cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In situ measurement of Fe(III) reduction activity of Geobacter pelophilus by simultaneous in situ RT‐PCR and XPS analysis

Geobacter pelophilus is capable of dissimilatory Fe(III)-reduction on solid phase Fe(III)-oxides by means of surface attachment and direct electron transport to Fe(III), in part mediated by outer membrane c-type cytochromes. A study was undertaken to characterize surface colonization patterns, gene expression, and mineral transformation by this organism. The gene ferA (Geobacter sulfurreducens outer membrane Fe(III) reductase cytochrome c) was used as a target for PCR based molecular detection methods for visualizing G. pelophilus surface colonization. Protein extracts were prepared from solid-phase cultures, and cytochrome c content assessed. Mineral transformations were followed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Results of in situ (IS) RT-PCR experiments demonstrate that G. pelophilus attaches and grows at ferrihydrite mineral surfaces. Fluorescently-labeled cells were observed after IS-RT-PCR experiments, suggesting that G. pelophilus contains a cytochrome c sequence similar to ferA in G. sulfurreducens which is expressed in the presence of ferrihydrite. Protein extracts possessed high mass c-type cytochromes of similar size to those found in G. sulfurreducens. In addition, unique high-mass c-type cytochromes were also detected. XPS analysis demonstrated mineral transformation to occur, mediated by the surface associated population. This study demonstrates that G. pelophilus attaches to Fe(III)-oxide surfaces, reduces the Fe(III) oxides at the surface, produces c-type cytochromes under these growth conditions, and expresses cytochrome c-encoding genes as measured by in situ molecular detection techniques.
Cell-Phone Radiation and Cancer Studies in Normal Mice [Telecommunications Health & Safety]

This article discusses laboratory studies using four different strains of normal mice. For exposures of one year or less, experiments with three strains of mice did not show a promotional or co-carcinogenic effect on tumorigenesis. The two-year study with female and male B6C3F1 mice showed that while exposure to GSM-900 fields did not produce an overall increase in the incidence of tumors, there was a dose-dependent decrease in the number of tumor-bearing males, and more so for the incidence of hepatocellular carcinomas.
Assessing the Causes and Effects of Political Trust Among U.S. Latinos

This article examines why Latinos are more trusting of the federal government than Anglos and Blacks. We address this puzzle by turning to previous research on racial politics and political trust. Consistent with previous research, discrimination and generational status are important predictors of Latinos’ political trust, with first-generation Latinos more trusting than later-generation Latinos. Encounters with racial discrimination also make Latinos and Blacks less trusting of government. In contrast, Anglos’ political trust can be explained by their economic evaluations as well as their partisanship. Although these findings are insightful, they do not directly address why intergroup differences arise when it comes to their trust in government. We argue that combined with generational distinctions among Latinos in their trust of government, the heavy flow of Latino immigration in the past 30 years has changed the Latino population in such a way that the views of the foreign-born are disproportionately r...
On the Mathematics of Exchange Processes in Fixed Columns. IV. Limiting Values, and Correction Terms, for the Kinetic-Theory Solution with General Entry Conditions

The methods described in part III are used to find the limiting value of u (the ratio of the concentration of one ion in the fluid to the total concentration of both ions at entry) as $\epsilon \rightarrow $ 0, $\epsilon $ being the ratio of the volume flux of the fluid to the exchange coefficient, and also to find closer approximations in some cases for small but non-zero $\epsilon $. The formation, growth, and change of position of the singularity in the limiting value are discussed.
Propofol Decreases In Vivo Binding of 11C-PBR28 to Translocator Protein (18 kDa) in the Human Brain

The PET radioligand 11C-PBR28 targets translocator protein (18 kDa) (TSPO) and is a potential marker of neuroimmune activation in vivo. Although several patient populations have been studied using 11C-PBR28, no investigators have studied cognitively impaired patients who would require anesthesia for the PET procedure, nor have any reports investigated the effects that anesthesia may have on radioligand uptake. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the anesthetic propofol alters brain uptake of 11C-PBR28 in healthy subjects. Methods: Ten healthy subjects (5 men; 5 women) each underwent 2 dynamic brain PET scans on the same day, first at baseline and then with intravenous propofol anesthesia. The subjects were injected with 680 ± 14 MBq (mean ± SD) of 11C-PBR28 for each PET scan. Brain uptake was measured as total distribution volume (VT) using the Logan plot and metabolite-corrected arterial input function. Results: Propofol decreased VT, which corrects for any alteration of metabolism of the radioligand, by about 26% (P = 0.011). In line with the decrease in VT, brain time–activity curves showed decreases of about 20% despite a 13% increase in plasma area under the curve with propofol. Reduction of VT with propofol was observed across all brain regions, with no significant region X condition interaction (P = 0.40). Conclusion: Propofol anesthesia reduces the VT of 11C-PBR28 by about 26% in the brains of healthy human subjects. Given this finding, future studies will measure neuroimmune activation in the brains of autistic volunteers and their age and sex-matched healthy controls using propofol anesthesia. We recommend that future PET studies using 11C-PBR28 and concomitant propofol anesthesia, as would be required in impaired populations, include a control arm to account for the effects of propofol on brain measurements of TSPO.
Proteomic and Genomic Analysis of Cardiovascular Disease. Jennifer E. Van Eyk and Michael J. Dunn, editors. Weinheim, Federal Republic of Germany: Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co., 2003, 424 pp., $95.00, hardcover. ISBN 3-527-30596-3.

Multichapter books that focus on methodology often turn out not to be fully satisfying in that most readers will find that only small parts of the books are pertinent to their interests. Although describing the methodology behind genomic and proteomic analysis is an important aspect of this book, it is nicely integrated with the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease; thus, many readers should find this book to be useful and interesting to read in its entirety. This book is also unique in that a lot of effort has been focused …
Age effects on luteinizing hormone, progesterone and prolactin in proestrous and acyclic C57BL/6j mice.

The proestrous-estrous profiles of plasma luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PrI) and progesterone (P) were determined in aging C57BL/6J mice. Estrous cycles were more variable and average length was greaterinoldermice: 4-6 month, 4.3 ± 0.6 days per cycle; 12-month, 5.3 ± 1.3 days per cycle. Mice sacrificed at 2-h intervals during the preovulatory surge showed age-related deficits (30-50%) of plasma LH, Prl and P. Although peak LH did not differ between the age groups, the older mice had smaller LH elevations during the ascending and descending portion of the surge. Elevations of P were lower in older mice throughout the surge. LH and P were correlated during the ascending phase of the preovulatory surge at the onset of darkness. This correlation supports the hypothesis that elevations of P at proestrus are driven by increases of LH and that the smaller elevation of P in aging mice resulted mainly from reduced LH. Older mice with regular 4-day cycles or with longer cycles had lower P than younger mice of either cycle length class. Since there was a similar effect of age but not of cycle length on PrI at this time, we conclude that age effects on P and PrI do not result from age associated changes in cycle length. The elevations of PrI during the surge were smaller in older mice; this result argues against the possibility that age-related increases of Prl are a cause of irregular cycles. About 40% of 12-month-old mice were acyclic: 32% were in persistent vaginal cornification (PVC) and 8% were in persistent diestrus (PD). Mice in PVC had low P and LH, but moderately elevated PrI; mice in PD had low LH, but moderately elevated P and PrI. These data suggest that the onset of age-related disturbances in LH regulation does not initially result from elevated PrI and that elevated PrI is consequent to the noncycling status.
Desulfosporosinus youngiae sp. nov., a spore-forming, sulfate-reducing bacterium isolated from a constructed wetland treating acid mine drainage.

Strain JW/YJL-B18T, a spore-forming, sulfate-reducing bacterium, was isolated from constructed wetland sediment. Cells were curved rods, 0.7–1.2 μm in diameter and 3–7 μm long. Despite being phylogenetically a member of the Gram-type-positive phylum Firmicutes, cells stained Gram-negative at all growth phases. Strain JW/YJL-B18T grew at 8–39 °C, with an optimum at 32–35 °C and no growth at 4 °C or below or at 42 °C or above. The pH25 °C range for growth was 5.7–8.2, with an optimum at pH25 °C 7.0–7.3, and no growth was detected at or below pH 5.2 or at or above pH 8.4. The salinity range for growth was 0–3 % (NaCl/KCl 9 : 1). Strain JW/YJL-B18T utilized as carbon and energy sources beef extract, yeast extract, formate, succinate, lactate, pyruvate, ethanol and toluene. Fumarate, sulfate, sulfite and thiosulfate were reduced in the presence of lactate. Arsenate (V) was not used as an electron acceptor. Strain JW/YJL-B18T showed no indication of growth under autotrophic conditions. The predominant cellular fatty acids were C16 : 1 and C16 : 0. The genomic DNA G+C content was 36.6 mol% (HPLC). 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain JW/YJL-B18T fell into the genus Desulfosporosinus, with Desulfosporosinus auripigmenti OREX-4T as its closest neighbour with a validly published name (97.9 % similarity). Based on molecular genetic evidence and physiological and biochemical characters including differences in the DNA G+C content, we propose to place strain JW/YJL-B18T (=DSM 17734T =ATCC BAA-1261T) as the type strain of a novel species, Desulfosporosinus youngiae sp. nov.
Environmental enrichment and social interaction improve cognitive function and decrease reactive oxidative species in normal adult mice

Environmental stimulation and increased social interactions stimulate cognitive performance, while decrease in these parameters can exacerbate cognitive decline as a function of illness, injury, or age. We examined the impact of environmental stimulation and social interactions on cognitive performance in healthy adult C57B1/6J mice. Mice were housed for 1 month individually or in groups of three (to prevent or allow social interaction) in either a standard environment (SE) or an enlarged cage containing nesting material and items classically utilized to stimulate exploration and activity (“enriched environment”; EE). Cognitive performance was tested by Y maze navigation and Novel Object Recognition (NOR; which compares the relative amount of time mice spent investigating a novel vs. a familiar object). Mice maintained for 1 month under isolated conditions in the SE statistically declined in performance versus baseline in the Y maze (p < 0.02; ANOVA). Performance under all other conditions did not change ...
Elevated BMI and Male Sex Are Associated with Greater Underreporting of Caloric Intake as Assessed by Doubly Labeled Water

Background: Inaccuracies in energy intake (EI) measurement hinder identification of risk factors that predict weight gain and evaluation of obesity prevention and treatment interventions. Research has used objective measures of EI to identify underreporting correlates, producing mixed results, suggesting the need to examine novel potential correlates. Objective: With the use of an objective measure of EI from doubly labeled water (DLW) this report examined multiple potential underreporting correlates. Methods: Adolescents from 2 studies (study 1, n = 91; mean age: 18.4 6 0.58 y; 100% female; study 2, n = 162; mean age: 15.2 6 1.99 y; 82 female adolescents; 80 male adolescents) completed a DLW assessment of EI, a food-frequency questionnaire, and measures of perceived pressure for thinness, thin-ideal internalization, body dissatisfaction, dieting, food-cue reactivity, eating disorder symptoms, socioeconomic status, and neural response to food; BMI (in kg/m 2 ) was measured over a 2-y follow-up. Results: Elevated BMI correlated with underreported EI in study 1 (r = 0.26, P < 0.05) and study 2 (r = 0.20, P = 0.01), as did male sex in study 2 (r = 0.24, P < 0.01); the other survey measures did not. Underreporting correlated negatively (r = 20.29; uncorr P < 0.001) with responsivity of brain regions implicated in motor control to palatable food receipt and positively (r = 0.31; uncorr P < 0.001) with responsivity of a region implicated in taste processing to cues signaling impending milkshake receipt. Underreporting did not predict future change in BMI in either study. Conclusions: Findings document marked underreporting and replicate evidence that BMI correlates positively with underreporting and extends this literature by revealing that several novel factors were unrelated to underreporting and further that neural responsivity to food correlated with underreporting, suggesting that adolescents who showed reduced responsivity in a motor control region to food receipt and elevated responsivity of gustatory regions to anticipated palatable food receipt showed greater underreporting. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00433680 and NCT02084836. JN utrdoi: 10.3945/jn.115.216366.
Investigational therapies targeting quorum-sensing for the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infections

Introduction: Antibiotic resistance is a serious global health concern for developed and developing nations. MRSA represents a particularly severe public health threat that is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The lack of novel antibiotics has led scientists to explore therapies targeting bacterial virulence mechanisms and virulence regulators, including those controlling cell–cell communication.Areas covered: The authors discuss the role of quorum-sensing in Staphylococcus aureus infections and components of the system that are being targeted using novel investigational drugs. In particular, the authors examine the role of the accessory gene regulator (Agr) system in virulence regulation of S. aureus pathogenesis. Finally, the authors present and compare natural and synthetic compounds that have been found to interfere with Agr functionality.Expert opinion: There is a great need to develop new therapeutic methods to combat S. aureus infections. These include anti-virulence therapies that targ...
An accurate linear approximation method utilizing a bipartite reciprocal table for a floating point divider

With the advent of fast multipliers, the latency of a floating point division is greatly reduced using a multiplicative method rather than a subtractive one. For most multiplicative division algorithms, an initial reciprocal approximation of the divisor is largely obtained by a look-up table method. Once the initial approximation is made, it is refined by the use of a functional iteration method until the accuracy of the reciprocal approximation of the divisor is accurate enough to produce the final quotient. This paper introduces a look-up table construction method using the concept of a bipartite reciprocal table that is applied to a piecewise linear approximation. The error of the linear approximation proposed in this paper is less than a quarter of an ulp (unit in the last place). The latency of this reciprocal unit is 3 cycles for the IEEE-754 double precision operation.
Required coefficient of friction during turning at self-selected slow, normal, and fast walking speeds

This study investigated the relationship of required coefficient of friction to gait speed, obstacle height, and turning strategy as participants walked around obstacles of various heights. Ten healthy, young adults performed 90° turns around corner pylons of four different heights at their self selected normal, slow, and fast walking speeds using both step and spin turning strategies. Kinetic data was captured using force plates. Results showed peak required coefficient of friction (RCOF) at push off increased with increased speed (slow μ=0.38, normal μ=0.45, and fast μ=0.54). Obstacle height had no effect on RCOF values. The average peak RCOF for fast turning exceeded the OSHA safety guideline for static COF of μ>0.50, suggesting further research is needed into the minimum static COF to prevent slips and falls, especially around corners.
Efficient thermal modeling of SOI MOSFETs for fast dynamic operation

An efficient dynamic thermal model has been developed for silicon-on-insulator (SOI) MOSFETs. The model is derived from the variational principle using a thermal functional, and is able to describe extremely fast dynamic thermal behavior in SOI devices subjected to sudden changes in power generation. The developed model is further converted into a thermal circuit with time-varying thermal resistances and capacitances. With the circuit implemented in a circuit simulator, these time-varying thermal resistances and capacitances are able to reasonably capture extremely fast temperature evolution in SOI devices without including a large number of nodes. The developed dynamic thermal model and circuit are verified with the rigorous device simulation including self-heating.
Assessing the effects of land use and land cover patterns on thermal conditions using landscape metrics in city of Indianapolis, United States

Direct applications of remote sensing thermal infrared (TIR) data in landscape ecological research are rare due to limitations in the sensors, calibration, and difficulty in interpretation. Currently there is a general lack of methodology for examining the relationship between land surface temperatures (LST) derived from TIR data and landscape patterns extracted from optical sensors. A separation of landscapes into values directly related to their scale and signature is a key step. In this study, a Landsat ETM+ image of Indianapolis, Unites States, acquired on June 22, 2000, was spectrally unmixed (using spectral mixture analysis, SMA) into fraction endmembers of green vegetation, soil, high albedo, and low albedo. Impervious surface was then computed from the high and low albedo images. A hybrid classification procedure was developed to classify the fraction images into seven land use and land cover (LULC) classes. Using the fractional images, the landscape composition and pattern were examined. Next, pixel-based LST measurements were correlated with the landscape fractional components to investigate LULC based relationships between LST and impervious surface and green vegetation fractions. An examination of the relationship between the LULC and LST maps with landscape metrics was finally conducted to deepen understanding of their interactions. Results indicate that SMA-derived fraction images were effective for quantifying the urban morphology and for providing reliable measurements of biophysical variables. LST was found to be positively correlated with impervious surface fraction but negatively correlated with green vegetation fraction. Each temperature zone was associated with a dominant LULC category. Further research should be directed to the theoretical and applied implications of describing such relationships between LULC patterns and urban thermal conditions.
Efficacy of Four Molluscicides Against the Giant African Snail, Lissachatina fulica (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Achitinidae)

The giant African snail (GAS), Lissachatina fulica Bowdich is one of the world’s most pestiferous snail species. This invasive pest was discovered in Miami, Florida in Sep 2011. Shortly thereafter, an eradication program was implemented by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in conjunction with the United States Department of Agriculture. In the past, most mollusc eradication efforts have relied on metaldehyde and carbamate-based products that may also have deleterious effects on humans and non-target vertebrates. This study compared the efficacy of 4 commercially available molluscicides: a metaldehyde and carbamate-based bait (Ortho Bug-Geta Plus) and 3 more environmentally “friendly” formulations, including 2 iron-based baits (Ferroxx and Sluggo) and 1 boric acidbased bait (Niban) to elicit mortality in laboratory populations of GAS. Bait formulations were evaluated using a combination of choice and no-choice tests. OrthoBug-Geta Plus was the most effective molluscicide and produced mortality between 69.2% in choice tests and 71.7% in no-choice tests. Sluggo produced a mortality of 49.2% in choice tests and 59.2% in no-choice tests. Niban produced the highest mortality of all the baits evaluated in the no-choice test at 74.2% but was much less effective in choice tests with a 48.3% mortality rate. Ferroxx caused some mortality, 50.8%, but was statistically no different than Sluggo in the no-choice test. Mean percent mortality was significantly higher in adults and neonates compared to juveniles in all treatments. Sluggo, Niban and Ferroxx all proved to be significantly less toxic than Ortho Bug-Geta Plus in choice tests. Although Niban had a very high mortality rate in the no-choice tests, when given a choice mortality declined sharply indicating that this product is not very attractive to GAS. Of the 2 iron based products, Sluggo and Ferroxx, Ferroxx was less effective at 35.8% mortality in the choice tests. While only having a moderate mortality rate, Sluggo was deemed to be effective enough to incorporate into Florida’s eradication program.
Introduction to SIMFACTORY 11.5

This paper provides a brief introduction to SIMFACTORY and explains how models can be developed without programming. The type of users who benefit most from SIMFACTORY, the types of systems SIMFACTORY can model, and the various implementations of SIMFACTORY are also described.
Onychoschizia: Scanning electron microscopy

The distal ends of the fingernails of four women with onychoschizia were studied with scanning electron microscopy. The dorsal surface and tip of each nail showed horizontal lamellar separations representing single cell layers. Some cleavage lines extended proximally into the nail plate, revealing remarkable sculptured cell surfaces deep within the plate. These observations indicate that the lamellar splitting of onychoschizia occurs between cell layers. This presumably results from repeated trauma to a nail plate with diminished adherence between cell layers, secondary to the dissolution of intercellular cement by detergents and nail polish solvents. (J AM ACAD DERMATOL 10:623–627, 1984.)
The Marginal and Time-Varying Effect of Public Approval on Presidential Success in Congress

We analyze the relationship between public approval and presidential success in Congress using time-varying parameter regression methods. Cues from constituency, ideology, and party dominate congressional vote choice, so the effect of public approval of the president is typically marginal. Because the strength of these primary cues varies through time, the effect of public approval on presidential success should also be time varying. Analysis of conflictual roll-call votes from 1953 through 2000 using the time-varying Kalman filter reveals that the effect of public approval on presidential success is marginal and changing through time. These models assume that the time variation is a stochastic process, and finding time-varying relationships may indicate model misspecification. Our theory, however, suggests that this time variation depends on a systematic factor—partisanship. A better specified model that allows systematic parameter variation confirms that the level of partisanship conditions the relation...
Enterprise Architecture: Driving Business Benefits from it

Enterprise architecture is the organizing logic for business processes and IT infrastructure, reflecting the integration and standardization requirements of the firm's operating model. CISR research has found that firms go through four stages of architecture maturity as they learn to enhance the strategic capabilities of IT. Recognizing the learning acquired in each of the architecture stages can help firms invest wisely and maximize benefits ranging from faster IT response times to increased strategic impact from IT.
Dilute-Acid Hydrolysis of Lignocellulosic Biomass

In recent years, treatment of lignocellulosic biomass with dilute sulfuric acid has been primarily used as a means of hemicellulose hydrolysis and pretreatment for enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose. A significant advancement has also been made in the area of dilute acid hydrolysis of cellulose. An overview of reactor theory as it applies to the dilute acid hydrolysis and recent developments in the process technology are discussed. The focus of the new development is the emergence of a counter-current shrinking-bed reactor. In a counter-current reactor scheme, the major portion of the sugar is produced near the liquid outlet point. This minimizes the residence time for the sugar to decompose. Bed shrinking occurs due to partial solubilization of the solid biomass. A properly designed shrinking-bed reactor can reduce the liquid throughput thus raising the sugar concentration. A broader range of reaction conditions has also been explored. These activities contribute to a phenomenal improvement in the dilute acid hydrolysis technology placing it to the point where it can compete with the enzymatic process.
Treatment of Refractory Status Epilepticus

Refractory status epilepticus (RSE) is typically defined as seizure activity lasting more than 1 h that has not been terminated by first- or second-line treatment (1). Based on the results of a randomized controlled trial, lorazepam is commonly accepted as a first-line treatment agent for status epilepticus (2). Phenytoin (or fosphenytoin) is frequently used next, but the likelihood of successful treatment with traditional anticonvulsants is low after failure of the first agent (3). Selection of the third and fourth agents is a matter of controversy, and not the subject of any randomized trials.
Were the Good Old Days that Good?: Evolution of Corporate Ownership and Governance Since the Great Depression

This paper studies how ownership and governance of publicly-traded corporations have evolved since the Great Depression. Despite the widespread view from Berle and Means (1932) onward that ownership of firms is increasingly separated from managerial control of those firms, almost no time-series research exists to investigate this question. A previously neglected 1935 ownership survey of all exchange-traded firms undertaken by the Securities and Exchange Commission provides the earliest available source on ownership for a large cross-section of U.S. firms. We collect other firm-level data from the Moody's Manuals to create a comprehensive data base of roughly 1,600 publicly-traded firms from 60 years ago. For the 1990s, we create a modern comparison sample of approximately 5,000 exchange-listed firms using CD-ROM data bases. Contrary to Berle and Means (1932), we find that managerial ownership of publicly-traded firms has increased, not decreased, during the century. The average percentage of shares held by a firm's officers and directors has risen from 13 percent to 22 percent between 1935 and 1995. We then investigate possible explanations for the increase in managerial ownership. In doing so, we also will be illustrating how access to the public capital markets has evolved as the markets and regulations have changed. Among the alternative explanations we examine are changes in: the selection, age, and industry mix of publicly-traded firms, the use of alternative mechanisms to align the incentives of managers with owners, the relationship between ownership and performance, and the determinants of "optimal" ownership structure. Age and industry composition do not seem to account for the changes, and the ownership-performance relationship appears to be stable over time. Our preliminary results suggest that the high volatility of the financial markets earlier in the century may be an important factor contributing to lower "optimal" managerial ownership (due to either risk-aversion or greater difficulty of diversification) then than now. In addition to addressing basic issues in the theory of the firm, the results of this study highlight the importance of understanding how capital markets and corporate governance systems develop and interact in order to inform debates concerning the financial reform in both developed and emerging market economies.
Nickel bis-m-terphenylisocyanide dihalide complexes formed from 1,2-alkyl dihalides: probing for isolable β-haloalkyl complexes of square planar nickel

AbstractThe pentachloroethyl complex NiCl(CCl2CCl3)(CNArMes2)2 (ArMes2 = 2,6-(2,4,6-Me3C6H2)2C6H3) was recently shown to be a unique example of an isolable β-chloroalkyl complex of square planar nickel. In an effort to generate additional β-haloalkyl complexes of square planar nickel, the reactivity of the precursor complex Ni(COD)(CNArMes2)2 with alkyl halides has been probed. Treatment of Ni(COD)(CNArMes2)2 with 1,2-dichloroethane results in the exclusive formation of the dichloride complex NiCl2(CNArMes2)2 without the buildup of detectable intermediates. Similarly, Ni(COD)(CNArMes2)2 reacts with either 1,2-dibromoethane or 1,2-diiodoethane to produce the dibromide, NiBr2(CNArMes2)2, and diiodide, NiI2(CNArMes2)2, species, respectively. Observable intermediates were also not detected in these latter reactions, indicating that either β-halo elimination is rapid or 1e− halogen-atom abstraction pathways are accessible to Ni(COD)(CNArMes2)2. The sterically and electronically modified m-terphenyl isocyanides...
Pairing Correlations and Two-Nucleon Transfer Between Heavy Nuclei

This article describes recent theoretical and experimental developments for studying transfer reactions between heavy nuclei. A general discussion of reaction dynamics and pairing effects in heavy-ion transfer reactions is followed by a description of the recent development of experimental techniques. A discussion of general features of heavy-ion-induced few-nucleon transfer reactions and specific quantitative comparisons are presented, with emphasis on the study of the enhancement and the oscillating nature of two-nucleon transfer associated with pairing correlations. The article concludes with a summary of the outlook for further development of the experimental and theoretical techniques.
Auralization of NASA N+2 Aircraft Concepts from System Noise Predictions

Auralization of aircraft flyover noise provides an auditory experience that complements integrated metrics obtained from system noise predictions. Recent efforts have focused on auralization methods development, specifically the process by which source noise information obtained from semi-empirical models, computational aeroacoustic analyses, and wind tunnel and flight test data, are used for simulated flyover noise at a receiver on the ground. The primary focus of this work, however, is to develop full vehicle auralizations in order to explore the distinguishing features of NASA's N+2 aircraft vis-a-vis current fleet reference vehicles for single-aisle and large twin-aisle classes. Some features can be seen in metric time histories associated with aircraft noise certification, e.g., tone-corrected perceived noise level used in the calculation of effective perceived noise level. Other features can be observed in sound quality metrics, e.g., loudness, sharpness, roughness, fluctuation strength and tone-to-noise ratio. A psychoacoustic annoyance model is employed to establish the relationship between sound quality metrics and noise certification metrics. Finally, the auralizations will serve as the basis for a separate psychoacoustic study aimed at assessing how well aircraft noise certification metrics predict human annoyance for these advanced vehicle concepts.
Blackberry, raspberry and black raspberry polyphenol extracts attenuate angiotensin II-induced senescence in vascular smooth muscle cells

Activation of angiotensin II (Ang II) signaling during aging increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) leading to vascular senescence, a process linked to the onset and progression of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Consumption of fruits and vegetables, particularly berries, is associated with decreased incidence of CVD, which has mainly been attributed to the polyphenol content of these foods. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the role of blackberry (BL), raspberry (RB), and black raspberry (BRB) polyphenol extracts in attenuating Ang II-induced senescence in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and to determine the molecular mechanisms involved. BL, RB and BRB polyphenol extracts (200 μg ml-1) attenuated Ang II-induced senescence, denoted by decreased number of cells positive for senescence associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) and down-regulation of p21 and p53 expression, which were associated with decreased ROS levels and Ang II signaling. BL polyphenol extract increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) 1 expression, attenuated the up-regulation of Nox1 expression and the phosphorylation of Akt, p38MAPK and ERK1/2 induced by Ang II, and reduced senescence in response to Nox1 overexpression. In contrast, RB and BRB polyphenol extracts up-regulated the expression of SOD1, SOD2, and glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1), but exerted no effect on Nox1 expression nor on senescence induced by Nox1 overexpression. BRB reduced signaling similar to BL, while RB was unable to reduce Akt phosphorylation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that inhibition of Akt, p38MAPK and ERK1/2 as well as down-regulation of Nox1 by siRNA prevented senescence induced by Ang II. Our findings indicate that Ang II-induced senescence is attenuated by BL polyphenols through a Nox1-dependent mechanism and by RB and BRB polyphenols in a Nox1-independent manner, likely by increasing the cellular antioxidant capacity.
Maxima, Minima, and the Mean Value Theorem

Many everyday problems in the biological, social, and physical sciences require that we find the exact situation in which some quantity is maximal or minimal. For instance, a stamping machine should make coins rapidly; but when it runs too fast, the rate at which inspectors reject faulty stampings increases and profits are diminished. Thus there is an optimal operating speed at which profit is maximal.
Counting Problems That Involve Symmetry

Symmetric functions are used to prove Polya’s enumeration theorem, allowing us to count objects modulo symmetries.
Particle filter-based dual estimation for synchronous generators

This study proposes a particle filter (PF)-based dual estimation method for tracking the dynamic states of a synchronous generator. The authors consider the situation where the field voltage measurements are not readily available. The PF is modified to treat the field voltage as an unknown input which is sequentially estimated along with the other dynamic states. To exploit the tracking results from the estimator, the authors consider the application of use the estimated field voltage to identify internal failures in the excitation subsystem. The proposed method is tested on a 10-machine, 39-bus system to assess selectivity between estimation for regular external disturbances and both physical failure, and modelling abnormality within excitation system. The presented studies show that the proposed method (i) provides reasonable tracking results for the dynamic states and the field voltage simultaneously, (ii) rapidly tracks minor excitation loss due to exciter internal failure while maintaining selectivity and (iii) is robust to measurement noise.
Queer Resistance: LGBTQ Students and Allies in Mississippi Adult and Higher Education

We open this chapter by questioning the assumption that Mississippi has always been a hostile space for LGBTQ people. We offer some historical evidence that there was, at one point, a sort of tense tolerance for same-sex sexual behavior in the state, and the rise of overt and vehement anti-LGBTQ sentiment appears to be somewhat linked to the civil rights era. We then turn to describing the work that has occurred, especially in recent years, on Mississippi’s college campuses around LGBTQ issues. We describe the challenges inherent in such work, as well as some of the efforts that have been successful. Then, we describe community organizations and adult educational spaces in which LGBTQ work has occurred and is occurring. Again, we describe the successes of such efforts as well as the challenges those efforts have faced. We close by theorizing a way forward in LGBTQ resistance in the state.
Response to: ‘Association between bisphosphonate use and risk of undergoing knee replacement in osteoarthritis patients’ by Chen et al

We thank Dr Chen and colleagues for their interest in our paper.1 As outlined in our paper,2 the definition of knee osteoarthritis (OA) was based on diagnosis by the patient’s general practitioner (GP), which is recorded as a read code in The Health Improvement Network (THIN). Because these are patients who are being …
Re-election incentives and deforestation cycles in the Brazilian Amazon

Abstract Despite expansive research on Amazonian deforestation and its drivers, the role of local politics is not well understood. Using a panel data set that combines municipal-level deforestation and election data from 2002 to 2012, I estimate the effect of an incumbent mayor running for re-election on deforestation rates in election periods. I find that deforestation rates increase 8–10% in election years when an incumbent mayor runs for re-election, an amount equivalent to four percent of the total forest lost since the 2004 elections. Electoral deforestation cycles do not appear to be driven by changes in agricultural policy implementation and activity, but are linked to corruption and campaign finance, suggesting that weak institutional constraints facilitate electoral manipulation of forest resources. This phenomenon is not likely limited to Amazonian forests; re-election incentives could very well lead to misallocation of other natural resources in alternate geographies.
Compatible cubic volume and basal area projection equations for thinned old-field loblolly pine plantations

Compatible equations for predicting cubic volume and basal area growth were de- veloped by simultaneously estimating the coefficients in both models. The simultaneous estimation procedure gave stable estimates for the basal area projection equation regardless of the merchant- ability definitions imposed in the volume projection equation. Prediction equations were fitted using the simultaneous estimation procedure with growth data from thinned loblolly pine plan- tations established on' old-field sites in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain of Virginia. FOREST SCI. 30:86-93.
``Speaking to Moyshe'': The early socialist Yiddish press and its readers

The founding of Di arbeter tsaytung marked an important turningpoint in the intertwined histories of the American Jewish labormovement and the Yiddish press. Coinciding with a major strike wave in 1890, Di arbeter tsaytung signaled the entrance of social-democracy into the mainstream of Jewish immigrant life.At the same time, the founding of the newspaper and its subsequentsuccess consolidated a process of ``yiddishization.'' This processwas twofold: the newspaper attracted a growing number of Russian-speaking intellectuals to Yiddish and gave institutionalform to their position as leaders in the nascent Jewish labormovement, and in the larger public sphere. By the middle of the 1890s,the press had become the core institution of the Jewish labormovement and the focal point of the socialist Yiddish intelligentsia.
Immune-related tumor response dynamics as a marker for survival and treatment benefit during PD-1 inhibitor therapy.

9521Background: PD-1 inhibitors are promising anti-cancer agents and are associated with unique immune-related response patterns. We characterized patterns of tumor response dynamics on CT scans du...
Engineering, Physical Therapy and the Community: A Service Learning Course

The School of Engineering and the Physical Therapy program at the University of North Florida developed a novel, community-based course where undergraduate engineering students are partnered with physical therapy students. In this course students participate in hands-on, team-based design projects focused on low-tech and high-tech rehabilitation technology for children with disabilities. The impact of this interprofessional education experience on the students has been evaluated using the Public Service Motivation Scale for three years and its impact on the students is presented.
Learning Tensor-Based Representations from Brain-Computer Interface Data for Cybersecurity

Understanding, modeling, and explaining neural data is a challenging task. In this paper, we learn tensor-based representations of electroencephalography (EEG) data to classify and analyze the underlying neural patterns related to phishing detection tasks. Specifically, we conduct a phishing detection experiment to collect the data, and apply tensor factorization to it for feature extraction and interpretation. Traditional feature extraction techniques, like power spectral density, autoregressive models, and Fast Fourier transform, can only represent data either in spatial or temporal dimension; however, our tensor modeling leverages both spatial and temporal traits in the input data. We perform a comprehensive analysis of the neural data and show the practicality of multi-way neural data analysis. We demonstrate that using tensor-based representations, we can classify real and phishing websites with accuracy as high as 97%, which outperforms state-of-the-art approaches in the same task by 21%. Furthermore, the extracted latent factors are interpretable, and provide insights with respect to the brain’s response to real and phishing websites.
Incidence of Knee Injuries on Artificial Turf Versus Natural Grass in National Collegiate Athletic Association American Football: 2004-2005 Through 2013-2014 Seasons:

Background:The use of artificial turf in American football continues to grow in popularity, and the effect of these playing surfaces on athletic injuries remains controversial. Knee injuries accoun...
Movimiento voices on campus: The newspapers of the Chicana/o student movement

The political communication of the Chicana/o student movement of the 1960s and 1970s took place primarily through various forms of print media, with campus based student newspapers figuring prominently within that particular historical moment. At their peak, at least 48 Chicana/o student newspapers were produced on campuses throughout the country, marking these publications as both the principal and ideal format through which the flow of cultural and political information was channeled between movement publics, both on and off college campuses. Yet, the history of these publications has not been thoroughly documented, nor has the discursive legacy of this form of communicative resistance been fully examined. This paper provides a brief history of the emergence and significance of these student newspapers on campuses across the United States, focusing on how campus activists established this form of community media to help advocate on behalf of Chicana/o students and their broader publics.
Revealing the Dynamics of Hybrid Metal Halide Perovskite Formation via Multimodal In Situ Probes

Author(s): Song, TB; Yuan, Z; Mori, M; Motiwala, F; Segev, G; Masquelier, E; Stan, CV; Slack, JL; Tamura, N; Sutter-Fella, CM | Abstract: The exploration of the synthetic space of halide perovskites hinges on an enormous number of parameters requiring time-consuming experimentation to decouple and optimize. Here, the formation of the prototype material CH3NH3PbI3 (MAPbI3) is investigated at different time and length scales using multimodal in situ measurements to monitor the evolution of crystalline phases, morphology, and photoluminescence as a function of the lead precursors. Kinetically fast formation of crystalline precursor phases already during the spin-coat deposition is observed using lead iodide (PbI2) or lead chloride (PbCl2) routes. These precursor phases most likely template final MAPbI3 film morphology. In particular, the emergence of the “needle-like” structure is shown to appear before film annealing. In situ photoluminescence measurements suggest nanoscale nucleation followed by rapid nuclei densification and growth. Using this multimodal in situ approach, different formation pathways can be identified either via precursor phases in the PbI2 and PbCl2 routes or direct perovskite formation from molecular building blocks as observed in the lead acetate (PbAc2) route. Correlation of in situ results with photovoltaic device performance demonstrates the power of in situ multimodal techniques, paves the way to a fast screening of synthetic parameters, and ultimately leads to controlled synthetic procedures that yield high-efficiency devices.
Superimposed Pilot for Multi-Cell Multi-User Massive FD-MIMO Systems

In this paper, superimposed pilot based communication strategies are investigated for a time-division duplex (TDD)-based massive Full-Dimension MIMO (FD-MIMO) network jointly considering both uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) performance. To be specific, the DL multi-cell multi-user MIMO operation is connected to UL channel estimation through the superimposed pilot. The performance of UL channel estimation is analytically characterized and the estimated UL channel is linked to the DL MIMO operation for the massive MIMO network. In this way, the corresponding feedback for DL channel state information (CSI) can be eliminated while the UL pilot overhead can be minimized. Results suggest that superimposed pilot could significantly improve the overall network performance of a massive FD-MIMO network.
Repeated Remote Ischemic Conditioning Reduces Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity

Abstract Objectives This study investigated the cardioprotective effect of repeated remote ischemic preconditioning (rRIC) on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in mice. Background Doxorubicin is a...