cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Increased ACTH Release Without Increased Synthesis

Male white rats were treated with saline (controls) or puromycin or dexamethasone and morphine and subjected to laparotomy. Corticosterone secretion rates were measured at intervals for 30 to 120 min following incision. Incorporation of 14C-valine into pituitary and adrenal protein and polypeptides served as an index of the effect of experimental agents on ACTH synthesis. In control animals corticosterone secretion averaged 0.6-0.7 μg/min following laparotomy and incorporation of 14C-valine increased roughly linearly with time. Corticosterone secretions (0.2-0.3 μg/min) of dexamethasone- morphine blocked rats were inhibited, but incorporation of 14C-valine was similar to that of control rats. In the puromycin-treated group, both corticosterone secretion (0.2 μg/min) and incorporation of labeled valine were inhibited, but plasma ACTH levels (3.8 mU/100ml) and plasma ACTH half-time (3.0 min) were similar to those of the control animals. Pituitary ACTH content of puromycin-treated animals 2 hr after laparoto...
Bondholder Losses in Leveraged Buyouts

Announcements of successful leveraged buyouts (LBOs) during January 1985 to April 1989 caused a significantly negative return on outstanding publicly traded nonconvertible bonds. Yet the average risk-adjusted debt holder losses are less than 7 percent of the average risk-adjusted equity holder gains. Bond losses are related to the pre-LBO rating, but only weakly to equity holder gains. We demonstrate that trader-quoted data from a major investment bank offers conclusions about the effects of LBOs on debt holders different from those drawn from commonly used matrix and exchange-based data (such as Standard & Poor's Bond Guide data). This has important implications for event studies involving debt instruments. Article published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Financial Studies in its journal, The Review of Financial Studies.
A Production Function Model for Aggregate Time-Series Data

A problem in using survey data on yield and input levels in estimating a production function for commercial farmers is that often only averages of individual farm or field input levels are available. Since the average data points should lie below the true production function (as long as it is strictly concave from below), traditional regression models applied directly to the average data will not yield an estimate of the true function unless it is linear (Taylor and Swanson). In this note, a model specification is presented which makes estimation of true production functions from aggregate farmer experiences more likely than under traditional specifications. To estimate this model, time-series data on the variation of input levels as well as the average input levels are needed. While the variation of input levels are often not available for past surveys, such data could be easily made available in future surveys. For the model specification presented in this note to provide meaningful estimates, the necessary conditions are: (a) that the area under study be homogeneous in that it can be represented by a single production function, (b) that there has been a significant change in the distribution of the input levels over the observation period, and (c) that all inputs not included in the analysis are kept constant. The model specification is based on the following identity. The actual (observed) average yield is a summation over all input levels of the product of the unobserved yield at a specific input level and the fraction of farmers applying that level. This identity is substituted into an hypothesized production function which relates the unobserved yields to specific input levels in order to derive an equation which can be estimated using ordinary least squares. The parameters characterizing this regression equation are the parameters of the production function. For simplicity only one input is considered in the derivation.
Using K-NN SVMs for performance improvement and comparison to K-highest lagrange multipliers selection

Support Vector Machines (SVM) can perform very well on noise free data sets and can usually achieve good classification accuracies when the data is noisy. However, because of the overfitting problem, the accuracy decreases if the SVM is modeled improperly or if the data is excessively noisy or nonlinear. For SVM, most of the misclassification occurs when the test data lies closer to the decision boundary. Therefore in this paper, we investigate the effect of Support Vectors found by SVM, and their effect on the decision when used with the Gaussian kernel. Based on the discussion results we also propose a new technique to improve the performance of SVM by creating smaller clusters along the decision boundary in the higher dimensional space. In this way we reduce the overfitting problem that occurs because of the model selection or the noise effect. As an alternative SVM tuning method, we also propose using only K highest Lagrange multipliers to summarize the decision boundary instead of the whole support vectors and compare the performances. Thus with test results, we show that the number of Support Vectors can be decreased further by using only a fraction of the support vectors found at the training step as a postprocessing method.
Optimal decoupling capacitor sizing and placement for standard-cell layout designs

With technology scaling, the trend for high-performance integrated circuits is toward ever higher operating frequency, lower power supply voltages, and higher power dissipation. This causes a dramatic increase in the currents being delivered through the on-chip power grid and is recognized in the 2001 International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors as one of the difficult challenges. The addition of decoupling capacitances (decaps) is arguably the most powerful degree of freedom that a designer has for power-grid noise abatement and is becoming more important as technology scales. In this paper, we propose and demonstrate an algorithm for the automated placement and sizing of decaps in application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)-like circuits. The problem is formulated as one of nonlinear optimization and is solved using a sensitivity-based quadratic programming (QP) solver. The adjoint sensitivity method is applied to calculate the first-order sensitivities. We propose a fast convolution technique based on piecewise linear (PWL) compressions of the original and adjoint waveforms. Experimental results show that power grid noise can be significantly reduced after a judicious optimization of decap placement, with little change in the total chip area.
Thyroid Hormone Is an Inhibitor of Estrogen-Induced Degradation of Estrogen Receptor-α Protein: Estrogen-Dependent Proteolysis Is Not Essential for Receptor Transactivation Function in the Pituitary

Proteolysis by the 26S proteasome is an important regulatory mechanism that governs the protein stability of several steroid/nuclear receptors and that has been implicated in the control of receptor transcriptional activation function. Herein, we report that thyroid hormone can prevent estrogen-induced proteolysis of estrogen receptor-α (ERα) protein in lactotrope cells of the pituitary. The stabilization of ERα protein by thyroid hormone represents a selective blockade against estradiol-stimulated degradation, because thyroid hormone (but not glucocorticoid) can protect estrogen-activated ERα. Moreover, thyroid hormone treatment does not interfere with signal-induced proteolysis of a separate proteasome target, IκBα or ERα proteolysis induced by ICI182780. Using thyroid hormone as a tool to inhibit ERα proteolysis, we examined the effect of loss of this regulatory function on estrogen-induced transcriptional responses. Consistent with earlier reports, estrogen activation of an idealized estrogen response...
Human bocavirus in children with respiratory tract infection in Shanghai: a retrospective study.

Background Human bocavirus (HBoV) was first reported in 2005. The worldwide presence of HBoV in children with acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) has been confirmed. This study aimed to understand the prevalence and clinical features of HBoV in children with ARTI in Shanghai and explore the causative implication of HBoV in ARTI.
Engineering design steps for fast, simple and economical waveform development

Software defined radio (SDR) has the potential to reduce drastically the types of radios in the inventory since a single hardware package can be programmed to replicate the coding, modulation and other signaling features now used in legacy networks, plus adapt to next generation developments. Future Department of Defense (DoD) radios can benefit from this software programmability and thus simplify interoperability, maintenance and life cycle cost concerns. Methods for the rapid development and distribution of waveform software must be created in order to realize the full potential of a communications system that can change parameters such as waveform, operating frequency, protocols and error correction. There needs to be a standard SDR waveform development process addressing all of the engineering design steps for faster, simpler and more economical waveform development. This paper discusses, and provides clear answers to, the following questions. Why do we want (or need) a waveform development environment (WDE)? Can HW/SW decisions be pushed down to the lowest appropriate decomposition level? Should the language be standardized so that it has the widest potential applicability? Could the environment build upon the latest multimedia developments, so that they could be both more affordable and supportable? Should there be a definitive migration path towards future upgrades (e.g. Internet and Web-based technologies)?.
SURVIVAL OF COPRIS MINUTUS (COLEOPTERA: SCARABAEIDAE) DURING CARRION AND DUNG FEEDING REGIMES

Abstract Adult Copris minutus individuals were maintained in the laboratory on a feeding regime of either cow dung or dead insects, and their survival compared with beetles maintained without food. There was no significant difference in the longevity of beetles maintained on either feeding regime, but both groups survived significantly longer than those without food. Females in all groups survived longer than males, and reproduction occurred only in groups consuming cow dung.
An exceptional chronologic, isotopic, and clay mineralogic record of the latest Paleocene thermal maximum, Bass River, NJ, ODP 174AX

A thick, apparently continuous section recording events of the latest Paleocene thermal maximum in a neritic setting was drilled at Bass River State Forest, New Jersey as part of ODP Leg 174AX [Miller, Sugarman, Browning et al., 1998]. Integrated nannofossil and magneto-stratigraphy provides a firm chronology supplemented by planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy. This chronologic study indicates that this neritic section rivals the best deep-sea sections in providing a complete record of late Paleocene climatic events. Carbon and oxygen isotopes measured on benthic foraminifera show a major (4.0% in carbon, 2.3% in oxygen) negative shift correlative with the global latest Paleocene carbon isotope excursion (CIE). A sharp increase in kaolinite content coincides with the isotope shift in the Bass River section, analogous to increases found in several other records. Carbon and oxygen isotopes remain low and kaolinite content remains high for the remainder of the depositional sequence above the CIE (32.5 ft, 9.9 m), which we estimate to represent 300-500 k.y. We interpret these data as indicative of an abrupt shift to a warmer and wetter climate along the North American mid-Atlantic coast, in concert with global events associated with the CIE.
Proper bibeta ROC model: algorithm, software, and performance evaluation

Semi-parametric models are often used to fit data collected in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) experiments to obtain a smooth ROC curve and ROC parameters for statistical inference purposes. The proper bibeta model as recently proposed by Mossman and Peng enjoys several theoretical properties. In addition to having explicit density functions for the latent decision variable and an explicit functional form of the ROC curve, the two parameter bibeta model also has simple closed-form expressions for true-positive fraction (TPF), false-positive fraction (FPF), and the area under the ROC curve (AUC). In this work, we developed a computational algorithm and R package implementing this model for ROC curve fitting. Our algorithm can deal with any ordinal data (categorical or continuous). To improve accuracy, efficiency, and reliability of our software, we adopted several strategies in our computational algorithm including: (1) the LABROC4 categorization to obtain the true maximum likelihood estimation of the ROC parameters; (2) a principled approach to initializing parameters; (3) analytical first-order and second-order derivatives of the likelihood function; (4) an efficient optimization procedure (the L-BFGS algorithm in the R package “nlopt”); and (5) an analytical delta method to estimate the variance of the AUC. We evaluated the performance of our software with intensive simulation studies and compared with the conventional binormal and the proper binormal-likelihood-ratio models developed at the University of Chicago. Our simulation results indicate that our software is highly accurate, efficient, and reliable.
Tem Analysis of Interfacial Reactions Between TiWn, Wn Gate Metallizations and GaAs in Mesfet Devices

In an effort to improve the uniformity of the threshold voltage, the Schottky barrier height, and the ideality factor, Ti 0.29 W 0.52 N 0.19 and W 0.81 N 0.19 gate metal depositions have been investigated as a function of annealing conditions for GaAs based MESFET devices. Crosssectional TEM samples were made of each device. The results of these studies indicate there is a systematic and significant reaction occurring between the gate metal and the GaAs upon 850°C and 900°C rapid thermal annealing. These reactions take different forms depending on whether Ti is present or not. If Ti is absent (i.e. WN gates) then the interfacial roughness between the gate and the GaAs is less than 30A indicating the metallization is very unreactive. The WN contacts for some gates show void formation indicative of GaAs decomposition also for some devices an amorphous layer is observed at the interface. Selected area diffraction patterns indicate only the alpha-W and beta-W 2 N phases are present. For the TiWN gates the interface roughness is as large as 200A upon 900°C 10 second RTA. However no voids or interfacial amorphous layers were observed. Again only alpha-W and beta-W 2 N were observed in the bulk of the gates. For both systems, beta-W 2 N appears to form at the interface however the morphology of the beta-W 2 N grains are much larger for the TiWN gates. Electrical results indicate the TiWN gates have a lower ideality factor (near 1.1) and greater uniformity across the wafer compared to the WN gates. It is proposed that the presence of Ti in the gate metal aids in reducing any surface oxides thus improving the ideality and uniformity of the gate metal/GaAs contact.
On Petri nets semantics for π-calculus

In order to remedy the deficiencies of π-calculus,π-calculus is mapped into Petri nets.π-calculus is divided into the basic elements,sequence,concurrency,choice and recursive modules.These modules are mapped into Petri nets respectively,which construct a complicated system.Petri nets semantics for π-calculus visually describe system structure as well as system behaviors,and the qualitative analysis of properties is proved directly on the structure of the nets.Finally,the mobile car network is used to show how the π-calculus model is mapped into Petri nets.
Involvement of all managerial levels important to successful budgeting

(1969). Involvement of all managerial levels important to successful budgeting. Hospital Topics: Vol. 47, No. 12, pp. 33-36.
“I Just Started Writing” Toward Addressing Invisibility, Silence, and Mortality Among Academically High-Achieving Black Male Secondary Students

Many Black male students in our nation’s schools feel like teachers do not see them for who they are or who they hope to become. In an academic enrichment writing course, high-achieving Black male ...
Enhanced Spin-Down Diagnostics for Nondestructive Evaluation of High-Value Systems

The nature of some high-value systems requires that damage be detected without disassembly of the test article. Spin-down testing, one such nondestructive evaluation method, involves spinning a test article and observing its angular deceleration. An increase in angular deceleration compared to an identical test of a healthy system indicates damage has occurred. However, current testing is limited, providing only a binary result of “damaged” or “undamaged”. More sophisticated techniques are required to identify the location, extent, and type of damage. To achieve this, non-contact and surface-mounted sensors were used to monitor the test article in this experiment. A spin-down unit was used to test both a healthy specimen and a specimen with simulated damage. The signals from each sensor were compared across tests. Correlation of anomalous signals with rotational position and multi-sensor triangulation techniques were used to localize damage. Analysis of the frequency content and amplitude of output signals allowed for a degree of characterization of the damage. Through these techniques, spin-down testing was enhanced from a binary detector to a more thorough testing method giving detailed information about the type and location of damage.
Advances in capillary electrophoresis and the implications for drug discovery.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Many screening platforms are prone to assay interferences that can be avoided by directly measuring the target or enzymatic product. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) and microchip electrophoresis (MCE) have been applied in a variety of formats to drug discovery. CE provides direct detection of the product allowing for the identification of some forms of assay interference. The high efficiency, rapid separations, and low volume requirements make CE amenable to drug discovery.Areas covered: This article describes advances in capillary electrophoresis throughput, sample introduction, and target assays as they pertain to drug discovery and screening. Instrumental advances discussed include integrated droplet microfluidics platforms and multiplexed arrays. Applications of CE to assays of diverse drug discovery targets, including enzymes and affinity interactions are also described.Expert opinion: Current screening with CE does not fully take advantage of the throughputs or low sample volume...
Acoustic transmission loss through modelled oceanography over a long time period compared to climatology

Acoustic transmission loss (TL) has been computed using oceanography modeled by the Navy Coastal Ocean Model (NCOM) over an 18 month time period in the Western Pacific Ocean [Jacobs, G. A., J. G. Richman, J. D. Doyle, P. L. Spence, B. P. Bartels, C. N. Barron, R. W. Helber, and F. L. Bub (2014), Simulating conditional deterministic predictability within ocean frontogenesis, Ocean Modelling, 78, 1–16]. The predicted acoustic variability over this time period is analyzed at specific locations and acoustic frequencies. Examples of full field TL at a number of snapshots are presented and discussed with respect to environmental acoustic features (e.g. sonic layer and convergence zone). TL thresholds were chosen to calculate ranges that describe the acoustic propagation due to the features and variability was using these metrics is discussed. For example, variability in the width and range of the CZ over time as well as the percentage of time the features persist, is analyzed. Similar analysis is done using the Generalized Digital Environment Model (GDEM) climatology model at the same location and the results are summarized compared. Statistics summarizing the acoustic TL for a number of subsets of the modeled TL and comparisons from climatology are presented and are shown to be non-Gaussian and inconsistent between the two locations.)
Going into BATTLE: umbrella and basket clinical trials to accelerate the study of biomarker-based therapies.

With the recognition that tumor molecular phenotypes may predict response to targeted therapies, a number of national multi-center umbrella and basket trials have been initiated in recent years. Umbrella trials enroll patients with a single tumor type, defined by primary anatomic site, and assign various treatments according to the molecular characterization of each case. Conversely, basket trials enroll patients with multiple tumor types, restricting eligibility according to biomarker status. Examples of both models abound, including the Investigation of Serial Studies to Predict Your Therapeutic Response With Imaging And moLecular Analysis (I SPY) trials in breast cancer (1), Lung Master Protocol (Lung MAP) trial in advanced squamous lung cancer (2), Adjuvant Lung Cancer Enrichment Marker Identification and Sequencing Trial (ALCHEMIST) in surgically resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (3), Lung Cancer Mutation Consortium (LCMC)-associated trials in advanced lung adenocarcinoma (4), the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice (NCI MATCH) Trial (5), and the Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registry (TAPUR) (6), sponsored by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in previously treated advanced solid tumors.
Can the Secular Be the Object of Belief and Belonging? The Sunday Assembly

In public discourse and much sociological research individuals are considered secular if they do not hold religious beliefs or belong to any religious group. But can the secular itself become an object of both belief and belonging? Can secular people develop self-understanding and existential purpose in communal contexts that engage a religious model? To explore these questions I investigated the Sunday Assembly, a new network of secular congregations. Based on two years of research including fieldwork at the London, San Diego, and Chicago Assemblies, in-depth interviews with 21 Assemblers, and analysis of video-recorded Assembly services, this study examines the interactional, meaning-making dynamics of what I term communal secularity. I explore the broader question of belief, morality, and belonging in an increasingly complex secular-religious landscape through an analysis of the congregational activity of this newest iteration of the growing secular community. Having distilled thematic categories from an inductive analysis of the talk, practice, and other elements of congregational culture at the Sunday Assembly, this study reveals the social interactions, functions, and symbolic practices that frame participants experiences and express secular values and belief systems. I argue the secular can become an object of a nonsupernaturalist sacred, and that congregants engage interactions and meaning structures, both explicitly and implicitly, that parallel, coalesce with, and in several ways depart from, traditional religious congregations. My research reveals how secular beliefs can both function and fulfill in ways typically credited to religion. As such, the secular should not refer exclusively to the lack of religiosity, but should acknowledge the diversity of contemporary secular forms, some of which embrace a religious character. Implications of communal secularity for the broader community are discussed, and I suggest additional vistas of research as part of the emerging scholarly literature in this area.
Ethics Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology: a Survey of Resident Physicians

Objectives The objective of this study is to assess Obstetrics and Gynecology (Ob/Gyn) resident experiences with and preferences for ethics education.
Representation of minorities in oncology clinical trials: Review of the past 14 years.

2533Background: Many cancer clinical trials (CT) lack appropriate representation of specific patients populations, limiting the generalizability of the evidence obtained. Therefore, we determined the representation of ethnic minorities in oncology CT. Methods: Enrollment data from all therapeutic trials reported as completed in clinicaltrial.gov from 2003 to 2016 were analyzed. CT in rare cancers (< 1% incidence) or with recruitment outside of the US were excluded. Enrollment fraction (EF) was defined as the number of enrollees divided by the 2013 SEER database cancer prevalence. Chi-square test was used to estimate differences in categorical data. Results: Out of 1,012 CT, 310 (31%) reported ethnicity with a total of 55689 enrollees. Distribution by race and comparison with data from 1996-2002, US cancer prevalence and US census are described in the Table. Participation in CT varied significantly across ethnic groups, non-Hispanic Whites (NHW) were more likely to be enrolled in CT (EF of 1.2%) than Afric...
Control of Carbon Nanotube Solvatochromic Response to Chemotherapeutic Agents

Alkylating agents such as cisplatin play an essential role in chemotherapy regimens, but initial and acquired resistance in many cancer types often dampen therapeutic response. The poor understanding of the mechanisms of resistance highlight the need for quantitative measurements of alkylating agent distribution at both the tissue and subcellular levels. Sensors for use in live animals and cells would allow for more effective study of drug action and resistance. Toward this end, single-walled carbon nanotubes suspended with single-stranded DNA have suitable optical properties for in vivo sensors, such as near-infrared emission and sensitivity to the local environment via solvatochromic responses. Currently, solvatochromic changes of such sensors have been limited by the chemical nature of the analyte, making it impossible to control the direction of energy emission changes. Here, we describe a new approach to control the direction and magnitude of solvatochromic responses of carbon nanotubes. We found tha...
Nephron segment-specific gene expression using AAV vectors.

AAV9 vector provides efficient gene transfer in all segments of the renal nephron, with minimum expression in non-renal cells, when administered retrogradely via the ureter. It is important to restrict the transgene expression to the desired cell type within the kidney, so that the physiological endpoints represent the function of the transgene expressed in that specific cell type within kidney. We hypothesized that segment-specific gene expression within the kidney can be accomplished using the highly efficient AAV9 vectors carrying the promoters of genes that are expressed exclusively in the desired segment of the nephron in combination with administration by retrograde infusion into the kidney via the ureter. We constructed AAV vectors carrying eGFP under the control of: kidney-specific cadherin (KSPC) gene promoter for expression in the entire nephron; Na+/glucose co-transporter (SGLT2) gene promoter for expression in the S1 and S2 segments of the proximal tubule; sodium, potassium, 2 chloride co-transporter (NKCC2) gene promoter for expression in the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop (TALH); E-cadherin (ECAD) gene promoter for expression in the collecting duct (CD); and cytomegalovirus (CMV) early promoter that provides expression in most of the mammalian cells, as control. We tested the specificity of the promoter constructs in vitro for cell type-specific expression in mouse kidney cells in primary culture, followed by retrograde infusion of the AAV vectors via the ureter in the mouse. Our data show that AAV9 vector, in combination with the segment-specific promoters administered by retrograde infusion via the ureter, provides renal nephron segment-specific gene expression.
Isolation and Characterization of a DNA Fragment Containing Genes for Mimosine Degradation from Rhizobium Sp. Strain TAL1145

The rhizosphere of plants is a highly complex and dynamic ecosystem due to the continuous supply of organic material from the plants as root exudates. We found that mimosine, a toxic free amino acid, is present in the root exudates of the tree legumes of genus Leucaena. Mimosine is found in large quantities in the seeds, foliage and roots of Leucaena spp. It has general antimitotic activity that inhibits the growth of certain microorganisms but it also enhances the growth of others that can utilize it as a putriept source Some Rhizobium strains isolated from the podules of leucaena trees.
Expedited Partner Therapy: Combating Record High Sexually Transmitted Infection Rates.

The article explores expedited partner therapy (EPT) as an underused practice to address the high rates of sexually transmitted inflections (STIs) in the U.S. Particular focus is given to continued increases in the rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. Additional topics including the health effects of diagnosed STIs, the economic burdens of STIs and methods for implementing EPT in the U.S.
Collateral development and arteriogenesis in hindlimbs of domestic swine after ligation of arterial inflow

Development of collateral circulation is an important compensatory mechanism for patients with peripheral artery disease. Attempts to model and study collateral development in small animals have been hindered secondary to small subject size. Herein we describe a porcine model of hindlimb collateral development that utilizes open arterial ligation. Right hindlimb ischemia was induced in swine using two different versions of arterial ligation: Version 1 (N = 5) was ligation of the right external iliac, right profunda femoris, and right superficial femoral arteries; Version 2 (N = 5) was Version 1 plus ligation of the right internal iliac artery. Percutaneous near-infrared spectroscopy, angiography were used to determine muscle oxygen content and relative arterial diameters, respectively, at pre-ligation, post-ligation, and one-month time points. Collateral formation supplying the ischemic limb was evident at the one month time point, along with arteriogenesis of the inflow vessels. Muscle oxygen content and limb arterial indices (noninvasive cuff measurements) increased in the ischemic hindlimb at the one month time point. There was no significant difference between Version 1 and 2 with respect to arteriogenesis, arterial index, or muscle oxygen content. Histologic evaluation of ischemic hindlimb muscle at one month revealed pathologic changes analogous to those seen in patients with PAD. Two versions of hindlimb ischemia (iliofemoral interruption with/without internal iliac artery ligation) resulted in collateral formation, inflow arteriogenesis, and improved perfusion pressure and oxygen content of the affected muscle. We believe that this porcine model of collateral development and arteriogenesis will be useful in the study of PAD and treatments thereof.
Becoming-policy in the Anthropocene

This paper takes up the theme of “Education Policy and Methodology in a Post-truth Era” by emplacing policy within the contemporary condition of the Anthropocene. The conditions of the Anthropocene demand a radical reconfiguring of policy as an apparatus for governmentality, and therefore of methodology. I intraject a potential ethical posture befitting such a reimagined becoming-policy and reconceptualized environment. The Anthropocene serves as both context and concept as the “Age of Humankind” in need of speculative and radical building and making. Drawing on prior critical policy analyses of higher education policy affecting undocumented students, I proffer plausible postures in thinking education policy and methodology that engage the contemporary moment of both “post-truth” and the Anthropocene.
Multilayer Data-Driven Cyber-Attack Detection System for Industrial Control Systems Based on Network, System, and Process Data

The growing number of attacks against cyber-physical systems in recent years elevates the concern for cybersecurity of industrial control systems (ICSs). The current efforts of ICS cybersecurity are mainly based on firewalls, data diodes, and other methods of intrusion prevention, which may not be sufficient for growing cyber threats from motivated attackers. To enhance the cybersecurity of ICS, a cyber-attack detection system built on the concept of defense-in-depth is developed utilizing network traffic data, host system data, and measured process parameters. This attack detection system provides multiple-layer defense in order to gain the defenders precious time before unrecoverable consequences occur in the physical system. The data used for demonstrating the proposed detection system are from a real-time ICS testbed. Five attacks, including man in the middle (MITM), denial of service (DoS), data exfiltration, data tampering, and false data injection, are carried out to simulate the consequences of cyber attack and generate data for building data-driven detection models. Four classical classification models based on network data and host system data are studied, including k-nearest neighbor (KNN), decision tree, bootstrap aggregating (bagging), and random forest (RF), to provide a secondary line of defense of cyber-attack detection in the event that the intrusion prevention layer fails. Intrusion detection results suggest that KNN, bagging, and RF have low missed alarm and false alarm rates for MITM and DoS attacks, providing accurate and reliable detection of these cyber attacks. Cyber attacks that may not be detectable by monitoring network and host system data, such as command tampering and false data injection attacks by an insider, are monitored for by traditional process monitoring protocols. In the proposed detection system, an auto-associative kernel regression model is studied to strengthen early attack detection. The result shows that this approach detects physically impactful cyber attacks before significant consequences occur. The proposed multiple-layer data-driven cyber-attack detection system utilizing network, system, and process data is a promising solution for safeguarding an ICS.
Brain Neurochemistry and the Control of Food Intake

This chapter considers research and theory relating brain neurochemistry to the control of food intake. Speculations concerning central neurochemical influences on behavior began less than 25 years ago, when Holzbauer and Vogt (1956) demonstrated that the concentration of norepinephrine (NE) in cats’ brains was lowered by administration of the antipsychotic sedative agent, reserpine. Since that first trickle, an ocean of information has accumulated concerning the anatomy and biochemistry of neurons that use biogenic amines as neurotransmitters. This work, together with evidence obtained from the increased use of drugs in the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders, has provided the basis for new theories of schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, and learning disabilities (e.g., Hornykiewicz, 1966; S. H. Snyder et al., 1974; Wender, 1974). Despite their different foci, the theories all suggest that the biogenic amine-containing neurons have important roles in the mediation of central arousal, that is, waking, attention, and the behavioral responses to diverse sensory stimuli. These theories are compatible with the anatomy of the central monoaminergic neurons—diffuse projections to the cerebellum, limbic forebrain, basal ganglia, and neocortex arising from a few discrete cell groups in the brainstem (e.g., Moore and Bloom, 1979; Ungerstedt, 1971a).
Having Your Voice Heard: How to Effectively Get the Agency's Attention in a NEPA Comment to Affect the Final Decision

Public participation in federal agency National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) processes presents a unique opportunity for engagement in federal agency decision making on projects that have the potential to affect the environment. It presents an opportunity for public transparency of proposed federal agency actions and the environmental impacts of those actions. More importantly, it presents an opportunity for the public to assist the federal agencies in crafting better, more informed, decisions. While public participation was not specifically mentioned as a goal of NEPA, federal courts have regularly held that public comment and public involvement lies at the center of NEPA’s procedural requirements and is critical to NEPA’s function. However, engaging in the NEPA process can be a time-consuming endeavor. If you undertake that endeavor, you want to make sure your voice is being heard and your comments are affecting positive change. This article is offered to highlight the legal requirements for public participation and comment throughout the NEPA process and offer suggestions on how to have your voice heard by offering comments that effectively get the agency’s attention and influence a final decision.
Transgenic Rescue of Spermatogenesis in Males With Mgat1 Deleted in Germ Cells

MGAT1 and complex N-glycans are required for spermatogenesis and fertility. Conditional deletion of Mgat1 in spermatogonia (Mgat1 cKO) causes reduced ERK1/2 signaling and the formation of multinucleated germ cells (MNC). Here we show that glycomics analysis of N-glycans released from fixed testis sections and analyzed by MALDI imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-IMS) revealed a loss of MGAT1 activity in all germ cells based on the accumulation of the oligomannosyl substrate of MGAT1. To determine in which type of germ cell MGAT1 is essential for spermatogenesis, we generated Mgat1 cKO males that also expressed a Mgat1-HA transgene under the control of a germ cell-specific promoter - Stra8 for spermatogonia, Ldhc for spermatocytes and Prm1 for spermatids. Males expressing each Mgat1-HA transgene were fertile, and both males and females transmitted each transgene. When Stra8-Mgat1-HA was expressed in Mgat1 cKO males, spermatogenesis was rescued based on the morphology of testis sections, the complement of N-glycans on basigin, lectin histochemistry, MALDI-IMS, and fertility. By contrast, neither Ldhc-Mgat1-HA expressed in spermatocytes, nor the Prm1-Mgat1-HA transgene expressed in spermatids rescued spermatogenesis or fertility in Mgat1 cKO males. Therefore, MGAT1 must be expressed in spermatogonia for spermatogenesis to proceed normally.
Contribution of Alcohol- and Cigarette-Related Cues to Concurrent Reinforcer Choice in Humans.

Abstract Drug-related cues have been extensively studied for their contributions to decision-making processes involving drug consumption. Less studied is how drug-related stimuli may impact decisions involving outcomes not directly related to substance use. Studies using concurrent choice tasks have demonstrated that cocaine and cannabis cues result in robust and selective biases for monetary reinforcers contiguous with those cues. The purpose of this study was to provide a conceptual replication of these findings with alcohol and cigarettes. Participants recruited using crowdsourcing completed a cued concurrent choice task involving presentation of two cues (one drug and one neutral) followed by concurrent monetary offers below each image. Alcohol (Experiment 1; N = 103) and cigarette (Experiment 2; N = 256) visual cues were evaluated. Participants with hazardous alcohol use and current cigarette use showed greater-than-indifference selection for the alcohol- (p = .004) and cigarette-cued (p = .02) monetary choices, respectively. Qualitative responses indicated that the most popular rationale for responding was “image quality” despite images having no explicit impact on the reinforcer received. Low alcohol use (p = .03) and non-cigarette using controls (p
The nitrosoamphetamine metabolite is accommodated in the active site of human hemoglobin: Spectroscopy and crystal structure.

Abstract Amphetamine-based (Amph) drugs are metabolized in humans to their hydroxylamine (AmphNHOH) and nitroso (AmphNO) derivatives. The latter metabolites are known to bind to the Fe centers of cytochrome P450 and other heme enzymes to inhibit their activities. Although these AmphNHOH/AmphNO metabolites are present in vivo, their interactions with the blood protein hemoglobin (Hb) and the muscle protein (Mb) have been largely discounted due to a perception that the relatively small heme active sites of Hb and Mb will not be able to accommodate the large AmphNO group. We report the 2.15 A resolution X-ray crystal structure of the AmphNO adduct of adult human hemoglobin as the Hb [α-FeIII(H2O)][β-FeII(AmphNO)] derivative. We show that the binding of AmphNO to the β subunit is enabled by an E helix movement and stabilization of ligand binding by H-bonding with the distal His63 residue. We also observe an AmphNHOH group in the Xe2 pocket in close proximity to the α heme site in this derivative. Additionally, UV–vis spectroscopy was used to characterize this and related wt and mutant Mb adducts. Importantly, our X-ray crystal structure of this Hb-nitrosoamphetamine complex represents the first crystal structure of a wild-type heme protein adduct of any amphetamine metabolite. Our results provide a framework for further studies of AmphNHOH/AmphNO interactions with Hb and Mb as viable processes that potentially contribute to the overall biological inorganic chemistry of amphetamine drugs.
Remarks on the Use of Megavitamins in the Treatment of Schizophrenia

I was interested in Dr. Osmond’s opening statement that he conceived of the vitamins which he uses in megadoses as pharmacological agents, not as nutrients. If this is the case, it may be an error to link Dr. Hoffer and Dr. Osmond on this point because despite their long association they apparently disagree on the question of how niacin works in the treatment of schizophrenia. As of a year ago, Dr. Hoffer was writing about schizophrenia as a type of cerebral pellagra and was clearly taking the position that niacin in megadoses was a nutrient which overcame the vitamin deficiency in the brain of schizophrenics. Whether niacin in megadoses is a nutrient or a pharmacological agent is a rather important issue. It should be clarified because it is quite muddy in the literature. The two positions are really incompatible. A molecule of nicotinic acid cannot simultaneously function as a vitamin and as a methyl acceptor. The usual definition of a vitamin of the B complex is that it is an essential nutrient because it is converted into a coenzyme required for vital metabolic reactions. When nicotinic acid becomes a coenzyme--that is, nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide--it cannot be a methyl acceptor, because the nitrogen of the pyridine ring is tied in linkage with ribose.
Aspects of the Surface Distributions of Copper, Nickel, Cadmium, and Lead in the North Atlantic and North Pacific

The concentrations of copper, nickel, and cadmium have been determined on over 400 surface samples; 10 samples were also analyzed for lead. Nickel and cadmium are closely associated with nutrient distributions, being low (about 2 nmol kg−1 for Ni and less than 20 pmol kg−1 for Cd) in the central gyres and elevated to 3–3.5 nmol kg−1 (Ni) and 40–80 pmol kg−1 (Cd) in the equatorial eastern Pacific and in the cool eastern boundary currents. There are large regional variations in their element-nutrient correlations, however. Copper is slightly elevated in cool eastern boundary waters (1.3 nmol kg−1) relative to North Pacific and South Atlantic central gyres, but the Sargasso Sea has higher copper concentrations (1.4 nmol kg−1) than the other central gyres. Copper concentrations in coastal waters of the Gulf of Panama are elevated to 3–4 nmol kg−1; this coastal water advects seaward and creates ‘events’ of high — Cu waters in the oceanic interior. Lead concentrations in the North Atlantic (100–250 pmol kg−1) are higher than in the North Pacific.
Capsule protects against intracellular killing and enables vascular endothelial cell translocation during invasive pneumococcal disease

Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) is a leading cause of invasive disease. Chief among its virulence determinants is capsular polysaccharide which protects the bacterium from phagocytosis. While 100 antigenically distinct capsule types are produced by Spn, i.e. serotypes, only 20-30 are commonly associated with invasive disease. A frequency that suggests serotype-specific properties of the capsule influence virulence. Herein, we show capsule has strong antioxidant properties. Moreover, that this property promotes invasive disease by protecting Spn taken up by vascular endothelial cells during bacteremia from endosome-killing and enhancing the translocation rate into organs. Crucially, isogenic capsule-switch mutants of Spn varied considerably in their resistance to H2O2-killing in culture and measured levels correlated positively with intracellular survival rates in vitro, organ invasion rates in vivo, and epidemiologically-established human attack rates for the corresponding serotype. The amount of capsule produced and specific biochemical features of a serotype, such as acetylation, also influenced Spn resistance to oxidative stress. Autolysin-mediated shedding was also found to be necessary, indicating that capsule worked as a distal sink for reactive oxygen species. Our results outline a new role for capsular polysaccharide, as an intracellular antioxidant. They help to explain why certain serotypes of Spn have greater propensity for human disease.
Multiple Marketing Goals and Multiple Marketing Instruments

In this paper, the theory of macroeconomic policy is applied to the problem of achieving multiple marketing goals with multiple marketing instruments. It is shown how a rigorous analysis can validate some intuitively acceptable marketing beliefs, and how violation of the principles can lead to very undesirable results. Some major advantages of this approach are that it provides a dynamic analysis rather than a comparative-static one (i.e., it tells the manager not merely where to go, but also how to get there) and that it effectively incorporates macroeconomic principles into the theory and practice of marketing.
Homology-based annotation yields 1,042 new candidate genes in the Drosophila melanogaster genome

The approach to annotating a genome critically affects the number and accuracy of genes identified in the genome sequence. Genome annotation based on stringent gene identification is prone to underestimate the complement of genes encoded in a genome. In contrast, over-prediction of putative genes followed by exhaustive computational sequence, motif and structural homology search will find rarely expressed, possibly unique, new genes at the risk of including non-functional genes. We developed a two-stage approach that combines the merits of stringent genome annotation with the benefits of over-prediction. First we identify plausible genes regardless of matches with EST, cDNA or protein sequences from the organism (stage 1). In the second stage, proteins predicted from the plausible genes are compared at the protein level with EST, cDNA and protein sequences, and protein structures from other organisms (stage 2). Remote but biologically meaningful protein sequence or structure homologies provide supporting evidence for genuine genes. The method, applied to the Drosophila melanogaster genome, validated 1,042 novel candidate genes after filtering 19,410 plausible genes, of which 12,124 matched the original 13,601 annotated genes1. This annotation strategy is applicable to genomes of all organisms, including human.
Recovery and Identification of Anaerobes: a System Suitable for the Routine Clinical Laboratory

A system for the isolation of anaerobes based upon the use of reducible solid media is described. Plates of reducible media prepared and stored aerobically were reduced before use by incubation in a GasPak jar for 24 h. Clinical specimens for culture were carefully selected. The value of Amies transport medium was confirmed. Selective and nonselective formulations of reducible media were used for primary isolation. Abbreviated identification schemes based in part on gas-liquid chromatography are presented. The suitability of this system for improving the recovery and identification of anaerobes in a routine clinical laboratory is documented.