cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Overview of the Incidences and Costs of Low Back Pain

The basic premise of this article is that low back disorders are extremely prevalent in all societies, and probably have not increased substantially over the past two decades. What has increased is the rate of disability, the reasons for which are uncertain. Not only has this phenomenon heightened the awareness of low back pain, but it has led to an explosion in costs. Although a precise estimate is impossible, it is plausible that the direct medical and indirect costs of these conditions are in the range of more than $50 billion per annum, and could be as high as $100 billion at the extreme. Of these costs, 75% or more can be attributed to the 5% of people who become disabled temporarily or permanently from back pain--a phenomenon that seems more rooted in psychosocial rather than disease determinants. Within this overall equation, spinal surgery plays a relatively small role, although the contribution to disability probably has more than passing significance. The future challenge, if costs are to be controlled, appears to lie squarely with prevention and optimum management of disability, rather than perpetrating a myth that low back pain is a serious health disorder.
Localization of eigenvalues of doubly cyclic matrices

Abstract For fixed positive α and β, and a fixed integer n, n ≥ 2 , we consider the family of matrices diag ( a 1 , a 2 , … , a n ) − diag ( b 1 , b 2 , … , b n ) Σ ⁎ , where all the a k 's and b k 's are positive, the geometric mean of the a k 's and b k 's must be α and β, respectively, and Σ ⁎ denotes the permutation matrix corresponding to the cycle ( 1 , 2 , … , n ) . C. Johnson, Z. Price, and I. Spitkovsky conjectured that in this family, the number of eigenvalues in the left half-plane is maximized by α I − β Σ ⁎ ; we prove this conjecture. Moreover, the complete range of possibilities for the number of eigenvalues in the left half-plane is demonstrated: if α β , then any odd number between 1 and the maximum, inclusive, is attainable.
A Brief Introduction to the Basics of Game Theory

I provide a (very) brief introduction to game theory. I have developed these notes to provide quick access to some of the basics of game theory; mainly as an aid for students in courses in which I assumed familiarity with game theory but did not require it as a prerequisite.
The complexity of model aggregation

We show that the problem of transforming a structured Markov decision process (MDP) into a Bounded Interval MDP is coNPPP-hard. In particular, the test for e-homogencity, a necessary part of verifying any proposed partition, is coNPPP-complete. This indicates that, without further assumptions on the sorts of partitioning allowed or the structure of the original propositional MDP, this is not likely to be a practical approach. We also analyze the complexity of finding the minimal-size partition, and of the k-block partition existence problem. Finally, we show that the test for homogeneity of an exact partition is complete for coNPC-P, which is the same class as coNPPP. All of this analysis applies equally well to the process of partitioning the state space via Structured Value Iteration.
Apigenin Impacts the Growth of the Gut Microbiota and Alters the Gene Expression of Enterococcus

Apigenin is a major dietary flavonoid with many bioactivities, widely distributed in plants. Apigenin reaches the colon region intact and interacts there with the human gut microbiota, however there is little research on how apigenin affects the gut bacteria. This study investigated the effect of pure apigenin on human gut bacteria, at both the single strain and community levels. The effect of apigenin on the single gut bacteria strains Bacteroides galacturonicus, Bifidobacterium catenulatum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, and Enterococcus caccae, was examined by measuring their anaerobic growth profiles. The effect of apigenin on a gut microbiota community was studied by culturing a fecal inoculum under in vitro conditions simulating the human ascending colon. 16S rRNA gene sequencing and GC-MS analysis quantified changes in the community structure. Single molecule RNA sequencing was used to reveal the response of Enterococcus caccae to apigenin. Enterococcus caccae was effectively inhibited by apigenin when cultured alone, however, the genus Enterococcus was enhanced when tested in a community setting. Single molecule RNA sequencing found that Enterococcus caccae responded to apigenin by up-regulating genes involved in DNA repair, stress response, cell wall synthesis, and protein folding. Taken together, these results demonstrate that apigenin affects both the growth and gene expression of Enterococcus caccae.
Glypican-3 as a Target for Immune Based Therapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Glypican-3 (GPC3) is expressed on most hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and associated with liver tumorigenesis. This chapter provides a review of GPC3 as an emerging target in various investigational immunotherapies, with a focus on cancer vaccines, human or humanized antibodies, bispecific antibodies, immunotoxins, and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. GPC3 peptide-based vaccines have been shown to prevent HCC recurrence after surgery. Interestingly, the patients with the best protection have anti-GPC3 CD4+ T cell response regardless of CD8+ T cell response. Several monoclonal antibodies including GC33, YP7, HN3 and HS20, each with a distinct epitope on GPC3, are being tested in preclinical or clinical stages. GC33 and YP7 recognize the C terminal end of GPC3. HN3 targets a cryptic Wnt binding site in the core protein of GPC3. HS20 binds a Wnt binding domain on the heparan sulfate chain. The HN3 and HS20 antibodies inhibit Wnt/Yap signaling and suppress HCC cell growth. To improve anti-tumor efficacy, anti-GPC3 immunotoxins and CAR-T cell therapies have been developed. The Wnt-blocking HN3 immunotoxin is more potent than YP7 immunotoxin. With an engineered toxin, the HN3-mPE24 immunotoxin can be given at high doses repeatedly to regress HCC xenograft tumor in mice. The CAR T-cell therapy also shows a great promise. The GC33 CAR T cells inhibit established HCC xenograft tumors in mice. Several CARs targeting different epitopes of GPC3 (including HN3) are being tested. Ongoing preclinical and clinical studies will help define the utility of GPC3 as a therapeutic target for liver cancer therapy.
Using LEGO to teach software interfaces and integration

Software design is a complex endeavor because it requires mastery of engineering practices, insight into the domain knowledge, exploring of alternative ideas, and, most importantly, plenty of practice. Principles of good software design should be introduced early in the curriculum and practiced whenever possible. This work describes a LEGO-based activity for multiple teams to practice collaborative design, parallel development, and component integration to illustrate the advantages of well-designed component interfaces.
New Vinyl Organometallic Monomers: Synthesis and Polymerization Behavior

Organometallic polymers are useful in a variety of applications such as catalysts, UV absorbers, semiconductors, and antifouling agents.1–3 The construction of organometallic polymers can proceed by derivatizing preformed polymers with organometallic units3 or by preparing monomers with organometallic functions and polymerizing these monomers.2 Monomers 1–3 represent three examples of organometallic monomers which have been polymerized.4–7 In 2 6 and 3,7 the organometallic unit is far removed from the polymerizable vinyl group and does not directly effect the polymerization behavior via electronic effects. However, in vinylferrocene, 1, the organometallic moiety is directly attached to the vinyl group which leads, in turn, to some unusual effects in polymerization. For example, the rate of polymerization of vinylferrocene is first order in both monomer and initiator when initiated by AIBN in benzene (VP = 5.64 × 10−4[1]1.12 [AIBN]1.11).5 This is the result of a monomolecular termination mechanism caused by an electron transfer from iron to the radical center, followed by termination and subsequent decomposition to a paramagnetic Fe(III) center in the polymer. The presence of the transition metal, Fe, in the monomer permits such an unusual redox behavior which is impossible for ‘normal’ organic monomers (equation 1).
Commentary: Academic Enablers and School Learning.

This commentary presents academic enablers within the broader, overlapping context of school learning theory, including the theories of Carroll, Harnishfeger and Wiley, Walberg, and others. Multiva...
Of Wild and Cultivated Politics: Conflict and Democracy in Argentina

This is a study of cultural change within democratization. It uses conflict theory to understand the culture of conflict escalation and management, taking Argentina as its example. Beginning with the most extreme dictatorships, The Dirty War and the Rosas period, and then looking at other periods of governance, the essay illustrates that Argentina has an authoritarian culture of conflict. The essay suggests why these patterns have developed in Argentina. It asks whether it is possible to change such cultural patterns and whether the current democratizing effort includes efforts at change. It concludes that the democratization efforts since 1983 have included attempts to change culture, as well as electoral and institutional movement toward democracy.
Coronary endothelial function and spontaneous coronary artery dissection

Objectives:To investigate the role of endothelial function in patients with previous spontaneous coronary artery dissection.Background:Mechanisms underlying spontaneous coronary artery dissection, ...
Persuasion with Rational Inattention

We study a model of Bayesian persuasion in which Receiver has limited information-processing capacity, or attention, and must exert costly effort to process Sender’s signals. Receiver is rationally inattentive (Sims (2003)): attention costs are proportional to the mutual information (expected entropy reduction) between Sender’s signals and Receiver’s “perceptions” of them. Information disclosure plays a dual role: in addition to the usual persuasion motive, Sender engages in strategic attention manipulation. When Receiver has a binary action choice, we characterize the optimal persuasion strategy using a first-order approach. At the optimum, “complex” signals are used to exploit Receiver’s limited attention when interests are misaligned, and “simple and convincing” signals are used to focus attention when interests are aligned. When the persuasion motive is absent (preferences are aligned) we trace the attention manipulation motive to the multi-dimensionality of information and the extensive margin of attention allocation: if the state space is binary or Receiver faces a pure capacity constraint, full disclosure is uniquely optimal. Applications include advertising, information management in organizations, design of disclosure regulations, and dual-process theories of attention and choice. We also discuss formal connections to models of (i) persuasion with a privately informed Receiver and (ii) contracting with flexible information acquisition, as well as extensions to cheap talk communication.
RESPONSE: Fostering Competent Physician Leaders for the Future.

There is widespread recognition of the need to develop physician leaders who are trained and mentored in several nonclinical competencies that are critical to organizational and health system management [(1)][1]. Traditionally, leadership skills have not been a feature of medical training.
A Narrowband Photothermoelectric Detector Using Guided-Mode Resonance Filter

A narrowband photothermoelectric detector is demonstrated by integrating a guided-mode resonance (GMR) filter and a thin-film thermocouple. The detector utilizes the GMR effect to selectively absorb light at a specific wavelength and raise the temperature at the thermocouple. The voltage output of the thermocouple strongly depends on the coupling between the GMR mode and incoming light.
GENE EXPRESSION OF MAMMALIAN LENS TISSUE: IS LENS mRNA BICISTRONIC?

Publisher Summary This chapter analyzes the gene expression of mammalian lens tissue. Lens 10S and 14S poly(A) + mRNAs have been shown to code for the synthesis of the 175-amino acid B 2 chain and the 173-amino acid A 2 chain of alpha-crystallin, respectively. The 10S mRNA contains 735 nucleotides, a number which is theoretically compatible with the size of the B 2 chain. The 14S mRNA of 1500 nucleotides contains more than twice the required number of nucleotides necessary for the synthesis of A 2 chain. The experiments discussed in the chapter concerning the functional role of the extra nucleotide of the 14S mRNA suggest that it may be bicistronic. Molecular hybridization with cDNA from 10S mRNA indicates that 14S mRNA possesses two binding sites. Examination of the nucleotide sequences of 10S and 14S mRNA by two-dimensional maps of T 1 and pancreatic RNase digests shows a strikingly similar complexity. Sequence analysis of the initiation sites for protein synthesis suggests that 14S mRNA contains a greater abundance of initiation codans than that of the 10S mRNA.
Operation of YBCO kinetic-inductance bolometers for outer solar system missions

We developed superconducting kinetic inductance bolometers (KIBs) for hyperspectral imaging in outer solar system missions. Each bolometer is a microwave L-C resonator that will act as an individual pixel in the focal plane of an imaging Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. Our devices are fabricated from high temperature superconductor yttrium barium copper oxide (YBCO), with a superconducting transition temperature of ∼85 K. The inductors are suspended on thin Si3N4 membranes. Each resonator operates at a unique resonant frequency, and hence, many can be multiplexed on a single feed line using a large number of carrier frequencies. The resonators function as detectors because their resonant frequencies decrease with increasing temperature as the bolometers absorb incident radiation. In this paper, we discuss the thermal properties of a YBCO KIB and its response to signal power to verify that the response is near theoretical predictions.
A coercive heterogeneous media Helmholtz model: formulation, wavenumber-explicit analysis, and preconditioned high-order FEM

We consider a frequency-domain heterogeneous wave propagation model governed by the Helmholtz partial differential equation (PDE) and an impedance boundary condition. The celebrated standard (H1) variational formulation of the model is non-coercive. It is an open problem to establish a coercive variational formulation of the heterogeneous model. The main focus of this article is on solving this continuous model formulation and analysis problem, and hence establishing an efficient preconditioned numerical algorithm for simulating our novel coercive variational formulation. We develop the variational formulation for the heterogeneous model (in a Hilbert space V equipped with a stronger norm than the H1-norm) and prove that the associated sesquilinear form is coercive, with a wavenumber-independent coercivity constant. We use this result to derive a wavenumber-independent bound for solutions of the heterogeneous media wave propagation model in the V -norm. Additionally, we prove continuity of the sesquilinear form, with a wavenumber-explicit continuity constant. Using our analysis-supported coercive formulation, we develop a high-order frequency robust-preconditioned finite element method (FEM)-based heterogeneous media discrete wave model. For demonstrating efficiency and convergence of the coercive high-order FEM model, we use non-convex media comprising curved and non-smooth boundaries and low- to high-frequency input incident waves. For the heterogeneous media, with size varying from tens to hundreds of wavelengths, we demonstrate that our new preconditioned-FEM model requires a very low number of GMRES iterations, and the number of iterations is independent of the wavenumber of the model. We also use a class of additive Schwarz domain decomposition (DD) algorithms to implement the preconditioned-FEM model. The DD-based high-order preconditioned-FEM results and comparisons further demonstrate efficiency of the coercive formulation to simulate wave propagation in heterogenous media.
Immunobiology of cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) represents a heterogeneous group of epithelial tumours that are classified according to anatomical location as intrahepatic (iCCA), perihilar (pCCA), or distal (dCCA). Although surgical resection and liver transplantation following neoadjuvant therapy are potentially curative options for a subset of patients with early-stage disease, the currently available medical therapies for CCA have limited efficacy. Immunotherapeutic strategies such as immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) harness the host immune system to unleash an effective and durable antitumour response in a subset of patients with a variety of malignancies. However, response to ICB monotherapy has been relatively disappointing in CCA. CCAs are desmoplastic tumours with an abundant tumour immune microenvironment (TIME) that contains immunosuppressive innate immune cells such as tumour-associated macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. A subset of CCAs may be classified as immune 'hot' tumours with a high density of CD8+ T cells and enhanced expression of immune checkpoint molecules. Immune 'hot' tumour types are associated with higher response rates to ICB. However, the suboptimal response rates to ICB monotherapy in human clinical trials of CCA imply that the preponderance of CCAs are immune 'cold' tumours with a non-T cell infiltrated TIME. An enhanced comprehension of the immunobiology of CCA, particularly the innate immune response to CCA, is essential in the effort to develop effective combination immunotherapeutic strategies that can target a larger subset of CCAs.
Nuts and Bolts of Ambulatory Anesthesia Billing

Understanding billing and compliance is important to avoid errors. The rules of billing and processes change and update regularly and require ongoing tracking. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has a list of procedures that are appropriate in an ambulatory setting. All patients require ASA physical status and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System modifier for billing. Anesthesiologists need to comply with the Tax, Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act for billing. Using a certified electronic health recording technology and participation in the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 will optimize reimbursement.
Does stream current modify crayfish impacts on a benthic community

Non-native crayfish can have impacts on stream communities that are highly variable. A possible explanation for this variability is that crayfish are responding in a context-dependent manner to var...
Prion protein modulates endothelial to mesenchyme-like transition in trabecular meshwork cells: Implications for primary open angle glaucoma

Endothelial-to-mesenchyme-like transition (Endo-MT) of trabecular meshwork (TM) cells is known to be associated with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). Here, we investigated whether the prion protein (PrPC), a neuronal protein known to modulate epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in a variety of cell types, is expressed in the TM, and plays a similar role at this site. Using a combination of primary human TM cells and human, bovine, and PrP-knock-out (PrP−/−) mouse models, we demonstrate that PrPC is expressed in the TM of all three species, including endothelial cells lining the Schlemm’s canal. Silencing of PrPC in primary human TM cells induces aggregation of β1-integrin and upregulation of α-smooth muscle actin, fibronectin, collagen 1A, vimentin, and laminin, suggestive of transition to a mesenchyme-like phenotype. Remarkably, intraocular pressure is significantly elevated in PrP−/− mice relative to wild-type controls, suggesting reduced pliability of the extracellular matrix and increased resistance to aqueous outflow in the absence of PrPC. Since PrPC is cleaved by members of the disintegrin and matrix-metalloprotease family that are increased in the aqueous humor of POAG arising from a variety of conditions, it is likely that concomitant cleavage of PrPC exaggerates and confounds the pathology by inducing Endo-MT-like changes in the TM.
Differential adaptations in rod outer segment disc membranes in different models of congenital stationary night blindness

Rod photoreceptor cells initiate scotopic vision when the light receptor rhodopsin absorbs a photon of light to initiate phototransduction. These photoreceptor cells are exquisitely sensitive and have adaptive mechanisms in place to maintain optimal function and to overcome dysfunctional states. One adaptation rod photoreceptor cells exhibit is in the packing properties of rhodopsin within the membrane. The mechanism underlying these adaptations is unclear. Mouse models of congenital stationary night blindness with different molecular causes were investigated to determine which signals are important for adaptations in rod photoreceptor cells. Night blindness in these mice is caused by dysfunction in either rod photoreceptor cell signaling or bipolar cell signaling. Changes in the packing of rhodopsin within photoreceptor cell membranes were examined by atomic force microscopy. Mice expressing constitutively active rhodopsin did not exhibit any adaptations, even under constant dark conditions. Mice with disrupted bipolar cell signaling exhibited adaptations, however, they were distinct from those in mice with disrupted phototransduction. These differential adaptations demonstrate that although multiple molecular defects can lead to a similar primary defect causing disease (i.e., night blindness), they can cause different secondary effects (i.e., adaptations). The lighting environment or signaling defects present from birth and during early rearing can condition mice and affect the adaptations occurring in more mature animals. A comparison of effects in wild-type mice, mice with defective phototransduction, and mice with defective bipolar cell signaling, indicated that bipolar cell signaling plays a role in this conditioning but is not required for adaptations in more mature animals.
Rise in Presence of Methamphetamine in Oral Fluid Toxicology Tests Among Outpatients in a Large Healthcare Setting in the Northeast.

Objectives To examine changes in presence of methamphetamine in toxicology testing among outpatients receiving healthcare in Boston, Massachusetts. Methods A serial cross-sectional study of oral fluid drug test results over a 6-year period of all patient specimens submitted for testing as part of routine care across an academic medical center in Boston, Massachusetts and affiliated primary care practices which has roughly 48,000 admissions and 500,000 primary care visits per year. All samples were subjected to definitive drug testing by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for fentanyl, 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM, metabolite of heroin), benzoylecgonine (metabolite of cocaine), cocaine, and methamphetamine. We compared positive rates and change over time across the same calendar months (February to July) of 6 consecutive years from 2014 to 2019. Results Total of 17,303 oral fluid samples collected from outpatients receiving routine healthcare across 6 years were analyzed. Samples showing presence of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl increased over the study period, whereas 6-MAM presence decreased. From 2014 to 2019 samples with methamphetamine present increased from 0.9% to 5.1% and samples with 6-MAM present decreased from 9.5% to 2.8%. Fentanyl was added to the testing panel in 2017. In 2019, 15.7% of samples had fentanyl present. Polysubstance use was common; 44% of samples with methamphetamine also showed cocaine or benzoylecgonine, 25% showed fentanyl, and 3% showed 6-MAM presence. Conclusions Presence of methamphetamine in oral fluid toxicology tests increased from 2014 to 2019 across a sample of outpatients receiving healthcare in Boston, Massachusetts. Regions of the country with high rates of opioid overdose may need to integrate harm reduction and addiction treatment resources for stimulant use disorder in addition to opioid use disorder.
Targeted Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Photothermal Therapy Combined with Immune Checkpoint Inhibition for the Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer

The greatest contributors to cancer mortality are metastasis and the consequences of its treatment. Here, we present a novel treatment of metastatic breast cancer that combines photothermal therapy with targeted single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and immunostimulation with a checkpoint inhibitor. We find that the selective near-infrared photothermal ablation of primary orthotopic EMT6 breast tumors in syngeneic BALB/cJ mice using an annexin A5 (ANXA5) functionalized SWCNT bioconjugate synergistically enhances an anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (anti-CTLA-4)-dependent abscopal response, resulting in an increased survival (55%) at 100 days after tumor inoculation. In comparison, there was no survival at 100 days for either photothermal therapy by itself or immunostimulation by itself. Prior to photothermal therapy, the SWCNT-ANXA5 bioconjugate was administered systemically at a relatively low dose of 1.2 mg/kg, where it then accumulated in tumor vasculature via ANXA5-dependent binding. During photothermal therapy, the average maximum temperature in the tumor reached 54 °C (duration 175 s). The mechanism of prolonged survival resulting from combinatorial photothermal ablation and immune stimulation was evaluated by flow cytometric quantification of splenic antitumoral immune effector cells and serum cytokine quantification.
Circumferential trabecular meshwork cell density in the human eye.

Abstract The cells residing in the trabecular meshwork (TM) fulfill important roles in the maintenance of the tissue and the regulation of intraocular pressure (IOP). Here we examine (i) TM cell distribution along the circumference of the human eye, (ii) differences in TM cell density between regions of high and low outflow, and (iii) whether TM cell distribution in eyes from donors with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) differs from that of normal eyes. Toward this end, the TM cell density from 12 radial segments around the circumference of the TM of human donor eyes (n = 6) with and without POAG was determined using histochemical methods. Areas of high, median, and low outflow were mapped in a different set of human donor eyes that were perfused in organ culture, and TM cell densities in these areas were determined in normal (n = 11) and POAG eyes (n = 6). Our analysis of 1380 tissue sections taken from the first set of six eyes shows that the average TM cell density of these six eyes ranges from 15.5 to 23.7 cells/100 μm and is negatively correlated to the maximum IOP recorded for each donor eye (R2 = 0.91). Considerable differences in TM cell density exist among sections taken from the same segment of an individual eye (average standard deviation = 2.35 cells/100 μm). Less variability is observed among the segment averages across the eye's circumference (average standard deviation = 1.03 cells/100 μm). Variations in cell density are similar between normal and POAG eyes and are not correlated with the anatomic position of examined segments (p = 0.745). The analysis of the second set of eyes shows that TM regions of high outflow display a TM cell density similar to regions of median or low outflow in both normal and POAG eyes. Together these findings demonstrate that (i) statistically significant differences in TM cell density exist along the circumference of each eye (ii) TM cellularity is not correlated with segmental flow and (iii) eyes with POAG, while displaying reduced TM cellularity, do not exhibit higher TM cell variability than normal eyes. Finally, statistical analysis of sections and segments indicates that measurements from 12 sections taken from 2 segments provide a reliable and cost-effective estimate of a human eye's TM cell density.
Classes of ODE solutions: smoothness, covering numbers, implications for noisy function fitting, and the curse of smoothness phenomenon

Many numerical methods for recovering ODE solutions from data rely on approximating the solutions using basis functions or kernel functions under a least square criterion. The accuracy of this approach hinges on the smoothness of the solutions. This paper provides a theoretical foundation for these methods by establishing novel results on the smoothness and covering numbers of ODE solution classes (as a measure of their "size"). Our results provide answers to "how do the degree of smoothness and the "size" of a class of ODEs affect the "size" of the associated class of solutions?" We show that: (1) for $y^{'}=f\left(y\right)$ and $y^{'}=f\left(x,\,y\right)$, if the absolute values of all $k$th ($k\leq\beta+1$) order derivatives of $f$ are bounded by $1$, then the solution can end up with the $(k+1)$th derivative whose magnitude grows factorially fast in $k$ -- "a curse of smoothness"; (2) our upper bounds for the covering numbers of the $(\beta+2)-$degree smooth solution classes are greater than those of the "standard" $(\beta+2)-$degree smooth class of univariate functions; (3) the mean squared error of least squares fitting for noisy recovery has a convergence rate no larger than $\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)^{\frac{2\left(\beta+2\right)}{2\left(\beta+2\right)+1}}$ if $n=\Omega\left(\left(\beta\sqrt{\log\left(\beta\vee1\right)}\right)^{4\beta+10}\right)$, and under this condition, the rate $\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)^{\frac{2\left(\beta+2\right)}{2\left(\beta+2\right)+1}}$ is minimax optimal in the case of $y^{'}=f\left(x,\,y\right)$; (4) more generally, for the higher order Picard type ODEs, $y^{\left(m\right)}=f\left(x,\,y,\,y^{'},\,...,y^{\left(m-1\right)}\right)$, the covering number of the solution class is bounded from above by the product of the covering number of the class $\mathcal{F}$ that $f$ ranges over and the covering number of the set where initial values lie.
Survival and transcriptomic responses to different Perkinsus marinus exposure methods in an Eastern oyster family

Abstract The parasite Perkinsus marinus, which causes Dermo disease, affects Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) survival and is responsible for substantial losses to aquaculture production. Controlled laboratory challenges enable definition and measurement of disease response phenotypes as well as characterization of gene expression patterns during the infection process. The method of parasite exposure and severity of infection likely affect response measures and exploring variation among them can enhance our understanding of this host-parasite interaction. Here we compared response traits and global expression patterns over time for a selectively bred Eastern oyster family exposed to P. marinus via either suspension feeding or direct injection to elucidate mechanisms determining survival. All exposed oysters (n = 56 per group) received a dose of 5 × 106 cultured P. marinus cells g−1 wet tissue weight but oysters in the injected group had higher initial parasite load and significantly reduced survival probability compared to the fed group. Using RNAseq, we identified differentially expressed transcripts between fed and control animals 6 h after exposure and between fed and injected groups at 36 h, 7 d, and 28 d post exposure. Immediately after infection, caspase-8 and transcripts associated with mediating cell damage from reactive oxygen species were upregulated in the fed group compared to unchallenged controls. The comparison between fed and injected groups early in the infection process revealed increased innate immune activity and overexpression of transcripts involved in proinflammatory cytokine pathways, including toll-like receptor 4 and TNF receptor-associated factor 6-like protein, in the injected group. Later in the infection process, the fed group expressed transcripts associated with growth, specifically microtubule-based processes, at a higher level than the injected group. This study demonstrates that dosing method influences initial parasite load, survival, and transcriptomic response to Dermo disease and highlights the importance of considering exposure method when interpreting interactions between P. marinus and the Eastern oyster.
Brief of Complex Litigation Law Professors as Amici Curiae in Support of Respondent: TransUnion LLC v. Ramirez, No. 20-297

This brief addresses issues concerning the class action to inform the question presented in TransUnion LLC v. Ramirez, No. 20-297. Specifically, the brief discusses the existing law of the class action and Article III justiciability and also discusses the function of the "typicality" requirement of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23.
An Inconsistent Supreme Court's Impact on Mass Arrest Civil Rights Litigation

Federal courts cannot agree on the standard for probable cause in mass arrests. Courts whose criterion honors the historical underpinnings of the Fourth Amendment and older Supreme Court interpretations grant civil rights plaintiffs access to court. On the other hand, courts that declare the law complicated and unclear grant government actors immunity from suit, and thus deny plaintiffs the right to a trial. The Supreme Court is to blame for creating this probable cause impasse. Though many have criticized a 2003 Supreme Court opinion that more loosely defined probable cause in the criminal law context, no scholar has yet to address the damage and disagreement it has caused 42 U.S.C. § 1983 plaintiffs alleging unlawful arrests in civil rights lawsuits. Increasingly, federal courts are interpreting the law in a way that shields officers, cities, and public officials from claims of unlawful, mass arrests. Several options exist for righting this wrong. First, federal courts should recognize the sharp turn the Supreme Court took in 2003 as a fact-specific, anomalous decision and look instead at the Fourth Amendment’s purpose and history, and the Supreme Court’s traditional definitions of probable cause. Second, given recent mass arrests and the expenses governments, officers, and officials expend on litigating and settling these claims, § 1983 defendants should reconsider their exposures to liability and the benefits of less intrusive measures. This Article attempts to shed light on previously unaddressed topics and curtail the civil rights violations mass arrests often produce.
Experimental study of smear formation and removal in heat-assisted magnetic recording

Abstract The head-disk interface (HDI) in heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) hard disk drives is a system where a laser beam is launched from a recording head and focused on a recording disk to facilitate data writing. During the laser exposure, material transfers from the disk to the head surface due to the high temperature field and steep thermal gradient. The material accumulation on the head surface, also known as smear, is a challenging reliability issue for HAMR. In this paper, we experimentally investigated the effect of disk temperature and laser exposure time on the smear formation and studied the smear removal by frictional interactions between the head and the disk. In the experiments, the disk temperature and the laser exposure time were controlled separately to generate the smear, which was later characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The AFM images show that the smear forms when the lubricant evaporation occurs for a certain time, and that the smear amount increases with the disk temperature and the laser exposure time. Furthermore, touchdown experiments were performed using the heads with smear. The results indicate that the smear is mostly removed by friction from the head-disk contact. This study reveals the mechanism of the smear formation in HAMR and presents a mechanical approach to mitigate the smear without damaging the head.
The Need for Fusion Propulsion

Fusion propulsion is inevitable if the human race remains dedicated to exploration of the solar system. There are fundamental reasons why fusion surpasses more traditional approaches to routine crewed missions to Mars, crewed missions to the outer planets, and deep space high speed robotic missions, assuming that reduced trip times, increased payloads, and higher available power are desired. A recent series of informal discussions were held among members from government, academia, and industry concerning fusion propulsion. We compiled a sufficient set of arguments for utilizing fusion in space. If the U.S. is to lead the effort and produce a working system in a reasonable amount of time, NASA must take the initiative, relying on, but not waiting for, DOE guidance. In this talk those arguments for fusion propulsion are presented, along with fusion enabled mission examples, fusion technology trade space, and a proposed outline for future efforts.
Integrating sample-based planning and model-based reinforcement learning

Recent advancements in model-based reinforcement learning have shown that the dynamics of many structured domains (e.g. DBNs) can be learned with tractable sample complexity, despite their exponentially large state spaces. Unfortunately, these algorithms all require access to a planner that computes a near optimal policy, and while many traditional MDP algorithms make this guarantee, their computation time grows with the number of states. We show how to replace these over-matched planners with a class of sample-based planners—whose computation time is independent of the number of states—without sacrificing the sample-efficiency guarantees of the overall learning algorithms. To do so, we define sufficient criteria for a sample-based planner to be used in such a learning system and analyze two popular sample-based approaches from the literature. We also introduce our own sample-based planner, which combines the strategies from these algorithms and still meets the criteria for integration into our learning system. In doing so, we define the first complete RL solution for compactly represented (exponentially sized) state spaces with efficiently learnable dynamics that is both sample efficient and whose computation time does not grow rapidly with the number of states.
Voluntary Exercise Partially Reverses Neonatal Alcohol-Induced Deficits in mPFC Layer II/III Dendritic Morphology of Male Adolescent Rats

Developmental alcohol exposure in humans can produce a wide range of deficits collectively referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). FASD-related impairments in executive functioning later in life suggest long-term damage to the prefrontal cortex (PFC). In rodent neonates, moderate to high levels of alcohol exposure decreased frontal lobe brain size and altered medial PFC pyramidal neuron dendritic morphology. Previous research in our lab demonstrated that neonatal alcohol exposure decreased basilar dendritic complexity but did not affect spine density in Layer II/III pyramidal neurons in 26- to 30-day-old rats. The current study adds to the literature by evaluating the effect of neonatal alcohol exposure on mPFC Layer II/III basilar dendritic morphology in adolescent male rats. Additionally, it examines the potential for voluntary exercise to mitigate alcohol-induced deficits on mPFC dendritic complexity. An animal model of binge drinking during the third trimester of pregnancy was used. Rats were intubated with alcohol (alcohol-exposed, AE; 5.25 g kg(-1) day(-1)) on postnatal days (PD) 4-9; two control groups were included (suckle control and sham-intubated). Rats were anesthetized and perfused with heparinized saline solution on PD 42, and brains were processed for Golgi-Cox staining. Developmental alcohol exposure decreased spine density and dendritic complexity of basilar dendrites of Layer II/III neurons in the medial PFC (mPFC) compared to dendrites of control animals. Voluntary exercise increased spine density and dendritic length in AE animals resulting in elimination of the differences between AE and SH rats. Thus, voluntary exercise during early adolescence selectively rescued alcohol-induced morphological deficits in the mPFC.
Examination of Virus-Infected Cultured Cells by Scanning Electron Microscopy

Abstract The scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to detect changes in morphology of BSC-1 cells after infection with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) or herpes simplex virus. The morphological changes of the infected cells were related to the length of time of infection and to the virus used. Extensive alteration to the cytoplasm could be seen 24 and 48 hr after infection with 10 and 320 TCID50 of VSV. Within 24 hr after infection with 1 TCID50 of herpes simplex, a few nuclei were swollen. However, 72 hr after infection with 100 TCID50 of herpesvirus, many nuclei were swollen and appeared in large aggregates, probably representing formation of a polykaryocyte. Corresponding samples stained with May-Grunwald-Giemsa were observed in the light microscope and morphological changes were compared to those seen with the SEM.
Cytoplasmic Type 80 S Ribosomes Associated with Yeast Mitochondria II. EVIDENCE FOR THE ASSOCIATION OF CYTOPLASMIC RIBOSOMES WITH THE OUTER MITOCHONDRIAL MEMBRANE IN SITU

Abstract Electron microscopic examination of growing spheroplasts prepared from Saccharomyces cerevisiae revealed ribosome-like particles of 150 A diameter aligned along the outer mitochondrial membrane. Ribosome-like particles were also seen associated with membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum and the outer nuclear membrane. Vacuolar and plasma membranes, however, did not appear to have attached particles. When incubated in an amino acid-incorporating system containing pH 5 fraction, mitochondria isolated in the presence of 10 mm Mg2+ were capable of incorporating [3H]leucine into trichloroacetic acid-insoluble material. About 80 % of the incorporation was inhibited by cycloheximide, an inhibitor of cytoplasmic protein synthesis, indicating that the majority of the amino acid-incorporating activity was due to cytoplasmic ribosomes associated with mitochondria. Mitochondria-bound cytoplasmic ribosomes were capable of vectorial release of nascent chains as shown by the distribution of puromycin-discharged polypeptides: half remain associated with the mitochondria and were releaseable by detergent, and half were released directly into the medium. These results are comparable to data reported for the distribution of puromycin-released nascent polypeptide chains with preparations of rough endoplasmic reticulum from rat liver. About one-third of the mitochondria-associated cytoplasmic ribosomes could be released by incubating mitochondria in a buffer of high ionic strength. The remaining two-thirds, however, were released only after reacting their nascent polypeptide chains with puromycin. This result suggests a role for the nascent polypeptide chains in the attachment of cytoplasmic polysomes to mitochondria. Cytoplasmic polysomes can be released intact from isolated mitochondria by extraction with Triton X-100.
Penetration of cephalosporins into bone.

The penetration characteristics of cefazolin and cephradine in human bone were determined in 35 patients undergoing total knee replacement. The results were compared to previously reported data on patients undergoing total hip replacement. The time required to achieve peak bone levels in total knee replacement was less than in total hip replacement. Importantly, peak bone levels in total knee replacement (cefazolin: 11 mg/kg; cephradine: 7 mg/kg) were significantly less (≤50%) than bone levels in total hip replacement (cefazolin: 30 mg/kg; cephradine: 23 mg/kg). The bone half-lives (t1/2) of cephalosporins were prolonged in total knee replacement compared to total hip replacement because of the tourniquet effect. The reduction in peak bone levels and the bone t1/2 of cephalosporins should be taken into account in patients receiving prophylaxis for total knee replacement. Therefore, patients undergoing total knee replacement should receive 2 g of a parenteral cephalosporin 30 min prior to surgery in order to achieve the same degree of protection, i. e., peak bone levels, as is achieved with 1 g of a cephalosporin administered prophylactically to patients undergoing total hip replacement. If the critical effect of the tourniquet is not taken into account in antibiotic prophylaxis for patients undergoing total knee replacement, then suboptimal bone cephalosporin levels may result.
A framework for the analysis of the relationship between business organization evolution and business information systems evolution

This paper describes a matrix which put into evidence the tight "correlation" existing between the EDP Development and the Organization Development of a Company.
Dynamics of the Anderson Model for Dilute Magnetic Alloys: A Quantum Monte Carlo and Maximum Entropy Study

The single-impurity Anderson model1 was invented nearly thirty years ago to describe dilute magnetic impurities in metallic hosts, including the formation and properties of itinerant local moments in alloys. The model is a prerequisite for the understanding of mixed valent and heavy-fermion phenomena.2 A limit of the model is the famous Kondo model3 which describes resistivity minima and saturation. The model is simple to state and its properties are readily measureable in the laboratory.4 However, the solution of the model is a difficult many-body problem. In recent years considerable progress in understanding the static properties of the model has been achieved using non-perturbative methods such as the Bethe ansatz,5 the renormalization group,6 and quantum Monte Carlo (QMC).7 Nevertheless, the understanding of the dynamical properties has remained elusive. These include the spectral density of the impurity state, the transport coeffecients, and the dynamical magnetic susceptibility. The spectral density has been calculated reliably only for large orbital degeneracy8 or for expansion parameters below the range of most physical interest.9 It has been obtained only at zero temperature by the renormalization group method,10 and it is extremely difficult to calculate reliably from QMC.11-15
Effect of starvation on induction of quinoline degradation for a subsurface bacterium in a continuous-flow column.

Differences in the induction response and the initial two reactions of quinoline degradation between short-term (2 days)- and long-term (60 to 80 days)-starved cells of a subsurface Pseudomonas cepacia strain were examined by using continuous-flow columns. The ability of bacteria that are indigenous to oligotrophic environments to respond to a contaminant was assessed by using long-term starvation to induce a cell physiology that simulates the in situ physiology of the bacteria. With quinoline concentrations of 39 and 155 μM, long-term-starved cells converted quinoline to degradation products more efficiently than did short-term-starved cells. Quinoline concentrations of 155 μM and, to a greater extent, 775 μM had an inhibitory effect on induction in long-term-starved cells. However, only the length of the induction process was affected with these quinoline concentrations; degradation of quinoline at the steady state for long-term-starved cells was equal to or better than that for short-term-starved cells. The induction time for short-term-starved cells did not increase progressively with increasing quinoline concentration. Experiments with starved cells are important for the development of accurate predictive models of contaminant transport in the subsurface because starvation, which induces a cell physiology that simulates the in situ physiology of many bacteria, may affect the induction process.