cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
To Be or Not Be a (Functional) Antibody Against TB

In this issue of Cell, Lu et al. provide important insights on the efficacy of human antibodies to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and on how functional heterogeneity of the antibody response may explain a century of contradictory evidence for the role of humoral immunity in defense against tuberculosis.
Heritage or Imperial Violence: A Hidden History of Early Ming Princely Acquisition of Art

The bequeathing of property within a royal family is ostensibly a clean transfer governed by clear legal codes. In the case of the Ming imperial court, many assume that imperial collections were commonly gifted from the cosmopolitan capital to the peripheral princedoms. A long-standing hypothesis holds that the first Ming emperor, Hongwu (r. 1368–98) bestowed a collection of fourth- to fourteenth-century canonical paintings and calligraphies to his sons Zhu Gang (1358–98) and Zhu Tan (1370–89) upon their enfeoffment ceremonies, but a variety of legal and cultural practices could have muddled this seemingly straightforward transaction from father to son.This paper unravels the secret of princely art acquisitions in the early Ming. It challenges existing scholarship on the transmission patterns by examining both the alleged enfeoffment gifts from Hongwu as well as multiple art confiscations during the 1390s. Zhu Gang in fact did not receive most of the artworks from his father, but seized them from several ...
X-Ray microanalysis of mitochondrial deposits in ischemic myocardium

The x-ray microanalysis technique was used to determine the chemical composition of intramitochondrial electron-dense deposits in ischemic myocardial cells. Semi-thin sections were cut from Aralditeembedded tissue and analyzed in a scanning electron microscope equipped with energy- and wavelength-dispersive spectrometers. The energy dispersive spectrum revealed calcium and phosphorus peaks over many mitochondrial deposits. Peak to background ratios of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium obtained with the wavelength dispersive spectrometer were 1.7, 8.8 and 1.2, respectively. There was no consistent relationship in the characteristic peaks of calcium and phosphorus in a given mitochondrial granule. Magnesium appears to be negligible, except in some mitochondrial deposits which lacked calcium, where it was present with a peak to background ratio of two. These results suggest formation of calcium or magnesium phosphate in the mitochondria during ischemia. X-ray microanalysis can provide detailed information on subcellular electrolyte distribution in normal and ischemic myocardial cells and should be attempted with improved methods of tissue preparation.
Shear-induced interfacial assembly of Janus particles

Numerical simulations demonstrate that shearing a cluster of randomly oriented Janus spheres adsorbed at the interface between two immiscible fluids drives their assembly into ordered chains due to the formation of capillary dipoles and the resulting interparticle capillary-induced interactions.
Recombinant Allergen Production in E. coli

Recombinant protein allergens have been used in allergy studies, allergy diagnosis, and epitope mapping. Messenger RNAs (mRNAs) are isolated from tissues of interest for complementary DNA (cDNA) library construction. Subsequently, the allergen gene is amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced. The amplified gene is then cloned into an expression vector, expressed in Escherichia coli cells, and purified from the cell lysate. This chapter describes the protocols for recombinant allergen production.
An Annual Review Course in Neurology for Psychiatrists: Results and Implications

The annual course “Clinical Neurology for Psychiatrists” has been attended by 3,300 psychiatrists since 1976, It provides an organized review of a series of topics in clinical neurology that are usually illustrated with videotaped examples, which were a major aspect of the most highly regarded lectures. A survey found that 80% of attendees thought that the course was excellent and that 74% thought that the course added to their clinical abilities. In view of such courses’ national attendance, cost, importance in housestaff training and subsequent reevaluation, and questioned usefulness, public disclosure of annual courses’ acceptance and impartial reviews should be published.
ENACT: Encounter-based Architecture for Contact Tracing

Location-based sharing services allow people to connect with others who are near them, or with whom they shared a past encounter. Suppose it were also possible to connect with people who were at the same location but at a different time -- we define this scenario as a close encounter, i.e., an incident of spatial and temporal proximity. By detecting close encounters, a person infected with a contagious disease could alert others to whom they may have spread the virus. We designed a smartphone-based system that allows people infected with a contagious virus to send alerts to other users who may have been exposed to the same virus due to a close encounter. We address three challenges: finding devices in close encounters with minimal changes to existing infrastructure, ensuring authenticity of alerts, and protecting privacy of all users. Finally, we also consider the challenges of a real-world deployment.
Interannual Variation in Hydrologic Budgets in an Amazonian Watershed with a Coupled Subsurface-Land Surface Process Model

AbstractThe central Amazon forest is projected to experience larger interannual precipitation variability, with uncertain impacts on terrestrial hydrologic fluxes. How surface runoff, groundwater, and evapotranspiration (ET) change as a function of annual precipitation (AP) has large climate and biogeochemical implications. A process-based hydrological model is used to examine the sensitivity of hydrologic budgets and stream discharge Qs generation to AP in an upland Amazon catchment. The authors find that AP strongly controls infiltration, base flow, and surface runoff, but not ET. Hence, AP alone can predict interannual changes in these fluxes except ET. Experiments with perturbed rainfall show the strong control derives from the predominant groundwater component that varies linearly with AP but is insensitive to seasonal rainfall fluctuations. Most rainfall from large storms infiltrates and becomes base flow rather than runoff or ET. Annual baseflow index (BFI; the fraction of stream discharge from bas...
Visual Art: Visions of Glory in Eschatological Community

By assessing visibility and folk art, this chapter gives our pneumatological aesthetics a visionary eschatological component that is integral to one’s understanding of community. Pentecostals and charismatics are an eschatological people, and visual art can play a significant role in community formation and symbolic expression. This chapter overviews outsider and folk art, particularly focusing on the works of William Thomas Thompson, Sister Gertrude Morgan, and Howard Finster. Although the artworld recognizes the artists over against their actual artistic production, one can still glean important things about symbolic expression and authenticity from these artists. This chapter posits that artists can truly create visionary works when they come from a place of authenticity.
Market mechanisms for newborn health in Nepal

In Nepal, hypothermia is a major risk factor for newborn survival, but the country’s public health care sector has insufficient capacity to improve newborn survival given the burden imposed by distance to health facilities and cost. Low-cost technology to provide newborn thermal care in resource-limited environments exists, but lacks effective distribution channels. This study aims to develop a private sector distribution model for dedicated newborn thermal care technology to ensure equitable access to thermal protection and ultimately improve newborn health in Nepal. We conducted a document analysis of newborn health policy in Nepal and a scoping literature review of approaches to newborn hypothermia in the region, followed by qualitative interviews with key stakeholders of newborn health in Nepal. Current solutions addressing newborn hypothermia range from high-technology, high-cost incubators to low-cost behavioral interventions such as skin-to-skin care. However, none of these interventions are currently implemented at scale. A distribution model that provides incentives for community health volunteers and existing public health services in Nepal can deliver existing low-cost infant warmers to disadvantaged mothers where and when needed. Newborn technology can serve as an adjunct to skin-to-skin care and potentially create demand for newborn care practices. Harnessing market forces could promote public health by raising awareness of newborn challenges, such as newborn hypothermia, and triggering demand for appropriate health technology and related health promotion behaviors. Market approaches to promoting public health have been somewhat neglected, especially in economically disadvantaged and vulnerable populations, and deserve greater attention in Nepal and other settings with limited public health service delivery capacity.
Abstract 17320: Inhibition of Ceramide Synthesis Preserves Cardiac Function and Increases Survival in Doxorubicin-induced Cardiomyopathy

Background: Previous studies have linked increased ceramide and dihydroceramide (DHC) synthesis to cardiotoxicity. However, the effects of ceramide synthesis inhibition on doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiomyopathy are unclear. Hypothesis: Inhibition of de novo ceramide synthesis by myriocin maintains heart function and survival rate. Methods: C57BL/6J mice (8 wks, n=52) were treated with DOX (3 mg/kg every other day for 2 wks) with or without myriocin (0.3 mg/kg). Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography. AC16 cardiomyocyte-like cells were incubated with DOX in the presence or absence of myriocin (10 uM). Ceramides were analyzed by LC/MS lipidomics. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured by FACS (CellROX) and mitochondrial function determined by Seahorse analyzer. Results: In DOX-treated mice, inhibition of ceramide synthesis by myriocin preserved cardiac fractional shortening (29.2±2.7 vs 36.9±1.4% in myriocin; p Conclusion: Cardiomyocyte ceramide accumulation, especially in mitochondria, is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, cardiotoxicity and reduced survival. Pharmacological inhibition of ceramide synthesis may prevent lipotoxicity.
Foraminifera from the upper Campanian Pierre Shale methane cold-seeps, South Dakota

Abstract Investigations into ancient benthic foraminiferal populations are limited, particularly in the Late Cretaceous methane cold-seeps of the Western Interior Seaway. Poorly lithified shale samples (400 cc) from 8 methane cold-seeps and one coeval non-seep locality from the upper Campanian Pierre Shale in South Dakota were disaggregated, sieved, and examined for specimens (>150 μm). Seeps yielded between 100 and 148 specimens per locality. The foraminiferal populations found at seeps and the single non-seep locality contain many of the same species. The most abundant benthic genera found at late Campanian seeps in South Dakota include Guardryina, Haplophragmoides, Trochammina, buliminids (Buliminella and Praebulimina), Lagena, and Gavelinella. Planktic foraminiferal assemblages are much less diverse and dominated by Globigerinelloides. Only two seeps and the non-seep locality contain biserial species, these localities fall in the Baculites compressus zone. The foraminifera from both seeps and the non-seep have Shannon-Weiner (ln) and Fisher's diversity indices that show that the foraminiferal populations are of moderate diversity with a small peak in seeps from the Baculites compressus Zone. Agglutinate to calcareous ratios are consistent for nearly all seep localities, however, one seep locality (AMNH loc. 3528a) and the non-seep sample render a slightly higher percentage of agglutinated species, these localities are within the Baculites compressus Zone. We conclude that, like their modern counterparts: 1) there is no evidence of unique physiological differences between seep and non-seep foraminifera, 2) the species found in seep environments are most likely more tolerant of seep conditions, and 3) there are no seep obligate species.
Indications and complications of rigid bronchoscopy

Introduction: Rigid bronchoscopy is an invaluable tool for the management of airway disorders and an essential skill for an interventional pulmonologist. Since its introduction in the late 19th cen...
Postoperative Complications and Impact of Diabetes Mellitus Severity on Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a common and effective treatment of knee osteoarthritis. As the amount of TKAs performed increases, so does the number of TKA failures and subsequent revisions. Diabetes mellitus (DM) has been shown to increase complications following orthopaedic procedures. For these reasons, it is important to understand the association between severity of DM and the risk of postoperative adverse events following revision TKA. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the American College of Surgeons' National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Patients who underwent revision TKAs between 2007 and 2016 were identified and recorded as having noninsulin-dependent DM (NIDDM), insulin-dependent DM (IDDM), or no DM. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to evaluate the incidence of multiple adverse events within 30 days after revision TKA. A total of 13,246 patients who underwent revision TKA were selected (without DM = 10,381 [78.4%]; NIDDM = 1,890 [14.3%]; IDDM = 975 [7.4%]). Patients with NIDDM were found to have an increased risk of developing renal insufficiency and urinary tract infection (UTI) compared with patients without DM, while patients with IDDM were found to have an increased risk of developing 10 of 20 adverse events compared with patients without DM. NIDDM is an independent risk factor for UTI and IDDM is an independent factor for development of three complications compared with no DM. Insulin dependency is an independent factor for septic shock, postoperative blood transfusion, and extended postoperative hospital stay. Relative to patients with NIDDM, those with IDDM have a greater likelihood of developing more adverse perioperative outcomes than patients without DM. Although complication rates remain relatively low, orthopaedic surgeons must consider the implications of diabetes and insulin dependence on patient selection, preoperative risk stratification, and postoperative outcomes.
Carotid Endarterectomy and Concurrent Clopidogrel Use: National Practice Patterns in the United States.

Background Patients with diagnoses of high-grade carotid stenosis are often placed on antiplatelet therapy and undergo carotid endarterectomy (CEA) during their hospital stay. There is intersurgeon variability in offering CEA to patients specifically on the potent antiplatelet agent clopidogrel. Methods Utilizing the Premier database, data from adults with principal discharge diagnosis of stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), or carotid artery stenosis or occlusion without stroke/TIA (CAS) who had a CEA during the same hospital stay in 2014 were analyzed. Recent clopidogrel or aspirin use was defined as within 3 days before CEA. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to examine the association of age, race, gender, symptomatic versus asymptomatic carotid stenosis, academic versus non-academic center, and regions of the United States with recent antiplatelet use before CEA. Results There were 15,381 patients (median age, 71 years, interquartile range 65–78; 42% females) with stroke, TIA, or CAS who had a CEA during the same hospital stay in 2014 within the Premier databse. Of these, 2570 patients (16.7%) received clopidogrel, 4992 (32.5%) received aspirin but no clopidogrel, and 7819 (50.8%) received no clopidogrel/aspirin immediately before CEA. Younger patient age, treatment at a non-academic center, symptomatic carotid stenosis, and being in the Northeast or South were associated higher odds of being on clopidogrel therapy prior to CEA. Conclusions Across the United States, 1 in 6 patients was on clopidogrel therapy prior to undergoing a CEA. Patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis were most likely to be on clopidogrel therapy prior to their CEA. Future systematic analysis of differences in outcomes and safety events are needed.
Life Expectancies and Annuities: A Modern Look at an Old Fallacy

Suppose you own a life annuity (i.e., an annuity that pays as long as you live but stops paying upon your death). If your life annuity pays $60,000 annually, then how much should you receive if you...
Thermal Stability during Centrifugation Flow Visualization Experiment: Numerical Results

By definition, in a thermally stable fluid there is no buoyancy-driven flow. The theory of thermal stability predicts that in a rotating fluid in microgravity there exists at least one family of thermal configurations where convective flow ceases. Thermal stability theory predicts that this family of thermal fields resulting in an absence of convection has circular isotherms centered about the axis of rotation. In earth-based centrifuges, one family of thermal fields that leads to a thermally stable configuration has isotherms that are paraboloids centered on the axis of rotation.
Diabetic-Like Retinopathy: Early and Late Intervention Therapies in Galactose-Fed Rats

PURPOSE. TO determine whether the diabetic-like thickening of retinal capillary basement membrane (RCBM) that develops in the galactose-fed rat model of diabetic ocular complications could be halted or ameliorated after 4 or 8 months of galactosemia by treatment with ARI-509, a potent new aldose reductase inhibitor (ART), or by withdrawal of the galactose diet. METHODS. Weanling female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into eight groups and fed laboratory chow plus 50% starch, control group (CON); 50% D-galactose, galactose-fed group (GAL); 50% i>galactose with ARI-509 at 25 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg body wt per day, high-dose prevention group (HDP) and low-dose prevention group (LDP), respectively; 50% D-galactose for 4 or 8 months and then intervention by addition of ARI-509 (25 mg/kg body wt per day), 4-month intervention group (4IN) and 8-month intervention group (8IN), respectively; or 50% D-galactose for 4 or 8 months and then intervention by withdrawing galactose and replacing it with the 50% starch diet, 4-month galactose withdrawal grovip (4GW) and 8-month galactose withdrawal group (8GW), respectively. After 4, 8, 16, and 24 months of the experimental diets, the levels of carbohydrates in tissues and the extent of RCBM thickening in capillaries of the outer plexiform layer were determined in all groups. RESULTS. Retinal polyol was reduced by 95% in all ARI-treated groups and by 100% in the 4GW and 8GW groups after withdrawal of the galactose. The mean RCBM thickness increased rapidly in GAL rats, becoming almost two times greater (189 — 9-4 nm) than in CON rats (103 ± 3.4 nm) by 24 months. Treatment with ARI-509 in high and low doses (HDP, LDP) initiated with the introduction of the galactose diet significantly prevented RCBM thickening at all time points (P < 0.05). In contrast, intervention by withdrawing galactose from the diet or by adding the high dose of ARI-509 had no significant effect (P < 0.05) on RCBM thickening until the 24-month time point (4IN, 166 ± 10.3 nm; 8IN, 161 ± 8.2 nm; 4GW, 136 ± 51 nm; 8GW, 163 ± 9.6 nm). CONCLUSIONS. Both early and late interventions decreased RCBM thickening compared with that in untreated GAL rats. The decreased thickening, however, was not evident until 16 to 20 months after the intervention. Because RCBM thickening is one of the earliest changes in diabetic and galactosemic retinopathy, the findings suggest that RCBM thickening and possibly subsequent retinal lesions are caused by early biochemical alterations induced by the galactose diet that are not readily reversed. The delayed response to therapy is consistent with that observed in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial. The cumulative evidence indicates that intervention should begin as early after onset of diabetes as possible, and long follow-up periods should be used to evaluate efficacy. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1998;39:1933-1941)
Circulating sphingolipids, fasting glucose, and impaired fasting glucose: The Strong Heart Family Study.

Abstract Background Animal studies suggest sphingolipids as an early marker of impaired glucose metabolism; however, research in humans is limited. We evaluated whether individual sphingolipid species were associated with fasting plasma glucose and incident impaired fasting glucose in a longitudinal cohort study. Methods We measured 15 sphingolipid species from blood samples collected in 2001–2003 from 2145 participants without prevalent diabetes in the Strong Heart Family Study. Fasting plasma glucose was measured in blood samples collected at baseline and follow-up (mean 5.5 years after baseline). Findings The average age of study participants was 38 years; 41% were men. Ceramide, sphingomyelin, and glucosylceramide species levels were higher in older participants; lactosyl-ceramide levels were higher in participants with lower BMIs. In adjusted analyses, greater concentrations of most ceramide species and lower lactosyl-ceramide with palmitic acid (LC-16) were associated with higher glucose levels at baseline. We did not observe associations of sphingomyelin species or glucosyl-ceramide species with glucose levels. Associations of sphingolipid levels with fasting glucose levels at follow-up were similar but had greater uncertainty than associations with baseline glucose. Although no statistically significant associations of sphingolipids with incident impaired fasting glucose were present, results were similar to glucose analyses. Interpretation We identified several ceramide species associated with higher fasting glucose levels and one sphingolipid, LC-16, that was associated with lower fasting glucose levels. These findings compliment previous research, which linked these sphingolipids with fasting insulin levels, and suggest that higher levels of these ceramides and lower LC-16 may be an early marker of impaired glucose metabolism. Fund US National Institutes Health.
Abstract WP298: Communication Center Guided Prehospital Stroke Assessment Scoring has High Inter-rater Agreement

Introduction: We are prospectively validating a model of communication center guided prehospital identification of stroke patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO). Goal: Assess the inter-rater ag...
Machine Learning Methods for Revenue Prediction in Google Merchandise Store

Machine learning has gained increasing interests from various application domains for its ability to understand data and make predictions. In this paper, we apply machine learning techniques to predict revenue per customer for Google Merchandise Store. Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) was conducted for the customer dataset and feature engineering was applied to the find best subset of features. Four machine learning methods, Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Categorical Boosting (CatBoost), and Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) have been applied to predict revenue per customer. Results show that LightGBM outperforms other methods in terms of RMSE and running time.
The reigning misperception about culture and Asian American achievement

ABSTRACTAsian Americans graduate from college at higher rates than other groups, and evince educational outcomes that match or exceed those of their parents. They comprise about 25 per cent of the ...
3.15 – Micro-Combustion

Microcombustion has become an important area of research due to the rapid growth in the field of microsystems and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Micropower systems for application in portable electronics, microsensors, and other platforms are often the limiting component in terms of both size and performance. Many micropower systems such as microscale heat engines, solid-state power sources, and chemical reactors require a high-temperature reservoir in the form of a combustor. These microcombustors fall into two categories: (1) homogeneous gas-phase combustors and (2) heterogeneous catalytic combustors. Gas-phase microcombustors are limited by residence time constraints that can be quantified in terms of the Damkohler number. Performance of catalytic microcombustors is typically limited by diffusion of fuel species to the active surface as described by the Peclet number. Both types of systems are vulnerable to thermal losses, which are more closely coupled to the fluid mechanics and chemical kinetics than in large-scale systems. High power density devices of both types have been successfully fabricated and tested for various applications.
Ultraviscosity in Entangled Polyelectrolyte Complexes and Coacervates

The spontaneous association of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes is an example of liquid–liquid phase separation. The resulting hydrated polyelectrolyte complexes or coacervates, both termed “PEC...
Climate sensitivity to decadal land cover and land use change across the conterminous United States

Abstract Transitions to terrestrial ecosystems attributable to land cover and land use change (LCLUC) and climate change can affect the climate at local to regional scales. However, conclusions from most previous studies do not provide information about local climate effects, and little research has directly quantified how LCLUC intensity within different ecoregions relates to climate variation. In this study, we present an observation-based analysis of climate sensitivity to LCLUC based on decadal LCLUC and climate data in different ecoregions. Our results revealed that variations in land surface temperature and vapor pressure were most sensitive to LCLUC across the conterminous United States, while precipitation was less sensitive. Persistent warming effects were produced from LCLUC in Appalachian and some of the central U.S., High Plains, and northwest ecoregions, but cooling effects were evident in the many southeast, northeast and some Great Lakes and Intermountain West ecoregions. Most of the warming and a few cooling ecoregions were sensitive to LCLUC. Ecoregions with increasing vapor pressure were found across the Great Plains, Intermountain West, and West Coast ecoregions and several of these regions in the Great Plains and West Coast were sensitive to LCLUC. A combination of changes in temperature, precipitation, and vapor pressure was used to characterize climate sensitivity associated with LCLUC forcing, and five major persistent patterns were found in some ecoregions. These findings suggest that climate conditions, especially temperature and vapor pressure, in some ecoregions are sensitive to LCLUC and such change should be better incorporated into regional climate assessments.
Factors Associated With Gifted Identification for Ethnically Diverse Children in Poverty

We analyzed data from a large-scale (N = 39,213), longitudinal study of urban students to assess child factors (gender, ethnicity, English language learner status, school readiness skills, type of ...
In Vitro Germination of Different Date Palm (Phoenix Dactylifera L.) Pollen Sources from Southern Tunisia under the Effect of Three Storage Temperatures

Date palm pollen storage is becoming more and more necessary due to the asynchronous maturation of male and female flowers that, frequently, occurs, during the last years in Tunisia. However, littl...
The Impact of an Adapted Climbing Program on Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder impacts children’s participation in activities that require attention to instruction, sustained mental effort, and executive functioning. Physical activity has been correlated to improvement in attention in children with ADHD. Rock climbing challenges muscular endurance, attention, and route planning. Five participants, aged 8-13, participated in the climbing program. Attention was measured pre and post climbing intervention with Trail Making Test B (TMT-B) for time to complete. Exercise intensity was measured by heart rate. Parent feedback on behavior was collected with the Conner’s Parent Rating Scale (CPRS). The social validity of the intervention was measured by the IRP-15 measures. Statistically, significant intrasession attention improvements were noted in all 5 climbers (p=.43). Two climbers were consistently working at a moderate intensity (40-60% HRmax) while 3 climbers maintained a light level of intensity (20-40% HRmax). No statistically significant improvements were found on the CPRS, although improvements are noted with qualitative reports from parents. The IRP-15 showed 100% of parents believed rock climbing was an effective intervention for their children with ADHD. Rock climbing at a light to moderate intensity is associated with improvements in attention and behavior in children with ADHD.
Bayesian mitigation of spatial coarsening for a Hawkes model applied to gunfire, wildfire and viral contagion

Self-exciting spatiotemporal Hawkes processes have found increasing use in the study of large-scale public health threats ranging from gun violence and earthquakes to wildfires and viral contagion. Whereas many such applications feature locational uncertainty, i.e., the exact spatial positions of individual events are unknown, most Hawkes model analyses to date have ignored spatial coarsening present in the data. Three particular 21st century public health crises -- urban gun violence, rural wildfires and global viral spread -- present qualitatively and quantitatively varying uncertainty regimes that exhibit (a) different collective magnitudes of spatial coarsening, (b) uniform and mixed magnitude coarsening, (c) differently shaped uncertainty regions and -- less orthodox -- (d) locational data distributed within the `wrong' effective space. We explicitly model such uncertainties in a Bayesian manner and jointly infer unknown locations together with all parameters of a reasonably flexible Hawkes model, obtaining results that are practically and statistically distinct from those obtained while ignoring spatial coarsening. This work also features two different secondary contributions: first, to facilitate Bayesian inference of locations and background rate parameters, we make a subtle yet crucial change to an established kernel-based rate model; and second, to facilitate the same Bayesian inference at scale, we develop a massively parallel implementation of the model's log-likelihood gradient with respect to locations and thus avoid its quadratic computational cost in the context of Hamiltonian Monte Carlo. Our examples involve thousands of observations and allow us to demonstrate practicality at moderate scales.
A strategy-aware technique for learning behaviors from discrete human feedback

This paper introduces two novel algorithms for learning behaviors from human-provided rewards. The primary novelty of these algorithms is that instead of treating the feedback as a numeric reward signal, they interpret feedback as a form of discrete communication that depends on both the behavior the trainer is trying to teach and the teaching strategy used by the trainer. For example, some human trainers use a lack of feedback to indicate whether actions are correct or incorrect, and interpreting this lack of feedback accurately can significantly improve learning speed. Results from user studies show that humans use a variety of training strategies in practice and both algorithms can learn a contextual bandit task faster than algorithms that treat the feed-back as numeric. Simulated trainers are also employed to evaluate the algorithms in both contextual bandit and sequential decision-making tasks with similar results.
High Resolution Spectra of Symmetric Molecules: Understanding Rotation and Permutation Dynamics

Until recently, analysis of rovibronic fine structure of polyatomic molecules has involved complicated computations, and most researchers have ignored it or regarded it as something akin to the plague. However, rapidly increasing spectroscopic resolution has led to some surprising improvements in our understanding of molecular rovibronic dynamics for certain cases. It appears that new understanding of rotational effects in XY4 and XY6 spherical top molecules greatly simplifies the spectroscopic calculations, and may have simple applications for laser chemistry as well. We review here the elements of the recently developed quantum theory of level clusters, and speculate on what implications it might have for high resolution photochemistry.
The Internet: Still Wide Open and Competitive?

For many years now, the Internet seemed to be open, free, and competitive. Internet entrepreneurialism was high, financing easy, entry barriers low. But now, in the wake of the Internet's bursting bubble, the reality of that competitiveness deserves a second look: Is the Internet still as open and competitive as it used to be, or is it becoming concentrated and dominated by a few firms with market power? To even ask this question raises emotional responses, so deeply held is the Internet's self-image of openness and competitiveness, in contrast to the stodginess of the telecom, print, and TV industries.Many people even have difficulty with the very concept of looking at the Internet as an industry. The early phases of the medium were indeed dominated by government, universities, and non-profit entities, all operating outside of private markets. But even when the Internet became commercialized, it was frequently asserted that the new 'bit economy' operated on fundamentally different principles than the traditional 'atom economy'.Today, a more balanced perspective has become possible and necessary. This starts with the recognition that the Internet is a set of interacting activities provided by a variety of business firms, operating in interacting sub-markets. The structure of those markets affect, in the classic paradigm of industrial economics, the behavior and hence the performance of these firms. A prime measure for market structure is the extent of market concentration; it is an indicator and predictor of competitive behavior. Since the Internet has been arguably the major force for economic, societal, and cultural innovation in society in recent years, the extent of the competitive forces driving it is significant far beyond the sector itself.
Bacillus pyocyaneus bacteremia of placental origin

Abstract 1. 1. Bacillus pyocyaneus septicemias and bacteremias are uncommon. 2. 2. Puerperal sepsis due to the pyocyaneus bacillus is extremely rare. 3. 3. The case herein described is probably the first to be reported of a transient Bacillus pyocyaneus bacteremia of placental origin.
Wide-Open Town: A History of Queer San Francisco to 1965

In this landmark work of U.S. queer history, Nan Alamilla Boyd aims to explain how San Francisco became a “wide-open town,” a city not only home to “disproportionately large gay, lesbian, bisexual,...
Assessment of Oral Proficiency in Online Language Courses: Beyond Reinventing the Wheel

The article looks at assessment in online foreign language courses, discussing how the Internet offers opportunities for forms of assessment and associated learning experiences that are different from, and maybe superior to, those available in regular classroom settings. It discusses the washback effect, or the effect of the implementation of high-stakes testing on teaching and curriculum, suggesting it can be a positive effect. Assessment of oral communication in online courses is discussed.
Inclusive η production in τ decays

Abstract We have searched for inclusive η production in τ decays using a data sample of 2553 events of e + e - →τ + τ - in the one-three topology. The data were obtained using the High Resolution Spectrometer at √ s =29 GeV. A 90% confidence level upper limit on the process τ ± →π ± ηX of 2.1% is found. Using τ decays to five charged particles limits of 0.5% on τ ± →π ± ηηX and 0.3% on τ ± →π ± π + π - ηX are also obtained.
C-terminus of ETA/ETB receptors regulate endothelin-1 signal transmission.

The dimerization of the G protein-coupled receptors for endothelin-1 (ET-1), endothelin A receptor (ETA) and endolethin B receptor (ETB), is well established. However, the signaling consequences of the homodimerization and heterodimerization of ETA and ETB is not well understood. Here, we demonstrate that peptides derived from the C-termini of these receptors regulate the signaling capacity of ET-1. The C-termini of the ETA and ETB receptors are believed to consist of three α-helices, which may serve as points of interaction between the receptors. The third α-helix in the C-terminus is of particular interest because of its amphipathic nature. In a cell line expressing only the ETA receptor, expression of residues Y430–S442, representing the third helix of the ETB C-terminus, leads to a dramatic increase in the signaling induced by ET-1. In contrast, in a cell line containing only ETB, Y430–S442 has an antagonistic effect, slightly reducing the ET-1 induced signal. Computational docking results suggest that the α-helical ETB-derived peptide binds to the second and third intracellular loops of the ETA receptor consistent with the alteration of its signaling capacity. Our results described here provide important insight into ETA/ETB receptor interactions and possibly a new approach to regulate specific G protein-coupled receptor signal transmission. Copyright © 2013 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Does the Charter Form Improve the Fiscal Health of Counties

The public administration literature has paid attention to the relationship between the structure of a government and its ability to provide public services, reflected by its fiscal health. Although this literature has provided a useful understanding of government structures, it has largely ignored the charter form of government. As a formal written document that grants counties the power of self-governance, a charter frees the county from state control. Included in this freedom is the ability to establish its own tax policies and services. In this article, the effects of charter adoption on fiscal health are tested using Florida county data from 1980 to 2012. The results show that the presence of a charter can improve the fiscal health of a county, which, in turn, can affect overall service provision.
Financial Modernization and Regulation: Experience from Japan September 16, 1998

My discussion focuses on the concept of “financial modernization.” This was a topic of the first session of this conference, and is undoubtedly an important part of financial regulation. I will reflect on the experience in Japanese financial system as it is related to financial modernization.
Multi-Facial, Non-Peptidic α-Helix Mimetics.

α-Helices often recognize their target proteins at protein–protein interfaces through more than one recognition face. This review describes the state-of-the-art in the design of non-peptidic α-helix mimetics that reproduce functionality from multiple faces of an α-helix.
Knowing History in Mexico: An Ethnography of Citizenship. By Trevor Stack

In this book, anthropologist Trevor Stack presents some of the insights gained during over twenty years of intermittent fieldwork in a small town, Tapalpa, and a neighboring village, Atacco, both a...
Electron-Spin Resonance Study of Aggregation of Gramicidin in Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine Bilayers and Hydrophobic Mismatch

Abstract The effect of aggregation of gramicidin A ′ (GA) on the phase structure of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) multilamellar vesicles was studied by cw-ESR using a chain-labeled lipid (16PC) at temperatures between 30° and 45°C that span the main phase transition of DPPC. Boundary lipids were observed only in dispersions with GA/DPPC molar ratios >1:15, where GA aggregates. Detailed fits by nonlinear least squares (NLLS) methods are consistent with the boundary lipid being characterized by a large negative order parameter (∼−0.4), indicative of a dynamic bending of the end of the acyl chain, and a substantially reduced motion, about an order of magnitude slower than that of the bulk lipid. The NLLS analysis compares favorably with a recent two-dimensional Fourier transform ESR study on DPPC/GA vesicles, which accurately discerned the bulk lipid. The detailed ESR observables are discussed in terms of the ordering effect of GA at low concentration of GA, the dissociation of the GA channel and the dynamic bending of the end chain segment of boundary lipid at high concentration of GA, and of H II phase formation induced by GA. It is suggested that these phenomena can be interpreted in terms of the combined effects of partial dehydration of the lipid headgroup by the GA and of the hydrophobic mismatch between GA and DPPC molecules. Substantial hysteresis is observed for heating versus cooling cycles, but only for a GA/DPPC molar ratio >1:15. This is consistent with the aggregation of GA molecules at high concentrations.
Heretics and Infidels: The Cantigas de Santa María as Ideological Instrument of Cultural Codification

In the Cantigas de Santa Maria, King Alfonso X unveils an intricate cultural, political, and economic system that defines the relationship between Christian society and religious minorities. This article illustrates that the Cantigas must be understood as an ideological instrument of cultural codification that reaffirms the established Christian social order in relation to three principal groups: heretics, Jews, and Muslims.
Some factors affecting the interaction of hyaluronic acid with bovine-plasma albumin.

Abstract In veronal buffer at pH 8.6, hyaluronic acid and bovine plasma albumin may form a complex which is evident in electrophoretic patterns as a peak intermediate between those for the components. This peak is called the Pi complex. The present study was undertaken to determine the effects of relative viscosity of the solution, intrinsic viscosity of the hyaluronic acid and the relative concentrations of the components on Pi complex formation. With solutions in which the ratio of albumin to hyaluronic acid was low, all the albumin was bound to hyaluronic acid to form a Pi complex. In solutions that contained higher ratios of albumin to hyaluronic acid, the binding capacity of hyaluronic acid was apparently exceeded and free albumin was demonstrated in the solution. In contrast, some hyaluronic acid remained free even in the presence of an excess of albumin. Complex formation seemed to be directly related to the intrinsic viscosity of the hyaluronic acid.
Comparison of analysis of vitamin D3 in foods using ultraviolet and mass spectrometric detection.

A method for analysis of vitamin D3 in commonly fortified foods and in fish, which contains endogenous vitamin D3, was developed by combining the best aspects of two official methods. The ethyl ether/petroleum ether extraction procedure from AOAC 992.26 was combined with the chromatographic separation and use of an internal standard (vitamin D2) from AOAC 2002.05 to produce a method that was applicable to a variety of food samples. Results for skim milk, orange juice, breakfast cereal, salmon, a diluted USP reference standard (vitamin D3 in peanut oil), and processed cheese are presented. Results indicated that UV detection was adequate in most cases, but the absence of interfering species must be determined in each food by mass spectrometry. Selected ion monitoring (SIM) atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) mass spectrometry (MS) was shown to produce statistically indistinguishable results compared to UV detection for the skim milk, orange juice, multigrain cereal, and salmon samples. The proc...
The morphology of noninfective pseudorabies virus produced by cells treated with 5-fluorouracil.

Abstract Infection with pseudorabies (Pr) virus of cells treated with 5-fluorouracil (FU) results in the formation of syncytia indistinguishable from those formed by normal cells after infection; small, multiple intranuclear inclusions are also formed, but these, unlike the inclusions in infected untreated cells, do not become Feulgen positive. FU-treated cells produce noninfective virus particles, the external structure of which can not be distinguished from that of the particles produced by untreated cells, but from which the central electron dense core normally present is missing. The morphology of Pr virus particles as observed after staining by the negative contrast method is described.
K-Means for Parallel Architectures Using All-Prefix-Sum Sorting and Updating Steps

We present an implementation of parallel K-means clustering, called Kps-means, that achieves high performance with near-full occupancy compute kernels without imposing limits on the number of dimensions and data points permitted as input, thus combining flexibility with high degrees of parallelism and efficiency. As a key element to performance improvement, we introduce parallel sorting as data preprocessing and updating steps. Our final implementation for Nvidia GPUs achieves speedups of up to 200-fold over CPU reference code and of up to three orders of magnitude when compared with popular numerical software packages.
An analysis of magnetic recording

MAGNETIC recording is the process of transforming electric impulses, varying with time, from an electric circuit to a succession of fixed magnetic fields, varying with distance, along a filament of ferromagnetic material. The magnetic-field space variations are closely proportional to the time variation of the original electric impulses for good recording. The transformation of electric impulses to variations in magnetic field along a wire or tape is accomplished by passing the ferromagnetic wire or tape across an air gap in the iron core of an electromagnet energized by current impulses passing through the coil of the electromagnet. Passing the magnetized wire or tape across the air gap of a similar electromagnet causes a voltage to appear across the terminals of the coil of this second electromagnet. The first electromagnet, used for impressing the electric impulses upon the magnetic recording medium, is called the recording head. The second electromagnet referred to, used for retranslating the stored magnetic impulses into electric impulses, is called the playback head.
Size-Dependent Rheology of Type-I Collagen Networks

We investigate the system size-dependent rheological response of branched type I collagen gels. When subjected to a shear strain, the highly interconnected mesh dynamically reorients, resulting in overall stiffening of the network. When a continuous shear strain is applied to a collagen network, we observe that the local apparent modulus, in the strain-stiffening regime, is strongly dependent on the gel thickness. In addition, we demonstrate that the overall network failure is determined by the ratio of the gel thickness to the mesh size. These findings have broad implications for cell-matrix interactions, the interpretation of rheological tissue data, and the engineering of biomimetic scaffolds.
Technical specification of the Millimeter Array

The Millimeter Array (MMA) is a synthesis imaging telescope designed to provide sensitive, high-precision astronomical imaging at sub-arcsecond, 0'.1, resolution at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths. In order to achieve these goals it is necessary to locate the Millimeter Array on an extremely dry site so as to minimize the atmospheric background emission; the receiver noise temperatures should be near the limit imposed by photon noise and the antenna warm spillover contribution should be minimized. It is possible to quantify each of these requirements, and the interactions among them, so as to achieve the maximum sensitivity for the Millimeter Array. Together, the requirements lead to the technical design goals for the Millimeter Array.