cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acute Saline Infusion Decreases Norepinephrine Release in the Anterior Hypothalamic Area

Abstract Ingestion of a high NaCl diet elevates arterial pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats, at least in part, by reducing the release of norepinephrine in the anterior hypothalamic area. The mechanism by which dietary NaCl excess alters anterior hypothalamic area norepinephrine release is unknown. Plasma Na + is slightly elevated after ingestion of a meal; therefore, in the present study we tested the hypothesis that a small increase in plasma Na + could reduce the release of norepinephrine in the anterior hypothalamic area and elevate arterial pressure. Male spontaneously hypertensive rats were randomized to be fed a diet containing either 1% (basal) or 8% (high) NaCl at age 7 weeks and were maintained on the diets for 2 weeks. Age-matched normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats received a basal NaCl diet only. All rats were instrumented with a push/pull cannula, and 5 days later, the baseline release of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl glycol (the major metabolite of norepinephrine in brain) was measured in awake, freely moving rats. Rats were then challenged with an intravenous infusion (75 μL/min) of hypertonic (2.7%) saline for 20 minutes. In spontaneously hypertensive rats fed a basal NaCl diet, the hypertonic saline infusion elevated mean arterial pressure by 12% and reduced the concentration of the norepinephrine metabolite in the anterior hypothalamic area by 19%; these alterations persisted after termination of the hypertonic saline infusion. Spontaneously hypertensive rats maintained on the high NaCl diet showed greatly reduced arterial pressure and norepinephrine metabolite responses. In normotensive control rats compared with the hypertensive rats fed the basal NaCl diet, the hypertonic saline had considerably less effects on arterial pressure and norepinephrine metabolite levels in the anterior hypothalamic area, and the responses were significantly shorter. Thus, a small elevation in plasma Na + can reduce the release of norepinephrine in the anterior hypothalamic area. This response is greatly exaggerated in spontaneously hypertensive rats fed a basal (but not a high) NaCl diet, suggesting that a postprandial rise in NaCl could initiate the fall in norepinephrine and thereby contribute to the rise in arterial pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats ingesting a high NaCl diet.
Feedback-detection strategies for adaptive modulation systems

This letter analyzes the performance of an adaptive modulation system, taking into account additive noise and fading on the feedback channel. It is shown that these feedback channel imperfections could significantly degrade the throughput gains of adaptive modulation over nonadaptive transmission. Specifically, feedback errors can result in an outage region in the low signal-to-noise ratio region. Two feedback receivers are proposed: one is based on the finite-state Markov channel model; and the other is a generalized Bayesian receiver. These receivers reduce the outage region due to feedback errors, and they can complement or be used as alternatives to error-control coding schemes
Error probabilities of CDMA systems with beamforming under different power control schemes

The reverse link error probability of multicell direct-sequence code-division multiple-access (DS-CDMA) systems with beamforming and Rake receivers is evaluated in this paper. The impact of power control schemes on the error probability is examined, considering power-based power control (PW-PC) and signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) based power control (SIR-PC). Expressions for the error probability as a function of the number of users per cell, the number of antenna elements, the number of Rake receiver fingers, and the CDMA processing gain are derived and both multipath interference and interference due to other users (own and other cells) are taken into consideration in the evaluation. Numeric results indicate that CDMA systems with different power control schemes have the same reverse link user capacity for a given target bit-error rate. However, the SIR-PC approach consumes less power than PW-PC when the number of users is smaller than the user capacity.
Professional challenges in cancer genetic testing: who is the patient?

In the genetic counseling setting, the health care provider can be challenged by opposing duties to members of the same family: protecting the privacy of the patient identified with a gene mutation and the ethical obligation to warn at-risk relatives. In a situation of nondisclosure between members of a family with a known disease-predisposingmutation,thistypeofdilemmacan present in acute form for the provider who cares for different members of the family. This can hinder effective medical decision making. To minimize this effect, we recommend detailed pretest genetic counseling steps to empower the patient to communicate with their at-risk relativestheirintenttopursuetestingandwillingnessto share information. In addition, post-test counseling should reiterate the implications of a positive result for at-risk relatives and conclude with a written summary that patients can share with their family. The Oncologist 2008;13:232–238
A modified Stokes-Einstein equation for Aβ aggregation

Background In all amyloid diseases, protein aggregates have been implicated fully or partly, in the etiology of the disease. Due to their significance in human pathologies, there have been unprecedented efforts towards physiochemical understanding of aggregation and amyloid formation over the last two decades. An important relation from which hydrodynamic radii of the aggregate is routinely measured is the classic Stokes-Einstein equation. Here, we report a modification in the classical Stokes-Einstein equation using a mixture theory approach, in order to accommodate the changes in viscosity of the solvent due to the changes in solute size and shape, to implement a more realistic model for Aβ aggregation involved in Alzheimer’s disease. Specifically, we have focused on validating this model in protofibrill lateral association reactions along the aggregation pathway, which has been experimentally well characterized.
The quantum yield of photosynthesis in Porphyridium cruentum, and the role of chlorophyll a in the photosynthesis of red algae.

Quantum yield measurements were made with the red alga Porphyridium cruentum, cultured so as to give different proportions of chlorophyll and phycobilins. Totally absorbing suspensions were used so that there was no uncertainty in the amount of energy absorbed. These measurements have shown that chlorophyll, in this alga, has a photosynthetic efficiency as high as in other algal groups, and higher than the phycobilins—at least at wave lengths shorter than about 650 mµ. Wave lengths longer than this are beyond the range of maximum efficiency of chlorophyll. Under specified conditions of temperature and supplementary light full efficiency may be extended to longer wave lengths. The results of these measurements have made it unnecessary to suppose that in red algae chlorophyll plays a minor role while the phycobilins are the photosynthetic sensitizers of primary importance.
Acid and base assisted topological reorganization of gallium sulfido clusters

The reaction of [(tBu)Ga(μ3-S)]4 with nPrNH2 in toluene solution yields [(tBu)6Ga6(μ3-S)4(μ-S)2(NH2nPr)2] (1), whose thermolysis in the solid state (110 °C), results in the stoichiometric conversion to [(tBu)Ga(μ3-S)]6 (ΔH‡ = 136 kJ mol−1); in contrast, the reaction of [(tBu)Ga(μ3-S)]4 with triflic acid at room temperature yields [(tBu)Ga(μ3-S)]7.
Control of Disinfection By-Products in Drinking Water: Regulations and Costs

The regulation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) in the United States was based on the discovery of the presence of chloroform as a by-product of chlorination in drinking water in the early 1970s. This suspected human carcinogen was indirectly regulated as one of the four trihalomethanes (THMs) under the interim total THM (TTHM) regulation established by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) in 1979. An interim maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 0.10 mg/1 was established for water utility systems serving more than 10,000 people, based on the running annual average of four quarterly samples.
Chapter 3: Deep Levels in 111-V Compound Semiconductors Grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy

Publisher Summary The rapid progress made in the areas of fiber-optical communication, high-speed signal processing, and supercomputing makes stringent demands for high-performance electronic, opto-electronic, and optical devices. Techniques to synthesize well-tailored materials to suit such device applications, therefore assume roles of considerable importance. The chapter describes the present status regarding deep level traps in III–V semiconductors and hetero-structures grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Both aspects of the review, molecular beam epitaxy and deep levels, are of paramount importance at the present time. Advances in molecular beam epitaxy have ushered in a new era of device technology based on precise thickness, composition control, and the ability to grow modulated structures whose periods are typically less than the electron mean free path. The importance of epitaxy in semiconductor device fabrication is a direct consequence of two critical needs: for thin, defect-free single crystal films with precisely defined geometrical, electrical, and optical properties and for heterojunction structures free of interfacial impurities and defects. Molecular beam epitaxy is a complex growth process and traps in MBE-grown materials can arise from native defects, impurities, or complexes involving both. A study of traps in MBE-grown semiconductors is, therefore, both fascinating and difficult.
Full diffusion history reconstruction in networks

Diffusion processes in networks can be used to model many real-world processes. Analysis of diffusion traces can help us answer important questions such as the source of diffusion and the role of each node in the diffusion process. However, in large-scale networks, it is very expensive if not impossible to monitor the entire network to collect the complete diffusion trace. This paper considers diffusion history reconstruction from a partial observation and develops a greedy, step-by-step reconstruction algorithm. It is proved that the algorithm always produces a diffusion history that is consistent with the partial observation. Our experimental results based on real networks and real diffusion data show that the algorithm significantly outperforms some existing methods.
Detection of nucleic acids in cells and tissues by in situ polymerase chain reaction.

The solution-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for amplification of defined gene sequences has proved a valuable tool not only for basic researchers but also for clinical scientists. Using even a minute amount of DNA or RNA and choosing a thermostable enzyme from a large variety of sources, one can enlarge the amount of the gene of interest, which can be analyzed and/or sequenced. Thus genes or segments of gene sequences present only in a small sample of cells or small fraction of mixed cellular populations can be examined. However, one of the major drawbacks of the solution-based PCR technique is that the procedure does not allow the association of amplified signals of a specific gene segment with the histologic cell type(s) (1–24). For example, it would be advantageous to determine what types of cells in the peripheral blood circulation or in a pathologic specimens carry the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gene or a vector used for gene therapy or an aberrant gene in a leukemia patient and what percent of leukemia cells is present after various forms of antitumor therapies.
The sublinear approach to big data problems

We will discuss approaches to solving Big Data problems that use sublinear resources such as storage, communication, time, processors etc. We will also discuss potential models of computing that arise from this perspective. Finally, we will discuss new Big Data problems that arise from social network analysis, including ranking, scoring and others.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid: Biosynthesis and Nutritional Significance

The term conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) refers to a mixture of positional and geometric isomers of linoleic acid with a conjugated double bond system; milk fat can contain over 20 different isomers of CLA. CLA isomers are produced as transient intermediates in the rumen biohydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids consumed in the diet. However, cis-9, trans-11 CLA, known as rumenic acid (RA), is the predominant isomer (up to 90% of total) because it is produced mainly by endogenous synthesis from vaccenic acid (VA). VA is typically the major biohydrogenation intermediate produced in the rumen and it is converted to RA by Δ;9-desaturase in the mammary gland and other tissues.
MR Fingerprinting for Rapid Quantitative Abdominal Imaging

A rapid technique for quantitative abdominal imaging was developed by using a fast imaging with steady-state free precession MR fingerprinting acquisition in combination with the Bloch-Siegert B1 mapping method, allowing simultaneous quantification of T1 and T2 in the abdomen within a 19-second breath hold.
Enhanced colonic Na+ absorption in cystic fibrosis mice versus normal mice.

Because there are reports that electrogenic Na+ absorption is increased in colonic epithelia of cystic fibrosis (CF) subjects, we tested whether amiloride-sensitive Na+ absorption was increased in ...
The In Vitro Sensitivity to Brucellergen of Leucocytes from Guinea Pigs Experimentally Infected with Brucella Abortus

cytes. Moen (1), in his study on animals infected with group C streptococci, and Heilman, Howard and Carpenter (2), in their study on animals infected with Brucella suis, used splenic cells. The present study was undertaken to determine whether the migration of blood leucocytes from guinea pigs experimentally infected with Brucella abortus would be specifically inhibited, in vitro, by brucellergen, as those from experimental tuberculosis are inhibited by tuberculin.
Central line thrombosis in patients with cancer

Central venous catheters are used frequently to care for patients with cancer and often serve as long-term venous access. Catheter-related central venous thrombosis is a serious and common complication in these patients. The incidence of this event ranges from 2 to 40%. Potential risk factors are catheter position, size of the catheter, and perhaps site of insertion. The diagnosis of catheter-associated deep venous thrombosis may be difficult. Doppler ultrasound has a lower accuracy in this setting than it does in symptomatic lower extremity venous thrombosis. No clinical management studies have validated the practice of withholding anticoagulant therapy in patients with a negative Doppler ultrasound. The practice of prophylaxis with low-dose warfarin or low-molecular-weight heparin has been recommended, although results from recent studies have called this into question. Larger, prospective, randomized trials with a uniform population of patients or stratification of risk factors will be essential to address this issue further.
The immobilized patient and his psychologic well-being.

Physicians have come to realize the importance of treating not only an immobilized patient's physical illness but also the harmful psychologic effects resulting from prolonged immobilization and sensory deprivation. The patient's preconceived feelings about hospitalization, his attitude toward the hospital staff and toward his illness, separation from his family, his state of immobilization, and restriction of his sensory input often result in negative psychologic reactions that can markedly complicate an already serious physical problem.
Gender-specific reduction in contractility and [Ca2+]i in vascular smooth muscle cells of female rat

The hypothesis that vascular protection in females and its absence in males reflects gender differences in [Ca2+]i and Ca2+ mobilization mechanisms of vascular smooth muscle contraction was tested ...
Making It Count: Improving Estimates of the Size of Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Populations

An accurate estimate of the number of transgender and gender nonconforming people is essential to inform policy and funding priorities and decisions. Historical reports of population sizes of 1 in 4000 to 1 in 50,000 have been based on clinical populations and likely underestimate the size of the transgender population. More recent population-based studies have found a 10- to 100-fold increase in population size. Studies that estimate population size should be population based, employ the two-step method to allow for collection of both gender identity and sex assigned at birth, and include measures to capture the range of transgender people with nonbinary gender identities.
Determinants of Curvature-Sensing Behavior for MARCKS-Fragment Peptides

It is increasingly recognized that membrane curvature plays an important role in various cellular activities such as signaling and trafficking, as well as key issues involving health and disease development. Thus, curvature-sensing peptides are essential to the study and detection of highly curved bilayer structures. The effector domain of myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate (MARCKS-ED) has been demonstrated to have curvature-sensing ability. Research of the MARCKS-ED has further revealed that its Lys and Phe residues play an essential role in how MARCKS-ED detects and binds to curved bilayers. MARCKS-ED has the added property of being a lower-molecular-weight curvature sensor, which offers advantages in production. With that in mind, this work investigates peptide-sequence-related factors that influence curvature sensing and explores whether peptide fragments of even shorter length can function as curvature sensors. Using both experimental and computational methods, we studied the curvature-sensing capabilities of seven fragments of MARCKS-ED. Two of the longer fragments were designed from approximately the two halves of the full-length peptide whereas the five shorter fragments were taken from the central stretch of MARCKS-ED. Fully atomistic molecular dynamics simulations show that the fragments that remain bound to the bilayer exhibit interactions with the bilayer similar to that of the full-length MARCKS-ED peptide. Fluorescence enhancement and anisotropy assays, meanwhile, reveal that five of the MARCKS fragments possess the ability to sense membrane curvature. Based on the sequences of the curvature-sensing fragments, it appears that the ability to sense curvature involves a balance between the numbers of positively charged residues and hydrophobic anchoring residues. Together, these findings help crystallize our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning the curvature-sensing behaviors of peptides, which will prove useful in the design of future curvature sensors.
“Alpha-Coma” in Association with Generalization Paroxysmal (Spike-Wave) Activity: A Case Report

We report a patient with a severe hypoxic encephalopathy. The electroencephalogram revealed both an "alpha-coma" pattern and generalized intermittent runs of 11/2-21/2 spikewave activity. The paroxysmal activity was suppressed by Dilantin leaving the underlying "alpha rhythm" intact. This association has only been touched upon in the past.
Clinical correlation of genomic mutations in small cell lung cancer.

7575 Background: Genomic studies in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) lag far behind those performed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Unlike NSCLC, where specific mutations such as ALK and EGFR a...
Market and resource impacts of a Canadian lumber tariff

Recent imposition of another import tariff on Canadian softwood lumber found support both as a means to offset alleged unfair Canadian cost advantages and to force reductions in Canadian old-growth harvest. Our analysis provides estimates of the traditional market impacts associated with this policy, plusthe less commonly considered resource tradeoffs. The gross revenues of US lumber producers and private timber sellers will rise at the expense of increased expenditures by US lumber consumers. Timber harvest will decline in Canada but rise on private lands in the United States, lowering US softwood inventories.
Astronauts in Outer Space Teaching Students Science: Comparing Chinese and American Implementations of Space-to-Earth Virtual Classrooms.

The purpose of this study was to investigate differences between science lessons taught by Chinese astronauts in a space shuttle and those taught by American astronauts in a space shuttle, both of whom conducted experiments and demonstrations of science activities in a microgravity space environment. The study examined the instructional structure and science topics coverage, as well as the methods employed for helping students conceptualize scientific laws via experimental demonstrations and activities. The analysis of the lessons sampled in this study revealed three predominant themes for how both the Chinese and the American astronauts conceptualized the science topics (i.e., Health and Life in Space, Work and Career in Space, and Exploration in Space and Earth Science). The analysis also examined how the teacher-student interactions were structured. Research findings suggest that under the appropriate conditions informal science education can play a distinct role in providing students with experiences of: (a) experiments unavailable in classroom settings, and (b) explanations of these experiments by field-based scientists conducting original research.
Long-Term Satellite Tracking Reveals Region-Specific Movements of a Large Pelagic Predator, the Shortfin Mako Shark, in the Western North Atlantic Ocean

Summary As upper level predators, sharks serve an important role in marine ecosystems, but are often at risk from fisheries. Successful management of these species will require detailed information about their movements and distributions. Using satellite telemetry, we investigated the long-term horizontal movements and seasonal distributions of shortfin mako sharks Isurus oxyrinchus in the western North Atlantic Ocean. Twenty-six sharks (14 USA, 12 Mexico) were tracked for durations of 78–527 days. Ten sharks were tracked for >1 year. Sharks displayed region-specific movements, with little distributional overlap between the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, and the western North Atlantic. Sharks tagged off the USA ranged over a larger area, including shelf and pelagic habitats. Their core distribution was largely over the continental shelf and fluctuated seasonally, ranging from South Carolina, USA, in the winter to Nova Scotia, Canada, in the autumn, and appeared to follow seasonal productivity peaks while favouring warmer waters. Sharks tagged off Mexico displayed more restricted movements, largely confined to shelf habitats, with core activity centred year-round on the eastern Campeche Bank, Mexico. Sharks moved across the jurisdictional management boundaries of 17 nations, and the proportion of tracked sharks harvested (22%) was twice that obtained from previous fisheries-dependent, conventional tagging studies. Sharks also displayed considerable variability in movements, with seven sharks tagged off the USA making long-distance, highly directional southern excursions into unproductive subtropical/tropical waters before returning north. Policy implications. The large-scale and region-specific movements of shortfin mako sharks underscore the need for close cooperation amongst western North Atlantic nations and implementation of regionally and seasonally specific management strategies. The movement patterns also provide baseline information, which could be used in spatially explicit stock assessment models. Identification of high-use areas by shortfin mako sharks provides focal areas for quantifying interactions with fisheries. The high harvest rate observed in our fisheries-independent tracking study raises questions about the true rate of fisheries mortality experienced by shortfin mako sharks, calling for a cautionary interpretation of past stock assessments used to determine management policy for this highly migratory species of conservation concern.
Progress of metabolomics in children with nervous system disease

Metabolomics, the measurement of metabolite concentrations and fluxes in cell systems, is an emerging science that has enormous potential and good application prospect. Metabolomics technology, especially mass spectrometry, has been used extensively in screening children's heredity metabolic disease, and part of these diseases has become to be curing. In this review, we elaborate on the application of metabolomics in early diagnosis of central nervous system infectious disease, screening of lipide metabolism dysfunction in nervous system and childhood autism, with special focus on the finding of cholesterin storage in nerve cell, variations in the metabolism of glucose, which give its promise for diagnosis and treatment of the lipide metabolism dysfunction in nervous system. Key words: Metabonomics; Children nervous disease; Heredity metabolic disease
Tunable infrared hyperbolic metamaterials with periodic indium-tin-oxide nanorods

Hyperbolic metamaterials (HMMs) are artificially engineered optical media that have been used for light confinement, excited-state decay-rate engineering, and subwavelength imaging, due to their highly anisotropic permittivity and with it the capability of supporting high-k modes. HMMs in the infrared range can be conceived for additional applications such as free space communication, thermal engineering, and molecular sensing. Here, we demonstrate infrared HMMs comprised of periodic indium-tin-oxide nanorod arrays (ITO-NRAs). We show that the ITO-NRA-based HMMs exhibit a stationary epsilon-near-pole resonance in the near-infrared regime that is insensitive to the filling ratio, and a highly tunable epsilon-near-zero resonance in the mid-infrared range depending on the array periodicity. Experimental results are supported by finite-element simulations, in which the ITO-NRAs are treated both explicitly and as an effective hyperbolic media. Our work presents a low-loss HMM platform with favorable spectral t...
Local realism is dead, long live local realism?

Rebecca Holmes describes groundbreaking experiments that finally closed the long-standing loopholes in Bell tests, suggesting the end of the road for local realism. But could local realism yet live on?
Sliding mode speed and load torque observer for core and copper loss minimization control of the induction motor drive

The paper studies the problem of efficiency improvement control of the induction motor drive based on copper and core loss minimization. The main idea is to operate the machine at a certain flux level that places the combined losses at a minimum level, thus improving the efficiency. A sliding mode observer (SMO) is developed to estimate the quantities needed for control implementation: magnetizing currents, speed, and load torque. The SMO uses feedback terms that are constructed using the estimated fluxes in the stationary reference frame. The paper develops a Voltage Model Observer for flux estimation that is specific to the IM model with core loss and involves a small approximation. Estimation of the magnetizing currents allows to set the appropriate flux level in the motor — the scheme proposed controls the speed and flux magnitude of the IM while minimizing the total copper and iron losses.
Intrinsic entrepreneurial motivation factors: gender differences

In the last two decades the growth in female-owned entrepreneurial ventures has accelerated dramatically. Despite this, there is sparse research regarding gender differences in key intrinsic entrepreneurial motivation factors. This paper adds to the extant literature regarding this topic in the context of the post-2007/2008 US economic recession. I examine each of the three most often cited intrinsic entrepreneurial motivation factors, i.e.: 1) challenge and achievement focus; 2) acceptance, appreciation, and self-esteem; 3) self-fulfilment and creative outlet. My findings suggest that these key intrinsic entrepreneurial motivation factors are stronger for female entrepreneurs than male entrepreneurs.
Effect of 1-amino-oxy-3-aminopropane on polyamine metabolism and growth of L1210 cells.

1-Amino-oxy-3-aminopropane (AOAP) was reported to inhibit several mammalian polyamine-biosynthetic enzymes in vitro, including ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (AdoMetDC) [Khomutov, Hyvonen, Karvonen, Kauppinen, Paalanen, Paulin, Eloranta, Pajula, Andersson & Poso (1985) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 130, 596-602]. In order to clarify its mechanism of action in intact cells, the inhibitory properties of AOAP on the growth and polyamine metabolism of L1210 cells were compared with those seen in a variant subline (D-R cells) which overproduces ODC. As little as 20 microM-AOAP completely blocked proliferation of L1210 cells, and this effect was reversed by the concomitant addition of exogenous putrescine or spermidine. Growth of D-R cells was not affected by AOAP at concentrations up to 0.5 mM. There was no difference in the uptake of AOAP between the L1210 and the D-R cells. Exposure of L1210 or D-R cells to AOAP greatly decreased ODC activity in undialysed cell extracts, but did not decrease AdoMetDC. Activities of both enzymes were increased severalfold by AOAP treatment when activity was measured in dialysed extracts. Treatment with AOAP depleted intracellular putrescine and spermidine contents of L1210 cells, while inducing a massive accumulation of decarboxylated AdoMet. The 8-fold higher putrescine pool present in untreated D-R cells was depleted in a dose-dependent manner by AOAP, but a significant decrease in spermidine and accumulation of decarboxylated AdoMet required 10 times higher drug concentrations, and the changes were much less dramatic than in L1210 cells. These results indicate that in L1210 cells AOAP behaves primarily as a reversible inhibitor of ODC.
Mapping the Nearest Stars for Habitable Worlds (Conference Presentation)

Thousands of exoplanets are known to orbit nearby stars and small rocky planets are established to be common. The ambitious goal of identifying a habitable or inhabited world is within reach. The race to find habitable exoplanets has accelerated with the realization that “big Earths” transiting small stars can be both discovered and characterized with current technology, such that the James Webb Space Telescope has a chance to be the first to provide evidence of biosignature gases. Transiting exoplanets require a fortuitous alignment and the fast-track approach is therefore only the first step in a long journey. The next step is sophisticated starlight suppression techniques for large ground-based telescopes now under construction and hopeful future space-based based telescopes to observe small exoplanets directly. These ideas will lead us down a path to where future generations will implement very large space-based telescopes to search thousands of all types of stars for hundreds of Earths to find signs of life amidst a yet unknown range of planetary environments. What will it take to identify habitable worlds with the telescopes available to us?
Time and Consciousness

Different temporal rhythms may be distinguished among the coordinated physiological processes that take place in the brain. The phenomenon of time consciousness is intimately connected with the dynamics of the brain’s different states of consciousness. The theory of complex systems far from thermal equilibrium has been used to formulate explanations for the emergence of consciousness. Consciousness is acordingly understood as a macroscopic, global-ordered state of neural switching patterns that result from microscopic local interactions in the complex networks of the brain. Time consciousness is not contradicted by physics but it can be explained as resulting from a complex neural interaction process. From the point of view of computer science, the question arises about what connections exist between computer machine time and human time consciousness.
Informed Option Trading around Merger Announcements

This paper examines option trading prior to significant information events. Using a broad sample of merger announcements, I find that there is abnormal option trading prior to such announcements after controlling for merger characteristics. This abnormal option trading is mainly concentrated in short-term and at-the-money options. Trading volume in these options leads stock market order imbalances and strongly contributes to the pre-takeover stock price runup. Implied volatility spread calculated from these options is strongly positively associated with the abnormal option volume. Finally, I also investigate whether option trading volume can be used to predict takeover targets. I find strong predictive power of option volume for takeover targets.
Representations of Self-Hypnosis in Personal Narratives

In a longitudinal study of self-hypnosis (SH), 33 subjects practiced SH one hour per day for four weeks. The subjects recorded their experiences following each daily SH sessions.
Accessibility and feasibility of using technology to support mindfulness practice, reduce stress and promote long term mental health.

Abstract Background and purpose We evaluated the feasibility of using an activity monitor to support mindfulness practice, reduce self-reported stress and physiological indicators of stress. Materials and methods Adult women (N = 19) who previously participated in a mindfulness intervention wore an activity monitor for eight-weeks. The activity monitor notified them when they were stressed (based on standard deviation pulse pressure). Heart rate and pulse pressure were continuously collected via the activity monitor. Mindfulness, stress, depression and trauma symptoms were collected via self-report surveys. Results There were no significant changes in self-reported stress, depression, post-traumatic stress and mindfulness from baseline to eight-weeks. Pulse pressure and standard deviation of pulse pressure increased over time. Those who were high on the non-judge mindfulness subscale had a lower standard deviation pulse pressure and spent less time stressed. Conclusion Those who are more mindful are less likely to have physiological signs of stress.
Does the Market Value Auditors' Industry Specializations? Evidence from the Contagion Effects of Restatements

SYNOPSIS This study investigates whether auditors' industry specializations are valued by the capital market. By using a quasi-experimental research design, we control for the confounding effects o...
Positive Sanctions versus Imprisonment

This article considers the possibility of simultaneously reducing crime, prison sentences, and the tax burden of financing the criminal justice system by introducing positive sanctions, which are benefits conferred to non-convicts. Specifically, it proposes a procedure wherein a part of the imprisonment budget is re-directed towards financing positive sanctions. The feasibility of this procedure depends on how effectively the marginal imprisonment sentence reduces crime, the crime rate, the effectiveness of positive sanctions, and how accurately the government can direct positive sanctions towards individuals who are most responsive to such policies. A subsequent welfare analysis reveals an advantage of positive sanctions: they operate by transferring or creating wealth, whereas imprisonment destroys wealth. Thus, the conditions under which positive sanctions are optimal are broader than those under which they can be used to jointly reduce crime, sentences, and taxes. With an exogenous [resp. endogenous] budget for law enforcement, it is optimal to use positive sanctions when the imprisonment elasticity of deterrence is small [resp. the marginal cost of public funds is not high]. These conditions hold, implying that using positive sanctions is optimal, in numerical examples generated by using estimates for key values from the empirical literature.
Characterization of the HalcyonTM multileaf collimator system.

Purpose To characterize the stacked and staggered dual-layer multileaf collimator (MLC) on the HalcyonTM system. Methods The novel MLC assembly was reviewed and compared to the widely used MillenniumTM 120-leaf MLC system. We investigated the MLC positioning stability over 70 days using Machine Performance Check (MPC) data. We evaluated the leaf transmission, penumbra, leaf end effect, and leaf edge effect. Leaf transmission through distal, proximal, and both MLC layers was measured with a Farmer chamber, by comparing an open and a closed field. Leaf penumbra was measured using film for three different MLC-defined field sizes. The leaf end effect was measured with sweeping gap fields of varying gap sizes defined by the distal MLC. The leaf edge effect was evaluated using the Electronic Portal Imaging Device (EPID) for the different banks, gantry positions, and collimator angles. Point dose measurements for 10 test plans were compared to dose predictions of two dose calculation model versions. Results From MPC data, the largest measured MLC positioning accuracy deviation was within 0.1 mm. The proximal MLC exhibited greater deviations compared to the distal MLC. The distal-and-proximal-combination had reduced inter-leaf and intra-leaf transmission compared to delivery with distal-only. The measured leaf transmission was 0.41% for distal-only, 0.40% for proximal-only, and negligible for distal-and-proximal-combination. The leaf end penumbra was wider compared to the leaf edge penumbra. The leaf end effect was measured to be -0.2 mm. The leaf edge effect showed minimal bank, gantry position, and collimator angle dependence. However, a systematic deviation between measurements and treatment planning system handling of the leaf edge effect was observed. The discrepancy between the measured and predicted dose in the 10 test plans improved with the latest version of the dose calculation algorithm. Conclusion The characteristics of the stacked and staggered dual-layer MLC on the HalcyonTM system were presented.
Large Data Transfer Predictability and Forecasting using Application-Aware SDN

Network management for applications that rely on large-scale data transfers is challenging due to the volatility and the dynamic nature of the access traffic patterns. Predictive analytics and forecasting play an important role in providing effective resource allocation strategies for large data transfers. We propose a predictive analytics solution for large data transfers using an application-aware software defined networking (SDN) approach. We perform extensive exploratory data analysis to characterize the GridFTP connection transfers dataset and present various strategies for its use with statistical forecasting models. We develop a univariate autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) based prediction framework for forecasting GridFTP connection transfers. Our prediction model tightly integrates with an application-aware SDN solution to preemptively drive network management decisions for GridFTP resource allocation at a U.S. CMS Tier-2 site. Further, our framework has a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) ranging from 6% to 10% when applied to make rolling forecasts.
Reconfigurable non-reciprocal acousto-optic modulator

We experimentally demonstrate a reconfigurable non-reciprocal acousto-optic modulator. the directionality of mode conversion is controlled by adjusting the phase of a pair of standing acoustic waves. © 2019 The Author(s)
An Examination of Differential Item Functioning in a Rubric to Assess Solo Music Performance

The purpose of this study was to examine differential item functioning (DIF) in a rubric used to assess middle-school solo and ensemble performances. This study was guided by the following research...
Electrostatically driven self-assembled nanoparticles and coatings

Abstract This chapter reviews self-assembled nanoparticles and nanoparticle coatings that are driven by noncovalent, electrostatic interactions between oppositely charged molecules. The physicochemical factors affecting the formation and stability of the nanoparticles and coatings are discussed as well their biomedical applications. A major application is the delivery of charged therapeutics such as nucleic acids, and proteins. However, other biomedically relevant applications such as biosensing and bioreactors are discussed. Challenges of colloidal stability, physiological circulation time, enzymatic degradation, cellular uptake, and in vivo efficacy are addressed for drug delivery applications. This chapter is subdivided into three major types of electrostatically driven self-assembly: (1) homopolymer polyelectrolyte complexes, (2) block copolymer polyelectrolyte complex micelles, and (3) layer-by-layer self-assembled nanoparticles and coatings. A future outlook on these emerging technologies is also provided.
USE OF A SYNCHRONIZATION TEST IN STUDIES ON SEGMENTAL MOTOR CONTROL

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the use of a synchronization test in studies on segmental motor control. The potential problem when using spike-triggered averaging (STA) is that other spike trains might be in synchrony with the reference train. Without a test for such synchrony, the possibility cannot then be excluded that the observed effects are because of spike trains other than the reference train. It has been initially felt that an adequate synchrony control could be obtained by recording on analog tape a short epoch of the reference afferent train, together with the multiunit activity of the parent muscle nerve (MN). These recordings can then be played in reverse using the afferent spike train as the trigger to an averaging computer whose input signal is the MN recording. The invariant result of this procedure when the test muscle is passive and at fixed length is presented. The AC-coupled MN back-average reveals the unitary action potential waveform of the reference afferent. This AC-coupled averaging technique is certainly of value for determining the conduction velocity of single afferent fibers during STA experiments.
Varieties of Pluralist Political Theories: Modus Vivendi Pluralism and Egalitarian Pluralism

This chapter begins an exploration of the implications of value pluralism for political theory and practice. It suggests that two of the most important are that, for those who accept value pluralism, the primary political value will be the kind of negative liberty that allows individuals to fulfill their commitments and pursue their projects, and the primary political virtue will be tolerance of the commitments and projects of others. However, before elaborating these claims, it examines the way that other value pluralists have treated political questions, focusing on how they conceive of the place of liberty in a pluralist state.
Rebel recruitment and retention in civil conflict

While the conflict literature has examined the use of forced recruitment in conflict, the question remains why groups would choose to do so when forced recruits require expensive coercion and time ...
Media Analysis of News Articles During COVID-19: Renewal, Continuity and Cultural Dimensions of Creative Action

Worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced people to adapt quickly, and to reexamine interactions and responsibilities toward communities in creative ways. This paper presents a qualitative media analysis (Altheide and Schneider, 2013) of 50 online news articles (Los Angeles Times and New York Times) published between March 17th and August 6th, 2020 using the key-words "creativity" and "COVID-19." Informed by a definition of creativity as actions that are considered both "new" and "appropriate" (Sternberg and Lubart, 1999), articles describing a "creative action" were kept for analysis. These articles highlight creative responses to the COVID-19 quarantine in various domains including architecture, fashion, and faith. In this paper, we discuss the themes derived during this analysis- "renewal and continuity" and "the multidimensionality of creativity" which elaborate and contextualize a perspective of socio-cultural creativity theory and propose two implications of this study. The first implication posits that creativity was an observable, cultural response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The second implication offers a broader concept of how cultural resources function as dynamic constraints or "affordances" within the Five A's model of creativity (Glǎveanu, 2013). Discussion of further research through the lens of socio-cultural creativity is discussed.
Nonlinearity-Induced Nonreciprocity—Part II

This is the second part of our study of the properties and limitations of nonlinearity-induced nonreciprocal devices. In the first part, we discussed the general working principle of nonreciprocal devices based on resonators filled with Kerr-like nonlinearities, and we showed that strong nonreciprocal responses can be obtained when an asymmetric resonator is excited from only one port with a quasi-monochromatic signal. In this second part, we further investigate their behavior under more complex input signals. Specifically, we discuss simultaneous two-port excitations, which are expected to be detrimental to isolation purposes due to the lack of linearity of these devices. We show, however, that this regime can be used to achieve novel functionalities, such as optically controlled transmission switching. In order to assess the device performance in realistic scenarios, we also investigate how noise and random inputs affect the nonreciprocal response. Finally, we show how increasing the system complexity can help to overcome some device limitations, and lead to novel applications such as bandpass nonreciprocal filters. Overall, this work shows that nonlinearity-induced nonreciprocal devices, with their appealing passive, bias-free operation, offer interesting opportunities for various practical application scenarios and may form the basis for a plethora of new technologies of great relevance for microwave engineering systems, from radars and lidars to classical and quantum signal processing and computing.
Predictors of COVID-19 Vaccination among Veterans Experiencing Homelessness

Sufficient uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine is key to slowing the spread of the coronavirus among the most vulnerable in society, including individuals experiencing homelessness. However, COVID-19 vaccination rates among the Veteran homeless population are currently unknown. This study examines the COVID-19 vaccination rate among homeless Veterans who receive care at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and the factors that are associated with vaccine uptake. Using VA administrative and clinical data, bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify the sociodemographic, health-related, and healthcare and housing services utilization factors that influenced COVID-19 vaccine uptake during the first eight months of the vaccine rollout (December 2020–August 2021). Of the 83,528 Veterans experiencing homelessness included in the study, 45.8% were vaccinated for COVID-19. Non-white, older Veterans (65+), females, those who received the seasonal flu vaccine, and Veterans with multiple comorbidities and mental health conditions were more likely to be vaccinated. There was a strong association between COVID-19 vaccination and Veterans who utilized VA healthcare and housing services. VA healthcare and homeless service providers are particularly well-positioned to provide trusted information and overcome access barriers for homeless Veterans to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.