cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intelligent Guidance of an Unmanned Helicopter

The objective of this project is to define a science which allows for the evolution of complex software systems that can fully utilize massively parallel computers of ever-greater capability (initially dual quad cores running fewer higher-level sensors for tractability) and employ this design in human-robot interaction with a final goal of full autonomy of the robot (in this case, an unmanned helicopter). In order to test a new learning approach that can bestow intelligence on a system, based upon human (tutor) – robot (student) interaction, we are working jointly to design an intelligent system architecture, based on the KASER (Knowledge Amplification by Structural Expert Randomization), and plan to implement the methodology on an aerial vehicle (a helicopter), which will execute several maneuvers such as basic hovering, steep approach, confined area approach, and basic altitude flying. The software to perform these maneuvers will be developed using two methods (teach mode with a human-in-the-loop) and classical control. Then, the knowledge amplification system will autonomously generate another set of software, which will then be tested and compared to the execution of the baseline two software codes using the same helicopter flight scenarios. We anticipate that such complex functional real-time software can be most cost-effectively written through the use of a software-writing system embodying knowledge amplification.
Distributed access to parallel file systems

Large data stores are pushing the limits of modern technology. Parallel file systems provide high I/O throughput to large data stores, but are limited to particular operating system and hardware platforms, lack seamless integration and modern security features, and suffer from slow offsite performance. Meanwhile, advanced research collaborations are requiring higher bandwidth as well as concurrent and secure access to large datasets across myriad platforms and parallel file systems, forming a schism between file systems and their users. It is my thesis that a distributed file system can improve I/O throughput to modern parallel file system architectures, achieving new levels of scalability, performance, security, heterogeneity, transparency, and independence. This dissertation describes and examines prototypes of three data access architectures that use the NFSv4 distributed filing protocol as a foundation for remote data access to parallel file systems while maintaining file system independence. The first architecture, Split-Server NFSv4, targets parallel file system architectures that disallow customization and/or direct storage access. Split-Server NFSv4 distributes I/O across the available parallel file system nodes, offering secure, heterogeneous, and transparent remote data access. While scalable, the Split-Server NFSv4 prototype demonstrates that the absence of direct data access limits I/O throughput. Remote data access performance can be increased for parallel file system architectures that allow direct data access plus some customization. The second architecture analyzes the pNFS protocol, which uses storage-specific layout drivers to distribute I/O across the bisectional bandwidth of a storage network between filing nodes and storage. Storage-specific layout drivers allow universal storage protocol support and flexible security and data access semantics, but can diminish the level of heterogeneity and transparency. The third architecture, Direct-pNFS, uses a commodity distributed file system for direct access to a parallel file system's storage nodes, bridging the gap between performance and transparency. The dissertation describes the importance and necessity for both direct data access architectures depending on user and system requirements. I analyze prototypes of both direct data access architectures and demonstrate their ability to match and even exceed the performance of the underlying parallel file system.
Assessment of penile erection methods in rhesus macaques to model pharmacokinetics of antiretroviral drugs and penile infection with simian immunodeficiency virus.

Background An established macaque model to assess HIV interventions against penile transmission is currently not available. Physiological changes during penile erections may affect susceptibility to infection and drug pharmacokinetics (PK). Here, we identify methods to establish erections in macaques to evaluate penile transmission, PK, and efficacy under physiologic conditions. Methods Penile rigidity and length were evaluated in eight rhesus macaques following rectal electrostimulation (RES), vibratory stimulation (VS), or pharmacological treatment with Sildenafil Citrate (Viagra) or Alprostadil. Results Rectal electrostimulation treatment increased penile rigidity (>82%) and length (2.5 ± 0.58 cm), albeit the response was transient. In contrast, VS alone or coupled with Viagra or Alprostadil failed to elicit an erection response. Conclusion Rectal electrostimulation treatment elicits transient but consistent penile erections in macaques. High rigidity following RES treatment demonstrates increased blood flow and may provide a functional model for penile PK evaluations and possibly simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) transmission under erect conditions.
COLLECTIVE BEHAVOR AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS IN THE POSTMODERN AGE: Looking Backward to Look Forward

This article specifies several ways in which the collective behavior portion of Collective Behavior/Social Movement (CBSM) studies may be revitalized in the near future. The revitalization will occur because repertoires of extra-institutional challenge emerging in the postmodern age seem to fall outside the way social movements have been theorized in the last twenty-five years. Today's postmodern trends--increasing consumer- ism and affluence, individualism, demographic complexity, ideological diversity, global migration, and constant innovation in communications technology-have proliferated new social identities and deconstructed social identities imposed by the Other. As a result, postmodernity's com- plexities are multiplying the number of small, diverse, and diffuse group- ings defining themselves in challenging ways outside the corridors of politics. Indeed these groupings may in the years to come recast what some see as a social movement society into a CBSM Society of diverse challenges to the institutional order. The new millennium approaches and we find ourselves in a world in which boundaries are rapidly shifting-boundaries of self, nation, society, and even the world itself. The sudden fall of communism, the Los Angeles riots, the Heaven's Gate mass suicide, the Zapatista uprising in Chiapas, and the right-wing move- ments that are emerging in various parts of the world all seem to mark the end of the old and the coming of the postmoder. All of these episodes occur in the con- text of a world disordered by globalization and the end of the western imperium (Lemert 1997). Our postmodern world is a world of emergence, contingency, and flux. In American sociology, given that emergence, contingency, and flux define our understanding of collective behavior, it makes sense to assemble a special issue on Collective Behavior and Social Movements in the postmodern age.
P049 Human metabolites bind to the P4 pocket of HLA-DRB1∗15:01, with implications for multiple sclerosis susceptibility

Aim Models of HLA mediated drug hypersensitivity suggest that binding of small molecules in the peptide binding groove results in changes in conformation of the bound peptide, leading to an aberrant immune response. We hypothesize that naturally occurring small molecules may similarly alter T-cell response in Multiple Sclerosis (MS), where susceptibility is strongly associated with DRB1 ∗ 15:01. We performed virtual screening of the complete Human Metabolite Database (HMDB) for docking in DRB1 ∗ 15:01 and assessed the potential impact on binding of human myelin basic peptide (MBP). Methods Virtual Screening for HLA-DRB1 ∗ 15:01 was conducted on a structure obtained in molecular dynamics simulations of the complex with bound MBP. Valine 89 and phenylalanine 92 of the MBP were identified as P1 and P4 anchor residues. Two independent screenings were conducted to probe pockets P1 and P4 in the structure of DRB1 ∗ 15:01 obtained from the protein data bank (PDB code 1BX2) using the HMDB library (v3.6), which consists of 41993 human metabolites. The virtual screening was conducted with UCSF Chimera v1.10.2, AUTODOCK v4.2, Clipper 1.6.0, Dockblaster 1.6.0 program. Results We observed the binding of metabolites specifically in the P4 pockets of HLA-DRB1 ∗ 15:01. We calculated energy score, vander-waals component, electrostatic component, polar solvation component, molecular charge, heavy atoms, polar contacts (3.3 A), nonpolar contacts (3.3–4.5 A), and number of conformations for the docked DRB1 ∗ 15:01 and metabolite complex. We used Dockblaster (v1.6.0) to select top ranked metabolites and investigate the distribution of their scores. On this basis, we obtained 361 significant metabolites from the docking results in the P4 pocket and ranked them on the basis of their energy score. Further, we found that Phenylalanine MBP92 allows the binding of metabolites in the P4 pocket of DRB1 ∗ 1501 but not Valine MBP of P1 pockets. Conclusions These results suggest that the binding of naturally occurring human metabolites in the P4 pockets of HLA-DRB1 ∗ 15:01 may subtly alters the TCR recognition site of HLA/MBP, possibly by changing the conformation in the normally bound position, or causing a register shift in the bound peptide. This in turn may bring about profound alterations in T-cell responsiveness, resulting in autoimmunity.
Vertical Field-of-View Extension and Walking Characteristics in Head-Worn Virtual Environments

In this article, we detail a series of experiments that examines the effect of vertical field-of-view extension and the addition of non-specific peripheral visual stimulation on gait characteristics and distance judgments in a head-worn virtual environment. Specifically, we examined four field-of-view configurations: a common 60° diagonal field of view (48° × 40°), a 60° diagonal field of view with the addition of a luminous white frame in the far periphery, a field of view with an extended upper edge, and a field of view with an extended lower edge. We found that extension of the field of view, either with spatially congruent or spatially non-informative visuals, resulted in improved distance judgments and changes in observed posture. However, these effects were not equal across all field-of-view configurations, suggesting that some configurations may be more appropriate than others when balancing performance, cost, and ergonomics.
Desempenho ambiental dos catadores de materiais recicláveis em Esteio (RS)

Parte dos residuos solidos reciclaveis gerada nas cidades e coletada por catadores. A atividade e considerada informal, mas reconhecida como a base da cadeia produtiva da reciclagem. Este artigo retrata uma investigacao realizada com uma amostra de 29 catadores individuais em Esteio (RS), submetidos a entrevistas estruturadas. Os dados foram tratados estatisticamente e confrontados com dados de pesquisa publica disponivel. Os resultados demonstraram que PET, aluminio, papel e papelao sao os residuos que mais atraem os catadores, que a media individual de coleta de reciclaveis da amostra e cerca de 1.200 kg/mes e que as massas minima e maxima de reciclaveis para todos os catadores do municipio sao, respectivamente, 102,5 e 257,3 t/mes. Esses resultados mostraram que o desempenho ambiental dos catadores e maior de 2,3 a 5,7 vezes quando comparado com o indicador da coleta seletiva formal de Esteio.
hCG Production by Non-Placental Tissue and Its Significance

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a glycoprotein hormone, is synthesized and secreted by the syncytiotrophoblast cells of the placenta. HCG is found in the blood, urine, amniotic fluid (Clements et al., 1976), and fetal tissue (Bruner, 1951). The main function of hCG in early pregnancy is to stimulate the corpus luteum to secrete progesterone to support the endometrium. The role of hCG in stimulating fetal testicular androgen has also been implicated (Jaffe et al., 1977).
Superhydrophobic contoured surfaces created on metal and polymer using a femtosecond laser

Abstract A process to fabricate superhydrophobic surfaces on metals and polymers is presented. Using high speed femtosecond laser pulses, surface structures have been created on metal surfaces and transferred onto Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to achieve superhydrophobic surfaces. Various surface micro and nano structures are presented and their wetting properties are discussed. Water contact angles of over 150° with a roll off angle of less than 5° were achieved on the textured copper and PDMS surfaces. A fast and inexpensive method to create microfluidic devices with textured superhydrophobic inner channel walls is also presented. These channels allow a controllable fluid flow rate through microfluidic devices. A 186% increase in fluid flow rate though PDMS microchannels was achieved through the fabrication of hydrophobic structures on the inner channel walls.
Die richtige Machina: „Mein Platz im System ist das Ziel!“

Die naturlichen Kinder werden ziemlich gewaltsam auf Normalkurs gezwungen. Dadurch werden die richtigen Kinder in vieler Weise schwer geschadigt.
Atlantic Disaster: Boston Responds to the Cape Ann Earthquake of 1755

Abstract This article examines religious, scientific, and media responses to the 1755 Cape Ann earthquake, which affected Boston and other regions throughout the Atlantic world. The earthquake's pr...
Probing the spatial and temporal structure of turbulent combustion with tomographic PIV and high-speed imaging

Laser imaging techniques for probing the structure and temporal evolution of turbulent flows and flames are illustrated by simultaneous LIF imaging and 3-D velocity field measurements using tomographic PIV at a 10-kHz repetition rate. Rayleigh scattering measurements of transient flows at elevated pressure are demonstrated using a 100-kHz repetition rate pulse-burst laser.
How accurate are imputed child support orders

Abstract Child support agencies face the challenging task of setting right-sized orders when the non-custodial parent's income cannot be ascertained through state or federal administrative records and the non-custodial parent is unwilling or unable to provide documentation of recent income. In these cases, child support agencies will often impute the non-custodial parent's income assuming their earnings are equal to those of someone who works full-time at the minimum wage. This study uses detailed earnings and hours worked data for employees in Washington state to assess how well this imputation matches the actual earnings of low-wage non-custodial parents. Our results reveal that this imputation would likely set orders that are too high or too low for the majority of non-custodial parents with no income information. The findings suggest the need for child support agencies to move away from a “one-size fits all” imputation approach and develop strategies to better monitor non-custodial parents to determine whether an order modification is necessary.
Efficient constant-time addressing scheme for parallel-controlled assembly of stress-engineered MEMS microrobots

This paper proposes a robust control theory framework for accomplishing the micro-assembly of heterogeneous Stress-Engineered MEMS Microrobots. The main goal of this control framework is minimizing the number of external global control signals with respect to the number of controllable microrobots in the system. In this work, all the manipulative control primitives are constructed with the constant number of control pulses. We show that the control strategy is valid by implementing it on multiple macroscale robots that could be modeled as nonholonomic unicycles. We accomplished the planar assembly using such macroscale robots. For our hardware experiment, we use a group of macroscale robots with direct drive wheels. These results show an important step for developing control for multiple MEMS microrobots.
Bandlimited Functions Sampling and the Discrete Fourier Transform

In the preceding chapters we have dealt exclusively with signals and their transformations defined on a continuous time interval. Such signals can be referred to as analogue signals. In this chapter we introduce the important topic of discrete signals, i.e., signals that are represented by sequences of numbers. Sometimes these numbers can be interpreted as samples of a continuous signal taken at discrete time intervals. Such an interpretation is, however, not always possible or for that matter even necessary. Nevertheless, the subject is best introduced by starting with the idea of sampling. For this purpose we shall initially restrict the class of analogue signals which we propose to sample to so-called bandlimited functions.
Functional Expression of Na+/K+-ATPase α and β Isoforms

Both the catalytic (a) and glycosylated (β) subunits of the Na+/K+-ATPase are encoded by a family of genes. Three Na+/K+-ATPase a isoforms (α1, α2 and α3) and two s (s1 and s2) have been identified in mammals (3). The differential properties of the α and s polypeptides in tissue expression, development and hormonal stimulation, suggest that each isoform might be playing a specific physiological role. The study of the properties of the Na+/K+-ATPase isoforms has been complicated by their coexistence in different tissues and because of the difficulty that their isolation represents. To gain insight into the functional characteristics of the Na+/K+-ATPase isoforms, we have successfully used the baculovirus expression system to express the rodent al, a2 and a3 Na+/K+-ATPase isoforms, separately and in combination with s1 in Sf-9 insect cells (1). These cells have low levels of endogenous Na+/K+-ATPase and are able to express high amounts of the baculovirus induced Na+/K+-ATPase polypeptides. The coexpression of α1, α2 and α3 with s1 resulted in the production of catalytically competent Na+/K+-ATPase molecules as determined by ouabain-sensitive ATPase activity, ouabain and K-sensitive ATP phosphorylation and [3H]ouabain binding. a2s1 and α3s1 isozymes display a high sensitivity to ouabain, with α3s1 the more sensitive. At present, the different α and s isoform combinations that result in active Na+/K+-ATPase enzyme have not been completely determined. Here we show coexpression of the α1, α2 and α3 isoforms in combination with the s2 subunit. All α isoforms are able to associate with the s2 subunit in virally infected insect cells and the Na+/K+ -ATPase isozymes produced are catalytically active.
Regulation of Plasminogen Gene Expression

Plasminogen is the zymogen of the active serine protease plasmin. Plasminogen circulates in plasma at a concentration of 2 μM (Collen and Verstraete, 1975) and is also present in the extravascular fluid. Plasmin is the major enzyme responsible for the degradation of fibrin in blood clots within the vascular tree (Carmeliet and Collen, 1996; Petersen et al., 1990; Ploplis et al., 1995). In addition to its established role in intravascular thrombolysis, plasmin has been implicated in such diverse processes as angiogenesis (Pepper et al., 1987; Baker et al., 2000; van Hinsbergh et al., 2001; Pepper, 2001;), tumor progression (Chappuis et al., 2001; van der Pluijm et al., 2001), degradation of extracellular matrices, neurite outgrowth (Tsirka et al., 1995; Wu et al., 2000; Jacovina et al., 2001), and inflammatory reactions important in host defense and wound repair.
Achieving diversity and its benefits in clinical research.

Strengthened NIH policies of inclusion have resulted in more NIH-funded research including more women and other underrepresented population groups as subjects in medical research. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Conceptual Aerodynamic Design of a Tail-Cone Thruster System Under Axi-Symmetric Inlet Distortion

This paper presents a conceptual design of a tail-cone thruster system which is operating under an axisymmetric inlet distortion. An effort to realize the targeted fuel burn saving that was proposed in NASA's STARC_ABL aircraft design is made through a CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics)-based design approach. This method employs three iterative steps to exploit the CFD tools until the design requirements are met: a quasi-2D through-flow model to design the fan/EGV (Exit Guide Vane), a 3-D RANS (Reynolds Averaging Navier-Stokes) simulation of the single blade row to account for the inlet/fan and the EGV/nozzle interaction, and a 3-D RANS simulation of the airframe with a propulsor installed - propulsion airframe integration (PAI). The design requirements which include the thrust, and shaft power of the propulsor are matched throughout the evaluations coming from two CFD domains, i.e., the turbo-machinery and the PAI. During the switch between these different computational domains, the inlet and exit profiles are matched via the correction factors of the body-force model. The present tail-cone thruster (TCT) aerodynamic design leverages a low-pressure ratio fan (FPR=1.2 to approximately 1.25) of which the camber-line angles are predicted by a quasi-2D through-flow model. The quasi-2D model is derived to analyze the radially distorted flow resulting from the ingested boundary layer at the inlet. It also estimates the appropriate velocity vectors of the metal angles of the fan and EGV which is subjected to different types of vortex at the fan exit. The baseline geometry is revisited and its internal flow-path and exhaust cone are redesigned to illustrate the strong correlation among the components of the propulsor in the PAI domain. The peak efficiency point of the fan/EGV with respect to the blade counts, also known as solidity, and rotational speed is chosen for the cruise condition via parametric studies. The corresponding performance maps are presented. The resulting performance metrics of the new conceptual design of the BLI (Boundary Layer Ingestion) propulsor are analyzed and compared with these of the baseline in the PAI aspect. Finally, ideas of the CFD based design of a BLI propulsor are discussed based on the observations drawn from the numerical results.
Obesity in Adolescence Predicts Lower Educational Attainment and Income in Adulthood: The Project EAT Longitudinal Study

OBJECTIVE Prospective associations between obesity in adolescence and adult socioeconomic outcomes, and potential mediators, were examined in a contemporary cohort. METHODS Longitudinal data collected in 1998 to 1999 (Project EAT-I) and 2015 to 2016 (EAT-IV) were analyzed for 1,796 participants who provided data at both time points. Adolescents (mean age = 14.8 years) self-reported demographic and psychosocial variables (EAT-I) and follow-up outcomes (EAT-IV). Body weight and height were directly measured. Bachelor's degree or more education, income ≥ US $50,000, and partnered status at follow-up were examined by baseline obesity (>95th BMI percentile) using logistic regression. Self-esteem, depression, and weight-related teasing were examined as mediators using multivariate probit regressions. All analyses were adjusted for race, baseline age, and parent socioeconomic status. RESULTS Girls with obesity were significantly less likely to have achieved a bachelor's degree (OR 0.32, 95% CI [0.18, 0.58]; P < 0.001), earn ≥ $50,000 annually (OR 0.57, 95% CI [0.33, 0.99]; P < 0.04), or be partnered (OR 0.45, 95% CI [0.27, 0.75]; P < 0.002) in adulthood. No associations were observed among boys. Among girls, depression mediated 8.5% and 23.6% of the association between adolescent obesity and adult education and income, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Adolescent girls with obesity have lower educational attainment and income and are less likely to be partnered in later adulthood. Depression may partly mediate the associations.
Meta-analysis of targeted metabolomics data from heterogeneous biological samples provides insights into metabolite dynamics

Mass spectrometry-based metabolomics coupled to liquid chromatography, or LC-MS metabolomics, has become the most popular tool for global metabolite abundance profiling to study metabolism. However, the physicochemical complexity of metabolites poses a major challenge for reliable measurements of metabolite abundance. One way to address the issue is to use multiple chromatographic methods to capture a greater range of molecular diversity. We previously developed a tandem mass spectrometry-based label-free targeted metabolomics analysis framework coupled to two distinct chromatographic methods, reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC), with dynamic multiple reaction monitoring (dMRM) for simultaneous detection of over 200 metabolites. Our metabolomics framework is designed to study core metabolic pathways and was applied in a wide range of experimental systems including cancer cell lines, tumors, extracellular media, primary cells, immune cells, organoids, organs (e.g. pancreata), tissues, and sera from human and mice. Using 42 heterogeneous deidentified datasets with 635 samples from our platform, we carried out meta-analysis to systematically assess measurement quality in biological replicates and to identify metabolite signatures that reflect biological responses. We show that there exist signature metabolites that correspond to heterogeneous phenotypes, involved in several metabolic pathways. Correlation analysis among our chromatographic methods reveals high confidence metabolites irrespective of experimental systems. We also identify homocystine, reduced glutathione, and phosphoenolpyruvic acid as highly dynamic metabolites across all case-control paired samples. Our study is expected to serve as a reference point for a systematic analysis of label-free LC-MS targeted metabolomics data in both RPLC and HILIC methods with dMRM.
Ubiquitin—a beacon for all during quality control on the ribosome

Ribosome stalling triggers no-go decay (NGD) and ribosome-associated quality control (RQC) pathways to rapidly degrade the aberrant mRNA and the incomplete nascent peptide, respectively. Two recent studies in yeast and mammalian systems reveal the importance of stalling-induced ribosomal protein ubiquitination by Hel2/ZNF598 for both NGD and RQC The studies also structurally explain how collided ribosomes generate a unique interface not present in monosomes, which can be recognized by Hel2/ZNF598 ubiquitin ligases.
Semireduction of alkynoic acids via a transition metal-free α borylation-protodeborylation sequence

Abstract A method for the semi-reduction of alkynoic acids through an α-borylation and subsequent protodeborylation mechanism has been developed. The transition metal-free protocol is achieved through the activation of bis(pinacolato)diboron by an in situ generated carboxylate moiety yielding aryl acrylic acids. Our studies demonstrate an unprecedented dual role for the carboxylate anion that involves the activation of the diboron reagent and a directing effect in the α-borylation.
Muco-Obstructive Lung Diseases.

Muco-Obstructive Lung Diseases This review covers the normal mechanisms of mucus formation and how they are abnormal in common conditions — such as COPD, cystic fibrosis, and non–cystic fibrosis br...
Firm Characteristics, Cross-Sectional Regression Estimates, and Asset Pricing Tests

I test a number of well-known asset pricing models using regression-based managed portfolios that capture nonlinearity in the cross-sectional relation between firm characteristics and expected stock returns. Although the average portfolio returns point to substantial nonlinearity in the data, none of the asset pricing models successfully explain the estimated nonlinear effects. Indeed, the estimated expected returns produced by the models display almost no variation across portfolios. Because the tests soundly reject every model considered, it is apparent that nonlinearity in the relation between firm characteristics and expected stock returns poses a formidable challenge to asset pricing theory.
Differential Species Responses to Aspects of Resistance to Invasion in Two Columbia Plateau−Protected Areas

Abstract Protected-area sagebrush steppe ecosystems are few in number and increasingly important to the North American conservation network as sagebrush steppe faces growing threats from land use, climate change, and invasive species. We analyzed the distribution and abundance of native perennial and invasive annual plants to better understand patterns of plant invasion within two protected areas: John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (JODA), located in central Oregon, and Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve (CRMO), located in southeast Idaho. We used multivariate analysis to examine vegetation monitoring datasets and illuminate geographic variation in plant cover along gradients of well-known aspects of resistance to plant invasion (elevation, exposure [slope and aspect], precipitation and proximity to disturbance). Topographically mediated resistance to invasion appeared to manifest in the park with greater topographic variability (JODA), while increased elevation was more strongly associated with resistant sites in the park, which spanned a greater elevational gradient (CRMO). Factors that may mitigate moisture-mediated resistance also differed between sites. Slope and aspect were factors of apparent resistance for bunchgrass communities in JODA, while high crop year precipitation appeared to benefit medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae [L.] Nevski) and the weedy native subshrub broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae [Pursh] Britton & Rusby) over bunchgrasses and Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. wyomingensis Beetle & Young). Increased elevation and distance to disturbed areas were the most important factors of resistance in forb-rich communities at CRMO, with the invasive annuals cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.), tumblemustard (Sisymbrium altissimum L.), and Descurainia spp. Webb & Bethel. invading in low elevations and in close proximity to roads or agricultural fields. Such complexity underscores the idiosyncratic nature of the manifestation of resistance and the need for place-based empirical studies to provide information for guiding protected-area management.
Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Immunocompromised Patients

Immunocompromised children are at high risk for both the development of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS) and PARDS-related mortality. This complex population seems to be growing, and overall critical care outcomes are improving. When the immunocompromised child develops acute hypoxic respiratory failure, careful deliberation for a diagnostic workup must be done, since this population is at risk for both infectious and noninfectious pulmonary complications. Given the risk for severe PARDS, if noninvasive respiratory support strategies are attempted, they should be done so early in the disease course. If invasive mechanical ventilation is applied, a focus should be placed on lung-protective strategies. Throughout the critical illness, it is important to have ongoing multispecialty collaboration and consideration of the status of the underlying immunocompromising condition. We will explore many of these issues in this chapter.
Are Losses from Natural Disasters More Than Just Asset Losses

The welfare impact of a natural disaster depends on its effect on consumption, not only on the direct asset losses and human losses that are usually estimated and reported after disasters. This chapter proposes a framework to assess disaster-related consumption losses, starting from an estimate of the asset losses, and leading to the following findings. First, output losses after a disaster destroys part of the capital stock are better estimated by using the average—not the marginal—productivity of capital. A model that describes capital in the economy as a single homogeneous stock would systematically underestimate disaster output losses, compared with a model that tracks capital in different sectors with limited reallocation options. Second, the net present value of disaster-caused consumption losses decreases when reconstruction is accelerated. With standard parameters, discounted consumption losses are only 10% larger than asset losses if reconstruction is completed in 1 year, compared with 50% if reconstruction takes 10 years. Third, for disasters of similar magnitude, consumption losses are expected to be lower where the productivity of capital is higher, such as in capital-scarce developing countries. This mechanism may partly compensate for the many other factors that make poor countries and poor people more vulnerable to disasters.
A subtype of cerebrovascular pericytes is associated with blood-brain barrier disruption that develops during normal aging and simian immunodeficiency virus infection.

Lax phenotypic characterization of these morphologically distinct pericytes has delayed our understanding of their role in neurological disorders. We herein establish markers which uniquely distinguish different subpopulations of human brain microvascular pericytes and characterize them independently from cerebrovascular smooth muscle cells. Furthermore, we begin to elucidate the roles of these subsets in blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown by studying natural aging and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection in rhesus macaques. We demonstrate that the main type-1 pericyte subpopulation in the brain of young uninfected adults is positive for platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGFRB) and negative for α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) and myosin heavy chain 11 (MYH11), whereas PDGFRB+/SMA+/MYH11- (type-2) pericytes are found more frequently in older adults and are associated with SIV infection and progression. Interestingly, we find a strong positive correlation between the degree of BBB breakdown and the percentage of type-2 pericytes regardless of age or SIV status. Taken together, our findings suggest that type-2 pericytes may be a cellular biomarker related to BBB disruption independent of disease status.
Molecular Imaging of Viologen Adlayers and In Situ Monitoring Structural Transformations at Electrode-Electrolyte Interfaces.

The effects of temperature and molecular concentration on the ordering of two-dimensional (2D) nanostructures have been investigated at the well-defined Au(111)–electrolyte interface. In comparison...
Review of the Challenges that Face Doctoral Education in Chemistry

Effective doctoral education in chemistry has been discussed at length for over a century and is tied to the health of the United States economy. In this literature review, 257 resources relating to doctoral education in chemistry spanning from 1909 to 2019 were collected for the purpose of providing a systematic review of the major issues facing doctoral education in chemistry. A total of eight themes were identified as major issues that were raised consistently throughout the past several decades, some for more than a century. In the current educational system, many researchers believe that doctoral students are (1) overly specialized in their training, (2) ill-prepared for nonacademic careers, (3) ill-prepared for teaching positions, and (4) potentially overproduced compared to genuine job opportunities. Additionally, (5) graduate programs in chemistry have not changed significantly for many decades, (6) single-project funding has greatly impacted the educational experience of doctoral students in both positive and negative ways, (7) the goals of doctoral education revolve around developing students’ independent research ability, and (8) the majority of the literature regarding doctoral education is not based on empirical investigations. On one extreme, chemistry faculty and other key stakeholders may view the bleak outlook presented by the literature as a crisis demanding immediate and drastic reform. On the other extreme, they may view the criticisms raised as relatively minor areas of improvement to an otherwise effective system. Regardless of an individual’s perspective of the severity of these identified issues, questions are provided that can catalyze discussion to encourage reflections on current practices in local chemistry doctoral programs.
Crossterm-Free Time-Frequency Analyses Exploiting Deep Neural Networks

Nonstationary signals are naturally found and exploited in various applications, such as radar, sonar, radio astronomy, seismology, and electroencephalogram (EEG) [1]–[6]. Time-frequency (TF) analysis of nonstationary signals is a key enabling technology for radar-based human-machine interface through gesture recognition using hands and arms [7], [8]. Many nonstationary signals can be described as frequency modulated (FM) signals and characterized by their time-varying instantaneous frequencies (IFs). Compared to single-domain signal representations with respect to either time or frequency, joint TF-domain representations are better suited for the analyses and classification of such signals as they provide a time-varying spectrum [1], [2].
Human serotonergic neurons, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) resistance and major depressive disorder

Abstract Serotonin (5-HT) is an evolutionarily ancient neurotransmitter that has long been associated with psychiatric disease, including major depression disorder (MDD). Though it is a genetically and clinically heterogeneous disorder, MDD is most often treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that target the serotonergic neurotransmitter system. While this antidepressant intervention is beneficial for some, nearly 30% of MDD patients do not respond to SSRIs, and it remains unclear how alterations in serotonergic neurotransmission impact SSRI-treatment resistance in MDD. In vitro technological advances now allow for adult patient somatic cells to be reprogrammed to induced pluripotent stem cells, which can then be differentiated to generate neural cell subtypes relevant to the study of psychiatric disorders. We, along with other labs, have pioneered methods for generating and assaying human serotonergic neurons. Here, we describe these methods and summarize our research findings on altered serotonergic neurotransmission in SSRI-resistant MDD patients.
Ecological Factors Controlling Insect-Mediated Methyl Mercury Flux from Aquatic to Terrestrial Ecosystems: Lessons Learned from Mesocosm and Pond Experiments

The diets of terrestrial consumers can be subsidized by emerging adult aquatic insects that transport energy and nutrients from aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems. However, these cross-ecosystem subsidies can have a “dark side” because emerging aquatic insects also transport bioaccumulative contaminants such as methyl mercury (MeHg) to terrestrial ecosystems (i.e., insect-mediated MeHg flux). Although ecological factors (such as aquatic community structure) are known to influence aquatic insect emergence and the cross-ecosystem transport of energy and nutrients, less is known about the ecological factors that regulate insect-mediated MeHg flux. This chapter provides an overview of our mesocosm and pond experiments that investigated how ecological factors affect the transport of MeHg out of aquatic ecosystems by emerging insects. The factors we investigated were (1) fish predation and community structure, (2) nutrient levels and trophic state, (3) drying disturbance and pond permanence, and (4) seasonality of insect emergence. Based on the results of our experiments, we hypothesize that the potential for insect-mediated MeHg flux increases with MeHg contamination of the ecosystem but that the realized insect-mediated MeHg flux is determined by ecological factors that regulate production of adult aquatic insects and composition of aquatic insect communities.
Use of Younger Patient Age and Greater Anterior Center-Edge Angle to Predict the Need for Bilateral Hip Arthroscopy in Patients With Bilateral Femoroacetabular Impingement-Related Hip Pain.

Background:In patients with symptomatic femoroacetabular impingement syndrome, bilateral hip pain has been reported to occur in high frequency. However, not all patients require bilateral hip arthr...
Changes in Characteristics of Opioid Overdose Death Trends during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background and Aims: There are limited reports analyzing opioid overdose (OD) mortality data during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is also great heterogeneity in outcomes across states, necessitating assessments of the effects of COVID-19 on OD deaths on a state-by-state level. This report aims to analyze overall trends in OD deaths in Massachusetts during COVID-19. Design: Using individual-level death records in Massachusetts, we identified and analyzed OD mortality trends during the COVID-19 pandemic as compared to 2018 and 2019. We analyzed the period between March 24 (stay-at-home order in 2020) and August 11 (latest reliable data). We also estimated the correlation between OD deaths and COVID-19 case fatality rates at the county level. Setting: Massachusetts. Participants: A total of 2,342 OD deaths were analyzed. Measurements: The outcomes studied were OD deaths and COVID-19 case fatality rates. Findings: OD deaths involving cocaine and amphetamines increased from 2019 to 2020, by 20% (276 vs. 330; P<0.01) and 79% (33 vs. 59; P<0.01), respectively, but were steady from 2018 to 2019. Heroin9s presence continued to decrease (238 in 2018, 161 in 2019, 102 in 2020; P<0.001); however, fentanyl was present in more than 90% of OD deaths, reflecting its continued domination of the illicit opioid supply in Massachusetts. Prescription opioid presence was stable. 79% of OD decedents were White and 6% were Black in 2019, as compared to 74% and 10% in 2020 (P=0.01). We found no significant correlation between COVID-19 case fatality and OD death rates. Conclusions: Increased deaths involving stimulants and alcohol reflect concerning trends in the era of COVID-19. Rising OD death rates among Black residents underscore that interventions focused on racial equity are necessary. Surveillance efforts must utilize up-to-date data to measure COVID-19 impacts on OD death and respond to imminent threats in real time.
Various Factors Affecting E-commerce

E-commerce is the procedure of doing business through computer networks and Internet. In this Paper, we have analyzed the various factors affecting the growth of E-commerce such as technology, market, supply chain and security. With the ability to track customer's activities, mapping their social networks and come close to them proactively, present personalized offerings and administer individual lifecycle has changed the E-commerce over the past few years. The success of the virtual store depends on many issues such as security, trust etc. Research was undertaken to authorize and create the relative significance of these attributes. E-commerce which was basically started in early 90's had taken an immense leap over the world but security and economic market are some of the hindrances which affects the growth of online business. The major advantage of E-commerce over traditional way of shopping is that customers can browse online shops, compare the prices and order the merchandise sitting at home with their laptops or PC's. This paper divulges that E-commerce is restricted and complex practice which involves the utilization of a focused cross-functional team to undertake a variety of barriers along the way.
Robust Models for Time Series

This paper introduces the concept of robust models in time series. A model is said to be robust if the accuracies of the inferences derived from it such as 1 step ahead or k step ahead forecasts are not affected even if the given process y does not exactly obey the given model. Specifically consider a stationary process y (.) about which we know only its autocorrelations of order k, k⩽m. Suppose we want to construct a model y(.) for obtaining inferences such as k step ahead forecastes of y (t) based on the past values of y (.). The criterion for the choice of the model in that optimal k-step ahead forecasts derived from the model are robust, ie, the mean square error of forecast computed from the model does not alter appreciably even if the given process y(.) does not obey the model. We show that the robust model is the mth order autoregressive model whose coefficients are chosen so that its autocorrelations of order k⩽m equal the corresponding specified values.Next we consider the robust modeling of a pr...
Environmental enrichment enhances the stimulant effect of intravenous amphetamine: Search for a cellular mechanism in the nucleus accumbens

The nucleus accumbens and its related neural circuitry are known to be involved in mediating drug reward. The present brief review provides evidence that manipulation of the stimulus environment may alter the behavioral effects of drugs of abuse by altering accumbal circuitry. In experiments conducted in our laboratory, rats were raised in either an enriched condition (EC) or an impoverished condition (IC) and then were challenged with acute intravenous amphetamine. EC rats were more sensitive than IC rats to the locomotor stimulant effect of amphetamine, as well as to the accumbal dopamine release measured by in vivo microdialysis. No environment-induced difference in [3H]-amphetamine pharmacokinetics was observed. In vitro neurochemical experiments also indicated that accumbal tissue slices isolated from EC and IC rats did not differ in dopamine levels, electrically evoked dopamine release, or dopamine autoreceptor sensitivity. Although the kinetic parameters for [3H]-dopamine uptake into striatal synaptosomes were not different between EC and IC rats, the transport inhibitor GBR 12935 was more potent in inhibiting uptake in EC rats than in IC rats. The latter results suggest that dopamine transporter proteins in the nucleus accumbens may be an important target for future studies aimed at identifying the cellular mechanism responsible for the environmentinduced difference in the behavioral response to amphetamine.
Restricting Taxation: The Impact of Proposition 13 on California Tax and Expenditure Trends

This paper examines trends in California taxes and expenditures at the state and local level. In particular, it considers whether Proposition 13, which has been blamed by politicians and the press for virtually every ensuing fiscal problem facing state and local governments in California, deserves such criticism, or whether the roots of those problems lie elsewhere.
Entrapping adversaries for source protection in sensor networks

Sensor networks are used in a variety of application areas for diverse problems from habitat monitoring to military tracking. Whenever they are used to monitor sensitive objects, the privacy of monitored objects' locations becomes an important concern. When a sensor reports a monitored object by sending a series of messages through the sensor network, the route these messages take in theory creates a trail leading back to their source. By eavesdropping on communications, an attacker may be able to move from node to node to follow this trail. Several approaches aimed at discouraging this kind of eavesdropping have been proposed, including mechanisms for constructing "phantom" routes and approaches that insert fake sources as background noise. A problem with existing approaches is that message latencies become larger and energy costs become higher as a result of introducing protections for the privacy of a source location. This paper proposes a new cyclic entrapment method (CEM) that protects source locations in sensor networks while adding a comparatively low cost in terms of additional message latency and energy.