cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Time-dependent simulations of multiwavelength variability of the blazar Mrk 421 with a Monte Carlo multizone code

We present a new time-dependent multizone radiative transfer code and its first application to study the synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) emission of the blazar Mrk 421. The code couples Fokker–Planck and Monte Carlo methods in a two-dimensional (cylindrical) geometry. For the first time all the light traveltime effects (LTTE) are fully considered, along with a proper, full, self-consistent treatment of Compton cooling, which depends on them. We study a set of simple scenarios where the variability is produced by injection of relativistic electrons as a ‘shock front’ crosses the emission region. We consider emission from two components, with the second component either being pre-existing and cospatial and participating in the evolution of the active region (background), or being spatially separated and independent, only diluting the observed variability (foreground). Temporal and spectral results of the simulation are compared to the multiwavelength observations of Mrk 421 in 2001 March. We find parameters that can adequately fit the observed SEDs and multiwavelength light curves and correlations. There remain, however, a few open issues, most notably (i) the simulated data show a systematic soft intraband X-ray lag, (ii) the quadratic correlation between the TeV γ -ray and X-ray flux during the decay of the flare has not been reproduced. These features turned out to be among those more affected by the spatial extent and geometry of the source, i.e. LTTE. The difficulty of producing hard X-ray lags is exacerbated by a bias towards soft lags caused by the combination of energy-dependent radiative cooling time-scales and LTTE. About the second emission component, our results strongly favour the scenario where it is cospatial and it participates in the flare evolution, suggesting that different phases of activity may occur in the same region. The cases presented in this paper represent only an initial study, and despite their limited scope they make a strong case for the need of true time-dependent and multizone modelling.
Abyss-Lite: improved bathymetry from a dedicated small satellite delay-Doppler radar altimeter

We describe the rationale, scientific basis, and implementation of a mission to map the ocean's bottom topography with a spatial resolution of 6 km based on a high-precision radar altimeter on a dedicated free-flying spacecraft.
Effect of the adenosine A2a receptor antagonist 3,7-dimethyl-propargylxanthine on anxiety-like and depression-like behavior and alcohol consumption in Wistar Rats

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that the reinforcing properties of ethanol are in part mediated via an A2 activation of cAMP/PKA signaling in the nucleus accumbens, predicting that administration ...
In vivo assessment of liver cell apoptosis as a novel biomarker of disease severity in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

In patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a liver biopsy remains the only reliable way to differentiate simple steatosis from nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Noninvasive methods are urgently needed. Increasing evidence suggests hepatocyte apoptosis is a key mediator of liver injury in NAFLD. The aim of this study was to quantify hepatocyte apoptosis in plasma from patients with NAFLD and correlate it with histological severity. Plasma was obtained from 44 consecutive patients with suspected NAFLD at the time of liver biopsy. Histology was assessed blindly. Caspase-3– generated cytokeratin-18 fragments were measured in situ via immunohistochemistry and in vivo using a novel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Plasma cytokeratin-18 fragments were markedly increased in patients with NASH compared with patients with simple steatosis or normal biopsies (median [interquartile range]: 765.7 U/L [479.6-991.1], 202.4 U/L [160.4-258.2], 215.5 U/L [150.2-296.2], respectively; P < .001). Cytokeratin-18 fragment levels independently predicted NASH (OR 1.95; 95% CI 1.18-3.22; P .009 for every 50 U/L increase). A cutoff value of 395 U/L calculated using the receiver operating characteristic curve approach showed a specificity of 99.9%, a sensitivity of 85.7%, and positive and negative predictive values of 99.9% and 85.7%, respectively, for the diagnosis of NASH. In conclusion, these findings strongly suggest that determination of hepatocyte caspase activation in the blood is a strong and independent predictor of NASH in human subjects. These data highlight the potential usefulness of this test as a noninvasive diagnostic means of determining histological disease severity in patients with NAFLD. (HEPATOLOGY 2006;44:27-33.)
Applying the semantic Web expert system shell to sensor fusion using Dempster-Shafer theory

In this paper, we have applied the semantic Web expert system shell (SWEXSYS) as a development framework for implementing a variety of sensor fusion algorithms in the context of the semantic Web. As an initial application, we discuss an approach to level one sensor fusion using the Dempster-Shafer theory of uncertainty within the context of the semantic Web. The semantic Web is an infrastructure for specifying knowledge, data, inference mechanisms, services and other capabilities that would facilitate intelligent machine communication. Such an approach enables the delegation of sensor fusion tasks to intelligent agents in a network-centric environment.
The age of childbirth in the Bantu of Southern Rhodesia

A CAJM analysis of a survey to determine age of childbirth of native African women of Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in 1948.
Induction in B2/B2 chickens of immunity to transplantable carcinogen-induced fibrosarcomas mediated by T-cell monocyte cooperation: role of delayed hypersensitivity to unrelated antigens.

In previous studies (1) we described the induction with dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA) of fibrosarcomas in B2/B2 (SC) and B15/B21 (FP) chickens (Hyline International, Johnston, Iowa). Tumors taken from SC chickens (SCFSI-III) proved to be readily transplantable in SC but not in FP chickens. These transplantable tumors do not contain demonstrable tumor virus products (1) but do show genetic markers (1), allowing conclusive demonstration of tumor cell proliferation upon transplantation rather than propagation by virus infection of host cells such as is the case, for example, with Rous sarcoma (2). Because of these properties, the carcinogen- induced fibrosarcomas provide an excellent tool for the study of tumor immunity in histocompatible chickens.
Processing of platinum electrodes for parylene-C based neural probes

This paper reports a method to improve the electrochemical properties of platinum electrodes fabricated using parylene-C based processes. It is found that the use of O2 reactive-ion etch to etch parylene-C, the state-of-the-art method for processing parylene-C, oxidizes a surface layer of platinum, which results in high electrochemical impedance of the electrode. By introducing an Ar+ ion milling step, the electrochemical impedance of the electrode is reduced by an order of magnitude. The surface roughness of the electrodes (Ra) using this method of de-insulation is found to be 13.1 nm.
Rate Constants for the Reactions of OH with HFC-245cb (CH3CF2CF3) and Some Fluoroalkenes (CH2CHCF3, CH2CFCF3, CF2CFCF3, and CF2CF2)

The rate constant for the reaction of OH with HFC-245cb (CH3−CF2−CF3) was measured by the flash photolysis resonance fluorescence technique over the temperature range 287−370 K in order to ascertain its atmospheric lifetime. Given the potential for trace levels of olefinic impurities to introduce errors into results of the rate constant measurements for low reactivity HFCs, considerable emphasis was placed on HFC purification and on demonstrating the utility of vacuum UV spectroscopy as a sensitive tool for detecting olefinic impurities in HFC samples. Measurements were also made of the OH rate constants for CH2CH−CF3, CH2CF−CF3, and CF2CF−CF3, over the temperature range 252−370 K, and for CF2CF2 at 298 K. Absorption spectra for the four fluoroalkenes as well as for ethene and propene were obtained from 160 to 220 nm.
Human's Scene Sketch Understanding

Human's sketch understanding is important. It has many applications in human computer interaction, multimedia, and computer vision. Recognizing human sketches is also challenging. Previous methods focus on single-object sketch recognition. Understanding human's scene sketch that involves multiple objects and their complex interactions has not been explored. In this paper, we tackle this new problem. We create the first scene sketch dataset "Scene250" and propose a deep learning method to understand human scene sketches. We propose "Scene-Net", a new deep convolutional neural network (CNN) structure, based on which we build a novel scene sketch recognition system. Our system has been tested on the collected scene sketch dataset and compared with other state-of-the-art CNNs and sketch recognition approaches. Our experimental results demonstrate that our method achieves the state of art.
Size-Dependent Study of Pulmonary Responses to Nano-sized Iron and Copper Oxide Nanoparticles

The application of nanotechnology in various fields has resulted in a tremendous increase in the synthesis of variety of engineered nanoparticles (NPs). These applications are possible only due to the small size and large surface area of the NPs which imparts them unique properties. Inorganic oxide NPs as iron and copper oxide NPs are widely used in several biomedical and synthetic applications. The beneficial aspects of these NPs are concurrently associated with several drastic and deleterious effects as well. Size of the NPs plays a critical role in systemic clearance from the body. Initial studies have confirmed inflammatory responses in mice associated with non-biodegradable oxide NPs. The associated oxidative stress varied from mild effects to reactive oxygen species generation which can potentiate DNA damage or even induced carcinogenesis. Copper oxide NPs, in particular, induced acute toxicity and inflict neutrophil infiltration. This chapter focuses on the applicability of various in vivo techniques for studying the effect of these NPs, especially on the pulmonary system. These in vivo techniques would certainly provide a better understanding and insight into the mechanistic pathways by which these NPs interact with various organ systems in human body.
Local Revenue Structure Under Economic Hardship: Reliance on Alternative Revenue Sources in California Counties

This article investigates how a worsening economy affects local revenue structure, and whether the impact is moderated by the fiscal relationship within higher levels of government. The revenue pot...
Impact of signal scattering and parametric uncertainties on receiver operating characteristics

The receiver operating characteristic (ROC curve), which is a plot of the probability of detection as a function of the probability of false alarm, plays a key role in the classical analysis of detector performance. However, meaningful characterization of the ROC curve is challenging when practically important complications such as variations in source emissions, environmental impacts on the signal propagation, uncertainties in the sensor response, and multiple sources of interference are considered. In this paper, a relatively simple but realistic model for scattered signals is employed to explore how parametric uncertainties impact the ROC curve. In particular, we show that parametric uncertainties in the mean signal and noise power substantially raise the tails of the distributions; since receiver operation with a very low probability of false alarm and a high probability of detection is normally desired, these tails lead to severely degraded performance. Because full a priori knowledge of such parametric uncertainties is rarely available in practice, analyses must typically be based on a finite sample of environmental states, which only partially characterize the range of parameter variations. We show how this effect can lead to misleading assessments of system performance. For the cases considered, approximately 64 or more statistically independent samples of the uncertain parameters are needed to accurately predict the probabilities of detection and false alarm. A connection is also described between selection of suitable distributions for the uncertain parameters, and Bayesian adaptive methods for inferring the parameters.
Investigation of acid hydrolysis reactions of polyphosphates and phytic acid in Bray and Mehlich III extracting solutions

Soil test phosphorus (STP) (Bray P-1, Mehlich III) was developed to predict the plant available P in agricultural soils in the USA. The acidic STP extracting solutions were intended to extract phosphate from alkaline earth metal-based solubility products and or adsorbed species on amorphous metal hydroxides or phyllosilicates in soils. However, the accuracy of STP in predicting plant available phosphate has often been questioned due to potential acid hydrolysis of poly- and organic-P in soils during the STP extraction. The objective of the study was to investigate the acid hydrolysis reaction of reference poly- and organic-P compounds (1.25–3.75 mM) in Bray and Mehlich III extraction solutions using spectrophotometric methods. The results showed that both tripolyphosphate and pyrophosphate readily underwent the acid hydrolysis reaction over 2 h, whereas phytic acid did not hydrolyze. The results suggest an overestimation of dissolved reactive phosphate from these polyphosphates should be considered when evaluating the STP data.
Model Is a Verb

This chapter is an update of a 2011 Winter Simulation Conference Titans speech with the same title. That talk fortunately was not recorded and never appeared in print. However, it provoked numerous discussions ranging from good-natured ridicule to thoughtful debate. The proposition of that talk and this chapter is that the process of simulation modeling can be as valuable as the resulting computer model itself. A focus on modeling, the verb, has practical consequences on the way we conduct and what we expect from simulation projects. This affects how we teach, practice, and conduct research on simulation.
A Perfect New Loop: Hip-Hop, Deindustrialization, and the Post-Civil Rights Era, 1973–2000

This chapter examines the rise of hip-hop as a conjunction of Jamaican sound system culture and African American music and poetry traditions. Fused together by a vibrant youth culture amidst the austerity postindustrialism, hip-hop emerged from the deindustrialized area of the South Bronx in New York City. The post-Civil Rights era of white flight and capital flight combined with a federal shift away from the War on Poverty programs (seeking to alleviate poverty) to the War on Drugs (a policy aimed toward eradicating illegal drugs, but ultimately disproportionately targeting youths of color. Amidst this material austerity, early hip-hop pioneers created a “do it yourself” patchwork of technology and musical aesthetics that evolved into the apparatus of hip-hop: turntables, samplers, and other technology to music﻿ally﻿ express themselves. By the 1980s, urban crime tales emerged as narratives, informed by the heavy State policing of black and Latino neighborhoods caught up in the war on drugs just as hip-hop’s popularity expanded into the mainstream.
Nourishing the Work-Spirit Connection: Should Organizations take Employees’ Inner Lives Seriously?

Drawing upon prior research on employee attitudes and workplace spirituality, we statistically modeled the importance of employees’ inner life in determining their intent to turnover. Results from a mediational analysis using 436 employees from a healthcare organization indicated that meaning at work, job satisfaction, positive work unit values, and individual-organization fit mediated the relationship between inner life and intent to turnover. By signaling inner life as the central focus of workplace spirituality in our study, we complement previous research by suggesting that employees who invest in nourishing their inner lives find meaning at work, are satisfied with their jobs and develop positive relationships with their work unit and the organization and are therefore, less likely to leave. These findings emphasize the pivotal role of an employee’s inner life in promoting positive effects on individual (meaning at work, job satisfaction), work unit (positive work unit values) and organization (I-O f...
B cell-rich non-neoplastic sentinel lesion preceding primary central nervous system lymphoma.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is an uncommon tumor in the brain. Although most PCNSL are readily diagnosed as diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) on the first biopsy, very rare cases have been described in which the first detected intracerebral lesions are non-neoplastic, and are composed mostly of perivascular T cells, not B cells. This phenomenon is known as “sentinel lesions.”
FRP reinforced ECC structural members under reversed cyclic loading conditions

Publisher Summary This chapter investigates the effect substituting brittle concrete with a ductile, fiber reinforced cementitious composite in combination with structural FRP reinforcement under reverse cyclic loading conditions. The engineered cementitious composite (ECC) represents one type of high performance fiber-reinforced cement composites (HPFRCC), which are designed with the intent of obtaining a high toughness composite material with pseudo strain-hardening and multiple cracking properties. The response of FRP reinforced flexural members to reversed cyclic loading conditions indicates nonlinear elastic load-deformation behavior with relatively small residual deflections. While the overall load-deformation behavior of FRP reinforced concrete and ECC show similarities, detailed differences have been established in terms of their composite deformation mechanism, damage evolution, and ultimate deflection capacity. Deformation compatibility between FRP reinforcement and ECC is found to effectively eliminate interfacial bond stress, and relative slip in the multiple cracking deformation regimes, preventing bond splitting and spalling of ECC cover. The incompatible deformations between reinforcement and concrete cause loss of interfacial bond, and composite action resulting in damage to the reinforcement and limited deflection capacity of the FRP reinforced concrete member.
Dynamic Optimization: Indirect Solution

As shown in Chapter 4, applying the calculus of variation to optimal control problems leads to necessary conditions for optimality. These conditions take the form of boundary-value problems involving differential equations (BVP-DE), or differential-algebraic equations (BVP-DAE). Indirect methods are based on finding the state, costate and control variables that solve these boundary-value problems.
THE ALTERATION OF THE VISCOELASTIC MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF ARTICULAR CARTILAGE WITH JOINT SEPSIS

ABSTRACT Joint infection is a serious clinical problem. Even when treated rapidly and agressively with antibiotics, a degenerative arthritic process may ensue. The primary insult is to the proteoglycan matrix of the articular cartilage. This results in rapid loss of mechanical properties. In this study the time dependent loss of mechanical properties with joint sepsis is examined in a rabbit model over a period of ten days.
Policy Subsystems, Networks and the Tools of Public Management

A critical point is reached in theoretical development when a concept becomes “conventional wisdom” and finds its way into basic textbooks. At that point the concept is in grave danger of ossification: either it becomes so firmly embedded in thinking that it thwarts new conceptualization or it becomes vulnerable to challenges, which call for its abandonment because of its lack of congruity with reality. This paper will discuss a concept which is at such, a critical point: the policy subsystem or “iron triangle” composed of interest group, executive agency and legislative committee.
Achieving Low Magnetic Flux Density and Low Electric Field Intensity for a Loosely Coupled Inductive Wireless Power Transfer System

In most loosely coupled inductive wireless power transfer systems, the air-gap magnetic flux density between coils is still far above the safety limit, which is a potential threat to human beings and animals. In addition, less attention is paid to the air-gap electric field intensity, which increases significantly as the operating frequency and the number of turns increase. In this paper, a multi-kW loosely coupled inductive wireless power transfer system general design methodology that can inherently achieve low air-gap center plane magnetic flux density and electric field intensity is proposed. The coil-to-coil efficiency, magnetic and electric field distributions of different winding configurations are compared. The effects of coil radius, number of turns, interturn distance, transfer distance, and operating frequency on transfer efficiency, and magnetic and electric field distributions are investigated. The proposed methodology is evaluated with a 3 kW, 30 cm distance wireless power transfer design example by finite element analysis (FEA) and experiment tests.
A waveform relaxation Newmark method for structural dynamics problems

In the conventional Newmark family for time integration of hyperbolic problems, both explicit and implicit methods are inherently sequential in the time domain and not well suited for parallel implementations due to unavoidable processor communication at every time step. In this work we propose a Waveform Relaxation Newmark (WRN $$_\beta $$ ) algorithm for the solution of linear second-order hyperbolic systems of ODEs in time, which retains the unconditional stability of the implicit Newmark scheme with the advantage of the lower computational cost of explicit time integration schemes. This method is unstructured in the time domain and is well suited for parallel implementation. We consider a Jacobi and Gauss–Seidel type splitting and study their convergence and stability. The performance of the WRN $$_\beta $$ algorithm is compared to a standard implicit Newmark method and the obtained results confirm the effectiveness of the Waveform Relaxation Newmark algorithm as a new class of more efficient time integrators, which is applicable, as shown in the numerical examples, to both the finite element method and meshfree methods (e.g. the reproducing kernel particle method).
Frailty as a predictor of complications after radical cystectomy: A prospective study of various preoperative assessments.

Abstract Purpose Frailty has been correlated with worse postoperative outcomes. Prospective studies examining frailty and bladder cancer are lacking. We aimed to determine whether a prospective frailty assessment or traditional risk indices can identify patients undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) at risk for complications. Materials and methods Patients ≥65 years undergoing RC were preoperatively assessed using Fried Frailty Criteria (FFC; grip strength, gait speed, exhaustion, physical activity, shrinking), Charlson Comorbidity Index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living, Karnofsky Performance Scale, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale. Thirty-day and 90-day postoperative complications were recorded. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Results One hundred and twenty three patients were assessed with median age of 74 years. Fifty-nine patients (48.0%) had ≥1 complication within 30 days and 72 (58.5%) within 90 days. Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (odds ratio [OR] 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01–1.17, P = 0.027) and shrinking (OR 3.79, 95% CI 1.64–9.26, P = 0.0024) were significant for any 30-day complication, while physical activity was protective (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.69–1.00, P = 0.072) for any 90-day complication. Being intermediately frail or frail was associated with high-grade 30-day (OR 4.87, 95% CI 1.39–22.77, P = 0.022) and 90-day complications (OR 3.01, 95% CI 1.05–9.37, P = 0.045), along with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score ≥3 (OR 45.00, 95% CI 6.92–437.69, P = 0.0010 and OR 17.85, 95% CI 3.21–143.26, P = 0.0079, respectively). Conclusions Fried Frailty Criteria were predictive of high-grade complications, while individual components were predictive of having any complication. Elderly patients should be routinely assessed prior to RC to guide postoperative care.
IDENTIFYING THE TEXTUAL SOURCES OF SHI JI: REVIEWING PAST RESEARCH FOR A MORE ENCOMPASSING METHODOLOGY

While many aspects of Shi ji authorship are either unknown or speculative, the source texts of Shi ji and Sima Qian's use of them are viable yet underexplored paths to a deeper understanding of this monumental work. From the 1920s to the present, seven scholars from China, Japan, and Taiwan have attempted to ascertain the extent of Sima Qian's textual perusals and adaptations by compiling bibliographies of Shi ji source texts. This article compiles some of their results for comparison and analysis. From this, principles are highlighted for generating a more comprehensive methodology.
Conserved tau microtubule-binding repeat histidines confer pH-dependent tau-microtubule association

Tau, a member of the MAP2/tau family of microtubule-associated proteins, functions to stabilize and organize axonal microtubules in healthy neurons. In contrast, tau dissociates from microtubules and forms neurotoxic extracellular aggregates in neurodegenerative tauopathies. MAP2/tau family proteins are characterized by three to five conserved, intrinsically disordered repeat regions that mediate electrostatic interactions with the microtubule surface. We use molecular dynamics, microtubule-binding experiments and live cell microscopy to show that highly conserved histidine residues near the C terminus of each MT-binding repeat are pH sensors that can modulate tau-MT interaction strength within the physiological intracellular pH range. At lower pH, these histidines are positively charged and form cation-pi interactions with phenylalanine residues in a hydrophobic cleft between adjacent tubulin dimers. At higher pH, tau deprotonation decreases microtubule-binding both in vitro and in cells. However, electrostatic and hydrophobic characteristics of histidine are required for tau-MT-binding as substitution with constitutively positively charged, non-aromatic lysine or uncharged alanine greatly reduces or abolishes tau-MT binding. Consistent with these findings, tau-MT binding is reduced in a cancer cell model with increased intracellular pH but is rapidly rescued by decreasing pH to normal levels. Thus, these data add a new dimension to the intracellular regulation of tau activity and could be relevant in normal and pathological conditions.
Comparison of Bridge-to-Transplant Outcomes with HeartMate 3 and HeartMate II Left Ventricular Assist Devices: A UNOS Registry Analysis

Purpose The Momentum 3 trial established the noninferiority of the HeartMate 3 (HM3) left ventricular assist device (LVAD) compared to HeartMate II (HM2) for survival free of disabling stroke or need for surgical intervention due to LVAD malfunction- leading to FDA approval of HM3 for bridge-to-transplant (BTT) and destination therapy. Heart transplant (HT) waitlist outcomes have not specifically been compared between HM3 and HM2. Methods We identified 471 HM3-supported HT candidates in the UNOS database between 2014 and the first quarter of 2018. We used nearest-neighbor propensity score matching on age, race, sex, ABO blood type, UNOS region, initial listing status, body size, diagnosis, need for kidney transplant, symptomatic cerebrovascular disease, prior cardiac surgery, and ECMO or IABP support to identify 471 contemporaneous HM2-supported HT candidates. We analyzed competing risks of HT, death, delisting due to clinical deterioration, or waitlist exit for other reasons. Time-to-event was defined as the interval between date of LVAD implant or waitlist activation- whichever was later- and date of waitlist exit. Results The matched cohorts were balanced except for UNOS region (p=0.003) and initial listing priority (status 2 patients were 18.1% of the HM3 cohort and 11.3% of HM2; p=0.01). As shown in the Figure, there were no significant differences between cohorts for time to HT (p=0.09), death (p=0.93), delisting (p=0.09) or waitlist exit for other causes (p =0.42). But HM3 patients spent a lower average proportion of time waiting as status 1A (21.4% ± 30.8% vs 26.2% ± 34.1%, p=0.02) and a higher proportion as status 2 (7.4% vs 3.6%, p=0.001), obscuring the impact of HM3 support. We present additional models that suggest superiority of support with HM3 compared to HM2. Conclusion HT candidates supported with HM3 have waitlist outcomes that are at least comparable to propensity-matched HM2 patients despite lower average priority status throughout listing.
Identification of Three Non-Overlapping Epitopes in the C2 Domain of Factor VIII.

Factor VIII (fVIII) inhibitory antibodies (fVIII inhibitors) are a significant source of morbidity in patients with hemophilia A. Approximately 30% of patients with severe hemophilia A will develop inhibitors. Most inhibitors are directed against either the A2 or C2 domains of fVIII. The repertoire of antibodies to the C2 domain is functionally complex, including antibodies that inhibit fVIII binding to phospholipid and von Willebrand factor and display either type I or type II kinetics. The goal of this study was to investigate the diversity of the immune response to the C2 domain of human fVIII in a murine hemophilia A model and to identify a set of non-overlapping epitopes recognized by these fVIII inhibitors. A panel of 55 murine anti-C2 antibodies was obtained, which included 53 antibodies from anti-fVIII hybridomas produced in our laboratory and previously described antibodies ESH-4 and ESH-8. Nine of the hybridomas were cloned by limiting dilution and the corresponding monoclonal IgG antibodies were purified. IgG from the remaining 44 hybridomas was isolated directly from the hybridoma supernatants and biotinylated. The 9 monoclonal antibodies along with ESH-4 and ESH-8 were used as primary antibodies in a competition ELISA using human fVIII as the antigen. The panel of 55 biotinylated antibodies was used as secondary antibodies. Antibody pairs were classified as having non-overlapping or overlapping epitopes based on whether the binding of the secondary antibody was present or absent, respectively. A basis set of 3 antibodies, 1B5-1B, 3E6-1B, and (2)117-1B, was defined, which consisted of a set of non-overlapping antibodies that as a group competed for binding of human fVIII with all other antibodies. 1B5-1B and 3E6-1B exhibited type I kinetics with Bethesda titers of 950 and 30, respectively. The Bethesda titer of (2)117-1B could not be determined due to its type II behavior. ESH-4 and ESH-8 had the same epitope profiles as 3E6-1B and (2)117-1B, respectively. Of the 52 non-basis set antibodies, 85% overlapped with 1B5-1B, 29% with 3E6-1B, and 56% with (2)117-1B. The majority of the antibodies overlapped with more than one member of the basis set, leading to the identification of five classes of antibodies (see figure). Because of the large number of antibodies characterized, it is unlikely that the frequency of antibodies in any additional classes is high. The elucidation of the structural complexity of the anti-fVIII C2 repertoire should be useful in the characterization of the pathogenicity of C2 inhibitors.
Associations between physical activity and constipation in adult Americans: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

BACKGROUND There is mixed evidence that physical activity is associated with constipation on the population level. This analysis aimed to determine whether amount and types of physical activity are cross-sectionally associated with constipation. METHODS A total of 9963 adults from the 2007-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were included. Constipation was defined based on low stool frequency (<3 stools/wk) and a hard/lumpy consistency (type 1 or 2 on the Bristol Stool Form Scale). Univariate logistic regression models evaluated associations between physical activity variables and constipation, while multivariate models were built to account for other variables (age, gender, education, race/ethnicity, relationship status, health status, body mass index, fiber intake, and moisture intake). KEY RESULTS Based on <3 stools/wk, 3.4% (95% CI, 2.8%-4.2%) of Americans were constipated, whereas 7.3% (95% CI, 6.7%-8.1%) were deemed constipated when using the hard/lumpy definition. Odds ratios (ORs) of experiencing < 3 stools/wk were 1.82 (95% CI, 1.11-2.97) for people engaging in no vigorous recreational activity (vs. any) and 1.41 (95% CI, 1.08-1.85) for those doing no moderate recreational activity (vs. any). Likewise, doing no moderate recreational activity was associated with slightly higher odds of hard/lumpy stools (OR = 1.23, 95% CI, 1.03-1.46). These associations were attenuated and insignificant in multivariate models (all ORs < 1.45). CONCLUSION On the population level, self-reported physical inactivity is not strongly associated with passing < 3 stools/wk or hard/lumpy stools. Better-designed prospective observational and intervention studies are needed to clarify how physical inactivity impacts different forms of constipation.
Inferring the Allelic Series in a Multiparental Population

Multiparental populations (MPPs) are experimental populations in which the genome of every individual is a mosaic of known founder haplotypes. These populations are useful for detecting quantitative trait loci (QTL) because tests of association can leverage inferred founder haplotype descent. It is difficult, however, to determine how haplotypes at a locus group into distinct functional alleles, termed the allelic series. The allelic series is important because it provides information about the number of causal variants at a QTL and their combined effects. In this study, we introduce a fully-Bayesian model selection framework for inferring the allelic series. This framework accounts for sources of uncertainty found in typical MPPs, including the number and composition of functional alleles. Our prior distribution for the allelic series is based on the Chinese restaurant process, a relative of the Dirichlet process, and we leverage its connection to the coalescent to introduce additional prior information about haplotype relatedness via a phylogenetic tree. We evaluate our approach via simulation and apply it to real QTL from two MPPs: the Collaborative Cross (CC) and the Drosophila Genetic Reference Population (DSPR). We find that, although posterior inference of the exact allelic series is often uncertain, we are able to distinguish biallelic QTL from more complex multiallelic cases. Additionally, our allele-based approach improves haplotype effect estimation when the true number of functional alleles is small. Our method, Tree-Based Inference of Multiallelism via Bayesian Regression (TIMBR), provides new insight into the genetic architecture of QTL in MPPs.
Development-oriented situational supervision: a leadership approach to supervision in counselor education

Clinical supervision is an essential role of the counselor educator, fostering the development of counselors-in-training and gatekeeping the profession. Supervision is a key leadership responsibili...
Design and Analysis of Electrohydraulic Systems for Underwater Systems Utilizing Fluidic Artificial Muscle Actuators

This chapter explores the coupling between fluidic artificial muscles (FAMs) and the electrohydraulic systems that provide their motive power. FAMs are simple yet high force-density soft robotic actuators capable of operating in both atmospheric and underwater conditions. To explore the application of FAMs in underwater robotics, this paper considers the case study of a single degree of freedom robotic arm actuated by a single FAM actuator. It presents a fully coupled dynamic model of the constituent subsystems and uses these subsystem models to investigate the effectiveness of using FAMs as actuators for such robotic appendages. In exploring the case study of a robot arm actuated by FAMs, we illustrate how the system operating envelope can be defined based on the selection and design parameters of the motor and pump, FAM actuator, and expected loading conditions. This case study can be generalized to various electrohydraulic subsystems in order to consider multiple system design configurations prior to construction.
Development of Biomarkers and Point-of-Care Tests for Cerebrovascular Pathology: A Marriage of Chemistry, Biology, and Medicine

Interest in biological markers (biomarkers) for personalized medicine and public health has recently increased, because they provide a cost-effective and objective means of screening patients for various disease processes in a timely, accurate, and reproducible fashion. In addition, biomarkers are increasingly utilized for their ability to provide diagnostic information to help guide the management of acute disease. Despite significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of acute brain injuries, the early diagnosis and evaluation of prognosis and treatment efficacy remains challenging. In patients who experience ischemic stroke or hemorrhagic stroke from subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), high-quality biomarkers in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid are gaining increasing evidence-based traction for use in monitoring brain injury evolution and response to therapy. In addition to a comprehensive analysis of the current evidence supporting biomarkers for SAH and stroke, we discuss the persisting need for additional reliable biomarkers of neurological disease, the process of biomarker and point-of-care test development, and the importance of continued research in the area of biomarkers, particularly as it applies to cerebrovascular pathology.
Measuring Bias and Uncertainty in Ideal Point Estimates via the Parametric Bootstrap

Over the last 15 years a large amount of scholarship in legislative politics has used NOMINATE or other similar methods to construct measures of legislators' ideological locations. These measures are then used in subsequent analyses. Recent work in political methodology has focused on the pitfalls of using such estimates as variables in subsequent analysis without explicitly accounting for their uncertainty and possible bias (Herron and Shorts 2003, Political Analysis 11:44-64). This presents a problem for those employing NOMINATE scores because estimates of their unconditional sampling uncertainty or bias have until now been unavailable. In this paper, we present a method of forming unconditional standard error estimates and bias estimates for NOMINATE scores using the parametric bootstrap. Standard errors are estimated for the 90th U.S. Senate in two dimensions. Standard errors of first-dimension placements are in the 0.03 to 0.08 range. The results are compared with those obtained using the Markov chain Monte Carlo estimator of Clinton et al. (2002, Stanford University Working Paper). We also show how the bootstrap can be used to construct standard errors and confidence intervals for auxiliary quantities of interest such as ranks and the location of the median senator.
Machine Learning for Public Administration Research, with Application to Organizational Reputation

Machine learning methods have gained a great deal of popularity in recent years among public administration scholars and practitioners. These techniques open the door to the analysis of text, image and other types of data that allow us to test foundational theories of public administration and to develop new theories. Despite the excitement surrounding machine learning methods, clarity regarding their proper use and potential pitfalls is lacking. This paper attempts to fill this gap in the literature through providing a machine learning “guide to practice” for public administration scholars and practitioners. Here, we take a foundational view of machine learning and describe how these methods can enrich public administration research and practice through their ability develop new measures, tap into new sources of data and conduct statistical inference and causal inference in a principled manner. We then turn our attention to the pitfalls of using these methods such as unvalidated measures and lack of interpretability. Finally, we demonstrate how machine learning techniques can help us learn about organizational reputation in federal agencies through an illustrated example using tweets from 13 executive federal agencies. All R code, analyses and data described in this paper can be found in the Online Appendix.
Efficacy and Safety of Mechanical IVC Filtration for Preventing Pulmonary Embolism in High-Risk Orthopedic Patients Undergoing Total Hip or Knee Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background To determine the efficacy and safety of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters in preventing pulmonary embolism (PE) in high-risk patients undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty. Methods 2857 hip or knee arthroplasty procedures between January 2013 and December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with a preoperative history of venous thromboembolism (VTE), either PE or deep venous thrombosis (DVT), were categorized as high-risk patients. The incidence of overall VTE, PE, and DVT were compared between patients with filters and those without. The subgroup analysis was also performed by patient risk, and filter status and the incidence of VTE, PE, and DVT were compared. Variables such as filter placement, history of hypercoagulability etcetra were evaluated as risk factors for the development of postoperative VTE. Results In the high-risk group, the use of IVC filters was significantly associated with a lower incidence of pulmonary embolism (0.8% vs 5.5%, P = .028). When compared with the low-risk group, the high-risk group had significantly higher incidence of PE (3.8% vs 2.0%, P = .038), DVT (11.6% vs 5.3%, P Conclusion The use of IVC filters is significantly associated with a lower incidence in pulmonary embolism in high-risk arthroplasty patients. High-risk patients demonstrated an incidence of postoperative VTE over two times greater than other patients. Prophylactic placement of IVC filters in hip/knee arthroplasty is safe.
COVID-19 protective model: the role of threat perceptions and informational cues in influencing behavior

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected 55 million people and caused more than 1,333,742 deaths globally in eight months since its first outbreak. People are increasingly engaging with...
Does Doing Business Matter for Foreign Direct Investment

This case study presents evidence of a significant correlation between the doing business indicators and flows of foreign direct investment (FDI). Although this does not imply causation, the findings do support the claim that doing business reflects more about the overall investment climate than what matters only to small and medium-size domestic firms. More definitive conclusions about the relationship between doing business indicators and FDI will require more refined research. One initial step can be to dis-aggregate FDI by sector- for example, to compare the effect of business regulations on manufacturing FDI with their effect on resource extraction FDI. If such research supports the association between regulatory quality as measured by doing business and the size of FDI flows, government officials and business analysts will have even stronger justification for claims that better doing business rankings should attract more FDI.
Biocontrol of invasive pheretimoid earthworms using Beauveria bassiana

Background Invasive species cause enormous costs of over $120 billion to the U.S. economy. Among biological invasions, the invasion by pheretimoid earthworms has gone relatively unnoticed and their invasion imposes yet unknown damage on USA agriculture and horticulture. The main dispersal is with horticultural goods such as plant material and composts. Pheretimoids affect commercially important hardwood forest. With no chemical agents currently certified for earthworm control nor any best horticultural practices, slowing the invasion is difficult. Methods In this study we measured the efficacy of a commercial entomopathogenic fungal isolate of B. bassiana (BotaniGard®) to kill pheretimoid earthworms under greenhouse conditions. Four treatments of B. bassiana were applied: The commercial product as per label, re-cultured commercial B. bassiana, 15 g and 25 g millet grains mycotized with recultured product. In all, three bioassays were conducted in 2 consecutive years with two batches of BotaniGard®. Results With fresh batches, all B. bassiana treatments with re-cultured product resulted in greater than 70% mortality within 4 weeks. Mortality was less than 60% when BotaniGard® was used as prescribed by the label. When using 1-year old spores (refrigerated at 4 °C), mortality rates for B. bassiana treatments were less than 20% and not significantly different from the controls. However, B. bassiana still affected the earthworms by slowing their development from juvenile to adult stage. Conclusion B. bassiana was effective against pheretimoid earthworms. Overall, mycotized millet grains did not significantly increase mortality over the re-cultured, directly applied B. bassiana spores. More experimentation is needed to find the mode of action of the re-cultured B. bassiana before investigating ways to improve the efficacy of B. bassiana when applied as prescribed on the label.
Narrating the story ARC of adipose tissue aging.

In this issue of Developmental Cell, Nguyen et al. use scRNA-seq to explore the changing cellular landscape of subcutaneous adipose tissue during aging. In the process, they discover a new population of cells called age-dependent regulatory cells (ARC), which contributes to age-related adipose tissue dysfunction that drives metabolic disease.
Wearable wireless power systems for 'ME-BIT' magnetoelectric-powered bio implants.

Objective.Compared to biomedical devices with implanted batteries, wirelessly powered technologies can be longer-lasting, less invasive, safer, and can be miniaturized to access difficult-to-reach areas of the body. Magnetic fields are an attractive wireless power transfer modality for such bioelectronic applications because they suffer negligible absorption and reflection in biological tissues. However, current solutions using magnetic fields for mm sized implants either operate at high frequencies (>500 kHz) or require high magnetic field strengths (>10 mT), which restricts the amount of power that can be transferred safely through tissue and limits the development of wearable power transmitter systems. Magnetoelectric (ME) materials have recently been shown to provide a wireless power solution for mm-sized neural stimulators. These ME transducers convert low magnitude (<1 mT) and low-frequency (∼300 kHz) magnetic fields into electric fields that can power custom integrated circuits or stimulate nearby tissue.Approach.Here we demonstrate a battery-powered wearable magnetic field generator that can power a miniaturized MagnetoElectric-powered Bio ImplanT 'ME-BIT' that functions as a neural stimulator. The wearable transmitter weighs less than 0.5 lbs and has an approximate battery life of 37 h.Main results.We demonstrate the ability to power a millimeter-sized prototype 'ME-BIT' at a distance of 4 cm with enough energy to electrically stimulate a rat sciatic nerve. We also find that the system performs well under translational misalignment and identify safe operating ranges according to the specific absorption rate limits set by the IEEE Std 95.1-2019.Significance.These results validate the feasibility of a wearable system that can power miniaturized ME implants that can be used for different neuromodulation applications.