cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Statistical Models for the Analysis and Design of Digital Polymerase Chain Reaction (dPCR) Experiments.

Statistical methods for the analysis and design of experiments using digital PCR (dPCR) have received only limited attention and have been misused in many instances. To address this issue and to provide a more general approach to the analysis of dPCR data, we describe a class of statistical models for the analysis and design of experiments that require quantification of nucleic acids. These models are mathematically equivalent to generalized linear models of binomial responses that include a complementary, log–log link function and an offset that is dependent on the dPCR partition volume. These models are both versatile and easy to fit using conventional statistical software. Covariates can be used to specify different sources of variation in nucleic acid concentration, and a model’s parameters can be used to quantify the effects of these covariates. For purposes of illustration, we analyzed dPCR data from different types of experiments, including serial dilution, evaluation of copy number variation, and ...
A subgradient algorithm for nonlinear integer programming and its parallel implementation

This work concerns efficiently solving a class of nonlinear integer programming problems: min $\{f(x)$: $x \in \{0,1\}\sp{n}\}$ where $f(x)$ is a general nonlinear function. The notion of subgradient for the objective function is introduced. A necessary and sufficient condition for the optimal solution is constructed. And a new algorithm, called the subgradient algorithm, is developed. The algorithm is an iterative procedure, searching for the solution iteratively among feasible points, and in each iteration, generating the next iterative point by solving the problem for a local piecewise linear model of the original problem which is constructed with supporting planes for the objective function at a set of feasible points. Special continuous optimization techniques are used to compute the supporting planes. The problem for each local piecewise linear model is solved by solving an equivalent linear integer program. The fundamental theory for the new approach is built and all related mathematical proofs and derivations such as proofs for convergence properties, the finiteness of the algorithm, as well as the correct formulation of the subproblems are presented. The algorithm is parallelized and implemented on parallel distributed-memory machines. The preliminary numerical results show that the algorithm can solve test problems effectively. To implement the subgradient algorithm, a parallel software system written in EXPRESS C is developed. The system contains a group of parallel subroutines that can be used for either continuous or discrete optimization such as subroutines for QR, LU and Cholesky factorizations, triangular system solvers and so on. A sequential implementation of the simplex algorithm for linear programming also is included. Especially, a parallel branch-and-bound procedure is developed. Different from directly parallelizing the sequential binary branch-and-bound algorithm, a parallel strategy with multiple branching is used for good processor scheduling. Performance results of the system on NCUBE are given.
Understanding the Regulatory Thicket: Interactions Among State Environmental Regulators and Regulatees

Research exploring state-level regulatory interactions in the U.S. often employs survey methodology to ask front-line actors about their experiences. While these efforts are noteworthy, we argue that it is important to investigate these interactions utilizing a different approach. In this exploratory study, we use randomized vignettes, to which a respondent can react without fear of revealing practices or succumbing to social desirability. Our results are in concert with a growing body of literature that suggests cooperation between the regulator and regulatees is essential for future interactions in order to achieve compliance, yet each party’s perceptions may not be completely congruent.
Cross-resistance of Musca domestica to common used insecticides

Objective To study the cross-resistance of three resistant strains of Musca domestica to five kinds of insecticides and supply evidence for using insecticides reasonably.Methods Topical application method. Results The results showed that DDVP-resistant strain was crossly resistant to BPMC and Permethrin. Musca domestica had no resistance to cypermethrin. The coefBcient of and-DDT was 0.16. It showed negative resistance cross BPMC-resistant strain was crossly resistant to DDW and Permethrin. And Permethrin-resistant strain was crossly resistant to Cypermethrin and DDT. Negative cross-resistance was found in DDVP-resistant strain with DDT, BPMC-resistant strain with Cypermethrin. Conclusion Cross-resistance appeared when a single kind of insecticide was used for a long time. It was necessary to use insecticides reasonably.
Genomics of Dental Caries and Caries Risk Assessment

Our understanding of dental caries was transformed over the past century to recognize that this chronic disease is an infectious and complex condition involving host, biofilm, and environmental factors. The severity and distribution of dental caries, or its clinical phenotype, is highly variable in the population. During the past 20 years, the genomic era has provided new insights into the interactions of host, oral flora, and environmental factors that make dental caries similar to many other complex hereditary conditions. Our knowledge of the contributions of an individual’s genome to their risk and resistance to dental caries has grown tremendously over the past decade. New insights continue to be gained as our understanding of the interactions between our genome, oral microbiome, microbial metabolomics, and environmental influences advances. Knowledge of, and the ability to predict, these underlying determinants of disease and health will ultimately provide approaches to accurately predict risk and activity of dental caries in an individual, allowing personalized approaches to preventing and managing this common disease of humans.
Set Theory and Numbers

Set notation should be familiar to the reader. Recall x ∈ A means that x is an element of A; the negation is \(x\notin A\). Notation for every member of a set A belonging to a set B is \(A \subseteq B\) or \(B \supseteq A\). We say that A is a subset of B or B is a superset of A. If A is a proper subset of B, that is, \(A \subseteq B\) but \(A\not =B\), then one can write \(A \subset B\). To prove that two sets A and B are equal, it is necessary to show that each is contained in the other; that is, \(A \subseteq B\) and \(B \subseteq A\). Familiar sets are the empty set \(\varnothing\), which contains no elements and is a subset of every set, the natural numbers \(\mathbb{N} =\{ 1,2,3,\cdots \,\}\), the integers \(\mathbb{Z} =\{ \cdots \,,-2,-1,0,1,2,\cdots \,\}\), the rational numbers \(\mathbb{Q}\), the real numbers \(\mathbb{R}\), and the complex numbers \(\mathbb{C}\).
An Investigation Into the Characteristics of Papers With High Scholarly Citations in Public Administration: The Relativity of Theory and Method:

In this article, we investigate characteristics associated with highly cited journal articles in Public Administration, especially the extent to which high impact contributions are theoretical. Usi...
Examining healthy food accessibility and disparity in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

ABSTRACTDisparities in healthy food accessibility have long been a public health concern. This study used the 2-step floating catchment area method to measure healthy food accessibility in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. The research creatively integrated the population with and without private vehicle to measure spatial accessibility. The overall disparities in healthy food access were firstly exhibited by a series of weighted average accessibility under different demographic groups. Furthermore, the relationships between healthy food access and other non-spatial socio-economic characteristics were examined by ordinary least squares regression and geographically weighted regression to model the non-stationarity processes and understand the spatial variation of non-spatial socio-economic factors. The research shows that the suburb areas near the periphery of the urbanized area have the highest healthy food access; within urbanized areas, the middle-south part fares better than the rest, while the rura...
Are buffers around home representative of physical activity spaces among adults

Residential buffers are frequently used to assess built environment characteristics relevant to physical activity (PA), yet little is known about how well they represent the spatial areas in which individuals undertake PA. We used System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities data for 217 adults from five US states who wore an accelerometer and a GPS for three weeks to create newly defined PA-specific activity spaces. These PA spaces were based on PA occurring in bouts of ≥10min and were defined as 1) the single minimum convex polygon (MCP) containing all of a participant's PA bout minutes and 2) the combination of many MCPs constructed using each PA bout independently. Participants spent a large proportion of their PA bout time outside of 0.5, 1, and 5 mile residential buffers, and these residential buffers were a poor approximation of the spatial areas in which PA bouts occurred. The newly proposed GPS-based PA spaces can be used in future studies in place of the more general concept of activity space to better approximate built environments experienced during PA.
The neutral coma of comets: A review

The hypothesis that water snow controls the vaporization of the nucleus of some comets seems verified from the general order of magnitude of the size of their nucleus and of their nuclear albedo; the largest observed production rates are H and OH which both seem to originate from the photodissociation of H2O, as also confirmed by the scale length of the invisible parent molecule producing OH. However, comet Encke is not uniformly covered by water snow, as it produces only one tenth of the expected vaporization. Early results on comet Kohoutek suggest that the conclusions could be slightly different for some of the new comets in Oort's sense. If the far ultraviolet observations confirm the early assessments of the production rates of C, O and H, then at least another major constituent competing with water has not yet been detected. Such a major constituent is suggested by the ratios C/O = 0.24 and H/O = 2.5.
The effects of implementation intention strategies on prospective memory cue encoding

ABSTRACTImplementation intentions, which include a structured verbal statement and mental imagery, improve prospective memory performance (i.e. remembering to execute delayed intentions). To investigate whether, and how, implementation intention strategies affect encoding processes we had participants complete a thought probe procedure immediately after forming the intention to remember to press Q when seeing fruit words. In Experiment 1, an implementation intention verbal statement (relative to control statement) significantly increased generation of high typicality exemplars (apple, banana, orange). In Experiment 2, an implementation intention imagery procedure (relative to control imagery) produced similar outcomes. In Experiment 3, combining the statement and imagery components of the implementation intention (relative to control statement and imagery) demonstrated even more potent effects (e.g. three-fold increase in fruit exemplars generated). In Experiment 4, we tested whether the control statement...
Using Survival Models to Estimate Invertebrate Prey Identification Times in a Generalist Stream Fish

AbstractEstimates of predator feeding rates are important for understanding trophic dynamics. One common method for quantifying feeding rates in fishes combines mass-based diet data with gastric evacuation times to estimate prey mass consumed per predator. An alternative approach is to estimate the rates of prey individuals consumed using prey identification time—the time period over which prey remain identifiable in a predator’s stomach. One challenge with the analysis of prey identification times, however, is that the response variable is likely to be censored because the “true” prey identification time cannot be observed directly. Here, we applied survival analysis that can incorporate censored data to estimate the effects of predator body size, water temperature, and prey characteristics (type, count, and body size) on identification times in Reticulate Sculpin Cottus perplexus. We focused on seven types of prey that are common in this generalist predator’s diet: mayflies (Ephemeroptera), caddisflies ...
Performance of 68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT for Prostate Cancer Management at Initial Staging and Time of Biochemical Recurrence

Recently introduced Gallium-68 labeled PSMA-ligands such as HBED-CC (68Ga-PSMA) have shown promise for unmet diagnostic needs in prostate cancer. 68Ga-PSMA has demonstrated improved detection rates and specificity for prostate cancer compared to standard imaging approaches. In the setting of primary disease, 68Ga-PSMA appears to preferentially identify treatment-relevant intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer. There is also a growing evidence that 68Ga-PSMA positron emission tomography (PET) outperforms alternative conventional imaging methods including choline-based radiotracers for the localization of disease sites at biochemical recurrence, particularly at lower prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels (< 1 ng/mL). However, the majority of published work lacks rigorous verification of imaging results. 68Ga-PSMA offers significant promise for both, primary disease and biochemically recurrent prostate cancer. The evidence base to support 68Ga-PSMA is however still underdeveloped, and more rigorous studies substantiating efficacy are needed.
Therapeutic response to domperidone in gastroparesis: A prospective study using the GCSI-daily diary.

Common symptoms of gastroparesis include nausea, vomiting, early satiety, postprandial fullness, and upper abdominal pain. Domperidone is used for treatment of gastroparesis. Daily symptom scoring may help document efficacy. Aim To determine the effectiveness of domperidone for gastroparesis symptoms using the gastroparesis cardinal symptom index-daily diary (GCSI-DD) and to determine which symptoms improve and when with domperidone treatment. Methods Symptomatic patients with diabetic or idiopathic gastroparesis were enrolled. Gastric emptying was performed using 4 hour scintigraphy. GCSI-DD recorded symptoms at baseline and during six weeks of treatment with domperidone 10 mg TID. GCSI-DD records severity of nausea, early satiety, postprandial fullness, upper abdominal pain, overall gastroparesis symptoms on a scale of 0 (no symptom) to 4 (very severe) and records the number of vomiting episodes per day. Results Thirty-four patients with gastroparesis (5 diabetic, 29 idiopathic) participated in this open label study. Treatment duration averaged 36.9 ± 7.6 days. Improvement in overall gastroparesis symptoms occurred on day 3 of treatment and maintained during the treatment. Early satiety, postprandial fullness, and overall symptom severity significantly improved from baseline to the final week of treatment (P < .05 for all), whereas nausea had borderline improvement (P = .055). Side effects included palpitations (5 patients), headache (5), breast tenderness (2), menstrual bleeding (2), dizziness (1), drowsiness (1), chest pain (1), swelling (1), constipation (1). Conclusions Domperidone improves symptoms of gastroparesis, reducing overall gastroparesis symptom severity and decreasing early satiety, postprandial fullness, and nausea. GCSI-DD is useful to document efficacy of therapy for gastroparesis.
Neural Signaling of Cortisol, Childhood Emotional Abuse, and Depression-Related Memory Bias.

Abstract Background Cortisol has potent effects on learning and neuroplasticity, but little is known about its effects on negative memory biases in depression. Animal models show that aversive caregiving alters effects of glucocorticoids (primarily corticosterone in rodents and cortisol in primates) on learning and neuroplasticity into adulthood. Methods We investigated whether history of childhood emotional abuse (EA) moderated effects of cortisol administration (CORT) versus placebo on emotional memory formation in depression. Participants included 75 unmedicated women with varying levels of depression severity and/or EA history. In a double-blind crossover investigation, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to measure effects of CORT (vs. placebo) on neural function during emotional memory formation. Results CORT eliminated the well-known relationship between depression severity and negative memory bias, a finding explained by EA severity. For women with a history of severe EA, CORT reduced depression-related negative memory bias and normalized recall for pleasant stimuli. EA severity also moderated CORT effects on neural function: in women with history of severe EA, CORT increased activation in the supplementary motor area during viewing of unpleasant relative to pleasant pictures. Additionally, supplementary motor area activation predicted reduced negative bias for pictures encoded during CORT. Conclusions These results suggest that increasing cortisol signaling may be neurocognitively beneficial in depressed women with a history of maltreatment. The findings corroborate prior research suggesting that presence or absence of adverse caregiving is etiologically important in depression. These findings suggest potential neurocognitive mechanisms of therapeutics targeting cortisol signaling, which show promise in treating affective disorders.
Trends in plant material requirements of landscape architects

Abstract Landscape architects influence the demand for plant material when specifying plants for landscape projects. A survey of landscape architects in Georgia identified the value of plant materi...
Strategies for the Control of Porosity around Organic Active Sites in Inorganic Matrices

The functionalization of inert supports with catalytic sites has been utilized for the preparation of solid catalysts for decades. Recently, there has been a surge in the use of silane chemistry to functionalize the surfaces of porous silica materials to create high surface area, catalytically active solids. Silica-organic hybrid materials have been prepared with acidic, basic, oxidizing and reducing catalytic sites, with most attention directed at creating new or unique molecular sites on the silica surface. Whereas the molecular structure of the active site can be of paramount importance in homogeneous catalysts, in heterogeneous catalysts both the structure of the active site and the porosity around the active site are of extreme importance, since reactant and product diffusion can strongly influence catalytic function. Here, strategies for the control of porosity around organic active sites in silica hosts are discussed.
Nanopore Electrochemistry: A Nexus for Molecular Control of Electron Transfer Reactions

Pore-based structures occur widely in living organisms. Ion channels embedded in cell membranes, for example, provide pathways, where electron and proton transfer are coupled to the exchange of vital molecules. Learning from mother nature, a recent surge in activity has focused on artificial nanopore architectures to effect electrochemical transformations not accessible in larger structures. Here, we highlight these exciting advances. Starting with a brief overview of nanopore electrodes, including the early history and development of nanopore sensing based on nanopore-confined electrochemistry, we address the core concepts and special characteristics of nanopores in electron transfer. We describe nanopore-based electrochemical sensing and processing, discuss performance limits and challenges, and conclude with an outlook for next-generation nanopore electrode sensing platforms and the opportunities they present.
Solid Oxide Electrolysis for Hydrogen Production: From Oxygen Ion to Proton Conducting Cells

Electrochemical splitting of water, using solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC), offers an economic and efficient pathway for large-scale hydrogen production that not only utilizes renewable energy but also allows both distributed and centralized hydrogen production to accelerate and enable hydrogen infrastructure for mobility. In this technical contribution, two types of electrochemical systems using conventional oxygen ion conducting (O-SOEC) and newly developed proton conducting (P-SEOC) has been compared in terms of hydrogen purity, electrochemical performance, and stability (structural and electrochemical). The observations on dopant exsolution, solid-solid (electrode/electrolyte interface) and solid-gas (electrode-H2O, O2, and H2) interactions have been presented. The composition, structure, and morphology changes and their roles on electrochemical performance and electrode stability in oxidizing (O2) and reducing (H2) atmospheres has been discussed.
The effect of drill hole location on load bearing capacity of long bones.

Abstract We investigated how load bearing capacity (LBC) of long bone differs with a bicortical drill hole in a compressive/tensile location vs. a neutral location. Group I had a hole drilled through 0°/180° ([compressive at 0°/maximum tensile at 180°]), Group II at 90°/270° ([neutral]), and Group III at 135°/315° ([tensile at 135°/compressive at 315°]). Maximum load at failure and stiffness was measured. A significant ([p 0.05]). Changes in stiffness for both tibias and fibulas was not statistically significant ([p > 0.05]).
Impact and Assessment of Sleep Disturbance in Adults and Children with Allergic Rhinitis

In this article, we review the impact and the treatment of sleep disturbance caused by allergic rhinitis (AR) in adult and pediatric patients. Although intranasal corticosteroids (INS) remain the mainstay treatments for AR-induced sleep disturbance, allergen immunotherapy (AIT) has been suggested to be effective in altering the course and progression of moderate-to-severe AR that is refractory to pharmacotherapy. MP-AzeFlu is a recently developed formulation containing azelastine, an intranasal antihistamine (INAH), and fluticasone propionate, an INS. MP-AzeFlu has been reported to have a fast onset of action thanks to the effect of the INAH. AR is one of the most common chronic inflammatory diseases in the USA with symptoms that can severely affect patients’ quality of life. Sleep disturbance is a serious consequence of AR-induced symptoms that can lead to daytime somnolence, impaired cognitive functions, and decreased work/school performance. Nasal congestion and rhinorrhea have been suggested to be the primary causes of sleep disturbance in patients with AR. There is a lack of adequate assessment method for AR-induced sleep disturbance and its consequences in the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guidelines and the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22). The NIH-developed Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) has measures for these symptoms. Although more research is needed to develop more pediatric-specific questionnaires, PROMIS is a good start. In terms of treatment for AR-induced sleep disturbance, therapy should be aimed at treating the nasal congestion and rhinorrhea caused by AR. INS are the mainstay treatments for moderate-to-severe AR. The newer INS have low systemic bioavailability and are well tolerated. For adults, fluticasone propionate is an effective treatment. For children from 2 to 4 years old, mometasone and fluticasone furoate are recommended. Fluticasone propionate should be used in children age 4 or older. Budesonide is the only category B safety drug as classified by the FDA, making it recommended treatment for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Carbon Monoxide and Light Alkanes as Tropospheric Tracers of Anthropogenic Ozone

Transport of pollutants from populated and industrialized continental areas affects the chemistry and radiation balance of the global troposphere [Duce et al., 1991]. A pollutant of particular interest is ozone (O3), since its photolysis initiates the oxidizing processes in the atmosphere [Logan et al., 1981], and it is an important greenhouse gas, whose atmospheric trends are only poorly known [Watson et al., 1990]. Thus, the transport of ozone and its precursors from source regions affects the oxidizing capacity of the troposphere in the receptor areas and is important in climate change.
Symptomatology, Diagnosis, and Treatment

The specific pathogenic mechanisms of Giardia lamblia are not yet understood. It also remains to be explained why some individuals become acutely ill and remain so while others remain virtually asymptomatic. In discussing clinical features of giardiasis, it should be emphasized that those infected present a spectrum of symptomatology depending to a great extent on the duration of infection.
Genetic Predisposition to Breast Cancer

In the past decade, the tools required to more clearly define a woman’s risk for development of breast cancer have begun to emerge. Our understanding of cancer at a molecular level and our understanding of how certain genetic mutations contribute to the development of cancer have facilitated this work. Advances in medical technology and discoveries stemming from the Human Genome Project now provide the means to test individuals for the presence of genetic mutations associated with some known hereditary cancer syndromes. Although many ethical, legal, and psychosocial issues associated with testing remain unresolved, genetic testing is having and will continue to have a significant impact on cancer care. Physicians in the community will have vital roles in educating individuals about the availability of cancer genetic testing, making referrals for cancer genetic counseling, and providing follow-up care.
Vorticity in Jets

Among nature’s omnipresent phenomena are fluid dynamic jets. Some are obvious to even the most casual observer — like the jets that exit from one’s mouth and nostrils when exhaling on a cold morning. Others require extraordinary efforts to see — like astrophysical jets, which at distances of light years away are visible only through the telescopes of the astronomer. The jets of technology dominate our lives, from propelling the planes that move us across continents, to issuing from the simple air hoses of the machine shop, from the stacks that spew the waste products of industry, to the diffuser arrays that disperse effluent into our streams and rivers. Without jets, life as we know it would be unimaginable.
25-Hydroxyvitamin D Assays and Their Clinical Utility

The vitamin D status of an individual is best assessed by measurement of circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin [25(OH)D]. Challenges to measurement of this analyte include the hydrophobic nature of vitamin D and the presence of two forms of vitamin D, ergocalciferol and cholecalciferol (vitamin D2 and vitamin D3, respectively). The absence of standard calibrators contributes to between-laboratory bias in 25(OH)D measurement. The current state of 25(OH)D measurement is reviewed; modest differences between methodologies persist. Until there is assay standardization, and subsequent evidence-based consensus, it is premature to recommend screening 25(OH)D measurement. Targeted measurement of 25(OH)D in those at increased risk for vitamin D deficiency, and those most likely to have a prompt positive response to supplementation, seems appropriate.
Fftnet: A Real-Time Speaker-Dependent Neural Vocoder

We introduce FFTNet, a deep learning approach synthesizing audio waveforms. Our approach builds on the recent WaveNet project, which showed that it was possible to synthesize a natural sounding audio waveform directly from a deep convolutional neural network. FFTNet offers two improvements over WaveNet. First it is substantially faster, allowing for real-time synthesis of audio waveforms. Second, when used as a vocoder, the resulting speech sounds more natural, as measured via a “mean opinion score” test.
The effect of repeated stimulated granulocyte donations on hematopoietic indexes in donors: a 24-year donor center experience

BACKGROUND Short- and long-term effects of mobilization regimens in hematopoietic stem cell and granulocyte donors have been well characterized. In this study, we examined the longitudinal hematopoietic changes related to repeat stimulated granulocyte donation. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Complete blood counts for consecutive granulocyte donors between October 1994 and May 2017 were compared to unstimulated granulocyte donors. Plateletpheresis donors served as controls. The longitudinal change in precollection white blood cell (WBC) counts for these donor groups were modeled using a linear mixed-effects model. The investigated variables were granulocyte, lymphocyte, and monocyte counts and the granulocyte collection yield. Contrasts were performed to explore the effect of donation number on precollection counts. RESULTS For the granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor plus dexamethasone (G-CSF/Dex)-stimulated group, both the granulocyte and the lymphocyte counts decreased 6.51 × 109 /L (-23.1%, p < 0.001) and 0.21 × 109 /L (-20.4%, p < 0.001), respectively, between Donation 1 and Donation 20. This effect was still present at the 3- to 4-year interval (b = -0.0008313, SE = 0.00029, p = 0.004). For the unstimulated donor group between Donation 1 and Donation 20, the lymphocyte count decreased by 0.62 × 109 /L (-51.5%, p < 0.001). This effect was only significant up to Year 2 (b = -0.0026, SE = 0.0010, p = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS Past granulocyte donations were found to have a statistically strong negative effect on precollection granulocyte counts and lymphocyte counts and decreased granulocyte yield both in the G-CSF/Dex-stimulated donors and the unstimulated donors. In this statistical model, for both these groups, the effect of past donations on granulocyte and WBC counts were still detectable 2 years later.
Evolve to thrive.

‘The profession must evolve to thrive.’ That was the title of the editorial in a recent issue of Vet Record (6 April 2019, vol 184, p 423). It sends a clear …
Electronic Tongue and Consumer Sensory Evaluation of Spicy Paneer Cheese.

Evaluating sensory properties of spicy foods can be challenging due to how quickly individuals experience fatigue. Analytical methods, such as HPLC quantification of capsaicin, are accurate. However, they may not always be interchangeable with perception of spiciness by consumers. The electronic tongue (e-tongue) offers a unique opportunity to simulate human perception of capsaicin pungency with an analytical method. This study evaluated consumer's and the e-tongue ability to discriminate among paneer cheese samples containing different levels of capsaicin (1.875, 3.75, 7.5, 15, and 30 ppm). Over 2 days, using a blocked design to minimize fatigue, consumers (n = 110) evaluated samples using a difference from control sensory test. Consumers distinguished the spicy paneer sample from the control (0 ppm) at 3.75, 7.5, 15, and 30 ppm (P < 0.05). Differences were found among sample 3.75, 7.5, and 15 ppm (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were found between control and 1.875 ppm or between samples 15 and 30 ppm. Although these high and low concentrations were challenging for consumers, the e-tongue resulted in a high degree of discrimination of 93% among all samples. On the principal component analysis plot created by the e-tongue, PC1 explained 85.6% of the variability and was associated with spicy, sweet, salty, sour, and umami sensors. PC2 explained 7.96% and was associated with the bitter and metallic sensors. The 3.75 and 15 ppm samples were defined by PC1, while PC2 defined samples 1.875 and 30 ppm. These results conclude that the e-tongue may be useful in qualitative discrimination among spicy paneer along with sensory evaluation. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: As the market for spicy foods continues to grow, methods for rapid, accurate analysis of the sensory qualities of the food products is needed. As the electronic tongue discriminated effectively among spicy paneer cheese samples, the method could be used alongside sensory testing to evaluate spicy food samples without encountering the typical issues of fatigue common with evaluating spicy foods.
Europe and America: The End of the Transatlantic Relationship?

Given the current geopolitical situations in Europe and the United States, Europe and America: The End of the Transatlantic Relationship? is both timely and insightful. Both the United States and t...
Changing trends in IVIG use in pediatric patients: A retrospective review of practices in a network of major USA pediatric hospitals.

Abstract The use of immunoglobulins is gradually increasing. Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) are used as replacement therapy for primary and secondary immune deficiencies, and as an anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory medication for the treatment of neurologic, dermatologic, and rheumatologic diseases. The objective of this study was to analyze trends in the IVIG use in pediatric patients hospitalized to 47 US-based children's hospitals from 2007 to 2014. IVIG was used for the treatment of >2300 primary diagnoses in 53,648 unique patients. The number of IVIG admissions increased by 30.2% during the study period, while the mean rate of IVIG admissions/100,000 admissions increased only 5.8%. Most patients receiving IVIG were children and adolescents. IVIG was frequently used off-label or for the treatment of FDA-approved indications in children under two years of age and BMT patients IVIG usage is a dynamic process guided by emerging evidence and FDA approval for new indications. IVIG was mostly prescribed for treatment of diseases with pathologic immune responses to foreign of self-antigens. These indications usually, require higher amounts of IVIG per admission. More studies are needed to understand whether IVIG treatments of off-label indications are effective and cost-efficient.
Gross Motor Skills Predict Classroom Behavior in Lower-Income Children.

Children from lower income families tend to have low levels of on-task behavior in the academic classroom. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of gross motor skills and classroom behavior in a sample of lower-income children. Participants were a sample of 1,135 school-aged children (mean age = 8.3 ± 1.8 years) recruited from three low-income US schools. A reduced version of the Test for Gross Motor Development 2nd Edition (TGMD-2) was used to assess gross motor skills. Total TGMD-2 scores, locomotor subtest scores, and object control subtest scores were stratified into quintiles for analysis. Students' classroom behavior was recorded 1 year later using a Planned Activity Check (PLACHECK) 5-s momentary time sampling procedure. Classrooms were dichotomized into those that had students at least 80% on-task and those that did not. Multilevel generalized mixed models were employed to examine the relationship between gross motor skills and meeting at least 80% classroom behavior, adjusting for age, sex, and change in BMI, and aerobic fitness. Children in the highest TGMD-2 quintile had 4.17 higher odds of being in an on-task classroom 1 year later (95%CI [2.25-7.76], p < 0.001). This relationship was primarily driven by the relationship between object control quintile scores and classroom behavior, as children within the higher quintile for object control had 3.81 higher odds of being in an on-task classroom 1 year later (95%CI [2.67-5.46], p < 0.001). There was a significant relationship between individual gross motor skills, specifically object control skills, and group level on-task classroom behavior in lower-income children.
Computational and experimental (re)investigation of the structural and electrolyte properties of Li 4 P 2 S 6 , Na 4 P 2 S 6 , and Li 2 Na 2 P 2 S 6

The ionic materials ${\mathrm{Li}}_{4}{\mathrm{P}}_{2}{\mathrm{S}}_{6}$ and ${\mathrm{Na}}_{4}{\mathrm{P}}_{2}{\mathrm{S}}_{6}$ are both based on the same building blocks of the dimer ions (${\mathrm{P}}_{2}{\mathrm{S}}_{6}{)}^{4\ensuremath{-}}$. Motivated by new experimental structural and ion conductivity studies, we computationally examine this family of materials, finding ${\mathrm{Na}}_{4}{\mathrm{P}}_{2}{\mathrm{S}}_{6}$ and its modification ${\mathrm{Li}}_{2}{\mathrm{Na}}_{2}{\mathrm{P}}_{2}{\mathrm{S}}_{6}$ to be promising Na ion electrolytes. Using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory and density functional perturbation theory within the harmonic phonon approximation, we show that vibrational effects provide nontrivial contributions to the structural stabilization of these materials. Computed nonresonant Raman phonon spectra and temperature-dependent ionic conductivity for ${\mathrm{Na}}_{4}{\mathrm{P}}_{2}{\mathrm{S}}_{6}$ are both found to be in reasonable agreement with experiment. First-principles analysis of ionic conductivity in both ${\mathrm{Na}}_{4}{\mathrm{P}}_{2}{\mathrm{S}}_{6}$ and ${\mathrm{Li}}_{2}{\mathrm{Na}}_{2}{\mathrm{P}}_{2}{\mathrm{S}}_{6}$ indicates that Na ions move primarily within the interlayer region between the (${\mathrm{P}}_{2}{\mathrm{S}}_{6}{)}^{4\ensuremath{-}}$ layers, efficiently proceeding via direct or indirect hops between vacancy sites, with indirect processes involving intermediate interstitial sites.
The University of Denver's University for Youth:

The University for Youth is an innovative program for gifted and talented children from preschool through high school level. For six weeks during the summer, and after school during the school year...
mir-218 modulates ARF6 expression and inhibits pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma invasion

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is an extremely malignant disease with the majority of patients having metastatic disease upon diagnosis. Recently, it was shown the SLIT2 plays a regulatory role in melanoma invasion through the control of invadopodia. Therefore, we sought to determine the mechanism behind miR-218 inhibition of pancreatic cancer invasion. Methods: mir-218 target genes were discovered using three miRNA target prediction websites. Modulation of mir-218 target ARF6 was determined by transfection with antagomirs and mimics to mir-218. Pancreatic cancer migration and invasion were measured using Boyden chamber assays. Invasion was further measured using matrix degradation assays. Results: We found that mir-218 modulates ARF6 RNA and protein expression in pancreatic cancer. mir-218 did not inhibit pancreatic cancer cell migration, but did inhibit invasion. mir-218 did not affect the formation of invadopodia in pancreatic cancer cells, but did inhibit the total area of matrix degradation caused by functional invadopodia. Conclusions: This work suggests that miR-218 is a suppressor of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma invasion through a pathway that regulates invadopodia maturation.
Elevated Body Mass Index Is a Risk Factor for Failure to Achieve the Knee Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score-Physical Function Short Form Minimal Clinically Important Difference Following Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background The aims of this study are (1) to assess the association between body mass index (BMI) and failure to achieve the 1-year Knee Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score-Physical Function Short Form (KOOS-PS) minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients and (2) to determine if there is a BMI threshold beyond which the risk of failing to achieve the MCID is significantly increased. Methods A regional arthroplasty registry was queried for TKA patients from 2016 to 2019 with completion of preoperative and 1-year postoperative KOOS-PS. The MCID threshold was derived using a distribution-based approach. Demographic and patient-reported outcome measure variables were collected. BMI was analyzed continuously and categorically using cutoffs defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The association between failure to achieve 1-year MCID and BMI was analyzed using multiple logistic regression. A BMI threshold was determined using the Youden index and receiver operating characteristic curve. Results In total, 1059 TKAs were analyzed. BMI assessed continuously was significantly associated with failure to achieve the KOOS-PS MCID (odds ratio 1.03, 95% confidence interval 1.00-1.05, P = .025). Analysis of BMI categorically revealed that “overweight” (25-30 kg/m2), “obese class I” (30-35 kg/m2), “obese class II” (35-40 kg/m2), and “obese class III” (>40 kg/m2) patients faced 77%, 76%, 83%, and 106% greater risk, respectively, of failing to achieve the KOOS-PS MCID compared to “normal BMI” ( Conclusion Elevated BMI was associated with an increased risk of failure to achieve the 1-year KOOS-PS MCID following TKA.
An Atom Probe Tomography Study of the Through Wall Attenuation Effect on Cu-rich Precipitate Formation in a Reactor Pressure Vessel Steel

Abstract High-Cu weld material harvested from an ex service reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steel from Unit 1 of the decommissioned Zion Nuclear Generating Station has been characterized using atom probe tomography. Samples taken from 4 different positions through the thicknesses of the pressure vessel wall from the water-side to the air-side were characterized, along with an unirradiated baseline material. In the baseline material, no precipitates were found and the Cu was observed to be fully in solid solution; however, scanning transmission electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive spectroscopy (STEM-EDS) revealed the presence of ϵ -Cu that form during processing of the material and results in the concomitant decrease of matrix Cu. Following irradiation, a high number density of nano-scale Cu-rich precipitates (CRPs) were observed, uniformly distributed throughout the matrix. The Cu content within the CRPs was found to be ∼ 30-35 at.% regardless of location in the wall. No statistically significant variation in the compositions, mean radius, number density, or volume fraction as a function of location within the wall was observed. The measured matrix Cu level excluding CRPs contribution was found to be ∼ 90 appm higher than the solubility limit suggesting that further nucleation and growth of the CRPs under continued operations would have occurred. These results clearly demonstrate that the neutron energy attenuation has no significant effect on the precipitation kinetics of CRPs regardless of location in the wall in high-Cu RPV steels under irradiation. Notice: This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle, LLC under Contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the U.S. Department of Energy. The United States Government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the United States Government retains a non-exclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, world-wide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for United States Government purposes. The Department of Energy will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan ( http://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-access-plan ).
LINEAR TAXATION OF WEALTH AND WAGES FOR INTRAGENERATIONAL LIFETIME JUSTICE: SOME STEADY-STATE CASES

This chapter discusses the optimal mix of taxes on two factors of production, namely, capital and (efficiency-weighted) labor. It reviews the optimum proportionate taxation of wages and interest, or wages and wealth, with respect to the public debt. The vehicle for analysis is a blend of Mirrlees' theory of efficiency-weighted labor supply and the life-cycle theory of the supply of wealth found, for example, in the growth model constructed by Peter Diamond. The chapter studies a particular optimization problem that possesses two special features. The social welfare function expresses the conception of economic justice championed by John Rawls: as a chain is no stronger than its weakest link, social welfare is only as great as the utility of the least well-off, the person or persons having minimum utility. Thus, the redistributional optimum is maximin. The other feature is a restriction on the dynamics of capital and public debt. The basic notion is also found in a related study of interest taxation by Ordover, in which society is constrained to maintain the ratio of capital to (geometrically progressing) population at some predesignated level.
“Get[ting] Behind the Veil:” A “Sackian” Political-Ecological Approach

This chapter illustrates the volume’s theoretical framework for understanding and assessing the marketing strategies presented in Chap. 2. Here, political ecology is discussed, and the approach is imbued with key contributions by geographers Robert Sack and Ian Cook, as well as sociologist Michael Carolan. They argue that the approach laid out can help build a more accurate understanding of distant place-making spurred by consumption, or, in Harvey’s words, to “get behind the veil” (Harvey in Ann Assoc Am Geogr 80:418–434, 1990).
The Dual Effect of the HDAC Inhibitor Romidepsin on Androgen Receptor Signaling and DNA Damage Repair in Prostate Cancer.

Purpose/objective(s) Aberrant epigenetic modifications play an important role in prostate cancer development and progression. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) are a novel class of small-molecular compounds that have been shown to have activity in several tumor types. Some HDACi's induce a stress response that affects DNA damage repair (radiosensitization) and androgen receptor (AR) signaling (increased sensitivity to androgen blockage). We hypothesized that the HDACi, romidepsin, would increase prostate cancer cell killing through dual effects on AR signaling and radiation DNA damage response. Materials/methods The prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP (androgen sensitive) and 22Rv1 (androgen insensitive) were treated with romidepsin (10 nM) plus or minus 2 Gy radiation. The added effect of enzalutamide (10 mM) was also tested. Cell viability was performed by Real-time Cell assay (RTCA), whole-transcriptome analysis by RNA sequencing, western blot analyses, immunofluorescent quantification of γ-H2AX double strand break foci, and colonogenic survival. Western blot analysis was used to measure the expression of (i) AR signaling pathway proteins that included wild-type AR and its AR-V7 splice variant and (ii) DNA repair genes that included Rad51, DNA-PK and γ-H2AX. Results Romidepsin reduced cell viability by RTCA of both cell lines in a dose dependent manner. The addition of enzalutamide further reduced cell viability and clonogenic survival. Gene ontology analysis from RNA-Seq data in both LNCaP and 22Rv1 cells revealed that romidepsin suppressed pathways related to prostate cancer aggressiveness including the AR, MYC, DNA damage response, and cell cycle progression pathways. By western blot analysis, romidepsin suppressed AR (LNCaP) and AR-V7 (22Rv1) expression and reduced DNA repair genes including RAD51, DNA-PK and phospho-ATM levels. After 2 Gy radiation, we found that treatment with 10nM romidepsin for 24 hours resulted in an increase in γ-H2AX foci in 35.2% in LNCaP and 27% in 22Rv1 cells respectively. By colonogenic assay, 10 nM romidepsin for 24 hours prior to 2 Gy to 8 Gy radiation resulted in a significant reduction in the surviving fractions. The addition of enzalutamide resulted in the greatest reduction in colonogenic survival. Conclusion Our study demonstrated for the first time that HDACi romidepsin exerted dual effects on AR signaling and DNA damage response genes in androgen sensitive and insensitive prostate cancer cell lines, and that there is an added suppressive effect with the addition of enzalutamide to HDAC inhibition plus radiation. The use of HDACi's have promise clinically for the treatment of high-risk prostate cancer, for which androgen deprivation plus radiotherapy are the standard treatments.