cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Review spam detection

It is now a common practice for e-commerce Web sites to enable their customers to write reviews of products that they have purchased. Such reviews provide valuable sources of information on these products. They are used by potential customers to find opinions of existing users before deciding to purchase a product. They are also used by product manufacturers to identify problems of their products and to find competitive intelligence information about their competitors. Unfortunately, this importance of reviews also gives good incentive for spam, which contains false positive or malicious negative opinions. In this paper, we make an attempt to study review spam and spam detection. To the best of our knowledge, there is still no reported study on this problem.
A Landmark Protein Essential for Establishing and Perpetuating the Polarity of a Bacterial Cell

Polarity is often an intrinsic property of the cell, yet little is known about its origin or its maintenance over generations. Here we identify a landmark protein, TipN, which acts as a spatial and temporal cue for setting up the correct polarity in the bacterium Caulobacter crescentus. TipN marks the new pole throughout most of the cell cycle, and its relocation to the nascent poles at the end of division provides a preexisting reference point for orienting the polarity axis in the progeny. Deletion of tipN causes pleiotropic polarity defects, including frequently reversed asymmetry in progeny size and mislocalization of proteins and organelles. Ectopic localization of TipN along the lateral side of the cell creates new axes of polarity leading to cell branching and formation of competent cell poles. Localization defects of the actin-like protein MreB in the ΔtipN mutant suggest that TipN is upstream of MreB in regulating cell polarity.
Pigmentation and lysosome function in mice homozygous for both pale ear and Beige-J pigment genes

We have examined mice doubly homozygous for both pale ear (ep/ep) and beige (bgJ/bgJ) mutations in order to detect genetic interactions between these 2 loci affecting pigmentation and lysosome physiology. The doubly homozygous mouse has a new pigmentation phenotype consistent with independent effects of ep and bg. The beige (Brandt, Elliott & Swank, 1975) and pale ear (Novak & Swank, 1979)genes have abnormal kidney lysosomal enzyme accumulation caused by defective secretion into urine. No cumulative effect on these functions was observed in the new double mutant phenotype. The new phenotype has giant lysosomes typical of the beige mutation. Unexpectedly, the beige gene corrects the effect of the pale ear on serum lysosomal enzyme concentration. There is also a gene dosage effect of the beige gene on this serum lysosomal enzyme phenotype. The results suggest that the beige and pale ear genes affect the same pathway(s) of lysosome biosynthesis and/or processing. The action of the beige gene may precede that of the pale ear gene in lysosome physiology.
GSM standards activity on location

This paper discusses location techniques in the context of the GSM cellular system and gives an overview, at the time of writing, of the status of GSM standards and likely outcomes of the standards process. The requirements for location services are presented, and a system architecture given. The methods being standardised in T1P1.5 are listed and compared: uplink time of arrival (TOA), mobile-assisted enhanced observed time difference (E-OTD) and assisted GPS (A-GPS), as well as some of their variants. The possible applicability of these methods to different market scenarios is also discussed.
The Determinant of a Conformally Covariant Operator

La definition du determinant d'un operateur elliptique auto-adjoint comprend un raffinement de regularisation par fonction zeta si l'operateur n'est pas positif; on doit calculer ζ(0) et ζ(0) pour la valeur absolue de l'operateur, et l'invariant eta de l'operateur. Application a l'operateur de Dirac
Integration of SecA protein into the Escherichia coli inner membrane is regulated by its amino-terminal ATP-binding domain.

Summary SecA protein, the ATPase promoting translocation of proteins across the Escherichia coli inner membrane, contains two ATP-binding domains that differ greatly in their affinity for bound nucleotide. In order to define more precisely the location of the high-affinity nucleotide-binding site, oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis was used to introduce cysteine residues into the SecA sequence, and a cysteine-specific cleavage reagent was employed to generate defined peptides of SecA protein after photocross-linking with [α-32P]-ATP. This analysis revealed that the nucleotide was cross-linked between amino acid residues 75 and 97 of SecA protein. The biochemical function of the high affinity ATP-binding domain was explored by subcellular fractionation studies which demonstrated that SecA proteins defective in this region were found almost exclusively in their integral membrane form, while SecA proteins with defects in the low-affinity ATP-domain showed a normal distribution of cytosolic, peripheral and integral membrane forms. Interestingly, the SecA51(Ts) protein that has a Leu to Pro substitution at amino acid residue 43 bound ATP with high affinity, but its fractionation pattern and translocation ATPase activity were similar to those of proteins with defects in the high-affinity ATP-binding site. These results delimit more precisely the high-affinity ATP-binding domain of SecA, indicate the importance of the early amino-terminal region of SecA protein in the functioning of this domain, and demonstrate the role of this domain in regulating penetration of SecA protein into the inner membrane. Our results lead to a simple model for the regulation of a cycle of SecA insertion into, and de-insertion from, the inner membrane by the activity of the high-affinity ATP-binding domain.
Common Metrics to Assess the Efficiency of Clinical Research

The Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program was designed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop processes and infrastructure for clinical and translational research throughout the United States. The CTSA initiative now funds 61 institutions. In 2012, the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, which administers the CTSA Program, charged the Evaluation Key Function Committee of the CTSA Consortium to develop common metrics to assess the efficiency of clinical research processes and outcomes. At this writing, the committee has identified 15 metrics in six categories. It has also developed a standardized protocol to define, pilot test, refine, and implement the metrics. The ultimate goal is to learn critical lessons about how to evaluate the processes and outcomes of clinical research within the CTSAs and beyond. This article describes the work involved in developing and applying common metrics and benchmarks of evaluation.
Execution and suicide: cytotoxic lymphocytes enforce Draconian laws through separate molecular pathways

With the ability to analyze cytotoxicity in animals deficient in effector molecules, the debate over the biological significance of individual effector pathways is finally being settled. For CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, the two primary cytotoxic pathways are mediated by the Fas ligand and perforin. The dichotomy between the two killing pathways is mirrored in the dichotomy between their biological roles: the primary function of the Fas ligand is the control of normal cell renewal by inducing programmed cell death of actively proliferating cells via the Fas pathway. This type of cell death is part of the normal endogenous homeostatic mechanism responsible for maintaining rapidly changing cell populations such as clonally expanding and contracting T cells. In contrast, the biological function of perforin and associated granule proteins is the killing and elimination of parasitized, non-compliant cells that arise as part of pathophysiological processes and may resist lysis pathways signalled to induce apoptosis. Thus, the main function of perforin and granzymes is the maintenance of immune surveillance against both exogenous and endogenous hazards.
Meta-analysis of the acute effects of nicotine and smoking on human performance

Rationale and objective Empirical studies indicate that nicotine enhances some aspects of attention and cognition, suggesting a role in the maintenance of tobacco dependence. The purpose of this review was to update the literature since our previous review (Heishman et al. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 2:345–395, 1994) and to determine which aspects of human performance were most sensitive to the effects of nicotine and smoking.
Optimal dynamic treatment regimes

Summary. A dynamic treatment regime is a list of decision rules, one per time interval, for how the level of treatment will be tailored through time to an individual’s changing status. The goal of this paper is to use experimental or observational data to estimate decision regimes that result in a maximal mean response. To explicate our objective and to state the assumptions, we use the potential outcomes model. The method proposed makes smooth parametric assumptions only on quantities that are directly relevant to the goal of estimating the optimal rules. We illustrate the methodology proposed via a small simulation.
Life Without Water: Expression of Plant LEA Genes by an Anhydrobiotic Arthropod

Anhydrobiotic animals protect cellular architecture and metabolic machinery in the dry state, yet the molecular repertoire supporting this profound dehydration tolerance is not fully understood. For the desiccation-tolerant crustacean, Artemia franciscana, we report differential expression of two distinct mRNAs encoding for proteins that share sequence similarities and structural features with late-embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins originally discovered in plants. Bioinformatic analyses support assignment of the LEA proteins from A. franciscana to group 3. This eucoelomate species is the most highly evolved animal for which LEA gene expression has been reported. It is becoming clear that an ensemble of micromolecules and macromolecules is important for establishing the physical conditions required for cellular stabilization during drying in nature.
Economic benefits of publicly accessible land for ruffed grouse hunters

Although numerous studies have focused on estimating economic benefits associated with big game hunting experiences, economic valuation efforts examining small game hunting have largely been neglected. This is especially surprising with respect to hunting grouse, a family of widely distributed upland game birds targeted by about 800,000 hunters in 2011. Furthermore, despite efforts by federal and state agencies directed at improving and increasing public land for recreational hunting purposes, a dearth of studies exist regarding the economic benefits of public land to hunters. Using the travel cost method and data from a 2008 survey of Michigan ruffed grouse hunters, we examine relationships between hunting site choice and publicly accessible hunting land. We find that federally owned land, state-owned land, and publicly accessible, privately owned Commercial Forest Act (CFA) land are positive predictors of hunter site selection (P < 0.001). Given this relationship, we then estimated the economic benefits of different types of publicly accessible land to ruffed grouse hunters by examining the willingness of hunters to incur increasing travel costs to hunt in counties with greater amounts of publicly accessible land. We estimated the economic benefits of publicly accessible hunting land for ruffed grouse hunters in Michigan to be over $20 million in 2008, with economic benefits of CFA land comprising about $6.9 million of this annual total. Estimating the economic benefits of publicly accessible hunting land for outdoor recreationists provides a useful metric for policy makers to use in evaluating how changes in the amount and nature of publicly accessible hunting land affects these individuals. © 2013 The Wildlife Society.
Observation of the Structure on Moving Gust Patterns Over a Water Surface (“Cat's Paws”)

Abstract We report on observations of near-surface Velocity, temperature, stress, buoyancy, and surface wave fluctuations, including successive short-time averages of coherences, phases, autospectra, and probability densities of the variables. There appear to be short-duration events where the momentum exchange exceeds the average by 102. These events are characterized by the high energy content in capillary waves, and velocity and temperature fluctuations; they are separated by relatively quiesent periods. Energy transfer between components is discernible as is a tendency to logarithmico-normal distribution in the occurrence of measures of fluctuations.
The Kill Switch: The New Battle Over Recess Appointments

Presidential recess appointments have strained relations between Congress and the executive branch since the administration of George Washington. But in 2007, Congress began using a procedure to prevent such appointments from happening at all. By sending one member to stand in front of an empty chamber while the rest of the Senate took vacation, Congress claimed it was in “pro forma” session, not at recess, and that the President could therefore not make recess appointments. While Presidents Bush and Obama acquiesced to this tactic and declined to make appointments during such “pro forma” sessions, Obama changed course in early 2012. In so doing, this Comment argues, Obama’s appointments were on solid constitutional footing. Not only did the “pro forma” sessions deactivate an enumerated power of the President, but they did so by explicitly involving the House of Representatives in the appointments process, an event the Framers specifically sought to guard against. Indeed, by putting an end to recesses (and thus recess appointments), Congress defied a procedural assumption of the Framers written into the Constitution and practiced by legislatures for millennia. From a policy standpoint, blocking presidential appointments perpetuated a harmful glut of unfilled offices, but was in some cases self-defeating. The President, through the Appointments Act, has the power to fill certain positions with acting heads who carry out his policy goals.
Chitosan-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Molecular Imaging and Drug Delivery

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) are a new class of nanomaterials which have attracted extensive interest for application in in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) due to their intrinsic superparamagnetic and biodegradable properties. Performance of the IONPs is largely dependent upon the properties of their surface coatings, which serve to prevent nanoparticle agglomeration, reduce the risk of immunogenicity, and limit nonspecific cellular uptake. Among the coating materials studied to date, chitosan has drawn considerable attention. Commonly derived from crustacean shells, chitosan is a natural linear polysaccharide and has ample reactive functional groups that can serve as anchors for conjugation of therapeutics, targeting ligands, and imaging agents. Because of these unique attributes, chitosan-coated IONPs are becoming more desirable for cancer imaging and therapy applications. This chapter discusses the current advances and challenges in synthesis of chitosan-coated IONPs, and their subsequent surface modifications for applications in cancer diagnosis and therapy.
“A New Era in the Development of Our Science”: The American Mathematical Research Community, 1920-1950

It was the end of August 1950 and some 2300 mathematicians had gathered from all over the world in Cambridge, Massachusetts for the eleventh International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM). An ICM had never before been held in the United States, and the American mathematical research community had a point to make.
Navigating the Labyrinth: Examining the Importance of Context and Stereotypes in Gender Research

In this symposium, five papers explore the importance of context and/or stereotypes in explaining men and women’s organizational experiences. First, Fletcher and McGinn examine situational ambiguit...
Collisional Charged Particle Transport in a Magnetized Plasma

The non-relativistic Boltzmann equation is given by Eq. ( 2.1), where the particle-particle collisions are represented by the collision term (δ f∕δ t) coll on the right-hand side. Consider now a collisionless magnetized plasma, where the collision term is zero.
Aipotu - a Simulated Microworld Based on a Realistic Model of Gene Expression and Protein Folding.

Aipotian organisms are sexually-reproducing diploid organisms with DNA genomes. Their genes are expressed by transcribing from a promoter sequence until a transcription terminator is reached. The resulting pre-mRNA is then spliced based on intron start and end sequences. The mature mRNA is then translated using the standard genetic code. Proteins produced are folded on a 2dimensional hexagonal lattice using realistic non-covalent interactions (hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, and the hydrophobic interaction). The shapes and compositions of these proteins then determine their effect on the phenotype of the organism. In the current prototype version, the phenotype color is determined in a manner analogous to Green Fluorescent Protein: most proteins are colorless (white); a protein with a particular shape can be colored; the particular color depends on the amino acids present.
Metalloproteinases: a Functional Pathway for Myeloid Cells

Myeloid cells have diverse roles in regulating immunity, inflammation, and extracellular matrix turnover. To accomplish these tasks, myeloid cells carry an arsenal of metalloproteinases, which include the matrix metalloproteinases and the adamalysins. These enzymes have diverse substrate repertoires, and are thus involved in mediating proteolytic cascades, cell migration, and cell signaling. Dysregulation of metalloproteinases contributes to pathogenic processes, including inflammation, fibrosis, and cancer. Metalloproteinases also have important nonproteolytic functions in controlling cytoskeletal dynamics during macrophage fusion and enhancing transcription to promote antiviral immunity. This review highlights the diverse contributions of metalloproteinases to myeloid cell functions.
Do We Need a New Behavioral Benchmark for BCA?1

In our opinion, the challenges of ongoing measurement, the ever-moving behavioral baseline, and strategic self-ignorance return us full-circle to a sensible point made by Peter Bohm–Benefit-Cost Analysis for environmental goods should use an interval method.
Severe essential tremor compared with Parkinson's disease in male veterans: diagnostic characteristics, treatment, and psychosocial complications

Essential tremor (ET), more common than Parkinson's disease (PD), has commonly been considered "benign." This investigation compared diagnostic characteristics, patient satisfaction with treatment, and psychosocial complications between a group of male patients treated for essential tremor and a group of male parkinsonian patients. Those who had ET tended to be more commonly misdiagnosed than those with PD. Fewer ET patients were satisfied with response to treatment than PD patients. Both groups equally expressed embarrassment about their condition, and both perceived similar difficulties with common activities of daily living and social situations. There were no significant differences between ET and PD patients for history of ethanol use or pharmacotherapy for anxiety or depression.
Psychosocial adaptation of long-term survivors of bone sarcoma

Previous studies comparing amputation and a limbsalvage procedure as treatments for bone tumors described no differences between the two treatments regarding the incidence of psychopathology or quality-of-life outcomes. These studies were limited by the absence of standardized measures of psychopathology, by samples that included an overly broad age range, or by including patients who had either upper- or lower-limb bone cancers. A sample of 45 patients (43 with lower-limb osteosarcoma and 2 with Ewing's sarcoma) who were aged 11-24 years at diagnosis and had survived an average of seven years at the time of the study were evaluated using both standardized measures of psychological symptoms and a semistructured clinical interview. No differences were found in the mean psychopathology scores of the two treatment groups (32 treated with a limb salvage procedure and 13 with initial amputation). Significant differences in psychosocial adaptation were found between the two groups. The amputees felt they were n...
The chaplain turns to god: Negotiating posttraumaticstress disorder in the american military

In the spring of 2007, I sat down at a cafe in San Antonio, Texas, to talk with a recently retired army officer, whom I will call Chaplain Matthew. He had spent much of the early Iraq war in Baghdad, offering spiritual guidance and counseling to American service members there. He said that many of the U.S. soldiers then fighting in Iraq were raised on after-school reruns of the 1970s show The Brady Bunch , with its mild portrayal of suburban family life, and that this was the kind of an ideal world they were expecting when they went to Iraq and faced the consequences of war for the first time. He reported finding that war brings about “a loss of innocence.” He mused a little further about American apple pie optimism before asking, rather sharply, “But does that make ’em PTSD?” The fact that Chaplain Matthew felt in a position to ask this question is, at base, the subject of this chapter, which briefly examines how posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been actively negotiated and contested among service members, chaplains, and mental health care providers in the U.S. military. In framing this discussion, it helps to take a step back and consider the history of PTSD itself and how it has traditionally been approached in the scholarly literature.
Photons for prompt tumour detection

Aeroplanes in clouds, submarines in murky water and cancerous tumours in breast tissue all have one thing in common – they are objects hidden in highly scattering media. Imaging through such media remains one of the most challenging problems in science and engineering but the advent of ultrafast lasers and detectors, coupled with a range of time-resolved techniques, has led to breakthroughs. Interest is currently focused on developing a time-resolved imaging technique to detect breast cancer tumours as early as possible.
Morphometrics in the Study of Ediacaran Fossil Forms

The evaluation of fossil shapes is the primary goal in the study of paleontology. Unlike biologists who are able to utilize an animal’s behavior, soft tissue anatomy, and molecular make-up to study species, paleontologists must concentrate on phenotypical approaches that rely on morphological differences between fossil populations. Morphometric methods which quantify form and shape are extremely powerful tools for assessing questions related to taxonomy, ­morphospace occupation, morphological disparity or taxon-free estimates of diversity, competition between taxa, ecological character displacement, predatory defense, changes in predatory behavior, anatomical responses to environmental change, and much more. The developing field of morphometrics attempts to mathematically describe shape variations between individuals and can be used to statistically evaluate correct species assignment, isolate shape changes, or identify regions within a phenotype where shape changes are most variable or pronounced. Traditional morphometric approaches focus on the evaluation of several distance measurements taken within a series of specimens, while geometric morphometrics replaces distance-based ­measurements by evaluating the displacement of corresponding anatomically important locations on specimens which are termed landmarks. Both traditional and geometric morphometric methods allow for the comparison of large samples through a variety of multivariate statistical techniques, many of which will be explored in this chapter. Considering the relative difficulty of characterizing the taxonomic affinities of Precambrian life, paleontologists have adopted ­morphometric techniques to help elucidate the true diversity of early life.
First in situ observations of binary raindrop collisions

In this article, we present the first-time observations of binary raindrop collisions in rainfall events. These observations constitute a critical step in concluding a long-standing debate on the controlling physical process, binary raindrop collision versus spontaneous raindrop breakup, for the raindrop size distribution (DSD) evolution from cloud to ground level. Our raindrop collision observations were made possible by a new instrument called the High-speed Optical Disdrometer (HOD) that we recently developed for precipitation microphysics investigations. Our approximately one-year long field campaign that covered 33 rainfall events provided 11 observations of binary raindrop collisions and outcomes, but no spontaneous breakup observation. The field-observed collision rate (i.e. number of raindrop collisions within the measurement volume of the HOD per unit time) showed an increasing trend with increasing rain rate as expected from the theoretical collision rate predictions. Furthermore, the field-observed collision rates were (i) comparable (for rain rates less than approximately 50 mm/hr) and (ii) significantly larger (for larger rain rates) than the theoretically predicted rates that have been used in various numerical investigations that suggest the controlling role of raindrop collisions in DSD evolution. Our observations, yet to be supplemented with observations from comprehensive field campaigns at different geographic locations and rainfall events for a definitive conclusion, support the collision-driven DSD evolution hypothesis.
Comparison of Vacuum Pressures and Forces Generated by Different Catheters and Pumps for Aspiration Thrombectomy in Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background Direct aspiration thrombectomy is an increasingly utilized technique in endovascular stroke treatment that relies on vacuum and suction force to remove the clot. This report assesses the pressures and forces generated by different catheters and pumps. Methods Vacuum pressures were measured using a vacuum gauge for several catheters (Stryker Catalyst6, Penumbra Ace 064, Medtronic Arc 061, and Penumbra 041) and pumps (Penumbra pump, 60-mL syringe, and the ASPIRE device). Suction forces were calculated based on pressure and catheter tip size (force = area × pressure). Vacuum pressures and forces were also assessed with a coaxial microcatheter (Rebar 18; inner diameter = 0.021 inches), mimicking a combined aspiration and stent retriever approach. Results All catheters transmitted similar vacuum pressures, but suction force was proportionate to catheter tip area. Pump vacuum pressures were also similar, although the Penumbra pump (mean -25.63 inches Hg [inHg]) was slightly weaker than the syringe and the ASPIRE device (-27.04 and -27.58 inHg, respectively; p < 0.001, two-way ANOVA). A coaxial microcatheter lowered the mean vacuum pressure by only 1.2 inHg (p = 0.005), though it would theoretically create a very significant reduction in suction force if partially blocking the aspiration catheter tip area. Conclusions All catheters transmit similar vacuum pressure, but the suction force on the clot is stronger with larger catheter tips. Coaxial microcatheters will have a minimal impact on suction force as long as they are proximal to the aspiration catheter tip. Currently available thrombectomy suction devices, including the Penumbra pump, the ASPIRE handheld pump, and the 60-mL syringe, all develop similar vacuum pressures.
Restore, Revisit, Remember: Reinstating the Region in Three Assamese Films

ABSTRACTThis article looks at three iconic Assamese films, Joymoti (1935), Runumi (1953) and Maniram Dewan (1964), which have been restored in the last two decades. Using a broad definition of the term restoration, this article argues that these three restorations give us an opportunity to read against the grain of the prescriptive account of Assamese cinema produced through local film societies and critics as well as national-level film journals. The restored versions of the three films provide us with a way to deconstruct the myths of purity associated with such pioneering films and enable a critical look at the politics of language and region that are so deeply inscribed within the act of restoration.
Linear Systems Over Commutative Rings: A (Partial) Updated Survey

Abstract Some recent developments in the theory of linear systems over rings are described. The focus is on problems of regulation, as well as on applications to delay systems and computational methods for classical linear systems.
Effect of Black Pepper on Killing Ants

This study was performed to determine if black pepper could effectively kill ants (Hymenoptera:Formicidae). Ants were collected from 3519 Treeline Dr. at the Reserve at College Station apartments. The ants were taken from the same colony and placed in two bowls. One was sprayed with a mixture of black pepper and water and the other was not. After an hour, the sprayed bowl had a number of dead ants. This experiment concluded that this treatment is effective in killing ants.
Detection and quantification of the giant protein titin by SDS-agarose gel electrophoresis.

Abstract Titin, a giant sarcomeric protein, is involved in the generation of passive tension during muscle contraction, assembly and stability of the sarcomere in striated muscles. Titin gene produces numerous titin protein isoforms with different sizes (∼3–4 MDa) resulting from alternative splicing. To study titin and titin isoform changes under disease conditions, the method to detect and quantify titin protein isoforms is needed. The method reported here is a 1% vertical SDS-agarose gel electrophoresis system that can solubilize, detect and quantify various titin isoform sizes. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-agarose gel electrophoresis is an important tool in revealing the size and quantity of giant proteins in the sarcomere. In this method article, heart tissues were dissolved in urea-thiourea-glycerol sample buffer. Muscle proteins were resolved on 1% SDS-agarose gels that were silver-stained subsequently. Titin isoform bands with different sizes were separated on the gel. At the end, we also validated the method for large protein detection. Our results indicated that this electrophoresis method is efficient to study the transitions in titin isoforms. • This method provides efficient protein extraction with urea-thiourea-glycerol buffer from hard tissues such as striated muscles • This method provides an efficient way to separate large proteins over 500 kDa • Combining with silver staining, our method can detect large protein isoforms and quantify the separated protein bands.
An investigation of consumers’ perception of food safety in the restaurants

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate consumers’ perception on restaurants’ food safety. More specifically, the first objective was to identify the importance and performance of casual dining restaurant selection factors from the aspect of food safety in the U.S., using the IPA model. The second objective was to assess the relationships between three cleanliness clues (functional clues, mechanic clues, and humanic clues) and overall satisfaction and their effects on behavioral intention. A survey instrument was used for primary data collection. Employees keeping their fingernails clean, employees wear clean uniform or protective clothing, and employees wear gloves while handling ready-to-eat food items were captured in the “concentration” quadrant, indicating they are very important to the respondents but the restaurants’ performances were not satisfactory. Three cleanliness clues directly influenced overall satisfaction towards a restaurant and customer’s revisit intention.
Discrete (Dark) Breathers

As indicated in the introductory chapter, discrete breathers are one of the most prototypical excitations that can arise in nonlinear dynamical lattices. They are periodic in time and strongly localized in space (Flach, Gorbach in Phys Rep 467:1, 2008, Aubry in Physica D 216:1, 2006). In integrable systems such as the sine-Gordon equation, such solutions were long known (Dodd, Eilbeck, Gibbon, Morris in Solitons and nonlinear wave equations. Academic Press, San Diego, 1982, Cuevas, Kevrekidis, Williams in The sine-Gordon model and its applications: from pendula and Josephson junctions to gravity and high energy physics. Springer, Heidelberg, 2014) but were also believed to be rather special. However, a series of investigations by Sievers, Takeno, Page, and others (Sievers, Takeno in Rev Lett 61:970–973, 1988, Page in Phys Rev B 41:7835–7838, 1990) in the late 1980s and early 1990s suggested that they might be generic for nonlinear lattices of the Klein–Gordon (i.e., onsite nonlinearity) and FPUT (i.e., intersite nonlinearity) types. Then, the work of (MacKay, Aubry in Nonlinearity 7:1623, 1994) provided a mathematical foundation for this expectation illustrating that under (fairly generic) non-resonance conditions, discrete breathers should be expected to persist in such nonlinear, spatially extended discrete dynamical systems.
Accelerating Emission dynamics in Perovskites Plasmonic Nanolasers

Slow exciton recombination in recent emerging perovskite semiconductors brings a fundamental limitation for nanophotonic devices. Here we demonstrate a perovskite nanolaser under hybrid plasmonic confinement with dramatically accelerated emission dynamics via a scalable solution process.
Dynamics of Cooperation in Spatial Prisoner’s Dilemma of Memory-Based Players

In a population of extremely primitive players with no memory, interaction with local neighbors in a spatial array can promote the coexistence of cooperators and defectors, which is not possible in the well mixed case (Nowak, Bonhoeffer, and May, 1994). However, the applicability of this insight is unclear in the context of a social system where memory plays a significant role in the conscious decisionmaking of the members. In this paper, the problem of cooperation is analyzed in a population of players with the memory model embodied in the ACT-R cognitive architecture (Anderson and Lebiere, 1998). Using agent-based simulations, it is shown that in a population of memory-based agents, spatial structure supports higher levels of cooperation in comparison to the well mixed paradigm.
Copper-Zinc Superoxide Dismutase: Mechanistic and Biological Studies

Copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) is one of a class of enzymes known to be excellent catalysts of the disproportionation of superoxide (2 O 2 - + 2 H+ → O2 + H2O2). An unusual aspect of the structure of this enzyme is the occurrence of a bridging imidazolate ligand, which holds the copper and zinc ions in each subunit 6.3 A apart. The mechanism of CuZnSOD-catalyzed superoxide disproportionation is understood in broad outline, but only relatively recently has it been possible to address several important aspects of the structure-function relationships in this enzyme. Of particular interest are the pH independence of both the spectroscopic and catalytic properties of this enzyme over a wide range of pH and the function of the zinc-imidazolate ligand to the copper in the catalytic mechanism. Recently, there have been several intriguing results concerning the physiological role played by CuZnSOD in vivo. There is a growing body of evidence indicating that oxidative damage in mammalian cells is associated with aging, carcinogenesis, and induction of other serious disease states and that toxic metabolites derived from the metabolism of O2 may be responsible for such damage. Superoxide dismutases have been proposed to act as antioxidant enzymes by lowering the steady state concentration of superoxide in vivo. Mutations in this enzyme have also been reported to be associated with the familial form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frequently termed Lou Gehrig’s Disease, but the mechanism by which these mutations cause the disease is as yet unknown.
National genetic improvement programs for dairy cattle in the United States.

Rate of genetic improvement for milk yield has been increasing in recent years. Cows born in 1986 were about 135 kg superior in breeding value for milk yield to those born in 1985. Over 2.2 million cows contribute new data to genetic evaluations for production traits annually. These evaluations are computed with an animal model that provides best linear unbiased predictions of transmitting abilities for milk, fat, and protein yields and fat and protein percentages. The model includes effects of management group, permanent environment, herd-sire interaction, and animal genetic merit. Unknown-parent groups represent the genetic merit of base populations defined by birth year and sex. Type appraisal data are collected by breed associations and are evaluated with a sire model. Holstein cow evaluations are computed using scores from all appraisals and a multitrait model; evaluations for other breeds are computed using all appraisal scores, a repeatability model, and a single-trait system. Dystocia data are collected by individual AI organizations and dairy records processing centers; they are analyzed by a categorical-trait sire model at Iowa State University with support from the National Association of Animal Breeders. The AI organizations have been extremely important in increasing rate of genetic progress by increasing numbers of young bulls sampled, increasing selection intensity of bull dams through multiple ovulation and embryo transfer, and shortening generation interval through the use of younger cows and some virgin heifers as bull dams. International sales have made an important contribution to financing AI programs. Future evaluations may include additional traits such as mastitis resistance, longevity, and fertility and may be computed more frequently. Additional factors may also be considered in the models.
Evidence that tropical soil environment can support the growth of Escherichia coli

Concentrations of faecal coliforms and Escherichia coli in environmental waters have historically been used to establish recreational water quality standards. When these bacteria are used as indices of water quality, it is assumed that there are no significant environmental sources of these bacteria which are unrelated to direct faecal contamination. However, we have previously reported that in tropical island environments such as in Hawaii, these faecal indicators are consistently found at high concentrations in all streams and the source of these faecal bacteria is the soil. To become so well established in soil we hypothesized that these faecal bacteria must have the ability to multiply in the natural soil environment at ambient temperature (23–25°C). Three lines of evidence support this hypothesis: (1) E. coli was shown to grow on 10% soil extract agar, (2) populations of faecal coliforms and E. coli from sewage were shown to immediately increase by about three logs when simple nutrients (glucose and salts) were added to natural soil and (3) faecal coliforms and E. coli increased by two logs within 24 h when a minimal amount of sewage was added to cobalt-irradiated soil. These results indicate that tropical soil environments provide sufficient means to support the growth of faecal coliforms and E. coli . However, under natural soil conditions, indigenous soil microorganisms are much more efficient in obtaining nutrients and we hypothesize that faecal bacteria grow sporadically in response to available nutrients.
Handling Liquid Hydrogen on a Pilot-Plant Scale

The following discussion summarizes experience obtained during the last 3 years while handling liquid hydrogen in 5500-liter batches. The work was not an-objective in itself, nor is it complete or exhaustive, but was done only coincidentally while developing and operating a liquid-hydrogen-cooled electromagnet [1, 2]. The quantities of liquid handled are small by missile standards, but the problems encountered on this pilot-plant scale are much nearer to those of large-scale usage than those of normal laboratory usage. The scaling of volumes would be from 1 gal in the laboratory to 1000 gal in our magnet to perhaps 100,000 gal for missile testing.
Fiscal Decentralization and Financial Condition: The Effects of Revenue and Expenditure Decentralization on State Financial Health

Although there are strong theoretical arguments about both the benefits and costs of decentralization in the federalism literature, there is little on how second-order fiscal decentralization effec...
Direct Current Conductivity of Semiconductor Packaging Mold Compounds

Semiconductor packaging mold compounds characterized using isothermal time domain measurements and using a modified thermally stimulated charging current (TSCC) measurement where the conductivity of the samples are measured (recorded) during the cooling cycle. Data from both methods were compared. The modified TSCC should be adapted due to its quickness in getting conductivity information on materials.
Viewing the rings of a tree: minimum distortion embeddings into trees

We describe a (1 + e) approximation algorithm for finding the minimum distortion embedding of an n-point metric space, (X, dX), into a tree with vertex set X. The running time of our algorithm is n2. (Δ/e)(O(δopt / e))2λ + 1 parameterized with respect to the spread of X, denoted by Δ, the minimum possible distortion for embedding X into any tree, denoted by δopt, and the doubling dimension of X, denoted by λ. Hence we obtain a PTAS, provided δopt is a constant and X is a finite doubling metric space with polynomially bounded spread, for example, a point set with polynomially bounded spread in constant dimensional Euclidean space. Our algorithm implies a constant factor approximation with the same running time when Steiner vertices are allowed.Moreover, we describe a similar (1 + e) approximation algorithm for finding a tree spanner of (X, dX) that minimizes the maximum stretch. The running time of our algorithm stays the same, except that δopt must be interpreted as the minimum stretch of any spanning tree of X. Finally, we generalize our tree spanner algorithm to a (1 + e) approximation algorithm for computing a minimum stretch tree spanner of a weighted graph, where the running time is parameterized with respect to the maximum degree, in addition to the other parameters above. In particular, we obtain a PTAS for computing minimum stretch tree spanners of weighted graphs, with polynomially bounded spread, constant doubling dimension, and constant maximum degree, when a tree spanner with constant stretch exists.
Life and Death at the Voltage-Sensitive Sodium Channel: Evolution in Response to Insecticide Use

The voltage-sensitive sodium channel (VSSC) is a critical component of the insect nervous system. Pyrethroids and DDT are insecticides that have been widely used, and they kill insects by perturbations of the VSSC. Decades of insecticide use selected for mutations in Vssc that give rise to resistance in almost all pest insects. However, the mutations responsible for the resistance are not always the same, and some unusual patterns have emerged. This review focuses on what pyrethroid/DDT selection has done, in terms of Vssc changes that have occurred, using four well-studied species as examples of the differences that have evolved. Information is provided about the mutations that occur, potential pathways by which alleles with multiple mutations arose, the relative fitness of the alleles, the levels of resistance conferred, and the geographic distribution of the mutations. The lessons learned and exciting new areas of research are discussed.
The incidence of shoulder arthroplasty: rise and future projections compared with hip and knee arthroplasty.

Background There remains a paucity of epidemiologic data from recent years on the incidence of shoulder arthroplasty. We aimed to examine the recent trends and predict future projections of hemiarthroplasty (HA), anatomic (aTSA), and reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA), as well as compare these predictions to those for total hip (THA) and knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods The National Inpatient Sample was queried from 2011 to 2017 for HA, aTSA, and RSA, as well as TKA and THA. Linear and Poisson regression was performed to project annual procedural incidence and volume to the year 2025. Results Between 2011 and 2017, the number of primary shoulder arthroplasties increased by 103.7%. In particular, RSA increased by 191.3%, with 63,845 RSAs performed in 2017. All projection models demonstrated significant increases in shoulder arthroplasty volume and incidence from 2017 to 2025. By 2025, the linear model predicts that shoulder arthroplasty volume will increase by 67.2% to 174,810 procedures whereas the Poisson model predicts a 235.2% increase, to 350,558 procedures by 2025. These growth rate projections outpace those of THA and TKA. Conclusions The number of shoulder arthroplasties has been increasing in recent years, largely because of the exponential increases in RSA. The overall incidence is increasing at a greater rate than TKA or THA, with projections continuing to rise over the next decade. These data and projections can be used by policy makers and hospitals to drive initiatives aimed at meeting these projected future demands.
Equilibrium Structure and Deformation Response of 2D Kinetoplast Sheets

The considerable interest in two-dimensional (2D) materials and complex molecular topologies calls for a robust experimental system for single-molecule studies. In this work, we study the equilibrium properties and deformation response of a complex DNA structure called a kinetoplast, a 2D network of thousands of linked rings akin to molecular chainmail. Examined in good solvent conditions, kinetoplasts appear as a wrinkled hemispherical sheet. The conformation of each kinetoplast is dictated by its network topology, giving it a unique shape, which undergoes small-amplitude thermal fluctuations at subsecond timescales, with a wide separation between fluctuation and diffusion timescales. They deform elastically when weakly confined and swell to their equilibrium dimensions when the confinement is released. We hope that, in the same way that linear DNA became a canonical model system on the first investigations of its polymer-like behavior, kinetoplasts can serve that role for 2D and catenated polymer systems.
Dissecting Autism Genetic Risk Using Single-cell RNA-seq Data

Abstract Autism spectrum disorder (autism) is a condition with strong but heterogenous genetic contribution. Recent exome and genome sequencing studies have uncovered many new risk genes through de novo variants. However, a large fraction of enrichment of de novo variants observed in cases are not accounted for by known or candidate risk genes, suggesting that the majority of risk genes are still unknown. Here we hypothesize that autism risk genes share a few common cell-type specific gene expression patterns during brain development, and such information can be quantified to improve statistical power of detecting new risk genes. We obtained large-scale single-cell RNA-seq data from human fetal brain collected through a range of developmental stages, and developed a supervised machine-learning approach “A-risk” (Autism risk), to predict the plausibility of autism risk genes across the genome. Using data from recent exome sequencing studies of autism, A-risk achieves better performance in prioritizing de novo variants than other methods, especially for genes that are less intolerant of loss of function variants. We stratified genes based on A-risk and mutation intolerance metrics to improve estimation of priors in extTADA and identified 71 candidate risk genes. In particular, CLCN4, PRKAR1B, and NR2F1 are potentially new risk genes with further support from neurodevelopmental disorders. Expression patterns of both known and candidate risk genes reveals the important role of deep-layer excitatory neurons from adult human cortex in autism etiology. With the unprecedented revolution of single-cell transcriptomics and expanding autism cohorts with exome or genome sequencing, our method will facilitate systematic discovery of novel risk genes and understanding of biological pathogenesis in autism.