cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Revealing transient structures of nucleosomes as DNA unwinds

The modulation of DNA accessibility by nucleosomes is a fundamental mechanism of gene regulation in eukaryotes. The nucleosome core particle (NCP) consists of 147 bp of DNA wrapped around a symmetric octamer of histone proteins. The dynamics of DNA packaging and unpackaging from the NCP affect all DNA-based chemistries, but depend on many factors, including DNA positioning sequence, histone variants and modifications. Although the structure of the intact NCP has been studied by crystallography at atomic resolution, little is known about the structures of the partially unwrapped, transient intermediates relevant to nucleosome dynamics in processes such as transcription, DNA replication and repair. We apply a new experimental approach combining contrast variation with time-resolved small angle X-ray scattering (TR-SAXS) to determine transient structures of protein and DNA constituents of NCPs during salt-induced disassembly. We measure the structures of unwrapping DNA and monitor protein dissociation from Xenopus laevis histones reconstituted with two model NCP positioning constructs: the Widom 601 sequence and the sea urchin 5S ribosomal gene. Both constructs reveal asymmetric release of DNA from disrupted histone cores, but display different patterns of protein dissociation. These kinetic intermediates may be biologically important substrates for gene regulation.
Queueing analysis in dynamic distributed real-time systems

The effect of queueing on a dynamic distributed real-time system, in which jobs have hard deadline requirements, is studied. A job can be guaranteed to be completed before its deadline expires; it is rejected otherwise. An analytic model is presented to calculate the probability that an arbitrary arriving job will be guaranteed. An embedded Markov chain is first established, followed by a probability analysis. In the model, only one copy of the resource is considered. If more than one copy exists in the distributed real-time system, the scheduling discipline for incoming jobs among these copies will affect the probability that a job can be guaranteed. It is shown that a round-robin scheduling, in which arriving jobs are assigned to all the copies of the resource in a cyclic order, is the best strategy. In this strategy, a job that cannot be guaranteed by its assigned copy can never be guaranteed by other copies either. However, it requires a centralized controller to assign the load. The performance issue for cases with multiple copies of a resource is noted with respect to various strategies. The model is nevertheless useful for further research where multiple copies will be taken into account or for the design of a real-time system where jobs with a hard deadline requirement arrive to the system dynamically and nonperiodically. >
Joint power and handoff control using a hybrid systems framework

Power control and handoff are two significant problems for cellular wireless systems. While both problems have received considerable attention of late, the problems are not often treated in a joint manner. Combined downlink power control and handoff design for cellular communication systems using a hybrid system framework is considered herein. Two new algorithms are proposed. The first one is a hard handoff/power control algorithm that endeavors a tradeoff between three performance criteria: transmitted power, number of handoffs and call quality. The second algorithm is a joint soft handoff/power control algorithm that takes into account the effect of the number of base stations in the active set in addition to the above performance criteria. The significance of the algorithms is that they incorporate the effects of channel fading and mobility, and achieve a tradeoff between the satisfaction levels of the mobile user and the network operator, thereby provide satisfactory service for the user while reducing the burden on the network such as undesired switching between base stations. The tradeoffs involved in both algorithms are verified through simulations.
A Structural Basis for the Assembly and Functions of a Viral Polymer that Inactivates Multiple Tumor Suppressors

Summary Evolution of minimal DNA tumor virus' genomes has selected for small viral oncoproteins that hijack critical cellular protein interaction networks. The structural basis for the multiple and dominant functions of adenovirus oncoproteins has remained elusive. E4-ORF3 forms a nuclear polymer and simultaneously inactivates p53, PML, TRIM24, and MRE11/RAD50/NBS1 (MRN) tumor suppressors. We identify oligomerization mutants and solve the crystal structure of E4-ORF3. E4-ORF3 forms a dimer with a central β core, and its structure is unrelated to known polymers or oncogenes. E4-ORF3 dimer units coassemble through reciprocal and nonreciprocal exchanges of their C-terminal tails. This results in linear and branched oligomer chains that further assemble in variable arrangements to form a polymer network that partitions the nuclear volume. E4-ORF3 assembly creates avidity-driven interactions with PML and an emergent MRN binding interface. This reveals an elegant structural solution whereby a small protein forms a multivalent matrix that traps disparate tumor suppressors. PaperFlick
Inhibition of Interleukin 10 Signaling after Fc Receptor Ligation and during Rheumatoid Arthritis

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a potent deactivator of myeloid cells that limits the intensity and duration of immune and inflammatory responses. The activity of IL-10 can be suppressed during inflammation, infection, or after allogeneic tissue transplantation. We investigated whether inflammatory factors suppress IL-10 activity at the level of signal transduction. Out of many factors tested, only ligation of Fc receptors by immune complexes inhibited IL-10 activation of the Jak-Stat signaling pathway. IL-10 signaling was suppressed in rheumatoid arthritis joint macrophages that are exposed to immune complexes in vivo. Activation of macrophages with interferon-gamma was required for Fc receptor-mediated suppression of IL-10 signaling, which resulted in diminished activation of IL-10-inducible genes and reversal of IL-10-dependent suppression of cytokine production. The mechanism of inhibition involved decreased cell surface IL-10 receptor expression and Jak1 activation and was dependent on protein kinase C delta. These results establish that IL-10 signaling is regulated during inflammation and identify Fc receptors and interferon-gamma as important regulators of IL-10 activity. Generation of macrophages refractory to IL-10 can contribute to pathogenesis of inflammatory and infectious diseases characterized by production of interferon-gamma and immune complexes.
Sanger's Like Systems for Generalized Principal and Minor Component Analysis

In this paper generalizations of Sanger's learning rule for nondefinite matrices are explored. It is shown that the left and right principal components of any matrix can be computed so that these components upper triangulize the original matrix. We also modified the original Sanger's system to obtain new dynamical systems with a larger domain of attraction. Stability analysis for several Sanger's type systems for the standard and generalized principal, and minor component analyzers applied to nonsymmetric matrices is developed
A new solution (UCLA formula) for lung preservation.

In previous studies, we revealed the beneficial effects of verapamil and glucose-insulin-potassium solution in lung preservation. In this study, we composed a new solution (UCLA formula) containing both of these factors and compared it with Collins-Sachs solution in a canine autotransplantation model. A total of 15 dogs were used. The animals were assigned randomly to the two study groups. The left lungs of seven dogs were perfused with the UCLA formula and the left lungs of eight dogs with Collins-Sachs. Both solutions were at 4° C. After 6 hours of preservation, the left lungs in both groups were autotransplanted. In the UCLA formula group, seven of seven dogs (100%) survived for the entire period of 2 weeks after the operation. In contrast, two of eight dogs in the Collins-Sachs group (25%) survived for longer than 24 hours. Pulmonary artery resistance (dyne · sec · cm–5) after transplantation was 499.8 ± 144.8 in the UCLA group and 780.9 ± 174.5 in the Collins-Sachs group (p
Foreword: Laicite in Comparative Perspective

This essay is the foreword to a conference, "Laicite in Comparative Perspective," which drew together scholars from Europe and the United States to compare the French model of church-state relations, laicite, with models that exist in other countries. The essay makes three main points about laicite. First, it argues that laicite has multiple meanings that do not always overlap. For example, "legal" laicite, the principles that derive from legal texts, must be distinguished from "philosophical" or "political" laicite. Second, it demonstrates that conflicts about laicite are particularly bitter in the context of public education. Both pro- and anti-religionists view public schools as crucial battlegrounds for shaping future citizens; for both sides, the stakes are very high. Finally, it suggests that the way to understand laicite – and church-state relations in the United States – is to focus on the historical compromises that give abstract doctrine real-world meaning.
How to Raise $1 Trillion Without a VAT or a Rate Hike

There is an impending crisis in which revenue is needed to contain the federal deficit, now projected at $1.3 trillion a year. Some have said that individual income tax rates will need to go up to 85 percent, and some have advocated a federal VAT, FAIR tax, or sales tax, with rates as high as 61 percent. This article shows the best way to raise $1 trillion without either a VAT or a rate increase, mostly by requiring that our tax accounting better reflect economic income. Doing so will make the tax system both fairer and more efficient. Table 1 lists ways to raise $1 trillion. The list, however, cannot be adopted without a crisis.This article is part of the Shelf Project, a collaboration among tax professionals to develop and perfect proposals to raise revenue.
Ultrafast optoelectronics

High-speed optoelectronics is a rapidly advancing area driven by the need for higher-speed fiber-optic transmission systems. This area is reviewed, with attention given to high-speed semiconductor lasers, mode-locked semiconductor lasers, and high-speed photodetectors. It is concluded that the prospects look good for expanded use of the large bandwidth capability of optical fiber. This expansion is driven by the increased demands of wideband video and data transmission. It is projected that, with the reduction of transport limitations in semiconductor lasers, bandwidths of semiconductor lasers will soon exceed 30 GHz and operation at 40 Gb/s is possible. Advances in high speed electronics should allow the goal of 40-Gb/s transmission to be realized over the next five years. >
Anti-platelet therapy in small animal medicine

Thromboembolism is a significant complication in many commonly encountered diseases, and can be a devastating sequel to otherwise treatable conditions. Platelets play an essential role in the hemostatic process and, consequently, are associated with thrombus formation. Platelets adhere to denuded vascular subendothelium, recruit additional platelets and cells, aggregate, and provide the catalytic surface for thrombin production and fibrin formation. Therapy to prevent unwanted thrombus formation and thromboembolic crises is essential in the management of hypercoagulable patients. Unfortunately, many of the medications used in veterinary medicine that inhibit or modulate coagulation factors, such as the heparins, are cost prohibitive, only effective when administered by injection or require frequent drug monitoring, and are therefore poor choices for long term at home therapy. While the role of the platelet in pathologic thrombus formation is not fully understood, veterinarians often resort to anti-platelet therapy in the management of patients at risk for thromboembolic complications, because many anti-platelet medications are inexpensive, require minimal drug monitoring, and can be given orally. The aim of this review is to discuss the anti-platelet therapies that are currently being used or being considered for use to inhibit platelet function and reduce thromboembolic complications in hypercoagulable dogs and cats.
Analysis and visualization of meteorological emergencies

The capability to sample and store meteorological information across a wide area allows to analyze the historical evolution of data and to extract events that are potentially bound to emergency and critical events. In this contribution we detect events when a station shows values that are sensibly different from the neighbor stations. We check the co-occurrence of these events with emergency reported in web news. Results are encouraging and show how the statistical analysis can allow to forecast emergencies and to reduce the impact of critical situations.
Research on Pulsed Discharge Experiments Based on RSD

In order to study the application of RSD (Reversely Switched Dynistor) in large current pulsed discharge system,the paper firstly investigates the construction,conducting mechanism and various triggering circuits of RSD. Then a pulsed current discharge experimental circuit of RSD is set up. The experimental results showed that some series RSD valves with diameter of 76 mm could produce a pulsed current with maximum value of 120kA and pulse width of 240μs. Aimed at large current discharge application,the paper indicates that design of triggering circuit and reduction of reverse current is two key problems in the application of RSD.
The Need for Moral Competency in Autonomous Agent Architectures

Autonomous robots will have to have the capability to make decisions on their own to varying degrees. In this chapter, I will make the plea for developing moral capabilities deeply integrated into the control architectures of such autonomous agents, for I shall argue that any ordinary decision-making situation from daily life can be turned into a morally charged decision-making situation.
A Great Carolingian Panzootic: The Probable Extent, Diagnosis and Impact of an Early Ninth-Century Cattle Pestilence

This paper considers the cattle panzootic of 809-810, the most thoroughly documented and, as far as can be discerned, spatially significant livestock pestilence of the Carolingian period (750-950 CE). It surveys the written evidence for the plague, and examines the pestilence’s spatial and temporal parameters, dissemination, diagnosis and impact. It is argued that the plague originated east of Europe, was truly pan-European in scope, and represented a significant if primarily short-term shock to the Carolingian agrarian economy. Cattle in southern and northern Europe, including the British Isles, were affected. In all probability, several hundreds of thousands of domestic bovines died, adversely impacting food production and distribution, and human health. A diagnosis of the rinderpest virus (RPV) is tentatively advanced.
The Effects of Sense of Presence, Sense of Belonging, and Cognitive Absorption on Satisfaction and User Loyalty toward an Immersive 3D Virtual World

Avatar-based 3D virtual worlds such as Second Life have drawn increasing attention from users and researchers in the past few years as an emerging online environment for social, entertainment, and virtual business. However, there are very limited empirical studies that have examined the influence of social-technonlogical constructs (i.e., sense of presence, sense of belonging, and cognitive absorption) on users’ satisfaction and their loyalty to a virtual world. An aggregate second-order construct that consists of multiple-dimensions seems a reasonable approach. Moreover, due to the multi-dimensional characteristics of socio-technological constructs, examining those constructs needs to use more stable and reliable higher-order measurements than before. Therefore, in this study, we empirically investigate the effect of three social-technological constructs as a multi-dimensional second-order construct on the first-time users’ satisfaction with and loyalty to avatar-based virtual world. The results and their theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.
High-magnification super-resolution FINCH microscopy using birefringent crystal lens interferometers.

The use of birefringent crystals improves super-resolution Fresnel incoherent correlation holography (FINCH) microscopy.
Nudging for good: robots and the ethical appropriateness of nurturing empathy and charitable behavior

An under-examined aspect of human---robot interaction that warrants further exploration is whether robots should be permitted to influence a user's behavior for that person's own good. Yet an even more controversial practice could be on the horizon, which is allowing a robot to "nudge" a user's behavior for the good of society. In this article, we examine the feasibility of creating companion robots that would seek to nurture a user's empathy toward other human beings. As more and more computing devices subtly and overtly influence human behavior, it is important to draw attention to whether it would be ethically appropriate for roboticists to pursue this type of design pathway. Our primary focus is on whether a companion robot could encourage humans to perform charitable acts; this design possibility illustrates the range of socially just actions that a robot could potentially elicit from a user and what the associated ethical concerns may be.
Abstract 15054: IP3 Receptor Modulates Maladaptive Vascular Responses in Heart Failure

Introduction: Patients with heart failure (HF) have augmented vascular tone which increases cardiac workload, impairing cardiac output and adversely affecting outcomes. However, the molecular mecha...
How Men with Prostate Cancer Choose Specialists: A Qualitative Study.

OBJECTIVE The specific specialist that a patient sees can have a large influence on the type of care they receive. METHODS We administered semistructured interviews with 47 men diagnosed with prostate adenocarcinoma between 2012 and 2014. Telephone interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a systematic thematic approach. RESULTS Three profiles of patients emerged for choosing specialists: active (21.3%), partially active (53.2%), and passive (25.5%). Active patients conducted substantial research when choosing a diagnosing urologist and a treating specialist: they searched online, consulted other men with prostate cancer, and/or visited multiple specialists for opinions. Partially active patients took only 1 additional step to find a treating specialist on their own after receiving a referral from their diagnosing urologist. Passive patients relied exclusively on referrals from their primary care physicians (PCPs) and diagnosing urologists. CONCLUSION The majority of patients relied on their PCPs for referrals to diagnosing urologists and on their diagnosing urologists to choose the treating specialist. Given these findings and the significance of specialist choice in determining treatment, it is important that PCPs recognize their indirect but potentially important effect on treatment choice when making referrals for prostate cancer. PCPs should consider counseling patients about seeking second opinions from providers with different treatment perspectives and participating in treatment decisions.
Cytotoxic T Cell Functions Accumulate When CD4 Is Downregulated by CD4 + T Cells in African Green Monkeys.

African green monkeys (AGMs) are a natural host of SIV that do not develop simian AIDS. Adult AGMs naturally have low numbers of CD4+ T cells and a large population of MHC class II-restricted CD8αα T cells that are generated through CD4 downregulation in CD4+ T cells. In this article, we study the functional profiles and SIV infection status in vivo of CD4+ T cells, CD8αα T cells, and CD8αβ T cells in lymph nodes, peripheral blood, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of AGMs and rhesus macaques (in which CD4 downregulation is not observed). We show that, although CD8αα T cells in AGMs maintain functions associated with CD4+ T cells (including Th follicular functionality in lymphoid tissues and Th2 responses in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid), they also accumulate functions normally attributed to canonical CD8+ T cells. These hyperfunctional CD8αα T cells are found to circulate peripherally, as well as reside within the lymphoid tissue. Due to their unique combination of CD4 and CD8 T cell effector functions, these CD4- CD8αα T cells are likely able to serve as an immunophenotype capable of Th1, follicular Th, and CTL functionalities, yet they are unable to be infected by SIV. These data demonstrate the ambiguity of CD4/CD8 expression in dictating the functional capacities of T cells and suggest that accumulation of hyperfunctional CD8αα T cells in AGMs may lead to tissue-specific antiviral immune responses in lymphoid follicles that limit SIV replication in this particular anatomical niche.
Collusion and signaling in auctions with interdependent values

Abstract The standard approach to collusion in auctions posits an uninformed, disinterested third party who, prior to the auction, designs and implements a collusive mechanism. In environments where collusion agreements are likely to be both proposed and executed by the involved parties, this approach may neglect information leakages from simply a proposal to collude. We consider a model of collusion where one informed bidder proposes to another, as in Eső and Schummer (2004) . We allow for general interdependent values and affiliated signals. In contrast to third party modeling approaches, collusion is inefficient from both a social perspective (except for the case of pure common values) and from the perspective of the ring. Both bidders are better off than without colluding, but the surplus extracted from the seller is distributed asymmetrically between the bidders. The potential for information leakage from proposing is bad for low types, who reveal that they are weak competitors, but is advantageous for high types, because they are able to signal their strength. We identify a so-called “briber's curse,” whereby acceptance of a proposal causes the proposer to downgrade her expected value for the object. When there is additional competition in the form of bidders outside of the cartel, the briber's curse significantly harms cartel profits and raises seller revenues.
Supporting the Research Practices of Agricultural Scientists at Oregon State University

ABSTRACTAs part of a cross-institutional collaboration organized by Ithaka S+R, Oregon State University Libraries faculty interviewed 15 faculty members in the College of Agricultural Sciences about their research, publishing, and information management practices. The work of Agricultural Sciences faculty is uniquely influenced by their regional geography and climate, as well as by their local and disciplinary communities of practice, which includes both growers and scholars. Findings showed that publishing decisions, access to research, barriers to access, and a systems thinking approach were influenced by behaviors and standards established by these various communities. Implications for the libraries' role in discovery, access, and dissemination are considered and discussed.
“Control your emotions, Potter”: An Analysis of Grief Policing on Facebook in Response to Celebrity Death

As social media platforms become a larger part of sharing life, they have by necessity become a part of sharing death. In life, pop culture fans can have parasocial (one-sided, mediated) relationships with celebrities. Yet when fans of departed celebrities express their grief in public comment threads, conversations often result in disagreements about how to grieve. These disagreements consistently appear in response to the deaths of public figures, and have been broadly labeled "grief policing." We performed a thematic analysis of public Facebook comments responding to the deaths of Alan Rickman, David Bowie, and Prince. Our findings describe prominent grief policing practices and explain how commenters may be importing norms from other contexts when shared spaces consist of transient interactions that make norm formation difficult. Our findings contribute to a broader understanding of how conflicting norms affect discourse in transient online spaces. Approaching online incivility through a lens of conflicting social norm enforcement may open doors for improvements in public discourse online.
Single scene and path reconstruction with a monocular camera using integral concurrent learning

An observer is developed that uses a monocular camera to reconstruct the positions of stationary features in a scene and the path the camera travels through the scene in real time. A Lyapunov based stability analysis is provided to show the observer is globally exponentially stable for less restrictive conditions than current literature. A simulation is provided to validate the developed theory and demonstrate performance.
Morphine antinociception on thermal sensitivity and place conditioning in male and female rats treated with intraplantar complete freund's adjuvant.

Abstract The experience of pain is characterized by the presence of a noxious sensory stimulus combined with negative affect, which is often treated clinically through administration of drugs such as morphine or other opioids. This study investigated the effects of morphine one and seven days after intraplantar administration of complete freund’s adjuvant (CFA) in male and female rats. Hargreaves test for thermal nociception and conditioned place preference (CPP) were performed following subcutaneous administration of saline or morphine (1.0, 4.0, 8.0, 12.0 mg/kg). Hargreaves test results revealed that male rats were more sensitive to morphine antinociceptive actions as compared to female rats one day after CFA treatment; however, this sex difference was not detected seven days after CFA treatment. One day after CFA treatment, morphine doses of 8.0 and 12.0 mg/kg produced a CPP in male rats, while female rats exhibited CPP with only the 12.0 mg/kg dose. Seven days after CFA treatment, both male and female rats exhibited a CPP with morphine doses of 4.0 mg/kg and higher. These results reveal sexually dimorphic properties of morphine in the paw withdrawal latencies and conditioned place preference models, representing reflexive and non-reflexive behavioral assays employed to examine inflammatory nociception. Our findings also suggest that antinociceptive effects of morphine are dynamic across early and later periods of CFA-induced inflammatory pain.
Decoupling and the Cultures of Global Finance

Is there a global financial culture? Neo-institutional world polity researchers demonstrated a surprising amount of legitimacy-driven practice conformity across a wide range of transnational settings. While this research claims that observed isomorphism is mainly driven by global-level legitimacy processes, one of the major limitations of this line of work is its inattention to the actual content of nation-state practices. Drawing on an examination of the spread of stock and stock option exchanges, we argue that neo-institutional world polity research can be usefully expanded by shifting attention away from legitimacy and toward a focus on systematic variation in nation-state culture. Concentrating on financial institutions and surrounding infrastructures, we argue that a "modern" global financial culture unites some countries that have a robustly functioning financial sector that consists of active stock and stock option exchanges as well as a healthy endowment of financial expertise. The vast majority o...
Evaluation of commercially available seat suspensions to reduce whole body vibration exposures in mining heavy equipment vehicle operators.

As mining vehicle operators are exposed to high level of Whole body vibration (WBV) for prolonged periods of time, approaches to reduce this exposure are needed for the specific types of exposures in mining. Although various engineering controls (i.e. seat suspension systems) have been developed to address WBV, there has been lack of research to systematically evaluate these systems in reducing WBV exposures in mining heavy equipment vehicle settings. Therefore, this laboratory-based study evaluated the efficacy of different combinations of fore-aft (x-axis), lateral (y-axis), and vertical (z-axis) suspensions in reducing WBV exposures. The results showed that the active vertical suspension more effectively reduced the vertical vibration (∼50%; p's 0.06) and sometimes amplified the floor vibration, especially when the non-vertical vibration was predominant (p's < 0.02). These results indicate that there is a critical need to develop more effective engineering controls including better seat suspensions to address non-vertical WBV exposures, especially because these non-vertical WBV exposures can increase risks for adverse health effects including musculoskeletal loading, discomfort, and impaired visual acuity.
Can SMASH Smash MASH

In this paper, we present a thorough discussion and comparison between the single loop delta-sigma modulator (DMS), the multi-stage noise shaping (MASH) DSM and the sturdy MASH (SMASH) DSM focusing on circuit sensitivity and stability. It shows that the SMASH is least sensitive to the circuit non-idealities among all and its stability is in between the others.
Stability of Colloidal Dispersions: A Thermodynamic Approach

The classical theory of coagulation relies on relating the rate of interparticle collisions to the interaction forces, and thus to the physical and chemical parameters of the dispersion, through kinetic arguments, and is restricted to dilute systems. Here, we present a modern, thermodynamic theory capable of predicting stability diagrams for dense as well as dilute dispersions. Although based on statistical thermodynamics, the method is simple to use and requires only the second virial coefficient of osmotic pressure of the dispersion. All the information necessary for applying the model to arbitrary dispersions is given. The method is illustrated for a model colloidal potential, and it is shown how static light scattering measurements can be used for predicting the stability diagrams when information about the colloidal forces are not known in advance.
Structure and Localization of Gangliosides

Gangliosides are sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids (GSLs) found primarily in the plasma membrane of virtually all vertebrate tissues and are particularly abundant in the nervous system. They constitute part of the glycocalyx network surrounding the cell surface and are crucial in determining the properties and functions of cells. Structurally, they contain a hydrophobic ceramide chain to which a hydrophilic oligosaccharide is glycosidically linked. Some representative brain gangliosides are shown in Figure 1.
The Impact of Inclusive STEM High Schools on Student Outcomes: a Statewide Longitudinal Evaluation of Texas STEM Academies

In recent years, the number of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) specialized schools has been rapidly increasing internationally. In the United States, a new movement of establishing inclusive STEM high schools (ISHSs) aimed at expanding access to specialized STEM education for underrepresented and diverse student groups has begun to emerge. Due to its recent emergence, rigorous evidence on the impact of ISHSs on student outcomes is scarce and inconclusive. This study adds to this limited but growing body of empirical literature by examining whether ISHSs have an effect on student achievement, course-taking, and high school completion, and if effects vary by sociodemographic subgroups. Focusing on the Texas STEM academies—the largest cluster of ISHSs in the US, and analyzing a decade-long data from the Texas Statewide Longitudinal Data System, pooled regression analysis results showed that while ISHSs had no impact on student test scores in mathematics and science, the effects are positive on completing advanced level math courses in high school. Subgroup analyses indicated that ISHSs generally have no differential effects on student outcomes by sociodemographic subgroups, with the exception that they improve the rates of high school graduation for racial minority and low-income students.
Prognostic significance of electrocardiographic right ventricular hypertrophy in the general population.

Abstract Background Echocardiographically detected right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality. However, the prognostic significance of electrocardiographic (ECG)RVH criteria as predictors of poor outcomes in the general population is unclear. Methods This study included 7857 participants (59.8 ± 13.4 years, 52.6% women) from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Sixteen different ECG-RVH criteria were created from digitally recorded and centrally processed electrocardiograms. All-cause mortality was ascertained using the National Death Index. Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to examine the association between baseline ECG-RVH criteria and all-cause mortality. Results The prevalence of RVH varied widely among the criteria. The lowest ECG-RVH prevalence was 0.09% (using S > R in I, II, III) while the highest prevalence was 20.7% (using (R I + S III) − (S I + R III) Conclusions There is a wide variation in the prevalence of ECG-RVH when different criteria are applied in the general population. However, the presence of ECG-RVH by most criteria regardless of prevalence was associated with poor prognosis suggesting that appropriate choice of criteria may enhance the utilization of these ECG markers in risk stratification.
Structural Obstacles Slow Small Business Lending

After the Great Recession, there was still a gap in access to capital for small businesses. It is tempting to blame this on regulation or other cyclical issues. But longer-term structural factors had been putting pressure on banks for decades. Community banks, which have traditionally had a disproportionately large role in lending to small businesses, have been declining since the 1980s. The concentration of assets in large banks has reduced the amount of capital focused on small businesses. Larger banks tend to prioritize consumer banking, mortgages, and investments, often viewing small business loans as less profitable. Indeed, small business loans are riskier, have transaction costs that do not scale, and are difficult to securitize. This chapter assesses the structural factors that have, over several decades, reduced small business access to capital.
The Financial Crises of the 1890s and the High Tide of Populism (a)

Set in November 1896, the case describes the views of the two leading candidates for US president, William Jennings Bryan and William McKinley, along with those of three other figures: J. P. Morgan, Mary Elizabeth Lease, and Eugene Debs. The task for the student is to assess the role of money and financial crises in the evolving political landscape—these five people reflect policy positions across the political spectrum. The main controversy in the case is whether only gold, or both gold and silver, should back the dollar, an issue that has been simmering for about a quarter-century and that is resolved in the election of 1896. Excerpt UVA-F-1831 Rev. Jul. 15, 2020 The Financial Crises of the 1890s and the High Tide of Populism (A) Gold is money. Everything else is credit. —J. P. Morgan We cannot gamble with anything so sacred as money, which is the standard and measure of all values. I can imagine nothing which would be more disturbing to our credit and more deranging in our commercial and financial affairs than to make [the United States] the dumping-ground of the world's silver. . . .
Circles, Trees, and Bears: Symbols of Power of the Weenuche Ute.

The Ute community of White Mesa, comprised of approximately 315 people, sits in the corner of southeastern Utah, eleven miles outside of Blanding. The residents, primarily of Weenuche Ute and Paiute ancestry, enjoy a cultural heritage that embraces elements from plains, mountain, and desert/Great Basin Indian culture. Among their religious practices are the Worship Dance, Ghost Dance, Sun Dance, and Bear Dance. Although each ceremony is unique, and performed for a variety of reasons, the common ground among them cannot be missed. Healing the sick, renewing necessities for survival, connecting spiritually with ancestors, communicating with the Land Beyond, establishing patterns for life, and sharing symbols that unify religious expression—such as the circle, tree, and bear—are elements that characterize the faith of these people as expressed in these ceremonies. Their origin sheds light on the relevance of these practices as they blend traditions from the past with contemporary usage. As symbols imbued wit...
Using Virtual Reality to Create an Inclusive Virtual Drumming Environment

Upon doing research in the realm of physical disability, a common occurrence that was found was people missing the ability to take part in passions they had when they were without any disability. Two areas that were targeted in particular were those affected by paralysis by unnatural causes and those dealing with multiple sclerosis. Accounts of paralysis stem from injuries such as car accidents or sports injuries, while multiple sclerosis is a disease in which the immune system attacks the protective covering of the nerves. In order to find solutions to these lost abilities we attempted to find a way allow people to play music again. The research presented in this paper describes an interactive virtual drumming environment for people who do not have the use of their arms and it also contains a visual representation of the drum rhythms for people who are not able to hear. Players play the drums by moving their head and the audio is played through speakers and through a DMX lighting system. Twenty-five people played the virtual drums and their feedback was recorded and used to make suggestions about improvements.
Using Good’s Buffers To Control the Anisotropic Structure and Optical Properties of Spiky Gold Nanoparticles for Refractive Index Sensing

Spiky gold nanoparticles show structure-tunable optical properties. Most synthetic procedures, however, cannot independently manipulate the overall particle shape, core size, and spike features. Fu...
Majority rule on j -rich ballot spaces

Fishburn (Aggregation and revelation of preferences. North Holland, Amsterdam, pp 201–218, 1979) proved that majority rule on any proper permutation closed $$j\hbox {-rich}$$ ballot space is the only social choice function satisfying faithfulness, consistency, cancellation, and neutrality. Alos-Ferrer (Soc Choice Welf 27:621–625, 2006) showed that neutrality was not needed for Fishburn’s result as long as the ballot space has no restriction on ballot sizes. In this paper, we show that the Alos-Ferrer result can be extended to a much larger class of ballot spaces.
Portable, Disposable, Paper-Based Microbial Fuel Cell Sensor Utilizing Freeze-Dried Bacteria for In Situ Water Quality Monitoring.

Water quality monitoring is becoming an essential part of our lives as increasing human activities continue to spill unknown and unexpected contaminants into our water systems. To ensure the provis...
Long-term Satisfaction with Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery: Results from a Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.

Objective To examine change in overall satisfaction with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery over 3-7 years post-surgery and identify pre-surgery predictors and post-surgery factors associated with not being satisfied. Background It is unclear how satisfaction with RYGB surgery changes over time following surgery and factors associated with not being satisfied are not well understood. Methods Participants of a multi-center prospective cohort study of bariatric surgery were followed annually ≥7 years. 1423 participants of the 1770 who underwent RYGB had data on satisfaction with surgery (81% female; median age 47 years; median body mass index 46 kg/m). Results The percentage of participants who were not satisfied with RYGB surgery significantly increased from 15.4% 3 years post-surgery to 23.0% 7 years post-surgery (P = 0.01). Pre-surgery younger age, lower BMI, higher percent weight loss needed to reach dream weight, lower physical and mental health status, and less social support independently predicted higher risk of not being satisfied with surgery. When examining pre- to post-surgery changes, less post-surgery weight loss, worsening physical and mental health status, less social support, and greater depressive symptomology were associated with higher risk of not being satisfied with surgery. Conclusion Level of satisfaction with RYGB surgery significantly decreased 3-7 years following surgery. Several pre- and post-surgery characteristics were associated with not being satisfied with surgery and provide potentially useful insight into individual patient experiences following RYGB. Knowledge of these characteristics may be useful in communication between surgeons and patients regarding post-surgical expectations and the impact of surgery on patients' lives.
Mechanisms of action by antimicrobial agents: A review

Microorganisms and associated conditions make up some of the world’s leading causes of death and have the potential to cause a significant societal effect during pandemic states. Despite such significance in the healthcare field, attention and funding directed towards microbiological research lags its cohorts in cancer and cardiovascular disease. In the current SAR-CoV-2 pandemic, the importance of practicing clinicians and providers to remain knowledgeable on antimicrobial therapy for their patients is higher than ever before. The scope of this review is to provide clinicians a semi-comprehensive, up-to-date understanding of the mechanisms of action among antimicrobial agents as well as key distinctions in clinical manifestations of pathogens.
GABAergic neurons are susceptible to BAX-dependent apoptosis following isoflurane exposure in the neonatal period

Exposure to volatile anesthetics during the neonatal period results in acute neuron death. Prior work suggests that apoptosis is the dominant mechanism mediating neuron death. We show that Bax deficiency blocks neuronal death following exposure to isoflurane during the neonatal period. Blocking Bax-mediated neuron death attenuated the neuroinflammatory response of microglia following isoflurane exposure. We find that GABAergic interneurons are disproportionately overrepresented among dying neurons. Despite the increase in neuronal apoptosis induced by isoflurane exposure during the neonatal period, seizure susceptibility, spatial memory retention, and contextual fear memory were unaffected later in life. However, Bax deficiency alone led to mild deficiencies in spatial memory and contextual fear memory, suggesting that normal developmental apoptotic death is important for cognitive function. Collectively, these findings show that while GABAergic neurons in the neonatal brain undergo elevated Bax-dependent apoptotic cell death following exposure to isoflurane, this does not appear to have long-lasting consequences on overall neurological function later in life.
Old Heads: Hazing and the Role of Fraternity and Sorority Alumni

In recent years, commentators have tried to make sense of hazing’s legal contours. In addition, they have explored why this legal regime has been largely ineffective at curtailing hazing behavior—looking to cultural, organizational, interpersonal, and individual dynamics. One aspect of hazing that has received limited treatment, at least from a scholarly perspective, is the role and influence of alumni members. It is observed that fraternity and sorority alumni want traditions, including hazing, to continue. That often places national organizations in a difficult spot--either not wanting to challenge powerful alumni or simply unable to effectively engage them. This article contends that fraternities and sororities should be held liable for the conduct of alumni, because they often know of alumni's hazing influence and because there are research-based and data-driven approaches to meaningfully engaging alumni. More specifically, organizational behavior research on organizational commitment, retention and turnover, and service recovery offer a roadmap to engagement.
Single-port robotic Mitrofanoff in a pediatric patient.

Summary Introduction Pediatric surgery began with single-incision flank surgery and has evolved to multi-port laparoscopic and robotic approaches. Recent technological advances with the single-port (SP) robot have allowed for transition back to single-incision surgery. Methods A 14-year-old paraplegic male with T2 spinal injury presented with neurogenic bladder and increasing difficulty performing clean intermittent catheterization thus the decision was made to perform the first SP robotic Mitrofanoff procedure in a pediatric patient. The SP platform has one 2.5 cm, 4-channel port, a 12 × 10 mm articulating camera, and 6 mm multi-wristed instruments. Discussion The SP robotic Mitrofanoff was completed successfully without issues with space, triangulation or articulation. There is, however, loss of insufflation with use of laparoscopic instruments as the seal on the port is difficult to maintain. The single-port robot has been successfully utilized in seven patients: six underwent dismembered pyeloplasty and one underwent Mitrofanoff with a median operative time of 120 min and estimated blood loss of Conlusions Single-port robotic surgery is feasible in pediatric patients, but patient selection is key. Future development of the platform is needed to widen application to smaller patients.
NMR solution structure and analysis of isolated S3b-S4a motif of repeat IV of the human cardiac sodium channel

ABSTRACT Voltage-gated sodium channels are membrane proteins that play an important role in the propagation of electrical signals by mediating the rising phase of an action potential. Numerous diseases, including epilepsy, extreme pain, and certain cardiac arrhythmias have been linked to defects in these channels. The S3b-S4a helix-turn-helix motif (paddle motif) is a region of the channel that is involved in voltage sensing and undergoes significant structural changes during gating. It is also the binding site for many gating-modifier toxins. We determined the solution structure of the paddle motif from the fourth repeat of NaV1.5 in dodecylphosphocholine micelles by NMR spectroscopy and investigated its dynamics and micelle interactions. The structure displays a helix hairpin with a short connecting loop, and likely represents the activated conformation with three of the first four gating charges facing away from S3. Furthermore, paramagnetic relaxation measurements show that the paddle motif is mainly interacting with the interface region of the micelle. NMR relaxation studies reveal that the paddle motif is mostly rigid, with some residues around the loop region and the last 4 residues on the C-terminus displaying heightened mobility. The structural findings reported here allowed the interpretation of three disease-causing mutations in this region of the human cardiac sodium channel, S1609W, F1617del and T1620M. The establishment of this model system for NMR studies of the paddle region offers a promising platform for future toxin interaction studies in the cardiac sodium channels, and similar approaches may be applied to other sodium channel isoforms.
Realism and Antirealism About Mathematical Entities

This chapter addresses the question of the ontology of mathematical entities, particularly geometrical figures (though I also touch on numbers), in Spinoza. I discuss the status of mathematical entities as beings of reason and mount a case against mathematical antirealism by linking it with acosmism. Despite the fact that geometrical figures per se are beings of reason, I argue for a realist interpretation of geometrical figures as the determinations of finite bodies. Advancing this argument requires me to examine Spinoza’s discussions of physical individuals in the Ethics and elsewhere. In addition to marshaling textual evidence for my interpretation, I address some questions regarding the property ontology of geometrical figures.