cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Single-molecule visualization of RecQ helicase reveals DNA melting, nucleation, and assembly are required for processive DNA unwinding.

DNA helicases are motor proteins that unwind double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) to reveal single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) needed for many biological processes. The RecQ helicase is involved in repairing damage caused by DNA breaks and stalled replication forks via homologous recombination. Here, the helicase activity of RecQ was visualized on single molecules of DNA using a fluorescent sensor that directly detects ssDNA. By monitoring the formation and progression of individual unwinding forks, we observed that both the frequency of initiation and the rate of unwinding are highly dependent on RecQ concentration. We establish that unwinding forks can initiate internally by melting dsDNA and can proceed in both directions at up to 40–60 bp/s. The findings suggest that initiation requires a RecQ dimer, and that continued processive unwinding of several kilobases involves multiple monomers at the DNA unwinding fork. We propose a distinctive model wherein RecQ melts dsDNA internally to initiate unwinding and subsequently assembles at the fork into a distribution of multimeric species, each encompassing a broad distribution of rates, to unwind DNA. These studies define the species that promote resection of DNA, proofreading of homologous pairing, and migration of Holliday junctions, and they suggest that various functional forms of RecQ can be assembled that unwind at rates tailored to the diverse biological functions of RecQ helicase.
Endothelial SK3 channel-associated Ca2+ microdomains modulate blood pressure

Activation of vascular endothelial small- (KCa2.3, SK3) or intermediate- (KCa3.1, IK1) conductance Ca(2+)-activated potassium channels induces vasorelaxation via an endothelium-derived hyperpolarization (EDH) pathway. Although the activation of SK3 and IK1 channels converges on EDH, their subcellular effects on signal transduction are different and not completely clear. In this study, a novel endothelium-specific SK3 knockout (SK3(-/-)) mouse model was utilized to specifically examine the contribution of SK3 channels to mesenteric artery vasorelaxation, endothelial Ca(2+) dynamics, and blood pressure. The absence of SK3 expression was confirmed using real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis. Functional studies showed impaired EDH-mediated vasorelaxation in SK3(-/-) small mesenteric arteries. Immunostaining results from SK3(-/-) vessels confirmed the absence of SK3 and further showed altered distribution of transient receptor potential channels, type 4 (TRPV4). Electrophysiological recordings showed a lack of SK3 channel activity, while TRPV4-IK1 channel coupling remained intact in SK3(-/-) endothelial cells. Moreover, Ca(2+) imaging studies in SK3(-/-) endothelium showed increased Ca(2+) transients with reduced amplitude and duration under basal conditions. Importantly, SK3(-/-) endothelium lacked a distinct type of Ca(2+) dynamic that is sensitive to TRPV4 activation. Blood pressure measurements showed that the SK3(-/-) mice were hypertensive, and the blood pressure increase was further enhanced during the 12-h dark cycle when animals are most active. Taken together, our results reveal a previously unappreciated SK3 signaling microdomain that modulates endothelial Ca(2+) dynamics, vascular tone, and blood pressure.
Ruminoreticular Characteristics of Mule Deer

The combined rumen–reticulum of 30 mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ), collected throughout 1962, was excised and examined. Several relationships between the rumen–reticulum and body weight are described and compared to published data for the domestic cow. The volume of the mule deer rumen–reticulum is about 10% of body weight, and rumen–reticulum contents and dry matter are about 7.4% and 1%, respectively, of body weight. The relatively small size of the deer rumen seems to have important physiological implications.
On Certain Species of Heterotextus

The genus Heterotextus was proposed by C. G. Lloyd l to include certain dacryomycetaceous fungi previously referred to Guepinia, but differing from typical members of that genus, as it has ordinarily been understood, in the possession of a firm cortical layer composed of swollen, bottle-shaped or subcylindrical cells arranged in a palisade layer and quite distinct from the loosely interwoven and highly gelatinized tissue composing the interior of the basidiocarp. The first species mentioned is H. flavus Lloyd, from Tasmania, described as new. Lloyd also transfers to his new genus Guepinia pezizaeformis Berk., G. monticola Tracy and Earle and G. occidentalis Lloyd. In the coniferous forests of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and Wyoming, one of the commonest fungi occurring on decorticated logs of Picea and Abies is a cupulate dacryomycetaceous form clearly belonging to Lloyd's genus. The attempt to name abundant collections in the herbarium of the State University of Iowa brought out the confusion existing in this group of species. The specimens were in part collected by myself in the Medicine Bow Mountains, Wyoming, in August, 1929; in part by Mr. R. W. Davidson of the United States Department of Agriculture, in Colorado, in June and July 1930. In 1905, Tracy and Earle2 described Guepinia alpina and G. monticola from the mountains of southwestern Colorado, where both were growing on the wood of Picea Engelmanni. According to the original descriptions the two species are very nearly alike. Both are said to be cup-shaped, short stipitate, of about the same size and with similar basidia and spores. It is true the descrip? tion says of alpina, " basidia . . . forking at base," and of monti? cola, "basidia forking near the upper end," but I interpret this LMyc. Notes 7: 1151. 1922. 1 Fungi. In Greene, Plantae Bakerianae 1: 23. 1901. 215 16
Seeking Clues for the Next Sakata

Sakata-sensei had more clues to work with than do his successors. The Large Hadron Collider may offer the clues that are needed for significant progress. One clue may arise from the unexpectedly large forward-backward asymmetry for top quarks; I discuss various related issues at the Tevatron and LHC. I also discuss how Hidden Valleys can cause new phenomena to be missed in standard searches for new physics at the LHC, and how this must be kept in mind as we head into 2012.
Computer design of antenna reflectors.

Performance of paraboloidal antenna reflectors is adversely influenced by surface distortions from a perfect paraboloid, which cause pathlength variations of the RF energy beam. The structural design objective for the surface backup structure is to minimize the rms pathlength deviations for gravity loading. Two design approaches are illustrated and applied to sample antenna structure designs. These are a sectional search method and a virtual work/Lagrange multiplier method. Both are shown to provide useful performance improvements. The second, however, appears to be more suited for application to design of large antenna structures.
Correlation effects in out-of-plane excitation-ionization collisions

We present theoretical three-dimensional fully differential cross sections (FDCSs) for electron-impact excitation-ionization of helium when the ionized electron is found outside of the scattering plane. Using our first Born approximation model, we examine the effects of electron correlation in the initial state and show that it significantly affects the shape of the out-of-plane FDCS.
Micro-chemo-mechanical system with micro channel manufactured by diffusion bonding

Diffusion bonding is used for micro-chemo-mechanical system with microchannel,the regions of microchannel do not directly transmit pressure,and result in leakage.A simple linear elastic model is used to calculate the stress between the lamina which has different span and thickness,and analyse combined appearance of microstructure.The results show when the lamina is bonded together,the stress should be more than 1MPa.The width of microchannel is limited,and which increased,when the thickness increased.
THE RESPONSE FORMULA AND CONTROLLABILITY & OBSERVABILITY OF THE GENERAL STATE-SPACE MODEL FOR A TWO-DIMENSIONAL LINEAR DISCRETE SYSTEM WITH VARYING COEFFICIENTS

In this paper, we consider the general state-space model for the two-dimensional linear discrete systems with varying coefficients. The general formula for response of such systems is derived. Necessary and sufficient conditions for local controllability and observability are. obtained. In addition, minimum energy problem is solved.
Liquid scintillation counting of C14O2 with phenethylamine

Abstract Phenethylamine has been found to be superior to the widely used “Hydroxide of Hyamine 10-X” as a compound to convert C 14 O 2 into a soluble form for liquid scintillation counting.
Metabolomics reveals differences between three daidzein metabolizing phenotypes in adults with cardiometabolic risk factors.

cope The soy isoflavone, daidzein, is metabolized by gut microbiota to O-desmethylangolensin (ODMA) and/or equol. Producing equol is postulated as a contributing factor for the beneficial effects of soy. Methods and results This randomized, controlled, cross-over design used an untargeted metabolomic approach to assess the metabolic profile of different daidzein metabolizers. Adults (n = 17) with cardiometabolic risk factors received soy nuts or control food for 4 weeks, separated by a 2-week washout. No significant differences were detected pre- and postintervention and between interventions. Examination of the ability to metabolize daidzein revealed three groups: ODMA only producers (n = 4), equol + ODMA producers (n = 8), and nonproducers (n = 5). Analysis of the serum metabolome revealed nonproducers could be distinguished from ODMA-only and equol + ODMA producers. Differences between these phenotypes were related to obesity and metabolic risk (methionine, asparagine, and trimethylamine) with equol + ODMA producers having lower concentrations, yet paradoxically higher pro-inflammatory cytokines. In urine, nonproducers clustered with ODMA producers and were distinct from equol + ODMA producers. Urinary metabolite profiles revealed significantly higher excretion of fumarate and 2-oxoglutarate, as well as pyroglutamate, alanine, and the gut microbial metabolite dimethylamine in equol + ODMA producers. Conclusion These results emphasize that the serum and urine metabolomes are distinct based on the ability to metabolize isoflavones.
Application of dGEMRIC to the Study of Hip Disorders

The dGEMRIC technique has been applied extensively to the study of hip disorders. It has shown to correlate with symptoms and severity of dysplasia in symptomatic acetabular dysplasia. It is useful in selecting appropriate hips for pelvic osteotomy treatment for hip dysplasia. The pattern of cartilage damage in dysplasia and impingement hips is different, where impingement seems to cause more focal damage, perhaps suggesting a variable role of direct mechanical damage vs. mechanically induced catabolism of cartilage in the two conditions. dGEMRIC appears to show cartilage damage before macroscopic change suggesting this technique may show recovery of cartilage in vivo with appropriate disease modifying treatment.
Verwendete Daten und Tools

Die Ausrichtung der vorliegenden Arbeit ist stark empirisch, daher gibt dieses Kapitel zu einem fruhen Zeitpunkt einen Uberblick uber die verwendeten Daten. Es wird gezeigt, wie die Untersuchungsraume abgegrenzt sind, auf welche Weise die Auswahl der Wirtschaftszweige vollzogen wird und welche Aggregate daraus gebildet werden. Ferner wird erlautert, welche Daten eine moglichst exakte Raummodellierung gewahrleisten.
The Battle Within: Benito Mussolini, the Reformists and the Great War

Benito Mussolini’s dedication to violence since his early youth has always struck historians, and violence characterized him as a theoretician and practitioner of revolutionary socialism. Nevertheless, while his violent streak as the founder of fascism has been well documented, his early career as a fierce opponent of a gradual, non-violent approach to socialism—its phases up to the outbreak of World War I and its impact—is less familiar but just as significant. In his struggle against the older and well-established reformist founders of the Italian Socialist Party (PSI) led by Filippo Turati may be found the key to Mussolini’s attitudes as a radical Socialist and of revolutionary socialism.1 If Mussolini’s radical socialism is to be understood, the documentation of the different phases of Mussolini’s strategy and action to gain control of the PSI up to the outbreak of World War I, and his expulsion from the Party must be examined.
The effect of salvage logging on surface fuel loads and fuel moisture in beetle-infested lodgepole pine forests

Abstract Widespread tree mortality from mountain pine beetle (MPB; Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) outbreaks has prompted forest management activities to reduce crown fire hazard in the Rocky Mountain region. However, little is known about how beetle-related salvage logging and biomass utilization options affect woody surface fuel loads and fuel moisture dynamics. We compared these attributes in salvage-logged lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm. Ex S. Wats.) stands harvested using either biomass removal (whole-tree harvest) or biomass retention (bole only harvest) prescriptions with untreated MPB-infested stands. Both prescriptions roughly doubled 1-h and 10-h fuel loads compared to untreated forest. Biomass retention left ten times more 1000-h fuels compared to biomass removal prescription (28 vs 3 Mg ha−1). Overall, the woody fuel load was more than twice as high with biomass retention compared to biomass removal (60 vs 25 Mg ha−1). Fuel moisture content was lower in salvage logged units compared to untreated forest plots, but it did not differ among the biomass prescriptions. Fine (10-h) and heavy (1000-h) fuels dried to a critical ignition threshold 3–8 weeks earlier in the two prescriptions, respectively, compared to the untreated forests. Salvage logging removes canopy fuels and crown fire hazard, but we found that depending on the amount of biomass retained it can both increase surface fuel load and decrease fuel moisture compared to untreated stands. In the coming years, snag fall will transfer crown to surface fuels in untreated beetle-killed stands adding coarse surface fuel loads surpassing those in treated stands.
Elimination of inter-discharge helium glow discharge cleaning with lithium evaporation in NSTX

Abstract Operation in the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) typically used either periodic boronization and inter-shot helium glow discharge cleaning (HeGDC), or inter-shot lithium evaporation without boronization, and initially with inter-shot HeGDC. To assess the viability of operation without HeGDC, dedicated experiments were conducted in which Li evaporation was used while systematically shrinking the HeGDC between shots from the standard 10 min to zero (10 → 6.5 → 4 → 0). Good shot reproducibility without HeGDC was achieved with lithium evaporations of 100 mg or higher; evaporations of 200–300 mg typically resulted in very low ELM frequency or ELM-free operation, reduced wall fueling, and improved energy confinement. The use of HeGDC before lithium evaporation modestly reduced D α in the outer scrape-off layer, but not at the strike point. Pedestal electron and ion temperature also improved modestly, suggesting that HeGDC prior to lithium evaporation is a useful tool for experiments that seek to maximize plasma performance.
Protein-Losing Enteropathy in Patients With Congenital Heart Disease

Abstract Background Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE), characterized by loss of proteins in the intestine, is a devastating complication in patients with congenital heart disease. The cause of PLE is unknown, but lymphatic involvement has been suspected. Objectives The authors evaluated the use of lymphangiographic imaging and liver lymphatic embolization as a treatment for PLE. Methods This was a single-center, retrospective review of imaging and interventions used in 8 consecutive patients with liver lymphatic embolization and congenital heart disease with elevated central venous pressure complicated by PLE. Results Liver lymphangiography was performed in 8 patients (5 males, 3 females; median age, 21 years), 7 of whom demonstrated leakage of liver lymph into the duodenum through abnormal hepatoduodenal lymphatic communications. This was confirmed by duodenoscopy with simultaneous injection of isosulfan blue dye into the liver lymphatics in 6 of 7 patients. Liver lymphatic embolization with ethiodized oil in 2 patients resulted in a temporary increase in albumin blood level and symptom improvement in 1 patient, but was complicated by duodenal bleeding in both patients. Of the remaining 6 patients, liver lymphatic embolization with n-butyl cyanoacrylate glue resulted in sustained improvement of the serum albumin level and symptoms in 3 patients, temporary improvement in 2 patients, and no change in 1 patient with median follow-up of 135 days (range, 84 to 1,005 days). Conclusions The authors demonstrated liver lymph leakage as a cause of PLE in patients with congenital heart disease and elevated central venous pressure. Lymphatic embolization led to improved albumin levels and relief of symptoms. Further experience with the technique is needed to determine long-term outcome of this procedure.
Evaluation of quality of life measures for wearable robotic therapy in individuals with neurological disability: A preliminary report

This abstract provides preliminary results about changes in quality of life following gait training with a lower limb wearable robotic exoskeleton. Quality of life is now commonly included as a secondary outcome in wearable robotic research, necessitating the use of quality of life measures that possess good psychometric characteristics. Thus, information is provided about available quality of life measures along with recommendations for selecting a measure for wearable robotic therapy research.
Preparation of Open Tubular Columns

For the preparation of open tubular columns, long tubing of various diameters is used. The characteristics of tubing suitable for constructing such columns for gas chromatography can be summarized as follows: (a) It should be possible to obtain the tubing in the proper dimensions (length, ID); (b) The inside diameter should be constant over the entire length of the tube; (c) The inside surface of the tubing should be uniform, without pores or fissures; (d) The material of the tubing should not react with the stationary phase or sample components, and should not exhibit significant secondary adsorption power to the sample components; (e) The tubing should permit the formation of a uniformly stable coating of the inside surface with the stationary phase; (f) The tubing should have sufficient mechanical strength for use in a gas chromatographic equipment.
Transformative Consciousness of Health Inequities: Oppression Is a Virus and Critical Consciousness Is the Antidote

Oppression has been identified as a fundamental cause of disease. Like a self-replicating virus, it infects systems from the biological to the political, contributing to personal (e.g., substance use, low self-esteem) and social (e.g., community violence, mass incarceration) dysfunction. Paulo Freire's critical consciousness (CC) is a philosophical, theoretical and practice-based framework that has been identified as an antidote to oppression. Critical consciousness constitutes an awareness of, and action against, institutional, historical, and systemic forces that limit or promote opportunities for certain groups. Although CC theory has been used to address inequity, very few scholars have attempted to conceptualize, operationalize and describe the development process of CC. In response to the conceptual inconsistencies widely noted in the CC literature, this paper presents a new construct, Transformative Consciousness (TC), composed of three domains: Awareness, Behavioral-Response, and Consequence, for each level of the socio-ecosystem. The staged process of TC development is also described. The theoretical framework of TC can be applied to various social issues, such as violence, mass incarceration, homelessness, HIV/STI infection, and substance use - all of which have tremendous implications for health and well-being as a human right. With further research, Transformative Consciousness may prove necessary to move persons in the direction of anti-oppressive, individual and collective action to overcome and dismantle oppression, creating a healthier and more just and liberated society.
Pathogenesis of Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemias

The most common cancer in children is acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a cancer of lymphocyte precursor cells (lymphoblasts). This leukemia often has recurrent large genetic mutations that predict patient outcome, allowing patients with poor outcome to be identified and treated with more intensive therapy. These large mutations have provided insight into mechanisms that cause leukemia and have helped identify specific proteins for targeted therapy. These mutations and their potential mechanisms and more recently discovered smaller mutations will be discussed in this article.
Months Two through Six

Once clients are fully oriented to the therapy and have made a commitment to continue, the next five months are designed to help them understand and make simple changes in their personalities. When exploring how the client functions, any topic of concern can serve as content. The emphasis is on exploring styles and limits of functioning; this allows clients to bring up anything they want to talk about and allows therapists to get across the idea that problems and symptoms often are the result of the ways that a client responds.
Negotiated Relational Identity: A Prelude to High Quality Work Relationships

Relational identities are the “nature of one’s role-relationship” and refer to “how role occupants enact their respective roles vis-a-vis each other” based on both role-based and person-based ident...
Use of botulinum toxin in Parkinson's disease

Botulinum toxin has emerged as an important therapeutic intervention within the realm of movement disorders, especially for focal and generalized dystonias. Botulinum toxin has additionally been used for a variety of symptoms associated with parkinsonism. In this review, we will specifically evaluate use of botulinum toxin in idiopathic Parkinson's disease. We will discuss symptoms including sialorrhea, limb, dystonia, tremor, dyskinesias, freezing of gait, camptocormia, pisa syndrome, urinary dysfunction, constipation, dysphagia, eyelid opening apraxia, and blepharospasm.
Titan Lakes Simulation System (TiLSS): A cryogenic experimental setup to simulate Titan's liquid hydrocarbon surfaces.

Titan’s hydrocarbon lakes play an important role in the chemistry, geomorphology, and climate of the satellite. Our knowledge of their composition relies mainly on thermodynamic modeling and assumptions based on Cassini Radar and VIMS (Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer) data. Several thermodynamic models have been used to calculate the composition of these lakes, and their results on even the major lake components (methane, ethane, propane, and nitrogen) exhibit large discrepancies. Recent Cassini radar observations revealed an echo from the lake’s bottom. A low loss factor of attenuation is needed within the lakes to interpret these observations, and it has been suggested that the lakes are dominated by methane. Cassini VIMS data obtained on the North Pole lakes at three-year intervals showed no detectable surface level change, which is consistent with ethane being their primary constituent. This additional discrepancy between thermodynamic models and Cassini data strongly shows the need for experimental measurements under realistic Titan conditions in order to better constrain the thermodynamic models. We designed and built a cryogenic experimental platform allowing the simulation of Titan’s lakes. This facility, named Titan Lakes Simulation System (TiLSS), produces liquid hydrocarbons in equilibrium with a gas phase mimicking Titan’s atmosphere. Samples of the condensed liquid are injected directly into a gas chromatograph allowing the direct measurement of its chemical components and their abundances. To test the overall operation of the system, a gas mixture of methane and ethane was condensed under 1.5 bar of nitrogen and analyzed. Results from this proof of concept test are in good agreement with experimental studies previously published.Titan’s hydrocarbon lakes play an important role in the chemistry, geomorphology, and climate of the satellite. Our knowledge of their composition relies mainly on thermodynamic modeling and assumptions based on Cassini Radar and VIMS (Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer) data. Several thermodynamic models have been used to calculate the composition of these lakes, and their results on even the major lake components (methane, ethane, propane, and nitrogen) exhibit large discrepancies. Recent Cassini radar observations revealed an echo from the lake’s bottom. A low loss factor of attenuation is needed within the lakes to interpret these observations, and it has been suggested that the lakes are dominated by methane. Cassini VIMS data obtained on the North Pole lakes at three-year intervals showed no detectable surface level change, which is consistent with ethane being their primary constituent. This additional discrepancy between thermodynamic models and Cassini data strongly shows the need for expe...
Assessing Shoulder Biomechanics of Healthy Elderly Individuals During Activities of Daily Living Using Inertial Measurement Units: High Maximum Elevation Is Achievable but Rarely Used.

Current shoulder clinical range of motion (ROM) assessments (e.g., goniometric ROM) may not adequately represent shoulder function beyond controlled clinical settings. Relative inertial measurement unit (IMU) motion quantifies ROM precisely and can be used outside of clinic settings capturing "real-world" shoulder function. A novel IMU-based shoulder elevation quantification method was developed via IMUs affixed to the sternum/humerus, respectively. This system was then compared to in-laboratory motion capture (MOCAP) during prescribed motions (flexion, abduction, scaption, and internal/external rotation). MOCAP/IMU elevation were equivalent during flexion (R2 = 0.96, μError = 1.7 deg), abduction (R2 = 0.96, μError = 2.9 deg), scaption (R2 = 0.98, μError = -0.3 deg), and internal/external rotation (R2 = 0.90, μError = 0.4 deg). When combined across movements, MOCAP/IMU elevation were equal (R2 = 0.98, μError = 1.4 deg). Following validation, the IMU-based system was deployed prospectively capturing continuous shoulder elevation in 10 healthy individuals (4 M, 69 ± 20 years) without shoulder pathology for seven consecutive days (13.5 ± 2.9 h/day). Elevation was calculated continuously daily and outcome metrics included percent spent in discrete ROM (e.g., 0-5 deg and 5-10 deg), repeated maximum elevation (i.e., >10 occurrences), and maximum/average elevation. Average elevation was 40 ± 6 deg. Maximum with >10 occurrences and maximum were on average 145-150 deg and 169 ± 8 deg, respectively. Subjects spent the vast majority of the day (97%) below 90 deg of elevation, with the most time spent in the 25-30 deg range (9.7%). This study demonstrates that individuals have the ability to achieve large ROMs but do not frequently do so. These results are consistent with the previously established lab-based measures. Moreover, they further inform how healthy individuals utilize their shoulders and may provide clinicians a reference for postsurgical ROM.
«Ceci n’est pas Vallejo», o «¿Quién no tiene su vestido azul?»: Vallejo y Magritte en traje de hombre

El poeta peruano Cesar Vallejo y el pintor belga Rene Magritte comparten querencias esteticas y vitales fundamentales, llevar al lector o el espectador por una serie de signos que chocan con el vacio aparente, el misterio, el surco prolifico. Una aracteristica compartida es la frecuencia del motivo de la ropa masculina burguesa, signo de identidad del que el poeta se va despojando y en el cual el pintor insiste para dar con pasmoso aplomo en el misterio. ABSTRACTThe Peruvian poet, Cesar Vallejo, and the Belgian painter, Rene Magritte share fundamental esthetic and vital lost homes, a yearning that takes the reader or viewer along a sequence of signs that crashes into an apparent emptiness, into mystery, the fertile furrow. One shared feature of their art is the frequent presence of male bourgeois clothing, identifying markers that the poet shucks off along the way, and the painter retains in order to approach, with amazing aplomb, mystery.Keywords: Vallejo, Magritte, poetics, breach, clothing.
Immutability Measure for Different Blockchain Structures

The main advantage of Blockchain technology is the immutability of data maintained by decentralized systems. Earlier studies introduce the probability of attackers succeeding in modifying legitimate data in the blocks. We propose “immutability measure”, a metric that indicates the degree of difficulty in modifying existing data in Blockchain. We propose different blockchain structures that can be more appropriate for different applications. There are several parameters that determine the difficulty of modifying data in Blockchain. We analyze the impact of each of these parameters on the immutability measure of various blockchain structures. We also study the required computational and electrical power as well as the time for a successful attack in various blockchain structures. We demonstrate that our proposed blockchain structures can exponentially improve the immutability measure with a nominal increase in computing resources.
Synthesis of Two-Dimensional Diamond From Graphene on Copper

We report, for the first-time pressure-less synthesis of 2D diamond thin film from graphene on a copper foil using cold wall CVD. Continuous hydrogenation of multilayer graphene on a copper substrate results in stable phase transition of graphene to optically visible diamond thin film on the copper foil. Characteristic sp3 C-C bond in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman characteristic diamond peak at 1332 cm-1 confirm the material as 2D diamond thin film.
The Chemistry and Biology of Cyclophostin, the Cyclipostins and Related Compounds

Cyclophostin, the cyclipostins and the salinipostins are structurally related cyclic enolphosphate natural products. This mini review describes their isolation, synthesis and biological activities. In addition, the synthesis and biological activities of monocyclic enolphosphate and mono and bicyclic enolphosphonate analogs are presented.
Reproductive Division of Labor in a Colony of Artificial Ants

We simulate an ant colony in which an ant’s genetics can determine behavioral, morphological and physiological differences between workers and queens. We show that depending on the benefits conferr...
Investors’ evaluation criteria in equity crowdfunding

Equity crowdfunding can provide significant resources to new ventures. However, it is not clear how crowd investors decide which ventures to invest in. Building on prior work on professional investors as well as theories in behavioral decision-making, we examine the weight non-professional crowd investors place on criteria related to a start-up’s management, business, and financials. Our conceptual discussion raises the possibility that crowd investors often lack the experience and training to assess complex and sometimes technical investment information, potentially leading them to place larger weight on factors that appear easy to evaluate and less weight on factors that are more difficult to evaluate. Studying over 200 campaigns on the platform Crowdcube, we find that fundraising success is most strongly related to attributes of the product or service, followed by selected aspects of the team, in particular, founders’ motivation and commitment. However, financial metrics disclosed in campaign descriptions do not predict funding success. We discuss implications for investors and entrepreneurs, as well as platform organizers and policy makers.
Retrospective analysis of diagnoses and outcomes of 45 cats with micturition disorders presenting as urinary incontinence.

BACKGROUND In contrast to dogs, the causes and outcomes of urinary incontinence (UI) in cats are largely unknown. OBJECTIVES To determine the causes, identify comorbid conditions, and assess outcomes of cats with micturition disorders presenting as UI. ANIMALS Forty-five cats with UI. METHODS Retrospective study. Medical records of cats presented from January 2006 to December 2017 were searched using 45 keywords related to UI. History, presenting complaint, and physical examination findings were used to confirm a diagnosis. Cases were categorized based on functional and anatomic localizations. RESULTS Forty-five cats met inclusion criteria. Spinal cord disease was the most common cause of UI (n = 18), followed by urethral (n = 17), bladder (n = 9), and ureteral (n = 1) disorders. Proportions of voiding and storage phase disorders were similar (53% and 47%, respectively). However, voiding-phase disorders were observed more frequently in males and younger-aged cats (P < .03). Urinary tract infection was detected in 11 of 28 (39%) cats. Outcomes were available in 38/45 cases; 16 cats (42%) regained continence, 3 (8%) improved with treatment, and 19 (50%) remained incontinent or were euthanized. Multiple variable logistic regressions indicated that spinal cord disease was significantly more likely to be associated with poor outcomes compared to bladder or urethral disorders (P < .04). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE Urinary incontinence in cats was associated with a variety of congenital and acquired disorders that affected both phases of micturition with similar frequency. Incontinent cats with spinal cord disorders were common and warrant a more guarded prognosis than do cats with bladder or urethral disorders.
Extracting clinical concepts from user queries.

Clinical concept extraction often begins with clinical Named Entity Recognition (NER). Often trained on annotated clinical notes, clinical NER models tend to struggle with tagging clinical entities in user queries because of the structural differences between clinical notes and user queries. User queries, unlike clinical notes, are often ungrammatical and incoherent. In many cases, user queries are compounded of multiple clinical entities, without comma or conjunction words separating them. By using as dataset a mixture of annotated clinical notes and synthesized user queries, we adapt a clinical NER model based on the BiLSTM-CRF architecture for tagging clinical entities in user queries. Our contribution are the following: 1) We found that when trained on a mixture of synthesized user queries and clinical notes, the NER model performs better on both user queries and clinical notes. 2) We provide an end-to-end and easy-to-implement framework for clinical concept extraction from user queries.
A dynamic model of RuBP-regeneration limited photosynthesis accounting for photoinhibition, heat and water stress

Abstract Plant physiological responses to stress and subsequent damage have not been successfully integrated into leaf, plant or land surface models. Water deficit leads to a series of plant responses: stomatal closure decreases evaporative cooling leading to higher leaf temperature, which it can affect photosynthetic dissipation of absorbed energy, especially under high irradiance. Excess absorbed energy by PSII results in photoinhibition, which is not typically included when modeling photosynthesis using the Farquhar-von Caemmerer-Berry (FvCB) model. We introduce a novel approach to represent plant-atmosphere interactions: a non-steady state model of photoinhibition linked to the RuBP-regeneration component of the FvCB model that accounts for the interactions between high temperature, irradiance, and water deficits. Gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence dynamics showed that, under severe water stress, the maximum quantum efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) quickly decreases, and it takes days to recover. We found a clear relationship between maximum electron transport rate and Fv/Fm and that short-term acclimation to irradiance affected photosynthetic FvCB model parameters. Fv/Fm functioned well as a coupling variable, able to scale RuBP-regeneration limited photosynthesis parameters proportional to photoinhibition. These results indicate that plant stress, photo-inhibitory damage, and recovery can be explicitly represented when modeling photosynthesis.
Case 4: Fever, Rash, and Pneumonia in a 6-year-old Boy

1. Margaret G. Taylor, MD* 2. Debra L. Palazzi, MD, MEd* 1. *Department of Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases Section, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX A 6-year-old boy with no chronic medical problems or recent illnesses presents to the emergency department with 6 days of fever (up to 105°F [40.6°C]), abdominal pain, and severe myalgia. He denies sore throat, nasal congestion, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash. There are no known sick contacts, and he has not traveled. He has had exposure to stray kittens outside his rural home in southeast Texas. On physical examination he is febrile to 101.9°F (38.8°C) and ill-appearing. He has red lips, shotty bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy, and diffuse tenderness to palpation of the abdomen and bilateral lower extremities. He has full range of motion and no swelling, erythema, or warmth over his extremities but does not walk due to pain. Laboratory values include a white blood cell count of 6,000/μL (6×109/L) with 57% bands, hemoglobin level of 11 g/dL (110 g/L), and platelet count of 137×103/μL (137×109/L). His C-reactive protein level is 6 mg/dL (60 mg/L), and his alanine and aspartate aminotransferase levels are 38 and 62 U/L (0.63 and 1.04 μkat/L), respectively. His creatine kinase level is 89 U/L (1.49 μkat/L), and his serum …
Social Capital, Social Cost, and Relational Culture in Three Societies:

Does who you know in the status hierarchy satisfy or dissatisfy your life? Does that effect vary by culture and society? To addresses these two questions, this study applies four theories and analy...
Reconciling Rigor and Intuition

Criteria of acceptability for mathematical proofs are field-dependent. In topology, though not in most other domains, it is sometimes acceptable to appeal to visual intuition to support inferential steps. In previous work (De Toffoli and Giardino in Erkenntnis 79(3):829–842, 2014; Lolli, Panza, Venturi (eds) From logic to practice, Springer, Berlin, 2015; Larvor (ed) Mathematical cultures, Springer, Berlin, 2016) my co-author and I aimed at spelling out how topological proofs work on their own terms, without appealing to formal proofs which might be associated with them. In this article, I address two criticisms that have been raised in Tatton-Brown (Erkenntnis, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10670-019-00180-92019 ) against our approach: (1) that it leads to a form of relativism according to which validity is equated with social agreement and (2) that it implies an antiformalizability thesis according to which it is not the case that all rigorous mathematical proofs can be formalized. I reject both criticisms and suggest that our previous case studies provide insight into the plausibility of two related but quite different theses.
The guided-mode resonance biosensor: Principles, models, and applications

We address the physical principles, design models and methods, and applications of the guided-mode resonance senor. This sensor modality is effective and economic in a host of practical sensing scenarios. We present diverse GMR sensor embodiments, their spectral signatures, and sensing performance.
The Effects of Native Language on Block-Based Programming Introduction: A Work in Progress with Hispanic Population

Computer Science (CS) is an English-centric discipline which still needs to explore how cultural factors such as learners' native language may impact the understanding of CS concepts. We evaluated adult participants with no prior coding experience performing tasks in a conventional block-based programming platform: Scratch. We collected data from these interactions and compared between Native-English speakers, and Hispanic speakers who knew English as a Second Language (ESL). Our findings suggest that learners” native language may not impact their ability to come to a proper solution, but it does affect how they interact with block-based environments, when their native language is inconsistent with the language featured in the tool. This pilot study invites the Computer Science Education (CS ED) community to explore how to effectively reach Hispanic and non-English speaking communities, impacting the community outreach in other regions.
Solutions of Problems: Limits

In this chapter, the problems of the third chapter are fully solved, in detail, step-by-step, and with different methods. The subjects include limits by direct substitution, limits by factoring, limits by rationalization, limits at infinity, trigonometric limits, limits of absolute value functions, limits involving Euler’s number, limits by L’Hopital’s rule, application of Taylor series in limits, and limits and continuity.
The Value of Brand Fans during a Crisis: Exploring the Roles of Response Strategy, Source, and Brand Identification:

Using a two (crisis response strategy: diminish vs. rebuild) × three (source: brand organization vs. brand executive vs. brand fan) experimental design, this study examines how brand fans (i.e., co...
Strongly Non-Zeno Event-Triggered Wireless Clock Synchronization

Abstract Agreeing on a common time is essential to many coordinated tasks in wireless networks, but this is difficult to accomplish when each agent only has access to a local hardware clock. Therefore, clock synchronization is essential in order to carry out many of these coordinated tasks. While there are numerous existing algorithms for clock synchronization, many result in disruptive discontinuous virtual clocks, and most rely on regular communication, which does not scale with large systems. Instead, this paper presents a novel clock synchronization algorithm, which allows for a continuous virtual clock, with a dynamic event-triggered communication strategy which is strongly non-Zeno because it guarantees a designable positive time between communication instances.
Comparison of slot-scanning standing, supine, and fulcrum radiographs for assessment of curve flexibility in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a pilot study

With the goal of reducing radiation dosing for patients, we sought to compare the results of slot-scanning (EOS) standing flexibility radiographs to supine bending and fulcrum radiographs for surgical planning in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). We hypothesized that slot-scanning standing bending radiographs provide similar mean curve flexibility as supine bending and fulcrum radiographs. This is a retrospective review of 224 AIS patients with concomitant upright standing and flexibility images. Curve flexibility, defined the percent change in Cobb angle from standing upright to flexibility images, was used to compare the results of slot-scanning standing, supine and fulcrum radiographs. Statistical analysis utilized ANOVA one-way tests and two-sample t tests to detail differences as indicated. A total of 256 imaging studies were included, 75 slot-scanning standing, 112 supine, and 69 fulcrum radiographs. Fulcrum images only investigated thoracic curves and were, therefore, excluded from proximal thoracic and lumbar flexibility comparisons. Relevant mean standing curve magnitudes were similar between the groups with some variance in thoracic curves between fulcrum and supine image series (p = 0.003). There was no statistical difference in curve flexibility for proximal thoracic curves (p = 0.389) and lumbar curves (p = 0.798). However, for thoracic curves, slot-scanning standing images result in less measured curve flexibility compared to supine (p = 1.00e−7) and fulcrum images (p = 2.84e−18). Furthermore, supine bending images resulted in less measured curve flexibility in comparison to fulcrum images (p = 2.85e−7). Slot-scanning standing bending films show comparable results in curve flexibility as supine bending films for proximal thoracic and lumbar curves but may show reduced flexibility for thoracic curves when compared to supine or fulcrum bending films. Given lower radiation dosing, slot-scanning films could be substituted for traditional supine films for assessment of proximal thoracic and lumbar curve flexibility.
Predicting Inter-individual Variability During Lipid Resuscitation of Bupivacaine Cardiotoxicity in Rats: A Virtual Population Modeling Study

Intravenous lipid emulsions (ILE) have been credited for successful resuscitation in drug intoxication cases where other cardiac life-support methods have failed. However, inter-individual variability can function as a confounder that challenges our ability to define the scope of efficacy for lipid interventions, particularly as relevant data are scarce. To address this challenge, we developed a quantitative systems pharmacology model to predict outcome variability and shed light on causal mechanisms in a virtual population of rats subjected to bupivacaine toxicity and ILE intervention. We combined a physiologically based pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic model with data from a small study in Sprague-Dawley rats to characterize individual-specific cardiac responses to lipid infusion. We used the resulting individual parameter estimates to posit a population distribution of responses to lipid infusion. On that basis, we constructed a large virtual population of rats (N = 10,000) undergoing lipid therapy following bupivacaine cardiotoxicity. Using unsupervised clustering to assign resuscitation endpoints, our simulations predicted that treatment with a 30% lipid emulsion increases bupivacaine median lethal dose (LD50) by 46% when compared with a simulated control fluid. Prior experimental findings indicated an LD50 increase of 48%. Causal analysis of the population data suggested that muscle accumulation rather than liver accumulation of bupivacaine drives survival outcomes. Our results represent a successful prediction of complex, dynamic physiological outcomes over a virtual population. Despite being informed by very limited data, our mechanistic model predicted a plausible range of treatment outcomes that accurately predicts changes in LD50 when extrapolated to putatively toxic doses of bupivacaine. Furthermore, causal analysis of the predicted survival outcomes indicated a critical synergy between scavenging and direct cardiotonic mechanisms of ILE action.
Capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide by depleting inorganic carbon in municipal wastewater

Abstract CO2 removal from the atmosphere will likely be necessary to limit global warming to 2 ℃. Existing wastewater infrastructure in the U.S. conveys a total of 588 Mt of inorganic carbon to wastewater treatment plants, which are designed to remove organic carbon, but do not remove the inorganic fraction. We believe that embedded energy used for wastewater conveyance may be leveraged to remove inorganic carbon and produce wastewater treatment plants that are net carbon negative. To demonstrate this, we optimized a bench-scale wastewater carbon-capture system composed of a gas permeable membrane and a pressurized feed. We investigated the effects of multiple physicochemical parameters on inorganic carbon removal. The best performance resulted in removal of 15% inorganic carbon from the feed stream. Deploying similar full-scale systems across U.S. wastewater infrastructure without addition of acid would remove up to 12.9 Mt-C/yr. Hydrochrloric acid addition to one pH unit below the bicarbonate pKa would increase removal to 30.5 Mt-C/yr, but this is partially offset by CO2 emissions from hydrochloric acid production, resulting in a net removal of 22.6 Mt-C/yr. Further research should focus on increasing removal efficiency, which, at 100% removal, would offset 11.2% of total U.S. CO2 gas emissions.