cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
EXPEDITING REFORESTATION IN TROPICAL GRASSLANDS: DISTANCE AND ISOLATION FROM SEED SOURCES IN PLANTATIONS

Where tropical forests have been cleared and abandoned, forest regrowth is often slow. Because of the increasing extent of such degraded lands and desire for these areas to fulfill conservation and ecosystem functions, it has become important to assess mechanisms that accelerate reforestation. In situations where site conditions limit tree establishment, one option to facilitate reforestation is to establish plantations of fast-growing noninvasive trees that ameliorate site conditions and promote the growth of indigenous trees. To quantify the effect of distance and isolation from seed sources on the regeneration of indigenous trees, we evaluated tree species richness and stem density in four pine plantations surrounded by natural forest within Kibale National Park, Uganda, and one isolated pine plantation surrounded by agriculture near Kibale. Tree regeneration in these plantations was compared to that in natural forest and to an anthropogenic grassland similar to those upon which the plantations were established. Tree species richness and stem density were negatively correlated with distance to the plantation edge. The grassland had lower tree species richness and stem density than the isolated plantation, which had lower species richness and stem density than the plantations within Kibale. Leguminous species dominated tree regeneration in the isolated plantation and grassland, whereas small-seeded animal- dispersed species dominated regeneration in plantations adjacent to forest. We suggest that these differences are due to decreased seed dispersal across large distances or unfavorable habitats (e.g., grasslands) and to greater disturbance (e.g., fire) in the isolated plantation and grassland than in plantations within the National Park. This study demonstrates that forest reestablishment can be faster if plantations are established than if grasslands are left to recover without management. However, differences within and among plantations can lead to very different communities with respect to species composition, species richness, and stem density.
Multilateral matching

We introduce a matching model in which agents engage in joint ventures via multilateral contracts. This approach allows us to consider production complementarities previously outside the scope of matching theory. We show analogues of the rst and second welfare theorems, and, when agents’ utilities are concave in venture participation, show that competitive equilibria exist, correspond to stable outcomes, and yield core outcomes. Competitive equilibria exist in our setting even when externalities are present. JEL classication: C78; C62; C71; D47; D85; L14; L24
An Update of Clinical CT Imaging of Pancreatic Neoplasm: Tips, Tricks, and Pitfalls

The progressive advancement in computed tomography (CT) technology has enabled improved diagnosis and management of pancreatic tumors. Some of these improvements are seen in multidetector CT, dual-energy CT, perfusion CT, and post-processing techniques. Despite the technological improvement, prognosis for tumors such as pancreatic adenocarcinomas remains dismal. This review article will discuss some of the tips, tricks, and pitfalls for optimal utilization of these imaging techniques to characterize, diagnosis, and manage some of the more common pancreatic tumors such as adenocarcinomas, cystic tumors, and neuroendocrine tumors.
Upper and lower bounds for solutions of linear operator problems with unilateral constraints

Dual extremum principles characterising the solutions of problems for a positive-definite self-adjoint operator on a Hilbert space which involve unilateral constraints are formulated using a Hilbert space decomposition theorem due to Moreau. Various upper and lower bounds to these solutions are then obtained, these bounds involving the solutions to subsidiary problems with less restrictive conditions than the solution to the original problem.
Nitric oxide release from a biodegradable cysteine-based polyphosphazene

Nitric oxide (NO) is a unique bioactive molecule that performs multiple physiological functions and has been found to exhibit antithrombotic, antimicrobial, and wound-healing effects as an exogenous therapeutic agent. NO release from polymeric materials intended for use in biomedical applications has been established to reduce their thrombogenicity and decrease the likelihood of infection and inflammation that frequently produce medical complications. As a result, numerous NO-releasing polymers have been developed in an effort to utilize the beneficial properties of NO to improve the performance of implantable materials. The majority of synthetic NO-releasing biodegradable polymers that have been reported to date are polyesters, and there is significant interest in the development of new NO-releasing materials with improved or distinctive physicochemical characteristics. Polyphosphazenes are polymers with inorganic phosphorus–nitrogen backbones, and hydrolytically-sensitive derivatives with organic substituents have been prepared that degrade under physiological conditions. For this reason, biodegradable poly(organophosphazenes) are interesting candidate materials for applications such as tissue engineering, where the addition of NO release capability may be therapeutically useful. Herein, we report the first development and characterization of an NO-releasing poly(organophosphazene) from poly(ethyl S-methylthiocysteinyl-co-ethyl cysteinyl phosphazene) (POP-EtCys-SH). The thiolated polymer was synthesized from the reaction of poly(dichlorophosphazene) with ethyl S-methylthiocysteinate, followed by partial cleavage of the disulfide linkages to form free thiol groups. The conversion of thiol to the NO-releasing S-nitrosothiol functional group with tert-butyl nitrite resulted in a polymer (POP-EtCys-NO) with an average NO content of 0.55 ± 0.04 mmol g−1 that was found to release a total of 0.35 ± 0.02 mmol NO g−1 over 24 h under physiological conditions (37 °C, pH 7.4 phosphate buffered saline). Extracts obtained from both the thiolated and S-nitrosated polymers were not found to significantly impair the viability of human dermal fibroblasts or induce morphological changes, indicating that this cysteine-based polyphosphazene may possess potential utility as an NO-releasing biomaterial.
Status of Required Physical Education Programs in Colleges and Universities

(1969). Status of Required Physical Education Programs in Colleges and Universities. Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation: Vol. 40, No. 1, pp. 32-35.
Secondary Organic Aerosol from Aqueous Reactions of Green Leaf Volatiles with Organic Triplet Excited States and Singlet Molecular Oxygen

Vegetation emits a class of oxygenated hydrocarbons - the green leaf volatiles (GLVs) - under stress or damage. Under foggy conditions GLVs might be a source of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) via aqueous reactions with hydroxyl radical (OH), singlet oxygen (1O2*), and excited triplet states (3C*). To examine this, we determined the aqueous kinetics and SOA mass yields for reactions of 3C* and 1O2* with five GLVs: methyl jasmonate (MeJa), methyl salicylate (MeSa), cis-3-hexenyl acetate (HxAc), cis-3-hexen-1-ol (HxO), and 2-methyl-3-butene-2-ol (MBO). Second-order rate constants with 3C* and 1O2* range from (0.13–22) × 108 M–1 s–1 and (8.2–60) × 105 M–1 s–1 at 298 K, respectively. Rate constants with 3C* are independent of temperature, while values with 1O2* show significant temperature dependence (Ea = 20–96 kJ mol–1). Aqueous SOA mass yields for oxidation by 3C* are (84 ± 7)%, (80 ± 9)%, and (38 ± 18)%, for MeJa, MeSa, and HxAc, respectively; we did not measure yields for other conditions because of slow...
Considerations for the Design and Installation of SDI Systems in Humid Areas

Humid areas, such as the southeastern and midsouthern United States, have particular climate, topography, soils, cropping systems, and water sources that require special consideration when considering and implementing a subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) system. Design criteria are generally the same in humid areas as in arid or semi-arid areas, but these factors are normally different enough in value or type to result in a different system design. Irregularly shaped fields commonly found in humid areas can result in a system layout that differs greatly from a "normal" layout. Installation is best done when the soil moisture is within an optimal range, which may seriously limit installation windows in humid areas. As fewer systems have been installed in humid regions, availability of professional installers and installation equipment can be problematic. This paper presents both design and installation considerations for SDI systems, with particular emphasis placed on conditions found in humid areas. It is condensed from two publications in a series designed to provide guidance on SDI systems in humid regions in an "extension-like" format. Topics include: design criteria; pumps; filtration; chemical injection; valves; main and submain, dripline, and flush ing manifold design; instrumentation and control systems; design implementation; installation tips; and locating an installer.
Effect of Relative Positions between Blade and Volute Tongue on Prediction of Performance in Simulation of Centrifugal Pump

The RANS governing equation and RNG k-e turbulence model were used,and the flow fields at different relative positions between blade and volute tongue in a centrifugal pump were simulated by using finite volume method,under the hypothesis of steady flow.The regularities of computation errors of each performance parameter were analyzed in accordance with the relative positions.Through the comparisons of mean squared deviation of each performance parameter at different relative position,it is found that there is a suitable relative position for the precise prediction of performance parameter.It provides important guidance for the performance prediction of a centrifugal pump with the method of numerical simulation.
A Genetically Determined Murine Model of Infantile Polycystic Kidney Disease

We have evaluated a congenic strain of mice with congenital polycystic kidney disease in which the disease process appears to closely resemble human infantile polycystic kidney disease. Cysts formed first in the proximal tubules of the nephron and appeared, by light microscopy, to be preceded by vacuolization of the cells. These spaces, as seen by electron microscopy, occurred between adjacent cells. The pancreas was severely involved with reduction of both exocrine and endocrine elements. Cyst formation in the liver was minimal. Serum samples evaluated for urea nitrogen and creatinine were significantly elevated in affected mice. Serum glucose was within normal limits.
Regression of human cirrhosis.

T article by Wanless et al1 is an attempt to offer an explanation to the problem of regression of cirrhosis. Their hypothesis is based on the evolution of a single case of hepatitis B disease that appears to have regressed. The authors compare this case with the findings observed in 52 livers obtained following transplantation. The issue of regression of fibrosis or cirrhosis has been a subject of controversy for a long time. To my knowledge, the parameters described forming the ‘‘hepatic repair complex’’ do not constitute any set of accepted criteria suggestive or characteristic of anything known as ‘‘regressing cirrhosis.’’ Statements are made by Wanless and colleagues that within the same liver, mixtures of morphologic parameters consistent with the diagnosis of complete or incomplete septal cirrhosis are observed. This is not surprising and is common knowledge among experienced morphologists who have studied a number of cases of cirrhosis large enough, irrespective of its type. These changes are most likely seen whenever necrosis and regeneration have taken place simultaneously or within a short period of time. They do not, however, constitute criteria of reversibility. The possibility that micronodular cirrhosis on biopsy converts to macronodular at autopsy is doubtful and in my view is most likely the result of sampling.
Neoclassical History and the Modern World

In 1716, writing in The Freeholder, Joseph Addison restated the commonplace complaint against English historical writing: The Misfortune is, that there are more Instances of Men who deserve … Immortality, than of Authors who are able to bestow it. Our Country, which has produced Writers of the first Figure in every other kind of Work, has been very barren in good Historians. We have had several who have been able to compile Matters of Fact, but very few who have been able to digest them with that Purity and Elegance of Stile, that Nicety and Strength of Reflection, that Subtilty and Discernment in the Unravelling of a Character, and that Choice of Circumstances for enlivening the whole Narration, which we so justly admire in the antient Historians of Greece and Rome, and in some Authors of our neighbouring Nations.1 This criticism dated from the sixteenth century and lasted until the mid-eighteenth century.2
Rare Dysuria: Prostatic Abscess due to Disseminated Coccidioidomycosis

We present a case of disseminated coccidioidomycosis with formation of a prostatic abscess in a 28-year-old diabetic male. Though rare, Coccidiodes prostatitis should be included in the differential for patients who have spent time in endemic areas and present with prostatitis or other genitourinary tract symptoms, especially in the setting of immunocompromise. The small number of Coccidiodes prostatitis cases described in the literature previously are reviewed, along with a wider discussion of coccidioidomycosis. Treatment modalities for this challenging fungal disease are also discussed.
ER network homeostasis is critical for plant endosome streaming and endocytosis

Eukaryotic cells internalize cargo at the plasma membrane via endocytosis, a vital process that is accomplished through a complex network of endosomal organelles. In mammalian cells, the ER is in close association with endosomes and regulates their fission. Nonetheless, the physiological role of such interaction on endocytosis is yet unexplored. Here, we probed the existence of ER-endosome association in plant cells and assayed its physiological role in endocytosis. Through live-cell imaging and electron microscopy studies, we established that endosomes are extensively associated with the plant ER, supporting conservation of interaction between heterotypic organelles in evolutionarily distant kingdoms. Furthermore, by analyzing ER-endosome dynamics in genetic backgrounds with defects in ER structure and movement, we also established that the ER network integrity is necessary for homeostasis of the distribution and streaming of various endosome populations as well as for efficient endocytosis. These results support a novel model that endocytosis homeostasis depends on a spatiotemporal control of the endosome dynamics dictated by the ER membrane network.
Split-Intein Triggered Protein Hydrogels

Proteins are nature's building blocks and indispensable in living organisms. Protein-based hydrogels have a wide variety of applications in research and biotechnology. In this chapter, we describe an intein-mediated protein hydrogel that utilizes two synthetic soluble protein block copolymers, each containing a subunit of a trimeric protein that serves as a cross-linker and one half of the naturally split DnaE intein from Nostoc punctiforme. Mixing of these two protein block copolymers initiates an intein trans-splicing reaction that constitutes a self-assembling polypeptide flanked by cross-linkers, triggering protein hydrogel formation. The generated hydrogels are highly stable under both acidic and basic conditions, and at temperatures up to 50 °C. In addition, these hydrogels are able to undergo rapid reassembly after shear-induced rupture. Incorporation of an appropriate binding motif into the protein block copolymers enables the convenient site-specific incorporation of functional globular proteins into the hydrogel network.
Proteolytic processing of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus spikes expands virus tropism

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infects humans from zoonotic sources and causes severe pulmonary disease. Virions require spike (S) glycoproteins for binding to cell receptors and for catalyzing virus–cell membrane fusion. Fusion occurs only after S proteins are cleaved sequentially, first during their secretion through the exocytic organelles of virus-producing cells, and second after virus binding to target-cell receptors. To more precisely determine how sequential proteolysis contributes to CoV infection, we introduced S mutations obstructing the first cleavages. These mutations severely compromised MERS-CoV infection into human lung-derived cells, but had little effect on infection into several other cell types. These cell type-specific requirements for proteolysis correlated with S conformations during cell entry. Without the first cleavages, S proteins resisted cell receptor-induced conformational changes, which restricted the second, fusion-activating cleavages. Consistent with these findings, precleaved MERS viruses used receptor-proximal, cell-surface proteases to effect the second fusion-activating cleavages during cell entry, whereas the more rigid uncleaved MERS viruses trafficked past these cell-surface proteases and into endosomes. Uncleaved viruses were less infectious to human airway epithelial and Calu3 cell cultures because they lacked sufficient endosomal fusion-activating proteases. Thus, by sensitizing viruses to receptor-induced conformational changes, the first S cleavages expand virus tropism to cell types that are relevant to lung infection, and therefore may be significant determinants of MERS-CoV virulence.
Enrichment of selective miRNAs in exosomes and delivery of exosomal miRNAs in vitro and in vivo

Exosomes are nanovesicles secreted by cells and contain various molecules including protein, lipid, and DNA/RNA. They are crucial mediators of the intercellular communication and serve as promising vehicles for drug delivery and gene therapy. Recently, accumulating evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) may serve as new and potentially powerful targets for therapeutic interventions against various human diseases. However, steadily and effectively delivering miRNA mimics or inhibitors to target cells remains a major obstacle. To enhance the efficacy of exosome-mediated delivery of miRNA molecules, it is crucial to develop a convenient and efficient method to enrich specific miRNAs or antisense oligos in isolated exosomes. Here we report a novel method to prepare specific miRNA molecule-loaded exosomes. Using a modified calcium chloride-mediated transfection method, we successfully enhanced the designated miRNA mimics or inhibitors in isolated exosomes directly, instead of transfecting their mother cells. We also compared this method with direct transfection of exosomes using electroporation. Both methods confirmed that exosomes can serve as cargos to deliver a robustly increased amount of selected miRNA mimic(s) or inhibitor(s) to the recipient cells. Delivery of these miRNA molecule enriched-exosomes subsequently results in highly efficient overexpression or deletion of the designated miRNAs in the recipient cells both in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, we confirmed that exosome-delivered miRNA mimics or inhibitors are functional in the recipient cells. Collectively, we developed a novel protocol to conveniently manipulate exosomal miRNAs with high efficiency and successfully deliver the exosomal miRNA molecules to recipient cells.
All-Atom Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Stealth Liposomes

Pegylation of liposomes has been widely used in the field of drug delivery to increase the bloodstream circulation time of liposomes; however, simulation studies have focused on simple model of liposomes, including only one or two different kinds of lipids simulated by simplistic coarse-grained models that lack the atomic/chemical details. Implementing all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, stable structure of solvated stealth liposomes are achieved. The liposomes are composed of different DOPC (dioleoylphosphatidylcholine)/cholesterol/PEG2000-DSPE (polyethylene glycol 2000-distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine) molar ratio. Here we used coarse-graining/backmapping method to speed up mixing of the stealth liposome molecules. The MD simulations revealed that not only are geometric structure of liposomes dominated by the cholesterol molecules, but also PEGylated lipids reduce leakage of contents from liposomes.
Phase Transformation and Shock Sensor Response of Additively Manufactured Piezoelectric PVDF

Abstract Recently the authors discovered the ability to print electroactive PVDF using a modified FDM printer. This paper discusses the results from investigating the phase change during printing using FTIR and DSC measurements. FTIR and DSC data were collected on the filament before the print, the printed filament without an applied electric field and the printed filament with a 30MV/m field applied during the print. The results show a definitive phase change during the print and indicate that the alpha phase of the PVDF was significantly modified. The FTIR results do not indicate a significant change in the beta phase of the polymer which is the dominant electroactive phase. Therefore it is likely that the bulk amorphous polymer phases have been aligned in the process. The response of the printed and poled PVDF demonstrates piezoelectric behavior when subjected to impulse indicating the potential use of the modified printing process to produce sensors.
Effects of unrecognized physiological residual arousal on emotional experience

This study investigated the effect of residual arousal on perceived positive and negative emotion, and the relationship between the valence of emotion and cardiovascular and cardiorespiratory reactivity. A total of 74 participants were randomly assigned to either a Residual Arousal (exercise-induced) group or a No Residual Arousal (no exercise) group. Following the arousal manipulation, participants watched a video that elicited positive emotion and a video that elicited negative emotion. Within-person differences revealed greater discrepancies between participants’ reports of positive and negative emotions in response to the videos, indicating that residual arousal caused stronger positive and negative emotions. With regard to physiological reactivity, participants in the No Residual Arousal group exhibited lower heart rate, respiration amplitude, and heart rate variability (LF/HF ratio) during the negative video than during the positive video, suggesting that the positive and negative videos had different influences on physiology. These results support the hypothesis that autonomic activation may be nonspecific with regard to the genesis of emotion, but once a person becomes emotional, physiological reactivity may differ between emotions.
Biochemical and Clinical Aspects

Lipids, with certain notable exceptions, may be operationally defined as organic-solvent-soluble, water-insoluble compounds. The three major classes of lipids in the central nervous system are cholesterol, glycerophospholipids, and sphingolipids. Sphingosines are 1,3-dihydroxy-2-amino-hydrocarbons that form a series of lipids by substitution on both the 1-hydroxyl and the amino groups. At present, more than 30 sphingosines and their hydroxy derivatives (phytosphingosines) have been recorded from natural lipids. The amino group of sphingosine is usually acylated with a long-chain (C14–C26) fatty acid. This amide, N-acylsphingosine, is generically known as ceramide. It is the backbone for the synthesis of sphingolipids. The different sphingolipids are formed when the terminal hydroxy group of ceramide is substituted with various compounds. In sphingomyelin, the primary hydroxy group of sphingosine is esterified with choline phosphate. The glycosphingolipids are sphingolipids with a sugar moiety attached through β-glycosidic linkage to the corresponding ceramide. Cerebroside is the generic term for a group of ceramide monohexosides. Ceramide glucose is known as glucocerebroside and ceramide galactose as galactocerebroside. The latter monohexoside is the major cerebroside in normal adult brain. Sulfatides are sulfuric acid esters of cerebrosides with the sulfate at the carbon atom 3 of the galactose moiety. Complex glycosphingolipids are ceramide glycosides containing more than one monosaccharide unit and are known as ceramide oligosaccharides. A ceramide dihexoside contains two sugar moieties; ceramide trihexoside, three sugars; ceramide tetrahexoside, four sugars; etc. The ceramide oligosaccharides may be partitioned into the neutral glycolipids and the gangliosides. The carbohydrate residues of the neutral glycolipids are important in various immunochemical reactions.1–3
Reproducible research: a minority opinion

Reproducible research, a growing movement within many scientific fields, including machine learning, would require the code, used to generate the experimental results, be published along with any p...
Appearing ‘out of place’: Automobility and the everyday policing of threat and suspicion on the US/Canada frontier

Abstract Since 2001 the United States Border Patrol's Detroit Sector has grown from 38 agents to 411–the fastest rate of growth of any Border Patrol jurisdiction in the United States (CBP, 2016). Through ethnographic observation, semi-structured interviews and the examination of a growing archive of internal US Border Patrol data obtained via the US Freedom of Information Act, this paper examines the everyday discourses of ‘threat’ and ‘suspicion’ that inform routine enforcement practices by Detroit Sector personnel as they police the US/Canada frontier. It finds that both ‘threat’ and ‘suspicion’ are narrated expressly according to geographic factors of origin, location and direction of travel, scrutinizing bodies and persons that, as an outcome, are said to appear “out of place.” At the same time, according to the Border Patrol's daily apprehension logs, enforcement activity disproportionately concentrates on Latinx residents across divisions of citizenship and immigration status, affecting peoples' everyday ability to circulate through urban and suburban space free from scrutiny, surveillance and the possibility of state violence. To theorize the site and stakes of these outcomes, the paper borrows Stuesse and Coleman’s (2014) concept of “automobility” and develops this as an explicitly racial and racializing concept, one that affords an intersectional reading of state violence based on its distributional impacts on peoples' autonomy and control over their conditions of everyday social reproduction. This, then, suggests a need for greater dialogue between literature on immigration enforcement and those concerned expressly with geographies of racial confinement, policing, dispossession and control.
Effects of Controllability of Athlete Celebrity Endorsers’ Drug Scandals on Punitive Opinions: Sensation Seeking as a Moderator:

Guided by the attribution theory and sensation seeking (SS), this study found that a news article featuring an athlete celebrity endorser’s drug scandal resulting from a controllable cause (e.g., t...
Strategies to reduce readmissions for hyponatremia after transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas.

Disorders of water balance, particularly hyponatremia from altered antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion, are a common post-operative complication of transsphenoidal surgery (TSS). We present our results from implementation of a 2-week 1.5 liter/daily fluid restriction on readmission rates for hyponatremia. A retrospective chart review was performed on 295 patients that underwent TSS for pituitary adenomas at the University of Colorado, between March 2014 and March 2017. Groups were divided into those before and after the implementation of a two-week, 1.5 liter daily fluid restriction and measurement of a serum sodium level 7 days (+/− 2 days) after discharge. A standard-of-care approach for variable degrees of hyponatremia was also utilized to guide hyponatremia management. Patient demographics, hospital course, post-operative complication rates, and rates of hospital admissions for hyponatremia were then evaluated. Readmissions for symptomatic hyponatremia within 30 days of TSS occurred in 9 of 118 (7.6%) of patients prior to fluid restriction implementation and in four of 169 (2.4%) of patients in the post-implementation, fluid-restricted group (p-value = 0.04): a 70% reduction in hospitalizations. The two groups were similarly matched for pituitary tumor sub-type, age and gender. None of these factors were predictive for hyponatremia. Importantly, the mild fluid restriction did not result in any hospital readmissions for hypernatremia. Mild fluid restriction (to 1.5 liters daily), in addition to a single post-operative serum sodium level, is an effective approach to preventing readmission for hyponatremia after TSS for pituitary adenomas.
The Role of Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry in Biological Research — New Developments and Applications

The symbiotic relationship between advances in ionization methods and the improved performance of mass spectrometric instrumentation and its computer control has been key to the growth of mass spectrometry. The new capabilities for the ionization of large molecules introduced in 1988 have, in effect, resulted in a situation where the demands for improved sensitivity, resolution, effective tandem MS capabilities for structural studies, and the online combination with separation methods, are greater than ever and effectively open-ended. This situation coincides with a period in which mass spectrometric hardware has begun a transition from a dominance by quadrupole and sector mass analyzer technologies to other technologies that previously were rarely used for “real world” bioanalytical applications (i. e., time-of-flight mass spectrometers and ion trapping methods).
Pharmacologic Management of Agitation and Depression in Dementia

Alzheimer’s first case is noteworthy not only for its description of the patient’s cognitive impairments and neuropathology, but also for the emphasis on her clinical presentation of suspiciousness, paranoid behavior, auditory hallucinations, screaming and apprehension (Alzheimer, 1907). Thus, it illustrates the fact that behavioral symptoms are very common in Alzheimer’s dementia, occurring throughout its course, and are often the reasons patients are brought to medical attention. The behavioral signs and symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) span a range to include agitation, aggression, psychosis, hallucinations, delusions, depression, wandering, apathy, sleep and appetite disturbances.
Optimal trade-off analysis for efficiency and safety in the spacecraft rendezvous and docking problem

Abstract We study the problem of spacecraft rendezvous and docking, specifically the tradeoff between safety and efficiency. The safety component in this problem is to stay within a line-of-sight cone and reach the target at an appropriate time in the presence of stochastic disturbance due to sensing and modeling errors. The efficiency component in this problem is our desire to minimize control effort or fuel. We pose this problem as a bi-criterion optimization problem. Using our recent convexity results for the stochastic reach-avoid problem when the control policies are restricted to open-loop policies, we show that this bi-criterion optimization problem is convex. The resulting tractability permits the exploration of the trade-off between safety and efficiency in the stochastic system. We also show that while increasing the control bounds need not always translate to an increase in the attainable safety guarantees, decreasing the control bounds typically translates to a decrease in the attainable safety guarantees.
Social freedom as ideology

This article explores objections made against ideal theorizing in political philosophy by two prominent contemporary critical theorists: Axel Honneth and Charles Mills. In Freedom’s Right, Honneth ...
The Distributed Support Program at NC State University: Challenges and Rewards of Successful Partnerships.

The Distributed Support (DS) program at NC State University has been in place since 1993, and has been an important part of our strategy to provide effective desktop and networking support in departments and colleges. More importantly, it has been an effective way to develop a strong partnership between the central Information Technology (IT) organization and our clients. The DS program places professional computing staff in departments and colleges at the university for long-term contracts. A number of our staff support multiple departments, satisfying support needs in departments where a full-time support person is not needed/affordable. Over the past seven years, a number of tenets have developed regarding the DS program: • There are tremendous benefits to the central IT organization in setting up these formal relationships • Despite IT efforts to provide excellent support to all departmental support staff, departments believe that there is value in having an official support partnership with the central IT group. • Managing the relationship with the client department is as important as managing the employee in that department. • It is important (and often challenging) to find the type of employee with the “people skills” to be successful in this type of position. This paper provides an overview of the DS program at NC State, and explores its successes and challenges.
Arsenite and its trivalent methylated metabolites inhibit glucose-stimulated calcium influx and insulin secretion in murine pancreatic islets.

Chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs), a common drinking water and food contaminant, has been associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes in population studies worldwide. Several mechanisms underlying the diabetogenic effects of iAs have been proposed through laboratory investigations. We have previously shown that exposure to arsenite (iAs(III)) or its methylated trivalent metabolites, methylarsonite (MAs(III)) and dimethylarsinite (DMAs(III)), inhibits glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in pancreatic islets, without significant effects on insulin expression or insulin content. The goal of the present study was to determine if iAs(III) and/or its metabolites inhibit Ca2+ influx, an essential mechanism that regulates the release of insulin from β cells in response to glucose. We found that in vitro exposures for 48 h to non-cytotoxic concentrations of iAs(III), MAs(III), and DMAs(III) impaired Ca2+ influx in isolated murine pancreatic islets stimulated with glucose. MAs(III) and DMAs(III) were more potent inhibitors of Ca2+ influx than iAs(III). These arsenicals also inhibited Ca2+ influx and GSIS in islets treated with depolarizing levels of potassium chloride in the absence of glucose. Treatment with Bay K8644, a Cav1.2 channel agonist, did not restore insulin secretion in arsenical-exposed islets. Tolbutamide, a KATP channel blocker, prevented inhibition of insulin secretion in MAs(III)- and DMAs(III)-exposed islets, but only marginally in islets exposed to iAs(III). Our findings suggest that iAs(III), MAs(III), and DMAs(III) inhibit glucose-stimulated Ca2+ influx in pancreatic islets, possibly by interfering with KATP and/or Cav1.2 channel function. Notably, the mechanisms underlying inhibition of GSIS by iAs(III) may differ from those of its trivalent methylated metabolites.
Improving Vulnerability Inspection Efficiency Using Active Learning

Software engineers can find vulnerabilities with less effort if they are directed towards code that might contain more vulnerabilities. HARMLESS is an incremental support vector machine tool that builds a vulnerability prediction model from the source code inspected to date, then suggests what source code files should be inspected next. In this way, HARMLESS can reduce the time and effort required to achieve some desired level of recall for finding vulnerabilities. The tool also provides feedback on when to stop (at that desired level of recall) while at the same time, correcting human errors by double-checking suspicious files. This paper evaluates HARMLESS on Mozilla Firefox vulnerability data. HARMLESS found 80, 90, 95, 99 percent of the vulnerabilities by inspecting 10, 16, 20, 34 percent of the source code files. When targeting 90, 95, 99 percent recall, HARMLESS could stop after inspecting 23, 30, 47 percent of the source code files. Even when human reviewers fail to identify half of the vulnerabilities (50 percent false negative rate), HARMLESS could detect 96 percent of the missing vulnerabilities by double-checking half of the inspected files. Our results serve to highlight the very steep cost of protecting software from vulnerabilities (in our case study that cost is, for example, the human effort of inspecting 28,750 × 20% = 5,750 source code files to identify 95 percent of the vulnerabilities). While this result could benefit the mission-critical projects where human resources are available for inspecting thousands of source code files, the research challenge for future work is how to further reduce that cost. The conclusion of this paper discusses various ways that goal might be achieved.
Outcomes in a course in web services and service oriented architecture

Course offerings across curricula in Web Services and Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) are highly varied because of the multi-disciplinary nature of this area of study and the size and scope of understanding required for competence. As colleges and universities develop capabilities to present courses in this very large new subject area, questions of expectations for student outcomes must be addressed. This article contains descriptions of findings in the literature, and the structure and outcomes achieved in an offering of a course in Web Services and SOA geared toward upper-level undergraduate Computer Science/Computer Information Systems students. It also contains a description of a composite application named OpenSOALab which is freely downloadable and can be used as a resource in courses on SOA.
Obesity-linked PPARγ S273 phosphorylation promotes insulin resistance through Growth Differentiation Factor 3

Overnutrition and obesity promote adipose tissue dysfunction, often leading to systemic insulin resistance. The thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are a potent class of insulin-sensitizing drugs and ligands of PPAR{gamma} that improve insulin sensitivity, but their use is limited due to significant side effects. Recently, we demonstrated a mechanism by which TZDs improve insulin sensitivity distinct from receptor agonism and adipogenesis: reversal of obesity-linked phosphorylation of PPAR{gamma} at Serine 273. However, the role of this modification has not been tested genetically. Here we demonstrate that mice encoding an allele of PPAR{gamma} which cannot be phosphorylated at S273 are protected from insulin resistance, without exhibiting differences in body weight or TZD-associated side effects. Indeed, hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp experiments confirm improved insulin sensitivity, as evidenced by increased whole-body glucose uptake. RNA-seq experiments reveal PPAR{gamma} S273 phosphorylation specifically enhances transcription of Gdf3, a BMP family member. Ectopic expression of Gdf3 is sufficient to induce insulin resistance in lean, healthy mice. We find that Gdf3 can impact metabolism by inhibition of BMP signaling. Together, these results highlight the diabetogenic role of PPAR{gamma} S273 phosphorylation and focuses attention on a putative target, Gdf3.
Sleep Patterns and Health Behaviors in Healthcare Students.

Objectives Personal health behavior can influence the academic development of healthcare students. This study was designed to evaluate the personal health behavior, including sleep time, of healthcare students at a large health sciences center. Methods An anonymous online survey based on standardized questionnaires about sleep, insomnia, depression, alcohol use, and exercise was sent to all of the healthcare students (including medical, nursing, pharmacy, graduate biomedical science, and allied health students) in the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center graduate education programs in Lubbock. Results In total, 412 students replied to this survey. Their mean sleep duration during the weekday was 7.5 ± 1.2 hours; 16.5% were short sleepers ( 15 days during the last month. Many students were either moderately or severely bothered by "the lack of energy" because of poor sleep, and 56.6% of students rated their sleep as either fair or poor. Approximately 35% of students had drinking patterns that qualified as hazardous drinking, 6.3% of students smoked, and 23% of students did not do even mild exercise during the week. Eighty-nine percent of students reported stress in their life, including family stress, job stress, financial stress, legal stress, and other stress. Thirty-five percent of students considered their health as either poor or fair. Approximately 50% of students did not expect any change in their situation during the next 3 to 6 months. Conclusions Although most healthcare students report adequate sleep times, more than half of them rate their sleep as fair or poor. In addition, some have poor health habits, including excessive alcohol use. Health science centers should introduce programs to promote healthy behaviors and reduce stress in healthcare students.
Validation of the Algorithm in Real Crash Tests

In the previous chapters, a methodology based on local component loads was presented with the help of which an algorithm could be developed that enables timely triggering for accident scenarios that represent the real-world load case collective. This methodology was developed using simulation data.
The habitability of large elliptical galaxies

Based on numbers of stars, supernova rates, and metallicity, a prior study (Dayal et al. 2015) concluded that large elliptical galaxies contain up to 10,000 times more habitable planets than the Milky Way and are thus the "cradles of life". Using the results of their model and taking into account galactic number distributions and supernova rates I argue here that this result constitutes a violation of the Principle of Mediocrity as applied to the reference class of all extant technological species. Assuming that we are a typical technological species in the attribute of inhabiting a relatively large disk-dominated galaxy, I outline two hypotheses that could significantly limit the habitability of large elliptical galaxies: (1) massive galactic sterilization events associated with quasar/AGN activity and starburst supernovae that occurred when the antecedents of today's large elliptical galaxies were much more compact; and (2) the probability of habitable planet formation in large elliptical galaxies may be small since a disproportionately larger number of gaseous planets are expected to form as a result of the generally higher metallicity in large elliptical galaxies. Consequently, fewer habitable planets will accrete if the gaseous planets inward migrations are sufficiently slow. The sterilization events of Hypothesis (1) occurred at earlier epochs (z $\geq$ 1) and so they must be effectively permanent, implying two possible scenarios regarding the origin and evolution of life. In connection with one of these scenarios, independent applications of the Principle of Mediocrity suggest that M-dwarf stars are not significant hosts of technological life.
Novel Percutaneous Tracheostomy for Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19.

Background Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is a worldwide pandemic, with many patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation. Tracheostomy is not recommended by current guidelines as it is considered a superspreading event owing to aerosolization that unduly risks health care workers. Methods Patients with severe COVID-19 who were on mechanical ventilation for 5 days or longer were evaluated for percutaneous dilational tracheostomy. We developed a novel percutaneous tracheostomy technique that placed the bronchoscope alongside the endotracheal tube, not inside it. That improved visualization during the procedure and continued standard mechanical ventilation after positioning the inflated endotracheal tube cuff in the distal trachea. This technique offers a significant mitigation for the risk of virus aerosolization during the procedure. Results From March 10 to April 15, 2020, 270 patients with COVID-19 required invasive mechanical ventilation at New York University Langone Health Manhattan's campus; of those, 98 patients underwent percutaneous dilational tracheostomy. The mean time from intubation to the procedure was 10.6 ± 5 days. Currently, 32 patients (33%) do not require mechanical ventilatory support, 19 (19%) have their tracheostomy tube downsized, and 8 (8%) were decannulated. Forty patients (41%) remain on full ventilator support, and 19 (19%) are weaning from mechanical ventilation. Seven patients (7%) died as a result of respiratory and multiorgan failure. Tracheostomy-related bleeding was the most common complication (5 patients). None of health care providers has had symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19. Conclusions Our percutaneous tracheostomy technique appears to be safe and effective for COVID-19 patients and safe for health care workers.
Electricity from methanol using indigenous methylotrophs from hydraulic fracturing flowback water

Abstract Methanol solvents that are used in hydraulic fracturing often return back to the surface in the form of recalcitrant flowback water. Here, the indigenous methylotrophic bacteria from flowback water were enriched and used to generate electricity from methanol in a two-compartment microbial fuel cell (CH3OH-MFC). An identical MFC based on a tryptone-yeast extract (TY-MFC) was used as a control. CH3OH-MFC yielded a 2.7-fold thicker biofilm dominated by electrogenic species (81%) and higher power density (76 mW/m2) compared with TY-MFC (50 mW/m2). Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene in TY-MFC revealed classes from Actinobacteria, Bacteroidia and γ-proteobacteria. The CH3OH-MFC yielded α-proteobacteria, β-proteobacteria, γ-proteobacteria and Bacteroidia, with a dominant fraction of Rhodobacter sphaeroides (~29%). We discuss the potential pathways used by R. sphaeroides to maintain syntrophic cooperation with other bacterial and archaeal members to sustain CH3OH oxidation. Finally, we establish that a pure culture of R. sphaeroides 2.4.1 generates electricity directly from methanol.
Far infrared excitations of shallow donor impurities in gaas/algaas multiple quantum well heterostructures

The effects of confinement of impurities (acceptors and donors) in semiconductors of reduced dimensionality been the focus of much recent theoretical (1) and experimental (2) attention. In the present work, far infrared (FIR) and resonant Raman scattering (RRS) experiments have been performed on MBE-grown GaAs/AlGaAs multiple quantum well heterostructures that were selectively doped with Si donors in the centers of the quantum well and barrier layers. Motivations for these investigations include a need to obtain information on the binding of electrons in the well to positively charged impurities in the barriers and to examine in detail the effects of the screening of the Coulomb interaction by free carriers in this quasi two-dimensional system. Representative results of these studies are highlighted below.
Compressed imitation learning.

In analogy to compressed sensing, which allows sample-efficient signal reconstruction given prior knowledge of its sparsity in frequency domain, we propose to utilize policy simplicity (Occam's Razor) as a prior to enable sample-efficient imitation learning. We first demonstrated the feasibility of this scheme on linear case where state-value function can be sampled directly. We also extended the scheme to scenarios where only actions are visible and scenarios where the policy is obtained from nonlinear network. The method is benchmarked against behavior cloning and results in significantly higher scores with limited expert demonstrations.