cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Propagating probability distributions of stand variables using sequential Monte Carlo methods

Summary A general probabilistic approach to stand yield estimation is developed based on sequential Monte Carlo fi lters, also known as particle fi lters. The essential steps in the development of the sampling importance resampling (SIR) particle fi lter are presented. The SIR fi lter is then applied to simulated and observed data showing how the ‘ predictor – corrector ’ scheme employed leads to a general probabilistic mechanism for updating growth model predictions with new observations. The method is applicable to decision making under uncertainty, where uncertainty is found in both model predictions and inventory observations.
More Motion Capture in Games -- Can We Make Example-Based Approaches Scale?

Synthesis-by-Example (SBE) approaches have been successful at animating characters in both research and practice (games). These approaches assemble motions from pre-recorded examples, usually motion captured or keyframed. To date, the methods have relied on a small set of simple, generic building blocks for assembling the motions. To meet the increasing demands for better character movement and control in games, the approaches will need to evolve. An obvious path to address these challenges, employing increasingly large collections of examples, is enabled by recent research. However, scaling up the number of examples is unlikely to sufficiently scale up the quality of the character animation. Methods that make better use of examples will be required.
OFDM for underwater acoustic communications: Adaptive synchronization and sparse channel estimation

A phase synchronization method, which provides non-uniform frequency offset compensation needed for wideband OFDM, is coupled with low-complexity channel estimation in the time domain. Sparsing of the channel impulse response leads to an improved performance, while adaptive synchronization supports decision-directed operation and yields low overhead. System performance is demonstrated using experimental data transmitted over a 1 km shallow water channel in the 19 kHz - 31 kHz band.
Evaluation of crowding of caged laying hens (Gallus domesticus) using fuzzy set decision analysis

Abstract Crowding of caged laying hens was evaluated using fuzzy set decision analysis. Membership values and their complements were calculated for fuzzy sets of biological responses of laying hens for different levels of population density. Biological responses were egg production, mortality, and serum corticosterone levels of hens associated with population densities of 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 hens per cage (1549 cm 2 ). The data were set up as a fuzzy decision analysis problem. The optimal decision was based on the maximum of the minimum (maximin) membership values in the decision set. Based on the goals and constraints of the problem, the number of birds per cage at the break-even point (maximin) between a crowded and uncrowded condition was 3 hens per 1549-cm 2 cage. Fuzzy decision analysis of behavior, physiology, and productivity responses would be useful in evaluating the welfare of animals in existing and proposed environmental systems.
Silicon-on-insulator mode-selective add-drop unit for on-chip mode-division multiplexing

A broadband, low-crosstalk, mode-selective add-drop multiplexer using quasi phase-matching and staged coupling is presented. This ultra-compact device can be used to enable mode-division multiplexing for further increasing the aggregate bandwidth of on-chip optical interconnects.
Cardiac Electrophysiological Actions of the Histamine H1-Receptor Antagonists Astemizole and Terfenadine Compared With Chlorpheniramine and Pyrilamine

We compared the cardiac electrophysiological actions of two types of H1-receptor antagonists--the piperidines, astemizole and terfenadine, and the nonpiperidines, chlorpheniramine and pyrilamine-in vitro in guinea pig ventricular myocytes and in vivo in chloralose-anesthetized dogs. Astemizole and terfenadine significantly increased action potential duration of guinea pig myocytes. This concentration-dependent prolongation of action potential duration was reverse frequency dependent and led to development of early afterdepolarizations, which occurred more frequently at higher concentrations and slower pacing frequencies. Astemizole and terfenadine potently blocked the rapidly activating component of the delayed rectifier, IKr, with IC50 values of 1.5 and 50 nmol/L, respectively. At 10 mumol/L, terfenadine but not astemizole blocked the slowly activating component of the delayed rectifier, IKs (58.4 +/- 3.1%), and the inward rectifier, IK1 (20.5 +/- 3.4%). Chlorpheniramine and pyrilamine blocked IKr relatively weakly (IC50 = 1.6 and 1.1 mumol/L, respectively) and IKs and IK1 less than 20% at 10 mumol/L. Astemizole and terfenadine (1.0 to 3.0 mg/kg IV) significantly prolonged the QTc interval and ventricular effective refractory period in vivo. Chlorpheniramine and pyrilamine (< or = 3.0 mg/kg) did not significantly affect these parameters. Block of repolarizing K+ currents, particularly IK1, by astemizole and terfenadine produces reverse rate-dependent prolongation of action potential duration and development of early afterdepolarizations, delays ventricular repolarization, and may underlie the development of torsade de pointes ventricular arrhythmias observed with the use and abuse of these agents.
An invitation to reproducible computational research.

1. I NTRODUCTION I am genuinely thrilled to see Biostatistics make a formal venture into computational reproducibility, and I congratulate the editors of Biostatistics on taking this much needed step. I find the policies being adopted by Biostatistics eminently practical, and I hope that many authors will begin using this option. In my comments, I will try to explain how I came to believe in the importance of reproducibility and why I think others may find it in their interest and in the community interest. I will then briefly mention some efforts in other disciplines.
Resistance to antimicrobial agents and prevalence of R plasmids in Pasteurella multocida from turkeys.

Abstract One hundred fifty-three isolates of Pasteurella multocida, representing the causative agent of 95% of all known outbreaks of fowl cholera occurring in California meat and breeder turkeys from August 1985 through February 1987, were examined for susceptibility to antimicrobial agents. Of the 153 isolates, 6 were shown to be resistant to one or more antimicrobial agents. Of the six resistant isolates, five contained R plasmids. All but one of the R plasmids were small (6 to 7 megadaltons) and nonconjugative, encoding resistance to tetracycline or kanamycin, streptomycin, and sulfonamides; the other was large (70 megadaltons) and conjugative, transferring resistance to kanamycin, streptomycin, sulfonamides, and tetracycline to P. multocida and Escherichia coli. The three plasmids encoding resistance to tetracycline alone appeared identical.
Lysophosphatidylinositol: A Potential Mediator of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D-Induced Increments in Hepatocyte Cytosolic Calcium*

Recent studies in our laboratory demonstrate that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25-(OH)2D] increases hepatocyte cytosolic calcium in the absence of extracellular calcium and activates phospholipase-A-induced deacylation of phosphatidylinositol within 5 min. To determine whether inhibition of phospholipase-A affects D-induced increments in cytosolic calcium and which metabolite of phosphatidylinositol mediates these increments, cytosolic calcium is measured in cultured hepatocytes, loaded with Fura 2AM. Cellular fluorescence is determined at excitation wavelengths of 340 and 380 nm, and cytosolic calcium is calculated. 1,25-(OH)2D treatment for 5 min increases cytosolic calcium levels in the cultured hepatocyte. Inhibition of phospholipase-A with bromophenacylbromide blocks the vitamin D effect on cytosolic calcium, indicating that phospholipase-A activation precedes increments in cytosolic calcium. Neither arachidonic acid nor sodium arachidonate affects cytosolic calcium. In contrast, LPI increases hepatocyte cytosolic calcium in the presence and absence of extracellular calcium. The effect is not blocked by bromophenacylbromide. Neither cell viability nor supernatant fluorescence is altered by LPI, indicating that LPI is increasing fluorescence within the cell. 1,25-(OH)2D treatment for 5 min increases cytosolic pH in cultured hepatocytes. Inhibition of cell alkalinization with amiloride blocks the vitamin D effect on both cytosolic pH and cytosolic calcium, but not the effect of LPI on calcium. NH4Cl increases hepatocyte pH but not cytosolic calcium. The results indicate that phospholipase-A activation is necessary for 1,25-(OH)2D-induced increments in hepatocyte cytosolic calcium and that LPI, a deacylation product of phosphatidylinositol, mediates these increments. Furthermore, inhibition of Na+/H+ exchange, while not blocking the ability of the cell to increase cytosolic calcium in response to LPI, prevents the 1,25-(OH)2D-induced increments in both pH and calcium. The data suggest that the rapid effects of 1,25-(OH)2D on hepatocyte calcium are preceded by cell alkalinization and phospholipase-A activation, and these effects appear to be linked to the Na+/H+ antiport system and not nonspecific cell alkalinization.
Linking Process and Outcomes in Evaluating a Statewide Drug Treatment Program for Youthful Offenders

Considerable attention recently has been given to the principles of effective intervention and their importance for reducing recidivism. By contrast, much less attention has been given to youth performance while in treatment or to program implementation, yet both are critical factors that also can affect recidivism. Using data on youthful offenders in the Texas Youth Commission (TYC), the authors examine rearrest patterns for youths in TYC's Chemical Dependency Treatment Program. Analyses focus on treatment performance and program implementation and their impact on rearrest, net of demographic, risk, and need factors. Policy and research implications of these analyses are discussed.
Management of pain in mechanically ventilated patients

Contemporary analgesic techniques are available for use at each level of nociception and pain perception. Interruption or modulation of afferent input can be done systemically (parenteral opioids by intramuscular, subcutaneous, or intravenous injection; transdermal fentanyl; patient-controlled analgesia), at the spinal cord level (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation; subarachnoid or epidural administration of local anesthetics, opioids or both), and in the periphery (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; major nerve blocks).
Tearing: Breakthrough in Human Emotional Signaling

Tearing is not a benign secretory correlate of sadness or other emotional state, but a potent visual cue that adds meaning to human facial expression, the tear effect. Although tearing (lacrimation...
Outpatient Management of Febrile Children With Sickle Cell Disease

The electronic medical records at 2 children’s hospitals were reviewed from June 1, 2011 to May 31, 2013 for all patients with sickle cell disease who presented with fever. Of a total of 390 blood cultures drawn, 11 cultures (2.8%) turned positive with only 1 (0.3%) growing a true pathogen. This culture turned positive in 13 hours. There were 154 patients who received exclusive outpatient management of fever. Fourteen patients (9.1%) completed 1 acute care visit, 16 patients (10.4%) completed 2 acute care visits, and 124 patients (80.5%) completed 3 acute care visits. Of those treated exclusively as outpatients, there was 1 positive culture that was considered a contaminant. Although the overall rate of positivity was low, this study confirms previous findings that pediatric blood cultures become positive with pathogens within 48 hours. Given the high rate of compliance and early time to positivity of true pathogens, we suggest that follow-up for the febrile sickle cell disease patients can be treated on ...
Abstract W P301: A Neurology/Emergency Medicine Co-Management Protocol for the Observation Management of Transient Ischemic Attack

Background: TIAs are potentially unstable conditions that frequently precede acute ischemic stroke (IS). An evaluation for thromboembolic source and risk is indicated; unfortunately, diagnostic resources for this work up are not immediately available in the Emergency Department (ED). In response to logistic difficulties arranging timely outpatient workup as well as inappropriately long lengths of stay (LOS) on the inpatient Neurology service, we developed a co-management protocol in the ED-based Clinical Decision Unit (CDU). We aimed to evaluate the quality of this model in terms of efficiency and prevention of stroke at 30 days. Methods: Eligible patients were those with resolved or minimal symptoms, hemodynamic stability, and no known source of emboli (artificial valve, endocarditis, or atrial fibrillation requiring anticoagulation). The protocol consisted of ongoing ED management with Neurology consultation and determination of the diagnostic evaluation, which could include MRI, cardiac echo, and carotid ultrasound/transcranial Doppler. Patients with IS on MRI or carotid stenosis were admitted; the remainder discharged on antiplatelet medication and Neurology follow-up. Using a retrospective case control design, we reviewed records of consecutive patients managed in the CDU TIA protocol in the first 6 months of 2014. Controls consisted of 100 TIA patients (discharged without confirmed CVA) managed on the Neurology service prior to the implementation of the CDU TIA protocol. Outcomes included LOS and 30 day readmission rate for acute IS. Results: There were 127 CDU patients and 100 controls in the sample. After CDU evaluation, 31 patients required further inpatient admission (24%, 95%CI 17-33%) due to demonstration of acute IS or severe carotid stenosis. The average CDU LOS was 12.2 (SD 6.9) hours compared with 42 (SD 35.3) hours in the historical controls (p<0.001 per t-test for unequal variances). No patients discharged from the CDU TIA protocol returned within 30 days with IS (0%, 97.5%CI 0-2.9%). Conclusion: An ED/Neurology co-managed CDU-based observation protocol for patients with TIA greatly reduced LOS and variability, with no detected rate of IS readmissions within 30 days of discharge.
Interaction of CO with Oxygen Adatoms on TiO2(110)

The interaction between CO and O adsorbed on TiO2(110) has been investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), electron stimulated desorption (ESD), temperature programmed desorption (TPD), and density functional theory (DFT). Coadsorption of CO and O produces CO−O and CO−O−CO surface complexes via weak attractive interaction as revealed by STM and DFT. The effect of the adsorbates interaction can also be observed in two ensemble-averaged techniques, ESD and TPD, strongly supporting the STM and DFT results. The CO molecules adsorbed near chemisorbed O cause a ∼70% decrease in the O+ ion yield in ESD. The interaction between CO and O is considered to be electrostatic in nature due to the charge rearrangement upon chemisorption.
Business in the Work and World of David Foster Wallace

Arguably, no author, scholar, or other commentator has depicted the condition of turn-of-the-century American capitalism as entertainingly and insightfully as David Foster Wallace. His central conc...
BeaSmart: A beacon enabled smarter workplace

IBM's Watson Internet of Things (IoT) initiative is the next step of IBM's exploration of new ways for systems and humans to learn and interact synergistically. As the IoT ecosystems continues mature, new devices and protocols are being developed. Our team is specifically interested in Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) IoT beacons. As BLE beacons become more popular and widely adopted, interesting use cases have been developed. For example, Location-Based Systems that use BLE beacon technology to help smartphone users navigate through buildings. In this paper, we will provide examples of what has been done with BLE beacons, and an overview of a work-in-progress prototype that leverages BLE beacons. Our prototype, BeaSmart, is a mobile application that is being deployed and tested in the IBM Almaden Research Center (ARC). The BeaSmart application has four features that provide a more contextualized experience for employees and visitors as they navigate through ARC. We plan to use BeaSmart as a tool to evaluate the technical and human factors to consider when making a building smarter with BLE Beacons.
Uncomfortable Proximity: Perception of Christianity as a Cultural Villain in South Korea

In global media audience reception studies, one of the most popular yet highly contested theories has been Joseph Straubhaar’s theory of cultural proximity. Despite Straubhaar’s inclusion of religious dimensions in his definition of the concept, however, few critics have sought to advance the cultural proximity thesis by incorporating religion into the discussion. In this article, I examine the perception of Christianity in South Korea in relation to particular media texts about spirit possession. In the uniquely pluralistic and competitive religious atmosphere of Korea, the strong presence of Christianity and its generally negative perception among the non-Christian public sometimes render both familiarity/relatability and a sense of discomfort, foreignness, and antagonism. Such an observation fits neither the notion of cultural proximity nor the opposite notion of cultural discount. I call this uncomfortable proximity.
Stability of Ribavirin for Inhalation Packaged in Syringes or Glass Vials when Stored Frozen, Refrigerated, and at Room Temperature

The primary aim of this study was to investigate ribavirin solution for inhalation stability under three different conditions (frozen, refrigerated, room temperature) over a 45-day period. A ribavirin 6000-mg vial was reconstituted with 90 mL of Sterile Water for Injection per the package insert to yield a concentration of approximately 67 mg/mL. The solution was then placed in either syringes or empty glass vials and stored in the freezer (-20°C), in the refrigerator (~0°C to 4°C), or at room temperature (~20°C to 25°C). Original concentrations were measured on day 0 and subsequent concentrations were measured on day 2, 14, and 45 utilizing a validated liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry assay. All analyses were performed in triplicate for each storage condition. Additionally, at each time point the physical stability was evaluated and the pH of solution was measured. The solution was considered stable if =90% of the original concentration was retained over the study period. A validated liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry analysis demonstrated that >95% of the original ribavirin concentration was preserved over the 45-day period for all study conditions. The ribavirin concentration remained within the United States Pharmacopeia (USP)-required range of 95% to 105% of the original labeled product amount throughout the entire study period for all study conditions. Precipitation of ribavirin was noted during the thawing cycle for frozen samples, but the drug went back into solution once the thawing process was completed. No changes in color or turbidity were observed in any of the prepared solutions. Values for pH remained stable over the study period and ranged from 4.1 to 5.3. Ribavirin for inhalation solution is physically and chemically stable for at least 45 days when frozen, refrigerated, or kept at room temperature after reconstitution to a concentration of approximately 67 mg/mL and placed in syringes or glass vials.
Writing in/of/and educational leadership: reflections of a journal editor

ABSTRACTIn this article, I deal with a journal’s relation to its field and issues involved in writing and publishing, especially in educational administration and educational leadership. Some issues discussed include: the social construction of the field; the conservatism of educational administration and, later, educational leadership; status hierarchies in the field; the false dichotomy of theory/practice; and the hegemony of the quantitative.
17-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3 deficiency: Identifying a rare cause of 46, XY female phenotype in adulthood

Abstract Objective To review a case of differences of sexual differentiation (DSD) in an adult female patient and highlight the potential challenges and complexity in diagnosing and managing these conditions. Methods We review a case of a 21-year-old 46, XY (+ SRY) female presenting with primary amenorrhea and the clinical course leading to her suspected and confirmed diagnosis. Results A 21-year-old 46, XY ( + SRY ) female presented with primary amenorrhea at age 21. Based on her clinical presentation, she was initially diagnosed with partial androgen insensitivity syndrome, but ultimately found to have 17-β-HSD3 deficiency due to a homozygous mutation in the HSD17B3 gene. Molecular confirmation of her condition, which may not always be performed in DSD cases, provided her a more accurate and individualized treatment plan as well as personal risk assessment for her family members. Conclusion 17-β-HSD3 deficiency is reported to be a rare cause of female 46, XY DSD but may be overlooked in adult patients due to clinical similarities with androgen insensitivity and lack of genetic testing in suspected cases. It is essential to have a multidisciplinary team to help confirm the diagnosis and provide comprehensive care to affected individuals.
Quantification of midair collision risk for established on required navigation performance operations

Established on Required Navigation Performance (EoR) (RNP) is an operational concept which leverages performance-based navigation (PBN) to eliminate the separation requirement of 1000 feet vertically or 3 nautical miles horizontally. EoR promises many benefits to the National Airspace System (NAS) such as increased navigational performance, reduced pilot and controller work load, and lower track miles flown. Prior work presented the results from human-in-the-loop experimentation designed to assess these operations and the development of collision risk models that leverage these experimental results. This paper focuses on the application of the models recently derived and interpretation of results obtained. The results indicate mid-air collision risk is between 10−9 and 10−10 per operation for simultaneous independent EoR operations to dual parallel runways separated by 3600 feet or greater and to triple parallel runways separated by 3900 feet or greater regardless of whether the turns were designed with TF or RF legs.
Biological and experimental factors affecting the assessment of cervical softening during pregnancy with shear wave elasticity imaging

Spontaneous preterm birth, the foremost source of neonatal mortality, could potentially be prevented by objectively detecting abnormal changes in the uterine cervix. Shear Wave Elasticity Imaging (SWEI) biomarkers can quantify cervical softening that precedes vaginal delivery. This task can be complicated by biological (i.e., heterogeneity of cervical stiffness and pregnancy history) and experimental confounders (i.e., posture during scanning). Here we investigate how these confounders influence shear wave speed (SWS) as an objective biomarker of cervical softening during pregnancy. We apply SWEI longitudinally in pregnant Rhesus macaques and compare SWS estimates from supine transabdominal (TA) and prone inter-cavitary (IC) approaches.
Analysis of Plasma Tenascin-C in Post-HCV Cirrhosis: A Prospective Study.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis, one of the most common etiologies of liver cirrhosis in the Western world, is a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma. To confirm and improve current effectiveness of screening and prognosis of patients with established cirrhosis, a credible, simple plasma biomarker is needed. Hepatic stellate cell activation, a pivotal event in cirrhosis development, results in increased secretion of extracellular matrix proteins, including tenascin-C (TnC). Herein, we tested TnC as a simple biomarker to identify cirrhotic patients with active HCV infection from those with HCV eradication. A prospective study of subjects with HCV-related cirrhosis, stratified into two groups, HCV or virologic cure, was conducted. Plasma TnC expression was measured by ELISA and Western blots. TnC values were correlated with markers of liver injury and ROC analyses performed between groups. The HCV cirrhotic cohort, consisting mostly of men (56%), Caucasians (76%), and genotype 1a or 1b (84%), was compared to healthy controls (HCs). Plasma TnC was significantly higher in HCV cirrhotic patients with active infection compared to HCs (P < 0.0001) and virologic cure (P < 0.0001). TnC concentrations in virologic cure subjects were not statistically different from HCs. TnC levels correlated with AST, platelets, MELD, APRI, FIB-4, and Child–Pugh score. TnC and AST together were significantly better indicators of cirrhosis in patients with active HCV infection than other markers tested. TnC and AST provided the best model for discriminating HCV cirrhotics with active infection from HC and virologic cure cohorts over current liver injury markers, suggesting TnC as a potential indicator of ongoing hepatic injury and inflammation.
Handedness in shearing auxetics creates rigid and compliant structures

In nature, repeated base units produce handed structures that selectively bond to make rigid or compliant materials. Auxetic tilings are scale-independent frameworks made from repeated unit cells that expand under tension. We discovered how to produce handedness in auxetic unit cells that shear as they expand by changing the symmetries and alignments of auxetic tilings. Using the symmetry and alignment rules that we developed, we made handed shearing auxetics that tile planes, cylinders, and spheres. By compositing the handed shearing auxetics in a manner inspired by keratin and collagen, we produce both compliant structures that expand while twisting and deployable structures that can rigidly lock. This work opens up new possibilities in designing chemical frameworks, medical devices like stents, robotic systems, and deployable engineering structures.
Predicting Mortality in African Americans With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor, Coronary Artery Calcium, and High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein.

Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease; however, outcomes in individual patients vary. Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a bone marrow–derived signaling molecule associated with adverse cardiovascular and renal outcomes in many populations. We characterized the determinants of suPAR in African Americans with type 2 diabetes mellitus and assessed whether levels were useful for predicting mortality beyond clinical characteristics, coronary artery calcium (CAC), and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP). Methods and Results We measured plasma suPAR levels in 500 African Americans with type 2 diabetes mellitus enrolled in the African American‐Diabetes Heart Study. We used Kaplan‐Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for clinical characteristics, CAC, and hs‐CRP to examine the association between suPAR and all‐cause mortality. Last, we report the change in C‐statistics comparing the additive values of suPAR, hs‐CRP, and CAC to clinical models for prediction of mortality. The suPAR levels were independently associated with female sex, smoking, insulin use, decreased kidney function, albuminuria, and CAC. After a median 6.8‐year follow‐up, a total of 68 deaths (13.6%) were recorded. In a model incorporating suPAR, CAC, and hs‐CRP, only suPAR was significantly associated with mortality (hazard ratio 2.66, 95% confidence interval 1.63‐4.34). Addition of suPAR to a baseline clinical model significantly improved the C‐statistic for all‐cause death (Δ0.05, 95% confidence interval 0.01‐0.10), whereas addition of CAC or hs‐CRP did not. Conclusions In African Americans with type 2 diabetes mellitus, suPAR was strongly associated with mortality and improved risk discrimination metrics beyond traditional risk factors, CAC and hs‐CRP. Studies addressing the clinical usefulness of measuring suPAR concentrations are warranted.
Combining semi-synthesis with plant and microbial biocatalysis: new frontiers in producing a chemical arsenal against cancer

Natural products (NPs) that exhibit anticancer activities are frequently not potent enough to be used clinically as therapeutics. Semi-synthesis and metabolic engineering are promising approaches for producing more efficacious derivatives of anticancer NPs (ACNPs), but each technique alone can be inefficient at obtaining specific ACNP derivatives that may be suspected to have enhanced anticancer activity. Here, we demonstrate that the methods of semi-synthesis and biocatalysis can be used as modules in succession and in different combinations to produce 6,8-dibromogenkwanin, a derivative of the ACNP apigenin. Further, we demonstrated that soybean seed coats can be used as a biocatalyst to convert brominated flavonoids into multiple derivatives. A strength of the combinatorial (bio)synthesis approach was that the order of the modules could be rearranged to increase the yield of the desired product. At lower treatment concentration (5 μM), 6,8-dibromogenkwanin exhibited enhanced antiproliferative activities against HT-29 colorectal adenocarcinoma cancer cells under normoxic and hypoxic conditions compared to its ACNP precursors, but not at higher concentrations. Dose–response analyses suggested that dibromogenkwanin had a distinct mode-of-action compared to apigenin. Thus, this proof-of-concept paper demonstrates combinatorial (bio)synthesis as an approach that can be used to produce novel chemistries for anticancer research.
Chronic Ethanol Ingestion and Glycogen Metabolism in Male and Female Rats

Both acute (Nelson et al., 1969) and chronic (Walker and Gordon, 1970) ethanol ingestion induces marked depletion of liver glycogen in males. This is important in view of the fact that increased glycogen breakdown results in inadequate carbohydrate stores, and inadequate carbohydrate stores may be a predisposition that leads to hypoglycemia following ethanol ingestion (Freinkel et al., 1963). With the exception of one abstract, which reported a 54% increase in phosphorylase activity (Williams, 1965), no definitive study of the effects of ethanol ingestion on the enzymes of glycogen metabolism has been reported. Because phosphorylase a is thought to be the primary regulator of both the nreakdown and synthesis of liver glycogen (Hers, 1976), it is important to understand how ethanol affects its activity. Glucose enhances the inactivation of hepatic phosphorylase a (Stalmans et al., 1970); therefore, blood glucose levels also are important in the control of glycogen metabolism.
The Return of ‘Starve-the-Beast’: The Law of Demand and the Future of Smaller Government

William A. Niskanen’s 2006 paper, “Limiting Government: The Failure of ‘Starve the Beast,’” dealt a severe blow to the notion that tax cuts lead to smaller government. Niskanen argued that (1) government’s ability to borrow loosens the fiscal constraints of reduced revenue, and (2) as a result, the apparently lower “price” of government for taxpayers is a “fiscal illusion” that results in demand for more government. Empirical work by Niskanen and others supports those ideas. We accept Niskanen’s argument—as far as it goes. However, we believe that long-term U.S. public obligations will lead to much smaller government in the future. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, public employee compensation, and debt obligations will require large tax increases and the reallocation of money from other public services. As a result, future taxpayers will pay a higher “price” for government, but will get fewer, lower-quality services. This will yield a different fiscal illusion where the high price will result in taxpayer demand for less government.
Integrated environmental impact and risk assessment in rural women entrepreneurs

This study set out to reveal to what extent women entrepreneurs operating in rural areas have been affected by environmental pollution and climate change. Besides, it emphasises how much they will be affected over the next 5 years throughout Turkey. The study covered rural areas of all seven regions in Turkey. Findings were analysed by using SPSS 23 programme. Women entrepreneurs were younger in less developed regions of the country, such as the Central, Eastern, and South-Eastern Anatolia, and were older in the more economically developed coastal areas. One-third of the respondents were microentrepreneurs; 12% employ five or more workers. The problems of rural women entrepreneurs are further complicated by environmental pollution and climate change. Among the significant environmental issues, women entrepreneurs endure a loss of income, loss of trade stock/goods, and loss of livestock, property damage and potable water supply. Women entrepreneurs agreed that, in the next 5 years, environmental problems would adversely affect customer demand, the quality of raw materials they use and the products they offer; therefore, customer demand would reduce. On the other hand, they were divided in their opinion about whether environmental problems will be affecting their business location and the need to invest in technology and equipment. The study showed that none of the participants obtained disaster insurance, and none of them was members of an environmental organisation.
Drainage of amniotic fluid delays vocal fold separation and induces load-related vocal fold mucosa remodeling

In the present study, we investigated the role of mechanical load as generated by amniotic fluid in the vocal fold embryogenesis. In utero, amniotic fluid flows through the laryngeal inlet down into the lungs during fetal breathing and swallowing. In a mouse model, the onset of fetal breathing coincides with epithelial lamina recanalization. The epithelial lamina is a temporal structure that is formed during early stages of the larynx development and is gradually resorbed whereby joining the upper and lower airways. Here, we show that a temporary decrease in mechanical load secondary to drainage of amniotic fluid and subsequent flow restoration, impaired timing of epithelial lamina disintegration. Moreover, re-accumulation of fluid in the laryngeal region led to VF tissue deformation triggering remodeling of the epithelium and pressure generated changes in the elastic properties of the lamina propria, as measured by atomic force microscopy. We further show that load-related structural changes were likely mediated by Piezo 1 -Yap signaling pathway in the vocal fold epithelium. Understanding the relationship between the mechanical and biological parameters in the larynx is key to gaining insights into pathogenesis of congenital laryngeal disorders as well as mechanisms of vocal fold tissue remodeling in response to mechanotransduction.
Racial/Ethnic Differences in Cancers Attributable to Preventable Infectious Agents in Texas, 2015.

ObjectiveThe International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified 13 infectious agents as carcinogenic or probably carcinogenic to humans. We aimed to estimate the percentage (ie, population-...
Psychometric analysis of the Comfort with Communication in Palliative and End-of-Life Care (C-COPE) instrument.

Background: Nurses must be comfortable facilitating palliative and end-of-life communication with patients and their families. Aim: A validated instrument measuring the comfort of nurses with condu...
Determining the Absolute Anodic Stability Threshold of Polymer Electrolytes: A Capacity-Based Electrochemical Method

Inherently safe, reversible, energy-dense solid-state lithium metal batteries require solid electrolytes that are electrochemically compatible at the high potentials of the cathode. In the scientif...
Resistance to Thyroid Hormone Beta: A Focused Review

Resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH) is a clinical syndrome defined by impaired sensitivity to thyroid hormone (TH) and its more common form is caused by mutations in the thyroid hormone receptor beta (THRB) gene, termed RTHβ. The characteristic biochemical profile is that of elevated serum TH levels in absence of thyrotropin suppression. Although most individuals are considered clinically euthyroid, there is variability in phenotypic manifestation among individuals harboring different THRB mutations and among tissue types in the same individual due in part to differential expression of the mutant TRβ protein. As a result, management is tailored to the specific symptoms of TH excess or deprivation encountered in the affected individual as currently there is no available therapy to fully correct the TRβ defect. This focused review aims to provide a concise update on RTHβ, discuss less well recognized associations with other thyroid disorders, such as thyroid dysgenesis and autoimmune thyroid disease, and summarize existing evidence and controversies regarding the phenotypic variability of the syndrome. Review of management addresses goiter, attention deficit disorder and "foggy brain". Lastly, this work covers emerging areas of interest, such as the relevance of variants of unknown significance and novel data on the epigenetic effect resulting from intrauterine exposure to high TH levels and its transgenerational inheritance.
Early Eocene Omomyid from the Nanjemoy Formation of Virginia: First Fossil Primate from the Atlantic Coastal Plain

The first known primate fossil from the Atlantic Coastal Plain, a mandibular fragment representing the family Omomyidae, is described from the early Eocene Fisher/Sullivan Site in northeastern Virg...
Effects of Resources (Time, Money, Income, and Wealth) on Wellbeing

This chapter discusses the effects of resources such as time, money, income, and wealth on subjective aspects of quality of life (hedonic wellbeing, life satisfaction, and Eudaimonia). With respect to time, much research in this area attempts to answer questions such as, what activities people spend time to produce the greatest happiness, how savoring time can produce happiness, and how people extract meaning from time. With respect to money, the research highlights those things that people spend money to enhance their wellbeing. Also, the research addresses conditions that shed light on the wellbeing effects of time versus money. Followingly, research dealing with the effects of income and wealth on wellbeing is discussed. This discussion is broken down by level of analysis (individual versus national) and time frame (short term versus long term).
Role of the Gut in the Temporal Changes of β-Cell Function After Gastric Bypass in Individuals With and Without Diabetes Remission.

OBJECTIVE The role of the gut in diabetes remission after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is incompletely understood. We assessed the temporal change in insulin secretory capacity after RYGB, using oral and intravenous (IV) glucose, in individuals with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Longitudinal, prospective measures of β-cell function were assessed after oral glucose intake and graded glucose infusion in individuals with severe obesity and diabetes studied at 0, 3 (n = 29), 12 (n = 24), and 24 (n = 20) months after RYGB. Data were collected between 2015 and 2019 in an academic clinical research center. RESULTS The decreases in body weight, fat mass, waist circumference, and insulin resistance after surgery (all P < 0.001 at 12 and 24 months) did not differ according to diabetes remission status. In contrast, both the magnitude and temporal changes in β-cell glucose sensitivity after oral glucose intake differed by remission status (P = 0.04): greater (6.5-fold; P < 0.01) and sustained in those in full remission, moderate and not sustained past 12 months in those with partial remission (3.3-fold; P < 0.001), and minimal in those not experiencing remission (2.7-fold; P = not significant). The improvement in β-cell function after IV glucose administration was not apparent until 12 months, significant only in those in full remission, and only ∼33% of that observed after oral glucose intake. Preintervention β-cell function and its change after surgery predicted remission; weight loss and insulin sensitivity did not. CONCLUSION Our data show the time course of changes in β-cell function after RYGB. The improvement in β-cell function after RYGB, but not changes in weight loss or insulin sensitivity, drives diabetes remission.
Long-Term Desensitization of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Is Regulated via Protein Kinase A-Mediated Phosphorylation

During prolonged application of transmitter, ligand-gated ion channels enter a nonconducting desensitized state. Studies on Torpedo electroplax nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors have shown that entry into the desensitized state is accelerated by protein kinase A-dependent (PKA) receptor phosphorylation. To examine the effects of phosphorylation on desensitization of muscle-type ACh receptors, we expressed the frog embryonic receptor type in Xenopus oocytes. Treatment of embryonic muscle ACh receptors with 8-Br cAMP had no measurable effect on the rate of entry into a desensitized state, but it greatly accelerated the recovery from desensitization. Three complementary approaches to reduce the levels of receptor phosphorylation provided additional evidence for a role of PKA-dependent phosphorylation in rescuing receptors from long-term desensitization. Inactivation of the endogenous PKA activity by coexpression of an inhibitor protein, treatment of receptors with phosphatase, and removal of phosphorylation sites by site-specific subunit mutation all resulted in slowed recovery. Our findings point to the existence of two distinct desensitized states: one requiring several seconds for full recovery and a second state from which recovery requires minutes. Receptors lacking PKA phosphorylation sites exhibit a pronounced increase in the slowly recovering component of desensitization, suggesting that receptor phosphorylation speeds overall recovery by reducing the entry into a deep desensitized state. This newly described effect of phosphorylation on ACh receptor function may serve as an important modulator of postsynaptic receptor sensitivity.
Energy Black Hole

In the short and long run, the existence of everything in the universe is a function of energy. The time span of man’s survival on an earth with finite resources will he determined by the ingenuity and wisdom which he exerts in using energy.
What Should Be Patentable? — A Proposal for Determining the Existence of Statutory Subject Matter Under 35 U.S.C. Section 101

The question of what type of inventions should be protectable under patent law is a controversial issue that has received significant attention. Recent Supreme Court decisions reject a bright-line test in favor of a more open-ended approach to determining patent eligibility. Unfortunately, this provides limited guidance to lower courts and consequently the issue remains unsettled. Most inventions fit within the statutory requirements defining patent-eligible inventions. This article will examine the scope of patent-eligible subject matter defined by Patent Law section 101. It will look at judicial interpretation of the statute including exceptions judicially engrafted into the statute by the Supreme Court. Additionally, the competing policy concerns underlying the statute will be examined. It will be argued that this statute should be analyzed, interpreted, and applied consistently with the usual rules generally applied by courts. This requires understanding that underlying policies are often inconsistent or competing. Such policies must therefore be balanced in crafting an applicable rule. Any resulting rule will be imperfect because it will potentially be over- or under-inclusive. Additionally, it will have disproportionate effects on different industries. Nevertheless, the importance of a uniform and predictable rule outweighs these deficiencies. Rather than propose a single rule, several rules gleaned from Supreme Court decisions will be proposed in light of the fact that patents cover many different technologies and patent claims can be drafted in a multitude of ways. Violation of any of the proposed rules means the patent claim at issue is not patent-eligible subject matter.
Transcription and Degradation of Messenger Ribonucleic Acid for a Glucose Transport System in Neurospora

Abstract Cycloheximide prevents derepression of a low Km system (System II) for glucose uptake in Neurospora. Cells previously incubated in sugar-free medium containing cycloheximide subsequently produced System II when transferred to a medium containing repressive concentrations of glucose. The presence of glucose during prior incubation in cycloheximide prevented synthesis of System II during the recovery phase. Synthesis was insensitive to actinomycin D during recovery. Both the rate of synthesis and the amount of System II synthesized increased with the duration (for 40 min) of cycloheximide previous treatment. The capacity of the cell to synthesize System II decreased with a half-life of 50 min during incubation of the cells in cycloheximide and glucose. During translation, the capacity to synthesize System II decayed with a half-life of 8.4 min. The data are consistent with the notion that mRNA specific for System II was synthesized and accumulated during starvation in cycloheximide. Accumulation of mRNA can be explained by the increased half-life of the message observed when translation was blocked by cycloheximide treatment.
Decision-making in distributed sensor networks: a belief-theoretic Bayes-like

A Dempster-Shafer (DS) belief theoretic evidence updating strategy is ideally suited to accommodate the difficulties associated with the availability of only incomplete information at each node of a distributed sensor network (DSN). Such a strategy however must also account for sensor heterogeneity, 'inertia' and 'integrity' of the existing knowledge base and reliability of the data generated at each sensor node. In this paper, we propose a Bayes-like theorem that can conveniently address these issues while allowing one to compute the 'posterior' belief of a 'hypothesis' given an 'observation' when the corresponding 'likelihoods' and 'priors' are available. Unlike previous work on DS belief theoretic generalizations of Bayes' theorem, our work is based on the Fagin-Halpern conditional notions that can be considered more 'natural extensions' of corresponding Bayesian notions.
Staffing the transition to the virtual academic library: competencies, characteristics and change

Change brought about by innovations in computing technologies has fundamentally altered the nature of work in academic libraries. In his description of the term informatica electronica, Gilbert (1998) suggests that despite the way technology is changing how library staff do their work, it should not change the emphases on traditional services to patrons, such as accessing and retrieving information. This chapter also focuses on human changes that accompany the migration from print to electronic collections, from traditional to online services, and from the academic research library of a decade ago to the virtual library of today and tomorrow.