cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Who Explains Hurricane Katrina and the Chilean Earthquake as an Act of God? The Experience of Extreme Hardship Predicts Religious Meaning-Making

Two studies utilized firsthand accounts from survivors of two major natural disasters—Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Chilean earthquake in 2010—to investigate (1) how people make sense of their disaster experiences and (2) who understands these events in religious terms. We found that describing the disasters as an act of God was among the most common explanations. Moreover, the degree to which survivors encountered extreme hardship—unpredictable, disruptive, and uncontrollable experiences—predicted explanations of the events as an act of God. These findings held even after controlling for demographic factors (educational attainment and race/ethnicity) known to be associated with religiosity. Notably, objective experiences (e.g., seeing dead bodies) were better predictors of religious meaning-making than relatively subjective psychological reactions to those experiences (e.g., fear). These studies extend the literature by examining how experiences of hardship in real-world contexts underlie religious m...
Arterial microsphere concentrations in cats are not affected by changes in hematocrit.

Acute anemia may lead to erroneously low arterial reference sample concentrations of radioactive microspheres, depending on the sampling rate and the size of the artery from which the reference samples are withdrawn. Because this error would lead to falsely high cerebral blood flow values in studies involving hemodilution caused by hemorrhage and fluid resuscitation, we studied the effects of hematocrit, withdrawal rate, and vessel location and size on arterial microsphere concentrations in anesthetized adult cats. Cats were anesthetized with ketamine, isoflurane, and nitrous oxide; both brachial arteries were cannulated with polyethylene tubing, as was the abdominal aorta through the femoral artery. Sequential left atrial microsphere injections were made using several doses of each of five isotopes. The rate of reference sample withdrawal from the three sampling catheters was randomized to 1.03 mL.min-1 or 2.06 mL.min-1. We analyzed the ratio of the number of microspheres in paired reference samples using the factors hematocrit, rate of withdrawal, and site. A ratio less than 1 indicates an underestimation of arterial microsphere concentration, which would lead to erroneously high cerebral blood flow values. The procedure was repeated after isovolemic hemodilution with 10% hetastarch to hemoglobin levels approximating 85%, 70%, 55%, and 40% of baseline. No significant effects of hematocrit on ratios of microsphere concentrations existed at any withdrawal rate or site. Ratios of microsphere concentrations in reference samples withdrawn slowly (1.03 mL.min-1) from the aorta and ratios of microsphere concentrations withdrawn either rapidly (2.06 mL.min-1) or slowly from the brachial arteries were significantly (P < .001) less than 1. Hemodilution did not affect microsphere concentrations in arterial reference samples at any withdrawal site or rate and therefore does not affect the accuracy of microsphere blood flow determinations. However, slow withdrawal from a large vessel may underestimate actual microsphere concentrations.
NUCLEAR-MITOCHONDRIAL EPISTASIS FOR FITNESS IN SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE

In addition to the familiar possibility of epistasis between nuclear loci, interactions may evolve between the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes in eukaryotic cells. We looked for such interactions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae genotypes evolved independently and asexually in the laboratory for 2000 generations, and in an ecologically distinct pathogenic S. cerevisiae strain. From these strains we constructed derivatives entirely lacking mitochondrial DNA and then used crosses to construct matched and unmatched pairings of nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. We detected fitness effects of such interactions in an evolved laboratory strain and in crosses between the laboratory and pathogen strains. In both cases, there were significant contributions to progeny fitness of both nuclear and mitochondrial genomes and of their interaction. A second evolved genotype showed incompatibility with the first evolved genotype, but the nuclear and mitochondrial contributions to this incompatibility could not be resolved. These results indicate that cytonuclear interactions analogous to those already known from plants and animals can evolve rapidly on an evolutionary timescale.
Striatal magnetic resonance spectroscopy abnormalities in young adult SAPAP3 knockout mice.

Abstract Background Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating condition with lifetime prevalence of 1% to 3%. OCD typically arises in youth, but delays in diagnosis impede optimal treatment and developmental studies of the disorder. Research using genetically modified rodents may provide models of etiology that enable earlier detection and intervention. The Sapap3 knockout (KO) transgenic mouse was developed as an animal model of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. KO mice exhibit compulsive self-grooming behavior analogous to behaviors found in people with obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. Striatal hyperactivity has been reported in these mice and in humans with OCD. Methods Striatal and medial frontal cortex 9.4 Tesla proton spectra were acquired from young adult Sapap3 KO and wild-type control mice to determine whether KO mice have metabolic and neurochemical abnormalities. Results Young adult KO mice had lower striatal lactate ( p = .006) and glutathione ( p = .039) levels. Among all mice, striatal lactate and glutathione levels were associated ( r = .73, p = .007). We found no group differences in medial frontal cortex metabolites. At the age range studied, only one of eight KO mice had skin lesions indicative of severe compulsive grooming. Conclusions Young adult Sapap3 KO mice have striatal but not medial frontal cortex magnetic resonance spectroscopy abnormalities that may reflect striatal hypermetabolism accompanied by oxidative stress. These abnormalities typically precede the onset of severe compulsive grooming. Our findings are consistent with striatal hypermetabolism in OCD. Together, these results suggest that striatal magnetic resonance spectroscopy measures of lactate or glutathione might be useful biomarkers for early detection of risk for developing compulsive behavior disorders.
David Hicks, Stern Hu, Scott Rush, Jock Palfreeman and the legal parameters of Australia's protection of its citizens abroad

The arrest and detention of Australians overseas continues to make headline news. What Australia is able and willing to do to assist one of its nationals imprisoned abroad is a complex issue steeped in legal questions and political considerations. Legal avenues for assisting Australians imprisoned abroad are explored in this article through an examination of the relatively high profile cases of David Hicks, Stern Hu, Scott Rush and Jock Palfreeman. In navigating the legal framework, three broad themes emerge: the bond of nationality, the protection of human rights, and the importance of reciprocity. It is argued here that, from both a legal and political perspective, greatest emphasis should be placed on reciprocity in order to best understand the decisions the Commonwealth government may make and the options available to the individuals concerned.
A low cost resonant snubber inverter for uninterruptible power supply application

A soft switching single-phase inverter designed for an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) was studied. Although the load of an UPS may not be inductive, the typical output LC filter of the inverter of the UPS provides an inductive load for the inverter of the UPS, which maintain the load current nearly constant as the inductive load of a motor. This load characteristic makes it possible to apply similar soft switching techniques for motor drive inverter to UPS inverter. when soft switching techniques used in DC-DC converter, soft switching increases the switching frequency by reducing the switching loss, and the increased frequency can dramatically shrink the size of the output filter of the converter. Another main advantage of the soft switching technique is the reduced electromagnetic interference (EMI).
Bonding and electronic changes in rhodochrosite at high pressure

Atmospheric carbon is critical for maintaining the climate and life equilibrium on Earth. The concentration of this carbon is controlled by the deep carbon cycle, which is responsible for the billion year-scale evolution of the terrestrial carbon reservoirs of the planet. Understanding the crystal chemistry and physical properties of carbonates at mantle conditions is vital as they represent the main oxidized carbon-bearing phases in the Earth’s mantle. Here we present data on the crystal chemistry and physical properties of rhodochrosite at high pressure. Rhodochrosite (MnCO 3 ) exhibits a series of high-pressure transitions between 15 and 30 GPa and at 50 GPa at ambient temperature as observed by in situ Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES). A transition is observed to begin at 15 GPa and complete at 30 GPa, which may be due to several possibilities: modifications in the magnetic order, changes in the compression mechanism, and/or a structural transition resulting from disorder. We also observed a first-order phase transition of MnCO 3 at 50 GPa, which is not accompanied by any changes in the electronic spin state. These results highlight the unique behavior of MnCO 3 , which we found to be quite different from other common carbonates such as siderite, magnesite, and calcite.
Effect of Surface Pressure Integration Methodology on Launch Vehicle Buffet Forcing Functions

The 2014 test of the Space Launch System (SLS) Rigid Buffet Model conducted at the NASA Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel employed an extremely high number of unsteady pressure transducers. The high channel count provided an opportunity to examine the effect of transducer placement on the resulting buffet forcing functions (BFFs). Rings of transducers on the forward half of the model were employed to simulate a single-body vehicle. The impact of transducer density, circumferential distribution, and loss of a single transducer on the resulting BFFs were examined. Rings of transducers on the aft half of the SLS model were employed to examine the effect of transducer density and circumferential distribution on BFFs for a multi-body configuration. Transducer placement considerations with respect to model size, facility infrastructure, and data acquisition system capabilities, which affect the integration process, are also discussed.
Thermal Resistance and PIV Characterization of a Line-Replaceable Compact Liquid-Cooled Server Module for High Performance Computing Platforms

The meteoric growth of social networking involvement along with cost-effective cloud based computing business models are just two reasons why data center power consumption is growing at an alarming rate. Dwindling global energy resources mandate that these data centers be more efficient, especially as our dependence and demand upon them grow. As the data center demand grows, components will be designed with reductions in volume and increases in processor speeds, resulting in increases in heat fluxes which two-phase liquid immersion techniques offer the potential of dissipating. The proposed experimental facility seeks to illustrate how these demands can be met through the integration of a small form factor line replaceable cartridge which contains heated elements meant to simulate components within a high performance computing unit. The facility also consists of thermal support equipment used for heat extraction and rejection to ambient much like one would find in a liquid cooled data center, such as a chiller, fluid pumps, etc. One way to effectively characterize the efficiency of a thermal design technique is to quantify the thermal resistance, and subsequently minimize it as much as possible. Incredibly low module level thermal resistances have been achieved, on the order of 0.13 K/W under pool conditions and as little as 0.10 K/W when flow is introduced within the electronics housing. Trends of the cartridge’s thermal resistance have been explored as exterior chilled water temperatures are varied, over several surface enhancements along with the variation of external chilled water and internal dielectric fluid flow rates. As has been noted by several authors in their study of immersion cooled modules, a condensation limit has been found and trends upon it associated with varying the previously mentioned parameters have also been documented. The effect upon thermal performance of diverting the flow over the primary heating elements in various ways has been explored through the use of Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). These techniques have been used to illustrate how a new dielectric fluid flow distribution design resulted in increased mass flow rate over critical components within the cartridge.© 2014 ASME
Learning meta knowledge for database checking

Building a large-scale system often involves creating a large knowledge store, and as these grow and are maintained by a number of individuals, errors are inevitable. Exploring databases as a specialization of knowledge stores, this paper studies the hypothesis that descriptive, learned models can be prescriptively used to find errors. To that end, it describes an implemented system called CARPER. Applying CARPER to a real-world database demonstrates the viability of the approach and establishes a baseline of performance for future research.
Hypoglycemia and Cognitive Deficits

Effects of hypoglycemia on cognition were studied using event-related brain-potential (ERP) measures and reaction times at the Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.
Formation and disruption of functional domains in myelinated CNS axons

Communication in the central nervous system (CNS) occurs through initiation and propagation of action potentials at excitable domains along axons. Action potentials generated at the axon initial segment (AIS) are regenerated at nodes of Ranvier through the process of saltatory conduction. Proper formation and maintenance of the molecular structure at the AIS and nodes are required for sustaining conduction fidelity. In myelinated CNS axons, paranodal junctions between the axolemma and myelinating oligodendrocytes delineate nodes of Ranvier and regulate the distribution and localization of specialized functional elements, such as voltage-gated sodium channels and mitochondria. Disruption of excitable domains and altered distribution of functional elements in CNS axons is associated with demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis, and is likely a mechanism common to other neurological disorders. This review will provide a brief overview of the molecular structure of the AIS and nodes of Ranvier, as well as the distribution of mitochondria in myelinated axons. In addition, this review highlights important structural and functional changes within myelinated CNS axons that are associated with neurological dysfunction.
Immunodeficient Mice: The Backbone of Patient-Derived Tumor Xenograft Models

Abstract The ability of patient-derived xenograft (PDX) tumors to grow in mice has been significantly advanced by the development of immunodeficient mice as tumor hosts. In this chapter, we summarize the historical development of major immunodeficient strains, review the basic components of antitumor and antigraft immunity, describe immunodeficient mouse strains [such as nude, severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), nonobese diabetic (NOD)-SCID, and NOD-SCID IL2 receptor common gamma chain null (NSG)] commonly utilized in PDX studies, and explain how adaptive and innate immunity is disrupted in each model. Finally, we outline key factors to consider when choosing immunodeficient strains as hosts for PDX studies; summarize the advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of specific immunodeficient mouse models; and briefly discuss how new technology such as CRISPR might be utilized to improve PDX modeling in mice.
Influence of enhanced carbon crystallinity of nanoporous graphite on the cathode performance of microbial fuel cells

Abstract We have synthesized a porous graphite with a high degree of local crystallinity by adding copper powder as a catalyst into the magnesiothermic reduction of CO2. Furthermore, we revealed that the enhanced crystallinity of the carbon cathode catalyst promotes the electrochemical performance of microbial fuel cells under neutral pH conditions, which provides future guidance on the selection of carbon catalysts for microbial fuel cells.
Lowering side effects of NSAID usage in osteoarthritis: recent attempts at minimizing dosage

Introduction: Osteoarthritis is a burdensome disease that causes progressive damage to articular cartilage. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are one of the preferred treatments for sy...
Cloning and characterization of the human lactoferrin receptor gene promoter

Lactoferrin (Lf) is a major protein in human milk. Multiple biological functions of Lf are postulated to be mediated by a Lf receptor (LfR). The Lf receptor (LfR) plays an important role in absorption of Lf and Lf-bound iron by intestinal epithelial cells. Here, we cloned and characterized the promoter from a ~ 3.1 kb 5′-flanking region of the human LfR gene. Neither a TATA box nor a CCAAT box is found at the typical positions. The transcription start site was identified as 298 bp upstream of the translation start codon (+ 1) by 5′ RLM-RACE. A series of deletions of 5′-flanking sequences of the human LfR gene were cloned into a promoter-less pGL3 luciferase reporter and transiently transfected into an intestinal enterocyte model (Caco-2 cells). A fragment of − 299/+ 63 elicited the maximal promoter activity in transfected Caco-2 cells, suggesting that functional transcription factor binding sites appear in the region of − 299/+ 63. Bioinformatics analysis indicates that the − 299/+ 63 fragment contains two putative Sp1 binding sites. The promoter activity was significantly decreased when the Sp1 binding sites were mutated by site-directed mutagenesis. Additionally, the promoter activity was dramatically inhibited by treating cells with an Sp1 inhibitor. Binding of Sp1 to the promoter was confirmed by EMSA. Moreover, after Sp1 expression was significantly suppressed by RNA interference, LfR was significantly decreased at both RNA and protein levels. In conclusion, the LfR gene promoter contains downstream core promoter elements, and the Sp1 binding sites play critical roles in transcriptional regulation of the LfR gene.
Adenosine triphosphate/adenosine guided pulmonary vein isolation does not improve the outcomes of ablation: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Successful pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is the most reliable predictor of success after ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) unmasks the do...
Amyloid assembly and disassembly.

ABSTRACT Amyloid fibrils are protein homopolymers that adopt diverse cross-β conformations. Some amyloid fibrils are associated with the pathogenesis of devastating neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer9s disease and Parkinson9s disease. Conversely, functional amyloids play beneficial roles in melanosome biogenesis, long-term memory formation and release of peptide hormones. Here, we showcase advances in our understanding of amyloid assembly and structure, and how distinct amyloid strains formed by the same protein can cause distinct neurodegenerative diseases. We discuss how mutant steric zippers promote deleterious amyloidogenesis and aberrant liquid-to-gel phase transitions. We also highlight effective strategies to combat amyloidogenesis and related toxicity, including: (1) small-molecule drugs (e.g. tafamidis) to inhibit amyloid formation or (2) stimulate amyloid degradation by the proteasome and autophagy, and (3) protein disaggregases that disassemble toxic amyloid and soluble oligomers. We anticipate that these advances will inspire therapeutics for several fatal neurodegenerative diseases.
Immune Complexes, Vasoactive Mediators, and Fibrinoid Necrosis in Connective Tissue Diseases

Although the inflammatory mechanisms operative in the various connective tissue diseases are all different, there are certain features common to many of them. These include tissue deposition of circulating immune complexes, a vasculopathy, and fibrinoid necrosis of the surrounding tissue. Other chapters in this text deal with immune complexes, activation of complement, and recruitment and activation of neutrophils, all of which are important aspects of immunologically mediated inflammation. This chapter focuses on the tissue deposition of immune complexes, the role of vasoactive factors in the inflammatory response, and the interrelationship of these events with coagulation and fibrinolysis to cause fibrinoid necrosis.
Research on Teacher Identity: Common Themes, Implications, and Future Directions

In this chapter we synthesize common themes that emerge from the chapters in this edited volume, and highlight the unique contributions of the book to our understanding of teacher identity development. Based on the discussions, we suggest implications and future directions.
Determination of Death Dates of Coarse Woody Debris of Multiple Species in the Central Hardwood Region (Indiana, USA)

Abstract Coarse woody debris (CWD; i.e. downed limbs and boles) serves numerous ecosystem functions, which vary according to the degree of decay. CWD decay is often described using five categories based on readily observed physical characteristics ranging from freshly fallen (Class I) to advanced decay with little structural integrity (Class V). Though useful in categorizing downed wood in a forest, these categories do not necessarily provide information about time since death or the decay process. Dendrochronology can be used to assign death dates to CWD and begin to provide a temporal description of the decay process. We used standard dendrochronological techniques to determine the death dates of 94 CWD samples from five common hardwood taxa in southern Indiana. Across taxa, the time since death of Class I (1.4 ± 1.7 years; mean ± SD; least decayed class) was significantly shorter than Class II (5.2 ± 3.6 years), which was shorter than the more decayed classes (Class III: 11.5 ± 4.9, and Class IV: 11.2 ...
Experimental characterization and modeling of optical tweezer particle handling dynamics.

We report a new framework for a quantitative understanding of optical trapping (OT) particle handling dynamics. We present a novel three-dimensional particle-based model that includes optical, hydrodynamic, and inter-particle forces. This semi-empirical colloid model is based on an open-source simulation code known as LAMMPS (large-scale atomic/molecular massively parallel simulator) and properly recapitulates the full OT force profile beyond the typical linear approximations valid near the trap center. Simulations are carried out with typical system parameters relevant for our experimental holographic optical trapping (HOT) system, including varied particle sizes, trap movement speeds, and beam powers. Furthermore, we present a new experimental method for measuring both the stable and metastable boundaries of the optical force profile to inform or validate the model’s underlying force profile. We show that our framework is a powerful tool for accurately predicting particle behavior in a practical experimental OT setup and can be used to characterize and predict particle handling dynamics within any arbitrary OT force profile.
Realtime Comb-Assisted Discrete Fourier Transform Processor

For the first time we present an optical comb-assisted 60-point DFT engine operating in real-time at 12× 107 coefficients per second. The engine is used to demodulate an 8-PPM signal using its DFT coefficients.
Costs of ambulatory pediatric healthcare-associated infections: Central-line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSIs), catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTIs), and surgical site infections (SSIs)

Objective: Ambulatory healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) occur frequently in children and are associated with morbidity. Less is known about ambulatory HAI costs. This study estimated additional costs associated with pediatric ambulatory central-line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), and surgical site infections (SSIs) following ambulatory surgery. Design: Retrospective case-control study. Setting: Four academic medical centers. Patients: Children aged 0–22 years seen between 2010 and 2015 and at risk for HAI as identified by electronic queries. Methods: Chart review adjudicated HAIs. Charges were obtained for patients with HAIs and matched controls 30 days before HAI, on the day of, and 30 days after HAI. Charges were converted to costs and 2015 USD. Mixed-effects linear regression was used to estimate the difference-in-differences of HAI case versus control costs in 2 models: unrecorded charge values considered missing and a sensitivity analysis with unrecorded charge considered $0. Results: Our search identified 177 patients with ambulatory CLABSIs, 53 with ambulatory CAUTIs, and 26 with SSIs following ambulatory surgery who were matched with 382, 110, and 75 controls, respectively. Additional cost associated with an ambulatory CLABSI was $8,719). Conclusions: Ambulatory HAI in pediatric patients are associated with significant additional costs. Further work is needed to reduce ambulatory HAIs.
General Soil Regions of Nevada

This chapter discusses the soil taxonomy of each of the 10 Major Land Resource Areas in Nevada, including the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Malheur High Plateau, the Humboldt Area, the Owyhee High Plateau, the Carson Basin and Mountains, the Fallon-Lovelock Area, the Great Salt Lake Area, the Central Nevada Basin and Range, the Southern Nevada Basin and Range, and the Mojave Desert.
Essential Workers and Care Penalties in the United States

The new category of workers officially labeled “essential” in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States includes a large percentage of women working in care services. In many o...
A Multi-Method Approach to Dating: Persistent Occupation of the Alpine Tundra at Rollins Pass, Colorado

This paper examines chronological methods for reoccupied archaeological sites with surface arrangements of stone features in the alpine tundra. It is challenging to interpret feature dates in the t...
Decentralized Fictitious Play with Voluntary Communication in Random Communication Networks

We consider autonomous agents communicating over a random communication network that is subject to failures. Each agent aims to maximize its own utility function that depends on the actions of other agents and an unknown state of the environment. Posing this problem as a game, we study a decentralized fictitious play algorithm with a voluntary communication protocol (DFP-V) for Nash equilibrium (NE) computation. In the voluntary communication protocol, each agent locally manages whom to exchange information with by assessing the novelty of its information and the potential effect of its information on others' assessments of their utility functions. We show convergence of the algorithm to a pure NE in finite time for the class of weakly acyclic games. Numerical experiments demonstrate that the voluntary communication protocol reduces number of communication attempts significantly without hampering performance.
Effects of Antibiotics on Streptococcal Adherence: Release of Fibronectin-Lipoteichoic Acid Complexes from Group A Streptococci by Sublethal Concentrations of Penicillin

In a number of studies [1,3,10] reviewed in Beachey 1981 [4] and Beachey et al. [6], we have obtained evidence that surface lipoteichoic acid (LTA) mediates the attachment of group A streptococci to oral epithelial cells. We have also obtained evidence that fibronectin molecules residing on epithelial cells serve as receptors for the LTA mediated binding of group A streptococci [12]. Indeed, we demonstrated that the fibronectin molecule, a large glycoprotein found in plasma and various connective tissues, as well as on the surfaces of oral epithelial cells, contains specific fatty acid binding sites that recognize the glycolipid end of the LTA molecule [7]. The binding of radiolabeled fibronectin to cells of group A streptococci was inhibited specifically by LTA, but not deacylated LTA. Similarly, purified LTA, but not deacylated LTA, was capable of forming complexes with purified plasma fibronectin [7]. These studies provide compelling evidence for the notion that LTA mediates the attachment of group A streptococci to fibronectin molecules on the surface of oral epithelial cells and thereby initiates the events necessary for oropharyngeal colonization by these microorganisms.
AKAP79/150 coordinates leptin-induced PKA signaling to regulate KATP channel trafficking in pancreatic β-cells

The adipocyte hormone leptin regulates glucose homeostasis both centrally and peripherally. A key peripheral target is the pancreatic β-cell, which secretes insulin upon glucose stimulation. Leptin is known to suppress glucose-stimulated insulin secretion by promoting trafficking of KATP channels to the β-cell surface, which increases K+ conductance and causes β-cell hyperpolarization. We have previously shown that leptin-induced KATP channel trafficking requires protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent actin remodeling. However, whether PKA is a downstream effector of leptin signaling or PKA plays a permissive role is unknown. Using FRET-based reporters of PKA activity, we show that leptin increases PKA activity at the cell membrane and that this effect is dependent on N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors, CaMKKβ, and AMPK, which are known to be involved in the leptin signaling pathway. Genetic knockdown and rescue experiments reveal that the increased PKA activity upon leptin stimulation requires the membrane-targeted PKA-anchoring protein AKAP79/150, indicating that PKA activated by leptin is anchored to AKAP79/150. Interestingly, disrupting protein phosphatase 2B (PP2B) anchoring to AKAP79/150, known to elevate basal PKA signaling, leads to increased surface KATP channels even in the absence of leptin stimulation. Our findings uncover a novel role of AKAP79/150 in coordinating leptin and PKA signaling to regulate KATP channel trafficking in β-cells, hence insulin secretion. The study further advances our knowledge of the downstream signaling events that may be targeted to restore insulin secretion regulation in β-cells defective in leptin signaling, such as those from obese individuals with type 2 diabetes.
InAs/InP quantum dot coherent comb lasers and their applications in data centre and coherent communication systems

Next generation short and long reach communication networks would be required to provide data rates of multiterabit/ s. Such high line rates are not feasible using a single wavelength channel. However, the multi-terabit/s transmission capacity can be achieved by utilising highly parallel wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), with tens or hundreds of channels, in combination with spectrally efficient advanced modulation formats. Quantum dot (QD) coherent comb lasers (CCLs) are promising light sources for Terabit/s dense-WDM optical coherent and data center networks because such monolithic QD-CCLs solve the obvious cost, power consumption and packaging problems by replacing many separate lasers for each channel by only a single semiconductor laser. Other advantages include compact size, simple fabrication, and the ability for hybrid integration with silicon substrates. Recent years we have successfully developed InAs/InP QD CCLs with repetition rates from 10 GHz to 1000 GHz and a total output power up to 50 mW per facet at room temperature. In this paper we have presented the design, growth, fabrication, electronic control and packaging of the QD CCLs. The key technical specifications include L-I-V curves, optical and RF beating spectra, relative intensity noise and optical phase noise of each individual wavelength channel, as well as timing jitter are investigated. Data bandwidth transmission capacity of 5.376 Terabit/s and 10.8 Terabit/s in the PAM-4 and 16-QAM modulation formats are demonstrated by using a single QD CCL chip with a channel spacing of 34.2 GHz after 25 km and 100 km of single-mode fiber transmission lines, respectively.
Plant Pathogen Invasion Modifies the Eco-Evolutionary Host Plant Interactions of an Endangered Checkerspot Butterfly

New plant pathogen invasions typified by cryptic disease symptoms or those appearing sporadically in time and patchily in space, might go largely unnoticed and not taken seriously by ecologists. We present evidence that the recent invasion of Pyrenopeziza plantaginis (Dermateaceae) into the Pacific Northwest USA, which causes foliar necrosis in the fall and winter on Plantago lanceolata (plantain), the primary (non-native) foodplant for six of the eight extant Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly populations (Euphydryas editha taylori, endangered species), has altered eco-evolutionary foodplant interactions to a degree that threatens butterfly populations with extinction. Patterns of butterfly, larval food plant, and P. plantaginis disease development suggested the ancestral relationship was a two-foodplant system, with perennial Castilleja spp. supporting oviposition and pre-diapause larvae, and the annual Collinsia parviflora supporting post-diapause larvae. Plantain, in the absence of P. plantaginis disease, provided larval food resources throughout all butterfly life stages and may explain plantain’s initial adoption by Taylor’s checkerspot. However, in the presence of severe P. plantaginis disease, plantain-dependent butterfly populations experience a six-week period in the winter where post-diapause larvae lack essential plantain resources. Only C. parviflora, which is rare and competitively inferior under present habitat conditions, can fulfill the post-diapause larval feeding requirements in the presence of severe P. plantaginis disease. However, a germination timing experiment suggested C. parviflora to be suitably timed for only Washington Taylor’s checkerspot populations. The recent invasion by P. plantaginis appears to have rendered the ancestrally adaptive acquisition of plantain by Taylor’s checkerspot an unreliable, maladaptive foodplant interaction.
An Overlooked Dimension to OIRA Review of Tax Regulatory Actions

In April 2018, the Treasury Department and the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) signed a Memorandum of Agreement reversing an exemption and providing for the first time that significant tax regulatory actions would be subject to OIRA review under Executive Order 12866. The transition to the Biden administration has raised questions whether the Memorandum of Agreement should be reversed and most tax rules and regulations again exempted from OIRA review. Critiques of OIRA review in the tax context generally focus on disagreements over whether the regulatory impact analysis required by Executive Order 12866 is useful or should rely on different methodological assumptions. This essay emphasizes instead the symbiotic relationship between OIRA review, regulatory impact analysis, and compliance with Administrative Procedure Act procedure and process requirements. Because Treasury and the IRS continue to struggle with both admitting to and satisfying their Administrative Procedure Act responsibilities, this benefit of OIRA review justifies retaining the Memorandum of Agreement and OIRA review of tax regulatory actions.
Sex Differences in Children and Young Adults With Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease in First Two Decades of Life.

Abstract Objective To elucidate sex differences in valve morphology, disease phenotype, progression, and outcomes among children and young adults with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). Patients and Methods This is a retrospective cohort study examining all children and young adults (aged ≤22 years) with isolated BAV diagnosed, by excluding patients with concomitant congenital heart defects or genetic syndromes, from January 1, 1990, through December 1, 2016, at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Results Of 1010 patients with BAV, 558 had isolated BAV. Distributions of morphology were right-left in 65.8% (n=367), right-noncoronary in 34% (n=190), and left-noncoronary cusp fusion in 0.2% (n=1) of patients; with no sex differences. Male to female ratio was 3:1. At the first echocardiographic evaluation in the study, there were no sex differences in terms of frequency of aortic valve stenosis or regurgitation. However, males had significantly higher grades of aortic valve regurgitation at 17 years of age onward (P 2) as compared with females (odds ratio, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.2 to 4.2; P=.01). There were no significant sex differences in the primary cardiac outcomes of interventions on aortic valve and/or aorta, aortic dissection, or death. Conclusion In children and young adults with BAV, males have a higher grade of aortic regurgitation in late adolescence, significantly larger aortic dimensions, different patterns of aortic growth, and more frequent sinus of Valsalva dilation as compared with females. Overall, the rate of primary cardiac events is lower in young patients, with no significant sex differences.
Pyoderma Gangrenosum After Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty

Pyoderma gangrenosum is a neutrophilic dermatosis, which mimics both infection and necrotizing fasciitis, that can present after surgical interventions. We present the case of a 62-year-old male who underwent one-stage bilateral total knee arthroplasty. Nine days after the surgery, he presented with wound breakdown, high fever, and elevated white blood cell count. Repeated debridement was performed, and empiric antibiotics were given. All tissue cultures and aspirates remained negative throughout treatment course, and the patient remained unresponsive to therapy. The patient was eventually diagnosed with pyoderma gangrenosum after infectious etiologies were ruled out and after a skin biopsy and dermatologic consultation. His condition rapidly improved after treatment with corticosteroids, and soft-tissue defects were repaired with skin substitute and full-thickness skin grafting. In patients with aseptic wound breakdown after total knee arthroplasty, pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare but devastating complication and should be considered.
Preclinical Assessment of Breast Cancer and Early Response to Chemotherapy using 3-D H-Scan Ultrasound Imaging

Various ultrasound (US) approaches for tumor tissue characterization have shown promise for monitoring response to anticancer treatment. Our group has pioneered a new technology termed H-scan US imaging, which links differences in the frequency content of backscattered US signals to various-sized aggregate scatterers. The purpose of this research was to use a three-dimensional (3-D) H-scan US imaging system and method for tissue characterization in volume space and evaluate using a preclinical animal model of breast cancer. Preliminary studies were conducted using female mice (Charles River Laboratories) implanted with breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231, ATCC). Animals were then received intraperitoneal injections of control saline or anticancer drug, namely, TRA-8, paclitaxel, or TRA-8 + paclitaxel ( $\boldsymbol{N}=5$ per group). Image data was obtained using an US system (Vantage 256, Verasonics Inc) equipped with a volumetric transducer (4DL7, Vermon) at baseline before drug dosing and again every 24 h for 3 d. Experimental data demonstrated that in vivo 3-D H-scan US imaging is very sensitive to tumor changes after administration of anticancer drug therapy. While there was no difference at baseline, H-scan US results from treated tumors exhibited progressive decreases in local image intensity that correlated with increased apoptotic activity and reduced nuclear size as validated by histological measures. Overall, 3-D H-scan US imaging is a promising modality for visualization of the heterogenous tumor microenvironment. It also allows noninvasive detection of an acute tumor response to apoptosis-inducing treatment in a preclinical animal model.
Electromagnetic SERS effect in carbon nanotube systems

Abstract Quantum electrodynamics theory of the resonance Raman scattering is developed for an atom in a close proximity to a carbon nanotube. The theory describes both weak and strong atomic coupling to nanotube plasmon near fields, and predicts a dramatic enhancement of the Raman intensity in the strong coupling regime. This resonance scattering is a manifestation of the surface enhanced Raman scattering effect, and can be used in designing efficient nanotube based optical sensing substrates for single atom detection, precision spontaneous emission control, and manipulation.
Preparation of Some N‐benzylpiperidines

A number of N - ( p -substituted benzoyl)piperidines was prepared. The reduction of the amides with lithium aluminum hydride provided the corresponding N -( p -substituted benzyl) piperidines. Isobutyric anhydride and 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl chloride were used to prepare several esters of N -( p -hydroxybenzyl) piperidines. Several of the compounds were tested in mice for their general behavioral effects and in dogs for pharmacodynamic activity.
Borderlands Studies and Border Theory: Linking Activism and Scholarship for Social Justice

This article traces contemporary trends in borderlands studies and border theory and argues for a feminist revisioning of border studies as a mode of praxis, linking activism, and scholarship. I trace the trends from early borderland studies and Gloria Anzaldua’s analysis of la frontera to the institutionalization of border theory in the academy. Scholars influenced by Anzaldua’s work view borderlands as sites that can enable those dwelling there to negotiate the contradictions and tensions found in diverse cultural, class, and other settings. Critical perspectives of this view include concerns that there is ‘the tendency to construct the border crosser or the hybrid … into a new privileged subject of history’ (Vila 2003. Ethnography at the Border, University of Minnesota Press). I examine tension between social science based borderlands studies and cultural studies-oriented border theory, address the limits and possibilities of an interdisciplinary border studies, and discuss the dilemmas associated with academic institutionalization and interdisciplinarity. I illustrate the feminist revisioning I recommend with three case examples chosen from contemporary feminist and queer border studies that link local struggles with cross-border organizing against violence against women, labor rights, and sexual citizenship.
The Influence of Bureau Scores, Customized Scores and Judgmental Review on the Bank Underwriting Decision-Making Process

In recent years commercial banks have moved toward automated forms of underwriting. This study employs unique bank loan-level data from a scoring lender to determine whether automated underwriting ...
Localization of cytochromes to the outer membrane of anaerobically grown Shewanella putrefaciens MR-1.

In gram-negative bacteria, numerous cell functions, including respiration-linked electron transport, have been ascribed to the cytoplasmic membrane. Gram-negative bacteria which use solid substrates (e.g., oxidized manganese or iron) as terminal electron acceptors for anaerobic respiration are presented with a unique problem: they must somehow establish an electron transport link across the outer membrane between large particulate metal oxides and the electron transport chain in the cytoplasmic membrane. When the metal-reducing bacterium Shewanella putrefaciens MR-1 is grown under anaerobic conditions and membrane fractions are purified from cells lysed by an EDTA-lysozyme-polyoxyethylene cetyl ether (Brij 58) protocol, approximately 80% of its membrane-bound cytochromes are localized in its outer membrane. These outer membrane cytochromes could not be dislodged by treatment with chaotropic agents or by increased concentrations of the nonionic detergent Brij 58, suggesting that they are integral membrane proteins. Cytochrome distribution in cells lysed by a French press protocol confirm the localization of cytochromes to the outer membrane of anaerobically grown cells. This novel cytochrome distribution could play a key role in the anaerobic respiratory capabilities of this bacterium, especially in its ability to mediate manganese and iron reduction.
Examining the potential impact of plug-in electric vehicles on residential sector power demand

This paper presents a dynamic simulation tool for examining the future impact of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) on residential sector power demand. First, the modeling approach used during the development of this tool is described. Markov chain based occupant behavior models developed using data gathered by the U.S. Census Bureau in the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) are used in conjunction with models of the most common residential loads to estimate residential demand on a one-minute time scale. Next, a detailed explanation of the methodology used to model PEV use and charging is given. Simulation results showing the differences in residential power demand, both with and without PEVs present in the system, are shown. Finally, future work will involve using these simulation results to conduct various probabilistic load flow studies.
Reversal Theory: Motivation, Emotion and Personality

Represents the most concise and complete statement to date on the theory, and on the research which it has generated. This book should be of interest to undergraduate students in personality, motivation, emotion, experimental psychology; postgraduate students in clinical psychology and counselling.
Madison Avenue Meets Wall Street: Mutual Fund Families, Competition and Advertising

We examine the effects of mutual fund families' strategic decisions, particularly the advertising decision, on investor flows into the families. We find evidence that beyond performance a family's strategic decisions such as advertising, distribution channels, fund offerings and expense ratios, have significant effects on investor flows. Consistent with evidence at the individual fund level, investor flows have an increasing and convex relation to a family's past performance for high performing families. We also find a similar association between a family's flows and its relative levels of advertising expenditures with a significant positive effect for high relative advertisers only.
Experimental characterization of a transition from collisionless to collisional interaction between head-on-merging supersonic plasma jetsa)

We present results from experiments on the head-on merging of two supersonic plasma jets in an initially collisionless regime for the counter-streaming ions. The plasma jets are of either an argon/impurity or hydrogen/impurity mixture and are produced by pulsed-power-driven railguns. Based on time- and space-resolved fast-imaging, multi-chord interferometry, and survey-spectroscopy measurements of the overlapping region between the merging jets, we observe that the jets initially interpenetrate, consistent with calculated inter-jet ion collision lengths, which are long. As the jets interpenetrate, a rising mean-charge state causes a rapid decrease in the inter-jet ion collision length. Finally, the interaction becomes collisional and the jets stagnate, eventually producing structures consistent with collisional shocks. These experimental observations can aid in the validation of plasma collisionality and ionization models for plasmas with complex equations of state.