cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A spectroscopy for hadrons

A data compilation is given of 140 meson and baryon resonances. Using the principles of nuclear physics as a guide, we deduce a set of meson and baryon excitation levels (analogous to vibrational levels) and corresponding rotational bands. The excitations occur as «excitation towers» built on a set of fundamental ground states. The excitations follow accurate 70 MeV and 210 MeV interval relationships. All binding energies are small ((1 ÷ 3)%). The rotational bands have cutoffs imposed by the requirement that the periphery should not exceed the velocity of light. We define a hadron basis set consisting of the spinless mass quanta 1 ≡ 70 MeV and 3 ≡ 210 MeV and the fermion spinorS ≡ 327 MeV,J = 1/2ħ. 1 and 3 differ in their isotopic-spin rules. By forming combinations of 1, 3 andS (and their antistates), we can accurately reproduce the masses, spins, widths and principal decay modes of the 140 meson and baryon resonances. A dozen of these resonances were first predicted by this model and then, subsequently, verified in the published data. We can extend the model by giving 1, 3 andS specific geometries and (integral) charge states and, thereby, reproduce the measured magnetic moments and charge splittings. When we do this, the mass of the muon is shown as related to the hadronic basis set. The strangeness quantum number fits naturally into the isotopic-spin formalism. The model is used to unravel a number of experimental puzzles, including the splitting in the A2-meson, the occurrence of a spin-1 ABC resonance and the existence of (M, η′, δ−) and (H, π N , ϕ) as singleI=1 meson resonances. The model is also helpful in accounting for some striking relationships in meson lifetimes. A dynamical method for testing particle symmetries is proposed, and implications for other branches of physics are briefly discussed. See the «Note added in proof» for important new experimental results and for recent theoretical improvements.
Abstract 196: Role of Collecting Duct Renin in Blood Pressure Regulation

Recent studies propose that collecting duct (CD) renin is an important modulator of blood pressure regulation, especially in conditions such as angiotensin-II infused hypertension. We used gene targeting to generate a CD-specific renin knockout (KO) to assess if CD derived renin can regulate BP. Utilizing the Cre lox P system, exon 1 of the renin gene was ablated specifically in the CD. BP was recorded via telemetry and plasma and urine were collected in metabolic cages on normal, high and low Na diets. DNA recombination showed kidney specific recombination in KO mice. Compared to floxed mice, CD renin KO mice had 70 % lower medullary renin mRNA levels and 90% lower renin mRNA in micro-dissected cortical and inner medullary CD tubules. Urinary renin levels were significantly lower in the KO mice on normal and low Na diets (45% of floxed levels) but not with high Na intake. Plasma renin concentration was significantly higher in the KO mice on all three diets. While BP was similar between the two groups on all three diets, infusion of Ang-II delayed the increase in BP in the CD renin KO group for at least 4 days post-infusion. These findings suggest that CD renin likely plays a role in normal BP regulation (evidenced by an increase in PRC) and in response to AngII infusion.
Circular slit-groove plasmonic interferometers: a generalized approach to high-throughput biochemical sensing [Invited]

A class of plasmonic interferometers consisting of a circular slit flanked by a concentric circular groove is demonstrated. Laying in-between the conventional bullseye and the linear slit-groove interferometers, these circular slit-groove interferometers show a polarization-insensitive optical response (thanks to the rotational symmetry imposed by the circular geometry), and overall higher light transmission (due to the absence of a cutoff condition in the circular subwavelength slit). Light transmission and sensitivity can be further enhanced by the presence of plasmonic resonant modes excited by the circular slit. The proposed circular plasmonic interferometers can be employed to develop improved biochemical sensors.
Functional nanostructured materials based on self-assembly of block copolymers

Block copolymers (BCPs) microphase-separate to form periodic patterns with periods of a few nanometers and above without the need for lithographic guidance. These self-assembled nanostructures have a variety of bulk geometries, including alternating lamellae, gyroids, arrays of cylinders or spheres, tiling patterns and core–shell structures, depending on the molecular architecture of the polymer and the volume fraction of its blocks. Non-bulk morphologies can be produced, the ordering of the microdomains can be improved, and their locations can be directed using various templates and processing strategies. The blocks themselves can constitute a functional material, such as a photonic crystal, or they can be used as a mask to pattern other functional materials, functionalized directly by various chemical approaches, or used as a scaffold to assemble nanoparticles or other nanostructures. BCPs offer tremendous flexibility in creating nanostructured materials with a range of applications in microelectronics, photovoltaics, filtration membranes, and other devices.
Studies toward the total syntheses of cucurbitacins B and D.

Synthetic efforts toward the convergent construction of the tetracyclic triterpenoids cucurbitacins B and D are described. The results of a Diels−Alder study examining the effects of steric and electronic variations of 2-methyl-2-cyclohexenone on the endo/exo-diastereoselectivity of the reaction are presented. The diastereomer of the core of the cucurbitacins, epimeric at C8, C9, and C10, 51, was synthesized via a highly regio- and stereoselective Diels−Alder reaction of the diene 4 and the novel dienophile 50.
Characterization and Structural Analysis of Solution-Grown Polyacrylonitrile-co-Methacrylic Acid (PAN-co-MAA) Single Crystals

To date studies regarding the growth and characterization of polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based polymer single crystals have been limited. Polyacrylonitrile-co-methacrylic acid (PAN-co-MAA) was used in this work, which outlines the conditions for three major types of solution-grown crystals. Electron microscopy and diffraction are used to provide a comprehensive study for chain arrangement and growth characteristics for all crystal morphologies. The three major morphological types included polyhedral and polygonal (i.e., parallelogram and elongated rhombus) crystals. Lower crystallization temperatures (65 °C) resulted in more even growth along all facets, while crystals formed at both intermediate (75 °C) and higher (85–95 °C) temperatures exhibited preferential growth along a specific growth plane. Overall crystal size also increased with elevated crystallization temperature (Tc). On the basis of the experimental d-spacing measured by electron diffraction for the (h00) and (0k0) planes, the crystal unit cell ...
Study on Nickel-based Nano-WC/Co Composite Coating Prepared by Spraying and Laser Cladding

A nickel-based nano-WC/Co composite coating on 45 steel was gained with continuous wave CO_2 laser of 2.0 kW,the surface of which is smooth and fine without crack or pore and metallurgically bonds with matrix.Mi- crostructure,composition,phase and bonding strength of the coating have been tested by means of SEM,EDAX, XRD,AFM and Nano Indenter XP.The results indicate that there are a large amount of WC/Co particles well- bonding with the Ni-based alloy in the microstructure of coating,including a considerable amount of nano-particles with granularity of 100 nm or less visible under nanoscope atomic microscope.The bonding strength of coating is 2.1 times larger than that of conventional hot-sprayed coating.The nano-effect of WC/Co in the coating plays an important role during the laser cladding.
Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization in Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics

Variations in the human genome range from single nucleotide changes to whole chromosomal aneuploidies. De novo single nucleotide changes are estimated to occur at a rate of 1.7 × 10−8 per nucleotide in every generation (Kondrashov, Hum Mutat 21(1):12–27, 2003). These sequence variations include coding and noncoding nucleotide changes that may or may not be important in disease. At the opposite end of the spectrum are large segmental genomic rearrangements (inversions and translocations) and copy number changes (CNCs), that is, aneuploidies, marker chromosomes, and large interstitial deletions and duplications. The portion of the human genome that shows variations in segmental genomic copy numbers between individuals accounts for 12% of the DNA. Moreover, de novo copy number changes in newborns are expected to occur once in every 8 births for deletions and once in every 50 births for duplications (van Ommen, Nat Genet 37(4):333–334, 2005).
Estrous cycle characteristics of postpubertal gilts approaching anestrus due to limited dietary energy intake.

Twenty-nine Duroc x (Yorkshire x Landrace) gilts, approximately 9 mo of age and each having experienced at least three estrous cycles, were allotted randomly to five dietary treatments. Each treatment provided a different daily intake of metabolizable energy: .25, .5, .75, 1.0 Mcal (severely restrictive [RES]; chosen to cause cessation of estrous cycles) or 3.4 Mcal (control; designed for maintenance of estrous cyclicity). Blood samples were drawn by venipuncture every 3 d and sera were assayed for progesterone (P4) concentration. Estrous cycle length was estimated by defining d 0 as the last day when serum P4 concentrations were 1 ng/mL. Gilts were considered acyclic when serum P4 levels remained < 1 ng/mL for four consecutive samples (9 d). Anestrus occurred after 78.7 +/- 6.1 d in all RES gilts (n = 23) and in one control on d 24. Compared with the control treatment, RES treatments resulted in longer (P < .05) average estrous cycles (21.0 +/- .2 vs 20.2 +/- .3 d) and greater (P < .05) mean serum P4 concentrations (13.7 +/- .4 vs 11.4 +/- .8 ng/mL). There were no differences in P4 or cycle length measurements among RES treatments. Cycle duration and serum P4 concentrations of the final estrous cycle before anestrus were similar to those of previous cycles. It is concluded that severe energy restriction caused elevated serum P4 concentrations. Neither cycle length nor serum P4 concentration was notably altered as gilts neared anestrus.
The king is dead. Long live the king

In his classic work The King's Two Bodies: A Study in Medieval Political Theology the historian Ernst Kantorowicz examined the development of the political doctrine that distinguished between a monarch's natural body and his or her political body. Whereas the monarch's natural body is mortal – it lives, breathes, becomes ill and dies – the political body, which is the embodiment and representative of the state, is immortal. Yet somehow the two bodies comprise a single unit in making appointments, conducting wars and signing treaties. The paradox is encapsulated in the expression, "The king is dead. Long live the king!".
History, International Relations, and Conflict

This chapter examines aspects of how international relations (IR) can benefit more greatly from history, with some emphasis on the study of international conflict from a social science angle. He argues that the historical study of change is especially vital to understanding IR and conflict in both theory and practice. Building off this exploration, he sketches a conceptual framework that bridges foreign policy at the sub-systemic level with IR in a new way to explain the behavior of states. Yetiv, who has conducted IR-oriented work as well as historically oriented research based on hundreds of documents that he declassified, argues that drawing on multiple disciplines and levels of analysis provides added leverage in explaining conflict and foreign policy.
Considerations for Gross Autopsy Photography

Photography has been a mainstay of autopsy documentation for many years. Recent advances in digital photography have increased its prominence. Good photographic practice requires an understanding o...
3D bioprinting for cardiovascular tissue engineering

3D bioprinting is a group of rapidly growing techniques that allows the building of engineered tissue constructs with complex hierarchical structures, as well as mechanical and biological heterogeneities. Through the use of several different printing mechanisms, various bioinks, as well as cell and/or biomolecule laden biomaterials, are able to be implemented in tissue engineering. There have been great advances in the bioprinting of cardiovascular tissue, especially in vascularized constructs, myocardium, and heart valve conduits. Along with the advancements, some challenges and further needs that can be addressed through bioink and bioprinter development can improve bioprinting strategies and direct future organ bioprinting and translational applications.
P'urhepecha hyperraising to object: An argument for purely altruistic movement

Classical syntactic theory was designed to ensure that raising would be able to proceed out of infinitival clauses, but not out of finite clauses. However, it has since become clear that a number of languages in fact allow raising out of finite clauses (hyperraising). This paper argues that the Mexican isolate P'urhepecha – more specifically, the variety spoken on the island of Janitzio on Lake Patzcuaro – allows hyperraising to object (cf. Bruening 2002, Tanaka 2002, Halpert & Zeller 2015, Deal 2016), and develops an analysis of this phenomenon on which it involves two steps of purely altruistic (target-driven) movement – i.e., movement driven exclusively by a featural requirement of an attracting head. Alternative analyses of the phenomenon based on Greed (Chomsky 1995, Boskovic 2007, a.o.) or Labeling (Chomsky 2013, 2015, a.o.) are considered and shown to face serious problems. P'urhepecha hyperraising to object, then, sheds light on the driving force for movement: it provides an argument for Enlightened Self-Interest (Lasnik 1995, 2003, a.o.), the hypothesis that movement may be driven by a feature either of the moving element or (as here) of an attracting head. The phenomenon also narrows down the space of possibilities for understanding the A/A-bar-distinction.
SLC6A3 Is Associated With Relational Aggression in Children

Abstract. Understanding the genetic influence on aggressive behavior in children is one way to understand pathways to the development of aggression in adults. While aggression is likely under some environmental influence, it is also likely under some genetic influence. Overt aggression associates with a variety of genes including dopaminergic and serotonergic genes. Dopaminergic and serotonergic genes are known to be associated with overt aggression. However, little is known regarding the genetic pathways associated with relational aggression. Detecting genetic associates of relational aggression is important to eventually understand pathways to socially aggressive behaviors in children. Therefore, we attempted to determine if relational aggression was also associated with dopaminergic and serotonergic genes. We invited the parents of 327 children to complete a modified version of the MacArthur Health and Behavior Questionnaire (HBQ-P), which has a subscale for relational aggression. We used logistic regr...
RNAStructuromeDB: A genome-wide database for RNA structural inference.

RNA plays important roles in almost every aspect of biology, and every aspect of RNA biology is influenced by its folding. This is a particularly important consideration in the era of high-throughput sequencing, when the discovery of novel transcripts far outpaces our knowledge of their functions. To gain a comprehensive picture of biology requires a structural framework for making functional inferences on RNA. To this end we have developed the RNA Structurome Database ( https://structurome.bb.iastate.edu ), a comprehensive repository of RNA secondary structural information that spans the entire human genome. Here, we compile folding information for every base pair of the genome that may be transcribed: coding, noncoding, and intergenic regions, as well as repetitive elements, telomeres, etc. This was done by fragmenting the GRCh38 reference genome into 154,414,320 overlapping sequence fragments and, for each fragment, calculating a set of metrics based on the sequence’s folding properties. These data will facilitate a wide array of investigations: e.g. discovery of structured regulatory elements in differential gene expression data or noncoding RNA discovery, as well as allow genome-scale analyses of RNA folding.
The tao of simulation

This paper introduces an open-source, cross-platform object called Tao to the simulation community for teaching and research. Tao is simple enough to begin using within minutes, but is extensible and interoperable with powerful statistical, graphical, animation, and simulation software, as well as internet-of-things hardware. Tao runs locally or remotely in a web browser, freeing it from OS constraints to integrate simulation engines directly into application-specific websites. Modeling examples presented here include a chemical reaction, time-bound activity sequences, and an embedded simulation for real-time load balancing. To illustrate using Tao for research, Hyden's, single-run, global optimization algorithm was implemented. This extension enables Tao to optimize the design of dynamic systems such as queueing networks and supply chains in a single run. To demonstrate Tao's extensibility, the innovations of pending-intervals and a bioproduction stochastic scheduling algorithm were implemented.
Stereotactic laser amygdalohippocampotomy for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

Objective To evaluate the outcomes 1 year and longer following stereotactic laser amygdalohippocampotomy for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy in a large series of patients treated over a 5-year period since introduction of this novel technique. Methods Surgical outcomes of a consecutive series of 58 patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy who underwent the surgery at our institution with at least 12 months of follow-up were retrospectively evaluated. A subgroup analysis was performed comparing patients with and without mesial temporal sclerosis. Results One year following stereotactic laser amygdalohippocampotomy, 53.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 40.8-65.7%) of all patients were free of disabling seizures (Engel I). Three of 9 patients became seizure-free following repeat ablation. Subgroup analysis showed that 60.5% (95% CI = 45.6-73.7%) of patients with mesial temporal sclerosis were free of disabling seizures as compared to 33.3% (95% CI = 15.0-58.5%) of patients without mesial temporal sclerosis. Quality of Life in Epilepsy-31 scores significantly improved at the group level, few procedure-related complications were observed, and verbal memory outcome was better than historical open resection data. Interpretation In an unselected consecutive series of patients, stereotactic laser amygdalohippocampotomy yielded seizure-free rates for patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy lower than, but comparable to, the outcomes typically associated with open temporal lobe surgery. Analogous to results from open surgery, patients without mesial temporal sclerosis fared less well. This novel procedure is an effective minimally invasive alternative to resective surgery. In the minority of patients not free of disabling seizures, laser ablation presents no barrier to additional open surgery. Ann Neurol 2018;83:575-587.
Purification and Catalytic Properties of “Thermostable” Fumarase from Bacillus Stearothermophilus NU-10 and Thermus X-1

Fumarase (L-malate hydro-lysase E.C.4.2.1.2) was purified from the thermophilic bacteria Bacillus stearothermophilus NU-10 (optimum growth temperature 62-63°C) and Thermus X-1 (optimum growth temperature 70°C). The fumarase from Thermus X-1 is slightly more thermostable and has an “optimum” catalytic reaction temperature of 83°C as compared to 81°C for the B. stearothermophilus enzyme. Increased thermostability of these fumarases permitted an examination of the properties of the enzyme catalyzed reaction at temperatures higher than had previously been possible with the fumarases from mesophilic bacteria or higher plant and animal sources. Beyond the observed thermostability of the thermophilic fumarases, the catalytic properties of thermophilic fumarases were very similar to those observed with bacterial fumarase or the well characterized pig heart fumarase (effect of temperature on substrate affinities, pH optimum, substrate inhibition by fumarate, and Haldane relationship). These similarities suggest that thermophilic enzymes may be useful in the general study of enzyme reaction mechanisms.
Non-Soliton Exponentially Small Phenomena

Tables 17.1 and 17.2 list a wide variety of phenomena whose solutions include terms that are exponentially small in a perturbation parameter, but are not directly related to solitary waves. It is obvious that research into “asymptotics beyond all orders” is a growth industry touching many fields of physics, chemistry, and engineering.
Conversion of pregnenolone-414C to progesterone-414C by turtle corpus luteum

Homogenates of corpora lutea from the snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina serpentina, were found to convert pregnenolone to progesterone. Evidence of progesterone was demonstrated by recrystallization to constant specific activity, derivative formation and thin-layer chromatography.
Sofosbuvir based regimens in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 infection in African-American patients: a community-based retrospective cohort study.

BackgroundDirect-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs have been highly effective in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infection. Limited data exist comparing the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of DAAs in African–American (AA) patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 (HCV GT-1) in the commun
Bimetallic titanocene-gold phosphane complexes inhibit invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis-associated signaling molecules in renal cancer.

Following promising recent in vitro and in vivo studies of the anticancer efficacies of heterometallic titanocene-gold chemotherapeutic candidates against renal cancer, we report here on the synthesis, characterization, stability studies and biological evaluation of a new titanocene complex containing a gold-triethylphosphane fragment [(η-C5H5)2TiMe(μ-mba)Au(PEt3)] (4) Titanofin. The compound is more stable in physiological fluid than those previously reported, and it is highly cytotoxic against a line of human clear cell renal carcinoma. We describe here preliminary mechanistic data for this compound and previously reported [(η-C5H5)2TiMe(μ-mba)Au(PPh3)] (2) Titanocref which displayed remarkable activity in an in vivo mouse model. Mechanistic studies were carried out in the human clear cell renal carcinoma Caki-1 line for the bimetallic compounds [(η-C5H5)2TiMe(μ-mba)Au(PR3)] (PR3 = PPh32 Titanocref and PEt34 Titanofin), the two monometallic gold derivatives [Au(Hmba)(PR3)] (PR3 = PPh31 cref; PEt33 fin), titanocene dichloride and Auranofin as controls. These studies indicate that bimetallic compounds Titanocref (2) and Titanofin (4) are more cytotoxic than gold monometallic derivatives (1 and 3) and significantly more cytotoxic than titanocene dichloride while being quite selective. Titanocref (2) and Titanofin (4) inhibit migration, invasion, and angiogenic assembly along with molecular markers associated with these processes such as prometastatic IL(s), MMP(s), TNF-α, and proangiogenic VEGF, FGF-basic. The bimetallic compounds also strongly inhibit the mitochondrial protein TrxR often overexpressed in cancer cells evading apoptosis and also inhibit FOXC2, PECAM-1, and HIF-1α whose overexpression is linked to resistance to genotoxic chemotherapy. In summary, bimetallic titanocene-gold phosphane complexes (Titanocref 2 and Titanofin 4) are very promising candidates for further preclinical evaluations for the treatment of renal cancer.
Gangrenous appendicitis: No longer complicated.

Abstract Background Appendicitis presents on a spectrum ranging from inflammation to gangrene to perforation. Studies suggest that gangrenous appendicitis has lower postoperative infection rates relative to perforated cases. We hypothesized that gangrenous appendicitis could be successfully treated as simple appendicitis, reducing length of stay (LOS) and antibiotic usage without increasing postoperative infections. Methods In February 2016, we strictly defined complex appendicitis as a hole in the appendix, extraluminal fecalith, diffuse pus or a well-formed abscess. We switched gangrenous appendicitis to a simple pathway and reviewed all patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy for 12 months before (Group 1) and 12 months after (Group 2) the protocol change. Data collected included demographics, appendicitis classification, LOS, presence of a postoperative infection, and 30-day readmissions. Results Patients in Group 1 and Group 2 were similar, but more cases of simple appendicitis occurred in Group 2. Average LOS for gangrenous appendicitis patients decreased from 2.5 to 1.4 days (p Conclusions Gangrenous appendicitis can be safely treated as simple appendicitis without increasing postoperative infections or readmissions. Type of study Prognosis study. Level of evidence Level II.
Glut or Gluttony: Global Saving as the Determinant of U.S. Treasury Yields in the 2000s

I estimate the impact of Federal Reserve and foreign government holdings of Treasury securities on interest rates during the 2000s using market share data for both short- and long-term Treasury securities. Controlling for yield volatility, business cycles and government debt issuance, I find that the increase in foreign governments’ share of the Treasury securities market significantly impacted both short- and long-term Treasury yields. Specifically, the increase in foreign government market share from 2000 to 2007 decreased the real effective federal funds rate by 159 to 235 basis points and the real 10-year Treasury yield by 93 to 148 basis points.
Design and Creativity

Abraham Maslow once said “The key question isn’t ‘What fosters creativity?’ But it is why in God’s name isn’t everyone creative? Where was the human potential lost? How was it crippled? I think therefore a good question might be not why do people create? But why do people not create or innovate? We have got to abandon that sense of amazement in the face of creativity, as if it were a miracle if anybody created anything.”
A decreased abundance of clostridia characterizes the gut microbiota in eosinophilic esophagitis.

Abnormalities in the gut microbiome are associated with suppressed Th2 response (Belizario et al., 2018 Mediators Inflamm. 2018:2037838) and predisposition to atopic disease such as asthma and eczema. We investigated if this applies to eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Stool bacterial DNA was extracted and followed by 16S rRNA amplification from 12 patients with eosinophilic esophagitis and 12 controls. Alpha- and beta-diversity were analyzed. Only two patients had asthma or atopy and one patient was on budesonide. No patients were on PPIs. Patients with EoE had lower gut microbiota alpha diversity (species richness, P = 0.09; Shannon index, P = 0.01). The microbial composition was distinct as evidenced by significantly different beta diversity (P = 0.03) when compared to healthy controls. There were also significant differences in relative abundance at multiple taxonomic levels when comparing the two communities; at the phylum level, we observed a marked decrease in Firmicutes and increase in Bacteroidetes and at the order and family level there were significant decreases in Clostridia and Clostridiales in patients with EoE (q ≤ 0.1). We conclude that there are significant differences in microbial community structure, microbial richness, and evenness and a significant decrease in taxa within the Clostridia in patients with EoE. Our data suggest that Clostridia based interventions could be tested as adjuncts to current therapeutic strategies in EoE.
Paradoxical Vocal Fold Motion

Paradoxical vocal fold motion (PVFM) is a laryngeal disorder where episodic, inappropriate adduction of the true vocal cords during inspiration causes sudden respiratory difficulty or distress. This chapter discusses approaches to diagnosis, assessment, and management of the disorder in a pediatric population from both speech-language pathologist and otolaryngologist perspectives.
Noise during mouthbrooding impairs maternal care behaviors and juvenile development and alters brain transcriptomes in the African cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni.

Anthropogenic noise has increased underwater ambient sound levels in the range in which most fishes detect and produce acoustic signals. Although the impacts of increased background noise on fish development have been studied in a variety of species, there is a paucity of information on how noise affects parental care. Mouthbrooding is an energetically costly form of parental care in which the brooding fish carries developing larvae in the buccal cavity for the duration of development. In the African cichlid Astatotilapia burtoni, females carry their brood for ~2 weeks during which time they do not eat. To test the hypothesis that increased background noise impacts maternal care behaviors and brood development, we exposed brooding females to a 3-h period of excess noise (~140 dB) played through an underwater speaker. Over half of noise-exposed brooding females cannibalized or pre-maturely released their brood, but 90% of control females exhibited normal brooding behaviors. RNA-seq analysis revealed that transcripts related to feeding and parental care were differentially expressed in the brains of noise-exposed females. Juveniles that were exposed to noise during their brood period within the mother's mouth had lower body condition factors, higher mortality and altered head transcriptomes compared with control broods. Furthermore, onset of adult-typical coloration and behaviors was delayed compared with control fish. Together, these data indicate that noise has severe impacts on reproductive fitness in mouthbrooding females. Our results, combined with past studies, indicate that parental care stages are extremely susceptible to noise-induced perturbations with detrimental effects on species persistence.
A Novel Free-Space Gaussian Beam Method for the Characterization of Anisotropic Materials

This paper presents a novel design of a system for free-space characterization of RF anisotropic materials. This proposed method utilizes three probes to capture full scattering matrix data as a function of incident angle and frequency to extract the intrinsic material parameters. This system was designed, implemented, and integrated with LabView to provide automated measurement capabilities. Finally, the results were validated by fabricating and testing a frequency selective surface.
Influence factors on new technology adoption behavior of farmers in Jiangmen area of Guangdong Province——Taking“Three Controls”technology for rice as an example

【Objective】The main influence factors on new technology adoption behavior of farmers in Jiangmen area of Guangdong were analyzed to explore the direction of popularizing agricultural technique in future. 【Method】"Three Controls" technology for rice was used as an example. Based on the survey data of 404 farmers in Jiangmen area, the factors affecting technology adoption behavior of farmers were quantitatively analyzed using Logistic regression model. 【Result】The results showed that the agriculture technology acceptance degree, new increased yield, times of participating in training and help from training course were significantly positively correlated with farmers' behavior of adopting new technology. Especially the technology acceptance degree and new increased yield reached extremely significant level. The male played a leading role in decision-making in the adoption of new technology. 【Suggestion】To improve the adoption rate of new technology by farmers and promote new agricultural technology extension, a series of suggestions are innovating technology training content and methods, strengthening the construction of demonstration base,accelerating the development of specialized farmers cooperatives,and intensifying government guidance and support.
Multimessenger Binary Mergers Containing Neutron Stars: Gravitational Waves, Jets, and γ-Ray Bursts.

Neutron stars (NSs) are extraordinary not only because they are the densest form of matter in the visible Universe but also because they can generate magnetic fields ten orders of magnitude larger than those currently constructed on Earth. The combination of extreme gravity with the enormous electromagnetic (EM) fields gives rise to spectacular phenomena like those observed on August 2017 with the merger of a binary neutron star system, an event that generated a gravitational wave (GW) signal, a short $\gamma$-ray burst (sGRB), and a kilonova. This event serves as the highlight so far of the era of multimessenger astronomy. In this review, we present the current state of our theoretical understanding of compact binary mergers containing NSs as gleaned from the latest general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulations. Such mergers can lead to events like the one on August 2017, GW170817, and its EM counterparts, GRB 170817 and AT 2017gfo. In addition to exploring the GW emission from binary black hole-neutron star and neutron star-neutron star mergers, we also focus on their counterpart EM signals. In particular, we are interested in identifying the conditions under which a relativistic jet can be launched following these mergers. Such a jet is an essential feature of most sGRB models and provides the main conduit of energy from the central object to the outer radiation regions. Jet properties, including their lifetimes and Poynting luminosities, the effects of the initial magnetic field geometries and spins of the coalescing NSs, as well as their governing equation of state, are discussed. Lastly, we present our current understanding of how the Blandford-Znajek mechanism arises from merger remnants as the trigger for launching jets, if, when and how a horizon is necessary for this mechanism, and the possibility that it can turn on in magnetized neutron ergostars, which contain ergoregions, but no horizons.
Strategic Bidding in Electricity Markets with Convexified AC Market Clearing Process

This paper presents a framework to solve the strategic bidding problem of participants in an electricity market cleared by employing the full AC Optimal Power Flow (ACOPF) problem formulation. Traditionally, the independent system operators (ISOs) leveraged DC Optimal Power Flow (DCOPF) problem formulation to settle the electricity market. The main quest of this work is to find what would be the challenges and opportunities if ISOs leverage the full ACOPF as the Market Clearing Problem (MCP) instead of the current practice of using the DC form? With the recent advancements in solving the ACOPF problem, the settlement of the market with ACOPF problem formulation is inevitable. This paper aims to present mathematical programming with equilibrium constraints to maximize the profit of participants via strategic bidding. The equilibrium constraints are procured by presenting the dual form of the relaxed ACOPF problem. Several analyses are presented to address the challenges in the coupling of real and reactive power dispatch of generation unit constraints, ramping constraints, demand response implications with curtailable and time shiftable loads, and AC line flow constraints. In the case study, the merit of the presented strategic bidding problem with AC constraints is compared with the one with DC constraints.
Rate-setting methods and U.S. airport aeronautical charge differential: An oaxaca decomposition

Abstract U.S. airports adopt three rate-setting methods to formulate their charges. Under the residual method, the signatory airlines pay reduced use fees in return for providing a financial guarantee to the airport. Under the compensatory method, aeronautical charges are determined according to the airline's use of airport facilities, and the airline is under no obligation to bear the airport's financial risk. The third hybrid method combines the features of the residual and compensatory methods. In this study, we examined the sources of the aeronautical charge differential using an Oaxaca decomposition. We found that airports adopting the hybrid method have lower aeronautical charges than the others primarily due to the difference in airport average cost. The difference in aeronautical charges between residual and compensatory airports is not statistically significant.
Creating High Order Assignments In Art-Writing Intensive Courses

Location: Dewberry Hall For this study, I looked at syllabi and assignment sheets from art-writing intensive courses collected by the Writing Across the Curriculum Department at George Mason University in order to discover how they ask students to think about their writing goals. Using Bloom's Taxonomy to evaluate the language used to describe courses and writing assigned, I determined most writing-intensive courses are utilizing the higher levels of Bloom's Taxonomy, requiring rigorous assignments and addressing high order concerns.
Impacts of low level aflatoxin in feed and the use of modified yeast cell wall extract on growth and health of nursery pigs

This study was to investigate the effect of corn naturally contaminated with aflatoxins (AF) under the regulatory level on the growth performance and health of nursery pigs, and the efficiency of yeast cell wall based feed additive (YC) mainly composed of β-glucans and mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) (Integral A+, Alltech, Lexington, KY) in prevention of mycotoxicosis. Pigs (60 barrows and 60 gilts at 6.02 ± 0.83 kg BW) were randomly allotted to 4 treatments in a randomized complete block design based on a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with 10 pens (5 barrow and 5 gilt pens) per treatment and 3 pigs per pen. Pigs were fed experimental diets for 5 wk. First factor was AF (0 or 20 µg/kg in feed) and the second factor was YC (0 or 2 g/kg in feed). Feed intake and body weight were measured weekly, and blood samples were used to measure blood cell counts, immunoglobulin G (IgG), tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), oxidative damage status, and serological evaluation related to liver health. Aflatoxin decreased (P < 0.05) the number of platelet count (247.4 to 193.5 × 103/µL), and it also tended to increase the level of albumin (P = 0.055, 3.46 to 3.63 g/dL), albumin:globulin ratio (P = 0.050, 2.09 to 2.37), and Ca (P = 0.080, 10.79 to 10.97 mg/dL). Yeast cell wall based feed additive increased (P < 0.05) ADG (493 to 524 g/d), and ADFI (796 to 846 g/d) of pigs whereas G:F was not affected, and it also tended to increase (P = 0.055) albumin level (3.46 to 3.63 g/dL). Interactions (P < 0.05) on hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelet count indicated that YC further increased their levels when pigs were eating AF contaminated feed. Interactions (P < 0.05) on urea nitrogen and blood urea N to creatinine ratio indicated that YC further decreased their levels when feed were contaminated with AF. In conclusion, low level of 20 µg AF/kg under the regulatory level had minor effects on hematology without affecting growth performance, however the supplementation of 2 g/kg YC as a source of β-glucans and MOS in feed can improve feed intake and therefore the growth of pigs.
Traffic Signal System Misconceptions Across Three Cohorts: Novice Students, Expert Students, and Practicing Engineers

Both research evidence and theories of situated knowledge suggest that students are not prepared for the engineering workforce upon graduation from engineering programs. Concept inventory results from diverse fields also suggest that students do not understand fundamental concepts of engineering, mathematics, and science. These concerns may result from different knowledge deficiencies: one from a lack of conceptual understanding and the other from a lack of applied knowledge. In an attempt to explain the patterns in misconceptions across three cohorts, the research goals of this paper are to identify misconceptions (knowledge about phenomena that are persistent and incorrect) related to traffic signal operations and design across the cohorts of novice engineering students, expert engineering students, and practicing engineers. Results indicate three misconception patterns (decreasing, increasing, and no change) across the three cohorts. The pattern of decreasing misconception can be explained by a traditi...
Microbial Indicators of Oil-Rich Salt Marsh Sediments

Selected microbial parameters were monitored in sediments from a pristine and an oil-field salt marsh. Although numbers of hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria and fungi were significantly greater in the oil field, the values did not show a strong correlation with levels of hydrocarbons (r = 0.43 and r = 0.49, respectively). However, a high correlation was noted between ratios of hydrocarbonoclastic and total aerobic heterotrophic bacteria and levels of hydrocarbons as well as the relative concentration of hydrocarbons (ratio of hydrocarbons to chloroform extractables) (r = 0.87 and r = 0.77, respectively). Data suggest that this first ratio is a more valid microbial indicator of hydrocarbon abundance than other factors examined. Significant differences in the ratio of pigmented to total colony-forming units, the ratio of different to total colony-forming units, and the diversity index were noted between the natural and oil-field marsh. It is suggested that the presence of hydrocarbons alters the relative abundance of the most predominant aerobic heterotrophic bacteria.
Dynamic voltage and frequency scaling for scientific applications

Dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) of the CPU has been shown to be one of the most effective ways to reduce energy consumption of a program. This paper discusses the benefit of dynamic voltage and frequency scaling for scientific applications under different optimization levels. The reported experiments show that there are still many opportunities to apply DVFS to the highly optimized codes, and the profitability is significant across the benchmarks. It is also observed that there are performance and energy consumption tradeoffs for different optimization levels in the presence of DVFS. While in general compiling for performance will improve energy usage as well, in some cases the less successful optimization lead to higher energy savings. Finally, a comparison of the benefits of operating system support versus compiler support for DVFS is discussed.
Drosophila Patterning: Delta–Notch Interactions

Canonical and noncanonical activities of the Notch receptor combine to pattern tissues and organs in Drosophila melanogaster. Keywords: intercellular signalling; Notch signalling; biochemistry; noncanonical pathway
An Enhanced Statistical Approach to Identifying Photorealistic Images

Computer graphics identification has gained importance in digital era as it relates to image forgery detection and enhancement of high photorealistic rendering software. In this paper, statistical moments of 1-D and 2-D characteristic functions are employed to derive image features that can well capture the statistical differences between computer graphics and photographic images. YCbCr color system is selected because it has shown better performance in computer graphics classification than RGB color system and it has been adopted by the most popularly used JPEG images. Furthermore, only Y and Cb color channels are used in feature extraction due to our study showing features derived from Cb and Cr are so highly correlated that no need to use features extracted from both Cb and Cr components, which substantially reduces computational complexity. Concretely, in each selected color component, features are extracted from each image in both image pixel 2-D array and JPEG 2-D array (an 2-D array consisting of the magnitude of JPEG coefficients), their prediction-error 2-D arrays, and all of their three-level wavelet subbands, referred to as various 2-D arrays generated from a given image in this paper. The rationale behind using prediction-error image is to reduce the influence caused by image content. To generate image features from 1-D characteristic functions, the various 2-D arrays of a given image are the inputs, yielding 156 features in total. For the feature generated from 2-D characteristic functions, only JPEG 2-D array and its prediction-error 2-D array are the inputs, one-unit-apart 2-D histograms of the JPEG 2-D array along the horizontal, vertical and diagonal directions are utilized to generate 2-D characteristic functions, from which the marginal moments are generated to form 234 features. Together, the process then results in 390 features per color channel, and 780 features in total Finally, Boosting Feature Selection (BFS) is used to greatly reduce the dimensionality of features while boosts the machine learning based classification performance to fairly high.
Growth of The Legume Seedling

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the factors affecting the development and growth of the forage legume seedling. The chapter reveals that the growth of a legume seedling depends on its inherent vigor and the environmental conditions present during seed germination, maturation, and growth. Environmental conditions during seed formation could influence seed size and subsequent progeny performance. Growth responses—which could be traced to environmental conditions at some stage of previous development—are designated as physiological predetermination to distinguish them from those, which are because of hereditary causes. The chapter enlists three conditions, which could affect the potentiality of the seed or the capacity of the resulting plant for growth and yield: (1) parental conditions; (2) conditions immediately preceding germination, during germination, or in the early stages of the seedling's growth; and (3) harvesting conditions. Three stages of development of a seedling—that is, heterotrophic, transitional, and autotrophic are described in the chapter.
Preparation of Fe-52 core labeled iron oxide nanoparticle contrast agent and evaluation of its dual PET/MRI imaging potential in mouse

1535 Objectives The focus of this work was to prepare contrast agent based on superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle platform with PET isotope Fe-52 incorporated into the inorganic core of the nanoparticles and explore its potential for simultaneous PET/MRI imaging. Methods The positron emitter Fe-52 (T1/2=8.275 h, mean Eβ+=340 keV; 55.5%) was prepared by proton irradiation of natural nickel (natNi ) foil at the Brookhaven Linac Isotope Producer at 109 MeV to induce the natNi(p,3pxn)52Fe reaction. Radioisotope Fe-52 was selectively separated from Ni and co-produced radioimpurities using anion-exchange column. Iron oxide nanoparticles were prepared by a co-precipitation technique in aqueous media and stabilized with citrate. Radiolabeling with Fe-52 was carried out at room temperature by adsorption of stable Fe3+ along with Fe-52 onto nanoparticles. Optimal conditions for the labeling procedure as well as the biodistribution of the nanoparticles in mice were determined using Fe-59 radiotracer. Fe-52 labeled nanoparticles (0.1 mg) were injected into the mouse tail vein. Simultaneous dynamic PET and MRI imaging were carried out on the 9.4T micro MRI fitted with a PET insert for a period of 3 hours. The images were coregistered and ROI drawn on the images to produce time activity curves for both PET and MRI. Results Nanoparticles with specific activity 0.46 μCi (Fe-52)/µg, with an average hydrodynamic diameter of 100 nm were obtained with the labeling yield of 80%. Dual PET/MRI image showed rapid liver localization of iron nanoparticles, as expected for this agent with no washout over the period of the experiment. Conclusions The nanoparticle fabrication approach resulted in high labeling yield and in vivo stability. Nanoparticles retained their magnetic properties and were suitable for dual PET/MRI image acquisition. Research Support Brookhaven Science Associates, LLC under Contract No. DE-AC02-98CH1-886 with the U.S. Department of Energy