cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Garnishment of Accounts Containing Federal Benefit Payments

Despite the fact that federal benefits are exempt from garnishment and other legal process, beneficiaries and their depositary institutions still struggle with garnishment orders on a regular basis. This comment supports adoption of a rule proposed by the United States Department of Treasury that creates a safe harbor for beneficiaries for benefits paid through direct deposits and also for depositary institutions so that they may act without fear of penalties for failure to obey garnishment orders to the extent that the proposed rule applies to the deposit. In addition, this comment calls for strengthening the protections for beneficiaries and depositary institutions, and also calls for the protections to be extended to prevent banks' use of set off rights they may have by contract with beneficiaries to the extent of the proposed rule's reach.
Theoretical and experimental studies of transverse dimensional gait of five-link mobile robot on rough surface

In this article we discuss spatial motion of a five-link crawling robot equipped with special frictional elements for the fixation of the links onto the surface, which is realized in the form of a sequence of stages that correspond to a certain gait on a rough horizontal surface.
Easy Bruising and Epistaxis in a 30-Year-Old Pregnant Woman

History of Present Illness She presented to her primary care physician for her first prenatal checkup. She had 2 other children and both of those pregnancies had been uneventful. Over the last 5 weeks she noticed that she bruised quite easily and had an occasional problem with epistaxis. She also admitted to some mild vaginal bleeding. She denied any hematuria, constipation, diarrhea, hematochezia, or melena. She also denied any gingival bleeding, chest pain, or shortness of breath.
The Parent Experience of Caring for a Child with Mitochondrial Disease

Mitochondrial disease is a spectrum of progressive genetic disorders resulting from dysfunctions of cellular metabolism in the mitochondria that greatly compromise the lives of affected individuals, who are often children. Purpose This study described the parent experiences unique to caring for a child with mitochondrial disease. Methods Internet surveys were made available to parents of children with a known mitochondrial disease. Surveys included demographic items and two questionnaires: Parent Experience of Child Illness (PECI) and Pediatric Inventory for Parents (PIP). Descriptive data were collected and correlations calculated to determine relationships between the parent experience and stress. Results The majority of participants (n = 231) were mothers (95%) of children with mitochondrial disease around the age of 10 years (M = 9.85). Elevated scores were found in parent adjustment illness-related concerns regarding Guilt and Worry (M = 2.30, SD = .650), Sorrow and Anger (M = 2.09, SD = .730), Long-term Uncertainty (M = 2.56, SD = .690), and Emotional Resources (M = 2.36, SD = .615). Scores indicated elevated feelings of stress in terms of both difficulty and frequency. Significant correlations (p Conclusions The results of this study suggest that parents of a child with mitochondrial disease feel a burden of responsibility that exceeds the typical caregiver role, see their child as fragile, and have concerns about their child's future. Identification of these concerns can assist nurses to better meet the needs of these parents and families.
Selective Targeting of Heme Protein in Cytochrome P450 and Nitric Oxide Synthase by Diphenyleneiodonium

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes mediate mixed-function oxidation reactions important in drug metabolism. The aromatic heterocyclic cation, diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), binds flavin in cytochrome P450 reductase and inhibits CYP-mediated activity. DPI also inhibits CYP by directly interacting with heme. Herein, we report that DPI effectively inhibits a number of CYP-related monooxygenase reactions including NADPH oxidase, a microsomal enzyme activity that generates hydrogen peroxide in the absence of metabolizing substrates. Inhibition of monooxygenase by DPI was time and concentration dependent with IC50's ranging from 0.06 to 1.9 μM. Higher (4.6-23.9 μM), but not lower (0.06-1.9 μM), concentrations of DPI inhibited electron flow via cytochrome P450 reductase, as measured by its ability to reduce cytochrome c and mediate quinone redox cycling. Similar results were observed with inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), an enzyme containing a C-terminal reductase domain homologous to cytochrome P450 reductase that mediates reduction of cytochrome c, and an N-terminal heme-thiolate oxygenase domain mediating nitric oxide production. Significantly greater concentrations of DPI were required to inhibit cytochrome c reduction by iNOS (IC50 = 3.5 µM) than nitric oxide production (IC50 = 0.16 µM). Difference spectra of liver microsomes, recombinant CYPs, and iNOS demonstrated that DPI altered heme-carbon monoxide interactions. In the presence of NADPH, DPI treatment of microsomes and iNOS yielded a type II spectral shift. These data indicate that DPI interacts with both flavin and heme in CYPs and iNOS. Increased sensitivity for inhibition of CYP-mediated metabolism and nitric oxide production by iNOS indicates that DPI targets heme moieties within the enzymes.
Time-dependent Reliability Analysis of Concrete Bridges Based on Response Surface Method

In order to solve time-dependent reliability of concrete bridges exposed to harsh environments,a computational methodology was developed with an improved response surface method and a deterministic degradation process analysis method of concrete bridges.Analysis programs named concrete bridge durability analysis system(CBDAS) and probability index by response surface method(PIRSM) were compiled by FORTRAN 95.The numerical method was implemented to a prestressed concrete simply supported bridge.The variations of various reliability indices in different limit states were analyzed.The results show that reliability index of concrete stress changes from 2.16 at completion 0.82 after 100 years.Mechanical property indices in serviceability limit state of prestressed concrete bridges may even suffer durability problems.The objective of time-dependent reliability of concrete bridges is realized with the proposed computational methodology by overcoming the problem that the limit state equation of complex structure is always implicit.
Characterization and control of tunable quantum cascade laser beam parameters for stand-off spectroscopy

Infrared active stand-off detection techniques often employ high power tunable quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) for target illumination. Due to the distances involved, any fluctuation of the laser beam direction and/or beam profile is amplified at the sample position. If not accounted for, this leads to diminished performance (both sensitivity and selectivity) of the detection technique as a direct result of uncertainties in laser irradiance at each imaged pixel of the sample. This is especially true for detection approaches which illuminate a relatively small footprint at the target since the laser beam profile spatial fluctuations are often comparable to the (focused) laser spot size. Also, there is often a necessary trade-off between high output QCL power and beam quality. Therefore, precise characterization of the laser beam profile and direction as a function of laser properties (tuning wavelength, current and operating mode: pulsed or CW) is imperative. We present detailed measurements of beam profiles, beam wander and power fluctuations and their reproducibility as function of laser wavelength and stand-off distance for a commercially available tunable quantum cascade laser. We present strategies for improving beam quality by compensating for fluctuations using a motorized mirror and a pair of motorized lenses. We also investigate QCL mode hops and how they affect laser beam properties at the sample. Detailed mode-hop stability maps were measured.
Ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry examination of the structures, stabilities, and extents of hydration of dimethylamine-sulfuric acid clusters.

We applied an atmospheric pressure differential mobility analyzer (DMA) coupled to a time-of-flight mass spectrometer to examine the stability, mass–mobility relationship, and extent of hydration of dimethylamine–sulfuric acid cluster ions, which are of relevance to nucleation in ambient air. Cluster ions were generated by electrospray ionization and were of the form: [H((CH3)2NH)x(H2SO4)y]+ and [(HSO4)((CH3)2NH)x(H2SO4)y]−, where 4 ≤ x ≤ 8, and 5 ≤ y ≤ 12. Under dry conditions, we find that positively charged cluster ions dissociated via loss of both multiple dimethylamine and sulfuric acid molecules after mobility analysis but prior to mass analysis, and few parent ions were detected in the mass spectrometer. Dissociation also occurred for negative ions, but to a lesser extent than for positive ions for the same mass spectrometer inlet conditions. Under humidified conditions (relative humidities up to 30% in the DMA), positively charged cluster ion dissociation in the mass spectrometer inlet was mitigated and occurred primarily by H2SO4 loss from ions containing excess acid molecules. DMA measurements were used to infer collision cross sections (CCSs) for all identifiable cluster ions. Stokes–Millikan equation and diffuse/inelastic gas molecule scattering predicted CCSs overestimate measured CCSs by more than 15%, while elastic–specular collision model predictions are in good agreement with measurements. Finally, cluster ion hydration was examined by monitoring changes in CCSs with increasing relative humidity. All examined cluster ions showed a modest amount of water molecule adsorption, with percentage increases in CCS smaller than 10%. The extent of hydration correlates directly with cluster ion acidity for positive ions.
To walk alongside: Myth, magic, and mind in The Golden Bough

Can The Golden Bough be taken seriously in this day and age? Or, is it time to let go of this Tylorian survival that today stands largely uncited except as an example or error? In this article, I return to The Golden Bough with the idea that if it is in error, then the nature of this error also deserves attention. Using Levi-Strauss’ approach to the analysis of myth, I investigate the tension between Frazer’s classical exegesis of the priesthood at Nemi and the scientific aspirations of his comparative study. These very different projects are each associated with narrative forms and are caught between enforcing the distinction between the truth of science and the error of magic and upholding their continuity (as common products of the human mind). Looking at Frazer and Levi-Strauss, I seek to recover some fragment of the spirit of their inquiry and uncover the mind as their fundament. With their notion of mind in sight, I find inspiration for a new model of ethnography, one based not on understanding the mind of another but on attending to worlds that open when walking alongside them.
Ruxolitinib, a Janus Kinase (JAK)-1 and -2 Inhibitor Modulates Microrna (miR) Levels in Patients with Myelofibrosis (MF): miR Levels Might Predict MF Treatment Outcome

Abstract 1744 Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are a class of stem cell–derived hematologic malignancies, characterized by an expansion of one or more myeloid lineages with resulting bone marrow (BM) hypercellularity. A gain-of-function mutation in JAK2, detected in most patients with MPN, induces constitutive activation of JAK2, stimulation of downstream signaling pathways, and activation of several cytokine and growth factor genes. Recent phase I/II clinical trial revealed that ruxolitinib (INCB018424), an oral inhibitor of JAK1 and JAK2, induced marked and durable clinical benefits in patients with primary or secondary MF (Verstovsek S et al. N Engl J Med 12:1117, 2010). Although clinically effective, ruxolitinib induced a modest (13%) suppression of the JAK2 V617F allele burden after 12 cycles of therapy and the response did not correlate with the presence of JAK2V617 mutation. Therefore other, yet unknown, mechanisms might be operative in attaining these clinical benefits. Alterations in gene and protein levels affect miRs levels, and miRs have been shown to regulate protein levels, thereby playing a role in cancer pathogenesis (Calin G, et al. PNAS 99:15524, 2002; Merritt MW et al. N Engl J Med 25:2641, 2008; Munker R, et al, Clin Sci 121:141, 2011). Therefore, in MF patients we investigated changes in the levels of RNase III enzymes Dicer and Drosha, which are the two main regulators of miR biogenesis. Deregulation of their expression has been indicative of possible miR alterations in various cancers. We also investigated expression of several miRs (h-miR-16, 21, 29a, 29b1, 29b2, 29c, 155, 181a, and 451). Bone marrow mononuclear cells (MNC) from six best responders in the ruxolitinib study, and MNC from six worst responders were collected (at baseline, one year and two years on therapy), plus six normal control bone marrow MNC, and used for this study. Using qRT-PCR we found that the levels of miR-16, -21, -29 (a, b1, b2, c), -155, -188a and -451 were significantly higher in MF than in normal controls. MiR-155 levels were significantly higher at baseline in best responders than worst responders ( P = 0.024). However, after two years of treatment they significantly declined ( P = 0.055). The expression of miR-188a was also significantly higher in the worst responders at baseline, as compared to the best responders, but stayed elevated during two years of therapy ( P = 0.0021). The levels of RNase III enzymes Dicer and Drosha were significantly lower at baseline in MF MNC as compare to normal MNC. However, after two years of treatment, Dicer level significantly increased in the best responders but not in the worst responders ( P = 0.0001). In conclusion, ruxolitinib treatment modulates miR levels and associated enzymes; miR profiling might be useful in predicting response to ruxolitinib. Disclosures: Verstovsek: Incyte Corporation: Research Funding.
Monocyte differentiation and antigen-presenting functions

Monocytes develop in the bone marrow and represent the primary type of mononuclear phagocyte found in the blood. They were long thought of as a source for tissue macrophages, but recent studies indicate more complex roles for monocytes, both within the circulation and after their migration into tissues and lymphoid organs. In this Review, we discuss the newer concepts underlying the maturation of emigrating monocytes into different classes of tissue macrophages, as well as their potential functions, as monocyte-derived cells, in the tissues. In addition, we consider the emerging roles for monocytes in adaptive immunity as antigen-presenting cells.
Robust Power Line Outage Detection with Unreliable Phasor Measurements

Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) provide high precision data at high sampling rates to support Smart Grid applications. Power Line Outage detection mechanisms can enhance the grid reliability by assisting power operators in taking proper control actions. Despite the potential provided by PMUs, there are very limited efforts on exploiting data available to more effectively detect outages. Conventional outage detection schemes are mostly designed based on simplified power models, and the limited work on detection with data either assume all the measurement samples are available or ignore the missing entries. Their performance suffers in the complex grid conditions in the presence of missing data. In this paper, we design a detection mechanism considering unreliable data, in the form of missing data samples. Detection is performed through the grouping of nodes according to their data availability and their learned detection capabilities. To enable the robust detection of power line outages, we propose learning outage characteristics for each individual node instead of specific single line outage scenarios. Our results show that the outages detected are highly consistent with the evaluated failures under different scenarios, with high accuracy and low false positive rates. Moreover, the detection application is resilient to unreliable data, and can properly differentiate data problems from physical power line failures.
Radiographic evaluation of first MTP joint arthrodesis for severe hallux valgus: Does the introduction of a lag screw improve union rates and correction of the intermetatarsal angle?

Abstract Background First metatarsophalangeal (MTP-1) joint fusion is a reliable method for the correction of various deformities including hallux valgus and hallux rigidus. Ideal constructs provide high rates of fusion in desired alignment. The present study examines the union rates, as well as the change in dorsiflexion angle during the follow up period in patients who underwent MTP-1 fusion with a dorsal locking plate and a lag screw, versus patients fused with a dorsal locking plate alone. Methods This is a retrospective review of 99 feet undergoing MTP-1 fusion. Joints were fused using either a dorsal locking plate alone or a lag screw plus a dorsal locking plate. Union was determined radiographically during the follow up period. Suspected nonunions were confirmed with CT. Dorsiflexion angles were radiographically measured at first post-operative visit and at final follow up. Results There were 36 patients in the lag screw plus dorsal plate group, and 63 in the dorsal plate group. Mean follow up was 12.9 months (Range: 12–33.5 months). The dorsal plate plus lag screw group had a significantly lower change in mean dorsiflexion angle (0.57° ± 5.01°) during the post-operative period compared to the dorsal plate group at final follow up versus the dorsal plate group (6.73° ± 7.07°). Conclusion The addition of a lag screw to a dorsal locking plate for MTP-1 arthrodesis may offer improved stability of the joint in the sagittal plane over time compared to a dorsal plate alone. Level of evidence Retrospective level III evidence.
Gold Nanoparticles as a Probe for Amyloid-β Oligomer and Amyloid Formation

The process of amyloid-β (Aβ) amyloid formation is pathologically linked to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The identification of Aβ amyloids and intermediates that are crucial players in the pathology of AD is critical for exploring the underlying mechanism of Aβ aggregation and the diagnosis of the disease. Herein, we performed a gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-based study to detect the formation of Aβ amyloid fibrils and oligomers. Our results demonstrate that the intensity of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption band of the AuNPs is sensitive to the quantity of Aβ40 amyloids. This allows the SPR assay to be used for detection and semiquantification of Aβ40 amyloids and characterization of the kinetics of Aβ amyloid formation. Furthermore, our study demonstrates that the SPR band intensity of the AuNPs is sensitive to the presence of oligomers of Aβ40, and an Aβ40 mutant which forms more stable oligomers. The kinetics of the stable oligomer formation of the Aβ40 mutant can also be monitored following the ...
Mexican-origin youth substance use trajectories: Associations with cultural and family factors

The current study identified alcohol and cannabis use trajectories among a sample of Mexican-origin youth and examined cultural and familial correlates from childhood to adolescence. Mexican-origin youth (N = 674) from Northern California were assessed annually from ages 10 to 17 (8 waves). Latent class growth modeling examined variability in developmental trajectories for last 3-month alcohol and cannabis use frequency. Analyses also examined between-trajectory differences in youth's cultural practices and values, family cultural conflict, general parent-child conflict, and parental monitoring at 4 time points from ages 10 to 16. Analyses resulted in a 4-class model for alcohol use, comprising nonusers (62%), early-increasing (10%), adolescent-limited (11%), and late-onset (17%) subgroups, and a 4-class model for cannabis use, including nonusers (74%), early-increasing (8%), occasional use (16%), and high-declining (2%) subgroups. Findings suggested that early language use (higher English at age 10 and lower Spanish at age 12) was a temporally distal marker for several alcohol and cannabis use trajectories, whereas lower traditional family values at ages 14 and 16 were associated with several classes characterized by early substance use. Elevations in familial (parent-child conflict, parental monitoring) risk factors co-occurred in time and generally suggested temporally proximal connections with substance use behavior. Further, there was evidence that a less prominent decline in certain protective factors (e.g., father monitoring) was associated with reductions in substance use. These findings inform the literature by describing youth subgroups with variable risk for substance use development, and suggest modifiable risk factors associated with more frequent substance use trajectories. (PsycINFO Database Record
Navigating Difficult Times with Pillow Talk: Post Sex Communication as a Strategy for Mitigating Uncertainty Following Relational Transgressions

The present study extends previous work on communication after sexual activity by investigating the influence of “pillow talk” over time within relationships that have experienced a recent transgre...
NITROGEN METABOLISM AND EXCRETION: REGULATION OF INTRACELLULAR AMINO ACID CONCENTRATIONS

ABSTRACT Amino acids and taurine are used by osmoconforming and osmo-regulating estuarine invertebrate animals to control the intracellular osmotic pressure. These amino acids are readily derived from intermediates of glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Isolated molluscan hearts adapted to low and high salinities in vitro show adaptive changes in amino acid levels which correlate with changes in mechanical properties. Transaminases are at high levels in all tissues of all organisms studied. High levels of the primary ammonia forming-fixing enzyme (GDH) have been found only in crustaceans. Ammonia and small amounts of free amino acids are the major nitrogen excretory products. These are released through the gills, body wall, and gut. Animals adapted to low salinities show increased ammonia production. In animals with low GDH activities (flatworms, molluscs, annelids), the serine cycle and purine nucleotide cycle have been suggested as primary ammonia forming mechanisms. The enzyme responsible for ammonia fixation as these animals adapt to high salinity has not been described.
“I’ll call you…” Communication frequency as a regulator of satisfaction and commitment across committed and casual sexual relationship types:

Casual sexual relationships (CSRs) are common among young adults. Although it is a widely discussed topic in the popular media, little empirical work has examined the expectations related to communication within these relationships. Moreover, few studies have made comparative examinations across various relationship types. Through two studies, we first identified the differences in communication, satisfaction, and commitment across relationship types. Then we examined communication frequency as a regulator of satisfaction and commitment across relationship types. In Study 1, participants responded to a hypothetical relationship scenario depicting either a committed relationship (CR), friends with benefits (FWB), or a booty call/fuck buddy relationship (BC/FB); they indicated how committed and satisfied they would feel as well as how frequently they would communicate with the partner. Participants in Study 2 reported on these variables in their most recently terminated relationship. Overall, we found the h...
Re-membering missiology: An invitation to an activist agenda

In this article, I will argue that US mission practitioners, more than at anytime in the last century, need missiologists to bring research, writing, and teaching to bear on mission as practiced by...
Gender and Welfare States

Feminist scholars offer distinctive theoretical tools to conceptualize the relationship between gender relations and welfare states. Mainstream scholars have been responsive to this work, increasingly considering the centrality of gender to the transformations of contemporary welfare states, although some of the most important theoretical and political implications of feminist analyses have not yet been fully integrated. In this paper, we reflect on the theoretical and methodological challenges facing scholarship that aims to make gendered power relations central to the analysis of welfare states. We discuss the main implications of feminist analyses, centering on the significance of the gendered division of labor and power, and the way they have been or are yet to be integrated into our understandings of welfare states. Next, we examine scholarship on policies that are particularly significant for reflecting, reshaping and occasionally undermining the gendered division of labor. Finally, we offer two suggestions for improving our analyses of gender and welfare states. First, scholars should consider how social provision is always involved in the regulation of individuals and groups as well as redistribution; the relationship between the disciplinary and redistributive functions of the state should be analytically central for understanding the political shaping of gender relations. Second, we discuss the connection between state policies and social politics, briefly reviewing the political drivers underpinning policies that differ in generosity, scope of coverage, bases for entitlement, and in the goals they purport to address and logics they instantiate, and suggest that gendered political goals and identities be contextualized.
New and Noteworthy: Philanthropy and Libraries

A review of several recent articles, books, and websites on the topic of philanthropy and fundraising in libraries and information organizations.
Impact of Die Attach Defects on Internal Temperature of Power Hybrids

In this study, hybrid components from three different suppliers are first compared in terms of internal temperature using finite-element simulation softwares ANSYS[1] and CAEDS[2]. Then, the influence of die attach defects is investigated. Numerical models clearly prove that the position and shape of the major void is even more important than the total surface of the voids in die attach. This led us to define parameters that account for thermal flux distortion and can be correlated with the thermal resistance of the voided die attach.
A probabilistic model for Latent Semantic Indexing: Research Articles

Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI), when applied to semantic space built on text collections, improves information retrieval, information filtering, and word sense disambiguation. A new dual probability model based on the similarity concepts is introduced to provide deeper understanding of LSI. Semantic associations can be quantitatively characterized by their statistical significance, the likelihood. Semantic dimensions containing redundant and noisy information can be separated out and should be ignored because their negative contribution to the overall statistical significance. LSI is the optimal solution of the model. The peak in the likelihood curve indicates the existence of an intrinsic semantic dimension. The importance of LSI dimensions follows the Zipf-distribution, indicating that LSI dimensions represent latent concepts. Document frequency of words follows the Zipf distribution, and the number of distinct words follows log-normal distribution. Experiments on five standard document collections confirm and illustrate the analysis. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Vocal cord paresis and glottic stenosis: a late complication of poliomyelitis

A patient with spinobulbar poliomyelitis had residual dysfunction of the ninth and tenth cranial nerves, which produced bilateral vocal cord paresis and recurrent aspiration. Critical glottic stenosis developed 28 years after the initial episode of poliomyelitis; this course appeared to be explained by fibrosis of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles and ankylosis of the right cricoarytenoid joint. Thus it appears that significant upper airway obstruction may develop as a late complication in patients with stable neurologic deficits and chronic immobility of the vocal cords.
C++ pointers and dynamic memory management

Object-Oriented Programming with Pointers. Objects and Memory. Pointer Basics. Passing Data and References. Multi Dimensional Arrays and Pointers. Strings and Pointers. Structures, Unions, Classes, and Pointers. Pointers and Dynamic Memory. Pointer Pointers and Pointer Arrays. This and Other Special Pointers. Inheritance, Polymorphism, and Pointers. Pointers and Abstract Data Types. Function Pointers and Virtual Functions. Memory Management Internals. Platform-Specific Pointers. Appendices. Glossary. Index.
Experimentally Enhanced Computations: Calibration Methodology for an Anisotropic Metal, Part II – Novel Approach/Validation

Here, we present our current progress towards Part~II of the Experimentally Enhanced Computations project: a~novel calibration approach. While the first part discussed the traditional calibration approach, the availability of advanced diagnostics combined with the development of a new finite element updating inverse method that utilizes full field displacement data and the virtual fields method enables a novel calibration approach.
RFID Security, Verification, and Blockchain: Vulnerabilities within the Supply Chain for Food Security

Over the past few decades, radio frequency identification (RFID) technology has been an important factor in securing products along the agri-food supply chain. However, there still exist security vulnerabilities when registering products to a specific RFID tag, particularly regarding the ease at which tags can be cloned. In this paper, a potential attack, labeled the "Hilt Shao attack", is identified which could occur during the initial phases of product registration, and demonstrate the type of attack using UID and CUID tags. Furthermore, a system is proposed using blockchain technology in order for the attacker to hide the cloned tag information. Results show that this attack, if carried out, can negate the profits of distributors along the supply chain, and negatively affect the consumer.
Forskolin and IBMX induce neural transdifferentiation of MSCs through downregulation of the NRSF.

Neural differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells is a controversial phenomenon, as it would require transdifferentiation across the mesoderm-ectoderm barrier. However, several laboratories have observed that MSCs are able to be induced to express neural characteristics. Previously, we demonstrated that the cAMP-elevating agents, forskolin and IBMX, induced neural-like differentiation of MSCs, including expression of neural markers and increased sensitivity to neurotransmitters. However, due to the broad range of effects that forskolin and IBMX can elicit through the intracellular second messenger, cAMP, a better mechanistic understanding is required. Here, we show that neural induction by forskolin and IBMX is dependent on downregulation of expression of the master transcriptional regulator, neuron restrictive silencer factor (NRSF), and its downstream target genes. Since silencing of NRSF is known to initiate neural differentiation, it suggests that forskolin and IBMX result in transdifferentiation of MSCs into a neural lineage.
Invasive coqui frogs are associated with differences in mongoose and rat abundances and diets in Hawaii

With the increasing rate of species being introduced to areas outside of their native ranges, non-natives are likely to interact in ways that influence each other’s populations. The high densities of invasive coqui frogs (Eleutherodactylus coqui) in Hawaii have been hypothesized to increase non-native mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) and rat (Rattus spp.) abundances, and in turn increase bird nest depredation rates. We compared the relative abundances of rats and mongooses and artificial bird nest predation rates at 12 sites that had plots with similar habitat invaded and not invaded by coqui frogs across the island of Hawaii. We interpret our results considering mongoose and rat stomach analyses and camera trap data collected to monitor coqui scavengers. We found that coqui presence was associated with 30% greater mongoose abundance and 17% lower Pacific rat (R. exulans) abundance. Based on our diet analyses and scavenging data, both mongooses and rats consume coquis, but mongooses were the most important consumers of coquis, which may have contributed to their increase in coqui plots. We speculate that coquis are competing with rats for invertebrate prey due to reduced Pacific rat abundance and greater amounts of fruit in rat stomachs collected in coqui-invaded compared to uninvaded plots. We did not observe any difference in bird nest predation rates in coqui-invaded and uninvaded plots. Our results suggest that the coqui invasion may increase or decrease non-native mammal populations, and non-native amphibians may serve as both novel prey and competitors to non-native mammals.
Update in Hospital Medicine: Practical Lessons from the Literature.

Background Hospital medicine continues to grow in workforce, clinical scope, and academic inquiry. This article provides a summary of recent high-impact publications for busy clinicians who provide care to hospitalized adults. Methods Authors reviewed articles that were published between March 2017 and March 2018 for the Update in Hospital Medicine presentations at the 2018 Society of Hospital Medicine and Society of General Internal Medicine annual meetings. Nine of the 29 articles presented were selected for this review based on quality and potential to influence practice. Results The following key insights were gained: (1) the perioperative continuation of aspirin in patients with previous percutaneous intervention is beneficial; (2) delaying hip fracture surgery beyond a 24-hour window increases complications; (3) oral antibiotics may be effective treatment for select bloodstream infections; (4) pulmonary embolism may not be as common a cause of syncope as previously suggested; (5) balanced intravenous fluids and normal saline are similar with respect to hospital-free days but a difference exists in renal events at 30 days favoring balanced crystalloids; (6) speaker introductions may reveal gender bias in academic medicine; (7) edoxaban is a reasonable choice for the treatment of venous thromboembolism in cancer; (8) high-flow nasal cannula reduces the need for intubation in respiratory failure when compared with usual oxygen therapy and noninvasive positive pressure ventilation; and (9) diagnostic errors in spinal epidural abscess lead to delays and morbidity. Conclusions This research provides insight into how we can approach common medical problems in the care of hospitalized adults. The selected works have the potential to change or confirm current practices.
Blow-Ups of Toric Surfaces and the Mori Dream Space Property

We study the question of whether the blow-ups of toric surfaces of Picard number one at the identity point of the torus are Mori dream spaces. For some of these toric surfaces, the question whether...
Binding Interactions of NS6740, a Silent Agonist of the α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor

The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is a potential drug target for the treatment of a number of neurological and inflammatory disorders. Silent agonists are an emerging class of drugs that bind to the receptor but do not open the channel. Instead they shift the receptor to a desensitized state. Silent agonists may be able to target a subset of α7 nAChR mediated signaling processes. Here we use non-canonical amino acid mutagenesis to characterize the binding to α7 by the silent agonist NS6740. We find that like α7 agonists, NS6740 forms a cation-π interaction with Y115 (TyrA). We also showed that NS6740 makes a novel hydrogen bond to TyrA. This interaction is necessary for the silent agonist activity of NS6740; when the hydrogen bond is blocked silent agonist NS6740 converts to a conventional partial agonist and appreciably opens the channel in the absence of a positive allosteric modulator. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Silent agonists represent and interesting new class of active compounds. Here we evaluate the binding of a silent agonist - NS6740 - to the &[alpha]7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Among other things, we find a novel hydrogen bond that suggests strategies for developing new active compounds.
The Dilemma of Staying or Leaving: Senior Executives’ Career Planning Under Knightian Uncertainty

There is little consensus about what constitutes senior executives’ decision to stay with or take a voluntary exit from a firm with declining performance. The failing firm generates a context of un...
Neuroendocrine Kidney Tumors

Kidney neuroendocrine tumors usually occur in the renal parenchyma and do not include those originate from the urothelial mucosa in the renal pelvis and calyces. Although they are rare, these neuroendocrine tumors demonstrate a wide spectrum of pathologic and clinical features. Several neuroendocrine tumors, including carcinoid, small cell carcinoma, paraganglioma, primitive neuroectodermal tumor, neuroblastoma, and juxtaglomerular cell tumor, are discussed here.
Mixer-First MIMO Receiver With Reconfigurable Multi-Port Decoupling and Matching

This article presents architectures to realize mutual impedance tuning for N -path mixer-first multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) receivers. A coupled response at baseband is upconverted to radio frequency to realize the tunable mutual impedance. This enables the dynamic decoupling of coupled-antenna systems. The impedance of a multi-port receiver is analyzed and shown to be able to provide a wideband tunable and broadband coupled response with an array of RC baseband networks. A two-port mixer-first MIMO receiver is realized in a 45-nm silicon on insulator (SOI) CMOS and includes polyphase baseband resistive-coupling networks. The two receivers consume 16 mW and operate over 0.1–3 GHz. Each receiver achieves 3–6-dB noise figure and 14–40-dB conversion gain. The MIMO system with $N$ -path decoupling was measured with two cases: two monopole antennas and a two-port single-aperture antenna. Signal-to-noise ratio was increased by 7 and 5.2 dB, respectively.
Alternative substrate metabolism depends on cerebral metabolic state following traumatic brain injury.

Abstract Decreases in energy metabolism following traumatic brain injury (TBI) are attributed to impairment of glycolytic flux and oxidative phosphorylation. Glucose utilization post-TBI is decreased while administration of alternative substrates has been shown to be neuroprotective. Changes in energy metabolism following TBI happens in two phases; a period of hyper-metabolism followed by prolonged hypo-metabolism. It is not understood how different cerebral metabolic states may impact substrate metabolism and ultimately mitochondrial function. Adult male or female Sprague Dawley rats were given sham surgery or controlled cortical impact (CCI) and were assigned one of two administration schemes. Glucose, lactate or beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) were infused i.v. either starting immediately after injury or beginning 6 h post-injury for 3 h to reflect the hyper- and hypo-metabolic stages. Animals were euthanized 24 h post-injury. The peri-contusional cortex was collected and assayed for mitochondrial respiration peroxide production, and citrate synthase activity. Tissue acetyl-CoA, ATP, glycogen and HMGB1 were also quantified. Sex differences were observed in injury pattern. Administration based on cerebral metabolic state identified that only early lactate and late BHB improved mitochondrial function and peroxide production and TCA cycle intermediates in males. In contrast, both early and late BHB had deleterious effects on all aspects of metabolic measurements in females. These data stress there is no one optimal alternative substrate, but rather the fuel type used should be guided by both cerebral metabolic state and sex.
Family Control and Opposition Party Connections: Evidence from the Korean Family Business Groups

While the immediate benefit is clearly expected from having connections to the incumbent government, benefits from the opposition parties seem to be subtle and distant. Then, what motivates firms m...
Surveying Environmental Perspectives among Faculty at an Institution of Christian Higher Education.

Environmental degradation and climate change are frequently in the news, but the Christian perspective is often absent or varied. In this study, faculty at an institution of Christian higher educat...
Ensemble Sensing Using Single-Molecule DNA Copolymers

While single-molecule sensing has offered ultimate mass sensitivity at the precision of individual molecules, it requires a longer time to detect analytes at lower concentrations when analyte binding to single-molecule probes becomes diffusion-limited. Here, we solved this accuracy problem in the concentration sensitivity determination by using single-molecule DNA homopolymers, in which up to 473 identical sensing elements (DNA hairpins) were introduced by rolling circle amplification. Surprisingly, the DNA homopolymers containing as few as 10 tandem hairpins displayed ensemble unfolding/refolding transitions, which were exploited to recognize microRNAs (miRNAs) that populated unfolded hairpins. Within 20 min, the femtomolar detection limit for miRNAs was observed, 6 orders of magnitude better than standalone hairpins. By incorporating different hairpin probes in an alternating DNA copolymer, multiplex recognition of different miRNAs was demonstrated. These DNA co-polymers represent new materials for innovative sensing strategies that combine the single-molecule precision with the accuracy of ensemble assays to determine concentration sensitivities.
Electrophysiological Correlates of Brain Health Help Diagnose Epilepsy and Lateralize Seizure Focus

The absence of epileptiform activity in a scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) recorded from a potential epilepsy patient can cause delays in clinical care delivery. Here we present a machine-learning-based approach to find evidence for epilepsy in scalp EEGs that do not contain any epileptiform activity, according to expert visual review (i.e., "normal" EEGs). We found that deviations in the EEG features representing brain health, such as the alpha rhythm, can indicate the potential for epilepsy and help lateralize seizure focus, even when commonly recognized epileptiform features are absent. Hence, we developed a machine-learning-based approach that utilizes alpha-rhythm-related features to classify 1) whether an EEG was recorded from an epilepsy patient, and 2) if so, the seizure-generating side of the patient's brain. We evaluated our approach using "normal" scalp EEGs of 48 patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy and 144 healthy individuals, and a naive Bayes classifier achieved area under ROC curve (AUC) values of 0.81 and 0.72 for the two classification tasks, respectively. These findings suggest that our methodology is useful in the absence of interictal epileptiform activity and can enhance the probability of diagnosing epilepsy at the earliest possible time.
Impurities block the alpha to omega martensitic transformation in titanium

The onset and kinetics of martensitic transformations are controlled by impurities trapped during the transformation. For the alpha to omega transformation in Ti, ab initio methods yield the changes in both the relative stability of and energy barrier between the phases. Using the recently discovered transformation pathway, we study interstitial O, N, C; substitutional Al and V; and Ti interstitials and vacancies. The resulting microscopic picture explains the observations, specifically the suppression of the transformation in A-70 and Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloys.
Evidence Supporting the Essential Components of Physical Education as a Measure of Quality

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to provide a summary of contemporary empirical evidence supporting the need for the essential components of physical education as the minimum threshold of qu...
An Introduction to Implementing the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

The 2017 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) is a significant international achievement, although it faces opposition from the nuclear-armed states and some of their allies because ...
FindNonCoding: rapid and simple detection of non-coding RNAs in genomes.

SUMMARY Non-coding RNAs are often neglected during genome annotation due to their difficulty of detection relative to protein coding genes. FindNonCoding takes a pattern mining approach to capture the essential sequence motifs and hairpin loops representing a non-coding RNA family and quickly identify matches in genomes. FindNonCoding was designed for ease of use and accurately finds non-coding RNAs with a low false discovery rate. AVAILABILITY FindNonCoding is implemented within the DECIPHER package (v2.19.3) for R (v4.1) available from Bioconductor. Pre-trained models of common non-coding RNA families are included for bacteria, archaea, and eukarya. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Book Review of Jeremy Scahill, Blackwater: the Rise of the Most Powerful Mercenary Army (2007/2008) and From Mercenaries to Market: the Rise and Regulation of Private Military Companies (Simon Chesterman & Chia Lehnardt, eds., 2008)

This is a review of two books: Jeremy Scahill, Blackwater: the Rise of the Most Powerful Mercenary Army (2007/2008) and From Mercenaries to Market: the Rise and Regulation of Private Military Companies (Simon Chesterman & Chia Lehnardt, eds., 2008). Each book concerns the increasing use of contractors in military operations.
NF-kB Binding Activity in Mixed Bal Cells From Patients with Sirs and Ards

NF-KB is a transcription factor required for maximal gene expression for most pro-inflammatory cytokines but only limited clinical evidence has directly linked the NF-KB activation pathway to the pathogenesis of acute lung injury. We measured NF-KB binding activity in BAL cells of 22 mechanically ventilated patients with severe sepsis, acute lung injury, or ARDS. BAL was performed with three aliquots of 50 ml of physiologic saline in the right middle lobe or lingula at the time of study entry (T0) and 72 hours later (T72). Following centrifugation, the cell fraction was cryopreserved at −70°in 10% glycerol for storage until NF-KB DNA binding activity was measured in mixed BAL cells nuclear protein extracts by the electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Binding activity was quantitated by densitometry of NF-KB bands from patient samples compared to a standard curve of NF-KB binding activity generated from PMA-stimulated NRK cell nuclear extracts (binding activity in 1 μg NRK cell extract = 1 NRK unit). Low level NF-KB binding activity (0–1 NRK units) was detected in 11 samples, between 1 and 2 NRK units was detected in 9 samples, between 2 and 5 NRK units in 10 samples, and more than 5 NRK units in 14 samples. There was an overall 41% increase in NF-KB activation at T72 compared to T0 (p = 0.03) and the T72 value was closely correlated to the T0 value (R = 0.703, P = 0.001). No relationship was found between NF-KB binding, activity, IL-8 concentrations, percentage of BAL neutrophils, PaO2/FiO2 ratio or the diagnosis of ARDS or ALI, presence of shock, time on the ventilator or in a critical care unit, or 28-day survival. Although measurement of NF-KB binding activity does not correlate with the biological markers or outcome measures we tested, NF-KB activation in BAL cells may still give clues to the pathogenesis of neutrophilic lung inflammation; however, further studies are necessary to examine the significance of activated BAL cell NF-KB measurements.
Foundations of a Kantian Retributivism

Immanuel Kant is usually considered to be the philosopher whose view on punishment most exemplifies retributivism. At the very least, his words on punishment are paradigmatically retributivist. For if there is one thing Kant holds it is that criminal guilt deserves punishment, regardless of considerations of social utility. Does Kant have anything further than this to say about punishment? If so, do his ideas about punishment amount to a theory of punishment? Is there a plausible Kantian theory of punishment?