cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PUBSUB: An efficient publish/subscribe system

PUBSUB is a versatile, efficient, and scalable publish/subscribe system. This paper describes the architecture of PUBSUB together with some of its current capabilities. A version of PUBSUB optimized for event processing was benchmarked against the publish/subscribe systems BE-Tree and Siena, which also are optimized for event processing. PUBSUB processes events faster than Siena and BE-tree. On our tests, the speedup of the fastest version of PUBSUB relative to Siena was 98% on an average. The speedup range relative to BE-Tree was from 1.23 to 1.48 and averaged 1.36 on the uniform tests and PUBSUB was comparable to BE-tree on the Zipf tests. The faster times in PUBSUB were a result of very efficient data structures used in PUBSUB to store the subscriptions, and the fast matching algorithms developed to match events to subscriptions.
Tunnel Injection into Gate Oxide Traps

An experimental method is described for measuring the density of oxide traps in the gate oxide of an MOS transistor as a function of energy and position near the silicon interface. Measurements are obtained from different oxide growth processes and after Co60 irradiation. The results are related to long-term drift of threshold voltage.
Analysis of Factors Influencing the Comparison of Homocysteine Values between the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and NHANES 1999

Two important changes occurred in the time between the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) (1991-1994) and the later survey (NHANES 1999+) regarding total homocysteine (tHcy), i.e., a change in matrix from serum to plasma and a change in analytical methods. The goals of this study were to determine the magnitude of potential differences between plasma and serum with regard to tHcy concentrations, and between the two analytical methods used in these surveys. Optimally prepared plasma, serum allowed to clot for 30 and 60 min at room temperature and serum allowed to clot for 30 and 60 min and subjected to four freeze-thaw cycles, prepared from blood samples collected from 30 healthy people, were analyzed by both methods. Serum samples had significantly higher tHcy concentrations than plasma samples, and the difference increased with longer clotting time. Freeze-thaw cycles had little or no effect on the variability or bias in the serum sample results. The tHcy results produced by the two analytical methods were significantly different, but consistent across sample types. On average, the results of the method used in NHANES III were lower by 0.64 micromol/L; however, the relative bias varied with tHcy concentration. The tHcy results determined in surplus serum from NHANES III overestimated tHcy concentrations by approximately 10% compared with optimally prepared plasma. The average method bias was 6% between the two analytical methods. On the basis of changes in matrix and methodology, direct comparison of tHcy results between the two surveys is inappropriate.
Template-assisted synthesis of nanogels from Pluronic-modified poly(acrylic acid)

A series of novel polymeric nanogels with core-shell morphology was developed. Block ionomer complexes of comb-graft poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(polypropylene oxide)-b-poly(ethylene oxide)-g-poly(acrylic acid) copolymers (Pluronic-PAA) and divalent metal cations were utilized as micellar templates for the synthesis of nanogels with sizes ranging from 100 to 200 nm in diameter. The Pluronic-PAA nanogels were confirmed to possess ionic cross-linked PAA cores and flexible hydrophilic shells from the Pluronic copolymer chains. The ionic character of the core provided for pH-dependent swelling/collapse behavior of the nanogels. These prepared nanogels are expected to be of utility as carriers for charged therapeutic or diagnostic agents.
Robust detection of atrial fibrillation for a long term telemonitoring system

We present a method to automatically detect atrial fibrillation (AF) for ambulatory monitoring with arbitrary lead placements. We aim for robust AF detection in the face of significant muscle artifact and potentially changing morphology. Our approach is based on the variance of R-R intervals since the QRS spike is the most prominent feature of an ambulatory ECG and the least confounded by muscle noise. Specifically, we use the morphology-independent QRS detector wqrs to compute R-R intervals and variance and then smooth the resulting classifications for further robustness. Experiments on the MIT-BIH AF database (AFDB) show our AF detection algorithm has sensitivity 0.96 with specificity 0.89 which is sufficient for AF screening
A framework for parametric singing voice analysis/synthesis

The singing voice is the most variable and flexible of musical instruments. All voices are capable of producing the common phonemes necessary for language understanding and communication, yet each voice possesses distinctive qualities that are seemingly independent of phonemes and words. The unique acoustic qualities of an individual singer's voice arise from a combination of innate physical factors (e.g., vocal tract and vocal fold physiology) and time-varying characteristics of performance (e.g., pronunciation and musical expression). This research introduces a framework for singing voice analysis/synthesis that takes both physical and expressive factors into account by estimating source-filter voice model parameters (representing the physiology) and modeling the dynamic behavior of these features over time using a hidden Markov model (to represent aspects of expression). Historically, source and filter model features have been calculated independently, but here they are estimated jointly for better modelling of source-filter dependencies common in singing. Additionally, the vocal tract filter is estimated on a warped frequency scale, which more accurately reflects the frequency sensitivity of human perception. This framework has many possible applications, including singing voice analysis/synthesis and singer identification.
(La,Sr)MnO3–(Ce,Gd)O2−x composite cathodes for solid oxide fuel cells

Abstract Impedance spectroscopy was used to measure the oxygen reaction kinetics of composite cathodes consisting of La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 (LSM) and Ce0.8Gd0.2O2−x (GDC) on yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and GDC electrolytes. The LSM–GDC electrodes are analogous to the widely used LSM–YSZ cathodes but have potential advantages since LSM is non-reactive with GDC and the ionic conductivity of GDC is higher than that of YSZ. LSM–GDC cathodes with 0–60 wt.% GDC were characterized over a temperature range of 600–750°C at oxygen partial pressures between 10−3 and 1 atm. Using YSZ electrolytes, the low-current interfacial resistance was smallest for 50 wt.% GDC, where the value was 0.49 Ω cm2 at 750°C. This is two to three times lower than that for LSM–YSZ composite cathodes on YSZ with similar structure. The majority of the LSM–GDC cathodes appeared to be limited by adsorption, as well as oxygen ion transfer into the electrolyte.
Borrelia burgdorferi ospC Heterogeneity among Human and Murine Isolates from a Defined Region of Northern Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania: Lack of Correlation with Invasive and Noninvasive Genotypes

B. burgdorferi invasiveness correlates with ospC genotype. To test this hypothesis and whether identical genotypes infect humans and small mammals in specific sites, B. burgdorferi ospC heterogeneity was tested among isolates from northern Maryland and southern Pennsylvania. Six culture-positive patients allowed collection of small animals from their properties, and spirochetes from animals trapped within 300 yards of each patient's home were isolated. 3′ ospC sequences were compared to reference sequences. Of the 7 human and 15 mouse DNA templates that produced reliable sequences, all clustered with references into only four and seven distinct clades, respectively. A human and a mouse isolate with the same ospC were seen in only one locality, and five of six sites contained two or more B. burgdorferi ospC clones. Four invasive patient isolates and six small mammal isolates clustered with “noninvasive” reference ospC genotypes. A high degree of ospC diversity exists among B. burgdorferi isolates in Maryland and Pennsylvania, even in narrowly defined geographic localities. Dissemination in mice and humans by noninvasive ospC types contradicts the ospC invasiveness hypothesis. Alternative genetic markers for B. burgdorferi disseminated disease should be investigated.
Secondary dystonia in a botulinum toxin clinic: clinical characteristics, neuroanatomical substrate and comparison with idiopathic dystonia

The analysis of patients with secondary dystonia has been valuable to explore the anatomical, pharmacological and physiological bases of this disorder. The goal of this study is to compare the clinical characteristics of patients with primary and secondary dystonia and analyze the neuroanatomical bases of a subgroup of patients with lesion-induced dystonia. We identified patients evaluated in our Botulinum Toxin Clinic from 1/2000 to 7/2009 with an ICD code for "dystonia". Medical records of all subjects were reviewed, recording demographic, clinical, therapeutic and neuroimaging data. A total of 230 patients were included in the study. Idiopathic/primary dystonia was diagnosed in 162 and secondary dystonia in 58, while in 10 the etiology was uncertain. We found a female predominance (2.4:1 and 1.9:1 for primary and secondary dystonia, respectively). The cervical region was most commonly affected in primary dystonia and the limbs in secondary cases. The age at presentation was higher in primary (54.4 ± 14.1) than secondary (49 ± 17.9) dystonia. Among patients with secondary dystonia, a focal lesion was the presumed etiology in 32, with localizing diagnostic studies available in 16. The most common lesions were strokes involving the corticospinal pathway. All of those patients exhibited limb dystonia, except one with cervical dystonia following a thalamic infarct. In conclusion, primary and secondary dystonias are more prevalent in women, suggesting a sex-related predisposition to the development of this movement disorder. Lesion-induced dystonia most frequently involves the limbs and is caused by lesions in the cerebral cortex and subcortical white matter.
Effects of stent design and atherosclerotic plaque composition on arterial wall biomechanics.

Purpose: To examine the solid mechanical effects of varying stent design andatherosclerotic plaque stiffness on the biomechanical environment induced in a diseasedartery wall model.Methods: Computational modeling techniques were employed to investigate the finalradius of the lumen and artery wall stresses after stent implantation. Two stent designswere studied (one stiff and one less stiff). The stenotic artery was modeledasanaxisymmetrical diseased vessel with a 20% stenosis by diameter. The material propertiesof the diseased tissue in the artery models varied. Atherosclerotic plaques half as stiff(0.53), of equal stiffness (1.03), or twice as stiff (2.03) as the artery wall were investigated.Results: Final lumen radius was dependent on stent design, and the stiffer stent deformedthe artery to an approximately 10% greater radius than the more compliant design.Alternatively, circumferential stress levels were dependent on both stent design andplaque material properties. Overall, the stiffer stent subjected the artery wall to muchhigher stress values than the more compliant design, with differences in peak values of0.50, 0.31, and 0.09 MPa for the 2.03, 1.03, and 0.53 stiff plaques, respectively.Conclusion: Evidence suggests that a judicious choice of stent design can minimize stresswhile maintaining a patent lumen in stenotic arteries. If confronted with a rigid, calcifiedplaque, stent design is more important, as design differences can impose dramaticallydifferent stress fields, while still providing arterial patency. Alternatively, stent design isnot as much of an issue when treating a soft, lipid-laden plaque, as stress fields do not varysignificantly among stent designs.J Endovasc Ther 2008;15:643–654Key words: experimental model, artery wall model, stent, stent design, stress, restenosis,atherosclerotic plaque, finite element analysis
Electrodeposited Biaxially Textured Buffer Layers for YBCO Superconductors

Non-vacuum electrodeposition (ED) was used to prepare simplified Gd2O3/Gd2Zr2O7 and CeO2/Gd2Zr2O7 buffer layers on a Ni-W substrate. Post-annealing conditions of electrodeposited precursor films were optimized to obtain high-quality biaxially textured buffer layers. The buffer layers were characterized by X-ray diffraction, optical profiling, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The effect of the cap layer thickness on the surface morphology and texture of the buffers was also studied. The microstructure of CeO2/Gd2Zr2O7 was analysed and compared to Gd2O3/Gd2Zr2O7. The high-resolution TEM shows biaxially textured crystalline elctrodeposited Gd2O3 and CeO2 cap layers on the electrodeposited Gd2Zr2O7 layers without any defects. YBa2Cu3O7-delta (YBCO) superconductor was deposited by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) on the simplified ED-Gd2O3/Gd2Zr2O7 and ED-CeO2/Gd2Zr2O7 buffers. Transport current density of 3.3 MA/cm2 at 77 K was obtained for PLD YBCO deposited on ED-Gd2O3/Gd2Zr2O7 buffer layers.
A Proposal to Eliminate Redundant Terminology for Intra-Species Groups

Many new terms have come into use for intra-species groups of animals defined with genetic criteria including subspecies, evolutionarily significant units, evolutionary units, management units, metapopulations, distinct population segments, populations, and subpopulations. These terms have redundant meanings and can lead to confusion for biologists, managers, and policy makers. I propose that for wildlife management we can simplify intra-species terminology and use only the terms subspecies, populations, and subpopulations. These 3 terms have roots in evolutionary and population biology and can incorporate genetic, demographic, and geographic considerations.
Optical properties of wounds: diabetic versus healthy tissue

Diffuse photon density wave (DPDW) methodology at Near Infrared frequencies has been used to calculate absorption and scattering from wounds of healthy and diabetic rats. The diffusion equation for semi-infinite media is being used for calculating the absorption and scattering coefficients based on measurements of phase and amplitude with a frequency domain device. Differences observed during the course of healing in the two populations can be correlated to the delayed healing observed in diabetics. These results are encouraging and further work will focus on the implementation of this device to the clinical setting as a monitoring tool in chronic diabetic wounds.
Purification and characterization of a methylene urea-hydrolyzing enzyme from Rhizobium radiobacter (Agrobacterium tumefaciens)

Slow-release fertilizers are gaining acceptance to increase fertilizer use efficiency and reduce environmental impact. The release of nitrogen from methylene urea, a common slow release N fertilizer, is controlled by microbial decomposition. An enzyme hydrolyzing slowrelease nitrogen fertilizer, methylene urea, was purified from Rhizobium radiobacter (Agrobacterium tumefaciens) to homogeneity using a four-step purification procedure with an overall yield of 3%. The active enzyme has a molecular mass of approximately 180 kDa determined by size exclusion chromatography, and the SDS page of the purified protein indicated three subunits of different sizes (62, 34 and 32 kDa). The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the 62 kDa fragment indicates identity with urease subunits from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (73%) and Helicobacter pylori (71%). However, for the internal amino acid sequences of the 62 kDa fragment no matches with known proteins were found. Some internal peptides in the smaller subunits (32 and 34 kDa) are homologous to urease subunits and unknown proteins in Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Based on the kinetic properties, substrate selectivity, and inhibition characteristics, the novel enzyme (MUase) is an intracellular enzyme complex with urease activity. The enzymatic mechanism of methylene urea breakdown was studied using a novel LC‐ MS method for MU analysis, which indicates that all cold-water soluble nitrogen forms of methylene urea are subjected to hydrolysis, and the hydrolysis proceeds via methylurea, urea and other yet unidentified hydrolysis-products, suggesting that the isolated enzyme complex performs a multistep hydrolysis. The microbiological and molecular data is useful in determining the soil factors affecting the efficacy of methylene urea as a slow release fertilizer in agricultural production systems. q 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
RESERVOIR FLOODPLAINS SUPPORT DISTINCT FISH ASSEMBLAGES

Reservoirs constructed on floodplain rivers are unique because the upper reaches of the impoundment may include extensive floodplain environments. Moreover, reservoirs that experience large periodic water level fluctuations as part of their operational objectives seasonally inundate and dewater floodplains in their upper reaches, partly mimicking natural inundations of river floodplains. In four flood control reservoirs in Mississippi, USA, we explored the dynamics of connectivity between reservoirs and adjacent floodplains and the characteristics of fish assemblages that develop in reservoir floodplains relative to those that develop in reservoir bays. Although fish species richness in floodplains and bays were similar, species composition differed. Floodplains emphasized fish species largely associated with backwater shallow environments, often resistant to harsh environmental conditions. Conversely, dominant species in bays represented mainly generalists that benefit from the continuous connectivity between the bay and the main reservoir. Floodplains in the study reservoirs provided desirable vegetated habitats at lower water level elevations, earlier in the year, and more frequently than in bays. Inundating dense vegetation in bays requires raising reservoir water levels above the levels required to reach floodplains. Therefore, aside from promoting distinct fish assemblages within reservoirs and helping promote diversity in regulated rivers, reservoir floodplains are valued because they can provide suitable vegetated habitats for fish species at elevations below the normal pool, precluding the need to annually flood upland vegetation that would inevitably be impaired by regular flooding. Published 2013. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Avoiding saturation by trajectory reparameterization

The problem of trajectory tracking in the presence of input constraints is considered. The desired trajectory is reparameterized on a slower time scale in order to avoid input saturation. Necessary conditions that the reparameterizing function must satisfy are derived. The deviation from the nominal trajectory is minimized by formulating the problem as an optimal control problem.
Microfabricated calibration tool for direct shear stiffness measurements with applications in cell mechanics

We have developed a novel microelectromechanical system (MEMS) calibration tool that for the first time allows direct calibration of widely used traction force microscopy (TFM) substrates used for cell mechanics measurements. MEMS calibration tool (MCT) designs incorporate both capacitive force sensing and electrostatic actuation. The offset sensor detects vertical interaction with the sample to monitor preload with a resolution of approximately 1fF/µm while the actuator generates up to 100µN of shear forces on the substrate. We have characterized 40∶1 Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer with several MCT devices and successfully treated devices with a hydrophobic coating to enable characterization of soft hydrogels used in cellular experiments. When used to characterize these soft hydrogels, the MCT improves the calibration accuracy, spatial force resolution, and ease of analysis for examining force generation in cells.
Design and Optimization of Thermomechanical Actuator via Contour Shaping

In this paper we disclose how to contour the beams of micro-scale thermomechanical actuators (TMAs) in order to enhance the actuator’s thermal and mechanical performance. In this approach, we vary the cross section of the driving Joule heated beams over the length of the beam. Using this approach, (1) the stored mechanical energy and axial stiffness of beam may be modified to achieve an optimized force-displacement relationship, (2) the maximum achievable thermal strain of a driving beam may be increased by 29%, (3) actuator stroke may be increased by a factor of 3 or more, (4) identical force or displacement characteristics may be achieved with 90% reduction in power. This paper presents the theory and models used to predict the thermal and mechanical behavior of the actuator. The theory and models were used to create a deterministic link between the actuator’s design parameters and the actuator’s performance characteristics. The theory and models were combined within a design tool that shows less than 5% error from non-linear Finite Element Analysis simulations. The design tool has been used to generate plots that enable designers to (1) understand the qualitative relationships between design parameters and performance and (2) select first-pass design parameters. The theory was used to create a design tool, posted at http://psdam.mit.edu, that may be used to perform qualitative design assessment and optimization.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Spike timing and visual processing in the retinogeniculocortical pathway.

Although the visual response properties of neurons along the retinogeniculocortical pathway have been studied for decades, relatively few studies have examined how individual neurons along the pathway communicate with each other. Recent studies in the cat ( Felis domestica ) now show that the strength of these connections is very dynamic and spike timing plays an important part in determining whether action potentials will be transferred from pre– to postsynaptic cells. This review explores recent progress in our understanding of what role spike timing has in establishing different patterns of geniculate activity and how these patterns ultimately drive the cortex.
Ankyrin domains across the Tree of Life

Ankyrin (ANK) repeats are one of the most common amino acid sequence motifs that mediate interactions between proteins of myriad sizes, shapes and functions. We assess their widespread abundance in Bacteria and Archaea for the first time and demonstrate in Bacteria that lifestyle, rather than phylogenetic history, is a predictor of ANK repeat abundance. Unrelated organisms that forge facultative and obligate symbioses with eukaryotes show enrichment for ANK repeats in comparison to free-living bacteria. The reduced genomes of obligate intracellular bacteria remarkably contain a higher fraction of ANK repeat proteins than other lifestyles, and the number of ANK repeats in each protein is augmented in comparison to other bacteria. Taken together, these results reevaluate the concept that ANK repeats are signature features of eukaryotic proteins and support the hypothesis that intracellular bacteria broadly employ ANK repeats for structure-function relationships with the eukaryotic host cell.
Democracy and Economic Growth: A Historical Perspective

Recent studies appear to show that democracy has no robust association with economic growth. Yet all such work assumes that the causal effect of democracy can be measured by a country's regime status in a particular year (T), which is correlated with its growth performance in a subsequent period (T+l). The authors argue that democracy must be understood as a stock, rather than a level, measure. That is, a country's growth performance is affected by the number of years it has been democratic, in addition to the degree of democracy experienced during that period. In this fashion, democracy is reconceptualized as a historical, rather than a contemporary, variable—with the assumption that long-run historical patterns may help scholars to understand present trends. The authors speculate that these secular-historical influences operate through four causal pathways, each of which may be understood as a type of capital: physical capital, human capital, social capital, and political capital. This argument is tested in a crosscountry analysis and is shown to be robust in a wide variety of specifications and formats.
Experimental studies of SAW and STW acceleration sensitivity

Comparative studies of the normal acceleration sensitivities of 360 MHz SAW and STW two-port resonators have been performed. The resonators were fabricated on the same ST-cut wafer to insure the clearest comparison. The results show that the normal acceleration sensitivities of both types of devices can easily be improved one order magnitude by selecting the appropriate aspect-ratio of the device substrate and/or mounting system. Based on these results, the normal acceleration sensitivities of the STW resonators have been further improved through modifications to the existing resonators, resulting in normal acceleration sensitivity as low as 2.93/spl times/10/sup -10//g. The measured values of the STW normal acceleration sensitivities are compared to that calculated for the case of simple supports along rectangular edges.
Forelimb kinematics during swimming in the pig-nosed turtle, Carettochelys insculpta, compared with other turtle taxa: rowing versus flapping, convergence versus intermediacy

Animals that swim using appendages do so by way of rowing and/or flapping motions. Often considered discrete categories, rowing and flapping are more appropriately regarded as points along a continuum. The pig-nosed turtle, Carettochelys insculpta, is unusual in that it is the only freshwater turtle to have limbs modified into flippers and swim via synchronous forelimb motions that resemble dorsoventral flapping, traits that evolved independently from their presence in sea turtles. We used high-speed videography to quantify forelimb kinematics in C. insculpta and a closely related, highly aquatic rower (Apalone ferox). Comparisons of our new data with those previously collected for a generalized freshwater rower (Trachemys scripta) and a flapping sea turtle (Caretta caretta) allow us to: (1) more precisely quantify and characterize the range of limb motions used by flappers versus rowers, and (2) assess whether the synchronous forelimb motions of C. insculpta can be classified as flapping (i.e. whether they exhibit forelimb kinematics and angles of attack more similar to closely related rowing species or more distantly related flapping sea turtles). We found that the forelimb kinematics of previously recognized rowers (T. scripta and A. ferox) were most similar to each other, but that those of C. insculpta were more similar to rowers than to flapping C. caretta. Nevertheless, of the three freshwater species, C. insculpta was most similar to flapping C. caretta. 'Flapping' in C. insculpta is achieved through humeral kinematics very different from those in C. caretta, with C. insculpta exhibiting significantly more anteroposterior humeral motion and protraction, and significantly less dorsoventral humeral motion and depression. Based on several intermediate kinematic parameters and angle of attack data, C. insculpta may in fact represent a synchronous rower or hybrid rower-flapper, suggesting that traditional views of C. insculpta as a flapper should be revised.
A New Method for Estimation of the Sensible Heat Flux under Unstable Conditions Using Satellite Vector Winds

It has been difficult to estimate the sensible heat flux at the air‐sea interface using satellite data because of the difficulty in remotely observing the sea level air temperature. In this study, a new method is developed for estimating the sensible heat flux using satellite observations under unstable conditions. The basic idea of the method is that the air‐sea temperature difference is related to the atmospheric convergence. Employed data include the wind convergence, sea level humidity, and sea surface temperature. These parameters can be derived from the satellite wind vectors, Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) precipitable water, and Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) observations, respectively. The authors selected a region east of Japan as the test area where the atmospheric convergence appears all year. Comparison between the heat fluxes derived from the satellite data and from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) data suggests that the rms difference between the two kinds of sensible heat fluxes has low values in the sea area east of Japan with a minimum of 10.0 W m22. The time series of the two kinds of sensible heat fluxes at 10 locations in the area are in agreement, with rms difference ranging between 10.0 and 14.1 W m22 and correlation coefficient being higher than 0.7. In addition, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard SatelliteBased Surface Turbulent Flux (GSSTF) was used for a further comparison. The low-rms region with high correlation coefficient (.0.7) was also found in the region east of Japan with a minimum of 12.2 W m22. Considering the nonlinearity in calculation of the sensible monthly means, the authors believe that the comparison with GSSTF is consistent with that with NCEP data.
Discussion on Iterative Algorithm for Hydroenergy of Hydropower Stations

Through deep analysis on the iterative process of hydroenergy calculation of hydropower stations,this paper summarizes the unidirectional law of iterative locus of hydroenergy calculation and brings forward the iterative algorithm of water level unidirectional approach-range attenuation using one dimensional search principle. The algorithm not only ensures the utter astringency of the iteration,but also considers the convergence speed. And application indicates its good effectiveness.
Signaling via pattern recognition receptors NOD2 and TLR2 contributes to immunomodulatory control of lethal pneumovirus infection.

Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) engage microbial components in the lung, although their role in providing primary host defense against respiratory virus infection is not fully understood. We have previously shown that Gram-positive Lactobacillus plantarum (Lp) administered to the respiratory tract promotes full and sustained protection in response to an otherwise lethal mouse pneumovirus (PVM) infection, a robust example of heterologous immunity. While Lp engages PRRs TLR2 and NOD2 in ex vivo signaling assays, we found that Lp-mediated protection was unimpaired in single gene-deleted TLR2(-/-) and NOD2(-/-) mice. Here we demonstrate substantial loss of Lp-mediated protection in a double gene-deleted NOD2(-/-)TLR2(-/-) strain. Furthermore, we demonstrate protection against PVM infection by administration of the bi-functional NOD2-TLR2 agonist, CL-429. The bi-functional NOD2-TLR2 ligand CL-429 not only suppresses virus-induced inflammation, it is significantly more effective at preventing lethal infection than equivalent amounts of mono-molecular TLR2 and NOD2 agonists. Interestingly, and in contrast to biochemical NOD2 and/or TLR2 agonists, Lp remained capable of eliciting primary proinflammatory responses from NOD2(-/-)TLR2(-/-) mice in vivo and from alveolar macrophages challenged ex vivo. Taken together, we conclude that coordinate engagement of NOD2 and TLR2 constitutes a key step in the genesis of Lp-mediated protection from a lethal respiratory virus infection, and represents a critical target for modulation of virus-induced inflammatory pathology.
Feasibility and Reliability of the System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth (SOPLAY) for Measuring Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity in Children Visiting an Interactive Children’s Museum Exhibition

Purpose:To test the feasibility and reliability of a direct observation method for measuring moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in children visiting an interactive children’s museum exhi...
Zika Virus Infection and Microcephaly: Evidence for a Causal Link

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus related to the Dengue, yellow fever and West Nile viruses. Since the explosive outbreaks of ZIKV in Latin America in 2015, a sudden increase in the number of microcephaly cases has been observed in infants of women who were pregnant when they contracted the virus. The severity of this condition raises grave concerns, and extensive studies on the possible link between ZIKV infection and microcephaly have been conducted. There is substantial evidence suggesting that there is a causal link between ZIKV and microcephaly, however, future studies are warranted to solidify this association. To summarize the most recent evidence on this issue and provide perspectives for future studies, we reviewed the literature to identify existing evidence of the causal link between ZIKV infection and microcephaly within research related to the epidemics, laboratory diagnosis, and possible mechanisms.
Inhibition of Human Lymphoma Cell Growth by the PKC-Beta Selective Inhibitor Enzastaurin (LY317615) in Combination with Multiple Therapeutic Agents.

Previous studies in our lab have shown that the PKC-beta inhibitor, enzastaurin (LY317615), when used to treat a panel of human diffuse large cell lymphoma (DLCL) lines, was able to induce cell death in vitro and substantially reduce tumor growth in xenograft assays. These findings support the hypothesis that activation of PKC contributes to tumor cell survival and proliferation, which has been implicated in the pathogenesis of human B cell lymphomas. Specifically, PKC-beta activation is increased in tumor cells from patients with poor prognosis DLCL, suggesting that PKC-beta may be a target for therapeutic intervention. In the present study, we have explored the interaction of enzastaurin with a panel of well characterized therapeutic agents to evaluate whether its anti-tumor activity can potentially be enhanced. Drugs were chosen for analysis based either on known single agent activity in lymphoma, or by preclinical evaluation indicating potential synergy with enzastaurin. For in vitro culture assays (48–72 hr treatment), the addition of gemcitabine, rapamycin, or bortezomib, increased the cytotoxicity of enzastaurin from 2 to 7 fold. This effect was evident with multiple human DLCL cell lines, (OCI-Ly3, 7, 10, 19, and SUDHL-4, and 6), as well as two independent primary DLCL cultures. For in vivo studies, subcutaneous transplantation of the DLCL cell line OCI-Ly19, (previously engineered to express luciferase which allows for real time in vivo imaging), or a primary DLCL isolate, into immune deficient NOD/SCID mice formed reproducible tumors. Recipient animals were separated into uniform cohorts when the tumors were of
Complex refractive index measurements for BaF2 and CaF2 via single-angle infrared reflectance spectroscopy

Abstract We have re-investigated the optical constants n and k for the homologous series of inorganic salts barium fluoride (BaF2) and calcium fluoride (CaF2) using a single-angle near-normal incidence reflectance device in combination with a calibrated Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. Our results are in good qualitative agreement with most previous works. However, certain features of the previously published data near the reststrahlen band exhibit distinct differences in spectral characteristics. Notably, our measurements of BaF2 do not include a spectral feature in the ∼250 cm−1 reststrahlen band that was previously published. Additionally, CaF2 exhibits a distinct wavelength shift relative to the model derived from previously published data. We confirmed our results with recently published works that use significantly more modern instrumentation and data reduction techniques.
Work and sleep among transport operators: Disparities and implications for safety

Abstract The transportation and warehousing sector employs nearly 5 million individuals, many of whom are transport operators. Transport operators have experienced changes in work organization in recent decades; however, little is known about the impacts of these changes and how these impacts differ between operator types. Therefore, using two directly comparable transport operator datasets – one of all transport operator types by the National Sleep Foundation, and another of exclusively long-haul truck drivers called the Trucker Sleep Disorders Survey (TSLDS) – we sought for the first time to evaluate disparities between transport operators’ work organization; sleep characteristics; sleep problems and sleep disorders; and safety outcomes. We also explored associations between work organization and sleep characteristics, problems, and disorders with safety outcomes. Many significant differences were found across transport operator sectors. In particular, the TSLDS long-haul truck drivers largely fared worse when compared to other transport operators across a number of characteristics, including shift length, shift work, sleep latency, and the number of safety outcomes due to sleepiness. These cross-sectoral differences suggest the need for tailored interventions to address the unique configurations of demographic, work organization, sleep, and safety characteristics found in different transport operator sectors. However, across all transport operator sectors, latent sleep disorders appeared ubiquitous; thus, universal efforts to screen, diagnose, and treat sleep disorders should be a public health imperative. Differences were found transport operator in patterns of significant associations between work organization and sleep with safety outcomes, further suggesting the need for tailored interventions. However, sleep quality, sleep sufficiency, and whether one's workday schedule allowed adequate sleep were the most strongly associated with safety, suggesting that addressing these issues could benefit many transport operators. Further research, including a national study of transport operators, would help guide future interventions to enhance safety.
A Novel IMP1 Inhibitor, BTYNB, Targets c-Myc and Inhibits Melanoma and Ovarian Cancer Cell Proliferation

The oncofetal mRNA-binding protein, IMP1 or insulin-like growth factor-2 mRNA-binding protein 2 (IGF2BP1), binds to and stabilizes c-Myc, β-TrCP1, and other oncogenic mRNAs, leading to increased expression of the proteins encoded by its target mRNAs. IMP1 is frequently overexpressed in cancer and is strongly correlated with a poor prognosis and reduced survival in melanoma, ovarian, breast, colon, and lung cancer. While IMP1 is an attractive anticancer drug target, there are no small molecule inhibitors of IMP1. A fluorescence anisotropy-based assay was used to screen 160,000 small molecules for their ability to inhibit IMP1 binding to fluorescein-labeled c-Myc mRNA. The small molecule, BTYNB, was identified as a potent and selective inhibitor of IMP1 binding to c-Myc mRNA. In cells, BTYNB downregulates several mRNA transcripts regulated by IMP1. BTYNB destabilizes c-Myc mRNA, resulting in downregulation of c-Myc mRNA and protein. BTYNB downregulates β-TrCP1 mRNA and reduces activation of nuclear transcriptional factors-kappa B (NF-κB). The oncogenic translation regulator, eEF2, emerged as a new IMP1 target mRNA, enabling BTYNB to inhibit tumor cell protein synthesis. BTYNB potently inhibited proliferation of IMP1-containing ovarian cancer and melanoma cells with no effect in IMP1-negative cells. Overexpression of IMP1 reversed BTYNB inhibition of cell proliferation. BTYNB completely blocked anchorage-independent growth of melanoma and ovarian cancer cells in colony formation assays. With its ability to target c-Myc and to inhibit proliferation of difficult-to-target melanomas and ovarian cancer cells, and with its unique mode of action, BTYNB is a promising small molecule for further therapeutic evaluation and mechanistic studies.
Motor Skill Learning and the Development of Visual Perception Processes Supporting Action Identification.

This study examined physical training and observational training influences on motor learning and the development of visual discrimination processes. Participants were trained on a bimanual task (r...
Searching for a pulse

The Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) is looking for neutron stars and pulsars from its perch on the International Space Station. Keith Gendreau and Zaven Arzoumanian provide an overview of its capabilities.
Best Nitrogen and Irrigation Management Practices for Citrus Production in Sandy Soils

Drinking water monitoring data have indicated anincrease in nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) concentration ingroundwater in some parts of the citrus production region ofFlorida. A proactive, incentive-based program of developingcrop-specific best management practices (BMP) began with theFlorida N-BMP legislation passed in 1994. A combination ofcareful irrigation and nitrogen (N) management is needed toimprove N uptake efficiency and to minimize potential leaching ofnitrate (NO3-N) to the groundwater. An improved Nmanagement practice is considered as a BMP, only if that practiceis proved to decrease NO3-N leaching into groundwater incommercial groves without adversely impacting the economics ofproduction. Therefore, long-term evaluation of horticulturalresponses as well as monitoring of groundwater NO3-N wereconducted in five commercial groves representing different soiltypes, citrus variety and rootstock, tree age, and culturalpractices to determine the impact of changes in N managementand/or irrigation scheduling. Groundwater NO3-N, leafnutrient concentrations, fruit yield and fruit quality weremonitored for 15 months under the growers' routine managementand, subsequently for 48 months, with improved N and irrigationmanagement practices. The N management practices evaluated inthis study included broadcast application of a combination ofwater soluble and slow release granular products, fertigation,and a combination of foliar application and fertigation. Irrigation management was improved by using tensiometer set pointof 10 and 15 cbar. This article presents the fruit yield, andconcentrations of N, P, K in six-month spring flush during thestudy period. The study showed that 5 to 8 yr old Valenciatrees on Volkamar lemon rootstock produced high quality fruit inthe range of 59 to 81 Mg ha-1 with 168 kg N ha-1 asfertigation combined with improved irrigation scheduling. Fruityield of 36 yr old Valencia orange trees on Rough lemonrootstock was greater with application of 180 kg N ha-1 yr-1 as fertigation compared to that of the trees whichreceived a similar rate of N as three broadcast applications ofgranular product. Fertilizer program comprising three foliarapplications of N using low biuret urea to deliver 66 kg N ha-1 yr-1 and an additional 76 kg N ha-1yr-1as fertigation was the most effective for decreasing the surficialgroundwater NO3-N while maintaining optimal fruit productionand nutritional status of the leaves. This study demonstratedthat economically and technically feasible N-BMPs can bedeveloped for citrus grown on sandy soils with a combination ofimproved N management and irrigation scheduling.
Predicting a Country’s Growth: A First Look

In this chapter, we run different algorithm techniques to identify the algorithms that best predict growth. We show how machine learning can be used to validate different growth models. We suggest that validated algorithms enhance the confidence academics should place on any given theoretical growth model. We then show how machine learning can help researchers understand what kinds of concepts may make theoretical growth models more complete.
Modeling Health Care Expenditures and Use

Health care expenditures and use are challenging to model because these dependent variables typically have distributions that are skewed with a large mass at zero. In this article, we describe estimation and interpretation of the effects of a natural experiment using two classes of nonlinear statistical models: one for health care expenditures and the other for counts of health care use. We extend prior analyses to test the effect of the ACA's young adult expansion on three different outcomes: total health care expenditures, office-based visits, and emergency department visits. Modeling the outcomes with a two-part or hurdle model, instead of a single-equation model, reveals that the ACA policy increased the number of office-based visits but decreased emergency department visits and overall spending.
Bacterial Glycosyltransferase-mediated Cell-surface Chemoenzymatic Glycan Editing: Methods and Applications

Chemoenzymatic glycan editing that modifies glycan structures directly on the cell surface has emerged as a complementary tool to metabolic oligosaccharide engineering. In this article, we report the discovery that three bacterial enzymes − Pasteurella multocida α2-3-sialyltransferase M144D mutant (Pm2,3ST-M144D), Photobacterium damsel α2-6-sialyltransferase (Pd2,6ST) and Helicobacter mustelae α1-2-fucosyltransferase (Hm1,2FT)− can serve as highly efficient tools for cell-surface glycan editing. Among these three enzymes, the two sialyltransferases were also found to be tolerant to large substituents introduced to the C-5 position of the cytidine monophosphate N-acetylneuraminic acid donor, including biotin and fluorescent dyes. Combining these enzymes with our previously discovered Helicobacter pylori α1-3-FT, we developed a live cell-based assay to probe host-cell glycan-mediated influenza A virus (IAV) infection including both wild-type and mutant strains of human H1N1 and H3N2 influenza subtypes. At high SiaNAcα2-6-Gal levels, the ability of a viral strain to induce the host cell death is positively correlated with the SiaNAcα2-6-Gal binding affinity of its haemagglutinin. Surprisingly, the creation of sLeX on the host cell surface via in situα1-3-Fuc editing also exacerbated the killing induced by several wild-type IAV strains as well as a mutant known as HK68-MTA. Structural alignment of HAs from the wild-type HK68 and HK68-MTA revealed the formation of a putative hydrogen bond between Trp222 of HA-HK68-MTA and the C-4 hydroxyl group of the α1-3-linked fucose of sLeX. This interaction is likely to be responsible for the better binding affinity of HA-HK68-MTA to sLeX and accordingly the enhanced host-cell killing compared with the wild-type HK68.
An Anonymous Access Authentication Scheme for VANETs Based on ID-Based Group Signature

As one of the hottest research area in wireless networks, vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANETs) can significantly improve the efficiency of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) and life safety. However, VANETs have to face some security issues and challenges. The security of message transmission and privacy protection during communication still present practical concerns to the deployment of VANETs. Anonymous authentication is one of the key security requirements in VANETs. Though many authentication approaches have been proposed, the scheme that can achieve both security and efficiency is still needed. In this paper, we propose a novel efficient secure authentication scheme through the combination of group signature and identity based (ID-based) signature. The complete anonymous authentication process is elaborated. We also employ pseudonyms mechanism to ensure privacy preservation during authentication. It can be analyzed and proved that our proposed scheme can meet the security and efficiency requirements of VANETs well.