cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sensitive bioassay for detection of biologically active ricin in food.

The potential use of ricin as an agent of biological warfare highlights the need to develop fast and effective methods to detect biologically active ricin. The current “gold standard” for ricin detection is an in vivo mouse bioassay; however, this method is not practical to test on a large number of samples and raises ethical concerns with regard to the use of experimental animals. In this work, we generated adenoviral vectors that express the green fluorescent protein gene and used the relative fluorescence units intensity inhibition by transduced cells for quantitative measurement of biologically active ricin. The detection limit of the assay was 200 pg/ml, which is over 500,000 times greater than the adult human lethal oral dose. The inhibition of fluorescence intensity between ricin treatment and control was higher in 72-h posttransduction Vero cells than 24-h human embryonic kidney cells. Therefore, to detect biologically active ricin in food matrices that might influence the assay, we used 72-h post...
The role of gonadal steroids in arachidonate-induced mortality in mice.

AbstractFemale mice are significantly more resistant than male mice to intravenous arachidonate. Estradiol treatment of castrated males, but not females or intact males, provides protection. Testosterone treatment, on the other hand, increased the mortality rate of the intact or castrated males but had no significant effect on the responsiveness to arachidonate in female mice. Progesterone pretreatment did not modify the mortality rate in any of the groups studied. Another steroid, cortisone, is much more protective than the ovarian steroids. In both males and females, intact or castrated, exogenous cortisone greatly increased the ability to withstand an arachidonate injection. These data suggest that gonadal and cortical steroids act at a critical step in the tissue response to arachidonate and alter its ultimate effect on morbidity and mortality.
Analysing of AIDS in Xiangyang epidemic between 2007 and 2012

Objective To understand the status and trends of AIDS epidemic in Xiangyang city,and provide scientific basis for AIDS prevention and treatment. Method 622 cases with AIDS in Xiangyang between 2007 and 2012 were analyzed by descriptive statistical methods. Results The status of AIDS in Xiangyang was stable between 2007 and 2010,then increased between 2010 and 2012. Urban was the main endemic area of AIDS. Sexual transmission was the main route of HIV transmission,and MSM transmission was increasing. The mortality rates were significantly different among age groups and routes of transmission. Patient HIV testing,counseling and HIV testing before surgery were the main ways of finding the AIDS patients. Conclusions AIDS in Xiangyang was mainly spread through sexual transmission with a high mortality rate.HIV testing should be strengthened to find and treat AIDS patients earlier.
Determination of carbendazim in vegetables and fruits by solid-phase extraction and UPLC-MS/MS

Aim:To establish a new analytical method for determination of carbendazim in vegetables and fruits by Ultra high-performance liquid chromatography-Tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS).Methods:Carbendazim was isolated and concentrated by solid-phase extraction on Oasis HLB cartridges. The determination was carried out by UPLC-MS/MS in positive ionization and MRM modes. The influence of mobile phase composition,column types,corona current and fragmentor were also studied.Results:The response signals are linearly related with carbendazim concentrations in the range of 0.005～1.000 mg/L. The recoveries of carbendazim ranged from 87.3% to 105.6%,with the RSD15% (n=6). The detection limit is 1.0 μg/L.Conclusion:The method presented can be used in real samples with highly selectivity,sensitivity and accuracy.
Study on Supply Effects of Public Projects on Economic Growth

In recent years,changes have been taken place in the role played and the function exercised by the government in the area of public investment management,and more attention has been shifted from seeking for the net income of projects to the size of the positive externality produced by public goods or services.Therefore,the methods,indexes and criteria of evaluation on public projects,especially on large public projects,have begun to turn to the strengthening of investigations from the macro perspective.The role of investment in pubic projects in economic growth is expressed in two aspects: demand effects and supply effects.In light of the present actual situation in China and the situation in the next few years,either civil infrastructure like road traffic or social infrastructure such as public hygiene,culture,education and sports will become,in different degrees,the 'bottleneck' of economic and social development,that is,being in short supply for a long time to come,so the improving and boosting role of the supply effects of investment will become essential and prominent to the long-term economic growth.The supply effects of public projects are the economic effects gained through gradual transfer and accumulation in the long-time use process after the projects are completed,and the theoretical basis of quantitative computation is the input-occupying-output technology,which reflects the complicated relations between the industries and sectors in the open macro-system of national economy,and is able to really reflect the contribution made by projects to the long-term economic growth,generally expressed by sensitivity coefficients.Greater value indicates stronger promotion capacity to the other sectors of national economy.At the end,the paper put forward the calculation model of sensitivity coefficients and the calculation model of the effect of investment on GDP.
Source Analysis of Staphylococcus Aureus Induced Food Poisoning by PFGE and SPA-typing Genotyping

[Objective]To establish the method for source analysis of Staphylococcus aureus induced food poisoning by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis(PFGE)and SPA-typing genotyping.[Methods]The isolation and biochemical identification of strains were based on the GB/T 4789-2003.The isolations from the same incident of food poisoning were analyzed respectively by PFGE and SPA-typing.[Results]Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 7 samples.The isolations had same bands confirmed by PFGE typing,the similarity coefficient was 100%.SPA-typing showed that all strains were type t 5593.[Conclusion]PFGE and SPA-typing both showed that the strains collected from patients,the remaining food and processing environment belong to the same clone group.It has been confirmed that the food poisoning is due to Staphylococcus aureus contamination in food producing environment.PFGE typing and SPA-typing both show good typing effect.
Patterns of Adoption and Implementation of the Marketing Concept in The Banking Industry

Clusters banks according to their adoption and implementation of the marketing concept. Data collected from approximately 90 banks from a 15-state area are reported. Comparisons are made between the four clusters as to structural implementation and adoption of the concept and performance and environment.
The Perils of Integrating Wellness and Safety and Health and the Possibility of a Worker-Oriented Alternative.

In response to the article by Michael B. Lax, MD entitled “The perils of integrating wellness and safety and health and the possibility of a worker-oriented alternative,” the National Institute for...
The Life Cycle

The importance of the life cycle is captured succinctly by Bonner (1965, p.3) who calls it “the central unit in biology”. He has gone on to examine many of the innumerable interesting questions that can be raised within the life cycle context. I shall consider only two issues. The first is the diversity in life cycles among both macro- and microorganisms, which prompts one to ask why such extreme variation has arisen—especially when this appears among fairly closely related taxa. The second concerns whether senescence is a property common to all life, as is generally presumed to be the case.
Optimization Of Stepwise Hematopoietic Differentiation Of Human iPSCs

Since their discovery in 2006, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) with their ES cell-like self-renewal and differentiation capability, are set to revolutionize the field of regenerative medicine. There is tremendous interest in the field of hematology for derivation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and hematopoietic progenitors (HPCs) by in vitro differentiation of IPSCs. IPSCs can be differentiated into HSC/HPCs by coculture on feeder cells, such as OP9, or by using stepwise differentiation protocols on defined media. Neither approach produces high yields of HSCs or HPCs. With an intention to improve this, we systematically investigated various parameters for in vitro differentiation of iPSCs into HPCs. iPSCs were derived from human adult dermal fibroblasts by transduction with the Yamanaka retroviral vectors (encoding human Klf4, Oct3/4, Sox2 and cMyc) or by electroporation with the Yamanaka Epstein–Barr virus-based episomal plasmid vectors (encoding Klf4, Oct3/4, Sox2, L-Myc and p53 targeting shRNA). One iPSC clone of each variety was then subjected to a stepwise differentiation protocol described by Niwa and coworkers [PLoSOne. (2011); 6(7):e22261] followed by hematopoietic colony forming (CFU) assays in MethoCult (STEMCELL Technologies, Vancouver, Canada). The original protocol calls for the use of Stemline II serum-free medium (Sigma, St. Louis, MO) supplemented with various growth factors/cytokines. We investigated the use of APEL medium described by Ng and coworkers [Nature Protocols. (2008); 3(5): 768] as a possible substitute for Stemline II. We also tested the effect of varying the number of colonies seeded in 6-well plates and the efficiency of hematopoietic differentiation after seeding iPSCs as single cells. The results, based on the number of hematopoietic colonies obtained in MethoCult following differentiation, showed that the APEL medium (>100 CFU/100,000 cells) was a superior substitute to the Stemline II medium ( 2 in the presence of Y-27632 Rock inhibitor, only the cells at starting density higher than 1,000 per cm 2 survived but did not yield hematopoietic CFUs in MethoCult. When seeded as colony fragments, lower density of seeding in 6-well plates ( 50 colonies/well) for obtaining HPCs. Other parameters that can affect differentiation, such as bone-morphopoietic protein (BMP) and O2 concentration, are being investigated. Figure A. Cellular markers detected at different time points of stepwise hematopoietic differentiation. B. CFUs in MethoCult. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Thrombotic Microangiopathy Team-Based Learning Module for Second-Year Medical Students.

Introduction Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) syndromes are a diverse group of disorders characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (intravascular hemolysis and presence of peripheral blood...
Comparative analysis of overall cost and rate of healthcare utilization among apical prolapse procedures.

The annual cost of prolapse surgeries is expected to grow at twice the rate of population growth. Understanding the economic impact of apical prolapse procedures, including sacrospinous fixation (SSF), abdominal sacrocolpopexy (ASC), and laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (LSC), is crucial. We aimed to compare overall cost of SSF versus ASC and LSC, as well as health resource utilization, up to 90-day follow-up. Truven Marketscan Commercial Claims and Encounter databases 2008–2012 were used to calculate index and 90-day follow-up costs for SSF, ASC, and LSC with/without hysterectomy. Rates of inpatient readmissions, outpatient visits, and emergency room (ER) visits were also calculated during the follow-up period. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS 9.3. There were 17,549 SSF, 6126 ASC, and 10,708 LSC procedures. Mean index cost was lower for SSF (US$10,993) than ASC ($12,763, p < 0.0001) and LSC ($13,647, p < 0.0001). Concurrent hysterectomy impacted costs. Follow-up costs were likewise lower for SSF ($13,916) than ASC ($15,716, p < 0.0001) and LSC ($16,838, p < 0.0001). Lower rates of readmission were reported in SSF (4.22%) than ASC (5.40%, p = 0.0001) and LSC (4.64%, p = 0.0411). The rate of at least one ER visit was also lower for SSF (10.9%) than for ASC (12.0%, p = 0.0170) and comparable with LSC (10.6%, p = 0.0302). Overall mean costs are significantly lower for SSF than ASC/LSC, as are those for health resource utilization. Besides lower morbidity rates being associated with vaginal procedures, our results demonstrate another reason to consider the increased use of SSF over sacrocolpopexies in apical prolapse surgery.
Abstract BS2-1: Ocogenic and microenvironmental signals driving early dissemination, dormancy and metastasis

The mechanisms that produce early-disseminated cancer cells (eDCC) during early stages of breast cancer or that contribute to the development of metastasis from cancer of unknown primary (CUP) are poorly understood. Here we show that HER2+ cancer cells that are present during early stages of cancer before any overt tumors can be detected are highly efficient in systemically disseminating from primary sites. These eDCCs were HER2+/P-p38lo/P-ATF2lo/E-cadherinlo, and were found also in human DCIS samples. Further, eDCC precursors in early lesions activated a Wnt-dependent EMT-like program that was reversed by HER2 or Wnt signaling blockade or p38 activation. Intra-vital imaging of transgenic HER2-CFP mice revealed that eDCC precursors invade the local stroma, intravasate and circulate to target organs, a process that can be stimulated by blocking p38α/β signaling. This process was aided by CD206+/Tie2+ mammary tissue macrophages (MTMs) in a similar way as they regulate mammary branching morphogenesis. We found that macrophages are localized inside the epithelium of early cancer lesions but localize in the stroma of healthy tissue. MTM recruitment depends on upregulation of CCL2 in HER2+ mammary epithelial cells via activation of NFkB. Importantly, samples from patients with DCIS frequently contain intra-epithelial macrophages, correlating with E-Cadherin downregulation. MTMs produce Wnt-1 in response to CCL2 produced by HER2+ early lesion cells and Wnt1 cooperates with the intrinsic oncogene-driven EMT in early cancer cells. Importantly these MTMs contribute to eDCC spread. Surprisingly, although the vast majority of early HER2+ cancer cells are non-tumorigenic, they can spawn eDCCs that remain HER2+/TWIST1+ and dormant in lungs for long periods only to then initiate metastasis. Significantly, depletion of macrophages during early lesion development and before overt tumors appeared, drastically reduced early dissemination and even late metastasis onset. We reveal that during early stages of HER2-driven cancer when dissemination is not thought to occur, HER2 signaling aberrantly activates a side-branching morphogenesis-like program that through macrophage recruitment and cancer cell intrinsic induction of an EMT module causes early dissemination. Our findings reveal that residual cancer may comprise dormant eDCCs with metastasis initiating capacity. We propose our data may lead to changes in our understanding of metastasis onset and how it might be targeted effectively. Citation Format: Aguirre-Ghiso JA. Ocogenic and microenvironmental signals driving early dissemination, dormancy and metastasis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr BS2-1.
Chapter IX - Plant Hormones: Section c: Gibberellins

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the role of gibberellins in plant hormones. The scope of investigations of the effects of gibberellins on the growth and development of flowering plants broadened as these substances became more available and information about them became more widely disseminated. A wide variety of flowering plants responds to treatment with small amounts of gibberellins with increased rates of stem or internode growth and often increased leaf growth. In particular, some plants that show a dwarfed or stunted habit of growth because of either genetic or environmental factors assume a tall growth habit as a result of treatment with microgram quantities of gibberellins. The effectiveness of gibberellins in small quantities in stimulating what appear to be normal growth processes in a wide variety of flowering plants naturally lead to the speculation that endogenous gibberellins serve flowering plants as normal growth regulating agents or hormones. This hypothesis has been greatly strengthened by finding gibberellins as natural constituents of flowering plants in low concentrations.
Computation of Equilibrium Price and Quantity Vectors

We consider here the problem of equilibrium price and quantity vectors for a production-consumption economy. There are, in actuality, three problems: the mathematical problem of existence, the technical problem of computing the equilibria, and the economic problem of dynamic convergence to the equilibrium.
The mouse basophil, a rare and rarely recognized granulocyte

In a recent article,[1][1] ultrastructural data were used to identify defects in terminal differentiation of neutrophils in the CCAAT enhancer binding protein family of transcriptional factors knock-out mice (C/EBPe −/−). Peripheral blood of C/EBPe −/− and control mice was obtained from
INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS AND CLOCKS

Many biological processes, at the multicellular and cellular levels of organization, undergo regularly recurring quantitative and qualitative changes. Highs in these processes are repeated with such beat-like regularity that the processes are referred to as being rhythmic. A biological clock would be expected to be built of biochemical components, and all usual chemical reactions are known to be sensitive to changes in temperature. Another property of biological clocks is their insensitivity to a great variety of chemical inhibitors, including narcotizing agents and sub-lethal doses of metabolic poisons. Another major property of biological rhythms is one that might not be anticipated: they are innate. That is, the period is not learned, or imprinted upon organisms by the 24-hour day-night light and temperature cycles produced by the rotation of the earth. This has been demonstrated by raising animals from birth—and seeds from the time of germination-in static laboratory conditions. The developing organisms either become rhythmic de novo , or they are arrhythmic but can be made to become rhythmic by subjecting them to a single, non-periodic stimulus.
Ion current losses in the convolute and inner magnetically insulated transmission line of the Z machine

We introduce a 1D planar static model to elucidate the underlying mechanism of large ion current losses in the vacuum convolute and the inner magnetically insulated transmission line (MITL) of the $Z$ machine. We consider $\mathbf{E}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\mathbf{B}$ electron flow, parallel to the electrodes, and ion motion across the vacuum gap, for given voltage $V$, gap distance $d$, anode magnetic field ${B}_{a}$, and vacuum electron current $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}I$. This model has been introduced and solved before by Desjarlais [Phys. Rev. Lett. 59, 2295 (1987)] for the applied magnetic field ion diode. Here we apply it to convolute and inner MITL ion losses of $Z$, relaxing the fix magnetic flux condition of that reference. In the absence of ions we show that the electron vacuum flow must be close to the anode if its current exceeds the value given by the local flow impedance, implying high electric fields there. We then introduce space charge limited ion emission from the anode, neglecting the magnetic force on ions. We obtain the solution of the steady state equations for two special cases: (a) when both the electric potential and the electric field are zero inside the gap, and there is a layer of electrons not carrying current that neutralizes the ion charge between the virtual and the electrode cathode, making that region electric field free, and (b) when the electric field is zero inside the gap, but the potential is not, and zero electron charge between that point and the physical cathode. For case (a) we obtain an ion current density which we conjecture is the maximum attainable for any electron charge distribution in the electron current carrying layer, given $V,d,{B}_{a},\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}I$ an ion species. We obtain the enhancement factor for both cases with respect to the ion-only Child-Langmuir ion current density, and show that it can be significantly larger than that of the electron saturated flow case. Furthermore, imposing electron current conservation as the flow enters the inner MITL from the four outer MITLs, we recover the well-known dependence ${j}_{\mathrm{ion}}\ensuremath{\sim}{V}^{3/2}/{d}^{2}$, where voltage and gap are taken near the joining point of those outer MITLs. The implications and limitations of the proposed model are discussed.
Impact of Bariatric Surgery on the Long-term Disease Course of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background An association between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and obesity has been observed. Little is known about the effect of weight loss on IBD course. Our aim was to determine the impact of bariatric surgery on long-term clinical course of obese patients with IBD, either Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods Patients with IBD who underwent bariatric surgery subsequent to IBD diagnosis were identified from 2 tertiary IBD centers. Complications after bariatric surgery were recorded. Patients were matched 1:1 for age, sex, IBD subtype, phenotype, and location to patients with IBD who did not undergo bariatric surgery. Controls started follow-up at a time point in their disease similar to the disease duration in the matched case at the time of bariatric surgery. Inflammatory bowel disease medication usage and disease-related complications (need for corticosteroids, hospitalizations, and surgeries) among cases and controls were compared. Results Forty-seven patients met inclusion criteria. Appropriate matches were found for 25 cases. Median follow-up among cases (after bariatric surgery) and controls was 7.69 and 7.89 years, respectively. Median decrease in body mass index after bariatric surgery was 12.2. Rescue corticosteroid usage and IBD-related surgeries were numerically less common in cases than controls (24% vs 52%; odds ratio [OR], 0.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.08-1.23; 12% vs 28%; OR, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.004-1.79). Two cases and 1 control were able to discontinue biologics during follow-up. Conclusions Inflammatory bowel disease patients with weight loss after bariatric surgery had fewer IBD-related complications compared with matched controls. This observation requires validation in a prospective study design.
B Cell Receptor-Responsive miR-141 and viral miR-BART9 promote Epstein-Barr Virus Reactivation Through FOXO3 Inhibition

Abstract Antigen recognition by the B cell receptor (BCR) is a physiological trigger for reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and can be recapitulated in vitro by cross-linking of surface immunoglobulins. Previously, we identified a subset of EBV microRNAs (miRNAs) that attenuate BCR signal transduction and subsequently, dampen lytic replication in B cells. The roles of host miRNAs in virus reactivation are not completely understood. To investigate this process, we profiled the small RNAs in latently infected and reactivated Burkitt’s lymphoma cells, and identified several miRNAs, such as miR-141, that are induced upon BCR cross-linking. Notably, EBV encodes a viral miRNA, miR-BART9, with sequence homology to miR-141. To better understand the functions of these two miRNAs, we examined their molecular targets and experimentally validated multiple candidates commonly regulated by both miRNAs. Targets included transcriptional regulators of the EBV immediate early promoters and B cell transcription factors, leading us to hypothesize that these miRNAs modulate kinetics of the latent to lytic switch in B cells. Through functional assays, we identified roles for miR-141 and EBV miR-BART9 and one specific target, FOXO3, in lytic reactivation. Our data support a model whereby EBV exploits BCR-responsive miR-141 and further mimics activity of this miRNA family via a viral miRNA to promote productive virus replication. Importance EBV is a human pathogen associated with several malignancies. A key aspect of lifelong virus persistence is the ability to switch between latent and lytic replication modes. Mechanisms governing latency and lytic reactivation are only partly understood, and how the EBV latent to lytic switch is post-transcriptionally regulated remains an outstanding question. This study sheds light on how miR-141 expression is regulated in Burkitt’s lymphoma cells, and identifies a role for FOXO3, a common target of both miR-141 and viral miR-BART9, in modulating EBV reactivation.
The syllable’s rhyme affects its P-center as a unit

The P-center, or psychological moment of occurrence, of a syllable does not correspond to any obvious acoustic marker in the speech signal, nor can it be determined solely with reference to the phonetic composition of syllable. Syllable structure however, does play a role in explaining this timing phenomenon. It has been well established that the duration of the syllable onset (i.e., of the prevocalic consonants) behaves as a unit in its effect on P-center location; the same has been proposed for the syllable rhyme, although previous evidence on this point has been insufficient. The present two experiments confirm that the syllable rhyme behaves as a unit in its effect on P-center location, with a magnitude much less than that of the onset. Algorithms based only on an acoustic center of gravity cannot account for the present data. We conclude that descriptions of P-center location in speech stimuli must make crucial reference to the phonological structures, onset and rhyme, together with the duration of their acoustic realizations.
Field-programmable acoustic array for patterning micro-objects

A field-programmable acoustic platform is introduced to enable re-configurable patterning of micro-objects into complex and non-periodic shapes with sub-wavelength resolution. Conventional acoustic methodologies are difficult in realizing versatile adjustments of potential energy profiles due to the constraint of the device structure. To tackle such a challenge, we present a digitally programmable, near-field acoustic platform that permits the generation of versatile potential profiles. This platform uses an array of aqueous-medium filled cavities that can be selectively vaporized by a laser beam to pattern the acoustic wavefront of a plane wave to shape acoustic potential profiles. We have demonstrated a field-programmable acoustic platform with a digital pixel resolution of 40 μm pitch. With a 17 mW, 532 nm laser, an air cavity can be generated at a rate of 1 cavity/s.
Focused structure-activity relationship profiling around the 2-phenylindole scaffold of a cannabinoid type-1 receptor agonist-positive allosteric modulator: site-III aromatic-ring congeners with enhanced activity and solubility

Specific tuning of cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1R) activity by small-molecule allosteric modulators is a therapeutic modality with multiple properties inherently advantageous to therapeutic applications. We previously generated a library of unique CB1R positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) derived from GAT211, which has three pharmacophoric sites critical to its ago-PAM activity. To elaborate our CB1R PAM library, we report the rational design and molecular-pharmacology profiling of several 2-phenylindole analogs modified at the "site-III" aromatic ring. The comprehensive structure-activity relationship (SAR) investigation demonstrates that attaching small lipophilic functional groups on the ortho-position of the GAT211 site-III phenyl ring could markedly enhance CB1R ago-PAM activity. Select site-III modifications also improved GAT211's water solubility. The SAR reported both extends the structural diversity of this compound class and demonstrates the utility of GAT211's site-III for improving the parent compound's drug-like properties of potency and/or aqueous solubility.
Predictors of Health-Related Quality of Life Among African American Men.

African American men have the lowest life expectancy of any ethnic gender group in the USA. Furthermore, these men endorse having a lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL) than any other group. There have been recent calls from national organizations to improve HRQoL—a multidimensional indicator of health strongly associated with mortality and morbidity. Following these calls, there have been widespread efforts implemented to improve HRQoL among the US population, though no known effort has been implemented that is tailored to the unique experiences of African American men. Health promotion efforts that are not tailored to the unique preferences and experiences of these men are likely to produce limited results. Formative research conducted among African American men is needed in order to design and implement an effective HRQoL-promoting intervention for African American men. The present study constitutes such formative research and was conducted with a sample of 211 African American men. Hierarchical regressions were performed to understand the role of literature-derived predictors of HRQoL among these men. Results found that depression, stress, and physical activity were found to be significant predictors of HRQoL among these men. This is the first known study to examine predictors of HRQoL among African American men—a group that disproportionately experiences health disparities and low HRQoL, though for who few successful health promotions exist. The findings from this study have implications for those seeking to design and implement HRQoL-promoting interventions among African American men.
Global Health Security Preparedness and Response: An Analysis of the Relationship between Joint External Evaluation Scores and COVID-19 Response Performance.

Objectives The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance and complexity of a country’s ability to effectively respond. The Joint External Evaluation (JEE) assessment was launched in 2016 to assess a country’s ability to prevent, detect and respond to public health emergencies. We examined whether JEE indicators could be used to predict a country’s COVID-19 response performance to tailor a country’s support more effectively. Design From April to August 2020, we conducted interviews with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention country offices that requested COVID-19 support and previously completed the JEE (version 1.0). We used an assessment tool, the ‘Emergency Response Capacity Tool’ (ERCT), to assess COVID-19 response performance. We analysed 28 ERCT indicators aligned with eight JEE indicators to assess concordance and discordance using strict agreement and weighted kappa statistics. Generalised estimating equation (GEE) models were used to generate predicted probabilities for ERCT scores using JEE scores as the independent model variable. Results Twenty-three countries met inclusion criteria. Of the 163 indicators analysed, 42.3% of JEE and ERCT scores were in agreement (p value=0.02). The JEE indicator with the highest agreement (62%) was ‘Emergency Operations Center (EOC) operating procedures and plans’, while the lowest (16%) was ‘capacity to activate emergency operations’. Findings were consistent with weighted kappa statistics. In the GEE model, EOC operating procedures and plans had the highest predicted probability (0.86), while indicators concerning response strategy and coordination had the lowest (≤0.5). Conclusions Overall, there was low agreement between JEE scores and COVID-19 response performance, with JEE scores often trending higher. JEE indicators concerning coordination and operations were least predictive of COVID-19 response performance, underscoring the importance of not inferring country response readiness from JEE scores alone. More in-depth country-specific investigations are likely needed to accurately estimate response capacity and tailor countries’ global health security activities.
Prenatal Physical Activity and Gestational Weight Gain

Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) has significant public health implications due to the increased risk of birth complications and cesarean section, and ultimately, increased rates of long-term obesity for the mother. Furthermore, exceeding GWG recommendations is harmful to the offspring as well, conferring increased risk of childhood and adult obesity. This suggests that pregnancy is a critical period of time to affect weight outcomes across generations. Unfortunately, the majority of US women exceed the Institute of Medicine guidelines for recommended GWG. In this chapter, we discuss prenatal physical activity, including current recommendations, pregnant women’s levels of activity, and interventions to attempt to improve engagement. In addition, we discuss other predictors of GWG, evidence for GWG interventions, and recommendations for future approaches.
Conducting Polymers Derived from Pyrrole

Using polymers to reduce the structural disorder it has been possible to interpret the results of electron diffraction data and to propose an idealized structure for neutral polypyrrole which is consistent in many respects with the structures of the dimer and trimer of pyrrole. XPS data have been used to define some of the deviations from this ideal structure that are seen in actual films and the origin of some of these defects is related to the mechanism of polymerization. In the case of the β,β’ -dimethyl pyrrole polymer it has been possible to establish that the chain length corresponds to 100–1000 pyrrole units. The planarity of the chain structure is shown to be important for high conductivity in pyrrole polymers the mechanism for which appears to involve spinless carriers perhaps associated with bipolarons.
Ferroelectric cathode measurements

We have recently initiated an investigation of electron emission from ferroelectric cathodes. Our experimental apparatus consisted of an electron diode and a 250 kV, 12 ohm, 70 ns pulsed high voltage power source. A planar triode modulator driven by a synthesized waveform generator initiates the polarization inversion and allows inversion pulse tailoring. our initial measurements indicate that emission current densities above the Child-Langmuir Space Charge Limit, JcL, are possible. We explain this effect to be based on a non-zero initial energy of the emitted electrons. We also determined that this effect is strongly coupled to relative timing between the inversion pulse and application of the main anode-cathode pulse. We also have initiated brightness measurements of the emitted beam and estimate a preliminar lower bound to be on the order of 109 A/m2-rad2 for currents close to JcL and factor of two less at currents over 4JcL. We describe our apparatus and preliminary measurements.
A transputer-based real-time digital transient network analyzer

The authors report results confirming the practicability of a real-time digital simulator for the bulk power transmission network using a commercially available component called a transputer. The use of the method of characteristics to model transmission lines combined with the architecture of the transputer allows a parallel processor connection topology identical to that of the network, where one or more transputers are assigned per bus. There is no theoretical limit on the size of the network. Present technology allows an integration step size in real time of about 150 mu s for a full three-phase model. >
Indications of formation water flow and compartmentalization on the flank of a salt structure derived from salinity and seismic data

Vertical and lateral variations in lithology, salinity, temperature, and pressure determined from wireline LAS logs, produced water samples, and seismic data on the south flank of a salt structure on the continental shelf, offshore Louisiana indicate three hydrogeologic zones in the study area: a shallow region from 0 to 1.1 km depth with hydrostatically pressured, shale-dominated Pleistocene age sediments containing pore waters with sea water (35 g l−1) or slightly above sea water salinity; a middle region from 1.1 to 3.2 km depth with near hydrostatically pressured, sand-dominated Pliocene age sediments that contain pore waters that range from seawater salinity to up to 5 times sea water salinity (180 g l−1); and a deep section below 3.2 km depth with geopressured, shale-dominated Miocene age sediments containing pore waters that range from sea water salinity to 125 g l−1. Salt dissolution has generated dense, saline waters that appear to be migrating down dip preferentially through the thick Pliocene sandy section. Sand layers that come in contact with salt contain pore waters with high salinity. Isolated sands have near sea water salinity. Salinity information in conjunction with seismic data is used to infer fluid compartmentalization. Both vertical and lateral lithologic barriers to fluid flow at tens to hundreds of meters scale are observed. Fluid compartmentalization is also evident across a supradomal normal fault. Offset of salinity contours are consistent with the throw of the fault, which suggests that saline fluids migrated before fault formation.
The Effect of Statutory Indemnity on Securities Class Action Litigation Settlements: A First Look

The study analyses the effect of statutory indemnity on securities class action settlement amounts. This is the first study that we are aware of to focus specifically on the association between directors' and officers' indemnification and securities class action settlement amounts. Corporate charter provisions offering indemnity to directors and officers shift costs related to insurance rescission and to residual settlement amounts from directors' personal assets to the balance sheet of the firm. We find evidence that, for a given amount of damages claimed by plaintiffs, the shift in risk away from director/officer personal assets results in higher settlement amounts. We contend that this results from the adverse impact of statutory indemnity on management's incentives to exercise due care in accounting decisions and public disclosures. We also find a countervailing effect of indemnity. Our results suggest that statutory indemnity decreases the amount of damages claimed by the plaintiffs. Such decrease could be a result of stricter selection and retention of managers who exercise appropriate care in public disclosures and accounting decisions. We conjecture that firms offering statutory indemnity respond to the moral hazard of offering indemnity to directors and officers by implementing stricter selection policies. Although the total effect of statutory indemnity on the settlement amount appears to be small and statistically insignificant, the additional costs incurred in stricter selection and screening would still be borne by all shareholders.
Estimating the carcinogenetic effects on humans of low doses of radiation or chemicals

Abstract Our knowledge of DNA repair is briefly summarized. It is proposed that a knowledge of the concentration of DNA adducts as a function of dose is essential for the extrapolation of carcinogenic dose‐response data to low doses.
Band gaps of diamond under anisotropic stress.

Quasiparticle excitation energies are calculated using the {ital GW} method for diamond under hydrostatic pressures up to 500 GPa and for one tetragonal configuration under an assumed additional stress in the (001) direction. The self-energy operator is approximated with a model for the static screened Coulomb interaction and a plasmon pole approximation for the dynamically screened interaction. The band gaps increase with hydrostatic pressure. In contrast, the minimum gap decreases upon the application of additional (001) stress, with an extrapolated ultimate metallization pressure of 400 GPa, whereas current experimental extrapolations are for a transition at 700--900 GPa. The lower theoretical value is likely due to excessive anisotropy in the model for the applied stress.
Using local deviations of vectorization to enhance the performance of raster-to-vector conversion systems

This paper presents a method of quantitatively measuring local vectorization errors that evaluates the deviation of the vectorization of arbitrary (regular and irregular) raster linear objects. This measurement of the deviation does not depend on the thickness of the linear object. One of the most time-consuming procedures of raster-to-vector conversion of large linear drawings is manually verifying the results. Performance of raster-to-vector conversion systems can be enhanced with auto- localization of places that have to be corrected. The local deviations can be used for testing results and automatically showing the parts of resulting curves where deviations are greater than a threshold value and have to be corrected.
A memory for goals model of sequence errors

A model of routine sequence actions is developed based on the Memory for Goals framework. The model assumes that sequential action is guided by episodic control codes generated for each step, and that these codes decay with time and can be primed by contextual retrieval cues. These control codes serve a place-keeping function that allows the system to infer the correct next action after performance is interrupted. According to the model, perseveration (repeat) errors occur because an older episodic trace intrudes due to noise in the system. Anticipation (skip) errors occur because of failures in reality monitoring, in which the model believes that it has completed a step it has not. The model predicts that perseveration errors should occur more frequently than anticipation errors, and that perseveration errors should occur in a graded fashion away from the current step. Across two different experiments, these predictions were supported at both a qualitative and a quantitative level.
Temperature-sensitive defects in paramyotonia congenita mutants R1448C and T1313M

The biophysical origins of paramyotonia congenita and its exacerbation in cold temperatures were examined. Human skeletal muscle voltage-gated sodium channels were expressed in Xenopus oocytes and macroscopic currents were recorded from cell-attached patches. Wild-type (hNaV1.4) channels were compared to two mutant channel isoforms, T1313M and R1448C. The voltage dependence and temperature sensitivity of activation, fast-inactivation onset and recovery, and deactivation were studied. Although activation and the onset of fast-inactivation were temperature sensitive in all three isoforms, and although these properties in mutant channels differed from those in wild-type channels, they did not account for cold-exacerbation. Deactivation, however, was disproportionately slower in R1448C, but not in T1313M, than in hNaV1.4. These defects may, at least in part, account for the clinical symptoms of paramyotonia congenita and its exacerbation by cold, and provide a basis for studies into the therapeutic alleviation of these symptoms.
Whole-Heart Modeling Applications to Cardiac Electrophysiology and Electromechanics

Recent developments in cardiac simulation have rendered the heart the most highly integrated example of a virtual organ. We are on the brink of a revolution in cardiac research, one in which computational modeling of proteins, cells, tissues, and the organ permit linking genomic and proteomic information to the integrated organ behavior, in the quest for a quantitative understanding of the functioning of the heart in health and disease. The goal of this review is to assess the existing state-of-the-art in whole-heart modeling and the plethora of its applications in cardiac research. General whole-heart modeling approaches are presented, and the applications of whole-heart models in cardiac electrophysiology and electromechanics research are reviewed. The article showcases the contributions that whole-heart modeling and simulation have made to our understanding of the functioning of the heart. A summary of the future developments envisioned for the field of cardiac simulation and modeling is also presented. Biophysically based computational modeling of the heart, applied to human heart physiology and the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac disease, has the potential to dramatically change 21st century cardiac research and the field of cardiology.
Remote detection of cyanobacteria through phycocyanin for water supply source using three-band model

Abstract Accurate remote estimation of phycocyanin (PC) in turbid productive waters is challenging because of their optical complexity. This study aims to test the performance of three-band models (TBM) and two-band models (TWM), as well as optimal band models (OBM) for spectral estimation of PC concentration. The Eagle Creek Reservoir is one of the major drinking and recreational water systems for the Indianapolis metropolitan area and has been strongly affected by algal, particularly cyanobacterial blooms. A total of 222 effective samples collected under a diverse range of algal bloom and optical conditions in 15 field campaigns during 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2010 were used for testing different models. The TBM, using wavebands at approximately 630, 710, and 720 nm, can explain 84%–93% of the PC concentration variability when applied to various datasets that were grouped in terms of different years or aggregated together. These TBMs can be used to estimate PC concentrations with RMSE ranging from 7.31 to 29.26 μg/L. The results for the aggregated original, narrow band spectra, simulated MEdium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) and Hyperion spectra further indicate that TBM, TWM, and OBM can be used to estimate PC concentration with acceptable accuracy (0.60 2
Peripheral bone mass measurements: current and future perspectives on quantitative ultrasound and peripheral DXA

Although peripheral bone mass measurements have been available for more than a quarter of a century to predict osteoporotic fractures, these studies fell out of favor in the late 1980s and early 1990s as axial measurements replaced appendicular determinations for risk assessment and therapeutic responsiveness. Within the last half decade there has been a resurgence in utilization of peripheral measurements, primarily because of improved technology, enhanced precision, and greater accessibility. There are now nearly 11,000 peripheral densitometers in use around the world with quantitative ultrasound (QUS) of the calcaneus and peripheral densitometry (pDXA) of the wrist or calcaneus the most popular. Three recent prospective studies involving more than 20,000 postmenopausal women have demonstrated that QUS of the calcaneus can predict future fractures as accurately as central measurements of the spine or femur. This has raised the possibility that widespread screening with QUS or pDXA will soon become a reality. In this articles we hypothesize that global utilization of peripheral technology by primary care physicians is an absolutely necessity for the successful identification and treatment of all osteoporotic patients. But despite improvements in the accuracy and precision of these machines, several critical questions remain. In particular the issues which demand further study include: 1. The rate of false negative tests by peripheral instruments; 2. The utilization of appendicular sites to measure therapeutic efficacy of various antiosteoporotic drugs; 3. The timing of follow-up measurements to assess responsiveness; 4. The relationship between fracture risk education and incremental changes in bone mass; 5. The interrelationship between bone density and bone architecture and 6. cost effectiveness of peripheral vs central measurements. Notwithstanding these issues, peripheral scanning by one of several techniques is likely to be at the forefront of screening for osteoporosis risk, not only in specialized clinics but at the "point of care" in primary care offices.