cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Approximate sample entropy analysis: A novel approach for the development of cervical neoplasia gene-expression signatures.

B21 Genomic heterogeneity is a characteristic feature of nearly all solid tumors, appearing early in tumor progression. Over time, early genomic instability evolutionarily leads to a molecularly heterogeneous population of cells naturally selected for their abilities to proliferate and invade, while simultaneously evading host defenses. The selection process, influenced by the unique to the tumor host environment, results in a further diverse intrapatient tumor population which is responsible for the clinical heterogeneity of the disease. We propose that encompassing of this heterogeneity in the data analysis will aid in capturing the diversity within the cancer subgroups and in the identification of subgroup specific gene expression profiles. We introduce Approximate Entropy as a mathematical method of analysis for microarray data. Approximate entropy is traditional utilized in analysis of temporal patterns. It is uniquely applied here as a method to classify the complex gene expression patterns resultant of a clinical sample set. Since Entropy is a measure of disorder in a system, we believe that by choosing genes which display minimum entropy in normal controls and maximum entropy in the cancerous sample set, we will be able to distinguish those genes which display the greatest variability in the cancerous set. These genes can then be used to classify an unknown biopsy into one of these groups based on the calculated entropy of the sample. Methods: RNA extracted from cervical biopsies was used for analysis by cDNA microarrays. The gene expression patterns generated were analyzed using Approximate Sample Entropy Analysis (ApSE). Briefly, we will establish a normal baseline of unchanging genes in the normal cervical biopsies. This set of genes will be further limited to those which display the maximum deviation from the normal baseline and the greatest probability to differentiate between normal cervix and invasive carcinoma as calculated by approximate sample entropy. Ten genes, from the best two subsets were chosen for quantitative real-time validation of their expression patterns and the subsets classification potential. Results: We have identified 208 possible genes which are unchanging in all normal tissue samples, yet exhibit a random pattern indicative of the progression of genetic heterogeneity in malignant cells. This may be measured in terms of the ApSE when compared to normal tissue. We have validated 10 of the genes of interest on 10 Normal and 20 independent cancer and CIN3 samples. We report that the predictive value of the sample entropy calculation for these 11 genes of interest is promising and anticipate that expanding array test matrix will provide the calculation with more statistical power. Conclusions: The success of the Approximate Sample Entropy approach in discerning alterations in complexity from biological system with such relatively small sample set, and extracting biologically relevant
Enhancing Resilience of Bridges to Extreme Events by Rapid Damage Assessment and Response Strategies

The U.S. highway transportation network consists of more than 650,000 bridges that are essential to maintaining the performance of the network. The existing bridges are, however, vulnerable to a variety of natural and manufactured (human-caused) hazards and may act as bottlenecks in the case of any failures. The most common extreme events include natural hazards, such as ground excitation during earthquakes, high wind and storm surges in hurricanes, and scouring and debris impacts during floods. Despite several advances in the technologies available for the design of new bridges and the retrofitting of existing ones, incidents in which bridges fail partially or completely after an extreme event still occur. In such cases, it is important for the federal, state, and local authorities to identify the damaged bridges, quantify the extent of the damage, plan for rapid recovery, and provide alternative routes for emergency response and evacuation activities. For this purpose, NCHRP Synthesis Topic 46-11 gather...
Uncoordinated: Effects of sublethal malathion and carbaryl exposures on juvenile and adult blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus)

Abstract Blue crabs are an important ecological and economic estuarine species that may be inadvertently exposed to pesticides commonly used for pest and vector control. The lethal and sub-lethal effects of two such pesticides, malathion and carbaryl, on juvenile and adult blue crab survival and muscular functioning were investigated by measuring changes in mortality, righting time (RT) 1 , and eyestalk reflexes following a single exposure at 3 environmentally occurring concentrations (1 μg/L, 10 μg/L, 100 μg/L). These sublethal responses serve as a proxy for understanding the effects of exposure on behaviors critical to blue crab survival (e.g., predator escape and foraging). Effects on blue crab responses varied with pesticide-type, concentration, life-stage, and exposure-time. In short, all malathion and carbaryl exposures significantly increased juvenile and adult crab RT and abnormal eyestalk responses within 1–12 h of exposure. Significant lethal effects were only observed in adult crabs exposed to 100 μg/L malathion. Thus, a single exposure to low and legally allowable concentrations (i.e., 1–10 μg/L) of either insecticide negatively affected blue crab behaviors. Reduced survival and coordination may harm blue crab populations directly via toxicity or indirectly through decreased foraging or increased predation risk. Blue crabs are important components of estuarine food webs, and changes in their populations or behaviors may have broad ecological consequences. Ultimately, pesticide-stressors may play an important but underestimated role in U.S. blue crab population declines and in coastal ecosystems in which invertebrate predators are important.
Reinforcement Learning Approach for Optimal Distributed Energy Management in a Microgrid

In this paper, a multiagent-based model is used to study distributed energy management in a microgrid (MG). The suppliers and consumers of electricity are modeled as autonomous agents, capable of making local decisions in order to maximize their own profit in a multiagent environment. For every supplier, a lack of information about customers and other suppliers creates challenges to optimal decision making in order to maximize its return. Similarly, customers face difficulty in scheduling their energy consumption without any information about suppliers and electricity prices. Additionally, there are several uncertainties involved in the nature of MGs due to variability in renewable generation output power and continuous fluctuation of customers’ consumption. In order to prevail over these challenges, a reinforcement learning algorithm was developed to allow generation resources, distributed storages, and customers to develop optimal strategies for energy management and load scheduling without prior information about each other and the MG system. Case studies are provided to show how the overall performance of all entities converges as an emergent behavior to the Nash equilibrium, benefiting all agents.
Single shot avalanche energy characterization of 10kV, 10A 4H-SiC MOSFETs

Higher switching frequency capability and lower switching loss associated with 10kV 4H-SiC MOSFETs make them attractive for medium voltage applications, mostly in inductive circuits e.g. solid state transformers, grid connectors and high speed machine drives. Due to exposure to inductive circuits, avalanche ruggedness of these MOSFETs needs to be established to improve their reliability in case of unintended unclamped inductive switching. In this paper, the avalanche ruggedness of 10kV, 10A 4H-SiC MOSFETs is established experimentally using single shot unclamped inductive switching. The minimum and the maximum energy is found out for the MOSFET to remain in avalanche without being failed permanently. The junction temperature at the permanent failure is estimated using semiconductor device physics.
Physics-informed machine learning for inorganic scintillator discovery

Applications of inorganic scintillators—activated with lanthanide dopants, such as Ce and Eu—are found in diverse fields. As a strict requirement to exhibit scintillation, the 4f ground state (with the electronic configuration of [Xe]4fn 5d0) and 5d1 lowest excited state (with the electronic configuration of [Xe]4fn−1 5d1) levels induced by the activator must lie within the host bandgap. Here we introduce a new machine learning (ML) based search strategy for high-throughput chemical space explorations to discover and design novel inorganic scintillators. Building upon well-known physics-based chemical trends for the host dependent electron binding energies within the 4f and 5d1 energy levels of lanthanide ions and available experimental data, the developed ML model—coupled with knowledge of the vacuum referred valence and conduction band edges computed from first principles—can rapidly and reliably estimate the relative positions of the activator’s energy levels relative to the valence and conduction band edges of any given host chemistry. Using perovskite oxides and elpasolite halides as examples, the presented approach has been demonstrated to be able to (i) capture systematic chemical trends across host chemistries and (ii) effectively screen promising compounds in a high-throughput manner. While a number of other application-specific performance requirements need to be considered for a viable scintillator, the scheme developed here can be a practically useful tool to systematically down-select the most promising candidate materials in a first line of screening for a subsequent in-depth investigation.
Toxicological Assessment of a Lignin Core Nanoparticle Doped with Silver as an Alternative to Conventional Silver Core Nanoparticles

Elevated levels of silver in the environment are anticipated with an increase in silver nanoparticle (AgNP) production and use in consumer products. To potentially reduce the burden of silver ion release from conventional solid core AgNPs, a lignin-core particle doped with silver ions and surface-stabilized with a polycationic electrolyte layer was engineered. Our objective was to determine whether any of the formulation components elicit toxicological responses using embryonic zebrafish. Ionic silver and free surface stabilizer were the most toxic constituents, although when associated separately or together with the lignin core particles, the toxicity of the formulations decreased significantly. The overall toxicity of lignin formulations containing silver was similar to other studies on a silver mass basis, and led to a significantly higher prevalence of uninflated swim bladder and yolk sac edema. Comparative analysis of dialyzed samples which had leached their loosely bound Ag⁺, showed a significant increase in mortality immediately after dialysis, in addition to eliciting significant increases in types of sublethal responses relative to the freshly prepared non-dialyzed samples. ICP-OES/MS analysis indicated that silver ion release from the particle into solution was continuous, and the rate of release differed when the surface stabilizer was not present. Overall, our study indicates that the lignin core is an effective alternative to conventional solid core AgNPs for potentially reducing the burden of silver released into the environment from a variety of consumer products.
The Grass is Greener on This Side

The pathway to education is two sided. The institutional side, and the side of the student. Often, these sides are not in sync. In this essay, I present my personal experience as a student. The process of attainment was both chaotic and filled with personal doubt. Using Anzaldua's autohistoria as the foundation, I share memories and story to situate the reader in the collective experience of many students of color. The self-awareness gained from the unfolding of pain, healing, and self-reflection throughout this process, is the empowerment of this framework (Anzaldua & Keaton, 2009). As a consequence of using this method, a new voice emerged. A voice of resistance and persistence. The essay takes the reader on a journey of hope. A journey of choices and adaptations from an immigrant’s point of view. A journey of self-discovery. This story, although not unique, traces the history and its relation to my academic struggles and barriers of assimilation, racism, and exclusion. As an immigrant student, the external forces that distract and fill one with self-doubt were in constant motion. It was the acquisition of knowledge and methorship of kind people that carried me to where I am today, and the realization of my oppression has freed me to share this memoir. This is my story.
SEROLOGIC RESPONSE TO INFECTION WITH ENTAMOEBA HISTOLYTICA

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses serologic response to infection with E. histolytica. It summarizes recent result with the indirect hemagglutination and complement fixation tests as performed by Kessel and team (1961) and Lewis and Kessel (1961). Rieber and Lewis (1964) in studying the antigens active in the H.A. and C.F. tests found that the H.A. test utilized an antigen with some characteristics of a protein, while antigenic activity in the C.F. test more closely paralleled the concentration of polysaccharides. The antigen remains stable at −20° C for 16 months or longer for the H.A. test and is more stable in the C.F. test. Summarizing results show that sera from all extra-intestinal cases yielded positive tests for both hemagglutination and complement fixation. These all gave high titers. Sera from intestinal amebiasis showed the highest positive rates and also the highest titers in the severe group and demonstrated diminishing rates and titers as symptoms lessened.
Cardiovascular Disease in Women: Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Disease in Women- Sex Differences in Disease Incidence and Prevalence. Population Representation, Diversity, Disparities

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in both men and women in the United States and most other developed countries. While the magnitude of disease risk varies among individuals based on demographic as well as biopsychosocial factors, the entire U.S. population is vulnerable to CVD. Cardiovascular disease is associated with significant health and economic burden with estimated direct and indirect cost of $312.6 billion [1]. There are more women than men who die each year of CVD. In 2009, CVD claimed the lives of 401,495 (51.0 %) women and 386,436 (49.0 %) men [1]. Despite increases in awareness over the past decade, only 54 % of women recognize that heart disease is their number 1 killer [2]. The lifetime risk of a woman developing CVD by age 50 is estimated to be 39 % [3]. Although the number of men and women who die from CVD has decreased over the past several decades, this decline is less remarkable for women as shown in Fig. 1.1. Advances in medical treatment, application of evidence-based therapies for established CVD and the modification of coronary risk factors are major contributors to this decline in mortality. Nonetheless, since 1984, more women die from CVD annually than men; coronary deaths in women exceed deaths in women from all forms of cancer combined [4].
Selective separation and characterisation of dual ACE and DPP‐IV inhibitory peptides from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) protein hydrolysates

Microwave pretreatment and hydrolysis were applied to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) by‐products to produce bioactive peptides with dual in vitro angiotensin‐I converting enzyme (ACE) and dipeptidyl‐peptidase IV (DPP‐IV) inhibitory activities. Peptides were fractionated using the single step electrodialysis with ultrafiltration membrane (EDUF). Concentration of cationic peptides (CP) increased in the recovery solution, reaching 125 μg mL⁻¹ after a 4‐h treatment with migration rate of 15.68 ± 2.98 g m⁻² h. CP fractions displayed ACE and DPP‐IV I inhibitory properties, with IC₅₀ values of 0.0036 mg mL⁻¹ and 1.23 mg mL⁻¹ respectively. The bioactivity was attributed to the low molecular weight peptides (300–500 Da) recovered. CP exhibited non‐competitive inhibition patterns for ACE and DPP‐IV, which were dose dependent. These results showed that bioactive peptides can successfully be separated from complex hydrolysate mixtures by EDUF. The fractionated peptides can serve as potential functional food ingredients or nutraceuticals for the management of hypertension and diabetes.
Distributed Ledger Technology for Document and Workflow Management in Trade and Logistics

Logistics management plays a crucial role in the execution and success of international trades. Current solutions for logistics management suffer from a number of issues. One of the major areas for improvement is inconsistent data and lack of trust and transparency between multiple participants. Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) or blockchain has the inherent characteristics to address this issue, and is well suited to be applied to supply chain document and workflow management. This paper demonstrates how to apply DLT to achieve a higher level of efficiency through consistent data store, automated workflow process, and tamper-proof transaction history for provenance in the supply chain.
Pressure-regulated synthesis of Cu(TPA)·(DMF) in microdroplets for selective CO2 adsorption.

The synthesis of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) by using traditional wet-chemistry methods generally requires very long durations and still suffers from non-uniform heat and mass transfer within the bulk precursor solutions. Towards addressing these issues, a microdroplet-based spray method has been developed. In a typical spray process, an MOF's precursor solution is first atomized into microdroplets. These droplets serve as microreactors to ensure homogeneous mixing, fast evaporation, and rapid nucleation and crystal growth to form MOF particles. However, the fundamental MOF formation mechanisms by using this strategy have not been fully understood. In this work, the role of the operating pressure in the synthesis of a representative MOF (i.e., Cu(TPA)·(DMF); TPA: terephthalic acid, DMF: dimethylformamide) was systematically investigated. Detailed characterization showed that the pressure variations significantly affected both the morphologies and crystalline structures of Cu(TPA)·(DMF). Numerical simulations revealed that the morphology changes are mainly attributed to the variations in supersaturation ratios, which are caused by different microdroplet evaporation rates due to the regulation of operating pressure, while the crystalline structure variations are closely related to the dissociation of DMF molecules at lower operating pressures. Besides, the dissociation of DMF molecules decreased the surface area of the MOF crystals, but gave rise to massive coordinatively unsaturated metal sites, which greatly enhanced the interaction of CO2 with the MOF crystal and thus led to improved CO2 adsorption capacity and selectivity. The outcome of this work would contribute to the fundamental understanding of MOF synthesis using the microdroplet-based spray method.
Structural Changes in Tubulin Sheets Caused by Immobilization on Solid Supports.

Open in a separate window In the presence of zinc, the protein tubulin assembles into two-dimensional sheets that are a useful model system for the study of both tubulin and microtubule structure. Tubulin sheets present an ideal protein structure for study with atomic force microscopy because they contain a two-dimensional crystalline protein lattice and retain many of the structural features of tubulin and microtubules. However, high-resolution imaging requires nonperturbative immobilization onto an appropriate imaging substrate. In this report, several substrates commonly used for scanning probe microscopy are evaluated for their ability to effectively immobilize tubulin sheets: mica, gold, highly ordered pyrolytic graphite, and carbon-coated electron microscopy grids. We hypothesize that the different intermolecular interactions presented by these substrates will affect the morphology of adsorbed tubulin sheets as well as the amount of other contaminating adsorbates. Tubulin sheets were successfully imaged on all of these substrates and structural characterization is reported. The most consistent results were obtained on carbon-coated electron microscopy grids, which preserved fine structural features of the sheets and had the least amount of contamination from the adsorption of unpolymerized tubulin. Images of tubulin sheets obtained with atomic force microscopy also compare favorably with published electron micrographs of sheets produced using similar procedures. This work demonstrates the importance of assessing substrate effects when studying two-dimensional protein crystals and identifies suitable substrates for immobilizing tubulin sheets.
Reproductive responses and calf birth and weaning weights as affected by body condition at parturition and postpartum weight gain in primiparous beef cows.

Effects of body condition score (BCS) at parturition and postpartum weight gain on reproduction and production responses were evaluated using 240 primiparous (21 to 28 mo) beef cows calving in 60-d periods in three states over 3 yr. Cows were randomly allotted 90 d before parturition and fed to achieve BCS of 4, 5, or 6 (1=emaciated, 9=obese) at parturition. After parturition, one-half of these cows (within state) were group-fed to gain.45 kg/d (moderate) or.90 kg/d (high) until the start of a 60-d breeding season. Cows calving in BCS of 4, 5, or 6, respectively, had calves with progressively heavier (P<.05) birth weights, but dystocia score was not influenced by BCS at calving. Parturient BCS of cows had no effect on actual or 205-d adjusted weaning weights of calves. Birth weights, dystocia score, and actual and 205-d adjusted weaning weights were affected by location (P<.05). Cows with greater weight gains postpartum had calves with heavier (P<.05) actual and 205-d adjusted weaning weights than did cows with moderate weight gains. No significant interactions among location, BCS, or postpartum nutrition-group were observed for any of the production variables described above. Greater BCS at calving resulted in more (P<.05) cows in estrus and more (P<.05) cows pregnant by 40 and 60 d of a breeding season. Luteal activity by start of breeding, as well as estrus responses and pregnancy rates at 20, 40, or 60 d of a breeding season, were affected by location (P<.05). Greater postpartum weight gain increased (P<.05) luteal activity by start of breeding and estrus responses and pregnancy rates at 20, 40, and 60 d of a breeding season. These results indicate that primiparous beef cows calving with greater BCS have heavier calves at birth without increased dystocia. More cows calving with greater BCS also exhibit estrus and become pregnant in a finite breeding season. Postpartum weight change seems to have a further additive effect on estrus responses and pregnancy rates and increases actual and adjusted 205-d weaning weights of calves
Surgical Approaches in the Treatment of Intracranial Complications of Paranasal Sinus Disease: A Review of the Literature

Background Intracranial extension of frontal or ethmoid sinusitis carries a high morbidity and mortality if not treated aggressively. With the emergence of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), we questioned whether these approaches have supplanted traditional transcranial procedures for intracranial extension of sinus disease, and whether ESS approaches had a difference in patient outcomes. Methods Studies reporting surgical management and outcomes of frontal sinus disease with intracranial extension were queried using the United States National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health PubMed database. We also queried common internet search engines. We included studies regarding sinogenic intracranial suppurative infections treated surgically with ESS and neurosurgical approaches. Studies with insufficient data regarding specific treatment methods and studies that included populations of medically treated infections were excluded. Results A total of 108 cases were identified in which patients with intracranial sinogenic disease were treated via ESS alone (morbidity: 43.5%, mortality: 0.9%), 47 cases via transcranial intervention alone (morbidity: 33.2%, mortality: 7.8%), and 43 cases via simultaneous neurosurgical and ESS approaches (morbidity: 16.3%, mortality: 6.4%). Complex sinus disease with posterior table compromise in the absence of intracranial extension treated via ESS alone was reported in 164 cases with a morbidity and mortality of 3.8% and 0%, respectively. Conclusions Combined ESS and transcranial approaches achieve definitive control of sinogenic and intracranial disease, whereas either modality alone carries a potential risk for higher morbidity and mortality. The use of ESS alone may have use in the treatment of sinusitis with posterior table erosion prior to intracranial extension.
Comparison of Continuous Versus Interrupted Chest Compressions during CPR in a Rural Community

Introduction. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in patientswith out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) have interruption ofmanual chest compressions for airway management and breathingwhen performed by medical personnel trained by Advanced CardiacLife Support (ACLS) standards. This interruption likely reducesblood flow and possibly survival. Traditional CPR (30:2 compressionsto ventilations) was compared with continuous chest compressions,CCC (also termed Cardiocerebral Resuscitation, CCR) in a ruralcommunity. Methods. A retrospective cohort analysis of three years of traditionalCPR (June 2008 - May 2011) for OHCA was compared tothree years of using CCC protocols (June 2011 - May 2014). Primaryoutcomes were survival at one and six months. Results. There were 58 0HCA patients in the six year study period(June 2008 - May 2014). Forty (69%) received CPR and 18 (31%)received CCC. Two (5%) survived at least one month with CPR andeight (44%) survived at least one month with CCC (p = 0.0007).After six months, 0/40 (0%) who received CPR had survived and6/18 (33%) who received CCC survived (p = 0.0018). For the patientfound in ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia (a shockable rhythm),0/13 (0.0%) survived one month after CPR and 7/9 (78%) survivedwith CCC (p < 0.01). After six months 0/13 (0.0%) survived withCPR and 6/9 (67%) survived with CCC (p < 0.05). Conclusions. For patients in a rural environment with OHCA, CCChad a more favorable outcome than traditional CPR. For the patientfound in ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia, there wasa profound survival benefit of CCC over CPR.Kans J Med 2018;11(4):110-113.
CD8+ T Cell Responses to Toxoplasma gondii: Lessons from a Successful Parasite

Toxoplasma gondii infection in mice provides an excellent model for the study of CD8+ T cell responses. Natural and engineered T. gondii antigens have led the way to understanding the factors regulating antigen presentation from vacuolar pathogens. T. gondii infection of resistant and sensitive mouse strains provides unique models to study both effective CD8+ T cell function and protection in a well-controlled infection attributed to a novel T cell population, and T cell exhaustion in a progressing chronic infection. Additionally, the long-term persistence of the parasite in the brain provides a unique model of neurotropic infection used to study CD8+ T cell entry, retention, and function in the brain. Here we discuss recent advances in each of these areas.
The impact of bulk electrolysis cycling conditions on the perceived stability of redox active materials

Abstract Emerging grid storage needs are motivating the discovery and development of new, potentially inexpensive redox couples for use in flow batteries. Long-term stability in electrochemical environments remains a key challenge and charge/discharge cycling in a bulk electrolysis cell is a common initial approach. However, as cycling protocols are not yet standardized, comparison between different materials is difficult. Here, using a well-studied, substituted dialkoxybenzene as a model compound, we examine the impact of cycling conditions on perceived stability. Specifically, we show that cycle time is a better measure of stability than cycle number and, for materials that are unstable in their charged state, the fractional capacity accessed is inversely related to cycle time until failure.
Neurofibromatosis Type 1 Implicates Ras Pathways in the Genetic Architecture of Neurodevelopmental Disorders

The genetic architecture of neurodevelopmental disorders is largely polygenic, non-specific, and pleiotropic. This complex genetic architecture makes the search for specific etiological mechanisms that contribute to neurodevelopmental risk more challenging. Monogenic disorders provide an opportunity to focus in on how well-articulated signaling pathways contribute to risk for neurodevelopmental outcomes. This paper will focus on neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a rare monogenic disorder that is associated with varied neurodevelopmental outcomes. Specifically, this paper will provide a brief overview of NF1 and its phenotypic associations with autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and specific learning disorders, describe how variation within the NF1 gene increases risk for neurodevelopmental disorders via altered Ras signaling, and provide future directions for NF1 research to help elucidate the genetic architecture of neurodevelopmental disorders in the general population.
The Reagan Administration and Iran-Contra

Really two scandals that flowed together, Iran-Contra was another power scandal. An analysis of the Iran portion of Iran-Contra—the illegal sale of arms to Iran to try to encourage the Iranians to help free US hostages held in the Middle-East—provides the clearest views of President Reagan’s potential involvement in this epic scandal. Once the sale of arms was made public, key figures around the President attempted to obscure and deflect Reagan’s participation by first blaming Israel and then by implicating staff members of the National Security Council. Featuring what was at most a partially deployed backfire, the management of Iran-Contra was largely driven by the complexity of the scandal itself and willingness of Reagan’s closest aides to protect the President from damage.
Toward Autonomous Adaptive Intelligence: Building Upon Neural Models of How Brains Make Minds

This article surveys the development of mathematical laws, circuits, and architectures that model how our brains make our minds, and shows how these contributions provide a blueprint for developing general-purpose autonomous adaptive algorithms and robots for intelligent applications in engineering and technology. The mathematical laws for short-term memory, medium-term memory, and long-term memory that provide the contemporary foundation for all subsequent biological neural network models were published in 1968, followed by a steady stream of model discovery and development to the present time. The Cohen–Grossberg model and theorem that was published in this journal in 1983 was one step in this series of developments. It proved global limit theorems for a general class of neural networks using a Lyapunov function as one tool. These theorems provide a guarantee that learning in these networks generates stable memories. This article surveys additional mathematical foundations for neural network design and applications and describes a modeling method for the incremental discovery of models with increasingly powerful and general functional capabilities. This method is illustrated by the adaptive resonance theory, or ART, architectures which explain how our brains autonomously learn to attend, recognize, and predict objects and events in a changing world, along the way explaining how our brains become conscious, as well as the computational constraints on learning that forced evolution to discover conscious states of mind. Multiple types of resonances support different kinds of conscious awareness and enable the explanation and prediction of large psychological and neurobiological databases about perception, cognition, emotion, and action. Because ART can be derived from a thought experiment about a universal problem of error correction in a changing world, its expanding applications to the development of autonomously intelligent systems should transform future technologies.
On the Comprehensive Balance Sheet Stress Testing and Net Interest Income Risk Attribution

The joint stress testing of net interest income interest rate risk and profit and loss from behavioral risks on a multi-horizon scenario path poses great challenges in enterprise stress testing and earnings risk attributions. We propose a framework for granular level stressed net interest income calculation and P/L attribution. The proposed framework can accommodate net interest income impact from interest rate risk, profit and losses from behavioral risks e.g. prepayments and credit defaults as well as facility and deposit contingent drawdowns at each horizon on a given scenario path. Our net interest income framework uses the matched maturity asset and liability concept to synthetically separate the loan origination risks and the Treasury strategic funding risks. It considerably simplifies the joint market and credit risk stress testing by focusing on the asset versus maturity matched liability net interest income on the asset side and the maturity matched asset versus actual liabilities cash flows on the Treasury side. In this framework there is no need for exact cash flow generation on the asset side. The focus is on the loan net interest income process which requires only the outstanding balance. The loan net interest income process is a stochastic process with behavioral events. At the time of the events, the net interest income process regime-switches to capture the event impact e.g., credit loss or prepayment with associated interest rate impact. The event based net interest income process is suitable for loan-level behavioral state path simulation models with competing risk. We also consider the corresponding net interest income process with conditional default and prepayment rate models. The obtained net interest income process can be applied to both loan-level models as well as pools of homogenous loans. We illustrate the framework with competing hazards and state transition models.
ACE2 Chromogenic Immunostaining Protocol Optimized for Formalin-fixed Paraffin Embedded Human Tissue Sections.

Summary Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a key cellular entry factor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Hence, identifying cell types that express ACE2 is important for understanding the pathophysiology of coronavirus disease 2019. We performed extensive testing of multiple primary antibodies across various human tissue types. Here, we describe an optimized protocol for immunostaining of ACE2 in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded human pancreas, small intestine, and kidney tissue sections obtained from organ donors and autopsies. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Kusmartseva et al. (2020) .
A model of anemic tissue perfusion after blood transfusion shows critical role of endothelial response to shear stress stimuli

­­ ­Although some of the cardiovascular responses to changes in hematocrit (Hct) are not fully quantified experimentally, available information is sufficient to build a mathematical model of the co...
Evaluation of chemically induced cytogenetic lesions in rabbit oocytes: II. A comparison of streptonigrin effects on somatic and germ cells

Abstract The dose-response relationships for streptonigrin (NSC-45383)-induced chromosome aberrations in rabbit somatic cells are compared with dose-response data derived from the analysis of inherited structural chromosome abnormalities in preimplantation embryos from female rabbits treated with streptonigrin prior to mating. The incidence of inherited aberrations assessed in over 1000 karyotype preparations from 361 6-day blastocysts obtained from 55 female rabbits is used to derive a measure of the transmissible cytogenetic damage induced in the oocytes. The cytogenetic damage assessed in 2300 lymphoblast metaphases from 23 rabbits and 2750 marrow-derived metaphases from 27 rabbits which were collected and prepared for examination 6 h after the initiation of streptonigrin dosing are used to obtain estimates of the somatic cell insult. A uniform maximum likelihood analysis technique is applied individually to the 3 sets of data to derive the coefficients of the dose-response relationships. The resulting equations are Y = 0.6 ± 28.0 (×10 −5 ) + 8.2 ± 5.1 (×10 −4 χ for inherited aberrations in 6-day blastocysts, Y = 9.7 ± 3.3 (×10 −3 + 1.9 ± (×10 −3 ) χ for bone-marrow cells, and Y = 2.8 ± 0.7 (×10 −2 + 4.8 ± 0.2 (×10 −3 ) χ for the lymphoblasts. In the somatic tissues Y is the percentage of cells with chromosome breakage, while in the blastocyst data Y is the percentage of 6-day blastocysts with consistent structural chromosome aberrations, and in all equations χ is the total streptonigrin dose in μg/kg. The study shows that streptonigrin injections in the range of 30–90 μg/kg when given to sexually mature female rabbits cause dose-dependent increases in chromosome aberrations in 2 types of somatic cells and in the incidence of inherited aberrations recovered in 6-day blastocysts. The coefficients of damage recovered in blastocysts versus damage recovered in somatic cells have the ratio of 1:2.3:5.8 (blastocysts: bone marrow: lymphoblasts). The results are discussed in terms of risk assessment and kinetics of aberration loss during meiosis and early embryonic development. The conclusion drawn from the study is that somatic cell cytogenetic damage is in some way predictive of damage incurred by oocytes which can be passed on to preimplantation embryos, at least for agents like streptonigrin.
d-Phosphoarabinoisomerase and d-Ribulokinase in Escherichia coli

Abstract An enzyme, d-phosphoarabinoisomerase, which stoichiometrically interconverts d-arabinose 5-phosphate and d-ribulose 5-phosphate, was isolated from Escherichia coli. At equilibrium, 75% of d-arabinose-5-P and 25% of d-ribulose-5-P are found. This unstable enzyme does not show any requirement for added cofactor, and is inhibited by Mn++, Co++, Zn++, Cd++, p-chloromercuribenzoate, and phosphate. The optimum pH is 8.0. The Km is 1.36 x 10-3 m for darabinose-5-P and 5.40 x 10-4 m for d-ribulose-5-P. The enzyme lacks activity toward d-arabinose, d-ribulose, d-ribose, and d-ribose-5-P. This enzyme not only accounts for the metabolic origin of the precursor for 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate (KDO), a constituent in the cell wall lipopolysaccharide of E. coli and some other gram-negative bacteria, but also fits into the schema suggested for the utilization of d-arabinose-1-P generated in the metabolism of d-arabinosyl nucleosides. The enzyme is absent from yeast and mouse fibroblasts. d-Arabinose-5-P was synthesized by phosphorylating d-glucosamine followed by ninhydrin degradation. The product was contaminated with d-ribulose-5-P and was purified by precipitation of the latter with borate. d-Ribulose-5-P was obtained by phosphorylating d-ribulose with a d-ribulokinase isolated from E. coli. The product showed a distinct carbonyl absorption band in its infrared spectrum. Upon periodate oxidation, phosphoglycolaldehyde was detected as a major degradation product, as was expected for d-ribulose-5-P. However, this purified preparation of d-ribulokinase also phosphorylated l-fuculose at position 1.
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry of Trimethylsilyl Derivatives of Amines

The fragmentation of twenty kinds of trimethylsilyl derivatives of amines upon electron impact is studied for the possibility of ultramicrodetermination and selective identification of amines by mass fragmentography. In addition, the selective identification of trimethylsilyl derivatives of amino acids and amines in their mass spectra is also examined. The results obtained in this study indicated that the selective identification and ultramicrodetermination of amines by mass fragmentography will be possible by monitoring the intense ion such as m/e 174. The m/e 147 ion is observed for the amines which have O-trimethylsilyl group. Both ions at m/e 147 and 59 are useful for the selective identification of amino acids and amines in their mass spectra. It is not always true that the ion at m/e 147 indicates the presence of O-trimethylsilyl group, considering from the results that this ion is observed for N-trimethylsilyl n-butyl esters and N-trimethylsilyl l-menthyl esters of amino acids.
Un estudio de la palabra QUE en canciones hispanas

Este articulo describe un paradigma de relaciones de la palabra que, una de las palabras mas usadas en espanol. Para nuestro analisis utilizamos 37 canciones populares caribenas, debido a la riqueza y variedad que tienen estas canciones en el uso del lenguaje.
Why Do Blacks Live in the Cities and Whites Live in the Suburbs

This paper estimates a discrete choice model of housing product demand to study the causes of black urbanization. Our estimation strategy incorporates that there are unobserved attributes which are correlated with observed product attributes. We bound racial differences in household willingness to pay for product attributes without implementing an instrumental variables strategy. Thus, we relax a number of assumptions implicit in "hedonic two step" housing research. Our primary explanation for excess black urbanization focuses on the disutility from commuting and the bundling of housing and labor markets.
Circadian and Homeostatic Regulation of Hypocretin in a Primate Model: Implications for the Consolidation of Wakefulness

In humans, consolidation of wakefulness into a single episode can be modeled as the interaction of two processes, a homeostatic “hour-glass” wake signal that declines throughout the daytime and a circadian wake-promoting signal that peaks in the evening. Hypocretins, novel hypothalamic neuropeptides that are dysfunctional in the sleep disorder narcolepsy, may be involved in the expression of the circadian wake-promoting signal. Hypocretins (orexins) are wake-promoting peptides, but their role in normal human sleep physiology has yet to be determined. We examined the daily temporal pattern of hypocretin-1 in the cisternal CSF of the squirrel monkey, a New World primate with a pattern of wake similar to that of humans. Hypocretin-1 levels peaked in the latter third of the day, consistent with the premise that hypocretin-1 is involved in wake regulation. When we lengthened the wake period by 4 hr, hypocretin-1 concentrations remained elevated, indicating a circadian-independent component to hypocretin-1 regulation. Changes in the stress hormone cortisol were not correlated with hypocretin-1 changes. Although hypocretin-1 is at least partially activated by a reactive homeostatic mechanism, it is likely also regulated by the circadian pacemaker. In the squirrel monkey, hypocretin-1 works in opposition to the accumulating sleep drive during the day to maintain a constant level of wake.
Rethinking Progressivism and Modernism in Urdu Poetry: Faiz Ahmed Faiz and N. M. Rashed

Literary historians of modern Urdu poetry frequently divide twentieth-century writers into two camps--progressives and modernists. In such a reading, Faiz Ahmad Faiz (1911-84) is exemplary of the "art for life's sake" position associated with the Progressive Writers Association, and N. M. Rashed (1910-75) frequently represents the "art for art's sake" position of modernism. Through an assessment of these writers' understandings of each other and close readings of their poetry, this essay demonstrates that these familiar categories, first articulated in the late 1930s and early 1940s in progressive literary criticism, fail to capture the literary output of either poet. Instead of abandoning these categories, however, this essays suggests that they remain important to literary history as historical facts, as a part of literary discourse. This essay therefore considers the role of literary interpretation in literary production, and the way that these two prominent Urdu poets shaped their own work in accordance to the way it was received.
A SteepestAscent Method for Solving Optimum Programming Programs

A systematic and rapid steepest-ascent numerical procedure is described for solving two-point boundary-va1ue problems in the calculus of variations for systems governed by a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations. Numerical examples are presented for minimum time-to-climb and maximum altiude paths for a supersonic interceptor and maximum-range paths an orbital glider.
Evolution of Very Faint Field Galaxies and Quasars

This paper reports preliminary results of two long-term redshift surveys that are near completion. One consists of nearly 400 redshifts of field galaxies; the sample is faint enough (B ≲ 22) to test models of galaxy luminosity and color evolution (and possibly cosmology) and to search for the presence of very large-scale structures among distant field galaxies. The other consists of over 60 spectra of quasar candidates of similar faintness; the identifications and redshifts of bona-fide quasars provide strong constraints on the evolution and shape of the luminosity function of distant quasars. Almost all of the observations have been made with the 4m telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory with the Cryogenic Camera in multiaperture mode. The spectral range covered 4500A to 7500A with 15A FWHM resolution and 4A per pixel; simultaneous exposures of an hour or two were made for about 10 objects within the 5 arcmin field of view.
Urology Patients and the Internet: Socioeconomic Status and Language Skills Significantly Impact Use

Abstract Introduction Patient Internet use and resources are likely multifactorial. We assess how socioeconomic factors and language skills affect Internet use by patients. Methods We prospectively surveyed 116 patients with a bilingual questionnaire before they underwent urological surgery from July to September 2013. We obtained institutional review board approval for this study. Patients were surveyed for demographic data, English abilities, Internet use, anxiety level and understanding of the surgery. Results Patients with low English abilities were significantly more likely to have lower incomes and education (p Conclusions In our community those patients with low confidence in their English abilities are less likely to have access to, and use, the Internet before undergoing surgery. Older patients also use the Internet less often. Urologists should be aware of this potential language and age gap. Those with low English skills should likely be provided with additional counseling.
Ab initio molecular orbital calculations on cyclic ethers : correlation with interfacial stability and cycling life of non-aqueous electrolytes

Abstract Ab initio calculations have been performed on the unsaturated cyclic ethers 2,3-dihydrofuran, furan, 2,3-dihydropyran, 2-methylfuran and 2,5-dimethylfuran and their corresponding anion-radicals. As additives (0.5 vol. %) to non-aqueous electrolytes, these ethers have been observed to increase the cycle life of rechargeable lithium cells. As the degree of unsaturation of the cyclic ether increases, the cycle life increases. With 2-methylfuran, the increase in cycle life can be as much as an order of magnitude relative to no additive. Geometry optimizations were done using the unrestricted Hartree-Fock method with the 6-31G(d) basis set. Single point energy calculations were performed using the unrestricted second order Moller-Plesset method with the 6-31 + G(d, p) basis set. Electron affinity and bond length calculations suggest that the increase in cycle life does not depend on the relative stability of anion-radicals at the lithium electrode/electrolyte interface.