cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of resource availability and social aggregation on the species richness of raccoon endoparasite infracommunities

Within populations the contact rate of hosts and infectious parasites is mediated by the interactions of resource availability, host density, and host behavior. Fluctuations in host density can result in the loss or extinction of a parasite population as contact rates between parasites and susceptible individuals drop below thresholds of parasite population persistence. Less understood is how changes in resources and the behavioral ecology of host populations aff ect parasites. We used food provisioning to experimentally assess the eff ects of resource availability and of inducing host aggregation on the endoparasite community of free-ranging raccoons. Twelve independent raccoon populations were subjected to diff erential resource provisioning for two years: a clumped food distribution to aggregate hosts (n 5 populations), a dispersed food distribution to add food without aggregating hosts (n 3), and a no food treatment (n 4). Remote cameras indicated that aggregation sizes were three to four times greater in aggregated versus non-aggregated populations. We considered endoparasites with direct and indirect life cycles separately and determined the best-fi t models of parasite species richness in relation to host aggregation, food supplements, and host age and sex. Social aggregation had a negligible impact on the species richness of directly or indirectly transmitted parasites. However, food additions decreased the number of indirectly transmitted parasite species by 35% in the oldest age classes. Th ese results suggest that while resource availability can infl uence the transmission of indirectly transmitted parasites, an examination of additional factors will be necessary to understand the role of host contact and factors that shape the community structure of endoparasites in natural environments.
On the Complexity of Multiple Feminist Identities

This response to J. D. Yoder, A. F. Snell, and A. Tobias (2012) discusses implications for applying and building on their research findings regarding the complex feminist identifications found in young university women. Based on identity scholarship by women of color, it also discusses the challenges of conceptualizing and studying interactions among feminist and other multiple identities. Opportunities for richer understanding of the lives of people of all genders will come from taking into account hybrid and intersectional feminisms and identities and broadening samples to highlight the experiences of diverse groups of individuals.
Control of ramp-up current profile dynamics in tokamak plasmas via the minimal-surface theory

The central task of current profile control during the ramp-up phase of a tokamak discharge is to find the actuator trajectories that are necessary to achieve certain desired current profile at some time between the end of the ramp-up phase and early stage of the flattop phase. The magnetic diffusion partial differential equation (PDE) models the dynamics of the poloidal magnetic flux profile, which is closely related to the toroidal current density profile, and plays a key role in the model-based control synthesis. Given the initial and desired target profiles, splines are used in this work to generate evolutionary curves connecting their boundaries at both endpoints of the spatial domain. Then, a closed four-edge frame (initial profile, target profile, two boundary curves) in the three dimensional space (time, space, poloidal magnetic flux) is obtained without knowing the transient dynamics inside. The minimal surface theory is used in this work to define a surface spanned by the closed four-edge frame, which represents the desired transient dynamics for the poloidal magnetic flux. Then, the control task becomes a trajectory tracking problem. Once the desired transient dynamics is defined, the temporal and spatial derivatives of the poloidal magnetic flux in the magnetic diffusion equation can be computed, and the control-oriented PDE model can be reformulated into an algebraic equation where the control values at each time instant represent the to-be-determined unknown variables. Numerical simulation results show the effectiveness of this approach. This method is characterized by high speed computation and shows potential for real-time implementation in a closed-loop receding-horizon scheme, particularly for long-discharge tokamaks such as ITER.
Analysis of ultra-thin crystalline silicon solar cells coupled to a luminescent solar concentrator

Abstract Thin-film solar cells require less semiconducting materials and can achieve larger open circuit voltages than their bulk counterpart. However, they often suffer from poor absorption of light, resulting in a lower power output. To improve power generation, thin film solar cells can be coupled to luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs). LSCs can cover large surface areas to inexpensively collect sunlight and concentrate it onto small area photovoltaics (PV). Although LSC–PV systems typically suffer from low efficiency, they have potential for reducing the environmental impact of solar power while improving the power output from solar cells. In this work, the system level performance of ultra-thin film mono-crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells attached to an LSC containing Lumogen Red 305 was investigated with the goal of improving the viability of ultra-thin film c-Si photovoltaics. This approach is explored here by coupling ultra-thin film (200 nm) c-Si solar cells to LSCs and examining the performance of the LSC–PV systems under direct AM 1.5 illumination. To determine the coupled LSC–PV system level efficiency, the maximum power output is calculated with a detailed balance method. More than an order of magnitude improvement in the power output of the ultra-thin film c-Si solar cell is accomplished through concentration of light achieved with the LSC. The power output is further increased through spectral coupling of the LSC to the output spectrum of the solar cells using plasmonic structures to enhance solar cell absorption at targeted wavelengths. Results show that enhanced photon absorption in the solar cell improves both the efficiency of light transport in the LSC and the solar cell power output.
Hypertension and Sympathetic Nervous System Activity

Publisher Summary Animal and human studies demonstrate that sustained sympathetic stimulation of the kidney promotes sodium and fluid retention; stimulation of the heart increases cardiac output; and chronic stimulation of the vasculature induces smooth muscle cell hypertrophy and hyperplasia, resulting in sustained increases in peripheral resistance. These observations indicate that sympathetic activation plays a key role in initiating and maintaining chronic increase of blood pressure. In animal models of hypertension, direct renal nerve stimulation induces renal tubular sodium and water reabsorption and decreases urinary water and sodium excretion, resulting in increased blood pressure secondary to increased intravascular volume. Direct assessment of renal sympathetic innervation has consistently demonstrated heightened sympathetic activation in rat models of primary hypertension. Denervation of the kidney, either surgically or pharmacologically, eliminates or blunts salt and water retention and prevents or reverses the development of hypertension in these models. Multiple population-based studies have also demonstrated a positive correlation between heart ratie and future development of hypertension. Because heart rate is, in large part, under sympathetic control, these results support the concept that chronic sympathetic overactivity induces hypertension.
Elevated Nutrient Levels from Agriculturally Dominated Watersheds Stimulate Metaphyton Growth

The linkage between land use in a catchment basin and downstream aquatic ecosystems, especially effects on algae attached to substrata or loosely aggregated in the littoral zone, represents a void in our understanding of lake systems. The occurrence of beds of metaphyton at some stream mouths and not others in Conesus Lake, NY (USA) provided an opportunity to consider the relationship between land use and phosphorus and nitrogen losses on the development of shoreline metaphyton blooms. Experiments were performed in the littoral zone of a large temperate lake to test the hypothesis that effluent high in phosphorus and nitrate from tributaries draining agricultural watersheds had a stimulatory effect on the growth of littoral metaphyton, while effluent from a forested watershed did not. The study encompassed six watersheds of varying agricultural use (60–80%) and a forested watershed (12% agriculture). For each experiment, two quadruplicate sets of plexiglass incubation chambers (height = 50 cm, interior diameter = 9.5 cm) containing native assemblages of metaphyton received lake or tributary water continuously over a 3-day lake incubation period. Growth of metaphyton incubated in lake water and in tributary water was compared and differences appeared to be related to nutrient concentrations. A statistically significant stimulatory effect was measured for the six tributaries draining agricultural watersheds but not for the forested watershed. Tributary loadings appear to stimulate metaphyton at sites where the hydrology and hydrodynamincs are suitable. A significant positive linear relationship existed between percent metaphyton cover in the littoral zone and the percent of land use in agriculture. Metaphyton abundance is impacted by land use practices and subsequent loss of nutrients from the catchment.
Reforming the Branch Profits Tax to Advance Neutrality

Congress enacted the branch profits tax in order to reduce the disparity between the taxation of U.S. subsidiaries and U.S. branches of foreign corporations. The branch profits tax attempts to promote neutrality by subjecting the U.S. branch earnings of a foreign corporation to a second level of U.S. tax upon the deemed remittance of the earnings outside of the U.S. branch. This is to approximate the second-level tax that occurs in the subsidiary setting when a U.S. subsidiary pays dividends to its foreign parent. Unlike the dividend tax in the subsidiary setting, however, the branch profits tax can apply even when all of a foreign corporation's U.S. earnings are retained for use in the operations of the U.S. branch, what some commentators have referred to as a surtax result. Moreover, a typical U.S. subsidiary has greater flexibility in retaining earnings as compared to a U.S. branch. The more burdensome nature of the branch profits tax appears to create a tax bias in favor of operating in the United States through U.S. subsidiaries, so that foreign corporations can control the timing and the impact of the second-level tax. This Article proposes several changes to the branch profits tax that both promote neutrality and are consistent with other recognized policies governing the taxation of U.S. branches. The Article proposes measures that provide foreign corporations operating through U.S. branches with an ability to control the timing and impact of the second-level tax that is similar to that possessed by foreign corporations operating through U.S. subsidiaries. With these changes, foreign corporations with U.S. branches generally would have a choice of whether to incur a second level tax or instead have the income on invested earnings taxed by the United States on a net basis. Thus, the branch profits tax would function more like the dividend tax in the U.S. subsidiary setting, thereby promoting the neutrality goals underlying the provision.
Effects Of Mudcake And Sonde Angle On A Simple Two-detector Density Sonde

A simple analysis is made of a well-collimated two-detector density sonde with a tight energy window, the simplest form of two-detector sonde. Under these circumstances density can be obtained either in the presence of a constant unknown thickness of mudcake of unknown properties or in the presence of an unknown angle between the sonde and the borehole wall, with the source in contact. If both a mudcake (or a gap) and an angle are present, the problem cannot be solved unless the angle or the gap is measured. If the gap (or mudcake thickness) is measured, the solution is probably too complex for field use. If washouts are present the problem cannot be solved but can sometimes be dealt with by averaging.
Grain Boundary Softening in Boron-Doped Ni3Al

The effect of 0.2 at.% boron on grain boundary hardness in Ni3Al containing 24 to 26 at.% Al was studied. Normal grain boundary hardening was observed in all alloys with and without boron. However, the addition of boron decreases the magnitude of the grain boundary hardness, and the degree of “softening” depends on alloy stoichiometry. The occurrence of boron-induced softening is likely due to the increase in mobility of grain boundary dislocations.
Specificity in Bacterial Disease with Special Reference to Silkworms and Tent Caterpillars

The silkworm disease bacillus which is also pathogenic for tent caterpillars produces a specific disease in the two insects when their food is contaminated with the microorganism. This disease cannot be reproduced by contaminating the food with bacteria of general occurrence or with those pathogenic to other insect species. By contaminating the food with other bacteria a few deaths are obtained but these deaths in no way resemble those produced with the silkworm bacillus, and epidemics cannot be initiated. All insects investigated (silkworms, tent caterpillars, army worms, grasshoppers, roaches, etc.) succumb in a few days when inoculated with living cultures. Such a procedure, however, throws little light on the nature and course of a naturally acquired infectious disease in insects.
Thinking Like (Law-and-) Economists – Efficient Legal Rules and Moral Intuitions of Fairness

Using vignettes that are based on seminal cases in law and economics, I find that judicial decisions across different areas of the common law are considered to be fairer when they are also more efficient. Vignettes describe legal disputes and require respondents to rate the fairness of a judge’s resolution. Fairness ratings are compared across a lower-efficiency version and a higher-efficiency version of each vignette, with efficiency differences generated by subtle changes in context that are motivated by the economic logic relevant to the case’s actual judicial opinion. The results suggest that the economic logic that underlies the Coase theorem, the Hand rule and the foreseeability doctrine, and generates prescriptions for efficient use of strict product liability and efficient breach of contract, aligns with everyday intuitions of fairness. The results also identify two areas, fugitive property and punitive damages, where prescriptions for efficiency do not align with perceptions of fairness.
Use of a Shared Canister Protocol for the Delivery of Metered-Dose Inhalers in Mechanically Ventilated Subjects.

BACKGROUND: Mechanically ventilated patients often need bronchodilators administered via a metered-dose inhaler (MDI). Unfortunately, there are no data examining the impact of shared canister delivery of MDI therapy in mechanically ventilated patients. METHODS: A prospective trial was conducted with subjects assigned to shared canister MDI therapy or single-patient canister MDI therapy. Outcomes assessed were occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), hospital mortality, length of stay, ventilator-associated events, and MDI costs. RESULTS: Among 486 screened patients, 353 were included for analysis of which 201 (56.9%) received shared canister MDI therapy and 152 (43.1%) received single-patient canister therapy. VAP (7.0% vs 4.6%, P = .35), hospital mortality (21.9% vs 20.4%, P = .73), and ventilator days (median [interquartile range] 3.1 [0.9–7.5] d vs 2.7 [1.2–7.1] d, P = .62) were similar between the shared canister and single-patient canister groups. We did not observe clinically important differences for ventilator-associated events between study groups in our logistic regression analysis ( P = .07). There was a savings of $217/subject in the shared canister group due to the use of 299 fewer MDIs. CONCLUSIONS: Our study found that shared canister MDI therapy compared with single-patient MDI use was associated with a significant cost savings and similar rates of VAP, hospital mortality, and length of stay but a greater prevalence of ventilator-associated events. This finding suggests that shared canister delivery of MDIs may be a cost-effective practice in mechanically ventilated patients. Based on our findings, further studies examining the overall safety of shared canister use in mechanically ventilated patients seem warranted before recommending their routine use. (ClinicalTrials.gov registration [NCT01935388][1].) [1]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=CLINTRIALGOV&access_num=NCT01935388&atom=%2Frespcare%2F61%2F10%2F1285.atom
Evaluation on Uncertainty in Determining Total Acid in Vinegar

[Objective]To really reflect the accuracy of test results of total acid in vinegar,and evaluate the uncertainty.[Methods]The source of uncertainty was analyzed via calculating the given uncertainty.[Results]Relative expanded uncertainty was 0.48%.[Conclusion]The uncertainty components are not quite different to each other,which contribute to the synthesis of uncertainty and should be e considered in the evaluation of uncertainty.
Wavelet Transform Weighted Multi-modulus Blind Equalization Algorithm Based on Self-adaptive Step Cuckoo Search Algorithm Optimization

In order to improve the blind equalization performance of the weighted multimode algorithm for high-order QAM signals,self-adaptive Step Cuckoo Search Algorithm optimization based on wavelet transform weighted multiple modulus blind equalization algorithm( ASCS-WT-WMMA) was proposed. To avoid local minimal,the proposed algorithm utilized Self-adaptive Step Cuckoo Search Algorithm to initialize the weight vectors of equalizer. The equalizer' s input signals were pretreated by using orthogonal wavelet transform to reduce the self-correlation. Weighted Multi-Modulus Algorithm utilized exponential weighted symbols of the slicer's output to adjust the modules in the cost function. The MATLAB simulation resulted from the underwater acoustic channel. The results showed that,compared with WMMA,WT-WMMA( Wavelet Transform based WMMA) and CS-WT-WMMA( Cuckoo Search Algorithm Optimization Based Wavelet Transform Weighted Multi-modulus Blind Equalization Algorithm),the proposed algorithm had higher convergence speed and smaller residual mean square error.
Optical microresonators as single-particle absorption spectrometers

Single-particle double-modulation absorption spectrometers based on whispering-gallery-mode microresonators achieve sub-100-Hz sensitivity to photothermal resonance shifts and allow for the study of arrays of Fano resonances in the context of plasmonic–photonic hybridization.
Computational Geometry Column 64

This column is devoted to minimum partitions of colored point sets into monochromatic parts with pairwise disjoint convex hulls. These partitions offer compact color signatures that in principle could be used for classification and retrieval of discretized images.
A Review of Several Optimization Problems Related to Security in Networked System

Security issues are becoming more and more important to activities of individuals, organizations, and the society in our modern networked computerized world. In this chapter we survey a few optimization frameworks for problems related to security of various networked system such as the internet or the power grid system.
Investigating the Perceptions of Care Coordinators on Using Behavior Theory-Based Mobile Health Technology With Medicaid Populations: A Grounded Theory Study.

Background: Medicaid populations are less engaged in their health care than the rest of the population, translating to worse health outcomes and increased health care costs. Since theory-based mobile health (mHealth) interventions have been shown to increase patient engagement, mobile phones may be an optimal strategy to reach this population. With increased development of theory-based mHealth technology, these interventions must now be evaluated with these medically underserved populations in a real-world setting. Objective: The aim of our study was to investigate care coordinators’ perceived value of using a health behavior theory-based mHealth platform with Medicaid clients. In particular, attention was paid to the perceived impact on patient engagement. This research was conducted using the patient-provider text messaging (short message service, SMS) platform, Sense Health (now Wellpass), which integrates the transtheoretical model (TTM), also called the stages of change model; social cognitive theory (SCT); supportive accountability; and motivational interviewing (MI). Methods: Interviews based in grounded theory methodology were conducted with 10 care managers to understand perceptions of the relationship between mHealth and patient engagement. Results: The interviews with care managers yielded a foundation for a grounded theory model, presenting themes that suggested 4 intertwined correlative relationships revolving around patient engagement: (1) A text messaging (short message service, SMS) platform supplements the client-care manager dynamic, which is grounded in high quality, reciprocal-communication to increase patient engagement; (2) Texting enhances the relationship between literacy and access to care for Medicaid patients, increasing low-literacy patients’ agency to access services; (3) Texting enhances communication, providing care managers with a new means to support their clients; and (4) Reminders augment client accountability, leading to both increased motivation and readiness to change behaviors, as well as an improved client-care manager relationship. Conclusions: Messaging platform features tied to health behavior theory appear to be effective in improving patient engagement. Two-way communication (supportive accountability), trusted relationships (supportive accountability, SCT), personalized messages (TTM), and patient input (TTM, SCT, MI) appeared as the most relevant components in achieving desired outcomes. Additionally, reminder messages were noted as especially useful in making Medicaid patients accountable and in turn engaging them in their health and health care. These findings convey suggested elements for inclusion in other mHealth interventions aiming to improve patient engagement in Medicaid populations. [JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2017;5(3):e36]
Deformation of layered solids: Ripplocations not basal dislocations

Abstract It has long been assumed that basal dislocations were responsible for the deformation of layered, crystalline solids. Herein we make the case that, with the notable exception of some metals that kink, ripplocations - not basal dislocations - are the operative micromechanism. The reasons are: i) clear evidence for c-axis strain at multiple length scales including in transmission electron microscopy images; ii) strong influence of confining pressure on the compressive strengths of poly-, and especially single crystals; iii) ripplocations are a topological imperative if the layers are to move relative to each other, without breaking the in-plane bonds.
Growth in Children on CAPD/CCPD and the Use of Recombinant Human Growth Hormone to Treat Growth Delay in These Children

Growth retardation is a hallmark of chronic renal failure (CRF) in children and a major obstacle to a satisfactory psychosocial rehabilitation. The pathogenesis of growth failure in CRF is complex and comprises malnutrition, metabolic acidosis, renal osteodystrophy and hormonal alterations. But disappointingly, optimization of nutritional support and medical therapy with vitamin D, erythropoietin and mineral supplements does not uniformly improve growth [1]. A major breakthrough in the understanding of the pathogenesis of ‘uremic’ growth failure was achieved only recently by a more detailed analysis of the somatotropic hormone axis in chronic renal disease [2]. The relevance of the impact of alterations of the somatotropic hormone axis is underlined by the good efficacy of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy in growth-retarded children with preterminal CRF, which was introduced in 1988. This chapter will (I) describe the typical growth pattern in children with CRF, (II) discuss some of the pathophysiological mechanisms of growth failure in CRF, (III) describe the respective impact of medical supplementation and dialysis treatment on growth, and (IV) discuss the indication and limits of rhGH therapy in children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
KINETIC STUDIES ON MECHANISM AND SUBSTRATE SPECIFICITY OF THE MICROSOMAL FLAVIN–CONTAINING MONOOXYGENASE

Intermediate forms of the flavoprotein predicted from kinetic studies are detectable spectrophotometrically. The spectra suggest that the hydroxylating species is a relatively stable peroxyflavin · NADP+ intermediate and some parameters that affect interaction of nucleophiles with this form of the enzyme are described.
After The Demonstration: What States Sustained After the End of Federal Grants to Improve Children's Health Care Quality.

Introduction Under the CHIPRA Quality Demonstration Grant Program, CMS awarded $100 million through 10 grants that 18 state Medicaid agencies implemented between 2010 and 2015. The program’s legislatively-mandated purpose was to evaluate promising ideas for improving the quality of children’s health care provided through Medicaid and CHIP. As part of the program’s multifaceted evaluation, this study examined the extent to which states sustained key program activities after the demonstration ended. Methods We identified 115 potentially sustainable elements within states’ CHIPRA demonstrations and analyzed data from grantee reports and key informant interviews to assess sustainment outcomes and key influential factors. We also assessed sustainment of the projects’ intellectual capital. Results 56% of potentially sustainable elements were sustained. Sustainment varied by topic area: Elements related to quality measure reporting and practice facilitation were more likely to be sustained than others, such as parent advisors. Broad contextual factors, the state’s Medicaid environment, implementation partners’ resources, and characteristics of the demonstration itself all shaped sustainment outcomes. Discussion Assessing sustainment of key elements of states’ CHIPRA quality demonstration projects provides insight into the fates of the “promising ideas” that the grant program was designed to examine. As a result of the federal government’s investment in this grant program, many demonstration states are in a strong position to extend and spread specific strategies for improving the quality of care for children in Medicaid and CHIP. Our findings provide insights for policymakers and providers working to improve the quality of health care for low income children.
Infants' prosocial behavior is governed by cost-benefit analyses.

Abstract Cost-benefit analyses are central to mature decision-making and behavior across a range of contexts. Given debates regarding the nature of infants’ prosociality, we investigated whether 18-month-old infants’ (N = 160) prosocial behavior is impacted by anticipated costs and benefits. Infants participated in a helping task in which they could carry either a heavy or light block across a room to help an experimenter. Infants’ helping behavior was attenuated when the anticipated physical costs were high versus low (Experiment 1), and high-cost helping was enhanced under conditions of increased intrinsic motivational benefits (Experiments 2 and 3). High-cost helping was further predicted by infants’ months of walking experience, presumably because carrying a heavy block across a room is more effortful for less experienced walkers than for more experienced walkers demonstrating that infants subjectively calibrate costs. Thus, infants’ prosocial responding may be guided by a rational decision-making process that weighs and integrates costs and benefits.
Matched-pair, 86Y/90Y-labeled, bivalent RGD/bombesin antagonist, [RGD-Glu-[DO3A]-6-Ahx-RM2], as a potential theranostic agent for prostate cancer.

Abstract Introduction In this study, we describe development of a true matched-pair theranostic agent that is able to target the αVβ3 integrin and the gastrin releasing peptide receptor (GRPR). We herein describe methods to metallate and characterize the new conjugate and to validate its biological efficacy by in vitro and in vivo methods. Methods We have previously described the development of [RGD-Glu-6Ahx-RM2] (where RGD: Arg-Gly-Asp; Glu: glutamic acid; 6-Ahx: 6-amino hexanoic acid; RM2: (D-Phe-Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-Gly-His-Sta-Leu-NH2)) that has been conjugated to a DOTA (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid) bifunctional chelating agent (BFCA) to afford [RGD-Glu-[DO3A]-6-Ahx-RM2] peptide. In this study, we have radiolabeled [RGD-Glu-[DO3A]-6-Ahx-RM2] peptide with 86Y or 90Y. Natural-metallated (natY) conjugates were assessed for binding affinity for the αVβ3 integrin or GRPR in human glioblastoma U87-MG and prostate PC-3 cell lines, respectively. The effective stability of the new tracers was also evaluated prior to in vivo evaluation in normal CF-1 mice and SCID mice bearing xenografted tumors. Results Competitive displacement binding assays in PC-3 cells showed high binding affinity for the GRPR (IC50, 5.65 ± 0.00 nM). On the other hand, competitive displacement binding assays in U87-MG cells revealed only moderate binding to the αVβ3 integrin (IC50, 346 ± 5.30 nM). Biodistribution studies in PC-3 tumor-bearing mice [RGD-Glu-[[90Y]Y-DO3A]-6-Ahx-RM2] showed high tumor uptake (8.70 ± 0.35%ID/g at 1 h post-intravenous injection) and retention of tracer (5.28 ± 0.12%ID/g) at 24 h post-intravenous injection. Micro-positron emission tomography (microPET) in PC-3 tumor-bearing mice using [RGD-Glu-[[86Y]Y-DO3A]-6-Ahx-RM2] correlated well with biodistribution investigations over the various time points that were studied. Conclusions The [RGD-Glu-[[86Y]Y-DO3A]-6-Ahx-RM2] and [RGD-Glu-[[90Y]Y-DO3A]-6-Ahx-RM2] matched-pair conjugates described herein exhibit favorable microPET and pharmacokinetic profiles and merit further investigations for molecular imaging and/or therapeutic evaluation in larger animal models and potentially humans. Advances in knowledge and implications for patient care The theranostic, heterobivalent, agents described herein perform comparably with other mono- and multivalent conjugates we have reported and offer the potential of improved sensitivity for detecting prostate cancer cells that might exhibit differing profiles of receptor expression on tumor cells in human patients.
CONTINUOUS BIOREGENERATION OF GRANULAR ACTIVATED CARBON DURING THE ANAEROBIC DEGRADATION OF CATECHOL

ABSTRACT A synthetic catechol bearing wastewater was treated in an anaerobic activated carbon filter. During an initial period of acclimation, catechol was removed from the feed solution primarily by adsorption onto the activated carbon medium. This period was followed by vigorous anaerobic activity during which the carbon equivalent of the gaseous products (methane and aqueous as well as gaseous carbon dioxide) exceeded the organic carbon removed by the process as anaerobic bioregeneration of the activated carbon occurred. After this transient period had subsided, gas production decreased to a level which corresponded very closely to the organic carbon removed across the treatment process thereby signifying steady-state operating conditions. Three feed concentrations of catechol corresponding to 200, 400 and 1000 mg/1 were used and in all instances steady-state operation resulted in total organic carbon reductions exceeding 81 percent, while 95 percent chemical oxygen demand removals were obtained.
General relation between Aretakis charge and Newman-Penrose charge

We reexamine the relation between the Aretakis charge of an extremal black hole spacetime and the Newman-Penrose charge of a weakly asymptotically flat spacetime obtained from the original one through radial inversion and conformal mapping. Building on recent work by Godazgar, Godazgar, and Pope, we present an explicit general relation between these quantities showing how the charge densities are mapped. As a nontrivial example we provide the computation of both quantities and their explicit relation for the extremal Kerr spacetime.
Architecture as service: a case of design on demand (DoD)

The Internet-of-Things (IoT) can facilitate a perception-driven architectural service. A highly personalized adaptive Architecture-as-Service (AaS), meeting individual demands and expectations, is an example of Design-on-Demand—as needed and when it’s needed. This goes beyond reactive smart environments in the direction of a dwelling’s anticipatory characteristics, i.e., adapting to changing requirements. For such an architecture to be possible, intelligent materials need to be integrated via the IoT in new structures adapted to life and work circumstance of our time. The IoT is the only practical implementation that can handle the large number of processes involved and connect to computational resources on the cloud. The personalized AaS is protected via blockchain technology and made available, on demand or according to what the context suggests. For this purpose, a decentralized autonomous organization is put in place. Distributed across a large array of various devices, the ledger representing the blockchain enables digital ownership and, more important, interactions without a central control. The data informing the project was acquired from experiments in a Cave Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE)-type virtual reality (VR) system. The same VR facility was used as a modeling medium for the future of a new kind of on-demand adaptive architecture.
On Multi-Point, In-Network Filtering of Distributed Denial-of-Service Traffic

Research has shown that distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks on the Internet could often be better handled by enlisting the in-network defense of multiple autonomous systems (ASes), rather than relying entirely on the victim’s Internet Service Provider at the edge. Less noticed but important is the fact that an in-network defense can also remove DDoS traffic from the Internet early en route to the victim, thus decreasing the overall load on the Internet and reducing chances of link congestion. However, it is not well understood to what degree different in-network defense strategies can achieve such benefits. In this paper, we model the existing two main categories of in-network DDoS defense algorithms (PushBack, SourceEnd) and propose a new type of algorithm (StrategicPoints). In particular, we compare their effectiveness in minimizing the amount of DDoS traffic that the victim receives, their impact on reducing the DDoS traffic on the entire Internet, and their resiliency against intelligent adversaries and dynamic attacks. We detail how the comparison results vary according to parameters and provide our insights on the pros and cons of these three categories of in-network DDoS defense solutions.
A Revised Motor Activity Log Following Rasch Validation (Rasch-Based MAL-18) and Consensus Methods in Chronic Stroke and Multiple Sclerosis:

Objectives. To derive a shorter version of the Motor Activity Log Quality-of-Movement Scale (MAL-28) with enhanced content and construct validity. Design. Validation cohort. Setting. Outpatient rehabilitation within an academic laboratory. Participants. Retrospective consecutive sample of 149 community-dwelling adults with chronic mild/moderate upper-extremity hemiparesis caused by stroke or multiple sclerosis (MS). Intervention. Not applicable. Methods. Participants received the MAL-28 at baseline and following upper-extremity rehabilitation. Rasch Measurement Theory informed threshold ordering of scoring categories, tests of fit, differential item functioning, targeting, response dependency, local dependency, and reliability (person separation index [PSI]). Seasoned examiners rated the content validity of each item. Test-retest reliability of the revised scale was calculated. Results. We established content and construct validity for 18 items. The resultant 18-item MAL fit the model (χ2 = 77.93; df = 72; P = .30) and targeted the population-that is, minimal floor (12.08%) or ceiling effects (0%), with acceptable reliability (PSI = 0.84) and good test-retest reliability [ICC(1, 1) = 0.86]. The hierarchy of item difficulty was independent of sex, age, affected side, diagnosis, or intervention type used, and there was local dependency in 3 pairs of items. Responses from a subsequent testing session were dependent on the responses from prior testing, indicating response dependency, for which a correction was proposed. Once response dependency was neutralized, there was a 15% greater treatment response. Conclusions. Content and construct validity are established for Rasch-based MAL-18 for chronic stages of stroke and MS. A Rasch-based conversion table enables clinical use of the MAL-18.
Poor Outcomes Related to Anterior Extension of Large Hemispheric Infarction: Topographic Analysis of GAMES-RP Trial MRI Scans.

Abstract Background We aimed to assess the correlation of lesion location and clinical outcome in patients with large hemispheric infarction (LHI). Methods We analyzed admission MRI data from the GAMES-RP trial, which enrolled patients with anterior circulation infarct volumes of 82-300 cm3 within 10 hours of onset. Infarct lesions were segmented and co-registered onto MNI-152 brain space. Voxel-wise general linear models were applied to assess location-outcome correlations after correction for infarct volume as a co-variate. Results We included 83 patients with known 3-month modified Rankin scale (mRS). In voxel-wise analysis, there was significant correlation between admission infarct lesions involving the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) territory and its middle cerebral artery (MCA) border zone with both higher 3-month mRS and post-stroke day 3 and 7 National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) total score and arm/leg subscores. Higher NIHSS total scores from admission through poststroke day 2 correlated with left MCA infarcts. In multivariate analysis, ACA territory infarct volume (P = .001) and admission NIHSS (P = .005) were independent predictors of 3-month mRS. Moreover, in a subgroup of 36 patients with infarct lesions involving right MCA-ACA border zone, intravenous (IV) glibenclamide (BIIB093; glyburide) treatment was the only independent predictor of 3-month mRS in multivariate regression analysis (P = .016). Conclusions Anterior extension of LHI with involvement of ACA territory and ACA-MCA border zone is an independent predictor of poor functional outcome, likely due to impairment of arm/leg motor function. If confirmed in larger cohorts, infarct topology may potentially help triage LHI patients who may benefit from IV glibenclamide. Clinical Trial Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT01794182.
Constructing protein polyhedra via orthogonal chemical interactions.

Many proteins exist naturally as symmetrical homooligomers or homopolymers1. The emergent structural and functional properties of such protein assemblies have inspired extensive efforts in biomolecular design2–5. As synthesized by ribosomes, proteins are inherently asymmetric. Thus, they must acquire multiple surface patches that selectively associate to generate the different symmetry elements needed to form higher-order architectures1,6—a daunting task for protein design. Here we address this problem using an inorganic chemical approach, whereby multiple modes of protein–protein interactions and symmetry are simultaneously achieved by selective, ‘one-pot’ coordination of soft and hard metal ions. We show that a monomeric protein (protomer) appropriately modified with biologically inspired hydroxamate groups and zinc-binding motifs assembles through concurrent Fe3+ and Zn2+ coordination into discrete dodecameric and hexameric cages. Our cages closely resemble natural polyhedral protein architectures7,8 and are, to our knowledge, unique among designed systems9–13 in that they possess tightly packed shells devoid of large apertures. At the same time, they can assemble and disassemble in response to diverse stimuli, owing to their heterobimetallic construction on minimal interprotein-bonding footprints. With stoichiometries ranging from [2 Fe:9 Zn:6 protomers] to [8 Fe:21 Zn:12 protomers], these protein cages represent some of the compositionally most complex protein assemblies—or inorganic coordination complexes—obtained by design. An inorganic chemical approach to biomolecular design is used to generate ‘cages’ that can simultaneously promote symmetry and multiple modes of protein interactions.
Black raspberries suppress pancreatic cancer through modulation of NKp46+, CD8+, and CD11b+ immune cells.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a fatal disease with a low survival rate (9%). Epidemiologic studies show that healthy dietary patterns enriched of fruits and vegetables lower the risk of PDAC. We previously showed that supplementing black raspberries (BRBs) to patients with colorectal cancer increased tumor-infiltrating NK cells and their cytotoxicity. We aimed to determine whether BRBs combat PDAC by modulating cancer immunity. NOD.SCID mice lacking T and B cells were injected with human Panc-1-Luc cells orthotopically, and immunocompetent Kras LSL.G12D/+ -Trp53 LSL.R172H/+ -Pdx-1-Cre mice were fed BRBs. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from PDAC patients were treated with butyrate, a microbial metabolite of BRBs. The absence of T and B cells did not dampen BRBs' anti-tumor effects in the NOD.SCID mice. In the Kras LSL.G12D/+ -Trp53 LSL.R172H/+ -Pdx-1-Cre mice, BRBs significantly prolonged survival (189 days versus 154 days). In both models, BRBs decreased tumor-infiltrating CD11b+ cells and the expression of IL-1β, sEH, and Ki67. BRBs also increased tumor-infiltrating NKp46+ cells and the expression of CD107a, a functional marker of cytolytic NK and CD8+ T cells. In Kras LSL.G12D/+ -Trp53 LSL.R172H/+ -Pdx-1-Cre mice, tumor infiltration of CD8+ T cells was increased by BRBs. Further using the PBMCs from PDAC patients, we show that butyrate decreased the population of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Butyrate also reversed CD11b+ cell-mediated suppression on CD8+ T cells. Interestingly, there is a negative association between MDSC changes and patients' survival, suggesting that the more decrease in MDSC population induced by butyrate treatment, the longer the patient had survived. Our study suggests the immune-modulating potentials of BRBs in PDAC.
Seismic City: An Environmental History of San Francisco's 1906 Earthquake: by Joanna L. Dyl, Seattle, University of Washington Press, 2017, 376 pp., US$24.95 (paperback)

Just after five in the morning on 18 April 1906, the ground in and around San Francisco began shaking. For almost a minute the two sides of a fault line then known as the San Andreas Rift shifted a...
Finding Information in Obvious Places: Work Connections and Mutual Fund Investment Ideas

Mutual funds with managers who share a work connection have greater overlap in portfolio holdings, equity purchases, and equity sales. This relationship develops after a work connection begins and persists after the connection ends. Several tests to mitigate endogeneity concerns provide supportive evidence of a causal interpretation that work connections lead to the sharing of investment ideas among mutual fund managers. We find that equity purchases shared through work connections outperform non-connected purchases. Tests on reciprocal trading suggest that quid pro quo expectations motivate managers to share valuable investment ideas.
All-Passive Hardware Implementation of Multilayer Perceptron Classifiers

Bottom–up-fabricated crossbars promise superior circuit density and 3-D integrability compared with the traditional CMOS-based implementations. However, their inherent stochasticity presents difficulties in building complex circuits from components that demand precise patterning and high registration accuracies. With fewer terminals than active devices, passive components offer higher device densities and registration tolerances, making them amenable to bottom–up synthesized nanocrossbars. Motivated by this preference for passivity, we explore, in this article, neuromorphic classifiers based on passive neurons and passive synapses. We demonstrate via SPICE simulations how a shallow network of the diode–resistor-based passive rectifier neurons and resistive voltage summers, despite its inherent inability to buffer, amplify, and negate signals, can recognize MNIST digits with 95.4% accuracy. We introduce weight-to-conductance mappings that enable negative weights to be implemented in hardware without excessive memory overheads. The influences of soft and hard defects on the classification performance are evaluated, and the methods to boost fault-tolerance are proposed. The first-order evaluation of the area, speed, and power consumption of the passive multilayer perceptron classifiers is undertaken, and the results are compared with a benchmark study in neuromorphic hardware.
A Multi-phased Multi-faceted IoT Honeypot Ecosystem

The rapid growth of Internet of Things (IoT) devices makes it vitally important to understand real-world cybersecurity threats to them. Traditionally, honeypots have been used as decoys to mimic real devices on a network and help researchers/organizations understand the dynamic of threats. A crucial condition for a honeypot to yield useful insights is to let attackers believe they are real systems used by humans and organizations. However, IoT devices pose unique challenges in this respect, due to the large variety of device types and the physical-connectedness nature. In this work, we (1) presented an approach to create a multi-phased multi-faceted honeypot ecosystem, where researchers gradually increase the sophistication of a low-interaction IoT honeypot by observing real-world attackers' behaviors, (2) built a low-interaction honeypot for IoT cameras that allowed researchers to gain a concrete understanding of what attackers were going after on IoT camera devices, and (3) designed a proxy instance, called ProxyPot, that sits between IoT devices and the external network and helps researchers study the IoT devices' inbound/outbound communication. We used PorxyPot as a means to understanding attacks against IoT cameras and increasing the honeypot's sophistication. We deployed honeypots for more than two years. Our preliminary results showed that we were able to attract increasingly sophisticated attack data in each new phase. Moreover, we captured activities that appeared to involve direct human interactions rather than purely automated scripts.
Liberation-based social work theory in progress: Time to practice what I teach:

Social work education integrates theory and practice to bridge the micro-macro divide. The theoretical framework of intersecting identities reveals hidden inequities related to health consequences....