cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A cooperative virulence plasmid imposes a high fitness cost under conditions that induce pathogenesis

Harbouring a plasmid often imposes a fitness cost on the bacterial host. Motivated by implications for public health, the majority of studies on plasmid cost are focused on elements that impart antibiotic resistance. Plasmids, however, can provide a wide range of ecologically important phenotypes to their bacterial hosts—such as virulence, specialized catabolism and metal resistance. The Agrobacterium tumefaciens tumour-inducing (Ti) plasmid confers both the ability to infect dicotyledonous plants and to catabolize the metabolites that plants produce as a result of being infected. We demonstrate that this virulence and catabolic plasmid imposes a measurable fitness cost on host cells under resource-limiting, but not resource replete, environmental conditions. Additionally, we show that the expression of Ti-plasmid-borne pathogenesis genes necessary to initiate cooperative pathogenesis is extremely costly to the host cell. The benefits of agrobacterial pathogenesis stem from the catabolism of public goods produced by infected host plants. Thus, the virulence-plasmid-dependent costs we demonstrate constitute costs of cooperation typically associated with the ability to garner the benefits of cooperation. Interestingly, genotypes that harbour derived opine catabolic plasmids minimize this trade-off, and are thus able to freeload upon the pathogenesis initiated by other individuals.
Evidence for the Involvement of Genetic Differences and Mesenchymal Factors in the Progression of Oncogene-Induced Prostate Cancer in Reconstituted Mouse Prostate

Carcinogenesis is a multi-step process involving the accumulation of alterations within the cellular genome (reviewed in 1,2). These alterations can occur in protooncogenes converting them into activated oncogenes, and it has been suggested that the multi-step nature of carcinogenesis may partly reflect the consecutive activation of several dominantly acting oncogenes (3-7). It seems reasonable to presume that prostatic cancer follows this pattern. In support of this notion, oncogene activities have been reported to be present in human prostatic adenocarcinoma (8-10), in cell lines derived from cancerous prostatic tissues (11), and in Dunning R3327 rat prostatic adenocarcinomas (12,13). Recently, utilizing the mouse prostate reconstitution model system, it was demonstrated that activated ras or myc oncogenes singly were able to induce distinct dysplastic and hyperplastic lesions, respectively (14). The two oncogenes in combination induced rapidly growing, poorly differentiated malignant adenocarcinomas. Thus, the activation of the ras and myc oncogenes can induce a step-like progression of carcinogenesis in this experimental animal model.
Knowledge in Interior Design

Anna Marshall-Baker teaches in the Department of Interior Architecture at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where she focuses on sustaining design and the reciprocal effects of environments and human development, particularly in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). With academic and practical experience in fine and commercial art, interior design, and psychology, she serves as a member of the Recommended Standards Consensus Committee for NICU Design, Interim Chair of the Sustaining Design Task Force for IDEC, Department Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Past-President of IDEC, and a reviewer for the Journal of Interior Design.
Adenosine is Required for Myocardial Insulin Responsiveness In Vivo

The adenosine-receptor antagonist 8-phenyltheophylline (8-PTH) was used to study the role of endogenous adenosine in modulating insulin-stimulated myocardial glucose uptake (MGU) in vivo. Dogs were surgically instrumented under pentobarbital sodium anesthesia to measure hemodynamics and obtain blood samples for determinations of oxygen and glucose concentrations. Myocardial uptake of these substances was calculated as the product of the appropriate arterial–coronary sinus differences and circumflex blood flow. The response to insulin was determined with the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp technique. During insulin infusion, MGU increased from 3.12 ± 0.8 to 9.20 ± 1.8 mg/min (mean ± SE). In contrast, insulin failed to increase MGU when 8-PTH was being infused into the circumflex artery. These results demonstrate that some degree of adenosine-receptor–mediated activity is required for insulin to stimulate myocardial glucose uptake. It is suggested that the presence of adenosine at its receptor may be an important factor during conditions in which myocardial insulin resistance may develop.
Techniques for residue-to-analog conversion for high data rate digital filtering

This paper presents two approaches to the design of residue-to-analog converters to be used with residue number digital filters. The first approach, based on the associated mixed radix number system, is effective when it is desired to translate the residue samples directly into analog form. The second approach, based on the Chinese Remainder Theorem, is a more direct method for translating from residue to weighted binary representation. A hardware experiment is described that was constructed to demonstrate the conversion principles.
Hypothesis testing and p values: how to interpret results and reach the right conclusions

Whenever we encounter a research finding based on the interpretation of a p value from a statistical test, whether we realise it or not, we are discussing the result of a formal hypothesis test. This is true irrespective of whether the test involves comparisons of means, Odds Ratios (ORs), regression results or other types of statistical tests. As readers of research, it is important to understand the underlying principles of hypothesis testing, so that when faced with statistical results, we reach the right conclusions and make good decisions about which findings are robust enough to be translated into clinical practice. The article by Yinon et al 1 featured in a recent EBN commentary, will be used to illustrate four simple steps involved in hypothesis testing.2 The authors of this paper explored the possible benefits of antenatal steroid administration in the context of late preterm birth (>34 weeks gestation). One of the key outcomes of interest included the incidence of babies being admitted to a special care unit …
Embedded-mirror side pumping of double-clad fiber lasers and amplifiers

Embedded-mirror side pumping enables fabrication of compact, efficient fiber sources using a variety of pump sources. It is the only method capable of employing the output of an unformatted diode bar. We discuss recent progress.
Fault Detection and Diagnosis Using Wavelet Based Transient Current Analysis

We present a novel integrated method for fault detection and localization using wavelet transform of transient current (IDD) waveform. The time-frequency resolution property of wavelet helps us detect as well as localize faults in digital CMOS circuits. Experiments performed on an 8-bit ALU show promising results for both detection and localization.
Laser technology and applications in gynaecology

The term 'laser' is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Lasers are commonly described by the emitted wavelength, which determines the colour of the light, as well as the active lasing medium. Currently, over 40 types of lasers have been developed with a wide range of both industrial and medical uses. Gas and solid-state lasers are frequently used in surgical applications, with CO2 and Ar being the most common examples of gas lasers, and the Nd:YAG and KTP:YAG being the most common examples of solid-state lasers. At present, it appears that the CO2, Nd:YAG, and KTP lasers provide alternative methods for achieving similar results, as opposed to superior results, when compared with traditional endoscopic techniques, such as cold-cutting monopolar and bipolar energy. This review focuses on the physics, tissue interaction, safety and applications of commonly used lasers in gynaecological surgery.
Large chromosomal deletions and heritable small genetic changes induced by CRISPR/Cas9 in rice

The Cas9/sgRNA of the CRISPR/Cas system has emerged as a robust technology for targeted gene editing in various organisms, including plants, where Cas9/sgRNA-mediated small deletions/insertions at single cleavage sites have been reported in transient and stable transformations, although genetic transmission of edits has been reported only in Arabidopsis and rice. Large chromosomal excision between two remote nuclease-targeted loci has been reported only in a few non-plant species. Here we report in rice Cas9/sgRNA-induced large chromosomal segment deletions, the inheritance of genome edits in multiple generations and construction of a set of facile vectors for high-efficiency, multiplex gene targeting. Four sugar efflux transporter genes were modified in rice at high efficiency; the most efficient system yielding 87-100% editing in T0 transgenic plants, all with di-allelic edits. Furthermore, genetic crosses segregating Cas9/sgRNA transgenes away from edited genes yielded several genome-edited but transgene-free rice plants. We also demonstrated proof-of-efficiency of Cas9/sgRNAs in producing large chromosomal deletions (115-245 kb) involving three different clusters of genes in rice protoplasts and verification of deletions of two clusters in regenerated T0 generation plants. Together, these data demonstrate the power of our Cas9/sgRNA platform for targeted gene/genome editing in rice and other crops, enabling both basic research and agricultural applications.
System xc- cystine/glutamate antiporter: an update on molecular pharmacology and roles within the CNS

System xc- is an amino acid antiporter that typically mediates the exchange of extracellular l-cystine and intracellular l-glutamate across the cellular plasma membrane. Studied in a variety of cell types, the import of l-cystine through this transporter is critical to glutathione production and oxidative protection. The exchange-mediated export of l-glutamate takes on added significance within the CNS, as it represents a non-vesicular route of release through which this excitatory neurotransmitter can participate in either neuronal signalling or excitotoxic pathology. When both the import of l-cystine and the export of l-glutamate are taken into consideration, system xc- has now been linked to a wide range of CNS functions, including oxidative protection, the operation of the blood–brain barrier, neurotransmitter release, synaptic organization, viral pathology, drug addiction, chemosensitivity and chemoresistance, and brain tumour growth. The ability to selectively manipulate system xc-, delineate its function, probe its structure and evaluate it as a therapeutic target is closely linked to understanding its pharmacology and the subsequent development of selective inhibitors and substrates. Towards that goal, this review will examine the current status of our understanding of system xc- pharmacology and the structure–activity relationships that have guided the development of an initial pharmacophore model, including the presence of lipophilic domains adjacent to the substrate binding site. A special emphasis is placed on the roles of system xc- within the CNS, as it is these actions that are among the most exciting as potential long-range therapeutic targets.
Power optimal dual-V/sub dd/ buffered tree considering buffer stations and blockages

This paper presents the first in-depth study on applying dual V/sub dd/ buffers to buffer insertion and multi-sink buffered tree construction for power minimization under delay constraint. To tackle the problem of dramatic complexity increment due to simultaneous delay and power consideration and increased buffer choices, we develop a sampling-based sub-solutions (i.e. options) propagation method and a balanced search tree-based data structure for option pruning. We obtain 17/spl times/ speedup with little loss of optimality compared to the exact option propagation. Moreover, compared to buffer insertion with single V/sub dd/ buffers, dual-V/sub dd/ buffers reduce power by 23% at the minimum delay specification. In addition, compared to the delay-optimal tree using single V/sub dd/ buffers, our power-optimal buffered tree reduces power by 7% and 18% at the minimum delay specification when single V/sub dd/ and dual V/sub dd/ buffers are used respectively.
Diachronic constraints of practical rationality

Rationality imposes constraints on combinations of psychological attitudes. For instance, rationality demands that, at any particular time, if one both intends to φ and believes that ψ-ing is a necessary means to φ-ing, then one ought to intend to ψ . In spite of disagreements about the nature, source, and scope of these rational constraints, it seems uncontroversial that the stock examples concern combinations of contemporaneous attitudes.1 It is not immediately apparent, however, whether there are genuinely diachronic rational constraints, i.e., rational pressures on cross-temporal combinations of attitudes. In this paper, I want to consider the more specific question of whether there might be genuinely diachronic constraints on the rationality of intentions. I maintain that if these constraints exist, they arise in response to the distinctive predicament of agents who have to act over time. Temporal agents are forced to pursue temporally extended activities using resources and abilities that are usually scarce, unequally distributed over time, and unstable. There are three distinct features of the diachronic predicament of temporal agents:
A new sectioning procedure for calculating scattering and absorption by elongated dielectric objects

The iterative extended boundary condition method (IEBCM) has recently been developed to calculate scattering and absorption by elongated dielectric objects. The authors present a new sectioning procedure to improve the computational efficiency of the IEBCM. In this technique, the total geometry of the object is divided into overlapping sections, each of which includes only 3-5 spherical expansions to describe the internal fields. The total number of expansions required to describe the internal fields in the overall object may be as large as 15. Results illustrating the improvement in the computational efficiency of the IEBCM, as well as the dependence of the minimum number of expansions that should be included in each section on the dielectric properties of the scatter and on the frequency, are presented. It is shown that the sectioning procedure is particularly useful at frequencies below (ka >
Demographics of Age: Generational and Cohort Confusion

Abstract A wide range of dates is accorded Baby Boomers, Gen-Xers, and Gen-Ys. The range of dates is compounded because the term cohort and generation are often used interchangeably when they measure distinctly different time periods, making it impossible to disentangle the group's size and their distinctive lifestyles. This complicates the ability of advertisers to target markets and can prevent product placement and even product development. A standard is set forth in this paper to more clearly define both a generation and a cohort to end the confusion. The standard will provide a clearer measure of who one is talking about when discussing the distinctions among the various age groups and the impact the group will have on society when their attitudes and values are examined.
Production of Pheromones by Artificially Fed Males of the Tick Amblyomma Maculatum (Acari: Ixodidae)

Aggregation-attachment pheromones are produced only by male ticks of the genus Amblyomma that have imbibed blood for at least 8 d from their mammalian hosts. This report demonstrates that production and release of aggregation-attachment pheromones by Amblyomma maculatum (Koch) males can be induced in vitro by using nonblood media, artificially introduced through capillary tubes, into the male ticks. The presence of these pheromones is demonstrated by using both biological observations on bovine hosts and in vitro experimentation with petri dishes. The attraction of unfed female ticks to the artificially fed males (using the petri dish method) was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than the attraction of unfed females to unfed males. Similarly, attraction and attachment were recorded on bovine hosts. Only 62.8 ± 17.5% of the females released attached to the bovine host. Of these, 61.9 ± 19.37% attached around artificially fed males that were placed on the bovine 24 h earlier. This percentage did not differ significantly from the 81.4 ± 7.1% of the total that attached around males that fed naturally for 8 d. In comparison, only 33.3 ± 21.9% of the total number of females placed on the host did so after being fed 1 d (control group). The possibility of using capillary feeding as a new tool for investigating the physiology and reproductive behavior of blood- sucking arthropods is discussed.
Hominoid Cladistics and the Ancestry of Modern Apes and Humans

The major purpose for assembling this volume was to provide a forum for the presentation of alternative viewpoints on the subject of ape and human ancestry. In this chapter I will reduce those viewpoints to a summary statement reflecting the contributors’ intent through an evaluation of the volume’s major themes and by the presentation of a series of cladistic models and character analyses. Naturally it will be impossible to cover all of the points dealt with in the preceding 29 chapters. Therefore, only the salient points of the major themes of hominoid phylogeny will be considered. In particular I will consider (1) the branching order (cladogenesis) of fossil and recent hominoid primates, (2) the structural components (morphotype) of the last common ancestor of humans and the living apes as well as the morphotypes of earlier hypothetical ancestors in the diversification of the Hominoidea, (3) the timing and geographical placement of the ape-human divergence and the origin of the extant ape and human lineages, and (4) the adaptive nature and probable scenario of the Miocene hominoid cladogenesis with specific focus on the initial differentiation of hominids from their ape forebears.
Cyclic nucleotide levels and mechanism of inhibition of leucocyte function by adenosine deaminase inhibition.

The association of adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency and severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome has focused attention upon purine metabolism as a modulator of the immune response (1–3). In in vitro studies, adenosine deaminase appears to be necessary for normal lymphocyte blastogenesis in response to phytomitogens and for mononuclear cell maturation (4–6). Various mechanisms of potential cellular toxicity have been proposed including accumulation of adenosine (4, 5), pyrmidine starvation (7, 8), accumulation of deoxyadenosine (9), inhibition of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) dependent methylation reactions (10), and accumulation of intracellular cyclic AMP (4, 11).
GESTATION IN SALPINGECTOMIZED-OVARIECTOMIZED PROGESTERONE-TREATED RABBITS.

SummaryNulliparous rabbits were bred, ovariectomized and salpingectomized bilaterally at 3 1/2 days post coitum, injected daily with 4 mg of progesterone and autopsied at 6 days post coitum. The blastocysts were recovered, examined for their normality and their diameters measured. Some salpingectomized-ovariectomized animals that were allowed to term were laparotomized at 9 days post coitum, to count and measure implantation swellings. Control groups were subjected to sham operations. The percentage of viable blastocysts to the total number of corpora lutea varied from 52 to 90. The percentage of viable blastocysts varied from 89 to 100. The viability of blastocysts was not affected by ovariectomy with or without salpingectomy. Ovariectomy with or without salpingectomy reduced the percentage of viable blastocysts expressed to number of corpora lutea. Groups did not differ significantly in the outer diameter of blastocysts and in the diameter of embryonic disc. There was great variability within group and ...
“Cardio-Oncology”: Implications for interventionists

CV complications in cancer patients predominantly result from collateral damage from chemotherapy and radiation Complex interplay of manifold pathophysiologic processes poses evaluation challenges and management conundrums. Pre-cath planning essential, employing advanced non-invasive imaging of myocardium, PC, and great vessels.
Research on Flood Control Decision Support System of Intelligent Hydropower Plant Based on B/S Structure

In order to meet a higher level of safety requirements of flood control and multi-system intelligent interaction needs of the intelligent hydropower plant,the solution scheme of flood control decision support system based B/S mode is proposed.The framework of system is three layers of HSS structure(Hibernate+Spring+Struts).The technology of Extjs and Struts2 are applied to realize the presentation layer.The coupling degree of the system is reduced through Spring framework in service layer.The data persistence layer is realized by Hibernate framework.The system is applied to Songjiang River.The results show that the proposed system can provide distributed technical support for safe operation of hydropower plant,which reaches the purpose of once deployment everywhere and hierarchical classification utilization and simplifies the complex application process as well as reduces the maintenance complexity and human investment.
Multimodal Systems: An Excursus of the Main Research Questions

Multimodal systems use integrated multiple interaction modalities (e.g. speech, sketch, handwriting, etc.) enabling users to benefit of a communication more similar to the human-human communication. To develop multimodal systems, several research questions have been addressed in the literature from the early 80s till the present day, such as multimodal fusion, recognition, dialogue interpretation and disambiguation, fission, context adaptation, etc. This paper investigates studies developed in the last decade, by analyzing the evolution of the approaches applied to face the main research questions related to multimodal fusion, interpretation, and context adaptation. As result, the paper provides a discussion on the reasons that led to shift attention from one methodology to another.
Multiple Giftedness in Adults: The Case of Polymaths

Creativity researchers often assert that specialization is a requirement for adult success, that skills and knowledge do not transfer across domains, and that the domain dependence of creativity makes general creativity impossible. The supposed absence of individuals who have made major contributions to multiple domains supposedly supports the specialization thesis. This chapter challenges all three legs of the specialization thesis. It describes individuals who have made major contributions to multiple domains; reviews prior literature demonstrating polymathy among creative adults; and presents data from an ongoing study of Nobel laureates in literature, science and economics that confirms this creativity–polymathy connection.
The Continuing Role of Life History Parameters to Identify Stock Structure

Life history parameters were historically used to identify fish stocks because they are often easy to measure or are routinely measured as part of fishery monitoring and because they are directly related to fishery productivity and stock assessment. Theoretical or technological advances, such as the use of the probabilistic reaction norm approach or the repurposing of otoliths for stock-related questions, have only increased the value of life history samples and data for identifying stock structure. Today, life history approaches are useful in data-poor situations or as part of an interdisciplinary approach in data-rich situations. This review provides a historical framework, comments on data and modeling requirements, and includes recent examples of how life history parameters are used to identify stocks of marine, diadromous, estuarine, and freshwater fishes. In total, this review remarks on an array of life history traits used for stock identification: distribution, abundance, age, size, mortality, recruitment, spawning seasonality, maturity, fecundity, and egg size.
Philosophy with Groups—and Groupies

The kinds of activities in which human groups can indulge range from sacred to profane, refined to vulgar, and noble to common. Philosophers, as thinkers, have a well-deserved reputation for being solitary creatures. The crucial distinction lies between the creative and the performing arts. Those who perform are more apt to enjoy professional camaraderie, and to require logistical and, therefore, also social support; while those who create are more apt to crave quietude, and thus, to cultivate solitude. Some exceptionally creative souls are also prone to antisocial eccentricities, if not downright social dysfunctionalities. Quite a number of philosophers appear to pride themselves on being eccentric if not socially dysfunctional, as though that alone were a guarantee of noetic profundity. The reconception of philosophy as a group activity also cuts somewhat across the gradient of psychology with groups that became full-blown in the 1960s as “group therapy,” and whose practices as well as residues are still current in both popular conception and corporate culture. However, there is a big difference between sitting in a circle holding hands and sitting around a table linking minds.
Nonprofit/Nongovernmental Organizations

Nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations have long played a significant role in the development of democratic societies and the promotion of the common good. Nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations are distinct in both form and function, as they privately pursue a social mission noncoercively and with potentially unclear lines of ownership. A growing body of organizational communication research in this area addresses a variety of theoretical and practical concerns including membership, governance, fundraising, social capital, and collaboration. This research expands our theoretical understanding of nonprofit organizing as well as organizational communication more generally. Keywords: collaboration; fundraising; mission; nonprofit; organizational behavior; organizational communication; social change; social justice; volunteer
Approximation algorithms for k-hurdle problems

The polynomial-time solvable k-hurdle problem is a natural generalization of the classical s-t minimum cut problem where we must select a minimum-cost subset S of the edges of a graph such that |p ∩ S| ≥ k for every s-t path p. In this paper, we describe a set of approximation algorithms for "k-hurdle" variants of the NP-hard multiway cut and multicut problems. For the k-hurdle multiway cut problem with r terminals, we give two results, the first being a pseudoapproximation algorithm that outputs a (k - 1)-hurdle solution whose cost is at most that of an optimal solution for k hurdles. Secondly, we provide two different 2(1- 1/r)-approximation algorithms. The first is based on rounding the solution of a linear program that embeds our graph into a simplex, and although this same linear program yields stronger approximation guarantees for the traditional multiway cut problem, we show that its integrality gap increases to 2(1 - 1/r) in the k-hurdle case. Our second approximation result is based on half-integrality, for which we provide a simple randomized half-integrality proof that works for both edge and vertex k-hurdle multiway cuts that generalizes the half-integrality results of Garg et al. for the vertex multiway cut problem. For the k-hurdle multicut problem in an n-vertex graph, we provide an algorithm that, for any constant Ɛ > 0, outputs a ⌈(1 - Ɛ)k⌉-hurdle solution of cost at most O(log n) times that of an optimal k-hurdle solution, and we obtain a 2-approximation algorithm for trees.
Starch–Hydrocolloid Interaction in Chemically Leavened Gluten‐Free Sorghum Bread

A satisfactory chemically leavened gluten-free sorghum bread method was developed by using a blend of 90% commercially milled sorghum flour and 10% rice, tapioca, or potato starch as the “flour.” The most effective starch/hydrocolloid combinations in the formula were potato starch with 4% xanthan, tapioca starch with 3% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and rice starch with 3% xanthan. Overall, there was not a significant difference in the quality of loaves made with each starch/hydrocolloid combination. Rapid visco analysis showed that batter viscosity did not have a significant impact on loaf volume index but did affect crumb grain properties. Batters with lower viscosity produced loaves with better crumb grain.
Abstract 097: Effects of BRIDGE Attendance on the Outcomes of Diabetic Patients

Background: Prior studies have shown that patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease. BRIdging the Discharge Gap Effectively (BRIDGE) is a nurse ...
‘We recommend compliance’: bargaining and leverage in Ethiopian–US intelligence cooperation

ABSTRACTDisputes over the costs and benefits of intelligence liaisons between the US and its African allies are routine. The contentious and largely overlooked bargaining processes that stem from these disputes call into question prominent depictions of US–African security partnerships as rigidly hierarchical alliances. Through an assessment of compliance bargaining between Ethiopia and the US over the terms of their intelligence liaison, this article posits that, despite the vast power asymmetry between these allies, Ethiopia routinely dictated and policed the terms of this liaison, while consistently leveraging it as means to acquire political concessions from the US.
Demand fulfillment probability in a multi-item inventory system with limited historical data

ABSTRACTIn a budget-constrained multi-item inventory system with independent demands, we consider the case of unknown demand parameters that are estimated from limited amounts of historical demand data. In this situation, the probability of satisfying all item demands, as a measure of demand fulfillment, is a function of the finite-sample estimates of the unknown demand parameters; thus, the demand fulfillment probability is a random variable. First, we characterize the properties of an asymptotical approximation to the mean and variance of this random variable due to the use of limited data for demand parameter estimation. Second, we use the characterization of the variance of the demand fulfillment probability for quantifying the impact of demand parameter uncertainty on demand fulfillment via numerical experiments. Third, we propose an inventory optimization problem that minimizes the variance of the demand fulfillment probability due to demand parameter uncertainty subject to a budget constraint on th...
Getting the Green Light to Measure Small Forces

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) and related molecules have been important signal molecules for cell biologists because they emit a bright signal to mark the position of tagged structures as well as changes in calcium and proton concentrations. Related molecules even emit in different colors. Now Hendrik Dietz and Matthias Rief from the Technical University of Munich have given us a detailed look at the "energy landscape" of GFP with the promise that it may also be useful indicator for forces.2 In this context, energy landscape refers to a three-dimensional map of the energy levels of the molecule as it is transitioned from its native state to an unfolded state.
Synthesis of NiFe2O4 nanoparticles for energy and environment applications

Magnetic nanoparticles are of great interest due to their applications in energy and environment. In this work, we developed a chemical solution based method to synthesize NiFe2O4 (NFO) nanoparticles with different sizes and structures by organic ligands and studied their applications in magnetic electrolyte concentration cells and waste water treatment. NFO nanoparticle growth is controlled by the organic passivating ligand ratios, reaction temperatures, and reaction solution concentrations to achieve the control of NFO nanoparticle size ranging from 25 nm to 160 nm. The NFO growth mechanism is controlled by aggregation related mechanism, leading to tunable magnetic properties and concentration cell device performance. Magnetic biochar consisting of biochar/NFO composite was also obtained based on the developed method. Waste water containing Rhodamine B was tested by the synthesized magnetic biochar. We believe the method developed in this work about magnetic NFO nanoparticles and magnetic biochar will shed light on the application of magnetic nanoparticles in energy and environment.
Methodological and clinical implications of a three-in-one Russian doll design for tracking health trajectories and improving health and function through innovative exercise treatments in adults with disability

Hybrid research designs targeting adults with neurologic disability are critical for improving the efficiency of models that can identify, track and intervene on identified health issues. Our Russian doll framework encompasses three study phases. Phase 1 involves prospectively following a cohort of participants with disability to examine the relationships between rates of health and functional deficits (e.g., pain, fatigue, deconditioning), functional measures (e.g., cardiorespiratory endurance, strength, balance), and environmental and sociocultural factors. In Phase 2, eligible participants with neurologic disability from Phase 1 (in our example, individuals with multiple sclerosis) are screened and randomized to a clinical exercise efficacy trial. In Phase 3, study participants are enrolled in a home-based teleexercise trial to test the feasibility and replicability of delivering the clinical exercise study in the home. This unique three-in-one Russian doll framework serves as a foundation for informing and guiding researchers and clinicians in treating certain health and functional deficits in people with neurologic disability using exercise as a primary treatment modality in both the clinical and home settings. It offers a unique perspective for understanding the critical issues of functioning, health maintenance and quality of life for people with neurologic disability across a longitudinal framework. Study 2 ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02533882 (retroactively registered 03/06/2015). Study 3 ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03108950 (retroactively registered 04/05/2017).
Rational Choice Theory: Cultural Concerns

Among the main ancestors of current rational choice theory are Max Weber, Johannes von Neumann and Leonard Savage. The theory states that a rational agent will (a) choose the action that best satisfies his or her desires, given the beliefs; (b) adopt the beliefs that are best justified by the available evidence; and (c) invest an optimal amount of resources in the acquisition of information. Although the theory has met with many empirical and conceptual problems, which have stimulated various alternative explanatory approaches, it continues to stand out by virtue of its simplicity and numerous predictive successes.
Barack Obama, the Idealistic Realist, 2009–2017, Part II: Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Global Problems

Barack Obama entered the White House intending to emulate the more realistic foreign policy philosophy of the first President Bush without abandoning American ideals. However, more often than not, his foreign policies reflected the greater emphasis he placed on realistic rather than idealistic considerations. In Europe, Obama had to counter Russia’s challenge to NATO and the liberal international order. In Latin America, Obama ignored liberal values in order to obtain the cooperation of corrupt and repressive governments in halting the movement of illegal drugs and migrants into the United States. In sub-Saharan Africa, he implemented a number of noteworthy humanitarian aid programs, but was more concerned with assisting friendly African governments resist terrorist groups. Finally, Obama attempted to ameliorate a number of ominous global problems, including climate change, nuclear weapons proliferation, and the negative effects of globalization.
Effective Cell Culture

Cell culture is a powerful tool for investigation. For the surgeon scientist, it may offer a shorter turnaround time in test results, a cheaper model than other in vivo methods (e.g., large animal models), and can offer the specificity that comes with isolating a cellular process. Suffice it to say that it is an invaluable skill to have when starting a lab. In this chapter we introduce why cell cultures make sense for the surgeon scientist, how to go about thinking about cell cultures, and tips and tricks to getting started with this technology. Many theoretical examples are used to solidify certain concepts, and procedural protocols are included to get you started. These are certainly not a comprehensive analysis of everything that is needed in the lab; however, it is a solid background for those wishing to begin their career as a surgeon scientist.
Composition and Metabolism of Myelin Cerebrosides and Gangliosides

Glycolipids are an important class of lipids found in the plasma membrane surface of virtually all vertebrate cells and are particularly abundant in the nervous system (Yu and Saito, 1989). The glycolipid composition is cell specific and is also known to undergo developmental changes as a result of cellular maturation. Recent studies from many laboratories have provided stong evidence that glycolipids not only play an important role in determining the properties of the cell, but also may participate in a variety of cellular functions such as recognition and adhesion. The present paper describes two aspects of myelin glycolipid metabolism, namely, the synthesis of galactocerebrosides and the catabolism of gangliosides with a special emphasis on the role of a newly discovered myelin-associated neuraminidase.
A Method for Segmenting Medicare Expenditures to Inform Cost Effective Care Delivery for Older Adults.

Introduction: Faced with growing populations of older, medically complex patients, health systems are now incentivized to deliver cost-effective, high-value care. We evaluated a new method that builds upon existing Medicare spending concentration studies to further segment these expenditures, revealing use patterns to inform care redesign. Methods: We obtained monthly Medicare expenditure data and derived baseline comparison data using typical methods for identifying a yearly high-cost subpopulation. We then applied the new methodology, ordering monthly patient expenditures from highest to lowest to more extensively segment the baseline data. Our evaluation examined the following within the new more extensive segmentation: monthly expenditure distribution, corresponding patient counts, and occupancy of specific patient subgroups within the extended segmentation of baseline data. Results: Compared to the baseline data, we found further spending concentration, with 16.7 percent of high-cost patients being responsible for about two-thirds of baseline expenditures. The remaining 83.3 percent of the high-cost subpopulation exhibited lower spending, collectively accounting for about one third of baseline expenditures. Additionally, we found that unique patient subgroups occupied different segments over time, with specific subgroups comprising 8.3 percent of the study subpopulation patients migrating into and out of each highest spending segment, accounting for almost half of monthly baseline expenditures. Conclusions: With monthly health care expenditures concentrated among small numbers of migrating patients, our evaluation suggested potential cost-effectiveness in tiered care delivery models, where small subgroups receive direct, active care interactions, while the remainder experience surveillance-level care, designed to both address ongoing medical needs and to detect emergent migration.
Prescription opiate analgesics, heroin, HIV and HCV among persons who inject drugs in New York City, 2016-2018.

Abstract Objectives Assess relationships among non-medical use of prescription opioid analgesics (POAs), heroin use, and HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) infection among persons who inject drugs (PWID) in New York City, 2016–2018. Methods PWID (N = 134) were recruited from Mount Sinai Beth Israel drug treatment programs. HIV seropositive persons were oversampled. A questionnaire was administered, and serum samples were collected for HIV and HCV testing. Analyses were stratified by HIV serostatus and compared those who had used POAs to those who had not used POAs. Results Among the participants, 97% reported injecting heroin, 44% reported injecting cocaine, and 47% reported smoking crack cocaine in the 6 months prior to the interview. There were 66% who reported oral non-medical use of POAs, with 42% using oral POAs in the previous 6 months. There was a clear historical pattern in median year of first injection for different groups: HIV seropositive persons (1985), HIV seronegative persons who never used POAs (1999), and HIV seronegative persons who used POAs (2009). By the time of interview (2016–2018), however, almost all participants (97%) reported injecting heroin. All PWID who reported using POAs also reported injecting heroin. Conclusions Non-medical POA use among PWID was very common and should not be considered a separate drug use epidemic, but as an additional component of the continuing heroin/poly-drug use epidemic, itself a part of the syndemic of opioid use, stimulant use, overdose, HCV and HIV occurring in New York City.
Introduction: #MeToo in the Workplace

This paper is an introduction to the Employment Rights & Employment Policy Symposium on #MeToo in the Workplace. The paper, written by the symposium editor, introduces the symposium and summarizes the following papers: Charlotte Alexander's "#MeToo and the Litigation Funnel"; Michael Green's "A New #MeToo Result: Rejecting Notions of Romantic Consent with Executives"; Ann McGinely's "The Masculinity Mandate: #MeToo, Brett Kavanaugh, and Christine Blasey Ford"; Joseph Seiner's "Harassment, Technology and the Modern Worker"; and Elizabeth Tippett's "Opportunity Discrimination: A Hidden Liability Employers Can Fix."
Post-randomization bias.

Marriage is a potentially wonderful union between two individuals who are in love. Interestingly, almost 50 percent of all marriages in the United States will end in divorce or separation, with 41%...
Using Risk-Based Security to Quantify the Number of Firearms Missed at Airport Security Checkpoints

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is responsible for protecting the nation's air transportation system. Risk-based security is a paradigm for aligning security resources (i.e., perso...
A Geometric Approach to Predicting Bounds of Downstream Model Performance

This paper presents the motivation and methodology for including model application criteria into baseline analysis. We will focus on detailing the interplay between the common measures of mean square error (MSE) and accuracy as it relates to perceived model performance. MSE is a common aggregate measure for the performance of predictive regression models. The advantages are numerous. MSE is agnostic to the choice of model given that the set of possible outcome values are defined on the appropriate metric space. In practice, decisions on how to subsequently use a trained model are based on predictive performance, relative to a baseline where input features are not used - colloquially a "random model". However, the relative performance gains of a model in terms of MSE to the baseline does not guarantee commensurate gains when deployed in downstream applications, systems, or processes. This paper demonstrates one derivation of a distribution to qualify MSE performance for multi-class decision making systems desiring a certain level of accuracy. The model error is qualified through comparison to relevant baselines tied to the application suited to evaluating individual outcome performance criteria.
A retrospective analysis of sex education messages received by LGB youth

Using focus groups, this qualitative study asked thirty-five gay, lesbian, and bisexual (LGB) young adults to reflect on messages they received about sex and sexuality around the time they first ha...
Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a substantial public health burden, but current treatments have limited effectiveness and adherence. Recent evidence suggests that 1 or 2 administrations of psilocybin with psychological support produces antidepressant effects in patients with cancer and in those with treatment-resistant depression. Objective To investigate the effect of psilocybin therapy in patients with MDD. Design, Setting, and Participants This randomized, waiting list–controlled clinical trial was conducted at the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Adults aged 21 to 75 years with an MDD diagnosis, not currently using antidepressant medications, and without histories of psychotic disorder, serious suicide attempt, or hospitalization were eligible to participate. Enrollment occurred between August 2017 and April 2019, and the 4-week primary outcome assessments were completed in July 2019. A total of 27 participants were randomized to an immediate treatment condition group (n = 15) or delayed treatment condition group (waiting list control condition; n = 12). Data analysis was conducted from July 1, 2019, to July 31, 2020, and included participants who completed the intervention (evaluable population). Interventions Two psilocybin sessions (session 1: 20 mg/70 kg; session 2: 30 mg/70 kg) were given (administered in opaque gelatin capsules with approximately 100 mL of water) in the context of supportive psychotherapy (approximately 11 hours). Participants were randomized to begin treatment immediately or after an 8-week delay. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome, depression severity was assessed with the GRID-Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (GRID-HAMD) scores at baseline (score of ≥17 required for enrollment) and weeks 5 and 8 after enrollment for the delayed treatment group, which corresponded to weeks 1 and 4 after the intervention for the immediate treatment group. Secondary outcomes included the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Rated (QIDS-SR). Results Of the randomized participants, 24 of 27 (89%) completed the intervention and the week 1 and week 4 postsession assessments. This population had a mean (SD) age of 39.8 (12.2) years, was composed of 16 women (67%), and had a mean (SD) baseline GRID-HAMD score of 22.8 (3.9). The mean (SD) GRID-HAMD scores at weeks 1 and 4 (8.0 [7.1] and 8.5 [5.7]) in the immediate treatment group were statistically significantly lower than the scores at the comparable time points of weeks 5 and 8 (23.8 [5.4] and 23.5 [6.0]) in the delayed treatment group. The effect sizes were large at week 5 (Cohend = 2.5; 95% CI, 1.4-3.5;P Conclusions and Relevance Findings suggest that psilocybin with therapy is efficacious in treating MDD, thus extending the results of previous studies of this intervention in patients with cancer and depression and of a nonrandomized study in patients with treatment-resistant depression. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:NCT03181529