cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structure, chromosome location, and expression of the human gamma-actin gene: differential evolution, location, and expression of the cytoskeletal beta- and gamma-actin genes.

Abstract The accumulation of the cytoskeletal beta- and gamma-actin mRNAs was determined in a variety of mouse tissues and organs. The beta-isoform is always expressed in excess of the gamma-isoform. However, the molar ratio of beta- to gamma-actin mRNA varies from 1.7 in kidney and testis to 12 in sarcomeric muscle to 114 in liver. We conclude that, whereas the cytoskeletal beta- and gamma-actins are truly coexpressed, their mRNA levels are subject to differential regulation between different cell types. The human gamma-actin gene has been cloned and sequenced, and its chromosome location has been determined. The gene is located on human chromosome 17, unlike beta-actin which is on chromosome 7. Thus, if these genes are also unlinked in the mouse, the coexpression of the beta- and gamma-actin genes in rodent tissues cannot be determined by gene linkage. Comparison of the human beta- and gamma-actin genes reveals that noncoding sequences in the 5'-flanking region and in intron III have been conserved since the duplication that gave rise to these two genes. In contrast, there are sequences in intron III and the 3'-untranslated region which are not present in the beta-actin gene but are conserved between the human gamma-actin and the Xenopus borealis type 1 actin genes. Such conserved noncoding sequences may contribute to the coexpression of beta- and gamma-actin or to the unique regulation and function of the gamma-actin gene. Finally, we demonstrate that the human gamma-actin gene is expressed after introduction into mouse L cells and C2 myoblasts and that, upon fusion of C2 cells to form myotubes, the human gamma-actin gene is appropriately regulated.
Probabilistic hierarchical spatial model for mine locations and its application in robotic landmine search

One way to improve the efficiency of mine search, compared with a complete coverage algorithm, is to direct the search based on the spatial pattern of the minefield. This paper extends our original statistical approach (2001) to identify the regular pattern of a minefield at the beginning of the searching process. The extracted pattern parameters are used to build a probability distribution map of the configuration of the minefield. The map then can be used to guide the search for more mines efficiently. The new approach can efficiently capture the systematic and accumulated random departure of the actual mine locations from the grid pattern caused by the inaccuracy of the translational and rotational motion of the mine layer. Online implementation of our approach on a mobile robot is feasible.
A technique for improving tag contrast persistence in SSFP MRI imaging using adaptive flip angle

Steady state free precession (SSFP) proved to be an efficient fast MR imaging technique due to its short acquisition time and high SNR. Myocardium tagging can be combined with SSFP, so that the deformation of tag lines allows for measurement of myocardial wall motion. However, at later imaging time, the tagging contrast deteriorates, which makes it harder to track the tag lines. We introduce a new technique that adaptively adjusts the flip angle at each RF pulse in order to keep the tagging contrast constant, and hence maintain the tag contrast to noise ratio (Tag-CNR) throughout the imaging period. A computer simulation was done to validate and compare between the tagging contrast with SSFP and that of spoiled gradient echo (SPGR), where the tagging contrast is made constant during the cine sequences in both methods. Preliminary results show potential superiority of SSFP in yielding higher contrast than SPGR.
Simulation of the propagation of a UV filament in the air.

We present two simplified models for the propagation of a long pulse UV filament in air, predicting the evolution of the beam diameter with distance, and the beam profile.
Accelerating private-key cryptography via multithreading on symmetric multiprocessors

Achieving high performance in cryptographic processing is important due to the increasing connectivity among today's computers. Despite steady improvements in microprocessor and system performance, private-key cipher implementations continue to be slow. Irrespective of the cipher used, the main reason for the low performance is lack of parallelism, which fundamentally comes from encryption modes such as the Cipher Block Chaining (CBC) mode. In CBC, each plaintext block is XOR'ed with the previous ciphertext block and then encrypted, essentially inducing a tight recurrence through the ciphertext blocks. To deliver high performance while maintaining high level of security assurance in real systems, the cryptography community has proposed Interleaved Cipher Block Chaining (ICBC) mode. In four-way interleaved chaining, the first, fifth, and every fourth block thereafter are encrypted in CBC mode; the second, sixth, and every fourth block thereafter are encrypted as another stream, and so on. Thus, interleaved chaining loosens the recurrence imposed by CBC, enabling the multiple encryption streams to be overlapped. The number of interleaved chains can be chosen to balance performance and adequate chaining to get good data diffusion. While ICBC was originally proposed to improve hardware encryption rates by employing multiple encryption chips in parallel, this is the first paper to evaluate ICBC via multithreading commonly-used ciphers on a symmetric multiprocessor (SMP). ICBC allows exploiting the full processing power of SMPs, which spend many cycles in cryptographic processing as medium-scale servers today, and will do so as chip-multiprocessor clients in the future. Using the Wisconsin Wind Tunnel II, we show that our multithreaded ciphers achieve encryption rates of 92 Mbytes/s on a 16-processor SMP at 1 GHz, reaching a factor of almost 10 improvement oiler a uniprocessor, which achieves 9 Mbytes/s.
A Unified Approach to Optimizing Performance in Networks Serving Heterogeneous Flows

In this work, we study the control of communication networks in the presence of both inelastic and elastic traffic flows. The characteristics of these two types of traffic differ significantly. Hence, earlier approaches that focus on homogeneous scenarios with a single traffic type are not directly applicable. We formulate a new network optimization problem that incorporates the performance requirements of inelastic and elastic traffic flows. The solution of this problem provides us with a new queueing architecture, and distributed load balancing and congestion control algorithm with provably optimal performance. In particular, we show that our algorithm achieves the dual goal of maximizing the aggregate utility gained by the elastic flows while satisfying the demands of inelastic flows. Our base optimal algorithm is extended to provide better delay performance for both types of traffic with minimal degradation in throughput. It is also extended to the practically relevant case of dynamic arrivals and departures. Our solution allows for a controlled interaction between the performance of inelastic and elastic traffic flows. This performance can be tuned to achieve the appropriate design tradeoff. The network performance is studied both theoretically and through extensive simulations.
Propulsion integration of hypersonic air-breathing vehicles utilizing a top-down design methodology

In recent years, a focus of aerospace engineering design has been the development of advanced design methodologies and frameworks to account for increasingly complex and integrated vehicles. Techniques such as parametric modeling, global vehicle analyses, and interdisciplinary data sharing have been employed in an attempt to improve the design process. The purpose of this study is to introduce a new approach to integrated vehicle design known as the top-down design methodology. In the top-down design methodology, the main idea is to relate design changes on the vehicle system and sub-system level to a set of over-arching performance and customer requirements. Rather than focusing on the performance of an individual system, the system is analyzed in terms of the net effect it has on the overall vehicle and other vehicle systems. This detailed level of analysis can only be accomplished through the use of high fidelity computational tools such as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) or Finite Element Analysis (FEA). The utility of the top-down design methodology is investigated through its application to the conceptual and preliminary design of a long-range hypersonic air-breathing vehicle for a hypothetical next generation hypersonic vehicle (NHRV) program. System-level design is demonstrated through the development of the nozzle section of the propulsion system. From this demonstration of the methodology, conclusions are made about the benefits, drawbacks, and cost of using the methodology.
Unmet needs: Research helps regulators do their jobs

A plethora of innovative new medical products along with the need to apply modern technologies to medical-product evaluation has spurred seminal opportunities in regulatory sciences. Here, we provide eight examples of regulatory science research for diverse products. Opportunities abound, particularly in data science and precision health.
DECISION SUPPORT FOR SYSTEMATIC PRODUCT EVOLUTION

Many companies are trying to reduce the environmental impacts of their products. Simultaneously, designers are forced to achieve the same, or more stringent, design constraints in less time, balancing the need to get a product out the door with the desire to improve the product’s performance. It is our contention that a systematic approach to designing a product over several revisions, creating a systematic evolution of a given product, will facilitate achievement of environmental goals within the constraints of the design process for this product. In this paper, we outline a method and associated decision support for developing such a systematic multiiterational design strategy. The approach is illustrated with a design of an automotive center console for reduced environmental impact while minimizing the cumulative amount of resources spent over multiple product iterations.
Artificial Intelligence and Human Behavior Modeling and Simulation for Mental Health Conditions

Modeling the complexity of individuals with multimorbid physical and mental health problems within a social context is one of the greatest challenges for the post Affordable Care Act era. Stigma associated with mental illness promotes silos that prevent full integration of a person living within a dynamic and contextualized matrix. Traditional regression modeling strategies fail to embrace dynamic health patterns within systems. Synthesizing systems science, agent modeling and simulation, knowledge management architecture and domain theories, we explore the use of Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation (ABMS) for understanding individual, organizational, and societal levels of a hospitalization. In essence, we apply computational science to explore underlying mechanisms that explain medical/surgical hospital outcomes – readmissions – for individuals with comorbid physical and mental illness. In the first section of this chapter, ABMS is conceptualized. Then, a case study serves to demonstrate an ABMS application and gains from knowledge that is unique to this systems social science approach. We conclude with a discussion of strengths and limitations of the ABMS application.
Laboratory Study of Oil Thickness on Water Waves

Using a system which follows the water surface, the local thickness of an oil layer on water waves has been measured in a laboratory wave channel for a range of wave lengths and oil layer thicknesses. A comparison with linear wave theory is not satisfactory with the experimental results producing much larger thickness variation than predicted.
Giovanni Arrighis Tapestry of East & West

What a difference a year makes. While Giovanni Arrighis Adam Smith in Beijing is a complicated tapestry, threaded with multiple strands and sub-themes, if it offers any single master thesis, it is this: over the last four or so decades, the fading of US primacy and Chinas precipitous ascent are dialectically interconnected, structured processes abetting one another. And, for good measure: Chinas ascent just might culminate in the formation of a qualitatively novel, world community of market-linked states orbiting around East Asia, but without a dominant center (pp. 7-9). Were I putting together this review in mid-2008, I would express profound skepticism about both theses. Certainly, such skepticism would issue not from the conviction that US global power is invincible, but rather from an evidence-based belief that Arrighi habitually underestimates the extent to which Chinas ongoing rise in the world order will be traumatically disrupted by the inevitable wipeout of highly leveraged paper assets on Wall Street (and the City of London, for that matter). Well, in the wake of the planetary financial crisis and economic slump, the early returns on Chinas coping capacity are in. The ways in which China is responding to and weathering the storm vindicate more than a few of the claims and insights Arrighi advances in Adam Smith in Beijing, including some that I would have regarded with raised eyebrows a year ago. The thrust of this review is a critical assessment of Adam Smith in Beijing from the standpoint of how well or poorly its theoretical maneuvers and key arguments allow us to make sense of the current shake-up in the global system, with a focus on the interdigitated destinies of China and the US. In this evaluation I will take a page out of Arrighis own playbook and try to bear in mind the crucial distinction between geo-economic and geopolitical ebbs and flows of the moment and longer-term hegemonic ruptures and transformations.
Role of phospholipids of subunit III in the regulation of structural rearrangements in cytochrome c oxidase of Rhodobacter sphaeroides.

Subunit III of cytochrome c oxidase possesses structural domains that contain conserved phospholipid binding sites. Mutations within these domains induce a loss of phospholipid binding, coinciding with decreased electron transfer activity. Functional and structural roles for phospholipids in the enzyme from Rhodobacter sphaeroides have been investigated. Upon the removal of intrinsic lipids using phospholipase A2, electron transfer activity was decreased 30–50%. Moreover, the delipidated enzyme exhibited turnover-induced, suicide inactivation, which was reversed by the addition of exogenous lipids, most specifically by cardiolipin. Cardiolipin exhibited two sites of interaction with the delipidated enzyme, a high-affinity site (Km = 0.14 μM) and a low-affinity site (Km = 26 μM). Subunit I of the delipidated enzyme exhibited a faster digestion rate when it was treated with α-chymotrypsin compared to that of the wild-type enzyme, suggesting that lipid removal induces a conformational change to expose the di...
Visualising complex engineering concepts using modern imaging techniques

A number of concepts in engineering are difficult to illustrate using conventional teaching aids, for example, thermal conduction and convection in mechanical, electrical or even computer systems. Of special interest is the design and placement of heat sinks on electronic circuit boards. This paper describes a project in which a thermal imaging camera is used to enhance high-precision engineering education.
Antagonism of succinylcholine to chlorpropamide-induced hypoglycemia.

Summary1. In cats and rats, pentobarbital anesthetized and unanesthetized, a definite hypoglycemia was evoked with intravenously administered chlorpropamide. 2. Reversal of induced hypoglycemia was obtained wtih succinylcholine in intact rat and cat, but not in adrenalectomized cat. 3. Experiments performed with ether, reserpine and epinephrine, further supported the view that this antagonism was mediated through the adrenal gland.
On the Nature of an Extended Stokes Shift in the mPlum Fluorescent Protein

Far-red fluorescent proteins (FPs) enable deep-tissue in vivo imaging. Combining FPs with large and small Stokes shifts enables single-excitation/dual-emission multicolor applications. Using a quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) scheme, we carried out a series of simulations to identify the origin of an extended Stokes shift (0.2 eV) observed in mPlum, one of the most far-red-shifted FPs. We demonstrated that the red shift of emission is largely due to the excited-state relaxation of the chromophore itself. Rigid protein environment suppresses the relaxation; however, if the hydrogen-bond network around the chromophore is sufficiently flexible, it can rearrange upon electronic excitation, allowing the chromophore to relax. The reorganization of the hydrogen-bond network is driven by changes in bonding and charge distributions of the chromophore in the excited state. The ILE65 and GLU16 residues play the most important role. The MD simulations reveal two ground-state populations with the direct (Chro-ILE65···GLU16) and water-mediated (Chro-ILE65···Wat321···GLU16) hydrogen-bond patterns. In the excited state, both populations relax to a single emitting state with the water-mediated (Chro-ILE65···Wat321···GLU16) hydrogen-bond pattern, which provides a better match for the excited-state charge distribution (the acylimine's oxygen has a larger negative charge in S1 than in S0). The extended Stokes shift arises due to the conversion of the direct hydrogen-bond pattern to the water-mediated one accompanied by large structural relaxation of the electronically excited chromophore. This conclusion is supported by calculations for the GLU16LEU mutant, which has only one hydrogen-bond pattern. Consequently, no interconversion is possible, and the computed Stokes shift is small, in agreement with the experiment. Our theoretical findings provide support to a recent study of the Stokes shifts in mPlum and its mutants.
Finding Critical Traffic Control Locations for Emergency Evacuation

This paper aims to explore mass evacuation problem of large-scale road network in the event of natural or man-made disasters,such as earthquakes and hurricanes.Under emergency evacuation,traffic control devices and personnel are limited.It is impossible to control all the traffic nodes on the network.Therefore,it is crucial to find the most critical traffic control locations or intersections to deploy control devices or arrange manual evacuation guidance,so that the best system performance can be achieved.In order to answer the urgent theoretical and practical deployment problems,this study proposes a mixed integer nonlinear programming(MINLP) model,which aims to identify the most crucial intersections,and simultaneously,the optimal traffic control strategies at those locations,to minimize the total system costs.Numerical example shows that the model performs reasonably well,and with the appropriate set of critical intersections controlled,the resulting system performance does approach the system optimal state with all intersections under control.
466 A SINGLE COURSE OF ANTENATAL BETAMETHASONE INCREASES MATRIX METALLOPRPTEINASE-2 IN MATERNAL BLOOD AND PLACENTA

A single course of antenatal betamethasone (B) is administered to women with threatened preterm delivery to advance fetal lung maturation. Lung maturation is associated with increased breakdown and remodeling of the lung basement membrane and extracellular matrix. These processes are regulated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) which are present in the fetomaternal membranes of the placenta. We examined the effects of a single course of antenatal B on maternal and placental MMPs and TIMPs. A prospective pilot study of three groups of pregnant patients was conducted. Group I (n=21): women who were antenatally treated with a single course of B, and who delivered ≤36 weeks gestation; Group II (n=7): untreated women who delivered ≤36 weeks (preterm controls); and Group III (n=15): untreated women who delivered ≥38 weeks (term controls). Group I was subdivided into women delivering: a) ≤2 weeks (IA, n=13); and b) ≥2 weeks (IB, n=8) post B treatment. Maternal blood and placental samples were collected at the time of delivery for MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 levels. Placental levels were standardized using total cellular protein levels. Maternal MMP-2 levels (ng/mL) were significantly lower in Group II (14.5±1.2, p≤0.05) than Groups IA (17.9±0.67) IB (18.4±0.6), and III (18.2±0.83). Maternal MMP-9 and TIMP-1 remained unchanged. Maternal TIMP-2 was suppressed in Group IA (38.6±10.0, p≤0.05) and Group II (38.5±4.5, p≤0.05) compared to Group III (83.7±12.3), however, in Group IB, the levels were increased (65.0±7.9, p≤0.01) compared to Groups IA and II. As a result, a higher MMP-2 to TIMP-2 ratio was noted in Group IA (0.54±0.06, p≤0.01) than Groups IB (0.32±0.04) and III (0.33±0.04); and a lower ratio was noted in Group IB (0.32±0.04, p≤0.05) than Group II (0.40±0.04). In the placenta, MMP-2 levels were increased in Group IA (117.3±3.9, p≤0.05) compared to Groups II (100.8±6.0) and III (104.5±3.7). Interestingly, TIMP-1 levels were 10-fold higher in maternal blood than placenta, whereas TIMP-2 levels were 2-fold greater in placenta than maternal blood. Data are mean±SEM. A single course of antenatal B acutely enhances maternal and placental MMP-2 synthesis and maternal MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratio. Increased MMP-2 activity may result in increased collagen breakdown, and suggests a mechanism for B9s effect on fetal lung maturation. Decreased MMP-2 by 2 weeks post B treatment reflects abatement of the effects of antenatal B known to occur by 7-10 days.
Nonlinear Computation of Water Impact of Axisymmetric Bodies

A fully nonlinear numerical simulation based on a boundary element method was used to investigate water impact of axisymmetric bodies that strike vertically the horizontal free surface from the air. The main objective was to understand the gravity effect on flow/wave kinematics and dynamics and to quantify the range of validity of existing theories and computations that are based on the infinite Froude number assumption. Two body geometries were considered: inverted cone and sphere. For the inverted cone, we obtained detailed dependencies of free-surface profile and impact pressure and load on the body on the generalized Froude number (F r ≡ (V/gt) 1/2 , where V is the impact velocity, g is the gravitational acceleration, and t is time) and deadrise angle α. Based on these, we developed an approximate formula for evaluating the contribution of the gravity effect to the total impact force on the body in terms of a similarity parameter F r /α 1/2 . For the sphere, we developed and applied a pressure-based criterion to follow the evolution of flow separation on the body and to obtain an appropriate description of the free-surface profile near the body and accurate evaluation of the impact pressure and load on the body during the entire impact process. The numerical result of impact force on the body agreed well with existing experimental measurements. We confirmed that the gravity effect is unimportant in initial impact of the sphere. Significantly, we found that in a later stage of impact, flow separation remains at an almost fixed position at an angle θ ≈ 62.5 deg to the bottom of the sphere for a wide range of Froude numbers, F r ≡ V/(gR) 1/2 ≳ 1, where R is the radius of the sphere.
Tropical Diseases in a Temperate Climate

A growing problem in this era of international mobility, these parasitic infections are less difficult to treat than they are to diagnose. Dr. Cahill discusses the appropriate diagnostic maneuvers when such an infection is suspected, describing in detail four of the most important entities currently prevalent in the U. S.
Fluoride in the diet of 2-years-old children

Objectives This study aimed to calculate the fluoride concentrations of commonly consumed foods and beverages for 2-years-old children utilizing market basket information for the US Midwest region. Methods Total Diet Study food lists were cross-referenced with National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey—What We Eat in America data to determine the foods and beverages to be included. Fluoride concentrations were determined using a modification of the hexamethyldisiloxane microdiffusion technique. Fluoride concentrations were summarized for each of the food categories. Daily dietary fluoride intake was estimated using a simulation analysis. Results Food and beverage fluoride concentrations varied widely, ranging from nondetectable for some oils and dairy products to more than 3.0 μgF/g food for some processed meats, fish and fruits. The estimated mean (±SD) daily dietary fluoride intake, excluding dentifrice and supplements, was 412±114 μgF/d. The estimated average ingestion for a 2-years-old weighing 12.24 kg was 0.034±0.009 mg/kg/d. A diet based on foods and beverages in the fifth percentile of fluoride intake distribution for an average child would result in 247 μgF/d or 0.020 mg/kg/d, while a diet with foods and beverages in the 95th percentile would result in a total intake of 622 μgF/d or 0.051 mg/kg/d. Conclusions The fluoride concentrations of foods and beverages vary widely, and, if items in the 95th percentile of fluoride intake distribution are ingested, children could consume more fluoride than the recommended 0.05 mg/kg/d. Fluoride intake calculated in this study was higher than historically reported dietary levels.
Dynamical heterogeneity in a vapor-deposited polymer glass

Recently, there has been great interest in "ultrastable" glasses formed via vapor deposition, both because of emerging engineering applications of these materials (e.g., active layers in light-emitting diodes and photovoltaics) and, theoretically, as materials for probing the equilibrium properties of glassy materials below their glass transition, based on the conjecture that these materials are equivalent to glassy materials aged over astronomical time scales. We use molecular dynamics simulations to examine the properties of ultrastable vapor-deposited and ordinary polymer glasses. Based on the difference in the energy of the deposited and ordinary films, we estimate the effective cooling rate for the vapor deposited films to be 1 to 3 orders of magnitude larger than that of the ordinary film, depending on the deposition temperature. Similarly, we find an increase in the average segmental relaxation time of the vapor-deposited film compared to the ordinary glass. On the other hand, the normal mode spectrum is essentially identical for the vapor-deposited and the ordinary glass film, suggesting that the high-frequency dynamics should be similar. In short, the segmental relaxation dynamics of the polymer vapor-deposited glass are consistent with those of an ordinary polymer glass with a somewhat slower effective cooling rate. Of course, one would expect a larger effect on dynamics approaching the experimental glass transition, where the cooling rates are much slower than accessible in simulation. To more precisely probe the relationship between the dynamics of these glasses, we examine dynamical heterogeneity within the film. Due to the substantial mobility gradient in the glassy films, we find that it is crucial to distinguish the dynamics of the middle part of the film from those of the entire film. Considering the film as a whole, the average dynamical heterogeneity is dominated by the mobility gradient, and as a consequence the heterogeneity is nearly indistinguishable between the ordinary and vapor deposited glass films. In contrast, in the middle part of the film, where there is almost no mobility gradient, we find the dynamical heterogeneity within the deposited film is somewhat larger than that of the ordinary film at the same temperature. We further show that the scale of the interfacial region grows on cooling in the equilibrium film, but this trend reverses in the glass state. We attribute this reversal in part to a shrinking ratio of the relaxation time in the middle of the film to that of the interfacial layer in the non-equilibrium state. The dynamics in this mobile interfacial layer for the ordinary and deposited film are nearly the same, suggesting that the interfacial region is always in a near-equilibrium state. These results emphasize the importance of distinguishing between interfacial and internal relaxation processes in this emerging class of materials.
Coaching Action Research Excellence

Foundational Text for Coaching Action Research with detailed methods of collecting action research data using current best practices in web based data collection. The use of the ELM programming language is described with tutorials on collecting ones own data on tactical and technical coaching techniques, strategies, and outcomes. In turn, data aggregated from these innovative data collection methods will be used in Athlete Centered Coaching Research Initiatives.
Major Groups of Insect Viruses

Insect viruses are heterogeneous and are represented in most of the major viral taxa. Unlike other biological entities, virus classification is non-Linnaean and lacks the subphyla, class, order, and suborder hierarchical divisions. The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) has currently placed most known viruses into a hierarchical level of family (suffix - viridae) and in certain cases subfamily ( - virinae) and genus ( - virus). The species, the most important taxon in other living organisms, has been very difficult to apply to viruses. Conventional definitions that describe the species taxa do not apply to these biological macromolecules. A virus species is considered a cluster of virus strains that share common properties distinct from those of other viruses. The ICTV currently accepts the English vernacular name (i.e., poliovirus) as the species. Specialists of the various culture collections assign the hierarchical levels of subspecies, strains, and variants. In many cases, the species of a particular insect virus is named by its respective host. For example, the multiple-embedded nuclear polyhedrosis virus (MNPV) of the alfalfa looper Autographa californica is designated as AcMNPV. In this text, the insect viruses are placed into the major transcriptional virus groups (classes) proposed by Baltimore (1971). Each of these groups possesses a distinctive strategy of replicating and expressing its genetic material in receptive host cells (Table 3–1).
Suitability of 3D-Printed devices for low-temperature geochemical experiments

Abstract Desktop 3D printing stereolithography (SLA) is a fabrication technique based on photopolymerization that can be used to efficiently create novel reaction devices for laboratory geochemistry with complex features (e.g. internal channels, small volumes) that are beyond the capabilities of traditional machining methods. However, the stability of 3D printed parts for low-temperature aqueous geochemical conditions has not been carefully evaluated. Furthermore, it is unclear what criteria should be used when attempting to optimize the mechanical and chemical properties during post-processing steps. Addressing these challenges is important for determining the suitability of 3D printed devices for laboratory investigations such as mineral precipitation/dissolution experiments. Here, we use thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) profiles, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and chemical extraction of leachables to show how ultraviolet (UV) post-curing can optimize properties of a commercial photo-reactive resin (Formlabs Standard Clear). The mechanical and chemical stability of the post-cured material was enhanced and a working temperature of up to 80 °C was determined. We further provide data showing the stability and compatibility of the material in aqueous conditions of pH 0, 5.7 and 12. As SLA 3D printing is still an emerging and rapidly developing technology, the method presented here will provide a framework for assessing how new printer types and materials (i.e. resins) impact the suitability of SLA printed devices for future experimental studies.
Formal Theories and Gödel Theorems

Formal theories play crucial role in mathematics and were historically defined for classical predicate (first order logic) and consequently for other first and higher order logics, classical and non-classical.
Co-simulation of Physical Model and Self-Adaptive Predictive Controller Using Hybrid Automata

Self-adaptive predictive control (SAP) systems adjust their behavior in response to the changing physical system in order to achieve improved control. As such, models of self-adaptive control systems result in time variance of parameters. This significantly increases the complexity of model checking verification and reachability analysis techniques. In this paper, we explore recent studies on co-simulation of SAP controllers and propose a novel co-simulation platform that can be used to analyze the effectiveness of verification and reachability analysis techniques developed for SAP controllers.
Sleep and obesity: the mediating role of health behaviors among African Americans.

Abstract Objectives To examine the role of health behaviors (eg, physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and diet) in the relationship between sleep (ie, duration and quality) and BMI among African American adults. Design A cross-sectional self-report questionnaire included questions related to health and health-related behaviors. Setting This study was based on data from the CHURCH study, which aimed to address cancer health disparities among church-going African Americans in Houston, TX. Participants African American adults were recruited from three large community churches. The sample included a total of 1837 participants (75.2% female; mean age 48.2 ± 13.7y; mean BMI 32.0 ± 7.5 kg/m2). Measurements Linear regression models and path analyses controlling for demographic characteristics and depression estimated the associations between sleep and BMI as well as the mediating roles of health behaviors. Results The average self-reported sleep duration was 6.2 ± 1.5 h/night with 61%, 35.8%, and 1.6% reporting short (≤6 h/night), normal (7–9 h/night), and long sleep (≥10 h/night), respectively. Short sleep was related to greater BMI (b = 1.37, SE = 0.38, P = .01), and the relationship was mediated by sedentary behaviors (est. = 0.08, SE = 0.04, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.17). Conclusions Short sleep and poor quality sleep was related to poor diet and physical activity-related health behaviors, and BMI. The link between sleep and obesity is, in part, due to energy imbalance from increased sedentary behavior.
Synthetic Cinema: Leaving the Real World

What precisely is “synthetic cinema”? It’s filmmaking that’s motivated by the profit motive alone, devoid of any genuine artistry, designed solely to make money. When digital cinema first appeared, computer-generated effects were already a reality, although they were used sparingly in fantasy, action, and adventure films, and practical cinematography—shot on actual film, of course—was still the norm for mainstream cinema. But with the shift to digital cinematography and the rise of comic book cinema, the temptation to amp up the proceedings with lavish computer-generated spectacle proved irresistible to both directors and audiences, to the point that we are now so far removed from the real that I would posit we have entered a new age of movies—the era of synthetic cinema.
Nonreciprocal Emission in Magnetized Epsilon-Near-Zero Metamaterials

We study light radiation in magneto-active media in the context of epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) metamaterials. We demonstrate theoretically that at the ENZ regime even small magnetization implies a sign...
hESC-Derived Thalamic Organoids Form Reciprocal Projections When Fused with Cortical Organoids

Human brain organoid techniques have rapidly advanced to facilitate investigating human brain development and diseases. These efforts have largely focused on generating telencephalon due to its direct relevance in a variety of forebrain disorders. Despite its importance as a relay hub between cortex and peripheral tissues, the investigation of three-dimensional (3D) organoid models for the human thalamus has not been explored. Here, we describe a method to differentiate human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to thalamic organoids (hThOs) that specifically recapitulate the development of thalamus. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed a formation of distinct thalamic lineages, which diverge from telencephalic fate. Importantly, we developed a 3D system to create the reciprocal projections between thalamus and cortex by fusing the two distinct region-specific organoids representing the developing thalamus or cortex. Our study provides a platform for understanding human thalamic development and modeling circuit organizations and related disorders in the brain.
Calibrating Laser Vacuum Wavelength with a GPS-based Optical Frequency Comb

The Global Positioning System (GPS) can deliver an exceptionally accurate frequency standard to any point in the world. When the GPS signal is used to control an optical frequency comb, the comb + ...
Hispanic neighbourhood satisfaction in new and established metropolitan destinations

As one of the more important recent population shifts in the USA, the migration of Hispanics into new immigrant metropolitan gateways has received significant scholarly attention. Much of this atte...
Hacking Cybersecurity Law

Unlike discrete legal fields such as patent law, cybersecurity law spans a number of sections of the U.S. Code, as well as state and international laws. Because the contours of cybersecurity law are blurry, U.S. policymakers have not sufficiently determined how to most effectively align statutes and regulations with current cybersecurity threats. This Article builds on the author’s previous work to define the scope of cybersecurity law, and suggests seven guiding principles to radically reshape – or “hack” – the legal system to better address current and future cybersecurity threats. This Article draws on legal scholarship and other fields of law to derive high-level goals for policymakers as they seek to make cybersecurity law more effective, cohesive, and agile.
Surgery or Radiation Therapy for Early Stage Glottic Cancer

Laryngeal carcinoma is one of the most common upper aerodigestive tract malignancies. Given its early stage, high cure rate, and low concern for metastasis, early glottic carcinoma is unique in that the focus is not only on an oncologically sound method of treatment but one that also optimizes voice outcomes. There is often debate over the benefit of transoral laser microsurgery versus radiation in the treatment of these cancers. Therefore, a systematic analysis of the literature was performed comparing radiation treatment versus transoral laser microsurgery (TLM). Given superior laryngeal preservation rates and otherwise equivalent oncologic outcomes, TLM should be considered for T1 glottic cancers in medically appropriate patients able to tolerate general anesthesia.
Synthesis of Logical Clifford Operators via Symplectic Geometry

Quantum error-correcting codes can be used to protect qubits involved in quantum computation. This requires that logical operators acting on protected qubits be translated to physical operators (circuits) acting on physical quantum states. We propose a mathematical framework for synthesizing physical circuits that implement logical Clifford operators for stabilizer codes. Circuit synthesis is enabled by representing the desired physical Clifford operator in $\mathbb{C}^{N\times N}$ as a $2m\times 2m$ binary sym-plectic matrix, where $N=2^{m}$ . We show that for an $\!\!\!\![\!\!\![\ {m, m-k}\ ]\!\!\!]\!\!\!\!$ stabilizer code every logical Clifford operator has $2^{k(k+1)/2}$ symplectic solutions, and we enumerate them efficiently using symplectic transvections. The desired circuits are then obtained by writing each of the solutions as a product of elementary symplectic matrices. For a given operator, our assembly of all of its physical realizations enables optimization over them with respect to a suitable metric. Our method of circuit synthesis can be applied to any stabilizer code, and this paper provides a proof of concept synthesis of universal Clifford gates for the well-known $\!\!\!\![\!\!\![\ 6,4,2\ ]\!\!\!]\!\!\!\!$ code. Programs implementing our algorithms can be found at https://github.com/nrenga/symplectic-arxiv18a.
Discharge Delays and Costs Associated with Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy for High priced Antibiotics.

Background Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is a widely used, safe, and cost-effective treatment. Most public and private insurance providers require prior authorization (PA) for OPAT, yet the impact of the inpatient PA process is not known. Our aim was to characterize discharge barriers and PA delays associated with high-priced OPAT antibiotics. Methods This was an institutional review board-approved study of adult patients discharged with daptomycin, ceftaroline, ertapenem, and novel beta-lactam-beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations from January 2017 to December 2017. Patients with an OPAT PA delay were compared with patients without a delay. The primary endpoint was total direct hospital costs from the start of treatment. Results Two-hundred patients were included: 141 (71%) no OPAT delay vs 59 (30%) OPAT delay. More patients with a PA delay were discharged to a subacute care facility compared with an outpatient setting: 37 (63%) vs 52 (37%), P = .001. Discharge delays and median total direct hospital costs were higher for patients with OPAT delays: 31 (53%) vs 21 (15%), P 64 years was associated with a decreased odds of discharge delay. Conclusions OPAT with high-priced antibiotics requires significant care coordination. PA delays are common and contribute to discharge delays. OPAT transitions of care represent an opportunity to improve patient care and address access barriers.
A Simpler and Faster Version of Two-Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis Using Vertical, Mini SDS-PAGE Apparatus

We have modified one of the most useful methods of protein separation; namely, two dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). This modified version of 2-DE is not only simpler and easier but also faster than all the currently available methods. In this method, isoelectric focusing is carried out in the first dimension using a vertical sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) apparatus. Following focusing, each individual lane is excised from this gel and after a 90° rotation, is inserted into a vertical specially fabricated SDS-PAGE gel for the second dimension run, which can be stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue for protein analysis or immunoblotted for further analysis. This modified version of IEF can be run in less than 2 hours compared to the overnight run required by the O’Farrel method. Difficult tube gel casting and gel extrusion as well as tube gel distortion are eliminated in our method. This method is simpler, faster and inexpensive. Both dimensions can be done on the same SDS-PAGE apparatus and up to 10 samples can be run simultaneously using one gel. We have analyzed human sera, animal saliva, eye and liver tissue samples to verify this method.
The Reconfiguration of Literary Cognition by Translation in Late Qing Dynasty

Translation practices played an essential role in the reconfiguration of literary cognition in Late Qing dynasty(1894-1911). From the perspective of Poly-system theory by Itamar Even-Zohar, two premises leading up to the prosperity of translated literature were emerging in the special period of late Qing (1894-1911). The process of translation practices re-configuring the literary cognition of the intellectuals in late Qing are illustrated with some approaches of translation study and the theory of “cultural proliferation”. The renewed literary cognition and mythologies of the intellectuals in late Qing manifested itself in the literary creations, critiques, and values.
Original contributionIdentification of a prodromal period in Crohn’s disease but not ulcerative colitis

OBJECTIVES: Irritable bowel syndrome, a common gastrointestinal diagnosis, has not been clearly studied in inflammatory bowel disease. Some of the residual symptoms in subjects treated with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are thought to be related to irritable bowel syndrome. The aims of this study were 1) to describe the duration and nature of complaints before the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (prodromal period), and 2) to determine the role of IBS in this prodromal period. METHODS: A total of 66 patients with confirmed inflammatory bowel disease were enrolled in the study. The subjects received a questionnaire to ascertain the nature and duration of symptoms preceding the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, including features described under the Rome criteria for irritable bowel syndrome. RESULTS: Of the 66 subjects analyzed, 45 had Crohn’s disease and 21 had ulcerative colitis. The prodromal period was 7.7 ± 10.7 yr for Crohn’s disease and 1.2 ± 1.8 yr for ulcerative colitis (p < 0.05). Once patients meeting the Rome criteria for irritable bowel syndrome during the prodrome were excluded, the duration of the prodromal period (non-IBS) for ulcerative colitis dropped to 0.8 ± 1.3 yr compared to 6.9 ± 9.8 yr in the Crohn’s disease group (p < 0.05). The symptoms of the non-IBS prodrome in subjects with Crohn’s disease were bloating, diarrhea, stomach pain, heartburn, fever, weight loss, and fatigue. Further analysis demonstrated that subjects whose Crohn’s disease initially began as colonic disease had a longer prodrome than with small bowel. In the non-IBS Crohn’s group, there was also a correlation between the age at the time of diagnosis and the duration of prodrome (r = 0.67, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant prodromal period before the time of diagnosis of Crohn’s disease that is not found in ulcerative colitis even after exclusion of subjects with IBS.
A Less Virulent COVID-19 Pneumonia

Since its initial outbreak, COVID-19 saw a high death rate with those infected typically presenting with severe respiratory distress along with multi-organ involvement. However, over the course of the pandemic, particularly due to the lower age of those diagnosed with the disease and a greater understanding of the risk posed to certain at-risk populations, a new disease course seems to be more prominent with an overall lower mortality among those diagnosed. We present a typical example of such a case here, showing a less lethal course of COVID-19 occurring in late June amidst the resurgence of new daily cases in the United States.
Racism and Anti-racism in the Liberal International Order

Formal racial equality is a key aspect of the current Liberal International Order (LIO). It is subject to two main challenges: resurgent racial nationalism and substantive racial inequality. Combining work in International Relations with interdisciplinary studies on race, I submit that these challenges are the latest iteration of struggles between two transnational coalitions over the LIO’s central racial provisions, which I call racial diversity regimes (RDRs). The traditional coalition has historically favored RDRs based on racial inequality and racial nationalism. The trans-formative coalition has favored RDRs based on racial equality and non-racial nationalism. I illustrate the argument by tracing the development of the liberal order’s RDR from one based on racial nationalism and inequality in 1919 to the current regime based on non-racial nationalism and limited equality. Today, racial nationalists belong to the traditional coalition and critics of racial inequality are part of the trans-formative coalition. The stakes of their struggles are high because they will determine whether we will live in a more racist or a more anti-racist world. The paper articulates a comprehensive framework that places race at the heart of the liberal order, offers the novel concept of “embedded racism” to capture how sovereignty shields domestic racism from foreign interference, and proposes an agenda for mainstream International Relations that takes race seriously.