cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
When Onset Meets Desistance: Cognitive Transformation and Adolescent Marijuana Experimentation

Purpose Desistance scholars primarily focus on changing social roles, cognitive transformations, and shifting identities to understand the cessation of serious crime and illicit drug use in adulthood. In the current study, we move the spotlight away from adulthood and toward adolescence, the developmental stage when the prevalence of offending and substance use peak and desistance from most of these behaviors begins. Our primary hypothesis is that changes in perceived psychic rewards surrounding initial forays into marijuana use strongly predict adolescents’ decisions to cease or persist that behavior. In addition, based on social learning expectations, we hypothesize that peer perceptions and behaviors provide mechanisms for perceptual change.
Effect of airfoil leading edge waviness on flow structures and noise

Purpose – The tubercles at the leading edge of Humpback Whale flippers have been shown to increase aerodynamic efficiency. The purpose of this paper is to compute the flow structures and noise signature of a NACA0012 airfoil with and without leading edge waviness, and located in the wake of a cylinder using the hybrid RANS-LES method. Design/methodology/approach – The mean flow Mach number is 0.2 and the angle of attack used is 2°. After benchmarking the method using existing experimental results, unsteady computations were then carried-out on both airfoil geometries and for a 2° angle of attack. Findings – Results from these computations confirmed the aerodynamic benefits of the leading edge waviness. Moreover, the wavy leading edge airfoil was found to be at least 4 dB quieter than its non-wavy counterpart. In-depth analysis of the computational results revealed that the wavy leading edge airfoil breaks up the large coherent structures which are then convected at higher speeds down the trough region of ...
Approach to Patient Referred for Vascular Mapping

The population of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in the USA is progressively increasing, with hemodialysis (HD) as the major mode of renal replacement therapy. The National Kidney Foundation’s Dialysis Outcomes and Quality Initiative and the Fistula First Initiative recommend increasing the use of arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) in both incident and prevalent hemodialysis patients. The use of preoperative vascular mapping to assess the presence of suitable vessels among both pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) and ESRD patients on HD has been shown to increase the AVF placement rate. This chapter aims to review the approach to the patient who has presented for vascular mapping, the various techniques (physical examination, ultrasonography, and angiography) currently available for venous mapping, as well as their effect on AVF creation and use.
Jewry and ‘the Orient’

A considerable detour is needed before it is possible to approach the question of Jewish interest in Asia, and more particularly India, at least so far as a certain group of thinkers was concerned. The theme is complicated by the fact that, from a Jewish perspective, ‘the East’ has three separate associations. The first is the obvious matter of geographical location, that is all that falls east of Suez. The second concerns Eastern Jewry and the connotation of the Ostjude both as a self-referring term and as used by Jews in the west, especially German Jews. The third connotation is graven in the minds and hearts of those who survived the Shoah. The ‘east’ meant Auschwitz and the other camps which spelt the last stop on the road to extinction. In what follows, the first two of these will be looked into by way of introduction.
SAGES History and Commitment to Education and Safety

Thirty years ago, a small group of visionary surgeons banded together to focus on the idea that flexible endoscopy was important to the practice of gastrointestinal surgeons. They came together at a time when it was unclear whether or not surgeons would continue to do flexible endoscopy or whether these procedures would completely fall in the realm of the gastroenterologists.
Long-term results on the efficacy of argon plasma coagulation for patients with chronic radiation proctitis after conventionally fractionated, dose-escalated radiation therapy for prostate cancer

Abstract Purpose This study was designed to assess the efficacy and outcomes of argon plasma coagulation (APC) in the management of chronic radiation proctitis after conventionally fractionated, dose-escalated radiation therapy (≥7560 cGy). Methods and materials We retrospectively reviewed the charts on all patients treated with external beam radiation therapy (minimum dose, 7560 cGy) for histologically confirmed prostate cancer at our institution from 2003 to 2011. Five hundred patients met these criteria; of these, 35 patients (7.0%) developed radiation proctitis necessitating intervention with APC. Indications for APC treatment were either the need for blood transfusions resulting from proctitis-related anemia or refractory bleeding despite medical management. Results The median follow-up from the completion of radiation treatment was 78 months (range, 19-129) and the median follow up from the most recent APC treatment was 56 months (range, 3-112). Fifteen men (42.9%) needed blood transfusions because of proctitis-related anemia. For 19 patients (54.3%), bleeding was controlled after 1 or 2 treatments. Eventual bleeding control was obtained in 30 patients (85.7%). The median number of sessions per patient was 2 (range, 1-13). Post-APC ulceration was noted in 8 cases (22.9%). Two patients (5.7%) developed colovesicular fistulas, with 1 patient dying from this complication. A short interval between treatments (≤35 days) was associated with an increased risk of ulcer or fistula formation. Conclusions APC is an effective treatment for patients with medically refractive radiation proctitis after dose-escalated radiation therapy, frequently controlling bleeding after only one or two sessions. However, rectal ulceration is a common complication, along with a small risk of life-threatening toxicity.
Pacific Micromount Symposium: Pasadena California

(1984). Pacific Micromount Symposium: Pasadena California. Rocks & Minerals: Vol. 59, No. 6, pp. 278-279.
Comparing the Approval and Coverage Decisions of New Oncology Drugs in the United States and Other Selected Countries.

This article has been corrected. Please see J Manag Care Spec Pharmacy. 23(5):601-04. BACKGROUND: Global pharmaceutical sales for anticancer drugs were $74.4 billion in 2014, ranking first for drugs by therapeutic class. Countries may differ substantially in the approval and coverage decisions for anticancer drugs. OBJECTIVE: To compare the approval and coverage decisions for new anticancer drugs between the United States and 4 other countries: the United Kingdom, France, Australia, and Canada. METHODS: We identified all new anticancer drug indications approved by the FDA between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2013. For each country, we reviewed the organizations, processes, criteria, and special considerations used to make approval and coverage decisions for the drug indications approved. We further quantified and compared the variations across the 5 countries in the approval and coverage decisions as of June 30, 2014, for new anticancer drug indications. RESULTS: Of 45 anticancer drug indications app...
Injectable Filler Materials For Soft-Tissue Augmentation

The concept of non-surgical implantation of injectable filler materials for soft-tissue augmentation has always been an attractive option for the head and neck surgeon. The ideal injectable soft tissue filler material would be easy to use, biocompatible, nontoxic, and long-lasting. Presently available filler materials present significant drawbacks to their use. The most favorable filler materials appear to be autologous fat and microparticulate alloplasts. This article reviews presently used injectable filler materials and those that may be used in the future.
Factors influencing college women's contraceptive behavior: An application of the integrative model of behavioral prediction.

ABSTRACTObjective: This study investigated variables within the Integrative Model of Behavioral Prediction (IMBP) as well as differences across socioeconomic status (SES) levels within the context of inconsistent contraceptive use among college women. Participants: A nonprobability sample of 515 female college students completed an Internet-based survey between November 2014 and February 2015. Methods: Respondents were asked about their contraception use, knowledge and information sources, demographic information, and IMBP factors, including attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioral control (PBC). Results: While overall attitudes, norms, PBC, and intentions for contraceptive use were high, only 46.8% of women used contraception consistently. Data also revealed only moderate levels of knowledge about contraception. While there were no differences across SES levels for attitudes, PBC, norms or knowledge, SES levels did differ in sources used to acquire contraceptive information. Conclusions: This study hig...
Grf10 and Bas1 Regulate Transcription of Adenylate and One-Carbon Biosynthesis Genes and Affect Virulence in the Human Fungal Pathogen Candida albicans .

ABSTRACT Candida albicans is an opportunistic human fungal pathogen that causes superficial fungal infections and lethal systemic infections. To colonize and establish infections, C. albicans coordinates the expression of virulence and metabolic genes. Previous work showed that the homeodomain transcription factor Grf10 is required for formation of hyphae, a virulence factor. Here we report global gene expression analysis of a grf10Δ strain using a DNA microarray and identify genes for de novo adenylate biosynthesis (ADE genes), one-carbon metabolism, and a nucleoside permease (NUP). Upregulation of these genes in response to adenine limitation required both Grf10 and the myb protein Bas1, as shown by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Phenotypic analysis showed that both mutants exhibited growth defects when grown in the absence of adenine, and the doubling time was slower for the bas1Δ mutant. Bas1 is required for basal expression of these genes, whereas NUP expression is more dependent upon Grf10. Disruption of BAS1 led to only modest defects in hypha formation and weak attenuation of virulence in a systemic mouse model of infection, as opposed to the previously reported strong effects found in the grf10Δ mutant. Our data are consistent with a model in which Grf10 coordinates metabolic effects on nucleotide metabolism by interaction with Bas1 and indicate that AMP biosynthesis and its regulation are important for C. albicans growth and virulence. IMPORTANCECandida albicans is a commensal and a common constituent of the human microbiota; however, it can become pathogenic and cause infections in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised people. C. albicans exhibits remarkable metabolic versatility as it can colonize multiple body sites as a commensal or pathogen. Understanding how C. albicans adapts metabolically to each ecological niche is essential for developing novel therapeutic approaches. Purine metabolism has been targeted pharmaceutically in several diseases; however, the regulation of this pathway has not been fully elucidated in C. albicans. Here, we report how C. albicans controls the AMP de novo biosynthesis pathway in response to purine availability. We show that the lack of the transcription factors Grf10 and Bas1 leads to purine metabolic dysfunction, and this dysfunction affects the ability of C. albicans to establish infections.
The Role of Prebiotics and Probiotics in Gastrointestinal Disease

With the advent of the scientific realization that the microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract was more than the cells that exist in the body, the full importance of prebiotics and probiotics has come forth. The importance has been stressed and is available in the new textbook entitled, "The Microbiota in Gastrointestinal Pathophysiology: Implication for Human Health, Prebiotics, Probiotics and Dysbiosis." There is enough evidence now published in the literature so that the scientific world now believes that prebiotics and probiotics are important in gastrointestinal disease.
It's Complicated: Organizational Support of Pregnant Workers and New Mothers

Unfortunately, discrimination against pregnant workers and new mothers still abounds. Focus on these issues both in research and in the popular press (e.g. Hymowitz, 2013) has driven some organizat...
Severe hypoglycaemia, mild cognitive impairment, dementia and brain volumes in older adults with type 2 diabetes: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) cohort study.

We aimed to evaluate the link between severe hypoglycaemia and domain-specific cognitive decline, smaller brain volumes and dementia in adults with type 2 diabetes, which so far has been relatively poorly characterised. We included participants with diagnosed diabetes from the community-based Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. At the participants’ fifth study visit (2011–2013), we examined the cross-sectional associations of severe hypoglycaemia with cognitive status, brain volumes and prior 15 year cognitive decline. We also conducted a prospective survival analysis of incident dementia from baseline, visit 4 (1996–1998), to 31 December 2013. Severe hypoglycaemia was identified, using ICD-9 codes, from hospitalisations, emergency department visits and ambulance records. Prior cognitive decline was defined as change in neuropsychological test scores from visit 4 (1996–1998) to visit 5 (2011–2013). At visit 5, a subset of participants underwent brain MRIs. Analyses were adjusted for demographics, APOE genotype, use of diabetes medication, duration of diabetes and glycaemic control. Among 2001 participants with diabetes at visit 5 (mean age 76 years), a history of severe hypoglycaemia (3.1% of participants) was associated with dementia (vs normal cognitive status): OR 2.34 (95% CI 1.04, 5.27). In the subset of participants who had undergone brain MRI (n = 580), hypoglycaemia was associated with smaller total brain volume (−0.308 SD, 95% CI −0.612, −0.004). Hypoglycaemia was nominally associated with a 15 year cognitive change (−0.14 SD, 95% CI −0.34, 0.06). In prospective analysis (n = 1263), hypoglycaemia was strongly associated with incident dementia (HR 2.54, 95% CI 1.78, 3.63). Our results demonstrate a strong link between severe hypoglycaemia and poor cognitive outcomes, suggesting a need for discussion of appropriate diabetes treatments for high-risk older adults.
The Femtosecond Laser: a New Tool for Refractive and Corneal Surgery

The FS laser permits photodisruption of the cornea at low energy levels and with high precision, making it a very useful tool for corneal surgery. The flexibility of the laser platform permits the customization of LASIK flaps, as well as the production of unique trephination patterns in penetrating and lamellar keratoplasties. While offering an excellent safety profile, the FS laser also produces LASIK outcomes that are equivalent, or slightly superior to those of blade-based microkeratomes. As clinical experience with this new technology accrues, rapid expansion into other varieties of anterior segment surgery is anticipated.
Two independent Bernoulli arms; uniform discounting

In this chapter we assume that k = 2 and the arms are Bernoulli. The arms are independent initially, and therefore also henceforth. The discount sequence A has horizon n and is uniform: a l = ... = a n = 1 and a n+1 = a n+2 = ... = 0. Such uniform discounting has been considered extensively through examples in the first five chapters of this book, and in the literature generally. The objective implicit in uniform discounting is to maximize the expected sum of the first n observations.
Ultrafast Energy Transfer Involving the Red Chlorophylls of Cyanobacterial Photosystem I Probed through Two-Dimensional Electronic Spectroscopy

Photosystem I (PSI) is a naturally occurring light-harvesting complex that drives oxygenic photosynthesis through a series of photoinitiated transmembrane electron transfer reactions that occur with a high quantum efficiency. Understanding the mechanism by which this process occurs is fundamental to understanding the near-unity quantum efficiency of PSI and in turn could lead to further insight into PSI-based technologies for solar energy conversion. In this article, we have applied two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy to PSI complexes isolated from two different cyanobacterial strains to gain further insight into the ultrafast energy transfer in PSI. The PSI complexes studied differ in the number and absorption of the red chlorophylls, chlorophylls that lie to lower energies than the reaction center. By applying a global analysis to the 2D electronic spectra of the PSI complexes we extract 2D decay associated spectra (2D-DAS). Through analysis of the 2D-DAS we observe a 50 fs relaxation among the bulk...
Using Agent-based Modeling to Test Conflicting Effects on Technology Adoption Within Organizations

The studies of technology (or more broadly, innovation) adoption in firms have many different views on the adoption process and the types and interactions of factors that lead to the eventual use o...
A Dynamic Data-Driven Stochastic State-Awareness Framework for the Next Generation of Bio-inspired Fly-by-Feel Aerospace Vehicles

A novel Data-driven State Awareness (DSA) framework is introduced for the next generation of intelligent “fly-by-feel” aerospace vehicles. The proposed framework is based on two entities: (i) bio-inspired networks of micro-sensors that can provide real-time information on the dynamic aeroelastic response of the structure and (ii) a stochastic “global” identification approach for representing the system dynamics under varying flight states and uncertainty. The evaluation and assessment of the proposed DSA framework is based on a prototype bio-inspired self-sensing intelligent composite wing subjected to a series of wind tunnel experiments under multiple flight states. A total of 148 micro-sensors, including piezoelectric, strain, and temperature sensors, are embedded in the layup of the composite wing in order to provide the sensing capabilities. A novel data-driven stochastic “global” identification approach based on functionally pooled time series models and statistical parameter estimation techniques is employed in order to accurately interpret the sensing data and extract information on the wing aeroelastic behavior and dynamics. The methods’s cornerstone lies in the new class of Vector-dependent Functionally Pooled (VFP) models which allow for the analytical inclusion of both airspeed and angle of attack (AoA) in the model parameters and, hence, system dynamics. Special emphasis is given to the wind tunnel experimental assessment under various flight states, each defined by a distinct pair of airspeed and AoA. The obtained results demonstrate the high achievable accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed state-awareness framework, thus opening new perspectives for enabling the next generation of “fly-by-feel” aerospace vehicles.
A phenotypic Caenorhabditis elegans screen identifies a selective suppressor of antipsychotic-induced hyperphagia

Antipsychotic (AP) drugs are used to treat psychiatric disorders but are associated with significant weight gain and metabolic disease. Increased food intake (hyperphagia) appears to be a driving force by which APs induce weight gain but the mechanisms are poorly understood. Here we report that administration of APs to C. elegans induces hyperphagia by a mechanism that is genetically distinct from basal food intake. We exploit this finding to screen for adjuvant drugs that suppress AP-induced hyperphagia in C. elegans and mice. In mice AP-induced hyperphagia is associated with a unique hypothalamic gene expression signature that is abrogated by adjuvant drug treatment. Genetic analysis of this signature using C. elegans identifies two transcription factors, nhr-25/Nr5a2 and nfyb-1/NFYB to be required for AP-induced hyperphagia. Our study reveals that AP-induced hyperphagia can be selectively suppressed without affecting basal food intake allowing for novel drug discovery strategies to combat AP-induced metabolic side effects. The molecular pathway(s) driving antipsychotics (AP) induced hyperphagia remains unclear. A novel C. elegans system is used here to screen for FDA approved drugs that selectively suppresses this response, unraveling potential molecular mediators influencing AP induced hyperphagia in mouse models.
The Successional Changes in the Gut Microbiome of Pasture-Raised Chickens Fed Soy-Containing and Soy-Free Diets

The succession of bacterial species as birds mature can impact their growth efficiency, health, and food safety due to the ability of a mature gastrointestinal microbial population to exclude opportunistic pathogenic bacteria from colonization. There has been an increase in the number of chickens fed a soy-free diet compared to the standard soybean-containing rations in pastured poultry. Therefore, the present study was designed to describe the impacts of feeding a soy-containing (SOY) or a soy-free diet (SF) on the bacterial succession in the gut of pasture-raised chickens. In order to compare microbiome compositions as birds aged, 16s rRNA gene sequencing was performed on the gastrointestinal tract of 1-day-old birds, on fecal material obtained at different ages, and on the cecal contents collected at slaughter from broilers fed each of the 2 diets. Results showed that at the phylum level, regardless of diet and birds’ stage of life, there was a predominance of the phylum Firmicutes, which ranged from 50 to 90% of all OTUs in all samples. Moreover, the number of observed OTUs significantly increased (P < 0.001) as birds in the SF diet grew older; however, no significant variations (P = 0.11) in this trait were observed as birds in the SOY diet aged. Shannon Diversity indices calculated for birds in both diets had greater values (P < 0.001) in the cecal contents of adult birds collected at slaughter, compared to samples obtained at earlier ages. Also in spite of which diet was offered, the abundance of Oscillospira, Faecalibacterium, Ruminococcus, and 2 unidentified genera from the orders Clostridiales and RF39 all increased as birds aged, while abundance of Lactobacillus decreased. The predicted metabolic functions using microbiome data showed no differences (P  0.26) in metabolism of amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids, and energy for both diets. These findings demonstrate that, under these experimental conditions, while diet modulates some microbial changes in the gut of pasture-raised chicken, overall, a similar successional pattern is observed for both diets. Moreover, the resulting metabolic functions are very similar between diets regardless of age.
Investigation of a DD 2 Q Pad Structure for High Power Inductive Power Transfer

Limiting the leakage magnetic fields generated by the primary and secondary coils is an important consideration for high power inductive power transfer. This work presents a decoupled stack of multiple coils as a potential solution to enable high power wireless power transfer by allowing three-phase operation with lower individual coil voltages and currents. The proposed DD2Q pad draws on some of the advantages of square and DD shaped coils while maintaining reasonably low leakage magnetic fields. The magnetic field interactions in the DD2Q pad are analyzed and the pad's performance is compared with optimal square and DD shaped pads.
Abstract C120: The tumor suppressor role of STXBP6 in triple negative breast cancer

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer (BC) that accounts for approximately 15–20% of all BCs. Additionally, TNBC presents with a poor prognosis mainly due to the lack of effective therapeutic options. For this reason, numerous studies have focused to find the potential molecular targets. Syntaxin binding protein 6, encoded by STXBP6, was initially identified in regulating the formation of the SNARE complex and cytogenesis. It has been reported to be associated with many diseases, such as diabetes, autism and systemic lupus erythematosus. However, there are no studies revealing its biological role and its epigenetic regulation in TNBC. Thus, herein we aim to demonstrate antitumor implications of STXBP6 in TNBC. In this study first, we explored the clinical significance of STXBP6 in cancer. Pan-cancer profiling using TCGA data sets identified aberrant expression of STXBP6 in different cancer types. Importantly, we identified significant down regulation of STXBP6 in TNBC samples. Moreover, significantly improved survival rates were observed in patients when STXBP6 expression levels high. The concurrent analysis between gene expression and methylation of STXBP6 highlighted a clear negative correlation. When the luminal subtype and TNBC subtype of BC cells were treated with demethylating agent 5-aza-2’-deoxycytidine, we observed an increase in the expression of STXBP6 in TNBC cells only which further support the regulatory role of DNA methylation in the control of STXBP6 expression in TNBC. Next, we elucidated the function of STXBP6 in TNBC cells. Overexpression of STXBP6 in TNBC cells significantly decreased cell proliferation, colony formation and increased apoptosis. In summary, these findings highlight the suppression effect of STXBP6 on TNBC progression and could be a novel prognostic and therapeutic target for TNBC in the future. Key Words: STXBP6, Gene Expression, Methylation, Tumor Suppressor, Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Citation Format: Govinda Lenka, Jingxuan Shan, Sirin Abuaqel, Lotfi Chouchane. The tumor suppressor role of STXBP6 in triple negative breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2019 Oct 26-30; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2019;18(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C120. doi:10.1158/1535-7163.TARG-19-C120
Impacts of High Variable Renewable Energy Futures on Electric-Sector Decision Making: Demand-Side Effects

Author(s): Seel, Joachim; Mills, Andrew D; Warner, Cody; Paulos, Bentham; Wiser, Ryan H | Abstract: Previous work by the Berkeley Lab describes how high shares of variable renewable energy (VRE) such as wind and solar power could change wholesale electricity price dynamics. These include the timing of when electricity is cheap or expensive, locational differences in the cost of electricity, and the degree of regularity or predictability in those costs. Many decentralized decision-makers on the demand-side may not yet have considered the implications of these possible future changes. In this report, we evaluate the sensitivity of a set of demand-side decisions to different levels of VRE penetration ranging from a low of 5-20% to a high of 40-50%. The analysis builds on hourly wholesale energy and capacity prices in different VRE scenarios for four wholesale markets in the United States for the year 2030 (CAISO, ERCOT, NYISO, and SPP). The principal question for this exploration is whether private and public electric-sector decisions that are made based on assumptions reflecting low VRE levels still achieve their intended objective in a high VRE scenario with 40-50% wind and solar? This scoping report evaluates the impacts of changing patterns of peak system needs on the benefits of demand reductions by examining the altered value of different energy efficiency (EE) measures. Similarly, we investigate new opportunities for large energy consumers that may arise from periods with very low wholesale electricity prices. We calculate the value of new process investments (e.g., hydrogen production and other generalized electro-commodities), showcase the varying value of new product storage investments (such as reservoir extensions at a desalination plant), and estimate the benefits of increased process flexibility that uses electricity as a process-input in addition to traditional fossil fuels (e.g., district energy systems). Finally, many decentralized decision-makers and end-use customers are not directly exposed to wholesale electricity prices but instead receive price signals from their retail electricity rates. As wind and solar shares increase, we compare the economic efficiency of flat retail rates relative to more dynamic time-of-use tariffs with and without critical peak-pricing events.
Literary Black Power in the Caribbean: Fiction, Music and Film

Literary Black Power in the Caribbean focuses on the Black Power movement in the anglophone Caribbean as represented and critically debated in literary texts, music and film. This volume is groundbreaking in its focus on the creative arts and artists in their evaluations of, and insights on, the relevance of the Black Power message across the region. The author takes a cultural studies approach to bring together the political with the aesthetic, enriching an already fertile debate on the era and the subject of Black Power in the Caribbean region. The chapters discuss various aspects of Black Power in the Caribbean: on the pages of journals and magazines, at contemporary conferences that radicalized academia to join forces with communities, in fiction and essays by writers and intellectuals, in calypso and reggae music, and in the first films produced in the Caribbean. Produced at the 50th anniversary of the 1970 Black Power Revolution in Port of Spain, Trinidad, this timely book will be of interest to students and academics focusing on Black Power, Caribbean literary and cultural studies, African diaspora, and Global South radical political and cultural theory.
Increased usability, algorithmic improvements and incorporation of data mining for structure calculation of proteins with REDCRAFT software package.

Traditional approaches to elucidation of protein structures by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (NMR) rely on distance restraints also known as Nuclear Overhauser effects (NOEs). The use of NOEs as the primary source of structure determination by NMR spectroscopy is time consuming and expensive. Residual Dipolar Couplings (RDCs) have become an alternate approach for structure calculation by NMR spectroscopy. In previous works, the software package REDCRAFT has been presented as a means of harnessing the information containing in RDCs for structure calculation of proteins. However, to meet its full potential, several improvements to REDCRAFT must be made. In this work, we present improvements to REDCRAFT that include increased usability, better interoperability, and a more robust core algorithm. We have demonstrated the impact of the improved core algorithm in the successful folding of the protein 1A1Z with as high as ±4 Hz of added error. The REDCRAFT computed structure from the highly corrupted data exhibited less than 1.0 A with respect to the X-ray structure. We have also demonstrated the interoperability of REDCRAFT in a few instances including with PDBMine to reduce the amount of required data in successful folding of proteins to unprecedented levels. Here we have demonstrated the successful folding of the protein 1D3Z (to within 2.4 A of the X-ray structure) using only N-H RDCs from one alignment medium. The additional GUI features of REDCRAFT combined with the NEF compliance have significantly increased the flexibility and usability of this software package. The improvements of the core algorithm have substantially improved the robustness of REDCRAFT in utilizing less experimental data both in quality and quantity.
Federal Judge Overturns USA PATRIOT Act NSL Provisions

Late last week a federal court declared portions of the USA PATRIOT Act dealing with National Security Letters (NSLs) to be unconstitutional. The court found that the NSL secrecy requirements violated the First Amendment rights of NSL recipients. In addition, the court found that the PATRIOT Act did not provide an adequate opportunity for judicial review of NSLs. While NSLs have been around since the 1970's, the USA PATRIOT Act dramatically broadened the scope of their use. In a 107 page opinion, federal judge Victor Marrero determined that neither the original PATRIOT Act, nor the 2006 revisions adequately protected the constitutional rights of NSL recipients.
Democratizing AI in biomedical image classification using virtual reality

Artificial intelligence models can produce powerful predictive computer vision tools for healthcare. However, their development simultaneously requires computational skill as well as biomedical expertise. This barrier often impedes the wider utilization of AI in professional environments since biomedical experts often lack software development skills. We present the first development environment where a user with no prior training can build near-expert level convolutional neural network classifiers on real-world datasets. Our key contribution is a simplified environment in virtual reality where the user can build, compute, and critique a model. Through a controlled user study, we show that our software enables biomedical researchers and healthcare professionals with no AI development experience to build AI models with near-expert performance. We conclude that the potential role for AI in the biomedical domain can be realized more effectively by making its development more intuitive for non-technical domain experts using novel modes of interaction.
Examining momentary associations between behavioral approach system indices and nonsuicidal self-injury urges

Abstract Background The current study aimed to examine the concurrent and prospective relationships between the three hypothesized components of behavioral approach system (BAS) sensitivity: drive, reflecting the motivation to pursue one's desired goals; reward responsiveness, reflecting sensitivity to reward or reinforcement; and fun-seeking, reflecting the motivation for pursuing novel rewards in a spontaneous manner, and NSSI urge severity. Methods A sample of 64 undergraduates with a history of repetitive NSSI completed an ecological momentary assessment protocol. During this period of time, participants reported on the BAS-constructs of drive, reward responsiveness, and fun-seeking, as well as NSSI urge severity on a momentary basis at three random intervals each day for a period of ten-days. Results Drive and reward responsiveness, but not fun-seeking, were concurrently positively associated with NSSI urge severity. However, no associations between BAS facets and prospective NSSI urges were found. Limitations This study was limited by its use of single items to assess the BAS-constructs of drive, reward responsiveness, and fun-seeking. Conclusions Our findings indicate that feeling strongly impacted by rewards and having a strong sense of drive toward goal attainment may represent cognitive risk states that are associated with increased within-person NSSI risk. However, their lack of prospective prediction may suggest that these cognitive states are associated only on a momentary basis with NSSI urges and may not confer risk.
Morphological diversity within the Ozark minnow (Notropis nubilus: Leuciscidae)

The Ozark minnow, Notropis nubilus, is a small stream fish that has a disjunct distribution in the Ozark Plateau and upper Mississippi River basin. Three reciprocally monophyletic and deeply divergent lineages have been hypothesized within the species based on molecular data. These lineages are allopatric and isolated from each other. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that these lineages and the disjunct population in the upper Mississippi River basin are morphologically distinct. Meristic and geometric morphometric data were used to identify and quantify morphological diversity within the Ozark minnow. Analyses of the meristic data and a principal component analysis of the morphometric data were unable to find any noticeable differences in morphology among groups. However, canonical variates analyses of the morphometric data and linear models were able to define statistically significant differences in shape. Analyses of all-individuals were able to identify shape differences between all groups. Males-only analyses were less conclusive, but there was some indication that males may be diverging more quickly than all-individuals. The detection of subtle variation in shape implies selection is not a strong factor in morphological divergence and observed differences are most likely due to morphological drift. This indicates that the lineages within the Ozark minnow are likely on the trajectory for speciation. The allopatric nature of these clades makes the Ozark minnow an interesting model for the study of morphological drift and speciation.
Symmetric-Galerkin boundary element analysis of the dynamic T-stress for the interaction of a crack with an auxetic inclusion

Abstract In this work, the symmetric-Galerkin boundary element method (SGBEM) for 2-D elastodynamics in the Laplace-space frequency domain (Laplace domain) is employed to study the dynamic stress intensity factors (DSIFs) and the dynamic T-stress (DTS) during the interaction between a crack and an auxetic inclusion under impact loading conditions. It is found that, while the auxeticity has virtually no effect on the DSIFs, its influence on the DTS is noticeable. This finding is particularly important as it implies the imperative need of fracture criteria based on both the DSIFs and DTS for predicting crack growth in composite materials with auxetic phases.
Enforceability of noncompetition covenants in physician employment contracts. Confusion in the courts.

(1986). Enforceability of noncompetition covenants in physician employment contracts: Confusion in the courts. Journal of Legal Medicine: Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 234-262.
The Adaptability and Breeding of Suitable Grasses for the Southeastern States

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the adaptability and breeding of suitable grasses for the southeastern states in the United States. Accurately evaluating grasses for pastures is a difficult and an expensive operation. Most agronomists begin the task by planting the grasses in rows or plots in pure stand. There they are allowed to grow undisturbed, and if they fail to survive the first 12 months, they are usually written off as having no value. Dallis grass, recognized as one of the best pasture grasses in the south, makes a poor showing in such a planting. Plantings of Dallis grass at Tifton, Georgia, which were never grazed or mowed, were found to make good growth during the first part of the summer, but died out by fall. The combined effect of the foliage diseases that build up in the accumulated mass of leaves and the heading process was thought to be responsible for these results. Tall fescue, another promising grass in the south, makes a poor record in such a planting if it is not well fertilized. This chapter describes the problem of evaluating grasses. Different types of grasses are discussed in detail in the chapter.
AQUATIC MICROBIAL ECOLOGY--RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES

In this paper, I will restrict my comments to heterotrophic microorganisms. While the marine environment will be stressed, I will try to show where the questions, concepts, and techniques are applicable to fresh waters, as well as other environments.
Myne-1, a spectrin repeat transmembrane protein of the myocyte inner nuclear membrane, interacts with lamin A/C

Mutations in the genes encoding the inner nuclear membrane proteins lamin A/C and emerin produce cardiomyopathy and muscular dystrophy in humans and mice. The mechanism by which these broadly expressed gene products result in tissue-specific dysfunction is not known. We have identified a protein of the inner nuclear membrane that is highly expressed in striated and smooth muscle. This protein, myne-1 (myocyte nuclear envelope), is predicted to have seven spectrin repeats, an interrupted LEM domain and a single transmembrane domain at its C-terminus. We found that myne-1 is expressed upon early muscle differentiation in multiple intranuclear foci concomitant with lamin A/C expression. In mature muscle, myne-1 and lamin A/C are perfectly colocalized, although colocalization with emerin is only partial. Moreover, we show that myne-1 and lamin A/C coimmunoprecipitate from differentiated muscle in vitro. The muscle-specific inner nuclear envelope expression of myne-1, along with its interaction with lamin A/C, indicates that this gene is a potential mediator of cardiomyopathy and muscular dystrophy.
Morphophonology of Mengrelian Preverbal Markers and Structure of PF

The paper examines the preverbal markers in Mengrelian as the possible loci of post-syntactic phonological rules that affect the allomorphy of these preverbs. The goal of the paper is to pinpoint the series of these rules and the extent to which the final form of the derived material changes as a result of their application. The phonological rules are examined in light of cyclic and post-cyclic processes that have different local domains of application such as nested constituents for the former and entire words for the latter (Halle & Nevins, 2009). It is shown that that phonological rules may obscure the derivation of surface forms from underlying representations and that the meaning of preverbal markers may not be kept as a result of these changes. The paper concludes that the derivational view of morphology such as Distributed Morphology (Halle & Marantz, 1993) should be modified to accommodate these data. Keywords : cyclic, post-cyclic, phonological rule, preverb, PF
Reactive greenhouse gas scenarios: Systematic exploration of uncertainties and the role of atmospheric chemistry

Knowledge of the atmospheric chemistry of reactive greenhouse gases is needed to accurately quantify the relationship between human activities and climate, and to incorporate uncertainty in our projections of greenhouse gas abundances. We present a method for estimating the fraction of greenhouse gases attributable to human activities, both currently and for future scenarios. Key variables used to calculate the atmospheric chemistry and budgets of major non-CO2greenhouse gases are codified along with their uncertainties, and then used to project budgets and abundances under the new climate-change scenarios. This new approach uses our knowledge of changing abundances and lifetimes to estimate current total anthropogenic emissions, independently and possibly more accurately than inventory-based scenarios. We derive a present-day atmospheric lifetime for methane (CH4) of 9.1 ± 0.9 y and anthropogenic emissions of 352 ± 45 Tg/y (64% of total emissions). For N2O, corresponding values are 131 ± 10 y and 6.5 ± 1.3 TgN/y (41% of total); and for HFC-134a, the lifetime is 14.2 ± 1.5 y.
Evidence against Anandamide as the Hyperpolarizing Factor Mediating the Nitric Oxide-Independent Coronary Vasodilator Effect of Bradykinin in the Rat

The mediator of nitric oxide-(NO) independent vasodilation attributed to endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor remains unidentified although there is evidence for a cytochrome P450-derived eicosanoid. Anandamide, the ethanolamide of arachidonic acid and an endogenous ligand for cannabinoid receptors, was proposed as an endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor-mediating mesenteric vasodilation to acetylcholine and the hypotensive effect of bradykinin. Using pharmacological interventions that attenuate responses to bradykinin, we examined the possibility of anandamide as a mediator of the NO-independent vasodilator effect of bradykinin in the rat perfused heart by determining responses to anandamide and arachidonic acid. Hearts were treated with indomethacin to exclude prostaglandins and nitroarginine to inhibit NO synthesis and elevate perfusion pressure. The cannabinoid receptor antagonist, SR 141716A (2 μM), reduced dose-dependent vasodilator responses to anandamide (1–10 μg) but was without effect on responses to AA (1–10 μg), bradykinin (10–1000 ng) or cromakalim (1–10 μg). Inhibition of voltage-dependent Ca++ channels with nifedipine (5 nM) attenuated vasodilation to anandamide and arachidonic acid whereas inhibition of Ca++-activated K+ channels with charybdotoxin (10 nM) reduced responses to arachidonic acid but had no effect on vasodilation induced by anandamide. Inhibition of cytochrome P450 with clotrimazole (1 μM) greatly reduced vasodilator responses to bradykinin with less effect on those to anandamide. Finally, the time course of the coronary vasodilator responses to anandamide and bradykinin were dissimilar. These results argue against a role of anandamide in the vasodilator effect of bradykinin in the rat heart.
Imprinted Polysilsesquioxanes for the Enhanced Recognition of Metal Ions

Imprinting techniques have been used to synthesize organic−inorganic hybrid polymers with ionic recognition characteristics. 1,2-bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane (BTSE) monomers were copolymerized with metal ion complexes of N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ethylenediamine ((TMS)en) in the presence of supramolecular assemblies of cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), via room temperature, hydrolytic, sol−gel procedures. Subsequent extraction of the surfactant and metal ions results in a porous material with a high affinity for the metal ion template. Selective sorbents have been synthesized for Cu(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II). Adsorption studies indicate that these materials preferentially sequester the metal ion template from mixed solutions and exhibit fast uptake kinetics. These materials have been characterized by nitrogen gas adsorption, small-angle X-ray scattering, solid state 13C NMR, and UV−visible spectroscopy.
Effects of Particle Size on the Fusion of Soda–Lime–Silicate Glass Containing NaCl

The coupled effects of particle size and 1 wt% NaCl additions on the sequence of melting reactions in a multicomponent system (sand–soda ash–calcite–dolomite–feldspar) were studied using data from DTA, DTGA, and XRD interactively. Glass batches varied in average particle size from 250 μm to finer than 45 μm. Milestone events in the fusion process of the coarse particle base glass were elucidated. The termination temperature of the last significant reaction associated with CO2 release was 35°C lower in the fine particle size batch than with the coarsest batch. Liquid-phase formation at ∼523°C in the batch with 1 wt% NaCl occurred to an increasingly sizable extent with decreasing particle size. This contrasts with a similar effect at ∼630°C for a comparable batch without NaCl via eutectic melting between soda ash and dolomite. Sodium chloride additions significantly enhanced dissolution of CaO relic.
A NEURON-BASED TIME-OPTIMAL CONTROLLER OF HORIZONTAL SACCADIC EYE MOVEMENTS

A neural network model of biophysical neurons in the midbrain for controlling oculomotor muscles during horizontal human saccades is presented. Neural circuitry that includes omnipause neuron, premotor excitatory and inhibitory burst neurons, long lead burst neuron, tonic neuron, interneuron, abducens nucleus and oculomotor nucleus is developed to investigate saccade dynamics. The final motoneuronal signals drive a time-optimal controller that stimulates a linear homeomorphic model of the oculomotor plant. To our knowledge, this is the first report on modeling the neural circuits at both premotor and motor stages of neural activity in saccadic systems.
Multiple Tree Video Multicast Over Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

In this paper, we propose a multiple tree multicast streaming scheme for video applications over wireless ad hoc networks. Specifically, we propose a multiple tree construction protocol, which builds two nearly disjoint trees simultaneously in a distributed way. Simulation shows that video quality of our proposed scheme to be superior to that of single tree multicast, even though they have similar control overhead and forwarding efficiency.