cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A stochastic game approach for modeling wholesale energy bidding in deregulated power markets

It has been noted in a recent report (Dec. 2002) from the General Accounting Office of the U.S. that "various design flaws in wholesale markets and transmission services have created operational problems within and between wholesale markets." This paper presents a novel methodology to analyze and design the wholesale energy bidding aspect of a deregulated power market. We adopt a system-wide approach that considers many of the relevant features including transmission congestion. We develop a two-stage model: 1) a nonzero sum stochastic game with average reward for the wholesale energy market operation, and 2) a nonlinear programming (NLP) model for the unit-commitment (UC) and the optimal power-flow aspects. The solution approach for the two-stage model is based on a reinforcement-learning (RL) algorithm, which is designed to obtain Nash equilibrium policies. We use a three-retailer/three-supplier power network with and without congestion to test and benchmark our methodology.
Size matters: nest colonization patterns for twig-nesting ants

Understanding the drivers of ant diversity and co-occurrence in agroecosystems is fundamental because ants participate in interactions that influence agroecosystem processes. Multiple local and regional factors influence ant community assembly.We examined local factors that influence the structure of a twig-nesting ant community in a coffee system in Mexico using an experimental approach. We investigated whether twig characteristics (nest entrance size and diversity of nest entrance sizes) and nest strata (canopy shade tree or coffee shrub) affected occupation, species richness, and community composition of twig-nesting ants and whether frequency of occupation of ant species varied with particular nest entrance sizes or strata.We conducted our study in a shaded coffee farm in Chiapas, Mexico, between March and June 2012. We studied ant nest colonization by placing artificial nests (bamboo twigs) on coffee shrubs and shade trees either in diverse or uniform treatments. We also examined whether differences in vegetation (no. of trees, canopy cover and coffee density) influenced nest colonization.We found 33 ant species occupying 73% of nests placed. Nest colonization did not differ with nest strata or size. Mean species richness of colonizing ants was significantly higher in the diverse nest size entrance treatment, but did not differ with nest strata. Community composition differed between strata and also between the diverse and uniform size treatments on coffee shrubs, but not on shade trees. Some individual ant species were more frequently found in certain nest strata and in nests with certain entrance sizes.Our results indicate that twig-nesting ants are nest-site limited, quickly occupy artificial nests of many sizes, and that trees or shrubs with twigs of a diversity of entrance sizes likely support higher ant species richness. Further, individual ant species more frequently occupy nests with different sized entrances promoting ant richness on individual coffee plants and trees.
Cloud transitions and decoupling in shear-free stratocumulus-topped boundary layers

Large-eddy simulations of shear-free stratocumulus-topped layers tend strongly toward a two-layer structure as the negative area in the buoyancy flux profile that would be necessary to maintain a mixed layer increases to more than 10% of the positive area. In addition to identifying a threshold for what amounts to a convective transition, the simulations provide further evidence that a commonly used entrainment closure is ill-founded. Lastly the simulations demonstrate that attempts to formulate a similarity theory for convective layers must account for the geometry of the buoyancy-flux profile, and not simply its integral.
Hedonic Valuation with Translating Amenities: Mountain Pine Beetles and Host Trees in the Colorado Front Range

In hedonic valuation studies the policy-relevant environmental quality attribute of interest is often costly to measure, especially under pronounced spatial and temporal variability. However, in many cases this attribute affects home prices and consumer preferences solely through its impact on a readily observable, spatially delineated, and time-invariant feature of the physical landscape. We label such a feature a “translating amenity.” We show that under certain conditions changes in the marginal effect of such amenities on home values over time can be used to draw inference on the implicit price of the unobserved environmental quality of interest. We illustrate this approach in the context of a repeat-sales model and the recently intensified outbreak of the Mountain Pine Beetle in the Colorado Front Range.
Small variance in growth rates in annual plants has large effects on genetic drift.

UNLABELLED PREMISE OF THE STUDY Effective population size (N(e)) is a critical index of the evolutionary capacity of populations. Low N(e) indicates that standing genetic diversity is susceptible to loss via stochastic processes (and inbreeding) and is, therefore, unavailable for natural selection to act upon. Reported N(e) in plant populations is often quite low. What biological and ecological factors might produce such low N(e) • METHODS We conducted a simulation model to test the effect of randomly assigned and autocorrelated growth rates of annual plants on plant-size distributions at the end of the growing season. Because plant size is directly correlated with reproductive output in annual plants, variation in plant size reflects variation in reproduction, and thus our modeled size distributions can be used to estimate N(e). • KEY RESULTS Randomly assigned growth rates had a negligble effect on N(e)/N. Autocorrelated growth rates decreased N(e)/N as the length of the growing season increased. This was the case even when the variance in growth rates was as low as 0.1% of the mean. • CONCLUSIONS While intrinsic plant biology can affect the degree of growth autocorrelation, ecological factors such as competition, herbivory, and abiotic stress can increase or decrease levels of growth autocorrelation. Ecological factors that increase growth autocorrelation can have significant effects on genetic drift within populations.
Does the estimated impact of wildfires vary with the housing price distribution? A quantile regression approach

Hedonic property models are commonly applied in the environmental economics literature to estimate values of environmental amenities or hazards. Most hedonic property models are estimated using linear regression techniques where the coefficient on the environmental variable of interest is the “marginal implicit price.” Linear regression estimates one coefficient for the entire distribution of the dependent variable, and thus in hedonic property models a single marginal implicit price. In contrast, quantile regression estimates a range of marginal impacts for different quantiles of the distribution for the dependent variable, consequently providing a significantly more “complete picture” of the true impact of the explanatory variable (Koeneker and Hallock, 2001). We contribute to the existing hedonic property literature by estimating the impact of repeated wildfires on house prices in Southern California using quantile regression. We find that the impact of a wildfire differs significantly across the distribution of house prices, with estimated coefficients varying as much as 73% from the 25th quantile relative to the 75th quantile. We also find that OLS results under-estimate impacts relative to the median quantile, yet over-estimate impacts for lower quantiles. Our results indicate that a quantile regression approach can provide policymakers and researchers more information about the marginal implicit price in hedonic models as it relates to the distribution of the dependent variable.
Under-ascertainment of mosaic carriers of balanced homologous acrocentric translocations and isochromosomes.

Acrocentric rearrangements are the most common chromosome abnormalities in humans. Carriers of homologous acrocentric rearrangements (Robertsonian translocations (ROBs) between homologous chromosomes and isochromosomes) are at very high risk of having multiple spontaneous abortions and chromosomally abnormal offspring. Parents of fetuses and children with unbalanced homologous acrocentric rearrangements are rarely found to be carriers or mosaic for the same rearrangement. Even though recurrent miscarriages may indicate a carrier parent, carriers are rarely identified. Comparison of non-chromosome 21 homologous rearrangements to rea(21q21q) culled from the literature revealed a 7-fold decrease in the number of mosaic cases among the parents of non-rea(21q21q) offspring. This under-ascertainment in parents may be due to low level mosaicism confined to the gonads, a true biological difference between chromosome 21 rearrangements and other homologous acrocentric rearrangements, or simply to the lack of rigorous clinical investigation of the parental karyotypes to uncover mosaicism. We recommend that polymorphic marker analysis be applied to apparently de novo acrocentric rearrangements to distinguish those resulting from biparental postzygotic formation from those resulting from meiotic formation; the latter of which may indicate a potential carrier parent. Parental chromosomal constitutions could then be screened in a large number of cells and in more than one tissue type to identify mosaicism. Identification of mosaicism allows for accurate genetic counseling and discussion of reproductive options. However, given that mosaicism may be restricted to the gonads, prenatal testing is likely to be desired by the family whether or not mosaicism is found.
Dietary Supplements in Health Promotion

The supplement market continues to grow annually with more than half of the population using these products for reasons spanning from health maintenance to disease prevention and/or treatment. Dietary Supplements in Health Promotion presents clear and concise evidence on how dietary supplements may contribute to maintaining health status. The book
76-P: SYNERGISTIC EFFECT OF COMPLEMENT FIXING AND NON-COMPLEMENT FIXING ANTIBODIES TO MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY CLASS I ANTIGENS IN DEVELOPMENT OF OBLITERATIVE AIRWAY DISEASE (CHRONIC LUNG ALLOGRAFT REJECTION)

Aim Our previous results demonstrated that 200 μg complement fixing antibodies (Abs) to MHC class I (cfAbs) or non-complement fixing Abs (ncAbs) result in obliterative airway disease (OAD) in mouse model of intrabronchial anti-MHC administration. In human lung transplantation, recipients may develop both complement fixing and non-complement fixing DSA that may augment chronic rejection. The aim of this study was to test if low levels of cfAbs and ncAbs can synergize leading to OAD. Methods Low dose anti-MHC class I ncAbs mouse IgG1 (100 μg) or cfAbs IgG2a (25 μg) were given alone or in combination intrabronchially in F1 C57Bl/6 × B.10 mice on day 0,1,2,6 and weekly after. Isotype IgG were given in control. Lungs analyzed by histopathology. Serum tested for Abs to Kalpha1Tubulin (K α 1T) and collagenV (ColV) by ELISA. IFNγ, IL17 and IL10 cells specific to Kα1T and ColV enumerated by ELISPOT. Cytokines and growth factors in lung determined by RTPCR. Results Low dose of ncAbs (100 μg) or cfAbs (25 μg) alone did not lead to OAD including isotype control. Combination of ncAbs and cfAbs at same low dose resulted in OAD with cellular infiltration, fibrosis and luminal occlusion of vessels and bronchioles. Mice given both ncAbs and cfAbs developed serum Abs to Kα1T (667 ± 63 μg/mL, p = 0.065) and ColV (323 ± 41, p = 0.0034) compared to ncAbs alone, cfAbs alone or isotype mice. This was associated with increased IFNγ (p = 0.002), IL17 (p = 0.004) specific to Kα1T and ColV and suppression of IL10 compared to other groups. Further, there was upregulation of TGFβ, MCP-1, IL-6, IL-1β and VEGF. Conclusions High dose ncAbs and cfAbs to MHC lead to OAD, but low dose of ncAbs or cfAbs given alone did not induce OAD. However, low levels of ncAbs and cfAbs in combination, can synergize and potentiate each other resulting in activation of inflammatory and fibrotic cascades leading to OAD. Hence, in human lung transplant recipients low titers of de novo DSA which are cfAbs and ncAbs may synergize augmenting chronic lung allograft rejection.
Effects of Different Rootstocks in Micrografting on Growing of Washington Navel Orange Plants Obtained by Shoot Tip Grafting

ABSTRACTIn this research, the effects of different rootstocks in micrografting on rapid production of virus-free Washington Navel orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osb.) plants obtained by thermotherapy (TT) and shoot tip grafting (STG) in vitro were studied. Shoot-tip grafted plants on Troyer citrange (C. sinensis X Poncirus trifoliata) were cultured in liquid Murashige and Skoog medium for 6 weeks and then micrografted onto Citrumelo (C. paradise X P. trifoliota), Cleopatra mandarin (C. reshni Hart ex Tan), Macrophylla (C. macrophylla Wester.), Rough lemon (C. jambhiri Lush.), sour orange (C. aurantium L.), Troyer citrange (C. sinensis X P. trifoliata) and Volkamer lemon (C. Volkameriana Ten and Pas.). Microgafted plants were kept in greenhouse for 24 months at a temperature 26±2°C and under 16/8 hours photoperiod (day/night). The success rates of STG and micrografting were 42.0% and 80.4%, respectively. Diameters of graft-union, stock and scion trunks, survival rates of the plants micrografted onto differen...
The relation of the carbon-nitrogen ratio in the basal medium to sexual reproduction in species of Phytophthora.

Following the discovery by Haskins et al. (1964) that 3-fi-hydroxy sterols are required for the formation of oospores by Pythium species, these compounds were also found to be required for oospore formation by many species and isolates of Phytophthora (Elliott et al, 1964, 1966; Harnish and Merz, 1964; Hendrix, 1964, 1965; Hunter et al., 1965; and Leal et al., 1964). Sterol concentrations of 4-30 mg/liter have been effective. Some species and isolates formed oospores readily on synthetic media to which agar and a suitable sterol were added. Others produced oospores only on certain natural media, and still others produced few or no oospores in the laboratory. Gallegly and Lilly (1964) reported that pairings of A1 and A2 compatibility types of Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands and P. cryptogea Pethyb. & Laff. consistently produced oospores in abundance on hemp seed agar, but not on lima bean agar. Hunter et al. (1965) found that the following species produced no oospores on a medium containing 2 g/liter of D-glucose, 1 g/liter of L-asparagine, and 4 mg/liter of ,/sitosterol: P. hibernalis Carne, P. syringae (Kleb.) Kleb., P. cinnamomi, and two pairings of P. cryptogea. Some isolates of P. citricola Saw., P. ilicis Buddenhagen & Young, and P. megasperma Drechs. produced few or no oospores on the above medium. The influence of the composition of the basal medium (other than the presence of sterol) on the production of oospores by species of Phytophthora has not been studied thoroughly. The concentrations (g/liter) of the carbon and nitrogen sources used by the above investigators have ranged from 2-30 and 1.0-2.5, respectively, to give carbon to nitrogen ratios (C/N) ranging from 3.8:1 to 27.4:1. The major sources of carbon were glucose and sucrose, and of nitrogen were L-asparagine and sodium nitrate.
Analysis of the Accuracy of MEMS Magnetometers in Small UAS for use in State Estimation

Accurate orientation estimation is difficult with the sensors typically available on sUAS. Magnetometers can be used to improve the state estimate and improve observability in INS-GPS systems. Typical error modeling of magnetometers however ignores many potential sources of error in sUAS applications. In this paper interference from aircraft subsystems, calibration to eliminate scale factor and scalar biases, and the nature of noise distribution for a low cost magnetic sensor are examined experimentally. Motor operation is found to be a major source of magnetic interference at distances of as much as 40cm while servo operation and avionics are found to have significant influence at shorter ranges. Furthermore the assumption of Gaussian noise for these sensors is found to be invalid. Additionally the accuracy of using magnetic field models to produce reference vectors is examined and found to be a significant error source for sub-degree accuracy applications.
Gains and Losses in PbS Quantum Dot Solar Cells with Submicron Periodic Grating Structures

Corrugated structures are integral to many types of photoelectronic devices, used essentially for the manipulation of optical energy inputs. Here, we have investigated the gains and losses incurred by this microscale geometrical change. We have employed nanostructured electrode gratings of 600 nm pitch in PbS colloidal quantum dot (PbS-CQD) solar cells and investigated their effect on photovoltaic properties. Solar cells employing grating structure achieved a 32% and 20% increase in short-circuit current density (Jsc) and power conversion efficiency, respectively, compared to nonstructured reference cells. The observed photocurrent increase of the structured devices mainly stems from the enhancement of photon absorption due to the trapping of optical energy by the grating structures. This optical absorption enhancement was particularly high in the near-infrared portion of the sun spectrum where PbS-based solar cells commonly present poor absorption. We have interestingly observed that the open-circuit vol...
Modeling Long-Period Swell in Southern California: Practical Boundary Conditions from Buoy Observations and Global Wave Model Predictions

AbstractAccurate, unbiased, high-resolution (in space and time) nearshore wave predictions are needed to drive models of beach erosion; coastal flooding; and alongshore transport of sediment, biota, and pollutants. On sheltered shorelines, wave predictions are sensitive to the directions of onshore propagating waves, and nearshore model prediction error is often dominated by directional uncertainty offshore. Here, regional wave model skill in highly sheltered Southern California is compared for different offshore boundary conditions created from offshore buoy observations and global wave model hindcasts [NOAA WaveWatch III (WW3)]. Spectral ray-tracing methods are used to transform incident offshore swell (0.04–0.09 Hz) energy at high directional resolution (1°). Model skill is assessed for predictions (wave height, direction, directional spread, and alongshore radiation stress) at 16 nearshore buoy sites between 2000 and 2009. Buoy-derived boundary conditions using various estimators (maximum entropy, max...
Incarcerating Juveniles in Adult Prisons: Examining the Relationship Between Age and Prison Behavior in Transferred Juveniles

The experiences of juveniles in adult prisons have gained increased attention over the last several decades. This article adds to understandings of these experiences by examining the relationship b...
Determination of 16 phthalic acid esters in cooking oil by using gas chromatography /tandem mass spectrometry

Objective To select appropriate gas chromatography-mass spectrometry conditions,and establish a method for simultaneous determination of 16 phthalic acid esters in cooking oil by using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry( GC-MS/MS),so as to understand the current status of phthalate esters residues in production and sale of cooking oil in Anyang city. Methods The phthalic acid esters in samples were extracted by acetonitrile,purified with silica / PSA column,concentrated by liquid nitrogen and then determined by GC / MS / MS using external standard method for quantitative anallysis. Results The 16 phthalic acid esters were separated completely within 23 min. The calibration curves of 16 phthalic acid esters were linear within the range of 5 ng / ml ~ 5000 ng / ml( r2 0. 99). The recoveries were 71. 60% ~ 109. 3%. The relative standard deviations( RSD) of the method was less than 10%,and the limit of determination( LOD) was 0. 01 ng / ml ~ 0. 45 ng / ml. Conclusion The 16 kinds of phthalic acid esters were separated well by choosing suitable gas chromatographic conditions. Application of secondary ion of characteristic ion in GC-MS / MS detection can reduce the interference,thus avoiding the false positive. The method is simple,accurate and sensitive. It is suitable for analysis of phthalic acid esters in cooking oil.
Modular and Adaptive Wheelchair Automation

We present in this paper a novel framework for the design of a modular and adaptive partial-autonomy wheelchair. Our design in particular aims to address hurdles to the adoption of partial-autonomy wheelchairs within general society. In this experimental work, a single assistance module (assisted doorway traversal) is evaluated, with arbitration between multiple goals (from multiple detected doors) and multiple control signals (from an autonomous path planner, and the human user). The experimental work provides the foundation and proof-of-concept for the technical components of our proposed modular and adaptive wheelchair robot. The system is evaluated within multiple environmental scenarios and shows good performance.
Phosphino-polycarboxylic acid modified inhibitor nanomaterial for oilfield scale control: transport and inhibitor return in formation media

Mineral scale deposition is a major threat to the oil and gas industry. Scale threat is conventionally controlled by injecting a scale inhibitor chemical into oil production systems. Scale inhibitor nanomaterials are an alternative to the conventional inhibitor products. This study evaluates the transport and inhibitor return properties of the phosphino-polycarboxylic acid (PPCA) modified scale inhibitor nanomaterial with both PPCA and phosphonate constituents. The objective is to expand the use of this type of inhibitor nanomaterial in the delivery of scale inhibitor into formation for oilfield scale control. Electrolyte content and the sonication method have been investigated for their roles in nanomaterial transport in formation medium. It has been shown that the nanofluid electrolyte content can considerably impact the nanomaterial transport in terms of breakthrough level, deposition towards formation surfaces and inhibitor solid phase distribution. It is evident that an increase in electrolyte content can reduce the transportability of the nanomaterial. Consequently, the deposition tendency and also inhibitor solid phase distribution can be influenced as well. Furthermore, it shows that sonication treatment can result in a change in particle size with varied transportability. Laboratory squeeze simulation studies have been conducted to compare the squeeze lifetime of inhibitor nanomaterial against conventional pills. It is evident that the nanomaterial outperformed the conventional pills, with an extended squeeze lifetime. Overall, the transport studies and squeeze simulations suggest that the prepared inhibitor nanomaterial has the potential for application in the oilfield to control the scale deposition threat.
7 – A closed-form approach to modeling and dynamic analysis of beams, plates and shell

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a semi-analytical method, namely, the distributed transfer function method (DTFM), for a dynamic analysis of plates and shells. The word “semi-analytical” is used because the DTFM delivers exact closed-form analytical solutions at least in one coordinate direction. The thrust of the method is that it is capable of modeling multi-body regions like the FEM and at the same time maintains high accuracy and efficiency of analytical solutions. The method is convenient in predicting the dynamic response of plates and shells with complex shapes and abrupt changes in properties. The chapter discusses the basic concepts of the DTFM for dynamic analysis of one-dimensional continua. The DTFM-based analysis is extended to multi-dimensional continua and the application of the DTFM in free vibration analysis of plates and shells is presented to demonstrate the advantages of the DTFM through numerical examples.
In Vivo Role of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Antiphospholipid Antibody-Mediated Venous Thrombosis.

Objective: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a leading acquired cause of thrombotic events. While antiphospholipid antibodies have been shown to promote thrombosis in mice, the role of neutrophils has not been explicitly studied. Here, we characterized neutrophils in the context of a new model of antiphospholipid antibody-mediated venous thrombosis. Methods: Mice were administered IgG fractions prepared from patients with APS. At the same time, flow through the inferior vena cava was reduced by a standard stenosis. Resulting thrombi were characterized for size and neutrophil content. Circulating factors and the vessel wall were also assessed. Results: As measured by both thrombus weight and thrombosis frequency, mice treated with IgG from patients with APS demonstrated exaggerated thrombosis as compared with controls. APS thrombi were enriched for citrullinated histone H3 (a marker of neutrophil extracellular traps/NETs). APS mice also demonstrated elevated levels of circulating cell-free DNA and human IgG bound to the neutrophil surface. In contrast, circulating neutrophil numbers and markers of vessel wall activation were not appreciably different between APS and control mice. Regarding therapy, treatment with either deoxyribonuclease (which dissolves NETs) or a neutrophil-depleting antibody reduced thrombosis in APS mice to the level seen in controls. Conclusion: These data support a mechanism whereby circulating neutrophils are primed by antiphospholipid antibodies to accelerate thrombosis. This line of investigation suggests new, immunomodulatory approaches for the treatment of APS. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Assessment of potential impacts to surface and subsurface water bodies due to longwall mining

Abstract Ground movements due to longwall mining operations have the potential to damage the hydrological balance within as well as outside the mine permit area in the form of increased surface ponding and changes to hydrogeological properties. Recently, the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) in the USA, has completed a public comment period on a newly proposed rule for the protection of streams and groundwater from adverse impacts of surface and underground mining operations (80 FR 44435). With increased community and regulatory focus on mining operations and their potential to adversely affect streams and groundwater, now there is a greater need for better prediction of the possible effects mining has on both surface and subsurface bodies of water. With mining induced stress and strain within the overburden correlated to changes in the hydrogeological properties of rock and soil, this paper investigates the evaluation of the hydrogeological system within the vicinity of an underground mining operation based on strain values calculated through a surface deformation prediction model. Through accurate modeling of the pre- and post-mining hydrogeological system, industry personnel can better depict mining induced effects on surface and subsurface bodies of water aiding in the optimization of underground extraction sequences while maintaining the integrity of water resources.
Spectrum of an Operator

The main concepts related to the spectrum of a linear operator are presented, including the resolvent set, and the division of the spectrum into point, continuous and residual spectrum. A number of examples are discussed in detail. General properties of the spectrum are studied, with special attention paid to the case of self-adjoint and unitary operators. In the case of a bounded-linear operator on Hilbert space it is shown that the spectrum is compact and nonempty.
Deploying High Throughput Scientific Workflows on Container Schedulers with Makeflow and Mesos

Workflows are a widely used abstraction for describing large scientific applications and running them on distributed systems. However, most workflow systems have been silent on the question of what execution environment each task in the workflow is expected to run in. Consequently, a workflow may run successfully in the environment it was created, but fail on other platforms due to the differences in execution environment. Container-based schedulers have recently arisen as a potential solution to this problem, adopting containers to distribute computing resources and deliver well-defined execution environments to applications. In this paper, we consider how to connect workflow system to container schedulers with minimal performance loss and higher system efficiency. As an example of current technology, we use Makeflow and Mesos. We present five design challenges, and address them by using four configurations that connecting workflow system to container scheduler from different level of the infrastructure. In order to take full advantage of the resource sharing schema of Mesos, we enable the resource monitor of Makeflow to dynamically update the task resource requirement. We explore the performance of a large bioinformatics workflow, and observe that using Makeflow, Work Queue and the Resource monitor together not only increase the transfer throughput but also achieves highest resource usage rate.
Expression and Function of Tigit in B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Background:T cell Ig and ITIM domain (TIGIT) is an immune checkpoint molecule and a novel member of CD28 family. TIGIT is expressed on NK cells, effector and memory T cells, and Treg cells. Upon ligation with CD155, TIGIT delivers an inhibitory signal and negatively regulates anti-tumor responses. While important in normal T-cell biology, the expression and function of TIGIT in the blood and tumor microenvironment of patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is completely unknown. Goal: To phenotypically and functionally characterize TIGIT+T cell subsets in B-cell NHL and compare expression of TIGIT on intratumoral T cells to normal controls. Results: In peripheral blood, TIGIT expression was not detected on resting T cells. In contrast, when we analyzed biopsy specimens from B-cell NHL patients, we observed that TIGIT is variably but highly expressed on a subset of intratumoral T cells. A median of 41.1% (range: 24.9-56.1, n=5) of CD4+ or 22.2% (range: 13.4-33.3, n=5) of CD8+ T cells from tumor specimens expressed TIGIT on the cell surface. In normal tonsil tissue, expression level of TIGIT was modest or negligible. A median of 12.0% (range: 9.1-15.8, n=5) of CD4+ or 3.9% (range: 1.3-5.7, n=5) of CD8+ T cells express TIGIT on the cell surface, which is significantly lower than that in B-cell NHL (p=0.005 and p=0.003 for CD4+ and CD8+, respectively). We observed that both CD45RA+ and CD45RA- T cells express TIGIT with the greatest expression on the CD45RA- population in B-cell NHL specimens. Furthermore, we found that TIGIT+ T cells coexpressed other immune checkpoint molecules including PD-1 and TIM-3. Functionally, TIGIT+ T cells displayed reduced cytokine production, as the number of IFN-γ- and IL-2-producing cells was lower in the TIGIT+ population than in TIGIT-T cells. Unlike TIM-3 that is coexpressed with PD-1 and whose expression is upregulated by IL-12, TIGIT expression is not upregulated by IL-12, suggesting that a different mechanism is involved in TIGIT upregulation in B-cell NHL. Conclusion: Taken together, these results indicated that TIGIT is highly expressed on intratumoral T cells in B-cell NHL and is expressed on a population of T-cells with suppressed immune function. TIGIT, while co-expressed with PD-1 and TIM-3, is not upregulated by cytokines such as IL-12, suggesting that it is regulated by an alternate pathway. Inhibition of TIGIT signaling may be an additional mechanism to prevent T-cell suppression and exhaustion in B-cell NHL. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Predicting soil formation on the basis of transport-limited chemical weathering

Abstract Soil production is closely related to chemical weathering. It has been shown that, under the assumption that chemical weathering is limited by solute transport, the process of soil production is predictable. However, solute transport in soil cannot be described by Gaussian transport. In this paper, we propose an approach based on percolation theory describing non-Gaussian transport of solute to predict soil formation (the net production of soil) by considering both soil production from chemical weathering and removal of soil from erosion. Our prediction shows agreement with observed soil depths in the field. Theoretical soil formation rates are also compared with published rates predicted using soil age-profile thickness (SAST) method. Our formulation can be incorporated directly into landscape evolution models on a point-to-point basis as long as such models account for surface water routing associated with overland flow. Further, our treatment can be scaled-up to address complications associated with continental-scale applications, including those from climate change, such as changes in vegetation, or surface flow organization. The ability to predict soil formation rates has implications for understanding Earth's climate system on account of the relationship to chemical weathering of silicate minerals with the associated drawdown of atmospheric carbon, but it is also important in geomorphology for understanding landscape evolution, including for example, the shapes of hillslopes, and the net transport of sediments to sedimentary basins.
Hormonal aspects of breast cancer. Growth factors, drugs and stromal interactions.

E. Stromal populations of lymphoreticular origin in breast neoplasia. 8 Stromal populations of mesenchymal origin in normal breast. 9 The role of stromal cells of mesenchymal origin in mediating the estrogenic responsivity ofnormalbreasttissue 9 The role of stromal populations of mesenchymal origin in the control of breast tumor growth.. IO Further comments on tumor-stromal interactions in breast cancer 12
Strange hadron production in pp, pPb, and PbPb collisions at LHC energies

Identified particle spectra provide an important tool for understanding the particle production mechanism and the dynamical evolution of the medium created in relativistic heavy ion collisions. Studies involving strange and multi-strange hadrons, such as K 0 S , Λ, and Ξ − , carry additional information since there is no net strangeness content in the initial colliding system. Strangeness enhancement in AA collisions with respect to pp and pA collisions has long been considered as one of the signatures for quark-gluon plasma (QGP) formation. Recent observations of collective effects in high-multiplicity pp and pA collisions raise the question of whether QGP can also be formed in the smaller systems. Systematic studies of strange particle abundance, particle ratios, and nuclear modification factors can shed light on this issue. The CMS experiment has excellent strange-particle reconstruction capabilities over a broad kinematic range, and dedicated high-multiplicity triggers in pp and pPb collisions. The spectra of K 0 S , Λ, and Ξ − hadrons have been measured in various multiplicity and rapidity regions as a function of p T in pp, pPb, and PbPb collisions for several collision energies. The spectral shapes and particle ratios are compared in the different collision systems for events that have the same multiplicity and interpreted in the context of hydrodynamics models.
Elucidating the Role of the Metal Linking Ion on the Excited State Dynamics of Self-Assembled Bilayers

Metal ion-linked, self-assembled multilayers on nanocrystalline metal oxide surfaces have recently emerged as an effective strategy for manipulating energy and electron transfer dynamics at organic–inorganic interfaces. The choice of metal ion can have a large impact on the stability, loading concentration, and other properties of the films. Here we report our investigation into the role of the linking ion on the subnanosecond excited state dynamics in the bilayer films (TiO2–B–M–RuP). While metal linkers like CdII, LaIII, SnIV, ZnII, and ZrIV are photochemically inert, paramagnetic linking ions such as CuII, FeII, and MnII quench the excited state of the dye with a rate constant on the order of 108 s–1. The absence of new spectral features in the transient absorption spectrum suggests that energy transfer, and not electron transfer, is responsible for the excited state quenching. On TiO2, the electron injection rate for TiO2–B–M–RuP is an order of magnitude slower (∼1 × 109 s–1) than for the dye directly...
Phosphonic acid promotion of supported Pd catalysts for low temperature vanillin hydrodeoxygenation in ethanol

Abstract Bifunctional catalysts with activity for both hydrogenation and dehydration have been frequently investigated for hydrodeoxygenation (HDO). Here, we report the application of organophosphonic acids (PAs) to Pd/Al2O3 catalysts for low-temperature vanillin HDO. Reaction studies indicated that PA-modification significantly improved the liquid-phase HDO activity; the yield to the desirable product, p-creosol (CR), increased from 2.5% to 87% at 50 °C. This improvement was attributed to the creation of metal/acid bifunctional sites upon PA modification. In addition, HDO activity positively correlated with the Bronsted acidity of the PA modifier, which could be tuned by adjusting the PA tail functionality.
Drug Therapy for Dyslipidemia

Coronary heart disease (CHD) remains the number one cause of death for men and women in the USA and is rapidly becoming a major cause of morbidity and mortality in developing nations as well. The recognition and treatment of coronary risk factors such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, smoking, obesity, and diabetes has made a substantial impact on reducing CHD events. The National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines recommend that low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) should be the primary target of therapy to reduce cardiovascular events. The HMG CoA reductase inhibitors or statins are effective in lowering LDL-C and have become some of the most prescribed medications in the world. Recent studies have extended the boundaries of treatment to different risk groups and have shown that this treatment strategy is beneficial across the cardiovascular risk spectrum.
A statistical study of mortality from leukemia.

The recorded death rate from leukemia in the United States has risen continuously since 1900, with an accelerated rate of increase since 1930. The rise from a rate of 1.9 per 100,000 population in 1920 to 3.7 in 1940 represents an increase of 94.7 per cent in this twenty-year period. This increase cannot be accounted for by changes in the age distribution of the population, for the age specific death rates have increased in each age group. The factor of increasing recognition of the disease resulting from improved diagnostic technics and greater use of hospitals with their laboratory facilities must be given adequate consideration in an effort to determine the causes for the rising death rate. White persons are affected at a rate more than twice as great as nonwhites. Some of the difference must be attributed to variations in the availability of diagnostic services. Males experience a rate approximately one-third greater than females. Leukemia affects persons in the older ages, particularly over 55 years, with the greatest frequency, and the population under 5 years of age experiences a mortality rate higher than any other age under 45 years. In the intermediate ages the death rate falls to the lowest point. In 1940 the death rate from leukemia for all ages was 3.7 per 100,000 population. The highest rate, 15.7 per 100,000 occurred in the age group 75-84 years. Under 1 year the rate was 4.9 per 100,000. The lowest rate, 1.5 per 100,000, occurred in the ages from 15 to 2.4 years. Figures for the city of Baltimore for the five-year period 1939-1943 indicate an almost equal incidence of lymphoid and myeloid leukemia. Nearly two-thirds of the deaths studied in Baltimore were reported as acute leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia appears to be more common than acute lymphoid. After age 45 chronic leukemia is more frequently observed; younger persons experience acute leukemia most commonly. Undoubtedly many deaths result from leukemia in which this disease was neither diagnosed nor recorded on a death certificate. Clinical evidence indicates that the causes in which this failure would occur most commonly are cancer, anemia, and diseases of the spleen. Statistical evidence reveals that these conditions are certified jointly with leukemia in a significant number and proportion of cases. Comparison of the experience of several countries indicates that the general trends of mortality from leukemia in the United States are common to the other communities. The death rates per 100,000 population in 1931 adjusted for differences in age and sex composition of the population were: United States, 3.5; England and Wales, 3.0; Paris 2.5; and Canada 2.3. Each year since 1940 more than 5,000 persons in the United States have died from leukemia.
Application of Next-Generation Sequencing Technologies for Genetic Diversity Analysis in Cereals

The increased throughput of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies made feasible large-scale analysis of DNA sequence variation at the whole genome level not only in model species but also in large cereal genomes. Here we present an overview of studies using NGS-based approaches for characterizing genetic variation in major cereal crops. These early studies demonstrated the power of NGS for providing insights concerning the evolutionary history of crop species, as well as genomic locations of genes underlying important agronomic traits and genomic regions subjected to selection during domestication and geographic adaptation.
Mechanisms of Cancer Prevention: Effects of Protease Inhibitors on Proteases and Gene Expression

Our studies utilizing different Types of protease inhibitors as anticarcinogenic agents in in vivo and in vitro systems have recently been reviewed (1). These studies suggest that the protease inhibitors which prevent carcinogenesis are affecting processes in the early stages of carcinogenesis, although they can be effective at long time periods after carcinogen exposure in both in vitro and in vivo systems. While there is strong evidence that these protease inhibitors can affect both the initiation and promotion stages of carcinogenesis, they have no effect on cells which are already transformed. Our results have suggested that the first event in carcinogenesis is a high frequency epigenetic event and that a later event, presumably genetic, leads to the malignant state. Protease inhibitors appear to be capable of reversing the initiating event, presumably by stopping an ongoing cellular process begun by carcinogen exposure. The major lines of investigation on the mechanism of the protease inhibitor suppression of carcinogenesis relate to the ability of anticarcinogenic protease inhibitors to affect: 1) the expression of certain oncogenes, and 2) the levels of certain Types of proteolytic activities. The anticarcinogenic protease inhibitors have no observable effects on normal cells, but have the ability to reverse carcinogen-induced cellular changes for several different endpoints studied.
Third Sector Research in International Perspective: The Role of ISTR

The International Society for Third Sector Research (ISTR) celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2002. Voluntas, now the journal of ISTR, started publishing in 1990. This paper reviews changes in topics, diversity of regions studied, and diversity of authors from ISTR conference papers and Voluntas articles to examine the state of research on the third sector. The findings show that ISTR and Voluntas have increased in the range of content, regions covered, and disciplinary mix. The paper also reviews progress made on third sector research and some challenges that lie ahead.
AMPA Receptor-Mediated Alterations of Intracellular Calcium Homeostasis in Rat Cerebellar Purkinje Cells In Vitro: Correlates to Dark Cell Degeneration

In the rat cerebellar slice preparation in vitro, excessive DL-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-isoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA)-receptor activation elicits a characteristic type of excitotoxicity of Purkinje cells (PCs) known as dark cell degeneration (DCD). DCD models neurotoxicity of PCs and hippocampal pyramidal neurons in vivo following hyperexcitable states. The intent of this study was to: a) determine whether AMPA-induced neurotoxicity of PCs is correlated with temporally and spatially restricted rises in intracellular Ca2+ and b) whether GYKI 52466 and nominal external Ca2+, conditions that reduced expression of AMPA-elicited DCD, altered the induced Ca2+ patterns. Employing the Ca2+-sensitive dye Fluo-3 and a confocal laser scanning microscope, we evaluated changes in intracellular Ca2+ within PCs in a cerebellar slice preparation. AMPA application alone (30 μM for 30 min) caused a significant initial rise in perinuclear and cytoplasmic Ca2+ that returned to control levels during the latter part of the AMPA exposure period. Following removal of AMPA (expression period), perinuclear and cytoplasmic Ca2+ displayed a significant delayed rise peaking transiently 60 min after AMPA removal. The efficacy of GYKI 52466 and nominal external Ca2+ conditions to attenuate AMPA-induced DCD was correlated to reductions in AMPA-induced transient elevations in perinuclear and cytoplasmic Ca2+ levels during the expression phase and to a lesser extent during the exposure period. The present data suggest that during the expression phase, the delayed perinuclear and cytoplasmic Ca2+ transient may be the harbinger of impending loss of Ca2+ homeostasis and cell damage.
Spatial patterns of nitrate, chloride, sulfate, and fluoride concentrations in the Woodbine Aquifer of north-central Texas.

A geographic information system was used to map and analyze nitrate, chloride, sulfate, and fluoride concentrations in 110 wells tapping the Woodbine Aquifer. The study area, covering ninecounties in north-central Texas, includes large percentages of both urban and agricultural land uses. Land use maps were compared with solute concentration data, and statistics were applied to detect associations between solutes, well depth, andland use. Anthropogenic sources such as fertilizer applications and natural sources such as gypsum, lignite, and clay deposits controlled nitrate, chloride, and sulfate concentrations, each inversely correlated with well depth. However, only one nitrate observation – from a shallow well in the aquifer's outcrop zone – surpassed the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 44.3 mg L-1. By comparison, nearly half of the sulfate and several of the chloride observations surpassed the MCL of 250 mg L-1for each of those ions. Volcanic ash deposits influenced fluorideconcentrations, which directly correlated with well depth. There were no statistically significant associations between solute concentrations and land use. Low recharge rates and confining layers have mitigated anthropogenic impacts on solute levels in the aquifer.
Organization and Management Techniques for Collegiate Flight Training Programs -- A Foundation for Improved Human Resources Management

Whether an organization has one employee or 1,001, the effective and efficient use of time and effort is an on going challenge for management. The collegiate flight school is no different from any other business enterprise and IS fertile ground for the implementation of many techniques of human resource management which have existed for sometime in the educational and business administration fields. Through an examination of several historically significant models and concepts that have been utilized to improve the productivity and health of the organization. it is the intent of this paper to equip the flight school manager with some effective "tools" with which to develop and sustain a happier and more viable unit.