cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermal Treatment of Cottage Cheese “In-Package” by Microwave Heating1

Small-curd cottage cheese was packaged in polystyrene tubs and subjected to heat treatments of 37-82.2°C using .5 and 2.8 kw microwave sources. Cottage cheese was also packed in flexible pouches (laminate structure of ethylene vinyl acetate/polyvinylidene chloride/ethylene vinyl acetate - EVA/PVDC/EVA) and polyethylene tubs and subjected to heat treatments of 37.0 - 82.2°C. Moisture content, syneresis, microbial population, pH and sensory properties were monitored until samples were considered no longer acceptable. The shelf life of samples ranged from 7 to 42 d. Optimum quality was observed when the packaged cheese was heated to 48.8°C using the low power source. Cheese packed in the flexible pouches had the longest shelf life.
Prescription Stimulants in Individuals with and without ADHD – Do They Improve Cognition? (P05.121)

OBJECTIVE: Prescription stimulant abuse of drugs like methylphenidate (MPH), dextroamphetamine (d), and dextroamphetamine-amphetamine (d-AMP) has dramatically increased over recent years as a form of "cognitive enhancement". In this inquiry, we discuss the cognitive effects of prescription stimulant use in individuals with and without ADHD. BACKGROUND: The nonmedical use of prescription stimulants represents the second common most form of illicit drug use in college, second to marijuana. Stimulants, commonly called "smart pills", are commonly abused by students for enhancing school or work performance. DESIGN/METHODS: This inquiry was initiated with a PubMed search of the US National Library of Medicine. RESULTS: ADHD-diagnosed college students did not differ in IQ from those without ADHD. In reviewing 17 studies, stimulants produced little improvement in the academic performance of hyperkinetic ADHD children. The drugs appeared to reduce disruptive behavior rather than improve academic performance. Stimulants do improve the ability to focus and pay attention. Both AMP and MPH do not improve (and may even impair) short-term acquisition of information. In addition, AMP and MPH do not improve, and may impair "cognitive flexibility". In non-ADHD individuals using stimulants, with single exposures of verbal material, there were no benefits seen immediately following learning, but late recall and recognition were enhanced. Of 6 studies, only 1 yielded significant memory enhancement on short delays. In contrast, retention was reliably enhanced by d-AMP when subjects were tested after longer delays. CONCLUSIONS: Stimulants do not increase IQ. AMP and MPH might improve long-term retention of information in ADHD, if taken when memory is being "consolidated." When ADHD patients are given rote-learning tasks their performance is improved by stimulants. However, studies only found a correlation with rote memory tasks, not complex memory. The rumored effects of "smart drugs" may be a false promise, as research suggests that stimulants are more effective at correcting deficits than "enhancing performance." Disclosure: Dr. Lakhan has nothing to disclose.
The ‘folklore’ and reality of reticular chemistry

Reticular chemistry, linking molecular building blocks together by strong bonds to make porous frameworks, is a rapidly expanding field of research, engaging laboratories worldwide. However, as with any emerging field, there exist ‘folklores’ permeating through the scientific discourse. These folklores do little in the way of advancing the field and, in no uncertain terms, negatively color our scientific pursuits. It is within this context that we seek to bring the folklores out into the open to provide the true realities of reticular chemistry.
Repeatability and reproducibility of 2D and 3D hepatic MR elastography with rigid and flexible drivers at end-expiration and end-inspiration in healthy volunteers.

To evaluate the repeatability and reproducibility of 2D and 3D hepatic MRE with rigid and flexible drivers at end-expiration and end-inspiration in healthy volunteers. Nine healthy volunteers underwent two same-day MRE exams separated by a 5- to 10-min break. In each exam, 2D and 3D MRE scans were performed, each under four conditions (2 driver types [rigid, flexible] × 2 breath-hold phases [end-expiration, end-inspiration]). Repeatability (measurements under identical conditions) and reproducibility (measurements under different conditions) were analyzed by calculating bias, limit of agreement, repeatability coefficient (RC), reproducibility coefficient (RDC), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), as appropriate. For 2D MRE, RCs and ICCs range between 0.29–0.49 and 0.71–0.91, respectively. For 3D MRE, RCs and ICCs range between 0.16–0.26 and 0.84–0.96, respectively. Stiffness values were biased by breath-hold phase, being higher at end-inspiration than end-expiration, and the differences were significant for 3D MRE (p < 0.01). No bias was found between driver types. Inspiration vs. expiration RDCs and CCCs ranged between 0.30–0.54 and 0.61–0.72, respectively. Rigid vs. flexible driver RDCs and CCCs ranged between 0.10–0.44 and 0.79–0.94, respectively. This preliminary study suggests that 2D MRE and 3D MRE under most conditions potentially have good repeatability. Our result also points to the possibility that stiffness measured with the rigid and flexible drivers is reproducible. Reproducibility between breath-hold phases was modest, suggesting breath-hold phase might be a confounding factor in MRE-based stiffness measurement. However, larger studies are required to validate these preliminary results.
Effects of Social Facilitation upon Females' Performance of two Psychomotor Tasks

Abstract The purpose of this investigation was to test the effects of the presence of an audience as compared to a co-action group setting during performance of two different psychomotor tasks. Social facilitation theory predicts identical social influences resulting from either condition and does not take into account the nature of the task performed. Ninety female subjects were randomly selected from a voluntary population of 238. Thirty subjects were then randomly assigned to each of three treatment conditions: alone, audience, and co-action. All subjects performed three trials on each task: hand-steadiness and manual dexterity. Separate ANOVA was completed for performance on each task. When a significant F ratio was obtained the Tukey Method for multiple comparisons of means was applied. The results showed some support for the hypothesis that the effects of an audience and a co-action group setting are not identical. The co-action group performed significantly better than the audience group on both ta...
Neural Evolution: Homology in Neuronal Networks

Summary Do behaviors and neuronal networks that control them evolve together in lockstep, or do separate selection processes lead to their evolution? New research, dissecting the swim motor networks in two related nudibranch species, seeks to answer this question.
Maternal buprenorphine treatment and infant outcome.

Abstract Background and objectives Maternal buprenorphine maintenance predisposes the infant to exhibit neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), but there is insufficient published information regarding the nature of NAS and factors that contribute to its severity in buprenorphine-exposed infants. Methods The present study evaluated forty-one infants of buprenorphine-maintained women in comprehensive substance use disorder treatment who participated in an open-label study examining the effects of maternal buprenorphine maintenance on infant outcomes. Modifiers of the infant outcomes, including maternal treatment and substance use disorder parameters, were also evaluated. Results Fifty-nine percent of offspring exhibited NAS that required pharmacologic management. Both maternal buprenorphine dose as well as prenatal polysubstance exposure to illicit substance use/licit substance misuse were independently associated with NAS expression. Polysubstance exposure was associated with more severe NAS expression after controlling for the effects of buprenorphine dose. Other exposures, including cigarette smoking and SRI use, were not related to outcomes. Maternal buprenorphine dose was positively associated with lower birth weight and length. Conclusions Polysubstance exposure was the most potent predictor of NAS severity in this sample of buprenorphine-exposed neonates. This finding suggests the need for interventions that reduce maternal polysubstance use during medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorder, and highlights the necessity of a comprehensive approach, beyond buprenorphine treatment alone, for the optimal care for pregnant women with opioid use disorders.
TH1 signatures are present in the lower airways of children with severe asthma, regardless of allergic status

Background The pathogenesis of severe asthma in childhood remains poorly understood. Objective We sought to construct the immunologic landscape in the airways of children with severe asthma. Methods Comprehensive analysis of multiple cell types and mediators was performed by using flow cytometry and a multiplex assay with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens (n = 68) from 52 highly characterized allergic and nonallergic children (0.5-17 years) with severe treatment-refractory asthma. Multiple relationships were tested by using linear mixed-effects modeling. Results Memory CCR5 + T H 1 cells were enriched in BAL fluid versus blood, and pathogenic respiratory viruses and bacteria were readily detected. IFN-γ + IL-17 + and IFN-γ − IL-17 + subsets constituted secondary T H types, and BAL fluid CD8 + T cells were almost exclusively IFN-γ + . The T H 17-associated mediators IL-23 and macrophage inflammatory protein 3α/CCL20 were highly expressed. Despite low T H 2 numbers, T H 2 cytokines were detected, and T H 2 skewing correlated with total IgE levels. Type 2 innate lymphoid cells and basophils were scarce in BAL fluid. Levels of IL-5, IL-33, and IL-28A/IFN-λ2 were increased in multisensitized children and correlated with IgE levels to dust mite, ryegrass, and fungi but not cat, ragweed, or food sources. Additionally, levels of IL-5, but no other cytokine, increased with age and correlated with eosinophil numbers in BAL fluid and blood. Both plasmacytoid and IgE + FceRI + myeloid dendritic cells were present in BAL fluid. Conclusions The lower airways of children with severe asthma display a dominant T H 1 signature and atypical cytokine profiles that link to allergic status. Our findings deviate from established paradigms and warrant further assessment of the pathogenicity of T H 1 cells in patients with severe asthma.
Regulation of Acid-Base Balance in Chronic Kidney Disease

The kidneys play a major role in the regulation of acid-base balance by reabsorbing bicarbonate filtered by the glomeruli and excreting titratable acids and ammonia into the urine. In CKD, with declining kidney function, acid retention and metabolic acidosis occur, but the extent of acid retention depends not only on the degree of kidney impairment but also on the dietary acid load. Acid retention can occur even when the serum bicarbonate level is apparently normal. With reduced kidney function, acid transport processes in the surviving nephrons are augmented but as disease progresses ammonia excretion and, in some individuals, the ability to reabsorb bicarbonate falls, whereas titratable acid excretion is preserved until kidney function is severely impaired. Urinary ammonia levels are used to gauge the renal response to acid loads and are best assessed by direct measurement of urinary ammonia levels rather than by indirect assessments. In individuals with acidosis from CKD, an inappropriately low degree of ammonia excretion points to the pathogenic role of impaired urinary acid excretion. The presence of a normal bicarbonate level in CKD complicates the interpretation of the urinary ammonia excretion as such individuals could be in acid-base balance or could be retaining acid without manifesting a low bicarbonate level. At this time, the decision to give bicarbonate supplementation in CKD is reserved for those with a bicarbonate level of 22 mEq/L, but because of potential harm of overtreatment, supplementation should be adjusted to maintain a bicarbonate level of
The Pair Density in Approximate Density Functionals: The Hidden Agent

In this chapter, we review the connection between density functional methods [1] and wave function methods [2]. Simple models of the pair density are shown to lead naturally to the local density approximation for exchange and correlation. The rigorous basis for this approach is exact density functional theory [1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. We review recent advances from a pair density perspective.
The Performance and Scalability of the SHMEM and Corresponding MPI-3 Routines on a Cray XC30

In this paper the authors compare the performance and scalability of the SHMEM and corresponding MPI-3 routines for five different benchmark tests using a Cray XC30. The performance of the MPI-3 get and put operations was evaluated using fence synchronization and also using lock-unlock synchronization. The five tests used communication patterns ranging from light to heavy data traffic: accessing distant messages, circular right shift, gather, broadcast and all-to-all. Each implementation was run using message sizes of 8 bytes, 10 Kbytes and 1 Mbyte and up to 768 processes. For nearly all tests, the SHMEM get and put implementations outperformed the MPI-3 get and put implementations. The authors noticed significant performance increase using MPI-3 instead of MPI-2 when compared with performance results from previous studies.
Community microgrid scheduling considering building thermal dynamics

This paper proposes a scheduling model for community microgrids considering the building thermal dynamics and customer comfort preference. The proposed optimization framework minimizes the total cost of operating the community microgrid, including fuel cost, purchasing cost, battery degradation cost, voluntary load shedding cost and the cost associated with customer discomfort due to room temperature deviation from the set point. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems are scheduled intelligently to reduce the electricity cost while maintaining the indoor temperature in the comfort range set by customers. Numerical simulation results show significant saving in electricity cost by the proposed model.
LVIS Jr. stent for treatment of intracranial aneurysms with parent vessel diameter of 2.5 mm or less.

Background and purposeThis retrospective study evaluates the safety, effectiveness, and long-term clinical and angiographic follow-up of intracranial aneurysms treated with the Low-Profile Visualiz...
A Classroom Theorem on Trigonometric Irrationalities

(1974). A Classroom Theorem on Trigonometric Irrationalities. The Two-Year College Mathematics Journal: Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 73-76.
Management Implications of Snowpack Sensitivity to Temperature and Atmospheric Moisture Changes in Yosemite National Park, CA

In order to investigate snowpack sensitivity to temperature increases and end-member atmospheric-moisture conditions, we applied a well-constrained energy- and mass-balance snow model across the full elevation range of seasonal snowpack using forcing data from recent wet and dry years. Humidity scenarios examined were constant relative humidity (high) and constant vapor pressure between storms (low). With minimum calibration, model results captured the observed magnitude and timing of snowmelt. April 1 SWE losses of 38, 73, and 90% with temperature increases of 2, 4, and 6°C in a dry year centered on areas of greatest SWE accumulation. Each 2°C increment of warming also resulted in seasonal snowline moving upslope by 300 m. The zone of maximum melt was compressed upwards 100-500 m with 6°C warming, with the range reflecting differences in basin hypsometry. Melt contribution by elevations below 2000 m disappeared with 4°C warming. The constant-relative-humidity scenario resulted in 0-100 mm less snowpack in late spring versus the constant-vapor-pressure scenario in a wet year, a difference driven by increased thermal radiation (+1.2 W m-2) and turbulent energy fluxes (+1.2 W m-2) to the snowpack for the constant-relative-humidity case. Loss of snowpack storage and potential increases in forest evapotranspiration due to warming will result in a substantial shift in forest water balance and present major challenges to land management in this mountainous region.
Post-fire Redistribution of Soil Carbon and Nitrogen at a Grassland–Shrubland Ecotone

The rapid conversion of grasslands into shrublands has been observed in many arid and semiarid regions worldwide. Studies have shown that fire can negatively affect shrub communities and promote resource homogenization, thereby providing some reversibility to the resource heterogeneity induced by shrub encroachment, especially in the early stages of encroachment. Here, we used prescribed fire in a grassland–shrubland transition zone in the northern Chihuahuan Desert to test the hypothesis that fire facilitates the remobilization of nutrient-enriched soil from shrub microsites to grass and bare microsites and thereby reduces the spatial heterogeneity of soil resources. Results show that the shrub microsites had the lowest water content compared to grass and bare microsites after fire, even when rain events occurred. Significant differences of total soil carbon (TC) and total soil nitrogen (TN) among the three microsites were not detected 1 year after the fire. The spatial autocorrelation distance increased from 1 to 2 m, approximately the mean diameter of an individual shrub canopy, to over 5 m 1 year after the fire for TC and TN. Patches of high soil C and N decomposed 1 year after the prescribed fire. Overall, fire stimulates the redistribution of soil C and N from shrub microsites to nutrient-depleted grass and bare microsites, leading to a decrease in spatial heterogeneity of these elements. The redistribution of soil C and N from shrub to grass and bare microsites, coupled with the reduced soil water content under the shrub canopies but not in grass and bare microsites, suggests that fire might influence the competition between shrubs and grasses, leading to a higher grass, compared to shrub, coverage in this ecotone.
Autoimmune thyroiditis following HLA-matched sibling hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

WAS is a fatal X-linked combined immunodeficiency syndrome, the only cures for which are HSCT or gene therapy. AID occur in up to 72% of patients with WAS who do not receive HSCT, likely arising secondary to impaired multilineage immune autoregulatory function; AITD is not typically seen. In this article, we describe the case of a male patient who underwent HLA-matched HSCT for WAS at the age of 5 months, with his sister (a WAS carrier) acting as his donor and subsequently developed AITD 12 months post-transplant, with marked elevation of antithyroid peroxidase antibody titer. His donor sister was subsequently found to have elevated antithyroid peroxidase antibody titer with increasing trend and normal thyroid function. Although several mechanisms exist by which our patient may have developed AITD, we suggest the transfer of autoreactive donor immune cells as the most plausible explanation.
Systems Biology and Metabolic Modeling of C 1 -Metabolism

Recent developments in experimental technologies have transformed traditional microbial physiology into a data-rich or -omics discipline. As a result, it has caused a renaissance of the mathematical analysis of biological systems and stimulated the development of systems biology workflows which aim to provide a holistic vision of all cellular functions through genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and fluxomic data. In silico modeling of metabolic systems has become a powerful tool, providing insight into the complex processes in cellular metabolism and their underlying regulatory mechanisms, as well as potentially improving the biotechnological design of microbial strains with desired properties. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the systems biology of methane utilization, as an example of one unique microbial function that has been dissected using - omics technologies. We discuss the most recent advances in large-scale investigation and computational representation of related metabolic networks as well as highlight some challenges for further developments in the field.
PO-369 KDM3A/Ets1/MCAM axis in rhabdomyosarcoma and osteosarcoma

Introduction Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and Osteosarcoma (OS) are the most common primary malignant tumours of soft tissue and bones, respectively, affecting children, adolescents and young adults. RMS can be divided into two major histopathological and molecular subtypes: driver oncofusion (PAX3/7-FOXO1) positive, alveolar (ARMS), and oncofusion-negative embryonal (ERMS). Oncofusion positive ARMS carries a worse prognosis, in part due to higher propensity for metastasis. OS is also an aggressive disease with high propensity for metastasis. Patients with metastatic RMS and OS have few therapeutic options, including currently no effective targeted therapies, and typically face poor outcomes. Our laboratory has previously identified a novel, potentially druggable, tumour and metastasis-promotional, axis in Ewing Sarcoma, another aggressive bone and soft tissue cancer of childhood, involving the histone demethylase KDM3A, the Ets1 transcription factor, and the cell adhesion protein MCAM. We have additionally observed KDM3A to be overexpressed in RMS, and in a subset of OS. The aim of this study was to examine whether the KDM3A/Ets1/MCAM axis is intact in RMS and OS, and what impact it has on the biology of these diseases. Material and methods RMS and OS cell lines were analysed for KDM3A, Ets1 and MCAM expression, and selected cell lines were subjected to stable shRNA-mediated KDM3A, Ets1 and MCAM knockdown (KD). Phenotypic effects of knockdown were analysed by clonogenic and transendothelial invasion assays. Preliminary tumour xenograft studies were also performed. Results and discussions KDM3A is uniformly overexpressed in ERMS and ARMS cell lines and a subset of OS cell lines. KDM3A KD inhibits colony formation and transendothelial invasion in ERMS and ARMS cells and a high-expressing OS cell line. In preliminary studies KDM3A KD also inhibits ARMS tumorigenesis in an orthotopic model. Strikingly, similar to our prior studies in Ewing Sarcoma, a KDM3A/Ets1/MCAM regulatory axis is intact in RMS and OS, and MCAM KD exerts similar phenotypic effects to those achieved with KDM3A KD. Conclusion Our studies indicate that a KDM3A/Ets1/MCAM molecular axis is intact in RMS and OS, and regulates growth and invasive properties. Together with our previous studies in Ewing Sarcoma, these findings suggest that this may be an important tumour and metastasis promotional axis in all three common paediatric sarcomas, despite distinct cellular origins of these cancers.
Adversarial Machine Learning: The Case of Recommendation Systems

Learning with expert advice framework has drawn much attention in recent years especially in the context of recommendation systems. We consider two challenges that we face in broadly applying this framework in practice. One is the impact of adversarial attack strategies (malicious recommendations) and the other is lack of sufficient recommendation from quality experts (aka sleeping expert setting). In this paper, we discuss some recent results on understanding adversarial strategies and their effect on recommendation systems. In addition, in the sleeping expert setting, we discuss some novel designs for learning alaorithms and the analysis of their convergence properties.
Removal of dolomite and silica from apatite by selective flocculation

The southern Florida phosphate deposits that will be mined in the future contain significant amounts of dolomite. Because high MgO levels are undesirable in phosphoric acid production, several flotation schemes for the removal of the dolomite have been attempted. Alternatively, selective flocculation has been suggested as a potential process. A high MgO rock was simulated with a 30:10:60 mixture of apatite, dolomite and silica, respectively. Single mineral selectivity was observed in the apatite-silica and dolomite-silica systems using Polyacrylic acid (PAA) and Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) flocculants, respectively. However, no single mineral selectivity was observed in the apatite-dolomite system using PEO. Heteroflocculation, suspected to be the major reason for the loss of selectivity, was minimized by the addition of a site blocking agent (SBA), consisting of a lower-molecular-weight fraction of PEO. Process parameters such as size reduction schemes, flocculant/SBA dosage and pH were investigated to achieve the desired separation. The selectivity obtained in binary mixed-mineral tests was also achieved in the ternary mixed-mineral system, namely, the apatite-dolomite-silica system. In this report, surface chemical characterization of the samples and their flocculation behavior are discussed.
Treatment of Tardive Dystonia

Treatment options for tardive dystonia (TDyst) consist primarily of botulinum toxin (BTX) injections, medications, and deep brain stimulation (DBS). When most of the disability is caused by a small number of muscles, BTX should be used first. If BTX injections are not sufficient, medications should be tried. Although dopamine depletors such as reserpine and tetrabenazine are the most effective medications for TDyst, they can produce depression and other side effects and should be used only if at least one other medication fails. Medications for idiopathic dystonia (anticholinergics, baclofen, and clonazepam) sometimes produce significant benefit for TDyst. Medications used for other tardive syndromes may help TDyst but are much less likely to be of benefit, and some patients will require DBS of the globus pallidus.
Fecal microbiota transplantation in children: current concepts.

Purpose of reviewAdministration of fecal material into the gastrointestinal tract, termed fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), is increasingly recognized as an effective treatment option for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (RCDI). The impact of FMT on host microbial communities and subs
Systematic review of sedentary behaviour in people with Down syndrome across the lifespan: A clarion call.

BACKGROUND Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) experience health disparities possibly associated with high levels of sedentary behaviour (SB). We systematically reviewed SB measurement, levels, patterns, correlates, consequences and interventions in people with DS across the lifespan. METHOD We searched these databases: Embase; PubMed; Web of Science; Scopus; CINAHL; PsycINFO; SPORTDiscus; and Cochrane Library. We included quantitative studies published in English since 1 January 1990. RESULTS We identified 17 eligible articles. Across studies, accelerometer-determined sedentary time was 552 min/day (median: 542; range 392-680 min/day). Sedentary time appeared higher than previously reported values in the general population, especially for youth with DS. Multivariate SB correlates were primarily familial and environmental. Sedentary behaviour consequences have not been exclusively studied. Motor skills training reduced SB in youth with DS. CONCLUSIONS Sedentary behaviour research in this population is in early stages. Individuals with DS have high levels of SB that may be responsive to interventions.
Programmanalyse über expliziten Abhängigkeitsgraphen

Das wesentliche Hindernis fur den praktischen Einsatz interprozeduraler, kontextsensitiver Programmanalysen besteht im immens hohen Speicherverbrauch bei der Darstellung der Analyseinformation. In diesem Kapitel entwickeln wir eine Programmanalyse auf expliziten Abhangigkeitsgraphen, die Abschatzungen uber Ergebnisse von Ausdrucken und uber Inhalte von Variablen berechnet. Besondere Eigenschaften sind hierbei die schnelle Konvergenz und die speichereffiziente Darstellung der Analysewerte. Dies gilt insbesondere fur kontextsensitive Werte, fur die hier eine neuartige, symbolische Darstellung eingefuhrt wird.
Incidence of Pandora neoaphidis (Remaudière and Hennebert) Humber (Zygomycetes: Entomophthorales) in the Myzus persicae (Sulzer) Complex (Homoptera: Aphididae) on Three Species of Brassica in the Fall and Winter

The incidence of the aphid pathogen, Pandora neoaphidis (Remaudiere & Hennebert) Humber, was monitored in populations of the Myzus persicae (Sulzer) complex (green peach aphid, M. persicae, and the...
213 WNT inhibition by dickkopf WNT signalling pathway inhibitor 1 (DKK1) cannot replace IWR-1 during derivation of bovine embryonic stem cells

Understanding the signalling pathways involved with derivation of embryonic stem cells could enhance our understanding of pluripotency in pre-implantation embryos. Recently, the small molecule IWR-1 has been shown to promote derivation of mouse epiblast stem cells and pluripotent bovine and porcine embryonic stem cells (ESC). IWR-1 blocks WNT signalling mediated by β-catenin-targeted gene expression through stabilisation of Axin2, a member of the destruction complex that induces β-catenin degradation. Here, we evaluated whether dickkopf WNT signalling pathway inhibitor 1 (DKK1) can replace IWR-1 for establishment of bovine pluripotent ESC. If so, it is likely that the actions of IWR-1 to promote pluripotency involve inhibition of WNT signalling. Treatment of bovine embryos with 100 ng mL−1 recombinant human DKK1 beginning at Day 5 of development decreased (P = 0.02) immunofluorescent labelling of β-catenin in the resulting blastocysts (n = 41-45/group), indicating that bovine embryos are responsive to DKK1 treatment. For ESC derivation, blastocysts were plated on top of feeder cells and cultured in ESC medium supplemented with 2.5 µM IWR-1 (n = 21), 100 ng mL−1 DKK1 (n = 34), or vehicle (n = 23). Cells were passaged every 5 to 7 days in their respective treatment medium. Seven days after plating, 57.9 ± 14.7% of blastocysts in IWR-1 ESC medium developed outgrowth, which was lower (P = 0.02) than the proportion of blastocysts with outgrowth in DKK1 medium (92.4 ± 5.2%) or vehicle (81.9 ± 10.0%). Outgrowth size did not differ among treatments. Labelling with CDX2 indicated that the majority of cells in outgrowths were trophectoderm cells. Thus, IWR-1 inhibits competence of blastocysts to form trophectoderm outgrowths during derivation of ESC. The percent of blastocysts from which cell lines were derived after 4 passages were 48% (10/21) for IWR-1, 41% (14/34) for DKK1, and 48% (11/23) for vehicle. Immunolabelling for the pluripotency marker SOX2 showed that only cells grown in IWR-1 medium were positive, whereas most of the cells derived in the other two media were not. Thus, IWR-1 could not be replaced by DKK1 for maintaining pluripotency. Immunoreactive β-catenin was abundantly distributed on the membrane of cells cultured with IWR-1 but not with DKK1 or vehicle-treated cells. Thus, β-catenin distribution to the cell membrane is linked with bovine pluripotency. Overall, results indicate that maintenance of pluripotency by IWR-1 may involve mechanisms other than WNT inhibition, and may be related to the localization of β-catenin to the plasma membrane.
Mathematical Discourse as a Process that Mediates Learning in SimCalc Classrooms

While the infrastructure of the SimCalc technology provides unique opportunities for students to wrestle with complex and conceptually difficult mathematics in developmentally appropriate ways, the degree to which students engage in “doing” mathematics varies widely across classrooms. Some classrooms provide minimal opportunities for students to conjecture, justify, and exemplify, whereas in other classrooms these activities are an indispensable part of their day-to-day operations. One of the primary mechanisms by which students can be encouraged to engage in authentic mathematical activities is through the use of appropriately challenging discourse. In this chapter, I describe discursive norms and patterns observed across multiple SimCalc classrooms in order to better understand the interaction between discourse and technology in the broader classroom environment.
Dicer Represses the Interferon Response and the Double-Stranded RNA-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway In Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Recent studies have demonstrated that embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are deficient in expressing type I interferons (IFN), the cytokines that play key roles in antiviral responses. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms and biological implications of this finding are poorly understood. In this study, we developed a synthetic RNA-based assay that can simultaneously assess multiple forms of antiviral responses. Dicer is an enzyme essential for RNA interference (RNAi), which is used as a major antiviral mechanism in invertebrates. RNAi activity is detected in wild-type ESCs but is abolished in Dicer knockout ESCs (D−/−ESCs) as expected. Surprisingly, D−/−ESCs have gained the ability to express IFN, which is otherwise deficient in wild-type ESCs. Furthermore, D−/−ESCs have constitutively active double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-activated protein kinase (PKR), an enzyme that is also involved in antiviral response. D−/−ESCs show increased sensitivity to the cytotoxicity resulting from RNA transfection. The effects of dsRNA can be partly replicated with a synthetic B2RNA corresponding to the retrotransposon B2 short interspersed nuclear element. B2RNA has secondary structure features of dsRNA and accumulates in D−/−ESCs, suggesting that B2RNA could be a cellular RNA that activates PKR and contributes to the decreased cell proliferation and viability of D−/−ESCs. Treatment of D−/−ESCs with a PKR inhibitor and IFNβ-neutralizing antibodies increased cell proliferation rate and cell viability. Based on these findings, we propose that, in ESCs, Dicer acts as a repressor of antiviral responses and plays a key role in the maintenance of proliferation, viability, and pluripotency of ESCs.
A cross-sectional study of characteristics of bicyclist upper and lower extremity injuries in bicycle-vehicle crashes in Ohio, United States, 2013-2017.

Extremity injury is one of the most common injury types for bicyclists. Extremity injury can lead to long-term disability and contribute to adverse health-related quality of life and prolonged absence from work. The objectives of our study were to identify crash factors associated with bicyclist upper and lower extremity injury and characterize type of extremity injury by bicyclist age category. We linked the 2013–2017 Ohio police accident report and hospital databases. The logistic regression model was used to model the odds of sustaining upper or lower extremity injury among bicyclists involved in bicycle-vehicle crashes. Bicyclist upper and lower extremity injury were further described by the detailed injured body regions (e.g., forearm and elbow or lower leg) and the nature of injury (e.g., superficial or fracture). Bicyclists 65 years or older had higher odds (odds ratio [OR] = 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03–2.08) of sustaining upper extremity injury, bicyclists aged 3–14 years (OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.09–1.66) and 15–24 years (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.03–1.49) had higher odds of sustaining lower extremity injury, compared to bicyclists 25–44 years old. In addition, colder weather, bicyclist sex, and intersection-related crashes were associated with bicyclists’ odds of sustaining upper or lower extremity injury. Compared to individuals under 65 years old, bicyclists 65 years or older had a higher percentage of injury to the wrist, hand and finger, or knee. Bicyclists aged 65 years or older also had a higher percentage of fractures. Our study has identified important factors that were associated with bicyclists’ odds of sustaining an extremity injury. Based on these findings, targeted educational efforts and interventions can be implemented to prevent bicyclists from these injuries.
Future of covid-19 vaccine pricing: lessons from influenza.

Routine use of covid-19 vaccines could strain health budgets if pricing follows the pattern seen with influenza vaccines, say Reshma Ramachandran and colleagues
64 – Alcohol and Hepatitis Virus Interactions in Liver Pathology

This chapter focuses on the interactions of alcohol and hepatitis virus in liver pathology. Alcohol consumption and hepatitis virus infection, primarily hepatitis B and hepatitis C, are the two major causes of liver disease worldwide. Hepatitis virus infection is prevalent in alcoholics, ranging from 10–50%. Alcohol drinking significantly accelerates liver injury and progression of fibrosis and cirrhosis, and decreases the response to interferon therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis virus infection. The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in alcoholics with hepatitis virus infection is much higher, than in alcoholics alone or hepatitis virus infection alone. Alcohol consumption inhibits innate and acquired immunity and suppresses interferon signaling, a key frontline defense against viral infection. Natural killer cells and acquired virus-specific immunity, that play an important role in controlling the clinical manifestations of hepatitis virus infection, are also suppressed in alcoholics. Alcohol enhances the replication of hepatitis viruses. Alcohol potentiates hepatitis viral proteins-activated inflammatory signals, such as NF-кB and inhibits liver regeneration. Thus, hepatitis virus infection-caused liver injury in patients drinking alcohol cannot efficiently regenerate and repair. Alcohol drinking and hepatitis virus infection induce oxidative stress, which may contribute to the collaborative effect of alcohol drinking and hepatitis virus on liver injury.
Subunit structure of aspartate transcarbamylase from Escherichia coli.

Abstract 1. The molecular weights of the catalytic and regulatory polypeptide chains of aspartate transcarbamylase were determined to be 33,500 and 17,000, respectively. The results of three empirical methods are in good agreement with those obtained by sedimentation equilibrium in guanidine-hydrochloride or derived from the intrinsic viscosity and the sedimentation coefficient measured in the same solvent. For the regulatory chain, all values obtained are in the range of 17,000, in agreement with the amino acid sequence (Weber, K., Nature, 218, 1116 (1968)). 2. The molecular weights of the native enzyme and the catalytic subunit were redetermined. The two proteins have masses of 300,000 and 100,000 daltons and show no association-dissociation equilibrium. From the molecular weights of the catalytic subunit and its polypeptide chain, we conclude that this subunit is a trimer. 3. Three independent techniques indicate that the catalytic and the regulatory polypeptide chains are present in equal numbers. This result, in combination with the molecular weights of these chains, indicates that the enzyme molecule contains six catalytic and six regulatory polypeptide chains which are held together solely by noncovalent bonds. 4. Renaturation of aspartate transcarbamylase and the catalytic subunit was achieved from guanidine hydrochloride or dodecyl sulfate solutions. The reactivated native enzyme and catalytic subunit are indistinguishable from their untreated counterparts. A subunit identical in every respect with catalytic subunit isolated after p-hydroxymercuri-benzoate dissociation can also be obtained by heat treatment of the native enzyme. From these results it can be concluded that the catalytic subunit is preserved as a trimer in native aspartate transcarbamylase. A three dimensional arrangement of the enzyme with a D3 symmetry is proposed. 5. The determination of the number of binding sites for the substrate analogue succinate in the catalytic subunit yields a value in agreement with the proposed model. Further support for a hexameric structure comes from the fact that aspartate transcarbamylase contains six tightly bound zinc ions. The metal ions are not required for catalysis and can be replaced by cadmium in vivo or in vitro.
The Hanging Chads of Corporate Voting

Never has voting been more important in corporate law. With greater activism among shareholders and the shift from plurality to majority voting for directors, the number of close votes is rising. But is the basic technology of corporate voting adequate to the task? In this Article, we first examine the incredibly complicated system of US corporate voting, a complexity that is driven by the underlying custodial ownership structure, by dispersed ownership and large trading volumes, and by the rise in short-selling and derivatives. We identify three ways in which things predictably go wrong: pathologies of complexity; pathologies of ownership; and pathologies of misalignment of interests. We then discuss the current legal treatment of these pathologies and consider a variety of directions for reform, ranging from incremental modifications to fundamental redesign. We show that, absent a fundamental reconstruction of the ownership structure, the existing system will continue to be noisy, imprecise and disturbingly opaque. The problems with the existing system pose fundamental challenges for both proponents of direct shareholder democracy, who advocate more extensive voting rights for shareholders, and for proponents of indirect shareholder democracy, who advocate deference to a board of directors the legitimacy of which ultimately also rests on shareholder elections.
Reliability of score-card judging of hay.

Summary A total of 129 samples of alfalfa or alfalfa-brome mixtures (55 first-crop, 65 later-crop, and nine additional samples) were each scored twice by seven judges, using a score-card based on stage of growth, leafiness, and color and condition. Cutting dates were recorded for the first-crop samples. These dates provided a means, other than the judges’ estimates, of scoring stage of growth on the first-crop samples. Repeatability in the use of the score-card was studied on a within-judge basis by computing the appropriate intraclass correlation. These repeatability estimates ranged from .42 to .80. Between-judge repeatabilities were estimated by averaging simple between-judge correlations. These repeatability estimates ranged from .38 to .78. All estimates of repeatability were highly significant. Simple correlation and multiple regression techniques were used to study the relationship of the score-card and its components to various indicators of nutritive value. Simple correlations were averaged for the seven judges over both scorings. These analyses indicated that the score-card was most effective in reflecting nutritive value when used among later crop samples low in grass content. Among these samples the average correlations between final score and crude protein, crude fiber, estimated TDN, and percentage of cellulose were .50, −.43, .43, and −.51, respectively, and were highly significant. However, among first-crop samples and among later-crop samples which were high in grass content nonsignificant correlations were obtained. The multiple regression analyses indicated that dates of cutting for first-crop samples and leafiness scores for later-crop samples were the most useful criteria of the score-card for predicting nutritive value. However, even among the later-crop samples, where the score card appeared most effective, it accounted for only 20–30% of the variation in estimated TDN.
Color and Appearance

In food products, especially meats, fruits, and vegetables, the consumer often assesses the initial quality of the product by its color and appearance. The appearance and color of these products are thus the primary indicators of perceived quality. The importance of color and appearance can also be demonstrated when we think of drinking milk from a Coca-Cola bottle, when we choose bananas in the grocery store (a green-yellow-black continuum that indicates ripeness), when a friend serves green-colored bread and beer on St Patrick’s day, and when someone serves us a watermelon with yellow flesh instead of the more usual red. In food processing and cooking, color serves as a cue for the doneness of foods and is correlated with changes in aroma and flavor. Simple examples include the browning of baked and fried foods. For other foods, color or lightness is important to identity and grading, such as the lightness of canned tuna fish. Scientific studies have also shown that the color of the product affects our perception of other attributes, such as aroma, taste, and flavor. For example, DuBose and Cardello et al. (1980) found that the number of correct identifications of fruit-flavored beverage flavors decreased significantly when the beverage was atypically colored, and that the number of correct identifications increased when the beverages was colored correctly. Christensen (1983) found that when sighted panelists scored the aroma intensity of appropriately and inappropriately colored cheese, soy analog bacon, margarine, raspberry-flavored gelatin, and orange drink, the perceived intensity of the appropriately colored product was higher than for the inappropriately colored product. Interestingly, the bacon analog was a notable exception.
ATE-amenable test data compression with no cyclic scan registers

This paper deals with a novel data compression technique for automatic test equipment (ATE). A new correlation extraction technique is presented which allows spanning of the compressed test data over the memory of multiple ATE channels. After reordering, vector processing is executed on a columnwise basis such that bits in the same position of all vectors are simultaneously provided to each pin of the head. Differentiation which is commonly used to extract correlation among vectors is not required in the proposed technique. Several ATE issues related to memory utilization, off-chip compression/decompression, decompression circuitry area overhead (inclusive of the area of the cyclic-scan-register, CSR), and entropy of test data (as figure of merit for correlation extraction) are analyzed. Experimental results for combinational and sequential benchmark circuits are presented to substantiate the validity of the proposed technique for an ATE environment.
Obernberg: A Quantitative Analysis of a Tirolean Peasant Economy

Leopold Pospisil. Obemberg:. Quantitative Analysis of. Tirolean Peasant Economy. Volume 24 of the Memoirs of The Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences. New Haven, Connecticut, 1995. 427 pages.
Entrance and Stationary Roughness Effects on the Load Carrying Capacity of a Wide Wedge Gas Bearing

Influence des conditions a l'entier et de la rugosite (considerer comme periodique) sur la capacite de charge d'un palier a gaz (patin de grande largeur)
Both conditioned taste preference and aversion induced by corticotropin-releasing factor

Postprandial administration in the rat of a wide variety of drugs, peptides and toxins suppresses future consumption of a meal of previously unfamiliar but otherwise attractive saccharin-flavored solution. Since the intensity of this conditioned flavor aversion in the rat is sensitive to plasma stress hormone levels, the present study examined the effects on flavor conditioning of corticotropin-releasing factor, a peptide known to be involved in behavioral and hormonal responses to stress. In two-bottle water vs. saccharin choice tests, CRF (0.5 microgram ICV) increased significantly the consumption of saccharin solution following a single saccharin/CRF pairing, while a tenfold larger dose of CRF (5 micrograms ICV) abolished saccharin intake following two saccharin/CRF pairings. Hence, exogenous CRF is capable of inducing both flavor preference and aversion in a dose- and situation-dependent manner. Further, direct neurotropic actions of CRF probably subserve its aversive effect since dexamethasone pretreatment weakened but did not prevent CRF-induced conditioned taste avoidance. These results suggest that at low doses CRF can produce arousal actions that result in taste preference and at higher doses produces aversive effects that are reflected in taste avoidance.