cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Decreased Atherosclerosis in Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor Knockout Mice Transplanted With Abcg1−/− Bone Marrow

Objective— Recent studies indicate that the ATP-binding cassette transporter ABCG1 can promote cholesterol efflux from macrophages to high-density lipoprotein. This study was designed to assess the in vivo role of macrophage ABCG1 in atherosclerosis. Methods and Results— Bone marrow from Abcg1 −/− mice was transplanted into irradiated Ldlr −/− recipients, and atherosclerosis was evaluated by aortic root assay after 7 or 11 weeks of feeding on a Western diet. After 7 weeks, there was no difference in lesion area in mice receiving either wild-type or Abcg1 −/− bone marrow, whereas after 11 weeks, lesion area was moderately but significantly reduced in Abcg1 −/− recipients. ABCG1-deficient peritoneal macrophages showed induction of several liver X receptor target genes, such as Abca1 and Srebp1c , and a dramatic increase in apolipoprotein E (apoE) protein both in cell media and lysates, without parallel change in apoE mRNA. Abca1 knockdown prevented the increase in apoE secretion but had minimal effects on apoE accumulation in cell lysates of Abcg1 −/− macrophages. Plasma apoE levels were markedly increased in recipients of Abcg1 −/− bone marrow. Conclusions— These studies reveal an inverse relationship between Abcg1 expression and apoE accumulation and secretion in macrophages. The reduced atherosclerosis in recipients of Abcg1 -deficient bone marrow may be explained by induction of Abca1 and an associated increase in macrophage apoE secretion.
Electric-field-directed growth of aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes

Electric-field-directed growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes by chemical-vapor deposition is demonstrated. The field-alignment effect originates from the high polarizability of single-walled nanotubes. Large induced dipole moments lead to large aligning torques and forces on the nanotube, and prevent randomization of nanotube orientation by thermal fluctuations and gas flows. The results shall open up possibilities in directed growth of ordered molecular-wire architectures and networks on surfaces.
The buildup of oscillations in an electron beam backward-wave oscillator

The natural modes of oscillation of an electron beam backward-wave oscillator are determined when the dc beam current exceeds the start oscillation value. The initial time-rate of buildup of these oscillations and the space variations of the beam and circuit excitations before nonlinearities set in are given.
Emerging features of mRNA decay in bacteria

The problem of mRNA decay in E. coli has recently seen exciting progress, with the discoveries that key degradation enzymes are associated together in a high molecular weight degradosome and that polyadenylation promotes decay. Recent advances make it clear that mRNA decay in bacteria is far more interesting enzymatically than might have been predicted. In-depth study of specific mRNAs has revealed multiple pathways for degradation. Which pathway a given mRNA follows appears to depend in large part on the location of the initiating endonucleolytic cleavage within the mRNA. During the steps of mRNA decay, stable RNA structures pose formidable barriers to the 3' --> 5' exonucleases. However, polyadenylation is now emerging as a process that plays an important role in maintaining the momentum of exonucleolytic degradation by adding single-stranded extensions to the 3' ends of mRNAs and their decay intermediates, thereby facilitating further exonuclease digestion.
Defining a role and mechanism for IgCAM function in vertebrate axon guidance.

The past two decades of research on vertebrate neural adhesion molecules of the immunoglobulin superfamily class (IgCAMs) have produced an bewildering maze of molecules and potential binding activities (for review, see [Sonderegger 1998][1]). If one takes at equivalent face value the full range of
CONTROLS ON NITROGEN CYCLING IN TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS: A SYNTHETIC ANALYSIS OF LITERATURE DATA

Isotope pool dilution studies are increasingly reported in the soils and ecology literature as a means of measuring gross rates of nitrogen (N) mineralization, nitrification, and inorganic N assimilation in soils. We assembled data on soil characteristics and gross rates from 100 studies conducted in forest, shrubland, grassland, and agricultural systems to answer the following questions: What factors appear to be the major drivers for production and consumption of inorganic N as measured by isotope dilution studies? Do rates or the relationships between drivers and rates differ among ecosystem types? Across a wide range of ecosystems, gross N mineralization is positively correlated with microbial biomass and soil C and N concentrations, while soil C:N ratio exerts a negative effect on N mineralization only after adjusting for differences in soil C. Nitrification is a log-linear function of N mineralization, increasing rapidly at low mineralization rates but changing only slightly at high mineralization rates. In contrast, NH 4 1 assimilation by soil microbes increases nearly linearly over the full range of mineralization rates. As a result, nitrification is proportionately more important as a fate for NH4 1 at low mineralization rates than at high mineralization rates. Gross nitrification rates show no relationship to soil pH, with some of the fastest nitrification rates occurring below pH 5 in soils with high N mineralization rates. Differences in soil organic matter (SOM) composition and concentration among ecosystem types in- fluence the production and fate of mineralized N. Soil organic matter from grasslands appears to be inherently more productive of ammonium than SOM from wooded sites, and SOM from deciduous forests is more so than SOM in coniferous forests, but differences appear to result primarily from differing C:N ratios of organic matter. Because of the central importance of SOM characteristics and concentrations in regulating rates, soil organic matter depletion in agricultural systems appears to be an important determinant of gross process rates and the proportion of NH4 1 that is nitrified. Addition of 15 N appears to stimulate NH4 1 consumption more than NO3 2 consumption processes; however, the magnitude of the stim- ulation may provide useful information regarding the factors limiting microbial N trans- formations.
Three principles of Serendip : insight, chance, and discovery in qualitative research

This article discusses the role of serendipity in qualitative research. Drawing on ideas and methodological suggestions from a set of classic and recent fieldwork accounts, the authors examine conceptions of serendipity and the ways that these conceptions become embedded in the processes by which we incorporate and embrace the temporal, relational, and analytical aspects of serendipity. The authors reject the perspective that it is the divine roll of the dice that determines serendipity and argue that serendipity is the interactive outcome of unique and contingent “mixes” of insight coupled with chance. A wide range of attempts to make sense of serendipity in sociology and anthropology are provided as exemplars of how planned insights coupled with unplanned events can potentially yield meaningful and interesting discovery in qualitative research.
Chromatin-modifying enzymes as therapeutic targets--Part 1.

Background: Disease pathogenesis may result from genetic alterations and/or a more diverse group of epigenetic changes. While events such as DNA methylation are well established, there is significant interest in nucleosome remodeling, RNA interference and histone modifications, as mechanisms that underlie epigenetic effects. While genetic mutations are permanent, epigenetic changes can be transitory. The potential to reverse epigenetic changes has led to the development of therapeutic strategies targeting chromatin-modifying enzymes. Objective: To review the roles of chromatin-modifying enzymes in gene regulation and to highlight their potentials as therapeutic targets. Methods: This review is based on recently published literature and online resources. Results/conclusion: This paper focuses on enzymes responsible for histone acetylation, deacetylation, methylation and demethylation, and their potential as targets for epigenetic therapies. A subsequent paper will do the same for enzymes responsible for hi...
The Biggest Loser Thinks Long-Term: Recency as a Predictor of Success in Weight Management.

Only a minority of participants in behavioral weight management lose weight significantly. The ability to predict who is likely to benefit from weight management can improve the efficiency of obesity treatment. Identifying predictors of weight loss can also reveal potential ways to improve existing treatments. We propose a neuro-psychological model that is focused on recency: the reliance on recent information at the expense of time-distant information. Forty-four weight-management patients completed a decision-making task and their recency level was estimated by a mathematical model. Impulsivity and risk-taking were also measured for comparison. Weight loss was measured in the end of the 16-week intervention. Consistent with our hypothesis, successful dieters (n=12) had lower recency scores than unsuccessful ones (n=32; p=0.006). Successful and unsuccessful dieters were similar in their demographics, intelligence, risk taking, impulsivity, and delay of gratification. We conclude that dieters who process time-distant information in their decision making are more likely to lose weight than those who are high in recency. We argue that having low recency facilitates future-oriented thinking, and thereby contributes to behavior change treatment adherence. Our findings underline the importance of choosing the right treatment for every individual, and outline a way to improve weight-management processes for more patients.
What Do We Talk About When We Talk About Political Engagement? Clarifying Our Concepts and Proposing a Research Agenca

Political science and political scientists have grown a lot more interested in political engagement. However, it is not clear whether we are all interested in the same thing - political engagement, civic engagement, and even service-learning are often used interchangeably.A second problem is that service-learning and other experiential methods are often seen as the only way to increase political engagement in our students; however, there is no solid evidence that more traditional civics education is not effective. In this paper I: 1. Propose distinctive definitions that clarify the differences among political engagement, civic engagement, active learning, and service-learning. 2. Construct an inventory of techniques for building civic engagement, ranging from intensive experiential programs to traditional lectures on appropriate subject matter. 3. Summarize where we stand now in research on these various techniques, and propose future research directions to broaden and deepen our understanding.
Complex Selective Forces Shaping the Genes Underlying Human Diseases

Traditionally, genetic disorders have been classified as either monogenic or complex diseases. This nosology has greatly benefited genetic counseling and the development of gene mapping strategies. However, based on two well-established databases, we showed that 54 % (524 of 968) of the monogenic diseases genes were also involved in complex diseases. The genes underlying both monogenic and complex diseases were referred to as MC genes. Analyses of human polymorphic data, specie divergence data, copy number variation (CNV) data, gene expression data, and interaction network showed that MC genes are subject to both strong positive and strong purifying selections, simultaneously; while genes only underlying monogenic diseases and complex diseases were only subjected to strong purifying selection and strong positive selection, respectively.
Adaptive trust modeling in multi-agent systems: utilizing experience and reputation

Trust among individuals is essential for transactions. A human or software agent in need of resources may reduce transaction risk by modeling the trustworthiness of potential partners. Experience- and reputation-based trust models have unique advantages and disadvantages depending on environment factors, including availability of experience opportunities, trustee trustworthiness dynamics, reputation accuracy, and reputation cost. This research identifies how trusters may utilize both experience- and reputation-based trust modeling to achieve more accurate decision-making tools than using either modeling technique alone. The research produces: (1) the Adaptive Trust Modeling technique for combining experience- vs. reputation-based models to produce the most accurate aggregated model possible, (2) a quantitative analysis of the tradeoffs between experience- and reputation-based models to determine conditions under which each type of model is favorable, and (3) an Adaptive Cost Selection algorithm for assessing the value of trust information given acquisition costs. Experiments show that Adaptive Trust Modeling yields an aggregate trust model more accurate than either experience- or reputation-based modeling alone, and Adaptive Cost Selection acquires the optimal combination of trust information, maximizing a truster's transaction payoff while minimizing trust information costs. These tools enable humans and software agents to make effective trust-based decisions given dynamic system conditions.
Development of a Web-Based Decision Support Tool to Operationalize and Optimize Management of Hyperbilirubinemia in Preterm Infants.

Premie BiliRecs is a novel electronic clinical decision support tool for the management of hyperbilirubinemia in moderately preterm infants less than 35 weeks gestational age. It serves to operationalize and automate current expert consensus-based guidelines, and to aid in the generation of new practice-based evidence to inform future guidelines.
Time-Efficiency of Sorting Chironomidae Surface-Floating Pupal Exuviae Samples from Urban Trout Streams in Northeast Minnesota, USA

Collections of Chironomidae surface-floating pupal exuviae (SFPE) provide an effective means of assessing water quality in streams. Although not widely used in the United States, the technique is not new and has been shown to be more cost-efficient than traditional dip-net sampling techniques in organically enriched stream in an urban landscape. The intent of this research was to document the efficiency of sorting SFPE samples relative to dip-net samples in trout streams with catchments varying in amount of urbanization and differences in impervious surface. Samples of both SFPE and dip-nets were collected from 17 sample sites located on 12 trout streams in Duluth, MN, USA. We quantified time needed to sort subsamples of 100 macroinvertebrates from dip-net samples, and less than or greater than 100 chironomid exuviae from SFPE samples. For larger samples of SFPE, the time required to subsample up to 300 exuviae was also recorded. The average time to sort subsamples of 100 specimens was 22.5 minutes for SFPE samples, compared to 32.7 minutes for 100 macroinvertebrates in dip-net samples. Average time to sort up to 300 exuviae was 37.7 minutes. These results indicate that sorting SFPE samples is more time-efficient than traditional dip-net techniques in trout streams with varying catchment characteristics. doi: 10.5324/fn.v31i0.1380. Published online: 17 October 2012.
Assay of botulinum a toxin with goldfish.

SummaryA method has been established for the assay of botulinum A toxin in goldfish. When 10 fish are inoculated per dilution and the dilution interval is 10-fold, the end point distribution was found to have a standard deviation of about 0.24 log unit. The end points are strongly temperature dependent; they decrease about a hundred-fold for a temperature decrease of 15°C. The end point in fish at 37° has approximately the same value as that in mice.
Preludium: On Synchronicity

I begin with a ‘preludium’ rather than a ‘preface’ or ‘prologue’ as a gesture to William Blake’s same practice in his prophetic books and to evoke the term’s etymological richness, a provocative difference within its linguistic unconscious, in opposition to the latter terms.2 The term originates from the Latin prœlud-ere, a combination of prœ- (pre-) and ludere (to play); the direct translation, then, is ‘to play beforehand’ in something ‘as a prelude or preliminary action … to prepare the way before [and] to foreshadow’ (II: 2279). Yet a second connotation is equally important in regard to ‘purpose’ for the text that follows, where a prelude functions as ‘an introductory performance to some later action’ (II: 2279).3
Cystatin C and Cardiac Measures in Children and Adolescents With CKD.

Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is highly prevalent among children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Cystatin C is an established marker of kidney function and an emerging biomarker for CVD events. We quantified the relationship between cystatin C level and cardiac structure and function over time among children with CKD and assessed whether cystatin C level and diastolic function retained an association after accounting for kidney function. Study Design Prospective cohort study. Setting & Participants 678 children and adolescents with mild to moderate CKD enrolled in the CKD in Children (CKiD) Study with 1,228 echocardiographically obtained cardiac structure and function measurements. Predictor Serum cystatin C (mg/L) measured annually. Outcomes Cardiac structure (left ventricular mass index [g/m 2.7 ]) and cardiac function (shortening fraction; E/A, E′/A′, E/E′ ratios) measured every other year. Measurements Demographics and anthropometrics, measured glomerular filtration rate (mGFR), heart rate, blood pressure, hemoglobin z score, serum albumin level, and calcium-phosphorus product. Results Independent of time, each 1-mg/L increase in cystatin C level was independently associated with a concurrent 7.7% (95% CI, 5.3%-10.0%) increase in left ventricular mass index, a −4.7% (95% CI, −7.0% to −2.4%) change in E/A ratio, a −6.6% (95% CI, −9.0% to −4.2%) change in E′/A′ ratio, and a 2.5% (95% CI, 0.3%-4.7%) increase in E/E′ ratio. mGFR was also independently associated with E′/A′ ratio. When cystatin C level and mGFR were included in the same model, cystatin C level remained independently associated with E′/A′ ratio, whereas mGFR was not. Limitations 24% of the cohort was missing data for outcomes of interest or measurements; study population includes only children and adolescents with mild to moderate CKD. Conclusions In this study of children and adolescents with mild to moderate CKD, cystatin C level was independently associated with cardiac structure and diastolic function. Cystatin C level remained able to predict diastolic function decline via E′/A′ ratio even after adjusting for mGFR, suggesting that cystatin C level may have an independent role in CVD risk stratification among children and adolescents with CKD.
From Optimization to Mapping: An Evolutionary Algorithm for Protein Energy Landscapes

Stochastic search is often the only viable option to address complex optimization problems. Recently, evolutionary algorithms have been shown to handle challenging continuous optimization problems related to protein structure modeling. Building on recent work in our laboratories, we propose an evolutionary algorithm for efficiently mapping the multi-basin energy landscapes of dynamic proteins that switch between thermodynamically stable or semi-stable structural states to regulate their biological activity in the cell. The proposed algorithm balances computational resources between exploration and exploitation of the nonlinear, multimodal landscapes that characterize multi-state proteins via a novel combination of global and local search to generate a dynamically-updated, information-rich map of a protein's energy landscape. This new mapping-oriented EA is applied to several dynamic proteins and their disease-implicated variants to illustrate its ability to map complex energy landscapes in a computationally feasible manner. We further show that, given the availability of such maps, comparison between the maps of wildtype and variants of a protein allows for the formulation of a structural and thermodynamic basis for the impact of sequence mutations on dysfunction that may prove useful in guiding further wet-laboratory investigations of dysfunction and molecular interventions.
Lamb Wave Scattering from Rivets

For structures with large surface areas, a full integrity evaluation can be a time-consuming operation. Lamb wave techniques allow this evaluation to be performed with waves propagating along one dimension of the inspection area while the probing transducers are moved in the perpendicular dimension, giving information about the presence of flaws within the entire scanned area. For riveted structures the scattering of the Lamb waves from the rivets is often the dominant feature in the measured response, masking the more subtle effects of Lamb wave interactions with the flaws of interest [1]. In this paper we consider the scattering of lowest mode symmetric and antisymmetric Lamb waves from model rivets, and derive analytic expressions for the scattered fields. With solutions of this type the disruptive effects of the rivets can be “processed out” of measured data in order to expose the signals which are due to the flaws in the structure.
Publishing Single-Case Research Design Studies That Do Not Demonstrate Experimental Control:

Demonstration of experimental control is considered a hallmark of high-quality single-case research design (SCRD). Studies that fail to demonstrate experimental control may not be published because...
Thermal neutron scattering cross section of liquid FLiBe

Abstract The molten salt material Li2BeF4 (FLiBe) has been widely proposed as a moderator and coolant material in nuclear applications. Its usage and impact on neutron thermalization in the system requires accurate generation of FLiBe thermal neutron scattering libraries. In this work, liquid FLiBe is modeled using the classical molecular dynamics code LAMMPS. Experimental limits of liquid FLiBe properties are determined from reported databases. Predicted properties of FLiBe from molecular dynamics simulations including density, viscosity, and atomic species diffusivities are computed and compared to experimental data. To initiate the calculation of the thermal neutron scattering law, the velocity autocorrelation functions are calculated from molecular dynamics trajectories and subjected to Fourier transformation to obtain the density of states of possible excitations. Bound modes and diffusive modes of the density of states are separated to calculate the corresponding scattering law S b o u n d ( α , β ) and , S d i f f ( α , β ) respectively. Thermal neutron scattering cross section libraries of F, Li, Be in FLiBe are generated at temperatures of 873 K, 923 K and 973 K in ENDF/B VII.1 format.
A carrier-mediated transport for folate in basolateral membrane vesicles of rat small intestine.

The mechanism of exit of folate from the enterocyte, i.e. transport across the basolateral membrane, is not known. In this study we examined, using basolateral membrane vesicles, the transport of folic acid across the basolateral membrane of rat intestine. Uptake of folic acid by these vesicles represents transport of the substrate into the intravesicular compartment and not binding to the membrane surface. The rate of folic acid transport was linear for the first 1 min of incubation but decreased thereafter, reaching equilibrium after 5 min of incubation. The transport of folic acid was: (1) saturable as a function of concentration with an apparent Km of 0.6 +/- 0.17 microM and Vmax. of 1.01 +/- 0.11 pmol/30 s per mg of protein; (2) inhibited in a competitive manner by the structural analogues 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and methotrexate (Ki = 2 and 1.4 microM, respectively); (4) electroneutral; (5) Na+-independent; (6) sensitive to the effect of the anion exchange inhibitor 4,4'-di-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (DIDS). These data indicate the existence of a carrier-mediated transport system for folic acid in rat intestinal basolateral membrane and demonstrate that the transport process is electroneutral, Na+-independent and sensitive to the effect of anion exchange inhibition.
Phanerozoic Overview of Mass Extinction

Mass extinctions are episodes of accelerated extinction of variable magnitude that affect widespread taxa and cause at least temporary declines in their diversity. Although such episodes are often difficult to identify and characterize precisely in the fossil record, it is clear that they have been frequent throughout the history of complex life. In this paper, I briefly summarize 29 definite and potential events of mass extinction that can be recognized in a new compilation of data on fossil marine genera.
Magneto-Optical Rotation Spectrum of Semiconductors

A Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer was used as a broad-band source to obtain magneto-optical rotation (MOR) spectra of semiconductor materials. Carrier concentrations obtained from the MOR data showed good agreement with those obtained from conventional Hall measurements. This technique has been shown to be a powerful tool in the study of impurity and defect levels in semiconductors.
1–2: Austria, 1899–1931, Religion and Empire

Those within faith-based communities have a different perspective than outsiders: faith-in-Truth provides the centripedal counterpoint to evidence-influenced centrifugal tendencies Hayek described his religion—the need of an ‘un-understood’ moral tradition—as Mises’ conclusions put into a ‘more effective form.’ In both Austria and Britain, Hayek was committed to the Empires of the ‘old’ aristocracy and explained in (suppressed) oral history interviews that The Road to Serfdom was designed as an assault on the ‘new aristocracy’ of labour.
Differentiating True and False Schematic Memories in Older Adults

Objective While schemas aid memory for schematically related information, the gist induced by the schema can also lead to high rates of false memories, especially in older adults. The neural mechanisms that support and differentiate true and false memories in aging are not well understood. The current study sought to clarify this, using a novel scene paradigm to investigate the role of schemas on true and false memories in older adults. Methods Healthy older adults encoded schematic scenes (e.g., bathroom). At retrieval, participants were tested on their memory for both schematic and nonschematic targets and lures while functional magnetic resonance imaging data was collected. Results Results indicate that true memories were supported by the typical retrieval network, and activity in this network was greater for true than false memories. Schema specific retrieval was supported by medial prefrontal cortex, extending this common finding to aging. While no region differentiated false memories compared to correct rejections, results showed that individual differences in false memory rates were associated with variability in neural activity. Discussion The findings underscore the importance of elucidating the neural basis of cognition within older adults, as well as the specific contribution of individual differences to the neural basis of memory errors in aging.
Atherosclerosis in Cebus albifrons monkeys. [. Clinical and pathologic studies.

Abstract “Young and adult Cebus albifrons monkeys were fed either a control or an atherogenic diet for periods of up to 2 years. Some of the monkeys were necropsied at the end of 1 year. Coronary artery atherosclerosis was evaluated by determining the percentage of diseased arteries and the percentage apparent luminal stenosis in five-step cryostat sections from each of three blocks of ventricular myocardium. Arbitrary scores from 0 to 4 were made on gross stained carotid and renal arteries. Sudan IV and hematoxylin-stained cryostat sections were prepared from portions of basilar, middle cerebral, and posterior cerebral arteries. At 1 year serum cholesterol and age but not sex were related to the extent and prevalence of coronary artery disease. Atherosclerosis was slight in young test monkeys but relatively severe in adult test monkeys. Observations on the adult monkeys after 2 years were not much different from those made at 1 year. Young test female monkeys had five times as many coronary artery lesions as young test males after the 2-year period which was not true at 1 year. Single coronary artery lesions were found in one control adult male and one young control female. Carotid artery atherosclerosis was more prevalent among males than females. One adult control male had a small carotid artery lesion. One adult male test monkey had cutaneous and tendinous xanthomas. No lesion was found in the cerebral arteries of any animal. Sections of the tongue, uterus, kidney, and liver of the second-year test animals were examined for arterial lesions. Lesions, very similar to those of the small coronary arteries, were found in the intramuscular arteries of the tongues. Intrarenal arterial lesions were present in some of the cholesterol-fed monkeys of both age and sex groups. The group with the most pronounced coronary artery atherosclesosis, the adult test group, had the greatest frequency and magnitude of S-T segment deviation in the terminal electrocardiogram. One monkey of this group had discordant T waves in all leads.
Riboflavin Metabolism Variation among Clinical Isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae Results in Differential Activation of Mucosal-associated Invariant T Cells.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important bacterial pathogen that causes a range of noninvasive and invasive diseases. The mechanisms underlying variability in the ability of S. pneumoniae to transi...
Pericardial Effusions and Cardiac Tamponade

Description of the safest method to decompress a cardiac tamponade in emergency situations.
Critical Error 7 Following the Defaults of PowerPoint

On a regular basis, managers from the different national laboratories trek to Washington D.C. to present their work and to propose new research. During the early 1980s, many managers, including those from Sandia National Laboratories, where I was working, held a cavalier attitude about making presentation slides for these meetings. In fact, many Sandia managers prided themselves on waiting until the plane ride to begin creating their slides, which they wrote by hand. In effect, these managers considered themselves researchers, not artists, and therefore did not have time to worry about such trivialities as the design of presentation slides.
Injecting a woman's voice: Conservative women's organizations, gender consciousness, and the expression of women's policy preferences.

Scholars have argued that gender consciousness may be the important link between gender identity and the expression of political interests. Ultimately, however, these studies explain feminist political behavior and leave the impression that only feminist women articulate a “woman's perspective” on policy issues. In this article I demonstrate the coherence between gender identity and policy preferences for two national conservative women's organizations, the Concerned Women for America and the Independent Women's Forum. I show that conservative women are also gender conscious public-policy advocates. Using data gathered from organizational literature, participant observation, and in-depth interviews with organizational leaders, I show how conservative women have collectively organized as women and framed their policy goals in terms of women's interests. As such, I demonstrate a clear and profound link between gender identity and politicization among conservative women activists, suggesting the need to reconsider how we understand and define gender consciousness and women's policy activism.
Detecting Censorable Content on Sina Weibo: A Pilot Study

This study provides preliminary insights into the linguistic features that contribute to Internet censorship in mainland China. We collected a corpus of 344 censored and uncensored microblog posts that were published on Sina Weibo and built a Naive Bayes classifier based on the linguistic, topic-independent, features. The classifier achieves a 79.34% accuracy in predicting whether a blog post would be censored on Sina Weibo.
Pets and Relationships: How Animals Help Us Understand Ourselves and Our Connections With Others

Abstract This chapter explores how psychotherapists can incorporate companion animals into the psychotherapy process to better understand client relationships. Through careful assessment of the pet-owner dyad, psychotherapists may gain critical insight into clients’ interpersonal concerns and stressors. Additionally, psychotherapists can help clients gain insights into their intrapersonal beliefs, values, and conflicts, as well as interpersonal relationships and communication patterns. The subsequent sections of the chapter explore these therapeutic possibilities through the foundational lens of attachment theory and two specific clinical applications: family systems therapy and Gottman couple therapy. The latter two sections include practical applications to use with clients across therapeutic modalities.
Kant and the struggle against evil

Kant held that the moral vocation of the human species was to strive toward moral perfection. But in Religion within the Boundaries of Mere Reason, he at least entertained as part of the human cond...
Publications: Autumn 1832–Spring 1839

In 1832, Dirichlet completed two studies published in Crelle’s Journal. The first was prompted by Gauss’s expansion of the study of residues to complex numbers [Gauss 1832], and the second was the proof of Fermat’s Last Theorem for the case \(n=14\). These were followed by a total of seventeen publications appearing prior to the summer of 1839, of which twelve related to presentations given to the Akademie.
Design of a Climate Smart Farming System in East Africa

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, East Africa is plagued by food insecurity, a problem that increases as a result of anthropogenic changes to climate. In particular, droughts and floods destroy an entire season's harvest causing subsistence farmers and their families to struggle for food. In an attempt to mitigate the severe effects of climate change on these farmers and reduce food insecurity in East Africa, we have designed a small-scale aquaponic farming system that simultaneously grows fish and vegetables. This system uses significantly less water to grow crops than traditional farming and does not rely on external inputs of fertilizer, making it more resilient to severe droughts and floods, and reducing impacts on the climate. This paper describes the small-scale aquaponic system we designed for a women's collective in East Africa who help teach women in rural East Africa how to be resilient to climate change. During the 2017 - 2018 academic year, we designed and built the project in Santa Clara, California then deployed to Kampala, Uganda where we taught 4 women how to design and build the system. When we left Uganda, the project was working and since our return to California, the women have reproduced the system in Kenya. Subsequent communication with the women show promise of long term success with attention to power inputs in the future.
Chemistry of the Apollo 12 highland component

Eleven chemical highland groups are identified in Apollo 12 fragments and a range of petrographic types is found. Among the chemical groups, four are newly recognized; one group is a very high-K KREEP-La at 520X with a -Eu anomaly at 50X, and the other three have positive anomalies as follows (1) a poikilitic/granulitic rock with La at 130X, (2) anorthosite with La at 30X and Eu at 90X, and (3) anorthosite with La at 12X and Eu at 25X. The Apollo 12 highland suite is dominated by high-K Kreep and is similar to the Apollo 12 highland suite is dominated by hign-K Kreep and is similar to the Apollo 14 highland suite. The presence of high-K Kreep explains the relatively high LIL contents in the Apollo 12 soils. The plutonic suite data exhibit a trend in Eu anomaly versus longitude. Several parent magmas are suggested to explain the wide variety of plutonic and other highland suites observed at the Apollo 11 and 12 sites.
Simulation and design of plasmonic gold bowtie nanoantennas

Using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), an electric field can be manipulated to map biochemical reactions in real time. The goal of this lab study will impact bio-photonics, material science, and electrical engineering fields by providing methods of Raman signal enhancement. This work involves use of nanoantennas, a nanoscale antenna like structures used for sending and transmitting electromagnetic waves. This project will present the optimization steps within the nanoantenna’s design. The team used computer simulation technology (CST) studio to perform electromagnetic simulations by modeling various bowtie nanoantenna geometries to obtain an optimized structure based on varying gap distances, side lengths, and layer thicknesses. These findings are then used to optimize bowtie nanoantenna designs. The presented CST simulations display trends producing a model of an optimized design. The design parameters that were varied are the side lengths of the nanoantennas ranging from 80-110 nanometers (nm), the gap distances between the nanoantenna pairs ranging from 20-40 nm, and the gold thickness layer ranging from 15-45 nm. We have chosen to use fixed wavelength input for our model that matches our own Raman instrument, a Jobin Yvon BX41 Confocal Raman microscope, which is equipped with a 532 nm excitation source. Results are displayed in a maximum volts/meter (V/m) calculation which is shown numerically and on a 3D phase plot. Using this data, the optimized design was found and is used to aid in biochemical reaction detection. In a brief description of our final design from CST simulation our lab found a 90nm side dimension followed by a 20nm gap distance with a 15nm gold thickness was the most optimized design.
Diabetes induces IL-17A-Act1-FADD-dependent retinal endothelial cell death and capillary degeneration.

Abstract Purpose Diabetes leads to progressive complications such as diabetic retinopathy, which is the leading cause of blindness within the working-age population worldwide. Interleukin (IL)-17A is a cytokine that promotes and progresses diabetes. The objective of this study was to determine the role of IL-17A in retinal capillary degeneration, and to identify the mechanism that induces retinal endothelial cell death. These are clinically meaningful abnormalities that characterize early-stage non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Methods Retinal capillary degeneration was examined in vivo using the streptozotocin (STZ) diabetes murine model. Diabetic-hyperglycemia was sustained for an 8-month period in wild type (C57BL/6) and IL-17A−/− mice to elucidate the role of IL-17A in retinal capillary degeneration. Further, ex vivo studies were performed in retinal endothelial cells to identify the IL-17A-dependent mechanism that induces cell death. Results It was determined that diabetes-induced retinal capillary degeneration was significantly lower in IL-17A−/− mice. Further, retinal endothelial cell death occurred through an IL-17A/IL-17R ➔ Act1/FADD signaling cascade, which caused caspase-mediated apoptosis. Conclusion These are the first findings that establish a pathologic role for IL-17A in retinal capillary degeneration. Further, a novel IL-17A-dependent apoptotic mechanism was discovered, which identifies potential therapeutic targets for the early onset of diabetic retinopathy.
Stability and Robustness of Multivariable Model Reference Adaptive Control Schemes

ABSTRACT The design and analysis of model reference adaptive control schemes for both continuous and discrete time multivariable plants with additive and multiplicative unmodeled dynamics are presented in a unified framework. Issues such as plant and controller parametrizations, design of adaptive laws, stability, robustness and performance are clarified.
Bayesian Mapping-Based Autonomous Exploration and Patrol of 3D Structured Indoor Environments with Multiple Flying Robots

Mobile robots are frequently faced with mapping and exploring uncertain environments in surveillance, military, and convenience tasks. Often times, human teleoperation is either inconvenient or infeasible for these kinds missions. Furthermore, these tasks can be improved by cooperative multi-agent systems, where coordinating robotic efforts can be complicated and computationally-expensive. This paper presents a stochastic framework for autonomous exploration and patrol with multiple cooperating robots. The first contribution extends the authors’ prior work in single-robot exact occupancy grid mapping and autonomous exploration in a 2D environment to mapping and exploring in a 3D environment. The proposed 3D occupancy grid map is computed efficiently using an inverse sensor model that accounts for the sensor uncertainty, where we propose how several measurement sources may be fused together by considering depth readings individually. This approach is scalable to larger and more complex scenarios for real-time mapping. Furthermore, this paper shows how important aspects of a 3D map representing a structured environment are projected onto a 2D occupancy grid map, where an autonomous exploration algorithm is designed to select robotic motions that maximize map information gain. The mapping and exploration algorithms are demonstrated with an experiment where a quadrotor autonomously maps and explores an initially-uncertain environment. The second contribution is a novel approach to multi-vehicle cooperative patrol of environments based on map uncertainty. We propose a cooperative autonomous exploration algorithm, which applies a bidding-based framework to coordinate robotic efforts for improving occupancy grid map information gain. Since these exploration approaches are based on probabilistic knowledge about the map, the 3D occupancy grid map is systematically degraded over time to encourage the robots to revisit regions as time passes, thereby patrolling the environment. Furthermore, using a Bayesian framework and receding horizons, the algorithm is robust to dynamic obstacles within the mapping space. The efficacy of the proposed multi-vehicle cooperative patrol is illustrated with a simulation involving three robots patrolling a large floor plan with a non-cooperative person walking around the space.
Attempting to Predict the Proliferation of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems: A Statistical Analysis

Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS), while much-discussed in research throughout the academic and political realms, are often highly politicized, with people of every side of the argument claiming vastly different things about the capability, legality, and morality of these systems. This research seeks to dispel some of the uncertainty surrounding these weapons systems by compiling evidence from academics, philosophers, and military officials to create a holistic briefing. This accomplished, the research draws upon Stephen Meyer’s The Dynamics of Nuclear Proliferation to predict the proliferation of lethal autonomy by examining shared characteristics among the six states currently confirmed to be in possession of this technology. The research results in an algorithm with 64.5% explanatory power over the variation in possession of lethal autonomy, which can be used to predict with reasonable accuracy a given state’s likelihood to proliferate. The algorithm could serve organizations seeking to track proliferation by functioning as a mathematical flashlight to highlight key warning signs of imminent acquisition, thereby protecting against destabilizing shifts in the balance of power status quo.
Search-Based Design of Digital Non-Foster Antenna Match for High-Speed Low-Impedance Converters

Previous design procedures for low-frequency digital non-Foster circuits are most effective when high input impedance analog-to-digital converters are employed. However, these earlier design methods did not include the effects of potentially low impedances of high-frequency converters that may be required for antenna impedance matching. Therefore, we present a new search-based design procedure for digital non-Foster antennamatching circuits using low-impedance converters. An example of the new design method is presented, with simulation results showing effective impedance matching of a 10 MHz electrically-small antenna using a digital non-Foster circuit and a low-impedance converter.
Trends in Lipid, Lipoproteins, and Statin Use Among U.S. Adults: Impact of 2013 Cholesterol Guidelines

In 2013, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) transitioned their recommendations for lipid management from an approach focused on “titration to goal low-density lipid cholesterol (LDL-C) level” to a “risk-based approach” ([1][1]). Following the
Knowing as being: Psychology, limits to knowledge, and an ethics of solidarity:

Critical epistemological reflection facilitates disciplinary self-reflection, and yet the limitation of this practice needs to examined. This article explores the possibility of a praxis-oriented p...
Performance of pirimiphos-methyl based Indoor Residual Spraying on entomological parameters of malaria transmission in the pyrethroid resistance region of Koulikoro, Mali

Malaria vector control in Mali relies heavily on the use of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) in selected districts. As part of strengthening vector control strategies in Koulikoro district, the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) through the support from the US President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) has strategically driven the implementation of IRS, with the LLINs coverage also rising from 93.3% and 98.2%. Due to the increased reports of vector resistance to both pyrethroid and carbamates, there was a campaign for the use of pirimiphos-methyl, an organophosphate at Koulikoro between 2015 and 2016. In this study, the effect of IRS on malaria transmission was assessed, by comparing some key entomological indices between Koulikoro, where IRS was implemented and its neighboring district, Banamba that has never received IRS as vector control intervention. The study was conducted in two villages of each district (Koulikoro and Banamba). Pyrethrum spray catches and entry window trapping were used to collect mosquitoes on a monthly basis. WHO tube tests were carried out to assess mosquito susceptibility to insecticides. Mosquitoes were identified to species level by PCR and their infection to P. falciparum was detected by Enzyme Linked-Immuno-Sorbent Assay (ELISA). Of the 527 specimens identified, An. coluzzii was the most frequent species (95%) followed by An. gambiae (4%) and An. arabiensis (1%). Its density was rainfall dependent in the no-IRS area, and almost independent in the IRS area. The infection rate (IR) in the no-IRS area was 0.96%, while it was null in the IRS area. In the no-IRS area, the entomological inoculation rate (EIR) was 0.21 infective bites /person month with a peak in September. High resistance to pyrethroids and carbamates and susceptibility to organophosphates was observed at all sites. The introduction of pirimiphos-methyl based IRS for vector control resulted in a significant decrease in malaria transmission. An. gambiae s.l., the main malaria vector in the area, was resistant to pyrethroids and carbamates but remained susceptible to the organophosphate pirimiphos-methyl.