cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Highly-efficient Q-switched Yb:YLF laser at 995 nm with a second harmonic conversion

We report on a high-average power, pulsed source at 497.5 nm based on the frequency doubling of an acousto-optically Q-switched, cryogenically-cooled Yb:YLiF4 (Yb:YLF) laser. The Yb:YLF was resonantly pumped by a laser diode module into the 960 nm absorption band and generated a diffraction limited output beam at 995 nm. At this wavelength, the laser delivered up to 50 W of average Q-switched output power at a pulse repetition frequency (PRF) of 10 kHz with a pulse duration of 60 ns and a slope efficiency of 69%. At a PRF of 500 Hz, this laser yielded 14 ns long, 31 mJ pulses with the slope efficiency of ~40%. Frequency doubling was achieved using an LBO crystal with a conversion efficiency approaching 50% at both 500 and 1000 Hz PRF. The maximum achieved pulse energy at 497.5 nm was 14.3 mJ at 500 Hz PRF (average power over 7 W). To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest reported pulse energy and average power for an all-solid-state laser operating under 500 nm.
Faster robot perception using Salient Depth Partitioning

This paper introduces Salient Depth Partitioning (SDP), a depth-based region cropping algorithm devised to be easily adapted to existing detection algorithms. SDP is designed to give robots a better sense of visual attention, and to reduce the processing time of pedestrian detectors. In contrast to proposal generators, our algorithm generates sparse regions, to combat image degradation caused by robot motion, making them more suitable for real-world operation. Furthermore, SDP is able achieve real-time performance (77 frames per second) on a single processor without a GPU. Our algorithm requires no training, and is designed to work with any pedestrian detection algorithm, provided that the input is in the form of a calibrated RGB-D image. We tested our algorithm with four state-of-the-art pedestrian detectors (HOG and SVM [1], Aggregate Channel Features [2], Checkerboards [3], and R-CNN [4]), and show that it improves computation time by up to 30%, with no discernible change in accuracy.
Engineering Vessels as Good as New

SummaryBlood vessels convey essential nutrients to end organs, and when diseased, they must be replaced or bypassed. Traditionally plastic and synthetic materials have been used but are susceptible...
How perceptions of one's organization can affect perceptions of the self: Membership in a stable organization can sustain individuals' sense of control

Abstract Building on contemporary perspectives regarding the role that group identification can play in sustaining control motives, we propose that being a member of a stable organization—one experienced as predictable and consistent rather than changing and in flux—can maintain individuals' sense of control. Four studies test this prediction. We observe that higher social identification as an organizational member (as compared to lower identification) is associated with an increased generalized sense of personal efficacy in life specifically when one's organization is experienced as relatively stable (Study 1 and Study 2). Further, the perceived stability of one's organization moderates the extent to which those who recently experienced a threat to personal control—and are thereby motivated to reestablish feelings of control—seek increased social identification as an organizational member (Study 3 and Study 4). Results suggest that membership in a stable organization can provide a psychological buffer against threats to personal control encountered in daily life outside work. Contributions to understanding the ways in which people maintain feelings of personal control in the social world are discussed.
Predictors for follow-up among postpartum patients enrolled in a clinical trial.

Abstract Objective To identify risk factors for failure to attend postpartum follow-up within 3 months of delivery, including social support, intrinsic motivation, insurance type and prenatal care attendance. Study design This planned secondary analysis is derived from a randomized controlled trial of patients intending intrauterine device (IUD) use following their delivery (n=197). Subjects were postpartum from a vaginal or cesarean birth at ≥32 weeks’ gestation. We obtained baseline demographics and certainty about their plan to receive a postpartum IUD. We administered validated scales for social support and intrinsic motivation at enrollment. We then reviewed health records for prenatal visits and any postpartum visit by 3 months and performed logistic regression to assess for predictors of follow-up. Results A total of 38/197 subjects (19.3%) failed to attend any postpartum visit by 3 months. Subjects who failed to follow up were more likely to have Medicaid versus private insurance (92% versus 8%, p Conclusions In our cohort, we found that one in five participants did not attend a postpartum visit by 3 months. Several socioeconomic indicators are associated with loss to follow-up, most notably Medicaid insurance. Having high motivation and social support is not sufficient to predict successful follow-up. Implications The main predictors for not attending a postpartum visit are Medicaid insurance or limited prenatal care, and not social support or intrinsic motivation. Interventions to improve postpartum contraception uptake should focus efforts on provision of immediate postpartum contraception for this population.
Compartmentation and Its Role in Metabolic Regulation

In writing on a subject as broad and varied as the role of intracellular compartmentation in metabolic regulation, one is forced to come to grips with the question of which of the many aspects of this subject is central to a clear understanding of the field. Our answer to this question reflects, to a great extent, our personal view of metabolic regulation. However, since the general aim of this volume is to present principles rather than simply a catalog of facts, we have chosen to limit this chapter to a discussion of intracellular compartmentation in mammalian cells. This is not meant to negate the very important role of intercellular compartmentation in the regulation of mammalian metabolism. Space and the scope of coverage do not permit the inclusion of this material here. When considering the content of this chapter, it also became clear that most of the better understood examples of the important role of compartmentation within the cell involve the mitochondria. A number of recent reviews have considered various aspects of this subject (Greenbaum et al., 1971; Williamson, 1976; Denton and Pogson, 1976; Soling and Kleineke, 1976; Zurrendonk et al., 1976). Of particular interest is the excellent and still timely review on compartmentation by the late Guy Greville (1969a), which lucidly brings together many of the specific aspects of the subjects that will be covered here in a more general manner.
The Composition of Different Regions of the Neonatal Rat Brain in Relation to Sex

Publisher Summary This chapter sought to determine if sex-related biochemical differences were already present in the brain during the neonatal period, and whether such sex differences were limited to limbic structures. Adult mammals of the two sexes differ in their internal and external reproductive anatomy, in their patterns of secretion of hypophyseal and gonadal hormones, and in their sexual behavior. Female mammals are characterized by a cyclic pattern of both gonadotrophin, gonadal hormone secretion and mating behavior, while males exhibit a tonic pattern of hormonal secretion and are usually capable of mating at any time. Although a number of morphological and neurochemical sex differences have been reported, it is impossible to say with certainty that these differences reflect the sexual differentiation process of the limbic system. As most of these studies were done in adult animals, these sex differences may be normal sequelae to the continuous stimulation by gonadal hormones. Regardless of the possible implications of the sex differences in relation to hypothalamic sexual differentiation, this study demonstrates that in neurochemical investigations, the gender of the animal may be as important a variable as the species, age, and region or cell type.
X-ray diffraction of ramp-compressed aluminum to 475 GPa

We report on a series of experiments that use high-power lasers to ramp-compress aluminum (Al) up to 475 GPa. Under this quasi-isentropic compression, Al remains in the solid state and two solid–solid phase transformations are observed. In situ x-ray diffraction is performed to detect the crystal structure. A velocimetry diagnostic measures particle velocities in order to infer the pressure in the Al sample. We show that a solid–solid phase transition, consistent with a transformation to a hexagonal close-packed (hcp) structure, occurs at 216 ± 9 GPa. At higher pressures, a transformation to a structure consistent with the body-centered cubic (bcc) structure occurs at 321 ± 12 GPa. These phase transitions are also observed in 6061-O (annealed) Al alloy at 175 ± 9 GPa and 333 ± 11 GPa, respectively. Correlations in the high-pressure crystallographic texture suggests the close-packed face-centered cubic (fcc) (111), hcp (002), and bcc (110) planes remain parallel through the solid–solid fcc–hcp and hcp–bcc transformations.
Prisoners of History: Explaining Why Statist Belgium Has School Vouchers While Liberal America Does Not

The United States is widely characterized as having liberal (limited state) ideology and institutions, while Belgium is relatively statist. Yet the United States relies primarily on local public mo...
Microinjection of oocytes and embryos with synthetic mRNA encoding molecular probes

Abstract We describe methods and techniques for introduction of molecular probes in the form of synthetic mRNA by rapid repetitive microinjection into oocytes or early embryos of echinoderms and various invertebrates. Construct assembly is followed by standard kit-based in vitro mRNA synthesis, with slight modifications to optimize expression and clean-up. Variations of a basic microinjection procedures are detailed for echinoderms: starfish oocytes (Patiria miniata or other species), purple urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) and sand dollar (Dendraster excentricus) zygotes, with notes included for other invertebrate eggs and embryos as well.
Curve analogies

This paper describes a method for learning statistical models of 2D curves, and shows how these models can be used to design line art rendering styles by example. A user can create a new style by providing an example of the style, e.g. by sketching a curve in a drawing program. Our method can then synthesize random new curves in this style, and modify existing curves to have the same style as the example. This method can incorporate position constraints on the resulting curves.
Retrospective review of patients with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas and ovarian metastasis: Clinical characteristics, treatment strategies, and survival data

14068 Background: Ovarian metastasis from pancreatic adenocarcinoma is rare, and data on clinical features, treatment, and survival are limited. Methods: Charts of 19 patients with pancreatic adeno...
Assessment of various tar and soot treatment methods and a priori analysis of the steady laminar flamelet model for use in coal combustion simulation

Abstract Soot formed in the fuel-rich regions of coal flames is known to have a significant impact on the radiative heat transfer characteristics of the flame. It is therefore important to account for the effect of soot radiation when simulating coal combustion systems. Several recent coal combustion studies have used acetylene as a surrogate for devolatilized tar and neglect soot formation altogether, while others have utilized empirical models for tar and soot or even chemical mechanisms which include tar and soot as species. In this work, we investigate several methods of treating coal-derived tar and soot and the impact each treatment has on predicted furnace temperature, particle mass loss, and other quantities of interest. Furthermore, we perform a priori comparisons of simulation results to calculations from a steady laminar flamelet model in order to assess the accuracy of a flamelet approach for each tar and soot treatment considered. Data used as a basis for the study is generated through One-Dimensional Turbulence (ODT) simulation of a coal combustion system in which high-fidelity models are used for gas phase chemistry and devolatilization, where char combustion is neglected.
The Optimal Ileal Pouch: Physiologic Parameters Significantly Correlate with Overall Pouch Function

Ileal pouch function is affected by several patient factors and pouch physiology. The significance of pouch physiology on optimal pouch function has not been well characterized. The purpose of this study was to examine specific post-ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) physiologic parameters to determine impact on pouch function and quality of life. Patients undergoing proctocolectomy with IPAA for ulcerative colitis were examined. Post-IPAA compliance, pouch anal pressure gradient (PAPG), and function were assessed 6–8 months postoperatively. Compliance was calculated as change in volume divided by change in pressure. PAPG was calculated as the difference between anal pressure and intra-pouch pressure at a fixed volume. Pouch function evaluation included stool frequency and episodes of incontinence. Quality of life was evaluated using the Rockwood Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Scale. A total of 125 patients were investigated. Post-IPAA resting anal pressure averaged 58.1 ± 15 mmHg. Mean volume and intra-pouch pressure at evacuation were 245 mL and 33.9 mmHg, respectively. Compliance averaged 11.2 mmHg/mL with a mean PAPG of − 29.3 mmHg. Compliance and PAPG correlated with 24-h (p = 0.003, p = 0.004) and nighttime stool frequency (p = 0.04, p = 0.03). Daytime continence was impacted by compliance (p = 0.04), PAPG (p = 0.02), and resting anal pressure (p = 0.02). This unique evaluation reveals a significant correlation between IPAA physiologic properties and function. Optimal function and quality of life depend in part on maintaining optimal pouch compliance and pressure differentials between the pouch and anal canal, defined by the pouch anal pressure gradient.
Maintaining excellence in a high volume academic cell therapy production facility through optimization of space utilization, operations, scheduling and staffing

Background & Aim The Clinical Cell and Vaccine Production Facility (CVPF) at UPenn is a FACT accredited resource with a 25 year record of novel first-in-human cell and gene therapy clinical trials. CVPF is integrated with research, process development, and correlative studies laboratories, QC/QA, clinical operations and monitoring, apheresis facilities and infusion sites. CVPF has two clean room facilities in which cell immunotherapy products are currently manufactured in support of >15 investigational new drug (IND) protocols. Methods, Results & Conclusion CVPF recently developed a clean room space utilization model to increase production capacity. Previously, a product occupied a single processing suite for the length of manufacture. Improvements to the processing room layout and implementation of a “bioreactor nursery” allowed for expansion of multiple products in a single space. Other benefits included fewer equipment pieces required and built-in redundancy. Additionally, we developed a standardized production slot model to reduce the rate of unfilled manufacturing slots and maximize facility efficiency. A standardized schedule along with the application of scheduling software has improved resource management, effort tracking, production task scheduling and capacity projections. Standardized scheduling is more efficient in scheduling manufacturing staff, sample transport, environmental monitoring, facility cleaning, equipment maintenance, QC testing, batch record preparation and review and product release. We developed an accelerated training program that reduced time-to-proficiency (TTP) for new hires through resource assignment, dedicated training space and re-designed curricula. A mock processing suite was established outside of the clean room space to allow for non-GMP materials to be used during training, greatly reducing cost. Still, staff recruitment, retention and training continue to be a challenge for academic manufacturing facilities as staff renewal limits production capacity and results in fewer patients enrolled in clinical trials. CVPF joined forces with University leadership to develop a novel metrics based career advancement track for cell therapy technologists. These techniques for increased productivity coupled with improved training methods and staff retention initiatives can be adopted by academic cell therapy facilities to optimize staffing, reduce costs and increase efficiencies, thereby increasing production capacity and patient clinical trial enrollment.
Smart Cities Traffic Congestion Monitoring and Control System

The traffic monitoring projects responsible for the current traffic monitoring infrastructure utilized by companies and government agencies tend to be very expensive and require difficult and extensive implementation. The challenge and goal of this paper is to create a smaller scale, low cost method of analyzing, controlling, and predicting traffic conditions. Traffic data including car count, frequency, and direction, is gathered from a USB camera and sent to a microcontroller to be interpreted using computer vision libraries. The traffic data is then transferred and stored onto the cloud to be further analyzed. This paper focuses on two aspects of managing traffic. The first aspect involves the optimization of traffic cycles at an intersection using incoming car counts to minimize the wait time between traffic light cycles. The second aspect involves predicting future traffic flow by training a deep neural network utilizing collected traffic data and machine learning techniques.
Dominant entropic binding of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) to albumin protein revealed by 19F NMR.

Abstract Mechanistic insight into protein binding by poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) is critical to understanding how PFASs distribute and accumulate within the body and to developing predictive models within and across classes of PFASs. Fluorine nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (19F NMR) has proven to be a powerful, yet underutilized tool to study PFAS binding; chemical shifts of each fluorine group reflect the local environment along the length of the PFAS molecule. Using bovine serum albumin (BSA), we report dissociation constants, Kd, for four common PFASs well below reported critical micelle concentrations (CMCs) − perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) − as a function of temperature in phosphate buffered saline. Kd values were determined based on the difluoroethyl group adjacent to the anionic headgroups and the terminal trifluoromethyl groups. Our results indicate that the hydrophobic tails exhibit greater binding affinity relative to the headgroup, and that the binding affinities are generally consistent with previous results showing that greater PFAS hydrophobicity leads to greater protein binding. However, the binding mechanism was dominated by entropic hydrophobic interactions attributed to desolvation of the PFAS tails within the hydrophobic cavities of the protein and on the surface of the protein. In addition, PFNA appears to form hemimicelles on the protein surfaces below reported CMC values. This work provides a renewed approach to utilizing 19F NMR for PFAS-protein binding studies and a new perspective on the role of solvent entropy.
An APEX2 proximity ligation method for mapping interactions with the nuclear lamina

The nuclear lamina (NL) is a meshwork found beneath the inner nuclear membrane. The study of the NL is hindered by the insolubility of the meshwork and has driven the development of proximity ligation methods to identify the NL-associated/proximal proteins, RNA, and DNA. To simplify and improve temporal labeling, we fused APEX2 to the NL protein lamin-B1 to map proteins, RNA, and DNA. The identified NL-interacting/proximal RNAs show a long 3' UTR bias, a finding consistent with an observed bias toward longer 3' UTRs in genes deregulated in lamin-null cells. A C-rich motif was identified in these 3' UTR. Our APEX2-based proteomics identifies a C-rich motif binding regulatory protein that exhibits altered localization in lamin-null cells. Finally, we use APEX2 to map lamina-associated domains (LADs) during the cell cycle and uncover short, H3K27me3-rich variable LADs. Thus, the APEX2-based tools presented here permit identification of proteomes, transcriptomes, and genome elements associated with or proximal to the NL.
Do Shocks to Personal Wealth Aect Risk Taking in Delegated Portfolios

Using exogenous wealth shocks stemming from the collapse of the housing market, we show that managers who experience substantial losses in their home values subsequently reduce the risk in their funds. The decline in fund risk is seen in total risk, idiosyncratic risk, systematic risk, and in tracking error. Our paper provides evidence that the idiosyncratic personal preferences of mutual fund managers aect their professional decisions and oers
Generalizing Birkhoff

We generalize Birkhoff's Theorem in the following fashion. We find necessary and sufficient conditions for any spherically symmetric space-time to be static in terms of the eigenvalues of the stress-energy tensor. In particular, we generalize the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff equation and prove that Birkhoff's theorem holds under the weaker hypothesis of no pressure (with respect to an appropriate frame.) We provide equations that show how the coefficients of the metric relate to the eigenvalues of the stress-energy tensor. These involve integrals that are simple functions of those eigenvalues. We also determine among all static spherically symmetric space-times those that are asymptotically flat. A few examples are presented taking advantage of the results. The calculations are done by viewing the space-times as warped products and the computations are done using Cartan's moving frames approach.
What's Happening in Lab? Multi-Dimensional Assessment Tools to Track Student Experience through a Unit Operations Laboratory Sequence

Unit operations laboratory courses culminate many topics from the curriculum and are often the first time students apply their knowledge in hands-on settings. However, many instructors do not directly assess key learning objectives, creating a disparity between desired and actual learning. Using multiple assessment tools, we analyzed student survey and test data throughout a unit operations laboratory sequence to reveal student attitudes and perceptions of their learning experience alongside their actual knowledge and abilities gained.
Vascular Impact of Cancer Therapies: The Case of BTK (Bruton Tyrosine Kinase) Inhibitors

Novel targeted cancer therapies have revolutionized oncology therapies, but these treatments can have cardiovascular complications, which include heterogeneous cardiac, metabolic, and vascular sequelae. Vascular side effects have emerged as important considerations in both cancer patients undergoing active treatment and cancer survivors. Here, we provide an overview of vascular effects of cancer therapies, focusing on small-molecule kinase inhibitors and specifically inhibitors of BTK (Bruton tyrosine kinase), which have revolutionized treatment and prognosis for B-cell malignancies. Cardiovascular side effects of BTK inhibitors include atrial fibrillation, increased risk of bleeding, and hypertension, with the former 2 especially providing a treatment challenge for the clinician. Cardiovascular complications of small-molecule kinase inhibitors can occur through either on-target (targeting intended target kinase) or off-target kinase inhibition. We will review these concepts and focus on the case of BTK inhibitors, highlight the emerging data suggesting an off-target effect that may provide insights into development of arrhythmias, specifically atrial fibrillation. We believe that cardiac and vascular sequelae of novel targeted cancer therapies can provide insights into human cardiovascular biology.
Ventricular Fibrillation Arrest and Pulmonary Homograft Rupture During Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve: Successful Rescue by Heart Team

We describe a 31-year-old woman with pulmonary homograft rupture and ventricular fibrillation arrest complicating a transcatheter pulmonary valve (TPV) procedure. She underwent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) with immediate surgical repair including bioprosthetic pulmonary valve replacement. She had difficulty weaning off ECMO due to hyperacute failure of the valve and ultimately underwent successful hybrid TPV with complete recovery. This case illustrates the importance of the heart team approach during catheter and surgical interventions in adult congenital heart disease.
Empirical Assessment of U.S. Coronavirus Disease 2019 Crisis Standards of Care Guidelines

To establish the feasibility of empirically testing crisis standards of care guidelines. Design Retrospective single-center study. Setting ICUs at a large academic medical center in the United States. Subjects Adult, critically ill patients admitted to ICU, with 27 patients admitted for acute respiratory failure due to coronavirus disease 2019 and 37 patients admitted for diagnoses other than coronavirus disease 2019. Interventions Review of electronic health record. Measurements and main results Many U.S. states released crisis standards of care guidelines with algorithms to allocate scarce healthcare resources during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. We compared state guidelines that represent different approaches to incorporating disease severity and comorbidities: New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. Following each algorithm, we calculated priority scores at the time of ICU admission for a cohort of patients with primary diagnoses of coronavirus disease 2019 and diseases other than coronavirus disease 2019 (n = 64). We assessed discrimination of 28-day mortality by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. We simulated real-time decision-making by applying the triage algorithms to groups of two, five, or 10 patients. For prediction of 28-day mortality by priority scores, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.56, 0.49, 0.53, 0.66, and 0.69 for New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and raw Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score algorithms, respectively. For groups of five patients, the percentage of decisions made without deferring to a lottery were 1%, 57%, 80%, 88%, and 95% for New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and raw Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score algorithms, respectively. The percentage of decisions made without lottery was higher in the subcohort without coronavirus disease 2019, compared with the subcohort with coronavirus disease 2019. Conclusions Inclusion of comorbidities does not consistently improve an algorithm's performance in predicting 28-day mortality. Crisis standards of care algorithms result in a substantial percentage of tied priority scores. Crisis standards of care algorithms operate differently in cohorts with and without coronavirus disease 2019. This proof-of-principle study demonstrates the feasibility and importance of empirical testing of crisis standards of care guidelines to understand whether they meet their goals.
Nanoparticulate β-Cyclodextrin with Gallium Tetraphenylporphyrin Demonstrates in Vitro and in Vivo Antimicrobial Efficacy against Mycobacteroides abscessus and Mycobacterium avium.

The emergence of drug-resistant pathogens causes the greatest challenge for drug development research. Recently, gallium(III)-based compounds have received great attention as novel antimicrobial agents against drug-resistant pathogens. Here, we synthesized a new β-cyclodextrin Ga nanoparticle (CDGaTP) using Ga tetraphenylporphyrin (GaTP, a hemin analogue) and β-cyclodextrin. The newly synthesized nanoparticle was nontoxic and efficient at a single dose, showing sustained drug release for 15 days in vitro. CDGaTP's activity with transferrin or lactoferrin was tested, and synergism in activity was observed against nontuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM), Mycobacterium avium (M. avium), and Mycobacteroides abscessus. Human serum albumin (HSA) decreased the efficacy of both GaTP and CDGaTP in a concentration-dependent manner. The NTMs incubated with GaTP or CDGaTP significantly produced reactive oxygen species (ROS), indicating potential inhibition of antioxidant enzymes, such as catalase. The single-dose CDGaTP displayed a prolonged intracellular inhibitory activity in an in vitro macrophage infection model against both NTMs. In addition, CDGaTP, not GaTP, was effective in a murine lung M. avium infection model when delivered via intranasal administration. These results suggest that CDGaTP provides new opportunities for the development of gallium-porphyrin based antibiotics.
EScALation: a framework for efficient and scalable spatio-temporal action localization

Spatio-temporal action localization aims to detect the spatial location and the start/end time of the action in a video. The state-of-the-art approach uses convolutional neural networks to extract possible bounding boxes for the action in each frame and then link bounding boxes into action tubes based on the location and the class-specific score of each bounding box. Though this approach has been successful at achieving a good localization accuracy, it is computation-intensive. High-end GPUs are usually demanded for it to achieve real-time performance. In addition, this approach does not scale well on a large number of action classes. In this work, we present a framework, EScALation, for making spatio-temporal action localization efficient and scalable. Our framework involves two main strategies. One is the frame sampling technique that utilizes the temporal correlation between frames and selects key frame(s) from a temporally correlated set of frames to perform bounding box detection. The other is the class filtering technique that exploits bounding box information to predict the action class prior to linking bounding boxes. We compare EScALation with the state-of-the-art approach on UCF101-24 and J-HMDB-21 datasets. One of our experiments shows EScALation is able to save 72.2% of the time with only 6.1% loss of mAP. In addition, we show that EScALation scales better to a large number of action classes than the state-of-the-art approach.
Effective Downy Mildew Management in Basil Using Resistant Varieties, Environment Modifications, and Fungicides

Considerable progress has been made in managing Peronospora belbahrii, an oomycete pathogen that causes basil downy mildew, since 2007, when it was first detected in the United States. Conventional...
Magnetic bead purification of enveloped alphavirus and flavivirus

Abstract Virus production is an essential part of virology. The quality of virus preparation, in terms of purification and yield, can affect the outcome of experiments. Purified virus is critical for assays, as contamination from cell culture supernatants may affect results. Purified virus is also needed for vaccine preparations. The traditional process of gradient purification of virus is time consuming, with multiple steps spanning over days, and produces significant amounts of biohazard waste. Developing a more efficient alternative that provides a purified virus product is highly desirable. In this study, we performed magnetic bead purification of Zika virus (ZIKV) and Mayaro virus (MAYV) with the Mag4C LV kit from OZ Biosciences. Currently, this kit is only indicated for use with lentiviruses and retroviruses. We found that we were able to successfully concentrate and purify both ZIKV and MAYV using the kit. Therefore, we concluded that the Mag4C LV kit provides a quick and simple alternative to traditional virus purification methods. • Our protocol is customized by using an alphavirus (MAYV) and flavivirus (ZIKV). This method has not been previously used for these viruses.
Lipid nanoparticle chemistry determines how nucleoside base modifications alter mRNA delivery

Therapeutic mRNA has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of myriad diseases and, in 2020, facilitated the most rapid vaccine development in history. Among the substantial advances in mRNA technology made in recent years, the incorporation of base modifications into therapeutic mRNA sequences can reduce immunogenicity and increase translation. However, experiments from our lab and others have shown that the incorporation of base modifications does not always yield superior protein expression. We hypothesized that the variable benefit of base modifications may relate to lipid nanoparticle chemistry, formulation, and accumulation within specific organs. To test this theory, we compared IV-injected lipid nanoparticles formulated with reporter mRNA incorporating five base modifications (ψ, m1ψ, m5U, m5C/ψ, and m5C/s2U) and four ionizable lipids (C12-200, cKK-E12, ZA3-Ep10, and 200Oi10) with tropism for different organs. In general, the m1ψ base modification best enhanced translation, producing up to 15-fold improvements in total protein expression compared to unmodified mRNA. Expression improved most dramatically in the spleen (up to 50-fold) and was attributed to enhanced protein expression in monocytic lineage splenocytes. The extent to which these effects were observed varied with delivery vehicle and correlated with differences in innate immunogenicity. Through comparison of firefly luciferase and erythropoietin mRNA constructs, we also found that mRNA modification-induced enhancements in protein expression are limited outside of the spleen, irrespective of delivery vehicle. These results highlight the complexity of mRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticle drug design and show that the effectiveness of mRNA base modifications depend on the delivery vehicle, the target cells, and the site of endogenous protein expression.
Constitutional Climate Change in the Courts

We have entered an interesting constitutional era, one in which a rising sea level will help to buoy a rising tide of climate litigation, the leading edge of which lies constitutional jurisprudence as applied to the political question doctrine, preemption, dormant commerce and compact clauses and standing. In 2007 most of it involves either state action (e.g., to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from new motor vehicles or require climate friendly energy production), or state causes of action (e.g., public or private nuisance). In 2007, the trend was toward dismissing climate-tort cases as presenting political questions. Notably, in Mass. v. EPA, the court declined to enter political question arguments, finding that federal law gave the EPA the authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Preemption defenses were less successful, although common law causes of action for climate change are likely to survive preemption challenges. Standing remains a considerable obstacle to climate litigation, although states have been granted a softer standard under the premise of “special solicitude.”
Reversible cryoactivation of recombinant human prorenin.

Cleavage of prorenin's prosegment causes irreversible formation of renin. In contrast, renin activity is reversibly exposed when prorenin is acidified to pH 3.3. Nonetheless, acidification of plasma results in irreversible activation of prorenin, because endogenous proteases cleave the prosegment of acid-activated prorenin. Chilling of plasma results in irreversible cryoactivation of prorenin. In this study we investigated whether cryoactivation of purified prorenin is reversible. The intrinsic renin activity of recombinant human prorenin was measured by an enzyme kinetic assay using partially purified human angiotensinogen as substrate. Results are expressed as a percent (mean +/- S.E.) of the maximal activity exposed after limited proteolysis by trypsin. The intrinsic renin activity of two pools (0.3 and 0.06 Goldblatt units/ml) was 1.5% +/- 0.3 and 1.2% +/- 0.6 at 37 degrees C. Activity increased to 19% +/- 0.3 and 26% +/- 0.5 after incubation at 0 degrees C and to 5.4% +/- 0.5 and 2.1% +/- 1.2 at room temperature. Cryoactivation did not occur in buffers containing more than 1 M NaCl. It took 8 min at 37 degrees C or 180 min at room temperature for cryoactivated prorenin to lose half of its intrinsic renin activity. It took 48 and 26 h, respectively, at 0 degree C for the two pools of prorenin at 37 degrees C to regain half of their maximum intrinsic activity at 0 degrees C. A direct immunoradiometric assay that detects active renin but not prorenin was able to detect cryoactivated prorenin. These results show that human prorenin can be reversibly cryoactivated in buffers of low ionic strength and has greater intrinsic activity at room temperature than at 37 degrees C.
Metal ion induced aquations—II: The kinetics of the heterogeneous catalysis by silver iodide in the reaction of iodopentaamminecobalt(III) ions with silver ions

Abstract The kinetics of the silver iodide heterogeneous catalysis of the silver ion induced aquation of iodopentaamminecobalt(III) ion was studied at 44.9°C in the ionic strength range of 4.84–90.1 × 10−3 M, and with different preparation methods and aging times for the silver iodide. The results indicate that the rate of catalysis depends on the concentrations of silver ions and iodo-complex ions, the mole/liter (instead of surface area) of the silver iodide, the age and preparation of the silver iodide, and the ionic strength. With freshly prepared silver iodide, the rate increases sharply and then decreases with increase in silver ion concentration; whereas with aged and homogeneously precipitated silver iodide, the rate simply increases. A proposed mechanism for this catalysis involves two mutual displacement reaction paths and the relative rate of disappearance of two different types of surface sites with aging.
National culture and financial systems

Countries differ in the way their financial activities are organized. In Anglo-Saxon countries such as the US and the UK financial systems are dominated by stock markets, whereas in continental Europe and Japan banks play a predominant role. Why do countries differ in the configuration of their financial systems? We argue that national culture plays a significant role. We find that countries characterized by higher uncertainty avoidance are more likely to have a bank-based system.
Mesotrypsin Has Evolved Four Unique Residues to Cleave Trypsin Inhibitors as Substrates

Human mesotrypsin is highly homologous to other mammalian trypsins, and yet it is functionally unique in possessing resistance to inhibition by canonical serine protease inhibitors and in cleaving these inhibitors as preferred substrates. Arg-193 and Ser-39 have been identified as contributors to the inhibitor resistance and cleavage capability of mesotrypsin, but it is not known whether these residues fully account for the unusual properties of mesotrypsin. Here, we use human cationic trypsin as a template for engineering a gain of catalytic function, assessing mutants containing mesotrypsin-like mutations for resistance to inhibition by bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) and amyloid precursor protein Kunitz protease inhibitor (APPI), and for the ability to hydrolyze these inhibitors as substrates. We find that Arg-193 and Ser-39 are sufficient to confer mesotrypsin-like resistance to inhibition; however, compared with mesotrypsin, the trypsin-Y39S/G193R double mutant remains 10-fold slower at hydrolyzing BPTI and 2.5-fold slower at hydrolyzing APPI. We identify two additional residues in mesotrypsin, Lys-74 and Asp-97, which in concert with Arg-193 and Ser-39 confer the full catalytic capability of mesotrypsin for proteolysis of BPTI and APPI. Novel crystal structures of trypsin mutants in complex with BPTI suggest that these four residues function cooperatively to favor conformational dynamics that assist in dissociation of cleaved inhibitors. Our results reveal that efficient inhibitor cleavage is a complex capability to which at least four spatially separated residues of mesotrypsin contribute. These findings suggest that inhibitor cleavage represents a functional adaptation of mesotrypsin that may have evolved in response to positive selection pressure.
A design space exploration process for large scale, multi-objective computer simulations

The primary contributions of this thesis are associated with the development of a new method for exploring the relationships between inputs and outputs for large scale computer simulations. Primarily, the proposed design space exploration procedure uses a hierarchical partitioning method to help mitigate the curse of dimensionality often associated with the analysis of large scale systems. Closely coupled with the use of a partitioning approach, is the problem of how to partition the system. This thesis also introduces and discusses a quantitative method developed to aid the user in finding a set of good partitions for creating partitioned metamodels of large scale systems. The new hierarchically partitioned metamodeling scheme, the lumped parameter model (LPM), was developed to address two primary limitations to the current partitioning methods for large scale metamodeling. First the LPM was formulated to negate the need to rely on variable redundancies between partitions to account for potentially important interactions. While variable redundancies improve the accuracy of the partitioned metamodel, they do so at the cost of significantly reducing the efficiency of the partitioned metamodeling process. By using a hierarchical structure, the LPM addresses the impact of neglected, direct interactions by indirectly accounting for these interactions via the interactions that occur between the lumped parameters in intermediate to top-level mappings. Secondly, the LPM was developed to allow for hierarchical modeling of black-box analyses that do not have available intermediaries with which to partition the system around. The second contribution of this thesis is a graph-based partitioning method for large scale, black-box systems. The graph-based partitioning method combines the graph and sparse matrix decomposition methods used by the electrical engineering community with the results of a screening test to create a quantitative method for partitioning large scale, black-box systems. An ANOVA analysis of the results of a screening test can be used to determine the sparse nature of the large scale system. With this information known, the sparse matrix and graph theoretic partitioning schemes can then be used to create potential sets of partitions to use with the lumped parameter model.
Green secure processors: towards power-efficient secure processor design

With the increasing wealth of digital information stored on computer systems today, security issues have become increasingly important. In addition to attacks targeting the software stack of a system, hardware attacks have become equally likely. Researchers have proposed Secure Processor Architectures which utilize hardware mechanisms for memory encryption and integrity verification to protect the confidentiality and integrity of data and computation, even from sophisticated hardware attacks. While there have been many works addressing performance and other system level issues in secure processor design, power issues have largely been ignored. In this paper, we first analyze the sources of power (energy) increase in different secure processor architectures. We then present a power analysis of various secure processor architectures in terms of their increase in power consumption over a base system with no protection and then provide recommendations for designs that offer the best balance between performance and power without compromising security. We extend our study to the embedded domain as well. We also outline the design of a novel hybrid cryptographic engine that can be used to minimize the power consumption for a secure processor. We believe that if secure processors are to be adopted in future systems (general purpose or embedded), it is critically important that power issues are considered in addition to performance and other system level issues. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work to examine the power implications of providing hardware mechanisms for security.
SoundWorks: an object-oriented distributed system for digital sound

SoundWorks, an object-oriented distributed system that lets users interactively manipulate sound through a graphical interface, is discussed. The system handles digitally sampled sounds as well as those generated by software and digital signal processing hardware. An overview of the different types of sounds and window interfaces provided by SoundWorks and of the operations that modify these sounds is presented. The high-level architecture and the design of the SoundWorks system the protocol defined between the user interface code and client application, and the sound kernel specification that manages sounds and lines, performs operations on sounds, and interfaces to the digital hardware are described. The NEWS application programming environment, which provided the necessary primitive graphic items for a graphical window-based interface and offered an object-oriented approach for development of the SoundWorks system, is also discussed. >
Predictors of emergency department death for patients presenting with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms

Objective Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) is a critically time-sensitive condition with outcomes dependent on rapid diagnosis and definitive treatment. Emergency department (ED) death reflects the hemodynamic stability of the patient upon arrival and the ability to mobilize resources before hemodynamic stability is lost. The goals of this study were to determine the incidence and predictors of ED death for patients presenting to EDs with rAAAs. Methods Data for patients presenting with International Classification of Disease, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification codes for rAAA from 2006 to 2008 were extracted from discharge data using the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The NEDS is the largest stratified weighted sample of US hospital-based ED visits with links to inpatient files. We compared those transferred to those admitted and treated. Sample weights were applied to produce nationally representative estimates. Patient and hospital factors associated with transfer were identified using multivariate logistic regression. These factors were then analyzed for a relationship with ED deaths. Results A total of 18,363 patients were evaluated for rAAAs. Of these, 7% (1201) died in the ED, 6% (1160) were admitted and died without a procedure, 42% (7731) were admitted and died after repair, and 41% (7479) were admitted, treated, and survived. Transfers accounted for 4% (793) of all ED visits for rAAAs. ED death was more likely for patients seen in nonmetropolitan hospitals (12.7%) vs metropolitan nonteaching (7.0%) or metropolitan teaching hospitals (4.5%; P Conclusions ED death remains a significant cause for mortality for rAAAs and varies by hospital type, rural/urban location, and geographic region. Both delays in ED arrival and delays in providing definitive care may contribute to increased ED death rates, suggesting that improved regional systems of care may improve survival after rAAA.
Inhibition of Motor Movement in Children with Learning Disabilities

This study compared 36 learning disabled school-grade children with 17 controls matched for mental age on the ability to inhibit hand movement. Using a “Move A Ball Slowly” game-like apparatus, responses suggested older rather than younger disabled children had more difficulty.