing only 4–15 % depending on lignin concentration. We propose that specific enzyme adsorption to lignin from a mixture of biomass-hydrolyzing enzymes is a competitive affinity where β-d-glucosidases and xylanases can displace CBM interactions with lignin. Process parameters, such as temperature, pH, and salt concentration influence the individual enzymes’ affinity for lignin, and both hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions are responsible for this binding phenomenon. Moreover, our results suggest that concern regarding loss of critical cell wall degrading enzymes to lignin adsorption may be unwarranted when complex enzyme mixtures are used to digest biomass.
Crime and Vigilance

This paper develops a novel equilibrium theory of property crime. A population of potential victims elects how much costly vigilance to exert to guard their property, while a population of potential criminals chooses whether to engage in crime, and if so, how much, and what caliber of oenses to attempt. Crimes arise from random encounters of criminals and potential victims. The deterrence rate | i.e., the failure chance of an attempted crime | rises in vigilance and falls in caliber. It acts as a market-clearing price in the unique equilibrium, equilibrating actions of all agents. Our model predicts how changes in the values of goods to criminal or owner, legal punishment, the technology of theft, or vigilance, or policing aect seven observables: the crime rate, attempted crime rate, deterrence rate, criminal entry rates, oenses
The Validity of Standardized Patient Assessment Using Faculty-Physician Global Ratings as the Gold-Standard Criterion

The purpose of the study was to provide a direct evaluation of the validity of standardized patient (SP) assessment, using global ratings by faculty physicians as the gold-standard criterion. Five faculty physicians independently observed and rated video-taped performances of 44 medical students on the seven SP cases which comprise the fourth-year assessment administered at The Morchand Center of Mount Sinai School of Medicine to students in the eight member schools in the New York City Consortium. A more fundamental purpose of the study was to determine the reliability of the gold-standard ratings, by examining the agreement among the ratings assigned by the five different faculty-physician raters and by evaluating the reliability of the mean ratings of the panel of raters. The validity results are encouraging, with validity coefficients showing correlations between full examination scores and the gold-standard ratings in the 60s. At the least, the validity coefficients are high enough to warrant optimism about the possibility of increasing them to the commonly recommended .80 level, based on further studies to identify those items that best reflect the gold-standard ratings to be used to develop and refine the examination. But most encouraging, the reliabilities of the ratings achieved the recommended .80 level for the full examination ratings and were very close at the case level with inter-rater reliabilities in the 70s. These high interrater reliabilities indicate that faculty-physician ratings of performance on SP cases and examinations can provide a reliable gold-standard criterion for validating and possibly improving SP assessment, despite the common perception to the contrary. The study represents an important new direction for validation and refinement of SP assessment.
A Contemporary Framework and Suprastructure Ceramic Design for Posterior Implant Fixed Partial Denture

Bone and soft tissue deformities in long-standing partial edentulism are commonly treated with implant therapy. The various ceramic restorative systems available and digital technology allow for customization of design and material selection. A substructure design that mimics tooth preparation in a custom zirconia framework with a lithium disilicate suprastructure is presented as an effort to address the functional and esthetic challenges posed by long-standing posterior partial edentulism. The aim is to present several contemporary elements of design to address the functional, esthetic, and maintenance needs.
Metal-metal quadruple bonds supported by 5-ethynylthiophene-2-carboxylato ligands: preparation, molecular and electronic structures, photoexcited state dynamics, and application as molecular synthons

From the reaction between M2(TiPB)4 and 2 equiv of 5-ethynylthiophene-2-carboxylic acid (H-ThCCH) in toluene, the complexes trans-M2(TiPB)2(ThCCH)2, where M = Mo (I) or W (II) and TiPB = 2,4,6-triisopropyl benzoate, have been isolated and characterized by 1H NMR, IR, MALDI-TOF MS, UV–vis, steady-state emission, transient absorption, and time-resolved infrared (TRIR) spectroscopies and single-crystal X-ray crystallography for I. The molecular structure of I confirms the trans-substitution pattern and the extended conjugation of the ethynylthienyl ligands via interaction with the Mo2δ orbital. The HOMO of both I and II is the M2δ orbital, and the intense color of the compounds (I is red and II is blue) is due to the M2δ-to-ThCCH 1MLCT transition. The S1 states for I and II are 1MLCT. The T1 state is 3MLCT for II, but 3MoMoδδ* for I. The TRIR spectra of the ν(C≡C) stretch in the MLCT states are consistent with the delocalization of the electron over both ThCCH ligands. Compound I is shown to be a synthon for...
Personalized fludarabine dosing to reduce nonrelapse mortality in hematopoietic stem-cell transplant recipients receiving reduced intensity conditioning

Patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) with reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) commonly receive fludarabine. Higher exposure of F-ara-A, the active component of fludarabine, has been associated with a greater risk of nonrelapse mortality (NRM). We sought to develop a model for fludarabine dosing in adult HCT recipients that would allow for precise dose targeting and predict adverse clinical outcomes. We developed a pharmacokinetic model from 87 adults undergoing allogeneic RIC HCT that predicts F-ara-A population clearance (Clpop) accounting for ideal body weight and renal function. We then applied the developed model to an independent cohort of 240 patients to identify whether model predictions were associated with NRM and acute graft versus host disease (GVHD). Renal mechanisms accounted for 35.6% of total F-ara-A Clpop. In the independent cohort, the hazard ratio of NRM at day 100 was significantly higher in patients with predicted F-ara-A clearance (Clpred) 6.00 μg × h/mL (P = 0.01). A lower Clpred was also associated with more NRM at month 6 (P = 0.01) and trended toward significance at 12 months (P = 0.05). In multivariate analysis, low fludarabine clearance trended toward higher risk of acute GVHD (P = 0.05). We developed a model that predicts an individual's systemic F-ara-A exposure accounting for kidney function and weight. This model may provide guidance in dosing especially in overweight individuals and those with altered kidney function.
Welcoming Jonathan Wiener's Paper, with a Few Brief Dissents

The editor of this Journal has invited me to comment upon Professor Jonathan Wiener's essay. In three letters to me (written in August and September 1988 and January 1989), he suggested that readers would be interested in my "own experience and reminiscence" as well as in whether I find Wiener's definitions of issues and conclusions valid. I was also asked "to identify changes and non-changes" I've observed and to add suggestions as to possible changes needed today. The length suggested was flexible -within limits-from "three to ten typed pages." I appreciate the opportunity, the more so since the like has not often been offered; this, itself, perhaps indicates welcome change.
An Intelligent Model Applied to Well Logging Interpretation: Development and Application

This paper presents effective evaluation of well log interpretation by fully utilizing well log data, based on basic principle and method of formation system. That is, using well log data and the results from formation test as a decision-making table of information system, from which the decision-making regulation with uncertainty is taken out as its intelligent model in terms of theory of fuzzy set and rough set. Such a model has the characteristics of high non-linearization, high validity and high generalization in use, especially suitable for the evaluation of complex heterogeneous strata as a new tool to well log interpreters.
401 COMMUNITY VIOLENCE AS A PREDICTOR OF CHILDHOOD ASTHMA.

Objectives This study9s objective is to determine if there is an association between rates of violence and rates of childhood asthma in Los Angeles County communities. Methods Rates of hospitalization for assault and for asthma were calculated for each zip code and city in Los Angeles County. Linear regression was used to determine the effect of assault rates on asthma rates while controlling for potential confounders such as poverty and racial/ethnic distribution. At the city level, crime rates were included in the model as additional measures of community violence. Results Hospitalization rates for childhood asthma and assaults were significantly correlated at both the city (r = .80) and the zip code (r = .54) levels. The association remained significant when controlling for poverty and racial/ethnic distribution with linear regression (p Conclusions Community violence as measured by the rate of assault hospitalizations is associated with childhood asthma in Los Angeles County. Health care providers should consider their asthmatic patients9 social environments when devising treatment plans.
Differential effects on glial activation by a direct versus an indirect thrombin inhibitor.

Abstract Thrombin is a potent regulator of brain function in health and disease, modulating glial activation and brain inflammation. Thrombin inhibitors, several of which are in clinical use as anti-coagulants, can reduce thrombin-dependent neuroinflammation in pathological conditions. However, their effects in a healthy CNS are largely unknown. In adult healthy mice, we compared the effects of treatment by the direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran etexilate (DE), to those of warfarin, which acts by preventing vitamin K recycling essential for coagulation. After 4 weeks, warfarin increased both astrocyte GFAP and microglia Iba-1 staining throughout the CNS; whereas DE reduced expression of both markers. Warfarin, but not DE, reduced sulfatide levels; and warfarin showed longer lasting changes in cerebellar gene expression. DE also reduced glial activation in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, although no changes in amyloid plaque burden were observed. These results suggest that treatment with direct thrombin inhibitors may be preferable to those agents which reduce vitamin K levels and have the potential to increase glial activation.
The evolution of prescription drug monitoring programs.

Keywords: prescription drug monitoring program; opioid; substance use disorder; pharmacoepidemiology
Mitochondrial aconitase binds to the 3'-UTR of mouse hepatitis virus RNA

Cis-acting signals located in the 3’-UTR of the viral genome were first identified by deletion analyses of MHV defective interfering (DI)-RNAs (Kim, Jeong, and Makino, 1993; Lin and Lai, 1993). The cis-acting signals for the synthesis of minus-strand RNA are contained within the last 55 nucleotides (nt) plus the poly (A) tail (Lin, Liao, and Lai, 1994). Our lab has previously shown that host cell proteins specifically bind to two distinct sites within the MHV 3’UTR (Yu and Leibowitz, 1995b). In the current work, we show that the RNA-protein (RNP) complex formed within the last 42 nt of the genomic RNA contains four proteins of molecular mass 90, 70, 58 and 40 kDa and identify the 90 kDa protein as mitochondrial aconitase.
The Man of the House: Commentary on Thomas Burkhalter’s “Foregrounding Masculinities in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy”

Thomas Burkhalter is complemented on so vividly bringing the reader into his personal struggles to find a true masculinity in the unforgiving context of contemporary South Africa where White masculinity is associated with apartheid. The struggle to be free of old identifications with the patriarchal order and gender binaries saturate the paper, and attention is drawn to the lingering presence of older conceptions of masculinity as a monolithic concept that leaves women as victims and nurturers and the male as dominant. Burkhalter’s clinical vignette is examined and found to illustrate well his struggle and to capture the vulnerability to genderized enactments and the enduring presence of the old order manifested by a reliance on defense analysis that constrains his construal of Mr. Jones’s statement that he is “after all the man in the house.” Potential alternative meanings of this phrase that foreground grief, hope, and a plea for companioning in pain are offered and a deeper engagement with Mr. and Mrs....
Multiplexed Detection of MicroRNA Biomarkers Using SERS-Based Inverse Molecular Sentinel (iMS) Nanoprobes

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have demonstrated great promise as a novel class of biomarkers for early detection of various cancers, including breast cancer. However, due to technical difficulties in detecting these small molecules, miRNAs have not been adopted into routine clinical practice for early diagnostics. Thus, it is important to develop alternative detection strategies that could offer more advantages over conventional methods. Here, we demonstrate the application of a "turn-on" SERS sensing technology, referred to as "inverse Molecular Sentinel (iMS)" nanoprobes, as a homogeneous assay for multiplexed detection of miRNAs. This SERS nanoprobe involves the use of plasmonic-active nanostars as the sensing platform. The "OFF-to-ON" signal switch is based on a nonenzymatic strand-displacement process and the conformational change of stem-loop (hairpin) oligonucleotide probes upon target binding. This technique was previously used to detect a synthetic DNA sequence of interest. In this study, we modified the design of the nanoprobe to be used for the detection of short (22-nt) miRNA sequences. The demonstration of using iMS nanoprobes to detect miRNAs in real biological samples was performed with total small RNA extracted from breast cancer cell lines. The multiplex capability of the iMS technique was demonstrated using a mixture of the two differently labeled nanoprobes to detect miR-21 and miR-34a miRNA biomarkers for breast cancer. The results of this study demonstrate the feasibility of applying the iMS technique for multiplexed detection of short miRNAs molecules.
A Geometric Approach to Aggregate Flexibility Modeling of Thermostatically Controlled Loads

Coordinated aggregation of a large population of thermostatically controlled loads (TCLs) presents a great potential to provide various ancillary services to the grid. One of the key challenges of integrating TCLs into system-level operation and control is developing a simple and portable model to accurately capture their aggregate flexibility. In this paper, we propose a geometric approach to model the aggregate flexibility of TCLs. We show that the set of admissible power profiles of an individual TCL is a polytope, and their aggregate flexibility is the Minkowski sum of the individual polytopes. In order to represent their aggregate flexibility in an intuitive way and achieve a tractable approximation, we develop optimization-based algorithms to approximate the polytopes by the homothets of a given convex set. As a special application, this set is chosen as a virtual battery model, and the corresponding optimal approximations are solved efficiently by equivalent linear programming problems. Numerical results show that our algorithms yield significant improvement in characterizing the aggregate flexibility over existing modeling methods. We also conduct case studies to demonstrate the efficacy of our approaches by coordinating TCLs to track a frequency regulation signal from the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland Interconnection.
Locke’s Proof of the Divine Authority of Scripture

It should be evident to anyone who has read John Locke’s mature theological writings that his primary motive as an author was to articulate a form of Christianity acceptable to all Christians not predisposed by sectarian interests, one that would prove persuasive to all impartial readers, whether confidently Christian or not, a form of religion that to his mind was not his own invention, but which represented faithfully the idea of Christianity perspicuously presented in Scripture, especially in the New Testament. The title of The Reasonableness of Christianity as deliver’d in the Scriptures is an announcement of that intention. Accordingly, he employed a theological method that is biblical and expository rather than speculative and dogmatic, and in this endeavour he was confident not only of the divine authority of Scripture but also of Scripture’s capability to disclose its paramount meaning. Yet, there does not seem to be anywhere in his writings evidence to show that he ever bothered to justify his confidence that Scripture was an authoritative and infallible source of divine truth, even though everywhere he assumed this or unequivocally asserted it with an assurance bordering upon certainty.
Views on the Therapeutic Needs of Older Adults

A few decades ago a term was coined for pediatric drug development, or lack thereof, calling children “therapeutic orphans.” Since then, tremendous strides have been made in developing drugs to benefit children. We are in a similar conundrum now for drugs of the older adults. Therefore, it is appropriate to mention that the current situation for the older adults is that of “therapeutic overlook.” Perhaps this recognition can set the wheels in motion to seriously understand the issues related to the older adults from a clinical perspective and also from the viewpoint of sociocultural and physical limitations that come with advancing age.
Faith bias or religious expression: the real religious diversity challenge?

AbstractIn light of mixed results surrounding religion’s influence on work-related outcomes, we explore theoretical and design alternatives in an effort to better understand and explain outcomes surrounding religious diversity. We integrate theory on social norms into the religious diversity literature in an effort to explain previous mixed findings and negative reactions toward religious group identity members in a work context. Using an experimental design that allows for the distinct treatment of workplace religious expression and religious identity, our results suggest that negative reactions are exhibited toward both in-group religious identities (i.e., Christians) and out-group religious identities (i.e., Muslims) when individuals are described as engaging in workplace religious expression. We identify perceived inappropriateness of workplace religious expression as a significant mechanism through which negative reactions toward workplace religious expressions emerge. Theoretical and practical impli...
Cultural diversity and barriers to high-quality end of life care.

Dying in America, the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) comprehensive report (1), addressed the state of the US health care system regarding end of life (EOL) care, and pointed out multiple deficiencies.
War: Causes and Patterns

This article defines war and summarizes major trends in war over the last 500 years, noting significant changes in the nuclear age and again in the decade after the end of the Cold War. It then reviews the leading political science theories of the causes of war, following a ‘levels-of-analysis’ framework that distinguishes systemic, domestic, and individual levels of causation. The article gives particular attention to power-based realist theories, liberal theories of the pacific influences of democratic regimes and international trade, and to theories of scapegoating.
The Open Artery: Electrophysiologic Considerations.

Prompt opening of the infarct-related artery reduces mortality and subsequent morbid events. Not all benefit of timely thrombolysis or angioplasty appears to be accounted for by myocardial preservation. A favorable modification of the electrophysiologic postinfarction milieu by a patent infarct-related artery has been proposed to help explain this improved outcome. This review investigates the support for such a hypothesis. Long-term follow-up data from controlled trials is scarce but suggests that episodes of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death are less frequent after thrombolysis with a patent infarct-related artery. The preponderance of data investigate the modification of postinfarction risk stratification parameters, including the signal-averaged electrocardiogram, assessment of heart-rate variability, response to programmed extrastimuli, and dispersion of refractoriness. Reduction of the incidence of late potentials after thrombolysis has been reported by many, but not all, investigators. Differences in signal-averaging technique and timing may help explain the disparity of findings. A patent infarct-related artery is associated with a reduction in late potential incidence. Heart-rate variability, a measure of autonomic balance, appears to be improved in those high-risk patients who receive thrombolysis. Likewise, most investigators reported an association of improved heart-rate variability with a patent infarct-related artery. QT interval dispersion, a measure of ventricular arrhythmic risk, declines as antegrade infarct-related artery flow improves. High-risk patients undergoing programmed extrastimuli have a lower incidence of inducibility and an improved response to pharmacologic therapy after thrombolysis or with a patent infarct-related artery. The mechanisms of arterial flow's modulation of electrophysiologic substrate remains to be elucidated. Long-term follow-up of large post-infarction populations will be necessary to demonstrate benefit conclusivel y.
William James, Niels Bohr, and Complementarity: V - Phenomenology of Subjectivity

Edmund Husserl’s phenomenology is intrinsically theoretical. Its beginnings are with naive self-evidence, basically verbal report, expressed repeatedly, as if in this manner valid solutions to problems will necessarily evolve, in a paradoxical fashion. It is reducible to Q-methodology: Husserl’s perspectives and essences are comparable to the quantized operant factors of Q, which are subject to Niels Bohr’s Principle of Complementarity, and also involve paradoxes. Some implications for Gestalt psychology, Dasein-analysis, and Carl Rogers’ Client-Centered Counseling are considered. Husserl’s phenomenology, in any of its forms, and Q-methodology are on the same footing except for the denial of consciousness as substantive in Q, and its replacement by communicability. Q-technique stands uniquely as a new probabilistic that opened the door to quantum theory for subjectivity, just as Max Born’s new probabilistic opened the door for quantum physics.
Deiscenza della sutura della parete addominale

Puo capitare che, visitando un paziente sottoposto ad una laparotomia per occlusione intestinale 5 giorni prima, troviate le garze imbibite di un liquido rosa chiaro.
Establishing an Ultrasound Curriculum in Undergraduate Medical Education: How Much Time Does It Take?

Objectives Over the years, the use of ultrasound in the medical profession has become a common occurrence. As a result, many medical schools are considering an ultrasound curriculum for first- and second-year medical students. The question posed by many of these programs is how much time and effort are required to establish such a curriculum. We at the University of Colorado School of Medicine sought to quantify the resources and time required. Methods We conducted a cohort study that analyzed the time spent teaching, as well as the types of instructors (eg, faculty, resident, and peer student) that contributed to our ultrasound curriculum. The study population consisted of instructors who participated in the curriculum during the 2014–2015 academic year. We analyzed the amount of time that facilitators spent teaching and tabulated these data using their specialty. Results Our data revealed that within an academic year, a combined total of 484 hours were spent teaching ultrasound to first- and second-year medical students combined. A total of 6 days were required to teach ultrasound to first-year medical students, and a total of 5 days were required for second-year medical students. It required 1 instructor for every 8 students, and most the faculty who volunteered time were from the field of emergency medicine, followed by family medicine and radiology. Conclusions We describe the number of hours and instructors required to implement an ultrasound curriculum for undergraduate medical education.
SE Saline Everglades Transgressive Sedimentation in Response to Historic Acceleration in Sea-Level Rise: A Viable Marker for the Base of the Anthropocene?

ABSTRACT Meeder, J.F. and Parkinson, R.W., 2018. SE Saline Everglades transgressive sedimentation in response to historic acceleration in sea-level rise: A viable marker for the base of the Anthropocene? Rate of global eustatic sea-level rise during the Holocene Epoch has been identified as the principle cause of observed changes or inferred evolution of nontectonic coastal systems in mid- to low-latitude areas. The rate of rise is now three times faster than it was for the past several thousand years and similar to values associated with the middle Holocene marine transgression. This acceleration can be attributed to human-caused global warming. In this investigation, the effects of accelerating sea-level rise on coastal sedimentary environments of the SE Saline Everglades were quantified. The results reveal historic changes to coastal habitat, sedimentation, and stratigraphy that are transgressive. These changes initiated during the early 20th century and are attributed to accelerating sea-level rise. A...
Biogenic manganese oxide nanoparticle formation by a multimeric multicopper oxidase Mnx.

Bacteria that produce Mn oxides are extraordinarily skilled engineers of nanomaterials that contribute significantly to global biogeochemical cycles. Their enzyme-based reaction mechanisms may be genetically tailored for environmental remediation applications or bioenergy production. However, significant challenges exist for structural characterization of the enzymes responsible for biomineralization. The active Mn oxidase in Bacillus sp. PL-12, Mnx, is a complex composed of a multicopper oxidase (MCO), MnxG, and two accessory proteins, MnxE and MnxF. MnxG shares sequence similarity with other, structurally characterized MCOs. MnxE and MnxF have no similarity to any characterized proteins. The ~200 kDa complex has been recalcitrant to crystallization, so its structure is unknown. Here, we show that native mass spectrometry defines the subunit topology and copper binding of Mnx, while high-resolution electron microscopy visualizes the protein and nascent Mn oxide minerals. These data provide critical structural information for understanding Mn biomineralization by such unexplored enzymes. Significant challenges exist for structural characterization of enzymes responsible for biomineralization. Here the authors show that native mass spectrometry and high resolution electron microscopy can define the subunit topology and copper binding of a manganese oxidizing complex, and describe early stage formation of its mineral products
Extending understanding of service-learning projects: Implementing place-based branding for capstone courses

Numerous institutions encourage service-learning, but few have extended beyond nonprofit realms to include (1) larger budgets, (2) multi-faceted volunteer/staff/leadership constraints, and (3) elev...
Seeking skilled care workers: political explanations for Japan’s emergent structure of care work migration

As Japan confronts population ageing, it is coming to rely on foreign care workers to care for seniors. Treating credentialed care work as the ideal, the country’s emerging system relies on multipl...
Effect of post-irradiation annealing on the irradiated microstructure of neutron-irradiated 304L stainless steel

Abstract Post-irradiation annealing was performed on a 304L SS that was irradiated to 5.9 dpa in the Barseback 1 BWR reactor. Evolution of dislocation loops, radiation-induced solute clusters and radiation-induced segregation at the grain boundary was investigated following thermal annealing at 500 °C and 550 °C up to 20 h. Dislocation loops, Ni-Si and Al-Cu clusters, and enrichment of Ni, Si and depletion of Cr at the grain boundary were observed in the as-irradiated condition. Dislocation loop size did not change significantly after annealing at 550 °C for 5 h but the loop number density decreased considerably and loops mostly disappeared after annealing at 550 °C for 20 h. The average size of Ni-Si and Al-Cu clusters increased while the number density decreased with annealing. The increase in cluster size was due to diffusion of solutes rather than cluster coarsening. Significant volume fractions of Ni-Si and Al-Cu clusters still remained after annealing at 550 °C for 20 h. Substantial recovery of Cr and Ni at the grain boundary was observed after annealing at 550 °C for 5 h but neither Cr nor Ni was fully recovered after 20 h. Annihilation of dislocation loops, driven by the thermal vacancy concentration gradient caused by the strain field and stacking fault associated with the loops appeared to be faster than annihilation of solute clusters and recovery of Ni and Si at the grain boundary, both of which are driven by the solute concentration gradients.
Exploring medical students’ barriers to reporting mistreatment during clerkships: a qualitative study

Background: Despite widespread implementation of policies to address mistreatment, the proportion of medical students who experience mistreatment during clinical training is significantly higher th...
Combined extraction-cleanup column chromatographic procedure for determination of dicofol in avian eggs

Dicofol in avian eggs was completely oxidized to dichlorobenzophenone (DCBP) when a hexane Soxhlet extraction procedure was used. This degradation did not occur with other avian tissues (muscle and liver). For this reason, a combined extraction-cleanup column chromatographic procedure, without added heat, was developed for the determination of dicofol in avian eggs. Homogenized subsamples of eggs were mixed with sodium sulfate, and the mixture was added as the top layer on a column prepacked with Florisil. The dicofol and other compounds of interest were then eluted with ethyl ether-hexane. The extracts, relatively free from lipids, were quantitated on a gas chromatograph equipped with a 63Ni electron-capture detector and a methyl silicone capillary column. Recoveries from chicken eggs, fortified with dicofol and other DDT-related compounds, averaged 96%. Analysis of eggs of eastern screech-owls, fed a meat diet containing 10 ppm technical Kelthane, showed that both dicofol and DCBP were present. Results were confirmed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. This method is rapid and reliable, involves a minimum of sample handling, and is well suited for high volume determination of dicofol in eggs and other avian tissues.
Origins of Novel Phenotypic Variation in Polyploids

Polyploid species represent a special type of organism in nature, one that can survive and compete with three or more full sets of homologous chromosomes. While less common in the animal and fungal kingdoms, polyploid species are highly prevalent in the plant kingdom. Indeed, most agricultural crops are polyploids, typically because polyploidy confers greater robustness and therefore higher yields. Among many examples of novel phenotypic variation exhibited by polyploids are the production of larger fruits, reduced tillering, delays in the reproductive transition, and even the creation of visually stunning flower pigmentation patterns coveted by gardeners. The source of this novel variation in polyploids is still largely unclear. However, multiple cellular mechanisms have been proposed, with some supporting evidence, to explain novel variation. We review some of these mechanisms here.
Scaling and Demographic Issues in Global Change Research: The Great Plains, 1880-1990

This paper is about the scales at which demographic data are available, and demographic research is conducted, and their implications for understanding the relationship between population and environment. It describes a multi-disciplinary project designed to study the long-term relationship between population, land use, and environment in the U.S. Great Plains. The paper begins with a discussion of the scales at which data are readily available for demographic, agricultural land use, and environmental data for the United States. Some of these data can be obtained at relatively high resolutions, but the lowest common denominator for many of the long term data is the county, a fairly large unit. I then discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the different scales available. The third section of the paper uses county net migration as an example of research that can be done, and the scale at which it is effective. The example shows that the county is an effective unit for the study of migration, and that the research results are significant. The conclusion suggests that the study of population processes in an environmental and economic context is appropriate at the county level for some questions, but that scaling the results to larger units may be difficult because of the need to be certain about the contexts in which those processes take place. We probably should not study net migration at the national or continental scale, but aggregating county-level or regional studies to a larger scale may be successful.
Repressor-Mediated Translational Control

Initiation of translation is regulated through a variety of mechanisms. Among these are regulation of initiation factor and ribosome activity, and competition for limiting components of the translational machinery. Examples illustrating each are described elsewhere in this volume. The regulation of ferritin synthesis is the clearest example of translational regulation by a sequence-specific messenger RNA (mRNA) binding protein; a translational repressor. Ferritin is the major iron-storage protein in eukaryotes.1–6 As part of its role in intracellular iron storage, ferritin serves to maintain iron in a soluble, nontoxic form, thus preventing the potentially damaging effects of free iron. Ferritin is a large protein composed of 24 identical, or nearly identical, subunits which are arranged in the form of a shell (apoferritin) into which as many as 4000 iron atoms can be stored. Two distinct subunits have been identified in mammals, heavy (H) and light (L). A third, middle (M), subunit has been identified in amphibians.7,8 Apoferritin can be composed of any combination of these subunits, with the composition ultimately being determined by the tissue-specific expression pattern of the subunits.1,2,4
Perception and hallucination: from an analytical approach to an enactive approach

In this opinion, I examine the benefits of the enactivist approach in the study of perception and hallucination, which have traditionally been studied in the context of analytic philosophy. I consi...
The left hand finally meets the right: development of linkages between a state hospital and community mental health centers--why it worked and continues to work.

In January, 1981, Central State Hospital and eight Community Mental Health Centers within the Hospital's Service Area formed a Task Force for the purpose of strengthening linkages. Several concrete accomplishments have resulted and continue to result due to the efforts of this Task Force. The Authors describe why they believe the Task Force has been so successful. (This article was part of a presentation made at the 1983 Annual Meeting of the Association of Mental Health Administrators in San Antonio.)
Integer Linear Programming in Computational and Systems Biology: An Entry-Level Text and Course

Integer linear programming (ILP) is a versatile modeling and optimization technique that is increasingly used in non-traditional ways in biology, with the potential to transform biological computation. However, few biologists know about it. This how-to and why-do text introduces ILP through the lens of computational and systems biology. It uses in-depth examples from genomics, phylogenetics, RNA, protein folding, network analysis, cancer, ecology, co-evolution, DNA sequencing, sequence analysis, pedigree and sibling inference, haplotyping, and more, to establish the power of ILP. This book aims to teach the logic of modeling and solving problems with ILP, and to teach the practical 'work flow' involved in using ILP in biology. Written for a wide audience, with no biological or computational prerequisites, this book is appropriate for entry-level and advanced courses aimed at biological and computational students, and as a source for specialists. Numerous exercises and accompanying software (in Python and Perl) demonstrate the concepts.
Photoautotroph-Methanotroph Coculture – A Flexible Platform for Efficient Biological CO2-CH4 Co-utilization

Abstract Industrial, municipal, and agricultural waste streams contain stranded organic carbon, which can be converted into biogas through anaerobic digestion. It has been demonstrated that biogas has immense potential as a renewable feedstock for producing high-density fuels and commodity chemicals. However, the utilization of biogas presents a significant challenge due to its low pressure and presence of contaminants such as H 2 S, ammonia, and volatile organic carbon compounds. To tap into this immense potential, effective biotechnologies that co-utilize both CO 2 and CH 4 are needed. Using the basic metabolic coupling principles utilized by many natural consortia, we have demonstrated that photoautotroph-methanotroph co-cultures offers a flexible and highly promising platform for biological CO 2 /CH 4 co-utilization. In this work, we present the very first effort to quantitatively model the growth dynamics of a photoautotroph-methanotroph coculture, as well as the experimental and computational tools that are required to characterize the coculture. Together, these advancements will enable us to further examine the potential interspecies interactions within the coculture.
Safety Walkrounds: “On the Ground” Experience at the Northwest Trust of the Tuscany Region

Patient Safety Walkround (PSW) is a tool originally designed to help hospital leaders implement effective safety solutions. The authors present the results of a project aimed at promoting adoption of patient safety practices “on the ground” through an adapted version of (PSW). Field visits, carried out by a multidisciplinary team consisting of Safety Leaders, Nurse Coordinators, Medical Directors, Safety and Quality Facilitators of the unit and a representative of the Hospital management, were conducted in order to identify barriers to the implementation of patient safety practices and gather comments and suggestions from healthcare professionals on how to improve the standards as well as implementation strategies. Data were collected with a structured form, including observations, interviews and focus groups and then elaborated according to the PSW scheme. Results of the visits were reported to healthcare professionals and to the management, and improvement plans were undertaken, which led to structural and organizational improvements.
Analyzing Unstable Systems of Linear Equations.

A minor change in the right side of one equation results in a dramatic change in the solution of the system t a baseball game, Samuel complained to his wife that three hot dogs and two sodas cost him $19. The woman sitting behind Samuel overheard this comment and reported that the cost of four hot dogs and three sodas was $27. What is the cost of a hot dog? What is the cost of a soda? This question involves solving a system of two linear equations in two unknowns: L: 3x Li. 4x 2y 3y 19 27
Longitudinal Model of Periprosthetic Joint Infection in the Rat

The majority of periprosthetic joint infections occur shortly after primary joint replacement (<3 months) and require the removal of all implant components for the treatment period (~4 months). A clinically relevant animal model of periprosthetic infection should, therefore, establish an infection with implant components in place. Here, we describe a joint replacement model in the rat with ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and titanium components inoculated at the time of surgery by methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), which is one of the main causative microorganisms of periprosthetic joint infections. We monitored the animals for 4 weeks by measuring gait, weight-bearing symmetry, von Frey testing, and micro-CT as our primary endpoint analyses. We also assessed the infection ex vivo using colony counts on the implant surfaces and histology of the surrounding tissues. The results confirmed the presence of a local infection for 4 weeks with osteolysis, loosening of the implants, and clinical infection indicators such as redness, swelling, and increased temperature. The utility of specific gait analysis parameters, especially temporal symmetry, hindlimb duty factor imbalance, and phase dispersion was identified in this model for assessing the longitudinal progression of the infection, and these metrics correlated with weight-bearing asymmetry. We propose to use this model to study the efficacy of using different local delivery regimens of antimicrobials on addressing periprosthetic joint infections. Statement of clinical significance: We have established a preclinical joint surgery model, in which postoperative recovery can be monitored over a multi-week course by assessing gait, weight-bearing, and allodynia. This model can be used to study the efficacy of different combinations of implant materials and medication regimens. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 38:1101-1112, 2020.
Early and late C-peptide responses during oral glucose tolerance testing are oppositely predictive of type 1 diabetes in autoantibody-positive individuals

We examined whether the timing of the C-peptide response during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in relatives of patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is predictive of disease onset. We examined baseline 2-h OGTTs from 670 relatives participating in the Diabetes Prevention Trial-Type 1 (age: 13.8 ± 9.6 years; body mass index z-score: 0.3 ± 1.1; 56% male) using univariate regression models. T1D risk increased with lower early C-peptide responses (30-0 min) (χ2 = 28.8, P < 0.001), and higher late C-peptide responses (120-60 min) (χ2 = 23.3, P < 0.001). When both responses were included in a proportional hazards model, they remained independently and oppositely associated with T1D, with a stronger overall association for the combined model than either response alone (χ2 = 41.1; P < 0.001). Using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the combined early and late C-peptide response was more accurately predictive of T1D than area under the curve C-peptide (P = 0.005). Our findings demonstrate that lower early and higher late C-peptide responses serve as indicators of increased T1D risk.