cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bone Marrow Cell Rejection by Innate Immune Pathways Is Exclusively Dependent On the TRIF Pathway.

Abstract Abstract 3526 Poster Board III-463 Research on transplantation rejection, tolerance, and immunosuppressive agents has been directed toward the adaptive immune response as, until now, it has been believed to be the dominant mechanism for alloreactivity. The role of innate immunity in transplantation has not been fully defined. Despite the sentinel role of innate immunity in driving and shaping adaptive immunity, the contribution of innate immunity to bone narrow cells has only recently been identified. TLR4-driven MyD88-dependent immunity has been demonstrated to be critical for allogeneic innate immune responses to solid organ transplants. Whether innate immunity plays a role in BMC rejection has not been defined. In the present studies we tested whether the absence of MyD88 would enhance allogeneic engraftment in bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The core component of TLR signaling is activation of an IL-1-like pathway dependent upon the adapter MyD88. MyD88−/− B6 mice (n=6) were used to study the role of MyD88 signaling in allogeneic BMC rejection. As TRIF is another crucial adapter for TLR3 signaling and responsible for induction of signaling via type 1 IFNs, B6 TRIF−/− mice (n=6) were also investigated. Wild-type B6 (H2b, n=6) mice were used as controls. In the present study, MHC plus minor antigen-disparate BALB/c (H2d) mice served as allogeneic bone marrow donors. Recipients were nonmyeloablatively conditioned with anti-CD154 mAb (day0 and +3) to block CD40:CD154 co-stimulatory pathway and sirolimus (day0 to +4) to block late-stage T cell activation by inhibiting IL-2 responsiveness. Recipients were transplanted with 15 × 106 allogeneic (BALB/c; H2d) marrow cells 4-6 hours following conditioning with 100 cGy total body irradiation (TBI). Allogeneic engraftment was achieved in 33.3% of MyD88−/− recipients at 1 mo after BMT, a percentage similar to that for wild-type B6 mice. Surprisingly, 100% of TRIF−/− mice engrafted. The level of donor chimerism in TRIF−/− mice was 5.1 ± 0.6% at one month after BMT, which was significantly higher than in MyD88−/− (1.8 ± 1.0%; P Disclosures: Ildstad: Regenerex: Equity Ownership.
Site-Directed Spin Labeling EPR Spectroscopy Of The Cytoplasmic Tail Of Influenza A M2

The M2 protein is a 97 residue homotetrameric, multifunctional ion channel that plays critical roles during the influenza infection cycle. While a variety of high-resolution biophysical techniques have been used to characterize the transmembrane domain (residues 22-46) and the juxtamembrane C-terminal region (46-62), less is known about the conformation and dynamics of the remaining residues of the C-terminal cytoplasmic tail. Here, we use site-directed spin labeling electron paramagnetic spectroscopy (SDSL-EPR) experiments to probe the secondary structure and membrane topology of cytoplasmic tail residues 60-80 when the protein is reconstituted into lipid bilayers. Cholesterol is essential for the role the C-terminal domain of the M2 protein plays in viral budding. SDSL-EPR data is collected in both in the presence and absence of cholesterol.
Development of Absorbable, Antibiotic-Eluting Sutures for Ophthalmic Surgery.

Purpose To develop and evaluate an antibiotic-eluting suture for ophthalmic surgery. Methods Wet electrospinning was used to manufacture sutures composed of poly(L-lactide), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and levofloxacin. Size, morphology, and mechanical strength were evaluated via scanning electron microscopy and tensile strength, respectively. In vitro drug release was quantified using high performance liquid chromatography. In vitro suture activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis was investigated through bacterial inhibition studies. Biocompatibility was determined via histological analysis of tissue sections surrounding sutures implanted into Sprague-Dawley rat corneas. Results Sutures manufactured via wet electrospinning were 45.1 ± 7.7 μm in diameter and 0.099 ± 0.007 newtons (N) in breaking strength. The antibiotic release profile demonstrated a burst followed by sustained release for greater than 60 days. Increasing PEG in the polymer formulation, from 1% to 4% by weight, improved drug release without negatively affecting tensile strength. Sutures maintained a bacterial zone of inhibition for at least 1 week in vitro and elicited an in vivo tissue reaction comparable to a nylon suture. Conclusions There is a need for local, postoperative delivery of antibiotics following ophthalmic procedures. Wet electrospinning provides a suitable platform for the development of sutures that meet size requirements for ophthalmic surgery and are capable of sustained drug release; however, tensile strength must be improved prior to clinical use. Translational relevance No antibiotic-eluting suture exists for ophthalmic surgery. A biocompatible, high strength suture capable of sustained antibiotic release could prevent ocular infection and preclude compliance issues with topical eye drops.
Economic Assessment of CVD Diamond Synthesis Technologies

Abstract Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) synthesis of diamond was discovered at almost the same time as the commercialization of the High Pressure - High Temperature (HPHT) synthesis of diamond grit. However, it took two decades to show feasibility of growing pure CVD diamond at practical rates. From about 1980 to the present, CVD diamond science and technology has undergone an explosive period of investigation, leading to the development of a number of CVD diamond techniques, including H-Atom-Plasma and Chemical Methods in the H-C, H-C-O and H-C-F systems. Because these CVD diamond technologies are either developmental or only recently in production, there are still numerous uncertainties in the eventual manufacturing costs attainable with CVD. To estimate CVD diamond manufacturing costs, and to compare them with those of commercial HPHT diamond synthesis, we employ a computer based Technical Cost Modeling (TCM) approach which has the flexibility to structure and evaluate model factories with a variety of unit processes representing the different CVD diamond synthesis techniques. A generic approach is first presented to calculate the cost of CVD diamond coatings, which allows future update of cost estimates by incorporating advances in equipment and plant size, process technology, and yield and deposition rate. The general case also provides a basis for assessing factors which influence the cost of depositing CVD diamond powder, or grit. Sensitivity analysis is then applied to the Microwave and Filament CVD methods to understand the dependence of CVD diamond costs upon growth rate, layer thickness, yield, and production volume. The polycrystalline CVD diamond X-ray window is an example of a high systems value commercial product already successful at small scale of manufacture. CVD diamond optical coatings and electronic components are potential specialty products which possess the capability of becoming commercially viable at low production volumes. At high volume manufacture, Microwave and Filament CVD diamond technologies appear economical for large area deposition of thin polycrystalline coatings for use in cutting tool inserts, at add-on costs below $150/carat. With advances in technology, thick diamond coatings for cutting tool inserts and thermal management components could ultimately become available at add-on-costs below $5/carat. Low process gas-to-diamond yield and high energy usage are the chief factors that limit the cost competitiveness of CVD diamond powder with HPHT diamond grit.
Chapter 34 Cost allocation

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the game-theory literature on cost allocation. Cost allocation not only provides internal signals that guide a firm's operations but also may be a response to external competitive pressures. Cost allocation is a kind of game in which costs (and benefits) are shared among different parts of an organization. The organization wants an allocation mechanism that is efficient, equitable, and provides appropriate incentives to its various parts. Cooperative game theory provides the tools for analyzing these issues. Cooperative game theory and cost allocation are closely intertwined in practice. Some of the central ideas in cooperative game theory, such as the core, were prefigured in the early theoretical literature on cost allocation. Others, such as the Shapley value, have long been used implicitly by some organizations. The chapter describes some of the central solution concepts in cooperative game theory. Axioms and conditions that are usually presented in an abstract setting often seem more compelling when interpreted in the cost-allocation framework. Cost allocation is a practical problem in which the salience of the solution depends on contextual and institutional details. The chapter presents various ways of modeling a cost allocation situation.
Natural products: Tapping into personalized chemistry.

By integrating metagenomics, spectroscopy and synthetic biology, the individualized chemistry of small reef-dwelling organisms and their associated microbiota can be characterized in exquisite detail, unlocking a wealth of structural diversity for the development of new drugs.
Metabolism of hydrogen gases and bile acids in the gut microbiome.

The human gut microbiome refers to a highly diverse microbial ecosystem, which has a symbiotic relationship with the host. Molecular hydrogen (H2 ) and carbon dioxide (CO2 ) are generated by fermentative metabolism in anaerobic ecosystems. H2 generation and oxidation coupled to CO2 reduction to methane or acetate help maintain the structure of the gut microbiome. Bile acids are synthesized by hepatocytes from cholesterol in the liver and are important regulators of host metabolism. In this Review, we discuss how gut bacteria metabolize hydrogen gases and bile acids in the intestinal tract and the consequences on host physiology. Finally, we focus on bile acid metabolism by the Actinobacterium Eggerthella lenta. Eggerthella lenta appears to couple hydroxyl group oxidations to reductive acetogenesis under a CO2 or N2 atmosphere, but not under H2 . Hence, at low H2 levels, E. lenta is proposed to use NADH from bile acid hydroxyl group oxidations to reduce CO2 to acetate.
Stability of Nonholonomic Systems

In Chapter 3 we briefly discussed the energy-momentum method for analyzing stability of relative equilibria of mechanical systems. In the nonholonomic case, while energy is conserved, momentum generally is not. In some cases, however, the momentum equation is integrable, leading to invariant surfaces that make possible an energy-momentum analysis similar to that in the holonomic case. When the momentum equation is not integrable, one can get asymptotic stability in certain directions, and the stability analysis is rather different from that in the holonomic case. Nonetheless, to show stability we will make use of the conserved energy and the dynamic momentum equation.
Molecular biology of the anion exchanger gene family

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews data on the structure and function of the anion exchanger (AE) gene family with a focus on the structure and organization of the anion exchanger genes and the conservation of function among the polypeptides they encode. It describes the expression of the band 3 gene in erythroid cells and some of the biochemical, pharmacological, and immunological evidence for expression of the anion exchanger gene family in nonerythroid tissues. The gene family of AE consists of at least four or five members, of which three are characterized at the cDNA level. AE1–3 encode polypeptides that share significant homology with the erythrocyte anion exchanger, band 3 (AE1). The expression of cDNAs encoding these genes in heterologous systems confirms that this sequence similarity is reflected in the capacity to mediate reversible Cl/HCO3 exchange. The NH2-terminal domain of band 3 interacts with several cytoplasmic proteins in erythrocytes. AE2 is expressed in a number of epithelial and nonepithelial cells. AE3 is expressed in excitable tissues, including neurons and muscle. These proteins play a role in the regulation of intracellular pH and chloride in their respective tissue.
Hydrogen distribution kinetics in stainless steel during LWR exposure

A calculational approach has been used to evaluate potential sources, transport, and distribution of hydrogen in light-water reactor (LWR) irradiated stainless steel. The calculations indicate that corrosion-induced hydrogen can achieve significant and uniform concentration profiles in structures of reasonable thickness, i.e., 3 mm. The LWR temperature of about 288 C is sufficient to promote diffusion without the aid of radiation-enhanced diffusion. If the in-core hydrogen fugacity is significantly higher than ex-core hydrogen fugacity, it is predicted that hydrogen outgassing will occur during times associated with ex-reactor slow strain rate testing. Differences between hydrogen effects on in-core irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) and ex-core IASCC are expected. Hydrogen traps in stainless steel are not important at LWR temperatures. Lastly, calculated transmutation hydrogen inventories are small even when a surface oxide barrier exists blocking the release of hydrogen.
Endogenous sodium pump inhibition: Current status and therapeutic opportunities

Controversy is a favorite term among reviewers. How better can one justify a review of a subject than to indicate that the subject is controversial? Sometimes the term is employed to indicate that consensus has not been achieved on all of the details, a synonym for disagreement. At other times, the term is used more appropriately to indicate passionate advocacy and equally impassioned denial, as evidenced in recent Letters to the Editor [1–3]. There is continuing interest in the possibility that a circulating sodium pump inhibitor, believed to be digitalis-like, contributes to sodium homeostasis and the pathogenesis of sodium-sensitive hypertension, as evidenced by a series of recent review articles [4–13]. In general, the tone of these review articles could be described as cautious but optimistic. The continued controversy is better indicated by the specific wording of one of the recent Letters to the Editor [1]. “After approximately twenty years of a fruitless search for endogenous digitalis-like factors, interest has declined considerably among scientists occupied with theoretical aspects of the sodium pump… Among clinicians, however, judging from the great number of articles in clinical journals … the interest is undiminished… The number of publications on the topic, however, seems inversely related to the facts and realities of the subject.” Similar views, perhaps with a more balanced expression, have been expressed by other authorities in this field [14].
The shadows of colonialism and liberation: political development implications for hegemonic and opposition parties

In 2018, South Africa and Zimbabwe experienced what appeared to be tectonic political shifts with the forced resignations or departures of Jacob Zuma and Robert Mugabe, respectively. Scholars of Af...
A High-Speed Gate Driver with PCB-Embedded Rogowski Switch-Current Sensor for a 10 kV, 240 A, SiC MOSFET Module

High-voltage SiC MOSFET modules are revolutionizing modern high power electronics owing to their high blocking voltage, low conduction resistance, and fast switching frequency. A 10 kV, 240 A SiC MOSFET module has recently become a candidate to build medium-voltage converters. The MOSFET module comprises three independent submodules that can be configured as three phase-legs, or one half-bridge by paralleling. To maximize its performance, this paper presents a smart gate driver design for this particular semiconductor device. The design concentrates on a high-current booster stage and a high-bandwidth PCB-embedded Rogowski switch-current sensors for the paralleled submodules. The PCB layout has satisfied high-voltage clearance and creepage standards. Finally, the booster current sharing and RSCS performance have been experimentally validated.
Solid Waste Management Policy Implications on Waste Process Choices and Systemwide Cost and Greenhouse Gas Performance.

Solid waste management (SWM) is a key function of local government and is critical to protecting human health and the environment. Development of effective SWM strategies should consider comprehensive SWM process choices and policy implications on system-level cost and environmental performance. This analysis evaluated cost and select environmental implications of SWM policies for Wake County, North Carolina using a life-cycle approach. A county-specific data set and scenarios were developed to evaluate alternatives for residential municipal SWM, which included combinations of a mixed waste material recovery facility (MRF), anaerobic digestion, and waste-to-energy combustion in addition to existing SWM infrastructure (composting, landfilling, single stream recycling). Multiple landfill diversion and budget levels were considered for each scenario. At maximum diversion, the greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation costs ranged from 30 to 900 $/MTCO2e; the lower values were when a mixed waste MRF was used, and the h...
Quantitative frequency-domain pulse oximetry with deep neural network (DNN) real-time processing

Conference Presentation for "Quantitative frequency-domain pulse oximetry with deep neural network (DNN) real-time processing"
Gamut: A Design Probe to Understand How Data Scientists Understand Machine Learning Models

Without good models and the right tools to interpret them, data scientists risk making decisions based on hidden biases, spurious correlations, and false generalizations. This has led to a rallying cry for model interpretability. Yet the concept of interpretability remains nebulous, such that researchers and tool designers lack actionable guidelines for how to incorporate interpretability into models and accompanying tools. Through an iterative design process with expert machine learning researchers and practitioners, we designed a visual analytics system, Gamut, to explore how interactive interfaces could better support model interpretation. Using Gamut as a probe, we investigated why and how professional data scientists interpret models, and how interface affordances can support data scientists in answering questions about model interpretability. Our investigation showed that interpretability is not a monolithic concept: data scientists have different reasons to interpret models and tailor explanations for specific audiences, often balancing competing concerns of simplicity and completeness. Participants also asked to use Gamut in their work, highlighting its potential to help data scientists understand their own data.
Biochar compost blends facilitate switchgrass growth in mine soils by reducing Cd and Zn bioavailability

Biochars have the potential to reclaim mine-impacted soils; however, their variable physico-chemical properties incite speculation about their successful remediation performance. This investigation examined the capability of biochars produced from three different feedstocks along with a compost blend to improve switchgrass growth conditions in a mine-impacted soil by examining influences on soil pH, grass metal contents, and soil-extractable metal concentrations. Cadmium (Cd)- and zinc (Zn)-contaminated mine soil was collected from a site near Webb City, Missouri, USA—a location within the Tri-State Mining District. In a full factorial design, soil was treated with a 0%, 2.5%, and 5% (w/w) compost mixture (wood chips + beef cattle manure), and 0%, 2.5% and 5% of each biochar pyrolyzed from beef cattle manure, poultry litter, and lodgepole pine feedstocks. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum, ‘Cave-In-Rock’ variety) was grown in a greenhouse for 50 days and the mass of shoots (above-ground biomass) and roots was assessed, while soil pH, deionized H2O- and 0.01 M CaCl2-extractable Cd and Zn concentrations were measured. Poultry litter biochar and compost had the greatest ability to raise soil pH (from 4.40 to 6.61), beef cattle manure biochar and compost moderately raised pH (from 4.4 to 5.92), and lodgepole pine biochar and compost weakly raised pH (from 4.40 to 5.05). Soils treated with beef cattle manure biochar, poultry litter biochar significantly reduced deionized H2O- and 0.01 M CaCl2-extractable Cd and Zn concentrations, while lodgepole pine biochar-treated soils showed mixed results. Switchgrass shoot and root masses were greatest in soil treated with compost in combination with either beef cattle manure biochar or poultry litter biochar. Soils treated with 5% beef cattle manure biochar + 5% compost had greater reductions in total Cd and Zn concentrations measured in switchgrass shoots and roots compared to the other two treatments. The three biochars and compost mixtures applied to heavy metal, mine-impacted soil had considerable performance dissimilarities for improving switchgrass productivity. Switchgrass growth was noticeably improved after treatment with the compost in combination with biochar from beef cattle manure or poultry litter. This may be explained by the increased soil pH that promoted Zn and Cd precipitation and organic functional groups that reduced soil-available heavy metal concentrations. Our results imply that creating designer biochars is an important management component in developing successful mine-site phytostabilization programs.
Identifying Protective Health Behaviors on Twitter: Observational Study of Travel Advisories and Zika Virus.

Background: An estimated 3.9 billion individuals live in a location endemic for common mosquito-borne diseases. The emergence of Zika virus in South America in 2015 marked the largest known Zika outbreak and caused hundreds of thousands of infections. Internet data have shown promise in identifying human behaviors relevant for tracking and understanding other diseases. Objective: Using Twitter posts regarding the 2015-16 Zika virus outbreak, we sought to identify and describe considerations and self-disclosures of a specific behavior change relevant to the spread of disease—travel cancellation. If this type of behavior is identifiable in Twitter, this approach may provide an additional source of data for disease modeling. Methods: We combined keyword filtering and machine learning classification to identify first-person reactions to Zika in 29,386 English-language tweets in the context of travel, including considerations and reports of travel cancellation. We further explored demographic, network, and linguistic characteristics of users who change their behavior compared with control groups. Results: We found differences in the demographics, social networks, and linguistic patterns of 1567 individuals identified as changing or considering changing travel behavior in response to Zika as compared with a control sample of Twitter users. We found significant differences between geographic areas in the United States, significantly more discussion by women than men, and some evidence of differences in levels of exposure to Zika-related information. Conclusions: Our findings have implications for informing the ways in which public health organizations communicate with the public on social media, and the findings contribute to our understanding of the ways in which the public perceives and acts on risks of emerging infectious diseases.
A Deck of Cards, a Bunch of Kids, and Thou.

when he enters the kindergarten or firstgrade classroom, while another may actually be able to do simple addition and subtraction, and more. The problem is complicated by the fact that youngsters of this age group have not as yet learned how to sit still for any great length of time, and thus the more we can individualize their instruction, the better the chances that we will be able to hold their attention.
Missed opportunities to make PR great again: How public relations agencies responded to the Trump Presidency

Abstract This exploratory study examines approaches the world’s top public relations agencies used to respond to the risks posed by a new U.S. administration during President Trump’s first 100 days in office. Because the goal of this research was to analyze the public thought leadership of public relations agencies as displayed on their websites (not agency-client relationships), both quantitative and qualitative content analyses were carried out to examine their website content. The purpose was to identify whether agencies’ ethical counsel and leadership were demonstrated; and, if they were, through which approaches and themes. Public relations agencies discussed the Trump victory in a few ways. The most popular theme was the Columnist/Blogger/Critic approach, or a personalized reflection of agency staffers on the Trump victory. The second most popular--yet less frequent--approach was as PR Counsel, aimed at providing professional advice to prepare brands for Trump’s attacks and/or take advantages of new opportunities in the Trump era. The third most popular – the Expert approach – was an in-depth analysis of an issue (for example, health care) and a Trump presidency’s implications. This study addresses implications for risk management in the political sphere of public relations. The response of the public relations industry, as evidenced on agency websites, was less than strategic: We do not practice what we preach (or sell). Recommendations are offered for an improved response to future challenges based on issues management and ethical leadership.
Multi-objective multi-generation Gaussian process optimizer for design optimization

We present a multi-objective evolutionary optimization algorithm that uses Gaussian process (GP) regression-based models to select trial solutions in a multi-generation iterative procedure. In each generation, a surrogate model is constructed for each objective function with the sample data. The models are used to evaluate solutions and to select the ones with a high potential before they are evaluated on the actual system. Since the trial solutions selected by the GP models tend to have better performance than other methods that only rely on random operations, the new algorithm has much higher efficiency in exploring the parameter space. Simulations with multiple test cases show that the new algorithm has a substantially higher convergence speed and stability than NSGA-II, MOPSO, and some other more recent algorithms.
Diffusion-time dependence of diffusional kurtosis in the mouse brain

Purpose To investigate diffusion-time dependency of diffusional kurtosis in the mouse brain using pulsed-gradient spin-echo (PGSE) and oscillating-gradient spin-echo (OGSE) sequences. Methods 3D PGSE and OGSE kurtosis tensor data were acquired from ex vivo brains of adult, cuprizone-treated, and age-matched control mice with diffusion-time (tD ) ~ 20 ms and frequency (f) = 70 Hz, respectively. Further, 2D acquisitions were performed at multiple times/frequencies ranging from f = 140 Hz to tD = 30 ms with b-values up to 4000 s/mm2 . Monte Carlo simulations were used to investigate the coupled effects of varying restriction size and permeability on time/frequency-dependence of kurtosis with both diffusion-encoding schemes. Simulations and experiments were further performed to investigate the effect of varying number of cycles in OGSE waveforms. Results Kurtosis and diffusivity maps exhibited significant region-specific changes with diffusion time/frequency across both gray and white matter areas. PGSE- and OGSE-based kurtosis maps showed reversed contrast between gray matter regions in the cerebellar and cerebral cortex. Localized time/frequency-dependent changes in kurtosis tensor metrics were found in the splenium of the corpus callosum in cuprizone-treated mouse brains, corresponding to regional demyelination seen with histological assessment. Monte Carlo simulations showed that kurtosis estimates with pulsed- and oscillating-gradient waveforms differ in their sensitivity to exchange. Both simulations and experiments showed dependence of kurtosis on number of cycles in OGSE waveforms for non-zero permeability. Conclusion The results show significant time/frequency-dependency of diffusional kurtosis in the mouse brain, which can provide sensitivity to probe intrinsic cellular heterogeneity and pathological alterations in gray and white matter.
Identification and analysis of consensus RNA motifs binding to the genome regulator CTCF

CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) is a key regulator of 3D genome organization and gene expression. Recent studies suggest that RNA transcripts, mostly long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), can serve as locus-specific factors to bind and recruit CTCF to the chromatin. However, it remains unclear whether specific sequence patterns are shared by the CTCF-binding RNA sites, and no RNA motif has been reported so far for CTCF binding. In this study, we have developed DeepLncCTCF, a new deep learning model based on a convolutional neural network and a bidirectional long short-term memory network, to discover the RNA recognition patterns of CTCF and identify candidate lncRNAs binding to CTCF. When evaluated on two different datasets, human U2OS dataset and mouse ESC dataset, DeepLncCTCF was shown to be able to accurately predict CTCF-binding RNA sites from nucleotide sequence. By examining the sequence features learned by DeepLncCTCF, we discovered a novel RNA motif with the consensus sequence, AGAUNGGA, for potential CTCF binding in humans. Furthermore, the applicability of DeepLncCTCF was demonstrated by identifying nearly 5000 candidate lncRNAs that might bind to CTCF in the nucleus. Our results provide useful information for understanding the molecular mechanisms of CTCF function in 3D genome organization.
Development of a model to describe the compositional growth and dietary lysine requirements of pigs fed ractopamine.

The objective of this research was to use recent ractopamine research data to develop an updated mathematical model to describe the daily compositional growth of pigs fed ractopamine. Mean increases of 18.2, 23.1, and 25.0% for daily protein accretion were assumed for 5, 10, and 20 ppm of ractopamine for an overall gain of 40 kg of BW gain during the feeding period. The relative effect of ractopamine described the rapid increase and subsequent decrease in the effect of ractopamine as a function of BW gain or days on test and ractopamine concentration (RC, ppm). The reduction in ME intake produced by ractopamine was described as 0.036 x (RC/20) 0.7 multiplied by the ME intake for the first 20 kg of BW gain, and then increasing to 0.078 x (RC/20) 0.7 at 40 kg of BW gain feeding period. The ratio of fat-free muscle gain to protein accretion increased by 14 to 16% with the feeding of ractopamine, depending on the dietary lysine/essential AA levels. The ratio of carcass fat gain to empty body lipid gain was increased when lysine and essential AA requirements were met. Daily protein accretion and fat-free lean growth were described as functions of dietary lysine/essential AA intakes. The percentage of lysine in protein accretion increased with the feeding of ractopamine from 6.80 to 7.15%, depending on ractopamine concentration. Equations predicting carcass measurements, such as fat and longissimus muscle depths from carcass weight and composition, were modified to incorporate prediction biases produced by ractopamine. For the four concentrations of ractopamine (0, 5, 10, and 20 ppm, respectively) during a 78 to 110 kg of BW feeding period, the model predicted performance levels for ADG (1.03, 1.15, 1.16, and 1.16 kg/d), gain:feed (kg of ADG/kg of ADFI; 0.360, 0.401, 0.412, and 0.425), dressing percentage (75.1, 76.0, 76.3, and 76.4), percentage fat-free lean (48.7, 51.0, 51.5, and 52.2), longissimus muscle area (38.8, 41.8, 42.5, and 43.5 cm 2 ), 10th-rib fat depth (22.1, 19.8, 19.3, and 18.7 mm), and fat-free lean gain (321, 446, 467, and 495 g/d), comparable to recent research data. The model allows the effect of ractopamine to be added to farm specific pig growth curves. It can be used to evaluate ways to optimize the use of ractopamine, including duration of ractopamine feeding, concentration of ractopamine, and dietary lysine concentration.
Understanding Culture and Success in Global Business: Developing Cultural and Innovative Intrapreneurs in Small Businesses

Culture in business is a crucial step to becoming successful in global business. It helps to promote effective communication, a vital factor in business success. Organizational culture, which is often implied, but not explicitly defined, usually develops naturally and progressively overtime from the collective traits of the employees. Good corporate culture creates an environment where every employee can have the opportunity to initiate and bring about change. It is also an environment that encourages employees to be open while also going after their values and beliefs. Such an environment creates retention as well as satisfied and productive employees who are motivated and are proactive in their pursuit of innovation through intrapreneurship. Using the entrepreneurial theory of the firm and the organizational culture as a framework, the purpose of this chapter contribution is to explore how small businesses can achieve business success and competitive differentiation by making intrapreneurial culture a part of their genetic makeup. The culture of intrapreneurship in any organization—both large and small—must be deliberate, one that is embedded in the organization’s mission, vision, and strategy. I concluded the chapter with a case study of a small business owner whose goal is to ensure that the culture of intrapreneurship is at the heart of every decision that is made within the organization.
Shared genetics between nonobstructive azoospermia and primary ovarian insufficiency

Objective Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) and nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) both represent disease states of early, and often complete, failure of gametogenesis. Because oogenesis and spermatogenesis share the same conserved steps in meiosis I, it is possible that inherited defects in meiosis I could lead to shared causes of both POI and NOA. Currently, known genes that contribute to both POI and NOA are limited. In this review article, we provide a systematic review of genetic mutations in which both POI and NOA phenotypes exist. Evidence Review A PubMed literature review was conducted from January 1, 2000, through October 2020. We included all studies that demonstrated human cases of POI or NOA due to a specific genetic mutation either within the same family or in separate families. Results We identified 33 papers that encompassed 10 genes of interest with mutations implicated in both NOA and POI. The genes were all involved in processes of meiosis I. Conclusion Mutations in genes involved in processes of meiosis I may cause both NOA and POI. Identifying these unique phenotypes among shared genotypes leads to biologic plausibility that the key error occurs early in gametogenesis with an etiology shared among both male and female offspring. From a clinical standpoint, this shared relationship may help us better understand and identify individuals at a high risk of gonadal failure within families and suggests that clinicians obtain the history of opposite-sex family members when approaching a new diagnosis of POI or NOA.
Cryopreservation Protocols for Genetically Engineered Mice

Protocols for cryopreservation of mouse embryos and sperm are important for preserving genetically engineered mice (GEMs) used in research to study human development and diseases. Embryo cryopreservation is mainly carried out using either of two protocols: controlled gradual cooling or vitrification. Sperm cryopreservation protocols include two methodologies that are commonly referred to as JAX and CARD. Quality-control measures are necessary to ensure that GEMs are properly cryopreserved so that they can be retrieved for future use. An archiving system is also important in keeping proper records of frozen sperm and embryos. Frozen embryos and sperm are now preferred over live mice for shipping to distant locations. This article describes detailed protocols used in cryopreservation of mouse embryos and sperm, as well as their retrieval to live mice. © 2021 U.S. Government. Sperm cryopreservation Basic Protocol 1: JAX protocol for sperm cryopreservation Support Protocol 1: JAX protocol for making sperm cryopreservation medium Basic Protocol 2: JAX protocol for IVF of mouse sperm Alternate Protocol 1: Modified CARD protocol for sperm cryopreservation Support Protocol 2: CARD protocol for making sperm cryopreservation medium Alternate Protocol 2: CARD protocol for IVF of mouse sperm Embryo cryopreservation Basic Protocol 3: Cryopreserving and thawing 2-cell embryos Alternate Protocol 3: Cryopreserving and thawing 8-cell to morula-stage embryos Surgical transfer of embryos Basic Protocol 4: Infundibulum transfer of 2-cell to morula-stage embryos.
Epidemiology of rugby-related fractures in high school- and college-aged players in the United States: an analysis of the 1999-2018 NEISS database.

Objectives: Rugby is a high-impact collision sport with identical competition rules by sex. The aim of this study was to analyze the trend of rugby-related fractures by body site, sex, and age in amateur athletes from 1999 to 2018. Methods: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database was queried to characterize rugby-related injuries from 1999 to 2018 in patients aged 14-23 years old. National injury estimates were calculated using sample weights. Chi-square analysis and one-way ANOVA were performed to compare categorical variables. Results: Out of a total of 43,722 weighted cases of rugby-related fractures over the 19-year period, 70.9% were among high school- and college-aged males and females between the ages of 14-23 years (N = 30,996). Males constituted 79.3% of cases whereas females composed 20.7% of the cases. The proportion of upper extremity fractures was similar in both males and females, yet facial fractures were significantly more common among males than females (27.9% vs. 14.6%, P < 0.001). Among facial fractures, nasal fractures represented 74.4% of the sample, yet facial fractures only resulted in hospital admittance in 1.3% of cases. Lower extremity fractures were more likely to be severe, with 11.3% of LE cases being admitted to the hospital.Conclusion: Rugby players in the US diagnosed in the ED with fractures consisted largely of male, high school- and college-aged athletes. Males and females experienced upper and lower-extremity fractures at comparable rates, yet lower extremity injuries were more likely to be admitted to a hospital. Men were significantly more likely to experience a facial fracture in which a majority were nasal fractures.
Real wage growth in the U.S. health workforce and the narrowing of the gender pay gap.

BACKGROUND Healthcare has been identified as a job engine during recent recessions in the U.S. Whether the healthcare sector provides better than average pay remains a question. This study investigates if wages grew with the expanding demand for healthcare workers between 2001 and 2017. Wage growth in the (1) physicians and surgeons, (2) nurse, (3) healthcare practitioner and technical, (4) healthcare support, and (5) direct patient care jobs are examined. The gender pay gap in each occupation is investigated. METHODS The American Community Survey (ACS) public use microdata sample (PUMS) for 2001, 2004, 2008, 2013, and 2017 were used to derive hourly wages for full-time, full-year workers aged 18-75. The cumulative percent change in unadjusted, median hourly wages between 2001 and 2017 was calculated for each occupation. Quantile regression estimates predicted a median hourly wage for men and women by year and job after adjusting for differences in demographics, industry, and hours worked. RESULTS Unadjusted median wage growth was 9.92% for nurses, 5.68% for healthcare practitioners, and 37.6% for physicians between 2001 and 2017. These rates are roughly above the estimated national rate of wage growth at the 50th wage percentile. In healthcare support and direct patient care occupations, workers experienced either stagnant or negative wage growth. Women had lower occupational wages than men. CONCLUSION The slow or negative median wage growth in all but the physician occupation between 2004-2008 and 2008-2013 confirms that healthcare wages in the U.S. are not recession-proof, unlike healthcare employment. Generally, women's earnings grew at rates that were higher or less negative than rates for men. This trend contributed to narrowing the gender pay gap in every occupation except for nurse.
Non-Visual Accessibility Assessment of Videos

Video accessibility is crucial for blind screen-reader users as online videos are increasingly playing an essential role in education, employment, and entertainment. While there exist quite a few techniques and guidelines that focus on creating accessible videos, there is a dearth of research that attempts to characterize the accessibility of existing videos. Therefore in this paper, we define and investigate a diverse set of video and audio-based accessibility features in an effort to characterize accessible and inaccessible videos. As a ground truth for our investigation, we built a custom dataset of 600 videos, in which each video was assigned an accessibility score based on the number of its wins in a Swiss-system tournament, where human annotators performed pairwise accessibility comparisons of videos. In contrast to existing accessibility research where the assessments are typically done by blind users, we recruited sighted users for our effort, since videos comprise a special case where sight could be required to better judge if any particular scene in a video is presently accessible or not. Subsequently, by examining the extent of association between the accessibility features and the accessibility scores, we could determine the features that significantly (positively or negatively) impact video accessibility and therefore serve as good indicators for assessing the accessibility of videos. Using the custom dataset, we also trained machine learning models that leveraged our handcrafted features to either classify an arbitrary video as accessible/inaccessible or predict an accessibility score for the video. Evaluation of our models yielded an F1 score of 0.675 for binary classification and a mean absolute error of 0.53 for score prediction, thereby demonstrating their potential in video accessibility assessment while also illuminating their current limitations and the need for further research in this area.
Preserved β-adrenergic mediated vasodilation in skeletal muscle of young obese adults despite shifts in cyclooxygenase and nitric oxide synthase.

Central adiposity is associated with greater sympathetic support of blood pressure. β-adrenergic receptors (β-AR) buffer sympathetically-mediated vasoconstriction and β-AR mediated vasodilation is ...
Stability of Thermogenic Gas Hydrate in the Gulf of Mexico: Constraints on Models of Climate Change

Thermogenic (structure II) gas hydrate is abundant on the Gulf of Mexico continental slope because hydrocarbon gases from a deep, hot subsurface petroleum system vent prolifically to the sea floor in regions of low temperatures and high pressures that are within the gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ). The distribution of gas hydrate is controlled by geologic structure. Molecular distributions of gases venting from hydrate-bearing sediments show that gas hydrate decomposition is not significant in comparison to flux from the subsurface petroleum system. Structure II gas hydrate is commonly encountered, and contains C 1 -C 5 hydrocarbons that crystallize from relatively unaltered vent gases. Most surficial structure II gas hydrate sites (0-6 m) studied from the ∼540-1930 m water depth range are stable, and gas hydrate is thought to be accumulating to considerable depth in sediment because of the prolific, ongoing venting of gas. Bacterial methane hydrate is also abundant in the Gulf of Mexico. A leaky petroleum system is the larger contributor of thermogenic greenhouse gases to the ocean and atmosphere from the Gulf of Mexico, not gas hydrate decomposition. Gas hydrate crystallization in the Gulf of Mexico sequesters large volumes of greenhouse gases in sediments, deforming soft sediments, and is proposed as an agent that stabilizes or dampens climatic change under the present climatic regime.
Impairment of Thymocyte Development by Dominant-Negative Kuzbanian (ADAM-10) Is Rescued by the Notch Ligand, Delta-1

Although Notch plays a crucial role in T cell development, regulation of Notch signaling in the thymus is not well understood. Kuzbanian, an ADAM protease, has been implicated in the cleavage of both Notch receptors and the Notch ligand, Delta. In this study we show that the expression of a dominant-negative form of Kuzbanian (dnKuz) leads to reduced TCRβ expression in double-negative thymocytes and to a partial block between the double-negative to double-positive stages of development. These defects were rescued by overexpression of Delta-1 on thymocytes. Mixed chimeras showed a cell-autonomous block by dnKuz, but non-cell-autonomous rescue by Delta-1. This suggests that dnKuz impairs Notch signaling in receiving cells, and increasing Delta-1 on sending cells overcomes this defect. Interestingly, the expression of an activated form of Notch-1 rescued some, but not all, the defects in dnKuz Tg mice. Our data suggest that multiple Notch-dependent steps in early thymocyte development require Kuzbanian, but differ in the involvement of other Notch signaling components.
Peace Promotion, Psychology of

Psychological processes such as enemy images, ideology, and obedience to authority mix with political, economic, and social factors to fuel destructive conflict. Following armed conflict, psychological processes can help to heal the emotional wounds, promote nonviolent conflict resolution, and improve intergroup relations. Psychologists promote social justice and prevent violence through work on transitional justice, policy advocacy, and peace education.
Effect of stress on energy flux deviation of ultrasonic waves in GR/EP composites

Ultrasonic waves suffer energy flux deviation in graphite/epoxy because of the large anisotropy. The angle of deviation is a function of the elastic coefficients. For nonlinear solids, these coefficients and thus the angle of deviation is a function of stress. Acoustoelastic theory was used to model the effect of stress on flux deviation for unidirectional T300/5208 using previously measured elastic coefficients. Computations were made for uniaxial stress along the chi /sub 3/ axis (fiber axis) and the chi /sub 1/ axis for waves propagating in the chi /sub 1/ chi /sub 3/ plane. These results predict a shift as large as three degrees for the quasi-transverse wave. It is noted that the shift in energy flux offers a new nondestructive technique for evaluating stress in composites. >