cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immunochemical studies of prostatic acid phosphatase

Immunologic specificity of the prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) and the kinetics of the PAP-anti-PAP antibody interactions were studied in detail. Antigenic identity of electrophoretic isozymes of PAP was established in this study. Counterimmunoelectrophoretic assay, radioimmunoassay, and immunofluorescence technique were developed to detect PAP and PAP-synthesizing cells. These techniques were applied to the determination of serum PAP levels and to the identification of metastatic prostate cancer cells in biopsies.
HISTORY AS BIOGRAPHY: Carlyle

[Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) ranks among the most popular of nineteenth century literary historians. Learning from Sir Walter Scott to look upon the past as peopled by living men—“not abstractions … not diagrams and theorems; but men in buff coats and breeches, with color in their cheeks, with passions in their stomach and the idioms, features and vitalities of very men”—Carlyle sought to recapture the drama of the past. A stern moralist, his best known works, The French Revolution (1837), Oliver Cromwell’s Letters and Speeches: With Elucidations (1845) and the History of Frederick II of Prussia (1858–1865) attested his originality of view as well as his political passion. In spite of his dictum that history is biography, Carlyle’s first history, subtitled a “History of Sansculottism,” was in effect an essay in social history, and his abiding concern with universal history transcended the strictly biographical, searching instead for the spiritual unity of an age. A vilifier of specialized “dry-as-dust” historians, he was in turn repudiated by them, and few historians, excepting his avowed disciple and later biographer J. A. Froude, acknowledged Carlyle as a member, much less a master of their craft.
Opinion: NIH must support broadly focused basic research

The NIH undertook a daring and radical research strategy after World War II. Previously, the Institute had mostly supported medical research with a disease or public health focus. Heeding the call of visionary leaders, such as Vannevar Bush, and with the support of the US Congress, the scope of NIH-funded basic research was expanded to encompass any organism that could be used to address fundamental questions about how cells work and how organisms develop and operate. This visionary program was based on the belief that there was an underlying unity to life, and that something learned about living cells in one organism, where studies were relatively easy, would inform our understanding of life in mammals and humans, where studies were harder. As a result, the NIH greatly increased its support for work at universities and by doctorates (PhDs) as well as doctors (MDs). A hallmark of this style was that the topics of basic research R01 grants were not solicited, but rather were investigator-initiated. In recent years, however, this strategy has increasingly come under question.
Pick a Box, Any Box: The Influence of Commercialized Genetics on Caribbean Biosociality

This is an interview with three Caribbean international students at Stanford University, covering how commercialized genetics may shape or change understandings of identity yet cannot fully capture the nuances of identity formation. Through personal stories and interviews, we can specifically monitor how the commercialization of genetics has influenced the ways in which people understand both their identities and the field’s capabilities. Caribbean populations are of particular interest given the combination of their complex colonial past and their strong sense of ethnic identity and unity. These interviews gauged how the interviewees perceived genetics as a field, as well as how information discovered via ancestry testing would influence the way they self-identify. The interviews revealed that commercialized genetics may shape or change understandings of identity, yet it cannot fully capture the complexities of identity formation. This study uncovered nuances in the interviewees’ understandings of “being mixed” and genetic kinship, revealing the ability of commercialized genetics to re-create their identities. This information allows for a closer monitoring of biosociality and gives insight into the way specific populations interact with changing cultural categorizations, as well as the “exactness” of science and inexactness of identity.
The Changing Tropics

Publisher Summary Tropical nations and their economies are changing extremely rapidly compared to most “developed” nations to the north. This industrialization of agriculture has allowed the growing populations to continue to be fed, and in some cases to become better fed and wealthier, as the yields of fossil-fuel-assisted agriculture tend to be considerably higher than those of traditional agriculture. The forces that have caused the tropics to become food sink rather than sources are a combination of human population growth, increased production of export crops, the remarkably successful industrialization of agriculture in the temperate countries—and hence the higher and cheaper yields there—and a general feeling among economists and decision makers that trade is good. A relatively few tropical countries or regions, including Puerto Rico, Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia, have been able to develop their own specialized manufacturing economies that have been successful in generating products competitive on the world market. The degree to which development has succeeded or failed is quite debatable and depends on the criteria one uses.
Persistence of DNMT3A R882 mutations during remission does not adversely affect outcomes of patients with acute myeloid leukaemia

Somatic mutation of the DNMT3A gene at the arginine R882 site is common in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). The prognostic significance of DNMT3A R882 mutation clearance, using traditional diagnostic next generation sequencing (NGS) methods, during complete remission (CR) in AML patients is controversial. We examined the impact of clearing DNMT3A R882 mutations at diagnosis to the detectable threshold of ˂3% during CR on outcome in 56 adult AML patients. Mutational remission, defined as clearance of pre-treatment DNMT3A R882 and all other AML-associated mutations to a variant allele frequency ˂3%, occurred in 14 patients whereas persistent DNMT3A R882 mutations were observed in 42 patients. There were no significant differences in disease-free or overall survival between patients with and without DNMT3A R882 mutation clearance. Patients with persistent DNMT3A R882 who cleared all other AML mutations and did not acquire new mutations (n = 30), trended towards longer disease-free survival (1·6 vs. 0·6 years, P = 0·06) than patients with persistence of DNMT3A R882, in addition to other mutations or acquisition of new AML-associated mutations, such as those in TET2, JAK2, ASXL1 and TP53 (n = 12). These data demonstrate that DNMT3A R882 mutations, as assessed by traditional NGS methods, persist in the majority of AML patients in CR.
The spread of Zika and the potential for global arbovirus syndemics

ABSTRACTIt is estimated that over a million people die each year from infectious diseases of zoonotic origin and hundreds of millions suffer from these pervasive threats to human well-being. In light of the emergent global concern over the Zika virus, evidence that it has not one but two competent mosquito vector species in the Aedes family, and that both can be co-infected with other pathogens including dengue and chikungunya, this paper examines research suggesting the prospect of significant twenty-first-century outbreaks of arbovirus syndemics. Uniting the concepts ‘synergy’ with ‘epidemic’, a syndemics approach recognises that diseases in a population occur neither independent of social and ecological conditions, nor in isolation from other diseases. Assessment of the potential for arbovirus syndemics entails a review of the human role in the global spread of Aedes mosquitoes, the socio-environmental conditions of Aedes diffusion, the increasing likelihood of co-transmission of arbovirus diseases, ev...
Rumours of Wars and Deeds of Emperors: Circulation of News and “Stories” about Non-Venetians in Early Medieval Venice*

ABSTRACTVenice's geographic position firmly places it in Western Europe, yet its history demonstrates that Venice had many ties and interests in the eastern Mediterranean. Initially on the Byzantine periphery, Venice became an autonomous duchy during the eighth century, but continued to nurture close relations with the Byzantines and intensified those with the rest of Europe. Moreover, the economic and other activities of its inhabitants enabled a widespread Venetian presence in the Mediterranean world and some parts of Europe. At the same time, foreigners were drawn to this network of lagoons and islands. Taking advantage of these factors, this article aims to examine the circulation of news and descriptions of events concerning “others” in early Medieval Venice.
Employing efficient techniques based on 2D DMWT/FastICA for supervised facial recognition

A supervised facial recognition system is proposed in this paper. There are three main phases in the proposed system, namely, Preprocessing, Feature Extraction, and Classification. Cropping, choosing appropriate dimensions, and prefiltering are performed in the first phase. In the feature extraction phase, Two Dimensional Discrete Multiwavelet Transform (2D DMWT) is applied to the facial images to compact the data and extract useful information. Then, Two Dimensional Fast Independent Component Analysis (2D FastICA) is applied to the extracted features to obtain efficient features with enhanced discriminating and independent properties. Finally, the efficient features are compressed in one single column by applying l 2 -Norm. Then, the computed l 2 -Norm features are fed into a Neural Network (NN) classifier, which employs Back Propagation Training Algorithm (BPTA) for the recognition task. The proposed techniques are evaluated using four different databases, namely, ORL, YALE, FERET, and FEI that have different facial expressions, light conditions, rotations, etc. The results of the proposed system are analyzed by using K-fold Cross Validation (CV). The experimental results of the proposed techniques are shown to improve the recognition rates, computational complexity, as well as the storage requirements compared to the some of the existing approaches.
Sliding enhances fluid and solute transport into buried articular cartilage contacts

Summary Objective Solutes and interstitial water are naturally transported from cartilage by load-induced interstitial fluid pressures. Fluid and solute recovery during joint articulation have been primarily attributed to passive diffusion and mechanical ‘pumping' from dynamic loading. This paper tests if the sliding action of articulation is a significant and independent driver of fluid and solute transport in cartilage. Design The large osteochondral samples utilized in the present study preserve the convergent wedges necessary for physiological hydrodynamics. Following static load-induced fluid exudation and prior to sliding, a fluorescent solute (AlexaFluor 633) was added to the lubricant bath. In situ confocal microscopy was used to quantify the transport of solute from the bath into the buried stationary contact area (SCA) during sliding. Results Following static exudation, significant reductions in friction and strain during sliding at 60 mm/s were accompanied by significant solute transport into the inaccessible center of the buried contact; no such transport was detected for the 0- or 1 mm/s sliding conditions. The results suggest that external hydrodynamic pressures from sliding induced advective flows that carried solutes from the bath toward the center of contact. Conclusions These results provide the first direct evidence that the action of sliding is a significant contributor to fluid and solute recovery by cartilage. Furthermore, they indicate that the sliding-induced transport of solutes into the buried interface was orders of magnitude greater than that attributable to diffusion alone, a result with critical implications for disease prevention and tissue engineering.
Posters for Peace: Visual Rhetoric and Civic Action

Posters for Peace is a beautiful book that captures an ephemeral rhetorical moment and holds it for extended reflection to teach enduring lessons about civic action. This book is for anyone interes...
Use of Accessible Examination Tables in the Primary Care Setting: A Survey of Physical Evaluations and Patient Attitudes.

Accessible diagnostic equipment, including height-adjustable examination tables, is necessary to accommodate patients with disabilities. Studies demonstrate that only a minority of clinics provide accessible equipment. For clinics with this equipment, no studies have examined the use of such equipment in routine clinical care. In primary care clinics with and without height-adjustable examination tables, we compared the frequency and variation in physical evaluations on examination tables and patients’ perceptions of quality care. Survey administered to patients at two primary care clinics in Rochester, MN, in 2015. One clinic had height-adjustable examination tables in every exam room; the other clinic had none. A total of 399 English-speaking adult primary care patients (61% participation). Participants were asked whether they were physically evaluated on a table during their clinical encounter. In addition, they completed two subscales of the Patient Perception of Quality of Care survey: Perceptions of Provider’s Bedside Manner and Perceptions of Provider’s Work. Overall, there were no differences between clinics in the likelihood of patients being examined on an exam table or in their perceptions of quality of care. Across both clinics, patients who reported a disability were 27% less likely to be examined on a table, were less likely to rate their provider’s bedside manner favorably (74% vs. 59%) and to have positive perceptions of their provider’s work (46% vs. 32%) than patients without disabilities. The presence of accessible medical equipment was not associated with care delivered to patients. While this might not be meaningful for most patients, it could be problematic for patients with disabilities, who are less likely to be examined. Therefore, accessible equipment alone may not be sufficient to reduce disparities in the care experience. Provider- and organization-level factors must thus be considered in efforts to provide equitable care to patients with disabilities.
Predicting policy: exploring news attention to policy issues in electoral debates

ABSTRACTDespite news fragmentation, declining levels of voter knowledge, and waning interest in U.S. politics, debates attract mass audiences, reduce barriers of learning, and offer a greater focus on policy issues than that typically found in campaign news coverage. Nonetheless, debates are routinely driven by the same commercial, for-profit news journalists who routinely emphasize strategic campaign issues (e.g. the horserace) at the expense of policy content. As moderators, journalists have been scrutinized for the agenda they set in electoral debates. Using a multiyear dataset that treats debate questions as the unit of analysis, this quantitative content analysis explores news routines in the context of mediated debates while isolating media characteristics predictive of news attention to policy matters. The data show that journalists working for local news outlets and those working for commercial outlets are more likely to emphasize policy issues. Implications for debate sponsorship and campaigns ar...
Lollio: side effects in linear logic programming

Lollio extends the linear logic programming language Lolli. Lolli is itself an extension of Lambda-Prolog. Lollio improves upon Lolli by adding a monad type for input and output, thereby partitioning code that generates side effects from the purely logical core of the language.
Unclassifiable interstitial lung disease: a pathologist's perspective

Classifying pulmonary fibrotic disease into various diagnostic categories provides the clinician with expectations for both prognosis and proper treatment. Despite years of experience with histological, radiological and clinical guidelines, a group of patients remains with unclassifiable interstitial lung disease. In this article, the possible barriers to classification will be explored, and some strategies will be discussed to aid in overcoming these barriers.
Empowering Community-Based Programs for Youth Development

This article discusses the need for community-based programs for youth and their families and urges the social work profession to resume its historical leadership in such programs while incorporating recent theory and practice. The authors describe the reasons why social workers abandoned neighborhood-based youth development services, the intended outcomes of such services, and current societal and professional trends that support a revival of social work’s involvement in youth development. They discuss one school of social work’s current participation in a youth agency partnership and examine implications of the suggested revival for social work education. Collaboration among families, schools, diverse community services, agencies, and educators is emphasized.
Catalysis by acetylcholinesterase in two-hydronic-reactive states. Integrity of deuterium oxide effects and hydron inventories

Low 2H2O effects (1.0-1.5) for the parameter k(cat.)/Km in the hydrolysis of various substrates by acetylcholinesterase (AcChE) is due to normal 2H2O effects (1.8-2.8) for the parameter k(cat.) and 2H2O effects of 1.0-2.5 for the parameter Km. The analyses and interpretations of 2H2O effects in the literature utilizing the parameter k(cat.)/Km, which led to the proposal of ‘isotope insensitivity’ of the catalytic steps and the hypothesis of a rate-limiting substrate-induced-fit conformational change, are incorrect. Since k(cat.) is the only parameter that can represent the hydron-transfer step solely, the 2H2O effect can most appropriately be evaluated by using this parameter. Calculations and comparison of acylation (k+2) and deacylation (k+3) rate constants show that acylation is rate-determining for most substrates and the improved binding -0.84 to -2.09 kJ/mol (-0.2 to -0.5 kcal/mol) in 2H2O obscures the normal 2H2O effect on k(cat.) when the ratio k(cat.)/Km is utilized. Consistent with this, measurements of the inhibition constant (KI(com.)) for a reversible inhibitor, phenyltrimethylammonium, lead to KI(com.)H2O = 39 +/- 3 microM and KI(com.)2H2O = 24.5 +/- 3.5 microM, an 2H2O effect of 1.59 +/- 0.26. pH-dependence of k(cat.) in 2H2O is subject to variability of the pK(app.) values, as evaluated in terms of the two-hydronic-reactive states (EH and EH2) of AcChE, and is due to an uneven decrease in 2H2O of the kinetic parameters k9cat. for the EH2 state relative to k(cat.) for the EH state, thus leading to variable shifts in pK(app.) values of between 0.5 and 1.2 pH units for this parameter. The observed pH-independent limiting rate constants for k(cat.)/Km(app.) are made to vary between 0.5 and 1.0 in 2H2O by effects on kinetic parameters for the EH2 state, k9cat./K9m varying between 0.2 and 0.7 relative to the EH state, with k(cat.)/Km varying between 0.4 and 1.0. The effects observed on k(cat.)/Km(app.) are ultimately the result of variable effects of 2H2O on k9cat. and K9m for the EH2 state relative to k(cat.) and Km for the EH state of AcChE. These effects are responsible for the variable shifts and more than 0.5 pH unit of the pK(app.) values in 2H2O for pH-k(cat.)/Km profiles. The upward-bowing hydron inventories for k(cat.)/Km are the result of linear hydron inventories for k(cat.) and downward-bowing on Km and are not due to the rate-limiting substrate-induced fit process as claimed in the literature.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Effect of sex class on nutrient content of meat from young goat.

The effect of sex class on proximate composition and cholesterol, vitamin, mineral, and fatty acid content was determined for carcass composite samples of cooked goat meat. Soft tissues (fat and lean) from dissection of one side of seven carcasses each for female, castrate, and intact male Florida native or F 1 crosses of Florida natives with Nubian or Spanish goats were ground, formed into patties, and then broiled. Also, a leg slice was removed from the side not used for dissection, broiled, and then sampled for fatty acid determination. Broiled samples from female goats had lower (P=.04) moisture and higher (P=.03) fat and total calories than did samples from castrates and intact males. Sex class had no effect on cholesterol, vitamin, or mineral content of cooked goat meat. Broiled goat leg slices from intact males were lower (P=.005) in percentage of total saturated fatty acids and had a higher (P=.01) unsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio than samples of broiled leg slices from females or castrates. Broiled goat meat had higher values for calcium, potassium, thiamin, and cholesterol than that reported in USDA Handbook 8 for cooked composite samples of beef or chicken. Also, broiled goat meat had lower total lipid, phosphorus, and vitamin B 12 than composite values reported for beef. Other nutrients were similar to those reported for cooked composite samples of beef and chicken
Participation of Internal Water Molecules and Clusters in the Unidirectional Light-Induced Proton Transfer in Bacteriorhodopsin

Proton pumping is a fundamental biological process for generating free energy in the form of a transmembrane electrochemical potential for hydrogen ions; this energy is then utilized in cellular processes such as ATP synthesis, rotation of a flagellar motor, and ion transport across the plasma membrane. In the photosynthetic reaction center, light is used to induce charge separation and generate reducing and oxidizing equivalents.The subsequent electron flow through a chain of electron transporting proteins is coupled to the proton pumping, and so the pump makes indirect use of the light energy. In contrast a single small (26kDa) protein, bacteriorhodopsin (BR), not only absorbs the light energy and does the photochemistry, it also is the proton pump. Recently similar pigments have been found in many marine eubacteria where they provide a significant portion of the photosynthetic yield of the oceans.
Ninety Years of the Iowa Law Review: The Personalities, Policies, and Events that Shaped a Tradition in Iowa Legal Education

The Iowa Law Review is one of the oldest law journals in the country. Professors Bezanson and Boyd trace the history of the Review from its beginning in 1891, often through the stories of and by Deans and Faculty Advisors and Editors. Major events and developments in the history of the Law Review and American legal education are traced over the Review's 90-year-life, leading to the Review's part in the development of a uniquely writing-based curriculum at the Iowa College of Law in the 1960s, under the leadership of Dean David Vernon.
Politics with Beauvoir: freedom in the encounter

What Lori Jo Marso attempts to do in Politics with Beauvoir is to offer a radically new interpretation of Beauvoir, particularly as it relates to political theory. Rejecting both the positive and n...
Nurturing Promotes the Evolution of Generalized Supervised Learning

The ability to learn makes intelligent systems more adaptive. One approach to the development of learning algorithms is to evolve them using evolutionary algorithms. The evolution of learning is interesting as a practical matter because harnessing it may allow us to develop better artificial intelligence; it is also interesting from a theoretical perspective of understanding how the sophisticated learning seen in nature could have arisen. A potential obstacle to the evolution of learning when alternative behavioral strategies (e.g., instincts) can evolve is that learning individuals tend to exhibit ineffective behavior before effective behavior is learned. Nurturing, defined as one individual investing in the development of another individual with which it has an ongoing relationship, is often seen in nature in species that exhibit sophisticated learning behavior. It is hypothesized that nurturing may be able to increase the competitiveness of learning in an evolutionary environment by ameliorating the consequences of incorrect initial behavior. Here we expand upon a foundational work in the evolution of learning to also enable the evolution of instincts and then examine the strategies evolved with and without a nurturing condition in which individuals are not penalized for mistakes made during a learning period. It is found that nurturing promotes the evolution of generalized supervised learning in these environments.
Safety Evaluation of Shoulder Bypass Lanes at Unsignalized Intersections on Rural Two-Lane Roadways Using Cross Sectional Analysis

Construction of bypass lanes at rural intersections has typically been considered a low-cost highway safety improvement by the transportation community. However, this needs to be quantitatively evaluated so that the decisions could be made on whether to continue with adding bypass lanes. Highway safety analyses utilize two common approaches to evaluate the effectiveness of a geometric treatment: before-and-after study and cross-sectional study. This paper explains the results using a cross-sectional study approach, where intersections with bypass lanes were compared to intersections with no bypass lanes for which crash data were obtained for more than 1,100 intersections in Kansas. Both 3-legged and 4-legged intersections were taken into consideration separately by looking at intersection-related crashes and crashes within an intersection box. According to the results, the number of crashes and crash severities were lower at 3-legged intersections with bypass lanes compared with 3-legged intersections without bypass lanes, even though these reductions were not statistically significant at 95% level. When considering a 300-ft. intersection box, statistically significant crash reductions were observed at 4-legged intersections, for all considered crash and crash rate categories. When considering 90% level, crash reduction at 3-legged intersections was also statistically significant when considering a 300-ft. intersection box. Crash modification factors (CMFs) calculated to evaluate safety effectiveness of bypass lanes at unsignalized rural intersections in Kansas showed values less than 1.0 for almost all cases, indicating safety benefits of bypass lanes. Accordingly, it is beneficial to continue with the practice of adding shoulder bypass lanes at rural unsignalized intersections on two-lane roads where the traffic volumes are relatively low.
Neurosurgical complications: what the radiologist needs to know

Visits to the emergency department by patients who have recently undergone neurosurgery are a common occurrence, and these patients frequently receive emergent cross-sectional head imaging in order to evaluate for complications. Different neurosurgical approaches may have typical postoperative imaging findings that can be confused with pathology. Furthermore, particular abnormal postoperative imaging findings may signal an evolving complication. It is essential for the radiologist to understand common neurosurgical procedures and their potential complications in order to provide proper diagnostic evaluation of the postoperative neurosurgical patient. The purpose of this review is to assist radiologists in the evaluation of the postoperative neurosurgical patient and educate them on associated complications. Familiarity with common neurosurgical techniques and postoperative complications will help radiologists make the correct diagnosis, communicate effectively with the neurosurgeon, and expedite patient care.
Proechimys semispinosus (Spiny rat)

These karyotypes are gifts of Dr. Alfred L. Gardner. Bone marrow preparations were used for cytological preparations.
Chapter Five Toward the Mystery: Becoming an Orthodox Philosopher

Why look to Orthodox philosophers for narratives of their spiritual journeys? Is there something especially noteworthy about the religious seekings of a philosopher? Surely philosophers are more likely to reflect on the process, making them likely to have more to say about it than most. Yet this pensiveness may derive not only from the spirit of impartial inquiry, but just as much from stubbornness or indecision or a fear of falling into error so strong that it overrides the love of truth itself. Or perhaps it is assumed that philosophers, reputedly more rational and less passion-driven than most, would therefore have something unusually instructive to say about religious matters? But is philosophical rationality really the best vehicle for either finding, or elucidating, religious truth?
Reliability of a new measure to assess modern screen time in adults

Screen time among adults represents a continuing and growing problem in relation to health behaviors and health outcomes. However, no instrument currently exists in the literature that quantifies the use of modern screen-based devices. The primary purpose of this study was to develop and assess the reliability of a new screen time questionnaire, an instrument designed to quantify use of multiple popular screen-based devices among the US population. An 18-item screen-time questionnaire was created to quantify use of commonly used screen devices (e.g. television, smartphone, tablet) across different time points during the week (e.g. weekday, weeknight, weekend). Test-retest reliability was assessed through intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) and standard error of measurement (SEM). The questionnaire was delivered online using Qualtrics and administered through Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk). Eighty MTurk workers completed full study participation and were included in the final analyses. All items in the screen time questionnaire showed fair to excellent relative reliability (ICCs = 0.50–0.90; all < 0.000), except for the item inquiring about the use of smartphone during an average weekend day (ICC = 0.16, p = 0.069). The SEM values were large for all screen types across the different periods under study. Results from this study suggest this self-administered questionnaire may be used to successfully classify individuals into different categories of screen time use (e.g. high vs. low); however, it is likely that objective measures are needed to increase precision of screen time assessment.
The Negotiations on the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development

The negotiations on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) were exceptionally complex and challenging. Every country in the world stood to benefit from the decisions reached and had vital interests at stake. Additionally, both before and during the negotiations, there was an unprecedented consultation of civil society, academia, the private sector, and other stakeholders. As countries seek to rebuild their societies and economies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda are the indispensable blueprint for ‘building back better’.
Manifold learning based data-driven modeling for soft biological tissues.

Abstract Data-driven modeling directly utilizes experimental data with machine learning techniques to predict a material’s response without the necessity of using phenomenological constitutive models. Although data-driven modeling presents a promising new approach, it has yet to be extended to the modeling of large-deformation biological tissues. Herein, we extend our recent local convexity data-driven (LCDD) framework (He and Chen, 2020) to model the mechanical response of a porcine heart mitral valve posterior leaflet. The predictability of the LCDD framework by using various combinations of biaxial and pure shear training protocols are investigated, and its effectiveness is compared with a full structural, phenomenological model modified from Zhang et al. (2016) and a continuum phenomenological Fung-type model (Tong and Fung, 1976). We show that the predictivity of the proposed LCDD nonlinear solver is generally less sensitive to the type of loading protocols (biaxial and pure shear) used in the data set, while more sensitive to the insufficient coverage of the experimental data when compared to the predictivity of the two selected phenomenological models. While no pre-defined functional form in the material model is necessary in LCDD, this study reinstates the importance of having sufficiently rich data coverage in the date-driven and machine learning type of approaches. It is also shown that the proposed LCDD method is an enhancement over the earlier distance-minimization data-driven (DMDD) against noisy data. This study demonstrates that when sufficient data is available, data-driven computing can be an alternative method for modeling complex biological materials.
Bankrupt Stocks, Reorganization Plans and Market Efficiency: Are Bankrupt Stocks Overpriced?,

TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE QUARTERLY REVIEW OF ECONOMICS AND FINANCE: Contact JAI Press, Inc., 55 Old Post Rd., No. 2, Greenwich, CT 06836. Phone: (203) 661-7602. Fax: (203) 661-0792. Recent newspaper articles have reported cases where exchange-listed stocks of bankrupt companies have traded at prices well above the value allocated to shareholders under the reorganization plan submitted to the Bankruptcy Court. The articles provide examples of stocks trading at over a dollar a share, when "everybody knows" that the stockholders will receive less than a dime under the terms of the reorganization. Can the stock market be as woefully inefficient as these articles suggest, or do investors in these securities have some reasonable hope that the terms of the reorganization will be modified to their benefit? In this study we examine a large sample of bankrupt companies who have submitted reorganization plans. Our evidence indicates that stockholders of these companies have unreasonably high expectations about their future prospects.
Synthesis of Chimeric Thiazolo-Nootkatone Derivatives as Potent Antimicrobial Agents.

Nootkatone, an approved insecticide, is a well-known natural product from grapefruit. A series of fused-thiazole derivatives of nootkatone have been synthesized, and these new compounds were tested against several strains of bacteria. Some of these compounds are found to be potent antimicrobial agents against Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecium with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values as low as 1.56 μg/mL. The lead compound is bactericidal and very potent against S. aureus persisters. These compounds are nontoxic to human cancer cell lines at 10 μm concentration.
SMARCAL1 loss and alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) are enriched in giant cell glioblastoma

Subsets of high-grade gliomas, including glioblastoma (GBM), are known to utilize the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway for telomere length maintenance. However, the telomere maintenance profile of one subtype of GBM-giant cell GBM-has not been extensively studied. Here, we investigated the prevalence of ALT, as well as ATRX and SMARCAL1 protein loss, in a cohort of classic giant cell GBM and GBM with giant cell features. To determine the presence of ALT, a telomere-specific fluorescence in situ hybridization assay was performed on 15 cases of classic giant cell GBM, 28 additional GBMs found to have giant cell features, and 1 anaplastic astrocytoma with giant cell features. ATRX, SMARCAL1, and IDH1 protein status were assessed in a proportion of cases by immunohistochemistry and were compared to clinical-pathologic and molecular characteristics. In the overall cohort of 44 cases, 19 (43%) showed evidence of ALT. Intriguingly, of the ALT-positive cases, only 9 (47.4%) displayed loss of the ALT suppressor ATRX by immunohistochemistry. Since inactivating mutations in SMARCAL1 have been identified in ATRX wild-type ALT-positive gliomas, we developed an immunohistochemistry assay for SMARCAL1 protein expression using genetically validated controls. Of the 19 ALT-positive cases, 6 (31.5%) showed loss or mis-localization of SMARCAL1 by immunohistochemistry. Of these cases, four retained ATRX protein expression, while two cases also displayed ATRX loss. Additionally, we assessed five cases from which multiple temporal samples were available and ALT status was concordant between both tumor biopsies. In summary, we have identified a subset of giant cell GBM that utilize the ALT telomere maintenance mechanism. Importantly, in addition to ATRX loss, ALT-positive tumors harboring SMARCAL1 alterations are prevalent in giant cell GBM.
Mmp-13 deletion in cells of the mesenchymal lineage increases bone mass, decreases endocortical osteoclast number, and attenuates the cortical bone loss caused by estrogen deficiency in mice

The protective effect of estrogens against cortical bone loss is mediated via direct actions on mesenchymal lineage cells, but functional evidence for the precise molecular mechanism(s) and the mediators of these effects has only recently began to emerge. We report that the matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13) is the highest up-regulated gene in calvaria or bone marrow cells from mice lacking the estrogen receptor (ER) alpha in osteoprogenitors. We, therefore, generated mice with conditional Mmp-13 deletion in Prrx1 expressing cells ( Mmp-13 ?Prrx1 ) and compared the effect of estrogen deficiency on their bone phenotype to that of control littermates ( Mmp-13 f/f ). Femur and tibia length was decreased in sham-operated Mmp-13 ?Prrx1 mice as compared to Mmp1 3 f/f . Cortical thickness and trabecular bone volume in the femur and tibia were increased and osteoclast number at the endocortical surfaces was decreased in the sham-operated female Mmp13 ?Prrx1 mice; whereas bone formation rate was unaffected. Ovariectomy (OVX) caused a decrease of cortical thickness in the femur and tibia of Mmp-13 f/f control mice. This effect was attenuated in the Mmp-13 ? Prrx1 mice; but the decrease of trabecular bone caused by OVX was not affected. These results reveal that mesenchymal cell–derived MMP-13 regulates osteoclast number, bone resorption, and bone mass. We have recently reported that the loss of cortical, but not trabecular bone, caused by OVX is also attenuated in Cxcl12 ?Prrx1 mice. Together with the present report, this functional genetic evidence provides proof of principle that increased production of mesenchymal cell-derived factors, such as CXCL12 and MMP-13, are important mediators of the adverse effect of estrogen deficiency on cortical, but not trabecular, bone. Therefore, the mechanisms responsible for the protective effect of estrogens on these two major bone compartments are different.
Impacts of the Coronavirus Pandemic on the Emotional and Physical Health of Older Adults Compared with Younger Cohorts.

OBJECTIVES: This study compared emotional and physical health and overall well-being related to social restrictions during the pandemic among older, middle-aged, and younger adults in the United States (n = 276). METHODS: Online surveys collected information on mental and physical health, as well as positive and negative impacts of the pandemic. One-way MANOVAs and hierarchical regressions were used to analyze data. RESULTS: Depressive symptoms and coronavirus anxiety differed significantly by age, with older adults reporting less depressive and anxious symptoms than younger cohorts. Negative COVID experiences significantly predicted higher levels of stress, anxiety, and insomnia symptoms in younger adults as compared to older cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that social restrictions had a more substantial negative impact amongst younger adults compared to older adults, particularly in terms of mental health and well-being. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Older adults may be more resilient to the impacts of the pandemic than younger cohorts and thus may serve as a critical resource for how to navigate crisis situations of this nature. Future studies should continue to monitor health outcomes as the pandemic subsides in conjunction with the vaccine rollout, as the long-term effects of social distancing and stay-at-home measures are yet to be determined.
Laminated Timber Buildings: An Overview of Environmental Impacts

Wood and timber are historical construction materials, but their applications in buildings have been largely limited to low-rise construction as well as wood products such as doors, window frames, or furniture used in buildings. The application of timber in tall buildings has recently received significant interest by architects and engineers, mainly due to concerns about the environmental impacts of buildings, timber’s carbon potentials, and developments of new timber products with enhanced mechanical properties.
Neuroendocrine Regulation of Leptin Secretion and Its Role in Nitric Oxide Secretion

In mammals hypothalamic control of gonadotropin secretion is mediated by mammalian luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (mLHRH), or gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and a follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) RH that is IGnRH-III or a closely related polypeptide. We believe that the differential pulsatile release of FSH and LH and its differential secretion at different times of the estrous cycle are accounted for by differential secretion of FSHRH and LHRH. Both FSHRH and LHRH act on the gonadotropes to increase intracellular free calcium that combines with calmodulin to activate neural nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). The NO released activates guanylyl cyclase that converts guanosine triphosphate (GTP) into cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) that induces exocytosis of gonadotropin-containing secretory granules. The adipocyte hormone leptin has equal potency with LHRH to activate the release of FSH and LH from male rat pituitaries by NO. It also releases LHRH from arcuate-nuclear median eminence explants and LH from ovariectomized, estrogen-blocked rats, whereas it inhibits FSH release from the same preparation and these actions are brought about via NO, which also controls LHRH release stimulated by other means. Just prior to proestrus, sensitivity to LH-releasing action of leptin peaks suggesting that it plays a role in induction of puberty.
Overview of Bay Scallop (Argopecten irradians) Landings

Bay scallops (Argopecten irradians) have been harvested along the Atlantic coast of North America since colonial times. Settlers on Cape Cod picked them up by hand at low tide (Belding 1910). In North Carolina also, shipping to northern markets in New York and Boston began as early as 1870 (Chestnut 1951). Landings fluctuate widely from year to year, but are not unusually variable. The coefficient of variation of major fishes landed from New York to Virginia ranges from 38.5 percent to 190.8 percent (McHugh and Conover 1986). The coefficient of variation of bay scallops landed in Massachusets was 50.9 percent, and in New York 75.0 percent, which is not excessive.
Metabolic requirements for infection by rous sarcoma virus: III. The synthesis on viral DNA

Abstract Early stages in the infection of chick embryo cells with Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) were examined. Inhibition of protein synthesis with cycloheximide prior to and for a short interval after infection had little effect on subsequent transformation or virus yield, supporting an earlier conclusion ( Bader, 1966 ) that preexisting enzymes were used for the synthesis of viral DNA. Inhibition of virus reproduction after addition of 5-iododeoxyuridine (IdUrd) for various brief intervals after infection demonstrated that viral DNA synthesis is initiated within the first hour after exposure of cells to virus. Also, as the interval between infection and the addition of IdUrd increased, inhibition of progeny decreased, and the extent of inhibition suggested that viral DNAs accumulate logarithmically. A model is proposed for the residence and function of virus replicative genomes.
Affect, Reason, and Mere Hunches

There is a growing respect for the wisdom of emotion and intuition that has emerged from recent research in cognitive psychology and neuroscience. This paper reviews a segment of this research dealing with intuitive feelings, which my colleagues and I call affect. The processing of affect by the human brain is indeed sophisticated, contributing greatly to rationality. Nevertheless, our intuitions can sometimes lead us astray. Better understanding of affective intuition is necessary to enable us to maximize the benefits and minimize the errors of this remarkable system.
Molecular rectification and conductance switching in carbon-based molecular junctions by structural rearrangement accompanying electron injection.

Molecular junctions were fabricated consisting of a 3.7 nm thick layer of nitroazobenzene (NAB) molecules between a pyrolyzed photoresist substrate (PPF) and a titanium top contact which was protected from oxidation by a layer of gold. Raman spectroscopy, XPS, and AFM revealed that the NAB layer was 2−3 molecules thick and was bonded to the two conducting contacts by C−C and N−Ti covalent bonds. The current/voltage behavior of the PPF/NAB(3.7)/Ti junctions showed strong and reproducible rectification, with the current at +2 V exceeding that at −2 V by a factor of 600. The observed current density at +3 V was 0.71 A/cm2, or about 105 e-/s/molecule. The i/V response was strongly dependent on temperature and scan rate, with the rectification ratio decreasing for lower temperature and faster scans. Junction conductivity increased with time over several seconds at room temperature in response to positive voltage pulses, with the rate of increase larger for more positive potentials. Voltage pulses to positive p...
Financial reinforcers for improving medication adherence: findings from a meta-analysis.

Abstract Background Increasingly, financial reinforcement interventions based on behavioral economic principles are being applied in health care settings, and this study examined the use of financial reinforcers for enhancing adherence to medications. Methods Electronic databases and bibliographies of relevant references were searched, and a meta-analysis of identified trials was conducted. The variability in effect size and the impact of potential moderators (study design, duration of intervention, magnitude of reinforcement, and frequency of reinforcement) on effect size were examined. Results Fifteen randomized studies and 6 nonrandomized studies examined the efficacy of financial reinforcement interventions for medication adherence. Financial reinforcers were applied for adherence to medications for tuberculosis, substance abuse, human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis, schizophrenia, and stroke prevention. Reinforcement interventions significantly improved adherence relative to control conditions with an overall effect size of 0.77 (95% confidence interval, 0.70-0.84; P P Conclusion These results demonstrate the efficacy of medication adherence interventions and underscore principles that should be considered in designing future adherence interventions. Financial reinforcement interventions hold potential for improving medication adherence and may lead to benefits for both patients and society.