cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neurogammon wins computer olympiad

Neurogammon 1.0 is a backgammon program which uses multilayer neural networks to make move decisions and doubling decisions. The networks learned to play backgammon by backpropagation training on expert data sets. At the recently held First Computer Olympiad in London, Neurogammon won the backgammon competition with a perfect record of five wins and no losses, thereby becoming the first learning program ever to win a tournament.
Large-Eddy Simulation of Pulsed Arc Discharges in Supersonic Flow

The objective of this paper is to investigate numerically the use of a non-equilibrium plasma in a scramjet dump-combustor at high Mach numbers, particularly from the viewpoint of its ability to influence fuel mixing, flow turbulence and combustion. A pulsed nano-second high voltage discharge is modeled to investigate how the ionization fraction and radical species develop dynamically within the flow. The potential impact of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow control and combustion enhancement is addressed. For the simulations conducted in this paper, the ionization fraction reduces significantly downstream in the shear layer as a result of electron-ion recombination rates being much faster than the fluid dynamic time scales. As a result, for MHD flow control in the shear layer to be realizable additional ionization sources spatially distributed would be necessary. However, the nano-second discharge does produce a large amount of radicals, which convect downstream and could potentially affect any downstream combustion processes.
The framing effect and risky decisions: Examining cognitive functions with fMRI

The ‘‘framing effect’’ is observed when the description of options in terms of gains (positive frame) rather than losses (negative frame) elicits systematically different choices. Few theories explain the framing effect by using cognitive information-processing principles. In this paper we present an explanatory theory based on the cost–benefit tradeoffs described in contingent behavior. This theory proposes that individuals examining various alternatives try to determine how to make a good decision while expending minimal cognitive effort. For this study, we used brain activation functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to evaluate individuals that we asked to choose between one certain alternative and one risky alternative in response to problems framed as gains or losses. Our results indicate that the cognitive effort required to select a sure gain was considerably lower than the cognitive effort required to choose a risky gain. Conversely,the cognitive effort expended in choosing a sure loss was equal to the cognitive effort expended in choosing a risky loss. fMRI revealed that the cognitive functions used by the decision makers in this study were localized in the prefrontal and parietal cortices of the brain,a finding that suggests the involvement of working memory and imagery in the selection process.
Hypothalamic Sites of Leptin Action Linking Metabolism and Reproduction

A critical amount of energy reserve is necessary for puberty initiation, for normal sexual maturation and maintenance of cyclicity and fertility in females of most species. Therefore, the existence of circulating metabolic cues which directly modulate the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis is predictable. The adipocyte-derived hormone leptin is one of these cues having been studied extensively in the context of regulating the reproductive physiology. Humans and mice lacking leptin (ob/ob) or leptin receptor (LepR, db/db) are infertile. Leptin administration to leptin-deficient subjects and ob/ob mice induces puberty and restores fertility. LepR is expressed in brain, pituitary gland and gonads, but studies using genetically engineered mouse models determined that the brain plays a major role. Recently, it has been made clear that leptin acts indirectly on gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-secreting cells via actions on interneurons. However, the exact site(s) of leptin action has been difficult to determine. In this review, we discuss the recent advances in the field focused on the identification of potential site(s) or specific neuronal populations involved in leptin's effects in the neuroendocrine reproductive axis.
Charge Trapping in High- $k$ Gate Stacks Due to the Bilayer Structure Itself

Charge trapping at the interface between the two dielectric layers of a high-k gate stack is shown to be caused by Maxwell-Wagner instability, which is the following. The fact that the high-k and interfacial layers have different compositions means that they will also have different conductivities. Then, a gate bias will produce a discontinuity in current at their interface, causing charge to accumulate there until, in steady state, the same current flows through both layers. Maxwell-Wagner instability is shown to be coupled to a second instability, dielectric relaxation of the high-k layer; continuity of current in steady state requires that the electric fields in the two dielectric layers remain fixed, so the change in polarization of the high-k layer due to dielectric relaxation must be compensated for by the conduction of additional charge to the interface. Evidence for this behavior in high-k gate stacks is found in the thickness dependence of their dielectric relaxation current, with the correct dependence being obtained only from a model in which the two instabilities act simultaneously. Uniform dielectrics do not exhibit Maxwell-Wagner instability, and perfect crystals do not exhibit dielectric relaxation, making the ideal high-k gate dielectric a uniform single-layer perfect crystal bonded epitaxially to the Si substrate
Speaking of food: Connecting basic and applied plant science

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) predicts that food production must rise 70% over the next 40 years to meet the demands of a growing population that is expected to reach nine billion by the year 2050. Many facets of basic plant science promoted by the Botanical Society of America are important for agriculture; however, more explicit connections are needed to bridge the gap between basic and applied plant research. This special issue, Speaking of Food: Connecting Basic and Applied Plant Science, was conceived to showcase productive overlaps of basic and applied research to address the challenges posed by feeding billions of people and to stimulate more research, fresh connections, and new paradigms. Contributions to this special issue thus illustrate some interactive areas of study in plant science-historical and modern plant-human interaction, crop and weed origins and evolution, and the effects of natural and artificial selection on crops and their wild relatives. These papers provide examples of how research integrating the basic and applied aspects of plant science benefits the pursuit of knowledge and the translation of that knowledge into actions toward sustainable production of crops and conservation of diversity in a changing climate.
Examining the relationship between faculty teaching practice and interconnectivity in a social network

The study reported in this paper examined the connectedness of STEM faculty to others both within and across academic departments who might be potential resources for diffusion of Learner-centered practices, and the impact of participants' social networks on their Learner-centered beliefs and practices. The research question under investigation was: To what extent is the degree of social connectedness among faculty within and among STEM departments related to the degree of implementation of Learner-centered practices? Participants were recruited from Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics departments, and from departments in the College of Engineering. The sample began with 21 randomly-selected faculty from each department engaged in the STEM instruction of first and second year engineering students. The second level consisted of the colleagues identified by the first level as people they utilize as resources for improving their instruction. The connectedness of faculty in the network was examined using network analysis, focusing on both number of connections, and depth of connections. Attitude and Observation Protocol measures were used as outcomes. Results show that faculty classified as Learner-Centered had deeper and more extensive social networks. Results are discussed in terms of the need for intra- and inter-departmental faculty professional development experiences that both introduce and encourage faculty to trial new tools and techniques, but that also run for the long-term, supporting collaborative organizations of faculty working together to transform early engineering experiences.
Targeting the Plasmodium vivax equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (PvENT1) for antimalarial drug development.

Infection with Plasmodium falciparum and vivax cause most cases of malaria. Emerging resistance to current antimalarial medications makes new drug development imperative. Ideally a new antimalarial drug should treat both falciparum and vivax malaria. Because malaria parasites are purine auxotrophic, they rely on purines imported from the host erythrocyte via Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporters (ENTs). Thus, the purine import transporters represent a potential target for antimalarial drug development. For falciparum parasites the primary purine transporter is the P. falciparum Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporter Type 1 (PfENT1). Recently we identified potent PfENT1 inhibitors with nanomolar IC50 values using a robust, yeast-based high throughput screening assay. In the current work we characterized the Plasmodium vivax ENT1 (PvENT1) homologue and its sensitivity to the PfENT1 inhibitors. We expressed a yeast codon-optimized PvENT1 gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. PvENT1-expressing yeast imported both purines ([3H]adenosine) and pyrimidines ([3H]uridine), whereas wild type (fui1Δ) yeast did not. Based on radiolabel substrate uptake inhibition experiments, inosine had the lowest IC50 (3.8 μM), compared to guanosine (14.9 μM) and adenosine (142 μM). For pyrimidines, thymidine had an IC50 of 183 μM (vs. cytidine and uridine; mM range). IC50 values were higher for nucleobases compared to the corresponding nucleosides; hypoxanthine had a 25-fold higher IC50 than inosine. The archetypal human ENT1 inhibitor 4-nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR) had no effect on PvENT1, whereas dipyridamole inhibited PvENT1, albeit with a 40 μM IC50, a 1000-fold less sensitive than human ENT1 (hENT1). The PfENT1 inhibitors blocked transport activity of PvENT1 and the five known naturally occurring non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with similar IC50 values. Thus, the PfENT1 inhibitors also target PvENT1. This implies that development of novel antimalarial drugs that target both falciparum and vivax ENT1 may be feasible.
Awarding Custody of Children

USTODY is a slippery word. The courts do not always use it to cover the same things. For instance, is custody co-extensive with the parent's rights in and duties toward the child, so that the parent can "give" all these rights and duties to another when he gives custody? And again, if the parent did give custody for the whole minority of the child, would this be tantamount to emancipating the child so far as any residuum of rights and duties in the parent was concerned? Although the language of the courts (and worse still, their thought) on these points is highly confusing, it seems fair to say, summarily, that custody is a term applied to interests less than all the rights and duties of the parent. Even after the parent has given the longest and fullest rights of custody that he possibly could to another, he still has a residuum of rights and duties.' This basic confusion has in turn been brought about by the persistence of courts in talking about "total" and "partial" emancipation.2 But when
Occupation and Resistance

The Israeli military victory in the June, 1967 Six Day War created an entirely new geographic reality, with Israel in control of all the land of Palestine from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.
Ten Years of the Farm Tenant Purchase Program

Ten years' experience suggests that the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Purchase program must be redirected if it is to serve a useful purpose in an era of high employment, rising national income, and rapid technical progress in agriculture. Many Tenant Purchase (TP) loans have been too small to make efficient use of family labor or to yield a "minimum-adequate" income when farm prices are not extremely high; indeed, some borrowers may have reduced their incomes by accepting loans. The loans have not been larger because local public sentiment and Congressional opinion would not tolerate much improvement in the status of tenants, sharecroppers, and laborers who were "on the government." Within the limits thus prescribed, it has frequently not been possible, even with the useful devices of farm planning and supervision, to create what can be called adequate units. A large increase in the amount of the average loan seems plainly called for even though land prices decline from their current high levels. But the question must be asked whether a TP program involving loans of, say, $20,000 or $30,000 can serve the purposes intended by the authors of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act or, for that matter, whether it should play any important role in a national agricultural program. So far, of course, the TP program has not played an important role. From its inception in 1937 through June 30, 1947, the period covered by this study, the Farm Security Administration (and its successor, the Farmers' Home Administration) made TP loans totaling $293,876,733 to 47,104 families. This is a very small beginning; there were still 1,858,421 tenants in 1945 and (if this were the objective) it would take the TP program nearly 400 years to make them all owners at the rate that has prevailed so far. The significance of the program does not necessarily rest on this basis however. Its proponents have always regarded it as a demonstration which (as President Roosevelt wrote in 1937) would be ex-
Highly Stable Pt-Au@Ru/C Catalyst Nanoparticles for Methanol Electro-oxidation

Among the major obstacles to the successful application of Pt–Ru alloys as anode electrocatalysts for direct methanol fuel cells are their low electrocatalytic activities and poor stability under demanding operating conditions. In particular, detrimental is the eventual dissolution of the more oxophilic Ru. In this work, a novel carbon-supported gold-stabilized Pt–Au@Ru catalyst was synthesized using the water-in-oil microemulsion method. The catalyst possesses an enhanced methanol oxidation activity in acid medium and significantly enhanced stability over a commercially available Pt–Ru/C catalyst (E-TEK, 60%). This work provides a representative example of stabilization of an oxophilic transition element, Ru, using a unique ternary structure with Au. The stabilized surface and bulk composition are determined through copper under-potential deposition, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in conjunction with electrochemical measurements. In situ X-ray...
Book Review: The End of Big: How the Internet Makes David the New Goliath, by Nicco Mele

The End of Big: How the Internet Makes David the New Goliath. Nicco Mele. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2013. 714 pp. $25.99.In The End of Big: How the Internet Makes David the New Goliath, Nicco Mele himself takes on the role of David. He attempts to describe, dissect, and interpret the gargantuan effect the Internet has had on nearly every institution of modern society. It is a huge task-akin, perhaps, to writing a book that attempts to interpret the meaning of life- but Mele is up to the task. The reader may not agree with everything Mele writes, but The End of Big is an engaging, thoughtful, and certainly comprehensive look at how recent technology has affected nearly every move we make, and how it has upended nearly every aspect of our lives.Part of the book's charm is its simple structure and Mele's readable and straightforward writing style. Others have taken on the job of interpreting the ramifications of the digital age, both in books and articles, but many have tripped over their own words or found themselves drowning in an abyss of explanation and background. Mele is very concise in his explanations and his views. (In a nutshell, the book is saying that the "cons" of the new technology probably outweigh the "pros"-at least for now.)His first chapter includes a simple explanation of the structure of the book, a little Internet history, and a summary of how the tornado of technology has affected the world's major institutions. Specifically, he writes chapters about its effects on news and journalism, education, entertainment and culture, government, defense, and private industry (although, of course, many of these institutions overlap), and he acknowledges that each one of these chapters merits its own book. Mele sometimes uses his personal experiences to shore up his arguments. He is a former "webmaster" for Howard Dean's 2004 presidential campaign, and, according to the book jacket, "a leading forecaster of business, politics, and culture in our fast moving digital age."Mele is, of course, not the first person to observe that the phenomenal growth of the Internet has "democratized" communication and all but eliminated conventional filters that allowed a few powerful gatekeepers to gauge what we buy, how we learn, how we govern, and hundreds of other aspects of society. To Mele, however, those who know how to use the technology, and even those who created it, are not necessarily the ones who will ultimately control it. It is those who grasp the thinking underlying the technology who will hold that power, he writes. The irony, he points out in Chapter One, is that this group that disdains and shuns conventional power centers has established a beachhead of its own, and those who once rebelled against the established way of thinking have, ultimately, created their own establishment.Experts in any single aspect of the book might find that some of his points and explanations have already been told; but to laymen, his discussions can be interesting and new. …
Mental Benefits of Physical Activity: Effect and Mechanism——Developmental Perspective

Physical activity could improve mental health across the lifespan. The literature has documented the beneficial of academic performance,P3 and working memory through aerobic exercise and resistance training on children and adolescent. Also,the potential clinical beneficial influence of physical activity engendered through aerobic exercise and resistance training at the risk of neurological diseases such as alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis in older adults. The biological mechanisms of physical activity on brain function lies in levels of blood perfusion,synaptogenesis and brain- derived neurotrophic factor.The randomized control trial and longitude study are needed in future. The mechanism of interaction between physical activity and other factors on brain function need to be explored.
Gear Fault Diagnosis System Based on PC Sound Card and Virtual Instrument Technology

By aiming at difficult problems of many disadvantages in the tradition gear fault diagnosis system,such as complex test equipments and high cost of data collecting card,a kind of gear fault diagnosis system was introduced based on LabVIEW virtual instrument technology and PC sound card which acted as data acquisition card.Various kinds of signals analysis function were realized,by using DSP technology of PC sound card and LabVIEW multithreading program.
Microchip Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry

We have been exploring the use of cylindrical ion traps of 1-mm diameter and smaller for mass spectrometry. These miniature ion traps have dimensions that are comparable to the thickness of the substrates used in microfluidic devices and their simple structure is amenable to microfabrication techniques. Operating voltages are lower than for conventional ion traps while RF frequency and working pressure are higher, making miniaturized electronics and vacuum systems possible as well. Mass resolution comparable to or better than for laboratory ion trap mass spectrometers has been demonstrated. The number of ions that can be stored in traps of equal energy depth scales as the radius of the cavity rather than the volume. This property makes two-dimensional arrays of small ion traps attractive for increased dynamic range. Several examples of miniature ion traps, methods of sample ionization, mass analysis, and ion detection will be described.
Workers’ Benefits and Models of Worker Behavior

This is a book about benefits paid to U.S. workers. Benefits mandated by the government include the major social insurance programs: workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and social security benefits. Those benefits voluntarily provided by firms often include: group medical care, disability benefits, paid sick time, pension benefits life insurance, and assorted other fringe benefits. These programs are not usually managed in ways that cost-effectively promote workforce productivity. Even within the best run firms, human resource and risk management are perceived to be secondary functions, and there is little attempt to manage employee benefit programs to achieve competitive advantage. This book discusses the economic tools and models necessary to analyze the human capital consequences of employee benefits.
Alpers–Huttenlocher syndrome: the role of a multidisciplinary health care team

Alpers-Huttenlocher syndrome (AHS) is a mitochondrial DNA-depletion syndrome. Age of onset is bimodal: early onset at 2-4 years and later adolescent onset at 17-24 years of age. Early development is usually normal, with epilepsy heralding the disorder in ~50% of patients. The onset of seizures is coupled with progressive cognitive decline. Hepatopathy is variable, and when present is a progressive dysfunction leading to liver failure in many cases. These features of seizures, cognitive degeneration, and hepatopathy represent the "classic triad" of AHS. However, most patients develop other system involvement. Therefore, although AHS is ultimately a lethal disorder, medical care is required for sustained quality of life. Frequently, additional organ systems - gastrointestinal, respiratory, nutritional, and psychiatric - abnormalities appear and need treatment. Rarely, cardiovascular dysfunction and even pregnancy complicate medical treatment. Optimal care requires a team of physicians and caretakers to make sure quality of life is optimized. The care team, together with the family and palliative care specialists, need to be in communication as the disease progresses and medical changes occur. Although the unpredictable losses of function challenge medical care, the team approach can foster the individual quality-of-life care needed for the patient and family.
Manipulating Magneto-Optic Properties of a Chiral Polymer by Doping with Stable Organic Biradicals

We report the first example of tuning the large magneto-optic activity of a chiral polymer by addition of stable organic biradicals. The spectral dispersion of Verdet constant, which quantifies magneto-optic response, differs substantially between the base polymer and the nanocomposite. We employed a microscopic model, supported by atomistic calculations, to rationalize the behavior of this nanocomposite system. The suggested mechanism involves magnetic coupling between helical conjugated polymer fibrils, with spatially delocalized helical π-electron density, and the high density of spin states provided by the biradical dopants, which leads to synergistic enhancement of magneto-optic response. Our combined experimental and theoretical studies reveal that the manipulation of magnetic coupling in this new class of magneto-optic materials offers an opportunity to tailor the magnitude, sign, and spectral dispersion of the Verdet constant over a broad range of wavelengths, from the UV to the near-IR. This prov...
Gold Nanorod-Mediated Photothermal Enhancement of the Biocatalytic Activity of a Polymer-Encapsulated Enzyme

The rational integration of biomolecules and functional nanostructures can enable remote-controlled biological processes such as molecular transport, catalysis, and molecular recognition. The photothermal ability of plasmonic nanostructures is highly attractive for optically modulating biomolecular processes such as biocatalysis. However, the studies pertaining to the photothermal enhancement of enzyme activity are mostly limited to thermophilic enzymes because of the thermal denaturation and loss of the activity of conventional enzymes at elevated temperatures. The lack of effective strategies for preserving the activity of immobilized enzymes at elevated temperatures hinders the potential use of plasmonic nanostructures as nanoheaters for the photothermal enhancement of enzyme activity. Here, we demonstrate a simple and highly effective strategy for stabilizing enzymes immobilized on plasmonic nanostructures by encapsulating them through in situ polymerization. Apart from enhanced thermal and biological...
Transformation of Metal–Organic Framework Secondary Building Units into Hexanuclear Zr-Alkyl Catalysts for Ethylene Polymerization

We report the stepwise and quantitative transformation of the Zr6(μ3-O)4(μ3-OH)4(HCO2)6 nodes in Zr-BTC (MOF-808) to the [Zr6(μ3-O)4(μ3-OH)4Cl12]6– nodes in ZrCl2-BTC, and then to the organometallic [Zr6(μ3-O)4(μ3-OLi)4R12]6– nodes in ZrR2-BTC (R = CH2SiMe3 or Me). Activation of ZrCl2-BTC with MMAO-12 generates ZrMe-BTC, which is an efficient catalyst for ethylene polymerization. ZrMe-BTC displays unusual electronic and steric properties compared to homogeneous Zr catalysts, possesses multimetallic active sites, and produces high-molecular-weight linear polyethylene. Metal–organic framework nodes can thus be directly transformed into novel single-site solid organometallic catalysts without homogeneous analogs for polymerization reactions.
Contaminant Transport in Karst Aquifers: Systematics and Mechanisms

Karst aquifers differ from aquifers in porous media by the highly diverse pathways by which water and any associated contaminants travel from recharge to discharge. The effective hydraulic conductivities may vary by 10–12 orders of magnitude between alternate pathways through the same aquifer. There are three distinct contributions to the permeability: a system of pipe-like conduits with varying degrees of development and integration, a system of disolutionally modified fractures, and the primary permeability of the rock matrix. For any given aquifer, hydraulics and response to contamination inputs depend on the sources of recharge, the specific mix of permeability components, and the physical properties of the contaminants—in effect a matrix of interactions. Categories of contaminants include water-soluble compounds, both organic and inorganic, low-solubility liquids, both heavier and lighter than water, and particulates, organic and inorganic, ranging in size from nanometers to meters. Inputs are through sinking streams, storm flow into closed depressions, and infiltration through soils that may be thin and discontinuous. Natural discharge is typically through large springs that are frequently used as water supplies. Features that separate karst aquifers from porous media aquifers are large aperture pathways that permit particulate contaminants to enter the aquifer with little filtration, localization of flow paths into conduit systems which constrict contaminant concentrations to narrow pathways instead of spreading into a plume, and high-velocity flows which can move particulates and also transmit contaminants rapidly from point of injection to point of discharge. Storm flows are exceptionally important in the transmission of contaminants. Storm inputs raise the hydraulic head in the conduit system, increase both flow volume and velocity, and can flush both clastic sediments and contaminants that have remained in storage in the conduit system. During base flow, the conduit systems act as drains with hydraulic gradients in the surrounding fracture and matrix pointing to the conduit. During storm flow, increased head in the conduit reverses gradients, forcing contaminated storm water back into the fractures where it may intercept wells. Rising water levels can force the fumes of volatile organics upward to reach sinkholes and basements. Flooded surface streams may reverse the gradients in the master conduit systems and force contaminated surface water deep into the aquifer.
ADHD Assessment in College Students: Psychologists’ Adherence to DSM-5 Criteria and Multi-Method/Multi-Informant Assessment:

The evidence-based assessment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) depends on adherence to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5) diagnostic criteria and reliance on multi-method/multi-informant data. Although nearly all psychologists endorse these practices, college students with ADHD may lack documentation supporting their diagnoses. We reviewed the documentation submitted by 214 undergraduates diagnosed with ADHD and receiving academic accommodations for this condition. Their clinicians also completed a checklist that described their assessment procedures. Relatively few psychologists assessed all DSM-5 criteria, based on either the psychologist’s self-reported assessment procedures (23.4%), written documentation (14.0%), or multi-method/multi-informant data (10.3%) such as educational/medical records, results of rating scales, or interviews with other informants. Psychologists were least likely to assess students’ areas of impairment or to rule out alterna...
Erythrocyte long-chain omega-3 fatty acid levels are inversely associated with mortality and with incident cardiovascular disease: The Framingham Heart Study

Background The extent to which omega-3 fatty acid status is related to risk for death from any cause and for incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains controversial. Objective To examine these associations in the Framingham Heart Study. Design Prospective and observational. Setting Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort. Measurements The exposure marker was red blood cell levels of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids (the Omega-3 Index) measured at baseline. Outcomes included mortality (total, CVD, cancer, and other) and total CVD events in participants free of CVD at baseline. Follow-up was for a median of 7.3 years. Cox proportional hazards models were adjusted for 18 variables (demographic, clinical status, therapeutic, and CVD risk factors). Results Among the 2500 participants (mean age 66 years, 54% women), there were 350 deaths (58 from CVD, 146 from cancer, 128 from other known causes, and 18 from unknown causes). There were 245 CVD events. In multivariable-adjusted analyses, a higher Omega-3 Index was associated with significantly lower risks (P-values for trends across quintiles) for total mortality (P = .02), for non-CVD and non-cancer mortality (P = .009), and for total CVD events (P = .008). Those in the highest (>6.8%) compared to those in the lowest Omega-3 Index quintiles ( Limitations Relatively short follow-up time and one-time exposure assessment. Conclusions A higher Omega-3 Index was associated with reduced risk of both CVD and all-cause mortality.
Erectile function preservation and rehabilitation

Despite modified surgical techniques including nerve-sparing procedures radical prostatectomy (RP) is a significant source of long-term erectile function impairment which can be caused by cavernous nerve trauma, insufficient arterial inflow, hypoxia-related and neuropraxia-associated damage to erectile tissue resulting in veno-occlusive dysfunction. An increasing understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to post-RP erectile dysfunction (ED) has provided concepts for prophylaxis and rehabilitation of erectile function. Penile rehabilitation is the term given to the concept that we can use medications to prevent the structural damage that erectile tissue undergoes after radical pelvic surgery, while nerve recovery occurs. Rehabilitation revolves around two strategies, regular phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5i) use and early postoperative erectile regeneration. The reason and the logical background to use the PDE5i drug category as prophylaxis for erectile function preservation after RP are not fully understood yet. Supported by experimental and clinical data the postulate is that PDE5i might have a positive effect on endothelial protection, neurogenesis, and cavernosal smooth muscle protection involving neuronal and endothelial regeneration, lowering apoptosis, and recovery of nocturnal erections thus inducing cavernosal oxygenation in an effort to protect the erectile tissue. The current literature also sustains data that an early postoperative erection may optimize the functional rehabilitation by improving cavernosal oxygenation and preventing hypoxia-induced corporal fibrosis. Besides the oral use of PDE5i alternatives are available including transurethral suppositories, vacuum erection devices, and intracavernosal injections complementing the rehabilitation strategies. Based on the current evidence from human and animal studies there is a strong signal for a positive effect of a prophylactic penile rehabilitation after RP which may translate into greater preservation of erectile function. However, a formal analysis of what the optimal rehabilitation program represents, remains unsettled to date. Large prospective multi-center, randomized, placebo-controlled studies in the future will hopefully be able to answer question about an optimal dosing, a time frame for the application, duration and form of the use, and maybe differences between the different medications. Further, supportive managements including cavernous nerve reconstruction and neuroprotection stratagems are under investigation finding their place of value in the future. Comprehensively, for a sufficient erectile rehabilitation after RP it needs a well-informed patient who is highly motivated to follow a medical regimen and is willing to pay for it to maintain sexual quality of life after a potential curative cancer treatment.
MSCs for Renal Repair

Acute kidney injury (AKI), the abrupt loss of renal function that results from ischemia, sepsis, or nephrotoxin-induced damage to vascular and tubular structures, is characterized by inflammatory processes, cellular apoptosis, and necrosis. Patient mortality remains high and treatment is largely supportive. Even mild AKI can lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD), further underscoring the urgent need for therapeutic innovations. Mesenchymal stromal cells’ (MSCs) potent anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, organ protective, and reparative properties make them excellent potential candidates for prevention and treatment of AKI. Multiple preclinical studies using various AKI models have confirmed that, via paracrine mechanisms, MSC treatment improves survival, ameliorates and reverses injury, and prevents progression to CKD. Preliminary results from the first Phase I clinical trial (safety, preliminary efficacy), in which we infused allogeneic MSCs into subjects at high risk for AKI following on-pump cardiac surgery, paralleled preclinical observations, suggesting that MSC therapy is safe and effective in preventing both postoperative AKI and progression to CKD.
Risk Factors Linked to Central Catheter-Associated Thrombosis in Critically Ill Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Objective Our study identified risk factors for the development of clinically identifiable catheter-associated thrombosis (CT). Study Design We performed a retrospective cohort study of neonates in whom a central catheter was present. A total of 1,475 catheters were identified in 766 patients during a 36-month study period. The odds ratio (OR) of thrombi formation in catheterized neonates was modeled using simple (single predictor) and multiple (multiple predictors) logistic regressions as well as simple and multiple Cox's proportional hazard models. Result The incidence of CT was 1.17 per 100 neonates. Unadjusted factors including age at insertion, history of surgery before or during line placement, cholestasis, femoral location, and line size significantly increased the OR or hazards ratio (HR) of developing thrombi formation. In multiple logistic and Cox's regression analyses, three factors continued to be significantly associated with OR or HR of thrombi formation: line size, femoral location, and cholestasis. Conclusion We conclude that clinically identifiable CT is rare in the neonatal population. Furthermore, catheter-specific characteristics are predictive for CT and require further investigation.
Neurotrophic factors in enteric physiology and pathophysiology.

Neurotrophic factors are traditionally recognized for their roles in differentiation, growth, and survival of specific neurons in the central and peripheral nervous system. Some neurotrophic factors are essential for the development and migration of the enteric nervous system along the fetal and post-natal gut. Over the last two decades, several non-developmental functions of neurotrophic factors have been characterized. In the adult gastrointestinal tract, neurotrophic factors regulate gut sensation, motility, epithelial barrier function, and protect enteric neurons and glial cells from damaging insults in the microenvironment of the gut. In this issue of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, Fu et al. demonstrate that brain-derived neurotrophic factor plays a role in the pathogenesis of distention-induced abdominal pain in bowel obstruction. In light of this interesting finding, this mini-review highlights some of the recent advances in understanding of the physiological and pathophysiological roles of neurotrophic factors in the adult gut.
Abstract 1901: Collagen remodeling in clear cell renal cell carcinoma: Influence of composition on growth and metabolism

The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an important role in maintaining the structure and function of the kidney. During aggressive fibrotic disease of the kidney, such as chronic kidney disease (CKD), the kidney extracellular matrix is rapidly modified and degraded. Reports have shown that changes in the ECM composition and architecture can have profound influence on kidney function and recovery. The influence of ECM remodeling on disease progression and kidney function in Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC), is still not well understood. By co-isolating primary cancer cell lines and the extracellular protein fraction from resected ccRCC tumors, we have determined that changes in collagen isoform composition are drastically altered compared to healthy normal kidney via Mass Spectrometry SWATH analysis (NvT COL1 p= 5.2x10-5; COLIII p=0.03; COLVI; COLIV p=0.004). RNA-seq analysis of TCGA data shows that altered collagen composition compared to normal correlates with patient outcomes (5 year survival COL1 HIGH=55%, LOW=72%, p=3.96e-4; COLIII HIGH=60%, LOW=73%, p=6.67e-2; COLIV HIGH=67%, LOW=56%, p=1.06e-2; COLVI HIGH=44%, LOW=71%, p=4.09e-9). Trichrome staining and IHC analysis of COLI, COLIII, and COLIV alongside cryptic-collagen epitopes XL313 and Hu177, suggests that subsets of tumor cell populations degrade surrounding collagen to drastically alter the ECM architecture. HE 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1901.
Forest stand and site characteristics influence fuel consumption in repeat prescribed burns

Prescribed fire is a vital tool for mitigating wildfire hazard and restoring ecosystems in many western North American forest types. However, there can be considerable variability in fuel consumption from prescribed burns, which affects both hazard mitigation and emissions. In the present study, data from replicated, repeat-entry burns following a period of 100+ years of fire exclusion were used to provide a detailed quantification of fuel consumption as it varies by fuel type, size class, stand and prescribed burn number (first, second or third). Using model selection on a series of linear mixed-effects models, it was determined that total fuel load, proportion of overstorey pine, slope, canopy cover, basal area of live trees, burn number and stand influenced fuel consumption at a 0.04-ha scale. Specifically, overstorey pine composition had a positive effect on fuel consumption. Overall fuel consumption across the three burns averaged 45% of pre-burn fuel loads. Overall consumption was highest for the first burn at 65%, decreasing by 15–20% with each successive burn number. Fuel consumption was highly variable by fuel type, stand and tree species composition. This variability may be advantageous for managers seeking to foster structural diversity and resilience in forest stands.
Chronic kidney disease in pregnant mothers affects maternal and fetal disposition of mercury

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects over 15 % of the adults in the United States. Pregnant women with CKD present an additional challenge in that they are at increased risk for adverse events such as preterm birth. Exposure to environmental toxicants, such as methylmercury, may exacerbate maternal disease and increase the risk of adverse fetal outcomes. We hypothesized that fetuses of mothers with CKD are more susceptible to accumulation of methylmercury than fetuses of healthy mothers. The current data show that when mothers are in a state of renal insufficiency, uptake of mercury in fetal kidneys is enhanced significantly. Accumulation of Hg in fetal kidneys may be related to the flow of amniotic fluid, maternal handling of Hg, and/or underdeveloped mechanisms for cellular export and urinary excretion. The results of this study indicate that renal insufficiency in mothers leads to significant alterations in the way toxicants such as mercury are handled by maternal and fetal organs.
Consideration of confounding in epidemiologic studies assessing alcohol consumption on the risk of breast cancer: A brief report

Abstract Background Individual observational studies have suggested null, weak, linear, and J-shaped associations between alcohol consumption and breast cancer risk. However, observational studies are susceptible to confounders, which can obscure the true impact of an exposure on an outcome. Given the uncertainty regarding the association between alcohol consumption and breast cancer, and the challenges of identifying, measuring, and accounting for all potential confounders, we assessed whether and how authors of observational studies evaluating the impact of alcohol consumption on the risk of breast cancer considered bias when interpreting their main study findings. Methods We identified all observational studies included in a recent alcohol-breast cancer meta-analysis. The Abstract and/or Discussion sections were reviewed to determine whether authors considered confounding. Results Among 101 eligible studies, 73 (72.3%) mentioned confounding explicitly in the Abstract and Discussion sections. There were 33 (32.7%) studies that included statements regarding specific confounders that were not adjusted for in the analyses and 60 (59.4%) studies without any statements about the impact of residual confounding on their main findings. Although none of the studies outlined that their main findings were “likely” to be affected by residual confounding, 25 (24.8%) mentioned a “possible” impact and 16 (15.8%) claimed an “unlikely” impact. Only one (1.0%) article explicitly stated that caution was needed when interpreting their findings due to confounding. Conclusion These results highlight the need for more adequate consideration of the potential impact of residual confounding in observational studies evaluating the impact of alcohol consumption on the risk of breast cancer.
What Can Social Media Tell Us About Patient Symptoms: A Text-Mining Approach to Online Ovarian Cancer Forum.

Background Ovarian cancer (OvCa) patients suffer from symptoms that severely affect quality of life. To optimally manage these symptoms, their symptom experiences must be better understood. Social media have emerged as a data source to understand these experiences. Objective The objective of this study was to use topic modeling (ie, latent Dirichlet allocation [LDA]) to understand the symptom experience of OvCa patients through analysis of online forum posts from OvCa patients and their caregivers. Interventions/methods Ovarian cancer patient/caregiver posts (n = 50 626) were collected from an online OvCa forum. We developed a symptom dictionary to identify symptoms described therein, selected the top 5 most frequently discussed symptoms, extracted posts that mentioned at least one of those symptoms, and conducted LDA on those extracted posts. Results Pain, nausea, anxiety, fatigue, and skin rash were the top 5 most frequently discussed symptoms (n = 4536, 1296, 967, 878, and 657, respectively). Using LDA, we identified 11 topic categories, which differed across symptoms. For example, chemotherapy-related adverse effects likely reflected fatigue, nausea, and rash; social and spiritual support likely reflected anxiety; and diagnosis and treatment often reflected pain. Conclusion The frequency of a symptom discussed on a social media platform may not include all symptom experience and their severity. Indeed, users, who are experiencing different symptoms, mentioned different topics on the forum. Subsequent studies should consider the influence of additional factors (eg, cancer stage) from discussions. Implications for practice Social media have the potential to prioritize and answer the questions about clinical care that are frequently asked by cancer patients and their caregivers.
ADPriboDB v2.0: An Updated Database of ADP-ribosylated Proteins

ADP-ribosylation is a protein modification responsible for biological processes such as DNA repair, RNA regulation, cell cycle, and biomolecular condensate formation. Dysregulation of ADP-ribosylation is implicated in cancer, neurodegeneration, and viral infection. We developed ADPriboDB (adpribodb.leunglab.org) to facilitate studies in uncovering insights into the mechanisms and biological significance of ADP-ribosylation. ADPriboDB 2.0 serves as a one-stop repository comprising 48,346 entries and 9,097 ADP-ribosylated proteins, of which 6,708 were newly identified since the original database release. In this updated version, we provide information regarding the sites of ADP-ribosylation in 32,946 entries. The wealth of information allows us to interrogate existing databases or newly available data. For example, we found that ADP-ribosylated substrates are significantly associated with the recently identified human protein interaction networks associated with SARS-CoV-2, which encodes a conserved protein domain called macrodomain that binds and removes ADP-ribosylation. In addition, we create a new interactive tool to visualize the local context of ADP-ribosylation, such as structural and functional features as well as other post-translational modifications (e.g., phosphorylation, methylation and ubiquitination). This information provides opportunities to explore the biology of ADP-ribosylation and generate new hypotheses for experimental testing.