cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Postinsemination diet change on reproductive performance in beef heifers

An important part of any production system is the reproductive performance associated with developing heifers. However, previous research has reported that grazing behavior is learned at weaning, and moving heifers from a drylot environment to a grazing environment immediately following insemination can negatively affect pregnancy success. Therefore, this project was conducted to determine whether this decrease in pregnancy success is associated with diet change alone and how diet change can affect circulating concentrations of progesterone and BUN. Angus crossbred heifers (n = 336) were developed on a forage diet from weaning to breeding. Seven days before the start of the breeding season all heifers were brought into a drylot and synchronized with the Select Synch + CIDR protocol. Immediately after AI, heifers were returned to forage (RNG), returned to forage and supplemented with 2.22 kg/d per animal of dried distillers grains with solubles (RNG-S), or moved into a drylot (DLT). Blood samples were collected on d −7; at AI; and 2, 14, and 42 d after AI. Circulating concentrations of progesterone and BUN were analyzed in all serum samples. There were no differences among treatments in AI or breeding season pregnancy success. Heifers in the RNG-S treatment had greater (P < 0.01) BUN concentrations at 2, 14, and 42 d after AI compared with DLT and RNG. The RNG-S heifers had greater concentrations of progesterone on d 14 after AI (P = 0.02) compared with DLT, and concentrations were greater on d 14 and 42 after AI (P < 0.02) for RNG heifers compared with DLT. In summary, when heifers were developed on a forage-based developing diet and moved to range, range with supplementation, or to a drylot, there was no detectable effect on pregnancy success; thus, a change in diet alone, as long as BCS is not negatively affected, immediately following AI was not sufficient to reduce pregnancy success.
Ptenidium pusillum (Gyllenhal, 1808) from egg to pupa (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae).

Eggs, larvae and pupae of Ptenidium pusillum obtained by rearing adults are described. Larval chaetotaxy is treated in detail. Two larval instars are identified, differing in minor chaetotaxic characters, pigmentation and measurements. The lack of urogomphi, confirmed in Ptenidium , is discussed in the context of current systematics of Ptiliidae. Serial chaetotaxic homology and between-instar homology are discussed. Observations related to biology of P. pusillum and associations with phoretic mites and nematodes are given.
Utilization of food legumes in human nutrition

Pea, faba bean, lentil and chickpea seeds are rich in protein and digestible carbohydrates so that their energy values can approach those of cereal grains. Protein from these legume crops complements that of the cereals: the former contain relatively large amounts of lysine, the latter supplement the S-containing amino acids methionine and cystine. Processing and cooking methods have evolved domestically and have been developed industrially to produce appetizing and nutritious products. Dehulling, sprouting, milling, boiling, steaming, roasting, and fermentation are common practices.
Use of IL15 Stimulated, CD3/19 Depleted Transplants From Haploidentical Donors In Pediatric Malignancies

Abstract 3548 T and B cell depleted haploidentical grafts and a melphalan based intensity reduced regimen result in low toxicity and stable event free survival in patients with leukemias in CR1-3. However, patients with active disease or with second or subsequent transplantation show unacceptable relapse rates. In an ongoing study, 36 pediatric patients with acute leukemias and advanced MDS (median age: 11 years) received melphalan (2×70mg/m2), fludarabine (4×40mg/m2) or clofarabine (4×50mg/m2), thiotepa (10mg/kg) and OKT3 (0.1mg/kg). T and B cells were depleted by antiCD3/antiCD19 coated magnetic microbeads, whereas NK cells remained into the grafts (median number= 120×106/kg). Remission status was: CR1-3=18, NR=18, 18/36 already received previous allogeneic transplantations. Relapse rates at 2 years were 20% (CR patients) and 73% (active disease patients or 2nd trp). Thus, we investigated options to reduce the risk of relapse by increasing antileukemic activity of donor NK cells in the grafts in vitro. Over night incubation with Interleukin 15 increased NK activity most effectively (specific lysis at E:T=20:1 against K562: 28% prior to and 71% after stimulation, n=10). After additional IL2 stimulation a 22 fold increase in thymidine uptake indicated proliferation of NK cells (n=5). Due to the profound depletion, no T cell proliferation was detectable. Based on these results, we started a pilot study with ex vivo IL15 stimulated grafts in 4 patients at very high risk (ALL, 3rd relapse, active disease (n=1); ALL 2nd relapse, remission (n=1); AML 1st relapse, active disease (n=2)). All patients received a backbone of unstimulated cells at day 0 to ensure engraftment. Additionally, parts of the grafts were incubated over night, washed four times and afterwards infused at day +1 (median numbers: CD56+CD3- =9.4×106/kg (range 3.7–24.4); CD34=1.5×106/kg; CD14=34×106/kg, CD3=0.01×106/kg). No acute side effects occurred. All patients engrafted within 12 days. 3 patients had acute GvDH grade 0-I, 1 patient had GvHD grade III. Recovery of NK cells was remarkably fast (526 CD56+/μl at day 14 posttransplant versus 256 CD56+/μl in patients without IL15 stimulation (means)). After additional administration of IL2 in vivo (1×106 Units/m2/day s.c.) high NK activity (specific lysis>90% against K 562, E:T=20:1) was detectable in peripheral blood. Two patients are disease free (day 154 and 674 posttransplant), 2 patients died from relapse (day 56 and 64). Conclusions: ex vivo stimulation with IL15 strongly increases cytotoxic activity of NK cells in T and B cell depleted grafts from haploidentical donors and can counterbalance G-CSF mediated inhibitory effects. Those grafts were infused without any acute side effects and resulted in a fast recovery of functional donor NK cells. Potential interactions with stem cells and stem cell derived NK reconstitution have to be investigated. Further studies have to evaluate if this approach might contribute to reduce relapse rates in high risk patients. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Basketry of Northern California Indians

Archaeologists have defined style in a variety of narrow manners. Each definition has focused on a different, limited set of determining processes, some more active (e.g. Wobst 1977; Hodder 1982; Wiessner 1983), others more passive (e.g. Longacre 1964; Hill 1970; Sackett 1977; Hill and Gunn 1977). In contrast, the goal of this chapter is to help develop a more unified understanding of style that encompasses all determining processes and that integrates the various past views of it.
The Anchor Foundation: A Tax Case Study In The Use Of Foundations By Adversarial Groups

This case study reviews the Anchor Foundation, a private 501(c)(3) foundation associated with the Socialist Workers Party (SWP), a small radical organization. Anchor Foundation made a major sale of real estate that was donated to the Foundation. The case raises issues under the tax rules covering private foundations of "disqualified persons," fiduciary duty of care, excessive compensation, disclosure of contributors, political expenditures, and disclosures in the Form 990s.
A group of immersed finite-element spaces for elliptic interface problems

We present a unified framework for developing and analysing immersed finite element (IFE) spaces for solving typical elliptic interface problems with interface independent meshes. This framework allows us to construct a group of new IFE spaces with either linear, or bilinear, or the rotated-Q1 polynomials. Functions in these IFE spaces are locally piecewise polynomials defined according to the sub-elements formed by the interface itself instead of its line approximation. We show that the unisolvence for these IFE spaces follows from the invertibility of the Sherman-Morrison matrix. A group of estimates and identities are established for the interface geometry and shape functions that are applicable to all of these IFE spaces. Most importantly, these fundamental preparations enable us to develop a unified multipoint Taylor expansion procedure for proving that these IFE spaces have the expected optimal approximation capability according to the involved polynomials.
An alternative to Rasch analysis using triadic comparisons and multi-dimensional scaling

Rasch analysis is a principled approach for estimating the magnitude of some shared property of a set of items when a group of people assign ordinal ratings to them. In the general case, Rasch analysis not only estimates person and item measures on the same invariant scale, but also estimates the average thresholds used by the population to define rating categories. However, Rasch analysis fails when there is insufficient variance in the observed responses because it assumes a probabilistic relationship between person measures, item measures and the rating assigned by a person to an item. When only a single person is rating all items, there may be cases where the person assigns the same rating to many items no matter how many times he rates them. We introduce an alternative to Rasch analysis for precisely these situations. Our approach leverages multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) and requires only rank orderings of items and rank orderings of pairs of distances between items to work. Simulations show one variant of this approach - triadic comparisons with non-metric MDS - provides highly accurate estimates of item measures in realistic situations.
Instrumenting embedded test software in support system integration, factory production, and depot repair

Embedded built-in test (BIT) software typically provides a system-level go/no-go indication and, in the presence of a failure, may provide some level of sub-system isolation. This level of reporting, while meeting the customer's operational requirements, does little to support system integration, production, and repair. To support these other needs, "instrumentation code" is added to the BIT software to provide detailed test data through an external interface. Since the BIT software already accesses the hardware parameters for testing, it becomes the most logical component for the instrumentation. This paper describes the techniques of embedding instrumentation during BIT design and development to support a broad range of program test needs. It explains the costs and benefits associated with the use of instrumentation. It gives specific examples of instrumented software and describes how instrumentation data can be used during environmental tests, factory test, and depot test. The impact instrumentation has on software development time, code size, execution time, and reliability is discussed as well as the cost of retrofitting BIT software to add instrumentation. Some of the benefits as well as the challenges to developing effective embedded instrumentation is also examined.
Influence of Major Storm Events on the Quantity and Composition of Particulate Organic Matter and the Phytoplankton Community in a Subtropical Estuary, Texas

Variations in the freshwater inflow regimes of estuaries due to perturbations, such as storm events, alter the source and composition of particulate organic matter (POM) and the phytoplankton community, which are key links in estuarine carbon and nitrogen cycling. To evaluate the impact of varying freshwater discharge on POM quantity and composition and the phytoplankton community, monthly samples of surface water were collected at four long-term monitoring stations from 2012-2015 in a subtropical estuarine system, the Mission-Aransas Estuary, Texas (USA). This system is characterized by a semiarid climate, drought, and sporadic precipitation events. We analyzed organic carbon and nitrogen content, carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes, and chlorophyll a and accessory pigments of the POM samples. Following a prolonged dry spell (2012-2015), consecutive major storm events in spring 2015 led to a dramatic freshening of the entire estuary. Large increases in particulate organic carbon (POC) concentrations and decreases in δ13C values of POC over several weeks following the storms suggest an increase in in-situ production at lower salinities as a result of increased freshwater inflow. These changes in bulk POM coincided with an increase in chlorophyll a concentration, further indicating a significant contribution by phytoplankton to the elevated POM. Concurrently, pigment biomarkers revealed a significant (10-fold) increase in the cyanobacterial pigment, zeaxanthin, and further 16S rRNA analysis showed that Cyanobium spp. was responsible for the observed bloom. The combination of environment conditions, including freshening, high temperature, and high nutrients, likely contributed to the cyanobacteria bloom. These results show that episodic rain events can substantially affect estuarine phytoplankton community composition, which impacts the available energy resources for secondary production and thus may have ecosystem-wide implications on productivity.
CD19 cytoplasmic tyrosine residues Y482 and Y513 are sufficient to promote normal B cell development and differentiation but induce a skewed humoral immune response.

CD19 amplifies BCR signal transduction by recruiting SH2 domain-containing proteins to its nine cytoplasmic phosphorylated tyrosine residues. Previous studies have shown that Y482 and Y513, which recruit PI3K are required for normal B cell development/differentiation and a productive T-dependent humoral response. However, it has not been determined if CD19 Y482 and Y513 are sufficient to promote normal B cell differentiation or antibody response to immunization. Furthermore, the effects of upstream CD19 tyrosine-mediated Vav/PLCγ2 and Grb2/Sos signaling are not well characterized. Using mice expressing CD19 mutated to only express tyrosines Y482 and Y513, we demonstrate that CD19 mediated Lyn/PI3K signaling is sufficient for B1 B cell development, marginal zone B cell maturation, and germinal center B cell formation. However, these mice exhibit an increased antibody response against T-independent antigens and are impaired in their ability to generate class-switched germinal center B cells during a T-dependent immune response, as well as long-lived, class-switched antibody secreting cells. These findings suggest that cross-talk between signal effectors recruited to Y482 and Y513 and those recruited to other CD19 tyrosine residues is important for determining the qualitative nature of the humoral response.
Do the Sneakerheads Just Want To Be Like Mike

Sneakers may not be just sneakers. To some sneakerheads who collect and wear sneakers enthusiastically, the Air Jordan sneaker series can make some avid fans engage in extreme behaviors. There have been several incidents that people got hurt or even killed because of a pair of Jordan sneakers. For example, on December 21, 2012, the release date of a new Air Jordan, a young man was murdered by an attempted robbery of his brand new shoes. Nike and Jordan Brand has been changing how they release new Jordan products from “first come first served” to “online photo verifications” (Dunne, 2014).
Evidence Basis for a Point-of-Care Ultrasound Examination to Refine Referral for Outpatient Echocardiography.

ABSTRACT Background Few data exist on the potential utility of a cardiac point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) examination in the outpatient setting to assist diagnosis of significant cardiac disease. Using a retrospective sequential cohort design, we sought to derive and then validate a POCUS examination for cardiac application and model its potential use for prognostication and cost-effective echo referral. Methods For POCUS examination derivation, we reviewed 233 consecutive outpatient echo studies for 4 specific POCUS “signs” contained therein representing left ventricular systolic dysfunction, left atrial enlargement, inferior vena cava plethora, and lung apical B-lines. The corresponding formal echo reports were then queried for any significant abnormality. The optimal POCUS examination for identifying an abnormal echo was determined. We then reviewed 244 consecutive outpatient echo studies from another institution for associations between the optimal POCUS examination, clinical variables, and referral source with major adverse cardiac events and all-cause mortality in univariate and multivariate models. Assuming a referral model where the absence of POCUS signs or variables would negate initial echo referral, theoretical cost savings were expressed as a percentage in reduction of echo studies. Results In the derivation cohort, the combination of two signs, denoting left atrial enlargement and inferior vena cava plethora resulted in the highest accuracy of 72% [95% CI: 65%, 78%] in detecting an abnormal echocardiogram. In the validation cohort, mortality at 5.5 years was 14.6% overall, 23% in patients with the left atrial enlargement sign (OR 3.5 [1.6, 7.6]), 25% with inferior vena cava plethora sign (OR 2.2 [0.8, 6.0]), and 8.0% (OR 0.3 [0.2, 0.7]) in those lacking both signs. After adjusting for age, both diabetes (OR 4.8 [2.0, 11.6]), and the left atrial enlargement sign (OR 2.4 [1.1, 5.4]) remained independently associated with mortality (p Conclusions A quick-look sign for left atrial enlargement is associated with 5-year mortality and could function as an easily obtained outpatient POCUS examination to help in identifying patients in need of echo referral.
Electronic decision support for treatment of hospitalized smokers: A qualitative analysis of physicians' knowledge, attitudes, and practices.

Abstract Background We recently demonstrated the ability of a suite of tools embedded in an electronic medical record (EMR) to improve tobacco cessation treatment for adult smokers admitted to the hospital. A randomized controlled trial conducted by our group demonstrated the ability of an EMR-embedded tobacco use disorder treatment tool, the Electronic Support Tool and Orders for the Prevention of Smoking (E-STOPS), to increase the identification and treatment of smokers, but its uptake varied among 126 physicians randomized to the intervention arm. The purpose of this study was to identify facilitators and barriers to using E-STOPS. Methods Semi-structured individual interviews from a purposive sample of 12 hospitalist attending physicians and nine internal medicine residents who were randomized to the E-STOPS intervention were analyzed thematically. Results Three themes shaped E-STOPS use: the inpatient environment, prescriber attitudes and beliefs, and information needs. Overall, participants were pleased with E-STOPS, but had specific suggestions for improvements regarding the timing of the intervention, suppression logic, and additional decision support and training. A few had concerns about the clinical appropriateness of beginning treatment for tobacco dependence during a hospitalization and the proper role of the inpatient team in that treatment. Conclusions Tobacco dependence treatment for hospitalized smokers and facilitated by the EMR is generally acceptable to hospitalists and resident physicians. Improvements in provider training and feedback as well as the timing and content of the electronic tools may increase their utilization by inpatient physicians.
Escapia gen. nov.: Morphological Evolution, Paleogeographic Diversification, and the Environmental Distribution of Marattialean Ferns Through Time

Abstract • Premise of the study: Anatomically preserved marattialean synangia with a superficial similarity to the living marattialean genus Christensenia have been discovered in the Early Cretaceous Apple Bay flora of Vancouver Island, Canada. As part of documentation for the paleogeographic distribution of the order, these specimens reveal the pattern of evolutionary turnover among stem- and crown-group Marattiales through time. • Methods: Specimens were studied from anatomical sections prepared using the cellulose acetate peel technique. The global paleogeographic distributions of Marattiales through geologic time were plotted on maps developed in the PALEOMAP project. • Key results: Round and oval synangia are positioned below veins of thin pinnule laminae. Sporangia surround a vascularized core proximally, and a hollow center distally. Individual sporangia dehisce via a longitudinally oriented slit on the inner-facing sporangial wall after the lateral separation of sporangia. Spores are reniform and monolete, with an ornamentation of blunt spines (bacula) covered by a thin perispore. • Conclusions: Escapia christensenioides gen. et sp. n. reveals that species of the Psaroniaceae coexisted with those of Marattiaceae into the Cretaceous. A review of the fossil record for Marattiales through time demonstrates that the clade was exceptionally well represented in the paleotropics and subtropics during the Pennsylvanian, Permian, and Early Triassic. The clade underwent a turnover in species richness from stem group Psaroniaceae to crown group Marattiaceae near the Permian-Triassic boundary, declined in prominence during the Jurassic, and suffered a dramatic reduction in geographic distribution and species richness by the end of the Jurassic. Marattialean fossils are extremely rare in Cretaceous sediments, and well-documented occurrences are absent from post-Mesozoic deposits. Global paleoclimatic data confirm that marattialean ferns have occupied moist tropical and warm subtropical habitats throughout geological time.
An Eye-Tracking Study of Receptive Verb Knowledge in Toddlers

Purpose We examined receptive verb knowledge in 22- to 24-month-old toddlers with a dynamic video eye-tracking test. The primary goal of the study was to examine the utility of eye-gaze measures th...
Determining cuspforms from critical values of convolution L-functions and Rankin–Cohen brackets

We show that a holomorphic newform g that is a Hecke eigenfunction can be uniquely determined by certain noncentral critical values of a family of convolution L-functions L(s,f × g). The methods ar...
Medical and Surgical Advances in the Treatment of Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis

Purpose In this chapter, unilateral vocal fold paralysis is described, and treatment options are discussed with emphasis on recent developments in treatment. Conclusion Unilateral vocal fold paraly...
Is Social Ontology Prior to Social Scientific Methodology

In this article, I examine “Ontology Matters!” (OM!) arguments. OM! arguments conclude that ontology can contribute to empirical success in social science. First, I capture the common form between ...
Dual-track agile in software engineering education

The fields of Software Engineering and Human-Computer Interaction have traditionally evolved in parallel, with little cross-pollination, both in industry and academia. However, effectively delivering software products offering superior user experiences requires a tight collaboration between professionals from both fields. In recent years, some approaches combining the two perspectives have been proposed in industry, including dual-track agile software development. Yet, very few courses cover those integrated approaches in academia, and it appears that no publication so far has reported the existence of a scholarly course covering dual-track agile. This paper introduces a course that addresses the divide between Software Engineering and Human-Computer Interaction through an integrated approach to requirements engineering and interaction design, in the context of dual-track agile. The course design combines traditional and flipped-classroom delivery, together with project-based learning. During the course project, students learn to design and implement software systems that address real problems and satisfy real stakeholders' needs by being useful, usable, and enjoyable to use. This paper documents the author's experience designing and teaching the course over the past four years. It aims to convince, inspire, and enable others to teach similar courses, bringing interaction design to the forefront of agile software development.
Interobserver reliability of Diméglio and Pirani score and their subcomponents in the evaluation of idiopathic clubfoot in a clinical setting: a need for improved scoring systems.

Abstract Purpose Dimeglio (DimS) and Pirani (PirS) scores are the most commonly used scoring systems for evaluation of clubfoot, with many centres performing both. Interobserver reliability of thei...
Treatment and diagnosis of cerebral aneurysms in the post-International Subarachnoid Aneurysm Trial (ISAT) era: trends and outcomes

Background Following publication of the International Subarachnoid Aneurysm Trial (ISAT), treatment paradigms for cerebral aneurysms (CAs) shifted from open surgical clipping to endovascular embolization as primary therapy in a majority of cases. However, comprehensive analyses evaluating more recent CA diagnosis patterns, patient populations and outcomes as a function of treatment modality remain rare. Methods The National Inpatient Sample from 2004 to 2014 was reviewed. Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhages (aSAHs) and unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) with a treatment of surgical clipping or endovascular therapy (EVT) were identified. Time trend series plots were created. Linear and logistic regressions were utilized to quantify treatment changes. Results 114 137 aSAHs and 122 916 UIAs were reviewed. aSAH (+732/year, p=0.014) and UIA (+2550/year, p Conclusion Ruptured and unruptured CAs are increasingly being treated with EVT over clipping. Incidental unruptured aneurysm diagnoses are increasing dramatically. Mortality rates of ruptured aneurysms are improving regardless of treatment modality, whereas mortality in unruptured aneurysms is only improving for surgical clipping.
Association Between Bisphosphonates and Hospitalized Clostridioides difficile Infection Among Frail Older Adults.

Abstract Objectives Clostridioides difficile infection is a major source of morbidity and mortality among frail older adults, especially those in nursing homes (NHs). Safety reports have signaled that bisphosphonate use may be a contributing cause. We therefore evaluated the risk of C difficile hospitalization associated with oral bisphosphonate use in the NH. Design Observational, retrospective new-user cohort study. Setting The cohort included US NH residents aged ≥65 years who became a long-stay resident (>100 days in the NH) between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009. Methods We conducted a study of NH residents using linked Medicare claims and Minimum Data Set records. Residents were new users of an oral bisphosphonate 1:1 matched to new calcitonin users (“active” comparator) on propensity scores controlling for more than 100 covariates. The outcome was risk of hospitalization for C difficile infection in a Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for previous antibiotic and proton pump inhibitor use. Results Our final analytical cohort included 17,753 bisphosphonate and 5348 calcitonin users. In the matched cohort, 84/5209 (1.6%) vs 71/5209 (1.4%) C difficile–related hospitalizations occurred in bisphosphonate and calcitonin users, respectively. We observed no significant difference in the risk of hospitalization among bisphosphonate users (hazard ratio: 1.11, 95% confidence interval: 0.80-1.51). Antibiotic and proton pump inhibitor exposure before and after osteoporosis treatment was also similar between bisphosphonate and calcitonin users. Conclusions and Implications C difficile infection should not be a consideration when prescribing bisphosphonates to frail older adults given the lack of a significant association.
Polarization dependent second harmonic generation microscopy in turbid media

A connection between Mueller and Jones representations for polarization analysis in nonlinear optics for structures buried in turbid media is discussed and applied to second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging of thick collagenous tissue samples. Polarization analysis for buried interfaces and structures is complicated by heterogeneous phase retardance as incident light fields approach the focal plane. Further complexities arise in nonlinear optics, where multiple incident fields interact to form a unique polarization-dependent response. The Stokes-Mueller framework provides sufficient generality to describe fields composed of many superimposed polarizations, i.e., depolarized or partially polarized light. However, the Stokes-Mueller framework is intrinsically incompatible with Jones/Cartesian representations of nonlinear optical phenomena most commonly used to relate recovered tensor elements back to molecular-scale structure and orientation. To address this challenge, a mathematical framework bridging the more general Stokes-Mueller framework to the more utilitarian Jones/Cartesian framework was developed. This framework was previously applied to the limiting case of completely depolarized light, predicting SHG intensity emitted by z-cut quartz and enabling direct recovery of collagen orientation in thin tissue samples. In the presented work, the Stokes-Mueller framework was applied to imaging thick tissue sections, where native turbidity of the tissue induces significant depolarization of the incident fundamental beam. By modulating the incident polarization state rapidly with an electro-optic modulator, ten images of unique incident polarization were simultaneously acquired. The Stokes vectors for the incident fundamental light and second harmonic generation were measured, and the Stokes-Mueller framework was utilized to fit to the underlying Jones tensor elements for collagen, which are directly related to molecular-scale structure and orientation.
Potentiality and Possibility: An Overview of Beowulf and Queer Theory

In 1990, Teresa de Lauretis coined “queer theory”, which subsequently sparked discussion of non-normative gender and sexuality in literature. Despite the theory’s codification nearly 30 years ago, there are few queer approaches to the foundational Old English poem Beowulf. The two primary handbooks on Beowulf, A Beowulf Handbook (1997) and A Critical Companion to Beowulf (2003) make no mention of queer theory. In 2009, David Clark’s article “Old English Literature and Same-Sex Desire: An Overview” gave a historiography for studies of early medieval English same-sex relationships and concluded future work should integrate queer theory in their approach. This essay aims to update all three reference-works by enumerating queer theoretical approaches to Beowulf since 1990 through two thematic strands: transgressive human behavior and queer monsters. By examining queer readings of Beowulf, I submit this theory’s usefulness in problematizing long-held assumptions and presenting new possibilities for understanding the Old English heroic world as diverse and plural.
Biomolecular Phase Separation: From Molecular Driving Forces to Macroscopic Properties

Biological phase separation is known to be important for cellular organization, which has recently been extended to a new class of biomolecules that form liquid-like droplets coexisting with the surrounding cellular or extracellular environment. These droplets are termed membraneless organelles, as they lack a dividing lipid membrane, and are formed through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). Elucidating the molecular determinants of phase separation is a critical challenge for the field, as we are still at the early stages of understanding how cells may promote and regulate functions that are driven by LLPS. In this review, we discuss the role that disorder, perturbations to molecular interactions resulting from sequence, posttranslational modifications, and various regulatory stimuli play on protein LLPS, with a particular focus on insights that may be obtained from simulation and theory. We finally discuss how these molecular driving forces alter multicomponent phase separation and selectivity.
Statistics of Frictional Families

We develop a theoretical description for mechanically stable frictional packings in terms of the difference between the total number of contacts required for isostatic packings of frictionless disks and the number of contacts in frictional packings, $m={N}_{c}^{0}\ensuremath{-}{N}_{c}$. The saddle order $m$ represents the number of unconstrained degrees of freedom that a static packing would possess if friction were removed. Using a novel numerical method that allows us to enumerate disk packings for each $m$, we show that the probability to obtain a packing with saddle order $m$ at a given static friction coefficient $\ensuremath{\mu}$, ${P}_{m}(\ensuremath{\mu})$, can be expressed as a power series in $\ensuremath{\mu}$. Using this form for ${P}_{m}(\ensuremath{\mu})$, we quantitatively describe the dependence of the average contact number on the friction coefficient for static disk packings obtained from direct simulations of the Cundall-Strack model for all $\ensuremath{\mu}$ and $N$.
tsBNgen: A Python Library to Generate Time Series Data from an Arbitrary Dynamic Bayesian Network Structure.

Synthetic data is widely used in various domains. This is because many modern algorithms require lots of data for efficient training, and data collection and labeling usually are a time-consuming process and are prone to errors. Furthermore, some real-world data, due to its nature, is confidential and cannot be shared. Bayesian networks are a type of probabilistic graphical model widely used to model the uncertainties in real-world processes. Dynamic Bayesian networks are a special class of Bayesian networks that model temporal and time series data. In this paper, we introduce the tsBNgen, a Python library to generate time series and sequential data based on an arbitrary dynamic Bayesian network. The package, documentation, and examples can be downloaded from this https URL.
An application to support COVID-19 occupational health and patient tracking at a Veterans Affairs medical center.

Objective Reducing risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection among healthcare personnel requires a robust occupational health response involving multiple disciplines. We describe a flexible informatics solution to enable such coordination, and we make it available as open-source software. Materials and methods We developed a stand-alone application that integrates data from several sources, including electronic health record data and data captured outside the electronic health record. Results The application facilitates workflows from different hospital departments, including Occupational Health and Infection Control, and has been used extensively. As of June 2020, 4629 employees and 7768 patients and have been added for tracking by the application, and the application has been accessed over 46 000 times. Discussion Data captured by the application provides both a historical and real-time view into the operational impact of COVID-19 within the hospital, enabling aggregate and patient-level reporting to support identification of new cases, contact tracing, outbreak investigations, and employee workforce management. Conclusions We have developed an open-source application that facilitates communication and workflow across multiple disciplines to manage hospital employees impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Acthar® Gel (repository corticotropin injection) dose-response relationships in an animal model of epileptic spasms.

Abstract Studies were undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of Acthar® Gel (repository corticotropin injection [RCI]) in the tetrodotoxin (TTX) model of early-life-induced epileptic spasms. Repository corticotropin injection (RCI) is widely used in the United States to treat infantile spasms. A major component of RCI is N25 deamidated ACTH. Additionally, we hoped to provide some insight into the possible role circulating corticosteroids play in spasm cessation by comparing the RCI dose–response relationships for spasm suppression to RCI-induced corticosterone release from the adrenal gland. Spasms were induced by chronic TTX infusion into the neocortex beginning on postnatal day 11. Repository corticotropin injection (RCI) dosages were between 8 and 32 IU/kg/day. Drug titration protocols were used, and comparisons were made to injections of a vehicle gel. Video/EEG recordings (24/7) monitored the drug’s effects continuously for up to 2 months. Tetrodotoxin (TTX)-infused control rats were monitored for the same period of time. In separate experiments, the same dosages of RCI were given to rats and 1 h later plasma was collected and assayed for corticosterone. A parallel study compared the effects of 1-day and 10-day RCI treatments on circulating corticosterone. Results showed that RCI was ineffective at dosages of 8, 12, and 16 IU/kg/day but eliminated spasms in 66% of animals treated with 24 or 32 IU/kg/day. Treating animals with 32 IU/kg/day alone produced the same degree of spasms suppression as observed during the titration protocols. In rats that had hypsarrhythmia-like activity, RCI eliminated this abnormal interictal EEG pattern in all rats that became seizure-free. In terms of plasma corticosterone, 1- and 10-day treatments with RCI produced similar increases in this hormone and the levels increased linearly with increasing dosages of RCI. This stood in sharp contrast to the sigmoid-like dose–response curve for decreases in spasm counts. Our results further validate the TTX model as relevant for the study of infantile spasms. The model should be useful for investigating how RCI acts to eliminate seizures and hypsarrhythmia. Dose–response results suggest that either very high concentrations of circulating corticosteroids are required to abolish spasms or RCI acts through a different mechanism.
Predicting ionized hypocalcemia: External validation of an ionized calcium prediction model in patients with COVID-19 and renal failure.

BackgroundIonized hypocalcemia is common in critically ill patients with COVID-19 and is associated with adverse outcomes. We previously developed a linear model that estimates ionized calcium (ICa...
An empirical examination of the relationship between nonresponse rate and nonresponse bias

The dramatic decline in survey response rates over the past three decades raises significant concerns about the possi- bility of bias in survey results. Current theory emphasizes that it is the relationship between response propensity and variables of interest that determines the extent of the bias, and that a low response rate in itself does not necessarily imply a high level of bias. This assertion is supported by a number of studies which have shown that response rate alone is a fairly poor predictor of nonresponse bias. However, most of these studies suffer from methodological features that in some way compromise their attempts to isolate the relationship between response rate and bias. This paper describes the results of a pair of studies which allow for a near-ideal examination of this relationship. The results support the conclusions of prior research, showing that even achieved samples with response rates as low as 10 percent may produce highly accurate estimates in certain cases.
The Digital Divide

International organizations have sounded the alarm. The OECD warns that affluent states at the cutting edge of technological change have reinforced their lead in the new knowledge economy but so far the benefits of the Internet have not yet trickled down far to Southern, Central and Eastern Europe, let alone to the poorest areas in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and South-East Asia. Many official agencies have expressed concern about the development of widening digital divide within societies. Technological opportunities are often highly unevenly distributed, even in nations like Australia, the United States and Sweden at the forefront of the information society. The latest data show that notable divides in Internet penetration still exist between Americans with different levels of income and education, different racial and ethnic groups, old and young, single and dual-parent families, and those with and without disabilities. Global and social divides mean that Internet politics will disproportionately benefit the elite.
Immunopathogenesis and Immunoregulation in Schistosomiasis

Inbred CBA/J mice with chronic (20-week) Schistosoma mansoni infections demonstrate two distinct syndromes. Hypersplenomegaly syndrome (HSS), characterized by a massive spleen, liver fibrosis, ascites, and anemia, resembles hepatosplenic human schistosomiasis, complete with portal hypertension and shunting. Moderate splenomegaly (MSS) syndrome, with less severe pathology, parallels most chronic human infections. Phenotypic analyses of spleen cells for CD44, CD62L, CD45RB, Ia, and CD25 indicate that HSS mice have more activated and memory CD4+ T cells than do MSS mice. HSS animals also have more B cells that highly express B7-2. Anti-CD3 stimulated spleen cells from 8-week or chronically infected mice produce IL-4 and IL-10 in a manner that appears not to involve the CD28/B7-2 costimulation pathway. By contrast IFN-gamma production is augmented in the presence of anti-CD28 and decreased in the presence of anti-B7-2. Infected mice make very little IL-2 to anti-CD3, even with added anti-CD28. As cytokines affect resultant B-cell responses and HSS and MSS mice display distinctive isotypes, differential regulatory or anergy hypotheses may best explain MSS/HSS differences.
Reactive Scattering Cross Sections II: Approximate Quantal Treatments

In this chapter approximate quantal methods for predicting reaction probabilities and cross sections will be discussed. Emphasis is placed upon practical methods which employ quantum dynamics for the reactive scattering of neutral, electronically adiabatic A + BC three-dimensional collisions. Some of the terminology and techniques used in this chapter will be considered in somewhat more detail in Chapter 17, where “accurate” methods for atom-diatom reactions are discussed.
Checkpoints in the Cell Cycle

Surveillance mechanisms stop progression through the cell cycle at specific checkpoints (at the G1 S, G2 M and metaphase anaphase transitions) if certain crucial requirements have not been met. These checkpoint controls are essential for maintaining genomic integrity and balanced growth and division. Keywords: G1 checkpoint; G2 checkpoint; spindle checkpoint; restriction point; Start
Naturalisms in Philosophy of Mind

Most contemporary philosophers of mind claim to be in search of a ‘naturalistic’ theory. However, when we look more closely, we find that there are a number of different and even conflicting ideas of what would count as a ‘naturalization’ of the mind. This article attempts to show what various naturalistic philosophies of mind have in common, and also how they differ from one another. Additionally, it explores the differences between naturalistic philosophies of mind and naturalisms found in ethics, epistemology, and philosophy of science. Section 1 introduces a distinction between two types of project that have been styled ‘naturalistic’, which I call philosophical naturalism and empirical naturalism. Sections 2 to 6 canvass different strands of philosophical naturalism concerning the mind, followed by a much briefer discussion of attempts to provide empirical naturalizations of the mind in Section 7. Section 8 concludes the essay with a consideration of the relations between philosophical and empirical naturalism in philosophy of mind, arguing that at least some types of philosophical naturalism are incompatible with empirical naturalism.
Turbine Blade Unsteady Heat Transfer Change due to Stator Indexing

Stator indexing to alter and/or control the unsteady heat transfer of closely spaced airfoil rows in turbomachinery was studied experimentally in a two-stage low-speed research turbine. With the second vane row fixed, the inlet vane row was indexed to six positions over one vane-pitch cycle at design and high stage loadings. The aerodynamic forcing functions to the first- and second-stage rotors were measured in the rotating reference frame, with the resulting rotor blade unsteady heat transfer response quantified by an electrically heated rotor blade instrumented with thin platinum-film heat gages. The level of attenuation of unsteady heat transfer coefficient due to stator indexing was found to be both location and blade loading dependent, ranging from 10% to 80% of the maximum. Because of the attenuation’s location dependence, stator indexing is therefore best suited to minimize unsteady heat transfer in local hot spots on the blade.Copyright © 1999 by ASME
Rod outer segment lipid--opsin ratios in the developing normal and retinal dystrophic rat.

Abstract The outer segment membrane lipid and opsin contents were determined in photoreceptor cell rods isolated from the eyes of developing normal rats reared in cyclic light or dark environments and dark-reared dystrophic rats. In cyclic light-reared normals rhodopsin/eye increased 49% during the period 20–60 days. Total ROS lipid content, a measure of ROS length, increased 50% while the polyunsaturated fatty acid docosahexaenoate increased from 42–51 mol % during the same period. The phospholipid/opsin ratio of cyclic light reared rat ROS membranes was 67 mol/mol at 20 days and 68 mol/mol at 60 days. In young dark-reared normals the phospholipid/opsin ratio was the same as for cyclic light-reared rats. Although 60 day-old dark-reared normals had 30% more rhodopsin/eye than their cyclic light-reared counterparts, non-significant changes in ROS length (14% longer) and in the phospholipid/opsin ratio (8% lower) were measured in these rats. In addition, light deprivation had no significant effect on the concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids or the lipid composition of the isolated ROS. The eyes of dark-reared rats with retinal dystrophy accumulated two times more rhodopsin than dark-reared normals during the 20–60-day period. The phospholipid/opsin ratio of mutant rat ROS was only 7% lower than dark normal at 20 days and 13% lower at 34 days. However, by 60 days of age, the phospholipid/opsin ratio in dystrophic rat ROS was significantly lower than in ROS from either cyclic light-or dark-reared normals. Docosahexaenoic acid in mutant rat ROS lipids averaged 40 mol% during the developmental period. These levels were significantly lower than the levels of docosahexaenoate measured in dark normals at both the 34- and 64-day periods. The glycerophospholipid composition of dystrophic rat ROS was the same as normal at all ages but the cholesterol/phospholipid ratio was higher than in normals. The data show: (1) that the retina accomodates changes in rhodopsin content induced by environmental light, age and genetic differences by alterations in ROS opsin density and length: (2) that the content of ROS membrane polyunsaturated fatty acids (fluidity) increases during development in normals but not in dystrophic rats. The data also suggest that basal membrane synthesis and/or post sythetic membrane modification of ROS lipid are impaired as a function of age in dystrophic rats.
The third intracellular domain of the m3 muscarinic receptor determines coupling to calcium influx in transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells

The m2 and m3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors were expressed in CHO cells and were shown to couple to the release of calcium from intracellular stores. The m3 receptor, but not the m2 receptor, also coupled to calcium influx. Chimeric m2/m3 receptors were used to determine the structural domain of the m3 receptor linked to the regulation of calcium influx. It was found that the third intracellular loop of m3 receptor plays a fundamental role in regulating Ca2+ influx predicted to occur through Ca2+ channels located in the plasma membrane in CHO cells.
Measuring the forces generated by erosive debris flows

Like water flows, debris flows can carve out steep valleys and change landscapes. By studying the mechanics of bedrock incision caused by flowing debris, scientists are better able to understand patterns and rates of landscape evolution. Laboratory studies and models have shown how flowing granular materials can cut into rock, but field measurements are needed to confirm the findings and provide information about the more complex natural environment.