cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mnemonic Functions for Nonlinear Dendritic Integration in Hippocampal Pyramidal Circuits

We present a model for neural circuit mechanisms underlying hippocampal memory. Central to this model are nonlinear interactions between anatomically and functionally segregated inputs onto dendrites of pyramidal cells in hippocampal areas CA3 and CA1. We study the consequences of such interactions using model neurons in which somatic burst-firing and synaptic plasticity are controlled by conjunctive processing of these separately integrated input pathways. We find that nonlinear dendritic input processing enhances the model's capacity to store and retrieve large numbers of similar memories. During memory encoding, CA3 stores heavily decorrelated engrams to prevent interference between similar memories, while CA1 pairs these engrams with information-rich memory representations that will later provide meaningful output signals during memory recall. While maintaining mathematical tractability, this model brings theoretical study of memory operations closer to the hippocampal circuit's anatomical and physiological properties, thus providing a framework for future experimental and theoretical study of hippocampal function.
Modal Analysis of Unanchored 15×10~4m~3 Storage Tank

Take 15×104m3 storage tank as an example,its model analysis was carried out by ADINA finite element technique and criterion method.The results show that: there is little difference between the finite element technique and the well-known code formula on the modal analysis of tanks;the vibration forms of the low-frequency segment of 15×104m3 storage tank are various,among which cosnθ,sinnθ beam vibration is the leading one,the vibration forms of the liquid is single,namely cosnθ,sinnθ beam vibration.The liquid-solid coupling frequency of tanks is sensitive to the ground hardness variation,and the liquid shaking frequency is sensitive to the height variation of storing liquid.
Probabilistic flood forecasting by a sampling-based Bayesian model

A Bayesian model is developed to estimate uncertainties in the parameters of Xin′anjiang model and the errors in rainfall measurement,and the Bayesian joint posterior distribution is sampled by the algorithm of delayed rejection adaptive Metropolis(DRAM).The posterior distributions of the model parameters and the relative rainfall errors are used in the probabilistic forecast model proposed in this paper.The forecast results of this model are evaluated by applying a two-fold cross validation based on the data of 32 flood events in the Chuzhou catchment of Jiangxi province.In comparison with the deterministic forecast with optimal parameters,the model improves the continuous ranked probability score(CRPS) by 26%.A quantile-quantile plot of predictive cumulative distribution function of observed discharge versus standard uniform distribution shows a better estimate of discharge uncertainty by the proposed method,but still lower than the actual value.
Influence of nutritional nursing on the nutrition condition of low birth weight premature infant

Objective To investigate the influence of nutritional nursing on the nutrition condition of the premature low birth weight infant. Methods 86 premature low birth weight infants who were born in our hospital from October,2011 to October,2013 were selected and divided into control group and interfere group by digital randomized according to the order of admission, each group included 43 infants. Infants in the control group were nursed in regular nursing method while the infants in the interfere group were nursed with nutritional nursing. We compared the blood sugar level, albumin level, time to grow to regular birth weight and the like. Results The nutritional interfere in premature low birth weight infant can significantly lower reduce the time for growing to regular birth weight, nasal tube and the intestinal nutrition level increasing to 418.4kj/kg(P 0.05). Compared with the control group, the blood total protein level, the albumin level, the blood sugar level and the total lymphocyte level of interfere group significantly increase and the blood urea nitrogen decrease(P 0.05).The curative effective rate in interfere group is higher than that of the control group(P 0.05). Conclusion Early nutritional nursing interfere in premature low birth weight infant can well prevent the occurrence of malnutrition.
Application of English Euphemism's Concealment in Communication

English euphemism has one social functons: concealment. Enphemism is widely used in people' social life and it can raise people's social status,resist social prejudice and cover truth to deceive people as well.Applying euphemism properly and understanding euphemism correctly can avoid going into a trap in communication,ensure a smooth and effective communication and understand the real meanings.
Bupropion therapy during pregnancy: the drug and its major metabolites in umbilical cord plasma and amniotic fluid

Background Bupropion is used for treatment of depression during pregnancy. However, its use as a smoking cessation aid for pregnant women is currently under evaluation. Objective The aim of this opportunistic study was to investigate the transfer of bupropion and its major pharmacologically active metabolites, hydroxybupropion and threohydrobupropion, across the placenta in vivo. In addition, the concentrations of the drug and its metabolites were determined in the amniotic fluid. Study Design The following samples were collected at deliveries from 22 women taking bupropion: maternal blood (n = 22), umbilical cord venous blood (n = 22), and amniotic fluid (n = 9). The concentrations of the drug and its metabolites in blood plasma and amniotic fluid were determined by means of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Placental passage was calculated as a ratio of umbilical cord venous plasma to maternal plasma concentrations. Results The levels of hydroxybupropion and threohydrobupropion in umbilical cord venous plasma were invariably lower than their corresponding concentrations in maternal plasma. The concentrations of bupropion in umbilical cord plasma were lower than in maternal plasma in the majority of the maternal-cord blood pairs. The median values of the umbilical cord venous plasma to maternal plasma ratios were: bupropion, 0.53 (interquartile range 0.35, n = 18), hydroxybupropion, 0.21 (interquartile range 0.12, n = 18), and threohydrobupropion, 0.61 (interquartile range 0.11, n = 21). In umbilical cord venous plasma, the median concentration of bupropion was 5.3 ng/mL; hydroxybupropion, 103.6 ng/mL; and threohydrobupropion, 59.6 ng/mL. Bupropion and its metabolites were detectable in the amniotic fluid but the concentrations of threohydrobupropion were higher than those in the corresponding umbilical cord venous plasma. Conclusion Bupropion and its active metabolites cross the placenta to the fetal circulation. The concentrations of hydroxybupropion and threohydrobupropion in umbilical cord venous plasma were higher than bupropion concentrations suggesting a higher fetal exposure to the metabolites than the parent drug. The higher levels of threohydrobupropion in the amniotic fluid than those in umbilical cord venous plasma suggest that enzymes involved in the metabolism of bupropion to threohydrobupropion are most likely active in the fetus. The biological consequences of fetal exposure to maternally administered bupropion and/or its active metabolites via placental transfer and recirculation of the amniotic fluid are yet to be determined.
Effects of florivory on plant-pollinator interactions: Implications for male and female components of plant reproduction

Premise of the study Florivory could have direct negative effects on plant fitness due to consumption of floral organs, and indirect effects mediated through changes in traits important to pollination. These effects likely vary with plant sexual system, depending on sex- or morph-specific patterns of damage. We investigated the direct and indirect effects of simulated florivory on male and female components of reproduction in the native, distylous vine Gelsemium sempervirens. Methods We crossed floral damage and supplemental pollination treatments in a common garden array and tracked pollinator behavioral responses. We also estimated male function using fluorescent dye as an analog for pollen transfer, and measured both fruit and seed production. Key results The effects of floral damage varied by floral morph, the genus of floral visitor, and the component of reproduction measured. Damage reduced the number of pollinator visits to pin but not thrum plants, and increased the time some pollinators spent per flower in thrum but not pin plants. Flowers of damaged plants transferred more dye particles to recipient plants compared to undamaged plants, but only later in the season when the majority of dye transfer occurred. Damage had no effect on female reproduction. Conclusion These results suggest that florivory can have positive indirect effects on estimated male plant reproduction through changes in different pollinators' behavior at flowers, but the effects of floral damage vary with male vs. female function. These results underscore the importance of other species' interactions at flowers in driving pollinator behavior and pollen transfer dynamics.
Bootstrap Enhanced Penalized Regression for Variable Selection with Neuroimaging Data

Recent advances in fMRI research highlight the use of multivariate methods for examining whole-brain connectivity. Complementary data-driven methods are needed for determining the subset of predictors related to individual differences. Although commonly used for this purpose, ordinary least squares (OLS) regression may not be ideal due to multi-collinearity and over-fitting issues. Penalized regression is a promising and underutilized alternative to OLS regression. In this paper, we propose a nonparametric bootstrap quantile (QNT) approach for variable selection with neuroimaging data. We use real and simulated data, as well as annotated R code, to demonstrate the benefits of our proposed method. Our results illustrate the practical potential of our proposed bootstrap QNT approach. Our real data example demonstrates how our method can be used to relate individual differences in neural network connectivity with an externalizing personality measure. Also, our simulation results reveal that the QNT method is effective under a variety of data conditions. Penalized regression yields more stable estimates and sparser models than OLS regression in situations with large numbers of highly correlated neural predictors. Our results demonstrate that penalized regression is a promising method for examining associations between neural predictors and clinically relevant traits or behaviors. These findings have important implications for the growing field of functional connectivity research, where multivariate methods produce numerous, highly correlated brain networks.
Salivary Stress-Related Responses in Tinnitus: A Preliminary Study in Young Male Subjects with Tinnitus

Objective: This preliminary study examined if baseline measures of stress-related biomarkers as measured by salivary secretions of specific autonomic (measured by salivary α-amylase), endocrine (measured by salivary cortisol), and immune (measured by salivary neopterin) responses are greater in male subjects with tinnitus in response to an induced-stress task. Method: Twenty male subjects with no significant hearing loss, 10 with tinnitus and 10 without tinnitus were enrolled in this study. Salivary secretions were collected before and after the induced stress task at four different time intervals. Results: Salivary α-amylase levels were lower in the tinnitus group in comparison to subjects without tinnitus, suggesting impaired sympathetic activity in the subjects with tinnitus although these levels remained stable throughout the stress experiment. While no significant effects could be obtained for salivary cortisol or neopterin, salivary neopterin levels were trending toward significance over all measurements. Behavioral measures of stress were found to correlate negatively with measures of salivary α-amylase and salivary neopterin. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest impaired stress-related salivary α-amylase mechanisms in male subjects with tinnitus, as evidenced by the different stress reactions induced in the endocrine system (as measured by salivary cortisol) and the immune system (as measured by salivary neopterin).
Soluble Microbial Product Formation in Biological Systems

The formation of soluble microbial products was evaluated in batch reactors using radiolabeled 14 C-phenol and 14 C-glucose. Soluble microbial products, SMP, resulted from intermediates or end products of substrate degradation and endogenous cell decomposition. On an organic carbon basis, the SMP produced after A8 hours averaged 1A.7 (±3.7) percent of the initial phenol and 3.1 (±0.4) percent of the initial glucose. The SMP were categorized as substrate utilization products, having a biodegradable and non-biodegradable fraction, and biomass associated products, which were only non-biodegradable. A model was developed based on kinetic relationships between several macroscopic compartments, which consisted of the initial substrate, cell mass, and the three SMP categories. Based on the experimental data, zero and first order kinetics were sufficient to describe the disappearance of the initial substrates and the net SMP, i.e., total SMP produced less SMP biodegraded to yield CO 2 and/or new biomass. Both phenol and glucose adhered to the same kinetic model, but the rate constants were considerably different.
Risk Factors for Intracranial Hemorrhage in Children with Sickle Cell Anemia.

Background: Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is an uncommon, but devastating, complication of sickle cell disease (SCD) with mortality from 30 to 65%. Most reported cases are in adults; little is known about children. Proposed risk factors include previous ischemic stroke, aneurysms, low steady-state hemoglobin, high steady-state leukocyte count, acute chest syndrome, and hypertransfusion. Methods: Retrospective case-control study designed to characterize and evaluate risk factors for ICH among children with SCD age Results: We identified 7 cases (mean age=11.2 years, range 2 to 16 years) and 9 controls (mean age 6.2 years, range 2 to 8 years). As expected, cases were significantly older than controls (p Conclusions: In this group of children with SCD, ICH was associated with antecedent events including transfusion and possibly corticosteroids. Mortality was similar to that of adults with SCD and ICH. Limitations of this study include the small sample size and the retrospective design. The contribution of antecedent events to ICH in children with SCD deserves further evaluation. Odds Ratios of Intracranial Hemorrhage For Events in the Last 14 Days
Crawlers for social networks & structural analysis of Twitter

Online social networks are growing at a rapid pace, both in terms of addition of new links between existing nodes and addition of new nodes to the network. Due to this continuous evolution of such networks, it is important to constantly crawl for information the overall network in general, and specific subnetworks in times of need. Precise information about social networks is important for devising strategies for improved dispersion of targeted information through the masses, for fine tuning messaging in marketing campaigns and for measuring the effectiveness of such marketing efforts. With the objective of gathering precise up-to-date information, we explore designs of fast crawlers for online social networks. Our experiments, carried on data downloaded from Twitter, show that node discovery strategies of random walk with backtrack and random search show promise as fast network crawlers. We implement the random search crawler for purposes of crawling Twitter for large amounts of information on network structure, user profile information and Tweet-level data. We present a summary of the data thus collected from Twitter. We also try to design generative models for Twitter-like networks that can be used in our simulations going forward, rather than having to depend upon downloading of large amounts of network information related data from online social networks.
The Safety and Effectiveness of Intravenous Lacosamide for Refractory Status Epilepticus in the Critically Ill

Status epilepticus (SE) often does not respond to initial treatment. A second-line agent with a less established safety and efficacy profile is then required. This study examined the safety of intravenous (IV) lacosamide (LCM) in a critically ill population and obtained an estimate of effectiveness in patients with refractory SE on continuous video EEG monitoring (cEEG). Retrospective review of critically ill patients in SE on cEEG treated with IV LCM from June 2009 to April 2011. Eighty-four patients in SE (43 F/41 M), mean age 59.6 years, were identified; and 59.5 % had nonconvulsive SE. The most common etiologies were ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. There were no significant changes in serial blood pressure monitoring, PR prolongation, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), or creatinine pre- and post-LCM. There was a significant increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) from days 1–7 (p = 0.031). Fifty-one patients were LCM-naive. In these patients, cessation of SE on cEEG after LCM occurred in 15.7, 25.5, 58.8, and 82.4 % by 4, 12, 24, and 48 h, respectively. IV LCM appears safe short term in critically ill patients with SE. The retrospective estimate of effectiveness for LCM appears promising for management in SE. Prospective, randomized controlled studies are needed to better determine the role of LCM in treating SE.
Effects of Self-Monitoring on Math Competency of an Elementary Student with Cerebral Palsy in an Inclusive Classroom.

ABSTRACTStudents with cerebral palsy (CP) without severe intellectual impairments often experience difficulties in mathematics performance. Given the high prevalence of learning difficulties in students with CP, few studies have examined interventions to improve the math competency of these students (Jenks et al., 2009). A single-subject reversal design was used to examine the impact of a tactile cued self-monitoring with self-graphing intervention on the number of basic math problems completed and the number of math problems completed accurately by a student with CP in a first-grade inclusion classroom. Results indicated that the student increased the number and accuracy of single-digit addition and subtraction computations during independent work in an inclusion setting using this intervention.
The AI Rebellion: Changing the Narrative.

Sci-fi narratives permeating the collective consciousness endow AI Rebellion with ample negative connotations. However, for AI agents, as for humans, attitudes of protest, objection, and rejection have many potential benefits in support of ethics, safety, self-actualization, solidarity, and social justice, and are necessary in a wide variety of contexts. We launch a conversation on constructive AI rebellion and describe a framework meant to support discussion, implementation, and deployment of AI Rebel Agents as protagonists of positive narratives.
Non-contact measurement of electrical activity in neurons using magnified image spatial spectrum (MISS) microscopy (Conference Presentation)

Traditionally the measurement of electrical activity in neurons has been carried out using microelectrode arrays that require the conducting elements to be in contact with the neuronal network. This method, also referred to as “electrophysiology”, while being excellent in terms of temporal resolution is limited in spatial resolution and is invasive. An optical microscopy method for measuring electrical activity is thus highly desired. Common-path quantitative phase imaging (QPI) systems are good candidates for such investigations as they provide high sensitivity (on the order of nanometers) to the plasma membrane fluctuations that can be linked to electrical activity in a neuronal circuit. In this work we measured electrical activity in a culture of rat cortical neurons using MISS microscopy, a high-speed common-path QPI technique having an axial resolution of around 1 nm in optical path-length, which we introduced at PW BIOS 2016. Specifically, we measured the vesicular cycling (endocytosis and exocytosis) occurring at axon terminals of the neurons due to electrical activity caused by adding a high K+ solution to the cell culture. The axon terminals were localized using a micro-fluidic device that separated them from the rest of the culture. Stacks of images of these terminals were acquired at 826 fps both before and after K+ excitation and the temporal standard deviation maps for the two cases were compared to measure the membrane fluctuations. Concurrently, the existence of vesicular cycling was confirmed through fluorescent tagging and imaging of the vesicles at and around the axon terminals.
Online Transmission Policies for Cognitive Radio Networks with Energy Harvesting Secondary Users

In this paper, we consider a cognitive radio network with energy harvesting secondary users and orthogonal channels for the primary users. Secondary users have finite capacity batteries to store harvested energy for future use. Secondary users can use the primary users' channel and transmit their data if the channel is not occupied by the primary user. We define an instantaneous reward for the secondary users which is equal to the throughput if the channel is available. Otherwise, we assign a negative reward to the secondary user as a penalty. We formulate the long term average reward maximization problem for each secondary user. We extend the fixed fraction policy in [1] to our setup and show that it yields near optimal performance. We derive an upper bound on the long term average reward, as well as additive and multiplicative lower bounds. We observe that, for energy arrivals that are frequent and when secondary users have several channel options to choose from, the secondary users are better off spending all available energy immediately, i.e., a greedy policy is a better choice whereas the fixed fraction policy is better when the energy arrivals are scarce.
Chemical Management of Invasive Shot Hole Borer and Fusarium Dieback in California Sycamore (Platanus racemosa) in Southern California

Fusarium dieback (FD) is a new vascular disease of hardwood trees caused by Fusarium spp. and other associated fungal species which are vectored by two recently introduced and highly invasive speci...
Air Emissions Mitigation from Aviary Cage-free Hen Litter

Spraying water or electrolyzed water (EW) has been tested to reduce animal house dust level. In this study, lab-scale experiment was conducted to mitigate particulate matter (PM) emissions of litter from aviary cage-free hen houses by spraying EW. The results showed that higher spray dosage led to greater PM reduction (PM reduction of 71%, 81% and 89% immediately after EW spray at 25, 50, 75 mL per kg dry-basis litter or 3, 6, and 9 gal per 1000 ft2 at 0.4 inch (1 cm) litter depth, respectively) but higher ammonia (NH3) emissions. To address this issue, solid litter additive (PLT®) at three application rates (i.e., 60.8, 121.6, and 182.4 lb per 1000 ft2) along with spray of EW was tested for NH3 mitigation. The lab-scale study results showed that the three litter additive application rates reduced NH3 generation by 28–79%. This study provides the foundation for conducting subsequent field test to verify the efficacy of this promising mitigation technique (EW spray and PLT use) to improve the indoor air quality of CF hen houses.
From Imagination to the Parafinite

In this chapter, I begin with a consideration of the sublime in Kant’s philosophy and Shelley’s poetry. In both cases the sublime is associated with the power of active imagination, but I show that behind the active imagination lies a more fundamental source which I call the parafinite or indefinitely large. In Kant’s philosophy this manifests itself most fundamentally in the notion of egological self-positioning, and in Shelley in the notion of Power. I develop and compare both of these fundamental expressions of the parafinite as grounds for paraphysics, understood in the present context as the visionary critique of metaphysics.
A new multichannel method quantitating TUNEL in detached photoreceptor nuclei

Abstract Nuclear co-localization labels are critical to ocular research. Among these, the TUNEL assay has been established as a gold standard of cell death and apoptosis. While several validated computer-based methods exist to quantitate these markers, including ImageJ Retina Analysis (RA) Toolkit and ImagePro, none verify the count with the nuclear counter stain to confirm nuclear co-localization. We established a new ImageJ-based automated multichannel thresholding (MCT) method to quantitate nuclear co-localized labeling. The MCT method was validated by comparing it with the two published TUNEL analysis in TUNEL-positive photoreceptors in an experimental retinal detachment (RD) model. RDs were induced in murine eyes and cross-sectional images of TUNEL and DAPI counter stain were obtained. Images were classified as “typical” or high density ”hotspot” TUNEL regions (n = 10/group). Images were analyzed and compared between the MCT method and the published techniques including both ”standard” and ”high” settings of the RA Toolkit for detecting lower or higher TUNEL densities, respectively. Additional testing of the MCT method with built-in ImageJ thresholding algorithms was performed to produce fully automated measurements. All images were compared with Bland-Altman mean difference plots to assess the difference in counts and linear regression plots to assess correlation. Comparison between the MCT method and the ImagePro method were found to be well correlated (typical: R2 = 0.8972, hotspot: R2 = 0.9000) with minor to non-significant differences. The RA Toolkit settings were found to be mostly well correlated as well (standard/typical: R2 = 0.8036, standard/hotspot: R2 = 0.4309, high/typical: R2 = 0.7895, high/hotspot: R2 = 0.8738) but were often found to have significantly higher counts than the MCT. In conclusion, the MCT method compared favorably with validated computer-based methods of nuclear marker immunofluorescence quantitation and avoids staining artifacts through the incorporation of the nuclear counter stain to confirm positive cells.
Beyond Aesthetics: Philosophical Essays

Foreword Peter Kirvy Introduction Part I. Beyond Aesthetics: 1. Art and interaction 2. Beauty and genealogy of art theory 3. Four concepts of aesthetic experience Part II. Art, History, and Narrative: 4. Art, practice, and narrative 5. Identifying art 6. Historical narratives and the philosophy of art 7. On the narrative connection 8. Interpretation, history and narrative Part III. Interpretation and Intention: 9. Art, intention, and conversation 10. Anglo-American aesthetics and contemporary criticism: intention and the hermeneutics of suspicion 11. The intention of fallacy: defending myself 12. Intention and interpretation: the debate between hypothetical and actual intentionalism Part IV. Art, Emotion, and Morality: 13. Art, narrative, and emotion 14. Horror and humor 15. The paradox of suspense 16. Art, narrative, and moral understanding 17. Moderate moralism 18. Simulation, emotions, and morality Part V. Alternative Topics: 19. On jokes 20. The paradox of junk fiction 21. Visual metaphor 22. On being moved by nature 23. Emotion, appreciation, and nature.
Reversible Modulation of the Cr3+ Spin Dynamics in Colloidal SrTiO3 Nanocrystals

The spin relaxation dynamics of Cr3+ substitutional dopants in ∼10 nm colloidal SrTiO3 nanocrystals (NCs) has been studied by variable-temperature electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy...
Upregulation of PD-L1 via HMGB1-activated IRF3 and NF-κB contributes to UV radiation-induced immune suppression

Solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) suppresses skin immunity, which facilitates initiation of skin lesions and establishment of tumors by promoting immune evasion. It is unclear whether immune checkpoints are involved in the modulation of skin immunity by UVR. Here, we report that UVR exposure significantly increased expression of immune checkpoint molecule PD-L1 in melanoma cells. The damage-associated molecular patterns molecule HMGB1 was secreted by melanocytes and keratinocytes upon UVR, which subsequently activated the receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) receptor to promote NF-κB- and IRF3-dependent transcription of PD-L1 in melanocytes. UVR exposure significantly reduced the susceptibility of melanoma cells to CD8+ T-cell-dependent cytotoxicity, which was mitigated by inhibiting the HMGB1/TBK1/IRF3/NF-κB cascade or by blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that UVR-induced upregulation of PD-L1 contributes to immune suppression in the skin microenvironment, which may promote immune evasion of oncogenic cells and drive melanoma initiation and progression. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings identify PD-L1 as a critical component of UV-induced immune suppression in the skin, which facilitates immunoevasion of oncogenic melanocytes and development of melanoma.See related commentary by Sahu, p. 2805.
Determinants of alcohol use among people living with HIV initiating isoniazid preventive therapy in Ethiopia

Abstract Background Hepatotoxicity, an adverse effect of isoniazid preventative therapy (IPT), is exacerbated by alcohol consumption. Although the WHO recommends IPT for people living with HIV (PLHIV), it is contraindicated in regular alcohol users. The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence and determinants of alcohol use among PLHIV initiating IPT in Ethiopia. Methods Baseline data (July 2013-May 2015) from 316 participants in the Enhance Initiation and Retention in IPT Care for HIV (ENRICH) study were used to assess the prevalence of alcohol use. Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify determinants of non-hazardous and hazardous alcohol use, compared to no alcohol use. Results Overall, 41.8% of participants reported alcohol use, of which 45.5% reported hazardous use. Compared to non-alcohol users, hazardous users were younger (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.06; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.02, 1.11), more likely to be male (AOR: 6.40; 95% CI: 3.17, 12.93), Orthodox (AOR: 3.96; 95% CI: 1.74, 9.00), have larger support networks (AOR: 3.82; 95% CI: 1.61, 9.06), and report greater amount (AOR: 14.80; 95% CI: 5.76, 38.02) and frequency (AOR: 5.91; 95% CI: 2.75, 12.67) of khat use. Conclusions Alcohol use was prevalent in this population, and current WHO guidelines would exclude a substantial proportion of the population from receiving IPT. PLHIV in this region would benefit from routine screening for alcohol and khat use, and from substance use education and counseling while receiving IPT until it can be determined whether alcohol users can safely receive IPT.
Choice of Lookout Posts by Territorial Amberwing Dragonflies, Perithemis tenera (Anisoptera: Libellulidae)

Many territorial insects use specific perches, or lookout posts, from which they perceive and react to conspecific males and females. We investigated the lookout post choice of territorial male amberwing dragonflies (Perithemis tenera). An observational study indicated that males rarely perched directly at their oviposition site; rather, they perched farther out from shore than, and within 2 m from, their oviposition site. In an experimental study, we provided an array of perches at different distances from the shore and oviposition site to eliminate perch limitation as a factor in perch choice. The results of the experimental study confirmed the patterns evident in the observational study; males perched farther from shore than their oviposition site was located. Interestingly, in both the observational and the experimental study, when neighbors were close, a male perched away from his closest neighbor, which usually resulted in his oviposition site being closer to his neighbor than he was. Thus, male amberwings apparently alter their perch choice within their territories in response to the location of other males. These lookout post locations may provide the best opportunity for the territorial male to perceive passing females and intruding males, while minimizing conflict with their neighbors.
Intraperitoneal Rupture of a Synovial Sarcoma of the Kidney.

Intra-abdominal testes are at increased risk of malignant transformation and can manifest as large abdominal masses with a wide variation in presenting symptoms. In the setting of cryptorchid or nonpalpable testes, large abdominal masses are highly suspect for germ cell tumors. Without standard guidelines, management can vary extensively. Surgical management may not be trivial and can entail a major abdominal operation in the context of a multimodal approach. The use of biopsy and serum tumor markers may effectively guide sequence of management based upon expected histology. In advanced cases, neoadjuvant chemotherapy may be pursued, and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection may be accomplished at the time of orchiectomy to minimize morbidity. The development of these massive late stage tumors reaffirms current guidelines on the early correction of cryptorchidism.
A Layered Mounting Method for Extended Time-Lapse Confocal Microscopy of Whole Zebrafish Embryos

Dynamics of development can be followed by confocal time-lapse microscopy of live transgenic zebrafish embryos expressing fluorescence in specific tissues or cells. A difficulty with imaging whole embryo development is that zebrafish embryos grow substantially in length. When mounted as regularly done in 0.3-1% low melt agarose, the agarose imposes growth restriction, leading to distortions in the soft embryo body. Yet, to perform confocal time-lapse microscopy, the embryo must be immobilized. This article describes a layered mounting method for zebrafish embryos that restrict the motility of the embryos while allowing for the unrestricted growth. The mounting is performed in layers of agarose at different concentrations. To demonstrate the usability of this method, whole embryo vascular, neuronal and muscle development was imaged in transgenic fish for 55 consecutive hours. This mounting method can be used for easy, low-cost imaging of whole zebrafish embryos using inverted microscopes without requirements of molds or special equipment.
Local Wall Temperature Effects on the Second-Mode Instability

It has been shown that, in general, heating the wall beneath second-mode instabilities dampens them, whereas cooling the wall amplifies them. The purpose of this research was to determine the viabi...
Impact of 1,N6-ethenoadenosine, a damaged ribonucleotide in DNA, on translesion synthesis and repair.

Incorporation of ribonucleotides into DNA can severely diminish genome integrity. However, how ribonucleotides instigate DNA damage is poorly understood. In DNA, they can promote replication stress and genomic instability and have been implicated in several diseases. We report here the impact of the ribonucleotide rATP and of its naturally occurring damaged analog 1,N6-ethenoadenosine (1,N6-ϵrA) on translesion synthesis (TLS), mediated by human DNA polymerase η (hpol η), and on RNase H2–mediated incision. Mass spectral analysis revealed that 1,N6-ϵrA in DNA generates extensive frameshifts during TLS, which can lead to genomic instability. Moreover, steady-state kinetic analysis of the TLS process indicated that deoxypurines (i.e. dATP and dGTP) are inserted predominantly opposite 1,N6-ϵrA. We also show that hpol η acts as a reverse transcriptase in the presence of damaged ribonucleotide 1,N6-ϵrA but has poor RNA primer extension activities. Steady-state kinetic analysis of reverse transcription and RNA primer extension showed that hpol η favors the addition of dATP and dGTP opposite 1,N6-ϵrA. We also found that RNase H2 recognizes 1,N6-ϵrA but has limited incision activity across from this lesion, which can lead to the persistence of this detrimental DNA adduct. We conclude that the damaged and unrepaired ribonucleotide 1,N6-ϵrA in DNA exhibits mutagenic potential and can also alter the reading frame in an mRNA transcript because 1,N6-ϵrA is incompletely incised by RNase H2.
Chapter 30 – Spreading Depolarizations

Spreading depolarizations (SDs) are depolarization waves that originate within injured brain tissue and propagate slowly throughout and beyond in a manner similar to the spreading depressions first described by Leao. Data suggest that in the setting of ischemic stroke, supply–demand mismatch transients within metastable periinfarct hot zones trigger SDs. Once triggered, they contribute to infarct growth by imposing a heavy metabolic burden and decreasing blood supply via vasoconstriction. Unequivocal demonstration of SDs in human stroke has put SDs under the spotlight as a novel clinical target to minimize infarct growth in acute brain injury and stroke.
Use of Biomaterials for 3D Printing by Fused Deposition Modeling Technique: A Review

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a revolutionary manufacturing technique that can fabricate a 3D object by depositing materials layer by layer. Different materials such as metals, polymers, and concretes are generally used for 3D printing. In order to make 3D printing sustainable, researchers are working on the use of different bioderived materials for 3D printing. Because of the abundant and sustainable sources, and versatile properties, biomaterials are considered as the potential candidates that have the ability to replace petroleum-based polymers. This review highlights the basic overview of fused deposition modeling (FDM) technique of 3D printing and recent developments that have occurred on FDM printing using biomaterials. Specifically, FDM printing process, final properties, and characteristics of biopolymers, their composites, and polymers containing biofillers are discussed.
Directionality of ambient noise in the Mississippi embayment

Cross-correlations of ambient seismic noise from 277 broadband stations within the Mississippi embayment (ME) with at least 1-month of recording time between 1990 and 2018 are used to estimate source locations of primary and secondary microseisms. We investigate source locations by analyzing the azimuthal distribution of the signal-to- noise ratio (SNR) and positive/negative amplitude differences. We use 84 stations with continuous 1-year recordings to explore seasonal variations of SNRs and amplitude differences. We also investigate the seasonal ambient noise ground motions using 2D frequency-wavenumber analysis of a 50-station array composed of the Northern Embayment Lithosphere Experiment. We observe that (1) two major azimuths can be identified in the azimuthal distribution of SNRs and amplitude difference. We also observe two minor azimuths in the seasonal variation of SNRs, amplitude difference, and 2D FK power spectra. Monthly 2D FK power spectra reveal that two energy sources are active in northern hemisphere winter and two relatively weak sources are active in summer. (2) Back-projection suggests that primary microseisms originate along the coasts of Australia or New Zealand, Canada and Alaska, Newfoundland or Greenland, and South America. (3) Secondary microseisms are generated in the deep water of the northern and southern Pacific Ocean, along the coasts of Canada and Alaska associated with near-shore reflections, and in the deep water of south of Greenland. (4) The azimuthal distribution of amplitude difference of sedimentary Love waves in the period band of 1-5s indicates a local source related to the basin-edge of the ME.
Separation of particles of different surface energies through control of humidity

Abstract Many of the methods to classify and concentrate minerals and the subsequent extraction of metals takes place in water-based environments (aqueous solutions). Sustainable processing through the reduction of water consumption will become a key factor to make mining operations viable in the long term. In humid environments, capillary condensation of water can occur between the particle and substrate. The objective herein is to identify separation windows in which control of relative air humidity (RH) yields different substrate adhesion for hydrophilic and hydrophobic particles of different values of interfacial energy. Plasma cleaned glass beads, and trichloro(octadecyl)silane (TCOD) treated beads were poured on a plasma cleaned glass disk and an impact caused the detachment of particles. Impact tests performed under a range of RH showed that separation of plasma cleaned and TCOD treated particles can be achieved in 80% of the tests at humidity levels between 45% and 55%. The recovery of plasma cleaned particles was five times greater than TCOD treated particles at humidity levels between 50% and 55%.
Abstract 13140: Right Ventricular Remodeling and Changes in Tissue Biomechanics in Healthy Aging

Introduction: Normal aging in healthy adults has been associated with pulmonary vasculature remodeling and alterations in right ventricular (RV) systolic and diastolic function, which may lead to i...
Grounding Complex Navigational Instructions Using Scene Graphs.

Training a reinforcement learning agent to carry out natural language instructions is limited by the available supervision, i.e. knowing when the instruction has been carried out. We adapt the CLEVR visual question answering dataset to generate complex natural language navigation instructions and accompanying scene graphs, yielding an environment-agnostic supervised dataset. To demonstrate the use of this data set, we map the scenes to the VizDoom environment and use the architecture in \citet{gatedattention} to train an agent to carry out these more complex language instructions.
Conformational equilibria in allosteric control of Hsp70 chaperones.

Summary Heat-shock proteins of 70 kDa (Hsp70s) are vital for all life and are notably important in protein folding. Hsp70s use ATP binding and hydrolysis at a nucleotide-binding domain (NBD) to control the binding and release of client polypeptides at a substrate-binding domain (SBD); however, the mechanistic basis for this allostery has been elusive. Here, we first characterize biochemical properties of selected domain-interface mutants in bacterial Hsp70 DnaK. We then develop a theoretical model for allosteric equilibria among Hsp70 conformational states to explain the observations: a restraining state, Hsp70R-ATP, restricts ATP hydrolysis and binds peptides poorly, whereas a stimulating state, Hsp70S-ATP, hydrolyzes ATP rapidly and has high intrinsic substrate affinity but rapid binding kinetics. We support this model for allosteric regulation with DnaK structures obtained in the postulated stimulating state S with biochemical tests of the S-state interface and with improved peptide-binding-site definition in an R-state structure.
Introduction to Polycentric Political Economy

This special issue of the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, “Polycentric Political Economy: A Festschrift for Elinor and Vincent Ostrom,” began as a conference at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University that was organized in conjunction with an award ceremony celebrating a lifetime of scholarship and teaching by Elinor and Vincent Ostrom. Former students, colleagues, and admirers gathered at George Mason University to honor the Ostroms’ work as scholars, teachers, and mentors. The award was the ﬁrst in a series of initiatives begun by the Fund for the Study of Spontaneous Order. The Fund is the brain-child of Richard Cornuelle, the author of Reclaiming the American Dream (1965), The De-Managing of America (1975) and Healing America (1983). Cornuelle was Ludwig von Mises’s research assistant at New York University in the mid- to late-1940s. Cornuelle learned from Mises the idea that the economic way of thinking (praxeology) could be applied to areas outside of the domain of the market economy to understand the societal forces at work that either lead to, or hinder, peaceful social cooperation. After leaving New York University, Cornuelle worked in various jobs, including as a Program Ofﬁcer at the Volker Fund, which in the 1950s and early 1960s was instrumental in helping establish the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Study of Political Economy at the University of Virginia, the Journal of Law and Economics at the University of Chicago School of Law, and a lecture series for students that helped produce such books as Bruno Leoni’s Freedom and the Law and Milton Friedman’s Capitalism and Freedom.
Composition studies on tobacco—XXVIII: 2,3,6-Trimethyl-1,4-naphthoquinone in cigarette smoke

Abstract 2,3,6-Trimethyl-1,4-naphthoquinone was isolated from the nitromethane-soluble, neutral fraction of cigarette smoke condensate and identified by spectral (i.r., mass and NMR) and gas chromatographic characteristics. This is the first report of the occurrence of quinones in tobacco smoke.
Risk Instability and the Pattern of Foreign Direct Investment in the Middle East and North Africa Region

This paper demonstrates that instability associated with investment risk is critical in explaining the level of foreign direct investment for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries, which generally have higher investment risk than developed countries. The empirical results support this hypothesis, whether either the standard deviation or the interquartile range is used as a measure of instability, in a dynamic panel model. The paper recommends a reorientation of policies toward those with a longer-term focus in order to help lower the degree of risk instability for MENA countries.
The renormalization group in the local potential approximation and its applications to the O ( n) model

Abstract In the local potential approximation, the renormalization group is reduced to a semi-linear parabolic partial differential equation. We study the general properties ofthe equation and in particular we show that the flow is the gradient of a scalar function. Then, we apply this approximation to the O ( n ) model and solve the equation numerically. The critical exponents in three dimensions are found to agree with the best known values. In two dimensions, we obtain asymptotic freedom for all values of n . We also study the flow in non-perturbative regions, where first-order transition occurs.
Approaching molecular nanodevices using engineered nanowire templates

A bottom-up approach, where functional electronic structures are assembled from chemically synthesized, well-defined nanoscale building-blocks, has the potential to go far beyond of the limits of top-down technology by defining key nanometer scale metrics through chemical synthesis and subsequent assembly. This approach can generate conceptually new device architectures and fundamentally different fabrication strategies, and provide unparalleled speed, storage and size reductions. Nanowires (NWs) have attracted increasing interest in the past decade because they represent the smallest dimension for efficient transport of electrical carriers and have great potential as efficient interconnects for next generation of nanoelectronics.
Transport and fermiology of the ferromagnetic phase of (A = Ca, Sr, Ba)

Abstract A virtual crystal treatment of the electronic structure of ferromagnetic La 2 3 A 1 3 MnO 3 (A = Ca, Sr, Ba) within the local density approximation is carried out to study the properties of this system in the low temperature or high field regime where it is ferromagnetic and highly conducting. Neglecting disorder effects, the alloy is nearly half-metallic, with two large majority spin Fermi surfaces (sphere and cube) and small minority Fermi surfaces with associated Fermi energy of 0.15 eV. Estimates of disorder lead to the conclusion that minority carriers will lie below the mobility edge, giving effectively half-metallic character to this material. Electronic anomalies and tendencies toward instabilities arising from nesting of the nearly perfect cube majority Fermi surface are presented and discussed.