cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surface structure and temperature dependence of n-hexane skeletal rearrangement reactions catalyzed over platinum single crystal surfaces: Marked structure sensitivity of aromatization

Abstract The surface structure and temperature dependence of n-hexane skeletal rearrangement was investigated near atmospheric pressure and at 520–700 K over a series of five platinum single crystal surfaces with variable terrace, step, and kink structures. The atomic structure and surface composition of the active catalyst was determined before and after reactions using low energy electron diffraction and Auger electron spectroscopy. Aromatization of n-hexane to benzene displayed unique structure sensitivity in which the rates and specificity for this important reforming reaction were maximized on platinum surfaces with hexagonal (111) terrace structure. The rates of competing isomerization, C5-cyclization, and hydrogenolysis reactions displayed little dependence on surface structure, although hydrogenolysis product distributions were influenced markedly by terrace structure. Platinum surfaces with (100) terraces favored internal CC bond scission, whereas surfaces with (111) terraces displayed high selectivity for terminal hydrogenolysis. Skeletal rearrangement was dominated by cyclic mechanisms involving both 1,5- and 1,6-ring closure. Marked variations in reaction selectivity with reaction conditions are related to a change of the most abundant surface intermediate that results from changes in the surface concentration of chemisorbed hydrogen. Catalyst deactivation resulted from the formation of disordered carbonaceous deposits on the platinum surfaces whose primary role was that of a nonselective poison.
Nonparametric Testing for Heterogeneous Correlation

In the presence of weak overall correlation, it may be useful to investigate if the correlation is significantly and substantially more pronounced over a subpopulation. Two different testing procedures are compared. Both are based on the rankings of the values of two variables from a data set with a large number n of observations. The first maintains its level against Gaussian copulas; the second adapts to general alternatives in the sense that the number of parameters used in the test grows with n. An analysis of wine quality illustrates how the methods detect heterogeneity of association between chemical properties of the wine, which are attributable to a mix of different cultivars.
The Retention of State Level Concealed Handgun Laws: Empirical Evidence from Interest Group and Legislative Models

The present research extends the work of Lott and Mustard (1997) by offering the first categorical examination (using an ordered logit model) of various types of right-to-carry handgun legislation across the50 states for 1997. Such an examination is based on the “market for laws” construct built by Crain (1979) and Benson and Engin (1988), which points out that various interest group (demand side) and legislative (firm, supply side) considerations are important in modeling legislation activity at the state level. To that end, we include a number of property rights, demographic and legislative institutional variables as explanatory factors in ordered log it models and tests for nonnested hypotheses. In general, we find that the property-rights movement has significantly shaped these statewide laws as pointed out by variables which measure the amount of federal land present within each state, per-capita income, and death-row inmate executions. Population density, Republican representation, length of legislative sessions and female legislative representation have also had significant impacts on the retention of various forms of right-to-carry legislation.
Visual long-term memory has weaker fidelity than working memory

Recent research suggests that visual long-term memory (VLTM) and visual working memory (VWM) possess similar resolution for feature memory. We investigated resolution in more holistic terms, exploiting a two alternative forced choice (2AFC) procedure and injecting noise into stimuli. Participants were exposed to two real-world objects per trial in a VWM experiment. One object was tested after a short delay. The other object (from each trial) was tested in a later session. We observed better performance for VWM, and the two systems were affected by noise in distinct ways. These results have broad implications for theories of visual memory.
Virtuous Persons and Virtuous Actions in Business Ethics and Organizational Research

The language of virtue is gaining wider appreciation in the philosophical, psychological, and management literatures. Ethicists and social scientists aim to integrate normative and empirical approaches into a new “science of virtue.” But, I submit, they are talking past each other; they hold radically different notions of what a virtue is. In this paper, I shall examine two conflicting conceptions of virtue, what I call the reductive and the non-reductive accounts of virtue. I shall critically study them and argue that the non-reductive view is the best philosophical account of virtue and the only one that can account for the way we talk about virtue in business and in everyday life. We can only understand what it means to act virtuously through the examination of the attitudes, beliefs, desires, and inclinations of the virtuous agent. I shall illustrate the differences between the reductive and non-reductive accounts by considering the virtue of gratitude
A Survey on Chip to System Reverse Engineering

The reverse engineering (RE) of electronic chips and systems can be used with honest and dishonest intentions. To inhibit RE for those with dishonest intentions (e.g., piracy and counterfeiting), it is important that the community is aware of the state-of-the-art capabilities available to attackers today. In this article, we will be presenting a survey of RE and anti-RE techniques on the chip, board, and system levels. We also highlight the current challenges and limitations of anti-RE and the research needed to overcome them. This survey should be of interest to both governmental and industrial bodies whose critical systems and intellectual property (IP) require protection from foreign enemies and counterfeiters who possess advanced RE capabilities.
A particle swarm optimization model of emergency airplane evacuations with emotion

Recent incidents such as the Asiana Flight 214 crash in San Francisco on July 6, 2013 have brought attention to the need for safer aircraft evacuation plans. In this paper we propose an emergency aircraft evacuation model inspired by Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). By introducing an attraction-replusion force from swarm modeling we considered realistic behaviors such as feeling push-back from physical obstacles as well as reducing gaps between passengers near emergency exits. We also incorporate a scaled emotion quantity to simulate passengers experiencing fear or panic. In our model elevating emotion increases the velocity of most passengers and decreases the effect of forces exerted by nearby passengers. We also allow a small percentage of passengers to experience a sense of panic that slows their motion. Our first simulations model a Boeing 737-800 with a single class of seats that are distributed uniformly throughout the aircraft. We also simulate the evacuation of a Boeing 777-200ER with multiple service classes. We observed that increasing emotion causes most passengers to move more quickly to the exits, but that passengers experiencing panic can slow down the evacuation. Our simulations also suggest that blocking exits in locations with high seat density significantly delays the evacuation.
PKA site mutations of ROMK2 channels shift the pH dependence to more alkaline values

Close similarity between the rat native low-conductance K+ channel in the apical membrane of renal cortical collecting duct principal cells and the cloned rat ROMK channel strongly suggest that the two are identical. Prominent features of ROMK regulation are a steep pH dependence and activation by protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent phosphorylation. In this study, we investigated the pH dependence of cloned renal K+ channel (ROMK2), wild-type (R2-WT), and PKA site mutant channels (R2-S25A, R2-S200A, and R2-S294A). Ba2+-sensitive outward whole cell currents (holding voltage −50 mV) were measured in two-electrode voltage-clamp experiments in Xenopus laevisoocytes expressing either R2-WT or mutant channels. Intracellular pH (pHi) was measured with pH-sensitive microelectrodes in a different group of oocytes from the same batch on the same day. Resting pHi of R2-WT and PKA site mutants was the same: 7.32 ± 0.02 (n = 22). The oocytes were acidified by adding 3 mM Na butyrate with external pH (pHo) adjusted to 7.4...
Mesh arrangements for solid geometry

Many high-level geometry processing tasks rely on low-level constructive solid geometry operations. Though trivial for implicit representations, boolean operations are notoriously difficult to execute robustly for explicit boundary representations. Existing methods for 3D triangle meshes fall short in one way or another. Some methods are fast but fail to produce closed, self-intersection free output. Other methods are robust but place prohibitively strict assumptions on the input, e.g., no hollow cavities, non-manifold edges or self-intersections. We propose a systematic recipe for conducting a family of exact constructive solid geometry operations. The two-stage method makes no general position assumptions and does not resort to numerical perturbation. The method is variadic, operating on any number of input meshes. This generalizes unary mesh-repair operations, classic binary boolean differencing, and n-ary operations such as finding all regions inside at least k out of n inputs. We demonstrate the superior effectiveness and robustness of our method on a dataset of 10,000 "real-world" meshes from a popular online repository. To encourage development, validation, and comparison, we release both our code and dataset to the public.
Moral Judgements, Human Needs and Conflict Resolution: Alternative Approaches to Ethical Standards (2012)

Many proponents of the Human Needs approach to severe conflicts argue that such conflicts arise from unsatisfied basic human needs and that the conflicts can be resolved when adversaries in a conflict, aided by facilitators, recognize that those unsatisfied needs and/or the perception of them were generated by their conflict. Building on that recognition, the adversary parties may change the conditions and/or their understanding of each other’s human needs. Those changes can then transform the conflict positively. Experience in problem-solving workshops provides evidence that these ideas often resonate with workshop participants. This combination of theory and practice in facilitated workshops and dialogue sessions is attractive to many workers in the conflict resolution field.
Starting a new residency program: a step-by-step guide for institutions, hospitals, and program directors

Although our country faces a looming shortage of doctors, constraints of space, funding, and patient volume in many existing residency programs limit training opportunities for medical graduates. New residency programs need to be created for the expansion of graduate medical education training positions. Partnerships between existing academic institutions and community hospitals with a need for physicians can be a very successful means toward this end. Baylor College of Medicine and The Children's Hospital of San Antonio were affiliated in 2012, and subsequently, we developed and received accreditation for a new categorical pediatric residency program at that site in 2014. We share below a step-by-step guide through the process that includes building of the infrastructure, educational development, accreditation, marketing, and recruitment. It is our hope that the description of this process will help others to spur growth in graduate medical training positions.
Spectroscopic Investigations of Catalase Compound II: Characterization of an Iron(IV) Hydroxide Intermediate in a Non-thiolate-Ligated Heme Enzyme.

We report on the protonation state of Helicobacter pylori catalase compound II. UV/visible, Mossbauer, and X-ray absorption spectroscopies have been used to examine the intermediate from pH 5 to 14. We have determined that HPC-II exists in an iron(IV) hydroxide state up to pH 11. Above this pH, the iron(IV) hydroxide complex transitions to a new species (pKa = 13.1) with Mossbauer parameters that are indicative of an iron(IV)-oxo intermediate. Recently, we discussed a role for an elevated compound II pKa in diminishing the compound I reduction potential. This has the effect of shifting the thermodynamic landscape toward the two-electron chemistry that is critical for catalase function. In catalase, a diminished potential would increase the selectivity for peroxide disproportionation over off-pathway one-electron chemistry, reducing the buildup of the inactive compound II state and reducing the need for energetically expensive electron donor molecules.
Adlerian-Based Interventions to Reduce Bullying and Interpersonal Violence in School Settings

ABSTRACTThis article discusses bullying as a form of interpersonal violence and the outcomes for those who have been bullied or those in bystander positions in school settings. In addition, the authors use theoretical concepts of interpersonal psychology or Adlerian psychology to present examples of bullying prevention interventions and activities that counselors can utilize in the schools and deliver school-wide, through classroom guidance programming, small groups, or individually with students.
Foreword: Special Issue on the Sixth International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies

(2011). Foreword: Special Issue on the Sixth International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies. Nuclear Technology: Vol. 173, No. 1, pp. 1-1.
Abstract 17169: The Impact of Renal Function on Outcomes With Edoxaban in the ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48 Trial

Background: Edoxaban (edox), an oral factor Xa inhibitor with 50% renal clearance, was non-inferior to warfarin for prevention of thromboembolic events and significantly reduced bleeding in pts with AF. However, a detailed analysis of the impact of creatinine clearance (CrCl) on clinical outcomes with edox has not been described. Purpose: We evaluated the safety, efficacy and net clinical outcome of edox vs warfarin (warf) across the range of baseline CrCl in the ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48 trial. Methods: 14,071 AF pts at moderate-to-high risk of stroke were randomized to edox 60mg QD or warf. Severe renal dysfunction (CrCl Results: The relative risk of SSE with edox vs warf in the pre-specified analysis in those with CrCl≤50 (HR 0.87, 0.65-1.18) was similar to those with CrCl>50 (HR 0.87, 0.72-1.04; p-int=0.94). Evaluation by more granular, exploratory cutpoints demonstrated higher rates of SSE (Fig 1a; p-int Conclusion: While there is a trend towards decreasing efficacy with increasing CrCl for edox compared to well-managed warfarin, the overall safety and net clinical benefit of edox compared to warfarin is consistent across renal function groups.
In Vitro – In Vivo Extrapolation

With the remarkable advances that have occurred in in vitro and in silico technologies in recent years, in vitro approaches are increasingly being applied in assessing risks of chemicals and drugs. Estimation of in vivo kinetics using in vitro methods is a necessary step in translating in vitro toxicity test findings to in vivo exposure conditions. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling is a key component in the in vitro to in vivo extrapolation of systemic toxicity, providing an effective framework to integrate and extrapolate in vitro results to in vivo and to determine the relevance of these data in the context of environmental exposures.
Rash management and treatment persistence of cancer patients treated with epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors in the Truven MarketScan® research database.

Rash toxicity is a common, expected class effect of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors. Although rash management is practiced, it is not well characterized in the real-world setting. We describe the management of rash that developed while receiving EGFR-inhibitor therapy and how rash affects treatment duration, using Truven MarketScan® Research Database, a US medical claims database. Adult patients who received EGFR-inhibitor treatment between 2004 and 2015 after a diagnosis of colon, head and neck, lung, breast, or thyroid cancer were identified. Descriptive analyses were conducted to describe occurrence of rash during the EGFR-inhibitor treatment period, EGFR-inhibitor treatment persistence and management of rash, including treatment and cost. Of 44,533 eligible patients, 4649 (10.4%) had records of rash during the EGFR-inhibitor treatment period, and of patients experiencing rash, 2891 (62.2%) received prescription drugs for rash treatment. Treatment persistence with an EGFR inhibitor was longer among patients experiencing rash compared with no rash (median 178 vs. 80 days for EGFR-TKIs, 85 vs. 57 days for EGFR-monoclonal antibodies), especially among patients with rash who were treated for rash (208 days for EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors, 104 days for EGFR- monoclonal antibodies). Annualized cost during EGFR-inhibitor treatment was lowest among patients not experiencing rash (US$185,619), followed by rash patients receiving drugs for rash management (US$215,561), and highest among rash patients not treated for rash (US$267,105). Our findings suggest that management of EGFR inhibitor-associated rash could be important for EGFR-inhibitor treatment persistence.
PLEIOTROPIC EFFECTS OF THE EXOSOMES FROM IPSC-DERIVATIVES IN RESTORING INJURED MYOCARDIUM

Paracrine action mediated via the exosomes has been considered as key mechanism to restore the function of the injured myocardium after stem cell transplantation. We hypothesize that the exosomes derived from different iPSC-derivatives possess unique regenerative capability due to the cell-type
Tangraphe: interactive exploration of network visualizations using single hand, multi-touch gestures

Touch-based displays are becoming a popular medium for interacting with visualizations. Network visualizations are a frequently used class of visualizations across domains to explore entities and relationships between them. However, little work has been done in exploring the design of network visualizations and corresponding interactive tasks such as selection, browsing, and navigation on touch-based displays. Network visualizations on touch-based displays are usually implemented by porting the conventional pointer based interactions as-is to a touch environment and replacing the mouse cursor with a finger. However, this approach does not fully utilize the potential of naturalistic multi-touch gestures afforded by touch displays. We present a set of single hand, multi-touch gestures for interactive exploration of network visualizations and employ these in a prototype system, Tangraphe. We discuss the proposed interactions and how they facilitate a variety of commonly performed network visualization tasks including selection, navigation, adjacency-based exploration, and layout modification. We also discuss advantages of and potential extensions to the proposed set of one-handed interactions including leveraging the non-dominant hand for enhanced interaction, incorporation of additional input modalities, and integration with other devices.
Glycosylation and Posttranslational Processing of Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone: Clinical Implications

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses clinical implications of glycosylation and posttranslational processing of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH is a glycoprotein hormone of molecular weight 28,000 which is composed of two noncovalently linked subunits, α and β . It is chemically related to the pituitary gonadotropins, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and to chorionic gonadotropin (CG). Elevated serum α /TSH ratios have been described in patients with TSH-secreting pituitary tumors. The excess production from such tumors has been of value in differentiating patients with neoplastic from non-neoplastic causes of TSH-induced hyperthyroidism. In addition, isolated production of α subunit, without concomitant production of TSH or gonadotropins, by certain pituitary adenomas and other malignant tumors is demonstrated. Elevated serum TSH- β /TSH ratios are described in two patients, one with an enlarged thyroid and one with an enlarged pituitary. The TSH- β in both cases have large molecular weight, display immunologic properties different from standard TSH- β , and is unresponsive to thyrotropin releasing hormone. Although this unusual form of TSH- β has been partially characterized, its significance remains unknown. The chapter also describes unusual forms of human TSH with decreased bioactivity. One apparently normal subject was found to have a high-molecular-weight form of TSH with normal receptor-binding properties but decreased bioactivity. Such forms can result from aggregated or protein-bound TSH caused by abnormalities of glycosylation, similar to those noted after tunicamycin treatment.
The Virtual Library.

The key ideas embodied in the notion of the Virtual Library are that: the library contains many types of information in different forms, and particularly in forms other than paper; all this information must be accessible to users located not at the physical library but in their homes, schools, hospitals or clinics; this information travel quickly to the users who need it; and one must be able to navigate easily from one database containing one kind of information, say citations, to another containing, say, medical images. The virtual library is becoming a reality because of the fortuitous convergence of several developments: digital image engineering, affordable power at the desktop, and the increasing ubiquity of the Internet. The Lister Kill Center, an R&D division of the National Library of Medicine, is conducting projects that incorporate these ideas and take advantage of these developments. The projects to be discussed involve document images, digitized x-ray images, and three-dimensional volumetric data of the human body. Proceedings of the Eighth Annual IEEE Symposium on Computer-Based Medical Systems (CBMS '95) 1063-7125/95 $10.00 © 1995 IEEE
Group A streptococcal pharyngitis in adults 30 to 65 years of age.

ABSTRACTBackground.Although the frequency of group A streptococcal pharyngitis in adults is assumed to be low, there is little information on frequency other than in military populations.Methods.A prospective, observational study was done to determine the frequency of group A streptococcal pharyngit
Critical Theory Derailed: Paradigm Fetishism and Critical Liberalism in Honneth (and Habermas)

Despite Honneth’s claim to have advanced critical theory not just beyond the early Frankfurt School especially of Horkheimer, Marcuse, and Adorno, but also of Jurgen Habermas, the specific configuration and overall orientation of his theory of recognition should be understood as an instance of traditional rather than critical theory, even though he retains elements of the latter. This applies especially insofar as Honneth appears not to have examined how the concrete socio-historical circumstances in West Germany, especially from 1949 until 1990, shaped and continue to be reflected in his own theoretical agenda. Judged on its own terms, and evaluated and interpreted according to its own standards, Honneth’s theory constitutes an undeniable achievement. Yet, as Honneth declared in an interview he gave in 2000, he did not think of himself as a social theorist. Indeed, if judged in terms of critical theory, especially if we take as the “gold standard” for the latter the writings by Horkheimer, Marcuse, and Adorno during the 1930s and the 1940s, Honneth’s theory of recognition should be recognized as a systematic effort to develop critical liberalism as a positive rather than critical political philosophy.
Prognostic Significance of Hypoalbuminemia in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (R/R-HL) Undergoing Salvage Autologous Bone Marrow/Peripheral Stem Cell Transplantation (auto-BM/PSCT).

Abstract Background: Management of R/R-HL has been disappointing with salvage chemotherapy alone. Although controversy remains over the best time to perform a transplant, auto-BM/PSCT is considered an acceptable salvage therapeutic option for patients (pts) with R/R-HL. Hypoalbuminemia is one of the seven adverse prognostic factors for newly diagnosed pts with HL who receive chemotherapy according to the international prognostic factors project on advanced HL. The prognostic significance of hypoalbuminemia in pts with R/R-HL undergoing salvage auto-BM/PSCT is less clearly defined at the present time. Objective: To evaluate the prognostic significance of hypoalbuminemia in pts with R/R-HL who undergo salvage auto-BM/PSCT. Methods: A retrospective, single-institution study of consecutive pts with R/R-HL who received auto-BM/PSCT at the University of Oklahoma over the last 19 years (1985– 2004) was performed. The serum albumin level during hospital admission for transplant that was closest to, but before, high-dose chemotherapy was recorded and used for this analysis. Hypoalbuminemia was defined as a serum albumin level Results: 66 patients (40 males, 26 females) were identified, who were 13–69 years old (median 29 years) at the time of transplant. 40 pts (61%) died during follow-up, 4 pts (6%) were lost to follow-up at 15, 27, 58 and 103 months after transplant, and 22 pts (33%) are alive at the time of this analysis (7/30/04), 2–187 months (median 68 months) after transplant. Median survival for the control group (n1=27, 13/27 died) was 78 months (95% CI: 23 - N/A months) and for the low-albumin group (n2=39, 27/39 died) was 22 months (95% CI: 13– 44 months). The difference between overall survival curves (figure) and also the difference between median survivals approached, but did not reach statistical significance (p-values for log-rank and Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney tests, 0.0632 and 0.0565, respectively). Conclusion: Our results suggest a trend for a worse outcome among pts who undergo salvage auto-BM/PSCT for R/R-HL with low serum albumin ( Download : Download high-res image (153KB) Download : Download full-size image Figure
Genetically modified hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells that produce IL-10–secreting regulatory T cells

Random amino acid copolymers used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis in man or experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mice [poly(Y,E,A,K)n, known as Copaxone, and poly(Y,F,A,K)n] function at least in part by generation of IL-10-secreting regulatory T cells that mediate bystander immunosuppression. The mechanism through which these copolymers induce Tregs is unknown. To investigate this question, four previously described Vα3.2 Vβ14 T cell receptor (TCR) cDNAs, the dominant clonotype generated in splenocytes after immunization of SJL mice, that differed only in their CDR3 sequences were utilized to generate retrogenic mice. The high-level production of IL-10 as well as IL-5 and small amounts of the related cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 by CD4+ T cells isolated from the splenocytes of these mice strongly suggests that the TCR itself encodes information for specific cytokine secretion. The proliferation and production of IL-10 by these Tregs was costimulated by activation of glucocorticoid-induced TNF receptor (GITR) (expressed at high levels by these cells) through its ligand GITRL. A mechanism for generation of cells with this specificity is proposed. Moreover, retrogenic mice expressing these Tregs were protected from induction of EAE by the appropriate autoantigen.
The Phylogenetic Relationships of Cretaceous Biting Midges, with a Key to All Known Genera (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

The phylogenetic positions of Cretaceous species of Ceratopogonidae previously placed in the genera Archiculicoides Szadziewski, Protoculicoides Boesel, and Atriculicoides Remm are reappraised in light of synapomorphies. Character states are discussed in detail, supported by new photographs of Protoculicoides depressus Boesel, the description of Protoculicoides revelatus, n. sp., from Burmese amber, and a compilation of previously published illustrations. The recent article by Szadziewski et al. (2016) proposing that Protoculicoides and Atriculicoides are congeneric is shown to be inaccurate. At least three separate lineages are represented by species in these two genera, requiring a new genus, Gerontodacus (type species, G. succineus (Szadziewski)), to include some of them. Archiculicoides, Protoculicoides, Gerontodacus, Adelohelea Borkent and Alautunmyia Borkent remain undetermined to subfamily. As a result of phylogenetic and other taxonomic considerations, the following are new combinations: Gerontodacus krzeminskii (Choufani, Azar, and Nel), Gerontodacus punctus (Borkent), Gerontodacus skalskii (Szadziewski and Arillo), Archiaustroconops andersoni (Szadziewski, Ross, and Gilka), Atriculicoides ciliatus (Borkent), Atriculicoides hispanicus (Szadziewski and Arillo), Atriculicoides sanjusti (Szadziewski and Arillo) and Adelohelea burmitica (Szadziewski and Poinar). The following species are returned to the genera they were assigned to before Szadziewski et al. (2016): Atriculicoides cenomanensis Szadziewski and Schluter, Atriculicoides dasyheleis Szadziewski, Atriculicoides globosus (Boesel), Atriculicoides incompletus Szadziewski and Schluter, Atriculicoides macrophthalmus Remm, Atriculicoides sibiricus Szadziewski, Atriculicoides swinhoei (Cockerell), Atriculicoides szadziewskii Perez-de la Fuente, Delclos, Penalver, and Arillo and Atriculicoides taimyricus Szadziewski. A key is provided to all Cretaceous Ceratopogonidae genera.
Reaction engineering implications of cellulose crystallinity and water-promoted recrystallization

Mechanical decrystallization and water-promoted recrystallization of cellulose were studied to understand the effects of cellulose crystallinity on reaction engineering models of its acid-catalyzed hydrolysis. Microcrystalline cellulose was ball-milled for different periods of time, which decreased its crystallinity and increased the glucose yield obtained from acid hydrolysis treatment. Crystallinity increased after acid hydrolysis treatment, which has previously been explained in terms of rapid hydrolysis of amorphous cellulose, despite conflicting evidence of solvent promoted recrystallization. To elucidate the mechanism, decrystallized samples were subjected to various non-hydrolyzing treatments involving water exposure. Interestingly, all non-hydrolyzing hydrothermal treatments resulted in recovery of crystallinity, including a treatment consisting of heat-up and quenching that was selected as a way to estimate the crystallinity at the onset of hydrolysis. Therefore, the proposed mechanism involving rapid hydrolysis of amorphous cellulose must be incomplete, since the recrystallization rate of amorphous cellulose is greater than the hydrolysis rate. Several techniques (solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy) were used to establish that water contact promotes conversion of amorphous cellulose to a mixture of crystalline cellulose I and cellulose II. Crystallite size may also be reduced by the decrystallization-recrystallization treatment. Ethanolysis was used to confirm that the reactivity of the cellulose I/cellulose II mixture is distinct from that of truly amorphous cellulose. These results strongly point to a revised, more realistic model of hydrolysis of mechanically decrystallized cellulose, involving recrystallization and hydrolysis of the cellulose I/cellulose II mixture.
Through Oxide Via (TOV) Induced Fabrication Stress on Directional Couplers in a Si Photonic Interposer

To study how though- oxide-via (TOV) induced stress affects light propagation, a numerical model is constructed using the commercially available finite element analysis (FEA) software COMSOL Multiphysics 5.4a. In the model, directional couplers are used to analyze wavelength shifts as TOV structures are placed at varying distances away. Increasing the number of TOVs in proximity to directional couplers is also explored. Finally, determining the need for a keep-out-zone is assesed for directional couplers fabricated in a silicon photonic interposer.
Decoupled and Unified Approaches for Solving Transmission and Distribution Co-Simulations

Increased penetration of flexible loads and distributed resources on power distribution circuits will lead to possibility of aggregating such small distributed resources for several grid services both at the distribution and transmission levels. This will lead to increased interaction of transmission and distribution system operators, as well as the control actions at LV/MV grid in aggregation will have significant impact on the operations of bulk transmission systems. Therefore, lately, there has been some advancements to developing co-simulation platform for solving transmission and distribution (T&D) systems simultaneously for dynamic and power flow type of studies. However, the existing co-simulation platforms base mainly on decoupled approaches. Therefore, a unified approach of solving T&D (for solution benchmarking purpose) is largely missing in the literature. In this context, this paper shows initial results of a decoupled method applied for solving T&D power flow co-simulation and is benchmarked against a unified solution. The case studies based on augmented 14+33 bus T&D systems show that the decoupled approach is fairly accurate.
Certain ortho-hydroxylated brominated ethers are promiscuous kinase inhibitors that impair neuronal signaling and neurodevelopmental processes

The developing nervous system is remarkably sensitive to environmental signals, including disruptive toxins, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). PBDEs are an environmentally pervasive class of brominated flame retardants whose neurodevelopmental toxicity mechanisms remain largely unclear. Using dissociated cortical neurons from embryonic Rattus norvegicus, we found here that chronic exposure to 6-OH–BDE-47, one of the most prevalent hydroxylated PBDE metabolites, suppresses both spontaneous and evoked neuronal electrical activity. On the basis of our previous work on mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) (MEK) biology and our observation that 6-OH–BDE-47 is structurally similar to kinase inhibitors, we hypothesized that certain hydroxylated PBDEs mediate neurotoxicity, at least in part, by impairing the MEK–ERK axis of MAPK signal transduction. We tested this hypothesis on three experimental platforms: 1) in silico, where modeling ligand–protein docking suggested that 6-OH–BDE-47 is a promiscuous ATP-competitive kinase inhibitor; 2) in vitro in dissociated neurons, where 6-OH–BDE-47 and another specific hydroxylated BDE metabolite similarly impaired phosphorylation of MEK/ERK1/2 and activity-induced transcription of a neuronal immediate early gene; and 3) in vivo in Drosophila melanogaster, where developmental exposures to 6-OH–BDE-47 and a MAPK inhibitor resulted in offspring displaying similarly increased frequency of mushroom-body β–lobe midline crossing, a metric of axonal guidance. Taken together, our results support that certain ortho-hydroxylated PBDE metabolites are promiscuous kinase inhibitors and can cause disruptions of critical neurodevelopmental processes, including neuronal electrical activity, pre-synaptic functions, MEK–ERK signaling, and axonal guidance.
SDFS: A Standardization Technique for Nonparametric Analysis

Due to availability of computational tools for data acquisition, it is very easy to collect many dimensions from an object. Nevertheless, data acquisition from an object in an experiment may have a low number of dimensions. The analysis of low dimensional data has break-through role. But raw and sparse nature of dataset imposes new challenges and requirements for data analysis due to their special and unique characteristics. In the process of overall characterization of low-dimensional data, the data pre-processing plays crucial role. One of the first processes is normalization and standardization process. Therefore, in this paper, I would like to propose novel standardization technique called SDFS ( S tandardization for D istribution F ree S tatistics) for nonparametric data analysis. This technique is robust for small sample size with missing values of data points, which commonly exist in real time experiments lead to sparse low-dimensional data. The comprehensive experimental evaluation shows that SDFS standardization is significantly outperforms on existing standardization methods.
The Way of the Barbarians: Redrawing Ethnic Boundaries in Tang and Song China: by Shao-yun Yang, Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2019, ISBN: 9780295746012, Pages xii + 229, $30.00 (paperback)

Based on a revised Ph.D. thesis, Shao-yun Yang's book The Way of the Barbarians: Redrawing Ethnic Boundaries in Tang and Song China examines the discourses on “barbarians” in contrast with the Chin...
Counterfactual state explanations for reinforcement learning agents via generative deep learning

Abstract Counterfactual explanations, which deal with “why not?” scenarios, can provide insightful explanations to an AI agent's behavior [Miller [38] ]. In this work, we focus on generating counterfactual explanations for deep reinforcement learning (RL) agents which operate in visual input environments like Atari. We introduce counterfactual state explanations, a novel example-based approach to counterfactual explanations based on generative deep learning. Specifically, a counterfactual state illustrates what minimal change is needed to an Atari game image such that the agent chooses a different action. We also evaluate the effectiveness of counterfactual states on human participants who are not machine learning experts. Our first user study investigates if humans can discern if the counterfactual state explanations are produced by the actual game or produced by a generative deep learning approach. Our second user study investigates if counterfactual state explanations can help non-expert participants identify a flawed agent; we compare against a baseline approach based on a nearest neighbor explanation which uses images from the actual game. Our results indicate that counterfactual state explanations have sufficient fidelity to the actual game images to enable non-experts to more effectively identify a flawed RL agent compared to the nearest neighbor baseline and to having no explanation at all.
Robust Control Barrier Functions with Sector-Bounded Uncertainties.

This paper focuses on safety critical control with sector-bounded uncertainties at the plant input. The uncertainties can represent nonlinear and/or time-varying components. We propose a new robust control barrier function (RCBF) approach to enforce safety requirements in the presence of these uncertainties. The primary objective is to minimally alter the given baseline control command to guarantee safety in the presence of modeled uncertainty. The resulting min-norm optimization problem can be recast as a Second-Order Cone Program (SOCP) to enable online implementation. Properties of this controller are studied and a numerical example is provided to illustrate the effectiveness of this approach.
Catalogers Unite! Creating Documentation through Collaboration

Recent changes have forced Bowling Green State University (BGSU) to reevaluate our documentation, workflows, and communication. There have been staff retirements, changes in staff responsibilities, and a new faculty cataloger. Additionally, BGSU is implementing a discovery layer, purchasing shelf-ready books, and adding more electronic resources. It has become apparent that documentation needs to be updated and, in many cases, created from scratch. Collaboration is critical as catalogers are currently few in number and are seeing the need to work with other departments in ways unheard of previously. The creation of a new cataloging manual is vital to the success of cataloging at BGSU.
The Development of a Test of Badminton Playing Ability

(1949). The Development of a Test of Badminton Playing Ability. Research Quarterly. American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 20, No. 4, pp. 402-405.
A simple autologous fibrinogen glue for otologic surgery.

A simple method of concentrating a patient's own fibrinogen for use with a thrombin/calcium solution—to produce a coagulum-type tissue glue for otologic surgery—is presented. The principal advantages of this system include a simple modification of the cryoprecipitate technique, which can be easily performed in any hospital laboratory using a minimal amount of the patient's blood, and the use of autologous fibrinogen, which completely rules out the possibility of transmission of hepatitis or AIDS viruses. Useful tips on preparation and use of this autologous tissue glue, based on experience over the past 2 years, will be presented.
Modern pollen precipitation from an elevational transect in central Jordan and its relationship to vegetation

Aim To explore the relationship between modern pollen precipitation and vegetation patterns in an arid region of the Middle East. Location Data come from the central Jordan Rift from 1700 m elevation in the highlands to 300 m below sea level in the Dead Sea basin. Methods Modern pollen samples and descriptive vegetation data were collected from twenty-one locations at 100 m elevational intervals from the highest elevations on the eastern side of the rift valley, where woodlands grow, to the lowest elevation desert on earth, characterized by drought and salt tolerant plants. Pollen percentage data from each vegetation zone are compared descriptively and numerically using cluster and Principal Components Analyses (PCA). Results Three major vegetation zones: woodland, shrub steppe, and desert scrub, are identified by their dominant plant species. The widely spaced tree, Quercus calliprinos Webb, defines the Quercus L. woodland that grows above 1500 m elevation. The shrub steppe can be divided into two subzones found between about 1500 and 900 m elevation: Artemisia herba-alba Asso shrub steppe and Artemisia L. shrub steppe with Juniperus phoenica L. Desert scrub dominates the lower elevation landscape with Hammada salicornia (Moq.) Iljin the dominant shrub between 900 and 200 m and Haloxylon persicum Bge. found below 200 m elevation. Pollen spectra reflect the elevational vegetation zones. In particular, Quercus L., Juniperus L. and Tamarix L. pollen are abundant where the trees grow. Highly variable amounts of non-arboreal pollen taxa – primarily Artemisia L. and Chenopodiaceae Vent. – differentiate shrub steppe from desert scrub vegetation. Cluster and PCA of pollen data support the qualitative vegetation zonation. Main conclusions The main vegetation zones along the Jordan Rift from 1700 to –300 m elevation can be distinguished by their modern pollen precipitation. Open vegetation types, in particular, can be recognized by their pollen spectra. High amounts of Artemisia L. pollen distinguish the moister upper elevations where Artemisia L. steppe grows. In contrast, greater amounts of Chenopodiaceae Vent. pollen characterize the drier, lower elevation deserts.
Camphorae: chiral intermediates fob the total synthesis of steroids : Part 2. An enantiospecific approach toward vitamin d metabolites

Abstract The methylation of camphor and its derivatives has been investigated. The endo/exo stereochemistry of the methyl group has been established by 1H NMR. These studies provide the basis for an enantiospecific approach to the synthesis of vitamin D and its metabolites from readily available dextrorotatory camphor.
Mechatronic V8 Engine Start Capabilities of an Automotive Starter/Generator System at the Super Cold Weather

The use of a combined starter/generator integrated into the drive train of an automobile offers several possibilities for improvement of fuel economy. The use of such a starter/generator system is made feasible by a switch from a 14 volts electrical system to a 42 volts system, however, the sizing of the components is not a trivial problem. This study combines a dynamic electromechanical model of the starter, battery and power electronics with the nonlinear mechanics of the piston/crankshaft system and a thermofluid model of the compression and expansion processes to investigate the cold start problem. The example involves the start of an eight cylinder engine at -25 degrees Celcius. This paper shows how the mechatronic V8 engine of an automotive starter/generator system for the startability works well.
Crossability and embryo rescue enhancement in wide crosses between wheat and three Agropyron species

Soft winter wheat lines were crossed with Agropyron intermedium, A. elongatum and A. trichophorum using pollen from single plants of Agropyron spp. to pollinate wheat spikes. Not only species but also individual plants within varieties of Agropyron species differed in percent seed set with a wheat genotype. In two arrays of crosses between two phenotypically different plants of A. elongatum and nine wheat lines, one Agropyron plant gave higher seed set (overall=27.1%) than the other (overall=3.7%). The differences were significant in seven of the nine cross combinations. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that these two plants differ in their crossability as pollen parents with wheat, and suggest the possibility of occurrence of crossability genes in wheatgrasses. The success rate of hybrid embryo rescue was higher (87.5%) with cold treatment (4°C) than without cold treatment (75.0%) of excised embryos on culture media. Results underscore the significance of genotype of the alien species for crossing with low crossable wheats, and of the physical factors for improving embryo rescue in wide crosses.
Antisaccade performance predicted by neuronal activity in the supplementary eye field

The voluntary control of gaze implies the ability to make saccadic eye movements specified by abstract instructions, as well as the ability to repress unwanted orientating to sudden stimuli. Both of these abilities are challenged in the antisaccade task, because it requires subjects to look at an unmarked location opposite to a flashed stimulus, without glancing at it1,2. Performance on this task depends on the frontal/prefrontal cortex and related structures3,4,5,6,7,8, but the neuronal operations underlying antisaccades are not understood. It is not known, for example, how excited visual neurons that normally trigger a saccade to a target (a prosaccade) can activate oculomotor neurons directing gaze in the opposite direction. Visual neurons might, perhaps, alter their receptive fields depending on whether they receive a pro- or antisaccade instruction. If the receptive field is not altered, the antisaccade goal must be computed and imposed from the top down to the appropriate oculomotor neurons. Here we show, using recordings from the supplementary eye field (a frontal cortex oculomotor centre) in monkeys, that visual and movement neurons retain the same spatial selectivity across randomly mixed pro- and antisaccade trials. However, these neurons consistently fire more before antisaccades than prosaccades with the same trajectories, suggesting a mechanism through which voluntary antisaccade commands can override reflexive glances.