cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Silica support modifications to enhance Pd-catalyzed deoxygenation of stearic acid

Abstract The catalytic deoxygenation of fatty acids has recently received significant attention as a low-hydrogen approach to biomass feedstock deoxygenation for production of hydrocarbon fuels with superior properties to biodiesel. Unfortunately, it is a challenging reaction to push to high yields. Of typical catalysts, Pd/C is typically reported to give the best performance, while most oxide supports are inferior, with exceptions for very specific preparation and pre-treatment protocols. Here, we investigate the role of organosilane-modified silicas as supports for the Pd-catalyzed deoxygenation of stearic acid at 300 °C under inert atmosphere. Comparing aminopropylsilane-modified, phenylsilane-modified, and unmodified silica supports with Pd incorporated by several methods, it is first shown that changes in dispersion alone do not account for improvements in deoxygenation yields. Capping silanols with phenylsilane is also ineffective on its own in improving deoxygenation yields. The most effective treatment is shown to be a co-deposition of phenylsilane and aminopropylsilane before Pd incipient wetness impregnation, followed by direct reduction of the catalyst, which gives heptadecane yields >85%, exceeding even the productivity of Pd/C. These results demonstrate that basic, aromatic-rich surfaces are accessible through organosilane grafting and that these surfaces can control Pd particle sizes and the adsorption of stearic acid and products. This work improves our understanding of support effects for biomass feedstock deoxygenation catalysts and could help design new catalysts that take advantage of modified inorganic supports.
A Modified Aspirator for Collecting Small Arthropods

Collecting and preserving small arthropods may be difficult because of their size and fragility. A simplified procedure for removing small specimens from their environment or from a collection net directly into a small vial is convenient, time-saving, and decreases handling, thus reducing damage to specimens.
Adams-Stokes syndrome. Indications for permanent pacemakers.

Adams-Stokes attacks begin with a sudden change in cardiac rhythm that produces acute cerebral ischemia. The symptoms are determined by the duration of asystole, and may be difficult to differentiate from a primary neurologic seizure disorder. Careful study of routine or monitored electrocardiographic tracings often will give evidence of a cardiac origin of the attacks and the need for a permanent demand pacemaker.
Detecting national political unrest on Twitter

The popular uprisings in a number of countries in the Middle East and North Africa in the Spring of 2011 were broadcasted live and enabled by local populations' access to social networking services such as Twitter and Facebook. The goal of this paper is to study the flow characteristics of the information flow of these broadcasts on Twitter. We have used language independent features of Twitter traffic to identify differences in information flows on Twitter mentioning countries experiencing some form of unrest, compared to traffic mentioning countries with peaceful political situations. We used these features to identify countries with political unstable situation. For empirical analysis, we collected several data sets of countries that were experiencing political unrest, as well as a set of countries in a control group that were not subject to such socio-political condition. Several different methods are used to model the flow of information between Twitter users in data sets as graphs, called information cascades. By using the dynamic properties of information cascades, naive Bayes and SVM classifiers both achieve true positives rates of 100%, with false positives rates of 3% and 0%, respectively.
Some Concluding Reflections

Some religious doctrines recommend courses of action: inward or overt, ritual or moral, by oneself alone or together with others. That is to say, an utterance of the doctrine in standard conditions has the force of recommending to someone that he undertake the course of action. Other doctrines propose valuations; others again propose beliefs. In the major religions of the world, doctrines of these types are interconnected and organised, more or less, in their schemes of doctrines.
Conclusion: Marcuse’s Unfinished Legacy

Marcuse’s work is frequently presented as falling into three distinct stages: (1) his early ‘Heideggerian Marxist’ stage from 1928 to 1933; (2) his orthodox ‘critical theory’ stage from 1933 to 1941, which adhered to the version of Hegelian Marxism developed by the Institute for Social Research in exile; and (3) his post-Second World War writings, in which his work took on a distinctly ‘Marcusean’ cast.1 There are some problems, however, with this conventional way of interpreting Marcuse. Although the first two stages are relatively unified and constitute a coherent programme of social theory with political intent, the post-Second World War writings contain a series of ruptures and novel departures. Consequently, depiction of the post-1950 writings as a unified stage attributes a false unity to what is really a heterogeneous body of work.
Neural Inhibition of Dopaminergic Signaling Enhances Immunity in a Cell-Non-autonomous Manner

Summary The innate immune system is the front line of host defense against microbial infections, but its rapid and uncontrolled activation elicits microbicidal mechanisms that have deleterious effects [1, 2]. Increasing evidence indicates that the metazoan nervous system, which responds to stimuli originating from both the internal and the external environment, functions as a modulatory apparatus that controls not only microbial killing pathways but also cellular homeostatic mechanisms [3–5]. Here we report that dopamine signaling controls innate immune responses through a D1-like dopamine receptor, DOP-4, in Caenorhabditis elegans . Chlorpromazine inhibition of DOP-4 in the nervous system activates a microbicidal PMK-1/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway that enhances host resistance against bacterial infections. The immune inhibitory function of dopamine originates in CEP neurons and requires active DOP-4 in downstream ASG neurons. Our findings indicate that dopamine signaling from the nervous system controls immunity in a cell-non-autonomous manner and identifies the dopaminergic system as a potential therapeutic target for not only infectious diseases but also a range of conditions that arise as a consequence of malfunctioning immune responses.
Multifaceted interactions between adaptive immunity and the central nervous system

Neuroimmunologists seek to understand the interactions between the central nervous system (CNS) and the immune system, both under homeostatic conditions and in diseases. Unanswered questions include those relating to the diversity and specificity of the meningeal T cell repertoire; the routes taken by immune cells that patrol the meninges under healthy conditions and invade the parenchyma during pathology; the opposing effects (beneficial or detrimental) of these cells on CNS function; the role of immune cells after CNS injury; and the evolutionary link between the two systems, resulting in their tight interaction and interdependence. This Review summarizes the current standing of and challenging questions related to interactions between adaptive immunity and the CNS and considers the possible directions in which these aspects of neuroimmunology will be heading over the next decade.
Wavefront Adaptive Raymode Processing for Over-the-Horizon HF Radar Clutter Mitigation

Detection of surface targets using over-the-horizon radar (OTHR) is extremely challenging due to ionospherically-induced Doppler spread clutter. In particular, low Doppler targets are often masked by ground clutter arriving via multipath propagation at different elevation angles, each with a different ionospheric Doppler shift. The wavefront adaptive raymode processing (WARP) approach presented here exploits the azimuthally distributed nature of the clutter return and adaptively estimates the "crinkly" spatial wavefront arriving on each raymode by using its distinct Doppler spectral characteristics. Rather than the plane-wave beamwidth of the array aperture, the raymode resolution of WARP is limited by the wavenumber-extent-spatial-aperture (WESA) product of the clutter return. Thus it is possible to spatially separate clutter raymodes using limited array apertures. Using simulated radar data, WARP is shown to provide a signal-to-clutter-plus-noise ratio (SCNR) improvement of as much as 30 dB over conventional processing for targets buried in Doppler spread clutter.
Regional seismicity of the Sierran foothills in the vicinity of Oroville, California

abstract The USGS operated 16 short-period seismic stations near Oroville, California, in conjunction with our aftershock study of the Oroville earthquake of 1 August 1975 ( M L = 5.7). Between June 1975 and August 1976, 35 earthquakes were recorded outside the aftershock zone with S-P times at Oroville less than 9 sec and magnitudes between 0.5 and 2.5. We have located those between 38°45′ and 40°15′N and 120°30′ and 122°15′W using the USGS Oroville network, supplemented with other regional stations. Maps are shown relating this regional seismicity to the Oroville aftershock zone, the M = 5.7 Chico event of 1940, and the historical seismicity. Of particular interest are two small but very well located events at a depth of 40 km down-dip from the Oroville aftershock zone.
Race and Anti-LGBT Legislation

This content analysis examines Mississippi and national newspaper coverage of House Bill 1523, which was considered harmful to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities in the state. The purpose of this study is to explore how the press, the public, and politicians discussed controversial issues related to LGBT rights and religious freedom legislation. Additionally, it examines how they interjected race into a discussion about the LGBT community. Results show conflict as a dominant news frame, anger as the dominant emotional appeal, and negativity as the primary tone. It also shows that Black elected officials cited as sources primarily discussed economics rather than race or equal rights.
Phenotypic expression of Bax is a predictive marker of 5-fluorouracil treatment in colorectal cancer

3605 Background: The anti-tumor activity of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has been related to its ability to induce apoptosis. Therefore, we assessed the predictive value of phenotypic expression of key ap...
The Effect of Scapular Position on Magnetic Resonance Imaging Measurements of Glenohumeral Dysplasia Caused by Neonatal Brachial Plexus Palsy

Purpose Neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP) frequently causes glenohumeral dysplasia. Quantification of this dysplasia on magnetic resonance imaging can determine the need for and the success of nonsurgical or surgical intervention. However, we hypothesize that the variable position of the scapula on the thorax between affected and unaffected shoulders affects dysplasia measurements. Methods Magnetic resonance imaging studies were analyzed from 19 NBPP patients (ages 0.8–18 years; median, 2.4 years) without prior shoulder surgery. Three reviewers measured the glenoid version angle (GVA) and percentage of humeral head anterior to the midscapular line (PHHA) on standard axial images ("thoracic axial") and on reformatted axial images aligned perpendicular to the scapular plane ("scapular axial"), which corrects for scapulothoracic position. Scapular tilt and protraction were measured to assess their impact on the difference between thoracic and scapular GVA and PHHA measurements. Intra- and interrater reliability were calculated for GVA and PHHA on both views. Results The GVA of the affected shoulder was significantly greater on thoracic than on scapular images, by an average of 5° and as much as 34°. The PHHA was significantly less in the affected shoulders on thoracic than on scapular images, by an average of 5% and as much as 33% of humeral head width. The difference in GVA, but not PHHA, between thoracic and scapular axial images in the affected shoulder correlated with scapular tilt. Unaffected shoulders showed no significant difference in GVA or PHHA between thoracic and scapular axial images. Interrater reliability ranged from fair to substantial and did not differ between thoracic and scapular images. Conclusions Thoracic axial images overestimate the severity of glenohumeral dysplasia in NBPP, owing at least in part to the variable position of the scapula on the thorax. This confounding effect must be considered in interpretation of axial quantitative measures of glenohumeral dysplasia in NBPP. Type of study/level of evidence Diagnostic III.
Trying to understand spinal anesthesia

DMINISTERING safe and effective anesthesia requires not only observational vigilance, but also technology that enlightens us beyond that which we can perceive by natural senses. Starting in the 1970s, anesthetic practice entered a period with progressively more measuring and less guessing. We now take for granted that the cardiac rhythm will be readily evident by electrocardiography, intensity of neuromuscular block will be revealed by nerve stimulation, arterial oxygenation by pulse oximetry, and carbon dioxide elimination by capnometry. The quest for a monitor of anesthetic depth through electrophysiological indices is likewise driven by our communal discomfort at not having direct measures for crucial physiological functions during an anesthetic. It is a similar dissatisfaction with opacity that repels some practitioners from regional anesthesia, since we have been operating in the dark regarding where nerves are, how the local anesthetic is distributed, and why there is so much variability in results. This accounts for the collective sigh of relief with the recent arrival of ultrasound imaging for peripheral neural blockade. Unfortunately, we remain in the dark regarding
Policy Design and the Politics of City Revenue: Evidence from California Municipal Ballot Measures

Residents of the United States rely on municipal governments to deliver important public goods but are often reluctant to pay for those goods. Can tax policy design affect voters’ propensity to say...
Unique surgical approach to a twisted ileal-anal pouch

Total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis can restore gastrointestinal continuity in patients requiring colectomy for ulcerative colitis, however, it can be associated with high morbidity. Reoperation for pouch-related complications is technically challenging and often leads to deterioration of pouch function or need for permanent stoma. We report a case of acute on chronic small bowel obstruction secondary to a 360-degree twist in the small bowel introduced during creation of the ileal-anal pouch. Our novel approach at repair has not been reported in past literature which included resection and re-anastomosis of the small bowel proximal to the pouch allowing for pouch salvage with return to function.
High school experience and university achievement

AbstractThis study examined the relationship between high school computer experience and university achievement in introductory computer science. Achievement was analyzed in terms of both the amount of high school computer science instruction and the degree of emphasis on structured programming in high school. A sample of 117 students in an introductory computer science course was pretested and all subsequent course examination scores were monitored. Neither amount of computer science nor emphasis on structured programming in high school had any measurable effect on university examination achievement. Students with less high school experience were more likely to withdraw from the university course.
Gay men AIDS and the code of the condom.

Among sex practices anal receptive intercourse without the barrier protection of a condom probably exposes the recipient participant to the greatest possible risk of contracting HIV. This form of sexual intercourse is practiced by both men in homosexual sexual encounters and women. Recognizing the risk and in the interest of reducing the incidence of HIV infection among men engaging in anal receptive intercourse gay-run organizations over the past decade have advocated consistent condom use during anal sex. Gay sex is fine as long as a condom is worn. Not wearing a condom violates obligations to other gay men as well as obligations to the larger gay community. A consistent condom user is under no obligation to be tested for HIV or to inform prospective sex partners of his HIV status even when he knows himself to be infected. This is the code of behavior among gay men which has developed around the condom. It has definitely led to the saving of many lives but many men ignore it or intend to follow it but often do not. New infection continues at substantial levels especially among young gay men and gay men of color. The author explores the origins and moral content of this code and discusses whether it is wise and defensible under certain circumstances. Condom rules are also compared to the code of sexual behavior which state governments have created in response to AIDS under their criminal laws. New ways should be sought to more effectively deliver current messages while the current content of messages should be reconsidered. Many public officials condemn gay sex. More substantial and cooperative support should instead be forthcoming from states and the federal government.
Comparative Analysis of Silicon Carbide and Silicon Switching Devices for Multilevel Cascaded H-Bridge Inverter Application with Battery Energy storage

This paper investigates the use of power semiconductor devices in a nine - level cascaded B-bridge (CHB) multilevel inverter topology with an integrated battery energy storage system (BESS) for a 13.8kV medium voltage distribution system. In this topology, the bulky conventional step-up 60 Hz transformer is not used. The purpose of this study is to analyze the use of SiC MOSFET and Si IGBT devices in the inverter system to evaluate their respective performances. SiC MOSFET and Si IGBT switching devices are modeled and characterized using Saber® modeling software. The switching losses, thermal performance, and efficiency of the inverter system are investigated, and measurements are obtained from the simulation. Saber® provides a good capability for characterizing semiconductor models in the real world, with great features of computation. A three-phase SiC power MOSFET-based multilevel CHB inverter prototype is presented for experimental verification. In the investigation, better performances of SiC MOSFET devices are recorded. SiC devices demonstrate promising performance at different switching frequency and temperature ranges.
Postoperative radiation for tumor control and overall survival in thymic epithelial tumors (TET): A matched-pair analysis.

8572Background: Due to lack of randomized trials, the role of postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) in thymic epithelial tumors (TET) remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate whether PO...
Solving 28 nm I/O circuit reliability issue due to IC design weakness

Abstract Integrated circuit (IC) reliability failure at field presents significant cost to both manufacturer and consumer. This paper targets reliability issue due to IC design weakness, presenting a case of 28 nm Input/Output (I/O) circuit reliability failure, and shows a complete work flow, starting from root cause identification using Final Test (FT) and failure analysis (FA), and ending with design retrofit to solve the issue. The work flow solves a 28 nm I/O reliability issue successfully (a narrow metal leads to EOS at field, and design retrofit is done to enlarge metal's current carrying capability). The work flow is applicable to solve general design related reliability problems.
The Role of Time Use Behaviors in the Risk of Obesity among Low-Income Mothers.

Abstract Objectives Childrearing responsibilities create additional demands on women's time and effort, especially in low-income families. We explore whether childrearing demands and differences in time use increase the risk of overweight and obesity for women in different income brackets. Methods We use data for women ages 18–55 years from the 2006–2008 and 2014–2015 American Time Use Surveys (N = 17,914). We predict whether women engage in particular activities using logistic regression and, among those who do particular activities, we predict the minutes spent in various activities using ordinary least squares models. We also predict women's risk of overweight or obesity using logistic regression. All models examine conditional relationships between income level and motherhood status. Results Replicating prior research, we find a greater risk of overweight and obesity for mothers with low (odds ratio, 1.66; p Conclusions Mothers experiencing economic hardship are at greater risk of overweight and obesity relative to other women. Additional research is warranted, however, because differences in time use do not explain this important health disparity.
Sincerest Form of Flattery? Product Innovation and Imitation in the European Automobile Industry

I study the impact of imitation on the returns to technological innovation when products are differentiated. Using data that capture Volkswagen’s introduction of the TDI diesel engine and the technology’s imitation by rival European firms, I estimate a discrete choice, oligopoly model of horizontally differentiated products. Imitation benefited consumers by increasing product variety and reducing prices but also limited Volkswagen to 14% of potential profits from the TDI. Volkswagen’s ability to differentiate its diesel models made the TDI a worthwhile investment nonetheless. This indicates firms can mitigate imitation risk by bundling easy‐to‐copy technological advancements with difficult‐to‐copy product characteristics including brand.
Non-Invasive Imaging of Normalized Solid Stress in Cancers in Vivo

The solid stress (SSg) that develops inside a cancer is an important marker of cancer’s growth, invasion and metastasis. Currently, there are no non-invasive methods to image SSg inside tumors. In this paper, we develop a new, non-invasive and cost-effective imaging method to assess SSg inside tumors that uses ultrasound poroelastography. Center to the proposed method is a novel analytical model, which demonstrates that SSg and the compression-induced stress (SSc) that generates inside the cancer in a poroelastography experiment have the same spatial distribution. To show the clinical feasibility of the proposed technique, we imaged and analyzed the normalized SSg inside treated and untreated human breast cancers in a small animal model. Given the clinical significance of assessing SSg in cancers and the advantages of the proposed ultrasonic methods, our technique could have a great impact on cancer diagnosis, prognosis and treatment methods.
SMRT; Not So Smart in Multiple Myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM), a clonal B-cell malignancy, characterized by accumulation of plasma cells in bone marrow is the second most hematological malignancy in United States. In the BM, the myeloma and stromal cells secrete cytokines, which support the growth and survival of the myeloma cells. We previously showed that JAG2, one of the NOTCH ligand, is over-expressed in MM cells (Blood. 2004 Dec 1;104(12)). We hypothesized that over-expression of JAG2 in myeloma cells induce secretion of IL-6 from the stromal cells and subsequently enhances the proliferation of myeloma cells. JAG2 has been shown to be over-expressed in all cell lines and patient samples studied To identify the mechanism for JAG2 overexpression in MM cells, we assessed the potential modifications of the JAG2 promoter in MM cell lines as well as patient samples (an JAG2 negative controls) by studying both methylation and histone acetylation level of the JAG2 promoter. We show that difference in H4 acetylation level might play a crucial role in JAG2 expression. Acetylation state of histones can be regulated by the recruitment of histone deacetylases (HDACs). HDACs are typically recruited to promoter regions through interaction with nuclear co-repressors such as SMRT. The cell lines and patient samples studied presented significantly reduced levels of SMRT. Therefore, based on these observations we propose a model in which partial down-regulation of SMRT recruits less active HDAC3 (as confirmed by immunoprecipitation). As a result the deactylation process of histones in the JAG2 promoter region has been impaired and the cells lost their regulatory mechanism on transcriptional regulation of JAG2. This provides a mechanistic explanation for JAG2 over-expression in MM and on the direct involvement of the SMRT co-repressor in MM pathogenesis.
Jerky Movement with Ceftazidime: A Case of Ceftazidime-Induced Neurotoxicity with a Review of the Literature

Neurotoxicity manifested as confusion and seizures has been recognized as a side effect of multiple cephalosporins including ceftazidime. Renal impairment and inappropriate dosing are the most common contributors to the development of neurological abnormalities in patients receiving these antibiotics. The presence of baseline neurological abnormalities likely contributes to the frequency of these adverse events. Here, we present a case of a 78-year-old man that developed altered mental status and myoclonic movement after initiation of ceftazidime in the setting of mild renal dysfunction. Resolution of clinical picture was evident after 48 hours of discontinuation of the antibiotic without additional interventions.
Improving Neuroevolution Using Island Extinction and Repopulation.

Neuroevolution commonly uses speciation strategies to better explore the search space of neural network architectures. One such speciation strategy is through the use of islands, which are also popular in improving performance and convergence of distributed evolutionary algorithms. However, in this approach some islands can become stagnant and not find new best solutions. In this paper, we propose utilizing extinction events and island repopulation to avoid premature convergence. We explore this with the Evolutionary eXploration of Augmenting Memory Models (EXAMM) neuro-evolution algorithm. In this strategy, all members of the worst performing island are killed of periodically and repopulated with mutated versions of the global best genome. This island based strategy is additionally compared to NEAT's (NeuroEvolution of Augmenting Topologies) speciation strategy. Experiments were performed using two different real world time series datasets (coal-fired power plant and aviation flight data). The results show that with statistical significance, this island extinction and repopulation strategy evolves better global best genomes than both EXAMM's original island based strategy and NEAT's speciation strategy.
The Role of Film Rupture During Slow Strain-Rate Stress Corrosion Cracking Testing

The unique nature of the slow strain-rate technique for stress corrosion testing is discussed in terms of its ability to maintain repetitive rupture of corrosion films. It is first shown that the surfaces of alloys of engineering importance tend to be covered with films under electrochemical conditions that promote stress corrosion cracking (SCC). The relevance of this observation to conditions prevailing directly at the stress corrosion crack tip is considered next, and it is shown that a film-covered tip is a likely probability in several alloy-corrodent systems. It is proposed that film rupture can be considered a prerequisite for the operation of the two major proposed SCC mechanisms, namely, anodic dissolution and hydrogen embrittlement. The predominance of intergranular or transgranular cracking is ascribed to the morphology of slip within the alloys and possibly to the effect of solute segregation on corrosion kinetics. It is concluded that the success of the slow strain-rate technique as a severe test of SCC susceptibility results from its ability to expose the crack tip region to the aggressive environment through film rupture.
A recircumscription of Goodyera (Orchidaceae), including the description of Paorchis gen. nov., and resurrection of Cionisaccus, Eucosia, and Salacistis

Goodyerinae is a cosmopolitan terrestrial subtribe of Orchidaceae; some currently accepted Goodyerinae genera have been suggested to be non-monophyletic, including the type genus for the subtribe, Goodyera. The polyphyly of Goodyera has been supported by multiple molecular studies, with several primarily Indomalayan and Australasian species forming distinct clades more closely related to genera such as Erythrodes, Lepidogyne, and Platylepis. The potential morphological limits of these clades, however, have not been fully explored. To better reflect the evolutionary relationships of these species, I present a broad-scale taxonomic recircumscription of Goodyera s.l. based on detailed morphological investigation of herbarium and living specimens. Goodyera s.s. is restricted to species bearing commonly marked, often basal leaves, and flowers with a short-footed, stout column. A new genus, Paorchis, is described, four names are transferred to Platylepis, and Cionisaccus, Eucosia, and Salacistis are resurrected, with the following new combinations: Cionisaccus procera, Paorchis thailandica, Eucosia afzelii, E. brachiorrhynchos, E. seikomontana, E. viridiflora, Platylepis flaccida, P. goudotii, P. roseum, P. scirpta, Salacistis angustifolia, S. beccarii, S. clavata, S. elmeri, S. erythrodes, S. fumata, S. lanceolata, S. rhombodoides, S. rubicunda, and S. werneri.
Linear reinforcement learning: Flexible reuse of computation in planning, grid fields, and cognitive control

Abstract It is thought that the brain’s judicious allocation and reuse of computation underlies our ability to plan flexibly, but also failures to do so as in habits and compulsion. Yet we lack a complete, realistic account of either. Building on control engineering, we introduce a new model for decision making in the brain that reuses a temporally abstracted map of future events to enable biologically-realistic, flexible choice at the expense of specific, quantifiable biases. It replaces the classic nonlinear, model-based optimization with a linear approximation that softly maximizes around (and is weakly biased toward) a learned default policy. This solution exposes connections between seemingly disparate phenomena across behavioral neuroscience, notably flexible replanning with biases and cognitive control. It also gives new insight into how the brain can represent maps of long-distance contingencies stably and componentially, as in entorhinal response fields, and exploit them to guide choice even under changing goals.
Familial Alzheimer’s disease mutations in amyloid protein precursor alter proteolysis by γ-secretase to increase amyloid β-peptides of ≥45 residues

Production of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) is carried out by the membrane-embedded γ-secretase complex. Mutations in the transmembrane domain of amyloid β-protein precursor (APP) associated with early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) can alter the ratio of aggregation-prone 42-residue Aβ (Aβ42) to 40-residue Aβ (Aβ40). However, APP substrate is proteolyzed processively by γ-secretase along two pathways: Aβ49→Aβ46→Aβ43→Aβ40 and Aβ48→Aβ45→Aβ42→Aβ38. Effects of FAD mutations on each proteolytic step are unknown, largely due to difficulties in detecting and quantifying longer Aβ peptides. To address this, we carried out systematic and quantitative analyses of all tri- and tetrapeptide coproducts from proteolysis of wild-type and 14 FAD-mutant APP substrates by purified γ-secretase. These small peptides, including FAD-mutant forms, were detected by tandem mass spectrometry and quantified by establishing concentration curves for each of 32 standards. APP intracellular domain (AICD) coproducts were quantified by immunoblot, and the ratio of AICD products corresponding to Aβ48 and Aβ49 was determined by mass spectrometry. Levels of individual Aβ peptides were determined by subtracting levels of peptide coproducts associated with degradation from those associated with production. This method was validated for Aβ40 and Aβ42 by specific ELISAs and production of equimolar levels of Aβ and AICD. Not all mutant substrates led to increased Aβ42/40. However, all 14 disease-causing mutations led to inefficient processing of longer forms of Aβ ≥ 45 residues. In addition, the effects of certain mutations provided insight into the mechanism of processive proteolysis: intermediate Aβ peptides apparently remain bound for subsequent trimming and are not released and reassociated.
An Iterative Approach to Finding Global Solutions of AC Optimal Power Flow Problems.

The existence of multiple solutions to AC optimal power flow (ACOPF) problems has been noted for decades. Existing solvers are generally successful in finding local solutions, which are stationary points but may not be globally optimal. In this paper, we propose a simple iterative approach to find globally optimal solutions to ACOPF problems. First, we call an existing solver for the ACOPF problem. From the solution and the associated dual variables, we form a partial Lagrangian. Then we optimize this partial Lagrangian and use its solution as a warm start to call the solver again for the ACOPF problem. By repeating this process, we can iteratively improve the solution quality, moving from local solutions to global ones. We show the effectiveness our algorithm on standard IEEE networks. The simulation results show that our algorithm can escape from local solutions to achieve global optimums within a few iterations.
High Seroconversion Rate Against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Symptomatic Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients.

ABSTRACT: Understanding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (PIBD) is important. We describe a single-center cohort of COVID-19 PIBD patients where seroconversion against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was examined.Immunosuppressed PIBD patients at Texas Children's Hospital who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by nasopharyngeal reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction were included in the study. The clinical course of IBD, concurrent medications, COVID-19 related symptoms, SARS-CoV-2 testing date, and SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody testing date and result were examined. Of 14 SARS-CoV-2 positive PIBD patients, 12 were tested for qualitative anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG (seven with transient COVID-19 symptoms, five asymptomatic). All symptomatic (7/7) and 60% of asymptomatic (3/5) patients seroconverted. No patients required hospitalization attributed to COVID-19.High rates of COVID-19 seroconversion occurred in immunosuppressed and symptomatic PIBD patients. More research to evaluate the significance of COVID-19 seroconversion is needed.
Outpatient Prescribing of Antibiotics and Opioids by Veterans Health Administration Providers, 2015-2017.

Introduction Antibiotics and opioids are targeted by public health and stewardship communities for reductions in prescribing across the country. This study evaluates trends and factors associated with outpatient prescribing by dental and medical providers in a large integrated health system. Methods This was a cross-sectional study of national dental and medical outpatient visits from Department of Veterans Affairs facilities in 2015–2017; analyzed in 2019–2020. Antibiotic and opioid prescribing rates were assessed by provider and facility characteristics. Multivariable Poisson regression adjusted for repeated measures by the provider was used to assess the independent association between facility and provider characteristics and rate of prescribing. Results Over the study period, 4,625,840 antibiotic and 10,380,809 opioid prescriptions were identified for 115,625,890 visits. Physicians prescribed most antibiotics (67%). Dentists prescribed 6% of the antibiotics but had the highest per-visit antibiotic prescribing rate compared to medical providers (6.75 vs 3.90 prescriptions per 100 visits, p Conclusions Although antibiotic and opioid prescribing has decreased, there are still important target areas for improvement. Interventions need to be tailored to community characteristics such as rurality and provider type.
MPEG-4 Video and Image Coding on Digital Signal Processors

The emerging MPEG-4 standard encompasses a wide variety of applications, many of which are suitable for implementation on a Digital Signal Processor (DSP). In particular, consumer products with embedded multimedia capability, such as set-top boxes and wireless communicators, are suitable for DSP-based implementation. With a programmable approach, various algorithmic tradeoffs can be made, based on processing capability. For best performance, careful attention must be paid to memory allocation, data transfer, and ordering of instructions to best match the DSP architecture. We discuss implementing simple profile MPEG-4 video on the low-power TMS320C54x, core profile on the TMS320C6x, and scalable texture profile, which could be implemented on either processor family.
Mechanisms of antibody formation: II. Use of DNP-Ficoll in studies of hapten-specific B-cell responses

Abstract Mice injected with 10 μg Nϵ-dinitrophenyl- l -lysine-Ficoll (DNP-F) preparations ranging widely in epitope density (DNP 52-F to DNP 11.5-F) generated longlasting (6 months) anti-TNP IgM and IgG responses, as measured by the number of spleen PFC produced against sRBC-TNP or hRBC-TNP. The immunogenicity of DNP-F correlated directly with the epitope density; DNP 1.5-F was nonimmunogenic. When mice immunized with DNP-F and actively producing antibodies were challenged with 2 mg DNP-F at different time intervals after sensitization, a rapid and long-lasting reduction in the formation of anti-TNP IgM and IgG PFC occurred. Mice were primed in vivo with sRBC, and spleen cultures were initiated in the presence of sRBC-TNP. Addition of a large dose of DNP-F at the start of the cultures or at 1 and 2 days later greatly reduced but did not completely eradicate the formation of anti-TNP IgM PFC. The production of anti-sRBC PFC was not affected. This specific tolerogenic effect persisted when the cells were washed after a suitable period of exposure to DNP-F, and were then recultured. Generally, exposure of the cells to DNP-F for 8 hr sufficed to reduce the number of TNP PFC observed on subsequent days; exposure for 2 hr was inadequate. These observations indicate that DNP-F does not have to be continuously present in the culture medium to exert its tolerogenic effects. The concentrations of DNP-F capable of exerting tolerlogenic effects do not act by killing the TNP-PFC. Rather, this effect appears to have been a consequence of the restriction of clonal expansion of hapten-specific B-cells by DNP-F. The results also suggest that DNP-F may exert a tolerogenic effect after clonal expansion. In this instance, antigen-antibody complexes may have formed on the surface of hapten-specific B cells, with deamplification of antibody gene transcription.
An Automatic Mass-Trim System for Spinning Spacecraft

Long-term precision pointing of the spin axis of a spinning satellite may be impossible because attitude control systems cannot counteract the effects of sensor-vehicle misalignments, the motion of the principle axes of inertia, and body-fixed disturbing torques. An automatic mass-trim system (AMTS) consisting of two pairs of movable trim masses is proposed as a means of providing control torques to eliminate errors resulting from these sources. An analysis of the equations of motion of a rigid spinning body with internal moving masses relates the dynamics of mass motion to the attitude motion of the spinning body. Specializing the geometry to a two-pair system allows calculation of the control torque available and the range through which the principal axis set may be moved relative to body-fixed coordinates. A control law for an automatic system used in conjunction with a previously developed spinning-vehicle attitude controller is presented and analyzed using root locus techniques. An analog simulation of the vehicle with trim system verifies the design.
“Associative concept learning in animals” by Zentall, Wasserman, and Urcuioli: a commentary

This opportunity to comment on the article by Zentall, Wasserman, and Urcuioli allows me to thank them for their impressive body of work. Their pioneering efforts have influenced the careers of a large number of researchers who have been interested the analysis of stimulus control (me included). During my graduate training in Sidman’s group at the Shriver Center, papers from these investigators were prominently featured within the curriculum and/or our lab meetings.Instudyingthem,welearnedalotabout designing stimulus control experiments and developingvariationsonbasicmatching-to-sample procedures that could be applied to enhance analyses of attending and remembering (e.g., Urcuioli & Nevin, 1975; Wasserman, 1976). Pertinent to the work, there was ongoing
Providing International Opportunities for Business Students: A Guide to Planning a Short-Term Study Abroad Program at Regional and Small Universities.

In recent years the perceived value and interest in participating in study abroad programs among college students has been increasing. Faculty who endeavor to develop study abroad programs face many challenges, particularly at smaller universities where resources may be very limited. This article offers recommendations to help faculty of regional and small universities who are considering developing a new direct-enrollment short-term program. The article addresses several pertinent issues including: the suitability of faculty, selecting a location, designing the course content, and post-trip evaluation.
Effect of Quantitative Undernutrition on the Activities of Intestinal Disaccharidases in the Rat

The activities of intestinal lactase, sucrase, and maltase in rats receiving food of normal composition but in restricted amounts were compared with those of younger, normally fed control rats of equal weight. The activities of all three disaccharidases were increased in the nutritionally abnormal animals, on the basis of both fresh weight and mucosal protein content. Total intestinal lactase activity was also increased in the nutritionally abnormal rats, although total intestinal sucrase and maltase activity were not.
Slip correction measurements for aerosol particles of doublet and triangular triplet aggregates of spheres

Abstract Slip correction measurements were made on six doublets and six triangular triplet aggregates of uniform plastic spheres in an improved Millikan apparatus. The results were compared with theoretical methods for correcting aggregates of uniform spheres for slip. Based on the assumption that the electric field of the Millikan apparatus oriented the aggregates with their long axes parallel to their direction of motion, continuum limit dynamic shape factors of κ 0 = 1.02 for doublets and κ 0 = 1.08 for triplets were used to determine the actual slip correction factor, C ( D z ), from the Millikan cell measurements for each aggregate. Each calculated value of C ( D z ) was used to solve for the adjusted sphere factor (ψ) in the Knudsen-Weber form of the slip correction equation: C(D 1 = 1+ 2λ ψD 1 α+β exp − γψD 1 2λ , where λ is the mean free path of gas molecules, D 1 is the primary particle diameter, D z = ψD 1 is the slip equivalent diameter, and α, β, and γ are the slip correction parameters. For doublets ( n p = 2) of 1.18 μm polystyrene latex spheres in parallel motion, the average value of ψ was computed to be 1.384. For triangular triplets ( n p = 3) in parallel motion, the average value of ψ was computed to be 1.453. Dahneke's (1982) theoretical values of ψ indicate that the value cannot simply be based on the volume equivalent diameter ( ψ = n p 1 3 ) or the surface area equivalent diameter ( ψ = n p 1 2 ) since the value of C ( D z ) depends on particle orientation, with respect to the direction of motion relative to the gas; however, our measured value of ψ for doublets in parallel motion ( ψ = 1.384) did not agree well with Dahneke's theoretical value ( ψ = 1.23). Values of ψ that were computed from the reported measurements of other investigators showed fair agreement with our results.
Social Policy and Immigrant Joblessness in Britain, Germany and Sweden

I examine patterns of joblessness among immigrant men and women from 33 countries of origin now living in Britain, Germany and Sweden. Access to welfare, access to the labor market, job segregation and institutional support for women's employment define distinct policy configurations in these three destinations. Findings show that gaps in joblessness between immigrants and the native-born are larger in Sweden than in Britain and Germany, net of human capital, socio-demographic characteristics and sending country. However, long-settled immigrants have more similar outcomes across the three countries than recent newcomers. Also, immigrant women in Sweden work at higher absolute rates than immigrant women elsewhere. This suggests that gendered employment policies in destination countries are a crucial dimension of immigrant economic incorporation. Ultimately, such policies also shape the fiscal impact of immigration.
Network virtualization over SLICE networks

The IT industry is experiencing an era of virtualization where everything (from utility resources to network components and functions) are abstracted as logical services to achieve agile and automated resource provision. The future Internet is projected into a two-player model via network virtualization, which promises more rapid technological revolutions through the functional decoupling. The advancement in network virtualization in turn necessitates a virtualized optical substrate for supplying abundant any-to-any connectivity to the future Internet. Among candidate optical technologies, Spectrum-Sliced Elastic Optical (SLICE) networks possess ideal features to seamlessly support network virtualization. In this work, we study network virtualization based on a SLICE substrate, and focus on the key enabler, namely the optical virtual network embedding over SLICE networks (OVNE-SLICE) problem. We elaborate the difference between OVNE-SLICE and regular VNE problem, and present Integer Linear Programming formulations for OVNE-SLICE problem.
Technical overview of IBM's Java initiatives

This paper gives an overview of some of IBM's major JavaTM efforts and sets forth a structure that relates the individual Java efforts to one another. The paper describes IBM's overall approach toward Java and describes how IBM is exploiting Java to answer customer requirements in such areas as server platforms, reusable components, and tools. This paper will serve as an introduction to some of the other papers that are included in this issue of the IBM Systems Journal and that detail individual areas of IBM's focus on Java.
Examination of Agonistic Behavior By Character Analysis I. the Spider Crab Microphrys Bicornutus

1) The influence of several classes of factors on the agonistic behavior of the spider Microphrys bicornutus were analyzed by character analysis. 2) Static factors (sex, size, color phase, hunger state) were found to have much less influence on the behavior patterns shown in a fight than the behaviors executed by the other animal. 3) The amount of communication between crabs during a fight ranged from 1.00 bits (act 2 to 3) up to 1.57 bits (act 4 to 5). The uncertainty about a given act was reduced by knowledge of the previous act (by the other animal) anywhere from 31% (act 2 to 3) up to 81% (next-to-last-to-last act).