cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Elucidation and Structural Analysis of Conserved Pools for Genome-Scale Metabolic Reconstructions

In this article, we introduce metabolite concentration coupling analysis (MCCA) to study conservation relationships for metabolite concentrations in genome-scale metabolic networks. The analysis allows the global identification of subsets of metabolites whose concentrations are always coupled within common conserved pools. Also, the minimal conserved pool identification (MCPI) procedure is developed for elucidating conserved pools for targeted metabolites without computing the entire basis conservation relationships. The approaches are demonstrated on genome-scale metabolic reconstructions of Helicobacter pylori, Escherichia coli, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Despite significant differences in the size and complexity of the examined organism's models, we find that the concentrations of nearly all metabolites are coupled within a relatively small number of subsets. These correspond to the overall exchange of carbon molecules into and out of the networks, interconversion of energy and redox cofactors, and the transfer of nitrogen, sulfur, phosphate, coenzyme A, and acyl carrier protein moieties among metabolites. The presence of large conserved pools can be viewed as global biophysical barriers protecting cellular systems from stresses, maintaining coordinated interconversions between key metabolites, and providing an additional mode of global metabolic regulation. The developed approaches thus provide novel and versatile tools for elucidating coupling relationships between metabolite concentrations with implications in biotechnological and medical applications.
Fatty acid metabolism in renal ischemia

The increase in free fatty acids in the ischemic tissue is a consistent observation and these free fatty acids are considered to play a role in the cellular toxicity. To elucidate the cause of higher levels of free fatty acids in ischemic tissue, we examined the catabolism of fatty acids. The beta-oxidation of lignoceric (24:0), palmitic (16:0) and octanoic (8:0) acids and the peroxidation of fatty acids were measured at different times of renal ischemia in whole kidney homogenate. The enzymatic activities for the oxidation of fatty acids decreased with the increase in ischemia time. However, the lipid peroxide levels increased 2.5-fold of control with ischemic injury. Sixty min of ischemia reduced the rate of oxidation of octanoic, palmitic and lignoceric acids by 57, 59 and 69%, respectively. Almost similar loss of fatty acid oxidation activity was observed in the peroxisomes and mitochondria. These data suggest that loss of mitochondrial and peroxisomal fatty acid beta-oxidation enzyme activities from ischemic injury may be one of the factors responsible for the higher levels of free fatty acids.
LATE‐QUATERNARY VEGETATION DYNAMICS IN NORTH AMERICA: SCALING FROM TAXA TO BIOMES

This paper integrates recent efforts to map the distribution of biomes for the late Quaternary with the detailed evidence that plant species have responded individual- istically to climate change at millennial timescales. Using a fossil-pollen data set of over 700 sites, we review late-Quaternary vegetation history in northern and eastern North America across levels of ecological organization from individual taxa to biomes, and apply the insights gained from this review to critically examine the biome maps generated from the pollen data. Higher-order features of the vegetation (e.g., plant associations, physiog- nomy) emerge from individualistic responses of plant taxa to climate change, and different representations of vegetation history reveal different aspects of vegetation dynamics. Veg- etation distribution and composition were relatively stable during full-glacial times (21 000- 17 000 yr BP) (calendar years) and during the mid- to late Holocene (7000-500 yr BP), but changed rapidly during the late-glacial period and early Holocene (16 000-8 000 yr BP) and after 500 yr BP. Shifts in plant taxon distributions were characterized by individ- ualistic changes in population abundances and ranges and included large east-west shifts in distribution in addition to the northward redistribution of most taxa. Modern associations such as Fagus-Tsuga and Picea-Alnus-Betula date to the early Holocene, whereas other associations common to the late-glacial period (e.g., Picea-Cyperaceae-Fraxinus-Ostrya/ Carpinus) no longer exist. Biomes are dynamic entities that have changed in distribution, composition, and structure over time. The late-Pleistocene suite of biomes is distinct from those that grew during the Holocene. The pollen-based biome reconstructions are able to capture the major features of late-Quaternary vegetation but downplay the magnitude and variety of vegetational responses to climate change by (1) limiting apparent land-cover change to ecotones, (2) masking internal variations in biome composition, and (3) obscuring the range shifts and changes in abundance among individual taxa. The compositional and structural differences between full-glacial and recent biomes of the same type are similar to or greater than the spatial heterogeneity in the composition and structure of present-day biomes. This spatial and temporal heterogeneity allows biome maps to accommodate in- dividualistic behavior among species but masks climatically important variations in taxo- nomic composition as well as structural differences between modern biomes and their ancient counterparts.
Domain-specific enhancement of metacognitive ability following meditation training

Contemplative mental practices aim to enable individuals to develop greater awareness of their own cognitive and affective states through repeated examination of first-person experience. Recent crosssectional studies of long-term meditation practitioners suggest that the subjective reports of such individuals are better calibrated with objective indices; however, the impact of mental training on metacognitive ability has not yet been examined in a randomized controlled investigation. The present study evaluated the impact of a 2-week meditation-training program on introspective accuracy in the domains of perception and memory. Compared with an active control group that elicited no change, we found that a 2-week meditation program significantly enhanced introspective accuracy, quantified by metacognitive judgments of cognition on a trial-by-trial basis, in a memory but not a perception domain. Together, these data suggest that, in at least some domains, the human capacity to introspect is plastic and can be enhanced through training.
Voltage stability index for online voltage stability assessment

This paper proposes a voltage stability index to predict voltage collapse in power system. The index is based on maximum loading capability of the bus combined with a thevenin equivalent method for the aggregated representation. The technique is applied to transmission test system. Using thevenin equivalent calculated by fast load flow or PMU data, the index can be used for online voltage analysis. Comparison of the index with techniques used in previous literatures are presented. New England 39 bus and IEEE 118 bus test system are used to analyse the effectiveness of the method.
From Li-ion single cell model to battery pack simulation

A universal modeling and simulation approach for rechargeable lithium batteries is presented in this paper to introduce a practical method to conduct battery pack simulation from accurate cell models that can account for cell imbalance. We used a model based on an equivalent circuit technique commonly used in electrochemical impedance characterizations. Our approach uses parameters deduced directly from cell testing, which promise a convenient integration with live cell monitoring and control circuitry. Such integration accompanied with the generic nature of the model offers the universality in this modeling approach. We began with the explanation of a single cell model which is validated against experimental data to demonstrate its validity of high accuracy. A highly accurate single cell model is essential for the derivation of reliable statistical confidence interval to accurately account for the intrinsic imbalance of the cells in the pack. We then demonstrated that a high fidelity pack simulation can be achieved when such imbalance was accounted for.
The use of lipopheresis in the practice of clinical lipidology

Editor–in–Chief, The Journal of Clinical Lipidology, Charles Howard Candler Professor of Internal Medicine, Emeritus, Emory University School of Medicine, 1670 Clairmont Road, Atlanta, GA 30033, USA (Dr. Brown); Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA (Dr. Brook); Harvard School of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA (Dr. Hemphill); and Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA (Dr. Moriarty)
Active remote sensing applications to disaster management with implications to spectrum management

Spaceborne active sensors have been used for years to study the Earth's surface and atmosphere. The intent of this paper is to present the unique types of active remote sensors and their characteristics that apply to disaster management; and to present a status of current frequency spectrum use and needs of spaceborne active sensors, along with any issues or concerns.
Enhancing the security of aircraft surveillance in the next generation air traffic control system

Abstract The U.S. air traffic control system is reliant on legacy systems that artificially limit air traffic capacity. With the demand for air transportation increasing each year, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has introduced the Next Generation (NextGen) upgrade to modernize the air traffic control system. Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), a key component of the NextGen upgrade, enables an aircraft to generate and broadcast digital messages that contain the GPS coordinates of aircraft. The incorporation of ADS-B is intended to provide enhanced accuracy and efficiency of surveillance as well as aircraft safety. The open design of the system, however, introduces some security concerns. This paper evaluates the limitations of the legacy systems currently used in air traffic control and explores the feasibility of employing format-preserving encryption, specifically the FFX algorithm, in the ADS-B environment. The ability of the algorithm to confuse and diffuse predictable message input is examined using message entropy as a metric. Based on the analysis, recommendations are provided that highlight areas which should be examined for inclusion in the ADS-B upgrade plan.
Effect of a hyperpolarization-activated inward current on rhythmic activity in a hybrid half-center oscillator

A hybrid half-center oscillator, composed of a living neuron and an analog very large scale integrated circuit (aVLSI) model neuron connected via dynamic clamp has been constructed. This hybrid oscillator is designed to mimic the behavior of a living half-center found in Hirudo medicinalis, the medicinal leech. Using our hybrid system, we have investigated the effect of modulating a hyperpolarization-activated inward current on the oscillatory properties of the half-center.
Quantification of metabolites in the indole alkaloid pathways of catharanthus roseus: implications for metabolic engineering

In this article, we present a review of the current state of metabolic engineering in Catharanthus roseus. A significant amount of research has contributed to characterization of several individual steps in the biosynthetic pathway of medicinally valuable alkaloids. However, knowledge of the regulation of these pathways is still sparse. Using hairy root cultures, we studied the responses of alkaloid metabolism to environmental stimulation such as light and elicitation. Through precursor feeding studies, the putative rate-limiting steps of the terpenoid pathway in hairy root cultures also have been examined. Relating this knowledge to specific events at the molecular level, and the cloning of corresponding genes are the next key steps in metabolic engineering of the C. roseus alkaloids. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 58:333–338, 1998.
A New Approach to Estimate Directional Spreading Parameters of a Cosine-2s Model

Abstract For accurate and consistent estimates of the directional spreading parameter and mean wave direction of directional seas based on a cosine-2s directional spreading model, a new approach is proposed, employing a maximum likelihood method (MLM) to estimate the directional spreading function and then the angular Fourier coefficients. Because an MLM is more tolerant of errors in the estimated cross-spectrum than a directional Fourier transfer used in the conventional approach, the proposed approach is able to estimate the directional spreading parameter more accurately and consistently, which is examined and confirmed by applying the proposed approach and conventional approach, respectively, to the time series generated by numerical simulation and recorded in field measurements.
New Value, Fresh Start

In this article, the author enters into the debate about the desirability of the "new value" exception to Bankruptcy Law's absolute priority rule. After a description of the theory's origins, the author rejects the formal and textual argument that the exception did not survive the enactment of the Bankruptcy Code, as well as rejecting the arguments that the exception serves no useful function under the voting procedures of the Code, and that it wrongly confers a post-reorganization option-like value to equityholders on account of their pre-petition claims. The author proceeds to argue that the new value exception is necessary because fair new equity auctions would be rare in the reorganization context, because the quasi-option characteristics of the ability to file a reorganization plan using the new value exception provide socially desirable incentives to business owners, and because the new value exception is consistent with, and promotes, the fresh start policy. Moreover, providing the fresh start through the new value exception is preferable compared to its current provision through the rejection of injunctive obligations not to compete. The conclusion sketches the reorganization process toward which the law should move.
Evidence for another response to ostracism : Solitude seeking

People may choose to move toward, move against, or move away in reaction to threatening social situations. Ostracism induces both prosocial behaviors (moving toward) and antisocial behaviors (movin...
Teachers as Expert Learners and Fellow Travelers: A Review of Professional Development Practices for Problem-Based Learning.

The focus on 21st century skills acquisition in K-12 schools has resulted in an increasing interest in the use of Problem-based Learning (PBL) in primary and secondary education. This review examines recent research on professional development for K-12 teachers with an emphasis on factors that influence PBL implementation. Features of successful professional development programs are identified and used to frame the review. Findings of the review indicate that there are substantial barriers to PBL implementation in K-12 classrooms that should be considered by professional development designers. The review concludes with implications for further research and policy, including the need for a broader research base in PBL professional development and methods of modifying PBL to accord with school contexts.
SINGLE LOCUS CLINES.

Bazykin (1969) found the form of a single locus cline arising from viability selection against heterozygotes when two populations, initially fixed for alternative alleles, come into contact in a continuous, one-dimensional habitat. Here I have generalized Bazykin's results for the case of postmating reproductive isolation in the form of fertility selection as well as premating reproductive isolation. Analysis of natural zones of hybridization has become a very popular field of research in recent years. This analysis provides insights into the nature of species, the development of barriers to gene exchange, the strength and mode of natural selection, the number of genes involved, and the dynamics of the speciation process (Endler 1977; Barton and Hewitt 1981, 1985, 1989; Harrison and Rand, 1989; Harrison 1990, 1993; Barton and Gale 1993). Many hybrid zones are thought to be maintained by a balance between selection and dispersal. Selection could act in many different ways, of which a very common one is selection against hybrids, recombinants, and rare phenotypes (Barton and Hewitt 1981, 1985, 1989; Barton and Gale 1993). A classical model for a hybrid zone in a one-dimensional, continuous habitat arising from selection against heterozygotes at a single locus was proposed and solved by Bazykin (1969). Mallet and Barton (1989) have shown that Bazykin's cline describes hybrid zones arising in a simple model of selection against rare phenotypes. Further studies (e.g., Slatkin 1973, 1985; Nagylaki 1975, 1976, 1994; Barton 1979a,b, 1983, 1986; Barton and Begtsson 1986; Mallet and Barton 1989; Barton and Gale 1993) of more complex models have advanced the understanding of hybrid zones in many directions. The purpose of this note is to generalize Bazykin's results for the case of fertility selection and premating reproductive isolation. These are very common types of reproductive isolation mechanisms which, however, were left outside the scope of recent developments in the hybrid zone theory. At the end of this note, I will show that single locus clines arising from fertility and viability selection against heterozygotes also describe hybrid zones arising in some models of selection against rare phenotypes.
Building Sustainable Food Systems in a Single Bottom-Line Context: Lessons from SEED Wayne, Wayne State University

This paper discusses a four-year effort, embodied in an initiative called SEED Wayne, to implement a university-community sustainable food system collaboration involving multiple activities in campus and neighborhood settings, which also coincided with moves to institutionalize elements of the program as part of the university's core functions of education, research, engagement, and operations. The paper documents the many ways in which activities have indeed successfully integrated across the university's functions and discusses factors accounting for this integration. However, attempts to institutionalize the farmers' market as a university operation have encountered barriers heightened by an increasing focus on the single economic bottom line brought on by public funding cutbacks, which exacerbates the cleavage between functions considered academic — teaching and research — and those related to engagement and operations. The university's vast bureaucracy also challenges innovative approaches to an integrative sustainability agenda. The paper discusses the implications of these challenges and offers recommendations to others wishing to embark on a similar initiative.
Catheter Ablation of Intra-Atrial Reentrant Tachycardia Following Cardiac Surgery

Objective:The purpose of this study was to analyze the effectiveness and safety of catheter ablation of intra-atrial reentrant tachycardia(IART)following cardiac surgery. Methods:Forty-four patients with IART following cardiac surgery received catheter ablation in our hospital from January 2002 to February 2006.The ablation procedure was guided by three-dimensional mapping system(Carto and Ensite 3000)or routine electrophysiological method. Results:Fifty-four episodes of IART were induced in all patients.In thirty-seven(37/54,68.5%)episodes of IART presen- ted with typical Fwaves were documented on the electrocardiogram(ECG).Of them 31(31/54,57.4%;31/37,83.8%)were terminated successfully at the isthmus between IVC-TA,the other 6 at the isthmus between Scar-IVC.17(17/54,31.5%)epi- sodes of IART showed P'wave morphology on the ECG.The successful ablation targets located at the right free wall(including Scar-IVC isthmus,Scar-SVC isthmus and Scar-Scar isthmus)in 15(15/54,27.8%)and 2(2/54,3.7%)were teminated at the atrial septal patch area. Conclusion:Catheter ablation for IART following cardiac surgery is safe and effective,it could be the first choice of the treat- ment.
Survey of perinatal maternal health status and effect of health education

Objective To survey perinatal maternal health status and effect of health education.Methods Selected 300cases who entered pregnancy school as pregnancy school group,and 300 cases without entering pregnancy school as control group.Perinatal maternal health status,health education content demands,effect of health education for ce-sarean section rate,natural births,complications were surveyed.Results Mean score of pregnancy school group about perinatal health care knowledge was higher than control group(P0.01).Mean times of pregnancy school group about prenatal care was more than control group(P0.01).Attending pregnancy school,maternal age,health care knowledge score,family monthly income,maternal educational level,husband educational level were influencing factors of prena-tal care.Conclusion Health education can improve pregnant women to master perinatal maternal health knowledge,improve spontaneous labor,and decrease complications.
A modularized tablet-based approach to preparation for remedial mathematics

ABSTRACTBasic arithmetic forms the foundation of the math courses that students will face in their undergraduate careers. It is therefore crucial that students have a solid understanding of these fundamental concepts. At an open-access university offering both two-year and four-year degrees, incoming freshmen who were identified as lacking in basic arithmetic skills were engaged in an experimental technology-enhanced workshop designed to provide them with a deeper understanding of arithmetic prior to their initial remedial coursework. Customized online content was created specifically for this experiment, and the first implementation (n = 27) yielded statistically significant improvement, not only from pre-test to post-test, but also in the subsequent remedial course. This paper also analyses the accuracy of students’ self-assessment from pre-test to post-test, as well as student attitudes about this experimental approach.
Gist-based memory for prices and “better buys” in younger and older adults.

Ageing typically leads to various memory deficits which results in older adults' tendency to remember more general information and rely on gist memory. The current study examined if younger and older adults could remember which of two comparable grocery items (e.g., two similar but different jams) was paired with a lower price (the "better buy"). Participants studied lists of grocery items and their prices, in which the two items in each category were presented consecutively (Experiment 1), or separated by intervening items (Experiment 2). At test, participants were asked to identify the "better buy" and recall the price of both items. There were negligible age-related differences for the "better buy" in Experiment 1, but age-related differences were present in Experiment 2 when there were greater memory demands involved in comparing the two items. Together, these findings suggest that when price information of two items can be evaluated and compared within a short period of time, older adults can form stable gist-based memory for prices, but that this is impaired with longer delays. We relate the findings to age-related changes in the use of gist and verbatim memory when remembering prices, as well as the associative deficit account of cognitive ageing.
Injuries of the Colon

Prior to World War II, this type of injury was associated with a significant mortality and morbidity. Today, these wounds should be viewed as a serious event, but one that can be easily and safely managed provided sound surgical principles are adhered to and the surgeon is aware of the preferred therapy for the specific injury pattern present.
The screen student-prostitute, a twenty-first-century discourse: Mes chères études (2010), Elles (2011), Jeune et jolie (2013):

This article traces the student-prostitute from its 2008 inception in the popular press, and follows its emergence on screen in three recent fiction films. Through close readings and historical contextualisation, I dissect the iconic figure: while the first French student-prostitute film Mes cheres etudes exposes the economic desperation of students and the efficiency of the part-time work with a Marxist gloss, the films that follow, Elles and Jeune et jolie, diminish the students’ financial need. Conversely and increasingly we find students desiring sex with their clients perhaps more than money. As the films depict young, educated, French-speaking, future professionals who subtly approach clients via text messages and emails, we also find a nostalgic, nationalistic portrait that defends the age-old profession. In fact Sarkozy claimed in a 2002 Senate address that prostitution was once ‘traditional’, and largely French, while now 80 per cent of prostitutes are immigrants from Eastern Europe and sub-Sahar...
Strategic Communication and the Marketization of Educational Exchange

This chapter describes how the marketization discourse that typifies US strategic communication also influences the meanings and practices of educational exchange. Through an analysis of 5 presentations and 34 program evaluations provided by the US State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, this chapter explores the risks associated with marketization discourse for the development of mutual understanding and peace.
Automated refactoring of legacy Java software to enumerated types

Modern Java languages introduce several new features that offer significant improvements over older Java technology. In this article we consider the new enum construct, which provides language support for enumerated types. Prior to recent Java languages, programmers needed to employ various patterns (e.g., the weak enum pattern) to compensate for the absence of enumerated types in Java. Unfortunately, these compensation patterns lack several highly-desirable properties of the enum construct, most notably, type safety. We present a novel fully-automated approach for transforming legacy Java code to use the new enumeration construct. This semantics-preserving approach increases type safety, produces code that is easier to comprehend, removes unnecessary complexity, and eliminates brittleness problems due to separate compilation. At the core of the proposed approach is an interprocedural type inferencing algorithm which tracks the flow of enumerated values. The algorithm was implemented as an open source, publicly available Eclipse plug-in and evaluated experimentally on 17 large Java benchmarks. Our results indicate that analysis cost is practical and the algorithm can successfully refactor a substantial number of fields to enumerated types. This work is a significant step towards providing automated tool support for migrating legacy Java software to modern Java technologies.
After the Brits Have Gone and the Trumpets Have Sounded: Turning a Drama into a Crisis That Will Not Go to Waste

The EU institutions must diagnose the crisis that Brexit and Trump have brought to the fore as an economic crisis that is malleable to policy, and they must forcibly sell that diagnosis to the member states if they want to halt the further disintegration of the EU. Doing so would give member states room to experiment with locally appropriate policies rather than simply accept "one size fits none" policy rules. Such a diagnosis would be nothing less than an explicit political intervention by a supposedly technocratic set of institutions. But technocracies work best in good times, and these are not good times.
Resource utilization associated with cervical hematoma after thyroid and parathyroid surgery.

Abstract Background Postoperative cervical hematoma (PCH) after thyroid and parathyroid surgery is a well-known complication. This study used data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample to identify risk factors, estimate mortality, length of stay (LOS), and total costs attributable to PCH in patients undergoing procedures for thyroid and parathyroid diseases. Methods Patients aged >18 y who underwent thyroid or parathyroid surgery between 2001 and 2011 were identified and stratified by the occurrence of PCH. Univariate analyses of patient demographics, clinical and hospital characteristics were performed. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine risk factors for hematoma formation. LOS and costs were fit to linear regression models to determine the effect of PCH after adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics. Results Of patients who underwent thyroid or parathyroid surgery, 619 patients (0.8%) had a PCH. Predisposing factors included nonelective admission (emergent: OR = 2.01, P Conclusions Because risk for PCH is largely driven by preoperative patient risk factors, five clinicians have an opportunity to stratify patients accordingly and thereby minimize the resource utilization and health care spending among those with lowest risk.
Upstaging, not just a non-small matter.

We thank Saji et al . and appreciate their thoughtful commentary on our work including its place in the context of the existing small cell lung cancer (SCLC) literature (1).
Generating target/non-target images of an RSVP experiment from brain signals in by conditional generative adversarial network

Understanding human brain activities and their associations with sensory stimuli is an important area of brain research. We present in this paper e reconstruction of target and nontarget images from Electroencephalography (EEG) signals collected in a Rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) experiment. We proposed a novel model based on conditional Generative Adversarial Networks (cGAN), which includes a generator to generate target/nontarget images from input EEG epochs and discriminator to discriminate true images from the generated images. We showed the performance of image generation of the proposed cGAN model based EEG or EEG plus noise as input. We further demonstrated how we could use the trained model to examine the associations between target/nontarget images and their induced EEG patterns.
Communication, Understanding, and Interpretation: Philosophical Aspects

This article considers two kinds of questions that philosophers have asked about communication and understanding. First, they have asked about the nature or essence of communication. The article surveys these questions by considering how human communication differs from human interactions with nonhuman animals. It is suggested that, at some point, the question of whether humans can communicate with dogs and cats becomes a merely terminological one. Philosophers also ask questions about the extent of communication, about whether communication ever succeeds. This article considers three related kinds of skepticism that have been discussed and ends by sketching W. V. O. Quine's highly influential thesis of the indeterminacy of translation.
The Relationship Between Classical and Quantum Correlation in Games

Quantum games have been argued to extend classical games (Eisert-Wilkens-Lewenstein [8, 1999], Meyer [18, 1999], and subsequent papers). Levine [17, 2005] has questioned this assertion. We offer what we believe to be the simplest expression of the disagreement. In doing so, we also establish a general correspondence, at the probabilistic level, between the analyses of correlation in game theory and in quantum mechanics.
Anatomy of the HPA Axis

This article summarizes the structure of corticotropin releasing hormone neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus; anterior pituitary corticotropes, which secrete adrenocorticotropic hormone; and the cells in zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex, which release glucocorticoid hormone. Together these elements make up the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.
Queen v. Northumberland, and the Control of Technical Expertise

En dehors de son importance legale et politique, le proces entre la Reine Elizabeth I et le comte de Northumberland est d'un interet capital pour les historiens car il est l'exemple de l'utilisation des competences et de manipulations d'expertise technique de la royaute
Social Investment in Educational Testing

In this chapter we present ideas on analyzing the costs and benefits of standardized educational testing at the state and local level. The total value of resources devoted to educational testing is much larger than the direct, observable costs of developing, purchasing, and scoring standardized tests. There are significant indirect resource costs that should be included in any attempt to evaluate the social investment in local and state testing programs. In order to make such an analysis fruitful, planners and policy makers need to reorient the way they think about testing in two important ways. First, they should pay closer attention to the fundamental economic concept of marginal value. Second, testing and the time devoted to it should be considered as “inputs” into education, instead of merely as measures of educational “output”.
Dynamic Multimodal Freight Routing Using a Co-Simulation Optimization Approach

The complexity and dynamics of multimodal freight transportation networks make the optimum routing of freight demand a challenging task. Route decision-making in a dynamical and complex urban multimodal transportation environment aims to minimize a certain objective cost relying on the accurate prediction of the traffic network states and the estimation of the route costs that are not readily available. The purpose of this paper is to develop a methodology to be used by a central coordinator who generates individual routing decisions for shippers by minimizing overall cost, assuming that all participating shippers send their demands to this central coordinator. We propose, analyze, and evaluate a multimodal freight routing system with hard vehicle availability and capacity constraints based on a hierarchical Co-Simulation Optimization (COSMO) approach. The COSMO approach consists of a simulation layer that provides traffic state predictions and cost estimations to an upper optimization layer that incorporates a load balancing methodology to speed up the convergence of the optimization algorithm. A simulation test bed consisting of a road traffic simulation and a rail simulation model for the Los Angeles/Long Beach Ports regional area is developed and is used to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed approach.
Characterizing the differential physiological effects of adipocytokines visfatin and resistin in liver cancer cells

Background Obesity, a major public health concern, increases the risk of developing liver cancer which is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Obesity is associated with increased adiposity and macrophage infiltration both of which promote secretion of adipokines and cytokines in the tumor microenvironment. Specifically, visfatin and resistin have been detected at higher levels in the serum of obese individuals and liver tumors. However, the contribution of these adipocytokines in the progression of liver cancer remains unclear. Materials and methods The objective of this study was to characterize the effects of visfatin and resistin on HepG2, SNU-449 and HuH7 liver cancer cells. Cells exposed to visfatin and resistin were analyzed for fatty acid synthase protein, and phosphorylation of Akt and ERK tumorigenic signaling pathways, cell viability, lipogenesis, reactive oxygen species (ROS), matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) enzyme activity and invasion. Results HepG2, SNU-449, and HuH7 liver cancer cells treated with visfatin and resistin increased cell viability, invasion, FASN protein, and Akt and ERK phosphorylation. Visfatin and resistin selectively increased ROS production in HepG2 and SNU-449 cells while there was no statistical difference in HuH7 cells. Visfatin and resistin stimulated lipogenesis in HepG2 cells while visfatin increased lipogenesis in SNU-449 cells, and visfatin nor resistin had an effect on lipogenesis in HuH7 cells. Lastly, visfatin and resistin increased MMP-9 enzyme activity in HepG2 and HuH-7 cells but only visfatin increased MMP-9 activity in SNU-449 cells. Conclusions Future studies are needed to determine if inhibition of ERK and Akt suppresses the visfatin and resistin-induced invasive liver cancer phenotype.
Novel calculator for estimation of Freundlich partitioning coefficient

Abstract An estimation method for the Freundlich organic carbon normalized partitioning coefficient (Kfoc) is presented. It is based on regressions developed from batch equilibrium experiments submitted to U.S. EPA for pesticide registration. The regressions represent 18 specific agricultural soils from the U.S. and Europe, and are based on 41 pesticide active ingredients or metabolites. The predictive variable used is the subcooled liquid solubility (Sscl), whose calculation requires the compound's solubility, and if a solid (mp > 25 °C), its melting point. Sscl represents the compound's solubility as if it were a liquid at room temperature and does not assume that the compound is neutral. The estimation method was tested on 333 pesticides, and estimated means matched published Kfoc values to within 10× for 83%, 3× for 65%, and 2× for 43%. The estimation method (Kfoc Estimator v0.1) was further tested against data for 94 herbicides, 55 Superfund Priority Pollutants and 22 polychlorinated biphenyls. The estimated mean and median Kfoc values were highly correlated (R2 > 0.63 to 0.87) with the measured values. Matching of reported to estimated values was generally good. The herbicides were 51%–54% within 2×, 74%–77% within 3×, and 93%–94% within 10×. The Priority Pollutants were 22%–29% within 2×, 38%–55% within 3×, and 73%–75% within 10×. The estimates for the PCBs were low, but the maximum estimated Kfoc was consistently within 10× of the reported Koc. This may be due to the PCB data representing a single soil, rather than the central-tendency estimates produced by Kfoc Estimator v0.1.
Feedback Strategies for a Reach-Avoid Game With a Single Evader and Multiple Pursuers

We address a planar multiagent pursuit–evasion game with a terminal constraint (reach-avoid game). Specifically, we consider the problem of steering a single evader to a target location, while avoiding capture by multiple pursuers. We propose a feasible control strategy for the evader, against a group of pursuers that adopts a semi-cooperative strategy. First, we characterize a partition of the game’s state-space, that allows us to determine the existence of a solution to the game based on the initial conditions of the players. Next, based on the time-derivative of an appropriately defined risk metric, we develop a nonlinear state feedback strategy for the evader which provides a feasible solution to the game. This control strategy involves switching between different control laws in different parts of the state-space. We demonstrate the efficacy of our proposed feedback control in terms of the evader’s performance, through numerical simulations. We also show that for the special case of the reach-avoid game with only one pursuer, the proposed control law is successful in guiding the evader to the target location from almost all initial conditions, and ensures that the evader will remain uncaptured.
Emicizumab Prophylaxis in Patients with Hemophilia Α with and without Inhibitors

Background: Hemophilia A is an X-linked congenital bleeding disorder caused by deficient or defective factor VIII (FVIII), characterized by spontaneous or traumatic bleeding into joints, muscles, and body cavities. The burden of disease is high, as prophylaxis for bleed prevention requires several weekly intravenous factor infusions which are expensive and inconvenient. By adulthood, fewer than 50% comply and many develop pain, joint degeneration, and disability. For the 30% who develop inhibitors, requiring bypass therapy, which is associated with poor response, frequent hospitalization, and high cost. The bispecific monoclonal antibody emicizumab is licensed to prevent bleeds in hemophilia A (HA) and HA with inhibitors (HA-I). While it mimics FVIII by bridging FIXa and FX, it differs from FVIII biochemically, with no phospholipid binding and limited self-regulation. Thus, whether bleed frequency and severity, long-term joint health, and quality of life are comparable to FVIII is unknown. Methods: We reviewed outpatient medical records of HA and HA-I cared for at Hemophilia Center of Western Pennsylvania, switched to emicizumab between November 2017 and May 2019. This was an expedited study approved by the University of Pittsburgh IRB, PRO1800098. Means, medians, and standard deviations or frequencies were determined for clinical variables, including age race, genotype, reason for switching, bleeding events, surgical events, and treatment rating. Group comparisons were by Student's t test for continuous data, or chi-square or Fisher's exact test for discrete data. A p-value of Results: A total of 42 patients initiated emicizumab during outpatient comprehensive clinic, including 18 (42.9%) HA and 24 (52.1%) HA-I. Of these, 17 (47.3%) were Discussion: This study indicates the majority of HA and HA-I switching to emicizumab experience low ABR, infrequent surgical bleeding, and subjective improvement in health. Postoperative thrombosis/TMA suggests FEIBA should be avoided for at least 6 months after emicizumab discontinuation, during which it may still be detected. Disclosures Xavier: Bioverativ/Sanofi: Research Funding. Seaman: Takeda: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy; Spark Therapeutics: Consultancy. Ragni: Alnylam/Sanofi: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding; BioMarin: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding; Bioverativ/Sanofi: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding; OPKO: Research Funding; Sangamo: Research Funding; Shire/Takeda: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding; Spark Therapeutics: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding.
Time is vision: functional preservation and enhanced capacity for recovery in subacute occipital stroke

Stroke damage to the primary visual cortex (V1) causes a loss of vision known as hemianopia or cortically-induced blindness (CB). While early, spontaneous, perimetric improvements can occur, by 6 months post-stroke, the deficit is considered chronic and permanent. Despite evidence from sensorimotor stroke showing that early injury responses heighten neuroplastic potential, to date, rehabilitation research has focused only on chronic CB patients. Consequently, little is known about the functional properties of subacute, post-stroke visual systems, and whether they can be harnessed to enhance visual recovery. Here, for the first time, we show that conscious visual discrimination abilities are partially preserved inside subacute, perimetrically-defined blind fields, disappearing by 6 months post-stroke. Complementing this discovery, we show that global motion discrimination training initiated subacutely leads to comparable magnitude of recovery as that initiated in chronic CB. However, it does so 6 times faster, generalizes to deeper, untrained regions of the blind field, and to other [untrained] aspects of motion perception, preventing their degradation upon reaching the chronic period. Untrained subacutes exhibited only spontaneous improvements in perimetry - spontaneous recovery of motion discriminations was never observed. Thus, in CB, the early post-stroke period appears characterized by gradual - rather than sudden - loss of visual processing. Subacute training stops this degradation, and is dramatically more efficient at eliciting recovery than identical training in the chronic period. Finally, spontaneous improvements in subacutes appear restricted to luminance detection, whereas recovering discrimination abilities requires deliberate training. Simply stated, after an occipital stroke, time is VISION.
Gender, depressive symptoms, chronic medical conditions, and time to first psychiatric diagnosis among American older adults

Background: To test whether gender moderates the effects of baseline depressive symptoms and chronic medical conditions (CMCs) on risk of receiving subsequent psychiatric diagnosis among older adults. Methods: Data came from ten waves of the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative longitudinal study. We followed 9794 individuals older than 52 years without any diagnosed psychiatric disorder at baseline for up to 18 years. Baseline depressive symptoms and CMC were the predictors, time to receiving an emotional diagnosis was the outcome, baseline demographics and socioeconomics were controls, and gender was the moderator. We used Cox proportional hazards models for data analysis. Results: In the pooled sample, female gender increased the effect of baseline depressive symptoms (hazard ratio [HR], 1.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26–2.00) and reduced the effect of baseline CMC (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.63–0.97) on time to receiving a psychiatric diagnosis. Among men, baseline depressive symptoms (HR, 2.36; 95% CI, 1.87–2.97) increased and baseline CMC (HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.69–0.95) decreased time to receiving a psychiatric diagnosis. Among women, depressive symptoms (HR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.21–1.83) but not CMC (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.91–1.23) were associated with time to receiving a psychiatric diagnosis over time. Conclusions: Men and women differ in how depressive symptoms and CMC influence their risk of receiving a psychiatric diagnosis over time. Depressive symptoms are more salient promotor for men than women while CMC is only a barrier for men.
Assessing the Narrative Politics Model

Perceptions of the dangers of cannabis, the medical benefits of cannabis, or the euphoric benefits of cannabis vary by narrative. Likewise, the facts about cannabis and the desirability of cannabis varies according to policy narrative. Like political phenomena in general, policy recommendations are relative to the narrative one subscribes to. While this is problematic for those who desire consensus, absolutism, or monism, it is evidence of democratic pluralism in the polity. The Narrative Politics model is deemed to be highly interpretive, inductive, and accommodating of such pluralism. It can reveal the contours of the discourse enabling the analyst to better discern what is at stake for the polity in its various factions. The final chapter calls into question the suppression of scientific research on cannabis as well as the suppression of public discourse related to cannabis.
An Examination and Extension of the Theory of Gamified Learning: The Moderating Role of Goal Orientation:

Background.Landers (2014) proposed the theory of gamified learning to provide a theoretical framework for gamification research. Unfortunately, little empirical work has tested this theory. Thus, t...
Reactive motion planning with probabilistic safety guarantees

Motion planning in environments with multiple agents is critical to many important autonomous applications such as autonomous vehicles and assistive robots. This paper considers the problem of motion planning, where the controlled agent shares the environment with multiple uncontrolled agents. First, a predictive model of the uncontrolled agents is trained to predict all possible trajectories within a short horizon based on the scenario. The prediction is then fed to a motion planning module based on model predictive control. We proved generalization bound for the predictive model using three different methods, post-bloating, support vector machine (SVM), and conformal analysis, all capable of generating stochastic guarantees of the correctness of the predictor. The proposed approach is demonstrated in simulation in a scenario emulating autonomous highway driving.