cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assembly and dynamics of the bacteriophage T4 homologous recombination machinery

Homologous recombination (HR), a process involving the physical exchange of strands between homologous or nearly homologous DNA molecules, is critical for maintaining the genetic diversity and genome stability of species. Bacteriophage T4 is one of the classic systems for studies of homologous recombination. T4 uses HR for high-frequency genetic exchanges, for homology-directed DNA repair (HDR) processes including DNA double-strand break repair, and for the initiation of DNA replication (RDR). T4 recombination proteins are expressed at high levels during T4 infection in E. coli, and share strong sequence, structural, and/or functional conservation with their counterparts in cellular organisms. Biochemical studies of T4 recombination have provided key insights on DNA strand exchange mechanisms, on the structure and function of recombination proteins, and on the coordination of recombination and DNA synthesis activities during RDR and HDR. Recent years have seen the development of detailed biochemical models for the assembly and dynamics of presynaptic filaments in the T4 recombination system, for the atomic structure of T4 UvsX recombinase, and for the roles of DNA helicases in T4 recombination. The goal of this chapter is to review these recent advances and their implications for HR and HDR mechanisms in all organisms.
Time delay estimation for closely spaced echoes

The Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) for the time delays of closely spaced echoes is derived. It is shown that the variance of the ith echo delay estimate depends on the relative delays of all other echoes, but not on their amplitudes. This results from the restriction that the estimator must be unbiased. A single replica correlation algorithm is suggested for the case of two echoes with highly unequal amplitudes, and its performance is evaluated. For echo spacings below some threshold, the estimate for the dominant echo is slightly biased, but its mean square error is significantly lower than the CRB. The estimation of the weak echo is discussed. >
Ageing and mutation in plants

PLANTS have many characteristics allowing the accumulation of somatic mutations: lack of a germ line, open systems of growth, flexible meristem organizations and the fact that most somatic mutations are not immediately life-threatening.1. A consequence of this is that the meristematic initials of a plant accumulate mutations as it ages2-4. We report here that the mutation rates in the long-lived mangrove are 25 times higher than in the annuals barley and buckwheat. An increase in the frequency of mutant initials is, in effect, an increase in the mutation rate per generation, leading to the prediction that long-lived plants will have higher mutation rates per generation than short-lived plants. Because the mutation rate per generation is the primary determinant of inbreeding depression and the dominant and recessive components of genetic load5-7, plant age and/or life span8 may be a critical and generally unrecognized aspect of the evolutionary equation.
SANS Investigation of the Photosynthetic Machinery of Chloroflexus Aurantiacus

Green photosynthetic bacteria harvest light and perform photosynthesis in low-light environments, and contain specialized antenna complexes to adapt to this condition. We performed small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) studies to obtain structural information about the photosynthetic apparatus, including the peripheral light-harvesting chlorosome complex, the integral membrane light-harvesting B808-866 complex, and the reaction center (RC) in the thermophilic green phototrophic bacterium Chloroflexus aurantiacus. Using contrast variation in SANS measurements, we found that the B808-866 complex is wrapped around the RC in Cfx. aurantiacus, and the overall size and conformation of the B808-866 complex of Cfx. aurantiacus is roughly comparable to the LH1 antenna complex of the purple bacteria. A similar size of the isolated B808-866 complex was suggested by dynamic light scattering measurements, and a smaller size of the RC of Cfx. aurantiacus compared to the RC of the purple bacteria was observed. Further, our SANS measurements indicate that the chlorosome is a lipid body with a rod-like shape, and that the self-assembly of bacteriochlorophylls, the major component of the chlorosome, is lipid-like. Finally, two populations of chlorosome particles are suggested in our SANS measurements.
Some determinants of camptothecin responsiveness in leukemia L1210 cells.

The antineoplastic alkaloid camptothecin inhibits nucleic acid synthesis in leukemia L1210 cells; this inhibition is initially reversible, but becomes irreversible when exposure to the drug is prolonged. A drug-resistant subline, L1210/CN, can overcome camptothecin-induced inhibition of nucleic acid biosynthesis before this becomes irreversible. Unlike actinomycin D-resistant cell lines, L1210/CN was not characterized by a drug permeability barrier nor by altered levels of cell surface glycoprotein.
Can You Keep a (Genetic) Secret? The Genetic Privacy Movement

This paper reviews the literature on genetic privacy, especially since 1995 and the first proposal for national genetic privacy legislation. Since that time, a majority of states have passed some form of genetic privacy legislation, and efforts to pass federal legislation are ongoing. Such new laws, however, remain untested in the courts and their effects are unclear. If they fail to provide additional protections against discrimination for most people, their most significant impact may be in their ability to either diminish or enhance the power of genetic information and to influence the way individuals view themselves and others. How does “genetic exceptionalism”—the idea that genetic information is different from other types of medical information—relate to “genetic essentialism”—the idea that we are to a large extent shaped by our genes? Anthropological views on genetics and personhood bring a new perspective to this ongoing debate. Implications for counseling practices are also explored.
Noise predictive maximum likelihood detection combined with parity-based post-processing

The performance of magnetic recording systems that include conventional modulation codes combined with multiple parity bits is studied. Various performance measures, including bit error rate at the output of time inverse precoder, byte error probability at the input of the Reed-Solomon (RS) decoder and sector error rate, are used to evaluate the performance of various coding/detection schemes. Suboptimum detection/decoding schemes consisting of a 16-state noise-predictive maximum-likelihood (NPML) detector followed by parity-based noise-predictive post-processing, and maximum-likelihood sequence detection/decoding on the combined channel/parity trellis are considered. For conventional modulation codes, it is shown that although the dual-parity post-processor gains 0.5 dB over the single-parity post-processor in terms of bit- and byte-error-rate performance, the sector-error-rate performance of both schemes is almost the same. Furthermore, the sector-error-rate performance of optimum 64-state combined channel/parity detection for the dual-parity code is shown to be approximately 0.1 dB better than that of optimum 32-state combined channel/parity detection for the single-parity code. These performance gains can be even more substantial if appropriate coding techniques that eliminate certain error events and minimize error burst length or multiparity codes in conjunction with combined parity/channel detection are used.
Spontaneous fos expression in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of young and old mice.

Abstract The senescence-accelerated mouse (SAMP8) is an animal model of aging that displays an array of circadian rhythm disruptions as early as 7 months of age. The present study explored the physiological basis for age-related changes in circadian rhythms by measuring c-Fos immunostaining. Cellular activity in the SCN “core” and “shell” was examined for 2-, 7-, and 12-month-old SAMP8 at circadian times (CTs) 2 and 14. Consistent with previous studies in rats, we observed higher levels of cellular activity at CT2 than at CT14, and higher levels of activity in the “shell” than in the “core” of the SCN. However, there was no effect of age on the pattern of cellular activity in either the “core” or the “shell” of the SCN. These results are discussed in the context of current research on spontaneous and light-induced c-Fos expression in the SCN of rodents.
Delay Estimation for Reliability Interpretation of Real-Time Hybrid Simulation Involving Viscous Dampers Towards Seismic Hazard Mitigation

Laboratory experiments play a critical role in earthquake engineering research for seismic safety evaluation of civil engineering structures. Servo-hydraulic actuators play a vital role to maintain the compatibility on boundaries between the analytical and experimental substructures in a real-time hybrid simulation. Previous study has indicated that actuator delay could significantly affect the accuracy of real-time hybrid simulation involving viscous dampers. Identifying the amount of actuator delay therefore is critical for reliability assessment of experimental results to properly interpret the performance of viscous dampers for seismic hazard mitigation. In this study a frequency domain based approach is applied for real-time hybrid simulation of viscous dampers with the presence of actuator delay. Computational simulations are conducted to assess the accuracy of the approach for estimating the delay when the substructures develop nonlinear behavior for reliability interpretation of real-time hybrid simulation.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Design of Composite Laminates by a Genetic Algorithm with Memory

This paper describes the use of a genetic algorithm with memory for the design of minimum thickness composite laminates subject to strength, buckling and ply contiguity constraints. A binary tree is used to efficiently store and retrieve information about past designs. This information is used to construct a set of linear approximations to the buckling load in the neighborhood of each member of the population of designs. The approximations are then used to seek nearby improved designs in a procedure called local improvement. The paper demonstrates that this procedure substantially reduces the number of analyses required for the genetic search. The paper also demonstrates that the use of genetic algorithms helps find several alternate designs with similar performance, thus giving the designer a choice of alternatives.
Mehr über Mach und Einstein

Im letzten Kapitel wurde der tiefgreifende Eindruck, den Ernst Machs Arbeiten und Standpunkt auf zahlreiche Wissenschaftler und Intellektuelle ausubten, aufgezeigt. In einer Erklarung, die typisch fur viele andere ist, schrieb Otto Neurath an Mach: Es war dies jener Gedanke [das Mach-Prinzip] in Ihrer Mechanik, der mich von der ersten Lekture an nie mehr losgelassen hat und auf meine Ideenentwicklung... auf sonderbaren Umwegen von Einflus war. Es ist die Neigung, die Bedeutung, den Sinn des Einzelnen aus dem Ganzen abzuleiten, nicht das Ganze aus einer Summation von Einzelnen ... Ich habe Ihren Werken gegenuber immer und immer ein tiefes Gefuhl der Dankbarkeit gehegt, es war nicht nur die Forderung auf dem Gebiete der Physik, sondern noch mehr die Forderung in anderer Richtung, die ich durch Ihre physikalischen Gedankengange erfahren habe.1
Aging and Caring in the Home: Regulating Paid Domesticity in the Twenty-First Century

Home is the preferred setting of most elderly persons who require assistance because of health problems. Consequently, as the baby boom generation sparks an unprecedented growth in the size of the elderly population, households are using paid care givers to provide home-based care services to aging family members. Because of its location in the private sphere, home care does not fit comfortably within the existing employment law framework which presupposes a world in which workers leave the confines of their own homes and travel to public workplaces. Home care blurs the boundaries between private and public, home and market, and family and work. Although traditionally dismissed by the law, home care's sheer projected magnitude illustrates the need for policymakers to evaluate how best to regulate home-based work when it occurs in the private setting of the home. This article examines that question by considering the status of home care workers in employment law. The article argues that home care's viability as a decent job is impeded not only by unfavorable working conditions but by a legal system that reinforces the workers' precarious economic position.
T-wave reversal in the augmented unipolar right arm electrocardiographic lead is associated with increased risk of sudden death

Repolarization abnormalities are associated with ventricular arrhythmias, and published studies report that a reversal of T wave polarity (positive or flat T wave) in lead aVR may be linked to increased cardiovascular mortality. We evaluated whether a positive or flat T wave in aVR is a risk marker for sudden cardiac death (SCD). SCD cases from the Oregon Sudden Unexpected Death Study (catchment population ~1 million) were compared to geographic controls with coronary artery disease and no history of SCD. Archived electrocardiograms performed prior and unrelated to the SCD event were evaluated. SCD cases (n = 691, 67.6 ± 14.9 years, 69 % male) were more likely than controls (n = 663, 66.2 ± 11.6 years, 67 % male) to have diabetes (40 vs 32 %; p < 0.01), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤35 % (27 vs 11 %; p < 0.01), prolonged QTc (≥450 ms; 54 vs 28 %; p < 0.01) and positive (19 vs 13 %; p < 0.01) or flat T wave (14 vs 7 %; p < 0.01) in aVR. On multivariable analysis, a positive/flat T wave in aVR was independently associated with SCD (OR 1.9, 95 % CI 1.3–2.8, p < 0.01). However, a positive T wave alone lost statistical significance in patients with LVEF ≤ 35 % and QTc ≥ 450 ms. In a subgroup analysis among patients with normal LVEF, QTc, and no diabetes, a positive T wave in aVR (but not a flat T wave) remained associated with SCD (OR 2.8, 95 % CI 1.2–6.1, p < 0.01). A positive or flat T wave in lead aVR was associated with SCD in subsets of patients. This simple ECG marker in this often-ignored lead may contribute to enhancement of SCD risk stratification, and warrants further evaluation.
Functional annotation of rare gene aberration drivers of pancreatic cancer

As we enter the era of precision medicine, characterization of cancer genomes will directly influence therapeutic decisions in the clinic. Here we describe a platform enabling functionalization of rare gene mutations through their high-throughput construction, molecular barcoding and delivery to cancer models for in vivo tumour driver screens. We apply these technologies to identify oncogenic drivers of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This approach reveals oncogenic activity for rare gene aberrations in genes including NAD Kinase (NADK), which regulates NADP(H) homeostasis and cellular redox state. We further validate mutant NADK, whose expression provides gain-of-function enzymatic activity leading to a reduction in cellular reactive oxygen species and tumorigenesis, and show that depletion of wild-type NADK in PDAC cell lines attenuates cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo. These data indicate that annotating rare aberrations can reveal important cancer signalling pathways representing additional therapeutic targets.
Panobinostat: A histone deacetylase inhibitor for the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

Purpose The mechanism of action, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, interaction potential, adverse effects, and place in therapy of panobinostat are reviewed. Summary Panobinostat (Farydak, Novartis) is a novel pan-deacetylase inhibitor approved for use in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who have received at least two regimens containing an immunomodulatory drug and bortezomib. National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines recommend the use of panobinostat plus bortezomib and dexamethasone as a preferred regimen for previously treated multiple myeloma (MM). A Phase III trial comparing panobinostat or placebo use in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone demonstrated improved median progression-free survival in the panobinostat group (11.99 months [95% CI, 10.33–12.94 months] versus 8.08 months [95% CI, 7.56–9.23 months]; hazard ratio, 0.63 [95% CI, 0.52–0.76]; p < 0.0001), as well as a significantly higher rate of complete or near complete response (27.6% [95% CI, 23.2–32.4%] versus 15.7% [95% CI, 12.2–19.8%]; p = 0.00006). Common grade 3 or 4 laboratory abnormalities and adverse events associated with panobinostat include thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, diarrhea, asthenia, fatigue, and peripheral neuropathy. Conclusion Panobinostat is a promising alternative to well-studied, NCCN-recommended regimens for the treatment of RRMM. It has demonstrated efficacy when used in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with MM who have received at least two prior regimens including bortezomib and an immunomodulatory agent. Despite the observed benefits, concern regarding toxicity may limit panobinostat use in practice.
A tissue-culture model of cartilage breakdown in rheumatoid arthritis. Quantitative aspects of proteoglycan release.

1. The destruction of articular cartilage in human rheumatoid and other arthritides is the result of diverse mechanical, inflammatory and local cellular factors. A tissue-culture model for studying cartilage–synovial interactions that may be involved in the final common pathway of joint destruction is described. 2. Matrix breakdown was studied in vitro by using bovine nasal-cartilage discs cultivated in contact with synovium. Synovia were obtained from human and animal sources. Human tissue came from patients with ‘classical’ rheumatoid arthritis, and animal tissue from rabbits with antigen-induced arthritis. 3. Cartilage discs increased their proteoglycan content 2–3-fold during 8 days in culture. Proteoglycan was also released into culture medium, approx. 70% arising from cartilage breakdown. 4. Synovial explants from human rheumatoid and rabbit antigen-induced arthritis produced equivalent stimulation of proteoglycan release. After an initial lag phase, the breakdown rate rose abruptly to a maximum, resulting in a 2-fold increase of proteoglycan accumulation in culture medium after 8–10 days. 5. High-molecular-weight products shed into culture media were characterized chromatographically and by differential enzymic digestion. Proteoglycan–chondroitin sulphate accounted for 90% of the released polyanion, and its partial degradation in the presence of synovial explants was consistent with limited proteolytic cleavage. 6. Rheumatoid synovium applied to dead cartilage increased the basal rate of proteoglycan release. Living cartilage was capable of more extensive autolysis, even in the absence of synovium. However, optimal proteoglycan release required the interaction of living synovium with live cartilage. These findings support the view that a significant component of cartilage breakdown may be chondrocyte-mediated.
Abstract 2893: Integrated genomic meta-analysis of colorectal cancer by elastic-net.

To identify combinatorial sets of known, putative and new cancer drivers responsible for colorectal cancer (CRC) development and other associated specific clinical outcomes, we have developed an integrative analysis method for cancer genome data. This approach is based on the elastic-net algorithm that we have applied to genomic data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Project. Our supervised analysis simultaneously assesses the contribution of i) copy number variation (CNV), ii) gene expression, iii) miRNA, iv) methylation and v) cancer mutations to clinical features. The ongoing TCGA project is generating genomic and clinical data sets from different tumor types including CRC. These detailed catalogues of genetic changes in cancer genomes will continue to provide us with new insights about cancer development. However, extracting biologically/clinically relevant information from TCGA9s diverse and large cancer genome data remains a challenge. In attempt to overcome this challenge, we use regularized regression method: elastic-net that improves on “the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator” (Lasso). To demonstrate the performance and validity of this approach, we showed that elastic-net successfully identified i) synthetic genes that have their CNVs perfectly associated with stages from a simulated data ii) TGFBR2 and other driver genes that have mutations associated with CRCs that demonstrate microsatellite instability CRC from TCGA data, and iii) IDH1 that obtained mutations associated with survival according to glioblastoma (GBM) data. In the next phase of the study, we identified the top ranked genes that delineate key clinical features such as TNM stages of CRC. We have identified a series of candidate genes that may indicate clinical stages including novel candidates on chromosome 8. Overall, we have successfully demonstrated that our approach allows for an integrative and highly robust supervised analysis of TCGA data. Citation Format: HoJoon Lee, Patrick Flaherty, Hanlee P. Ji. Integrated genomic meta-analysis of colorectal cancer by elastic-net. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2893. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2893
Filter Media Tests Under Simulated Martian Atmospheric Conditions

Human exploration of Mars will require the optimal utilization of planetary resources. One of its abundant resources is the Martian atmosphere that can be harvested through filtration and chemical processes that purify and separate it into its gaseous and elemental constituents. Effective filtration needs to be part of the suite of resource utilization technologies. A unique testing platform is being used which provides the relevant operational and instrumental capabilities to test articles under the proper simulated Martian conditions. A series of tests were conducted to assess the performance of filter media. Light sheet imaging of the particle flow provided a means of detecting and quantifying particle concentrations to determine capturing efficiencies. The media's efficiency was also evaluated by gravimetric means through a by-layer filter media configuration. These tests will help to establish techniques and methods for measuring capturing efficiency and arrestance of conventional fibrous filter media. This paper will describe initial test results on different filter media.
Regeneration of a Functionally Active Rat Brain Muscarinic Receptor by D-Penicillamine after Inhibition with Methylmercury and Mercuric Chloride

The molecular mechanism of methylmercury and mercuric chloride inhibition of brain muscarinic acetylcholine receptor is investigated. Both mercuric cations strongly inhibit L-[3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]QNB) binding to rat brain lysed synaptosomes. Mercuric chloride is 350 times more potent as an inhibitor of [3H]QNB binding than is methylmercury. Inhibition of the agonist binding site by methylmercury is demonstrated by the competitive action of carbamylcholine chloride on [3H]QNB binding. D-Penicillamine is found to chelate mercuric cations from the receptor binding site and regenerate the [3H]QNB binding in a concentration-dependent manner. The tightness of mercuric chloride interaction with the receptor binding site is demonstrated by measuring [3H] QNB binding before and after extensive washing. The correlation between mercuric chloride inhibition and D-penicillamine regeneration of [3H]QNB binding emphasizes the involvement of sulfhydryl groups in muscarinic receptor binding site. These essential sulfhydryl groups may have a significant role in the proper functional configuration of the receptor binding site. Blocking these essential sulfhydryl groups is suggested to be the molecular mechanism of inhibition of brain muscarinic receptors by these mercurials. Through mercuric chloride inhibition and D-penicillamine regeneration of [3H]QNB binding, the mercuric cation apparently stabilizes or protects the binding site (compared with control) while the protein is subjected to experimental protocol. This may provide a basis for using mercuric chloride as a probe to protect the receptor binding site in solubilization, isolation, and purification of muscarinic receptors.
Increased nitrate and decreased δ 15 N–NO 3 − in the Greenland Arctic after 1940 attributed to North American oil burning

Abstract. Nitrogen oxides (NOx = NO + NO2) have an important impact on the atmosphere and biosphere through controls on oxidant concentrations and the formation of nitric acid (e.g. acid rain). Anthropogenic emissions from fossil fuel combustion, land use change, and agriculture have altered the global nitrogen cycle since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution but contributions from specific sources are difficult to quantify, hindering understanding of changes to the natural environment and design of effective mitigation strategies. Ice core records reveal changes in the nitrogen cycle over time in connection to climate, atmospheric chemistry, and the biosphere. Here we use a seasonally resolved ice core record of the nitrogen isotopic composition of nitrate (δ15N–NO3−), together with a broad suite of highly resolved (> 22 samples y−1) elemental and chemical tracers, to investigate sources of nitrate deposited in central Greenland from 1760 CE to present. A marked negative trend in δ15N–NO3− since ~ 1940 CE paralleled a nearly three-fold increase in nitrate concentration. Based on correlated increases in tracer concentrations, independent emission estimates of oil burning, and an isotope mixing model, North American oil combustion likely was the primary driver of recent changes in the nitrogen cycle recorded in Greenland.
The Philosophical Challenge from China, edited by Bruya, Brian

The Philosophical Challenge from China is a fantastic collection of new articles that both question deeply held Western philosophical assumptions and bring Chinese insights to bear on contemporary ...
Abstract 833: Benzyl isothiocyanate mediates glucose uptake through AKT activation in breast cancer cells

We have shown previously that benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) administration retards the development of mouse mammary tumors driven by Her-2 oncogene proving in vivo evidence for its chemopreventive efficacy. However, we also observed an increase in glucose uptake by tumor in BITC treatment group compared with control mice. Proteomics using tumors from control and BITC-treated mice revealed changes in proteins related to metabolism. Thus, we studied the mechanism by which BITC increases glucose uptake using four cell lines with different genetic backgrounds (e.g., ER+, ER-, HER-2+, triple negative). Consistent with in vivo findings, BITC treatment enhanced the protein levels of glucose transporters (GLUT1 and GLUT4) regardless of ER, HER-2 or p53 status. On the other hand, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was downregulated in response to BITC treatment. Pyruvate kinase (PKM2) as well as tricarboxylic cycle (TCA cycle) related enzymes (IDH1, PDH, MDH) were upregulated in BITC treated cells compared with control. In agreement with these results, BITC treatment increased glucose, pyruvate, and acetyl-CoA levels but decreases lactate level. These results suggested that elevated glucose after BITC treatment was largely utilized through TCA cycle. Because AKT is known to regulate tumor metabolism including glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, we explored its involvement in BITC-mediated metabolic alterations. To our surprise, BITC treatment resulted in a marked increase in activation of AKT. Pharmacological inhibition of AKT antagonized BITC-mediated increase in GLUT1 expression as well as increase in glucose and pyruvate levels. In addition, AKT inhibition augmented BITC-mediated inhibition of cell survival (colony formation), induction of apoptosis, and suppression of migration in human breast cancer cells. Based on these findings, we propose that mammary cancer chemopreventive efficacy of BITC may be augmented by a combination regimen involving an AKT inhibitor. This study was supported by the grantCA129347 awarded by the National Cancer Institute. Citation Format: Ruchi Roy, Shivendra V. Singh. Benzyl isothiocyanate mediates glucose uptake through AKT activation in breast cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 833.
Systematic Analysis of Intrinsic Factors Affecting Differential Display

Differential display (DD) is a widely used method for identifying differentially expressed genes. To improve further the efficiency and reproducibility of the method, this report systematically exa...
Neither Wolf nor Dog

The quotation above suggests that Jimmie Durham, who is of Cherokee heritage, is able to make light of his cultural background, but many feel no humor about their mixed heritage.
How Do Caregiving Responsibilities Shape the Time Use of Women and Men in Rural China

This chapter begins by synthesizing the existing literature on time use in rural China through a gendered lens. The authors then analyze data from the 2011 Chinese Household Ethnicity Survey, highlighting the time-use patterns of rural women and men in seven Chinese regions with high concentrations of ethnic minority populations. In the analysis, household members are separated into five age-delimitated categories. Large gender gaps in total work time exist for all but the older adults. Total work time is highest for prime-age adults. Women in the 46–70 age group are the most varied in their time-use patterns, appearing to act as the shock absorbers of the household, working more or less depending on their extended household’s demands for care time, housework time, and income.
Postoperative Complications Affecting Survival After Cardiac Arrest in General Surgery Patients.

Background Postoperative cardiac arrest is uncommon but associated with a high mortality risk in general surgery patients and is often preceded by postoperative complications. The relationships between previous complications and mortality after cardiac arrest in general surgery patients have not been completely evaluated. Methods A retrospective, observational cohort of general surgery in patients with cardiac arrest occurring after postoperative day (POD) #0 (and up to POD #30) was obtained from the 2012-2013 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Previous complication was defined as at least one of the following occurring before the POD of cardiac arrest: (1) acute kidney injury; (2) acute respiratory failure; (3) deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolus; (4) myocardial infarction; (5) sepsis/septic shock; (6) stroke; and/or (7) transfusion. The associations between previous complications and mortality after cardiac arrest were assessed using Cox proportional hazards models that adjusted for preoperative risk factors. Results Of 1352 patients with postoperative cardiac arrest, 746 patients (55%) developed at least 1 complication before cardiac arrest. Overall 30-day mortality was 71% (958/1352) and was similar among patients with and without a previous complication (71% [533/746] vs 70% [425/606]; P = .60). Patients with previous complications did not have an increased risk of mortality, compared to patients without previous complications, in adjusted Cox models (hazard ratio, 1.03; 95% confidence interval, 0.90-1.18; P = .70). In addition, no previous complication was associated with increased mortality risk in individual analyses. Conclusions Among general surgery patients with cardiac arrest after POD #0, complications occurring before cardiac arrest are common but are not associated with increased mortality risk.
Legacy sediment, lead, and zinc storage in channel and floodplain deposits of the Big River, Old Lead Belt Mining District, Missouri, USA

Abstract The Old Lead Belt of southeastern Missouri was one of the leading producers of Pb ore for more than a century (1869–1972). Large quantities of contaminated mine waste have been, and continue to be, supplied to local streams. This study assessed the magnitude and spatial distribution of mining-contaminated legacy sediment stored in channel and floodplain deposits of the Big River in the Ozark Highlands of southeastern Missouri. Although metal concentrations decline downstream from the mine sources, the channel and floodplain sediments are contaminated above background levels with Pb and Zn along its entire 171-km length below the mine sources. Mean concentrations in floodplain cores > 2000 mg kg− 1 for Pb and > 1000 mg kg− 1 for Zn extend 40–50 km downstream from the mining area in association with the supply of fine tailings particles that were easily dispersed downstream in the suspended load. Mean concentrations in channel bed and bar sediments ranging from 1400 to 1700 mg kg− 1 for Pb extend 30 km below the mines, while Zn concentrations of 1000–3000 mg kg− 1 extend 20 km downstream. Coarse dolomite fragments in the 2–16 mm channel sediment fraction provide significant storage of Pb and Zn, representing 13–20% of the bulk sediment storage mass in the channel and can contain concentrations of > 4000 mg kg− 1 for Pb and > 1000 mg kg− 1 for Zn. These coarse tailings have been transported a maximum distance of only about 30 km from the source over a period of 120 years for an average of about 250 m/y. About 37% of the Pb and 9% of the Zn that was originally released to the watershed in tailings wastes is still stored in the Big River. A total of ~ 157 million Mg of contaminated sediment is stored along the Big River, with 92% of it located in floodplain deposits that are typically contaminated to depths of 1.5–3.5 m. These contaminated sediments store a total of 188,549 Mg of Pb and 34,299 Mg of Zn, of which 98% of the Pb and 95% of the Zn are stored in floodplain deposits. Most of the metal mass in channel deposits is stored near the mines, with 72% of the Pb and 78% of the Zn occurring in the 25 km of channel proximal to the mine source. Although environmental assessments of streams contaminated by mines often focus on evaluating metal concentrations in the geochemically active fine sediment fractions, about 60% of the Pb stored in channels is associated with coarse dolomite tailings fragments deposited in channels within 25 km of the mines. The magnitude and basinwide distribution of Pb and Zn storage in legacy floodplain sediments ensures that remobilization by bank erosion will be a continuing problem for water quality far into the future.
Mischaracterizing Uncertainty in Environmental-Health Sciences

Researchers doing welfare-related science frequently mischaracterize either situations of decision-theoretic mathematical/scientific uncertainty (defined in terms of purely-subjective probabilities) as situations of risk (defined in terms of reliable, often frequency-based, probabilities), or situations of risk as those of uncertainty. The paper (1) outlines this epistemic/ethical problem; (2) surveys its often-deadly, welfare-related consequences in environmental-health sciences; and (3) uses recent research on diesel particulate matter to reveal 7 specific methodological ways that scientists may mischaracterize lethal risks instead as situations of uncertainty, mainly by using methods and assumptions with false-negative biases. The article (4) closes by outlining two normative strategies for curbing misrepresentations of risk and uncertainty, especially in welfare-affecting science.
Abstract 14958: Long-term Treatment With Tadalafil and Hydroxychloroquine Combination Protects Aging Obese Mice Against Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury via Down-regulating MicroRNA103

Introduction: Obesity is one of the most prevalent health issues in U.S. Nearly 35% of American adults are overweight with increased risk of having heart diseases. Studies show that microRNA 103 (m...
"You Want Your Guests to Be Happy in This Business": Hoteliers' Decisions to Adopt Voluntary Smoke-Free Guest-Room Policies.

Purpose:To explore why some hotels have implemented 100% smoke-free policies voluntarily, the perceived consequences of doing so, and media responses.Design:Qualitative study of hotel management an...
TrollBusters: Fighting Online Harassment of Women Journalists

For women journalists, online harassment may result in emotional stress and may require legal and technological remedies to mitigate the damage caused to their identity and reputation. Perpetrators can use a combination of online and offline attacks that threaten the employment and safety of journalists. In the case of women writers, misogynistic and racist attacks can create a chilling effect that silences their voices online and creates a deterrent to freedom of expression that ultimately erodes the freedom of the press. Based on the examination of seminal work, case studies and personal anecdotes, this chapter investigates the consequences of abuse via Twitter and Facebook on the freedom of speech, the emotional and psychological impact on women journalists, and its implications on press freedom. Moreover, before suggesting digital defense strategies for journalists, the chapter also chronicles the development of TrollBusters, a platform for women journalists that counters online hate with positive messaging and just-in-time rescue services.
Generation of pulmonary neuro-endocrine cells and tumors resembling small cell lung cancers from human embryonic stem cells

Human cancers arising from different cell lineages display genotypes with characteristic features, but the lineage-specific factors that influence the differences in genetic profiles have not been identified. Such differences could be explained by models in which a cellular phenotype limits a cells vulnerability to certain mutations or by models in which observed mutations determine the ultimate cell phenotype. To evaluate the relative merits of these proposals, we are studying the initiation of cancers by genetically modifying cells at discrete stages of differentiation after derivation from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). We have focused initially on small cell lung cancer (SCLC), the most aggressive type of human lung cancer, characterized by a poor prognosis, the rapid development of resistance to treatment, and nearly universal loss of function of multiple tumor suppressor genes, especially TP53 and RB. Earlier studies with mouse models indicate that the normal cell precursors to SCLCs are likely to be pulmonary neuro-endocrine cells (PNECs). Building on existing methods for sequentially differentiating hESCs in culture into several types of lung cells, we have now produced PNECs in significant numbers for the first time by blocking signaling through NOTCH receptors (using inhibitors of gamma-secretase) and by interfering with expression of the RB gene (using inhibitory RNAs) in lung progenitor cells. In contrast, expression of mutated EGFR or KRAS genes, common in human lung adenocarcinomas that arise from the alveolar cell lineage, has no evident effects on the formation of PNECs. Although PNECs induced by blocking NOTCH and RB signaling do not form xenografts in immune-deficient mice, the cells form subcutaneous tumors resembling early stage human SCLC and bearing neuroendocrine markers if expression of the TP53 gene is also impaired. These findings imply that PNECs or their committed precursors are vulnerable to oncogenic mutations found specifically in human SCLC, resulting in a significant increase in number of PNECs and conversion to neoplasia. This experimental system provides opportunities to study tumor progression and cancer drug susceptibility and resistance, using human lung cells grown in culture.
Networks in infrastructure with applications to Latin America and the Caribbean

The primary drivers of the creation of infrastructure networks are the benefits that can be achieved through collective action. For example, global and regional networks of regulators enable agenci...
Some aspects of the problem of regulation of food intake and obesity.

IN 1953 I attempted to present inclusively evidence then available on the nature and the pathogenesis of obesity.1 I also attempted to introduce new ideas, some of them at the time frankly controversial, into a subject that I then considered to be in a state that could only be characterized as "stultified chaos." On one side were the fundamentalists, who saw only the undeniable fact that, as first pointed out by Lavoisier in the eighteenth century, matter and energy are not created de novo in biologic systems; for obesity to develop, energy intake has to be greater than output. Blandly . . .
Innovative sensing technologies for nuclear instrumentation

The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is engaged in research and development activities for the development of nuclear instrumentation that contribute to advances in measurement methodologies, measurement systems, instrumentation, and sensors in the area of nuclear engineering. The activities described in this paper are centered on the INL Measurement Science Department, which was formed in 2018. Their mission is to develop instrumentation that provides real-time, accurate, spatially-resolved information regarding test conditions and the performance of fuels and materials during irradiation. This paper describes the integration of innovative optical fiber, acoustic, and electrical impedance sensing technologies and measurement techniques as part of the activities.
How to Phase Antenna Arrays and Metasurfaces of Arbitrarily Oriented and Polarized Elements

We propose an analytical method to phase any arrays of antennas or any metasurfaces made of elements with any arbitrary orientations or arbitrary polarizations. We are unaware of such an analytical phasing technique in the literature. The method can pave the way for phasing arrays with more complicated configurations, and also, for real-time beam steering.
Ein privilegiertes Bezugssystem

Energie- und Impulserhaltung regeln Teilchenkollisionen und Zerfallsprozesse. Das Konzept des relativistischen CM-Bezugssystems wird analog zum klassischen Schwerpunktsystem eingefuhrt und die Lorentztransformation in dieses Bezugssystem wird konstruiert. Wir untersuchen Zerfallsprozesse von Teilchen in leichtere Partikel und betrachten diese Vorgange in verschiedenen Bezugssystemen. Die Energiebilanz eines Teilchenzerfalls wird dann im CM-System erstellt. Besondere Aufmerksamkeit widmen wir dem Zerfallsprozess, bei dem ein Reaktionsprodukt entsteht, das im Laborsystem ruht. Eine Ubung zeigt, dass Photonen nur im Vakuum nicht in zwei massive Teilchen zerfallen konnen.
Proton Transfer in Phosphoric Acid-Based Protic Ionic Liquids: Effects of the Base.

Electronic structure calculations were performed to understand highly decoupled conductivities recently reported in protic ionic liquids (PILs). To develop a molecular-level understanding of the me...
Excitonic Effect Drives Ultrafast Dynamics in van der Waals Heterostructures

Recent experiments revealed stacking-configuration-independent and ultrafast charge transfer in transition metal dichalcogenides van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures, which is surprising given strong exciton binding energies and large momentum mismatch across the heterojunctions. Previous theories failed to provide a comprehensive physical picture for the charge transfer mechanisms. To address this challenge, we developed a first-principles framework which can capture exciton-phonon interaction in extended systems. We find that excitonic effect does not impede, but actually drives ultrafast charge transfer in vdW heterostructures. The many-body electron-hole interaction affords cooperation among the electrons, which relaxes the constraint on momentum conservation and reduces energy gaps for charge transfer. We uncover a two-step process in exciton dynamics: ultrafast hole transfer followed by much longer relaxation of intermediate "hot" excitons. This work establishes that many-body excitonic effect is crucial to the ultrafast dynamics and provides a basis to understand relevant phenomena in vdW heterostructures.
Four-Week Ankle-Rehabilitation Programs in Adolescent Athletes With Chronic Ankle Instability.

Context Researchers have shown that rehabilitation programs incorporating resistance-band and balance-board exercises are effective for improving clinical measures of function and patient-reported outcomes in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI). However, whether combining the 2 exercises increases improvement is unknown.
Interpreting Deep Ensemble Learning through Radiologist Annotations for COVID-19 Detection in Chest Radiographs

Data-driven deep learning (DL) methods using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) demonstrate promising performance in natural image computer vision tasks. However, using these models in medical computer vision tasks suffers from several limitations, viz., (i) adapting to visual characteristics that are unlike natural images; (ii) modeling random noise during training due to stochastic optimization and backpropagation-based learning strategy; (iii) challenges in explaining DL black-box behavior to support clinical decision-making; and (iv) inter-reader variability in the ground truth (GT) annotations affecting learning and evaluation. This study proposes a systematic approach to address these limitations for COVID-19 detection using chest X-rays (CXRs). Specifically, our contribution benefits from (i) pretraining specific to CXRs in transferring and fine-tuning the learned knowledge toward improving COVID-19 detection performance; (ii) using ensembles of the fine-tuned models to further improve performance compared to individual constituent models; (iii) performing statistical analyses at various learning stages to validate our claims; (iv) interpreting learned individual and ensemble model behavior through class-selective relevance mapping (CRM)-based region of interest (ROI) localization; (v) analyzing inter-reader variability and ensemble localization performance using Simultaneous Truth and Performance Level Estimation (STAPLE) methods. We observe that: (i) ensemble approaches improved classification and localization performance; and, (ii) inter-reader variability and performance level assessment helped guide algorithm design and parameter optimization. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to construct ensembles, perform ensemble-based disease ROI localization, and analyze inter-reader variability and algorithm performance for COVID-19 detection in CXRs.
Data Integration for Urban Health

Population wellness and quality of life are the results of complex urban biophysical and socioeconomic dynamics. This article explores this novel domain and introduces a broader context of urban data landscape and health indications. It also provides a specific project narrative as an exemplar—NYC PollenScape—describing its background, data, methods, and findings. A more general discussion of sociotechnical challenges in integrated data analytics for urban health follows. The paper concludes with a summary of key takeaways, current limitations, and future work.
To be Loved and to Love

Love is a powerful force in human life. It seems to be one thing, but takes on many forms. A major task in therapy is to tap into intrinsic motivations for healthy change; to help people to fall in...