cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In-Orbit Calibration Strategy for Ocean Color Sensors

Abstract To recover the ocean water-leaving radiance and derive biophysical parameters from observations of space-borne ocean color sensors, the required uncertainty in the measured top-of-atmosphere radiance is at present impossible to achieve prior to launch. A methodology and strategy for achieving the required uncertainty in the post-launch era is presented here. The method consists of combining direct measurements of the water-leaving radiance, whitecap radiance, and aerosol optical thickness made simultaneously with satellite overpasses, with radiative transfer theory to reduce the calibration uncertainty of the visible bands with respect to the near-infrared (NIR). This procedure is possible over the open ocean, where, in the absence of aerosol transported from land over long distances by the wind, the atmosphere can be very clear with most of the aerosol generated by local processes such as breaking waves, for example, the aerosol optical thickness in the visible ∼0.05–0.10. In this case, the radiative transfer process is considerably simplified and molecular scattering is the dominant atmospheric component in the visible. It is shown that such a procedure alone is sufficient to reduce the calibration uncertainty to required levels. Further reduction is possible by reducing the uncertainty in the NIR calibration by measuring sky radiance from island locations (or a ship), and using these to predict the at-sensor radiance. For the most part, this NIR calibration is limited by the uncertainty in the calibration of the radiometer used to measure the sky radiance. Finally, the sensor calibration is maintained by monitoring the actual water-leaving radiance continuously at a single location, where the atmosphere is sufficiently clear that atmospheric correction introduces only a small error, and directly comparing the true and the sensor-derived water-leaving radiances.
Cognitive outcomes after psychotherapeutic interventions for major depression in older adults with executive dysfunction.

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of psychotherapy on cognitive functioning in older adults with late-life depression (LLD) and executive dysfunction. Methods Two hundred twenty-one adults aged 60 years and older participated in a randomized clinical trial comparing the efficacy of Problem Solving Therapy (PST) and Supportive Therapy (ST) for LLD. Cognitive performance on seven tests of executive functioning, verbal learning, and memory was evaluated at baseline, after 12 weeks of treatment, and at 24 weeks after the completion of treatment. Results Performance on a measure of executive functioning with a significant information processing speed component (Stroop Color and Word Test) improved after treatment, F (1, 312) = 8.50, p = 0.002, and improved performance was associated with a reduction in depressive symptoms but not treatment type. Performance on other measures of executive functioning, verbal learning, and memory did not change significantly after 12 weeks of psychotherapy treatment. Conclusion Our results suggest that improvements in cognitive functioning after psychotherapy treatment for depression in older adults with executive dysfunction are likely focal and not distributed across all cognitive domains. Although previous analyses reported that PST was superior to ST in the treatment of depression, this analysis indicated no difference between the two treatments with regard to improvements in cognitive functioning.
Bonding and Integration of Silicon Carbide Based Materials for Multifunctional Applications

Robust bonding and integration technologies are critically needed for the successful implementation of silicon carbide based components and systems in a wide variety of aerospace and ground based applications. These technologies include bonding of silicon carbide to silicon carbide as well as silicon carbide to metallic systems. A diffusion bonding based approach has been utilized for joining of silicon carbide (SiC) to silicon carbide sub-elements for a micro-electro-mechanical systems lean direct injector (MEMS LDI) application. The objective is to join SiC sub-elements to from a leak-free injector that has complex internal passages for the flow and mixing of fuel and air. A previous bonding approach relied upon silica glass-based interlayers that were non-uniform and not leak free. In the newly developed joining approach, titanium foils and physically vapor deposited titanium coatings were used to form diffusion bonds between SiC materials using hot pressing. Microscopy results show the formation of well adhered diffusion bonds. Initial tests show that the bond strength is much higher than required for the component system. Benefits of the joining technology are fabrication of leak free joints with high temperature and mechanical capability.
Rotational Inhibition and Magnetization Transfer in α-Crystallin Solutions

Abstract The magnetic field dependence (dispersion profile) of 1/ T 1 of solvent water protons of solutions of the mammalian eye lens protein α-crystallin has a reversible nonlinear dependence on concentration which, as protein concentration increases above ∼20 wt.%, changes rapidly from a profile characteristic of mobile protein solute to a profile characteristic of rotationally immobilized protein (e.g., chemically cross-linked). From quantitative comparisons of new measurements of K at 200.1 MHz, the rate of water-to-protein interfacial magnetization transfer, with earlier data for α-crystallin and bovine serum albumin (BSA), we conclude, for α-crystallin, that: (i) Brownian rotation is slowed by intermolecular interactions at unexpectedly low concentrations; (ii) K is mediated by the newly reported, long-lived, protein hydration sites with the same surface density as BSA; and (iii) 14 N peaks seen in solvent 1/ T 1 arise from interfacial magnetization transfer plus diffusion to protein NH magnetization sinks.
Microbial Transformations of Chalcones: Hydroxylation, O-Demethylation, and Cyclization to Flavanones

Microorganisms were examined for their potential to catalyze biotransformation reactions that mimic plant biosynthetic processes. Specifically, microorganisms were screened for their abilities to t...
Baseline Coagulation Assay Values for Northern Elephant Seals (Mirounga angustirostris), and Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation in This Species

Coagulation assays, including platelet counts, antithrombin III, fibrinogen, fibrinogen degradation product levels, prothrombin (PT), activated partial thromboplastin (APTT) and activated clotting times (ACT), were performed on 20 healthy juvenile northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) stranded along the central California coastline from 15 March to 15 April 1994, to establish baseline parameters for this species. Elephant seals appear to have relatively short ACT, PT, and APTT times, while fibrinogen, platelet and antithrombin III levels are similar to domestic species. Based on these mean values in healthy animals, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) was diagnosed in an elephant seal with low plasma fibrinogen and extended ACT, PT and APTT times; this animal had hemorrhages, mixed bacterial suppurative interstitial pneumonia with verminous arteritis, epicarditis, hepatitis and enterocolitis.
Onset of the DNA replication checkpoint in the early Drosophila embryo.

The Drosophila embryo is a promising model for isolating gene products that coordinate S phase and mitosis. We have reported before that increasing maternal Cyclin B dosage to up to six copies (six cycB) increases Cdk1–Cyclin B (CycB) levels and activity in the embryo, delays nuclear migration at cycle 10, and produces abnormal nuclei at cycle 14. Here we show that the level of CycB in the embryo inversely correlates with the ability to lengthen interphase as the embryo transits from preblastoderm to blastoderm stages and defines the onset of a checkpoint that regulates mitosis when DNA replication is blocked with aphidicolin. A screen for modifiers of the six cycB phenotypes identified 10 new suppressor deficiencies. In addition, heterozygote dRPA2 (a DNA replication gene) mutants suppressed only the abnormal nuclear phenotype at cycle 14. Reduction of dRPA2 also restored interphase duration and checkpoint efficacy to control levels. We propose that lowered dRPA2 levels activate Grp/Chk1 to counteract excess Cdk1–CycB activity and restore interphase duration and the ability to block mitosis in response to aphidicolin. Our results suggest an antagonistic interaction between DNA replication checkpoint activation and Cdk1–CycB activity during the transition from preblastoderm to blastoderm cycles.
Characterization of CamH from Methanosarcina thermophila, Founding Member of a Subclass of the γ Class of Carbonic Anhydrases

The homotrimeric enzyme Mt-Cam from Methanosarcina thermophila is the archetype of the γ class of carbonic anhydrases. A search of databases queried with Mt-Cam revealed that a majority of the homologs comprise a putative subclass (CamH) in which there is major conservation of all of the residues essential for the archetype Mt-Cam except Glu62 and an acidic loop containing the essential proton shuttle residue Glu84. The CamH homolog from M. thermophila (Mt-CamH) was overproduced in Escherichia coli and characterized to validate its activity and initiate an investigation of the CamH subclass. The Mt-CamH homotrimer purified from E. coli cultured with supplemental zinc (Zn-Mt-CamH) contained 0.71 zinc and 0.15 iron per monomer and had kcat and kcat/Km values that were substantially lower than those for the zinc form of Mt-Cam (Zn-Mt-Cam). Mt-CamH purified from E. coli cultured with supplemental iron (Fe-Mt-CamH) was also a trimer containing 0.15 iron per monomer and only a trace amount of zinc and had an effective kcat (kcateff) value normalized for iron that was 6-fold less than that for the iron form of Mt-Cam, whereas the kcat/Kmeff was similar to that for Fe-Mt-Cam. Addition of 50 mM imidazole to the assay buffer increased the kcateff of Fe-Mt-CamH more than 4-fold. Fe-Mt-CamH lost activity when it was exposed to air or 3% H2O2, which supports the hypothesis that Fe2+ has a role in the active site. The kcat for Fe-Mt-CamH was dependent on the concentration of buffer in a way that indicates that it acts as a second substrate in a “ping-pong” mechanism accepting a proton. The kcat/Km was not dependent on the buffer, consistent with the mechanism for all carbonic anhydrases in which the interconversion of CO2 and HCO3− is separate from intermolecular proton transfer.
PAMUS: placenta accreta management across the United States.

Objective: There is lack of consensus regarding the optimal strategy for management of abnormal placentation. We set out to determine the actual practices of providers across the United States (U.S.). Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey of maternal-fetal medicine providers in the U.S. registered with the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine (SMFM). Questions regarding management strategies for placenta accreta were addressed by the survey. Both univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to determine if a relationship between demographic factors and management strategies exists. Results: Approximately 64% of responders were male and 62% had been in practice less than or equal to 20 years. The respondents represented all the major regions of the U.S. and the majority had performed one to five cases in the past year. The gestational age at delivery varied by both the number of years in practice and by geographic location. About 35% of providers report the use of ureteral stents and 36% of pr...
Crystal structure of an RNA polymerase ribozyme in complex with an antibody fragment

All models of the RNA world era invoke the presence of ribozymes that can catalyse RNA polymerization. The class I ligase ribozyme selected in vitro 15 years ago from a pool of random RNA sequences catalyses formation of a 3′,5′-phosphodiester linkage analogous to a single step of RNA polymerization. Recently, the three-dimensional structure of the ligase was solved in complex with U1A RNA-binding protein and independently in complex with an antibody fragment. The RNA adopts a tripod arrangement and appears to use a two-metal ion mechanism similar to protein polymerases. Here, we discuss structural implications for engineering a true polymerase ribozyme and describe the use of the antibody framework both as a portable chaperone for crystallization of other RNAs and as a platform for exploring steps in evolution from the RNA world to the RNA–protein world.
Loss of Blood = Loss of Breast Milk? The Effect of Postpartum Hemorrhage on Breastfeeding Success

Childbearing Poster Presentation Background Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) can trigger a series of events that prevent a mother from fully breastfeeding. Routine evidence‐based actions to increase breastfeeding success become interrupted. Mother and infant may be separated, causing a delay in breastfeeding initiation. Maternal fatigue may also necessitate formula supplementation. A traumatic birth and maternal stress and fatigue associated with PPH often interfere with the normal onset of lactogenesis II. Blood loss and hypotension may cause ischemia or infarct of the highly vascular pituitary gland. During lactogenesis II, prolactin, which stimulates human milk production, releases from the anterior pituitary. Following pituitary insult, altered prolactin levels likely cause insufficient milk production. In the rare complication of Sheehan's Syndrome, the necrotic pituitary completely loses function resulting in failure to lactate. Insufficient milk and delayed onset of milk production, consequences of PPH, can have a significant impact on new mothers who often identify low milk supply with failure. Case A primipara delivered vaginally a large for gestational age infant who nursed strongly for 25 minutes within the first hour. The mother's initial blood loss of 300 ml and a subsequent bleed of 850 ml caused her hemoglobin to drop from 12.6 mg/dl to 6.8 mg/dl. She was transferred to a high‐risk unit and transfused. Breastfeeding was interrupted for the next 22.5 hours while the infant was formula fed. When reunited, the infant nursed strongly for 40 minutes but was not satisfied. At this time, a lactation consultant informed mother of the risk of delayed onset of copious milk production. A collaborative team of nurse, patient, and lactation consultant initiated a plan to stimulate the mother's full lactation potential, which eased the mother's anxiety over potential insufficient milk supply. The mother was taught signs of ineffective breastfeeding and delayed milk onset prior to discharge and referred to breastfeeding support resources. The mother noted breast changes at 8 days. At 2 weeks old, the infant regained birth weight, and formula supplementation decreased. At 1 month, the mother elected to use occasional formula, but was feeding the infant at breast to her satisfaction. Conclusion Nurses can collaborate to offer appropriate practical and emotional breastfeeding support for mothers experiencing PPH. Even when full breastfeeding is not attained immediately, evidence supports the possibility of transitioning from partial to full breast milk feeding. Mothers who experience PPH need nurse champions to support their breastfeeding goals during this precarious time.
Minimum wakefield achievable by waveguide damped cavity

We use an equivalent circuit to model a waveguide damped cavity. Both exponentially damped and persistent (decay t/sup -3/2/) components of the wakefield are derived from this model. The result shows that for a cavity with resonant frequency a fixed interval above waveguide cutoff, the persistent wakefield amplitude is inversely proportional to the external Q value of the damped mode. The competition of the two terms results in an optimal Q value, which gives a minimum wakefield as a function of the distance behind the source particle. The minimum wakefield increases when the resonant frequency approaches the waveguide cutoff. The results agree very well with computer simulation on a real cavity-waveguide system.
Digital beamforming radar VLSI processor

A radar digital beamformer VLSI architecture is defined which provides the very high-throughput data flow in a modular failure-tolerant structure. A number of VHSIC/VLSI chip implementation approaches were evaluated and tradeoff curves are presented here. The results indicate affordability of radar elemental beamformers including large two-dimensional arrays.
The Political Economy of the Budget Surplus in the United States

n 1998, the federal government of the United States reached a budget surplus for the first time in 30 years. Even though many commentators have described this event as a rare and major success, what is remarkable is not that the U.S. government has reached a surplus, but that this result is perceived as so "exceptional." In fact, given the strong expansion of the U.S. economy in the last eight years, and the "peace dividend" due to the end of the cold war, nobody should be overly surprised at the much improved fiscal balance. The reason why a surplus for the federal government appears so unusual is that American citizens, like those of many other industrial countries, have become accustomed to large and persistent deficits from the mid-1970s onward. In fact, many European countries, which have had much lower growth than the United States and higher interest rates, are still struggling with this legacy of accumulated debts.' While current budget surpluses should be viewed as relatively normal, the large budget deficits of the 1980s were exceptional. According to the "tax-smoothing" theory, the budget balance should be used as a buffer to allow tax rates to be approximately constant at the level that keeps the budget in intertemporal balance.2 Thus, temporary deficits are expected to occur during recessions and
Issues in the Development of Guidelines for the Preparation and Use of Speech-Language Paraprofessionals and their SL Supervisors Working in Education Settings

Speech—language (SL)paraprofessionals (or support personnel)have had a history in the American educational system spanning more than two decades. This article provides an historical perspective on the preparation, use, supervision, and qualification of SL paraprofessionals and the preparation of their SL pathology supervisors working in educational settings. It provides an analysis of ongoing issues that have been barriers to the development of national and state guidelines for their preparation, use, and supervision; guidelines that may have been used to provide “qualified” SL paraprofessionals to learners in education settings during the past several decades. It also provides an analysis of recent issues that have been promoting the development of such guidelines. Recommendations for the resolution of several important issues are presented.
Progress and barriers for the control of diarrhoeal disease.

Summary Discovery of intestinal sodium-glucose transport was the basis for development of oral rehydration solution, and was hailed as potentially the most important medical advance of the 20th century. Before widespread use of oral rehydration solution, treatment for diarrhoea was restricted to intravenous fluid replacement, for which patients had to go to a health-care facility to access appropriate equipment. These facilities were usually neither available nor reasonable to use in the resource-poor settings most affected by diarrhoea. Use of oral rehydration solution has stagnated, despite being effective, inexpensive, and widely available. Thus, diarrhoea continues to be a leading cause of child death with consistent mortality rates during the past 5 years. New methods for prevention, management, and treatment of diarrhoea—including an improved oral rehydration formulation, zinc supplementation, and rotavirus vaccines—make now the time to revitalise efforts to reduce diarrhoea mortality worldwide.
Early Days of Planetary Nebular Theory

The spectra of gaseous nebulae differed strikingly from those of stars which were well understood since 1922 thanks to the work of Saha. Gaseous nebulae exhibited exotic bright line spectra characterized by strange emissions of unknown origin as well as familiar lines of hydrogen and helium. The strongest lines in most nebulae fell at 4959A and 5007A. They were originally attributed to an unknown element. First came the interpretation of the lines of H.
Pre-exposure chemoprophylaxis for HIV: It is time

The HIV-1 plague continues unabatedly across sub-Saharan Africa. In Botswana and Swaziland, nearly 40% of the entire adult population is already infected. No current program is capable of slowing the advancing tide. An effective vaccine and widespread treatment are years, if not, decades away. In this most urgent situation, I propose that pre-exposure chemoprophylaxis be studied as a means to reduce the spread of HIV-1 among at-risk individuals.
Socialization and Identity Transformation of Black Immigrant Youth in the United States

The purpose of this article is to synthesize the relevant research literatures in order to conceptualize Black immigrant students' socialization and identity transformation, thereby finding more effective ways to work with this group. Providing Asian immigrant students as a comparison group, this article identifies and analyzes the commonalities and intra- intergroup variations in vulnerabilities, strengths, and resources within youth, family, and immigrant communities. The authors advocate three additive approaches (understanding identity needs, bridging the divisions between Black immigrants and Black Americans, and engaging ethnic communities) that educators may use to help Black immigrant teens in their initial and continuing adaptation to U.S. schools and society.
Lymphoepithelial cyst as a herald of HIV seropositivity in a patient with known history of neurocysticercosis and suspected parotid cysticercosis

Among those with acquired immune deficiency syndrome, salivary gland pathology and other less common signs of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositivity are emerging. Generally speaking, lymphoepithelial lesions of the parotid gland are uncommon with a reported incidence of 0.6%, but they are beginning to overtake other oral lesions such as candidiasis as predominant oral manifestations of clinical HIV infection. Here, we describe a patient with a known history of neurocysticercosis with presumed extracranial cysticercosis as demonstrated by the clinical manifestation of bilateral parotid gland swelling and a ring-enhancing, hypodense lesion of the left parotid gland on CT. He was found to have a lymphoepithelial cyst arising in a lobe of the left parotid gland per pathological evaluation after left superficial parotidectomy, and this served as the initial sign of HIV positivity, which was confirmed by serological studies.
CRMS-World Legal Analysis and Resulting Workflow

This paper lays out the legal rationale and the process components for the Copyright Review Management System grant, which was funded by the Institute for Museum and Library Services under their National Leadership Grant.
Speech and Language Dysfunction and Focal Epileptiform Activity

The medical history, EEG recordings, and developmental milestones of 19 children with speech and language dysfunction, and focal epileptiform activity were analyzed for prognostic risk factors in a study at University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Improved Estimation of Frequency Response Covariance

In high-consequence systems, critical decisions are made based on analytically predicted system response. In order to have confidence in the predictions, analytical models must be validated, and the effects of uncertainty on system response must be well understood. In systems with high modal density, modal based model validation is often problematic. It becomes more convenient to validate a model by directly using its response in the frequency domain. This then requires a corresponding frequency response based uncertainty quantification and propagation analysis. Covariance propagation is often used to propagate uncertainty and compute second order response statistics. However, linear covariance propagation applied to frequency response is inaccurate at resonances due to nonlinearity. A method is proposed that provides an improved estimate of the first two moments of frequency response uncertainty in the vicinity of resonances. It assumes that the uncertainty is small enough relative to damping such that an impedance based matrix inverse can be approximated using a finite number of terms. The method then propagates higher order moments of modal impedance uncertainty to approximate this inverse. The proposed approach can fit directly into a straightforward covariance propagation approach, and is applicable to substructured systems.
Inverse Design of Cooling of Electronic Chips Subject to Specified Hot Spot Temperature and Coolant Inlet Temperature

Most methods for designing electronics cooling schemes do not offer the information on what levels of heat fluxes are maximally possible to achieve with the given material, boundary and operating conditions. Here, we offer an answer to this inverse problem posed by the question below. Given a micro pin-fin array cooling with these constraints:- given maximum allowable temperature of the material,- given inlet cooling fluid temperature,- given total pressure loss (pumping power affordable), and- given overall thickness of the entire electronic component,find out the maximum possible average heat flux on the hot surface and find the maximum possible heat flux at the hot spot under the condition that the entire amount of the inputted heat is completely removed by the cooling fluid. This problem was solved using multi-objective constrained optimization and metamodeling for an array of micro pin-fins with circular, airfoil and symmetric convex cross sections that is removing all the heat inputted via uniform background heat flux and by a hot spot. The goal of this effort was to identify a cooling pin-fin shape and scheme that is able to push the maximum allowable heat flux as high as possible without the maximum temperature exceeding the specified limit for the given material. Conjugate heat transfer analysis was performed on each of the randomly created candidate configurations. Response surfaces based on Radial Basis Functions were coupled with a genetic algorithm to arrive at a Pareto frontier of best trade-off solutions. The Pareto optimized configuration indicates the maximum physically possible heat fluxes for specified material and constraints.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Atomistic Insights into Early Stage Oxidation and Nanoscale Oxide Growth on Fe(100), Fe(111) and Fe(110) Surfaces

Reactive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with dynamic charge transfer between atoms is used to investigate the oxidation kinetics during the early stages of nanoscale oxide growth on Fe(100), Fe(111), and Fe(110) surfaces. The growth rate of the oxide layer was found to follow logarithmic time dependence, with limiting thicknesses ranging from 1 to 2 nm depending on the crystal orientation. Temperature and pressure effects were studied for the three surface geometries, with the (110) surface exhibiting a stronger dependence compared to the (100) and (111) counterpart. Structure and dynamical correlations in the metal/oxide/gas environments are used to gain insights into the evolution and morphology of the growing oxide film. The surface structure is found to strongly influence not only the morphology of the oxide but also the stoichiometry of the oxide layer formed. Stoichiometry of the oxide layer formed at room temperature shows evidence for the presence of a nonstoichoimetric oxide layer consisting...
Hierarchical CT to Ultrasound Registration of the Lumbar Spine: A Comparison with Other Registration Methods

Three-dimensional (3D) measurement of the spine can provide important information for functional, developmental, diagnostic, and treatment-effect evaluations. However, existing measurement techniques are either 2-dimensional, highly invasive, or involve a high radiation dose, prohibiting their widespread and repeated use in both research and clinical settings. Non-invasive, non-ionizing, 3D measurement of the spine is still beyond the current state-of-the-art. Towards this goal, we developed an intensity-based hierarchical CT-ultrasound registration approach to quantify the 3D positions and orientations of lumbar vertebrae from 3D freehand ultrasound and one-time computed tomography. The method was validated using a human dry bone specimen (T12-L5) and a porcine cadaver (L2-L6) by comparing the registration results with a gold standard fiducial-based registration. Mean (SD) target registration error and percentage of successful registration were 1.2 (0.6) mm and 100% for the human dry bone specimen, and 2.18 (0.82) mm and 92% for the porcine cadaver, indicating that the method is accurate and robust under clinically realistic conditions. Given that the use of ultrasound eliminates ionizing radiation during pose measurements, we believe that the hierarchical CT-ultrasound registration method is an attractive option for quantifying 3D poses of individual vertebra and motion segment, and thus warrants further investigations.
Some Biological Observations on Fungi in Estuarine Sediments

(1962). Some Biological Observations on Fungi in Estuarine Sediments. Mycologia: Vol. 54, No. 2, pp. 181-193.
Genetic manipulation of hematopoietic stem cells in adenosine deaminase deficiency.

Increasing use of molecular biologic methods, specifically gene transfer technology, has made genetic therapy a potential therapeutic approach for some human diseases. Somatic gene therapy is the attempt at correction of a disease by the transfer and expression of a normal genetic sequence in somatic cells which are deficient in the expression or function of the homologous gene. Retroviral vectors, which have been developed by a number of investigators over the last decade, can efficiently transfer new genetic material into a variety of mammalian cells. Lifelong correction of several severe genetic diseases of the bone marrow should be possible by the efficient transfer of new genetic sequences into reconstituting hematopoietic stem cells, those primitive cells in the bone marrow responsible for long term and multilineage hematopoiesis in vivo.
The long and complicated relationship between Epstein-Barr virus and epithelial cells

ABSTRACT The roles of epithelial cells in infection and persistence of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) have long been difficult to resolve. However, recent developments have reinforced the conclusion that these cells are a major site of virus replication and raised the possibility that, like papillomaviruses, EBV has evolved to take advantage of epithelial differentiation to ensure survival, persistence, and spread.
Formation and exudation of non-volatile products of the arabidiol triterpenoid degradation pathway in Arabidopsis roots

Triterpenoids produced by plants play important roles in the protection against biotic stress. Roots of Arabidopsis thaliana produce different triterpenoids, which include the tricyclic triterpene diol, arabidiol. In a degradation reaction induced by infection with the oomycete pathogen, Pythium irregulare, arabidiol is cleaved to the 11-carbon volatile homoterpene, (E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene (DMNT), and the 19-carbon ketone, apo-arabidiol. The arabidiol pathway and its volatile breakdown product DMNT have been implicated in the defense against P. irregulare infection. Here we show that the non-volatile breakdown product apo-arabidiol is further converted to the acetylated derivative α-14-acetyl-apo-arabidiol via a presumed epimerization and subsequent acetylation reaction. α-14-acetyl-apo-arabidiol and the detected intermediates in the derivatization pathway are partially exuded from the root indicating possible defensive activities of these molecules in the rhizosphere. The conversion steps of apo-arabidiol vary among different Arabidopsis accessions and are present in only rudimentary form in the close relative Arabidopsis lyrata, which supports an intra- and inter-specific modularity in triterpenoid metabolism.
What keeps athletes in the gym? Goals, psychological needs, and motivation of CrossFit™ participants

The CrossFit™ workout methodology has experienced tremendous growth and popularity over the last 10 years. This programme utilises high-intensity workouts that incorporate a wide variety of calisth...
Progressively Worsening Premature Coronary Artery Disease: Adding Anticoagulation Stabilizes-Reverses Clinical Symptomatic Disease Progression in Thrombophilic-Atherothrombotic Patients: A Pilot Study

In 35 patients with 116 severe premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) events (median age: 48 years), 14 having worsening CVD despite maximal intervention, we evaluated thrombophilia and speculated that anticoagulation might arrest-reverse progressive thrombophilic-atherothrombotic CVD. Thrombophilia-hypofibrinolysis in the 35 patients was compared to 110 patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) without CVD and to 110 healthy normal controls. Efficacy-safety of anticoagulation was prospectively assessed in 14 of the 35 patients whose CVD worsened over 2 years despite maximal medical-surgical intervention. At entry on maximally tolerated lipid-lowering therapy, median low-density lipoprotein was 88 mg/dL. Measures of thrombophilia-hypofibrinolysis in the 35 cases differed from 110 VTE controls only for the lupus anticoagulant, present in 6 (21%) of 28 cases versus 4 (4%) of 91 VTE controls ( P = .01), and for high anticardiolipin antibodies (ACLAs) immunoglobulin G, 5 (14%) of 35 cases versus 4 of 108 VTE controls (4%), P = .04. The 14 patients who were anticoagulated differed from 110 VTE controls only for the lupus anticoagulant, 38% versus 4%, P = .001, and for high lipoprotein (a), 46% versus 17%, P = .028, respectively. The 14 patients with atherothrombosis having inexorably worsening CAD despite maximal medical-surgical therapy were anticoagulated for 6.5 years (median), with clinical CVD progression arrested in 12 (86%), and all 12 became asymptomatic. In the 35 patients with premature CVD, thrombophilia was pervasive, comparable to or more severe than in VTE controls without CVD. When CVD progressively worsens despite maximal intervention, thrombophilia and atherosclerosis (atherothrombosis) are commonly concurrent, and the downhill course of CVD may be arrested-stabilized by anticoagulation.
Fuel Cell Testing of Intermetallic Oxygen Reduction Catalysts

Platinum-based alloy catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) continue to be the industry standard for fuel cell applications, but improvements are needed to increase ORR activity and durability. Despite extensive study, the effects of structure and composition on real world performance and durability in fuel cells are poorly understood. Most research to date has examined random alloy structures, but preliminary results from intermetallic catalysts, especially intermetallic tetragonal structured catalysts, have indicated that superior performance and durability can be achieved through creation of ordered intermetallic structures. Results so far indicate that the degree of ordering is a critical parameter in determining intermetallic catalyst activity and durability, with fully-ordered face-centered tetragonal (fct) FePt catalysts exhibiting substantially improved activity and durability compared to partially ordered phases [1]. Most work on intermetallic nanocatalysts reported so far has been based on ex situ testing methods that use an idealized aqueous electrochemistry environment. While these ex situmethods are inexpensive and convenient, they do not reliably predict performance and durability in real fuel cells. Therefore, rigorous catalyst testing in fuel cells is needed to build understanding of the relationship between catalyst properties and fuel cell performance and durability. In this work, fct-FePt intermetallic nanoparticle catalysts have been subjected to the DOE catalyst AST (30,000 trapezoidal cycles between 0.6 and 0.95 V with 0.5 s rise time) in operating fuel cells. Comparison of characterization results from before and after testing serves to illustrate the changes in structure and composition that occur during the AST. Initial results depicted in Fig. 1 indicate that fct-FePt can have performance comparable to a baseline commercial Pt/C, despite the use of much larger particles (8-9 nm for fct-FePt/C vs. 2-3 nm for Pt/C). Notably, the fct-FePt exhibits lower loss of performance following the 30,000 cycle AST. Ongoing work seeks to reduce the fct-FePt particle size while maintaining fully-ordered structures, which could lead to substantial improvements in performance and durability. Fig. 1. Fuel cell polarization behavior of Pt/C and fct-FePt/C before and after the 30,000 cycle AST. References Q. Li et al., "New Approach to Fully Ordered fct-FePt Nanoparticles for Much Enhanced Electrocatalysis in Acid," Nano Lett. 2015, 15, 2468−2473. Acknowledgements This research is sponsored by the Fuel Cell Technologies Office, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy. Figure 1
Low Cost but Effective: Staff Development Activities in Community College Student Affairs

ABSTRACTThis study examines staff development practices in community college student affairs. Nineteen interviews were conducted with supervisors in a variety of departments at community colleges. We found that supervisors frequently used multiple practices such as conducting staff meetings, attending institutional training, or viewing topical webinars were frequently used by supervisors to provide professional development opportunities. We also highlight distinct approaches including the concept of active listening and after-hours activities. Finally, we explore implications for staff development in community colleges and identify potential future practices and improvements.
Objective evaluation metrics for automatic classification of EEG events

The evaluation of machine learning algorithms in biomedical fields for applications involving sequential data lacks both rigor and standardization. Common quantitative scalar evaluation metrics such as sensitivity and specificity can often be misleading and not accurately integrate application requirements. Evaluation metrics must ultimately reflect the needs of users yet be sufficiently sensitive to guide algorithm development. For example, feedback from critical care clinicians who use automated event detection software in clinical applications has been overwhelmingly emphatic that a low false alarm rate, typically measured in units of the number of errors per 24 h, is the single most important criterion for user acceptance. Though using a single metric is not often as insightful as examining performance over a range of operating conditions, there is, nevertheless, a need for a single scalar figure of merit.
Low-risk and very-low-risk prostate cancer: is there a role for focal therapy in the era of active surveillance? No, focal therapy provides a false sense of security and no proven benefits.

One should not advise a patient with low- or very-low-risk prostate cancer to undergo a focal ablation. The kindest and gentlest approach is to first do no harm.
A role for glutamine 183 in the folate oxidative half-reaction of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase from Escherichia coli.

Abstract The flavoprotein methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) from Escherichia coli catalyzes a ping-pong reaction with NADH and 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate (CH2-H4folate) to produce NAD+ and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (CH3-H4folate). This work focuses on the function of the invariant, active-site aminoacyl residue Gln183. X-ray structures of the enzyme complexes Ered(wild-type)•NADH and Eox(Glu28Gln)•CH3-H4folate indicate that Gln183 makes key hydrogen-bonding interactions with both NADH and folate in their respective half-reactions, suggesting roles in binding each substrate. We propose that the polarity of Gln183 may also aid in stabilizing the proposed 5-iminium cation intermediate during catalysis in the oxidative half-reaction with folate. We have prepared mutants Gln183Ala and Gln183Glu, which we hypothesize to have altered charge/polarity and hydrogen bonding properties. We have examined the enzymes by steady-state and stopped-flow kinetics and by measurement of the flavin redox potentials. In the reductive half-reaction, NADH binding affinity and the rate of flavin reduction have not been hindered by either mutation. By contrast, our results support a minor role for Gln183 in the oxidative half-reaction. The Gln183Ala variant exhibited a 6–10 fold lower rate of folate reduction and bound CH2-H4folate with 7-fold lower affinity, whereas the Gln183Glu mutant displayed catalytic constants within 3-fold of the wild-type enzyme.
Cell death under epithelial–mesenchymal transition control in prostate cancer therapeutic response

Prostate cancer is a widespread problem among men, with >160 000 new cases in 2017 alone. Androgen deprivation therapy is commonly used in prostate cancer treatment to block androgens required for cancer growth, but disease relapse after androgen deprivation therapy is both common and severe. Changes in androgen receptor signaling from androgen deprivation therapy have been linked to therapeutic resistance and tumor progression. Resistant cells can become reprogrammed to undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition, a phenotypic switch from benign, epithelial cells to a mobile cell with mesenchymal traits. In these cells, attachment to their epithelial cell layer is no longer required for survival. Anoikis is a form of cell death that occurs when detachment from other cells and the basement membrane occurs. Epithelial cells have been shown to undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition, avoid anoikis induction and progress to a metastatic phenotype. In prostate cancer progression to advanced disease, epithelial-mesenchymal transition induction (characterized by loss of epithelial cellular attachment protein E-cadherin) correlates with a higher Gleason score, tumor progression, increased metastasis and higher biochemical recurrence. The concept of interfacing epithelial-mesenchymal transition with anoikis in the tumor microenvironment landscape will be discussed here, with focus on the significance of the functional exchange between the two processes in therapeutic targeting of advanced disease. The current evidence on the impact of loss of cell-cell contact, acquisition of chemoresistance, immune escape and metastatic spread in advanced tumors in response to transforming growth factor-β on prostate cancer metastasis will be also discussed. The signaling cross-talk between transforming growth factor-β and androgen receptor signaling will be interrogated as a new therapeutic platform for the development of combination strategies to impair prostate cancer metastasis.
Ecological Genomics of Nematode Community Interactions: Model and Non-model Approaches

The effects of human-induced environmental change are evident at multiple levels of biological organization. To date, most environmental change studies have focused on effects at the ecosystem, community and organismal levels. However, the ultimate controls of biological responses are located in the genome. Thus, genetic and genomic studies of organismal responses to environmental changes are necessary. Recent advances in genome analysis now make such analyses possible. In this chapter we describe a research approach and program that can begin to span this gap by using genome-enabled approaches to characterize organismal changes and then employing a genetically tractable model organism to identify genes involved in the response to environmental perturbations.
Correlation Between Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Luteinizing Hormone, Testosterone and 5-hydroxyindole Acetic Acid with Sperm Cell Concentration

AbstractPlasma follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, testosterone, urinary 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid and 17-ketosteroids were measured in patients seen at an infertility clinic. Plasma follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels, and urinary 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid levels were increased in patients with sperm concentrations less than 10 times 106 per ml. Plasma testosterone levels were lower in patients with sperm concentrations less than 10 times 106 per ml. The results suggest that in patients with sperm counts less than 10 times 106 per ml. there is not only impaired spermatogenesis but also decreased Leydig cell function. Urinary 17-ketosteroid levels were not related to sperm cell concentration.
Part 2: Proper Orthogonal Modal Modeling of a Frictionally Excited Beam

Proper orthogonal modes (POMs) are used for order reduction ina beam with frictional excitation. The distributed model is based on anEuler–Bernoulli beam with frictional excitation. The friction ismodeled with Coulomb's law and contact compliance, and the contactsurface undergoes an imposed oscillation. The POMs are selected from achaotic response to build the reduced system model. These POMs areextrapolated into proper orthogonal modal functions (POMFs) by using thelinear normal modes as basis functions. The POMFs are used as the basisfor projection the partial differential equation of motion to alow-order set of ordinary differential equations. Simulated responsesbased on the POMFs and linear normal modes are compared to that of a'truth set' simulation, which is based on ten linear normal modes.
Exploring cannabis concentrates on the legal market: User profiles, product strength, and health-related outcomes.

Abstract Background Concentrated cannabis products are increasingly available and used, particularly in states with legal cannabis, but little is known about the profiles and characteristics of concentrate users. We aimed to characterize user profiles of cannabis users living in states with legal medical or recreational cannabis who reported using concentrates to those who do not use concentrates. Methods An anonymous online survey was advertised in California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. We compared respondents who endorsed frequent concentrate use (FC; N = 67) (i.e. 4 days/week) with cannabis users who never use concentrates (NC; N = 64), and with those who smoke/vaporize cannabis flower frequently but never or very rarely use concentrates (FF; N = 60), on measures related to cannabis use patterns and cannabinoid product strength, other substance use, and occupational functioning and health. Results FC endorsed more symptoms of cannabis use disorder as compared to non-concentrate users (p Conclusions Concentrate users endorsed higher symptoms of cannabis use disorder and use higher strength cannabis even when using non-concentrated forms. Frequent use of concentrates may be associated with additional risks over and above frequent use of flower forms.
An update on the safety of prescribing opioids in pediatrics

Introduction: The opioid abuse epidemic and its toll on the adolescent population have heightened awareness for safer opioid prescribing practices in pediatric pain management. Opioids remain the m...
Evaluation and Classification of Gastroparesis

Gastroparesis is a chronic and often debilitating disorder of the stomach characterized by delayed emptying without mechanical obstruction. It is an underrecognized and often undertreated disease often presenting with nausea, vomiting, bloating, and/or abdominal pain. The pathophysiology involves derangements of normal gastric motor function. The most common etiologies include idiopathic, diabetes, and postsurgical. In approximately one-half of gastroparetics, there is no identifiable cause. After ruling out mechanical obstruction with cross-sectional imaging and endoscopy, the diagnosis of gastroparesis is made with gastric emptying scintigraphy. This is a noninvasive and quantitative measurement of gastric emptying and is considered the gold standard for diagnosis. In this chapter we discuss the evaluation, workup, and classification of gastroparesis.