cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Can Censorship Measurements Be Safe(r)

Understanding censorship requires performing widespread, continuous measurements "on the ground". Yet, measuring censorship is potentially dangerous, due to the threat of retaliation against citizens who perform measurements. We must balance measurement accuracy, reliability, and scalability with user safety which leads us to the question: Can we design censorship measurements that mitigate risk to the users who consent to perform them? Although it is almost certainly impossible to eliminate risk (or even determine if we have succeeded in doing so), we posit that we may be able to reduce risk with measurement techniques that are difficult to observe or distinguish from innocuous network activity. We observe that surveillance and censorship systems have different goals, and thus certain types of measurement techniques may be able to characterize a censorship system without triggering a surveillance system. We design and implement several techniques for measuring censorship that controlled tests suggest might be less risky than existing methods; we also highlight potential pitfalls, limitations, and avenues for future work.
Ostwald-like ripening of the anomalous mesoscopic clusters in protein solutions.

Metastable clusters of mesoscopic dimensions composed of protein-rich liquid exist in protein solutions, both in the homogeneous region of the solution phase diagram and in the region supersaturated with respect to an ordered solid phase, such as crystals; in the latter region they are crucial nucleation sites for ordered solids. We monitor, using three optical techniques, the long-term evolution of the clusters in lysozyme solutions at conditions where no condensed phases, liquid or solid, are stable or present as long-lived metastable domains. We show that cluster formation is a reversible process and that the clusters are in near equilibrium with the solution, up to a capillary correction. In contrast to classical phase transformations, the solution concentration at cluster–solution equilibrium is close to its initial value; this is akin to chemical reaction equilibria and demonstrates the complex chemical composition of the clusters. However, similar to classical phase transformations, en route to ful...
Abstract B07: Expression of MYCS62A in thymocytes is anti-proliferative, but promotes the later emergence of tumorigenic cells

Oncogenic alterations that promote stability of MYC proteins are common in several human tumor types, and expression of stabilized MYC in mice promotes tumorigenesis from breast, pancreas, and thymus. Mutations that inhibit phosphorylation of T58 in MYC limit proteasomal degradation and enhance S62 phosphorylation and protein stability. Physiologically low expression of MycT58A from the ROSA26 locus (ROSA-MYC T58A ) causes robust tumorigenesis, whereas tumor development in ROSA-MYC WT expressing cells is rare. Mice with T cell-specific expression of MYC T58A (LckCre ROSA-MYC T58A ) typically succumb to thymomas within six months, whereas survival of LckCre ROSA-MYC WT mice is unaltered from control. In contrast to T58A mutation, S62A mutation stabilizes MYC but decreases cell production in breast tissue. Unexpectedly, LckCre ROSA-MYC S62A mice develop tumors and have significantly shorter lifespans than LckCre ROSA-MYC WT mice. However, unlike LckCre ROSA-MYC T58A mice, tumors in LckCre ROSA-MYC S62A mice are not exclusively thymomas and tumorigenesis takes significantly longer. Analysis of tumors from LckCre ROSA-MYC S62A mice revealed abundant S62-phosphorylated MYC indicating elevated expression and activation of endogenous MYC, despite suppression of endogenous Myc transcription in thymocytes and splenic T cells from young LckCre ROSA-MYC S62A mice. In order to test possible tumorigenic effects of S62A mutation apart from the effects of endogenous MYC, we developed mice that would simultaneously delete endogenous Myc and express ectopic ROSA-Myc in developing T cells. CRE-mediated deletion of endogenous Myc decreased the median survival of LckCre ROSA-MYC S62A mice and caused very early onset thymomas in a subset of young mice. Although LckCre ROSA-MYC T58A mice provide another classic example connecting increased MYC expression to tumor development, LckCre ROSA-MYC S62A mice demonstrate that limitations on MYC function can also promote tumorigenesis; likely by selecting for mutant cells that have escaped deletion or suppression of endogenous Myc. Strong, constitutive, mitogenic signals in developing thymocytes may increase the chance that MYC-suppression-escapees will be tumorigenic. Citation Format: Colin J. Daniel, Jason Michael Link, Sarah Byers, Rosalie C. Sears. Expression of MYCS62A in thymocytes is anti-proliferative, but promotes the later emergence of tumorigenic cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Myc: From Biology to Therapy; Jan 7-10, 2015; La Jolla, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2015;13(10 Suppl):Abstract nr B07.
Analysis on strategy and effect of maintaining Polio-free status in Taian

Objective Investigation was carried out in strategy and effect of maintaining Polio-free status in Taian,so as to provide the basis for the achievement of maintaining Polio-free status and make reference to control the other infectious diseases.Methods The descriptive epidemiologic research method was taken in analysis on strategy and effect of maintaining Polio-free status in Taian from 2001 to 2011.Results After the demonstration of Polio-free status in 2001,the efforts were made continuing to carry out immunization of poliomyelitis vaccine,strength monitoring acute flaccid paralysis cases and complete scientific management on immune planning,thus it is consolidated result of no cases for poliomyelitis caused by the wild polio virus since May,1991 in Taian.Conclusion The measures,such as immune,monitoring,management,should be strengthened continually on maintaining Polio-free status,and make them as a theoretical reference to control the other infectious diseases.
INFLUENCES OF POWER SYSTEM STABILIZER ON DYNAMIC STABILITY OF THREE GORGES POWER SYSTEM

The influences of power system stabilizers (PSS) which are applied in the generator excitation control systems of Three Gorges Power Station on the dynamic stability of Three Gorges Power System are analyzed and calculated. Giving priority to the four basic power flows, i.e., the flood season large power flow, the flood season small power flow, the dry season large power flow and the dry season small power flow, the system stabilities under large disturbance and small disturbance are calculated. The research results show that when the PSS is not equipped, the damping of Three Gorges Power System will be insufficient and the low frequency oscillations will occur. Therefore, when the PSS are applied, the damping of Three Gorges Power System will be remarkably enhanced and the system stability will be improved, therefore, it is feasible and necessary to install PSS in Three Gorges Power Station.
Protective effects of adenosine in the perfused rat heart: changes in metabolism and intracellular ion homeostasis

Increased concentrations of intracellular H+, Na+, and Ca2+ have been observed during ischemia, and these ionic alterations have been correlated with several indexes of cell injury in a number of studies. Recently, adenosine was proposed to play a role in ischemic preconditioning, since adenosine antagonists block the protective effects of these brief intermittent periods of ischemia and reflow. In this study we evaluated the protective effects of adenosine (20 microM) on high-energy phosphate metabolism, H+ and Ca2+ accumulation, and glycolytic rate during 30 min of no-flow ischemia. Adenosine was observed to slow the onset of contracture (7.0 +/- 0.9 min) and to improve left ventricular developed pressure (62 +/- 7% of initial) during reperfusion compared with untreated hearts (5.0 +/- 0.6 min and 18 +/- 5%, respectively). Intracellular Ca accumulation at the end of 30 min of ischemia was higher in the untreated (2,835 +/- 465 nM) than in the adenosine-treated (2,064 +/- 533 nM) hearts, while intracellular pH fell more in the untreated (5.85 +/- 0.17) than in the adenosine-treated hearts (6.27 +/- 0.16). Glycolytic rate and the rate of ATP decline were significantly attenuated in the adenosine-treated hearts during ischemia. Thus adenosine treatment slowed the rate of metabolism and delayed the accumulation of H+ and Ca2+ during ischemia, resulting in better recovery of function upon reflow.
Turkish geothermal fields as natural analogues of CO2 storage sites: gas geochemistry and implications for CO2 trapping mechanisms.

The CO2-He gas systematics of Turkish geothermal systems are modeled to compare and quantify various CO2 trapping mechanisms involved in deep aquifers. We utilize data from geothermal fields from three different tectonic provinces of Turkey: North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ), East Anatolian Fault Zone (EAFZ), and western Anatolia. Our modeling approach distinguishes between possible subsurface processes that control CO2 gas contents in the geothermal systems − mixing, degassing, dissolution, and calcite precipitation. The approach is predicated on selecting pristine gas compositions, which is achieved by eliminating those samples likely to reflect crust-mantle mixing (via CO2/3He vs. R/RA relationships), and shallow-level degassing (via CO2 vs. δ13C relationships). Remaining samples are then used to discriminate between dissolution and calcite precipitation processes using δ13C vs. CO2/3He relationships. Based upon temperature- and pH-dependent fractionation between CO2 and He gases, and carbon isotopes (δ13C), quantitative estimates from Rayleigh fractionation models suggest dissolution as the major CO2 trapping mechanism, accounting for up to 95% of the variations in gas compositions. Calcite precipitation accompanies dissolution at high temperatures characteristic of reservoir conditions, and can stabilize up to 80% of the emplaced CO2 in some instances. The relative contribution of calcite precipitation to CO2 stabilization, however, is generally minor (≤25%) compared to dissolution (≥75%) and appears to change as a complex function of the nature and duration of water-rock interaction along with temperature. As shown by this study, CO2-He systematics provide a promising tool to predict and monitor the behaviour of CO2 in storage systems like geothermal fields which have recently gained interest as prospective storage sites for enhanced geothermal heat recovery projects.
Relaxation mechanisms of antispasmodics papaverine and thiphenamil on the human corpus cavernosum.

Abstract The relaxation mechanism of the antispasmodics, papaverine and thiphenamil on isolated human corpus cavernosum (CC) was investigated. CC tissues were obtained from 12 impotent men undergoing surgery for insertion of penile prostheses. CC preparations were mounted in a tissue bath and the isometric tension was recorded. Papaverine and thiphenamil consistently inhibited high-potassium([K])-induced contractions in a dose-dependent manner. Noradrenaline (NA)-induced contractions were inhibited by both agents in a non-competitive manner. The pD′2 values were 4.77 ± 0.20 for papaverine and 4.58 ± 0.13 for thiphenamil. Papaverine at 10−4M, the concentration at which high-[K]-induced contraction was abolished, suppressed NA-induced contraction by approximately 85%. In the Ca2+-free solution containing two mM EGTA, NA-induced contraction was suppressed by approximately 90%. This contraction was inhibited by papaverine or thiphenamil in a dose-dependent manner and was abolished by papaverine at 10−4. These results suggest that papaverine and thiphenamil relax CC tissue by the inhibition of extracellular Ca2+ influx (mainly voltage-dependent Ca2+ influx) and by the inhibition of release and/or storage of intracellular stored Ca2+.
Institutional Review Boards as Complex Systems

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) are required by Public Law 93–348 of the Congress of the United States to assure that research involving human subjects is conducted in ways that demonstrate ethical principles of respect for persons, beneficience, and justice. Though an IRB may involve as few as five persons, evidence is presented to support the view that IRBs are complex systems. The aim of this paper is to describe IRBs in terms of their history, purposes and functioning, to indicate their relations to macro and micro systems of society, and to conceptualize IRBs as complex systems.
Stress Vector and Stress Tensor

A man may imagine things that are false, but he can only understand things that are true, for if the things be false, the apprehension of them is not understanding . Isaac Newton Introduction In the beginning of Chapter 3, we briefly discussed the need to study deformation in materials that we may design for engineering applications. All materials have a certain threshold to withstand forces, beyond which they “fail” to perform their intended function. The force per unit area, called stress , is a measure of the capacity of the material to carry loads, and all designs are based on the criterion that the materials used have the capacity to carry the working loads of the system. Thus, it is necessary to determine the state of stress in materials that are used in a system. In the present chapter, we study the concept of stress and its various measures. For instance, stress can be measured as a force (that occurs inside a deformed body) per unit deformed area or undeformed area. Stress at a point on the surface and at a point inside a three-dimensional continuum are measured using different entities. The stress at a point on the surface is measured in terms of force per unit area and depends on (magnitude and direction) the force vector as well as the plane on which the force is acting.
3 Maternal Control of Pattern Formation in Early Caenorhabditis elegans Embryos

Genetic screens for recessive, matemal-effect, embryonic-lethal mutations have identified about 25 genes that control early steps of pattern formation in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. These maternal genes are discussed as belonging to one of three groups. The par group genes establish and maintain polarity in the one-cell zygote in response to sperm entry, defining an anterior/posterior body axis at least in part through interactions with the cyto-skeleton mediated by cortically localized proteins. Blastomere identity group genes act downstream of the par group to specify the identities of individual embryonic cells, or blastomeres, using both cell autonomous and non-cell autonomous mechanisms. Requirements for the blastomere identity genes are consistent with previous studies suggesting that early asymmetric cleavages in the C. elegans embryo generate six “founder” cells that account for much of the C. elegans body plan. Intermediate group genes, most recently identified, may link the establishment of polarity in the zygote by par group genes to the localization of blastomere identity group gene functions. This review summarizes the known requirements for the members of each group, although it seems clear that additional regulatory genes controlling pattern formation in the early embryo have yet to be identified. An emerging challenge is to link the function of the genes in these three groups into interacting pathways that can account for the specification of the six founder cell identities in the early embryo, five of which produce somatic cell types and one of which produces the germline.
Abstract A31: Omega-3 fatty acids may regulate levels of pAkt through a mechanism independent of PI3K

The effects of dietary factors on pancreatic cancer have been proposed to augment etiology of disease, yet the mechanisms involved are poorly understood. Our previous work demonstrated that omega-6 fatty acid rich diets have been associated with increased severity of pancreatic neoplasia, but conversely, omega-3 fatty acid rich diets have chemoprotective effects against Kras-induced pancreatic neoplasia. Also, our more recent data indicates that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, omega-3 fatty acid) and linoleic acid (LA, omega-6 fatty acid) have opposing effects on protein kinase B (Akt)-mediated mitogenic signaling in Human Pancreatic Duct Epithelial cells in vitro. Furthermore, published studies suggest that one mechanism of action may be through cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 derived prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) secretion leading to cell proliferation. In our current work, we demonstrate that DHA treated HPDE cells do not generate a change in phosphorylated Akt (pAkt) levels and proliferation between cells with or without COX-2 inhibition. As a major maker of proliferation, Akt is often activated by phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K), which facilitates conversion of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate (PIP2) to phosphatidylinositol trisphosphate (PIP3), and PIP3 phosphorylates Akt. Yet the effects of DHA are not directly at the level of PI3K, as HPDE cells treated with a PI3K inhibitor (LY294002), a significantly further reduction in DHA-induced decrease of pAkt. Therefore, it is likely that DHA may not mediate pAkt through PI3K, and we propose that due to its high lipid solubility, DHA may interact with membrane-tethered targets including PIP2. Citation Format: Lingji Zhu, Windel Emman T. Marsacarinas, Daniel R. Principe, Paul J. Grippo. Omega-3 fatty acids may regulate levels of pAkt through a mechanism independent of PI3K. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; 2013 Oct 27-30; National Harbor, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Can Prev Res 2013;6(11 Suppl): Abstract nr A31.
An efficient sparse FFT algorithm with application to signal source separation and 2D virtual image feature extraction

Signal source separation is an important aspect of both measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT) as well as modern commercial smart grid applications. In some MASINT scenarios, real-time signal processing is required in a small physical form factor, which can become prohibitive with the high sample rates required of modern signal identification algorithms. We develop a new Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithm, the Aliased FFT (AFFT), that exploits spectral redundancy and sparsity in the signal to drastically reduce the number of computations required from O(N logN), for the normal FFT, to one that approaches the idealized O(K logK) for a K-sparse signal. We also develop a signal source separation algorithm using harmonically aligned signal projections (HASP) that is useful for transforming a one-dimensional signal of interest (SOI) into a two-dimensional image in such a way to facilitate automated feature extraction. An automated feature extractor is described which can accurately achieve super-resolution far beyond that of the traditional FFT by again taking advantage of the harmonic structure present in the SOI. We demonstrate HASP and this feature extractor for the application of load disaggregation-identifying the presence of certain types of devices connected to a power system.
The Long and Winding Road: Investigating the Differential Writing Patterns of High and Low Skilled Writers

We investigate how writing proficiency relates to the flexible use of cohesion. Forty-five students wrote 16 essays across 8 sessions. Natural language processing techniques were used to calculate the cohesion of each essay. Random walk and Euclidian distance measures were then used to visualize and classify students’ flexibility in cohesion across the essays. Results revealed that students who were more flexible in their cohesion also had greater literacy skills and prior knowledge. Further, cohesive flexibility was most strongly related to the unity of the pretest essays.
'Level Up': Leveraging Skill and Engagement to Maximize Player Retention in Online Video Games

As firms recast their view of customer interaction from a transactional to a relationship-based mindset, their focus has moved towards building and leveraging “customer engagement”; however, customer engagement as a construct has proven hard to define and measure. We therefore propose a modeling approach that treats customer engagement as a latent variable while including its antecedents and consequences (business outcomes). Specifically, we propose a novel two-stage data analytic modeling approach, combining statistical methodologies with optimization techniques to model customer engagement as a function of game-play motivation to maximize customer retention via matching in the large and growing video game industry. In the first stage, we build a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) to capture the evolution of gamers’ latent engagement state and the state-dependent participation behavior. We then calibrate the HMM using a longitudinal dataset obtained from a major international video gaming company, which contains detailed information on 1,309 randomly sampled gamers’ playing history over a period of 29 months playing more than 700,000 unique game rounds. We find high-, medium- and low-engagement-state gamers respond differentially to motivations such as achievement and challenge. In the second stage, we use the results from the first stage to develop a matching algorithm that learns the gamer’s current engagement state and exploits that learning to match the gamer to a round to maximize retention. Our (real-time) algorithm increases gamer retention by 4-8%, leading to economically significant revenue gains for the company.
Equivalence Study of Two Temperature-Measurement Methods in Febrile Adult Patients With Cancer

Purpose/objectives To assess equivalence of temperatures taken via temporal artery and oral methods in febrile inpatients with cancer. . Design Repeated measures equivalence design. . Setting 24-bed hematology-oncology unit and 36-bed blood and marrow transplantation unit at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Tampa, Florida. . Sample Convenience sample of 58 febrile inpatients using 60 temperature measurements. . Methods Two instruments were used. Main research variables Temperature readings from oral and temporal artery measurements. . Findings A two one-sided test (TOST) technique with a delta of 0.2oF was performed to assess equivalence of the oral and temporal artery measures. Within each team member, the oral and temporal artery measures were assessed using the TOST technique. The hypothesis of equivalence was rejected for all three team members. . Conclusions The use of the Exergen TAT-5000 for temperature measurement as a noninvasive alternate to the oral method for febrile adult patients in the hematology-oncology population was not supported. . Implications for nursing The Exergen TAT-5000 is not a reliable instrument for detecting fevers in the hematology-oncology patient population because the temporal artery measures were not equivalent to oral measures, and considerable variation occurred for the three nurses. Alternative methods for accurate temperature collection need to be investigated, particularly for febrile, neutropenic patients who cannot tolerate the oral probe.
Microencapsulation and Stimuli-Responsive Controlled Release of Particles Using Water-in-Air Powders

In this work, we report a facile, one-step method to encapsulate hydrophilic particles (HP) (micro- or nanosize) using water-in-air powders. Hydrophobic silica nanoparticles were mixed with an aqueous phase containing HP in the presence of air under high shear, resulting in the self-assembly of silica nanoparticles on water droplets to make water-in-air powders with HP encapsulated in the aqueous phase within the silica shell. The encapsulated HP can be released on the basis of an external stimulus such as adding an external aqueous phase of a certain pH or a surfactant solution that alters the wettability of the encapsulating silica nanoparticles. A contact angle study was performed using surface-hydrophobized glass slides, which acted as a proxy for hydrophobic silica nanoparticles, to investigate the effect of these stimuli on surface hydrophobicity. Such encapsulation and a stimuli-responsive controlled release system has promising potential in subsurface petroleum engineering such as the delayed swel...
Impact of Autonomic Dysfunction on Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms

Purpose of Review Normal bladder function involves complex interactions of the autonomic nervous system. Patients with autonomic disorders may experience lower urinary tract dysfunction due to disruption of the micturition pathways. In this article, we review relevant anatomy involved in the neural control of micturition and examine the impact of functional and structural autonomic disorders on the lower urinary tract.
Can Bitcoin Become a Viable Alternative to Fiat Currencies? An Empirical Analysis of Bitcoin’s Volatility Based on a GARCH Model

This study examines whether Bitcoin, a digital decentralized currency, can become a viable alternative to fiat currencies. Bitcoin currently does not fulfill the criteria of being a currency because it does not function as a medium of exchange, a unit of account, and a store of value. Bitcoin’s biggest obstacle from fulfilling these functions is the price volatility. A GARCH (1,1) model is used to analyze Bitcoin’s volatility in respect to the macroeconomic variables of countries where Bitcoin is being traded the most. Bitcoin already behaves similarly to fiat currencies in China, the U.S. and the European Union but not in Japan. There is also evidence that Bitcoin acts as a safe-haven asset in China. The volatility of Bitcoin has been steadily decreasing throughout its lifetime. If it follows the trend of its six years of existence, it will reach the volatility levels of fiat currencies in 2019-2020 and become a functioning alternative to fiat currencies.
Internal energy dependence of the photodissociation dynamics of O3- using cryogenic photoelectron-photofragment coincidence spectroscopy.

Photoelectron-photofragment coincidence (PPC) spectra of ozonide, O3−, were measured at 388 nm (Ehν = 3.20 eV) using a newly constructed cryogenic octopole accumulation trap coupled to a PPC spectrometer. The photoelectron spectra reveal three processes consisting of a stable photodetachment channel, and two distinct photodissociation pathways yielding (1) O2 + O− or (2) O + O2−. The first photodissociation pathway is observed in the PPC spectra by photodetachment of the O− product by a second photon, and produces electronically excited O2(1Δg). The O2− product of the second photodissociation pathway undergoes autodetachment for O2−(2Πg, v″ > 4), a process greatly enhanced by vibrational excitation of the precursor O3−. Cooling anions thermalized at 300 K to <17 K in a cryogenic octopole accumulation trap essentially turns off this autodetachment pathway. The product kinetic energy distribution in coincidence with the autodetached electrons from O2−(v″ = 4) exhibits resolved features consistent with bend ...
THE EFFECT OF CORTISOL ON GLUCOCORTICOID “RESISTANT” THYMOCYTES

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the effect of cortisol on glucocorticoid resistant thymocytes. Under normal circumstances, cortical thymocytes migrate in the medullary region of the tissue where they differentiate to form the immediate precursors of the peripheral T lymphocytes. Medullary lymphocytes are mitotically quiescent and do not undergo cytolysis in the presence of cortisol or related steroids. Studies have been undertaken to identify isozyme markers of thymocyte differentiation. α-Glycerolphosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) is apparently such as marker. Cortisol-induced destruction of undifferentiated thymocytes does not cause a decrease in the amount of this enzyme/thymus. Instead total GPDH/ thymus increases threefold under the influence of cortisol. The induced enzyme and the enzyme of the untreated thymus are similar in chemical properties. Thymic GPDH resembles liver GPDH in kinetic and chromatographic properties although liver GPDH activity is not increased in the cortisol-treated mouse. It is concluded that the so-called resistant medullary cells are in fact target cells for glucocorticoids. They differ from the undifferentiated cells in that medullary cells respond, not by undergoing cytolysis but by increasing the activity of at least one enzyme.
M-Mode Echocardiographic Systolic Motion Patterns of the Aortic Valve: Clinical-Echocardiographic Correlates

In order to characterize the various M-mode echocardiographic patterns of abnormal aortic cusp systolic motion and to delineate the clinical-echocardiographic correlates of these abnormal motion patterns, M-mode aortic valve echograms of 313 adult and pediatric patients undergoing cardiac catheterization were reviewed retrospectively. These patients represented a wide spectrum of congenital and acquired cardiac disease. All echocardiographic studies of the cardiac valves were performed in the standard manner on a commercially available echograph (Picker) with a 2.25 mHz collimated transducer. Fifty-six patients (18%) of the study population demonstrated prominent systolic preclosure of the aortic valve. Certain echocardiographic parameters of the timing of preclosure events (onset preclosure/LVET and completion preclosure/LVET), rate of preclosure (slope), and vertical magnitude of preclosure (preclosure index: PI) were measured to sharpen qualitative impressions of aortic cusp systolic preclosure patterns. Three types of systolic preclosure were identified. (Table 1).
Connectionist Generalization and Incremental Learning in Combinatorial Domains

We report a series of experiments on connectionist learning that addresses a particularly pressing set of objections to the plausibility of connectionist learning as a model of human learning. Connectionist models have typically suffered from rather severe problems of inadequate generalization (where generalizations are significantly fewer than training inputs) and interference of newly learned items with previously learned items. Taking a cue from the domains in which human learning dramatically overcomes such problems, we see that indeed connectionist learning can escape these problems in combinatorially structured domains. In the simple combinatorial domain of letter sequences, we find that a basic connectionist learning model trained on 50 6-letter sequences can correctly generalize to about 10,000 novel sequences. We also discover that the model exhibits over 1,000,000 virtual memories:new items which, although not correctly generalized, can be learned in a few presentations while leaving performance on the previously learned items intact. We conclude that connectionist learning is not as harmful to the empiricist position as previously reported experiments might suggest.
DEPRESSION TRAJECTORIES IN OLDER ADULTS: DIFFERENCES BY GENDER, RACE/ETHNICITY, EDUCATION, AND COHORT

Depression symptoms have been shown to follow a U-shaped curve over age. However, little is known about changes in the age trajectory of depression symptoms over time and differences by sociodemographic groups. We assessed the age trajectories of depression symptoms among older adults in a U.S. national sample, examining differences by gender, race/ethnicity, education, and cohort. Using the Health and Retirement Study, we analyzed data from 34,675 adults aged 50 or older who were surveyed biennially between 1994 and 2014. Depression symptoms were measured via the 8-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Multi-level models with random intercepts and slopes were used to characterize growth curves of depression over age, first adjusting for sociodemographic factors and then allowing each to modify the age effect. Adjusting for sociodemographics, mean depression symptoms at age 50 was 1.63, fell to a minimum of 1.34 at age 67, and then rose exponentially to a maximum of 2.61. Younger cohorts showed increasingly flat slopes (p<0.001), with declines over age in war babies (born 1942–1947) and early baby boomers (born 1948–1953). Women compared to men (p<0.001) had more depression symptoms with flatter slopes. All race/ethnicity groups and education levels showed similar curves over age. There is significant variability in the age trajectory of depression systems over time and by gender. The conventional U-shaped curve may not correctly characterize depression over old age for more recent cohorts. Studies are needed to understand the sources of this important shift in the age trajectory of depression symptoms.
Overseas Student Teachers’ Reflections on American National Identity: A Longitudinal Study

This study draws on narratives submitted between summer 2008 – summer 2018 by 78 student teachers across all grade bands [K-12] and content areas [Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, Mathematics] who completed three months of student teaching in an overseas country through the Consortium for Overseas Student Teaching (COST) during their final undergraduate senior year. All student teachers were in their early 20s. Upon completing their student teaching each student submitted a written reflection in response to the following prompt: Now that you have finished your student teaching abroad experience, what did you learn about yourself as an American? What did you learn about others’ perspectives of what it is that makes someone American? In other words, how do you answer Crevecoeur’s question, “What is an American?” Our findings include 12 major themes categorized into three major categories, i.e. socialization, hegemony and individuation.
Abstract 4843: TP53-stabilization with APR-246 enhances antitumor effects of immune checkpoint blockade in preclinical models

An emerging body of literature suggests a role of TP53 pathway in antitumor immunity including antigen presentation and T cell proliferation. Stabilization of TP53 could therefore alter the immune tumor microenvironment, enabling the immune system to target tumor cells more effectively. APR-246 covalently modifies the core domain of cellular TP53 through the alkylation of thiol groups, leading to reactivation of endogenous TP53 activity. To further study the effect of APR-246 on antitumor immunity we used a B16 pre-clinical melanoma mouse model. In vitro treatment of B16 cells with APR-246 caused intracellular accumulation of TP53, leading to increased apoptosis. However, treatment of B16-melanoma bearing mice with APR-246 monotherapy did not result in a statistically significant change in tumor growth or survival. Analyses of the tumor immune microenvironment showed increased immune potentiating M1 polarized tumor-associated macrophages, and Granzyme B activity in CD8+ T cells, suggesting enhanced anti-tumor immunity. Concomitantly, there was increased PD-L1 expression in the macrophages, PD-1 expression on CD8+ T cells, and Foxp3+ Tregs in tumors from APR-246 treated animals. Therefore, we decided to combine anti-PD-1 antibody (RMP-1) to APR-246 treatment in tumor-bearing mice. The combination led to a significant delay in tumor growth (P Citation Format: Arnab Ghosh, Judith Michel, Lauren Dong, Nathan Suek, Hong Zhong, Sadna Budhu, Olivier de Henau, Jedd Wolchok, Taha Merghoub. TP53-stabilization with APR-246 enhances antitumor effects of immune checkpoint blockade in preclinical models [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 4843.
Choosing an event description: What a PropBank study reveals about the contrast between light verb constructions and counterpart synthetic verbs

Light verb constructions (LVCs) in English and Romance languages are somewhat unique crosslinguistically because LVCs in these languages tend to have semantically similar synthetic verb counterparts (Zarco 1999): e.g. make an appearance and appear. This runs contrary to assumptions in linguistic theories that two competing forms are rarely maintained in a language unless they serve distinct purposes (e.g. Grice 1975). Why do English LVCs exist alongside counterpart synthetic verbs, especially given that synthetic verbs are arguably the more efficient form (Zipf 1949)? It has been proposed that LVCs serve an aspectual function (Prince 1972, Live 1973, Wierzbicka 1982, Tanabe 1999, Butt & Geuder 2001), as there are telic LVC counterparts (e.g. have a thought) of atelic verbs (e.g. think). This proposal has been difficult to evaluate without a large-scale resource providing a markup of both LVCs and counterpart verbs. Addressing this gap in resources, the present research describes the development of guidelines for LVC annotation in the English PropBank (Bonial & Palmer 2015). The focus of this article is the subsequent analysis of these annotations, aimed at uncovering corpus evidence of what contexts call for the use of an LVC over a synthetic verb. The corpus study shows that the general function of LVCs is not an aspectual one and provides distributional evidence that the ease and variety with which LVCs can be modified is the general motivating factor for the use of an LVC.
Neoliberal Aleutians: Seeing Like a fishing company, Seeing Like a coastal community

Abstract This article explores trends and effects of economic enclaving in the Bering Sea and North Pacific relative to high value commercial fisheries and the roles of coastal indigenous communities. Federal schemes designed to manage fisheries for their sustainable use have both facilitated this trend and attempted to protect communities. Resident, coastal Aleut (Unangan) communities are increasingly observing capital investments that bypass their involvement. In the older communities, they have experienced an erosion of the “social thickness” and processor industries trimming inefficiencies over time. In a newer civilian community of Adak, the residents have tried to start out in a largely neoliberal frame, starting in “social thinness” with insecure investments in the local residents. These developments in Adak demonstrate the weaknesses of modern economic policy and the federal government. They also demonstrate Adak residents’ resolve to overcome these barriers.
SingleNN: Modified Behler–Parrinello Neural Network with Shared Weights for Atomistic Simulations with Transferability

In this article, we introduce the SingleNN, which is a modified version of the Behler–Parrinello Neural Network (BPNN) where the neural networks for the prediction of atomic energy for different el...
The Latest Twist on the Rich Girl Dilemma: My Partner Wants My Child and My Money

This essay explores whether a partner may access the family fortune by virtue of parentage of a partner’s adopted child when that partner has little to no legal connection to the child (via adoption, biology, primary caregiver, or de facto parent) nor to the partner (contractual, testamentary, civil union, marriage, or registered domestic partnership) but may have some claim to assert such rights based on progressive state law. The article will discuss relevant legal issues and considers how complicated the landscape for families has become. Section I provides background as to how some state case law allows a person to access the child of his or her partner by virtue of that partnership. Section II provides classic rich girl examples of the dilemma played out in case law and gossip columns alike. Section III offers solutions for generational estate planning that may provide some assistance to dynasty families in equipping their children for leaving a legacy, rather than a muddle of partnership chaos. This article will close with suggestions for generational estate planning designed to defend a family fortune from potentially opportunistic partners. Every wealthy parent worries that a voracious partner will take advantage of his or her child. When that partner can claim parenthood status, his or her access to the family fortune is all the more rapacious. The latest twist on the classic rich girl dilemma is well worth this epigrammatic examination.
Rapidly converging 3D Iterative Deconvolution Method for Image Improvement from Different Clinical Modalities

Purpose: To demonstrate an application of rapidly converging, 3D iterative deconvolution method [1] with a novel resolution subsets-based (Richardson-Lucy like algorithm [2-3] with multiple resolution levels) approach RSEMD that operates on DICOM images to improve the image resolution and contrast.
Newtonian fractional-dimension gravity and disk galaxies

This paper continues previous work on a novel alternative model of gravity, based on the theory of fractional-dimension spaces applied to Newton’s law of gravitation. In particular, our Newtonian fractional-dimension gravity is now applied to axially symmetric structures, such as thin/thick disk galaxies described by exponential, Kuzmin, or other similar mass distributions. As in the case of spherically symmetric structures, which was studied in previous work on the subject, we examine a possible connection between our model and modified Newtonian dynamics, a leading alternative gravity model, which accounts for the observed properties of galaxies and other astrophysical structures without requiring the dark matter hypothesis. By relating the MOND acceleration constant $$a_{0} \simeq 1.2 \times 10^{-10}\,\text{ m } \text{ s}^{ -2}$$ to a natural scale length $$l_{0}$$ of our model, namely $$a_{0} \approx \mathrm{GM}/l_{0}^{2}$$ for a galaxy of mass M, and by using the empirical Radial Acceleration Relation, we are able to explain the connection between the observed radial acceleration $$g_\mathrm{obs}$$ and the baryonic radial acceleration $$g_\mathrm{bar}$$ in terms of a variable local dimension D. As an example of this methodology, we provide a detailed rotation curve fitting for the case of the field dwarf spiral galaxy NGC 6503.
Religiosity, Acculturation, and Preterm Birth in Mexican-Origin Women: A Pilot Study.

IntroductionExplanations for racial disparities in preterm birth (PTB) are elusive, especially when comparing high rates in some racial groups with low rates in Mexican-immigrant women. The purpose...
Aspiring Dual-Professional Couples’ Career Launch Plans and Childbearing Timing:

Previous research details women’s career launch and childbearing timing strategies without fully theorizing how such work–family plans may be developed alongside men. Overlooking men’s role in this...
Killing three birds with one BPI: Bactericidal, opsonic, and anti-inflammatory functions

Bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI) is an anti-microbial protein predominantly expressed in azurophilic granules of neutrophils. BPI has been shown to mediate cytocidal and opsonic activity against Gram-negative bacteria, while also blunting inflammatory activity of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Despite awareness of these functions in vitro, the magnitude of the contribution of BPI to innate immunity remains unclear, and the nature of the functional role of BPI in vivo has been submitted to limited investigation. Understanding this role takes on particular interest with the recognition that autoimmunity to BPI is tightly linked to a specific infectious trigger like Pseudomonas aeruginosa in chronic lung infection. This has led to the notion that anti-BPI autoantibodies compromise the activity of BPI in innate immunity against P. aeruginosa, which is primarily mediated by neutrophils. In this review, we explore the three main mechanisms in bactericidal, opsonic, and anti-inflammatory of BPI. We address the etiology and the effects of BPI autoreactivity on BPI function. We explore BPI polymorphism and its link to multiple diseases. We summarize BPI therapeutic potential in both animal models and human studies, as well as offer therapeutic approaches to designing a sustainable and promising BPI molecule.
The protein F1/protein kinase C module and neurite growth: potential pathway for facilitating brain transplantation.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes that regulation of protein kinase C (PKC) substrates such as protein F1, may also prove to be effective in regulating neurite growth, reviews some evidence that protein F1 is identical to pp 46, GAP-43 and B-50, and considers the implications of these new findings for transplantation. PKC is a multifunctional enzyme with a long list of putative physiological substrates. It is important to investigate the relationship between successful brain transplants and PKC and its substrates. If PKC and protein F1 in the transplanted cells play a critical role in facilitating axonal outgrowth in the transplant, then manipulation of gene expression of cells prior to transplantation could prove to be of particular value. Thus, transfection of a given neuron with the cloned gene on a recombinant plasmid offers the possibility of a wider range of cell types from which to select for transplantation.
Involvement of Tn4430 in transfer of Bacillus anthracis plasmids mediated by Bacillus thuringiensis plasmid pXO12

Abstract The self-transmissible plasmid pXO12 (112.5 kilobases [kb]), originally isolated from strain 4042A of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. thuringiensis, codes for production of the insecticidal crystal protein (Cry+). The mechanism of pXO12-mediated plasmid transfer was investigated by monitoring the cotransfer of the tetracycline resistance plasmid pBC16 (4.2 kb) and the Bacillus anthracis toxin and capsule plasmids, pXO1 (168 kb) and pXO2 (85.6 kb), respectively. In matings of B. anthracis donors with B. anthracis and Bacillus cereus recipients, the number of Tcr transcipients ranged from 4.8 x 10(4) to 3.9 x 10(6)/ml (frequencies ranged from 1.6 x 10(-4) to 7.1 x 10(-2), and 0.3 to 0.4% of them simultaneously inherited pXO1 or pXO2. Physical analysis of the transferred plasmids suggested that pBC16 was transferred by the process of donation and that the large B. anthracis plasmids were transferred by the process of conduction. The transfer of pXO1 and pXO2 involved the transposition of Tn4430 from pXO12 onto these plasmids. DNA-DNA hybridization experiments demonstrated that Tn4430 was located on a 16.0-kb AvaI fragment of pXO12. Examination of Tra- and Cry- derivatives of pXO12 showed that this fragment also harbored information involved in crystal formation and was adjacent to a restriction fragment containing DNA sequences carrying information required for conjugal transfer.
The 7[prime]-Methyl Group of Abscisic Acid Is Critical for Biological Activity in Wheat Embryo Germination

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) embryo germination is inhibited by natural (S)-(+)-abscisic acid (ABA). In this report we have determined critical structural features of the ABA molecule, particularly the methyl and ketone groups of the ABA ring, required for inhibitory activity. To examine the ring residues a series of new optically active ABA analogs have been synthesized in which the 4[prime]-keto, 7[prime]-, 8[prime]-, or 8[prime]- and 9[prime]-carbons have been replaced with hydrogen atoms. Each of the analogs was tested over a range of concentrations as a germination inhibitor. Enantiomers of the analogs altered at the 4[prime]-keto or 8[prime]- and 9[prime]-methyl groups were active, but less so than ABA. Both enantiomers of 7[prime]-demethylABA were inactive as germination inhibitors. The results show that the 7[prime]-methyl group is absolutely required for activity, but that the other residues are less critical for hormone recognition.