cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Majority of divergence between closely related DNA samples is due to indels

utations in the DNA are the source of variation in Darwinian evolution. Therefore it is likely that the exam- ination of DNA differences between closely related species or among polymorphic variations in DNA of a given species will give insight into the nature of the mutations and the process of evolution. In the present paper, published and unpublished data are summarized for examples from several distantly related phylogenetic groups, and the data show that indels dominate the process of early divergence. There is a continuing problem in these data of the upper limit in the size of detected gaps and bias against larger ones. The groups sampled are apes (chimp-human DNA comparison), sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus polymorphism), bacteria (Escherichia coli substrain compari- son), insects (Drosophila polymorphism), nematodes (Caeno- rhabditis elegans polymorphism), and plants (Arabidopsis poly- morphism). It is also noted that human genetic diseases are frequently caused by indels. The first part of the paper summa- rizes the results for samples of chimp DNA compared with the human genome sequence. Then an example of sea urchin polymorphism is briefly described. Initial comparison of two strains of E. coli O157:H7 is described. Finally, the published polymorphism data are reviewed and brought together with the data reported here to draw the conclusion that indel formation is a major and significant evolutionary process. to align the complete chimp BAC sequence with the human genome, regardless of the presence of repeated sequences, which typically consist of about half of the BAC sequence. The repeated sequences, naturally, sometimes complicate the align- ment process. The National Institutes of Health program ''BLAST the Human Genome'' was used to find the most promising region of the human genome for alignment with each particular chimp BAC sequence. This program works well because the human repetitive sequences are filtered out during the comparisons and then apparently reinserted for mapping the results. Usually only one region of the human genome shows a full or nearly full alignment with a chimp BAC sequence, whereas other regions show short or fragmentary alignments. Where duplications of long regions have occurred as on chromosome 22 there is uncertainty and we have not included these comparisons. For the next stage in the analysis a program has been written that almost always accurately detects mismatches and gaps in the alignment. It is called GAPD for gap detection or gap determination and is described in the next few sentences. Standard sequence com- parison programs such as Smith Waterman are used to find the human sequence that aligns with the start of the chimp BAC. From this aligned start GAPD goes nucleotide by nucleotide checking for mismatches. If a mismatch is seen, then a check is made of the succeeding 10 nucleotides, and if at least 6 of these match, the original mismatch is taken to be due to a base substitution. There is a possibility that there is a local region with
A paradox in the evolution of primate vocal learning

The importance of auditory feedback in the development of spoken language in humans is striking. Paradoxically, although auditory-feedback-dependent vocal plasticity has been shown in a variety of taxonomic groups, there is little evidence that our nearest relatives – non-human primates – require auditory feedback for the development of species-typical vocal signals. Because of the apparent lack of developmental plasticity in the vocal production system, neuroscientists have largely ignored the neural mechanisms of non-human primate vocal production and perception. Recently, the absence of evidence for vocal plasticity from developmental studies has been contrasted with evidence for vocal plasticity in adults. We argue that this new evidence makes non-human primate vocal behavior an attractive model system for neurobiological analysis.
XYY Karyotype in a Case of Familial Hypogonadism

Two brothers are described who showed the clinical picture of hypogonadism with seminiferous tubule dysgenesis, gynecomastia and elevated urinary gonadotrophins resembling Klinefelter's syndrome. Chromosome preparations were made of cells from peripheral blood and skin. Instead of the XXY chromosome complement usually associated with this syndrome, an XYY karyotype was found in one of the brothers, while the other presented the normal male chromosome pattern. A sister, who was possibly also hypogonadal, had a normal female karyotype. Labeling studies of the chromosomes of the XYY patient showed that the 2 Y chromosomes replicated similarly and later than the other members of the G group. XYY karyotype has previously been reported in only 11 cases. A review of these cases showed that, although the incidence of hypogonadism and other genital abnormalities was high, no consistent clinical picture was associated with this chromosome pattern. The significance of the extra Y chromosome in 1 of the 2 patients he...
Synthetic matrices reveal contributions of ECM biophysical and biochemical properties to epithelial morphogenesis

Epithelial cells cultured within collagen and laminin gels proliferate to form hollow and polarized spherical structures, recapitulating the formation of a rudimentary epithelial organ. However, the contributions of extracellular matrix (ECM) biochemical and biophysical properties to morphogenesis are poorly understood because of uncontrolled presentation of multiple adhesive ligands, limited control over mechanical properties, and lot-to-lot compositional variability in these natural ECMs. We engineered synthetic ECM-mimetic hydrogels with independent control over adhesive ligand density, mechanical properties, and proteolytic degradation to study the impact of ECM properties on epithelial morphogenesis. Normal cyst growth, polarization, and lumen formation were restricted to a narrow range of ECM elasticity, whereas abnormal morphogenesis was observed at lower and higher elastic moduli. Adhesive ligand density dramatically regulated apicobasal polarity and lumenogenesis independently of cell proliferation. Finally, a threshold level of ECM protease degradability was required for apicobasal polarity and lumen formation. This synthetic ECM technology provides new insights into how cells transduce ECM properties into complex morphogenetic behaviors.
The Mathematical Treatment of Cavitation in Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication

The lubrication problem described in this chapter was presented by Edward Bissett from General Motors Research Laboratories, on April 29, 1988.
Theoretical investigation of the mechanism and dynamics of intramolecular coherent resonance energy transfer in soft molecules: a case study of dithia-anthracenophane.

A computational study is conducted on dithia-anthracenophane (DTA), for which there is experimental evidence for coherent resonance energy transfer dynamics, and on dimethylanthracene (DMA), a molecule representing the energy donor and the acceptor in DTA. Electronic excitation energies are calculated by configuration interaction singles (CIS) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) methods and are compared to experimental ones. Electronic coupling constants are calculated between two DMAs embedded into the ground-state structure of DTA employing methods based on transition densities. The resulting values of electronic coupling provide a more consistent interpretation of experiments than those based on one-half the level spacing of DTA excitation energies. Solvation effects are studied based on the polarizable continuum model (PCM). Solvent-induced polarization and screening effects are shown to make opposite contributions, and the net electronic coupling is little different from the value i...
The Information Processing of Coordinated Media Campaigns

Marketers are increasingly coordinating their advertising campaigns across media. The authors use information processing theory to examine consumer response to coordinated TV and radio ads. “Radio ...
Inhibitory effect of cortisone on anaphylaxis in the mouse.

SummaryThe administration of Cortisone to 42 sensitized mice 18 hours before the intravenous injection of a challenging dose of antigen prevented fatal anaphylactic shock in 38 animals. In contrast, 2S of 34 sensitized but unprotected control mice died in anaphylactic shock.The authors with to thank Mr. Bernard K. Friedman and Mrs. Jacqueline Isola for their technical assistance in this work.The Cortisone used in this investigation was purchased by funds from The United States Public Health Service.
Fungal Succession on Needles and Young Twigs of Old-Growth Douglas Fir

The pattern of presence and abundance of fungi on needles and twigs of old-growth Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga mensiesii) in the Oregon Cascades exhibits a well-defined successional sequence which was ...
Generalized 3D Spacecraft Proximity Path Planning Using A

A* path planning has been used in many applications such as robot motion planning and games. We propose A* as a general path planning tool for spacecraft proximity operations. We have demonstrated its potential use for circumnavigation with obstacle avoidance and now describe how to exploit the algorithm for generalized 3D path planning as well. Simulations are presented which include transitions between types of rendezvous maneuvers including Lambert transfers, formation flying and A* generated close orbiting. We define circumnavigation as orbiting the target vehicle with a period shorter than orbit period. The A* maneuver algorithm allows maneuvering around satellites with stayout zones. This could be necessary during an inspection of a target if the vehicle needs to stay out of sensor fields-of-view, avoid long appendages, etc. If there are no stayout zones the A* maneuver requires the same delta-v as an ideal circular maneuver with constant radial thrusting. A* is an algorithm that searches in a state space for the least costly path from a start state to a goal state by examining the neighboring or adjacent states of the current state. In this problem the state space is a set of points on a sphere (or other 3D volume) and the cost is the change in angle needed to go from one state to another. A* combines the tracking of the previous path length of Dijkstra’s algorithm, with the heuristic estimate of the remaining path from best-first search. A* is guaranteed to find the shortest path, as long as the heuristic estimate, h(n), is admissible - that is, it is never greater than the true remaining distance to the goal. It makes the most efficient use of the heuristic function so no search that uses the same heuristic function and finds optimal paths will expand fewer nodes than A*. This paper discusses the A* algorithm and presents new results showing 3-dimensional trajectories.
Essence of a PhD dissertation:A balanced integration of east-west research methods

One of the purposes of the article is to stimulate a constructive discussion about writing a PhD thesis.It is argued that there are no mechanic procedures to write a PhD thesis.It would be largely inappropriate if someone claims that the procedures do exist.Nevertheless,such a fact cannot deny that a PhD thesis still contains some basic elements.This paper tries to explore these basic components in a perspective of integrating ways of thinking between East and West.
A field trial of the deratization effect by using bait boxes in rural dwellings

Objective To study the rodent control effect by using bait boxes in rural dwelling,so as to help making effective methods for the rodent control in the countryside.Methods Two villages in which both the natural environment and the rodent density were similar and randomly selected,and the rodent density in the villages was investigated by tracking powder method before the experiment.Then some plastic bait boxes with 0.005% bromadiolone paddy bait were placed in the dwellings in one village,while some bait boxes with non-toxic paddy bait were placed in the dwellings in the other one.21 days later investigating the rodent density of the two villages again and analysing the data.Results The rodent density of the two villages were 16.5 % and 14.8 %(P 0.05) before the experiment,and it turned to 2.3 % and 21.6 % after the experiment.The deratization rate of the village with poison paddy bait was 86.1 % and the corrected deratization rate was 90.4 %.The feeding rate of poison paddy bait and non-toxic paddy bait were 28.1 % and 28.8 %(P 0.05).In the first village,the encroachment rate changed from 60.9% to 13.0 %(P 0.01),and in the other village the encroachment rate changed from 52.4 % to 71.4 %(P 0.05).Conclusion The rodent density in rural dwelling can be reduced efficiently by using poison bait boxes,which is accepted easily and suitable for rodent control in rural dwellings.
Modeling Two Dimensions of Patient Satisfaction: A Panel Study

Measurement of patient satisfaction is an essential part of health outcome assessment. The purpose of this study is (a) to compare the stability of an aggregate summary measure and two separate summary measures of patient satisfaction; and, (b) to examine causal effects between two separate summary measures at two points in time. Data were collected from 1,451 Medicare HMO beneficiaries. In conclusion, (a) separate summary measures are recommended for constructing the measure of patient satisfaction and (b) moderate causal relationships and cross-lagged effects between the patient satisfaction measures of qualify of care and access to care were found.
Cyanobacterin and Analogs: Structure and Activity Relationships of a Natural Herbicide

Cyanobacterin is a secondary metabolite produced by the cyanobacterium, Scytonema hofmanni UTEX 2349, which inhibits the growth of other algae. The compound is a diaryl-substituted γ-lactone (Table 1). Cyanobacterin interrupts photosynthetic electron transport at a site in PS II. Analysis of PS II activity with various Hill electron acceptors suggests that the site of action is not identical to the classical PS II electron transport inhibitors (1).
How Much Inequality Can be Explained

To verify the hypothesis that the shifts in income distribution in Mexico between 1984 and 1992 were determined by the fact that economic liberalization provided better opportunities to the individuals who were in a better position to take advantage of them, it is first necessary to know why some individuals were in a better position at the start. This chapter addresses this issue by asking how much of the income inequality in Mexico can be explained.
The Principle of Mercy: Jon Sobrino and the Catholic Theological Tradition:

The theme of mercy stands at the heart of Jon Sobrino’s theological project, fundamentally shaping his Christology, anthropology, martyrology, ecclesiology, and much else. This essay analyzes Sobri...
Rare Variation in TET2 Is Associated with Clinically Relevant Prostate Carcinoma in African-Americans

Background: Common variants have been associated with prostate cancer risk. Unfortunately, few are reproducibly linked to aggressive disease, the phenotype of greatest clinical relevance. One possible explanation is that rare genetic variants underlie a significant proportion of the risk for aggressive disease. Method: To identify such variants, we performed a two staged approach using whole exome sequencing followed by targeted sequencing of 800 genes in 652 aggressive prostate cancer patients and 752 disease-free controls in both African and European Americans. In each population, we tested rare variants for association using two gene-based aggregation tests. We established a study-wide significance threshold of 3.125 x 10-5 to correct for multiple testing. Results: TET2 in African-Americans was associated with aggressive disease with 24.4% of cases harboring a rare deleterious variant compared to 9.6% of controls (FET p = 1.84x10-5, OR=3.0; SKAT-O p= 2.74x10-5). We report 8 additional genes with suggestive evidence of association, including the DNA repair genes PARP2 and MSH6. Finally, we observed an excess of rare truncation variants in 5 genes including the DNA repair genes MSH6, BRCA1 and BRCA2. This adds to the growing body of evidence that DNA repair pathway defects may influence susceptibility to aggressive prostate cancer. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that rare variants influence risk of clinically relevant prostate cancer and if validated could serve to identify men for screening, prophylaxis and treatment. Impact: This study provides evidence that rare variants in TET2 may help identify African-American men at increased risk for clinically relevant prostate cancer.
LANGUAGE IMPLEMENTATION AND PROGRAM EFFICIENCY

This chapter discusses the language implementation and program efficiency. The precise implementation of a language is machine-dependent and does not intend to inflict on the reader a minute account of a particular implementation. Future efficient combinatorial computing will depend greatly on hardware evolution, especially on the development and integration within general computing systems of special devices for performing certain important jobs extremely fast. The chapter also discusses how natural and convenient programming language and efficient calculation are indeed compatible and to point out places where this compatibility can be increased by reasonable computer design. The implementation of the combinatorial language is more closely related to that of classic procedural languages than to that of nonnumerical languages such as Lisp.
Even lovers need a holiday: Women's reflections of travel without their partners

Abstract “Girlfriend's getaways” have been said to potentially increase satisfaction with an individual's leisure choices and potentially improve the couple's relationship satisfaction (Durko & Petrick, 2015; Cavallari, 2008, Bond, 2008). This qualitative study sought to identify reasons women travel without their partners and what impact these vacations may have on their relationship and vacation satisfaction. Women traveled without their partners for several general reasons: female bonding, partner's personal constraints, escape from daily routine, and a need for individuality. The vast majority of respondents believed that taking trips separate from their partner was a beneficial component of a healthy, romantic relationship. Nearly all were satisfied with the vacation taken without their partner, and would have been less satisfied if their partner had joined them. About two-thirds felt that their relationships were the same after the trip, while 31% believed the trip improved their relationships. Additionally relationships with travel companions were also enhanced. Marketing and operational implications for the tourism industry are offered.
N-Terminal Hypothesis for Alzheimer's Disease.

Although the amyloid (abeta peptide, Aβ) hypothesis is 25 years old, is the dominant model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis, and guides the development of potential treatments, it is still controversial. One possible reason is a lack of a mechanistic path from the cleavage products of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) such as soluble Aβ monomer and soluble molecular fragments to the deleterious effects on synaptic form and function. From a review of the recent literature and our own published work including aggregation kinetics and structural morphology, Aβ clearance, molecular simulations, long-term potentiation measurements with inhibition binding, and the binding of a commercial monoclonal antibody, aducanumab, we hypothesize that the N-terminal domains of neurotoxic Aβ oligomers are implicated in causing the disease.
In situ measurement of ECM rheology and microheterogeneity in embedded and overlaid 3D pancreatic tumor stroma co-cultures via passive particle tracking

Tumor growth is regulated by a diverse set of extracellular influences, including paracrine crosstalk with stromal partners, and biophysical interactions with surrounding cells and tissues.Studies elucidating the role of physical force and the mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM) itself as regulators of tumor growth and invasion have been greatly catalyzed by the use of in vitro three-dimensional (3D) tumor models. These systems provide the ability to systematically isolate, manipulate, and evaluate impact of stromal components and extracellular mechanics in a platform that is both conducive to imaging and biologically relevant. However, recognizing that mechanoregulatory crosstalk is bi-directional and fully utilizing these models requires complementary methods for in situ measurements of the local mechanical environment. Here, in 3D tumor/fibroblast co-culture models of pancreatic cancer, a disease characterized by its prominent stromal involvement, we evaluate the use of particle-tracking microrheology to probe dynamic mechanical changes. Using videos of fluorescently labeled polystyrene microspheres embedded in collagen I ECM, we measure spatiotemporal changes in the Brownian motion of probes to report local ECM shear modulus and microheterogeneity. This approach reveals stiffening of collagen in fibroblast co-cultures relative to cultures with cancer cells only, which exhibit degraded ECM with heterogeneous microstructure. We further show that these effects are dependent on culture geometry with contrasting behavior for embedded and overlay cultures. In addition to potential application to screening stroma-targeted therapeutics, this work also provides insight into how the composition and plating geometry impact the mechanical properties of 3D cell cultures that are increasingly widely used in cancer biology.
Bis(3,5-dimeth-oxy-2-{[2-(pyridin-2-yl)ethyl-imino-κN]-meth-yl}phenolato-κO)bis-(dimethyl sulfoxide)-manganese(III) perchlorate methanol 0.774-solvate.

The title compound, [Mn(C16H17N2O3)2(C2H6OS)2]ClO4·0.774CH3OH, comprises a central octa­hedrally coordinated MnIII cation, with two bidentate Schiff base ligands occupying the equatorial positions and two dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) ligands occupying the axial positions. There are two independant cations in the asymmetric unit, with the MnIII atoms of both cations being positioned on crystallographic centers of inversion. The perchlorate anion is disordered over two equivalent conformations, with occupancies of 0.744 (3) and 0.226 (3). In addition, there is a methanol solvent mol­ecule in the crystal lattice that is too close to the minor component of the perchlorate anion to be present simultaneously and thus it was refined to have the same occupancy as the major component of this anion. There is a Jahn–Teller distortion which results in Mn—ODMSO axial bond lengths of 2.2365 (12) and 2.2368 (12) A in the two cations. In the crystal, inter­molecular π–π stacking between the non-coordinating pyridine rings of each cation is observed. This π–π stacking, along with extensive O—H⋯O hydrogen bonding and C—H⋯O inter­actions, link the components into a complex three-dimensional array.
Design and Evaluation of a Self-Service Delivery Framework

We present a framework for automating change and service request management, a process that has remained almost entirely human-centric, despite the fact that it involves complex workflows, takes a significant amount of time, and is prone to errors. We extend previous work on modeling process complexity to evaluate the impact of automating business constraints (such as policy approvals and entitlements). Our results indicate that automation eliminates a significant amount of operational complexity, reducing it by \(68\%\) compared to the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) guidelines, and by \(80\%\) compared to actual client processes. Automation also reduces, between \(55\%\) and \(82\%\) for different client accounts, the average time that elapses from the moment that a change request is received until it starts executing.
Absorbing South Australia's Wills Act Dispensing Power in the United States: Emulation, Resistance, Expansion

How the spread of the dispensing power -- South Australia's excusing doctrine to cure formal errors in wills -- has led to enforcement of electronic (digital) wills in the US and elsewhere.
Association of Urinary Citrate With Acid-Base Status, Bone Resorption, and Calcium Excretion in Older Men and Women.

Context Elevated urine net acid excretion (NAE), indicative of subclinical metabolic acidosis, has been associated with higher bone turnover. Urine citrate, which is a common clinical measure, changes in response to acid-base status but its association with bone turnover is uncertain. Objective We evaluated the association between change in urine citrate and change in bone turnover and calcium excretion. Design, Intervention, and Participants A total of 233 healthy men and women ≥60 years old were randomly assigned to 1.0 mmol/kg/d potassium bicarbonate (KHCO3), 1.5 mmol/kg/d KHCO3, or placebo for 84 days. Outcome Measures Urine citrate, NAE, N-telopeptide of collagen type-I (NTX), calcium excretion, and serum amino-terminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen (P1NP) were measured before and after intervention. Results Urine citrate increased dose dependently after KHCO3 supplementation (P trend < 0.001). The urine citrate change was significantly inversely associated with P1NP change (P = 0.021) but not with change in NTX (P = 0.051) or calcium excretion (P = 0.652). The NAE change was positively associated with change in NTX and calcium excretion (P ≤ 0.003) but not with change in P1NP (P = 0.051). When the urine citrate change and NAE change were included in the same model, the urine citrate change was not associated with change in NTX, calcium excretion, or serum P1NP (P ≥ 0.086), whereas change in NAE remained associated with change in NTX and calcium excretion (P ≤ 0.003). Conclusion Urine citrate may not be a suitable alternative to NAE when assessing acid-base status in relation to bone turnover in older adults.
Assessment and modification of nationally-calibrated dynamic modulus predictive model for the implementation of Mechanistic-Empirical design

Abstract This study modifies the viscosity (η) based Witczak dynamic modulus (|E∗|) predictive equation which is used in the recently developed AASHTOWare pavement Mechanistic-Empirical (ME) design software. A total of 21 Superpave (SP) mixtures with different gradations and binder grades were tested for |E∗| at different temperatures and frequencies of loading. Results show that the η-based Witczak model underestimates the |E∗| for New Mexico’s SP mixes. Therefore, revised model is developed using regression analysis. A phase angle (ϕ) predictive model is also developed using the ϕ-values obtained during the |E∗| testing. It was found that the revised η-based Witczak model determines the |E∗| more accurately compared to the original η-based Witczak model.
Some Recent Methodological Developments

The basic principles of numerous methods for the investigation of steroid-protein interactions have been discussed and many well-developed procedures are described in Vol. I, Chapter IV and on other pages where they are applied to specific problems. Since that time, numerous improvements and refinements have been made many of which are described in appropriate places in the present volume.
Dominant Frequency Mapping to Assess the Consequences of Remodeling in the Mechanism of Atrial Fibrillation

The mechanisms underlying atrial fibrillation (AF) remain poorly understood. In some patients, AF initiation often occurs from arrhythmogenic foci arising at muscular sleeves in a pulmonary vein (PV). Either direct radio-frequency (RF) ablation of these foci or, more recently, their disconnection from the left atrium by ablation at venous ostia is the basis for curative AF ablation procedures. However, it is likely that, in most cases, the mechanism of AF maintenance is different from that which initiates it. Isolated animal heart experiments suggested that some cases of AF may be maintained by the uninterrupted periodic activity of a small number of discrete reentrant sites (rotors) located in the posterior left atrial (LA) wall, near the PV/LA junction. During sustained AF, such sources activate at an exceedingly high rotation frequency. Thus, rotors near the PV/LA junction dominate over any other slower sources that may form elsewhere and act as the drivers for the entire fibrillatory process. High-resolution spectral analysis of the spatial distribution of activation frequencies reveals a hierarchy with appreciable frequency gradients across the atria. Here, we briefly review our current understanding of the mechanisms and manifestations of AF and discuss the applicability of spectral analysis tools to the study of AF in patients with the idea of helping to improve the efficacy of ablation therapies. We focus in part on recent clinical studies that provide justification for the combined use of dominant frequency and electroanatomical mapping to systematically correlate the spatial distribution of excitation frequency with cardiac anatomy; provide mechanistic insight into different types of AF, particularly regarding the consequences of atrial remodeling leading to persistent AF; and facilitate ablation procedures.
Advanced Techniques in Mass Spectrometry

The first commercial mass spectrometers, developed over 40 years ago for the petroleum industry, were valued for their ability to rapidly characterize mixtures. During the first 25 years, the design of mass spectrometers remained relatively unchanged and most analyses were performed using electron impact ionization and heated inlets. Only during the last 15 years has the enormous potential of mass spectrometry become generally evident. Efforts to make mass spectrometry more informative have resulted in new techniques such as chemical ionization, directly coupled gas chromatography (GC/MS), and high resolution. Sophisticated computer systems are now used to acquire, display and store large volumes of data while advanced ion optics make possible detection of picogram quantities of many substances. These are well developed technologies and are used throughout the world.
Influence triggers: A framework for understanding follower compliance

Abstract This article proposes a framework for understanding follower compliance. The framework draws from the leadership, influence, and motivation literatures to identify follower-based influence triggers and the intervening variables that lead to follower compliance. The article discusses the proposed relationships and provides some directions for future research.
Suggested standards for reporting power and energy density in supercapacitor research

One of the most important applications for porous material with high surface area is the supercapacitor. For supercapacitors, power density and energy density are the most significant metrics. However, currently no dominant, established standard exists, and research papers often report these two metrics differently. A standard for reporting power and energy density is proposed here for objective comparison. This paper also discusses a common flaw in current supercapacitor power density calculations.
Iran’s Syria Strategy: The Evolution of Deterrence

Iran has been a critical player in the Syrian war since 2011, crafting a complex foreign policy and military strategy to preserve its Syrian ally. What have been the drivers of Iranian decision-making in this conflict? And how has Iranian strategy evolved over the course of the war? This chapter argues that the logic of deterrence has been fundamental not just for shaping the contours of Iran–Syria relations since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, but also for determining the overall trajectory of Iranian strategy in the Syrian war. The authors outline Iran’s decision-making calculus and divide the country’s strategy on Syria after the Arab Spring into four primary phases: (1) a ‘Basij’ strategy to establish local militias in Syria; (2) a regionalization strategy to incorporate transnational fighters and militias in the war effort; (3) an internationalization strategy to incorporate Russia and balance the United States; and (4) a post-ISIS deterrence strategy to balance against the United States, Turkey and Israel. Iran’s Syria strategy progressively escalated in response to the possible defeat of its ally and the deterioration of its forward deterrence capacities against the United States and Israel. Today, the potential for direct inter-state conflict is rising as proxy warfare declines and Iran attempts to maintain the credibility of its forward deterrence.
Espionage in the eternal city: the CIA, Ukrainian émigrés, and the 1960 Rome Olympic Games

This article examines Central Intelligence Agency activities at international sporting events through a case study on a CIA mission at the 1960 Rome Olympics aimed at Soviet-Ukrainian athletes and ...
A detection-theoretic approach to cocktail-party listening

Cocktail-party listening (CPL) is a key-term referring to difficult listening situations wherein one must "h"" and follow the speech of individual talkers in a crowd. Such situations are commonplace in everyday listening but can be a challenge to study. Important factors affecting performance, such as voice similarity among talkers and uncertainty associated with the dynamic variation of speech, can be difficult to quantify. Spectral and spatial acoustic cues distinguishing talkers are of critical importance but are expressed in different physical units making their relative role difficult to evaluate beyond the particulars of a study. There are also often huge individual differences in listener performance that can complicate the interpretation of results. This paper reviews recent applications of detection theory designed to address these challenges. The distinguishing feature of the approach is that key factors are evaluated in terms of their contribution to the information divergence of talkers, D KL; a single statistic that dictates optimal performance for each task [Lutfi et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 134, 2160–2170 (2013)]. Both published and unpublished studies are reviewed demonstrating the application of the approach to each of the major challenges described above. [Work supported by NIDCD R01-DC001262].Cocktail-party listening (CPL) is a key-term referring to difficult listening situations wherein one must "h"" and follow the speech of individual talkers in a crowd. Such situations are commonplace in everyday listening but can be a challenge to study. Important factors affecting performance, such as voice similarity among talkers and uncertainty associated with the dynamic variation of speech, can be difficult to quantify. Spectral and spatial acoustic cues distinguishing talkers are of critical importance but are expressed in different physical units making their relative role difficult to evaluate beyond the particulars of a study. There are also often huge individual differences in listener performance that can complicate the interpretation of results. This paper reviews recent applications of detection theory designed to address these challenges. The distinguishing feature of the approach is that key factors are evaluated in terms of their contribution to the information divergence of talkers, D KL;...
PLEKHA4/kramer Attenuates Dishevelled Ubiquitination to Modulate Wnt and Planar Cell Polarity Signaling

Summary Wnt signaling pathways direct key physiological decisions in development. Here, we establish a role for a pleckstrin homology domain-containing protein, PLEKHA4, as a modulator of signaling strength in Wnt-receiving cells. PLEKHA4 oligomerizes into clusters at PI(4,5)P2-rich regions of the plasma membrane and recruits the Cullin-3 (CUL3) E3 ubiquitin ligase substrate adaptor Kelch-like protein 12 (KLHL12) to these assemblies. This recruitment decreases CUL3-KLHL12-mediated polyubiquitination of Dishevelled, a central intermediate in canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling. Knockdown of PLEKHA4 in mammalian cells demonstrates that PLEKHA4 positively regulates canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling via these effects on the Dishevelled polyubiquitination machinery. In vivo knockout of the Drosophila melanogaster PLEKHA4 homolog, kramer, selectively affects the non-canonical, planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling pathway. We propose that PLEKHA4 tunes the sensitivities of cells toward the stimulation of Wnt or PCP signaling by sequestering a key E3 ligase adaptor controlling Dishevelled polyubiquitination within PI(4,5)P2-rich plasma membrane clusters.
Recent advances in neuroepigenetic editing

A wealth of studies in the mammalian nervous system indicate the role of epigenetic gene regulation in both basic neurobiological function and disease. However, the relationship between epigenetic regulation and neuropathology is largely correlational due to the presence of mixed cell populations within brain regions and the genome-wide effects of classical approaches to manipulate the epigenome. Locus-specific epigenetic editing allows direct epigenetic regulation of specific genes to elucidate the direct causal relationship between epigenetic modifications and transcription. This review discusses some of the latest innovations in the efficacy and flexibility in this approach that hold promise for neurobiological application.
Youth Documentary Academy: The social practices of filmmaking and media advocacy

Youth Documentary Academy (YDA) is a seven-week documentary workshop in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Through ethnographic research and collaborative filmmaking, I examine documentary production and exhibition as social practices that foster meaningful relationships between media makers and community organisations working for social justice. Between November 2016 and July 2018, I conducted 20 interviews with current and former YDA filmmakers, faculty and community organisers. Many YDA filmmakers produced films through first-person point-of-view testimonials, which explored intimate details of their lives and the issues facing their families and communities. Although this narrative style may individualise systemic injustices, I argue that the affective nature of filmmaking and film exhibition, and the partnerships that YDA developed with community organisations, helped youth realise an advocacy role. For filmmakers, the empathic dialogues that emerged at public screenings of YDA films illuminated the way media have the potential to foster solidarity.
Barriers to ideal transfer of climate change information in developing nations

Global climate change is one of the most pressing crises of the 21st century, with its economic impact anticipated to be in the trillions of dollars, causing major political and social upheaval. Wh...
Assessing multidimensional care coverage for pre-eclampsia in the era of universal health coverage: A pre-post evaluation of the Salud Mesoamérica Initiative.

OBJECTIVE To compare a multidimensional care package for pre-eclampsia/eclampsia in Central American health facilities, before and after implementation of the Salud Mesoamerica Initiative. METHODS An evaluation study was conducted at 67 basic- and comprehensive-level health facilities serving the poorest areas in Honduras, Nicaragua, and Belize. Cases of severe pre-eclampsia or eclampsia were randomly sampled and relevant quality of care data extracted from medical records at baseline (n=111) from January 1, 2011, to March 31, 2013, and at second-phase follow-up (n=249) from June 1, 2015, to September 30, 2017. The primary outcome was evidence of the delivery of multidimensional care for the management of pre-eclampsia/eclampsia. RESULTS The care of 360 women with severe pre-eclampsia or eclampsia was analyzed. Odds of multidimensional care for pre-eclampsia management (P=0.271) increased (although not significantly) in the second-phase follow-up compared to baseline. Multidimensional care was significantly associated with training (P<0.001), basic-level facilities (P<0.001), and higher in Honduras (P=0.001) and Belize (P=0.024) than the reference country of Nicaragua. CONCLUSION Multidimensional care for pre-eclampsia management increased across all facility types, countries, and severity of disease. The Salud Mesoamerica Initiative is a promising model for achieving such quality of care interventions in the era of universal health coverage.
Is White Always Right? Skin Color and Interdating Among Whites

The burgeoning literature on skin color stratification highlights how skin color is associated with disparities in outcomes such as socioeconomic status, health, and intergroup relationships among ethnoracial minorities. However, there is a limited body of work that suggests that darker skin color is also associated with differing outcomes among whites in spite of their position as the socially dominant group of the U.S. This study uses the National Longitudinal Survey of Freshmen to examine how skin color, among whites, relates to their likelihood of dating ethnoracial minorities. The results show that darker skin color is associated with greater odds of dating Latinos and Asians. The results also suggest that there is a non-linear relationship between whites’ skin color and their likelihood of dating blacks. The author argues that because darker skin color connotes lower status due to its affiliation with non-whiteness, darker skin color among whites can lead to greater interactions with ethnoracial minorities. However, there may be an exception when dating blacks. This study highlights a possible underlying mechanism, ethnoracial ambiguity among whites, that shapes current ethnoracial relations, which has long-term implications for the future of intergroup boundaries.
WITHDRAWN: Coauthor Favoritism in the Review of Financial Studies?

The Publisher regrets that this article has been temporarily removed. A replacement will appear as soon as possible in which the reason for the removal of the article will be specified, or the article will be reinstated. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy .
The Blockchain-based Smart Water Harvesting System

Water, a crucial resource for all living beings, is becoming scarce, which results in a shortage of water supply. It also results in inadequate quality water supply. To solve the problem, different water conservation methods like rainwater harvesting are being used. This paper aims to improve the traditional water harvesting technique by automating the process of the use of water from water harvesting tanks using different IoT sensors like nodemcu, water flow sensor, ultrasonic sensor, etc. Also, all the usage of water is stored in the blockchain, which makes the system transparent to all and tamperproof. Therefore, using the proposed method, the wastage of water is reduced as the process of water transfer is automated by using different IoT sensors, and the quality of water is maintained as all the information about the usage of water is monitored through the blockchain.
Dynamic Risk Prediction Using Survival Tree Ensembles with Application to Cystic Fibrosis

With the availability of massive amounts of data from electronic health records and registry databases, incorporating time-varying patient information to improve risk prediction has attracted great attention. To exploit the growing amount of predictor information over time, we develop a unified framework for landmark prediction using survival tree ensembles, where an updated prediction can be performed when new information becomes available. Compared to the conventional landmark prediction, our framework enjoys great flexibility in that the landmark times can be subject-specific and triggered by an intermediate clinical event. Moreover, the nonparametric approach circumvents the thorny issue in model incompatibility at different landmark times. When both the longitudinal predictors and the outcome event time are subject to right censoring, existing tree-based approaches cannot be directly applied. To tackle the analytical challenges, we consider a risk-set-based ensemble procedure by averaging martingale estimating equations from individual trees. Extensive simulation studies are conducted to evaluate the performance of our methods. The methods are applied to the Cystic Fibrosis Patient Registry (CFFPR) data to perform dynamic prediction of lung disease in cystic fibrosis patients and to identify important prognosis factors.
Safety of dexmedetomidine in the cardiac intensive care unit.

Aims Dexmedetomidine is one of the sedative agents recommended by the Society of Critical Care Medicine as a preferred option over benzodiazepines in critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients. Little data exists describing sedation in the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU). The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of adverse events in CICU patients treated with dexmedetomidine. Methods and results This was a retrospective cohort analysis of patients >18 years old admitted to the University of Michigan CICU from June 2014 to October 2019 who received dexmedetomidine therapy. The primary outcome was the composite of adverse events including bradycardia, hypotension, increasing vasopressor/inotrope requirements, and asystole. Secondary outcomes included individual components of the primary outcome. Patients that experienced adverse events were compared to those that did not experience adverse events to identify risk factors for adverse events. A total of 197 patients were included. There were 116 adverse events in 106 patients. Hypotension was the most common adverse event, making up 60.3% of adverse events reported. Increased vasopressor requirement and bradycardia both occurred in 22 patients (18.9%). Asystole occurred in two patients. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels were significantly higher in those experiencing an adverse event (848 pg/mL vs. 431 pg/mL; P = 0.03). Conclusions Patients admitted to the CICU experienced a high rate of adverse events with dexmedetomidine use. Those experiencing adverse events were more likely to have a higher BNP. Future studies should explore the safety of alternative sedative agents to ascertain safe pharmacological options for patients admitted to the CICU.
The CDC HIV Outbreak Coordination Unit: Developing a Standardized, Collaborative Approach to HIV Outbreak Assessment and Response.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state, territorial, and local health departments have expanded efforts to detect and respond to HIV clusters and outbreaks in the United Sta...
An examination of consumer bias against female and minority commercial pilots

Abstract Several studies have examined biases towards gender and ethnic minorities in professional settings, such as medical practices, academia, and aviation. Our research aims to understand consumers' attitudes towards ethnic minorities and female pilots. A better understanding of the impact of customers' perceptions on these minority groups could improve commercial flight operations and support increasing air travel demands. Specifically, this study investigated consumer perceptions of gender and ethnic bias towards commercial airline pilots and flight students in the United States. In a two-experiment design, participants in Study 1 viewed pictures of current female and male commercial pilots of various races. Participants then rated their opinions on the quality of the pilot (e.g. professionalism, flight safety, smoothness of flight, and their confidence in the pilot). In Study 2, participants viewed pictures of student pilots and rated the individual's likeliness to succeed in flight training. The results indicated that participants favored White male pilots in all conditions and that female and ethnic pilots were generally viewed as less favorable. These findings suggest that overt biases are present towards pilots with implications demonstrating that biases influence the hiring processes for female and minority pilots.