cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reversal of dendritic phenotypes in 16p11.2 microduplication mouse model neurons by pharmacological targeting of a network hub

The architecture of dendritic arbors contributes to neuronal connectivity in the brain. Conversely, abnormalities in dendrites have been reported in multiple mental disorders and are thought to contribute to pathogenesis. Rare copy number variations (CNVs) are genetic alterations that are associated with a wide range of mental disorders and are highly penetrant. The 16p11.2 microduplication is one of the CNVs most strongly associated with schizophrenia and autism, spanning multiple genes possibly involved in synaptic neurotransmission. However, disease-relevant cellular phenotypes of 16p11.2 microduplication and the driver gene(s) remain to be identified. We found increased dendritic arborization in isolated cortical pyramidal neurons from a mouse model of 16p11.2 duplication (dp/+). Network analysis identified MAPK3, which encodes ERK1 MAP kinase, as the most topologically important hub in protein-protein interaction networks within the 16p11.2 region and broader gene networks of schizophrenia-associated CNVs. Pharmacological targeting of ERK reversed dendritic alterations associated with dp/+ neurons, outlining a strategy for the analysis and reversal of cellular phenotypes in CNV-related psychiatric disorders.
Actuarial Implications from Pre-kindergarten Education

Great progress has been made in providing pre-kindergarten (pre-K) public education throughout the United States. The percentages of 3- and 4-year-olds enrolled nationally have grown from 3% to 5% and 14% to 29%, respectively, between 2002 and 2015. By 2015, 42 states and the District of Columbia were in varying stages of offering pre-K programs (0.9% to 74.2% for totals of 3- and 4-year-olds); eight states were in stages of implementation. We will provide approximate answers to four questions. The first two are how does pre-K education affect female and male life expectancies? The other two are how does pre-K education affect expected years of life dependency in health and in lifetime earnings? The methodology used to help answer these questions consisted of using actuarial/demographic tables over the years 1990 to 2040. It will be shown that upper limits to estimated increases in male and female life expectancy that can be attributed to pre-K education are 2.47 and 1.67 years, respectively. Moderate estimates to the decreases in expected years of health dependency for 65-year old males and females that benefit from pre-K education are 1.47 and 4.71 years, respectively. We will document that people with pre-K education will have higher high school graduation rates, lower crime rates, higher employment rates, and higher wages than those without pre-K education; these four improved rates will lead to improved life expectancies and diminished years of health dependency. These results have actuarial implications for life insurance, long-term health insurance, and pension premium calculations.
Particle size dependence of biogenic secondary organic aerosol molecular composition

Abstract. Formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is initiated by the oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the gas phase whose products subsequently partition to the particle phase. Non-volatile molecules have a negligible evaporation rate and grow particles at their condensation rate. Semi-volatile molecules have a significant evaporation rate and grow particles at a much slower rate than their condensation rate. Particle phase chemistry may enhance particle growth if it transforms partitioned semi-volatile molecules into non-volatile products. In principle, changes in molecular composition as a function of particle size allow non-volatile molecules that have condensed from the gas phase (a surface-limited process) to be distinguished from those produced by particle phase reaction (a volume-limited process). In this work, SOA was produced by β-pinene ozonolysis in a flow tube reactor. Aerosol exiting the reactor was size-selected with a differential mobility analyzer, and individual particle sizes between 35 and 110 nm in diameter were characterized by on- and offline mass spectrometry. Both the average oxygen-to-carbon (O ∕ C) ratio and carbon oxidation state (OSc) were found to decrease with increasing particle size, while the relative signal intensity of oligomers increased with increasing particle size. These results are consistent with oligomer formation primarily in the particle phase (accretion reactions, which become more favored as the volume-to-surface-area ratio of the particle increases). Analysis of a series of polydisperse SOA samples showed similar dependencies: as the mass loading increased (and average volume-to-surface-area ratio increased), the average O ∕ C ratio and OSc decreased, while the relative intensity of oligomer ions increased. The results illustrate the potential impact that particle phase chemistry can have on biogenic SOA formation and the particle size range where this chemistry becomes important.
Optimum parameter search for a slider-crank wave energy converter under regular and irregular wave conditions

In this work, a novel model of a wave energy converter that utilizes a slider crank power take-off system (PTOS) has been studied to determine maximum energy extraction. This system includes a buoy, slider crank linkage, and generator with a gear box. With a regular sinusoidal wave excitation force, effects of three parameters on the system are analyzed. These include the slider crank radius, connecting rod length, and phase lock offset. It is found that the slider crank radius has the largest effect on total energy extracted. Under irregular wave conditions only the effect of phase lock offset is analyzed. The results show that the control system can exhibit small percentages of performance degradation without large adverse effects on the overall energy production.
Manipulation of individual superconducting vortices and stick-slip motion in periodic pinning arrays

We numerically examine the manipulation of superconducting vortices interacting with a moving trap representing a magnetic force tip translating across a superconducting sample containing a periodic array of pinning sites. As a function of the tip velocity and coupling strength, we find five distinct dynamic phases, including a decoupled regime where the vortices are dragged a short distance within a pinning site, an intermediate coupling regime where vortices in neighboring pinning sites exchange places, an intermediate trapping regime where individual vortices are dragged longer distances and exchange modes of vortices occur in the surrounding pins, an intermittent multiple trapping regime where the trap switches between capturing one or two vortices, and a strong coupling regime in which the trap permanently captures and drags two vortices. In some regimes we observe the counterintuitive behavior that slow moving traps couple less strongly to vortices than faster moving traps; however, the fastest moving traps are generally decoupled. The different phases can be characterized by the distances the vortices are displaced and the force fluctuations exerted on the trap. We find different types of stick-slip motion depending on whether vortices are moving into and out of pinning sites, undergoing exchange, or performing correlated motion induced by vortices outside of the trap. Our results are general to the manipulation of other types of particle-based systems interacting with periodic trap arrays, such as colloidal particles or certain types of frictional systems.
At War Over the Peace Bridge. A Case Study in the Vulnerability of Binational Institutions

Bridges are powerful symbols of the overcoming of differences. This is particularly true of the Peace Bridge that spans the international border formed by the Niagara River and links together south...
TAK1 mediates microenvironment-triggered autocrine signals and promotes triple-negative breast cancer lung metastasis.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly metastatic subtype of breast cancer that has limited therapeutic options. Thus, developing novel treatments for metastatic TNBC is an urgent need. Here, we show that nanoparticle-mediated delivery of transforming growth factor-β1-activated kinase-1 (TAK1) inhibitor 5Z-7-Oxozeaenol can inhibit TNBC lung metastasis in most animals tested. P38 is a central signal downstream of TAK1 in TNBC cells in TAK1-mediated response to multiple cytokines. Following co-culturing with macrophages or fibroblasts, TNBC cells express interleukin-1 (IL1) or tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), respectively. Compared to TAK1 inhibition, suppressing IL1 signaling with recombinant IL1 receptor antagonist (IL1RA) is less efficient in reducing lung metastasis, possibly due to the additional TAK1 signals coming from distinct stromal cells. Together, these observations suggest that TAK1 may play a central role in promoting TNBC cell adaptation to the lung microenvironment by facilitating positive feedback signaling mediated by P38. Approaches targeting the key TAK1-P38 signal could offer a novel means for suppressing TNBC lung metastasis. Therapeutic options for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) metastasis are limited. Here they show nanoparticle-mediated delivery of TAK1 inhibitor 5Z-7-Oxozeaenol to inhibit TNBC lung metastasis in mice, and that TAK1 might promote TNBC cell adaptation in lung microenvironment by positive feedback mediated by P38 signaling.
Experimental Studies of Protein-Dynamics Through Ligand Binding

For many years we have been studying the binding of dioxygen and carbon monoxide to various heme proteins such as myoglobin and separated hemoglobin chains. The main emphasis of this work has been on finding and understanding general concepts and on constructing a simple model that explains all observed facts. Here I will, without going into any details, describe some of the main results.
Association of Lymphocyte Alloantigen Genotypes with Levels of Immune Responses

The association of specific immunological unresponsiveness with genes coding within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in mammals has been known for some time (l, 2), and was reported more recently in chickens (3, 4). It was presumed that MHC-determined surface antigens on lymphocytes, and perhaps on other immunological effectors such as macrophages, must play a major role in the mechanism of these associations (2, 5). However, direct information on the mode of action, in this context, of MHC antigens such as la, H-2D or H-2K has been forthcoming only in the last year or so (6, 7). The question of the genetic determination of differing levels of immune response among responders was extensively discussed at a meeting in 1972 (8), but this issue has not been widely followed up. We became interested in this question because of our work with two inbred lines of chickens which are identical at the B MHC, and yet exhibit marked differences in resistance to oncogenesis of lymphoid cells by exogenous viruses subsequent to the initiation of systemic infection. Chickens from East Lansing inbred line 6 (EL6) develop only a very low incidence of Marek’s disease (MD) or of Lymphoid Leukosis (LL) following exposure to the appropriate virus by inoculation or contact (9, 10).
Association Between Aortic Vascular Inflammation and Coronary Artery Plaque Characteristics in Psoriasis.

Importance Inflammation is critical to atherosclerosis. Psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory disease associated with early cardiovascular events and increased aortic vascular inflammation (VI), provides a model to study the process of early atherogenesis. Fludeoxyglucose F 18 positron emission tomography/computed tomography ( 18 F-FDG PET/CT) helps quantify aortic VI, and coronary computed tomography angiography provides coronary artery disease (CAD) assessment through evaluation of total plaque burden (TB) and noncalcified coronary plaque burden (NCB), luminal stenosis, and high-risk plaques (HRP). To our knowledge, association between aortic VI and broad CAD indices has not yet been assessed in a chronic inflammatory disease state. Such a study may provide information regarding the utility of aortic VI in capturing early CAD. Objective To assess the association between aortic VI and CAD indices, including TB, NCB, luminal stenosis, and HRP prevalence, in psoriasis. Design, Setting, and Participants In a cross-sectional cohort study at the National Institutes of Health, 215 consecutive patients with psoriasis were recruited from surrounding outpatient dermatology practices. All patients underwent 18 F-FDG PET/CT for aortic VI assessment, and 190 of 215 patients underwent coronary computed tomography angiography to characterize CAD. The study was conducted between January 1, 2013, and May 31, 2017. Data were analyzed in March 2018. Exposures Aortic VI assessed by 18 F-FDG PET/CT. Main Outcomes and Measures Primary outcome: TB and NCB. Secondary outcomes: luminal stenosis and HRP. Results Among 215 patients with psoriasis (mean [SD] age, 50.4 [12.6] years; 126 men [59%]), patients with increased aortic VI had increased TB (standardized β = 0.48; P P = .001) and HRP (OR, 3.05; 95% CI, 1.42-6.47; P = .004). The aortic VI and TB association was primarily driven by NCB (β = 0.49; P P = .001). All associations of aortic VI remained significant after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors: aortic VI and TB (β = 0.23; P P P = .007), and HRP (OR, 2.72; 95% CI, 1.08-6.83; P = .03). No association was found between aortic VI and dense-calcified coronary plaque burden. Conclusions and Relevance Aortic VI is associated with broad CAD indices, suggesting that aortic VI may be a surrogate for early CAD. Larger prospective studies need to assess these associations longitudinally and examine treatment effects on these outcomes.
Utility of Chest Radiographs in Children Presenting to a Pediatric Emergency Department With Acute Asthma Exacerbation and Chest Pain.

Objectives Previous studies have not evaluated the utility of obtaining chest radiographs (CXR) in patients with acute asthma exacerbation reporting chest pain. The aims of this study were to evaluate the symptom of chest pain as a predictor for clinicians obtaining a CXR in these patients and to evaluate chest pain as a predictor of a positive CXR finding. Methods This was a retrospective chart review of patients, ages 2 to 18 years, presenting for acute asthma exacerbation to the emergency department from August 1, 2014, to March 31, 2016. Data collected included demographics, clinical data, provider type, and CXR results. Chest radiographs were classified as positive if they showed evidence of pneumonia, pneumothorax, or pneumomediastinum. Multivariate logistic regression models were developed with dependent variables of "obtaining a CXR" and "a positive CXR finding." Results Seven hundred ninety-three subjects were included in the study. Two hundred thirty-one (29.1%) reported chest pain. Chest radiographs were obtained in 184 patients (23.2%). Of those, 74 patients (40.2%) had chest pain and 21 (11.4%) had a positive CXR. Providers were more likely to obtain CXRs in patients who reported chest pain (odds ratio = 2.2 [95% confidence interval = 1.5-3.2]). Patients reporting chest pain were more likely to have a positive CXR although this difference was not statistically significant (odds ratio = 2.0 [95% confidence interval = 0.7-5.6]). Conclusions Providers are more likely to obtain CXRs in asthmatic patients complaining of chest pain; however, these CXRs infrequently yield positive findings. This further supports limiting the use of chest radiography in patients with acute asthma exacerbation.
Game-theory-based Real-Time Inter-Microgrid Market Design Using Hierarchical Optimization Algorithm

This paper proposes a Game-theory-based real-time reverse auction model for inter-microgrid market in a multi-microgrid system using a hierarchical optimization algorithm to address the optimal operation of microgrids in distribution systems. This market is organized to optimally assign the net power mismatch inside an area to microgrids’ market agents aiming at minimizing both the dependency on the utility and the market clearing cost. To implement the proposed framework in a Multi-Agent System (MAS), a fast and reliable communication middleware is required. Therefore, the data distribution service (DDS) which is a data-centric communications middleware based on the real-time publish-subscribe protocol is deployed for this purpose, where each agent is developed as a domain participant combining a publisher and subscriber. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed market framework, it is applied on the modified 37-bus IEEE distribution test feeder system, and the numerical results are obtained and presented.
How should crop water-use efficiency be analyzed? A warning about spurious correlations

Abstract Water-use efficiency (WUE) is a common concept in the agronomy literature. Although definitions of WUE vary, the most common relates the ratio of grain yield (GY) to evapotranspiration (ET) e.g. WUEo=oGY/ET or WUEo=oET/GY. But using this metric has issues, as it is a ratio and is often analyzed relative to one of its components. Here it is shown that plotting WUE versus GY or ET causes spurious correlations, leading to artificial elevation of the proportion of variance explained. This may lead to higher confidence in WUE data than is warranted by the raw data. When WUE is regressed on GY, fitted slopes can be biased leading to predictions of high GY gain for little change in water use. A survey found ˜23% of WUE focused literature presented spurious correlations. To avoid these issues, future analyses could focus on interpretation of raw GY versus ET data and infer WUE changes from this plot. Treatments and site variation are shown to have effects on the interpretation of the GY to ET relationship. Statistical methods are reviewed to evaluate the mean/median response of GY to ET, and thus allow interpretation of patterns of WUE. Isolines of constant WUE are introduced as a general tool and illustrated relative to contrasting datasets. Other statistical methods are illustrated for evaluating the benchmark WUE, or boundary lines. Although no one statistical method will work for all datasets, the following conclusion is general across agronomy: spurious correlations can be avoided by not relating variables that share measured data.
Aerobic capacity and exercise performance in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease worldwide. Exercise has proven effective in treating NAFLD, and many clinical initiatives seek to increase uptake of exercise in this population. This study aimed to elucidate the physiological responses of individuals with NAFLD to graded exercise testing. METHODS Seventeen participants with presumed NAFLD and 15 without were assessed through symptom-limited, Modified Bruce treadmill testing. Gas exchange, impedance cardiometry, and perceived exertion ratings were used to assess exercise performance, response and perception. Patient-self reports were also obtained. RESULTS Individuals with NAFLD were older (49.00 [38.50, 54.50] vs. 30.00[22.00, 42.00] years, P=0.018) with higher Body Mass Index (32.54[27.38, 34.98] vs. 25.62[23.76, 30.72], P=0.012), but demonstrated no other differences with regards to sex, race, blood pressure, resting heart rate, or habitual activity. Individuals demonstrated no between-group differences in total exercise time, anaerobic threshold (AT) onset time, or cardiac output. While individuals with NAFLD displayed a decreased peak oxygen consumption (VO2) (25.70[23.60, 27.20] vs. 31.00[26.00, 42.70], P=0.036) relative to controls, a similar difference was not found for the percentage of predicted VO2max achieved, suggesting that NAFLD may not impair exercise physiology beyond what is observed in obese individuals. CONCLUSIONS Exercise capacity appears preserved in participants with NAFLD relative to their control counterparts. Peak VO2 is reduced among these patients, suggesting impaired aerobic capacity. Future studies may seek to determine whether this finding is directly related to the diagnosis of NAFLD, or more generally to states of obesity and physical deconditioning.
Quantification of eccentricity in stems of Artemisia tridentata Nutt.

Previous research has shown that stems of Artemisia tridentata species exhibit extensive lobe formation. Twenty-two stem samples of Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. wyomingensis (ARTRW) and 24 samples of A. t. ssp. tridentata (ARTRT) were investigated to quantify lobe formation characteristics. For samples of both subspecies, lobe formation values were constant for 8.3-cm-diameter stems. For the above samples, ARTRW had 14 xylem rings, while ARTRT had only 5 rings. Three stem samples (33 to 50 cm long) of ARTRW were cut into a series of 8-mm segments. For the 3 stems, the smallest ends had 8 xylem rings (10 mm² area), while the largest ends had 38 xylem rings (700-mm² area). Lobes were present in all samples with more than 10 xylem rings. Each stem segment was subdivided into 10 sectors. A difference of more than 10 rings was observed in 13% of all sectors from segment to segment, suggesting that eccentric growth and lobe formation was localized along stems. This is the first publication to quantify lobe formation characteristics in successive stem segments of A. tridentata.
An acceleration in hypertension-related mortality for middle-aged and older Americans, 1999-2016: An observational study.

Background Hypertension-related mortality has been increasing in recent years; however, limited information exists concerning rate, temporal, secular, and geographic trends in the United States. Methods and results Using CDC death certificate data spanning 1999-2016, we sought to delineate trends in deaths attributable to an underlying cause of hypertension using joinpoint regression and proportion testing. From 1999-2016, the hypertension-related mortality rate increased by 36.4% with an average annual percent change (AAPC) of 1.8% for individuals ≥ 35 years of age. Interestingly, there was a notable acceleration in the AAPC of hypertension mortality between 2011 and 2016 (2.7% per year). This increase was due to a significant uptick in mortality for individuals ≥ 55 years of age with the greatest AAPC occurring in individuals 55-64 (4.5%) and 65-74 (5.1%) years of age. Increased mortality and AAPC were pervasive throughout sex, ethnicity, and White and American Indian or Alaska Native race, but not Black or African American race. From 2011-2016, there were significant increases in AAPC for hypertension-related mortality with contributing causes of atrial fibrillation, heart failure, diabetes, obesity, and vascular dementia. Elevated mortality was observed for conditions with a contributing cause of hypertension that included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and all types of falls. Geographically, increases in AAPCs and mortality rates were observed for 25/51 States between 2011 and 2016. Conclusions Our results indicate hypertension-related mortality may have accelerated since 2011 for middle-aged and older Americans, which may create new challenges in care and healthcare planning.
Transition Assessment and Goal Generator (TAGG): Useful Tool to Assess Non-academic Skills

Non-academic skills are as important as academic skills for the employment and postsecondary education of individuals with disabilities. Due to less than half of individuals with disabilities gaining employment, and the fact that the majority of students with disabilities do not graduate from postsecondary education due to non-academic skills, educators needed a method to assess and identify the non-academic skills students have and need to learn. The Transition Assessment and Goal Generator (TAGG) is an easy-to-use transition assessment instrument based on research-identified non-academic behaviors and experiences associated with post-school employment and further education. TAGG assesses (1) strengths and limitations, (2) disability awareness, (3) student involvement in the IEP, (4) goal setting and attainment, (5) persistence (6) interacting with others, (7) employment, and (8) support community (McConnell et al. 2012). TAGG has more validity evidence supporting its use than most other transition assessments.
Environmental Conservation and Development: Critical Perspectives

Starting in the 1960s, environmental movements brought global attention to humanity's negative effects on the natural environment. Governments and international organizations became increasingly concerned with addressing these environmental problems. This article examines arguments about how and why environmental degradation occurs and discusses the critical literature at the intersection of environmental conservation and international development programs. While interventions are often well intended, many bring with them the unintended negative effects of population displacement, marginalization of indigenous communities, and questionable economic benefits. Future policies and programmatic interventions must be subject to rigorous research and critique in order to improve their effects on local populations and the environments.
Proteomic Analysis of Extracellular Vesicles Derived from MDA-MB-231 Cells in Microgravity

Patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) have a relatively poor prognosis and cannot benefit from endocrine and/or targeted therapy. Considerable effort has been devoted toward the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms and potential diagnostic/therapeutic targets. However, it is inefficient and often ineffective to study the biological nuances of TNBC in large-scale clinical trials. In contrast, the investigation of the association between molecular alterations induced through controlled variables and relevant physiochemical characteristics of TNBC cells in laboratory settings is simple, definite, and efficient in exploring the molecular mechanisms. In this study, microgravity was selected as the sole variable of study as it can inhibit cancer cell viability, proliferation, metastasis, and chemoresistance. Identifying the key molecules that shift cancer cells toward a less aggressive phenotype may facilitate future TNBC studies. We focused on extracellular vesicles (EV) derived from TNBC MDA-MB-231 cells in microgravity, which mediate intercellular communication by transporting signaling molecules between cells. Our results show that in comparison with cells in full gravity, EV release rate decreased in microgravity while average EV size increased. In addition, we found EVs may be superior to cells in analyzing differentially expressed proteins, especially those that are down-regulated ones and usually unidentified or neglected in analysis of intact cellular contents. Proteomic analysis of both EVs and cells further revealed a significant correlation with GTPases and proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells in microgravity. Altogether, our findings would further inspire in-depth correlative cancer biological studies and subsequent clinical research.
Students' awareness of the student health center's sexual health services at a southeast public university.

Objective: To determine whether university students are aware of the sexual health services offered by the student health center. Participants: 522 undergraduate students at a southeast public univ...
Restoration of forest resilience to fire from old trees is possible across a large Colorado dry-forest landscape by 2060, but only under the Paris 1.5℃ goal.

Fire-prone dry forests often face increasing fires from climate change with low resistance and resilience due to logging of large, old fire-resistant trees. Their restoration across large landscapes is constrained by limited mature trees, physical settings, and protection. Active restoration has been costly and shown limited effectiveness, but lower cost passive restoration is less studied. I used GIS and machine learning to see whether passive restoration of old trees could overcome constraints in time, by 2060, across 667,000 ha of montane forests in the San Juan Mountains, Colorado, where temperatures are increasing faster than the global average. Random Forest models of physical locations of reconstructed historical old growth (OG) and relatively frequent fire (RFF) show historical OG with RFF was favored between 6.1 and 7.9℃ annual mean temperatures. Random Forest models projected that similar temperature-suitable locations were moved into the current middle montane ca 2015, and would be extended to just below the upper limit of the montane if the Paris 1.5℃ goal is reached, but beyond if not. US Forest Service common stand exam data, which covered ~15% of the study area and included 26,149 tree ages, show the highest potential for restoring resistance and resilience from old trees is a ≥120-year age class. This class could become a ≥160-year age class, which meets old-growth age criteria, over 81% of the area by ca 2060, nearly fully restoring historical old-growth levels. Half this age class is already protected, and much of the remainder could be retained using evidence-based diameter caps. Datasets thus are sufficient to show that passive restoration of old-tree resistance and resilience to fire is feasible by ca 2060 across a large montane landscape, although contingent on global success in achieving the Paris 1.5℃ goal. Passive restoration may be viable elsewhere.
Electrochemical reduction of CO2 to CO and HCOO- using metal-cyclam complex catalysts: predicting selectivity and limiting potential from DFT.

Sustainable fuel production from CO2 through electrocatalytic reduction is promising but challenging due to high overpotential and poor product selectivity. Herein, we computed the reaction free energies of electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CO and HCOO− using the density functional theory method and screened transition metal(M)–cyclam(L) complexes as molecular catalysts for CO2 reduction. Our results showed that pKa of the proton adduct formed by the protonation of the reduced metal center can be used as a descriptor to select the operating pH of the solution to steer the reaction toward either the CO or hydride cycle. Among the complexes, [LNi]2+ and [LPd]2+ catalyze the reactions by following the CO cycle and are the CO selective catalysts in the pH ranges 1.81–7.31 and 6.10 and higher, respectively. Among the complexes that catalyze the reactions by following the hydride cycle, [LMo]2+ and [LW]3+ are HCOO− selective catalysts and have low limiting potentials of −1.33 V and −1.54 V, respectively. Other complexes, including [LRh]2+, [LIr]2+, [LW]2+, [LCo]2+, and [LTc]2+ catalyze the reactions resulting in either HCOO− from CO2 reduction or H2 from proton reduction; however, HCOO− formation is always thermodynamically more favorable. Notably, [LMo]2+, [LW]3+, [LW]2+ and [LCo]2+ have limiting potentials less negative than −1.6 V and are based on Earth-abundant elements, making them attractive for practical application.
OrgoPrep: A Remote Peer-Led Summer Program Preparing Students for Organic Chemistry

The transition from general chemistry to organic chemistry is challenging for many students. To succeed, students must remember their foundational chemistry skills and effectively transfer that knowledge into the context of organic chemistry. However, this transition is often hindered by many obstacles: (1) lack of prerequisite knowledge, (2) lack of understanding how foundational chemistry knowledge is applicable to organic chemistry, and (3) high levels of anxiety and low levels of self-efficacy toward organic chemistry. To address these challenges, a peer-led summer program that leverages question-embedded videos, worksheets, and synchronous remote webinars to enhance students’ transition into organic chemistry was developed and assessed. This six-week program, OrgoPrep, covers a wide set of introductory organic chemistry topics: resonance structures, hybridization and moleculer shape, molecular orbitals, acid–base chemistry, limiting reagents, and more. Substantial benefits, such as decreasing student anxiety and doubling student self-efficacy, were observed for students who completed OrgoPrep. These students also significantly outperformed their peers who did not participate in the program, despite having no statistical difference in prior chemistry abilities—OrgoPrep students had a 3-fold decrease in failing grades and a 2-fold increase in A grades. Overall, OrgoPrep successfully serves as a bridge between general and organic chemistry, while facilitating knowledge transfer and enhancing student self-efficacy.
Comparison of POCIS and grab sampling techniques for monitoring PPCPs in vernal pools in central Pennsylvania.

Abstract Active ingredients in pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) can persist through wastewater treatment plants and be released into the environment where they can inadvertently pose risks to non-target organisms. Emerging contaminants (ECs), including PPCPs, are commonly detected in wastewater effluent. With the increasing beneficial re-use of treated wastewater globally, there is a need to understand how spray-irrigation activities affect the occurrence and persistence of ECs in the environment to which they are introduced. Here, we explore the impacts of wastewater spray-irrigation on nearby ephemeral wetlands (e.g., vernal pools) through the use of grab and Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Sampling (POCIS) techniques. This study sought to determine whether integrative sampling techniques are better suited than traditional grab sampling techniques in assessing the presence and concentrations of ECs in vernal pools by evaluating 34 ECs in six vernal pools in central Pennsylvania. Three pools were impacted by wastewater spray-irrigation activities and three were in a nearby forested area. Results of this study found that POCIS detected a wide range of 25 ECs (log Kow between −2.6 and 9.37) more or, in some cases, equally frequently, relative to grab samples. Additionally, grab samples were found to best capture short-lived elevated inputs of ECs (from irrigation events) while POCIS were found to best capture ECs that were present in vernal pools over a longer period of time (weeks to months). For ECs detected more frequently in grab samples, concentrations were higher compared to time weighted average aqueous concentrations estimated from POCIS. This study advances understanding of the potential impact of wastewater beneficial reuse on vernal pools and informs how best to monitor the presence of ECs in vernal pools using integrative and grab sampling techniques.
Regulation of Bacillus subtilis gene expression during the transition from exponential growth to stationary phase.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the current understanding of B. subtilis regulatory proteins. A number of regulatory proteins function to activate or modulate expression levels of many transition-state genes. The main teleological difference between these regulators and the transition-state regulators just discussed is that, while the latter are active during vegetative growth to silence post-exponential specific genes, the former primarily make their presence felt only after the onset of the transition state. Genetic and biochemical aspects of B. subtilis post-exponential gene expression have been studied intensively for some time because of their association with the developmental program of endospore formation. Therefore, the transition state of B. subtilis can be viewed as a crossroads, where functions necessary for smooth entry into any of the alternate paths are present, but before any final commitment has been made. The proper regulation of gene expression during the transition state is obviously critical for optimizing survival. In fact, in its natural soil habitat, where nutrients are usually limiting, the transition state is probably the predominant metabolically active state of a Bacillus cell.
Pulsation hydrodynamics of luminous blue variables and pulsation-driven winds

Many physical factors, including radial and nonradial pulsation, rotation, radiation pressure, convection, magnetic fields, or dynamical instabilities may play important roles in the hydrodynamics of Luminous Blue Variables. We review the current status of hydrodynamic modeling of LBV envelopes, and describe results of our models using the one-dimensional nonlinear hydrodynamics code of Ostlie and Cox. We find that the models pulsate in several simultaneous radial modes, driven by the helium and Fe ionization κ effect. The pulsations have quasi-periods between 5 and 80 days, with radial velocity amplitudes of 50–200 km/sec, and may be identified with the LBV microvariations. In some cases, depending on luminosity-to-mass ratio and helium abundance, deep layers in the model can periodically exceed the Eddington luminosity limit. The key to exceeding LE is the inclusion of the time dependence of convection: Near the regions of opacity peaks produced by Fe and helium ionization, convection is turning on and off during each pulsation cycle. If convection cannot turn on rapidly enough to transport the required luminosity through the region, the Eddington limit is exceeded. If this region of the star is sufficiently adiabatic, an “outburst” may occur. In the hydrodynamic models, an outburst is indicated by the photospheric radial velocity suddenly becoming very large, and the photospheric radius increasing monotonically over several pulsation cycles. Such pulsation-triggered outbursts may be responsible for the driving of variable, nonspherical winds. If large and infrequent enough, these outbursts may be identified with the classic LBV eruptions accompanied by episodic mass loss.
On the Lower Bound of Non-Nested LQG Team Problems

A new method is presented to find a tight lower bound for a class of non-nested LQG team problems. This is achieved by: firstly, transforming the cost function into three decoupled components; secondly, decoupling the three sub-problems via an energy constraint; and thirdly, obtaining the lower bound of the original problem from an associated parameter optimization problem.
Physical Properties of Planet Crossing Objects

The physical properties of planet crossing objects are reviewed, with special focus on the Near Earth Objects, the nuclei of the short-period comets, and the Centaurs. These objects share in common dynamical life-times that are short compared to the age of the Solar System, requiring continual replenishment from more stable source regions to maintain steady- state populations. The planet-crossers therefore convey information about their source populations, including the Kuiper Belt (the source of the Centaurs and short-period comets). Many of the objects in these superficially different groups may in fact be inter-related. Observations are urgently required to accurately assess the populations in the various planet-crossing groups, to determine their physical properties with greater confidence, and so to elucidate the underlying connections.
Mermin's suggestion and the nature of Bohr's Action-at-a-distance influence

Mermin suggests comparing my recent proof of quantum nonlocality to Bohr's reply to Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen. Doing so leads naturally to the insight that the nonlocal influence deduced from the analysis of the Hardy experiment is the same as the nonlocal influence deduced by Bohr, and used by him to block the application of the criterion of physical reality proposed by Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen. However, the greater sophistication of the Hardy experiment, as contrasted to the experiment considered by Bohr and the three authors, exposes more clearly than before the nature of this influence, and thereby strengthens Bohr's position.
Defective Bacteriophage PBSH in Bacillus subtilis I. Induction, Purification, and Physical Properties of the Bacteriophage and Its Deoxyribonucleic Acid

PBSH, a defective phage of Bacillus subtilis strain 168, is described. Conditions are given for optimal induction of the prophage with mitomycin C. After a latent period of 90 min, cells were lysed and phage-like particles were released with a burst size of approximately 100 to 400 phage per bacterium. Since no known host supports phage replication after infection, burst size was determined by electron microscope count. Purification procedures and criteria for purity are described. The molecular weight of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extracted from PBSH was estimated by length measurement and sedimentation. No circular DNA molecules were found by either technique. PBSH DNA molecules are linear, double-stranded, and of homogeneous molecular weight, about 12 × 10 6 daltons. There is no evidence for single-strand breaks. The majority of PBSH DNA molecules show a sedimentation behavior dependent on ionic strength. It is inferred that most of the DNA molecules are less hydrodynamically rigid than native DNA having a similar average base composition and molecular weight. Possible reasons for the sedimentation behavior are discussed. Images
DNA vaccine encoding the androgen receptor ligand binding domain elicits MHC class I restricted T-cell responses in vivo

2857 The androgen receptor (AR) is a steroid hormone receptor that plays a critical role in both androgen-dependent and -independent prostate cancer. In addition to its accepted role as a target in androgen-deprivation therapy, we’ve shown that the AR is also an immunological target antigen, identifying some prostate cancer patients that have concurrent antibody and cellular immune responses specific for the AR ligand-binding domain (LBD). Using in vitro primary human cell culture, we also found that some patients with prostate cancer have cytotoxic CD8+ T-cells specific for HLA-A2-restricted peptides derived from the AR LBD. In this report, we sought to determine whether these peptide-specific T-cell responses could be elicited or amplified in vivo through the use of vaccines. To conduct these studies, we utilized the HHDII transgenic mouse, a model that expresses the human HLA-A2 and HLA-DR1 molecules but not the endogenous murine MHC class I and II molecules, and a model in which the AR LBD is a self-antigen, identical in amino acid sequence to the human antigen. These mice were immunized with one of ten AR LBD HLA-A2 peptides, and were analyzed for the presence of peptide-specific immune responses. Immunization with at least 3/10 peptides was found to induce cytotoxic, peptide-specific T-cell responses. We then sought to determine whether a DNA vaccine, targeting the entire AR LBD, could be used to elicit these peptide-specific responses. This vaccine (pTVG-AR) was used to immunize HHDII mice, and was found to elicit or amplify peptide-specific immune responses against at least 5/10 identified AR LBD HLA-A2-restricted peptides without any demonstrable toxicity. These results show that not only can the AR LBD be safely targeted in vivo, but more significantly that vaccines targeting the AR LBD can be used to elicit or enhance HLA-A2 peptide-specific immune responses in vivo. This suggests that the AR LBD is a potentially attractive immunological target antigen, and that vaccines targeting the AR LBD in vivo may be a useful approach in developing immunotherapies to treat prostate cancer.
Nerve Growth Factor Modulates Synaptic Transmission between Sympathetic Neurons and Cardiac Myocytes

Regulation of heart rate by the sympathetic nervous system involves the release of norepinephrine (NE) from nerve terminals onto heart tissue, resulting in an elevation in beat rate. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a neurotrophin produced by the heart that supports the survival and differentiation of sympathetic neurons. Here we report that NGF also functions as a modulator of sympathetic synaptic transmission. We determined the effect of NGF on the strength of synaptic transmission in co-cultures of neonatal rat cardiac myocytes and sympathetic neurons from the superior cervical ganglion (SCG). Synaptic transmission was assayed functionally, as an increase in the beat rate of a cardiac myocyte during stimulation of a connected neuron. Application of NGF produced a pronounced, reversible enhancement of synaptic strength. We found that TrkA, the receptor tyrosine kinase that mediates many NGF responses, is expressed primarily by neurons in these cultures, suggesting a presynaptic mechanism for the effects of NGF. A presynaptic model is further supported by the finding that NGF did not alter the response of myocytes to application of NE. In addition to the acute modulatory effects of NGF, we found that the concentration of NGF in the growth medium affects the level of synaptic transmission in cultures of sympathetic neurons and cardiac myocytes. These results indicate that in addition to its role as a survival factor, NGF plays both acute and long-term roles in the regulation of developing sympathetic synapses in the cardiac system.
To Park or To Develop: Trade-Off in Rail Transit Passenger Demand

Rail transit systems often provide park-and-ride facilities as a way for passengers to access stations. Using the land around stations for development rather than parking would allow more passengers to access the system without driving and ostensibly go much further toward reducing dependence on automobiles. However, it is unclear whether ridership levels can be maintained without a park-and-ride option. This research seeks to illuminate this issue with a demand model for the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system. Passenger counts are estimated for each origin/destination pair in the BART system based on such variables as parking spaces, housing units, and employment adjacent to stations. Parameters from this model are then used to estimate the amount of development required to replace the riders generated by station parking. Depending on the characteristics of a station and its spatial relationship with other stations, the level of development density required to effectively replace parking is found to be...
Introduction to the Mini‐Symposium on the Federal Budget Process: The Persistence of Reform

Budget processes frame the most important deci sions made by a political system in a given year. How much of the economy to devote to govern ment through taxes and how to allocate spending of limited resources are the most important decisions that political leaders at all levels of government must make each year. While political leaders can decide to avoid some tough choices?reforming immigration and Social Security are two recent examples?they must repeatedly make decisions about the size and distribution of the
Abolishing Some More Obsolete Crown Prerogatives: Part 2

The Crown had many prerogatives (privileges) which other legal and natural persons did not have, due to the pre-eminent role of the sovereign. Some of these the Crown franchised to its subjects for money. In modern times the continued retention of these prerogatives needs to be considered. Also, whether any of these worth retaining should pass to the control of Parliament. Previous articles have looked at various Crown prerogatives relating to the military, as well as those relating to: tolls for pontage and murage, waifs and estrays, swans, the counties palatine and the cinque ports. This article argues that: (a) the prerogatives to franchise markets and fairs should be abolished; (b) the judicial powers of the verderers of the New Forest and the Forest of Dean should be transferred to the magistrates and county courts; (c) the prerogative to create a ‘county corporate’—or to confer by charter the status of a borough, royal borough, royal county, royal town or city—should be abolished; (d) the prerogative to franchise ferries should be abolished without affecting any prior grants of the same (in case some still exist); and (e) the prerogative to franchise wreck, flotsam, jetsam and ligan should be abolished, as well as any prior grants of the same.