cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Congruence Test of Reliability Using Linked Mitochondrial DNA Sequences

In the absence of certainty, well-corroborated hypotheses of species relationships serve as the best estimates of the true phylogenies of groups. This approach was extended to linked mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences that share the same gene phylogenies because of nonrecombination. This expectation of congruence forms the basis to test the reliability of unequal weighting for different base positions and changes of DNA sequences. The principal data for this test were the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA (rRNA), 16S rRNA, and cytochrome c oxidase subunit II sequences of five pecoran species (Artiodactyla, Eutheria), as obtained from the same plasmid clones and/or mtDNA isolations of brain, liver, or heart. Heavy weighting for stems and first/second codon positions and for transversions were first evaluated against the molecular evolutionary properties of the three genes and then evaluated by congruence, as measured in terms of both agreement and resolution
Spatial heterogeneity in habitat quality and cross-scale interactions in metapopulations

Integration of habitat heterogeneity into spatially realistic metapopulation approaches reveals the potential for key cross-scale interactions. Broad-scale environmental gradients and land-use practices can create autocorrelation of habitat quality of suitable patches at intermediate spatial scales. Patch occupancy then depends not only on habitat quality at the patch scale but also on feedbacks from surrounding neighborhoods of autocorrelated patches. Metapopulation dynamics emerge from how demographic and dispersal processes interact with relevant habitat heterogeneity. We provide an empirical example from a metapopulation of round-tailed muskrats (Neofiber alleni) in which habitat quality of suitable patches was spatially autocorrelated most strongly within 1,000 m, which was within the expected dispersal range of the species. After controlling for factors typically considered in metapopulation studies—patch size, local patch quality, patch connectivity—we use a cross-variogram analysis to demonstrate that patch occupancy by muskrats was correlated with habitat quality across scales ≤1,171 m. We also discuss general consequences of spatial heterogeneity of habitat quality for metapopulations related to potential cross-scale interactions. We focus on spatially correlated extinctions and metapopulation persistence, hierarchical scaling of source–sink dynamics, and dispersal decisions by individuals in relation to information constraints.
Spin structure of the proton from polarized inclusive deep-inelastic muon-proton scattering

We have measured the spin-dependent structure function [Formula presented] in inclusive deep-inelastic scattering of polarized muons off polarized protons, in the kinematic range [Formula presented] and [Formula presented] A next-to-leading order QCD analysis is used to evolve the measured [Formula presented] to a fixed [Formula presented] The first moment of [Formula presented] at [Formula presented] is [Formula presented] (stat) [Formula presented] (syst) [Formula presented] (evol). This result is below the prediction of the Ellis-Jaffe sum rule by more than two standard deviations. The singlet axial charge [Formula presented] is found to be [Formula presented] In the Adler-Bardeen factorization scheme, [Formula presented] is required to bring ΔΣ in agreement with the quark-parton model. A combined analysis of all available proton, deuteron, and [Formula presented] data confirms the Bjorken sum rule. © 1997 The American Physical Society.
Las secuelas del exilio cubano: Desterrados al fuego de Matías Montes Huidobro

En este ensayo se discuten las secuelas experimentadas por el refugiado cubano en los Estados Unidos. Se analizan estas consecuencias en terminos de su identidad cultural y linguistica, los efectos psicologicos y existenciales, al igual que su manera de vestir. Sobre este ultimo apartado se examina el abrigo del protagonista-narrador, ya que la vestimenta se convierte en el leit-motif de la novela y sin este ropaje el texto de Montes Huidobro no existiria.
On super edge-magic total labeling of certain classes of graphs

A $(p, q)$- simple graph is edge-magic if there exists a bijective function $\lambda:V(G)\cup E(G)\rightarrow \{1, 2, \dots, p+q\}$ such that $\lambda(u)+\lambda(uv)+\lambda(v)=k$, for all edge $uv\in E(G),$ where $k$ is called the magic constant or sometimes the valence of $\lambda$. An edge-magic total labeling $\lambda$ is called super edge-magic total if $\lambda(V(G))=\{1, 2, \dots, p\}$. In this paper, we construct new classes of trees using w- trees and generalized combs and prove that they admit super edge magic total labeling. We also prove that the extended umbrella graphs admit super edge-magic total labeling.
Synthesis and duplex DNA recognition studies of oligonucleotides containing a ureido isoindolin-1-one homo-N-nucleoside. A comparison of host–guest and DNA recognition studies

Abstract In an effort to construct non-natural bases to be used in triplex-based antigene DNA recognition strategies, a uriedo-isoindolin-1-one homo-N-nucleoside base was designed to bind the cytosine-guanine (CG) base pair. An organic soluble analogue of this base was shown to effectively complex CG (Kassoc=740 M−1) in chloroform through formation of three hydrogen bonds (Mertz, E.; Mattei, S.; Zimmerman, S. C. Org. Lett. 2000, 2, 2931–2934). The novel nucleoside base was synthesized and successfully incorporated into oligonucleotides which were used in triple helix melting temperature studies. Low melting temperatures were observed when the isoindolin-1-one base was paired opposite CG as well as GC, TA, and AT, thus indicating that despite favorable recognition in model studies, the artificial base did not effectively recognize duplex DNA to form pyrimidine-purine-pyrimidine type triple helices.
Longitudinal Assessment of "User-Driven" Library Commons Spaces

Objective – To conduct a longitudinal assessment of library spaces at the Georgia Tech Library and to determine the satisfaction of students with the most recent commons renovation. The library has completed three commons area renovations. The Library West Commons (LWC) opened in 2002 with an individual productivity lab, multimedia studio, and presentation rehearsal studio, while the Library East Commons (LEC) and the 2nd floor West Commons (2 West) opened in 2006 and 2009, respectively, with flexible, user-centered environments designed to promote collaborative activities. This analysis focuses on the renovated collaborative spaces, while also investigating and commenting on how renovation impacts usage of other spaces in the library. Methods – Usage of all library spaces was measured during one-week periods in Fall 2008 and Spring 2010. Observations were made of each student floor in the library at four times during the day; measures included space utilization by groups, group sizes, and laptop utilization. In addition, a qualitative instrument was administered during Spring 2010 to 103 students using the 2 West Commons space to confirm whether the renovation met their needs. Results – Overall, there was a 64.5% increase in group utilization of the library from 2008 to 2010, driven primarily by the 2 West renovation. The greatest concentration of group usage was in the LEC and 2 West, though the number of groups using the LEC declined. Laptop use in the 2 West commons more than doubled (33.6% to 70.5%), and laptop use in the entire library increased from 40.5% to 49.0%. In the qualitative survey, scores ranged between 4.0 and 5.0 on a 5-point scale for items regarding four design themes for the 2 West renovation: power/data, lighting, aesthetics, and the creation of a “defined yet open” space. Conclusion – Findings suggest that the 2 West Commons is attracting more students and groups following its renovation, that it is attracting students and groups away from the previously renovated LEC, and that overall usage of the library increased subsequent to the 2 West renovation.
Classic debates in selective attention: early vs late, perceptual load vs dilution, mean RT vs measures of capacity.

We briefly summarize two important debates regarding selective attention (early vs late selection; perceptual load vs distractor dilution). Also, we report the results of an attempt to replicate La...
Depression as a Modifying Factor in Sport-Related Concussion: A Critical Review of the Literature

Since its third iteration in 2008, the international Concussion in Sport Group (CISG) has delineated several 'modifying factors' that have the potential to influence the management of sport-related concussions (SRC). One of these factors is co- and pre-morbidities, which includes migraines, mental health disorders, attention-deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), learning disability, and sleep disorders. Mental health disorders, and in particular, depression, have received some attention in the management of SRC and in this review we summarize the empirical evidence for its inclusion as a modifying factor. This review is divided into three main bodies of findings: (1) the incidence and prevalence of depression and depressive symptoms in non-concussed and concussed athletes, with comparison made to the general population; (2) managing the post-concussion athlete and accounting for premorbid depressive symptoms; and (3) depression as a long-term effect of repetitive head trauma. Overall, it has been reported that certain subpopulations of athletes have similar or even higher rates of depressive symptoms when compared to the general population. The challenge of accounting for these baseline-depressive symptoms while managing the post-concussive athlete is stressed. And lastly, the prevalence of depression and its relationship to concussion in later-life is discussed.
Rational design of a water-soluble, lipid-compatible fluorescent probe for Cu(I) with sub-part-per-trillion sensitivity

Fluorescence probes represent an attractive solution for the detection of the biologically important Cu(I) cation; however, achieving a bright, high-contrast response has been a challenging goal. Concluding from previous studies on pyrazoline-based fluorescent Cu(I) probes, the maximum attainable fluorescence contrast and quantum yield were limited due to several non-radiative deactivation mechanisms, including ternary complex formation, excited state protonation, and colloidal aggregation in aqueous solution. Through knowledge-driven optimization of the ligand and fluorophore architectures, we overcame these limitations in the design of CTAP-3, a Cu(I)-selective fluorescent probe offering a 180-fold fluorescence enhancement, 41% quantum yield, and a limit of detection in the sub-part-per-trillion concentration range. In contrast to lipophilic Cu(I)-probes, CTAP-3 does not aggregate and interacts only weakly with lipid bilayers, thus maintaining a high contrast ratio even in the presence of liposomes.
Accounting Information in Financial Contracting: The Incomplete Contract Theory Perspective

This paper reviews theoretical and empirical work on financial contracting that is relevant to accounting researchers. Its primary objective is to discuss how the use of accounting information in contracts enhances contracting efficiency and to suggest avenues for future research. We argue that incomplete contract theory broadens our understanding of both the role accounting information plays in contracting and the mechanisms through which efficiency gains are achieved. By discussing its rich theoretical implications, we expect incomplete contract theory to prove useful in motivating future research and in offering directions to advance our knowledge of how accounting information affects contract efficiency.
An Overview of the Changes in the 2015 ACS Guidelines for Bachelor’s Degree Programs

The Committee on Professional Training (CPT) of the American Chemical Society (ACS) has recently approved a new set of Guidelines and Evaluation Procedures for Bachelor’s Degree Programs. Input from the community was invaluable in informing the deliberations of CPT during the three-year process of Guidelines revisions. The Guidelines describe standards that are used to approve programs to offer ACS certified undergraduate degrees. The most significant changes in the Guidelines are described in this commentary.
Ultratrace level determination and quantitative analysis of kidney injury biomarkers in patient samples attained by zinc oxide nanorods

Determining ultratrace amounts of protein biomarkers in patient samples in a straightforward and quantitative manner is extremely important for early disease diagnosis and treatment. Here, we successfully demonstrate the novel use of zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO NRs) in the ultrasensitive and quantitative detection of two acute kidney injury (AKI)-related protein biomarkers, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-8, directly from patient samples. We first validate the ZnO NRs-based IL-8 results via comparison with those obtained from using a conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent method in samples from 38 individuals. We further assess the full detection capability of the ZnO NRs-based technique by quantifying TNF-α, whose levels in human urine are often below the detection limits of conventional methods. Using the ZnO NR platforms, we determine the TNF-α concentrations of all 46 patient samples tested, down to the fg per mL level. Subsequently, we screen for TNF-α levels in approximately 50 additional samples collected from different patient groups in order to demonstrate a potential use of the ZnO NRs-based assay in assessing cytokine levels useful for further clinical monitoring. Our research efforts demonstrate that ZnO NRs can be straightforwardly employed in the rapid, ultrasensitive, quantitative, and simultaneous detection of multiple AKI-related biomarkers directly in patient urine samples, providing an unparalleled detection capability beyond those of conventional analysis methods. Additional key advantages of the ZnO NRs-based approach include a fast detection speed, low-volume assay condition, multiplexing ability, and easy automation/integration capability to existing fluorescence instrumentation. Therefore, we anticipate that our ZnO NRs-based detection method will be highly beneficial for overcoming the frequent challenges in early biomarker development and treatment assessment, pertaining to the facile and ultrasensitive quantification of hard-to-trace biomolecules.
Controlling Sex in the Name of “Public Health”: Social Control and Michigan HIV Law

In the state of Michigan, people infected with HIV are required by law to disclose their HIV-positive status to their sexual partners. Michigan public health laws enacted in the 1980s provide guidance for health officials tasked with investigating and managing what are termed “health threat to others” cases. Based on interviews with local health officials responsible for managing “health-threat” cases, I argue that the surveillance strategies employed by officials to identify these cases can be understood as an important site of social control. The first, “formal” technique for controlling HIV-positive residents involves health officials in a minority of participating jurisdictions actively cross-referencing epidemiological surveillance technologies such as HIV testing and contact tracing in order to identify potential health-threat cases. The second, “informal” technique is characterized by “third party” phone reports received by health officials from local residents who accuse others in their community, who they suspect are HIV positive, of not disclosing. Through an original analysis of the strategies employed by health officials to control HIV-positive residents, this article brings the theoretical insights of the sociological literature on social control to bear on the field of public health.
NOTE ON ATTRIBUTE IMPORTANCE

When we provide a product or service to others, if we are prudent, we want feedback about whether our product or service meets expectations of those to whom it is provided. Thus, we must often ask users to evaluate how we perform on the “bundle of attributes” which constitute our product or service. To use their responses for remedial action, we may ask that others state the relative importance of attributes under consideration. Here, a constant sum method provides much greater variation in importance among attributes than the more traditional rating scale method.
Clinical problem-solving: decision making by analogy.

Stage A 27-year-old woman with a history of seizures since childhood was brought to the emergency department because of sharp left anterior pleuritic chest pain, a productive cough, increasingly severe shortness of breath, nausea, and one episode of vomiting. She had no fever, chills, sweats, diarrhea, dysuria, edema, orthopnea, or weight change. She had been ill only one day. Response The first thing I would worry about with the history of chest pain, productive cough, and shortness of breath is some sort of infection, possibly pneumonia. I would want to know about any recent seizure that might have predisposed her . . .
A Novel Approach to High-Quality Postmortem Tissue Procurement: The GTEx Project

The Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project, sponsored by the NIH Common Fund, was established to study the correlation between human genetic variation and tissue-specific gene expression in non-diseased individuals. A significant challenge was the collection of high-quality biospecimens for extensive genomic analyses. Here we describe how a successful infrastructure for biospecimen procurement was developed and implemented by multiple research partners to support the prospective collection, annotation, and distribution of blood, tissues, and cell lines for the GTEx project. Other research projects can follow this model and form beneficial partnerships with rapid autopsy and organ procurement organizations to collect high quality biospecimens and associated clinical data for genomic studies. Biospecimens, clinical and genomic data, and Standard Operating Procedures guiding biospecimen collection for the GTEx project are available to the research community.
Coordinated Control Method of AGC and AVC in Power Grid

With the coupling relationship between active power and reactive power in power system becoming stronger, the control mode that automatic generation control (AGC) and automatic voltage control (AVC) operate separately may influence the control effect. Considering the different control period of AGC and AVC, this paper proposes a coordinated control method of AGC and AVC with a connection on the timescale of minute level and second level. On the minute level, an optimal power flow model of active power and reactive power associated together is established, and a AGC and AVC associated optimization control method are proposed. On the second level, the paper improved the repective control strategies of AGC and AVC, also proposed a coordinated correction control method of both of them. Simulations are made to verify that the method proposed in this paper meets the respective control objective of AGC and AVC. At the same time, it can realize the economical operation of power system, restrain the mutual influence of AGC and AVC, while promote the mutual support between AGC and AVC.
Influence of sulfate in drinking water on mouse reproduction during two parities.

Field studies have suggested that high levels of sulfate in drinking water may alter water consumption and have an adverse effect on animal reproduction. This study was conducted to determine whether sulfate in the drinking water affects the reproductive performance of female mice during gestation and lactation over two parities. Sixty random-bred albino mice were randomly assigned to six sulfate treatments. Sodium sulfate was added to deionized distilled water to give sulfate levels in ppm as follows: (1) 0 (control); (2) 0 (Na control); (3) 625; (4) 1,250; (5) 2,500 and (6) 5,000. Treatments 2 to 6 contained the same Na content (2,392 ppm) by varying Na bicarbonate content. Mice receiving only the deionized distilled water drank less (P less than .05) than mice receiving the other treatments at all times measured. Animals offered the 0 (Na control) water drank more (P less than .05) water than mice on the other sulfate treatments. There was no difference (P greater than .10) in litter size, litter weaning weight, or gestational and lactational weight gain of the dam among water treatments. Although levels of sulfate up to 5,000 ppm and 2,392 ppm Na in the drinking water cubicly altered water consumption, they did not affect litter size, litter weaning weight, or gestational and lactational weight gain of the dam when sulfate ingestion was continued over two parities.
Machine Learning Strategy for Accelerated Design of Polymer Dielectrics

The ability to efficiently design new and advanced dielectric polymers is hampered by the lack of sufficient, reliable data on wide polymer chemical spaces, and the difficulty of generating such data given time and computational/experimental constraints. Here, we address the issue of accelerating polymer dielectrics design by extracting learning models from data generated by accurate state-of-the-art first principles computations for polymers occupying an important part of the chemical subspace. The polymers are 'fingerprinted' as simple, easily attainable numerical representations, which are mapped to the properties of interest using a machine learning algorithm to develop an on-demand property prediction model. Further, a genetic algorithm is utilised to optimise polymer constituent blocks in an evolutionary manner, thus directly leading to the design of polymers with given target properties. While this philosophy of learning to make instant predictions and design is demonstrated here for the example of polymer dielectrics, it is equally applicable to other classes of materials as well.
Marshall boronate fragmentation

Cf. Grob fragmentation (p166). In fact, Marshall boronate fragmentation belongs to the Grob fragmentation category.
Seeing the Forest but Missing the Trees

This chapter presents some ideas for informing archaeologists how to identify hunter-gatherer (h/g) material in archaeological geophysics data at h/g sites: for learning how to perceive what is seen by “seeing as” instead of merely observing, understanding, and identifying what is seen.
Arctic communities perceive climate impacts on access as a critical challenge to availability of subsistence resources

Amplified climate change in the Arctic has altered interactions between rural communities and local wild resources. Shifting interactions warrant analysis because they can influence cultural practices and food security of northern societies. We collaborated with four indigenous communities in Alaska and conducted semi-directed interviews with 71 experienced harvesters to identify local perceptions of climate-driven trends in the environment, and describe the effects of those trends on the availability (i.e., abundance, distribution, accessibility) of subsistence resources. We then linked local perceptions with scientific climate projections to forecast how availability of subsistence resources may change in the future. Hunters identified 47 important relationships between climate-driven changes in the environment and availability of subsistence resources. Of those relationships, 60, 28, and 13 % focused on changes in harvester access, resource distribution, and resource abundance, respectively. Our forecast model indicated a net reduction in the availability of subsistence resources over the next 30 years. The reduction was caused primarily by climate-related challenges in access, rather than changes in abundance or distribution of resources. Our study demonstrates how giving insufficient attention to harvester access may produce misleading conclusions when assessing the impacts of climate change on future subsistence opportunities.
Life science–based neuroscience education at large Western Public Universities

The last 40 years have seen a remarkable increase in the teaching of neuroscience at the undergraduate level. From its origins as a component of anatomy or physiology departments to its current status as an independent interdisciplinary field, neuroscience has become the chosen field of study for many undergraduate students, particularly for those interested in medical school or graduate school in neuroscience or related fields. We examined how life science-based neuroscience education is offered at large public universities in the Western United States. By examining publicly available materials posted online, we found that neuroscience education may be offered as an independent program, or as a component of biological or physiological sciences at many institutions. Neuroscience programs offer a course of study involving a core series of courses and a collection of topical electives. Many programs provide the opportunity for independent research, or for laboratory-based training in neuroscience. Features of neuroscience programs at Western universities closely matched those seen at the top 25 public universities, as identified by U.S. News & World Report. While neuroscience programs were identified in many Western states, there were several states in which public universities appeared not to provide opportunities to major in neuroscience. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Babushka Principle in Semiotics: Connotation, Motivation, and Metatheory

In this chapter, we introduce the idea of what we call the semiotic Babushka Principle (sign systems within sign systems) presented by Louis Hjelmslev. We discuss the implications of applying this principle to the analysis of music and musical scores. We argue that, through the conceivably infinite mapping of connotational systems, music is capable of accomplishing significant symbolic depth.
Basics of measure and probability theory

The first use of mathematics to solve probability problems goes back to 1654 with the works of Fermat and Pascal. Their joint effort was motivated by questions raised by Antoine Gombaud, Chevalier de Mere, who was interested in betting strategies in the context of dice games. One of his main questions was: Is the probability of getting at least one double six when rolling two fair dice 24 times larger or smaller than one-half? A few years later, Huygens wrote the first book in probability theory [46] while, since the beginning of the 18th century, a number of mathematicians, including Bernoulli, de Moivre, Laplace, Poisson and Chebyshev, have made major discoveries in this field. But the most important turn in the history of probability since Fermat and Pascal is certainly the publication of Kolmogorov’s monograph [56] in 1933 which defines the axiomatic foundations of probability theory and marks the beginning of modern probability. For an English translation, see [58]. Though this point of view might be simplistic, the main idea of his work was to redefine probability concepts from their analog in measure theory.
Catch Bonds at Cell-Cell Interfaces: Impact of Membrane Fluctuations

Receptors on cell surfaces commonly engage membrane-presented ligands on other cells. An important example is the T cell receptor (TCR), which binds to ligands (pMHC) on antigen-presenting cells to stimulate T cell activation and the adaptive immune system. Recent experiments have shown that stimulatory TCR-pMHC bonds behave like catch bonds, with the average bond lifetime initially increasing with an increasing tensile force. Because T cells are initially stimulated by small numbers of TCR-pMHC complexes that experience a variety of forces, it is important to understand the behavior of small numbers of catch bonds in the presence of other surface molecules (SMs) and thermal fluctuations. To address this problem, we use computational methods to investigate the forces experienced by TCR-pMHC bonds at an intermembrane junction. We describe the energetics of the intermembrane junction with a modified Helfrich Hamiltonian and the SM concentration profile with an advection-diffusion PDE. We use a hybrid deterministic-stochastic algorithm to describe the dynamics, with the membrane locally equilibrating as the SM concentration profile evolves. Changes in membrane shape and SM organization lead to a time-dependent tension on the TCR-pMHC bonds, and fluctuations in the membrane shape lead to fluctuating forces experienced by the bonds. Using an experimentally parameterized model of catch bond kinetics, we construct bond rupture distributions for several different pMHC ligands. We show that the catch bond nature of stimulatory bonds enhances the survival probability in relation to conventional slip bonds in the presence of thermal fluctuations, and hence the catch bonds buffer against force fluctuations. Our computational framework provides a way to systematically study the binding of multiple bonds at generic cell-cell interfaces, and we discuss our results in terms of potential consequences for early T cell signaling.
Closed-form solutions for the load-carrying capacity of annular plates

Abstract This paper presents new closed-form solutions for the load-carrying capacity of annular plates subjected to uniform pressure and central uniformly distributed line load (or ring load). The plate is clamped at its outer edge and it is free at the inner circumference. It is assumed that the static failure of the material used for manufacturing the plate can be modeled by the Tresca (or the maximum shear stress) yield criterion. Using both the upper- and the lower-bound methods of limit analysis the load-carrying capacity of the plate is calculated. Furthermore, distributions of the radial and the tangential bending moments per unit length of the plate are presented. The obtained results are verified with the literature where such findings are available.
Effect of altered solution conditions on tau conformational dynamics: Plausible implication on order propensity and aggregation.

Abstract Intrinsically disordered protein tau plays a central role in maintaining neuronal network by stabilizing microtubules in axon. Tau reportedly possesses random coil architecture, which is largely inert to alteration in solution conditions. However, the presence of transient compact conformers and residual structure has been evident from previous reports. Also, during Alzheimer's disease, misfolded tau detaches from microtubule and forms ordered filaments, which is the hallmark of the disease. Despite its fundamental role in neuronal physiology and in pathological cascade of several fatal neurodegenerative diseases, tau conformational dynamics remains poorly understood. In the present study, we have explored the effect of ionic strength, temperature and solvent polarity on tau40 conformational preferences using ion mobility mass spectrometry. Investigation of collision cross section revealed that while low ionic strength, elevated temperature and reduced solvent polarity mostly induced partial collapse in tau40 conformers, higher ionic strength led to an expansion of the molecule. Limited proteolysis identified segments of tau40 projection domain and proline-rich region having high order propensity and a C-terminal region having vulnerability for further expansion at altered solution conditions. The high susceptibility for disorder-to-order transition in the above region of the protein might have crucial implication on its role as microtubule spacers, and in cellular signaling cascade. The conformational adaptation of tau40 did not enhance the heparin-induced aggregation proclivity of the protein. Nevertheless, the observed correlation of electrostatic interaction with fibrillation propensity of tau40 might indicate plausible link between hyperphosphorylation at diseased state with tau conformation and self-assembly.
Lignocellulosic Biorefineries: Concepts and Possibilities

To date, research, development, and commercialization within the bioenergy industry has focused on the production of biofuels, with any unconverted biomass used for production of electricity, biogas, animal feed, or fertilizer. However, both the economics and the environmental impacts of biofuel production could be improved by developing processes to obtain a wider range of chemicals (with higher value) from biomass. Example products range from commodity chemicals such as dicarboxylic acids to nutraceuticals. In this article, the concept of a biorefinery will be explored, especially in comparison to a petroleum refinery. Various products and options to produce non-fuel chemicals from plants biomass are outlined. Such processes would lead to a more diverse and sustainable biorefinery.
The Limits of Law: How Formal Rules Undermine Human Relations

While the rule of law is an essential public good, the actual number and extent of laws also are important factors in determining whether there will be liberty — and, indeed, the rule of law itself. In effect, too much law undermines, not just freedom, but certainty, which is necessary for the rule of law. As the realm of “law” expands, it crowds out human liberty, including the freedom provided by law, understood as properly promulgated rules that can be understood and followed by the governed. Moreover, as too much law undermines freedom and its own proper character, it also tears apart the very fabric of community in which we must live our lives.
Hydrogen Adsorption in Nanotubes

Model calculations are presented of the adsorption of hydrogen in carbon nanotubes. Using a phenomenological interaction potential, we compute the low coverage thermodynamic properties, showing explicitly the quantum effects in the Feynman (semiclassical) effective potential approximation. The effects of interactions are evaluated with a quasi-one dimensional classical Lennard-Jones approximation.
Extending internet services Via LDAP

This project report examines the use of an LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) V2 server to provide an easily accessible data storage facility. The main purpose of the LDAP database is to store related information based on a common thread such as a person's name, an organization's name, or the description of a service offered, in a simple yet hierarchical structure. The use of LDAP enables new fields to be added to existing user information to 1) enable end-users to store pertinent user information to be used by a mainframe-to-PC intermediary file server using Samba, 2) enable new groupings of electronic mail distributions to be created with little or no change to Sendmail, and 3) enhance the granularity of InterNetworkNews (Usenet) article submission acceptance capabilities. Some additional benefits of these facilities included using a single, non-proprietary database which required very little new coding to make use of. The data used for the various facilities were easily associated with database objects defined for enterprise personnel. The administration load for each service was reduced since service related data, such as userids or mailboxes, were not maintained directly as a part of the specific service. The Internet Directory Service, as provided by the LDAP server, is accessible by several methods, rather than just one specialized or proprietary interface.
Medical Aspects of Diving

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the physics and physiology of the underwater environment and provides guidelines for advising patients who wish to undertake the sport of scuba diving. The unique stresses imposed on the human organism by the underwater environment require special knowledge of hyperbaric physiology, effects of oxygen at high pressures, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide intoxication, and marine toxicology. The underwater environment imposes an increase in ambient pressure on the body. Exposure to cold, emotional stress, increased oxygen partial pressure, the possibility of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide toxicity, hypoxia, marine envenomation, drowning, and traumatic injuries are the possible implications of scuba diving. Individuals with disorders such as epilepsy, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and recurrent cardiac arrythmias place themselves and others at significant risk for lethal underwater accidents. There is a possibility of unconsciousness deep underwater with inability to maintain adequate ventilation and loss of locomotion in individuals with these disorders.
Measurements of Jet and Multijet Cross Sections with the CDF Detector

Recent measurements of jet and multijet production cross sections from ppbar collisions recorded with the Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF) are summarized. First Run II results of the inclusive one jet cross section at sqrt(s) = 1.96 TeV as well as prospects for future extensions of this measurement are presented. We also studied the properties of three-jet events in Run Ib data at sqrt(s) = 1.8 TeV. All results are compared to predictions of Quantum Chromodynamics at next-to-leading order perturbation theory.
Factors Affecting Image Quality and Lesion Evaluability in Breast Diffusion-weighted MRI: Observations from the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group Multisite Trial (A6702)

Objective The A6702 multisite trial confirmed that apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measures can improve breast MRI accuracy and reduce unnecessary biopsies, but also found that technical issues rendered many lesions non-evaluable on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). This secondary analysis investigated factors affecting lesion evaluability and impact on diagnostic performance. Methods The A6702 protocol was IRB-approved at 10 institutions; participants provided informed consent. In total, 103 women with 142 MRI-detected breast lesions (BI-RADS assessment category 3, 4, or 5) completed the study. DWI was acquired at 1.5T and 3T using a four b-value, echo-planar imaging sequence. Scans were reviewed for multiple quality factors (artifacts, signal-to-noise, misregistration, and fat suppression); lesions were considered non-evaluable if there was low confidence in ADC measurement. Associations of lesion evaluability with imaging and lesion characteristics were determined. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) were compared using bootstrapping. Results Thirty percent (42/142) of lesions were non-evaluable on DWI; 23% (32/142) with image quality issues, 7% (10/142) with conspicuity and/or localization issues. Misregistration was the only factor associated with non-evaluability (P = 0.001). Smaller (≤10 mm) lesions were more commonly non-evaluable than larger lesions (p <0.03), though not significant after multiplicity correction. The AUC for differentiating benign and malignant lesions increased after excluding non-evaluable lesions, from 0.61 (95% CI: 0.50-0.71) to 0.75 (95% CI: 0.65-0.84). Conclusion Image quality remains a technical challenge in breast DWI, particularly for smaller lesions. Protocol optimization and advanced acquisition and post-processing techniques would help to improve clinical utility.
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Ovarian Cancer Management: Adjusting to the New Normal

COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus disease 2019, is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) declared pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) As the world faces the coronavirus disease 2019 crisis, the oncology community is being impacted by unprecedented challenges During this trying time, patients with ovarian cancer (OC) have been affected by a delay in diagnosis, surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and oncology follow-ups being conducted via tele-medicine instead of in-person visits OC patients and their oncologists are balancing the fears of COVID-19 and cancer treatment with the consequences of delaying cancer care The delay in treatment care that women with OC are experiencing has resulted in higher levels of cancer worry, anxiety, and depression In this article, we succinctly review the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis and treatment and ongoing clinical trials of OC We also discuss the psychological effects of COVID-19 on women with OC and alternative therapeutic strategies to limit in-person hospital visits to reduce the spread of the disease, and the impact of COVID-19 on OC patients © 2021 Jacome et al
A joint analysis of longevity and age-related disease variants for gene expression association

A large number of genetic variants associated with human longevity have been reported but how they play their functions remains elusive. We performed an integrative analysis on 113 genome-wide significant longevity and 14,529 age-related disease variants in the context of putative gene expression regulation. We found that most of the longevity allele types were different from the genotype of disease alleles when they were localized at the same chromosomal positions. Longevity variants were about eight times more likely to be associated with gene expression than randomly selected variants. The directions of the gene expression association were more likely to be opposite between longevity and disease variants when the association occurred to the same gene. Many longevity variants likely function through down-regulating inflammatory response and up-regulating healthy lipid metabolisms. In conclusion, this work helps to elucidate the potential mechanisms of longevity variants for follow-up studies to discover methods to extend human healthspan.
Disaggregating Customer-Level Behind-the-Meter PV Generation Using Smart Meter Data and Solar Exemplars

Customer-level rooftop photovoltaic (PV) has been widely integrated into distribution systems. In most cases, PVs are installed behind-the-meter (BTM), and only the net demand is recorded. Therefore, the native demand and PV generation are unknown to utilities. Separating native demand and solar generation from net demand is critical for improving grid-edge observability. In this paper, a novel approach is proposed for disaggregating customer-level BTM PV generation using low-resolution but widely available hourly smart meter data. The proposed approach exploits the strong correlation between monthly nocturnal and diurnal native demands and the high similarity among PV generation profiles. First, a joint probability density function (PDF) of monthly nocturnal and diurnal native demands is constructed for customers without PVs, using Gaussian mixture modeling (GMM). Deviation from the constructed PDF is utilized to probabilistically assess the monthly solar generation of customers with PVs. Then, to identify hourly BTM solar generation for these customers, their estimated monthly solar generation is decomposed into an hourly timescale; to do this, we have proposed a maximum likelihood estimation (MLE)-based technique that utilizes hourly typical solar exemplars. Leveraging the strong monthly native demand correlation and high PV generation similarity enhances our approach's robustness against the volatility of customers’ hourly load and enables highly-accurate disaggregation. The proposed approach has been verified using real native demand and PV generation data.
Mortars and plasters—How mortars were made. The literary sources

This article examines the ancient literary evidence for information regarding the ingredients and processes employed to make mortar, plaster, and sealants. The information from the authors is examined chronologically and within the genre and literary context in which it occurs to evaluate better the intention of the author. The challenges presented by the transmission of the manuscripts to the modern day and by the ambiguous and technical language sometimes employed are presented. Terms and expressions are compared between authors to determine how and to what degree such ambiguities can be resolved. The goal is to present a methodology for approaching ancient texts rather than to provide a definitive interpretation of their meaning, a task which is sometimes not possible given the nature of the evidence. Finally, a series of best practices is suggested for those approaching the texts without the benefits of philological training.
The Practice and Procedure of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights: Proceedings on the merits: fact-finding and attribution of State responsibility

The importance and transcendence of the evidence in a jurisdictional proceeding is obvious. It has even been said that the proceeding constitutes, in essence, a broad probative opportunity directed at verifying the de facto conditions that support the legal claims. The juridical consequences are constructed on the basis of the facts. Consequently, the judge must give special attention to the issue of the evidence before beginning the juridical consideration, and, particularly, do so in a firm and reasonably certain way, so that justice may be done in the specific case. Introduction If the case is not dismissed in the preliminary objections stage of the proceedings, the Court will consider the merits of the case. During the merits phase, the Court engages in fact-finding and determines whether the State is responsible for the alleged violation. The function of fact-finding in the judicial process is ‘to enable the tribunal to discover the truth concerning the conflicting claims of the parties before it’. In doing so, the judges must evaluate the evidence presented to the tribunal. Cases before international tribunals are generally heard by judges who were trained in different legal traditions. The two primary legal systems are civil and common law. The integration of these systems is most obvious in the area of fact-finding, where the evidentiary practices between the civil and common law systems differ in significant respects. Under common law, the parties are adversaries who bear the initiative in presenting evidence.
Laws and Constraints, Symbols and Languages

In an earlier paper, “How Does a Molecule Become a Message?” written for the 28th Symposium of the Society for Developmental Biology (Pattee 1970a), many of the ideas in my chapter “The Problem of Biological Hierarchy” (Pattee 1970b), in the third volume of Towards a Theoretical Biology, were further developed. I would like to add here a summary of my more recent thoughts on these fundamental problems as they have evolved since writing those papers.
The Synthesis of Polyribitol Phosphate I. PURIFICATION OF POLYRIBITOL PHOSPHATE POLYMERASE AND LIPOTEICHOIC ACID CARRIER

The polyribitol phosphate polymerase from Staphylococcus aureus H has been purified 400-fold by extraction with Triton X-100 and conventional fractionation procedures. The enzyme shows a requirement for phospholipid, and uses as an acceptor lipoteichoic acid carrier (LTC). LTC has been purified to homogeneity, it contains glycerol-phosphate-glucose-fatty acids in ratio of 1:1:0.1:0.1 and contains traces of glucosamine. Both 14C- and 32P-labeled LTC have been prepared and they are totally converted to LTC-polyribitol phosphate when incubated with the purified enzyme, CDP-ribitol, and phospholipid.
Enhancement of human intestinal mast cell mediator release in active ulcerative colitis

Abstract To further define the role of mast cells in the idiopathic inflammatory bowel diseases, mediator release from intestinal mast cells derived from actively inflamed and relatively quiescent areas of ulcerative colitis was studied. It was hypothesized that mast cells in the actively diseased segments would indicate involvement in the disease process by releasing a different profile of mediators than cells in uninflamed tissue. Mast cell-containing suspensions derived from matched segments of 12 ulcerative colitis specimens were compared for responsiveness to the mast cell stimulus goat anti-human immunoglobulin E. Supernatants from challenged cells were analyzed for levels of three mast cell mediators, histamine, prostaglandin D 2 , and the sulfidopeptide leukotriene C. Mast cells from the actively involved areas released significantly greater amounts of histamine, prostaglandin D 2 , and sulfidopeptide leukotriene. The difference in histamine release was not a result of greater stores of histamine in the active tissue cells, because the total histamine content of the mast cells from the active areas was not significantly greater. The enhanced release of both preformed and newly generated mediators indicates activation of those cells in the course of the disease and points to the mast cell contribution to the inflammatory process in these disorders.