cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Mercurial Germline Genome of Hypotrichous Ciliates

A hypotrichous ciliate contains both a germline nucleus and a somatic nucleus. The germline nucleus, called the micronucleus, contains chromosomes with very high molecular weight DNA. It divides mitotically and undergoes meiosis at cell mating. Its genes are transcriptionally silent during vegetative growth. The somatic nucleus, called the macronucleus, contains only gene-sized DNA molecules ranging in size from ~400 bp to ~15,000 bp with an average of 2200 bp in Oxytricha species. Each different sized molecule is present in the macronucleus in ~1000 copies. There are 24,000 different sized molecules, or a total of 24 × 106 molecules per macronucleus (Lauth et al., 1976). A gene-sized molecule contains a single transcription unit. The ~66 gene-sized, macronuclear molecules characterized for hypotrichs so far consist of a 5 ′ DNA leader, a transcription unit or open reading frame (ORF) for protein-encoding molecules, and a 3′ DNA trailer (Hoffman et al., 1995. All the molecules possess terminal repeats of 3′ dG4T4 with a 14-base or 16-base 3′ tail of the repeat sequence.
The Therapeutic Implications of Plasticity of the Cancer Stem Cell Phenotype

The cancer stem cell hypothesis suggests that tumors contain a small population of cancer cells that have the ability to undergo symmetric self-renewing cell division. In tumors that follow this model, cancer stem cells produce various kinds of specified precursors that divide a limited number of times before terminally differentiating or undergoing apoptosis. As cells within the tumor mature, they become progressively more restricted in the cell types to which they can give rise. However, in some tumor types, the presence of certain extra- or intracellular signals can induce committed cancer progenitors to revert to a multipotential cancer stem cell state. In this paper, we design a novel mathematical model to investigate the dynamics of tumor progression in such situations, and study the implications of a reversible cancer stem cell phenotype for therapeutic interventions. We find that higher levels of dedifferentiation substantially reduce the effectiveness of therapy directed at cancer stem cells by leading to higher rates of resistance. We conclude that plasticity of the cancer stem cell phenotype is an important determinant of the prognosis of tumors. This model represents the first mathematical investigation of this tumor trait and contributes to a quantitative understanding of cancer.
Uncovering the spatial dynamics of wild rice lakes, harvesters and management across Great Lakes landscapes for shared regional conservation

Sustainable conservation and management of valued resources and ecosystem services relies on understanding the dynamics of the socio-ecological system. In the case of wild rice, a cherished food resource of Northern Great Lakes landscapes, the dynamics involve (a) a changing distribution of wild rice lakes, (b) changing harvester population and demographics, and (c) different management overlays. Together these factors influence harvester choices and opportunities and create unexpected spatial dynamics between people and the lakes they harvest. In this paper we examine first, the regional distribution and characteristics of wild rice lakes through compilation of multi-agency data, geospatial analysis, license sales and harvest surveys. Second, we identify patterns of harvest in the region through six case study lakes and examine the decision-making models used to open lakes for harvest. Gathered together these various forms of knowledge and collected data sets inform our understanding of the social–ecological systems involving wild rice (Zizania palustris). Watersheds with wild rice have declined by 32% since the early 1900s, and are now primarily limited to northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Across case studies wild rice harvesters tend to gather wild rice close to where they live or learned to harvest and 50% have more than 20 years experience. Some wild rice lakes draw harvesters from greater distances and in higher numbers. Models for managing the harvest of wild rice range from ‘gather when ripe’ by state entities to a more hands-on posting by reservation committees specifying hours and days of harvest on a lake by lake basis. The social–ecological system around wild rice is a complex mosaic of multiple management jurisdictions, culturally diverse people, and an ecological system that is not well understood and potentially declining in extent. Defining the context of harvest within the spatially connected landscape and across multiple management systems is a first step in developing a shared framework of governance for the sustainability of wild rice landscapes.
The EUSES spreadsheet corpus: a shared resource for supporting experimentation with spreadsheet dependability mechanisms

In recent years several tools and methodologies have been developed to improve the dependability of spreadsheets. However, there has been little evaluation of these dependability devices on spreadsheets in actual use by end users. To assist in the process of evaluating these methodologies, we have assembled a corpus of spreadsheets from a variety of sources. We have ensured that these spreadsheets are suitable for evaluating dependability devices in Microsoft Excel (the most commonly used commercial spreadsheet environment) and have measured a variety of feature of these spreadsheets to aid researchers in selecting subsets of the corpus appropriate to their needs.
The Ballistic Particle Model

Bash and Peters (1976) suggested that giant molecular clouds (GMC’s) can b e viewed as ballistic particles launched from the two-armed spiral-shock (TASS) wave with orbits influenced only by the overall galactic gravitational potential perturbed by the spiral gravitational potential in the arms. For GMC’s in the Milky Way, the model predicts that the radial velocity observed from the Sun increases with age (time since launch). We showed that the terminal velocity of CO observed from l ≃ 30° to l ≃s 60° can be understood if all GMC’s are born in the spiral pattern given by Yuan (1969) and live 30 × 106 yrs. Older GMC’s were predicted to have radial velocities which exceed observed terminal velocities.
Treatment of skin infections with DC operated afterglow air plasma jet

We have developed a non-thermal plasma jet, which is generated with a dc voltage from ambient air1. By flowing air through the channel of a microhollow cathode discharge geometry at rates of 7-15 Ltr/min, a 10-20-mm long afterglow plasma plume is observed. The temperature in this expelled afterglow plasma reaches values that are close to room temperature at a distance of 5 mm from the discharge origin. Emission spectra show that atomic oxygen, hydroxyl ions and various nitrogen compounds are generated in the discharge and are driven out with the gas flow. These radicals are considered highly effective in the decontamination and sterilization of surfaces. We have investigated the effectiveness of this microplasma jet against notoriously difficult to treat yeast infections. In an in vitro study, complete eradication of Candida kefyr (a model for Candida albicans - the most common yeast infection) could be achieved with an exposure of 90 seconds at distances of 10 mm and more. Other pathogens that were tested, also respond well. The safety of the treatment was studied by an in vivo skin model. The exposure of healthy skin to the plasma jet, when using the same treatment parameters as for the in vitro studies, and even a treatment with a ten times higher dose, did not result in any damage. Possible interaction mechanisms were investigated. Treatment parameters, such as the penetration depth of radicals into skin, were studied with skin substitutes.
Venous blood pressure in broilers during acute inhalation of five percent carbon dioxide or unilateral pulmonary artery occlusion.

We evaluated the hypothesis that venous congestion (increased venous volume), as reflected by venous hypertension (increased venous pressure), can arise when the right ventricle is unable to elevate the pulmonary arterial pressure sufficiently to propel the car- diac output through an anatomically inadequate or inap- propriately constricted pulmonary vasculature. Changes in venous pressure were evaluated in clinically healthy broilers during modest increases in pulmonary vascular resistance induced by inhalation of 5% CO2 and during large increases in pulmonary vascular resistance accom- plished by acutely tightening a snare around one pulmo- nary artery. Inhalation of 5% CO2 induced a pronounced respiratory acidosis, as reflected by increases the partial pressure of CO2 and the hydrogen ion concentration in arterial blood. Inhalation of 5% CO2 also increased pulmo- nary arterial pressure by approximately 3 mm Hg and increased venous pressure by approximately 1 mm Hg when compared with the pre-inhalation venous pressure. Tightening the pulmonary artery snare increased the pul-
Large-scale network simulations with GTNetS

When designing a network simulation environment intended specifically for modeling large-scale topologies, a number of issues must be addressed by the simulator designer. Memory requirements for network simulation engines can grow quadratically with the size of the simulated topology and can easily exceed available memory on modern workstations. The number of outstanding simulation events grows linearly with the number of packets in flight being modeled, and can lead to performance bottlenecks when managing a sorted event list of millions of events. Tracking the results of the simulation using a packet-level log file can result in excessive usage of disk space. We discuss the design of the Georgia Tech Network Simulator (GTNetS) with emphasis on how GTNetS addresses these issues. We give results from performance experiments showing the reduction in memory and event list size as a result of our design decisions.
The Goals of Excuses and Communication Strategies Related to Causal Perceptions

Three investigations described the contents and goals of excuses, focusing on how these goals can be reached by altering causal perceptions of the recipient of the excuse. It was found that there are three goals of public excuses that can be incorporated within an attributional analysis: to preserve the self-esteem, lessen the anger, and change the expectancies of the receiver of the excuse. These three goals are uniquely linked in attribution theory to three properties of perceived causality: respectively, causal locus, controllability, and stability. Withheld reasons for an event or outcome were internal and controllable (forgetting! negligence and intent), while substantially all communicated excuses were external, uncontrollable, and unstable (e.g., prior commitment, work/study demands). The data suggest that excuse givers follow simple rules when searching for an excuse and that there is a very parsimonious analysis of some excuse-related communications.
Selective laser trabeculoplasty for the management of open-angle glaucoma in St. Lucia.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) for the treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma in an African-derived population in the developing world. Methods Sixty-one subjects from St. Lucia with medically treated primary open-angle glaucoma underwent a 30-day washout, followed by bilateral 360° SLT. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured 1 hour; 1 week; and 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after SLT. Results Mean (SD) IOP with medical therapy was 17.3 (5.0) mm Hg and 17.5 (4.0) mm Hg in the right and left eyes, respectively, and increased to 21.4 (3.6) mm Hg and 21.1 (3.5) mm Hg, respectively, after washout. Both eyes demonstrated a prompt and sustained IOP response to SLT therapy. Intraocular pressure dropped significantly by the first week and remained in the range of 13 to 14 mm Hg without medical therapy through 12 months in patients deemed successful. The mean IOP reductions from baseline ranged from 7.3 to 8.3 mm Hg (34.1%-38.8%) in right eyes and from 7.6 to 8.2 mm Hg (36.0%-38.9%) in left eyes through 12 months. The 12-month Kaplan-Meier survival rate (≥10% IOP reduction from postwashout baseline) was 77.7%, and 93% of successful subjects experienced IOP levels less than with-medication values. Most subjects reported moderate photophobia for 2 to 3 days after SLT; only 1 received anti-inflammatory therapy. Five eyes of 3 subjects had IOP spikes between 5 and 10 mm Hg that resolved without treatment. Conclusions The magnitude and duration of IOP reduction are clinically relevant in individuals from St. Lucia of African descent. If repeatable, SLT could be a powerful tool for reducing glaucoma-related blindness in this population.
Tachyphylaxis of Human Forearm Vascular Responses Does Not Occur Rapidly After Exposure to Isoproterenol.

Abstract In vitro and limited in vivo data suggest that rapid desensitization of β-adrenoceptor responses occurs after exposure to agonist. Tachyphylaxis to a β-adrenoceptor agonist would represent a potentially important mechanism for the short-term regulation of vascular tone. The effects of a 4-hour infusion of 400 ng/min intra-arterial isoproterenol on forearm blood flow and presynaptic β-adrenoceptor–mediated norepinephrine release were determined in eight healthy volunteers. Intra-arterial isoproterenol at 400 ng/min resulted in a significant increase in forearm blood flow in all eight subjects at all time points, with no evidence of tachyphylaxis. In fact, forearm blood flow after 4 hours of the isoproterenol infusion (22.8±3.3 mL/100 mL per minute) was significantly greater than after 7 minutes (14.6±2.8 mL/100 mL per minute), 15 minutes (15.4±2.4 mL/100 mL per minute), and 30 minutes (17.4±3.0 mL/100 mL per minute) of the infusion ( P <.05). Similarly, presynaptic β-adrenoceptor responses showed no evidence of tachyphylaxis, so forearm norepinephrine spillover values after 7 minutes (6.6±0.94 ng/min), 15 minutes (7.6±1.5 ng/min), and 4 hours (8.8±1.1 ng/min) of isoproterenol infusion were increased and similar. Minimal systemic effects were observed, and there was no evidence of tolerance, there being no difference in heart rate after 7 minutes (70.7±2.7 beats per minute) and 4 hours (72.2±3.6 beats per minute) of isoproterenol infusion. Similarly, systemic norepinephrine spillover values at 7 minutes (422.6±60.6 ng/min), 15 minutes (436.3±48.7 ng/min), and 240 minutes (491.4±52.9 ng/min) all increased from a baseline value of 294±28.2 ng/min ( P <.05) but were not significantly different from each other. Tachyphylaxis does not occur rapidly after exposure of forearm vascular smooth muscle to the β-adrenoceptor agonist isoproterenol and is unlikely to play a major role in the rapid regulation of vascular response to a β-adrenoceptor agonist.
Improving biomedical signal search results in big data case-based reasoning environments

Time series subsequence matching has importance in a variety of areas in healthcare informatics. These include case-based diagnosis and treatment as well as discovery of trends among patients. However, few medical systems employ subsequence matching due to high computational and memory complexities. This paper proposes a randomized Monte Carlo sampling method to broaden search criteria with minimal increases in computational and memory complexities over R -NN indexing. Information gain improves while producing result sets that approximate the theoretical result space, query results increase by several orders of magnitude, and recall is improved with no significant degradation to precision over R -NN matching.
Searching for Acquisitions: Some Guiding Principles

Useful as a background reading to prepare students for case studies about searching for acquisitions, this technical note offers eight guidelines drawn from theories about the economics of information, networks, options, and contagion.
Microelectronics reliability

The author points out the importance of the involvement of the design and manufacturing team in achieving reliability of microelectronic devices. A method of verifying reliability goals through calculation of failure rates based on life test parameters is described. An example illustrating the method is shown. >
Effects of psychotropic compounds on enzyme systems. I. Inhibition of human plasma and erythrocyte cholinesterases.

SummaryInhibition constants for 5 phenothiazines, chlorpromazine, promazine, secergan, thiopropazate and triflupromazine, using the systems human erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase with acetyl-β-methylcholine chloride as substrate and human plasma cholinesterase with both acetylcholine and butyrylcholine as substrates were determined. The mechanism of inhibition was of the mixed type for acetylcholinesterase, and of the competitive or partially competitive type for plasma cholinesterase. In vitro inhibition appeared to be unrelated to activity in the case of acetylcholine esterase and inversely related in the case of plasma cholinesterase.
Application of Solubility Parameters to Lignocellulosic/Thermoplastic Composites

The usefulness of solubility parameters in identifying miscible polymer blends is reviewed. The use of wood fibers in mixtures of recycled thermoplastics is of current interest. These composites do not require miscible blends of polymers, but must exhibit compatibility in order to have good adhesion and physical properties. The use of solubility parameters to design improved composites is cited. This approach is then applied to wood fiber/polyolefin thermoplastic composites.
Gas-Phase Chemical Dynamics Simulations on the Bifurcating Pathway of the Pimaradienyl Cation Rearrangement: Role of Enzymatic Steering in Abietic Acid Biosynthesis.

The biosynthesis of abietadiene is the first biosynthetically relevant process shown to involve a potential energy surface with a bifurcating reaction pathway. Herein, we use gas-phase, enzyme-free...
The Principle and Criterion of An Oscillation Islanding Device of Yunnan Small Hydro Power Based on Wide-area Measurement

How to find the oscillation source,i.e.the cluster of units which as the main role involved in an oscillation,and quickly make the units disconnected is the key issue to deal with the oscillation problem of power grid.According to the oscillation characteristics of Yunnan Power System(YPS) and with the disconnection principles based on power oscillation amplitude and on PRONY analysis,this paper deduces a method to make judgment of the oscillation situation of YPS based on the electromechanical wave theory.With wide-area measurement the method can on-line determine which units are the oscillation source and how to disconnect them.The feasibility of the proposed method is verified with RTDS.
Evaluating the strength of the land-atmosphere moisture feedback in Earth system models using satellite observations

Abstract. The relationship between terrestrial water storage (TWS) and atmospheric processes has important implications for predictability of climatic extremes and projection of future climate change. In places where moisture availability limits evapotranspiration (ET), variability in TWS has the potential to influence surface energy fluxes and atmospheric conditions. Where atmospheric conditions, in turn, influence moisture availability, a full feedback loop exists. Here we developed a novel approach for measuring the strength of both components of this feedback loop, i.e., the forcing of the atmosphere by variability in TWS and the response of TWS to atmospheric variability, using satellite observations of TWS, precipitation, solar radiation, and vapor pressure deficit during 2002–2014. Our approach defines metrics to quantify the relationship between TWS anomalies and climate globally on a seasonal to interannual timescale. Metrics derived from the satellite data were used to evaluate the strength of the feedback loop in 38 members of the Community Earth System Model (CESM) Large Ensemble (LENS) and in six models that contributed simulations to phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5). We found that both forcing and response limbs of the feedback loop in LENS were stronger than in the satellite observations in tropical and temperate regions. Feedbacks in the selected CMIP5 models were not as strong as those found in LENS, but were still generally stronger than those estimated from the satellite measurements. Consistent with previous studies conducted across different spatial and temporal scales, our analysis suggests that models may overestimate the strength of the feedbacks between the land surface and the atmosphere. We describe several possible mechanisms that may contribute to this bias, and discuss pathways through which models may overestimate ET or overestimate the sensitivity of ET to TWS.
Neonatal morbidity and mortality secondary to premature rupture of membranes.

PROM is one of the most common complications of pregnancy that has a major impact on neonatal mortality and morbidity. The occurrence of PROM is either directly or indirectly responsible for a large number of premature births and the concomitant mortality and morbidity associated with preterm delivery. PROM turns a pregnancy into a high-risk situation and increases the need for neonatal resuscitation in the delivery room. The incidence of neonatal sepsis increases with PROM, but the overall outcome of the neonate, even with surfactant therapy, is still primarily dependent on the gestational age at the time of delivery. This is most relevant between 24 and 27 weeks' gestation. During this 3-week interval, survival improves by almost 2% for each additional day of in utero maturation (i.e., from 35 to 75%). Thus the benefit to the fetus of prolonging the pregnancy in cases of PROM is immensely worthwhile and should be aggressively pursued as long as there is no significant increase in maternal morbidity.
Conceptual Considerations In Breast Reconstruction

As the primary therapy for breast cancer has continued to change, the reconstructive considerations have become increasingly complex. The selection of reconstruction can be affected markedly by adjunct radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Timing of reconstruction, surgery of the contralateral breast, follow-up of the reconstruction, and therapy for local recurrence are discussed.
Challenges for African swine fever vaccine development—“… perhaps the end of the beginning.”

African swine fever (ASF), an acute, viral hemorrhagic disease in domestic swine with mortality rates approaching 100%, is arguably the most significant emerging disease threat for the swine industry worldwide. Devastating ASF outbreaks and continuing epidemic in the Caucasus region and Russia (2007-to date) highlight significance of this disease threat. There is no vaccine for ASF, thus leaving animal slaughter the only effective disease control option. It is clear, however, that vaccination is possible since protection against reinfection with the homologous strain of African swine fever virus (ASFV) has been clearly demonstrated. Vaccine development has been hindered by large gaps in knowledge concerning ASFV infection and immunity, the extent of ASFV strain variation in nature and the identification of viral proteins (protective antigens) responsible for inducing protective immune responses in the pig. This review focuses on the challenges surrounding ASF vaccine design and development, with an emphasis on existing knowledge gaps.
Abstract IA19: Rational combinations of targeted and immunotherapies

Both targeted therapy and immunotherapy have shown great promise for the treatment of cancer patients, but neither approach results in durable success in the majority of patients. The combination of targeted therapies with immunotherapies has the potential to result in higher, more durable clinical responses and improved survival in patients with metastatic cancer. Besides inducing the release of antigens following tumor destruction, targeted therapies may also reverse the immunosuppressive microenvironment found at the tumor site. In previous studies, we found that BRAF inhibition enhances T-cell infiltration into tumors, partially by downregulating VEGF at the tumor site (CCR, Liu et al 2013). In addition, we have found other combinations in murine models that are effective, such as dasatinib plus anti-OX40 antibody in c-kit positive tumors (Blood, Yang et al 2012). Recently we reported that PTEN loss in tumors results in less infiltration by T-cells, and lower responses to anti-PD1 therapy in advanced melanoma patients (Cancer Discovery, Peng et al 2016). Importantly, this could be overcome in murine models using a combination of PI3K beta inhibitor and anti-PD1, a concept which will be tested in the clinic. We are now utilizing a high throughput screen of more than 1000 compounds to determine which can most effectively enhance the ability of tumor-specific T-cells to kill autologous tumor (poster #341). This screen evaluates tumor death using flow cytometry to detect intratumoral activated caspases 3 and 7, since T-cells kill using a caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway. Positive candidates are then confirmed and tested in murine tumor models. We are also evaluating the molecular basis of immune resistance using a similar in vitro screen as well as an in vivo screen with tumor cells transduced with shRNA libraries. Positive candidates will be tested for expression utilizing our banked samples from responding and non-responding patients who have received tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL). Using these screens we have thus far determined that the aurora kinase inhibitors, topoisomerase I inhibitors (poster #214), and HSP90 inhibitors (poster #276) enhance T-cell based immunotherapies. We are evaluating the mechanisms of action of these combination therapies. HSP90 inhibitors enhance anti-CTLA4 activity due to a mechanism involving the interferon response genes, for example. We have also found that altering metabolic pathways (eg, inhibiting glycolysis) in tumor cells enhances antitumor immune responses. In summary, we are currently performing high throughput screens to determine the best agents to combine with immunotherapy strategies, as well as molecular determinants of immune resistance. Citation Format: Weiyi Peng, Rina Mbofung, Leila Williams, Patrick Hwu. Rational combinations of targeted and immunotherapies [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; 2016 Sept 25-28; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2016;4(11 Suppl):Abstract nr IA19.
Fast and accurate implementation of Fourier spectral approximations of nonlocal diffusion operators and its applications

Abstract This work is concerned with the Fourier spectral approximation of various integral differential equations associated with some linear nonlocal diffusion and peridynamic operators under periodic boundary conditions. For radially symmetric kernels, the nonlocal operators under consideration are diagonalizable in the Fourier space so that the main computational challenge is on the accurate and fast evaluation of their eigenvalues or Fourier symbols consisting of possibly singular and highly oscillatory integrals. For a large class of fractional power-like kernels, we propose a new approach based on reformulating the Fourier symbols both as coefficients of a series expansion and solutions of some simple ODE models. We then propose a hybrid algorithm that utilizes both truncated series expansions and high order Runge–Kutta ODE solvers to provide fast evaluation of Fourier symbols in both one and higher dimensional spaces. It is shown that this hybrid algorithm is robust, efficient and accurate. As applications, we combine this hybrid spectral discretization in the spatial variables and the fourth-order exponential time differencing Runge–Kutta for temporal discretization to offer high order approximations of some nonlocal gradient dynamics including nonlocal Allen–Cahn equations, nonlocal Cahn–Hilliard equations, and nonlocal phase-field crystal models. Numerical results show the accuracy and effectiveness of the fully discrete scheme and illustrate some interesting phenomena associated with the nonlocal models.
Tricuspid Valve Dysfunction Following Pacemaker or Cardioverter-Defibrillator Implantation.

The potential for cardiac implantable electronic device leads to interfere with tricuspid valve (TV) function has gained increasing recognition as having hemodynamic and clinical consequences associated with incremental morbidity and death. The diagnosis and treatment of lead-related (as distinct from functional) tricuspid regurgitation pose unique challenges. Because of pitfalls in routine diagnostic imaging, a high level of clinical suspicion must be maintained to avoid overlooking the possibility that worsening heart failure is a consequence of mechanical interference with TV leaflet mobility or coaptation and is amenable to lead extraction or valve repair or replacement. The future of cardiac implantable electronic devices includes pacing and perhaps defibrillation without a lead traversing the TV.
Cognitive Underpinnings of Identity Flexibility in Adulthood

The main question I hope to address in this chapter is this: how can I create and hold a unified concept of my self and my identity at the same time I hold a concept of my self and my identity as growing, evolving, and changing? My answer will be that I use complex postformal thought and problem solving, a theory of adult cognitive development that rests on complex conceptual processes also seen in sciences such as quantum physics and self-constructing systems. Now that you have the short answer to my question, you, the reader, can read on for a deeper analysis, critique the ideas, or go on to another chapter. Your choice.
Anaerobic microplate assay for direct microbial conversion of switchgrass and Avicel using Clostridium thermocellum

To develop and prototype a high-throughput microplate assay to assess anaerobic microorganisms and lignocellulosic biomasses in a rapid, cost-effective screen for consolidated bioprocessing potential. Clostridium thermocellum parent Δhpt strain deconstructed Avicel to cellobiose, glucose, and generated lactic acid, formic acid, acetic acid and ethanol as fermentation products in titers and ratios similar to larger scale fermentations confirming the suitability of a plate-based method for C. thermocellum growth studies. C. thermocellum strain LL1210, with gene deletions in the key central metabolic pathways, produced higher ethanol titers in the Consolidated Bioprocessing (CBP) plate assay for both Avicel and switchgrass fermentations when compared to the Δhpt strain. A prototype microplate assay system is developed that will facilitate high-throughput bioprospecting for new lignocellulosic biomass types, genetic variants and new microbial strains for bioethanol production.
What makes lithium substituted polyacrylic acid a better binder than polyacrylic acid for silicon-graphite composite anodes?

Abstract Lithium substituted polyacrylic acid (LiPAA) has previously been demonstrated as a superior binder over polyacrylic acid (PAA) for Si anodes, but from where does this enhanced performance arise? In this study, full cells are assembled with PAA and LiPAA based Si-graphite composite anodes that dried at temperatures from 100 °C to 200 °C. The performance of full cells containing PAA based Si-graphite anodes largely depend on the secondary drying temperature, as decomposition of the binder is correlated to increased electrode moisture and a rise in cell impedance. Full cells containing LiPAA based Si-graphite composite electrodes display better Coulombic efficiency than those with PAA, because of the electrochemical reduction of the PAA binder. This is identified by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and observed gassing during the electrochemical reaction. Coulombic losses from the PAA and Si SEI, along with depletion of the Si capacity in the anode results in progressive underutilization of the cathode and full cell capacity loss.
Theorizing the Performative Effects of Penal Risk Technologies: (Re)producing the Subject Who Must Be Dangerous

This article explores the ways in which practices of risk assessment exert material and semiotic effects that structure how penal subjects are constituted, imagined, and governed. In so doing, it p...
An unexpectedly effective Monte Carlo technique for the RNA inverse folding problem

Abstract Solving the RNA inverse folding problem, also known as the RNA design problem, is critical to advance several scientific fields like bioengineering, yet existing approaches have had limited success. The problem has several features that resist traditional computational techniques, such as its exponential complexity and the chaotic behavior of its cost function. Although some state-of-the-art AI approaches have reported promising results, all existing computational methods substantially underperform expert human designers. I combine a different technique, Nested Monte Carlo Search (NMCS), with domain-specific knowledge to create an algorithm that outperforms all prior published methods by wide margins and solves 95 of the 100 puzzles listed in a recently proposed RNA solving difficulty benchmark.
A Tool for Visualizing Large-Scale Interactions between Turbulence and Particles in 3D Space through 2D Trajectory Visualization

Particle-laden turbulent flows are relevant to many industrial, biological, and environmental applications. In these flows, there are many interactions that occur between the carrier-fluid turbulence and the dispersed particles inside; visualization tools aid in understanding the complex physical phenomena at various spatial and time scales in such flows. For a large scale 3D particle-laden turbulence, visualizing the vector data in a dynamic environment makes the computation expensive. Furthermore, the interaction between the turbulence and particles is difficult to observe in 3D. The particle-turbulence interaction is easy to observe using 2D visualization, yet 2D visualization cannot properly capture the dynamics of the interactions. In this paper, we explore a method which can visualize the 3D effect of particle-turbulence interaction as a 2D trajectory visualization. We divide the 3D particle trajectory into several segments and, for each, we compute the plane crossing the line segment. As the turbulence vectors across the plane have a significant impact on the particle motion, we only visualize the planes where the particles are localized. Since we select the salient planes to visualize instead of the whole 3D vector cube, considerable improvements can be achieved with regards to the memory and time performance. For each plane, we use Line Integral Convolution to visualize the turbulence. Originally, Line Integral Convolution only visualizes the vectors’ direction. Instead, we not only visualize the vector directions but also the magnitude of the flow by utilizing a more meaningful texture, which generates a more compelling visualization.
How Rurality Affects Students’ Higher Education Access in Kazakhstan

In this paper, I address the issues of rural disadvantage in accessing higher education. Taking an autoethnographic approach and building on research on rural education, which has shown that geography is an important stratifier of educational outcomes, I reflect on the factors that helped me to access higher education despite my rural background in Kazakhstan. I argue that the role of students’ social capital in accessing higher education is critical.
Disturbance Tracking and Blade Load Control of Wind Turbines in Variable-Speed Operation

A composite state-space controller was developed for a multi-objective problem in the variable-speed operation of wind turbines. Disturbance Tracking Control theory was applied to the design of a torque controller to optimize energy capture under the influence of persistent wind disturbances. A limitation in the theory for common multi-state models is described, which led to the design of a complementary pitch controller. The goal of the independent blade pitch design was to minimize blade root fatigue loads. Simulation results indicate an 11% reduction in fatigue damage using the proposed controllers, compared to a conventional torque-only design. Meanwhile, energy capture is almost identical, partly because of nonlinear effects.
Polyetheretherketone in Trauma

Abstract Semirigid fixation for trauma continues to find favor as research into fracture healing and stress shielding matures. The necessary requirements for a polymer implant material for internal fixation are sufficient strength and stiffness, long-term stability, the ability to be sterilized without degradation, and biocompatibility. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) possesses properties which make it suitable for certain trauma applications, including its biocompatibility, radiolucency, and stiffness. In addition, PEEK is advantageous when implant removal may be expected, as it can eliminate cold welding problems that occur between plates and screws. The past few years have seen an increase in the number of worthy clinical studies that have begun to validate the hypothetical benefits of PEEK use in fracture fixation, particularly for fractures of the proximal humerus, lateral malleolus, femur and distal radius. Despite their utility, polymer implants still account for only a small fraction of fracture fixation devices used clinically. Nearly all of the existing clinical literature describe retrospective comparative studies comparing carbon-fiber-reinforced PEEK (CFR-PEEK) implants (Level III) to titanium and stainless steel versions, or case series of PEEK devices alone (Level IV evidence). The authors have discussed the potential clinical benefits of PEEK devices, and implant-related complications have been comparable, and in some cases improved, relative to titanium and steel options. Early retrospective comparative studies have been promising, though the industry would benefit greatly from the addition of high-quality randomized studies comparing clinical and functional outcomes between CFR-PEEK implants and those made of titanium alloy and stainless steel. It is expected that performance of PEEK implants will continue to improve as product design methodologies innovate to optimize and capitalize on the unique material property advantages inherent in this material.
A descriptive study of venous sinus pressures and gradients in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension

Objective To determine the relationship between normal physiologic and pathologic venous sinus pressures in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), which is poorly understood. Methods Retrospective analysis was performed to identify patients with medically refractory IIH who were evaluated by angiography and retrograde venography with venous manometry. Patients were further subdivided into groups based on anatomic factors. Results 104 patients met inclusion criteria for the study. In the absence of non-invasive venographic screening, 58% of patients in this series were found to have pressure gradients of ≥8 mm Hg; 93% were located near the transverse-sigmoid sinus junction. Opening pressure (OP) is strongly predictive of superior sagittal sinus (SSS) pressures (p Conclusions This study describes intracranial and extracranial venous pressure measurements and gradients in different subgroups of patients with IIH. OP is highly predictive of intracranial venous pressures and significant venous pressure gradients.
Entre a invasão dos “capitais alienígenas” e a modernização da televisão: Imprensa e debates públicos em torno do acordo Rede Globo/Time-Life, 1964 – 1967

No dia 23 de janeiro de 1966, O Estado de Sao Paulo publicou um manifesto assinado pelos proprietarios dos jornais paulistas, se pronunciando contra investimentos estrangeiros nas empresas jornalisticas nacionais, denunciando como “a vinda de capitais alienigenas, assim como e um bem quando orientada com a observância dos interesses gerais da nacao, pode constituir-se um mal, quando sao interesses espurios que a dirigem.” O texto fazia referencia implicita ao debate na midia comecado no anos antes, que denunciava o acordo da Rede Globo com o grupo Time-Life em 1962. Carlos Lacerda, entao governador da Guanabara, havia iniciado uma campanha publica de denuncia sobre o assunto, por considerar o acordo antinacional e em violacao da Constituicao. Em 1966, a pressao exercida pela imprensa, levou a Câmara dos Deputados a instalar uma CPI para investigar dito acordo. Em marco de 1967, o governo Castelo Branco declarou infundadas as acusacoes sobre o caso e arquivou o inquerito. O presente artigo analisa o debate de dito acordo nos jornais da epoca e como este originou uma discussao profunda sobre o papel da imprensa e seu posicionamento dentro da nova e complexa configuracao politica suscitada pela ditadura.
Abnormal center of mass control during balance is associated with falls in Parkinson’s disease

Abstract Although Parkinson disease (PD) causes profound balance impairments, we know very little about how PD impacts the sensorimotor networks we rely on for automatically maintaining balance control. In young healthy people and animals, muscles are activated in a precise temporal and spatial organization when the center of body mass (CoM) is unexpectedly moved. This organization is largely automatic and determined by feedback of CoM motion. Here, we show that PD alters the sensitivity of the sensorimotor feedback transformation. Importantly, sensorimotor feedback transformations for balance in PD remain temporally precise, but become spatially diffuse by recruiting additional muscle activity in antagonist muscles during balance responses. The abnormal antagonist muscle activity remains precisely time-locked to sensorimotor feedback signals encoding undesirable motion of the body in space. Further, among people with PD, the sensitivity of abnormal antagonist muscle activity to CoM motion varies directly with the number of recent falls. Our work shows that in people with PD, sensorimotor feedback transformations for balance are intact but disinhibited in antagonist muscles, likely contributing to balance deficits and falls.
Too Little, Too Late: Addressing Nature of Science in Early Childhood Education

The nature of science is an important aspect of scientific literacy that helps prepare students to become informed citizens as well as critical practitioners and consumers of science. This chapter reviews the body of empirical research relevant for teaching and assessing the nature of science during early childhood. Nature of science research for early childhood is sparse, but what is available suggests that young children are capable of learning about the nature of science at very young ages. The research also indicates that children and teachers alike possess misconceptions about the nature of science. Explicit reflective instruction and the use of learning progressions that scaffold more challenging nature of science concepts, benefit students most, while targeted nature of science instruction for both pre-service and in-service teachers is also necessary. Nature of science instruction can be incorporated into science lessons in a variety of ways, and there are also a number of options for assessment. Empirical research, not mere opinion, must govern conclusions as to the most effective teaching and assessment methods.
Intracratonic Stability: A Comparison of Paleomagnetic Data from the North and the South of Dharwar Craton, India

Abstract The prominent bend of Dharwar craton, India was recently suggested to post-date the ‘stabilization’ phase of the craton via a ~30°, anticlockwise, vertical-axis intracratonic rotation. The prima facie evidence for this rotation was the realignment of dyke trends following correction of the inferred deformation. The proposal also appeared to be consistent with the observed structural grain in the host Archean basement. We argue that using the trend of dyke swarms is not the ideal method to assess intracratonic rotation and instead we use variations in paleomagnetically determined declination data from these dykes. We find that multiple early Paleoproterozoic dyke swarms (the 2367, 2216, and 2082 Ma generations) preserve a systematic offset with a large uncertainty. The mean paleomagnetically permissible anticlockwise rotation is 19° ± 17°. Dykes emplaced during the ~1888 Ma LIP do not show the same offset, which suggests that rotation occurred prior to this time. Therefore, the 2082-1888 Ma interval brackets the window for any deformation and tectonism required to bend the Dharwar craton by about ~20°. No large-scale deformational events are documented in the Dharwar craton during this critical interval apart from the earliest stages of Cuddapah basin formation. We argue that the ‘observed’ rotation results from biases associated with how trends of dykes and their magnetic directions are compiled when age data are limited. The curvature of geological features in Dharwar craton is likely the tectonic inheritance of the Neoarchean collision between the Western Dharwar and Eastern Dharwar cratons.
Accounting for spectral shape in a simplified method of analyzing friction pendulum systems

Abstract This paper examines the effect of subduction zone and basin amplified motions on the accuracy of using a simplified method to analyze Friction Pendulum Systems, which is the basis for many international code provisions. This method estimates the maximum displacement demand for Friction Pendulum System isolated structures from analyzing a single degree of freedom system with equivalent period and damping coefficient. Friction Pendulum Systems with equivalent natural period between 1.5 s and 5 s and equivalent damping ratio from 16% to 32% were considered when subjected to over 400 motions. The considered ground motions include crustal and subduction zone motions, with and without basin amplification effect. Ratios of analysis-to-design maximum displacements corresponding to each ground motion are computed. A displacement-spectrum shape correction factor is proposed to improve the accuracy of the simplified method. This correction factor takes into account the irregularity of the 5% damped displacement spectrum that depends on the equivalent period and damping ratio at design displacement of the isolation system.
The Impact of Environmental Uncertainty and Leverage on Firm Restatements

This study examines the relationships of environmental uncertainty and leverage with financial restatements, using a sample of 5,454 organizations that were audited by 582 unique auditors, includin...
Occlusion-Aided Passive Non-Line-of-Sight Imaging using Plenoptic Information

We present a passive, non-line-of-sight imaging technique where we use the scattered light field along a surface to discover hidden occluding features in the scene and utilize the plenoptic information for scene reconstruction.
Transient mechanics of slide-ring networks: A continuum model

Abstract Slide ring gels, developed from molecularly threaded polymer chains, have been getting increased attention for their unique modes of relaxation and toughness in the past ten years. While the methods of synthesis have become more sophisticated and efficient, theory has not kept up with experiments, and there exist many unexplained observations. In this paper, we develop a continuum-level model for slide ring gels based on thermodynamically consistent equations. We begin at the level of a single chain and perform statistical averaging to capture the unique molecular dynamics shown by polyrotaxane, the backbone chain of the network. We discover a unique dependence of relaxation on both level of strain and speed of deformation. We explain these properties quantitatively by assigning internal state variables that represent chain reptation and relative degree of chain-stretch and solve for their evolution during deformation.