cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Volunteers, Sports and Insurance

Abstract Volunteers sports and Insurance Nationwide budget cuts and corporation “downsizings” have threatened the existence of sports and recreational programs vital to our quality of life. Government agencies, from the federal level down to municipalities, along with corporations private agencies and nonprofit agencies, are increasingly turning to volunteers to support their programs. However, volunteerism creates new liabilities along with benefits. This presentation will explore the role of insurance as a means of such risk management issues. Included are: the various types of insurance available; what each covers; how to negotiate and select a policy contract suited to individual needs’ how to negotiate and select a policy contract suited to individual needs; and financing insurance coverage. Sources include statutory laws along with texts, publications, official documents, and private interviews including a consultant specializing in nonprofit insurance. Insurance protection does not rule out the pos...
Electrophysiology and heart rhythm disorders in older adults.

Heart rhythm disorders, including bradyarrhythmias, atrial fibrillation (AF), and ventricular arrhythmias, become increasingly common with aging and represent important causes of morbidity and mortality among older adults.[1]–[3] Older adults are particularly predisposed to these conditions due to the high prevalence of cardiovascular disease in conjunction with age-related changes that occur in the heart and cardiac conduction system. Management of heart rhythm disorders often differs in older compared to younger individuals due to reduced life expectancy, multimorbidity, polypharmacy, and increased vulnerability to adverse effects of therapies. The presence of geriatric syndromes, particularly frailty,[4] and cognitive impairment,[5],[6] which have been increasingly recognized as important factors associated with poor outcomes in many cardiovascular conditions, further contribute to the complexity of decision-making in this vulnerable population. Accordingly, this review seeks to describe the evaluation and treatment of common rhythm disturbances among older adults.
An outer bound of the capacity region of biometric systems under keys, secrets, and privacy requirements

This paper establishes an outer bound of the capacity region of general biometric systems. The goals of biometric systems considered include person identification and secret binding, while template protection, privacy, and secrecy leakage are security issues addressed. A general model of biometric systems is proposed, in which the use of private keys are also incorporated. The system model captures main aspects of major biometric system designs including biometric cryptosystems, cancelable biometrics, and salt biometric systems. In addition to attacks on the database, information leakage from data links between the sensor module and the database is also considered. A general information theoretic rate outer bound is derived for characterizing and comparing the fundamental capacity, and security risks and benefits of different system designs.
In Patients with a Retrograde Type A Aortic Dissection, Does Treatment Like a Type B Aortic Dissection Improve Outcomes?

Type A aortic dissection is a surgical emergency with mortality approaching 60 % when treated with medical therapy alone. Survival benefit has been consistently demonstrated with emergent surgical repair; however, overall mortality is still reported to be as high as 25 %. Type A aortic dissection most commonly arises from a primary intimal tear just distal to the coronary ostia, followed by primary aortic arch tear. Less commonly, retrograde type A dissection (RTAD) can arise from a primary intimal tear in the descending aorta with retrograde propagation into the ascending aorta. RTAD are categorized as spontaneous or iatrogenic. Spontaneous RTAD account for approximately 10 % of all acute type A dissections. Iatrogenic RTAD have become a topic of increased interest due to their occurrence after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for type B descending thoracic aortic (DTA) dissections and aneurysms. In addition, open surgical repair of RTAD carries increased perioperative morbidity and mortality due to the necessity of replacing the aortic arch in order to cover the primary dissection flap. Some clinicians have advocated treating RTAD in a similar fashion to type B dissection where the mainstay of treatment is medical management with or without TEVAR. Studies comparing medical and surgical therapies have demonstrated improved medium term outcomes RTAD compared to antegrade dissections. The studies suggest that medical management may be suitable in select patients who have (1) no malperfusion syndromes, (2) false lumen thrombosis, (3) no aneurysmal disease, and (4) no rupture. No long term data is available comparing retrograde versus antegrade aortic dissection, thus, the true natural history is unclear. In this report, we review the current literature on the management strategies of RTAD and provide our institutional approach in treating this complex aortic pathology
Differences in Callosal and Forniceal Diffusion between Patients with and without Postconcussive Migraine.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Posttraumatic migraines are common after mild traumatic brain injury. The purpose of this study was to determine if a specific axonal injury pattern underlies posttraumatic migraines after mild traumatic brain injury utilizing Tract-Based Spatial Statistics analysis of diffusion tensor imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: DTI was performed in 58 patients with mild traumatic brain injury with posttraumatic migraines. Controls consisted of 17 patients with mild traumatic brain injury without posttraumatic migraines. Fractional anisotropy and diffusivity maps were generated to measure white matter integrity and were evaluated by using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics regression analysis with a general linear model. DTI findings were correlated with symptom severity, neurocognitive test scores, and time to recovery with the Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Patients with mild traumatic brain injury with posttraumatic migraines were not significantly different from controls in terms of age, sex, type of injury, or neurocognitive test performance. Patients with posttraumatic migraines had higher initial symptom severity ( P = .01) than controls. Compared with controls, patients with mild traumatic brain injury with posttraumatic migraines had decreased fractional anisotropy in the corpus callosum ( P = .03) and fornix/septohippocampal circuit ( P = .045). Injury to the fornix/septohippocampal circuit correlated with decreased visual memory ( r = 0.325, P = .01). Injury to corpus callosum trended toward inverse correlation with recovery ( r = −0.260, P = .05). CONCLUSIONS: Injuries to the corpus callosum and fornix/septohippocampal circuit were seen in patients with mild traumatic brain injury with posttraumatic migraines, with injuries in the fornix/septohippocampal circuit correlating with decreased performance on neurocognitive testing. CC : corpus callosum FA : fractional anisotropy FSHC : fornix/septohippocampal circuit 5-HT : serotonin mTBI : mild traumatic brain injury PTH : posttraumatic headache PTM : posttraumatic migraine
The First McGee Annual Report on the Best and Worst States for Business

This study is the first annual McGee Report on the best and worst states for business. The fifty states are ranked based on the extent to which they facilitate business creation and expansion. This study incorporated the data collected from five other studies, which included the examination of hundreds of variables. Utah was found to be the most business friendly state; California was least business friendly. States that voted Republican in the 2016 presidential election tended to be more business friendly than states that voted Democratic.
The State of the Science on Integrating Palliative Care in Heart Failure.

Abstract Background: Heart failure (HF) is a chronic progressive illness associated with physical and psychological burdens, high morbidity, mortality, and healthcare utilization. Palliative care is interdisciplinary care that aims to relieve suffering and improve quality of life for persons with serious illness and their families. It is offered simultaneously with disease-oriented care, unlike hospice or end-of-life care. Despite the demonstrated benefits of palliative care in other populations, evidence for palliative care in the HF population is limited. Objective: The objective of this article is to describe the current evidence and the gaps in the evidence that will need to be improved to demonstrate the benefits of integrating palliative care into the care of patients with advanced HF and their family caregivers. Methods: We reviewed the literature to examine the state of the science and to identify gaps in palliative care integration for persons with HF and their families. We then convened an inter...
The influence of small doses of ethanol on the urinary testosterone to epitestosterone ratio in men and women.

Endogenous steroid use can increase urinary testosterone/epitestosterone (T/E) values. In addition, ethanol in amounts >0.5 g per kg of body weight (g/kg) can also increase T/E values. However, the effect of smaller doses of ethanol on T/E values is unknown. The influence of 0.2 and 0.4 g/kg of ethanol on baseline T/E values in 20 men and 20 women with low and high baseline T/E values was investigated and correlated with ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulfate (EtS) concentrations. T/E values for 7 of the women were excluded from the study because of undetectable T concentrations or for other reasons. One man and 1 woman with a high T/E baseline value had a significant increase in their T/E value after ingestion of 0.2 g/kg of ethanol. One man and 2 women with a high T/E baseline, and 1 woman with a low T/E baseline had significantly increased T/E values after ingestion of 0.4 g/kg of ethanol. There was wide variability in peak EtG concentrations and a lack of correlation between ethanol dose and EtG concentrations. Interestingly, 1 man and 2 women with increased T/E values following ethanol ingestion had EtG concentrations below the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) cutoff of 5000 ng/mL. These findings demonstrate that small amounts of ethanol can elevate T/E values, with women being more susceptible. In addition, consideration should be given to the lowering of the WADA EtG cutoff in order to detect samples with elevated T/E values from ingestion of low doses of ethanol.
Sugarloaf Mountain, central Arizona, USA: A small-scale example of Miocene basalt-rhyolite magma mixing to yield andesitic magmas

Abstract Sugarloaf Mountain is a 200-m high volcanic landform in central Arizona, USA, within the transition from the southern Basin and Range to the Colorado Plateau. It is composed of Miocene alkalic basalt (47.2–49.1 wt.% SiO2; 6.7–7.7 wt.% MgO) and overlying andesite and dacite lavas (61.4–63.9 wt.% SiO2; 3.5–4.7 wt.% MgO). Sugarloaf Mountain therefore offers an opportunity to evaluate the origin of andesite magmas with respect to coexisting basalt. Important for evaluating Sugarloaf basalt and andesite (plus dacite) is that the andesites contain basaltic minerals olivine (cores Fo76-86) and clinopyroxene (∼Fs9-18Wo35-44) coexisting with Na-plagioclase (An48-28Or1.4–7), quartz, amphibole, and minor orthopyroxene, biotite, and sanidine. Noteworthy is that andesite mineral textures include reaction and spongy zones and embayments in and on Na-plagioclase and quartz phenocrysts, where some reacted Na-plagioclases have higher-An mantles, plus some similarly reacted and embayed olivine, clinopyroxene, and amphibole phenocrysts. Fractional crystallization of Sugarloaf basaltic magmas cannot alone yield the andesites because their ∼61 to 64 wt.% SiO2 is attended by incompatible REE and HFSE abundances lower than in the basalts (e.g., Ce 77–105 in andesites vs 114–166 ppm in basalts; Zr 149–173 vs 183–237; Nb 21–25 vs 34–42). On the other hand, andesite mineral assemblages, textures, and compositions are consistent with basaltic magmas having mixed with rhyolitic magmas, provided the rhyolite(s) had relatively low REE and HFSE abundances. Linear binary mixing calculations yield good first approximation results for producing andesitic compositions from Sugarloaf basalt compositions and a central Arizona low-REE, low-HFSE rhyolite. For example, mixing proportions 52:48 of Sugarloaf basalt and low incompatible-element rhyolite yields a hybrid composition that matches Sugarloaf andesite well − although we do not claim to have exact endmembers, but rather, viable proxies. Additionally, the observed mineral textures are all consistent with hot basalt magma mixing into rhyolite magma. Compositional differences among the phenocrysts of Na-plagioclase, clinopyroxene, and amphibole in the andesites suggest several mixing events, and amphibole thermobarometry calculates depths corresponding to 8–16 km and 850° to 980 °C. The amphibole P-T observed for a rather tight compositional range of andesite compositions is consistent with the gathering of several different basalt-rhyolite hybrids into a homogenizing ‘collection' zone prior to eruptions. We interpret Sugarloaf Mountain to represent basalt-rhyolite mixings on a relatively small scale as part of the large scale Miocene (∼20 to 15 Ma) magmatism of central Arizona. A particular qualification for this example of hybridization, however, is that the rhyolite endmember have relatively low REE and HFSE abundances.
Mobile phones and inequality: Findings, trends, and future directions:

Smartphones are more prevalent than computers in the digital age, particularly in poor and minority communities. Is it the effect to reduce or perpetuate socioeconomic disparities? This article rev...
Nivolumab in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and Child Pugh B (CPB) cirrhosis: Safety and clinical outcomes in a retrospective case series.

496Background: HCC patients (pts) with Child Pugh B (CPB) cirrhosis have poor prognosis and limited treatment (Tx) options. Nivolumab demonstrated durable responses and acceptable safety in Child P...
Expression of fibroblast growth factor-5 by bovine choroidal endothelial cells in vitro

Purpose To demonstrate the expression of fibroblast growth factor-5 (FGF-5) by bovine choroidal microvascular endothelial (BCME) cells and to investigate its possible role as an autocrine mitogen in these cells. Methods Expression of FGF-5 by BCME cells was studied by a combination of Northern and Western blot analyses. Total RNA was isolated from BCME cultures at passages 5 through 8 and analyzed by Northern blot analysis for the presence of FGF-5 transcripts, using a 1-kb human complemetary DNA. Slot-blot analysis was performed to determine possible cross-reactivity between this probe and acidic and basic FGFs of human and bovine species. A previously characterized antibody directed against the aminoterminus of the human FGF-5 sequence was used in Western blot analyses to identify immunoreactive proteins released by BCME cells into the medium. Finally, the mitogenic activity of human recombinant FGF-5 on a variety of cell types was evaluated, using a cellular proliferation assay. Results Northern blot analysis provided evidence for the expression of two major FGF-5 transcripts at 4 kb and 3 kb and two minor transcripts at 2.2 kb and 1.7 kb. A single immunoreactive protein with a molecular weight of 34 kDa was identified by Western blot analysis of conditioned media. In cellular proliferation assays, human recombinant FGF-5 was not mitogenic in BCME cells but exhibited an approximate ED50 of 1.8 to 3.7 nM in BALB/c3T3 fibroblasts. This ED50 was within the range reported by the manufacturer, using a thymidine incorporation assay and a similar embryonic fibroblast cell line. Fibroblast growth factor-5 also stimulated proliferation of human retinal pigment epithelial cells. Conclusions Bovine choroidal microvascular endothelial cells exhibit expression in vitro of FGF-5 at the messenger RNA and protein levels. Perivascular and endothelial cell staining for FGF-5 seen previously in choroidal neovascular membranes may therefore arise from expression by choroidal endothelial cells. Because nonglycosylated recombinant FGF-5 does not appear to be a mitogen in BCME cells in vitro, it is reasonable to question its role as an autocrine mitogen in vivo. Fibroblast growth factor-5 may instead be serving paracrine roles in the stimulation of fibroblasts and retinal pigment epithelial cells during the formation of choroidal neovascular membranes. Studies with fully glycosylated recombinant FGF-5 will be required, however, to assess the biologic activity of this member of the FGF gene family.
Methods for Identification of Fibronectins

In order to provide a context for later detailed discussions of the structure, interactions, and functions of fibronectins, I have reviewed in the next two chapters the data on the occurrence of the various types of fibronectin both in vivo (Chapter 3) and in tissue culture (Chapter 4). To do this critically, it is obviously necessary to discuss first the criteria by which we define fibronectins and the way in which they are identified and quantitated. So, this chapter will describe the operational definitions of and assays for fibronectins (FNs).
Combining Standard Block Analyses With Spatial Analyses Under a Random Effects Model

Spatial trends are often a significant source of variability in field trials. Since trends vary from block to block, they should be estimated as random effects. In this paper we propose to consider spatial covariates as post hoc random effects within the context of the experiment design. We demonstrate that making use of the spatial information leads to more efficient estimation of treatment effects. The models considered for spatial effects include block effects which are part of the experiment design, random gradients, regression trends, nearest neighbor analysis and smoothing. The analyses are applied to an example, which exhibits quite different results for the different methods. Since computations are tedious, programs for the various statistical procedures are presented.
Notation and Conventions

These will be in effect throughout the book and include the following: Let X be a set. If x is an element of X, we will write x∈X, and we will at times denote the subset {x} of X by x also. The cardinality (either finite or infinite) of X is denoted card X and on occasion by |X|if it is finite. The Cartesian product of two sets X and Y is denoted X×Y. The identity map of X is denoted id x . For subsets Y and Z of X, Z ⊆ Y or Y ⊇ Z denote inclusion, Z ⊂ Y or Y ⊃Z denote strict inclusion, and X — Y denotes set theoretic difference. If Y is a subset of X, then Y↪ X is the inclusion map. Maps will ordinarily be written on the left. In particular the composite f°g of f and g will mean that one first applies g and then f. Let f:X→Z be a map. The image f(X) of X under f will often be written im f. The restriction of f to a subset Y of X is denoted by f| Y , or when less precision is required, by f: Y →Z. Let I be another set. Suppose that to each i ∈I, there corresponds an element x i , i.e. suppose that we have a function f: I→ X. The subset f(I) of X will on occasion be denoted {x i } i∈I , and we will say that it is indexed by I. At times I will be linearly or totally ordered, i.e. it will have a partial ordering ≥ such that for any i and j in I, either i≥ j or j> i.
Repeat Induced Point Mutation

Repeat-induced point mutation (RIP) is a genome defense system first found in the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa . RIP searches for sequence duplications in haploid nuclei of premeiotic tissue and then litters them with numerous C to T (or G to A) mutations. In addition, RIP’d sequences, which are concentrated in centromeric regions, and are predominantly relics of transposons, are left methylated.
A unified approach to proving parametric bootstrap consistency for some goodness-of-fit tests

ABSTRACTBecause model misspecification can lead to inconsistent and inefficient estimators and invalid tests of hypotheses, testing for misspecification is critically important. We focus here on several general purpose goodness-of-fit tests which can be applied to assess the adequacy of a wide variety of parametric models without specifying an alternative model. Parametric bootstrap is the method of choice for computing the p-values of these tests however the proof of its consistency has never been rigourously shown in this setting. Using properties of locally asymptotically normal parametric models, we prove that under quite general conditions, the parametric bootstrap provides a consistent estimate of the null distribution of the statistics under investigation.
Racially Exclusive Real Estate Advertising: Public Policy Implications for Fair Housing Practices:

The authors ‘field experiment indicates that including African-Americans in real estate advertisements produces a positive effect for (1) African-American readers in terms of liking the models pict...
Ignition delay time and H2O measurements during methanol oxidation behind reflected shock waves

Abstract To improve detailed chemical kinetics models, the oxidation of methanol was investigated behind reflected shock waves in shock tubes. Ignition delay times of methanol–air mixtures, with Ar as diluent, were studied between 940 and 1540 K in a heated shock tube, for pressures up to 14.9 atm and for equivalence ratios of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0. Water profiles were measured by utilizing a laser absorption technique in the 1350-to-1600-K temperature range, at an average pressure of 1.3 atm and for similar equivalence ratios. The present study shows the ignition delay times of methanol to be in very good agreement with results from the literature (Fieweger et al., 1997), whereas the other conditions have never been investigated before. The ignition delay time data are also in good agreement with modern detailed kinetics mechanisms such as the AramcoMech 3.0 model. The water time-history profiles were modeled using well-known literature mechanisms. Discrepancies were observed between these kinetics mechanisms, and poor predictions were observed for the lower temperatures investigated. Sensitivity and rate-of-production analyses were performed using 3 literature mechanisms (namely, AramcoMech 3.0, Princeton, and JetSurfII). Discrepancies were found among the models when predicting important reactions dominating the oxidation of methanol as well as the rate-of-production of H2O.
Impact: a low cost, reconfigurable, digital beamforming common module building block for next generation phased arrays

Phased array systems offer numerous advantages to the modern warfighter in multiple application spaces, including Radar, Electronic Warfare, Signals Intelligence, and Communications. However, a lack of commonality in the underlying technology base for DoD Phased Arrays has led to static systems with long development cycles, slow technology refreshes in response to emerging threats, and expensive, application-specific sub-components. The IMPACT module (Integrated Multi-use Phased Array Common Tile) is a multi-channel, reconfigurable, cost-effective beamformer that provides a common building block for multiple, disparate array applications.
Deciphering the role of eosinophils in solid organ transplantation

Eosinophils are rare granulocytes that belong to the innate arm of the immune system. This cell population is traditionally defined as a destructive and cytotoxic mediator in asthma and helminth infection. Limited data in transplantation have suggested that eosinophils play a similar role in potentiating deleterious organ inflammation and immunologic rejection. Contrary to this long-held notion, recent data have uncovered the possibility that eosinophils play an alternative role in immune homeostasis, defense against a wide range of pathogens, as well as downregulation of deleterious inflammation. Specifically, translational data from small animal models of lung transplantation have demonstrated a critical role for eosinophils in the downregulation of alloimmunity. These findings shed new light on the unique immunologic features of the lung allograft and demonstrate that environmental polarization may alter the phenotype and function of leukocyte populations previously thought to be static in nature. In this review, we provide an update on eosinophils in the homeostasis of the lung as well as other solid organs.
Effect of generic glatiramer acetate on spending and use of drugs for multiple sclerosis

Objective To estimate changes in costs and utilization trends for disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) from 2011 to 2017 in the US Medicaid program. Methods Using quarterly Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data from 2011 to 2017, we summarize trends in spending, utilization, and costs per prescription for 15 multiple sclerosis (MS) DMTs including brand and generic versions of glatiramer acetate. We use interrupted time series regression to estimate the effect of market entry of generic glatiramer acetate on cost per prescription of other self-administered DMTs. Results Gross annual expenditures on MS DMTs increased from $453 million to $1.32 billion between 2011 and 2017 within the Medicaid program. Increased spending was primarily driven by increases in per prescription costs, which doubled during the study period. Although total utilization was stable, product specific utilization shifted from injectable to oral DMTs. However, throughout the study, the plurality of utilization was glatiramer acetate. The introduction of generic glatiramer acetate in Q2 of 2015 was associated with an immediate increase of $441 (95% confidence interval [CI] $184–$697; p Conclusions Spending on MS DMTs in the Medicaid program have more than doubled over the last 7 years primarily as a function of higher costs per prescription. Introduction of a generic glatiramer acetate product in 2015 had nominal effects on overall price trajectories and utilization within the class.
Spinal AMP kinase activity differentially regulates phrenic motor plasticity

Acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) elicits phrenic motor plasticity via multiple distinct cellular mechanisms. With moderate AIH, phrenic motor facilitation (pMF) requires Gq protein-coupled serotonin type 2 receptor activation, ERK MAP kinase activity, and new synthesis of brain-derived neurotrophic factor. In contrast, severe AIH elicits pMF by an adenosine-dependent mechanism that requires exchange protein activated by cAMP, Akt, and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity, followed by new tyrosine receptor kinase B protein synthesis; this same pathway is also initiated by Gs protein-coupled serotonin 7 receptors (5-HT7). Because the metabolic sensor AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibits mTOR-dependent protein synthesis, and mTOR signaling is necessary for 5-HT7 but not 5-HT2 receptor-induced pMF, we hypothesized that spinal AMPK activity differentially regulates pMF elicited by these distinct receptor subtypes. Serotonin type 2A receptor [5-HT2A; (±)-2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine hydrochloride] or 5-HT7 (AS-19) receptor agonists were administered intrathecally at C4 (3 injections, 5-min intervals) while recording integrated phrenic nerve activity in anesthetized, vagotomized, paralyzed, and ventilated rats. Consistent with our hypothesis, spinal AMPK activation with 2-deoxyglucose or metformin blocked 5-HT7, but not 5-HT2A receptor-induced pMF; in both cases, pMF inhibition was reversed by spinal administration of the AMPK inhibitor compound C. Thus, AMPK differentially regulates cellular mechanisms of serotonin-induced phrenic motor plasticity.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Spinal AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) overactivity, induced by local 2-deoxyglucose or metformin administration, constrains serotonin 7 (5-HT7) receptor-induced (but not serotonin type 2A receptor-induced) respiratory motor facilitation, indicating that metabolic challenges might regulate specific forms of respiratory motor plasticity. Pharmacological blockade of spinal AMPK activity restores 5-HT7 receptor-induced respiratory motor facilitation in the presence of either 2-deoxyglucose or metformin, showing that AMPK is an important regulator of 5-HT7 receptor-induced respiratory motor plasticity.
A comparative study on conventional and modern maximum power point tracking algorithms applied to photovoltaic systems

The main goal of maximum power point (MPP) tracking control is to extract the maximum photovoltaic (PV) power by finding the optimal operating point under varying atmospheric conditions to improve the efficiency of PV systems. In recent years, the field of tracking the MPP of PV systems has attracted the interest of many researchers from the industry and academia. This research paper presents a comparative study between the modern fuzzy logic based controller and the conventional perturb & observe (P&O) technique. The comparative study was carried out under different weather conditions in order to analyse and evaluate the performance of the PV system. The overall system simulation has been performed using Matlab/Simulink software environment. The simulation results show that the dynamic behaviour exhibited by the modern fuzzy controller outperforms that of the conventional controller (P&O) in terms of response time and damping characteristics. Keywords: MPPT, photovoltaic system, fuzzy logic control, P&O algorithm.
A Video-Based Cybersecurity Modular Lecture Series for Community College Students.

The shortage of people who can fill open cybersecurity positions is a growing problem, both in the U.S.A. and globally. There is a clear need to grow the number of people who can fill these positions. Building from our experience collaborating with a nearby community college, we have developed a distributable course of video lectures that are designed for community college students with the goal of increasing interest in the career field of cybersecurity. The course is composed of four modules: offensive security and digital forensics, the internet of things, cryptography, and blockchain technologies. Each module consists of three or four video lectures delivered by JHU faculty, staff, and graduate students, along with accompanying reading material and exercises. The course is being made freely available to anyone who would like to have access to it. It has been designed to be put to use in numerous ways including, as a course for credit, a seminar series, individual standalone lectures or modules, and for use as content to complement existing curriculum.
Cladophialophora bantiana and Nocardia farcinica infection simultaneously occurring in a kidney transplant recipient: Case report and literature review

Solid organ transplant recipients are at increased risk of acquiring devastating infections with unusual pathogens. Nocardia are aerobic actinomycetes that affect the lungs, brain, skin and soft tissue. Cladophialophora species are dematiaceous fungi that overwhelmingly cause infections in the brain. Both organisms carry a high mortality rate. We present the first reported renal transplant case with Cladophialophora bantiana involving the renal allograft with concurrent invasive nocardiosis involving the lungs and brain.
Ambitions and Goals of Machine Learning

You will find it difficult to describe your mother’s face accurately enough for your friend to recognize her in a supermarket. But if you show him a few of her pictures, he will immediately see the tell-tale traits. As they say, a picture—an example—is worth a thousand words. Likewise, you will not become a professional juggler by just being told how to do it. The best any instructor can do is to offer some initial advice, and then let you practice and practice and practice—and learn from your own experience and failures.
HEXAGONAL DISCRETE GLOBAL GRID SYSTEMS FOR GEOSPATIAL COMPUTING

Advanced geospatial applications often involve complex computing operations performed under sometimes severe resource constraints. These applications primarily rely on traditional raster and vector data structures based on square lattices. But there is a significant body of research that indicates that data structures based on hexagonal lattices may be a superior alternative for efficient representation and processing of raster and vector data in high performance applications. The advantages of hexagonal rasters for image processing are discussed, and hexagonal discrete global grid systems for location coding are introduced. The combination provides an efficient, unified approach to location representation and processing in geospatial systems. 1. MOTIVATION Advanced geospatial applications, such as mobile mapping, often perform complex spatial operations on potentially large data sets, with strict controls on the accuracy of internal location representations, and in computing environments that may be severely constrained by resource and size limitations. These systems therefore often place a premium on representational and algorithmic efficiency, and are in a constant state of improvement as more efficient representations and algorithms become available. Among the most fundamental data structures are those used for the representation and storage of raster image data and vector geospatial location data. Because they are so pervasive, even small improvements in efficiency or representational accuracy in these data structures can result in substantial performance increases in an overall system. Data structures for the representation and storage of raster and vector data in geospatial applications have traditionally been built on substrates of square lattices. The common standards have long been raster grids of square pixels and vector coordinates consisting of 2- or 3-tuples of floating point values.
Turnover of phosphoryl groups in reticulocyte ribosomal phosphoproteins.

Abstract A quantitative study is made of the number and turnover rate of phosphoryl groups in rabbit reticulocyte ribosomal phosphoproteins. Reticulocytes are incubated with [32P]-orthophosphate at 37° in a nutrient medium, and the labeling of ribosomal proteins is compared with the labeling of the precursor γ-phosphoryl group of ATP. Whereas ATP attains a constant specific activity within 30 min, the specific activities of the five most highly labeled ribosomal phosphoproteins continue to increase for 2 hours in an approximately constant ratio. The data for kinetics of specific activity change suggest that ribosomes contain a steady state average of 7 to 11 protein phosphoryl groups, which are distributed among at least five different polypeptide chains, and which turn over at the rate of approximately 3% per min. Polyribosomes and single ribosomes have a strikingly different pattern of protein phosphorylation. At least three of the phosphoproteins in single ribosomes are phosphorylated to a different steady state level than the same protein in polyribosomes. These data suggest that there is no rapid mixing of these classes of ribosomes or of their phosphoproteins and supports previous studies which have shown that single ribosomes in eukaryotes are not participating in the ribosomal subunit-polyribosome cycle of protein synthesis. Furthermore, it is concluded from the kinetic data that polysomal and single ribosomes differ in their conformations, and that their 32P-labeling differences result from this difference in ribosomal conformation.
Undecidability of Rational Function Fields in Nonzero Characteristic

Publisher Summary The main result to be proven is the undecidability of the rational function field F(t) over any infinite perfect field F of characteristic p > 0 . The chapter discusses the undecidability of the theory of any infinite field F of nonzero characteristic with respect to certain weak monadic second order logics. This is of interest because this theory will be interpretable in the theory of the field F(t) or F((t)), in an extended language continuing a predicate for the constant subfield F , as well as the valuation v on F((t)) or its restriction to F(t). In the case of rational function fields, the use of the valuation and the predicate for the constant subfield is inessential, though its elimination requires artificial devices. In characteristic zero, most questions about the model theory of power series are settled by the work of Ax-Kochen and Ershov on unramified Hensel fields in characteristic 0.
Nonenzymatic formation of guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate from guanosine triphosphate.

Abstract We observed the nonenzymatic formation of guanosine 3' : 5'-monophosphate (cyclic GMP) from GTP. The reaction was dependent upon heat and was accelerated by divalent cations and creatine phosphate. The formation of cyclic GMP was greater with increased incubation time, temperature, GTP concentration, and pH. All of the divalent cations tested (Mg2+, Mn2+, Ca2+, Ba2+, and Zn2+) increased cyclic GMP formation. The Stimulatory effect of all of the cations tested, except Zn2+, was increased with creatine phosphate. Cyclic GMP formed was determined with two different assay methods and characterized with cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase treatment and two different chromatographic systems. It is concluded from our studies that significant amounts of cyclic GMP can be formed nonenzymatically from GTP when guanylate cyclase reaction mixtures are heated at a pH near neutrality.
Analysis of the Lorenz equations for large r

Dans la limite de r grand, les equations de Lorenz deviennent presque conservatives. Dans cette limite, on peut utiliser la methode de moyenne pour obtenir un ensemble de 2 equations differentielles autonomes pour deux fonctions amplitude variant lentement B et D. Un point fixe stable de ces equations represente la solution periodique stable observee pour r grand
Preparation of Ketones from the Reaction of Organolithium Reagents with Carboxylic Acids

The reaction of organolithium reagents and carboxylic acids constitutes a simple general method for the synthesis of ketones. This preparative route is the method of choice for direct conversion of carboxylic acid to ketones. It is the purpose of this chapter to evaluate critically the scope and limitations of this reaction and to recommend optimal conditions for its applications. The reaction of organolithium reagents with carboxylic acid is limited to the preparation of acyclic ketones. Although the objective of this reaction, the formation of unsymmetrical ketones, the method is clearly applicable to the synthesis of symmetrical ketones. Two different routes are possible and are discussed. To date, the reaction has been applied only to the preparation of monoketones. Keywords: ketones; organolithium reagents; carboxylic acids; failure; competitive reactions; interference; functional groups; tertiary alcohol formation; side reactions; solvents; stereochemistry; experimental factors
Unusual Presentation of Left Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Due to Large Sphenoidal Encephalocele and Good Epilepsy Surgery Outcome (P2.191)

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of intractable temporal lobe epilepsy secondary to an intrasphenoidal encephalocele with the progression of EEG and MRI findings over 7 years and good surgical outcome. BACKGROUND: Temporal lobe epilepsy is the most common type focal onset epilepsy, typically associated with tumors, hemorrhage, trauma resulting in scarring, and medial temporal sclerosis. Despite a few case reports of a middle fossa encephalocele resulting in temporal epilepsy, there is no previous report of EEG findings with disease progression. DESIGN/METHODS: A 44-year-old female with a history of childhood head trauma and intractable focal epilepsy presented for surgical evaluation. Seizures started suddenly at age 28 without any clear predisposing factor. Typical seizures consist of unresponsiveness preceded by lightheadedness and nervousness. The seizures occur 3-4 times per month. Neurologic exam was normal with appropriate carbamazepine and levetiracetam levels. RESULTS: The first epilepsy surgery evaluation was performed in 2005 with EEG finding of clear left anterior temporal seizure, confirmed by ictal SPECT and interictal PET. At that time, MRI missed a small herniation of the anterior left temporal lobe through the sphenoid sinus. The repeat epilepsy surgery evaluation in 2012 showed worsening encephalocele. Ictal EEG showed a significant change and unusual dipole of ictal onset zone with shifting predominance. Subsequently, she underwent transnasal encephalocele removal and nasal septum repair in 2012. No unprovoked seizures occurred in the subsequent 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Middle fossa encephalocele is a rare etiology for temporal lobe epilepsy and may be easily missed in milder cases. EEG can be confusing in this particular case. Surgical repair may provide a good epilepsy outcome. However, a larger study is needed to accurately evaluate the outcome of surgery. Disclosure: Dr. Fisher has nothing to disclose. Dr. Deanna has nothing to disclose. Dr. Shin has nothing to disclose.
Overexpression of IGF-I in skeletal muscle of transgenic mice does not prevent unloading-induced atrophy

This study examined the association between local insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) overexpression and atrophy in skeletal muscle. We hypothesized that endogenous skeletal muscle IGF-I mRNA expression would decrease with hindlimb unloading (HU) in mice, and that transgenic mice overexpressing human IGF-I (hIGF-I) specifically in skeletal muscle would exhibit less atrophy after HU. Male transgenic mice and nontransgenic mice from the parent strain (FVB) were divided into four groups (n = 10/group): 1) transgenic, weight-bearing (IGF-I/WB); 2) transgenic, hindlimb unloaded (IGF-I/HU); 3) nontransgenic, weight-bearing (FVB/WB); and 4) nontransgenic, hindlimb unloaded (FVB/HU). HU groups were hindlimb unloaded for 14 days. Body mass was reduced (P < 0.05) after HU in both IGF-I (-9%) and FVB mice (-13%). Contrary to our hypothesis, we found that the relative abundance of mRNA for the endogenous rodent IGF-I (rIGF-I) was unaltered by HU in the gastrocnemius (GAST) muscle of wild-type FVB mice. High-level expression of hIGF-I peptide and mRNA was confirmed in the GAST and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles of the transgenic mice. Nevertheless, masses of the GAST and TA muscles were reduced (P < 0.05) in both FVB/HU and IGF-I/HU groups compared with FVB/WB and IGF-I/WB groups, respectively, and the percent atrophy in mass of these muscles did not differ between FVB and IGF-I mice. Therefore, skeletal muscle atrophy may not be associated with a reduction of endogenous rIGF-I mRNA level in 14-day HU mice. We conclude that high local expression of hIGF-I mRNA and peptide in skeletal muscle alone cannot attenuate unloading-induced atrophy of fast-twitch muscle in mice.
IL-1 beta inhibits IFN-gamma-induced class II MHC expression by suppressing transcription of the class II transactivator gene

Class II MHC Ags are critical for the initiation of immune responses by presenting Ag to T lymphocytes, leading to their activation and differentiation. The transcriptional activation of class II MHC genes requires the induction of the class II transactivator (CIITA) protein, a master regulator that is essential for both constitutive and IFN-gamma-inducible class II MHC expression. The cytokine IL-1beta has been shown to inhibit IFN-gamma-induced class II MHC expression in various cell types. We investigated the underlying mechanism of this inhibitory effect of IL-1beta using human astroglioma cell lines. Our findings demonstrate that IL-1beta prevents the expression of class II MHC mRNA and protein upon treatment with IFN-gamma. Furthermore, we demonstrate that IFN-gamma induction of CIITA mRNA expression is inhibited by treatment of cells with IL-1beta. IL-1beta suppressed IFN-gamma activation of the type IV CIITA promoter in astroglioma cells, indicating that the inhibitory influence of IL-1beta is mediated by inhibition of CIITA transcription. IL-1beta did not interfere with IFN-gamma receptor signal transduction, since tyrosine phosphorylation, nuclear translocation, and DNA binding of STAT-1alpha to an IFN-gamma activation sequence of the type IV CIITA promoter were not affected by IL-1beta. As well, IL-1beta treatment did not affect the ability of IFN-gamma-induced interferon-regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) to bind the IRF-1 element within the type IV CIITA promoter. This study suggests that IL-1beta may play a role in regulating immunoreactivity by inhibiting transcription of the CIITA gene, thereby reducing subsequent class II MHC expression.
Germplasm Resources for Physiological Research and Development

Any research that attempts to explain the mechanisms responsible for a particular trait must use germplasm accessions that differ in expression of the particular trait being examined. The ideal situation is to select accessions that are positive and negative for the trait, i.e., a plus-minus situation. In this way the researcher may look for responses associated with the positive accession that are absent from the negative accession. This chapter presents information concerning the locations of and diversity within the most important germplasm collections and provides examples where germplasm diversity has been used in research to achieve specified objectives.
Synthesis of polycarbonate‐co‐poly(p‐ethylphenol) and CdS nanocomposites

The enzyme-catalyzed synthesis of poly(p-ethylphenol) (PEP) was modified by copolymerization with polycarbonates through triphosgene at low temperature to form polycarbonate-co-poly(p-ethylphenol) (PC-co-PEP). FTIR, NMR, GPC, and thermal analysis verified the formation of PC-co-PEP. The copolymers have an optical absorption in the UV range. CdS semiconductor nanocrystallites were synthesized in reversed micelles with subsequent insitu enzymatic copolymerization of p-ethylphenol and 4-hydroxythiophenol in the same medium. TEM and ATR–FTIR showed that the polymer precipitated in spherical morphologies, incorporating CdS nanocrystals into the polymer matrix, with surface hydroxyl groups. The polymer/CdS core was then dispersed into polycarbonate. The polymer/CdS nanocomposites showed higher optical aborbance in the UV-vis range when compared to the polymer matrix without CdS. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 72: 1851–1868, 1999
Parallel parsing of tree adjoining grammars on the Connection Machine

This paper describes a parsing algorithm for Tree Adjoining Grammar (TAG) and its parallel implementation on the Connection Machine. TAG is a formalism for natural language that employs trees as the basic grammar structures. Parsing involves the application of two operations, called adjunction and substitution, to produce derived tree structures. Sequential parsing algorithms for TAGs run in time quadratic in the grammar size, which is impractical for the very large grammars currently being developed for natural language. This paper presents two parallel algorithms, one running in time nearly linear in the grammar size, and the other running in time logarithmic in the grammar size. Both parallel algorithms were implemented on a Connection Machine CM-2 and performance measurements were obtained for varying grammar sizes.
GEOGRAPHERS' RANKINGS OF FOREIGN GEOGRAPHY AND NON‐GEOGRAPHY JOURNALS

Questionnaires sent to 500 geographers randomly selected from U.S. graduate departments solicited opinions on the quality of scholarship of articles in 65 journals: 33 foreign geography journals and 32 non-geography journals. The five highest ranked were Science, Geological Society Bulletin, Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, and Journal of Ecology. When familiarity and quality were considered together, the top five were Science, Canadian Geographer, Progress in Human Geography, Geographical Journal, and Transactions of the IBG. Specialty of respondent proved most significant in explaining ranking variations.