cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of different fly baits

Objective To compare the efficacy of three kinds of baits (rotten fish, rotten eggs and brown sugar-vinegar) against flies to offer the ideal option for vector monitoring. Methods Fly traps with different baits were deployed simultaneously in five experimental sites. The captured flies were identified in the laboratory. Results No significant differences in the captured species was found between the baits. Flies captured by the rotten fish, rotten eggs and brown sugar-vinegar accounted for 66.99%, 32.07% and 0.94%, respectively. Chrysomya megacephala and Musca domestica were the dominant species in the rotten fish group. Lucilia cuprina was more easily attracted by sugar-vinegar baits. Rotten eggs were more attractive to C. megacephala and Hemipyrellia ligurriens. Calliphoridae and Muscidae were more easily attracted by rotten fish, while Sarcophagidae, Calliphoridae and Anthomyiidae preferred rotten eggs. Conclusion Sugar-vinegar baits did not reflect seasonal changes as they attracted a very small number of flies. Rotten fish attracted a large number of flies from only a few species. Rotten eggs could attract a proper number of flies from a balanced collection of species, and thus could be used for fly monitoring.
Relationship between Pectin Content in Tomato Paste and Quality Characteristics of Tomato Powder

In this study,the relationship between pectin content and quality characteristics of tomato powder from spray drying was investigated using tomato paste as the raw material.The yield of tomato powder,microscopic characteristics and color change of tomato power from tomato paste with different pectin contents were evaluated.Results indicated that the yield of tomato powder was proportional to the pectin content of tomato paste under the identical condition of spray drying.The color change of tomato power exhibited a similar trend from red to reddish yellow,which revealed the gradually increasing L value and b value,and the declining a value.Tomato power with various pectin contents could provide more uniform particle size distribution and better dispersion due to the enhancement of pectin content.
STUDY ON THE PROCESS MECHANISM OF HIGHSPEED ARC WELDING DE-GMAW

Through large amount of experiments,the geometrically matched parameters in torch- set up of DE-GMAW(double electrode-gas metal arc welding)were found,and the welding current waveforms,images of metal transfer,and photographs of weld without defects were obtained.Based on these test results,the reasons that DE-GMAW can realize high-speed welding were explained.A finite-element analysis model suitable to DE-GMAW process is developed to simulate the temperature field and stress-strain field.The predicted and measured weld dimensions at cross section matched well,and the weld dimension,heat-affected zone width,stress,strain and deformation in DE-GMAW are much lower than those in conventional GMAW under same welding condition.It provides the basic data for optimizing the process parameters in DE-GMAW.
Comparison of techniques for the selection of bacteria-free sperm preparations.

The authors compared the three most commonly used sperm preparation techniques— swim-up, fall-down, and Percoll gradient—for their ability to recover highly motile sperm and minimize bacterial contamination. Eleven human semen samples collected by masturbation were used and run in parallel with the three methods. A semiquantitative bacterial analysis was performed in all samples and results expressed in colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/ml). The Percoll gradient technique resulted in an average sperm concentration of 5.81 ± 4.4 × 10 6 ml, and the average bacterial concentration dropped from 8.66 ± 12.96 × 10 3 CFU/ml in semen to 0.01 ± 0.03 × 10 3 CFU/ml. The bacterial count was not significantly different when the raw semen was compared with the swim-up or the fall-down preparations. The authors conclude that the Percoll gradient method yields an adequate sperm concentration, with high motility and improved morphology, while eliminating bacterial contamination.
Contemporary Trends in the Management of Renal Trauma in the United States: A National Community Hospital Population-based Analysis

Objective To better define the shift in the management of renal trauma throughout the United States, with a population-based assessment of community hospital practice patterns. To investigate how hospital, patient, and injury-specific factors influence management strategy by both urologists and nonurologists. Materials and Methods Using the Premier Hospital database, we performed a retrospective study of all patients with renal trauma between 2003 and 2013. We identified patients using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnosis codes (866.0x, 866.1x), determined management strategy by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision procedure codes, and dichotomized grouping by surgeon specialty. We stratified hospitals by annual renal trauma volume categorized a priori into low, 20 cases per year. We performed descriptive statistics and univariate and multivariate regression analyses adjusting for survey weighting and for patient, hospital, and injury-specific characteristics. Results Our study cohort included a weighted sample size of 21,531 patients. Higher renal trauma hospitals (12.6%) were significantly less likely than low (26.4%) and intermediate (31.3%) volume hospitals to undergo surgical intervention for renal trauma on adjusted models. There was a statistically significant increase in nonoperative management from 65.2% in 2003 to 81.8% in 2013. Conclusion National rates of surgical intervention for renal trauma are significantly higher than those frequently quoted by the literature, especially among low- and intermediate-volume renal trauma hospitals. Although operative rates are decreasing, further consideration may need to be given to centralization of care in higher-volume teaching hospitals to improve renal salvage.
Inventory of Prehistoric Southwestern Copper Bells: Additions and Corrections I

ABSTRACTThirteen additions and seventeen corrections are made to the original inventory of copper bells. Among the additions are two types previously unreported for the Southwest. A list of all known published illustrations of copper bells is also presented.
Elucidating genetic events in human hepatocellular carcinoma

e15590 Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is prevalent world wide with increasing incidence in North America. 4q is a commonly deleted region in HCC and is lost in 32% of premalignant cirrh...
Foliar fungicide (pyraclostrobin) application on corn and its effects on corn silage composition

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the effects of various applications of foliar fungicide on corn ensiled as corn silage. Treatments were replicated once and assigned to one of eight 0.4-ha plots of corn as follows: control (CON), plants receiving no foliar fungicide application; treatment 1 (V5), where plants received a mixture of pyraclotrobin and fluxapyroxad foliar fungicide (Priaxor, BASF Corp.) at corn vegetative stage 5 (V5); treatment 2 (V5 + R1), where plants received two applications of foliar fungicide, a mixture of pyraclotrobin and fluxapyroxad at V5 and a mixture of pyraclostrobin + metconazole foliar fungicide (Headline AMP; BASF Corp.) at corn reproductive stage 1 (R1); treatment 3 (R1), in which plants received one application of pyraclostrobin + metconazole foliar fungicide at R1. Samples of corn for corn silage were collected at harvest, prepared as 0.9-kg mini-silos and vacuum sealed. These were ensiled for 0, 30, 90, and 150 d postharvest then frozen for later analysis. Applications of fungicide on corn, later ensiled as corn silage resulted in less (P
Prozessorientierte Ansätze für die Projektdurchführung im Großanlagenbau

Kurzfassung In diesem Beitrag werden der industrielle Sektor des Grosanlagenbaus beleuchtet und derzeitige Herausforderungen fur die Durchfuhrung von Grosprojekten aufgezeigt. Deren Bewaltigung befahigt Unternehmen dieser Branche zu langfristigem Erfolg. Dafur werden prozessorientierte Ansatze vorgestellt, die auf der Standardisierung von Prozessen sowie der Darstellung und gegenseitigen Beeinflussung prozessualer Abhangigkeiten basieren.
Lysosome trafficking is necessary for EGF-driven invasion and is regulated by p38 MAPK and Na+/H+ exchangers

Tumor invasion through a basement membrane is one of the earliest steps in metastasis, and growth factors, such as Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) and Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF), stimulate this process in a majority of solid tumors. Basement membrane breakdown is one of the hallmarks of invasion; therefore, tumor cells secrete a variety of proteases to aid in this process, including lysosomal proteases. Previous studies demonstrated that peripheral lysosome distribution coincides with the release of lysosomal cathepsins. Immunofluorescence microscopy, western blot, and 2D and 3D cell culture techniques were performed to evaluate the effects of EGF on lysosome trafficking and cell motility and invasion. EGF-mediated lysosome trafficking, protease secretion, and invasion is regulated by the activity of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) and sodium hydrogen exchangers (NHEs). Interestingly, EGF stimulates anterograde lysosome trafficking through a different mechanism than previously reported for HGF, suggesting that there are redundant signaling pathways that control lysosome positioning and trafficking in tumor cells. These data suggest that EGF stimulation induces peripheral (anterograde) lysosome trafficking, which is critical for EGF-mediated invasion and protease release, through the activation of p38 MAPK and NHEs. Taken together, this report demonstrates that anterograde lysosome trafficking is necessary for EGF-mediated tumor invasion and begins to characterize the molecular mechanisms required for EGF-stimulated lysosome trafficking.
Microfabricated Electrodynamic Synthetic Jet Actuators

This paper presents the design, fabrication, and characterization of a chip-scale electrodynamic synthetic jet actuator with batch-fabricated die components. The actuator is an assembly of two dies with a plastic spacer sandwiched in between. The top die consists of a copper micro-coil and an orifice through which the jet is synthesized. The bottom die consists of a poly-dimethyl-siloxane diaphragm with a wax-bonded NdFeB magnet. When assembled, an ac current applied to the micro-coil forces an oscillatory actuation of the magnet, and correspondingly ingestion and expulsion of fluid through the orifice. The dimensions of the assembled actuator are 7.5 mm $\times7.5$ mm $\times1.1$ mm. The peak jet velocity is measured to be 4.3 m/s at 160 Hz for an input of 200-mA $_{pp}$ current corresponding to 20 mW of input electrical power. [2017-0166]
Die Strahlentherapie des intraocularen Melanoblastoms am biologischen Modell des amelanotischen Melanoblastoms 3 Fortner beim Goldhamster

Am biologischen Modell des intraocularen Melanoblastoms A. Mel. 3 Fortner beim Goldhamster wurden Behandlungsversuche mit Rontgenstrahlen ausgefuhrt. Nach einer einmaligen Strahlendosis (3000 und 5000 R) werden makroskopische, histologische und elektronenmikroskopische Veranderungen im Tumorgewebe sowie das Verhalten des Phosphorstoffwechsels beschrieben.
Design of an optically accessible turbulent combustion system

In order to design the next generation of gas turbine combustors and rocket engines, understanding the flame structure at high-intensity turbulent flows is necessary. Many experimental studies have...
Non-monotonicity in the influence of nanoparticle concentration on SAR in magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia

Abstract Magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia (MNH) has shown substantial promise as an alternative therapy for deep-tissue tumors or resistant bacterial films. However, while great progress has been made in understanding the physical mechanisms of thermal energy dissipation in MNH, the influence of interparticle magnetic interactions in concentrated solutions remains a substantial challenge limiting progress toward clinical adoption. We have developed a well-dispersed suspension of magnetite nanoparticles which can be varied smoothly with nanoparticle concentrations ranging from 0 to 900 mg/mL. This material serves as a well-controlled experimental model for exploring the role of nanoparticle concentration on heating. We have measured the specific absorption rate (SAR) of the nanoparticles as a function of nanoparticle concentrations up to 320 mg/mL (10% v/v) in applied field frequencies from 86 to 460 kHz. Our results clearly indicate that SAR is non-monotonic with a maximum at concentrations of approximately 1% v/v, in strong agreement with recent theory. In addition, they suggest that optimal concentration is dependent on applied field frequency, and that the exponential dependence of SAR on frequency varies smoothly with concentration. These results provide experimental support for current theoretical efforts and lend insight into new investigations, ultimately leading to better prediction and control of heating in MNH.
Vascular Rings and Pulmonary Sling

Aortic arch anomalies are not uncommon and result from embryologic derangements during the development of the aortic arches and their branches [1]. Early in gestation there are both right and left aortic arches, but the right normally atrophies and disappears. Vascular rings occur when certain structures persist rather than involute or involute rather than persist, resulting in the encirclement and compression of the trachea and esophagus. From 3 to 5 % of cases of stridor in infancy are due to vascular rings.
Mapping Midi to the Spiral Array: Disambiguating Pitch Spellings

The problem of assigning appropriate pitch spellings is one of the most fundamental problems in the analysis of digital music information. We present an algorithm for finding the optimal spelling based on the Spiral Array model, a geometric model embodying the relations in tonality. The algorithm does not require the key context to be determined. Instead, it uses a center of effect (c.e.), an interior point in the Spiral Array model, as a proxy for the key context. Plausible pitch spellings are measured against this c.e., and the optimal pitch is selected using the nearest neighbor criteria. Two examples are given from Beethoven’s Sonata Op. 109 to illustrate the algorithm. The algorithm is implemented and the results used in MuSA — a music visualization software using the Spiral Array. We present and analyze computational results from test runs on MIDI files of two movements from Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas Op.79 and Op. 109.
Stakeholder Value - Ganzheitlicher Ansatz zur Organisationsentwicklung von Ministerien

Eine Vielzahl von modernen Managementmethoden wurden in Ministerien erprobt. Aber regelmasig erzielen Reformbestrebungen in der offentlichen Verwaltung nicht die Wirkung, welche man sich von ihnen erhofft hatte. Die Spitzen suchen den politi-schen Tageserfolg, Fuhrungskrafte lehnen Veranderungsbestrebungen ab, Mitarbeiter sind eher desinteressiert; Veranderungen erfolgen nur punktuell. So konnen Reformbestrebungen zu kontraproduktiven Resultaten fuhren: Neue Formen von Mitarbeiter-fuhrung und -motivation rufen Zynismus hervor; Total Quality Management verlauft im Sande oder schafft zusatzliche Burokratie; Projektmanagement scheitert an etablierten und hierarchischen Strukturen.
OXYGEN REACTIONS OF THE P450 HEME PROTEIN

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses oxygen reactions of the P450 heme protein. Studies using the camphor P450 hydroxylase have provided much insight into the molecular mechanisms of electron transfer and mixed function oxidation. The chapter focuses on the intermediate states of P450 during O2 cleavage and oxygenation, in terms of chemistry and reactivity. The triplet ground state of O2 and the singlet configuration of substrate and product introduce an inherent difficulty into monoxygenase catalysis. The slowness of this spin-forbidden process is avoided in biological systems through the formation of singlet complexes with transition metals in the case of P450. An understanding of the reactivity of the P450 heme with O2 and other oxygen adducts is directly related to the mechanism and ordering of mixed-function oxidation events. The chemistry of oxygenated cytochrome P450 contains the information necessary for the elucidation of a general reaction scheme of O2 cleavage and energy segregation. The pathways for the decay of this intermediate species are illustrated in the chapter. The chapter also discusses the implication of putidaredoxin carboxylate group in hydroxylation.
Upward or downward? The importance of organizational forms and embedded peer groups for the second generation:

Second-generation assimilation outcomes have been hotly debated amongst migration scholars. While there is a general tendency in the literature to emphasize the positive outcomes of ethnic religiou...
SOTL: Profiles of Student Engagement in a Required Engineering Course

In this SOTL study, we developed student engagement profiles in an undergraduate electrical engineering course and investigated potential differences in achievement among the profiles. Behavioral and emotional engagement were measured using a survey completed by students at the end of the semester, and cluster analysis suggested four engagement profiles. These profiles point to diverse ways in which instructors may structure activities to engage students.
Implementation and detailed assessment of a GNAT reduced-order model for subsurface flow simulation

Abstract The large computational requirements associated with subsurface flow simulation limit the use of realistic models for demanding applications such as optimization and uncertainty quantification. This has motivated the development of reduced-order models, in particular those based on proper orthogonal decomposition (POD). In this study, we implement a POD-based Gauss–Newton with approximated tensors (GNAT) method for oil–water reservoir simulation. Our formulation, which is described in detail, incorporates promising features from previous implementations involving GNAT and discrete empirical interpolation method (DEIM) procedures. A theoretical analysis of the computational cost of GNAT for our problem, and the speedup it may provide relative to the full-order simulation, suggests a complex dependency of speedup on GNAT parameters and solver implementation. Systematic assessments, involving several comprehensive numerical experiments, are then presented. These include a detailed evaluation of GNAT performance on a 2D model, in which 576 different GNAT parameter combinations are considered, which allows us to elucidate the impact of parameter values on error. Detailed comparisons with an existing reduced-order modeling procedure based on trajectory piecewise linearization, POD-TPWL, are also presented. Around 1500 test cases, with varying levels of perturbation relative to training cases, are considered. We show that GNAT is only slightly more accurate than POD-TPWL for cases with small perturbation, but its accuracy advantage increases for larger perturbations. We also demonstrate the successful application of GNAT to a more realistic 3D model.
Expansion of bacteriophages is linked to aggravated intestinal inflammation and colitis

Bacteriophages are the most abundant members of the microbiota and have the potential to shape gut bacterial communities. Changes to bacteriophage composition are associated with disease, but how phages impact mammalian health remains unclear. We noted an induction of host immunity when experimentally treating bacterially driven cancer, leading us to test whether bacteriophages alter immune responses. Treating germ-free mice with bacteriophages leads to immune cell expansion in the gut. Lactobacillus, Escherichia, and Bacteroides bacteriophages and phage DNA stimulated IFN-γ via the nucleotide-sensing receptor TLR9. The resultant immune responses were both phage and bacteria specific. Additionally, increasing bacteriophage levels exacerbated colitis via TLR9 and IFN-γ. Similarly, ulcerative colitis (UC) patients responsive to fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) have reduced phages compared to non-responders, and mucosal IFN-γ positively correlates with bacteriophage levels. Bacteriophages from active UC patients induced more IFN-γ compared to healthy individuals. Collectively, these results indicate that bacteriophages can alter mucosal immunity to impact mammalian health.
How Stakeholder Mobilization Saved Sweet Briar College

Sweet Briar College is a private liberal arts college for women located in Sweet Briar, Virginia, United States. In 1901, when women did not even have the right to vote, Indiana Fletcher Williams founded Sweet Briar College with the mission of helping young women become productive and responsible members of society (Sweet Briar College, 2017)... Purchase this special issue to continue reading
Wideband printed ridge gap waveguide differential feeding aperture antenna for millimeter wave applications

Millimeter wave has gained great attention for 5G communications and imaging systems. Building a high gain antenna is essential to such systems. In this paper, the design of a high gain differential feeding aperture antenna in the printed ridge gap waveguide technology is presented. It has a fractional bandwidth of 16.1% at 30 GHz with S 11 < −10 dB and peak gain of 12.8 dBi. The aperture efficiency is 52% and the radiation pattern is stable over the operating frequency range. The 3-dB gain bandwidth is 15.4% dBi.
Diversity Staff and Bill Sponsorship in the U.S. House

The salience of race in American politics has attracted scholarly research studying its impact under different contexts. However, relatively little attention has been given to the legislative impact of racial and ethnic diversity congressional staffers. I argue that having a racial diversity staffer will increase the number of minority issue bills sponsored by the corresponding legislator. Using an original dataset of racial diversity staffers and minority issue bills from the 111th Congress to the 115th Congress, I find that members with senior racial minority staffers sponsor more bills related to minority issues, conditional on the member's district's minority population. These findings have important rami fications for understanding racial equality empirically and theoretically.
Collaboration Training with an Eye Toward Outcomes and Assessment

This essay discusses the importance of specifically including collaboration training on the list of student learning outcomes for first-year legal writing courses. This essay, titled Collaboration Training with an Eye Toward Outcomes and Assessment, was published in The Second Draft in Spring 2011. The Second Draft is a publication of the national Legal Writing Institute and is published twice each year. Through this publication, faculty share ideas and discoveries about teaching legal analysis, writing, and research.The essay emphasizes the importance of collaboration and explains that collaborative work is a key part of students’ professional development. I propose that professors specifically add the performance of collaborative fundamentals to their lists of student learning outcomes (SLOs) and even use carefully crafted peer-review assignments to develop students’ teamwork, writing, and editing skills and assess their competencies.
Biodegradable stent use for congenital heart disease

Abstract At the present time, there are no biodegradable stents available for use in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease, despite this population being most likely to benefit from a technology that will eventually disappear enabling all future treatment options and potentially future vessel growth. Current research is focused on identifying optimal biodegradable material and stent design to develop larger diameter stents with reasonable profile and strength to sustain the larger pulmonary arteries and aortic obstruction. In this article, we review the challenges faced with fabricating a larger diameter biodegradable stent and the currently available biodegradable scaffolds made for coronary and peripheral artery interventions and provide a summary of the current biodegradable stents being assessed for congenital heart disease applications.
Le fer en la playe

Around the turn of the fifteenth century, the continued merging of Nebuchadnezzar's statue with the organic metaphor of the body politic takes on new significance in the light of Charles VI's mental illness and, particularly, in the light of the mad king's changed relationship with metallic objects, inorganic identity markers, and even his own materiality. In this chapter I will trace an arc from Philippe de Mezieres's account of Nebuchadnezzar's statue in the Songe du vieil pelerin (1389) to Jean Gerson's deployment of the same image in Rex in sempiternum vive (1413); in between, I will examine how Jean Froissart invokes the figure of Nebuchadnezzar at the moment of the king's first mental health crisis, how Pierre Salmon explores the link between Nebuchadnezzar's pride and his madness within an overtly contemporary context, and how Charles VI's own behavior, and the unorthodox “cures” to which he is subjected, reflect a similar preoccupation with inorganic stand-ins for royal authority. These repurposings of the Biblical statue illustrate innovative approaches to the very real problem of a sometimes incapacitated king, but are ultimately unable to reconcile the purity and incorruptibility of gold with the vulnerability and disorder of the monarch it represents. The king's mental illness has opened a wound in the body politic, such that the organic metaphor's ideal of bodily coordination and interdependence comes into direct tension with the disjuncture of the statue's disparate parts; the resulting strife is the “fer en la playe” ([iron] blade in the wound), as Gerson puts it, that prevents healing and reconciliation. The madness of king Charles VI, lasting from the first acknowledged episode in August 1392 until the king's death in 1422, was a condition universally known. The constraints presented by the king's illness and the political upheaval that accompanied it had a transformative effect on French poetics, as Joel Blanchard has argued. Even highly politically engaged poets such as Christine de Pizan rarely characterized the king as mentally ill, though, preferring anodyne references to the king's “malady.”
Potential for Economic Regulation of Michigan’s Water Sector

This policy brief considers the potential role for economic regulation of water utilities in Michigan, particularly given considerable pressure on infrastructure costs and prices and subsequent concerns about efficiency and equity. Economic regulation by state public utility or public service commissions (PSCs) is widely accepted for privately (investor) owned utilities in the United States. Michigan is one of only six jurisdictions that do not regulate water utilities (along with the District of Columbia, Georgia, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota). Today, while all of Michigan’s 1,385 water systems are subject to environmental regulation, none are subject to economic regulation, including rate review.
CTTE/ITEA NCATE

The technology teacher education profession has entered a new era not only because of the switch to technology as the knowledge base, but also because of the adoption of the CTTE/ITEA Guidelines by NCATE as the official standards against which all technology teacher education programs seeking NCATE approval will be evaluated. Although the Guidelines are presumed to have a positive influence in shaping these programs, one recognizes that other factors and other groups have, perhaps, an even stronger shaping influence. These would include internal administration and faculty, other accrediting as- sociations such as NAIT, public school teacher demand, and last, but not least, the state certification requirements and entitlement program. The question be- ing addressed by this study is: To what extent are state plans and certification requirements complementing the CTTE/ITEA Guidelines, and to what extent are the states causing deviation from the Guidelines?
An adaptive homotopy tracking algorithm for solving nonlinear parametric systems with applications in nonlinear ODEs

Abstract Homotopy continuation has played an important role in solving nonlinear parametric systems. The homotopy tracking algorithm is the key part of this method. In this paper, we develop an adaptive stepsize control strategy for the homotopy tracking algorithm. We also extend this algorithm to the predictor/corrector methods for solving systems of nonlinear ODEs. The adaptive strategy for adjusting the stepsize is to guarantee the convergence of Newton’s method at each iteration along the solution path. Several numerical examples are used to show the efficiency of this new adaptive strategy by comparing it with other existing methods.
Effect modification by age of the association between obstructive lung diseases, smoking, and COVID-19 severity.

Introduction Obstructive lung diseases (asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)) and smoking are associated with greater risk of respiratory infections and hospitalisations, but conflicting data exist regarding their association with severity of COVID-19, and few studies have evaluated whether these associations differ by age. Objectives To examine the associations between asthma, COPD and smoking on the severity of COVID-19 among a cohort of hospitalised patients, and to test for effect modification by age. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of electronic health record data of patients admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital, assigning the maximal WHO Clinical Progression Scale score for each patient during the first 28 days following hospital admission. Using ordered logistic regression, we measured the association between maximal severity score and asthma, COPD and smoking and their interaction with age. Measurements and main results Among 1391 patients hospitalised with COVID-19, we found an increased risk of severe disease among patients with COPD and prior smoking, independent of age. We also found evidence of effect modification by age with asthma and current smoking; in particular, asthma was associated with decreased COVID-19 severity among older adults, and current smoking was associated with decreased severity among younger patients. Conclusions This cohort study identifies age as a modifying factor for the association between asthma and smoking on severity of COVID-19. Our findings highlight the complexities of determining risk factors for COVID-19 severity, and suggest that the effect of risk factors may vary across the age spectrum.
The normal vibrocardiogram. Physiologic variations and relation to cardiodynamic events.

Abstract The variations in the vibrocardiogram produced by alteration of recording surface and position of the transducer of the precordium are shown. The physiologic effects of respiration, forced breathing, change in heart rate and change in pulse pressure are noted in normal human subjects and dogs. A study of the characteristics of vibrocardiographic waves indicates that these waves have reproducible characteristics when a standardized technic is used. The timing of the vibrocardiographic waves and their relation to the electrocardiogram and to the events of the cardiac cycle are shown. Precordial ballistocardiographic tracings (vibrocardiograms) have certain advantages over total body ballistocardiograms. Their relative freedom from limb impedance and damping permits records to be taken upon inexpensive, simple beds. Tracings can be recorded in any position and are not distorted by ordinary floor vibrations or room noises. These records are less distorted by artefacts and, since the time lag is reduced, they closely follow the activity of the heart.
Development of a new reference spectrofluorimeter

Abstract The spectrophotometry metrology activities at the National Research Council of Canada (NRCC) are directed towards improving instrumentation and calibration procedures for the accurate measurement of material optical properties. The increasing use of fluorescent brighteners and whitening agents in the manufacture of paints, plastics, papers, and textiles has increased the demand for reference standards for the accurate colorimetry of these fluorescent materials. This pressing need has motivated the development of a reference spectrofluorimeter at the NRCC. This automated instrument incorporates both a two-monochromator reference system and a one-monochromator (polychromatic illumination) transfer system, in a compact design. The two systems share the xenon-arc light source and the analyzing monochromator and detection optics. The instrument employs all-reflective optics, large numerical aperture (f/ 4.8) grating monochromators combined with order-sorting filters and a cooled PMT detector. The present operating range is 250 to 900 nm but an extension to 1100 nm is planned. Both systems employ a 45°/0° geometry with annular illumination (±3°) over a sample area of 6 mm x 4 mm. Software development and instrument automation are well-advanced. The conceptual design of this new instrument and the results of some preliminary performance tests on the two-monochromator system will be described.
Rat Liver Aminomalonate Decarboxylase IDENTITY WITH CYTOPLASMIC SERINE HYDROXYMETHYLASE AND ALLOTHREONINE ALDOLASE

Abstract Studies on the aminomalonate decarboxylase of rat liver indicate that this activity is a property of cytoplasmic serine hydroxymethylase. Thus, throughout purification of the enzyme, aminomalonate decarboxylase, serine hydroxymethylase and allothreonine aldolase exhibited the same relative activities. Competition between the several substrates was observed and resolution of the enzyme by treatment with d-alanine led to loss of all three activities. Cleavage of allothreonine by the enzyme in tritiated water gave S-glycine-2-t (in accord with earlier data which indicate retention of configuration during conversion of l-serine to glycine), but decarboxylation of aminomalonate by the enzyme in tritiated water gave both S- and R-glycine-2-t. Studies with specifically carboxyl-labeled [14C]aminomalonate confirmed the conclusion that the enzyme decarboxylates this amino acid in a nonspecific manner; this result is in contrast to that previously observed with aspartate β-decarboxylase which acts on a specific carboxyl group of aminomalonate. In contrast to cytoplasmic serine hydroxymethylase, mitochondrial serine hydroxymethylase does not catalyze the aldol cleavage of allothreonine or the decarboxylation of aminomalonate; this indicates that there is a significant difference between the active sites of these enzymes.
Cold-Specific Induction of a Dehydrin Gene Family Member in Barley.

An interval on barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) chromosome 7 accounting for significant quantitative trait locus effects for winter hardiness were detected in a winter (Dicktoo) x spring (Morex) barley population (P.M. Hayes, T. Blake, T.H.H. Chen, S. Tragoonrung, F. Chen, A. Pan, and B. Liu [1993] Genome 36: 66–71). Two members of the barley dehydrin gene family, Dhn1 and Dhn2, were located within the region defining the winter hardiness quantitative trait locus effect (A. Pan, P.M. Hayes, F. Chen, T. Blake, T.H.H. Chen, T.T.S. Wright, I. Karsai, Z. Bedo [1994] Theor Appl Genet 89: 900–910). To investigate the possible role of Dhn1 and Dhn2 in winter hardiness, we examined the expression pattern of six barley dehydrin gene family members in shoot tissue in response to cold temperature. Incubation of 3-week-old barley plants at 2[deg]C resulted in a rapid induction of a single 86-kD polypeptide that was recognized by an antiserum against a peptide conserved in the dehydrin gene family. Northern blot analysis confirmed the induction of an mRNA corresponding to Dhn5. The expression patterns of cold-induced dehydrins in shoot tissue for Dicktoo and Morex were identical under the conditions studied, in spite of the known phenotypic differences in their winter hardiness. These results, together with the allelic structure of selected high- and low-survival lines, suggest that the Dicktoo alleles at the Dhn1 and Dhn2 may not be the primary determinants of winter hardiness in barley.
Resistance to the Antimicrobial Agent Fosmidomycin and an FR900098 Prodrug through Mutations in the Deoxyxylulose Phosphate Reductoisomerase Gene (dxr)

There is a pressing need for new antimicrobial therapies to combat globally important drug-resistant human pathogens, including Plasmodium falciparum malarial parasites, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli. These organisms all possess the essential methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway of isoprenoid biosynthesis, which is not found in humans. The first dedicated enzyme of the MEP pathway, 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (Dxr), is inhibited by the phosphonic acid antibiotic fosmidomycin and its analogs, including the N-acetyl analog FR900098 and the phosphoryl analog fosfoxacin. In order to identify mutations in dxr that confer resistance to these drugs, a library of E. coli dxr mutants was screened at lethal fosmidomycin doses. The most resistant allele (with the S222T mutation) alters the fosmidomycin-binding site of Dxr. The expression of this resistant allele increases bacterial resistance to fosmidomycin and other fosmidomycin analogs by 10-fold. These observations confirm that the primary cellular target of fosmidomycin is Dxr. Furthermore, cell lines expressing Dxr-S222T will be a powerful tool to confirm the mechanisms of action of future fosmidomycin analogs.
Crystal Structure of the Human LRH-1 DBD-DNA Complex Reveals Ftz-F1 Domain Positioning is Required for Receptor Activity.

The DNA-binding and ligand-binding functions of nuclear receptors are localized to independent domains separated by a flexible hinge. The DNA-binding domain (DBD) of the human liver receptor homologue-1 (hLRH-1), which controls genes central to development and metabolic homeostasis, interacts with monomeric DNA response elements and contains an Ftz-F1 motif that is unique to the NR5A nuclear receptor subfamily. Here, we present the 2.2 A resolution crystal structure of the hLRH-1 DBD in complex with duplex DNA, and elucidate the sequence-specific DNA contacts essential for the ability of LRH-1 to bind to DNA as a monomer. We show that the unique Ftz-F1 domain folds into a novel helix that packs against the DBD but does not contact DNA. Mutations expected to disrupt the positioning of the Ftz-F1 helix do not eliminate DNA binding but reduce the transcriptional activity of full-length LRH-1 significantly. Moreover, we find that altering the Ftz-F1 helix positioning eliminates the enhancement of LRH-1-mediated transcription by the coactivator GRIP1, an action that is associated primarily with the distantly located ligand-binding domain (LBD). Taken together, these results indicate that subtle structural changes in a nuclear receptor DBD can exert long-range functional effects on the LBD of a receptor, and significantly impact transcriptional regulation.
The role of the membrane-spanning and extra-membranous regions of the iron-sulfur protein in its assembly into the cytochrome bc1 complex of yeast mitochondria.

Abstract The assembly of six deletion mutants of the Rieske iron–sulfur protein into the cytochrome b c 1 complex was investigated by immunoprecipitation from detergent-solubilized mitochondria with specific antisera against either the iron–sulfur protein or the intact cytochrome b c 1 complex. After import, the mutant proteins lacking residues 41–55 or 66–78, located at the membrane-spanning region of the protein, and residues 182–196 located at the C-terminus of the protein, were assembled in vitro into the b c 1 complex approximately 50% as effectively as the wild type iron–sulfur protein suggesting that these regions of the iron–sulfur protein may not be critical for the assembly. By contrast, only trace amounts of the mutant proteins lacking residues 80–95, 122–135, 138–153 located in the extra-membranous region of the iron–sulfur protein were assembled into the b c 1 complex. After import in vitro into mitochondria isolated from a cytochrome b -deficient yeast strain, the mutants lacking residues 41–55 and 182–196 were assembled as efficiently as the wild type; however, the mutants lacking residues 55–66 and 66–78 were assembled less efficiently in the absence of cytochrome b suggesting that the hydrophobic membrane-spanning region, residues 55–78, of the iron–sulfur protein, may interact with cytochrome b during the assembly of the b c 1 complex.
Making work safer: testing a model of social exchange and safety management.

Abstract Introduction This study tests a conceptual model that focuses on social exchange in the context of safety management. The model hypothesizes that supportive safety policies and programs should impact both safety climate and organizational commitment. Further, perceived organizational support is predicted to partially mediate both of these relationships. Methods Study outcomes included traditional outcomes for both organizational commitment (e.g., withdrawal behaviors) as well as safety climate (e.g., self-reported work accidents). Questionnaire responses were obtained from 1,723 employees of a large national retailer. Results Using structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques, all of the model's hypothesized relationships were statistically significant and in the expected directions. The results are discussed in terms of social exchange in organizations and research on safety climate. Impact on Industry Maximizing safety is a social-technical enterprise. Expectations related to social exchange and reciprocity figure prominently in creating a positive climate for safety within the organization.
Alleviation of learned helplessness following septal lesions in rats

Rats subjected to inescapable shock subsequently were found to be helpless, unable to escape shock in an FR3 leverpress escape test. Rats which received equal amounts of escapable shock were unimpaired in their ability to escape, performing as well as controls given no pretest shock. One-half of the rats in each training group were then given bilateral lesions in the septal area, and all rats were retested. The lesions produced a large improvement in escape responding in the helpless group, but not in either of the nonhelpless groups. The results of this study suggest that septal lesions eliminate response inhibition caused by learned helplessness.
Backbone resonance assignment and order tensor estimation using residual dipolar couplings

An NMR investigation of proteins with known X-ray structures is of interest in a number of endeavors. Performing these studies through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) requires the costly step of resonance assignment. The prevalent assignment strategy does not make use of existing structural information and requires uniform isotope labeling. Here we present a rapid and cost-effective method of assigning NMR data to an existing structure—either an X-ray or computationally modeled structure. The presented method, Exhaustively Permuted Assignment of RDCs (EPAR), utilizes unassigned residual dipolar coupling (RDC) data that can easily be obtained by NMR spectroscopy. The algorithm uses only the backbone N–H RDCs from multiple alignment media along with the amino acid type of the RDCs. It is inspired by previous work from Zweckstetter and provides several extensions. We present results on 13 synthetic and experimental datasets from 8 different structures, including two homodimers. Using just two alignment media, EPAR achieves an average assignment accuracy greater than 80%. With three media, the average accuracy is higher than 94%. The algorithm also outputs a prediction of the assignment accuracy, which has a correlation of 0.77 to the true accuracy. This prediction score can be used to establish the needed confidence in assignment accuracy.
Agile Cataloging: Staffing and Skills for a Bibliographic Future

One of the foremost challenges facing technical services in academic libraries is integrating digital resources and services with existing work without a concomitant personnel expansion. The library's bibliographic data are manipulated and delivered through myriad systems and services, including proxy servers, electronic resource management systems, federated search and link resolver tools, integrated library systems, bibliographic utilities, and dozens of external data providers. In this increasingly complex environment, libraries require flexible data management and flexible staffing, which in turn relies on a reservoir of informed staff and managers who understand the many pieces of the technical services puzzle. This article discusses efforts at the University of Houston Libraries, a mid-size research library, to enhance organizational capacity for evolving cataloging roles and to foster organizational relationships that support progress in technical services functions.
Assessing the Effectiveness of Research Organizations: An Examination of Multiple Approaches

Assessing the effectiveness of research organizations in education (as well as those in the social sciences) is hampered by the lack of measurable goals and identifiable outcome criteria. In this r...
Effect of cyclosporine on hepatic energy status and on fructose metabolism after portacaval shunt in dog as monitored by phosphorus‐31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in vivo

The effect of cyclosporin A on the hepatic energy status and intracellular pH of the liver and its response to a fructose challenge has been investigated using in vivo phosphorus‐31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in dogs. Three experimental groups were studied: (a) control dogs (n = 5), (b) dogs 4 days after the creation of an end‐to‐side portacaval shunt (n = 5), and (c) dogs 4 days after portacaval shunt and continuous infusion of cyclosporin A (4 mg/kg/day) by way of the left portal vein (portacaval shunt plus cyclosporin A, n = 5). The phosphorus‐31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectra were obtained at 81 MHz using a Bruker BIOSPEC II 4.7‐tesla nuclear magnetic resonance system equipped with a 40‐cm horizontal bore superconducting solenoid. The phosphomonoesters (p < 0.01), inorganic phosphate and ATP levels (p < 0.05) were decreased significantly in portacaval shunt–treated and in portacaval shunt‐pluscyclosporin A–treated dogs compared with unshunted control dogs. After a fructose challenge (750 mg/kg body wt, intravenously), fructose‐1‐phosphate metabolism was reduced in portacaval shunt–treated dogs compared with either the normal or portacaval shuntplus‐cyclosporin A–treated dogs (p < 0.05). Both portacaval shunt– and portacaval shunt‐plus‐cyclosporin A–treated dogs demonstrated a reduced decline in ATP levels after fructose infusion when compared with the controls (p < 0.05). Immediately after the fructose challenge, the intracellular pH decreased from 7.30 ± 0.03 to 7.00 ± 0.05 in all animals (p < 0.01) and then gradually returned to normal over 60 min. These data, obtained in vivo using phosphorus‐31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the liver after a portacaval shunt, suggest that: (a) the energy status of the liver is reduced in dogs with a portacaval shunt compared with that of normal controls and (b) cyclosporin A treatment ameliorates the reduction in hepatic metabolism normally observed after a fructose challenge to the liver with a portacaval shunt. (HEPATOLOGY 1991;13:780–785.) Copyright © 1991 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases