cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Outpatient Screening Procedures for Primary Aldosteronism

1. The sensitivity and specificity of several individual and combined measurements for the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism have been calculated in 22 patients with established primary aldosteronism and 140 essential hypertensive controls. 2. Excellent sensitivity and specificity (93-100%) in the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism cannot be accomplished with any single test but can be achieved with combinations of (a) a low ‘stimulated’ plasma renin activity (PRA) (after frusemide and orthostasis) together with either hypokalaemia or a high ‘stimulated’ plasma aldosterone concentration (above 944 pmol/l), or (b) a low ‘stimulated’ PRA, together with either hypokalaemia or a high saline-suppressed plasma aldosterone concentration (above 236 pmol/l), or (c) a pressor response to saralasin together with elevated values of NaCl-suppressed or frusemide-stimulated plasma aldosterone concentration. Procedures (a) or (c) can be completed in 3–4 h; (b) requires 8 h.
Interactions of inorganic oxide nanoparticles with sewage biosolids

The use of nanoparticles (NPs) in manufacturing continues to increase despite the growing concern over their potential environmental and health effects. Understanding the interaction of NPs and sewage sludge is crucial for determining the ultimate fate of NPs released to municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) as those interactions will determine whether the bulk of the material is retained in the sludge or released in the effluent stream. Analyzing the affinity of aluminum oxide, cerium oxide, and silicon oxide NPs, which are commonly used in semiconductor manufacturing processes, for biosolids used in municipal WWTPs provides a basis for estimating their removal efficiency. Batch studies were performed and the NPs were shown to partition onto the cellular surface. At the maximum equilibrium values tested (75–92 mg nanoparticles/L), the concentration of Al 2 O 3 , CeO 2 and SiO 2 associated with the sludge was 137, 238, and 28 mg/g-sludge VSS, respectively. These results suggest that electrostatic interactions play a major role in determining NP association with biosolids.
Comparison of stratospheric and tropospheric temperature trend between seven CMIP5 models and SSU/MSU observations

Global atmospheric temperature trends from the middle troposphere to the upper stratosphere are investigated based on the simulations from the Coupled Climate Model Inter-comparison Project phase5( CMIP5) together with NOAA satellite observations from 1979 to 2005. Results show that the CMIP5 model simulations can reproduce the features of stratospheric cooling and tropospheric warming,which are consistent with the observations,but the CMIP5 simulations display different latitudinal-longitudinal patterns from SSU / MSU measurements,with significant discrepancies among the selected models. Compared with observations,the CMIP5 simulations significantly underestimate the stratospheric cooling in the tropics and substantially overestimate the cooling over the Antarctic in the MSU observations. The largest standard variation among the seven CMIP5 simulations is seen in both the south and north polar regions in the stratosphere,and the standard variation retains similar small values at all latitudes in the troposphere.
Photosensitized oxidation of cholesterol in biological systems: reaction pathways, cytotoxic effects and defense mechanisms

Cholesterol resembles other unsaturated lipids in being susceptible to peroxidative degradation when exposed to a sensitizing agent, exciting light of suitable wavelength and molecular oxygen. Selected hydroperoxides of cholesterol can be used as relatively convenient and reliable indicators of primary photochemical mechanisms, allowing a distinction to be made between free radical-mediated and singlet oxygen-mediated reactions. When generated in cell membranes, hydroperoxides of cholesterol and other lipids can have deleterious effects on membrane structure and function. Such damage may be exacerbated if these photoproducts undergo one-electron reduction to oxyl radicals which in turn initiate chain peroxidation reactions. Cells can resist these effects by using a membrane-based glutathione peroxidase to catalyze the two-electron reduction and detoxification of lipid hydroperoxides. Recent advances in our understanding of cholesterol photo-oxidation from the standpoints of (a) mechanistic information, (b) cytotoxicity and (c) cytoprotection are discussed in this article.
Factors Influencing Removable Partial Denture Patient-Reported Outcomes of Quality of Life and Satisfaction: A Systematic Review.

Purpose A systematic search of the literature was performed to identify and characterize articles reporting the influence of removable partial denture (RPD) therapy on satisfaction and quality of life (QoL). Materials and Methods The literature search for relevant articles published between January 1983 and March 30, 2013 was conducted using keyword searches of electronic databases and complimentary hand searches. The search strategy included the following keyword combinations (MeSH and free-text terms): fail, complication, surviv*, longevity, outcome, patient satisfaction or QoL, and denture or prosthes*, and partial and removable. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, articles focused on the effect of RPD therapy were reviewed and classified according to Strength-of-Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT) criteria. Results The combined search identified 997 publications; 198 duplicates were identified and removed, leaving 799 references for further evaluation. After abstract review, 209 articles were selected and read; 18 reports representing findings from 4002 patients were included. While two studies were prospective comparative investigations, the majority of studies represented cross-sectional and retrospective studies. Different instruments were used to measure oral health-quality of life (OHQoL) and satisfaction. Several investigations reported a significant association of satisfaction and QoL with either (a) age of the patient, (b) number of occluding dental units replaced, (c) replacement of anterior teeth, and (d) nature of the opposing arch. Conclusions A paucity of detailed investigations concerning outcomes of RPD therapy was noted. Improvement in OHQoL or satisfaction following provision of RPDs was not consistently reported. There is little evidence supporting any association between patient-reported QoL or satisfaction with technical or biological parameters of therapy. Therapeutic success of tooth replacement using RPDs should be carefully considered and compared with alternatives.
Designing an Institutional Investor's Collaborative Network: A Case Study of Value Network Analysis

As elaborated in our paper — Social Capital and Building an Institutional Investor’s Collaborative Network — a new “collaborative” model of investing lies at the heart of our re-intermediation thesis, and this model is premised upon institutional investors forming broad and deep relationships with investment partners to build their social capital. In this paper, we aim to provide practical guidance for an ego investor to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of its collaboration strategy, by developing a generic model for the collaborative investment network, using the results from a rigorous value network analysis. Specifically, our model shows the great potential of value network analysis in managing the complexity and uncertainty of exchange activities between institutional investors for multiple types of resources as well as enhancing the dynamic capabilities of institutional investors by providing them a transparent, collaborative, and live platform to continuously and consistently learn from the past and quickly adapt to the internal and external changes in a networked environment. Further, our next goals include extending the level of value network analysis from an ego investor to the whole network, studying the longitudinal evolution of a collaborative investment network, as well as minimizing the potential moral hazard, free-riding, and other social dilemmas associated with the implementation of collaboration strategy.
The Gastroenterologist’s Role in Management of Perianal Fistula

Perianal fistula occurs frequently in the Crohn disease population. Therapy for fistulas has changed through the years from primarily surgical management to multidisciplinary management among gastroenterologists, radiologists, and surgeons. Gastroenterologists play a role in assisting with diagnosis through endoscopic ultrasound and assessment of luminal disease activity, providing medical therapy including biologic therapy and antibiotics, and coordinating the multidisciplinary care with surgical and radiologic colleagues.
Henneguya laseeae n. sp. from flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) in the upper Mississippi River.

A novel species of Henneguya was isolated from flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) captured in the upper Mississippi River near Lansing (Allamakee County), IA, and La Crosse (La Crosse County), WI. Designated Henneguya laseeae n. sp., this novel species is described using critical morphological features, histology, and 18S ribosomal RNA gene sequence. Ovoid cysts, ranging from 1200 to 1800 μm in width, tended to be at filament tips or in the distal third, often directly on the filament midline, but occasionally paramedian. Lanceolate-shaped myxospores were consistent with those of the genus Henneguya. The spore body was 16.2 ± 0.5 μm (mean ± standard deviation; range = 15.1–17.0 μm) in length, 6.0 ± 0.4 μm (5.1–6.6 μm) in width, and 4.7 ± 0.2 μm (4.4–4.9 μm) thick. The two polar capsules at the anterior of the spore body were 5.9 ± 0.3 μm (5.3–6.3 μm) in length and 1.8 ± 0.1 μm (1.6–2.1 μm) in width and contained six to seven turns in the polar filament. The caudal processes tapered to fine points and were 54.3 ± 2.9 μm (49.1–61.7 μm) in length. Total spore length was 70.4 ± 3.3 μm (64.5–79.4 μm). The spores and plasmodium of this species are of similar size and morphology to other species of Henneguya from ictalurid fishes. Additionally, the 18S rRNA gene sequences placed this isolate within a clade populated by Henneguya spp. from North American ictalurids. This is the first reported species of Henneguya from flathead catfish.
Benzimidazopurine nucleosides from N6-aryl adenosine derivatives by PhI(OAc)2-mediated C–N bond formation, no metal needed

The reaction of a variety of N6-aryl 2'-deoxyadenosine and adenosine derivatives with PhI(OAc)2 in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol provides a facile access to benzimidazopurine nucleoside analogues by metal-free C-N bond formation with a purinyl nitrogen atom. These reactions likely proceed via radical-cation/radical processes as indicated by radical inhibition experiments.
SZT2 dictates GATOR control of mTORC1 signalling

Mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) integrates nutrient signals to control cell growth and organismal homeostasis across eukaryotes. The evolutionarily conserved GATOR complex regulates mTORC1 signalling through Rag GTPases, and GATOR1 displays GTPase activating protein (GAP) activity for RAGA and RAGB (RAGA/B) and GATOR2 has been proposed to be an inhibitor of GATOR1. Furthermore, the metazoan-specific SESN proteins function as guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitors (GDIs) for RAGA/B, and interact with GATOR2 with unknown effects. Here we show that SZT2 (seizure threshold 2), a metazoan-specific protein mutated in epilepsy, recruits a fraction of mammalian GATOR1 and GATOR2 to form a SZT2-orchestrated GATOR (SOG) complex with an essential role in GATOR- and SESN-dependent nutrient sensing and mTORC1 regulation. The interaction of SZT2 with GATOR1 and GATOR2 was synergistic, and an intact SOG complex was required for its localization at the lysosome. SZT2 deficiency resulted in constitutive mTORC1 signalling in cells under nutrient-deprived conditions and neonatal lethality in mice, which was associated with failure to inactivate mTORC1 during fasting. Hyperactivation of mTORC1 in SZT2-deficient cells could be partially corrected by overexpression of the GATOR1 component DEPDC5, and by the lysosome-targeted GATOR2 component WDR59 or lysosome-targeted SESN2. These findings demonstrate that SZT2 has a central role in dictating GATOR-dependent nutrient sensing by promoting lysosomal localization of SOG, and reveal an unexpected function of lysosome-located GATOR2 in suppressing mTORC1 signalling through SESN recruitment.
Self-Learning Intelligent Agents for Dynamic Traffic Routing on Transportation Networks

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) are designed to take advantage of recent advances in communications, electronics, and Information Technology in improving the efficiency and safety of transportation systems. Among the several ITS applications is the notion of Dynamic Traffic Routing (DTR), which involves generating “optimal” routing recommendations to drivers with the aim of maximizing network utilizing. In this paper, we demonstrate the feasibility of using a self-learning intelligent agent to solve the DTR problem to achieve traffic user equilibrium in a transportation network. The core idea is to deploy an agent to a simulation model of a highway. The agent then learns by itself by interacting with the simulation model. Once the agent reaches a satisfactory level of performance, it can then be deployed to the real-world, where it would continue to learn how to refine its control policies over time. To test this concept in this paper, the Cell Transmission Model (CTM) developed by Carlos Daganzo of the University of California at Berkeley is used to simulate a simple highway with two main alternative routes. With the model developed, a Reinforcement Learning Agent (RLA) is developed to learn how to best dynamically route traffic, so as to maximize the utilization of existing capacity. Preliminary results obtained from our experiments are promising. RL, being an adaptive online learning technique, appears to have a great potential for controlling a stochastic dynamic systems such as a transportation system. Furthermore, the approach is highly scalable and applicable to a variety of networks and roadways.
Concrete Research Poetry: A Visual Representation of Metaphor

In this paper, the author employs concrete research poetry as a visual representation of a metaphor analysis. Using autoethnographic methods, she explores the experiences of eight single mothers of children and young adults with mental illness. She conducts a metaphor analysis of semi-structured interview data and generates concrete poetic structures from metaphors that emerged from the data. In the process, she transforms data into art.
Acute Vascular Insufficiency in the Elderly

The evolving demographic shift in the United States resulting in increasing numbers of elderly citizens directly impacts all of healthcare. Emergency services now are inundated with geriatric patients who often present with surgical problems complicated by multiple comorbidities. The key to the successful management of surgical emergencies in the elderly is not only early diagnosis and prompt treatment but also aggressive management of multiple pre-existing major health problems. This is especially true in acute ischemia in the elderly. Delay in diagnosis is common in these patients despite the fact that a simple history and physical examination often are sufficient to make the diagnosis. These delays lead to high morbidity and mortality because the elderly frequently have multiple serious comorbidities and limited reserve to tolerate the sequelae of ischemia. The goal of this chapter is to provide a useful approach to the management of acute vascular insufficiency in the elderly for the acute care general surgeon. This review includes extremity and abdominal acute arterial and venous occlusive diseases and presents algorithms and checklists to help organize and direct diagnosis and management. Illustrative case presentations of each major etiology of acute vascular insufficiency conclude this chapter and provide an integration of the key elements of successful early diagnosis and prompt treatment.
Attractants for wild pigs: current use, availability, needs, and future potential

Populations of wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are burgeoning around the globe, and they are currently the target of extensive research and management efforts. Wild pigs are a highly successful invasive species that cause extensive damage to agriculture and native plant and animal communities. Lethal control is the most common management strategy used to reduce wild pig populations and their damage, and many lethal strategies rely on luring wild pigs to a specific location. Most commonly, a food commodity such as corn or maize (Zea mays) is used for attracting wild pigs to a site, but baiting with food is sometimes prohibited under wildlife laws, and visitation can be variable due to availability of alternative foods, level of harassment by humans, and acceptance of novel food source, devices, and activity. Wild pigs are highly adaptable with refined senses that enable them to interact with their environment and conspecifics in a complex manner. Wild and domestic pigs share keen senses, though differences exist due to suppressed stimuli, evolutionary gains and losses, or other factors related to needs for survival and fitness. Wild pigs routinely rely on acute olfaction to locate food, detect predators, and communicate with conspecifics. A pig’s sense of taste is also considered to be refined and more acute than that of humans. An abundance of evaluations regarding various attractants for wild pigs has been conducted over the last several decades; yet, a scarcity of conclusive results on which attractants to use when and where still exists. As such, we undertook a comprehensive review of available information on potential attractants that could be used to aid management strategies of wild pigs such as hunting/shooting, trapping, pharmaceutical delivery, or density estimation. To complete this review, we assimilated and synthesized the most relevant literature, provide recommendations, and identify attractant evaluation needs for the enhancement of the global management of wild pigs.
Modeling relative habitat suitability of southern Florida for invasive Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus)

Invasive Burmese pythons are altering the ecology of southern Florida and their distribution is expanding northward. Understanding their habitat use is an important step in understanding the pathways of the invasion. This study identifies key landscape variables in predicting relative habitat suitability for pythons at the present stage of invasion through presence-only ecological niche modeling using geographical sampling bias correction. We used 2014 presence-only observations from the EDDMapS database and three landscape variables to model habitat suitability: fine-scale land cover, home range-level land cover, and distance to open freshwater or wetland. Ten geographical sampling bias correction scenarios based on road presence and sampling effort were evaluated to improve the efficacy of modeling. The best performing models treated road presence as a binary factor rather than a continuous decrease in sampling effort with distance from roads. Home range-level cover contributed the most to the final prediction, followed by proximity to water and fine-scale land cover. Estuarine habitat and freshwater wetlands were the most important variables to contribute to python habitat suitability at both the home range-level and fine-scale. Suitability was highest within 30 m of open freshwater and wetlands. This study provides quantifiable, predictive relationships between habitat types and python presence at the current stage of invasion. This knowledge can elucidate future targeted studies of python habitat use and behavior and help inform management efforts. Furthermore, it illustrates how estimates of relative habitat suitability derived from MaxEnt can be improved by both multi-scale perspectives on habitat and consideration of a variety of bias correction scenarios for selecting background points.
How Might the Genetics Profession Better Utilize Social Media.

Social media is a common method of communication in people’s personal lives and professional settings. Gallagher et al. (2016) recommended, “it is time for genetic counselors to embrace social media as a means of communicating with patients or other healthcare professionals.” Full members of the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) in the USA and Canada and genetics patients in Cleveland, OH, were surveyed to determine interest in using social media for patient-provider interactions. Both cohorts indicated that patient privacy and confidentiality would be a concern; however, survey results indicated patients would be interested in using social media to receive general information about genetic counseling and to learn about genetics services. Genetic counselors indicated privacy issues were not concerning if social media were to be used in this capacity. The majority of genetic counselor participants (88.7%) indicated they would welcome national guidelines for patient-provider social media use. Data from this study demonstrated that sharing what to expect at a genetic counseling appointment, defining genetic counseling, and announcing community outreach events are possible ways genetic counselors could utilize social media to communicate with and educate patients.
Displaying Eco-Scenes with Techniques of Diorama Representation

Biodiversity sustains human survival and development and constitutes one of the major themes of natural history museums. Within the exhibition in Zhejiang Museum of Natural History (China), diorama representations are used to create bio-scenes full of artistic conceptions in a limited space with the prototype of model areas, through the scientific refinement of original materials, vivid representation, artistic generalization and creation of story lines whilst taking advantage of design elements of space, colour and shape as well as high-simulation techniques.
Long-term patency in cerebral revascularization surgery: an analysis of a consecutive series of 430 bypasses.

OBJECTIVELarge cohort analysis concerning intracerebral bypass patency in patients with long-term follow-up (FU) results is rarely reported in the literature. The authors analyzed the long-term patency of extracranial-to-intracranial (EC-IC) and intracranial-to-intracranial (IC-IC) bypass procedures.METHODSAll intracranial bypass procedures performed between 1997 and 2017 by a single surgeon were screened. Patients with postoperative imaging (CT angiography, MR angiography, or catheter angiography) were included and grouped into immediate ( 1 year) FU groups. Data on patient demographics, bypass type, interposition graft type, bypass indication, and radiological patency were collected and analyzed with univariate and multivariate (adjusted multiple regression) models.RESULTSIn total, 430 consecutive bypass procedures were performed during the study period (FU time [mean ± SD] 0.9 ± 2.2 years, range 0–17 years). Twelve cases were occluded at FU imaging...
Lumiquinone A, an α-Aminomalonate-Derived Aminobenzoquinone from Photorhabdus luminescens

Lumiquinone A (1), an unusual aminobenzoquinone member within the phenylpropanoid class of natural products, together with the known compound 3,5-dihydroxy-4-isopropyl-trans-stilbene (2), was isolated from the entomopathogenic bacterium Photorhabdus luminescens TT01. On the basis of the analysis of extensive 2D NMR and high-resolution ESI-QTOF-MS spectral data, the structure of 1 was determined to be a 2-amino-5-hydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone substituted with (E)-2-phenylvinyl and isopropyl functional groups. Free α-aminomalonate medium supplementation significantly enhanced production of 1 relative to 2 in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that promiscuous polyketide synthase processing of malonate- versus α-aminomalonate-derived substrates represents a competitive route for polyketide structural diversification. Metabolites 1 and 2 were active against Bacillus subtilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Critical Time Intervention

Critical Time Intervention (CTI) is an empirically supported case management model that prevents homelessness and fosters recovery among vulnerable people during periods of significant transition. Individuals transitioning from institutions, such as jails, hospitals, and shelters, to the community often have trouble re-establishing connections to crucial supports. CTI is a time-limited case management approach that aims to build enduring connections to supports during transitional periods. Originally developed over 20 years ago, CTI has since been subjected to numerous tests of its impact, including several randomized trials. CTI is now widely used in homelessness services systems, and interest continues to grow in how the model might be effectively applied in other social service and health sectors. This chapter describes core components of the original CTI model and an overview of its adaptation for use in Rapid Re-Housing programs.
Helical Peptides Design for Molecular Dipoles Functionalization of Wide Band Gap Oxides

The use of helical hexapeptides to establish a surface dipole layer on a TiO2 substrate, with the goal of influencing the energy levels of a coadsorbed chromophore, is explored. Two helical hexapeptides, synthesized from 2-amino isobutyric acid (Aib) residues, were protected at the N-terminus with a carboxybenzyl group (Z) and at the C-terminus carried either a carboxylic acid or an isophthalic acid (Ipa) anchor group to form Z-(Aib)6-COOH or Z-(Aib)6-Ipa, respectively. Using a combination of vibrational and photoemission spectroscopies, bonding of the two peptides to TiO2 surfaces (either nanostructured or single-crystal TiO2(110)) was found to be highly dependent on the anchor group, with Ipa establishing a monolayer much more efficiently than COOH. Furthermore, a monolayer of Z-(Aib)6-Ipa on TiO2(110) was exposed for different binding times to a solution of a zinc tetraphenylporphyrin (ZnTPP) derivative terminated with an Ipa anchor group (ZnTPP-P-Ipa). Photoemission spectroscopy revealed that ZnTPP-P-...
Longing for a Familiar Way of Going Forward

This essay uses autoethnographic exploration to examine the lived experience of the COVID 19 virus. I particularly consider our transnational moment, with new platforms of/for work, and work to con...
Evolution and function of Tmc genes in mammalian hearing

Auditory sensation in the mammalian inner ear requires mechanosensitive hair cells and an elaborate array of molecules that form the sensory transduction machinery. Several components of this machine have been identified, yet how the ensemble functions in harmony to enable the sense of hearing has not been clarified. We review recent evidence supporting the role of key transduction molecules and focus on TMC1 and TMC2, pore-forming proteins at the heart the mechanosensory device. We consider how vertebrate TMCs changed during evolution and how they function in concert with other components of the transduction apparatus. We also examine the role of TMCs in non-mammalian systems to gain insight into common themes for TMC function and properties unique to mammalian hair cell TMCs. Although the tempo of discovery has accelerated, important questions remain which will need to be addressed for a comprehensive understanding of mechanosensory transduction in the mammalian inner ear.
A Field Guide to Academic Becoming

This article twists, folds, iterates, and proliferates figurations of field in/of/outside the academy as it works to undercut the taken-for-granted assumptions about the field and its borders and b...
Cacography, anomaly detection, and counterfactual violence

The counterfactual sound-byte, a technocratic aphorism for phobogenic rumor, has bisected the public use of (un)reason, such as the counterfactual pattern recognitions that precipitated the invasion of Iraq. The militarized datafication of the counterfactual is predicated on signal/noise discriminations or cacography. Interrogation by torture, promissory kill lists, prosecutorial, algorithmically generated metadata, drone signature strikes, superimposed kill boxes and enforced political disappearances become rumor materially enacted upon and lodged in cacographic, bodies, which, in turn, become rumor forms. The collaterally damaged as fabulations of the computational enemy are indispensable to the prosecution of a war. The circulating body deemed to be cacographic is the metadata underwriting the pattern recognition and excision of the politically anomalous. The hyperpeformativitiy of real-time data collection generates its own inadmissible cacographic surplus through “lossies” caused by compression technology. Asymmetrical war, seeking to purge the interference and cacophony of global asymmetry, returns us to the archaic association of rumor with the din of mobilized armies. Algorithmic warfare has not immunized itself from cacographic dissonance but produces it as surplus value through prosecutorial metadata, anomaly detection, and collateral damage.
Contracting for Compassion in Japanese Buddhism

In the 1960s, Japanese women began asking temples to perform commemorative ceremonies for the fetuses or children they had aborted. They still do. Physicians have been able to perform abortions legally since 1952, and many women have had them. The ceremonies do not fit within the classic rituals offered by the temples, but many Japanese women find them helpful. They ask for the services. The temples respond. The temples charge for these memorial services. They rely on such fee-for-service arrangements for an increasingly important segment of their finances. Traditionally, priests had stood ready to offer their parishioners counseling and ritual as needed during the existentially troubling passages in their lives. In exchange, their local communities had effectively kept the temple on retainer. This no longer works. The temples stand in low levels of tension with the surrounding society (as Stark put it). As such, they cannot trust their parishioners to give voluntarily. Instead, they had counted on the constraining power of the tightly intertwined social network within the local community. Over the course of the 20th century, Japanese migrated out of these tightly structured villages to the often anomic cities. Without a coercive village structure to enforce giving, the low-tension temples found themselves without their effective retainer. With the first-best contract unavailable, many temples have turned to fee-for-service arrangements — of which the abortion-related ritual is merely the most notorious. Ironically, the new environment presents an entirely different challenge: temples now find themselves competing with internet-based priest-dispatch services.
Design of AI-Enhanced Drug Lead Optimization Workflow for HPC and Cloud

Drug discovery is a costly process of searching for new candidate medications. Among its various stages, lead optimization easily consumes more than half of the pre-clinical budget. We propose an automated lead optimization workflow that uses data mining methods in components such as execution of molecular simulations, feature extraction, and clustering with convolutional variational autoencoder. The end-to-end execution produces protein-ligand binding affinity of atoms in the lead molecule which serves as metrics for identifying modifiable atoms. In contrast to known methods, our method provides new hints for drug modification hotspots which can be used to improve drug efficacy. Our workflow can potentially reduce the lead optimization turnaround time from months/years to several days compared with the conventional labor-intensive process and thus will become a valuable tool for medical researchers.
An Uprising of Civility in Texas

When people think of Texas and civility, the first thing that may come to mind might be the infamous YouTube clip titled ‘‘Texas Style Deposition.’’ In that clip, Texas attorney Joe Jamail proceeds to call opposing counsel several profanities, as well as ‘‘fat boy,’’ and Mr. Jamail threatens to fight the witness he is deposing.This anecdotal episode, along with the misconception that the Texas legal system is equivalent to the ‘‘Wild West,’’ cast an unflattering and inaccurate picture of civility in the legal profession in Texas. In fact, efforts to increase and sustain civility in Texas are growing and flourishing. This Article first briefly discusses what civility is, the advantages of civility in the legal profession, and the costs of incivility. This Article then focuses on several of the developments in Texas regarding civility. This Article also provides suggestions on how civility can become even more ingrained in the state.
Potato Flavor

The potato is one of the most popular vegetables worldwide and is the most important vegetable crop in the United States, accounting for nearly one-third of per-capita vegetable consumption. Potatoes can be prepared in many ways, including baking, boiling, roasting, frying, steaming, and microwaving, allowing for a diversity of uses. Most people find potatoes to be an agreeable food and very few actually dislike potatoes. Potato flavor results from the combination of taste, aroma, and texture. Flavor precursors synthesized by the plant are present in raw potatoes and consist mainly of sugars, amino acids, RNA, and lipids. Plant genotype, production environment and storage environment influence the levels of these compounds and the enzymes that react with them to produce flavor compounds. During cooking, flavor precursors react to produce the Maillard reaction compounds and the sugar, lipid and RNA degradation products that contribute to flavor. The identification of major flavor compounds is important for breeders to make gains in selection for enhanced flavor.
Gender and Criminal Justice Responses to Terrorism in the United States

Generally, women receive more lenient treatment by the criminal justice system compared to men. Prior research on how gender shaped prosecutorial decision-making and sentencing outcomes has focused...
Fourier transform scanning tunneling spectroscopy: A new window on the electronic structure of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ

Scanning tunneling spectroscopy is used to study the dispersive wave vectors of the local-density-of-states modulations in near-optimal Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8 + δ . Atomic-resolution energy-resolved spectroscopic images are acquired in a 650 A field of view on the BiO cleave surface of these crystals at 4.2 K. Fourier transforms are used to measure the wave vectors of spatial modulations in the local density of states. At sub-gap energies, up to 16 inequivalent sets of dispersive wave vectors are observed. When analyzed within a model of quasiparticle scattering-induced interference between a characteristic "octet" of states in momentum-space, they yield an estimate of the Fermi-surface location and the energy gap ‖Δ(k)‖ in agreement with angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. At energies approaching the gap-maximum, the local-density-of-states modulations become intense, commensurate with the crystal, and localized by the apparent nanoscale domains. This may indicate that the lifetimes of the k = (π/α 0 , 0) quasiparticles are determined by nanoscale disorder scattering.
Exposure to Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors Impairs Physiological Processes in Juvenile Nematodes

Meloidogyne spp. (root-knot nematodes) are the most damaging plant-parasitic nematodes to commercial agriculture. Currently used nematicides are of limited effectiveness as well as toxic to other o...
The Impact of Year of Study, Gender and Academic Performance on Students, Perception on Academic Advising in Kenyan Universities

A sample of 187 university students (53, 41 and 93 first, second and third year respectively) participated in this study. No significant relationship (r = 0.138) was found between the rate at which students seek academic advising and their perception on the programme. The findings showed that the perception on academic advising of students in different years of study is significantly (P 0.5). A positive and significant (r = 0.256; P < 0.01) relationship was reported between academic performance and students’ perception on academic advising. It was concluded that ways of sustaining and improving students image on academic advising be put in place.
The physiological role of ADP and Mg2+ in maintaining a stable beat cycle in bull sperm

Sperm flagella derive their motive power from the motor protein dynein. In this study, we show that maintenance of the flagellar beat cycle in detergent-extracted bull sperm models is highly dependent on the ratio of Mg2+ to adenosine triphosphate (ATP). An excess of either ATP un-complexed with Mg2+, or an excess of Mg2+ without an equivalent concentration of ATP, results in the loss of beat amplitude and a reduced curvature development in the beat cycle. In addition, we find that adenosine diphosphate (ADP) can stabilize the beat cycle and permit rhythmic beating across a broader range of ATP and Mg2+ concentrations. We provide evidence that suggests that when ATP is un-complexed with Mg2+, it disrupts the beat cycle by reducing dynein adhesion and thereby, reduces the transmission of dynein-generated force between the doublets. Excess Mg2+ does not act by the same mechanism and induces a condition where the flagellum is more resistant to bending. This is consistent with the idea that high Mg2+ stabilizes rigor bridges, and ATP reduces the microtubule binding affinity of dynein. Our results may explain how intact sperm are able to sustain coordinated flagellar beating under a wide range of metabolic conditions, as intact sperm produce ADP in direct proportion to their consumption of ATP. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Preferred Height and Angle Settings of CRT and Keyboard for a Display Station Input Task

This study investigated the display station physical adjustments preferred by a sample of visual display terminal (VDT) operators preselected to span the 5th, 50th, and 95th percentiles in physical stature with respect to United States or Japanese anthropometric surveys. Thirty-seven operators were taken individually through a step-by-step sequence to determine their preferred adjustments of seat height, keyboard height and slope angle, and CRT height and tilt angle. Each operator then performed a brief transcription task.Measurements corresponding to the final preferred height and angle adjustments do not agree with some currently evolving German ergonomic display station requirements. In addition, intermeasure correlations strongly suggest that “flat” (low slope angle) keyboards are inappropriate for operators who select low seat heights and are short in stature.
Chapter 10 Nutritional regulation of hepatic gene expression

Publisher Summary This chapter presents several important themes that have emerged from the studies concerning regulation of energy homeostasis in response to changing nutritional states in mammals. First, changes in gene expression, particularly at the level of gene transcription, are critical points of regulation for adaptive responses of the organism to its environmental conditions. These changes allow the organism to modify the enzyme repertoire of any cell or tissue to meet the present energy needs. The enzymes that are expressed are then subject to fine level control of their activity to provide the acute regulation of metabolic pathways. Second, energy nutrients themselves, as well as hormonal cues, are important in promoting the intracellular signaling pathways responsible for controlling gene expression. While hormonal signals are critical for communication between tissues that must coordinate their activity, intracellular signaling in response to nutrients and their metabolites provides another level of regulatory inputs that must be met to ensure appropriate physiological responses. Third, various mechanisms are involved in controlling the activity of transcription factors. Fourth, it should be emphasized that all of the various transcription factors that function to regulate transcription of metabolically-important enzymes and proteins work coordinately with many other factors to regulate the final levels of transcription of any specific gene.
The Δ(1232) at RHIC

We investigate properties of the Δ(1232) and nucleon spectral functions at finite temperature and baryon density within a hadronic model. The medium modifications of the Δ consist of a renormalization of its pion–nucleon cloud and resonant πΔ scattering. Underlying coupling constants and form factors are determined by the elastic πN scattering phase shift in the isobar channel, as well as empirical partial decay widths of excited baryon resonances. For cold nuclear matter the model provides reasonable agreement with photoabsorption data on nuclei in the Δ-resonance region. In hot hadronic matter typical for late stages of central Au–Au collisions at RHIC we find the Δ-spectral function to be broadened by ~65 MeV together with a slight upward mass shift of 5–10 MeV, in qualitative agreement with preliminary data from the STAR collaboration.
Short range localization of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

The melting of Arctic ice and the resulting access provided to previously inaccessible regions of the Arctic Ocean has lead to various Arctic exploratory efforts by a number of nations. Canada is collecting Arctic bathymetry survey data in order to define the extent of its continental shelf in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Supporting the collection of Arctic bathymetry data are two International Submarine Engineering, Explorer class, Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). In order to reduce the risk inherent with under-ice AUV operations, Defence Research and Development Canada - Atlantic has designed and built a homing system and a localization system for each of the vehicles. The homing system enables the AUV to find its way to the source of an underwater acoustic signal at ranges in excess of 50 km. In this paper we shall present the localization system, which utilizes a field of acoustic modems allowing the AUV to determine its three dimensional position relative to a reference point. Enhancements to the localization method shall be discussed. These include improvements both at the surface station and the implementation of the algorithm in the vehicle. Lastly, short range localization results from the 2010 Arctic survey trial near Borden Island are presented.
A Woman with a Lung Mass and Multiple Pulmonary Nodules

BACKGROUND Patients presenting with lung mass and/or nodules are common problems for pulmonologists. The common etiologies for this condition in this area (Ohio River Mississippi Valley area) are malignancy, histoplasmosis, and sarcoidosis. However, there can be other rare causes of this presentation for which a detailed clinical history, examination, and broad knowledge is needed for diagnosis. CASE REPORT A 41-year-old woman presented with complaints of progressive nonproductive cough, shortness of breath, and decreased exercise limitation for several months. The symptoms were progressive and were hindering her daily work. Physical examination, including vital signs, was within normal limits. A chest X-ray followed by CT chest was done. CT chest showed a right infrahilar mass 3.5×2.5 cm along with multiple bilateral lung nodules of size 9 to 11 mm. Bronchoscopy with transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) and transbronchial biopsy (TBB) and CT-guided biopsy failed to show any diagnosis. Repeat CT scan at follow-up showed the same lesion and the patient had an open-lung biopsy. A diagnosis of benign metastasizing leiomyoma (BML) was made based on clinical, radiological, and histological features, and immunophenotype of the lesion. The patient was started on leuprolide (a GnRH agonist). Follow-up imaging showed decrease in size of lesions. The patient is asymptomatic with increased exercise tolerance. CONCLUSIONS Clinicians need to be aware of rare causes of lung mass, like BML. This will help in timely diagnosis and treatment.
Studies on the role of 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase in the regulation of serine biosynthesis in rat liver.

Abstract The rate of l-serine biosynthesis from 3-phosphoglycerate by rat liver soluble fractions was found to be directly proportional to the activity of 3-P-glycerate dehydrogenase in the extracts. This relationship was observed in rats fed a low protein diet, in rats fed a low protein diet supplemented with 2% methionine, and in rats given intraperitoneal injections of cortisone acetate. The mechanisms of change in hepatic 3-P-glycerate dehydrogenase activity in response to dietary or hormonal influences were evaluated by kinetic analysis of the transition between steady state levels of the enzyme. These dietary and hormonal alterations did not result in large changes in the estimated turnover of hepatic 3-P-glycerate dehydrogenase. The higher enzyme level in rats fed low protein diets was attributed to an 11-fold increase in estimated enzyme synthetic rate. Supplementation of the low protein diet with 2% methionine or cortisone acetate administration reduces the stimulatory effect of the low protein diet on the rate of synthesis of rat liver 3-P-glycerate dehydrogenase.
Exonuclease VII of Escherichia coli. Mechanism of action.

Exonuclease VII from Escherichia coli is specific for single-stranded DNA, degrading denatured DNA, single-stranded regions extending from the ends of duplex DNA, or displaced single-stranded regions. Hydrolysis is initiated at both 3′ and 5′ termini. Exonuclease VII can also excise thymine dimers from duplex DNA following treatment of the DNA with the Micrococcus luteus endonuclease specific for thymine dimers. The enzyme has no detectable activity on RNA or DNA-RNA hybrid molecules. The limit products of exonuclease VII action are oligonucleotides bearing 5′-phosphoryl and 3′-hydroxyl termini predominantly in the range of tetramers to dodecamers; no mononucleotide products have been observed. The enzyme acts in a processive fashion, initially releasing large, acid-insoluble oligonucleotides which can be degraded further to produce a limit product of acid-soluble oligonucleotides. The possible role of exonuclease VII in recombination and in the repair of ultra-violet damage to DNA is discussed.
Effects of male targeted harvest regimes on prey switching by female mountain lions: Implications for apparent competition on declining secondary prey

Abstract Apparent competition, or predator selection for rare secondary prey instead of abundant primary prey, is causing prey declines in many species worldwide. The causal mechanism for apparent competition is either lower intrinsic growth rate in the secondary prey or higher disproportionate predation by predators for secondary prey. Harvest regimes which target male carnivores are now widely accepted to result in increased sexually selected infanticide (SSI) because of rapid male turnover and immigration by non-sire males, and sexually segregated habitat use because of female avoidance of infanticidal males. If harvest regimes which target male mountain lions cause increased SSI and sexually segregated habitat use by females with young, it could also cause inverse prey switching by females with young or apparent competition in declining secondary prey. We tested for inverse prey switching by female mountain lions with young — from abundant increasing white-tailed deer at low elevations to declining mule deer at high elevations in a heavily hunted, sexually segregated population of mountain lions. The “no effect of targeted male harvest” hypothesis predicts that none or all sexes and reproductive classes of mountain lions will select for mule deer. The “targeted male harvest effect” hypothesis predicts that only females with young will select for declining mule deer. We rejected the “no effect of targeted male harvest” hypothesis and accepted the “targeted male harvest effect” hypothesis because only females with cubs selected for declining mule deer at high elevations and only during summer, when kittens were vulnerable to infanticide — other sex and reproductive classes selected for abundant increasing white-tailed deer at low elevations. We suggest that harvest regimes which focus on male harvest to reduce predation on declining secondary prey could be causing increased predation on declining secondary prey elsewhere.