cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transgenerational Effects of Di-(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP) on Stress Hormones and Behavior

Exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) has been linked to male reproductive abnormalities. Here, we assessed transgenerational actions of DEHP on several behaviors and stress responses. We used 2 doses of DEHP (150- and 200-mg/kg body weight) and a treatment regimen previously shown to produce transgenerational effects on male reproduction. Mice, 3 generations removed from DEHP exposure (F3), were tested for social behavior and anxiety on the elevated plus maze. We collected blood and pituitaries from undisturbed and restrained mice. Body weights, anogenital distances, and reproductive organ weights were collected at killing. In social interaction tests juvenile males from the DEHP lineage (200 mg/kg) displayed more digging and less self-grooming than did controls. Interestingly, 150-mg/kg lineage males, killed in early puberty, had smaller seminal vesicle weights than their controls. However, the 200-mg/kg males (killed on average 10 d later) did not show this effect. Females from a DEHP lineage had lower corticosterone concentrations than controls after restraint stress. We also found sex- and DEHP-specific mRNA expression changes in the pituitary in 2 of the 6 stress-related genes we measured. In particular, Gnas mRNA was elevated by the combination of DEHP lineage and stress. Thus, transgenerational effects of DEHP are noted in male behavior, and in females, DEHP had transgenerational effects on levels of corticosterone. Both of these results may be related to transgenerational modifications in the expression of several pituitary hormones involved in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
Nonstationary State Mechanisms

It is not enough to establish rate laws. The information must be interpreted to yield insights into the elementary steps by which molecules interact, react, and recombine. This is done by constructing mechanistic models consistent with the phenomenological rate laws. Such mechanisms are rarely unique and guidelines are needed to construct them. The fundamental ground rule is simplicity. With this principle it becomes possible to choose between competing models, each of which agrees with the data. It is obvious that our notion of simplicity is redefined if new intermediate species are discovered.
How Professional Socialization and Organizational Characteristics Shape Culturally Competent Care

I used a sociological framework that draws on theoretical and empirical works that seek to understand health disparities and the social organization of health care. Data are from intensive interviews and observations over two years at three field sites; the qualitative data analysis used a grounded theory approach. The goal of my research was to examine, from the perspective of health care providers and office staff, how culturally competent care is enacted for ethnically diverse patients in neighborhood settings. Characteristics associated with the structure of the organizations influenced the delivery of culturally competent care, with distinct advantages and disadvantages associated with the size of the practices and whether or not they had corporate connections. My analysis, the providers’ perspective, provided the foundation to explore practice sites’ capacities to meet community needs in a culturally competent manner. Interviews and observations at field sites provided insight into interdisciplinary team function and the barriers and advantages that the micro and macro organizational features of each of the practices and the health care system imposed. The practice size and affiliation with outside entities affected the organizations’ capacity to provide culturally competent health care. For culturally competent care to be sustained and effective, the practice site must support the health care team’s mission by streamlining the process of entry for the patient. Finally, the macro organizations, overseeing institutions and state and federal regulatory bodies play important roles by supporting the value of culturally competent primary health care to diverse groups through investment.
Angular Distribution of N 13 from N 14 on Mg 25

The angular distribution of ${\mathrm{N}}^{13}$ from the neutron-transfer reaction ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{25}$(${\mathrm{N}}^{14}$, ${\mathrm{N}}^{13}$)${\mathrm{Mg}}^{26}$ was measured at an incident nitrogen energy of 27.9 Mev. ${\mathrm{N}}^{13}$ was caught on aluminum foils placed at various angles around the thin ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{25}$ target. The foils were counted after bombardment and ${\mathrm{N}}^{13}$ was identified by its 10-min half-life. The angular distribution was found to have a maximum at \ensuremath{\approx}65 deg in the center-of-mass system, to fall off sharply at forward angles, and to decrease more slowly at angles larger than 65 deg. The energy spectrum of ${\mathrm{N}}^{13}$ was measured at three angles around 65 deg (c.m.). It was found that the residual ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{26}$ is left in excited states and that the larger the angle the higher the states in which ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{26}$ is likely to be left. For the transfers leaving ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{26}$ in the ground state, a classical estimate of the distance, $D$, of closest approach was made. Expressing the result as $D={d}_{0}({{A}_{1}}^{\frac{1}{3}}+{{A}_{2}}^{\frac{1}{3}})$, ${D}_{0}=1.9\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}13}$ cm at the peak of the angular distribution. Thus, most of these transfers occur when the nuclei are not touching in the usual sense.
Differentiation of Rubber and Gutta Hydrocarbons in Plant Materials

Abstract Hydrocarbons of the rubber (r) or gutta (g) types isolated from Hevea brasiliensis (r), Mimusops balata (g), Asclepias erosa (milkweed (r)), A. syriaca (milkweed (r)), Oenothera biennis (Evening primrose (r)), Solidago leavenworthii (goldenrod (r)), Eucommia ulmoides (g), Euonymus japonicus (g), and Jatropha sp. (chiite (r)) were positively identified by their light absorptions near 12 µ. Mixed cis- and trans-isomers were absent in all cases, even though the plants examined were selected as giving hydrocarbon polymers of questionable types.
Observations of Nitrite-Induced Postural Syncope in Patients with Mental Disease

Summary and conclusionsIn patients with mental or emotional disorders, increased activity of vasomotor mechanisms responsive to postural change may occur; this is observed irrespective of diagnosis. In some psychotic patients disturbances in mental content and mood, consisting of intensification of pre-existing psychotic manifestations, occurred at times when it may be assumed that cerebral blood flow was diminished. Observations suggest that lobotomy causes no distinctive change in postural vasomotor reactivity when time for complete healing is allowed.
Airborne In Situ Measurements of Turbulence

Airborne in situ measurements of turbulence play a key role in mitigating the operational turbulence problem for aviation. These measurements can be used for warning following aircraft, used in turbulence forecasting and nowcasting algorithms, and assisting in the development and verification of those algorithms. Furthermore, in situ measurements are useful in furthering the phenomenological understanding of turbulence in terms of climatologies and case studies. In this chapter, we focus on energy dissipation rate (EDR) calculations for both homogeneous and inhomogeneous turbulence and describe the connection between EDR and aircraft vertical acceleration response. The chapter concludes with a simulation analysis comparing EDR estimates from vertical velocity, from scaling the root mean square of the velocities and accelerations, and from scaling peak accelerations.
A Cyber-Security Storm MAP

When a cyber-security event occurs, a person has to answer the following questions: what events are happening, where are the events occurring, and how much damage has occurred or will occur. This paper recommends a cyber-security monitoring system that provides correlation of time-series event data, a visual representation of the security events, and gives a predictive forecast of potential events based on known environmental states. The rationale for this comes from the need to have an overall view of security events or storms that are occurring on a network while providing information in reference to severity and a propagation pattern. Thus, it can potentially provide an early warning so that events or storms can be proactively mitigated. In addition, it can help in making business decisions by determining or understanding the relationship between the computing devices and the business/information technology services they make up.
Evidence for the Phospholipid Sponge Effect as the Biocidal Mechanism in Surface-Bound Polyquaternary Ammonium Coatings with Variable Cross-Linking Density

Poly quaternary "-oniums" derived from polyethylenimine (PEI), poly(vinyl-N-alkylpyridinium), or chitosan belong to a class of cationic polymers that are efficient antimicrobial agents. When dissolved in solution, the positively charged polycations are able to displace the divalent cations of the cellular phospholipid bilayer and disrupt the ionic cross-links and structural integrity of the membrane. However, when immobilized to a surface where confinement limits diffusion, poly -oniums still show excellent antimicrobial activity, which implies a different biocidal mode of action. Recently, a proposed mechanism, named phospholipid sponge effect, suggested that surface-bound polycationic networks are capable of recruiting negatively charged phospholipids out of the bacterial cell membrane and sequestering them within the polymer matrix.1 However, there has been insufficient evidence to support this hypothesis. In this study, a surface-bound N,N-dodecyl methyl-co-N,N-methylbenzophenone methyl quaternary PEI (DMBQPEI) was prepared to verify the phospholipid sponge effect. By tuning the irradiation time, the cross-linking densities of surface-bound DMBQPEI films were mediated. The modulus of films was measured by PeakForce Quantitative Nanomechanical Mapping (QNM) to indicate the cross-linking density variation with increasing irradiation time. A negative correlation between the film cross-linking density and the absorption of a negatively charged phospholipid (DPhPG) was observed, but no such correlations were observed with a neutral phospholipid (DPhPC), which strongly supported the action of anionic phospholipid suction proposed in the lipid sponge effect. Moreover, the killing efficiency toward S. aureus and E. coli was inversely affected by the cross-linking density of the films, providing evidence for the phospholipid sponge effect. The relationship between killing efficiency and film cross-linking density is discussed.
Success of photodynamic therapy in palliating patients with nonresectable cholangiocarcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Success of photodynamic therapy in palliating patients with nonresectable cholangiocarcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Corrosion behavior of ceramic-coated ZIRLO™ exposed to supercritical water

Abstract The corrosion behavior of ceramic coated ZIRLO™ tubing was evaluated in a supercritical water (SCW) environment to determine its behavior in high temperature water. Two coating architectures were analyzed; a 4 bi-layer TiAlN/TiN coating with Ti bond coat, and a TiN monolithic coating with Ti bond layer on ZIRLO™ tubes using cathodic arc physical vapor deposition (CA-PVD) technique. Femtosecond laser ablation was used to introduce reproducible defects in some of the coated tubes. On exposure to deaerated supercritical water at 542 °C for 48 h, coated tubes exhibited significantly higher weight gain compared to uncoated ZIRLO™. Examination revealed formation of a uniform ZrO2 layer beneath the coating of a thickness similar to that on the uncoated tube inner surface. The defects generated during the coating process acted as preferential paths for diffusion of oxygen resulting in the oxidation of substrate ZIRLO™. However, there was no delamination of the coating. There were insignificant differences in the oxidation weight gain between laser ablated and non-ablated tubes and the laser induced defects did not spread beyond their original size.
A New Information-Theoretic Measure to Control the Robustness-Sensitivity Trade-Off for DMFFD Point-Set Registration

An essential component of many medical image analysis protocols is the establishment and manipulation of feature correspondences. These image features can assume such forms spanning the range of functions of individual or regional pixel intensities to geometric structures extracted as a preprocessing segmentation step. Many algorithms focusing on the latter set of salient features attempt to reduce these structures to such geometric primitives as surfaces, curves and/or points for correspondence-based study. Although the latter geometric primitive forms the basis of many of these algorithms, unrealistic constraints such as assumptions of identical cardinality between point-sets hinder general usage. Furthermore, the local structure for certain point-sets derived from segmentation processes is often ignored. In this paper, we introduce a family of novel information-theoretic measures for pooint-set registration derived as a generalization of the well-known Shannon entropy known as the Havrda-Charvat-Tsallis entropy. This divergence measure permits a fine-tuning between robustness and sensitivity emphasis. In addition, we employ a directly manipulated free-form deformation (DMFFD) transformation model, a recently developed variant of the well-known FFD transformation model.
Postprandial Triglycerides Predict Newborn Fat More Strongly than Glucose in Women with Obesity in Early Pregnancy

OBJECTIVE Maternal obesity (OB) accounts for the majority of large-for-gestational-age infants, and newborn percent fat (NB%fat) correlates strongest with childhood OB. In addition to maternal glucose, fasting triglycerides (TGs) may contribute, but postprandial triglycerides (PPTGs) are unstudied. It was hypothesized that fasting TGs and PPTGs are higher in women with OB compared with women with normal weight (NW) throughout pregnancy, correlate more strongly with NB%fat than glucose, and may relate to dietary chylomicron TGs. METHODS Fasting TGs and PPTGs, free fatty acids, glucose, and insulin were prospectively measured 10 times over 4 hours after a controlled liquid breakfast early (14-16 weeks) and later (26-28 weeks) in pregnancy in 27 mothers with NW and 27 with OB. NB%fat was measured by dual x-ray absorptometry. RESULTS Fasting TGs and PPTGs were already ≥ 30% higher in mothers with OB at 14 to 16 weeks (P < 0.001) versus mothers with NW. In mothers with OB, a simple 1-hour (r = 0.71; P < 0.01) or 2-hour (r = 0.69; P < 0.01) PPTG at 14 to 16 weeks correlated strongest with NB%fat. In mothers with NW, the increase in TGs from early to later pregnancy correlated strongest with NB%fat (r = 0.57; P < 0.01). Maternal glucose did not statistically add to prediction models. CONCLUSIONS These novel data suggest that 1- or 2-hour PPTGs might be a new target for early intervention in pregnancies with OB to prevent excess newborn adiposity and attenuate child OB risk.
Coordination of gastric and gallbladder emptying after ingestion of a regular meal

Abstract The relationship of gallbladder emptying and refilling to gastric emptying of solids, gastrointestinal transit time, and human pancreatic polypeptide response was examined after ingestion of a standard breakfast (40% fat) in 12 healthy men and women. Gallbladder volume, emptying, and refilling was measured by real-time ultrasonography, and gastric emptying of solids was measured scintigraphically by the disappearance from the stomach of egg labeled with 99mTc-sulfur colloid. Gastrointestinal transit time was defined as the time of initial rise in breath hydrogen following ingestion of 10 g of lactulose. Serum human pancreatic polypeptide level was measured by radioimmunoassay. Gallbladder emptying was biphasic, initially 0.015 ± 0.003 min−1 and later 0.005 ± 0.001 min−1, and gallbladder volume remained small until refilling began at 249 ± 67 min. Gallbladder refilling was 70% complete at 335 ± 57 min. The slower rate of gallbladder emptying and tonic gallbladder contraction occurred during gastric emptying of solids. Gallbladder refilling began when ∼13% of solids remained in the stomach. Serum human pancreatic polypeptide showed the expected biphasic response to the meal and returned to basal levels at approximately the time of initiation of gallbladder refilling. The gastrointestinal transit time of women was twice that of men (73.6 ± 20.2 vs. 37.5 ± 22.7, p=0.025). No other sex-related differences were detected. We conclude that gastric emptying of the solid portion of a meal containing fat maintains tonic gallbladder contraction through continued release of humoral mediators from small bowel and pancreas. When gastric emptying nears completion, humoral stimulation ceases and the gallbladder refills. Human pancreatic polypeptide does not appear to be responsible for gallbladder refilling.
Reliability Considerations for Advanced and Integrated LED Systems

This chapter presents an overview of advanced packaging and integration of solid state lighting (SSL) systems. A full realization of wafer level SSL system integration requires wafer level phosphor coating, wafer level LED chip encapsulation, wafer level optics manufacturing, the application of through silicon vias (TSV) between LED and silicon/ceramics/polymer wafers, the application of wafer-to-wafer or wafer-to-chip bonding and stacking, and the adoption of wafer level bumping technologies. Advances in reconfiguration (or reconstitution) of LED/silicon wafers are described in this chapter. Different technologies in TSV formation and various wafer-to-wafer or wafer-to-chip bonding technologies are illustrated. The finite element modeling of TSV process, essentially a chemical etching and subsequent passivation process, is discussed. A variety of wafer level bumping technologies is introduced, such as ball on I/O (BON), ball on polymer (BOP), redistribution dielectric layer (RDL) process, and copper post bumping process. The reliability improvement among different bumping technologies and the implications in SSL systems are presented. Newly developed polymer-core interconnect technology and nanocolumn interconnect are discussed.
Multicultural and Ethical Considerations in American Medicine

The authors describe and examine models of culturally informed care, giving attention to the culture of the patient and of the provider and the context of care. Ethical issues in multicultural medical environments are discussed and articulated through the use of case studies with narrative explanation. Culturally astute communication skills are explored. The authors recommend effective methods to address ethical issues in multicultural environments.
Interest-Excitement and Intrinsic Motivation

Chapter 7 presented a discussion of the shift away from drive reduction theory to more comprehensive and complex conceptualizations of motivation. Much of the theorizing and empirical research involved in this movement aimed at explaining why people do things in the absence of any drive state and why they sometimes seek stimulation increase rather than stimulation decrease (drive reduction). James’s (1890) concept of selective attention, Freud’s (1938) term cathexis, and McDougall’s (1908) idea of an instinct of curiosity provided a conceptual background for a number of theoretical formulations.
Abstract 5124: A machine learning based approach to identify biomarkers of environmental toxicant exposures relevant to liver cancer disparities in rural Illinois

Although there have been nationwide reductions in recent cancer death, liver cancer mortality remains to be a problem in rural Illinois. Researchers anticipate that exposure to environmental toxicants in rural Illinois, may be possible causes of increased liver cancer mortality in females. The purpose of our study is to identify potential biomarkers, which are related to early liver toxicity through machine learning. We accessed gene expression data from the open source Toxicogenomics Project-Genomics Assisted Toxicity Evaluation System (TG-GATES) database from rats that had been exposed to over 170 toxicants relevant to liver cancer. We performed a differential gene expression analysis to identify significant features or genes, which are related to hepatotoxicity endpoints, specifically necrosis. Then we built our predictive model using supervised machine learning (ML) through feature selection and classification models. We performed differential gene expression analysis and feature selection to decrease the dimensionality of the gene set. We then used classification modeling to classify genes related to necrosis. Lastly, we tested our predictive model, on an independent data set. Our model predicted specific genes that were highly related to liver toxicant exposure. Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Brandi Smith, Zeynep Madak-Erdogan. A machine learning based approach to identify biomarkers of environmental toxicant exposures relevant to liver cancer disparities in rural Illinois [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5124.
Twitter, incivility, and presidential communication: A theoretical incursion into spectacle and power

By approaching civility as an operational logic for democracy, we ask how incivility is a strategy related to power and domination, particularly from the president of the United States. We propose ...
The proprial article and the semantics of names

The proprial article is a functional item that occurs in a number of languages alongside names to the general exclusion of other nouns. In the following I present an account of the semantic function of this article, and how it interacts with names as nouns to form referential expressions in argument position. In particular, I suggest that in line with what a number of researchers have claimed, names generally are count nouns in the lexicon, denoting the property of bearing the name in question. The proprial article then composes with name NPs of a certain sort to yield proprial DPs that rigidly denote individuals, which are presupposed to bear the name in question at their world of use. It follows that ordinary referential names in argument position are not definite descriptions, as related approaches to the semantics of names often suppose, and that the proprial article is a functional element distinct from the definite article. This schema is applied to DP languages with article systems generally: all such languages are taken to have the proprial article, whether it appears overtly or covertly, and to make use of proprial DPs for reference using names. The machinery used further allows for a model-theoretically precise and intuitively compelling characterization of name-bearing. EARLY ACCESS
Outcome Measures in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatologic conditions are complex disorders, and for the most part, of unknown etiology where disease manifestations affect many different organ systems. Hence, it is hard to develop single domain outcome measures for rheumatologic conditions as in hypertension (systolic and diastolic blood pressure), diabetes (hemoglobin A1C), or hypothyroidism (thyroid-stimulating hormone). For this reason, several composite outcome measures have been developed over the last 20 years, in addition to imaging and laboratory tests, which are sometimes used as stand-alone measures. The condition that leads the field in rheumatology is rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This chapter provides an overview of RA outcome measures that are commonly used in clinical trials and observational studies. It includes a brief description and scoring of each of the outcome measures and their strengths and weaknesses.
Gene transfection of primary mouse hepatocytes in 384-well plates.

Abstract We report the development of an improved in vitro transfection assay to test the efficiency of non-viral vector DNA nanoparticle transfection of primary hepatocytes. The protocol describes the isolation of viable hepatocytes from a mouse by collagenous perfusion. Primary mouse hepatocytes are plated in 384-well plates and cultured for 24 h prior to transfection with polyethylenimine (PEI) or peptide DNA nanoparticles. Luciferase expression is measured after 24 h following the addition of ONE-Glo substrate. The gene transfer assay for primary hepatocytes was optimized for cell plating number, DNA dose, and PEI to DNA ratio. The assay was applied to compare the expression mediated by mRNA relative to two plasmids possessing different promoters. The reported assay provides reliable in vitro expression results that allow direct comparison of the efficiency of different non-viral gene delivery vectors.
Plasma omega-3 and saturated fatty acids are differentially related to pericardial adipose tissue volume across race/ethnicity: the Multi-ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) is a cardiometabolic risk factor influenced by race/ethnicity, inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction. Omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) and saturated FAs (SFAs) are known to affect these latter phenomena and may influence PAT accumulation. We aimed to determine whether plasma levels of these FAs are related to PAT volume and its rate of change over a median 3-year follow-up. Cardiac computed tomography assessed PAT in 6785 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis participants. Gas chromatography flame-ionization estimated plasma phospholipid FAs. Regression analyses estimated associations of FAs with PAT volume and its rate of change with adjustments for other risk factors. Race-interactions were tested. In cross-section, top tertiles of omega-3 FAs and odd-chained SFAs were associated with 2.8 and 4.93 cm3 lower PAT volumes, respectively; race/ethnicity was a significant modifying variable (p < 0.002). Even-chained SFAs were associated with 3.5 cm3 greater PAT volume. With stratification by race/ethnicity, Chinese Americans in the top tertile of omega-3 FAs showed 10.5 cm3 greater PAT volume than those in the referent tertile. Black individuals in the top tertile of odd-chained SFAs showed 5.0 cm3 lower PAT compared to referents. Black and Chinese Americans in top tertiles of even-chained SFAs showed respective 3.7 and 5.9 cm3 greater PAT volumes compared to referents. Two associations were observed in prospective analyses among Caucasians; race interactions were non-significant. Cross-sectional and prospective findings provide inconclusive evidence as to whether plasma FAs are related to PAT in healthy individuals. Cohort studies with longer follow-up periods are warranted.
An Introduction to Impedance Matching Using the Analog Discovery Board

This paper presents a simple, yet effective hands-on introduction to impedance matching in the frequency domain using the Digilent Analog Discovery Board. This experiment avoids the need for expensive RF/Microwave test equipment, by using basic low frequency measurement equipment that is common to the typical electrical engineering laboratory (a basic oscilloscope and signal generator setup can also be used). Through this experiment, students observe the importance of impedance matching first-hand, via measurements, and then design and build a basic narrowband lumped LC impedance matching network at low frequency and verify its performance.
Tax Treatment of Block Rewards: A Primer

• An unsettled issue of immense practical and economic importance: how to tax the new “reward tokens” created in public cryptocurrency networks. • The wrong policy would drive innovation elsewhere. Fortunately, the correct policy is mandated by existing law: these new tokens – like all forms of new property – do not give rise to income until they are sold. • Informal, seven-year-old IRS guidance – not law – geared to Bitcoin and proof of work suggests reward tokens are immediate income at their fair market value on the date “received.” • For the newer proof-of-stake technology, this would create a compliance nightmare and punitive overtaxation. • Ethereum, Tezos, Cosmos, and many other proof-of-stake cryptocurrencies: compliance would be a daunting task – for the IRS as well as taxpayers. New taxable events would occur every few seconds. • “Income” under such a policy would overstate taxpayers’ actual economic gain – significantly, in many cases – resulting in demonstrable, systematic overtaxation. • The overtaxation is equivalent to taxing a 21 for 20 stock split by counting the “new” share – that is, 20/21 the value of an old share – as taxable income. • Like any property, cryptocurrency tokens can indeed be “income” – when received as payment or as compensation. • But new property – property created or discovered by a taxpayer, not received as payment or compensation from someone else – is never income, and never has been. • Cattle, corn, gold, widgets, wild truffles, artworks, novels – think of any new property created or discovered by the taxpayer: It’s no one else’s expense, and it’s not income until sold. • As a factual matter, new reward tokens are indeed created by stakers. • Understanding how tokens are created is complicated; resorting to flawed financial analogies is easy. • Block rewards are nothing like “stock dividends.” They are not “compensation for services” – try to imagine taxable “compensation” that doesn’t come from another person. • Reward tokens cannot be taxed as immediate income under section 61 of the Internal Revenue Code. But not to worry: they’ll be fairly taxed when sold. • Policy problems remain for cryptocurrency taxation – fortunately, new reward tokens are not among them. • It’s not too late to clarify this issue before the effects of a wrong or uncertain policy are felt by millions of taxpayers and the IRS alike. Related scholarship: Cryptocurrency Economics and the Taxation of Block Rewards, https://ssrn.com/abstract=3466796. Dilution and True Economic Gain From Cryptocurrency Block Rewards, https://ssrn.com/abstract=36724616.
Mitigation of analyte loss on metal surfaces in liquid chromatography

Abstract The adsorptive loss of acidic analytes in liquid chromatography was investigated using metal frits. Repetitive injections of acidic small molecules or an oligonucleotide were made on individual 2.1 or 4.6 mm i.d. column frits. Losses were observed for adenosine 5′-(α,β-methylene) diphosphate, 2-pyridinol 1-oxide and the 25-mer phosphorothioate oligonucleotide Trecovirsen (GEM91) on stainless steel and titanium frits. Analyte adsorption was greatest at acidic pH due to the positive charge on the metal oxide surface. Analyte recovery increased when a series of injections was performed; this effect is known as sample conditioning. Nearly complete recovery was achieved when the metal adsorptive sites were saturated with the analyte. A similar effect was achieved by conditioning the frits with phosphoric, citric or etidronic acids, or their buffered solutions. These procedures can be utilized to mitigate analyte loss. However, the effect is temporary, as the conditioning agent is gradually removed by the running mobile phase. Metal frits modified with hybrid organic/inorganic surface technology were shown to mitigate analyte-to-metal surface interactions and improve recovery of acidic analytes. Quantitative recovery of a 15–35 mer oligodeoxythymidine mixture was achieved using column hardware modified with hybrid surface technology, without a need for column conditioning prior to analysis.
The relationship between inclusionary zoning policies and population health

Despite the gradual decline of the poverty rate in the United States in recent years, rising housing costs have continued to make access to affordable housing a substantial problem across the count...
Spectroscopic analysis of photonic lanthanide nanoparticles used to harvest photonic energy

The lanthanide-based upconversion phenomenon (UC) is a nonlinear optical process and is of interest for solar cell studies due to Ln3+ ions ability to harvest IR photons from the solar light spectrum. NIR photons account for (53%) of the solar light spectrum and photons are lost during solar cell light absorption due to several key factors. Ln3+ ions are perfect candidates to optimize NIR photons absorption in solar cell devices by utilizing upconversion (UC) processes. In our research, we will analyze the UC mechanism and the emission of hybridized lanthanide nanoparticles for the future application on the surface of solar cells to increase photonic energy.
Cell contact guidance via sensing anisotropy of network mechanical resistance.

Despite the ubiquitous importance of cell contact guidance, the signal-inducing contact guidance of mammalian cells in an aligned fibril network has defied elucidation. This is due to multiple interdependent signals that an aligned fibril network presents to cells, including, at least, anisotropy of adhesion, porosity, and mechanical resistance. By forming aligned fibrin gels with the same alignment strength, but cross-linked to different extents, the anisotropic mechanical resistance hypothesis of contact guidance was tested for human dermal fibroblasts. The cross-linking was shown to increase the mechanical resistance anisotropy, without detectable change in network microstructure and without change in cell adhesion to the cross-linked fibrin gel. This methodology thus isolated anisotropic mechanical resistance as a variable for fixed anisotropy of adhesion and porosity. The mechanical resistance anisotropy |Y*| -1 - |X*| -1 increased over fourfold in terms of the Fourier magnitudes of microbead displacement |X*| and |Y*| at the drive frequency with respect to alignment direction Y obtained by optical forces in active microrheology. Cells were found to exhibit stronger contact guidance in the cross-linked gels possessing greater mechanical resistance anisotropy: the cell anisotropy index based on the tensor of cell orientation, which has a range 0 to 1, increased by 18% with the fourfold increase in mechanical resistance anisotropy. We also show that modulation of adhesion via function-blocking antibodies can modulate the guidance response, suggesting a concomitant role of cell adhesion. These results indicate that fibroblasts can exhibit contact guidance in aligned fibril networks by sensing anisotropy of network mechanical resistance.
Emotional valence and arousal induced by auditory stimuli among individuals with visual impairment

Despite significant vision loss, humans can still recognize various emotional stimuli via a sense of hearing and express diverse emotional responses, which can be sorted into two dimensions, arousa...
Is a Five Marker Panel with Basal Marker Expression (EGFR and/or CK5/6) Superior to a Three Marker Panel in Predicting Prognosis in Molecular Subtypes of Breast Carcinoma? A Comparative Study

Breast cancer exhibits significant heterogeneity, as evidenced by the fact that tumours with similar morphologic and immunohistochemical features exhibit distinct clinical behaviour and response to therapy. This paved the way for microarray-based global gene expression profiling (GEP) and new approaches to classifying breast cancer into molecular subtypes. The triple negative phenotype has been identified as the worst prognosis group among all molecular subtypes (TN).Within this group, basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) was detected using a 5-marker surrogate panel that included ER-PR-HER2–negative and basal markers, such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) or Cytokeratin 5/6 (CK5/6) positive. The basal-like subtype, which accounts for 15 to 20% of all breast malignancies, is particularly important since it has a very bad prognosis. EGFR and CK 5/6 are readily available and specific IHC surrogate basal markers that can be easily included in a five marker panel for breast cancer prognosis.BME is not only found in triple negative subtypes, but also in other molecular subtypes. Using IHC surrogate classification, 106 cases of invasive breast carcinoma with detailed clinical and histological prognostic factors were classified into molecular phenotypes. Tumors expressing the basal markers CK5/6 and EGFR were defined as basal marker expressing (BME) tumours, and they were compared to tumours expressing ER, PR, Her-2/neu, and triple negative tumours. These tumours were compared to invasive breast cancer prognostic and predictive markers. BME was found in 50 of the 106 cases. In addition, BME was linked to tumour necrosis, lymph node metastases, and a high histological grade.BME is an independent prognostic marker in breast carcinomas, and its expression is not confined to triple negative instances. Three panel markers had less prognostic significance than an enlarged surrogate panel comprising ER, PR, Her-2 neu, EGFR, and CK 5/6.
Ultrasonic Beams with Bessel and Gaussian Profiles

A novel technique has been developed for generating ultrasonic beams with spatial profiles of amplitude governed by a truncated Bessel function or Gaussian function [1,2]. Bessel beams have very unique properties; in optics Bessel beams have been shown to be diffractionless (J. Durnin et al, 1987 [3,4]). In a related work, R. W. Ziolkowski et al [5] reported experimental measurements of “acoustic directed energy pulse trains” generated by synthetic line array of ultrasonic transmitters in water. However, a Bessel function ultrasonic transducer has never been reported before. Gaussian beams also have desirable properties; they are very easy to model analytically, and a circular Gaussian function ultrasonic transducer is free of near-field nulls and far-field sidelobes associated with conventional “piston source” transducers [6]. At least three designs of Gaussian transducers have been reported in the literature in the past 30 years [7–9]. We report a method in which piezoelectric ceramic elements are poled with nonuniform electric fields shaped like Bessel or Gaussian functions such that the resulting polarization (and hence the ultrasonic amplitude) follows that of the applied poling field. Like conventional piston source transducers, such Bessel or Gaussian transducers also possess the simple “parallel plate capacitor” configuration and can be packaged likewise. Beam profiles and propagation behavior of these Bessel and Gaussian transducers have been measured experimentally in an immersion tank and the results compared well with model predictions
Multiple Parameter Estimation from Tomographic Inert Gas Clearance Curves: A Modification on the Double Integral Method

This paper describes a method for measuring relative perfusion (uncoupled from partition coefficient), relative “pseudo” partition coefficient, and input function delay using data from a dynamic single photon emission tomograph (DSPECT). The method produces regional transverse section images of these three parameters. While the examples presented here will use data from the TOMOMATIC 64*, the method is valid for application to data from inert gas clearance studies where (a) the input function is known, and (b) the observed tissue can be assumed to be dominated by a single compartment washout.
Motion Planning for Nonholonomic Dynamic Systems

The problem of motion planning for nonholonomic dynamic systems is studied. A model for nonholonomic dynamic systems is first presented in terms of differential- algebraic equations defined on a phase space. A nonlinear control system in a normal form is introduced to completely describe the dynamics. The assumptions guarantee that the resulting normal form equations necessarily contain a nontrival drift vector field. We show that the linearized control system always has uncontrollable eigenvalues at the origin. However, any equilibrium is shown to be strongly accessible and small time locally controllable. A motion planning approach using holonomy is developed for nonholonomic Caplygin dynamical systems, i.e. nonholonomic systems with certain symmetry properties which can be expressed by the fact that the constraints are cyclic in certain of the variables. The theoretical development is applied to physical examples of systems that we have studied in detail elsewhere: the control of motion of a knife edge moving on a plane surface and the control of motion of a wheel rolling without slipping on a plane surface. The results of the paper are also applied to the control of motion of a planar multibody system using angular momentum preserving joint torques. Results of simulations are included to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed motion planning approach.
Chapter 24 Mechanism-Based Irreversible Enzyme Inhibitors

Publisher Summary This chapter examines the mechanism-based irreversible enzyme inhibitors. A general approach to the design of irreversible enzyme inhibitors of extraordinary specificity is presented. These inhibitors are so constructed that they require chemical activation by the target enzyme. Upon activation, a chemical reaction ensues between the inhibitor and enzyme resulting in irreversible inhibition of the latter. Flavin linked monoamine oxidases are also irreversibly inhibited by molecules that contain an acetylenic moiety. Studies demonstrate that the acetylenic moiety must be β to the amino group for inhibition to occur and that results in covalent attachment to the flavin. β-3-haloallyl amines are irreversible inhibitors of this enzyme. The primary acetylenic amine, propargyl amine, also irreversibly inactivates the enzyme. Flavin linked lactate dehydrogenase is irreversibly inhibited by 2-hydroxy-3-butynoic acid. The L -serine sulfate has been shown to be an irreversible inhibitor of soluble aspartate amino-transferase and β-chloroalanine irreversibly inhibits both this enzyme.
Competition over epidemic networks: Nash and stackelberg games

We study the competition over epidemic networks within a game-theoretic framework. Based on the homogeneous n-intertwined Markov model for epidemic spread, we introduce a novel epidemic competition between a network designer and an intelligent adversary, where the designer can protect the network by increasing the curing rate and the adversary, on the contrary, is able to manipulate the infection rate in order to do as much damage as possible. We focus on the case where the underlying graph is fully connected but the analysis can be readily extended to the case of the connected k-regular graph.We fully characterize the Nash solutions and Stackelberg solutions when either the designer or the adversary is the leader, and show that how each player will play in the games will largely depend on the relative costs for protecting and attacking the network.
Heat and mass transfer in the extrusion of non-Newtonian materials

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the important manufacturing process of screw extrusion of polymeric materials and discusses the underlying transport mechanisms and relevant practical issues that concern thermal transport in these materials. Therefore, this discussion is applicable to several other techniques for the thermal processing of such materials. Different mathematical models and formulations that are applied under different conditions and for different extruders are discussed. The relevant numerical procedures for obtaining the velocity and temperature fields in the conveying, heated section of the screw channel are outlined, along with important results obtained for typical extruders. Practical issues such as the residence-time distribution, mixing characteristics, heat input, and pressure and temperature rise are also considered. Tapered single-screw extruders are often employed in industry and are modeled to yield the resulting pressure distribution. Experimental results are also presented on the various aspects to validate the numerical models as well as to indicate the basic features of the extrusion process. Thus, results obtained from numerical simulation and experimentation on this materials processing technique are presented and discussed. Some important areas that need further work are also indicated.
The circuit realization of a neuromorphic computing system with memristor-based synapse design

Conventional CMOS technology is slowly approaching its physical limitations and researchers are increasingly utilizing nanotechnology to both extend CMOS capabilities and to explore potential replacements. Novel memristive systems continue to attract growing attention since their reported physical realization by HP in 2008. Unique characteristics like non-volatility, re-configurability, and analog storage properties make memristors a very promising candidate for the realization of artificial neural systems. In this work, we propose a memristor-based design of bidirectional transmission excitation/inhibition synapses and implement a neuromorphic computing system based on our proposed synapse designs. The robustness of our system is also evaluated by considering the actual manufacturing variability with emphasis on process variation.
The Mars Exploration Rover surface mobility flight software driving ambition

NASA's Mars exploration rovers' (MER) onboard mobility flight software was designed to provide robust and flexible operation. The MER vehicles can be commanded directly, or given autonomous control over multiple aspects of mobility: which motions to drive, measurement of actual motion, terrain interpretation, even the selection of targets of interest (although this mode remains largely underused). Vehicle motion can be commanded using multiple layers of control: motor control, direct drive operations (arc, turn in place), and goal-based driving (goto waypoint). Multiple layers of safety checks ensure vehicle performance: command limits (command timeout, time of day limit, software enable, activity constraints), reactive checks (e.g., motor current limit, vehicle tilt limit), and predictive checks (e.g., step, tilt, roughness hazards). From January 2004 through October 2005, Spirit accumulated over 5000 meters and Opportunity 6000 meters of odometry, often covering more than 100 meters in a single day. In this paper we describe the software that has driven these rovers more than a combined 11,000 meters over the Martian surface, including its design and implementation, and summarize current mobility performance results from Mars.
Invited Keynote Talk: Haplotype Sharing for Genome-Wide Case-Control Association Studies

The computational demands imposed by the large number of markers considered in a genome-wide association study (GWAS) have resulted in an extreme simplification in the types of analyses conducted. While sophisticated methodology may be used to adjust for multiple comparisons, most studies are analyzed one marker at a time using simple tests such as the Cochran-Armitage trend test. Though computationally simple, a significant limitation of such an analysis paradigm is its failure to efficiently use the information contained in the GWAS sample.
The X-ray angiography short-bolus technique

The authors introduce a new angiographic protocol, the short-bolus technique. The thrust of this technique is to minimize the amount of contrast material delivered to a patient. This is accomplished by injecting a reduced amount of contrast material followed by image post-processing to construct the final image. The image processing "stacks" many individual frames with only a small portion of the arterial tree opacified to create the final, fully opacified image. The authors have applied the technique to digitally-acquired angiographic images of the lower leg. With this technique they achieve comparable image quality with the standard clinical technique with a contrast material savings of 66 percent. >
A Precision Method for Determining γ from B→ππ Decays

Factorization based on the soft-collinear effective theory reduces the number of hadronic parameters in an isospin analysis of B → π π decays by one. Using the available B → π π data allows us to simultaneously fit for these hadronic parameters and obtain a precise value of the CP violating phase γ , namely γ = 74 − 16 − 9 ∘ ∘ + 9 + 2 ∘ . The first uncertainties are experimental and the second are theoretical and dominated by power corrections to our analysis. The theory error is lopsided because SCET predicts that γ lies close to the upper bound determined by isospin, γ ≤ 75.2 ± 8.2 ∘ (where the error here is experimental).