cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification of an Epitope from Adenine Nucleotide Translocator 1 That Induces Inflammation in Heart in A/J Mice.

Heart failure, a leading cause of death in humans, can emanate from myocarditis. Although most individuals with myocarditis recover spontaneously, some develop chronic dilated cardiomyopathy. Myocarditis may result from both infectious and noninfectious causes, including autoimmune responses to cardiac antigens. In support of this notion, intracellular cardiac antigens, like cardiac myosin heavy chain-α, cardiac troponin-I, and adenine nucleotide translocator 1 (ANT1), have been identified as autoantigens in cardiac autoimmunity. Herein, we demonstrate that ANT1 can induce autoimmune myocarditis in A/J mice by generating autoreactive T cells. We show that ANT1 encompasses multiple immunodominant epitopes (namely, ANT1 21-40, ANT1 31-50, ANT1 171-190, and ANT1 181-200). Although all four peptides induce comparable T-cell responses, only ANT1 21-40 was found to be a major myocarditogenic epitope in immunized animals. The myocarditis-inducing ability of ANT1 21-40 was associated with the generation of T cells producing predominantly IL-17A, and the antigen-sensitized T cells could transfer the disease to naive recipients. These data indicate that cardiac mitochondrial proteins can be target autoantigens in myocarditis, supporting the notion that the antigens released as a result of primary damage may contribute to the persistence of chronic inflammation through autoimmunity.
Hairy cell leukemia

Hairy cell leukemia is a chronic lymphoproliferative disorder that has been recognized as a separate clinical pathologic entity for the last 25 years. After a decade of discussions about the origin of the neoplastic cell, it has now been well established that hairy cells represent a certain, rather mature stage of B-cell differentiation. Evidence for this has been derived from studies using immunophenotyping with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, cytochemistry, and immunoglobulin gene rearrangement. For many years, splenectomy was the only therapy of proven value in hairy cell leukemia. For patients who showed insufficient response to the operation, chemotherapy with low-dose alkylating agents was moderately successful, whereas polychemotherapy often resulted in excessive toxicity. More recently, therapy with alpha-interferon has been shown to be very promising, whereas deoxycoformicin may be an attractive alternative. These new advances in immunology and therapy are reviewed.
Location Is (Still) Everything: The Surprising Influence of the Real World on How We Search, Shop, and Sell in the Virtual One by David R. Bell

Location Is (Still) Everything: The Surprising Influence of the Real World on How We Search, Shop, and Sell in the Virtual One David R. Bell. New Harvest, distributed by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston, MA, July 15, 2014. 240pp.; maps, diagrs., photos, bibliog., and index. $26.00 cloth. (ISBN 978-0-544-26227-0).
Evaluation of species distribution forecasts: a potential predictive tool for reducing incidental catch in pelagic fisheries

Nontarget catch restrictions are becoming common in fisheries management. We test a potential tool for reducing nontargeted catch that combines species’ distribution models and ocean forecast models. We evaluated our approach for Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus), Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus), alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), and blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis). Catch of the latter two species is capped in commercial fisheries of the former two species. Ocean forecasts were derived from a data-assimilative ocean forecast model that predicts conditions 0–2 days into the future. Observed oceanographic conditions were derived from CTD casts and observed fish presence–absence was derived from fishery-independent bottom trawl collections. Species distribution models were used to predict presence–absence based on observed and forecasted oceanographic conditions, and predictions for both were very similar. Thus, most of the error in predicted distributions was generated by the species distribution mo...
Structural Properties of Nonionic Monorhamnolipid Aggregates in Water Studied by Classical Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Molecular dynamics simulations were carried out to investigate the structure and stabilizing factors of aggregates of the nonionic form of the most common congener of monorhamnolipids, α-rhamnopyranosyl-β-hydroxydecanoyl-β-hydroxydecanoate (Rha-C10-C10), in water. Aggregates of size ranging from 5 to 810 monomers were observed in the simulation forming spherical and ellipsoidal structures, a torus-like structure, and a unilamellar vesicle. The effects of the hydrophobic chain conformation and alignment in the aggregate, role of monomer···monomer and monomer···water H-bonds, and conformations of monomers in the aggregate were studied in detail. The unilamellar vesicle is highly stable due to the presence of isolated water molecules inside the core adding to the binding energy. Dissociation of a monomer from a larger micellar aggregate is relatively easy compared to that from smaller aggregates as seen from potential of mean force calculations. This analysis also shows that monomers are held more strongly i...
Effect of Surgeon and Hospital Volume on Emergency General Surgery Outcomes.

Background Emergency general surgery (EGS) contributes to half of all surgical mortality nationwide, is associated with a 50% complication rate, and has a 15% readmission rate within 30 days. We assessed associations between surgeon and hospital EGS volume with these outcomes. Study Design Using Maryland's Health Services Cost Review Commission database, we identified nontrauma EGS procedures performed by general surgeons among patients 20 years or older, who were admitted urgently or emergently, from July 2012 to September 2014. We created surgeon and hospital volume categories, stratified EGS procedures into simple (mortality ≤ 0.5%) and complex (>0.5%) procedures, and assessed postoperative mortality, complications, and 30-day readmissions. Multivariable logistic regressions both adjusted for clinical factors and accounted for clustering by individual surgeons. Results We identified 14,753 procedures (61.5% simple EGS, 38.5% complex EGS) by 252 (73.3%) low-volume surgeons (≤25 total EGS procedures/year), 63 (18.3%) medium-volume surgeons (26 to 50/year), and 29 (8.4%) high-volume surgeons (>50/year). Low-volume surgeons operated on one-third (33.1%) of all patients. For simple procedures, the very low rate of death (0.2%) prevented a meaningful regression with mortality; however, there were no associations between low-volume surgeons and complications (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.07; 95% CI 0.81 to 1.41) or 30-day readmissions (aOR 0.80; 95% CI 0.64 to 1.01) relative to high-volume surgeons. Among complex procedures, low-volume surgeons were associated with greater mortality (aOR 1.64; 95% CI 1.12 to 2.41) relative to high-volume surgeons, but not complications (aOR 1.06; 95% CI 0.85 to 1.32) or 30-day readmission (aOR 0.99; 95% CI 0.80 to 1.22). Low-volume hospitals (≤125 total EGS procedures/year) relative to high-volume hospitals (>250/year) were not associated with mortality, complications, or 30-day readmissions for simple or complex procedures. Conclusions We found evidence that surgeon EGS volume was associated with outcomes. Developing EGS-specific services, mentorship opportunities, and clinical pathways for less-experienced surgeons may improve outcomes.
Modeling bistatic scattering signatures from sources of opportunity in P-Ka bands

This paper addresses how the various different parameters of the bistatic return from navigation and communication Signals of Opportunity (SoOp) should be considered in bistatic modeling. The coherent and incoherent bistatic returns from Earth's surface are discussed. Furthermore, formulation for modeling ocean surfaces is reviewed for a broad range of SoOp frequencies, and different parameters for land surfaces are considered from the modeling perspective. Advanced modeling tools could help with the understanding of the effect of different geophysical parameters on the coherent and incoherent components of the reflected signature and could also provide a comparison between bistatic and backscattering signals for the same scenes.
Abstract 42: Impact Of White Matter Hyperintensities Extension On Rate Of Cognitive Decline

Background: Characterizing the impact of cerebral white matter (WM) damage in age related cognitive decline is of growing interest. Recently, we used DTI to show that White Matter Hyperintensities (WMH) are surrounded by a penumbra of subtly-injured WM. Because this finding supported the view that WMH may result from a continuous WM degeneration process rather than a sudden event, longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether development of WMH may determine subsequent change in cognitive performances. Methods: This study examined the strength of association between longitudinally measured WMH and longitudinally measured cognition in a sample of 153 individuals. The sample included AD, MCI, and cognitively normal (CN) who completed cognitive evaluation and MRI scans on two dates (mean delay: 4.0 years). Psychometrically matched measures of cognition were used to assess episodic memory and executive function at both dates. WMHs were repeatedly measured, and incident WMH dissociated into two categories: WMH Extension (extension of existing baseline WMH) and WMH Emergence (newly formed WMH). We used a stepwise approach to investigate the effects of Baseline WMH and rates of WMH Extension and Emergence on the rate of change in episodic memory and executive functions including gender, years of education, ethnicity, BV and the baseline corresponding cognitive score as covariates. Results: Analyses revealed significant increases in total WMH burden over time. In addition, baseline WMH volume and rate of WMH Extension, but not Emergence, were significantly associated with rates of change in cognitive measures with larger baseline WMH and higher rate of WMH Extension being associated with steeper rate of decline in executive functions and episodic memory (see Figure1). Discussion: This work provides evidence that the extension over time of WMH, but not newly formed WMH, is a predictor of the rate of cognitive decline. This result is of importance as the extension of WMH accounted for about 80% of the overall WMH.
Comparative Effectiveness of Resection vs Surveillance for Pancreatic Branch Duct Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms With Worrisome Features.

Importance The 2012 international consensus guidelines defined a subcategory of pancreatic branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms with “worrisome features,” which may be followed with close surveillance. However, given the poor prognosis of invasive malignancy, the role of early, upfront resection requires further investigation. Objective To compare the utility of upfront resection vs long-term surveillance. We hypothesized that surveillance of these cystic neoplasms would offer greater long-term utility. Design, Setting, and Participants A Markov decision analysis model was constructed to estimate and compare 2 management strategies: early resection and long-term surveillance. Estimates for the utility of outcomes, probabilities of transitions between disease states, and probabilities of surgical morbidity were derived from a literature review of articles published between 1997 and 2014. The comparative effectiveness model’s variable estimates were based on data published predominantly by high-volume, tertiary referral centers. Model probability variable estimates were derived from large, retrospective, single-institution reports. For utility variables, estimates derived from studies using standard-gamble or time-tradeoff methods were given greater weight. Main Outcomes and Measures Expected utility was measured in terms of quality-adjusted life years using 3% annual discount. Probabilistic and 1-way sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the potential effects of uncertainty in estimates of key model variables. Results Early resection yielded 11.63 quality-adjusted life-years during 20 years of follow-up compared with 11.06 for surveillance. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis indicated that resection has a 94% likelihood of being more effective than surveillance. Early resection obtained greater utility only if each of the following criteria are met: life expectancy is at least 18 years, surgical mortality is less than 4.3%, and baseline preoperative utility is at least 0.78. Additional drivers of the model outcomes include the rate of progression from worrisome to high-risk features and the likelihood of finding cancer on resection for neoplasms with high-risk stigmata. Conclusions and Relevance Early resection compares favorably with surveillance in the management of branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms with worrisome features. However, careful consideration of patient factors and surgeon outcomes is imperative.
Patterns of Bifurcations in Plane Layers and Spherical Shells

Among the numerous processes of pattern generation in biological, hydrodynamical and other physical systems the formations of patterns by bifurcations that break the symmetry of a basic state with respect to two or more dimensions are especially intriguing. These processes exhibit universal geometric properties on the one hand and a high sensitivity with respect to external parameters on the other hand. The contrast between the general geometric aspects of the generated patterns and their strong dependence on the parameters of a particular process make them a very attractive subject of theoretical and experimental research.
Determining the Values of the Arbitrary Constants

The final values of the arbitrary constants (constants of integration arising from the solution of the differential equations) were to be obtained from a least-squares analysis of observations. Brown undertook this task, choosing the Greenwich meridian observations as a basis:
The Politics of Hidden Policy: Feedback Effects and the Charitable Contributions Deduction:

Policy feedback, or the process in which policies create constituencies vested in their maintenance, is a durable feature of the American welfare state. Scholars have shown that policy visibility c...
Motor Unit Number Estimate and Isometric Hand Grip Strength in Military Veterans with or Without Muscular Complaints: Reference Values for Longitudinal Follow-up.

INTRODUCTION It remains unclear if Gulf War (GW) veterans have a higher risk of developing motor neuron disorder. We intended to establish baseline neurophysiological values, including thenar motor unit number estimate (MUNE) and isometric hand grip (IHG) strength, to compare future follow-ups of deployed GW veterans with or without muscular complaints. MATERIALS AND METHODS We evaluated 19 GW veterans with self-reported weakness, cramps, or excessive muscle fatigue (Ill-19) and compared them with 18 controls without such muscular complaints (C-18). We performed MUNE on hand thenar muscles using adapted multipoint stimulation method for Ill-19 and 15 controls (C-15). We measured IHG strength (maximum force, endurance, and fatigue level) on Ill-19 and C-18 with a hand dynamometer. We performed nerve conduction studies on all study participants to determine which subjects had mild carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). We compared the MUNE and IHG strength measures between Ill group and controls and between those with CTS and those without CTS. RESULTS We obtained thenar MUNE of Ill-19 (95% CI of mean: 143-215; mean age: 46 yr) and compared it with that of C-15 (95% CI of mean: 161-230; mean age: 45 yr), and 95% of CI of mean among IHG strength variables (maximum force: 324-381 Newton; endurance: 32-42 s; fatigue level: 24%-33%) compared with C-18 (maximum force: 349-408 Newton; endurance: 35-46 s; fatigue level: 21%-27%). There was no significant difference in either MUNE or IHG strength between Ill-19 group and controls. The MUNE and IHG maximum forces were significantly lower in those with CTS compared with those without CTS. As a surrogate of mild CTS, the median versus ulnar distal sensory latency on nerve conduction study was only weakly associated with MUNE, maximum force, and fatigue level, respectively. CONCLUSION To our knowledge, no published study on MUNE reference values of military veteran population has been available. The quantifiable values of both thenar MUNE and IHG strength of military veterans serve as baselines for our longitudinal follow-up of motor neuron function of deployed troops. These reference values are also useful for other laboratories to study veterans' motor system with or without mild CTS.
Transferrin saturation, plasma iron turnover, and transferrin uptake in normal humans

The relationship between plasma iron, transferrin saturation, and plasma iron turnover was studied in 53 normal subjects whose transferrin saturation varied between 17% and 57%, in 25 normal subjects whose transferrin saturation was increased by iron infusion to between 67% and 100%, and in five subjects with early untreated idiopathic hemochromatosis whose transferrin saturation was continually elevated to between 61% and 86%. The plasma iron turnover of all of these subjects ranged from 0.45 to 1.22 mg/dL whole blood/d. The mean values for the above-mentioned three groups were 0.71 +/- 0.17, 1.01 +/- 0.11, and 1.01 +/- 0.13 mg/dL whole blood/d, respectively. Most of this variation, estimated at 72% by regression analysis, was due to a direct relationship between transferrin saturation and plasma iron turnover. This effect was attributed to a competitive advantage of diferric over monoferric transferrin in delivering iron to tissues. This was confirmed by the demonstration of a more rapid clearance of diferric as compared to monoferric transferrin in an additional group of eight normal subjects. Calculations were made of the amount of transferrin reacting with membrane receptors per unit time. Allowance was made for the noncellular (extravascular) exchange and for the 4.2:1 preference of diferric over monoferric transferrin demonstrated in vitro. The amount of iron-bearing transferrin leaving the plasma to bind to tissue receptors for 53 subjects with a transferrin saturation between 17% and 57% was 71 +/- 13; for 25 subjects with a saturation from 67% to 100%, 72 +/- 12; and for five subjects with early idiopathic hemochromatosis, 82 +/- 11 mumol/L whole blood/d. There were no significant differences among these groups. These studies indicate that while the number of iron atoms delivered to the tissues increases with increasing plasma iron and transferrin saturation, the number of iron-bearing transferrin molecules that leave the plasma per unit time to bind to tissue receptors is relatively constant and within the limits studied, independent of transferrin saturation.
Activation of protein kinase C by lysophosphatidic acid: dependence on composition of phospholipid vesicles

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) has attracted recent attention as a major serum-derived regulator implicated in responses to vascular injury and inflammation, in tumour invasiveness and in neuronal signalling and remodelling. Although the possibility of a specific G-protein-coupled LPA receptor protein has been suggested, characterization of such a receptor is lacking. Since LPA can activate protein kinase C (PKC) pathways in many cells and PKC activators mimic many LPA effects, the possibility of more direct LPA effects on PKC was investigated. Phosphatidylcholine (PC)/phosphatidylserine (PS)/diacylglycerol (DAG) lipid vesicles of defined acyl chain composition were used to activate the enzyme. At total concentrations of saturated PC/PS + DAG vesicles (2-3 mM) that provided maximal PKC activation, 1-10 mol % [18:1]-LPA led to a further approx. 2-fold activation of PKC alpha. At lower lipid concentrations, a greater increase was observed with LPA concentrations up to 16-20 mol %. Higher concentrations of LPA were inhibitory. The LPA activation of PKC was dependent on the presence of DAG, PS and Ca2+. [18:1]-Lysophosphatidylcholine produced similar PKC activation in PC/PS/DAG vesicles. [14:0]-LPA was less effective, and longer-chain saturated lysolipids were ineffective. In unsaturated PC/PS vesicles, very little to no effect of LPA was discernable. These results suggest that physiologically or pathologically relevant concentrations of LPA can contribute to PKC activation depending on the composition of the lipid membrane. We hypothesize that LPA may affect the formation of lipid domains that are recognized by the enzyme.
Optical Second Harmonic Generation as a Probe of Properties and Processes at Surfaces and Interfaces

The technological significance of surfaces and interfaces hardly can be overstated. Whether the effects of surface processes are primary to the technology, as in heterogeneous catalysis and tribology, or limiting of the application of bulk material properties, such as corrosion of structural metals and ceramic bonding, the chemistry and physics of interfaces are critical to successful long-term operation of systems that are dependent on specific materials. The necessity to understand beneficial and deleterious changes at these interfaces, coupled with their relative inaccessibility, requires the utilization of every analytical technique that is surface specific. An important, new diagnostic tool of this type is surface optical second harmonic generation (SHG).
Harmonic Analysis in Euclidean Space

The ideas that led to the representation of periodic functions as trigonometric series will be applied to functions defined on Rn. As before, we will attempt to expand functions in terms of characters parameterized, however, by Rn instead of Z. As a consequence, series expansions will be replaced by integral expansions, and the theory of inversion will have a different flavor than in the previous case. However, the underlying themes in this chapter will be the same as those of chapter 2: convolution and approximation, Plancherel’s theorem, Bochner’s theorem etc.
Structural hierarchy of nanocarbon in copper covetics

We prepared 0.4 wt. % carbon infused copper (i.e., copper covetic, CuCv) by electron-beam melting and deposited ≈18 nm-thick films of the CuCv on a substrate by electron-beam evaporation. Helium ion microscopy (HIM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) were used to study the characteristics of the carbon nanostructure in the CuCv bulk and thin films. HIM observation of the fracture and ion-polished surface of bulk CuCv revealed ripple structures that are associated with carbon nanoribbons formed in the copper matrix. STEM high angle annular dark field imaging and energy dispersive spectroscopy mapping indicated that carbon nanoparticles and carbon-rich pathways are interconnected to form a carbon-rich network in the CuCv films. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and STEM electron energy loss spectroscopy suggest that the carbon nanoparticles are composed of highly distorted graphenic carbon sheets that are bonded to the copper matrix and likely provide means for superior electrical and thermal conduction. In this letter, we report structural hierarchy and representations of carbon nanostructures in copper covetics at different scales from a few micrometers to subnanometers.We prepared 0.4 wt. % carbon infused copper (i.e., copper covetic, CuCv) by electron-beam melting and deposited ≈18 nm-thick films of the CuCv on a substrate by electron-beam evaporation. Helium ion microscopy (HIM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) were used to study the characteristics of the carbon nanostructure in the CuCv bulk and thin films. HIM observation of the fracture and ion-polished surface of bulk CuCv revealed ripple structures that are associated with carbon nanoribbons formed in the copper matrix. STEM high angle annular dark field imaging and energy dispersive spectroscopy mapping indicated that carbon nanoparticles and carbon-rich pathways are interconnected to form a carbon-rich network in the CuCv films. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and STEM electron energy loss spectroscopy suggest that the carbon nanoparticles are composed of highly distorted graphenic carbon sheets that are bonded to the copper matrix and likely provide means for superior elec...
Cultivating Moral Consciousness: The Quintessential Relation of Practical Reason and Mind ("Gemüt") as a Bulwark against the Propensity for Radical Evil.

To perfect human beings with an innate propensity for radical evil is a formidable task. Kant explicitly says that the propensity for evil is not eradicable; it is rooted in human nature, specifica...
Hydrophilic Porous Hydroxypropyl Methacrylate–Ethyleneglycol Dimethacrylate Packing Materials Suitable for Use in Size Exclusion Chromatography

Packing materials suitable for use in size exclusion chromatography (SEC) were produced by radical polymerization at 70°C for 1 hour. Hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMA) monomer, ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EDMA) cross-linker, 2, 2, azobis-2-methylpropionitrile (AIBN) initiator and the porogen dodecanol (DOD) were mixed and added to a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution suspending medium. Elimination of the suspending medium by centrifugation was followed by filtering, rinsing with methanol, Soxhlet extraction and vacuum drying (60°C, 12 h) to yield polymeric spherical particles. The effect of increasing the concentrations of the porogen agent dodecanol was evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed regularly shaped spherical porous beads ranging in size from 10–20 μm. Nitrogen Sorption Analysis (NSA) was employed to determine the specific surface area and pore size.
Applications of Stochastic Simulations in Inventory Management Optimization: Cost Accounting Perspectives

Inventory Management in cost accounting is important since materials or merchandise costs account for a large portion of total costs of manufacturing and merchandising companies. An effective and efficient system of inventory management can hence be critical for controlling business costs and to improve profitability. This paper focuses on applications of nonlinear optimization and stochastic models to study various issues in inventory management, especially from cost accounting perspectives. The applications illustrated in this paper can be fully implemented in real world inventory management situations using a spreadsheet software tool, and can also be integrated into the cost accounting curriculum.
The Moderating Role of Cortisol Reactivity on the Link Between Maltreatment and Body Mass Index Trajectory Across Adolescence.

Abstract Purpose Child maltreatment increases risk for obesity, yet differential effects of maltreatment type remain unclear. Cortisol reactivity may help clarify these effects, given links among cortisol reactivity, maltreatment, and obesity. We examined these associations in boys and girls across adolescence. Methods We collected data from 454 adolescents (212 girls) across four waves (aged 8–13 years at Time 1), including 303 maltreated youth. We modeled body mass index (BMI) percentile trajectories arrayed by age separately for boys and girls and tested whether cortisol reactivity at Time 1 moderated the association between maltreatment type and BMI growth. Results In girls, cortisol reactivity moderated the association between maltreatment type and quadratic change in BMI. At low levels of cortisol, sexually abused girls had a steeper quadratic increase in BMI compared with comparison (−.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] −1.09 to −.22) and physically abused (−.76, 95% CI −1.29, −.24) girls. At high levels of cortisol, sexually abused girls did not differ from comparison (.15, 95% CI −.40 to .70) or physically abused (.21, 95% CI −.38 to .80) girls in quadratic change in BMI. In boys, cortisol reactivity did not moderate the association between maltreatment type and BMI growth. Conclusions The combination of lower cortisol reactivity and sexual abuse may put girls at risk for BMI increase during later adolescence. Given the negative consequences of high BMI, identifying and intervening with these girls could lead to better health and well-being among this group. Cortisol reactivity may not play the same role among boys.
Effects of Claudin-1 on the Action of Clostridium perfringens Enterotoxin in Caco-2 Cells

Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) contributes to diarrhea and an often-lethal enterotoxemia. CPE action starts when it binds to claudin receptors, forming a small complex (90 kDa). Six small complexes then oligomerize to create prepores, followed by insertion of beta-hairpins from CPE to form beta-barrel pores named CH-1 or CH-2. Of the ~27 members of the human claudin protein family, only some bind CPE. However, both receptor claudins and the nonreceptor claudin-1 (CLDN-1) are associated with the small and CH-1/CH-2 CPE complexes. Therefore, this study evaluated whether claudin-1 affects CPE action by generating a CLDN-1 null mutant in Caco-2 cells using CRISPR-Cas9. Compared to wild-type Caco-2 cells, paracellular permeability of the CLDN-1 mutant was significantly enhanced, suggesting that claudin-1 may reduce CPE absorption during enterotoxemia. The CLDN-1 mutant was also markedly more sensitive than wild-type Caco-2 cells to apically-applied CPE. The mechanism behind this increased sensitivity involved higher CPE binding by the CLDN-1 mutant vs. wild-type Caco-2 cells, which led to more CH-1/CH-2 complex formation. However, the CH-1/CH-2 complexes formed by the CLDN-1 mutant were less stable or trypsin resistant than those of wild-type cells. These results indicate that, although a nonreceptor, CLDN-1 positively and negatively influences CPE action.
Brands and the Psyche

Freud’s ideas are useful in understanding how brands work and I discuss his theory about the different levels of the psyche and the importance of the unconscious, that part of the psyche to which we do not have access. I also discuss the work of Gerald Zaltman, who also deals with the unconscious, and Ernest Dichter, the father of motivation research. Freud’s ideas about the id, ego, and superego are also used to help understand the role brands play in our psyches and our lives. I offer a discussion of the difference between two kinds of consumers: maximizers and satisfizers. I also deal with cult brands, like Apple and Harley-Davidson. I also offer an example of what I call a “myth model” and use it to explain how myths may play a role in our decisions to purchase this or that brand of an object.
Simultaneous quantitation of five triazole anti-fungal agents by paper spray-mass spectrometry.

Background Invasive fungal disease is a life-threatening condition that can be challenging to treat due to pathogen resistance, drug toxicity, and therapeutic failure secondary to suboptimal drug concentrations. Frequent therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is required for some anti-fungal agents to overcome these issues. Unfortunately, TDM at the institutional level is difficult, and samples are often sent to a commercial reference laboratory for analysis. To address this gap, the first paper spray-mass spectrometry assay for the simultaneous quantitation of five triazoles was developed. Methods Calibration curves for fluconazole, posaconazole, itraconazole, hydroxyitraconazole, and voriconazole were created utilizing plasma-based calibrants and four stable isotopic internal standards. No sample preparation was needed. Plasma samples were spotted on a paper substrate in pre-manufactured plastic cartridges, and the dried plasma spots were analyzed directly utilizing paper spray-mass spectrometry (paper spray MS/MS). All experiments were performed on a Thermo Scientific TSQ Vantage triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. Results The calibration curves for the five anti-fungal agents showed good linearity (R2 = 0.98-1.00). The measured assay ranges (lower limit of quantification [LLOQ]-upper limit of quantitation [ULOQ]) for fluconazole, posaconazole, itraconazole, hydroxyitraconazole, and voriconazole were 0.5-50 μg/mL, 0.1-10 μg/mL, 0.1-10 μg/mL, 0.1-10 μg/mL, and 0.1-10 μg/mL, respectively. The inter- and intra-day accuracy and precision were less than 25% over the respective ranges. Conclusions We developed the first rapid paper spray-MS/MS assay for simultaneous quantitation of five triazole anti-fungal agents in plasma. The method may be a powerful tool for near-point-of-care TDM aimed at improving patient care by reducing the turnaround time and for use in clinical research.
A comparison of leg length discrepancy between direct anterior and anterolateral approaches in total hip arthroplasty

Leg length discrepancy (LLD) after total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a known source of complications and a leading cause of litigation (J Bone Joint Surg Br 87:155–157, 2005). There are limited studies investigating surgical approach combined with the use of fluoroscopy intraoperatively and their potential effects on LLD after THA. The purpose of this study was to compare the direct anterior (DA) approach utilizing a fluoroscopic overlay technique and anterolateral (AL) approach and their potential effect on LLD. We retrospectively reviewed 121 patients who had undergone primary THA from September 1, 2016 to November 1, 2018 by either DA or AL approach by two separate surgeons. Leg length discrepancies were measured on pre-operative post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and on post-operative low anterior/posterior (AP) pelvis plain radiographs by two investigators blinded to each other’s measurements. To confirm inter-observer and intra-observer reliability between LLD measurements amongst investigators, a Pearson correlation test was performed. The primary outcome measurement was leg length discrepancy (LLD). We observed LLD > 1.0 cm and LLD > 1.5 cm in the DA and AL groups. The DA approach group showed a mean LLD of 4.5 mm against 7.76 mm in the AL group (p 1 cm (28% vs. 8%, p = 0.0037) and LLD > 1.5 cm (7% vs. 0%, p = 0.0096). The LLD measurements showed strong correlation in terms of inter-observer (r = 0.95) and intra-observer reliability (r = 0.99) between the two investigators (p < 0.001). In our patient cohort, the DA approach with fluoroscopic overlay technique had less LLD in comparison with the AL approach, suggesting that intraoperative fluoroscopic use does have an impact on LLD.
Three-dimensional Magnetohydrodynamic Modeling of the Gaseous Structure of the Galaxy: Setup and Initial Results

We show the initial results of our three-dimensional MHD simulations of the flow of the Galactic atmosphere as it responds to a spiral perturbation in the potential. In our standard case, as the gas approaches the arm, there is a downward converging flow that terminates in a complex of shocks just ahead of the midplane density peak. The density maximum slants forward at high z, preceded by a similarly leaning shock. The latter diverts the flow upward and over the arm, as in a hydraulic jump. Behind the gaseous arm, the flow falls again, generating further secondary shocks as it approaches the lower z material. In cases with two arms in the perturbing potential, the gaseous arms tends to lie somewhat downstream of the potential minimum. In the four-arm case, this is true at large r or early evolution times. At smaller r, the gaseous arms follow a tighter spiral, crossing the potential maximum and fragmenting into sections arranged on average to follow the potential spiral. Structures similar to the high-z part of the gaseous arms are found in the interarm region of our two-arm case, while broken arms and low column density bridges are present in the four-arm case. Greater structure is expected when we include cooling of denser regions. We present three examples of what can be learned from these models. We compare the velocity field with that of purely circular rotation and find that an observer inside the Galaxy should see radial velocity deviations typically greater than 20 km s-1. Synthetic spectra, vertical from the midplane, show features at velocities ?-20 km s-1, which do not correspond to actual density concentrations. Placing the simulated observer outside the Galaxy, we find velocity structure and arm corrugation similar to those observed in H? in NGC 5427.
Students' Perceptions of Adopting Minimal Transformative Wardrobes

This exploratory research incorporates the publicly pressed ideas regarding minimal wardrobe adoption with academic research on transformative clothing to evaluate the understanding of sustainability in college students' current and future life. After their unknown exposure to the adoption of a minimal transformative wardrobe by their instructor, the students were surveyed regarding the perceptions of their instructor's appearance, transformative clothing, the role of gender in adoption, and reasons for consumer adoption. Qualitative analysis revealed the perceived benefits of the instructor's wardrobe adoption, including the themes of simplification, professional appearance, and saving time and money. Students expressed interest in owning transformative clothing and felt they could reduce clothing consumption. Gender differences were also identified when adopting a minimal wardrobe with more emphasizing males on environmental sustainability and females on increased work productivity. This study provides valuable insights on emerging professionals' perceptions on minimal transformative wardrobe adoption and directions for future research.
Additive Manufacturing of Transparent Ceramic Laser Gain Media - Rods, Thin Disks, and Planar Waveguides

Spatially distinct and graded doping profiles may be formed in YAG transparent ceramic laser gain media via additive manufacturing. Near-uniform refractive index may be obtained with co-doping of the undoped region with a compensating ion.
A Multi-objective Evolutionary Algorithm Approach for Optimizing Part Quality Aware Assembly Job Shop Scheduling Problems

Motivated by a real-world application, we consider an Assembly Job Shop Scheduling Problem (AJSSP), with three objectives: product quality, product quantity, and first product lead time. Using real-world inspection data, we demonstrate the ability to model product quality transformations during assembly jobs via genetic programming by considering the quality attributes of subparts. We investigate integrating quality transformation models into an AJSSP. Through the use of the de facto standard multi-objective evolutionary algorithm, NSGA-II, and a novel genotype to handle the constraints, we describe an evolutionary approach to optimizing all stated objectives. This approach is empirically shown to outperform random search and hill climbing in both performance and usability metrics expected to be valuable to administrators involved in plant scheduling and operations.
Reexamining the one-fluid formulation for two-phase flows

Abstract The one-fluid formulation for two-phase problems has been firmly established as a solution methodology, which applies everywhere in the domain, including at the gas-liquid interface. The physical consistency of this formulation is examined by considering whether it satisfies the governing equations in the bulk region of the domain and the jump conditions at the interface. An analysis of various versions of the momentum and energy one-field formulations published in the literature reveals a frequent inconsistency, particularly for problems involving phase change. The issue is in part attributed to a lack of equivalence between conservative and non-conservative forms of the equation when m ˙ Γ ≠ 0 , although other problems are also uncovered. A proposed generalized one-field formulation is advanced that is able to exhibit the desired level of physical consistency by satisfying interfacial and bulk phase relations. Additionally, as an illustration of the use of the proposed one-field formulation, a derivation of the VoF transport equation is presented under phase change conditions.
Beyond Bias: Cultural Capital in Anti-Discrimination Law

This Article explores race and class inequality in the distribution of special education benefits pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”). Scholarship in this area has focused on the disproportionately high representation of black children in special education and in the most stigmatized disability categories. The consensus view is that racial differences in disability prevalence are due mainly to teachers’ discrimination against black children. Little noticed is middle-class white children’s disproportionately high representation in autism, a category associated with relatively greater resources and more advantageous educational outcomes than are associated with the categories in which black children are disproportionately represented. This article argues that to understand the disproportionate allocation of special education resources by race and class — and other distributional disparities like it — scholars and policy makers alike must shift focus from a preoccupation on bias toward investigating the precise mechanisms for how legal benefits are allocated. In special education, no child simply “receives” special education services because a teacher wants him to. Under the IDEA, children receive appropriate benefits only when their parents take on the role of ardent advocate, using special education knowledge and behavioral strategies. Only parents with these sets of knowledge and behavioral strategies — what sociologists call “cultural capital” — will be best able to navigate the process. In predominately white, relatively affluent school districts, schools where the racial disparities in special education are most pronounced, middle-class white parents are best able to con- vert their economic and social capital into the cultural capital needed to secure preferable diagnoses and resources. Using special education as an example, this Article argues that when a legal scheme requires beneficiary action as a prerequisite to receiving benefits, stratification in cultural capital will influence which individuals, and consequently which groups, receive the benefit to which they are entitled. Cultural capital helps scholars and policymakers understand how groups come to disproportionately capture scarce legal resources and benefits, moving us beyond a sole focus on discrimination against groups to a more complex and nuanced focus on how privilege is reproduced.
Critical points of the random cluster model with Newman-Ziff sampling.

We present a method for computing transition points of the random cluster model using a generalization of the Newman-Ziff algorithm, a celebrated technique in numerical percolation, to the random cluster model. The new method is straightforward to implement and works for real cluster weight $q>0$. Furthermore, results for an arbitrary number of values of $q$ can be found at once within a single simulation. Because the algorithm used to sweep through bond configurations is identical to that of Newman and Ziff, which was conceived for percolation, the method loses accuracy for large lattices when $q>1$. However, by sampling the critical polynomial, accurate estimates of critical points in two dimensions can be found using relatively small lattice sizes, which we demonstrate here by computing critical points for non-integer values of $q$ on the square lattice, to compare with the exact solution, and on the unsolved non-planar square matching lattice. The latter results would be much more difficult to obtain using other techniques.
A descriptive analysis of predoctoral surgical requirements in US dental schools in 2020.

Objectives This study aims to describe surgical graduation requirements in US dental schools in 2020, including changes made due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Representatives of Commission on Dental Accreditation-approved predoctoral dental programs in the US (n = 66) received a 13-item questionnaire about operative and observational surgical requirements. Responses were assigned values to tabulate a surgical score (zero- to eight-point scale) as a proxy for required surgical experience, and statistical analyses were performed to explore for predictors. Results Surveys were returned by 97% (64/66) of programs with complete data from 62.5% of responding institutions. In periodontics, 6.8% of programs require students to perform periodontal surgery, 63.8% to assist, and none require a competency assessment in periodontal surgery. In oral and maxillofacial surgery, 23.3% of programs have numerical requirements in performance of surgical extractions, 35% require an operating room experience, and 51.9% have a competency assessment involving a surgical procedure. Modifications to surgical and nonsurgical graduation requirements due to COVID-19 were reported by 51.6% and 52.5% of programs, respectively. The mean surgical score was 1.73 ± 1.2 (range = 0-4) of eight possible points. This was not predicted by class size or the presence of postgraduate surgical programs. The presence of postgraduate surgical programs roughly doubled the likelihood of requiring an observational experience in surgery. Conclusions As of 2020, US dental programs require a small fraction of surgical experiences available to students. Class size is not a predictor of required surgical experience. The presence of postgraduate surgical programs increased the likelihood of required observational experiences.
Organoboranes : XVI. Triethylmethanol esters of tert-alkylfluoroboronic acids: a new class of organoborane intermediate remarkably stable to oxidation and alkaline hydrolysis

Abstract Secondary and hindred trialkylboranes react with chlorodifluoromethane quantitatively under the influence of lithium triethylmethoxide to produce highly hindered triethylmethanol esters of tert-alkylfluoroboronic acids. These hindered intermediates differ from all previously known boronic acid derivatives in being remarkably stable to oxidation of the tert-alkyl group by oxygen, alkaline hydrogen peroxide, or trimethylamine-N-oxide and to basic hydrolysis of the triethylmethoxy group. The boronic half esters can be cleaved under strongly acidic conditions using methanesulfonic acid or sulfuric acid and the resulting unhindered intermediates then are readily oxidized with alkaline hydrogen peroxide to give excellent yields of the corresponding trialkylmethanol compounds.
Angled implant fully overlapped LDD (AI-FOLD) NFETs for performance and reliability

Fully overlapped lightly doped drain FOLD n-channel MOSFETs built for the purpose of improving the tradeoff between performance and reliability are discussed. Full gate overlap was achieved by using angled implants to extend LDD (lightly-doped drain) regions beneath the gate edge of devices. The dose and energy of the angled implants were varied. The parasitic overlap capacitance and series resistance as well as the reliability enhancement introduced by the FOLD structure are investigated in detail. The series resistance is shown to be strongly dependent on gate voltage, while the overlap capacitance is found to be reduced significantly by depletion of the FOLD drain regions. The corresponding reduction in hot-carrier-limited channel length more than compensates for the increase in parasitics, indicating substantial enhancement in net drive performance. >
Discrimination in Financial Services: What Do We Know?

Two possible forms of racial discrimination in mortgage lending have been subject to research: discrimination against individual minority group members and discrimination against areas with high concentrations of minority residents. The existence of the latter type of discrimination originally was raised by statistics showing lower home loan mortgage origination rates in minority-concentrated areas; the former, by those showing that mortgage loan recipients and homeowners are disproportionately white. Of course, one could explain both of these types of statistical results by reference to either type of discrimination alone, in the absence of the other. This and other problems with inferring discrimination from such gross comparisons of means conditional on just race are obvious, and we have progressed a long way beyond them.