cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The paradox of development in the middle east

Abstract At a time of rapid change in the Middle East, the enforcement of Western models of development has eroded traditional Islamic values and undermined Muslims' confidence in themselves and their cultural heritage. The Islamic idea of development cannot be reduced to any of the models prevailing in the West, which are based on concepts of progress and evolution alien to the Islamic worldview. Middle Easterners need to reconstruct an Islamic concept of development rooted in their own cultural values and reflecting the historical development of Islam. Islamic traditions provide a set of political precepts with universal implications, and Islam can make an important contribution to an integrative world order.
The Effect of Immersion Hypothermia on Coronary Blood Flow

In severe hypothermia resistance in the coronary vascular bed is reduced and flow continues despite very low aortic pressure. Moderate artificial acceleration of the hypothermic heart at constant coronary perfusion pressures produces a decrease in coronary blood flow. This decrease in flow is roughly proportional to the increase in heart rate and is due to the longer periods of extravascular compression in each cardiac cycle. Epinephrine produces transient improvement in blood pressure and coronary blood flow but is followed in a matter of minutes by ventricular fibrillation.
Anthracene + Pyrene Solid Mixtures: Eutectic and Azeotropic Character

To better characterize the thermodynamic behavior of a binary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon mixture, thermochemical and vapor pressure experiments were used to examine the phase behavior of the anthracene (1) + pyrene (2) system. A solid−liquid phase diagram was mapped for the mixture. A eutectic point occurs at 404 K at x1 = 0.22. A model based on eutectic formation can be used to predict the enthalpy of fusion associated with the mixture. For mixtures that contain x1 < 0.90, the enthalpy of fusion is near that of pure pyrene. This and X-ray diffraction results indicate that mixtures of anthracene and pyrene have pyrene-like crystal structures and energetics until the composition nears that of pure anthracene. Solid−vapor equilibrium studies show that mixtures of anthracene and pyrene form solid azeotropes at x1 of 0.03 and 0.14. Additionally, mixtures at x1 = 0.99 sublime at the vapor pressure of pure anthracene, suggesting that anthracene behavior is not significantly influenced by x2 = 0.01 in the c...
Safety of contraceptive use among women with peripartum cardiomyopathy: a systematic review.

Abstract Study Design Women with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) have significant health risks during subsequent pregnancies and therefore have a critical need for safe and effective contraception. This systematic review examines evidence regarding the safety of contraceptive use among women with PPCM. Methods We searched the PubMed database for all primary research articles published through February 2009 that addressed the safety of any contraceptive method among women with PPCM or other cardiomyopathy of any type. Results Of 110 articles that addressed contraceptive safety among women with cardiac disease, three met our inclusion criteria. In these three studies, which included a total of five women with cardiomyopathy, though not specifically PPCM, cases of hypertension, transient ischemic attack (TIA), thromboembolism or heart failure were found among women with cardiac disease who used hormonal methods of contraception including combined oral contraceptives, progestin-only pills and depot medroxyprogesterone acetate. None of the studies reported any cases of cardiovascular complications or infective endocarditis among women with cardiac disease who used intrauterine devices (IUDs). Conclusions We found no data concerning the safety of contraceptive use among women with PPCM, though we did find limited evidence of hypertension, TIA, thromboembolism and heart failure among women with cardiac disease who used hormonal methods of contraception. None of the studies reported any cases of cardiovascular complications or infective endocarditis among women with cardiac disease who used IUDs.
Power Analysis in Survey Research: Importance and Use for Health Educators

Abstract This article has three purposes: to explain the two different uses of power analysis that can be used in health education research; to examine the extent to which power analysis is being used in published health education research; and to explain the implications of not using power analysis in research studies. Articles in seven leading health education journals (American Journal of Health Behavior, American Journal of Health Education, American Journal of Health Promotion, Health Education & Behavior, Health Education Research, Journal of American College Health, and Journal of School Health) were analyzed for the years 2000-2003. For four of the seven journals, less than 5% of their research articles reported a power analysis. Only two journals (American Journal of Health Behavior and Health Education Research) had a modest number of research articles (14-35%) that reported power analysis. This is the first reported examination of power analysis in health education journals. The findings indica...
A total internal reflection technique for time resolved measurements of index of refraction

We present a method using total-internal reflection for measuring small index-of- refraction changes (Deltan=1times10-5). The technique overcomes requirements of diffraction-limited laser performance, is auto-calibrating, and paves the way for sensitive single-shot ultrafast measurements of material dynamics.
A new model for step-stress testing

The mathematical intractability of the Weibull cumulative exposure model (CE-M) has impeded the development of statistical procedures for step-stress accelerated life tests. Our new model (KH-M) is based on a time transformation of the exponential CE-M. The time-transformation enables the reliability engineer to use known results for multiple-step, multiple-stress models that have been developed for the exponential step-stress model. KH-M has a realistically appealing proportional-hazard property. It is as flexible as the Weibull CE-M for fitting data, but its mathematical form makes it easier to obtain parameter estimates and standard deviations. Maximum likelihood estimates are given for test plans with unknown shape parameter. The mathematical similarity to the constant-stress Weibull model is shown. Chi-square goodness of fit tests are performed on simulated data to compare the fit of the models.
Countermeasures against space radiation induced oxidative stress in mice.

Of particular concern for the health of astronauts during space travel is radiation from protons and high atomic number (Z), high energy particles (HZE particles). Space radiation is known to induce oxidative stress in astronauts after extended space flight. In the present study, the total antioxidant status was used as a biomarker to evaluate oxidative stress induced by proton and HZE particle radiation in the plasma of CBA mice and the protective effect of dietary supplement agents. The results indicate that exposure to proton and HZE particle radiation significantly decreased the plasma level of total antioxidants in the irradiated CBA mice. Dietary supplementation with l-selenomethionine (SeM) or a combination of selected antioxidant agents (which included SeM) could partially or completely prevent the decrease in the total antioxidant status in the plasma of animals exposed to proton or HZE particle radiation. These findings suggest that exposure to space radiation may compromise the capacity of the host antioxidant defense system; this adverse biological effect can be prevented at least partially by dietary supplementation with agents expected to have effects on antioxidant activities.
Partners in Care

Residential treatment programs for children and youths have historically concentrated on the child in placement, with little regard for the parents’ ability to assist in the treatment or community reentry process (Laird, 1979; Letulle, 1979). Traditionally, when out-of-home placement became necessary, interventions in child welfare focused on the removal of the child from his or her family and subsequent placement in a residential facility. For a variety of reasons, parents received little assistance or encouragement from residential agencies to become actively involved in their child’s treatment program (Whittaker, 1979).
Political borders should not hamper wildlife

Given the lack of global legislation, nations should work hard to establish cross-border protections for vulnerable species, says Aaron M. Ellison.
Juan Manuel de Rosas: Authoritarian Caudillo and Primitive Populist

Juan Manuel de Rosas governed Argentina between 1829 and 1852, with a brief interlude in the early 1830s. His rule and his legacy have provoked deep divisions in Argentine society, and much of the history written of him has come in the extremes of diatribes and vindication. The exact nature of the Rosas era and how he governed, therefore, continues to be discussed as historians try to get beyond impassioned polemics. This article provides a brief background on the historiography on Rosas, his rise to power, and, using examples from Afro-Argentines, gauchos, and Indians, demonstrates how Rosas used a combination of authoritarianism and populism to maintain power and stability during his rule.
Implications of Electronic Commerce for Fiscal Policy

In this chapter, I will consider both sides of the relationship between electronic commerce and fiscal policy. For the impact of electronic commerce on fiscal policy, I will pay particular attention to the potential sales-tax revenue losses. The data suggest that the potential losses are actually modest over the next several years. I will also consider the reverse relationship – how fiscal policy affects Internet commerce. Here the evidence suggests that taxes have a sizable effect. I point out, though, that this only supports special treatment if there is some positive externality. Without one, the tax system will lead to excessive online buying to avoid taxes. I will then deal the neglected issue of taxes and Internet access, which can create large deadweight costs both because demand may be price-sensitive and because taxes can slow the spread of new technologies. Finally, I offer some discussion of the international context of taxes and the Internet and the international temptations to raise rates on E-commerce.
Target-site resistance to acetolactate synthase inhibitors in wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis)

Abstract Inhibitors of acetolactate synthase (ALS) are important herbicides for control of wild mustard, a common weed of the north central United States and Canada. Wild mustard that survived treatments with the ALS inhibitors cloransulam, imazethapyr, and thifensulfuron was sampled from a North Dakota soybean field in 1999. The mechanism of resistance and response of this wild mustard biotype to ALS-inhibiting herbicides was investigated. In vitro enzyme-inhibition experiments confirmed a resistance mechanism associated with the ALS enzyme; imazethapyr or imazamox at 1 × 10−4 M caused only 10 to 11% and 12 to 16% reductions in ALS activity, respectively. ALS from a susceptible wild mustard biotype was inhibited 50% (I50) with imazethapyr at 8 × 10−7 M or imazamox at 1.1 × 10−6 M. Whole-plant greenhouse treatments confirmed cross-resistance across ALS-inhibitor classes. Treatment with twice-normal field rates of thifensulfuron, ethametsulfuron, triflusulfuron, imazamox, imazethapyr, flumetsulam, cloransu...
Diversity of Darkling Beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) from Arnold Air Force Base in the Barrens of the Eastern Highland Rim, Tennessee

Abstract The Barrens of the Eastern Highland Rim in south-central Tennessee is a unique area and home to several rare species and plant communities. An arthropod diversity study conducted on Arnold Air Force Base sampled 11 sites that exemplify habitats found within the Barrens. This diversity study documented adults of 37 species of Tenebrionidae (darkling beetles) representing 24 genera; 14 of the 37 species collected are new Tennessee state records. The greatest number of species was collected from Sinking Pond (n = 16), Goose Pond (n = 14), and the Pine site (n = 11), which were all forested sites. No adult darkling beetles were collected in four (Grassland sites 1, 2, and 3 and Maidencane site) of the 11 sites sampled; these four sites are all open and lack a forest component. Of five collection methods that captured tenebrionids, canopy fogging collected the greatest number of species (n = 14), followed by light trapping (n = 13), and under-bark sampling (n = 13). About 50% (n = 84) of all tenebrion...
On Synergies between Type Inference, Generation and Normalization of SK-Combinator Trees

The S and K combinator expressions form a well-known Turing-complete subset of the lambda calculus. Using Prolog as a meta-language, we specify evaluation, type inference and combinatorial generation algorithms for SK-combinator trees. In the process, we unravel properties shedding new light on interesting aspects of their structure and distribution. We study the proportion of well-typed terms among size-limited SK-expressions as well as the type-directed generation of terms of sizes smaller than the size of their simple types. We also introduce the well-typed frontier of an untypable term and we use it to design a simplification algorithm for untypable terms taking advantage of the fact that well-typed terms are normalizable.
A Numerical Study On The Extinction Characteristics Of Droplet Combustion Under Microgravity Conditions

Droplet combustion is of interest from both fundamental and application viewpoints. The latter is related to combustor performance and fire safety issues in space flights. Influences of diluent in the atmosphere on the combustion characteristics and on extinction provides insight into fire extinguishment phenomena and effectiveness of various diluents as fire suppressants in low gravity environments. Extinction of methanol droplets for varying levels of ambient carbon-dioxide, helium and oxygen concentration, burning in a quiescent microgravity environment was studied numerically to determine the relative effects of these diluents on extinction on, as well as on the limiting oxygen index. The results show distinct regimes of diffusive and radiative extinction. The transition from diffusive to radiative extinction is strongly influenced by ambient carbon dioxide concentration. Results for helium as the diluent show an increased burning rate and a dominance of extinction due to diffusive heat loss. Simulations were also conducted for different initial water concentrations solvated within the methanol. An extinction characteristics curve is proposed utilizing predicted burning rate, flame standoff ratio and ambient diffusivity, which are the governing variables for the combustion process. The dependence of observables (burning rate, flame stand-off, radiative and diffusive extinction) on physical, thermochemical, and kinetic parameters is discussed.
Knowledge investigation of genetically modified foods among Guangzhou residents

Objective To investigate knowledge of genetically modified foods(GMF) in Guangzhou residents.Methods 3 000 telephone numbers were randomly selected to conduct telephone interview of residents aged 18 and older from March to April in 2006.Unified questionnaire was used to collect related knowledge,opinion and behaviors.Results 302 telephone surveys was finished,among which 40.1% heard of GMF,mainly from newspaper(76.0%),TV(57.9%) and Internet(14.9%).The proportion of knowledge about soy bean and milk and its product contained GMF were 15.2% and 11.9% respectively.79.1% thought GMF should be definitely labeled.78.1% object to feeding children with GMF.44.7% agreed GMF widely used,while 62.9% wouldn't buy GMF even if it cheaper than non-GMF.59.9% took safety of GMF as the main reason to affect their buying behavior.Logistic regression showed that age and education level related to knowledge rate,monthly income related to attitude of GMF promotion,while age,education level,food safety and attitude of GMF promotion related to buying behavior.Conclusion There observed a certain extent of knowledge as well as cautious and rational buying behavior GMF among Guangzhou residents.
Health-Binning: Maximizing the Performance and the Endurance of Consumer-Level NAND Flash

In recent years, the adoption of NAND flash in enterprise storage systems has been progressing rapidly. Todays all-flash storage arrays exhibit excellent I/O throughput, latency, storage density, and energy efficiency. However, the advancements in NAND technology are driven mostly by the consumer market, which makes NAND flash manufacturers focus primarily on reducing cost ($/GiB) and increasing the storage density by technology node scaling, by increasing the number of bits stored per cell, and by stacking cells vertically (3D-NAND). This comes at the cost of reduced endurance of the raw NAND flash, larger variations across blocks, and longer latencies, especially with extremely high error rates (due to the use of read-retry operations).In this paper, we present Health Binning, a technique that facilitates bringing low-cost consumer-level flash to the quality required for enterprise-level storage systems. Health Binning determines the wear characteristics of each block in the background and uses this information in the data-placement process to map hotter data to healthier blocks and colder data to less healthy blocks.Health Binning significantly improves the endurance and performance of the storage system: It actively narrows the block wear distribution and moves endurance from being dictated by the worst blocks towards to a value corresponding to the average endurance of all blocks, resulting in up to 80% enhanced endurance compared with other wear-leveling schemes. At the same time, the probability of reads with high raw bit error rates (RBER) is reduced, thereby decreasing the number of read-retry operations throughout the device lifetime.
Refining Organization–Public Relationship Quality Measurement in Student and Employee Samples

This study refined the existing conceptualization and operationalization of organization–public relationship (OPR) quality and validated the finalized scale using data from two different samples. S...
Global Surgery and Opportunities for Medical Students and Surgical Residents

In the United States and other developed countries, the growing interest in global health among medical students and surgical residents is not just a passing fad, but rather a career choice in academic medicine. Academic Global Surgery (AGS) is becoming a bona fide career track with the goal of improving surgical care delivery in resource-poor settings, through a platform of education, capacity building, and research in addition to clinical care.
FACET: A simulation software framework for modeling complex societal processes and interactions

FACET, the Framework for Addressing Cooperative Extended Transactions, was developed at Argonne National Laboratory to address the need for a simulation software architecture in the style of an agent-based approach, but with sufficient robustness, expressiveness, and flexibility to be able to deal with the levels of complexity seen in real-world social situations. FACET is an object-oriented software framework for building models of complex, cooperative behaviors of agents. It can be used to implement simulation models of societal processes such as the complex interplay of participating individuals and organizations engaged in multiple concurrent transactions in pursuit of their various goals. These transactions can be patterned on, for example, clinical guidelines and procedures, business practices, government and corporate policies, etc. FACET can also address other complex behaviors such as biological life cycles or manufacturing processes. To date, for example, FACET has been applied to such areas as land management, health care delivery, avian social behavior, and interactions between natural and social processes in ancient Mesopotamia.
Testing for asymmetry in betas of cumulative returns: Impact of the financial crisis and crude oil price

We introduce a functional factor model to investigate the dependence of cumulative return curves of individual assets on the market and other factors. We propose a new statistical test to determine whether the dependence in two sample periods are equal. The statistical properties of the test are established by asymptotic theory and simulations. We apply this test to study the impact of the recent financial crisis and trends in oil price on individual stock and sector ETFs. Our analysis reveals the significance of the daily oil futures curves and their different impact on individual stocks and sector ETFs. It also shows that the functional approach has an information content different from that obtained from scalar factor models for point-to-point returns.
Osteoporosis: a discussion on the past 5 years

The purposes of this study are to examine the literature within the past 5 years regarding osteoporosis and offer a discussion on new topics and controversies. Understanding of osteoporosis has come a long way in the medical community, but the translation to the lay community has lagged behind. Patients often take a laissez-faire attitude toward osteoporosis that can affect compliance. Information read by patients often focuses on complications, such as atypical femur fractures and myocardial infarctions. It is essential for providers to be able to discuss these issues with patients. Newer medications and more cost-effective diagnostic tests exist, but availability may be limited. FLS are effective, but the most cost-effective model for therapy still eludes us. Areas for further investigation include FLS models, the effectiveness of vitamin supplementation, and more ubiquitous and cost-effective diagnostic tools.
The Physics of Teams: Interdependence, Measurable Entropy, and Computational Emotion

Most of the social sciences, including psychology, economics and subjective social network theory, are modeled on the individual, leaving the field not only a-theoretical, but also inapplicable to a physics of hybrid teams, where hybrid refers to arbitrarily combining humans, machines and robots into a team to perform a dedicated mission (e.g., military, business, entertainment) or to solve a targeted problem (e.g., with scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs). As a common social science practice, the ingredient at the heart of the social interaction, interdependence, is statistically removed prior to the replication of social experiments; but, as an analogy, statistically removing social interdependence to better study the individual is like statistically removing quantum effects as a complication to the study of the atom. Further, in applications of Shannon’s information theory to teams, the effects of interdependence are minimized, but even there, interdependence is how classical information is transmitted. Consequently, numerous mistakes are made when applying non-interdependent models to policies, the law and regulations, impeding social welfare by failing to exploit the power of social interdependence. For example, adding redundancy to human teams is thought by subjective social network theorists to improve the efficiency of a network, easily contradicted by our finding that redundancy is strongly associated with corruption in non-free markets. Thus, built atop the individual, most of the social sciences, economics and social network theory have little if anything to contribute to the engineering of hybrid teams. In defense of the social sciences, the mathematical physics of interdependence is elusive, non-intuitive and non-rational. However, by replacing determinism with bistable states, interdependence at the social level mirrors entanglement at the quantum level, suggesting the applicability of quantum tools for social science. We report how our quantum-like models capture some of the essential aspects of interdependence, a tool for the metrics of hybrid teams; as an example, we find additional support for our model of the solution to the open problem of team size. We also report on progress with the theory of computational emotion for hybrid teams, linking it qualitatively to the second law of thermodynamics. We conclude that the science of interdependence
Weight Status and Weight Perception in Relation to Mental Distress and Psychosocial Protective Factors Among Adolescents.

Abstract Objective To measure how weight status and weight perception relate to mental distress and psychosocial protective factors in adolescents. Methods Adolescents in 8th, 9th, and 11th grade participating in the 2013 Minnesota Student Survey (N = 122,180) were classified on the basis of weight perception (overweight or not overweight) and weight status (not overweight, overweight, obese). Bivariate tests were used to assess the relationship of weight status and weight perception with internal mental distress, and generalized linear models were used to measure the association between weight status and weight perception with psychosocial protective factors including parent, school, and friend connectedness, social competency, and positive identity. Logistic regressions measured the relationship between psychosocial protective factors and internal mental distress. Results Prevalence of internal mental distress ranged from 14.5% for overweight boys who perceived themselves as not overweight to 55.0% for girls who were not overweight but self-perceived as overweight. Across all weight-status categories, adolescents who perceived themselves as overweight, compared to those who did not, had higher internal mental distress and lower mean levels of psychosocial protective factors. All psychosocial protective factors were related to lower odds of internal mental distress, with significant small differences by weight status and weight perception. Conclusions Weight status and weight perception affected both mental distress and psychosocial protective factors. Those who perceived themselves as overweight, regardless of weight status, had the highest prevalence of mental distress and the lowest levels of psychosocial protective factors. Health care providers should consider screening for weight perception to provide a tailored approach to adolescent care.
Fertility Preservation and Sexual Health After Cancer Therapy

Recent developments in cancer diagnostics and treatments have considerably improved long-term survival rates. Despite improvements in chemotherapy regimens, more focused radiotherapy and diverse surgical options, cancer treatments often have gonadotoxic side-effects that can manifest as loss of fertility or sexual dysfunction, particularly in young cancer survivors. In this review, we focus on two pertinent quality-of-life issues in female cancer survivors of reproductive age-fertility preservation and sexual function. Fertility preservation encompasses all clinical and laboratory efforts to preserve a woman's chance to achieve future genetic motherhood. These efforts range from well-established protocols such as ovarian stimulation with cryopreservation of embryos or oocytes, to nascent clinical trials involving cryopreservation and re-implantation of ovarian tissue. Therefore, fertility preservation strategies are individualized to the cancer diagnosis, time interval until initiation of treatments must begin, prognosis, pubertal status, and maturity level of patient. Some patients choose not to pursue fertility preservation, and the conversation then centers around other quality of life issues. Not all cancer treatments cause loss of fertility; however, most treatments can directly impact the physical and psychosocial aspects of sexual function. Cancer treatment is also associated with fear, anxiety, and depression, which can further decrease sexual desire, function, and frequency. Sexual dysfunction after cancer treatment is generally ascertained by compassionate inquiry. Strategies to promote sexual function after cancer treatment include pelvic floor exercises, clitoral therapy devices, pharmacologic agents, as well as couples-based psychotherapeutic and psycho-educational interventions. Quality-of-life issues in young cancer survivors are often best addressed by utilizing a multidisciplinary team consisting of physicians, nurses, social workers, psychiatrists, sex educators, counselors, or therapists.
Introduction to the Thematic Minireview Series: Brain glycogen metabolism

The synthesis of glycogen allows for efficient intracellular storage of glucose molecules in a soluble form that can be rapidly released to enter glycolysis in response to energy demand. Intensive studies of glucose and glycogen metabolism, predominantly in skeletal muscle and liver, have produced innumerable insights into the mechanisms of hormone action, resulting in the award of several Nobel Prizes over the last one hundred years. Glycogen is actually present in all cells and tissues, albeit at much lower levels than found in muscle or liver. However, metabolic and physiological roles of glycogen in other tissues are poorly understood. This series of Minireviews summarizes what is known about the enzymes involved in brain glycogen metabolism and studies that have linked glycogen metabolism to multiple brain functions involving metabolic communication between astrocytes and neurons. Recent studies unexpectedly linking some forms of epilepsy to mutations in two poorly understood proteins involved in glycogen metabolism are also reviewed.
A 0.3V biofuel-cell-powered glucose/lactate biosensing system employing a 180nW 64dB SNR passive δς ADC and a 920MHz wireless transmitter

Wearable physiochemical biosensors offer an exciting opportunity to monitor the concentration of ions and metabolites in bodily fluids such as sweat, saliva, and interstitial fluids for emerging applications in health and fitness monitoring [1]. However, current physiochemical sensing prototypes rely on batteries and DC-DC converters to provide power for instrumentation, which may result in a large, obtrusive form factor with limited lifetime [1]. This paper presents a wireless physiochemical sensing system capable of monitoring glucose or lactate when powered via an enzymatic biofuel cell (BFC) based on energy naturally present in the underlying analytes to be sensed. Unlike prior-art BFC harvesters, which utilize bulky boost converters to increase the 0.3-to-0.4V BFC voltage to a higher level suitable for conventional CMOS circuits [2], this work forgoes any DC-DC converter, and instead the entire system, including a ΔΣ ADC and 920mHz RF transmitter, is designed to operate directly from the dynamic 0.3-to-0.4V BFC output.
The Use of Mobile Devices as Group Wisdom Support Systems to Support Dynamic Crowdsourcing Efforts

Early group decision support systems (GDSS) literature discussed how group size and member proximity impacted the design of the room and technology necessary to facilitate group decision-making. A Legislative Session is the early term for a large group that holds face to face meetings. With advances in mobile technology, we can turn any large group meeting into an opportunity to capture the wisdom of the crowd. This paper will describe how both crowdsourcing initiatives and group wisdom support systems (GWSS) initiatives can be supported by mobile devices. An example of a keynote address at an academic conference and the use of JoinSpeaker technology will be presented as a way to hold a dynamic crowdsourcing efforts.
Hypocretin-Deficient Narcolepsy as a Disease Model to Study the Hypothalamic Function in Health and Disease

Using forward (i.e. positional cloning in canine narcolepsy) and reverse (i.e. mouse gene knockout) genetics, genes involved in the pathogenesis of narcolepsy (hypocretin/orexin ligand and its receptor) in animals have been identified. Mutations in hypocretin related-genes are rare in humans, but hypocretin-ligand deficiency is found in many cases. This discovery is likely to lead to the development of new diagnostic tests and treatments. Hypocretins/orexins are novel hypothalamic neuropetides also involved in various hypothalamic functions such as energy homeostasis, autonomic and neuroendocrine functions. Hypocretin-deficient narcolepsy thus appears now to be a more complex condition than a simple sleep disorder, and it may serve a disease model to study the most fundamental hypothalamic function.
A plant growth system to facilitate root observations and treatments

ABSTRACT Kendall, W.A. and Leath, K.T., 1988. A plant growth system to facilitate root observations and treatments. Plant growth units were developed to provide easy, non-injurious access to the roots of plants for repeated observations, treatments and measurements. The units are called “slant-boards,” because the roots are supported by a rigid board-like surface that is held in a slanted position during growth. One unit is designed to facilitate handling large numbers and/or sizes of plants in a non-sterile environment and the second unit is designed for plant growth in a gnotobiotic environment. In the non-sterile unit, the plant roots grow between two sheets of 100% polyester cloth that are held in a cafeteria tray (36×46 cm) maintained at an angle of 80°. A bag made of polyester cloth that contains 1.5 liters of perlite is held tightly against the cloths to keep the roots in place. The bag also retains moisture. The units are irrigated daily from the top with a nutrient solution. Excess solution drains from the bottom. The basic components of the gnotobiotic unit are a root compartment (3.0 × 20.5 × 30.0 cm tall, made of sheet aluminum) with a double cover, and a shoot compartment that is enclosed by a polypropylene bag that extends 15 cm above the root compartment. The root compartment holds a polypropylene bag (19 × 30 cm) that contains a nutrient solution and a double wick of germination paper, between which the roots develop. Entire units with nutrient solution are autoclaved. Plant culture is started with sterile, 13-day-old seedlings grown in nutrient agar in culture tubes, and the gnotobiotic cultures can be maintained for a 2- or 3-week period. Slant-board cultures were used successfully to study plant growth in relations with root pathogens, root-feeding insects, microbial-root relationships, nodulation and plant nutrition. Advantages of this growth system are: easy non-injurious access to roots; replication of single-root treatments on a plant; independence of each unit; abundant nodulation of legumes; high levels of sanitation; versatility and relative low cost.
The THO Complex Coordinates Transcripts for Synapse Development and Dopamine Neuron Survival

Synaptic vesicle and active zone proteins are required for synaptogenesis. The molecular mechanisms for coordinated synthesis of these proteins are not understood. Using forward genetic screens, we identified the conserved THO nuclear export complex (THOC) as an important regulator of presynapse development in C. elegans dopaminergic neurons. In THOC mutants, synaptic messenger RNAs are retained in the nucleus, resulting in dramatic decrease of synaptic protein expression, near complete loss of synapses, and compromised dopamine function. CRE binding protein (CREB) interacts with THOC to mark synaptic transcripts for efficient nuclear export. Deletion of Thoc5, a THOC subunit, in mouse dopaminergic neurons causes severe defects in synapse maintenance and subsequent neuronal death in the substantia nigra compacta. These cellular defects lead to abrogated dopamine release, ataxia, and animal death. Together, our results argue that nuclear export mechanisms can select specific mRNAs and be a rate-limiting step for neuronal differentiation and survival.
Histopathology of Intestinal Fibrosis

Fibrostenotic inflammatory bowel disease classically refers to Crohn’s disease, where stricture and submucosal fibrosis are frequent and defining histopathologic features. Descriptions of histologic fibrosis in ulcerative colitis have existed for over half a century, but are not currently part of the clinical diagnostic framework. Histologic scoring systems for fibrosis in inflammatory bowel disease are varied and highlight the need for improved histopathologic correlation, given recent advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of intestinal fibrosis.
On the equality case of the Ramanujan Conjecture for Hilbert modular forms

The generalized Ramanujan Conjecture for cuspidal unitary automorphic representations π on GL(2) posits that |av(π)|≤ 2. We prove that this inequality is strict if π is generated by a Hilbert modul...
Sexual Assault: The Therapist, Supervisor, and Self

ABSTRACTThe #MeToo movement has sparked thousands of survivors’ stories about sexual assault and abuse. Stories from those in the mental health field, however, remain rare. This article summarizes ...
Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Caring for Serious Illness in Pregnancy

Palliative care (PC) teams are increasingly being called upon to provide care earlier and more remote from end of life. Because much of the field has grown out of hospice and geriatric care, most teams have little to no experience caring for pregnant women or their fetuses when serious or life-threatening illness strikes. This article, written by a team of oncologists (gynecologic, medical, and radiation) and PC providers, seeks to demystify the care of seriously ill pregnant women and their fetuses by exploring the diagnostic, treatment, prognostication, symptom management, and communication needs of these patients. Truly comprehensive PC extends throughout the life span, from conception to death, regardless of age. Accordingly, increased knowledge of the unique needs of these vulnerable groups will enhance our ability to provide care across this continuum.
3D Dual-Shell Micro-Resonators for Harsh Environments

This paper presents the recent advancements in the development of three-dimensional fused quartz dual-shell microresonators for environmentally-challenging applications, where the precision measurements are made through shock and vibrations. The dual-shell micro-resonators made from fused quartz and demonstrate a mechanical Q-factor of well above 1 million. An integration and assembly process for capacitive actuation and detection of such resonators using a silicon-in-glass electrode substrate was developed, and electrostatic tuning of $\mathbf{n}=\mathbf{2}$ wineglass using out-of-plane electrodes was demonstrated experimentally. We also present a simulation framework based on the Finite Element Method. The modeling approach was used to derive the critical design parameters of the dual-shell micro-gyroscopes for survivability under harsh shock waveforms. The developed 3D dual-shell structure is a potential solution for microresonators and gyroscopes for operation in harsh environments.
Nitroxoline as a promising alternative drug for the treatment of Lyme disease based on an in-vitro study

Abstract Lyme disease (LD) is the most common vector-borne disease in USA and Europe and is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. Despite proper treatment, approximately one fifth of patients will develop post-treatment LD syndrome (PTLDS), a condition which is poorly understood. One of the possible causes is thought to be due to persister forms of B. burgdorferi that are not effectively killed by the current Lyme antibiotics. In this study, we evaluated nitroxoline, an antibiotic used to treat urinary tract infections, for its activity against a stationary-phase culture enriched with persister forms of B. burgdorferi. Nitroxoline was found to be equivalent in activity against B. burgdorferi to cefuroxime (standard Lyme antibiotic) in different experiments. Moreover, we found that the three-drug combination cefuroxime + nitroxoline + clarithromycin eradicated 98.3% of stationary phase bacteria in the drug-exposure experiment and prevented the regrowth in the subculture study after drug exposure, as well as two-drug combinations cefuroxime + nitroxoline and clarithromycin + nitroxoline. These drug combinations should be further evaluated in a LD mouse model to assess if eradication of persister forms of B. burgdorferi in-vivo is possible and if so, whether nitroxoline could be repurposed as an alternative drug for the treatment of LD.
The manifestation of chinese preservice bilingual teachers’ relational agency in a change laboratory intervention

This qualitative case study is an examination of the relational agency manifested by three Chinese preservice bilingual teachers as they participated in a semester-long Change Laboratory (CL) inter...
Systems genetics in diversity outbred mice inform BMD GWAS and identify determinants of bone strength

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) for osteoporotic traits have identified over 1000 associations; however, their impact has been limited by the difficulties of causal gene identification and a strict focus on bone mineral density (BMD). Here, we use Diversity Outbred (DO) mice to directly address these limitations by performing a systems genetics analysis of 55 complex skeletal phenotypes. We apply a network approach to cortical bone RNA-seq data to discover 66 genes likely to be causal for human BMD GWAS associations, including the genes SERTAD4 and GLT8D2. We also perform GWAS in the DO for a wide-range of bone traits and identify Qsox1 as a gene influencing cortical bone accrual and bone strength. In this work, we advance our understanding of the genetics of osteoporosis and highlight the ability of the mouse to inform human genetics. Osteoporosis GWAS faces two challenges, causal gene discovery and a lack of phenotypic diversity. Here, the authors use the Diversity Outbred mouse population to inform human GWAS using networks and map genetic loci for 55 bone traits, identifying new potential bone strength genes.
O2 Activation with a Sterically Encumbered, Oxygen-Deficient Polyoxovanadate-Alkoxide Cluster.

The isolation of the oxygen-deficient, polyoxovanadate-alkoxide (POV-alkoxide) cluster, [nBu4N][V6O6(OMe)12(MeCN)], and its subsequent reactivity with oxygen (O2), has demonstrated the utility of these assemblies as molecular models for heterogeneous metal oxide catalysts. However, the mechanism through which this cluster activates and reduces O2 to generate the oxygenated species is poorly understood. Currently it is speculated that this POV-alkoxide mediates the four-electron O-O bond cleavage through an O2 bridged dimeric intermediate, a mechanism which is not viable for O2 reduction at solid-state metal oxide surfaces. Here, we report the successful activation and reduction of O2 by the calix-functionalized POV-alkoxide cluster, [nBu4N][(calix)V6O6(OMe)8](MeCN)] (calix = 4-tert-butylcalix[4]arene). The steric hindrance imparted to the open vanadium site by the calix motif eliminates the possibility of cooperative, bimolecular O2 activation, allowing for a comparison of the reactivity of this system with that of the nonfunctionalized POV-alkoxide described previously. Rigorous characterization of the calix-substituted assembly, enabled by its newfound solubility in organic solvent, reveals that the incorporation of the tetradentate aryloxide ligand into the POV-alkoxide scaffold perturbs the electronic communication between the site-differentiated vanadium(III) ion and the cluster core. Collectively, our results provide insight into the physiochemical factors that are important during the O2 reduction reaction at oxygen-deficient sites in reduced POV-alkoxide clusters.
Positionality and self-reflexivity: Backyard qualitative research in Palestine:

Conducting qualitative, critical ethnographical research on disability in Palestine requires deep self-reflexivity, exploring positionality while claiming authorship. As a Palestinian conducting ba...
Translational autoregulation of the S. cerevisiae high-affinity polyamine transporter Hol1

Summary Polyamines, small organic polycations, are essential for cell viability, and their physiological levels are homeostatically maintained by post-transcriptional regulation of key biosynthetic enzymes. In addition to de novo synthesis, cells can also take up polyamines; however, identifying cellular polyamine transporters has been challenging. Here we show that the S. cerevisiae HOL1 mRNA is under translational control by polyamines, and we reveal that the encoded membrane transporter Hol1 is a high-affinity polyamine transporter and is required for yeast growth under limiting polyamine conditions. Moreover, we show that polyamine inhibition of the translation factor eIF5A impairs translation termination at a Pro-Ser-stop motif in a conserved upstream open reading frame on the HOL1 mRNA to repress Hol1 synthesis under conditions of elevated polyamines. Our findings reveal that polyamine transport, like polyamine biosynthesis, is under translational autoregulation by polyamines in yeast, highlighting the extensive control cells impose on polyamine levels.
Critical Review: Methodology of Adjuvant Trials and Interpretation of Results

The development of new methodologies is essential in order to obtain reliable information about treatment effects based upon results from clinical investigations. Substantial progress has been made with the acceptance of the large, multicenter, randomized clinical trial as the “gold standard” for establishing comparative treatment efficacy. This is because effects of treatments available today are modest and the course of breast cancer (small yearly risk for relapse, which continues for long periods of follow-up) provides only a small fraction of patients who might benefit. Further advances are required if more rapid progress is to be made for improving the care of patients with breast cancer.
Reactivity and Mechanism of a Mechanically Activated anti-Woodward–Hoffmann–DePuy Reaction

Mechanical forces, applied via covalent polymer mechanochemistry, have been used to bias reaction pathways and activate otherwise inaccessible reactions. Here, single-molecule polymer mechanochemistry is used to induce the disrotatory outward ring opening of a cis-dialkyl substituted syn-chloro-gem-chlorofluorocyclopropane, in violation of the Woodward–Hoffmann–DePuy (WHD) rule. The forces required to trigger the anti-WHD pathway on the ∼100 ms time scale of the experiment are about 200 pN greater than those involved in the WHD favored process (1290 vs 1500 pN). The kinetics are complemented by tension trapping experiments that suggest that the reaction proceeds along a reaction pathway that generates substantial diradicaloid character.