cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regeneration in the metazoans: why does it happen?

Why does regeneration occur? And why, when it manifests itself, does it do so in some but not all metazoan species? Hence, what are the permissive or inhibitory factors operating behind this phenomenon? When it comes to regeneration, many questions, such as these, remain unanswered. In fact, the problem of animal regeneration has withstood the probing of scientific inquiry for over 250 years and still awaits a satisfactory mechanistic explanation. In this essay, I will review the distribution and the modes of regeneration that are found in the different metazoan phyla. Also, I will re-examine ideas on its evolutionary origins, and discuss its possible relationship to both asexual reproduction and embryogenesis. This endeavor has two objectives. First, to bring forward an interpretation of regeneration which integrates evolutionary and developmental considerations into its discussion. And second, to suggest a comparative experimental approach to this problem that may bring us closer to understanding the molecular basis of this long-standing biological problem. BioEssays 22:578-590, 2000.
A note on particle—liquid mass transfer in a fluidized bed of small irregular-shaped benzoic acid particles

Analyse des resultats experimentaux en vue de determiner comment le mecanisme de transfert de matiere est affecte par la dimension des particules, la vitesse du liquide et la fraction de vide. Comparaison avec les donnees de la litterature
Co-location of force and action improves identification of force-displacement features

Haptic display is a promising means to deliver sensory feedback to an amputee from an upper limb prosthesis equipped with electronic sensors. Haptics, however, describes a diverse set of sensory and perceptual modalities. The question arises: which modality might best serve the purposes of the prosthesis wearer, and which body site should be used? To begin to answer these questions, we have conducted an experiment involving n=14 participants in which reaction force was displayed either to the same hand used to explore a virtual object (co-located condition), or to the opposing hand (non co-located condition). In randomly ordered trials, reaction forces were derived from the commanded motion according to one of three force-displacement relationships, describing a linear spring, a softening spring, and a stiffening spring. All springs shared a common rest length and terminal force. Results indicate a significant difference between the co-located and non co-located force display conditions in terms of identification accuracy and time length. Our findings suggest that those haptic modalities that are capable of coupling action and re-action will provide the most utility to amputees with an upper limb prosthesis.
Variations in genes encoding neutrophil antigens NA1 and NA2.

BACKGROUND: Neutrophil-specific antigens NA1 and NA2 are located on Fcγ receptor IIIb (FcγRIIIb). NA1 and NA2 forms of FcγRIIIb differ by four amino acids and the corresponding genes by five nucleotides. Variations in NA gene frequencies are encountered among ethnic groups. Altered forms of the genes are expected among individuals. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: RFLPs associated with four recognition sites were used to determine NA genotypes of 232 individuals. When atypical NA genotypes were identified, FcγRIIIB and FcγRIIIA regions were sequenced. RESULTS:NA1 FcγRIIIB frequency in 100 Japanese (0.66) was greater than that in 53 African Americans (blacks) (0.40; p<0.01) and 79 whites (0.32; p<0.001). Sequencing of atypical FcγRIIIB in 16 people confirmed that four blacks had G→A substitutions at 227; 7 blacks had A→G substitutions at 277; and 1 Japanese person had C→G at 141 and G→T at 227. A at 227 and G at 277 represent expected nts of NA1 FcγRIIIB. One black had an NA1 FcγRIIIB with a G→A substitution at 349; A is normally found in NA2 FcγRIIIB at 349. Sequencing atypical FcγRIIIA in three persons revealed that two blacks had G→A substitutions at 277 plus C→A substitutions at 266 and 1 white had previously described T→G at 230. Two blacks with atypical NA2 FcγRIIIB had T→G FcγRIIIA at 230. One black was NAnull. CONCLUSION : NA2 FcγRIIIB is more polymorphic in blacks than in whites or Japanese persons. Chimeric FcγRIIIB alleles are most similar to NA2 FcγRIIIB. One alternate allele of NA1 (NA1*02) and four alternate alleles of NA2 (NA2*02, NA2*03, NA2*04, and NA2*05) are described.
Aprotinin, a Kunitz-type protease inhibitor, stimulates skeletal muscle differentiation

Aprotinin, a Kunitz-type inhibitor of serine proteases, stimulates myotube formation by mouse G8-1 and C2C12 skeletal muscle myoblasts. This stimulation of morphological differentiation is accompanied by accumulation of myogenin transcripts and production of muscle-specific proteins. In contrast, active TGF beta prevents differentiation of G8-1 and C2C12 myoblasts. When active TGF beta and aprotinin are both added to myoblast cultures, differentiation is inhibited, suggesting the active growth factor acts downstream of the protease inhibitor. TGF beta is found in serum as a latent, dimeric propolypeptide that is cleaved by limited proteolysis to release the biologically active carboxy-terminal dimer. To address the possibility that aprotinin may effect myogenesis by inhibiting proteolytic activation of latent TGF beta, levels of the endogenous growth factor were measured in differentiating myoblast cultures. Latent TGF beta is rapidly depleted from control cultures within 24 hours of plating, but remains relatively stable in aprotinin-treated cultures. Consistent with this, aprotinin-treated cultures have reduced levels of active TGF beta. These data indicate that Kunitz-domain containing protease inhibitors may help orchestrate the onset of myogenesis, possibly by regulating the activity of TGF beta-like molecules.
Ideas in Action: Teaching Qualitative Analytic Methods in Social Work Research through the Analysis of Song Lyrics

AbstractThis article describes the innovative use of a pop culture source-song lyrics to augment the teaching of qualitative methods in social work research. The use of pop culture sources as learning tools in the MSW curriculum has the potential to enhance the learning experience for students. These techniques have not been applied in the content of MSW research classes. This approach could be advantageous over other typical data sources because it is more accessible to students while also being reflective of a collective identity of people in society. Future work should assess student and educator responses to this pedagogical approach.
Anoxia-reoxygenation versus ischemia in isolated rat lungs

Oxidant generation in anoxia-reoxygenation and ischemia-reperfusion was compared in isolated rat lungs. Anoxia-reoxygenation was produced by N2 ventilation followed by O2 ventilation. After anoxia,...
Homelessness in America

Homelessness is one of the most intense social crises facing the United States since the onset of the Great Depression more than 60 years ago. Estimates of the total population of homeless are argued to range from 250,000 to upwards of three million, with a pro- jected rate of increase of approximately 24% per year. The spectrum of diversity within the population mirrors that of society in general, except that the problems are more severe, as illustrated by the difficul- ties facing the homeless mentally ill. Thirty-eight percent of the homeless are single-parent, primarily female-headed families, thus re- presenting the fastest growing segment of the population. This paper will consider the phenomenon of homeless as a contemporary social issue, and include recommendations for public policy and social response.
A Review of "Systemic Sex Therapy"

Systemic Sex Therapy, by Katherine M. Hertlein, Gerald R. Weeks, & Nancy Gambescia. (2nd ed.) New York, NY: Routledge, 2015, 318 pages, $170.00 (hardback) and $76.95 (paperback).The field of sex th...
A note on Rapoport's approximate formula for the input-output curve in the case of bilateral pre-inhibition

The accuracy of an approximation method used in a certain input-output problem of randomized stimuli is evaluated. The curves derived from it are shown to be close approximations to those derived by a statistically “exact” method.
The role of self-injury in behavioral flexibility and resilience.

Severe and persistent self-injurious behavior (SIB) is notoriously difficult to understand and to treat. The current study used self-organization theory to investigate the possible relationship between SIB and changing levels of behavioral flexibility. Data consisted of categorical time-series of sequential behaviors from individuals with developmental disabilities and severe SIB. Orbital Decomposition was used to analyze each series for measures of structure and entropy. Overall, results showed evidence for self-organization in behavior patterns. Second, series including SIB were on average more flexible than those without SIB; while, higher numbers of SIB events (perseveration) were associated with higher behavioral rigidity and structural disintegration. Finally, there was evidence that behavioral flexibility almost always shifts reliably after a discrete bout of SIB, either increasing or decreasing in complexity. Altogether, these results may provide a deeper and more theoretically grounded understanding of the function of SIB beyond the traditional behavioral paradigm involving simple stimulus-response or response-consequence relations. Instead, some behaviors, such as SIB, may serve a resilience-making function as more global regulators of behavioral flexibility and coherence. Language: en
Application of Descriptor in Evaluation of Target Camouflage Effectiveness

In order to evaluate effectiveness of target camouflage objectively and quantitatively,a model of similarity degree is established based on a descriptor of attention focus derived from the human visual attention mechanism(HVAM).Locations and shifts of the attention focus are searched and measured using the HVAM model.The descriptors of attention focus are extracted based on their characteristic scale levels.The model of characteristic similarity degree is constructed on the descriptor,which can quantitatively evaluate the degree of amalgamation of target and surrounding background in brightness,color and space distribution.The relation between characteristic similarity degree and target detection probability is given.Applications show that this model has advantages such as high determinability and operability.
Choice of Economic Development Mode from the Perspective of Humanization

From the perspective of humanization,China's economy has undergone 3 stages: the "moral person" supposition stage,the "economic man" supposition stage,and the "complex person" supposition stage.Now China has entered "the human-oriented,fully-developed person" stage,which indicates that the economy of China has returned to the orbit of humanization.Although the central government has put forward "views of scientific development" and a series of principles and outlines,it is necessary to fully understand the connotation of humanization,establish the human-based evaluating index system,special management institution and supporting facilities in order to realize the human-based economic development.
Immunological Consequences of Intestinal Fungal Dysbiosis

Summary Compared to bacteria, the role of fungi within the intestinal microbiota is poorly understood. In this study we investigated whether the presence of a "healthy" fungal community in the gut is important for modulating immune function. Prolonged oral treatment of mice with antifungal drugs resulted in increased disease severity in acute and chronic models of colitis, and also exacerbated the development of allergic airway disease. Microbiota profiling revealed restructuring of fungal and bacterial communities. Specifically, representation of Candida spp. was reduced, while Aspergillus , Wallemia , and Epicoccum spp. were increased. Oral supplementation with a mixture of three fungi found to expand during antifungal treatment ( Aspergillus amstelodami , Epicoccum nigrum , and Wallemia sebi ) was sufficient to recapitulate the exacerbating effects of antifungal drugs on allergic airway disease. Taken together, these results indicate that disruption of commensal fungal populations can influence local and peripheral immune responses and enhance relevant disease states.
Analysis on the whole genome of the influenza H1N1 virus of the mild and severe cases in Beijing in 2009

Objective To explore the characteristics of the whole genome of the influenza H1N1 virus of the mild and severe cases in Beijing.Methods A total of 21 samples of throat swabs were collected from surveillance-designated hospitals between June and December in 2009,including 10 severe cases (4 death cases) and 11 mild cases.RNA of the virus were extracted,and the amplified primers of the whole genome were designed.Reverse transcription and PCR were performed to the RNA and then the PCR product was sequenced by software to analyze the evolution of the viral genes and the variation of the amino acids.Results Compared with the reference vaccine strain A/California/07/2009 (H1N1),the genetic nucleotide homology in the eight segments of the pandemic H1 N1 virus in Beijing in 2009 was higher than 99％,without significant variation.Among them,the genetic distance of hemagglutinin (HA),neuraminida (NA) and nucleoprotein (NP) was comparatively far,separately 0.0050,0.0040 and 0.0040.The gene of HA,P83S,the gene of NA,N248D,the gene of polymerase (PA),P224S and the gene of NP,V100I and L122Q were found to mutate in all the samples.Genes of HA,NA,NP,PA,PB2 and nonstructural protein (NS1) in severe cases showed obviously clustered evolution.The mutation of gene S128P and S203T of HA,gene R269R and D547E of PA,gene T588I of PB2 and gene I123V of NS mainly happened in severe cases,separately counting 6,9,6,7,9 and 6 cases.The relevance between the mutation happened in S203T of HA,R269K and D547E of PA and the severeness of the cases showed statistical significance (P ＜ 0.05).The mutations of HA gene were mainly on the Ca and Cb antigene domains.No drug resistant mutation was found on NA gene but happened on matrix protein 2(M2 gene).None of the mutations were found on the virulence related genes.Conclusion A high homology was found between the pandemic H1N1 virus in Beijing in 2009 and the reference vaccine strain A/California/07/2009 (H1N1).Mutational sites related with the severe and fatal cases were found,but not the virulence related mutation. Key words: Influenza A virus,H1N1 subtype; Genes; Genetic variation
Chlamydia Trachomatis Infections: A Clinical Update

Chlamydia trachomatis has emerged as the most common sexually transmitted pathogen in the United States and in many other countries. Because of its increasing importance, the authors present an update on chlamydial infections.
Cirrhosis in an Active Duty Soldier With Concomitant Isolated Polycystic Disease and H63D Homozygosity.

ABSTRACTWe report the case of a 45-year-old male soldier who was evaluated for a rapidly expanding hepatic mass following cholecystectomy and was eventually found to have isolated polycystic liver disease and express HFE H63D homozygosity. Both H63D homozygosity and isolated polycystic liver disease are only rarely associated with clinical cirrhosis. This is the first reported case of their concomitant presentation.
Reversible water activation driven by contraction and expansion of a 12-vertex-closo-12-vertex-nido biscarborane cluster.

The activation of O–H bonds of water at room temperature driven by the cage-opening rearrangement of a biscarborane-based cluster is reported. The reaction of the 12-vertex-closo-12-vertex-nido biscarborane cluster with water led to the quantitative and selective two-vertex decapitation of a carborane cluster and formation of the pendent boronic acid hydride B(H)(OH) group. Remarkably, this transformation can be quantitatively reversed with the release of water and re-formation of the starting biscarborane cage. The flexibility of cage decapitation/expansion and its influence on the reactivity of an exohedral substituent represent a new approach to cluster-induced organic transformations.
Myopic real-time decentralized charging management of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles

Abstract This paper proposes a decentralized control algorithm for charging management of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) in distribution networks. The objectives of the proposed control algorithm are to mitigate PHEV integration challenges (e.g., over-currents and under-voltages in distribution networks) and to reduce the charging costs of PHEVs. The proposed algorithm adjusts the charging rates of PHEV chargers utilizing distributed cooperative control to prevent the network constraints (i.e., voltage and current limits) from being violated. It also determines the operating modes of the chargers (i.e., charging, discharging, or idle) using a decision making algorithm to increase the State Of Charges (SOCs) and decrease the charging costs only based on the current conditions of the distribution network. The proposed algorithm is evaluated on a modified IEEE 37-Node Test Feeder and the simulation studies are carried out using OpenDSS and MATLAB. The advantages and disadvantages of the proposed algorithm are discussed and compared with the exiting methods according to the simulation results.
Second Correction for Wertz et al., "Genomic and Physiological Characterization of the Verrucomicrobia Isolate Geminisphaera colitermitum gen. nov., sp. nov., Reveals Microaerophily and Nitrogen Fixation Genes".

Volume 78, no. 5, p. 1544–1555, 2012, [https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.06466-11][1], and volume 83, no. 13, e00987-17, 2017, [https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.00987-17][2]. The name Diplosphaera, the proposed genus name for Verrucomicrobia strain TAV2, was previously used for a microalga. Subsequently, we
Organic chemistry: Molecular structure assignment simplified.

An innovative combination of chemical synthesis, theory and spectroscopy could simplify determination of the structures of naturally occurring, biologically active molecules, which are often leads for drug discovery. See Letter p.436 Molecules are often drawn as though they are static chemical structures, but of course in reality they adopt a number of different conformations. The structures of flexible compounds are especially difficult to pin down by conventional means as they can appear as a mixture of conformational isomers. Baulamycins, polyketide antibiotics with long, flexible carbon chains, are one such example and, although they have been the target of synthetic efforts, the true structure of the natural product is unclear. Here, Varinder Aggarwal and colleagues elucidate the structure of the baulamycins by a method based on the correlation of experimental and computed nuclear magnetic resonance data and an iterative synthetic strategy to the target compounds. This approach allowed the unambiguous and correct assignment of the stereocentres and the structure of these natural products and could be applied to other such complex, flexible systems.
Sport business and marketing collaboration in higher education

Abstract In the spring of 2014, steps were taken at a southeastern university to overhaul an existing Sport Administration curriculum that functioned more as a general physical education and sport program instead of a sport business and leadership program. An almost entirely new major was created, curriculum was designed, and the program was approved by a southeastern university's curriculum committee in May of 2014. Since then, the new Sport Administration major has undergone revisions to continue to enhance the sport business and leadership focus, but also the program has partnered the last two years with the School of Business and Journalism and Mass Communication Department to form sport business, marketing and media partnerships. These unique academic collaborations have allowed for incredible student experiences, shared curriculum, common guest speakers, and increased campus “buy-in” related to sport business initiatives and emphases.
Catalysis of methemoglobin reduction.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the catalysis of methemoglobin reduction. It discusses the results of studies in which photometry and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy were used to follow the kinetics of methemoglobin reduction. The chapter discusses an experimental study in which methemoglobin reduction in hemolysates was assayed. The hemolysate differs from conditions within the normal erythrocytes in that nitrite was added to convert hemoglobin to methemoglobin. The components of the cytoplasm were diluted by a factor of 4.8, the membranous fraction was removed, and NADH or NADPH was added to a concentration of 4 m M . In this system, the dependence of rate on the concentrations of the various components was studied by addition to the hemolysate of purified human methemoglobin, human erythrocyte cytochrome b 5 reductase, or bovine erythrocyte cytochrome b 5 . Direct reduction of methemoglobin by the addition of isolated ferrocytochrome b 5 was measured photometrically. The reaction was carried out at 37°C in a cuvette, which was already positioned in an Aminco recording spectrophotometer. Photochemical reduction mediated by lumiflavin 3-acetate was employed to reductively titrate mixtures of cytochrome b 5 and methemoglobin. MCD spectra were obtained with a Jasco J-40C spectropolarimeter equipped with an electromagnet. Spectra were acquired, stored, corrected, and analyzed by using a Nova III computer, a Tracor 1500N signal analyzer, an Ohio Scientific Challenger II microcomputer, and an ADM 3a terminal retrofitted with Retro-Graphics plotting hardware.
Training to Proficiency

“See one, do one, teach one,” the paradigm ingrained in surgical minds for the past century since the days of Halsted, has helped to mature generations of well-trained surgeons. Many contemporary issues such as advances in technology, restrictions in training work hours, expensive operating room costs, safety, and ethical concerns challenge this ideology.
Carrying, Sharing, and Hand Preference in Tufted Capuchins (Cebus apella)

We examined the relationship among carrying, food-sharing, and hand preference in tufted capuchins (Cebus apella). The rationale was to evaluate further the use of Cebus as an alternative primate model to Pan for behavior relevant to early hominid evolution. We first examined bipedalism and food-sharing within an established social group, and then examined the direction and strength of hand preference for food carrying in an expanded sample. Several aspects of capuchin behavior warrant discussion. First, bipedal carrying and food-sharing occurred more frequently when we provided bulky foods than when we provided smaller foods. Second, food-sharing was characterized by passive tolerance, rather than active giving, between subjects. Third, subjects shared food primarily with immatures and followed a pattern of reciprocal exchange. Finally, we found no evidence for population-level hand preference for carrying. We posit that an array of behavioral similarities among Cebus, Pan, and Homo evolved through convergent processes, and in this regard capuchins can be seen as an alternative primate model to chimpanzees for the evolution of early hominid behavior.
Functional Analysis of Leishmania Membrane (Non-ABC) Transporters Involved in Drug Resistance

Leishmania parasites rely heavily upon membrane transport proteins to deliver essential nutrients from their hosts to the interior of the parasite. Some of these transporters also serve as routes for uptake of drugs used for treatment of leishmaniasis or experimental drugs with potential for development of novel anti-leishmanial therapies. Hence, mutations within the coding regions of such permeases or alterations in the expression of the carrier proteins can confer drug resistance upon the parasites. This chapter reviews the current level of knowledge regarding several classes of membrane transporters known to play roles in uptake or sensitivity to drugs. The increasing knowledge of the “permeome,” provided by complete genome sequences of several Leishmania species, has advanced considerably our knowledge of how nutrients and drugs or other cytotoxic compounds enter these pathogenic protozoa.
Policy, Ethical and Other Implications

The results of this review of evidence bearing on the probability of extraterrestrial life can be briefly summarized. Our review of the science relevant to estimates of the factors in the Drake equation.
New Technologies and the Interplay between Certainty and Reasonableness

Underlying ongoing and intensive efforts to understand how the law of armed conflict does, could and should apply to the use of new technologies is an equally comprehensive effort to understand precisely what these new weapons are and how they work. Many new technologies introduce unique questions for human understanding, often driven and exacerbated by the fact that the technology is out of sight or out of reach of human senses, making actual concrete understanding of how it works challenging and elusive. Effective legal analysis and guidance for the use of any weapon rests on an accurate understanding of how that weapon works. This uncertainty and quest for more determinative information about the nature of certain new technologies has the potential for unintended and possibly untoward effects on the very implementation and application of the law itself—in effect, it has the potential to change the law. As in many other legal regimes, critical components of legal analysis and interpretation in LOAC involve reasonableness: that is, whether the actions of a commander were reasonable in the circumstances prevailing at the time. In contrast, the need to understand how a new technology works and what it might do in a given situation, particularly with regard to autonomy, is not an inquiry resting on reasonableness, but rather on the desire for as much certainty as possible. This chapter examines how the development and use of new technologies in weapons may impact the balance between reasonableness and certainty in LOAC. Difficult questions about quantifying reasonableness and certainty for purposes of assigning criminal responsibility for actions taken during military operations have already emerged as international criminal justice has brought military operations into the courtroom. At the same time, the development of hi-tech weapons introduces enormous challenges for understanding how such weapons work and how to assign responsibility when things go wrong. Demands for greater certainty are likely to increase, in turn, to help humans understand how to judge these weapons and the decisions involved in their programming and deployment. As certainty becomes an overarching need and consideration, an important question is whether that quest for certainty will bleed over into the application and interpretation of the law and, over time, affect the development and understanding of the law itself.
Can patient-centered communication reduce the effects of medical mistrust on patients' decision making?

Objective Mistrust in medical institutions has been implicated as a barrier that disproportionately affects the quality of health care received by patients. Although patient-centered communication has been shown to improve patient-provider relationships, little is known as to whether it may reduce the effects of medical mistrust on patients' decision-making and trust in physicians (physician mistrust). Method In a laboratory study, 231 primary care patients (101 African American and 130 White participants) were randomly assigned to one of two conditions in which they viewed video recorded, standardized vignettes depicting a cardiologist recommending coronary bypass surgery to a patient diagnosed with angina and 3-vessel coronary artery disease. In each vignette, the cardiologist-actor demonstrated either low or high patient-centered communication behavior. Participants were asked to assume the role of the patient interacting with the video-recorded physician. Results Hypotheses were partially supported. High levels of medical mistrust were associated with greater physician mistrust and lesser endorsement of the hypothetical bypass surgery. Among patients exposed to high patient-centered communication, the relationships between medical mistrust and both physician mistrust and surgery endorsement were weaker than among patients exposed to low patient-centered communication. Although African American patients reported greater medical mistrust compared with White patients, respondents' race did not moderate the relationships. Conclusions Results suggest that mistrust toward health care may unfavorably affect interactions and patients' health-related outcomes. Physicians may buffer the effects of mistrust by using patient-centered communication skills such as soliciting the patient's concerns and priorities and being responsive to the health care needs which patients identify (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
Rhinovirus-induces progression of lung disease in a mouse model of COPD via IL-33/ST2 signaling axis

Rhinovirus (RV), which is associated with acute exacerbations, also causes persistent lung inflammation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but the underlying mechanisms are not well-known. Recently, we demonstrated that RV causes persistent lung inflammation with accumulation of a subset of macrophages (CD11b+/CD11c+), and CD8+ T cells, and progression of emphysema. In the present study, we examined the mechanisms underlying the RV-induced persistent inflammation and progression of emphysema in mice with COPD phenotype. Our results demonstrate that at 14 days post-RV infection, in addition to sustained increase in CCL3, CXCL-10 and IFN-γ expression as previously observed, levels of interleukin-33 (IL-33), a ligand for ST2 receptor, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)12 are also elevated in mice with COPD phenotype, but not in normal mice. Further, MMP12 was primarily expressed in CD11b+/CD11c+ macrophages. Neutralization of ST2, reduced the expression of CXCL-10 and IFN-γ and attenuated accumulation of CD11b+/CD11c+ macrophages, neutrophils and CD8+ T cells in COPD mice. Neutralization of IFN-γ, or ST2 attenuated MMP12 expression and prevented progression of emphysema in these mice. Taken together, our results indicate that RV may stimulate expression of CXCL-10 and IFN-γ via activation of ST2/IL-33 signaling axis, which in turn promote accumulation of CD11b+/CD11c+ macrophages and CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, RV-induced IFN-γ stimulates MMP12 expression particularly in CD11b+/CD11c+ macrophages, which may degrade alveolar walls thus leading to progression of emphysema in these mice. In conclusion, our data suggest an important role for ST2/IL-33 signaling axis in RV-induced pathological changes in COPD mice.
Introducing Undergraduates to Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning through Speech Processing

This paper describes an educational project experience that achieves a software implementation and performance analysis of a blind signal to noise ratio (SNR) estimation system for noisy speech. The system is based on a pattern recognition paradigm and no clean speech reference signal is available. It is a product of the faculty’s research and funded by a government contract. The faculty’s research on a real-world issue in speech processing has been converted into an undergraduate project. Assessment results show that the project is viewed very favorably by students. Target versus control group results show that the target group feels better qualified for graduate study and career options in digital signal processing.
We Need to Talk!! – A Chatroom Application Using a Student-Designed Protocol

This poster describes an assignment for a computer networks class in which students design and implement an application-layer protocol for a chatroom using a client-server architecture running over TCP-IP. Working collaboratively, students design a single protocol that will be implemented by all class members. The protocol is written in a style based on that used in a Request for Comments (RFC), the international standard for describing networking protocols. Students work in pairs to implement the protocol using a programming technology of their choice. This experience helps students to understand that different applications can communicate when they are all designed according to the same RFC specification.
Improved Modelling for Wind Turbines on Trains

Most wind powered electricity generation systems are stationary and heavily dependent on the force and direction of the wind. Alternatively, the wind displaced by fast moving vehicles, in particular by trains is routinely available in locations worldwide. Previous research has been solely aimed at designing wind turbine models that maximize the output potential of the system. This work aims to develop a more realistic model of the phenomenon which includes the inherent drawbacks of the system as well as some potential solutions. Extensive simulations have been performed to explore the air drag influence of wind turbines on moving train and to estimate the power generation capabilities of a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) based wind turbine system. The proposed improved model provides simulation accuracy and additional opportunities for real-time analysis of the moving trains.
Narcissus and Trauma: Chrétien de Troyes’s Story of the Grail

This chapter treats narcissism and selfhood, through the lens of trauma, in Chretien de Troyes’s Story of the Grail (c. 1181). Trauma, etymologically related to “wound” and “piercing” in Greek, appears in the text in a series of woundings in narcissine imagery that define Perceval’s selfhood. Denying the wounded bodies of his father, the Fisher King, and the goose of the blood-on-snow scene, Perceval searches for an unwounded selfhood based on knightly principles and violent autonomy. The wounded bodies point toward Perceval’s confrontation with Christ’s crucifixion on Good Friday, the ultimate example of a traumatized body. Christ intersects with Narcissus’s myth and its emphasis upon the collapse of self and other, leading Perceval to accept himself as wounded by the needs of others through charity.
Teacher's Manual for The Past, Present and Future of the Safe Water Drinking Act

In order to encourage greater understanding and teaching of the Safe Drinking Water Act, I have written a user-friendly 20-page primer, posted on SSRN as "The Past, Present and Future of the Safe Drinking Water Act." To aid teachers using the primer in the classroom, the Teacher's Manual describes how to teach the main features of the law and provides answers to the seven questions posed at the end of the primer.
19 – Canonical Ensemble

The canonical ensemble applies to a system held at constant temperature. We present two derivations based on the microcanonical ensemble by putting a system of interest in contact with a heat reservoir to form an isolated system. A third derivation employs the most probable distribution of ensemble members. The probability of a system being in a given stationary quantum state is proportional to its Boltzmann factor. We calculate dispersion of energy relative to its average. The sum of Boltzmann factors gives a system partition function that relates to the Helmholtz free energy. For a system composed of independent but distinguishable subsystems with negligible interaction energies, the system partition function factors. For such subsystems of identical particles, we recover the simplified ensemble of the preceding chapter. We treat an ideal gas and explore its Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution of velocities. Paramagnetism is treated both classically and quantum mechanically and compared. The partition function is related to the density of states by a Laplace transform.
Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices: A Window Into the Evolution of Conduction Disease in Cardiac Amyloidosis.

Abstract Objectives This study characterized the relationship between conduction disease and cardiac amyloidosis (CA) through longitudinal analysis of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) data. Background Bradyarrhythmias and tachyarrhythmias are commonly reported in CA and may precede a CA diagnosis, although the natural history of conduction disease in CA is not well-described. Methods Patients with CA (transthyretin amyloidosis cardiomyopathy [ATTR-CM] and light-chain amyloidosis [AL-CA]) and a CIED were identified within the Duke University Health System. Patient characteristics at the time of implantation, including demographics and data relevant to CA diagnosis, cardiac imaging, and CIED were recorded. CIED interrogations were analyzed for pacing and atrial fibrillation (AF) burden, activity level, lead parameters, and ventricular arrhythmia incidence and/or therapy. Results Thirty-four patients with CA (7 with AL-CA, 27 with ATTR-CM [78% with wild-type]; 82% men) with median age of 75 years and a mean ejection fraction of 42 ± 13% had a CIED implanted for bradycardia (65%) or prevention of sudden cardiac death (35%). CIED implantation preceded CA diagnosis in 14 patients (41%). Over a mean follow-up of 3.1 ± 4.0 years, right ventricular sensing amplitudes decreased but did not result in device malfunction; lead impedances and capture thresholds remained stable. Between post-implantation years 1 and 5, mean ventricular pacing increased from 56 ± 9% to 96 ± 1% (p = 0.003) and AF burden increased from 2 ± 1.3 to 17 ± 3 h/day (p = 0.0002). Ventricular arrhythmias were common (mean episodes per patient per year: 6.7 ± 2.3 [ATTR-CM] and 5.1 ± 3.2 [AL-CA]) but predominately nonsustained; only 1 patient with AL-CA required implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy. Conclusions Longitudinal analysis of CIED data in patients with CA revealed progressive conduction disease, with high AF burden and eventual dependence on ventricular pacing, although lead parameters remained stable. Ventricular arrhythmias were common but predominantly nonsustained, particularly in ATTR-CM.
Machine Learning Attacks and Countermeasures for PUF-Based IoT Edge Node Security

The Internet of things (IoT) ecosystem has grown exponentially with the convergence of various technologies such as deep learning, sensor systems, and advances in computing platforms. With such a highly pervasive nature of “smart” devices, the nature of data being collected and processed can be increasingly private and require safeguards to ensure the data’s integrity and security. Physically unclonable functions (PUFs) have emerged as a lightweight, viable security protocol in the Internet of Things (IoT) framework. Malicious modeling of PUF architectures has proven to be difficult due to the inherently stochastic nature of PUF architectures. In this work, we show that knowledge of the underlying PUF structure is unnecessary to clone a PUF. We tackle the problem of cloning PUF-based edge nodes in different settings such as unencrypted, encrypted, and obfuscated challenges in an IoT framework. We present a novel non-invasive, architecture-independent, machine learning attack for robust PUF designs and can handle encryption and obfuscation-based security measures on the transmitted challenge response pairs (CRPs). We show that the proposed framework can successfully clone different PUF architectures, including those encrypted using two (2) different encryption protocols in DES and AES and with varying degrees of obfuscation. We also show that the proposed approach outperforms a two-stage brute force attack model. Finally, we offer a machine learning-based countermeasure, a discriminator, which can distinguish cloned PUF devices and authentic PUFs with an average accuracy of 96%. The proposed discriminator can be used for rapidly authenticating millions of IoT nodes remotely from the cloud server.
Effects of Biochar on Methane Oxidation and Properties of Landfill Cover Soil: Long-Term Column Incubation Tests

AbstractLandfill gas poses significant risk to global climate change. Landfill gas is composed of very high concentrations of methane (CH4), nearly 50% by volume. The present study investigates the...
Towards an On-Demand Redundancy Concept for Autonomous Vehicle Functions using Microservice Architecture

More and more functionalities will be deployed on heterogeneous devices in the vehicle for future autonomous driving. These devices will be connected not only within the vehicle but also to the internet to receive information or consume services provided by other vehicles or road-side units. Even some functions could be offloaded to the cloud infrastructure. However, this high connectivity also means more cyber-security issues for future autonomous driving cars. As cyber-attacks become a more serious issue for the future automotive industry, keeping high availability of safety-critical and non-safety-critical vehicle functions when connected devices in the vehicle are being attacked is an important and challenging task. In this paper, we propose an on-demand redundancy concept to get high availability for autonomous vehicle functions using microservice architecture and container technology. We implemented the concept of embedded devices and showed the feasibility of this concept. The results showed that redundancy could be setup dynamically for non-safety-critical vehicle functions in a cost-effective manner using the proposed approach. This approach could be taken as a security measure while certain devices are being attacked, and the system could continue working without being influenced.
Renal cell carcinoma.

A doubling in tumor size increases metastases 10-fold and reduces surgical curability drastically. Early diagnosis, abetted by CT and ultrasound scanning, is critical.
Spatial Implications of Telecommuting

We build a quantitative spatial model of commuting in which some workers can partially substitute effort on the job site with work done from home. Ability and propensity to telecommute vary by education and industry, and telework mitigates the disutility of living far from the job site. We quantify our framework to match the distribution of jobs and residents across 4,502 sub-metropolitan U.S. locations. In a counterfactual where the productivity of telework increases permanently, remote-capable workers relocate to smaller cities and suburbs, with jobs in non-tradable industries following them. Tradable industries in the most productive city centers benefit from a broader labor market. The average price of real estate falls. Welfare gains accrue mostly to workers who can telecommute. Gains for those who cannot depend on whether distanced workers contribute to productivity spillovers. Predictions for local changes in residents and rents are highly correlated with observed changes 2020--2021.
Local Immunomodulatory Strategies to Prevent Allo-Rejection in Transplantation of Insulin-Producing Cells

Islet transplantation has shown promise as a curative therapy for type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, the side effects of systemic immunosuppression and limited long-term viability of engrafted islets, together with the scarcity of donor organs, highlight an urgent need for the development of new, improved, and safer cell-replacement strategies. Induction of local immunotolerance to prevent allo-rejection against islets and stem cell derived β cells has the potential to improve graft function and broaden the applicability of cellular therapy while minimizing adverse effects of systemic immunosuppression. In this mini review, recent developments in non-encapsulation, local immunomodulatory approaches for T1D cell replacement therapies, including islet/β cell modification, immunomodulatory biomaterial platforms, and co-transplantation of immunomodulatory cells are discussed. Key advantages and remaining challenges in translating such technologies to clinical settings are identified. Although many of the studies discussed are preliminary, the growing interest in the field has led to the exploration of new combinatorial strategies involving cellular engineering, immunotherapy, and novel biomaterials. Such interdisciplinary research will undoubtedly accelerate the development of therapies that can benefit the whole T1D population.
Disparities by Race and Ethnicity Among Adults Recruited for a Preclinical Alzheimer Disease Trial.

Importance Underrepresentation of many racial/ethnic groups in Alzheimer disease (AD) clinical trials limits generalizability of results and hinders opportunities to examine potential effect modification of candidate treatments. Objective To examine racial and ethnic differences in recruitment methods and trial eligibility in a multisite preclinical AD trial. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional study analyzed screening data from the Anti-Amyloid in Asymptomatic AD study, collected from April 2014 to December 2017. Participants were categorized into 5 mutually exclusive ethnic/racial groups (ie, Hispanic, Black, White, Asian, and other) using participant self-report. Data were analyzed from May through December 2020 and included 5945 cognitively unimpaired older adults between the ages of 65 and 85 years screened at North American study sites. Main Outcomes and Measures Primary outcomes included recruitment sources, study eligibility, and ineligibility reasons. To assess the probability of trial eligibility, regression analyses were performed for the likelihood of being eligible after the first screening visit involving clinical and cognitive assessments. Results Screening data were included for 5945 participants at North American sites (mean [SD] age, 71.7 [4.9] years; 3524 women [59.3%]; 5107 White [85.9%], 323 Black [5.4%], 261 Hispanic [4.4%], 112 Asian [1.9%], and 142 [2.4%] who reported race or ethnicity as other). Recruitment sources differed by race and ethnicity. While White participants were recruited through a variety of sources, site local recruitment efforts resulted in the majority of Black (218 [69.2%]), Hispanic (154 [59.7%]), and Asian (61 [55.5%]) participants. Participants from underrepresented groups had lower mean years of education (eg, mean [SD] years: Hispanic participants, 15.5 [3.2] years vs White participants, 16.7 [2.8] years) and more frequently were women (226 [70.0%] Black participants vs 1364 [58.5%] White participants), were unmarried (184 [56.9%] Black participants vs 1364 [26.7%] White participants), and had nonspousal study partners (237 [73.4%] Black participants vs 2147 [42.0%] White participants). They were more frequently excluded for failure to meet cognitive inclusion criteria (eg, screen failures by specific inclusion criteria: 147 [45.5%] Black participants vs 1338 [26.2%] White participants). Compared with White participants, Black (odds ratio [OR], 0.43; 95% CI, 0.34-0.54;P Conclusions and Relevance Racial/ethnic groups differed in sources of recruitment, reasons for screen failure, and overall probability of eligibility in a preclinical AD trial. These results highlight the need for improved recruitment strategies and careful consideration of eligibility criteria when planning preclinical AD clinical trials.
Levels of Complexity Within the Cosmos

This chapter examines in greater detail Harris’s conception of cosmic evolution, which he claims follows from the postulate of the Concrete Universal and supports his teleological anthropic principle (TAP). Section 5.2 begins with a sketch of Harris’s conception of cosmogenesis as characterized by self-organization. The following sub-sections assess the extent to which Harris’s reasoning dovetails with various contemporary arguments from the philosophy of complex systems. In Sect. 5.3, Harris’s arguments for the scale of forms is critically examined and theoretically updated, in light of current contentions regarding emergence. The aim in this section, as in the previous sections, is to develop a sympathetic reading of Harris’s system and demonstrate the extent to which he has anticipated contemporary works.