cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Study of phase behavior of 2,6-lutidine, 2,6-lutidine-N-oxide and water mixture using UNIQUAC model with interaction parameters determined by molecular simulations

Abstract The study of the liquid-liquid equilibrium (LLE) between 2,6-lutidine, 2,6-lutidine-N-oxide and water is important since it has the potential to influence the overall rate of the N-oxidation reaction involving these chemicals. The hydrogen peroxide, which is used as an oxidant to convert the lutidine into N-oxide, decomposes vigorously in a phase separated mixture affecting the overall safety of the process. In the current work, the UNIQUAC activity coefficient model was used to estimate the biphasic compositions and predict the LLE curve for the ternary mixture. The energy parameters used in the equations, which describe the intermolecular interactions were calculated based on molecular simulations. Apart from this, the molecular parameters for N-oxide were obtained by following a quantum mechanical approach, which utilized the GEPOL algorithm to construct the molecular surface. The results predicted by the model provide a satisfactory representation of experimental data at T = 383 K. In addition to this, the influence of temperature on the phase behavior was studied by generating phase equilibrium data at T = 373 and 398 K.
The Relationship Between the Quality of Academic Advising and the Perception of Academic Outcomes of Saudi College Students

One aim of all educational institutions is to advance the relationship between academic advising and students’ outcomes. The purpose of this literature review was to examine whether the level of quality of academic advising as measured by the advisor’s meeting frequently, informativeness and availability, educational support, and career support predict students’ persistence outcomes as measured by college loyalty, intent to drop out, social integration, and academic integration. This study helps provide evidence and empirical data to the field of academic advising by investigating its relationship with students’ college commitment. The study was guided by Tinto integration theory (1987) and Astin involvement theory (1984). The literature derives from Saudi and united states studies. The analysis of this literature resulted in the identification of the academic advising relationship with students’ outcomes. The findings are suggesting that quality academic advising matters for students’ college commitment and positively predicted students’ perceived academic integration. Future research should continue exploring the relationship between the quality of academic advising and students’ college commitment but not necessarily limited to one institution or community.
Engineering an EGFR‐binding Gp2 domain for increased hydrophilicity

The Gp2 domain is a 45 amino-acid scaffold that has been evolved for specific, high-affinity binding towards multiple targets and was proven useful in molecular imaging and biological antagonism. It was hypothesized that Gp2 may benefit from increased hydrophilicity for improved physiological distribution as well as for physicochemical robustness. We identified seven exposed hydrophobic sites for hydrophilic mutations and experimentally evaluated single mutants, which yielded six mutations that do not substantially hinder expression, binding affinity or specificity (to epidermal growth factor receptor), and thermal stability. Eight combinations of these mutations improved hydrophilicity relative to the parental Gp2 clone as assessed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (p < 0.05). Secondary structures and refolding abilities of the selected single mutants and all multimutants were unchanged relative to the parental ligand. A variant with five hydrophobic-to-hydrophilic mutations was identified with enhanced solubility as well as reasonable binding affinity ( K d = 53-63 nM), recombinant yield (1.3 ± 0.8 mg/L), and thermal stability ( T m = 53 ± 3°C). An alternative variant with a cluster of three leucine-to-hydrophilic mutations was identified with increased solubility, nominally increased binding affinity ( K d = 13-28 nM) and reasonable thermal stability ( T m = 54.0 ± 0.6°C) but reduced yield (0.4 ± 0.3 mg/L). In addition, a ≥7°C increase in the midpoint of thermal denaturation was observed in one of the single mutants (T21N). These mutants highlight the physicochemical tradeoffs associated with hydrophobic-to-hydrophilic mutation within a small protein, improve the solubility and hydrophilicity of an existent molecular imaging probe, and provide a more hydrophilic starting point for discovery of new Gp2 ligands towards additional targets.
Highly Sensitive Miniature All-Silica Fiber Tip Fabry–Perot Pressure Sensor

This letter presents the design, fabrication, and testing of a diaphragm-based, all-silica fiber tip pressure sensor. A piece of 1.2- $\mu \text{m}$ -thick silica diaphragm was thermally bonded to the end face of an etched fiber with an outer diameter (OD) of 125 $\mu \text{m}$ to form a Fabry–Perot (FP) interferometer. The diameter of the etched FP cavity is $105~\mu \text{m}$ , enabling the sensing area to be large, and thus, a static pressure sensitivity of 12.4 nm/kPa (85.3 nm/psi) is accomplished without the need for any post polishing or etching. The sensor also shows a low-temperature cross sensitivity during tests, owing to its all-silica structure. It is suitable for extensive production, and it has a great potential to work in applications, where miniature size and high sensitivity are essential such as medical applications.
A modeling framework for optimization-based control of a residential building thermostat for time-of-use pricing

Abstract Heating, ventilation and air conditioning for residential and commercial buildings requires a substantial share of electric energy, and ultimately drives summer peak demand in the United States. Variable electric rates are becoming more common in the residential market, as utilities try to encourage users to shift their energy demand. Model predictive controls, one method of reducing energy usage, employ an optimization model to minimize peak demand, energy usage, or electricity costs. This paper details the development of a co-simulation framework to rapidly model and simulate building energy use and optimize cooling setpoint controls. The framework integrates commercially available software to: (i) simulate all energy interactions between the building, internal gains, outdoor environment, and heating and cooling systems via a building energy simulation program (EnergyPlus), (ii) algebraically formulate an optimization problem (with AMPL) using a black-box, reduced-order model for rapid calculations, (iii) employ Simulink as the environment that links calls to EnergyPlus and AMPL, and (iv) solve the optimization model (with CPLEX) to minimize electricity costs and user discomfort. Variable electric time-of-use rates are analyzed in the context of total cooling electricity costs, thermal comfort of users, and peak demand shedding. The framework uses a model predictive control formulation capable of reducing cooling electricity costs by up to 30%; however, cost savings and peak demand shedding are highly dependent on the time-of-use electricity rate schedule.
Understanding Donor-Advised Funds: How Grants Flow During Recessions

Donor-advised funds (DAFs) are becoming increasingly popular in the United States. DAFs receive a growing share of all charitable donations and control a sizable proportion of grants made to other ...
The effects of macrophages on cardiomyocyte calcium-handling function using in vitro culture models

Following myocardial infarction (MI), myocardial inflammation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of MI injury and macrophages are among the key cells activated during the initial phases of the host response regulating the healing process. While macrophages have emerged as attractive effectors in tissue injury and repair, the contribution of macrophages on cardiac cell function and survival is not fully understood due to complexity of the in vivo inflammatory microenvironment. Understanding the key cells involved and how they communicate with one another is of paramount importance for the development of effective clinical treatments. Here, novel in vitro myocardial inflammation models were developed to examine how both direct and indirect interactions with polarized macrophage subsets present in the post-MI microenvironment affect cardiomyocyte function. The indirect model using conditioned medium from polarized macrophage subsets allowed examination of the effects of macrophage-derived factors on stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte function for up to 3 days. The results from the indirect model demonstrated that pro-inflammatory macrophage-derived factors led to a significant downregulation of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (Serca2) gene expression. It also demonstrated that inhibition of macrophage-secreted matricellular protein, osteopontin (OPN), led to a significant decrease in cardiomyocyte store-operated calcium entry (SOCE). In the direct model, stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes were co-cultured with polarized macrophage subsets for up to 3 days. It was demonstrated that anti-inflammatory macrophages significantly increased cardiomyocyte Ca2+ fractional release while macrophages independent of their subtypes led to significant downregulation of SOCE response in cardiomyocytes. This study describes simplified and controlled in vitro myocardial inflammation models, which allow examination of potential beneficial and deleterious effects of macrophages on cardiomyocytes and vise versa. This can lead to our improved understanding of the inflammatory microenvironment post-MI, otherwise difficult to directly investigate in vivo or by using currently available in vitro models.
On the Effects of Mechanical Offset Between Inner and Outer Stator in a 4-Phase Double Stator Switched Reluctance Machine

The double stator switched reluctance motor (DSSRM) has a high motional force efficiency relative to the conventional switched reluctance motor (SRM), but like the conventional SRM, it exhibits high propensity for torque ripple. With the intent to reduce torque ripple while maintaining average torque, a mechanical offset between inner and outer stators is analyzed and evaluated. A 4-phase radial-flux DSSRM using full pitch winding is chosen for analysis. The motor is simulated using finite element analysis software and results are verified experimentally. The torque ripple and mean torque are analyzed in saturated and unsaturated conditions.
Impact of the Choosing Wisely® Campaign Recommendations for Hospitalized Children on Clinical Practice: Trends from 2008 to 2017.

Background The Choosing Wisely® Campaign (CWC) was launched in 2012. Five recommendations to reduce the use of "low-value" services in hospitalized children were published in 2013. Objectives The aim of this study was to estimate the frequency and trends of utilization of these services in tertiary children's hospitals five years before and after the publication of the recommendations. Methods We conducted a retrospective, longitudinal analysis of hospitalizations to 36 children's hospitals from 2008 to 2017. The "low-value" services included (1) chest radiograph (CXR) for asthma, (2) CXR for bronchiolitis, (3) relievers for bronchiolitis, (4) systemic steroids for lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), and (5) acid suppressor therapy for uncomplicated gastroesophageal reflux (GER). We estimated the annual percentages of the use of these services after risk adjustment, followed by an interrupted time series (ITS) analysis to compare trends before and after the publication of the recommendations. Results The absolute decreases in utilization were 36.6% in relievers and 31.5% in CXR for bronchiolitis, 24.1% in acid suppressors for GER, 20.8% in CXR for asthma, and 2.9% in steroids for LRTI. Trend analysis showed that one "low-value" service declined significantly immediately (use of CXR for asthma), and another decreased significantly over time (relievers for bronchiolitis) after the CWC. Conclusions There was some decrease in the utilization of "low-value" services from 2008 to 2017. Limited changes in trends occurred after the publication of the recommendations. These findings suggest a limited impact of the CWC on clinical practice in these areas. Additional interventions are required for a more effective dissemination of the CWC recommendations for hospitalized children.
TWO – COORDINATE SYSTEMS AND GRAPHS

Publisher Summary The analytic geometry describes algebraic formulas by the means of geometric curves and describes geometric curves by algebraic formulas. The purpose of the real number line is to give a geometric way of describing real numbers. The set of real numbers and the set of points on the real line are in one-to-one correspondence. A Cartesian coordinate system is sometimes also called a rectangular coordinate system. The Cartesian coordinate systems are helpful for giving a geometric description of equations involving two variables. The set of all solutions of an equation is called its solution set. The parallel lines have the same slope, and conversely, lines with the same slope are parallel. In many applied problems two linear equations are given and it is of interest to find values of the variables that satisfy both of the equations. There are two methods for solving systems of two linear equations in two unknowns: substitution and elimination.
Electrochemical Ruthenium-Catalyzed C–H Hydroxylation of Amine Derivatives in Aqueous Acid

The development of an electrochemically driven, ruthenium-catalyzed C–H hydroxylation reaction of amine-derived substrates bearing tertiary C–H bonds is described. The reaction is performed under c...
Reconsidering Federal Marijuana Regulation

The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) prohibits the cultivation and distribution of marijuana by placing it in a category (Schedule I) reserved for drugs that are unhelpful and dangerous. In so doing, the CSA approached this problem from the wrong direction. People use drugs for medical or recreational purposes, and each one requires a separate legal scheme. Medical Marijuana Use: For more than 50 years, Congress has entrusted to the Commissioner of Food and Drugs the decision whether a particular drug is “safe” and “effective” and therefore can be sold throughout the nation. The reason is that those decisions require the scientific expertise of professionals in the fields of medicine, biochemistry, and the like, not the legal knowledge of Justice Department lawyers or the moral sensibilities of the electorate. Congress should leave to the judgment of the FDA Commissioner the decision how federal law should regulate medical-use marijuana. Recreational Marijuana Use: American society permits alcohol and tobacco to be sold under regulation. For alcohol, the Twenty-First Amendment empowers states to decide whether and how to sell liquor without much room for supplementary federal regulation. For tobacco, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009 authorizes the FDA Commissioner to regulate the distribution of tobacco products. Congress should consider whether to follow the same approach here. There are various factors relevant to that decision. For example, long-term marijuana use can lead some users to become dependent on, or addicted to, the drug, or to suffer serious mental disorders, such as psychosis. Legalizing recreational marijuana use also will increase the number of roadway accidents attributable to cannabis intoxication. Whether the benefits of recreational marijuana use outweigh those harms is the question that Congress should answer.
Correction to: Cost Analysis of Robotic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass in a Single Academic Center: How Expensive Is Expensive?

In the original article, due to a misplaced comma and decimal point, a number that was included in Table 2, as well as in the abstract and text, was off by a factor of ten.
A stronger relationship between reward responsivity and trustworthiness evaluations emerges in healthy aging

Older adults (OA) evaluate faces to be more trustworthy than do younger adults (YA), yet the processes supporting these more positive evaluations are unclear. This study identified neural mechanisms spontaneously engaged during face perception that differentially relate to OA' and YA' later trustworthiness evaluations. We examined two mechanisms: salience (reflected by amygdala activation) and reward (reflected by caudate activation) - both of which are implicated in evaluating trustworthiness. We emphasized the salience and reward value of specific faces by having OA and YA evaluate ingroup male White and outgroup Black and Asian faces. Participants perceived faces during fMRI and made trustworthiness evaluations after the scan. OA rated White and Black faces as more trustworthy than YA. OA had a stronger positive relationship between caudate activity and trustworthiness than YA when perceiving ingroup, but not outgroup, faces. Ingroup cues might intensify how trustworthiness is rewarding to OA, potentially reinforcing their overall positivity.
Fairness in Risk Assessment Instruments: Post-Processing to Achieve Counterfactual Equalized Odds

In domains such as criminal justice, medicine, and social welfare, decision makers increasingly have access to algorithmic Risk Assessment Instruments (RAIs). RAIs estimate the risk of an adverse outcome such as recidivism or child neglect, potentially informing high-stakes decisions such as whether to release a defendant on bail or initiate a child welfare investigation. It is important to ensure that RAIs are fair, so that the benefits and harms of such decisions are equitably distributed. The most widely used algorithmic fairness criteria are formulated with respect to observable outcomes, such as whether a person actually recidivates, but these criteria are misleading when applied to RAIs. Since RAIs are intended to inform interventions that can reduce risk, the prediction itself affects the downstream outcome. Recent work has argued that fairness criteria for RAIs should instead utilize potential outcomes, i.e. the outcomes that would occur in the absence of an appropriate intervention [11]. However, no methods currently exist to satisfy such fairness criteria. In this paper, we target one such criterion, counterfactual equalized odds. We develop a post-processed predictor that is estimated via doubly robust estimators, extending and adapting previous postprocessing approaches [16] to the counterfactual setting. We also provide doubly robust estimators of the risk and fairness properties of arbitrary fixed post-processed predictors. Our predictor converges to an optimal fair predictor at fast rates. We illustrate properties of our method and show that it performs well on both simulated and real data.
Incidence, Predictors, and Impact of Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury Following Fontan Conversion Surgery in Young Adult Fontan Survivors.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication following single ventricle congenital heart surgery. Data regarding AKI following Fontan conversion (FC) surgery are limited. This study evaluated the incidence, predictors of, and prognostic value of AKI following FC. Single-center retrospective cohort study, including consecutive FC patients from December 1994 to December 2016. Medical records were reviewed. AKI was classified into AKI-1/AKI-2/AKI-3 using Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria. Multivariable logistic regression identified risk factors for AKI≥2. Chi-square and 2-sample t-tests assessed associations between AKI≥2 and postoperative outcomes. Mid-term heart-transplant-free survival among AKI0-1 vs AKI2-3 groups was compared using Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank test. We included 139 FC patients: age at FC 24 (25th–75th, 19–31) years; 81% initial atrio-pulmonary Fontan; follow-up 8.3 ± 5.3 years following FC. Post-FC, 63 patients (45%) developed AKI (AKI-1 = 37 [27%]; AKI-2 = 10 [7%]; AKI-3 = 16 [11%]). AKI recovered by hospital discharge in 86%, 80%, and 19% of patients with AKI-1/AKI-2/AKI-3, respectively. Independent risk factors for AKI≥2 included older age (OR 1.07, 95%CI 1.01–1.15; P = 0.027); ≥3 prior sternotomies (OR = 6.11; 95%CI = 1.59–23.47; P = 0.009); greater preoperative right atrial pressure (OR 1.19; 1.02–1.38; P = 0.024), and prior catheter ablation procedure (OR 3.45; 1.17–10.18; P = 0.036). AKI≥2 was associated with: longer chest tube duration (9 [5–57] vs 7 [3–28] days; P = 0.01); longer mechanical ventilation time (2 [1–117] vs 1 [1–6] days; P = 0.01); greater need for dialysis (31% v s0%; P
Modeling dynamic correlation in zero-inflated bivariate count data with applications to single-cell RNA sequencing data.

Interactions between biological molecules in a cell are tightly coordinated and often highly dynamic. As a result of these varying signaling activities, changes in gene co-expression patterns could often be observed. The advancements in next-generation sequencing technologies bring new statistical challenges for studying these dynamic changes of gene co-expression. In recent years, methods have been developed to examine genomic information from individual cells. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data are count-based, and often exhibit characteristics such as over-dispersion and zero-inflation. To explore the dynamic dependence structure in scRNA-seq data and other zero-inflated count data, new approaches are needed. In this paper, we consider over-dispersion and zero-inflation in count outcomes and propose a ZEro-inflated Negative binomial dynamic COrrelation model (ZENCO). The observed count data are modeled as a mixture of two components: success amplifications and dropout events in ZENCO. A latent variable is incorporated into ZENCO in order to model the covariate-dependent correlation structure. We conduct simulation studies to evaluate the performance of our proposed method and to compare it with existing approaches. We also illustrate the implementation of our proposed approach using scRNA-seq data from a study of minimal residual disease in melanoma.
Restoring Degraded Speech via a Modified Diffusion Model

There are many deterministic mathematical operations (e.g. compression, clipping, downsampling) that degrade speech quality considerably. In this paper we introduce a neural network architecture, based on a modification of the DiffWave model, that aims to restore the original speech signal. DiffWave, a recently published diffusion-based vocoder, has shown state-of-the-art synthesized speech quality and relatively shorter waveform generation times, with only a small set of parameters. We replace the mel-spectrum upsampler in DiffWave with a deep CNN upsampler, which is trained to alter the degraded speech mel-spectrum to match that of the original speech. The model is trained using the original speech waveform, but conditioned on the degraded speech mel-spectrum. Post-training, only the degraded mel-spectrum is used as input and the model generates an estimate of the original speech. Our model results in improved speech quality (original DiffWave model as baseline) on several different experiments. These include improving the quality of speech degraded by LPC-10 compression, AMR-NB compression, and signal clipping. Compared to the original DiffWave architecture, our scheme achieves better performance on several objective perceptual metrics and in subjective comparisons. Improvements over baseline are further amplified in a out-of-corpus evaluation setting.
Assessing African American Women Engineers’ Workplace Sentiment within the AI Field

Artificial intelligence (AI) has infiltrated every industry and every aspect of our society. Business leaders have seen the shift AI has created and they are reacting swiftly to stay competitive. They are investing heavily in AI and hiring engineers and other technical professionals to capitalize on AI-based innovations. Engineers are problem solvers, innovators, and at the forefront of AI technologies; their daily jobs require the consumption of an enormous amount of information to solve problems, enhance existing products, or create new products. Engineering positions require extensive interaction with peers, experts, and other experienced engineers in a male-dominated field. Male dominance causes many women engineers to experience more biases and challenges than their male colleagues, especially minority women engineers. As AI infiltrates our society, will the challenges faced by minority women engineers subside or increase and will they participate in and drive innovations using AI? The purpose of this research paper is to assess the workplace sentiment of African American women engineers in the AI field. To assess African American women engineers’ workplace experiences within the AI field, machine learning text analysis was conducted on data extracted from Twitter. The practical implications of this research highlight African American women engineers’ perspectives and experiences, encourages African American women in engineering, and inspires future engineers in AI related careers.
A comparison via simulation of least squares Lehmann-Scheffé estimators of two variances and heritability with those of restricted maximum likelihood.

The objective was to compare the performance of a recently derived, new method of estimating variances and covariances with any mixed linear model and any pattern of missing data with that of restricted maximum likelihood. For each of 96 combinations of six three-herd x four-sire unbalanced designs of 39 offspring each, four heritability values, two ratios of sire variance to interaction variance, and two distributions (multivariate normal and multivariate chi2, 3 df), 15,000 vectors (n = 39) were generated. Least squares Lehmann-Scheffe (LSLS) estimators of sire variance, interaction variance, and heritability were compared to those of REML with the performance measures of percentage of estimates (of the 15,000) that were positive, mean square error, variance, percentage of estimates within +/- 50% of the parameter, bias, maximum value, skewness, and kurtosis. The LSLS method vastly outperformed REML in almost all 96 combinations. Averaged over the 48 combinations with multivariate normal data, the average percentage that REML estimators of heritability performed relative to those of LSLS for the first five of the above listed eight performance measures was -100%. The number of times LSLS was better than REML was 235 out of 240. The analogous values for the 48 combinations with multivariate chi2, 3-df data were -90% and 230 out of 240. The REML maximum values were always larger than the LSLS values. The LSLS skewness and kurtosis values were about the same as those for REML, with the exception of LSLS heritability kurtosis values, which were notably less than those for REML. The explicit expectations of the LSLS estimators showed that the LSLS estimators were surprisingly unbiased given the paucity of data. Explicit coefficients for calculating mean square errors, variances, and biases squared of the LSLS estimators of the three variances were obtained for each design. The LSLS advantage was not quite so large with the multivariate chi2, 3-df data as with the multivariate normal data. Results with a symmetric multinomial distribution were the same as with the multivariate normal. The overall result was that the LSLS estimators produced substantially more non-zero estimates than REML estimators and these more abundant positive estimates were substantially grouped closer to their respective parameters. Results justify efforts to make the LSLS procedure computationally available.
Complementary Laboratory Measurements of Individual Interplanetary Dust Particles

Complementary analysis techniques including electron microscopy (SEM/EDX and TEM), molecular spectroscopy (FTIR and Raman), and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), are used to study individual dust particles collected in the stratosphere. Large deuterium enrichments and solar flare tracks show that most particles in the “chondritic” class are interplanetary dust particles (IDPs). Infrared transmission spectra of most IDPs fall into three major classes (layer-lattice silicates, pyroxenes and olivines). TEM and Raman measurements confirm this classification. The IR spectra show certain similarities to spec-tra observed in comets and protostars. In particular the 6.8 µm features observed in protostars and IDPs may have a common origin. Large D excesses are observed in IDPs of the first two IR classes. The correlation of D/H ratios with the C concentration indicates a carbonaceous carrier of the excess D. The D enrichments and IR spectra provide links to interstellar molecular cloud material.
The Eyes that Bind: Junior Ministers as Oversight Mechanisms in Coalition Governments

Research on multiparty governments has started to debate how coalition partners oversee each other’s policymaking. Due to the divergence of preferences among partners and the difficulty of sanctioning members of other parties, cabinet members attempt to monitor each other in policymaking activities through the use of junior ministers. By analyzing multiple countries’ governments across decades, this article contributes to the current debate about government oversight by defining the circumstances under which parties in coalition governments choose to use junior ministers to keep tabs on ministers from coalition partners. Specifically, we contend that their use depends on the power dynamics within a coalition, as well as the institutional structures in the broader political environment.1
Profit and Variance Analysis of Cotton Production Technologies and Rotation Crops in Georgia

Genetically modified cotton varieties have the potential for increasing returns and/or decreasing labor requirements. A nonlinear optimization model is applied to a whole farm analysis for evaluating cotton production technologies. This model maximizes farm utility, composed of expected returns and their variability, at various risk aversion levels in order to evaluate cotton production technologies. Results show that while conventional cotton maximizes utility in a risk-neutral situation, transgenic cotton varieties entered into the optimal solutions as higher levels of risk aversion were considered.
INACTIVATION OF PATHOGENIC BACTERIA BY FD&C RED NO. 3 AND HIGH-PRESSURE PROCESSING COMBINATION TREATMENT IN FOOD SYSTEMS

ABSTRACT Combinations of FDC however, the lethality is unverified in food. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of HPP-Red 3 to inactivate Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli O157:H7 in two food systems. Sterile carrot juice and turkey product were inoculated with stationary-phase cells and treated with HPP-Red 3. Red 3 concentrations of 10–100 ppm in carrot juice with HPP (500 MPa, 1 min, 23C) produced synergistic inactivation of L. monocytogenes. HPP-Red 3 (100 ppm) combinations in carrot juice caused synergistic inactivation of E. coli. HPP was ineffective at reducing L. monocytogenes in pre-cooked luncheon turkey product. HPP reduced E. coli in turkey product (3.9 log reduction); however, combination treatment did not significantly increase lethality, regardless of Red 3 concentration. Food systems significantly impact the efficacy of HPP-Red 3 against foodborne pathogens. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS FD&C Red no. 3 is approved for use in most food products at levels up to 300 ppm to enhance the color of products. This colorant also possesses antimicrobial properties against gram-positive bacteria, due to the production of photooxidative species (superoxide, singlet oxygen, etc.). Interestingly, combining Red 3 with high-pressure processing (HPP) treatment produces synergistic inactivation of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria with and without light exposure (485 lux). Inclusion of Red 3 in product formulation and inclusion of HPP as a lethal processing step could be utilized by the food industry to enhance the shelf-life and safety of food products. Other certified food colorants could be used to adjust the color of the final product without altering the antimicrobial effect of the combination treatment. Efficacy of combination treatment needs to be validated for specific food systems.
The Evolutionary Explanation of Man–Boy Eroticism: Comment on Rind (2015)

ABSTRACTObjectives: The paper comments on Bruce Rind's (this volume, 2013) attempts to explain the origins of erotic attraction and relationships between boys and men in the process of natural selection in the course of human evolution. Methods: Cross-species, historical and cross-cultural evidence are used. Conclusions: For most individuals, man-boy eroticism could be a facultative trait, not an obligatory trait. Its evolutionary origins and its social functions cannot be ascertained with certainty at this time, but may have to do with the promotion of male solidarity in the face of conflict between men and women in gender-stratified societies.
Comparing big givers and small givers: Financial correlates of corporate philanthropy

In a departure from the traditional studies of corporate philanthropy that focus on board composition, advertising, and social networks, the authors investigate the financial correlates of corporate philanthropy. The research design controls for firm size and industry while observing firms from a variety of industries. The sample contains matched pairs of generous and less generous corporate givers. The authors find, as hypothesized, a positive relationship between a firm's cash resources available and cash donations, but no significant relationship between corporate philanthropy and firm financial performance, regardless of whether corporate philanthropy is measured as cash payouts or the aggregate contributions that charities actually receive, and regardless of whether financial performance is gauged using accounting measures or market measures. Whereas the link between available resources and corporate philanthropy is well accepted in the literature on corporate social responsibility, it has been rarely tested and never so definitively found as in this research.
Teaching electronics packaging using interactive multimedia

This paper describes a plan to augment the hands-on instruction that will take place in a developing electronics packaging instructional laboratory with interactive multimedia course materials. The hands-on lab will provide students with exposure to basic packaging substrate fabrication concepts and techniques, including interconnect design, dielectric deposition, via formation, metallization, and substrate testing. The multidisciplinary lab will be geared toward seniors and 1st-year graduate students in electrical engineering, chemical engineering, physics, chemistry and materials science. Laboratory instruction will be enhanced by an interactive multimedia educational delivery system which makes course material remotely accessible via the World-Wide Web. The lab will operate in conjunction with the Packaging Research Center (PRC) at the Georgia Institute of Technology, which is pursuing the goal of achieving strategic solutions in electronics packaging.
Lectures on N-Categories and Cohomology

This is an explanation of how cohomology is seen through the lens of n-category theory. Special topics include nonabelian cohomology, Postnikov towers, the theory of ‘n-stuff’, and n-categories for n = −1 and −2. A lengthy appendix clarifies certain puzzles and ventures into deeper waters such as higher topos theory. An annotated bibliography provides directions for further study.
Information, Preferences, and Public Benefit Participation: Experimental Evidence from the Advance EITC and 401(k) Savings

Within a field experiment, I present a treatment group with reductions in information, administrative, stigma, and procrastination costs associated with the Advance EITC. The treatment increases Advance participation from 0.3 to 1.2 percent. Another treatment simultaneously encourages 401(k) savings, increasing 401(k) participation from 46 to 50 percent. However, there is no additional increase in Advance participation when coupled with the 401 (k) treatment, casting doubt on a long-term forced savings motive. The results indicate that EITC recipients actively forgo the Advance. Further work is needed to identify what underlies these preferences. Possible explanations include uncertainty and/or short-term forced savings motives.
Effects of naloxone and its quaternary form on fluid consumption in rats

Three studies were performed on albino rats to determine the effects of naloxone and its quaternary derivative, naloxone methylbromide, on fluid consumption. The doses of the quaternary naloxone were equated with naloxone by molarity and effectiveness in order to facilitate direct comparisons. All rats were deprived of food and water for 12 hr and exposed to a 20% sucrose solution for a 2 hr period. In Experiment 1, a low (0.01 mg/kg) dose of naloxone or an equated dose of quaternary naloxone was given ICV and immediate access allowed to the fluid on four consecutive days. Animals receiving naloxone were not significantly different from controls, and rats receiving quaternary naloxone exhibited seizures, resulting in decreased consumption. In Experiment 2, the low dose of naloxone or the equated dose of quaternary naloxone was given IP for four consecutive days and neither was significantly different from controls. In Experiment 3, animals were given an IP dose of either 1 mg/kg naloxone, a 1 mg/kg or 50 mg/kg dose of quaternary naloxone, or saline and tested for a single 2 hr period. The doses of 1 mg/kg naloxone and 50 mg/kg quaternary naloxone produced significantly less drinking than controls. In all studies, the initial 30 min period produced the most drinking. Suppression of drinking by a dose of 50 mg/kg quaternary naloxone suggested, in contrast to other studies, that it may cross the blood-brain barrier at high doses.
Hypnotic stimulation of breast growth

Abstract An experiment was designed in an attempt to replicate the findings of a previous study which indicated that hypnosis could be used effectively to stimulate breast growth in adult women. Three adult women were given a series of hypnotic treatments in which sensations of breast growth were suggested. It was found that hypnotic stimulation of breast growth did result in larger breasts. A three month follow-up, not included in the previous study, demonstrated that while some decrease had occurred during the three months after the cessation of treatment, 81% of the gains made were retained. The authors agree with Williams (1974) that with further development this procedure could become a desirable alternative to surgical methods of breast augmentation.
Nanosecond radio bursts from strong plasma turbulence in the Crab pulsar

The Crab pulsar was discovered1 by the occasional exceptionally bright radio pulses it emits, subsequently dubbed ‘giant’ pulses. Only two other pulsars are known to emit giant pulses2,3. There is no satisfactory explanation for the occurrence of giant pulses, nor is there a complete theory of the pulsar emission mechanism in general. Competing models for the radio emission mechanism can be distinguished by the temporal structure of their coherent emission. Here we report the discovery of isolated, highly polarized, two-nanosecond subpulses within the giant radio pulses from the Crab pulsar. The plasma structures responsible for these emissions must be smaller than one metre in size, making them by far the smallest objects ever detected and resolved outside the Solar System, and the brightest transient radio sources in the sky. Only one of the current models—the collapse of plasma-turbulent wave packets in the pulsar magnetosphere—can account for the nanopulses we observe.
Extraction of Cartilage Sulfation Inhibitors and Somatomedins from Rat Liver

Both cartilage sulfation inhibitors and somatomedins were identified in extracts from rat liver. After extraction at pH 7.4 (neutral extract), cartilage inhibitors were found in neutral liver extracts from normal, diabetic, fasted, and hypophysectomized rats [61 ± 4%, 68 ± 3% 60 ± 6%, and 62 ± 7% below assay buffer (mean ± sem), respectively; all P 45,000). After the inhibitors were removed with neutral buffer extraction, reextraction at pH 2.4 (neutral/acid extracts) revealed somatomedins only in the livers of normal rats. Cartilage stimulation by somatomedins in neutral/acid extracts was linear and parallel to stimulation by normal serum. After gel filtration on Sephadex G-75, pH 2.4, somatomedins in neutral/acid extracts from normal ...
The quasimonotonicity of linear differential systems

The method of vector Lyapunov functions to determine stability in dynamical systems requires that the comparison system be quasimonotone nondecreasing with respect to a cone contained in the nonnegative orthant. For linear comparison systems with real eigenvalues, we show some necessary and sufficient conditions for such cones to exist, and we show a method to construct such cones.
MEASURE OF TRANSIENT TRANSFECTION EFFICIENCY USING BETA -GALACTOSIDASE PROTEIN

Although the control elements which regulate the transcriptional activity of promoter sequences are largely determined by the use of reporter plasmids in transient transfection analyses, controlling variability in these experiments can often be a vexing problem. Problems arise when the promoter of the internal control plasmid, used to correct for transfection efficiency, either affects test promoter strength or is itself regulated by trans-acting factors or inducing agents used to study the test promoter. Here we report the use of beta-galactosidase protein as an unbiased standard of transfection efficiency. beta-Galactosidase protein is readily internalized by adherent cell lines when incorporated into a calcium phosphate precipitate; significant enzyme activity can be recovered up to 72 h after transfection. Use of beta-galactosidase protein as a control obviates the concerns associated with promoter-dependent reporter plasmids as controls.
Differences among mouse strains in the regulation by μ, δ1 and δ2 opioid receptors of striatal adenylyl cyclases activated by dopamine D1 or adenosine A2a receptors

Abstract It is well established that the intensity of the morphine-induced locomotor stimulatory response in rodents is genetically determined. We have evaluated the ability of μ (DAMGO), δ1 (DPDPE) and δ2 ([D-Ala2]deltorphin II; DT-II) selective opioid receptor agonists to inhibit receptor-activated adenylyl cyclase activity. Previous studies have shown that dopamine D1 receptors are preferentially expressed in striatonigral neurons, while adenosine A2a receptors are preferentially expressed in striatopallidal neurons. Our results indicate that in striatum of wild-type CD1 mice as in rat, μ-agonists inhibit D1-activated adenylyl cyclase, but were without inhibitory activity against A2a-activated adenylyl cyclase. In all tested mouse strains, the δ1 selective agonist, DPDPE, inhibited the A2a-activated adenylyl cyclase but not the D1-activated enzyme. In contrast, the δ2 agonist, DT-II, inhibited both D1 and A2a activated enzyme in all strains except DBA/2J, where DT-II did not inhibit D1-activated adenylyl cyclase. In C57BL/6J mice, which are highly sensitive to morphine-induced motor stimulation, μ agonists were potent inhibitors of A2a-activated adenylyl cyclase but did not inhibit the D1-activated enzyme, while μ opioids did not inhibit A2a-activated enzyme in DBA/2J mice which show little locomotor response to morphine. In CXBK mice, a strain with known deficiencies in μ-receptor expression, both forms of receptor-activated adenylyl cyclase were less sensitive than in CD1 mice to inhibition by DAMGO. The results suggest probable differences in the specific neural locations of opioid receptor subtypes in certain inbred strains of mice with varying sensitivities to the behavioral effects of morphine.
Medical management of pediatric stone disease

Childhood urolithiasis remains endemic in certain parts of the world, namely, Turkey and the Far East. The prevalence of nephrolithiasis in North American children varies widely among geographic regions and accounts for 1 per 1000 to 1 per 7600 pediatric hospital admissions. Stones occur in children of all ages. The clinical manifestations of stone disease are often more subtle in children when compared with the dramatic adult presentation. This article discusses the evaluation and medical management of pediatric stone disease.
Stabilization of mode-locked trains, and dark resonance of two-photon lambda-level structures

Our ultimate objective is to design a combined frequency standard for optical as well as radio frequencies. A mode-locked laser provides frequency components that can be used as a ruler to measure any unknown optical source through direct beating. The frequency spacing of a pair of teeth of this comb is in itself a radio frequency reference. Fast control and correction for both the average frequency and the repetition rate of a mode-locked Ti : sapphire laser are achieved by locking the laser to a reference cavity of ultra-low expansion quartz with equal mode spacing. We measure an optical frequency with a mean square deviation of 700 Hz, instability limited by the radio-frequency sources used to count the repetition rate. As a reference standard to achieve absolute accuracy, we use the Λ transition 5S1/2 (F = 1) → 5D5/2 (F = 3) → 5S1/2 (F = 2) of rubidium. The theory for this coherent interaction shows that, with one mode resonant with the two-photon 5S1/2 (F = 1) → 5D5/2 (F = 3) transition, the fluoresc...
The CMR model of moving regions

Many natural phenomena can be nicely represented by concepts of moving regions. For example, hurricanes, rain clouds, pollution zones, etc., change shape and position over time. Current models of moving regions have proven to be difficult to translate effectively to implementation for two reasons: i) algorithms for operations, such as intersection, are difficult to implement, and ii) creating instances of moving regions from data sources is difficult. In this paper, we create a new model of moving regions at the abstract, discrete, and implementation levels that overcome the difficulties of previous models. The CMR Model aligns well with data collection techniques, can be implemented easily, and allows complex movement patterns to be easily depicted.
Relations between IR induced photoconductivity and IR stimulated luminescence in ZnS

Abstract IR induced photoconductivity (INP) and IR stimulated luminescence (STL) have been simultaneously measured in self-activated ZnS crystals. The stimulation spectra of INP and STL for the λIR = 1.2 μm to 6.4 μm spectral range were identical including broad, structureless responses and many narrow characteristic lines. Transient characteristics of INP and STL were strongly temperature dependent and showed a large variation from sample to sample. In every case, STL began to decay while INP was still increasing during steady IR excitation. Many different features were found in the magnitudes of INP and STL as a function of temperature and in photoconductivity and luminescence decay processes after UV excitation. The photoelectronic effects observed in these IR sensitive ZnS crystals lead us to conclude the following: the same centers are responsible for INP and STL; charge transport through a band exists before recombination occurs; bound-bound transitions and bound-free transitions are possible; and a wide variety of shallow, intermediate, and deep traps are present.
Cardiovascular genetics: Paying individual dividends

As the ultimate big-data effort in biology, the human genome project commandeered scientific and societal resources in exchange for the promise of better health care. We are beginning to realize a return on our investment—and cardiovascular medicine is a trendsetter in reaping these rewards. Now