cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhanced thermoelectric properties of topological crystalline insulator PbSnTe nanowires grown by vapor transport

Bulk PbTe and alloy compounds thereof are well-known thermoelectric materials for electric power generation. Among these alloys, PbSnTe hosts unique topological surface states that may have improved thermoelectric properties. Here we report on the vapor-transport growth and thermoelectric study of high-quality single-crystalline PbTe and PbSnTe nanowires. The nanowires were grown along the direction with dominant {100} facets; the chemical compositions of the wires depend strongly on the substrate position in the growth reactor. We measured the thermopower and electrical and thermal conductivities of individual nanowires to determine the thermoelectric figure of merit ZT. Compared to bulk samples, the PbSnTe nanowires showed both improved thermopower and suppressed thermal conductivity, enhancing the ZTs to ~0.018 and ~0.035 at room temperature. The enhanced thermopower may result from the unique topological surface states; the suppression of thermal conductivity may relate to increased phonon-surface scattering. Compared to PbTe nanowires, the PbSnTe wires have lower thermopower but significantly higher electrical conductivities. This study highlights nanostructuring in combination with alloying as an important approach to enhancing the figure of merit ZT of thermoelectric materials.
Sweet and sour news about orthopaedic trauma: commentary on an article by Justin E. Richards, MD, et al.: "Relationship of hyperglycemia and surgical-site infection in orthopaedic surgery".

Hyperglycemia is normally defined by the blood glucose level (≥180 or 200 mg/dL) or the hyperglycemic index (≥1.76), a measure of overall glucose control1-3. Hyperglycemia is a significant risk factor for infection, polyneuropathy, an increased hospital length of stay, and mortality1,4,5. It has been studied extensively in diabetic patients but much less so in nondiabetic patients. Only recently has it been reported in nondiabetic trauma patients. Studies show that the stress of trauma causes the release of hormones (epinephrine and cortisol) that counter-regulate the normal action of insulin, thereby predisposing patients to hyperglycemia and ketoacidosis6. Hyperglycemia in nondiabetic orthopaedic trauma patients has received little attention. Richards et al. …
Promoting function in clients with chronic lung disease by increasing their perception of control

The article describes a Neuman systems model format for assessment of people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a secondary prevention intervention based on developing their perception of control. Control is an intrapersonal psychologic component of the hardy personality that interacts with and affects the person's physiologic, sociocultural, developmental, and spiritual stability. The methods of changing a client's perception of control to avoid or resist the stressors associated with the disease, such as dyspnea, fear, and anxiety, include assessment tools, diaries, relaxation techniques, and stress management programs.
Structural and Mechanical Properties of Boron Nanotubes

We report the results of first-principles calculations showing that boron can form a wide variety of metastable planar and tubular forms with unusual electronic and mechanical properties. The preferred planar structure is a buckled triangular lattice that breaks the threefold ground state degeneracy of the flat triangular plane. When the plane is rolled into a tube, the ground state degeneracy leads to a strong chirality dependence of the binding energy and elastic response, an unusual property that is not found in carbon nanotubes. The achiral (n, 0) tubes derive their structure from the flat triangular plane. The achiral boron nanotubes arise from the buckled plane, and have large cohesive energies and novel structures as a result.
Nonequilibrium Fermi’s Golden Rule Charge Transfer Rates via the Linearized Semiclassical Method

Nonequilibrium Fermi's golden rule (NE-FGR) describes the transition between a photoexcited bright donor electronic state and a dark acceptor electronic state when the nuclear degrees of freedom start out in a nonequilibrium state. In this article, we derive a new expression for NE-FGR within the framework of the linearized semiclassical approximation. The new expression opens the door for applications of NE-FGR in complex condensed-phase molecular systems described in terms of anharmonic force fields. We show that the linearized semiclassical expression for NE-FGR yields the exact fully quantum-mechanical result for the canonical Marcus model, where the coupling between donor and acceptor is assumed constant (the Condon approximation) and the donor and acceptor potential energy surfaces are parabolic and identical except for a shift in the equilibrium energy and geometry. For this model, we also present a comprehensive comparison between the linearized semiclassical expression and a hierarchy of more approximate expressions, in both normal and inverted regions and over a wide range of initial nonequilibrium states, temperatures, and frictions.
Experimental Studies on Micro-characteristics of Nanocrystalline MgO

By analysis of X-ray diffraction and infrared absorption spectrum,we obtained the microstructure parameters of the MgO powders sample and found that the main character infrared absorption peak was at 416cm-1.And we calculated out average grain-size of sample according to the breadth of diffraction peak and the line broadening formula.
Advances in Pathogenesis and Resistance Breeding of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome(PRRS),caused by porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus(PRRSV),is a major infectious disease leading to the most economically loss in swine industry.Research shows that PRRSV virion invade host cells via three entry mediators(HS,Sn,CD163).PRRSV can inhibit host immune response by inhibiting innate immunity and delaying neutralizing antibody,resulting in persistent infection.Resistance breeding can improve natural immunity,mainly by means of direct selection,indirect selection and transgene.In this paper,the research status of PRRSV pathogenesis and resistance breeding has been reviewed,and the development of novel resistance approaches to PRRSV are also proposed.
Experiment Research of PDR—1 Bio-demulsifier with High Efficiency

PDR—1 demulsifier which was successfully developed for high water cut marine oil field,was a new type of high efficiency Bio-demulsifier.The results from laboratory investigation indicated that its hot-resistant reached 50℃ and its demulsification efficiency can be as high as 80% in the condition of pH7,Dosage=0.8 mL/10 mL.
A Signal Sparse Representation and Its Application to Image Enhancement for Meteorological Facsimile Maps

In the process of torpedo run test or operational application of a naval vessel,we need a hydrometeorological support based on received meteorological facsimile maps,thus legible meteorological facsimile maps is necessary.A new noise removal algorithm for meteorological facsimile maps with zero-mean Gaussian noise is proposed in this paper based on signal sparse representation.This algorithm makes full use of self features of meteorological facsimile maps,takes meteorological facsimile base maps as dictionary functions,and decomposes these meteorological facsimile maps via the dictionary functions and matching pursuit to separate the information and noise.Experimental results show the superiority in performance over the existing methods for meteorological facsimile map enhancement.
Teaching and preschoolers’ ability to infer knowledge from mistakes

Abstract For instruction to be effective, teachers must adjust the way they teach to match what learners know. We asked whether children’s ability to infer what someone knows based on his or her mistakes develops alongside their teaching—children’s use of more explicit teaching strategies and their ability to tailor how much information to provide in response to their pupils’ mistakes. Preschoolers ( N = 48) were taught a simple game and were then introduced to four puppets: one puppet who played the game perfectly, two puppets who each made one mistake, and one puppet who made two mistakes. After watching each puppet play individually, children were asked to rate the puppet’s understanding of the game and then were invited to teach the puppet. Children’s ability to monitor the relative accuracy of the puppets—the ability to make nuanced judgments about what each puppet understood based on each puppet’s unique mistakes—improved with age. Moreover, older children were more explicit and more precise teachers than younger children. They more often contrasted the learners’ mistakes with what should be done and more often provided instructions that directly addressed the puppets’ unique mistakes. Thus, between 3 and 5 years of age, developments in children’s ability to infer knowledge from mistakes parallel developments both in the strategies children use to teach and in the amount of information they teach in response to mistakes.
[The effects of nifedipine, diltiazem, and Paeonia lactiflora Pall. on atherogenesis in rabbits].

The effects of nifedipine, diltiazem, and Paeonia lactiflora Pall (PLP) on serum lipids. Plasma lipid peroxides (LPO), TXB2, and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha in cholesterol-fed rabbits have been investigated. Oral administration of nifedipine (15 mg/kg.d), diltiazem (30 mg/kg.d), and PLP (5 g/kg.d) caused 60.8%, 45.2%, and 74.2% reduction in the area of atherosclerosis in the aorta respectively. The levels of plasma LPO and TXB2 and the contents of cholesterol, phospholipid, and calcium in the intimal-media of the aorta in the treated groups were significantly lower than those in the cholesterol group, but the level of plasma 6-keto-PGF1 alpha in the treated groups was significantly higher. The appearance of cholesterol-induced TXB2 elevation and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha decrease in the treated groups was delayed. There are positive correlation between plasma TXB2 and the followings: serum lipids, plasma LPO, and the content of calcium in the intimal-media of the aorta, and the percentage of area of lesion in the aorta, while plasma 6-keto-PGF1 alpha showed significantly negative correlation with the above data. TXB2/6-keto-PGF1 alpha was found to be positively correlated with the percentage of lesion area of the aorta. It was shown that Ca2+ metabolism plays an important role in thromboxane, prostaglandin, and LPO metabolism. In conclusion, the inhibition of LPO production and regulation of TXA2-PGI2 balance may be one of the main mechanisms of the antiatherogenic effects of calcium antagonists and PLP.
Collective self-defence

The meaning of collective self-defence The phrase ‘individual or collective self-defence’, as used in Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations (see supra , ch. 7, A (a)), is not easily comprehensible. A close examination of the text, in light of the practice of States, shows that more than a simple dichotomy is involved. It seems necessary to distinguish between no less than four categories of self-defence: (i) individual self-defence individually exercised; (ii) individual self-defence collectively exercised; (iii) collective self-defence individually exercised; and (iv) collective self-defence collectively exercised. The first category represents the most straightforward implementation of the right of self-defence, and it has been dealt with in ch. 8: Arcadia perpetrates an armed attack against Utopia, and in response Utopia invokes self-defence. This is a one-on-one encounter, and the right of individual self-defence is applied individually. The second category relates to the situation where an armed attack is launched by the same aggressor (Arcadia), either simultaneously or consecutively, against several States (Utopia, Ruritania, etc.). Both Utopia and Ruritania are entitled to resort to measures of individual self-defence against Arcadia. These measures may still be taken individually, each victim State declining any suggestion of cooperation with the other. Utopia and Ruritania, while resisting armed attacks by the same aggressor (Arcadia), are not obliged to consolidate a united front.
Use of Nisaplin™ to Inhibit Spoilage Bacteria in Buttermilk Ranch Dressing †.

Nine commercial salad dressings (spoonable and pourable) were sampled for microbial flora, pH, and total acidity. Bacterial populations ranged from 102 to 104 CFU/g in the salad dressings, but yeasts and molds were largely undetected (<1 × 102 CFU/g). The range of pH (3.3 to 4.1) and titratable acidities (0.63 to 1.34% as acetic acid) indicates that such differences in formulation may lead to varying shelf lives among the dressings, especially in regard to aciduric microorganisms. Nisaplin™, a commercial antimicrobial food additive and shelf-life extender, inhibited 27 of 30 bacterial isolates obtained from 6 salad dressings. Nisaplin (200 ppm) was used as a preservative in a shelf-life study with a spoonable buttermilk ranch dressing at pH 3.8, 4.0, and 4.2, challenged with Lactobacillus brevis subsp. lindneri , a ranch dressing spoilage isolate, and maintained at 26°C. In control samples at pH 4.2, both the added Lactobacillus and the indigenous flora increased starting at day 6 to a maximum at 30 days. However, in buttermilk ranch dressing (pH 4.2) containing Nisaplin, initial levels of added inoculum were quickly reduced and no significant growth occurred during the 90-day shelf-life period. The data indicate that the natural preservative Nisaplin may be an effective spoilage inhibitor for spoilage-sensitive refrigerated salad dressings.
Left Ventricular Assist Devices Impact Hospital Resource Utilization Without Affecting Patient Mortality in Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are being utilized for management of end-stage heart failure and require systemic anticoagulation. Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is one of the most common adverse events following LVAD implantation. To investigate the impact of continuous-flow (CF) LVAD implants on outcomes of patients admitted with GIB. This is a cross-sectional study utilizing the Nationwide Inpatient Sample in the CF-LVAD era from 2010 to 2012. All adult admissions with a primary diagnosis of GIB were included. Among hospitalizations with GIB, patients with (cases) and without (controls) CF-LVAD implants were compared using univariate and multivariate analyses. The main outcome measurements were in-hospital mortality, length of stay, and hospitalization costs. Among 1,002,299 hospitalizations for GIB, 1112 (0.11%) patients had CF-LVADs. Bleeding angiodysplasia accounted for a majority of GIB in CF-LVAD patients (35.4% of 1112). Multivariate analysis adjusting for demographic, hospital and etiological differences, site of GIB, and patient comorbidities revealed that CF-LVADs were not adversely associated with mortality in GIB (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.07–4.15). However, CF-LVADs independently accounted for prolonged hospitalization (3.5 days, 95% CI 2.6–4.6) and higher hospital charges ($37,032, 95% CI $7991–$66,074). In patients admitted with GIB, CF-LVAD implantation accounts for higher healthcare utilization, but is not adversely associated with mortality despite therapeutic anticoagulation, increased comorbidities, and comparatively delayed endoscopy. These findings are relevant as CF-LVADs are the dominant type of LVAD and are associated with increased risk of GIB compared to their predecessors.
Persistent viral infections.

Persistent viral infections of humans - human immunodeficiency virus human T cell leukemia virus hepatitis B & D virus hepatitis C virus polyomavirus papillomavirus adenovirus herpes simplex virus varicella-zoster virus cytomegalovirus Epstein-Barr virus human herpes virus-6 measles virus selected animal models of viral persistence - simian immunodeficiency virus visna virus MAIDS feline immunodeficiency virus/feline leukemia virus avian leukemia virus murine leukemia virus murine cytomegalovirus murine gamma-herpesvirus mouse adenovirus cottontail rabbit papillomavirus bovine papillomavirus Theiler's virus mouse hepatitis virus borna virus lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus woodchuck & duck hepatitis B viruses lactate dehydrogenase virus bovine diarrhoea virus/border disease murine parvovirus treatment strategies - therapeutic vaccines, gene therapy/ribozymes/anti-sense.
CHOP-R + Bortezomib as Initial Therapy for Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL).

Abstract 2682 Poster Board II-658 BACKGROUND: Bortezomib is a proteasome inhibitor with single agent activity in mantle cell lymphoma. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that addition of bortezomib to chemoimmunotherapy can enhance antitumor effects. We report findings from a phase I/II trial of dose-escalated bortezomib + standard CHOP-rituximab (R) in previously untreated MCL patients. METHODS: From 6/2004 to 10/2007, 36 patients with previously untreated MCL received standard CHOP-21 with rituximab (375 mg/m 2 per cycle) plus bortezomib at 1.0 mg/m 2 (n=4) or 1.3 mg/m 2 (n=32) on days 1 and 4 of each cycle for a total of 6 cycles. Study endpoints included safety and efficacy assessment. RESULTS: At study entry, median age (n=36) was 66 years (range 45–80), and M:F ratio was 5:1. Thirty-four subjects (94%) had stage III/IV disease, and 18 (50%) had elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Patients generally had unfavorable baseline international prognostic index (IPI) scores (42% with IPI of 2, and 47% with IPI of 3–5), as well as MIPI scores (28% with intermediate risk and 39% with high risk). Treatment was generally well tolerated. Peripheral neuropathy (sometimes reversible) occurred in 20 subjects (56%) with 16 grade 1, 3 grade 2, and 1 grade 3. Grade 3/4 cytopenias included anemia (11%), neutropenia (23%) and thrombocytopenia (14%). At a median followup of 30 months (range 8–61 months), 32 patients are evaluable for efficacy. For all patients (n=36), the intent-to-treat (ITT) overall response rate (ORR) is 81% with 64% CR/CRu. For evaluable patients (n=32), the ORR is 91%, and CR/CRu 72%. The median progression free survival for all patients (n=36) is 21 months (95% CI 17-29) by Kaplan-Meier estimate, and 2 year overall survival is 86% (95% CI 69–94%). Currently eight patients remain in ongoing response (range 15–39 months). In a univariate Cox regression analysis, IPI correlated with PFS (HR 1.85, p=0.023), while MIPI correlated with both PFS (HR 1.81, p=0.027) and OS (HR 2.6, p=0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Bortezomib in conjunction with R-CHOP-21 can be safely administered in an outpatient regimen to previously untreated MCL patients, including the elderly. Further evaluation of combinations of bortezomib with R-CHOP is warranted. Disclosures: Vose: Genentech, Inc.: Consultancy, Research Funding. Coleman: Millenium: Speakers Bureau. Leonard: Millenium: Consultancy, Honoraria; Johnson & Johnson: Consultancy, Honoraria; Genentech: Consultancy, Honoraria; Biogen Idec: Consultancy, Honoraria.
Family Power Struggles After Release

This chapter examines the girls’ family control struggles after release. The question of what happens after release is particularly interesting for this population. They are young, and they were youths whom the court and intake staff deemed most likely to benefit from a rehabilitative treatment program. However, the girls are basically released with no support systems to assist them in coping with the multiple stressors of their environments and lives. Being released is highly unstructured without anyone other than their already overburdened probation officers to facilitate reentry. All of the girls desire to improve their behaviors after they are released; however, this is a difficult task given the circumstances to which they return. The data suggest that those instances in which the girls fare best during post-release are those in which family conflicts over authority have been modified in some form. These modifications occurred when the parent, the daughter, or both make compromises with respect to parental authority.
Chapter 26 – Pyrolysis of Lignocellulosic Biomass: Oil, Char, and Gas

Biomass pyrolysis is a very complex system, involving simultaneous solid heat transfer, solid phase chemical reactions, liquid evaporation and thermal ejection, liquid phase reactions, mass transfer of vapors through the solid matrix, and vapor phase reactions. The best place to begin understanding these interactions is to look at the structure and chemistry of lignocellulosic material. To truly understand pyrolysis, it is crucial to see that it is just one class of thermochemical conversion technologies. Thermochemical conversion is a term that means exactly what it sounds like: converting something by using the chemical reactions induced by heating.
The Riemann Mapping Theorem and Its Discrete Counterparts

We introduce some of the recent work on discrete versions of the Riemann mapping theorem and the uniformization theorem.
Buprenorphine Challenges in the Perioperative Period

Derived from thebaine, an alkaloid found in the Papaver somniferum plant, buprenorphine is a semisynthetic, centrally acting, partial agonist for the opioid receptor. It is used clinically as an analgesic and more recently as opioid replacement therapy for the treatment of opioid dependence. Although methadone has historically been the agent of choice for the pharmacologic treatment of opioid abuse, buprenorphine has a more favorable safety profile and lower abuse potential. In low doses buprenorphine is a long-acting and easily administered analgesic for moderate pain. Potentially a treatment for opioid-induced hyperalgesia, buprenorphine offers promise for the treatment of chronic pain and opioid dependence. The prevalence of patients taking buprenorphine who present for surgical procedures is increasing as the prevalence of buprenorphine therapy rises. The same pharmacologic characteristics that make buprenorphine a safe and effective treatment option complicate perioperative pain management. Effective perioperative analgesia is possible in patients taking buprenorphine but requires expertise and awareness of the drug’s properties.
Perioperative Management of Sickle Cell Disease

Over 30 million people worldwide have sickle cell disease (SCD). Emergent and non-emergent surgical procedures in SCD have been associated with relatively increased risks of peri-operative mortality, vaso-occlusive (painful) crisis, acute chest syndrome, post-operative infections, congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular accident and acute kidney injury. Pre-operative assessment must include a careful review of the patient's known crisis triggers, baseline hematologic profile, usual transfusion requirements, pre-existing organ dysfunction and opioid use. Use of preoperative blood transfusions should be selective and decisions individualized based on the baseline hemoglobin, surgical procedure and anticipated volume of blood loss. Intra- and post-operative management should focus on minimizing hypoxia, hypothermia, acidosis, and intravascular volume depletion. Pre- and post-operative incentive spirometry use should be encouraged.
The impact of enhanced student diversity on diversity opinions

This study is an evaluation of an MPA program intervention designed to enhance cultural competency by increasing program diversity. The intervention, part of a larger diversity plan, attemp...
Genomic signatures of mitonuclear coevolution across populations of Tigriopus californicus

The copepod Tigriopus californicus shows extensive population divergence and is becoming a model for understanding allopatric differentiation and the early stages of speciation. Here, we report a high-quality reference genome for one population (~190 megabases across 12 scaffolds, and ~15,500 protein-coding genes). Comparison with other arthropods reveals 2,526 genes presumed to be specific to T. californicus, with an apparent proliferation of genes involved in ion transport and receptor activity. Beyond the reference population, we report re-sequenced genomes of seven additional populations, spanning the continuum of reproductive isolation. Populations show extreme mitochondrial DNA divergence, with higher levels of amino acid differentiation than observed in other taxa. Across the nuclear genome, we find elevated protein evolutionary rates and positive selection in genes predicted to interact with mitochondrial DNA and the proteins and RNA it encodes in multiple pathways. Together, these results support the hypothesis that rapid mitochondrial evolution drives compensatory nuclear evolution within isolated populations, thereby providing a potentially important mechanism for causing intrinsic reproductive isolation.
Passivity-Based Switching Control for Stabilization of Wheeled Mobile Robots

We propose a novel switching control law for the posture stabilization of a wheeled mobile robot, that utilizes the (energetic) passivity of the system’s open-loop dynamics with nonnegligible inertial effects. The proposed passivity-based switching control law ensures that the robot’s (x, y)-position enters into an arbitrarily small (as specified by user-designed error-bound) level set of a certain navigation potential function defined on the (x, y)plane, and that its orientation converges to a target angle. Under this passivity-based switching control, the robot moves back and forth between two submanifolds in such a way that the navigation potential is strictly decreasing during this inter-switching move. Once the system’s (x, y)-trajectory enters such a desired level set, at most one more switching occurs to correct orientation. Simulation is performed to validate/highlight properties of the presented control law.
Analogical Predictions of the Past Tense in Finnish

In this chapter I will apply the analogical approach to the past tense in standard Finnish. I first discuss in general terms how the past tense is derived from the present tense stem. Except for one important context, the past tense is completely predictable. For this one non-deterministic context, I discuss the variation that is found in samplings of Finnish texts as well as linguistic descriptions of this variation. I then show how an analogical approach can predict the synchronic behavior of this important class of verbs — and not only for frequent verbs found in textual samplings, but also for rarely occurring verbs. Finally, I show how an analogical approach can account for the complex problem of historical drift in the Finnish past tense.
Sketch and Speak: An Expository Intervention Using Note-Taking and Oral Practice for Children With Language-Related Learning Disabilities.

Purpose This preliminary study investigated an intervention procedure employing 2 types of note-taking and oral practice to improve expository reporting skills. Procedure Forty-four 4th to 6th grad...
Heterogeneity of neuronal responses in the nucleus of the solitary tract suggests sensorimotor integration in the neural code for taste

Neurons in the rostral nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) are known to encode information about taste. However, recordings from awake rats reveal that only a minority of NTS cells respond exclusiv...
Entrepreneurial Response to

Group lending and business training programs aimed at small-scale entrepreneurs have captured the interest of development scholars, practitioners, and donors since the 1980s. Yet these strategies have not had much impact in the context of urban Zimbabwe. Building upon ethnographic research conducted in Harare, Zimbabwe and insights drawn from the Austrian school of economics, the case is made that group lending and business training programs in urban Zimbabwe fail to meet the needs of most informal entrepreneurs because they offer a poor cultural fit with the target population, and because they are rarely able to cultivate entrepreneurial skills such as innovation and market discovery among their clients.
The etiology, diagnosis, and management of hyperhidrosis: A comprehensive review: Etiology and clinical work-up

Hyperhidrosis (HH) is a dermatologic disorder defined by sweat production exceeding thermoregulatory needs. Clinically, HH is diagnosed when excess sweating creates significant emotional, physical, or social discomfort, causing a negative impact on the patient's quality of life. Existing data imply that this condition may affect at least 4.8% of the US population. The etiology of HH may stem from a complex autonomic nervous system dysfunction, resulting in neurogenic overactivity of otherwise normal eccrine sweat glands. Alternatively, HH may be a result of aberrant central control of emotions. This condition is categorized as primary or secondary HH. Approximately 93% of patients with HH have primary HH, of whom >90% have a typical focal and bilateral distribution affecting the axillae, palms, soles, and craniofacial areas. Secondary HH presents in a more generalized and asymmetric distribution and is generated by various underlying diseases or medications. Secondary causes of HH need to be excluded before diagnosing primary HH.
Systemic bile acids induce insulin resistance in a TGR5-independent manner

Bile acids are involved in the emulsification and absorption of dietary fats, as well as acting as signaling molecules. Recently, bile acid signaling through farnesoid X receptor and G protein-coup...
The bivalent ligand MCC22 potently attenuates hyperalgesia in a mouse model of cisplatin-evoked neuropathic pain without tolerance or reward

Abstract Cisplatin and other widely employed platinum-based anticancer agents produce chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) that often results in pain and hyperalgesia that are difficult to manage. We investigated the efficacy of a novel bivalent ligand, MCC22, for the treatment of pain arising from CIPN. MCC22 consists of mu opioid receptor (MOR) agonist and chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) antagonist pharmacophores connected through a 22-atom spacer and was designed to target a putative MOR-CCR5 heteromer localized in pain processing areas. Mice received once daily intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of cisplatin (1 mg/kg) for seven days and behavior testing began 7 days later. Cisplatin produced mechanical hyperalgesia that was decreased dose-dependently by MCC22 given by intrathecal (ED50 = 0.004 pmol) or i.p. (3.07 mg/kg) routes. The decrease in hyperalgesia was associated with decreased inflammatory response by microglia in the spinal cord. Unlike morphine, MCC22 given daily for nine days did not exhibit tolerance to its analgesic effect and its characteristic antihyperalgesic activity was fully retained in morphine-tolerant mice. Furthermore, MCC22 did not alter motor function and did not exhibit rewarding properties. Given the exceptional potency of MCC22 without tolerance or reward, MCC22 has the potential to vastly improve management of chronic pain due to CIPN. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled ‘New Vistas in Opioid Pharmacology’.
A Generalized, Nonsmooth Operator for Process Integration

Abstract This work presents a novel, generalized method for solving resource targeting problems for process integration. The approach uses nonsmooth systems of two equations per resource to simulate the process under optimal resource reuse. The resulting equation system, including process models, is solved using new advances in the automatic generation of LD-derivatives to supply generalized derivative elements to nonsmooth equation-solving methods. Therefore, this method can be used to solve for process variables in addition to resource targets and retains the same number of equations regardless of the number of resource sources and sinks in the problem. An illustrative example of combined mass and water integration is included to demonstrate the strengths and flexibility of this approach.
Capital Punishment and Lay Participation

This chapter examines two new forms of lay participation in Japanese capital justice. The lay judge reform of 2009 has stimulated many changes in formal rules and standard operating procedures in Japan’s criminal process. These changes may be shifting the balance of power in Japanese criminal justice—a balance that has long favored law enforcement interests. Yet before and after the lay judge reform there are striking continuities in criminal justice outcomes, in conviction rates, punishment patterns, and death sentencing. The second reform is a victim participation system, which moves victims and survivors closer to center stage of Japan’s criminal process, and which reflects and reinforces a culture of vengeance. Together, these two forms of lay participation may be doing as much to entrench capital punishment in Japan as to challenge and change it.
A comparative study of motor imagery based BCI classifiers on EEG and iEEG data

There are many state-of-the-art Brain Computer Interface (BCI) classification algorithms designed to perform well when applied to signals acquired using electroencephalography (EEG). EEG has the advantage of being non-invasive in nature, easy to use, and effective in capturing signals in the mu (7-13 Hz) and beta (13-30 Hz) bands during motor imagery tasks. However, EEG recordings are more susceptible to movement artifacts and capture a lower frequency of neural activity when compared with invasive techniques such as electrocorticography (ECoG) or intracranial EEG (iEEG). In this paper, we analyze the performance of four different EEG motor imagery classification algorithms (both classical machine learning methods and deep learning-based methods) on a two-hand motor imagery task using both EEG and iEEG data sets. Using various feature visualization techniques, we provide insight into why deep learning-based classifiers designed to learn features end-to-end may perform better than the classical machine learning-based models. We also showed on average iEEG-based motor imagery BCIs, using our iEEG data set, do not perform as well as EEG-based BCIs. This work provides a starting point for the implementation of BCI applications using iEEG data.
High‐Risk Cutaneous Squamous Cell Cancer of the Head and Neck: Risk Factors for Recurrence and Impact of Adjuvant Treatment

Objectives The behavior of advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNcSCC) remains poorly understood, with highly variable risk factors and a paucity of data for adjuvant treatment. The objective of our study was to review the oncologic outcomes of patients with high-risk HNcSCC treated with surgery and to identify risk factors for treatment failure. Study design Retrospective cohort study. Methods Retrospective review of patients treated for HNcSCC with definitive surgery involving at least parotidectomy and neck dissection at a tertiary care academic center from 2011 to 2017 was conducted. The primary outcome was disease-free survival (DFS). Results One-hundred four patients with a median age of 68 years (range = 42-91 years) were reviewed. Twenty-one patients were treated with surgery alone, 45 patients underwent adjuvant radiotherapy (RT), and 38 patients underwent adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT). The 2-year DFS for patients treated with surgery, surgery + RT, and surgery + CRT were 71%, 65%, and 58%, respectively, with no significant difference between the groups (P = .70). On multivariate analyses, tumor size (P = .006) and perineural invasion (PNI, P = .04) independently predicted recurrence. The addition of chemotherapy did not appear to improve DFS, neither for those patients with extranodal extension and/or positive margins (P = .93) nor for the entire cohort (P = .43). Conclusions Advanced HNcSCC has a high recurrence rate despite adjuvant treatment. Tumor size >2 cm was a strong independent risk factor for recurrence. Out of the traditional mucosal HNcSCC risk factors, PNI was most strongly associated with worse DFS. There was no observed survival benefit to the addition of chemotherapy. Level of evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 131:E136-E143, 2021.
‘It’s the economy, stupid’: when new politics parties take on old politics issues

Green parties have been quintessential issue owners since their founding. In recent national and European elections, however, these parties have begun to emphasize additional issues. This article s...
Reliability of Occupancy and Binomial Mixture Models for Estimating Abundance of Golden-Cheeked Warblers (Setophaga chrysoparia)

ABSTRACT. Reliable estimates of population parameters derived from survey methods are essential for decision making in management of endangered species. We evaluated whether point-count surveys used in conjunction with occupancy and binomial mixture models (BMMs) constituted a reliable approach for monitoring the federally endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler (Setophaga chrysoparia) on a preserve in central Texas. Occupancy and abundance were estimated using point-count surveys conducted on each of five 113-ha detection grids in 2008 and seven grids in 2009. Single-season occupancy models and BMMs were used to estimate occupancy and abundance, respectively. Occupancy estimates per grid ranged from 0.48 to 1.0 in 2008 and from 0.52 to 1.0 in 2009. Estimates of abundance were compared with territory densities independently estimated using spot mapping, the standard by which all other avian survey methods are often compared. Abundance estimates produced by BMMs were significantly higher than territory density e...
GaN Subwavelength Gratings by Machine Learning Design

We present the machine learning based design of a polynomial-shaped GaN subwavelength grating for maximum stopband reflectivity using heuristic algorithms. We show significant enhancements in the stopband width (SBW) over that of an optimized GaN rectangular grating design with similar layering.
An integrated multi-omics approach to identify regulatory mechanisms in cancer metastatic processes

Metastatic progress is the primary cause of death in most cancers, yet the regulatory dynamics driving the cellular changes necessary for metastasis remain poorly understood. Multi-omics approaches hold great promise for addressing this challenge; however, current analysis tools have limited capabilities to systematically integrate transcriptomic, epigenomic, and cistromic information to accurately define the regulatory networks critical for metastasis. To address this limitation, we use a purposefully generated cellular model of colon cancer invasiveness to generate multi-omics data, including expression, accessibility, and selected histone modification profiles, for increasing levels of invasiveness. We then adopt a rigorous probabilistic framework for joint inference from the resulting heterogeneous data, along with transcription factor binding profiles. Our approach uses probabilistic graphical models to leverage the functional information provided by specific epigenomic changes, models the influence of multiple transcription factors simultaneously, and automatically learns the activating or repressive roles of cis-regulatory events. Global analysis of these relationships reveals key transcription factors driving invasiveness, as well as their likely target genes. Disrupting the expression of one of the highly ranked transcription factors JunD, an AP-1 complex protein, confirms functional relevance to colon cancer cell migration and invasion. Transcriptomic profiling confirms key regulatory targets of JunD, and a gene signature derived from the model demonstrates strong prognostic potential in TCGA colorectal cancer data. Our work sheds new light into the complex molecular processes driving colon cancer metastasis and presents a statistically sound integrative approach to analyze multi-omics profiles of a dynamic biological process.
Rescaling index insurance for climate and development in Africa

This paper chronicles 15 years of experimentation with index insurance as a technology of weather risk governance, particularly as applied to vulnerable agricultural populations in sub-Saharan Afri...
Developing Leadership Talent in Adolescents and Emerging Adults: A Systematic Review:

Leadership talent development has been identified as a priority in national and state standards for gifted education. However, leadership programs in schools are not always supported by mandates or...
Analysis of the operating conditions of pulse electric field–assisted EHD for sodium alginate printing using design of experiment approach

Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing is a novel printing technology with high printing resolution, making it suitable for applications such as tissue engineering and micro/nanomanufacturing. Inkjets from EHD fall on the substrate either in the continuous or drop-on-demand (D-O-D) mode. In this research, the D-O-D-based EHD printing process was used to print micro droplets of bioink assisted by a pulse electric field. A 2% (g/mL) sodium alginate solution was used as the bioink. A general full factorial design was used to analyze and observe the relation between the bioink droplet quality and the EHD process parameters. The diameter of the droplet, droplet generation rate, distance between two droplets, and the droplet consistency are the four major responses to evaluate the printing quality. The EHD process parameters, offset voltage, pulse width, and frequency, are the three regressor variables. After conducting the data analysis, it is observed that the higher frequency and the lower voltage produced the smaller droplet diameter, higher droplet generation rate, and nearer distance among the droplets. However, this increased the variance in the droplet patterns thus reducing the consistency of the printing process. It was also found that pulse width had marginal significance on the quality of printed drops. From the data analysis, four regression models were developed to aid in finding the parameter combinations to print 2% sodium alginate at a desired droplet diameter, droplet generation rate, and droplet distance. This proposed model can be used as a guideline for EHD bioprinting experimental setup, and it will significantly reduce the efforts to determine the optimal process parameters.
The Importance of Racial Identity in Forensic Mental Health Assessment.

When the American Psychiatric Association issued a public apology to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) for its support of structural racism in psychiatry,[1][1] it was both a historic and striking organizational acknowledgment of the harm created by such racism. There are numerous
Neoadjuvant Therapy Regimens for Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma Before Liver Transplant.

Purpose/Objective(s) Patients with unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma (hCCA) may be eligible for curative treatment through liver transplantation. Neoadjuvant protocols often include radiotherapy (RT), however there is no standard approach. The purpose of this study is to characterize practice patterns of RT use prior to transplantation for hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Materials/Methods A survey was administered to radiation oncologists practicing at liver transplantation centers identified through the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplant Network and the International Cholangiocarcinoma Research Network. The survey was distributed via SurveyMonkey and consisted of 13 questions regarding RT details including technique, brachytherapy use, target volumes, dose/fractionation, as well as approaches to systemic therapy. The cumulative tumor dose was standardized using the EQD2 method for cross comparison of regimens Results Twenty-three unique centers utilizing neoadjuvant therapy for hCCA were identified from an initial cohort of 124 radiation oncologists contacted. Most respondents (96%) integrate both systemic and RT as part of their protocol. SBRT to the primary alone without elective nodal coverage was utilized in 3 (13%) centers while most did include elective nodal regions in the RT fields. Elective nodal volumes commonly included the portal lymph nodes (91%), celiac artery lymph nodes (70%), and hepatic artery lymph nodes (61%). In total, 18 centers report using a boost with total EQD2 outlined in Table 1. Two centers used integrated boosts to 60 or 54 Gy in 25 fractions (fx). After an initial 45 Gy plan, a wide range of sequential boost regimens are used including 9 Gy (1.5 Gy BID n = 3, 1.8 Gy daily n = 2), 20 Gy (4-5 fx N = 3), 15Gy (10 fx n = 1), 16 Gy (4 fx n = 1), 30 Gy (1.5 Gy BID n = 1). The median cumulative dose including boosts to the gross disease was 58 Gy (EQD2) with a range of 40 -110 Gy. Concurrent chemotherapy with a fluoropyrimidine was utilized in most (96%). Chemotherapy after the RT was most common (78%), including Capecitabine in 10(43%) and Gemcitabine/Cisplatin in 6(26%) centers. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was used in two centers (9%). Conclusion These results suggest significant variability of neoadjuvant RT use for unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma prior to transplant. A wide range of doses and fractionation schemes are utilized with cumulative doses ranging from 40 -110 Gy (EQD2). Further study evaluating the efficacy and toxicity of these various approaches is warranted to better inform best practices.
Nutrition in Human Fertility

Increasing evidence suggests that diet plays an important role in human fertility independently of its effects on body weight. This chapter summarizes the current evidence linking nutritional factors to human fertility and their potential role in the primary prevention of infertility and as adjuvants to infertility treatments. The chapter first discusses the role of diet on female fertility focusing on factors that may be relevant to the primary prevention of female causes of infertility. Next, the growing literature on the potential role of dietary factors on male fertility, as reflected on semen quality, is summarized. Last, we review the emerging literature on the relation between nutritional factors and treatment outcomes of couples undergoing infertility treatment (primarily of couples undergoing assisted reproduction). Throughout the chapter, greater focus is placed on novel nutritional factors and emerging literature at the expense of factors that have historically received greater attention in the literature (e.g., alcohol and caffeine). In addition, throughout the chapter we point to important methodological considerations influencing the interpretation of the existing literature and point at current knowledge gaps in this area.
Stereochemical aspects of lotaustralin biosynthesis.

Abstract The methyl linamarin that occurs naturally in linen flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) seedlings was shown to have the R configuration, i.e. it is identical with (R)-lotaustralin, (R)-2-hydroxy-2-methylbutyronitrile-β-d-glucopyranoside. However, when a mixture of the two enantiomers (R,S)-2-hydroxy-2-methylbutyronitrile, was administered to excised flax shoots, both (R)-lotaustralin and its epimer (S)-epilotaustralin ((S)-2-hydroxy-2-methylbutyronitrile-β-d-glucopyranoside) were formed. Similarly, both (R)-lotaustralin and (S)-epi-lotaustralin were formed when (R,S)-2-hydroxy-2-methylbutyronitrile served as substrate for the UDP-glucose:ketone cyanohydrin-β-d-glucosyltransferase of flax. These results demonstrate that the glucosyltransferase does not distinguish either in vitro or in vivo between the two enantiomeric forms of this glucose acceptor. Since, however, only (R)-lotaustralin occurs in the intact plant, the glucosyltransferase must be presented with only the R enantiomer as a substrate. This form is produced from l-isoleucine ([3S]-ls-isoleucine) due to retention of the S configuration at carbon atom 3. When (3R)-ls-isoleucine (threo-ls-isoleucine) was administered to flax shoots, (S)-epi-lotaustralin was formed due to retention of configuration at carbon atom 3 of the amino acid.