cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of varying pH [H+] on the metabolism of adenosine in isolated heart cells.

Abstract We have investigated, in isolated beating cardiac muscle cells, the influence of pH variation on the uptake of radioactive adenosine and its incorporation into the adenine nucleotides. The incorporation of radioactive adenosine into the ATP, ADP and AMP fractions of the cardiac cells was significantly decreased at lower pH values (6.0 to 7.1) and was unchanged at pH values ranging from 7.4 to 8.0. The incorporation of radioactive adenosine into inosine and hypoxanthine was insignificant in comparison to the incorporation into the adenine nucleotide fraction and was unrelated to the pH changes. Theophylline, at a final concentration of 1 × 10 −4 m was found to be without an effect on the pH related uptake of adenosine. Additionally, the release of adenosine due to hypoxia (95% O 2 + 5% CO 2 ) was not altered by the changes in the pH of the incubation medium. Our findings indicate that the increased sensitivity of adenosine at lower pH values (reported in the literature) is likely due to the inhibition in the uptake of adenosine. This would then result in increased concentrations of extracellular adenosine to which the coronary resistance vessels are exposed. We conclude that theophylline's inability to block reactive hyperemia might be related to this increased availability of adenosine due to the acidic pH which prevails during reactive hyperemia. These data show a relationship between adenosine and hydrogen ion activity and are compatible with the adenosine hypothesis for the regulation of the coronary blood flow.
Effectiveness of Various Acaricides in the Treatment of Naturally Occurring Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Northern Fowl Mite) Infestations of Chickens

SUMMARY Northern fowl mite infestation of caged layers, and to a lesser degree breeding birds, remains a frequent occurrence in poultry production. Successful control of these infestations requires accurate monitoring of mite presence, adequate methods of mite exclusion and removal, and effective as well as timely acaricide application. In the present study, parasiticides currently available for treatment of birds with northern fowl mite infestations were evaluated for effectiveness by index scoring and feather digests; data needed on a regional and periodic basis given the tendency for mite populations to develop and retain resistance. Tetrachlorvinphos with dichlorvos was the most effective product. Malathion dust and an application of 10% garlic oil each resulted in significantly reduced mite populations. Permethrin treatment failed to result in significant reductions of index scores or feather digest mite counts.
Inside Guillain-Barré Syndrome: An occupational therapist's perspective

Occupational Therapists working with patients with Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) are tasked with collaborating with the patient to achieve maximal functional recovery. Although much has been published about recovery after GBS from a scientific perspective; this article combines occupational therapy principles with the personal experiences of an occupational therapist who herself suffered from GBS. This commentary outlines important considerations for providing intervention to patients with GBS and offers insights into the emotional and psychological aspects of coping with GBS.
Effect of the Prolonged Immunization with Tumor-Unrelated Antigen on the Tumor Growth

SummaryThe effect of prolonged immunization of mice with bovine serum albumin (BSA) or ovalbumin (OA) on the growth of the transplanted, methylcholanthrene-in-duced fibrosarcoma was studied. When immune complexes appeared in the kidneys and in the circulation, mice were injected subcutaneously with various numbers of syngeneic tumor cells.Tumor developed within 17 days in all mice immunized with BSA and injected with 104, 103 and 102 tumor cells and control mice injected with 104 and 103, whereas only 3 of 10 control mice injected with 102 tumor cells developed tumors at that time. All mice immunized with OA and injected with 105, 104 and 103 tumor cells and control mice injected with 105 and 104 developed tumor within 12 days after injection of the tumor cells, whereas in the control group injected with 103 tumor cells, only 6 of 12 mice did so. Weight of the tumors from the mice immunized with BSA or with OA was significantly greater than that of tumors from control mice.
Rebuild China With an Olympic Amnesty

Will China's authoritarian leaders succeed in building a future by erasing the past? Can the ideology of “nationalist consumerism” obliterate memory altogether? Will the Olympic applause drown out the weak and exiled witnesses of the Tiananmen crackdown? In this section we listen to a key Tiananmen student leader two decades on as well as check in with today's young elites in Beijing. A political leader from the reformist regime in 1989 calls for justice from house arrest and a young Chinese novelist wonders what kind of identity is possible without memory.
Drug resistance mutations can affect dimer stability of HIV‐1 protease at neutral pH

The monomer-dimer equilibrium for the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease has been investigated under physiological conditions. Dimer dissociation at pH 7.0 was correlated with a loss in beta-sheet structure and a lower degree of ANS binding. An autolysis-resistant mutant, Q7K/L33I/L63I, was used to facilitate sedimentation equilibrium studies at neutral pH where the wild-type enzyme is typically unstable in the absence of bound inhibitor. The dimer dissociation constant (KD) of the triple mutant was 5.8 microM at pH 7.0 and was below the limit of measurement (approximately 100 nM) at pH 4.5. Similar studies using the catalytically inactive D25N mutant yielded a KD value of 1.0 microM at pH 7.0. These values differ significantly from a previously reported value of 23 nM obtained indirectly from inhibitor binding measurements (Darke et al., 1994). We show that the discrepancy may result from the thermodynamic linkage between the monomer-dimer and inhibitor binding equilibria. Under conditions where a significant degree of monomer is present, both substrates and competitive inhibitors will shift the equilibrium toward the dimer, resulting in apparent increases in dimer stability and decreases in ligand binding affinity. Sedimentation equilibrium studies were also carried out on several drug-resistant HIV-1 protease mutants: V82F, V82F/I84V, V82T/I84V, and L90M. All four mutants exhibited reduced dimer stability relative to the autolysis-resistant mutant at pH 7.0. Our results indicate that reductions in drug affinity may be due to the combined effects of mutations on both dimer stability and inhibitor binding.
The relationship between electronic fetal monitoring and Apgar score.

Abstract A study was made of the relationship between electronic fetal heart monitoring and the Apgar score in 14,350 babies delivered between 1970 and 1975 at Beth Israel Hospital, Boston. Simple comparison of Apgar scores in monitored and unmonitored babies showed no difference at 5 minutes. When we controlled for gestational age and other potential confounders, a different pattern emerged. In a group of obviously high-risk pregnancies, monitored babies had a more favorable distribution of 5-minute Apgar scores (3.8% instead of 7.2% with a score below 6, P = 0.020). This group contained the 7.4% of all babies who were ≥36 weeks of gestational age at highest risk (with problems such as hydramnios, multiple pregnancy, placental complication, or malpresentation). A similar trend for babies less than 36 weeks' gestational age with the same obstetric complications did not achieve statistical significance. There was no evidence for benefit in the other risk categories.
Classifying protein kinase structures guides use of ligand-selectivity profiles to predict inactive conformations: Structure of lck/imatinib complex.

We report a clustering of public human protein kinase structures based on the conformations of two structural elements, the activation segment and the C-helix, revealing three discrete clusters. One cluster includes kinases in catalytically active conformations. Each of the other clusters contains a distinct inactive conformation. Typically, kinases adopt at most one of the inactive conformations in available X-ray structures, implying that one of the conformations is preferred for many kinases. The classification is consistent with selectivity profiles of several well-characterized kinase inhibitors. We show further that inhibitor selectivity profiles guide kinase classification. For example, selective inhibition of lck among src-family kinases by imatinib (Gleevec) suggests that the relative stabilities of inactive conformations of lck are different from other src-family kinases. We report the X-ray structure of the lck/imatinib complex, confirming that the conformation adopted by lck is distinct from other structurally-characterized src-family kinases and instead resembles kinases abl1 and kit in complex with imatinib. Our classification creates new paths for designing small-molecule inhibitors. Proteins 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Evolution in translational science: Whither the CTSAs?

Clinical and Translational Science Awards–funded institutions are naturally equipped to drive research on human phenotyping and, in turn, shape the practice of precision medicine in the clinic of the future.
Numerical evaluation of EMI immunity of hard disk drive with multiple slots

The paper presents a simulation study of the electromagnetic far-field radiation from a hard disk drive (HDD) with multiple slots. The modeling is achieved by introducing appropriate compact models using a transmission line matrix (TLM) time-domain method. The slots are designed with different configurations in the hard disk drive, which simulates the physical system. The effect of the slots interaction on resonance of enclosure is predicted accurately without increasing practical design cost and time. The measures to reduce field radiation are discussed thus immunity of HDD can be improved.
Determinants of Hemodialysis Access-Related Health Care Utilization in Incarcerated and Non-Incarcerated Populations

Little is known about the patterns of health care utilization in the U.S. prison population. Hemodialysis access-related health care utilization has been well investigated in non-incarcerated samples and therefore, maximizes opportunity for comparison with the incarcerated and non-incarcerated subgroups of our study cohort. To examine the independent and interaction effects of incarceration status and hemodialysis access-related risk factors on health care utilization outcomes, 149 males with end stage renal disease (ESRD) who received treatment at the University of Texas Medical Branch were examined in a retrospective cohort study. In multivariate analyses controlling for age, race, comorbid conditions, disease stage, hygiene, and incarceration status, only having diabetes proved predictive of hemodialysis access-related hospitalization and emergency department (ER) visits. Evaluation of interaction terms indicated that the effects of the covariates did not differ significantly according to incarceration...
A Nongenomic Action of 17β-Estradiol as the Mechanism Underlying the Acute Suppression of Secretion of Luteinizing Hormone

Abstract The objective of the present study was to determine the ability of 17β-estradiol (E2) and conjugated forms of E2 (E2 conjugated to BSA [E2-BSA] and a novel conjugate, E2 conjugated to a small peptide [E2-PEP]) to prevent the GnRH-induced secretion of LH and to determine the role of estradiol receptors (ERs) and ER subtypes (ERα, also known as ESR1, and ERβ, also known as ESR2) in the mediation of the acute action of E2 in primary cultures of ovine pituitary cells. Preincubation of cells for 15 min with E2, E2-BSA, or E2-PEP prevented the GnRH-induced secretion of LH (P 0.1). Likewise, treatment of cells with the ER-antagonists tamoxifen, hydroxytamoxifen, or ICI 182 780 did not affect (P > 0.1) secretion of LH when given alone but did prevent (P < 0.01) the inhibition by E2 and the E2-conjugates on GnRH-induce...
A study of long term symptomatology reported in non-head-involved low voltage electrical contacts

The appearance of non-resolving non-path-related symptomatology following some low voltage (120/240 volt) electrical contacts has proven to be a scientific puzzlement. The problem is that the best of our diagnostic technology is not yet technologically advanced enough to image the mechanism of injury. Still, in the context of this wealth of data, by inference, it is more likely than not that the underlying mechanism of the injury is of a highly diffuse nature and exists at a cellular level. These issues will be explored through the presentation of the first results from an ongoing, decade long study into electrical injury.
Psychophysical Comparisons of Single- and Dual-band Fused Imagery

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a dual- band sensor fused image improves visual performance compared to a single-band image. Specifically, we compared behavioral performance using images from an uncooled LIMIRS long-wave infrared sensor and a Fairchild image intensified low-light CCD, against these same images after they had been 'fused' by combining both spectral bands into a two-dimensional color space. Human performance was assessed in two experiments. The first experiment required observers to detect target objects presented against naturalistic backgrounds and then identify whether those detected targets were vehicles or persons. The second experiment measured observers' situational awareness by asking them to rapidly discern whether an image was upright or inverted. Performance in both tasks, as measured by reaction times and error rates, was generally best with the sensor- fused images, although in some instances performance with the single band images was as good as performance using the sensor-fused images. Results suggest that sensor fusion may facilitate human performance both by facilitating target detection and recognition, and by enabling higher levels of more general situational awareness and scene comprehension.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
UAV Search for Dynamic Targets with Uncertain Motion Models

This paper investigates the problem of search for moving targets when the target motion is poorly known. The approach taken is probabilistic, modeling the target motion with a discrete-state, discrete-time Markov chain-like model. The target motion across the discretized environment is described by a probabilistic state transition matrix. Because the target motion at each time step will not be known with certainty, this transition matrix may be poorly known, which could result in an incorrect allocation of the search resources. This paper presents a new algorithm that accounts for the uncertainty in the transition matrix. The algorithm uses an approach similar to particle filtering to stochastically simulate the uncertain state transition matrix, but approximates the posterior distribution with an analytical, closed-form distribution. By approximating with this closed form, resampling techniques normally used in stochastic sampling techniques are avoided, thereby making the proposed approach computationally very efficient. The new technique is evaluated in numerical simulations and the results show that considerable improvements in the search performance are possible by accounting for this uncertainty in the planning.
Special Educators View Standardized Tests and Those Who Use Them

James B. Duffey and Mark L. Joseph R. Jenkins and Darlene Pany Walter J. Cegelka
Effects of polymer molecular weight on the size, activity, and stability of PEG-functionalized trypsin.

Polymer conjugation increases an enzyme’s circulation time and stability for use as a therapeutic agent, but this attachment indubitably affects its properties. Covalent attachment of multiple poly...
Finite element analysis of plate-screw systems used in medial opening wedge proximal tibial osteotomies

This study investigates, through finite-element analysis, different plate-screw fixation systems used for medial opening proximal tibial osteotomies (locking or non-locking with or without a medial spacer). Sulzer stainless steel non-locking without spacer, Synthes titanium locking without spacer, Smith and Nephew custom titanium locking with a wedge spacer and Arthrex stainless steel non-locking with a wedge spacer fixation systems were modelled and compared. All fixation systems were tested under static loading of 889 N applied evenly over the proximal tibia particular surface. The areas of highest stress experienced in the bone and the plate/screw interface were analysed. Tendency of the osteotomy wedge to close under loading for each fixation system was analysed. The numerical results suggest the titanium locking plate with wedge spacer block outperforms the others by achieving lower stresses (incurred by the fixation system and bone) and loss of correction. Locking screw mechanisms and wedge spacer blocks appear advantageous.
Study on Cutting Propagation of Ilex.centrochinensis

The experiment used completely randomized block design and treated softwood cuttings of Ilex.centrochinensis with different concentrations of KIBA solution,KNAA solution,hormones Dayton powder to study the full-automatic spraying effect under the condition of illumination.The results showed that compared with the control,the rooting agent can significantly increase the rooting rate,root number and root length.A 15 s-quick-dip in 1 000 mg/L of KIBA for rooting cuttings can significantly increase the cutting rate,the highest of which was up to 75%.The average root length of cuttings treated with 1 000 mg/L of KNAA was up to 7.8 cm with the well-developed root system.
Exchange rate and transport cost sensitivities of bilateral freight flows between the US and China

This paper explores the long-run impacts of gross domestic product, exchange rate, and transport costs on bilateral air and ocean freight flows between the US and China. The study employs a cointegration framework by using export and import data over the period of 2003:Q1-2014:Q2. Results show that gross domestic product is the key determinant of bilateral freight flows, indicating that real income of a trading partner is a driving force of the bilateral freight flows between the US and China. In examining the sensitivities of the bilateral trade flows, air freight flows are found to be more responsive to a real income change than ocean freight flows. The bilateral exchange rate is a significant factor affecting the freight flows from China to the US, suggesting that a US dollar appreciation against the Chinese yuan increases the inflows of Chinese commodities to the US. The impacts of the bilateral exchange rate and transport cost are found to vary at industry and commodity levels. These findings support the importance of employing disaggregate data in the bilateral freight flow analysis.
Alternative modes of ventilation in the prevention and treatment of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

New or unconventional approaches to assisted ventilation in neonates that may reduce the risk of or ameliorate the severity of bronchopulmonary dysplasia are described and discussed. These approaches include various adjuncts to current-generation mechanical ventilation such as in-line tidal volume measurements, the use of exogenous surfactant, patient-triggered ventilation, and various forms of high-frequency ventilation. The experimental tool of liquid ventilation is also described, and its potential benefits and side effects when applied to the problem of neonatal respiratory failure are discussed.
Multi-Chain Spin-Peierls Systems

We will investigate the multi-chain and the two-dimensional spin-Peierls systems with the interchain phonon interaction. An effective spin model will be discussed where the biquadratic spin-interaction term appears by tracing out the lattice degree of freedom. Considering the scaling dimension of the interaction, the ground state of the multi-chain and the two-dimensional system will have the dimer order when the interchain interaction is unfrustrated. On the other hand, the dimer order is likely to disappear for the fully frustrated chains. The expected phase diagram of the two-dimensional spin-Peierls model will be shown; the two different-pattern dimer phases are separated by the parameter line of fully frustrated interchain interaction. The interesting phase transition will occur between the gapless spin liquid phase and the macroscopically degenerated dimer phase on the line.
Effect of graded competition on student opportunities for participation and success rates during a season of Sport Education

ABSTRACTBackground: A guiding principle of Sport Education is that all students get equal opportunity to play, which is expedited through the use of small-sided contests. One element included within the philosophy of Sport Education is that of ‘graded competition.’ In graded competition, leagues are arranged that match students of similar skill level against one another, and in some cases, even the game forms are different across the competition levels. To date, there are no studies that have examined the utility of graded competition as promoting either student engagement or learning. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that using graded competition would increase opportunities for game involvement and success rates of both higher and lower skill level students. Participants and setting: The participants in this study were 106 fourth-grade students (51 boys and 55 girls, aged 10–11) from two physical education classes within an elementary school in the southeastern United States...
Beyond screening: a review of pediatric primary care models to address maternal depression

Depression is one of the most debilitating chronic disorders in the United States, affecting 15 million children in homes with depressed mothers, many of whom endure household chaos, inconsistent nurturing, inadequate safety practices, and harsh discipline. Depressed mothers are under diagnosed and undertreated, yet there is broad consensus about the importance of identifying and managing maternal depression, as reflected in recommendations by pediatric and obstetric professional organizations to routinely screen for perinatal depression. Screening was shown to be acceptable to women and most pediatric providers, and adding a screening component need not impair clinic efficiency. Screening, however, is not sufficient, and there are few models in the literature to guide medical practices in implementing successful interventions to identify, treat, and prevent maternal depression, particularly in the pediatric setting. We reviewed the literature and identified six studies that evaluated models for screening and managing mothers' depression in pediatric primary care settings. Some of these interventions have promise, but no studies characterized health outcomes of the depressed mothers and children. We discuss the components of these models, their implementation, and the practice and research needed to create effective pediatrics-based systems to reduce the negative effects of maternal depression on mothers, children, and families.
Sequential Action Control for models of underactuated underwater vehicles in a planar ideal fluid

This paper uses Sequential Action Control (SAC), a model-based method for control of non-linear systems, for fast, optimal trajectory-tracking tasks in the presence of fluid drift. Through the benchmark example of the kinematic car, it is shown that SAC outperforms a traditional offline projection - based optimization technique in terms of control effort and objective cost. Motivated by recent work on effort-efficient, sight-independent weakly electric fish, this papers also shows that SAC successfully provides control-optimal dynamics to perform short-range underwater maneuvers. Simulation results highlight SAC's robustness to different drift intensities and added mass properties, even when the effective fluid drift is not included in the controller's model.
Study on data acquisition and analysis method for sonar platform self-noise

A simultaneous data acquisition and analysis method for the array's internal self-noise and its external monitoring noise are presented in this paper to accurately evaluate the effect of platform self-noise on sonar detection. A sea trial is conducted in a certain sea area of China, in which the self-noise for a typical cruise speed and depth is acquired. The sea trial data are analyzed by using single channel, multi-channel and comparison analysis methods. These measuring results could provide the characteristics of the sonar platform self-noise varyiations with the working conditions, the space distribution features of the array's self-noise, and the relationship between the array's internal self-noise and its external monitoring noise.
Implicit Racial Bias in Medical School Admissions.

ProblemImplicit white race preference has been associated with discrimination in the education, criminal justice, and health care systems and could impede the entry of African Americans into the medical profession, where they and other minorities remain underrepresented. Little is known about implic
Effects of heavy ion radiation on digital micromirror device performance

There is a pressing need in the astronomical community for space-suitable multiobject spectrometers (MOSs). Several digital micromirror device (DMD)-based prototype MOSs have been developed for ground-based observatories; however, their main use will come with deployment on a space-based mission. Therefore, the performance of DMDs under exoatmospheric radiation needs to be evaluated. DMDs were rewindowed with 2-μm thick pellicle and tested under accelerated heavy-ion radiation (control electronics shielded from radiation), with a focus on the detection of single-event effects (SEEs) including latch-up events. Testing showed that while DMDs are sensitive to nondestructive ion-induced state changes, all SEEs are cleared with a soft reset (i.e., sending a pattern to the device). The DMDs did not experience single-event induced permanent damage or functional changes that required a hard reset (power cycle), even at high ion fluences. This suggests that the SSE rate burden will be manageable for a DMD-based instrument when exposed to solar particle fluxes and cosmic rays in orbit.
Stop Trying to Fix the User

Users aren't the problem with security. It's that we've designed our computer systems' security so badly that we demand the user do all of these counterintuitive things.
Soft-x-ray-absorption studies of Tl 2 Ba 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O 10-δ high-T c superconductors

X-ray absorption around the oxygen {ital K} and the Cu {ital L}{sub III} edge of Tl{sub 2}Ba{sub 2}Ca{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 10{minus}{delta}} high-{ital T}{sub {ital c}} superconductors with different oxygen content {delta}, was measured. Near the O 1{ital s} edge, three distinct pre-edge peaks with maxima at 528.3, 529.4, and 530.6 eV, respectively, are revealed. They are ascribed to core-level excitations of oxygen 1{ital s} electrons to empty states which have predominantly oxygen 2{ital p} character, located in CuO{sub 2}, BaO, and TlO planes, respectively. A strong dependence of {ital T}{sub {ital c}} on oxygen hole concentration at O(1) and O(1){prime} sites in the CuO{sub 2} layer is found. Near the Cu 2{ital p}{sub 3/2} edge, two main peaks are observed. The peak at 931.2 eV is ascribed to a 2{ital p}3{ital d}{sup 10} final state. This implies a predominately Cu{sup 2+} ground state which has mainly 3{ital d}{sup 9} character. The peak at 933 eV is ascribed to a 2{ital p}3{ital d}{sup 10}{ital L} final state. This peak shows an intensity increase with {ital T}{sub {ital c}}, i.e., with ligand hole concentration, and is believed to arise from a formally Cu{sup 3+} ground state which has mainly 3{ital d}{sup 9}{italmore » L} character. No evidence of a monovalent (Cu{sup 1+}) 3{ital d}{sup 10} ground state was found.« less
Intracerebral Hemorrhagic Expansion Occurs in Patients Using Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants Comparable with Patients Using Warfarin.

Background Non–vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC) use has significantly reduced intracerebral hemorrhagic (ICH) risk compared with standard anticoagulant treatment. Hematoma expansion (HE) is a known predictor of mortality in warfarin-associated ICH. Little is known about HE in patients using NOACs. Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients with ICH admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center from October 2010 to June 2016. We identified patients with concomitant administration of an oral anticoagulant and collected data including evidence of HE on imaging and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at discharge. We defined HE as relative (≥33% increase) or absolute expansion (≥12 mL). We compared outcomes of patients with and without HE. Results Out of 814 patients with ICH who were admitted, we identified 9 patients with recent NOAC use and 18 intentionally matched controls on warfarin. We found no significant differences in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale or ICH score on presentation (median [interquartile range] 15 [5,21] versus 7 [1.25,19.5] [ P = .41] and 2 [1,4] versus 1 [1,3] [ P = .33]) between patients on NOACs and those on warfarin. Four out of the 9 patients on NOAC and 5 of the 18 patients on warfarin demonstrated HE, with no significant difference ( P = .42). There were no significant differences in mRS on discharge between groups ( P = .52). Conclusions In our coagulopathic NOAC patient population, HE occurs within 6 hours in 44% of patients. This case series did not have sufficient statistical power to detect significant differences between the groups. To our knowledge, this is one of the largest case series reporting on HE with concomitant NOAC use.
The Impact of the Mean Moisture Bias on the Key Physics of MJO Propagation in the ECMWF Reforecast

The impact of the seasonal mean background state on the physical processes responsible for better Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) propagation and prediction was investigated using 20-year ECMWF reforecast datasets. While the reforecast captures the MJO propagating signal in the circulation field, the OLR and column-integrated moist static energy (MSE) anomalies show a weaker signal than the reanalysis when the MJO detours and propagates in the southern Maritime Continent (MC). By comparing individual MSE budget terms, it is found that the predicted positive MSE tendency to the east of the MJO convection center is weaker than the reanalysis due to the weaker horizontal MSE advection. The dry bias in the seasonal mean lower tropospheric moisture is a key factor that weakens the horizontal MSE advection, and thus deteriorates the MJO propagation in the reforecasts. Therefore, improvements in the mean state could further extend the MJO prediction and associated subseasonal weather phenomena over the globe.
How Will Climate Change Affect Road Salt Export from Watersheds

Salt applied to roads for de-icing can persist for decades in watersheds, and understanding rates of salt accumulation and export is important for anticipating the magnitude and duration of its environmental impacts. Salt removal is affected by storm frequency and intensity, both of which are projected to change as a result of anthropogenic climate change. To examine the potential outcomes of changing storm regimes on rates of salt export from watersheds, we studied chloride concentrations in baseflow and surface runoff in 5 years of streamflow data (taken at 20-min intervals) in a headwater tributary of the Hudson River. Baseflow, with chloride concentrations of 200–230 mg/L year-round, dominated streamflow, except during and after large storms, and accounted for about 90% of chloride export from the watershed. Extreme precipitation events (e.g., tropical storms) increased salt export mainly by increasing baseflow discharge, which remained elevated long after storms ended. While intense events accomplished more salt export per storm, they did not produce disproportionately higher export per volume of precipitation, compared to smaller rain events. Chloride export in a wet year was almost twice that in a dry year, despite less than a doubling of rainfall. Under future climate conditions, if winter precipitation shifts toward a higher proportion of rainfall, or summers experience a greater frequency of tropical storms, then long-term residence time of road salt in watersheds may be shorter than previously anticipated. Conversely, if climate becomes drier, with increased evapotranspiration, reduced infiltration and baseflow discharge may prolong salt storage, which could exacerbate biotic stresses from high chloride concentrations in streams.
Relative Option Pricing in the QLBS Model (Supplementary Note)

This is a supplementary note for the paper "QLBS: Q-Learner in the Black-Scholes(-Merton) Worlds" found here: http://ssrn.com/abstract=3087076, that explains how a model developed there applies to the problem of relative pricing of options in a data-driven Reinforcement Learning (RL) way that bypasses a model building stage (in particular, it does not need to build a volatility smile model).
Symbols among the neurons: details of a connectionist inference architecture

Pattern matching and variable binding are easily implemented in conventional computer architectures, but not necessarily in all architectures. In a distributed neural network architecture each symbol is represented by activity in many units and each unit contributes to the representation of many symbols. Manipulating symbols using this type of distributed representation is not as easy as with a local representation whore each unit denotes one symbol, but there is evidence that the distributed approach is the one chosen by nature. We describe a working implementation of a production system interpreter in a neural network using distributed representations for both symbols and rules. The research provides a detailed account of two important symbolic reasoning operations, pattern matching and variable binding, as emergent properties of collections of neuron-like elements. The success of our production system implementation goes some way towards answering a common criticism of connectionist theories: that they aren't powerful enough to do symbolic reasoning.
A Novel “Flying-Spot” Infrared Camera for Imaging Very Fast Thermal-Wave Phenomena

We describe the development of a “Flying-Spot” laser-source/IR-detector camera in which an unmodulated laser heating spot scans the sample in a raster. The detector tracks the heating spot in the same raster, but with a time delay, thus forming an image with a very short time between the application of the heat source and the detection of the thermal waves.
Modeling other talkers for improved dialog act recognition in meetings.

Automatic dialog act (DA) modeling has been shown to benefit meeting understanding, but current approaches to DA recognition tend to suffer from a common problem: they underrepresent behaviors found at turn edges, during which the “floor” is negotiated among meeting participants. We propose a new approach that takes into account speech from other talkers, relying only on speech/non-speech information from all participants. We find (1) that modeling other participants improves DA detection, even in the absence of other information, (2) that only the single locally most talkative other participant matters, and (3) that 10 seconds provides a sufficiently large local context. Results further show significant performance improvements over a lexical-only system — particularly for the DAs of interest. We conclude that interaction-based modeling at turn edges can be achieved by relatively simple features and should be incorporated for improved meeting understanding.
Introduction – Measuring Well-Being: Collected Theory and Review Works

Measurement is the most important activity in behavioral science, and perhaps the activity that is undervalued the most. It can be argued that scientific understanding and measurement go hand in hand. Indeed, this is the insight offered by Cronbach and Meehl (1955) when they argued that the development of a measure and the understanding of the underlying phenomena go hand-in-hand. Many people, even researchers themselves, think of measurement as a technical affair to be performed by the slower and less creative scientists, while the geniuses are busy formulating grand theories. In fact, Greenwald (2001, 2002) found that the majority of Nobel prizes in the sciences go to work on measurement rather than theory. And as argued above, theory and measurement usually advance together. To be able to measure something well means that we must have a good theory about that phenomenon. In addition, what sets science apart from other approaches to knowledge, such as philosophy or theology, is the heavy grounding it has in the empirical method. Thus, observing, recording, and measuring are core aspects of science, and their importance cannot be underestimated. Several core issues occur in the measurement of subjective well-being. One is the definition and inclusion of some phenomena and the exclusion of others. What is subjective well-being, and what are its components? When people respond to well-being self-report measures, what are the psychological processes involved? For example, how much do they call on memory versus their general self-concept? How do they weight various areas of their lives? How do various methods, such as self-report, experience sampling, and informant reports, converge with one another? Finally, how large is the problem of measurement artifacts?
Big Longitudinal Data Analysis

The time-varying (longitudinal) characteristics of large information flows represent a special case of the complexity and the dynamic multi-scale nature of big biomedical data that we discussed in the DSPA Motivation section. Previously, in Chap. 4, we saw space-time (4D) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data, and in Chap. 16 we discussed streaming data, which also has a natural temporal dimension. Now we will go deeper into managing, modeling and analyzing big longitudinal data.
Nontargeted Diabetes Screening in a Navajo Nation Emergency Department

We developed a nontargeted diabetes screening program in a rural Indian Health Service emergency department in Shiprock, New Mexico to measure the proportion of previously undiagnosed diabetes and prediabetes, and to assess glycemic control among patients with known disease. Of 924 patients screened in the emergency department between May and July 2017, 28.8% screened positive for previously undiagnosed diabetes or prediabetes; among patients with known disease, the median hemoglobin A1c was 8.2%. Of the newly identified patients, 54.9% attended follow-up.
Rule-Based Systems in Adaptation Processes: A Methodological Framework for the Adaptation of Office Buildings into Housing

This paper proposes that conversion of redundant office buildings into housing is a viable strategy to respond to both structural vacancy and high demand for new dwellings at an affordable cost, which are widespread problems in the main urbanized contexts.
The cognitive effects of anxiety and depression in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.

There is a sizeable literature describing the behavioral sequelae of multiple sclerosis (MS). This has traditionally been divided into 2 broad categories, namely, disorders of cognition and emotion. Few studies have explored the relationship between them and those that have were focused predominantly on depression rather than anxiety. In general, the results show that deficits in processing speed, working memory, and executive function can arise as a consequence of depression, albeit at the more severe end of the depressive spectrum. Given that cognitive dysfunction is a common and currently intractable symptom of MS, affecting up to 70% of people and impeding employment, relationships, and leisure pursuits,1 any condition that adds to this burden must be cause for concern.
Viable low temperature shape memory alloys based on Ni-Ti-Hf formulations

Abstract Ni-rich NiTiHf alloys with Hf content from 1 to 12.5 at.% were evaluated for their potential as low temperature shape memory alloys. At 51 at.% Ni, a minimum in transformation temperature was observed at 8 at.% Hf with a martensite finish temperature of −140 °C. Beyond 8 at.% Hf, transformation temperatures started to rise. Increasing Ni content from 50.3 to 52 at.% resulted in a resilient alloy with remarkable dimensional stability and transformation strain in the range of 3% in compression. Work outputs above 30 J/cm3 in some of these alloys attest to their suitability for low temperature actuator applications.
Glutamate receptor plasticity in brainstem respiratory nuclei following chronic hypercapnia in goats.

Patients that retain CO2 in respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have worse prognoses and higher mortality rates than those with equal impairment of lung function without hypercapnia. We recently characterized the time-dependent physiologic effects of chronic hypercapnia in goats, which suggested potential neuroplastic shifts in ventilatory control mechanisms. However, little is known about how chronic hypercapnia affects brainstem respiratory nuclei (BRN) that control multiple physiologic functions including breathing. Since many CNS neuroplastic mechanisms include changes in glutamate (AMPA (GluR) and NMDA (GluN)) receptor expression and/or phosphorylation state to modulate synaptic strength and network excitability, herein we tested the hypothesis that changes occur in glutamatergic signaling within BRN during chronically elevated inspired CO2 (InCO2 )-hypercapnia. Healthy goats were euthanized after either 24 h or 30 days of chronic exposure to 6% InCO2 or room air, and brainstems were rapidly extracted for western blot analyses to assess GluR and GluN receptor expression within BRN. Following 24-hr exposure to 6% InCO2 , GluR or GluN receptor expression were changed from control (P < 0.05) in the solitary complex (NTS & DMV),ventrolateral medulla (VLM), medullary raphe (MR), ventral respiratory column (VRC), hypoglossal motor nucleus (HMN), and retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN). These neuroplastic changes were not found following 30 days of chronic hypercapnia. However, at 30 days of chronic hypercapnia, there was overall increased (P < 0.05) expression of glutamate receptors in the VRC and RTN. We conclude that time- and site-specific glutamate receptor neuroplasticity may contribute to the concomitant physiologic changes that occur during chronic hypercapnia.
Hydrolytically degradable poly(β-thioether ester ketal) thermosets via radical-mediated thiol–ene photopolymerization

Thiol–ene photopolymerization was exploited for the synthesis of poly(β-thioether ester ketal) networks capable of undergoing complete degradation under acid and/or basic conditions. Using the design of four novel bisalkene diketal monomers, we demonstrate the ability to tune degradation profiles under acidic conditions with timescales dictated by the structure of the diketal linker, while hydrolysis of the β-thioether ester functionality dominates the degradation profile under basic conditions irrespective of the diketal structure. All four poly(β-thioether ester ketal) networks exhibited degradation behavior characteristic of a surface erosion process. The networks showed mechanical (low modulus) and thermomechanical properties (low Tg) typical of thiol–ene thermosets with minimal influence from the structure of the diketal linkage. To highlight the advantages of endowing a step-growth network with ketal linker chemistry, we demonstrated the ability to recover diketone precursors from the thermoset degradation by-products and recycle these compounds into building blocks for additional thermoset materials.
The Professional Development Needs of Rural High School Principals

The increased emphasis on standards-based school accountability since the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is focusing critical attention on the professional development of school principals and their ability to meet the challenges of improving student outcomes. While rural school districts are dealing with many of the same issues facing urban districts, there are unique challenges that rural school principals face. However, effective professional development that addresses the unique needs of rural school leaders can build essential leadership capacity that supports school success. This article discusses the results of a study on the professional development needs of rural high school principals for school improvement. These findings provide direction for the development of professional development activities that will enhance the leadership skills that principals need to guide school reform and reach higher standards of student achievement.
Critical Phenological Events Affect Chemical Defense of Plant Tissues: Iridoid Glycosides in a Woody Shrub

Plants are chemically-complex organisms; each individual contains diverse tissue-types, has the ability to differentially allocate secondary metabolites to these tissues and can change this allocation through time. The interaction of variation in chemical defense of different tissue types and variation in chemical defense through time, however, is rarely examined and has not been studied for iridoid glycoside-producing woody plants. In this study, we quantified allocation of iridoid glycosides (IGs) to the leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds of 25 individuals of a long-lived shrub (Lonicera x bella Zabel, Caprifoliaceae), at five important phenological timepoints (leaf-out, flowering, fruit appearance, fruit ripening, and fruit dispersal) throughout a growing season. We found that leaves had 2x higher IG concentrations during flowering and fruiting than earlier in the season (after leaf-out), and later in the season (after fruit dispersal). The individual IG driving this increase in leaves during reproduction, secologanin, was also the most abundant IG in semiripe fruits. Flowers and seeds were composed of different proportions of individual IGs than fruits or leaves, but did not change across time and had overall low concentrations of IGs. In L. x bella, phenological events such as flowering and fruiting lead to an increase in leaf chemical defense that is likely to influence interactions with leaf-feeders. Our results stress the importance of considering phenology when sampling plants for the quantification of chemical defenses.
Out of Sight but Not Out of Mind: Caring for Patients Receiving OPAT during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

In an effort to "flatten the curve" of SARS-CoV-2, society is urged to practice social distancing. However, the management of other disease states may require some patients to undergo outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT). Practical considerations for OPAT management during an infectious pandemic are reviewed. These include shortening durations of therapy, utilizing the oral route, avoiding medications requiring therapeutic drug monitoring, selecting antimicrobials with long durations, decreasing frequency of laboratory blood draws, and performing tele-health visits.