cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Application of quantum-based devices: trends and challenges

Revolutionary nanofabrication techniques and trends have opened the way to fabricating quantum wells, quantum wires and quantum dots that may provide the basic building blocks for future nanoelectronic and mesoscopic (quantum) device technologies. Furthermore, these trends lead to new opportunities for realizing quantum-based information processing devices but many challenges must be addressed and intensive international basic research is essential for the full exploitation of these revolutionary devices.
The viable but nonculturable state in Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Rhizobium meliloti

Many Gram-negative bacteria can enter the viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state. The VBNC state is characterized by an inability of viable cells to give rise to a colony for periods exceeding a month when plated on non-selective growth medium. We present evidence that Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Rhizobium meliloti can become VBNC in response to inoculation into tap water from a specific source. In addition, the Ti plasmid is maintained in VBNC A. tumefaciens cells.
Smartphone Security Challenges

Because of their unique characteristics, smartphones present challenges requiring new business models that offer countermeasures to help ensure their security.
Not So Black and White: Nursing Home Concentration of Hispanics Associated with Prevalence of Pressure Ulcers

Objective To examine the association between the nursing home (NH) concentration of Hispanics and prevalence of pressure ulcer. Design Secondary data analysis using data from the national repository of the 2000 Minimum Data Set (MDS) and On-Line Survey Certification and Reporting (OSCAR) data. We used a multivariate logistic model, with the Huber-White correction to account for clustering of persons within a nursing facility, to examine the association of Hispanic NH concentration with the prevalence of pressure ulcers, after adjusting for resident level characteristics. Setting Five states with a high population of Mexican-Americans (California, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Texas). Participants A total of 74,343 persons (9.26% black, 11.28% Hispanic, 79.46% non-Hispanic white) in a NH located in 1 of these 5 states during the last quarter of 2000. Measurements The prevalence of Stage II-IV pressure ulcers was examined in the last quarter of 2000. Stage II-IV pressure ulcers, resident demographics, and medical illness data were documented by nursing staff on the MDS. Results Hispanics and non-Hispanic blacks had a higher prevalence of pressure ulcers than non-Hispanic whites (7.60%, 9.71% and 12.10%, respectively). A facility's concentration of Hispanic residents was associated with prevalent pressure ulcers after adjustment for resident characteristics. Conclusions Residents in nursing homes in which there is a higher concentration of Hispanic residents are more likely to have a pressure ulcer.
The impact of individualism on buyer–supplier relationship norms, trust and market performance: An analysis of data from Brazil and the U.S.A.

Abstract This study focuses on the impact of the cultural dimension of individualism, face-to-face communication and the effect of relational norms such as supplier involvement and trust on the market performance of buyer firms. We use the culture literature and social exchange theory to test hypotheses using a sample of Brazilian and US manufacturing firms. The data were analyzed using variance-based structural equation modeling, employing nonlinear partial least squares regression. Our findings indicate that individualism is negatively related to the involvement of suppliers in the production process but is not associated with trust in suppliers. In addition face-to-face communication seems to have a positive effect on supplier involvement and trust.
Electrophilic Stannylation of Arenes: A New SEAr Reaction

Electrophilic “trifluoroacetatotin(IV)” has been prepared by reaction of tin oxide with trifluoroperacetic acid/trifluoroacetic anhydride, and by reaction of tetraphenyltin with excess trifluoroacetic acid. The electrophilic tin(IV) material prepared by either route reacts reversibly with arenes to make aryl-tin compounds and trifluoroacetic acid. The compounds (C6H5)2Sn4O2(CF3COO)10 and (xylyl)2Sn4O2(CF3COO)10 have been obtained from the reactions with benzene and p-xylene, respectively, and their molecular structures determined by X-ray crystallography. Tin now joins Pb, Tl, and Hg in the list of main group metals whose trifluoroacetato complexes can metalate arenes by C−H activation.
Particle diffusion in turbulent fields: transition from quasilinear to nonlinear stage

Charged particles in random electric fields are known to diffuse over the phase velocity resonant layer in velocity space, whereas charged particles placed in a sheared magnetic field diffuse over the mode rational surfaces due to E*B random fluctuations. The author has studied in detail the transition of particle diffusion in turbulent fields from the quasilinear (constant diffusion rate) to the nonlinear (time dependent rate) regime by numerical experiments with test particles. The author has observed that the particle diffusion rate deviates from the quasilinear value and depends on the time at which the amplitude of the random field becomes larger. Such a transition from quasilinear to nonlinear diffusion is observed without particle loss from the resonance region. The time-dependent diffusion coefficient can be explained by the effect of retarded friction caused by turbulent fluctuations. >
Not just another meeting: the coming of age of JAKs and STATs

Abstract The discovery of JAKs and STATs provided long-awaited clues to the mechanism of cytokine signal transduction. A recent meeting1The Keystone Symposium on Signal Transduction by JAKs and STATs was held at Tamarron, CO, USA, on 3–8 February 1998. 1 reviewed the current state of JAK/STAT biology and discussed new advances that offer novel insights into cytokine signaling.
Critical Realism, and Urban and Regional Studies

Critical realism as a philosophy of science has received some renewed attention, particularly with applications in urban and regional studies. The debates on planning theory in the 1970s and 1980s set a backdrop against which the relevance of critical realism for urban and regional planning may be seen. Elements of a realist critique of planning philosophy, theory, and methodology were asserted. Yet, until recently, critical realism has received scant attention in planning research, compared with the attention it has received in geographical research. In this paper a brief exposition of critical realism as a method of social research is given, with examples of applications in urban and regional contexts. The paper is concluded with a discussion of the implications of critical realism for urban and regional planning theory.
Revisiting the timing and frequency offset estimation based on cyclostationarity with new improved method

Timing and frequency offset estimation based on the second order cyclostationarity have been explored in many literatures. In this article, we revisit the class of these estimators and propose for both single carrier and OFDM systems, a new method for timing and frequency offset estimation. Different from the previous methods, here, the estimation of timing and frequency offset process are independent of each other. Thus it does not introduce propagation error which is inherent in most of the estimators proposed so far and has an improved performance. Monte Carlo simulations are performed to verify the results.
Identification of Terrestrial Wintering Habitat of Acris crepitans (Northern Cricket Frog)

Abstract We describe the winter hibernacula of three individual Acris crepitans (Northern Cricket Frogs) around Glenmere Lake in southeastern New York. Frogs were tracked by following fluorescent powder trails of treated Northern Cricket Frogs in late fall 2010. Three frogs were tracked to two subterranean burrows that were 87 m and 140 m from the nearest aquatic habitat. To determine if frogs survived until spring, the burrows were covered by small enclosures in late winter 2011. Northern Cricket Frogs emerged into both enclosures: one frog in one enclosure on 17 March and two frogs into the other enclosure on 10 April. This report confirms the use of subterranean terrestrial habitat distant from water as wintering habitat of Northern Cricket Frogs.
A critical period for thyroid hormone action on seasonal changes in reproductive neuroendocrine function in the ewe.

Thyroid hormones are obligatory for the annually recurring termination of reproductive activity in a spectrum of seasonal breeders, including sheep. Previous studies involving thyroidectomy and T4 replacement have led to the hypothesis that, in the ewe, thyroid hormones are necessary only during a limited interval late in the breeding season for the neuroendocrine processes that cause the transition to anestrus. The present series of experiments tested this hypothesis by assessing the influence of thyroidectomy, with or without T4 replacement for specific durations and at different times of the year, on the transition to anestrus. Seasonal alterations in reproductive neuroendocrine activity were monitored by changes in serum LH concentration in ovariectomized ewes bearing s.c. SILASTIC brand silicon tubing implants containing estradiol. Thyroidectomy in mid-December, just before the putative period of thyroid hormone action, prevented the development of the neuroendocrine anestrous season (fall in LH in this animal model). T4 replacement for 90 days beginning in late December (i.e., during the postulated period of thyroid hormone action) overcame the blockade of anestrus, causing LH to fall in ewes thyroidectomized several months previously. The minimal effective duration of exposure to thyroid hormones required for the transition to anestrus was estimated to be 60-90 days. Further, exposure to T4 for 60-90 days beginning in late December was found to be the only time of the year that thyroid hormones were required to maintain seasonal changes in reproductive neuroendocrine activity. Finally, replacement of T4 for 90 days at a different time of year (beginning in August) failed to provoke development of neuroendocrine anestrus in thyroidectomized ewes. These results support the hypothesis that thyroid hormones are necessary only during a limited interval late in the breeding season to promote seasonal reproductive suppression in the ewe. Further, the reproductive neuroendocrine axis is not equally responsive to thyroid hormone at all times of the year. This suggests there is a critical period of responsiveness during which thyroid hormones must be present for anestrus to develop.
Exposing Poverty and Inspiring Medical Humanitarianism

How the Other Half Lives Although Rabelais coined this adage in 1532, Jacob A. Riis made it a household expression in his 1890 magnum opus, How the Other Half Lives, in which he exposed the horrible living conditions of New York City’s Lower East Side, one of the most crowded areas in the world and most famous immigrant ghettos in human history. With more than 523 inhabitants per acre, this neighborhood of less than 1 square mile of tenements and poverty was largely ignored by other New Yorkers, not to mention the millions of Americans who lived west of the Hudson River. Not exactly the most elegant of prose stylists, Riis was initially frustrated by his inability to get newspaper readers to ameliorate a miserable situation within their own backyard. Soon enough, technology buttressed Riis’ case where his literary technique could not. In 1887, Riis read about a new type of magnesium flash powder that when lit allowed photographers to illuminate hitherto dark and hidden recesses. Armed with his bulky camera and accompanied by several journalists, city officials, and “do-gooders,” Riis scoured the murky corners of the Lower East Side and captured shocking pen and photographic images of those who lived there. Apparently the combination worked. How the Other Half Lives became an instant best-seller and Riis an international authority on poverty. Almost voyeuristic in expression, Riis described a neighborhood distinguished for its overcrowding, dirt, foul odors, unsanitary living conditions, and cacophony of harsh and guttural tongues. Yet even as Riis portrayed his subjects in terms many today would find stereotypical and even derogatory, his approach was not to blame the individual but the environment and to encourage citizens to act based on altruistic principles. As Riis concluded his powerful story, “I know of but one bridge that will carry us over safe, a bridge founded upon justice and built of human hearts.”
Tramadol versus codeine/acetaminophen after pediatric tonsillectomy: A prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Tonsillectomy is one of the most common pediatric surgical procedures performed in the United States. The postoperative period can be particularly painful, and there is currently no consensus on an optimal analgesic regimen. The objective of this study was to evaluate efficacy and safety of the single drug tramadol versus codeine/acetaminophen post-tonsillectomy. Design: Prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial. Setting: Large, Midwestern US pediatric hospital. Patients: Eighty-four children aged 4-15 years who underwent a tonsillectomy (with or without adenoidectomy) procedure were randomized and 74 were included in the analysis. Interventions: Group 1 received liquid codeine/acetaminophen for 10 days post-tonsillectomy (5 days scheduled, followed by 5 days as-needed). Group 2 received liquid tramadol for 10 days post-tonsillectomy (5 days scheduled, followed by 5 days as-needed). Main outcome measures: Efficacy and side effects were evaluated using a 10-day take-home diary that was completed by parents. Results: Children in both study arms reported adequate post-tonsillectomy pain management without significant differences between groups in pain scores. Oversedation was significantly higher on the day of surgery in the codeine/acetaminophen group, and itching was experienced by significantly more children in the tramadol group during the postoperative period. Conclusions: As part of multimodal analgesia, scheduled plus as-needed tramadol may be considered for children in the postoperative setting due to its analgesic properties, low potential for side effects, and good safety profile.
Tissue mechanics: Cell jam

Collective cell migration and jamming in the bronchial epithelium helps to understand the pathophysiology underlying asthma.
Indispensable amino acid deficiency and increased seizure susceptibility in rats

Repeated subthreshold stimulation of limbic brain areas increases seizure susceptibility in experimental models of epilepsy. In addition, acute dietary indispensable amino acid (IAA) deficiency activates the anterior piriform cortex (APC), a seizure-prone limbic brain area in the rat. Based on these two findings, we hypothesized that activation of the APC by chronic exposure to IAA-deficient diets might increase seizure susceptibility. Several nonessential amino acid neurotransmitters are important in seizures, but deficiencies of nontransmitter IAAs have not been well studied in seizure models. In four trials, we made injections of pentylenetetrazole intraperitoneally or of bicuculline into the APC in histidine-, isoleucine-, or threonine-deficient rats and controls. Increased susceptibility to seizures in the deficient animals was observed as increased severity of the seizures, decreased threshold for the dose of the chemostimulant and time to seizure, or a combination thereof. Pair-fed controls showed that this effect was not due to an energy deficit. This novel but robust finding suggests that IAA deficiency may increase vulnerability to seizures by repeated activation of the APC.
One physiology does not fit all: a path from data variability to "physiogenetics"?

Data variability is a costly complication of biomedical experimentation because the same experiment must be repeated a sufficient number of times so that the sample mean becomes a credible representation of the entire population. Since sampling is ideally done randomly in populations normalized for environmental and genetic backgrounds, data variability is viewed as a purely statistical issue reflecting the distribution in the population and captured as the standard deviation of the sampled data. The factors contributing to data variability are not analyzed by statistical methods; for want of a better explanation, data scatter is simply attributed to random noise and/or methodological limitations. In this commentary, evidence is discussed that documents an important role of interindividual biological diversity as a cause for data variability based on studies in which repeated sampling in the same individual permitted statistical comparisons between individuals in the same sample. Significant differences were found for proximal fluid reabsorption and plasma renin concentration between sample means of individuals of the same population. Furthermore, arterial blood pressure varied significantly between individual mice independently of strain and sex. Recognition of the extent of interindividual variability has important implications for data reproducibility, data collection, and data presentation in physiological research. Such nonrandom data variability may have different causes, but DNA modifications by genetic or epigenetic mechanisms could generate phenotype variants without being associated with disease symptoms. Exploration of the heritability of phenotypical diversity in physiology may be defined as “physiogenetics,” and it would thus be the physiological corollary of pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics.
Semi-Analytical Model of Pressure Perturbations Induced by Fault Leakage in Multilayer System

AbstractLateral and vertical migration capacity of faults has been studied for applications related to fluid extraction and injection from and into the subsurface. Fluid exchange between formations connected by a fault can cause pressure perturbations in nonoperating formations. An analytical model was previously developed to evaluate the leakage rates through a fault in a multilayer system. However, the effect of the fault’s lateral resistance to flow was neglected and therefore the model was not applicable in evaluating the pressure changes caused by fault leakage. Pressure perturbations induced by fault leakage are important to determine the safety of injection operations near faults and/or in characterizing and remediating fault leakage. Here, the previous model on fault leakage to evaluate the pressure changes is extended by accounting for the lateral resistance to flow in all modeling components. As a result, the leakage rates at the two sides of the fault are no longer identical. Also, the model pr...
Relative entropy optimization and its applications

In this expository article, we study optimization problems specified via linear and relative entropy inequalities. Such relative entropy programs (REPs) are convex optimization problems as the relative entropy function is jointly convex with respect to both its arguments. Prominent families of convex programs such as geometric programs (GPs), second-order cone programs, and entropy maximization problems are special cases of REPs, although REPs are more general than these classes of problems. We provide solutions based on REPs to a range of problems such as permanent maximization, robust optimization formulations of GPs, and hitting-time estimation in dynamical systems. We survey previous approaches to some of these problems and the limitations of those methods, and we highlight the more powerful generalizations afforded by REPs. We conclude with a discussion of quantum analogs of the relative entropy function, including a review of the similarities and distinctions with respect to the classical case. We also describe a stylized application of quantum relative entropy optimization that exploits the joint convexity of the quantum relative entropy function.
APPLICATION AND EVALUATION OF TREATMENT TECHNIQUES OF SLAUGHTER WASTEWATER IN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Slaughter wastewater with high contents of organic matter and NH4 +-N is an important source of organic pollution and transmission.It was treated by coagulatinganaerobic-aerobic,and results that the process has the virtues of good treatment effect,stable water quality of effluent and easy working management,with various quality indicator of the effluent up to Clsss Ⅰ of national criteria for meat processing.The process will be recommended in environmental impact assessment of slaughter wastewater.
Alcohol Extract Technology of Compound Hongjingtian Buccal Tablets

Objective:To optimize the extraction procedure of compound Hongjingtian buccal tablets.Method: The extraction ratio of the content of salidroside and 2,3,5,4′-terahydroxystilbene-O-β-D-glucoside(stilbene glycoside) was used as index,and the optimum condition of the extraction was studied by the orthogonal L9(34).Result: The influencing effects of factors were as follows CAB(A: liquid-solid ratio,B: alcohol concentration,C: extraction time).The optimize extraction condition was as follows: 12 times of 60% alcohol,soaking 30 min,reflux 60 min.Conclusion: The optimum extraction procedure is stable and practical.
Neuromuscular control and rehabilitation of the unstable ankle

Lateral ankle sprain is a common orthopedic injury with a very high recurrence rate in athletes. After decades of research, it is still unclear what contributes to the high recurrence rate of ankle sprain, and what is the most effective intervention to reduce the incident of initial and recurrent injuries. In addition, clinicians often implement balance training as part of the rehabilitation protocol in hopes of enhancing the neuromuscular control and proprioception of the ankle joint. However, there is no consensus on whether the neuromuscular control and proprioception are compromised in unstable ankles. To reduce the prevalence of ankle sprains, the effectiveness of engaging balance training to enhance the neuromuscular control and proprioception of the ankle joint is also questionable.
Cloning, purification, crystallization and X-ray crystallographic analysis of the periplasmic sensing domain of Pseudomonas fluorescens chemotactic transducer of amino acids type A (CtaA).

Chemotaxis towards nutrients plays a crucial role in root colonization by Pseudomonas fluorescens. The P. fluorescens chemotactic transducer of amino acids type A (CtaA) mediates movement towards amino acids present in root exudates. In this study, the periplasmic sensory domain of CtaA has been crystallized by the hanging-drop vapor diffusion method using ammonium sulfate as a precipitating agent. A complete data set was collected to 1.9 A resolution using cryocooling conditions and synchrotron radiation. The crystals belong to space group I222 or I212121, with unit-cell parameters a = 67.2, b = 76.0, c = 113.3 A. This is an important step towards elucidation of the structural basis of how CtaA recognizes its signal molecules and transduces the signal across the membrane.
Heat Recovery from Composting: A Comprehensive Review of System Design, Recovery Rate, and Utilization

ABSTRACTIt has long been recognized that composting yields a large quantity of thermal energy, which is normally lost to the surrounding environment as heat. Efforts to recover this heat using compost heat recovery systems (CHRSs) have been sporadic. Literature on the subject is also disjointed. To summarize the research that has been conducted, the authors performed an extensive literature review, covering publications in scientific journals, trade magazines, books, theses, and published reports. A focus on CHRS design and heat recovery rates is presented. The review covers 45 CHRSs in 16 different countries, ranging from simple hotbeds used in China 2000 years ago, to advanced super-thermal conductor heat pipe systems in 2016. Heat recovery rates varied significantly, with no predictable trend among the 45 systems. Recovery rates averaged 1895 kJ/hr (1159 kJ/kg DM) for lab-scale systems, 20,035 kJ/hr (4302 kJ/kg DM) for pilot-scale systems, and 204,907 kJ/hr (7084 kJ/kg DM) for commercial systems.
Micromachined probes for on-wafer measurement of millimeter- and submillimeter-wave devices and components

Terahertz components and devices are typically interfaced with measurement instrumentation and characterized using fixtures equipped with waveguide flanges. Because such fixtures are known to introduce significant uncertainty and error in measurement, it is preferable to characterize such devices in-situ, where the device under test can be measured on-wafer, prior to dicing and separately from the circuit housing to which it is ultimately affixed. This is common practice in the RF and millimeter-wave region using probe stations equipped with coplanar launchers. Commercial coplanar waveguide probes have generally been available to the WR-2.2 band (325-500 GHz) but few options currently exist for on-wafer measurements above these frequencies. This paper describes recent work at the University of Virginia and Dominion Microprobes, Inc. to extend on-wafer measurement capabilities to terahertz frequencies through the design and implementation of coplanar probes based on silicon micromachining. At present micromachined on-wafer probes operating to WR1.2 (600 to 900 GHz) have been demonstrated and exhibit typical insertion losses lower than 7 dB with return loss of 15 dB or greater over a full waveguide band.
Perceptions of online styles of news video production

This preliminary, exploratory study tested viewer reaction to three versions of the same news story manipulated to mimic the aesthetics and story arcs of ‘Standard,’ ‘YouTube’ and ‘MTV’ styles of v...
Social Media Campaign Effects: Moderating Role of Social Capital in an Anti-Smoking Campaign

This study examined the effects of an anti-smoking campaign that employs a crowdsourcing method with a social networking service. Drawing upon social capital scholarship and the expression effect research paradigm in eHealth systems, the study also investigated the roles of social trust and community life satisfaction in the social media campaign that has a specific geographical boundary. To that end, we conducted an experiment using a two-group pretest-posttest design. We randomly assigned 201 participants to two conditions: "campaign message reception only" as a control group and "message reception and expression" as a treatment group in which participants fully engaged in the campaign process by sharing their own campaign ideas with other participants. Findings revealed that social trust and community life satisfaction interacted with the treatment condition to positively affect persuasive intentions, but in distinct ways. Social trust moderated the effect of the message reception and interaction condition on participants' willingness to encourage community members to stop smoking. In contrast, community life satisfaction moderated the effect of the treatment condition on encouraging others to comply with the community's anti-smoking policy. These results provide theoretical and practical implications related to the roles of social capital in geographically defined social media campaigns.
Fragrance material review on linalyl propionate.

A toxicologic and dermatologic review of linalyl propionate when used as a fragrance ingredient is presented.
Blunt Trauma of the Aorta, Current Guidelines

Blunt thoracic aortic injury remains a major cause of prehospital deaths. For patients who reach the hospital alive, diagnosis and management have undergone dramatic changes over the last 50 years. Computed tomography scanning is the imaging modality of choice for injury diagnosis and repair planning. Medical management with antihypertensives dramatically decreases the risk of rupture, allowing for delayed repair, while abnormal physiology and more immediately life-threatening injuries can be addressed. Endovascular techniques and endograft technology have reduced significantly the risks associated with repair. However, the incidence of late complications associated with the devices currently available is not known.
Effects of megestrol acetate on glucose tolerance and growth hormone secretion in the cat

Long-term administration of relatively high therapeutic dosages of megestrol acetate to cats produced a progressive deterioration in glucose tolerance, with a significant (P gh ) concentrations in the cats of this study, since no significant rise in plasma gh concentrations was detected during the 12 month period of megestrol acetate treatment. Administration of megestrol acetate also produced a progressive decrease in both resting plasma cortisol concentrations and cortisol concentrations after acth stimulation. Three months after discontinuation of megestrol acetate, the elevated fasting plasma glucose concentrations, decreased glucose clearance rates and subnormal plasma cortisol concentrations all returned to normal pretreatment values, indicating resolution of glucose intolerance and hypoadrenocorticism. The results of this study demonstrate that administration of megestrol acetate to cats can produce a state of moderate to severe glucose intolerance, which is usually reversible after cessation of treatment. Although the exact mechanism of the glucose intolerance and overt diabetes mellitus induced by progestagen treatment of cats remains unclear, it is likely that these alterations in glucose metabolism result primarily from the glucocorticoid activity intrinsic to megestrol acetate.
IRF6 and AP2A Interaction Regulates Epidermal Development.

Variants in IRF6 can lead to Van der Woude syndrome and popliteal pterygium syndrome. Furthermore, genes upstream and downstream of IRF6, including GRHL3 and TP63, are also associated with orofacial clefting. Additionally, a variant in an enhancer (MCS9.7) that regulates IRF6 is associated with risk for isolated orofacial clefting. This variant (rs642961) abrogates AP2A protein binding at MCS9.7. Here, we found that AP2A protein regulates MCS9.7 enhancer activity in vivo and IRF6 protein expression in epidermal development. In addition, loss of IRF6 leads to supra-basal expression of AP2A protein. Finally, using an IRF6 allelic series, we found that either increasing or decreasing IRF6 protein expression can destabilize AP2A protein expression in vivo. These data suggest that IRF6 regulates AP2A protein level in epidermal development. Therefore, we conclude that IRF6 and TFAP2A are part of a genetic regulatory network that is critical in epithelial development, with implications for both orofacial and cutaneous tissues. Our work provides in vivo, functional data to explain the relationship between AP2A protein binding and the MCS9.7 enhancer in orofacial clefting. This work is important because the MCS9.7 enhancer element contains a variant that abrogates AP2A protein binding and increases risk for orofacial clefting worldwide.
Prospects for a Space-Based Determination of G with an Error Below 1 PPM

It is not clear that ground-based laboratory determinations of Newton’s gravitational constant G will eventually converge on a common value that has an accepted uncertainty appreciably below 100 ppm. For many years G has been one of the least well known of the fundamental physical constants, and the uncertainty in the CODATA value of G was raised recently from 128 ppm to 1500 ppm, in part because of the very puzzling results from the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) in 1995. Intense efforts by a number of groups during the past 8 years to resolve this difficulty are now beginning to bear fruit, but unfortunately the basic situation is unchanged. New results from three groups doing precision measurements of G disagree by over 200 ppm, although the reported errors of the individual experiments are below 50 ppm. The seeming intractability of this situation suggests that a useful alternative may be a space-based determination of G. We present and discuss a projected error budget for one such proposed measurement of G using the SEE (Satellite Energy Exchange) observatory. A SEE mission is also foreseen as being capable of measuring the time variation of G (G-dot) to about 1 part in 1014 per year. A finding of a non-zero value of G-dot would have immediate and profound cosmological significance. The authors have previously shown how a measurement of the required accuracy might be accomplished, entailing a synergism between SEE and a geopotential mission similar to the current GRACE mission of NASA.
Changes in treatment and outcomes after creation of a pulmonary embolism response team (PERT), a 10-year analysis.

Multidisciplinary pulmonary embolism response teams (PERTs) are being implemented to improve care of patients with life-threatening PE. We sought to determine how the creation of PERT affects treatment and outcomes of patients with serious PE. A pre- and post-intervention study was performed using an interrupted time series design, to compare patients with PE before (2006–2012) and after (2012–2016) implementation of PERT at a university hospital. T-tests, Chi square tests and logistic regression were used to compare outcomes, and multivariable regression were used to adjust for differences in PE severity. Two-sided p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. For the interrupted time-series analysis, data was divided into mutually exclusive 6-month time periods (11 pre- and 7 post-PERT). To examine changes in treatment and outcomes associated with PERT, slopes and change points were compared pre- and post-PERT. Two-hundred and twelve pre-PERT and 228 post-PERT patients were analyzed. Patient demographics were generally similar, though pre-PERT, PE were more likely to be low-risk (37% vs. 19%) while post-PERT, PE were more likely to be submassive (32% vs. 49%). More patients underwent catheter directed therapy (1% vs. 14%, p = < 0.0001) or any advanced therapy (19 [9%] vs. 44 [19%], p = 0.002) post PERT. Interrupted time series analysis demonstrated that this increase was sudden and coincident with implementation of PERT, and most noticeable among patients with submassive PE. There were no differences in major bleeding or mortality pre- and post-PERT. While the use of advanced therapies, particularly catheter-directed therapies, increased after creation of PERT, especially among patients with submassive PE, there was no apparent increase in bleeding.
Ethanol→Nicotine & Nicotine→Ethanol drug-sequence discriminations: Conditional stimulus control with two interoceptive drug elements in rats

Abstract Self-administration of ethanol (E) and nicotine (N) occurs frequently in tandem orders (i.e., N→E vs. E→N) and thereby produces differing interoceptive profiles of subjective effects in humans. If the interoceptive stimulus characteristics of N→E differ from E→N, it is possible that such differences contribute to their co-dependence. The rationale for the present investigation was to determine whether ethanol, when preceded or followed by nicotine, produces different discriminative stimulus effects in rats. In two experiments, using a one-manipulandum operant drug discrimination procedure, rats were trained to discriminate temporal sequential administrations of ethanol (1.0 g/kg) that was followed or preceded by nicotine (0.3 mg/kg). Sessions alternated between food-reinforcement sessions on a variable interval 30-sec schedule (i.e., SD) and non-reinforcement sessions (i.e., SΔ). In Experiment 1, administrations of ethanol were followed or preceded by a 10-min interval of nicotine. Training sessions took place 10 min following the second drug injection. Four groups of rats were trained to discriminate only one sequence from sequential administrations of saline, and each drug sequence was counterbalanced across groups for their roles as SD or SΔ. There was robust stimulus control. N→E and E→N functioned equally well as SD or SΔ. Experiment 2 used two groups of rats. For one group, the E→N sequence functioned as the SD and the N→E sequence functioned as the SΔ. The drug sequences were counterbalanced for the other group. Brief non-reinforcement tests revealed significantly greater responding during the SD sequence compared to the SΔ sequence for both groups. These results suggest that different drug sequences of ethanol followed or preceded by nicotine established reliable discriminative stimulus control over operant responding, potentially because of characteristic differences in the overlapping pharmacokinetic profiles of the NE compound. The results are discussed in terms of: 1) conditional stimulus control among two interoceptive drug states; and 2) the clinical modulation of human alcohol consumption and tobacco smoking.
Theory and Models

This chapter distinguishes a theory from a model and lays out the threefold objectives of economic models. It demonstrates how to negotiate the tradeoffs involved in meeting these objectives, and specifies three instruments that can be used for this purpose. These ideas come to life in applications to attorney compensation, insurance pricing and valuation, the behavior of government bureaucracies, the size of cities, and more.
Extraterrestrial prebiotic molecules: photochemistry vs. radiation chemistry of interstellar ices

In 2016, unambiguous evidence for the presence of the amino acid glycine, an important prebiotic molecule, was deduced based on in situ mass-spectral studies of the coma surrounding cometary ice. This finding is significant because comets are thought to have preserved the icy grains originally found in the interstellar medium prior to solar system formation. Energetic processing of cosmic ices via photochemistry and radiation chemistry is thought to be the dominant mechanism for the extraterrestrial synthesis of prebiotic molecules. Radiation chemistry is defined as the "study of the chemical changes produced by the absorption of radiation of sufficiently high energy to produce ionization." Ionizing radiation in cosmic chemistry includes high-energy particles (e.g., cosmic rays) and high-energy photons (e.g., extreme-UV). In contrast, photochemistry is defined as chemical processes initiated by photon-induced electronic excitation not involving ionization. Vacuum-UV (6.2-12.4 eV) light may, in addition to photochemistry, initiate radiation chemistry because the threshold for producing secondary electrons is lower in the condensed phase than in the gas phase. Unique to radiation chemistry are four phenomena: (1) production of a cascade of low-energy ( 10 eV photons. Because a primary objective of chemistry is to provide molecular-level mechanistic explanations for macroscopic phenomena, our ultimate goal in this review paper is to critically evaluate our current understanding of cosmic ice energetic processing which likely leads to the synthesis of extraterrestrial prebiotic molecules.
A Brief Report of Smoking Behaviors in Patients with Incidental Pulmonary Nodules: Associations with Communication and Risk Perception.

Introduction:Incidental pulmonary nodules (IPNs) are commonly found on routine chest imaging. Little is known about smoking behaviors among patients with IPNs or characteristics of patient-clinicia...
Incidental Memory Recall in Virtual Reality: An Empirical Investigation:

Modern virtual reality technologies increase the immersive experience for users. Increased immersivity may affect how users perceive, internalize, and thus, recall information about the virtual env...
Application of Non-invasive Imaging in Inflammatory Disease Conditions to Evaluate Subclinical Coronary Artery Disease

Traditional risk models, such as the Framingham risk score, fail to capture the increased cardiovascular disease risk seen in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases. This review will cover imaging modalities and their emerging applications in assessing subclinical cardiovascular disease for both research and clinical care in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases. Multiple imaging modalities have been studied to assess for subclinical cardiovascular disease via functional/physiologic, inflammatory, and anatomic assessment in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases. The use of imaging to evaluate subclinical cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases has the potential to capture early sub-clinical atherosclerosis, to improve risk stratification of future cardiovascular events, and to guide effective disease management.
An induced pluripotent stem cell line (TRNDi001-D) from a Niemann-Pick disease type C1 (NPC1) patient carrying a homozygous p. I1061T (c. 3182T>C) mutation in the NPC1 gene.

Abstract Niemann-Pick disease, type C (NPC) is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disease caused by mutations in either NPC1 or NPC2, which encodes an intracellular cholesterol-binding protein in lysosome. Deficiency of either NPC1 or NPC2 protein results in malfunction of intracellular cholesterol trafficking and lysosomal accumulation of unesterified cholesterols. A human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line was generated from dermal fibroblasts of a male patient that has a homozygous p.I1061T missense mutation in NPC1 using a non-integrating Sendai virus technique. This NPC1 iPSC line offers a useful resource for disease modeling and drug development.
Chapter 13B – The Impact of Genetic Steroid Disorders on Human Fertility

Human genetic steroid defects have profound impacts on the reproductive potential of affected individuals. Fortunately, advances in our understanding of the genetic and physiologic nuances of these disorders have led to the successful restoration of fertility for patients with several such diseases. In this chapter, the genetic steroid disorders will be explored with respect to their effects on human reproduction, the mechanisms whereby fertility is limited or precluded will be described, and existing as well as emerging therapies for genetic steroid enzyme deficiencies outlined.
Improving outcomes in neonatal late onset sepsis: Where every second matters

Abstract Late onset sepsis (LOS) in the neonatal period is an infection that occurs 72 h after birth and can result in morbidities and mortality when untreated. Signs and symptoms of infection can be very nonspecific, making LOS difficult to diagnose. The current recommendations are to administer antibiotics within 1 h of suspected LOS. Therefore, a quality improvement project was initiated in which the average time to antibiotics administration was observed, followed by specific interventions in an attempt to decrease the time to antibiotic administration. The goal was administration of antibiotics within 1 h of suspected LOS. Initially the average time to antibiotic administration was 141 min, well exceeding recommendations. Following education and initiation of an order set in the electronic medical record system, the average time was decreased to 99 min, with p = 0.07. These interventions allowed the time to antibiotic administration to decrease by 42 min when the concern for LOS arose.
Language use in pop culture over three decades: A diachronic keyword analysis of Star Trek dialogues

Abstract Analyzing variation in language features in literature and telecinematic discourse provides valuable insights into society’s shifting values and perspectives. In this study, we carry out a keyword analysis on the language of three series of Star Trek television dialogues, broadcast in the 1960s, 1980s, and 1990s, from two perspectives: (i) keywords across the three series highlighting words that are unique to one series in contrast to the other two, providing insights about changes of foci across time; (ii) keywords in relation to gender depicting potential differences in gender roles and how these may change through time across the series.
Frequency, recognition, and management of postoperative hematomas following anterior cervical spine surgery: A review.

Background We reviewed the frequency, recognition, and management of postoperative hematomas (HT) (i.e. retropharyngeal [RFH], wound [WH], and/or spinal epidural hematomas [SEH]) following anterior cervical discectomy/fusion (ACDF), anterior corpectomy fusion (ACF), and/or anterior cervical spine surgery (ACSS). Methods Postoperative cervical hematomas following ACDF, ACF, and ACSS ranged from 0.4% to 1.2% in a series of 11 studies involving a total of 44, 030 patients. These included; 4 single case reports, 2 small case series (6 and 30 cases), 4 larger series (758-2375 for a total of 6729 patients), an a large NSQUIP (National Surgical Quality Improvement Program ) Database involving 37,261 ACDF patients. Results Risk factors contributing to postoperative cervical hematomas included; DISH (diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis), ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), therpeutic heparin levels, longer operative times, multilevel surgery, ASA Scores of +/= 3, (American Society of Anesthesiologists), prone surgery, operative times > 4 hours, smoking, higher/lower body mass index (BMI), anemia, age >65, > medical comorbidities, and male gender. Notably, the use of drains did not prevent HT, and did not increase the infection, or reoperation rates. Conclusion In our review of 11 studies focused on anterior cervical surgery, the incidence of postoperative hematomas ranged from 0.4 to 1.2%. Early recognition of these postoperative hemorrhages, and appropriate management (surgical/non-surgical) are critical to optimize recovery, and limit morbidity, and mortality.
Using the Correlation between Stock Prices and Asset Values to Measure Corporate Governance

This paper develops a new, market-based measure of firm-level governance: the degree of correlation between the price of a firm’s minority shares and the market value of firm assets (“beta”). The goal is to capture the extent to which insiders (managers or controllers) translate the value of firm’s assets into the value of minority shares. I hypothesize that insiders vary the levels of asset diversion over time: when the value of firm assets is high, minority investors are content, and insiders divert a higher portion of assets to themselves; when the value of firm assets declines, minority investors start monitoring more closely, and insiders reduce the levels of asset diversion. Thus, firms with lower levels of asset diversion should have a higher correlation between the value of minority shares and the market value of assets. I test this hypothesis on a large panel of oil-producing companies around the world and find supporting evidence. Firms with higher Tobin’s Q have higher betas, as do firms incorporated in Delaware (both proxies for better governance). Firms from countries with better institutional environment have higher betas, both in time series and in cross-section. As country-level institutional environment improves over time, betas rise. I also find evidence inconsistent with the popular “bonding” hypothesis and consistent with the alternative “self-selection” hypothesis: firms from countries with poor regulatory regimes that subject themselves to US or UK regulation by cross-listing on US or UK exchanges have betas more sensitive to changes in their domestic environments than firms from the same countries that did not cross-list.