cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The superconducting state of YBa2Cu3O7-δ

Many low temperature properties of high Tc superconductors deviate significantly from the detailed predictions of BCS theory. Here we discuss whether these effects could be caused by either: (a) an unconventional pairing state, or (b) local randomness in the gap function due to the intrinsic disorder. We review recent experiments pertinent to these questions: Josephson effects in (001) oriented planar junctions between YBa2Cu3O7-δ and classic superconductors and the temperature dependence of the a-b plane electro-magnetic penetration depth at low temperatures. We also calculate the density of states of s-wave superconductors with local quenched disorder in the gap function so as to determine whether s-wave pairing could be consistent with the low energy quasiparticle excitations seen in many experiments.
ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF THE BIOTA OF SOUTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA: EVIDENCE FROM THE FOSSIL PLANT RECORD

The biota of southeastern United States is a complicated assemblage of plant and animal communities. Some species are presumably derivatives of the original Mesozoic vegetation that developed in the Appalachian highlands, while others were introduced later, as conditions became favorable for their migration and establishment. In this presentation an attempt will be made to characterize the older plant communities, and the conditions under which they evolved, and to demonstrate the existence of paleoenvironments suitable for the introduction of other components during subsequent periods of geologic time. Consideration will be given primarily to the angiosperms, which first become abundant in eastern United States during the Cretaceous Period. This limits discussion to Late Mesozoic and Cenozoic vegetation, and only brief attention will be given to the plant communities of the Early Mesozoic and Paleozoic eras. The plants of these older periods belong mostly to extinct families and genera, and provide little direct evidence for interpreting the origin and evolution of the modern biota. As far as possible, emphasis will be placed on new data provided by pollen and spore studies, and certain geochemical and geophysical techniques currently being used to study past environments. This tends to minimize dependence on the older, and in some cases questionable, paleontological data.
Two Faces of Transparency: The Regulations of People’s Republic of China on Open Government Information

ABSTRACTThe People’s Republic of China enacted the first nationwide open government information regulations (OGIRs) in 2007. The regulations safeguard Chinese citizens’ right to know and provide public oversight. This analysis aims to explain how and why the Chinese government incorporates the universal values of transparency and accountability into the complex Chinese political systems. The article first provides a theoretical framework of government transparency and a quick road map of OGIRs for international audiences by tracing its regulatory details. It then analyzes OGIRs’ external mechanisms of transparency on how information flows to the citizenry through public supervision and judicial review. Fourthly, the article explains OGIRs’ internal mechanisms of transparency and accountability through the hierarchical control of the party-state agencies and officials. The article emphasizes that transparency and accountability are as important to today’s Chinese government and civil society as they are in...
Hegemony within Higher Education: The Creation of an "Ideal" Student

This paper is an examination of how higher administration at Jesuit schools use hegemony to create an ideological definition of the ‘ideal’ student. I use rhetorical criticism as a means of explaining how students are characterized and defined based on Creighton University sanctioned webpages. The results provided two major ideological principles that influence Creighton’s discussion of the overall student population, the privileging of numbers and the construction of a preferred student model. These ideological themes in combination with hegemonic principles promote the creation of an ‘ideal’ student that no individual is fully capable of attaining.
Gut Motility and the Pathogenesis of Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Forward movement of intestinal nutrients is achieved by motor activity. Motor activity patterns are “abnormal” in adults as well as preterm infants who display intolerance to enteral feedings. Manometries can be used diagnostically and prospectively to identify infants at risk for feeding intolerance.
Transferrin-independent iron uptake supports B lymphocyte growth.

Raji, a malignant B-lymphocyte cell line containing Epstein-Barr virus genomic elements, has been conditioned to proliferate optimally in transferrin (Tf)-free medium containing a very low concentration of an iron salt. We provide evidence that an Tf-independent iron uptake system is physiologically important for maintaining the growth of these cells. The data show that Raji cells take up iron from iron salts using a relatively high-capacity, low-affinity, temperature- and calcium- dependent uptake system. The apparent capacity of this system increases when: (1) cells are cultured in Tf-free medium containing high concentrations of iron salt as opposed to medium containing Tf; and (2) when the iron salt concentration of Tf-free medium is lowered to about 1.6 mumol/L. Cellular iron uptake also increases when a maximum number of cells are in S and G2 and M cell phases of the cell cycle. The cells are sensitive to growth inhibition by the addition of deferoxamine. This evidence supports the hypothesis that certain malignant lymphocytes, under iron deplete conditions, fulfill an iron requirement for proliferation by an adaptation such as Tf-independent iron uptake.
Oxalate Transport in a Line of Porcine Renal Epithelial Cells—LLC-PK1 Cells

AbstractThe present studies examined oxalate handling in LLC-PK1 cells, an epithelial cell line of porcine origin. These cells appear to express transport systems for oxalate, as evidenced by the fact that uptake was saturable, time dependent and sensitive to the anion transport inhibitor DIDS (4,4’-diisothio-cyanostilbene-2,2’-disulfonic acid). Oxalate uptake in these cells was also affected by the presence of certain inorganic anions (Cl−, SO42−, or HCO3−) but not by organic anions (para-aminohippurate, urate, malate, phenylsuccinate, succinate). This uptake was Na independent and unaffected by changes in membrane potential but was affected by external pH, with acidic pH stimulating and alkaline pH inhibiting oxalate accumulation. These findings suggest that LLC-PK1 cells express oxalate transporters similar to those observed in the mammalian renal cortex. Further studies using these cells may prove useful in defining the conditions that govern transcellular oxalate flux in renal epithelial cells.
Excited Biexcitons in Transition Metal Dichalcogenides

The Stochastic Variational Method (SVM) is used to show that the effective mass model correctly estimates the binding energies of excitons and trions but fails to predict the experimental binding energy of the biexciton. Using high-accuracy variational calculations, it is demonstrated that the biexciton binding energy in transition metal dichalcogenides is smaller than the trion binding energy, contradicting experimental findings. It is also shown that the biexciton has bound excited states and that the binding energy of the L = 0 excited state is in very good agreement with experimental data. This excited state corresponds to a hole attached to a negative trion and may be a possible resolution of the discrepancy between theory and experiment.
Cops and Guns: Police Use of Deadly Force in Nineteenth-Century New Orleans

lieutenant and the sergeant then stood up at the table and, with their respective revolver muzzles nearly touching, blazed away with four shots each. Customers and restaurant employees dived for cover, narrowly escaping wounds or death. The sergeant and lieutenant, unscathed by the fusillade, were then subdued and disarmed by their fellow officers. After a fast trip to police headquarters, where they were suspended by the superintendent, the officers returned to Fabacher's to finish their meal, their brisk little firefight apparently mutually forgiven if not forgotten.' As a paradigm of police use of deadly force in nineteenth-century New Orleans, the McLaughlin-Reynolds incident exposes several salient themes: the policemen involved irresponsibly discharged their revolvers, recklessly endangered not only their own lives but those of several presumably innocent bystanders, and demonstrated abysmal marksmanship by missing one another entirely at pointblank range in an exchange of nine shots. The judicial and administrative outcome is equally instructive. Lieutenant Reynolds escaped any punishment; Sergeant McLaughlin received a stern reprimand from the mayor, along with a suspension of twenty-seven days that was later rescinded with an award of back pay. The McLaughlin-Reynolds shooting was in many ways exemplary of a problem that has beset New Orleans, and other places, for a long time. How does a democratic society give its police the power to do their job and protect themselves without
“Mes ancestres avoient la medecine à contrecoeur” ‘My Ancestors had an Aversion to Medicine’: Medical Discourse, Observation, and Self-Portraiture

In the Introduction to this study, we noted that adherence to the efficient style of the conte/nouvelle constrains the author as he faces the violence of the religious wars and seeks internal strength to buttress himself against the unpredictable events outside his estate. It is evident that the brief narrative tale appears as one form among others in the midst of an increasingly extended discourse. To the list of conte, propos de table, discours bigarres, chronicles, and history, we would add medical diagnostic—the type of recounting and keeping track of habitual activities: eating, drinking, suffering bouts of illness that were typical of Renaissance medical discourse. Jean Starobinski, as translated by John A. Gallucci, comments on the irony of Montaigne’s reliance on a form of medical discourse in a work in which he berates the efficacy of medical practice, and in particular, their reliance on knowledge as distinct from experience: “The reader will notice (were he only to glance at the medical books of the time) that Montaigne cannot narrate his own being (se raconter) except by appropriating the language of the doctors, by making use of their categories, by diverting them according to the rule he applies to all of his borrowings, for his own benefit.”1
California’s drought as opportunity: Redesigning U.S. agriculture for a changing climate

The impacts of climate change are already affecting the production and profitability of agricultural systems, and these trends are expected to continue in the future. Without support from ecosystem functions, an agricultural system designed exclusively to maximize short-term production is vulnerable to extreme weather events such as droughts and floods. This results in high costs for farmers and ultimately for society at large, in economic and ecological terms. Complex agroecosystems that maximize biological interactions and conserve soil are better protected from extreme events, and thus are overall more resilient to climate change. This paper reviews the evidence demonstrating greater resilience on farms that maximize diversity, build soil organic matter, and incorporate other agroecological or ‘sustainable’ practices. We then discuss the current water crisis in California in the context of the vulnerability of our current agricultural systems to climate change, highlighting this as an opportunity to redirect agricultural policies and economic incentives. The projected increase in the frequency and intensity of climate extremes calls for policies that are concerned not only with present crises, but that also encourage a new culture of forward-thinking practices around land and water use. We highlight France’s new Law for the Future of Agriculture, Food and Forestry as an example of national policy supporting agroecology. Applying an agroecological approach to increase resilience will enable the U.S. to tackle the twin challenges of food production and increasing climatic unpredictability.
ACR Thyroid Imaging, Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS): White Paper of the ACR TI-RADS Committee

Thyroid nodules are a frequent finding on neck sonography. Most nodules are benign; therefore, many nodules are biopsied to identify the small number that are malignant or require surgery for a definitive diagnosis. Since 2009, many professional societies and investigators have proposed ultrasound-based risk stratification systems to identify nodules that warrant biopsy or sonographic follow-up. Because some of these systems were founded on the BI-RADS® classification that is widely used in breast imaging, their authors chose to apply the acronym TI-RADS, for Thyroid Imaging, Reporting and Data System. In 2012, the ACR convened committees to (1) provide recommendations for reporting incidental thyroid nodules, (2) develop a set of standard terms (lexicon) for ultrasound reporting, and (3) propose a TI-RADS on the basis of the lexicon. The committees published the results of the first two efforts in 2015. In this article, the authors present the ACR TI-RADS Committee's recommendations, which provide guidance regarding management of thyroid nodules on the basis of their ultrasound appearance. The authors also describe the committee's future directions.
Charlie, Mike, Victor: Student Veterans' Loss of Purpose

As student veteran populations and visibility have increased on campus, some scholars have explored how higher education works (or fails to work) to serve those who have served their country. In military radio jargon, “Charlie Mike” means, “continue the mission.” In this study, the mission was transitioning to and persisting through college and the participants were Student-Veterans and Service-Members (SVSM) – a term coined by Arminio, Grabosky, and Lang (2015). Thus – “Charlie Mike Victor” – focuses on the continuation of the mission for several “victors” – the phonetic “v” in ”Victor” here meaning “veterans.” In this study the concept of self-authorship (Baxter Magolda, 2007; Baxter Magolda & King, 2012) was combined with Schlossberg’s (1981) transition theory to explore the experiences of SVSM in higher education. This study seeks to build on the existing scholarship and more fully explore the role of various identities in the experience of SVSM.
Polypharmacy in geriatric patients

Although research-based information concerning geriatric polypharmacy is lacking, available data suggest possible causes, health risks, and areas for intervention. Nursing home residents are more likely to be recipients of unnecessary and excessive drugs than community-dwelling elderly. Polypharmacy can lead to increased adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, and medication errors. In the future, there will be single drug therapy for conditions now requiring multiple drugs, but improved diagnosis of disease could lead to persons receiving additional, appropriate drugs for these health problems. Informed patients collaborating with knowledgeable prescribers and those dispensing and administering their medications may be able to reduce the number of drugs they are taking. More research is needed to identify methods that promote safe self-medication behavior and better drug use in nursing homes. Health risks associated with polypharmacy and the escalating costs of medications require that nurse participation in ensuring that the elderly receive only necessary and effective drug treatment.
Control of the strength of visual-motor transmission as the mechanism of rapid adaptation of priors for Bayesian inference in smooth pursuit eye movements.

Bayesian inference can account for the interaction between sensory data and past experience in many behaviors. Here, we show, using smooth pursuit eye movements, that the priors based on past exper...
Silent ischemia predicts poor outcome in high-risk healthy men.

Myocardial ischemia is well established as a reliable predictor of physiologically significant coronary artery disease (CAD) [(1,2)][1]. During the past two decades, a large number of epidemiologic studies and prospective observational data have demonstrated that the presence of myocardial ischemia
Emergency general surgery transfers in the United States: a 10-year analysis.

Abstract Background Emergency general surgery (EGS) admissions account for more than three million hospitalizations in the US annually; and interhospital transfers (IHTs) are costly. We aimed to better understand the population of transferred EGS patients and their subsequent care in a nationally representative sample. Methods Using the 2002-2011 Nationwide Inpatient Sample, we identified patients aged ≥18 years with an EGS noncardiovascular principal diagnosis who were transferred from another hospital with urgent or emergent admission status. Patient demographics, hospitalization characteristics, rates of operation, and mortality were identified. Procedure codes were classified into surgery and procedures based on the HCUP Surgery Flag. Results We identified an estimated 525,913 EGS admissions transferred from another acute care hospital. The mean age was 60 years, 51% were female, and >50% were Medicare patients. The rate of EGS IHTs increased while mortality decreased. Surgery was required for only 33% of transferred patients. The most common surgeries were laparoscopic cholecystectomy, lysis of adhesions, and wound debridement. The median length of stay was 4.4 days, 92% of patients were cared for in urban hospitals, and >50% in teaching hospitals. Conclusions The percent of patients with an EGS diagnosis requiring IHT is increasing, which may reflect a trend toward regionalization of EGS. Transfers require significant resources and may delay care. More than half of the EGS patients did not require surgical intervention. Future studies to identify populations who benefit from IHT and ideal timing of transfer can establish opportunities for optimizing resource utilization and patient outcomes.
Impact of nutrition interventions on pediatric mortality and nutrition outcomes in humanitarian emergencies: A systematic review.

Objectives Malnutrition contributes to paediatric morbidity and mortality in disasters and complex emergencies, but summary data describing specific nutritional interventions in these settings are lacking. This systematic review aimed to characterise such interventions and their effects on paediatric mortality, anthropometric measures and serum markers of nutrition. Methods A systematic search of OVID MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and relevant grey literature was conducted. We included all randomised controlled trials and observational controlled studies evaluating effectiveness of nutritional intervention(s) on defined health outcomes in children and adolescents (0–18 years) within a disaster or complex emergency. We extracted study characteristics, interventions and outcomes data. Study quality was assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria. Results A total of 31 studies met inclusion criteria. Most were conducted in Africa (17), during periods of conflict or hunger gaps (14), and evaluated micronutrient supplementation (14) or selective feeding (10). Overall study quality was low, with only two high and four moderate quality studies. High- and medium-quality studies demonstrated positive impact of fortified spreads, ready-to-use therapeutic foods, micronutrient supplementation, and food and cash transfers. Conclusion In disasters and complex emergencies, high variability and low quality of controlled studies on paediatric malnutrition limit meaningful data aggregation. If existing research gaps are to be addressed, the inherent unpredictability of humanitarian emergencies and ethical considerations regarding controls may warrant a paradigm shift in what constitutes adequate methods. Periodic hunger gaps may offer a generalisable opportunity for robust trials, but consensus on meaningful nutritional endpoints is needed.
Fossil Bison and Artifacts from The Mona Lisa Site, Calgary, Alberta: Part 1: Stratigraphy and Artifacts

In November, 1968, salvage excavations at the site of an art gallery under construction in urban southwest Calgary, Alberta, Canada, revealed a Paleo-Indian bison kill. The single kill level lay at...
Surgical Approaches and Long-Term Outcomes in Adults with Complex Reoperative Hypospadias Repair

Purpose: Patients with failed hypospadias repair are a challenging population for pediatric and reconstructive urologists. We describe our long-term outcomes and factors associated with complications of repeat hypospadias repair.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 32 adult patients with a history of hypospadias repair who required subsequent urethroplasty between 2002 and 2012. Data on the presenting complaint, past medical and surgical history, demographic data, surgical approach, intraoperative findings and complications were collected and analyzed.Results: Median patient age at urethroplasty was 32 years. Stricture of the penile urethra was the most common presentation. Urethroplasty was done in 30 patients as stricture treatment, 1 underwent perineal urethrostomy and 1 underwent diverticulectomy. Two-stage repair was performed in 90% of the men who underwent urethroplasty. The initial success rate was 83% in patients who underwent 1 or 2-stage urethroplasty. At a median f...
Etiology of AIDS: biological and biochemical characteristics of HTLV-III.

The human T-cell leukemia (lymphotropic) viruses comprise a group of retroviruses which share several structural, biochemical, and biological properties, and have been collectively named HTLV in accordance with guidelines established by a group of scientists at an international conference on human retroviruses (19, 79). The properties shared by all known members of the HTLV group include; 1) tropism for T-lymphocytes, 2) a high molecular weight, Mg+−preferring reverse transcriptase, 3) similar size, number and genomic organization of major core proteins, 4) cytopathic effect on infected cells, 5) prevalence of 3′ terminal gene, Lor, and double splicing mechanisms coding for a transactivating protein, 6) distant antigenic and nucleic acid relatedness, and 7) a likely African origin.
An Analysis of Means in a Three-Way Factorial

Traditional analysis of variance, emphasizing significance tests, covers only one aspect of the analysis of an experiment. The information content, particularly of factorially designed studies, can be expanded markedly by a multi-comparative plotting of..
Diseases of Energy and Lipid Metabolism and Bone: Emerging Therapeutics

Lipids constitute a broad group of naturally occurring molecules that function as energy storage organs, as components of cell membranes, and as signaling molecules. Lipids and fatty acids are stored as triglycerides and are the most important source of energy for most organisms. When the body needs energy, lipolysis is initiated in adipocytes, and the triglycerides are hydrolyzed to glycerol and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) [64]. The capacity to store triglycerides makes it possible to maintain energy homeostasis and prevent an abnormal toxic increase in plasma NEFAs. Under normal conditions, fat cells fine-tune the balance between lipogenesis and lipolysis of triglycerides in response to physiological needs. However, changes in lipid storage and metabolism, whether anabolic or catabolic, modulate whole body homeostasis. When fat mass is lacking as in lipoatrophy, there arise complications similar to those in type 2 diabetes, i.e., insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hyperphagia, and liver steatosis. On the other hand, excessive lipid storage leads to obesity, along with a multitude of manifestations and clinical complications including altered insulin production. Fatty tissue accumulation is a major risk factor for chronic diseases, including the metabolic syndrome, also known as “syndrome X,” a cluster of phenotypes that contribute to elevating the risk of disorders. Symptoms of the metabolic syndrome include insulin resistance, impaired glucose regulation, dyslipidemia, hypertension, central obesity, and microalbuminuria, with insulin resistance the major feature. Between 60% and 90% of type 2 diabetes cases are thought to be due to obesity. Altogether, adipose tissue is essential to maintaining health and in glucose and lipid homeostasis [64].
A direct plating method for estimating populations of Escherichia coli O157 in bovine manure and manure-based materials.

Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreaks associated with produce consumption have brought attention to livestock manures and manure-based soil amendments as potential sources of pathogens for the contamination of these crops. Procedures for enumeration of E. coli O157:H7 are needed to assess the risks of transmission from these manures and their by-products. A direct plating method employing spiral plating onto CHROMagar O157 was investigated for enumeration of E. coli O157:H7 in feedlot surface material, aged bovine manure, bovine manure compost, and manure-amended soil. In studies utilizing samples spiked with a five-strain cocktail of E. coli O157:H7 at levels ranging from 102 to 105 CFU/g of sample, there were strong correlations between the observed and predicted levels of this pathogen. Although the addition of 2.5 mg/liter potassium tellurite and 5 mg/liter novobiocin made the medium more restrictive, these amendments enhanced the ability to identify and enumerate E. coli O157:H7 in feedlot surface mater...
Recurrent Myocarditis Imitating ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Acute myocarditis mimicking ST segment elevation myocardial infarction is a well-known phenomenon, but recurrence and progression are rare. We present a case of a 29-year-old man with three episodes of myocarditis over 3 months including evidence of progressive, patchy inflammation shown by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging.
Food Purchasing and Preparation at Child Day Care Centers Participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program in the United States, 2017

Abstract Background: More than 3.6 million children are served daily by the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)-participating child day care centers. This study provides a nationwide assessme...
Prediction of gas transport properties through fibrous carbon preform microstructures using Direct Simulation Monte Carlo

Abstract We use the Cuda-based Hybrid Approach for Octree Simulations (CHAOS) DSMC solver to predict gas transport coefficients of Morgan felt and FiberForm TPS materials with sample size of ( 1 × 1 × 1 ) mm3. The detailed velocity flow-field of the pressure-driven flow through these materials is studied to compare the effect of material microstructures on gas transport. It is found that the effective flow path traversed by the gas is more circuitous and longer for FiberForm compared to the more porous felt. The obstruction offered by the material and the circuitous flow path is quantified by the Klinkenberg-derived permeability and hydraulic tortuosity factor, which are key material properties that govern the momentum transport through porous media. We also compute the hydraulic pore diameter of these materials and find that the through-thickness and in-plane pore diameter is equal to 86.94 and 98.7 μ m for felt and 36.25 and 60.9 μ m for Fiberform, which is within 5–6% of the average pore-size obtained from the tomography images.
Echocardiographic guidance for transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus closure in extremely low birth weight infants

Echocardiographic imaging provides real-time guidance during transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. Transthoracic echocardiogram provides detailed assessment of the PDA and surrounding structures prior to, during, and after transcatheter closure. This article aims to review the different echocardiographic techniques and concepts utilized during transcatheter PDA closure in ELBW infants.
Early life adversity and depressive symptoms predict cortisol in pregnancy

Evidence suggests that exposure to early life adversity (ELA) programs the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to influence responses to later adversity and predisposes women to depression. However, few studies have examined whether ELA moderates the HPA cortisol response to adulthood adversity and depressive symptoms in pregnant women. The aims of this study were to determine (a) whether ELA, adulthood adversity, and depressive symptoms differentially predict patterns of cortisol and (b) whether ELA moderates the relationship of adulthood adversity or depressive symptoms to cortisol. This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study of pregnant women (N = 58, mean = 26.5 weeks gestation). Participants completed the Stress and Adversity Inventory and Edinburgh Depression Scale and collected salivary cortisol five times per day for 3 days to assess cortisol awakening response (CAR), diurnal cortisol slope, and cortisol area under the curve (AUC). ELA predicted a larger CAR, while depressive symptoms predicted a blunted CAR and higher cortisol AUC. Adulthood adversity predicted a blunted CAR and steeper diurnal slope, but only in women with high ELA. ELA also moderated the effect of depressive symptoms on diurnal slope. Early adversity and depressive symptoms appear to have significant effects on the HPA axis during pregnancy, with early adversity also moderating effects of depressive symptoms and adulthood adversity on cortisol regulation. Early adversity may be an important factor in identifying unique HPA phenotypes and risk for HPA axis dysregulation in pregnancy.
8.09 – Phosphoryl and Sulfuryl Transfer

Biochemical reactions of phosphate and sulfate esters are ubiquitous in the living world, and are found throughout many pathways involving metabolism, biosynthesis, control of transcription, energy storage, and replication. This chapter describes the mechanisms by which phosphate and sulfate monoesters undergo uncatalyzed and enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis by phosphatases and sulfatases, respectively. Relative to the slow rates of the uncatalyzed reactions of their substrates, these enzymes produce rate accelerations that are among the greatest of any enzymes yet described. Interestingly, nature has evolved several quite different catalytic strategies to accomplish this. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge of several phosphatases and sulfatases. Phosphatases and sulfatases constitute a large group of enzymes, with structural and mechanistic diverseness. Within each group, one finds enzymes that utilize completely different catalytic machinery and mechanisms to accomplish the same reaction. We also summarize the mechanistic tools that have been used to study the chemistry and biochemistry of sulfate and phosphate esters, with references to comprehensive treatments of these methods for those who wish more thorough explanations of the tools of enzymology and physical organic chemistry.
Estimating Surface Attachment Kinetic and Growth Transition Influences on Vapor-Grown Ice Crystals

AbstractThere are few measurements of the vapor growth of small ice crystals at temperatures below -30°C. Presented here are mass-growth measurements of heterogeneously and homogeneously frozen ice...
Do Mosquitoes Sleep

Sleep is a phenomenon conserved across the animal kingdom, where studies on Drosophila melanogaster have revealed that sleep phenotypes and molecular underpinnings are similar to those in mammals. However, little is known about sleep in blood-feeding arthropods, which have a critical role in public health as disease vectors. Specifically, sleep studies in mosquitoes are lacking despite considerable focus on how circadian processes, which have a central role in regulating sleep/wake cycles, impact activity, feeding, and immunity. Here, we review observations which suggest that sleep-like states likely occur in mosquitoes and discuss the potential role of sleep in relation to mosquito biology and their ability to function as disease vectors.
16p11.2 microdeletion imparts transcriptional alterations in human iPSC-derived models of early neural development

Microdeletions and microduplications of the 16p11.2 chromosomal locus are associated with syndromic neurodevelopmental disorders and reciprocal physiological conditions such as macro/microcephaly and high/low body mass index. To facilitate cellular and molecular investigations into these phenotypes, 65 clones of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) were generated from 13 individuals with 16p11.2 copy number variations (CNVs). To ensure these cell lines were suitable for downstream mechanistic investigations, a customizable bioinformatic strategy for the detection of random integration and expression of reprogramming vectors was developed and leveraged towards identifying a subset of 'footprint'-free hiPSC clones. Transcriptomic profiling of cortical neural progenitor cells derived from these hiPSCs identified alterations in gene expression patterns which precede morphological abnormalities reported at later neurodevelopmental stages. Interpreting clinical information-available with the cell lines by request from the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative-with this transcriptional data revealed disruptions in gene programs related to both nervous system function and cellular metabolism. As demonstrated by these analyses, this publicly available resource has the potential to serve as a powerful medium for probing the etiology of developmental disorders associated with 16p11.2 CNVs.
A multi-objective optimization framework for on-line ridesharing systems.

The ultimate goal of ridesharing systems is to matchtravelers who do not have a vehicle with those travelers whowant to share their vehicle. A good match can be found amongthose who have similar itineraries and time schedules. In thisway each rider can be served without any delay and also eachdriver can earn as much as possible without having too muchdeviation from their original route. We propose an algorithmthat leverages biogeography-based optimization to solve a multi-objective optimization problem for online ridesharing. It isnecessary to solve the ridesharing problem as a multi-objectiveproblem since there are some important objectives that must beconsidered simultaneously. We test our algorithm by evaluatingperformance on the Beijing ridesharing dataset. The simulationresults indicate that BBO provides competitive performancerelative to state-of-the-art ridesharing optimization algorithms.
From Gray Copycats to Green Wolves: Policy and Infrastructure for Flood Risk Management

Flooding has affected over two billion people since 1995. While gray infrastructure such as levees and dams has traditionally been used to mitigate this hazard, many communities are looking for app...
National Electronic Injury Surveillance System sports-related arm fractures in the USA: thrower's fractures.

BACKGROUND Humerus fractures are common in the USA. The purpose of this study was to utilize the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System: 1) to compare overall and age stratified incidence rates of proximal and distal arm fractures presenting to USA emergency departments; 2) to compare relative humerus fracture locations by age; and 3) to compare anatomical humerus fracture locations stratified by sports between 2005-2009 and 2015-2019. METHODS The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System was used to obtain estimated proximal and distal arm fractures between 2005-2009 and 2015-2019. Fracture rates were normalized using USA census estimates and stratified by age. Case summaries were filtered for anatomical and non-specific (proximal, middle, distal third) humerus fractures. Relative humerus fractures, inclusive of anatomical and non-specific fractures, were stratified by age and compared between 2005-2009 and 2015-2019. Anatomical fractures were stratified by sports. χ2 tests were used to compare fracture rates between time periods. RESULTS There was a decrease (P<0.0001) in proximal and distal arm fracture rates and a difference (P<0.0001) in fracture rates with respect to age between 2005-2009 and 2015-2019. There was a significant difference in reported relative humeral fractures (P<0.0001) between the two periods. Impact related sports trauma accounted for most fracture cases for both periods. Non-impact related sports trauma consisted entirely of thrower's fractures. CONCLUSIONS USA proximal and distal arm fracture rates decreased, and distributions differed by age between 2005-2009 and 2015-2019. Relative humerus fractures differed by time periods. One major non-impact sports related humerus fracture was extreme external rotational torque from throwing.
Comparison between intracorporeal and extracorporeal ligations in a laparoscopic ovariectomy model in dogs.

OBJECTIVE To compare the influence of extracorporeal and intracorporeal ligations on the duration of and complications associated with laparoscopic ovariectomy in dogs. STUDY DESIGN Prospective randomized experimental study. ANIMALS Healthy intact female dogs (n = 18). METHODS The left and right ovarian pedicles of dogs undergoing laparoscopic ovariectomy were randomly assigned to intracorporeal (n = 18) or extracorporeal (n = 18) ligation groups. Surgeries were performed by two American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) diplomates and two ACVS residents. The time required to place extracorporeal and intracorporeal ligations, duration of surgery, and intraoperative complications were compared between ligation techniques. Postoperative complications were recorded. RESULTS The time required for intracorporeal ligation (17.3 ± 8.7 minutes) did not differ from that required for extracorporeal ligation (15.1 ± 6.1 minutes; P = .38). The total duration of surgery was 102.7 ± 28.7 minutes including portal placement and veterinary student closure of incisions. Ligation of the ovarian pedicle was successful in 16 of 17 dogs. Intraoperative hemorrhage occurred in three dogs, and postoperative complications were noted in three dogs, without apparent difference between ligation techniques. CONCLUSION No difference was identified between extracorporeal and intracorporeal ligations of ovarian pedicles. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE This study does not provide evidence to support one ligation technique rather than the other.
Offensive Language: Taboo, Offence and Social Control: by Jim O’Driscoll, London and New York, Bloomsbury, 2020, pp. viii + 205, ISBN 978-1-350-16967-8 (hbk), ₤95.00/$117.00

Research on the topic of taboo language was quite sparse throughout the twentieth century, and it was scattered across the many disciplines studying human communication. That situation has changed ...
Payback Calls: A Starting Point for Measuring Basketball Referee Bias and Impact on Team Performance

Abstract Recent scandals in sports have (re-)emphasized the need for targeted monitoring that is legal, reasonable and effective. The National Basketball Association (NBA) provides an ideal environment to measure the effect of individual referees on team performance and non-conclusively test for possible bias by referees against league teams and affiliated individuals. In the course of analyzing 654 games and 77 referees over seven NBA seasons, we find that no NBA referee had a significant adverse effect on team performance or exhibited bias against the Dallas Mavericks when considering all games (regular season and playoffs). However, when analyzing only the 80 playoff games involving the team, we find one example of an NBA referee having a significantly adverse effect on team performance. Retribution theory is used to explain the possibility of such a prima facie finding. Nevertheless, given our use of non-conclusive indirect detection methods, such a finding merely gives rise to a rebuttable presumption.
Basigin Binds Spike S on SARS-CoV-2

The Spike S/Basigin (BSG) interaction, validated in 2020, has since been called putative, postulated, and controversial. Two widely referenced articles have been largely responsible for this. The data presented here demonstrates that the exclusion of this interaction these articles purport to show is due to an inappropriate binding affinity reference value. Spike S/BSG binding avidity is admittedly weaker than that of RH5 (falciparum epitope)/BSG by oligomeric methods, but one cannot then exclude its existence by using a monomeric binding affinity value. Additional clinical and laboratory support for this Spike S/BSG interaction is presented, including the obesity paradox and thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). Furthermore, BSG is up-regulated in those with comorbidities, something not considered in these two articles.
Improved ion optics for introduction of ions into a 9.4-T Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer

Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry provides unparalleled mass accuracy and resolving power.[1],[2] With electrospray ionization (ESI), ions are typically transferred into the mass spectrometer through a skimmer, which serves as a conductance-limiting orifice. However, the skimmer allows only a small fraction of incoming ions to enter the mass spectrometer. An ion funnel, originally developed by Smith and coworkers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)[3-5] provides much more efficient ion focusing and transfer. The large entrance aperture of the ion funnel allows almost all ions emanating from a heated capillary to be efficiently captured and transferred, resulting in nearly lossless transmission.
Dynamic behavior of micro structure in micro fluidic channel

A study was conducted to demonstrate the finite element modeling of micro cantilever excited by the fluid force. The micro cantilever in the existing model was excited by a fluid pressure force created by the fluid flow. COMSOL Multiphysics was used to develop the model involving the use of 3 different modules. The three modules used included micro fluidic modules, structural mechanics module, and deform mesh module. It was also observed that two different types of finite element modeling were developed with the same geometry for conducting the investigations. It was found that the density and viscosity of fluid controlled the quality factor for the fluid excitation to the micro cantilever. The fluid density was also responsible for pressure load that created the dynamic motion of the cantilever.
exploring the role of ADAM12 in breast cancer

4365 ADAMs (adisintegrin and metalloprotease domain) comprise a family of integral membrane and secreted glycoproteins that bear close resemblance to snake venom metalloproteases (SVMPs) and matrix metalloproteases (MMPs). Human ADAM12 is expressed as two alternatively spliced forms, a membrane-anchored long form (ADAM12-L), and a short secreted form (ADAM12-S). Increased levels of ADAM12 mRNA and protein have previously been reported in a variety of cancers including breast, colon, hepatocellular, gastric and glioblastoma carcinoma tissue. We have recently reported that urinary ADAM12 is predictive of disease status in breast cancer patients and that ADAM12 protein levels in urine increase with progression of disease. Furthermore, we found that recombinant human ADAM12-S is capable of degrading components of the ECM including type IV collagen, fibronectin and gelatin. Taken together, these data suggested an active role for ADAM12 in tumor growth. The goal of the present study was to elucidate the role of ADAM12 in breast cancer. Comparative analysis of mRNA and protein in several breast cancer cell lines indicated that ADAM12 expression levels are significantly higher in highly invasive, estrogen-receptor negative lines such as MDA-MB231 and Hs578T as compared to low metastatic, estrogen-responsive lines such as MCF-7 and T47D. We have established stable clones that overexpress ADAM12-L and -S forms respectively, in MCF-7 breast tumor cells. In vitro studies indicate that the proliferation rates of the parental MCF-7 cells and ADAM12 clones in the presence of estrogen are comparable. However, in the absence of exogenous estrogen, ADAM12 clones proliferated faster than did the wild type MCF-7 cells. An increased rate of migration was observed in the ADAM12-S overexpressing clones and to a lesser extent in the ADAM12-L clones as compared to parental cells. Matrigel invasion potential was also significantly higher in the ADAM12 clones. Serum-free conditioned medium from these clones displayed proteolytic activity towards several ECM proteins. The ability of tumor cells to invade and colonize target tissue is a function of their ability to remodel the host tissue ECM, a process facilitated by the secretion of proteases by the tumor and stromal cells. Our results suggest that the metalloprotease ADAM12 enhanced the ability of breast tumor cells to proteolytically modify the ECM, thereby allowing malignant cells to locally invade and form distant metastasis. In addition, ADAM12 appears to confer a proliferative advantage to MCF-7 cells in the absence of estrogen stimulation, an important activity given that hormone independence is a hallmark of aggressive breast cancer. Studies to investigate the effects of ADAM12 in tumor invasion and metastasis in vivo are currently ongoing. [The authors acknowledge the support of NIH PO1 CA45548, The JoAnn Webb Fund for Angiogenesis Research and The Fortin Foundation]
Finite deformations of CF T and space-time geometry

We demonstrate in detail how the space of 2D quantum field theories can be parameterized by off-shell states of free closed string. The dynamic equation corresponding to the condition of conformal invariance includes an infinite number of higher order terms, and we give an explicit procedure for their calculation. The symmetries corresponding to equivalence relations of CFT are described. In this framework we show how to perform nonperturbative analysis in the low-energy limit and prove that it corresponds to Brans-Dicke theory of gravity interacting with a skewsymmetric tensor field.
Predicting Post-Harvest Performance of Advance Red Oak Reproduction in the Southern Appalachians

Models are presented for predicting: 1) height growth of red oak advance reproduction after clearcutting, and 2) the probability of stems becoming dominants or codominants in new stands as a function of preharvest size of advance reproduction and site quality. The second model permits silviculturists to predict, prior to harvest, the contribution to a new stand of an existing population of advance red oak reproduction