cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract P196: Impact of Medicare Part D Donut-Hole on use of Antihypertensive or Antilipidemic Drugs in Patients With Diabetes or Coronary Heart Disease

OBJECTIVES: The impact of Medicare's Part D coverage gap (donut hole) on antihypertensive and antilipidemic drug utilization was examined among patients with diabetes or coronary heart disease (CHD) and compared to changes in drug use for symptomatic (GI, depression, and pain) conditions. METHODS: The sample consisted of beneficiaries from the 5% Medicare A, B, and D files who had diagnoses for hypertension and/or hyperlipidemia and diagnosis of diabetes and/or CHD in 2005. Eligibility criteria also included a full-year (2006) of enrollment in a Medicare fee-for-service plan, Medicare Part D and data on low-income subsidy (LIS) or non-LIS eligibility. Study outcomes included the impact of entering the donut hole on any drug use, adherence (percent days covered (PDC) >= 0.8), and discontinuation ( >= 30-day continuous gap). The study employed a quasi-experimental design using pre- (prior to donut hole, total drug costs < $2,250) and post- (during donut hole) periods, comparing non-LIS patients, who had no drug coverage during the donut hole, with LIS patients, who had drug coverage in the donut hole. A difference-in-difference approach was used with multiple regressions adjusting for demographic characteristics, Medicare entitlement status, area-level information, and clinical risk. Analyses were limited to enrollees with at least 4 months of observation in the pre- and post-donut hole periods to ensure sufficient time frames to identify changes in study outcomes. Sensitivity analyses were performed on patients with 2 months or more in each of the pre- and post-donut hole periods. RESULTS: The donut hole was associated with decreased (p < 0.01 for all results) drug use (1.1% to 4.8%) and PDC adherence (5.5% to 13.1%), and increased likelihood of discontinuation (5.0% to 14.4%) for lipid lowering and antihypertensive drugs, respectively. The donut hole had no impact on drug utilization for symptomatic drugs (anti-ulcer agents, antidepressants, and pain-killers). Sensitivity analyses were consistent with the main results. CONCLUSIONS: The donut hole was associated with statistically significant but modest drops in the use of drugs for asymptomatic conditions, but had no impact on drugs for symptomatic conditions.
Co-occurring posttraumatic stress and substance use: Emerging research on correlates, mechanisms, and treatments—Introduction to the special issue.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders (SUD) are complex psychiatric conditions that commonly co-occur. Despite the well-established prevalence of this diagnostic comorbidity, much less is known about underlying etiological and maintenance processes or most effective treatment avenues. The comorbidity is complex, difficult to treat, and marked by a more costly and chronic clinical course, when compared with either disorder alone. Therefore, this Special Issue is devoted to highlighting recent, theory-driven, scientifically rigorous, and clinically applicable advances in our understanding of the PTSD-SUD comorbidity across various populations. Emerging psychological science on PTSD-SUD is profiled, and biological, psychological, and social processes implicated in etiology and maintenance are highlighted along with promising innovations in treatment. The articles range in methodology from more basic to applied, exemplifying a translational spectrum of research as each article presents meaningful clinical implications and future research directions. This introductory article describes the articles in this Special Issue and how they can inform the field. (PsycINFO Database Record
INCIDENCE OF POTENTIALLY PATHOGENIC MICROORGANISMS IN FURTHER-PROCESSED TURKEY PRODUCTS

Numbers of certain pathogenic microorganisms associated with turkey and turkey products were determined at three Minnesota turkey eviscerating and processing plants. The influence of processing and freezing was investigated. Using a predetermined sampling plan, skin and meat samples were obtained from 96 turkeys. Numbers of Clostridium perfringens, Staphylococcus aureus, salmonellae, and coliform organisms in each sample were determined. All types of organisms studied were found in 10 to 1000-fold higher levels in the skin than in meat samples. Clostridium perfringens and S. aureus organisms were recovered from samples obtained during each stage in the processing of the birds. Salmonellae were not found as frequently. Of 85 fresh skin and meat samples, 53 (62%) yielded C. perfringens and 46 (54%) yielded S. aureus. Salmonellae were recovered from 11 of 74 (15%) fresh samples and coliform organisms from 74 of 85 (85%) fresh samples, Frozen storage (31 days at −20 F) reduced recovery of the organisms to 56,...
The emergence of levothyroxine as a treatment for hypothyroidism

To describe the historical refinements, understanding of physiology and clinical outcomes observed with thyroid hormone replacement strategies. A Medline search was initiated using the search terms, levothyroxine, thyroid hormone history, levothyroxine mono therapy, thyroid hormone replacement, combination LT4 therapy, levothyroxine Bioequivalence. Pertinent articles of interest were identified by title and where available abstract for further review. Additional references were identified in the course of review of the literature identified. Physicians have intervened in cases of thyroid dysfunction for more than two millennia. Ingestion of animal thyroid derived preparations has been long described but only scientifically documented for the last 130 years. Refinements in hormone preparation, pharmaceutical production and regulation continue to this day. The literature provides documentation of physiologic, pathologic and clinical outcomes which have been reported and continuously updated. Recommendations for effective and safe use of these hormones for reversal of patho-physiology associated with hypothyroidism and the relief of symptoms of hypothyroidism has documented a progressive refinement in our understanding of thyroid hormone use. Studies of thyroid hormone metabolism, action and pharmacokinetics have allowed evermore focused recommendations for use in clinical practice. Levothyroxine mono-therapy has emerged as the therapy of choice of all recent major guidelines. The evolution of thyroid hormone therapies has been significant over an extended period of time. Thyroid hormone replacement is very useful in the treatment of those with hypothyroidism. All of the most recent guidelines of major endocrine societies recommend levothyroxine mono-therapy for first line use in hypothyroidism.
Abstract 413: A Dominant Negative Mutant of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Does Not Inhibit Intimal Hyperplasia After Balloon Coronary Angioplasty in Pigs

Background. Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) regulates arterial remodeling and intimal hyperplasia after vascular injury. PAI-1-R is a recombinant mutant that completely lacks anti-protease activity yet binds vitronectin (VN) with normal affinity. PAI-1-R inhibits cell migration in vitro and neointima formation in rodents by binding VN and competitively blocking its binding to integrins. Objective and Methods. To determine if PAI-1-R inhibits intimal hyperplasia under experimental conditions highly relevant to human coronary artery disease we performed balloon angioplasty of the left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) of male pigs and administered PAI-1-R by direct coronary infusion immediately after angioplasty and by peripheral intravenous infusion on each of the next two days (5 mg/infusion; total dose 15 mg/pig). Thirteen pigs (weight 24±4.3 kg) received PAI-1-R and 13 pigs (weight 24 ± 4.7 kg) received identical infusions of vehicle control. Animals were euthanized 14 days after angioplasty and neointima formation in the injured LCX was determined by microscopic morphometric analysis. Results. Plasma PAI-1-R concentrations assessed 1 hr after each infusion were 32±18, 89±60, and 59±16 ng/mL, respectively, in PAI-1-R-treated pigs and undetectable in controls. There was no significant difference in LCX neointima formation between PAI-1-R- vs. vehicle-treated pigs (maximal intima thickness 523±47 vs. 581±49 μm, p=0.41; intima area/media area normalized to media rupture length 3.7±0.3 vs 3.8±0.3, p=0.8). Conclusion. Short-term, bolus infusions of a dominant negative form of PAI-1 do not significantly inhibit neointima formation in pigs after coronary angioplasty. These results contrast with rodent data and suggest that alternative strategies that achieve higher concentrations of PAI-1-R at vascular injury sites will be required to assess the efficacy of this strategy under clinically relevant conditions.
Emerging Approaches to Tuberculosis Drug Development: At Home in the Metabolome

Once considered a crowning achievement of modern drug development, tuberculosis (TB) chemotherapy has proven increasingly unable to keep pace with the spread of the pandemic and rise of drug resistance. Efforts to revive the TB drug development pipeline have, in the meantime, faltered. Closer analysis reveals key experimental deficiencies that have hindered our ability to 'reverse engineer' knowledge of antibiotic mechanisms into rational drug development. Here, we discuss the emerging potential of metabolomics; the systems level study of small molecule metabolites, to help overcome these gaps and serve as a unique biochemical bridge between the phenotypic properties of chemical compounds and biological targets.
Using the Parallel DEVS Protocol for General Robust Simulation with Near Optimal Performance

The Discrete Event Systems Specification (DEVS) formalism has been widely disseminated in this magazine and elsewhere for its applicability to computational science and engineering. While research in parallel and distributed simulation has been active in the past several decades, the utility of many techniques for high-performance DEVS simulation has been limited. Recent research has shown that that a reconstruction of Amdahl's and Gustafson's laws for parallelizing sequential code can afford a better understanding of the underlying principles and their application to simulation of DEVS models. In this article, the author shows, in comparison to the ideal case, that a relatively simple protocol based on the DEVS abstract simulator is both generally applicable and able to achieve significant speedup in parallel distributed simulation.
Propensity scores based methods for estimating average treatment effect and average treatment effect among treated: A comparative study

Propensity score based statistical methods, such as matching, regression, stratification, inverse probability weighting (IPW), and doubly robust (DR) estimating equations, have become popular in estimating average treatment effect (ATE) and average treatment effect among treated (ATT) in observational studies. Propensity score is the conditional probability receiving a treatment assignment with given covariates, and propensity score is usually estimated by logistic regression. However, a misspecification of the propensity score model may result in biased estimates for ATT and ATE. As an alternative, the generalized boosting method (GBM) has been proposed to estimate the propensity score. GBM uses regression trees as weak predictors and captures nonlinear and interactive effects of the covariate. For GBM-based propensity score, only IPW methods have been investigated in the literature. In this article, we provide a comparative study of the commonly used propensity score based methods for estimating ATT and ATE, and examine their performances when propensity score is estimated by logistic regression and GBM, respectively. Extensive simulation results indicate that the estimators for ATE and ATT may vary greatly due to different methods. We concluded that (i) regression may not be suitable for estimating ATE and ATT regardless of the estimation method of propensity score; (ii) IPW and stratification usually provide reliable estimates of ATT when propensity score model is correctly specified; (iii) the estimators of ATE based on stratification, IPW, and DR are close to the underlying true value of ATE when propensity score is correctly specified by logistic regression or estimated using GBM.
Elevated μs-ms timescale backbone dynamics in the transition state analog form of arginine kinase

Abstract Arginine kinase catalyzes reversible phosphoryl transfer between arginine and ATP. Crystal structures of arginine kinase in an open, substrate-free form and closed, transition state analog (TSA) complex indicate that the enzyme undergoes substantial domain and loop rearrangements required for substrate binding, catalysis, and product release. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has shown that substrate-free arginine kinase is rigid on the ps-ns timescale (average S 2 = 0.84 ± 0.08) yet quite dynamic on the µs-ms timescale (35 residues with R ex , 12%), and that movements of the N-terminal domain and the loop comprising residues I182-G209 are rate-limiting on catalysis. Here, NMR of the TSA-bound enzyme shows similar rigidity on the ps-ns timescale (average S 2 = 0.91 ± 0.05) and substantially increased μs-ms timescale dynamics (77 residues; 22%). Many of the residues displaying μs-ms dynamics in NMR Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) 15 N backbone relaxation dispersion experiments of the TSA complex are also dynamic in substrate-free enzyme. However, the presence of additional dynamic residues in the TSA-bound form suggests that dynamics extend through much of the C-terminal domain, which indicates that in the closed form, a larger fraction of the protein takes part in conformational transitions to the excited state(s). Conformational exchange rate constants (k ex ) of the TSA complex are all approximately 2500 s −1 , higher than any observed in the substrate-free enzyme (800–1900 s −1 ). Elevated μs-ms timescale protein dynamics in the TSA-bound enzyme is more consistent with recently postulated catalytic networks involving multiple interconnected states at each step of the reaction, rather than a classical single stabilized transition state.
Highly Efficient Resonantly-Clad-Pumped Laser Based on Er:YAG-core Planar Waveguide

We demonstrated continuous wave operation of an in-band pumped Er:YAG planar waveguide laser with the output of 75 W at 1645 nm and slope efficiency of 64% with respect to absorbed pump power at 1532 nm.
Evaluation of the Components of the North Carolina Syndromic Surveillance System Heat Syndrome Case Definition.

Objectives:To improve heat-related illness surveillance, we evaluated and refined North Carolina’s heat syndrome case definition.Methods:We analyzed North Carolina emergency department (ED) visits ...
Improved radio astronomical imaging based on sparse reconstruction

Modern radio telescopes commonly use antenna arrays, and high-resolution imaging techniques exploiting radio astronomical signals collected at these antenna arrays play a critical role to achieve their missions. Beamforming techniques have been developed in radio astronomy to generate dirty images with limited image resolutions for many years. Because the manifold of a radio telescope array varies over time due to the Earth rotation, beamformers are separately designed and implemented at each time epoch, and the resulting images are averaged to form enhanced dirty images. Considering the fact that astronomical scenes are typically sparse, we present a new method through sparse reconstruction to obtain clean astronomical images. Sparse reconstruction methods that fuse the measured data observed at multiple time epochs are examined and compared. Unlike beamforming techniques which require an additional deconvolution procedure for clean image formation, the proposed technique provides clean astronomical images with accurate estimation of the source position and a high dynamic range.
Role of Support Lewis Acid Strength in Copper-Oxide-Catalyzed Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Cyclohexane

Alkane oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) over supported redox active metal oxides is highly sensitive to support identity, but the underlying cause of support effects has not been well-established. Here, we provide evidence that charge transfer between the support and active oxide phase impacts the rates of C–H bond abstraction and COX formation pathways in the oxidative dehydrogenation of cyclohexane over supported copper oxide catalysts. The surface Lewis acid strength of nine metal oxide supports is quantified by alizarin dye intramolecular charge transfer shifts and compared with supported copper oxide d–d transition energies to determine the relationship between support Lewis acid strength and copper oxide electronic properties. Model cyclohexane ODH reaction studies show that selectivity to C6 products increases with increasing support Lewis acid strength, with selectivities to benzene and cyclohexene over combustion products at zero conversion increasing from 20% over nucleophilic Cu/MgO to over 90% ...
Polyoxometalates and Fullerenes as Anti-HIV Agents

The lack of proofreading ability of HIV reverse transcriptase leads to errors and the development of drug-resistant HIV variants. This has prompted a concerted research effort to find new efficacious chemotherapies that are not cross-resistant with currently approved antiviral agents. Two potential classes of compounds that have shown promise as anti-HIV agents are polyoxometalates and fullerenes. Both classes of compounds have shown substantial activity against HIV and low cytotoxicity. Several complementary spectroscopic and other experiments collectively provide strong evidence that the polyoxometalates enter cells. They appear to exhibit multiple modes of action: interference with surface protein function (e.g. HIV gpl20) and inhibition of viral enzymes (HIV reverse transcriptase and protease). While some fullerenes, rendered water soluble by covalent modification with organic groups, are also active against HIV in cell culture, their biochemistry and molecular biology is less well understood than that of polyoxometalates. The few fullerene derivatives evaluated to date appear to exhibit virucidal and protease inhibition activity.
Eating Disorders and Stress

In recent years there has been increasing awareness of the personal and social costs associated with the eating disorders, anorexia nervosa, and bulimia nervosa. Although the etiology of these disorders is unknown, potential psychosocial and biological risk factors have been identified, and new treatment approaches have been developed.
Aneuploidy: Using genetic instability to preserve a haploid genome?

Aneuploidy occurs in many cancers, and is a sign of genetic instability in the genome. We use two different techniquessingle nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and gene expression arrays to investigate two aspects of aneuploidythe pattern of genetic instability causing aneuploidy, and the reason aneuploidy occurs. SNP technology was employed to obtain areas of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in a prostate cancer cell line (DU-145), as a means of looking at genetic instability. Using a novel method of analysis we were able to eliminate noise in both normal and cancer samples, and to visualize large quantities of data in a graphical manner. We observed several areas of genetic instability that can be linked to the cancer phenotype. Using gene expression arrays, we investigated the expression of genes in 210 human cell lines and 2,035 human tissues of multiple origins, both cancer and normal, to look at why aneuploidy occurs. We found 778 genes that are commonly expressed in all 2,245 samples, are distributed throughout the human genome, and have mostly metabolic functions, indicating that these are housekeeping genes or universally expressed genes for cell growth and survival. Additionally, we found a subset of variably expressed genes, from where tissue specific genes were also chosen and investigated. We looked at prostate specific tissues, and found that there were some genes that were more highly expressed in the prostate tissues and cell lines, than in other non-prostate samples. We provide evidence that the broken chromosomes in the prostate cell lines are retaining specific regions of their genome, as a means of conserving universally expressed genes, which allows the maintenance of at least a haploid genome, even in cases where an essential gene is mutated or non-functional, in the form of translocations.
Sequential Intercept Mapping: Developing Systems-Level Solutions for the Opioid Epidemic.

Sequential intercept mapping, a community-based application of the sequential intercept model, was recently adapted in Ohio to address the complex challenge of the opioid crisis. Sequential interce...
Income Elasticity of Demand Versus Income Elasticity of Consumption

The income elasticity of consumption depends not only on the demand function but also on the characteristics of the supply function. If supply is not completely elastic, the income elasticity of consumption will be less than the income elasticity of demand, with the difference depending on the shapes of both the demand and supply functions. We show if supply is sufficiently inelastic, extending the individual level estimates of the income elasticity of demand to aggregate values can produce erroneous and misleading policy conclusions. We suggest that the economics teaching and analysis carefully distinguish between the income elasticity of consumption for a good in a specific market (the observable quantity) and the income elasticity of demand (an unobservable function).
Association between glycemic control, age, and outcomes among intensively treated patients with acute myeloid leukemia

To investigate the impact of hyperglycemia and glycemic variability during intensive acute myeloid leukemia therapy (AML) on outcomes by age. Retrospective study of 262 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed AML hospitalized for intensive induction. Hyperglycemia was assessed by mean blood glucose (BG) (mg/dL) during hospitalization and glycemic variability was determined by the standard deviation (SD) of mean BG. Outcomes were complete remission ± incomplete count recovery (CR + CRi), and overall survival (OS). We used logistic regression to evaluate CR + CRi, and Cox proportional hazard models for OS, stratified by age ( 1 60.1% vs 25.8%) and prevalence of diabetes (20.3% vs 7.3%) compared to younger (N = 124, median age 47). The mean ± SD number of BG values obtained per patient during hospitalization was 61 ± 71. The mean (± SD) glucose (mg/dL) during hospitalization was 121.7 (25.9) in older patients (≥ 60 years) versus 111.6 (16.4) in younger. In older patients, higher mean glucose and greater glycemic variability were associated with lower odds of remission (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.69–0.93 and OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.61–0.88 respectively, per 10-unit increase) and higher mortality rates (HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.05–1.21 and HR 1.17, 95% CI 1.09–1.26, respectively, per 10-unit increase) in multivariate analyses. Our observations that hyperglycemia and increased glycemic variability were associated with lower remission rates and increased mortality in older patients suggest glycemic control may be a potentially modifiable factor to improve AML outcomes.
Hypoxia tolerance in the Norrin-deficient retina and the chronically hypoxic brain studied at single-cell resolution

The mammalian CNS is capable of tolerating chronic hypoxia, but cell type-specific responses to this stress have not been systematically characterized. In the Norrin KO ( Ndp KO ) mouse, a model of familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR), developmental hypovascularization of the retina produces chronic hypoxia of inner nuclear-layer (INL) neurons and Muller glia. We used single-cell RNA sequencing, untargeted metabolomics, and metabolite labeling from 13 C-glucose to compare WT and Ndp KO retinas. In Ndp KO retinas, we observe gene expression responses consistent with hypoxia in Muller glia and retinal neurons, and we find a metabolic shift that combines reduced flux through the TCA cycle with increased synthesis of serine, glycine, and glutathione. We also used single-cell RNA sequencing to compare the responses of individual cell types in Ndp KO retinas with those in the hypoxic cerebral cortex of mice that were housed for 1 week in a reduced oxygen environment (7.5% oxygen). In the hypoxic cerebral cortex, glial transcriptome responses most closely resemble the response of Muller glia in the Ndp KO retina. In both retina and brain, vascular endothelial cells activate a previously dormant tip cell gene expression program, which likely underlies the adaptive neoangiogenic response to chronic hypoxia. These analyses of retina and brain transcriptomes at single-cell resolution reveal both shared and cell type-specific changes in gene expression in response to chronic hypoxia, implying both shared and distinct cell type-specific physiologic responses.
Laboratory Scale Testing of Ignition Overpressure for Space Vehicle Launch Pad Environments

A scale model of a NASA representative space vehicle is used to develop a refined estimate of the transient pressure loads that are expected to form at the base of the vehicle in the event of a vapor cloud explosion. Flammable vapor clouds are known to form prior to engine startup due to the significant amount of unburned hydrogen that is ejected from the combustion chamber. In the event of a vapor cloud explosion, the vehicle and payload must be able to withstand the resulting overpressure waves. The study comprises an array of pressure sensors located along the base heat shield of the scale model space vehicle as well as the interior wall and throat plug plane of the solid rocket booster. A spark source generator is used to simulate the overpressure wave produced by a vapor cloud explosion while measurements are acquired with and without the effect of a mobile launcher. Time- resolved schlieren images of the simulated vapor cloud explosion reveal the path and impact of both the initial wave and several reflected waves on the various components at the base of the space vehicle. In some instances, the reflected waves superpose to create waves that are higher in amplitude than the initial overpressure wave. A time frequency analysis of the pressure waveforms measured inside the solid rocket booster reveal a ring down tone corresponding to a standing wave that is four times the length of the nozzle.
Characterising KandyPens-related posts to Instagram: implications for nicotine and cannabis use.

Background This study analysed posts to Instagram related to KandyPens, an open-system pod mod e-cigarette company, marketing its products as aromatherapy devices. The objective was to determine themes, corresponding user profiles and references to types of e-liquid solutions used with KandyPens. Methods Data consisted of publicly available posts to Instagram with the hashtag ‘#kandypens’ collected from 8 June to 8 August 2018 (n=1775). Identified themes included: product appearance (eg, highlighting design features including colour of device), user experience (eg, vape tricks), flavours (eg, strawberry) and promotions (eg, $10 off). The type of e-liquid solutions (nicotine, aromatherapy and cannabis) used with KandyPens were also recorded. Instagram profiles were categorised into: vaping enthusiast/advocates, influencers, KandyPens’ official Instagram account, vape vendors and average Instagram users. Results User experience (28.90%) and product appearance (21.80%) were predominant themes followed by promotions (10.08%), and flavours (1.01%). About 32.43 % of posts referenced cannabis-related solutions, 2.98 % of the posts mentioned nicotine-related solutions and 0.11 % of the posts mentioned aromatherapy. Average Instagram users (24.89%) posted the majority of posts followed by vape vendors (20.72%), KandyPens’ official account (17.96%), vaping enthusiasts/advocates (10.75%) and influencers (0.45%). Conclusion KandyPens markets its products as aromatherapy devices; however, Instagram posts related to these products rarely mentioned their purported purpose. Future research should consider product design, user experience and the co-use of nicotine and cannabis with KandyPens to assess implications related to product appeal and abuse liability.
Synthesis, structure and reactivity of a macrocyclic imine: aza-[13]-macrodiolides

Abstract The in situ synthesis and subsequent reactions of macrocylic imine 2 are reported. The imine was trapped with cyanotrimethylsilane to give α-amino nitrile aza-[13]-macrodiolides in a 1:1 ratio of diastereomers. A crystal structure of the syn α-cyano nitrile diastereomer, 7a, provided insights into the lack of selectivity in reactions of 2 relative to macrocyclic alkene 1. Reactions to functionalize the syn diastereomer 7a are also reported.
Superwomen Raising Superdaughters

When one first encounters the work of Vanzant (1998, 1999) a new-age black writer focused on the self-development of women, it seems to contradict what is commonly known about black women and girls. One may think, “This is all wrong. This does not represent black women and girls in their true light as tough, competent, mature, and sage.” Pink sheets, pink pajamas, and Barbie dolls with extra sets of doll clothes are mentioned in one book as important for girlhood survival. Vanzant’s (1999) simple self-help phrases conflict with all that feminist and black womanist thinking would endorse. Should a serious scholar of black women’s experience toss this casually aside? Yet, African-American women and men are reading this woman. At a recent book signing at a major bookstore, black men and women professionals were present.
Satellite mapping of PM 2.5 episodes in the wintertime San Joaquin Valley: a “static” model using column water vapor

Abstract. The use of satellite aerosol optical thickness (AOT) from imaging spectrometers has been successful in quantifying and mapping high- PM2.5 (particulate matter with a mass µ m diameter) episodes for pollution abatement and health studies. However, some regions have high PM2.5 but poor estimation success. The challenges in using AOT from imaging spectrometers to characterize PM2.5 worldwide was especially evident in the wintertime San Joaquin Valley (SJV). The SJV's attendant difficulties of high-albedo surfaces and very shallow, variable vertical mixing also occur in other significantly polluted regions around the world. We report on more accurate PM2.5 maps (where cloudiness permits) for the whole winter period in the SJV (19 November 2012–18 February 2013). Intensive measurements by including NASA aircraft were made for several weeks in that winter, the DISCOVER-AQ (Deriving Information on Surface Conditions from COlumn and VERtically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality) California mission. We found success with a relatively simple method based on calibration and checking with surface monitors and a characterization of vertical mixing, and incorporating specific understanding of the region's climatology. We estimate PM2.5 to within ∼7 µ g m −3 root mean square error (RMSE) and with R values of ∼0.9 , based on remotely sensed multi-angle implementation of atmospheric correction (MAIAC) observations, and certain further work will improve that accuracy. Mapping is at 1 km resolution. This allows a time sequence of mapped aerosols at 1 km for cloud-free days. We describe our technique as a “static estimation.” Estimation procedures like this one, not dependent on well-mapped source strengths or on transport error, should help full source-driven simulations by deconstructing processes. They also provide a rapid method to create a long-term climatology. Essential features of the technique are (a) daily calibration of the AOT to PM2.5 using available surface monitors, and (b) characterization of mixed layer dilution using column water vapor (CWV, otherwise “precipitable water”). We noted that on multi-day timescales both water vapor and particles share near-surface sources and both fall to very low values with altitude; indeed, both are largely removed by precipitation. The existence of layers of H2O or aerosol not within the mixed layer adds complexity, but mixed-effects statistical regression captures essential proportionality of PM2.5 and the ratio variable (AOT ∕ CWV). Accuracy is much higher than previous statistical models and can be extended to the whole Aqua satellite data record. The maps and time series we show suggest a repeated pattern for large valleys like the SJV – progressive stabilization of the mixing height after frontal passages: PM2.5 is somewhat more determined by day-by-day changes in mixing than it is by the progressive accumulation of pollutants (revealed as increasing AOT).
Fundraiser Education in the United States: Analysis of Existing University-Based Programs and Unique Training Needs

Fundraising is critical to the success of nonprofit organizations and a particularly unique area of nonprofit management education. Improvements to fundraiser education can echo throughout the sector, and more effective fundraisers will raise more charitable dollars for pro-social missions. However, little is known about fundraiser education. In this article, we identify the number and type of fundraiser education programs in the United States, analyze the scope of these fundraiser education programs, and identify and provide recommendations regarding the unique training needs of fundraisers. Specifically, we recommend fundraising training programs be accessible to practitioners, be holistic in nature, be attentive to the development of soft skills, and engender a desire for leadership—a desire to help donors and nonprofit organizations solve some of the world’s most intractable problems. Subscribe to JNEL
External Cephalic Version in Cases of Imminent Delivery at Preterm Gestational Ages: A Prospective Series.

Objective When delivery of a breech fetus is required at a preterm gestational age, Cesarean delivery is often recommended. We performed a prospective patient series to assess the success rate and safety of performing external cephalic version (ECV) procedures on preterm fetuses as an alternative to Cesarean delivery. Study Design We performed a prospective clinical series of patients who required delivery with a malpresenting fetus at a preterm gestational age. Results ECV procedures were successful in singletons 50% of the time. No significant complications or cases of fetal mortality were documented. Conclusion ECV at preterm gestational ages may be an appropriate approach to management in patients requiring delivery. Larger series are needed to further document success rates and risks of the procedure.
Comparison of Abbott ID Now and Abbott m2000 Methods for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 from Nasopharyngeal and Nasal Swabs from Symptomatic Patients.

The ID Now COVID-19 (IDNCOV) assay performed on the ID Now instrument (Abbott Diagnostics, Inc., Scarborough, ME) is a rapid diagnostic test that can be performed in a point-of-care setting equivalent to Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-waived testing. The assay utilizes isothermal
20 – Introduction to Vector Analysis

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews potential functions and the gradients in the understanding of vector analysis. The notion of a vector field is central to the subject of vector analysis. A vector field in R3 is a function whose domain and range are subsets of R3. Vector fields arise in a great number of physical applications. There are, for example, mechanical force fields, magnetic fields, electric fields, velocity fields, and direction fields. The chapter presents Green's theorem in the plane that shows how the line integral of a function around the boundary of a region is related to a double integral over that region. The chapter discusses line integrals in space, surface integrals, Stokes's theorem and the divergence theorem.
Mediating Museums: Exhibiting Material Culture in Tunisia (1881–2016): by Virginie Rey, Leiden, Brill, 2019, xiii + 244 pp.

Virginie Rey’s exploration of museum curation in Tunisia from the in Tunisia from the period of French colonial rule (1881–1956) through the early years following the 2011 revolution considers thei...
Description of a new member of the family Erysipelotrichaceae: Dakotella fusiforme gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from healthy human feces.

A Gram-positive, non-motile, rod-shaped facultative anaerobic bacterial strain SG502T was isolated from healthy human fecal samples in Brookings, SD, USA. The comparison of the 16S rRNA gene placed the strain within the family Erysipelotrichaceae. Within this family, Clostridium innocuum ATCC 14501T, Longicatena caecimuris strain PG-426-CC-2, Eubacterium dolichum DSM 3991T and E. tortuosum DSM 3987T(=ATCC 25548T) were its closest taxa with 95.28%, 94.17%, 93.25%, and 92.75% 16S rRNA sequence identities respectively. The strain SG502T placed itself close to C. innocuum in the 16S rRNA phylogeny. The members of genus Clostridium within family Erysipelotrichaceae was proposed to be reassigned to genus Erysipelatoclostridium to resolve the misclassification of genus Clostridium. Therefore, C. innocuum was also classified into this genus temporarily with the need to reclassify it in the future because of its difference in genomic properties. Similarly, genome sequencing of the strain and comparison with its 16S phylogenetic members and proposed members of the genus Erysipelatoclostridium, SG502T warranted a separate genus even though its 16S rRNA similarity was >95% when comapred to C. innocuum. The strain was 71.8% similar at ANI, 19.8% [17.4-22.2%] at dDDH and 69.65% similar at AAI to its closest neighbor C. innocuum. The genome size was nearly 2,683,792 bp with 32.88 mol% G+C content, which is about half the size of C. innocuum genome and the G+C content revealed 10 mol% difference. Phenotypically, the optimal growth temperature and pH for the strain SG502T were 37 °C and 7.0 respectively. Acetate was the major short-chain fatty acid product of the strain when grown in BHI-M medium. The major cellular fatty acids produced were C18:1 ω9c, C18:0and C16:0. Thus, based on the polyphasic analysis, for the type strain SG502T (=DSM 107282T= CCOS 1889T), the name Dakotella fusiforme gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed.
Shield Design for 50 kW Three-Phase Wireless Charging System

In this paper, magnetic field emissions (MFE) from a 50 kW bipolar coil-based three-phase wireless charging system (WCS) is investigated. Then, a shield design is proposed to suppress the MFE below the safety limit identified by the International Commission of Non-Ionized Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines. Bipolar coil-based three-phase (3φ) WCSs provide extremely high power-density; therefore, the 3φ WCSs are highly promising for high-power fast-wireless-charging of the electric vehicles. For the high-power EV application, it is a critical challenge to design a shield to suppress the MFE below the safety limit. The traditional aluminum shield is found ineffective for the bipolar 3φ-WCS. The proposed shield is designed with high-permeability magnetic material, i.e. ferrite, nanocrystalline material, etc. The proposed shield is simulated in finite element analysis (FEA) and the FEA results show that the proposed magnetic shield effectively suppresses the magnetic field emission below the ICNIRP limit. The generalized design of the proposed shield can be used for even higher power bipolar coil based WCSs.
Molecular Defects in Friedreich’s Ataxia: Convergence of Oxidative Stress and Cytoskeletal Abnormalities

Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is a multi-faceted disease characterized by progressive sensory-motor loss, neurodegeneration, brain iron accumulation, and eventual death by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. FRDA follows loss of frataxin (FXN), a mitochondrial chaperone protein required for incorporation of iron into iron-sulfur cluster and heme precursors. After the discovery of the molecular basis of FRDA in 1996, over two decades of research have been dedicated to understanding the temporal manifestations of disease both at the whole body and molecular level. Early research indicated strong cellular iron dysregulation in both human and yeast models followed by onset of oxidative stress. Since then, the pathophysiology due to dysregulation of intracellular iron chaperoning has become central in FRDA relative to antioxidant defense and run-down in energy metabolism. At the same time, limited consideration has been given to changes in cytoskeletal organization, which was one of the first molecular defects noted. These alterations include both post-translational oxidative glutathionylation of actin monomers and differential DNA processing of a cytoskeletal regulator PIP5K1β. Currently unknown in respect to FRDA but well understood in the context of FXN-deficient cell physiology is the resulting impact on the cytoskeleton; this disassembly of actin filaments has a particularly profound effect on cell-cell junctions characteristic of barrier cells. With respect to a neurodegenerative disorder such as FRDA, this cytoskeletal and tight junction breakdown in the brain microvascular endothelial cells of the blood-brain barrier is likely a component of disease etiology. This review serves to outline a brief history of this research and hones in on pathway dysregulation downstream of iron-related pathology in FRDA related to actin dynamics. The review presented here was not written with the intent of being exhaustive, but to instead urge the reader to consider the essentiality of the cytoskeleton and appreciate the limited knowledge on FRDA-related cytoskeletal dysfunction as a result of oxidative stress. The review examines previous hypotheses of neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA) in FRDA with a specific biochemical focus.
Protein-Mimetic Self-Assembly with Synthetic Macromolecules

Protein-mimetic amphiphiles have significant promise as a platform to access the complex functions of natural biological materials and incorporate the tunability and environmental resilience of syn...
Modeling the COVID-19 Epidemic in a Parallelized City Simulation

A pandemic can arise without warning, and it is important for those in charge of managing the outbreak to understand how diseases spread. Being able to simulate the spread of a disease in varying environments can help the world be more prepared when an outbreak occurs. The COVID-19 City Simulator allows the user to test the spread of the virus under multiple different scenarios. Parallel computing can help to make these simulations more efficient by allowing data to be gathered at a faster rate on a particle simulation. This paper shows how OpenMP and MPI can improve a pandemic simulation by cutting the runtime from over 25 s to under 10 s when 4 threads and 4 boxes are used. We also find that the speed of implementing a lockdown largely impacts the amount of cases and deaths in the city.
Genotype-structurotype-phenotype correlations in pachyonychia congenita patients.

ABSTRACT Pachyonychia congenita (PC) is a genetic disorder of keratin that presents with nail dystrophy, painful palmoplantar keratoderma, and other clinical manifestations. We investigated genotype-structurotype-phenotype correlations seen with mutations in keratin genes (KRT6A, KRT6B, KRT6C, KRT16, KRT17) and utilized protein structure modeling of high frequency mutations to examine the functional importance of keratin structural domains in PC pathogenesis. Participants of the International PC Research Registry underwent genetic testing and completed a standardized survey on their symptoms. Our results support prior reports associating oral leukokeratosis with KRT6A mutations, and cutaneous cysts, follicular hyperkeratosis, and natal teeth with KRT17 mutations. Painful keratoderma was prominent with KRT6A and KRT16 mutations. Nail involvement was most common in KRT6A and least common in KRT6C patients. Across keratin subtypes, patients with coil 2B mutations had greatest impairment in ambulation, and patients with coil 1A mutations reported more emotional issues. Molecular modeling demonstrated that hotspot missense mutations in PC largely disrupted hydrophobic interactions or surface charge. The former may destabilize keratin dimers/tetramers, while the latter likely interferes with higher-order keratin filament formation. Understanding pathologic alterations in keratin structure improves our knowledge of how PC genotype correlates with clinical phenotype, advancing insight into disease pathogenesis and therapeutic development.
Firm Characteristics and Stock Price Levels: A Long-Term Discount Rate Perspective

We study how firm characteristics are correlated with stock price levels by measuring the long-term discount rates (defined as the internal rate of return) of anomaly portfolios over a long horizon. We develop a simple, non-parametric methodology to estimate the long-term equity discount rate from ex-post realized payouts and prices. Our estimates show that the cross-sectional patterns in the long-term discount rates can be substantially different from that of the average short-term holding period returns; and appealing to mean-reversion in anomaly premia does not reconcile the wedge between the two for a group of prominent anomalies. We argue that the long-term discount rate is a better measure of firm's equity financing cost than the premium from a dynamically-rebalanced trading strategy; and we demonstrate with a representative example that structural models that interpret the spreads in the latter as the differences in the former could generate counterfactual patterns in the long-term discount rates. Our empirical exercise uncovers numerous new stylized facts regarding firms' equity financing cost; and these findings could shed new light on the mechanisms underlying various asset pricing anomalies, and advance our understanding about the determinants of stock price levels.
Inconsistent annual compensation for floral herbivory by an iterocarpic thistle.

PREMISE Plants experiencing steep reproductive losses from herbivores should favor strategies promoting tolerance or resistance to that herbivory. However, the degree to which such strategies succeed in improving plant fitness under natural conditions needs further evaluation, especially for iterocarpic species. We tested whether reproductive effort by the iterocarpic Cirsium undulatum Spreng. (Wavyleaf thistle) provided within-season tolerance for floral herbivory through response to apical damage. METHODS We imposed apical damage and manipulated floral herbivory on later-flowering, non-apical flowerheads for two seasons. We asked: (1) is there evidence of compensatory potential to tolerate apical flowerhead damage? If so, (2) does the amount of herbivore pressure on non-apical flowerheads influence the magnitude of any compensatory response; and (3) is the response to apical damage sufficient to increase plant seed production under ambient floral herbivory over the flowering season? RESULTS Plants showed compensatory potential for apical head loss; apical damage increased seed contributions from later, lower positioned flowerheads. Further, the intensity of subsequent herbivore pressure influenced compensation outcomes. Equitable seed production under both levels of ambient herbivory occurred only in the year in which plants were larger and insect pressure was lower. Finally, the response to apical damage was sufficient to compensate for apical seed loss, but it did not consistently increase overall annual seed production under ambient floral herbivory. CONCLUSIONS Although this iterocarpic species can compensate for apical damage, tolerance for floral herbivory varied between years.