cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laser-induced Fluorescence Measurement of Combustion Chemistry Intermediates

Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) can measure the trace (often free radical) species encountered as intermediates in combustion chemistry; OH, CS, NH, NS, and NCO are typical of the species detected in flames by LIF. Attention is given to illustrative experiments designed to accumulate a quantitative data base for LIF detection in low pressure flow systems and flames, as well as to flame measurements conducted with a view to the detection of new chemical intermediaries that may deepen insight into the chemistry of combustion.
In vitro selection of RNAs with increased tertiary structure stability.

An in vitro selection system was devised to select RNAs based on their tertiary structural stability, independent of RNA activity. Selection studies were conducted on the P4‐P6 domain from the Tetrahymena thermophila group I intron, an autonomous self-folding unit that contains several important tertiary folding motifs including the tetraloop receptor and the A-rich bulge. Partially randomized P4‐P6 molecules were selected based on their ability to fold into compact structures using native gel electrophoresis in the presence of decreasing concentrations of MgCl2. After 10 rounds of the selection process, a number of sequence alterations were identified that stabilized the P4‐P6 RNA. One of these, a single base deletion of C209 within the P4 helix, significantly stabilized the P4‐P6 molecule and would not have been identified by an activity-based selection because of its essential role for ribozyme function. Additionally, the sequence analysis provided evidence that stabilization of secondary structure may contribute to overall tertiary stability for RNAs. This system for probing RNA structure irrespective of RNA activity allows analysis of RNA structure/ function relationships by identifying nucleotides or motifs important for folding and then comparing them with RNA sequences required for function.
Hybrid zero dynamics of planar biped walkers

Planar, underactuated, biped walkers form an important domain of applications for hybrid dynamical systems. This paper presents the design of exponentially stable walking controllers for general planar bipedal systems that have one degree-of-freedom greater than the number of available actuators. The within-step control action creates an attracting invariant set - a two-dimensional zero dynamics submanifold of the full hybrid model $whose restriction dynamics admits a scalar linear time-invariant return map. Exponentially stable periodic orbits of the zero dynamics correspond to exponentially stabilizable orbits of the full model. A convenient parameterization of the hybrid zero dynamics is imposed through the choice of a class of output functions. Parameter optimization is used to tune the hybrid zero dynamics in order to achieve closed-loop, exponentially stable walking with low energy consumption, while meeting natural kinematic and dynamic constraints. The general theory developed in the paper is illustrated on a five link walker, consisting of a torso and two legs with knees.
Fatty acid analysis of wild ruminant tissues: evolutionary implications for reducing diet-related chronic disease

Hypotheses: Consumption of wild ruminant fat represented the primary lipid source for pre-agricultural humans. Hence, the lipid composition of these animals’ tissues may provide insight into dietary requirements that offer protection from chronic disease in modern humans. Method: We examined the lipid composition of muscle, brain, marrow and subcutaneous adipose tissue (AT) from 17 elk (Cervus elaphus), 15 mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), and 17 antelope (Antilicapra americana) and contrasted them to wild African ruminants and pasture and grain-fed cattle. Results: Muscle fatty acid (FA) was similar among North American species with polyunsaturated fatty acids=saturated fatty acids (P=S) values from 0.80 to 1.09 and n-6=n-3 FA from 2.32 to 2.60. Marrow FA was similar among North American species with high levels (59.3 – 67.0%) of monounsaturated FA; a low P=S (0.24 – 0.33), and an n-6=n-3 of 2.24 – 2.88. Brain had the lowest n-6=n-3 (1.20 – 1.29), the highest concentration of 22:6 n-3 (elk, 8.90%; deer, 9.62%; antelope, 9.25%) and a P=S of 0.69. AT had the lowest P=S (0.05 – 0.09) and n-6=n-3 (2.25 – 2.96). Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers were found in marrow of antelope (1.5%), elk (1.0%) and deer (1.0%), in AT (deer, 0.3%; antelope, 0.3%) in muscle (antelope, 0.4%; elk, trace), but not in brain. Conclusions: Literature comparisons showed tissue lipids of North American and African ruminants were similar to pasture-fed cattle, but dissimilar to grain-fed cattle. The lipid composition of wild ruminant tissues may serve as a model for dietary lipid recommendations in treating and preventing chronic disease. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2002) 56, 181 – 191. DOI: 10.1038=sj=ejcn=1601307
A REDUCED-ORDER MODEL OF HEAT TRANSFER EFFECTS ON THE DYNAMICS OF BUBBLES

The Rayleigh-Plesset equation has been used extensively to model spherical bubble dynamics, yet it has been shown that it cannot correctly capture damping effects due to mass and thermal diffusion. Radial diffusion equations may be solved for a single bubble, but these are too computationally expensive to implement into a continuum model for bubbly cavitating flo ws since the diffusion equations must be solved at each position in the flo w. The goal of the present research is to derive reduced-order models that account for thermal and mass diffusion. We present a model that can capture the damping effects of the diffusion processes in two ODE’s, and gives better results than previous models.
Slicing home networks

Despite the popularity of home networks, they face a number of systemic problems: (i)Broadband networks are expensive to deploy; and it is not clear how the cost can be shared by several service providers; (ii) Home networks are getting harder to manage as we connect more devices, use new applications, and rely on them for entertainment, communication and work|it is common for home networks to be poorly managed, insecure or just plain broken; and (iii) It is not clear how home networks will steadily improve, after they have been deployed, to provide steadily better service to home users.In this paper we propose slicing home networks as a way to overcome these problems. As a mechanism, slicing allows multiple service providers to share a common infrastructure; and supports many policies and business models for cost sharing. We propose four requirements for slicing home networks: bandwidth and traffic isolation between slices, independent control of each slice, and the ability to modify and improve the behavior of a slice. We explore how these requirements allow cost-sharing, outsourced management of home networks, and the ability to customize a slice to provide higher-quality service. Finally, we describe an initial prototype that we are deploying in homes.
An agile manufacturing workcell design

This paper introduces a design for agile manufacturing workcells intended for light mechanical assembly of products made from similar components (i.e., parts families). We define agile manufacturing as the ability to accomplish rapid changeover from the assembly of one product to the assembly of a different product. Rapid hardware changeover is made possible through the use of robots, flexible part feeders, modular grippers, and modular assembly hardware. The division of assembly, feeding, and unloading tasks between multiple robots is examined with prioritization based upon assembly time. Rapid software changeover will be facilitated by the use of a real-time, object-oriented software environment utilizing graphical simulations for off-line software development. An innovative dual VMEbus controller architecture permits an open software environment while accommodating the closed nature of most commercial robot controllers. These agile features permit new products to be introduced with minimal downtime and system reconfiguration.
Spindle Formation in Aspergillus Is Coupled to Tubulin Movement into the Nucleus

In many important organisms, including many algae and most fungi, the nuclear envelope does not disassemble during mitosis. This fact raises the possibility that mitotic onset and/or exit might be regulated, in part, by movement of important mitotic proteins into and out of the nucleoplasm. We have used two methods to determine whether tubulin levels in the nucleoplasm are regulated in the fungus Aspergillus nidulans. First, we have used benomyl to disassemble microtubules and create a pool of free tubulin that can be readily observed by immunofluorescence. We find that tubulin is substantially excluded from interphase nuclei, but is present in mitotic nuclei. Second, we have observed a green fluorescent protein/α-tubulin fusion in living cells by time-lapse spinning-disk confocal microscopy. We find that tubulin is excluded from interphase nuclei, enters the nucleus seconds before the mitotic spindle begins to form, and is removed from the nucleoplasm during the M-to-G1 transition. Our data indicate that regulation of intranuclear tubulin levels plays an important, perhaps essential, role in the control of mitotic spindle formation in A. nidulans. They suggest that regulation of protein movement into the nucleoplasm may be important for regulating mitotic onset in organisms with intranuclear mitosis.
Male behavioral type affects female preference in Siamese fighting fish

Lay summary:Video playback was used to examine if female Siamese fighting fish use male behavioral type in mate choice decisions. Males in this species exhibit consistent individual differences in their behavior when encountering a male and female simultaneously (Lover, Fighter, Divider). Females avoided the most aggressive male behavioral type, the Fighter male. We believe this is one of the first, if not the first, study to examine the role of female preference in maintaining consistent individual differences in male fish.
Heterobilharzia americana Infection and Congestive Heart Failure in a Llama (Lama glama)

The schistosome Heterobilharzia americana infects several mammalian species in the southeastern United States, including horses, but infections have not been reported in camelids. This is a report of H. americana infection in a 6-year-old llama with extensive cardiac pathology and congestive heart failure. Parasite-induced granulomas were widely disseminated and included overwhelming involvement of the lungs and liver. Microscopic lesions in the heart included myofiber degeneration and necrosis, with extensive replacement fibrosis. Polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing confirmed the presence of H. americana in the lungs.
Network structure predicted by second order motifs

We present a model of directed networks that is based on the relative frequency of second order edge motifs, which are patterns of two network edges. The four second order motifs are reciprocal, convergent, divergent, and causal connections (Figure ​(Figure1),1), and our goal is to understand the network structure that one can predict just from these motifs. To describe a network ensemble that is determined by a particular distribution of second order motifs, one must infer a probability distribution that characterizes the full network. There are many possible network probability distributions consistent with a given distribution of second order motifs, and we select the one with minimal additional structure, i.e., the maximum entropy network [1]. We determine a probability distribution on networks connecting N neurons that is parametrized by five quantities: the probability of a single edge and the relative occurrence of each of the four second order edge motifs. We refer to the resulting network models as second order networks. Figure 1 The four second order edge motifs of reciprocal, convergent, divergent, and causal connections. We examine the extent to which the second order networks predict the distribution of edges in neuronal networks. Using the data from simultaneous whole cell recordings of three neurons published by Song et al. [2], we calculate the second order network determined from the data and demonstrate that the network predicts most of the higher order structure. The one exception is that three edge cycles were more prevalent than predicted by the second order network. We discuss the properties of the second order networks and compare them to other network models.
A Generic and Cell-Type-Specific Wound Response Precedes Regeneration in Planarians

Regeneration starts with injury. Yet how injuries affect gene expression in different cell types and how distinct injuries differ in gene expression remain unclear. We defined the transcriptomes of major cell types of planarians--flatworms that regenerate from nearly any injury--and identified 1,214 tissue-specific markers across 13 cell types. RNA sequencing on 619 single cells revealed that wound-induced genes were expressed either in nearly all cell types or specifically in one of three cell types (stem cells, muscle, or epidermis). Time course experiments following different injuries indicated that a generic wound response is activated with any injury regardless of the regenerative outcome. Only one gene, notum, was differentially expressed early between anterior- and posterior-facing wounds. Injury-specific transcriptional responses emerged 30 hr after injury, involving context-dependent patterning and stem-cell-specialization genes. The regenerative requirement of every injury is different; however, our work demonstrates that all injuries start with a common transcriptional response.
Big Data for Development: A Review of Promises and Challenges

Big Data for Development: A Review of Promises and Challenges Martin Hilbert, University of California, Davis; hilbert@ucdavis.edu Author’s version Hilbert, M. (2016). Big Data for Development: A Review of Promises and Challenges. Development Policy Review, 34(1), 135–174. http://doi.org/10.1111/dpr.12142 Abstract The article uses a conceptual framework to review empirical evidence and some 180 articles related to the opportunities and threats of Big Data Analytics for international development. The advent of Big Data delivers the cost-effective prospect to improve decision-making in critical development areas such as health care, economic productivity, and security. At the same time, all the well-known caveats of the Big Data debate, such as privacy concerns and human resource scarcity, are aggravated in developing countries by long-standing structural shortages in the areas of infrastructure, economic resources, and institutions. The result is a new kind of digital divide: a divide in data-based knowledge to inform intelligent decision- making. The article systematically reviews several available policy options to foster the opportunities and minimize the risks. Keywords: Big Data, decision-making, innovation, ICT, digital divide, digital, international development. Acknowledgements: The author thanks International Development Research Centre Canada (IDRC) for commissioning a more extensive study that laid the groundwork for the present article. He is also indebted to Manuel Castells, Nathan Petrovay, Francois Bar, and Peter Monge for food for thought, and to Matthew Smith, Rohan Samarajiva, Sriganesh Lokanathan, and Fernando Perini for helpful comments on draft versions, and thanks the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UN-CEPAL), where part of the research was undertaken. The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations.
A new approach for the immunogenic presentation of membrane-bound human colon tumor antigens.

Liposomes bearing human tumor membrane vesicles were effective immunogenic complexes for inducing antibodies in rabbits. Multilamellar liposomes (MLV) at 7:4:1 molar ratios of phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol and phosphatidic acid were prepared with sonicated membrane (MN) isolated from LS174T colon tumor cells. MLV liposomes prepared together with MN (i.e., MN-MLV antigens) or MN added to preformed MLV (i.e., MN+MLV antigens), and MN antigens alone were used as immunogens. Rabbits were immunized i.v. with 100 g protein of each antigen group. Boosters (i.v.) were at days 13 and 29. Binding assays were performed by indirect radioimmunoassay on viable tumor cell targets. The MN+MLV groups were distinguished by earlier reactivity and greater specificity to the colon tumor antigens.
Perspectives on elasmobranch life‐history studies: a focus on age validation and relevance to fishery management

Life-history (age, growth, age validation, reproduction and demography) studies of elasmobranchs date back to the middle of the last century with major early contributions made by British fishery scientists. As predicted by Holden in the early 1970s, many sharks and rays can be vulnerable to fishery mortality because they grow slowly, mature late in life, reproduce infrequently, have relatively low fecundities and can have relatively long life spans. As has now been found, however, not all species exhibit these traits. Also, ageing structures (neural arches and caudal thorns), other than vertebrae and spines, have since been evaluated. Various methods for validating age and growth estimates have been developed and tested on numerous species of elasmobranchs. These include tag-recapture analyses, oxytetracycline injections, centrum or spine edge and marginal increment analyses, and bomb radiocarbon dating of calcified structures. Application of these techniques has sometimes not only validated relatively slow growth and long life span estimates, but also has produced other results. A brief historical perspective on the applications and limitations of these techniques for elasmobranchs is provided, along with a discussion of selected species for which these techniques worked well, did not work at all or have produced variable and conflicting results. Because many fishery management techniques utilize age or stage-specific information, often through demographic analyses, accurate information on the life histories of fished populations, especially age validation, is extremely important for the fishery management of these cartilaginous fishes.
A general framework for experimental design, uncertainty quantification and sensitivity analysis of computer simulation models

Rigorous design of experiment (DOE) is essential to conduct validation, uncertainty quantification (UQ), and sensitivity analysis (SA) of computer simulation models. However, executing the process often involves knowledge of data management, statistical design, running simulation model, data analysis, and so on. It is a non-trivial task even for domain experts without solid computing backgrounds. Besides, the lack of standardization of data formats, configuration specifications, model invocation and execution mechanisms makes the process a harder undertaking. In this paper, we propose a comprehensive framework to support efficient experimental design, and UQ/SA in a domain and model independent manner. The data management and model execution issues are handled transparently from the users so that they can focus on the analysis itself. An application example is provided as an illustration of the concepts and basic use of this framework.
Effect of Normal Metabolites on the Oxygen-Hemoglobin Equilibrium

SummaryA number of substances, most of them normal intermediates of red cell glucose metabolism, were tested for their effect on the shift in the oxygen dissociation curve produced by 2,3-diphosphoglycerate. None of the substances tested, with the exception of ATP and pyridoxal phosphate had any effect on the dissociation curve, either in the presence or absence of 2,3-DPG, ATP and pyridoxal phosphate caused a rightward displacement of the dissociation curve, but this occurred both in the presence and absence of 2,3-DPG and was considered to be simply an additive effect.
Effects of Ultrasonic Vibrations on Nerve Tissues.

SummaryThe excised crayfish ventral nerve cord exposed to ultrasound (35 watts/ cm2, frequency 1 mc) exhibited a reduction of spontaneous activity after several seconds exposure and recovered its original activity about one minute after the ultrasound was turned off. Frogs positioned so that ultrasound was incident on the dorsal surface over the lumbar enlargement of the spinal cord exhibited paralysis of the hind legs after 4.3 sec. exposure (at room temperature) and exhibited paralysis after 7.3 sec. exposure (at 1°-2°C). Histological examination of the sciatic nerves showed extensive degeneration of nerves and examination of the spinal cord indicated destruction of the lower motor neurones. It was concluded that the effect of ultrasound on the systems studied is produced by physical factors other than temperature.
Retrieving understorey dynamics in the Australian tropical savannah from time series decomposition and linear unmixing of MODIS data

Retrieval from remote sensing of separate temporal dynamics for the understorey layer in tropical savannahs would be beneficial for monitoring fuel loads, biomass for livestock, interrelationships between trees and grasses, and modelling of savannah systems. In this study, we combined unmixing of fractional cover with normalized difference vegetation index NDVI and the short wave infrared ratio SWIR32 with time series decomposition of the NDVI to attempt to fully resolve the dynamics of the herbaceous understorey in the Australian tropical savannah based on the fractions of photosynthetic herbaceous vegetation FPVH and non-photosynthetic vegetation FNPV, from the woody overstorey, represented by the fraction of photosynthetic vegetation in the tree canopy FPVW. Evaluation of FPVH against field data gave moderate relationships between predicted and observed values R2 between 0.5 and 0.6; since semivariogram metrics of representativeness indicated that field sites were relatively unrepresentative of variation at the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer MODIS pixel scale. Both FPVW and FPVH produced strong linear relationships root mean square error < 0.1 units with high-resolution Orbview 3 cover fractions classified from tasselled cap transformations. However, FNPVH non-photosynthetic herbaceous cover fraction retrievals at southern arid locations produced an evaluation relationship with a greater deviation from the 1:1 line than for northern locations. This suggested that there may be limitations on the NDVI–SWIR32 unmixing approach in more sparsely vegetated savanna. Maps of average annual maximum FPVH, FNPVH, and total herbaceous cover fraction could be used as indicators of savannah productivity and landscape health. However, close examination of the limitations of the NDVI–SWIR32 response may be required for application of this method in other global savannahs.
DEMOGRAPHIC DIFFERENCES IN THE INTERVENTIONAL THERAPY OF ACUTE AORTIC DISSECTION

Few studies have investigated racial disparities in acute aortic dissection (AAD). One pioneering study about this topic showed that blacks and whites exhibit key differences in the etiology and clinical presentation of the disease. This project sought to determine if these disparities led to
MODEL-BASED DESIGN STRATEGIES FOR REAL-TIME HARDWARE-IN-THE-LOOP ROCKET SYSTEM SIMULATIONS

The Navigation, Guidance, and Control (NGC) Department at Sandia National Laboratories has been developing model-based simulations of rocket systems for preliminary studies, Monte Carlo analysis, and realtime hardware-in-the-loop simulations for ight code veri cation and validation purposes. Over the years we have developed extensive experience developing model-in-the-loop, software-in-the-loop, and real-time hardware-in-the-loop simulations for rocket systems. This paper describes some strategies the NGC Department has taken to successfully implement model-based simulations for ight test programs.
Cis- andtrans-acting factors regulating transcription of the BGT1 gene in response to hypertonicity

We have previously identified a tonicity-responsive enhancer (TonE) in the promoter region of the canine BGT1 gene. TonE mediates hypertonicity-induced stimulation of transcription. Here, we characterize TonE and TonE binding proteins (TonEBPs) to provide a biochemical basis for cloning of the TonEBPs. Mutational analysis applied to both hypertonicity-induced stimulation of transcription and TonEBP binding reveals that TonE is 11 base pairs in length, with the consensus sequence of (C/T)GGAAnnn(C/T)n(C/T). Activity of the TonEBPs increases in response to hypertonicity with a time course similar to that of transcription of the BGT1 gene. Studies with inhibitors indicate that translation, but not transcription, is required for activation of the TonEBPs. Phosphorylation is required for the stimulation of transcription but not for activation of DNA binding by the TonEBPs. In vivo methylation by dimethyl sulfate reveals that the TonE site of the BGT1 gene is protected with a time course like that of activity of the TonEBPs and activation of transcription. Ultraviolet cross-linking indicates that the TonEBPs share a DNA binding subunit of 200 kDa.
Turing, More, Analogies

Alan M. Turing several decades ago proved that ‘all computers (save a few special-purpose types…) are equivalent to one another, i. e., are all universal’.1 That is, all computers, regardless of the stuff of which they are made (they exist, in a functional sense, apart from it), are also abstract machines of a certain kind: they are universal Turing machines. Or, to put it another way, a computer language is, in effect, a set of instructions for building such a machine. (The Turing machine is a theoretical device formulated by Turing in the 1930s as a way of discussing algorithms or procedures for solving problems, a preoccupation that grew from logicians’ interest in a methodology whereby ‘the proofs of mathematical theorems could be generated automatically by a mechanical process’. The device consists of three parts: an infinitely long paper tape that is divided into an infinite number of squares, a mechanism that moves the tape and prints or erases marks [symbols from a finite alphabet] on individual squares, and a scanning head that senses whether or not a given square contains a mark. It ‘can be programmed to find the solution to a problem by executing a finite number of scanning and printing actions’, and ‘in spite of its simplicity it is not exceeded in problem-solving ability by any other known computing device.’)2
Decomposing the Redistributive Effect of Taxes: New Measures of Vertical Equity and Inequity

Two ethical norms, vertical equity and horizontal equity, are generally applied to assess the fairness and distributive justice of a tax system. Due to tax induced rerankings controversy surrounds the exact meaning and joint empirical application of the two equity concepts. This paper adopts Aronson and Lambert’s (1994) recently proposed measure of horizontal equity and demonstrates that overall or “net vertical equity” can be additively decomposed into three separate, distinct and quantifiable terms — “vertical equity”, “tax rerankings”, and “post-tax income rerankings”. The latter two terms involve vertical inequities that are embedded into an otherwise progressive tax system. To separate the two inequities from net vertical equity we make use of the relative deprivation interpretation of the Gini coefficient and decompose the redistributive effect of taxes into four distinct terms, three of which measure and decompose vertical equity and inequity. To illustrate the decomposition method we use individual income tax return data and measure the effects of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 on horizontal inequity, vertical equity, tax-rerankings, and post tax income rerankings. Horizontal inequity is measured using the recently developed procedure of Aronson and Lambert (1994). The remainder of the redistributive effect is decomposed using the new procedures developed in this paper.
Oxidation-State-Dependent Vibrational Dynamics Probed with 2D-IR

In an effort to examine the role of electronic structure and oxidation states in potentially modifying intramolecular vibrational dynamics and intermolecular solvation, we have used 2D-IR to study two distinct oxidation states of an organometallic complex. The complex, [1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]tetracarbonyl chromium (DPPFCr), consists of a catalytic diphenylphosphino ferrocene redox-active component as well as a Cr that can be switched from a Cr(0) to a Cr(I) oxidation state using a chemical oxidant in dichloromethane (DCM) solution. The DPPFCr(I) radical cation is sufficiently stable to investigate with 2D-IR spectroscopy, which provides dynamical information such as vibrational relaxation, intramolecular vibrational redistribution, as well as solvation dynamics manifested as spectral diffusion. Our measurements show that the primarily intramolecular dynamical processes—vibrational relaxation and redistribution—differ significantly between the two oxidation states, with faster relaxation in ...
CO-EXISTING PROSTATE CANCER AND DIABETES MELLITUS: IMPLICATIONS FOR PATIENT OUTCOMES AND CARE

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate how diabetes mellitus (DM) impacts short-term overall survival (OS) for patients with prostate cancer and to examine how prostate cancer impacts glycemic control in DM. Methods: Patients with DM and prostate cancer newly diagnosed from 2007 to 2014 were identified from the institutional cancer registry and matched to patients with prostate cancer but no DM according to age and year of prostate cancer diagnosis. Results: The study included 276 cases and 276 controls; the mean age was 72 years, most (93%) were white, the most common Gleason score (52%) was 7, and the majority (56%) were tumor stage II. Patients with DM had a higher mean body mass index (P = .03). Alcohol use and performance status differed by group (P Conclusion: DM did not adversely impact survival in patients with prostate cancer. In addition, prostate cancer and its treatment did not affect glycemic control. Patients and their providers can be reassured that the concurrent diagnoses do not adversely interact to worsen short-term outcomes. Abbreviations: DM = diabetes mellitus; HbA1c = hemoglobin A1c; OS = overall survival
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING IN 19th CENTURY AMERICA: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Although 19th century America offers a natural experiment in government accounting practices and voluminous original records still exist, a review of the literature on the period's state and local government accounting finds few secondary articles and almost no contemporary literature before 1875. After that, reformers, decrying the municipal accounting practices of their time, wrote profusely so that some secondary studies of that literature exist. The governmental financial records of the 1800s varied in quality from excellent to scandalous and would, if properly sampled and described, not only fill the gaps in our knowledge of 19th century government accounting and fiscal policy, but would also allow study of the causes and effects of many alternative measurement and reporting structures.
Incorporation of an Azobenzene β -Turn Peptidomimetic into Amyloid- β to Probe Potential Structural Motifs Leading to β -Sheet Self-Assembly

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by chronic neurodegeneration and the insidious accumulation of senile plaques comprised of the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide. An important goal in AD research is to characterize the structural basis for how Aβ aggregates exert their noxious effects on neurons. We describe herein synthetic steps to incorporate a light-controlled β-turn mimetic, 3-(3-aminomethylphenylazo)-phenylacetic acid (AMPP), into the backbone of a putative turn region within Aβ. AMPP adopts a rigid β-hairpin turn when azobenzene is in the cis conformation, and can adopt an extended "β-arc" turn in the trans-azobenzene conformation. The long lifetimes of these conformationally stable isomers permit detailed biochemical analyses that help to clarify the controversial role played by these two types of turns during the toxic misfolding pathway of Aβ. Methods to photo-nucleate the cis- or trans-AMPP isomeric turns in aqueous buffer are also described. Finally, we detail selected techniques to characterize the Aβ aggregates derived from these photoisomerized variants.
A Neglected Animal Model for a Neglected Disease: Guinea Pigs and the Search for an Improved Animal Model for Human Brucellosis

Brucellosis is a bacterial disease caused by species of the Brucella genus and affects a wide variety of domestic and wildlife species and is also an important zoonosis. The global burden of disease is difficult to assess but Brucella spp. have a worldwide distribution and are endemic in the Middle East, Africa, South America, and Asia. The clinical signs of fever and malaise are non-specific, and the available serological diagnostic tests lack a high degree specificity in endemic regions compared to other important public health diseases such as malaria. A better understanding of the pathogenesis of brucellosis through discoveries in animal models could lead to improved diagnostics and potentially a vaccine for human use. Mouse models have played an important role in elucidating the pathogenesis but do not replicate key features of the disease such as fever. Guinea pigs were instrumental in exploring the pathogenesis of brucellosis in the early nineteenth century and could offer an improvement on the mouse model as a model for human brucellosis.
Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery vs. Phacoemulsification: Overall Safety and the Effect on the Corneal Endothelium

To summarize current evidence on the safety of cataract surgery with and without the femtosecond laser Large studies, including a government-financed randomized controlled trial, have consistently failed to demonstrate any additional safety benefit from femtosecond laser–assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) when compared to manual phaco. Additional high-quality studies, such as the European Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgery EUREQUO FLACS Study, suggest that manual cataract surgery actually has fewer complications. The data on whether FLACS reduces endothelial cell count loss are mixed. Similarly, proof of a significant improvement in refractive outcomes from FLACS has not been demonstrated. Although individual surgeon preferences for FLACS may continue, current evidence shows that it is at best noninferior to standard manual cataract surgery. Given the additional costs associated with use of FLACS, ophthalmologists discussing this technology with patients should take care not to overstate its potential benefits.
Adherence to fluid resuscitation guidelines and outcomes in patients with septic shock: Reassessing the "one-size-fits-all" approach.

Abstract Objective The Surviving Sepsis Campaign and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock Management Bundle (SEP-1) recommend rapid crystalloid infusion (≥30 mL/kg) for patients with sepsis-induced hypoperfusion or septic shock. We aimed to assess compliance with this recommendation, factors associated with non-compliance, and how compliance relates to mortality. Design Retrospective, observational study. Setting 1136-bed academic and 235-bed community hospital (January 2015–June 2016). Patients Patients with septic shock. Interventions Crystalloid infusion (≥30 mL/kg) within 6 h of identification of septic shock as required by CMS. Measurements Associations with compliance and how compliance associates with mortality; odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) reported. Main results Overall, 1027 septic shock patients were included. Of these, 486 (47.3%) met the 6-hour 30 ml/kg fluid requirement. Compliance was lower in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) (40.9%), chronic kidney disease (CKD) (42.3%) or chronic liver disease (38.5%) and among those that were identified in the inpatient setting (35.4%) rather than in the emergency department (51.7%). When adjusting for relevant covariates, compliance (compared to non-compliance) was not associated with in-hospital mortality: OR 1.03 CI 0.76–1.41. Conclusions These findings question a “one-size-fits-all” approach to fluid administration and performance measures for patients with sepsis.
Cocaine-metabolizing skin grafts

Graftable skin expressing an enzyme that metabolizes cocaine may offer a new strategy to treat cocaine addiction.
Critical Role for Phosphatidylinositol-3 Kinase Vps34/PIK3C3 in ON-Bipolar Cells.

Purpose Phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PI(3)P), and Vps34, the type III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase primarily responsible for its production, are important for function and survival of sensory neurons, where they have key roles in membrane processing events, such as autophagy, endosome processing, and fusion of membranes bearing ubiquitinated cargos with lysosomes. We examined their roles in the most abundant class of secondary neurons in the vertebrate retina, the ON-bipolar cells (ON-BCs). Methods A conditional Vps34 knockout mouse line was generated by crossing Vps34 floxed mice with transgenic mice expressing Cre recombinase in ON-BCs. Structural changes in the retina were determined by immunofluorescence and electron microscopy, and bipolar cell function was determined by electroretinography. Results Vps34 deletion led to selective death of ON-BCs, a thinning of the inner nuclear layer, and a progressive decline of electroretinogram b-wave amplitudes. There was no evidence for loss of other retinal neurons, or disruption of rod-horizontal cell contacts in the outer plexiform layer. Loss of Vps34 led to aberrant accumulation of membranes positive for autophagy markers LC3, p62, and ubiquitin, accumulation of endosomal membranes positive for Rab7, and accumulation of lysosomes. Similar effects were observed in Purkinje cells of the cerebellum, leading to severe and progressive ataxia. Conclusions These results support an essential role for PI(3)P in fusion of autophagosomes with lysosomes and in late endosome maturation. The cell death resulting from Vps34 knockout suggests that these processes are essential for the health of ON-BCs.
Clinical utility of a postprocedural CT scan in CT-guided musculoskeletal biopsies.

The purpose of this study is first to determine the clinical utility of the postprocedure scan in detecting postinterventional complications after CT-guided musculoskeletal biopsies, and second to evaluate the contribution to the radiation dose of the postprocedural CT scan. Retrospective analysis of 500 consecutive CT-guided musculoskeletal biopsies over an 18-month period from 29 March 2017 to 28 September 2018, where spiral postprocedure scans were obtained in every case. To assess the clinical utility of postinterventional CT scans, it was determined whether immediate post-procedural complications were detected on the postprocedural scans only or were also seen on the procedural images. To evaluate the relative radiation exposure of postprocedural scans, a ratio was obtained of the dose–length product (DLP) of the postprocedural scan compared with the total DLP of each case. A total of 397 bone biopsies and 103 soft-tissue biopsies were performed in 471 patients. The immediate postprocedural complication rate was 0.4% (2 out of 500) in all procedures. Both complications were minor (small hematomas) and detected only on postinterventional CT scans. The average total DLP for the procedures was 383.5 mGy*cm. The average DLP of the postprocedural scan was 64.0 mGy*cm. The average radiation dose contribution of the postprocedural CT scans toward the total DLP was 17.4%. Immediate postprocedural complications in CT-guided musculoskeletal interventions are rare. When complications do occur, they are usually minor. To substantially reduce radiation dose, postinterventional CT scans should not be performed routinely.
Air bubble bursting phenomenon at the air-water interface monitored by the piezoelectric-acoustic method.

Abstract When an air bubble arrives at the free interface, the bubble's lamella drains and ruptures. The bubble collapses, and gas vapor is released. The ruptured lamella retreats, and a rim at the edge of the retreating lamella forms. The rim becomes unstable and breaks into fine droplets, leading to the formation of a mist. As the collapsing bubble gas's vapor is released, the collapsing bubble oscillates and a vertical liquid jet erupts; this jet then breaks into a droplet(s). Here, we present a novel approach for monitoring the air bubble bursting frequency at the air-water interface by the piezoelectric-pressure-acoustic technique. The piezoelectric-acoustic technique monitors the lamella's rupture time, the frequency of the oscillation of the collapsing air bubble, and the frequency of the oscillation at the free air/water interface. The aqueous lamella rupture thickness was probed by reflected light interferometry, and the air bubble burst at the air/water interface was monitored with the high-speed photo imaging technique. The data obtained by the three techniques provided essential information for the stages of the air bubble collapse dynamics at the free interface without the presence of a surfactant. The simple model proposed by Rayleigh, Minnaert, and Lighthill (RML) for the oscillation resonance of a single air bubble was applied to calculate the air bubble collapsing frequency. The floating air bubble bursting frequency with an equatorial radius of 0.33 ± 0.05 cm was well predicted using the air bubble resonance frequency model, and was estimated as 1.0 ± 0.3 kHz. The velocity of the ruptured aqueous lamella covering the air bubble was estimated as 1 m/s. This research presents a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon of the bare air bubble collapse at the free interface.
Why Does Skewness Matter? Ask Kurtosis.

I investigate the relationship between measures of skewness and expected stock returns. Forcing the data to fit a linear model, past research finds only a negative relationship between these variables. Using a novel methodology that endogenously estimates breakpoints in the relationship between two variables, I find three distinct zone. Expected returns are decreasing in skewness, but only for a region of relatively low absolute values of skewness. For distributions which are highly left- or right-skewed, the relationship is actually positive. Moreover, I find that kurtosis plays a major role in mediating this relationship. Adding measures of the fourth moment to all models tested turns all skewness coefficients negative, and most statistically insignificant. Relying on probability theory, I provide a theoretical framework that supports all empirical findings.
[Analysis of a patient with X-linked mental retardation by next generation sequencing].

Objective To explore the clinical and genetic features of a Chinese boy featuring X-linked mental retardation. Methods Clinical features of the patient were analyzed. The DNA of the patient and his parents was extracted and sequenced by next generation sequencing. The results were validated and analyzed with software. Results The child displayed X-linked mental retardation. Sequencing showed the patient has carried a c. 455T>C (p.L152P) mutation of the GRIA3 gene inherited from his mother. Conclusion The c. 455T>C (p.L152P) mutation of the GRIA3 gene probably underlies the X-linked mental retardation in this child. Key words: X-linked mental retardation; GRIA3 gene; Next generation sequencing
Worth the Wait? Time Window Feature Optimization for Attack Classification

Time as a variable for generating features has been widely overlooked in Intrusion Detection System (IDS) research. Computer and network attacks are time series, where time is an important factor that may affect feature generation, and as a result, classification. Nevertheless, there has been little exploration on how to calibrate time for IDSs and attack classification techniques. In this paper we explore time windows as a technique for generating more effective and descriptive features for attack classification. We suggest a framework for feature generation and selection that uses Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE) and time window exploration. Our initial results when applying this framework indicate that there is up to 47% improvement of F1 scores in attack classification when attack features are generated over a variety of time windows, compared to a single, global time window. We find that features calculated over longer lengths of time may be more useful for detecting attacks than over shorter lengths of time. Our methods seem to be most effective at detecting DDoS attacks, particularly those that occur over medium or long durations of time.
A Fully Synthesized Integrated Buck Regulator with Auto-generated GDS-II in 65nm CMOS Process

This paper presents a fully synthesized integrated inductive buck regulator with flexible precision variable frequency feedback loop implemented in 65nm CMOS process using an automated design and GDSII generation flow. The design demonstrates 0.52V/us output ramp and 200ns response time to 30mA/75ps load transient in a high precision mode with 120MHz switching frequency, and peak efficiency of 79.3% at 0.78V output and 43mA load current.
Functional analysis and operant treatment of food guarding in a pet dog.

The present study extended functional analysis (FA) methodology to human-directed resource guarding in a dog in an in-home setting. The subject underwent four conditions including control, attention, escape, and tangible, arranged in a modified FA. The results indicated multiply controlled resource guarding (i.e., escape, attention, and tangible functions). The experimenter then conducted a treatment evaluation involving three function-based treatments in a concurrent multiple baseline design. Resource guarding decreased to zero levels in treatments for each maintaining contingency. Treatment effects were maintained when the subject was tested with an owner, with an untrained handler, a highly preferred treat, in an untrained setting, as well as after 2 weeks in the absence of training. Behavior analytic techniques may hold promise for lasting behavior change for resource guarding in domestic dogs, and should be examined in other populations and with other canine problem behavior.
Refractory chylous effusions in lymphangioleiomyomatosis patient post lung transplant

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis is a rare systemic disorder of unknown etiology that affects young women almost exclusively. Chylous effusions are known to be associated with lymphangioleiomyomatosis and may be difficult to treat. We present the case of a 37-year-old female who received bilateral lung transplantation for lymphangioleiomyomatosis complicated by refractory chylothorax and chylous ascites, ultimately controlled through repeated, open surgical procedures and percutaneous lymphatic embolization interventions. The combined surgical and interventional radiological approach, while not novel in their own right, suggests that a multi-modal interventional approach may be required in refractory cases.