cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Unexpected Characteristics of the IFN-γ Reporters in Nontransformed T Cells

Analysis of the IFN-gamma promoter has primarily been conducted by transient expression of reporter constructs in transformed cells. However, the activity of cis elements may differ when expressed transiently compared with their activity within native chromatin. Furthermore, the transcription factors and signaling mechanisms in transformed cells may differ from those in normal T cells. To analyze IFN-gamma promoter regulation in normal T cells, we developed a novel retroviral bottom-strand reporter system to allow the chromatin integration of promoter regions in primary developing T cells. As controls, both the IL-2 and IL-4 promoters were inducible in this system, with the IL-4 reporter having Th2-specific activity. Strikingly, the IFN-gamma promoter exhibited constitutive activity in both Th1 and Th2 subsets, in contrast to the behavior of the endogenous IFN-gamma gene, which is inducible only in Th1 cells. In mapping this activity, we found that the AP-1/GM-CSF site in the distal promoter element is the most critical element for the constitutive activity. Transgenic reporter lines for the IFN-gamma promoter confirmed the constitutive behavior of the isolated IFN-gamma promoter. This constitutive activity was resistant to inhibition by cyclosporin A and was independent of Stat4 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. These results suggest that IFN-gamma promoter regulation may require cis elements residing either downstream or >3.4 kb upstream of the transcriptional start site, involving repression of constitutive activity.
Renal: Systemic renin indices and renal vein renin ratios as prognostic indicators in remedial renovascular hypertension

Renovascular occlusive lesions account for the most common form of surgically correctable hypertension. Technical advances in vascular reconstructive surgery have increased the likelihood of renal parenchymal preservation and amelioration of hypertension in patients having renal artery stenoses. Proper selection of patients alleged to have renovascular hypertension for operative treatment is the most important determinant of a successful result. Measurements of systemic and renal vein renin activity have been used to define the functional significance of suspected renal artery occlusive lesions. Ischemic kidney renin hypersecretion associated with contralateral renin suppression has recently evolved as a potentially reliable index of surgical curability [24]. The present investigation was undertaken to determine the discriminatory value of two expressions of excessive plasma renin activity. The reliability of systemic:renin indices (RSRI) and renal vein renin ratios (RVRR) in predicting responses to operation for remedial renovascular hypertension was assessed.
Why the U.S. Does Not Have a Renewable Energy Policy

There is a large gap between the percentage of electricity generated from renewable sources in the U.S. and EU. This paper argues the reasons are not just a failure of policy in the U.S. but also matters of deep political structure and culture. Federalism, separation of powers, changing policies with frequent changes of governing political parties, free market ideology, and popular expectations of cheap energy born of large historic supplies of fossil fuels are all discussed. The author then mounts a "half-hearted and partial" defense of the U.S. approach in terms of the maxmin strategy in game theory and portfolio theory in economics.
A statistical method for quantifying songbird phonology and syntax.

Songbirds are the preeminent animal model for understanding how the brain encodes and produces learned vocalizations. Here, we report a new statistical method, the Kullback–Leibler (K–L) distance, for analyzing vocal change over time. First, we use a computerized recording system to capture all song syllables produced by birds each day. Sound Analysis Pro software [Tchernichovski O, Nottebohm F, Ho CE, Pesaran B, Mitra PP. A procedure for an automated measurement of song similarity. Anim Behav 2000;59:1167–76] is then used to measure the duration of each syllable as well as four spectral features: pitch, entropy, frequency modulation, and pitch goodness. Next, two-dimensional scatter plots of each day of singing are created where syllable duration is on the x-axis and each of the spectral features is represented separately on the y-axis. Each point in the scatter plots represents one syllable and we regard these plots as random samples from a probability distribution. We then apply the standard informationtheoretic quantity K–L distance to measure dissimilarity in phonology across days of singing. A variant of this procedure can also be used to analyze differences in syllable syntax.
Research in atmospheric electricity at Stanford University

After ten years of work in atmospheric electricity in the Department of Physics at Stanford University the reporter retired as Professor Emeritus and the work is being continued under the direction of Professor Norris E. Bradbury. During the past year Professor Brown has been making an analysis of the diurnal variation of the potential gradient from all available data, and will continue his studies in this field in cooperation with the Department of Physics. Professor Bradbury has been working for several years on gaseous ions and will now start a study of atmospheric ions with special reference to their structure and mobility.
Cardiomyocyte architectural plasticity in fetal, neonatal, and adult pig hearts delineated with diffusion tensor MRI.

Cardiomyocyte organization is a critical determinant of coordinated cardiac contractile function. Because of the acute opening of the pulmonary circulation, the relative workload of the left ventri...
Modeling The Cost Of Resource Allocation In Distributed Control

Modifying our previously developed simulation model [FRA89], we study in this paper the costs associated with distributed allocation of computing resources in a multitasking environment. Using funds endowed upon arrival, computing tasks compete for necessary resources through sealed-bid auctions to improve their processing schedules. The costs and times dedicated to auctioning are compared to the costs and times allowed for task processing. Measuring computing resources in terms of processing rates allows the task management, in the form of an auction, algorithm, to have its requirements specified in the same way as the requirements for the simulated mission processing. Machine capacity is computed for and assigned to each completing task. Data are then compiled by segmented capacity classes. A unifying theme of past and current research is the efficiency of auctioning to allocate reconfigurable computing resources in a variable capacity machine. We observed that at optimal rates of occurrence of capacity classes which minimize the total costs per successful completion, congestion was resolved through auctions generating endogenously implied prices which substantially exceeded the exogenously imposed price.
Teaching research ethics through role-play and discussion.

Failing to conduct a research study because it involves deception or invasion of privacy is as much an act to be evaluated on ethical grounds as is conducting such a study. A classroom exercise was...
Communicating efficacy information based on composite scores in direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising.

Abstract Objective Drug efficacy can be measured by composite scores, which consist of two or more symptoms or other clinical components of a disease. We evaluated how individuals interpret composite scores in direct-to-consumer (DTC) prescription drug advertising. Methods We conducted an experimental study of seasonal allergy sufferers (n = 1967) who viewed a fictitious print DTC ad that varied by the type of information featured (general indication, list of symptoms, or definition of composite scores) and the presence or absence of an educational intervention about composite scores. We measured composite score recognition and comprehension, and perceived drug efficacy and risk. Results Ads that featured either (1) the composite score definition alone or (2) the list of symptoms or general indication information along with the educational intervention improved composite score comprehension. Ads that included the composite score definition or the educational intervention led to lower confidence in the drug’s benefits. The composite score definition improved composite score recognition and lowered drug risk perceptions. Conclusion Adding composite score information to DTC print ads may improve individuals’ comprehension of composite scores and affect their perceptions of the drug. Practice implications Providing composite score information may lead to more informed patient-provider prescription drug decisions.
Mechanical Performance of Polyiosoprene Copolymer Anion Exchange Membranes by Varying Crosslinking Methods

Anion exchange membranes (AEM) are polymer electrolytes that facilitate ion transport in alkaline fuel cells and electrochemical devices. Fabrication of mechanically durable AEMs with high ionic conductivity is a challenge. Here, a copolymer of isoprene and vinylbenzyl trimethylammonium and a terpolymer of isoprene, vinylbenzyl trimethylammonium and styrene were crosslinked by various methods, and properties, including conductivity and mechanical strength, were investigated at dry and saturated conditions. Polymer chemistry and degree of crosslinking significantly influenced conductivity, swelling, and mechanical properties. The terpolymer had a higher proportion of vinylbenzyl trimethylammonium units increasing the ion exchange capacity (IEC), but membranes could still be rendered insoluble by crosslinking. The higher IEC of the terpolymer resulted in higher chloride conductivity, 20–75 mS/cm at 50◦C and 95%RH, compared to 4–17 mS/cm for the copolymer at the same conditions. At dry conditions films were stiff, having Young’s moduli between 100–740 MPa, but hydration caused severe softening, reducing moduli by 1–2 orders of magnitude. The severe softening effect of hydration was confirmed by dynamic mechanical analysis. The AEMs studied did not have adequate mechanical durability at hydrated conditions, additional work is needed to determine polymer chemistries and crosslinking methods that will produce robust AEMs for long-term use in fuel cells and electrochemical devices. © The Author(s) 2015. Published by ECS. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (CC BY, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse of the work in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. [DOI: 10.1149/2.0471504jes] All rights reserved.
46th Walter J. Zeiter lecture, exercise is rehabilitation medicine: our history and future.

In Greek and Roman mythology, Apollo was the physician deity and the father of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine. Asclepius and his wife Epione had 5 daughters. Hygieia was the eldest daughter of Asclepius and the goddess/personification of good health. Whereas Asclepius was more directly associated with healing, Hygieia was associated with the prevention of sickness and the continuation of good health. Hygieia’s symbol is the snake, which was combined with the rod of Asclepius to form the symbol of medicine. The other daughters of Asclepius were Panacea, the goddess of universal remedy; Iaso, the goddess of recuperation; Aceso, the goddess of the healing process; and Aglea, the goddess of beauty [1]. Today the symbol commonly used for medicine combines the snake and staff of Asclepius with the winged staff of Hermes, the Roman god of commerce and the marketplace, as was pointed out by Dr Thomas Strax in his 2007 Zeiter lecture [2]. The combination is surely ironic given the current state of American health care. A physician named Susruta practiced in the Indus Valley of India in about 600 BC. Susruta was a strong believer in exercise, and his writings are the earliest record of an understanding of the health benefits of exercise. These writings are remarkably contemporary with respect to the current science of exercise. Susruta wrote that exercise should be practiced daily and that exercise should be taken to half one’s capacity [3]. Current American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines state that we should exercise 5 or more days/week or more when exercising moderately or in combination with vigorous exercise, and it is known that for aerobic conditioning to occur, sustained exercise levels ideally occur at 50%-70% of maximum heart rate, 60% of maximal oxygen consumption, or a Borg Scale level of about 13-15, which is about half of an individual’s capacity [4,5]. Susruta advocated moderate exercise because “it gives the desirable mental
Validation of the Goal Attainment Scale of Stabilization

Factor structure for the Goal Attainment Scale of Stabilization was evaluated using separate samples for exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Results indicated a 25-item tw...
Soil and Moisture Effects on the Dynamics of Early Instar Clover Root Curculio (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Biomass of Alfalfa Root Nodules

Movement and survival of early instar clover root curculio, Sitona hispidulus (F.), and the development of root nodules in alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., were examined in relation to soil texture and moisture. Early instars were subjected to three soil textures (loamy sand, loam, and silty-clay loam) and two moisture potential regimes approximating very moist and slightly moist conditions, respectively. Survival of early instars was significantly higher in the slightly moist silty-clay loam (61%) and lowest in the slightly moist loamy sand (23%). These results suggest that cracks 1.0 mm or larger in the silty-clay loam increased access of the first instars to alfalfa root nodules. Production of root nodules was significantly greater in the loamy sand, yet clover root curculio survival in this soil type was lower, indicating that this soil deterred first instar access to critical nodule resources. We tested the ability of first instars to penetrate soils of three different textures and five moisture levels. First instars penetrated moist and slightly moist silty-clay loam and coarse sand significantly better than severely moist and saturated treatments, and also better than loamy sand at any moisture level. This was due to the presence of large cracks and/or pores in the drier silty-clay loam and coarse sand. This information will be useful for identifying soil conditions in alfalfa fields that influence the pest potential of this insect and hence assist in developing more effective integrated pest management strategies.
Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities of Nine Medicinal Plants from Zaire

AbstractZairean medicinal plants were extracted and screened for in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities. Of nine plants investigated, extracts of six plants (Alchornea cordifolia, Bridelia ferruginea, Eucalyptus citriodora, Hymenocardia acida, Maprounea africana and Sida rhombifolia) demonstrated a marked antibacterial activity against the microorganisms Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans; and extracts of four plants (A. cordifolia, E. citriodora, M. africana and S. rhombifolia) exhibited significant antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans and Microsporum gypseum. Extracts from A. cordifolia and M. africana were the most active with a MIC value of 62.5 μg/ml. Fractionation of the crude methanol extracts revealed that the bactericidal and fungicidal constituents of the active plants were mainly distributed in their ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions. These results may provide a basis for the isolation of compounds of biological interest ...
Older Adults' Experience with a Novel Fall Detection Device.

Abstract Background: Falls are a significant concern for the older adult (OA) population, many of whom are unable to get up following a fall. Introduction: While many devices exist designed to detect a fall, little work has been conducted to evaluate the usability of such devices. We present a longitudinal usability study of a fall detection (FD) device tested with OAs in real-world settings. Materials and Methods: OAs were recruited and asked to use a wearable FD device for up to 4 months. Participants were interviewed at baseline and 2 and 4 months and encouraged to provide direct feedback on their experience. Results: In total, 18 OAs participated in the study. Eight completed the 4-month trial. We conducted a total of 38 interviews (16 baseline, 7 midpoint, and 15 final) and logged a total of 78 comments. While participants enjoyed the GPS and automatic detection features of the device, they were unhappy with the volume of false alarms and obtrusiveness of the device. Many also did not see a great nee...
The Evolving International Investment Law and Policy Regime: Ways Forward

International investment needs are tremendous. This requires that the international investment regime constitutes a framework for increased flows of sustainable foreign direct investment for sustainable development. The international investment regime covers what has become the single most important form of international economic transactions and the most powerful vector of integration among economies: foreign direct investment and non-equity forms of control by multinational enterprises over foreign production facilities. Among the most striking features of the global investment landscape over the past decade has been the rise of developing economies as outward investors. Yet despite the economic importance of international investment, there is no overarching set of rules governing this subject matter. Instead, the regime consists of over 3,000 international investment agreements, the great majority of them bilateral investment treaties. The present paper examines the state of the international investment law and policy regime and how its governance might be enhanced. Following a thorough analysis of the background to rule-making in international investment, the paper puts forward a set of policy options with the overall objective of increasing sustainable investment flows, particularly to developing and least developed countries, within the framework of a widely accepted international investment law and policy regime. The interrelated policy recommendations fall under five main categories: expanding the purpose and updating the substantive and procedural provisions of international investment agreements; developing an international support programme for sustainable investment facilitation; addressing the challenge of managing and resolving disputes, especially by further institutionalizing the investor-state dispute-mechanism which lies at the heart of the regime; complementing this effort by establishing an Advisory Centre on International Investment Law; and initiating a process towards the negotiation of a comprehensive international framework on investment that would establish basic rules of engagement among principal stakeholders. The paper ends with a recommendation on procedural issues, namely the launch of an informal and inclusive consensus-building process to accompany and help efforts geared at reforming the international investment regime for increased flows of sustainable foreign direct investment.
Factors Affecting Oxidation-Reduction Potentials Produced by Bacteria in Synthetic Media

Measurements of the apparent oxidation-reduction potentials established in a synthetic medium by the growth of Escherichia coli showed that many irregularities were encountered which were not present when determinations were made in peptone nutrient broth cultures of the same organism. It is the object of this paper to present a study of the factors involved in these irregularities. The elimination of such would make it possible to obtain consistent data from which valuable conclusions might be deduced.A vacuum tube null-point instrument drawing a maximum current of 10-11 ampere was utilized in making the physical measurements. No polarization phenomena were observed and the apparatus gave calculated values for easily polarizable half cells. Bright platinum electrodes were used. A liquid medium made by weighing the requisite C.P. or analytical reagents and adding to redistilled water allowed the test organism, Escherichia coli, to grow vigorously. This basic solution, a slight modification of that of Kose...
An Integrative Analysis of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory and the Hypomanic Personality Scale: Implications for Construct Validity:

The primary goal of this study was to explicate the construct validity of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI) and the Hypomanic Personality Scale (HPS) by examining their relations both to each other and to measures of personality and psychopathology in a community sample ( N = 255). Structural evidence indicates that the NPI is defined by Leadership/Authority, Grandiose Exhibitionism, and Entitlement/Exploitativeness factors, whereas the HPS is characterized by specific dimensions reflecting Social Vitality, Mood Volatility, and Excitement. Our results establish that (a) factor-based subscales from these instruments display divergent patterns of relations that are obscured when relying exclusively on total scores and (b) some NPI and HPS subscales more clearly tap content specifically relevant to narcissism and mania, respectively, than others. In particular, our findings challenge the construct validity of the NPI Leadership/Authority and HPS Social Vitality subscales, which appear to assess overlapping assertiveness content that is largely adaptive in nature.
The plasticity of human social organization and behavior: Contextual variables and proximal mechanisms

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to illustrate a behavioral-ecological, contextual approach to thinking about cultural variation as well as the problem of the gap between actual behavior and optimal behavior. This approach emphasizes sociobiologically predicted, genetically based, central tendencies in human behavior rather than genetic variation, but it is consistent with theories emphasizing genetic variation. The variable of economic production is introduced as a contextual variable associated, in sociobiologically predictable ways, with variation in sexual competition, family and social structure, and the socialization of children. Social controls on individual behavior as well as personal ideology are described as contextual variables that strongly affect individual fitness within societies, but do so in ways that are underdetermined by biological theory. For example, there is no way derived from biological theory to predict whether ideology or social controls in a society will be egalitarian or antiegalitarian. Individual behavior is also strongly affected by the interactions of these contextual variables with proximal mechanisms. Examples of maladaptive behavior emphasizing the interactions among the proposed contextual variables, the sociobiologically expected central tendencies in human behavior, and the proximal mechanisms proposed by psychologists are provided.
Counselor values—Client freedom

A framework for an approach to counseling which respects the freedom of clients and yet leaves them open to the consideration of different value systems is presented. The framework is based upon values shared by many counselors and a stage model of counseling compatible with different theoretical approaches. It is hoped that consciousness of shared values and continuing dialogue will lead to a greater commonality of values.
A simulation model for training in group process.

(1998). A Simulation Model for Training in Group Process. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy: Vol. 48, No. 3, pp. 393-399.
Impaired Vasodilatory Responses of Omental Arteries to CGRP Family Peptides in Pregnancies Complicated by Fetal Growth Restriction

Rationale: Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), adrenomedullin (ADM), and adrenomedullin2 (ADM2)/intermedin are potent vasorelaxant peptides considered to play a role in the adaptive mechanisms in rat pregnancy through increased vasodilation in mesenteric and uterine artery. Objective: This study was designed to demonstrate the response of omental arteries (OA) to vasoactive peptides CGRP, ADM, and ADM2 in pregnancy complications such as fetal growth restriction (FGR), and assess the changes in the expression of their receptor components in segments of OA from FGR pregnancy compared to the control. Findings: The findings for this study are: 1) relaxation responses of OA were higher for bradykinin (78.55 ± 3.91 vs 52.67 ± 2.19; P < .05) in pregnancy with FGR compared to the normal, 2) relaxation response of OA segments to CGRP was similar with no change in the expression of G-protein couple receptor-calcitonin receptor-like receptor complex in normal healthy pregnancy and pregnancy complicated by FGR, 3...
International Religious Networks: Methodism and Popular Protestantism, c . 1750 – c . 1850

The benefits of using an international lens to understand both the complexity and the essence of religious movements have been well demonstrated in a number of important recent studies. In fact it has become quite unusual to write about early modern puritanism and Protestantism without taking at least a transatlantic, if not a global, perspective. Philip Benedict’s important book, Christ’s Churches Purely Reformed: A Social History of Calvinism (2002) has shown that only by looking at Calvinism as an international movement taking root in France, the Netherlands, the British Isles, the Holy Roman Empire, eastern Europe and New England can one properly identify the distinctive aspects of Calvinist piety and begin to answer bigger questions about Calvinism’s alleged contribution to the emergence of modern liberal democracy. He shows, for example, that while no post-Reformation confession had a monopoly of resistance to unsatisfactory rulers, Calvinists, because of their deep hostility to idolatrous forms of worship and unscriptural church institutions, were generally speaking more unwilling than others to compromise with or submit to religious and political institutions antithetical to their interests. Similarly, although Benedict is sceptical about the supposed connections between Calvinism and capitalism and Calvinism and democracy, he does show that Calvinism was a midwife of modernity through its routinization of time, its promotion of literacy, and its emphasis on the individual conscience.
The interaction of glycosaminoglycans with heparin cofactor II: structure and activity of a high-affinity dermatan sulfate hexasaccharide.

The anticoagulant activities of glycosaminoglycans are mediated by antithrombin III (ATIII) and heparin cofactor II (HCII), members of the “serpin” family that are present in plasma at micromolar concentrations. ATIII inhibits several of the proteases involved in coagulation, particularly thrombin and factor Xa, whereas HCII specifically inhibits thrombin.1 Both dermatan sulfate and heparin increase the rate of inhibition of thrombin by HCII more than 1000-fold.2 In contrast, ATIII is stimulated only by heparin. HCII functions as a pseudosubstrate for thrombin, forming a stable 1:1 complex. Glycosaminoglycans accelerate complex formation in part by providing a template to which both the inhibitor and the protease bind.3
Charge-exchange threshold effect in Nb93(d,p)Nb94

A charge-exchange threshold cusp is observed in the summed 160\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} excitation curve for $^{93}\mathrm{Nb}(d,p)^{94}\mathrm{Nb}({6}^{+},\mathrm{g}.\mathrm{s}.\ensuremath{-}{2}^{+},0.31 \mathrm{MeV})$ at \ensuremath{\sim}7.1 MeV, the threshold of the analogous $^{93}\mathrm{Nb}(d,n)^{94}\mathrm{Mo}^{A}({6}^{+},13.2 \mathrm{M}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}\ensuremath{-}{2}^{+},13.5 \mathrm{MeV})$ reaction. As predicted by theory, it is essentially identical in shape to the excitation curve previously measured for $^{90}\mathrm{Zr}(d,p)^{91}\mathrm{Zr}({d}_{\frac{5}{2}},\mathrm{g}.\mathrm{s}.)$ in the same energy region.
Understanding the Role of Stiffness in Pathological Cardiac Fibroblast Signaling

Cardiac fibrosis is characterized by extracellular matrix buildup and tissue stiffening. Fibroblasts in the heart respond to pathological cues by activating to proliferate, upregulate expression of alpha smooth muscle actin, synthesize extracellular matrix protein, and secrete biochemical cues to surrounding cells. The cues that trigger this transformation remain incompletely resolved; however, stiffness appears to play a critical role in this process. In vitro experiments using hydrogels with different stiffnesses show that fibroblasts activate when cultured on stiff hydrogels while they remain unactivated on soft hydrogels as they do in the diseased and healthy heart, respectively. Understanding fibroblast activation through mechanosensitive signaling will provide new therapeutic targets for fibrosis treatment.
Production cross sections of {sub 105}{sup 261}Ha from the {sup 250}Cf({sup 15}N,4n) and {sup 243}Am({sup 22}Ne,4n) reactions

We have measured the production cross section of 1.8-s ${}^{261}\mathrm{Ha}$ from two different reactions. It was produced in the ${}^{250}\mathrm{Cf}{(}^{15}\mathrm{N},4n)$ reaction at 84 MeV and in the ${}^{243}\mathrm{Am}{(}^{22}\mathrm{Ne},4n)$ reaction at 116 MeV. Our rotating wheel system with a special parent-daughter stepping mode was used to detect \ensuremath{\alpha}-\ensuremath{\alpha} correlations between ${}^{261}\mathrm{Ha}$ and ${}^{257}\mathrm{Lr}.$ We measured 13 and 9 correlations in the two reactions, respectively. Assuming a 100% \ensuremath{\alpha} branch, we have determined the production cross section of ${}^{261}\mathrm{Ha}$ to be $0.51\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.20\mathrm{nb}$ in the ${}^{250}\mathrm{Cf}{(}^{15}\mathrm{N},4n)$ reaction at 84 MeV, and $0.25\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.11\mathrm{nb}$ in the ${}^{243}\mathrm{Am}{(}^{22}\mathrm{Ne},4n)$ reaction at 116 MeV. Based on the number of fission events observed in the latter reaction, we have been able to set an upper limit of 18% for the spontaneous fission branch of ${}^{261}\mathrm{Ha}.$
Professor Bochdalek and his hernia: then and now.

Vincent Alexander Bochdalek was born in 1801 of a Czech father who was a gamekeeper and a Slovak mother who lived in the village of Skripov in northern Moravia. Before his death in 1883, he became one of the most outstanding university anatomists and pathologists of his era. He studied in Opava and Vienna and graduated with a degree in medicine from the Carolinum in Prague in 1833. The dissertation he submitted for his graduate degree, entitled “Instruction to Practical Autopsy of the Human Brain with Special Attention to the Cerebellum,” was published as a monograph containing 19 defended theses that clearly indicate Bochdaleks lively interest in the broad problems of medicine of his time. Bochdalek spent his entire career in the Prague dissecting rooms and was appointed to the faculty of the Carolinum, where he became a much respected senior academician. He was also very active in the general infirmary, where he introduced the keeping of post mortem records and reported a few microscopic examinations of autopsied material even before his more famous successor, J. E. Purkyne. Foliowing an extensive trip to Scandinavia, he brought home more than 1200 anatomical preparations of the sea fauna which he had carefully categorized and studied.
On-chip deep neural network storage with multi-level eNVM

One of the biggest performance bottlenecks of today’s neural network (NN) accelerators is off-chip memory accesses [11]. In this paper, we propose a method to use multi-level, embedded nonvolatile memory (eNVM) to eliminate all off-chip weight accesses. The use of multi-level memory cells increases the probability of faults. Therefore, we co-design the weights and memories such that their properties complement each other and the faults result in no noticeable NN accuracy loss. In the extreme case, the weights in fully connected layers can be stored using a single transistor. With weight pruning and clustering, we show our technique reduces the memory area by over an order of magnitude compared to an SRAM baseline. In the case of VGG16 (130M weights), we are able to store all the weights in 4.9 mm2, well within the area allocated to SRAM in modern NN accelerators [6].
Immunomodifiers in vaccines.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the components of a successful vaccine other than the antigen, namely, the vehicle used for antigen delivery, immunostimulatory substances designed to enhance its immunogenicity, and in the case of small antigens such as synthetic peptides, appropriate carrier molecules that may be required for an optimal immune response. These components are included in the vaccine preparation to enhance the immune response to the antigen in a way that is beneficial to the host and fall, therefore, under the definition of immunomodifiers. In this regard, the chapter describes the recent developments in these areas to a synthetic peptide antigen. Other considerations important in the design of successful vaccines are the desired balance between, and relative importance of, humoral versus cell-mediated immunity, the presence of epitopes capable of stimulating an effective T helper cell response, elimination of epitopes that induce immune suppression, the relationship between immunodominant and protective epitopes, and the need for specialized humoral responses, such as IgA antibodies in immune defense mechanisms of the gut mucosa.
Fungible Correlation Matrices.

The present work demonstrates how fungible intervals can be naturally extended to correlation matrices to investigate parameter sensitivity in the correlation coefficients. The first eigenvalue (λ1...
The distribution of multiples of real points on an elliptic curve

Abstract Given an elliptic curve E and a point P in E ( R ) , we investigate the distribution of the points nP as n varies over the integers, giving bounds on the x and y coordinates of nP and determining the natural density of integers n for which nP lies in an arbitrary open subset of R 2 . Our proofs rely on a connection to classical topics in the theory of Diophantine approximation.
Long-term blood pressure lowering and cGMP-activating actions of the novel ANP analog MANP

Based on the cardiac hormone atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and its seminal role in blood pressure (BP) homeostasis, we investigated the chronic BP lowering actions of a novel ANP analog currently entering clinical trials for hypertension. Previous reports demonstrate that this analog MANP activates the guanylyl cyclase A receptor (GC-A) and results in more potent biological actions compared with ANP; thus, it may represent a new therapeutic drug for hypertension. A major goal of this study was to establish that chronic subcutaneous delivery of MANP is feasible and hypotensive together with cGMP effects. We investigated the BP-lowering and cGMP-activating actions of acute and chronic subcutaneous delivery in normal and hypertensive rats. Furthermore, we explored vascular mechanisms of MANP in human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC) and ex vivo in isolated arteries. In normal rats with a single subcutaneous injection, MANP promoted robust dose-dependent BP-lowering actions and natriuresis, together with cGMP activation. Most importantly in hypertensive rats, once-a-day subcutaneous injection of MANP for 7 days induced cGMP elevation and long-term BP reduction compared with vehicle. Mechanistically, in HASMC, MANP activated cGMP and attenuated angiotensin II-mediated increases in intracellular Ca2+ levels while directly vasorelaxing arterial rings. Our study demonstrates for the first time the effectiveness of subcutaneous administration of MANP for 7 days and provides innovative, vascular mechanisms of BP regulation supporting its continued development as a novel therapeutic for hypertension.
Action on Issues

Knowledge about the political aspects of the delivery of social and health services is necessary in formulating policies that will have the most chance of achieving the desired goal of improved ser...
Using the Drug Burden Index to identify older adults at highest risk for medication-related falls

The Drug Burden Index (DBI) was developed to assess patient exposure to medications associated with an increased risk of falling. The objective of this study was to examine the association between the DBI and medication-related fall risk. The study used a retrospective cohort design, with a 1-year observation period. Participants (n = 1562) were identified from 31 community pharmacies. We examined the association between DBI scores and four outcomes. Our primary outcome, which was limited to participants who received a medication review, indexed whether the review resulted in at least one medication-related recommendation (e.g., discontinue medication) being communicated to the participant’s health care provider. Secondary outcomes indexed whether participants in the full sample: (1) screened positive for fall risk, (2) reported 1+ falls in the past year, and (3) reported 1+ injurious falls in the past year. All outcome variables were dichotomous (yes/no). Among those who received a medication review (n = 387), the percentage of patients receiving at least one medication-related recommendation ranged from 10.2% among those with DBI scores of 0 compared to 60.2% among those with DBI scores ≥1.0 (Chi-square (4)=42.4, p < 0.0001). Among those screened for fall risk (n = 1058), DBI scores were higher among those who screened positive compared to those who did not (Means = 0.98 (SD = 1.00) versus 0.59 (SD = 0.74), respectively, p < 0.0001). Our findings suggest that the DBI is a useful tool that could be used to improve future research and practice by focusing limited resources on those individuals at greatest risk of medication-related falls.
From Critical Community Service to Critical Service Learning and the Futures We Must (Still) Imagine

This reflection offers an introduction of a survey of the theories, practices, and critiques of critical service learning. In doing so, the authors connect the historical lineage of community engagement to current and future practices of critical service learning as well as the need to continually imagine new and as yet unthought possibilities.
A Rapid and Facile Purification Method for Glycan-Binding Proteins and Glycoproteins

Glycosylated proteins, namely glycoproteins and proteoglycans (collectively called glycoconjugates), are indispensable in a variety of biological processes. The functions of many glycoconjugates are regulated by their interactions with another group of proteins known as lectins. In order to understand the biological functions of lectins and their glycosylated binding partners, one must obtain these proteins in pure form. The conventional protein purification methods often require long times, elaborate infrastructure, costly reagents, and large sample volumes. To minimize some of these problems, we recently developed and validated a new method termed capture and release (CaRe). This method is time-saving, precise, inexpensive, and it needs a relatively small sample volume. In this approach, targets (lectins and glycoproteins) are captured in solution by multivalent ligands called target capturing agents (TCAs). The captured targets are then released and separated from their TCAs to obtain purified targets. Application of the CaRe method could play an important role in discovering new lectins and glycoconjugates. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Preparation of crude extracts containing the target proteins from soybean flour Alternate Protocol 1: Preparation of crude extracts from Jack bean meal Alternate Protocol 2: Preparation of crude extracts from the corms of Colocasia esculenta, Xanthosoma sagittifolium, and from the bulbs of Allium sativum Alternate Protocol 3: Preparation of Escherichia coli cell lysates containing human galectin-3 Alternate Protocol 4: Preparation of crude extracts from chicken egg whites (source of ovalbumin) Basic Protocol 2: Preparation of 2% (v/v) red blood cell suspension Basic Protocol 3: Detection of lectin activity of the crude extracts Basic Protocol 4: Identification of multivalent inhibitors as target capturing agents by hemagglutination inhibition assays Basic Protocol 5: Testing the capturing abilities of target capturing agents by precipitation/turbidity assays Basic Protocol 6: Capturing of targets (lectins and glycoproteins) in the crude extracts by target capturing agents and separation of the target-TCA complex from other components of the crude extracts Basic Protocol 7: Releasing the captured targets (lectins and glycoproteins) by dissolving the complex Basic Protocol 8: Separation of the targets (lectins and glycoproteins) from their respective target capturing agents Basic Protocol 9: Verification of the purity of the isolated targets (lectins or glycoproteins).
Synergistic catalysis by Mn promoted ceria for molecular oxygen assisted epoxidation

Abstract Mesoporous manganese doped cerium oxide catalysts were prepared by an inverse micelle method with different manganese loadings. These materials exhibited superior activity for epoxidation of alkenes with molecular oxygen. Highest active 10MnCe material showed an activity of 80 % conversion and >99 % selectivity for cyclooctene epoxidation. The fluorite crystal structure which facilitates the high oxygen mobility, low temperature reducibility, homogeneous distribution of manganese on ceria, nanoparticle nature, higher number of oxygen vacancies, low valent states of manganese and cerium, and the ability to generate reactive oxygen species of the manganese doped cerium oxide could be correlated to the high catalytic activity. The reaction followed first order kinetics with a rate constant of 0.31 h−1 at 100 °C, and the activation energy turned out to be 10.5 kJ/mol. The mechanistic study revealed that the reaction proceeds via a unique mechanism which involves in situ generated superoxide and singlet oxygen species.
Art as a cultural tool: deconstructing exotified notions of Balinese society during an American study abroad programme

The exotic aura surrounding Bali was embraced as a teaching and learning opportunity in the four-week, faculty-led study abroad programme at the centre of the present inquiry, which asked: how migh...
Evidence-Based Practices in Mentoring for Leadership Development

Effective mentoring for leadership development requires nuanced practical considerations. The authors of this chapter outline aspects of effective mentorship, highlight considerations for practitioners and mentoring programs, and offer critical perspectives on mentoring.
Load Embeddings for Scalable AC-OPF Learning.

AC Optimal Power Flow (AC-OPF) is a fundamental building block in power system optimization. It is often solved repeatedly, especially in regions with large penetration of renewable generation, to avoid violating operational limits. Recent work has shown that deep learning can be effective in providing highly accurate approximations of AC-OPF. However, deep learning approaches may suffer from scalability issues, especially when applied to large realistic grids. This paper addresses these scalability limitations and proposes a load embedding scheme using a 3-step approach. The first step formulates the load embedding problem as a bilevel optimization model that can be solved using a penalty method. The second step learns the encoding optimization to quickly produce load embeddings for new OPF instances. The third step is a deep learning model that uses load embeddings to produce accurate AC-OPF approximations. The approach is evaluated experimentally on large-scale test cases from the NESTA library. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach produces an order of magnitude improvements in training convergence and prediction accuracy.
616-P: CGM Use and A1C: A Transatlantic Comparison of the DPV Initiative and T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative (T1DX-QI)

The utility of CGM to improve glycemic control and QoL is well established; however, real-world use of CGM varies among people with T1D. The objectives of this study were to analyze the rates of CGM use and association to glycemic control (A1c) in the U.S. T1DX-QI Collaborative and the German-Austrian DPV Initiative. EMR data were analyzed for 15,113 T1DX-QI patients and 41,640 DPV patients with clinic visits in 2019. Mean age for T1DX-QI patients was 19.6 13.2 yrs, 48.7% were female, and A1c was 8.6 2.0%. Among DPV patients, mean age was 21.9 18.0 yrs, 46.9% were female, and A1c was 7.7 1.4%. Overall CGM use in T1DX-QI was 53.3% with highest rates in adults (age distribution 65 yrs: 55.7%). For DPV, overall CGM use was 56.3% with highest rates in pediatrics (age 65 yrs: 18.0%). A1c was lower in CGM users compared to non-users across all age groups in both T1DX-QI and DPV patients (Figure). In this transatlantic comparison, CGM use in patients with T1D was associated with lower A1c in both registries, but rates of CGM use varied across age groups. Quality improvement initiatives and advocacy efforts to improve health policy are needed to promote more widespread uptake of CGM worldwide. Disclosure D. Desalvo: Consultant; Self; Insulet Corporation, Research Support; Self; Insulet Corporation, Speaker9s Bureau; Self; Dexcom, Inc. R. W. Holl: None. S. Lanzinger: None. N. Noor: Research Support; Self; Dexcom, Inc. C. Steigleder-schweiger: None. O. Ebekozien: None. S. Von sengbusch: Other Relationship; Self; Abbott, Berlin-Chemie AG, Dexcom, Inc., Hexal, Infectopharm, Lilly Diabetes, Medtronic, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH. N. Jones: Consultant; Self; Companion Medical, Medtronic. K. Laubner: None. D. M. Maahs: Advisory Panel; Self; Abbott Diabetes, Dompe, Eli Lilly and Company, Medtronic, Novo Nordisk, Consultant; Self; aditxt. Funding The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust
Essentials of the Earth's Climate System

This concise introduction to modern climatology covers the key topics for intermediate undergraduate students on one-semester courses. The treatment of topics is non-mathematical wherever possible, instead focusing on physical processes to allow students to grasp concepts more easily. Full-color illustrations support the text and supplementary topics are covered in boxes, enabling students to further increase their knowledge and awareness. A historical perspective of climatology is woven throughout, providing students with an insight into key scientists and technological developments. Each chapter concludes with a summary of the main points and a mixture of review and discussion questions, encouraging students to check their understanding and think critically. A list of key web links to data and other resources, and solutions and hints to answers to the student questions (password-protected for instructors) are provided online to complete the teaching package.