cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Moisture Budget Analysis of TOGA COARE Area Using SSM/I-Retrieved Latent Heating and Large-Scale Q2 Estimates

Abstract This study addresses the retrieval of tropical open-ocean latent heating using Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) satellite measurements. The analysis is carried out for the Tropical Ocean and Global Atmosphere Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Response Experiment (TOGA COARE) intensive observation period in the western Pacific, much of it focused on the study area of the third WCRP–GPCP Algorithm Intercomparison Project (AIP-3) situated over the TOGA COARE Inner Flux Array (IFA). The retrieval algorithm is a profile-type physical inversion scheme based on the use of multispectral passive microwave (PMW) measurements. It estimates vertically distributed rain rate and latent heating by first retrieving mixing ratio profiles of liquid and frozen hydrometeors and then calculating rain fallout rates and vertical derivatives of the liquid–ice mass fluxes. Various modifications to the existing algorithm are discussed, including a combined visible–infrared–PMW–radar screening scheme for distinguishing among...
Transverse Mode Stability and Mode-Locked Performance in Synchronously Pumped Solid-State Lasers

In the past five years, Ti doped sapphire has become the laser medium of choice for the generation of tunable, modelocked laser pulses in the picosecond (ps) and femtosecond (fs) time domains for experimental probes of ultrafast phenomena in physics and chemistry. When combined with harmonic and parametric frequency conversion, these devices can supply tunable, transform limited pulses of a few tens of femtoseconds duration from near vacuum ultraviolet to mid-infrared wavelengths.
Technical Rabon for larval house fly control in cow manure.

An initial experiment was conducted in which dairy cows were fed one of 5 formulations of technical Rabon® insecticide (2-chloro-l-(2,4,5-trichlorophenyl) vinyl dimethyl phosphate) at levels ranging from 4.5 to 36 ppm of the total air-dry ration. Formulations ranging in size between 74 and 177 µ were more effective larvicides against the house fly than were formulations containing particles less than 74 µ (90% mortality vs. 6% mortality at 4.5 ppm). In a field trial, manure from cows fed 30, 45, 60, and 90 ppm of technical Rabon (> 74 µ particle size) reduced larval populations by 81, 88, 93, and 98% compared with manure from control cows. Some of the milk samples from cows fed Rabon had low, but detectable (up to 0.015 ppm), Rabon residues. In field-stacked manure piles originally containing up to 10 ppm Rabon, levels were down to 0.5 ppm in 8 days.
Integrated co-limitation kinetic model for microalgae growth in anaerobically digested municipal sludge centrate

Abstract Microalgae have a substantial potential as a renewable energy resource, but sustainable microalgae-based bioenergy production has to find an inexpensive water and nutrient resource. Wastewater has been considered as such a resource to reduce environmental impacts and economic burdens of microalgae cultivation. Understanding of microalgae growth kinetics in wastewater is necessary to improve microalgae productivity for successful implementation of the integrated microalgae-wastewater system. This study presents an integrated co-limitation kinetic model of microalgae growth in anaerobically digested municipal sludge centrate. Nitrogen (N), dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations, light intensity (I), and temperature (T) were selected as major growth factors in the model. The model framework was constructed by combining threshold and multiplicative structures to explain the relationship among these factors. Depending on culture conditions, the integrated model consists of alternative rate expressions for factors selected. These expressions include the Andrews and Monod models for both CO2 and N, and the Chalker and Muller-Fuega models combined with the Arrhenius equation for light intensity and temperature. The model was calibrated and validated using batch studies with anaerobically digested municipal sludge centrate as wastewater source. Criteria to select the rate expressions considering limitation conditions include NH4-N ≤ 150 mg L− 1, aqueous CO2 ≤ 50 mg L− 1, and light intensity ≤ 90 μmol photon m− 2 s− 1. Above these ranges, the rate expressions considering both limitation and inhibition were applied to the model. The model was shown to have a reasonable growth rate prediction of Chlorella sp. under different nutrient levels of the centrate.
Reducing Overutilization of Testing for Clostridium difficile Infection in a Pediatric Hospital System: A Quality Improvement Initiative

OBJECTIVES: Study objectives included addressing overuse of Clostridium difficile laboratory testing by decreasing submission rates of nondiarrheal stool specimens and specimens from children ≤12 months of age and determining resultant patient and laboratory cost savings associated with decreased testing. METHODS: A multifaceted initiative was developed, and components included multiple provider education methods, computerized order entry modifications, and automatic declination from laboratory on testing stool specimens of nondiarrheal consistency and from children ≤12 months old. A run chart, demonstrating numbers of nondiarrheal plus infant stool specimens submitted over time, was developed to analyze the initiative’s impact on clinicians’ test-ordering practices. A p-chart was generated to evaluate the percentage of these submitted specimens tested biweekly over a 12-month period. Cost savings for patients and the laboratory were assessed at the study period’s conclusion. RESULTS: Run chart analysis revealed an initial shift after the interventions, suggesting a temporary decrease in testing submission; however, no sustained differences in numbers of specimens submitted biweekly were observed over time. On the p-chart, the mean percentage of specimens tested before the intervention was 100%. After the intervention, the average percentage of specimens tested dropped to 53.8%. Resultant laboratory cost savings totaled nearly $3600, and patient savings on testing charges were ∼$32 000. CONCLUSIONS: Automatic laboratory declination of nondiarrheal stools submitted for CDI testing resulted in a sustained decrease in the number of specimens tested, resulting in significant laboratory and patient cost savings. Despite multiple educational efforts, no sustained changes in physician ordering practices were observed.
Standard Cell Compliance and Placement Co-Optimization

The TPL layout decomposition problem with conflict and stitch minimization has been studied extensively in the past few years [1–9], including the early work presented in Chaps. 2 and 3. However, most existing work suffers from one or more of the following drawbacks. (1) Because the TPL layout decomposition problem is NP-hard [3], most of the decomposers are based on approximation or heuristic methods, possibly leading to extra conflicts being reported. (2) For each design, since the library only contains a fixed number of standard cells, layout decomposition would contain numerous redundant works. For example, if one cell is applied hundreds of times in a single design, it would be decomposed hundreds of times during layout decomposition. (3) Successfully carrying out these decomposition techniques requires the input layouts to be TPL-friendly. However, since all these decomposition techniques are applied at a post-place/route stage, where all the design patterns are already fixed, they lack the ability to resolve some native TPL conflict patterns, e.g., four-clique conflicts.
The Use of Chi-squared Statistics for Categorical Data Problems

SUMMARY The use of x2 statistics for categorical data problems was initiated by Karl Pearson, but it took several years before the asymptotic distribution of these statistics was well understood. The general structure of asymptotic results for x2 statistics is reviewed and the applicability of the general structure to a variety of problems of practical interest is discussed. These problems include the use of x2 statistics in small-sample situations and in large sparse tables, in cluster sampling, and in cases where they do not have asymptotic x2 distributions.
A Formation Energy Predictor for Crystalline Materials Using Ensemble Data Mining

Formation energy is one of the most important properties of a compound that is directly related to its stability. More negative the formation energy, the more stable the compound is likely to be. Here we describe the development and deployment of predictive models for formation energy, given the chemical composition of the material. The data-driven models described here are built using nearly 100,000 Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, which is a quantum mechanical simulation technique based on the electron density within the crystal structure of the material. These models are deployed in an online web-tool that takes a list of material compositions as input, generates over hundred composition-based attributes for each material and feeds them into the predictive models to obtain the predictions of formation energy. The online formation energy predictor is available at http://info.eecs.northwestern.edu/FEpredictor.
From smooth to rough, from water to air: the intertidal habitat of Northern clingfish ( Gobiesox maeandricus )

The Northern clingfish is a small, Eastern North Pacific fish that can attach to rough, fouled rocks in the intertidal. Their ability to attach to surfaces has been measured previously in the laboratory, and in this study, we show the roughness and fouling of the natural habitat of these fish. We introduce a new method for measuring surface roughness of natural substrates with time-limited accessibility. We expect this method to be broadly applicable in studies of animal/substrate surface interactions in habitats difficult to characterize. Our roughness measurements demonstrate that the fish’s ability to attach to very coarse roughness is required in its natural environment. Some of the rocks showed even coarser roughness than the fish could attach to in the lab setting. We also characterized the clingfish’s preference for other habitat descriptors such as the size of the rocks, biofilm, and Aufwuchs (macroalgae, encrusting invertebrates) cover, as well as grain size of underlying substrate. Northern clingfish seek shelter under rocks of 15–45 cm in size. These rocks have variable Aufwuchs cover, and gravel is the main underlying substrate type. In the intertidal, environmental conditions change with the tides, and for clingfish, the daily time under water (DTUW%) was a key parameter explaining distribution. Rather than location being determined by intertidal zonation, an 80% DTUW, a finer scale concept of tidal inundation, was required by the fish. We expect that this is likely because the mobility of the fish allows them to more closely track the ideal inundation in the marine intertidal.
From Stigma to Strategy: Intersectionality and Articulated Identities

In previous work, I argue that intersectionality constrains urban women of color in their quest for social justice (Simpson, 2001, 2007). While the evidence for this is convincing, there is also evidence that indicates that intersectionality is not as disempowering as we may think. I argue in this paper that we can expand the concept of intersectionality by considering of another aspect, one I call articulated identities. Articulated identities is a term that introduces the ways that stigmatized identities increase agency. Various identities can be called forth to gather support and empathy for women activists' causes. My concept, articulated identities, differs from the concept of strategic identity, which defines how activists construct identities to create an emotional and politically powerful group identity. In Cynthia Burack's book on the politics of groups, Healing Identities, she argues that the formation of reparative identities is useful in understanding how activists may alter negative stereotypes such as the "black matriarch" to place Black women in a more favorable light (Burack, 2004, pp. 67-69). Using a variety of grassroots activist cases, I analyze news coverage, both print and television, for indicators of how and when these women bring forth various aspects of their identities. The purpose of this paper is to forge a pathway to more explicit research on whether or not this concept helps the intersectional theorist.
Overcoming Functional Fixedness in Naming Traditions: A Commentary on Pilcher’s Names and “Doing Gender”

Because people’s names are central to everyday life, their role in the gender system is often overlooked. In the target article, Pilcher (2017) brings novel attention to the ways in which naming traditions allow individuals to enact gender in their lives. In this commentary, I expand on Pilcher’s argument that naming traditions merit more attention than they currently receive. Specifically, I begin by discussing links between forenaming and the gender binary. I then describe the ways in which the marital surname tradition reflects gendered power dynamics. In an effort to spur additional scholarly attention to naming traditions, I also delineate fruitful areas for future research. These future directions primarily focus on identifying why and how individuals “do gender differently” through their naming practices.
Comparison of algorithms to divide noisy phone sequences into syllables for automatic unconstrained English speaking proficiency scoring

Four algorithms for syllabifying phones are compared in automatically scoring English oral proficiency. The first algorithm clusters consonants into groups with the vowel nearer to them temporally, taking into account the maximal onset principle. A Hidden Markov Model (HMM) predicts the syllable boundaries based on their sonority value in the second algorithm. The third one employs three HMMs which are tuned to specific categories of utterances. The final algorithm uses a genetic algorithm to identify a set of rules for syllabifying the phones. They were evaluated by: (1) how well they syllabified utterances from the Boston University Radio News Corpus (BURNC) and (2) how well they worked as part of a process to automatically score English speaking proficiency. A measure of the temporal alignment of the syllables was utilized to judge how satisfactorily they syllabified utterances. Their suitability in the proficiency process was assessed with the Pearson correlation between the computer’s predicted proficiency scores and the scores determined by human examiners. We found that syllabification-by-genetic-algorithm performed the best in syllabifying the BURNC, but that syllabification-by-grouping (i.e., syllables are made by grouping non-syllabic consonant phones with the vowel or syllabic consonant phone nearest to them with respect to time) performed the best in the English oral proficiency rating application.
I ulu no ka lālā i ke kumu, the branches grow because of the trunk: ancestral knowledge as refusal

This paper will discuss the ways that Native Hawaiian scholars are engaging in innovative strategies that incorporate ancestral knowledges into the academy. Ancestral knowledges are highly valued a...
What’s Your Password? Exploring Password Choice Conformity in Group Decision Making

In 1955, Solomon Asch investigated the relationship between opinions and social pressure. His results showed that opinions can be influenced by social pressure. In security, users are often referred to as the biggest security threat to a system. A system administrator’s security efforts can be, and have been, weakened by a user’s poor security decisions. Exploring conformity in security can help to discover if conformity exists in this setting and help to remedy the issue by determining why. This study repeats Asch’s experiment to discover if opinions can be influenced by social pressure in security related circumstances. This experiment differs from Asch’s because it takes place in a virtual room, the confederates are virtual beings, and the questions are related to passwords. This document will present the results of our experiment which will include the percentage of participants that conform, and the results from the interview after each session.
Contrasts between Human and Machine Vision: Should Technology Recapitulate Phylogeny?

Abstract Biological evolution has imposed constraints on the development of the human visual system that do not necessarily apply to machine vision. Three characteristics of human vision illustrate the effects of these special constraints: the primacy of depth perception, the coexistence of perception and contradictory knowledge, and the use of heuristic perceptual processes. One approach that includes a consideration of biological constraints is ecological optics, but the usefulness of that approach is limited by its failure to consider perceptual processes or mechanisms and to deal with conditions of marginal stimulus information. Because of the special constraints imposed by evolution, the effectiveness or lack of effectiveness of a perceptual process in a computational system is not evidence for its presence or absence in human vision. An appreciation of the differences between human and machine vision should facilitate research on problems common to the two fields.
Voltage-gated calcium channels in adult hippocampal neurons.

Interest in how calcium ions move through neuronal membranes and in the function of calcium ions once in the cytoplasm continues to intensify. Calcium ions in the cytoplasm appear to be ubiquitous second messengers that have been implicated in the regulation of numerous intracellular enzymes (Kennedy, 1989) and in gene expression (Morgan and Curran, 1988). Intracellular calcium ions are also essential for neuronal events such as synaptogenesis, neurotransmitter release, and synaptic plasticity (although the mechanisms remain unclear). Moreover, voltage-gated calcium influx is a critical determinant of the electroresponsiveness of neurons either directly (Llinas, 1988) or indirectly through the subsequent activation of potassium, nonselective cation, or chloride permeability changes in the membrane (Marty, 1989).
Case study: visualization and information retrieval techniques for network intrusion detection

We describe our efforts to analyze network intrusion detection data using information retrieval and visualization tools. By regarding Telnet sessions as documents, which may or may not include attacks, a session that contains a certain type of attack can be used as a query, allowing us to search the data for other instances of that same type of attack. The use of information visualization techniques allows us to quickly and clearly find the attacks and also find similar, potentially new types of attacks.
A decision-support system for analyzing tractor guidance technology

Abstract A decision-support system was developed to assist small-scale producers, consultants, and extension agents with analyzing expected yield improvements, input cost savings, and equipment efficiency gains associated with global positioning system guidance on tractors using farm-specific details. Default parameters may be modified to perform partial budgeting and break-even analyses on a whole-farm basis. Findings suggest that this technology is profitable on as few as 49 ha, considered small-scale in the region, and under farm conditions assessed within. Further, tractor guidance is more feasible the more input-intensive the crops (e.g. cotton production vs. pasture maintenance) and the more expensive the equipment (e.g. using newer equipment). Changing input use affects greenhouse gas emissions that are reported as carbon equivalent footprint changes due to tractor guidance. For example, changing to tractors with lower horsepower to save on capital investment needs without changing the size of implement drawn, lowers fuel footprint as long as technically feasible and possible from a perspective of completing field work in a timely manner. Also, using manure instead of synthetic fertilizer, while economically advantageous, will increase the footprint of fertilizer applications given, among other factors, lesser nutrient density and thereby greater handling costs with manures. Quantifying these impacts across a whole farm is cumbersome since tractor guidance affects annual equipment use hours that are difficult to track and yet economically important. Hence, the decision support system was designed to capture farm-specific detail. The ability to perform whole-farm planning and sensitivity analyses in an automated, user-friendly, and flexible fashion is expected to increase technology adoption by small-scale producers.
Nonmalignant and malignant meningioma incidence and survival in the elderly, 2005-2015, using the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States.

Background Meningioma incidence increases significantly with age. In the expanding elderly population, we lack complete understanding of population-based trends in meningioma incidence/survival. We provide an updated, comprehensive analysis of meningioma incidence and survival for individuals aged over 65. Methods Data were obtained from the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS) from 2005-2015 for nonmalignant and malignant meningioma. Age-adjusted incidence rates per 100000 person-years were analyzed by age, sex, race, ethnicity, location, and treatment modalities. Survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models for a subset of CBTRUS data. Results Nonmalignant meningioma incidence doubled from adults age 65-69 years to adults over age 85 years and was significantly greater in females than males for all ages. Malignant meningioma incidence did not differ by sex for any age grouping. Nonmalignant and malignant meningioma incidence was significantly greater in black populations versus others. Nonmalignant meningioma survival was worse with age, in black populations, and in males, including when analyzed by 5-year age groups. Surgical resection and radiation did not improve survival compared with resection alone in nonmalignant meningioma. Conclusions This study reports increasing nonmalignant meningioma incidence in the elderly, increased incidence in black populations, and in females. In contrast, malignant meningioma incidence did not differ between sexes. Risk of death was higher for black individuals and males. Additionally, radiation did not confer a survival advantage when combined with resection for nonmalignant meningioma. Thus, we identify clinically relevant discrepancies in meningioma incidence/survival that require further study.
A Survey of Prediction and Classification Techniques in Multicore Processor Systems

In multicore processor systems, being able to accurately predict the future provides new optimization opportunities, which otherwise could not be exploited. For example, an oracle able to predict a certain application’s behavior running on a smart phone could direct the power manager to switch to appropriate dynamic voltage and frequency scaling modes that would guarantee minimum levels of desired performance while saving energy consumption and thereby prolonging battery life. Using predictions enables systems to become proactive rather than continue to operate in a reactive manner. This prediction-based proactive approach has become increasingly popular in the design and optimization of integrated circuits and of multicore processor systems. Prediction transforms from simple forecasting to sophisticated machine learning based prediction and classification that learns from existing data, employs data mining, and predicts future behavior. This can be exploited by novel optimization techniques that can span across all layers of the computing stack. In this survey paper, we present a discussion of the most popular techniques on prediction and classification in the general context of computing systems with emphasis on multicore processors. The paper is far from comprehensive, but, it will help the reader interested in employing prediction in optimization of multicore processor systems.
Serials Librarianship is Still a Business… But Do We like It?

A seasoned collection management librarian explores aspects of job satisfaction in academic librarianship, including following one’s conscience, making good use of abilities, and incorporating outs...
Central leptin signaling transmits positive valence

Abstract Hunger resulting from food deprivation is associated with negative affect. This is supported by recent evidence showing that hunger-sensitive neurons drive feeding through a negative valence teaching signal. However, the complementary hypothesis that hormonal signals of energy surfeit counteract this negative valence, or even transmit positive valence, has received less attention. The adipose-derived hormone leptin signals in proportion to fat mass, is an indicator of energy surplus, and reduces food intake. Here, we showed that centrally-delivered leptin reduced food intake and conditioned a place preference in food-restricted as well as ad libitum fed rats. In contrast, leptin did not reduce food intake nor condition a place preference in obese rats, likely due to leptin resistance. Despite a well-known role for hindbrain leptin receptor signaling in energy balance control, hindbrain leptin delivery did not condition a place preference in food-restricted rats, suggesting that leptin acting in midbrain or forebrain sites mediates place preference conditioning. Supporting the hypothesis that leptin signaling induces a positive affective state, leptin also decreased the threshold for ventral tegmental area brain stimulation reward. Together, these data suggest that leptin signaling is intrinsically preferred, and support the view that signals of energy surfeit are associated with positive affect. Harnessing the positive valence of signals such as leptin may attenuate the negative affect associated with hunger, providing a compelling new approach for weight loss maintenance.
ATM, ATR and DNA-PKcs kinases-the lessons from the mouse models: inhibition ≠ deletion.

DNA damage, especially DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) and replication stress, activates a complex post-translational network termed DNA damage response (DDR). Our review focuses on three PI3-kinase related protein kinases—ATM, ATR and DNA-PKcs, which situate at the apex of the mammalian DDR. They are recruited to and activated at the DNA damage sites by their respective sensor protein complexes—MRE11/RAD50/NBS1 for ATM, RPA/ATRIP for ATR and KU70–KU80/86 (XRCC6/XRCC5) for DNA-PKcs. Upon activation, ATM, ATR and DNA-PKcs phosphorylate a large number of partially overlapping substrates to promote efficient and accurate DNA repair and to coordinate DNA repair with other DNA metabolic events (e.g., transcription, replication and mitosis). At the organism level, robust DDR is critical for normal development, aging, stem cell maintenance and regeneration, and physiological genomic rearrangements in lymphocytes and germ cells. In addition to endogenous damage, oncogene-induced replication stresses and genotoxic chemotherapies also activate DDR. On one hand, DDR factors suppress genomic instability to prevent malignant transformation. On the other hand, targeting DDR enhances the therapeutic effects of anti-cancer chemotherapy, which led to the development of specific kinase inhibitors for ATM, ATR and DNA-PKcs. Using mouse models expressing kinase dead ATM, ATR and DNA-PKcs, an unexpected structural function of these kinases was revealed, where the expression of catalytically inactive kinases causes more genomic instability than the loss of the proteins themselves. The spectrum of genomic instabilities and physiological consequences are unique for each kinase and depends on their activating complexes, suggesting a model in which the catalysis is coupled with DNA/chromatin release and catalytic inhibition leads to the persistence of the kinases at the DNA lesion, which in turn affects repair pathway choice and outcomes. Here we discuss the experimental evidences supporting this mode of action and their implications in the design and use of specific kinase inhibitors for ATM, ATR and DNA-PKcs for cancer therapy.
Acute Mesenteric Ischemia Remains a Highly Morbid Diagnosis after Initial Hospitalization Survival

Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) remains a vascular emergency. Our aim was to explore readmission for AMI. We identified all patients admitted for AMI from the state of California through the Healthcare and Utilization Project from 2005 to 2011. Our primary end point was the rate and etiology for readmission. Our secondary end points were the length of hospitalization and in-hospital mortality. Cox proportional hazard regression was utilized to assess risk of 30-day readmission. There were 534 (9.9%) readmissions at 30 days. The mean age was 67 ± 17 years and 209 (39.1%) were male. The five most common etiologies for readmission were AMI (7.6%), cardiac events (5.3%), severe sepsis (1.2%), dehydration (1.1%), and acute kidney failure (1.1%). Once readmitted, these patients were most likely to experience cardiac catheterizations (25.4%), red blood cell transfusions (23.6%), intubation and mechanical ventilation (17.6%), biopsy of the large intestine (13.9%), reoperation for small bowel resection (10.9%), administration of total parenteral nutrition (10.5%), and transfusion of other blood products (6.9%). This hospitalization was 8.8 ± 12.7 days long. In-hospital mortality was 36 patients (6.7%). On multivariable Cox-regression analysis, severe (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.1 [1.4–3.2], p = 0.0005) and moderate (HR: 1.5 [1.03–2.13], p = 0.04) Elixhauser Comorbidity Group, complications (HR: 1.5 [1.2–1.9], p = 0.0007), and longer index hospitalization (HR: 1.02 [1.01–1.02], p
Effectiveness of a Negotiation Simulation Game in IB Learning

This study describes a foreign investment negotiation simulation game and evaluates its effectiveness on the teaching and learning of international business. The game involves the application of th...
Data Integration for Immunology

Over the last several years, next-generation sequencing and its recent push toward single-cell resolution have transformed the landscape of immunology research by revealing novel complexities about...
Viscous and elastic buoyancy stresses as drivers of ice-shelf calving

The Antarctic Ice Sheet loses mass via its ice shelves predominantly through two processes: basal melting and iceberg calving. Iceberg calving is episodic and infrequent, and not well parameterized in ice-sheet models. Here, we investigate the impact of hydrostatic forces on calving. We develop two-dimensional elastic and viscous numerical frameworks to model the ‘footloose’ calving mechanism. This mechanism is triggered by submerged ice protrusions at the ice front, which induce unbalanced buoyancy forces that can lead to fracturing. We compare the results to identify the different roles that viscous and elastic deformations play in setting the rate and magnitude of calving events. Our results show that, although the bending stresses in both frameworks share some characteristics, their differences have important implications for modeling the calving process. In particular, the elastic model predicts that maximum stresses arise farther from the ice front than in the viscous model, leading to larger calving events. We also find that the elastic model would likely lead to more frequent events than the viscous one. Our work provides a theoretical framework for the development of a better understanding of the physical processes that govern glacier and ice-shelf calving cycles.
A conjugated porphyrin as a red-light sensitizer for near-infrared emission of ytterbium(III) ion

A conjugated porphyrin with broader absorption in the visible region was synthesized for sensitizing the near-infrared emission of ytterbium(III) ions. The 4-ethynylbenzoic acid was linked to the meso position of a 5,15-dimesitylporphyrin resulting in a conjugated porphyrin, which has strong absorption in the visible region with an onset of up to 670 nm. After forming a complex with ytterbium(III) acetate and 1,10-phenanthroline in sulfolane, the absorption edge shifted to ∼650 nm with a peak absorption at 615 nm. It was found the fluorescence from porphyrin in the visible region was almost diminished in the complex. Upon excitation at a wavelength above 600 nm, the complex showed characteristic emission at 980 nm from ytterbium(III) ions with a lifetime of 12.0 μs in dichloromethane. The NIR emission was also observed in DMSO/water (1 : 1) upon excitation at 633 nm, demonstrating its potential for biological applications.
Familial neonatal nonautoimmune hyperthyroidism due to a gain-of-function (D619G) thyrotropin-receptor mutation

Objectives Activating germline mutations of the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) are responsible for a rare form of neonatal nonautoimmune hyperthyroidism (NAH). We report the first case of familial neonatal neonatal nonautoimmune associated with c.1856A>G (p.Asp619Gly) variant in the TSHR gene. Case presentation We describe an eight-year-old African-American female presenting with neonatal NAH associated with an inherited heterozygous c.1856A>G (p.Asp619Gly) variant in the TSHR gene. This variant was previously described in one patient presenting with sporadic NAH in adolescence. Our patient was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism in the neonatal period. The mother had a history of hyperthyroidism and had thyroidectomy at the age of 4 years. The patient had goiter and elevated free thyroxine (FT4) and free triiodothyronine (FT3) levels that normalized with methimazole treatment; however, TSH level remained suppressed. Thyroid antibodies were negative. The patient also had bilateral exotropia, a trait shared by the mother and may represent a new association. Conclusions Familial neonatal NAH is associated with heterozygous c.1856A>G (p.Asp619Gly) variant of the TSHR gene.
The Preliminary Efficacy of a Sleep Self-management Intervention Using a Personalized Health Monitoring Device during Pregnancy.

Background: Sleep disturbances are common during pregnancy and are associated with the development of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Personal health monitors (PHM) can facilitate change in health beha...
Restoration method of DC ground potential distribution law based on neural network

DC Surface Potential (DCESP) distribution is the key to DC bias in power system transformers. Unbalanced or unipolar operation of the HVDC transmission system, and the stray current of the rail transit traction power supply will affect the distribution of DCESP. The DC surface potential distribution is affected by the magnitude and location of the DC in-ground current, as well as the soil structure and parameters. In fact, whether it is a DC transmission system, a rail transit system, or an AC grid system, its geographical dimensions are measured in kilometers, ranging from a dozen kilometers to thousands of kilometers. How to measure the actual DC surface potential distribution is of great significance for studying DC bias. The terrain between the existing two substations is complex, especially in cities affected by roads, building and other factors. The number of locations available for measuring surface potential data is limited and discontinuous. In this paper, a method for restoring DC surface potential distribution based on data from discontinuous locations is studied. Firstly, a CDEGS simulation model was built, and the DC surface potential distribution data around the subway was obtained by simulation, and data from several discontinuous sections were intercepted as the simulated measurement sections. Using the relative potential of the measurement section as a known quantity to train a built neural network model, which is a neural network with a dynamic feedback structure. Finally, the remaining test data is substituted into the trained neural network for testing, and its reduction effect and influencing factors are analyzed. The research results in this paper provide a new idea for DC surface potential measurement and can promote the development of DC bias magnetic field.
Acquired Resistance to PD-1/PD-L1 Blockade in Lung Cancer: Mechanisms and Patterns of Failure

Immunotherapy is now the preferred treatment for most lung cancer patients. It is used to treat unresectable stage III non-small-cell lung cancer and is the first-line therapy for non-oncogene-driven advanced/metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer patients (either alone or in combination with chemotherapy). Unfortunately, most patients that respond initially to immunotherapy develop resistance over time, thus limiting the durability of immunotherapy. A better understanding of the mechanisms of acquired resistance is urgently needed to expand the benefit of immunotherapy in lung cancer patients. This review aims to summarize the mechanisms and clinical outcomes of acquired resistance of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapies in non-small-cell lung cancer patients.
Bactericidal/Permeability-Increasing Protein Preeminently Mediates Clearance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa In Vivo via CD18-Dependent Phagocytosis

Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection mysteriously occurs in the airways of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), bronchiectasis (BE), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the absence of neutrophil dysfunction or neutropenia and is strongly associated with autoimmunity to bactericidal permeability-increasing protein (BPI). Here, we define a critical role for BPI in in vivo immunity against P. aeruginosa. Wild type and BPI-deficient (Bpi-/-) mice were infected with P. aeruginosa, and bacterial clearance, cell infiltrates, cytokine production, and in vivo phagocytosis were quantified. Bpi-/- mice exhibited a decreased ability to clear P. aeruginosa in vivo in concert with increased neutrophil counts and cytokine release. Bpi-/- neutrophils displayed decreased phagocytosis that was corrected by exogenous BPI in vitro. Exogenous BPI also enhanced clearance of P. aeruginosa in Bpi-/- mice in vivo by increasing P. aeruginosa uptake by neutrophils in a CD18-dependent manner. These data indicate that BPI plays an essential role in innate immunity against P. aeruginosa through its opsonic activity and suggest that perturbations in BPI levels or function may contribute to chronic lung infection with P. aeruginosa.
Academic Productivity of United States Neurosurgeons Trained Abroad.

Background Previous research in neurosurgery has examined academic productivity for U.S. medical graduates and residents. However, associations between scholarly output and international medical education, residency training, and fellowship training are scarcely documented. Methods We identified 1671 U.S. academic neurosurgeons in 2020 using publicly available data along with their countries of medical school, residency, and fellowship training. Using Scopus, h-index, number of publications, and number of times publications were cited were compiled. Demographic, subspeciality, and academic productivity variables were compared between training locations using univariate analysis and multivariable linear regression. Results Of the current neurosurgery faculty workforce, 16% completed at least 1 component of their training abroad. Canada was the most represented international country in the cohort. Academic productivity for neurosurgeons with international medical school and/or international residency did not significantly differ from that of neurosurgeons trained in the United States. Neurosurgeons with ≥1 U.S. fellowships or ≥1 international fellowships did not have higher academic productivity than neurosurgeons without a fellowship. However, dual fellowship training in both domestic and international programs was associated with higher mean h-index (β = 6.00, 95% confidence interval 1.01 to 10.98, P = 0.02), higher citations (β = 2092.0, 95% confidence interval 460.1 to 3724.0, P = 0.01), and a trend toward higher publications (β = 36.82, 95% confidence interval −0.21 to 73.85, P = 0.051). Conclusions Neurosurgeon scholarly output was not significantly affected by international training in medical school or residency. Dual fellowship training in both a domestic and an international program was associated with higher academic productivity.
"Smart Tanks": An Intelligent High-Throughput Intervention Testing Platform in Daphnia

We present a novel platform for testing the effect of interventions on life- and health-span of a short-lived semi transparent freshwater organism, sensitive to drugs with complex behavior and physiology - the planktonic crustacean Daphnia magna. Within this platform, dozens of complex behavioural features of both routine motion and response to stimuli are continuously accurately quantified for large homogeneous cohorts via an automated phenotyping pipeline. We build predictive machine learning models calibrated using chronological age and extrapolate onto phenotypic age. We further apply the model to estimate the phenotypic age under pharmacological perturbation. Our platform provides a scalable framework for drug screening and characterization in both life-long and instant assays as illustrated using long term dose response profile of metformin and short term assay of such well-studied substances as caffeine and alcohol.
Una revisión sistemática sobre las relaciones entre el guanxi y el capital social en el contexto chino

Guanxi are easily confused with Social Capital. The concepts, methods and theories of western sociology have been widely applied to the study of these two phenomena in China, but the influence of social culture on them have been ignored. This paper made a systematic analysis of the researches on Guanxi and Social Capital in the last decade and analyzed the results of selected 39 articles by PRISMA. The analysis indicated the limits and contradictions of Guanxi from the perspectives of Confucianism and the concept of western social capital, revealed the essential meaning of Guanxi in Chinese society. Besides, it can be seen that although Guanxi and Social Capital are two different concepts, they have a mutual influence. Finally, the conclusions of the study are synthesized.
Innate immune activation by checkpoint inhibition in human patient-derived lung cancer tissues.

Although Pembrolizumab-based immunotherapy has significantly improved lung cancer patient survival, many patients show variable efficacy and resistance development. A better understanding of the drug's action is needed to improve patient outcomes. Functional heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment (TME) is crucial to modulating drug resistance; understanding of individual patients' TME that impacts drug response is hampered by lack of appropriate models. Lung organotypic tissue slice cultures (OTC) with patients' native TME procured from primary and brain-metastasized (BM) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients were treated with Pembrolizumab and/or beta-glucan (WGP, an innate immune activator). Metabolic tracing with 13C6-Glc/13C5,15N2-Gln, multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF), and digital spatial profiling (DSP) were employed to interrogate metabolic and functional responses to Pembrolizumab and/or WGP. Primary and BM PD-1+ lung cancer OTC responded to Pembrolizumab and Pembrolizumab + WGP treatments, respectively. Pembrolizumab activated innate immune metabolism and functions in primary OTC, which were accompanied by tissue damage. DSP analysis indicated an overall decrease in immunosuppressive macrophages and T cells but revealed microheterogeneity in immune responses and tissue damage. Two TMEs with altered cancer cell properties showed resistance. Pembrolizumab or WGP alone had negligible effects on BM-lung cancer OTC but Pembrolizumab + WGP blocked central metabolism with increased pro-inflammatory effector release and tissue damage. In depth metabolic analysis and multiplex TME imaging of lung cancer OTC demonstrated overall innate immune activation by Pembrolizumab but heterogeneous responses in the native TME of a patient with primary NSCLC. Metabolic and functional analysis also revealed synergistic action of Pembrolizumab and WGP in OTC of metastatic NSCLC.
TooManyPeaks identifies drug-resistant-specific regulatory elements from single-cell leukemic epigenomes.

Summary Emerging single-cell epigenomic assays are used to investigate the heterogeneity of chromatin activity and its function. However, identifying cells with distinct regulatory elements and clearly visualizing their relationships remains challenging. To this end, we introduce TooManyPeaks to address the need for the simultaneous study of chromatin state heterogeneity in both rare and abundant subpopulations. Our analyses of existing data from three widely used single-cell assays for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (scATAC-seq) show the superior performance of TooManyPeaks in delineating and visualizing pure clusters of rare and abundant subpopulations. Furthermore, the application of TooManyPeaks to new scATAC-seq data from drug-naive and drug-resistant leukemic T cells clearly visualizes relationships among these cells and stratifies a rare “resistant-like” drug-naive sub-clone with distinct cis-regulatory elements.
The 21st Century Cures Act — Will It Take Us Back in Time?

In recent months, the FDA has declined to permit use of eight new sunscreen ingredients (that are already in use in Europe) without additional data. The controversy says as much about how the agency works as it does about sunscreen regulation.
On Red Dye

§ 341 (a). The [woolen] goods is weighed and boiled one hour in water with wheat bran, to extract substantially all the oil, then it is rinsed in cold water until all the adhering bran has been washed away.
Integrating Student Learning and Faculty Research Through Use of Students as Subjects

AbstractDemanding duties make it unrealistic for most professors to undertake teaching and research as separate activities. Fortunately, instructors can effectively integrate student laboratory work into the research agenda. This integration will enhance the quality of a course by providing hands-on work and exposing students to research issues. This paper discusses the advantages of laboratory exercises which employ students as subjects, suggests some ways to design exercises for the benefit of both the students and the researcher, and describes some exercises which have been successfully conducted in a Management Information Systems (MIS) course.
Hybrid Enzymes and the Sequence-Specific Cleavage of Nucleic Acids

Catalysts have been generated that sequence-specifically hydrolyze RNA and DNA at predefined sites, i.e., a new class of restriction enzymes. New binding domains (oligonucleotides or peptides of defined sequence) were introduced site-selectively into the relatively nonselective phosphodiesterases, staphylococcal nuclease and ribonuclease S, to generate hybrid enzymes that site-specifically cleave nucleic acids. Subsequent mutagenesis of the hybrid enzymes has generated enzymes that siteselectively hydrolyze one bond in large RNAs and DNAs in a catalytic fashion. We have been able to use these hybrid enzymes to selectively cleave duplex plasmid DNAs via D-loop formation. This work has not only resulted in powerful tools for studying RNA and DNA structure but also may provide a general strategy for designing other selective hybrid enzymes for important biological transformations, such as the selective cleavage of genomic DNA, or selective cleavage of peptide amide bonds.