cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modification of Diet in Renal Disease and Modified Cockcroft-Gault Formulas in Predicting Aminoglycoside Elimination

Background:The Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula and a modified version of the Cockcroft-Gault (CGm) formula adjusting for body surface area have been found to moro accurately estimate glomerular filtration rate (GFR) compared with the original CG equation in specific patient populations. To date, the use of these formulas in determining drug dosage and estimating drug elimination has not been thoroughly investigated.Objective:To evaluate the ability of the MDRD and CGm formulas to predict aminoglycoside elimination rate and clearance.Methods:A 6-month prospective, noninterventional, pharmacokinetic study was conducted at a university teaching hospital. Patients receiving aminoglycoside antibiotics (amikacin, gentamicin, or tobramycin) were eligible for study inclusion. Predicted elimination rate and aminoglycoside clearance were calculated for each patient using the MDRD and CGm formulas. Actual (patient-specific) elimination rate and aminoglycoside clearance were calculated for each p...
An analysis of a non-Gaussian, Gaussian laser beam

It is possible to construct summations of Laguerre-Gaussian modes which have the appearance of a zero order fundamental Gaussian but which, in fact, have no zero order content. These examples have circulated informally as a warning against trusting a single beam profile measurement as to the indication of the modal content of a given beam. These 'non-Gaussian' Gaussian beams also turn out to be extremely revealing of the fundamental assumptions upon which all modal decompositions and modal-based beam quality measures are based upon. Due to the contrived nature of these beams, they are also subject to some very subtle but important theoretical errors. This paper will rigorously examine a 'non-Gaussian', Gaussian beam in terms of its amplitude and phase characteristics, propagation behavior, M 2 and what it reveals about modal decompositions and modal beam quality measures in general.
Using time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) in the design and development of near-IR dopants for liquid-crystal device applications

Computational chemistry provides unprecedented opportunities to predict the properties of new materials prior to synthesis. One such important property for optics and photonics applications is optical absorbance. The capability to accurately predict, prior to synthesis, the spectroscopic properties of a series of materials as a function of molecular structure would be an extremely powerful tool in the design and development of new liquid crystal materials, dyes, and dopants intended for use in devices for advanced optics and photonics applications. We have applied time-dependent density function theory (TDDFT) calculations for the first time in the prediction of the absorbance spectra of a series of nickel dithiolene near-infrared (IR) dye complexes with a wide variety of terminal functional groups that are designed to enhance their solubility and stability in liquid crystal host mixtures. The TDDFT method was used to compute the excited-state energies of an existing series of nickel dithiolenes with bulk solvent effects taken into account. Excellent agreement between the theoretical and experimental absorbance maxima was achieved for 14 known dyes with an exceptionally low mean absolute error of 0.033 eV. Calculations conducted on 4 new nickel dithiolene dyes predict that the addition of sulfur atoms to the side chains will increase the maximum absorbance wavelength by up to 160 nm. This improved computational method is being applied to the design and synthesis of highly soluble azobenzene-substituted transition metal dithiolene near-IR dyes that can undergo rapid and reversible photoinduced cis-trans isomerization. Such materials could show substantial promise as photoswitchable near-IR dopants for liquid crystal device applications in telecommunications, sensor protection, nonlinear optics, and laser systems.
SCALE‐SPECIFIC INFERENCE USING WAVELETS

Understanding of spatial pattern and scale has been identified as a key issue in ecology, yet ecology has traditionally lacked necessary tools for making inference about relationships between scale-specific patterns. We introduce wavelet-coefficient regression, in which the dependent and independent variables are wavelet transformed prior to analysis, as a means to formalize scale-specific relationships in ecological data. We apply this method to data on vegetation and environmental factors related to water availability from Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park (California, USA). We find that the wavelet transform and wavelet-coefficient regression efficiently characterize scale-specific pattern in these data. We also find that different environmental factors show up as good predictors of vegetation growth at different scales and that these differences in scale greatly facilitate interpretation of the mechanisms relating water availability to vegetation growth.
Scalarization on Short Vector Machines

Scalarization is a process that converts array statements into loop nests so that they can run on a scalar machine. One technical difficulty of scalarization is that temporary storage often needs to be allocated in order to preserve the semantics of array syntax - "fetch before store". Many techniques have been developed to reduce the size of temporary storage requirement in order to improve the memory hierarchy performance. With the emergence of short vector units on modern microprocessors, it is interesting to see how to extend the preexisting scalarization methods so that the underlying vector infrastructure is fully utilized, while at the same time keep the temporary storage minimized. In this paper, we extend a loop alignment algorithm for scalarization on short vector machines. The revised algorithm not only achieves vector execution with minimum temporary storage, but also handles data alignment properly, which is very important for performance. Our experiments on two types of widely available architectures demonstrate the effectiveness of our strategy
Socioeconomic and Racial Disparities in Cancer Risk from Air Toxics in Maryland

We linked risk estimates from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) to racial and socioeconomic characteristics of census tracts in Maryland (2000 Census) to evaluate disparities in estimated cancer risk from exposure to air toxics by emission source category. In Maryland, the average estimated cancer risk across census tracts was highest from on-road sources (50% of total risk from nonbackground sources), followed by nonroad (25%), area (23%), and major sources ( 90th percentile of risk) than those in the lowest quartile (95% confidence interval, 2.0-5.0). Conversely, risk decreased as the proportion of whites increased (p < 0.001). Census tracts in the lowest quartile of socioeconomic position, as measured by various indicators, were 10-100 times more likely to be high risk than those in the highest quartile. We observed substantial risk disparities for on-road, area, and nonroad sources by socioeconomic measure and on-road and area sources by race. There was considerably less evidence of risk disparities from major source emissions. We found a statistically significant interaction between race and income, suggesting a stronger relationship between race and risk at lower incomes. This research demonstrates the utility of NATA for assessing regional environmental justice, identifies an environmental justice concern in Maryland, and suggests that on-road sources may be appropriate targets for policies intended to reduce the disproportionate environmental health burden among economically disadvantaged and minority populations.
Pseudocyphellaria perpetua, a New Lichen from Western North America

Pseudocyphellaria perpetua McCune & Miadlikowska is described as a new species of lichenized fungus from Oregon, U.S.A. Morphologically similar to some forms of P. crocata, P. perpetua is separated from that species by a yellow medulla and predominantly marginal soralia. Comparison of ITS and LSU nrDNA sequences support taxonomic distinctness of these two species. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted on LSU and ITS nrDNA data sets separately and simultaneously using maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood as optimization criteria. All analyses except one (maximum parsimony on LSU nrDNA data alone) confirmed the monophyly of P. perpetua. There are two distinct groups within the P. perpetua clade represented by specimens sampled from near the type locality in Oregon, and specimens outside of Oregon (eastern Canada, eastern Russia and eastern U.S.A.). The genus Pseudocyphellaria is very likely polyphyletic, consisting of at least two highly divergent groups.
Abstract 557: Chronic Compound-21 Infusion Induces Natriuresis in Wild-Type Mice but not in AT2 Receptor-Null Mice

Our previous studies have demonstrated that angiotensin (Ang) type-2 receptors (AT2R) mediate natriuresis by inhibiting Na+ reabsorption in the renal proximal tubule and that des1-aspartyl-Ang II (Ang III) is the preferred endogenous agonist for this response. Natriuretic responses to intrarenal Ang III infusion do not occur in the absence of concurrent systemic Ang type-1 receptor (AT1R) blockade or aminopeptidase N inhibition to prevent Ang III degradation. In the present study, we hypothesize that Compound 21 (C21), a highly selective non-peptide AT2R agonist, administered chronically in the absence of concurrent AT1R blockade can induce natriuresis in wild-type mice (WT; C57B6) and that this response does not occur in AT2R-null mice (AT2-null). WT and AT2-null (N=8/group) on normal diet (0.3% NaCl) were infused subcutaneously with C21 (300 ng/kg/min) or vehicle (V) 5% dextrose in water via osmotic mini-pump continuously for 7 days. Food/fluid intake and systolic blood pressure (SBP; via telemetry for 30 min at 8 am) were monitored daily and 24 h urine Na+ excretion (UNaV) was measured at baseline and infusion days 1, 4, and 7. Baseline UNaV in V-infused WT was 0.09 ± 0.01 μmol/min and did not change with V infusion. In C21-infused WT, UNaV increased from a baseline of 0.11 ± 0.01 to 0.13 ± 0.02 μmol/min on day 4 and to 0.17 ± 0.02 μmol/min on day 7 (F=15.0, P
Non-Local Effects in Magnetization and Torque of Quaternary Borocarbides

Importance of the non-local electrodynamics of superconductors was considered decades ago [1] when, in disagreement with the Ginzburg — Landau (GL) theory, the upper critical field H c2 of cubic niobium was found to be anisotropic: e.g. when the applied field is rotated in one of the principal crystallographic planes, H c2 shows a four fold symmetric variation. As a consequence, one may expect the magnetization M in superconducting state to vary in a similar manner. However conventional superconducting materials (like Nb) do not provide sufficient room for the studies of non-local effects: these materials typically have a low GL parameter K, i.e. nearly for all fields between H cl and H c2 the intervortex spacing is on the order of the coherence length and the spatial variations of the order parameter cannot be neglected. A comprehensible theory for such a complex case does not exist. Although K can be made larger by addition of impurities, in conventional materials this is usually accompanied by a considerable pinning and irreversibility. Another class of materials, high-T c copper oxide superconductors, possess high values of K that made it possible to successfully describe the behavior of their magnetization at low temperatures within a relatively simple generalization of the London theory which includes non-local corrections [2]. The drawback is that the majority of these materials are so strongly anisotropic, nearly two dimensional, that thermal and quantum fluctuations are an important factor in description of their magnetic properties in the mixed state [3]. Less anisotropic high-T c superconductors, as YBa2Cu307, even in the best quality single crystals have only a narrow region of the H-T phase diagram, near Tc, where the magnetization is reversible.
Role of Guard Honey Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Nestmate Discrimination and Replacement of Removed Guards

Guard honey bees, Apis mellifera L., patrol the colony entrance and have been hypothesized to exclude non-nestmate bees. We tested this hypothesis by comparing the expression of nestmate discrimination by different types of bees in colonies. Guard bees are significantly more likely to bite or sting a foreign bee than other task groups (nurses, undertakers, soldiers, pollen foragers, and liquid foragers). We also hypothesized that guarding and undertaking could be overlapping responsibilities; each involves the removal of bees from the colony. Undertakers and guards do not perform the same activities. Finally, guards may be injured or killed in encounters with foreign bees; as a result they must be replaced by the colony. The control rate of appearance of new guards was 2.8 new guards per hour, but when most of the guards were removed this rate became significantly higher (4.9 per hour).
Laboratory rearing of the parsnip webworm, Depressaria pastinacella (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae)

A procedure for establishing a laboratory colony of the parsnip webworm, Depressaria pastinacella (Duponchel), is described. Because adults are initially in reproductive diapause, moths must be cold-treated for oviposition to occur. An artificial oviposition substrate and a semidefined artificial diet for larvae were developed to allow year-round rearing with minimal reliance on fresh plant material.
Estrous cycle dynamics in different strains of mice.

AbstractEstrous cyclicity in the olfactory presence of males was studied in an un-selected control line and in five selected lines which differ in fecundity. Improved reproductive performance (high embryo survival, large litters) is correlated with increased regularity of the cycle, while poor reproductive performance (small litters) is associated with prolongation of the cycle and anestrum. Strain variation in the duration of the proestrus/estrus phase of the cycle is associated with changes in ovulation rate and is indicative of substantial heritabilities for the physiological determinants of these traits.
Intraluminal tranexamic acid inhibits intestinal sheddases and mitigates gut and lung injury and inflammation in a rodent model of hemorrhagic shock.

Background Intravenous tranexamic acid (TXA) is an effective adjunct after hemorrhagic shock (HS) because of its antifibrinolytic properties. TXA is also a serine protease inhibitor, and recent laboratory data demonstrated that intraluminal TXA into the small bowel inhibited digestive proteases and protected the gut. A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase 17 (ADAM-17) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) are effective sheddases of intestinal syndecan-1, which when shed, exposes the underlying intestinal epithelium to digestive proteases and subsequent systemic insult. We therefore hypothesized that intraluminal TXA as a serine protease inhibitor would reduce intestinal sheddases and syndecan-1 shedding, mitigating gut and distant organ (lung) damage. Methods Mice underwent 90 minutes of HS to a mean arterial pressure of 35 ± 5 mm Hg followed by the intraluminal administration of TXA or vehicle. After 3 hours, the small intestine, lung, and blood were collected for analysis. Results Intraluminal TXA significantly reduced gut and lung histopathologic injury and inflammation compared with HS alone. Gut, lung, and systemic ADAM-17 and TNF-α were significantly increased by HS but lessened by TXA. In addition, gut and lung syndecan-1 immunostaining were preserved and systemic shedding lessened after TXA. TXA reduced ADAM-17 and TNF-α, but not syndecan-1, in TXA-sham animals compared with sham vehicles. Conclusion Results of the present study demonstrate a beneficial effect of intraluminal TXA in the gut and lung after experimental HS in part because of the inhibition of the syndecan-1 shedding by ADAM-17 and TNF-α. Further studies are needed to determine if orally administered TXA could provide similar intestinal protection and thus be of potential benefit to patients with survivable hemorrhage at risk for organ injury. This is particularly relevant in patients or soldiers who may not have access to timely medical care.
A theory on grasping objects using effectors with curved contact surfaces and its application to whole-arm grasping

This paper develops a theoretical framework for grasping objects using customized effectors that have curved contact surfaces, and presents its application to the problem of robotic whole-arm grasping. We present a collection of immobilizing grasps and cages that can effectively restrain the mobility of a wide range of object shapes including polyhedra. Each of the grasps or cages is formed by at most three effectors with appropriate contact surfaces in contrast to customary point fingertips. We also discuss the morphology of the curved contact surfaces that can realize the grasps and cages; the surfaces can simply be planar, cylindrical, or spherical. Stable grasps are obtained by simple motion planning and control. Our theory is based on a conservative assumption that all contacts are frictionless, rigid, unilateral. Finally, we present a robotic system, comprised of a software suite and a modular reconfigurable manipulator outfitted with exchangeable end-effectors and arm links, demonstrating the theory and our approach to whole-arm grasping.
Research on & Development of Material Ration Manage System

A material ration manage system based on Client/Server mode was introduced in order to solve the problem related to low efficiency, large capacity, bad accuracy in material ration planning. The system was presented with the functions of rate edition, gathering, manage and material coding. The software structure, software process and main function of this system were discussed.
Ischemic preconditioning prevents postischemic P-selectin expression in the rat small intestine.

Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) prevents the deleterious effects of prolonged ischemia and reperfusion (I/R). Because leukocyte infiltration is required to produce the microvascular dysfunction indu...
The consequences of nuclear war

At best, civilization would be crippled; at worst, it would be annihilated—and yet current strategic doctrines consider such a risk to be acceptable
A LANGUAGE FOR COMBINATORIAL COMPUTING

This chapter discusses a language for combinatorial computing. A combinatorial language is a statement language, that is, a program for performing a certain task that consists of a sequence of statements describing the calculation that is to take place. It happens frequently in combinatorial computing that more than one computer word is required to represent the monstrous integers obtained during a calculation. The chapter discusses the three basic data-types: real numbers, unordered sets of natural numbers, and arrays whose entries are either real numbers or sets of natural numbers. Finite sets of natural numbers, one of the basic data-types recognized in the language play a fundamental role in combinatorial computing. The notation adopted for the manipulation of such data is essentially conventional mathematical notation, although certain symbolism and its associated data handling do suggest computer orientation.
The Hemolytic Anemia of Magnesium Deficiency in Adult Rats

The administration of a Mg-deficient diet to adult rats for 4-5 wk causes anemia. The RBC are slightly smaller and flatter, and have a reduced hemoglobin component and a decreased osmotic fragility. 51Cr survival time is shortened when the affected cells are infused into normal adult rats. In vitro synthesis of heme and globin, as measured with 14C-glycine was the same as in control rats with "reticulocytosis-rich" anemia produced by bleeding or immunologically. The activity of a series of enzymes associated with energy production also failed to yield findings specific for Mg deficiency. It is suggested that the anemia of Mg deficiency is hemolytic and results from the combination of a reversible extrinsic defect and of an irreversible structural defect in the RBC.
Zika virus cell tropism in the developing human brain and inhibition by azithromycin

The rapid spread of Zika virus (ZIKV) and its association with abnormal brain development constitute a global health emergency. Congenital ZIKV infection produces a range of mild to severe pathologies, including microcephaly. To understand the pathophysiology of ZIKV infection, we used models of the developing brain that faithfully recapitulate the tissue architecture in early to midgestation. We identify the brain cell populations that are most susceptible to ZIKV infection in primary human tissue, provide evidence for a mechanism of viral entry, and show that a commonly used antibiotic protects cultured brain cells by reducing viral proliferation. In the brain, ZIKV preferentially infected neural stem cells, astrocytes, oligodendrocyte precursor cells, and microglia, whereas neurons were less susceptible to infection. These findings suggest mechanisms for microcephaly and other pathologic features of infants with congenital ZIKV infection that are not explained by neural stem cell infection alone, such as calcifications in the cortical plate. Furthermore, we find that blocking the glia-enriched putative viral entry receptor AXL reduced ZIKV infection of astrocytes in vitro, and genetic knockdown of AXL in a glial cell line nearly abolished infection. Finally, we evaluate 2,177 compounds, focusing on drugs safe in pregnancy. We show that the macrolide antibiotic azithromycin reduced viral proliferation and virus-induced cytopathic effects in glial cell lines and human astrocytes. Our characterization of infection in the developing human brain clarifies the pathogenesis of congenital ZIKV infection and provides the basis for investigating possible therapeutic strategies to safely alleviate or prevent the most severe consequences of the epidemic.
Sub-State Conformations of the Mesophilic and Psychrophilic Lactate Dehydrogenases Preceding Irreversible Thermal Inactivation

The thermodynamics of oxamate binding and the temperature stability of the glycolytic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase from porcine heart, phLDH (mesophilic Sus scrofa) and from mackerel icefish, cgLDH (psychrophilic Chamapsocephalus gunnari) have been investigated. A novel fluorescence assay was utilized that simultaneous monitors changes to the global protein structure, structural changes near the active site, and aggregation of the enzyme in response to increasing temperature and increasing concentration of the natural osmolyte, trimethyl amine N-oxide (TMAO), a stabilizer of protein structure. Using this assay, the reverse changes of stability and affinity for oxamate were established for both, phLDH and cgLDH. Importantly, a low-temperature (pre-denaturation) structural transition was found that precedes the high-temperature (denaturation) transition for both LDHs and coincides with increasing enzymatic activity. The structural transitions of the global protein structure and the active site are concerted for the rigid (phLDH) and not concerted for the flexible (cgLDH) LDHs. The profound contribution of entropy to ∆G along with the higher structural flexibility increases functional plasticity of the psychrophilic cgLDH. TMAO increases stability and shifts all structural transitions to the higher temperatures for both orthologs and simultaneously reduces their catalytic activity. The multiple active and inactive along with intermediate sub-state conformations of the enzyme exist in equilibrium at the stage preceding irreversible thermal inactivation. This equilibrium is an essential selective factor for the adaptation of an enzyme to the environmental temperature. It seems also possible that thermal adaptation of proteins may be complemented by evolution of the cellular milieu.
Terrain classification using intelligent tire

Abstract A wheeled ground robot was designed and built for better understanding of the challenges involved in utilization of accelerometer-based intelligent tires for mobility improvements. Since robot traction forces depend on the surface type and the friction associated with the tire-road interaction, the measured acceleration signals were used for terrain classification and surface characterization. To accomplish this, the robot was instrumented with appropriate sensors (a tri-axial accelerometer attached to the tire innerliner, a single axis accelerometer attached to the robot chassis and wheel speed sensors) and a data acquisition system. Wheel slip was measured accurately using encoders attached to driven and non-driven wheels. A fuzzy logic algorithm was developed and used for terrain classification. This algorithm uses the power of the acceleration signal and wheel slip ratio as inputs and classifies all different surfaces into four main categories; asphalt, concrete, grass, and sand. The performance of the algorithm was evaluated using experimental data and good agreements were observed between the surface types and estimated ones.
Human Identification and Localization by Robots in Collaborative Environments

Abstract Environments in which mobile robots and humans must coexist tend to be quite dangerous to the humans. Many employers have resorted to separating the two groups since the robots move quickly and do not maneuver around humans easily resulting in human injuries. In this paper we provide a roadmap towards being able to integrate the two worker groups (human and robots) to increase both efficiency and safety. Improved human to robot communication and collaboration has implications in multiple applications. For example: (1) Robots that manage all aspects of dispensing items (e.g., drugs in pharmacies or supplies and tools in a remote workplace), reducing human errors. (2) Dangerous location capable robots that triage injured subjects using remote sensing of vital signs. (3) ‘Smart’ crash carts that move themselves to a required location in a hospital or in the field, help dispense drugs and tools, save time and money, and prevent accidents.
Multicomponent NAPL Solidification Thermodynamics

Nonaqueous phase liquid (NAPL) contaminants that are chemical mixtures often contain compounds that are solids in their pure states. In the environment, weathering processes cause shifts in multicomponent NAPL composition, thereby enriching the NAPL in the less soluble compounds which may result in their eventual solidification. In this paper, we review the thermodynamic theory governing solid-liquid phase equilibria for the multicomponent NAPLs, and we present experimental observations of such phase equilibria for binary, ternary, and quaternary mixtures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). If the NAPL phase behaves as an ideal solution and if the solid precipitate is pure, then a compound's mole fraction solubility limit in the NAPL phase equals its solid-liquid reference fugacity ratio. This value is a constant at the temperature of the system. If the NAPL phase is a non-ideal solvent or if the solid is a solid solution, prediction of NAPL solidification in the environment is considerably more difficult. Experimental results indicate that for compounds such as naphthalene and acenaphthene, the solid-liquid reference fugacity ratio serves as a good indicator of the solubility limits in the NAPL phase. For phenanthrene, the solids that form when this compound exceeds its solubility limit are solid solutions that consistently include large portions of 2-methylnaphthalene. These results suggest that the independent behavior implied by ideal solubility theory may not be an accurate descriptor of NAPL solidification phenomena for all PAH-containing NAPLs.
Knowledge of Palliative Care Among Community-Dwelling Adults

Objective:To identify what laypersons know about palliative care using the Palliative Care Knowledge Scale (PaCKS). A secondary aim was to establish preliminary normative data for the PaCKS.Methods...
Variables Associated With Indiscriminate Friendliness Displayed by Chinese Adoptees in U.S. Families

The study investigated potential variables associated with indiscriminate friendliness (IF) in children adopted from China by U.S. parents. Children in this study were adopted at a mean age of 19 m...
Men and Adjustment to Divorce

SynopsisDivorce for men can be a time of crisis, yet little research is available on men’s adjustment to divorce compared to that on women and children. This paper reviews the literature and makes recommendations for future research. Divorce adjustment for men involves resolving emotional crisis reactions, redefining self-concept issues which often relate to reduced finances, and developing social support. The adjustment of divorced men with children revolves around the quality of the relationship they are able to maintain with their children. Suggested areas for divorce research include father-child relationships from a family systems viewpoint, fathers’ involvement in child custody and child support payment decisions, and the adjustment of divorced men who are not parents.
Blocking TIR Domain Interactions in TLR9 Signaling

Interaction of TLR9 with ligands activates NF-κB, leading to proinflammatory cytokine production. Excessive TLR activation is a pathogenic factor for inflammatory diseases. This study has examined cell-permeating decoy peptides (CPDPs) derived from the TLR9 Toll/IL-1R resistance (TIR) domain. CPDP 9R34, which included AB loop, β-strand B, and N-terminal BB loop residues, inhibited TLR9 signaling most potently. CPDPs derived from α-helices C, D, and E (i.e., 9R6, 9R9, and 9R11) also inhibited TLR9-induced cytokines but were less potent than 9R34. 9R34 did not inhibit TLR2/1, TLR4, or TLR7 signaling. The N-terminal deletion modification of 9R34, 9R34-ΔN, inhibited TLR9 as potently as the full length 9R34. Binding of 9R34-ΔN to TIR domains was studied using cell-based Forster resonance energy transfer/fluorescence lifetime imaging approach. Cy3-labeled 9R34-ΔN dose-dependently decreased fluorescence lifetime of TLR9 TIR-Cerulean (Cer) fusion protein. Cy3-9R34-ΔN also bound TIRAP TIR, albeit with a lesser affinity, but not MyD88 TIR, whereas CPDP from the opposite TIR surface, 9R11, bound both adapters and TLR9. i.p. administration of 9R34-ΔN suppressed oligonucleotide-induced systemic cytokines and lethality in mice. This study identifies a potent, TLR9-specific CPDP that targets both receptor dimerization and adapter recruitment. Location of TIR segments that represent inhibitory CPDPs suggests that TIR domains of TLRs and TLR adapters interact through structurally homologous surfaces within primary receptor complex, leading to formation of a double-stranded, filamentous structure. In the presence of TIRAP and MyD88, primary complex can elongate bidirectionally, from two opposite ends, whereas in TIRAP-deficient cells, elongation is unidirectional, only through the αE side.
Analysing the European Union's Tenders Electronic Daily: possibilities and pitfalls

As a public policy tool, the open data movement holds out hope of large payoffs in democratic transparency and accountability. This paper explores the efficacy of the Tenders Electronic Daily or TED open dataset which covers 33 European countries operating at numerous levels of government. While the recent move toward making the TED open data available in a potentially more user-friendly CSV format could have been a milestone in realising a major aspect of the goals of the open data movement, this study demonstrates that the redundant structure of the individual files is extremely difficult to understand in its current form. Moreover, the transparency that may have resulted from this initiative is unlikely to efficiently serve the purposes of public procurement accountability. As a result, the TED open data in CSV format should be approached with an abundance of caution.
The Secure Boston Mechanism: theory and experiments

This paper introduces a new matching mechanism that is a hybrid of the two most common mechanisms in school choice, the Boston Mechanism (BM) and the Deferred Acceptance algorithm (DA). BM is the most commonly used mechanism in the field, but it is neither strategyproof nor fair. DA is the mechanism that is typically favored by economists, but it is not Pareto efficient. The new mechanism, the Secure Boston Mechanism (sBM), is an intuitive modification of BM that secures any school a student was initially guaranteed but otherwise prioritizes a student at a school based upon how she ranks it. Relative to BM, theoretical results suggest that sBM is an improvement in terms of strategyproofness and fairness. We present experimental evidence using a novel experimental design that confirms that sBM significantly increases truth-telling and fairness. Relative to DA, theoretical results suggest that sBM can be a Pareto improvement in equilibrium but the efficiency comparison of sBM and DA is theoretically ambiguous. We present simulation evidence that suggests that sBM often does Pareto dominate DA when DA is inefficient, while sBM and DA very often overlap when DA is efficient. Overall, our results strongly support the use of sBM over BM and suggest that sBM should be considered as a viable alternative to DA.
Multicultural Awareness and a Comprehensive Team Approach to Liver Transplantation: A Case Report

Patients being considered for a liver transplant undergo a rigorous evaluation process to identify the medical and psychosocial factors that may impact transplant success. The American Association for the Study of Liver Disease outlines recommendations for medical factors, but guidelines for psychosocial factors, such as multiculturalism, are less clear. The aim of this unique case study was to highlight the importance of multicultural awareness in the context of liver transplantation. More specifically, the report follows an American Indian man from initial diagnosis through psychological assessment and transplantation in order to illustrate the benefits of a comprehensive, multicultural team approach. Various components of multiculturalism are discussed, including the patient’s ethnicity, intellectual functioning, socioeconomic status, and mental health history. Consideration of these factors by the patient’s treatment team ultimately led to the patient’s candidacy for transplant, as well as effective psychosocial support throughout the transplant process and recovery. Incorporation more specific psychosocial recommendations into national liver transplantation guidelines would likely improve the evaluation process and outcomes.
Gangs of Russia: From the Streets to the Corridors of Power

The product of a multifaceted research design, Svetlana Stephenson’s Gangs of Russia should be of interest to scholars and specialists. These include criminologists, social scientists studying the ...
A body of evidence: barriers to family viewing after death by gun violence

Abstract Background Gun violence remains a staggering public health care crisis. Although viewing the victim's body is essential to the grieving process, this practice is not universally practiced in the trauma bay and may not be supported by nurses. This study investigates how trauma nurses perceive bereavement and the potential barriers to family viewing after death by gun violence. Methods A survey designed to assess demographics, current practices, knowledge of policies, and personal beliefs regarding family viewing after violent crime was sent electronically to members of the Society of Trauma Nurses. Participants were asked to rank the importance of 14 viewing barriers. Descriptive analysis and perception of barriers between those who did and did not permit viewing were compared using Mann-Whitney tests. *P Results Of the 212 participants, the majority were white, female nurses (86%), aged 30 to 60 y who worked in an urban or suburban setting (58% and 30%). Only 15% had a written hospital policy with the majority not knowing if the police (68%) or medical examiner (74%) had written policies. Despite lack of guidelines, viewings did routinely occur (68%), but only 37% permitted touching. Nurses who did not permit viewing were more likely to rank legal concerns and trauma bay environment as significant barriers. Conclusions Although family viewing after gun violence frequently occurs in the trauma bay, there are significant barriers that are compounded by lack of formal policies. Collaboration with police and medical examiners could mitigate these fears while promoting a safe and more family-centered experience.
CHAPTER FIVE – Sexual Differentiation

Publisher Summary Sex is determined by chromosomes and is established at the time, an egg is fertilized by a sperm. This chapter describes how reproductive structures develop. The anatomical features of an adult male and the female reproductive systems differ greatly. During embryonic development, males and females must take distinctly different paths in forming their reproductive anatomies. The reproductive systems of genetically male and female embryos are identical at an early stage of development. The chapter focuses on how this identical stage differentiates in the typical male and female reproductive systems during embryonic and fetal development. Development of the reproductive tract begins with the sexually indifferent stage. The chromosomes of diploid female cells are 46:XX, whereas those of diploid male cells are 46:XY. One X chromosome of the female cells is inactivated producing a Barr body. The Y chromosome also has genes that play a role in spermatogenesis as well as the growth and development of some male secondary sexual characteristics. The female secondary sexual characteristics do not mature until puberty.
Yes, and … : continuing the scholarly conversation about undue donor influence on higher education

I (Dannels), in my role as Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, have participated in meetings with potential donors when donors have expressed interest in initiatives related to student success. 1 I...
The Cost of Innovation and Decreasing Book Equity of U.S. Firms

This study documents that book equity of U.S. firms has decreased dramatically over time and such decrease is systematic across various industries and firm size. Our analysis shows that intangible capital investment explains a significant portion of the decrease in book equity even after controlling for concurrent effect of leverage and profitability on book equity, and the effect of intangible capital investment on book equity increased in recent years. Further analysis shows that intangible capital contributes to decrease in book equity mostly through the channel of changing firm characteristics rather than changing sensitivity over time. Our findings suggest that investors must incorporate the effect of intangible capital investment into their valuation analysis, as indexes or investment strategies relying on indicators constructed by book equity may be biased and misleading.
Expanding Access to Patents for COVID-19

Two competing and linked sets of goals must be addressed when considering patent policy in response to a public health emergency. First is the allocation of existing resources among potential users (hospitals, patients, etc.); second is the creation of new technologies over time (innovation). Patents provide financial incentives to develop new technologies. Yet shortages of patented products often plague crisis response. In the case of COVID-19, allocative goals, particularly satisfying demand for patented medical products (e.g., vaccines, ventilators, PPE, and test kits), may be achieved through governmental interventions such as march-in and governmental use rights (compulsory licensing). But in cases involving the development of new technologies such as vaccines and therapies, incentive structures must be preserved to ensure that the private sector is appropriately motivated to act. In addition to patents, which reward inventors for financially successful innovations, a range of other incentives such as prizes, grants, and subsidies also exist to motivate technological innovation. Incentives like these, coupled with a requirement that resulting discoveries be made available on a broad and open basis, can achieve a balance between allocation and innovation goals. Governments can encourage such measures using both the incipient threat of compulsory licensing and the reward of procurement preferences and other up-front rewards. This paper was prepared as part of Assessing Legal Responses to COVID-19, a comprehensive report published by Public Health Law Watch in partnership with the de Beaumont Foundation and the American Public Health Association.
The influence of martensitic microstructure and oxide inclusions on the toughness of simulated reheated 10 wt% Ni steel weld metal multi-pass fusion zones

Abstract The influence of the effective grain size of the martensitic microstructure and the presence of oxide inclusions on the toughness of a novel high strength, high toughness 10 wt% Ni steel weld metal was investigated. Previously, it was determined that welds produced with the gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) process exhibited superior toughness to those produced using gas metal arc welding (GMAW), and differences in the martensitic microstructure and oxide inclusion content were identified between the two welds. To elucidate the effect of these two microstructural constituents on toughness, multi-pass weld reheat simulations were performed using a Gleeble 3500 thermal-mechanical simulator designed to produce identical martensitic microstructures in GTAW and GMAW specimens. The GMAW reheat specimens contained a large presence of oxide inclusions from the use of a 98% Ar/2% O2 shielding gas used during welding, whereas the GTAW specimens exhibited a smaller quantity since 100% Ar was used as the shielding gas. These reheat experiments demonstrate that even when both welds have a fine martensitic microstructure, a known toughening mechanism, the toughness of the GMAW is still significantly lower than the GTAW. Thus, the oxide inclusions are the main influence in the lower toughness of the as-welded GMAW, and microstructural refinement is the secondary influence. However, the superior toughness of the GTAW is not only from the lower quantity of oxide inclusions, because when the effective grain size of the GTAW is coarse, the toughness is very low. Thus, both influences are necessary for high toughness of the as-welded GTAW. These results are significant in that they demonstrate the necessity of developing an oxygen-free shielding gas to improve the toughness of welds produced with the GMAW process. The results also now allow for welding procedures to be developed in such a way to avoid low toughness regions in welds produced with both processes, based on the scientific foundation that has been laid here.
The metabolic and mechanical consequences of altered propulsive force generation in walking.

Abstract Older adults walk with greater metabolic energy consumption than younger for reasons that are not well understood. We suspect that a distal-to-proximal redistribution of leg muscle demand, from muscles spanning the ankle to those spanning the hip, contributes to greater metabolic energy costs. Recently, we found that when younger adults using biofeedback target smaller than normal peak propulsive forces (FP), they do so via a similar redistribution of leg muscle demand during walking. This alludes to an experimental paradigm that emulates characteristics of elderly gait independent of other age-related changes relevant to metabolic energy cost. Thus, our purpose was to quantify the metabolic and limb- and joint-level mechanical energy costs associated with modulating propulsive forces during walking in younger adults. Walking with larger FP increased net metabolic power by 47% (main effect, p = 0.001), which was accompanied by small by relatively uniform increases in hip, knee, and ankle joint power and which correlated with total joint power (R2 = 0.151, p = 0.019). Walking with smaller FP increased net metabolic power by 58% (main effect, p
Oxidative damage blocks thymineless death and trimethoprim poisoning in Escherichia coli.

Cells that cannot synthesize one of the DNA precursors, dTTP, due to thyA mutation or metabolic poisoning, undergo thymineless death (TLD), - a chromosome-based phenomenon of unclear mechanisms. In E. coli, thymineless death is caused either by denying thyA mutants thymidine supplementation or by treating wild type cells with trimethoprim. Two recent reports promised a potential breakthrough in TLD understanding, suggesting significant oxidative damage during thymine starvation. Oxidative damage in vivo comes from Fenton's reaction, when hydrogen peroxide meets ferrous iron to produce hydroxyl radical. Therefore, TLD could kill via irreparable double-strand breaks behind replication forks, when starvation-caused single-strand DNA gaps are attacked by hydroxyl radicals. We tested the proposed Fenton-TLD connection, in both thyA mutants denied thymidine, as well as in trimethoprim-treated WT cells, under three conditions: 1) intracellular iron chelation; 2) mutational inactivation of hydrogen peroxide (HP) scavenging; 3) acute treatment with sublethal HP concentrations. We found that TLD kinetics are affected by neither iron chelation, nor HP stabilization in cultures, indicating no induction of oxidative damage during thymine starvation. Moreover, acute exogenous HP treatments completely block TLD, apparently by blocking cell division - which may be a novel TLD prerequisite. Separately, the acute trimethoprim sensitivity of the rffC and recBCD mutants demonstrates how bactericidal power of this antibiotic could be amplified by inhibiting the corresponding enzymes. Importance Mysterious thymineless death strikes cells that are starved for thymine and therefore replicating their chromosomal DNA without dTTP. After 67 years of experiments testing various obvious and not so obvious explanations, thymineless death is still without a mechanism. Recently, oxidative damage via in vivo Fenton's reaction was proposed as a critical contributor to the irreparable chromosome damage during thymine starvation. We have tested this idea by either blocking in vivo Fenton's reaction (expecting no thymineless death) or by amplifying oxidative damage (expecting hyper thymineless death). Instead, we found that blocking Fenton's reaction has no influence on thymineless death, while amplifying oxidative damage prevents thymineless death altogether. Thus, oxidative damage does not contribute to thymineless death, while the latter remains enigmatic.
The strategic value of servitization: A quality management perspective

We propose a typology suggesting varying extent of servitization for manufacturing firms in different industries that could help them improve their firm performance. We suggest that contemporary ma...
Functional asymmetry between the left and right human fusiform gyrus explored through electrical brain stimulation

The ventral temporal cortex (VTC) contains several areas with selective responses to words, numbers, faces, and objects as demonstrated by numerous human and primate imaging and electrophysiological studies. Our recent work using electrocorticography (ECoG) confirmed the presence of face-selective neuronal populations in the human fusiform gyrus (FG) in patients implanted with intracranial electrodes in either the left or right hemisphere. Electrical brain stimulation (EBS) disrupted the conscious perception of faces only when it was delivered in the right, but not left, FG. In contrast to our previous findings, here we report both negative and positive EBS effects in right and left FG, respectively. The presence of right hemisphere language dominance in the first, and strong left-handedness and poor language processing performance in the second case, provide indirect clues about the functional architecture of the human VTC in relation to hemispheric asymmetries in language processing and handedness.