cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
100 Is the New 30: Recommendations for the FTC's Next 100 Years

Looking back on my twenty-plus-year career as a lawyer, I can see that several institutions have greatly influenced my path, from my field of practice (antitrust and consumer protection law), to where I practice (primarily government service), to how I approach my responsibilities as a government official. George Mason University School of Law (“GMUSL”) is where I learned about antitrust, as well as the proper goals of economic regulation, such as the rules that protect consumers from fraud and deception. At the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, as a staff attorney and then a law clerk to a judge, I learned about how a collegial deliberative body should operate. Finally, at the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), I put that learning into practice, starting as an attorney in the Office of General Counsel, serving as an attorney advisor to a commissioner, heading the Office of Policy Planning, and now as a commissioner myself. Thus, as the FTC marks its centennial this year, I was very honored to participate in the George Mason Law Review and the Law & Economics Center at GMUSL symposium on “The FTC: 100 Years of Antitrust and Competition Policy” (“Symposium”).
Corporate Global Citizenship: Conflicts Between Human Rights and Power Politics

It is proper, modern, and progressive to be a global citizen these days and for corporations to embrace the concept of global citizenship. It is old fashioned, retrograde, and perhaps even dangerous to cling to the concept of national citizenship. Nationalism is not in vogue, while globalism is the wave of the future. Those who promote ethics, claim to be idealists, and believe that we should aspire to a higher road of individual and corporate behavior tend to take a global viewpoint. They see a brighter future in the evolution toward an integrated global community. Those who are more concerned with a balance of political power and claim to be realists tend to take a nationalistic viewpoint. They see a brighter future in the preservation and reform of fragmented national communities. Those who believe in a global community do not necessarily view the forces of globalization as uniformly positive, however. Many see those forces as damaging the envi ronment and human rights and having other destructive potential (Brysk, 2002). Nor do those who believe in nationalism necessarily view nationalis tic forces as uniformly positive. Many see particular forces of nationalism as promoting international conflict, retarding economic growth, and harming the interests of minorities within nation states. Others see the nationalistic
Reproductive Capability and Longevity of the Parasitic Wasps Telenomus podisi and Trissolcus euschisti

The daily production of progeny, fecundity, and longevity of Telenomus podisi Ashmead and Trissolcus euschisti (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) were determined at 21°C, using Podisus maculiventris (Say) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) eggs as hosts. Maximal production of offspring by T. podisi and T. euschisti occurred on days 1 and 2, respectively, after emergence of the adult from the host egg. Adult female T. euschisti lived 3 times as long as T. podisi ($\bar x$ = 36.5 and 12.2 days, respectively) and produced ca. 1.6 times as many offspring ($\bar x$ = 63.7 and 39.6, respectively).
An Isolate of Dictyuchus Connecting the False-Net and True-Net Species

The present-day interpretation of the genus Dictyuchus, and of the primary separating characteristics of the species in the genus, is largely due to the investigation of Couch (6). Essentially, Couch's publication was instrumental in dividing the genus into three groups of species on the basis of a) the type of cyst-wall net left by the zoospores after emergence from the zoosporangium, and b) whether or not achlyoid zoosporangia were formed, or could be induced. The distinction between "true-net" and "false-
Single Pixel Tomographic Fluorescent Imaging with Spatial-temporal Modulated Illumination Light

Tomographic imaging of fluorescent light emission is demonstrated with spatial-temporal modulation of coherent illumination beams. Propagation phase is of coherent illumination beams is transferred to temporal modulations on incoherent light emission -- allowing for coherent tomographic imaging with fluorescent light emission. Three dimensional imaging of flourescently-labelled objects is demonstrated with several computed tomographic imaging methods
Palbociclib Commercial Manufacturing Process Development. Part I: Control of Regioselectivity in a Grignard-Mediated SNAr Coupling

This is the first in a series of three papers describing commercial manufacturing process development for palbociclib (1). This manuscript focuses on the SNAr coupling between aminopyridine 3 and chloropyrimidine 7. The regioselectivity of the SNAr coupling was studied from a synthetic and mechanistic perspective. Grignard bases were identified as the preferred class of bases for this reaction, allowing for a simplified process and reduced usage factor for aminopyridine 3. The development of this SNAr reaction into a scalable commercial manufacturing process is also described.
Trauma-induced heterotopic bone formation and the role of the immune system: A review

Extremity trauma, spinal cord injuries, head injuries, and burn injuries place patients at high risk of pathologic extraskeletal bone formation. This heterotopic bone causes severe pain, deformities, and joint contractures. The immune system has been increasingly implicated in this debilitating condition. This review summarizes the various roles immune cells and inflammation play in the formation of ectopic bone and highlights potential areas of future investigation and treatment. Cell types in both the innate and adaptive immune system such as neutrophils, macrophages, mast cells, B cells, and T cells have all been implicated as having a role in ectopic bone formation through various mechanisms. Many of these cell types are promising areas of therapeutic investigation for potential treatment. The immune system has also been known to also influence osteoclastogenesis, which is heavily involved in ectopic bone formation. Chronic inflammation is also known to have an inhibitory role in the formation of ectopic bone, whereas acute inflammation is necessary for ectopic bone formation.
Variation in human sweet taste receptor may result in different levels of sweet intensity variability between sweet stimuli

Summary Understanding the physiological activation and genetic variation of the sweet taste receptor (T1R) can improve formula optimisation for products intended for a population of genetically diverse people. Computer modelling and cell culture techniques have thoroughly described the structure and binding sites of the T1R. The structure contains two subunits (T1R2 and T1R3) with multiple domains where sweet molecules can interact. The interaction takes place between individual molecules and amino acid residues of the T1R. The residues with which individual molecules interact differ between sweeteners. Person-to-person differences in the residue sequence of the T1R can arise from variation in the genes that encode the T1R, potentially effecting the function of the receptor. As a result of the specificity of the binding interactions, a specific genetic variation may affect sensitivity to some sweeteners, while sensitivity to other sweeteners remains normal. Therefore, it can be hypothesised that the level of person-to-person sweetness sensitivity variation may differ for each sweetener depending on the binding site of the molecule and site of T1R variation. The T1R structure, binding sites and genetic variation will be reviewed, as well as potential parameters to predict the degree of sensitivity variation and formulation strategies to minimise the effects of sensitivity variation.
Patterns of change over time and history of the inflammatory potential of diet and risk of breast cancer among postmenopausal women.

We utilized the dietary inflammatory index (DII) to investigate associations between patterns of change in, and history of the inflammatory potential of diet and risk of breast cancer in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI). We included 70,998 postmenopausal women aged 50–79 years recruited from 1993 to 1998 into the WHI Observational Study and Dietary Modification trial control group and followed through August 29, 2014. We utilized data from food frequency questionnaires administered at baseline and Year 3, to calculate average DII scores, patterns of change in DII, and used these measures in multivariable-adjusted Cox regression models to estimate hazards ratios (HR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) for incident invasive breast cancer and its subtypes. After 1,093,947 person-years of follow-up, 3471 cases of invasive breast cancer were identified. There was no substantial association between average DII scores or patterns of change in DII and risk of overall invasive breast cancer (HR, 1.03; 95 % CI, 0.90, 1.17; P-trend = 0.79; comparing extreme average DII quintiles). However, there was a significant nonlinear association between average DII scores and the ER−, PR−, HER2+, subtype (HR, 2.37; 95 % CI, 1.08, 5.20; P-trend = 0.18; comparing extreme quintiles). For patterns of change in DII, the age-adjusted association with ER−, PR−, HER2+ subtype comparing women in the proinflammatory stable to those in the anti-inflammatory stable categories (HR, 1.82; 95 % CI, 1.06, 3.13) persisted in the multivariable-adjusted model but was less precise (HR, 1.85; 95 % CI, 0.96, 3.55; P = 0.06). Dietary inflammatory potential may differentially influence the development of specific breast cancer phenotypes.
Conclusion: ‘The Anxious Hour’ — England in 1829

The year 1829, in which the Catholic Emancipation Act was finally passed, marked a culmination, but not a cessation, of the political and cultural struggles over national history, religious difference and Britishness. The campaign for the measure had been protracted and tumultuous. In Ireland the ‘monster meetings’ of Daniel O’Connell’s Irish Association provided motivating pressure after 1823. In England divisions in the government over Catholic Emancipation in 1825 led Lord Liverpool to threaten to resign, which would have led to the Catholic Question bringing down another ministry. Catholic Emancipation dominated national politics in the General Election of 1826 and complicated the attempts of Eldon, Canning and Goderich to form ministries in 1827–8. When the Duke of Wellington, with Peel as his Prime Minister, finally came to power, he was greeted with an expansive campaign of petitioning for and against the Catholic Question, a popular mobilization unprecedented in scale (Colley 329–33; Machin 131–56). O’Connell’s 1828 election for a seat in County Clare finally forced the Tory leaders to either defy their anti-Catholic wing or risk civil war in Ireland. Catholic Emancipation’s passage, though without the type of rioting that accompanied the 1778 Relief Act, proved disruptive.
Urinary Concentrations of the Antibacterial Agent Triclocarban in United States Residents: 2013–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Triclocarban is widely used as an antibacterial agent in personal care products, and the potential for human exposure exists. We present here the first nationally representative assessment of exposure to triclocarban among Americans ≥6 years of age who participated in the 2013–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We detected triclocarban at concentrations above 0.1 μg/L in 36.9% of 2686 urine samples examined. Triclocarban was detected more frequently in adolescents and adults than in children, and in non-Hispanic black compared to other ethnic groups. In univariate analysis, log-creatinine, sex, age, race, and body surface area (BSA) were significantly associated with the likelihood of having triclocarban concentrations above the 95th percentile. In multiple regression models, persons with BSA at or above the median (≥1.86 m2) were 2.43 times more likely than others, and non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic white were 3.71 times and 2.23 times more likely than “all Hispanic,” respectivel...
Long-Term Renal Outcome of Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Light Chain Deposition Disease.

Abstract Light chain deposition disease (LCDD) is a systemic disorder characterized by deposition of nonamyloid monotypic light chains throughout the body. Renal dysfunction is a ubiquitous manifestation of the disease. Reports suggest that high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation may be beneficial in the treatment of LCDD. However, the impact of autologous stem cell transplantation on renal function is unclear. This study retrospectively reviewed the effect of autologous stem cell transplantation on renal function in six patients with LCDD. Two patients had concurrent multiple myeloma, and one patient was on hemodialysis prior to transplantation. Patients received chemotherapy with dexamethasone alone or dexamethasone plus thalidomide prior to transplantation. Conditioning was performed with high-dose intravenous melphalan. All patients survived transplantation, but one sustained multi-organ failure shortly afterwards and died. Another patient required temporary hemodialysis following transplantation. All surviving patients achieved a hematologic response, although one ultimately relapsed and required further chemotherapy. Renal parameters also improved. On average, proteinuria levels decreased by 83% in four patients and increased by 1% in one patient. Creatine clearance calculated by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study prediction equation improved by an average of 40%. This review suggests that autologous stem cell transplantation may be an effective therapy for renal dysfunction associated with LCDD. Clinical Characteristics of LCDD Patients at Presentation Characteristic Number or range Median Sex 4 male, 2 female Age (years) 35-61 44 Beta-2 microglobulin, μ/ml 3.58-11 4.12 Albumin, g/dl 1.8-4.2 3.85 Creatinine, mg/dl 1.8-5.4 2.45 MDRD*, ml/min 12-50 26.5 Serum M protein, g/dl 0 0 Serum free light chains, mg/dl (n = 5) 2.18-312 19.6 24-hour urine protein, mg 131-10,251 679 *Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study prediction equation
Concentration and biochemical gradients of seston in Lake Ontario

Abstract Spatial variability in resource quantity and quality may have important implications for the distribution and productivity of primary consumers. In Lake Ontario, ecosystem characteristics suggest the potential for significant spatial heterogeneity in seston quantity and quality, particularly due to the potential for nearshore-offshore gradients in allochthonous nutrient supply, and the formation of a deep chlorophyll layer (DCL) in July. We assessed total and zooplankton food particle size-fractionated chlorophyll a concentrations, as well as carbon-to-phosphorus stoichiometry and essential fatty acid composition of seston across a distance-from-shore and depth transect. We observed time, sampling depth, and distance from shore to be the best predictors of chlorophyll a concentration. Resource quality was much more homogenous in space, but there were strong patterns through time, as both stoichiometric and fatty acid qualities in general were greatest in May, and lowest in July/August. We did observe a peak in essential fatty acid concentration near the DCL in during time of formation, possibly due to differences in phytoplankton community composition between the DCL and epilimnion. These results suggest the potential for a spatially and temporally dynamic resource base for consumers in Lake Ontario, which may be important in developing a broader understanding of variable consumer productivity.
Proteomic responses to elevated ocean temperature in ovaries of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis.

ABSTRACT Ciona intestinalis, a common sea squirt, exhibits lower reproductive success at the upper extreme of the water temperatures it experiences in coastal New England. In order to understand the changes in protein expression associated with elevated temperatures, and possible response to global temperature change, we reared C. intestinalis from embryos to adults at 18°C (a temperature at which they reproduce normally at our collection site in Rhode Island) and 22°C (the upper end of the local temperature range). We then dissected ovaries from animals at each temperature, extracted protein, and measured proteomic levels using shotgun mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). 1532 proteins were detected at a 1% false discovery rate present in both temperature groups by our LC-MS/MS method. 62 of those proteins are considered up- or down-regulated according to our statistical criteria. Principal component analysis shows a clear distinction in protein expression pattern between the control (18°C) group and high temperature (22°C) group. Similar to previous studies, cytoskeletal and chaperone proteins are upregulated in the high temperature group. Unexpectedly, we find evidence that proteolysis is downregulated at the higher temperature. We propose a working model for the high temperature response in C. intestinalis ovaries whereby increased temperature induces upregulation of signal transduction pathways involving PTPN11 and CrkL, and activating coordinated changes in the proteome especially in large lipid transport proteins, cellular stress responses, cytoskeleton, and downregulation of energy metabolism.
Variation in the Three-Dimensional Histomorphometry of the Normal Human Optic Nerve Head With Age and Race: Lamina Cribrosa and Peripapillary Scleral Thickness and Position.

Purpose This study quantified the thickness and depth of the lamina cribrosa (LC) and peripapillary scleral thickness in high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) fluorescent reconstructions of the optic nerve head (ONH) in eyes from donors of African (AD) and European descent (ED). Methods A total of 64 eyes (45 ED, 19 AD) from 51 normal donors were obtained within 6 hours of death and fixed at 10 mm Hg of pressure. The optic nerve head was trephined from the globe and digitally reconstructed at 1.5 × 1.5 × 1.5 μm voxel resolution with an automated episcopic fluorescence technique. The load-bearing ONH connective tissue surfaces were manually delineated in 3D using custom software. Results The lamina cribrosa and peripapillary sclera were significantly thinner in AD eyes adjusting for age and sex (LC was 24 ± 11 μm thinner; P = 0.0350; scleral was 56 ± 22 μm thinner; P = 0.0097). The lamina cribrosa was significantly thinner in females (23 ± 11 μm thinner; P = 0.0425). Age was not significantly associated with any morphologic parameter in the ED group. However, increasing age was associated with an increase in scleral thickness (1.3 μm/year, P = 0.0499) and an increase in LC depth (2.3 μm/year, P = 0.0035) in the AD group. The sclera was thickest in the superior and temporal regions while the LC was thinnest superiorly. Conclusions Substantial sectorial and racial differences in LC and scleral morphology were observed, as well as increasing LC depth and scleral thickness with age in the AD group. Results suggest greater age-related remodeling of the load-bearing ONH connective tissues in eyes from AD individuals that could explain, in part, the greater predilection to glaucomatous injury seen in aged AD populations.
Energy Efficiency of Electrowinning

The winning of high purity metal from aqueous solutions through electrodeposition is the final processing recovery step for many nonferrous metals. Direct electrical current/voltage provides the necessary driving force to promote the necessary reactions at an industrially relevant rate. Energy, especially electrical, is often the highest cost for electrowinning operations. Therefore, energy efficiency is a paramount concern for modern facilities. This chapter discusses electrical energy consumption in aqueous electrowinning with a specific focus on cell voltage and current efficiency. It also presents potential improvements.
Complex bingham distribution for facial feature detection

We present a novel method for facial feature point detection on images captured from severe uncontrolled environments based on a combination of regularized boosted classifiers and mixture of complex Bingham distributions. The complex Bingham distribution is a rotation-invariant shape representation that can handle pose, in-plane rotation and occlusion better than existing models. Additionally, we regularized a boosted classifier with a variance normalization factor to reduce false positives. Using the proposed two models, we formulate our facial features detection approach in a Bayesian framework of a maximum a-posteriori estimation. This approach allows for the inclusion of the uncertainty of the regularized boosted classifier and complex Bingham distribution. The proposed detector is tested on different datasets and results show comparable performance to the state-of-the-art with the BioID database and outperform them in uncontrolled datasets.
Two ways to display: Male hummingbirds show different color-display tactics based on sun orientation

Male broad-tailed hummingbirds use 2 different courtship-display tactics to show off their iridescent throat coloration based on how they orient to the sun. Some males tended to face the sun while courting females, creating a flashy color-display, while others tended to not face the sun, making them appear consistently colorful. The males with flashier displays were better able to maintain their orientation toward females, while males who appeared more consistently colored had larger throat patches.
Parallel loop configuration for hybrid heat pump – gas fired water heater system with smart control strategy

Abstract Air source heat pumps suffer from reduced thermal delivery in cold climate conditions. In this study, the parallel loop hybrid system with the combination of heat pump and gas fired water heater in one device is provided as the sustainable alternative to alleviate such issues. An economic-based new control strategy has been proposed for the hybrid system to investigate the system thermal performance and reveal the economic benefits for residential space heating application. The climate conditions, fuel source price ratio and gas heater thermal efficiency have been included in the analysis of the hybrid performance. Under the operating map, the control strategy can lead to a ∼10% to ∼60% system operating economic benefits for space heating application for −12 °C to 20 °C ambient. Raising the price ratio can decrease the ratio of the heat delivered by the heat pump on the overall heat loading, especially for higher final water target temperatures. Lowering the price ratio can improve the energy process saving potential (% gas heater heating mode baseline). In addition, several typical cities have also been investigated as a part of studies for hybrid performances and environmental impacts.
Maternal Depressive Symptoms Mediate the Association between Socio-economic Status and Adolescent Weight Outcomes: A Longitudinal Analysis

Introduction The prevalence of pediatric obesity is an issue in the United States, in which approximately one-third of children and adolescents are overweight or obese. Youth living in low socioeconomic (SES) households are at an increased risk for developing obesity; yet, research is needed to understand the mechanisms that might better explain the relationship between SES and obesity risk. Maternal depression presents a potential mechanism by which SES might predict a later risk for obesity in pediatric populations. Methods The present study used a national dataset from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development—Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (NICHD-SECCYD) to examine whether maternal depressive symptoms (at an age of 9 years) mediated the association between early SES (the income-to-needs ratio measured at an age of 1 month) and adolescent weight outcomes [Body Mass Index z-scores (zBMI) for age and sex, at an age of 15 years]. Results The results suggested that greater maternal depressive symptoms helped to explain a significant amount of the variance of lower SES predicting poorer weight outcomes in adolescents. Discussion These findings illustrate the role of maternal depressive symptoms in explaining how SES predicts adolescent weight outcomes. Implications are discussed, and future research is needed to identify women from lower SES households who are experiencing depressive symptoms to provide support and initiate points of early intervention to address relevant health outcomes in youths.
A Basin Stability Based Metric for Ranking the Transient Stability of Generators

This paper discusses a simulation-based generator-level stability index and demonstrates the use of the index to quantify the impact of different load scenarios, transmission line reactances, and generator parameters on transient stability. A basin stability concept that is based on recent works in the physics community on complex systems and power systems is used, which estimates the regions of attraction through time-domain simulation. The quantitative results generated by basin stability can provide a general ranking metric to reflect which generator or group of generators is likely to become unstable after disturbances. A detailed subtransient model with sixth-order subtransient generators, second-order exciters, and third-order power system stabilizers has been used for discussion. Additionally, a multinode basin stability study on a 16-machine 68-bus system with the swing-equation model is also included to demonstrate the replicability. The state-of-the-art parallel computing techniques can significantly reduce the simulation time of the proposed method.
Direct comparison of anisotropic damage mechanics to fracture mechanics of explicit cracks

Abstract Because damage mechanics modeling involves damage initiation followed by propagation that releases energy, it is often uncritically assumed to be an alternative implementation of fracture mechanics. This paper tests that claim by running side-by-side damage mechanics and explicit crack fracture mechanics simulations within the same code on three separate problems. For a center-notched specimen loaded in tension, damage mechanics can reproduce all features of fracture mechanics, but with three restrictions. First, damage mechanics must implement anisotropic damage mechanics rather then simpler isotropic or scalar damage methods. Second, initiation stress and toughness used in damage mechanics must be calibrated before damage mechanics can reproduce either fracture mechanics or experimental results. Third, damage mechanics properties must scale with absolute size of discretization elements. Two other problems considered were mixed-mode, dynamic fracture and cracking of a brittle coating on a substrate. In each case, anisotropic damage mechanics can be made consistent with fracture mechanics by suitable calibration of properties. An advantage of damage mechanics is its potential to model certain complicated issues better then explicit crack fracture mechanics. Two examples are dealing with a transition to shear failure and modeling of fracture events such as periodic cracking in coatings.
Secondary solid tumors in patients younger than 55 with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

10083Background: Patients with CLL are at an increased risk of secondary solid tumors. Few studies have looked at this risk in patients < 55, despite research suggesting that this is a distinct coh...
Fecundity Estimates of the Gravel Chub, Erimystax x-punctatus (Pisces: Leuciscidae)

Basic natural history information is often lacking for rare aquatic species. This study aims to address the lack of life history knowledge for the Gravel Chub (Erimystax x-punctatus). Fecundity of Gravel Chub was assessed by performing egg counts on vouchered museum specimens. Our results indicate a strong relationship between fecundity and body size as well as temperature.
Compounding human stressors cause major regeneration debt in over half of eastern US forests

The future of temperate forests in the face of global change and anthropogenic stressors remains uncertain. The regeneration stage, which is a critical bottleneck for many organisms, is a key indicator of forest health, future canopy composition and forest adaptive capacity. In trees, seemingly healthy forests can be at long‐term risk due to insufficient juveniles to replace them (regeneration failure), or compositional differences between juveniles and adults (regeneration mismatch). We propose ‘regeneration debt’ to collectively describe regeneration failure and mismatch in analogy to extinction debt. To demonstrate this concept, we conducted a macroecological analysis of regeneration debt and anthropogenic stressors in eastern US forests. Using U.S. Forest Service‐Forest Inventory and Analysis data, we quantified regeneration debt in 18 states from Maine to South Carolina, and evaluated the influence of site, anthropogenic stressors and climate drivers in the most affected regions. We identified three distinct regions, with little debt in the north, moderate debt in the south and severe regeneration debt in the central, mid‐Atlantic region. In this region, multiple anthropogenic stressors (invasive plants, deer overabundance and land use) were associated with both low‐regeneration abundance and the prevalence of disease‐prone and/or suboptimal species. Synthesis and applications. Without management intervention, the severe regeneration debt in the mid‐Atlantic region will likely lead to long‐term declines in forest cover, with cascading negative effects on forest‐dependent taxa and ecosystem services. Moreover, the location of the regeneration debt, which is at the northern edge of and involves many of the tree species that are predicted to gain suitable habitat in the Northeastern US, has consequences that extend far beyond its current geographic extent. In fact, this regeneration debt may already be functioning as a barrier to poleward tree migration. Our results demonstrate the value of regeneration debt as an indicator of ecosystem health and forest adaptive capacity.
Changes in Time of Gastric Emptying After Surgical and Endoscopic Bariatrics and Weight Loss: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background & Aims Gastric emptying (GE) is involved in the regulation of appetite. We compared times of GE after different bariatric endoscopic and surgical interventions and associations with weight loss. Methods We performed a comprehensive search of publication databases, through September 14, 2018, for randomized and nonrandomized studies reporting outcomes of weight-loss surgeries. Two independent reviewers selected and appraised studies. The outcome of interest was GE T1/2 (min), measured before and after the procedure. A random-effects model was used to pool the mean change in T1/2 (min) after the intervention. We performed a meta-regression analysis to find associations between GE and weight loss. Heterogeneity was calculated using the I2 statistic. Methodologic quality was assessed. Results From 762 citations, the following studies were included in our analysis: 9 sleeve gastrectomies, 5 intragastric balloons, and 5 antral botulinum toxins. After sleeve gastrectomy, the pooled mean reduction in GE T1/2 at 3 months was 29.2 minutes (95% CI, 40.9–17.5 min; I2 = 91%). Fluid-filled balloons increased GE T1/2 by 116 minutes (95% CI, 29.4–203.4 min; I2 = 58.6%). Air-filled balloons did not produce a statistically significant difference in GE T1/2. Antral botulinum injections increased GE T1/2 by 9.6 minutes (95% CI, 2.8–16.4 min; I2 = 13.3%). Placebo interventions reduced GE T1/2 by 6.3 minutes (95% CI, 10-2.6 min). Changes in GE were associated with weight loss after sleeve gastrectomy and intragastric balloons, but not botulinum toxin injections. Conclusions In a systematic review and meta-analysis, we found that sleeve gastrectomy reduced GE T1/2 whereas fluid-filled balloons significantly increased GE T1/2. Air-filled balloons do not significantly change the time of GE, which could account for their low efficacy. Antral botulinum toxin injections produced small temporary increases in GE time, which were not associated with weight loss. Changes in GE time after surgical and endoscopic bariatric interventions correlated with weight loss and might be used to select interventions, based on patients' physiology.
Largest Inscribed Rectangles in Geometric Convex Sets.

This paper considers the problem of finding maximum volume (axis-aligned) inscribed parallelotopes and boxes in a compact convex set, defined by a finite number of convex inequalities, and presents an optimization approach for solving them. Several optimization models are developed that can be easily generalized to find other inscribed geometric shapes such as triangles, rhombi, and tetrahedrons. To find the largest axis-aligned inscribed rectangles in the higher dimensions, an interior-point method algorithm is presented and analyzed. Finally, a parametrized optimization approach is developed to find the largest (axis-aligned) inscribed rectangles in two-dimensional space.
Estimating Sedentary Time from a Hip- and Wrist-Worn Accelerometer

ABSTRACTPurposeThis study aimed to determine the validity of existing methods to estimate sedentary behavior (SB) under free-living conditions using ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometers (AG).MethodsForty-eight young (18–25 yr) adults wore an AG on the right hip and nondominant wrist and were video recorde
Support Vector Machines

In this chapter we are going to study the concept of support vector machines as developed by Vapnik and others. This concept was first proposed as an alternative to neural networks, when neural networks were not performing up to the grand expectations that they came with. SVM proposed a very targeted mathematical approach towards finding the optimal solution in case of classification or regression. We will first study the original SVM theory that tries to solve the problem of linear classification. Then we will see how it can be further generalized for nonlinear problems with use of kernels and also how it is extended for solving the problems of regression. Theory of SVM proposed an elegant solution towards optimization and generalization and more importantly was extremely successful in getting results that neural network based methods only hoped for at the time.
Solidarity Stalled: When Chinese Activists Meet Social Movements in Democracies:

This study analyzes a largely unexamined phenomenon in the studies of transnational activism: immigrant activists’ engagement in progressive social movements in their residence countries. Through p...
A ribosome-associated chaperone enables substrate triage in a cotranslational protein targeting complex.

Protein biogenesis is essential in all cells and initiates when a nascent polypeptide emerges from the ribosome exit tunnel, where multiple ribosome-associated protein biogenesis factors (RPBs) direct nascent proteins to distinct fates. How distinct RPBs spatiotemporally coordinate with one another to affect accurate protein biogenesis is an emerging question. Here, we address this question by studying the role of a cotranslational chaperone, nascent polypeptide-associated complex (NAC), in regulating substrate selection by signal recognition particle (SRP), a universally conserved protein targeting machine. We show that mammalian SRP and SRP receptors (SR) are insufficient to generate the biologically required specificity for protein targeting to the endoplasmic reticulum. NAC co-binds with and remodels the conformational landscape of SRP on the ribosome to regulate its interaction kinetics with SR, thereby reducing the nonspecific targeting of signalless ribosomes and pre-emptive targeting of ribosomes with short nascent chains. Mathematical modeling demonstrates that the NAC-induced regulations of SRP activity are essential for the fidelity of cotranslational protein targeting. Our work establishes a molecular model for how NAC acts as a triage factor to prevent protein mislocalization, and demonstrates how the macromolecular crowding of RPBs at the ribosome exit site enhances the fidelity of substrate selection into individual protein biogenesis pathways. Biochemistry combined with biophysical measurements and mathematical modeling offer insight into the mechanism by which the cotranslational chaperone, nascent polypeptide-associated complex (NAC), modulates substrate selection by signal recognition particle (SRP) and reduces aberrant, nonspecific targeting of ribosomes to the ER.
A Node-Red dashboard for the VIRUS2 spectrograph array

The VIRUS2 instrument is a highly multiplexed Integral Field fiber-fed array of six spectrographs destined for the McDonald Observatory’s Harlan J. Smith 2.7-meter telescope atop Mt. Locke in far West Texas. Each unit consists of a CCD mosaic spanning a common spatial subaperture and four spectral channels. Six independent cryostats house the twenty-four CCDs. Each set of four CCDs, and related thermal environment, is monitored and controlled via Archon CCD controller, Arduino environmental sensor array and relays, and a set of Linux processes hosted on a dedicated off-the-shelf single board computer. The business logic layer rests on libraries derived from the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) control system framework and adapted for Node-Red enabling rapid-prototyping and deployment of engineering dashboards. We describe the status of the VIRUS2 project in the context of software and controls along with the evolution of the HET APIs for migration toward standard IOT technologies.
The Management of Third Molar Teeth

SUMMARY The management of third molar teeth has evolved to a point where there is great agreement within the profession of oral and maxillofacial surgery on the general principles of management. A review of these principles with a discussion of individual philosophies and approaches has reinforced this view. Careful attention to preoperative evaluation, intraoperative technique, and postoperative follow-up continue to provide the ingredients for success in this very important phase of the practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Universal Behavior of Charged Particle Production in Heavy Ion Collisions

The PHOBOS experiment at RHIC has measured the multiplicity of primary charged particles as a function of centrality and pseudorapidity in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 19.6, 130 and 200 GeV. Two kinds of universal behavior are observed in charged particle production in heavy ion collisions. The first is that forward particle production, over a range of energies, follows a universal limiting curve with a non-trivial centrality dependence. The second arises from comparisons with pp/pbar-p and e+e- data. N_tot/(N_part/2) in nuclear collisions at high energy scales with sqrt(s) in a similar way as N_tot in e+e- collisions and has a very weak centrality dependence. This feature may be related to a reduction in the leading particle effect due to the multiple collisions suffered per participant in heavy ion collisions.
The Propagation of Racial Disparities in Cardiovascular Genomics Research

Genomics research has improved our understanding of the genetic basis for human traits and diseases. This progress is now being translated into clinical care as we move toward a future of precision medicine. Many hope that expanded use of genomic testing will improve disease screening, diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment. In many respects, cardiovascular medicine is leading this charge. However, most cardiovascular genomics research has been conducted in populations of primarily European ancestry. This bias has critical downstream effects. Here, we review the current disparities in cardiovascular genomics research, and we outline how these disparities propagate forward through all phases of the translational pipeline. If not adequately addressed, biases in genomics research will further compound the existing health disparities that face underrepresented and marginalized populations.
Attack behavior and host utilization of Aphthona chinchihi (Col.: Chrysomelidae), a potential biological control agent of Euphorbia esula (Euphorbiaceae, leafy spurge) in North America

Aphthona chinchihi Chen was collected in China feeding on leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.). Studies were conducted on its host specificity in the laboratory, using field collected adults and their progeny.Aphthona chinchihi can effectively complement the impact of the other natural enemies of leafy spurge established from Europe in the U.S.A. and Canada. The adults feed on leaves and shoots and the larvae, which cause the main damage to the plant, feed on the hypogeous portion of the plant, seriously stressing the plant and preventing its vegetative spread. The host range ofA. chinchihi was studied with tests on adult feeding and oviposition, larval survival and host suitability, using 40 plant species or varieties distributed in 12 families. The experiments demonstrated that it has a high level of specificity. This flea beetle completed its life cycle only on leafy spurge. Also, because of its ecological valence,A. chinchihi has a very good potential as a biocontrol agent in North America.
Curriculum Reform and Talent Development

In this excerpt from Aptitude Revisited, national curriculum reform efforts in mathematics and science education are reviewed as are the human resources development programs of the National Science Foundation. Institutions that have had extraordinary success in teaching mathematics and science are identified. Model science literacy courses are described as are Saturday academies and other effective intervention programs. A new approach to teaching mathematics and statistics that builds upon the frame of reference the students bring with them is presented.
Three voting protocols: ThreeBallot, VAV, and twin

We present three new paper-based voting methods with interesting security properties. Our goal is to achieve the same security properties as recently proposed cryptographic voting protocols, but using only paper ballots and no cryptography. From a security viewpoint we get reasonably close, particularly for short ballots. However, our proposals should probably be considered as more "academic" than "practical." In these proposals, not only can each voter verify that her vote is recorded as intended, but she gets a "receipt" she can take home that can be used later to verify that her vote is actually included in the final tally. But her receipt does not allow her to prove to anyone else how she voted. All ballots cast are scanned and published in plaintext on a "public bulletin board" (web site), so anyone may correctly compute the election result. In ThreeBallot, each voter casts three paper ballots, with certain restrictions on how they may be filled out. These paper ballots are of course "voter-verifiable." A voter receives a copy of one of her ballots as her "receipt", which she may take home. Only the voter knows which ballot she copied for her receipt. The voter is unable to use her receipt to prove how she voted or to sell her vote, as the receipt doesn't reveal how she voted. A voter can check that the web site contains a ballot matching her receipt. Deletion or modification of ballots is thus detectable; so the integrity of the election is verifiable. VAV is like ThreeBallot, except that the ballot-marking rules are different: one ballot may "cancel" another (VAV = Vote/Anti-Vote/Vote). VAV is better suited to - i.e. yields better security properties for - Plurality and preference (Borda, Condorcet, IRV) voting, while ThreeBallot is better suited for Approval and Range voting. Finally, we introduce "Floating Receipts," wherein voters may take home a copy of another voter's ballot. (She doesn't know whose ballot, though.) Floating Receipts are well-tuned to the security requirements of ThreeBallot-like schemes, and we examine protocols for achieving them. Our final voting system, Twin, is based almost entirely on Floating Receipts. Each voter casts a single ballot and takes home a single receipt. Twin is quite simple and close to being practical.
An algorithm for clustering tendency assessment

The visual assessment of tendency (VAT) technique, developed by J.C. Bezdek, R.J. Hathaway and J.M. Huband, uses a visual approach to find the number of clusters in data. In this paper, we develop a new algorithm that processes the numeric output of VAT programs, other than gray level images as in VAT, and produces the tendency curves. Possible cluster borders will be seen as high-low patterns on the curves, which can be caught not only by human eyes but also by the computer. Our numerical results are very promising. The program caught cluster structures even in cases where the visual outputs of VAT are virtually useless.
Characterization of MMP-9 and -12 KO mice in a model of acute smoke exposure

Short-term cigarette smoke exposure in mice has been shown to exhibit some similarities to cell and cell-mediated inflammation seen in COPD patients. We sought to identify biomarkers in the lungs and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) that would characterize this inflammation. Mice were exposed; nose only, to 600 mg/m3 of cigarette smoke from 2R4F Kentucky Reference cigarettes twice daily for three consecutive days. Sham smoked animals were exposed to room air. Short-term cigarette smoke exposure induced a mild but statistically significant increase in total BAL cells in addition to a significant increase in neutrophils as compared with sham-exposed animals. Oral administration of dexamethasone did not attenuate total BAL cell or neutrophil counts. However, administration of an oral PDE4 inhibitor, significantly reduced percent neutrophil and macrophage counts. To assess expression of genes involved in this model, transcriptional profiling was performed on whole lungs harvested on day 4. Genes with the greatest fold increase included SAA3, CXCL1, 2 and 5 and NOXO1. In addition, multiplex analysis of BALF collected on day 4, revealed significant elevation in inflammatory mediators including cytokines, chemokines and metalloproteinases. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)–9 and –12 knockout (KO) mice were also tested in this model to evaluate whether or not these deficiencies influence acute smoke-induced inflammation. Total BAL inflammation and neutrophil counts were decreased in smoke exposed MMP-9 and -12 KO mice compared to wild type controls. These effects, however seem to be strain dependent as they were noted only in BALB/c KO animals. Deficiencies in MMP-9 and –12 appear to be beneficial in having an anti-inflammatory effect following acute exposure to smoke.
A robust source/channel coding and modulation technique for bandwidth efficient transmission

A combined source encoding and modulation technique based on permutation codes is described. This combined system directly maps the source codewords into modulation symbols. This system offers improvement in terms of better overall fidelity, reduced encoding delay, and robustness. Nearly optimal codes for Gaussian and Laplacian sources in the presence of an AWGN channel are obtained. The performance of these codes and the combined system is evaluated and compared with other existing systems. >
Second Order Desires and the Devaluation of Humanity

That the discussion of what to do about climate has arrived at this sort of solution is indicative of the dire situation we are in, not only because of climate change but because of the ideological...