cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of methyl 2-O-α--mannopyranosyl-α-d-talopyranoside and methyl 2-O-α-d-talopyranosyl-α-d-talopyranoside

Abstract Treatment of methyl 3-O-benzyl-2-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α- d -mannopyranosyl)-α- d -mannopyranoside (1) with tert-butyldiphenylsilyl chloride in N,N-dimethylformamide afforded methyl 3-O-benzyl-6-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α- d -mannopyranosyl)-α- d - mannopyranoside (2). Oxidation of 2 with pyridinium chlorochromate, followed by reduction of the carbonyl group, and subsequent O-deacetylation afforded methyl 3-O-benzyl-6-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2-O-α- d -mannopyranosyl-α- d -talopyranoside (5). Cleavage of the tert-butyldiphenylsilyl group of 5 with tetrabutyllamonium fluoride in oxolane, followed by hydrogenolysis, gave methyl 2-O-α- d -mannopyranosyl-α- d -talopyranoside (7). O-Deacetylation of 1 gave methyl 3-O-benzyl-2-O-α- d -mannopyranosyl-α- d -mannopyranoside (8). Treatement of 8 with tert-butyldiphenylsilyl chloride afforded a 6,6′-disilyl derivative, which was converted into a 2′,3′-O-isopropylidene derivative, and then further oxidized with pyridinium chlorochromate. The resulting diketone was reduced and removal of the protecting groups gave methyl 2-O-α- d -talopyranosyl-α- d -talopyranoside (15). The structures of both 7 and 15 were established by 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy.
Disease-modifying therapies for nonrelapsing multiple sclerosis: Absence of evidence does not constitute evidence of absence

The lack of clinical trial data demonstrating efficacy of disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) for nonrelapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) does not prove that DMTs are ineffective for nonrelapsing MS. It has been argued that DMTs have met primary endpoints in relapsing MS, but not in nonrelapsing forms of the disease. This does not prove that such treatments are ineffective for nonrelapsing phenotypes. It could mean that clinical trial endpoints are ineffective in identifying true differences between treatment and placebo arms, or do not properly account for individual variation within clinical trial cohorts.
The Virtual Consult

In 2010, Group Health modified their EMR system to allow for “Virtual Consults,” which involve asynchronous communication between physicians, either between Primary Care and a Specialist, or between Specialists. The intended use is for medical questions about ongoing or new clinical concerns and for fully documenting care that does not require a face-to-face interaction between the patient and the consulted physician. The response to the initial consult request happens quickly (often within 1–2 h, but always within 24 h), is formally documented in the medical record, and is recognized by the corporate entity and incentivized. See Fig. 10.1 as an example of a virtual consult completed by Neurology for a headache patient. Figure 10.2 then shows the “dummy” level of service (LOS) assigned by the provider completing the consult, which allows for reporting and relative value unit (RVU) assignment for service compensation.
Putting the “Biology” Back into “Neurobiology”: The Strength of Diversity in Animal Model Systems for Neuroscience Research

Current trends in neuroscience research have moved toward a reliance on rodent animal models to study most aspects of brain function. Such laboratory-reared animals are highly inbred, have been disengaged from their natural environments for generations, and appear to be of limited predictive value for successful clinical outcomes. In this Perspective, we argue that research on a rich diversity of animal model systems is fundamental to new discoveries in evolutionarily conserved core physiological and molecular mechanisms that are the foundation of human brain function. Analysis of neural circuits across phyla will reveal general computational solutions that form the basis for adaptive behavioral responses. Further, we stress that development of ethoexperimental approaches to improve our understanding of behavioral nuance will help to realign our research strategies with therapeutic goals and improve the translational validity of specific animal models. Finally, we suggest that neuroscience has a role in environmental conservation of habitat and fauna that will preserve and protect the ecological settings that drive species-specific behavioral adaptations. A rich biodiversity will enhance our understanding of human brain function and lead in unpredicted directions for development of therapeutic treatments for neurological disorders.
CE-29 Do patients with systemic lupus get better quality of care in lupus clinics than in general rheumatology clinics?

Background Patients with SLE receive care from several physicians in varied health care settings worldwide. Herein, we compared the quality of care received by SLE patients at two settings within the same academic institution (lupus clinic or general rheumatology clinic) using validated SLE quality indicators (QI). Methods 100 consenting, consecutive patients fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for SLE who were receiving longitudinal care at Rush University Rheumatology outpatient clinic and at subspecialty Lupus clinic were recruited. A validated QI survey was updated, modified for self-report and administered during participants’ routine SLE care visit. Retrospective rheumatology medical chart reviews were done in addition for complete evaluation of performance on each QI. The overall performance rate and performance rates on 20 QIs were calculated for the two groups and compared using non-parametric tests. P-value Results 60 patients from sub-specialty lupus clinic and 40 patients from general rheumatology clinic participated. Patients receiving care at lupus clinic had longer disease duration [10 ± 6.6 vs 6.5 ± 6.9 years; P = 0.01] and met more number of ACR criteria [5.4 ± 1.7 vs 4.7 ± 1.0; P = 0.01] compared to patients from general rheumatology clinics. The overall performance rate was significantly greater among lupus clinic as compared to rheumatology clinic SLE patients [87.5% (IQR: 16%) vs.71.1% (IQR: 19%), P = 0.001]. Differences noted among the two groups were in counselling for use of sunscreen (98% vs 87%, p Conclusions SLE patients seen in the dedicated lupus clinic had better overall and specific QI performance relative to general rheumatology clinics. This may suggest greater recognition among lupus clinic physicians of the importance of preventive care and disease monitoring among SLE patients. Of particular importance were the findings regarding vaccination and preventive use of sunscreen, as these may substantially affect morbidity in this patient population.
Vitamin B12 Measurements in Parkinson's Disease Patients (P06.093)

OBJECTIVE: To analyze vitamin B12 levels in our Parkinson9s disease (PD) patients. BACKGROUND: Several recent reports have found lower levels of vitamin B12 in PD patients who have neuropathy or cognitive impairment. DESIGN/METHODS: We reviewed records from all PD patients seen in our practice between April-September 2012. All met Gelb et al (1999) criteria for possible or probable PD. We excluded those with a prior diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency or gastrointestinal conditions associated with B12 deficiency. The B12 measurements were often performed as part of the initial evaluation for PD and/or to evaluate those who developed cognitive impairment or gait instability. RESULTS: Of 232 consecutive Parkinson9s disease patients, 155 (67%) had a least one measurement of vitamin B12. Of these, 15 (10%) had measurements below 300 ng/l (considered borderline low) and 8 (5%) had levels below the lower limit (211 ng/l). For 44 patients with a mean (sd) age of 69.5 (7.8), 2 measurements were available. In 39, there was a decline in B12, and in 4 patients, the level fell below 211 ng/l. We categorized our data according to the number of years between measurements and found a median difference of -2% for measurements taken within 2 years, -17% measured from 2-3 years, -27% measured from 3-4 years, and -32% for 4 or more years (p CONCLUSIONS: In this PD cohort, low vitamin B12 levels were fairly common. In the subset that underwent 2 measurements, we found fairly dramatic declines in B12 that exceed the modest reductions observed in cross-sectional studies. Further study is warranted to examine these levels over time in an appropriate comparison group and to determine whether whether lower B12 levels are associated with increased morbidity. Disclosure: Dr. Christin has received research support from Biotie and Genzyme Corporation. Dr. Hills has nothing to disclose.
Random projection below the JL limit

The Johnson-Lindenstrauss (JL) lemma, with known probability, sets a lower bound q 0 on the dimension for which a random projection of p-dimensional vector data is guaranteed to be within (1±e) of being an isometry in a randomly projected downspace. We study several ways to identify a “good” rogue random projection when the target downspace has dimensions below the JL limit. The tools used towards this end are Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients, and a visual imaging method (a cluster heat map) that usually reveals cluster structure in spaces of any dimension. We use four synthetic data sets and the ubiquitous Iris data to study our procedures for tracking the reliability of RRPs. Unsurprisingly, rogue random projection is quite unpredictable. At its best, it is every bit as good as Principal Components Analysis, but at it's worst, it is awful. Pearson and Spearman correlations do signal good and bad projections, but the visual imaging method seems even more effective in determining the quality of RRPs.
2D Conductive Iron-Quinoid Magnets Ordering up to Tc = 105 K via Heterogenous Redox Chemistry

We report the magnetism and conductivity for a redox pair of iron-quinoid metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). The oxidized compound, (Me2NH2)2[Fe2L3]·2H2O·6DMF (LH2 = 2,5-dichloro-3,6-dihydroxo-1,4-benzoquinone) was previously shown to magnetically order below 80 K in its solvated form, with the ordering temperature decreasing to 26 K upon desolvation. Here, we demonstrate this compound to exhibit electrical conductivity values up to σ = 1.4(7) × 10–2 S/cm (Ea = 0.26(1) cm–1) and 1.0(3) × 10–3 S/cm (Ea = 0.19(1) cm–1) in its solvated and desolvated forms, respectively. Upon soaking in a DMF solution of Cp2Co, the compound undergoes a single-crystal-to-single-crystal one-electron reduction to give (Cp2Co)1.43(Me2NH2)1.57[Fe2L3]·4.9DMF. Structural and spectroscopic analysis confirms this reduction to be ligand-based, and as such the trianionic framework is formulated as [FeIII2(L3–•)3]3–. Magnetic measurements for this reduced compound reveal the presence of dominant intralayer metal–organic radical coupling t...
Combined Effect of the Picoloyl Protecting Group and Triflic Acid in Sialylation

The stereoselective synthesis of sialosides is still one of the major challenges in carbohydrate chemistry. The synthesis and glycosidation of novel sialyl donors bearing a picoloyl substituent at C-4 are reported. High stereoselectivities and faster reactions were observed in the presence of an excess of triflic acid. The acid excess does not have the same effect on conventional sialyl donors, which suggests a possible synergistic effect of the picoloyl substituent and the triflic acid.
Honokiol inhibits c-Met-HO-1 tumor-promoting pathway and its cross-talk with calcineurin inhibitor-mediated renal cancer growth

Honokiol (HNK) is a small molecule with potent anti-inflammatory and anti-tumorigenic properties; yet the molecular targets of HNK are not well studied. Hyperactivation of the receptor tyrosine kinase c-Met and overexpression of the cytoprotective enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) play a critical role in the growth and progression of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Interestingly, the calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) cyclosporine A (CsA), an immunosuppressant used to prevent allograft rejection, can also increase the risk of RCC in transplant patients. We studied the potential role of c-Met signaling axis on CNI-induced renal tumor growth and tested the anti-tumor efficacy of HNK. Importantly, CNI treatment promoted c-Met induction and enhanced c-Met-induced Ras activation. We found that HNK treatment effectively down-regulated both c-Met phosphorylation and Ras activation in renal cancer cells. It inhibited the expression of both c-Met- and CNI-induced HO-1, and promoted cancer cell apoptosis. In vivo, HNK markedly inhibited CNI-induced renal tumor growth; and it decreased the expression of phospho-c-Met and HO-1 and reduced blood vessel density in tumor tissues. Our results suggest a novel mechanism(s) by which HNK exerts its anti-tumor activity through the inhibition of c-Met-Ras-HO-1 axis; and it can have significant therapeutic potential to prevent post-transplantation cancer in immunosuppressed patients.
Chance Encounters Ii

Movie-industry analyst David Fitzhugh must estimate the value of the sequel rights associated with Chance Encounters (CE), a soon-to-be-produced movie. The producers of CE intend to use the cash from the sale of the sequel rights to help fund production of the original movie. With the purchase of the sequel rights to CE, the client intends to produce a sequel to CE--should the original movie prove successful. Excerpt UVA-QA-0783 Rev. Jun. 15, 2012 Chance Encounters II In April 2003, David Fitzhugh, a respected movie-industry analyst, was hired to evaluate an unusual business idea—the purchasing of the sequel rights associated with a soon-to-be-produced movie. About six months earlier, Warmer Brothers Studios had approached Fitzhugh's client with a proposal. For $ 3 million, Warmer Brothers offered to sell the rights to produce a sequel to Chance Encounters, Warmer Brothers' newest movie. A string of poorly performing movies had left Warmer Brothers badly in need of cash to finance this latest project. Warmer would use the $ 3 million sequel-rights fee to help defray the estimated $ 25 million cost of making Chance Encounters. In return, Fitzhugh's client would receive exclusive rights to produce a sequel to Chance Encounters. Fitzhugh's challenge was to evaluate this proposal and report his findings to the client, a very successful independent-movie producer. The Basics of the Movie Business Movies went through three stages to reach the public: production, distribution, and exhibition. Production was the actual making of the movie. The total cost for this stage was called negative cost: the cost to produce the master negative of the movie. Typically, the largest components of negative cost were salaries of the actors and director, set design and construction, and transportation. On average, production of a movie took about a year, at a negative cost of around $ 30 million. . . .
Interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) expression patterns by respiratory epithelial cells reveal non-redundancy of type I versus type III interferon.

Types I and III interferon (IFN) are co-expressed by respiratory epithelial cells (REC) in response to viral infection. In turn, these IFN stimulate neighboring REC to express a set of interferon-stimulated genes (ISG) through shared signaling pathways. Whether types I and III IFN have non-redundant functions in anti-viral defense of respiratory infections is unknown. Because transcription factors dictate cellular phenotype and function, we hypothesized that ISG that are transcription factors (TF-ISG) mediate non-redundant functions of types I or III IFN. We treated BEAS-2B human REC with increasing doses of IFN-β or IFN-λ1 alone or together, and measured expression of TF-ISG and a set of canonical ISG by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Alone, IFN-β and IFN-λ1 each induced expression of canonical ISG and a subset of TF-ISG. Expression of several ISG differed in response to type I versus type III IFN, either in peak levels or kinetic patterns, or both. Uniquely, IRF1 is induced early in response to IFN-β alone, but is poorly expressed in response to IFN-λ1. Western blots also revealed that while IFN-β alone induced early and transient IRF1 expression, it was lower but sustained (through 24h) after IFN-λ1 alone. In contrast to transcript expression, the two IFN together enhanced expression of IRF1 protein greater than either alone, and IRF1 expression was sustained through 24h. The distinct selective and rapid expression of IRF1 transcript and protein in response to IFN-β suggests that this TF-ISG mediates non-redundant qualitative functional responses of REC to types I and III IFN.
A Unitary Catalan-Occitan Language in the Early Modern Period: The Exaltation of Apitxat Valencian

This chapter scrutinizes the ideological and political use of the term “Valencian language” in the Early Modern Period and its implications for the question of (dis)continuity of the Catalan and Occitan languages in the same period. Valencian linguistic secessionism gained particular vigor during the sixteenth century via metalinguistic discourses that were predicated upon the historical process by which a unified language from the past, called either llemosi or Catalan, gave rise to a new and different language. In other cases, texts described Valencian as a variety that had undergone differentiation due to contact with Castilian. Still other historical accounts of the language postulated that the varieties spoken in the Principality of Catalonia and the Balearic Islands preserved the features of a Medieval linguistic unity, whereas the Valencian variety was alleged to have acquired a distinct identity. Relying upon analysis of a sonnet written in 1600 by Jaume Orts in praise of the Valencian saint Vincent Ferrer (1350–1419), entitled “Soneto en una lengua que es juntamente valenciana y castellana” (“Sonnet in a language that is both Valencian and Spanish”), I argue that Valencian linguistic secessionism may be interpreted as a continuation and exaltation of the virtues of language mixture that emerged with the birth of Occitan.
Disorders of the Abdominal Aorta and Major Branches

Diseases of the subdiaphragmatic aorta in the pediatric ­population constitute a rare and highly heterogeneous group of disorders that present a tremendous challenge and require a multidisciplinary treatment approach. When viewed from the broad perspective of vascular surgical diagnosis and treatments, these conditions can be separated into two distinct entities: aneurysmal disease and stenotic/occlusive disease. Effective vascular reconstruction in these patients must take into account highly specialized issues related to the small size of the vessels being reconstructed, the limited availability of effective conduit for reconstruction, the optimal timing for operative repair, the anticipated life-long length of follow-up, and the principles of surgical technique that need to be incorporated to accommodate for anticipated growth. Equally important, the biology of the underlying specific diagnosis and the need for optimal medical therapy, family counseling, and social services must be understood, instituted, and carefully monitored by a team that, in our experience, has required the expertise of not only the pediatric and vascular surgeons, but also geneticists, nephrologists, rheumatologists, cardiologists, pediatric intensive care specialists, interventional radiologists, neurologists, gastroenterologists, neurosurgeons, plastics/microvascular surgeons, and transplantation surgeons.
Ultraviolet detectors for astrophysics missions: a case study with the star-planet activity research cubesat (SPARC)

Here we discuss high-performance UV detectors to be used with the planned Star-Planet Activity Research CubeSat (SPARCS). SPARCS is a 6U cubesat designed to monitor M stars (0.1 – 0.6 solar masses) in two photometric bands in the near UV and far UV (S-NUV, 260-300 nm; S-FUV, 150-170 nm). SPARCS targets range in mass and age, including young stars (10-20 Myr), which are likely forming terrestrial planets, to old stars with known transiting planets, allowing us to map the evolution of UV emission and flare rates. The spectral slope, variability and evolution of a host star’s highenergy radiation would provide realistic input stellar fluxes to planet atmospheric models, which would aide in understanding the evolution and habitability of a planet and in interpreting its transmission and emission spectrum. The baseline S-NUV detector is a 2D-doped (delta-doped or superlattice-doped) charge coupled device (CCD) optimized with a custom antireflection (AR) coating to achieve quantum efficiency (QE)>70% throughout the S-NUV band. The SNUV detector would be coupled with a stand-alone red-blocking filter that provides at least three orders of magnitude (i.e., ≥OD3) out-of-band suppression, critical for the observations of such cool, red stars. Their combined throughput would be >25% (peak) in the S-NUV. The baseline S-FUV detector is a 2D-doped CCD optimized for the S-FUV band; it includes an integrated filter designed to maximize in-band throughput with good red-leak suppression. As designed, the solar-blind silicon detector achieves peak QE>35% in the S-FUV band and ≥OD2 out-of-band suppression. SPARCS has baselined a dichroic design that allows for simultaneous S-NUV and S-FUV observation. SPARCS would advance 2D-doped detectors and detector-integrated out-of-band-rejection filter technologies for their potential application in future mission concepts such as LUVOIR and HabEx.
A Computer-Based Violence Prevention Intervention for Young Adolescents: Pilot Study

Technology must be explored as a means of teaching adolescents ways to resolve conflict without violence. This paper reports on the development and pilot testing of a multimedia tool (SMART Talk) that teaches anger management, perspective taking, and mediation skills using games, interactive assessment interviews, cartoons, and animation. Results indicate that SMART Talk is popular with both males and females, and its use increases knowledge and practice of prosocial behaviors.
Ultrasound Features of Palmar Fibromatosis or Dupuytren Contracture

Objectives To retrospectively characterize the ultrasound appearance of palmar fibromatosis in patients with a surgical or clinical diagnosis of palmar fibromatosis. Methods A search of ultrasound reports from 2005 to 2015 and a subsequent search of medical records were performed to identify patients with a surgical or clinical diagnosis of palmar fibromatosis. The ultrasound images were retrospectively reviewed to record the lesion location, size, echogenicity, compressibility, hyperemia, and calcification. Results A total of 36 patients were identified (average age, 60 years; 61% male), yielding a total of 55 palmar fibromatosis lesions, of which 2%, 7%, 29%, 36%, 20%, and 5% were located at the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth digits and between the fourth and fifth digits, respectively. The lesions were located directly superficial to the flexor tendons in 93% with their epicenters at the distal metacarpal in 89%. Average lesion dimensions were 13.1 mm in length, 6.8 mm in width, and 2.5 mm in depth. On ultrasound images, the lesions were characteristically hypoechoic (98%) and noncompressible (95%). Atypical features included calcification (2%), compressibility (5%), hyperemia on color Doppler images (6%), epicenters at the metacarpophalangeal joint (7%) or proximal phalanx (4%), and location superficial but lateral to the flexor tendons (7%). Conclusions Palmar fibromatosis most commonly appears hypoechoic and is located directly superficial to the flexor tendons with an epicenter at the distal metacarpal, most commonly the fourth digit. However, the epicenter location may be at the distal metacarpal and proximal phalanx of other digits, adjacent to the flexor tendons, with possible hyperemia and calcification.
Theory and Design of Electron Blocking Layers for III-N Based Laser Diodes by Numerical Simulation

Unlike laser diodes made of traditional III-V materials (III-AsP), III-Nitride laser diodes and LEDs suffer from reduced injection efficiency due to greater electron leakage [1]. The overflow of electrons out of the active region into the adjacent p-type quasi-neutral region (QNR) is primarily due to the asymmetry between majority carrier conductivities in p- and n-GaN [2], where the electron conductivity in n-GaN is more than 40 times greater than the hole conductivity in p-GaN [3], [4]. Furthermore, carrier leakage is exacerbated by interfacial spontaneous and piezoelectric polarization charges at III-N heterojunctions. To stem electron leakage, an electron blocking layer (EBL) is typically employed between the last quantum barrier (QB) and p-type quasi-neutral region (QNR), and this EBL is typically a thin layer of wide bandgap material.
Employee and Citizen Ownership of Business Capital in the Age of AI Robots

This paper seeks to convince you that the best response to the coming dominance of AI robots in the world of work is to expand both employee ownership of firms and citizen ownership of business capital more broadly. Section 1 analyzes the likely effects of advances in AI robot technologies on the comparative advantage of machines versus humans in high-value-added work and the consequences for wages and salaries and income inequality. Section 2 argues that the best way to assure that living standards increase for all in the age of AI robots is through enhanced employee ownership and greater citizens’ stake in business capital, distributing capital income far more widely than today.
Family Matters: Modernise, Don’t Abandon, Ius Sanguinis

I appreciate the ideas that Costica Dumbrava and others have introduced into this debate. States’ concerns about the quality and political consequences of their citizenship are important. But citizenship is a two-way street. Our discussion of ius sanguinis laws should extend beyond the concerns of states to also consider the serious practical consequences of citizenship laws on citizens, including the long-term unity and security of their families. Families facing instability or separation because children are denied their parents’ citizenship are unlikely to be satisfied with the explanation that ius sanguinis is inadequate or historically tainted; the resulting individual sense of injustice might even discourage the loyalty and identification states seek in citizens.
Handover mechanism of the growing pilus by the bacterial outer-membrane usher FimD

Pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli assemble surface structures termed pili, or fimbriae, to mediate binding to host-cell receptors1. Type 1 pili are assembled via the conserved chaperone–usher pathway2–5. The outer-membrane usher FimD recruits pilus subunits bound by the chaperone FimC via the periplasmic N-terminal domain of the usher. Subunit translocation through the β-barrel channel of the usher occurs at the two C-terminal domains (which we label CTD1 and CTD2) of this protein. How the chaperone–subunit complex bound to the N-terminal domain is handed over to the C-terminal domains, as well as the timing of subunit polymerization into the growing pilus, have previously been unclear. Here we use cryo-electron microscopy to capture a pilus assembly intermediate (FimD–FimC–FimF–FimG–FimH) in a conformation in which FimD is in the process of handing over the chaperone-bound end of the growing pilus to the C-terminal domains. In this structure, FimF has already polymerized with FimG, and the N-terminal domain of FimD swings over to bind CTD2; the N-terminal domain maintains contact with FimC–FimF, while at the same time permitting access to the C-terminal domains. FimD has an intrinsically disordered N-terminal tail that precedes the N-terminal domain. This N-terminal tail folds into a helical motif upon recruiting the FimC-subunit complex, but reorganizes into a loop to bind CTD2 during handover. Because both the N-terminal and C-terminal domains of FimD are bound to the end of the growing pilus, the structure further suggests a mechanism for stabilizing the assembly intermediate to prevent the pilus fibre diffusing away during the incorporation of thousands of subunits. The structure of a pilus assembly intermediate reveals the timing of subunit polymerization and how chaperone–subunit complexes are transferred from N-terminal to C-terminal domains of the usher in the formation of bacterial pili.
Effect of Lime Application on the Movement of Atrazine and Nitrate-Nitrogen Through Undisturbed-Saturated Soil Columns

A study was conducted to determine the effects of three application rates of agricultural lime (0, 5, and 10 Mg ha−1) on atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-1,3,5 triazine) and nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) transport through undisturbed-saturated soil columns. The soil columns were saturated with CaSO4 solution before leaching them with two pore volumes of a solution containing CaCl2 (0.005 M), atrazine (2000 μg a.i atrazine L−1), and KNO3 (200 mg-N L−1). Leachate samples were collected at the bottom of soil columns for the analysis of pH, NO3-N, and atrazine. The results of this study showed that with the increase in the lime application rates a significant increase and then a decrease in the leachate flow rate and volume was observed. The concentration of NO3-N in the leachate water increased with an increase in lime application rate. An increase in the application rate of lime had no significant effect on the pH values of the leachate. Also, an increase in the application rate of lime resulted in higher concentrations of atrazine in the leachate water.
Stirring the Pot: A Response to Rothman’s Right of Publicity

Any commentary on Jennifer Rothman’s terrific book has to begin with a compliment to her extraordinary commitment to the right of publicity. For the uninitiated, her website, Rothman’s Roadmap to the Right of Publicity, provides a treasure trove of information about the right of publicity in each of the fifty states. Professor Rothman has also written several articles and a number of excellent amicus briefs in some of the most important right-of-publicity cases in recent years. Finally, this latest contribution—her book—harnesses this exhaustive research and presents it as a historical narrative that is comprehensive, thoughtful, and readable. This book will serve as required reading for scholars, lawyers, and historians trying to understand the history, foundations, and key attributes of this perplexing area of law. Despite my admiration for Professor Rothman and her work, I view the role of a commentator as stirrer of the pot; so, while I agree with much of what she says in her book and her talk, I am going to focus on three points where I have a somewhat different perspective: first, the relationship between “privacy” and “publicity;” second, the role of alienability; and finally, prognosis and cure—or why the right of publicity is so hard, and how we might restore balance to this unwieldy cause of action.
What Is Intelligence

Is it a measure of marks obtained by a student in a classroom? Or is it the measure of securing admissions in a privileged university? Or is it a measure of the number of degrees obtained? Or is it a measure of an IQ test score? Should this intelligence measure be used to define a person? When I was a young kid, I would have chosen the former reason, mostly due to ignorance. I was just an average kid in the class who dedicated more time to playing than studying. There were many intelligent kids in my class that I looked up to when it came to meeting educational or curriculum-based challenges. I spent lots of time in the playfield playing sports like tennis and cricket and my grades could never be compared to those of the intelligent kids in my class. When I was in my 10th grade, a change came upon me. Self-motivated, I decided to make some time and put some effort into studying everyday, but I promised myself that it would not be at the cost of my play time. That meant, I had to be awake for longer than usual hours. I did manage to do it and my grades improved considerably. In which case, I questioned, what is intelligence? Obtaining a good classroom score does not seem to be a sign of intelligence. The time spent on studying afterschool is directly proportional to the grades; and this result is statistically significant.
Efficient Alignment of Visual-Inertial Maps

In this paper, we address the problem of concurrently computing the transformation between multiple, gravity-aligned maps given common point feature observations. In particular, we formulate the problem as a minimization of the distances between shared features expressed with respect to different maps. We show that by marginalizing the maps’ relative positions, the KKT conditions of the resulting minimization problem correspond to a system of multivariate polynomial equations (in the \(\sin \) and \(\cos \) of the relative yaw angles) which can be solved analytically for the case of a few maps. Furthermore, and to improve the efficiency when considering numerous maps, we present a fast, iterative process for determining the unknown relative map orientations.
Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Following Liver Transplantation: A Report of 2 Cases.

Abstract Purpose Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also called apical ballooning syndrome, is characterized by regional left ventricular systolic dysfunction that resembles myocardial infarction in its initial presentation; however, it lacks angiographic evidence of coronary artery disease. We evaluated the incidence of takotsubo cardiomyopathy following liver transplant at a diverse urban transplant program. Methods This is a retrospective review of patients transplanted at a single center between 2017 and 2019. Here we report 2 cases of takotsubo cardiomyopathy that developed after liver transplantation. Results A 65-year-old woman diagnosed with alcoholic cirrhosis underwent a brain-dead donor liver transplant. The postoperative course was complicated by stroke, pulmonary hypertension, and a left internal jugular thrombus. Six months following transplant, the patient developed takotsubo cardiomyopathy with congestive hepatopathy and died of heart failure complications despite maximal medical care. The second case was a 65-year-old woman with alcoholic cirrhosis admitted for a living donor liver transplant. The postoperative period involved recurrent seizures and elevated troponins with markedly reduced ejection fraction, which were appropriately managed. The patient recovered well with supportive care and was discharged to a rehabilitation facility shortly after. Conclusion We present a series of patients with takotsubo cardiomyopathy after liver transplantation. The diagnosis depends on the clinical presentation and findings on electrocardiography, echocardiography, and cardiac enzymes. Our patients met the Mayo Clinic diagnostic criteria and were appropriately managed according to guidelines. Our report highlights the possibility of pulmonary hypertension contributing to the development of takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Additional studies are needed to establish a definite correlation.
A Comparison of Corporate Tax Rates in Selected Asian Countries: 1980–2020

This study compares the top corporate tax rates in China, Japan, Korea, India and the Philippines from 1980-2020, using Tax Foundation data.
Using Peer Coaches as Community-Based Competency Drivers in Part C Early Intervention:

Using an implementation science framework, this study examines the impact of a multicomponent professional development (PD) approach implemented by internal peer coaches on early intervention provi...
Efficient Subharmonic Frequency Conversion Using Space-Time Induced Bound States in the Continuum

Traveling-wave modulation has been extensively studied for its applications in parametric amplification, frequency conversion and non-reciprocity. It is often realized by applying staggered modulation signals to a set of discrete unit cells. This form of modulation will be referred to as spatially-discrete traveling-wave modulation (SDTWM). Recently, it has been shown that many of the frequency harmonics generated by SDTWM radiating structures are bound to the near field. These frequencies are confined by the space-time symmetry of SDTWM, and can be viewed as bound states in the continuum (BICs). In this paper, a SDTWM antenna design is proposed which leverages the localization of BICs to efficiently perform subharmonic frequency conversion.
Blanche: A Baker's Dozen

Blanche's thighs are overweight. They jiggle when she skips into the ocean. They swell over the straps of her garter belt and her pantyhose leave blushing indentations. She's sensitive about her thighs. It's not my doing. Though, perhaps if I could hit on something right to say . . . "Well, your knockers are terrifie!" But she'd find that too indelicate. Ironically, she tells me it was her old lover, the Baroni, who made her self-conscious in the first place. One day, referring to her geni talia, and prodding her thighs gently with his cane, he said, "A jewel like that should have the proper setting."
Effect of High Temperature on Plant Growth and Carbohydrate Metabolism in Potato

This study was undertaken to determine the role of sucrose-metabolizing enzymes in altered carbohydrate partitioning caused by heat stress. Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) genotypes characterized as susceptible and tolerant to heat stress were grown at 19/17[deg]C, and a subset was transferred to 31/29[deg]C. Data were obtained for plant growth and photosynthesis. Enzyme activity was determined for sucrose-6-phosphate synthase (SPS) in mature leaves and for sucrose synthase, ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, and UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase in developing tubers of plants. High temperatures reduced growth of tubers more than of shoots. Photosynthetic rates were unaffected or increased slightly at the higher temperature. Heat stress increased accumulation of foliar sucrose and decreased starch accumulation in mature leaves but did not affect glucose. SPS activity increased significantly in mature leaves of plants subjected to high temperature. Changes in SPS activity were probably not due to altered enzyme kinetics. The activity of sucrose synthase and ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase was reduced in tubers, albeit less quickly than leaf SPS activity. There was no interaction of temperature and genotype with regard to the enzymes examined; therefore, observed differences do not account for differences between genotypes in heat susceptibility.
Circadian Rhythms in Liver Physiology and Liver Diseases

In mammals, circadian rhythms function to coordinate a diverse panel of physiological processes with environmental conditions such as food and light. As the driving force for circadian rhythmicity, the molecular clock is a self-sustained transcription-translational feedback loop system consisting of transcription factors, epigenetic modulators, kinases/phosphatases, and ubiquitin E3 ligases. The molecular clock exists not only in the suprachiasmatic nuclei of the hypothalamus but also in the peripheral tissues to regulate cellular and physiological function in a tissue-specific manner. The circadian clock system in the liver plays important roles in regulating metabolism and energy homeostasis. Clock gene mutant animals display impaired glucose and lipid metabolism and are susceptible to diet-induced obesity and metabolic dysfunction, providing strong evidence for the connection between the circadian clock and metabolic homeostasis. Circadian-controlled hepatic metabolism is partially achieved by controlling the expression and/or activity of key metabolic enzymes, transcription factors, signaling molecules, and transporters. Reciprocally, intracellular metabolites modulate the molecular clock activity in response to the energy status. Although still at the early stage, circadian clock dysfunction has been implicated in common chronic liver diseases. Circadian dysregulation of lipid metabolism, detoxification, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and cell-cycle control might contribute to the onset and progression of liver steatosis, fibrosis, and even carcinogenesis. In summary, these findings call for a comprehensive study of the function and mechanisms of hepatic circadian clock to gain better understanding of liver physiology and diseases.
3D shape registration using regularized medial scaffolds

This work proposes a method for global registration based on matching 3D medial structures of unorganized point clouds or triangulated meshes. Most practical known methods are based on the iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm, which requires an initial alignment close to the globally optimal solution to ensure convergence to a valid solution. Furthermore, it can also fail when there are points in one dataset with no corresponding matches in the other dataset. The proposed method automatically finds an initial alignment close to the global optimal by using the medial structure of the datasets. For this purpose, we first compute the medial scaffold of a 3D dataset: a 3D graph made of special shock curves linking special shock nodes. This medial scaffold is then regularized exploiting the known transitions of the 3D medial axis under deformation or perturbation of the input data. The resulting simplified medial scaffolds are then registered using a modified graduated assignment graph matching algorithm. The proposed method shows robustness to noise, shape deformations, and varying surface sampling densities.
1 Quality by Design

The pharmaceutical industry has been a highly regulated industry in the past for many good reasons [1]. While pharmaceuticals have greatly improved the mortality and morbidity rates, there is still some element of risk to the patients. These risks are greatly mitigated with the delivery of medicine at the appropriate purity, potency, delivery rate, and so on. While pharmaceutical regulations have clearly protected the population from much of the needless harm such as that incurred early in the twentieth century, there has been a concern more recently that overregulation may be associated with stifling innovation that can improve pharmaceutical quality even further [2] – innovation that has the potential to greatly improve the quality, cost, and time to market new and improved medicines. The twenty-first century began with the pharmaceutical industry using manufacturing technologies that have been employed since the 1940s and did not make significant changes in manufacturing process unless significant compliance or costs saving advantages could justify the high costs and long cycle time needed to gain approval. This often resulted in inefficient, overly expensive processes that were ultimately not in the best long-term interests of patients. As a result, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and other agencies around the world have embraced a new paradigm for regulation [3]. The ‘‘desired state’’ was to shift manufacturing from being empirical to being more science, engineering, and risk based. Another regulatory guidance that had major impact was the Process Analytical Technology (PAT) Guidance [9]. The continuous, real-time monitoring of manufacturing processes is a key enabler to achieve greater process control. Finally, the current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs) for the Twenty-First Century Guidance acknowledged the undesired impact of good manufacturing practices (GMPs) on understanding manufacturing science and sought to set the framework for additional guidances that encouraged riskand science-based understanding in exchange for more freedom to introduce innovations and improvements that will result in enhanced quality, cost, or timing.
Utilizing quantitative measures of visceral adiposity in evaluating trauma patient outcomes

Abstract Introduction Body mass index (BMI) has commonly been used as a parameter to assess obesity in trauma patients. However, the variability of height and weight data in trauma patients limits the use of BMI as an accurate assessment tool in the trauma population. Quantitative radiologic measurements of visceral adiposity is an accurate method for assessing obesity in patients but requires further analysis before it can be accepted as a measurement tool for trauma patients. Methods A retrospective review of trauma cases with pre-operative CT scan from 2008 to 2015 produced 57 patients for evaluation. Preoperative BMI was calculated using measured height (m2) and weight (kg). Radiologic measurements of adiposity were obtained from preoperative CT scans using OsiriX DICOM viewer software. Visceral fat areas (VFA) and subcutaneous fat areas (SFA) were measured from a single axial slice at the level of L4-L5 intervertebral space. Results No statistically significant results were found relating visceral fat:subcutaneous fat ratios to length of stay or post-operative complications. Initial clinical observations noting an increased incidence of complications among patients with a V/S ≥ 0.4 demonstrates a possible link between obesity and poor outcomes in trauma patients. A statistically significant correlation was noted between length of stay, peri-nephric fat and injury severity score. Discussion and Conclusion Our pilot study should be viewed as the foundation for a larger prospective study, utilizing quantitative measurements of visceral adiposity to assess outcomes in trauma patients.
Research in Protective Clothing for Firefighters: State of the Art and Future Directions

This paper presents a summary of documented research into protective clothing for firefighters. Particular emphasis is placed on research into estimating the useful life of this clothing and the development of test standards for evaluating its thermal protection. Other areas covered in this review include moisture transfer in clothing, heat stress, design criteria, chemical protective clothing, and heat transfer modeling of protective clothing. Recommendations for future protective clothing research are also presented.
Programa de necessidades, projeto e avaliação de escolas: uma parceria comunidade-universidade

For decades, educational leaders discussed the components of a successful educational program, yet they have regarded the physical setting as an institutional backdrop receiving scant attention. Widespread misconceptions reinforce the view that the quality of school building has no impact on academic performance. Consequently, a gap exists between the educators' view of improving quality and the process of planning schools. School buildings ought to be an expression of the fact that exploration and discovery are important parts of obtaining knowledge. Current learning styles and teaching methods suggest the need for a new form of learning environment characterized by different activity settings and smallgroup activities. This middle school reflects recent efforts to promote small schools. It is the result of a lengthy collaborative process between the county public school system and a university to develop a 600-student school that includes three academic houses, each of which functions independently but under the same principal. Although school construction was completed in 2000, this case study focuses on the stages prior to design development and after building construction. A key factor in this study is the creation of a building program that responds to a curriculum featuring integrative, active, real world learning that involves significant contact with adults. Another important factor in the development of this case study is the assessment of the completed building from the students’ and teachers’ viewpoint after one year of occupancy.