cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Isothermal VLE measurements for the binary mixtures HFC-134a + HFC-245fa and HC-600a + HFC-245fa

Abstract The substitution of CFC-114 in high temperature heat pumps is still far from being solved. Some pure compounds such as 1,1,1,2,3,3-hexafluoropropane (HFC-236ea), 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane (HFC-236fa) and 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245fa) have been proposed, but it is probable that the best alternative will be given by a binary or ternary mixture including one of these fluids. The experimental data on the thermodynamic properties of these fluids are still scarce and, for mixtures, the evaluation of vapor–liquid equilibrium (VLE) behavior is crucial. This paper presents the measurement of isothermal VLE p – T – x – y data of the two binary refrigerant systems 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a)+HFC-245fa and isobutane (HC-600a)+HFC-245fa at three temperatures ranging from 293.15 to 313.15 K. The measurements are performed by means of an apparatus based on the recirculation of vapor into liquid and the gas chromatographic analysis of the compositions. The estimated accuracies of measured data are ±0.02 K for temperature, ±1 kPa for pressure, ±0.002 in mole fraction for liquid composition and ±0.003 in mole fraction for vapor composition. The VLE data are correlated with the RKS equation of state in connection with the Huron–Vidal mixing rules. Very good agreement between the experimental and the calculated data is obtained.
"Cynical Politics" versus "Scientific Truth:" communication crisis at Brookhaven National Lab

The Brookhaven story illustrates how a research facility, driven by scientific and technological expediency, fails to negotiate their interests with the interests and values of the neighboring communities. As environmental damage at stake is arguably nonessential, the case allows instructors to concentrate strictly on communication issues. A series of short, related assignments raise students' awareness of communication challenges various public groups face in a contemporary democratic society. The case allows instructors to engage students in solving communication problems, building arguments, analyzing websites, and writing workplace documents-letter, report, or proposal-that respond to the complex context.
Flavopiridol downregulates hypoxia-mediated hypoxia-inducible factor-1α expression in human glioma cells by a proteasome-independent pathway: Implications for in vivo therapy

Angiogenesis is a critical step required for sustained tumor growth and tumor progression. The stimulation of endothelial cells by cytokines secreted by tumor cells such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induces their proliferation and migration. This is a prominent feature of high-grade gliomas. The secretion of VEGF is greatly upregulated under conditions of hypoxia because of the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, which controls the expression of many genes, allowing rapid adaptation of cells to their hypoxic microenvironment. Flavopiridol, a novel cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, has been attributed with antiangiogenic properties in some cancer cell lines by its ability to inhibit VEGF production. Here, we show that flavopiridol treatment of human U87MG and T98G glioma cell lines decreases hypoxia-mediated HIF-1α expression, VEGF secretion, and tumor cell migration. These in vitro results correlate with reduced vascularity of intracranial syngeneic GL261 gliomas from animals treated with flavopiridol. In addition, we show that flavopiridol downregulates HIF-1α expression in the presence of a proteasome inhibitor, an agent that normally results in the accumulation and overexpression of HIF-1α. The potential to downregulate HIF-1α expression with flavopiridol treatment in combination with a proteasome inhibitor makes this an extremely attractive anticancer treatment strategy for tumors with high angiogenic activity, such as gliomas.
Trends in global monsoon area and precipitation over the past 30 years

[1] The analysis of the GPCP and CMAP datasets during the past 30 years (1979–2008) indicates that there are consistent increasing trends in both the global monsoon area (GMA) and the global monsoon total precipitation (GMP). This positive monsoon rainfall trend differs from previous studies that assumed a fixed global monsoon domain. Due to the increasing trends in both the GMA and GMP, a global monsoon intensity (GMI) index, which measures the global monsoon precipitation amount per unit area, is introduced. The GMI measures the strength of the global monsoon. Our calculations with both the GPCP and CMAP datasets show a consistent downward trend in the GMI over the past 30 years. This decreasing trend is primarily attributed to a greater percentage increase in the GMA than in the GMP. A further diagnosis reveals that the decrease of the GMI is primarily attributed to the land monsoon in the GPCP, but to the oceanic monsoon in the CMAP.
Surface Integral Equation Solutions for Modeling 3-D Uniaxial Media Using Closed-Form Dyadic Green's Functions

In this paper, a method of moments (MoM) implementation of surface integral equations (SIEs) is presented for uniaxial dielectric materials using closed-form dyadic Green's functions. The standard Poggio-Miller-Chang-Harrington-Wu-Tsai (PMCHWT) SIE is adapted for homogeneous uniaxial materials. A challenge in the implementation was the evaluation of the self impedance matrix elements and singularities due to the distinguished axis of the uniaxial media. For validation, bistatic scattering patterns of uniaxial targets are computed and compared with the well-known finite-element boundary integral (FE-BI) method solutions. A parametric study of the radiation by dipoles placed within high-contrast uniaxial layers is also presented for various distinguished axis orientations.
Gastric and nongastric mechanisms for satiety action of cholecystokinin

The quantitative relationship between cholecystokinin's (CCK) inhibitory actions on gastric emptying and feeding was examined in rats. CCK (1, 2, 4, or 8 micrograms/kg) inhibited both the gastric emptying (determined by the dye dilution method) and ingestion of a 0.5-kcal/ml glucose solution in a 30-min testing period in 20-h deprived male Sprague-Dawley rats. Comparisons of the inhibitions of gastric emptying and feeding across the dose range of CCK revealed two components of CCK satiety: one defined by a linear relationship between the gastric inhibitory and feeding inhibitory actions of CCK through a dose range of 1-4 micrograms/kg, which accounted for 64% of the variability in the satiety action of CCK, and a second that appeared to be independent of the gastric inhibitory action of CCK.
Nanocomposite and Responsive Membranes for Water Treatment

Membrane processes provide a highly flexible separation technique from desalination and toxic metals/organics removal to permeate water recycling and reuse. The integration of nanostructured materials in surfaces and pores brings additional benefits in terms of stimuli-responsive behaviour and catalytic properties. The incorporation of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles expands the applications of membranes further by the ability to degrade toxic organics at room temperature or to alter separation properties. This chapter presents membrane functionalisation and synthesis aspects, role of pH/temperature-responsive polymers and inorganic catalysts, etc. for numerous environmental applications in the field of polymeric membrane technology related to nanocomposite and nanostructured materials.
Hydrogen Passivation of Si(100) by Remote Hydrogen Plasma Treatment

Hydrogen passivation of the Si(100) surface prepared by a two-stage remote hydrogen plasma treatment has been investigated using Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) and Reflection High Energy Electron Diffraction (RHEED). AES analysis was employed to examine the degree of passivation at different temperatures by monitoring the level of impurities, mainly oxygen and carbon, readsorbed on the Si surface after exposure to air for two hours. RHEED analysis was used to investigate the reconstructed surface structure and the results were correlated with the results of AES analysis. It was found that better Si surface passivation is achieved at a lower substrate temperature during the remote hydrogen plasma treatment. Silicon epitaxial growth by Remote Plasma-enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (RPCVD) was attempted on the H-passivated Si(100) at 305°C. It was found that epitaxial growth is achievable on these wafers even after 2 hours air exposure without further cleaning prior to growth. We have also observed for the first time electron-beam-induced oxygen adsorption on the Si surface prepared by remote hydrogen plasma clean and have confirmed this by Scanning Auger Microscopy (SAM) at various electron beam current densities. The adsorption of oxygen and carbon on the H-terminated Si surface from the ambient upon 3 keV electron beam irradiation is believed to be associated with either the breakage of the Si-H bond or rearrangement of bonding between Si, H, and O, resulting in a loss of hydrogen passivation.
Application of new informatics tools for identifying allosteric lead ligands of the c-Src kinase

Recent molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the catalytic domain of the c-Src kinase revealed intermediate conformations with a potentially druggable allosteric pocket adjacent to the C-helix, bound by 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonate. Towards confirming the existence of this pocket, we have developed a novel lead enrichment protocol using new target and lead enrichment software to identify sixteen allosteric lead ligands of the c-Src kinase. First, Markov State Models analysis was used to identify the most statistically significant c-Src target conformations from all MD-simulated conformations. The most statistically relevant candidate MSM targets were then prioritized by assessing how well each reproduced binding poses of ligands specific to the ATP-competitive and allosteric pockets. The top-performing MSM targets, identified by receiver-operating curve analysis, were then used to screen the ZINC library of 13 million ″clean, drug-like ligands″, all of which prioritized based on their empirical scoring function, binding pose consistency across MSM targets, and strong hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions with Src residues. The FragFEATURE knowledgebase of fragment-protein pocket interactions was then used to identify fragments specific to the ATP-competitive and allosteric pockets. This information was used to identify seven Type II and nine Type III lead ligands with binding poses supported by fragment predictions. Of these, Type II lead ligands, ZINC13037947 and ZINC09672647, and Type III lead ligands, ZINC12530852 and ZINC30012975, exhibited the most favorable fragment profiles and are recommended for further experimental testing for the existence of the allosteric pocket in Src.
On Developing Real-time Simulation System of Security Defense Exercises and Training in China Southern Power Grid

The existing AC/DC large-scale parallel grid real-time digital simulation system in China Southern Power Grid(CSG) has been applied to engineering construction and operation support of the grid,and the RTDS system can be taken as a base of CSG security defense excercises and training system(CSG SDETS).This paper introduces the concepts about the overall design of CSG SDETS,and analyzes its feasibility,basic architecture and key technologies to be developed.
Specific immune responses of dairy cattle after primary inoculation with recombinant bovine interferon-gamma as an adjuvant when vaccinating against mastitis.

OBJECTIVE To examine whether specific immunity in the mammary gland and blood of dairy cattle was enhanced after primary inoculation with a test antigen keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) and recombinant bovine interferon-gamma (rBoIFN-gamma) as an adjuvant. DESIGN Holstein dairy cows received IM injections of KLH in conjunction with saline solution (n = 4), Freund's incomplete adjuvant (FIA; n = 4), or rBoIFN-gamma (n = 3). Milk and blood samples were collected during a 1-month period and analyzed for KLH antibody content. Isolated blood mononuclear cells were examined for their ability to proliferate and produce interleukin 2 (IL-2) after mitogen and/or KLH stimulation in vitro. The phenotype of isolated blood mononuclear cells also was characterized through flow cytometric analysis. RESULTS The adjuvant rBoIFN-gamma induced serum KLH antibody titers similar to those induced by administration of FIA. However, FIA induced significantly more KLH antibodies in milk. Administration of rBoIFN-gamma enhanced T-lymphocyte activity, as indicated by the greater expression of high-affinity IL-2 receptors and the increased response to the mitogens concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, and IL-2, compared with FIA or saline treatment. Lymphocyte and monocyte movement from the blood also was altered after rBoIFN-gamma treatment, which can have a profound influence on secondary immune responses, such as antibody production. CONCLUSIONS rBoIFN-gamma may safely enhance specific immunity in the bovine mammary gland and may be an effective adjuvant in mastitis immunization protocols.
Marine Hypersaline Microcoleus -Dominated Cyanobacterial Mats in the Saltern at Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, Mexico: A System-Level Perspective

Cyanobacterial mats in extensive seawater evaporation ponds at Guerrero Negro, Baja California, Mexico have been excellent subjects for microbial ecology research. Exportadora de Sal, S.A. (ESSA) has maintained this solar saltern for more than 50 years. The studies reviewed here have documented the steep and rapidly changing environmental gradients experienced by mat microorganisms and the very high rates of biogeochemical processes that they maintained. Recent genetic studies have revealed an enormous diversity of bacteria as well as the spatial distribution of Bacteria, Archaea, and Eucarya. These findings, together with emerging insights into the intimate interactions between these diverse populations, have contributed substantially to our understanding of the origins, environmental impacts, and biosignatures of photosynthetic microbial mats.
Commentary: How Child's Play Impacts Executive Function-Related Behaviors

In a recent review Shaheen (2014) surveys evidence-based and popular programs that are designed to advance the development of executive function in children. In this commentary I propose that psychoanalytic psychotherapy with children is an additional program and therapeutic orientation that promotes executive function development. In support of this proposal I review the executive function construct, the relationship of emotion regulation to executive function, and the observed similarities between the implicit branch of emotion regulation system and defense mechanisms (Rice and Hoffman, 2014). Elsewhere Rice (2016), I have suggested that systematic interventions upon children's defense mechanisms may promote the development of the implicit emotion regulation system. Because this program of interpretation of children's defenses against painful feelings is an acknowledged (and unacknowledged) central intervention in child psychoanalysis (Hoffman, 2007), it becomes possible to propose that psychoanalytic psychotherapy with children advances executive function development through its promotion of implicit emotion regulation capacities through the technique of defense analysis.
Writing Principles that Increase Contributions

All of us receive many fund raising appeals in the mail each month, but we respond to only a few of them. We give to causes for two reasons: 1. Because we believe in the work being done. 2. Because a carefully developed direct mail package has been created, and a well-written letter has persuaded us to contribute.
GeoGateway: A system for analysis of UAVSAR data products

GeoGateway is a web-enabled map-based system for analysis, modeling, and response of geodetic imaging products for studying earthquakes and crustal deformation. The system provides a data product search and analysis gateway for scientific discovery, field use, and disaster response. To be effective users require data overlay and visualization, interactive analysis features, and data product download. The data products of focus in this project are NASA's UAVSAR and spaceborne interferometric radar, (InSAR), geologic earthquake faults, Global Positioning System (GPS) position time series, and seismicity.
PAR1 activation induces rapid changes in glutamate uptake and astrocyte morphology

The G-protein coupled, protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) is a membrane protein expressed in astrocytes. Fine astrocytic processes are in tight contact with neurons and blood vessels and shape excitatory synaptic transmission due to their abundant expression of glutamate transporters. PAR1 is proteolytically-activated by bloodstream serine proteases also involved in the formation of blood clots. PAR1 activation has been suggested to play a key role in pathological states like thrombosis, hemostasis and inflammation. What remains unclear is whether PAR1 activation also regulates glutamate uptake in astrocytes and how this shapes excitatory synaptic transmission among neurons. Here we show that, in the mouse hippocampus, PAR1 activation induces a rapid structural re-organization of the neuropil surrounding glutamatergic synapses, which is associated with faster clearance of synaptically-released glutamate from the extracellular space. This effect can be recapitulated using realistic 3D Monte Carlo reaction-diffusion simulations, based on axial scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) tomography reconstructions of excitatory synapses. The faster glutamate clearance induced by PAR1 activation leads to short- and long-term changes in excitatory synaptic transmission. Together, these findings identify PAR1 as an important regulator of glutamatergic signaling in the hippocampus and a possible target molecule to limit brain damage during hemorrhagic stroke.
Asset Growth and Stock Returns

Motivated by both theoretical and empirical work on expected returns and asset growth, we test for a systematic negative relationship between the cross-section of expected returns and a comprehensive measure of asset growth, the year-on-year growth-rate-in-total-assets. Forming portfolios on annual growth rates, we find that firms in the highest decile of growth earn annualized raw returns of approximately 6%, and firms in the lowest decile of growth earn annualized raw returns of approximately 26%, a spread of 20% per year. When we compete asset growth rates with other important determinants of the cross-section of returns (i.e., book-to-market ratios, firm capitalization, and momentum), we find that asset growth has the strongest effect. We propose several explanations as to the underlying cause of the relationship. A firm's annual growth-rate-in-total-assets appears to be the most important variable in predicting the cross-section of US equity returns.
Autonomy and the Moral Symmetry Principle: Reply to Frowe and Tooley

Helen Frowe has recently objected to Michael Tooley’s famous Moral Symmetry Principle, which is meant to show that in themselves killing and letting die are morally equivalent. I argue that her objection is not compelling but a more compelling objection is available. Specifically, Tooley’s rebuttal of a proposed counter-example to his Moral Symmetry Principle has two problematic implications. First, it undercuts the very principle itself. If we reject the proposed counter-example, then any instance of the Moral Symmetry Principle will actually demonstrate the moral in-equivalence of killing and letting die. Second, it commits us to the view, which Tooley wishes to avoid, that we are just as obligated to refrain from doing wrong as we are to prevent others from doing the same. I conclude with a brief discussion of a more general concern regarding Tooley’s basic strategy. My focus here is quite narrow. My claims, if plausible, only show that the Moral Symmetry Principle is unsound and thus cannot serve as a basis for the view that killing and letting die are morally equivalent.
Anomalous ortho-Proton Acidities of the para-Haloanisoles

This communication presents clear evidence for an aryl meta-position acidification effect by a para-situated bromine or iodine substituent. This effect is manifested at the ortho-protons of both para-bromoanisole and para-iodoanisole. There are indications in the computational literature of an meta-position acidification effect provided by a substituent bromine; there is also experimental evidence obtained mostly at cryoscopic temperatures. No conventional electronic effect can account for this acidification. Herein, both experimental evidence and computational justification are presented for this unusual meta-acidification, not only for bromine, but for iodine as well.
Optical properties of nanoparticle arrays (Conference Presentation)

Periodic arrays of proximate but noncontacting noble metal nanoparticles provide the ability to electromagnetically couple the surface plasmons on various nanoparticles to produce collective delocalized surface-plasmon-polariton modes with well characterized mode structure. Such structures provide intrinsic interest as well as provides an attractive concept for optical sensing in potentially open structures permitting gas or liquid to percolate through the structure. In this talk, I review our work on modeling the surface-plasmon-polariton modes of various nanoparticle arrays. I discuss one-dimensional chains and two-dimensional nanoparticle slabs. Ways of dealing with losses will be discussed. Provided the ratio of nanoparticle spacing to nanoparticle diameter (for spherical nanoparticles) exceeds a critical value, the electromagnetic interactions between nanoparticles are dominated by dynamic dipole-dipole coupling. In other words, one nanoparticle acts on the others (and on itself) by means of the retarded electromagnetic dipole-dipole interactions between all nanoparticles. The resulting collective modes delocalized over the structure are surface-plasmon polaritons. We consider various structures including infinite and finite chains, ring-shaped arrangements of nanoparticles, and two-dimensional slab arrays. Given the dispersion of surface-plasmon polaritons, we can then obtain the linear optical properties (e.g., reflection and transmission spectra, angle-dependence of reflectivity and transmittivity), which in turn provide important information on the design of nanoparticle-array-based devices. Surface-plasmon polaritons are strongly attenuated by homogeneous and inhomogenous broadening as well as by intrinsic radiative loss. We discuss strategies for mitigating these losses.
Diversity and digital divide: Using the National Broadband Map to identify the non-adopters of broadband

Abstract The Internet has become an integral part of the everyday life for many Americans, yet a sizable gap still exists in household broadband adoption. Previous studies of the digital divide were restricted by the lack of sufficiently granular data on broadband availability and adoption. Recent efforts of NTIA and the FCC have made it possible for scholars to perform an exhaustive analysis of broadband diffusion. This paper examines differences in fixed location broadband adoption rates among households of various demographic and socio-economic characteristics and in different geographic locations utilizing the FCC's census tract level adoption data, demographic data from American Community Survey and the census block level broadband availability data from NTIA. Ordered probit models are estimated and used to conduct simulations in order to analyze the determinants of the broadband adoption rate. The results indicate that, although available in most tracts, the lack of broadband availability can still be a deterrent to its adoption. Furthermore, simulations indicate that, in non-metropolitan areas, policies targeting broadband availability would have a larger impact on adoption than policies targeting income or education, for instance. Additionally, where broadband is available, the census tracts with more educated, wealthy and older people who have more choices of broadband providers have higher fixed broadband subscription rates. The positive impact of older population on adoption rate contradicts the conventional belief that the older generation is left behind. Drawing from the previous literature, the older population may be more likely to have a home broadband subscription through traditional technologies, while their younger counterparts, who adapt to new technologies quicker, may be subscribing to mobile broadband.
The weakness of sweetness: masculinity and confectionary in Japan

This paper explores the complex relationship of sweets to changing gender identities in Japan. Drawing on ethnography and popular culture sources, it examines ways men negotiate their beliefs and a...
Stress-Induced Orientation of Cocontinuous Nanostructures within Randomly End-Linked Copolymer Networks

Randomly end-linked copolymer networks (RECNs) provide a robust route to self-assembled cocontinuous nanostructures. Here, we study the orientation of cocontinuous polystyrene/poly(d,l-lactide) (PS/PLA) RECNs induced by uniaxial stretching above the glass transition temperatures of the components. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) reveals that the domains initially undergo nonaffine stretching at low strain (e < 0.4), followed by domain rotation at larger strains, yielding a “soft elastic” response and providing a high degree of orientation. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) tomography confirms that stretching leads to topological changes in the nanostructure, corresponding to reorganization of domain interfaces. The combination of orientation at the molecular and nanostructural levels provides substantial improvements in yield strength, toughness, and stiffness. In addition to possibilities for improving mechanical properties, cocontinuous nanostructures with controlled levels of orientation have ...
A High-speed Inspection System of Large Area Component

AOI (Automatic optical inspection) systems are becoming more and more important in industrial production lines. Because of the progress of manufacturing technology, the area of TFT-LCD panel components is growing larger, and the requested resolution is getting tinier. Here we are interested in the defect inspection of large area component, such as color filter, TFT array pattern, and substrate glass. The difficulties in its defect inspection are its complex texture and demand for high-speed processing. In this paper, we proposed a high-speed AOI system, including the multi-thread structure and the inspection algorithm. The multi-thread structure can decrease the loading of CPU at host PC. It makes the AOI system becomes simple, flexible, and easier to be managed. The proposed inspection algorithm improves the traditional cell-to-cell comparison method and improves inspection rate. Experimental results show that the proposed AOI system can efficiently detect the defects with high-speed, and it is useful and practical in real inspection line of large area component.
From Logic to Computer Science – A Personal Experience

The article explains why the author is so grateful to Professor Zdzislaw Pawlak whom was possible to meet on her way from mathematics to computer science.
The Most Recent Cascadia Earthquake and Native American Narratives

The Cascadia subduction zone fault lies just off the Pacific coast of the USA and Canada. Although this fault has been seismically inactive over the written history of the Cascadia region, it has the potential to produce catastrophic earthquakes and tsunamis. A variety of dating methods have been used to show that the most recent Cascadia earthquake occurred in 1700. Among these methods is an informal analysis of oral traditions handed down by Native American peoples that appear to refer to a major earthquake in this region. A central difficulty in analyzing these narratives quantitatively is their use of a generation and other qualitative measures of time that have no fixed lengths. Here, these narratives are analyzed under an explicit statistical model of the lengths of these measures. The results raise a question about the previous conclusion that these narratives all refer to the most recent Cascadia earthquake.
Enzymatic modification of lipids for trans‐free margarine

Several studies have shown that high intake of trans fat is associated with increased risk of chronic diseases especially cardiovascular disease. The levels of trans fat in the American diet is of concern. Structured lipid is a lipid that has been modified from its native form either by biocatalysts or chemical catalysts. These modifications result in change in the triacylglycerol molecular species which further alters the physicochemical properties such as melting properties, solid fat content, and oxidative stability of lipids. The process allows the production of a wide range of functional and nutritional lipids that may meet consumer needs. Enzymatically synthesized structured lipids can be used as a substitute for conventional lipids in trans-free margarine formulations. This article gives an overview of trans fatty acids and enzymatic modification of lipids for producing trans-free margarine.
Chaotic Data Encryption for Long-Distance Monitoring of Nuclear Reactors

AbstractA secure long-distance monitoring scheme is proposed for nuclear engineering applications using chaos synchronization and nonlinear observers for online transmittal of operational data, distance monitoring, fault detection, and other related processes. The proposed system consists of three components: (a) chaotic transmitter to encrypt and send signals coming from a message originating system, (b) chaotic receiver to decrypt information signals, and (c) reconstruction of the message originating system using the decrypted signals. The Lorenz chaotic system whose parameters are defined as nonlinear functions of the state variables to improve the security level of the chaos-based communication is considered as the chaotic encrypter. In the receiver section, a nonlinear observer is used to provide synchronization and to decrypt the message signal. A similar nonlinear observer is employed to reconstruct the message originating system state variables from the recovered message signal. Numerical results ...
Dynamically Chiral Helical Polymers: A New Frontier in Asymmetric Catalysis?

Chiral solvents can control the screw sense of helically chiral polymers which can then function as enantioselective catalysts when fitted with chemically active residues.
Why the tall-poppy syndrome is becoming worse in the creative professions / Razones por las que el síndrome de la amapola alta es cada vez más acentuado en las profesiones creativas

The tall-poppy syndrome (TPS) is a pattern of behaviour whereby people who excel in some respect are cut down to size by those around them. People are often uncomfortable with those who excel and t...
Targeting hypertriglyceridemia to mitigate cardiovascular risk: A review.

A causal relationship between elevated triglycerides and cardiovascular disease is controversial, as trials of triglyceride-lowering treatments have not shown significant impact on cardiovascular outcomes. However, hypertriglyceridemia is associated with atherogenesis and risk for acute cardiovascular events that persist despite optimal statin treatment. Although most trials of triglyceride-lowering treatments have been negative, in trials of niacin and fibrates, subgroup analyses in patients with higher baseline triglycerides and lower HDL-C levels suggest reduced incidence of cardiovascular endpoints. The REDUCE-IT trial demonstrated that addition of purified prescription eicosapentaenoic acid (icosapent ethyl) 4 ​g/day in high-risk patients with triglyceride levels 135-499 ​mg/dL and optimized statin treatment significantly reduced cardiovascular events versus placebo (hazard ratio 0.75; 95% confidence interval 0.68-0.83; P ​< ​0.001). Benefit was seen regardless of baseline and on-treatment triglyceride levels, suggesting that other effects of eicosapentaenoic acid besides triglyceride reduction may have played a role.
Data-Driven Electrostatics Analysis based on Physics-Constrained Deep learning

Computing the electric potential and electric field is important for modeling and analysis of VLSI chip and high speed circuits. For instance, it is an important step for DC analysis for high speed circuits as well as dielectric reliability and capacitance extraction for VLSI interconnects. In this paper, we propose a new data-driven meshless 2D analysis method, called PCEsolve, of electric potential and electric fields based on the physics-constrained deep learning scheme. We show how to formulate the differential loss functions to consider the Laplace differential equations with voltage boundary conditions for typical electrostatic analysis problem so that the supervised learning process can be carried out. We apply the resulting PCEsolve solver to calculate electric potential and electric field for VLSI interconnects with complicated boundaries. We show the potential and limitations of physics-constrained deep learning for practical electrostatics analysis. Our study for purely label-free training (in which no information from FEM solver is provided) shows that PCEsolve can get accurate results around the boundaries, but the accuracy degenerates in regions far away from the boundaries. To mitigate this problem, we explore to add some simulation data or labels at collocation points derived from FEM analysis and resulting PCEsolve can be much more accurate across all the solution domain. Numerical results demonstrate that the PCEsolve achieves an average error rate of 3.6% on 64 cases with random boundary conditions and it is 27.5× faster than COMSOL on test cases. The speedup can be further boosted to ~ 38000× in single-point estimations. We also study the impacts of weights on different components of loss functions to improve the model accuracy for both voltage and electric field.
Where we are with acquired angioedema due to C1 inhibitor deficiency: A systematic literature review.

Abstract Acquired angioedema due to C1 inhibitor deficiency (C1-INH-AAE) is a rare disease characterized by adult-onset recurrent non-urticarial angioedema with low levels of C1-INH. It is associated with lymphoproliferative disorders, and treatments are off-label with variable success. We conducted a systematic literature review to include patients with C1-INH-AAE identified in PubMed and Embase databases between January 2006 and February 2021. Clinical features of these patients were summarized, and factors associated with disease remission were explored. A total of 121 patients were included in the current study with a median age at diagnosis of 64 years and 45.5% being male. An associated disease was recorded in 94 patients (77.7%), and lymphoproliferative disorder was the most reported (59/94, 62.8%). Anti-C1-INH autoantibodies were present in 45 of 71 patients (63.4%). Factors impacting disease remissions included age (odds ratio [OR] 0.951, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.909–0.994, p = 0.027), male (OR 0.327, 95% CI 0.124–0.866, p = 0.025), presence of monoclonal gammopathy (OR 0.133, 95% CI 0.041–0.429, p = 0.001), requirement of specific on-demand treatment (OR 0.216, 95% CI 0.066–0.709, p = 0.012) and rituximab use (OR 2.865, 95% CI 1.038–7.911, p = 0.042). A total of nine patients (7.4%) died at last follow up and most were unrelated to C1-INH-AAE. Our results imply that C1-INH-AAE is primarily associated with underlying B or plasma cell abnormalities, and clone-directed therapies could be promising options for its long-term management.
A Unified Rule for Binocular Contrast Summation Applies to Normal Vision and Common Eye Diseases.

Purpose Binocular summation refers to better visual performance with two eyes than with one eye. Little is known about the mechanism underlying binocular contrast summation in patients with common eye diseases who often exhibit binocularly asymmetric vision loss and structural changes along the visual pathway. Here we asked whether the mechanism of binocular contrast summation remains preserved in eye disease. Methods This study included 1035 subjects with normal ocular health, cataract, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and retinitis pigmentosa. Monocular and binocular contrast sensitivity were measured by the Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity chart. Interocular ratio (IOR) was quantified as the ratio between the poorer and better eye contrast sensitivity. Binocular summation ratio (BSR) was quantified as the ratio between binocular and better eye contrast sensitivity. Results All groups showed statistically significant binocular summation, with the BSR ranging from 1.25 [1.20, 1.30] in the glaucoma group to 1.31 [1.27, 1.36] in the normal vision group. There was no significant group difference in the BSR, after accounting for IOR. By fitting a binocular summation model Binocular = (Leftm + Rightm)1/m to the contrast sensitivity data, we found that the same binocular summation rule, reflected by the parameter m, applies across the five groups. Conclusions Cortical binocular contrast summation appears to be preserved in spite of eye diseases that can affect the two eyes differently. This finding supports the importance of assessing both monocular and binocular functions, rather than relying on a monocular assessment in the better eye as a potentially inaccurate surrogate measure.
Determining Reperfusion and Myocardial Infarct Size Using Serum Enzymes

Interventions implemented to date in the clinical setting of acute myocardial infarction to salvage ischemic myocardium were aimed primarily at decreasing myocardial oxygen demands. Attempts to increase coronary flow have been relatively unsuccessful with drug therapy. Reperfusion, although shown in experimental infarction to be the most effective means of increasing coronary flow, was until recently not feasible in man. The recent demonstration that transmural myocardial infarction is associated with a coronary thrombus (1) which can be lysed with thrombolytic therapy (2) has drastically changed our thinking in both the assessment and treatment of acute myocardial infarction. Intracoronary streptokinase was very quickly approved by the Food and Drug Administration for routine use in acute myocardial infarction, perhaps too quickly. The impetus for this therapy has been enhanced by the recent demonstration that coronary thrombolysis could be achieved by the intravenous administration of streptokinase and, more recently, the relatively clot-selective, naturally occurring tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) (3). Given the safety and ease whereby the recombinant form of rt-PA can be given, it is conceivable that it could be administered to patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction at home or in transit to the hospital. Documentation of coronary thrombolysis is exciting, but should the present, ongoing, multicentered trial show coronary lysis with rt-PA to be effective in salvaging myocardium and reducing mortality, it could indeed revolutionize the care of the patient with acute myocardial infarction and change the overall thrust in the coronary care unit (4).
Improving Performance of Conformant Planners: Static Analysis of Declarative Planning Domain Specifications

The paper presents novel techniques to process planning problem specifications, expressed in a declarative description language, which enables the description of planning problems with incomplete knowledge. The outcome is improved performance and scalability of conformant planners. The paper proposes two transformations of a planning problem specification, aimed at reducing the size of the initial belief state and the number of actions to be dealt with. The two transformations have been implemented in a static analyzer and in a companion heuristic search conformant planner ( CpA +). The performance of the resulting system is compared with other state-of-the-art conformant planners.
Trading fours: Creativity, analogy, and exchange

In commenting on Eitan Wilf's “Sociable robots, jazz music, and divination,” I consider contemporary practices of spontaneous algorithmic composition designed to help produce new, unpredictable, and “interesting” jazz music. I focus, in particular, on five themes that emerge in Wilf's article: emotion, grooves and grooving, routinization, affordances and constraints, and analogy as both cultural practice and theory-making strategy. I also draw on a comparison between the emergent compositional practices Wilf documents and ethnographic accounts of other improvisatory practices in jazz.
Memetic algorithms and the molecular geometry optimization problem

A summary of recent work applying hybrid genetic algorithms to the molecular geometry optimization problem with the Lennard-Jones interaction is presented. The incorporation of local search optimizers has been critical to the success of these studies. A sample calculation employing a stochastic local search is presented to demonstrate its benefits.
The routine use of bicycle exercises for the prophylaxis of postoperative thrombophlebitis

Abstract A presentation of the subject of postoperative thrombophlebitis is briefly given by a review of the literature on incidence, etiology, and prophylaxis. One method of prophylaxis, i.e., bicycle exercises, is proposed as advocated by Gamble, and its use in 209 cases with an incidence of thrombophlebitis of 0.5 per cent is presented. We feel that the employment of this regimen is entirely satisfactory and is simple to carry out without unduly burdening the nursing staff of any modern hospital.
Population Characteristics of Howlers: Ecological Conditions or Group History

We examined the relative importance of ecological parameters—habitat productivity and seasonality—and group history—episodic predation, disease, and sudden habitat deterioration—to explain variation in the density and group structure of howlers (Alouatta spp.). We use data from a census of Guanacaste National Park, Costa Rica, and a literature review characterizing 80 howler populations. In Guanacaste National Park both habitat type and degree of protection affect howler density and group structure. Howlers were found at the highest density and in the largest groups in areas of semievergreen forest, which ecological sampling indicates have the most consistent level of food production. Differences in density between the sector of the park that first received protected status and more recently protected areas may be due partially to the degree of protection the areas received. We test the prediction that howler density and group structure would be influenced by habitat productivity as indexed by rainfall. Average group size and sex ratios differ among species, but female-to-immature ratios do not. Considering all censuses at one site to be independent, there are significant interspecific differences in density, with Alouatta pigra occurring at lower densities than the other species. In spite of such variability, there is no relationship between annual rainfall and howler density, and rainfall had a variable effect on group size depending on the level of independence that was considered. While such ecological comparisons are unrefined, e.g., rainfall must be used as a surrogate for habitat production, the fact that so few relationships were documented suggests that factors other than the ecological factors considered here are responsible for the observed differences in population characteristics. We suggest that much of the variability in howler population characteristics is related to events occurring in the recent history of the groups, such as habitat alteration, hunting, food tree crop failure, and disease.
Adaptive synergy between catechol and lysine promotes wet adhesion by surface salt displacement

In physiological fluids and seawater, adhesion of synthetic polymers to solid surfaces is severely limited by high salt, pH, and hydration, yet these conditions have not deterred the evolution of effective adhesion by mussels. Mussel foot proteins provide insights about adhesive adaptations: Notably, the abundance and proximity of catecholic Dopa (3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) and lysine residues hint at a synergistic interplay in adhesion. Certain siderophores—bacterial iron chelators—consist of paired catechol and lysine functionalities, thereby providing a convenient experimental platform to explore molecular synergies in bioadhesion. These siderophores and synthetic analogs exhibit robust adhesion energies (E(ad) ≥-15 millijoules per square meter) to mica in saline pH 3.5 to 7.5 and resist oxidation. The adjacent catechol-lysine placement provides a "one-two punch," whereby lysine evicts hydrated cations from the mineral surface, allowing catechol binding to underlying oxides.
The recovery from task execution errors during time delayed teleoperation

The teleprogramming system employs a supervisory control approach where operator interaction with a virtual environment directs the actions of a remote manipulator operating semi-autonomously. We focus on the detection, diagnosis, and recovery from unexpected situations frequently arising during normal operation. The teleprogramming system employs a single thread approach to error recovery that is inherent in the system design. We perform two experimental tasks, each highlighting a different role for the operator, using the teleprogramming system with a simulated communication time delay of 10 seconds. In the first task of inserting and extracting bolts, the operator assumes the role of "task level reasoning" or task planning and sequencing, task state reasoning, and diagnostic procedure generation. In the second task, puncturing and slicing duct tape, the operator performs "action level reasoning" or diagnosing and correcting unexpected situations and determining success of actions. Our experimental results indicate that complex tasks can be accomplished when the operator is provided multiple and overlapping forms of feedback. >
Deficiency Arguments Against Empiricism and the Question of Empirical Indefeasibility

I give a brief overview of Albert Casullo’s Essays on A Priori Knowledge and Justification (2012), followed by a summary of his diagnostic framework for evaluating accounts of a priori knowledge and a priori justification. I then discuss Casullo’s strategy for countering deficiency arguments against empiricism. A deficiency argument against empiricism can be countered by mounting a parallel argument against moderate rationalism that shows moderate rationalism to be defective in a similar way. I argue that a particular deficiency argument put forth by George Bealer in “The Incoherence of Empiricism” (1992) can withstand a parallel challenge mounted by Casullo (2012, Ch.6). I then consider Casullo’s preferred analysis of the concept of a priori justification, which identifies a belief’s being justified by some nonexperiential source as the feature by virtue of which it is justified a priori. On the analysis, an apriori-justfied belief that is justified to a degree that is sufficient for knowledge is not taken to be empirically indefeasible. I argue that Casullo could avail himself of an empirical indefeasibility requirement that is consistent with his minimal and fallibilist conception of a priori knowledge. Doing so would capture a feature of the concept of a priori knowledge that is of particular interest and significance.
Mixed glioneuronal tumors: recently described entities.

Abstract Context.—Several distinctive mixed glioneuronal tumors that warrant recognition as clinicopathologic entities have been recently described by neuropathologists. Objective.—To summarize important clinical, radiologic, and pathologic findings for 3 novel glioneuronal tumors (papillary glioneuronal tumor, rosetted glioneuronal tumor, and rosette-forming glioneuronal tumor of the fourth ventricle). Data Sources.—Recent reports in the pathology literature and the authors' experience with mixed glioneuronal tumors at a major cancer center. Conclusions.—Histologic features enabling recognition of these recently described glioneuronal tumors are presented along with remarks concerning the classification of mixed neuronal and glial tumors exhibiting unconventional appearances.