cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parabolic p-systems: boundary regularity

We will establish everywhere regularity up the boundary for weak solutions of the parabolic system $$ \left\{ {\begin{array}{*{20}{c}} {u \equiv ({u_1},{u_2}, \ldots,{u_m}), m \in N,} \\ {{u_i} \in C(\varepsilon,T,{L^2}(\Omega )) \cap {L^p}(\varepsilon,T,{W^{1,p}}(\Omega )),} \\ {{u_{i,t}} - div{{\left| {Du} \right|}^{p - 2}}D{u_i} = {B_i}(x,t,u,Du),in \Omega \times (\varepsilon,T)} \\ {\varepsilon \in (0,T),i = 1,2, \ldots,m,p > \max \left\{ {1;\frac{{2N}}{{N + 2}}} \right\},} \end{array}} \right. $$ (1.1) associated with Dirichlet boundary data $$ {u_i}( \cdot,t) = {g_i}( \cdot,t) on \partial \Omega \times(\varepsilon,T), $$ (1.2) in the sense of the traces on, of functions in W 1 P(,f2). The basic assumptions on 8.f2, the boundary data g and the forcing term B $$ g \equiv ({g_1},{g_2}, \ldots,{g_m}), B \equiv ({B_1},{B_2}, \ldots,{B_m}), $$ are the following: ∂Ωis of classC1,λ;for some λ ∈(0,1), in the sense of (1.2) of Chap. I. Thus the norm $$ {\left| {\left\| {\partial \Omega } \right\|} \right|_{1 + \lambda }} $$ is finite. $${g_i},i = 1,2, \ldots,m,$$ are restrictions to ∂Ω of functions g i defined in the whole Ω T , and satisfying is of class for some in the sense of (1.2) of Chap. I. Thus the norm is finite.
How comparative psychology can shed light on human evolution: Response to Beran et al.’s discussion of “Cognitive capacities for cooking in chimpanzees”

We recently reported a study (Warneken & Rosati Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 282, 20150229, 2015) examining whether chimpanzees possess several cognitive capacities that are critical to engage in cooking. In a subsequent commentary, Beran, Hopper, de Waal, Sayers, and Brosnan Learning & Behavior (2015) asserted that our paper has several flaws. Their commentary (1) critiques some aspects of our methodology and argues that our work does not constitute evidence that chimpanzees can actually cook; (2) claims that these results are old news, as previous work had already demonstrated that chimpanzees possess most or all of these capacities; and, finally, (3) argues that comparative psychological studies of chimpanzees cannot adequately address questions about human evolution, anyway. However, their critique of the premise of our study simply reiterates several points we made in the original paper. To quote ourselves: "As chimpanzees neither control fire nor cook food in their natural behavior, these experiments therefore focus not on whether chimpanzees can actually cook food, but rather whether they can apply their cognitive skills to novel problems that emulate cooking" (Warneken & Rosati Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 282, 20150229, 2015, p. 2). Furthermore, the methodological issues they raise are standard points about psychological research with animals-many of which were addressed synthetically across our 9 experiments, or else are orthogonal to our claims. Finally, we argue that comparative studies of extant apes (and other nonhuman species) are a powerful and indispensable method for understanding human cognitive evolution.
Low Order Equivalent System Identification for the Tu-144LL Supersonic Transport Aircraft

Low order equivalent system models were identified from flight test data for the Tu-144LL supersonic transport aircraft. Flight test maneuvers were executed by Russian and American test pilots flying the aircraft from Zhukovsky airfield outside Moscow, Russia. Flight tests included longitudinal and lateral/directional maneuvers at supersonic cruise flight conditions. Piloted frequency sweeps and multi-step maneuvers were used to generate data for closed loop low order equivalent system modeling. Model parameters were estimated using a flexible, high accuracy Fourier transform and an equation error / output error (EE/OE) formulation in the frequency domain. Results were compared to parameter estimates obtained using spectral estimation and subsequent least squares fit to frequency response data in Bode plots. Modeling results from the two methods agreed well for both a frequency sweep and multiple concatenated multi-step maneuvers. For a single multi-step maneuver, the EE/OE method gave a better model fit with improved prediction capability. A summary of closed loop low order equivalent system identification results for the Tu-144LL, including estimated parameters, standard errors, and flying qualities level predictions, were computed and tabulated.
Some unit processes and unit operations in the industrial utilization of agricultural products

In Economic Botany and other literature on the subject, frequent references are made, but without explanation, to various chemical and physical steps in the industrial utilization of plants and plant products. In this article some of those steps are described and important applications of them noted.
Zwitterionic Ring-Opening Polymerization: Models for Kinetics of Cyclic Poly(caprolactone) Synthesis

Investigations of the kinetics of zwitterionic ring-opening polymerization of e-caprolactone by N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) were carried out to illuminate the key reaction steps responsible for the formation of high molecular weight cyclic poly(caprolactones). Modeling of both the decay in monomer concentration as well as the evolution of molecular weights and polydispersities were necessary to identify the key reaction steps responsible for initiation, propagation, cyclization and chain-transfer. Nucleophilic attack of the NHC on e-caprolactone to generate reactive zwitterions is slow and reversible. The modeling indicates that less than 60% of the carbenes are transformed to active zwitterions, but that these zwitterions rapidly add monomer and cyclize by intramolecular backbiting of the terminal alkoxides on internal esters of the zwitterions. This cyclization event maintains the concentration of active zwitterions. The reactivation of cyclized chains by active zwitterions is a key step that leads to...
Quantification of erection.

Abstract In the study of impotence the objective measurement of erection is not yet available. The commercially available nocturnal penile tumescence device records penile expansion only. Penile stiffness and intracavernosal pressure have not been measured. We have developed a penile model in which the simultaneous measurement of expansion and intraluminal pressure could be recorded. In the patient a similar measuring system has been used in an acutely produced penile erection and serves as a point of reference to be compared to spontaneous erections recorded at night with the nocturnal penile tumescence device. The ratio between the artificial acute erection and the spontaneous nocturnal erection was calculated and aided in the evaluation of impotence.
A genomic signature of chemotherapeutic multidrug resistance provides a rational approach to identify patients for targeted therapy in advanced solid tumors

10613 Background: Multidrug resistance (MDR), the process by which cells resist many structurally and functionally unrelated drugs, remains a major challenge for cancer treatment. Strategies to rel...
Evaluation of Whole-Brain Resting-State Functional Connectivity in Spinal Cord Injury: A Large-Scale Network Analysis Using Network-Based Statistic

Abstract Large-scale network analysis characterizes the brain as a complex network of nodes and edges to evaluate functional connectivity patterns. The utility of graph-based techniques has been demonstrated in an increasing number of resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) studies in the normal and diseased brain. However, to our knowledge, graph theory has not been used to study the reorganization pattern of resting-state brain networks in patients with traumatic complete spinal cord injury (SCI). In the present analysis, we applied a graph-theoretical approach to explore changes to global brain network architecture as a result of SCI. Fifteen subjects with chronic (> 2 years) complete (American Spinal Injury Association [ASIA] A) cervical SCI and 15 neurologically intact controls were scanned using rs-fMRI. The data were preprocessed followed by parcellation of the brain into 116 regions of interest (ROI) or nodes. The average time series was extracted at each node, and correlation analysis was performe...
Market Information and Rating Agency Catering

We examine how public market scrutiny and the availability of market information affects the credit ratings process. Market information can serve as a disciplining device that limits conflicts of interest arising from the issuer-pay model. Consistent with this view, in a sample of unlisted and listed firms from India, we find that unlisted firms have higher (i.e., more favorable) ratings than listed firms. The ratings of the former are also less dispersed and are less sensitive to financial condition as reflected in audited financial statements. Consistent with lax rating agency monitoring of unlisted firms, downgrades of listed firms in an industry predict subsequent downgrades of unlisted firms. We do not find a similar pattern for upgrades. Ratings and rating transitions of listed firms are also incrementally more informative about subsequent defaults. Collectively, these findings suggest that lack of market information increases conflicts of interest from the issuer-pay compensation model. Basel II capital adequacy norms allow banks to condition capital allocation on the borrower's credit ratings. Our study cautions against this practice for unlisted firm
Measuring and modeling the anisotropic, high strain rate deformation of Al alloy, 7085, plate in T711 temper

Al alloy 7085 in the T711 temper has been proposed as a lightweight metallic armor material. The room temperature constitutive response is assessed by compression testing at quasi-static (0.001 s−1) and dynamic (1000 s−1) strain rates along the rolling (RD), transverse (TD), and normal (ND) directions. The flow strength, plastic strain anisotropy (r-values) and texture evolution is measured along each direction. While the flow stress exhibits only mild anisotropy, the compressive r-values revealed strong strain anisotropy, with values close to 0.4 for RD, 0.8 for TD, and 0.6–0.8 for ND. The fracture response was also found to be anisotropic, with ND showing a lower compressive ductility as compared to the RD and TD. The level of anisotropy is essentially independent of the strain rate. However, flow softening and localization are more evident at dynamic rates. By employing self-consistent polycrystal plasticity simulation, the relative contributions of initial crystallographic texture, latent hardening and anisotropic grain shape effects were explored. The simulation results suggest that the ND and TD r-values are strongly affected by anisotropic grain shape, whereas the RD is rather insensitive to grain shape. Although the polycrystal model correctly predicts the mild flow strength anisotropy, the predicted strain anisotropy (variations in r value) are higher than that observed experimentally. Interestingly, assuming the grain shape to be equiaxed gives the best overall results, which suggests that the morphological texture does not play a major role in determining the anisotropy of materials such as the present heat treatable Al alloy.
Effect of noise dose bin-width on dose-response curves

Dose-response curves lie at the heart of most global community noise laws/policies. Yet, there is no standard on how to choose the noise dose bins that underlie the curves which describe the relationship between noise and annoyance. This paper strives to understand whether the binning process affects the modeled relationship by examining common binning and curve-fitting procedures. It was found that the subjective choice of bin-width can considerably affect the resulting dose-response curves. The implications of these findings are discussed and recommendations are given to ameliorate the situation so that future studies and policies can avoid these potential pitfalls.
Diabetes control decreases morbidity and mortality after carotid endarterectomy.

Background Single-institution studies have demonstrated a negative effect of diabetes mellitus on outcomes after carotid endarterectomy (CEA). The aim of this study was to compare patients with explicitly controlled and uncontrolled diabetes at the population level. Methods Using the National Inpatient Sample 2006–2013, we selected patients undergoing CEA. Rates of stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), and hospital mortality, as well as duration of stay and cost were compared among patients with uncontrolled diabetes (UCDM), well-controlled diabetes (WCDM), and those without diabetes (NDM). Results We reviewed data from 614,190 patients undergoing CEA. Patients with UCDM, compared with those with WCDM and NDM, had higher rates of stroke (3.27%, 0.93%, and 0.94%, respectively; P Conclusion Patients with uncontrolled diabetes had poorer outcomes after CEA than those with controlled diabetes, whose outcomes were comparable to if not better than individuals without diabetes.
Effects of Trimetaphosphate on Abiotic Formation and Hydrolysis of Peptides.

The primordial Earth probably had most of the factors needed for the emergence and development of life. It is believed that it had not only water, but also simple inorganic and organic materials. While studies since the 1950s on the origins of organic matter have established key roles for amino acids, conditions that would have promoted their condensation to make polymers, such as peptides or proteins, have yet to be fully defined. The condensation of amino acids in a water-rich environment is not thermodynamically favored. Therefore, the efficient formation of peptides requires the presence of a catalyst or the activation of a substrate. In living cells, the biosynthesis of proteins is assisted by enzymes and requires adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a relatively complex organic polyphosphate, which serves as an energy source. Outside the living organism, simpler inorganic polyphosphates can form active aminoacyl–phosphate anhydrides, which suggests the broader potential of phosphorus for enabling the polymerization of amino acids. However, this has yet to be demonstrated. To address this gap, aqueous solutions containing a simple dipeptide, diglycine, and a simple polyphosphate, trimetaphosphate, were dried, and reaction products were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Different reaction environments, which were defined by the initial solution composition, pH, temperature, and incubation time, were found to affect the distribution and yield of products. Our results collectively provide strong evidence for reactions that both condense and hydrolyze peptides. It is noteworthy that the co-occurrence of reactions that form and cleave peptides are a central feature of Kauffman’s theory for the emergence of autocatalytic sets, which is a key step in the chemical origins of life.
Impact of US Smoke-free Air Laws on Restaurant and Bar Employment, 1990-2015.

INTRODUCTION Secondhand smoke exposure is responsible for an estimated 50000 deaths per year among nonsmokers in the United States. Smoke-free air laws reduce secondhand smoke exposure but often encounter opposition over concerns about their economic impact. Expansion of these laws has stagnated and efforts to weaken existing laws may exacerbate existing disparities in exposure. Studies at the state and local levels have found that smoke-free air laws do not generally have an adverse effect, but there are no recent estimates of the impact of these laws nationally. METHODS Employment and sales are two measures commonly used to estimate the economic impact of smoke-free air laws. Sales data are gathered by state and local taxing authorities but not uniformly across jurisdictions. Dynamic panel models are used to estimate a population-weighted national average treatment effect of smoke-free air laws on restaurant and bar employment using data from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages for 1990 to 2015. RESULTS A one-percentage point increase in population covered by a restaurant smoke-free air law is associated with a small increase (approximately 0.01%) in restaurant employment (b = .0001, p < .001). The percentage of state population covered by a bar smoke-free air law was not associated with bar employment. DISCUSSION Smoke-free air laws are a powerful tool for protecting hospitality workers and patrons from the dangers of secondhand smoke. Using data from over more than two decades, these results suggest that smoke-free air laws in the United States do not generally have any meaningful effect on restaurant and bar employment. IMPLICATIONS Smoke-free air laws are associated with reductions in negative health outcomes and decreased smoking prevalence. Despite this clear public health argument and strong public support, passage of new laws has stagnated and exemptions are being used to weaken existing laws. The ability to make both a health and business case in support of existing laws may also bolster the case for expansion. This study provides an updated look at the economic impact of smoke-free air laws nationally through 2015. The lack of adverse findings provides additional support for these laws as public health win-win.
ASAP Applications in Clinical Development: Prediction of Degradation and Dissolution Performance

Abstract This chapter describes ASAP applications to three real case studies of investigational drugs from early to late development stages. In addition to chemical stability predictions, the application of ASAP has been expanded to the prediction of tablet dissolution behaviors on stability. Study designs and modeling results are discussed in detail. The predictions generated by ASAP prime® have been successfully submitted to regulatory agency in support of initial shelf-life assignment. For late-stage development drugs, ASAP can be a useful tool in setting up the control strategy and the selection of packaging configurations for the product. The methodology described here adds great value to the overall quality by design (QbD) approach to drug development.
Endothelium: Dysfunction and Repair

Endothelial function refers to a multitude of physiological processes of the vascular endothelium that maintain healthy homeostasis of the vascular wall and may be used as a barometer of the injury/repair inflicted by multiple environmental and genetic factors.1-3
The Duke Forest FACE Experiment: CO2 Enrichment of a Loblolly Pine Forest

Free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) in the Duke Forest provides a whole-ecosystem arena in which to examine the response of a temperate coniferous forest to high, future levels of atmospheric CO2. At the end of 8 years of the experiment, we conclude: Photosynthetic rates by canopy foliage have increased up to 50 % over controls. Basal area increment has been stimulated 13–27 % versus that in control plots, with interannual variation due to variations in temperature and moisture during the growing season. Biomass increment has increased by 108 g C m-2 year-1 (27 %) over that in control plots. Growth and respiration of roots are higher in CO2 fumigated plots. Litterfall is greater in high CO2 plots and forest floor accumulation has increased. There has been little or no change in the total amount of soil organic matter as a result of CO2 fumigations. While the stimulation of growth by high CO2 persists after 8 years of fumigation, there is evidence of nitrogen limitation in the fumigated plots.
Calcitonin gene expression in the rat uterus during pregnancy

Publisher Summary The C cells of the thyroid gland are known as the major site of synthesis of calcitonin. This polypeptide hormone is released in response to hypercalcemia and mediates calcium homeostasis in both bone and kidney. This chapter presents a study that identifies the uterus as a novel site of calcitonin gene expression during preimplantation stages of pregnancy. The calcitonin synthesized in uterus acts in a paracrine or autocrine fashion to regulate calcium levels in certain uterine cells. Calcium controls many cellular processes, including muscle contraction, nerve conduction, and numerous enzymatic reactions. In the uterus, calcitonin regulates processes such as myocontraction and, therefore, plays a crucial role in embryonic implantation and maintenance of pregnancy. The antiprogestin RU486, which effectively blocks implantation and terminates pregnancy, also inhibits calcitonin expression. RU486-induced termination of pregnancy in preimplantation stage animals results from down regulation of certain genes, including calcitonin, which are primarily regulated by progesterone and may be crucial for implantation.
Health Insurance for

Traditional models of insurance choice are predicated on fully informed and rational consumers protecting themselves from exposure to financial risk. In practice, choosing an insurance plan from a set of complex non-linear contracts is a complicated decision often made without full information on several potentially important dimensions. In this paper we combine new administrative data on health plan choices and claims with unique survey data on consumer information and other typically unobserved preference factors in order to separately identify risk preferences, information frictions, and perceived plan hassle costs. The administrative and survey data are linked at the individual level, allowing in-depth investigations of the links between these micro- foundations in both descriptive and choice-model based analyses. We find that consumers lack information on many important dimensions that they are typically assumed to understand, perceive high plan hassle costs, and make choices that depend on these frictions. Moreover, in the context of an expected utility model, including the additional frictions that we measure has direct implications for risk preference estimates, which are typically assumed to be the only source of persistent unobserved preference heterogeneity in such models. In our setting, we show that incorporating measures of these frictions leads to meaningful reductions in estimated consumer risk aversion. This result has both positive and normative implications since risk aversion generally has different welfare implications than information frictions. We assess the welfare impact of a counterfactual menu design and find that the welfare loss from risk exposure when additional frictions are not taken into account is more than double that when they are, illustrating the potential importance of our analysis for policy decisions.
Tracking trends in monarch abundances over the 20th century is currently impossible using museum records: a response to Boyle et al. (2019)

Abstract The onslaught of opportunistic data offers new opportunities to examine biodiversity patterns at large scales. However, the techniques for tracking abundance trends with such data are new and require careful consideration to ensure that variations in sampling effort do not lead to biased estimates. The analysis by Boyle et al. (2019) showing a mid-century increase in monarch abundance followed by a decrease starting in the 1960s used an inappropriate correction with respect to three dimensions of sampling effort: taxonomy, place, and time. When the data presentenced by Boyle et al. (2019) are corrected to account for biases in the collection process, the results of their analyses do not hold. The paucity of data that remain after accounting for spatial and temporal biases suggests that analyses of monarch trends back to the beginning of the 20th are currently not possible. Continued digitization of museum records is needed to provide a firm data basis to estimate population trends.
Can Attachment Behaviors Moderate the Influence of Conflict Styles on Relationship Quality

AbstractThe current study uses a sample of married couples (N = 1718) to investigate the relationship between conflict styles and relationship quality as moderated by attachment behaviors. Results ...
Prostaglandin Infusion in Neonate With Severe Coarctation of the Aorta With Closed Ductus Arteriosus-A Case Report and Review of the Literature

We report the case of a premature newborn diagnosed with coarctation of the aorta after spontaneous closure of ductus arteriosus who was successfully managed with prostaglandin E1 infusion until surgical repair could be performed. This case, together with a review of the literature, suggests an important role for prostaglandin in the management of coarctation even in the absence of a patent ductus arteriosus. The putative mechanism for the utility of prostaglandin infusion is that it may relieve the obstruction in neonates with severe coarctation by not only opening of the ductus but, in select cases, relaxing the ductal tissue encircling the aortic isthmus region. We also found a possible dose dependence of the efficacy of the prostaglandin infusion when the ductus is closed.
Impact of Point-Spread Function Reconstruction on 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT Quantitative Imaging Parameters.

OBJECTIVE. The objective of our study was to investigate the impact of point-spread function (PSF) reconstruction and lesion size on 68Ga-tetraazacyclododecanetetraacetic acid–DPhe1-Tyr3-octreotate...
Iron-containing cookware for the reduction of iron deficiency anemia among children and females of reproductive age in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review.

Background & objective There is limited evidence regarding the efficacy of iron-containing pots and ingots in reducing iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The objective of this systematic review is to summarize the evidence regarding the effect of iron-containing cookware on ID and IDA among children and females of reproductive age (FRA) in LMICs. Methods Searches were last conducted in May 2019 in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, CAB Abstracts, POPLINE, LILACS, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global, WHO ICTRP and ClinicalTrials.gov. Hand searching was also conducted. Selection criteria included randomized-controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-experimental studies and observational studies with control groups that studied the effect of iron-containing cookware in children (4 months-11 years) and females of reproductive age (12–51 years). Results Eleven studies were eligible for inclusion in the review. Statistically significant increases in hemoglobin and/or iron indices (p < 0.05) were observed in 50% (4/8) of studies on pots (relative change/mean difference in Hb: -0.4–1.20 g/dL), and 33.3% (1/3) of studies on ingots (relative change/mean difference in Hb: 0.32–1.18 g/dL). Positive outcomes (p < 0.05) were observed among children in 50% (4/8) of studies and among FRA in 28.6% (2/7) of studies. Compliance ranged from 26.7–71.4% daily use of pots to 90–93.9% daily use of ingots. Conclusions There are indications that, with reasonable compliance, iron-containing cookware could serve as a means of reducing IDA, especially among children. The potential advantages of iron-containing cookware include relative cost-effectiveness and complementary combination with other interventions. However, further research is needed regarding both the efficacy and safety of this intervention.
A Unique Interplay of Multiple Predisposing Factors Culminating in a Catastrophic QT Prolongation.

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are used in patients without a reversible cause for long QT syndrome (LQTS) and secondary prevention in patients with LQTS-associated sudden cardiac arrest. We present a female patient with multiple reversible factors for QT prolongation, including the use of antidepressants, antidiarrheals, antiemetics, and antihistamines; chronic malabsorption from bariatric surgery; probable Gitelman syndrome and urinary losses of electrolytes, causing QT prolongation which leads to polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and a successfully resuscitated cardiac arrest. Our patient also had history suggestive of probable congenital LQTS with multiple childhood syncopal episodes and a history of seizures in first-degree relatives, further justifying the placement of an ICD. Also, this case gives us an opportunity to delve into the risks of catastrophic QT prolongation in the morbidly obese population undergoing bariatric surgery.
An Alternative Metric for Detecting Anomalous Ship Behavior Using a Variation of the DBSCAN Clustering Algorithm

There is a growing need to quickly and accurately identify anomalous behavior in ships. This paper applies a variation of the Density Based Spatial Clustering Among Noise (DBSCAN) algorithm to identify such anomalous behavior given a ship's Automatic Identification System (AIS) data. This variation of the DBSCAN algorithm has been previously introduced in the literature, and in this study, we elucidate and explore the mathematical details of this algorithm and introduce an alternative anomaly metric which is more statistically informative than the one previously suggested.
Changes in smoking prevalence and perception of smoking on campus before and after a smoke-free university campus policy.

To examine whether policies prohibiting smoking on college campuses contribute to greater decreases in smoking. Participants: This study compares smoking prevalence and perceptions of prevalence pr...
Giant paraesophageal hernia: What do we really know?

Patients with GPEH form a heterogeneous group, and we still have more questions than answers. Although we have used the past 100 years to become adept at repairing GPEH, it is time we attempt to address our knowledge gaps. Conflict of Interest Statement The authors reported no conflicts of interest. The Journal policy requires editors and reviewers to disclose conflicts of interest and to decline handling or reviewing manuscripts for which they may have a conflict of interest. The editors and reviewers of this article have no conflicts of interest.
Towards Attojoule Operation of Semiconductor Quantum well Lasers

Static and dynamic characteristics of quantum well lasers are simulated and their dependence on volume of active region and quality factor of cavity are obtained using a three-rate equation model. Energy cost of 0.06 fJ/bit is obtained from a proposed nanobeam cavity Photonic crystal laser.
Autoantibodies as Endogenous Modulators of GPCR Signaling

Endogenous self-reactive autoantibodies (AAs) recognize a range of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). They are frequently associated with cardiovascular, neurological, and autoimmune disorders, and in some cases directly impact disease progression. Many GPCR AAs modulate receptor signaling, but molecular details of their modulatory activity are not well understood. Technological advances have provided insight into GPCR biology, which now facilitates deeper understanding of GPCR AA function at the molecular level. Most GPCR AAs are allosteric modulators and exhibit a broad range of pharmacological properties, altering both receptor signaling and trafficking. Understanding GPCR AAs is not only important for defining how these unusual GPCR modulators function in disease, but also provides insight into the potential use and limitations of using therapeutic antibodies to modulate GPCR signaling.
INFORMATION ASYMMETRY AND COMPETITIVE BIDDING IN AUDITING

This article finds that clients with greater risk of fraud are less likely to engage prospective auditors in competitive bidding, consistent with the theory that these companies seek to limit access to information that might reveal their high-risk status. In contrast, we find no support for the expectation that companies with higher agency costs will seek competitive auditor bids, due to the need for better monitoring. Our results also show that bidding competition is more likely when the bidding firm is not an industry specialist, when clients have more active corporate governance, and when there are difficulties with the predecessor auditor. (JEL D44, D82, M42) Recent events in the financial markets have focusedattentiononthenatureofcontractsbetween auditors and their clients. The auditorclient relationship has profound consequences for the financial markets as a whole, as amply demonstrated by the failures of large public companies, such as Enron, and the subsequent demiseof ArthurAndersen,one ofthe premier auditingfirms.Onceformed,theauditor-client relationship for public companies usually extends many years, as those companies rarely switch auditors. Thus, study of factors that influence the market for initial audit engagements is of theoretical and practical importance. However, in the past there has been little empirical evidence about how contracts between auditors and clients are made and structured. The purpose of this article is to investigate company managers’ decisions to engage competitive bids from prospective auditors or to privately negotiate with a single firm to obtain audit services. Private negotiation in this market is fairly prevalent. Rarely providedempiricaldatafromalargefirmshow thatduringoursampleperiod,onlyhalfoftheir bids for public and soon-to-be-public companies were faced with competition from other
Characteristics and Perceptions of Sexual and Gender Minority Youth Who Utilized a National Sexual and Gender Minority-Focused Crisis Service.

Abstract. Background: Sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) have heightened risk of suicidality; yet, we know little about their experiences when utilizing crisis services. Aims: The purpose of t...
Coupled SPH-DEM simulations of liquefaction-induced flow failure

Abstract A fully Lagrangian particle-based method for coupled fluid-particle interaction is utilized to evaluate flow liquefaction of saturated granular soils overlain by an impermeable crust. The solid particles are modelled as spherical particles using the discrete element method (DEM). The smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) is employed to model the interstitial fluid using an averaged form of Navier-Stokes equations that accounts for the presence of the solid phase. The coupling between SPH and DEM is achieved through local averaging techniques and well-established semi-empirical formulas for fluid-particle interaction. The responses of loose and dense level granular deposits overlain by an impermeable crust to a seismic excitation are first analyzed. The loose deposit exhibited significant pore pressure development and liquefaction while the dense deposit barely showed any considerable buildup of pore pressure and did not liquefy. The formation of a water film was visible at the interface between the top crust and the underlying liquefied soil. When the same deposits were tilted to form an infinite slope, the loose deposit exhibited flow lgiquefaction at the location immediately underneath the impermeable crust and large shear strains accumulated within a thin layer immediately below the crust. Flow liquefaction was marked by dilative behavior at the surface of the liquefied sand and large lateral spreading that continued post-shaking. Void redistribution was observed along the loose deposit in the form of dilation for a thin layer near sand surface and contraction for the deeper depth. The dense sloping deposit did not liquefy and flow liquefaction was not observed.
The effect of humeral stem alignment in reverse shoulder arthroplasty

Abstract Background The impact of stem alignment on hip arthroplasty outcomes has been thoroughly evaluated, but there is limited data assessing this relationship in reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA). In this study, we investigated the association of humeral stem alignment with patient outcomes following RSA. Methods Using our prospectively maintained institutional registry, we identified patients who underwent reverse shoulder arthroplasty between July 2015 and September 2017 with minimum 2-year follow-up. Two raters independently assessed stem alignment using full-length humeral view radiographs. Stem alignment was correlated to American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score, range of motion, complications, and scapular notching at 2-year follow-up. Results Of the 117 patients that fit our inclusion criteria, 68 (58%) had neutral or valgus alignment and 49 (42%) had varus alignment. ASES score, VAS pain score, range of motion, complications, and scapular notching showed no differences between the 2 cohorts at 2-years postoperatively. Change (mean, SD) in ASES scores (52.5 ± 17.7 vs. 41.3 ± 21.2, P = .01) and VAS pain scores (−5.7 ± 2.5 vs. −4.6 ± 2.6, P = .02) were greater in the neutral/valgus cohort compared to the varus cohort. Demographics analysis revealed that the neutral or valgus cohort had a larger female population (74% vs. 59%, P Conclusion Humeral stem alignment does not appear to affect clinical outcomes at 2-years postoperatively. Improvement in ASES score and VAS pain score were slightly inferior in varus patients, however this difference was not clinically relevant. There may be a correlation between male gender and varus alignment, likely due to better bone quality and larger musculature. Further investigation into the association between stem angulation and clinical outcomes is warranted. Levels of Evidence Level III; Retrospective Cohort Study.
Air pollution, methane super-emitters, and oil and gas wells in Northern California: the relationship with migraine headache prevalence and exacerbation

Author(s): Elser, Holly; Morello-Frosch, Rachel; Jacobson, Alice; Pressman, Alice; Kioumourtzoglou, Marianthi-Anna; Reimer, Richard; Casey, Joan A | Abstract: BackgroundMigraine-an episodic disorder characterized by severe headache that can lead to disability-affects over 1 billion people worldwide. Prior studies have found that short-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone increases risk of migraine-related emergency department (ED) visits. Our objective was to characterize the association between long-term exposure to sources of harmful emissions and common air pollutants with both migraine headache and, among patients with migraine, headache severity.MethodsFrom the Sutter Health electronic health record database, we identified 89,575 prevalent migraine cases between 2014 and 2018 using a migraine probability algorithm (MPA) score and 270,564 frequency-matched controls. Sutter Health delivers care to 3.5 million patients annually in Northern California. Exposures included 2015 annual average block group-level PM2.5 and NO2 concentrations, inverse-distance weighted (IDW) methane emissions from 60 super-emitters located within 10 km of participant residence between 2016 and 2018, and IDW active oil and gas wells in 2015 within 10 km of each participant. We used logistic and negative binomial mixed models to evaluate the association between environmental exposures and (1) migraine case status; and (2) migraine severity (i.e., MPA score g 100, triptan prescriptions, neurology visits, urgent care migraine visits, and ED migraine visits per person-year). Models controlled for age, sex, race/ethnicity, Medicaid use, primary care visits, and block group-level population density and poverty.ResultsIn adjusted analyses, for each 5 ppb increase in NO2, we observed 2% increased odds of migraine case status (95% CI: 1.00, 1.05) and for each 100,000 kg/hour increase in IDW methane emissions, the odds of case status also increased (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.08). We found no association between PM2.5 or oil and gas wells and migraine case status. PM2.5 was linearly associated with neurology visits, migraine-specific urgent care visits, and MPA score g 100, but not triptans or ED visits. NO2 was associated with migraine-specific urgent care and ED visits, but not other severity measures. We observed limited or null associations between continuous measures of methane emissions and proximity to oil and gas wells and migraine severity.ConclusionsOur findings illustrate the potential role of long-term exposure to multiple ambient air pollutants for prevalent migraine and migraine severity.
Phase 1 study of alisertib (MLN8237) and weekly irinotecan in adults with advanced solid tumors

Aurora kinases are overexpressed or amplified in numerous malignancies. This study was designed to determine the safety and tolerability of the Aurora A kinase inhibitor alisertib (MLN8237) when combined with weekly irinotecan. In this single-center phase 1 study, adult patients with refractory advanced solid tumors received 100 mg/m2 irinotecan intravenously on day 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle. Alisertib at planned escalating dose levels of 20–60 mg was administered orally twice per day on days 1–3 and 8–10. Patients homozygous for UGT1A1*28 were excluded. The primary objective was the safety of alisertib when combined with irinotecan to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). Secondary objectives included overall response rate by RECIST and pharmacokinetics in a planned expansion cohort of patients with colorectal cancer treated at the MTD. A total of 17 patients enrolled at three dose levels. Dose-limiting toxicities included diarrhea, dehydration, and neutropenia. The MTD of alisertib combined with weekly irinotecan was 20 mg twice per day on days 1–3 and 8–10. One fatal cardiac arrest at the highest dose level tested was deemed possibly related to drug treatment. One partial response in 11 efficacy evaluable patients (9%) occurred in a patient with small cell lung cancer. The study was terminated prior to the planned expansion in patients with colorectal cancer. In contrast to prior results in a pediatric population, adult patients did not tolerate alisertib combined with irinotecan at clinically meaningful doses due to hematologic and gastrointestinal toxicities. The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov under study number NCT01923337 on Aug 15, 2013.
Effect of endogenous wheat gluten lipids on the non-linear rheological properties of the gluten network.

Abstract The impact of endogenous wheat lipids on thermal characteristics, mixing behavior, non-linear rheological properties of gluten was studied to explore the contribution of wheat lipids to viscoelastic behavior of gluten under large processing deformations. Thermal analysis indicated higher denaturation temperature for vital wheat gluten (VWG) (69.2 ± 1.2 °C) due to reduced water affinity compared to lipid-removed vital wheat gluten (LRVWG) (63.6 ± 0.2 °C). Development time was reached 4 minutes earlier and consistency increased constantly for LRVWG as Farinograph mixing proceeded, suggesting higher affinity to water for gluten in the absence of lipids. Large Amplitude Oscillatory Shear (LAOS) tests showed a mixture of type III and IV non-linear behavior for gluten. Higher tendency to type III behavior for VWG indicated more extensibility in the presence of lipids. Higher elasticity and strain stiffening obtained for LRVWG under LAOS deformations accentuated the stabilizing effect of lipids on the viscoelastic nature of gluten network during processing.
Making It Rain? Comparing the Determinants of Chinese and Western FDI Flows to Africa

This paper tests whether Chinese FDI disproportionately flows to poorly governed African countries, compared to those of the West. It also explores whether UN voting alignment between home and host countries, development loans from the former to the latter, and host countries’ market size, natural resource wealth, and per capita income impact Chinese and Western FDI flows differently. It finds that governance quality among African countries plays a positive role in predicting their FDI inflows – from both Western countries and China. The only governance indicator that has a significantly lower impact on Chinese FDI than that of the West is corruption controls, and only when South Africa is excluded from the models. Even then, however, the relationship between corruption controls and Chinese FDI flows is positive in absolute terms. Beyond governance, this paper finds that UN voting alignment and development loans have a significantly larger impact on Chinese FDI than that of the West and that the opposite is true with regard to market size and per capita income.
Sleep and society : sociological ventures into the (un)known--

Exploring the sociological aspects of sleep and their links to current health debates, this unique text discusses why sleep has been so neglected in sociological literature and examines significant modern issues such as: the 24-hour society sleep and work homelessness dream analysis the medicalization and commodification of sleep. Written by a key international figure in medical sociology, this is the first sociological examination of sleep, making it important reading for academics and advanced students of medical sociology, health studies, and sociology, as well as for professionals and policy makers involved in the area.
Geben Konvergenz und Gang der Kohle einen Hinweis auf die Gebirgsschlaggefahr im Streb

Geben Konvergenz und Gang der Kohle einen Hinweis auf die Gebirgsschlaggefahr im Streb? In verschiedenen Kohlegmben des Ruhrreviers wurden bereits Messungen uber die Konvergenz des Nebengesteins und das Auswandern der Kohle am Abbaustos durchgefuhrt. Flake (3) hat 1959 in nicht gebirgsschlaggefahrdeten Flozen sowohl bei Vorhandensein gebrachen Nebengesteins als auch intakten Nebengesteins im Hangenden den Zusammenhang zwischen Konvergenz und Gang der Kohle untersucht. Jahns (2) hat 1962 im gebirgsschlaggefahrlichen Floz 24 der Zeche Sachsen versucht, aus der Konvergenz des Nebengesteins bzw. aus dem Auswandern der Kohle am Abbaustos allein auf die Gebirgsschlaggefahr zu schliesen.
Secrets Exposed?: Selective State Concern and the Prosecution of Notorious Arms Trafficker Viktor Bout

Criminological scholarship has long recognized that small arms are trafficked through large and complex international networks that involve a multitude of different actors. These actors include different buyers, sellers, brokers, intermediaries, corporations, and most importantly states. Despite this recognition, there has been little research on the duality of the role of states that are both perpetrators and controllers of this crime. Here we analyze the court transcripts and media accounts of the prosecution of notorious arms trafficker Viktor Bout. In doing so, we show that arms trafficking prosecutions fit within the realm of neo-liberal crime control policies where the focus is hyper-individualism and the protection of state legitimacy, which allows for the maintenance of a flourishing arms market.
Dynamics of piecewise isometries

We begin a systematic study of Euclidean piecewise isometric dynamical systems (p.i.d.s.) with a particular focus on the interplay between geometry, symbolic dynamics, and the group of isometries associated with p.i.d.s. We investigate various aspects of the dynamical information contained in the coding: symbolic growth and the periodic behavior of codings and cells. This theoretical investigation is motivated by the many examples of piecewise isometric dynamical systems found recently in the literature. Piecewise isometric dynamical systems are direct generalizations of interval exchange transformations to non-invertible, higher dimensional maps.
Xenophilia or Xenophobia in American Courts? Before and After 9/11

This article revisits the controversy regarding how foreigners fare in U.S. courts. The available data, if taken in a sufficiently big sample from numerous case categories and a range of years, indicate that foreigners have fared better in the federal courts than their domestic counterparts have fared. Thus, the data offer no support for the existence of xenophobic bias in U.S. courts. Nor do they establish xenophilia, of course. What the data do show is that case selection drives the outcomes for foreigners. Foreigners' aversion to U.S. forums can elevate the foreigners' success rates, when measured as a percentage of judgments rendered. Yet that aversion waxes and wanes over the years, having generally declined in the last twenty years but with an uptick subsequent to 9/11. Accordingly, that aversion has caused the foreigners' advantage to follow the same track.