cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
(E)-2-[(2-Hydr-oxy-5-nitro-phen-yl)iminiometh-yl]-4-nitro-phenolate.

The title mol­ecule, C13H9N3O6, consists of a 2-hydr­oxy-5-nitro­phenyl­iminio group and a 4-nitro­phenolate group bonded to a methyl­ene C atom with both of the planar six-membered rings nearly in the plane of the mol­ecule [dihedral angle = 1.3 (4)°]. Each of the nitro O atoms is twisted slightly out of the plane of the mol­ecule. The amine group forms an intra­molecular hydrogen bond with both nearby O atoms, each of which has partial occupancy of attached H atoms [0.36 (3) and 0.64 (3)]. An extended π-delocalization throughout the entire mol­ecule exists producing a zwitterionic effect in this region of the mol­ecule. The shortened phenolate C—O bond [1.2749 (19)°], in concert with the slightly longer phenol C—O bond [1.3316 (19) A], provides evidence for this effect. The crystal packing is influenced by extensive strong inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonding between the depicted phenolate and hydr­oxy O atoms and their respective H atoms within the π-delocalized region of the mol­ecule. As a result, mol­ecules are linked into an infinite polymeric chain diagonally along the [110] plane of the unit cell in an alternate inverted pattern. A MOPAC AM1 calculation provides support for these observations.
Changes in cerebral oxygen saturation during transcatheter aortic valve replacement

Cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2) is a non-invasive monitor used to monitor cerebral oxygen balance and perfusion. Decreases in rSO2 >20 % from baseline have been associated with cerebral ischemia and increased perioperative morbidity. During transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), hemodynamic manipulation with ventricular pacing up to 180 beats per minute is necessary for valve deployment. The magnitude and duration of rSO2 change during this manipulation is unclear. In this small case series, changes in rSO2 in patients undergoing TAVR are investigated. Ten ASA IV patients undergoing TAVR with general anesthesia at a university hospital were prospectively observed. Cerebral oximetry values were analyzed at four points: pre-procedure (baseline), after tracheal intubation, during valve deployment, and at procedure end. Baseline rSO2 values were 54.5 ± 6.9 %. After induction of general anesthesia, rSO2 increased to a mean of 66.0 ± 6.7 %. During valve deployment, the mean rSO2 decreased 20 % of baseline. Cerebral oxygenation returned to post-induction values in all patients 13 ± 10 min after valve deployment. At procedure end, the mean rSO2 was 67.6 ± 8.1 %. As expected, rapid ventricular pacing resulting in the desired decrease in cardiac output during valve deployment was associated with a significant decrease in rSO2 compared to post-induction values. However, despite increased post-induction values in all patients, whether related to increased inspired oxygen fraction or reduced cerebral oxygen consumption under anesthesia, two patients experienced a significant decrease in rSO2 compared to baseline. Recovery to baseline was not immediate, and took up to 20 min in three patients. Furthermore, baseline rSO2 in this population was at the lower limit of the published normal range. Significant cerebral desaturation during valve deployment may potentially be limited by maximizing rSO2 after anesthetic induction. Future studies should attempt to correlate recovery in rSO2 with recovery of hemodynamics and cardiac function, provide detailed neurological assessments pre and post procedure, determine the most effective method of maximizing rSO2 prior to hemodynamic manipulation, and provide the most rapid method of recovery of rSO2 following valve deployment.
New Records of Neofiber leonardi (Rodentia: Cricetidae) and the Paleoecology of the Genus

Late Pleistocene and Recent records of Neofiber alleni True, the round-tailed muskrat, are confined to Florida and Georgia. Extinct middle Pleistocene species are known from the Great Plains and middle Atlantic states. The middle Pleistocene species N. leonardi Hibbard, previously known only from Texas and Kansas, is here recognized in Florida and West Virginia. The genus became restricted to the Southeast as a result of the climatic changes during the last two glacial intervals. Common morphological features of the first lower molar indicate that N. leonardi is the ancestor of N. alleni .
Plasma Zinc and Leukocyte Changes in Weanling and Pregnant Rats during Zinc Deficiency

SummaryDietary zinc deficiency was shown to result in a rapid fall in the plasma zinc levels of pregnant female and weanling male rats. In both groups, plasma zinc fell to 45-60% of its original level after only one day on the deficiency regime. Longer periods of zinc depletion (21 days) were found to increase the ratio of PMN leukocytes to lymphocytes in the blood by a factor of 10. General food restriction elicited a similar response in pregnant females but not in young males. The zinc deficiency regime had no effect upon the total leukocyte count or upon the concentration of zinc in the leukocytes.
Productive longevity of first-cross cows produced in a five-breed diallel: I. Reasons for removal.

Data from 498 cows of 15 breed-types produced in a five-breed diallel (reciprocals pooled) including Angus, Brahman, Hereford, Holstein and Jersey were analyzed for differences in productive longevity, mean life span and reasons for removal from the herd over approximately 14 yr. The only culling related to production was of cows that did not give birth to at least one live calf every 24 mo. Otherwise, cows were only removed when they appeared to be incapable of weaning another live calf. The average age at removal, estimated from linear regression, was 3,470 d, with values ranging from 2,174 d (Jersey) to 4,087 d (Angus-Brahman). Longevity of crossbred cows was greater than that of purebred cows (P less than .001). Purebred cows usually had higher initial rates of removal than crossbred cows. Estimates of mean longevity from the nonlinear regression resembled the results of the linear regression analysis; mean life spans ranged from 6.2 yr (Jersey) to 14.6 yr (Angus-Brahman). The major reason for removal of Brahman and Brahman-cross cows was for reproductive reasons. Angus and Angus-cross cows were culled more frequently for structural unsoundness; Hereford cows had a higher incidence of cancer eye, calving difficulty and mammary problems; cows with 100% dairy breeding had exceptionally high susceptibility to diseases and mineral imbalance.
Parameter Contribution Analysis of Vibration Transfer Paths Based on Sensitivity

It is significant that the system models and contribution rank of transfer paths for vibration and noise problems are researched,but it is very difficulty that the contribution rank of transfer paths are syllabify and accurately clarified at present.Based on sensitivity technique,the problem for parameter contribution rank of vibration transfer paths is solved.The sensitivity is employed as measurement criterion,and the effective approach for parameter contribution rank of vibration transfer paths is presented.The ideal numerical results are obtained.The parameter contribution rank of contributions among multiple and/or multi-dimensional paths is interpreted correctly and expressly in time domain.
Erratum to: Why you may need a neurologist to see a comatose patient in the ICU.

Unfortunately, the original version of this article [1] contained several typographical and grammatical errors, none of which affected the scientific content of the article. These have now been corrected in the original article.
Funding Research in Emergency Department Shared Decision Making: a Summary of the 2016 Academic Emergency Medicine Consensus Conference Panel Discussion.

As part of the 2016 Academic Emergency Medicine Consensus Conference, "Shared Decision Making in the Emergency Department: Development of a Policy-relevant Patient-centered Research Agenda," a panel of representatives from the Office of Emergency Care Research, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, the American Heart Association, the John A. Hartford Foundation, and the Emergency Care Coordination Center were assembled to discuss funding opportunities for future research in this field. This article summarizes their discussion of funding priorities and examples of successfully funded projects related to shared decision making in emergency medicine.
Correlation of the plasmon-enhanced photoconductance and photovoltaic properties of core-shell Au@TiO2 network

This study reveals the contribution of hot electrons from the excited plasmonic nanoparticles in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by correlating the photoconductance of a core-shell Au@TiO2 network on a micro-gap electrode and the photovolatic properties of this material as photoanodes in DSSCs. The distinct wavelength dependence of these two devices reveals that the plasmon-excited hot electrons can easily overcome the Schottky barrier at Au/TiO2 interface in the whole visible wavelength range and transfer from Au nanoparticles into the TiO2 network. The enhanced charge carrier density leads to higher photoconductance and facilitates more efficient charge separation and photoelectron collection in the DSSCs.
Progesterone-Based Therapy Protects Against Influenza by Promoting Lung Repair and Recovery in Females.

Over 100 million women use progesterone therapies worldwide. Despite having immunomodulatory and repair properties, their effects on the outcome of viral diseases outside of the reproductive tract have not been evaluated. Administration of exogenous progesterone (at concentrations that mimic the luteal phase) to progesterone-depleted adult female mice conferred protection from both lethal and sublethal influenza A virus (IAV) infection. Progesterone treatment altered the inflammatory environment of the lungs, but had no effects on viral load. Progesterone treatment promoted faster recovery by increasing TGF-β, IL-6, IL-22, numbers of regulatory Th17 cells expressing CD39, and cellular proliferation, reducing protein leakage into the airway, improving pulmonary function, and upregulating the epidermal growth factor amphiregulin (AREG) in the lungs. Administration of rAREG to progesterone-depleted females promoted pulmonary repair and improved the outcome of IAV infection. Progesterone-treatment of AREG-deficient females could not restore protection, indicating that progesterone-mediated induction of AREG caused repair in the lungs and accelerated recovery from IAV infection. Repair and production of AREG by damaged respiratory epithelial cell cultures in vitro was increased by progesterone. Our results illustrate that progesterone is a critical host factor mediating production of AREG by epithelial cells and pulmonary tissue repair following infection, which has important implications for women’s health.
Chromium: Basic Nutritional and Toxicological Aspects

Over half a century ago, chromium, as the trivalent ion, was proposed to be an essential element; however, chromium currently can only be considered pharmacologically active. Chromium has been marketed as a body-mass–reducing and muscle development agent; however, such marketing claims are no longer allowed in the United States because these claims are not supported by experiments. The chromium compound in the most popular chromium-containing nutritional supplements has been suggested to be toxic when given orally to mammals; however, the toxicity is dependent on the form of administration, so that chromium supplements cannot be considered toxic when orally administered. Trivalent Cr has also been proposed as a therapeutic agent to increase insulin sensitivity and affect lipid metabolism. Although effective in certain rodent models, beneficial effects in humans have not been unequivocally established, and a molecular mechanism for such actions in animal models has not been established.
Functionally Altered SH2 Domains for Biochemical Studies: Loss-of-Function Mutant and Domain Concatenation

Recombinant modular protein domains have been a convenient proteomics tool for deciphering protein-protein interactions and elucidating the role of protein modifications in cell signaling. To obtain reliable experimental data, these protein domain probes require sufficient specificity and sensitivity. Since naturally evolved protein domains do not always have optimal biochemical characteristics for in vitro assays, functional alterations such as improved affinity are sometimes needed. In this chapter, we describe preparation of loss-of-function and concatenated (tandem) SH2 domains that should be widely applicable to both high- and low-throughput phosphoproteomics studies.
Road User Education and Multimodal Planning: Can Capability Be Part of the Process?

New designs, technologies, and rules are all being deployed to make roads more usable for people traveling by a variety of modes: walking, biking, transit, and driving. This paper examines whether and how road user education might be better integrated into the multimodal planning process. Interviews with multimodal transportation planners and education specialists, in addition to content analysis of online educational videos geared toward enhancing bicycle capabilities and awareness, reveal a nexus between the significant changes to roads and facilities proposed by planners and road user education. It is found that some multimodal transportation organizations have adopted practices that support education of current road users, with content and approaches that emphasize safe usability and mode shift. Planners can play a distinctive role in the process of educating current and potential users, helping set the “time and place” for education and the content of educational materials and practices. Still, a lac...
Effects of copper oxide bolus administration on productivity and copper and zinc status in grazing beef calves supplemented with dried distillers grains

Corn by-product feed popularity, coupled with their relatively high S content, has prompted researchers to re-examine Cu oxide (CuO) bolus administration. A study was conducted to assess the effects of CuO bolus administration on productivity and Cu and Zn status in grazing beef calves supplemented with dried distillers grains. Calves (n = 74, yr 1; n = 54, yr 2) were assigned randomly to 1 of 2 treatments: (1) a single intraruminal CuO (12.5 g) bolus or (2) nonbolus control for a growth trial (141 d, yr 1; 92 d, yr 2). Calves grazed predominantly bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.)] pastures. Dried distillers grains were offered at a rate of 0.75% of BW (as fed). Calves were weighed at 28-d intervals, and dried distillers grains were adjusted after each weigh day. Blood samples were collected for plasma Cu and Zn concentrations. There was no difference in final BW (P = 0.74, yr 1; P = 0.81, yr 2) or ADG (P = 0.77, yr 1; P = 0.75, yr 2) between bolused and nonbolused calves. Bolus administration did not influence plasma Cu (P = 0.65, yr 1; P = 0.26, yr 2) or Zn (P = 0.55, yr 1; P = 0.73, yr 2) concentrations compared with nonbolused calves. These results suggest that CuO bolus administration was ineffective at altering Cu and Zn status and overall performance in grazing beef calves supplemented dried distillers grains 0.75% (as fed) of BW. Dried distillers grains at 0.75% (as fed) of BW presumably did not create sufficient Cu antagonism.
Some Radiator Design Criteria for Space Vehicles

Nonconvective radiators of single or double-active surface design are analyzed for surface temperature distribution; also for view factors in the case of finand-tube geometry. Methods and examples of maximizing heat rejection per unit weight are given. (auth)
Mapping intermediate degradation products of poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) in vitro

There is widespread interest in using absorbable polymers, such as poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), as components in the design and manufacture of new-generation drug eluting stents (DES). PLGA undergoes hydrolysis to progressively degrade through intermediate chemical entities to simple organic acids that are ultimately absorbed by the human body. Understanding the composition and structure of these intermediate degradation products is critical not only to elucidate polymer degradation pathways accurately, but also to assess the safety and performance of absorbable cardiovascular implants. However, analytical approaches to determining the intermediate degradation products have yet to be established and evaluated in a standard or regulatory setting. Hence, we developed a methodology using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry to qualitatively and quantitatively describe intermediate degradation products generated in vitro from two PLGA formulations commonly used in DES. Furthermore, we assessed the temporal evolution of these degradation products using time-lapse experiments. Our data demonstrated that PLGA degradation products via heterogeneous cleavage of ester bonds are modulated by multiple intrinsic and environmental factors, including polymer chemical composition, degradants solubility in water, and polymer synthesis process. We anticipate the methodologies and outcomes presented in this work will elevate the mechanistic understanding of comprehensive degradation profiles of absorbable polymeric devices, and facilitate the design and regulation of cardiovascular implants by supporting the assessments of the associated biological response to degradation products. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 1129-1137, 2018.
Estimating climate change effects on grazing management and beef cattle production in the Pacific Northwest

Climate change studies consistently conclude that the Pacific Northwest (PNW) will increase in temperature with the greatest change occurring as hotter summer temperatures, precipitation becomes more uncertain with projections for wetter winters and drier summers, a decline in snowpack and an increase in wildfire risk. These impacts on rangeland and pastures affect forage growth and the timing of forage availability for grazing, affecting stocking rates, turn-out dates, and end of grazing gather dates. The magnitude of projected climate change will be dynamic year to year which adds significant challenges to implementing effective grazing management plans. The PNW has about 1.3 million head of beef cows that are the primary grazing resource users. Cow-calf producers’ production costs will increase to offset climate change impacts, but PNW cattle producers have an economic comparative advantage to other regions more negatively impacted by climate change such as the Southwest. The PNW is projected to have lower drought risk and the PNW’s extensive irrigation system can produce feedstuffs to offset drought-reduced grazing resources.
Avaliação da pressão intra-abdominal e periférica em cadelas submetidas à ovariohisterectomia

As informacoes atualmente disponiveis referentes a mensuracao da pressao intra-abdominal (PIA) durante o periodo transoperatorio em medicina veterinaria, bem como sua influencia sobre a pressao arterial (PA) sao limitadas. Desta forma objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos da manipulacao cirurgica sobre a PA e PIA em cadelas durante procedimento de OHE eletiva em ambiente academico. Para mensuracao da PIA realizou-se a tecnica de sondagem vesical e os valores encontrados variaram de subatmosferico (abaixo de zero) ate 13,23 mmHg nos periodos analisados (T0, T1, T2, T3 e T4). A PA foi obtida por oscilometria e, registrados valores medios variando entre 96,8 e 126,8 mmHg nestes mesmos periodos. Observou-se que os valores de PIA durante o transoperatorio foram significativamente elevados, no entanto nao exerceram influencia sobre a PA, bem como nao houve influencia da PA sobre a PIA .
Three-Dimensional Printed Shape Memory Objects Based on an Olefin Ionomer of Zinc-Neutralized Poly(ethylene-co-methacrylic acid)

Three-dimensional printing enables the net shape manufacturing of objects with minimal material waste and low tooling costs, but the functionality is generally limited by available materials, especially for extrusion-based printing, such as fused deposition modeling (FDM). Here, we demonstrate shape memory behavior of 3D printed objects with FDM using a commercially available olefin ionomer, Surlyn 9520, which is zinc-neutralized poly(ethylene-co-methacrylic acid). The initial fixity for 3D printed and compression-molded samples was similar, but the initial recovery was much lower for the 3D printed sample (R = 58%) than that for the compression-molded sample (R = 83%). The poor recovery in the first cycle is attributed to polyethylene crystals formed during programming that act to resist the permanent network recovery. This effect is magnified in the 3D printed part due to the higher strain (lower modulus in the 3D printed part) at a fixed programming stress. The fixity and recovery in subsequent shape memory cycles are greater for the 3D printed part than for the compression-molded part. Moreover, the programmed strain can be systematically modulated by inclusion of porosity in the printed part without adversely impacting the fixity or recovery. These characteristics enable the direct formation of complex shapes of thermoplastic shape memory polymers that can be recovered in three dimensions with the appropriate trigger, such as heat, through the use of FDM as a 3D printing technology.
Finite sample Bernstein-von Mises theorems for functionals and spectral projectors of the covariance matrix

We demonstrate that a prior influence on the posterior distribution of covariance matrix vanishes as sample size grows. The assumptions on a prior are explicit and mild. The results are valid for a finite sample and admit the dimension $p$ growing with the sample size $n$. We exploit the described fact to derive the finite sample Bernstein-von Mises theorem for functionals of covariance matrix (e.g. eigenvalues) and to find the posterior distribution of the Frobenius distance between spectral projector and empirical spectral projector. This can be useful for constructing sharp confidence sets for the true value of the functional or for the true spectral projector.
FTC for air path actuators of a diesel engine using VGSTA

Higher Order Sliding Mode (HOSM) based Variable Gain Super Twisting Algorithm (VGSTA) has been used for development of Fault Tolerant Control (FTC) of coupled air management system actuators of a diesel engine. In order to meet stringent emission requirements current diesel engines are equipped with sub-systems, Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) and Variable Geometry Turbo charger (VGT). A nonlinear reduced state control oriented model is employed for working out the coordinated FTC strategy for EGR and VGT actuators. The proposed strategy ensures robustness against minor system faults by varying the controller gains as per the fault bounds given by known functions and consequently reduces the chattering. The effectiveness of the scheme has been established by performing the simulations on a full order diesel engine model.
A Technical Description of the Brain Tumor Window Model: An In Vivo Model for the Evaluation of Intraoperative Contrast Agents

The evaluation of candidate optical contrast agents for brain tumor delineation in ex vivo models may not accurately predict their activity in vivo. This study describes an in vivo model system designed to assess optical contrast agents for brain tumor delineation. The brain tumor window (BTW) model was created by performing biparietal craniectomies on 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats, injecting 9L glioma cells into the cortex and bonding a cover slip to the cranial defect with cyanoacrylate glue. Tumor growth was followed serially and occurred in an exponential fashion. Once tumors on the cortical surface achieved a 1mm radius, intravenous contrast agents were injected while the appearance of the cortical surface was recorded. Computerized image analysis was used to quantitatively evaluate visible differences between tumor and normal brain. Tumor margins became readily apparent following contrast administration in the BTW model. Based on red component intensity, tumor delineation improved fourfold at 50min post-contrast administration in the BTW model (P<0.002). In summary, window placement overlying an implanted glioma is technically possible and well tolerated in the rat. The BTW model is a valid system for assessing the in vivo activity of optical contrast agents.
Coupled Solvent and Heat Transport of a Mixture of Swelling Porous Particles and Fluids: Single Time-Scale Problem

A three-spatial scale, single time-scale model for both moisture and heat transport is developed for an unsaturated swelling porous media from first principles within a mixture theoretic framework. On the smallest (micro) scale, the system consists of macromolecules (clay particles, polymers, etc.) and a solvating liquid (vicinal fluid), each of which are viewed as individual phases or nonoverlapping continua occupying distinct regions of space and satisfying the classical field equations. These equations are homogenized forming overlaying continua on the intermediate (meso) scale via hybrid mixture theory (HMT). On the mesoscale the homogenized swelling particles consisting of the homogenized vicinal fluid and colloid are then mixed with two bulk phase fluids: the bulk solvent and its vapor. At this scale, there exists three nonoverlapping continua occupying distinct regions of space. On the largest (macro) scale the saturated homogenized particles, bulk liquid and vapor solvent, are again homogenized forming four overlaying continua: doubly homogenized vicinal fluid, doubly homogenized macromolecules, and singly homogenized bulk liquid and vapor phases. Two constitutive theories are developed, one at the mesoscale and the other at the macroscale. Both are developed via the Coleman and Noll method of exploiting the entropy inequality coupled with linearization about equilibrium. The macroscale constitutive theory does not rely upon the mesoscale theory as is common in other upscaling methods. The energy equation on either the mesoscale or macroscale generalizes de Vries classical theory of heat and moisture transport. The momentum balance allows for flow of fluid via volume fraction gradients, pressure gradients, external force fields, and temperature gradients.
Abstract 3388: Molecular characterization of HPV type 18 cervical cancer: Upregulation of telomerase expression and induced chromosomal instability by E6 and E7 oncoproteins

Human papillomavirus (HPV), high-risk type 18, is directly associated with approximately 98% incidence of invasive cervical cancer. Epithelial cells infected with HPV-18 become transformed and exhibit overexpression of telomerase activity and chromosomal instability. As a result of this transformation, E6 and E7 oncoproteins are perpetually expressed: E6 degrades the tumor suppressor p53; E7 inhibits the tumor suppressor pRB, leading to uncontrollable growth and the extension of telomere length. While a few studies explored the chromosomal instability induced by HPV E6 and E7 oncoproteins, the full scope of the problem has not been clearly characterized. In this research we investigated HPV-18 acquired genomic instability by E6 and E7 oncoproteins. HPV-positive cervical cancer cells, HeLa, were studied through spectral karyotyping (SKY), Giemsa banding (G-banding), telomere length, and telomerase activity using PCR ELISA assay and the TRAPeze XL Kit, which uses fluorescence energy transfer. With the use of SKY, G-banding, and chromosomal instability analysis, HeLa cells exhibited many aneuploidies. In our results, there were consistent translocations on chromosomes 4 and 11, with deletions on chromosomes 11 and 20. There were also other translocations on chromosomes 9 and 20, with deletions on chromosome 10. Additionally, copies of chromosome 5 and unidentifiable marker chromosomes were noted. Moreover, telomerase data suggest that upregulated expression of telomerase activity correlates with the increase in chromosomal instability. The aforementioned aneuploidy is demonstrative of the induced chromosomal instability from HPV-18 infection. In addition to the tumor-suppressor disruption acquired by E6 and E7 oncoproteins, HeLa cells showed gene deletion on chromosome 11. The ATM gene, which is specifically located between distal regions 11q22.3 and 11q23 of chromosome 11, is known to help identify breaks in DNA and plays a crucial role in DNA repair. Damage to the ATM gene may further play an important role in increasing cancer progression. Citation Format: Mai Do, Nichelle Cox, Naomi Long, Liliana Zarate, Chinelo Ezechukwu, Jenna Cormier, Hyun Chung, Meidrah Tyler, Judith Okoro, Diondra Harris, Victoria Vidal, Jerica Watson, Ellie Canty, Shyam Arya, Benjamin Liu, Roland Pattillo, Billy Ballard, Jay Vadgama, Eva McGhee. Molecular characterization of HPV type 18 cervical cancer: Upregulation of telomerase expression and induced chromosomal instability by E6 and E7 oncoproteins [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3388.
Dynamics of semilattice networks with strongly connected dependency graph

Abstract Discrete-time dynamical systems on a finite state space have been used to model natural and engineered systems such as biological networks, social networks, and engineered control systems. They have the advantage of being intuitive and the models can be easily simulated on a computer in most cases; however, few analytical tools beyond simulation are available. The motivation for this paper is to develop such tools. It identifies a broad class of discrete dynamical systems with a finite phase space for which one can derive strong results about their long-term dynamics in terms of properties of their dependency graphs. The paper contains a complete classification of the periodic orbits of semilattice networks with strongly connected dependency graph, by finding analytically the exact number of periodic orbits of any given period.
Virtual Source Model for Ray-Based Analysis of Focused Wave Scattering of a Penetrable Slab on PEC Ground Plane

We develop a Virtual Source Model which is an intuitive, non-iterative, forward model to analyze the differential scattering of a dielectric covered conductive ground plane. This simple model is well suited for focused beam, nearfield mm-wave sensing of body-worn explosives for person scanning security systems. Ray analysis using the method of images for multiple interfaces yields good, experimentally-validated results.
Epidemiologic features of a large hepatitis C cohort evaluated in a major health system in the western United States.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM Real-world epidemiologic data to guide hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related public health initiatives are lacking. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and epidemiological characteristics of a large cohort of patients with an HCV diagnosis evaluated in one of the largest health systems in the United States. MATERIALS AND METHODS De-identified demographic and clinical data were extracted from the electronic health record for patients actively followed within the Providence Health & Services health care system. Rates of HCV prevalence and co-morbid illnesses among HCV-infected patients were determined. RESULTS Among 2,735,511 active patients, 23,492 (0.86%) were found to have evidence of HCV infection, the majority of which were Caucasian (78.2%) and born between the years 1945 and 1965 (68.3%). In comparison to Caucasians, higher rates of HCV infection were found among Native Americans (2.5% vs. 0.95%, p<0.001). Compared to HCV-negative patients, a greater proportion of HCV-positive patients had diabetes mellitus (18.7 vs. 8.9%, p<0.0001), chronic kidney disease (4.4 vs. 1.8%, p<0.0001), end-stage renal disease necessitating hemodialysis (2.6 vs. 0.6%, p<0.0001), and HIV co-infection (2.4 vs. 0.2, p<0.0001). Nearly two-thirds (62.1%) of HCV patients had government-sponsored insurance, and 93.0% of treated patients resided in urban settings. CONCLUSION The prevalence of HCV infection in this large health care system serving the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and California was lower than prior population-based estimates and may reflect real-world prevalence rates among patients not selected for risk-based screening. Native Americans are disproportionately affected by HCV and may warrant targeted screening.
Bayes-adaptive interactive POMDPs

We introduce the Bayes-Adaptive Interactive Partially Observable Markov Decision Process (BA-IPOMDP), the first multiagent decision model that explicitly incorporates model learning. As in I-POMDPs, the BA-IPOMDP agent maintains beliefs over interactive states, which include the physical states as well as the other agents' models. The BA-IPOMDP assumes that the state transition and observation probabilities are unknown, and augments the interactive states to include these parameters. Beliefs are maintained over this augmented interactive state space. This (necessary) state expansion exacerbates the curse of dimensionality, especially since each I-POMDP belief update is already a recursive procedure (because an agent invokes belief updates from other agents' perspectives as part of its own belief update, in order to anticipate other agents' actions).We extend the interactive particle filter to perform approximate belief update on BA-IPOMDPs. We present our findings on the multiagent Tiger problem.
Shining light on cysteine modification: connecting protein conformational dynamics to catalysis and regulation.

Cysteine is a rare but functionally important amino acid that is often subject to covalent modification. Cysteine oxidation plays an important role in many human disease processes, and basal levels of cysteine oxidation are required for proper cellular function. Because reactive cysteine residues are typically ionized to the thiol­ate anion (Cys-S−), their formation of a covalent bond alters the electrostatic and steric environment of the active site. X-ray-induced photo-oxidation to sulfenic acids (Cys-SOH) can recapitulate some aspects of the changes that occur under physiological conditions. Here we propose how site-specific cysteine photo-oxidation can be used to interrogate ensuing changes in protein structure and dynamics at atomic resolution. Although this powerful approach can connect cysteine covalent modification to global protein conformational changes and function, careful biochemical validation must accompany all such studies to exclude misleading artifacts. New types of X-ray crystallography experiments and powerful computational methods are creating new opportunities to connect conformational dynamics to catalysis for the large class of systems that use covalently modified cysteine residues for catalysis or regulation.
Classification of the Glaucomas

Patients with open-angle glaucoma manifest a chronic, idiopathic disease associated with progressive degeneration of the anterior optic nerve, known as glaucomatous optic neuropathy. Although elevated intraocular pressure is an important causative risk factor, only about half of the three million North Americans with glaucoma will manifest elevated intraocular pressure at a single measurement. Therefore, measurement of intraocular pressure alone is a poor screening technique for glaucoma. Like most biologic parameters, eye pressure fluctuates diurnally and with other endogenous and exogenous influences, including hydration, sleep, blood pressure, and body position. With multiple measurements at different testing sessions, many, but not all of these glaucoma subjects, will eventually exhibit elevated intraocular pressure at least part of the time.
Risk-Averse Learning by Temporal Difference Methods.

We consider reinforcement learning with performance evaluated by a dynamic risk measure. We construct a projected risk-averse dynamic programming equation and study its properties. Then we propose risk-averse counterparts of the methods of temporal differences and we prove their convergence with probability one. We also perform an empirical study on a complex transportation problem.
17-LB: A Multicenter Study of the Burden of Hypoglycemia across Trimesters in Pregnancies Complicated by Type 1 Diabetes (LOIS-P Study)

Pregnancies in type 1 diabetes (T1D) are high-risk, and data in the U.S. are limited regarding clinical and CGM based hypoglycemia throughout pregnancy while on sensor augmented insulin pump (SAP). Pregnant women with T1D on insulin pump ≤ 16 wks gestation were enrolled at 3 U.S. centers and used study Dexcom G6. We analyzed episodes of severe hypoglycemia (SH) and days with > 20 hrs of CGM for biochemical hypoglycemia (BH) based on international consensus guidelines ( Disclosure R. Kaur: None. B.H. Smith: None. J.E. Pinsker: Advisory Panel; Self; Medtronic. Consultant; Self; Eli Lilly and Company, Tandem Diabetes Care. Research Support; Self; Dexcom, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Insulet Corporation, Medtronic, Tandem Diabetes Care. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Tandem Diabetes Care. B. Ozaslan: None. G. O’Malley: Research Support; Self; Abbott, Dexcom, Inc. M. Trinidad: None. D. Desjardins: None. K.N. Castorino: Research Support; Self; Abbott, Dexcom, Inc., Medtronic, Mylan, Novo Nordisk Inc. C. Levister: None. C. Reid: None. S.K. McCrady-Spitzer: None. S.J. Ogyaadu: None. M. Church: None. M. Piper: None. W.K. Kremers: Research Support; Self; AstraZeneca. B. Rosenn: None. C.J. Levy: Consultant; Self; Dexcom, Inc. Employee; Spouse/Partner; Allergan plc. Research Support; Self; Abbott, Dexcom, Inc., Insulet Corporation. E. Dassau: Consultant; Self; Eli Lilly and Company. Research Support; Self; Dexcom, Inc., DreaMed Diabetes, Tandem Diabetes Care, Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Roche Diabetes Care. Other Relationship; Self; Dexcom, Inc., Insulet Corporation, Roche Diabetes Care. Y.C. Kudva: Research Support; Self; Dexcom, Inc., Roche Diabetes Care. Other Relationship; Self; Abbott. Funding National Institutes of Health (122358); Dexcom, Inc. (AP-2018-016)
Doxorubicin Stability and Retention on PEGylated Graphene Oxide Nanocarriers Adjacent to Human Serum Albumin

Drug stability and retention on nanocarriers is essential for maximizing the drug targeting and therapeutic efficiency. PEGylation of graphene oxide (GO) as a drug nanocarrier is widely known to pr...
Age-determined expression of priming protease TMPRSS2 and localization of SARS-CoV-2 in lung epithelium.

The SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus global pandemic (COVID-19) has led to millions of cases and hundreds of thousands of deaths globally. While older adults appear at high risk for severe disease, hospitalizations and deaths due to SARS-CoV-2 among children have been relatively rare. Integrating single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of developing mouse lung with temporally-resolved immunofluorescence in mouse and human lung tissue, we found expression of SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein primer TMPRSS2 was highest in ciliated cells and type I alveolar epithelial cells (AT1), and TMPRSS2 expression increased with aging in mice and humans. Analysis of autopsy tissue from fatal COVID-19 cases detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA most frequently in ciliated and secretory cells in airway epithelium and AT1 cells in peripheral lung. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was highly colocalized in cells expressing TMPRSS2. Together, these data demonstrate the cellular spectrum infected by SARS-CoV-2 in lung epithelium and suggest that developmental regulation of TMPRSS2 may underlie the relative protection of infants and children from severe respiratory illness.
A Rupture in the Courtroom: Collective Rhetoric, Survivor Speech, and the Subversive Limits of the Victim Impact Statement

In 2018, 156 survivors took over a small courtroom in Lansing, Michigan, to deliver victim impact statements at the sentencing hearing of Larry Nassar. This article argues that the survivors collec...
Can Nudging Overcome Procrastinating on Preventive Health Investments

Abstract A fundamental puzzle about human behavior is low investment in preventive health inputs. Present-biased preferences have frequently been put forth as a theoretical explanation for this, but with limited empirical evidence supporting it, especially in developing countries. We extend our previous analysis of a field experiment testing advertising strategies to increase demand for a potentially life-saving preventive health technology, voluntary medical male circumcision. Offering compensation of US$10 conditional on a complement to the procedure, a short counseling session at a providing clinic, tripled uptake of the procedure. This is consistent with the idea that subsidizing a complement encouraged procrastinating men with latent demand to invest in preventive health. In addition, framing the basic advertisement using the statement, “Are you tough enough?”, doubled uptake.
Minimax Problems with Coupled Linear Constraints: Computational Complexity, Duality and Solution Methods

In this work we study a special minimax problem where there are linear constraints that couple both the minimization and maximization decision variables. The problem is a generalization of the traditional saddle point problem (which does not have the coupling constraint), and it finds applications in wireless communication, game theory, transportation, robust optimization, just to name a few. We show that the considered problem is challenging, in the sense that it violates the classical max-min inequality, and that it is NP-hard even under very strong assumptions (e.g., the objective is strongly convex-strongly concave). We then develop a duality theory for it, and analyze conditions under which the duality gap becomes zero. Leveraging the resulting duality-based relaxations, we propose a family of efficient algorithms named multiplier gradient descent (MGD), and study their convergence properties. Finally, we test the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms in an application on adversarial attacks on network flow problems.
A review of PV–T systems: Thermal management and efficiency with single phase cooling

Abstract In recent years, various methods of thermal management in photovoltaic–thermal (PV–T) systems have been investigated by researchers due to its importance in the system’s overall efficiency improvement. In this paper, advances in the cooling of the PV–T systems have been reviewed, with emphasis on the cooling techniques based on single phase flows. In addition to the analysis of cooling media, various implementations of cooling methods such as active and passive cooling techniques are summarized. In light of most attempts at analysing cooling configurations through experimentation, the review also discussed the analytical models that are currently being used. Numerous findings of previously conducted research have been discussed.
Docket Control and the Success of Constitutional Courts

This chapter, an invited contribution to a compendium on comparative constitutional law, argues that giving courts the power of docket control can contribute to their power and success. To make this point, this chapter surveys the experiences of several emerging and established constitutional democracies. Deciding what cases to decide permits a court to issue the right decisions at the right times, what this chapter calls ‘issue timing.’ A court can avoid encountering an issue until the country is ready to discuss the issue, and perhaps ready to resolve the issue in the manner the court is contemplating – or the court can decide to avoid the issue altogether because the issue is too polarizing for the court to encounter. As part of this ‘issue timing’ is what this chapter calls ‘legitimacy timing,’ meaning giving the court the power to decide what to decide allows courts both to initially create and then later maintain their legitimacy, even in situations when political forces might not support the specific outcome ordered by the court. Courts create and maintain their institutional legitimacy by giving political forces and the public time to adjust to a newer style of institution – a judicial institution – deciding leading issues of the day. But there is also a quantitative benefit to docket control, one related to legitimacy timing and the general politics surrounding courts. Giving courts docket control permits them to limit the sheer number of major issues they are deciding, which permits them to avoid excessive political fights, and gives them an agenda control power that allows them to compete on more equitable terms with the other branches of government, which do have agenda control.
Personal, Family, and School Factors Related to Adolescent Academic Performance: A Comparison by Family Structure

ABSTRACT Compared to peers in intact families, adolescents in divorced families do not perform as well academically. Using an ecological framework, we ran hierarchical regressions to examine the effect of parental support and monitoring and school attachment on grade point average (GPA) in teens in intact (60%), single-divorced (20%), and blended (20%) families. In this study, 1925 students in grades 7 (45%), 9 (31%), and 11 (24%), with a mean age of 15 years completed a survey. The sample was mostly White (88%), with 11% African-American; 53% were female. We hypothesized that adolescents in divorced or remarried families would report less parental support and monitoring, and that school attachment would be more strongly associated with GPA for these adolescents. School attachment was important for teens in all families; but the effect was stronger for teens in step- or single-divorced families. Our findings have implications for parents, schools, parenting education, and youth programs.
Mucosal injury and γ-irradiation produce persistent gastric ulcers in the rabbit: Evaluation of antiulcer drug binding to experimental ulcer sites

A method producing persistent gastric ulcers in the rhesus monkey by combined mucosal injury and γ-irradiation was modified and evaluated in the rabbit. γ-Irradiation (800–1000 cGy) immediately after removal of 2-mm-diameter sections of antral mucosa resulted in ulcer craters 5–7 days later. Ulcer sites were characterized by loss of the mucosa, muscularis mucosa, and much of the submucosa. The exposed submucosa was coated with fibrin and necrotic debris infiltrated with heterophils, the rabbit equivalent of neutrophils. These ulcers strongly resemble human chronic gastric ulcers. Binding of Carafate (sucralfate; Marion Laboratories, Inc., Kansas City, MO) and Maalox (magnesia-alumina oral suspension; Wm. H. Rorer, Inc., Ft. Washington, PA) to ulcer and nearby nonulcer sites in the antrum was assessed 1 hour after drug dosing. Drug binding was determined by aluminum quantitation of stomach wall punch biopsies at necropsy. Both drugs significantly increased aluminum bound to the stomach wall compared with vehicle treatment. Significantly more antiulcer drug was bound to ulcer sites than to nearby nonulcer sites only after sucralfate administration. This model of persistent gastric ulcer should be useful to further study gastric ulcer pathogenesis and treatment.
Theoretical Modelling of the Molluscan Shell: What has been Learned From the Comparison Among Molluscan Taxa?

The molluscan shell has been the subject of extensive theoretical work for over a century. From geometrical models to mechano-chemical models, a wide range of models exist that highlight the principles underlying coiling and the ornamentation in molluscan shells. Here, I review these theories, focusing on the comparison between different clades of molluscs with an external shell, namely cephalopods, bivalves, and gastropods. The models using a fixed axis -qualified as “form models”- facilitate the analysis of morphospace occupation and functional/ developmental constraints at a high phylogenetic level, whereas moving reference models—qualified as “growth models”- facilitate the quantitative study of allometry and phenotypic plasticity at lower phylogenetic levels. This review highlights the advantages and limitations of each framework and shows that comparative theoretical and experimental studies are very informative with regards to the evolutionary conserved rules underlying accretionary growth.