cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DERANDOMIZED LEARNING OF BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS OVER FINITE ABELIAN GROUPS

We employ the Always Approximately Correct or AAC model defined in [35], to prove learnability results for classes of Boolean functions over arbitrary finite Abelian groups. This model is an extension of Angluin's Query model of exact learning. The Boolean functions we consider belong to approximation classes, i.e. functions that are approximable (in various norms) by few Fourier basis functions, or irreducible characters of the domain Abelian group. We contrast our learnability results to previous results for similar classes in the PAC model of learning with and without membership queries. In addition, we discuss new, natural issues and questions that arise when the AAC model is used. One such question is whether a uniform training set is available for learning any function in a given approximation class. No analogous question seems to have been studied in the context of Angluin's Query model. Another question is whether the training set can be found quickly if the approximation class of the function is completely unknown to the learner, or only partial information about the approximation class is given to the learner (in addition to the answers to membership queries). In order to prove the learnability results in this paper we require new techniques for efficiently sampling Boolean functions using the character theory of finite Abelian groups, as well as the development of algebraic algorithms. The techniques result in other natural applications closely related to learning, for example, query complexity of deterministic algorithms for testing linearity, efficient pseudorandom generators, and estimating VC dimensions for classes of Boolean functions over finite Abelian groups.
Alcoholic Liver Disease: from CYP2E1 to CYP2A5

This article reviews recent studies on CYP2E1-mediated alcoholic liver injury, the induction of CYP2A5 by alcohol and the mechanism for this upregulation, especially the permissive role of CYP2E1 in the induction of CYP2A5 by alcohol and the CYP2E1-ROS-Nrf2 pathway, and protective effects of CYP2A5 against ethanol-induced oxidative liver injury. Ethanol can induce CYP2E1, an active generator of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and CYP2E1 is a contributing factor for alcoholinduced oxidative liver injury. CYP2A5, another isoform of cytochrome P450, can also be induced by ethanol. Chronic feeding of ethanol to wild type mice increased CYP2A5 catalytic activity, protein and mRNA levels as compared to pair-fed controls. This induction was blunted in CYP2E1 knockout (cyp2e1-/-) mice but was restored when human CYP2E1 was reintroduced and expressed in cyp2e1-/- mice. Ethanol-induced CYP2E1 co-localized with CYP2A5 and preceded the elevation of CYP2A5. The antioxidants N-acetyl cysteine and vitamin C lowered the alcohol elevation of ROS and blunted the alcohol induction of CYP2A5, but not CYP2E1, suggesting ROS play a novel role in the crosstalk between CYP2E1 and CYP2A5. The antioxidants blocked the activation of Nrf2, a transcription factor known to upregulate expression of CYP2A5. When alcohol-induced liver injury was enhanced in Nrf2 knockout (Nrf2-/-) mice, alcohol elevation of CYP2A5 but not CYP2E1 was also lower in Nrf2-/- mice. CYP2A5 knockout (cyp2a5-/-) mice exhibited an enhanced alcoholic liver injury compared with WT mice as indicated by serum ALT, steatosis and necroinflammation. Alcohol-induced hyperglycemia were observed in cyp2a5-/- mice but not in WT mice.
Assessing PM2.5 Exposures with High Spatiotemporal Resolution across the Continental United States.

A number of models have been developed to estimate PM2.5 exposure, including satellite-based aerosol optical depth (AOD) models, land-use regression, or chemical transport model simulation, all with both strengths and weaknesses. Variables like normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), surface reflectance, absorbing aerosol index, and meteoroidal fields are also informative about PM2.5 concentrations. Our objective is to establish a hybrid model which incorporates multiple approaches and input variables to improve model performance. To account for complex atmospheric mechanisms, we used a neural network for its capacity to model nonlinearity and interactions. We used convolutional layers, which aggregate neighboring information, into a neural network to account for spatial and temporal autocorrelation. We trained the neural network for the continental United States from 2000 to 2012 and tested it with left out monitors. Ten-fold cross-validation revealed a good model performance with a total R2 of 0....
Immunochemical Identification of Salivary Proteins.

SummarySeven proteins in whole saliva and parotid secretion were shown to be immunochemically similar to plasma proteins by means of ring-precipitin, micro-immunoelectrophoresis and micro-double-diffusion technics employing specific antisera. By semi-quantitative measurement, the differences in protein concentration among the subjects'oral fluids were small; the highest concentrations among the proteins were invariably observed for albumin and γ-globulin in saliva, and for γ-globulin in parotid secretion. Fibrinogen was the only one of 8 plasma proteins tested which could not be detected in either oral fluid.
No drought about it: Effects of supplemental hydration on the ecology, behavior, and physiology of free-ranging rattlesnakes

Abstract Hydration is a critical element for many physiological processes in vertebrates. While it seems intuitive that drought is stressful to animals, studies examining drought are typically observational and do not explicitly assess how the hydration state of study subjects influences their physiology and behavior. We examined how hydration affects several physiological and behavioral variables in free-ranging Northern Pacific rattlesnakes (Crotalus oreganus oreganus) by experimentally manipulating their hydration levels in the field. Our results suggest that supplemental water has a significant effect on reproduction, as all hydrated females gave birth during the experiment, while no control females did. We saw no effect of hydration on movement parameters; males moved a larger total distance and had larger home ranges than females, regardless of hydration status. Interestingly, body condition at the end of the study was significantly higher in hydrated snakes, suggesting that hydrated individuals might have been acquiring more food than control snakes. We saw no effect on baseline stress hormone concentrations or their increase in response to an acute stressor. Additional experimental studies are needed to better understand the pivotal roles of hydration in the physiology and behavior of reptiles.
Managing Esophageal Dysphagia in the Elderly

Esophageal dysphagia in the elderly is a common clinical problem. Achalasia is a disease in which there is loss of ganglion in the myenteric plexus of the lower esophageal sphincter resulting in incomplete relaxation of that muscle causing a functional obstruction to outflow. Treatment is aimed at reducing sphincter pressure allowing for gravity and the oral portion of the swallow to propel the bolus through the esophagus. Pneumatic dilatation, Heller myotomy (laparoscopic), and the newest procedure peroral endoscopic esophageal myotomy (POEM) are all reasonable options for effective treatment even in the elderly. The choice depends on the decision of the patient, subtype of achalasia, local expertise, and fitness for surgery. Patients over 45 with type 2 achalasia respond exceptionally well to pneumatic dilation, and we recommend consideration of this technique if expertise is available. POEM has achieved excellent short-term results and if local expertise exists, it should be strongly considered especially in patients with type 3 achalasia. Type 1 achalasia may respond slightly better to myotomy, either Heller or POEM. Proton pump inhibitors remain the treatment of choice for GERD and should not be avoided in the elderly for fear of adverse reactions. While none of the FDA warnings nor concern for chronic renal failure or dementia can be dismissed, much more research is needed before we accept that PPIs are truly causal. Surgery for GERD in patients over 65 is as effective as in the young and should be considered in appropriate candidates. Eosinophilic esophagitis, while not common in the elderly, frequently results in clinically important dysphagia. PPIs, topical oral steroids, and dietary interventions are all used individually and together to improve symptoms. PPIs remain first line and are required twice daily for at least 8 weeks as an initial trial. Dilation with either balloons or polyvinyl dilators are highly effective in patients with rings and focal strictures, can be performed safely, and limit the number of medications an elderly patient needs to take.
Existing Approaches in Traceback

Based on source of tracing or correlation information, the traceback and correlation approaches can be divided into two categories: host-based and network-based. Host-based approaches rely on information collected at the hosts that are used for stepping stones. Such information includes user login activity, new arrival of connections and new initiation of connections to other hosts. Network-based approaches use some characteristics of network connections and exploit the property of network connections: the essence or semantics of the application level content of connections is invariant across stepping stones.
Life-course Social Mobility and Reduced Risk of Adverse Birth Outcomes.

Introduction Higher adult socioeconomic position (SEP) is associated with better birth outcomes. However, few studies incorporate life-course or intergenerational SEP, which may inform etiology and targeted prevention efforts. This study tested whether life-course social mobility from childhood was associated with lower risk of adverse birth outcomes. Methods Data were from the Life-course Influences of Fetal Environments (LIFE) retrospective cohort study among black women, 2009–2011, in metropolitan Detroit, MI. This study (analyzed in 2014–2016) examined whether social mobility was associated with two primary birth outcomes: small for gestational age (SGA) and preterm birth (PTB). Childhood and adulthood SEP were measured by survey in adulthood, for two constructs, measured ordinally: educational attainment and perceived financial sufficiency (subjective income/wealth). Social mobility was calculated as the difference of adulthood minus childhood SEP. Results In covariate-adjusted Poisson regression models, 1-SD improved educational social mobility from childhood to adulthood was protective for SGA (adjusted risk ratio=0.76; 95% CI=0.64, 0.91); this association remained after adjusting for financial mobility. Upward financial social mobility from early childhood was marginally protective for SGA (adjusted risk ratio=0.85; 95% CI=0.72, 1.02), but became nonsignificant after controlling educational mobility. There were no overall associations of social mobility with PTB or low birth weight, although sensitivity analyses identified that improved financial mobility was associated with 16% marginally lower risk of spontaneous PTB and 28% marginally lower risk of low birth weight among upwardly mobile/stable women only. Conclusions Improved life-course social mobility is associated with reduced risk for SGA and spontaneous PTB among black women.
The Continuing Quest to Identify Ambulatory Patients With Advanced Heart Failure Who Benefit From Left Ventricular Assist Device Therapy.

Six million adults in the United States are living with heart failure (HF), with 915 000 cases diagnosed annually.1 Improvements in medical and device therapy will only increase the number of patients who reach the refractory or advanced HF stage of the disease. In fact, 5% to 25% of all patients with HF are considered to have advanced HF, which is characterized by ongoing symptoms and exceedingly high mortality risk despite guideline-directed medical therapy.1,2 Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have become an effective therapeutic option to improve survival and quality of life in patients with advanced HF.3–7 The majority of LVAD implantations are performed in advanced HF patients who are hospitalized and dependent on inotropic agents, patients with progressive hemodynamic decline, and those in cardiogenic shock.3 The introduction of continuous-flow technology and newer pump designs has dramatically changed the outlook of end-stage HF, with 1-year survival rates nearing 90% for patients awaiting heart transplantation and 75% for transplant ineligible patients,3–6 marked improvement in symptoms, functional capacity, and quality of life.7 See Article by Stewart et al The success of LVAD therapy has raised interest in implanting LVADs in a broader population of symptomatic, ambulatory advanced HF patients who are not yet inotrope dependent. Such interest is further substantiated by the fact that ambulatory patients with advanced HF have greater survival, shorter length of stay, and lower incidence of severe right ventricular failure.3,5,8 However, before we can expand the indication for an LVAD to this population, a few questions should be be addressed: First, is there equipoise between adverse events and the expected gain in survival and functional capacity? Adverse events related to the use of LVAD technology have decreased over time,3–6 …
Crystallization of Barium Titanate from Monolithic Alcogels

We report a low temperature pathway for the synthesis of polycrystalline barium titanate (BaTiO3) ceramics from alkoxide-derived polymeric gels. The research is part of a large program of research on the powder-free processing of electrical ceramic materials. Monolithic alcogels were prepared from a mixed metal methoxyethoxide precursor solution. The gels were dried in air to yield xerogels. The perovskite phase was clearly identified by XRD for gels dried above 75°C. FTIR revealed the presence of some residual organic species and/or carbonates which were released by 800°C.
P273 Effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on the structural connectome in patients with major depression

Introduction Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is an FDA-approved treatment for depression. Increasing evidence indicates that depression is accompanied by altered structural connectivity in the white matter. Objective We assess the impact of rTMS treatment for depression on the structural brain connectome. Patients and methods The IRB of Weill Cornell Medical College approved this study. 25 currently treatment-resistant depressed patients (age 21–68) participated in the study. Patients received 10-Hz rTMS over the left DLPFC 5 days/week for 5 weeks. Treatment response was assessed using the 24-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-24) at baseline and after the course of TMS. MRIs were acquired within 7 days prior to starting rTMS and within 3 days after the end of treatment. Diffusion tensor images were acquired using a single-shot spin echo imaging sequence. Nodes of the structural brain network were defined as the 96 anatomical brain areas in the Harvard-Oxford atlas. Whole brain deterministic streamline generation was performed using the Euler delta crossings tracking algorithm. A weighted connectivity matrix was generated based on the number of streamlines traversing between pairwise cortical regions. Graph theory metrics were calculated to assess network integration (characteristic path length), distribution (network density), segregation (clustering coefficient, modularity), and nodal influence (nodal degree, betweenness centrality). Results Relative to baseline, no change was observed post rTMS in the global network metrics of density, characteristic path length, and modularity. No group difference was observed between treatment responders and nonresponders on these global network metrics. Fig. 1 shows the distribution of nodes with properties that correlate (p Conclusion A collection of nodes in the frontal pole, frontal medial cortex, subcallosal cingulate, and lateral occipital cortex (LOC) have baseline nodal degree, centrality, and clustering coefficient that are correlated with baseline HAMD-24. The post treatment change in centrality in the LOC and precuneus is correlated with change in HAMD-24, suggesting rTMS selectively modulates the white matter connectivity underlying key areas in the default mode network. Download : Download high-res image (888KB) Download : Download full-size image
Amorphous blue phase III polymer scaffold as a sub-millisecond switching electro-optical memory device

We demonstrate the application of the nanostructured scaffold of BPIII as a resuable EO device that retains the BPIII ordering and sub-millisecond EO switching characteristics, that is, “EO-memory” of the original BPIII even after removal of the cholesteric blue phase liquid crystal (LC) and subsequent refilling with different nematic LCs. We also fabricate scaffolds mimicking the isotropic phase and cubic blue phase I (BPI) to demonstrate the versatility of our material system to nano-engineer EO-memory scaffolds of various structures. We envisage that this work will promote new experimental investigations of the mysterious BPIII and the development of novel device architectures and optically functional nanomaterials.
Circadian deep sequencing reveals stress-response genes that adopt robust rhythmic expression during aging

Disruption of the circadian clock, which directs rhythmic expression of numerous output genes, accelerates aging. To enquire how the circadian system protects aging organisms, here we compare circadian transcriptomes in heads of young and old Drosophila melanogaster. The core clock and most output genes remained robustly rhythmic in old flies, while others lost rhythmicity with age, resulting in constitutive over- or under-expression. Unexpectedly, we identify a subset of genes that adopted increased or de novo rhythmicity during aging, enriched for stress-response functions. These genes, termed late-life cyclers, were also rhythmically induced in young flies by constant exposure to exogenous oxidative stress, and this upregulation is CLOCK-dependent. We also identify age-onset rhythmicity in several putative primary piRNA transcripts overlapping antisense transposons. Our results suggest that, as organisms age, the circadian system shifts greater regulatory priority to the mitigation of accumulating cellular stress.
Comparison of different in vitro mucoadhesion testing methods for hydrogels

Abstract The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of different in vitro methods and different concentrations of polymers on the mucoadhesive properties of hydrogels. Mucoadhesive gels were prepared with four different polymers: Carbopol971P, Carbopol974P, hydroxypropylmethy cellulose (HPMC K100M) and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-Na). The four concentrations of 1%, 1.5%, 2%, and 2.5% were tested. The above formulations were characterized in terms of mucoadhesion with a tensile test, the flowing liquid method and a rheological study. The four polymers all exhibited mucoadhesion according to each of the three methods, and the mucoadhesive properties of the hydrogels increased with increasing concentrations with the exception of Carbopol971P. The rank orders of the hydrogels were not inconsistent across the different testing methods even with the same measurement. Concentrations at the low and high level were found to influence the rank orders of mucoadhesion. The conflicting results confirmed that a stand-alone method or concentration should not be used to evaluate the mucoadhesion of hydrogels.
Calibration of the DSCOVR EPIC visible and NIR channels using MODIS Terra and Aqua data and EPIC lunar observations.

Abstract. The unique position of the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) at the Lagrange 1 point makes an important addition to the data from currently operating low Earth orbit observing instruments. EPIC instrument does not have an onboard calibration facility. One approach to its calibration is to compare EPIC observations to the measurements from polar-orbiting radiometers. Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) is a natural choice for such comparison due to its well-established calibration record and wide use in remote sensing. We use MODIS Aqua and Terra L1B 1 km reflectances to infer calibration coefficients for four EPIC visible and NIR channels: 443, 551, 680 and 780 nm. MODIS and EPIC measurements made between June 2015 and 2016 are employed for comparison. We first identify favorable MODIS pixels with scattering angle matching temporarily collocated EPIC observations. Each EPIC pixel is then spatially collocated to a subset of the favorable MODIS pixels within 25 km radius. Standard deviation of the selected MODIS pixels as well as of the adjacent EPIC pixels is used to find the most homogeneous scenes. These scenes are then used to determine calibration coefficients using a linear regression between EPIC counts s −1 and reflectances in the close MODIS spectral channels. We present thus inferred EPIC calibration coefficients and discuss sources of uncertainties. The lunar EPIC observations are used to calibrate EPIC O 2 absorbing channels (688 and 764 nm), assuming that there is a small difference between moon reflectances separated by ∼ 10 nm in wavelength and provided the calibration factors of the red (680 nm) and NIR (780 nm) are known from comparison between EPIC and MODIS.
Factors to Consider in Monitoring Programs Suggested by Statistical Analysis of Available Data

ABSTRACT Based on experience gained in the statistical analysis of data collected during monitoring programs at three nuclear power plants, as well as on other studies in the area of impact assessment, I have attempted to outline what has been done and what I believe can be done in assessing environmental changes. Procedural changes that I suggest include the implementation of a stopping rule so field studies are terminated after a negotiated period of time and the commitment of all resources to studies of one or two species. Simulation models are suggested as a useful tool in an iterative process where results of field studies are routinely incorporated until a negotiated stopping time is reached or until acceptable results are attained. Finally, I describe the statistical analyses we have used and their limitations, and I give some sample-size estimates needed to detect changes of specified sizes in population numbers. To detect changes in population numbers of the size we have encountered, calculated sample sizes are found to be much larger than in current use.
What Is “New” in the Study of Religion and Language Teaching: An Essay From a Middle Ground Point of View

The article offers a response to and discussion of the article "Studying Religion and Language Teaching and Learning: Building a Subfield" by Huamei Han in the current issue. The author says that research on the relationship between religion and language learning has already been taking place, but that it is altered and made more important by the large number of migrants globally who must adapt to new cultures.
Some Empirical Results on Using Multipole-Accelerated Iterative Methods to Solve 3-D Potential Integral Equations

We briefly describe the now well-known multipole-accelerated algorithm for solving potential integral equations, and present computational results from solving several three-dimensional problems. The results indicate that the accuracy of the algorithm is dependent on the integral formulation used, and that the efficiency of the method is somewhat dependent on geometric density.
Are We There Yet? Indigenous Cultural Competency in Legal Education

The Indigenous Cultural Competency for Legal Academics Program (ICCLAP) was designed to promote the incorporation of Indigenous cultural competency (ICC) in legal education with a view to creating inclusive learning environments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander law students, and to build ICC in all students. This paper will discuss the project’s activities and key findings from the literature review, consultation process and survey of law schools on the current state of play with respect to embedding ICC in legal curricula. These findings set out barriers and constraints, critical success factors, and guiding principles for embedding ICC in law programs. It concludes by emphasising the need for ICC to be developed in collaboration with local Indigenous communities, recognising the place-based nature of Indigenous knowledges, and within a framework of legal pluralism.
Secondary Ion Emission from Titanium Alloys Under Argon and Oxygen Bombardment

Recently, a number of researchers have shown that in many cases a simplified thermal equilibrium (LTE) model adequately describes the emission of secondary ions from solids [1,2,3]. The simplified LTE model predicts that the probability of a sputtered atom leaving the surface as an ion is given by $${{\rm{R}}^{\rm{ + }}}{\rm{ = const}}\left( {{{\rm{B}}^{\rm{ + }}}{\rm{/}}{{\rm{B}}^{\rm{o}}}} \right)\exp \left( { - {\rm{I/kT}}} \right),$$ where B+ and B° are the partion functions of the sputtered ion and atom, respectively, I is the ionization energy of the sputtered atom, and T is the apparent surface plasma temperature.
NMDA Receptor Antagonists

NMDA receptor antagonists have a number of indications in chronic and acute pain. While ketamine represents the most frequently utilized analgesic from this group, other agents possess similar properties. The use of ketamine has been associated with significantly improved perioperative and chronic pain relief and decreased opioid requirements.
Phylogenetic Analysis and Revision of the Trilobite Subfamily Balnibarbiinae (Olenidae)

The Balnibarbiinae is one of eight subfamilies of the Olenidae, a diverse family of late Cambrian to Ordovician trilobites. Balnibarbiine species occur in a relatively continuous section of deeper-water sediments exposed along the northeastern coastline of Spitsbergen, Svalbard, as well as scattered deeper-water beds in central Nevada. Results of phylogenetic analyses of the subfamily using both parsimony and Bayesian methods are consistent with a previous hypothesis based on phyletic similarity and stratigraphic range. CloacaspisFortey, 1974, is supported as monophyletic, but the support for BalnibarbiFortey, 1974, is weak, and the genus may be paraphyletic to Cloacaspis even with the reassignment of Balnibarbi ceryxFortey, 1974, to Cloacaspis. New field collections and discovery of previously undescribed material in museum and survey collections provides the basis for emended descriptions of the genus Cloacaspis, as well as Cloacaspis tesselataFortey and Droser, 1999, Cloacaspis ekphymosaFortey, 1974, and Balnibarbi erugataFortey, 1974, and expands the geographic range of the subfamily to Alaska.
High-Contrast Photonic Crystals

Problems related to the spectral theory of two- and threedimensional photonic crystals exhibiting appreciable gaps are considered. The asymptotic models of high-contrast photonic crystals which can be analyzed rigorously are discussed. The asymptotic models suggest geometries of photonic crystals which favor appreciable spectral gaps. The properties of two-dimensional tunable photonic crystals are considered.
Impact of hospital volume on patient safety indicators and failure to rescue following open aortic aneurysm repair.

Abstract Objective Failure to rescue (FTR), a patient safety indicator (PSI) defined, codified, and adjudicated by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, is classified as a preventable inpatient death following major complications. FTR has been reported to be a significant driver of postoperative mortality after open abdominal aortic aneurysm (OAAA) repair. The association between hospital volume (HV) and mortality is well known; however, the mechanisms responsible for these improved outcomes and relative contribution to observed interhospital variation is poorly understood. Similarly, HV influence on specific complications predictive of FTR is unknown; therefore, we sought to determine how HV influences risk and contributes to interhospital variation in PSI events leading to FTR and/or in-hospital mortality after OAAA repair. Methods The Vizient database (174 academic/nonacademic hospitals) was queried for all OAAA repairs (elective, n = 2827; nonelective, n = 1622) completed from 2012 to 2014. The primary endpoint was combined FTR and/or in-hospital 30-day mortality. Risk-adjusted rates of complications, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality-designated PSIs, and FTR were determined. Additional modeling identified PSIs associated with FTR, whereas HV effects on PSIs and FTR were evaluated using mixed-effect models accounting for interhospital variation. Proportion of variation attributable to HV was estimated by contrasting hospital random effect variances in the presence/absence of volume effects. Results The combined overall FTR/in-hospital 30-day mortality rate was 9.3% (n = 414). For elective and nonelective cases, the overall FTR and 30-day mortality rates were: FTR, 1.6%, 4.9%; and 30-day in-hospital mortality, 3.4%, 17.5%, respectively. HV significantly influenced FTR/30-day in-hospital mortality (P Conclusions OAAA FTR/30-day in-hospital mortality strongly correlated with annual case volume with higher volume centers having the lowest risk. Notably, HV accounted for a significant proportion of the observed variation in FTR and specific complications providing direct evidence for how the volume-outcome relationship may influence perioperative mortality. These findings can inform stakeholders to strategically enable them to implement processes of care directed at the most vulnerable patients that are designed to reduce the likelihood of preventable adverse events and death after OAAA repair. Furthermore, these results underscore the need to regionalize OAAA repair and potentially other complex operations, to HV centers because of their improved ability to rescue patients experiencing complications associated with postoperative mortality.
Decision-making among the narcissistic subtypes: If I can’t benefit, then who should?

This research investigates how individuals high in grandiose or vulnerable narcissism make decisions and what motivates them. This study asked 98 (67 female, ages 18-34) participants to decide how to distribute $200 amongst a fictitious set of group members, two of which exemplified vulnerable or grandiose narcissistic traits. The participants completed questionnaires measuring their levels of grandiose narcissism, vulnerable narcissism, and how much they liked and identified with each fictitious group member. Individuals high in grandiose or vulnerable narcissism did not identify with any group member; however, individuals high in grandiose narcissism liked and decided to distribute more money to the group member with grandiose narcissistic traits. In addition, individuals high in grandiose or vulnerable narcissism strongly disliked and distributed less money to the group member with vulnerable narcissistic traits. Implications for the similarity-liking principle and narcissists’ decision-making processes are discussed.
RESIDUAL STRESSES IN THICK-WALLED CYLINDERS RESULTING FROM MECHANCIALLY INDUCED OVERSTRAIN,

Autofrettage is a process for inducing elastic response in thick-walled cylinders subjected to internal pressures which otherwise cause plastic strains. To extend the use of autofrettage to higher pressure applications and to elminate many of the problems encountered in the use of the conventional process based on the use of direct internal hydrostatic pressure, a new technique has been developed which utilizes the mechanical advantage of a sliding wedge to produce the desired bore enlargement. Since the use of a sliding wedge or mandrel will induce shearing forces at the mandrel-cylinder interface, the resultant residual-stress distribution will differ from that theoretically predicted as characteristic of the direct hydrostatic process. It is the purpose of this work to determine the residual-stress distribution as a function of magnitude of overstrain and diameter ratio, and how it affects the reyielding characteristics of cylinders autofrettaged by this technique. Residual-stress distributions, determined by the Sachs boring-out technique for diameter ratios ranging from 1.5 to 2.3 and for several different magnitudes of overstrain, are shown. The shearing force associated with this technique induces substantial longitudinal residual stresses. The increase in the magnitude of this longitudinal residual stress with overstrain and the resultant decrease in the tangential residual stress are shown and discussed. Hydrostatic reyielding tests of autofrettaged cylinders are used to substantiate the decrease of tangential residual stress with increased overstrain. The substantially lower optimum overstrain as compared to the direct hydrostatic technique is shown and discussed. For optimum overstrain, the elastic strength of cylinders autofrettaged by swaging is comparable to that characteristic of the conventional process.
Mesohabitat Associations of the Devil Tryonia, Tryonia diaboli (Gastropoda: Truncatelloidea: Cochliopidae)

The Cochliopidae of Texas include both stygobitic species, those that occupy only underground habitats, and epigean species, those living only in aboveground habitats. The devil tryonia, Tryonia diaboli, was described from the Devils River of Texas from river wrack, without additional habitat information. This species has been largely ignored since its description, so details of its habitat and ecology are obscure. In Dolan Springs and Finegan Springs, flowing into the Devils River, we sampled macroinvertebrates at five sites that form a gradient from the aquifer to the mainstem Devils River. We found the highest abundances of T. diaboli in aquifer samples, decreasing sharply downstream from the spring orifice. Our findings indicate that T. diaboli is stygophilic, occupying a transitional area including the aquifer as well as aboveground portions of springs.
Non-invasive Respiratory Support of the Premature Neonate: From Physics to Bench to Practice

Premature births continue to rise globally with a corresponding increase in various morbidities among this population. Rates of respiratory distress syndrome and the consequent development of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) are highest among the extremely preterm infants. The majority of extremely low birth weight premature neonates need some form of respiratory support during their early days of life. Invasive modes of respiratory assistance have been popular amongst care providers for many years. However, the practice of prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation is associated with an increased likelihood of developing BPD along with other comorbidities. Due to the improved understanding of the pathophysiology of BPD, and technological advances, non-invasive respiratory support is gaining popularity; whether as an initial mode of support, or for post-extubation of extremely preterm infants with respiratory insufficiency. Due to availability of a wide range of modalities, wide variations in practice exist among care providers. This review article aims to address the physical and biological basis for providing non-invasive respiratory support, the current clinical evidence, and the most recent developments in this field of Neonatology.
Sustained Attention and Individual Differences in Adolescents’ Mood and Physiological Reactivity to Stress

Biased attention to sad faces is associated with depression in adults and is hypothesized to increase depression risk specifically in the presence, but not absence, of stress by modulating stress reactivity. However, few studies have tested this hypothesis, and no studies have examined the relation between attentional biases and stress reactivity during adolescence, despite evidence that this developmental window is marked by changes in depression risk, stress, and the function of attention. Seeking to address these limitations, the current study examined the impact of adolescents' sustained attention to facial displays of emotion on individual differences in both mood reactivity to real-world stress and physiological (i.e., respiratory sinus arrhythmia [RSA]) reactivity to a laboratory-based stressor. Consistent with vulnerability-stress models of attention, greater sustained attention to sad faces was associated with greater depressive reactions to real-world stress. In addition, there was preliminary evidence from exploratory analyses that the impact of sustained attention on mood and/or physiological reactivity may be moderated by adolescents' age and sex such that relations are stronger for older adolescents and girls. The results of this study contribute to the current body of research on the role of attention in stress reactivity and depression risk and highlight the importance of considering age differences when examining these relations.
Product Strategy in a Nascent Market: The Effect of Complementary Products on New Product Design

Prior research focuses on new market entry, but ignores how firms position and design products as they enter. Evidence suggests that technologically capable firms sometimes enter with technically i...
Do You Know What I Know? Intent to Share Knowledge in the US and Ukraine

Knowledge is a strategically important resource, but research is needed to elucidate individual issues in knowledge sharing, particularly cross-contextual examinations. Thus, we developed a contextualized, extended model of knowledge sharing intentions based on the theory of planned behavior, and tested it using large samples of employees from the US, and from Ukraine, where anecdotal evidence suggests pandemic knowledge hoarding. Tests of the model in each country produced significant results for all of the path coefficients in the US, and for all but two paths in Ukraine. Comparative analysis for hypothesis testing indicated that, overall, individuals’ dispositions and attitudes were more relevant for understanding knowledge sharing intentions in the individualistic context of the US, while collective, relational elements were stronger in Ukraine, but with notable exceptions, particularly the influence of societal knowledge control norms. The results provide important implications for theory concerning knowledge sharing across contexts, including institutional theory assumptions, and for efficaciously managing knowledge processes, including cross-national knowledge transfers.
The Thrombopoietin Receptor, MPL, Is a Therapeutic Target of Opportunity in the MPN

The myeloproliferative neoplasms, polycythemia vera, essential thrombocytosis and primary myelofibrosis share driver mutations that either activate the thrombopoietin receptor, MPL, or indirectly activate it through mutations in the gene for JAK2, its cognate tyrosine kinase. Paradoxically, although the myeloproliferative neoplasms are classified as neoplasms because they are clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorders, the mutations affecting MPL or JAK2 are gain-of-function, resulting in increased production of normal erythrocytes, myeloid cells and platelets. Constitutive JAK2 activation provides the basis for the shared clinical features of the myeloproliferative neoplasms. A second molecular abnormality, impaired posttranslational processing of MPL is also shared by these disorders but has not received the recognition it deserves. This abnormality is important because MPL is the only hematopoietic growth factor receptor expressed in hematopoietic stem cells; because MPL is a proto-oncogene; because impaired MPL processing results in chronic elevation of plasma thrombopoietin, and since these diseases involve normal hematopoietic stem cells, they have proven resistant to therapies used in other myeloid neoplasms. We hypothesize that MPL offers a selective therapeutic target in the myeloproliferative neoplasms since impaired MPL processing is unique to the involved stem cells, while MPL is required for hematopoietic stem cell survival and quiescent in their bone marrow niches. In this review, we will discuss myeloproliferative neoplasm hematopoietic stem cell pathophysiology in the context of the behavior of MPL and its ligand thrombopoietin and the ability of thrombopoietin gene deletion to abrogate the disease phenotype in vivo in a JAK2 V617 transgenic mouse model of PV.
Enhanced Osteoinductivity of Demineralized Bone Matrix with Noggin Suppression in Polymer Matrix

Demineralized bone matrix (DBM), a potential alternative to autologous bone-graft, has been increasingly used for clinical bone repair; however, its application in larger defects isn't successful partly due to the rapid dispersion of DBM particles and relatively lower osteoinductivity. Here, a novel strategy is created to complement the osteoinductivity of DBM by incorporating DBM in biopolymer hydrogel combined with the abrogation of BMP antagonism. Combined treatment of DBM + noggin-suppression displays increased osteogenic potency of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) in vitro. Injectable chitosan (MeGC)-based hydrogel with heparinization (Hep-MeGC) is further developed to localize and stabilize DBM. Noggin-suppression reveals the significant increase in osteogenesis of hBMSCs in the photopolymerizable Hep-MeGC hydrogels with the encapsulation of DBM. Moreover, the combination of DBM + noggin-suppression in the injectable Hep-MeGC hydrogel displays a robust bone healing in mouse critical-sized calvarial defects in vivo. The mechanistic analysis demonstrates that noggin-suppression increased DBM osteoinductivity by stimulating endogenous BMP/Smad signals. These results have shown promise in DBM's ability as a prominent bone grafting material while being coupled with gene editing mechanism and a localizing three-dimensional scaffold. Together, this approach poses a significant increase in the efficiency of DBM-mediated craniofacial bone repair and dental osteointegration.
Increased cell-free fetal DNA release after apoptosis and sterile inflammation in human trophoblast cells.

Problem Cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) shed from the placenta can be detected in maternal blood and increases incrementally during gestation. Concentrations are further elevated with pregnancy complications. Specific activators of cffDNA release in such complications have not been identified. Here, we use trophoblast cells from early and term placenta to examine cffDNA release following apoptosis, infection, and sterile inflammatory stress. Method of study HTR8/SVneo cells were used to model first-trimester trophoblasts, and term cytotrophoblasts (CTBs) were isolated from placentae collected after uncomplicated deliveries. Trophoblasts were treated with varying concentrations of doxorubicin (DOX), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or high-mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) for 18 h. Cells or supernatants were quantified for caspase-3/7 cleavage, pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, and cffDNA release. Results Both HTR8/SVneo and CTBs underwent caspase-3/7 cleavage following DOX treatment, with HTR8/SVneo cells more sensitive to apoptosis than term CTBs. Apoptotic cells released more cffDNA in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with LPS resulted in an increase in pro-inflammatory IL-6 release, particularly in term CTBs compared to early trophoblasts; however, LPS did not affect cffDNA release. Lastly, while neither cell released more TNF-α following stimulation with HMGB1, both HTR8/SVneo and CTBs released significantly more cffDNA in the presence of HMGB1. Conclusions These data show that apoptosis and sterile inflammation induced by DOX and HMGB1, respectively, cause an increase in cffDNA concentrations in both first-trimester and term trophoblasts. Understanding physiologic release of cffDNA during healthy and complicated pregnancy can identify new targets for the diagnosis and treatment of gestational complications.
U.S. National Park visitor perceptions of bats and white-nose syndrome

Abstract Stakeholder perceptions are essential to creating effective conservation plans, especially when these efforts focus on taxa that have historically negative preconceptions, such as bats. In the U.S., one organization that has contributed to changing people's perceptions of bats is the National Park Service (NPS). The NPS offers a variety of educational programming on bats, including written educational material and ranger interpretive programs. These educational efforts about bats have increased with the discovery of white-nose syndrome (WNS), an invasive fungus that has killed millions of bats in North America. However, despite the NPS's efforts to educate the public and conserve bats, managers lack information on visitor perceptions and knowledge of bats and WNS. This study examined U.S. National Park visitors' attitudes towards bats, knowledge of bat ecology and human health risks, and knowledge of WNS to determine how these factors influenced their support of bat conservation efforts. In 2019, we collected 1365 surveys from visitors in eight NPS units with cave resources. Our results show visitors' support for bat conservation in national parks was influenced by their positive attitudes towards bats, perceptions of ecosystem services, and recognition of WNS. However, park differences in WNS recognition suggested that there are gaps in public outreach and educational efforts. As threats to bats motivate management changes over the coming decade, understanding visitor perceptions of bats and integrating this information into cave management plans will be critical for the NPS to achieve its management goals of enhancing recreation and conservation in environments shared by humans and bats.
Consideraciones geoestratégicas de la integración europea y sudamericana: una confirmación de supuestos neorrealistas

Este articulo propone el marco neorrealista para el analisis del desarrollo de la UE (Union Europea) y el Mercosur (Mercado Comun del Sur) como dos proyectos contrahegemonicos. El analisis confirma los supuestos neorrealistas de la integracion regional como una medida de adaptacion a la hegemonia absoluta o como una medida de resistencia contra una hegemonia que se debilita. Sin embargo, tambien se senalan las diferencias importantes en la agenda de las relaciones entre Estados Unidos y la UE y entre Estados Unidos y el Mercosur, asi como las divergencias en el caracter de la integracion de los dos bloques, las cuales han sido predeterminadas por la diversa naturaleza de los problemas que ambas regiones tienen en sus relaciones con la superpotencia.
Calibration of the Debris Project ISOPHOT Data

The Astronomical Observing Templates (AOTs) for photometry with the ISOPHOT photometer were designed to include measurements of a black-body radiator (FCS) with known output power. However, the short-period drifts of the C-100 detectors at the beginning of a measurement are on the same order of magnitude as the response to both faint source fluxes and the corresponding FCS power. Thus other techniques for calibrating ISOPHOT data on faint sources are sought.
The number of substrate- and inhibitor-binding sites of fumarase.

Abstract The reversible binding to fumarase of the competitive inhibitors, trans-aconitate and citrate, and of the natural substrates, fumarate and l-malate, was studied by the method of equilibrium dialysis. The binding of the enol tautomer of oxalacetate, a secondary substrate of fumarase, was measured spectrophotometrically. The results of these studies indicate that there are four substrate- or inhibitor-binding sites per tetrameric molecule of enzyme, or an average of one site per polypeptide chain subunit. The Michaelis constants (Km) and inhibition constants (Ki) for these compounds were found to be in close agreement with the dissociation constants calculated from the binding studies. This correspondence strongly suggests that the four binding sites measured are also catalytic sites.