cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Proton-coupled protein transport through the anthrax toxin channel.

Anthrax toxin consists of three proteins (approx. 90 kDa each): lethal factor (LF); oedema factor (OF); and protective antigen (PA). The former two are enzymes that act when they reach the cytosol of a targeted cell. To enter the cytosol, however, which they do after being endocytosed into an acidic vesicle compartment, they require the third component, PA. PA (or rather its proteolytically generated fragment PA63) forms at low pH a heptameric β-barrel channel, (PA63)7, through which LF and OF are transported—a phenomenon we have demonstrated in planar phospholipid bilayers. It might appear that (PA63)7 simply forms a large hole through which LF and OF diffuse. However, LF and OF are folded proteins, much too large to fit through the approximately 15 Å diameter (PA63)7 β-barrel. This paper discusses how the (PA63)7 channel both participates in the unfolding of LF and OF and functions in their translocation as a proton–protein symporter.
Decision making under uncertain categorization

Two experiments investigated how category information is used in decision making under uncertainty and whether the framing of category information influences how it is used. Subjects were presented with vignettes in which the categorization of a critical item was ambiguous and were asked to choose among a set of actions with the goal of attaining the desired outcome for the main character in the story. The normative decision making strategy was to base the decision on all possible categories; however, research on a related topic, category-based induction, has found that people often only consider a single category when making predictions when categorization is uncertain. These experiments found that subjects tend to consider multiple categories when making decisions, but do so both when it is and is not appropriate, suggesting that use of multiple categories is not driven by an understanding of what categories are and are not relevant to the decision. Similarly, although a framing manipulation increased the rate of multiple-category use, it did so in situations in which multiple-category use was and was not appropriate.
On the Varieties of Intersubjective Experience

Coelho and Figueiredo (2003) explore the relationship between a heterogeneous collection of theoretical approaches that they term `intersubjectivist'. The authors' aim is not to integrate or synthesize the different dimensions into a coherent framework, but rather to invoke one depiction of subject-other meeting points where another appears incomplete. It is argued in this commentary that the authors do not pay sufficient attention to the incompatibilities between the various projects that they include in their discussion. It is also argued that the metaphor of the autonomously constituted subject may serve important existential and ethical functions.
Self-System Influences During Early Adolescence:: Investigation of an Integrative Model

An integrative model of self-system influences during early adolescence was investigated in two separate samples of youth in Grades 7 through 9 (n = 225) and Grades 5 through 8 (n = 350). Measures assessed self-description, self-standards, self-evaluations, and self-values in the areas of peers, school, family, appearance, and sports/athletics as well as global self-esteem. For both samples, structural equation modeling analyses provided support for a hypothesized model that included (a) effects of self-descriptions and self-standards on self-evaluations in corresponding domains and (b) effects of domain-specific self-evaluations, in turn, on global self-esteem. There was only limited evidence that the values youth attached to differing domains moderated the relationship between self-evaluations in those domains and overall feelings of self-worth. Differences in model fit according to gender, race/ethnicity, developmental level, and family socioeconomic status were generally absent. Significant difference...
Gastrointestinal bleeding in stroke.

Patients with ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke are at risk for systemic complications. The reasons why gastrointestinal bleeding occurs after stroke are unknown and have intuitively been attributed to stress ulcers. No study to date has addressed causes of gastrointestinal hemorrhage in stroke.Between 1976 and 1994, 17 patients identified from the Mayo Clinic medical record system as having gastrointestinal hemorrhage and ischemic stroke (n = 14) or intracerebral hemorrhage (n = 3) were reviewed for presentation, associated causes, and outcome. Results of the endoscopic procedures were compiled, and available gastric biopsies were reviewed.In 17 patients with gastrointestinal bleeding after stroke, sudden hematemesis, a decrease in hemoglobin level, or orthostatic hypotension was found as a presenting feature. One patient presented with massive hematemesis, exsanguination, and cardiac arrest. Endoscopic findings were available in 14 patients and included gastroesophageal erosions, hemorrhagic gastritis, and...
Light dulls and darkens bird eggs.

Although egg color is generally consistent within individual birds and robust to environmental variation, recent evidence suggests a degree of susceptibility to environmental perturbation or modulation of egg color. Most of this variation manifests via the physiology of the laying female, but some direct impacts of the environment on laid eggs have also been discovered. Here we test whether light changes bird egg color and we quantify its effect, by subjecting variable blue-green eggs of Ruppell's weaver (Ploceus galbula) to a broad-spectrum light source under laboratory conditions, and measuring egg reflectance every few hours. Eggshells gradually decreased in reflectance across the entire measured wavelength spectrum of 250-800 nm. Reflectance peaks were disproportionately affected, such that the height decreased of both the blue-green peak and the smaller UV peak typical of blue-green eggs. The reflectance of lighter eggs was affected slightly more than that of darker eggs. These changes are similar to previous results for changes over long periods of time in darkness, suggesting that light might hasten the same process of pigment degradation that proceeds even without light. Comparison between the experimental light source and both sunlight and typical artificial lighting situations raises the possibility that significant color change might occur during incubation in some birds, but indicates that eggshell illumination in museums for short periods of study is unlikely to affect their color to a detectable extent. Additional research should be performed on eggs of other species and in other light environments, with an eye to an eventual generalized model of the effect of light on eggshell color.
The Importance of Financial Leverage and Risk Aversion in Risk-Management Strategy Selection

The problem of choice among risk-management strategies is addressed with the stochastic dominance with a risk-free asset (SDRA) criteria. The SDRA criteria consider all possible combinations of the strategies and financial leverage. This allows for strategies with less business risk, less expected return, and greater leverage to dominate strategies with greater business risk and greater expected return. Results show that the inclusion of the risk-free asset significantly improves the discriminatory power of the ordinary stochastic dominance criteria for the case of risk-management strategies. Copyright 2002, Oxford University Press.
Metabolism of Invertebrate Red Cells: A Vacuum in Our Knowledge

When Dr. Isaacks asked us for a contribution on metabolism in invertebrate red cells, we agreed on the condition of a subtitle emphasizing the scarcity of information on the subject. We cannot even address items of such considerable interest as the sites of formation and destruction of these cells, their life history, and the biosynthesis of their most important constituent, the O2 carrier. To our knowledge not one intensive investigation of any one of these topics in any one phylum outside of the chordates has ever been reported, although casual observations are frequently mentioned in studies of cell ultrastructure (e.g., Fontaine and Lambert 1973; Boilly 1974; Fontaine and Hall 1981). Our task must be to describe what little is known about their structure and physiology in hopes of stimulating investigation in the future, and to summarize some exploratory studies on metabolism of RBCs in two representative species, the annelid bloodworm Glycera dibranchiata and the blood clam Noetia ponderosa.
A NEW METHOD FOR THE CHARACTERIZATION OF THE ANDROGEN RECEPTORS BY USE OF A STEROID ANTIBODY

The cellular steroid receptors, such as the prostate androgen receptor, can be characterized by a method in which steroid antibodies are used to eliminate nonspecific and non-receptor binding of the steroid hormones. with steroid antibody coupled to Sepharose, the method provides a simple and rapid way of assaying steroid receptors.
Die pathologische Anatomie der m. S.

Seit den Zeiten Cruveilhiers ist die anscheinend regellose Aussaat der Entmar-kungsherde, seit den Zeiten Charcots die relative Unversehrtheit der Achsencylin-der der Nervenfasern in den Herden des polysklerotischen Zentralnervensystems wohl bekannt. Eine grose Anzahl hervorragender Schilderungen der pathologischen Anatomie der m. S. ist vorhanden. Ich nenne aus fruheren Zeiten nur die Namen Marburg, Dawson, Siemerling und Raecke, Lhermitte, Hallervorden, Spatz, Wohlwill, aus neueren Zeiten Adams und Kubik, Peters, Greenfield.
Basic Newtonian Physics with Maxima

Classical mechanics is the branch of physics that deals with the motion of objects subject to forces and constraints. Classical mechanics has existed as a well-defined subject since the publication of Newton’s Principia Mathematica Philosophiae Naturalis in 1687. Since Newton, a few important new concepts have been introduced into the subject (such as energy and its conservation), but most of the developments in classical mechanics since the seventeenth century have consisted of new mathematical techniques for solving classical mechanics problems.
Vertical Scaling of C n 2 in Volumetric Weather Radar Measurements

Paper describes NEXRAD observations of vertical Cn2 profiles which are used to derive vertical gradients of passive additives potential temperature and potential vapor pressure. These gradients can be used to estimate Cn2 for optical systems.
Concomitant Clearances of Creatinine, d-Xylose, Urea and Chlorides During Diuresis in Congestive Heart Failure

To get evidences of the mechanisms by which diuresis is accomplished in the edematous patient with heart disease, studies have been carried out on the concentration of various substances in the blood and in the augmented output of urine. Creatinine, or the total chromogenic clearance has been advocated by Rehberg1 as a measure of the amount of glomerular filtration. The validity of this contention has been attacked by several investigators. Marshall2 and Jolliffe, Shannon and Smith3 have advocated the use of sugars and especially of d-xylose excretion and concentration as the index of the amount of glomerular filtration. Inasmuch as we5 and others1 noted great mobilization and increases in chloride and urea output during diuresis we3 have included determinations of these substances in our studies. The urea clearance has been established by Van Slyke and his coworkers4 as a measure of renal function. We have calculated in addition to this clearance, a similar but more arbitrary figure for chlorides, d-xylo...
Turbulence - A recurring point of reflection

The area of coherent structures in turbulent shear flows has attracted the attention of many researchers from the mid-1960's to the present time. Major gains have established a rudimentary picture of the dynamical details of turbulence: sweeps, ejections, interactions, etc. But we do not have a complete picture; it is time for further reflection. We would like to have full-field, time-resolved, vector velocity data with high enough resolution that we could determine the stress and vorticity fields. Two aproaches show promise: experiments that provide full-field measurements, and direct numerical simulation. Neither approach is fully satisfactory today for highly resolved, practical flows in the time domain; however, we are at a threshold of being able to accomplish this. In this review, some of the experimental approaches that seem fruitful and might be amenable to further development to give us the information we need to progress to the next step in our understanding of turbulence are outlined and discussed. (Author)
Abdominal cardiac devices in pediatric and congenital heart disease: a practice model transition.

Background:Abdominal cardiac implantable electronic device maintenance procedures are traditionally performed by cardiac surgeons. The University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center transitioned fr...
Measurement of Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetase Adenylation Domain Activity Using a Continuous Hydroxylamine Release Assay

Adenylation is a crucial enzymatic process in the biosynthesis of nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) derived natural products. Adenylation domains are considered the gatekeepers of NRPSs since they select, activate, and load the carboxylic acid substrate onto a downstream peptidyl carrier protein (PCP) domain of the NRPS. We describe a coupled continuous kinetic assay for NRPS adenylation domains that substitutes the PCP domain with hydroxylamine as the acceptor molecule. The pyrophosphate released from the first-half reaction is then measured using a two-enzyme coupling system, which detects conversion of the chromogenic substrate 7-methylthioguanosine (MesG) to 7-methylthioguanine. From profiling substrate specificity of unknown or engineered adenylation domains to studying chemical inhibition of adenylating enzymes, this robust assay will be of widespread utility in the broad field NRPS enzymology.
Endoscopic transgastric pancreatic fistula anastomosis as treatment for a refractory pancreatic duct leak after distal pancreatectomy.

A 45-year-old man underwent distal pancreatectomy for chronic pancreatitis. Over the ensuing 2 years he developed recurrent pancreatic fluid collections (PFCs) from pancreatic duct leakage at the resection site. He underwent repeated surgery, percutaneous drainage, and placement of pancreatic duct stents. Endoscopic transmural drainage was suggested on several occasions but rejected by the surgical team. Following recent pancreatic duct stent removal, left upper quadrant abdominal pain recurred. Computed tomography showed a small, poorly defined peripancreatic collection. Transgastric drainage was undertaken. A linear-array echoendoscope was used to identify and puncture the PFC using a 19G fine-needle aspiration (FNA) needle. Under fluoroscopy, contrast was injected and filled a long fistulous tract that communicated with the main pancreatic duct (●" Fig.1). Attempted guidewire passage into the fistulous tract was unsuccessful. The echoendoscope was removed and a duodenoscope was inserted. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) confirmed a pancreatic duct leak into the fistulous tract. In order to serve as a target for endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided puncture, a 10–12-mm dilating balloon catheter was advanced over a guidewire through the pancreatic duct and into the fistulous tract, in aprocedure similar to that which has been described for EUS-guidedgastroenterostomy (●" Video 1) [1]. The balloon was inflated (●" Fig.2), and the duodenoscope was removed from the mouth leaving the inflated balloon inside the fistulous tract. As the endoscope could not be removed from the balloon catheter, it was detached from the processor and placed alongside the patient. The echoendoscope was reinserted alongside the balloon catheter. Using endosonographic and fluoroscopic visualization, the balloon was identified from the stomach and punctured using a 19-G FNA needle. A stiff 0.035-inch guidewire was coiled inside the fistulous tract. A gastro-fistula anastomosis was created using a needle-knife and balloon dilator followed by placement of two 7-Fr double-pigtail plastic stents. The patient, who underwent the treatment as an outpatient, tolerated the procedure well. At follow-up 8 weeks later he remained well.
Epilepsy in a Mitochondrial Disorder

Epilepsy in 9 (22%) of 37 members of a family with maternally inherited mitochondrial disease is reported from the Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Tromso, Norway.
Legal Malpractice, a Tort in Search of a Remedy: Prying Open the Courthouse Doors for Legal Malpractice Victims

Black's Law Dictionary defines “tort” as a civil wrong for which a remedy may be obtained. In examining both the economics and jurisprudence related to legal malpractice, the article discusses why the “remedy” portion of this definition is unavailable for many victims of legal malpractice. This discussion considers the different stages of a legal malpractice case, including the challenges that injured persons face in retaining experienced counsel to represent them, the anatomy of the legal malpractice case, and the difficulties in collecting judgements or settlements. The discussion will consider how “capture” and “judicial bias” contribute to the “disappearing legal malpractice trial.” The conclusion proposes initiatives that could contribute to making legal malpractice a meaningful remedy for legal malpractice victims.
Alcohol and the liver: metabolism of alcohol and its role in hepatic and extrahepatic diseases.

Dr. Charles S. Lieber has conducted clinical and experimental studies for more than four decades (three at Mount Sinai and the Bronx VA Medical Centers) with emphasis on liver, nutrition and GI pathophysiology. His major contributions include elucidation of the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease, by demonstrating the toxic role of alcohol and describing associated metabolic disorders. This was achieved through judicious clinical studies and newly developed rodent and primate models with the administration of ethanol in liquid diets. The mechanisms of various pathological and metabolic effects of ethanol were clarified, including hyperlipemia (with the rise in HDL), hyperuricemia, the role of acetaldehyde toxicity and alcohol-induced oxidative stress. The latter, including glutathione depletion, was corrected by S-adenosyl-1-methionine given to alcohol-fed baboons; the compound is now being used successfully for the treatment of patients with alcoholic liver disease in Europe. Alcoholic cirrhosis was produced for the first time in nonhuman primates and shown to be fully prevented by polyenylphosphatidylcholine, which is now being tested in a multicenter clinical trial. Lieber also discovered a new (microsomal) pathway of ethanol metabolism, responsible for the tolerance to ethanol and for several clinically important toxic interactions with other drugs (e.g., acetaminophen), anesthetics, industrial solvents, carcinogens, as well as retinol and β-carotene, with narrowing of their therapeutic window. His work defined the role of the stomach in ethanol metabolism, description of corresponding gender differences, cloning (for the first time) of the gene for sigma ADH (a newly recognized gastric alcohol dehydrogenase isozyme) with its chromosomal localization, and the discovery of the effects of commonly used medications (e.g., H 2 blockers and aspirin) on the activities of the enzyme and on blood alcohol levels in social drinkers. Lieber was among the first to use antibiotics for the elimination of gastric bacterial urease and its ammonia production in man, thereby alleviating chronic gastritis and hypoacidity, with attenuation of hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhotics. He promoted early detection and treatment of heavy drinkers before their social or medical disintegration, by defining precirrhotic lesions and markers of alcohol consumption. Conclusions: The research of Dr. Lieber and his group has yielded a better understanding of the pathogenesis of common hepatic, gastric and nutritional disorders, with elucidation and prevention of serious toxic alcohol-drug interactions and the development of methods for early recognition and more effective approaches to prevent and treat liver and gastrointestinal diseases.
Minimum Stocking Requirements for Retailers in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children: Disparities Across US States

Objectives. To examine state variation in minimum stocking requirements for Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)–authorized small food retailers.Methods. We obtained minimum stocking requirements for 50 states and the District of Columbia in 2017 from WIC Web pages or e-mail from the state WIC agency. We developed a coding protocol to compare minimum quantities and varieties required for 12 food and beverage categories. We calculated the median, range, and interquartile range for each measure.Results. Nearly all states set minimum varieties and quantities of fruits and vegetables, 100% juice, whole grain–rich foods, breakfast cereal, milk, cheese, eggs, legumes, and peanut butter. Fewer states set requirements for canned fish, yogurt, and tofu. Most measures had a large range in minimum requirements (e.g., $8–$100 of fruits and vegetables, 60–144 oz of breakfast cereal).Conclusions. WIC-participating retailers must adhere to very different minimum stocking requirem...
Abstract P278: Safety of Symptom-Limited Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Asymptomatic Patients With Aortic Stenosis

Background: We conducted this study to assess the safety of symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) in patients with varying severity of aortic stenosis (AS). We hypothesized that exercise testing would be safe, as defined by a rates for all-cause death of Methods: This cohort study was carried out with 308 consecutive patients with varying degree of AS (as determined by standard echocardiographic criteria) with no or equivocal symptoms who were referred for clinically indicated cardiopulmonary testing between 1994 and 2009. We did not include patients with pending or completed heart transplant, or ventricular assist device implantation. These patients underwent standard symptom limited CPX, and continuous monitoring of heart rate, blood pressure, and electrocardiogram was performed. Complications recorded included death, non-fatal major CV events (cardiac arrest, symptomatic and sustained ventricular or atrial tachycardia, and syncope), and minor events such as hypotension, non-sustained atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, positive exercise ECG and anginal pain. Results: The mean age of patients was 66 ± 14 years, and 252 (82%) were males. The number of patients with mild, moderate and severe AS were 44 (14%), 138 (49%), and 126 (41%) respectively. No death or major CV event occurred during or within 24 hours of CPX. Eleven patients developed supraventricular arrhythmias without compromising hemodynamic status, and one had asymptomatic non-sustained ventricular tachycardia. Detailed description of complications is presented in the Table 1. Conclusion: Our results show that symptom-limited CPX is safe among AS patients with no or equivocal symptoms based on no deaths or major CV events in our cohort. Minor complications occurred in 110 patients (36%).
Pulsed laser annealing of carbon black

Abstract Laser heating was used to study the rates and trajectories of carbon black during the earliest stages of annealing. A commercial carbon black, Regal 250 (R250 Cabot Corporation) was heated with a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser and a continuous wave CO2 laser. Structural transformations were observed with transmission electron microscopy. Micrographs were processed with in-house codes for the purpose of extracting distributions of fringe length, tortuosity (curvature), and number of lamellae per stack. Time-temperature-histories with nanosecond temporal resolution and temperature reproducibility within tens of degrees Celsius were determined by spectrally resolving the laser induced incandescence signal and applying multi-wavelength pyrometry. The Nd:YAG laser fluences include: 25, 50, 100, 200, 300, and 550 mJ/cm2. The maximum observed temperature ranged from 2400 °C to the C2 sublimation temperature of 4180 °C. The CO2 laser was used to collect a series of isothermal (2600 °C) heat treatments versus time (100 ms–20 s). Laser heated samples are compared against R250 annealed in a furnace at 2600 °C. The material transformation trajectory of Nd:YAG laser heated R250 was different than the traditional furnace heating. The traditional furnace annealing pathway is followed for CO2 laser heating as based upon equivalent end structures.
Empirical Investigation of the Relationships Between Irrationality, Self-Acceptance, and Dispositional Forgiveness

Milburn (J Ration Emot Cogn Behav Ther 33:325–340, 2015) recently suggested a theoretical link between REBT and forgiving, proposing that irrational beliefs, particularly demandingness and global evaluations of human worth, play a role in lack of forgiveness. The present study investigated a quantitative link between the concepts of irrationality, self-acceptance, and dispositional forgiveness. Four-hundred and thirty-three participants (70% female) participated in a 69-item online survey combining four previously validated scales: Shortened General Attitude and Belief Scale; Heartland Forgiveness Scale; Unconditional Self-Acceptance Questionnaire; and the Transgression Narrative Test of Forgivingness—(with revised response-options). Results indicated moderate and strong negative correlations between irrationality and dispositional forgiveness. Conversely, unconditional self-acceptance was significantly positively correlated with dispositional forgiveness. Regression analyses indicated that subtypes of irrationality and self-acceptance could predict dispositional forgiveness of self, other, and situation. No significant differences were found between sexes. These findings add empirical support to the hypotheses made by Milburn, suggesting that holding irrational beliefs impedes the process of forgiving, and one’s level of self-acceptance predicts one’s disposition to forgive.
Rotary-Reciprocating Movement Switched-Reluctance Machines With Consequent Axially Shifted Poles

A new switched-reluctance machine (SRM) topology with combined rotary and reciprocating rectilinear movement is introduced in this paper. The topology of this machine is based on the conventional radial-flux SRM with a modified rotor structure. Unlike the other rotary-translational electromechanical systems which have separate units, one for rotary motion and another for translational reciprocating motion, the proposed machine achieves combined rotary-reciprocating (RR) movement with just one set of stator coils around each pole identical to the conventional SRM. By exciting each pole of the stator, both radial and axial magnetic flux will be produced in the air gap of the machine. As a result, the electromagnetic reluctance torque around the axis of the rotation and the reluctance force along the axis of translational movement are produced. Details of the rotor structure and machine operation are presented. Magnetic equivalent circuit (MEC) analytical equations are derived for four operational points within the RR motion cycle. Finite-element analysis (FEA) is utilized to validate the analytical MEC equations. The output performance profiles are simulated for two example machines using static 3-D FEA to investigate the impact of the axial displacement of the consequent poles. In addition, a sensitivity analysis is carried out to investigate the impact of the rotor pole angle on the torque and force production of the machine. The dynamic behavior of the proposed structure is analyzed and discussed for two displacements of the consequent axially shifted poles.
Moral Framing and Charitable Donation: Integrating exploratory social media analyses and confirmatory experimentation

Do appeals to moral values promote charitable donation during natural disasters? Using Distributed Dictionary Representation, we analyze tweets posted during Hurricane Sandy to explore associations between moral values and charitable donation sentiment. We then derive hypotheses from the observed associations and test these hypotheses across a series of preregistered experiments that investigate the effects of moral framing on perceived donation motivation (Studies 2 & 3), hypothetical donation (Study 4), and real donation behavior (Study 5). Overall, we find consistent positive associations between moral care and loyalty framing with donation sentiment and donation motivation. However, in contrast with people’s perceptions, we also find that moral frames may not actually have reliable effects on charitable donation, as measured by hypothetical indications of donation and real donation behavior. Overall, this work demonstrates that theoretically constrained, exploratory social media analyses can be used to generate viable hypotheses, but also that such approaches should be paired with rigorous controlled experiments.
Weak rationalizability and Arrovian impossibility theorems for responsive social choice

This paper provides representation theorems for choice functions satisfying weak rationality conditions: a choice function satisfies $$\alpha$$ if and only if it can be expressed as the union of intersections of maximal sets of a fixed collection of acyclic relations, and a choice function satisfies $$\gamma$$ if and only if it consists of the maximal elements of a relation that can depend on the feasible set in a particular, well-behaved way. Other rationality conditions are investigated, and these results are applied to deduce impossibility theorems for social choice functions satisfying weak rationality conditions along with positive responsiveness conditions. For example, under standard assumptions on the set of alternatives and domain of preferences, if a social choice function satisfies Pareto optimality, independence of irrelevant alternatives, a positive responsiveness condition for revealed social preferences, and a new rationality condition $$\delta ^{*}$$ (a strengthening of $$\gamma$$ ), then some individual must have near dictatorial power.
Becoming Bureaucrats: Socialization at the Front Lines of Government Service, by Zachary W. Oberfield

Each year in my master’s-level public management course, I ask students to describe an encounter they have had with a bureaucrat. Some students describe frustrating exchanges, others describe burea...
Persistent Anomalies, Blocking and Predictability

The rotating annulus experiments presented in the last chapter reproduce some important qualitative features of the atmosphere’s highly complex general circulation. Sequences of daily weather charts show large-scale wave-like patterns retrogressing with respect to a westerly mean zonal flow. These traveling planetary waves have many similarities with the corresponding Rossby wave regime in a rotating annulus. The atmospheric traveling waves, however, are much less regular than the laboratory waves. They are superimposed, moreover, on standing waves forced by zonal asymmetries of the Earth’s surface, as discussed toward the end of Section 4.4, and in Section 4.6.
Applications of the Far-Infrared Region Beyond 35 Microns

The analytical applications of the far-infrared spectrum up to 35 ¼ have been adequately discussed by Bentley [1–2] and by Miller and co-workers [3]. This paper will concern itself with the far-infrared spectrum beyond 35 μ.
Echocardiogram-guided resuscitation versus early goal-directed therapy in the treatment of septic shock: a randomized, controlled, feasibility trial

Echocardiography is often used to guide septic shock resuscitation, but without evidence for efficacy. We conducted an intensive care unit (ICU)-based randomized controlled feasibility trial comparing echocardiography-guided septic shock resuscitation (ECHO) with early goal-directed therapy (EGDT). We conducted a single center, randomized controlled feasibility trial at a 468-bed academic tertiary care center in Utah, USA. Adult patients with early septic shock were assessed and treated at defined intervals over 6 h using an echocardiogram-guided resuscitation protocol or a slightly modified EGDT protocol. Feasibility outcomes were fluid balance, dobutamine administration, and time to lactate clearance. The primary clinical outcome was changed in sequential organ failure assessment score at 48 h (delta SOFA). Secondary outcomes included inpatient mortality, ICU-free days, and ventilator-free days at 28 days. Thirty participants, 15 per group, were randomized and completed the study. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. Patients were randomized within a median of 3.5 h of meeting inclusion criteria but had received a median of 3 L crystalloid by then. Fluid administration during the study protocol was similar in both groups (median ECHO 0 vs EGDT 1 L, p = 0.61). Eleven (73%) subjects in each arm received ≤ 1 L fluid. Dobutamine administration was also similar (20% vs 13%, p > 0.99). Twenty-one patients (70%) had lactate clearance prior to the first study assessment. No difference was observed in delta SOFA (median − 4 for ECHO vs − 6 for EGDT, p = 0.10) nor mortality (33% ECHO vs 20% EGDT, p = 0.68). No experimental separation was observed in this randomized, controlled feasibility trial. Early lactate clearance, coupled with substantial fluid administration before randomization, suggests that patients were already resuscitated before arrival in the ICU. Future trials of echocardiogram-guided sepsis resuscitation will likely need to enroll in the emergency department. This study was retrospectively registered at clinicaltrials.gov (identifier NCT02354742, title Echo vs EGDT in severe sepsis and septic shock) on February 3, 2015. Registration was completed before review or analysis of any data.
Low-Cost Breaking of a Unique Chinese Language CAPTCHA Using Curriculum Learning and Clustering

Text-based CAPTCHAs are still commonly used to attempt to prevent automated access to web services. By displaying an image of distorted text, they attempt to create a challenge image that OCR software can not interpret correctly, but a human user can easily determine the correct response to. This work focuses on a CAPTCHA used by a popular Chinese language question-and-answer website and how resilient it is to modern machine learning methods. While the majority of text-based CAPTCHAs focus on transcription tasks, the CAPTCHA solved in this work is based on localization of inverted symbols in a distorted image. A convolutional neural network (CNN) was created to evaluate the likelihood of a region in the image belonging to an inverted character. It is used with a feature map and clustering to identify potential locations of inverted characters. Training of the CNN was performed using curriculum learning and compared to other potential training methods. The proposed method was able to determine the correct response in 95.2% of cases of a simulated CAPTCHA and 67.6% on a set of real CAPTCHAs. Potential methods to increase difficulty of the CAPTCHA and the success rate of the automated solver are considered.
Extracellular vesicle-dependent effect of RNA-binding protein IGF2BP1 on melanoma metastasis

Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) is a multifunctional RNA-binding protein with an oncofetal pattern of expression shown to be implicated in the development of a variety of malignancies. In this study, we explored the role and mechanisms of IGF2BP1 in melanoma development and progression. In two different in vivo models, we showed that although genetic deletion or shRNA-mediated suppression of IGF2BP1 did not affect primary tumor formation, it drastically suppressed lung metastasis. Here we demonstrated that extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by melanoma cells mediate the effects of IGF2BP1 on metastasis: EVs from the IGF2BP1 knockdown melanoma cells failed to promote metastasis, whereas EVs isolated from IGF2BP1-overexpressed melanoma cells further accelerated EV-induced metastasis. Moreover, the EVs from IGF2BP1 knockdown melanoma cells inhibited fibronectin deposition and accumulation of CD45+ cells in the lungs compared with control EVs, thus blocking the pre-metastatic niche formation potential of EVs. IGF2BP1 knockdown did not affect size, number, or protein/RNA concentration of secreted EVs or their uptake by recipient cells in vitro or in vivo. However, RNA-sequencing and proteomics analysis of the EVs revealed differential expression in a number of mRNA, proteins, and miRNAs. This suggested that IGF2BP1 is intimately involved in the regulation of the cargo of EVs, thereby affecting the pro-metastatic function of melanoma-derived EVs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that demonstrates the role of RNA-binding protein IGF2BP1 in EV-mediated promotion of melanoma metastasis and may provide novel avenues for the development of metastatic inhibitors.
Evaluation of Oklahoma's Electronic Death Registration System and Event Fatality Markers for Disaster-Related Mortality Surveillance - Oklahoma USA, May 2013.

Introduction Official counts of deaths attributed to disasters are often under-reported, thus adversely affecting public health messaging designed to prevent further mortality. During the Oklahoma (USA) May 2013 tornadoes, Oklahoma State Health Department Division of Vital Records (VR; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma USA) piloted a flagging procedure to track tornado-attributed deaths within its Electronic Death Registration System (EDRS). To determine if the EDRS was capturing all tornado-attributed deaths, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; Atlanta, Georgia USA) evaluated three event fatality markers (EFM), which are used to collate information about deaths for immediate response and retrospective research efforts. Methods Oklahoma identified 48 tornado-attributed deaths through a retrospective review of hospital morbidity and mortality records. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; Atlanta, Georgia USA) analyzed the sensitivity, timeliness, and validity for three EFMs, which included: (1) a tornado-specific flag on the death record; (2) a tornado-related term in the death certificate; and (3) X37, the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) code in the death record for Victim of a Cataclysmic Storm, which includes tornadoes. Results The flag was the most sensitive EFM (89.6%; 43/48), followed by the tornado term (75.0%; 36/48), and the X37 code (56.2%; 27/48). The most-timely EFM was the flag, which took 2.0 median days to report (range 0-10 days), followed by the tornado term (median 3.5 days; range 1-21), and the X37 code (median g10 days; range 2-122). Over one-half (52.1%; 25/48) of the tornado-attributed deaths were missing at least one EFM. Twenty-six percent (11/43) of flagged records had no tornado term, and 44.1% (19/43) had no X37 code. Eleven percent (4/36) of records with a tornado term did not have a flag. Conclusion The tornado-specific flag was the most sensitive and timely EFM. Using the flag to collate death records and identify additional deaths without the tornado term and X37 code may improve immediate response and retrospective investigations. Moreover, each of the EFMs can serve as quality controls for the others to maximize capture of all disaster-attributed deaths from vital statistics records in the EDRS.Issa AN, Baker K, Pate D, Law R, Bayleyegn T, Noe RS. Evaluation of Oklahoma's Electronic Death Registration System and event fatality markers for disaster-related mortality surveillance - Oklahoma USA, May 2013. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2019;34(2):125-131.
Airway hypersensitivity induced by eosinophil granule-derived cationic proteins.

Abstract Vagal bronchopulmonary C-fiber sensory nerves play an important role in the manifestation of airway hypersensitivity , a common and prominent pathophysiological feature of airway inflammatory diseases . Eosinophil granule-derived cationic proteins are known to be involved in the mucosal damage and development of bronchial hyperresponsiveness during allergic airway inflammation . In view of these background information, we have carried out a series of studies to investigate the effect of cationic proteins on these C-fiber afferents and the mechanism(s) possibly involved; a summary of these studies is presented in this mini-review. Intra-tracheal instillation of either eosinophil granule-derived (e.g., major basic protein , MBP) or synthetic cationic proteins (e.g., poly- l -lysine) induced a sporadic, but intense and lingering discharge of pulmonary C-fibers, and greatly enhanced the chemical and mechanical sensitivities of these afferents in anesthetized rats. The stimulatory and sensitizing effects of these proteins were completely nullified when their cationic charges were neutralized or removed. Furthermore, in isolated rat bronchopulmonary capsaicin-sensitive neurons, eosinophil granule cationic proteins induced a direct and long-lasting (>60 min) but reversible sensitizing effect on their responses to chemical and electrical stimulations . More importantly, our study showed that these cationic proteins exerted an inhibitory effect on the sustained delayed-rectifier voltage-gated K + current and the A-type, fast-inactivating K+ current; these actions were at least in part responsible for the sensitizing effect in these neurons. In awake mice, intra-tracheal instillation of MBP also induced a slowly developing (peaking in 2–3 days), progressive and sustained (lasting for 3–7 days) elevation of the cough responses to inhaled irritant gases. Taken together, these findings suggest that the enhanced sensitivity of bronchopulmonary C-fibers induced by the eosinophil granule cationic proteins may be a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of bronchial hyperresponsiveness and chronic cough associated with eosinophilic infiltration of the airways.
Draft Genome Sequence of Xanthobacter tagetidis ATCC 700314 T

ABSTRACT Xanthobacter tagetidis is a thiophene-degrading bacterium associated with root balls of the plant genus Tagetes, which includes marigolds. It is a Gram-negative facultatively autotrophic bacterium with pleomorphic morphology exhibiting bent and branching rods. From strain TagT2CT (= ATCC 700314T), we report a genome assembly of 4,945,221 bp and a 69.5% G+C content.
The concept of ‘illness without disease’ impedes understanding of chronic fatigue syndrome: a response to Sharpe and Greco

In a recent article in Medical Humanities, Sharpe and Greco characterise myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) as an 'illness without disease', citing the absence of identified diagnostic markers. They attribute patients' rejection of psychological and behavioural interventions, such as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and graded exercise therapy (GET), to a 'paradox' resulting from a supposed failure to acknowledge that 'there is no good objective evidence of bodily disease'. In response, we explain that understandings about the causes of and treatments for medical complaints have shifted across centuries, and that conditions once thought to be 'psychosomatic' have later been determined to have physiological causes. We also note that Sharpe and Greco do not disclose that leading scientists and physicians believe that ME/CFS is a biomedical disease, and that numerous experts, not just patients, have rejected the research underlying the CBT/GET treatment approach. In conclusion, we remind investigators that medical classifications are always subject to revision based on subsequent research, and we therefore call for more humility before declaring categorically that patients are experiencing 'illness without disease'.
Teaching adults with developmental disabilities to problem solve using electronic flowcharts in a simulated vocational setting

Teaching job-related problem-solving skills may increase the likelihood that individuals with developmental disabilities obtain and maintain employment (Kaye et al., 2011; Peck & Kirkbride, 2001; Unger, 2002). In this study, we evaluated the use of electronic-based flowcharts on an iPod Touch as a form of self-instruction to increase problem solving skills with 2 men diagnosed with developmental disabilities. An instructor implemented behavioral skills training (BST) to teach the participants how to use an electronic flowchart to solve one problem and then evaluated the participants' use of electronic flowcharts to solve other types of problems, including those that required more than one solution. Results showed increases in problem solving skills across at least 2 problems that were not associated with BST and increases across all problem exemplars with verbal reminders and feedback. These findings have important implications for increasing independence on the job and decreasing intrusive and costly supports for those with disabilities.
A guided generative adversarial network demosaicing strategy for integrated microgrid polarimeter imagery

Division of focal plane (DoFP), or integrated microgrid imaging polarimeters, typically consist of a 2x2 mosaic of linear polarization filters overlaid upon a focal plane array sensor and obtain temporally synchronized polarized intensity measurements across a scene, similar in concept to a Bayer color filter array camera. However, the resulting estimated polarimetric images suffer a loss in resolution and can be plagued by aliasing due to the modulated microgrid measurement strategy. Demosaicing strategies have been proposed that attempt to minimize these effects, but result in some level of residual artifacts. In this work, we present a conditional and guided generative adversarial network (GAN) strategy for demosaicing integrated microgrid polarimeter imagery. The GAN is trained using high resolution polarized intensity measurements that contain minimal spatial aliasing artifacts obtained from a division-of-time polarimeter. We apply the algorithm to test data collected from real visible microgrid imagery and compare the results with other state-of-the-art microgrid demosaicing strategies.
Methods of calculating widths for decays to unbound states

Abstract I describe various techniques for computing widths for decay to daughter states that are themselves unbound. I present examples of their similarities and differences.
The Association between Patient Body Mass Index and Initial Procedure Performed as Treatment of Fibroids

Study Objective To compare the distribution of initial procedures performed as treatment of uterine fibroids between the different classes of patient body mass index (BMI). Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Academic medical center. Patients or Participants We included patients (N=1982) with known fibroids (based on ICD codes and ultrasound findings) who underwent a fibroid procedural intervention between 2008 and 2015. Interventions Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), myomectomy (excluding hysteroscopic procedures), or hysterectomy Measurements and Main Results The main exposure was patient BMI class: normal weight (n=498), overweight (n=518), and class I (n=413), II (n=260), and III (n=293) obesity. The main outcome was the first fibroid procedural intervention (UFE, myomectomy, or hysterectomy) performed during the study time period. Amongst women of normal weight who underwent a fibroid procedural intervention, 67.5% of the time this procedure was hysterectomy. Comparatively, overweight women and women with class I, II, and III obesity underwent hysterectomy as their initial procedure 71.4%, 77.7%, 78.1%, and 78.8% of the time (p Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for patient age, race, and the presence of the obesity-related comorbidities of hypertension, diabetes, and obstructive sleep apnea. When compared to women of normal weight, women with class I (aOR 1.8, 95% CI 1.3-2.5, p Conclusion Obese women were significantly more likely to undergo hysterectomy as their initial fibroid procedural intervention as opposed to uterine-preserving procedures, even when adjusted for key factors that may influence a patient's and surgeon's decision regarding operative management. Future studies elaborating on indication for surgery and fibroid burden may shed light on this phenomenon.