cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Dark Triad and Disordered Gambling

Disordered gambling refers to persistent and recurrent patterns of problematic gambling behavior leading to clinically significant impairment or distress. The purpose of the present study was to examine the connections that the Dark Triad personality traits (i.e., narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism) had with disordered gambling in a sample of 572 undergraduate students (129 men, 443 women). Our analyses revealed that narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism were each related to disordered gambling. However, psychopathy was the only Dark Triad personality trait that had a unique association with the risk for disordered gambling when controlling for the other Dark Triad traits. The discussion focuses on the implications of these results for understanding the connections between psychopathy and disordered gambling.
COLIPHAGE MS2 CONTAINING 5-FLUOROURACIL. I. PREPARATION AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES.

5-Fluorouracil inhibits the formation of MS2 measured as infective units or physical phage particles. Addition of the base analog during the first 13 minutes after infection has a greater effect than addition at a later time. Whereas 30 μ g/ml. 5-fluorouracil added at five minutes after infection results in a marked decrease in progeny phage particles, later addition of FU† allows up to 50% normal yield of physical phage, some of which contains FU. FU phage has a greater buoyant density in CsCl than normal MS2, the density being directly related to the degree of replacement of uracil by FU. This density shift is due to an increased buoyant density of FU-RNA, measured in cesium sulphate. FU phage and FU-RNA have normal sedimentation coefficients, and the T m of FU-RNA, in which 80% of the uracil is replaced by FU, is the same as that of normal MS2 RNA. The specific infectivity of this highly replaced FU phage is about 20% of normal.
Hydrology: What brings rain to the Sahel?

The Sahel has suffered through severe droughts but recent years have seen increased rainfall. Now research suggests warming of the Mediterranean Sea surface may dictate future rainfall in the region.
Superficial CD34-positive fibroblastic tumor: Cytologic features, tissue correlation, ancillary studies, and differential diagnosis of a recently described soft tissue neoplasm

Superficial CD34-positive fibroblastic tumor is a low-grade mesenchymal neoplasm of superficial soft tissues characterized by fascicles of spindle to epithelioid cells displaying nuclear pleomorphism and strong diffuse CD34 immunoreactivity. The intraoperative imprint cytology preparations (ICP) of a superficial CD34-positive fibroblastic tumor from a 50-year-old female are described. To the best of our knowledge, there is no report of the cytologic findings of superficial CD34-positive fibroblastic tumor in the English medical literature. The ICP, differential diagnosis, tissue correlation, and ancillary studies of this fascinating entity are discussed. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2016;44:926-930. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
ICTs, Agency, and Gender in Syrian Activists’ Work among Syrian Refugees in Jordan:

This article examines the work of Syrian activists with Syrian refugee women in Jordan and the relationship between their online and offline activism. Based upon fieldwork of a broader study in Jor...
Visco-Elastic Relaxations in Alkali Borates and Alkali Silicates

The Brillouin light scattering technique was used to study short time relaxations in glass forming oxide melts. The line shape analysis of Brillouin spectra yields a complex mechanical Modulus. The temperature dependence of this modulus provides insight into the structural disintegration above the glass transition, as well as the thermally activated mechanisms which facilitate the momentum transport in the process of viscous dissipation. A series of binary and ternary alkali borates and alkali silicates have been investigated. The results show fundamental differences in the way alkali cations affect the network structure in borates as compared to silicates. While these cations move relatively freely within the rigid silicate network, their motions are strongly coupled to the network relaxation in borates. The activation energies for cation motion are in good agreement with those found by other methods.
EVOLUTION OF BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR

page (p. 52) he tells us that most Agamidae replace some of the teeth on the premaxilla (posteriorly) and the anterior ends of the maxilla and dentary. The function of this statement is lost when, over a series of pages, he points out that the species with which he is concerned do not replace teeth. Finally (p. 62) he reveals that some carnivorous species replace teeth and others, or herbivores, do not. The upshot of a long and difficult account is that acrodonty correlates with precise occlusion and, whereas this was not the case in the living Sphenodon, it was in fossil sphenodontids. More or less isolated in this collection of morphologically oriented papers are those of Swain and Olson. Swain suggested that extinction of the ruling archosaurs could be correlated with the rise of the angiosperms in the late Cretaceous and the unpalatability or even poisonous nature of these plants. He discusses tannins and toxic alkaloids which may have had such effects as shell-thinning. The argument is attractive as the Cretaceous reptile economy was largely based on large, hungry herbivores. Olson's contribution is titled "The exploitation of land by early tetrapods," but little is said about the origin of the amniote egg or the anatomical modifications involved. The style is indicated by such a statement as (pp. 2-3) "Rapid emergence [onto land] . . . is strongly supported by current data on the morphology of the earliest reptiles and their immediate predecessors, and is necessary to explain the ecological complexes of vertebrates that are encountered during the late Cretaceous and the Permian." This rich rhetoric assumes much more than I believe is known in terms of predecessors, faunas and ecological conditions. A recent find of Namurian material in Great Britain suggests the possibility that reptiles, terrestrial organisms, were already present. The earliest known reptiles, Westphalian, are already of diverse types. As is often the case in papers by Olson, some of the confused thinking of the past is destroyed. In this instance, he condemns the order (p. 9, suborder, p. 14) Cotylosauria. This is personally pleasing, as I never could comprehend this group as a taxonomic entity. This paper, again like others of his, uses largely undefinable taxonomic terminology which one hopes will eventually become more real. The illustrations in this instance seem incidental to the text. Of a physiological sort are the accounts by Avery and Spellerberg concerning thermoregulation in reptiles and adaptations to cold climates. Similarly isolated is the paper by Westphal on "the dermal armour of some triassic placodont reptiles." I do agree with the writer's conclusion that there is a basic hexagonal dermal plate element in vertebrates which is seen in one form or another from fish to fowl. For readers of Evolution, I would give this volume one star or at most two.
Developing a Globally Minded, Critical Media Literacy

The transnational movement of people and ideas continues to reshape how students and citizens imagine places and cultures. Considering our constant exposure to information delivered via mass media, global educators are tasked with engaging students in learning activities that help them develop skill sets that include a globally minded, critical media literacy. Grounded in in cultural studies, and framed by Andreotti’s (2006) theory of critical GCE and Appadurai’s (1996) concept of mediascapes, this article examines how eleven global educators in as many countries use films to teach about what they considered to be the “6 C’s” of critical global media literacy: colonialism, capitalism, conflict, citizenship, and conscientious consumerism. How global educators foster globally minded, critical media literacy in their classrooms, the resources they use to teach about perspectives too often marginalized in media produced in the Global North, and how educating students about media informs action within global citizenship education are discussed.
Bush v. Gore in the American Mind: Reflections and Survey Results on the Tenth Anniversary of the Decision Ending the 2000 Election Controversy

In the decade since the Supreme Court’s decision, no survey has been conducted that asks about Bush v. Gore or tries to link attitudes toward the decision to opinion of the Court. This paper discusses the first survey taken on this subject in the last ten years since the initial fallout from the decision. In the first part, we describe the earlier literature on attitudes toward the Court and attitudes toward the decision ending the 2000 recount. Next, we look at results from our recent survey that asked respondents whether they thought the Court’s decision was fair or unfair. Although a sizable share (almost 30 percent) of the population said they did not remember the decision, we found that the public remains polarized along partisan and racial lines in its attitudes toward the decision and that approval of the Bush presidency remains a powerful predictor of attitudes toward the decision. The last section briefly examines the effect of perceived fairness of the decision in Bush v. Gore on a respondent’s approval and confidence in the Supreme Court. Although approval or confidence in other institutions, such as Congress and the President, greatly determines attitudes toward the Court, attitudes concerning the decision in Bush v. Gore remain a statistically significant variable in predicting Court approval and confidence.
Trauma pneumonectomy: A narrative review.

Abstract Purpose Thoracic injuries are common in both blunt and penetrating trauma. Most thoracic injuries are managed non-operatively, approximately 7–20% undergo thoracotomy. Of the injuries requiring thoracotomy, 1–6% ultimately require pulmonary resection. Wedge resection and lobectomies are well-studied in the literature; however, there is a paucity regarding reports on total pneumonectomy in the setting of trauma. Our objectives were to summarize the evidence supporting the role of trauma pneumonectomy (TP) in the current era and reiterate that despite the associated morbidity and mortality TP is justified in selective cases. Methods A review of the world's literature was conducted following standard guidelines. Inclusion criteria included those studies reviewing blunt and penetrating trauma to the lungs in adults (age greater than 15 year) that reported mortality rates and outcome measures. Results The PubMed search yielded 713 studies. Of these, 14 studies included pertinent information on TP. Studies included in this review were published from 1985 to 2017 and involved patient data that was collected from 1972 to 2014. Mortality ranged from 50% to 100% (median 63%; mean 68%). Conclusion In the setting of severe thoracic trauma, pulmonary resection may be necessary. Less aggressive techniques are options in a stable patient; however, in the setting of ongoing hemorrhage, TP should be considered and expediently conducted. The role of damage control thoracic surgery and related techniques is vitally important in these patients to improve the significant mortality of trauma pneumonectomy.
Managerial Experiences in Replacing Radioactive with Non-Radioactive Iothalamate for Measuring Glomerular Filtration Rate.

The assessment of glomerular filtration rate (GFR)2 is a mainstay of renal function evaluation and renal disease staging. The test is so ubiquitous that estimated GFR (eGFR), via calculation from measured plasma/serum creatinine, is reported routinely in most hospitals. In certain clinical situations, accurate measurements of GFR are needed, such as in kidney donor evaluation and assessment of renal function pre- and/or post-nephrotoxic medication administration (1, 2). There are several different markers available to assess GFR. One …
Understanding and optimizing the performance of distributed machine learning applications on apache spark

In this paper we explore the performance limits of Apache Spark for machine learning applications. We begin by analyzing the characteristics of a state-of-the-art distributed machine learning algorithm implemented in Spark and compare it to an equivalent reference implementation using the high performance computing framework MPI. We identify critical bottlenecks of the Spark framework and carefully study their implications on the performance of the algorithm. In order to improve Spark performance we then propose a number of practical techniques to alleviate some of its overheads. However, optimizing computational efficiency and framework related overheads is not the only key to performance — we demonstrate that in order to get the best performance out of any implementation it is necessary to carefully tune the algorithm to the respective trade-off between computation time and communication latency. The optimal trade-off depends on both the properties of the distributed algorithm as well as infrastructure and framework-related characteristics. Finally, we apply these technical and algorithmic optimizations to three different distributed linear machine learning algorithms that have been implemented in Spark. We present results using five large datasets and demonstrate that by using the proposed optimizations, we can achieve a reduction in the performance difference between Spark and MPI from 20x to 2x.
Image segmentation on GPGPUs: a cellular automata-based approach

Image segmentation is one of the most difficult tasks in image processing and plays a critical role in the analysis of medical images used for diagnosis and treatment. With the decreased hardware costs and improvements in computing power of many-core architectures, there is an opportunity to both improve upon image segmentation algorithms and to make this technology more accessible. This paper describes our on-going research efforts to implement efficient image segmentation algorithms on graphical processing units (GPUs). A focused case study was performed with a suitable algorithm based on Cellular Automata, a parallel computational technique. Preliminary segmentation results are shown to validate our approach. Plans to improve the algorithm by making it more robust to noise and more efficient on GPU architectures are discussed. Our use of graph theoretic techniques and their implementation on GPUs will have broad application to other areas requiring computationally intensive calculations, as found in many problems involving modeling and simulation.
Performance of Duroc and Yorkshire Boars and Gilts and Reciprocal Breed Crosses

Analyses of variance were computed for records on growth and body composition traits made in 1983 by 255 boars and gilts in selected and control lines of Durocs and Yorkshires and their reciprocal crossbreds. Previous selection over a period of several generations was mainly on an index of sow productivity including preweaning litter sizes and weight. Animals in the select lines were selected for high index values; animals in the control lines were selected to average near the mean index values of that year and line. Breeding animals in all four lines during that period were basically randomly selected with regard to growth rate or body composition traits. The same boars sired both purebred and crossbred litters in 1983. Traits analyzed were average daily gain (ADG) during a standard test period from 56 d of age to 90.7 kg and average backfat thickness (ABF) and longissimus muscle area (LMA) from ultrasonic scans at 90.7 kg. Crossbred pigs had greater (P less than .01) ADG than purebred pigs, but did not differ (P greater than .05) in ABF or LMA. Heterosis was 8.2% for ADG. Crossbreds with Yorkshire dams had thinner (P less than .01) ABF and larger (P less than .01) LMA than crossbreds with Duroc dams. Boars had greater (P less than .05) ADG, thinner (P less than .01) ABF and smaller (P less than .01) LMA than gilts. Correlations between 38 half-sib family averages of purebred and crossbred pigs of the same sex and the same sires were .07, .37 and .24 for ADG, ABF and LMA, respectively. Implications of the above and additional findings for swine breeding strategies are discussed.
The developmental expression of three mammalian lens fiber cell membrane proteins.

PURPOSE The expression of the lens fiber cell integral membrane proteins MP20, the alpha 3 gap junction protein (connexin 46), and MP26 (MIP) was determined both during development of the bovine fetal lens and in different animal species. METHODS The relative levels of the mRNA species coding for these proteins was determined by Northern blotting; this was correlated with the amounts of these proteins as determined by Western immunoblotting. RESULTS RNA extracted from fetal calf lenses at 3-4, 5-6, and 7-8 mo gestation, and from postnatal calf lenses, showed a progressive decrease of the mRNA species coding for MP20 (20-fold), alpha 3 gap junction protein (22-fold), and MP26 (12-fold) with development. This compared with a 6-fold decrease in total RNA and a 15-fold decrease in poly-A(+) RNA over the same period. In contrast to these significant changes in the levels of mRNA, there were no significant changes in the concentrations of these proteins over the same period. Whereas the mRNA coding for each of these proteins were concentrated in the lens cortical regions. MP20 and MP26 protein concentrations in cortical and nuclear regions were very similar. Both protein and mRNA coding for MP20, alpha 3 gap junction, and MP26 were detected in calf, sheep, pig, and rat lenses. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that the expression of the mRNA coding for the lens fiber cell integral membrane proteins MP20, alpha 3 gap junction, and MP26 is regulated and may be coordinated. That the decrease in mRNA concentrations is not correlated with changes in the concentrations of these lens membrane proteins indicates their unique stability.
Numerical Taxonomic Evaluation of the Taxonomic Value of Character Suites in Tillandsia L

The selection of characters on which to base classifications is of primary interest to taxonomists. Those working with flowering plants commonly favor the characteristics of reproductive parts since they exhibit determinate development and are thought to be less subject to enviromental modification. Numerical pheneticists, on the other hand, are more likely to use a large number of characters from as many organs as possible (Sneath and Sokal, 1973).
Roofline Scaling Trajectories: A Method for Parallel Application and Architectural Performance Analysis

The end of Dennard scaling signaled a shift in HPC supercomputer architectures from systems built from single- core processor architectures to systems built from multicore and eventually manycore architectures. This transition substantially complicated performance optimization and analysis as new programming models were created, new scaling methodologies deployed, and on-chip contention became a bottleneck to performance. Existing distributed memory performance models like logP and logGP were unable to capture this contention. The Roofline model was created to address this contention and its interplay with locality. However, to date, the Roofline model has focused on full-node concurrency. In this paper, we extend the Roofline model to capture the effects of concurrency on data locality and on-chip contention. We demonstrate the value of this new technique by evaluating the NAS parallel benchmarks on both multicore and manycore architectures under both strong-and weak-scaling regimes. In order to quantify the interplay between programming model and locality, we evaluate scaling under both the OpenMP and flat MPI programming models.
Activation of NF-κB2 p52 promotes androgen independence in LNCaP prostate cancer cells

874 Introduction: The NF-κB family consists of p65 (Rel A), p105/p50 (NF-κB1), p100/p52 (NF-κB2), Rel-B and c-Rel, which form hetero- or homo-dimers to transactivate specific target genes like Bcl-xL, Cyclin D1, Twist, vimentin etc. involved in cell survival, transformation and tumorigenesis. The classical pathway of NF-κB activation culminates in the nuclear translocation of the p65/p50 heterodimer. The alternative pathway of NF-κB activation involves the processing of NF-κB2/p100, resulting in the formation of p52-containing dimers. Previous studies have shown that p52 may be overexpressed in prostate cancers. Here we hypothesize that NF-κB2/p52 may be involved in the promotion of tumorigenesis by prostate cancer cells and in the development of androgen independence. Experimental Design: We analyzed a cohort of 42 human prostate carcinoma samples with matched normal tissues and 20 samples from normal donors by western blotting for the expression levels of the NF-κB family members. Immunohistochemical studies were also performed on tissue microarrays containing tumor and matched normal tissues. We also generated adenoviruses encoding NF-κB2/p100 and p52, which were used to infect LNCaP prostate cancer cells in vitro to examine their response to androgen-deprivation and chemotherapeutic drug-induced apoptosis. Cell cycle analyses, clonogenic ability assays and growth assays were performed to assess the effect of p52 on LNCaP cells. We also injected LNCaP cells infected with p100, p52 and the control (empty vector) into intact and castrated male athymic nude mice and monitored the development of tumors. Results and Conclusions: Overexpression of NF-κB2/p52 enhanced the growth and clonogenic ability of androgen-sensitive LNCaP human prostate cancer cells in androgen-deprived conditions in vitro. The induction of androgen-independent growth by p52 was through protection of LNCaP cells from apoptotic cell death and cell cycle arrest induced by androgen-deprivation. In addition, NF-κB2/p52 stimulated Cyclin D1 expression and knock down of Cyclin D1 expression abolished p52-induced cell growth in vitro. Adenoviral mediated NF-κB2/p52 expression in LNCaP cells accelerated tumor growth in intact male nude mice and induced tumor growth in castrated male nude mice, suggesting that p52 induces androgen-independent growth of LNCaP cells. Western blot analysis and immunohistochemical staining of tissue microarrays of prostate cancer specimens showed that NF-κB2/p52 is frequently overexpressed in human prostate tumor tissues compared to normal prostate tissues. These results suggest that the NF-κB2/p52 protein: (i) is frequently overexpressed in prostate cancer; (ii) protects LNCaP cells from apoptotic cell death and cell cycle arrest induced by androgen-deprivation and (iii) induces androgen-independent growth of LNCaP cells in vitro and in vivo.
Factor Analysis of the Texas Functional Living Scale in an Outpatient Clinical Sample.

Objective Prior factor analysis of the Texas Functional Living Scale (TFLS), a performance-based measure of functional abilities, in a military veteran sample supported four factors discrepant from the published subscales. This study analyzed TFLS factor structure in a non-veteran clinical sample. Method Two hundred seventy adult outpatients completed the TFLS during neuropsychological evaluation. Principal axis factor analysis with oblique promax rotation was conducted with age and education effects partialed out. Results Parallel analysis indicated five factors for extraction that accounted for a combined 48% of the variance. The first factor independently explained 26% of the total variance. Inspection of factor loadings suggested the following factor interpretations: complex calculations/time, complex visual search, praxis, memory, and basic calculations/math concepts. Five items did not significantly load onto any of the factors. Conclusions Current results did not entirely correspond to the published subscales or prior results in a veteran sample. Further clarification of the TFLS factor structure is warranted.
Topological Dirac semi-metals: a dynamic platform for tunable optical metasurfaces (Conference Presentation)

Despite the significant advances made in the field of metamaterials and metasurfaces in recent years, many applications of such devices are hampered by the lack of active refractive index tuning. Here, we report on a new class of tunable quantum materials based on 3D topological Dirac semimetals with extremely high electrical and thermal refractive index tuning. Realized optical reflectivity data, performed on thin films of Cd3As2 over a broad range of frequencies demonstrate larger than traditional thermo-optic shifts in III-V semiconductors. Dynamic Fermi level tuning, instigated from the Pauli blocking in the linear Dirac cone, offers large and tunable absorption peak in the mid-infrared region. In contrast to recent efforts in 3D Dirac semimetals which are mostly focused on single crystal Cd3As2, our data based on MBE-grown Cd3As2 can galvanize newfound applications in the field of meta-optics and can enable several applications such as ultra-thin programmable optical devices, photodetectors, and on-chip directional antennas.
Three Avid Adolescent Male Writers' Experiences at a Residential Summer Writing Workshop

This study explored three purposefully-sampled avid adolescent male writers’ experiences at a residential summer writing workshop program. It investigated how the social context of the program influenced the writing of the focal students, the ways that they identified themselves as writers, and the risks that they took in their works. It also examined if the participants’ experiences at the program were influenced by their gender. The study used a cross-case analysis to explore in-common and unique themes in the students’ experiences. The findings address three themes: community, risk-taking, and the perceived influence of gender, indicating the participants experienced these themes in ways that were common in some ways, but also distinct based on the participants’ individual characteristics and the aspects of the Workshop each identified as most significant.
Relevance of Program Readiness on Nursing School Completion and Success on the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse

Abstract Within nursing education, attrition from nursing programs has been problematic and impacts completion rates and workforce supply. In this study, the researcher used an ex post facto design to determine if program readiness in the areas of reading, writing, and math had an impact on nursing program completion in a community college setting. The study identified that program readiness did statistically impact program completion. Completion rates among minorities and men showed no difference in completion when compared with Caucasian and female students. Students who completed the nursing program, regardless of program readiness, successfully passed the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) equally.
Potential of Fusilade, Poast and CGA 82725 for Control of Weedy Grasses in Woody Nursery Crops and Groundcovers

To assess crop safety, Fusilade (fluazifop-butyl), Poast (sethoxydim) and CGA 82725 (2-Propynyl 2-(4-([3,5-dichloro-2 pyridinyl] oxy) phenoxy) propanoate) were applied to nursery crops and groundco...
Concrete constitutive models for low velocity impact simulations

Abstract Concrete structures are commonly exposed to low velocity impact loads originating from windborne/waterborne debris, vehicle/vessel collision, and rock fall. For the performance assessment of concrete structures under such loads, several constitutive models have been developed to date. To compare the accuracy of the available models for practical applications, the current study evaluates four constitutive models, i.e., continuous surface cap model (CSCM), elasto-plastic damage cap (EPDC) model, Karagozian and Case concrete (KCC) model, and Winfrith concrete model. For this purpose, the constitutive models are first examined at the material level through single element simulations under basic stress paths, such as uniaxial compression and tension, as well as triaxial compression. A range of measures, such as post-peak softening, shear dilation, and confinement effect, are extracted and compared. The investigation is then extended to understand how the concrete constitutive models perform at the structure level. This is achieved by replicating drop hammer tests on reinforced concrete (RC) and concrete filled steel tube (CFST) beams. Investigation of these two structural categories provides a unique opportunity to further evaluate the accuracy of the concrete constitutive models in interaction with the most common reinforcement details. To achieve this goal, the impact responses of RC and CFST beams are compared with full-scale experimental test data. Upon understanding the capabilities of each constitutive model in predicting the structural behavior and damage, the most important modeling parameters are examined. The outcome of this study facilitates the selection and use of concrete constitutive models for the design and assessment of concrete structures subjected to various low velocity impact loads.
Distributional Part-of-Speech Tagging

This paper presents an algorithm for tagging words whose part-of-speech properties are unknown. Unlike previous work, the algorithm categorizes word tokens in context instead of word types. The algorithm is evaluated on the Brown Corpus.
Erratum: Author Correction: Sustained NF-κB-STAT3 signaling promotes resistance to Smac mimetics in Glioma stem-like cells but creates a vulnerability to EZH2 inhibition.

After publication of this article, the authors realized that the Supplementary Figure S5B had an error in it. Specifically, the labels for BIR and AXD1480 on the x-axis were in the wrong place. All text referring to the figure, including the legend, are correct and this does not impact the findings of the study. This error has not been corrected in the original version of the Article. An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Expanding Foresight Evaluation Capacity

The subject of evaluating foresight work has been around for almost as long as the professional practice itself has, but the field has done little to move closer to a systematic evaluation of its w...
Predictive multiscale modeling for Unidirectional Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers

Abstract This paper presents a predictive multiscale modeling scheme for Unidirectional (UD) Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRP). A bottom-up modeling procedure is discussed for predicting the performance of UD structures. UD material responses are computed from high fidelity Representative Volume Elements (RVEs). A data-driven Reduced Order Modeling approach compresses RVEs into Reduced Order Models so material responses can be computed in a concurrent fashion along with the structural level simulation. The approach presented in this paper is validated against experimental data and is believed to provide design guidance for future fiber reinforced polymers development.
Rapid Prediction of Chemical Ecotoxicity Through Genetic Algorithm Optimized Neural Network Models

Evaluating potential hazardous effects of chemicals on ecosystems has always been an important research topic which traditionally done by laboratory or field experiments. Experiment-based ecotoxici...
No current evidence for risk of vaccine-driven virulence evolution in SARS-CoV-2

Vaccines that reduce clinical severity but not infection or transmission could drive the evolution of increased rates of pathogen-inflicted damage, or virulence. Preliminary evidence suggests that COVID-19 vaccines might have such differential effects, conferring greater protection in the lower respiratory tract, where viral growth most impacts severity, than in the upper respiratory tract, where infection is chiefly determined. However, the evolution of increased virulence can only occur under certain conditions, which include the existence of a positive association between transmission and severity linked to viral genetic variation. Here, we review the current evidence for these conditions, which does not point to a risk of vaccine driven virulence evolution. An evo-epidemiological model also indicates that upper respiratory tract protection can minimize or negate selection for increased virulence should these conditions be met. Despite low apparent risks, SARS-CoV-2 virulence should be monitored, and transmission-limiting characteristics should be prioritized for second-wave vaccines.
Developmental exposure to domoic acid disrupts startle response behavior and circuitry

ABSTRACT Harmful algal blooms produce potent neurotoxins that accumulate in seafood and are hazardous to human health. Developmental exposure to the harmful algal bloom toxin, domoic acid (DomA), has behavioral consequences well into adulthood, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. To assess these, we exposed zebrafish embryos to DomA during the previously identified window of susceptibility (2 days post-fertilization) and used the well-known startle response circuit as a tool to identify specific neuronal components that are targeted by exposure to DomA. Exposure to DomA reduced the probability of eliciting a startle after auditory/vibrational or electrical stimuli and led to the dramatic reduction of one type of startle, short latency c-start (SLC) responses. Furthermore, DomA-exposed larvae had altered kinematics of both SLC and long latency c-start (LLC) startle responses, exhibiting shallower bend angles and slower maximal angular velocities. Using vital dye staining, immunolabelling, and live imaging of transgenic lines, we determined that while the sensory inputs were intact, the reticulospinal neurons required for SLC responses were absent in most DomA-exposed larvae. Furthermore, axon tracing revealed that DomA-treated larvae also showed significantly reduced primary motor neuron axon collaterals. Overall, these results show that developmental exposure to DomA leads to startle deficits by targeting specific subsets of neurons. These findings provide mechanistic insights into the neurodevelopmental effects of excess glutamatergic signaling caused by exposure to DomA. It further provides a model for using the startle response circuit to identify neuronal populations targeted by toxin or toxicant exposures. Summary statement We used the zebrafish startle response as a tool to identify sensory-motor deficits and the loss of specific neural populations after developmental exposure to the harmful algal bloom toxin domoic acid. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Molecular Markers of Biogenic and Oil-Derived Hydrocarbons in Deep-Sea Sediments Following the Deepwater Horizon Spill

Following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DWHOS), the formation of an unexpected and extended sedimentation event of oil-associated marine snow (MOSSFA: Marine Oil Snow Sedimentation and Flocculent Accumulation) demonstrated the importance of biology on the fate of contaminants in the oceans. We used a wide range of compound-specific data (aliphatics, hopanes, steranes, triaromatic steroids, polycyclic aromatics) to chemically characterize the MOSSFA event containing abundant and multiple hydrocarbon sources (e.g., oil residues and phytoplankton). Sediment samples were collected in 2010-2011 (ERMA-NRDA programs: Environmental Response Management Application - Natural Resource Damage Assessment) and 2018 (REDIRECT project: Resuspension, Redistribution and Deposition of Deepwater Horizon recalcitrant hydrocarbons to offshore depocenter) in the northern Gulf of Mexico to assess the role of biogenic and chemical processes on the fate of oil residues in sediments. The chemical data revealed the deposition of the different hydrocarbon mixtures observed in the water column during the DWHOS (e.g., oil slicks, submerged-plumes), defining the chemical signature of MOSSFA relative to where it originated in the water column and its fate in deep-sea sediments. MOSSFA from surface waters covered 90% of the deep-sea area studied and deposited 32% of the total oil residues observed deep-sea areas after the DWHOS while MOSSFA originated at depth from the submerged plumes covered only 9% of the deep-sea area studied and was responsible for 15% of the total deposition of oil residues. In contrast, MOSSFA originated at depth from the water column covered only 1% of the deep-sea area studied (mostly in close proximity of the DWH wellhead) but was responsible for 53% of the total deposition of oil residues observed after the spill in this area. This study describes, for the first time, a multi-chemical method for the identification of biogenic and oil-derived inputs to deep-sea sediments, critical for improving our understanding of carbon inputs and storage at depth in open ocean systems.
Detecting Deceptive Opinion Spam Using Human Computation

Websites that encourage consumers to research, rate, and review products online have become an increasingly important factor in purchase decisions. This increased importance has been accompanied by a growth in deceptive opinion spam - fraudulent reviews written with the intent to sound authentic and mislead consumers. In this study, we pool deceptive reviews solicited through crowdsourcing with actual reviews obtained from product review websites. We then explore several human- and machine-based assessment methods to spot deceptive opinion spam in our pooled review set. We find that the combination of human-based assessment methods with easily-obtained statistical information generated from the review text outperforms detection methods using human assessors alone.
A Discontinuous Spectral Element Method for the Level Set Equation

Level set methodology is crucially pertinent to tracking moving singular surfaces or thin fronts with steep gradients in the numerical solutions of partial differential equations governing complex flow fields. This methodology must be consistent with the basic solution technique for the partial differential equations. To this end, a discontinuous spectral element approach is developed for level set advection and reinitialization as these methods are becoming increasingly popular for the solution of the fluid dynamic problems. Example computations are provided, which demonstrate the high order accuracy of the method.
Plotting Suicide in George Sand’s Indiana and Marie d’Agoult’s Nélida

AbstractIt is ironic, given their contentious personal relationship, that George Sand and Marie d’Agoult should be so like-minded in their fiction. Their first novels, Indiana and Nelida, both offer poignant portrayals of the female condition and scathing criticisms of the marriage system that allowed young women to languish in loveless relationships with domineering men, not to mention a certain preoccupation with suicide. When one thinks of suicide in Indiana, it is Noun’s drowning or Ralph and Indiana’s aborted plunge into the waterfall that naturally come to mind. This study focuses instead on the heroine’s first brush with suicide. Reading it with a comparable scene in Nelida provides insights into how the two writers plot a path of resistance for their heroines. As it turns out, the drive to commit suicide can be viewed as a positive force — an attempt, to quote the father of contemporary suicidology, Edwin S. Shneidman, to seek a solution — propelling the heroines toward the self-actualization and ...
Diffusion in Disordered Media

We study the transport properties of a large system of interacting parti­cles moving on an integer lattice in the presence of a random field. This article contains a description of the problem, a survey of results, and an outline of our method. The results include variational formulas for the transport coefficients. The details of the proof of the hydrodynamic limit can be found in [15].
Life or death at block-level

A fundamental piece of information required in intelligent storage systems is the liveness of data. We formalize the notion of liveness within storage, and present two classes of techniques for making storage systems liveness-aware. In the explicit notification approach, we present robust techniques by which a file system can impart liveness information to storage through a "free block" command. In the implicit detection approach, we show that such information can be inferred by the storage system efficiently underneath a range of file systems, without changes to the storage interface. We demonstrate our techniques through a prototype implementation of a secure deleting disk. We find that while the explicit interface approach is desirable due to its simplicity, the implicit approach is easy to deploy and enables quick demonstration of new functionality, thus facilitating rapid migration to an explicit interface.
Inactivation of Phage MS2 by Iron-Aided Titanium Dioxide Photocatalysis.

Near-UV photocatalytic disinfection was accomplished in aqueous titanium dioxide suspensions. A level of inactivation of phage MS2 of 90% increased to 99.9% after 2 μM ferrous sulfate was added. Hydroxyl radical oxidation, with Fenton reaction enhancement, is suspected to be primarily responsible for the viral degradation observed.
The basic science of periprosthetic osteolysis.

Total joint replacement has been very successful and cost-effective in restoring function and mobility to millions of patients worldwide since its advent more than thirty years ago. With improvements in prophylaxis against infection, the fatigue strength of the components, and skeletal fixation, wear and its sequelae have become the primary limitation to joint replacement longevity1. Initially termed "cement disease,"2 osteolysis is believed to be a biological response not only to polymethylmethacrylate but also to a variety of particles that may originate at several locations around a joint replacement. These include the articulating surfaces, modular component interfaces, fixation surfaces, and devices used for adjuvant fixation3. Recent research has been directed at understanding the biological cascade of events that is initiated by particulate debris and results in periprosthetic bone loss. Clinically, periprosthetic osteolysis can lead to aseptic loosening of components, massive bone loss that renders revision surgery substantially more complex, and periprosthetic pathological fracture (Fig. 1). We present the current understanding of osteolysis with regard to the sources of wear, the morphology of wear particles, and the biological response to wear particles according to findings reported in cell-culture, tissue-explant, and animal studies. Fig. 1: Radiograph demonstrating extensive osteolysis in the proximal part of the femur in a patient with a cemented total hip replacement. The generation of particulate debris after total joint arthroplasty can occur as a result of two processes: wear and corrosion. Wear has been defined as the removal of material from the prosthesis in the form of debris4. The fundamental mechanisms of wear include adhesion, abrasion, and fatigue5. The mechanical conditions under which the prosthesis is functioning when wear occurs have been classified as modes of wear4. Mode 1 refers to the generation of wear debris that occurs with motion …
Carbon nanofiber multiplexed array and Wireless Instantaneous Neurotransmitter Concentration Sensor for simultaneous detection of dissolved oxygen and dopamine.

Purpose While the mechanism of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) remains poorly understood, previous studies have shown that it evokes release of neurochemicals and induces activation of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) blood oxygen level-dependent signal in distinct areas of the brain. Therefore, the main purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the capabilities of the Wireless Instantaneous Neurotransmitter Concentration Sensor system (WINCS) in conjunction with a carbon nanofiber (CNF) multiplexed array electrode as a powerful tool for elucidating the mechanism of DBS through the simultaneous detection of multiple bioactivemolecules.
Kinetic properties of pulmonary angiotensin-converting enzyme. Hydrolysis of hippurylglycylglycine.

Some of the kinetic properties of angiotensin-converting enzyme (peptidyl-dipeptide hydrolase, EC 3.4.15.1) purified from hog lung have been determined using hippurylglycylglycine as substrate. The effects of pH and ionic environment on enzyme activity are complex and interdependent. At 0.1 M NaCl, the pH-activity curve shows an abrupt decrease in V/Km as the pH rises from 6 to 6.5, implying that ionization of a group in the enzyme with a pK in this range aids in binding of the substrate. Chloride is required for enzyme activity; there are two phases in the effect of NaCl. At both pH 6 and 8, the first phase (up to 0.1 M NaCl) is activation. The second phase (above 0.1 M) at pH 6 is inhibition, while at pH 8 there is further activation which appears to be dependent upon ionic strength rather than a specific Cl− effect. Activation by cobalt and inhibition by EDTA are somewhat more effective at pH 6 than at pH 8. The nonapeptide inhibitor <Glu-Trp-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gln-Ile-Pro-Pro is nearly equipotent at both pH 6 and 8, but Arg-Pro-Pro is more inhibitory at pH 8 than at pH 6.
Computer-Based Multi-Media for Mathematics Learning

This article traces the various roles of the computer in mathematics learning. It begins with the computer's use for curricular enhancement through several modes of classroom usage. It ends with a description of the computer as a manager of a learning center, where it directs students through a sequence of learning experiences using appropriate media at each step.
Artificial Urinary Sphincter Infection: Causative Organisms in a Contemporary Series

Purpose: Traditionally Staphylococcus epidermidis has been the primary organism responsible for genitourinary prosthetic infection. However, the increasing prevalence of S. aureus infection poses a serious problem. We determined the organisms that produce artificial urinary sphincter infection in a contemporary series.Materials and Methods: A single-institution, retrospective study was performed examining men undergoing artificial urinary sphincter explantation surgery between January 1997 and January 2007. Patients with clinical signs of infection at surgery were selected for study.Results: Infection was noted in 23 patients, including 5 implanted at other institutions. The median age was 72 years (IQR 70–76). The median interval from artificial urinary sphincter implantation or revision to explantation was 110 days (IQR 38–199). Culture of the periprosthetic fluid at the time of explantation was positive in 20 of 23 patients. Gram-positive cocci were cultured from 13 patients, including S. aureus in 7, ...
Lecithin and Choline in Human Health and Disease

Choline is involved in methyl group metabolism and lipid transport and is a component of a number of important biological compounds including the membrane phospholipids lecithin, sphingomyelin, and plasmalogen; the neurotransmitter acetylcholine; and platelet activating factor. Although a required nutrient for several animal species, choline is not currently designated as essential for humans. However, recent clinical studies show it to be essential for normal liver function. Additionally, a large body of evidence from the fields of molecular and cell biology shows that certain phospholipids play a critical role in generating second messengers for cell membrane signal transduction. This process involves a cascade of reactions that translate an external cell stimulus such as a hormone or growth factor into a change in cell transport, metabolism, growth, function, or gene expression. Disruptions in phospholipid metabolism can interfere with this process and may underlie certain disease states such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease. These recent findings may be appropriate in the consideration of choline as an essential nutrient for humans.