cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Partitioning of Functional Monomers in Emulsion Polymerization: Distribution of Carboxylic Acid and Hydroxy (Meth)acrylate Monomers between Water and Polymers

We have studied the distribution of vinyl acid and hydroxy (meth)acrylate monomers between water and a variety of styrene, acrylate, and methacrylate homopolymers and copolymers. From equilibrium distribution data, we determined the Flory–Huggins monomer–polymer interaction parameters (χ) using appropriate water phase activity coefficients (γ). For the functional monomers studied here, their χ values with (meth)acrylic polymers are all below 0.5 and are often negative. Those with polystyrene are greater than 0.5. This comparison highlights the influence of hydrogen bonding on the water–polymer phase distribution in latex systems. Within functional monomer concentration ranges typical in emulsion polymerization, we find both the χ values and distribution coefficient to be linearly correlated with the molar volume of the polymer. With proper χ and γ values, the complete distribution across all phases for functional monomers can be determined, both for single-component systems as well as for multimonomer and...
RELATIONSHIP OF BURNED AREA IN RATS TO INCIDENCE OF THE ANTI-GLOBULIN REACTION (COOMBS' TEST).

SummaryMale Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to full thickness burns of 26%, 20% and 14% body surface, respectively. A reduction in burned area was correlated with (a) increased survival, (b) decreased incidence of positive Combs' tests and (c) a lengthening in the postburn time at which the Combs' tests could be detected. Hemato-crits, reticulocyte numbers and serum protein values showed only partial correlation with the percent of area burned. Postburn splenomegaly was greater in positive survivors than in those that were negative. Blood samples cultured on blood agar plates showed a low incidence of bacteremia in the A and B groups; all C group animals were negative.
Modeling and performance assessment of PV plants based on field-test of power generation unit

PV power plants should meet technical require -ments before connected to grid. Due to the equip -ment capacity and cost constraints, low voltage ride through (LVRT) of the plants can not be directly tested. In this paper, the methods to assess PV plants performance based on the field test of power generation unit (PGU) are introduced. At first, the way to test LVRT capability of PGU is put forwarded, and then modeling and model correction is developed with t DIgSILENT Power- Factory.After the correction of PGU model,the whole PV plants model is built,including a mount of inverters, transformers, PV arrays ,cabbles and other key components. The LVRT performance of PV plants is evaluated by the simulation result. KEY WORD: PV plants； LVRT； field testing; DIgSILENT PowerFactory
UNCERTAINTY OF MEASURING DISSOLVED GAS COMPONENT CONTENT IN INSULATING OIL BY USING GAS CHROMATOGRAPH

The uncertainty of measuring dissolved gas component content in insulating oil by using gas chromatograph method which was stipulated in GB/T 17623-1998 has been assessed.the influence factors upon the uncertainty of measuring the dissolved gas companent content in insulating oil being analysed,including sample degassification,gas transition,the concentration of standard gas,and repeatability of measured results etc..The relative standard expanded uncertainty of measured results by using said method was 4.4%.
Effects of Astragaloside on ATPase Activity of Spleen Lymphocyte Membrane in Chicken Treated with Cadmium

To study the influence of astragaloside to ATPase activity of cadmium-treated chicken spleen lymphocyte membrane,0.5% DMSO,the mixture of Cd(10 μmol/L),Cd(10 μmol/L)+astragaloside(5,10,20 mg/L)and different concentrations of astragaloside were divided into lymphocyte in vitro,ATPase activity of cells membrane were detected after 24,48,72 h.The results showed that DMSO had no significant effect on ATPase activity(P0.05),but different concentrations of astragaloside(5,10,20 mg/L)could improve ATPase activity(P0.05),and the group of Cd(10 μmol/L)+ astragaloside(10 mg/L)was the most significant effects in all.This study suggested that astragaloside could inhibit the damage of cadmium to chicken spleen lymphocyte membrane.
Intrauterine insemination in fertile women delivers larger numbers of sperm to the peritoneal fluid than intracervical insemination

Randomized IUI or intracervical insemination of eight fertile women with 50 x 10(6) sperm was performed to determine whether IUI delivers more spermatozoa to the peritoneal cavity. After IUI (n = 4), 2,053 to 29,450 sperm were recovered in the PF at laparoscopy. No sperm were found in the PF after intracervical insemination (n = 4). After IUI, CM contained 1.0 x 10(6) to 57.0 x 10(6) sperm/mL; after intracervical insemination, 0 to 1.2 x 10(3) sperm/mL were seen. One therapeutic mechanism for IUI is delivery of larger sperm numbers to the fertilization site by rapid (4 hours) transport. In addition, there is greater retrograde colonization of CM that may result in sustained release of sperm.
Characteristics and outcomes of older adults with long-standing versus late-onset asthma

ABSTRACTObjective: To examine the effect of age of onset on clinical characteristics and outcomes in a cohort of older patients with long-standing (LSA) and late-onset asthma (LOA). Methods: In all, 452 patients 60 years of age and older with persistent asthma were recruited. We defined LOA as asthma developing at age 40 or later and LSA as developing before age 40. We compared airway obstruction as assessed by spirometry, as well as asthma control using the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ), quality of life using the Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ), and asthma-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations among patients with LSA vs. LOA. Results: Patients with LOA, were less likely to have FEV1 <70% of predicted (23% vs. 40%, p = 0.0002), to have FEV1/FVC<0.7 (27% vs. 38%, p = 0.01), or to have been intubated in the past (5% vs. 14%, p = 0.0007), and were also less likely to report a history of allergic conditions (64% vs 76%, p = 0.007). There was no significant difference i...
Perceived risks and reasons to smoke cigarettes during pregnancy among Alaska native women.

ABSTRACTObjective: The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of the risks of smoking and reasons Alaska Native women give for smoking during pregnancy.Design: A total of 118 women (54 smokers, 64 non-smokers) enrolled in a biomarker study and completed a baseline interview asking about their concerns regarding tobacco use while pregnant and reasons why pregnant women might smoke during pregnancy. Responses were collapsed into six categories of perceived risks of smoking and eight categories of reasons to smoke during pregnancy.Results: The majority of both pregnant non-smokers and smokers (72.6% and 60.4%) agreed that smoking during pregnancy could negatively impact the health of their baby. However, non-smokers were more likely than smokers (77.4% vs. 58.5%) to view smoking during pregnancy as a risk factor for the baby’s development (p = .029). Both non-smokers and smokers identified addiction as a reason for smoking during pregnancy (82.8% and 63%); however, non-smokers were more likely than...
Limitations of Observational Cosmology

Unlike the usual situation with theoretical physics which is testable in the laboratory, in cosmological theories of the universe one faces the following problems: The observer is part of the system, the universe, and this system cannot be altered to test physical theory. Even though one can in principle consider any part of the observable universe as separate from the acts of observation, the very hypothesis of big bang implies that in the distant past, space-time regions containing current observers were part of the same system. One, therefore, faces a situation where the observer has to be considered as inherently a part of the entire system. The existence of horizons of knowledge in any cosmological view of the universe is then tantamount to inherent observational limits imposed by acts of observation and theory itself. For example, in the big bang cosmology the universe becomes opaque to radiation early on, and the images of extended distant galaxies merge for redshifts, z, of the order of a few. Moreover, in order to measure the distance of a remote galaxy to test any cosmological theory, one has to disperse its light to form a spectrum which would cause confusion with other background galaxies. Since the early universe should be described in quantum terms, it follows that the same problems regarding quantum reality and the role of the observer apply to the universe as a whole. One of the most fundamental properties of quantum theory, non-locality, may then apply equally well to the universe. Some of the problems facing big bang cosmology, like the horizon and flatness problems, may not then be preconditions on theoretical models but may instead be the manifestations of the quantum nature of the universe.
Gecko Preying on a Rufous-breasted Hummingbird Glaucis hirsuta insularum

Report of a Rufous-breasted Hummingbird, Glaucis hirsuta insularum, being preyed upon by the gecko Thecadactylus rapicauda in Tobago.
A comparative analysis of the balanced scorecard as applied in government and industry organizations

INTRODUCTION Organizations have become increasingly dependent on information technologies to conduct daily operations, achieve competitive advantage and to create and penetrate new markets. This dependence has come at a high price, in 1990 U.S. companies spent over $154 billion on information technologies. However, organizations have found it difficult to measure the value added from these investments. Survey results found four significant barriers to measuring financial performance related to information technologies including:  Difficulty of measuring economic benefits  Inability to determine returns  Lack of good metrics  Incomplete records/accounting of investments The Balanced Scorecard framework provides part of the structure required to overcome these barriers. How rganizations can overcome these barriers and successfully measure performance with respect to achieving strategic plans is the focus of this chapter. This chapter provides a comparison of results of two case studies regarding the use of the Balanced Scorecard measurement framework. The application of the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) is evaluated for a Fortune 500 information technology organization and a government organization. Both organizations have a business focus of software development. The BSC framework is applied and reviewed in both contexts to provide insight into unique organizational characteristics for government and contract software environments. A specific focus is to inform the use of financial measures such as Return On Investment (ROI) in the government context. The BSC framework provides the necessary structure to evaluate quantitative and qualitative information and identify the critical linkages between financial measures of past performance and key measures of future performance.
Grc3 programs the essential endoribonuclease Las1 for specific RNA cleavage

Las1 is a recently discovered endoribonuclease that collaborates with Grc3–Rat1–Rai1 to process precursor ribosomal RNA (rRNA), yet its mechanism of action remains unknown. Disruption of the mammalian Las1 gene has been linked to congenital lethal motor neuron disease and X-linked intellectual disability disorders, thus highlighting the necessity to understand Las1 regulation and function. Here, we report that the essential Las1 endoribonuclease requires its binding partner, the polynucleotide kinase Grc3, for specific C2 cleavage. Our results establish that Grc3 drives Las1 endoribonuclease cleavage to its targeted C2 site both in vitro and in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Moreover, we observed Las1-dependent activation of the Grc3 kinase activity exclusively toward single-stranded RNA. Together, Las1 and Grc3 assemble into a tetrameric complex that is required for competent rRNA processing. The tetrameric Grc3/Las1 cross talk draws unexpected parallels to endoribonucleases RNaseL and Ire1, and establishes Grc3/Las1 as a unique member of the RNaseL/Ire1 RNA splicing family. Together, our work provides mechanistic insight for the regulation of the Las1 endoribonuclease and identifies the tetrameric Grc3/Las1 complex as a unique example of a protein-guided programmable endoribonuclease.
The Role of Theory in Broadcast Economics: A Review and Development

(1987). The Role of Theory in Broadcast Economics: A Review and Development. Annals of the International Communication Association: Vol. 10, Communication Yearbook 10, pp. 146-171.
Polishing rate of fused silica, compared to glasses BK7 and SF6

We discuss micromechanics contributions to the loose abrasive polishing removal rate in fused silica, and the multicomponent glasses (crown) BK7 and (flint) SF6. Nanoindentation reveals the contributions of hardness at depths in the range 2-6 nm.
Electronic Conductivity in Biomimetic α-Helical Peptide Nanofibers and Gels

Examples of long-range electronic conductivity are rare in biological systems. The observation of micrometer-scale electronic transport through protein wires produced by bacteria is therefore notable, providing an opportunity to study fundamental aspects of conduction through protein-based materials and natural inspiration for bioelectronics materials. Borrowing sequence and structural motifs from these conductive protein fibers, we designed self-assembling peptides that form electronically conductive nanofibers under aqueous conditions. Conductivity in these nanofibers is distinct for two reasons: first, they support electron transport over distances orders of magnitude greater than expected for proteins, and second, the conductivity is mediated entirely by amino acids lacking extended conjugation, π-stacking, or redox centers typical of existing organic and biohybrid semiconductors. Electrochemical transport measurements show that the fibers support ohmic electronic transport and a metallic-like tempera...
In between music concerts, jobs and economics: Case of youth empowerment in Pakistan

The case study discusses the dynamics of youth participation in cultural activities in Pakistan not only as an outcome of entertainment but it is also related to household economics that in return is related with their global and local identity.
'Minding' Civil Law’s Regulation of Adolescents

This presentation explores the tort law relevance of the sciences of adolescent development, in the contexts of neuroscience, psychosocial science, and the civil law’s treatment of teenagers. Under well established presumptions, civil common law treats teenagers 14-17 years of age as adults. Is this logical, while we deny teenagers the privilege of voting until 18, drinking alcohol until 21, entering into binding contracts (in some states) until 21, and so on? Some states have abandoned the rigid demarcations of age found in the common law. For example, one Michigan court explained, “A minor who engages in an adult activity that is dangerous, e.g., driving an automobile, is charged with the same standard of conduct as an adult.” Michigan does not, however, always afford minors, engaged in adult activity, adult rights. For example, Michigan women under 18 must prove themselves mature enough to make an abortion decision in front of a judge, unless they have permission from at least one parent. Engagement in adult sexual relations does not guarantee these minors adult rights. This exploration continues my investigation of sexual harassment law as it relates to adolescents and extends the inquiry to cover (eventually) all aspects of civil law pertaining to teenagers. Areas, in addition to tort law, that call for critical review include the legal capacity to consent to medical treatment (including for elective cosmetic surgery which is becoming more popular with affluent teenagers), the legal capacity to consent to sex, and the legal capacity to elect a custodian in a family law matter. During my 2010 sabbatical at Berkeley, I will also examine how MacArthur Study findings regarding criminal law treatment of minors might inform revision of civil law. My ultimate objective is to determine if, and how, these core sciences might better inform and assist in fashioning United States civil law treatment of adolescents.
The Scaffold–Articular Cartilage Interface: A Combined In Vitro and In Silico Analysis Under Controlled Loading Conditions

The optimal method to integrate scaffolds with articular cartilage has not yet been identified, in part because of our lack of understanding about the mechanobiological conditions at the interface. Our objective was to quantify the effect of mechanical loading on integration between a scaffold and articular cartilage. We hypothesized that increased number of loading cycles would have a detrimental effect on interface integrity. The following models were developed: (i) an in vitro scaffold-cartilage explant system in which compressive sinusoidal loading cycles were applied for 14 days at 1 Hz, 5 days per week, for either 900, 1800, 3600, or 7200 cycles per day and (ii) an in silico inhomogeneous, biphasic finite element model (bFEM) of the scaffold-cartilage construct that was used to characterize interface micromotion, stress, and fluid flow under the prescribed loading conditions. In accordance with our hypothesis, mechanical loading significantly decreased scaffold-cartilage interface strength compared to unloaded controls regardless of the number of loading cycles. The decrease in interfacial strength can be attributed to abrupt changes in vertical displacement, fluid pressure, and compressive stresses along the interface, which reach steady-state after only 150 cycles of loading. The interfacial mechanical conditions are further complicated by the mismatch between the homogeneous properties of the scaffold and the depth-dependent properties of the articular cartilage. Finally, we suggest that mechanical conditions at the interface can be more readily modulated by increasing pre-incubation time before the load is applied, as opposed to varying the number of loading cycles.
Charles "Erik" Eriksen (1923-2018).

A towering figure in experimental psychology, Charles W. Eriksen, passed away in February this year. “Erik” made extensive original and lasting contributions to both research methods and theories in several areas of psychology, especially involving visual information processing. His research exhibited consistent concerns with experimental methods for distinguishing among alternative explanations and distinguishing perception from behavior. Erik pioneered many research methods now in common use—including converging operations, visual search, rapid serial presentations, the stop-signal paradigm, temporal integration in form perception, spatial cues for guiding selective attention, and the flankers task. He also introduced and tested many theories of selective attention. Erik was the founding editor of Perception & Psychophysics, and served for 23 years as its principal editor. An impressive and unforgettable person, Erik was a compelling personification of “the greatest generation.”
Modelling and stabilization of nonlinear plates

Some nonlinear models for the transient deformations of a thin, elastic plate subject to surface tractions and edge loadings are derived. Energy dissipation is then introduced into the system by way of nonlinear state feedbacks in forces and moments along a part of the edge of the plate. The feedback functions are assumed monotone as graphs and to satisfy certain growth assumptions at zero and at infinity. The main purpose of the paper is to derive asymptotic energy decay rates for the closed-loop system. The decay rates obtained are exponential when the feedback functions behave linearly at zero, otherwise they are algebraic, with the specific rates of energy decay depending only on the growth of the feedback functions at zero.
Concurrent validity of the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities.

The manual for the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities (MSCA) cites a study of concurrent validity. A partial replication of the study yielded lower means and larger standard deviations for fiv...
A Designer's view of SSME

A designer’s view of the interplay, challenges and opportunities for innovation and research across disciplines is presented. A case is made for the inclusion of design as a discipline that can forge and leverage the required lateral linkages across multiple communities. Examples of some of the opportunities and challenges that arise at the intersection of the disciplines are described.
MicroRNA Based Therapeutic Strategies for Cancer: Emphasis on Advances in Renal Cell Carcinoma

During the last two decades, knowledge of miRNAs has rapidly expanded, propelled by the development of computational programs for miRNA identification, target prediction, biochemical tools and techniques to modulate miRNA activity, and the emergence of miRNA-centric animal models. One important conclusion that has emerged from this effort is that many microRNAs and their cognate targets are strongly implicated in cancer, either as oncogenes or tumor and metastasis suppressor genes. Their putative role as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes presents a unique opportunity to develop targeted cancer treatment strategies. The activity of miRNAs can be modified by different approaches such as the use of antisense oligonucleotide inhibitors (antagomirs), tandem miRNA-binding site repeats manufactured by Decoy or Sponge technologies and miRNA mimics. However, several challenges remain in translating our current understanding of miRNAs to clinical therapies. Here, we provide a review of the current knowledge of miRNAs and their potential application as cancer therapeutic targets.
Fatigue Crack Initiation in Iron

Fatigue crack initiation in iron of 99.93+ w/o purity has been carefully characterized at constant plastic strain amplitudes varying from 10−4 to 10−2. Fatigue microcracks initiate transgranularly at all amplitudes; the initial microcracks which form are less than 1 µm in length, as determined by transmission electron microscopy of replicas. At high plastic strain amplitudes, however, grain boundary initiation of cracks was also observed, and the fraction of grain boundary segments containing cracks was measured as a function of plastic strain amplitude. The material compliance as determined at strain reversal from maximum tension has been established as an indication of fatigue damage and very early microcrack initiation. Finally, the Coffin-Manson relation for microcrack initiation has been evaluated for iron and deviations from the relation discussed.
Complex Network of NKT Cell Subsets Controls Immune Homeostasis in Liver and Gut

The liver-gut immune axis is enriched in several innate immune cells, including innate-like unconventional and adaptive T cells that are thought to be involved in the maintenance of tolerance to gut-derived antigens and, at the same time, enable effective immunity against microbes. Two subsets of lipid-reactive CD1d-restricted natural killer T (NKT) cells, invariant NKT (iNKT) and type II NKT cells present in both mice and humans. NKT cells play an important role in regulation of inflammation in the liver and gut due to their innate-like properties of rapid secretion of a myriad of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and their ability to influence other innate cells as well as adaptive T and B cells. Notably, a bi-directional interactive network between NKT cells and gut commensal microbiota plays a crucial role in this process. Here, we briefly review recent studies related to the cross-regulation of both NKT cell subsets and how their interactions with other immune cells and parenchymal cells, including hepatocytes and enterocytes, control inflammatory diseases in the liver, such as alcoholic and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, as well as inflammation in the gut. Overwhelming experimental data suggest that while iNKT cells are pathogenic, type II NKT cells are protective in the liver. Since CD1d-dependent pathways are highly conserved from mice to humans, a detailed cellular and molecular understanding of these immune regulatory pathways will have major implications for the development of novel therapeutics against inflammatory diseases of liver and gut.
Teacher-Child Interaction Training

Accumulating evidence of PCIT’s effectiveness in shaping positive parent–child interactions and decreasing disruptive behavior has spawned interest in adaptations of PCIT to the classroom. Under the rubric of Teacher–Child Interaction Therapy, or more recently, Teacher–Child Interaction Training (TCIT), teachers are trained in relationship and behavior management skills derived from PCIT. Coaching increasingly has been recognized by educators as an effective approach for promoting the uptake of teachers’ skills, and thus, PCIT’s coaching paradigm offers a potentially useful framework for training classroom teachers in TCIT. Whereas coaching in the other classroom models entails observation with after-the-fact consultation or reflective supervision, TCIT is unique in using PCIT’s model of immediate, in vivo feedback during the flow of teacher–child interactions to facilitate teachers’ skill development. This chapter reviews research and practice in adaptations of PCIT to enhance teachers’ skills in the classroom, including applications designed for clinical and nonclinical populations. Sections describe nascent research on TCIT’s effectiveness, modifications made to PCIT for the classroom context, and advantages and challenges in implementing TCIT. A case example illustrates TCIT’s implementation in preschool and primary school settings.
The Use of Low-Dose CT Intra- and Extra-Nodular Image Texture Features to Improve Small Lung Nodule Diagnosis in Lung Cancer Screening

–Standard computed tomography (CT) scan is performed on lung cancer patients for progression and lesion classification. However, low-dose CT (LDCT) is commonly used in lung cancer screening for high-risk people. Extensive studies have shown that computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) using standard CT could greatly improve the diagnostic accuracy of early lung cancer. Unlike standard CT imaging, the application of radiological texture features extracted by radiologists on LDCT imaging is not well established due to lower resolution and higher variations. The purpose of this study is to investigate possible diagnosis value of texture features by comparing the classification performance of radiologic reading with radiologic reading combined with computer-aided texture features. A total of 186 biopsy-confirmed control and lung cancer cases were obtained from the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST). Cases were matched by various clinical parameters including age, gender, smoking status, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) status, body mass index (BMI) and image appearances. We compared the subjective diagnosis of benign/malignant with the consensus readings of three radiologists. We then developed a CAD framework that imports radiologic reading features and extracts CAD features for heterogeneity quantification and data analysis. A total of 1342 CAD features were extracted. After eliminating highly correlated and redundant features, the remaining 458 features were given to a random forest algorithm, and a predicted probability of malignancy score (Pm) was calculated. Patients were grouped into 140 training (70 biopsypositive for cancer and 70 negatives) and 46 testing (20 positives and 26 negatives) sets, and a threshold value over Pm (0.5) was then used to classify the test set into cancer and non-cancer. Clinical accuracy [sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (PV)] were [0.95, 0.88, 0.86, 0.96] and [0.70, 0.69, 0.64, 0.75] for the CAD and radiologic reading, respectively. The CAD framework incorporating the clinical reading with the texture features extracted from LDCT increased the PPV and reduced the false positive (FP) rate in the early diagnosis of lung cancer. This approach shows promise for improving the accuracy of lung cancer diagnosis in the clinical environment, especially in patients with well-established risk factors.
Settler Guilt and Animal Allegories

This chapter examines texts like Catherine Parr Traill’s Canadian children’s book Lady Mary and Her Nurse (1856), Mary-Ann Carey-Hobson’s settlement narrative The Farm in the Karoo: Or What Charley Vyvyan and His Friends Saw in South Africa (1885), Louisa Anne Meredith’s memoir Notes and Sketches of New South Wales (1844), and James Fenimore Cooper’s The Last of the Mohicans (1826). These stories show the settler interacting with animals as pets, as hunted for sport or food, or as objects of scientific knowledge. Key to this literature are stories of the settler’s acceptance by animals (standing in for indigenous people), and narratives of the settler having superior scientific knowledge of and thus control over animals.
Azide reduction by DTT or thioacetic acid provides access to amino and amido polysaccharides

Amino and amido polysaccharides include some of the most complex, fascinating natural polymers, due in part to their important biological activities and intriguing biomedical applications. Chemical modification strategies have recently been created in order to access semi-synthetic amino polysaccharides. They typically involve a three-step reaction sequence: introducing a leaving group, azide displacement of that leaving group, and azide reduction to amine or amide. The final azide reduction to amine or amide is a key step, and current reduction methods are limited by chemoselectivity and solubility issues. In this study, we describe an efficient approach to selectively reduce polysaccharide azides to amines, employing 1,4-dithiothreitol (DTT). Azide reduction by DTT has been demonstrated to be effective across a broad range of substrates and under mild conditions. Different polysaccharides (cellulose and curdlan) and organic solvents (DMF, DMAc, and DMSO) were explored, as was chemoselectivity in the presence of functional groups such as esters, with satisfying reduction results in all cases. We further report a new approach to reduce polysaccharide azides directly to acetamides using thioacetic acid, with high conversion, without going through the free amine intermediate. This is new to polysaccharide chemistry and cannot be achieved by any current method. Thorough characterization revealed that the thioacetic acid reduction was chemoselective, with no side reactions observed. Mechanistic study showed that the reaction does not go through an intermediate amine, and appears to be concerted. These azide reductions by DTT and thioacetic acid provide access to amino and amido polysaccharides that will be of great interest for exploring future applications and understanding structure property relationships of amino and amido polysaccharides.
Guided Mindfulness: New Frontier to Augmented Learning

This paper presents Guided Mindfulness (GM), a technology assisted platform that optimizes experiential learning and guides its users to recollect, recognize, decide, and be aware of new learning experiences through specific prepare and reflect experiences. The purpose of this paper is to introduce GM as a tool that can be utilized for skill acquisition through experiential learning in complex environments. Theories of skills complex and technical skill acquisition are linked to learning in complex dynamic environments to best explain the vision of GM.
Non-vanishing of the derivative of L-functions at the central point

Abstract We show that a positive proportion of the derivatives of L-functions associated to holomorphic cusp forms of large weight do not vanish at the central point. Specifically, by optimizing the choice of quadratic form in the mollified moments of the L-function, we prove that this proportion is at least 39%.
Improving Transport Safety by Limiting Driver Duty Hours Utilizing Simulation to Optimize Team Schedules.

Introduction Creating and sustaining a safe transport environment is crucial to the medical transport industry. Fatigue is a well-described safety risk for pilots and commercial drivers. The aviation industry has developed strict guidelines to reduce such risks. Currently, similar guidelines do not apply to EMS drivers. To improve safety we applied the same commercial truck driver duty hour limits to EMS drivers. To minimize the impact this had on our team availability we developed a computer-based simulation to optimize our team schedules. Methods The Nationwide Childrens Hospital Critical Care department implemented a plan/do/study/act (PDSA) cycle to address policy and process changes to decrease driver duty hours to 14 hours. We first implemented a policy for drivers to decline trips that would put them over their 14-hour duty limit. We then provided guidelines to standardize the decision making process. We worked with a research team from Ohio University to assist in addressing scheduling needs. The research team designed a simulation model to represent the volume, modes, origins, and destinations of our historic critical care transport data. Results We decreased the number of trips that exceeded the driver duty limits from six in 2017 to zero in 2018 after implementing the new policy and tools. The simulation data many schedule combinations to consider. Some of these schedule combinations were not during ‘normal working hours’. Therefore, we selected the top five scheduling options that maximized team performance and were not drastically different from our current day/night schedule. We looked at scheduling drivers separately from team members and there was no measurable improvement so we did not pursue this scheduling option further. Conclusion Safety must always be our top priority in transport for our patients and crew. Implementing a driver duty hour policy was an important step in address safety issues related to driver fatigue when the risk is highest at the end of a long shift. Implementing a simulation tool allowed us to test scheduling combinations that would allow us to minimize times our team would be required to work over there expected shift and maximize the availability of our team.
From periodization to the autoimmune secular state

This article addresses the fundamental but often unrecognized work (political, legal, historical) that is accomplished by medieval/modern periodization. By medieval/modern periodization is meant th...
Brain Network Characteristics in Status Epilepticus

Status Epilepticus (SE) is the condition in which the epileptic brain is in a state of persistent seizure activity. SE is a major health concern with an estimated 42,000 deaths every year in the USA alone. We developed a novel methodology, based on information flow and graph theory, and applied to intracranial electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings from rats induced to SE in the Lithium-Pilocarpine animal model of epilepsy. We defined two measures of the transition of the brain network into and out of SE: the network density (ND) and the network node in–out degree correlation (NIODc). The measures correspond to familiar ones from graph theory with estimates of connectivity based on the Generalized Partial Directed Coherence (GPDC). We consistently observed an increase in the connectivity between brain sites and imbalance in the information flow from and to brain sites at the start of SE, with a progressive trend towards restoration of their baseline values by the end of SE and thereafter. These findings could contribute to the development of novel tools for monitoring and more efficient treatment of status epilepticus.
NanoCaller for accurate detection of SNPs and small indels from long-read sequencing by deep neural networks

Background: Variant detection from high-throughput sequencing data remains an important and yet unresolved problem. Long-read sequencing technologies, such as Oxford Nanopore and PacBio sequencing, present unique advantages to detect SNPs and small indels in genomic regions that short-read sequencing cannot reliably examine (for example, only ~80% of genomic regions are marked as "high-confidence region" to have benchmark SNP/indel calls in the Genome In A Bottle (GIAB) project). However, existing software tools for short-read data perform poorly on long-read data; instead, several recent studies showed promising results in variant detection on long-read data by deep learning. Methods: Here we present NanoCaller, a computational method that integrates long reads in deep convolutional neural network for the detection of SNPs/indels from long-read sequencing data. NanoCaller uses long-range haplotype structure to generate predictions for each SNP candidate variant site by considering pileup information of other candidate sites sharing reads. Subsequently, it performs read phasing, and carries out local realignment of each set of phased reads and the set of all reads for each indel candidate variant site to generate indel calling, and then creates consensus sequences for indel sequence prediction. Results: We evaluate NanoCaller on multiple human genomes (NA12878/HG001, NA24385/HG002, NA24149/HG003, NA24143/HG004 and HX1), by cross-genome, cross-chromosome, cross-reference genome, and cross-platform benchmarking tests. Our results demonstrate that NanoCaller performs competitively against other long-read variant callers. We additionally validate 41 novel variant calls in HG002 (previously not unreported in GIAB gold standard set) by Sanger sequencing, demonstrating the unique advantage of NanoCaller on long-read sequencing in detecting mutations in complex genomic regions that cannot be reliably found previously. Conclusions: In summary, NanoCaller enables the detection of genetic variants from genomic regions that are previously inaccessible to genome sequencing, and may facilitate the combined use of long-read and short-read sequencing in finding disease variants in human genetic studies.
A Few Bad Apples Spoil the Barrel: An Anti-folk Theorem for Anonymous Repeated Games with Incomplete Information

We study anonymous repeated games where players may be "commitment types" who always take the same action. We establish a stark anti-folk theorem: if the distribution of the number of commitment types satisfies a smoothness condition and the game has a "pairwise dominant" action, this action is almost always taken. This implies that cooperation is impossible in the repeated prisoner's dilemma with anonymous random matching. We also bound equilibrium payoffs for general games. Our bound implies that industry profits converge to zero in linear-demand Cournot oligopoly as the number of firms increases.
DIAT (Depth-Infrared Image Annotation Transfer) for Training a Depth-Based Pig-Pose Detector

Precision livestock farming uses artificial intelligence to individually monitor livestock activity and health. Tracking individuals over time can reveal health indicators that correlate with productivity and longevity. For instance, locomotion patterns observed in lame pigs have been shown to correlate with poor animal welfare and productivity. Kinematic analysis of pigs using pose estimates provides a means of assessing locomotion. New dense depth sensors have potential to achieve full 3D pose estimation and tracking. However, the lack of annotated dense depth datasets has limited use of these sensors in detecting animal pose. Current annotation methods rely on human labeling, but identifying hip and shoulder locations is difficult for pigs with few prominent features, and is especially difficult in depth images as these lack albedo texture. This work proposes a solution to quickly generate high accuracy pig landmark annotations for depth-based pose estimation. We propose Depth-Infrared Annotation Transfer (DIAT), an approach that semi-automatically finds, identifies, and tracks marks visible in infrared, and transfers these labels to depth images. As a result, we are able to train a precise pig pose detector that operates on depth images.
A preliminary study of bilateral color mapping of pig bladder vasculature demonstrates potential for acute hemi-ischemic events.

Background Chronic ischemia is a known risk factor for the development of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and bladder hypocontractility. Less is known, however, about the impact of acute ischemia. Classic teaching suggests that collateral circulation is robust in the bladder and, therefore, loss of a single source of blood flow should have no deleterious effect. This study aims to provide visual evidence that segmental vascular supply is critical for maintaining adequate perfusion to the bladder. Methods Ex vivo pig bladders were cannulated bilaterally in the superior vesical arteries and perfused using contrasting red and green dye. Images were collected at each step of the perfusion dyeing process and these images were analyzed using a custom program to calculate the average hue of each side. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-test. Results The two halves being perfused by separate arteries showed a statistically significant difference when compared (P<0.05) on both the outer wall (n=9) and in the mucosal layer (n=4). On the outside wall, the average normalized hue of the green halves was 27.5°±14.3°, while the average normalized hue of the red halves was -58.7°±3.1°. In the mucosa, the average normalized hue of the green halves was 34.5°±17.4°, while the average normalized hue of the red halves was -51.5°±3.5°. Conclusions This study identified a novel color mapping method to study pig bladder vascular supply. The results demonstrated a lack of collateral blood flow, highlighting the possibly of acute hemi-ischemic event. However, further research in the effect of acute ischemia on bladder function is necessary.
Free Expression under the DMCA

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) threatens free expression and free competition. The DMCA has two primary parts: (1) the anticircumvention provisions and (2) the safe harbors for Internet and online service providers. First, the DMCA not only makes certain technologies illegal, but also reduces competition among technology makers. The anticircumvention provisions criminalize technology that can be used to legally and legitimately access and disseminate speech. In effect, the DMCA has created a new, shadow copyright regime that gives copyright holders the legal power to dramatically curtail fair use. This is a 300-year step backward for copyright law and freedom of the press, and is ultimately ineffective at preventing piracy. Second, the DMCA’s safe harbor provision fails to sufficiently protect free expression and has been routinely abused by copyright holders and other parties. Safe harbor immunizes providers from liability if they comply with certain requirements, particularly a system known as “notice and takedown.” But the notice-and-takedown regime requires modern-day presses—online service providers—to censor speakers. Because the DMCA is so woefully unprotective of speech and restrictive to competition, it must be reconsidered.
Methanosarcina mazei LYC, a New Methanogenic Isolate Which Produces a Disaggregating Enzyme.

A methanogenic coccoid organism, Methanosarcina mazei LYC, was isolated from alkaline sediment obtained from an oil exploration drilling site. The isolate resembled M. mazei S-6 by exhibiting different morphophases during its normal growth cycle. It differed from M. mazei S-6 by undergoint a spontaneous shift from large, irregular aggregates of cells to small, individual, irregular, coccoid units. In batch cultures at pH 7.0, M. mazei LYC grew as aggregates during the early growth stage. As the batch culture began exponential growth, the cell aggregates spontaneously dispersed: the culture liquid became turbid, and myriads of tiny (diameter, 1 to 3 μm) coccoid units were observed under phase-contrast microscopy. Disaggregation apparently was accomplished by the production of an enzyme which hydrolyzed the heteropolysaccharide component of the cell wall; the enzyme was active on other Methanosarcina strains as well. Although the enzyme was active when tested at pH 6.0, it apparently was not produced at that pH: when strain LYC was grown at pH 6.0, only cell aggregates were present throughout batch growth. Individual coccoid cells of M. mazei LYC were sensitive to sodium dodecyl sulfate, but the large aggregates of cells were not. Strain LYC rapidly used H 2 -CO 2 , in addition to methanol, and mono-, di-, and trimethylamine as methanogenic substrates; acetate was used very slowly. Its optimum growth temperature was 40°C, and its optimum pH was 7.2. Images
Structural stability of the erythrocyte anion transporter, band 3, in different lipid environments. A differential scanning calorimetric study

In order to understand how subtle variations in lipid structure can influence the stability of an integral membrane protein, the purified, delipidated anion transport domain of human erythrocyte band 3 was reconstituted into a series of well-defined lipids and examined by differential scanning calorimetry. From the calorimetric scans, plots of denaturation temperature (Tm), enthalpy (delta Hd), and heat capacity (delta Cdp) as a function of phospholipid chain length, degree of unsaturation, headgroup type, and cholesterol content were constructed. The data show that the stability of the 55,000-dalton membrane-spanning domain of band 3 is exquisitely sensitive to the acyl chain length of its phospholipid environment, increasing almost linearly from a Tm of 47 degrees C in dimyristoleylphosphatidylcholine (C14:1) to 66 degrees C in dinervonylphosphatidylcholine (C24:1). The integral domain was also found to be significantly stabilized by increasing the degree of saturation of the fatty acyl chains and by elevating the cholesterol content of the membrane. Although band 3 was native in all reconstituted lipid systems, the transport protein's stability was clearly much greater in zwitterionic lipids (phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine) than anionic lipids (phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylglycerol). Enthalpy and delta Cdp values were generally within the ranges expected of globular proteins in the various reconstituted systems, except the values for the anionic and polyunsaturated phospholipids were anomalously low. Much of the data can be accounted for by the hypothesis that band 3 has a long hydrophobic cross-section and that a close match between the hydrophobic zone of the membrane-spanning protein and the nonpolar region of the bilayer is necessary for maximum protein stability. Because the integral domain of band 3 may be structurally representative of a larger group of transport proteins, the data should be useful in interpreting structural observations on protein-lipid interactions in other membrane systems.
Microstructure of muscles in cercariae of the digenetic trematodes Schistosoma mansoni and Tetrapapillatrema concavocorpa

Apparent structural periodicity along the muscle fibers of the cercaria of Schistosoma mansoni (Digenea : Anepitheliocystidia : Schistosomatidae) stimulated the study of the ultrastructure of muscles in this stage of the life history of the Trematoda. Classic investigations (e. g . (1)] have demonstrated an outer circular, an intermediate longitudinal, and, in various species, an inner layer of diagonally oriented muscle fibers in the subcuticula of trematodes. Specialized musculature present in the suckers, and tails of the cercariae are derived from these layers. Myocytes were found to be bipolar, with myofibrillae in the polar processes, and multipolar, with simple or multibranced protoplasmic strands extending from the bodies of the myocytes to relatively distant, otherwise separate myofibrillae. More recently, striated myofibrillae “with areas comparable to the Z-line, J-disk, and Q-disk” (2) recognized in striated muscles of some other animals have been reported. Exellent studies of the ultrastructure of the striatet muscles of vertebrates (4, 5, 6) have facilitated the present interpretations.