cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of progesterone on Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

The effects of progesterone on the growth of pathogenic and nonpathogenic species of Neisseria were studied in liquid cultures. Only strains of N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis were highly sensitive to growth inhibition by progesterone. This inhibitory effect was either bacteriostatic or bactericidal, depending upon the ratio of progesterone concentration to cell mass. The site of progesterone inhibition appeared to be located in the cell membrane; >86% of [4-14C]progesterone was recovered in the lipid-containing cell fractions. Membrane preparations from N. gonorrhoeae bound progesterone more efficiently than those from progesterone-insensitive cells. In addition, progesterone significantly inhibited the activity of the membrane-associated enzymes reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide oxidase and (cytochrome b) l-lactate dehydrogenase.
Tuning of L 1 0 atomic order in Co-Pt nanoparticles: Ab initio insights

Monte Carlo simulation of the atomic configurational behavior of Co-Pt nanoparticles is performed in wide temperature-composition-size ranges. The simulation is based on bulk and local (inhomogeneous) cluster expansions calculated from first principles. A sharp drop of equilibrium $L{1}_{0}$ order is predicted for small equiatomic particles at low temperatures. This drop is explained by the interplay of two effects. First, the strong Pt and Co segregation to the first and second surface layers, respectively (core/Co/Pt or ``onion2shell'' profile) cause a depletion of Pt atoms within the core of small Co-Pt particles. Second, $L{1}_{0}$ is an adaptive structure on the fcc-restricted ground-state phase diagram of Co-Pt. Nevertheless, we show that a remarkable degree of $L{1}_{0}$ order can be restored by tuning the total composition of small Co-Pt particles.
Breeding of Aedes aegypti and other mosquitoes in West African rock holes.

Adult mosquitoes reared from water samples from rock pools in or near three communities in southern Nigeria included mostly Aedes vittatus , many A. aegypti , and a few Anopheles gambiae, Culex tigripes, C. decens , and C. duttoni , depending on the type of pool sampled. Dried scrapings from some of these situations produced both A. aegypti and more rapidly maturing A. vittatus . When the detritus was redried and reimmersed, no more of the latter hatched, but additional A. aegypti appeared. This suggests that rapid drying of holes is biologically counteracted by the unusually rapid development of A. vittatus , but by differential hatching in A. aegypti . The former species is also an efficient yellow-fever vector experimentally but its habits are not likely to render it significant as a natural vector in comparison to some other Stegomyia species.
Reframing Rights from the Ground Up: The Contribution of the New U.N. Law of Self-Determination to Recovering the Principle of Sociability on the Way to a Relational Theory of International Human Rights

The Dutch lawyer and theologian Hugo Grotius had a vision of “true international society” in his “principle of sociability.” This article argues looks at the ongoing emergence of recognition for international human rights with this vision of Grotius in mind. The author argues that (1) the idea of human rights is already in the process of being reframed through the concrete practice of rights talk on the ground in the development of the new U.N. law of self-determination; (2) this important development is reflected in the theories of scholars currently writing about the right to self-determination; and (3) these developments invite us to construct a relational theory of human rights by taking the principle of internal relations of Process Thought seriously as a way to recover Grotius’ principle of sociability as originally envisioned 350 years ago.
Grammar and Readability

In this chapter we look at grammatical structure and readability, first in relation to syntax (the order and structure of the words in a sentence), and then in relation to morphology (the internal structure of words). We will consider both syntax and morphology from the perspective of linking and ambiguity.
[Association between heat wave and stroke mortality in Jiang'an District of Wuhan, China during 2003 to 2010: a time-series analysis].

Objective To assess the association between heat wave and stroke mortality in Jiang'an District of Wuhan, China during 2003 to 2010. Methods Daily data of stroke mortality, meteorological factor and ambient pollution were collected from June to September during 2003 to 2010 in Jiang'an District of Wuhan.Quasi-Poisson regression in generalized additive model was applied to evaluate the impact of heat wave on stroke mortality on different lag days. Results During the study period, a total of 38 heat wave events and 191 heat wave days were registered.The total stroke death was 2 455 (1 182 women and 1 998 people aged 65 years old and over). Quasi-Poisson regression in generalized additive model showed that after controlling for long-term trend and seasonal trend, weekday, holiday, and relative humidity, heat wave was associated with stroke mortality on current day with relative risk of 1.15 (95%CI 1.01-1.30). Heat wave was not significantly associated with stroke mortality on current day among men (RR= 0.98, 95%CI 0.82-1.18, P=0.848) and people aged below 65 years old (RR=0.90, 95%CI 0.67-1.22, P=0.500), but relative risk increased to 1.34 (95%CI 1.12-1.62, P=0.002) and 1.20 (95%CI 1.04-1.39, P=0.002) for women and elderly (≥65 years old) people, respectively.When ambient pollutants (PM10, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide) were involved into the models, the impacts of heat wave on stroke mortality almost remained unchanged.Lagged effects were found in the association between heat wave and stroke mortality, relative risks reached the highest on lag of 2 days and the effects of heat wave usually lasted for 3 to 5 days.Moreover, lagged patterns of the effects of heat wave on stroke mortality were different between female and male and people of different age groups.significantly increased relative risks were found on current day in the elderly (≥65 years old) people and women, while significant associations occurred on lag of 2 days for men and people aged below 65 years old. Conclusions Heat wave increased the risk of stroke mortality in Jiang'an District of Wuhan.The effect of heat wave lasted for several days and lagged patterns of the effects of heat wave on stroke mortality were different between females and males and people of different age groups. Key words: Cerebrovascular accident; Death; Heat
The Resolution Phase of NK Cell Proliferation and IFNgamma Production Following Viral Infection Are Highly Regulated Processes

NK cell activation is controlled by the integration of signals from cytokine receptors and germline encoded activation and inhibitory receptors. NK cells undergo two distinct phases of activation during MCMV infection: a nonselective phase mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines and a specific phase driven by signaling through Ly49H, an NK cell activation receptor that recognizes infected cells. We sought to delineate cell surface markers that could distinguish NK cells that had been activated nonselectively from those that had been specifically activated through NK cell receptors. We demonstrated that Sca-1 is highly upregulated during viral infections (to an even greater extent than CD69) and serves as a novel marker of early, nonselective NK cell activation. Indeed, a greater proportion of Sca-1 NK cells produced IFN-γ compared to Sca-1 NK cells during MCMV infection. In contrast to the universal upregulation of Sca-1 (as well as KLRG1) on NK cells early during MCMV infection, differential expression of Sca-1, as well as CD27 and KLRG1, was observed on Ly49H and Ly49H NK cells late during MCMV infection. Persistently elevated levels of KLRG1 in the context of down
Parameters influencing unwanted growth during epitaxial growth of SiGe

In the advanced nodes of 28nm and below, small defects too can have a significant impact on the final yield results of wafers. As the technology node advances it has become increasingly challenging to control the extent of defects while also ensuring that the desired processing parameters are in place. In this paper we evaluate the influence of various processing parameters on the extent of "Unwanted Growth" defects on wafers in the form of small SiGe nodules (20–50nm) left over post selective SiGe epitaxial growth for strained CMOS Si. These defects, depending on where they grow/land, can lead to failure of the chip. An optimization of the processing parameters to minimize the occurrence of these defects leads to yield gain and cost savings for High Volume Manufacturing (HVM).
Ions As ‘Second Messengers’

The concept that the cyclic nucleotides are the bridge between a hormonal stimulus and the interior apparatus of the target cell seems to describe an “open loop” system lacking a feedback control to turn off the nucleotide once the cell has responded appropriately. But an interrelated nucleotide-cation system fills this conceptual gap, clarifying the role of the ions, especially Ca++, in mediating hormonal action.
Willet be one species or two? A genomic view of the evolutionary history of Tringa semipalmata

ABSTRACT The Willet (Tringa semipalmata; Scolopacidae) is composed of 2 morphologically and vocally distinct subspecies with broadly disjunct breeding distributions in North America. Nominate T. s. semipalmata breeds in coastal salt and brackish marshes along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of eastern North America and the West Indies, and T. s. inornata breeds in wet grasslands and prairies in the northwestern interior of North America. To assess divergence and test for hybridization between the 2 subspecies, we sampled breeding and wintering populations and collected morphological data, mitochondrial DNA sequences from the ND2 locus, and nuclear DNA sequences from genomic libraries enriched for ultraconserved elements (UCEs). Mitochondrial haplotypes were reciprocally monophyletic between the 2 subspecies and indicated divergence approximately 700,000 yr ago. The UCE dataset included 4,635 loci containing 19,322 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and, based on these data, individuals clustered by subs...
Opening-mode micro-cracking in brittle coatings on ductile wires/rods:

A simplified two-dimensional model is presented to simulate periodically distributed micro-cracking in a thin coating fully bonded to an elastoplastic aluminum wire/rod. The alumina coating which is generated by anodic oxidation is treated as an elastic material, while the ductile aluminum wire substrate is characterized by a bi-linear elastoplastic hardening model. An elastoplastic shear lag model is applied to transfer the shearing stress from the substrate layer to the thin coating. When the coated structure is subjected to different applied load, the system will undergo different stress levels and exhibit different cracking stages. Accordingly, explicit solutions corresponding to different loading stages are presented based on a generalized axisymmetric formulation. Finite element simulation is employed to verify the present elastic solution when the applied load is relatively small and the whole system is in the elastic state. Experimental characterization is conducted to validate the present elastop...
Getting into Court

Assertions by persons about to initiate a lawsuit, as well as by those who have already lost, that they will take their case all the way to the United States Supreme Court undoubtedly bespeak their deeply felt intentions, but in most cases their avowals lack credibility. Individuals who wish to file a lawsuit must be proper parties; that is, they must have standing to sue. If they do have such credentials, they must also take their case to the proper forum: The court in question must have jurisdiction – the capability to resolve their dispute. Assuming that the plaintiff is a proper party and is in the proper forum, a third hurdle to Supreme Court resolution remains: The justices themselves must deem the matter worthy of their consideration. The last is by far the most difficult to surmount. Decisions about access, whether they concern proper parties or the proper forum, may appear to be purely legalistic and to have no policy effects. Not so. “‘Jurisdiction,’ the Court has aptly observed, ‘is a word of many, too many meanings.’” And although its definition does not resolve the merits of cases, it does determine which litigants will obtain a meritorious resolution of their disputes. In this chapter, we present the procedure whereby cases reach the Supreme Court and the factors that affect the justices' decision to accept a case for consideration. We conclude with a discussion of the Court's caseload.
The linear sieve

In the next chapter, we shall prove Chen’s theorem that every sufficiently large even integer can be written as the sum of a prime and a number that is the product of at most two primes. The proof will require more sophisticated sieve estimates than those obtained from the Selberg sieve in Chapter 7.
On the Cruelty of Really Writing a History of Machine Learning

The construction, maintenance, and mobilization of data used to both constrain and enable machine learning systems poses profound historiographical questions and offers an intellectual opportunity to engage in fundamental questions about novelty in historical narratives. To effectively explore the intellectual, material, and disciplinary contingencies surrounding both the curation and subsequent distribution of datasets, we need to take seriously the field of machine learning as a worthy subject for historical investigation.
Cytochrome bd-Dependent Bioenergetics and Antinitrosative Defenses in Salmonella Pathogenesis.

ABSTRACT In the course of an infection, Salmonella enterica occupies diverse anatomical sites with various concentrations of oxygen (O2) and nitric oxide (NO). These diatomic gases compete for binding to catalytic metal groups of quinol oxidases. Enterobacteriaceae express two evolutionarily distinct classes of quinol oxidases that differ in affinity for O2 and NO as well as stoichiometry of H+ translocated across the cytoplasmic membrane. The investigations presented here show that the dual function of bacterial cytochrome bd in bioenergetics and antinitrosative defense enhances Salmonella virulence. The high affinity of cytochrome bd for O2 optimizes respiratory rates in hypoxic cultures, and thus, this quinol oxidase maximizes bacterial growth under O2-limiting conditions. Our investigations also indicate that cytochrome bd, rather than cytochrome bo, is an intrinsic component of the adaptive antinitrosative toolbox of Salmonella. Accordingly, induction of cytochrome bd helps Salmonella grow and respire in the presence of inhibitory NO. The combined antinitrosative defenses of cytochrome bd and the flavohemoglobin Hmp account for a great part of the adaptations that help Salmonella recover from the antimicrobial activity of NO. Moreover, the antinitrosative defenses of cytochrome bd and flavohemoglobin Hmp synergize to promote Salmonella growth in systemic tissues. Collectively, our investigations indicate that cytochrome bd is a critical means by which Salmonella resists the nitrosative stress that is engendered in the innate response of mammalian hosts while it concomitantly allows for proper O2 utilization in tissue hypoxia. IMPORTANCE It is becoming quite apparent that metabolism is critically important to the virulence potential of pathogenic microorganisms. Bacterial cells use a variety of terminal electron acceptors to power electron transport chains and metabolic processes. Of all the electron acceptors available to bacteria, utilization of O2 yields the most energy while diversifying the type of substrates that a pathogen can use. Recent investigations have demonstrated important roles for bd-type quinol oxidases with high affinity for O2 in bacterial pathogenesis. The investigations presented here have revealed that cytochrome bd potentiates virulence of a clinically relevant bacterial pathogen by fueling bioenergetics of prokaryotic cells while protecting the respiratory chain against NO toxicity. The adaptive antinitrosative defenses afforded by cytochrome bd synergize with other NO-detoxifying systems to preserve cellular bioenergetics, thereby promoting bacterial virulence in tissue hypoxia.
Why science education for diversity

Why science education for diversity? The title for the Introduction could not be more pointed when transnational migration, climate change, economic and educational disparities impel science educat...
Intermediates and Reactivity in Iron-Catalyzed Cross-Couplings of Alkynyl Grignards with Alkyl Halides

Iron-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions using alkynyl nucleophiles represent an attractive approach for the incorporation of alkynyl moieties into organic molecules. In the present study, a multitechnique approach combining inorganic spectroscopic methods, inorganic synthesis, and reaction studies is applied to iron-SciOPP catalyzed alkynyl-alkyl cross-couplings, providing the first detailed insight into the effects of variation from sp2- to sp-hybridized nucleophiles on iron speciation and reactivity. Reaction studies demonstrate that reaction of FeBr2(SciOPP) with 1 equiv (triisopropylsilyl)ethynylmagnesium bromide (TIPS-CC-MgBr) leads to a distribution of mono-, bis-, and tris-alkynylated iron(II)-SciOPP species due to rapid alkynyl ligand redistribution. While solvents such as THF promote these complex redistribution pathways, nonpolar solvents such as toluene enable increased stabilization of these iron species and further enabled assessment of their reactivity with electrophile. While the tris-alkyn...
A Tale of Two Measures: Concordance Between the ARSMA-II and the BIQ Acculturation Scales Among Latino Immigrant Families.

Acculturation refers to the extent to which an individual immigrant (or immigrant group) acquires the customs and characteristics of a new receiving society and/or retains the customs and characteristics of the person's or group's cultural heritage. Different acculturation measures are often assumed to be interchangeable, although this assumption is rarely tested empirically. The purpose of the present study was to examine the overlap between 2 commonly used measures of acculturation among individuals of Latino/Hispanic ancestry in the United States, the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans II (ARSMA-II) and the Bicultural Involvement Questionnaire-Short Version (BIQ-S). Specifically, we examined the ways in which scores from the 2 measures relate to one another, as well as similarities versus differences in the ways they predict external variables of interest (e.g., family functioning, parenting, and youth adjustment) that acculturation is known to influence. Findings indicate distinct patterns of results for the 2 measures. For instance, though the BIQ-S focuses entirely on language use and other cultural practices, the ARSMA-II more consistently relates to language variables. Further, adolescent BIQ-S cultural heritage scores related negatively to risks for and engagement in alcohol use-supporting prior findings-whereas ARSMA-II scores were unrelated to alcohol use. Given the largely nonoverlapping set of relationships of the BIQ-S and the ARSMA-II subscale scores with measures of language dominance and conflict, measures of parenting, and measures of youth outcomes, we recommend that studies utilize both of these measures to fully appraise acculturation in this population. (PsycINFO Database Record
Phase wetting detection and water layer thickness characterization in two-phase oil-water flow using high frequency impedance measurements

Abstract Two-phase oil-water pipe flow is common in oil production. When transported water contacts pipeline walls, a phenomenon known as water wetting, severe internal corrosion can occur. Water wetting can be avoided by entrainment of the water phase into the oil phase. Consequently, it is of great interest to understand operating conditions where this happens. Various experimental works have been performed to study water wetting in oil-water pipe flow. In general, two-electrode DC conductance measurements have been used to detect water wetting. Despite its implementation, application of this analytical setup is not straightforward; it requires extensive calibration due to the effect of the electrochemical reactions occurring at electrode surfaces. Moreover, reliable conductance measurements of the water phase are unobtainable. Proper estimation of important geometric characteristics such as the thickness of water layers is not possible, either. In this work, high frequency impedance measurements on a flush mounted two-electrode concentric probe are used in order to detect phase wetting regimes in large-scale oil-water pipe flow, as well as to determine the water layer thickness associated with water wetting. Formulae that correlate the resistance of sensed water layers with their actual thickness are described and validated. Excellent results in terms of phase wetting detection are obtained and dynamic characterization of the water layer thickness is also enabled.
Language Co-Construction and Collaboration in Interpreter-Mediated Primary Care Encounters With Hispanic Adults.

Purpose: Language asymmetry between patients and providers may influence the context, content, and quality of health care communication, affecting patient outcomes and contributing to health dispar...
Resistance to antiplatelet resistance is it justified

It is unusual for a month to go by without a new antiplatelet “resistance” or “non-responder” article appearing in the cardiology literature. Considering the fact that antiplatelet therapies, primarily aspirin, have been around for more than a century and variability in response to some
The Polarizing Effect of Incivility in the Political Blog Commentsphere

As more and more Americans replace traditional news sources with new media news sources, there is reasonable concern regarding the effects. One common concern is the potential for increased political polarization. Scholars worry primarily about media consumers’ tendency to read likeminded partisan views on-line. Ultimately, a diet of one-sided information and perspective likely causes many to become more extreme and certain in their views. To combat these normative ill-effects, it is recommended that individuals read Internet news (or other new media content) from across the political spectrum. While an intuitive solution to problems associated with Internet “echo chambers,” cross-cutting exposure in a new media context may also cause readers to polarize based on their partisan or ideological predispositions. Motivated reasoning theory suggests that, in a hyper-partisan environment, exposure to oppositional viewpoints will not persuade and may even lead to boomerang effects. In addition, theories related to social identity and emotion suggest that the seemingly ubiquitous incivility associated with political blogs and other news sites on the Web has even greater potential to polarize readers. To examine these claims, I draw on data from an experiment in which participants were randomly assigned to read civil or uncivil (or both) partisan content from political blogs. The topic of the blog conversations represented in the study is the federal sequester, a topic that has spurred much partisan vitriol. Overall, the data suggest that much blog content polarizes readers along partisan and ideological lines and that uncivil comments are especially able to do so.
Role and Function of the Public Company Audit Committee

A review and discussion concerning the role and function of the public company audit committee is presented in this paper. The discussion includes the pertinent promulgations, composition and responsibilities of the audit committee. Additionally, the effects of an IFRS adoption by the United States, as it relates to the audit committee’s role is presented and discussed. The conclusion is drawn that it will become necessary for the audit committee to become educated in IFRS requirements in order to fulfill their role and function in corporate governance.
Near-Field Photocurrent Mapping of MoS 2 -based Device at Nanoscale

Utilizing scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy (s-SNOM) with electrical read-out, we have demonstrated the ability of mapping optical and electronic properties of MoS 2 -based devices at length scales of tens of nanometers.
Ectopic lipid deposition mediates insulin resistance in adipose specific 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 transgenic mice.

Abstract Context Excessive adipose glucocorticoid action is associated with insulin resistance, but the mechanisms linking adipose glucocorticoid action to insulin resistance are still debated. We hypothesized that insulin resistance from excess glucocorticoid action may be attributed in part to increased ectopic lipid deposition in liver. Methods We tested this hypothesis in the adipose specific 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1 (HSD11B1) transgenic mouse, an established model of adipose glucocorticoid excess. Tissue specific insulin action was assessed by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps, hepatic lipid content was measured, hepatic insulin signaling was assessed by immunoblotting. The role of hepatic lipid content was further probed by administration of the functionally liver-targeted mitochondrial uncoupler, Controlled Release Mitochondrial Protonophore (CRMP). Findings High fat diet fed HSD11B1 transgenic mice developed more severe hepatic insulin resistance than littermate controls (endogenous suppression of hepatic glucose production was reduced by 3.8-fold, P Conclusions These findings are consistent with excess adipose glucocorticoid activity being a predisposing factor for the development of lipid (diacylglycerol-PKCe)-induced hepatic insulin resistance.
Predementia Brain Changes in Progranulin Mutation: A Systematic Review of Neuroimaging Evidence.

Background Mutations in the progranulin (GRN) gene are a major cause of familial frontotemporal dementia. They result in a loss of progranulin levels and in GRN-related brain degenerative changes that unfold over years if not decades. The aim of our review was to summarize the evidence on emerging functional and structural brain abnormalities in carriers of GRN mutations. Summary We performed a systematic search for studies that used at least one modality (structural MRI, fMRI, fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, diffusion tensor imaging) to compare mutation carriers to non-carrier controls. Our search produced 13 studies published between 2008 and 2017, the majority cross-sectional, with carrier sample sizes ranging from 5 to 65. Key Messages: The aggregate findings suggest that (1) measurable brain changes are detectable in at least some mutation carriers 20-25 years prior to disease onset; (2) functional/metabolic changes progress more consistently over time than structural changes; (3) the topographic pattern is anterior to posterior, not always asymmetric, and maps onto known functional networks.
A note on Hadwiger's Conjecture for $W_5$-free graphs with independence number two

The Hadwiger number of a graph $G$, denoted $h(G)$, is the largest integer $t$ such that $G$ contains $K_t$ as a minor. A famous conjecture due to Hadwiger in 1943 states that for every graph $G$, $h(G) \ge \chi(G)$, where $\chi(G)$ denotes the chromatic number of $G$. Let $\alpha(G)$ denote the independence number of $G$. A graph is $H$-free if it does not contain the graph $H$ as an induced subgraph. In 2003, Plummer, Stiebitz and Toft proved that $h(G) \ge \chi(G)$ for all $H$-free graphs $G$ with $\alpha(G) \le 2$, where $H$ is any graph on four vertices with $\alpha(H) \le 2$, $H=C_5$, or $H$ is a particular graph on seven vertices. In 2010, Kriesell considered a particular strengthening of Hadwiger's conjecture due to Seymour and subsequently generalized the statement to include all forbidden subgraphs $H$ on five vertices with $\alpha(H) \le 2$. In this note, we prove that $h(G) \ge \chi(G)$ for all $W_5$-free graphs $G$ with $\alpha(G) \le 2$, where $W_5$ denotes the wheel on six vertices.
CEST MRI quantification procedures for breast cancer treatment‐related lymphedema therapy evaluation

PURPOSE To quantify chemical exchange saturation transfer contrast in upper extremities of participants with lymphedema before and after standardized lymphatic mobilization therapy using correction procedures for B0 and B1 heterogeneity, and T1 relaxation. METHODS Females with (n = 12) and without (n = 17) breast cancer treatment-related lymphedema (BCRL) matched for age and body mass index were scanned at 3.0T MRI. B1 efficiency and T1 were calculated in series with chemical exchange saturation transfer in bilateral axilla (B1 amplitude = 2µT, Δω = ±5.5 ppm, slices = 9, spatial resolution = 1.8 × 1.47 × 5.5 mm3 ). B1 dispersion measurements (B1 = 1-3 µT; increment = 0.5 µT) were performed in controls (n = 6 arms in 3 subjects). BCRL participants were scanned pre- and post-manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) therapy. Chemical exchange saturation transfer amide proton transfer (APT) and nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) metrics corrected for B1 efficiency were calculated, including proton transfer ratio (PTR'), magnetization transfer ratio asymmetry (MTRasymmetry') , and apparent exchange-dependent relaxation (AREX'). Nonparametric tests were used to evaluate relationships between metrics in BCRL participants pre- versus post-MLD (two-sided P < 0.05 required for significance). RESULTS B1 dispersion experiments showed nonlinear dependence of Z-values on B1 efficiency in the upper extremities; PTR' showed < 1% mean fractional difference between subject-specific and group-level correction procedures. PTR'APT significantly correlated with T1 (Spearman's rho = 0.57, P < 0.001) and body mass index (Spearman's rho = -0.37, P = 0.029) in controls and with lymphedema stage (Spearman's rho = 0.48, P = 0.017) in BCRL participants. Following MLD therapy, PTR'APT significantly increased in the affected arm of BCRL participants (pre- vs. post-MLD: 0.41 ± 0.05 vs. 0.43 ± 0.03, P = 0.02), consistent with treatment effects from mobilized lymphatic fluid. CONCLUSION Chemical exchange saturation transfer metrics, following appropriate correction procedures, respond to lymphatic mobilization therapies and may have potential for evaluating treatments in participants with secondary lymphedema.
Triple hydrogen atom abstraction from Mn–NH3 complexes results in cyclophosphazenium cations

All hydrogen atoms of the NH3 in [Mn(depe)2(CO)(NH3)]+ are abstracted by 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenoxyl radical, resulting in the isolation of a rare cyclophosphazenium cation, [(Et2P(CH2)2PEt2)N]+, in 76% yield. An analogous reaction is observed for [Mn(dppe)2(CO)(NH3)]+. Computations suggest insertion of NHx into a Mn-P bond provides the thermodynamic driving force. Contextualization of this reaction provides insights on catalyst design and breaking strong N-H bonds.
Double Outlet Right Ventricle

Double outlet right ventricle (DORV) is a relatively rare group of cardiac anomalies characterized by both great arteries (pulmonary and aorta) arising primarily from the right ventricle. It includes a broad spectrum of anatomical variants and associated malformations. The multiple anatomic variations of this lesion are commonly classified by the relationship of the great vessels to one another and/or by the location of the ventricular septal defect to the great vessels. The location of the ventricular septal defect and its size are critical to the repair. Surgical options include one-stage biventricular repair, biventricular repair with a conduit, or staged palliative single-ventricle surgery. Surgical treatment can be offered to most patients with low operative mortality and excellent long-term survival.
When "Objectivity" in Clinical Benefit is Seen Through Different Lenses.

Bester (2020) correctly calls attention to two different meanings of the concept of benefit commonly used in clinical medicine, one objective and determined by clinicians, and the other, subjective...
The Choice of Strategic Priorities for the Development of the Organization: A Methodological Approach

The development of an organization in an unstable environment implies the need for a competent choice of strategic development priorities. A variety of alternative options make choice difficult. The use of conventional scientific traditional methods of choosing strategic alternatives is a prerequisite, nevertheless, the development and application in practice of a unified methodology for choosing strategic priorities will allow a more effective management decision regarding the strategic development of the organization in a shorter time frame, which will provide a competitive advantage in the future. The purpose of the scientific work is to develop scientific and practical recommendations on the development of methods for choosing strategic priorities for the development of the organization. The authors substantiated the methodology for choosing strategic priorities for the development of the organization, based on the dual use of the matrix tools of strategic management (building the matrix “industry attractiveness - competitiveness”), expert assessment methods (Delphi method), multi-criteria selection method (Churchman-Ackoff) taking into account the action of the “Pareto principle”. The proposed methodology for the selection of strategic priorities of the organization was tested on the example of a specific company and proved its universal character.
Chapter 5 – Peripheral Nerve

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) as the fastest growing segment of neuromodulation for pain treatment. The basis of PNS is considered a reversible suppression of pain due to production of concordant paresthesias. For the first PNS approach, the nerve in question is surgically exposed and the electrode is placed directly over or under it or around it in the case of wrap-around electrodes. The second way of PNS application involves percutaneous insertion of stimulating electrodes. The initial technique of percutaneous PNS was used to prove the concept when Wall and Sweet stimulated their own infraorbital nerves to confirm development of analgesia during the stimulation. Following trial electrode insertion, the patient goes through a testing period that varies from 2–3 days to a week or even longer. During this time, the patient is encouraged to evaluate the effectiveness of PNS in terms of pain suppression, and to note any of the side effects that PNS may produce so the decision can be made on whether the overall benefits of PNS justify the trauma and expense associated with permanent implantation.
Mobile Delivery of the Diabetes Prevention Program in People With Prediabetes: Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) diabetes prevention program (DPP) has formed the foundation for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) prevention efforts and lifestyle change modifications in multiple care settings. To our knowledge, no randomized controlled trial has verified the efficacy of a fully mobile version of CDC’s diabetes prevention program (DPP). Objective: This study aimed to investigate the long-term weight loss and glycemic efficacy of a mobile-delivered DPP compared with a control group receiving usual medical care. Methods: Adults with prediabetes (N=202) were recruited from a clinic and randomized to either a mobile-delivered, coach-guided DPP (Noom) or a control group that received regular medical care including a paper-based DPP curriculum and no formal intervention. The intervention group learned how to use the Noom program, how to interact with their coach, and the importance of maintaining motivation. They had access to an interactive coach-to-participant interface and group messaging, daily challenges for behavior change, DPP-based education articles, food logging, and automated feedback. Primary outcomes included changes in weight and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Exploratory secondary outcomes included program engagement as a predictor of changes in weight and HbA1c levels. Results: A total of 202 participants were recruited and randomized into the intervention (n=101) or control group (n=99). In the intention-to-treat (ITT) analyses, changes in the participants’ weight and BMI were significantly different at 6 months between the intervention and control groups, but there was no difference in HbA1c levels (mean difference 0.004%, SE 0.05; P=.94). Weight and BMI were lower in the intervention group by −2.64 kg (SE 0.71; P<.001) and −0.99 kg/m2 (SE 0.29; P=.001), respectively. These differences persisted at 12 months. However, in the analyses that did not involve ITT, program completers achieved a significant weight loss of 5.6% (SE 0.81; P<.001) at 6 months, maintaining 4.7% (SE 0.88; P<.001) of their weight loss at 12 months. The control group lost −0.15% at 6 months (SE 0.64; P=.85) and gained 0.33% (SE 0.70; P=.63) at 12 months. Those randomized to the intervention group who did not start the program had no meaningful weight or HbA1c level change, similar to the control group. At 1 year, the intervention group showed a 0.23% reduction in HbA1c levels; those who completed the intervention showed a 0.28% reduction. Those assigned to the control group had a 0.16% reduction in HbA1c levels. Conclusions: This novel mobile-delivered DPP achieved significant weight loss reductions for up to 1 year compared with usual care. This type of intervention reduces the risk of overt diabetes without the added barriers of in-person interventions. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03865342; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03865342
Parental perceptions linked to opioid misuse among justice-involved children.

Abstract Justice-involved children (JIC) are a subset of at-risk youth highly susceptible to the ill-consequences of opioid misuse (OM), especially for younger JIC. Parental practices and attitudes towards delinquency are known to influence a child’s behavior, however the relationship between parental attitudes towards youth delinquent behavior and odds of OM has yet to be investigated. The current study used a sample from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (age 10–18; M = 14; n = 79,960) to investigate how parental attitudes towards youth delinquent behavior influence the likelihood JIC meet criteria for past-30 day (P30D) OM. P30D OM was verified utilizing urinalysis. Youth with parents expressing proud or accepting attitudes towards youth delinquent behavior were roughly twice as likely to meet criteria for P30D OM as those with parents expressing disapproving attitudes. This relationship varied by age, with younger ages experiencing the greatest risk. These findings support early intervention efforts to develop prosocial attitudes in youth and their parents.
Transcriptional regulation by methyltransferases and their role in the heart: highlighting novel emerging functionality

Methyltransferases are a superfamily of enzymes that transfer methyl groups to proteins, nucleic acids, and small molecules. Traditionally, these enzymes have been shown to carry out a specific modification (mono-, di-, or trimethylation) on a single, or limited number of, amino acid(s). The largest subgroup of this family, protein methyltransferases, target arginine and lysine side chains of histone molecules to regulate gene expression. Although there is a large number of functional studies that have been performed on individual methyltransferases describing their methylation targets and effects on biological processes, no analyses exist describing the spatial distribution across tissues or their differential expression in the diseased heart. For this review, we performed tissue profiling in protein databases of 199 confirmed or putative methyltransferases to demonstrate the unique tissue-specific expression of these individual proteins. In addition, we examined transcript data sets from human heart failure patients and murine models of heart disease to identify 40 methyltransferases in humans and 15 in mice, which are differentially regulated in the heart, although many have never been functionally interrogated. Lastly, we focused our analysis on the largest subgroup, that of protein methyltransferases, and present a newly emerging phenomenon in which 16 of these enzymes have been shown to play dual roles in regulating transcription by maintaining the ability to both activate and repress transcription through methyltransferase-dependent or -independent mechanisms. Overall, this review highlights a novel paradigm shift in our understanding of the function of histone methyltransferases and correlates their expression in heart disease.
Tattoo hypersensitivity reactions: inky business

Hypersensitivity reactions can occur in both temporary and permanent tattoos. Traditional temporary tattoos consist of red henna or black henna; paraphenylenediamine is the most common allergen and usually is present in black henna. Contact allergy to genipin in jagua temporary tattoos also has been reported. Permanent tattoo inks traditionally contain black pigment of amorphous carbon or black iron oxides or metals. Modern permanent tattoo ink is a blend of pigments, including metals, as well as carbon, azo, diketopyrrolopyrrole, quinacridone, anthraquinone, dioxazine (purple), or quinophthalone (yellow) dyes. Patch testing for temporary and permanent tattoos is complex and challenging.
In vivo muscle conduction study of the tongue using a multi-electrode tongue depressor.

Abstract Objective To test a novel technology for assessment of the volume conduction properties (VCPs) of the tongue. These properties are electrophysiological data that might reflect alterations in patients with tongue involvement. Methods Seven healthy individuals were self-measured. The depressor was placed on the surface of the anterior tongue. Directional differences of VCPs were determined with standard descriptive statistics. Results Conductivity in longitudinal direction was larger than in transverse direction at 16 (p Conclusions Our technology provides, for the first time, VCPs of the healthy human tongue. Significance Tongue VCPs are standard electrophysiological, quantitative and objective data reflecting ionic content and membrane integrity which could find value for diagnostic purposes and treatment monitoring.
A dark decrement for enhanced dynamic sensitivity of retinal photoreceptors

The skate retina provides a native all-rod retina suited for investigating a single type of photoreceptor regarding its properties and signaling to second order cells. Using the aspartate-induced isolated A-wave of the skate eyecup electroretinogram (ERG), it has been shown that adaptation in rods remains Weber-Fechner-like over a 6-log unit increase in background light intensity. Zinc, which can block calcium channels, has been found in the rod synaptic terminal and the synaptic cleft. Histidine is a zinc chelator. Voltage signals from neurons post-synaptic to rods indicate that histidine increases the dark release of glutamate and increases the horizontal cell light response. In histidine, the A-wave response to various light intensities in the dark-adapted retina increased more than fifty percent, corresponding to the effect on horizontal cells. In the presence of background light, although histidine-treated rod light responses remained Weber-Fechner-like, their increment threshold was raised significantly. This indicates that endogenous zinc feedback serves to increase rod sensitivity in a light-adapted retina, despite a corresponding reduction of threshold sensitivity in the dark. We propose that the increase in A-wave amplitude is a result of the increased conductance at the synaptic terminal and that the A-wave can be used to monitor changes in rod transmitter release. Furthermore, endogenous zinc may also provide the benefit of reducing metabolic stress and the risk of glutamate toxicity in the dark.
Inter-mosaic coordination of retinal receptive fields

The output of the retina is organized into many detector grids, called 'mosaics', that signal different features of visual scenes to the brain1-4. Each mosaic comprises a single type of retinal ganglion cell (RGC), whose receptive fields tile visual space. Many mosaics arise as pairs, signalling increments (ON) and decrements (OFF), respectively, of a particular visual feature5. Here we use a model of efficient coding6 to determine how such mosaic pairs should be arranged to optimize the encoding of natural scenes. We find that information is maximized when these mosaic pairs are anti-aligned, meaning that the distances between the receptive field centres across mosaics are greater than expected by chance. We tested this prediction across multiple receptive field mosaics acquired using large-scale measurements of the light responses of rat and primate RGCs. ON and OFF RGC pairs with similar feature selectivity had anti-aligned receptive field mosaics, consistent with this prediction. ON and OFF RGC types that encode distinct features have independent mosaics. These results extend efficient coding theory beyond individual cells to predict how populations of diverse types of RGC are spatially arranged.
Distributionally Constrained Stochastic Gradient Estimation Using Noisy Function Evaluations

We consider gradient estimation with only noisy function evaluation, where the function can only be evaluated at values lying within a probability simplex. We are interested in obtaining gradient estimators where each (pair of) data collection or simulation run applies simultaneously to all directions at once. Our problem is motivated from the use of stochastic approximation in distributionally robust simulation analysis, which involves solving for worst-case input distributions in a black-box simulation model. In this context, conventional gradient schemes such as simultaneous perturbation face challenges as the required moment conditions that allow the "canceling" of higher-order error terms cannot be satisfied without violating the simplex constraints. We investigate a new set of required conditions on the probability distribution that governs the perturbation, which leads us to a class of implementable gradient estimators using Dirichlet mixtures. We study the statistical properties of these estimators and demonstrate their effectiveness with numerical results.
Deep sequencing of DNA from urine of kidney allograft recipients to estimate donor/recipient-specific DNA fractions

Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for patients with end-stage kidney failure, but transplanted allograft could be affected by viral and bacterial infections and by immune rejection. The standard test for the diagnosis of acute pathologies in kidney transplants is kidney biopsy. However, noninvasive tests would be desirable. Various methods using different techniques have been developed by the transplantation community. But these methods require improvements. We present here a cost-effective method for kidney rejection diagnosis that estimates donor/recipient-specific DNA fraction in recipient urine by sequencing urinary cell DNA. We hypothesized that in the no-pathology stage, the largest tissue types present in recipient urine are donor kidney cells, and in case of rejection, a larger number of recipient immune cells would be observed. Extensive in-silico simulation was used to tune the sequencing parameters: number of variants and depth of coverage. Sequencing of DNA mixture from 2 healthy individuals showed the method is highly predictive (maximum error < 0.04). We then demonstrated the insignificant impact of familial relationship and ethnicity using an in-house and public database. Lastly, we performed deep DNA sequencing of urinary cell pellets from 32 biopsy-matched samples representing two pathology groups: acute rejection (AR, 11 samples) and acute tubular injury (ATI, 12 samples) and 9 samples with no pathology. We found a significant association between the donor/recipient-specific DNA fraction in the two pathology groups compared to no pathology (P = 0.0064 for AR and P = 0.026 for ATI). We conclude that deep DNA sequencing of urinary cells from kidney allograft recipients offers a noninvasive means of diagnosing acute pathologies in the human kidney allograft.