cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ensheathing Glia Function as Phagocytes in the Adult Drosophila Brain

The mammalian brain contains many subtypes of glia that vary in their morphologies, gene expression profiles, and functional roles; however, the functional diversity of glia in the adult Drosophila brain remains poorly defined. Here we define the diversity of glial subtypes that exist in the adult Drosophila brain, show they bear striking similarity to mammalian brain glia, and identify the major phagocytic cell type responsible for engulfing degenerating axons after acute axotomy. We find that neuropil regions contain two different populations of glia: ensheathing glia and astrocytes. Ensheathing glia enwrap major structures in the adult brain, but are not closely associated with synapses. Interestingly, we find these glia uniquely express key components of the glial phagocytic machinery (e.g., the engulfment receptor Draper, and dCed-6), respond morphologically to axon injury, and autonomously require components of the Draper signaling pathway for successful clearance of degenerating axons from the injured brain. Astrocytic glia, in contrast, do not express Draper or dCed-6, fail to respond morphologically to axon injury, and appear to play no role in clearance of degenerating axons from the brain. However, astrocytic glia are closely associated with synaptic regions in neuropil, and express excitatory amino acid transporters, which are presumably required for the clearance of excess neurotransmitters at the synaptic cleft. Together these results argue that ensheathing glia and astrocytes are preprogrammed cell types in the adult Drosophila brain, with ensheathing glia acting as phagocytes after axotomy, and astrocytes potentially modulating synapse formation and signaling.
A unified theory of garbage collection

Tracing and reference counting are uniformly viewed as being fundamentally different approaches to garbage collection that possess very distinct performance properties. We have implemented high-performance collectors of both types, and in the process observed that the more we optimized them, the more similarly they behaved - that they seem to share some deep structure. We present a formulation of the two algorithms that shows that they are in fact duals of each other. Intuitively, the difference is that tracing operates on live objects, or "matter", while reference counting operates on dead objects, or "anti-matter". For every operation performed by the tracing collector, there is a precisely corresponding anti-operation performed by the reference counting collector. Using this framework, we show that all high-performance collectors (for example, deferred reference counting and generational collection) are in fact hybrids of tracing and reference counting. We develop a uniform cost-model for the collectors to quantify the trade-offs that result from choosing different hybridizations of tracing and reference counting. This allows the correct scheme to be selected based on system performance requirements and the expected properties of the target application.
Extracellular Interception of Mutagens

Extracellular interception of mutagens by excreted enzymes or by chemical agents that react with or bind to formed mutagens provides an important means of defense against chemical mutagens/carcinogens. Kada and Shimoi (25) have classified molecules that function in this manner as “desmutagens,” and many of them are natural cellular metabolites (23). Among the specific mechanisms that such agents may employ are: prevention of the activation of “promutagens” to mutagens; stimulation of enzymes (e.g., glutathione-S-transferase) that catalyze the binding/inactivation of damaging electrophiles; direct binding and concomitant inactivation of promutagens or mutagens; interference with uptake of mutagens into cells; etc. De Flora and Ramel (11) have provided an excellent discussion of the mechanisms of these agents and a proposed classification scheme. Drawing on work from our own laboratories and other recent examples in the literature, several examples of mechanistic approaches to these studies using natural plant-derived materials, e.g., humic acid, Glycyrrhha glabra extract, glutathione, and bioflavonoids, are also described. Antioxidants and agents that conjugate electrophiles will be among the modes of action described for obtaining the goal of intercepting mutagens/carcinogens.
Stretched-pulse long-distance fiber communications

We have shown that the stretched pulse in long-distance fiber communications has the advantageous features of reduced noise-induced timing jitter and reduced continuum generation in the presence of lumped amplification. These properties make stretched-pulse fiber communications a candidate for high-bit-rate fiber communications systems with large amplifier spacings.
Analysis of Water in Confined Geometries and at Interfaces

The properties of water depend on its extended hydrogen bond network and the continual picosecond-time scale structural evolution of the network. Water molecules in confined environments with pools a few nanometers in diameter or at interfaces undergo hydrogen bond structural dynamics that differ drastically from the dynamics they undergo in bulk water. Orientational motions of water require hydrogen bond network rearrangement. Therefore, observations of orientational relaxation in nanoscopic water systems provide information about the influence of confinement and interfaces on hydrogen bond dynamics. Ultrafast infrared polarization- and wavelength-selective pump-probe experiments can measure the orientational relaxation of water and distinguish water at an interface from water removed from an interface. These experiments can be applied to water in reverse micelles (spherical nanopools). The results provide quantitative determination of the dynamics of water as a function of the size and nature of the confining structure.
RECENT RESULTS FROM EXPERIMENT E910

BNL experiment E910 is the first high-statistics experiment with large-acceptance and particle identification to study proton-nucleus (pA) collisions at AGS energies. Our main goal is to survey these collisions for a variety of targets (Be, Cu, Au, U) over the range of energies available at the AGS (6–18 GeV/c). The results of these studies will increase our understanding of nucleus-nucleus (AA) collisions by: 1. Elucidating the mechanisms of energy deposition and particle production in excited nuclear matter. 2. Standing as baselines against which to judge “interesting” results from AA collisions. 3. Serving as vital input to cascade codes which attempt to model AA collisions.
A General Approach to Nonparametric Empirical Bayes Estimation

Let (X1,θ1), (X2, θ2), … ,(X N , θ N ), (X N + 1, θ N + 1) be independent random vectors with each θi distributed according to some unknown prior density g. Given θi, let Xi have the conditional density qi(xθi), i = 1, … , N + 1. In each pair the first component is observable, but the second is not. The objective is to estimate a known function b(θ N + 1) of θ N + 1 A general technique for construction of empirical Bayes estimators of b(θ N + 1) is proposed and their convergence rates are examined. The special case, when the conditional densities qi(x/θ), i = 1, … , N + 1, are identical, is also discussed. The theory is used to estimate of some reliability characteristics of nuclear power plant equipment.
Static detection of energy defect patterns in Android applications

For static analysis researchers, Android software presents a wide variety of interesting challenges. The target of our work is static detection of energy-drain defects in Android applications. The management of energy-intensive resources (e.g., GPS) creates various opportunities for software defects. Our goal is to detect statically “missing deactivation” energy-drain defects in the user interface of the application. First, we define precisely two patterns of run-time energy-drain behaviors, based on modeling of Android GUI control-flow paths and energy-related listener leaks along such paths. Next, we define a static detection algorithm targeting these patterns. The analysis considers valid interprocedural control-flow paths in a callback method and its transitive callees, in order to detect operations that add or remove listeners. Sequences of callbacks are then analyzed for possible listener leaks. Our evaluation considers the detection of GUI-related energy-drain defects reported in prior work, as well as new defects not discovered by prior approaches. In summary, the detection is very effective and precise, suggesting that the proposed analysis is suitable for practical use in static checking tools for Android.
Spectroscopic identification of the Ar⋯I2 intermolecular levels bound throughout the Ar + I2(B,ν′) potential

Abstract Action spectra were recorded to identify the Ar⋯I 2 intermolecular vibrational levels bound within the Ar + I 2 (B,ν′ = 20–23) excited-state potentials. Features associated with transitions of the linear and T-shaped Ar⋯I 2 (X,ν″ = 0) ground-state conformers are identified. Due to the overlap of levels bound within different Ar + I 2 (B,ν′) potentials there is a high density of spectral features. Comparisons of the spectral shifts of the features from different I 2 B–X, ν′–0 bands are used to identify those levels bound within each of the Ar + I 2 (B,ν′) potentials. At least 17 bound intermolecular vibrational levels that span nearly the entire potential are identified.
Atomic layer deposition of Al-doped ZnO/Al2O3 double layers on vertically aligned carbon nanofiber arrays.

High-aspect-ratio, vertically aligned carbon nanofibers (VACNFs) were conformally coated with aluminum oxide (Al2O3) and aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) using atomic layer deposition (ALD) in order to produce a three-dimensional array of metal–insulator–metal core–shell nanostructures. Prefunctionalization before ALD, as required for initiating covalent bonding on a carbon nanotube surface, was eliminated on VACNFs due to the graphitic edges along the surface of each CNF. The graphitic edges provided ideal nucleation sites under sequential exposures of H2O and trimethylaluminum to form an Al2O3 coating up to 20 nm in thickness. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and scanning electron microscopy images confirmed the conformal core–shell AZO/Al2O3/CNF structures while energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy verified the elemental composition of the different layers. HRTEM selected area electron diffraction revealed that the as-made Al2O3 by ALD at 200 °C was amorphous, and then, after ann...
Computational Limitations of Dynamic Programming for Warehouse Location

In a recent article, Ballou [1] reported on a dynamic programming method for optimally specifying a warehouse location-relocation plan. A normative model was developed to maximize cumulative profits due to warehouse locations over a time horizon during which locational demand could be predicted with some degree of certainty. Ballou very succinctly stressed the importance of dynamic considerations, including possible warehouse relocations and associated moving costs, in planning a distribution system. The dynamic programming solution method for the model was explicitly stated for a special case when shipments are made to various demand points from a single warehouse. The warehouse could possibly be located in five different locations during the planning period of five years. Ballou termed this case a "limited" problem, and states that the dynamic programming technique could be used for "reasonable-sized" problems, although he does not discuss the extension of the solution procedure to "reasonable-sized" problems. This will show that computation of the solution becomes infeasible if the dynamic programming method is extended without alteration to problems where shipments can be made from a reasonable number of warehouses.
Gladstone and Jamaica

Early in his political life the famous British statesman, W. E. Gladstone, had close contact with colonial problems. His maiden speech in the House of Commons, June 3, 1833, was a defense of his father against charges that slaves were mistreated on the Gladstone plantations in Demerara; his first government post was that of Parliamentary Undersecretary of State for the Colonies; before the end of the 1830's he had served on many committees which studied questions relating to the colonies; and in 1846 he was Secretary of State for War and the Colonies. In 1835 and again in 1849 he drafted pamphlets on the British colonial empire; by mid-nineteenth century he was a leading advocate of colonial self-government; and his speech “Our Colonies” at Chester, November 12, 1855 (published as a pamphlet), was a clear statement of his creed that “ freedom and voluntaryism ” should govern the relationship between Britain and the overseas portions of the British Empire. While in later years noncolonial issues received most of his attention, he never abandoned his faith in freedom as the basic remedy for intra-imperial problems. In the closing years of his political career he fought magnificently but vainly to apply that principle of freedom (which had stilled colonial discontent) to the age-old Irish question.
Hidden hypercalcemia and mortality risk in incident hemodialysis patients

Context: Neither uncorrected- nor albumin-corrected total calcium reliably predict ionized calcium in patients with end-stage renal disease. However, little is known about the consequences of inaccurate assessment of calcium concentration using total calcium. Objective: We hypothesized that hidden hypercalcemia (ie, elevated ionized calcium with normal total calcium) and apparent hypercalcemia (ie, elevated ionized calcium with elevated total calcium) are both associated with increased mortality risk. Design, Setting, and Patients: We identified 874 incident hemodialysis patients with measured serum ionized calcium, total calcium, albumin, phosphorus, and bicarbonate from October 2007 to December 2011, using data from a large dialysis organization in the United States. Exposures: Serum concentrations of ionized calcium and total calcium were measured. Main Outcome Measure: The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Results: There was only fair interindex agreement with calcium status between ionized cal...
Immunoglobulin classes of serum neutralizing antibody formed in response to infection with human A2 influenza virus.

SummaryIn volunteers the sequential appearance of the immunoglobulin classes of neutralizing antibody formed as a result of infection with A2/Bethesda/10/63 influenza was studied. The antibody appeared in the IgG class and no significant antibody in the IgM or IgA classes was found. It was particularly notable that no IgM antibody could be detected 7 days after inoculation. The pattern of antibody against A2/Japan/305/57 was nearly identical to that formed against the inoculum strain. Antibody rises were also noted against A/PR8 and A1/FM1 influenza viruses.
Discussions on the Dynamic Growth of Energy Consumption and the Connotation of Energy Conservation in China

China's energy efficiency improvement,e.g.,the reduction of energy consumption per unit gross domestic product,has been substantial since the central government implemented a series of policy measures in recent years.However,these policy measures have neither eliminated thoroughly the energy dissipation during the process of socioeconomic development,nor found a comprehensive solution to the threat of overloaded energy consumption in China in the long run.The key reason is a lack of systematic understanding of the essence of China's energy conservation,which makes it difficult to develop a comprehensive strategy for energy conservation.This study summarizes the essence of China's energy conservation based on the discussion of the general concept of energy conservation itself and an analysis of the dynamic growth of energy consumption and its mechanisms in China.This study points out that saving energy from the dynamic socioeconomic development process is the essential connotation of China's energy conservation,while the fundamental purpose of China's energy conservation is to reduce the country's aggregate energy consumption for achieving its modernization(e.g.,urbanization and industrialization).This paper deepens our understanding of energy conservation in the Chinese context,and provides fundamental references to help decision-makers to scientifically formulate and implement China's energy conservatioh policies and strategies.
Robustness and period sensitivity analysis of minimal models for biochemical oscillators

Biological systems exhibit numerous oscillatory behaviors from calcium oscillations to circadian rhythms that recur daily. These autonomous oscillators contain complex feedbacks with nonlinear dynamics that enable spontaneous oscillations. The detailed nonlinear dynamics of such systems remains largely unknown. In this paper, we investigate robustness and dynamical differences of five minimal systems that may underlie fundamental molecular processes in biological oscillatory systems. Bifurcation analyses of these five models demonstrate an increase of oscillatory domains with a positive feedback mechanism that incorporates a reversible reaction, and dramatic changes in dynamics with small modifications in the wiring. Furthermore, our parameter sensitivity analysis and stochastic simulations reveal different rankings of hierarchy of period robustness that are determined by the number of sensitive parameters or network topology. In addition, systems with autocatalytic positive feedback loop are shown to be more robust than those with positive feedback via inhibitory degradation regardless of noise type. We demonstrate that robustness has to be comprehensively assessed with both parameter sensitivity analysis and stochastic simulations.
The Dark Side of Democracy: Armenia, II: Genocide

Genocide requires numbers and intentionality. We don't know the exact number of Armenians killed in the years following 1915 – or even the number living in Turkey. 1.2–1.4 million killed might be a reasonable guess for 1915–16. But sporadic massacres resumed when British and French occupation forces left, accounting for thousands more. Perhaps two-thirds of the Armenians died altogether. Many survived by escaping abroad, so only about 10 percent of the Armenians living in Turkey in 1914 remained in the country in 1922 – the most successful murderous cleansing achieved in the 20th century. Far more men than women and children were killed. Of the 180,000 surviving Armenians in the Deir-Zor camp in May 1916, only 10 percent were men (most being elderly), 30 percent were women, and 60 percent were children (Kevorkian, 1998: 224). But since men, women, and children were all killed in very large numbers, and since many surviving women and children were forcibly assimilated into Muslim identities, this was an attempt to wipe out the Armenian nation. The word genocide did not yet exist. But the numbers matched the deed. But was it intentional? Was it planned by the government in advance? Most writers say it was (e.g., Dadrian, 1995; Melson, 1992). There are a few disseuters (Adanir, 2001; Suny, 1998). I take the latter view: though eventually there was organization and planning, this emerged erratically out of sudden responses to unexpected crises.
Bridging the Science-Practice Gap

In an ideal world, research ecologists would provide ideas, guidance, and rigorous data that benefit practitioners, and practitioners would put this science into practice, exchange insights with the scientists, and make their project sites and management plans available for them to develop and test their theories. Developing and strengthening this kind of positive, mutually beneficial relationship between the scientific and resource management communities has been a central goal of organizations such as the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) ever since its inaugural meeting in 1988.
Arabic in the USA

Introduction The US population claiming roots in the Arabic-speaking world has doubled in the last few decades. As shown in Table 1.1, the Arabic-speaking population grew by 73 percent between 1990 and 2000, and a further 25 percent between 2000 and 2007. This increase places Arabic as the tenth most commonly spoken non-English language in the USA, in spite of representing just 0.5 percent of the total population. Overall, this group is better educated and wealthier than the average US population at large. With a history of over five generations of active immigration to the USA, those with connections to the geographically and culturally diverse peoples of the Arab world present a varied profile both linguistically and in terms of identity. While predominantly originating in the Middle Eastern Levant region, Egypt, and Iraq, the Arabic heard in the USA today represents the diverse dialects and cultures of the twenty countries officially recognized as Arabic-speaking, as well as the types of Arabic spoken natively by communities elsewhere. The language shift to English that occurred among earlier immigrants and their descendants is now being offset with more efforts toward Arabic-language maintenance among the more recent waves of immigration. This chapter explores the presence and use of Arabic in the USA with an eye toward understanding its future longevity.
Donor-Derived Infections: Incidence, Prevention, and Management

Organ donors reflect the diverse US population, and there are an increasing number of donors born in, who have resided in, or who have traveled to underdeveloped areas of the world or areas with geographically restricted infections. As such, these donors are exposed to pathogens that can potentially be transmitted to recipients of the donor’s organs. Additionally, there are newer techniques to identify many pathogens that may be transmitted from the donor to the transplant recipients. Finally, high-profile reports of several donor-derived infections have heightened awareness of donor-derived infections and have likely contributed to increased recognition. In this chapter, the incidence, methods of identification and prevention, and management of unexpected donor-derived infections will be reviewed.
Round-trip development for sculptural forms

3D scanning and 3d printing offer bridges between the digital and physical world that not only enable artists to convert their work from one format to another, but when combined provide a seamless loop between the two ways of working. With the intention to both develop design variations and refine volumes, forms can be created as digital models, 3d printed, physically modified, and translated back to digital form through scanning. Whether the works are initiated as physical objects or as digital models, this "round-trip" mode of development introduces experimental hybrid strategies and provides new ways of thinking. In particular, this process is adapted for iterative design of sculptural forms. Using a series of sculptural studies that employ 3D printing, 3D scanning, digital modeling, clay sculpting, and CNC routing, this paper explores a framework for "round trip" development of 3D dimensional forms to arrive at physical objects, digital models, and renders.
Consequences of an interface-concentrated perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in ultrathin CoFeB films used in magnetic tunnel junctions

We examine the consequences of a strongly interface-concentrated perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) energy in CoFeB thin films currently in wide use in magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) for spin-torque-related memory applications. The direct consequence of such an anisotropy energy distribution, in combination with a moderate exchange coupling of the interface moment to the rest of the film, is a phenomenological appearance of a fourth-order anisotropy term as the film is viewed by ferromagnetic resonance. The presence of a fourth-order anisotropy also affects the apparent thermal activation energy of a patterned nanomagnet with such thin films, and it could lead to an apparent increase in the spin-torque switching efficiency as represented by the ratio of the thermal activation energy and the threshold switching current. However, for interface-sensitive quantities such as tunnel magnetoresistance's hard-axis behavior, as well as for spin-torque excitation processes, the specifics of such separation of interface versus film-interior moment rotation could become important.
Greenhouse gas and air quality effects of auto first-last mile use with transit

Abstract With potential for automobiles to cause increased greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution relative to other modes, there is concern that using automobiles to access or egress public transportation may significantly increase the environmental impacts from door-to-door transit trips. Yet little rigorous work has been developed that quantitatively assesses the effects of transit access or egress by automobiles. This research evaluates the life-cycle impacts of first-and-last mile trips on multimodal transit. An environmental life-cycle assessment of transit and automobile travel in the greater Los Angeles region is developed to evaluate the impacts of multimodal transit trips by utilizing existing transportation life-cycle assessment methods. First-last mile automobile trips with transit may increase multimodal trip emissions significantly, mitigating potential impact reductions from transit usage. In some cases, multimodal transit trips with first-last mile automobile use may have higher emissions than competing automobile trips. In the near-term, first-last mile automobile trips in some Los Angeles transit services may account for up to 66% of multimodal greenhouse gas emissions, and as much as 75% of multimodal air quality impacts. Fossil fuel energy generation and combustion, low vehicle occupancies, and longer trip distances contribute most to increased multimodal impacts. Supply chain analysis indicates that life-cycle air quality impacts may occur largely locally (in Los Angeles) or largely remotely depending on the propulsion method and location of upstream life-cycle processes. Reducing 10% of transit system greenhouse emissions requires a shift of 23–50% of automobile first-last mile trips to a neutral emissions mode.
Rapid adaptation with gene flow via a reservoir of chromosomal inversion variation

The increased recognition of frequent divergence with gene flow has renewed interest in chromosomal inversions as a source for promoting adaptive divergence. Inversions can suppress recombination between heterokaryotypes so that local adapted inversions will be protected from introgression with the migrants. However, we do not have a clear understanding of the conditions for which adaptive divergence is more or less likely to be promoted by inversions when the availability of inversion variation is considered. Standing genetic variation, as opposed to new mutations, could offer a quick way to respond to sudden environmental changes, making it a likely avenue for rapid adaptation. For a scenario of secondary contact between locally-adapted populations, we might intuit that standing inversion variation would predominate over new inversion mutations in maintaining local divergence. Our results show that this is not always the case. Maladaptive gene flow, as both a demographic parameter and the cause for selection that favors locally-adapted inversions, differentiates the dynamics of standing inversion variation from that of segregating point mutations. Counterintuitively, in general, standing inversion variation will be less important to the adaptation than new inversions under the demographic and genetic conditions that are more conducive to adaptive divergence via inversions.
Light-controlled nanoparticulate drug delivery systems

Abstract: Light has emerged as a potentially useful trigger in many recently developed drug delivery systems, allowing spatial and temporal control of drug release, nanoparticle accumulation and addition effects such as photothermal therapy. Here, we introduce a range of modalities and mechanisms of action based on which light-controlled drug delivery systems are designed.
Application and evaluation of entomopathogens for managing insects in stored products

Insects are a major cause of post-harvest losses of stored foods and food products the world over. Stored-product insect infestation can occur beginning at harvest and continuing through bulk storage; conversion into processed commodities in food processing facilities; storage in warehouses; transportation in trucks, railcars, and ships; presentation on retail shelves; and ultimately storage in consumer pantries. At each of the locations in the processing and distribution channel there are differences in the nature of the environment, the pest species complex, and the management strategies and tactics used.
The Representation of Gender and Race/Ethnic Groups in Randomized Clinical Trials of Individuals with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

This review evaluated gender and race/ethnic representation in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Whites comprise 33% of prevalent SLE cases and comprised 51% of RCT enrollees. Blacks encompass 43% of prevalent SLE cases, but only represented 14% of RCT enrollees. Hispanics comprise 16% of prevalent SLE cases and 21% of RCT enrollees, while Asians comprise 13% of prevalent SLE cases and 10% of RCT enrollees. Males encompass 9% of SLE cases and 7% of RCT enrollees. The reporting and representation of males have remained stable over time, although their representation in RCTs is slighter lower than the prevalence of SLE in males. The representation of Hispanics, Asians, and Native Americans increased over time. However, the representation of blacks among RCT participants has decreased since 2006–2011. RCTs among SLE patients need larger sample sizes in order to evaluate heterogeneity in outcomes among racial subgroups. It is imperative that novel strategies be developed to recruit racial minorities with SLE by identifying and improving barriers to RCT enrollment in order to better understand the disease’s diverse population.
Localization in a Strong Magnetic Field

Various aspects of the quantized Hall effect are discussed. Laughlin’s argument for quantization of the Hall conductance in two dimensions is presented, and the parts played by localized states, extended states, and edge states are considered. Perturbative approaches are also considered, and it is shown that the Kubo formula gives a range in which there are no corrections to the quantized Hall current. The effect of a periodic substrate potential is discussed. The singular continuous spectrum produced by such a potential leads to unusual effects on conductivity. The Hall current must be entirely carried by one sub-band of the Landau band in this case.
Quality of Botulinum Toxin for Human Treatment

The crystallized botulinum toxin type A now used in treatment, Batch 79-11 prepared in November 1979 and licensed as an Orphan drug by the FDA in December 1989, has served well for treatment of many human dystonias and other involuntary muscle movement disorders. The continued production of high quality botulinum toxin presents some important problems that must be investigated. In this presentation we wish to make some proposals that should improve the quality of the toxin as a pharmaceutical.
The next generation of internet portals

Today's portals bring together existing technologies in useful, innovative ways, but they don't scratch the surface of what is possible. The constant build-up of information and resources on the World Wide Web demands a smarter more advanced portal technology that offers dynamic, personalized, customized, and intelligent services. This chapter discusses next-generation portals and the requirement that they come to know their users and understand their individual interests and preferences. It describes a new generation of portals that have a level of autonomy, making informed, logical decisions and performing useful tasks on behalf of their members. The chapter highlights the role of artificial intelligence in framing the next generation of portal technology and in developing their capabilities for learning about their users.
Computational Modeling of Tissue Engineering Scaffolds as Delivery Devices for Mechanical and Mechanically Modulated Signals

In this chapter, we outline the use of computational modeling and novel experimental methods to develop tissue engineering scaffolds as delivery devices for exogenous and endogenous cues, including biochemical and mechanical signals, to drive the fate of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) seeded within. Tissue regeneration in mature organisms recapitulates de novo tissue generation during organismal development. This gave us the impetus to develop tissue engineering scaffolds that deliver mechanical and chemical cues intrinsic to the environment of cells during mesenchymal condensation, which marks the initiation of skeletogenesis during development. Cell seeding density and mode of achieving density (protocol) have been shown to effect dilatational (volume changing) stresses on stem cells and deviatoric (shape changing) stresses on their nuclei. Shear flow provides a practical means to deliver mechanical forces within scaffolds, resulting in both dilatational and deviatoric stresses on cell surfaces. Both spatiotemporal mechanical cue delivery and mechanically modulated biochemical gradients can be further honed through optimization of scaffold geometry and mechanical properties. We use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) coupled with finite element analysis (FEA) modeling to predict flow regimes within the scaffolds and optimize flow rates to simulate seeded cells. This chapter outlines to major advantages of using computational modeling to design and optimize tissue engineering scaffold geometry, material behavior, and tissue ingrowth over time.
[I156] Why is dual energy CT (DECT) still not used widely in clinics?

Dual energy CT has been possible since last decade and has demonstrated considerable advantages in clinical diagnosis. DECT is achieved by ways that are unique to different CT platforms. DECT is considered as a first step towards achieving true “Spectral CT”. There are numerous applications including improved lesion detection and characterization, artifacts reduction and possible quantification of CT images. Advanced applications such as kidney stone classifications, gout detection, automatic bone removal, virtual non-contrast enhanced images and many others are routinely used clinically. In spite of these advantages, DECT is still not used widely in clinics. Factors includes multiple data sets, additional time for image processing, no financial incentives for reviewing multiple data sets of DECT compared to conventional CT data sets. This presentation will discuss the many factors that are holding this technology from wider acceptances.
Spatial and temporal changes in species composition of submersed aquatic vegetation reveal effects of river restoration

We examined temporal changes in spatial patterns of submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) in response to the restoration of geomorphic habitat in Navigation Pool 8 of the Upper Mississippi River from 1998 to 2016. The frequency of occurrence and species composition of SAV at sampling sites were spatially interpolated for each year to create annual maps. Linear models were fitted to temporal changes in SAV within each map pixel. The frequency of occurrence of SAV (across all species) increased over time in much of the impounded region of the pool, including areas near restored islands. However, impounded areas maintained a relatively consistent species composition over time, with species known to be tolerant of higher flow velocities (>0.10 m/second) and wind fetch distances (>1,000 m) (e.g. Vallisneria americana) being most abundant. In contrast, areas protected by newly constructed islands transitioned from V. americana to species found in other protected backwater habitats and known to be intolerant of high flow velocities and wind fetch distances (e.g. Ceratophyllum demersum). The results suggest that previously reported improvements in water clarity may have improved growing conditions for all SAV species, especially in the lower impounded portion of the pool, while island restoration created more backwater‐like habitats and facilitated changes in species composition. Assessing changes in SAV occurrence alone offers only a partial view of local‐scale river restoration (e.g. island building), while analyses of species composition are likely to be more indicative of the types of changes (i.e. reduced flow velocity and wind fetch) associated with restoring geomorphic habitat.
Fragment Hits: What do They Look Like and How do They Bind?

A “fragment hit”, a molecule of low molecular weight that has been validated to bind to a target protein, can be an effective chemical starting point for a drug discovery project. Our ability to find and progress fragment hits could potentially be improved by enhancing our understanding of their binding properties, which to date has largely been based on tacit knowledge and reports from individual projects. In the work reported here, we systematically analyzed the molecular and binding properties of fragment hits using 489 published protein–fragment complexes. We identified a number of notable features that these hits tend to have in common, including preferences in buried surface area upon binding, hydrogen bonding and other directional interactions with the protein targets, structural topology, functional-group occurrence, and degree of carbon saturation. In the future, taking account of these preferences in designing and selecting fragments to screen against protein targets may increase the chances of ...
Do Community College Students Demonstrate Different Behaviors from Four-Year University Students on Virtual Proctored Exams?

ABSTRACTeLearning instruction has become an accepted means of delivering a quality education to higher education students, with community college online learning enrollment rates rising annually. C...
Trying to Do What Is Best: A Qualitative Study of Maternal-Infant Bonding and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.

Background The maternal experience of caring for and bonding with infants affected by neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) has not been adequately characterized. Purpose This study was designed to describe mothers' experiences of, supports for, and barriers to bonding with infants with NAS. Methods Semistructured interviews were coded using computer-assisted thematic content analysis. A code co-occurrence model was used to visualize the relationships between themes. Results Thirteen mothers of infants with NAS participated. Trying to Do What Is Best emerged as the overarching theme with which several subthemes co-occurred. Subthemes that captured mothers loving their infants and bonding, feeling supported by the infants' fathers, feeling supported in the community, and receiving information from hospital staff were associated with mothers' trying to do what is best. Barriers to trying to do what is best included feeling unsupported in the community, guilt about taking medications or substances during pregnancy, feeling judged, and infant withdrawal. Implications for practice Specific implications for practice may be derived from the mothers' criticisms of NAS assessment tools. Mothers highlighted the value of reassurance and education from providers and the uniquely nonjudgmental support received from peers and male coparents. Implications for research There is a lack of information about maternal-infant bonding in dyads affected by NAS and factors that contribute to parental loss of custody. Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies in diverse populations might help researchers better understand the long-term outcomes of NAS and develop interventions that decrease family separation.
Effects of Metal Electrode Support on the Catalytic Activity of Fe(oxy)hydroxide for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction in Alkaline Media.

FeOx Hy and Fe-containing Ni/Co oxyhydroxides are the most-active catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline media. However, the activity of Fe sites appears strongly dependent on the electrode-substrate material and/or the elemental composition of the matrix in which it is embedded. A fundamental understanding of these interactions that modulate the OER activity of FeOx Hy is lacking. We report the use of cyclic voltammetry and chronopotentiometry to assess the substrate-dependent activity of FeOx Hy on a number of commonly used electrode substrates, including Au, Pt, Pd, Cu, and C. We also evaluate the OER activity and Tafel behavior of these metallic substrates in 1 M KOH aqueous solution with Fe3+ and other electrolyte impurities. We find that the OER activity of FeOx Hy varies by substrate in the order Au>Pd≈Pt≈Cu>C. The trend may be caused by differences in the adsorption strength of the Fe oxo ion on the substrate, where a stronger adhesion results in more adsorbed Fe at the interface during steady-state OER and possibly a decreased charge-transfer resistance at the FeOx Hy -substrate interface. These results suggest that the local atomic and electronic structure of [FeO6 ] units play an important role in catalysis of the OER as the activity can be tuned substantially by substrate interactions.
Measurement of DNA Bend Angles Using DNA Topology

A large number of studies have shown that an A-tract imparts curvature to the DNA double helix. Constructs of such A-tracts have been used as bend standards in a large number of both structural and functional studies, and Atracts confer significant activation in transcription. An accurate value for the bend angle induced by an A-tract is of central importance to all these studies, but estimates for the extent of the bend angle of an A-tract vary significantly. To address this problem, we have used the rotational variant method [Lutter et al. J. Mol. Biol. 261 620] to measure the angle of DNA curvature in an A6 tract. The original version of the method measured a protein-induced bend angle independent of external standards by comparing the effect of bent and straight forms of the sequence on the topology of a DNA plasmid in which the sequence is cloned as a series of tandem repeats. To adapt the approach to the measurement of an intrinsic bend, the straight form of the A-tract was generated by performing the relaxation at high temperature using a hyperthermophile topoisomerase. Fourteen different plasmids containing tandem repeats of Atracts were constructed and topologically analysed. When relaxation was performed at 14° C, the bend value measured was 24° ± 2°.
FPR1 is the plague receptor on host immune cells.

The causative agent of plague, Yersinia pestis, uses a type III secretion system to selectively destroy immune cells in humans, thus enabling Y. pestis to reproduce in the bloodstream and be transmitted to new hosts through fleabites. The host factors that are responsible for the selective destruction of immune cells by plague bacteria are unknown. Here we show that LcrV, the needle cap protein of the Y. pestis type III secretion system, binds to the N-formylpeptide receptor (FPR1) on human immune cells to promote the translocation of bacterial effectors. Plague infection in mice is characterized by high mortality; however, Fpr1-deficient mice have increased survival and antibody responses that are protective against plague. We identified FPR1R190W as a candidate resistance allele in humans that protects neutrophils from destruction by the Y. pestis type III secretion system. Thus, FPR1 is a plague receptor on immune cells in both humans and mice, and its absence or mutation provides protection against Y. pestis. Furthermore, plague selection of FPR1 alleles appears to have shaped human immune responses towards other infectious diseases and malignant neoplasms. The receptor FPR1 on human immune cells interacts with Yersinia pestis, mutations in this receptor provide resistance against plague in humans and Fpr1 deficiency enhances survival in mice.
Application of metagenomic shotgun sequencing to detect vector-borne pathogens in clinical blood samples.

Background Vector-borne pathogens are a significant public health concern worldwide. Infections with these pathogens, some of which are emerging, are likely under-recognized due to the lack of widely-available laboratory tests. There is an urgent need for further advancement in diagnostic modalities to detect new and known vector-borne pathogens. We evaluated the utility of metagenomic shotgun sequencing (MGS) as a pathogen agnostic approach for detecting vector-borne pathogens from human blood samples. Methods Residual whole blood samples from patients with known infection with Babesia microti, Borrelia hermsii, Plasmodium falciparum, Mansonella perstans, Anaplasma phagocytophilum or Ehrlichia chaffeensis were studied. Samples underwent DNA extraction, removal of human DNA, whole genome amplification, and paired-end library preparation, followed by sequencing on Illumina HiSeq 2500. Bioinformatic analysis was performed using the Livermore Metagenomics Analysis Toolkit (LMAT), Metagenomic Phylogenetic Analysis (MetaPhlAn2), Genomic Origin Through Taxonomic CHAllenge (GOTTCHA) and Kraken 2. Results Eight samples were included in the study (2 samples each for P. falciparum and A. phagocytophilum). An average of 27.5 million read pairs was generated per sample (range, 18.3–38.8 million) prior to removal of human reads. At least one of the analytic tools was able to detect four of six organisms at the genus level, and the organism present in five of eight specimens at the species level. Mansonella and Ehrlichia species were not detected by any of the tools; however, mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I amino acid sequence analysis suggested the presence of M. perstans genetic material. Conclusions MGS is a promising tool with the potential to evolve as a non-hypothesis driven diagnostic test to detect vector-borne pathogens, including protozoa and helminths.
Generative urban design: integrating financial and energy goals for automated neighborhood layout

This paper demonstrates an application of Generative Design to an urban scale through the design of a real-world residential neighborhood development project in Alkmaar, Netherlands. Problems in urban design can benefit greatly from the Generative Design framework due to their complexity and the presence of many stakeholders with various and potentially conflicting demands. We demonstrate this potential complexity by optimizing for two important goals: the profitability of the project for the developer and the potential for energy generation of solar panels placed on the roofs of the buildings. This paper points to further research into the application of the Generative Design framework to solve design problems at an urban scale.
Generation, Detection and Propagation on the Earth's Surface of HF and VHF Radio Surface Waves

Wave launchers have been developed to generate and detect radio surface waves which are guided by the Earth's surface. Although surface waves have been studied for more than seventy years, previous experiments have been restricted to the detection of the small ground wave component radiated by conventional antennas.