cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Unipolar Brush Cells

The unipolar brush cells (UBCs) are excitatory interneurons in the granule cell layer of the cerebellar cortex. They amplify extra-cerebellar inputs from vestibular origin as well as other inputs whose origin is the focus of ongoing research. The UBCs are classified in two functionally and chemically distinct subclasses. Type I UBCs express calretinin, are regularly firing, and are located in lobules IX and X. Type II UBCs are characterized by expression of mGluR1α, are burst firing and are present throughout the cerebellum, although they are enriched in the vestibulo-cerebellum. Both UBC types show peculiarly slow glutamatergic currents in response to synaptic activation. This electrophysiological property suggests a critical role for these cells in determining the timing of the response of the cerebellar cortex to the peripheral inputs. Recent data also suggest that cerebellar UBCs may be involved in cerebellar ataxias and represent a potential cellular substrate for the generation of tinnitus.
Low ejection fraction in donor hearts is not directly associated with increased recipient mortality

Background Reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) in the donor heart is often a contraindication for transplant. However, small studies have validated the use of hearts with evidence of myocardial dysfunction to boost the number of organs available for transplant. We hypothesize that donor hearts with reduced EF undergo myocardial recovery after transplant and result in equivalent recipient survival compared with grafts with normal function. Methods We examined post-operative outcomes of heart recipients in the database of the United Network for Organ Sharing. Patients were grouped by donor EF as follows: Results Of 30,993 donors from 1996 to 2015, 127 (0.4%) had reduced EF, 613 (2.0%) had borderline EF and 30,253 (97.6%) had normal EF. In each of the 2 propensity score comparisons, the odds of post-operative stroke ( p = 0.139, p = 0.551), pacemaker requirement ( p = 0.238, p = 0.739), primary graft failure ( p = 0.569, p = 0.817), rejection ( p = 0.376, p = 0.533) and death at 1 year ( p = 0.124, p = 0.247) were equivalent. At roughly 1-year follow-up after transplant, the mean EF of the reduced EF group was 58.0 ± 10.3% compared with 59.5 ± 7.5% in the matched normal EF group ( p = 0.289). The mean follow-up EF of the borderline EF group was 58.3 ± 9.1% compared with 59.3 ± 7.7% in the matched normal EF group ( p = 0.106). Conclusions Recipients of hearts with reduced EF have equivalent 1-year survival compared with recipients of hearts with normal EF. Donor hearts with reduced EF show significant functional recovery after transplant.
For Students, By Students: Service-Learner Involvement in the Development of Visiting Kits to Facilitate Student Interactions with Old Adults

Multiple academic departments and programs at Virginia Tech embrace experiential learning, which is often fulfilled by incorporating service learning into courses. Service learning encourages stude...
Mesna (2-mercaptoethane sodium sulfonate) functions as a regulator of myeloperoxidase.

Abstract Myeloperoxidase (MPO), an abundant protein in neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages, is thought to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of various disorders ranging from cardiovascular diseases to cancer. We show that mesna (2-mercaptoethanesulfonic acid sodium salt), a detoxifying agent, which inhibits side effects of oxazaphosphorine chemotherapy, functions as a potent inhibitor of MPO; modulating its catalytic activity and function. Using rapid kinetic methods, we examined the interactions of mesna with MPO compounds I and II and ferric forms in the presence and absence of chloride (Cl-), the preferred substrate of MPO. Our results suggest that low mesna concentrations dramatically influenced the build-up, duration, and decay of steady-state levels of Compound I and Compound II, which is the rate-limiting intermediate in the classic peroxidase cycle. Whereas, higher mesna concentrations facilitate the porphyrin-to-adjacent amino acid electron transfer allowing the formation of an unstable transient intermediate, Compound I*, that displays a characteristic spectrum similar to Compound I. In the absence of plasma level of chloride, mesna not only accelerated the formation and decay of Compound II but also reduced its stability in a dose depend manner. Mesna competes with Cl-, inhibiting MPO's chlorinating activity with an IC50 of 5 µM, and switches the reaction from a 2e- to a 1e- pathway allowing the enzyme to function only with catalase-like activity. A kinetic model which shows the dual regulation through which mesna interacts with MPO and regulates its downstream inflammatory pathways is presented further validating the repurposing of mesna as an anti-inflammatory drug.
Displaced Salter-Harris Type I Distal Fibula Fractures: Two Case Reports and a Review of the Literature

Salter-Harris type I (SH-I) fractures of the distal fibula are commonly encountered in pediatric orthopedics. We describe 2 unique cases of adolescents with completely displaced SH-I distal fibula fractures that were treated operatively. In the first case, a closed reduction attempt failed and the patient required open reduction and internal fixation of the distal fibula and syndesmosis. The syndesmotic ligaments were avulsed from the distal fibular metaphysis. In the second case, closed reduction of the distal fibula fracture was partially successful, but anatomic reduction could not be achieved without open reduction. The distal fibula fracture was fixed with an intramedullary screw. We believe this pattern of injury represents a variant of the adolescent transitional ankle fracture. Because the distal tibial physes were nearing complete closure in these patients, the energy propagated through the distal fibular physis. To the best of our knowledge, this combination of injuries has not been previously reported. This type of physeal fracture raises concern for premature physeal closure, fibular growth disturbance, syndesmotic instability, and medial (deltoid ligament) injury. Both patients had excellent outcomes after anatomic reduction and fixation of the displaced SH-I distal fibula fractures at 1 and 6 years of follow up, respectively.
Interaction Between Data Processing and Process Control Computers for Effective Management Control

ABSTRACT With the advent of computers came the immediate utilization for data processing application. Businesses found that vast amounts of information could be stored categorically, updated and retrieved quickly for internal or external use. A little slower evolving was the process control application because of its need for real-time interfacing and high level reliability. But since its introduction, it has progressed rapidly because of its logic flexibility and expediency in upgrading to more progressive and sophisticated control algorithm levels. The growth in these two fields has been essentially independent. Within an industrial environment the two applications generally are treated as separate entities, although present trends indicate more and more interdependencies between these operations and a need for interaction between their functions. Computer vendors are aware of this need for interaction and have increased their effort in providing inter-system hardware and software support features via data communication and teleprocessing techniques. But this still generally leaves the task of defining the interaction requirements to the user. The merging of these systems typically represents an unprecedented approach to an organization structure and often requires a rework of the criteria under which both systems must work. Hopefully, the interplay of management control will allow the expansion of influential consideration, provide more responsiveness to dynamic considerations and result in a better perspective to criteria priorities toward attaining overall operation efficiency.
Eating Disorders and Sleep

This article reviews the relationship between sleep and eating disorders. The article begins with a discussion on emerging evidence linking underlying mechanisms of peptides involved in food consumption and sleep followed by a review of how sleep disruption, assessed via self-report and objective measures, exists in anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Sleep-related eating disorder, a disorder classified by sleep nosology, is also discussed in relationship to the other eating disorders.
Interpersonal Subtypes Within Social Anxiety: The Identification of Distinct Social Features.

Although social anxiety disorder is defined by anxiety-related symptoms, little research has focused on the interpersonal features of social anxiety. Prior studies (Cain, Pincus, & Grosse Holtforth...
Program Cell Death Receptor-1-Mediated Invariant Natural Killer T-Cell Control of Peritoneal Macrophage Modulates Survival in Neonatal Sepsis.

We have shown that iNKT cells mediate sepsis induced end-organ changes and immune responses, including macrophage bacterial phagocytosis, a finding regulated by the check point protein Program Cell Death Receptor-1 (PD-1). Further, PD-1 mediates mortality in both adult and neonatal murine sepsis as well as in surgical patients. Given our previous findings, we hypothesize that iNKT-cells will also modulate neonatal sepsis survival, and that this effect is regulated in part through PD-1. We utilized a polymicrobial intra-peritoneal cecal slurry (CS) sepsis model in either, wild type (WT), iNKT-/- or PD-1-/- 5-7 day old neonatal pups. Typically, tissues were harvested at 24 hrs for various bioassays/histology and in some cases survival was assessed for up to 7 days. Interestingly, similar to what we recently reported for PD1-/- mice following CS, iNKT-/- deficient animals exhibit a markedly improved survival vs. WT. Histologically, minor alterations in liver architectural which were noted in WT pups were attenuated in both iNKT-/- and PD-1-/- pups. Following CS, PECAM-1 expression was unchanged in the WT pups, but increased in both iNKT-/- and PD1-/- pups. In WT, following CS the emergence of a Ly6Clow subpopulation was noted among the influxed peritoneal macrophage population. Conversely, within iNKT-/- pups, there were fewer peritoneal macrophages and a greater percentage of Ly6Chigh macrophages. We show not only a key role for iNKT cells in affecting end organ damage as well as alterations in phagocytes phenotypes in neonatal sepsis, but that this iNKT cell mediated effect is driven by the central checkpoint protein PD-1.
Comparing Methods of Detecting Mind Wandering While Driving

Driver distraction is a persistent threat to traffic safety. External distraction has been examined extensively, but few studies have focused on internal distraction such as mind wandering. Equivocal results from the few existing studies are likely due, at least in part, to different experimental methods. Mind wandering is commonly assessed using either a self-caught or probe-caught method. The current investigation sought to better understand the effects of mind wandering on driving performance using the self-caught method and the probecaught method. In the Self-Caught Experiment, lateral control measures such as, lateral position variability and steering reversal rate were greater when drivers reported on-task thoughts versus mind wandering. In the Probe-Caught Experiment, these results were not replicated using the traditional probe-caught analysis. Instead, when analyzing the results of the Probe-Caught Experiment in a similar manner as the Self-Caught Experiment, the results were replicated. These results highlight methodological concerns in detecting mind wandering while driving. Additional research is needed to determine which method should be employed in future studies.
Thomas Mann: Ästhetizismus und die Denkstruktur des Einerseits-Andererseits – mit Bezug auf «Wälsungenblut»

Thomas Mann is an author without a fixed point of view. When he discusses a problem he tends to opt for an «on the one hand – on the other hand». His novella Walsungenblut is the epitome of aestheticism. How is this aestheticism portrayed? For once the author appears to be unfaithful to his typical way of thinking and to give way to satire. One of the most interesting aspects is how Richard Wagner’s Walkure is included in this argument.
Carbon Nanotube Assemblies for Transparent Conducting Electrodes

The goal of this chapter is to introduce readers to the fundamental and practical aspects of nanotube assemblies made into transparent conducting networks and discuss some practical aspects of their characterization. Transparent conducting coatings (TCC) are an essential part of electro-optical devices, from photovoltaics and light emitting devices to electromagnetic shielding and electrochromic widows. The market for organic materials (including nanomaterials and polymers) based TCCs is expected to show a growth rate of 56.9% to reach nearly $20.3 billion in 2015, while the market for traditional inorganic transparent electronics will experience growth with rates of 6.7% to nearly $103 billion in 2015. Emerging flexible electronic applications have brought additional requirements of flexibility and low cost for TCC. However, the price of indium (the major component in indium tin oxide TCC) continues to increase. On the other hand, the price of nanomaterials has continued to decrease due to development of high volume, quality production processes. Additional benefits come from the low cost, nonvacuum deposition of nanomaterials based TCC, compared to traditional coatings requiring energy intensive vacuum deposition. Among the materials actively researched as alternative TCC are nanoparticles, nanowires, and nanotubes with high aspect ratio as well as their composites. The figure of merit (FOM) can be used to compare TCCs made from dissimilar materials and with different transmittance and conductivity values. In the first part of this manuscript, we will discuss the seven FOM parameters that have been proposed, including one specifically intended for flexible applications. The approach for how to measure TCE electrical properties, including frequency dependence, will also be discussed. We will relate the macroscale electrical characteristics of TCCs to the nanoscale parameters of conducting networks. The fundamental aspects of nanomaterial assemblies in conducting networks will also be addressed. We will review recent literature on TCCs composed of carbon nanotubes of different types in terms of the FOM.
Molecular cloning and characterization of the Amylose-Extender gene encoding starch branching enzyme IIB in maize.

The amylose-extender (Ae) gene encoding starch-branching enzyme IIb (SBEIIb) in maize is predominantly expressed in endosperm and embryos during kernel development. A maize genomic DNA fragment (-2964 to +20,485) containing the Ae gene was isolated and sequenced. The maize Ae mRNA is derived from 22 exons distributed over 16,914 bp. Twenty-one introns, differing in length from 76 bp to 4020 bp, all have conserved junction sequences (GT..AG). Sequence analysis of the 5'- and 3'-flanking regions revealed a consensus TATA-box sequence located 28 bp upstream of the transcription initiation site as determined by primer extension analysis, and a putative polyadenylation signal observed 29 bp upstream of the polyadenylation site based on cDNA sequence. Genomic Southern blot analysis suggests that a single Ae gene is present in the maize genome. Promoter activity was confirmed by testing a transcriptional fusion of the Ae 5'-flanking region between -2964 and +100 to a luciferase reporter gene in a transient expression assay using maize endosperm suspension cultured cells. 5' deletion analysis revealed that the 111 bp region from -160 to -50 is essential for high-level promoter activity.
Recombinant Lectin Microarrays for Glycomic Analysis

The cell surface is covered with a myriad of carbohydrates that form a complex matrix of oligosaccharides. Carbohydrate recognition plays critical roles in pathogenesis, trafficking, and differentiation. Lectin microarray technology presents a novel platform for the high-throughput analysis of these structurally diverse biopolymers. One drawback of this technology has been limitations imposed by the commercially available plant lectins used in the array. Not only are a majority of these plant-derived proteins glycosylated, which can complicate glycomic analysis, but they also differ in activity and availability. Our lab has recently introduced recombinant lectins to enhance the stability and scope of our lectin panel. Herein, we provide a detailed procedure for the expression of bacterially-derived lectins and their application to a recombinant lectin microarray.
Inhalation health risks of manganese: an EPA perspective.

In 1994, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) denied a petition by Ethyl Corporation to allow the use of methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) in unleaded gasoline, because of health concerns related to the inhalation of manganese (Mn) particulate emissions from combusted MMT. Although Ethyl successfully challenged EPA's denial of the petition on legal grounds, issues raised in EPA's health risk assessment have not been resolved to date. This paper summarizes features of the EPA health risk characterization, which included the use of various statistical techniques to derive several estimates of inhalation reference concentration (RfC) values for Mn as alternatives to the established value of 0.05 microgram Mn/m3. An exposure assessment projected distributions of personal exposure levels to particulate Mn if MMT were used in all unleaded gasoline. It was estimated that exposure levels of 5-10% of the modeled population might exceed a possible alternative RfC value of 0.1 microgram Mn/m3. However, due to data limitations, the risk characterization for Mn/MMT could raise only qualitative concerns about potential public health impacts and was unable to provide a quantitative estimate of risk. To improve the risk characterization, better information on Mn/MMT population exposures and health effects is needed. Much of this information is expected to be obtained under provisions of Section 211 of the Clean Air Act. Among the specific issues that remain to be resolved are the form or forms of Mn emitted from the combustion of MMT in gasoline and the potentially different toxic properties of Mn in different forms.
Ulnar nerve instability in the cubital tunnel of asymptomatic volunteers.

Ulnar nerve instability (UNI) in the cubital tunnel is defined as ulnar nerve subluxation or dislocation. It is a common disorder that may be noted in patients with neuropathy or in the asymptomatic. Our prospective, single-site study utilized high-resolution ultrasonography (US) to evaluate the ulnar nerve for cross-sectional area (CSA) and measures of shear-wave elastography (SWE). Mechanical algometry was obtained from the ulnar nerve in the cubital tunnel to assess pressure pain threshold (PPT). Forty-two asymptomatic subjects (n = 84 elbows) (25 males, 17 females) aged 22–40 were evaluated. Two chiropractic radiologists, both with 4 years of ultrasound experience performed the evaluation. Ulnar nerves in the cubital tunnel were sampled bilaterally in three different elbow positions utilizing US, SWE, and algometry. Descriptive statistics, two-way ANOVA, and rater reliability were utilized for data analysis with p ≤ 0.05. Fifty-six percent of our subjects demonstrated UNI. There was a significant increase in CSA in subjects with UNI (subluxation: 0.066 mm2 ± 0.024, p = 0.027; dislocation: 0.067 mm2 ± 0.024, p = 0.003) compared to controls (0.057 mm2 ± 0.017) in all three elbow positions. There were no significant group differences in SWE or algometry. Inter- and intra-observer agreements for CSA of the ulnar nerves within the cubital tunnel were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and demonstrated moderate (ICC 0.54) and excellent (ICC 0.94) reliability. Most of the asymptomatic volunteers demonstrated UNI. There was a significant increase in CSA associated with UNI implicating it as a risk factor for ulnar neuropathy in the cubital tunnel. There were no significant changes in ulnar nerve SWE and PPT. Intra-rater agreement was excellent for the CSA assessment of the ulnar nerve in the cubital tunnel. High-resolution US could be utilized to assess UNI and monitor for progression to ulnar neuropathy.
Cloud base height estimates from sky imagery and a network of pyranometers

Abstract Cloud base height (CBH) is an important parameter for physics-based high resolution solar radiation modeling. In sky imager-based forecasts, a ceilometer or stereographic setup is needed to derive the CBH; otherwise erroneous CBHs lead to incorrect physical cloud velocity and incorrect projection of cloud shadows, causing solar power forecast errors due to incorrect shadow positions and timing of shadowing events. In this paper, two methods to estimate cloud base height from a single sky imager and distributed ground solar irradiance measurements are proposed. The first method (Time Series Correlation, denoted as “TSC”) is based upon the correlation between ground-observed global horizontal irradiance (GHI) time series and a modeled GHI time series generated from a sequence of sky images geo-rectified to a candidate set of CBH. The estimated CBH is taken as the candidate that produces the highest correlation coefficient. The second method (Geometric Cloud Shadow Edge, denoted as “GCSE”) integrates a numerical ramp detection method for ground-observed GHI time series with solar and cloud geometry applied to cloud edges in a sky image. CBH are benchmarked against a collocated ceilometer and stereographically estimated CBH from two sky imagers for 15 min median-filtered CBHs. Over 30 days covering all seasons, the TSC method performs similarly to the GCSE method with nRMSD of 18.9% versus 20.8%. A key limitation of both proposed methods is the requirement of sufficient variation in GHI to enable reliable correlation and ramp detection. The advantage of the two proposed methods is that they can be applied when measurements from only a single sky imager and pyranometers are available.
Long-term outcomes in adults with repaired tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary atresia.

Background:There are limited outcome data in adults with tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary atresia. The purpose of this study was to describe re-operations and all-cause mortality in adults with tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary atresia.Methods:Retrospective review of adults with repaired tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary atresia who received care at the Mayo Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinic, 1990–2016. All-cause mortality was calculated as events per 100 patient-years from the time of first presentation to the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinic.Results:Of the 221 patients, the age at initial tetralogy of Fallot repair was 6 (5–13) years, and the age at first presentation to the clinic was 27 – 8 years. All patients had at least one right ventricular to pulmonary artery conduit re-operation. There were 31 deaths (14%) at mean age of 41 – 14 years. The causes of death were end-stage heart failure (n = 17), sudden cardiac death (n=9), post-operative death after cardiac surgery (n = 2), sepsis with multi-system organ failure (n = 2), and unknown (n = 1). All-cause mortality rate was 1.7 per 100 patient-years. The risk factors for all-cause mortality were older age (>12 years) at the time of repair (hazard ratio 1.41, 95 confidence interval 1.06–2.02, p = 0.033), non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (hazard ratio 1.36, 95 confidence interval 1.17–2.47, p = 0.015), and left ventricular ejection fraction <50% (hazard ratio 1.39, 95 confidence interval 1.08–2.31, p = 0.031).Conclusion:Based on a review of 221 adults with repaired tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary atresia, all patients had re-operations and all-cause mortality rate was 1.7 events per 100 patient-years. The current study provides important outcomes data for risk stratification in adults with tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary atresia.
The oil spill transport across the shelf-estuary interface.

Abstract Oil spills caused by ship collisions and offshore oil wells are an ongoing risk for estuaries in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The fate and transport of the oil spill across the interface between a bar-built estuary and the adjacent coast are influenced by multi-scale forcing mechanisms and their corresponding interactions. Of primary interest are the alongshore currents on the shelf encountering strong tidal flows at the estuary entrance. A new cross-scale model was developed for Galveston Bay to reproduce the multi-scale flows. The model was employed in regionally-distributed numerical Lagrangian experiments to investigate the oil spill transport across the shelf-estuary interface. The influence of the multi-scale flows on the oil spill transport was characterized in terms of Lagrangian connectivity and Lagrangian flushing. The new Galveston Bay model was also used to evaluate the Texas City “Y” spill and resulted in a reasonable agreement with the NOAA observations. This research enhances our understanding of the oil transport across the threshold between two contiguous water systems and highlights the importance of resolving the multi-scale flows for the purpose of oil spill predictions.
Geodesics on Riemannian Manifolds

If (M, g) is a Riemannian manifold, then the concept of length makes sense for any piecewise smooth (in fact, C1) curve on M. It is then possible to define the structure of a metric space on M, where d(p, q) is the greatest lower bound of the length of all curves joining p and q. Curves on M which locally yield the shortest distance between two points are of great interest. These curves, called geodesics, play an important role and the goal of this chapter is to study some of their properties.
Subjugating Translational Inhibition in Response to Ribosomal Protein Insufficiency by a Herpesvirus Ribosome-Associated Protein

In addition to being required for protein synthesis, ribosomes and ribosomal proteins (RPs) also regulate mRNA translation in uninfected and virus-infected cells. By individually depleting 85 RPs using RNAi, we found overall protein synthesis in uninfected primary fibroblasts was more sensitive to RP-depletion than those infected with herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1). Although representative RP-depletion (uL3, uS4, uL5) inhibited protein synthesis in cells infected with other DNA viruses, HSV-1-infected cell protein synthesis unexpectedly endured and required a single virus-encoded gene product, VP22. During individual RP-insufficiency, VP22-expressing HSV-1 replicated better than a VP22-deficient variant. Furthermore, VP22 cosedimented with ribosomes and polyribosomes in infected cells. This identifies VP22 as a virus-encoded, polyribosome-associated protein that compensates for RP-insufficiency to support viral protein synthesis and replication. Moreover, it reveals an unanticipated class of virus-encoded, ribosome-associated effectors that reduce the dependence of protein synthesis upon RPs and broadly support translation during physiological stress such as infection.
Manipulation and decoherence of acceptor states in silicon

Dielectric constant and absorption measurements on boron-doped silicon samples show that transitions between the acceptor energy levels can be induced by an applied resonant AC electric field and the Stark tuning of level spacing with an external DC electric field. The relatively longer decoherence times, T2=2.6 μs and T1=7.4 μs, were observed by the electric echo measurement in a low boron dopant concentration Si sample (8×10−12 cm−3). The scalable acceptor-based system is a promising candidate of the charge qubit for quantum computing.
The Stentriever-Mediated Aspiration Thrombectomy (SMAT) Technique

Endovascular treatment strategies for acute ischemic stroke are evolving. The stent retriever-mediated aspiration thrombectomy (SMAT) technique utilizes a stent retriever device, a large-bore aspiration catheter, and manual syringe suction aspiration. It is a highly effective thrombectomy strategy for acute large vessel occlusions of the proximal intracranial arteries in patients with suspected salvageable brain. Herein we describe the SMAT technique in detail and discuss special considerations and tips, pearls, and lessons learned.
Effects of COVID-19 on school enrollment

Abstract We estimate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on self-reported school enrollment using a sample of 16-to-18-year-old youth from the January 2010 to the December 2020 Current Population Survey (CPS). The pandemic reduced the likelihood of students reporting that they were enrolled in high school by about 1.8 percentage points in April 2020 vs. in the same month in prior years, although enrollment rebounded back to typical levels by October 2020. Adverse effects on school enrollment were magnified for older vs. younger students, males vs. females, and among adolescents without a college-educated household member vs. adolescents from more educated households. Greater school responsiveness to the pandemic and high school graduation exit exams appear to have protected students from disengaging from school.
Does driver seatbelt use increase usage among front seat passengers? An exploratory analysis

Abstract Introduction and Method: Observational data collected during the Wisconsin 2017, 2018, and 2019 National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS) were analyzed for this study to explore the influence of drivers’ seatbelt use on front seat passengers’ usage in the same vehicle. The analyses include comparing seatbelt usage rates for drivers and front passenger(s) based on their gender and based on geographical area as well as analyses of the aggregated data. Results: The descriptive analyses strongly suggest that seatbelt usage rates of passengers differ considerably depending on whether the driver uses the seatbelt. When female drivers wear seatbelts, seatbelt usage rates for female front seat passengers for the three years 2017, 2018, and 2019 are 97.8%, 96.3%, and 97.1% respectively, with corresponding usage rates for male passengers being 95.5%, 93.0%, and 96.0% respectively. When male drivers wear seatbelts, the seatbelt usage rates for male front seat passengers for the three years 2017, 2018, and 2019, are 93.4%, 95.5%, and 94.3%, respectively, with the corresponding usage rates for female passengers being 97.7%, 96.0%, and 97.7%, respectively. The evidence suggests that drivers’ use of seatbelts significantly improves the seatbelt usage of front seat passengers. Seatbelt usage rates of male passengers as well as female passengers are higher while traveling with female drivers who use seatbelts than while traveling with male drivers who use seatbelts. Conclusions and Practical Applications: Future seatbelt use campaigns should target males.
Leveraging trace nanofillers to engineer ultra-low wear polymer surfaces

Abstract Trace nanofillers have proven unable to stabilize polymer surfaces due to their inability to reinforce the subsurface. Thus far, their effects on surface wear have been obscured by potentially unrelated subsurface mechanics. In this paper, we addressed this problem by first eliminating matrix (PTFE) subsurface instability with a secondary filler (5 wt% PEEK) and then by stabilizing the sliding surface using variable loadings of trace alumina nanofillers. At the optimal loading of 0.1 wt%, the nanofillers reduced wear rates of an already low wear PEEK-PTFE blend by an unprecedented 50-fold. The minimum loading of 0.01 wt% reduced wear by 10-fold. Surface analysis revealed that trace nanofillers triggered ultra-low wear by catalyzing tribochemical changes that effectively crosslinked, anchored, and stabilized near-surface polymer chains. The degradation of wear performance at nanofiller loadings well above the 0.1 wt% optimum suggested that the mechanical detriments of greater loadings outweighed their tribochemical benefits. To our knowledge, this study is the first to isolate the effects of trace nanofillers on polymer surface stability and the first to demonstrate their radical wear-reducing potential. This hybrid approach – independently targeting surface and subsurface stability – serves as a roadmap for isolating the effects of other important nanofillers (e.g. CNT's) and engineering ultra-stable tribological surfaces.
Intestine-to-neuronal signaling alters risk-taking behaviors in food-deprived Caenorhabditis elegans

Animals integrate changes in external and internal environments to generate behavior. While neural circuits detecting external cues have been mapped, less is known about how internal states like hunger are integrated into behavioral outputs. We use the nematode C. elegans to decode how changes in internal nutritional status affects chemosensory behaviors. We show that acute food deprivation leads to a reversible decline in repellent, but not attractant, sensitivity. This behavioral change requires two conserved transcription factors MML-1 (Mondo A) and HLH-30 (TFEB), both of which translocate from the intestinal nuclei to the cytoplasm upon food deprivation. Next, we identify insulin-like peptides INS-23 and INS-31 as candidate ligands relaying food-status signals from the intestine to other tissues. Furthermore, we show that ASI chemosensory neurons use the DAF-2 insulin receptor, PI-3 Kinase, and the mTOR complex to integrate these intestine-released peptides. Together, our study shows how internal food status signals are integrated by transcription factors and intestine-neuron signaling to generate flexible behaviors.
Oregon Narcotics Decriminalization: Example or Pariah?

In November 2020, the people of the State of Oregon spoke loudly and clearly by passing Ballot Measure 110, decriminalizing possession of small amounts of narcotics across the board, from cocaine to heroin to methamphetamine. As a state with a recent, large increase in overdose deaths, Oregon now stands at the forefront of the U.S. decriminalization effort, setting an example for, or becoming a pariah among, its sister states. While only time will tell the long-term implications of this pioneering initiative, such legislation has long been sought by doctors, care specialists, and legal professionals across the United States as a compassion-driven step toward reversing the consequences of a lost war on drugs. By focusing on ending the cycle of addiction among narcotic users, rather than penalizing and ostracizing those trapped in said cycle, its supporters have high hopes for greatly reducing drug addiction and overdose deaths, ending the mass incarceration of narcotics-addicted individuals, and terminating the illicit drug trade by refocusing attention on those who perpetuate the narcotics black market. From the criminal justice system, to mental health and addiction support, and to broader sociological and political understandings, the effects of Oregon’s initiative will almost certainly be vast and far-reaching, likely changing forever how the U.S. government, its institutions, and its citizens view drug use and addiction. We can begin to grasp the amplitude of Ballot Measure 110 by looking to Oregon’s specific drug problems and how the measure could solve them. The purpose of this article is to provide a bird’s-eye view of Oregon’s new model by exploring two interrelated topics. First, I provide an in-depth explanation of the Measure’s intent and purpose, analyzing its language, original objective, and subsequent developments to comprehend exactly what Oregonians voted for and what can be expected. Second, I offer a brief presentation of one Oregon-specific problem, methamphetamine addiction, and how the initiative could change meth use, enforcement, and criminalization. In doing so, I hope to expound upon potential future implications of the Oregon measure as a whole, with the hope of imparting some idea of decriminalization’s future in the Beaver State.
Approximations for Leaky Wave Amplitudes in Acoustic Imaging: Applications to High Frequency Sonar

Leaky waves that have been excited on elastic objects in water by ultrasonic waves can be a major contributor to the “ultrasonic images” of the elastic object. To facilitate the interpretation of such images, a quick and simple method of approximating the spatial dependence of leaky wave contributions to the radiated amplitude is needed which allows the object to be curved and/or the incident wavefronts which illuminate the object to be curved. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the development and testing of such an approximation. While the analytical details are being published elsewhere1,2 some novel numerical tests of the method are included in the present paper. In addition, an example is shown of how to estimate the range of conditions for strong leaky wave excitation by combining spatial considerations involving the shape of the surface with information about the attenuation of the excited leaky wave and dephasing relative to the incident wave.
Conceptions of Agency in Social Movement Scholarship: Mack on African American Civil Rights Lawyers

This essay examines the theory of individual agency that propels the central thesis in Kenneth Mack's Representing the Race: The Creation of the Civil Rights Lawyer (2012)—namely, that an important yet understudied means by which African American civil rights lawyers changed conceptions of race through their work was through their very performance of the professional role of lawyer. Mack shows that this performance was inevitably fraught with tension and contradiction because African American lawyers were called upon to act both as exemplary representatives of their race and as performers of a professional role that traditionally had been reserved for whites only. Mack focuses especially on the tensions of this role in courtrooms, where African American lawyers were necessarily called upon to act as the equals of white judges, opposing counsel, and witnesses. Mack's thesis, focused on the contradictions and tensions embodied in the performance of a racially loaded identity, reflects the influence of postmodern identity performance theory as articulated by Judith Butler and others. Mack and others belong to a new generation of civil rights history scholars who are asking new questions about contested identities related to race, gender, sexuality, and class. This essay offers an evaluation of this new direction for civil rights scholarship, focusing especially on its implicit normative orientation and what it contributes to the decade-old debate over how to conceive of agency in social movement scholarship.
Rapid-accurate anthropometric body shape assessment with low-cost novel 3D imaging system (391.2)

Anthropometric body dimensions are increasingly recognized as phenotypic markers of obesity risk. Available automated laser measurement systems provide accurate anthropometric dimensions but are co...
Structural Biochemistry of CaaX Protein Prenyltransferases

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses structural features of protein prenylation and how these relate to the mechanisms of inhibition by small molecules. It also reviews recent structural studies of human pathogen protein prenyltransferases and how this information can be used for developing species-specific prenyltransferase inhibitors to treat infectious diseases. A family of structurally related protein prenyltransferase enzymes carries out protein prenylation: protein farnesyltransferase (FTase), protein geranylgeranyltransferase-I (GGTase-I), and Rab geranylgeranyltransferase (GGTase-II or Rab GGTase). This chapter describes the structural biology of Ca1a2X protein prenyltransferases (FTase and GGTase-I). These enzymes recognize a well-defined C-terminal motif on substrate proteins: cysteine (C), followed by two generally aliphatic amino acids (aa) and a variable (X) residue. Prenylated proteins play important signal transduction roles in all eukaryotes. Protein prenylation is critical for the growth and proliferation of pathogenic eukaryotic microorganisms, including the malaria protozoan Plasmodium falciparum. Protein prenyltransferases are attractive targets for the development of a number of therapeutics including cancer and infectious diseases caused by fungal and trypanosomatid pathogens.
Effects of radiophosphorus decay in bacteriophage T4D. II. The mechanism of marker rescue.

Abstract When bacteriophage T4D is inactivated by decay of incorporated 32 P, about 40% of the phage lethal hits (PLH) completely destroy the ability of the damaged phage to contribute genes to the progeny of a mixed infection with a genetically distinct and viable helper phage. The other 60% of the PLH inactivate some but not all of the phage genome. The inactivated portions, or knockouts, vary from less than 5% to more than 95% of the genome in size. Not all portions of the genome are equally sensitive to 32 P decay. The topography of marker rescue from 32 P-damaged phage is similar to that previously observed for ultraviolet-irradiated T4. This topography cannot result from the initial distribution of lethal damages (double-strand breaks), since these are produced at random positions by 32 P decay. It is shown that the topography of rescue also does not result from preferential injection of the regions of high rescue, nor is it due to high recombination frequencies in these regions. Other models that can explain the rescue topography are presented.
Pulsed Metal Vapour Lasers

Preface. Introduction. 1. Historical Viewpoints. 2. Physics of Pulsed Metal Vapour Lasers. 3. Laser Characteristics and Operation. 4. Modelling Metal Vapour Lasers. 5. Optical Resonators and Beam Quality. 6. Frequency Extension. 7. Applications in Industry. 8. Applications in Medicine. 9. Applications in Science & Technology. 10. Collated Characteristics of Some Commercial Pulsed Metal Vapour Lasers. 11. Contact List of Participants. Index.
A new dynamical mechanism for major climate shifts

[1] We construct a network of observed climate indices in the period 1900–2000 and investigate their collective behavior. The results indicate that this network synchronized several times in this period. We find that in those cases where the synchronous state was followed by a steady increase in the coupling strength between the indices, the synchronous state was destroyed, after which a new climate state emerged. These shifts are associated with significant changes in global temperature trend and in ENSO variability. The latest such event is known as the great climate shift of the 1970s. We also find the evidence for such type of behavior in two climate simulations using a state-of-the-art model. This is the first time that this mechanism, which appears consistent with the theory of synchronized chaos, is discovered in a physical system of the size and complexity of the climate system.
Networks and strategic entrepreneurship: comments on Comparing alliance network structure across industries: observations and explanations and Strategic networks and entrepreneurial ventures

While a growing body of research supports the notion that interorganizational networks play an important role in shaping the competitive context and influencing a variety of outcomes for growing and established firms alike, concerns about the boundaries and limitations of the theory are rising. This commentary addresses the contributions of the aforementioned articles while underscoring the various theoretical challenges that await those seeking to apply network theory to the nascent field of strategic entrepreneurship. Copyright © 2008 Strategic Management Society.
Activity of creatine kinase in a contracting mammalian muscle of uniform fiber type.

We investigated whether the creatine kinase-catalyzed phosphate exchange between PCr and gamma ATP in vivo equilibrated with cellular substrates and products as predicted by in vitro kinetic properties of the enzyme, or was a function of ATPase activity as predicted by obligatory "creatine phosphate shuttle" concepts. A transient NMR spin-transfer method was developed, tested, and applied to resting and stimulated ex vivo muscle, the soleus, which is a cellularly homogeneous slow-twitch mammalian muscle, to measure creatine kinase kinetics. The forward and reverse unidirectional CK fluxes were equal, being 1.6 mM.s-1 in unstimulated muscle at 22 degrees C, and 2.7 mM.s-1 at 30 degrees C. The CK fluxes did not differ during steady-state stimulation conditions giving a 10-fold range of ATPase rates in which the ATP/PCr ratio increased from approximately 0.3 to 1.6. The observed kinetic behavior of CK activity in the muscle was that expected from the enzyme in vitro in a homogeneous solution only if account was taken of inhibition by an anion-stabilized quaternary dead-end enzyme complex: E.Cr.MgADP.anion. The CK fluxes in soleus were not a function of ATPase activity as predicted by obligatory phosphocreatine shuttle models for cellular energetics.
Prevalence of an increased ascending thoracic aorta diameter diagnosed by two-dimensional echocardiography versus 64-multislice cardiac computed tomography.

The prevalence of an enlarged ascending thoracic aortic diameter (AAD) diagnosed by 2-dimensional echocardiography compared with 64-slice cardiac computed tomography (MSCT) was investigated in 97 women and 117 men (mean age 65 ± 12 years). Enlarged AADs were diagnosed in 42 of 214 patients (20%) by echocardiography and in 45 of 214 patients (21%) by MSCT (p = NS). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of echocardiography in diagnosing an enlarged AAD using MSCT were 69%, 93%, 74%, and 92%, respectively. A Bland-Altman plot showed that the agreement for AAD measured by echocardiography and MSCT was 95% inside the 2-SD limits. In conclusion, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 2-dimensional echocardiography in diagnosing enlarged AAD using MSCT were 69%, 93%, 74%, and 92%, respectively.
An Observationally Generated A Priori Database for Microwave Rainfall Retrievals

Abstract The combination of active and passive microwave sensors on board the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite have been used to construct observationally constrained databases of precipitation profiles for use in passive microwave rainfall retrieval algorithms over oceans. The method uses a very conservative approach that begins with the operational TRMM precipitation radar algorithm and adjusts its solution only as necessary to simultaneously match the radiometer observations. Where the TRMM precipitation radar (PR) indicates no rain, an optimal estimation procedure using TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) radiances is used to retrieve nonraining parameters. The optimal estimation methodology ensures that the geophysical parameters are fully consistent with the observed radiances. Within raining fields of view, cloud-resolving model outputs are matched to the liquid and frozen hydrometeor profiles retrieved by the TRMM PR. The profiles constructed in this manner are subsequently used to com...
The influence of early post-mortem enhancement and accelerated chilling on pork quality

To improve pork quality, the effectiveness of early post-mortem enhancement and accelerated chilling were investigated. The four treatments evaluated were: Enhancement with Accelerated Chilling (ENAC), Accelerated Chilling Only (ACO), Enhancement with Conventional Chilling (ENCC), and Conventional Chilling Only (CCO). ENAC had a higher (P 0.05) between ENAC and ENCC, although ENAC was numerically higher for both parameters. Sensory analysis for juiciness and tenderness were not different (P>0.05) between ENAC and ENCC, but both were higher (P<0.05) than ACO and CCO. Enhancement early post-mortem coupled with accelerated chilling may be used to improve instrumental color and pH over conventional processing methods.