cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Complete robot-assisted laparoscopic urologic surgery: a preliminary report.

BACKGROUND The feasibility and applicability of using surgeon-controlled robotic arms as a substitute for surgical assistants during urologic laparoscopic surgery was assessed. STUDY DESIGN Seventeen laparoscopic procedures (nephrectomy, n = 4; retroperitoneal lymph node sampling, n = 2; varix ligation, n = 2; pyeloplasty, n = 3; Burch bladder suspension, n = 2; pelvic lymph node dissection, n = 1; orchiopexy, n = 1; ureterolysis, n = 1; and nephropexy, n = 1) were performed by a single laparoscopic surgeon assisted by one or two robotic arms directly controlled by the operating surgeon. One robotic arm controlled the laparoscope and was maneuvered by a foot pedal. The second robotic arm served as a retractor and was manipulated by a hand control. Assessment of robotic positioning, laparoscopic instrument port placement, time for setup and breakdown of the operative field, operative time, outcome, and operative complications were made for each procedure and compared with historical human-assisted laparoscopic procedures. RESULTS Standard laparoscopic port placement was adequate for use of the robotic arms. All procedures were successfully completed with three minor surgical complications not related to the use of the robotic arm. Robotic arm positioning on the operating room table differed for each type of procedure, yet placement of the robotic arm controlling the laparoscope on the surgeon's side provided optimal surgical views. In three cases, intraoperative bleeding required human assistance for camera control. There was no increase in operating time when the robotic arms were used. There was no difference between the setup and breakdown time for this series of complete robot-assisted procedures when compared with either a nonrobot-assisted series (p > 0.05) or another robotic series completed prior to initiation of this study when no focus was made on setup and breakdown times and in which the robotic arm and human surgical assistant were compared (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS We found that simultaneous use of remote controlled robotic arms as surgical assistants is feasible in genitourinary laparoscopic surgery. The potential long-term cost effectiveness of using robotic surgical assistants in laparoscopic surgery highlights the economic impact of this research and warrants further investigation.
Effects of Extended-release Eprinomectin on Cow/calf Performance and Reproductive Success in a Fall-calving Herd

This study evaluated the effects of extended-release eprinomectin on performance parameters and reproductive efficiency of fall-calving cows. Cows were treated with either a conventional, short duration dewormer (CONV) or an injectable extended-release eprinomectin (EPR). Change in body weight (BW) and average daily gain were greater in EPR cows compared to CONV treated cows. Pregnancy rates tended to be greater for EPR than CONV cows. Calves from dams treated with EPR were younger at weaning, but had greater weaning weights than calves from CONV dams. Results from this study indicate performance and reproductive advantages for dams treated with EPR as well as possible indirect performance advantages for calves whose dams were treated with EPR.
Abstract 2237: Brain White Matter Regulating Autonomic and Cognitive Functions is Damaged in Heart Failure

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) patients have gray matter injury in brain regions regulating autonomic and cognitive functions. The pathophysiology underlying affected gray matter is unknown, but likely involves processes that also damage neural tracts/white matter connecting injured regions. However, the extent and location of any white matter damage in HF is unclear. METHODS: To determine if HF patients show structural injury in white matter, we examined 17 HF patients (12 male, age 54 ± 8 years, LVEF 0.28±0.07, atrial fibrillation 3 [17%]) and 51 healthy controls (49 male, age 50 ± 7 years) using diffusion tensor imaging during brain MRI. We calculated fractional anisotropy (FA- a measure of white matter change). Whole-brain maps of FA for each subject were aligned, smoothed, and compared using ANCOVA, with age as a covariate. Significance was set at p RESULTS: Widespread regions showed injury in HF patients as indicated by significantly reduced FA; no areas showed higher FA in HF patients than controls. White matter was especially affected in the bilateral cerebellum, mid corpus callosum, mid and anterior cingulum, extensive regions in medial frontal cortex extending to the internal capsule, and posterior parietal cortex. CONCLUSIONS: HF patients have extensive white matter damage. Injury to cerebellar processes would be especially important for mediation of blood pressure during orthostatic challenges; cingulate injury would affect sympathetic regulation, as would ventral frontal axonal injury. The callosal injury, together with cerebellar projections to frontal regions, would hinder cognitive processing in the syndrome.
Climate response of the Florida Peninsula to Heinrich events in the North Atlantic

Abstract Hydrogen and carbon isotope values (δD & δ13C) were measured on lipid biomarkers from a sediment core collected in Lake Tulane, Florida, USA, to infer shifts in climate and hydrologic variables during the Last Glacial. Isotopic trends from 24 samples correlate with plant community shifts evaluated in a previous pollen study by Grimm et al. (2006). We observe maxima in Δleaf values and minima in δD values concurrent with peaks in Pinus pollen abundances and Heinrich Events 4-2. Increased Δleaf values during North Atlantic cold spells indicate lower water-use-efficiency among angiosperms around Lake Tulane. Combined δD values from terrestrial and aquatic lipids, confirm that aridity decreased during cold, stadial periods (Heinrich Events), and increased during warm, interstadials. Furthermore, lower δD values in aquatic lipids during stadials are attributed to warming, as well as changing moisture sources. The anti-phase relationship between temperatures and aridity derived from our subtropical lacustrine record and those at high latitude in the North Atlantic is likely the result of complex ocean-atmosphere teleconnections that resulted from the collapse of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation during Heinrich Events in the North Atlantic.
Hybrid Zero Dynamics of Planar Bipedal Walking

Summary. Models of bipedal robots in motion are fundamentally hybrid due to the presence of continuous phases, discrete transitions, and unilateral constraints arising from the contact forces between the robot and the ground. A major challenge in the control of bipedal robots has been to create a feedback theory that provides systematic synthesis methods, provable correctness and computational tools for designing asymptotically stable, periodic walking motions, especially walking motions that are dynamic unlike the quasi-static, flat-footed gaits that are prevalent in today’s machines. This chapter highlights the fundamental role of zero dynamics in obtaining truly dynamic walking gaits that include underactuated phases. The theoretical analysis is verified with experimental work.
Pegfilgrastim — designing an improved form of rmetHuG-CSF

rmetHuG-CSF is the recombinant version of natural granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, the dominant stimulator in the production of neutrophilic leukocytes (neutrophils). Neutrophils represent the first line of defense against invading pathogens and when neutrophil numbers are suppressed by cancer chemotherapy, patients become liable to life-threatening infections.
Intentional Torts in Psychiatric Practice

In the common law, wrongs which are inflicted intentionally are actionable. The element of intent is present when the wrongdoer is either motivated to harm another or realizes that a certain (usually harmful) result is substantially sure to follow from his actions. Some acts are both intentional torts and crimes and in these cases both civil tort action and criminal prosecution may be brought for the same wrongful conduct.
Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer Disease: Are These Disorders Linked to Hypertension and Other Cardiovascular Risk Factors?

Alzheimer disease (AD) and vascular forms of cognitive impairment (VCI) traditionally have been considered separate or divergent disorders (Clin Geriatr Med. 1991;7(3):599–615). AD, for example, has been defined as a “degenerative” disease characterized by neuritic plaque and neurofibrillary tangle pathology, neuronal loss, and deposition of amyloid in the brain parenchyma and brain blood vessels. On the other hand, VCI has been defined as disorders caused by cerebrovascular brain injury which may vary from mild to severe cognitive dysfunction (Stroke. 2004;35(11 Suppl 1):2620–2). Practically, mixed neuropathology including both AD and VCI is common in the elderly, and vascular risk factors and atherosclerosis may be important in the genesis of both VCI and AD (Stroke. 2005;36(4):875–9; Neurology. 1999;52(6):1114–5; Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 1999;13 Suppl 3:S131–9; Neurology. 1994;44(8):1391–6). Furthermore, AD and stroke pathogenic mechanisms may be synergistic (Stroke. 2003;34(2):335–7). In this chapter, we review the evidence linking vascular risk factors to the development of AD and VCI. In addition, we discuss the potential effect of vascular risk factor modification on the prevention of cognitive decline.
Service Parts Management in China

Aftermarket service parts can be an extremely lucrative business, yet most OEMs only capture a fraction of its profit potential. The situation is even more pronounced in China and other emerging markets, where cultural behavior, infrastructure limitations and market barriers make it hard for foreign OEMs and their dealers to compete with unauthorized service parts providers. This chapter examines the unique challenges of selling and distributing service parts in an emerging market, and offers foreign OEMs specific advice to make their service parts operations more efficient and profitable.
Structural Chemistry Using NMR Spectroscopy, Pharmaceuticals

The application of high resolution NMR spectroscopy to problems of pharmaceutical relevance is described. This involves characterization of pure drug compounds, measuring the structure of key receptor proteins and investigating protein–drug interactions. The advent of high throughput screening and combinatorial synthesis processes has led to the development of new approaches in which NMR spectroscopy is integral.
THE ROLE OF SERINE IN THE LINKAGE OF HEPARIN TO PROTEIN.

SUMMARY A number of commercial heparin preparations have been examined for the presence of amino acids. Heparin which had been prepared by use of mild methods essentially based on treat- ment with proteolytic enzymes, contained residual amino acids with serine as the main component. In some preparations serine was the only amino acid found in significant amounts. Samples prepared under more drastic conditions, including alkali extrac- tion and bleaching at elevated temperatures, contained only traces of amino acids. It is suggested that heparin occurs in the native state as a complex with protein and that the carbohydrate- protein linkage is similar to that of the chondroitin 4-sulfate- protein complex. dcknowledgments-We are indebted to Professor E. Jorpes, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Mr. G. Linden, the Vitrum AB, Dr. H. H. R. Weber, and Dr. C. DeFiebre, Wilson Labora- tories, and to Dr. L. L. Coleman, the Upjohn Company, for providing the heparin samples. We are also grateful to the Vitrum AB and the Wilson Laboratories for the anticoagulant activity assays. We are grateful to Dr. A. Dorfman for stimulat- ing discussions and continued support throughout this work. We wish to thank Dr. M. B. Mathews for the molecular weight determinations and Miss M. L. Spach for skillful technical assist- ance.
Valences of Desire: The Suspended Eroticism of Middlemarch

This paper seeks to unpack moments of implicit sexual desire in George Eliot's realist novel, Middlemarch (1872), and focuses particularly on the sexually charged scene between Dorothea and Ladislaw in the library at Lowick. While previous readings of this moment have focused on economy or knowledge and their problematised relationships with desire, I argue that a truer understanding of how desire works here emerges from viewing these scenes in the light of Georg W.F. Hegel and Georges Bataille. Hegel, whose work Eliot would have known, lets us see the emergence of a recognised self-consciousness propelled by desire; but Eliot's novel also looks forward to Bataille's understanding of desire, particularly in his theorisations of general and restricted economies. If we are to grasp the realism of Eliot's text, we must come to terms with how desire structures this reality; if we are to grasp how the novel deals with the economies of its historical moment, we would profit from seeing it in the terms of Bataille's general and restricted economies. The dynamic nature of desire in Eliot's text requires this multivalent philosophical lens: one which historically influences her work and one which she greatly anticipates.
Feasibility of Electronic Health Record-Based Triggers in Detecting Dental Adverse Events

Background We can now quantify and characterize the harm patients suffer in the dental chair by mining data from electronic health records (EHRs). Most dental institutions currently deploy a random audit of charts using locally developed definitions to identify such patient safety incidents. Instead, selection of patient charts using triggers and assessment through calibrated reviewers may more efficiently identify dental adverse events (AEs). Objective Our goal was to develop and test EHR-based triggers at four academic institutions and find dental AEs, defined as moderate or severe physical harm due to dental treatment. Methods We used an iterative and consensus-based process to develop 11 EHR-based triggers to identify dental AEs. Two dental experts at each institution independently reviewed a sample of triggered charts using a common AE definition and classification system. An expert panel provided a second level of review to confirm AEs identified by sites reviewers. We calculated the performance of each trigger and identified strategies for improvement. Results A total of 100 AEs were identified by 10 of the 11 triggers. In 57% of the cases, pain was the most common AE identified, followed by infection and hard tissue damage. Positive predictive value (PPV) for the triggers ranged from 0 to 0.29. The best performing triggers were those developed to identify infections (PPV = 0.29), allergies (PPV = 0.23), failed implants (PPV = 0.21), and nerve injuries (PPV = 0.19). Most AEs (90%) were categorized as temporary moderate-to-severe harm (E2) and the remainder as permanent moderate-to-severe harm (G2). Conclusion EHR-based triggers are a promising approach to unearth AEs among dental patients compared with a manual audit of random charts. Data in dental EHRs appear to be sufficiently structured to allow the use of triggers. Pain was the most common AE type followed by infection and hard tissue damage.
RDH12 Mutations Cause a Severe Retinal Degeneration With Relatively Spared Rod Function.

Purpose To describe the retinal phenotype of pediatric patients with mutations in the retinol dehydrogenase 12 (RDH12) gene. Methods Twenty-one patients from 14 families (ages 2-17 years) with RDH12-associated inherited retinal degeneration (RDH12-IRD) underwent a complete ophthalmic exam and imaging with spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and near infrared and short-wavelength fundus autofluorescence. Visual field extent was measured with Goldmann kinetic perimetry, visual thresholds with dark-adapted static perimetry or with dark-adapted chromatic full-field stimulus testing (FST) and transient pupillometry. Results Visual acuity ranged from 20/40 to light perception. There was parafoveal depigmentation or atrophic maculopathies accompanied by midperipheral intraretinal pigment migration. SD-OCT revealed foveal thinning in all patients and detectable but thinned outer nuclear layer (ONL) at greater eccentricities from the fovea. Photoreceptor outer segment (POS) signals were only detectable in small pockets within the central retina. Measurable kinetic visual fields were limited to small (<5-10°) central islands of vision. Electroretinograms were reported as undetectable or severely reduced in amplitude. FST sensitivities to a 467 nm stimulus were rod-mediated and reduced on average by ∼2.5 log units. A thinned central ONL colocalized with severely reduced to nondetectable cone-mediated sensitivities. Pupillometry confirmed the psychophysically measured abnormalities. Conclusions RDH12-IRD causes an early-onset, retina-wide disease with particularly severe central retinal abnormalities associated with relatively less severe rod photoreceptor dysfunction, a pattern consistent with an early-onset cone-rod dystrophy. Severely abnormal POS but detectable ONL in the pericentral and peripapillary retina suggest these regions may become targets for gene therapy.
Integrating Customer Journey Mapping and Integrated Marketing Communications for Omnichannel and Digital Marketing Education: An Abstract

There has been significant growth in the number of digital marketing courses, certificates, and programs in marketing departments. This growth is noteworthy as competency in digital marketing is increasingly important in the marketplace, and these skills can help job placement (Staton 2015). Reviews of marketing curriculums suggest there is a variety of ways of teaching digital marketing (Munoz and Wood 2015). We argue that integrated marketing communications (IMC) is a useful framework to use teaching digital marketing as it helps tie the tools to marketing strategy. Today’s omnichannel customer experience requires more sophisticated approaches to communication on how consumers reach purchase decisions with the existence of more complex IMC programs. A fresh way of structuring this framework is through tying IMC tactics to customer journeys.
Physical Activity and Performance Impact Long-term Quality of Life in Older Adults at Risk for Major Mobility Disability

Introduction Older adults are a rapidly growing segment of the U.S. population. Mobility problems that lead to further disability can be addressed through physical activity interventions. Quality of life outcome results are reported from a large trial of physical activity for sedentary older adults at risk for mobility disability. Methods Data were from the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders study. This multisite RCT compared physical activity to health education among 1,635 randomly assigned sedentary older adults at risk for mobility disability in 2010–2011. Measures included demographics; comorbidity; a timed 400-meter walk; the Short Physical Performance Battery; and the Quality of Well-Being Scale (0–1.0 scale). Baseline and long-term follow-up (2.6 years) health-related quality of life data were collected as a secondary outcome. Multivariate linear regression modeling was used to examine covariates of health-related quality of life over time in 2017. Results The sample had an overall mean Quality of Well-Being score of 0.613. Both groups declined in quality of life over time, but assignment to the physical activity intervention resulted in a slower decline in health-related quality of life scores (p=0.03). Intervention attendance was associated with higher health-related quality of life for both groups. Baseline characteristics including younger age, fewer comorbid conditions, non-white ethnicity, and faster 400-meter walk times were also associated with higher health-related quality of life over time. Conclusions Declining mobility measured by physical performance is associated with lower quality of life in sedentary older adults. Physical activity interventions can slow the decline in quality of life, and targeting specific subgroups may enhance the effects of such interventions.
FOOD DESERT AND ITS IMPACT ON MORTALITY AND HOSPITALIZATION IN HEART FAILURE PATIENTS

Patients with heart failure (HF) are particularly vulnerable to a poor neighborhood food environment as HF exacerbations are sensitive to dietary composition. The goal of this study is to determine if living in areas designated as food deserts by the United States Department of Agriculture, where
“Uno se resigna a que el transporte es así”: trabajadoras domésticas sindicalizadas atravesando Medellín

espanolHay mas de 700.000 trabajadoras domesticas remuneradas en Colombia. Desde los ochenta, con el masivo proceso latinoamericano de urbanizacion, la mayoria pasaron de ser “internas” a “externas”, viajando diariamente de sus hogares a las casas de sus empleadores, que son sus puestos de trabajo. Este cambio aumento exponencialmente el tiempo de sus trayectos, sin que planeadores urbanos y, especificamente, del transporte se hayan ajustado a la transformacion. La historia de UTRASD, el sindicato de trabajadoras domesticas afrocolombianas creado en Medellin, evidencia como, a pesar de los exitos frente al reconocimiento de sus derechos laborales a nivel nacional, dentro del ambito local no ha posicionado su aspiracion a una movilidad de calidad. Con base en trabajo de campo cualitativo, se usara la teoria tradicional de los movimientos sociales para mostrar como 1) la ausencia de oportunidades politicas, 2) la falta de recursos economicos y humanos, y 3) la creacion de marcos de significado especificos, han limitado la lucha de UTRASD por un mejoramiento de la calidad de su movilidad en Medellin. EnglishThere are more than 700.000 paid domestic workers in Colombia. Since the 80’s, with the massive urbanization process in Latin America, most of them went from being “in-house” to “external” workers, commuting daily from their homes to their work sites located in their employers’ houses. This shift exponentially augmented their commuting times, without transportation planners adjusting the situation. The history of UTRASD (the Afro-Colombian domestic workers’ union created in Medellin) evidences how, despite its success in the recognition of labor rights in the national arena, in the local space they are far from exercising their right to mobility. Based on qualitative fieldwork, I will use the traditional social movement’s theory to evidence how 1) the absence of political opportunities, 2) the limited financial and human resources, and 3) the creation of particular frames of meaning, have limited UTRASD from fighting for quality mobility in Medellin.
A Hybrid THz Imaging System With a 100-Pixel CMOS Imager and a 3.25–3.50 THz Quantum Cascade Laser Frequency Comb

The terahertz frequency range beyond 3 THz has exciting potential to have a transformative impact in a wide range of applications, including chemical and biomedical sensing, spectroscopy, imaging, and short-distance wireless communication. While there have been significant advancements in silicon-based THz imagers in the frequency ranges below 1 THz, technological development beyond 3 THz has been impeded by the lack of solid-state sources in this frequency range. In addition, the design space beyond 3 THz opens up fundamentally new challenges across electronics and the electromagnetic interface. In this spectral range, the wavelength is small enough ( $\lambda _{\mathrm{ ox}}\approx \mathrm {50~~ \mu \text {m} }$ at 3 THz) that a vertical via from the top antenna layer to the detector is a distributed element (transmission line or radiator). In this letter, we follow a careful circuits-electromagnetics co-design approach toward a hybrid imaging system with a 100-pixel CMOS imager that interfaces with a THz quantum cascade laser frequency comb that spans 3.25–3.5 THz with mode spacing of 17 GHz. The array chip, while designed for an optimal operation across 2.7–2.9 THz, demonstrates an average noise equivalent power (NEP) (across pixels) of $\mathrm {1260~~pW/\sqrt {\mathrm{ Hz}}}$ between 3.25–3.5 THz and a projected NEP of $\mathrm {284~~pW/\sqrt {\mathrm{ Hz}}}$ across the design range of 2.7–2.9 THz. To the best of our knowledge, we demonstrate for the first time full THz imaging in a hybrid quantum cascade laser (QCL)–CMOS fashion. This approach allows future works to leverage both QCL and CMOS technologies to demonstrate new technological advances for systems in the 1–10 THz range.
A comparison of frequency of alcohol and marijuana use using short message service surveying and survey questionnaires among homeless youth.

There are several benefits to using short message service surveying (SMS) to gather data on substance use from homeless youth, including capturing data “in the moment” and verifying the timing of o...
Frequency of participation in student response system activities as a predictor of final grade: An observational study.

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine whether frequency of participation in activities offered in a student response system was associated with students' final course grades in four different nursing courses and to explore whether that effect was dependent on the specific pedagogical context of each course. Design An observational approach with a predictive model was used to examine the effect of a student's frequency of responses to prompts in a student response system (Nearpod) on final grade. Setting This investigation was carried out in four high-enrollment nursing courses in a large Midwestern university in the United States. Participants Students who participated in this study were enrolled in one of four core nursing courses: Pathophysiology, Health Assessment, Nursing Care of the Adult at the undergraduate level, and Pathophysiology at the graduate level. Methods Multiple regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between a student's frequency of Nearpod use and their final grade. Results The regression model explained 25.42% of the variance in final grade when controlling for course differences. The key finding from this study is that the more a student responded to prompts in Nearpod, the more likely they were to earn a higher final grade, but this effect was statistically significant only in undergraduate Pathophysiology. Conclusions The positive association between more frequent Nearpod use and higher final grade appears to be dependent on contextual factors. These factors may include consistent use of Nearpod in class, detailed feedback and elaboration on student responses, and required participation in Nearpod activities.
Cognitive flexibility and persistent post-surgical pain: the FLEXCAPP prospective observational study.

Abstract Background Impaired performance on tasks assessing executive function has been linked to chronic pain. We hypothesised that poor performance on tests assessing the ability to adjust thinking in response to changing environmental stimuli (cognitive flexibility) would be associated with persistent post-surgical pain. Methods We conducted a single-centre prospective observational study in two perioperative cohorts: patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty or noncardiac chest surgical procedures. The co-primary outcome measures compared preoperative performance on the Trail Making Test and the colour–word matching Stroop test between patients who developed persistent post-surgical pain and those who did not. Secondary outcome measures included the associations between these test scores and pain severity at 6 months. Results Of 300 participants enrolled, 198 provided 6 month follow-up data. There were no significant differences in preoperative Trail Making Test B minus A times (33 vs 34 s; P=0.59) or Stroop interference T-scores (47th vs 48th percentile; P=0.50) between patients with and without persistent post-surgical pain (primary outcome). Of those who reported persistent post-surgical pain, poorer baseline performance on the colour–word matching Stroop test was associated with higher pain scores at 6 months in both knee arthroplasty (r=–0.32; P=0.04) and chest (r=–0.44; P=0.02) surgeries (secondary outcome). Conclusions Preoperative cognitive flexibility test performance was not predictive of overall persistent post-surgical pain incidence 6 months after surgery. However, poor performance on the colour–word matching Stroop test was independently associated with more severe persistent post-surgical pain in both cohorts. Clinical trial registration NCT02579538.
Rapidly Fatal Postlaparoscopic Liver Infection from the Rarely Isolated Species Clostridium butyricum

We report a case of a rapidly fatal postlaparoscopic cholecystectomy liver infection from the rarely isolated species Clostridium butyricum. Liver examination at autopsy showed cystic spaces, necrosis, and spore-forming Gram-positive rods. 16sRNA gene sequencing of the cystic liver tissue identified the organism as C. butyricum.
Structure-Based Design of a Cyclic Peptide Inhibitor of the SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease

ABSTRACT This paper presents the design and study of a first-in-class cyclic peptide inhibitor against the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro). The cyclic peptide inhibitor is designed to mimic the conformation of a substrate at a C-terminal autolytic cleavage site of Mpro. Synthesis and evaluation of a first-generation cyclic peptide inhibitor reveals that the inhibitor is active against Mproin vitro and is non-toxic toward human cells in culture. The initial hit described in this manuscript, UCI-1, lays the groundwork for the development of additional cyclic peptide inhibitors against Mpro with improved activities.
Converting Knowledge into Products

We at Monsanto have an obvious interest in the theme of American manufacturing in the 1990s because we still make things. I know that making things — manufacturing — is considered old-fashioned in some parts of the economy. The message from many of our economist friends seems to be that we should give up this quaint notion that America can make things the world will buy. We do not agree.
Site-Specific Recombination – How Simple DNA Inversions Produce Complex Phenotypic Heterogeneity in Bacterial Populations

Many bacterial species generate phenotypically heterogeneous subpopulations as a strategy for ensuring the survival of the population as a whole – an environmental stress that eradicates one subpopulation may leave other phenotypic groups unharmed, allowing the lineage to continue. Phase variation, a process that functions as an ON/OFF switch for gene expression, is one way that bacteria achieve phenotypic heterogeneity. Phase variation occurs stochastically and reversibly, and in the presence of a selective pressure the advantageous phenotype(s) predominates in the population. Phase variation can occur through multiple genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. This review focuses on conservative site-specific recombination that generates reversible DNA inversions as a genetic mechanism mediating phase variation. Recent studies have sparked a renewed interest in phase variation mediated through DNA inversion, revealing a high level of complexity beyond simple ON/OFF switching, including unusual modes of gene regulation, and highlighting an underappreciation of the use of these mechanisms by bacteria.
Disentangling Antifeminist Paradoxes: Alternative Organizing in Antifeminist Online Spaces:

In this study, we revisit alternative feminist organizing in order to identify the dialectical tensions, paradoxical discourses, and agentic qualities of women’s participation in an online antifemi...
Aggregation Controlled Charge Generation in Fullerene Based Bulk Heterojunction Polymer Solar Cells: Effect of Additive

Optimization of charge generation in polymer blends is crucial for the fabrication of highly efficient polymer solar cells. While the impacts of the polymer chemical structure, energy alignment, and interface on charge generation have been well studied, not much is known about the impact of polymer aggregation on charge generation. Here, we studied the impact of aggregation on charge generation using transient absorption spectroscopy, neutron scattering, and atomic force microscopy. Our measurements indicate that the 1,8-diiodooctane additive can change the aggregation behavior of poly(benzodithiophene-alt-dithienyl difluorobenzotriazole (PBnDT-FTAZ) and phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM)polymer blends and impact the charge generation process. Our observations show that the charge generation can be optimized by tuning the aggregation in polymer blends, which can be beneficial for the design of highly efficient fullerene-based organic photovoltaic devices.
Home Testing May Not Improve Postvasectomy Semen Analysis Compliance

AbstractIntroduction:Vasectomy is the most effective form of permanent male contraception. Although vasectomy techniques and outcomes have steadily improved, postvasectomy semen analysis compliance...
Rethinking the management of immune checkpoint inhibitor-related adrenal insufficiency in cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Introduction The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is currently a major pandemic challenge, and cancer patients are at a heightened risk of severity and mortality from this infection In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) use to treat multiple cancers has increased in oncology, but equally has raised the question of whether ICI therapy and its side-effects is harmful or beneficial during this pandemic Methods A combination of published literature in PubMed between January 2010 and December 2020, recommended guidelines in non-cancer patients, and clinical experience was utilized to outline recommendations on glucocorticoid timing and dosing regimens in ICI-treated patients presenting with AI during this COVID-19 pandemic Results The potential immune interaction between ICIs and COVID-19 require major consideration because these agents act at the intersection between effective cancer immunotherapy and increasing patient susceptibility, severity and complications from the SARS-CoV-2 sepsis Furthermore, ICI use can induce autoimmune adrenal insufficiency (AI) that further increases infection susceptibility Thus, ICI-treated cancer patients with AI may be at greater risk of COVID-19 infection Glucocorticoids are the cornerstone for replacement therapy, and for treatment and mitigation of adrenal crisis and relief of mass effects in ICI-related hypophysitis High-dose glucocorticoids have also been used with cytotoxic chemotherapy as part of cancer treatment, and iatrogenic AI may arise after glucocorticoid discontinuation that increases the risk of adrenal crisis Furthermore, in patients who develop the ?long COVID-19? syndrome, when to discontinue glucocorticoid therapy becomes crucial to avoid unnecessary prolongation of therapy and the development of iatrogenic hypercortisolemia Conclusion During the COVID-19 pandemic, much of cancer care have been impacted and an important clinical question is how to optimally manage ICI-related AI during these unprecedented times Herein, we suggest practical recommendations on the timing and dosing regimens of glucocorticoids in different clinical scenarios of ICI-treated cancer patients presenting with AI during this COVID-19 pandemic
Multifaceted impact of a nucleoside monophosphate kinase on 5'-end-dependent mRNA degradation in bacteria.

A key pathway for mRNA degradation in bacterial cells begins with conversion of the initial 5'-terminal triphosphate to a monophosphate, a modification that renders transcripts more vulnerable to attack by ribonucleases whose affinity for monophosphorylated 5' ends potentiates their catalytic efficacy. In Escherichia coli, the only proteins known to be important for controlling degradation via this pathway are the RNA pyrophosphohydrolase RppH, its heteromeric partner DapF, and the 5'-monophosphate-assisted endonucleases RNase E and RNase G. We have now identified the metabolic enzyme cytidylate kinase as another protein that affects rates of 5'-end-dependent mRNA degradation in E. coli. It does so by utilizing two distinct mechanisms to influence the 5'-terminal phosphorylation state of RNA, each dependent on the catalytic activity of cytidylate kinase and not its mere presence in cells. First, this enzyme acts in conjunction with DapF to stimulate the conversion of 5' triphosphates to monophosphates by RppH. In addition, it suppresses the direct synthesis of monophosphorylated transcripts that begin with cytidine by reducing the cellular concentration of cytidine monophosphate, thereby disfavoring the 5'-terminal incorporation of this nucleotide by RNA polymerase during transcription initiation. Together, these findings suggest dual signaling pathways by which nucleotide metabolism can impact mRNA degradation in bacteria.
The General Conditions of Knowledge: Truth and Confidence

The general definition of propositional knowledge that I propose to defend is along traditional lines and can be expressed as follows:
Flare-Like Activity of Red Giant Stars

Evidence for magnetic surface activity among cool stars of low gravity is discussed. I. INTRODUCTION In this colloquium dedicated to surface activity on red dwarf stars, it may be useful to comment on evidence for flare-like activity among higher luminosity cool stars: red giants and supergiants. Although the canonical view is that the rotational angular momentum has been dissi­ pated from the envelopes via massive stellar winds, both their rapid evolutionary timescale and core dynamics might be capable of substantial dynamo regeneration of magnetic fields. Ernerging magnetic flux means surface activity for cool stars, regardless of the surface gravity. There is a profound difference in the structure of the outer atmo­ spheres of red giants compared to red dwarfs. Main sequence stars are known to be solar-like, with geometrically thin chromospheres and thick coronae, plus spots and flares. Red giants and supergiants, in con­ trast, appear not to have any coronal temperature plasma, but are envel­ oped by a vast chromosphere which extends out several stellar radii. There is now spectroscopic and direct evidence for these geometrically extended chromospheres surrounding red giant stars (cf. Stencel 1982). The large mass loss/stellar winds of the red giants may be analogous to open magnetic field regions on the Sun.
Spherical Horses and Shared Toothbrushes: Lessons Learned from a Workshop on Scientific and Technological Thinking

We briefly summarize some of the lessons learned in a workshop on cognitive studies of science and technology. Our purpose was to assemble a diverse group of practitioners to discuss the latest research, identify the stumbling blocks to advancement in this field, and brainstorm about directions for the future. Two questions became central themes. First, how can we combine artificial studies involving 'spherical horses' with fine-grained case studies of actual practice? Results obtained in the laboratory may have low applicability to real world situations. Second, how can we deal with academics' attachments to their theoretical frameworks? Academics often like to develop unique 'toothbrushes' and are reluctant to use anyone else's. The workshop illustrated that toothbrushes can be shared and that spherical horses and fine-grained case studies can complement one another. Theories need to deal rigorously with the distributed character of scientific and technological problem solving. We hope this workshop will suggest directions more sophisticated theories might take.
A COMPONENT ANALYSIS OF SCHEDULE THINNING DURING FUNCTIONAL COMMUNICATION TRAINING

One limitation of functional communication training (FCT) is that individuals may request reinforcement via the functional communication response (FCR) at exceedingly high rates. Multiple schedules with alternating periods of reinforcement and extinction of the FCR combined with gradually lengthening the extinction-component interval can effectively address this limitation. However, the extent to which each of these components contributes to the effectiveness of the overall approach remains uncertain. In the current investigation, we evaluated the first component by comparing rates of the FCR and problem behavior under mixed and multiple schedules and evaluated the second component by rapidly switching from dense mixed and multiple schedules to lean multiple schedules without gradually thinning the density of reinforcement. Results indicated that multiple schedules decreased the overall rate of reinforcement for the FCR and maintained the strength of the FCR and low rates of problem behavior without gradually thinning the reinforcement schedule.
Summary and future directions

The overall intent of this volume is to provide a relatively comprehensive compendium of the literature dealing with learning disability subtyping. As such, the text focuses on providing an overview of most of the subtype classification models presented to date. In conjunction with this fundamental goal, additional discussion is directed toward particular issues relevant to subtyping efforts.
Use of frightening devices in wildlife damage management

Wildlife is often responsible for causing extensive damage to personal property, human health and safety concerns, and other nuisance problems because of their feeding, roosting, breeding, and loafing habits. Frightening devices are tools used in integrated wildlife damage management to reduce the impacts of animals, but the effectiveness of such devices is often variable. An animal's visual and auditory capabilities affect how the animal will respond to a stimulus. Frightening devices include pyrotechnics, gas exploders, effigies, lights, lasers, reflective objects, guard animals, bioacoustics, and ultrasonic devices. We examined scientific literature on the use of frightening devices to reduce bird and mammal depredation and compiled results to determine the effectiveness of such devices. When used in an integrated system, frightening devices may be more effective than when used alone. We conclude that the total elimination of damage may be impossible, but frightening devices and/or combinations of devices are useful in reducing wildlife damage. Ultrasonic frightening devices are ineffective in repelling birds and mammals whereas other devices offer some protection. The timely use of a variety of frightening devices can be part of a cost-effective integrated system to reduce wildlife damage to tolerable levels.
Crystal structure of a new phosphate compound, Mg2KNa(PO4)2.14H2O

Abstract A new phosphate compound, Mg2KNa(PO4)2·14H2O, formed in the laboratory by cyanobacteria, has been identified and its crystal structure studied with single-crystal X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. The crystal is orthorhombic with the space group Pnma and unit-cell parameters a=25.1754(18) A, b=6.9316(5) A, c=11.2189(10) A, V=1957.8(3) A3. Its structure can be viewed as stacking of three types of layers along the a-axis in a sequence ABCBABCB…, where layer A is composed of Mg1(H2O)6 octahedra and Na(H2O)6 trigonal prisms, layer B of two crystallographically distinct PO43− tetrahedra (designated as P1 and P2), and layer C of Mg2(H2O)6 octahedra and highly irregular K-polyhedra formed by five H2O molecules and one O2− from the P2 tetrahedron. The linkage between layers is principally achieved through hydrogen bonding, except for the K–O5 bond between layers B and C. The structure of Mg2KNa(PO4)2·14H2O has many features similar to those for the struvite analogs of MgK(PO4)·6H2O (Acta Crystallogr. B 35 (1979) 11) or MgNa(PO4)·7H2O (Acta Crystallogr. B 38 (1982) 40) and represents the first struvite-type phosphate compound that contains both K and Na as univalent cations.
Polysaccharide-Lipid Complexes from Veillonella parvula

Mergenhagen, Stephan E. (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.). Polysaccharide-lipid complexes from Veillonella parvula. J. Bacteriol. 90:1730-1734. 1965.-A strain of Veillonella parvula (V2) elaborates an extracellular slime when grown in a nutrient medium containing only dialyzable components. Deproteinization with chloroform-butanol of ethyl alcohol-precipitated material from the supernatant culture fluid leads to the isolation of a water-soluble lipopolysaccharide (LPS1). Another component (LPS2), showing similarity in biological and immunological properties to the endotoxic antigen (LPC) isolated from whole cells, was extracted with phenol from the insoluble emulsion remaining after chloroform-butanol extraction of slime. Analysis of polysaccharides by thin-layer chromatography demonstrated the presence of glucose and galactose in LPS1 and glucose, glucosamine, galactosamine, and a methyl pentose in LPC. LPS1 failed to give a positive epinephrine skin test after intravenous injection in rabbits and failed to kill pertussis-sensitized mice, whereas LPS2 and LPC were active in both of these bioassays. Both lipopolysaccharides (LPS1 and LPC) exhibited type-specific haptenic activity in hemagglutination tests with numerous anti-Veillonella rabbit sera. LPS1 was found in these tests to be unrelated to a heterologous strain of Veillonella possessing a related somatic antigen. These experiments reveal the presence of two chemically and immunologically distinguishable polysaccharide-lipid complexes in this strain of V. parvula.
Initial clinical experience with a bipolar snare for colon polypectomy.

A bipolar snare was used for colon polypectomy in 86 instances in 61 patients. There were 20 pedunculated polyps ranging in size from 0.3 to 1.5 cm and 66 sessile polyps ranging in size from 0.3 to 4.0 cm. The power output selected ranged from 16 to 30 W on a bipolar electrosurgical generator. No perforation, transmural burn, or postpolypectomy bleeding was encountered. Minimal immediate oozing from a polypectomy stalk required iced-saline lavage but was easily controlled. The bipolar snare is a useful and safe addition to the endoscopic surgeon's armamentarium.
Static evaluation of functional programs

Static evaluation underlies essentially all techniques for a priori semantic program manipulation, i.e. those that stop short of fully general execution. Included are such activities as type checking, partial evaluation, and, ultimately, optimized compilation.This paper describes a novel approach to static evaluation of programs in functional languages involving infinite data objects, i.e. those using normal order or “lazy” evaluation. Its principal features are abstract interpretation on a domain of demand patterns, and a notion of function “reversal”. The latter associates with each function f a derived function f' mapping demand patterns on f to demand patterns on its formal parameter. This is used for a comprehensive form of strictness analysis, aiding in efficient compilation.This analysis leads to a revised notion of basic block, appropriate as an intermediate representation for a normal order functional language. An implementation of the analysis technique in Prolog is sketched, as well as an effort currently underway to apply the technique to the generation of optimized G-machine code.