cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
COMPETITION BETWEEN NATIVE PERENNIAL AND EXOTIC ANNUAL GRASSES: IMPLICATIONS FOR AN HISTORICAL INVASION

Though established populations of invasive species can exert substantial competitive effects on native populations, exotic propagules may require disturbances that decrease competitive interference by resident species in order to become established. We compared the relative competitiveness of native perennial and exotic annual grasses in a California coastal prairie grassland to test whether the introduction of exotic propagules to coastal grasslands in the 19th century was likely to have been sufficient to shift community composition from native perennial to exotic annual grasses. Under experimental field con- ditions, we compared the aboveground productivity of native species alone to native species competing with exotics, and exotic species alone to exotic species competing with natives. Over the course of the four-year experiment, native grasses became increasingly dominant in the mixed-assemblage plots containing natives and exotics. Although the competitive interactions in the first growing season favored the exotics, over time the native grasses significantly reduced the productivity of exotic grasses. The number of exotic seedlings emerging and the biomass of dicot seedlings removed during weeding were also significantly lower in plots containing natives as compared to plots that did not contain natives. We found evidence that the ability of established native perennial species to limit space available for exotic annual seeds to germinate and to limit the light available to exotic seedlings reduced exotic productivity and shifted competitive interactions in favor of the natives. If interactions between native perennial and exotic annual grasses follow a similar pattern in other coastal grassland habitats, then the introduction of exotic grass propagules alone without changes in land use or climate, or both, was likely insufficient to convert the region's grasslands.
Social Democracy's Strategic Quandary: Responses to Immigration Challenges and Issue Capture in Europe

Abstract How do social democrats respond to populist challengers who capture public discourse about immigration and thereby secure impressive electoral gains? While Europe's left-of-centre political parties may have once relished the problems given their conservative counterparts by radical rightists who threaten to siphon away voters, it is clear that the variable electoral fortunes of social democratic parties now leave them little room to ignore xenophobia's popular appeal. This article addresses Giddens' prescription that ‘social democrats must respond to populism without succumbing to it’ by examining social democratic strategies to combat extremist exploitation of immigration. It contends that where social democratic parties have incumbency, are unified and/or faced divided right-wing parties, and face little opinion shift, they are more likely to be complacent, fail to engage the far right, and even adopt pro-immigration positions. Where the opposite conditions hold, they are more likely to adopt m...
Worry, problem elaboration and suppression of imagery: the role of concreteness

Both lay concept and scientific theory claim that worry may be helpful for defining and analyzing problems. Recent studies, however, indicate that worrisome problem elaborations are less concrete than worry-free problem elaborations. This challenges the problem solving view of worry because abstract problem analyses are unlikely to lead to concrete problem solutions. Instead the findings support the avoidance theory of worry which claims that worry suppresses aversive imagery. Following research findings in the dual-coding framework [Paivio, A. (1971). Imagery and verbal processes. New York: Holt, Rhinehart and Winston; Paivio, A. (1986). Mental representations: a dual coding approach. New York: Oxford University Press.], the present article proposes that reduced concreteness may play a central role in the understanding of worry. First, reduced concreteness can explain how worry reduces imagery. Second, it offers an explanation why worrisome problem analyses are unlikely to arrive at solutions. Third, it provides a key for the understanding of worry maintenance.
Worldwide Standards and Practices for Siting LNG and LPG Facilities: A Comparison

Some perspective on the present codes and standards used for the siting, design, and operation of hazardous material facilities can be gained by looking at some of the factors influencing their evolution. Industry has a basic need for some standards that will, as a minimum, (i) ensure that the facility will operate reliably, thus protecting the investment in the facility and the profits from its operation; (ii) prevent less responsible members of industry from operating in a manner that could give the industry a bad name; (iii) provide an environment in which employees can work without fear; and (iv) maintain a good corporate image.
Phylogeographic Structure in Anastrepha ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae) Populations Inferred With mtDNA Sequencing

Anastrepha ludens (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae), the Mexican fruit fly, is a major pest of citrus and mango. It has a wide distribution in Mexico and Central America, with infestations occurring in Texas, California, and Florida with origins believed to have been centered in northeastern Mexico. This research evaluates the utility of a sequence-based approach for two mitochondrial (COI and ND6) gene regions. We use these markers to examine genetic diversity, estimate population structure, and identify diagnostic information for A. ludens populations. We analyzed 543 individuals from 67 geographic collections and found one predominant haplotype occurring in the majority of specimens. We observed 68 haplotypes in all and see differences among haplotypes belonging to northern and southern collections. Mexico haplotypes differ by few bases possibly as a result of a recent bottleneck event. In contrast to the hypothesis suggesting northeastern Mexico as the origin of this species, we see that specimens from two southern collections show high genetic variability delineating three mitochondrial groups. These data suggest that Central America is the origin for A. ludens. We show that COI and ND6 are useful for phylogeographic studies of A. ludens.
Steps in DNA Chain Elongation and Joining after Ultra-violet Irradiation of Human Cells

SummaryThe DNA synthesized in human cells shortly after u.v.-irradiation is of lower molecular weight than that in unirradiated cells. Within several hours after irradiation, these smaller DNA units are both elongated and joined together. To determine if this process involves incorporation of exogenous precursors, cells were irradiated, pulse-labelled, and incubated in medium containing bromodeoxyuridine. They were then exposed to different fluxes of 313-nm radiation, and the number of breaks in the DNA was determined by sedimentation in alkaline sucrose. If bromodeoxyuridine, rather than exclusively premade DNA, is used to elongate and join the small DNA segments synthesized after u.v.-irradiation, photolysis by 313-nm radiation would yield the lower molecular weight segments that are present immediately after u.v.-irradiation. This expectation was fulfilled, and our results indicate that the mechanism of filling the gaps in DNA synthesized after irradiation involves the insertion of ∼ 103 nucleotides pe...
Recent Investigations Toward Achieving a One Centimeter Geoid

New research is discussed that relates to improving techniques of hybrid geoid generation and the use of Helmert condensation of surface free-air gravity anomalies. New approaches are examined for modeling signal remaining between a regional gravimetric geoid, G99SSS, and a database of GPS-derived ellipsoid heights at 6169 spirit-leveled benchmarks. One approach reduced the remaining unmodeled signal by one centimeter or about 20% over the approach used for GEOID99. Helmert condensation also offers a solution to improving regional geoids. This approach models the gravitational effects of the terrain masses using fast Fourier transforms for outer-zone (>4°) contributions and spherical, space-domain calculations for the inner-zone. The effects of the 3D masses are removed from the surface anomalies, which are then downward continued to the geoid where the effects of the 2D masses (condensed onto the geoid) are restored. This approach removes the approximation of Faye gravity anomalies and permits downward continuation in the smoother gravity field where the terrain has been removed. Preliminary investigations have begun on this approach that demonstrate the viability of modeling the 3D and 2D terrain masses as compared to other approaches.
Short-Term Zinc Kinetics in Pregnant Rats Fed Marginal Zinc Diets

The effect of pregnancy and a chronic, marginal intake of zinc on zinc kinetics was studied in rats. Weanling female rats were fed either a zinc-adequate diet, containing 30 microg Zn/g, (30Zn) (n = 16) or a marginally zinc-deficient diet, containing 6 microg Zn/g, (6Zn) (n = 16). After 6 wk, half of each group was mated (30ZnPG, 6ZnPG). A third group of pregnant rats was pair-fed (PFPG) (n = 6) to the 6ZnPG group. On d 20 of gestation, or at the end of the 9-wk study, 65Zn was injected intravenously. The plasma 65Zn disappearance curve over the next 105 min was used to study the size and fractional turnover rates of two rapidly exchanging zinc metabolic pools (pool a and pool b). Plasma zinc concentrations on d 20 of gestation were significantly lower in the 6ZnPG group compared with the 30ZnPG and PFPG controls, (P < 0.05). The exchangeable pools were also smaller in the 6ZnPG group compared with the 30ZnPg and PFPG groups, (P < 0.02); this reduction was accompanied by a 60% greater fractional turnover rate of pool a, (P < 0.02). Pregnancy outcomes did not differ among the three groups. We conclude that there is an increase in the turnover rate of the exchangeable plasma zinc pool when dietary zinc intake is marginal during pregnancy. This response may help maintain a supply of zinc to the growing fetus when plasma zinc concentrations are reduced.
Zombieland: Seeking Refuge from the Statute of Frauds in Contracts for the Sale of Services or Goods

The Statute of Frauds, which requires a signed writing in order for an agreement to be legally enforceable, is one of the most known doctrines in the study of contract law. Beginning early in the first year of law school and continuing into bar exam preparation, students memorize the various types of contracts requiring a signed writing. Later, both litigation and transactional attorneys encounter assorted legal issues involving the Statute of Frauds. Despite its prominence throughout the law, the Statute of Frauds no longer serves a vital purpose in American contract law, particularly with respect to contracts for the sale of services and contracts for the sale of goods. Rather, the Statute of Frauds has become much akin to a shambling zombie –automated, lifeless and unwanted, with a meaningless focus on only one thing, a written document. The circumstances requiring the Statute of Frauds three hundred years ago no longer exist leaving an obsolete legal formality. It not only fails to serve the evidentiary, channeling and cautionary functions of a legal formality but actually supports the behaviors those functions are meant to discourage. Additionally, statutory and judicial exceptions have eroded the doctrine and created an unnecessarily complex and inconsistently applied rule that is economically inefficient. Although scholars have argued for repeal of the Statute of Frauds in the past, they narrowly focused their critiques and overlooked many of its flaws. Accordingly, this article provides a comprehensive and modern critique of the Statute of Frauds, with a specific focus on its impact on contracts for the sale of services and contracts for the sale of moveable goods given their importance in commercial law transactions, and argues for the repeal of the Statute of Frauds with respect to such contracts.
Externalities and Empiricism in Water Resources

IN A recent discussion, A. Allan Schmid returns to a consideration of externalities in resource management and the needs for measurement and specification [5]. These needs are related to property rights, input-output categories, and group action. The purpose of this paper is to present one interdisciplinary technique which will supply empirical measures of external effects in water resources and their relation to group action and management. This paper follows the traditional delineation of technological and pecuniary externalities. One exception is that I resist the inclination to exclude the latter as a separate decision element. In the trite but simplified example, firm A follows a production or consumption pattern which affects firm B, although B has no control over this situation. The effect on B results in price alterations in B's inputs and/or outputs and this in turn will reverberate through activities subsequently involving firm C in its dealings with B. There is the strong tendency among economists to relegate this interrelationship between B and C to the abyss of "normal" market interactions [3; 6, p. 24]. It is argued here that these pecuniary externalities, often referred to as secondary effects (benefits), are crucial to management policy. Isolating these effects within market interactions and relating them to the originating activity in common with the technological interaction will provide crucial assistance in the decision-making process if empirical measures can be generated. In the context of the following example, one measurement process will be revealed.
A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of High Dose Vitamin D Therapy on Musculoskeletal Pain and Bone Mineral Density in Anastrozole-Treated Breast Cancer Patients with Marginal Vitamin D Status.

Rationale: Musculoskeletal (MS)pain is a known adverse class effect of aromatase inhibitors. Previously we reported high prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in breast cancer patients complaining of MS pain, and anecdotal improvement of MS pain with weekly supplementation of high dose Vitamin D (HDD) (1). Here we report on a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of weekly HDD (ergocalciferol 50,000 IU) versus placebo (PBO) in breast cancer patient receiving anastrozole, with new or worsening MS pain since initiation of treatment, and with marginal levels of 25-OH Vitamin D (25OHD). The secondary aim was to determine whether HDD supplementation protects from bone loss.Methods: Inclusion criteria: 1) Postmenopausal women with invasive breast cancer (stage I - IIIB) on Anastrozole for at least 8 weeks; 2) new or worsening MS pain; 3) serum 25OHD level between 10 and 29 ng/ml. Design: 2 strata: 1) if 25OHD levels between 20-29 ng/ml, patients received 8 weeks of HDD then monthly HDD until the end of study (6 months) or PBO; 2) if 25OHD levels between 10-19 ng/ml, patients received 16 weeks HDD followed by monthly HDD until the end of the study or PBO. In addition, all patients received calcium (1000 mg/day) and standard Vitamin D supplementation (400 IU/day). Pain was measured by validated questionnaires (BPI, HAQ, FIQ) at baseline, month 2, month 4 and month 6. Bone Mineral Density was measured at baseline and at 6 months using a Hologic densitometer.Results: Sixty patients were enrolled. Mean age was 61.5 years. HDD and PBO groups did not differ at baseline in pain scores and 25OHD levels.At 2 months the HDD group reported lower scores on pain-related questions on BPI (question #3) at 2 mo, p=0.01 and FIQ (question #15), at 2 mo p=0.02. There was also a trend for better scores for walking and climbing steps on the HAQ [Group x Time Chi-square=3.6; at 2 mo p=0.02; p=0.009 at 4 mo]. Preliminary analysis of bone density data show higher femoral neck values in the HDD group at 6 months [% change 0-6 mo: HDD=0.54±0.71, PBO= -1.43±0.66, p=0.05]. There were no significant toxicities.Conclusions: HDD is well tolerated in this study, improves MS pain in patients receiving anastrozole, and may help functional activity. The effect was limited to the 2 month interval when patients on the active arm were receiving weekly treatment. Improvements decreased at 4 and 6 months once patients switched to monthly supplements. HDD may have also a positive effect on bone health. Limits of this pilot randomized study include the small number of patients, and the difficulty of measuring pain using clinical questionnaires.1) Taylor ME, Rastelli A, et.al. Incidence of 25-OH vitamin D deficiency in patients with a history of breast cancer who have musculoskeletal symptomatology. San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Poster # 3072, December 2004Supported by Astra-Zeneca Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 803.
Targeted Precise Quantification of 12 Human Recombinant Uridine-Diphosphate Glucuronosyl Transferase 1A and 2B Isoforms Using Nano-Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry with Selected Reaction Monitoring

Quantification methods employing stable isotope-labeled peptide standards and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry are increasingly being used to measure enzyme amounts in biologic samples. Isoform concentrations, combined with catalytic information, can be used in absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion studies to improve accuracy of in vitro/in vivo predictions. We quantified isoforms of uridine-diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A and 2B in 12 commercially available recombinant UGTs (recUGTs) (n = 49 samples) using nano-ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry with selected reaction monitoring). Samples were trypsin-digested and analyzed using our previously published method. Two MRMs were collected per peptide and averaged. Where available, at least two peptides were measured per UGT isoform. The assay could detect UGTs in all recombinant preparations: recUGTs 1A1, 1A3, 1A4, 1A6, 1A7, 1A8, 1A9, 1A10, 2B4, 2B7, 2B15, and 2B17, with limit of detection below 1.0 pmol/mg protein for all isoforms. The assay had excellent linearity in the range observed (2–15.5 pmol/mg, after dilution). Examples of concentrations determined were 1465, 537, 538, 944, 865, 698, 604, 791, 382, 1149, 307, and 740 pmol/mg protein for the respective isoforms. There was a 6.9-fold difference between the maximum and minimum recUGT concentrations. The range of concentrations determined indicates that catalytic rates per mg total protein in vitro will not accurately reflect isoform inherent specific activity for a particular drug candidate. This is the first report of a targeted precise quantification of commercially available recUGTs. The assay has potential for use in comparing UGT amounts with catalytic activity determined using probe substrates, thus allowing representation of catalysis as per pmol of UGT isoform.
A Field Investigation of Causal Relations among Cognitions, Affect, Intentions, and Behavior:

A new method for representing attitudinal reactions is developed and related to current information integration approaches. Hypotheses are tested about the effects of expectancy-value measures and ...
Scanning tunneling microscopy studies of Mn-doped CeOx(111) interfaces

Abstract The growth and structure of Mn on reducible ceria were investigated under ultrahigh vacuum conditions with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, low energy electron diffraction and scanning tunneling microscopy techniques. Submonolayer coverage of Mn was deposited on well-ordered CeOx(111) (1.5
Interrogating the Tailoring Steps of Pactamycin Biosynthesis and Accessing New Pactamycin Analogues.

Pactamycin is a bacteria-derived aminocyclitol antibiotic with a wide-range of biological activity. Its chemical structure and potent biological activities have made it an interesting lead compound for drug discovery and development. Despite its unusual chemical structure, many aspects of its formation in nature remain elusive. Using a combination of genetic inactivation and metabolic analysis, we investigated the tailoring processes of pactamycin biosynthesis in Streptomyces pactum. The results provide insights into the sequence of events during the tailoring steps of pactamycin biosynthesis and explain the unusual production of various pactamycin analogues by S. pactum mutants. We also identified two new pactamycin analogues that have better selectivity indexes than pactamycin against malarial parasites.
Constitutive Modulation of Raf-1 Protein Kinase is Associated with Differential Gene Expression of Several Known and Unknown Genes

Raf-1, a cytoplasmic serine/threonine protein kinase, plays an important role in mitogen- and damage-responsive cellular signal transduction pathways. Consistent with this notion is the fact that constitutive modulation of expression and/or activity of Raf-1 protein kinase modifies cell growth, proliferation, and cell survival. Although these effects are controlled at least in part by transcriptional mechanisms, the role of Raf-1 in the regulation of specific gene expression is unclear. Differential display of mRNA was used to identify the genes differentially expressed in human head and neck squamous carcinoma cells (PCI-06A) transfected with either the antisense c-raf-1 cDNA (PCI-06A-Raf(AS)), or a portion of cDNA coding for the kinase domain of Raf-1 (PCI-06A-Raf(K)). The differentially expressed fragments were cloned and sequenced, and they were used as probes to compare the expression patterns in parent transfectants by Northern blot analysis. In addition, expression patterns of the novel genes were examined in normal tissues and cancer cell lines. Six differentially expressed cDNA fragments were identified and sequenced. Northern blot analysis revealed that four of these fragments representing human α1-antichymotrypsin (αl-ACT), mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (COX-II), and two as-yet unidentified cDNAs (KAS-110 and KAS-111) were relatively overexpressed in PCI-06A-Raf(AS) transfectants compared with PCI-06A-Raf(K) transfectants. The other two cDNA fragments representing human elongation factor-1α (HEF-1α) and ornithine decarboxylase antizyme (OAz) were overexpressed in PCI-06A-Raf(K) transfectants compared with PCI-06A-Raf(AS) transfectants. The KAS-110 (114 bp) and KAS-111 (202 bp) cDNAs did not show significant matches with sequences in the GenEMBL, TIGR, and HGS DNA databases, and these may represent novel genes. The KAS-110 and KAS-111 transcripts, ~0.9 kb and ~0.5 kb, were observed in most normal tissues and several cancer cell types, indicating their housekeeping function. This study reports novel components of the Raf-1 signaling pathway. α1-ACT, HEF-1α, COX-II, and OAz have been previously implicated in diverse cellular responses including transformation, energy metabolism, and cell survival. Our data suggest that expression of these genes may play a role in the Raf-1-mediated biological activity of PCI-06A cells. The KAS-110 and KAS-111 cDNAs represent unknown genes, and further investigations are necessary to determine their role in the cellular response. Identification of specific targets may provide useful markers for prognosis and therapy selection in squamous cell carcinoma.
Relational‐Cultural Theory: Fostering the Growth of a Paradigm Through Empirical Research

This study identified empirical literature supporting relational-cultural theory (RCT) for explaining experiences of individuals, assessing theoretical constructs, and providing an effective treatment option. A systematic review of available literature revealed that (a) RCT was a useful framework for understanding client experiences, (b) there is considerable support for the psychometric validation of RCT constructs, and (c) support for RCT interventions is currently limited. Limitations of studies reviewed, recommendations for future research, and implications for counselors are provided.
Continuing education needs assessment of acute care and long-term-care nurses in a Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

BACKGROUND This study was done to identify nurses' priorities for continued learning and to examine the priorities in relation to age, educational level, location in the organization, experience, position in the organization, and shift worked. METHODS A random sample of nurses at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center completed surveys consisting of 58 educational topics and demographic information. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, and Tukey's HSD method to identify differences within the various subgroups of nurses. RESULTS Of the 58 educational topics, 21 were determined to be high priority educational needs and were significantly correlated with one or more of the independent variables. CONCLUSION Conducting a needs assessment can provide valuable information that will improve the delivery of high quality, relevant continuing education and improve staff satisfaction.
Globally inclusive investments in health: benefits at home and abroad

Support for global health programs yields direct domestic benefits At a time when disease pandemics and the health effects of climate change are viewed as primary threats to global stability,1 the rise of right wing populism among the world’s highest donors of official development assistance (fig 1⇓) is threatening aid budgets and progress across many global health movements. The value of international engagement across all sectors is being questioned as the perspective on globalization is becoming increasingly isolationist.2 Fig 1 Distribution of total official development assistance (ODA) across the 28 member states of the OECD’s development assistance committee in 2015 according to whether they have seen an upsurge in right wing populism since 2010 In the US the future of global health initiatives in President Donald Trump’s new administration is uncertain.3 Several of these initiatives are critically linked to US national and global security—bolstering pandemic preparedness, mitigating the health effects of climate change (for example, the rising prevalence of zoonotic diseases and the increased prevalence of severe weather patterns, such as Hurricane Sandy), tackling antimicrobial drug …
Emotion Matters: What Happens Between Young Children and Parents in a Touch Screen World

Young children today are early adopters and frequent users of touchscreen devices. This study explores how parents perceive the role of new media in their families, how and why they regulate children’s media use, and how they feel about this process. The study conducts ethnographic interviews with 20 South Korean parents of two- to six-year-olds and observes 10 children in their media use and interaction with parents. We find that parents presumed that touchscreen media wielded a more negative than positive influence on their children. As a result, parents engaged in restrictive and technical mediation, though they often failed to effectively manage their children’s media use due to practical challenges. The failure of parental mediation made the parents feel guilty. We suggest a greater need to attend to the contexts and emotions in which parental mediation of children’s media use occurs.
Scars and Keloids

Despite the disfigurement and symptoms from these abnormal wound responses, the literature offers little consensus about appropriate therapy. Few prospective blinded studies have been performed to compare therapeutic options. Multiple therapies have been reported. Most physicians agree with Kelly's emphasis on the importance of prevention. All effort should be directed to avoid or to minimize any stimuli that could promote an abnormal wound response in predisposed individuals. Treatment must be carefully selected for appropriate lesions. Hypertrophic scars may be surgically corrected, but other measures such as intralesional corticosteroid injection, pressure therapy, cryotherapy, and other topical treatments may be useful. These scars have a different clinical course than do keloids. Published recurrence rates for keloid treatment are lowest for the combination of surgery and radiation. Although some keloids may respond to intralesional steroid injection, keloid tissue must be removed and the resulting wound must be treated to minimize the risk of recurrence.
Repetition as Aesthetic Practice: Hearts in Else Lasker-Schüler’s Modernist Project

This article investigates the extensive use of the heart as word and image in the creative work of Else Lasker-Schuler (1869–1945), focusing especially on her love poetry. Specifically, it situates Lasker-Schuler’s practices in the context of modernist appropriations of repetition, revealing how the multiplied hearts allow the poet to invite an exploration of difference within unity, through which meaning is alternately multiplied and questioned; of difference within the self, which forms the basis of modernist subjectivity; and of abstraction, achieved through emphasis on repetition of the heart as form. Such a reading enriches our understanding of Lasker-Schuler’s work – especially her love poetry – in that it reveals the possibility for that very symbol of love and the erotic – the heart – to function beyond the traditional role to which existing scholarship has largely assigned it.
MACHINE VS MACHINE: MINIMAX-OPTIMAL DEFENSE AGAINST ADVERSARIAL EXAMPLES

Recently, researchers have discovered that the state-of-the-art object classifiers can be fooled easily by small perturbations in the input unnoticeable to human eyes. It is known that an attacker can generate strong adversarial examples if she knows the classifier parameters. Conversely, a defender can robustify the classifier by retraining if she has the adversarial examples. The cat-and-mouse game nature of attacks and defenses raises the question of the presence of equilibria in the dynamics. In this paper, we present a neural-network based attack class to approximate a larger but intractable class of attacks, and formulate the attacker-defender interaction as a zero-sum leader-follower game. We present sensitivity-penalized optimization algorithms to find minimax solutions, which are the best worst-case defenses against whitebox attacks. Advantages of the learning-based attacks and defenses compared to gradient-based attacks and defenses are demonstrated with MNIST and CIFAR-10.
Experimental determination of solubilities of magnesium borates: Solubility constants of boracite [Mg3B7O13Cl(cr)] and aksaite [MgB6O7(OH)6·2H2O(cr)]

Abstract In this study, solubility measurements regarding boracite [Mg3B7O13Cl(cr)] and aksaite [MgB6O7(OH)6·2H2O(cr)] from the direction of supersaturation were conducted at 22.5 ± 0.5 °C. The equilibrium constant (log10K0) for boracite in terms of the following reaction, Mg 3 B 7 O 13 Cl cr + 15 H 2 O l ⇌ 3Mg 2 + + 7B OH 4 − + Cl − + 2H + is determined as −29.49 ± 0.39 (2σ) in this study. The equilibrium constant for aksaite according to the following reaction, MgB 6 O 7 OH 6 · 2H 2 O cr + 9H 2 O l ⇌ Mg 2 + + 6B OH 4 − + 4H + is determined as −44.41 ± 0.41 (2σ) in this work. This work recommends a set of thermodynamic properties for aksaite at 25 °C and 1 bar as follows: ΔHf0 = −6063.70 ± 4.85 kJ·mol−1, ΔGf0 = −5492.55 ± 2.32 kJ·mol−1, and S0 = 344.62 ± 1.85 J·mol−1·K−1. Among them, ΔGf0 is derived from the equilibrium constant for aksaite determined by this study; ΔHf0 is from the literature, determined by calorimetry; and S0 is computed in the present work from ΔGf0 and ΔHf0. This investigation also recommends a set of thermodynamic properties for boracite at 25 °C and 1 bar as follows: ΔHf0 = −6575.02 ± 2.25 kJ·mol−1, ΔGf0 = −6178.35 ± 2.25 kJ·mol−1, and S0 = 253.6 ± 0.5 J·mol−1·K−1. Among them, ΔGf0 is derived from the equilibrium constant for boracite determined by this study; S0 is from the literature, determined by calorimetry; and ΔHf0 is computed in this work from ΔGf0 and S0. The thermodynamic properties determined in this study can find applications in many fields. For instance, in the field of material science, boracite has many useful properties including ferroelectric and ferroelastic properties. The equilibrium constant of boracite determined in this work will provide guidance for economic synthesis of boracite in an aqueous medium. Similarly, in the field of nuclear waste management, iodide boracite [Mg3B7O13I(cr)] is proposed as a waste form for radioactive 129I. Therefore, the solubility constant for chloride boracite [Mg3B7O13Cl(cr)] will provide the guidance for the performance of iodide boracite in geological repositories. Boracite/aksaite themselves in geological repositories in salt formations may be solubility-controlling phase(s) for borate. Consequently, solubility constants of boracite and aksaite will enable researchers to predict borate concentrations in equilibrium with boracite/aksaite in salt formations.
Die rechtliche Ordnung der Wirtschaftsbeziehungen in den Europäischen Gemeinschaften

Die Entstehung der Europaischen Gemeinschaften reicht in die unmittelbare Nachkriegszeit zuruck1. Unter dem Eindruck der Folgen des Zweiten Weltkrieges und dersich auf die Bildung zweier Machtblocke hin wandelnden welt- und machtpolitischen Konfiguration waren die alten Gegensatze zwischen den europaischen Nationalstaaten fragwurdig geworden. Die Erholung der europaischen Volkswirtschaften schien im engen Rahmen der nationalstaatlichen Moglichkeiten kaum gelingen zu konnen. Fur die Bundesrepublik bot sich mit der Eingliederung in einen europaischen Verbund die Chance zu politischer Rehabilitierung2. Wahrend ausen- und militarpolitische Projekte scheiterten3, konnte im Sinne eines funktionalistischen Ansatzes die wirtschaftliche Integration 4 in Gang gesetzt werden.
Construction of a Carbon Nanomaterial-Based Nanocomposite Aerogel for the Removal of Organic Compounds from Water

Overutilization of organic-based compounds (e.g., fertilizers) in agricultural settings continues to cause concern due to potential adverse impacts on the health of humans and the environment. Adsorbents, such as activated carbon, are widely used due to their ability to adsorb various contaminants. Limitations in the effectiveness of activated carbon, where high uptake capacities are desired, require the need for alternatives to current state-of-the-art adsorbents. In this work, the adsorption capability of a lightweight, carbon-based aerogel is presented. The aerogel is composed of 0 to 2 wt % mixture of both graphene nanoplatelets (GnP) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT). Two organic compounds, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 1-pyrenebutyric acid (PBA), served as the contaminants of interest. Results show that the aerogel containing 0.2 wt % SWCNT-GnP achieved an uptake capacity of 0.22 mg of 2,4-D/mg of aerogel and 0.083 mg of PBA/mg of aerogel. Compared to activated carbon, from a k...
Stability and Mobility of Magnetic Nanoparticles in Biological Environments Determined from Dynamic Magnetic Susceptibility Measurements

Low tumor accumulation following systemic delivery remains a key challenge for advancing many cancer nanomedicines. One obstacle in engineering nanoparticles for high tumor accumulation is a lack of techniques to monitor their stability and mobility in situ. One way to monitor the stability and mobility of magnetic nanoparticles biological fluids in situ is through dynamic magnetic susceptibility measurements (DMS), which under certain conditions provide a measure of the particle’s rotational diffusivity. For magnetic nanoparticles modified to have commonly used biomedical surface coatings, we describe a systematic comparison of DMS measurements in whole blood and tumor tissue explants. DMS measurements clearly demonstrated that stability and mobility changed over time and from one medium to another for each different coating. It was found that nanoparticles coated with covalently grafted, dense layers of PEG were the only ones to show good stability and mobility in all settings tested. These studies illu...
Specific differences in temporal binding aspects of the attentional blink in Chromosome 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome

Abstract Chromosome 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (22q11DS) is a genetic syndrome characterized by a variety of cognitive impairments, including difficulty with attention. 22q11DS is the strongest known genetic risk factor for developing schizophrenia, a disorder characterized by impairments in visual attention and temporal binding processes. Here we examine a specific temporal visual attention phenomenon (the attentional blink; AB) within two rapid serial visual presentation tasks, and compare those with 22q11DS to groups of typically developing individuals matched on chronological (CA) and mental age (MA). Performance of individuals with 22q11DS was sensitive to differing task demands. On a Category Task, individuals with 22q11DS performed similarly to control groups on all measures of the AB, with the exception of lower detection accuracy of the first of two targets. In contrast, on a feature-based Color Task which required temporal binding of stimulus features, individuals with 22q11DS differed from CA and MA matched control groups on all AB performance measures, exhibiting lower target accuracy, more temporal binding errors, and a deeper, more protracted AB. Temporal binding in the visual domain is thought to be dependent on a serial attention mechanism that facilitates simultaneous firing of neurons in multiple areas of the visual cortex, activating short-term working memory for storage of bound features. Given the discrepancy between these two tasks, results suggest that temporal binding processes may be significantly affected in individuals with 22q11DS, a finding that importantly, has been previously demonstrated among individuals with schizophrenia.
Robust prediction of clinical outcomes using cytometry data.

Author(s): Hu, Zicheng; Glicksberg, Benjamin S; Butte, Atul J | Abstract: MotivationFlow cytometry and mass cytometry are widely used to diagnose diseases and to predict clinical outcomes. When associating clinical features with cytometry data, traditional analysis methods require cell gating as an intermediate step, leading to information loss and susceptibility to batch effects. Here, we wish to explore an alternative approach that predicts clinical features from cytometry data without the cell-gating step. We also wish to test if such a gating-free approach increases the accuracy and robustness of the prediction.ResultsWe propose a novel strategy (CytoDx) to predict clinical outcomes using cytometry data without cell gating. Applying CytoDx on real-world datasets allow us to predict multiple types of clinical features. In particular, CytoDx is able to predict the response to influenza vaccine using highly heterogeneous datasets, demonstrating that it is not only accurate but also robust to batch effects and cytometry platforms.Availability and implementationCytoDx is available as an R package on Bioconductor (bioconductor.org/packages/CytoDx). Data and scripts for reproducing the results are available on bitbucket.org/zichenghu_ucsf/cytodx_study_code/downloads.Supplementary informationSupplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Increased Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Reactive Oxygen Species Production Accompany Prolonged CD4+ T Cell Activation.

Activation of CD4 + T cells to proliferate drives cells toward aerobic glycolysis for energy production while using mitochondria primarily for macromolecular synthesis. In addition, the mitochondria of activated T cells increase production of reactive oxygen species, providing an important second messenger for intracellular signaling pathways. To better understand the critical changes in mitochondria that accompany prolonged T cell activation, we carried out an extensive analysis of mitochondrial remodeling using a combination of conventional strategies and a novel high-resolution imaging method. We show that for 4 d following activation, mouse CD4 + T cells sustained their commitment to glycolysis facilitated by increased glucose uptake through increased expression of GLUT transporters. Despite their limited contribution to energy production, mitochondria were active and showed increased reactive oxygen species production. Moreover, prolonged activation of CD4 + T cells led to increases in mitochondrial content and volume, in the number of mitochondria per cell and in mitochondrial biogenesis. Thus, during prolonged activation, CD4 + T cells continue to obtain energy predominantly from glycolysis but also undergo extensive mitochondrial remodeling, resulting in increased mitochondrial activity.
Enabling Technologies for In-Router DWDM Interfaces for Intra-Data Center Networks

As intra data center capacities continue to scale, transceiver interfaces are increasing in data rate, often employing multiple optical carriers. We consider an efficient hybrid solution using DWDM capable interfaces and optical switching.
The Battle for Algeria: Explaining Fratricide among Armed Nonstate Actors

Unity among a rebel movement is associated with positive returns, yet rebel groups often fail to come together and even fall into fratricide infighting. Focusing on a rebel field in which one group...
Development of a Hydrazine-Catalyzed Carbonyl-Olefin Metathesis Reaction

Carbonyl-olefin metathesis is a potentially powerful yet underexplored reaction in organic synthesis. In recent years, however, this situation has begun to change, most notably with the introduction of several different catalytic technologies. The development of one of those new strategies, based on hydrazine catalysts and a novel [3+2] paradigm for double bond metathesis, is discussed herein. First, the stage is set with a description of some potential applications of carbonyl-olefin metathesis and a discussion of alternative strategies for this intriguing reaction. 1 Introduction 2 Potential Applications of Carbonyl-Olefin Metathesis 3 Carbonyl-Olefin Metathesis Strategies 4 Direct (Type I): Non-Catalytic 5 Direct (Type I): Acid-Catalyzed 6 Indirect (Type II): Metal Alkylidenes 7 Indirect (Type III): Hydrazine-Catalyzed 8 Conclusion
A specialty court for U.S. youth impacted by commercial sexual exploitation.

Abstract Background Specialty courts have emerged as a model of care for U.S. youth impacted by commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) to ensure comprehensive service provision. However, there is a lack of published research that documents the extent to which these programs achieve this goal. Objective We sought to understand a specialty juvenile justice court's role in identifying mental health and substance use treatment needs, providing linkages to services, and facilitating stability for youth with histories of CSE. Participants and Setting We conducted an exhaustive court file review of the 364 participants in a U.S. based juvenile delinquency specialty court for youth affected by CSE. The observation period spanned 2012–2017. Methods The research team systematically transferred data from court files into a secure, electronic database. Descriptive statistics and Chisquared tests were calculated to explore potential associations. Results Participation in the specialty court for youth impacted by CSE suggests an increase in identification of mental health and substance use needs and linkages and referrals to mental health and substance use treatment services. In addition, there was increased stabilization as indicated by decreased substantiated child welfare allegations, fewer running away episodes, and placements and criminal involvement. Conclusions Specialty courts that incorporate a multidisciplinary, trauma-informed approach offer a promising intervention model for meeting the high treatment needs of youth impacted by CSE.
The self-stirred genome: large-scale chromatin dynamics, its biophysical origins and implications

The organization and dynamics of human genome govern all cellular processes - directly impacting the central dogma of biology - yet are poorly understood, especially at large length scales. Chromatin, the functional form of DNA in cells, undergoes frequent local remodeling and rearrangements to accommodate processes such as transcription, replication and DNA repair. How these local activities contribute to nucleus-wide coherent chromatin motion, where micron-scale regions of chromatin move together over several seconds, remains unclear. Activity of nuclear enzymes was found to drive the coherent chromatin dynamics, however, its biological nature and physical mechanism remain to be revealed. The coherent dynamics leads to a perpetual stirring of the genome, leading to collective gene dynamics over microns and seconds, thus likely contributing to local and global gene-expression patterns. Hence, a possible biological role of chromatin coherence may involve gene regulation.
Disease severity impacts plerixafor-mobilized stem cell collection in patients with sickle cell disease

Recent studies suggest that plerixafor mobilization and apheresis in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) is safe and can allow collection of sufficient CD34+ hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) collection for clinical gene therapy applications. However, the quantities of plerixafor-mobilized CD34+ cells vary between different SCD patients for unknown reasons. Twenty-three participants with SCD underwent plerixafor mobilization followed by apheresis, processing, and HSC enrichment under a phase 1 safety and efficacy study conducted at 2 institutions. Linear regression or Spearman's correlation test was used to assess the relationships between various hematologic and clinical parameters with total CD34+ cells/kg collected. Median CD34+ cells/kg after 2 or fewer mobilization and apheresis cycles was 4.0 × 106 (range, 1.5-12.0). Similar to what is observed generally, CD34+ yield correlated negatively with age (P < .001) and positively with baseline (P = .003) and preapheresis blood CD34+ cells/µL (P < .001), and baseline white blood cell (P = .01) and platelet counts (P = .03). Uniquely for SCD, CD34+ cell yields correlated positively with the number of days hydroxyurea was held (for up to 5 weeks, P = .01) and negatively with markers of disease severity, including hospitalization frequency within the preceding year (P = .01) and the number of medications taken for chronic pain (P = .002). Unique SCD-specific technical challenges in apheresis were also associated with reduced CD34+ cell collection efficiency and purification. Here, we describe factors that impact plerixafor mobilization success in patients with SCD, confirming known factors as described in other populations in addition to reporting previously unknown disease specific factors in patients with SCD. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT03226691.