cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A new strategy of transforming pharmaceutical crystal forms.

The robust nature of network materials allows them to (for example) respond to external stimuli such as pressure, temperature, light, or gas/solvent adsorption and desorption. There is difficulty in retaining long-range order in purely molecular organic solids, due to weak intermolecular interactions such as van der Waals forces. Here, we show gas-induced transformations of the well-known pharmaceuticals clarithromycin and lansoprazole. For clarithromycin, the stimulus is capable of converting the kinetic solvate and guest-free crystal forms to the commercial thermodynamically stable polymorph with a huge saving in energy cost relative to industrially employed methods. The synthesis of the marketing form of lansoprazole involves a solvate that readily decomposes and that is stirred in water, filtered, and dried intensively. Our method readily circumvents such synthetic problems and transforms the sensitive solvate to the marketed drug substance with ease. Such expedient transformations hold great implicat...
PGRNseq: a targeted capture sequencing panel for pharmacogenetic research and implementation.

ObjectivesAlthough the costs associated with whole-genome and whole-exome next-generation sequencing continue to decline, they remain prohibitively expensive for large-scale studies of genetic variation. As an alternative, custom-target sequencing has become a common methodology on the basis of its
Comparisons of Pathogenicity and Cultural Characteristics Among four Isolates of Ceratocystis Ulmi and Some Variants

Four isolates of Ceratocystis ulmi of known pathogenicity produced culturally distinct variants. Even though the cultural characteristics of the variants differed from their parent isolates, inoculation trials indicated the parent isolates and their variants were generally equally pathogenic in American elm. Cultural characteristics of isolates and variants reisolated from inoculated trees occasionally differed from those inoculated into the trees.
Regional Population Dynamics of Whitefly (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) and Associated Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae)

Regional monitoring of whiteflies, Bemisia sp., in the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas was undertaken between 1991 and 1995 to determine seasonal abundance and spatial population dynamics of this pest. Samples of whiteflies were taken using yellow sticky traps along roadways and samples from plants at selected locations. The abundance of parasitoids of whiteflies was quantified from each plant sample by species. The number of whitefly adults on yellow sticky traps consistently increased dramatically during late spring and summer and declined in the fall. Dispersion of whiteflies on sticky traps generally changed from highly clumped in the spring to less clumped in the summer and early fall of each year. The population of the native parasitoid complex of the whitefly correlated with increases of whitefly populations. Six whitefly parasitoid species were collected routinely and identified during this survey. In order of decreasing abundance they were Eretmocerus sp., Encarsia pergandiella, Encarsia meritoria, Encarsia sp. nr. strenua, Encarsia lutteola , and Encarsia formosa . Population levels were higher for whitefly and lower for whitefly parasitoids in 1995 than observed in 1994.
22 SPHINGOSINE-1-PHOSPHATE-MEDIATED ENDOTHELIAL CELL MOTILITY IS REGULATED BY S1P1 RECEPTOR, LIPID PHOSPHATE PHOSPHATASE-1, AND SPHINGOSINE KINASE 1.

The extracellular effects of S1P, a naturally occurring and platelet-derived bioactive lipid molecule, are mediated by S1P 1-5 family of G protein-coupled receptors. The exact role of different S1P receptors and signaling pathways regulating S1P-induced cell motility is not completely defined. Human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (HPAEC) expressed S1P 1 , S1P 3 , and S1P 4 receptors with a predominance of S1P 1 , as determined by RT PCR. Exposure of HPAEC to S1P resulted in a potent induction of cell motility as determined by a scratch wound healing assay and by monitoring changes in transendothelial electrical resistance of wounded HPAEC by ECIS. Inverse agonist of S1P 1 receptor, SB649146, and S1P 1 siRNA attenuated S1P-induced EC motility. Furthermore, overexpression of sphingosine kinase 1 wild type and S1P 1 wild type increased intracellular content of S1P as well DHS1P (DHS1P > S1P) with a concomitant loss of cell motility in response to exogenous S1P. Overexpression of lipid phosphate phosphatase (LPP)1 wild type that enhanced hydrolysis of exogenous S1P blocked S1P-induced cell motility. These results suggest that a balance between S1P 1 expression and intracellular content of S1P and DHS1P seems to be critical for maintaining cellular sensitivity to external S1P stimulation. Supported by NIH RO1s HL 79396 and 71152 to V.N.
Investigating end-to-end security in the fifth generation wireless capabilities and IoT extensions

The emerging 5th generation wireless network will be architected and specified to meet the vision of allowing the billions of devices and millions of human users to share spectrum to communicate and deliver services. The expansion of wireless networks from its current role to serve these diverse communities of interest introduces new paradigms that require multi-tiered approaches. The introduction of inherently low security components, like IoT devices, necessitates that critical data be better secured to protect the networks and users. Moreover high-speed communications that are meant to enable the autonomous vehicles require ultra reliable and low latency paths. This research explores security within the proposed new architectures and the cross interconnection of the highly protected assets with low cost/low security components forming the overarching 5th generation wireless infrastructure.
Rapid diagnoses of avian influenza virus and avian influenza H5 virus by real-time PCRs

AIM:To detect avian influenza virus subtype H5 by the real-time fluorescent quantitative PCRs were established.METHODS:It were designed that the primers and probes in universal assay based on AIV M gene and those in subtype H5 assay based on AIV H5 gene,and was optimized in a reaction system and a condition to improve the sensitivity,specificity and reproducibility.RESULTS:After optimization in the reaction system and the condition,the sensitivities of the universal assay and the H5 assay reached to 1×101.25 EID50;the Kappa coefficient between the cell culture and the Real time PCR of AIV H5 is 0.991(P0.01),which statistically showed that there was the strong coincidence between two methods;the CV values of CT in the intra and inter batches were far less than 10%,which statistically showed that there was the excellent reproducibility.CONCLUSION:There were the excellent qualities of both assays in this studies in the sensitivity,specificity and reproducibility,which might been suggested for use to detect in avian influenza epidemic or human avian influenza H5 case.
Future Growth and Development of Hysteroscopy

In less than two decades, hysteroscopy has evolved into a practical technique for the evaluation of the uterine cavity, with well-established indications such as evaluation of abnormal uterine bleeding and abnormal hysterograms as well as the treatment of intrauterine adhesions or the septate uterus, the removal of misplaced or embedded intrauterine devices, and the removal of submucous leiomyomas. As the use of hysteroscopy increases and more practitioners utilize it, new instrumentation and techniques are beginning to evolve, simplifying and facilitating not only a diagnostic examination, but also the more difficult and complex surgical interventions. Flexible endoscopes are being tested for possible use in the uterine cavity, and operative hysteroscopes with practical inflow and outflow accessory channels have been introduced. The accessory operative instrumentation has also been expanded and refined, and portable units for office examinations have been developed. The trend in the development of instrumentation is toward simplicity, effectiveness, and refinement in lenses with wider fields of view and accessory channels without compromising the total outer diameter of the endoscopes. As clinical applications expand as a result of increased use and proficiency in hysteroscopy, new applications undoubtedly will follow, such as closer study of the endometrium with and without additional magnification. This latter may permit a better understanding of the receptivity of the endometrium to the embryo, which may help in predicting successful nidations. Portable laser units with the capability to use the CO2 fiber undoubtedly will increase laser use through hysteroscopy, and in the near future, photodynamic therapy may become the best approach to the selective treatment of intrauterine lesions. The uterotubal junction will remain an attractive area for endoscopists to approach the fallopian tubes transcervically and eventually to accomplish tubal closure safely and effectively with the possibility of future reversibility. The hysteroscope will play an important role in new reproductive technologies, particularly those related to the gamete intrafallopian transfer via the uterine side and perhaps also for direct embryo transfers under visual control. The future of hysteroscopy thus is promising. The present diagnostic and therapeutic applications will not only become a standard of treatment but will expand as gynecologists will gain proficiency and confidence in this endoscopic method.
A Trend Analysis of Mail Survey Response Rates for Selected Marketing Journals, 1960–1995

A trend analysis of mail survey response rates was conducted using a sample of 232 studies from seven marketing journals that dated back to 1960. Results of the analysis revealed a downward linear trend in response rates for consumer surveys that were national in scope. An upward linear trend was found for regional surveys for both consumer and industrial-professional subsamples. Implications for the use of mail surveys are drawn from the results and future research is suggested.
Graded Prognostic Index for Gastroesophageal Cancer with Brain Metastases.

2022Background: Brain metastasis (BM) is a rare but serious neurologic complication of gastro esophageal cancers (GEC). The Disease Specific Graded Prognostic Assessment (DS-GPA) which is based solely on Karnofsky performance scale (KPS) is a commonly used prognostic index in patients with BM. We evaluated DS-GPA and other potential prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) in GECBM at our institution. Methods: With IRB approval, the Cleveland Clinic Brain Tumor and Neuro-Oncology Center’s database was used to identify GECBM patients treated between 2002 and 2014. Overall survival (OS) from the diagnosis of GECBM was the primary endpoint. Cox proportional hazards models with stepwise variable selection were used to identify independent prognostic factors. Results: Sixty three patients with median age of 62 years (range; 33-79), were included for analysis. KPS was 90-100 in 22 patients (38%), 70-80 in 30 (52%) and 3 BM in ...
Barriers to International Mobility and Technology Diffusion

Recent research shows that the process of international technology diffusion is slow, but why is this process slow? This paper argues that this process is slow due to barriers to international mobility. This paper builds a theoretical model of learning by exposure and shows that technologies diffuse across borders as societies are exposed to foreign technologies and ideas. Featuring productivity gap as a dependent variable and bilateral visa restrictions data of 30 host OECD countries and 198 home countries during 2001-2012, the empirical evidence suggests that the international technology gap is persistent over time and increases with barriers to mobility. The effect of barriers to mobility on the technology gap depends on the severity of the barriers. On average, the annual technology gap between the host and the home countries can be bridged by about 0.84 to 1.32 percent by removing barriers to international mobility. Important policy implications include visa facilitation programs and soft visa policies to promote cultural and scientific exchange and to promote technology diffusion across countries.
CE-41 Disease activity and health care utilisation among young adults with childhood-onset lupus transitioning to adult care: data from the paediatric lupus outcomes study

Background Individuals with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) must transfer from paediatric- to adult-oriented health care as they enter adulthood. However, few studies have assessed outcomes of the transition from paediatric to adult care in cSLE. The goal of this study is to examine disease activity and health care utilisation among young adults with cSLE who are undergoing or have recently completed the transition to adult care. Materials and methods Data derive from the baseline interview of the Paediatric Lupus Outcomes Study, an annual longitudinal telephone survey of 91 diverse English- and Spanish-speaking participants age 18–30 with confirmed cSLE (age of onset Results Mean baseline age was 21 ± 3 years, and mean age at diagnosis was 13 ± 3 years. Ethnicities included White (48%), Black (5%), Asian (20%), Latino (24%), multi-ethnic (5%) and other (6%). 38 respondents (45%) had transferred care out of paediatric rheumatology (Table 1). Most respondents were currently insured (93%), however those who had transferred were more likely to report difficulty obtaining insurance (34% v. 11%, p = 0.008). 32% had visited an emergency department and 27% had received inpatient care in the past year, with similar rates in adult and paediatric care groups. There was no difference in disease activity (SLAQ score 9 v. 11) or likelihood of self-reported flare over the last 3 months (31% vs. 26%) among those who had transferred to adult rheumatology vs. those who had not. Those who remained in paediatric care were significantly more likely to have seen a rheumatologist in the past year (94% v. 68%, p = 0.002) and more likely to be taking immunosuppressive medications (89% v. 34%, p Conclusions Many individuals in this cohort of young adults with cSLE continue with active lupus. In spite of similar disease activity among those who had left paediatric care and those who had not, young adults who had transferred to adult care were significantly less likely to access routine rheumatology care or take immunosuppressive medication, and more likely to encounter difficulty obtaining health insurance coverage. Improving access to adult rheumatology care may be important to prevent poor health outcomes in cSLE. Acknowledgements Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number 5K23AR066064-03. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.”
Nothing Ado About Much

Standing is a particularly controversial aspect of EU law. In the Lisbon Treaty, a third head was added to Art 263(4) with the aim of liberalising standing for private litigants. This article examines the practical effects of those reforms, by reference to three cases – Bricmate, FESI and SolarWorld – where litigants sought to challenge anti–dumping measures directly before the EU courts. It concludes that the interpretation of the third head is highly unsatisfactory, both on its own terms and in light of the purpose of the third head. The EU Courts have deliberately restricted the third head of standing, to the extent of making it sometimes more difficult to satisfy than the second head. The article fleshes out a model in keeping with the purpose and text of the Lisbon reforms, and critically assesses the argument that the relaxation of standing rules would result in an unmanageable increase in the workload of the EU courts.
JANE EYRE'S PURSE: WOMEN'S QUEER ECONOMIC DESIRE IN THE VICTORIAN NOVEL

“Young ladies don't understand political economy, you know,” asserts the casually misogynistic uncle of Dorothea Brooke in George Eliot's Middlemarch (1871) (17; bk. 1, ch 1). Although Eliot's heroine resents both her uncle's remark and “that never-explained science which was thrust as an extinguisher over all her lights,” her attempt to teach herself political economy in the novel only seems to confirm her uncle's assessment (18; bk. 1, ch. 1): Dorothea gathers a “little heap of books on political economy” and sets forth to learn “the best way of spending money so as not to injure one's neighbors, or – what comes to the same thing – so as to do them the most good” (805; bk. 5, ch. 48). Naively likening “spending money so as not to injure one's neighbors” to “do[ing] them the most good,” Dorothea fails to grasp the self-interest at the core of nineteenth-century political economic thought and so misunderstands the subject matter before her: “Unhappily her mind slipped off [the book] for a whole hour; and at the end she found herself reading sentences twice over with an intense consciousness of many things, but not of any one thing contained in the text. This was hopeless” (805; bk. 5, ch. 48).
A Comparison of Parent- and Provider-Reported Human Papillomavirus Vaccination of Adolescents.

Introduction There is considerable effort at the state and national levels to monitor human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake and understand the factors that influence who gets vaccinated. Accurate measurement of vaccination coverage is critical for monitoring HPV vaccination. This study aimed to determine comparability between parent- and provider-reported HPV vaccination status for a sample of adolescents in the U.S. Methods Data from the 2014 National Immunization Survey−Teen were analyzed in 2016 for 20,827 adolescents. Information on HPV vaccine uptake (initiation [one or more dose] and completion [three or more doses]) was obtained using parental (recall) and provider reports (electronic medical records). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and κ-coefficient were computed to determine how comparable parental and provider (ref group) reports were for HPV vaccination. Results Prevalence of HPV vaccine initiation was comparable between parental and provider report (51.3% vs 50.0%) and for completion (30.7% vs 27.3%). Compared with provider report, parent-reported HPV vaccine initiation had high sensitivity (86.0%), specificity (87.4%), PPV (87.5%), NPV (85.9%), and acceptable κ-coefficient (0.73). Compared with provider report, parent-reported HPV vaccine completion had a sensitivity of 71.5%, specificity of 91.1%, PPV of 78.5%, NPV of 87.6%, and κ-coefficient of 0.64. Similar characteristics—adolescent age, sex, number of doctor visits, and region—were associated with HPV vaccine uptake using parental and provider reports. Conclusions Parental recall is comparable to provider report in monitoring HPV vaccine uptake for adolescents, although parental recall is less comparable for HPV vaccine completion.
Ronald J. Fisher’s Selected Bibliography

Chirot, D., & Seligman, M. (Eds.). (2001). Ethnopolitical warfare: Causes, consequences and possible solutions. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Symptom subtype and quality of life in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Quality of life (QoL) is significantly impaired in OCD across several facets of life, such as social, occupational, and family functioning, subjective sense of well-being, and enjoyment of leisure activities. The present study examined the relationship between 5 symptom subtypes of OCD (contamination, symmetry, hoarding, overresponsibility for harm, and taboo) and QoL. Participants were 325 adults with OCD enrolled in the Brown Longitudinal Obsessive Compulsive Study. Hierarchical linear regression analyses indicated hoarding, contamination, symmetry, and overresponsibility for harm were associated with impairment in household functioning, enjoyment of leisure activities, social relationships, and physical health. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Improving Physician Communication With Patients as Measured by HCAHPS Using a Standardized Communication Model

Physicians often fail to communicate well with patients. The objective of this retrospective controlled interrupted time series study was to evaluate the impact of a standardized communication intervention to improve physician communication. All patients ages 18 years or older (N = 7739 visits) admitted to University of Utah Health Care in Salt Lake City, Utah, from July 1, 2012, to June 31, 2014, were included. Obstetrics, rehabilitation, and psychiatric patients were excluded. The primary outcome was the percentage of patients who answered "Always" to all HCAHPS questions regarding physician-patient communication. Among the intervention group, the primary outcome increased from 56% to 63% ( P = .014, N = 1021) while remaining stable for the control group (65% to 66%, P = .6, N = 6718). The downward trend reversed after the intervention (-0.6% to +1.7% per month, P < .001). Standardized communication was associated with improvement in physician communication HCAHPS scores.
A brief history of Central America

This is the first interpretive history of Central America by a Central American historian to be published in English. Anyone with an interest in current events in the region will find here an insightful and well-written guide to the history of its five national states - Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. Traces of a common past invite us to make generalizations about the region, even to posit the idea of a Central American nation. But, as Hector Perez-Brignoli shows us, we can learn more from a comparative approach that establishes both the points of convergence and the separate paths taken by the five different countries of Central America. The author offers a concise overview of the region's history from the sixteenth century to the present, beginning with human and cultural geography in the first chapter and ending with the present crisis in the last. He deals with the fundamental themes and problems of the area: the characteristics of the colonial heritage, independence and the crisis of the Federal Republic, the formation of nation-states during the nineteenth century, and the development of export agriculture based on coffee and bananas. The narrative moves finally into the twentieth century to look at the growing impoverishment that multiplies inequalities and leads to the shipwreck of liberal democracy. The case of Costa Rica, exceptional in more ways than one, receives special attention.
Deliberative Democracy as Open, Not (Just) Representative Democracy

Deliberative democracy is at risk of becoming collateral damage of the current crisis of representative democracy. If deliberative democracy is necessarily representative and if representation betrays the true meaning of democracy as rule of, by, and for the people, then how can deliberative democracy retain any validity as a theory of political legitimacy? Any tight connection between deliberative democracy and representative democracy thus risks making deliberative democracy obsolete: a dated paradigm fit for a precrisis order, but maladjusted to the world of Occupy, the Pirate Party, the Zapatistas, and other antirepresentative movements. This essay argues that the problem comes from a particular and historically situated understanding of representative democracy as rule by elected elites. I argue that in order to retain its normative appeal and political relevance, deliberative democracy should dissociate itself from representative democracy thus understood and reinvent itself as the core of a more tr...
Abstract 308: Incidence of Non-Cardiac Chest Pain in Follow-up After Acute Myocardial Infarction and Association with Clinical Outcomes

Background: Non-cardiac chest pain is common in the general population, but its incidence after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is unknown. Moreover, whether patients with non-cardiac chest pain after AMI experience poorer outcomes than patients without these symptoms is unclear. Methods: Within the 24-US center TRIUMPH registry, we classified patients as having or not having a physician-adjudicated readmission with non-cardiac chest pain and assessed patients9 health status and 2-year mortality. Patients9 health status was evaluated using the quality of life domain of the disease-specific Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ QoL) and the physical and mental component summary scores of the generic Short Form 12 (SF-12) at 1, 6, and 12 months after AMI. The associations between non-cardiac chest pain hospitalization and 2-year mortality and patients9 health status were assessed using hierarchical, multivariable logistic regression and repeated measures linear regression, respectively, adjusting for potential confounders. Results: Of 3127 AMI patients, 130 (4.2%) were hospitalized with non-cardiac chest pain over the follow-up period. Two-year mortality was similar between patients with (3.8%) and without non-cardiac chest pain (6.8%, p=0.19). In contrast, patients hospitalized with non-cardiac chest pain had worse adjusted disease-specific health status (SAQ-QoL: -10.61 points [95% CI -13.48, -7.74])) and generic health status (SF-12 physical component summary: -2.78 points [95% CI -4.24, -1.32]); SF-12 mental component summary (-3.51 points [95% CI -4.88, -2.14]). Married patients were independently less likely to be hospitalized (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.4-0.9) while those with a history of chronic heart failure were more likely to be admitted with non-cardiac chest pain (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2-3.9). Conclusions: Patients hospitalized with non-cardiac chest pain experienced worse health status in the first year after AMI than patients without these symptoms, suggesting these patients experience ongoing, rather than transient, poor health status post-AMI. Further research is needed to elucidate the etiology of poor health status in these patients and develop novel treatment strategies for improving their physical functioning and quality of life.
Effects of graded levels of an Escherichia coli phytase on growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility of phosphorus, and on bone parameters of weanling pigs fed phosphorus-deficient corn-soybean meal based diets.

Abstract An experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of a novel Escherichia (E.) coli phytase on improving growth performance, calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) digestibility, and bone ash concentration of weanling pigs fed P-deficient corn-soybean meal based diets. Sixty weanling pigs with an initial body weight of 11.2 ± 1.2 kg were randomly allotted to 1 of 6 dietary treatments with 10 replicate pigs per treatment. The dietary treatments were: 1) positive control (PC), 2) negative control (NC), 3) NC + 250 phytase units (FTU)/kg diet, 4) NC + 500 FTU/kg diet, 5) NC + 1000 FTU/kg diet, and 6) NC + 2500 FTU/kg diet. Pigs were fed phase I diets during the initial 6 days and phase II diets from day 7–27. At the end of the experiment, all pigs were euthanized to collect the 3rd and 4th metacarpals from each front foot. Results indicated that in both phase I and II, pigs fed the NC diet had reduced (P E. coli phytase to the NC diet increased (linear and quadratic, P E. coli phytase inclusion increased in the diets. Pigs fed the PC diet had greater (P E. coli phytase linearly and quadratically increased (P E. coli phytase also increased (linear, P E. coli phytase for fat-free dried bone (g), bone ash weight (g), bone ash (g/kg), bone Ca (g and g/kg), bone P (g) or final BW, ADG, ADFI, or G:F during phase II or during the overall experimental period. In conclusion, adding up to 1000 FTU/kg of the novel E. coli phytase to P-deficient diets increased growth performance and P utilization in weanling pigs.
Influences of spatial variation in vegetation on avian richness and abundance vary by season in the Chihuahuan Desert

Abstract Changes in the structure, composition, and distribution of desert vegetation have resulted in altered desert bird communities. One of the most well-known influences on bird diversity and abundance in these ecosystems is the degree of woody shrub dominance. While the influence of vegetation structure and composition gradients on Chihuahuan Desert bird communities of North America has received valuable attention, seasonal variation in these influences is poorly understood. Our goal was to understand how vegetation gradients across space influence bird communities over four seasonal periods. We employed three years of avian survey data and static, spatial vegetation data in generalized linear mixed-effects models, identifying effects of (1) shrub cover in predicting shrubland bird species richness and abundance, (2) grass cover in predicting grassland bird abundance, and (3) grass height in predicting grassland and shrubland species richness and abundance. Effect sizes varied by season, with grass heights exhibiting (1) greatest positive effects on grassland species in the breeding season and (2) greatest negative effects on shrubland species in the winter. In targeting management for birds of the Chihuahuan Desert and other arid regions, managers should consider both bird-habitat associations and the variation in these relationships between seasons.
Reproductive ecology of a parasitic plant differs by host species: vector interactions and the maintenance of host races

Parasitic plants often attack multiple host species with unique defenses, physiology, and ecology. Reproductive phenology and vectors of parasitic plant genes (pollinators and dispersers) can contribute to or erode reproductive isolation of populations infecting different host species. We asked whether desert mistletoe, Phoradendron californicum (Santalaceae tribe Visceae syn. Viscaceae), differs ecologically across its dominant leguminous hosts in ways affecting reproductive isolation. Parasite flowering phenology on one host species (velvet mesquite, Prosopis velutina) differed significantly from that on four others, and phenology was not predicted by host species phenology or host individual. Comparing mistletoe populations on mesquite and another common host species (catclaw acacia, Senegalia greggii) for which genetically distinct host races are known, we tested for differences in interactions with vectors by quantifying pollinator visitation, reward production, pollen receipt, and fruit consumption. Mistletoes on mesquite produced more pollinator rewards per flower (1.86 times the nectar and 1.92 times the pollen) and received ~ 2 more pollen grains per flower than those on acacia. Mistletoes on the two host species interacted with distinct but overlapping pollinator communities, and pollinator taxa differed in visitation according to host species. Yet, mistletoes of neither host showed uniformly greater reproductive success. Fruit set (0.70) did not differ by host, and the rates of fruit ripening and removal differed in contrasting ways. Altogether, we estimate strong but asymmetric pre-zygotic isolating barriers between mistletoes on the two hosts. These host-associated differences in reproduction have implications for interactions with mutualist vectors and population genetic structure.
A new finding for carbon nanotubes in polymer blends: Reduction of nanotube breakage during melt mixing

High aspect ratio multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) having an average length of 4.23 μm and an average diameter of 9.5 nm have been melt mixed with immiscible polystyrene/poly(methyl methacryl...
Acetate is generated de novo from glucose metabolism in mammals and is coupled to central carbon metabolism

In cases of nutritional excess, there is incomplete catabolism of a nutritional source and secretion of a waste product (overflow metabolism), such as the conversion of glucose to lactate (the Warburg Effect) in tumors. Here we report that excess glucose metabolism generates acetate, a key nutrient whose source has been unclear. Conversion of pyruvate, the product of glycolysis, to acetate occurs through two mechanisms: 1) coupling to reactive oxygen species (ROS), and 2) a neomorphic enzyme activity from keto acid dehydrogenases that enable it to function as a pyruvate decarboxylase. Furthermore, we demonstrate that glucose-derived acetate is sufficient to maintain acetyl-coenzyme A (Ac-CoA) pools and cell proliferation in certain limited metabolic environments such as during mitochondrial dysfunction or ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) deficiency. Thus, de novo acetate production is coupled to the activity of central carbon metabolism providing possible regulatory mechanisms and links to pathophysiology.
Slow-Wave Activity Enhancement to Improve Cognition

Slow-wave activity (SWA), and its coupling with other sleep features, reorganizes cortical circuitry, supporting cognition. This raises the question: can cognition be improved through SWA enhancement? SWA enhancement techniques range from behavioral interventions (such as exercise), which have high feasibility but low specificity, to laboratory-based techniques (such as transcranial stimulation), which have high specificity but are less feasible for widespread use. In this review we describe the pathways through which SWA is enhanced. Pathways encompass enhanced neural activity, increased energy metabolism, and endocrine signaling during wakefulness; also direct enhancement during sleep. We evaluate the robustness and practicality of SWA-enhancement techniques, discuss approaches for determining a causal role of SWA on cognition, and present questions to clarify the mechanisms of SWA-dependent cognitive improvements.
Local Food Systems Food Safety Concerns.

Foodborne disease causes an estimated 48 million illnesses and 3,000 deaths annually (Scallan E, et al., Emerg Infect Dis 17:7–15, 2011), with U.S. economic costs estimated at $152 billion to $1.4 trillion annually (Roberts T, Am J Agric Econ 89:1183–1188, 2007; Scharff RL, http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/reports/0001/01/01/healthrelated-costs-from-foodborne-illness-in-the-united-states, 2010). An increasing number of these illnesses are associated with fresh fruits and vegetables. An analysis of outbreaks from 1990 to 2003 found that 12% of outbreaks and 20% of outbreak-related illnesses were associated with produce (Klein S, Smith DeWaal CS, Center for Science in the Public Interest, https://cspinet.org/sites/default/files/attachment/ddreport.pdf, June 2008; Lynch M, Tauxe R, Hedberg C, Epidemiol Infect 137:307–315, 2009). These food safety problems have resulted in various stakeholders recommending the shift to a more preventative and risk-based food safety system. A modern risk-based food safety system takes a farm-to-fork preventative approach to food safety and relies on the proactive collection and analysis of data to better understand potential hazards and risk factors, to design and evaluate interventions, and to prioritize prevention efforts. Such a system focuses limited resources at the points in the food system with the likelihood of having greatest benefit to public health. As shared kitchens, food hubs, and local food systems such as community supported agriculture are becoming more prevalent throughout the United States, so are foodborne illness outbreaks at these locations. At these locations, many with limited resources, food safety methods of prevention are rarely the main focus. This lack of focus on food safety knowledge is why a growing number of foodborne illness outbreaks are occurring at these locations.
Multidrug Resistance and Its Circumvention in Acute Leukemia

The use of intensive chemotherapy regimens produces complete remissions in up to 90% of children with acute lymphocytic leukemia, and more than half of these patients are expected to be cured of their disease [1]. Among patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and adults with acute lymphocytic leukemia, sustained complete remissions are achieved in only 20%–40% of cases [2, 3]. Remission rates in patients relapsing from a complete remission are substantially lower due to development of resistance to agents employed in primary therapy and other agents to which the patient has not been exposed. In experimental systems, resistance to multiple agents most often relates to expression of P-glycoprotein, or the multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype. In this chapter we review the role of MDR in acute leukemia and current clinical trials at the Arizona Cancer Center aimed a-restoring chemosensitivity in these disorders.
Direct Conversion of Methane to Methanol and Higher Hydrocarbons

Abstract For the production of both oxygenates and higher hydrocarbons the initial step in the activation of CH 4 over metal oxide catalysts appears to be the formation of methyl radicals. Although several types of surface oxygen may be effective in abstracting H from CH 4 at elevated temperatures, there is considerable experimental evidence to support the role of O − ions in this reaction. These ions may be formed by a one-electron transfer to N 2 O, they may be generated by photolysis of a metal oxide surface (e.g. MoO 3 /SiO 2 ), or they may result from substitutional impurities (e.g. Li + in MgO). The resulting methyl radicals may either react by reductive addition to form methoxide ions or they may desorb into the gas phase. Under reacting conditions the methoxide ions subsequently may decompose to HCHO or react with H 2 O to form CH 3 OH. The gas phase coupling of methyl radicals yields C 2 H 6 , which may be dehydrogenated to C 2 H 4 . In all cases yields of the desired partial oxidation products are limited by both heterogeneous and homogeneous secondary reactions. Generally, a surface which can activate methane also can activate intermediates for further oxidation.
Chemical Bonding In Non-Crystalline Solids

Since the readers of this chapter include both chemists and physicists who are interested in better understanding the field of glass technology, a serious problem arises in relating a body of fundamental information to an audience with differing levels of understanding of structural chemistry. The chemist who has taken a good graduate course in inorganic chemistry will find few new concepts or insights into the chemistry of glasses; this chapter can only serve to present material he has previously seen in a new context. On the other hand a physicist whose formal study of chemistry was concluded in his freshman year may find the chapter to be little more than an outline of a body of material that will not be mastered without further reading in standard texts on the subject (some of which are listed in the references.) The chapter is directed primarily to those who have studied most of the concepts presented but have lost a sense of familiarity with the material because of a lack of opportunity to use it in daily applications, and to provide a practical context that will help to keep it from being lost again.
Leading and Managing the Workplace: The Role of Executive Functions

Executive functions are the cognitive abilities that enable individuals to effectively manage their attention. The efficient management of attention facilitates performance when individuals must th...
Social Security and Marriage in Black and White

Social security benefits are available for individuals and their spouses. Spousal benefits, however, are subject to certain limits where spouses also work in the paid labor market. Social security benefits are the greatest for spouses who do not work in the paid labor market and are the least for spouses who contribute roughly half of their household income.Social security benefits also are available for surviving spouses. Surviving spousal benefits are reduced for dual wage earner couples. Surviving spousal benefits are the greatest for spouses who do not work in the paid labor market and are the lowest where wives contribute roughly half of their household income. Census Bureau data shows that African-American wives are more likely than White wives to contribute roughly half of their household income. As a result, African-American wives are more likely than White wives to be penalized by the social security limitations placed on dual wage earner couples. This Article should encourage scholars who are interested in examining how African- Americans fare under our current Social Security System to include married African-American couples in their analysis.
TPR-containing proteins control protein organization and homeostasis for the endoplasmic reticulum

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a complex, multifunctional organelle comprised of a continuous membrane and lumen that is organized into a number of functional regions. It plays various roles including protein translocation, folding, quality control, secretion, calcium signaling, and lipid biogenesis. Cellular protein homeostasis is maintained by a complicated chaperone network, and the largest functional family within this network consists of proteins containing tetratricopeptide repeats (TPRs). TPRs are well-studied structural motifs that mediate intermolecular protein-protein interactions, supporting interactions with a wide range of ligands or substrates. Seven TPR-containing proteins have thus far been shown to localize to the ER and control protein organization and homeostasis within this multifunctional organelle. Here, we discuss the roles of these proteins in controlling ER processes and organization. The crucial roles that TPR-containing proteins play in the ER are highlighted by diseases or defects associated with their mutation or disruption.
Inhibition of Mouse and Human Class 1 Aldehyde Dehydrogenase by 4-(N,N-Dialkylamino)Benzaldehyde Compounds

The pharmacologic inhibition of the oxidation of aldehydes by aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) has been pursued for over forty years. Disulfiram was first used clinically in an attempt to deter people from ethanol consumption (Hald and Jacobsen, 1948). Disulfiram inhibits the ALDH-catalyzed oxidation of acetaldehyde to acetate, resulting in the accumulation of the more toxic aldehyde metabolite. Unfortunately, disulfiram not only inhibits ALDH enzymes in the liver and erythrocytes, but it also interacts with reactive cysteine thiol side chains of other enzymes. Although identification of the active metabolite responsible for enzyme inhibition in vivo has proven difficult, bioactivation of disulfiram appears to be essential. While strong evidence has been presented that S-methyl N,N-diethylthiocarbamate sulfoxide is the disulfiram metabolite which acts as the in vivo inhibitor of rat liver mitochondrial ALDH (Hart and Faiman, 1992), the sulfone product has also been identified as a potent, irreversible inhibitor and potential in vivo metabolite of disulfiram (Mays et al, 1995).
Cost-Effectiveness of Treatment Alternatives for Treatment-Refractory Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

Abstract Purpose Current guidelines for first-line treatment of childhood OCD are cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) utilizing exposure and response prevention (ERP), and/or antidepressant (ADM) pharmacotherapy, specifically serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRI). Given that first-line are relatively similar in terms of clinical effectiveness, the role of costs to provide such services may help influence treatment decisions. In the case of treatment refractory pediatric OCD, this cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) aims to further evaluate two additional, higher intensity combination therapies, namely OCD-specific Intensive Outpatient (IOP) and Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP), to determine the additional benefits, in terms of effectiveness, that may result, and the corresponding increase in costs for these higher-intensity courses of therapy. Results IOP was the most cost-effective strategy in terms of change in CY-BOCS, pre/post treatment, equal to 16.42 units, followed by PHP and CBT monotherapy augmented with ADM CBT-monotherapy augmented with additional CBT and ADM-only augmented with CBT followed closely with 15.56 and 14.75 unit improvements in CY-BOCS. IOP accomplished its superior cost-effectiveness with an Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER), of $48,834, lower than either of the established willingness to Pay thresholds. Conclusions Lack of access to high fidelity, high dose CBT paired with pharmacotherapy is an issue for OCD patients and families. Among youth who were treatment non-responsive, these results indicate the superiority of a high dosage CBT strategy, indicating the need to increase access to these treatments.
DiffTrace: Efficient Whole-Program Trace Analysis and Diffing for Debugging

We present a tool called DiffTrace that approaches debugging via whole program tracing and diffing of typical and erroneous traces. After collecting these traces, a user-configurable front-end filters out irrelevant function calls and then summarizes loops in the retained function calls based on state-of-the-art loop extraction algorithms. Information about these loops is inserted into concept lattices, which we use to compute salient dissimilarities to narrow down bugs. DiffTrace is a clean start that addresses debugging features missing in existing approaches. Our experiments on an MPI/OpenMP program called ILCS and initial measurements on LULESH, a DOE miniapp, demonstrate the advantages of the proposed debugging approach.
PyMOL as an Instructional Tool To Represent and Manipulate the Myoglobin/Hemoglobin Protein System

A goal for biochemistry instructors is to support their students’ ability to critically analyze protein structure and its relationship to function. To do this, biochemistry instructors strategicall...
Comparative safety of flavocoxid vs prescription NSAIDs among osteoarthritis patients.

Summary Objective Flavocoxid is a prescription medical food used to manage osteoarthritis (OA) symptoms. Safety concerns based on case reports raised an association with acute liver injury and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. We determined incidence rates (IR) of these safety events in a cohort of new users of flavocoxid and prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Method MarketScan® claims data (2006–2017) was used to identify patients initiating flavocoxid or NSAIDs. Propensity score matching (1:2 ratio) was used to balance patient characteristics. Outcomes included hospitalization for hypersensitivity pneumonitis, liver injury, gastrointestinal bleeding, myocardial infarction, and acute kidney injury. Poisson regression was used to calculate IRs and Cox regression for calculating adjusted hazard ratios (aHR). Results 3,337 flavocoxid and 6,674 NSAID users met eligibility criteria. Before matching, flavocoxid users were older (mean 57 vs 51 years), had more polypharmacy (68% vs 29% taking ≥11 medications). After matching, characteristics were well balanced. The rate of hypersensitivity pneumonitis was 1.1 (95% CI 0.0–5.9) per 1,000 PY for flavocoxid and 0.0 (95% CI 0.0–2.2) for NSAIDs. For hospitalized liver injury, it was 3.2 (95% CI 0.7–9.3) for flavocoxid and 2.4 (95% CI 0.7–6.1) for NSAIDs, aHR = 1.16, 95% CI 0.23–6.01. A lower rate of GI bleed was observed, IR: 5.3 (1.7–12.3) for flavocoxid and 10.2 (5.9–16.3) for NSAIDs, aHR 0.49 (0.18–1.68). There were no significant differences for MI or AKI. Conclusion The rate of hypersensitivity pneumonitis and liver injury associated with flavocoxid was low and minimally elevated compared to NSAIDs. Flavocoxid users had a significantly lower risk for hospitalized GI bleeding. The risk–benefit profile of flavocoxid may warrant reevaluation in light of these findings.
Artificial Urinary Sphincter Cuff Erosion Heat Map Shows Similar Anatomical Characteristics for Transcorporal and Standard Approach.

Purpose:We describe and compare artificial urinary sphincter cuff erosion sites and associated clinical implications.Materials and Methods:We retrospectively reviewed men who presented with artific...
The Assessment of School Counseling Competencies as a Tool to Support School Counseling Students, Supervisors, and Training Programs:

The Assessment of School Counseling Competencies (ASCC) is a measure designed to assess school counseling trainees’ student learning outcomes in four domains: (a) school counseling program developm...