cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parallel sparse LU factorization on second-class message passing platforms

Several message passing-based parallel solvers have been developed for general (non-symmetric) sparse LU factorization with partial pivoting. Due to the fine-grain synchronization and large communication volume between computing nodes for this application, existing solvers are mostly intended to run on tightly-coupled parallel computing platforms with high message passing performance (e.g., 1-10 μs in message latency and 100-1000 Mbytes/sec in message throughput). In order to utilize platforms with slower message passing, this paper investigates techniques that can significantly reduce the application's communication needs. In particular, we propose batch pivoting to make pivot selections in groups through speculative factorization, and thus substantially decrease the inter-processor synchronization granularity. We experimented with an MPI-based implementation on several message passing platforms. While the speculative batch pivoting provides no performance benefit and even slightly weakens the numerical stability on an IBM Regatta multiprocessor with fast message passing, it improves the performance of our test matrices by 28-292% on an Ethernet-connected 16-node PC cluster. We also evaluated several other communication reduction techniques and showed that they are not as effective as our proposed approach.
Characterization and control of pulse shapes in a doubly resonant synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator

The intracavity signal and idler pulses of a low-loss synchronously pumped doubly resonant optical parametric oscillator were characterized experimentally and simulated numerically versus cavity-length detuning. At operation several hundreds of times above threshold, the detunings that maximize the intracavity average power do not necessarily maximize the temporal overlap of the signal and idler pulses, as is desirable for devices making use of intracavity mixing. Independent control of the signal and idler cavity lengths allowed control of the widths and temporal positioning of the pulses. Numerical studies were performed exploring the intracavity power and temporal overlap of the signal and idler pulses under various group-velocity-mismatch conditions. There was good agreement between the experimental and numerical simulation results.
Injection related background due to the transverse feedback

The background in the BaBar detector is especially high during injection, when most components are actually having reduced voltages. The situation is worse for the beam in high energy ring (HER) when the LER beam is present. It was found that the transverse feedback system plays an important role when stacking more charge on top of existing bunches. Lowering the feedback gain helped and it was realized later that the best scenario would be to gate off the feedback for only the one bunch, which got additional charge injected into it. The explanation is that the blown-up, but centered, original HER bunch plus the small injected off-axis bunch (each with half the charge) would stay in the ring if not touched, but the feedback system sees half the offset and wants to correct it, therefore disturbing and scraping the blown-up part.
Marriage, fertility and the selection of women into high-skill industries

This article focuses on the selection of women into industries of different skill intensities as another dimension in the discussion of the differences in wages among similarly skilled women. Using the Current Population Survey (CPS) data and controlling for education and other factors, we find evidence that married women tend to work in industries that are less skill intensive and that pay lower wages. We also find that education and experience affect this selection process less favourably for married women compared with single women. Since less skill-intensive industries often pay lower wages for similar occupations, our results contribute to the broader debate over the gaps in wages between single and married women as well as men and women.
Baking a mass-spectrometry data PIE with McMC and simulated annealing

Motivation: Post-translational modifications are vital to the function of proteins, but are hard to study, especially since several modified isoforms of a protein may be present simultaneously. Mass spectrometers are a great tool for investigating modified proteins, but the data they provide is often incomplete, ambiguous and difficult to interpret. Combining data from multiple experimental techniques—especially bottom-up and top-down mass spectrometry—provides complementary information. When integrated with background knowledge this allows a human expert to interpret what modifications are present and where on a protein they are located. However, the process is arduous and for high-throughput applications needs to be automated. Results: This article explores a data integration methodology based on Markov chain Monte Carlo and simulated annealing. Our software, the Protein Inference Engine (the PIE) applies these algorithms using a modular approach, allowing multiple types of data to be considered simultaneously and for new data types to be added as needed. Even for complicated data representing multiple modifications and several isoforms, the PIE generates accurate modification predictions, including location. When applied to experimental data collected on the L7/L12 ribosomal protein the PIE was able to make predictions consistent with manual interpretation for several different L7/L12 isoforms using a combination of bottom-up data with experimentally identified intact masses. Availability: Software, demo projects and source can be downloaded from http://pie.giddingslab.org/ Contact:morgan@giddingslab.org. Supplementary information:Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online
A 3-D spectral-element method using mixed-order curl conforming vector basis functions for electromagnetic fields

A three-dimensional spectral-element method (SEM) based on Gauss-Lobatto-Legendre polynomials is proposed to solve vector electromagnetic-wave equations. To suppress spurious solutions, mixed-order curl conforming vector basis functions are used in the SEM. The advantages of this method include its high-order accuracy and its diagonal mass matrix due to the use of orthogonal Legendre polynomials. Thus, the proposed method leads to a regular eigenvalue problem rather than a generalized eigenvalue problem, greatly reducing the computer memory requirement and CPU time in comparison with the conventional high-order finite-element method (FEM). Numerical examples of eigenvalue problems verify the spectral accuracy with the interpolation orders and show that the SEM is superior to the FEM for the class of problems considered. A waveguide model is analyzed with mixed boundary conditions and its results are in excellent agreement with reference values. All numerical results show that the SEM is an efficient alternative to the FEM for electromagnetic fields
Encapsulation of microparticles and biomolecules based on layer-by-layer nanoassembly techniques with microfluidic droplet devices

This paper reports the encapsulation of microparticles (μ-particles) and biomolecules using the layer-by-layer (LbL) nanoassembly technique with droplet microfluidic devices. This so-called droplet-LbL microchip consists of two microfluidic droplet generators, a microfluidic droplet-merging channel and a microfluidic mixing channel. The assembly of positive-charged PDDA layer on 3T3 cells has been successfully demonstrated, resulting in their surface potential change from −25.81 mV to 40.16 mV. The successful encapsulation of negative-charged μ-particles (polymethacrylate) within FITC-labeled protamine sulphate layer is also confirmed by their fluorescence image.
Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition of Silicon Sulfide and Phosphorus Sulfide thin Films

Amorphous SiSX:H (x ∼ 2) films have been synthesized from H2S and SiH4 precursors using a remote plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition apparatus. Structural studies by solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Raman scattering reveal that the atomic environments in these materials are similar to those observed in melt-quenched silicon sulfide glasses, and are characterized by corner- and edge-shared SiS4/2 tetrahedra. Compared to these glasses, however, the films show consistently higher fractions of corner-sharing S1S4/2 tetrahedra. The ratio of corner- to edge sharing tetrahedra and the Si:S ratio can be influenced by the H2S/SiH4 flow rate ratio during deposition. Thus, PECVD opens up wider opportunities for structural tailoring of amorphous silicon sulfide materials than currently possible by means of the melt-quenching method. Preliminary data for the PECVD synthesis of phosphorus sulfide is also presented.
Comparison of π-hole tetrel bonding with σ-hole halogen bonds in complexes of XCN (X = F, Cl, Br, I) and NH3

In addition to the standard halogen bond formed when NH3 approaches XCN (X = F, Cl, Br, I) along its molecular axis, a perpendicular approach is also possible, toward a π-hole that is present above the X-C bond. MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ calculations indicate the latter geometry is favored for X = F, and the σ-hole structure is preferred for the heavier halogens. The π-hole structure is stabilized by charge transfer from the NH3 lone pair into the π*(CN) antibonding orbital, and is characterized by a bond path from the N of NH3 to the C atom of XCN, a form of tetrel bond. The most stable 2 : 1 NH3/XCN heterotrimer for X = F and Cl is cyclic and contains a tetrel bond augmented by a pair of NHN H-bonds. For X = Br and I, the favored trimer is noncyclic, stabilized by a tetrel and a halogen bond.
Digital Readers of Allusive Texts: Ovidian Intertextuality in the 'Commedia' and the Digital Concordance on 'Intertextual Dante'

This essay introduces the notion of a digital concordance as a reading and research tool to explore intertextual passages online, and illustrates how a digital concordance of highly allusive texts can change how we read and research such texts. I take as example the digital concordance on Intertextual Dante, a project on Digital Dante (digitaldante.columbia.edu) developed in collaboration with the Center for Digital Research and Scholarship at Columbia University, which in the first phase highlights the Ovidian intertextuality in Dante’s Divina Commedia. The essay traces the history of the scholarship on Dante’s Ovid, identifying its strengths and limitations, especially of the concordances in print. Since the intertextual passages in the Commedia require a reading not restricted to the obviously corresponding verses, but attentive to the broader textual contexts, I show how the digital concordance on Intertextual Dante greatly facilitates such a contextualized reading. The visualization of the corresponding passages (side by side, highlighted, within context) and the search options (by category of text reuse or by canto/book/poem) help the study of (Ovidian) intertextuality in the Commedia, as illustrated with examples from the site.
Uroplakin 1b is critical in urinary tract development and urothelial differentiation and homeostasis

Proper development and maintenance of urothelium is critical to its function. Uroplakins are expressed in developing and mature urothelium where they establish plaques associated with the permeability barrier. Their precise functional role in development and disease is unknown. Here, we disrupted Upk1b in vivo where its loss resulted in urothelial plaque disruption in the bladder and kidney. Upk1b RFP/RFP bladder urothelium appeared dysplastic with expansion of the progenitor cell markers, Krt14 and Krt5, increased Shh expression, and loss of terminal differentiation markers Krt20 and uroplakins. Upk1b RFP/RFP renal urothelium became stratified with altered cellular composition. Upk1b RFP/RFP mice developed age-dependent progressive hydronephrosis. Interestingly, 16% of Upk1b RFP/RFP mice possessed unilateral duplex kidneys. Our study expands the role of uroplakins, mechanistically links plaque formation to urinary tract development and function, and provides a tantalizing connection between congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract along with functional deficits observed in a variety of urinary tract diseases. Thus, kidney and bladder urothelium are regionally distinct and remain highly plastic, capable of expansion through tissue-specific progenitor populations. Furthermore, Upk1b plays a previously unknown role in early kidney development representing a novel genetic target for congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract.
Effects of Light on Location of Host Egg Masses by Ooencyrtus kuvanae (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), an Egg Parasite of Gypsy Moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae)

The effect of light on host finding and parasitism by Ooencyrtus kuvanae (Howard), an egg parasitoid of gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar L., was studied in the laboratory. Parasitism by O. kuvanae females confined in light or dark cylinders was not significantly different. When parasites were given a choice between light or dark chambers, significantly more chose the light chamber regardless of the presence or absence of an egg mass. However, chambers were significantly more attractive when they contained an egg mass, indicating that an egg mass contributes to host location over short distances. Parasitism of egg masses in dark chambers in which no O. kuvanae were found demonstrates that the parasite may leave these sites after oviposition. Implications for success of O. kuvanae in low-density gypsy moth populations are discussed.
Study on the Properties of Aramid Fibre/Epoxy Composites

In this study,mechanical properties,three heat constants and microscopic fracture as well as compatibility with the insulator of the chinese aramid f iberⅢ/epoxy composites and F-12/epoxy composites were tested,compared and analyzed.Experimental results show that ? exural properties,compressive properties,shearing properties and transverse tenlile properties of the composites containing aramid f ibre Ⅲ are lower than those containing F-12 f ibre.However,longitudinal tensile strength of the former are 13.9 % higher than that of the latter.The two plates’shear-ing property between aramid composite and nitrile-butadiene rubber are slightly higher than that of between ara-mid composite and ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber.On the whole,the aramid fi bre composites seemed to exhibit good heat insulation property,but their longitudinal compressive and shearing properties were low.The fracture surface observed wnder SEM revealed the unique characteristic of faiture of the aramid composites by peeling of the fi bre skin and/or the fi bre being torn.
Research of Robot Motion Planning

Path planning and collision examining are the focuses of researches, and many algorithms have been put forward, such as C-space method, potential field method and genetic method etc. The problem of sequence planning can be translated into Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP). On the basis of researches of the past, it puts forward two robot motion planning algorithms: robot motion planning algorithm based on arbitrary paths and robot motion planning algorithm based on straight line paths. Both of the algorithms are simple and can be used for all kinds of robot complicated tasks.
Vascular leak syndrome of Sprague-Dawley rats in a mandibular distraction osteogenesis study

Vascular leak syndrome (VLS) is a common and often fatal sequela of multiple bone traumas, and of infectious, toxic, and allergic insults in human patients. Although an animal model for VLS has not been fully established, rats have shown sensitivity to the syndrome that approximates that of the human population. We describe cases of VLS in three-month-old adult and one-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats in an osteogenesis study aimed at optimizing correction of bone hypoplasias and other craniofacial deformities in children, using a mandibular distraction device. In the study reported here, VLS was diagnosed in 40% of the rats that were necropsied after dying or being euthanized early, subsequent to mandibular osteotomy, a procedure that involves minimal bone trauma. The gross and histologic findings, as well as the clinical course of VLS in the rats of the osteogenesis study, were similar to those of documented human cases. Hence, the rat may be a useful animal model to h elp characterize the physiologic and molecular events that accompany this syndrome.
Quantitative determination of phenol in ointments

A quantitative method for the assay of phenol in ointments is described. The procedure involves the formation of a blue indophenol by reacting phenol with 2,6-dibromoquinone-4-chloroimide which can be measured spectrophotometrically. The method is accurate, and interference from other active ingredients (hydrocortisone and menthol) does not occur.
Abstract 3294: Treponema denticola, a periodontal pathogen, promotes stemness and migration in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Proceedings: AACR 107th Annual Meeting 2016; April 16-20, 2016; New Orleans, LA Periodontitis is a chronic infectious disease characterized by inflammation and destruction of periodontal tissues including the periodontal ligament fibers and alveolar bone. Recent epidemiological studies have revealed a significant association between periodontitis and oral cancer. While the precise mechanisms that mediate these associations are not well understood, periodontal pathogens, including Treponema denticola (T. denticola), which are believed to initiate the destructive inflammatory responses and dysbiosis or dysregulation of tissue homeostasis that characterize periodontal disease may contribute to oral cancer. However, knowledge about T. denticola's contribution to oral cancer is limited. Previously, we showed that nisin ZP, a bacteriocin and commonly used food preservative, reduced tumorigenesis in vivo and long term treatment with nisin ZP extended survival. In a separate study, we further showed that nisin ZP exhibits antimicrobial and antibiofilm effects, limiting T. denticola viability. The antimicrobial doses of nisin ZP are two orders of magnitude lower than the antitumor doses. The present study investigated the impact of T. denticola on the stemness, migration, and tumorigenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and nisin's potential modulatory effects on these processes. To investigate the role of T. denticola on OSCC tumorigenesis, OSCC cells were treated with T. denticola and with or without nisin ZP then assayed for stemness (orasphere) and migration. Treatment with T. denticola enhanced OSCC orasphere formation and migration without affecting cell viability or inducing apoptosis. Addition of nisin ZP inhibited these T. denticola-mediated processes. These data indicate that the periodontal pathogen T. denticola promotes stemness and migration of OSCC cells, and thereby may contribute to oral cancer tumorigenesis. Citation Format: Pachiyappan Kamarajan, Islam Ateia, Jae M. Shin, J Christopher Fenno, Yvonne L. Kapila. Treponema denticola, a periodontal pathogen, promotes stemness and migration in oral squamous cell carcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3294.
WINTER ATLANTIC CLIMATE AND SNOWFALL IN THE SOUTH AND CENTRAL APPALACHIANS

Winter snowfall over much of the south and central Appalachian region shows a significant inverse association with a winter index of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) teleconnection pattern. The snowiest winters coincide with the negative phase of this pattern. Composites of 700 mb heights over North America and the adjacent Atlantic Ocean suggests that the negative (positive) phase of the NAO results in anomalously cool (warm) conditions across the region and this is confirmed by examination of divisional temperatures, which are significantly correlated (positive) with the NAO index. The meridional circulation regime associated with the negative phase of the NAO also results in a southward displacement of the storm tracks across the eastern United States, as indicated by composites of divisional precipitation and an index of cyclonic activity. Snowfall shows significant correlation (negative) with sea surface temperatures (SSTs) along the northeast coast of the United States in both the contemporaneou...
Imaging of patients with implanted devices and arrhythmia

Expanding implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) indications and significant morbidity and mortality reduction benefits have resulted in a large number of routine ICD implants with appropriate ICD shocks for ventricular arrhythmias. The side-effects and lack of long-term efficacy of antiarrhythmics have made ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation an increasingly attractive treatment option. Although cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is considered the gold standard technique for imaging of myocardial fibrosis to diagnose and guide VT ablation targets in patients with cardiac arrhythmia, safety concerns and significant artifacts from the devices significantly limit the application of CMR. We discuss how to decrease artifact from cardiac devices and the role of a modified inversion pulse late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) CMR sequence as a useful tool in this setting, and we review techniques, safety protocols and limitations from the perspective of our institution’s experience.
Mitoxantrone and etoposide for acute myeloid leukemia in first relapse.

6563 Background: Achievement of complete remission (CR) for relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is crucial for improving prognosis and survival. However, there are no established standard therapi...
Dosing Three‐Drug Combinations That Include Targeted Anti‐Cancer Agents: Analysis of 37,763 Patients

Background Combining targeted and cytotoxic agents has the potential to improve efficacy and attenuate resistance for metastatic cancer. Information regarding safe starting doses for clinical trials of novel three-drug combinations is lacking. Materials and methods Published phase I-III adult oncology clinical trials of three-drug combinations involving a targeted agent were identified by PubMed search (January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2013). A dose percentage was calculated to compare the dose used in combination to the single agent recommended dose: (U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved/recommended phase II dose/maximum tolerated dose). The additive dose percentage was the sum of the dose percentages for each drug in the combination. Results A total of 37,763 subjects and 243 drug combinations were included. Only 28% of studies could give each of the three agents at 100%. For combinations involving two targeted agents and a cytotoxic agent, the lowest starting additive dose percentage was 133%, which increased to 250% if two antibodies were included. For combinations of one targeted agent and two cytotoxic agents, the lowest additive safe dose percentage was 137%. When both cytotoxic agents were held at 100%, as occurred in 56% of studies (which generally used cytotoxic doublets with known combination safety dosing), the lowest safe dose percentage was 225% (providing that a histone deacetylase inhibitor was not the targeted agent). Conclusion These findings serve as a safe starting point for dosing novel three-drug combinations involving a targeted agent in clinical trials and practice. The Oncologist 2017;22:576-584 IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Targeted and cytotoxic drug combinations can improve efficacy and overcome resistance. More knowledge of safe starting doses would facilitate use of combinations in clinical trials and practice. Analysis of 37,763 subjects (243 combinations) showed three drugs could be safely administered, but less than 30% of combinations could include all three drugs at full dose. Dose reductions to 45% of the dose of each single agent may be required. Combinations involving two antibodies required fewer dose reductions, and the use of established cytotoxic doublets made initial dose assignment easier.
Comprehensive comparison of THD and common mode leakage current of bipolar, unipolar and hybrid modulation schemes for single phase grid connected full bridge inverters

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis and comparison among the three commonly used PWM schemes for single phase full bridge inverters namely, bipolar, unipolar and hybrid modulation schemes. The inductor current ripple and THD are analyzed using time domain analysis methods and the performance of the three modulation schemes are compared in detail for a range of modulation indices. An interesting result is that in order to achieve the same THD, compared with unipolar PWM, the average switching frequency (considering all the switches) of hybrid PWM is same but the average switching frequency of bipolar PWM needs to be around 3.6 times, when the modulation ratio is between 0.6 and 1. This results in the corresponding increase in the device switching losses. The common mode voltage between the negative terminals of the input and the grid, and the resulting leakage current are also analyzed and compared among the three schemes. Finally, a SiC MOSFETs based 1 kW full bridge inverter using the three modulation schemes has been built to validate the theoretical analysis. The inductor current ripple, THD and common mode leakage current analysis are verified through experiment.
Change in the Lipid Transport Capacity of the Liver and Blood during Reproduction in Rats.

To support the high energetic demands of reproduction, female mammals display plasticity in many physiological processes, such as the lipid transport system. Lipids support the energy demands of females during reproduction, and energy and structural demands of the developing offspring via the placenta in utero or milk during the suckling period. We hypothesized that key proteins supporting lipid transport in reproductive females will increase during pregnancy and lactation, but drop to non-reproductive levels shortly after reproduction has ended. We compared the relative protein levels of liver-type cytosolic fatty acid transporter (L-FABPc), plasma membrane fatty acid transporter (FABPpm), fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36) in the liver, a key site of lipid storage and synthesis, and free fatty acid transporter albumin and triglyceride transporter (represented by apolipoprotein B (apoB)) levels in serum in reproductive Sprague-Dawley rats during late pregnancy, peak-lactation, and 1-week post-lactation as well as in non-reproductive rats. We found that all lipid transporter levels were greater in pregnant rats compared to non-reproductive rats. Lactating rats also showed higher levels of FAT/CD36 and FABPpm than non-reproductive rats. Moreover, all fat transporters also dropped back to non-reproductive levels during post-lactation except for FAT/CD36. These results indicate that fat uptake and transport capacities in liver cells are elevated during late gestation and lactation. Liver lipid secretion is upregulated during gestation but not during lactation. These data supported the plasticity of lipid transport capacities in liver and blood during reproductive stages.
Infinite Ordered Sets, A Recursive Perspective

This work surveys the development of the theory of infinite ordered sets along the lines suggested by recursion theory. Since recursion theory is principally concerned with explicit effective constructions, this line of research retains much of the character of the mathematics of finite ordered sets. There are two distinct categories into which the results fall: the first is concerned with individual infinite ordered sets on which the ordering can be mechanically determined, while the second concerns whether the elementary sentences true in a given class of ordered sets can be distinguished by an algorithm. Roughly, an elementary sentence is one that refers to the elements of an ordered set rather than, say, sets of elements. “Width 3” is a notion expressible by an elementary sentence, but “finite width” cannot be expressed even by a set of such sentences. The requisite background in recursion theory and in the logic of elementary sentences can be found in Barwise [1977].
“People’s Heads Do Not Even Go There”: Public Perceptions to Transracial Familial Intimacy

U.S. culture uses phenotypical resemblance as the primary way that family ties are legitimized and authenticated. Transracial adoption challenges this type of kinship authentication because of the ...
Case report: idiopathic hypoparathyroidism co-existing with celiac disease: immunologic studies.

ABSTRACT Idiopathic hypoparathyroidism (IH) is often an isolated disorder in adults, but in children it is usually a component of the autoimmune polyendocrinopathy syndrome. The authors describe a patient diagnosed with isolated IH at age 57 and celiac disease at age 64. Testing of patients’ serum show antibodies of the immunoglobulin A isotype against endomysium, reticulin, and gliadin antigens, as well as immunoglobulin G against gliadin. The circulating immunoglobulins reacted with bovine parathyroid tissue, specifically smooth muscle of the blood vessels and glandular cells, as detected by indirect immunoflourescence. Testing of celiac disease positive sera showed similar parathyroid reactivity. When the patient was placed on a gluten-free diet, endomysial, reticulin, and gliadin antibodies decreased to undetectable levels, which was parallel with disappearance of the parathyroid immunoreactivity. The gluten-free diet also produced severe hypercalcemia that responded to calcitriol withdrawal, and ultimately required a reduction by half of the original calcitriol dose. It is possible that in this case the same antibody or antibodies may have caused both hypoparathyroidism and celiac disease. We conclude that, as in the case of childhood-onset IH variants, patients with late-onset isolated IH should be monitored for additional endocrine and extraendocrine autoimmune disorders.
IoT-Based Sensing and Communications Infrastructure for the Fresh Food Supply Chain

Assisted by centralized data collection and analytics, IoT-based mechanisms can substantially reduce food waste, improve transportation and distribution efficiency, and support quick removal of contaminated or spoiled products from the fresh food supply chain.
A generalized methodology for designing non-linear elements in symmetric cryptographic primitives

Symmetric ciphers are widely used for a variety of security purposes. These cryptographic primitives are ubiquitous. The primary source of non-linearity in any symmetric cryptographic primitive is the substitution box, or s-box. While there have been many proposals for varying ways to construct s-box's, this paper proposes a generalized methodology that can be used with any symmetric cipher, either in the creation of new s-boxes, during cipher design, the evaluation of the efficacy of existing s-boxes, or in the modification of s-boxes for existing ciphers. The current paper describes a generalized methodology for designing and testing s-boxes for symmetric ciphers. This methodology includes the application of three well-established tests that should be utilized for designing or testing every s-box. The study also indicates that at least some mathematical methods for designing s-boxes, while secure, are no more secure than non-mathematical methods, but are more computationally intensive.
A New Interpretation of the Social Organization and Mating System of the Ringtaled Lemur (Lemur Catta)

Long-term and intensive studies of identified individuals have enabled us to reexamine the social structure and organization of Lemur catta. Ringtailed lemurs have highly overlapping home ranges which vary in size depending upon season and habitat, and should not be considered strictly territorial. This species lives in female-resident, multimale groups centered around one dominant female who appears to be the focal point of other group members. Groups average around 13 individuals (range: 5–27) with generally equal adult sex ratios. Upon reaching adulthood, all males emigrate from their natal group and older males transfer between groups at an average of every 3–5 years, though some males have remained in the same group for at least 6 years. Males within a group can be differentiated based on natality, social status, and relationships with females. In groups intensively studied, a single, non-natal “central” male has been identified. Such males interact with females at greater rates, and are the first to mate. Females exhibit mate choice, rejecting closely related males, and actively mating with non-troop males, which results in a number of male mating strategies.
Interrelations of Visual Pigments and “Vitamins A” in Fish and Amphibia

In frogs and fish, although perhaps not in mammals (1, 2), the pigment epithelium plays a decisive role in visual pigment regeneration (see Baumann, 3, for review). This is illustrated in Fig. 1 for Rana clamitans, a frog where the retina may be separated easily and cleanly from the rest of the pigmented layers of the eye. As the figure shows, the isolated retina at 20° regenerates only about 11% of the pigment bleached (98%) by a ½ hr. exposure to yellow light of λ >460 nm (cf. Wald and Hubbard, 4; Ewald and Kuhne, 5). On the other hand, after a similar bleach the opened eye cup regenerates 76–95% (compare ref. 6), while a retina stripped away from its pigment epithelium then replaced and bleached regenerates as much as 55– 88% (cf. Kuhne, 7). The amount regenerated appears somewhat lower when the retina is separated, bleached and then replaced, but it is still considerably more than in the isolated retina.
Log-Extreme Value Type 1 Distribution

The logarithmically transformed extreme value type 1 (LEV 1) distribution is the log-Gumbel distribution. The logarithmic version of EV 1 distribution is not as popular as the original EV 1 distribution. Reich (1970) employed log-Gumbel distribution to analyze annual series of maximum instantaneous flood peaks from 26 Pennsylvanian watersheds smaller than 200 square miles in area. He found consistently overestimation of long-period extremes from use of the log-Gumbel distribution. Using the principle of maximum entropy Singh (1985) derived the log-Gumbel distribution and its parameters. Heo and Salas (1996) estimated quantiles and confidence intervals for the log-Gumbel distribution. They used the methods of moments, maximum likelihood and probability weighted moments for parameter estimation.
APPLICATION OF PATTERN RECOGNITION TECHNIQUES TO DATA ANALYSIS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the principal approaches to pattern recognition system design with an emphasis on data analysis. Because of its broad range of applications, pattern recognition is an active area of research in a variety of fields, such as defense, health care, and industrial automation. Approaches to pattern recognition system design may be divided into three principal categories: (1) the heuristic approach, (2) the decision–theoretic approach, and (3) the syntactic (structural) approach. The heuristic approach deals with the development of models that attempt to duplicate the recognition processes employed by humans or other intelligent organisms. The decision–theoretic approach represents patterns in the form of column vectors. The syntactic approach to pattern recognition has been receiving increased attention during the past few years because it possesses the structure-handling capability that the decision–theoretic approach lacks. Syntactic pattern recognition is based on concepts from formal language theory.
Contemporary Ribonomics Methods for Viral microRNA Target Analysis.

Numerous cellular processes are regulated by microRNAs (miRNAs), both cellular and viral. Elucidating the targets of miRNAs has become an active area of research. An important method in this field is cross-linking and immunoprecipitation (CLIP), where cultured cells or tissues are UV-irradiated to cross-link protein and nucleic acid, the RNA binding protein of interest is immunoprecipitated, and the RNAs pulled down with the protein are isolated, reverse-transcribed, and analyzed by sequencing. CLIP using antibody against Argonaute (Ago), which binds to both miRNA and mRNA as they interact in RISC, has allowed researchers to uncover a large number of miRNA targets. Coupled with high-throughput sequencing, CLIP has been useful for revealing miRNA targetomes for the γ-herpesviruses Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Variants on the CLIP protocol are described, with the benefits and drawbacks of each. In particular, the most recent methods involving RNA–RNA ligation to join the miRNA and its RNA target have aided in target identification. Lastly, data supporting biologically meaningful interactions between miRNAs and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are reviewed. In summary, ribonomics-based miRNA targetome analysis has expanded our understanding of miRNA targeting and has provided a rich resource for EBV and KSHV research with respect to pathogenesis and tumorigenesis.
Distributions with Maximum Spread Subject to Wasserstein Distance Constraints

Recent research on formulating and solving distributionally robust optimization problems has seen many different approaches for describing one’s ambiguity set, such as constraints on first and second moments or quantiles. In this paper, we use the Wasserstein distance to characterize the ambiguity set of distributions, which allows us to circumvent common overestimation that arises when other procedures are used, such as fixing the center of mass and the covariance matrix of the distribution. In particular, we derive closed-form expressions for distributions that are as “spread out” as possible, and apply our result to a problem in multi-vehicle coordination.
Linking soil nutrient availability, fine root production and turnover, and species composition in a seasonally dry plant community

We studied the relationship between seasonal nutrient availability and fine root density with soil depth to determine potential nutrient uptake strategies of evergreen and deciduous woody species in an infertile, seasonally dry plant community. PO43−, NO3−, and NH4+ were measured with soil depth and across seasons, using ion-exchange resins. Fine root density was measured seasonally by counting the first four root terminal orders (root branching from tip to base). Aboveground stem density and species composition were measured. N and P availability were highest in the shallow soil layer and peaked in the late wet season and not during the initial rains as was hypothesized. Substantial N and P were found at deeper soil depths during the early dry season. Fine root density was highest in the shallow soil layer and in the wet season and underwent substantial turnover from dry to wet season. Stem and root area were correlated. Having high fine root densities in the shallow soil layer benefits P uptake more than N or water uptake. Dormancy in deciduous species decreases fine root turnover but continued nutrient uptake in the dry season by the more abundant evergreen species appears to be of greater importance.
Happy fat: Taking up space in a world that wants to shrink you

Over the last decade body positive (BoPo) content has become increasingly popularized and has achieved a certain amount of mainstream acceptance. While potentially welcome, this popularization of b...
Fintech and Government Regulation: If It Quacks Like a Bank…

Abstract Fintech can provide financial services more efficiently, effectively, and inclusively, but can also produce products that harm consumers, misdirect savers, and investors; inefficiently allocate capital; and harm borrowers and businesses. Regulation optimally promotes the benefits of Fintech while protecting against abuses. US regulators are Federal Reserve System, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Federal Deposit Insurance Company, and State Regulators, including a banking regulator in every state. Others are Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodities Futures Trading Commission. The US Department of Treasury’s Office of Financial Asset Control and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network are charged with maintaining and administering economic sanction programs and embargoes. Several start-ups have been fined for violations. US policies to support Fintech include the JOBS Act and OCC and CFPB proposals. Other countries have similar regulators and incentive programs. Multiple Fintech threads under the category “Regtech” are designed to make compliance and reporting more efficient.
From Comrades to Subversives: Mexican Secret Police and ‘Undesirable’ Spanish Exiles, 1939–60

This article examines the Mexican state's surveillance of Spanish political exiles. As the Mexican government publicly welcomed over 20,000 political refugees fleeing the Spanish Civil War (1936–9), its intelligence apparatus characterised anarchist and communist refugees as subversive threats to the Mexican nation. Despite these efforts, the Mexican secret police failed to prevent the emergence of new political bonds between the two countries’ popular classes. This article shows the consequences of the Mexican secret police's campaign against radical exiles while also highlighting instances in which Spaniards evaded the state's purview and contributed to revolutionary projects in Mexico, Latin America and Spain.
Maternal Iron Deficiency Modulates Placental Transcriptome and Proteome in Mid-Gestation of Mouse Pregnancy.

Background Maternal iron deficiency (ID) is associated with poor pregnancy and fetal outcomes. The effect is thought to be mediated by the placenta but there is no comprehensive assessment of placental responses to maternal ID. Additionally, whether the influence of maternal ID on the placenta differs by fetal sex is unknown. Objectives To identify gene and protein signatures of ID mouse placentas at mid-gestation. A secondary objective was to profile the expression of iron genes in mouse placentas across gestation. Methods We used a real-time PCR-based array to determine the mRNA expression of all known iron genes in mouse placentas at embryonic day (E) 12.5, E14.5, E16.5, and E19.5 (n = 3 placentas/time point). To determine the effect of maternal ID, we performed RNA sequencing and proteomics in male and female placentas from ID and iron-adequate mice at E12.5 (n = 8 dams/diet). Results In female placentas, 6 genes, including transferrin receptor (Tfrc) and solute carrier family 11 member 2, were significantly changed by maternal ID. An additional 154 genes were altered in male ID placentas. A proteomic analysis quantified 7662 proteins in the placenta. Proteins translated from iron-responsive element (IRE)-containing mRNA were altered in abundance; ferritin and ferroportin 1 decreased, while TFRC increased in ID placentas. Less than 4% of the significantly altered genes in ID placentas occurred both at the transcriptional and translational levels. Conclusions Our data demonstrate that the impact of maternal ID on placental gene expression in mice is limited in scope and magnitude at mid-gestation. We provide strong evidence for IRE-based transcriptional and translational coordination of iron gene expression in the mouse placenta. Finally, we discover sexually dimorphic effects of maternal ID on placental gene expression, with more genes and pathways altered in male compared with female mouse placentas.
Luminescence properties of hexagonal boron nitride powders probed by deep UV photoluminescence spectroscopy.

Deep ultraviolet (UV) photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy was employed to study the luminescence properties of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) crystal powders after annealing the samples at different temperatures in the range of 100–900 °C for 1 h in ambient air. The PL spectrum from the h-BN powder samples annealed around 700 °C showed strong luminescence intensity at 5.49 eV along with enhanced phonon-assisted band-edge emission at 5.90 eV. Additionally, it revealed sharp atomic-like emission lines in UV region at 4.10, 4.12, 4.14, and 4.16 eV with line widths less than 1 nm from the annealed samples which were not present in the unannealed samples. Power- and temperature-dependent PL measurements of the sharp atomic-like emission lines exhibited robust nature of the energy peak positions. Based on the theoretical reports, the sharp emission lines could be carbon-related defects.
Psychometric Analyses of the Challenges and Needs Survey for Family Caregivers of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Implications for Practice:

Understanding the needs and stressors of caregivers of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) informs targeted support strategies. However, most caregiver needs measures lack the breadth o...
A Brief History of Transfer and Transfer as History

This chapter presents a brief history of transfer research and discusses the central issues and problems in the literature. Beginning in the 1960s, up through about the mid-1980s, research into transfer of learning steadily declined. According to Richard Clark and Alexander Voogel's 1985 review of the educational literature, in the years from 1971–1974, 31 documents were published on transfer; in the years from 1975–1978, the number dropped to 24; and from 1979-1982, there were only 13 published articles. The reasons were the identical elements model on which it was based, and a change in instructional focus, with focus on skills and competencies. Because of a general recognition of the cognitive operations involved in transfer, it has been extended to include the research literature on metaphorical, analogical reasoning, and the study of figurative language, though these areas still primarily focus on the structures and cognitive processes involved in encoding and retrieval of information that operate during learning, and not on the implications for instruction.
Pathogen Detection Using Magnetoelastic Biosentinels

Biosentinels, used to detect, signal, and capture pathogenic bacteria, are discussed. The biosentinel is based on magnetically soft magnetoelastic resonators coated with a selective and specific biorecognition layer. The biosentinels are actuated, monitored, and controlled wirelessly by external magnetic fields. The biosentinels mimic the function of naturally occurring biological defensive systems, such as white blood cells, seeking out and capturing pathogenic bacteria. After binding with the target pathogen, the mass of the biosentinel increases causing the resonant frequency to decrease, providing instantaneous detection of the pathogen. The biosentinels require no on-board power, harvesting electromagnetic energy from the surroundings for propulsion, navigation, and signaling the detection of target pathogens.
An overview of theory and research on hallucinations : implications for occupational therapy intervention

Hallucinations occur in a variety of chronic and transient psychotic disorders, but there is very little agreement on either a specific definition of theory of etiology regarding this phenomenon. This lack of consensus makes it difficult to develop appropriate intervention strategies of validate the results of treatment. This article attempts to address the problem by utilizing a model, based on an occupational therapy perspective, which describes the functional deficits associated with different classifications of hallucinations. The focus of specific functional deficits, rather than etiology or other abstract theoretical premises, allows the clinician to determine when and if intervention is appropriate. Furthermore, the model can be utilized to determine the particular intervention strategies best suited to such individual's needs. Included in this paper is a discussion of the literature regarding the definitions and etiology of hallucinations, as well as an overview of the research on intervention tec...