cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recovery pattern of left ventricular dysfunction following radiofrequency ablation of incessant supraventricular tachycardia in infants and children

Objective—To assess recovery pattern of left ventricular function secondary to incessant tachycardia after radiofrequency ablation in a group of infants and children. Design and setting—A combined prospective and retrospective echocardiographic study carried out in a tertiary paediatric cardiac centre. Patients—Echocardiographic evaluation of left ventricular size and function in nine children with incessant tachycardia, before and after successful radiofrequency ablation. Age at ablation ranged from 2 months to 12.5 years (mean 4.1 years). Recovery of left ventricular function was analysed in relation to age at ablation (group I 18 months). Main outcome measure—Ventricular recovery pattern. Results—Seven of the nine children had left ventricular dysfunction; six of these also had left ventricular dilatation. All children with left ventricular dysfunction had normalisation of ejection fraction and fractional shortening; left ventricular dilatation also improved, but the improvement occurred after recovery of function. There was a shorter recovery time for left ventricular function in younger (group I) than in older children (group II) (mean (SD) 5.7 (7.2) months v 31.3 (5.2) (p < 0.002). Conclusions—Tachycardia induced cardiomyopathy is reversible following curative treatment with radiofrequency. Recovery of left ventricular systolic function precedes recovery of left ventricular dilatation. Time course to recovery is shorter in younger children. Keywords: radiofrequency ablation; left ventricular dysfunction; incessant tachycardia; echocardiography; children
Modeling Mesoscale Turbulence in the Barotropic Double-Gyre Circulation

Abstract This paper presents analytical and numerical results for a class of turbulence closure models called “alpha models,” in which Lagrangian averaging and turbulence closure assumptions modify the Eulerian nonlinearity. The alpha models are investigated in the setting of the barotropic, double-gyre circulation in an ocean basin. Two variants of the alpha models for the barotropic vorticity (BV) equation are found to produce the correct four-gyre configuration for the mean barotropic circulation in numerical simulations performed at a resolution 4 times as coarse as that required in a resolved BV model. These are the BV-α model and the BV-Leray-α model. However, at a resolution 8 times as coarse, only the BV-α model produces the proper four-gyre configuration. Thus, the combination of modified nonlinearity and viscous dissipation (the viscosity is the same in all of the runs) in the BV-α model is found to provide a promising approach to modeling the mean effects of unresolved mesoscale (subgrid scale)...
The elderly patient on dialysis: geriatric considerations

The burgeoning population of older dialysis patients presents opportunities to provide personalized care. The older dialysis population has a high burden of chronic health conditions, decrements in quality of life and a high risk of death. In order to address these challenges, this review will recommend routinely establishing prognosis through the use of prediction instruments and communicating these findings to older patients. The challenges to prognosis in adults with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) include the subjective nature of clinical judgment, application of appropriate prognostic tools and communication of findings to patients and caregivers. There are three reasons why we believe these conversations occur infrequently with the dialysis population. First, there have previously been no clinically practical instruments to identify individuals undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (HD) who are at highest risk for death. Second, nephrologists have not been trained to have conversations about prognosis and end-of-life care. Third, other than hospitalizations and accrual of new diagnoses, there are no natural milestone guidelines in place for patients supported by dialysis. The prognosis can be used in shared decision-making to establish goals of care, limits on dialysis support or parameters for withdrawal from dialysis. As older adults with ESRD benefit from kidney transplantation, prognosis can also be used to determine who should be referred for evaluation by a kidney transplant team. The use of prognosis in older adults may determine approaches to optimize well-being and personalize care among older adults ranging from hospice to kidney transplantation.
Os fugitivos e os mastins: em torno dos homens brutos de Cairu

BASED ON the work of Jose da Silva Lisboa, the Viscount of Cairu, this article discusses the imaginary place of the Other in civilization. The objective of the article is to inquire into and explore the distance that separates civilized people from barbarians. In the intermediate space between civilization and barbarity, social literature plots out the frontier where civilized discourse revives fantasies of regression and poetically evokes the horror of a return to the jungle. This is a long literary tradition which, in Brazil, has Euclides da Cunha as its master.
On stabilization of linear systems with limited information

We consider the problem of stabilizing a linear time-invariant system using sampled encoded measurements of its state or output. We derive a relationship between the number of values taken by the encoder and the norm of the transition matrix of the open-loop system over one sampling period, which guarantees that global asymptotic stabilization can be achieved. A coding scheme and a stabilizing control strategy are described explicitly.
Reconstructability of Epistatic Functions

Abstract Background: Reconstructability Analysis (RA) has been used to detect epistasis in genomic data; in that work, even the simplest RA models (variable-based models without loops) gave performance superior to two
Cadherin function in junctional complex rearrangement and posttranslational control of cadherin expression

The role of E-cadherin, a calcium-dependent adhesion protein, in organizing and maintaining epithelial junctions was examined in detail by expressing a fusion protein (GP2-Cad1) composed of the ext...
A comparison of power-efficient broadcast routing algorithms

Following the seminal work of Wieselthier et al. on power-efficient broadcast routing, a novel technique called embedded wireless multicast advantage (EWMA) was proposed to further reduce the total transmit power of a broadcast routing tree. In our previous work, we showed that when the network lifetime is defined as the time for the first node failure due to battery depletion, the total transmit power is not the only measure of power-efficiency. We proved that either maximum transmit power or link longevity plays a crucial role in extending the network lifetime. In this paper, we compare the performance of four known power-efficient algorithms (and their variants) not only in terms of the total transmit power but also in terms of other performance measures such as static network lifetime, total receive and interference power, and maximum and average hop count which have direct impacts on physical, link, and MAC layers and on end-to-end network delay.
Amino Acid Transporters: Roles for Nutrition and Signalling in Developing Tissues

Amino acids serve both to nourish and signal in cells and, consequently, so do their biomembrane transporters. Most amino acid transporters now appear to have been cloned, and virtually all of the cloned transporters are listed in solute carrier (SLC) tables for easy access online (http://www.bioparadigms.org/slc/menu.asp). It is more difficult to decide which transporters are expressed in a given tissue, and the tissue's transporter functions will likely continue to emerge long after all of the transporters have been identified. We illustrate these ongoing investigations of transporter identification and function for the first cell types to differentiate in the early embryo. Keywords: amino acid transport systems; blastocyst; trophoblasts; blastocyst inner cell mass; embryonic stem cells
Current and developing strategies for monitoring and reversing direct oral anticoagulants in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation

AbstractObjective: In light of the increasing clinical utilization of the direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) among patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, this review evaluates strategies for monitoring and reversing the anticoagulant effect of these agents. Methods: We summarize the data currently available for laboratory monitoring and reversal of DOACs. Relevant literature was identified using search terms pertaining to oral anticoagulants, reversal agents, and laboratory monitoring using Pubmed, clinicaltrials.gov, and abstracts from recent major cardiovascular meetings. Results: Significant user appeal for the DOACs stems from the reliable pharmacokinetics of these agents, which render routine laboratory monitoring unnecessary for general use, as well as lower rates of bleeding as compared to warfarin. However, readily available laboratory tests have not been clinically validated for use with these agents. The ability to measure the anticoagulant effect of a DOAC in selected situations (e.g. ...
New species of Cheumatopsyche (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) from North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Sulawesi Island has a high density of endemic animal species, including insects in the order Trichoptera. We describe the males of four new species of Cheumatopsyche (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) from North Sulawesi (Provinsi Sulawesi Utara), and provide a checklist of the Cheumatopsyche species from the Indonesian archipelago. Describing the aquatic insect fauna is an important step toward establishing biomonitoring protocols in Indonesia, which is experiencing rapid development and water pollution problems.
Photoinduced Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization with ppm-Level Cu Catalyst by Visible Light in Aqueous Media

Photoinduced ATRP was successfully performed in aqueous media. Polymerization of oligo(ethylene oxide) methyl ether methacrylate (OEOMA) in the presence of CuBr2 catalyst and tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine ligand when irradiated with visible light of 392 nm wavelength at 0.9 mW/cm2 intensity was well controlled. Linear semi-logarithmic kinetic plots and molecular weights increasing with conversion were observed. Polymers of OEOMA were synthesized with low dispersity (Mw/Mn = 1.12) using only 22 ppm of copper catalyst in the presence of excess bromide anions in highly diluted (90% v/v) aqueous media. The effects of copper concentration, salt, and targeted degrees of polymerization were investigated. The polymerization could be directly regulated by external stimulation, i.e., switching the irradiation on/off, with a good retention of chain-end functionality, as proved by clean chain extension of the OEOMA polymers. This new system could enable applications for controlled aqueous radical polymerization due to i...
Anarchism and the Politics of Exodus

One of the interesting elements of Max Stirner’s thought is the distinction he posits between revolution and insurrection. Revolution, he argues, is a political or social act of upending and transformation, while insurrection is the exodus of individuals from the status quo without a fixed plan for the future. He contends that such exodus would not only disrupt but also destroy the existing order. Since Stirner, this elusive yet intriguing idea of exodus has been a continuous source of inspiration for radical politics. In this paper, I attempt to contribute to the theorization of exodus inspired by the anarchist imagination. First, I look at how the conception of insurrection in anarchist thinkers, particularly Stirner but also Most, Blanqui, and Galleani, takes shape and acquires different and even contradictory connotations, delineating a problematic of exodus. I then analyze how these various meanings of insurrection influence contemporary practices of exodus, such as secession, emigration, defection, and the weaponization of life. I am particularly interested in making visible the threads that link classical anarchism with contemporary thinkers of autonomia, and insurrectionary and post-anarchist currents. Through this exploration, I make the argument that contemporary leftist politics must come to terms with the politics of exodus, both politically and theoretically, in order to develop a cogent, convincing, and popular agenda.
Understanding the use of social constructivist Moodle activities within the North Dakota University System

Online learning is becoming an increasingly important aspect of higher education. Concerns about the effectiveness of online courses have prompted education administrators to look at how different learning theories can best be used to increase student learning. Learning Management Systems (LMS) have become one of the dominant technologies for delivering online education, and the North Dakota University System (NDUS) uses one of the most popular of these LMSs, Moodle. NDUS Moodle is designed and utilizes activities that are based on a learning theory called social constructivism. This research studies the usage of these activities, perceived instructor effectiveness, and the use of alternate tools outside the NDUS Moodle environment by surveying instructors of online-only NDUS Moodle courses for spring 2012.
Persistence and Adaptation in Immunity: T Cells Balance the Extent and Thoroughness of Search.

Effective search strategies have evolved in many biological systems, including the immune system. T cells are key effectors of the immune response, required for clearance of pathogenic infection. T cell activation requires that T cells encounter antigen-bearing dendritic cells within lymph nodes, thus, T cell search patterns within lymph nodes may be a crucial determinant of how quickly a T cell immune response can be initiated. Previous work suggests that T cell motion in the lymph node is similar to a Brownian random walk, however, no detailed analysis has definitively shown whether T cell movement is consistent with Brownian motion. Here, we provide a precise description of T cell motility in lymph nodes and a computational model that demonstrates how motility impacts T cell search efficiency. We find that both Brownian and Levy walks fail to capture the complexity of T cell motion. Instead, T cell movement is better described as a correlated random walk with a heavy-tailed distribution of step lengths. Using computer simulations, we identify three distinct factors that contribute to increasing T cell search efficiency: 1) a lognormal distribution of step lengths, 2) motion that is directionally persistent over short time scales, and 3) heterogeneity in movement patterns. Furthermore, we show that T cells move differently in specific frequently visited locations that we call “hotspots” within lymph nodes, suggesting that T cells change their movement in response to the lymph node environment. Our results show that like foraging animals, T cells adapt to environmental cues, suggesting that adaption is a fundamental feature of biological search.
A Revision of the Nearctic Species of Sapintus (Coleoptera: Anthicidae)

The genus is redefined and the known Nearctic species described or redescribed. New species are S. caudatus, arizonicus , and lemniscatus . New synonymy listed is: S. pusillus (Laf.) (= festinans Csy., mollis Csy. and binominatus (Pic)), and S. fulvipes (Laf.) (= rusticus Csy. and colonus Csy.). Of the nine species recognized seven are distributed in the eastern half of the region, fulvipes (Laf.) extending to western Oregon. Two, corticalis (Lee.) and arizonicus sp. n., are confined to the Southwest.
A Bistable Electromagnetic Actuated Microvalve With Integrated Switching Mechanism

This paper presents a new design and fabrication method for a bistable electromagnetic actuated microvalve. The complete magnetically close structure has been designed by ANSYS 5.7 [1] and was fabricated in 7 masks steps. The fabrication processes were entirely done by surface micromachining and electroplating on a single wafer with the maximum fabrication temperature of 300 °C, providing potentially a CMOS compatible process. The microvalve has additional feature called integrated switching mechanism used to detect the position of the membrane under fully open or closed position. The fabrication steps for the microvalve are different from previous work; the hole is etched through the back of wafer after the whole valve structure been built on the top of wafer. This provides the flexibility to fabricate an actuator first before finally producing a microvalve.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Respiratory neuroplasticity following carotid body denervation: Central and peripheral adaptations

Historically, the role of the carotid bodies in ventilatory control has been understated, but the current view suggests that the carotid bodies (1) provide a tonic, facilitory input to the respiratory network, (2) serve as the major site of peripheral O2 chemoreception and minor contributor to CO2/H+ chemoreception, and (3) are required for ventilatory adaptation to high altitude. Each of these roles has been demonstrated in studies of ventilation in mammals after carotid body denervation. Following carotid body denervation, many of the compromised ventilatory “functions” show a time-dependent recovery plasticity that varies in the degree of recovery and time required for recovery. Respiratory plasticity following carotid body denervation is also dependent on species, with contributions from peripheral and central sites/mechanisms driving the respiratory plasticity. The purpose of this review is to provide a summary of the data pointing to peripheral and central mechanisms of plasticity following carotid body denervation. We speculate that after carotid body denervation there are altered excitatory and/or inhibitory neuromodulator mechanisms that contribute to the initial respiratory depression and the subsequent respiratory plasticity, and further suggest that the continued exploration of central effects of carotid body denervation might provide useful information regarding the capacity of the respiratory network for plasticity following neurologic injury in humans.
Key Issues and Topics in the Archaeology of the American Southwest and Northwestern Mexico

We review some of the most significant research trends as well as emerging issues in the archaeology of the American Southwest and Northwest Mexico. Among the many topics being studied that we could discuss, we have chosen to focus on engaged archaeology, “big data”, the research potential of museum collections, agriculture, social organization, regional connectivity, and culture history.
Removal of fecal coliforms by thermophilic anaerobic digestion processes.

Recent U.S. EPA regulations (40 CFR Section 503) specify maximum concentrations of pathogens and metals for Class A wastewater treatment plant sludges. The most common sludge process is mesophilic (35iC) digestion which stabilizes the solids, produces a combustible gas but does not create an effluent that meets the 503 Class A pathogen requirements. This investigation was conducted to determine whether anaerobic digestion processes incorporating a thermophilic stage could achieve 503 Class A pathogen levels. The research reported here was a bench-scale screening study meant to identify the most promising process alternatives for further investigation. Fecal Coliform (FC) concentrations were used to assess disinfection efficiency. Digesters were 30 L capacity fed semi-continuously in draw-fill mode. Digester startup was rapid to produce true thermophiles. Temperature staging and pH were assessed in 3 sets of experiments: Set 1 were one stage (“acid phase”), Set 2 were one stage (“acid + methane phases”) and Set 3 were two stage (“acid phase” then “methanogenic phase”). Feed was a 1:1 mixture of Thickened Waste Activated Sludge and Primary Sludge. The following anaerobic digestion configurations and operating parameters allowed the production of digested sludge with a mean FC concentration statistically less than 103 (the regulatory value for Class A sludge): thermophilic single stage acid phase at 52 and 62°C; thermophilic single stage acid + methane phase at 48°C, 52°C and 62°C; two-stage mesophilic acid phase followed by mesophilic methane phase; two stage mesophilic acid phase followed by thermophilic methane phase at 48°C, 52°C and 62°C. If the maximum digested FC concentration must be below 103 MPN/g TS then the following digester configurations and operating conditions will be compliant: two stage mesophilic acid phase followed by thermophilic methane phase at 52°C and 62°C.
Modeling Adversarial Learning as Nested Stackelberg Games

Many data mining applications potentially operate in an adversarial environment where adversaries adapt their behavior to evade detection. Typically adversaries alter data under their control to cause a large divergence of distribution between training and test data. Existing state-of-the-art adversarial learning techniques try to address this problem in which there is only a single type of adversary. In practice, a learner often has to face multiple types of adversaries that may employ different attack tactics. In this paper, we tackle the challenges of multiple types of adversaries with a nested Stackelberg game framework. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our framework with extensive empirical results on both synthetic and real data sets. Our results demonstrate that the nested game framework offers more reliable defense against multiple types of attackers.
WE-DE-207B-11: Implementation of Size-Specific 3D Beam Modulation Filters On a Dedicated Breast CT Platform Using Breast Immobilization

Purpose: To implement a 3D beam modulation filter (3D-BMF) in dedicated breast CT (bCT) and develop a method for conforming the patient’s breast to a pre-defined shape, optimizing the effects of the filter. This work expands on previous work reporting the methodology for designing a 3D-BMF that can spare unnecessary dose and improve signal equalization at the detector by preferentially filtering the beam in the thinner anterior and peripheral breast regions. Methods: Effective diameter profiles were measured for 219 segmented bCT images, grouped into volume quintiles, and averaged within each group to represent the range of breast sizes found clinically. These profiles were then used to generate five size-specific computational phantoms and fabricate five size-specific UHMW phantoms. Each computational phantom was utilized for designing a size-specific 3D-BMF using previously reported methods. Glandular dose values and projection images were simulated in MCNP6 with and without the 3DBMF using the system specifications of our prototype bCT scanner “Doheny”. Lastly, thermoplastic was molded around each of the five phantom sizes and used to produce a series of breast immobilizers for use in conforming the patient’s breast during bCT acquisition. Results: After incorporating the 3D-BMF, MC simulations estimated an 80% average reduction in the detector dynamic range requirements across all phantom sizes. The glandular dose was reduced on average 57% after normalizing by the number of quanta reaching the detector under the thickest region of the breast. Conclusion: A series of bCT-derived breast phantoms were used to design size-specific 3D-BMFs and breast immobilizers that can be used on the bCT platform to conform the patient’s breast and therefore optimally exploit the benefits of the 3D-BMF. Current efforts are focused on fabricating several prototype 3D-BMFs and performing phantom scans on Doheny for MC simulation validation and image quality analysis. Research reported in this paper was supported in part by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award R01CA181081. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institue of Health.
Abstract CT070: Biomarker and clinical response of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma to the MEK 1/2 inhibitor trametinib: A phase II neoadjuvant window of opportunity clinical trial

Purpose: Ras/MEK/ERK pathway activation is common in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC). To determine biomarker and clinical tumor response of MEK inhibition in patients with OCSCC, we performed a neoadjuvant window of opportunity trial in which the MEK inhibitor trametinib was administered before surgery (NCT01553851). Patients and Methods: Patients with untreated Stage II-IV OCSCC were scheduled to receive trametinib 2 mg/day orally for 7-14 days prior to surgery (last dose 24 hours before surgery). Tumor specimens from the primary site obtained before and after trametinib underwent immunohistochemistry staining for p-ERK1/2 (a marker of Ras/MEK/ERK activation) and CD44 (a protein upregulated by ERK activation), which represented the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints included comparison of changes in pre- and post-trametinib tumor measurement by clinical examination and in metabolic activity (SUVmax) by FDG-PET/CT (partial response: >25% reduction). Adverse events (AE) and surgical/wound complications were evaluated. Results: Of the 20 enrolled patients, 17 (85%) completed the study as planned. Three patients withdrew from the study due to AE, two (nausea; duodenal perforation) related to trametinib and one (constipation) related to narcotics. The most common drug-related AE was mild rash (9/20 patients, 45%). Nineteen patients (95%) underwent surgery and neck dissection with no unexpected surgical/wound complications. Fifteen patients (75%) were evaluable for the primary biomarker endpoint. 5 (25%) patients either had insufficient pre- or post-treatment biopsies or did not complete the trial. Reduction in p-ERK1/2 expression occurred in 7/15 evaluable patients (47%), whereas a reduction in CD44 occurred in 3/15 (20%). Reduction in tumor size (median 40%, range -74 to +17%) assessed by clinical examination was observed in 12/17 (71%) evaluable patients, and partial metabolic tumor response assessed by FDG-PET/CT was observed in 5/13 (38%) patients. Conclusions: Trametinib was safe to administer as a neoadjuvant treatment in patients with OCSCC and several patients displayed significant reduction in Ras/MEK/ERK pathway activation, and in clinical and metabolic tumor responses. Further exploration of trametinib response in OCSCC patients is warranted. Citation Format: Ravindra Uppaluri, Ashley Winkler, Tianxiang Lin, Jonathan Law, Bruce Haughey, Brian Nussenbaum, Randal Paniello, Jason Rich, Jason Diaz, Loren Michel, Tanya Wildes, Gavin Dunn, Dorina Kallogjeri, Paul Zolkind, Farrokh Dehdashti, Barry Siegel, Rebecca Chernock, James S. Lewis, Jay Piccirillo, Douglas Adkins. Biomarker and clinical response of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma to the MEK 1/2 inhibitor trametinib: A phase II neoadjuvant window of opportunity clinical trial. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr CT070.
Broadening Participation in the Life Sciences with Social–Psychological Interventions

Recent randomized controlled trials have documented the positive effects of social–psychological interventions in improving the performance and retention rates of traditionally underrepresented stu...
Localization of the Houdinisome (Ejection Proteins) inside the Bacteriophage P22 Virion by Bubblegram Imaging

ABSTRACT The P22 capsid is a T=7 icosahedrally symmetric protein shell with a portal protein dodecamer at one 5-fold vertex. Extending outwards from that vertex is a short tail, and putatively extending inwards is a 15-nm-long α-helical barrel formed by the C-terminal domains of portal protein subunits. In addition to the densely packed genome, the capsid contains three “ejection proteins” (E-proteins [gp7, gp16, and gp20]) destined to exit from the tightly sealed capsid during the process of DNA delivery into target cells. We estimated their copy numbers by quantitative SDS-PAGE as approximately 12 molecules per virion of gp16 and gp7 and 30 copies of gp20. To localize them, we used bubblegram imaging, an adaptation of cryo-electron microscopy in which gaseous bubbles induced in proteins by prolonged irradiation are used to map the proteins’ locations. We applied this technique to wild-type P22, a triple mutant lacking all three E-proteins, and three mutants each lacking one E-protein. We conclude that all three E-proteins are loosely clustered around the portal axis, in the region displaced radially inwards from the portal crown. The bubblegram data imply that approximately half of the α-helical barrel seen in the portal crystal structure is disordered in the mature virion, and parts of the disordered region present binding sites for E-proteins. Thus positioned, the E-proteins are strategically placed to pass down the shortened barrel and through the portal ring and the tail, as they exit from the capsid during an infection. IMPORTANCE While it has long been appreciated that capsids serve as delivery vehicles for viral genomes, there is now growing awareness that viruses also deliver proteins into their host cells. P22 has three such proteins (ejection proteins [E-proteins]), whose initial locations in the virion have remained unknown despite their copious amounts (total of 2.5 MDa). This study succeeded in localizing them by the novel technique of bubblegram imaging. The P22 E-proteins are seen to be distributed around the orifice of the portal barrel. Interestingly, this barrel, 15 nm long in a crystal structure, is only about half as long in situ: the remaining, disordered, portion appears to present binding sites for E-proteins. These observations document a spectacular example of a regulatory order-disorder transition in a supramolecular system and demonstrate the potential of bubblegram imaging to map the components of other viruses as well as cellular complexes.
Bulk ship fleet renewal and deployment under uncertainty: A multi-stage stochastic programming approach

Abstract Faced with simultaneous demand and charter cost uncertainty, an industrial shipping company must determine a suitable fleet size, mix, and deployment strategy to satisfy demand. It acquires vessels by time chartering and voyage chartering. Time chartered vessels are acquired for different durations, a decision made before stochastic parameters are known. Voyage charters are procured for a single voyage after uncertain parameters are realized. We introduce the first multi-stage stochastic programming model for the bulk ship fleet renewal problem and solve it in a rolling horizon fashion. Computational results indicate that our approach outperforms traditional methods relying on expected value forecasts.
El redescubrimiento inglés: América Central según los diarios piratas

This paper examines the epistemological shift that took place in England during the 17th Century and how it was reflected in piratical and buccaneer travel logs. It explores the practices of visualization and space in quest of knowledge, in the narrative of three privateers who crisscrossed the Central American isthmus: William Dampier, Lionel Wafer, and John Cockburn. --- Original in Spanish.
A importância dos dados para o jornalismo local

O analista digital, consultor, jornalista e pesquisador Damian Radcliffe e professor de Jornalismo na Universidade de Oregon, fellow do Tow Center para Jornalismo Digital na Universidade de Columbia, e Pesquisador Honorario na Escola de Jornalismo, Midia e Cultura da Universidade de Cardiff (Pais de Gales). Suas pesquisas se concentram no uso de midias sociais e tendencias mais amplas na midia local, na tecnologia, no negocio de midia e na inovacao jornalistica. Neste artigo, ele defende que o jornalismo de dados pode gerar grande impacto em nivel local, e embora esse tipo de comunicacao seja menos dominante do que em nivel nacional, existem diversos exemplos e oportunidades de boas praticas que devem ser observadas.
Beyond Europe: Commentary on Gordon Clark’s perspective on financial intermediation

ABSTRACTGordon Clark assesses the urban and regional infrastructure funding problems created by contemporary developments in the globalization of finance, proposing solutions for the European context. This commentary interrogates the appropriateness of Clark’s approach for the Global South. I suggest that Clark’s discussion of a global savings glut is embedded in a Euro-American, market-equilibrium-oriented conception of finance. I question the applicability of market-equilibrium thinking in general, and argue that it does not capture the uncertainties, barriers and instabilities associated with accessing finance in the Global South. I also question whether private-sector return-on-investment considerations can finance infrastructure that meets social justice priorities, arguing that it is thus important to assess critically alternative more-than-capitalist finance models for infrastructure provision such as China’s Belt and Road initiative.
The Story of Alderley: Living with the Edge

The great tensions in landscape studies have always been driven by question of scale. The study of places has provided evidence of their rich internal constitution, uniqueness, historical and ecolo...
Risk for thrombosis in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms was highest near the time of diagnosis.

Source Citation Hultcrantz M, Bjorkholm M, Dickman PW, et al. Risk for arterial and venous thrombosis in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms: a population-based cohort study. Ann Intern Med....
The role of vesicostomy in the management of anterior urethral valves in neonates and infants.

AbstractWe performed vesicostomy as the initial form of management in 2 male newborns and 1 infant with anterior urethral valves associated with proximal urethral diverticula and bilateral hydronephrosis. Prompt improvement in the degree of hydronephrosis was noted after vesicostomy in all 3 patients along with improvement in renal function in 2 who had presented with renal insufficiency. Subsequently, 2 patients have undergone vesicostomy closure and transurethral valve fulguration, and 1 also required ureteral reimplantation for persistent vesicoureteral reflux. The use of vesicostomy in the newborn period rather than transurethral fulguration prevented the potential complications of urethral stricture and inadequate valve resection that can occur owing to the small size of the neonatal urethra. Furthermore, a period of vesicostomy drainage before eventual ureteral reimplantation for severe vesicoureteral reflux obviated the need for ureteral tailoring.
Genetic and genomic approaches to the analysis of Leishmania virulence

Publisher Summary Trypanosomatid protozoans of the genus Leishmania are important parasites of humans. Leishmania are transmitted by the bite of phlebotomine sand flies. The chapter explains that within the sand fly, parasites undergo a number of developmental transitions essential for survival and subsequent transmission by the time of the next bite. These protozoans have an obligate digenetic life cycle, alternating between the flagellated promastigote form residing in the gut of the insect vector sand fly, and the intracellular amastigote stage residing within an active phagolysosome of vertebrate macrophages. A variety of genetic tools are introduced that now permit manipulation of the genome of trypanosomatids, including Leishmania, with a high degree of specificity. These methods constitute a powerful genetic toolkit, allowing experimenters to take genes identified by various routes and probe their function by both gain and loss of function strategies, as well as localization using a variety of tags such as the green fluorescent protein (GFP). This chapter discusses genetic approaches available for the study of Leishmania, from the perspective of studying parasite virulence throughout the infectious cycle.
The Development and Implementation of a Biomolecular Docking Exercise for the General Chemistry Laboratory

Abstract Computational chemistry has become a widely used tool in nearly all subdisciplines of chemistry. Therefore, it is essential that students be exposed to these techniques throughout the undergraduate curriculum. In this work, we present a biomacromolecular docking laboratory exercise aimed at introducing computational physical chemistry in the context of protein-ligand binding to first-semester freshmen introductory chemistry students. The exercise focuses on investigating the binding properties of persistent organic pollutants, in particular, bisphenol A and its metabolite bisphenol-A glucuronide to estrogen receptors. This report gives a description of the exercise, its goals, and the software tools that were used to implement the laboratory activities. Importantly, all aspects of the exercise can be accomplished using freely accessible software and web servers. The success of the exercise was assessed using pre- and posttesting of conceptual and factual content and Likert scale student attitudinal surveys.
Measuring Heat Transfer Coefficients for Microchannel Jet Impingement Using Time-domain Thermoreflectance

Jet impingement heat transfer has become well known for its capability to achieve high heat transfer coefficients (HTCs) on a heated surface, especially in the stagnation region. For this reason, jet impingement mechanisms have become popular topics in heat transfer research and microelectronics. This current study presents the findings of experiments that measure the HTCs on surfaces exposed to hot-spot heating and cooled using water jet impingement at Reynolds numbers up to 6432. The HTCs were found using time-domain thermoreflectance (TDTR) with a water jet on a fused silica (FS) glass substrate coated with a thin-film Hafnium-alloy (Hf). The HTC data are based on a local, micron-sized hot-spot region (generated by the TDTR pump laser) that is translated at different locations relative to the stagnation point. The study shows that at different microchannel regions (relative to the stagnation point) and for different Reynolds numbers for the jet that the TDTR method can detect changes in the HTC. Material is also presented to show how a third heating laser can be used to control and define the hot-spot region independently of the TDTR pump-probe laser, facilitating hot-spot heat fluxes up to 155 MW/m2 over hot-spot areas ranging between 0.0193 and 0.0246 mm2.
Heightened olfactory dysfunction and oral irritation among chronic smokers and heightened propylthiouracil (PROP) bitterness among menthol smokers.

Abstract Chronic cigarette smoking may influence chemosensory function, which in turn, may affect cigarette usage. Because menthol in cigarettes can attenuate nicotine bitterness, choice of menthol/nonmenthol cigarettes may be influenced by ability to perceive bitterness. We examined chemosensory function of chronic smokers, hypothesizing they would show altered function in comparison to non-smokers and by menthol cigarette preference. In laboratory-based measures, chronic smokers (N = 135; 84 menthol smokers) self-reported their chemosensory function and participated in smell (identification task with perceived intensity) and taste (quinine and NaCl intensity on tongue-tip and whole mouth) testing. A taste genetics probe (propylthiouracil (PROP) bitterness) also was assessed. Self-reported and measured chemosensory function were compared with nationally-representative 2013–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data generated with similar measures. The taste measures also were compared between smokers and age- and sex-matched non-smokers from a laboratory database. Frequencies of self-reported smell and taste alterations among smokers exceeded NHANES prevalence estimates for non-smokers. The rate of measured smell dysfunction also exceeded NHANES prevalence for hyposmia. Compared to non-smokers, smokers reported elevated tongue-tip and whole mouth intensities from 1 M NaCl, with no significant differences in whole mouth quinine or 0.32 M NaCl. Inconsistent with previous hypotheses, smokers were not more likely to report depressed PROP bitterness than non-smokers. However, as expected, menthol smokers reported greater PROP bitterness than non-menthol smokers. In conclusion, chemosensory alterations were more frequent among chronic smokers, including hyposmia and heightened intensity from NaCl at an oral-irritant concentration. PROP supertasters were most likely to prefer mentholated cigarettes.
Proceedings of the 4th conference on Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science

The papers in this volume were presented at the 4th Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science (ITCS 2013) conference, sponsored by the ACM Special Interest Group on Algorithms and Computation Theory (SIGACT). The conference was held in Berkeley, California, USA, January 9--12, 2013. The program committee consisted of Mark Braverman (Princeton University), Shuchi Chawla (University of Wisconsin), Julia Chuzhoy (TTI-Chicago), Yevgeniy Dodis (New York University), Andrew Drucker (MIT and IAS), Uriel Feige (Weizmann Institute), Ravi Kannan (Microsoft Research India), Robert Kleinberg (Chair, Cornell University), Eyal Kushilevitz (Technion), S. Muthukrishnan (Rutgers University), Ronitt Rubinfeld (MIT and Tel Aviv University), Atri Rudra (University at Buffalo), Adam Smith (Pennsylvania State University), Santosh Vempala (Georgia Tech), and Andrew Yao (Tsinghua University). The call for papers attracted 123 submissions worldwide. The program committee accepted 49 papers that cover a wide range of topics in theoretical computer science, including algorithms, complexity, cryptography, learning, data privacy, quantum computing, and relations between computing and the biological and social sciences. The program committee selected two papers for the Best Student Paper award: "Properties and Applications of Boolean Function Composition" by Avishay Tal, and "Time Hierarchies for Sampling Distributions" by Thomas Watson.
Entropic Response of Polarization Dynamics in Nonlinear Multimode Optical Systems

We show that the Hamiltonian “energy” of a nonlinear multimoded optical system involving two circular polarizations always flows from a hotter to a colder arrangement- as expected from the second law of thermodynamics. © 2019 The Author(s)
Use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and multispectral imagery for quantifying agricultural areas damaged by wild pigs

Abstract Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) cause extensive damage to agricultural crops, resulting in lost production and income. A major challenge associated with assessing damage to crops is locating and quantifying damaged areas within agricultural fields. We evaluated a novel method using multispectral high-resolution aerial imagery, collected from sensors mounted on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), and feature extraction techniques to detect and map areas of corn fields damaged by wild pigs in southern Missouri, USA. Damaged areas were extracted from ortho-mosaics using visible and near-infrared band combinations, an object-based classification approach, and hierarchical learning cycles. To validate estimates we also collected ground reference data immediately following flights. Overall accuracy of damage estimates to corn fields were similar among band combinations evaluated, ranging from 74% to 98% when using visible and near-infrared information, compared to 72%–94% with visible information alone. By including near-infrared with visible information, though, we found higher average kappa values (0.76) than with visible information (0.60) alone. We demonstrated that UAS are an appropriate platform for collecting high-resolution multispectral imagery of corn fields and that object-oriented classifiers can be effectively used to delineate areas damaged by wild pigs. The proposed approach outlines a new monitoring technique that can efficiently estimate damage to entire corn fields caused by wild pigs and also has potential to be applied to other crop types.
Molecular Signatures of Neuroinflammation Induced by αSynuclein Aggregates in Microglial Cells.

Alpha-synuclein aggregates (α-synAgg) are pathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease (PD) and other synucleinopathies that induce microglial activation and immune-mediated neurotoxicity, but the molecular mechanisms of α-synAgg-induced immune activation are poorly defined. We performed quantitative proteomics by mass spectrometry coupled with PCR, immunohistochemical and functional validations studies to define the molecular characteristics of alpha synuclein mediated microglial activation. In mouse microglia, α-synAgg induced robust pro-inflammatory activation (increased expression of 864 genes including Irg1, Ifit1 and Pyhin) and increased nuclear proteins involved in RNA synthesis, splicing and anti-viral defense mechanisms. Conversely, α-synAgg decreased expression several proteins (including Cdc123, Sod1 and Grn), which were predominantly cytosolic and involved in metabolic, proteosomal and lysosomal mechanisms. Pathway analyses and confirmatory in vitro studies suggested that α-synAgg partly mediates its effects via Stat3 activation. As predicted by our proteomic findings, we verified that α-synAgg induces mitochondrial dysfunction in microglia. 26 proteins differentially expressed by α-synAgg were also identified as PD risk genes in genome-wide association studies (upregulated: Brd2, Clk1, Siglec1; down-regulated: Memo1, Arhgap18, Fyn and Pgrn/Grn). We then validated progranulin (PGRN) as a lysosomal PD-associated protein that, relative to the vast upregulation of activated microglia, is decreased in nigral microglia in post-mortem PD brain compared to non-disease controls, congruent with our in vitro findings.Together, proteomics approach both reveals novel molecular insights into α-syn-mediated neuroinflammation in PD and other synucleinopathies.
Prevalence of Early- and Late-Season Pest Damage to Corn in Cover Crop-Based Reduced-Tillage Organic Systems

In organic agronomic cropping systems, the use of synthetic insecticides and transgenic varieties are prohibited and producers rely mainly on biological control, tillage, crop rotation, and other cultural practices to manage pests. We measured damage to organic corn (Zea mays L.) from multiple invertebrate pests, including slugs (Gastropoda: Mollusca), European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hubner), corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea Boddie), and fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda Smith), early and late in the growing season in four cropping systems that varied in tillage frequency and intensity and in winter cover crop species. Specific management tactics included two cover crop mixtures preceding corn, the use of a roller-crimper or tillage to terminate cover crops preceding corn, and the establishment of interseeded cover crops after corn emergence. Prevalence of early-season damage was high, but severity of damage was very low and unrelated to corn yield. The proportion of corn plants affected by chewing pests early in the season was lower in plots in which tillage compared to a roller-crimper was used to terminate cover crops. Cropping system did not affect the numbers of late-season caterpillar pests or corn yield. Predation by natural enemies appeared to effectively maintain damage from chewing pests below yield-damaging levels. These results support the inclusion of winter and interseeded cover crops in organic agronomic crop rotations to gain environmental benefits without increasing risks of damage by insect pests.
Facilitating Deep Learning and Professional Skills Attainment in the Classroom: The Value of a Model United Nations Course

What is the role of Model United Nations (MUN) in facilitating deep learning and professional skills attainment in the classroom? Using a 15-week MUN course, I gather data on student progress in fo...