cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Isobolographic Analysis of Antiseizure Activity of the GABA Type A Receptor-Modulating Synthetic Neurosteroids Brexanolone and Ganaxolone with Tiagabine and Midazolam

Epilepsy is often treated with a combination of antiepileptic drugs. Although neurosteroids are potent anticonvulsants, little is known about their combination potential for the treatment of refractory epilepsy. Here, we investigated the combination efficacy of neurosteroids allopregnanolone (AP, brexanolone) and ganaxolone (GX) with the GABA-reuptake inhibitor tiagabine (TG) or the benzodiazepine midazolam (MDZ) on tonic inhibition in dentate gyrus granule cells and seizure protection in the hippocampus kindling and 6-Hz seizure models. Isobolographic analysis indicated that combinations of GX and TG or AP and TG at three standard ratios (1:1, 3:1, and 1:3) displayed significant synergism in augmenting tonic inhibition. In pharmacological studies, GX, AP, and TG produced dose-dependent antiseizure effects in mice (ED50 = 1.46, 4.20, and 0.20 mg/kg, respectively). The combination of GX and TG at the fixed ratio of 1:1 exerted the greatest combination index (CI = 0.53), indicating strong synergistic interaction in seizure protection. In addition, combination regimens of AP and TG showed robust synergism for seizure protection (CI = 0.4). Finally, combination regimens of GX and MDZ elicited synergistic (CI = 0.6) responses for seizure protection. These results demonstrate striking synergism of neurosteroids and TG combination for seizure protection, likely because of their effects at extrasynaptic GABA type A (GABA-A) receptors from TG-induced elevation in GABA levels. Superadditive antiseizure activity of neurosteroid-MDZ combinations may stem from their actions at both synaptic and extrasynaptic GABA-A receptors. Together, these findings provide a potential mechanistic basis for combination potential of neurosteroids with TG or benzodiazepines for the management of refractory epilepsy, status epilepticus, and seizure disorders. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This paper investigates for the first time the potential synergistic interactions between two neurosteroids with anticonvulsant properties, allopregnanolone (brexanolone) and the very similar synthetic analog, ganaxolone, and two conventional antiepileptic drugs active at GABA type A receptors: the GABA-reuptake inhibitor tiagabine and a benzodiazepine, midazolam. The results demonstrate a synergistic protective effect of neurosteroid-tiagabine combinations, as well as neurosteroid-midazolam regimens in seizure models.
Confronting the Challenge of Continuous Professional Development for Physical Education Teacher Educators

The purpose of writing this article is to draw attention to the practice of physical education teacher education. The hope is to engage in an ongoing conversation with teacher educators about promo...
Flowering phenology and bumblebee activity in early summer in Grand Teton National Park

From late May through late June we monitored flowering phenology of all plants in four transects in Grand Teton National Park. We identified and collected blooming data on 25 species. In addition, we assessed both bumblebee species composition and foraging activity in the same transects. We captured queens from five different bumblebee species in vane traps. Observations of transects for forager activity yielded little data, and we recommend future studies employ walking transects. Featured photo by Michael Dillon, taken from the AMK Ranch photo collection.
Ditopic halogen bonding with bipyrimidines and activated pyrimidines.

The potential of pyrimidines to serve as ditopic halogen-bond acceptors is explored. The halogen-bonded cocrystals formed from solutions of either 5,5′-bi­pyrimidine (C8H6N4) or 1,2-bis­(pyrimidin-5-yl)ethyne (C10H6N4) and 2 molar equivalents of 1,3-di­iodo­tetra­fluoro­benzene (C6F4I2) have a 1:1 com­position. Each pyrimidine moiety acts as a single halogen-bond acceptor and the bi­pyrimidines act as ditopic halogen-bond acceptors. In contrast, the activated pyrimidines 2- and 5-{[4-(di­methyl­amino)­phen­yl]ethyn­yl}pyrimidine (C14H13N3) are ditopic halogen-bond acceptors, and 1:1 halogen-bonded cocrystals are formed from 1:1 mixtures of each of the activated pyrimidines and either 1,2- or 1,3-di­iodo­tetra­fluoro­benzene. A 1:1 cocrystal was also formed between 2-{[4-(di­methyl­amino)­phen­yl]ethyn­yl}pyrimidine and 1,4-di­iodo­tetra­fluoro­benzene, while a 2:1 cocrystal was formed between 5-{[4-(di­methyl­amino)­phen­yl]ethyn­yl}pyrimidine and 1,4-di­iodo­tetra­fluoro­benzene.
The Equifax Hack Revisited and Repurposed

The recent indictments against Chinese hackers should be seen as political theater. Once again, the Equifax hack rears its ugly head-but this time for a political purpose.
Comparing confirmatory biopsy outcomes between MRI-targeted biopsy and standard systematic biopsy among men being enrolled in prostate cancer active surveillance

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the ability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-targeted biopsy combined with systematic biopsy (MRI-biopsy) to reduce negative biopsies and detect clinically significant prostate cancer compared to systematic biopsy (SB) alone in the confirmatory biopsy setting using matched cohorts. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients were identified from an active surveillance database who had a previously positive transrectal ultrasonography-guided SB followed by a confirmatory biopsy at a single institution between 2006 and 2019. Patients were divided into two cohorts based on confirmatory biopsy technique: SB alone or MRI-biopsy (which included MRI-targeted and systematic biopsies). Cohorts were then matched on age, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, number of positive cores on initial biopsy and initial biopsy Gleason grade group (GG). Logistic regression was performed to identify associations with confirmatory biopsy upgrading. RESULTS After matching, 514 patients were identified (257 per cohort). PSA, prostate volume and PSA density prior to initial biopsy, in addition to total number of initial biopsy positive cores and GG, were similar between the matched cohorts. After confirmatory biopsy, 118/257 patients (45.9%) in the MRI-biopsy cohort were upgraded compared to 46/257 patients (17.9%) in the SB cohort (P < 0.001). The rate of negative confirmatory biopsy was 32/257 (12.5%) compared to 97/257 (37.7%) in the MRI-biopsy and SB cohorts, respectively (P < 0.001). Confirmatory MRI-biopsy was associated with greater odds of confirmatory biopsy upgrade from GG 1 to ≥GG 2 compared to SB alone (odds ratio 3.62, 95% confidence interval 1.97-6.63; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION The addition of MRI-targeted biopsies to SB in the confirmatory biopsy setting among men with previously detected prostate cancer resulted in fewer negative confirmatory biopsies and detection of more clinically significant prostate cancer compared to SB alone.
[1,5]-Sigmatropic Shifts Regulated by Built-in Frustration

Conceptually, many organic reactions involve a flow of electron density from electron-rich to electron-poor regions. When the direct flow of electron density is blocked, the innate "frustration" can provide a driving force for a reaction that removes the blockade. Herein, we show how this idea can be used for the design of molecular rearrangements promoted by remotely placed donor-acceptor pair of substituents. We evaluate effects of such "frustration" on the rates of competing [1,5]-hydrogen and [1,5]-halogen shifts in boron-substituted 1,3-pentadienes. As the sp3 hybridized carbon (C1) in these dienes interrupts the conjugation path between the donor to the acceptor, the system conceptually resembles a frustrated Lewis pair (FLP). Frustration is weakened when the formation of a new chemical bond in the TS opens communication between electron-rich and -poor regions and is removed completely when the resonance interaction between donor and acceptor develops fully in the rearranged product. Such relief of chemical frustration is directly translated into more favorable thermodynamic driving force and decreased intrinsic activation energies. Marcus theory separates thermodynamic contribution to the activation barriers and suggests that the electronic communication between electron rich and poor regions lowers the activation barrier via the formation of stabilizing 3-center contacts in the TS. Dramatic TS stabilization illustrates that the migrating groups function as an electronic relay between migration origin and terminus with properties fine-tuned by the boronyl acceptor. The combined effects of the C-X bond strength (X = migrating group), Lewis acidities of the acceptors, thermodynamic driving forces, and secondary orbital interactions control the observed barrier trends and selectivity of migration.
Robotic Surgery for the Reconstruction of Transplant Ureteral Strictures.

Abstract Objective To demonstrate the feasibility and success of a robotic approach to reconstruction of ureterovesical anastomotic strictures in kidney transplants. Materials and Methods Between November 2017 and December 2019, a total of 5 patients with transplant ureteral stricture were identified and treated with robot assisted laparoscopic repair. All patients were confirmed to have ureteral stricture with a preoperative antegrade nephrostogram through their nephrostomy tube and cystogram. The patients demographics, ureteral characteristics, type of procedure, and outcomes are reported. Results All patients were diagnosed after evaluation for renal deterioration. The average age of the patients was 49 years old. The average stricture length was 2.5 cm, and the location was variable, though more commonly in the distal ureter. Three patients required a pyelo-vesicostomy, while 2 required a ureteroneocystostomy. The mean length of stay was 2.2 days. Average follow-up was 97 days, with all 5 patients having successful outcomes, no strictures or delayed leaks were identified. There were no wound infections or readmissions within 30 days. Conclusion Though a complex repair, the robot-assisted approach to transplant ureter reconstruction using either an end to side neoureterocystotomy or direct pyelo-vesicotomy is technically feasible and successful. Given the many advantages inherent in comparison to an open approach, the robotic repair offers significant advantages to both the patient and the surgeon who is experienced with robotic surgery and reconstructive principles.
Blade-Coated Electron Transport Layers to Enable Scalable Perovskite Photovoltaics

With the rapid improvements in performance of perovskite photovoltaics, scale represents one of the few remaining hurdles to commercial viability. The active perovskite layer has previously been deposited via a scalable solution-based method, blade coating. Associated transport layers, however, are often deposited using energy- and capital-intensive methods. Here, we present processes by which the electron transport layer, a mixed fullerene solution, and cathode buffer layer, bathocuproine, are blade-coated in an ambient environment to fabricate large-area solar devices that match or outperform the equivalent film deposited via thermal evaporation. With this work, a high-performing, scalable perovskite solar cell can be manufactured in ambient conditions from top to bottom contact.
Transient Anti-Phospholipid Antibodies in Two Patients With COVID-19

We report two cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients who developed pulmonary embolism and transient anti-phospholipid antibodies. At the time of presentation with acute pulmonary embolism, both patients had leukocytosis and increased levels of anti-cardiolipin antibodies, which resolved at testing 12 weeks after initial presentation. Studying cases of pulmonary embolism and increased anti-phospholipid antibodies in the context of COVID-19 could be one of the factors for elucidating the possible connection between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, anti-phospholipid antibodies, and thrombosis.
Reading and translating towards decoloniality: critique of the Korean ethnonation in Kwŏn Chŏng-saeng’s Mongsil ŏnni

Kwŏn Chŏng-saeng’s South Korean youth novel Mongsil ŏnni (My Sister Mongsil, 1984) is a story about a young girl’s survival through the chaos of post-liberation Korea and the Korean War. It challen...
The Role of Attorneys in Campus Adjudications Involving Sexual Misconduct

This Chapter introduces students’ legal rights to counsel in campus disciplinary proceedings and discusses some of the different roles attorneys play in campus disciplinary cases involving sexual misconduct violations.
Neuroprotective Natural Products for Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the number one neurovegetative disease, but its treatment options are relatively few and ineffective. In efforts to discover new strategies for AD therapy, natural products have aroused interest in the research community and in the pharmaceutical industry for their neuroprotective activity, targeting different pathological mechanisms associated with AD. A wide variety of natural products from different origins have been evaluated preclinically and clinically for their neuroprotective mechanisms in preventing and attenuating the multifactorial pathologies of AD. This review mainly focuses on the possible neuroprotective mechanisms from natural products that may be beneficial in AD treatment and the natural product mixtures or extracts from different sources that have demonstrated neuroprotective activity in preclinical and/or clinical studies. It is believed that natural product mixtures or extracts containing multiple bioactive compounds that can work additively or synergistically to exhibit multiple neuroprotective mechanisms might be an effective approach in AD drug discovery.
Three-dimensional vascular and metabolic imaging using inverted autofluorescence.

Significance: Three-dimensional (3D) vascular and metabolic imaging (VMI) of whole organs in rodents provides critical and important (patho)physiological information in studying animal models of vascular network. Aim: Autofluorescence metabolic imaging has been used to evaluate mitochondrial metabolites such as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and flavine adenine dinucleotide (FAD). Leveraging these autofluorescence images of whole organs of rodents, we have developed a 3D vascular segmentation technique to delineate the anatomy of the vasculature as well as mitochondrial metabolic distribution. Approach: By measuring fluorescence from naturally occurring mitochondrial metabolites combined with light-absorbing properties of hemoglobin, we detected the 3D structure of the vascular tree of rodent lungs, kidneys, hearts, and livers using VMI. For lung VMI, an exogenous fluorescent dye was injected into the trachea for inflation and to separate the airways, confirming no overlap between the segmented vessels and airways. Results: The kidney vasculature from genetically engineered rats expressing endothelial-specific red fluorescent protein TdTomato confirmed a significant overlap with VMI. This approach abided by the “minimum work” hypothesis of the vascular network fitting to Murray’s law. Finally, the vascular segmentation approach confirmed the vascular regression in rats, induced by ionizing radiation. Conclusions: Simultaneous vascular and metabolic information extracted from the VMI provides quantitative diagnostic markers without the confounding effects of vascular stains, fillers, or contrast agents.
Application of convolutional neural networks towards nuclei segmentation in localization-based super-resolution fluorescence microscopy images

Automated segmentation of nuclei in microscopic images has been conducted to enhance throughput in pathological diagnostics and biological research. Segmentation accuracy and speed has been significantly enhanced with the advent of convolutional neural networks. A barrier in the broad application of neural networks to nuclei segmentation is the necessity to train the network using a set of application specific images and image labels. Previous works have attempted to create broadly trained networks for universal nuclei segmentation; however, such networks do not work on all imaging modalities, and best results are still commonly found when the network is retrained on user specific data. Stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) based super-resolution fluorescence microscopy has opened a new avenue to image nuclear architecture at nanoscale resolutions. Due to the large size and discontinuous features typical of super-resolution images, automatic nuclei segmentation can be difficult. In this study, we apply commonly used networks (Mask R-CNN and UNet architectures) towards the task of segmenting super-resolution images of nuclei. First, we assess whether networks broadly trained on conventional fluorescence microscopy datasets can accurately segment super-resolution images. Then, we compare the resultant segmentations with results obtained using networks trained directly on our super-resolution data. We next attempt to optimize and compare segmentation accuracy using three different neural network architectures. Results indicate that super-resolution images are not broadly compatible with neural networks trained on conventional bright-field or fluorescence microscopy images. When the networks were trained on super-resolution data, however, we attained nuclei segmentation accuracies (F1-Score) in excess of 0.8, comparable to past results found when conducting nuclei segmentation on conventional fluorescence microscopy images. Overall, we achieved the best results utilizing the Mask R-CNN architecture. We found that convolutional neural networks are powerful tools capable of accurately and quickly segmenting localization-based super-resolution microscopy images of nuclei. While broadly trained and widely applicable segmentation algorithms are desirable for quick use with minimal input, optimal results are still found when the network is both trained and tested on visually similar images. We provide a set of Colab notebooks to disseminate the software into the broad scientific community ( https://github.com/YangLiuLab/Super-Resolution-Nuclei-Segmentation ).
A Brief History of Tobacco and Implications for New Tobacco Products

This chapter provides a brief review of the modern tobacco epidemic, from the onset of the automatic cigarette rolling machine, through the marketing to US troops and youth through movies and glamorization of tobacco, the master settlement and release of the industries documents demonstrating decades of lies about the harms of tobacco, FDA’s Family Tobacco Prevention and Control Act, and the continuing loopholes that the electronic cigarette industry is using today to avoid meaningful regulation and addict a new generation of youth. We set the background in place for other chapters in this book that address clinical practices and policies, and the health effects of e-cigarettes and other tobacco and nicotine products on users, children, and nonsmokers and nonvapers exposed to the secondhand effects of these toxic products.
Case Report: Bullous Lung Disease Following COVID-19

More than 87% of patients report the persistence of at least one symptom after recovery from Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Dyspnea is one of the most frequently reported symptoms following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infection (SARS CoV-2) with persistent chest radiological abnormalities up to three months after symptom onset. These radiological abnormalities are variable and most commonly include ground-glass opacities, reticulations, mosaic attenuation, parenchymal bands, interlobular septal thickening, bronchiectasis, and fibrotic like changes. However, in this case report, we describe findings of bullous lung disease as a complication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infection. As the pandemic continues there is a need to understand the multiple respiratory manifestations of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19. We, therefore, present this case to add to the current body of literature describing pulmonary disease as a consequence of SARS CoV-2 infection.
Pairing Brand and Product Names with Nude and Neutral Stimuli in Advertisements: An Investigation of Recall and Attitudes

The effects of female nudity in ads on attitudes and brand and product recall was examined. Distraction explained the higher recall for pastoral scenes without people than for pastoral scenes with people or pictures of nudes. Males, older people, church nonattenders, conservative church members, and females from larger cities possessed more positive attitudes. Attitudes, however, have little effect on recall.
The Structure, Function, and Assembly of Actin Filament Bundles

The cellular organization, function, and molecular composition of selected biological systems with prominent actin filament bundles are reviewed. An overall picture of the great variety of functions served by actin bundles emerges from this overview. A unifying theme is that the actin cross-linking proteins are conserved throughout the eukaryotic kingdom and yet assembled in a variety of combinations to produce actin bundles of differing functions. Mechanisms of actin bundle formation in vitro are considered illustrating the variety of physical and chemical driving forces in this exceedingly complex process. Our limited knowledge regarding the formation of actin filament bundles in vivo is contrasted with the elegant biophysical studies performed in vitro but nonetheless reveals that interactions with membranes, nucleation sites, and other organizational components must contribute to formation of actin bundles in vivo.
Optimization of microring-based filters for dense WDM silicon photonic interconnects

The article describes an experimentally validated approach for optimizing wavelength-selective microring filters based on optical signals power penalties. The methodology is used to analyze the performance of WDM links for various bit rates and channel-spacing.
The Model Specification Problem from a Probabilistic Reduction Perspective

To understand statistical model specification in the context of the probabilistic reduction (PR) approach, we need to consider two broad questions: first, "what is being modeled" and second, "what is to be required for an adequate account of model specification." From the PR perspective, the primary object of modeling is the actual data generating process (DGP): the source of the data in coming to inquire about the phenomenon of interest (see Spanos 1986). The adequacy of any account of model specification will be assessed by its potential in allowing the modeler to learn about the actual DGP and the phenomenon of interest. The manner in which these issues are addressed within the framework of the PR approach sets the stage for understanding and comparing the PR to the traditional textbook and Bayesian approaches.
Effect of corn processing on degradable intake protein requirement of finishing cattle.

Three finishing trials were conducted to determine effect of corn processing on degradable intake protein requirement (DIP) of feedlot cattle. In Trial 1, 252 steers were fed 90% concentrate, high-moisture corn-based diets that contained 0, 0.4, 0.8, or 1.2% urea (DM basis) to provide dietary DIP values of 7.0, 8.2, 9.3, and 10.5% of DM, respectively. Nonlinear analysis predicted maximal feed efficiency at 10.2% dietary DIP (95% confidence interval was 9.9 to 13.3%). In Trial 2, 264 steers were fed 90% concentrate, steam-flaked corn-based diets that contained 0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, 1.6, or 2.0% urea (DM basis) to provide dietary DIP values of 4.7, 5.8, 7.0, 8.2, 9.3, and 10.5% of DM, respectively. Nonlinear analysis predicted maximal feed efficiency at 7.1% dietary DIP (95% confidence interval was 7.0 to 7.2%). In Trial 3, 90 individually-fed steers were fed 90% concentrate, dry-rolled, high-moisture, or steam-flaked corn-based diets. Urea was factored across diets at 0, 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0% of DM to provide dietary DIP values of 4.8. 6.3, 7.8, 9.2, and 10.7% for dry-rolled, 6.7, 8.1, 9.6, 11.1, and 12.5% for high-moisture, and 4.7, 6.1, 7.6, 9.0, and 10.5% for steam-flaked corn-based diets, respectively. For the dry-rolled corn-based diet, nonlinear analysis could not predict a requirement because feed efficiency was not improved beyond the first increment of dietary DIP, suggesting that the DIP requirement was met at 6.3% of DM. For the high-moisture corn-based diet, nonlinear analysis predicted maximal feed efficiency at 10.0% dietary DIP (95% confidence interval was 9.2 to 11.3%). For the steam-flaked corn based diet, nonlinear analysis predicted maximal feed efficiency at 9.5% dietary DIP (95% confidence interval was 9.2 to 9.5%). Our estimate of the DIP requirement for dry-rolled corn-based diets (6.3%) agrees well with past research and predicted values. Our estimate of the DIP requirement for high-moisture corn-based diets (10.1%) was very consistent between trials and higher than predicted. Our estimates of the DIP requirement for steam-flaked corn-based diets varied from 7.1 to 9.5%, with an average of 8.3% of dietary DM.
Nuclear hyperfine coupling of nitrogen in the coordination sphere of the diiron center of methane monooxygenase hydroxylase.

Electron spin echo envelope modulation spectroscopy identified two ligand 14N interactions with the mixed-valence, Fe(II/III) diiron center of methane monooxygenase hydroxylase from Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath). Characteristic features of the spectra obtained at 9 and 10 GHz were analyzed and fit by simulation. One of the nitrogens possessed superhyperfine parameters (Aiso = 0.8 MHz, reff = 3.2 A, e2Qq = 1.8 MHz, eta = 0.35) consistent with a non-coordinating amino nitrogen of a histidine imidazole ligand to a Fe(III). The second, more strongly interacting nitrogen (Aiso = 5.0 MHz, reff = 2.2 A, e2Qq = 3.0 MHz, eta = 0.3) corresponds to the N delta directly bound to the effective Fe(II). These findings extend the previous electron nuclear double resonance results on the Methylosinus trichosporium hydroxylase (Hendrich, M.P., Fox, B.G., Andersson, K.K., Debrunner, P.G., and Lipscomb, J.D. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 261-269), which identified the N delta-Fe(II) interaction but failed to quantify its magnitude. Measurement of the linear electric field g shift of this mixed-valence species indicated that the site is charge-polarized on to one of the iron atoms, and its symmetry suggests that either charge is shifted away from the Fe-Fe axis (if gmax is defined by the Fe-Fe axis) or that gmid and gmax are perpendicular to the Fe-Fe axis (charge strongly localized at Fe(III) and axis taken as gmin).
Behavioral and Verbal Responses of Unabused Externalizing Children to Anatomically Detailed Doll Interviews

To see if unabused children with externalizing behavior disorders display more sexual behaviors and verbalizations than other children in their interactions with anatomically detailed dolls, sixteen 3- to 6-year-olds were compared with 44 nonexternalizing controls. A five-phase structured, detailed interview, and comprehensive coding of videotapes by external raters, was completed on 17 behaviors and verbalizations. As would be expected, externalizing children exhibited more overall activity than non-externalizing children. Also, externalizing children exhibited more behavioral sexual aggression during the body inventory phase, but no other differences in sexual behaviors or verbalizations occurred. Results suggest that most normative data on AD dolls generalize to externalizing children.
Design of a wireless obstacle-crossable exploration robot

In order to make the work in military reconnaissance, exploration of danger, emergency rescue and other dangerous field easier, a kind of obstacle-navigation reconnaissance robot have been designed. This project uses Intel Bay Trail SoC embedded platform as a robot system for remote control and decision-end, low-power Intel Galileo embedded platform as the robot motion controller. Remote control client provides a man-machine connector such as display screen, touch screen, handle and so on, achieved the automatic tracking and target approach algorithm, Robot operator can easily operate the robot to finish target grabbing, target monitoring tasks with the support of automatic target tracking algorithm and automatic target approaching algorithm. The robot include deformable crawler chassis, video surveillance equipment. Using the embedded and robot control technology to realize the video transmission, the control of robot direction, the robot obstacle-navigation, grab, and other functions. And the robot system is easy to use, easy to carry and low cost. This paper introduced the design of each module. the mechanical structure, the concrete scheme of hardware circuit and software design is given below.
Distributed credential chain discovery in trust management with parameterized roles and constraints (short paper)

Trust management (TM) is an approach to access control in decentralized distributed systems with access control decisions based on statements made by multiple principals. Li et al. developed the RT family of Role-Based Trust-management languages, which combine the strengths of Role-Based Access Control and TM systems. We present a distributed credential chain discovery algorithm for RT1C, a language in the RT family that has parameterized roles and constraints. Our algorithm is a combination of the logic-programming style top-down query evaluation with tabling and a goal-directed version of the deductive database style bottom-up evaluation. Our algorithm uses hints provided through the storage types to determine whether to use a top-down or bottom-up strategy for a particular part of the proof; this enables the algorithm to touch only those credentials that are related to the query, which are likely to be a small fraction of all the credentials in the system.
Cleavage of oligopeptide p-nitroanilides attached to N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide copolymers by guinea pig intestinal enzymes

N-(2-Hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide copolymers containing oligopeptide side chains terminated with p-nitroaniline, and low-molecular-weight oligopeptide p-nitroanilides, were synthesized. They were used as substrates to evaluate the enzymatic activity in the gastrointestinal tract of guinea pigs. Brush border membrane enzymes and luminal enzymes (supernatant and pellet) were isolated from guinea pig small intestine and colon, and the cleavage of the substrates was studied in vitro. The results indicate the presence of endopeptidase activity in both small intestine and colon brush border. Phosphoramidon, a potent inhibitor of endopeptidase-24.11, was effective in the cleavage of low-molecular-weight substrates, but ineffective in the cleavage of polymeric substrates, indicating the participation of a different endopeptidase in the cleavage of the latter. Luminal enzymes were more active in the cleavage of polymeric substrates (when compared to low-molecular-weight ones) in accordance with the physiological function of the gastrointestinal tract. The enzymatic activity, both luminal and brush border, was considerably lower in the colon than in the small intestine. This suggests that the colon might be a suitable site for the oral delivery of peptides and proteins.
Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drug-Induced Ulcers: Management by Traditional Therapies

Endoscopic distinction between ulcers and erosions is difficult. Consequently, existing literature, which must be taken at face value, may be misleading. Nevertheless, from published studies most gastric and duodenal ulcers associated with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs appear to heal on antacids or H2-antagonists. Sucralfate appears useful for duodenal but not gastric ulcers. Continuing nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs does not prevent or delay healing of duodenal or small gastric ulcers; their effects on large gastric ulcers remain uncertain. Thus far, only full doses of H2-antagonists, or their combinations with antacids, have been shown to heal ulcers and prevent recurrences. Ulcer recurrences and complications have occurred in small numbers of patients on maintenance doses of H2-antagonists. Available antiulcer drugs (antacids, H2-antagonists, sucralfate) reduce severe acute injury when taken before or with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. They also reduce ulcerlike symptoms due to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Inexplicably, chronic prophylaxis with H2-antagonists for 4 wk or more appears ineffective in preventing gastric ulcers, although duodenal injury is reduced. As the efficacy of available prophylactic therapy (H2-antagonists, sucralfate, and antacids) has not been established, routine use in all cases seems unjustified at present.
Dense Network Observations of the Twin Cities Canopy-Layer Urban Heat Island*

AbstractData from a dense urban meteorological network (UMN) are analyzed, revealing the spatial heterogeneity and temporal variability of the Twin Cities (Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota) canopy-layer urban heat island (UHI). Data from individual sensors represent surface air temperature (SAT) across a variety of local climate zones within a 5000-km2 area and span the 3-yr period from 1 August 2011 to 1 August 2014. Irregularly spaced data are interpolated to a uniform 1 km × 1 km grid using two statistical methods: 1) kriging and 2) cokriging with impervious surface area data. The cokriged SAT field exhibits lower bias and lower RMSE than does the kriged SAT field when evaluated against an independent set of observations. Maps, time series, and statistics that are based on the cokriged field are presented to describe the spatial structure and magnitude of the Twin Cities metropolitan area (TCMA) UHI on hourly, daily, and seasonal time scales. The average diurnal variation of the TCMA UHI exhibits distin...
Targeting the most critical cells: approaching leukemia therapy as a problem in stem cell biology.

Recent scientific advances have provided new insights into why leukemia is such a difficult disease to treat and identified molecular processes activated in leukemia stem cells that may facilitate their drug resistance and quiescent cell-cycle status. Monoclonal antibody therapy may be appropriate for malignant cells, and other approaches involve identification and targeting of specific survival pathways for these biologically distinct cells, which are discussed in this Viewpoint article.
Demo: a system for aligning advertisement delivery with cellular basestation overloads

We demonstrate OPAL [2]- a system for opportunistically aligning advertisement delivery with basestation overload periods, which reduces the total number of times network service is unavailable to users. This system is motivated by two trends: Firstly, as networks get dominated by non-elastic traffic such as video, overload management using admission control will be imminent, thereby exposing network unavailability to users. Secondly, as mobile advertising is rapidly growing, mobile network operators are increasingly interested in leveraging its huge revenue potential, and are also better equipped than any other entity in reaching the users.
The effect of Uganda's official tourism website on travel motivations and constraints.

ABSTRACTDestination marketers increasingly rely on the official tourism website as an early point of contact with potential tourists. This research examined the effect of Uganda’s official tourism website on interest in traveling to Uganda, travel motivations, and travel constraints. Novelty preference and gender were included as moderators. A two-group randomized experimental design was used (N = 278) with exposure to Uganda’s official tourism website as the intervention (n = 139). Pre-test results show that interest in traveling to Uganda was greatest among novelty seekers. Gender had no influence. Pre-test motivations were learning, culture, novelty, and an interest in travel. Pre-test constraints were perceptions that Uganda is not safe and unfamiliar. Post-test results show that exposure to the website significantly increased interest in traveling to Uganda among all groups. Furthermore, this occurred by mitigating travel constraints rather than by stimulating travel motivations. Generalized implicat...
Freeze Concentration of Pineapple Juice

Juice, extracted from fresh Costa Rican pineapples using a commercial extractor, was adjusted by finishing and centrifugation to two pulp levels, 12% and 2% by volume. Physical, chemical and sensory differences were measured in heat stabilized single strength juices, evaporator concentrated, and freeze-concentrated juices. Results indicated no significant differences between samples for Brix, % acid, total hexose, vitamin C, browning index, color, viscosity. Pulp content was lower in both freeze- and evaporator-concentrated samples. Significant (P < 0.01) flavor differences were detected between freeze-and evaporator-concentrated juices. Juices were ranked according to highest degree of fresh fruit taste as follows: (1) high pulp single strength, (2) freeze concentrate high pulp, and (3) evaporator concentrate high pulp. Flavor of reconstituted freeze-concentrated juice was comparable to single strength juice and preferable to evaporator concentrate.
Lipofuscin and N-Retinylidene-N-Retinylethanolamine (A2E) Accumulate in Retinal Pigment Epithelium in Absence of Light Exposure: THEIR ORIGIN IS 11-cis-RETINAL*

The age-dependent accumulation of lipofuscin in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) has been associated with the development of retinal diseases, particularly age-related macular degeneration and Stargardt disease. A major component of lipofuscin is the bis-retinoid N-retinylidene-N-retinylethanolamine (A2E). The current model for the formation of A2E requires photoactivation of rhodopsin and subsequent release of all-trans-retinal. To understand the role of light exposure in the accumulation of lipofuscin and A2E, we analyzed RPEs and isolated rod photoreceptors from mice of different ages and strains, reared either in darkness or cyclic light. Lipofuscin levels were determined by fluorescence imaging, whereas A2E levels were quantified by HPLC and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy. The identity of A2E was confirmed by tandem mass spectrometry. Lipofuscin and A2E levels in the RPE increased with age and more so in the Stargardt model Abca4−/− than in the wild type strains 129/sv and C57Bl/6. For each strain, the levels of lipofuscin precursor fluorophores in dark-adapted rods and the levels and rates of increase of RPE lipofuscin and A2E were not different between dark-reared and cyclic light-reared animals. Both 11-cis- and all-trans-retinal generated lipofuscin-like fluorophores when added to metabolically compromised rod outer segments; however, it was only 11-cis-retinal that generated such fluorophores when added to metabolically intact rods. The results suggest that lipofuscin originates from the free 11-cis-retinal that is continuously supplied to the rod for rhodopsin regeneration and outer segment renewal. The physiological role of Abca4 may include the translocation of 11-cis-retinal complexes across the disk membrane.
Nonsinusoidal Waves in Rectangular Waveguides

It is widely believed that a waveguide behaves like a lossless dispersive medium, which implies that only sinusoidal waves can be transmitted without distortions. This is correct for the particular solutions of Maxwell's equations that have been in use since Rayleigh's original investigation in 1897. More general solutions can be found that show that a large class of nonsinusoidal periodic waves can be transmitted distortion-free by a lossless waveguide. These solutions are readily derived for rectangular waveguides by means of the Fourier series, while a generalization of the Fourier series is required for cylindrical waveguides.
Comprehensive concrete fracture tests: Size effects of Types 1 & 2, crack length effect and postpeak

Abstract The comprehensive fracture tests of notched and unnotched beams presented in the preceding paper are evaluated to clarify the size effects and fracture energy dissipation. The test results for beams with notches of various lengths agree closely with Bažant’s Type 2 size effect law and yield the value of the initial fracture energy G f . Since nearly complete post-peak softening load–displacement curves have been obtained, the total energy dissipation by fracture can be accurately evaluated and used to determine the RILEM total fracture energy G F . For the present concrete, G F / G f ≈ 2. The transition between the Type 1 and 2 size effects are determined and is found to be very different from that assumed in Hu and Duan’s boundary effect model. Determination of a universal size effect law fitting the beam strengths for all the sizes and all notch depths is relegated to a subsequent paper.
Antibiogram and Lipid Analysis of a Pigmented Strain of Serratia marcescens and Its Nonpigmented Variants

Antibiograms and lipid analyses of Serratia marcescens pigmented strain 08 and its nonpigmented variants are compared. The overall lack of significant differences between pigmented and nonpigmented strains suggests that the role of pigment formation may not be related to antibiotic susceptibility.
Profiles of Non-Suicidal Self-Injurers and Associated Patterns of Alcohol Use

This study used latent variable mixture modeling (LVMM) with a combined sample of undergraduates and internet users who endorsed non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI; N = 440) to identify profiles of non-suicidal self-injurers. LVMM results revealed four distinct subtypes (“Experimental NSSI,” “Mild NSSI,” “Multiple Functions/Anxious,” and “Automatic Functions/Suicidal” groups) that were similar to those found in a prior study of undergraduates Klonsky and Olino (Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 76:22-27, 2008), with an additional fifth “Multi-method.” ANOCOVAs and logistic regressions showed the first four groups differed on aspects of psychopathology in a similar fashion to the previous study. Specifically, the Experimental and Mild NSSI groups had the lowest levels of psychopathology, and the AF/Suicidal group had higher levels of psychopathology than the first three groups except for anxiety, which was higher for the MF/Anxious group. The additional Multi-method group was found to have higher levels of psychopathology than all other groups, but not significantly different from the MF/Anxious group. With regard to alcohol use and drinking motives, the MF/Anxious group had the highest level of hazardous drinking and drinking motives related to coping with depression and anxiety, enhancement, and conformity. The other four groups were not differentiated from one another on any drinking variable. Findings suggest that NSSI may be better conceptualized as a heterogeneous syndrome in clinical and research settings, with one sub-group being more at-risk for hazardous alcohol use.
Invasiveness and homogenization: synergism of wide dispersal and high local abundance.

Aim To determine whether invasive and locally abundant non-native species have a more homogenizing effect on plant communities than non-invasive and less abundant non-native species. Location California and Florida counties, conservation areas in the USA, and eight US cities. Methods Species lists among counties, conservation areas and cities were compared to see whether invasive and abundant non-native species increased the Jaccard index of similarity between localities beyond any increases caused by non-invasive and less abundant non-native species. Results For all comparisons, we found that invasive non-native species have a significantly greater homogenizing effect than non-invasive non-native species. For the US conservation areas, we found that locally abundant invasive species tend to be more widespread and more widely shared than less abundant invasive species. There is also a positive relationship between homogenization by invasive species and the magnitude of human disturbance. Main conclusions Invasive non-native species tend to be disproportionately shared among communities relative to non-invasive non-native species. This effect is enhanced by human disturbance, as measured by the ratio of non-native to native species. There is a synergism between abundance and geographical range which enhances the homogenizing effects of abundant species. Invasive species, with wide ecological niches, are more widely shared among communities and more locally abundant. Abundant invasive species are thus more spatially homogenizing, and more ecologically dominant (functionally homogenizing). Also, ‘perceived homogenization’ is probably greater than homogenization measured by the increase in shared species. The abundant species typically seen by the casual observer in a biological community are probably more commonly shared between communities than less common species. Studies that lack abundance data and measure homogenization only on the basis of shared species, which includes most homogenization studies to date, probably underestimate the homogenizing impacts of non-native species as perceived by people.
Optimal Control in Coupled Within-host and Between-host Models

We formulate an immuno-epidemiological model of coupled “within-host” model of ODEs and “between-host” model of ODE and PDE, using the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) for illustration. Existence and uniqueness of solution to the “between-host” model is established, and an explicit expression for the basic reproduction number of the “between-host” model derived. Stability of disease-free and endemic equilibria is investigated. An optimal control problem with drug-treatment control on the within-host system is formulated and analyzed; these results are novel for optimal control of ODEs linked with such first order PDEs. Numerical simulations based on the forward-backward sweep method are obtained.
Antiprotons for imaging and therapy

Abstract Antiprotons are presently produced and stored at CERN and Fermilab at a rate of about 10 7 p/s. Efforts are underway to develop transportable storage devices, ‘bottles’, which would store as much as 10 12 antiprotons for months, or years and make the antiprotons available anywhere. A workshop held last year at the RAND Corporation assessed the science and technology of antimatter and the enabling tools. The biomedical potential of antiprotons was discussed and appears to be promising at current antimatter collection capabilities. Two applications have been studied using computer simulations: direct 3-D d E /d x imaging and the treatment of tumors with antiprotons. We discuss antiprotonic imaging and make comparisons with X-ray CT scans. The potential of antiprotons for monitoring precise delivery of radiation as well as treatment will also be discussed.
Membrane bound hydraphiles facilitate cation translocation

The mechanism of hydraphile assisted cation translocation across a lipid bilayer is investigated by means of coarse-grain molecular dynamics simulations. We find that hydraphiles with appropriate length adopt a channel-like conformation in agreement with recent experimental studies. In trans membrane conformation, hydraphiles assist ion-passage across the bilayer via a mechanism that is found to be rare but effective. The observed time for ion translocation is approximately 0.3 ns. Trajectory studies reveal that the translocating ion shows relatively less mobility in the vicinity of the hydraphile ring when compared to that in bulk water. The present coarse grain simulations confirmed that hydraphile molecules with a chain length matching the bilayer thickness can assist ion transport, whereas hydraphiles having a shorter or longer chain length fail to do so. In addition, the present simulation study underscores the necessity of a polar central relay for a molecule to act as a translocation facilitator.