cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How Directional Translocation is Regulated in a DNA Helicase Motor

PcrA helicase from Bacillus stearothermophilus is one of the smallest motor proteins structurally known in full atomic detail. It translocates progressively from the 3′ end to the 5′ end of single-stranded DNA utilizing the free energy from ATP hydrolysis. The similarities in structure and reaction pathway between PcrA helicase and F1-ATPase suggest a similar mechanochemical mechanism at work in both systems. Previous studies of PcrA translocation demonstrated a domain stepping mechanism in which, during one ATP hydrolysis cycle, the pulling together and pushing apart of two translocation domains is synchronized with alternating mobilities of the individual domains such that PcrA moves unidirectionally along single-stranded DNA. To substantiate this translocation mechanism, this study applies molecular dynamics simulations, elastic network theory, and multiple sequence alignment to analyze the system. The analysis provides further evidence that directional translocation of PcrA is regulated allosterically through synchronization of ATP hydrolysis and domain mobilities. We identify a set of essential residues coevolutionarily coupled in related helicases that should be involved in the allosteric regulation of these motor proteins.
Competencies as a behavioral approach to emotional intelligence

Purpose – Development of competencies needed to be effective managers and leaders requires research and theory that can drive future scholarship and application. This introductory essay to this special issue of JMD seeks to focus on competencies in organizations in Europe and a broader conceptualization of emotional intelligence.Design/methodology/approach – Competencies are defined and an overview is provided for the papers that will follow with original research on competencies, their link to performance in various occupations, and their development.Findings – Emotional, social and cognitive intelligence competencies predict effectiveness in professional, management and leadership roles in many sectors of society. It addition, these competencies can be developed in adults.Research limitations/implications – As an introductory essay, the paper lays the foundation for the following papers in this issue.Practical implications – Competencies needed in order to be effective can be developed.Originality/value...
Longitudinal study of skipping breakfast and weight change in adolescents

BACKGROUND: Several cross-sectional studies reported that heavier children eat breakfast less often. However, no longitudinal studies have addressed whether skipping breakfast leads to excessive weight gain. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether skipping breakfast was prospectively associated with changes in body fatness. METHODS: A cohort of >14?000 boys and girls from all over the US, 9- to 14-y-old in 1996, returned annual mailed questionnaires (1996–1999) for the Growing Up Today Study. We analyzed change in body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) over three 1-y periods among children who reported breakfast frequency. RESULTS: Children who reported that they never eat breakfast had lower energy intakes than those who eat breakfast nearly every day. Children who were more physically active reported higher energy intakes, as did those who reported more time watching television/videos and playing videogames. Like previous studies, skipping breakfast was associated with overweight, cross-sectionally. However, overweight children who never ate breakfast lost BMI over the following year compared to overweight children who ate breakfast nearly every day (boys: −0.66?kg/m2 (s.e.=0.22); girls: −0.50?kg/m2 (s.e.=0.14)). But normal weight children who never ate breakfast gained weight relative to peers who ate breakfast nearly every day (boys: +0.21?kg/m2 (s.e.=0.13); girls: +0.08?kg/m2 (s.e.=0.05)). Breakfast frequency was positively correlated with self-reported quality of schoolwork. CONCLUSIONS: Overweight children who never eat breakfast may lose body fat, but normal weight children do not. Since numerous studies link skipping breakfast to poorer academics, children should be encouraged to eat breakfast.
Rapid detection and suppression of multi-user interference in DS-CDMA

Minimum mean squared error (MMSE) detection has been proposed for direct sequence-code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) systems. The MMSE detectors are near-far resistant, and can be adapted with standard adaptive algorithms without knowledge of user parameters (i.e., spreading codes). These algorithms rely on a known training sequence for initial adaptation, and subsequently switch to a decision-directed mode. After the switch, the performance of the adaptive algorithm may degrade substantially if a strong interferer suddenly appears (i.e., if power control is relaxed). We present a "rescue" algorithm that monitors for sudden changes in the signal space, which may be caused by the appearance of a strong interferer. If a new interferer is detected, decision-directed adaptation is suspended, and an estimate of the optimal filter coefficients is obtained without a training sequence. It is shown that in the presence of low-level background noise, a good estimate can be obtained within a few symbol intervals. A numerical example is given which illustrates the performance of the rescue algorithm in a synchronous DS-CDMA system.
Spectrophotometric determination of carnosine, anserine, and taurine in skeletal muscle

Abstract The determination of carnosine using the diazonium salt of p -bromoaniline and the determination of taurine and of taurine, carnosine, and anserine together using 2,4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene to give yellow-colored derivatives is the basis for the spectrophotometric assay of these compounds in skeletal muscle. The procedure can be applied directly to aqueous extracts of muscle and is well suited for routine assays of many samples.
Teaching Billing and Coding to Medical Students: A Pilot Study

Complex billing practices cost the US healthcare system billions of dollars annually. Coding for outpatient office visits [known as Evaluation & Management (E&M) services] is commonly particularly fraught with errors. The best way to insure proper billing and coding by practicing physicians is to teach this as part of the medical school curriculum. Here, in a pilot study, we show that medical students can learn well the basic principles from lectures. This approach is easy to implement into a medical school curriculum.
Placement of replicated message mediation components

In this paper, we propose a technique for placing components of mediation flows within a Message-Oriented Middleware where components can be replicated. A mediation flow is a directed acyclic graph of message transformations (also known as mediations) connecting sources and sinks of messages. The source nodes correspond to producers, who enter messages into the middleware; the sink nodes correspond to consumers, who receive results derived from the input messages. All other nodes in the graph represent transformations of messages in the middleware. A placement is an assignment of nodes of the mediation flow graph to physical machines (brokers) in a distributed network.
Wnt5a expression in canine osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignancy of bone in dogs and is associated with poor long-term outcomes due to its highly metastatic nature. A better understanding of the signalling pathways and proteins involved with osteosarcoma pathogenesis may aid in improved outcomes through the use of targeted therapies. The Wnt5a protein, a ligand for the non-canonical Wnt signalling pathway, is implicated in mediating the aggressiveness of cancer cell lines, including those of human osteosarcoma origin. Given the close relationship between human and canine osteosarcoma, the primary goal of this study was to characterize Wnt5a expression in canine osteosarcoma. Second, if Wnt5a expression was present in canine osteosarcoma, the study aimed to determine any potential association with clinical outcome and clinical variables in similarly treated osteosarcoma-bearing dogs. Wnt5a expression was present in 26 of the 48 (54%) cases of canine osteosarcoma. Wnt5a expression was not associated with progression-free survival (P = 0.4) or overall survival (P = 0.1).
Role of photoreactions in the formation of biologically labile compounds from dissolved organic matter

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) can be degraded by sunlight into a variety of photoproducts that stimulate the growth and activity of microorganisms in aquatic environments. All biologically labile photoproducts identified to date fall into one of four categories: (1) low-molecular-weight (MW) organic compounds (carbonyl compounds with MW of 20% of the bacterial carbon demand. Likewise, 30% of the bacterial nitrogen demand can be met by photodegradation of the nitrogen components of DOM, a process likely to be of particular importance in nitrogen-limited systems. When considered on a depth-integrated basis around the globe, at least 1.0 X 10 15 g C and 0.15 X 10 15 g N are estimated to be available annually for utilization by planktonic microorganisms through the conversion of light-absorbing fractions of DOM to more biologically labile compounds. By comparison, direct photochemical mineralization of DOM is estimated to convert 12-16 X 10 15 g C to CO 2 annually.
Forecasting of Short-Term Freeway Volume with v-Support Vector Machines:

Predictions for short-term traffic volume provide important inputs for traveler information and traffic management. Traffic volumes in the near future are often estimated based on historical volumes. Because of the complicated nonlinear relationship between historical and future traffic volume data, many previous studies used neural networks to predict short-term traffic volumes. In this research, a v-support vector machine (v-SVM) model, which has the particular strength of overcoming local minima and overfitting common to neural network models, is proposed for short-term traffic volume prediction. The v-SVM model is compared with a widely used multilayer feed-forward neural network (MLFNN) model using four data sets collected from three interstate freeways. Testing results show that for both one-step and two-step forecasting, the v-SVM model outperforms the MLFNN model for all data sets in terms of mean absolute percentage error and root-mean-square error. Key issues in applying both models are also dis...
A study of SRAM NBTI by OTF measurement

A mechanism of DeltaVth variation of NBTI for SRAM load transistor is examined. The variation data is in good agreement with our proposed model. A large fluctuation of NBTI for small size pMOS is not observed in HCI measurement for nMOS, which may be due to the difference of recovery. Two types of equations to get DeltaVth from DeltaIdL by OTF measurement are compared and we have concluded which equation is appropriate by using pulse IV method. We have also proposed a new method to predict precise median value of NBTI for SRAM by OTF measurement with parallel TEG. This method is very important to design initial Vth region of SRAM.
Optimal Sampling Designs for Monitoring Plant Frequency

Plant frequency is a pragmatic surrogate for plant density in protocols designed for the long-term monitoring of diverse communities. Frequency estimates are based on presence/absence data from plots of fixed size, and plots are usually spatially aggregated into sites (often transects) to reduce field effort. Using a combination of statistical models and computer simulations, we identify sampling designs that maximize statistical power for detecting changes in underlying plant density based on the analysis of plant frequency. The optimal plot size for collecting frequency data decreases both with increasing spatial variation in local density (spatial structure) and with increasing numbers of plots per site. Over realistic ranges for these parameters, plots of optimal size yield mean frequencies that vary from 20% to 80%. However, with the exception of highly overdispersed populations, power is relatively insensitive to plot size; consequently, a plot size that yields a mean frequency of 50% usually provides nearly maximal power. For population monitoring, in which comparisons are made between successive samples from the same population, repeated measures from fixed sites improve statistical power substantially if there is spatial structure among sites, provided that the spatial pattern is at least partially consistent over time. However, there is still a power loss to the extent that the pattern of spatial structure among sites changes over time (a site-by-time interaction). This power loss can be mitigated by increasing the spacing between plots within sites, which has the effect of increasing the within-site structure and reducing the between-site structure. With more than 1 plot per site, there is no statistical advantage to obtaining repeated measures from fixed plots; relocating plots within sites in successive samples may therefore be advisable to minimize disturbance to the community.
Effect of feedback mechanisms on students' learning in the use of simulation-based training in a computer engineering program

Feedback is a vital element for improving student learning in a simulation-based training as it guides and refines learning through scaffolding. A number of studies in literature have shown that students' learning is enhanced when feedback is provided with personalized tutoring that offers specific guidance and adapts feedback to the learner in a one-to-one environment. Thus, emulating these adaptive aspects of human tutoring in simulation provides an effective methodology to train individuals. This paper presents the results of a study that investigated the effectiveness of automating different types of feedback techniques such as Knowledge-of-Correct-Response (KCR) and Answer-Until-Correct (AUC) in software simulation for learning basic information technology concepts. For the purpose of comparison, techniques like simulation with zero or no-feedback (NFB) and traditional hands-on (HON) learning environments are also examined. The paper presents the summary of findings based on quantitative analyses, wh...
'Who do you Play for?' How the Ninth Circuit's Rejection of U.S.A. Swimming's Motion to Dismiss Protects the Integrity of Sport and Stimulates Technological Development

This article argues that the Ninth Circuit acknowledged the risk of financial interests influencing decisions to ban certain equipment because of the broad economic scope of the sports industry, governing bodies' unchecked authority over said market, and the sentiment that, in light of each governing body's heavy reliance on sponsorships, complete disregard of financial motives in governance is no longer appropriate.Further, courts should continue to implement the Ninth Circuit's policy of increasing scrutiny of governing body financial interests in rule-making for two reasons. First, shedding light on the complex and competing financial interests among industry players, including fans, athletes, teams, leagues, communities, media, and sponsors, should enhance confidence in the purity of a governing body's decisions. Second, abandoning complete deference in governing bodies could ease manufacturers' fears of investing in technology only to be subsequently banned due to collusion between market competitors and the governing bodies. This in turn would mitigate the stifling effect the latter have had on technological developments in sports equipment.
Mechanism of thiamine uptake by human jejunal brush-border membrane vesicles

Thiamine, a water-soluble vitamin, is essential for normal cellular functions, growth and development. Thiamine deficiency leads to significant clinical problems and occurs under a variety of condi...
Texture Evolution of Lithium Fluoride Thin Films by Nucleation

We have used a transmission electron microscope (TEM)-based method to extract grain size information for 〈111〉 surface normal grains in lithium fluoride (LiF) thin films, and applied this to analyze textures as a function of substrate temperature and annealing time. The size distributions of grains diffracting into the (111)+(200) and (220) rings were measured separately using dark field (DF) TEM images. From these data, we deduce the distribution of 〈111〉 surface normal grain sizes based on the assumption that only 3 principal textures (100), (110) and (111) exist in films. The (111) texture formation was also observed by x-ray diffraction (XRD). For all deposition and annealing conditions, the grain size data can be matched to lognormal distributions within an acceptable error, but at longer annealing times the distribution becomes bimodal. A novel feature of the LiF films is that the (111) texture component strengthens with annealing and substrate temperature, through the nucleation of new grains rather than the growth of existing ones.
Cross-validation of oxygen uptake prediction during walking in ambulatory persons with multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND An equation for predicting the gross oxygen uptake (gross-VO2) during walking for persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) has been developed. Predictors included walking speed and total score from the 12-Item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale (MSWS-12). OBJECTIVE This study examined the validity of this prediction equation in another sample of persons with MS. METHODS Participants were 18 persons with MS with limited mobility problems (42 ± 13 years; 14 women). Participants completed the MSWS-12. Gross-VO2 was measured with open-circuit spirometry during treadmill walking at 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 mph (0.89, 1.34, and 1.79 m·s(-1)). REULTS Absolute percent error was small: 8.3 ± 6.1% , 8.0 ± 5.6% , and 12.2 ± 9.0% at 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 mph, respectively. Actual gross-VO2 did not differ significantly from predicted gross-VO2 at 2.0 and 3.0 mph, but was significantly higher than predicted gross-VO2 at 4.0 mph (p < 0.001). Bland-Altman plots indicated nearly zero mean difference between actual and predicted gross-VO2 with modest 95% confidence intervals at 2.0 and 3.0 mph, but there was some underestimation at 4.0 mph. CONCLUSIONS Speed and MSWS-12 score provide valid prediction of gross-VO2 during treadmill walking at slow and moderate speeds in ambulatory persons with MS. However, there is a possibility of small underestimation for walking at 4.0 mph.
The Orientation Dependence of the Photochemical Activity of α‐Fe2O3

The orientation dependence of the visible-light stimulated photochemical reduction of aqueous Ag+ on polycrystalline hematite Fe2O3 was determined by observing the relative amount of reduced Ag0 on crystals of known surface orientation over all possible orientations. The results show that surfaces oriented within 20° of the (11¯02) plane are the most active and surfaces close to the (0001) plane are the least active. A strong correlation is observed between the orientation-dependent activity and the orientation-dependent surface potential measured by scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy. Surfaces near the most active (11¯02) plane and the least active (0001) plane are, respectively, at the most positive and the least positive ends of the potential range among all grains. The trends in activity are concluded to arise from a combination of internal fields associated with surface charges and bulk transport effects.
The Chain Rule for Matrix Exponential Functions

bers purchases r tickets, selecting numbers at random. For i = 1 to r , let Ai be the event “i th ticket matches j out of n numbers.” Let the approximate probability P(A1 ∪ A2 ∪ · · · ∪ Ar ) ≈ ∑ri=1 P(Ai ) be expressed as s : 1, and let the exact probability for P(A1 ∪ A2 ∪ · · · ∪ Ar ) using inclusion/exclusion be expressed as t : 1, where s and t are rounded to the nearest integer. Then t − s = 0 or t − s = 1.
EXTENT OF DEPRIVATION AND PROBABILITY LEARNING PERFORMANCE.

The probability-learning performances of 4 groups of 12 rats at different reinforcement probabilities and extents of deprivation were compared. While these probabilities yielded different performances, the several deprivations did not. It was concluded that procedural variation between this and other studies of deprivation effects on choice performance may account for the failure to demonstrate drive differences on this task.
Two-Dimensional Halide Perovskites: Tuning Electronic Activities of Defects

Two-dimensional (2D) halide perovskites are emerging as promising candidates for nanoelectronics and optoelectronics. To realize their full potential, it is important to understand the role of those defects that can strongly impact material properties. In contrast to other popular 2D semiconductors (e.g., transition metal dichalcogenides MX2) for which defects typically induce harmful traps, we show that the electronic activities of defects in 2D perovskites are significantly tunable. For example, even with a fixed lattice orientation one can change the synthesis conditions to convert a line defect (edge or grain boundary) from electron acceptor to inactive site without deep gap states. We show that this difference originates from the enhanced ionic bonding in these perovskites compared with MX2. The donors tend to have high formation energies and the harmful defects are difficult to form at a low halide chemical potential. Thus, we unveil unique properties of defects in 2D perovskites and suggest practic...
What to Assess and Why

Assessment is basic to social-skills training. It should result in general impressions of deficit areas as well as specific behavioral objectives. To be maximally useful, assessment information should be both accurate and representative of the client’s actual functioning. Comprehensive assessment should include considerations of (1) verbal and nonverbal behaviors, (2) cognitive activity, such as knowledge of appropriate responses. Beliefs and attitudes, percep- tions of others, and expectations regarding social consequences, and (3) the situational specificity of skill deficits.
Using plant volatile traps to estimate the diversity of natural enemy communities in orchard ecosystems

Abstract In this study we used sticky traps baited with plant volatile lures to monitor the biodiversity of natural enemies in orchard ecosystems in the western U.S. We compared the diversity of predator genera from season total trap catches in 37 different orchards (apple, cherry, pear and walnut) over a two-year period (2010−2011) using standardized Hill number biodiversity indices and community similarity profiles. For a subset of 23 of these orchards we were also able to monitor the change in biodiversity of predator genera over the full growing season in the different orchard crops. A total of 37,854 individuals from 31 different genera of foliage-active generalist predators were collected from all orchards combined. Mean sample coverage was high (0.98) and richness, diversity and evenness differed between crops in 2010, but not in 2011. There was more than 90% similarity in the richness of predator genera among crops and among orchards within crops, but a greater level of differentiation was observed among orchards when variation in their relative abundance and dominance in the communities was taken into account. There was a consistent rise in predator generic richness and diversity through the season in both years for apple, cherry and pear orchards, but in walnut orchards, a steep rise from March to May was followed by a decline through the rest of the season. In an additional component of the study, the species level similarity of predator and parasitoid communities was analyzed for total season trap catch data from six walnut orchards. The rarefied species richness of parasitoids was much greater than that for predators, although the diversity, evenness and dominance of the parasitoid species varied considerably among orchards. The results from this study highlight the fact that natural enemy communities in orchard ecosystems can be effectively monitored using plant volatile traps, and that these communities are surprisingly diverse despite frequent disturbance from pest management intervention.
Simulation of landslide process

In order to realize the simulation of landslide process,the landslide model theory and PIC( Particle in Cell) discretization method were used to simulate the whole motion process of the landslides near Calaveras Dam. The calculation results agree well with the actual situation,which verifies the effectiveness of the model theory and the numerical solution. The simulation result shows that the average speed of the front of the landslide is 0. 28 m / s in the first 100 seconds and creep is the main deformation,a characteristic of low mobility. The motion process,the disaster area and the accumulation form of landslide can be obtained from the simulation of landslide process,which can provide a scientific reference and basis for landslide disaster prevention.
Analysis of the Index System of New Socialist Countryside Construction in Heilongjiang Province

The methods of integration of theory and practice,the comparative analysis and the typical pilot demonstration were used to set up the index system of new socialist countryside construction,which embodying the characteristics of economic and social development by deeply analyzing the situation of the province,the situation and questions of new rural.The system based on the index system of other provinces,the systemic principle,the people-centered principle,the comparable and operable principle,the overall and phased principles.After evaluated the 25 index of the system,we concluded that the score of new socialist countryside of Heilongjiang in 2006 was 55.9,that is to say,the realized extent achieved 55.9%.
Positive results on discreteness and openness for mappings of finite distortion

In this paper, we prove some positive results on discreteness and openness of mappings of finite distortion under some integrability condition on the distortion and the multiplicity function of the mapping. We also show that in some sense, our results are sharp.
Influence of aging on flexural strength of translucent zirconia for monolithic restorations

Abstract Statement of problem Concern has been raised with regard to the low-temperature degradation (LTD) of translucent yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline (Y-TZP) for monolithic zirconia restorations. Purpose The purpose of this in vitro study was to assess the LTD behavior of 4 commercially available translucent Y-TZP materials by accelerated aging specimens in steam at 134°C, 0.2 MPa. Material and Methods Thin bars (22×3×0.2 mm) of Y-TZP, including Katana ML (Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc), Katana HT13 (Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc), Prettau (Zirkonzahn), and BruxZir (Glidewell Laboratories) (n=30 for each group), were machined from sintered blocks. Control specimens were assessed in the nonaged condition. Artificially ageing (n=5 per group at 5, 50, 100, 150, and 200 hours) was conducted in steam at 134°C at 0.2 MPa. The specimens were characterized, tested in 4-point flexure, and the fracture surfaces were analyzed. The monoclinic-to-tetragonal (m/t) peak intensity ratio measured by x-ray diffraction was used to calculate the monoclinic phase fraction and monitor LTD. Linear regression with heteroscedasticity-consistent robust standard errors was used to test for the effect of LTD (aging time) on (σ f ) and m/t. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationship between σ f and monoclinic phase fraction (α=.05). Results Artificial aging resulted in LTD as shown by an increase in the monoclinic phase fraction for all specimens. After aging for 200 hours, the mean ±SD monoclinic phase fraction increased from 2.90 ±0.34% to 76.1 ±0.64% for Prettau, 2.69 ±0.18% to 76.0 ±0.26% for BruxZir, 4.6 ±0.19% to 35.8 ±0.80% for Katana HT13, and 3.57 ±0.35% to 33.2 ±1.1% for Katana ML (all P P P P =.45); and from 875 ±130 to 909 ±70 MPa ( P =.82) for Katana ML. The mean flexural strength values of Prettau and BruxZir decreased with an increase in the monoclinic phase with Spearman rank correlation coefficients of −0.80 ( P =.001) for Prettau and −0.63 ( P =.022) for BruxZir. No significant changes in flexural strength were measured for Katana ML or Katana HT13 ( P >.05). Conclusions The LTD of Y-TZP resulted in a significant decrease in flexural strength of Prettau and BruxZir, whereas Katana ML and Katana HT13 exhibited less LTD and no significant decrease in flexural strength.
False Assumptions: The Multidimensional Quality and its Relationships to Functioning of the Central Nervous System

False assumptions from an earlier era underlie most clinical research on the neurobehavioral bases of depression and the basic mechanisms of antidepressant efficacy. These assumptions greatly influenced past research impeding development of new classes of treatment drugs. They include viewing (1) antidepressants as specific for the depressive disorders, (2) drug clinical actions as lagging weeks after immediate effects on neurotransmitter systems, and (3) various drug classes, e.g., tricyclics, SSRIs, despite differences in actions on neurotransmitter systems, as having the same effects on the various symptoms of the disorders. In view of these assumptions, it is important to review basic research on the relationships of the critical neurotransmitter systems, to the regulation of the behavior and moods associated with the depressive disorders. Research on the differential relationships of the two neurotransmitter systems and behavior is summarized. The different drug classes are shown to initiate different sequences of behavioral actions in treatment-responsive patients prior to recovery. The Collaborative Depression project was able to detail these sequences of the initial behavioral actions, and that contrary to earlier reports of delay for several weeks, show that they occur within the first week. It linked drug-induced changes in serotonergic and noradrenergic metabolite concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid to different behavioral changes. Several of these important findings were, however, derived from post hoc analyses, requiring replication in a new study. The results of that study, conducted from 1996 to 2003, are reported in the next chapter.
Requirement for Dicer in Maintenance of Monosynaptic Sensory-Motor Circuits in the Spinal Cord.

In contrast to our knowledge of mechanisms governing circuit formation, our understanding of how neural circuits are maintained is limited. Here, we show that Dicer, an RNaseIII protein required for processing microRNAs (miRNAs), is essential for maintenance of the spinal monosynaptic stretch reflex circuit in which group Ia proprioceptive sensory neurons form direct connections with motor neurons. In postnatal mice lacking Dicer in proprioceptor sensory neurons, there are no obvious defects in specificity or formation of monosynaptic sensory-motor connections. However, these circuits degrade through synapse loss and retraction of proprioceptive axonal projections from the ventral spinal cord. Peripheral terminals are also impaired without retracting from muscle targets. Interestingly, despite these central and peripheral axonal defects, proprioceptive neurons survive in the absence of Dicer-processed miRNAs. These findings reveal that Dicer, through its production of mature miRNAs, plays a key role in the maintenance of monosynaptic sensory-motor circuits.
Patient Reported Outcomes 10 years After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

Background Following weight-loss surgery, patients who failed to achieve or sustain weight loss have nevertheless reported high satisfaction with their long-term bariatric experience. Understanding this phenomenon better will likely improve patients’ experiences.
The role of sebelipase alfa in the treatment of lysosomal acid lipase deficiency

Lysosomal acid lipase deficiency (LALD) is a lysosomal storage disorder (LSD) characterized either by infantile onset with fulminant clinical course and very poor prognosis or childhood/adult-onset...
The influence of pregnancy on women with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

The study’s aim was to address three fundamental questions related to pregnancy and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), and provide clinically applicable answers to spine specialists and general practitioners alike. The authors performed a systematic literature review using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews to identify articles published between 1980 and 2015 that described pregnancy-related characteristics and outcomes in AIS patients. The search was conducted using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines and evidence was classified according to the Oxford CEBM (Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine) appraisal tool. Twenty-two articles incorporating more than 3125 AIS patients were included. All studies concluded level 2b evidence or lower. Nulliparity rates were slightly higher among AIS patients, and more frequent infertility treatment was required. Pregnancy-related back pain was common, and while non-disabling, may have been more severe than in healthy women. Minor curve progression often occurred during pregnancy, though its permanence was questioned and significance unknown. Back pain and curve progression occurred independent of AIS treatment modality. With modern technology, anesthetic and obstetric complications in the perinatal period were not elevated in AIS mothers. Women with AIS experience slightly elevated rates of nulliparity, infertility treatment, prepartum back pain, and peripartum curve progression. However, most women are able to have children and are not at increased risk of pregnancy-related complications. Higher quality evidence is needed to better define these relationships and allow more guided counseling and treatment.
What Is the Current Role and Factors for Success of the Journal Club in Podiatric Foot and Ankle Surgery Residency Training Programs

The journal club (JC) is a traditional part of postgraduate medical education, although little has been written on its current role in podiatric surgical training programs. The goal of the present study was to determine how JCs are conducted and the factors associated with their success. Anonymous electronic surveys were distributed to all podiatric foot and ankle surgical training program directors in the United States with a valid e-mail address. A total of 202 surveys were initially e-mailed to training program directors, with a second and third round sent to those who did not respond. The eventual response rate was 47.5%. The variables associated with success included high faculty attendance, dissemination of articles in advance, and regularly scheduled meetings. Of the residency programs that responded, 39.0% provided some type of handout or supplemental session and 39.8% provided supplemental session or handouts regarding the process of critical review, epidemiology, or biostatistics. A structured review instrument or checklist was used to guide critical appraisal in 21.5% of the JCs, and 11.8% of the programs provided feedback to residents. The JC was perceived by residency directors to be valuable and worthy of maintaining. Residency directors perceived the following factors to be associated with a successful JC: faculty participation, a designated leader, mandatory attendance, dissemination of materials in advance, and regularly scheduled meetings. Areas cited for improvement included implementation of a structured review instrument, delineation of clear goals, and periodic evaluation. We believe these findings could aid residency directors interested in maximizing the educational benefits of their JC.
Electrical Tuning of Interlayer Exciton Gases in WSe2 Bilayers

van der Waals heterostructures formed by stacking two-dimensional atomic crystals are a unique platform for exploring new phenomena and functionalities. Interlayer excitons, bound states of spatially separated electron–hole pairs in van der Waals heterostructures, have demonstrated potential for rich valley physics and optoelectronics applications and been proposed to facilitate high-temperature superfluidity. Here, we demonstrate highly tunable interlayer excitons by an out-of-plane electric field in homobilayers of transition metal dichalcogenides. Continuous tuning of the exciton dipole from negative to positive orientation has been achieved, which is not possible in heterobilayers due to the presence of large built-in interfacial electric fields. A large linear field-induced redshift up to ∼100 meV has been observed in the exciton resonance energy. The Stark effect is accompanied by an enhancement of the exciton recombination lifetime by more than two orders of magnitude to >20 ns. The long recombinat...
From the Goddess Ganga to a Teacup: On Amitav Ghosh’s Novel The Hungry Tide

Theories of scale tend to assume that air, not water, is the “normative” medium for zooming between scales of relation. In our imaginations or in mapping technologies like Google Earth, we move smoothly and without friction from satellite heights to ocean surfaces. By tracing the trope of “falling water” in Amitav Ghosh’s novel The Hungry Tide, Jue argues for a form of scale theory that accounts for friction between scalar shifts. The Hungry Tide suggests a theory of scale that fundamentally concerns the problems of navigation and orientation, accommodating the way different bodies sense and move through the world.
Effect of solvent viscosity on driven translocation of a semi-flexible chain through a nano-pore

We study the effect of the solvent viscosity on the translocation dynamics of a semi-flexible polymer through a nano-pore. We use Langevin dynamics (LD) simulation in two dimensions (2D) and demonstrate that at low viscosity a stiffer chain translocates through a nano-pore faster compared to a more flexible chain and that the order of this translocation time is reversed in the high-viscosity regime. Our simulation data shows a non-monotonic dependence of the mean first passage time (MFPT) on solvent viscosity resulting in a minimum in the MFPT at a particular value of the solvent viscosity. The qualitative behavior of the MFPT of the translocating chain above and below this minimum is different. We have found that the value of the solvent viscosity corresponding to this minimum in MFPT depends on chain stiffness, chain length, applied external bias, and pore radius. We provide physically motivating arguments based on the tension propagation (TP) theory of Sakaue and draw an analogy with the Kramers turnover effect for the non-monotonic dependence of MPFT on viscosity.
Nuclear Fission Power Plants

In terms of technical progress of the human species/society, the second half of the twentieth century is marked by two developments: the computer and nuclear energy. And the two are related since progress in the development and applications of nuclear energy owes a lot to the power of computations made possible by the digital computer.
Exogenous and endogenous regulations of human megakaryocytopoiesis.

Megakaryocytopoiesis may be viewed as a developmental continuum which begins when an undifferentiated hematopoietic stem cell commits to maturation within this lineage (for recent review see ref.#l) The process of commitment results in the generation of megakaryocyte progenitor cells (CFU-Meg). When appropriately stimulated, CFU-Meg are capable of intense proliferative activity which determines the numbers of megakaryocytes which will ultimately populate the bone marrow. As proliferative activity declines, CFU-Meg progeny mature into precursor cells which terminally differentiate into polyploid megakaryocytes capable of releasing several thousand platelets each into the circulation.
It's not just what you have, but how you use it: solar‐positional and behavioural effects on hummingbird colour appearance during courtship

Animals exhibit a diversity of colours that can play key roles in mating interactions. However, we presently lack an understanding of the relative importance of the environment, behaviour and natural reflective properties of colourful ornaments in shaping an individual's colour appearance during mating displays. We investigated interactions among structurally based plumage, display environments and courtship shuttle displays of male Costa's hummingbirds (Calypte costae) to test how these elements may differentially contribute to colour appearance during shuttles. Male position relative to the sun was the strongest predictor of colour appearance, with shuttle behaviours and feather reflectance playing smaller roles. Furthermore, male solar orientation and shuttling behaviour (e.g. shuttle width) were repeatable among displays, whereas male colour appearance mostly was not. These results emphasise the contributions of behaviour and environment to colour-signalling and suggest that relying on reflectance measurements of colourful ornaments alone provides an incomplete picture of ecologically relevant visual phenotypes of displaying animals.
Iron Trichloride Mediated Allylation of Lithium Alkoxides through an Unusual Carbon−Oxygen Bond Cleavage

Iron trichloride was found to cleave carbon−oxygen bonds in a variety of lithium alkoxides at room temperature. Other Lewis acids were also found to cleave the alkoxides. Acid-sensitive groups are tolerated under the reported reaction conditions.
Catfish Bite Case Report

Although catfish are found worldwide and commonly consumed in the southern United States, fatal infections from catfish are rare. Edwardsiella tarda is a bacterium known to cause gastrointestinal distress most commonly, but extraintestinal infections are a rarely considered danger for those acquiring, preparing, and consuming aquatic animals. Susceptible to all gram-negative active antibiotics, it is easily treated except in immunocompromised hosts, such as those with malignancy, diabetes, and hepatic dysfunction.
The Renin-Angiotensin System

With an overall prevalence of 25 %, hypertension is a major public health problem. A direct link between arterial hypertension and cardiovascular events such as stroke and myocardial infarction has been clearly demonstrated although the pathogenesis of arterial hypertension is still not completely understood. Angiotensin receptors play a role, but this role could not be investigated in humans for a lack of appropriate noninvasive imaging techniques. This presentation describes how specific angiotensin antagonists can be used for investigation of the receptors in order to understand their physiology, pharmacology and regulation. It also gives clinical indications for future applications of PET imaging of these receptors.
Correlating Transfusion Medicine In-Service Examination Scores With Outcomes of the American Board of Pathology Transfusion Medicine Subspecialty Certifying Examination.

Objectives The Transfusion Medicine In-Service Examination (TMISE) is offered twice a year to transfusion medicine (TM) fellows. We examined the relationship between TMISE scores and outcomes of the American Board of Pathology (ABP) TM subspecialty certifying examination (TM boards). Methods TM fellowship programs were contacted to provide anonymous data about TM fellows, their scores on TMISE, and outcome of TM boards. Results Of 48 TM fellowship programs contacted, 24 (50%) responded with data for 170 fellows. Average TMISE score of fellows who passed their first TM boards attempt was 71.3, while the average TMISE score of fellows who failed their first TM boards attempt was 64.3 (P = .009). Conclusions TMISE scores correlated with passing TM boards on the first attempt. Fellows who took the TM boards the same year that they graduated from TM fellowship had a significantly higher first-time pass rate than fellows who delayed taking TM boards.
Changes in community mental health services availability and suicide mortality in the US: a retrospective study.

Despite the fact that the overwhelming majority of mental health services are delivered in outpatient settings, the effect of changes in non-hospital-based mental health care on increased suicide rates is largely unknown. This study examines the association between changes in community mental health center (CMHC) supply and suicide mortality in the United States. Retrospective analysis was performed using data from National Mental Health Services Survey (N-MHSS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) (2014–2017). Population-weighted multiple linear regressions were used to examine within-state associations between CMHCs per capita and suicide mortality. Models controlled for state-level characteristics (i.e., number of hospital psychiatric units per capita, number of mental health professionals per capita, age, race, and percent low-income), year and state. From 2014 to 2017, the number of CMHCs decreased by 14% nationally (from 3406 to 2920). Suicide increased by 9.7% (from 15.4 to 16.9 per 100,000) in the same time period. We find a small but negative association between the number of CMHCs and suicide deaths (− 0.52, 95% CI − 1.08 to 0.03; p = 0.066). Declines in the number of CMHCs from 2014 to 2017 may be associated with approximately 6% of the national increase in suicide, representing 263 additional suicide deaths. State governments should avoid the declining number of CMHCs and the services these facilities provide, which may be an important component of suicide prevention efforts.
Addressing diversity and inclusion through group comparisons: a primer on measurement invariance testing

As the field of chemistry education moves toward greater inclusion and increased participation by underrepresented minorities, standards for investigating the differential impacts and outcomes of learning environments have to be considered. While quantitative methods may not be capable of generating the in-depth nuances of qualitative methods, they can provide meaningful insights when applied at the group level. Thus, when we conduct quantitative studies in which we aim to learn about the similarities or differences of groups within the same learning environment, we must raise our standards of measurement and safeguard against threats to the validity of inferences that might favor one group over another. One way to provide evidence that group comparisons are supported in a quantitative study is by conducting measurement invariance testing. In this manuscript, we explain the basic concepts of measurement invariance testing within a confirmatory factor analysis framework with examples and a step-by-step tutorial. Each of these steps is an opportunity to safeguard against interpretation of group differences that may be artifacts of the assessment instrument functioning rather than true differences between groups. Reflecting on and safeguarding against threats to the validity of the inferences we can draw from group comparisons will aid in providing more accurate information that can be used to transform our chemistry classrooms into more socially inclusive environments. To catalyze this effort, we provide code in the ESI for two different software packages (R and Mplus) so that interested readers can learn to use these methods with the simulated data provided and then apply the methods to their own data. Finally, we present implications and a summary table for researchers, practitioners, journal editors, and reviewers as a reference when conducting, reading, or reviewing quantitative studies in which group comparisons are performed.
Assessment of veterinarians' engagement with backyard poultry and small-scale livestock operations in four western states.

OBJECTIVE To assess veterinarian engagement with owners of poultry and livestock in urban and peri-urban areas (UPAs) of 4 western states, to evaluate the knowledge and experience of veterinarians ...