cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sea turtle population structure and connections between oceanic and neritic foraging areas in the Atlantic revealed through trace elements

Assessing population structure and connectivity of species that have cryptic life stages, such as sea turtles, is a challenge in conservation biology. The early oceanic stage of sea turtles, also known as the 'lost years', is poorly known. Green turtle Chelonia mydas hatchlings emerge from their nests, enter the sea, and inhabit oceanic (open ocean) habitats where they are rarely seen until they recruit to coastal (neritic) foraging grounds several years later. Therefore, the location of and population structure in oceanic foraging grounds, as well as the connections between oceanic and neritic foraging grounds, are difficult to determine. Given that long-term tracking devices are not available for sea turtle hatchlings, the use of other markers, such as trace elements and stable isotopes, is necessary to study the oceanic stages of sea turtles. We analyzed the elemental composition and ratios of stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen of scute tissue that was deposited when turtles were in the oceanic habitat to characterize 6 oceanic foraging areas used by green turtles in the Atlantic Ocean. We determined that there is significant structuring among oceanic green turtle aggregations and multiple links between oceanic and neritic foraging areas. We discuss the conservation implications of structured oceanic aggregations with multiple links, as well as the use of trace elements (particularly titanium, chromium, zirconium and barium) in the characterization of oceanic regions.
Promoter-activated expression of nerve growth factor for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Genetic transfer approaches have received recent consideration as potential treatment modalities for human central and peripheral nervous system (CNS and PNS, respectively) neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Transplantation of genetically modified cells into the brain represents a promising strategy for the delivery and expression of specific neurotrophic factors, neurotransmitter-synthesizing enzymes, and cellular regulatory proteins for intervention in neurodegenerative diseases. The use of specific regulatable promoters may also provide potential control of gene expression required for dose-specific or time-specific therapeutic strategies. In this article, we review the potential use of activated promoters in ex vivo systems for the potential genetic therapy of neurodegenerative disorders, and then describe our own studies using the zinc-inducible metallothionein promoter for the regulated expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) in rodent brain transplants.
The agency cost and the capital structure of companies

The present paper first analyzes one of the basic capital structure theory-agency theory.In accordance with the practical experience of the Chinese public company,the agent relations of the corporation can be divided into three:the agency cost of the inside equity;the agency cost of outside equity;the agency cost of debt.Some advice is given here concerning how to optimize the capital structure of the public company based on the researchment on the reason and the content of the agency cost.
Monitoring for Phytoremediation of Groundwater Contamination

In 1977, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act was amended as the Clean Water Act (CWA). In general, the CWA provides for the regulation of the release of contaminants to water. This regulation is monitored by the USEPA by effluent standards, and permits are required to ensure the discharge of acceptable levels of wastes. The CWA covers contaminant levels that affect aquatic life and recreational standards, although the CWA affects drinking-water quality by proxy. In 1974, the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was enacted to regulate the quality of drinking water, either existing or potential sources of surface or groundwater. This regulation also is monitored by the USEPA through water-quality standards, and municipalities are required by law to treat drinking water to these standards.
Delayed Development of the Scrotum in Exstrophy

AbstractEarly attempts at orchiopexy should be avoided in children with exstrophy, since the testes will often descend spontaneously by puberty. In many cases the scrotum will grow much larger and will become pendulous by puberty. In a patient with a rudimentary scrotum orchiopexy will only result in fixing the testes in an abnormally high position owing to the lack of a sac into which to place them. If the scrotum develops later the testicles will probably be unable to descend further. Scrotal skin should not be used for urethroplasty operations in children with exstrophy and special techniques should be applied if it is necessary to repair hernias in these patients. In the child with partially descended testes but with only a small patch of wrinkled scrotum efforts may be undertaken to increase scrotal size by topical hormone treatment (or by injections) before the onset of puberty to help fertility and emotional development.
A Francisella -Like Endosymbiont in the Gulf Coast Tick Evolved From a Mammalian Pathogen

Ticks (order Ixodida) vector pathogenic bacteria that cause diseases in humans and other mammals. They also contain bacteria that are closely related to pathogens but function as endosymbionts that provide nutrients that are missing from mammalian blood—their sole food source. For instance, mammalian pathogens such as Coxiella burnetii and Francisella tularensis, as well as Coxiella-like and Francisella-like endosymbionts (CLEs and FLEs, respectively) occur in ticks worldwide. However, it is not clear whether the pathogens evolved from symbionts or symbionts from pathogens. Recent studies have indicated that C. burnetii likely originated from a tick-associated ancestor, but the origins of FLEs are not clear. In this study, we sequenced the genome of an FLE, termed FLE-Am, present in the Gulf Coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum. We show that FLE-Am likely evolved from a pathogenic strain of Francisella, indicating that tick endosymbionts can evolve from mammalian pathogens. Although the genome of FLE-Am is almost the same size as the genomes of pathogenic Francisella strains, about one-third of its protein-coding genes contain inactivating mutations. The relatively low coding capacity and extensive metabolic capabilities indicate that FLE-Am transitioned recently to its current endosymbiotic lifestyle and likely replaced an ancient endosymbiont with degraded functionality.
Postural research and rehabilitation in an immersive virtual environment

We have united an immersive dynamic virtual environment with motion of a posture platform to record biomechanical and physiological responses to combined visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive inputs. A 6 degree-of-freedom force plate provides measurements of moments exerted on the base of support. Kinematic data from the head, trunk, and lower limb is collected using 3-D video motion analysis. The virtual image is projected via a stereo-capable projector mounted behind the back-projection screen. This system allows us to explore complex behaviors necessary for rehabilitation. We are currently examining how a dynamic visual field affects posture and spatial orientation, and whether visual task demands interfere with our ability to react to a loss of balance in healthy adults and in adults with labyrinthine deficit. Our data suggest that when there is a confluence of meaningful inputs, none of the inputs are suppressed in healthy adults; the postural response is modulated by all existing sensory signals in a non-additive fashion. Labyrinthine deficient adults suppress visual inputs. Individual perception of the sensory structure also appears to be a significant component of the postural response in these protocols. We will discuss the implications of these results for the design of clinical interventions for balance disorders.
Affordable mobile hybrid integrated renewable energy system power plant optimized using HOMER Pro

Numerous case studies have been performed on both large and small scale Hybrid Integrated Renewable Energy Systems (HI-RES) over the past decade to ascertain the benefits of combining various forms of renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. Many of these studies have produced test and verification results obtained through iterative simulations, optimization and sensitivity analyses to aid in understanding the dynamic interactions and positive impacts achieved when combining gas/diesel generation with alternative energy resources such as wind, solar, bio-fuel, geothermal, and other. In line with this research, numerous feasibility studies have also been performed to examine better ways to drive competitive and affordable pricing within the design, development, testing and evaluation (DDTE) of remote/backup power generation stations. This paper draws from prior research on small scale HI-RES and further explores the analytical data and conclusions attained from other independent case studies performed across the globe. The recently released version of the Hybrid Optimization of Electric Energy (HOMER Pro) Software was the primary modeling and simulation tool used in further refining the concepts of distributed energy resources (DER) and their application to small scale hybrid platforms.
Use of a toric pseudoaccommodating intraocular lens to achieve spectacle independence in post-radial-keratotomy patients

We present 3 patients who had implantation of a Trulign pseudoaccommodating intraocular lens (IOL) at the time of cataract surgery after a history of radial keratotomy (RK). Implantation of the IOL was successful, with few reported adverse events. The patients were able to achieve spectacle independence. The technique enables management of post-RK patients to optimize their chances for spectacle independence.
HDL and the menopause.

Purpose of review To summarize recent provocative findings on conventional and novel metrics of HDL including HDL-C, HDL subclasses and HDL cholesterol efflux capacity as related to menopause. Recent findings Pattern of menopause-related changes in HDL-C are not consistent, suggesting a complex relationship between HDL and menopause. Growing body of literature indicates that higher levels of HDL-C may not be consistently cardio-protective in midlife women, suggesting a potential change in other metrics of HDL that could not be captured by the static metric HDL-C. It is also possible that higher HDL-C at certain conditions could be a marker of HDL metabolism dysfunctionality. Significant alterations in other metrics of HDL have been reported after menopause and found to be related to estradiol. Summary The impact of changes in novel metrics of HDL over the menopausal transition on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk later in life is not clear in women. Much of our understanding of how the menopausal transition may impact HDL metrics comes from cross-sectional studies. Future longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate other metrics of HDL shown to better reflect the cardio-protective capacities of HDL, so that the complex association of menopause, HDL and CVD risk could be characterized.
Basic Elements of Light Water Reactor Fuel Rod Design

Basic design techniques and equations are presented to allow students to understand and perform preliminary fuel design for normal reactor conditions. Each of the important design considerations is...
A Multiple Microprocessor System for Office Image Processing

During the last decade, automatic office document systems have been evolved with advances in microprocessors, low cost memories, and peripherals. Text processing systems are being used to create and edit documents. Interactive computer graphics are being used to manipulate graphics in the display. Integrated systems have been developed to implement communication and processing of text and graphics [5,8]. Interactive image processing is needed in an office document system to enhance and to scale scanned pictures into a desired page format.
Time-Optimal Control of a Large Space Structure

Abstract We study a control problem of stabilization and slewing of a Large Space Structure in minimal time. We consider an abstract formulation proposed in Araya (1984, 1986). We show existence of optimal solutions and propose an approximating procedure of the optimal controls
Can Empowering Leaders Affect Subordinates’ Well-Being and Careers Because They Encourage Subordinates’ Job Crafting Behaviors?

This study examined the effects of empowering leadership on employees’ well-being and career outcomes through their job crafting behaviors over three time points during a 2-month period. With 325 full-time employees, results from structural equation modeling demonstrated that empowering leadership was positively associated with employees’ job crafting behaviors even after controlling for proactive personality. Job crafting resulted in lower levels of physical and depressive symptoms and higher levels of career satisfaction and commitment. Together, these findings highlight the role of empowering leadership in encouraging and facilitating job crafting behaviors of employees, which in turn leads to subjective career success as well as physical and psychological well-being.
Laser-driven calorimetry measurements of petroleum and biodiesel fuels

Thermochemical characteristics were determined for several National Institute of Standards and Technology standard-reference-material petroleum and biodiesel fuels, using a novel laser-heating calorimetry technique. Measurements focused on the sample thermal behavior, specific heat release rate, and total specific heat release. The experimental apparatus consists of a copper sphere-shaped reactor mounted within a chamber, along with laser-beam-steering optical components, gas-supply manifold, and a computer-controlled data-acquisition system. At the center of the reactor, liquid sample is injected onto a copper pan substrate that rests and is in contact with a fine-wire thermocouple. A second thermocouple is in contact with the inner reactor sphere surface. The reactor is heated from opposing sides by a continuous-wave, near-infrared laser to achieve nearly uniform sample temperature. The change in temperature with time (thermogram) is recorded for both thermocouples, and compared to a baseline thermogram (without liquid in the pan). The thermograms are then processed (using an equation for thermal energy conservation) for the thermochemical information of interest. The results indicated that the energy reaching the pan is dominated by radiative heat transfer processes, while the dominant thermal process for the reactor sphere is the stored (internal) thermal energy within the sphere material. Sufficient laser power is necessary to detect the fuel thermal-related characteristics, and the required power can differ from one fuel to another. With sufficient laser power, one can detect the preferential vaporization of the lighter and heavier fuel fractions. The total specific heat release obtained for the different conventional and biodiesel fuels used in this investigation were similar to the expected values available in the literature.
Entrepreneurship and Family Business: Exploring the Connections:

This article explores how the family Influences an entrepreneur's career. There are various points In time where family and entrepreneurial dynamics intersect. These Include: (1) early experiences In the entrepreneur's family of origin; (2) family Involvement and support of early start-up activities; (3) employment of family members In the new venture; and (4) involvement of family members In ownership and management succession. The article explores each of these four areas and suggests research questions that need to be explored to develop a better understanding of the relationship between entrepreneurs and their families.
Using Information Technology in the Assessment and Monitoring of Geriatric Oncology Patients

Older adults with cancer have complex medical needs and often experience higher rates of treatment-related toxicities compared to their younger counterparts. The advent of health information technologies can address multiple gaps in the care of this population. We review the role of existing and emerging technologies in facilitating the use of comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) in routine clinics, promoting symptom reporting, and monitoring medication adherence. Increasingly, studies demonstrate the feasibility of implementing electronic CGA in routine oncology practices. Evidence also suggests that electronic symptom reporting can improve outcomes in patients with cancer. In addition, technology devices can be used to promote adherence to cancer therapy. There are many opportunities for information technology to be integrated into the management and treatment of older adults with cancer. However, further evaluation of these technologies is needed to ensure that they meet the needs of the targeted end users.
On Fundamental Limits of Joint Sparse Support Recovery Using Certain Correlation Priors

This paper provides new probabilistic guarantees for recovering the common support of jointly sparse vectors in multiple measurement vector (MMV) models. In recent times, Bayesian approaches for sparse signal recovery (such as sparse Bayesian learning and correlation-aware LASSO) have shown preliminary evidence that under appropriate conditions (such as access to ideal covariance matrix of the measurements or certain restrictive orthogonality condition on the signals), it is possible to recover supports of size ( $K$ ) larger than the dimension ( $M$ ) of each measurement vector. However, no results exist that characterize the probability with which this can be achieved for a finite number of measurement vectors ( $L$ ). This paper bridges this gap by formulating the support recovery problem in terms of a multiple hypothesis testing framework. Chernoff-type upper bounds on the probability of error are established, and new sufficient conditions are derived that guarantee its exponential decay with respect to $L$ even when $K=O(M^2)$ . Our sufficient conditions are based on the properties of the so-called Khatri–Rao product of the measurement matrix and reveal the importance of a sampler design. Negative results are also established indicating that when $K$ exceeds a certain threshold (in terms of $M$ ), there will exist a class of measurement matrices for which any support recovery algorithm will fail. Using results from the geometric probability, we characterize the probability with which a randomly generated measurement matrix will belong to this class and show that this probability tends to 1 asymptotically in the size ( $N$ ) of the sparse vectors.
A predictive model for Lake Chad total surface water area using remotely sensed and modeled hydrological and meteorological parameters and multivariate regression analysis

Abstract Lake Chad is an endorheic lake in the Sahel region of Africa at the southern edge of the Sahara Desert. The lake, which is well known for its dramatic decrease in surface area during the 1970s and 1980s, experiences an annual flood resulting in a maximum total surface water area generally during February or March, though sometimes earlier or later. People along the shores of Lake Chad make their living fishing, farming, and raising livestock and have a vested interest in knowing when and how extensive the annual flooding will be, particularly those practicing recession farming in which the fertile ground of previously flooded area is used for planting crops. In this study, the authors investigate the relationship between lake and basin parameters, including rainfall, basin evapotranspiration, lake evapotranspiration, lake elevation, total surface water area, and the previous year’s total surface water area, and develop equations for each dry season month (except November) linking total surface water area to the other parameters. The resulting equations allow the user to estimate the December average monthly total surface water area of the lake in late November, and to make the estimates for January to May in early December. Based on the results of a Leave One Out Cross Validation analysis, the equations for lake area are estimated to have an average absolute error ranging from 5.3 percent (for February estimates) to 7.6 percent (for May estimates).
A Set of Preliminary Model Experiments for Studying Engineering Student Biases in the Assessment and Prioritization of Risks

Engineering decisions that have the greatest effect on worker and public safety occur early in the design process. During these decisions, engineers rely on their experience and intuition to estimate the severity and likelihood of undesired future events like failures, equipment damage, injuries, or environmental harm. These initial estimates can then form the basis of investment of limited project resources in mitigating those risks. Behavioral economics suggests that most people make significant and predictable errors when considering high consequence, low probability events. These biases have not previously been studied quantitatively in the context of engineering decisions, however. This paper describes preliminary results from a set of computerized experiments with engineering students estimating, prioritizing, and making design decisions related to risk. The undergraduate students included in this experiment were more likely to underestimate than overestimate the risk of failure. They were also more optimistic of the effects of efforts to mitigate risk than the evidence suggested. These results suggest that considerably more effort is needed to understand the characteristics and qualities of these biases in risk estimation, and understand what kinds of intervention might best ameliorate these biases and enable engineers to more effectively identify and manage the risks of technology.Copyright © 2018 by ASME
Synthesis of operable process intensification systems: advances and challenges

Process intensification (PI) has been gaining increasing momentum in the chemical engineering research community and the chemical/energy industry. While many PI alternative technologies and their conventional counterparts exist, systematic approaches and tools to decide on the most promising intensified process solutions are currently rather lacking. Process Systems Engineering (PSE) can contribute uniquely to this challenge by leveraging process synthesis, design, analysis, and optimization tools. However, key open questions in this area still remain, including: (i) how to efficiently address the combinatorial design space and systematically deliver intensified designs, and (ii) how to ensure the operablility performances of the derived intensified structures at an early design stage. This paper provides a brief review of recent progress towards the synthesis of operable process intensification systems, highlights major challenges, and discusses future research opportunities.
Formation of CmHn (m ≥ 3, n ≤ m) hydrocarbons from C1 and C2 molecules by high-temperature (≥1000°C), short-contact-time (1-10 ms) nozzle beam reactions

A nozzle, fabricated from nickel, molybdenum, iron, palladium, and quartz was utilized to produce longer chain hydrocarbons, C m H n (m ≥ 3, n≤ m) from C2 (ethane, acetylene) and C1 (methane) reactants at nozzle temperature range 1000–1150°C. The conversion of ethane was close to 100% at T noz = 1000°C, while that of methane reached 20% at T noz = 1150°C. The contact time in the nozzle is in the 10-3–10-2 s range. The reactions are first and higher order in reactant pressure. The reaction mechanism involves the formation of free radicals at the nozzle surface followed by gas‐phase reactions.
User Preferences for Bicycle Infrastructure in Communities with Emerging Cycling Cultures

Non-motorized travel modes, particularly cycling, are experiencing a resurgence in many United States (U.S.) states as well as in other countries. Still, most studies focus on bicyclists’ behaviors...
The Irritable Uterus

The patient was a 33-year-old, highly educated, white female. She was pregnant with monochorionic-diamniotic identical twins, or twins that shared the same placenta but were in separate amniotic sacs. She had been cleared from her reproductive endocrinologist at 13 weeks gestation after an ultrasound indicated the pregnancy was progressing typically. The patient was referred back to her primary obstetrician, along with her pregnancy records, for the remainder of her prenatal care. She had multiple appointments over the next few weeks during which the fetuses’ heartbeats were examined. The patient mentioned she was having some periodic, light contractions but otherwise all was normal.
Approximation and convergence of GANs training: an SDE approach.

Generative adversarial networks (GANs) have enjoyed tremendous empirical successes, and research interest in the theoretical understanding of GANs training process is rapidly growing, especially for its evolution and convergence analysis. This paper establishes approximations, with precise error bound analysis, for the training of GANs under stochastic gradient algorithms (SGAs). The approximations are in the form of coupled stochastic differential equations (SDEs). The analysis of the SDEs and the associated invariant measures yields conditions for the convergence of GANs training. Further analysis of the invariant measure for the coupled SDEs gives rise to a fluctuation-dissipation relations (FDRs) for GANs, revealing the trade-off of the loss landscape between the generator and the discriminator and providing guidance for learning rate scheduling.
Social Capital and Mortgage Delinquency

This study offers a simple theoretical model and empirical evidence to address the impact of social capital on mortgage delinquency. Social capital includes the norms, values, trust, and information common to a social network, which enable cooperative and shared actions. Using a new county-level dataset between 1999 and 2011 for the U.S, we find new evidence to show that social capital significantly affects the likelihood of mortgage delinquency. In particular, we find that a one-standard-deviation increase in social capital leads to a 0.13 standard deviation decrease in mortgage delinquency. The effect of social capital remains significant after controlling for location fixed effects and addressing endogeneity. The primary explanation is that social norms or trust could limit opportunistic behavior among homeowners and negatively affect strategic default activities. We also find that the impact of social capital on mortgage delinquency increased after the recent financial crisis. Furthermore, we show that the impact of social capital is more pronounced when the default is more likely to be strategic. Our findings have important implications for players in the mortgage industry and for policymakers in that cooperative and shared actions can play an important role in the mortgage default process. Thus, the assessment of default risk should consider social capital in addition to the factors already documented in the literature.
Driving high quantum yield NIR emission through proquinoidal linkage motifs in conjugated supermolecular arrays

High quantum yield NIR fluorophores are rare. Factors that drive low emission quantum yields at long wavelength include the facts that radiative rate constants increase proportional to the cube of the emission energy, while nonradiative rate constants increase in an approximately exponentially with decreasing S0–S1 energy gaps (in accordance with the energy gap law). This work demonstrates how the proquinoidal BTD building blocks can be utilized to minimize the extent of excited-state structural relaxation relative to the ground-state conformation in highly conjugated porphyrin oligomers, and shows that 4-ethynylbenzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (E-BTD) units that terminate meso-to-meso ethyne-bridged (porphinato)zinc (PZnn) arrays, and 4,7-diethynylbenzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (E-BTD-E) spacers that are integrated into the backbone of these compositions, elucidate new classes of impressive NIR fluorophores. We report the syntheses, electronic structural properties, and emissive characteristics of neoteric PZn-(BTD-PZn)n, PZn2-(BTD-PZn2)n, and BTD-PZnn-BTD fluorophores. Absolute fluorescence quantum yield (ϕf) measurements, acquired using a calibrated integrating-sphere-based measurement system, demonstrate that these supermolecules display extraordinary ϕf values that range from 10–25% in THF solvent, and between 28–36% in toluene solvent over the 700–900 nm window of the NIR. These studies underscore how the regulation of proquinoidal conjugation motifs can be exploited to drive excited-state dynamical properties important for high quantum yield long-wavelength fluorescence emission.
Radon–Nikodym, Hahn, Daniell, and Carathéodory

In this concluding chapter I will deal with several matters that are of a rather abstract nature. The first of these is the famous theorem of Radon and Nikodym, which can be viewed as a generalization of the results in § 3.3 and plays an important role in the proof of the Hahn decomposition theorem, which is an abstraction of the results in § 1.2.2. The second is the abstraction of Lebesgue’s integration theory that results from thinking about integrals as linear functions.
ASHP national survey of pharmacy practice in hospital settings: Dispensing and administration-2020.

Purpose Results of the 2020 ASHP national survey of pharmacy practice in hospital settings are presented. Methods Pharmacy directors at 1,437 general and children's medical/surgical hospitals in the United States were surveyed using a mixed-mode method of contact by email and mail. Survey completion was online. IQVIA supplied data on hospital characteristics; the survey sample was drawn from the IQVIA hospital database. Results The response rate was 18.7%. Almost all hospitals (92.5%) have a method for pharmacists to review medication orders on demand. Most hospitals (74.5%) use automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs) as their primary method for drug distribution. A third of hospitals use barcodes to verify doses during dispensing in the pharmacy and to verify ingredients when intravenous medications are compounded. More than 80% scan barcodes when restocking ADCs. Sterile workflow management technology is used in 21.3% of hospitals. Almost three-quarters of hospitals outsource some sterile preparations. Pharmacists can independently prescribe in 21.1% of hospitals. Pharmacist practice in ambulatory clinics in 46.2% of health systems and provide telepharmacy services in 28.4% of health systems. Conclusion Pharmacists continue their responsibility in their traditional role in preparation and dispensing of medications. They have successfully employed technology to improve safety and efficiency in performance of these duties and have employed emerging technologies to improve the safety, timeliness, and efficiency of the administration of drugs to patients. As pharmacists continue to expand their role to all aspects of medication use, new opportunities highlighted in ASHP's Practice Advancement Initiative 2030 have been identified.
Photo-induced fragmentation of tyrosine side chains in IgG4-Fc: Effect of protein sequence, conformation and glycan structure

Abstract This account summarizes recent work on photo-induced side chain cleavage reactions of Tyr in IgG4-Fc. These processes are initiated via photo-ionization of Trp to a Trp radical cation, followed by one-electron oxidation of Tyr to a Tyr radical cation, where fragmentation of the Cα-Cβ bond leads to an intermediary glycyl radical. The latter converts into Gly via hydrogen atom transfer, or into various backbone cleavage products subsequent to the addition of oxygen. Site-directed mutation of Trp381 to Phe381 significantly reduces the yields of Tyr side chain cleavage products, underlining a critical role of Trp for these reactions. Likewise, conformational changes of IgG4-Fc induced by increasing contents of 1-propanol in the solution diminishes the yields of Tyr side chain cleavage products. Variations of the glycan structure at Asn297 had an effect on Tyr side chain cleavage, where larger glycan structures led to lower yields. This result is in interesting contrast to Trp side chain cleavage in IgG1-Fc, where larger glycan structures led to higher yields. The opposite trends for Trp and Tyr side chain cleavage as a function of glycan structure are consistent with a connection between the precursors for both reactions, radical cations of Trp and Tyr, related by electron transfer. The potential significance of these reactions for protein integrity in formulations of pharmaceutical proteins will be discussed.
Uncomfortable Truths - What Covid-19 Has Revealed about Chronic-Disease Care in America.

Uncomfortable Truths Chronic-disease care in the United States doesn’t support optimal patient health and experience, especially for marginalized populations. Too often, care systems are based on t...
CLAWS: Contrastive Learning with hard Attention and Weak Supervision.

Learning effective visual representations without human supervision is a long-standing problem in computer vision. Recent advances in self-supervised learning algorithms have utilized contrastive learning, with methods such as SimCLR, which applies a composition of augmentations to an image, and minimizes a contrastive loss between the two augmented images. In this paper, we present CLAWS, an annotation-efficient learning framework, addressing the problem of manually labeling large-scale agricultural datasets along with potential applications such as anomaly detection and plant growth analytics. CLAWS uses a network backbone inspired by SimCLR and weak supervision to investigate the effect of contrastive learning within class clusters. In addition, we inject a hard attention mask to the cropped input image before maximizing agreement between the image pairs using a contrastive loss function. This mask forces the network to focus on pertinent object features and ignore background features. We compare results between a supervised SimCLR and CLAWS using an agricultural dataset with 227,060 samples consisting of 11 different crop classes. Our experiments and extensive evaluations show that CLAWS achieves a competitive NMI score of 0.7325. Furthermore, CLAWS engenders the creation of low dimensional representations of very large datasets with minimal parameter tuning and forming well-defined clusters, which lends themselves to using efficient, transparent, and highly interpretable clustering methods such as Gaussian Mixture Models.
The super-ordered fluid: A domain model of cell surface membranes

In the last twenty years models of phospholipid bilayer membranes have emphasized the dynamics of membrane components, the motion of molecules in the ordered fluid of the bilayer. Most commonly cited is the fluid mosaic model of Singer and Nicolson (1972). This model originated with studies of membrane composition, based on an earlier, static, picture of membrane architecture (for a historical review see Gennis, 1988). “Mosaic” indicates that the phospholipid bilayer is studded with intercalated proteins; “fluid” indicates that these proteins, and the lipids are free to move parallel or normal to the bilayer surface. Though the model is only weakly predictive, it does synthesize a body of experiments, and it remains the basis of much current thinking about cell surfaces.
MemcacheSQL A Scale-Out SQL Cache Engine

Real-time enterprise applications and data-intensive analytics often require very low latency access to large volumes of data. In-memory data cache is a promising approach to enable real-time analytics. In this paper we examine the issue of scaling out memory cache over multiple machines while providing a common data query language with rich expressive power, and allowing the data cached in memory to persist with the ACID properties. Designing and building a product quality scaled-out data cache engine from scratch is an option, but it requires large investment in time and engineering efforts.
Phospholipase A2 antagonists inhibit constitutive retrograde membrane traffic to the endoplasmic reticulum.

Eukaryotic cells contain a variety of cytoplasmic Ca2+-dependent and Ca2+-independent phospholipase A2s (PLA2s; EC 2.3.1.2.3). However, the physiological roles for many of these ubiquitously-expressed enzymes is unclear or not known. Recently, pharmacological studies have suggested a role for Ca2+-independent PLA2 (iPLA2) enzymes in governing intracellular membrane trafficking events in general and regulating brefeldin A (BFA)-stimulated membrane tubulation and Golgi-to-endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retrograde membrane trafficking, in particular. Here, we extend these studies to show that membrane-permeant iPLA2 antagonists potently inhibit the normal, constitutive retrograde membrane trafficking from the trans-Golgi network (TGN), Golgi complex, and the ERGIC-53-positive ER-Golgi-intermediate compartment (ERGIC), which occurs in the absence of BFA. Taken together, these results suggest that iPLA2 enzymes play a general role in regulating, or directly mediating, multiple mammalian membrane trafficking events.
Party Polarization in Congress

The political parties in Congress are as polarized as they have been in 100 years. This book examines more than 30 years of congressional history to understand how it is that the Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill have become so divided. It finds that two steps were critical for this development. First, the respective parties' constituencies became more politically and ideologically aligned. Second, members ceded more power to their party leaders, who implemented procedures more frequently and with greater consequence. In fact, almost the entire rise in party polarization can be accounted for in the increasing frequency of and polarization on procedures used during the legislative process.
Coronary arterial fistulas: seven cases with unusual features.

Abstract Seven patients with a coronary arterial fistula with unusual features are reported. Two patients had unusual anatomy of the coronary arteries, 1 with a single left coronary artery terminating in a fistula to the right ventricle, and 1 with a rudimentary left coronary artery terminating in a fistula to the pulmonary artery (simulating anomalous coronary artery from the pulmonary artery). One fistula was due to nonpenetrating chest trauma, and 1 was associated with tetralogy of Fallot. The usual continuous murmur was not present in 1 patient. In 2 patients mitral insufficiency developed: 1 had a holosystolic murmur and 1 a mid-systolic click and late systolic murmur. In 2 children there was electrocardiographic evidence of myocardial infarction. Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure levels were elevated in 3 patients. The continuous murmur in 1 patient spontaneously disappeared.
Preparation of tetrabutylammonium octa-μ3-bromohexa(trifluoromethanesulfonato)octahedro-hexamolybdate (2−), (Bu4N)2[Mo6Br8i(CF3SO3)6a] and other derivatives containing the Mo6Br84+ core

Abstract The compound (Bu 4 N) 2 [Mo 6 Br 8 i (CF 3 SO 3 ) 6 a ] ( 2 ), is prepared by the reaction of (Bu 4 N) 2 [Mo 6 Br 8 i (Br) 6 a ] ( 1 ) and AgCF 3 SO 4 in CH 2 Cl 2 . The triflate ligands, CF 3 SO 3 in compound 2 are readily substituted by other ligands, and convenient routes are reported for the preparation of the clusters [Mo 6 Br 8 i (X) 6 a ] 2 where X = CF 3 CO 2 , SCN, NCO, Cl, Br and I. The preparation of the cationic cluster, [Mo 6 Br 8 i (Ph 3 PO) 6 a ] 4+ , is also reported. The clusters were characterized by IR, UV-Vis, fluorescence and FAB mass spectrometry.
The design of a 14 GHz I/Q ring oscillator in 0.18 /spl mu/m CMOS

This paper presents the design of a 14 GHz ring VCO with in-phase/quadrature (I/Q) outputs in a standard 0.18 /spl mu/m CMOS process. A four stage multiple-pass ring oscillator is coupled with frequency doublers for obtaining high frequencies. The VCO core uses delay stages with cross-coupled FETs to increase the switching speed and to improve the noise parameters. The proposed design has a tuning range of 8.5 to 14 GHz (49%), and exhibits -95.35 dBc/Hz phase noise (@ 1 MHz) at a center frequency of 12.7 GHz while consuming 146 mW from a 1.8 V power supply. The results suggest that it is not always necessary to resort to integrated LC networks for 10+ GHz VCO/CCO modules but that cost and area effective ring designs may suffice.
Student competitions and bots in an introductory programming course

An introductory programming course that is both an introduction to the major and a university-wide distribution course can suffer from a large disparity of interest as well as ability. Motivating all students to participate improves outcomes. At St. Lawrence University we have found that competitions are fun and engaging for students while providing a vehicle for both individual and collaborative team projects. We use homegrown robot simulation software to draw students into the course with microworld interaction and animation; student competitions based on popular winter sporting events fit our northern clime and improve engagement.
General deterrence effects of U.S. statutory DUI fine and jail penalties: long-term follow-up in 32 states.

Abstract Introduction We examined effects of state statutory changes in DUI fine or jail penalties for firsttime offenders from 1976 to 2002. Methods A quasi-experimental time-series design was used ( n = 324 monthly observations). Four outcome measures of drivers involved in alcohol-related fatal crashes are: single-vehicle nighttime, low BAC (0.01–0.07 g/dl), medium BAC (0.08–0.14 g/dl), high BAC (≥0.15 g/dl). All analyses of BAC outcomes included multiple imputation procedures for cases with missing data. Comparison series of non-alcohol-related crashes were included to efficiently control for effects of other factors. Statistical models include state-specific Box-Jenkins ARIMA models, and pooled general linear mixed models. Results Twenty-six states implemented mandatory minimum fine policies and 18 states implemented mandatory minimum jail penalties. Estimated effects varied widely from state to state. Using variance weighted meta-analysis methods to aggregate results across states, mandatory fine policies are associated with an average reduction in fatal crash involvement by drivers with BAC ≥ 0.08 g/dl of 8% (averaging 13 per state per year). Mandatory minimum jail policies are associated with a decline in single-vehicle nighttime fatal crash involvement of 6% (averaging 5 per state per year), and a decline in low-BAC cases of 9% (averaging 3 per state per year). No significant effects were observed for the other outcome measures. Conclusions The overall pattern of results suggests a possible effect of mandatory fine policies in some states, but little effect of mandatory jail policies.
RECENT SPECIATION BETWEEN THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE AND THE BLACK-BACKED ORIOLE

Abstract A recent phylogenetic survey of the New World orioles (genus Icterus; Omland et al. 1999) suggested that the Baltimore Oriole (I. galbula) and the Black-backed Oriole (I. abeillei) are sister taxa. That survey examined mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from a single representative of each species in the genus. Here, we examine mtDNA sequences from 15 Black-backed and 20 Baltimore Orioles. The two species appear to be very recently diverged, with average sequence divergences for both cytochrome b (cyt b) and the control region indicating a probable late Pleistocene split. Despite this very recent divergence, there is one fixed base-pair difference between the species in cyt b and another in the control region, suggesting that one or both species have undergone a bottleneck during or since speciation. This molecular evidence of recent divergence suggests that male plumage differences between Black-backed and Baltimore Orioles evolved very rapidly. Especiacion Reciente entre Icterus galbula y Icterus abeill...
Synthesis and X-ray Structure of the Monocarbon Rhodacarborane Complex [RhBr(PPh3)(η5-7-NH2But-8-CH2CO2Et-7- CB10H9)]†

The electronically unsaturated complexes [RhX(PPh3)(η5-7-NH2But-7-CB10H10)] (X = Br, Cl) react with 1 mol equiv of the diazo compound N2C(H)CO2Et in CH2Cl2 at room temperature to give the species [RhX(PPh3)(η5-7-NH2But-8-CH2CO2Et-7-CB10H9)] resulting from insertion of the alkylidene fragment C(H)CO2Et into a BH vertex α to carbon in the CBBBB ring ligating the rhodium.
Effects of a dopamine antagonist on the release of gonadotropin and prolactin in normal women and women with hyperprolactinemic anovulation.

ABSTRACT Administration of a dopamine (DA) antanonist, metoclopramide (MCP) resulted in dose-related acute increments of circulating levels of LH and FSH in patients with hyperprolactinemic anovulation due to pituitary microadenoma but not in normal cycling women during the early follicular phase. Concomitant PRL responses to MCP in hyperprolactinemic patients were 1/10 those observed in the cycling women. These findings suqgest a relative DA excess at the hypothalamic LRF neurons and a relative DA deficiency at the adenoma lactotroph of hyperprolactinemic patients as compared to cycling women.
Evaluation of the Potential Adverse Effects of Lake Inflow Treatment with Alum

Abstract Laboratory and field investigations at Fish Lake in Eagan, MN, and Tanners Lake in Oakdale, MN, were conducted to evaluate the potential adverse effects of using alum to treat lake inflows. Detention ponds are used at both sites to promote settling of alum floc before discharge to the lake. Tests in a 1.5 m column designed to estimate settling in detention ponds showed nearly complete Al settling by 6 h. Final residual Al concentrations were affected only slightly by dose. Average concentrations of total Al entering Fish Lake were 346 and 458 μg Al L−1 at doses of 1 and 8 mg Al L−1, and average in-lake concentrations were 70 and 152 μg L−1. Aluminum settled in Fish Lake at a rate of 74 m y−1. Average Al concentrations in Tanners Lake inflow were higher, but Al concentrations in the lake were lower because of its greater size. The settling pond at Fish Lake protected benthic invertebrates in the lake, but floc accumulation during treatment at 8 mg Al L−1 eliminated nearly all invertebrates in the ...
Chievitz's organ: A potential pitfall in oral cancer diagnosis

It has been reported that epithelial nests associated with sensory nerve fibers may simulate perineural invasion and pose a potential diagnostic problem for surgical pathologists working on frozen tissue specimens from patients with oral cancer. The epithelial structures are not neoplastic, and no known pathologic condition has been associated with them. They are believed to be those structures described scantily in the English literature as Chievitz's organ. The fact that the epithelial nests lie near the plane of injection for the inferior alveolar nerve should be of special interest to dentists, especially oral surgeons and pathologists. Controversy exists as to the exact nature of Chievitz's organ, but the potential hazard of misdiagnosis exists nonetheless. This study of cadaver and autopsy material reaffirms the existence of the epithelial rests and outlines a simple technique for locating them.
Infrared studies of binding and structure in monobasic organophosphorus acids and their salts

Abstract The PO vibrations of a number of monobasic acids, which are alkyl and aryl derivatives of P(V), are followed through a series of their salts. Trends are pointed out, and relations to crystal bonding, including possible resonance equivalence of the phosphoryl oxygens, are discussed. Certain acids are reported in which no PO absorption band has been detected. The relation of this phenomenon to crystal structure, phosphoryl base strength, and oxygen resonance is discussed. Some unusual characteristics of cations in the salts are also pointed out.