cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Harnessing the stem cell potential: the path to prevent mitochondrial disease.

Although stem cells were initially thought to be the magic bullet for numerous diseases, translation of a stem cell–based cure into the clinic is still a work in progress. Basic research is shedding light into the potential of stem cells, and different research fronts are now exploring how to exploit this potential to tackle diverse conditions. In 'Bench to Bedside', Akemi Tanaka, Mark Sauer, Dieter Egli and Daniel Kort discuss how genome transfer from eggs of mothers with mutated mitochondria into an enucleated egg from a healthy female donor at an early developmental stage can eliminate mitochondrial disease. The negligible mutant mitochondrial DNA carryover and the differentiation of subsequent embryonic stem cells into various cell types with healthy mitochondrial DNA content suggest this could be used to prevent transmission of mitochondrial disease to the offspring. The authors discuss safety concerns and remaining technical questions that need to be resolved to make way for this new technology in the clinic. In 'Bedside to Bench', Nan Yang and Marius Wernig peruse a small study of children with a myelin disorder showing that transplantation of human neural stem cells leads to engraftment and donor cell–derived myelination.
Intrahippocampal injections of Tat: Effects on prepulse inhibition of the auditory startle response in adult male rats

Abstract The presence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) in the brain mediates the pathogenesis of HIV-associated dementia complex (HAD), partially through the viral toxins gp120 and Tat. This study characterized potential deficits in sensorimotor gating, as measured by prepulse inhibition (PPI), following hippocampal administration of Tat. Adult, male Sprague–Dawley rats were bilaterally injected with 50 μg Tat or saline (1 μl volume), into the hippocampus. Following 7 weeks of recovery, all animals were tested using the auditory startle response (ASR) with habituation, control, and PPI trials. Assessment of ASR habituation [100dB(A) white noise stimulus, 70dB(A) background, 5-min acclimation period, 36 habituation trials with fixed interstimulus interval (ISI) of 10 s] demonstrated a significant ∼ 50% reduction in the overall peak ASR amplitude, but no change in peak ASR latency, nor an effect on the rate of habituation. PPI measures demonstrated robust alterations in sensorimotor gating. The PPI test (ISI of 0, 8, 40, 80, 120, or 4000 ms, 6-trial blocks, Latin-square) showed an attenuated response on peak ASR amplitude during the control trials (0 and 4000 ms ISI), but not on the PPI trials (8–120 ms ISI). Most striking was the rightward shift in ISI for maximal inhibition of the response ( χ 2 (1) = 4.7, p ≤ 0.03). There was no significant peak ASR latency effect during the control trials (
Evaluation of the Q Function

A convenient method of evaluating the Q function over the parameter space quarter plane is presented. The Q function is first expressed as an infinite series. The N term truncated series Q_{N}(a, b) is used to approximate Q(a, b) for a^{2} + b^{2} \leq R where the choice of N depends on the accuracy desired and R is determined by considerations such as computer bit capacity, computational time, and accuracy. For a^{2} + b^{2} > R , alternate expressions are used. When b - a \geq d , we approximate Q by 0, and when b - a \leq d , we approximate Q by 1. The accuracy is dependent on the choice of the constant d . In the reniainder of the quarter plane, a^{2} + b^{2} > R and | b - a , and an efficient expression is used, but it is of limited accuracy (from 10-5to 10-9) near the line a = b .
Prior Performance and Goal Progress as Moderators of the Relationship Between Self-Efficacy and Performance

Over the last several years, the conventional view of self-efficacy as a positive influence on performance has been called into question. Researchers have identified a negative relationship between self-efficacy and performance when examined via within-person analyses, even in the presence of large positive between-person relationships. The current study proposes that the within-person relationship between self-efficacy and subsequent performance is moderated by one's degree of prior success or failure. Using a multitrial task, support was found for the proposed model. Following poor or substandard performances, self-efficacy was positively related to subsequent performance. However, following more successful prior performances, self-efficacy was negatively related to subsequent performance. Implications of these findings for theory and research on work motivation are discussed.
Vitamin E and vitamin C, alone or together, did not prevent prostate or total cancer in men

Source Citation Gaziano JM, Glynn RJ, Christen WG, et al. Vitamins E and C in the prevention of prostate and total cancer in men: the Physicians’ Health Study II randomized controlled trial. JAMA. ...
Moderating Effects of Task Type on Wireless Technology Acceptance

The technology acceptance model (TAM) is one of the most widely used models of information technology (IT) adoption. According to TAM, IT adoption is influenced by two perceptions: usefulness and ease of use. In this study, we extend TAM to the mobile commerce context. We categorize the tasks performed on wireless handheld devices into three categories: (1) general tasks that do not involve transactions and gaming, (2) gaming tasks, and (3) transactional tasks. We propose a unified conceptual model for wireless technology adoption. In this model, task type moderates the effects of four possible determinants: perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived playfulness, and perceived security. We postulate that, under the mobile context, user intention to perform general tasks that do not involve transactions and gaming is influenced by perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, user intention to play games is affected by perceived playfulness, and user intention to transact is influenced by perceived usefulness and perceived security. A survey was conducted to collect data about user perception of 12 tasks that could be performed on wireless handheld devices and user intention to use wireless technology. Multiple regression analyses supported the proposed research model.
Combustion Characteristics of Spray Flames of Canola Methyl Ester/Diesel Blends in a Furnace

The combustion characteristics of spray flames of canola methyl ester (CME) and blends with diesel fuel within a re-radiating environment were studied. The combustion chamber was lined with refractory bricks that were preheated to about 725 K (1305 °R). The flow rates of the fuels provided a constant heat release rate of about 7.33 kW (25,000 BTU/hr) at atmospheric pressure. Measurements of flame temperature, in-flame concentrations, global emissions, flame radiation and soot volume fraction were taken. The global CO emission index was significantly lower in the biofuel blend spray flames compared to that of the diesel spray flame. The global NO emission index was comparable for all spray flames, which agreed with peak flame temperature and in-flame NO concentration measurements. The radiative fraction of heat release was also comparable for all spray flames.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Stochastic inversion of thermal data in a sedimentary basin: resolving spatial variability

SUMMARY The concept of spatial stochastic processes and the techniques of geostatistics and stochastic inversion are presented as a means for evaluating the spatial variability of thermal properties and temperature in sedimentary basins. Data from the Uinta Basin of NE Utah are used to demonstrate the analysis. Bottom hole temperatures from oil and gas wells provide the best opportunity for a spatial analysis because of the large number and wide distribution of data. Errors in bottom hole temperatures are not too large to preclude their use and stochastic inversion provides an optimum method for removing random noise while retaining spatial resolution. Corrected bottom hole temperatures from 235 wells in the Uinta Basin are used to estimate: (a) average geothermal gradient as a function of position in the basin and (b) temperature gradients in individual formations, also as a function of position in the basin. The latter analysis yields a high-resolution estimate of temperature gradient and temperature throughout the basin. The temperature field shows variations of up to 50°C at a depth of 4 km and is estimated to be accurate to better than 5 "C. This variation in temperature is consistent with conductive and advective mechanisms of heat transfer in a heterogeneous medium.
Is elimination of endemic syphilis transmission a realistic goal for the USA

in 1937, Thomas Parran, Surgeon-General of the USA, outlined five critical components he felt were needed for syphilis control as part of efforts to help build public resolve to address the problem, which he referred to as “a shadow on the land”.’ His formula included: (1) case finding through serological screening; (2) prompt, effective therapy for infected persons; (3) identification of people exposed to infectious syphilis; (4) mandatory serological evaluation of people who might transmit infections to others (in 1937 this translated into premarital and obstetric serological testing); and (5) public education about the disease, its manifestations, its consequences, and its general societal importance. These principles have since been adopted to one degree or another as part of efforts to control most other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including HIV. In addition, they have worked for syphilis control. Combined with accurate diagnostic tests and effective therapy, Parran’s strategy has helped to nearly eliminate endemic transmission of syphilis from most of western Europe.2,3 These successes, while providing support for Parran’s concepts, have not occurred throughout the world. In many developing nations, syphilis remains as common as it was in the USA early in the 20th century when about 10% of the population was believed to be infected.3’4 Still more notably, in the USA where Parran set forth his formula and where substantially more health care resources are available for STD control, syphilis rates have remained ‘rive-fold to ten-fold higher than for most other developed nations? Working with the Congress of the USA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recently been requested to outline additional efforts and investments needed to eliminate syphilis transmission within the USA The time may be right for such an initiative. In the past 7 years, US syphilis rates have declined precipitously for reasons which are not completely understood. In 1990, the largest number (50 578) of cases of primary and secondary syphilis in 40 years were reported to the CDC (figure l).’ By 1996 the numbers had fallen over 77% to 11 387, and in 1997 fewer than 10 000 cases were reported. These continuing declines have been perceived as a potential window of opportunity for efforts to eliminate endemic transmission of syphilis within the USA. The likelihood of achieving this goal will be determined by the interplay of biological characteristics of the aetiologic agent (Treponema pallidurn), currently available diagnostic tests and therapy, and, possibly, new tools for syphilis control currently under investigation. Most importantly, however, the impact of efforts to eliminate endemic syphilis
OBSERVATIONS OF C‐S AND S‐S BOND CLEAVAGE IN THE PHOTOLYSIS OF DISULFIDES IN SOLUTION

— A comparison of the transient absorption spectra from the photolysis of disulfides in solution suggests that C-S bond breakage is a common primary photolytic process. This process becomes more important as the resulting carbon centered radical is stabilized by increasing alkyl substitution or resonance interaction with an aromatic system. The perthiyl radical product is characterized by λmax?380 nm,e380?1700 M−1 cm−1 and decays by second order kinetics with k2?3.7×108M−1 s−1 in water. In the presence of O2, the photolysis of disulfides which produce the thiyl radical give transient absorptions in the 500–600 nm region. Possible identities of these transients are discussed.
Tribological Properties of Si-DLC Coatings Synthesized with Nitrogen, Argon Plus Nitrogen, and Argon Ion Beams

Hard, adherent, and low-friction silicon-containing diamond-like carbon coatings (Si-DLC) have been synthesized at room temperature by 40 keV (N+ plus N2+), 50%Ar+/50% (N+ plus N2+), and Ar+ ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD) of a tetraphenyl-tetramethyl-trisiloxane oil on silicon and sapphire substrates. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that all coatings were amorphous. The average coating wear rate and the average unlubricated steel ball-on-disk friction coefficient, µ, decreased with increasing fraction of nitrogen in the ion beam, along with an increase in the average coating growth rate. The Knoop microhardness and nanohardness values of the coatings synthesized by the mixed argon and nitrogen ion beam were higher than the values for the coatings synthesized with 100% nitrogen or 100% argon ion beams. These friction/wear improvements are tentatively attributed to both increased hardening due to greater penetration and ionization induced hardening by the lighter (N) ions and to the presence of Si02 on the surface of N-bombarded samples.
Analysis of gate oxide shorts in CMOS circuits

The resistance dependence, voltage dependence, temperature dependence, and pattern dependence properties of CMOS logic gate operation in the presence of gate oxide shorts are analyzed. The analysis is based on realistic defect models that incorporate the resistive nature of gate oxide shorts and the difference between gate oxide shorts in n- and p-channel transistors. >
Emotional and physiological responses to normative and idiographic positive stimuli in bipolar disorder.

Background Few studies have examined differences in emotional responding among distinct types of positive stimuli. This is important to understand both for individuals characterized by extreme positive mood (i.e., bipolar disorder) and healthy adults.
An improved experimental procedure of separating a composite thermoluminescence glow curve into its components

We present an improved experimental procedure of separating a composite thermoluminescence glow curve into its components. Careful monitoring of the isothermal cleaning process using the initial rise method ensures the complete thermal removal of TL peaks. Digital subtraction of two experimental TL glow curves yields individual experimental TL glow peaks. Several standard methods (initial rise and whole glow curve) are used to obtain the energy values and frequency factors of the traps. The method has been used successfully to analyze the well-known composite TL glow curve of the dosimetric material LiF (TLD-100). The limitations of the method are illustrated by analyzing the highly complex TL glow curve of a UV irradiated synthetic calcite consisting of at least 6 TL peaks. Although the method works best for TL glow curves described by first order kinetics, it should also be applicable to more general kinetics.
Dynamic visual display of treatment response in HIV-infected adults

Background. Using a dynamic visual display, we examine the changes in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) plasma viral load and CD4 cell count for 5 years after antiretroviral therapy initiation in a large cohort of patients with HIV. Methods. Patients at a Centers for AIDS Research Network of Integrated Clinical Systems site who initiated combination antiretroviral therapy between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2012 were followed for 5 years for HIV-1 plasma viral load, CD4 cell count, and mortality. The joint distribution of CD4 cell count and viral load over time was depicted in an animated display using a bivariate kernel smoother. Results. Within days of therapy initiation, many patients had a suppressed viral load and their median CD4 cell count had increased. However, the median CD4 cell count remained below normal levels throughout follow-up period and the proportion of patients with high viral load occasionally increased, even years after therapy initiation. Conclusions. The dramatic changes in viral load and CD4 cell count after therapy initiation highlight the overwhelming effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy in the modern era. However, this work also emphasizes the need for pharmaceutical or behavioral interventions to prevent virologic failure and to stimulate complete recovery of normal CD4 cell count.
Magnitude of retaliation as a function of the similarity of available responses to those employed by attacker

Under the guise of a stress and problem-solving experiment, 56 Ss in a 2 by 2 by 2 factorial design were given (1) either electric shocks or a negative point rating at (2) one of two levels—2 (control) or 6 (attack)—and (3) allowed to retaliate with electric shock or a negative point rating. As predicted, retaliation was greater under the attack condition. Also as predicted, Ss in the attack condition who were allowed to respond in the same manner by which they were attacked retaliated more than Ss responding in the different mode. Results were interpreted in terms of their implications for the frustration-aggression hypothesis.
Functions of the Materials Review Board

The DOE has established a centralized organization for the assembly and critical review of materials data that are important to the process of licensing a nuclear waste repository. The MRB serves as an independent reviewing body, somewhat similar to standards organizations, that examines test methods and materials data. To a large extent, the criteria used in these reviews are codified, and the review process is highly visible and extensively documented. Approval of test methods or materials data for publication in the Nuclear Waste Materials handbook requires successful completion of three separate reviews that are sufficiently rigorous, yet in accord with the provisions of the NRC licensing approach, so that the resulting documents can be used by DOE with assurance that scientific scrutiny by others will affirm the conclusions of the MRB. The credibility of the review process is reflected in the credibility of the conclusions drawn from the data, thereby allowing the licensing of the repository to proceed expeditiously. 10 references.
On optimal data detection for UWB transmitted reference systems

Transmitted reference (TR) modulation schemes, initially proposed for spread-spectrum systems in the 1920's have regained popularity in the context of ultra-wideband (UWB) communications, where accurate channel estimation is a challenging task. In the conventional TR approach, a reference signal (without data modulation) is received and employed in a correlator receiver for data modulated signals. By exploiting the statistics of the received signals, optimal and suboptimal data detection schemes for a single-user UWB communication system employing antipodal modulation with TR are investigated and compared to the conventional TR receiver. The proposed schemes can cope with a variable number of reference and data modulated pulses. By construction, the modulation and demodulation methods work for arbitrary channels. The efficacy of the new methods is investigated via simulations emulating an indoor multipath channel. These simulation results reveal that the proposed detection schemes provide significant performance improvements in terms of bit error rate over the conventional TR receiver structure.
Far-field patterns of point sources operated in the presence of dielectric circular cylinders

The far field of point current sources of a_{\rho} , a_{\phi} , and a_{z} orientation either internal or external to a dielectric right-circular cylinder are discussed. Simplified general solutions are developed via plane-wave scattering in conjunction with the principle of reciprocity. Radiation patterns for axially oriented sources are illustrated. The results are found to embrace several prior special-condition solutions by others and to refute one previous analysis.
Meniscus oscillation of ink flow dynamics in thermal ink-jet print head

Meniscus oscillation usually occurs after jetting drops in Drop-on-Demand inkjet head. It is important for ink refill motion. Ink refill motion affects many jetting performance in inkjet technology. Therefore it is very important to understand ink refill motion process for designing inkjet head dimensions and ink properties, such as nozzle diameter, barrier thickness, ink viscosity and surface tension. This meniscus oscillation is a kind of under-damped oscillation. The refill time is defined, as the time required returning to the initialization, the free surface obeys damped oscillation and oscillates between meniscus mounding and recession when the amplitude of the oscillation reduces to dispersion. This study researches several inkjet heads using computational fluid dynamics simulation. CFD solver, such as FLOW_3D, is used to solve the problem. After calculation, the results are plotted with post-processor such as plot software and output to printers. This paper shows the break- off time, the refill time and operation frequency of the inkjet head.
On Hajnal's triangle-free game

We investigate the triangle-free game proposed by Andras Hajnal. Starting with the empty graph onn points, two players alternatingly pick edges. The loser is the player who is forced to select an edge which completes a triangle. We determine the winner in a version of the game with the additional rule that the chosen edges must always give a connected subgraph ofK n . Some other versions are also investigated.
‘The Roots of a Plant that Today is Brazil’: Indians and the Nation-State under the Brazilian Estado Novo

This article looks at the construction of the Indian by government officials and intellectuals during the Estado Novo (1937–45), and the efforts of indigenous peoples to engage these images. State officials – concerned with national consolidation, territorial defense, and racial pedigree – upheld the Indian as an icon who had made invaluable contributions to Brazilian historical and cultural formation. The proto-patriot, however, could only be fully redeemed through government tutelage. Confronted by an ambiguous state project, indigenous groups demonstrated varied responses.
Pocket infections of cardiac implantable electronic devices treated by negative pressure wound therapy.

Aims Managing an infection of the pocket of a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) is frequently challenging. The wound is often treated with a drain or wet-to-dry dressings that allow healing by secondary intention. Such treatment can prolong the hospital stay and can frequently result in a disfiguring scar. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been frequently used to promote the healing of chronic or infected surgical wounds. Here we describe the first series of 28 patients in which NPWT was successfully used to treat CIED pocket infections. Methods and results After removal of the CIED and debridement of the pocket, a negative pressure of 125 mmHg continuously applied to the wound through an occlusive dressing. Negative pressure wound therapy was continued for a median of 5 days (range 2–15 days) and drained an average of 260 mL sero-sanguineous fluid (range 35–970 mL). At the conclusion of NPWT, delayed primary closure of the pocket was performed with 1-0 prolene mattress sutures. The median length of stay after CIED extraction was 11.0 days (range 2–43 days). Virtually all infected pockets healed without complications and without evidence of recurrent infection over a median follow-up of 49 days (range 10–752 days). One patient developed a recurrent infection when NPWT was discontinued prematurely and a new device was implanted at the infected site. Conclusion We conclude that NPWT is a safe and effective means to promote healing of infected pockets with a low incidence of recurrent infection and a satisfactory cosmetic result.
UBS private banking

SUBJECT AREAS: Private banking, asset management, competitive strategy in financial services, international banking CASE SETTING: 2000, banking, Global Private banking involves the provision of a highly attractive value-chain of financial and related services to high net worth clients, both within the country of residence and offshore. This value-chain is sufficiently lucrative - to banks, broker-dealers, asset management companies, insurance companies and other financial services firms ranging from specialists to universals and financial conglomerates - to place it high on the strategic priority list of many domestic and global financial services players. At the same time, competing effectively in this sector is not easy, and has changed dramatically over the years. This case focuses on the undisputed leader in the industry, UBS AG of Switzerland, which in 2000 had a greater volume of private-client assets under management than any other financial institution. The case considers strategic positioning and execution in this part of the financial services industry in the light of growing competition and the changing nature of individual wealth. Teaching note available.
Port economic cost functions: A service perspective

Ports provide services rather than producing physical products. However, port cost functions specify port cost as functions of physical products, e.g., port cargo throughput long-run cost is a function of port resource prices and cargo throughput (a physical product). In comparison, port cargo service long-run cost is a function of port resource prices, cargo service and shipper cargo received. The shipper provides cargo that is serviced by the port. A service cannot be touched and its user is involved in its provision. This paper derives port cost functions for which port outputs are “service outputs”, e.g., cargo, vessel and vehicle services.
gH/gL supercomplexes at early stages of herpesvirus entry

Membrane fusion during herpesvirus entry into host cells is a complex process where multiple glycoproteins interact to relay the triggering signal from a receptor-binding protein to the conserved fusogen gB through the conserved heterodimer gH/gL. Crystal structures of individual glycoproteins are available, yet high-order 'supercomplexes' have been elusive. Recent structures of complexes between gH/gL from human cytomegalovirus or Epstein-Barr virus and the receptor-binding proteins that form at early stages of herpesviral entry highlighted mechanisms that control tropism and revealed dynamic intermediate complexes containing gH/gL that may directly participate in membrane deformation and juxtaposition. Determining how the triggering signal reaches the fusogen gB represents the next frontier in structural biology of herpesvirus entry.
Metal Pollution in the Great Lakes in Relation to their Carrying Capacity

Although the Great Lakes may be resilient to moderate inputs of nutrients and some biodegradable organics, they are seriously vulnerable to the persistent toxic metals. This report makes the point that the assimilative capacity of the Great Lakes for toxic metals has already been exceeded in Lakes Michigan, Erie and Ontario, and in the problem areas of Lakes Huron and Superior. Any added use of these lakes as waste space for the disposal of metal contaminated refuse will only further depreciate the health of the Great Lakes ecosystems.
Medical therapy of extraesophageal gastroesophageal reflux disease

Patients with extraesophageal gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are often more difficult to treat than patients with typical GERD. Effective treatment almost always requires the use of proton pump inhibitors, often in higher doses than traditionally used to treat patients with heartburn and erosive esophagitis and for a longer period of time. Long-term maintenance therapy is usually required as relapse is almost universal when therapy is discontinued. This paper reviews the treatment options and suggested approach to management of these patients with extraesophageal GERD.
Binaral interactions in the rat piriform cortex.

Wilson, Donald A. Binaral interactions in the rat piriform cortex. J. Neurophysiol. 78: 160–169, 1997. Single-unit recordings were made from layer II/III anterior piriform cortex (aPCX) neurons in ...
Strategies for reducing Papanicolaou smear screening errors: principles derived from data and experience with quality control.

. A number of principles pertaining to types of measurements of Papanicolaou smear accuracy are presented and implications with respect to quality control operations are explored. There are strengths and weaknesses inherent in each of the quality control methods available to us; choices regarding which of them to use and specifics regarding their implementation should be guided wherever possible by common sense and well-analyzed data as well as by regulatory requirements. Definitions of error in particular require careful attention from the points of view of both microscopic criteria and choice of reporting nomenclature. Other elements that characterize Papanicolaou smear screening environments, such as workload limits and new technologies, are also discussed.
“Blue is the New Green”: Representational Space and the Effective Co-Optation of Environmental Justice Discourses in Pennsylvania's Unconventional Natural Gas Drilling:

This paper points to the importance of studying the intersection of public policy debates, spatial practice, and land use by applying Henri Lefebvre's spatial trialectic in a critique of the ongoin...
Metanetwork Framework for Integrated Performance Assessment under Uncertainty in Construction Projects

AbstractThe objective of this study is to create and test an integrated framework for assessment of vulnerability to uncertainty in complex projects. In the proposed framework, construction projects are conceptualized as metanetworks composed of different nodes (i.e., human agents, information, resources, and tasks) and links. The effects of uncertain events are translated into perturbations in the nodes and links of project metanetworks. These uncertainty-induced perturbations are reflected as transformations in a project’s topological structure, and thus negatively affect the efficiency of the project’s metanetwork. The extent of the variation in the efficiency of a project’s metanetwork is used to determine the extent of vulnerability to uncertainty. The application of the proposed framework is shown in an illustrative case study related to a tunneling project. In the case study, various scenarios related to different uncertain events were simulated through the use of dynamic network analysis and Monte...
Can frontier-based development be successful?

C an frontier-based development be successful? The short answer to this question is “why not?” As we have discussed, since 1500 “frontier expansion” has been a major part of global economic development. Such frontier-based economic development is characterized by a pattern of capital investment, technological innovation and social and economic institutions dependent on “opening up” new frontiers of natural resources once existing ones have been “closed” and exhausted. Most of this development has been incredibly successful, particularly during the Golden Age of Resource-Based Development (1870–1913). So why shouldn't present-day developing economies dependent on frontier-based development also be able to attain such success? One reason is that the current process of frontier-based development in low and middle-income economies is fundamentally different from the exploitation of the “Great Frontier” in previous eras, including the Golden Age. Frontier expansion in today's developing countries is not facilitating take off into sustained and balanced growth; rather, it is symptomatic of a “dualism within dualism” economic structure that is perpetuating underdevelopment. This “dualism within dualism” structure reinforces the dependence of the overall economy on mainly primary product exports, the concentration of a large proportion of the population on fragile land, and a high incidence of rural poverty. There is clearly a “vicious cycle” at work here: in many of today's developing economies, any resource rents that are generated and appropriated from frontier “reserves” are simply leading to further frontier land expansion and resource exploitation. The result is very little economy-wide efficiency gains and benefits.
David Skrbina , The Metaphysics of Technology . Reviewed by

Author David Skrbina argues that all of technology is metaphysically driven by a panpsychic force called the Pantechnicon.
Alanine scan of the opioid peptide dynorphin B amide

To date structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of the dynorphins (Dyn), endogenous peptides for kappa opioid receptors (KOR), have focused almost exclusively on Dyn A with minimal studies on Dyn B. While both Dyn A and Dyn B have identical N-terminal sequences, their C-terminal sequences differ, which could result in differences in pharmacological activity. We performed an alanine scan of the non-glycine residues up through residue 11 of Dyn B amide to explore the roles of these side chains in the activity of Dyn B. The analogs were synthesized by fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-based solid phase peptide synthesis and evaluated for their opioid receptor affinities and opioid potency and efficacy at KOR. Similar to Dyn A the N-terminal Tyr1 and Phe4 residues of Dyn B amide are critical for opioid receptor affinity and KOR agonist potency. The basic residues Arg6 and Arg7 contribute to the KOR affinity and agonist potency of Dyn B amide, while Lys10 contributes to the opioid receptor affinity, but not KOR agonist potency, of this peptide. Comparison to the Ala analogs of Dyn A (1-13) suggests that the basic residues in the C-terminus of both peptides contribute to KOR binding, but differences in their relative positions may contribute to the different pharmacological profiles of Dyn A and Dyn B. The other unique C-terminal residues in Dyn B amide also appear to influence the relative affinity of this peptide for KOR versus mu and delta opioid receptors. This SAR information may be applied in the design of new Dyn B analogs that could be useful pharmacological tools.
Short-term variability of aragonite saturation state in the central Mid-Atlantic Bight

The uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere has resulted in a decrease in seawater aragonite saturation state (Ωarag), which affects the health of carbonate-bearing organisms and the marine ecosystem. A substantial short-term variability of surface water Ωarag, with an increase of up to 0.32, was observed in the central Mid-Atlantic Bight off the Delaware and the Chesapeake Bays over a short period of 10 days in summer 2015. High-frequency underway measurements for temperature, salinity, percentage saturation of dissolved oxygen, oxygen to argon ratio, pH, fCO2, and measurements based on discrete samples for pH, dissolved inorganic carbon and total alkalinity are used to investigate how physical and biogeochemical processes contribute to the changes of Ωarag. Quantitative analyses show that physical advection and mixing processes are the dominant forces for higher Ωarag in slope waters while biological carbon removal and CO2 degassing contribute to increased Ωarag in shelf waters.
Probability Logic and Logical Probability

Authors like Keynes, H. Jeffreys and Carnap advocated using a concept of "logical probability". Logical probability had the following properties: (a) it was representable as a function from potential states of full belief (or "evidence") to states of subjective or credal probability judgment. (b) Such functions were alleged to be constrained by principles of probability logic. (c) All rational agents were supposed to be obliged to adopt the standard function that probability logic prescribed. In this essay, it is argued that these three requirements could be satisfied only if probability logic prescribed that credal probability should be numerically determinate. Keynes denied that it should numerically determinate and Carnap abandoned the idea that probability logic could supply a determinate function from states of full belief to numerically determinate credal states that all rational agents ought to adopt. The paper explains that once this is conceded, logical probability ought to be interpreted rather differently than it is customarily is.
Elevated plasma phenylalanine concentrations may adversely affect bone status of phenylketonuric mice

Children with phenylketonuric (PKU) are at risk for fractures. This study used a PKU murine model (PAHenu-2) to evaluate effects of moderate dietary protein restriction and elevated plasma phenylalanine concentration impact upon bone status. Fifty-four male weanling PKU and control mice were assigned to either an elemental phenylalanine (Phe)-restricted diet (treated) or Phe-unrestricted diet (untreated) with low or normal protein levels for 56 days. Untreated mice and control mice received equal amounts of dietary Phe; treated mice consumed prescribed dietary Phe to maintain plasma Phe concentrations between 120 and 480 µmol/L. Plasma Phe, osteocalcin, and urine deoxypyridinoline (DPD)/creatinine were analysed at baseline and at days 28 and 56. Femur strength, bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) were analysed at day 56. Moderate protein restriction did not significantly affect bone status. Mean plasma Phe concentrations were significantly greater in untreated vs treated and control mice (p<0.0001). Total body weight was significantly less in untreated vs control mice (p<0.01). Mean femur weight was reduced in untreated mice vs both treated and control mice (p<0.03). Untreated mice had smaller mean femur length than control mice (p<0.002). Femur strength was greater in treated mice compared to control mice (p<0.01) but not compared to untreated mice. No significant difference among groups was found in BMD and BMC. At day 56 there was a statistical trend (p<0.056) towards higher urine DPD/creatinine excretion in untreated mice than in treated mice. Plasma Phe concentration was positively correlated with urine DPD/creatinine. These data suggested that hyperphenylalaninaemia may adversely affect bone status in PKU mice.
When Robust Statistics Meets with Robust Optimization: Data-Driven Batch Process Scheduling in The Presence of Outliers

Abstract We propose a novel data-driven approach for optimization under uncertainty based on multistage adaptive robust optimization (ARO) and nonparametric kernel density M-estimation. Different from conventional robust optimization methods, the proposed framework incorporates distributional information to avoid over-conservatism. Robust kernel density estimation is employed to extract probability distributions from uncertainty data via a kernelized iteratively re-weighted least squares algorithm. A data-driven uncertainty set is proposed, where bounds of uncertain parameters are defined by quantile functions, in order to organically integrate the multistage ARO framework with uncertainty data. Based on this uncertainty set, we further develop an exact robust counterpart in its general form. To illustrate the applicability of the proposed framework, an application in batch process scheduling is presented.
On the performance of the BLMS adaptive filter based on distributed arithmetic

The BLMS (Block Least Mean Square) adaptive filter can be implemented using distributed arithmetic (DA) compared to conventional multipliers. In this paper, we compare both methods for a typical BLMS implementation. For the DA method, filtering and weight-updating operations are performed using LUTs (look up tables), which need to be updated after every iteration. This technique updates only one block of LUTs during every iteration, consuming less power and time than conventional DA techniques. The input samples are stored in the LUTs, in which the inner product is taken by using the weight-vectors as addresses for the LUTs, shift-accumulating the LUT outputs for successive clock cycles, and passing them as the outputs. The same process is used to compute the weight-increment terms for the next iteration, however the error-vectors are used as addresses for the LUTs, and the weight-increment terms need to be scaled accordingly. The weight-increment terms are then added with the cyclically left-shifted weight vectors of the previous iteration to produce the updated weights used for the next iteration. We conclude that the tradeoff between the two methods is in the number of multipliers and the amount of memory required. The LUT method can be better optimized to reduce memory.
On the atomistic-based continuum viscoelastic constitutive relations for axonal microtubules.

Abstract Mechanical response of brain's interior during traumatic brain injury is primarily governed by the cytoskeleton (CSK) and occurs over multiple length scales starting from the axonal substructure level. The axonal cytoskeleton can be viewed as a nanofiber reinforced nanocomposite structure where nano-fibrous microtubules (MTs) are arranged in staggered arrays and cross-linked by Tau proteins. Each MT is made of thirteen laterally connected protofilaments (PFs), each of which is formed via linear polymerization of αβ−heterodimer protein called tubulin. Recent studies suggest that the unique viscoelastic nature of axons governs the damage during traumatic brain injury. To understand how the internal substructures of axon influences the viscoelastic mechanical behavior of axon from a theoretical perspective, the viscoelastic properties of MTs need to be properly described. Since viscosity is a bulk property, the measurement methods are fairly consistent. On the other hand, the reported experimentally measured elastic properties of MTs vary by several orders of magnitude due to limitations of experimental tools. Alternatively, many have attempted to determine MT properties using theoretical and computational methods at different length scales ranging between the atomistic and the continuum level. The atomistic approaches capture the dynamics and interactions of a material at the atomic or atomic cluster level but these methods are computationally expensive and can model only a very small physical scale. On the other hand, the continuum theories lack finer scale details. Here, we present an atomistic-based continuum viscoelastic constitutive relation for microtubules (MTs) based on the interatomic potential for proteins and continuum homogenization method. The interaction potential includes both van der Waals and electrostatic interactions between the protein molecules. The calculated Young's modulus of 3.385 GPa agrees reasonably well with the range of experimentally measured value without any parameter fitting. We have then investigated the viscoelastic response of MT based on the estimated viscosity using atomistic simulation and evaluated Young's modulus using our method. The current theory suggests that MT behaves like a viscoelastic material when applied loading rate is extremely high, otherwise it acts like an elastic solid material.
A Cellular Automata Model of the Expansion of the Assyrian Empire

A simple cellular automata model is used to simulate some aspects of the expansion of the Assyrian empire from the XIV to the VII century b.C. The model assumes that an “Assyrian cell” expands to neighboring cells based on five factors: (1) the physical and (2) political penetrability of cells, (3) the initial expansive force of the Assyrians, (4) the decay of local expansive force with increasing distance from the originary cell, (5) the increase in expansive force due to locally acquired resources. We discuss various methodological issues and the generality of the model.
Self-organizing flying drones with massive MIMO networking

This article studies distributed algorithms to con-trol self-organizing swarm drone hotspots with massive MIMO networking capabilities — a network scenario referred to as OrgSwarm. We attempt to answer the following fundamental question: what is the optimal way to provide spectrally-efficient wireless access to a multitude of ground nodes with mobile base stations/aerial relays mounted on a swarm of drones and endowed with a large number of antennas; when we can control the position of many-antenna-enabled drones, access association of ground nodes to drones, and the transmit power of ground nodes? The article first derives a mathematical formulation of the problem of spectral efficiency maximization through joint control of the movement of many-antenna-enabled aerial drones, access association of single-antenna ground nodes to many-antenna drones, and transmit power of ground nodes. It is shown that the resulting network control problem is a mixed integer nonlinear nonconvex programming problem (MINLP). We then first design a distributed solution algorithm with polynomial computational complexity. Then, a centralized but globally optimal solution algorithm is designed based on a combination of the branch and bound framework and convex relaxation techniques to provide a performance benchmark for the distributed algorithm. Results indicate that the distributed algorithm achieves a network spectral efficiency very close (over 95% on average) to the global optimum.
Age Alters Chromatin Structure and Expression of SUMO Proteins under Stress Conditions in Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells.

Adult stem cells play a critical role in tissue homeostasis and repair. Aging leads to a decline in stem cells’ regenerative capacity that contributes significantly to the maintenance of organ and tissue functions. Age-dependent genomic and epigenetic modifications together play a role in the disruption of critical cellular pathways. However, the epigenetic mechanisms responsible for the decline of adult stem cell functions remain to be well established. Here, we investigated age-dependent, genome-wide alterations in the chromatin accessibility of primary human adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) in comparison to age-matched fibroblasts via ATAC-seq technology. Our results demonstrate that aging ASCs possess globally more stable chromatin accessibility profiles as compared to aging fibroblasts, suggesting that robust regulatory mechanisms maintain adult stem cell chromatin structure against aging. Furthermore, we observed age-dependent subtle changes in promoter nucleosome positioning in selective pathways during aging, concurrent with altered small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) protein expression under stress conditions. Together, our data suggest a significant role for nucleosome positioning in sumoylation pathway regulation in stress response during adult stem cell aging. The differences described here between the chromatin structure of human ASCs and fibroblasts will further elucidate the mechanisms regulating gene expression during aging in both stem cells and differentiated cells.
Better input modeling via model averaging

Rather than the standard practice of selecting a single "best-fit" distribution from a candidate set, frequentist model averaging (FMA) forms a mixture distribution that is a weighted average of the candidate distributions with the weights tuned by cross-validation. In previous work we showed theoretically and empirically that FMA in the probability space leads to higher fidelity input distributions. In this paper we show that FMA can also be implemented in the quantile space, leading to fits that emphasize tail behavior. We also describe an R package for FMA that is easy to use and available for download.