cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Tolerance Trap: How God, Genes, and Good Intentions are Sabotaging Gay Equality by Suzanna Danuta Walters

What could possibly be wrong with tolerance of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) community? Tolerance, at first glance, seems to be a great way to stomp out homophobia—but ...
The Health of the Newest Americans: How US Public Health Systems Can Support Syrian Refugees

The authors reflect on the health of Syrian refugees and the ways in which the public health systems in America can support the refugees as of 2016. According to the article, the U.S. plans to admit close to 10,000 Syrian refugees during the next fiscal year. Access to quality health services is examined, along with preventive screenings to manage chronic medical issues. Refugee resettlement, public health strategies, and the Philadelphia Refugee Health Collaborative entity are assessed.
Agency Theory and Debt Structure of REITs

This paper examines how executives' compensation structure interacts with firm debt structure. Agency theory suggests that executive compensation can be used to mitigate the conflicts of interests between executives and shareholders. Based on the compensation contracts, executives make corresponding investment and financing decisions. Therefore different compensation structures can be correlated with different firm debt structures. To be concrete, in this paper, we focus on the financing choice between secured and unsecured debt. We first build a theoretical model to analyze the relationship between the executive compensation and the debt structure. Then we use the data of U.S. equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) from year 2000 to year 2007 to test the empirical implications of the model. We find that when executives' wealth are more sensitive to firm stock volatility (also called 'vega'),the proportion of secured debt in total firm debt is higher. A similar positive relation is also found between the sensitivity of executive's wealth to firm stock price and secured debt. We also find that when executives have a higher incentive payment in their compensation, firms tend to have less fixed-rate debt and less long-term debt.
Next-Generation Sequencing and Immunotherapy Biomarkers: A Medical Oncology Perspective

The two most important scientific developments of the past decade regarding therapies for patients with non-small cell lung cancer are the ability to exploit particular genetic mutations with targeted therapies and the discovery of drugs that can help the patient's own immune system attack the cancer. Despite these advances, many patients do not yet benefit from either approach. To maximize patient benefit, clinicians and pathologists will need to rationally apply the growing scientific knowledge to best characterize a patient's tumor and possible driver mutations. A growing understanding of host-tumor immune interactions will hopefully help expand our therapeutic options. Lastly, the still elusive identification of immunotherapy biomarkers will hopefully help identify patients most likely to derive a therapeutic response to immune checkpoint inhibitors, and promises to be an important field of study for years to come.
Concurrence of malignant and benign heterologous mixed tumors of the uterus.

A large polypoid uterine mas was composed to two distinct and separate parts: a malignant mixed mullerian tumor (MMMT) and a benign mixed mesenchymal tumor (BMMT). It was considered a collision of two neoplasms rather than a malignant degeneration of the BMMT. Malignant transformation of benign mesenchymal uterine tumors is a controversial concept which is difficult to prove or disprove. Concerning the histogenesis of MMMT it appears, at least in some cases, that they originate not from a single multipotential mullerian cell, but rather from two, a stromal cell and an epithelial cell. It is suggested furthermore, that in certain instances presence of one neoplastic component, e.g., adenocarcinoma, can incite proliferation of the second, sarcomatous element of the MMMT.
Study on Relationship between Well Spacing and Producing Reserves Percentage of Low Permeable Oil Field

In the development of low permeable oil field,threshold pressure phenomenon generally exists when oil and water filtrating,advisable injector producer distance must be defined according to threshold pressure gradient law of oil and water.Combing threshold pressure gradient law and filtrating theory,relationship between well spacing and permeability plugging of producing layer and relationship between well spacing and producing reserves percentage were defined,which can guide well pattern thickening modifying job,and can provide theory foundation for defining advisable well pattern thickening of low permeable oil field.
Massive benign thymic hyperplasia in a six-month-old girl: case report.

A 6-month-old girl presented with respiratory symptoms with a large right-sided mediastinal mass noted on diagnostic imaging. Percutaneous biopsy revealed normal thymic tissue. Steroids were administered with no response.Right thoracotomy and complete thymectomy were performed. The specimen weighed approximately eight to ten times normal weight, and histology and flow cytometry revealed normal thymic tissue consistent with benign hyperplasia. The child has remained tumor free for a year since surgery. The rare nature of this tumor leads us to report this case and review the current literature.
Treatment of Comorbid Disruptive Behavior in a Youth with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Many children with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) also experience disruptive behavior disorders that may predate or generalize beyond anxiety-driven behaviors. For those children, typically prescribed exposure with response prevention is more challenging to implement, and children tend to respond less favorably. This chapter presents a case of a 10-year-old child with significant OCD and oppositional defiant disorder. Through the use of parent management training (e.g., increased positive attention, planned ignoring, and aversive consequences) in conjunction with exposure with response prevention, the therapist was able to work with parents and the child to decrease disruptive behaviors and OCD and to increase the child’s functioning at home and at school. The chapter demonstrates the importance of guiding case conceptualization and flexible implementation of evidence-based treatment.
Dopamine Dynamics during Continuous Intracranial Self-Stimulation: Effect of Waveform on Fast-Scan Cyclic Voltammetry Data

The neurotransmitter dopamine is heavily implicated in intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS). Many drugs of abuse that affect ICSS behavior target the dopaminergic system, and optogenetic activation of dopamine neurons is sufficient to support self-stimulation. However, the patterns of phasic dopamine release during ICSS remain unclear. Early ICSS studies using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) rarely observed phasic dopamine release, which led to the surprising conclusion that it is dissociated from ICSS. However, several advances in the sensitivity (i.e., the use of waveforms with extended anodic limits) and analysis (i.e., principal component regression) of FSCV measurements have made it possible to detect smaller, yet physiologically relevant, dopamine release events. Therefore, this study revisits phasic dopamine release during ICSS using these tools. It was found that the anodic limit of the voltammetric waveform has a substantial effect on the patterns of dopamine release observed during continuou...
Electromagnetic engineering simulation techniques using parallel EM simulation tools

In this paper, we present some basic ideas to use EM software package to accurately simulate the EM problems. The basic procedure in the EM simulation includes excitation setting, mesh design, boundary setting and parallel processing design for a parallel code. In the paper, we introduce some simulation techniques using different software packages and use these software packages to simulate some typical examples.
Shaken or stirred?: Comparison of methods for dispersion of Mycoplasma pneumoniae aggregates for persistence in vivo

Abstract Background Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mpn), one of the smallest self-replicating prokaryotes, is known to readily adhere to host cells and to form aggregates in suspension. Having only one cell membrane and no cell wall, mycoplasmas present questions as to optimal aggregate disruption method while minimizing cell death in vitro. We compared conventional vortex mixing with other methods for disruption of bacterial aggregates and for its effect on cell viability. Methods Strain UAB PO1, a clinical Mpn isolate, was dispersed using a conventional vortex mixer with or without nonionic detergent (0.1% and 0.01% Tween-20), a probe-type ultrasonicator, or repeated passage through a 27-gauge needle. The resulting suspensions were assayed for recoverable colony-forming units (CFU). Flow cytometric assays were carried out to examine particle size and membrane integrity with the transmembrane potential dye DiBAC4. Wet Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (Wet-STEM) was performed for high resolution imaging of the resultant cell suspensions. Additional Mpn strains and other human mollicute species were assayed in a similar manner. Mice were infected with either vortexed or sonicated UAB PO1 and bacterial persistence was examined via Mpn-specific 16S qPCR. Results Comparison between dispersion methods showed a 10-fold enrichment of recoverable Mpn CFU with sonication compared to other methods. Time-course analysis showed significantly lower bacterial CFU with vortexing compared to sonication at all time points. Flow cytometric analysis showed increased cellular membrane damage via DiBAC4 staining in sonicated suspensions, but a decreased particle size. Wet-STEM imaging showed markedly improved dispersion with sonication compared to conventional vortex treatment, and surprisingly vortexing for 30 s produced up to a 100-fold drop in CFU. Results similar to UAB PO1 were obtained with three additional Mpn strains and other Mollicutes species, although they exhibited differential susceptibilities to disaggregation by sonication. Finally, increased persistence of the organism in a mouse model of infection was observed using sonicated suspensions for initial infection. Conclusions Sonication is superior to vortexing with or without nonionic detergent or repeated 27-gauge needle passage for dispersion of Mpn aggregates while preserving cell viability. Preparation of Mpn suspensions for in vivo experiments is best accomplished using brief sonication due to the dramatic increase in CFU produced by sonication. Dispersion methods may affect the final experimental results and should be an important consideration for future research involving mycoplasma species.
Validation of International Classification of Disease Ninth Revision codes for atopic dermatitis.

Background Evaluation of large-scale data sets is needed to better understand the epidemiology, cost, and burden of atopic dermatitis (AD). We sought to validate the use of ICD-9-CM codes for identifying AD. Methods Patients from a large metropolitan quaternary care medical center with a diagnostic code of either 691.8 (AD) or 692.9 (eczema and contact dermatitis) were queried. Medical records were reviewed for demographics, Hanifin & Rajka (H&R) and United Kingdom Working Party (UKWP) criteria. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values (PPV) of the codes were calculated. Results Of 43 278 patients identified with associated ICD-9 codes of 691.8 or 692.9, 519 and 253 with 691.8 and 692.9 were randomly selected for chart review. There was extensive overlap: 34.3% had ≥1 occurrences of 691.8 and 692.9 and 25.6% had multiple occurrences of both codes. Among patients with ≥1 occurrence of 691.8, 29.9% and 30.8% met the H&R and UKWP criteria, respectively. Similarly, among patients with ≥1 occurrence of 692.9, 33.7% and 32.2% met the H&R and UKWP criteria. Increased PPV was associated with concomitant diagnoses of asthma, hay fever, and food allergy and increased disease severity. Conclusions In the outpatient setting, the ICD-9-CM codes 691.8 and 692.9 alone have poor PPV. Incorporation of diagnoses of asthma, hay fever, and food allergy improves PPV and specificity. In the inpatient setting, a primary discharge diagnosis of 691.8 had excellent PPV. Although ICD-10 has been adopted in Europe and more recently in the USA, the same systematic errors would likely occur unless providers standardize their coding.
Toys that Listen: A Study of Parents, Children, and Internet-Connected Toys

Hello Barbie, CogniToys Dino, and Amazon Echo are part of a new wave of connected toys and gadgets for the home that listen. Unlike the smartphone, these devices are always on, blending into the background until needed. We conducted interviews with parent-child pairs in which they interacted with Hello Barbie and CogniToys Dino, shedding light on children's expectations of the toys' "intelligence'" and parents' privacy concerns and expectations for parental controls. We find that children were often unaware that others might be able to hear what was said to the toy, and that some parents draw connections between the toys and similar tools not intended as toys (e.g., Siri, Alexa) with which their children already interact. Our findings illuminate people's mental models and experiences with these emerging technologies and will help inform the future designs of interactive, connected toys and gadgets. We conclude with recommendations for parents, designers, and policy makers.
A Numerical Investigation of the Organization and Interaction of the Convective and Stratiform Regions of Tropical Squall Lines

Abstract A set of 13 two-dimensional numerical simulations based on the 22 and 23 June Soundings from the ConvectionProfonde Tropicale in 1981 (COPT81) experiment in West Africa is used to study the organization and interactionof the convective and stratiform regions of squall-line-type convective systems. The initial wind profiles arecharacterized by the African easterly jet (AEJ) and the tropical easterly jet (TEJ) located at about 3.5 km and14 km, respectively. The physical processes that generate and maintain the mesoscale inflow at the rear of squall-line-type mesoscaleconvective systems are thereby examined. Horizontal potential temperature gradients generated by a combinationof latent heat release in the convective region and unsaturated mesoscale descent, both modulated by evaporation,cause a horizontal pressure gradient and generate horizontal, line-parallel vorticity. The rear inflow is a consequenceof these processes. The convective activity induces a significant upscale influence; ahead of the...
ABA Accumulation in Dehydrating Leaves Is Associated with Decline in Cell Volume, Not Turgor Pressure.

Reanalysis of published experimental data shows that in dehydrating leaves ABA accumulation is linked with reduction of cell volume rather than turgor, providing clues toward signaling mechanisms.
Deepening Distrust: Why Participatory Experiments Are Not Always Good for Democracy

Previous research has devoted extensive attention to the ways in which participatory initiatives—whether “successful” or “failed”—can be good for democracy. Participation, it is argued, can generat...
Reactive Oxygen Species in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Environmental exposure, primarily cigarette smoking, can cause high oxidative stress and is the main factor of COPD development. Cigarette smoke also contributes to the imbalance of oxidant/antioxidant due to exogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, endogenously released ROS during the inflammatory process and mitochondrial dysfunction may contribute to this disease progression. ROS and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) can oxidize different biomolecules such as DNA, proteins, and lipids leading to epithelial cell injury and death. Various detoxifying enzymes and antioxidant defense systems can be involved in ROS removal. In this review, we summarize the main findings regarding the biological role of ROS, which may contribute to COPD development, and cytoprotective mechanisms against this disease progression.
Workforce Considerations, Training, and Diseases in the Middle East

Evaluating and providing global health assistance, humanitarian aid, and medical missions to Middle Eastern countries can be rewarding and challenging. A broad spectrum of financial capabilities supports effective health care delivery and infrastructure. Middle East tension can make obtaining a visa difficult. Personal safety considerations may hinder efforts to develop and carry out clinical and educational programs. Several Middle East countries have sophisticated and modern health care systems. Medical education and specialty training compares with that of Western medicine. The Middle East has a proud heritage as the foundation of many fundamental and modern medical and surgical principles.
Hysteresis-Based Mechanical State Programming of MEMS Mirrors

The programming of different mechanical states of a MEMS mirror is presented here. The mirror is based on a smart material called vanadium dioxide (VO2) and actuated through Joule heating. The system exhibits dynamical and hysteresis nonlinearity. While hysteresis is largely deemed undesirable, in this paper, the hysteretic behavior of the VO2 is exploited to program tilt angles of the device. The programming is realized by applying a constant current of 7.02 mA (with an electrical power of 5.1 mW) to pre-heat the VO2 film and adding electrical pulses to move between states. Furthermore, the capability of programming any particular mechanical state across the phase transition of the VO2 is demonstrated. A Preisach model is adopted to characterize the hysteretic relationship between the input current and the pitch angle at the steady state, and to compute the input pulse for generating the desired pitch output via an iterative algorithm. Experiments are conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, where two sequences of pitch angle values, with a triangular profile and a random profile, respectively, are successfully programmed with an average error of 0.03°. [2017-0284]
End-to-End Learning of Task-Oriented Dialogs

In this thesis proposal, we address the limitations of conventional pipeline design of task-oriented dialog systems and propose end-to-end learning solutions. We design neural network based dialog system that is able to robustly track dialog state, interface with knowledge bases, and incorporate structured query results into system responses to successfully complete task-oriented dialog. In learning such neural network based dialog systems, we propose hybrid offline training and online interactive learning methods. We introduce a multi-task learning method in pre-training the dialog agent in a supervised manner using task-oriented dialog corpora. The supervised training agent can further be improved via interacting with users and learning online from user demonstration and feedback with imitation and reinforcement learning. In addressing the sample efficiency issue with online policy learning, we further propose a method by combining the learning-from-user and learning-from-simulation approaches to improve the online interactive learning efficiency.
Prorocentrum lima (Dinophyceae) in northeastern USA coastal waters: I. Abundance and distribution

The seasonal distribution of Prorocentrum lima within the epibiotic community associated with wild and cultured shellfish was studied at eight sites in northeastern USA coastal waters. This dinoflagellate produces toxins that can potentially accumulate in shellfish and lead to diarrhetic shellfish poisoning. Four sites in semi-sheltered environments provided sufficient data for an evaluation of population dynamics. The two southernmost populations (Point Judith Pond and Bluff Hill Cove in Rhode Island) displayed a double peak in abundance, one from March to June, with several thousands cells per g dry weight of collected epibiota, and a second one, sometimes minor, in autumn. At the two northern stations (New Meadows River and Clam Cove in Maine), P. lima populations also peaked twice but with a delay in timing. All four sites harbored filamentous seaweeds and aggregations of tube-forming or chains of diatoms, providing a favorable habitat for this epiphytic dinoflagellate.
Effects of Culture, Power, and the Problem-Solving Approach on International Bilateral Negotiations: A U.S.-Japan Comparison of Simulated Negotiation Processes and Outcomes

The issues of culture and power have been frequently debated in the study of negotiation. The problem-solving approach which considers needs and concerns of the adversary has received growing attention. This study is designed to investigate effects of these variables on the process and outcomes of international bilateral negotiations. Using simulation research methods, the study makes comparisons between U.S. and Japanese negotiators and between symmetric and asymmetric negotiations. The study further examines the effectiveness of the problem-solving approach by comparing negotiations in which one of the negotiators is instructed to use the approach to those in which neither of them is instructed to use it. Results indicate that the cultural variable affects the process and outcomes of international bilateral negotiations more significantly than the power and approach variables. For instance, U.S. dyads spent fewer minutes to resolve negotiation issues and reached more agreement.
Calcific and Degenerative Heart Valve Disease

Abstract The global impact of the spectrum of valvular heart diseases is a serious but under-recognized health problem. While the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease has declined in the developed countries, calcific and degenerative valve disease is on the rise due to population aging. No medical therapies exist to prevent or slow this disease progression, and invasive and costly surgical interventions are the only effective treatments. In the last two decades significant efforts have been made in elucidating the cellular pathobiology, development, and biomechanics of heart valves, and new understanding of the developmental pathways underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms of calcific and degenerative valve disorders has emerged. In addition, the use of novel imaging methods and animal models has provided better appreciation of key events occurring in vivo. This chapter will integrate our current knowledge of cellular and molecular pathways and biomechanical factors involved in the initiation and progression of calcific aortic valve disease and mitral valve degeneration in humans.
Magnetic Resonance Studies of Coal

Publisher Summary This chapter presents many uses of magnetic resonance spectrometry in coal research. Electron spin resonance (ESR) and nuclear magnetic resonance provide valuable data that have led and undoubtedly will continue to lead to a better understanding of coal structure and how this structure is altered during the natural processes involved in coalification and during man-made processes for converting coal into more suitable fuels. ESR studies of respiratory-size mine dust, on the other hand, give little additional insight into the understanding of coal workers' pneumoconiosis. The ESR signals arising from coal are associated with organic-free radical structures, and these free radicals are strongly aromatic. For low-rank coals, the unpaired electrons are partially localized on heteroatoms. As coalification increases, the radicals become more hydrocarbon-like, resulting in graphite-like structures.
Functional Case Study Evaluation of the SmartGym: An Anticipatory System to Detect Body Compliance

Therapists and trainers often utilize training and exercise programs as a critical step within the rehabilitation process. Due to the inherent danger of injury while performing these exercises, they must often be performed under the supervision of skilled trainers to observe and provide feedback on body compliance during the motion. To address this safety risk, we've developed the Smart-Gym: an intelligent modification to the Total Gym Pro that monitors a user's body during exercise and provides feedback to anticipate non-compliance. The system was built to provide multimodal feedback for various body adjustments in the same way that a trainer would. Results from an initial case study involving an individual undergoing exercise rehabilitation for hemiparetic cerebral palsy are discussed.
Production of crude bioplastic-beads with microalgae: Proof-of-concept

Abstract The demand for plastics that are produced from biological resources, easily recyclable and biodegradable, has increased in recent years. However, their application in plastic-bead industries, such as recreational shooting sports, fishing, and disposable ornaments, has been limited due to high cost of the production. One of reasons for the high cost is involvement of extraction and purification processes of biopolymers, the raw materials produced in organisms for bioplastic production. It was previously found that Chlamydomonas reinhardtii produces a large amount of triacylglycerol, the ingredient of biopolymers, following centrifugation (Kato et al., Biteb, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biteb.2018.10.003 ). This article reports that the triacylglycerol produced in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii can be directly molded, without extraction and purification, into a 7 mm bead that withstands compressive stress to 1.7 megapascals. With further research and development, the method developed in this study may help to produce disposable bioplastic-beads economically in industry.
Jewish Population in the United States, 2013

In the second volume of the American Jewish Year Book, the editor observed the following in regard to the American Jewish population:
The Flavonoid Metabolite 2,4,6-Trihydroxybenzoic Acid Is a CDK Inhibitor and an Anti-Proliferative Agent: A Potential Role in Cancer Prevention

Flavonoids have emerged as promising compounds capable of preventing colorectal cancer (CRC) due to their anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It is hypothesized that the metabolites of flavonoids are primarily responsible for the observed anti-cancer effects owing to the unstable nature of the parent compounds and their degradation by colonic microflora. In this study, we investigated the ability of one metabolite, 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzoic acid (2,4,6-THBA) to inhibit Cyclin Dependent Kinase (CDK) activity and cancer cell proliferation. Using in vitro kinase assays, we demonstrated that 2,4,6-THBA dose-dependently inhibited CDKs 1, 2 and 4 and in silico studies identified key amino acids involved in these interactions. Interestingly, no significant CDK inhibition was observed with the structurally related compounds 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid (3,4,5-THBA) and phloroglucinol, suggesting that orientation of the functional groups and specific amino acid interactions may play a role in inhibition. We showed that cellular uptake of 2,4,6-THBA required the expression of functional SLC5A8, a monocarboxylic acid transporter. Consistent with this, in cells expressing functional SLC5A8, 2,4,6-THBA induced CDK inhibitory proteins p21Cip1 and p27Kip1 and inhibited cell proliferation. These findings, for the first time, suggest that the flavonoid metabolite 2,4,6-THBA may mediate its effects through a CDK- and SLC5A8-dependent pathway contributing to the prevention of CRC.
Secure and lightweight communication in heterogeneous IoT environments

Abstract The Internet of Things (IoT) is a fast growing and rapidly evolving field. Everyday objects from smart home appliances (e.g. toasters and refrigerators) to health monitoring products (e.g. pacemakers and blood pressure monitors), to minuscule sensors and actuators, are being redesigned to be able to transfer data over a network. The connection of billions of these new objects to the Internet will cause a dramatic increase in the amount of shared data, which will simultaneously introduce a plethora of security risks. Understanding how to secure the data being sent over IoT links is necessary for the IoT paradigm to succeed. A popular data transfer protocol connecting IoT devices is the Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP). We used an open-source implementation of CoAP along with Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) to implement secure data transfer between IoT devices. We studied the impact of DTLS on CoAP in the real IoT testbed we have developed using resource-constrained IoT devices and open-source software. Our tests showed that utilizing a CoAP-DTLS implementation with a symmetric key cipher suite resulted in noticeable performance costs. A secure connection with DTLS over CoAP used approximately 10% more energy than an unsecure connection. In addition, our latency tests revealed over a 100% increase in average latency time for secure messages compared to when no encryption is used. We also highlight some of the implementation challenges encountered while developing a real IoT testbed for secure experimentation.
The Leech Product Saratin Is a Potent Inhibitor of Both VWF and Integrin α2β1 Binding to Collagen.

Background: Subendothelial collagen plays an important role, via both direct and indirect mechanisms, in the initiation of thrombus formation at sites of vascular injury. Collagen binds plasma von Willebrand factor (VWF), which mediates platelet recruitment to collagen under high shear. Subsequently, the direct binding of the platelet receptors GPVI and α2β1 to collagen is critical for platelet activation and stable adhesion. Hematophages, such as leeches, have evolved a number of inhibitors directed toward platelet-colagen interactions so as to prevent haemostasis in the host during haematophagy. Objective: To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the ability of the leech product saratin to inhibit platelet binding to collagen. Results: In the presence of inhibitors of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and thromboxane A2 (TxA2), both saratin and 6D1, a blocking α2β1 mAb, abrogated platelet adhesion to fibrillar and soluble collagen. Additionally, saratin eliminated α2β1-dependent platelet adhesion to soluble collagen in the presence of a Src kinase inhibitor. Moreover, saratin prevented platelet-rich-plasma adhesion to fibrillar collagen, a process dependent upon both α2β1 and VWF binding to collagen. Furthermore, saratin specifically inhibited the binding of the α2I-domain to collagen, and prevented platelet adhesion to collagen under flow to the same extent as observed in the presence of an anti-GPIb and anti-α2β1 mAb. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that saratin interferes with integrin α2β1 binding to collagen in addition to inhibiting VWF-collagen binding, presumably by binding to an overlapping epitope on collagen. This has significant implications for the use of saratin as a tool to inhibit platelet-collagen interactions.
Landscape Aesthetics and Maintenance Perceptions: Assessing the Relationship between Homeowners’ Visual Attention and Landscape Care Knowledge

Abstract Residential landscape design choices can be used to reduce inputs (e.g. fertilizer, irrigation, etc.) to landscapes which may negatively impact the environment. However, homeowners’ opinions of low input landscapes are highly variable and frequently rely on aesthetic and maintenance perceptions. Understanding how consumers view low input landscapes is an important component when developing policies to encourage installation of more environmentally friendly options. The purpose of this study was to quantify homeowners’ perceptions of and visual attention to different landscape designs. Specifically, participants (n = 133) were asked to evaluate 8 Florida-Friendly Landscapes for curb appeal and maintenance requirements. While evaluating the landscapes, participants’ eye movements were recorded. Ordered logit models tested how landscape composition, consumer knowledge, and visual attention influenced their perceptions. Overall, visual appeal was highest for heterogeneous landscapes (i.e. incorporating both turfgrass and plants) and lowest for homogenous landscapes (i.e. primarily composed of turfgrass or plants). Homeowners with more knowledge about landscape care viewed the landscapes as more visually appealing and requiring less maintenance than participants with less knowledge. Greater visual attention was positively correlated with increased visual appeal and maintenance ratings. Overall, results imply that landscape ordinances that allow flexibility in incorporation of both turfgrass and ornamental plants optimizes visual appeal of landscape options and attract homeowners. Furthermore, emphasizing the reduced maintenance requirements of low input landscapes could encourage homeowner adoption.
Language brokering by young adults: Insights into interpreter-mediated interaction

Abstract This study explores the “who, what, where, and how” of language brokering as performed by young adults. Given that the backgrounds of child language brokers merge with the socialization processes that encompass early adulthood, their potentially unique experiences may reveal valuable information about language brokering that can contribute to the advancement of academic, professional, and educational endeavors. This study examines the ontological narratives of 21 college-age language brokers in the United States to illustrate if and how their insights expand the limits of traditional views of interpreter-mediated interaction (e.g., in terms of settings, communication channels, degree of active participation).
Mural Cell-Specific Deletion of Cerebral Cavernous Malformation 3 in the Brain Induces Cerebral Cavernous Malformations.

Objective: Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM), consisting of dilated capillary channels formed by a single layer of endothelial cells lacking surrounding mural cells. It is unclear why CCM lesi...
Taxation as a Barrier to Blockchain Innovation

Though it is not the only cryptocurrency in circulation, Bitcoin has been one of the dominant and more highly valued digital currencies in the blockchain family. The IRS recently decided to treat Bitcoin and all other cryptocurrencies as property, thus causing ownership interests in these cryptocurrencies to generate a taxable transaction any time they are sold or traded for another good or service. We argue that taxation of cryptocurrencies and the recordkeeping necessities that come with it serve to inhibit the innovation in and growth of what could be an extremely valuable new commodity, the blockchain itself. We offer alternative strategies to mitigate the potential effects of these types of regulatory tax policies. Our work is the first to offer an analysis of the implications of tax policies on the development of blockchain technologies.
Filling the Space: A Framework for Coordinated Global Actions To Diminish Academic Bullying

Academic bullying is a serious issue that affects all disciplines and people of all levels of experience. To create a truly safe, productive, and vibrant environment in academia requires coordinated and collaborative input as well as the action of a variety of stakeholders, including scholarly communities, funding agencies, and institutions. In this Viewpoint, we focus on a framework of integrated responding, in which stakeholders as responsible and response-able parties could proactively collaborate and coordinate to reduce the incidence and consequences of academic bullying while at the same time building constructive academic cultures. The outcome of such a framework would be to create novel entities (e.g. centre of excellence in academic ethics and civility) and actions (e.g. incorporating bullying records into institutional rankings) that accelerate successful responses to academic bullying.
Shared Environmental Influences on Electronic Cigarette Use Among Adolescent and Young Adult Females.

INTRODUCTION Electronic cigarettes are now the most commonly used form of tobacco product among youth in the United States. Current evidence suggests that although e-cigarettes are perceived as less harmful and preferred over combustible cigarettes by adolescents, adolescents who try e-cigarettes are at greater risk of transitioning to combustible cigarettes. The genetic and environmental contributions to liability for e-cigarette use have not yet been examined using a behavioral genetic design. METHODS Behavioral genetic models of lifetime and current e-cigarette use and friends who use e-cigarettes were examined among female monozygotic and dizygotic twins. RESULTS A total of 41 female twin pairs (65.9% monozygotic twins; age = 19.7, SD = 1.6) with complete data on the study variables were included in the present analyses. The majority of the sample (68.1%) had at least some friends who use e-cigarettes. Additive genetic effects on e-cigarette use were not present, but the shared environment explained 98.7% of the variance in lifetime e-cigarette use, 96.6% in current e-cigarette use, and 94.9% in affiliation with friends who use e-cigarettes. CONCLUSION This first study on the behavioral genetics of e-cigarette use among adolescents and young adults suggest that environmental factors shared by twins within a family seem to play a predominant role in the initial stages of e-cigarette use, a finding that is consistent with what has been found for tobacco. The findings emphasize the importance of continuing population-based tobacco control interventions to reduce the burden of e-cigarette use among adolescents. IMPLICATIONS The shared environment significantly influences the initiation and regular use of electronic cigarettes and affiliation with friends who use electronic cigarettes among adolescent and young adult females. These findings underscore the importance of formulating preventive interventions that mitigate the social effects of familial influences on e-cigarette use through social skills training, education on harms of e-cigarettes for young people, or altering social norms regarding initiation of novel tobacco products.
Learning about Networking from Women in the Commercial Real Estate Industry

Drawing on concepts of network centrality, closeness, and status, this article examines the networking practices of women in the commercial real estate industry. The data were obtained through semi...
A Cross-Sectional Survey of Internal Medicine Residents' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Current Practices Regarding Patient Transitions to Post-Acute Care.

Abstract Objectives Prior studies have found suboptimal knowledge about post-acute care (PAC) among inpatient providers and poor communication at discharge that can lead to unsafe discharge transitions, but little is known about residents and the PAC transition. The aim of this study is to assess internal medicine residents’ knowledge, attitudes, and current practice regarding patient transitions to PAC. Design A multisite, cross-sectional 36-question survey. Setting and Participants Internal Medicine and Medicine-Pediatrics residents at 3 university-based Internal Medicine training programs in the United States. Methods: Survey delivered electronically to residents in 2018 and 2019. Survey responses were described by collapsing 4-point Likert responses into dichotomous variables, and thematic content analysis was used to evaluate free text responses. Results: Of 482 residents surveyed, 236 responded (49%). Despite high reported confidence in their ability to transition patients to PAC, only 31% of residents knew how often patients received skilled therapies at skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and 23% knew how frequently nursing services are provided. The majority of residents (79%) identified the discharge summary as the main way they communicated care instructions to the SNF, but only 55% reported always completing it prior to discharge. Upper-level residents were more likely to know how much therapy patients received at a SNF, but resident knowledge about PAC did not vary by residency year in other domains. Residents who experienced a clinical rotation at a SNF had higher levels of knowledge compared to residents who did not. Conclusions This national survey of internal medicine residents identified common knowledge gaps regarding PAC. These knowledge gaps did not improve throughout residency without deliberate exposure to PAC environments. This suggests a need for dedicated curriculum development as discharges to PAC continue to rise exponentially.
Formin's nucleation activity influences actin filament length

Formins stimulate actin polymerization by promoting both filament nucleation and elongation. Because nucleation and elongation draw upon a common pool of actin monomers, the rate at which each reaction proceeds influences the other. This interdependent mechanism determines the number of filaments assembled over the course of a polymerization reaction, as well as their equilibrium lengths. In this study, we used kinetic modeling and in vitro polymerization reactions to dissect the contributions of filament nucleation and elongation to the process of formin-mediated actin assembly. We found that the rates of nucleation and elongation evolve over the course of a polymerization reaction. The period over which each process occurs is a key determinant of the total number of filaments that are assembled, as well as their average lengths at equilibrium. Inclusion of formin in polymerization reactions speeds filament nucleation, thus increasing the number and shortening the lengths of filaments that are assembled over the course of the reaction. Although variations in elongation rates produce modest changes in the equilibrium lengths of formin-bound filaments, nucleation constitutes the primary mode of monomer consumption over the course of assembly. Sustained elongation of small numbers of formin-bound filaments therefore requires inhibition of nucleation via monomer sequestration and a low concentration of activated formin. Our results underscore the mechanistic advantage for keeping formin9s nucleation efficiency relatively low in cells, where unregulated actin assembly would produce deleterious effects on cytoskeletal dynamics. Under these conditions, differences in the elongation rates mediated by formin isoforms are most likely to impact the kinetics of actin assembly.
Evidence for a gender stereotype about psychology and its effect on perceptions of men's and women's fit in the field.

The current research explored the gender stereotype about psychology and its effect on perceptions of people’s fit in the field. Across six studies (N = 1,516), results showed that participants bel...
The Business School at Ivy State University: Cost Behaviors

Some potentially painful cost reductions will have to be made at the Ivy State University Business School, so the business manager has been asked to develop a list of initial cost cuts. To visualize how the budget's major line-item costs have behaved, he uses a set of graphs to understand and be able communicate to the directors of the various operating units what resources or activities need to be curtailed in order to reap the largest financial cost savings. Excerpt UVA-C-2346 Sept. 18, 2013 THE BUSINESS SCHOOL AT IVY STATE UNIVERSITY: COST BEHAVIORS The financial vice was tightening on the administration at the Ivy State University Business School (ISUBS). The state legislature had announced significant subsidy cuts, alumni were not making financial contributions at the same level as in prior years, and corporate donors were dispensing fewer dollars in a more restricted fashion. ISUBS's budgeting process for the coming year had begun, and it appeared to Janice McAlister, vice president of finance, that it was not going to be a pleasant one. Unless revenues increased from an unforeseen source, potentially painful cost reductions would have to be made. Indeed, McAlister had just instructed Jerry Franklin, the school's business manager, to develop a list of initial cost cuts. Jerry Franklin Franklin's financial background was not extensive. He had graduated from ISUBS four years earlier, and his story was the proverbial “in the right place at the right time” one. After graduation, he and his wife decided not to relocate because she had a great nursing job in a local doctor's office. So he scoured the area looking for a position and was fortunate to find an entry-level management position in the back-office operations department of a local bank. . . .
US-EU Scientific Research Collaborations: Sage Bionetworks’ Experience Navigating the Complex Regulatory Landscape

We applaud the effort to reform the European Data Protection rules and its attempt to support scientific research while protecting the rights and interests of research participants. We highlight elements of the proposal that might benefit from additional clarification: What type of data used in scientific and biomedical research is not considered “personal data?” Biomedical research is often focused on analyzing health and genomic data. However the very same combination and depth of that data that gives it such scientific utility can also sometimes make it identifiable. Use of de-identified or pseudonymised health and genomic data in research should be further explored, and policy should balance the need for individual privacy with the societal benefits of large-scale health research on integrated individual data sets. Compliance with the specificity of traditional informed consents usually precludes secondary use of research data. We argue that consent forms should include options to approve re-use of specimens and data for follow-on research. What are appropriate safeguards for electronic data transfer and international research collaborations involving pseudonymised genomic and health data? Clear codes of conduct and seals of approval with institutions (and not only countries) must be developed by the Commission promptly. Lastly, we believe that the goal of personalized medicine can only be achieved if we empower research participants to contribute their data or specimen to the effort they select and influence research directions. It is therefore vital to provide clear signals that individuals are in charge of their own data, either to keep it private to themselves or to share it with researchers, and that citizen-driven studies that embrace reuse of data be specifically allowed under European Data Protection rules.
The effect of pH and temperature on the stability of amphiphilic nanoparticles for therapeutic management of atherosclerosis

Arterial plaques are accumulations of foam cells which are formed due to an unregulated uptake of oxidized low density lipoproteins (oxLDL) via scavenger receptors - mainly CD36 and Scavenger Receptor A1 (SR-A1) - by macrophages. This accumulation of the foam cells leads to plaque development. There are several limitations of conventional pharmaceutics such as failure to address all the symptoms that are caused by atherosclerosis, low efficacy at a given dosage, and side effects2. Amphiphilic macromolecules called nanoparticles, comprise of amphilic shell and a hydrophobic core, and are a novel and promising alternative in treating atherosclerosis. In previous studies, a particular combination of shell containing polymers with carboxylic anion (1cM) and mucic acid with lauroyl side chains (M 12 ) core nanoparticles have shown to noticeability down-regulate the expression of scavenger receptors on the surface of human monocyte derived macrophages (HMDMs)1. However, the intracellular interactions of these nanoparticles are still largely unclear. Investigating the intracellular behavior and stability of the nanoparticles may lead to clues to the bioactive mechanism that results in the down-regulation of SRAs. In this work, the effect of pH and temperature on the nanoparticle's stability were examined.