cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Signaling to the apical membrane and to the paracellular pathway: changes in the cytosolic proteome of Aedes Malpighian tubules.

Using a proteomics approach, we examined the post-translational changes in cytosolic proteins when isolated Malpighian tubules of Aedes aegypti were stimulated for 1 min with the diuretic peptide aedeskinin-III (AK-III, 10–7 mol l–1). The cytosols of control (C) and aedeskinin-treated (T) tubules were extracted from several thousand Malpighian tubules, subjected to 2-D electrophoresis and stained for total proteins and phosphoproteins. The comparison of C and T gels was performed by gel image analysis for the change of normalized spot volumes. Spots with volumes equal to or exceeding C/T ratios of ±1.5 were robotically picked for in-gel digestion with trypsin and submitted for protein identification by nanoLC/MS/MS analysis. Identified proteins covered a wide range of biological activity. As kinin peptides are known to rapidly stimulate transepithelial secretion of electrolytes and water by Malpighian tubules, we focused on those proteins that might mediate the increase in transepithelial secretion. We found that AK-III reduces the cytosolic presence of subunits A and B of the V-type H+ ATPase, endoplasmin, calreticulin, annexin, type II regulatory subunit of protein kinase A (PKA) and rab GDP dissociation inhibitor and increases the cytosolic presence of adducin, actin, Ca2+-binding protein regucalcin/SMP30 and actin-depolymerizing factor. Supporting the putative role of PKA in the AK-III-induced activation of the V-type H+ ATPase is the effect of H89, an inhibitor of PKA, on fluid secretion. H89 reverses the stimulatory effect of AK-III on transepithelial fluid secretion in isolated Malpighian tubules. However, AK-III does not raise intracellular levels of cAMP, the usual activator of PKA, suggesting a cAMP-independent activation of PKA that removes subunits A and B from the cytoplasm in the assembly and activation of the V-type H+ ATPase. Alternatively, protein kinase C could also mediate the activation of the proton pump. Ca2+ remains the primary intracellular messenger of the aedeskinins that signals the remodeling of the paracellular complex apparently through protein kinase C, thereby increasing transepithelial anion secretion. The effects of AK-III on active transcellular and passive paracellular transport are additive, if not synergistic, to bring about the rapid diuresis.
How accurate and statistically robust are catalytic site predictions based on closeness centrality

We examine the accuracy of enzyme catalytic residue predictions from a network representation of protein structure. In this model, amino acid α-carbons specify vertices within a graph and edges connect vertices that are proximal in structure. Closeness centrality, which has shown promise in previous investigations, is used to identify important positions within the network. Closeness centrality, a global measure of network centrality, is calculated as the reciprocal of the average distance between vertex i and all other vertices. We benchmark the approach against 283 structurally unique proteins within the Catalytic Site Atlas. Our results, which are inline with previous investigations of smaller datasets, indicate closeness centrality predictions are statistically significant. However, unlike previous approaches, we specifically focus on residues with the very best scores. Over the top five closeness centrality scores, we observe an average true to false positive rate ratio of 6.8 to 1. As demonstrated previously, adding a solvent accessibility filter significantly improves predictive power; the average ratio is increased to 15.3 to 1. We also demonstrate (for the first time) that filtering the predictions by residue identity improves the results even more than accessibility filtering. Here, we simply eliminate residues with physiochemical properties unlikely to be compatible with catalytic requirements from consideration. Residue identity filtering improves the average true to false positive rate ratio to 26.3 to 1. Combining the two filters together has little affect on the results. Calculated p-values for the three prediction schemes range from 2.7E-9 to less than 8.8E-134. Finally, the sensitivity of the predictions to structure choice and slight perturbations is examined. Our results resolutely confirm that closeness centrality is a viable prediction scheme whose predictions are statistically significant. Simple filtering schemes substantially improve the method's predicted power. Moreover, no clear effect on performance is observed when comparing ligated and unligated structures. Similarly, the CC prediction results are robust to slight structural perturbations from molecular dynamics simulation.
Reproductive Success of Long-Billed Curlews (Numenius americanus) in Northeastern Nevada Hay Fields

ABSTRACT. Because of the continuing loss of native grasslands, many shorebirds that breed in the temperate zone have become increasingly dependent on non-native grasslands associated with farming for breeding habitat. But invasive land-management in non-native grasslands has placed ground-nesting shorebirds at considerable risk. We studied the reproductive success of Long-billed Curlews (Numenius americanus) breeding in northeastern Nevada, in a landscape dominated by hay fields, between 2003 and 2006. Observed nest density was as high as 9 nests per 100 ha, and mean nest success was 31%, with considerable interannual variation. Predation, predominantly by large mammalian predators such as Coyotes (Canis latrans), was the greatest cause of nest failure in Long-billed Curlews. Flooding of nests during irrigation of hay fields and trampling and disturbance by cattle also affected nest success, albeit to a lesser degree. Fledging success of radiomarked chicks averaged 47%, and hay fields were the preferred b...
Lower critical solubility temperature materials as biofouling release agents

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAM) exhibits a lower critical solubility temperature (LCST) of 32°C. Using thin films of this compound as a model system, the potential of ‘smart polymers’ as biofouling-release agents was examined. PNIPAAM-coated glass slides were incubated in artificial sea water containing the marine bacterium Halomonas marina or in natural bay water at a temperature above the LCST. Upon rinsing of the biofouled samples with artificial sea water below the LCST, the dissolution of the coating released over 90% of the attached fouling material, a significant increase over the release obtained for glass controls. These experiments demonstrate the potential of PNIPAAM and similar polymers as possible fouling-release agents, and suggest that tethered PNIPAAM (or similar polymers) may be useful as regenerable fouling-release surfaces.
Adaptive Martingale Boosting

In recent work Long and Servedio [LS05] presented a "martingale boosting" algorithm that works by constructing a branching program over weak classifiers and has a simple analysis based on elementary properties of random walks. [LS05] showed that this martingale booster can tolerate random classification noise when it is run with a noise-tolerant weak learner; however, a drawback of the algorithm is that it is not adaptive, i.e. it cannot effectively take advantage of variation in the quality of the weak classifiers it receives. We present an adaptive variant of the martingale boosting algorithm. This adaptiveness is achieved by modifying the original algorithm so that the random walks that arise in its analysis have different step size depending on the quality of the weak learner at each stage. The new algorithm inherits the desirable properties of the original [LS05] algorithm, such as random classification noise tolerance, and has other advantages besides adaptiveness: it requires polynomially fewer calls to the weak learner than the original algorithm, and it can be used with confidence-rated weak hypotheses that output real values rather than Boolean predictions.
Investigating the Structure of Nylon Fibers by Measuring the Diffusion Coefficient of Acid Dyes: Part I: A Semi-Empirical, Approximate Solution to the Diffusion Equation

A semi-empirical solution of the diffusion equation is proposed for dyeing fibers with round cross sections from finite dye baths with soluble dyes whose adsorption isotherm is of the Langmuir type. This solution is valid during the early part of the dyeing cycle until about 45% of the dye has been exhausted. A method is described for measuring dyeing rates, which can be used to calculate diffusion coefficients. This method of determining diffusion coefficients is much faster than other methods described in the literature.
Resolution analysis and enhancement of the eigenspace based rooting method of source localization

An effective approach to resolution enhancement of rooting methods of source localization is introduced. An approach to the statistical analysis of rooting methods is also introduced, and this approach is used to derive signal-root variance and bias expressions which are accurate for SNR down to the resolution threshold region. Simulation results are presented to verify the analysis, illustrating the resolution advantage of this new source localization approach. >
The structure of a filamentous bacteriophage.

Many thin helical polymers, including bacterial pili and filamentous bacteriophage, have been seen as refractory to high-resolution studies by electron microscopy. Studies of the quaternary structure of such filaments have depended upon techniques such as modeling or X-ray fiber diffraction, given that direct visualization of the subunit organization has not been possible. We report the first image reconstruction of a filamentous virus, bacteriophage fd, by cryoelectron microscopy. Although these thin (∼70 A in diameter) rather featureless filaments scatter weakly, we have been able to achieve a nominal resolution of ∼ 8Au sing an iterative helical reconstruction procedure. We show that two different conformations of the virus exist, and that in both states the subunits are packed differently than in conflicting models previously proposed on the basis of X-ray fiber diffraction or solid-state NMR studies. A significant fraction of the population of wild-type fd is either disordered or in multiple conformational states, while in the presence of the Y21M mutation, this heterogeneity is greatly reduced, consistent with previous observations. These results show that new computational approaches to helical reconstruction can greatly extend the ability to visualize heterogeneous protein polymers at a reasonably high resolution.
Yersinia enterocolitica: the charisma continues.

Yersinia enterocolitica, a gram-negative coccobacillus, comprises a heterogeneous group of bacterial strains recovered from animal and environmental reservoirs. The majority of human pathogenic strains are found among distinct serogroups (e.g. O:3, O:5,27, O:8, O:9) and contain both chromosome- and plasmid (60 to 75 kb)-mediated virulence factors that are absent in "avirulent" strains. While Y. enterocolitica is primarily a gastrointestinal tract pathogen, it may produce extraintestinal infections in hosts with underlying predisposing factors. Postinfection sequelae include arthritis and erythema nodosum, which are seen mainly in Europe among patients with serogroups O:3 and O:9 infection and HLA-B27 antigen. Y. enterocolitica is acquired through the oral route and is epidemiologically linked to porcine sources. Bacteremia is prominent in the setting of immunosuppression or in patients with iron overload or those being treated with desferrioxamine. metastatic foci following bacteremia are common and often involve the liver and spleen. Of particular concern is blood transfusion-related bacteremia. Evidence has accumulated substantiating the role of Y. enterocolitica as a food-borne pathogen that has caused six major outbreaks in the United States. The diagnosis of Y. enterocolitica gastroenteritis is best achieved through isolation of the bacterium on routine or selective bacteriologic media. When necessary, serogrouping, biogrouping, and assessment for plasmid-encoded virulence traits may aid in distinguishing virulent from "avirulent" strains. Epidemiologically, outside of identified food-borne outbreaks, the source (reservoir) of Y. enterocolitica in sporadic cases is speculative. Therefore, prevention and control measures are difficult to institute.
Myocardial function after electrically induced ventricular fibrillation

Abstract Contractile force developed by canine right ventricular papillary muscles remaining in situ and perfused by the coronary circulation was studied to assess the effect of electrically induced ventricular fibrillation upon force development. These muscles are stretched to optimal length and they contract isometrically. They thus avoid the limitations associated with ventricular function curves, since the variables entering into papillary muscle force development are independent of extracardiac influences. Coronary flow during these studies remained an uncontrolled variable. Alterations of force due to varying heart rate and inotropic influences such as catecholamine release were minimized by the use of paired electrical stimulation. Control animals subjected only to bypass without ventricular fibrillation showed a slight decline in force over a 30 to 45 minute observation period, but this was not statistically significant. Normal dogs and dogs with right ventricular hypertrophy subjected to a total of 30 minutes of ventricular fibrillation showed a decline in force that was not significantly different from that in control animals. It is concluded that electrically induced ventricular fibrillation for periods of 30 minutes does not result in a reduction in the maximal contractile force of which ventricular muscle is capable.
The Role of Scientific Communication Skills in Trainees’ Intention to Pursue Biomedical Research Careers: A Social Cognitive Analysis

Scientific communication (SciComm) skills are indispensable for success in biomedical research, but many trainees may not have fully considered the necessity of regular writing and speaking for research career progression. Our purpose was to investigate the relationship between SciComm skill acquisition and research trainees' intentions to remain in research careers. We used social cognitive career theory (SCCT) to test a model of the relationship of SciComm skills to SciComm-related cognitive variables in explaining career intentions. A sample of 510 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows at major academic health science centers in the Texas Medical Center, Houston, Texas, were surveyed online. Results suggested that interest in performing SciComm tasks, SciComm outcome expectations (SCOEs), and SciComm productivity predicted intention to remain in a research career, while SciComm self-efficacy did not directly predict career intention. SCOEs also predicted interest in performing SciComm tasks. As in other SCCT studies, SciComm self-efficacy predicted SCOEs. We conclude that social cognitive factors of SciComm skill acquisition and SciComm productivity significantly predict biomedical trainees' intentions to pursue research careers whether within or outside academia. While further studies are needed, these findings may lead to evidence-based interventions to help trainees remain in their chosen career paths.
Biofouling in forward osmosis and reverse osmosis: Measurements and mechanisms

Abstract We have investigated biofouling behavior in forward osmosis (FO) and reverse osmosis (RO) membrane systems. Analysis of these two systems was done via comparison of biofilm structure and membrane permeate water flux decline. Experiments were performed using a model wastewater solution inoculated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in laboratory-scale FO and RO test cells. For a meaningful comparison, biofouling runs were carried out using the same thin-film composite polyamide FO membrane, identical hydrodynamic conditions, and an initial permeate water flux of 19 L m −2 h −1 . Water flux decline after 600 mL of cumulative permeate volume (or ~17–18 h of fouling) was significantly lower in FO (~10%) compared to RO (~30%). FO biofilms grew in a loosely organized thick layer, with eminent mushroom-shaped structures, while RO biofilms grew in tightly organized mats encased in larger amounts of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) per cell. The more compact biofilms in RO induced greater biofilm-enhanced osmotic pressure and hydraulic resistance to water flow compared to FO, which resulted in higher flux decline. We attribute the differences in biofouling behaviors in FO and RO to the different driving forces: osmotic pressure in FO and hydraulic pressure in RO.
Smooth muscle cell and atherosclerosis.

There now is general agreement that the principal feature of the lesions of atherosclerosis is the proliferation of smooth muscle cells within the intima of the artery wall [1]. This intimal smooth muscle proliferative response is associated with formation of relatively large amounts of connective tissue matrix constituents, including collagen, elastic fiber proteins and glycosaminoglycans, together with the accumulation of both intracellular and extracellular deposits of lipid. Until recent years the principal feature characterizing these lesions has been thought to be the deposition of lipid. There is no question in the fact that the lipid deposits are important in the formation of the lesion, however it is now probable that the role played by lipids may not be that that was originally envisioned for them.
Market Segment Response Through Field Experimentation

A key assumption underlying segmentation studies is that marketing efforts have differential effects on market segments. This question was investigated in the context of a field experiment involving enlistment in the armed forces. Approximately 8000 completed questionnaires administered at various stages in the US Navy enlistment recruiting process were collected at two points in time, corresponding to a pre- and post-experimental intervention. Attitudinal data were analysed to identify meaningful segments. Differential responses of market segments to advertising and recruiter changes were found, providing direction for evaluation of, and changes in, the creative component of advertising.
Differentiation of U.S. ecologists into professional guilds based on professional traits

This paper demonstrates the ways and degrees to which contemporary, U.S.-based, employed or retired ecologists aggregate into guild-like groups on the basis of their valuations of 15 professional traits. Principle components analysis of survey data from 904 Ecological Society of America respondents led to five emergent factors from the 15 traits: `enjoying nature,' `preserving nature,' `questing for knowledge,' `possessing epistemic expertise,' and `accepting religious foundations for valuing nature.' Subsequent cluster analysis on these factors yielded four groups of respondents we designated as `youthful relativists,' `older naturalists,' scientific objectivists,' and `optimistic traditionalists.' Surprisingly, the majority of respondents were negative about the `enjoying nature,' or `preserving nature' factors, a matter for further exploration. Also, differential levels of doubt existed as to the maintenance of objectivity during the practices of research, and especially in participation in environmental issues.
Biomarker-mediated disruption of coffee-ring formation as a low resource diagnostic indicator.

The ring pattern resulting from the unique microfluidics in an evaporating coffee drop is a well-studied mass transport phenomenon generating interest in the research community mostly from a mechanistic perspective. In this report, we describe how biomarker-induced particle–particle assemblies, magnetic separation, and evaporation-driven ring formation can be combined for simple pathogen detection. In this assay design, the presence of biomarkers causes self-assembly of a magnetic nanoparticle and a fluorescently labeled micrometer-sized particle. A small spherical magnet under the center of the drop prevents these assemblies from migrating to the drop’s edge while a nonreactive control particle flows to the edge forming a ring pattern. Thus the presence or absence of biomarker results in distinctly different distributions of particles in the dried drop. Proof-of-principle studies using poly-l-histidine, a peptide mimic of the malaria biomarker pfHRPII, show that the predicted particle distributions occur...
Influence of Soybean Leaf Extracts on Ester Cleavage in Cabbage and Soybean Loopers (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Midgut-mediated ester cleavage of p -nitrophenyl acetate increased in Trichoplusia ni (Hubner) larvae that were fed on diets containing extracts from resistant and susceptible soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., varieties. Activity ranged as follows: control susceptible > resistant variety. The use of the inhibitors piperonyl butoxide and S,S,S -tri- n -butyl phosphorotrithioate indicated that ester cleavage was primarily mediated by hydrolytic esterases.
The Establishment of Reactive Power Calibration Standard and It's Comparison

This paper describes the new CEPRI single-phase reactive power calibration standard.Based on current-comparator Bridge,traceability is achieved by ac-dc transfer standard,reference resistor and reference capacitor.It allows calibrating active/reactive power and energy meters.The systematic uncertainty of the system is less than 30 parts per million(ppm) for reactive power calibration.Software of the calibration system is studied and designed by virtual apparatus programming language,thus performing automatic calibration of the reactive metering.
Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy: Clinical Manifestations of the 15257 Mutation

Background: Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy is associated with four known pathogenetic mutations of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) at nucleotide positions (np) 11778, 3460, 15257, and 14484. Methods: The authors collected clinical data from 12 visually symptomatic patients from seven different pedigrees with the 15257 mutation and compared these data with previously published clinical features of the 11778 and 3460 mutations. Results: The authors' results indicate that these three groups of patients are similar in most clinical characteristics evaluated. However, patients with the 15257 mutation are more likely to experience significant recovery of visual acuity than patients with the 11778 mutation (25% versus 4% of eyes; P P = 0.001). Patients with the 15257 mutation also have a higher incidence of spinal cord and peripheral neurologic symptoms (42%) than patients with the other pathogenetic mutations. Conclusions: The phenotypic expression of the 15257 mutation differs from the 11778 and 3460 mutations and is affected by the presence of an associated mutation at np 15812. This is the first clinical evidence to support the concept of multiple simultaneous mtDNA mutations producing additive deleterious effects in patients with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy. The clinical differences between the various genotypes associated with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy have implications for risk factor management and visual prognosis and, thus, underscore the importance of molecular genetic testing in patients with suspected Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy.
Message Framing and Constructing Meaning: An Emerging Paradigm in Mass Communication Research

This chapter analyzes the influence of framing research on the advancement of a meanings paradigm also known as constructionism. Framing models have been useful during the past 2 decades to help ex...
A multivariate analysis of gun violence among urban youth: The impact of direct victimization, indirect victimization, and victimization among peers

AbstractResearch suggests that many adolescents involved in violence as victims become offenders themselves as they are exposed to increased levels of indirect victimization, direct victimization, and peer victimization. While there is a connection between witnessing events, the actual attack with guns, and peer violence, all of which have an effect on delinquent behavior, less is known about whether this relationship differs by age and gender. Survey instruments (e.g. questionnaires) completed by 500 lower socioeconomic African American youth between the ages of 12 and 18 in the state of Virginia were gathered to explain youth delinquency, namely committing a crime with a gun, as an effect of exposure to violence and peer victimization. A hierarchical regression analysis shows that direct exposure as a measure of victimization is the greatest predictor of offending while correlations between victimization and delinquency are all statistically significant. Significant interactions indicate a moderating ef...
Shifting Electoral Geography in Russia's 1991 and 1996 Presidential Elections

This research note reexamines Russia's 1991 and 1996 presidential elections, focusing—unlike studies emphasizing stability of Russia's electorate—on differences in electoral geography in the two elections, with oblast-level vote totals for Boris Yel'tsin in 1991 and 1996 being only poorly correlated. Although Yel'tsin's performance in both elections was better in urban than in rural regions, the urbanrural divide in 1996 is shown to differ from that in 1991. Nonetheless, the Russian electorate is stable after 1993, regional voting patterns between 1993 and 1996 being both similar to each other and different from that in the 1991 election. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: H10, O50, Z10. 6 tables, 14 references.
An Application to Capital Structure Problems: Optimal Financing of a Company

In this chapter we present an application to corporate finance: how to optimally structure financing of a company (a project), in the presence of moral hazard. In the model the agent can misreport the firm earnings and transfer money to his own savings account, but there is an optimal contract under which the agent will report truthfully, and will not save, but consume everything he is paid. The model leads to a relatively simple and realistic financing structure, consisting of equity (dividends), long-term debt and a credit line. These instruments are used for financing the initial capital needed, as well as for the agent’s salary and covering possible operating losses. The agent is paid by a fixed fraction of dividends, which he has control over. At the optimum, the dividends are paid locally, when the agent’s expected utility process hits a certain boundary point, or equivalently, after the credit line balance has been paid off. Because the agent receives enough in dividends, he has no incentives to misreport. When having a larger credit line is optimal, in order to be allowed such credit, it may happen that the debt is negative, meaning that the firm needs to maintain a margin account on which it receives less interest than it pays on the credit line, as also sometimes happens in the real world. The continuous-time framework and the associated mathematical tools enable one to compute many comparative statics, by solving appropriate differential equations, and/or by computing appropriate expected values.
Emerging Gastric Stimulation for Dysmotility Disorder and Obesity

Abstract A number of methods have been developed for gastric electrical stimulation (GES). One that is mostly applied clinically is a method called Enterra Therapy in which electrical stimulation is performed using narrow pulses with a width of below 0.6 ms, similar to neuromodulation methods in various nerve stimulations and deep brain stimulation (DBS). This chapter is, however, focused on emerging GES methods that have not yet been widely applied clinically. These include gastric pacing, dual-pulse GES, and synchronized GES. Potential applications of these methods for treating gastric motility disorders are discussed. The second part of this chapter introduces GES methods developed for the treatment of obesity that is one of the major public health problems in the world. Based on their physiological effects, we classify GES into nGES (neural stimulation), eGES (excitatory stimulation on motility), and iGES (inhibitory stimulation on motility). The applications and potential applications of these methods for the treatment of obesity are introduced and discussed, together with their mechanisms of action, limitations in clinical settings and practical implementation.
Variable diagnostics in model-based clustering through variation partition

Model-based clustering is a flexible grouping technique based on fitting finite mixture models to data groups. Despite its rapid development in recent years, there is rather limited literature devo...
Variants of Unknown Significance in Genes Associated with Heritable Thoracic Aortic Disease Can Be Low Penetrant “Risk Variants”

Thoracic aortic aneurysms leading to acute aortic dissections are a preventable cause of premature deaths if individuals at risk can be identified. Individuals with early-onset aortic dissections without a family history or syndromic features have an increased burden of rare genetic variants of unknown significance (VUSs) in genes with pathogenic variants for heritable thoracic aortic disease (HTAD). We assessed the role of VUSs in the development of disease using both in vitro enzymatic assays and mouse models. VUSs in LOX and MYLK identified in individuals with acute aortic dissections were assayed to determine whether they disrupted enzymatic activity. A subset of VUSs reduced enzymatic activity compared to the wild-type proteins but less than pathogenic variants. Additionally, a Myh11 variant, p.Arg247Cys, which does not cause aortic disease in either humans or mice, was crossed with the Acta2−/− mouse, which has aortic enlargement with age while Acta2+/− mice do not. Acta2+/−Myh11R247C/R247C mice have aortic dilation by 3 months of age without medial degeneration, indicating that two variants not known to cause disease do lead to aortic enlargement in combination. Furthermore, the addition of Myh11R247C/R247C to the Acta2−/− mouse model accelerates aortic enlargement and increases medial degeneration. Therefore, our results emphasize the need for a classification system for variants in Mendelian genes that goes beyond the 5-tier system of pathogenic, likely pathogenic, VUS, likely benign, and benign, and includes a designation for low-penetrant “risk variants” that trigger disease either in combination with other risk factors or in a stochastic manner.
On the computation of motion from a sequence of monocular or stereo images—an overview

Vision and the ability to discern change due to motion are almost universal in the animal kingdom. Moving objects and changing environment surround us. Even stationary objects appear to have (relative) motion because of our own motion or the movement of our eyes. Thus, it is not at all surprising that several distinct types of investigators with widely differing backgrounds and objectives are pursuing research into motion. These backgrounds include psychophysics, neurophysiology, computer vision, computer graphics, and robotics. Briefly, psychophysicists’ and neurophysiologists’ interest in motion centers around understanding the part of biological visual system which senses and interprets motion. Researchers in computer graphics are concerned with the generation of images and, in particular, the generation of moving images and animation on a screen. Researchers in computer vision are interested in the analysis, processing, and understanding of images. A substantial fraction of these researchers are dedicated to the analysis, processing, and understanding of sequences or collections of images with the objective of collecting information from the set as a whole that may not be obtained from any one image by itself. Detection, computation, and understanding of motion are an integral part of these endeavors. Robotics is another discipline where researchers are intimately involved with motion. The current research scene using motion as the common element presents an interesting symbiosis between the disciplines cited above.
Weld pool development during GTA and laser beam welding of Type 304 stainless steel; Part II-experimental correlation

In part I of the paper, the results of the heat flow and the fluid flow analysis were presented. Here, in Part II of the paper, predictions of the computational model are verified by comparing the numerically predicted and experimentally observed fusion zone size and shape. Stationary gas tungsten arc and laser beam welds were made on Type 304 stainless steel for different times to provide a variety of solidification conditions such as cooling rate and temperature gradient. Calculated temperatures and cooling rates are correlated with the experimentally observed fusion zone structure. In addition, the effect of sulfur on GTA weld penetration was quantitatively evaluated by considering two heats of 304 stainless steel containing 90 and 240 ppm sulfur. Sulfur, as expected, increased the depth/width ratio by altering the surface tension gradient driven flow in the weld pool.
In silico prediction of novel residues involved in amyloid primary nucleation of human I56T and D67H lysozyme

Amyloidogenic proteins are most often associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease, but there are more than two dozen human proteins known to form amyloid fibrils associated with disease. Lysozyme is an antimicrobial protein that is used as a general model to study amyloid fibril formation. Studies aimed at elucidating the process of amyloid formation of lysozyme tend to focus on partial unfolding of the native state due to the relative instability of mutant amyloidogenic variants. While this is well supported, the data presented here suggest the native structure of the variants may also play a role in primary nucleation. Three-dimensional structural analysis identified lysozyme residues 21, 62, 104, and 122 as displaced in both amyloidogenic variants compared to wild type lysozyme. Residue interaction network (RIN) analysis found greater clustering of residues 112–117 in amyloidogenic variants of lysozyme compared to wild type. An analysis of the most energetically favored predicted dimers and trimers provided further evidence for a role for residues 21, 62, 104, 122, and 112–117 in amyloid formation. This study used lysozyme as a model to demonstrate the utility of combining 3D structural analysis with RIN analysis for studying the general process of amyloidogenesis. Results indicated that binding of two or more amyloidogenic lysozyme mutants may be involved in amyloid nucleation by placing key residues (21, 62, 104, 122, and 112–117) in proximity before partial unfolding occurs. Identifying residues in the native state that may be involved in amyloid formation could provide novel drug targets to prevent a range of amyloidoses.
Gay Acquaintanceship and Attitudes toward Homosexuality: A Conservative Test:

Does acquaintanceship with gays and lesbians produce more accepting attitudes toward homosexuality and gay rights? Although most scholars and laypeople would likely answer in the affirmative, previ...
Gamma Knife® icon CBCT offers improved localization workflow for frame-based treatment.

Object The purpose of this study was to compare two methods of stereotactic localization in Gamma Knife treatment planning: cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) or fiducial. While the fiducial method is the traditional method of localization, CBCT is now available for use with the Gamma Knife Icon. This study seeks to determine whether a difference exists between the two methods and then whether one is better than the other regarding accuracy and workflow optimization. Methods Cone beam computed tomography was used to define stereotactic space around the Elekta Film Pinprick phantom and then treated with film in place. The same phantom was offset known amounts from center and then imaged with CBCT and registered with the reference CBCT image to determine if measured offsets matched those known. Ten frameless and 10 frame-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to CBCT patient fusions were retrospectively evaluated using the TG-132 TRE method. The stereotactic coordinates defined by CBCT and traditional fiducials were compared on the Elekta 8 cm Ball phantom, an anthropomorphic phantom, and actual patient data. Offsets were introduced to the anthropomorphic phantom in the stereotactic frame and CBCT's ability to detect those offsets was determined. Results Cone beam computed tomography defines stereotactic space well within the established limits of the mechanical alignment system. The CBCT to CBCT registration can detect offsets accurately to within 0.1 mm and 0.5°. In all cases, some disagreement existed between fiducial localization and that of CBCT which in some cases was small, but also was as high as 0.43 mm in the phantom domain and as much as 1.54 mm in actual patients. Conclusion Cone beam computed tomography demonstrates consistent accuracy in defining stereotactic space. Since both localization methods do not agree with each other consistently, the more reliable method must be identified. Cone beam computed tomography can accurately determine offsets occurring within stereotactic space that would be nondiscernible utilizing the fiducial method and seems to be more reliable. Using CBCT localization offers the opportunity to streamline workflow both from a patient and clinic perspective and also shows patient position immediately prior to treatment.
Learning Curve for Surgeons Adopting Transcarotid Artery Revascularization Based on the Vascular Quality Initiative-Transcarotid Artery Revascularization Surveillance Project

Background Transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) with flow reversal was recently introduced as a novel technique for carotid artery stenting (CAS). We examined the learning curve of surgeons adopting TCAR based on data from the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI-TCAR Surveillance Project; TSP). Study Design We identified all patients in the TSP who underwent TCAR from September 2016 to December 2018. Cases were numbered in chronological order for each unique surgeon. Patients were then divided into 4 levels based on surgeon case number for comparison: cases 1 to 5 (novice), cases 6 to 20 (intermediate), cases 20 to 30 (advanced), and cases >30 (expert). Results During the study period, 3,456 TCAR procedures were performed by 417 unique surgeons from 178 centers. Of all procedures, 1,426 (41%) were performed at the novice level, 1,375 (40%) at the intermediate level, 307 (8.9%) at the advanced level, and 348 (10%) at the expert level. Cases performed at more advanced levels had lower operative times (novice 82 vs intermediate 73 vs advanced 62 vs expert 60 minutes, p Conclusions Transcarotid artery revascularization is being performed with excellent stroke and mortality rates in the TSP, even in the early stages of the surgeons' learning curve. Bleeding complications, operative, fluoroscopy, and flow reversal times all decrease with increasing TCAR experience.
Problems in Soft Tissue Biomechanics

This chapter considers some basic problems in the mechanics soft tissues. Problems include stretching of bars and membranes, shear of a rectangular block, extension and inflation of a tube, extension and torsion of a cylinder, inflation of a spherical shell, and bending of a block. All problems are solved using nonlinear elasticity, with numerical results illustrating fundamental behavior.
Aromatic interactions with membrane modulate human BK channel activation

Large-conductance potassium (BK) channels are transmembrane (TM) proteins that can be synergistically and independently activated by membrane voltage and intracellular Ca2+. The only covalent connection between the cytosolic Ca2+ sensing domain and the TM pore and voltage sensing domains is a 15-residue 'C-linker'. To determine the linker's role in human BK activation, we designed a series of linker sequence scrambling mutants to suppress potential complex interplay of specific interactions with the rest of the protein. The results revealed a surprising sensitivity of BK activation to the linker sequence. Combining atomistic simulations and further mutagenesis experiments, we demonstrated that nonspecific interactions of the linker with membrane alone could directly modulate BK activation. The C-linker thus plays more direct roles in mediating allosteric coupling between BK domains than previously assumed. Our results suggest that covalent linkers could directly modulate TM protein function and should be considered an integral component of the sensing apparatus.
The cost of predator avoidance behaviors in an invasive freshwater snail

AbstractPredator avoidance behaviors are assumed to occur at a cost to the potential prey. The invasive New Zealand Mud Snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) exhibits several behaviors that appear to re...
A comparative analysis of the photoprotection hypothesis for the evolution of autumn colours

The adaptive value of autumn colours-the seasonal production of red anthocyanins observed in many species of trees and shrubs-is still debated. According to the photoprotection hypothesis, anthocyanins protect leaves from photo-inhibition and photo-oxidation at low temperatures, enabling the tree to reabsorb nutrients more efficiently before leaf fall. Hence, the hypothesis predicts that autumn colours are more likely to evolve in species growing in colder environments. We tested this prediction by comparing the climatic parameters of 237 North American tree species. We found that, although species with yellow autumn leaves grow under lower minimum temperatures than species with green leaves, there is no significant difference in temperature between species with red autumn leaves and species with green or yellow autumn leaves. We conclude that, although reabsorbing chlorophyll in autumn, and the consequent unmasking of yellow carotenoids, may be an adaptation to cold temperatures, the production of red anthocyanins is not. Hence, our interspecific comparative analysis does not support the photoprotection hypothesis as an explanation for the evolution of autumn colours.
Pediatric Airway Surgery: Advances in Evaluation and Endoscopic Management

Pediatric airway evaluation and surgery have evolved over time to involve less invasive techniques in order to facilitate quicker recovery and potentially less discomfort. Over the past decade, new indications, techniques, and data have emerged to support the use of these techniques routinely. In this article, we present techniques for evaluation and outcomes for endoscopic management of the pediatric larynx and review relevant recent publications relevant to pediatric endoscopic airway surgery. Laryngeal ultrasound has been shown to be an effective modality for evaluating vocal fold motion and potentially for evaluating laryngeal lesions. Innovations in surgical techniques include epiglottopexy for supraglottic obstruction, new airway balloons for dilating subglottic stenosis, and endoscopic cricoid split with or without a cartilage graft and vocal fold suture lateralization for bilateral vocal fold immobility. Less invasive techniques of diagnosis and management are viable options for pediatric airway patients and may replace or serve as adjuncts to traditional modalities.
Jarvis: Moving Towards a Smarter Internet of Things

The deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) combined with cyber-physical systems is resulting in complex environments comprising of various devices interacting with each other and with users through apps running on computing platforms like mobile phones, tablets, and desktops. In addition, the rapid advances in Artificial Intelligence are making those devices able to autonomously modify their behaviors through the use of techniques such as reinforcement learning (RL). It is clear however that ensuring safety and security in such environments is critical. In this paper, we introduce Jarvis, a constrained RL framework for IoT environments that determines optimal devices actions with respect to user-defined goals, such as energy optimization, while at the same time ensuring safety and security. Jarvis is scalable and context independent in that it is applicable to any IoT environment with minimum human effort. We instantiate Jarvis for a smart home environment and evaluate its performance using both simulated and real world data. In terms of safety and security, Jarvis is able to detect 100% of the 214 manually crafted security violations collected from prior work and is able to correctly filter 99.2% of the user-defined benign anomalies and malfunctions from safety violations. For measuring functionality benefits, Jarvis is evaluated using real world smart home datasets with respect to three user required functionalities: energy use minimization, energy cost minimization, and temperature optimization. Our analysis shows that Jarvis provides significant advantages over normal device behavior in terms of functionality and over general unconstrained RL frameworks in terms of safety and security.
Metasurfaces for multiplexed communication

Programmable metasurfaces can be used to encode wireless signals between users at different locations.
Role of Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion in Patients with HeartMate 3

Purpose Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) at time of implantation was previously shown to reduce thromboembolic events (TEs) in continuous flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs); however, the efficacy of LAAO in HM3 recipients is unknown. This study aims to assess the clinical impact of LAAO in HM 3 patients. Methods Adults receiving first HM3 implantation from November 2014 through December 2019 at our center were retrospectively reviewed. TEs included device thrombosis and ischemic strokes. Patients were classified by whether they received LAAO or not. Incidence of TEs was compared between groups using cumulative incidence curves with competing risks (death and heart transplant) and risk factors for TEs were assessed with Fine and Gray competing risk regression. Results 182 patients received HM 3s during the study period. Ninety-nine HM3 patients (54%) received LAAO versus 83 (46%) who did not. Zero LAAO patients (0%) had prior coronary artery bypass grafting, compared to 35 patients (42%) who did not receive LAAO (p Conclusion A low number of TEs was observed in HM3 recipients. LAAO did not further reduce the rate of TEs in this patient population.
Liquidity in the Financial System Panel (Presentation Slides)

This presentation focuses on sources of liquidity and illiquidity in financial markets, price risk and liquidity risk, crowding in financial markets and approaches to modeling crowding.
The Ancient and Judicial Game: James Wilson, John Marshall Harlan, and the Beginnings of Golf at the Supreme Court

Golf has a long history at the Supreme Court, not only as a sometimes illuminating, sometimes entertaining interest of some personalities at the Court, but also as both a factor in and a reflection of the evolving work and culture of the place (and of the nation it serves). This article revisits a few early developments involving the first golfer on the Court (Justice James Wilson), the first golf enthusiast (the first Justice John Marshall Harlan), and the first golfing majority (October Term 1906).