cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A statistical theory of polycrystalline plasticity

The plasticity and viscoplasticity of polycrystalline materials are studied analytically in terms of lattice dislocations, with the principal effects attributed to non-extended obstacles. Non-equilibrium statistical mecha­nics is used to describe the evolution of the dislocation structures during loading and unloading processes. A plausible variation in the probability density function for mobile dislocations for such processes is suggested. The proposed material model is in good qualitative agreement with several observed phenomena that previously could not be quantified on the basis of the dislocation theory. Numerical examples illustrate the effect of the rate of loading, the variations in the recovery effect as it relates to the extent of load reversal, and a means for treating materials that exhibit a yield plateau. In the limit, the proposed model yields results for inviscid plasticity.
Egocentric Spatial Representation in Action and Perception

Neuropsychological findings used to motivate the “two visual systems” hypothesis have been taken to endanger a pair of widely accepted claims about spatial representation in visual experience. The first is the claim that visual experience represents 3-D space around the perceiver using an egocentric frame of reference. The second is the claim that there is a constitutive link between the spatial contents of visual experience and the perceiver’s bodily actions. In this paper, I carefully assess three main sources of evidence for the two visual systems hypothesis and argue that the best interpretation of the evidence is in fact consistent with both claims. I conclude with some brief remarks on the relation between visual consciousness and rational agency.
Endothelial cell barrier enhancement by ATP is mediated by the small GTPase Rac and cortactin

ATP is a physiologically relevant agonist released by various sources, including activated platelets, with complex effects mediated via activation of P2 purinergic receptors. ATP-induced endothelia...
MtrR Modulates rpoH Expression and Levels of Antimicrobial Resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae

The MtrR transcriptional-regulatory protein is known to repress transcription of the mtrCDE operon, which encodes a multidrug efflux pump possessed by Neisseria gonorrhoeae that is important in the ability of gonococci to resist certain hydrophobic antibiotics, detergents, dyes, and host-derived antimicrobials. In order to determine whether MtrR can exert regulatory action on other gonococcal genes, we performed a whole-genome microarray analysis using total RNA extracted from actively growing broth cultures of isogenic MtrR-positive and MtrR-negative gonococci. We determined that, at a minimum, 69 genes are directly or indirectly subject to MtrR control, with 47 being MtrR repressed and 22 being MtrR activated. rpoH, which encodes the general stress response sigma factor RpoH (sigma 32), was found by DNA-binding studies to be directly repressed by MtrR, as it was found to bind to a DNA sequence upstream of rpoH that included sites within the rpoH promoter. MtrR also repressed the expression of certain RpoH-regulated genes, but this regulation was likely indirect and a reflection of MtrR control of rpoH expression. Inducible expression of MtrR was found to repress rpoH expression and to increase gonococcal susceptibility to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and an antibiotic (erythromycin) recognized by the MtrC-MtrD-MtrE efflux pump system. We propose that, apart from its ability to control the expression of the mtrCDE-encoded efflux pump operon and, as a consequence, levels of gonococcal resistance to host antimicrobials (e.g., antimicrobial peptides) recognized by the efflux pump, the ability of MtrR to regulate the expression levels of rpoH and RpoH-regulated genes also modulates levels of gonococcal susceptibility to H2O2.
Effects of light on plasma somatolactin levels in red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus).

Abstract The effects of illumination on circulating somatolactin (SL) levels were studied in red drum sampled at various times during a 24-h light–dark cycle (12L:12D) and during a 24-h period of constant light. Plasma SL concentrations were low in red drum sampled during the light phase (0.6 ± 0.05–1.1 ± 0.2 ng/ml). The levels were significantly elevated during the early-dark phase (5.8 ± 1.0 ng/ml) and declined during the late-dark phase (0.39 ± 0.05 ng/ml). In contrast, plasma SL levels remained low (0.4 ± 0.1–1.3 ± 0.4 ng/ml) in fish sampled throughout a 24-h constant light period following a 1-week exposure to the light–dark cycle. Circulating SL levels were also significantly elevated during the early-dark phase in fish maintained under a reversed light–dark cycle. The role of the eyes in mediating the SL response to light was evaluated by comparing circulating SL levels in optic-tract sectioned and enucleated fish with those of intact (control) fish. Plasma SL concentrations were significantly higher in optic-tract sectioned and enucleated fish (6.5 ± 0.9–13.8 ± 1.5 ng/ml) than in control fish (0.6 ± 0.05–3.9 ± 0.7 ng/ml) during both the early-dark phase and the early-light phase of the 24-h light–dark cycle. The absence of significant changes in plasma SL levels between the light and dark phases in optic-tract sectioned and enucleated fish appears to be due to a loss of light perception in these fish. Moreover, intact and sham-operated red drum maintained in constant darkness had dramatically increased plasma SL levels (18.8 ± 2.0–24.8 ± 1.8 ng/ml). The present results are consistent with our earlier findings that plasma SL levels are elevated in fish kept in constant darkness and in a dark-background tank (reduction in overall light levels) during the light phase. Taken together, these results suggest that plasma SL levels are elevated in red drum in the absence of light and in response to low illumination. Interestingly, the integument of the fish became light during the dark phase of the light–dark cycle. In our earlier studies, the increase of plasma SL concentrations was associated with aggregation of melanophores, and direct effects of SL on melanophore aggregation were demonstrated. Overall, our studies with red drum suggest a possible role of elevated SL levels on melanophore aggregation during the dark phase of the 24-h day–night cycle.
Characterization of human cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12) and CDK13 complexes in C-terminal domain phosphorylation, gene transcription, and RNA processing

Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) and CDK12 have each been demonstrated to phosphorylate the RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain (CTD) at serine 2 of the heptad repeat, both in vitro and in vivo. CDK9, as part of P-TEFb and the super elongation complex (SEC), is by far the best characterized of CDK9, CDK12, and CDK13. We employed both in vitro and in vivo assays to further investigate the molecular properties of CDK12 and its paralog CDK13. We isolated Flag-tagged CDK12 and CDK13 and found that they associate with numerous RNA processing factors. Although knockdown of CDK12, CDK13, or their cyclin partner CCNK did not affect the bulk CTD phosphorylation levels in HCT116 cells, transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis revealed that CDK12 and CDK13 losses in HCT116 cells preferentially affect expression of DNA damage response and snoRNA genes, respectively. CDK12 and CDK13 depletion also leads to a loss of expression of RNA processing factors and to defects in RNA processing. These findings suggest that in addition to implementing CTD phosphorylation, CDK12 and CDK13 may affect RNA processing through direct physical interactions with RNA processing factors and by regulating their expression.
Uniform convergence of weighted sums of non and semiparametric residuals for estimation and testing

A new uniform expansion is introduced for sums of weighted kernel-based regression residuals from nonparametric or semiparametric models. This result is useful for deriving asymptotic properties of semiparametric estimators and test statistics with data-dependent bandwidth, random trimming, and estimated weights. An extension allows for generated regressors, without requiring the calculation of functional derivatives. Example applications are provided for a binary choice model with selection, including a new semiparametric maximum likelihood estimator, and a new directional test for correct specification of the average structural function. A supplement contains general results on uniform rates for kernel estimators, additional applications, and primitive sufficient conditions for high level assumptions.
GPU-based computational adaptive optics for volumetric optical coherence microscopy

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging technique that measures reflectance from within biological tissues. Current higher-NA optical coherence microscopy (OCM) technologies with near cellular resolution have limitations on volumetric imaging capabilities due to the trade-offs between resolution vs. depth-of-field and sensitivity to aberrations. Such trade-offs can be addressed using computational adaptive optics (CAO), which corrects aberration computationally for all depths based on the complex optical field measured by OCT. However, due to the large size of datasets plus the computational complexity of CAO and OCT algorithms, it is a challenge to achieve high-resolution 3D-OCM reconstructions at speeds suitable for clinical and research OCM imaging. In recent years, real-time OCT reconstruction incorporating both dispersion and defocus correction has been achieved through parallel computing on graphics processing units (GPUs). We add to these methods by implementing depth-dependent aberration correction for volumetric OCM using plane-by-plane phase deconvolution. Following both defocus and aberration correction, our reconstruction algorithm achieved depth-independent transverse resolution of 2.8 um, equal to the diffraction-limited focal plane resolution. We have translated the CAO algorithm to a CUDA code implementation and tested the speed of the software in real-time using two GPUs - NVIDIA Quadro K600 and Geforce TITAN Z. For a data volume containing 4096×256×256 voxels, our system’s processing speed can keep up with the 60 kHz acquisition rate of the line-scan camera, and takes 1.09 seconds to simultaneously update the CAO correction for 3 en face planes at user-selectable depths.
Bioinspired Complex-Nanoparticle Hybrid Catalyst System for Aqueous Perchlorate Reduction: Rhenium Speciation and Its Influence on Catalyst Activity

A highly active catalyst for reduction of the inert water contaminant perchlorate (ClO4–) to Cl– with 1 atm H2 at 25 °C is prepared by noncovalently immobilizing the rhenium complex ReV(O)(hoz)2Cl (hoz = 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)-2-oxazoline) together with Pd0 nanoparticles on a porous carbon support. Like the Mo complex centers in biological oxyanion reductases, the immobilized Re complex serves as a single site for oxygen atom transfer from ClO4– and ClOx– intermediates, whereas Pd0 nanoparticles provide atomic hydrogen reducing equivalents to sustain redox cycling of the immobilized Re sites, replacing the more complex chain of electron transfer steps that sustain Mo centers within oxyanion reductases. An in situ aqueous adsorption method of immobilization was used to preserve the active ReV(O)(hoz)2 structure during bimetallic catalyst preparation and enable study of Re redox cycling and reactions with ClO4–. Heterogeneous reaction kinetics, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and experiments with homogeneou...
Assignments of transitions in optically-pumped NMR of GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wells on a bulk GaAs substrate

We investigate optically-pumped nuclear magnetic resonance (OPNMR) in GaAs/AlGaAs multiple quantum wells. The photon energy dependence of the ${}^{69}\text{Ga}$ OPNMR shows a sign change in the signal at the light-hole transition for both ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{+}$ and ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ circular polarized irradiation. The energy for this transition and those of other Landau levels can be predicted by an eight-band $\stackrel{P\vec}{k}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}\stackrel{P\vec}{p}$ theory used to calculate the conduction band spin polarization. Comparison of the spin polarization with the OPNMR measurements shows the origin of many features. In addition, we find features associated with the bulk GaAs substrate. In an external magnetic field, there are regions of low quantum well absorptivity between the Landau levels and in this region, OPNMR signals arising from the bulk GaAs substrate can be observed. The discrete nature of transitions between Landau levels in two-dimensional electron systems compared to the Landau levels in three-dimensional systems leads to the change in the phase of the OPNMR signal at the light-hole transitions.
A disposable tear glucose biosensor - Part 4: Preliminary animal model study assessing efficacy, safety, and feasibility

Objective:A prototype tear glucose (TG) sensor was tested in New Zealand white rabbits to assess eye irritation, blood glucose (BG) and TG lag time, and correlation with BG.Methods:A total of 4 ani...
Judging the actions of “whistle-blowers” versus “leakers”: Labels influence perceptions of dissenters who expose group misconduct

Although moral and collective concerns have been found to predict expressions of dissent, little research has examined conditions under which dissenters are perceived as acting out of such concerns. Three studies tested whether judgments of dissenters who expose group misconduct can depend on subtle labeling differences. In Study 1, participants rated their actions as more morally based, and themselves as more likely to express dissent, after reading a scenario in which they were labeled a “whistle-blower” (vs. “leaker”). In Studies 2–3, participants who read a passage describing an employee of an organization (Study 2) or a well-known individual (Edward Snowden, Study 3) as a “whistle-blower,” relative to “leaker,” viewed these individuals as more morally and collectively concerned, which in turn mediated perceived deservingness of punishment. Implications for the factors that lead dissenters to be judged positively, for psychological effects of labels, and for generalizability across contexts are discussed.
Abstract 3040: NANOG metabolically reprograms tumor-initiating stem-like cells in oxidative phosphorylation and fatty acid metabolism

Stem cell markers such as NANOG have been implicated in various cancers; however, the functional contribution of pluripotency transcription factor NANOG to cancer pathogenesis has remained unclear. Gene profiling, proteomics and metabolomics approaches were combined to identify the pathway(s) altered in tumors. Here, we show that Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling phosphorylates E2F1 to transactivate NANOG via TAK1/TBK1. CD133+/CD49f+ TICs isolated from human HCC have tumorigenic activities dependent on TLR4 and NANOG. Down-regulation of Nanog significantly reduces tumor development in obesity-associated HCC mouse model. In the search for the NANOG-dependent mechanisms underlying growth of tumor-initiating stem-like cells (TICs), NANOG ChIP-seq identifies the genes associated with mitochondrial metabolic pathways. The specific pathways, which were examined: oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and fatty acid oxidation were identified as novel NANOG-mediated oncogenic pathways by NANOG ChIP-seq analysis and metabolomics. The causal roles of NANOG in mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming occurs through the inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and levels of mitochondrial ROS and activation of fatty acid oxidation (FAO), which are required for both the self-renewal of TICs and their drug resistance. PPARδ physically interacts with NANOG. Restoration of OXPHOS and inhibition of FAO rendered TICs susceptible to drug. Our data showed that NANOG reprogramming of mitochondrial metabolism was responsible for human TIC oncogenicity and chemo-resistance. Together, NANOG-mediated metabolic reprogramming through dysregulation of mitochondrial functions generates TICs and drives tumorigenesis, providing insight into mechanisms of NANOG-mediated metabolic reprogramming and its roles in TIC oncogenic activity and chemo-resistance. NANOG suppresses OXPHOS and activates FAO, thus inhibiting OCR and ROS production, conferring a tumor chemoresistant state. These novel pathways are potential drug targets for the highly malignant TICs found in cancer patients. Reversal of NANOG-dependent effects on OXPHOS and FAO gene may offer a noteworthy strategy of countering therapeutic drug resistance associated with NANOG activation. Citation Format: Chia-Lin Chen, Dinesh Babu Uthaya Kumar, Vasu Punj, Jun Xu, Linda Sher, Sonja Hess, Keigo Machida. NANOG metabolically reprograms tumor-initiating stem-like cells in oxidative phosphorylation and fatty acid metabolism. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 3040. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-3040
Preparation of lipid-lowering tea with Tartary buckwheat

Lipid-lowering tea was obtained using Tartary buckwheat as raw material and after crushing,fermentation with Monascus and packaging.Liquid of tea was limpid and orange,which had special ester flavor and contained functional ingredients,flavonoids and Lovastatin,which were from buckwheat and fermentation of Monascus,respectively.The tea has a great prospect in the market.
Improved Perturbation Approach and Fast Wavelet Galerkin BEM for Capacitance Extraction

We describe an improved perturbation approach for electrostatic analysis of three-dimensional structures consisting of dielectrics with high-permittivity ratios. Unlike original perturbation approach, the new approach uses only one system matrix with different right hand sides. A fast wavelet Galerkin boundary element method (WGBEM) is used to solve integral equations. Compared with wavelets defined in parameter spaces in a conventional WGBEM, the wavelets here are directly constructed on usual boundary element triangulation. It enables the proposed WGBEM to solve electrostatic problems in complicated geometries, unstructured meshes and comparatively coarse discretizations. Numerical results show that the improved perturbation approach combined with WGBEM has high accuracy and almost linear computational complexity.
Effects of hydrogen and bicarbonate ions on endocrine cells in fetal rat lung organ cultures

Concentrations of H+ and HCO3- rise in fluid lining hypercapnic airways. Effects of these ions on pulmonary endocrine cells were studied in 119 fetal rat lung organ cultures by semiquantitative staining for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-like immunoreactive material. Intracellular CGRP was determined in cultures under "no-release" baseline conditions and after incubation in control or test media. After exposure to HCO3(-)-free medium at pH 7.4 (incubation control), CGRP fell moderately from no-release levels. Bombesin (1 ng/ml) promoted further significant loss of peptide, which was dependent on extracellular Ca2+ and inhibited by somatostatin and [D-Arg(1),D-Pro(2),D-Trp(7,9),Leu(11)]substance P, a bombesin receptor antagonist. CGRP staining of explants incubated with 24 mM HCO3- maintained no-release levels at and above pH 7.1 but decreased significantly at pH 6.8. The drop was blocked by somatostatin or exclusion of HCO3- and was not augmented by bombesin or 48 mM HCO3-. Results suggest that pulmonary endocrine cells may respond to hypercapnia by releasing bioactive peptides like CGRP, thus stimulating afferent nerves and altering patterns of ventilation and perfusion.
Prostaglandin E1 inhibits endocytosis in the β-cell endocytosis

Prostaglandins inhibit insulin secretion in a manner similar to that of norepinephrine (NE) and somatostatin. As NE inhibits endocytosis as well as exocytosis, we have now examined the modulation of endocytosis by prostaglandin E1 (PGE1). Endocytosis following exocytosis was recorded by whole-cell patch clamp capacitance measurements in INS-832/13 cells. Prolonged depolarizing pulses producing a high level of Ca(2+) influx were used to stimulate maximal exocytosis and to deplete the readily releasable pool (RRP) of granules. This high Ca(2+) influx eliminates the inhibitory effect of PGE1 on exocytosis and allows specific characterization of the inhibitory effect of PGE1 on the subsequent compensatory endocytosis. After stimulating exocytosis, endocytosis was apparent under control conditions but was inhibited by PGE1 in a Pertussis toxin-sensitive (PTX)-insensitive manner. Dialyzing a synthetic peptide mimicking the C-terminus of the α-subunit of the heterotrimeric G-protein Gz into the cells blocked the inhibition of endocytosis by PGE1, whereas a control-randomized peptide was without effect. These results demonstrate that PGE1 inhibits endocytosis and Gz mediates the inhibition.
Card check recognition: Resulting labor relations and investor reaction

We present evidence regarding how a card check recognition process affects the labor relations climate during the period preceding recognition and that which immediately follows. Interviews with managers, interviews with union representatives, and surveys of workers indicate that card check typically results in a less prolonged, costly, and stressful recognition and negotiations process. Although the resulting contracts are often similar to those in other parts of a heavily unionized corporation, sometimes they reflect a different business context – and hence are somewhat more favorable to employers without being substantially less favorable to employees. This reality is reflected in the positive reaction of the U.S. stock markets to union recognition by an employer through a card check process. Employers make card check agreements primarily for business reasons, and investors respect their judgment as to the impact of such agreements on the bottom line.
Computational Methods in Biomedical Fluid Mechanics: Past, Present, and Future

The study of fluid mechanics in the human body has developed from early rudimentary work in the 1950’s to complex computational marvels in the 1980’s. This trend has closely followed that of the expanded use of computers through this same era from the primitive digital computers and analog computers in the early days to the powerful mainframe, mini- and micro-computers in use today. The field of computation in biofluid mechanics is a wide one, encompassing several sub-catagories. These can be roughly listed as follows: data analysis of measured fluid mechanics parameters computerized solutions of the equations of motion computerized solutions of modified equations (usually relating simplified models and/or analogs to real world applications) analog computer solutions of modified equations
The American Civil War and the Transatlantic Triumph of Volitional Citizenship

Among the most far-reaching of the American Civil War’s consequences was the transformation of citizenship. Four years prior to the war, the Dred Scott decision categorically denied African American citizenship, not only in the slaveholding South but in the supposedly free northern states as well. Yet by 1868, slavery had been abolished nationwide, and the fourteenth amendment created the new constitutional category of national citizenship, guaranteeing equal legal protection to all citizens, whether black or white. There were, of course, glaring limitations to these gains. But there is no denying the fact that within eleven years Americans rebuilt the basic structure of citizenship. Moreover, the war itself had already begun to alter the nature of citizenship. In both the Union and the Confederacy, the exigencies of near-total war caused governments to make new demands upon the governed, while also magnifying people’s expectations of government. Policies such as taxation and conscription forced men and women on both sides to reexamine their basic conceptions of what it meant to be a citizen. The war and its aftermath, in short, led to a fundamental overhaul of the ideas and practices of citizenship in the USA.
Collagen-binding nanoparticles for extracellular anti-inflammatory peptide delivery decrease platelet activation, promote endothelial migration, and suppress inflammation.

Abstract Peripheral artery disease is an atherosclerotic stenosis in the peripheral vasculature that is typically treated via percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. Deployment of the angioplasty balloon damages the endothelial layer, exposing the underlying collagen and allowing for the binding and activation of circulating platelets which initiate an inflammatory cascade leading to eventual restenosis. Here, we report on collagen-binding sulfated poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) nanoparticles that are able to target to the denuded endothelium. Once bound, these nanoparticles present a barrier that reduces cellular and platelet adhesion to the collagenous surface by 67% in whole blood and 59% in platelet-rich plasma under biologically relevant shear rates. In vitro studies indicate that the collagen-binding nanoparticles are able to load and release therapeutic quantities of anti-inflammatory peptides, with the particles reducing inflammation in endothelial and smooth muscle cells by 30% and 40% respectively. Once bound to collagen, the nanoparticles increased endothelial migration while avoiding uptake by smooth muscle cells, indicating that they may promote regeneration of the damaged endothelium while remaining anchored to the collagenous matrix and locally releasing anti-inflammatory peptides into the injured area. Combined, these collagen-binding nanoparticles have the potential to reduce inflammation, and the subsequent restenosis, while simultaneously promoting endothelial regeneration following balloon angioplasty. Statement of Significance In this manuscript, we present our work on the development and characterization of a novel temperature sensitive collagen-binding nanoparticle system. We demonstrate that when bound to a collagenous matrix, the nanoparticles are able to promote endothelial migration while avoiding cellular uptake. We also show that the nanoparticles are able to reduce inflammation via the release of anti-inflammatory peptides which, when combined with its ability to inhibit platelet binding, could lead to reduced intimal hyperplasia following balloon angioplasty. The drug delivery platform presented represents a unique dual therapy biomaterial wherein the nanoparticle itself plays a crucial role in the system’s overall therapeutic potential while simultaneously releasing anti-inflammatory peptides.
We Are Veterans: The Therapeutic Effects of Clothing Related to Self-Concept

This study examines the self-concept (i.e., self-efficacy, public self-consciousness, and self-esteem) of veterans as they are the underserved but important group to understand and help. Also, clothing is one of the most immediate needs of individuals and is a therapeutic tool to understand and improve individual’s self-concept and behavior (Damhorst et al., 2005). Therefore, this study investigates how clothing choices are related to veteran’s self-concept and life satisfaction.
Alcohol and drug toxicology screens at time of hospitalization do not predict PTSD or depression after traumatic injury.

Abstract Background Identifying risk factors for the development of PTSD and depression is critical for intervention and recovery after injury. Given research linking toxicology screens and substance use and the evidenced relationship between substance misuse and distress, the current study aimed to gauge the predictive value of toxicology testing on PTSD and depression. Methods Patients admitted to a Level I Trauma Center (N = 379) completed the PC-PTSD, PCL-C, and PHQ-8 at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Results Results showed 52% of tested patients had a positive toxicology test, 51% screened for PTSD, and 54% screened for depression. Positive drug or alcohol toxicology tests were not significantly associated with PTSD or depression. Conclusions Toxicology testing may not meaningful predict depression or PTSD in traumatic injury patients. Future research using validated measures of problematic substance use is needed to better understand how misuse may influence the development of psychological distress.
RFI statistical distribution and missed detection in Aquarius radiometer measurements

Aquarius is an microwave active/passive sensor whose main goal is to globally estimate sea surface salinity from space [1, 2]. Two instruments, a radar scatterometer and a radiometer, operate at L-band observing the same surface footprint almost simultaneously. The sensitivity to sea surface salinity (SSS) is given by the radiometer, while the scatterometer measurements provide a correction for sea surface roughness. Although the primary objective is the measurement of SSS, the instrument combination operates continuously, acquiring data over land and sea ice as well. Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) can occur in both the radiometer and the scatterometer bands of operation, and for this reason detection and mitigation of RFI was included in the data processing of both active and passive instruments. This paper will focus on the RFI processing for the Aquarius radiometer only and provide an update on the efforts to reduce the amount of missed RFI detection.
Meaning of Life

In this entry, we discuss the state of research in the psychological sciences on the experience of meaning in life. We first argue that the scientific study of meaning in life has progressed slower compared to similar constructs (e.g., life satisfaction) in part due to difficulties defining the construct. Despite this concern, we next describe recent research demonstrating that self-reports of meaning are linked to a host of important outcomes (e.g., depression, mortality rates) and are strongly associated with variables theorized to bear on meaning in life judgments (e.g., goal clarity). We then describe experimental studies illustrating how three of these latter variables—positive mood, social relationship functioning, and religious beliefs—are related to the subjective experience of meaning. Finally, we outline a number of future research topics for scholars interested in studying this important construct. Keywords: eudaimonia; existential psychology; meaning in life; positive affect; religiosity; social relationships; well-being
Focus Groups and In-depth Interviews to Guide the Development of Lung Cancer Screening Informational Materials

Lung cancer is one of the most lethal cancers in the USA. In 2013, new guidelines issued by the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommended lung cancer screening using low-dose computed tomography among a selected group of high-risk individuals. Specifically, lung cancer screening is recommended for heavy smokers between the ages of 55 to 79, with at least 30 pack-year smoking exposure. Former smokers who meet these guidelines and stopped smoking ≤ 15 years ago are also eligible. There is a need to promote lung cancer screening to increase early diagnosis rates and treatment options, thereby decreasing disease-specific mortality. This study was conducted to refine educational materials used to inform eligible high-risk individuals about the risks and benefits of lung cancer screening. Focus groups (n = 16) and in-depth telephone interviews (n = 5) were conducted among screening-eligible participants recruited from western New York. Main themes that emerged from the discussions included cost of obtaining the exam, eligibility criteria/information about the exam, apprehension regarding results, and an increased desire for discussions with their physician to learn more about the screening. The information gained from this study is vital to understanding concerns held by current and former smokers regarding lung cancer screening, as well as critical to determining which information is most valuable for decreasing barriers and correcting misperceptions about the lung cancer screening exam.
Highly sensitive gating in pH-responsive nanochannels as a result of ionic bridging and nanoconfinement.

Sensitive switching between OFF and ON states is a desirable feature in stimuli-responsive nanopores and nanochannels. In this work, we show that nanogates modified with weak polyelectrolytes can be controlled by multivalent counterions and, more remarkably, can exhibit sensitive pH-gating due to an interplay between ionic bridging and nanoconfinement. We demonstrate these general features by systematically studying the effects of Ca2+ binding on the molecular organization and transport properties of poly(acrylic acid)-functionalized nanochannels. To this end, we extend and apply a molecular theory that has been successfully used in the past to describe and predict the behavior of pH-responsive polymers. Two main results emerge from the present study: first, the addition of Ca2+ to the bulk solution changes—in a concentration-dependent manner—both the ionization and structural state of the end-tethered polymers, affecting, respectively, the ionic conductivity and physical opening of the nanochannel. Second, in the presence of Ca2+ and under specific nanoconfinement conditions, the grafted channel can exhibit a sensitive response to pH in the transition between closed and open states. We attribute this sensitivity to bistability in the system. Our results also indicate that the polymer layer can undergo a microphase separation when the brush collapses on the nanochannel walls. Taken together, these findings suggest the possibility of designing nanogates that can respond to marginal changes in pH or multivalent ion concentration. Such nanodevices may be used as logic gates or for any application that requires a sensitive control over the ions, molecules, or nanoparticles flowing through them.
Generalizations of Dirichlet Convolution

Let K be a complex-valued function on the set of all ordered pairs where n is a positive integer and d is a divisor of n. If f and g are arithmetical functions, their K-convolution, f *K g, is defined by $$ (f{*_K}g)(n) = \sum\limits_{{d\left| n \right.}} K (n,d)f(d)g(n/d)\quad {\text{for}}\,{\text{all}}\,{\text{n}} $$
In-House Cardiology Consultation Reduces Readmission Rates and Costs for Patients in Skilled Nursing Facilities: 2 Years’ Experience in the Heart Failure Bundle Payment Care Improvement Initiative

Background Heart failure (HF) patients admitted to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are vulnerable to poor outcomes. CMS developed the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Initiative (BPCI) which provides participating providers shared savings based on costs for 90-day episodes of care with the purpose of improving quality and cost-effectiveness. Greater availability of clinical staff has shown promise in improving outcomes for SNF patients. The effect of cardiology consultation for SNF patients with HF has not been evaluated. This study evaluates the impact of a SNF-based cardiologist-led HF program on 90-day readmission rate and resource utilization. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis using Medicare claims data of BPCI-enrolled HF patients admitted to St. Joseph's Center (SJC), a Genesis Healthcare SNF with a cardiologist-led HF program. Data were collected from October 2015 to September 2017. Readmission rates and cost savings versus CMS-determined cost targets were compared between SJC and 31 other enrolled SNFs, 24 of which had no HF program, 7 of which had standard programs composed of a multidisciplinary team of dietary, rehabilitation, social work and clinical staff. The SJC program additionally instructed staff to request cardiac consultation for patients with unstable vital signs, refractory volume overload or symptoms, or cardiac limitations to rehabilitative therapy. Cardiology rounds were conducted weekly and management was provided in the context of achieving subacute rehabilitation goals, clinical stability, and preparing for community discharge. The cardiologist identified and alerted staff to patients deemed high risk for readmission, and multidisciplinary monitoring and management for those patients was intensified. Results There were 602 total HF episodes in the 24-month evaluation period. Seventeen patients were admitted to SJC; 218 patients to a facility with a HF program; and 367 patients to a facility without a HF program. The case mix complexity at SJC included a higher percentage of patients with major complications and comorbid conditions (71% vs 60% for all other SNFs and 64% for SNFs with HF programs). More than 50% of patients at SJC prompted specialty consultation. Compared to other facilities, the percentage of SJC patients readmitted in the 90-day post HF hospitalization period was significantly lower (23.5% vs 43.4% (p = .052) for all other SNFs; and 48.2% (p = .025) for SNFs with a non-cardiologist based HF program). SJC achieved a higher margin of cost savings compared to facilities that did not have a consulting cardiologist (39% vs 15%). Conclusion Patient-centered cardiology consultation for high risk HF patients may effectively reduce re-hospitalizations and resource utilization within SNFs. These results identify a potential gap in care for this vulnerable cohort of HF patients and suggest that incorporating a cardiologist into the management team may impact outcomes.
Community‐based wildlife management area supports similar mammal species richness and densities compared to a national park

Community-based conservation models have been widely implemented across Africa to improve wildlife conservation and livelihoods of rural communities. In Tanzania, communities can set aside land and formally register it as Wildlife Management Area (WMA), which allows them to generate revenue via consumptive or nonconsumptive utilization of wildlife. The key, yet often untested, assumption of this model is that economic benefits accrued from wildlife motivate sustainable management of wildlife. To test the ecological effectiveness (here defined as persistence of wildlife populations) of Burunge Wildlife Management Area (BWMA), we employed a participatory monitoring approach involving WMA personnel. At intermittent intervals between 2011 and 2018, we estimated mammal species richness and population densities of ten mammal species (African elephant, giraffe, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, waterbuck, warthog, impala, Kirk's dik-dik, and vervet monkey) along line transects. We compared mammal species accumulation curves and density estimates with those of time-matched road transect surveys conducted in adjacent Tarangire National Park (TNP). Mammal species richness estimates were similar in both areas, yet observed species richness per transect was greater in TNP compared to BWMA. Species-specific density estimates of time-matched surveys were mostly not significantly different between BWMA and TNP, but elephants occasionally reached greater densities in TNP compared to BWMA. In BWMA, elephant, wildebeest, and impala populations showed significant increases from 2011 to 2018. These results suggest that community-based conservation models can support mammal communities and densities that are similar to national park baselines. In light of the ecological success of this case study, we emphasize the need for continued efforts to ensure that the BWMA is effective. This will require adaptive management to counteract potential negative repercussions of wildlife populations on peoples' livelihoods. This study can be used as a model to evaluate the effectiveness of wildlife management areas across Tanzania.
Other genomic disorders and congenital heart disease

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the common birth defect worldwide. Despite its recognized burden on public health, the etiology in the vast majority of individuals remains unknown. Chromosomal abnormality plays an important role, frequently observed as large cytogenetically visible rearrangement or small submicroscopic structural variation in the genome. Several genomic disorders are now recognized that are increasingly responsible for CHD with variable penetrance. Single gene disorders, epigenetic alterations, and environmental etiologies are also significant contributors. Our understanding of the genetic basis of CHD has increased exponentially with the escalating use of next generation sequencing to identify ever so small submicroscopic genomic imbalances at the level of coding exons in CHD. This review focuses on genomic disorders other than 22q11.2 deletion, that are major players in the etiology of human cardiac malformations.
Improved performance properties of the CISPRT algorithm for distributed sequential detection

Abstract In distributed sequential detection problems, local sensors observe raw local observations over time, and are allowed to communicate local information with their immediate neighborhood at each time step so that the sensors can work together to make a quick but accurate decision when testing binary hypotheses on the true raw sensor distributions. One interesting algorithm is the Consensus-Innovation Sequential Probability Ratio Test (CISPRT) algorithm proposed by Sahu and Kar (IEEE Trans. Signal Process., 2016). In this article, we present improved finite-sample properties on error probabilities and expected sample sizes of the CISPRT algorithm for Gaussian data in term of network connectivity, and more importantly, derive its sharp first-order asymptotic properties in the classical asymptotic regime when Type I and II error probabilities go to 0. The usefulness of our theoretical results are validated through numerical simulations.
All that Glitters: Money Laundering Through Precious Metals and Minerals

This chapter demonstrates how gold and diamonds have become an extremely attractive vehicle for money laundering, particularly in the context of laundering of narcotics trade proceeds. It gives an overview of various gold- and diamond-based money laundering schemes, including those that feature illegal mining and smuggling as predicate offenses. It is argued that whereas the schemes employed in gold- and diamond-associated money laundering are similar to money laundering techniques in other sectors, trading in gold and diamonds offers crucial advantages to money launderers. Drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) seeking to legitimize proceeds of the narco-trade are likely to benefit from the anonymity of precious metals and minerals, their value-to-mass ratio, and their ability to retain value over time, among other characteristics. By infiltrating the gold supply chain at different points—mainly during the mining stage and beneficiation—DTOs can also mastermind the money laundering schemes that are difficult to trace and disrupt.
Late Effects after Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy for Lymphoid Malignancies

ABSTRACT Chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T) therapy has changed the treatment landscape of relapsed/refractory lymphoid malignancies. With an expanding pool of post–CAR T cell therapy survivors, prevention and management of late toxicities is emerging as an important component of survivorship care. This review summarizes the current state of evidence on late toxicities after CAR T cell therapy in lymphoid malignancies. Late effects that are well described in clinical trials and observational studies include hypogammaglobulinemia, prolonged cytopenias, late infections, neurologic and neuropsychiatric effects, immune-related late effects, and subsequent malignancies. Hypogammaglobulinemia is the most common late effect in the setting of CD19-directed CAR T cell therapy, which necessitates immunoglobulin replacement. Common determinants of late toxicities are age, underlying tumor type, previous therapy, CAR construct, and acute toxicities. Among currently approved indications, the incidence of hypogammaglobulinemia and prolonged cytopenia is higher in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia compared with patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Patient-reported physical and mental quality of life in long-term survivors is comparable to that in the general population, albeit with limited data thus far. This review provides an overview of the incidence, known risk factors, and strategies for prevention and management of late toxicities in this population. Further research is needed to characterize the trajectory of late effects from population-based registries and long-term follow-up of ongoing clinical trials.
Tadalafil to improve cutaneous flap perfusion in smokers: A case series and literature review.

The viability of cutaneous flaps and grafts is dependent on adequate circulation and perfusion. Smoking, excessive tension or pressure, arterial insufficiency, and venous congestion are factors that can contribute to flap failure due to poor perfusion. Early identification of tissue ischemia and its intervention can improve flap survival. Tadalafil is a phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitor that increases blood flow by vasodilation of the peripheral vasculature as well as inhibition of platelet aggregation. Although current indications for tadalafil by the US Food and Drug Administration are for erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension,1 its mechanism of action is theoretically beneficial in increasing blood perfusion in patients who are at risk of flap or graft ischemia due to poor circulation. The following case series presents the successful off-label use of tadalafil in preventing tissue ischemia in high-risk patients and treating patients with early signs of tissue necrosis.
Covid-19 Mutual Aid, Antiauthoritarian Activism, and the Law

As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe in the spring of 2020, thousands of grassroots, participatory, and often social movement-connected community efforts to help feed, shelter, and care for one another through the crisis were launched, many of which identified their projects as “mutual aid.” This article presents an overview of mutual aid and gives an introduction to the legal issues being confronted by mutual aid groups. It begins by presenting a history of mutual aid practices, principally in the U.S. context, situating mutual aid within the political framework of anti-authoritarian activism. It then gives an overview of common legal issues being confronted by COVID-19 mutual aid groups, including questions related to: (1) risk, liability, and entity formation and structure; and (2) raising and distributing money and goods, and how these activities may be taxed. It concludes by arguing that mutual aid groups should not limit their visions to short-term disaster response but instead seek to maintain and grow their networks to build long-term grassroots power.
Current Density Mapping of the In Vivo Swine Heart using Multichannel Acoustoelectric Cardiac Imaging

Cardiac arrhythmias are caused by irregular activation in the heart. When pharmaceutical therapy fails, severe arrythmias are often treated with radiofrequency ablation. Existing methods to map electrical activation in the heart have poor spatial resolution or are invasive. We proposed Acoustoelectric Cardiac Imaging (ACI) to achieve non-invasive mapping of cardiac electrical activities with mm resolution. In this study, we used simulations to develop a reconstruction method for generating current density map from multi-channel ACI signals, and applied it to in-vivo ACI data from a swine heart with a resolution less than 5mm. With 5 leads at SNR from 55 to 80, the five differential signals could be combined in simulation to reconstruct the source current density map, with a correlation coefficient ≈ 0.74 for the x-component. For in-vivo data, we find that singular values decomposition provides a criterion for reconstruction.