cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Survivable information storage systems

As society increasingly relies on digitally stored and accessed information, supporting the availability, integrity and confidentiality of this information is crucial. We need systems in which users can securely store critical information, ensuring that it persists, is continuously accessible, cannot be destroyed and is kept confidential. A survivable storage system would provide these guarantees over time and despite malicious compromises of storage node subsets. The PASIS architecture flexibly and efficiently combines proven technologies (decentralized storage system technologies, data redundancy and encoding, and dynamic self-maintenance) for constructing information storage systems whose availability, confidentiality and integrity policies can survive component failures and malicious attacks.
Platelet Specific Promoters Are Insufficient to Express Protease Activated Receptor 1 (PAR1) Transgene in Mouse Platelets

The in vivo study of protease activated receptors (PARs) in platelets is complicated due to species specific expression profiles. Human platelets express PAR1 and PAR4 whereas mouse platelets express PAR3 and PAR4. Further, PAR subtypes interact with one another to influence activation and signaling. The goal of the current study was to generate mice expressing PAR1 on their platelets using transgenic approaches to mimic PAR expression found in human platelets. This system would allow us to examine specific signaling from PAR1 and the PAR1-PAR4 heterodimer in vivo. Our first approach used the mouse GPIbα promoter to drive expression of mouse PAR1 in platelets (GPIbα-Tg-mPAR1). We obtained the expected frequency of founders carrying the transgene and had the expected Mendelian distribution of the transgene in multiple founders. However, we did not observe expression or a functional response of PAR1. As a second approach, we targeted human PAR1 with the same promoter (GPIbα-Tg-hPAR1). Once again we observed the expected frequency and distributing of the transgene. Human PAR1 expression was detected in platelets from the GPIbα-Tg-hPAR1 mice by flow cytometry, however, at a lower level than for human platelets. Despite a low level of PAR1 expression, platelets from the GPIbα-Tg-hPAR1 mice did not respond to the PAR1 agonist peptide (SFLLRN). In addition, they did not respond to thrombin when crossed to the PAR4-/- mice. Finally, we used an alternative platelet specific promoter, human αIIb, to express human PAR1 (αIIb-Tg-hPAR1). Similar to our previous attempts, we obtained the expected number of founders but did not detect PAR1 expression or response in platelets from αIIb-Tg-hPAR1 mice. Although unsuccessful, the experiments described in this report provide a resource for future efforts in generating mice expressing PAR1 on their platelets. We provide an experimental framework and offer considerations that will save time and research funds.
The effect of vertical shear orientation on tropical cyclogenesis

The effect of the relative orientation of the vertical wind shear to the surface wind on tropical cyclogenesis is explored in environments of radiative-convective equilibrium (RCE) through numerical simulation. This study serves as a companion paper to an earlier study on the thermodynamics of genesis in RCE. It is found, when the mean surface wind and shear are aligned, a negative surface wind anomaly arises from the superposition of the mean and vortex surface flows left of the shear vector. The resulting weak surface enthalpy fluxes and up-shear quasi-balanced subsidence leads to dry air being located cyclonically down-wind of the down-shear convective anomaly. Thus convection is inhibited from propagating cyclonically around the core leading to a large down-shear vortex tilt. Conversely, in a counter-aligned orientation, the negative surface wind anomaly and driest air is found right of the shear vector. Hence the driest air rotates into the down-shear flank where it moistened by shear-organized convection. Furthermore, the boundary layer is relatively moist left of shear due to the positive surface wind anomaly, therefore promoting the cyclonic propagation from down-shear and constraining the magnitude of the vortex tilt. Genesis is intimately tied to the magnitude of the tilt and is found to occur once the mid-level vortex has precessed into the up-shear flank. For smaller values of maximum tilt, vortex precession is comparatively rapid, aided by “showerhead” moistening provided by the up-shear advection of frozen condensate aloft. With the up-shear flank pre-moistened, rapid precession of the mid-level vortex, at smaller radii, leads to near saturation on the mesoscale and the onset of rapid intensification. When the magnitude of the tilt is quite large, precession is much slower and the showerhead effect is significantly reduced until just prior to the emergence of the mid-level vortex in the up-shear flank. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society
Size matters: ontogenetic variation in the three-dimensional kinematics of steady-speed locomotion in the lizard Dipsosaurus dorsalis.

Although many studies have investigated how locomotor capacities change with size, few studies have examined whether different-sized individuals within a species have similar kinematics during locomotion. We quantified the skeletal limb morphology and the three-dimensional kinematics of the hindlimb of four sizes (4–66 g) of the lizard Dipsosaurus dorsalis moving steadily at both the walk-run transition (50 % duty factor) and at a moderately fast speed of 250 cm s(−)(1). We used analyses of variance to test whether limb movements changed with size and to determine whether size and speed had interactive effects on kinematics. The disproportionately long hindlimbs of smaller lizards partly contributed to their relatively greater (i.e. adjusted by snout-vent length) values of linear kinematic variables. Both relative linear and angular kinematics changed significantly with both size and speed, both of which had widespread interactive effects. By having more extension of the knee and ankle joints, and thus a relatively higher hip height during stance, the slow-speed movements of small lizards displayed some of the characteristics of the fast-speed movements in larger lizards. Further, approximately one-fifth and two-fifths of the strides of the two smallest size classes were digitigrade at the lower and higher speeds, respectively, whereas the two largest size classes always had a plantigrade foot posture. Some of the most striking effects of size on kinematics were most evident at the lower of the two speeds. Unlike interspecific studies, which show that the limbs often become more crouched with decreased size, the more extended limbs of smaller lizards in this study suggest that variation in size alone cannot be the causal reason for differences in limb posture.
Phylogenetic analysis of anaerobic psychrophilic enrichment cultures obtained from a greenland glacier ice core

The examination of microorganisms in glacial ice cores allows the phylogenetic relationships of organisms frozen for thousands of years to be compared with those of current isolates. We developed a method for aseptically sampling a sediment-containing portion of a Greenland ice core that had remained at -9 degrees C for over 100,000 years. Epifluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry results showed that the ice sample contained over 6 x 10(7) cells/ml. Anaerobic enrichment cultures inoculated with melted ice were grown and maintained at -2 degrees C. Genomic DNA extracted from these enrichments was used for the PCR amplification of 16S rRNA genes with bacterial and archaeal primers and the preparation of clone libraries. Approximately 60 bacterial inserts were screened by restriction endonuclease analysis and grouped into 27 unique restriction fragment length polymorphism types, and 24 representative sequences were compared phylogenetically. Diverse sequences representing major phylogenetic groups including alpha, beta, and gamma Proteobacteria as well as relatives of the Thermus, Bacteroides, Eubacterium, and Clostridium groups were found. Sixteen clone sequences were closely related to those from known organisms, with four possibly representing new species. Seven sequences may reflect new genera and were most closely related to sequences obtained only by PCR amplification. One sequence was over 12% distant from its closest relative and may represent a novel order or family. These results show that phylogenetically diverse microorganisms have remained viable within the Greenland ice core for at least 100,000 years.
Predicting cytotoxicity of PAMAM dendrimers using molecular descriptors

The use of data mining techniques in the field of nanomedicine has been very limited. In this paper we demonstrate that data mining techniques can be used for the development of predictive models of the cytotoxicity of poly(amido amine) (PAMAM) dendrimers using their chemical and structural properties. We present predictive models developed using 103 PAMAM dendrimer cytotoxicity values that were extracted from twelve cancer nanomedicine journal articles. The results indicate that data mining and machine learning can be effectively used to predict the cytotoxicity of PAMAM dendrimers on Caco-2 cells.
Electoral Competition in Connecticut's State House Races: The Trial Run of the Citizens' Election Program

The Citizens Election Fund, Connecticut’s version of a clean elections law, was established in 2005 in the wake of the corruption scandal during the administration of Governor John Rowland. Modeled after the public financing systems of Maine and Arizona, Connecticut’s law has been touted as the most comprehensive in the nation. Scholars have hypothesized that states with public funding of campaigns have more competitive elections (Werner & Mayer, 2007). This paper will address whether the introduction of the Citizens’ Election Program has increased the level of electoral competition by specifically focusing on state house seats in Connecticut during the 2008 and 2010 election cycles. Contestation for seats in the Connecticut General Assembly is a particularly salient issue due to the fact that many seats typically go unchallenged and as Mayer (2007) observed “a seat in the Connecticut House or Senate had become one of the safest offices anywhere, approaching if not exceeding the security of membership in the U.S. Congress.” The findings suggest that the hypothesized positive relationship between public financing and electoral competition show mixed results. After the introduction of the Citizens’ Election Program, the number of uncontested seats decreased slightly with more challengers emerging to contest incumbents in the 2008 and 2010 election cycles. While some positive effects are seen by the 2010 election cycle with the margin of votes cast for winners narrowing in 41% of house races, the vast majority of house incumbents continue to win and do so by larger vote margins. Finally, the overall reelection rate for incumbents remained largely unchanged. Further research with a longer time horizon that is inclusive of more state house elections will have to be conducted before any firmer conclusions can be drawn regarding the efficacy of the Citizens’ Election Program.
Sensory Processes in Man During Maturity and Senescence

It is generally held in contemporary psychology that all behavior is initiated and maintained by some form of stimulation, physical or social (Rozeboom, 1960). Physical stimulation may originate from conditions which are present either within or outside the organism and, as defined in this context, stimuli are the attributes or properties of stimulus objects that are manifested in the various forms of physical energy. Since sensory processes are the links which connect all behaving organisms with their external and internal environment and provide information about that environment, an understanding of the normal changes which occur in these processes during the years of adulthood and senescence is essential for an understanding of human behavior.
Increase in flower and young fruit abscission caused by citrus bud mite (Acari: Eriophyidae) feeding in the axillary buds of lemon

During the course of a 3-yr field study on lemons, 8,467 unopened flowers were tagged, rated for severity of floral distortions caused by citrus bud mite, Aceria sheldoni (Ewing), and monitored weekly to determine if they developed a fruit or abscised without developing a fruit. Each fruit developing from these flowers was rated for severity of distortions caused by citrus bud mite and monitored weekly to determine if the fruit persisted beyond the June-drop period or abscised before or during the June-drop period. Abscission rates of both flowers and fruit increased significantly with increasing bud mite-caused distortion. Distortion rating of fruit was correlated significantly with the distortion rating of the flowers from which they developed. The possibility that the increased rates of abscission of flowers and young fruit may be caused by previously observed decreases in auxin activity and other biochemical changes in bud mite-infested axillary buds is discussed.
Mechanical dyssynchrony defined by phase analysis from GSPECT:Does it predict all cause and cardiovascular mortality?

Objective: To determine whether mechanical dyssynchrony detected by phase analysis of GSPECT MPI can identify patients with Coronary Disease (CAD) at increased risk of All-Cause Death (ACD) and/or Cardiovascular Death (CVD). Methods: We identified all patients with angiographically significant CAD and a GSPECT MPI in the Duke Databank for Cardiovascular Disease (July 2003 and August 2009). The range of time during which 95% of the left ventricle is initiating contraction phase bandwidth (PB) and the degree of heterogeneity in the distribution of segmental initiation of mechanical contraction (phase standard deviation (PSD)) by GSPECT MPI were measured. To evaluate the relationship between each measure of dyssynchrony and long-term survival, Cox proportional hazards models were fitted. Results: A total of 1428patients were identified. The median age was 64 (interquartile range (IQR) 55-72) years. A majority were male (69.6%), were white (73.7%), and had hypertension (76.2%). A minority had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (6.6%), congestive heart failure (24.2%), diabetes mellitus (36.2%), peripheral vascular disease (10.4%), prior myocardial infarction (32.9%), or renal insufficiency (5.4%). The median duration follow-up was 4.2 (IQR 2.8-6.3) years. A total of 377 deaths were observed. After adjustment for standard clinical covariates, PB and PSD were significantly associated with ACD and CVD. Among patients with LVEF>35% PB was able to further identify patients at a higher risk for ACD and/or CVD (TABLE). View this table: Conclusions: Mechanical dyssynchrony detected by phase analysis of GSPECT MPI can identify patients with CAD at signifincatly increased risk of ACD and CVD. Moreover, PB is associated with adverse outcomes among patients with LVEF > 35% and may help identify patients who do not meet current criteria for cardiac resynchronization therapy that may benefit from device placement.
ENTERPRISE ZONES: THE NON-MANIPULATION OF ECONOMIC SPACE

In 1982 and 1983, legislation to establish enterprise zones in the United States was placed before Congress. The spatially targeted program is designed to stimulate economic growth in depressed inner cities. Yet an assessment of the probable spatial consequences of the zones at various scales and of their potential for affecting significant change in economic space indicates that the program is likely to do little to modify the current dynamics of metropolitan economies. Instead, enterprise zones will increase inter- and intra-state competition for investment, with only minor modification in socioeconomic equity.
Sampson Paint Manufacturing Company

Driving home from the Sampson Paint Manufacturing Company on a beautiful spring afternoon, David Finster reviewed the question of whether he should purchase the business. Four months earlier on December 20, 1980, he had been named president of Sampson Paint and its 82%-owned subsidiary, the Alcatraz Company; both were paint manufacturing companies, with headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Richmond, Virginia, and combined sales of $5.2 million. Finster had agreed to a one-year employment contract while he pondered his decision. Sampson was near bankruptcy, and if Finster hoped to turn it around, he would also have to decide how to structure the deal.
A Test on Nervous Behavioral Function of Traffic Policemen in Yibin City

Objective To explore the influence of occupational hazards on the nervous behavioral function of traffic policemen.Methods There were 240 traffic policemen and 131 persons working in a chemical plant were sampled as research group and control group,respectively.Their occupational experience,life experience and some general symptoms were asked.A test on their nervous behavioral function was conducted.Results Comparing the research group with the control group with different ages and educational levels,higher scores in the research group were got in some items in the test than that in the control group.The difference was statistically significant(P0.005).Comparing the research group with the control group of with same age and educational levels,the former got lower scores in many items in the test than the latter and the difference was statistically significant(P0.005).Conclusion In comparison with the control group,the research group is likely to have lower scores in this test.Age and educational levels are the major influencing factors determining the scores.
Streptococcus pneumoniae carrying status and drug-resistance analysis in Hubei province

Objective To understand the Streptococcus pneumoniae carrying status( Sp) in the healthy population,and analyze the antibiotic-susceptibility of the isolated Sp strains against the commonly used drugs,so as to provide information to improve treatment and prevention of Sp infection. Methods Four hundred and six nasopharyngeal swab samples from healthy people,aged 0 to 56 years were collected,and cultured on MH blood agar containing 2. 5 mg /L Gentamicin.Suspected Sp colonies were identified with Gram stain,Optochin test,bile solubility test and Real-time PCR targeting lytA gene. Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion antibiotic susceptibility against 12 commonly used drugs was performed on the isolated Sp strains. Results Seventy-six Sp strains were isolated from the 406 nasopharyngeal swab samples. The total positive rate was 18. 72%,with the highest,as 30. 50% in 3-5 years old group,and the lowest,as 4. 76% in ≥20 years old group. All the isolated Sp strains were sensitive to Rifampicin and Imipenem. The rate of antibiotic susceptibility was 98. 68%,92. 11%,85. 53%,82. 89%,81. 58%,42. 11%,35. 53%,21. 05%,17. 11% and 15. 79% to Levofloxacin,Penicillin,Ceftriaxone,Cefotaxime,Chloramphenicol,Ciprofloxacin,Sulfamethoxazole /trimethoprim,Clindamycin,Erythromycin,Azithromycin,respectively. There were isolates( 82. 89%) resistant to more than three drugs. Conclusion In Hubei province,the Sp carrying rate in children aged 3-5 years was the highest,therefore,more attention should be paid to this group. The antibiotic resistance of Sp strains isolated in the local region was common. It is suggested that clinician should choose drugs carefully according to the antibiotic-susceptibility testing results.
Optimization of Sustainability and Flood Hazard Resilience for Home Designs

Abstract Life-cycle analysis is a beneficial tool that can be utilized to quantify the performance of buildings within the context of environmental impact metrics (e.g. carbon footprint). While typical life-cycle analysis incorporates regular building maintenance, structural repairs made as a result of natural hazard damages are largely ignored. This study presents an environmental impact design optimization model that can be used to compare multiple coastal, single-family residential (SFR) building designs subjected to coastal flood hazards based on environmental impact factors. For each design, the model measures the environment impact (i.e. embodied energy and carbon footprint) of initial construction plus flood-induced repairs. Repairs are quantified using a probability-based methodology and life-cycle analysis is used to measure environmental impacts. Design options can then be compared and optimal designs that meet performance-based resilience and sustainable design objectives can be selected. A case study is presented for an SFR building located in coastal St. Petersburg, Florida, USA, and demonstrates that up to a 64% reduction in embodied energy and carbon footprint can be achieved over a 50 year building life through more resilient component configurations and materials and by increasing first floor elevations.
Trading bickering for teamwork

Bickering is an unpleasant phenomena found wherever groups of people congregate. Bickering on a health care team such as that found in the nurse department can create a negative environment and poor morale. The nurse manager should take responsibility for action which can deter this type of behavior and should visibly lead the staff to more productive interactions.
Where's the "Label" for Beet Juice: The Value of the Food and Drug Administration.

Olympic marathon runners and college football stars chug-a-lug beet juice for a performance boost. This humble edible is now an international superstar with top billing in pricey juices. This juice is proposed to work wonders by increasing levels of artery-relaxing nitric oxide (NO). Relaxed
Global Testing and Large-Scale Multiple Testing for High-Dimensional Covariance Structures

Driven by a wide range of contemporary applications, statistical inference for covariance structures has been an active area of current research in high-dimensional statistics. This review provides a selective survey of some recent developments in hypothesis testing for high-dimensional covariance structures, including global testing for the overall pattern of the covariance structures and simultaneous testing of a large collection of hypotheses on the local covariance structures with false discovery proportion and false discovery rate control. Both one-sample and two-sample settings are considered. The specific testing problems discussed include global testing for the covariance, correlation, and precision matrices, and multiple testing for the correlations, Gaussian graphical models, and differential networks.
Clinical Trials for Thyroid Carcinoma: Past, Present, and Future

meeting of the American Thyroid Association on the selected topic of “Multicenter Clinical Trials in Thyroid Cancer.” The assigned task was to summarize the state of the field and identify both the challenges to and opportunities for advancement of improved clinical care and outcomes for our patients. Surveying the medical literature of the last quarter of the 20th century in preparation for that lecture led to certain obvious yet unsatisfying conclusions about the state of affairs in 1999:
Hypertension in 2016: Blood pressure goals, variability and SGLT2 blockade in CKD

Blood pressure (BP) goals and the management of BP in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) remain controversial topics. Key articles in the past year have addressed BP goals in CKD, the use of new agents to slow CKD progression and the effects of visit-to-visit variability in systolic BP on cardiovascular events and renal progression in patients with CKD.
Site of bismuth absorption from bismuth subsalicylate: Implications for treatment of colonic conditions

Poorly absorbed bismuth preparations may benefit a variety of chronic colonic conditions including ulcerative colitis. Bismuth-induced neurotoxicity is a potential complication of the chronic use of these preparations, and a less-absorbable form of bismuth is needed. If bismuth absorption occurs primarily in the upper gut, a delayed-release bismuth preparation could reduce absorption. We studied the site of bismuth absorption from bismuth subsalicylate (BSS) in rats. For 15 days, BSS (50 mg/day) was ingested or infused directly into the cecum via a chronically implanted cannula. Oral BSS resulted in serum and urine bismuth levels many times higher (3.5 ± 0.3 μg/liter and 1570 ± 286 μg/g creatinine, respectively) than with cecal administration (undetectable (<1.5 μg/liter) and 75 ± 25 μg/g creatinine). Thus, bismuth absorption from BSS occurred almost entirely in the upper gut. These findings provide a rationale for a similar study of delayed-release bismuth preparations in humans.
Accelerated Approval and Expensive Drugs - A Challenging Combination.

Accelerated FDA approval can mean that private payers choose not to cover a drug because of high cost and lack of evidence of efficacy, thwarting patient access, while major government payers must cover the product, directing substantial tax dollars to unproven drugs.
Re-Culturing Educator Preparation Programs: A Collaborative Case Study of Continuous Improvement

ABSTRACTTeacher educators at one institution of higher education collaborated to reculture systems for a focus on continuous improvement even within mounting accountability pressures. A framework of social network theory allowed for themes to develop around layered interactions of faculty, processes, and professional capital. Findings focused on people, groups, and systems for sustaining a culture of continuous improvement.
Self-Regulatory Depletion in the Workplace: Consequences and Interventions

Using ego-depletion theory, I argue that employees’ trait and state self- regulation are capable of predicting employee outcomes both at home and at work. Specifically, I hypothesize that employees...
From Communist Nightmare to American Dream: Hybrid Rhetoric in Senator Marco Rubio’s 2016 Tribute to José Fernández

ABSTRACTThis essay analyzes a curious moment in American public address where the legacy of a baseball player became entangled in a societal dialogue on the nature of the American Dream. When Jose ...
Anemia in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: current issues and future directions.

Anemia is common among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and portends a higher risk of short-and long-term mortality, major adverse cardiac events, and bleeding complications. Blood transfusion has long been the cornerstone of therapy for anemia; however, its benefit in patients with CAD is controversial and the appropriate threshold for transfusion has been widely debated. In this review, we summarize the studies evaluating the impact of anemia in patients with CAD undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention and address several issues regarding the use of transfusion in anemic patients. In addition, we discuss alternative options for the management of anemia, such as the use of erythropoietin, aqueous oxygen, and hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers.
Ex Vivo Generation of Regulatory T Cells: Characterization and Therapeutic Evaluation in a Model of Chronic Colitis

Naturally occurring regulatory T cells (nTregs; CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+)) are capable of suppressing the chronic inflammation observed in a variety of different animal models of autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory bowel diseases, diabetes, and arthritis. A major limitation in exploring how and where nTregs exert their suppression in vivo is the relative paucity of these regulatory cells. Although several laboratories have described different methods to expand flow-purified nTregs or convert conventional/naive T cells (CD4(+)Foxp3(-)) to Foxp3-expressing "induced" Tregs (iTregs; CD4(+)Foxp3(+)) ex vivo, we have found that many of these approaches are encumbered with their own limitations. Therefore, we sought to develop a relatively simple ex vivo method to generate large numbers of Foxp3-expressing iTregs that can be used to evaluate their trafficking properties, suppressive activity, and therapeutic efficacy in a mouse model of chronic gut inflammation in vivo. We present a detailed protocol demonstrating that polyclonal activation of conventional CD4(+) T cells in the presence of IL-2, TGFβ, and all trans retinoic acid induces >90% conversion of these T cells to Foxp3-expressing iTregs as well as promotes a three- to fourfold increase in proliferation following a 4-day incubation period in vitro. This protocol enhances modestly the surface expression of the gut-homing adhesion molecule CCR9 but not α(4)β(7). Furthermore, we provide preliminary data demonstrating that these iTregs are significantly more potent at suppressing T-cell activation in vitro and are equally effective as freshly isolated nTregs at attenuating chronic colitis in vivo. Finally, we report that this protocol has the potential to generate 30-40 million iTregs from one healthy mouse spleen.
The finale of a trilogy: Comparing terpolymers and ternary blends with structurally similar backbones for use in organic bulk heterojunction solar cells

Building on our previous works that compared the efficacy of terpolymers vs. ternary blends in improving the performance of bulk heterojunction organic solar cells, the final piece of this series of studies focuses on comparing terpolymer and ternary blends constructed with two polymers with structurally similar backbones (monoCNTAZ and FTAZ) yet markedly different open circuit voltage (Voc) values. Terpolymers and ternary blends of five different ratios were studied and the results demonstrate that while the overall performance of both the systems is similar, the ternary blends exhibit higher short circuit current (Jsc) values, while the terpolymers exhibit higher Voc values. Investigation of the charge transfer state using low-energy external quantum efficiency (EQE) indicates that the ternary blends are governed by a parallel-like mechanism, while the terpolymer does not follow this mechanism. The key morphological difference between the systems, as elucidated by resonance soft X-ray scattering (RSoXS), is the slightly smaller size (∼60 nm) of domains in the ternary blends compared to that of the terpolymer (∼80 nm), which may affect exciton harvesting in the terpolymer system and lead to lower Jsc values. In addition, a lower driving force for the formation of charge transfer (CT) state is also likely to contribute to the lower Jsc values in the terpolymer system. All together, the data show that structurally similar (perhaps even miscible) polymers still exhibit key differences in performance when paired in terpolymers vs. ternary blends and allow us to further illuminate the underlying mechanisms of such complex systems.
Face Verification with Disguise Variations via Deep Disguise Recognizer

The performance of current automatic face recognition algorithms is hindered by different covariates such as facial aging, disguises, and pose variations. Specifically, disguises are employed for intentional or unintentional modifications in the facial appearance for hiding one's own identity or impersonating someone else's identity. In this paper, we utilize deep learning based transfer learning approach for face verification with disguise variations. We employ Residual Inception network framework with center loss for learning inherent face representations. The training for the Inception-ResNet model is performed using a large-scale face database which is followed by inductive transfer learning to mitigate the impact of facial disguises. To evaluate the performance of the proposed Deep Disguise Recognizer (DDR) framework, Disguised Faces in the Wild and IIIT-Delhi Disguise Version 1 face databases are used. Experimental evaluation reveals that for the two databases, the proposed DDR framework yields 90.36% and 66.9% face verification accuracy at the false accept rate of 10%.
The evidence-and acceptability-of taxes on unhealthy foods.

The global obesity pandemic has public advocates and policymakers grappling with the question of how best to respond. Among the various policy options, unhealthy food and beverage taxes have gained attention as a potentially effective intervention to reduce non-nutritive caloric intake, while raising government funds for health promotion programs at the community level. Yet in many countries, including in Israel, such proposals have not gained broad support. Cities in both United States and Mexico have found that taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages reduce consumption. Yet the food industry has successfully fought many such policies. Looking forward, those supporting taxation policies will need to provide clear evidence, a compelling use of funds raised, a convincing answer to industry claims, and attention to equity in implementation. With no easy fixes in sight to obesity, it is likely that taxes will remain viable – if contested – options for the foreseeable future.
Catalytic, Enantioselective Synthesis of Cyclic Carbamates from Dialkyl Amines by CO2-Capture: Discovery, Development, and Mechanism

Cyclic carbamates are a common feature of small-molecule therapeutics, offering a constrained hydrogen bond acceptor that is both polar and sterically small. Methods for their preparation most often focus first on amino alcohol synthesis and then reaction with phosgene or its equivalent. This report describes an enantioselective synthesis of cyclic carbamates in which carbon dioxide engages an unsaturated basic amine, facilitated by a bifunctional organocatalyst designed to stabilize a carbamic acid intermediate while activating it toward subsequent enantioselective carbon–oxygen bond formation. Six-membered cyclic carbamates are prepared in good yield with high levels of enantioselection, as constrained 1,3-amino alcohols featuring a chiral tertiary alcohol carbon. Spectroscopic analysis (NMR, DOSY) of various substrate–reagent combinations provides insight into the dominant species under the reaction conditions. Two peculiar requirements were identified to achieve highest consistency: a “Goldilocks” amo...
Sodium tris­(acetyl­acetonato‐κ2O,O′)­manganese(II)

In the title compound, Na[Mn(C5H7O2)3], the manganese(II) ions are each coordinated by six O atoms from three different acetylacetonate ligands in a trigonal prismatic geometry. The octahedrally coordinated Na cations are sandwiched between two adjacent [Mn(acac)3]− units (acac is acetyl­acetonate). The three crystallographically distinct Mn cations are each located on a crystallographic threefold rotation axis. Two Na cations are also located on special positions with site symmetry 3 and two further Na cations occupy special positions with site symmetry \overline 3.
Expansion of Cyber Attack Data from Unbalanced Datasets Using Generative Adversarial Networks

Machine learning is commonly used for both research and operational purposes in detecting cyber attacks. However, publicly available datasets are often highly imbalanced between attack and non-attack data. Training attack detection systems on unbalanced datasets leads to inaccurate and biased algorithms. Here, we explore using Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) to improve the training and, ultimately, performance of cyber attack detection systems. We determine the feasibility of generating cyber attack data from existing cyber attack datasets with the goal of balancing those datasets with generated data. Our findings suggest that GANs are a viable approach to improving cyber attack intrusion detection systems. Our model generates data that closely mimics the data distribution of various attack types, and could be used to balance previously unbalanced datasets.
Thresholds of the Visible. Activist Video, Militancy, and Prefigurative Politics

The formation of a Peoples' Assembly and occupation of the city of Oaxaca (Mexico) in 2006 has been widely considered a rebirth of the Commune and was also one of the first widely video-recorded up...
PIP-II Injector Test cryogenic transfer line

PIP-II Injector Test will test a nearly full-scale front end of PIP-II accelerator. The cryogenic transfer line will provide 2 K, 5 K and 40 K refrigeration for Half Wave Resonator and Single Spoke Resonator cryomodules. This paper will focus on design, installation and operation plan of the cryogenic transfer line.
Serving an ageing population: collaboration is key

As US society ages, pressures on local government planning and service delivery increase. We conducted a national survey of 1474 US local governments in 2013 to measure the range of services local ...
Effects of noise

Abstract This chapter summarizes effects of natural and anthropogenic noise on bowhead whale calling behavior during the fall migration. Three noise sources are examined, which are important in the open-water bowhead whale habitats typical of the late summer and early fall: ambient wind-driven noise, continuous anthropogenic noise (such as that produced by vessels and machinery), and the sounds produced by air gun pulses used in seismic exploration. With the onset of rising noise levels of any type (natural or anthropogenic), whales generally called louder and more often compensating against a potential decreased detectability of their calls—and thereby a shrinking communication space. At higher noise levels, bowheads ceased compensating and reduced their calling activity, sometimes until no more calls were generated. The best current explanation for this result is that even though calls are not completely masked, the quality of information transfer is hampered enough by noise that long-range communication is no longer worth the effort.
Terahertz Generation through Bias-free Telecommunication Compatible Photoconductive Nanoantennas over a 5 THz Radiation Bandwidth

We demonstrate a broadband and highly reliable photoconductive terahertz emitter based on plasmonic nanoantennas that operates at telecommunication optical wavelengths (~1550 nm) at which low-cost and compact lasers are commercially available. The photoconductive substrate is specifically grown to induce a built-in electric field at the interface between the nanoantennas and photoconductive substrate. This built-in electric field drifts the photocarriers generated by the optical pump beam and produces the terahertz feed current to the nanoantennas while eliminating the need for an external bias voltage. The bias-free operation suppresses the dark current that is detrimental to the photoconductive emitters that operate at telecommunication optical wavelengths. Despite their great promise, the bandwidth of previously demonstrated bias-free photoconductive terahertz emitters has been limited by the limited extent of the built-in electric field in the photoconductive substrate. Here we present a telecommunication-compatible, bias-free photoconductive terahertz emitter that offers more than a 5 THz radiation bandwidth and a 100 dB dynamic range.
The Beethoven Revolution: A Case Study in Selection by Consequence

Music as a pervasive cultural practice serves many functions for a community, and its selection is determined by the interaction between multiple contingencies at individual, group, and society levels. An analysis was recently conducted on the dynamic interaction between contingencies in frescoes art that promoted the Mexican Muralist movement (Malott, 2019, 2020). Following this example, we provide a selectionist account of the music of Ludwig van Beethoven in the 250th anniversary of his birth. We explored the variation, selection, and transmission of his music over the course of his life and career in the sociopolitical milieu of his time, as well as after his death. The dissemination of Beethoven’s music was characterized by aggregate products resulting from a number of interlocking contingencies, which created a high demand for his music. Our analysis highlights two levels of relational processes in the selection of Beethoven’s music: The relational repertoire that enabled Beethoven to compose masterpieces while he was completely deaf, and the symbolic meaning of his music in promoting the values of freedom and democracy in many societies.
The role of bone marrow microRNA (miR) in erythropoietic dysfunction after severe trauma.

Abstract Background Previous data has shown that severe traumatic injury is associated with bone marrow dysfunction, which manifests as persistent injury-associated anemia. This study sought to identify whether the expression of erythropoiesis-related microRNAs were altered in the bone marrow of trauma patients to determine if these microRNAs play a role in persistent injury-associated anemia. Methods Bone marrow was collected from severely injured trauma patients who underwent fracture fixation as well as patients who underwent elective hip replacement. There were 27 trauma patients and 10 controls analyzed. Total RNA and microRNA were isolated from CD34-positive cells using the RNeasy Plus Mini kit, and genome-wide microRNA expression patterns were assayed. Genes with significant expression differences were found using BRB-ArrayTools with a significance of P Results There were marked differences in expression of 108 microRNAs in the trauma group when compared with hip replacement patients. Four of these microRNAs play a role in regulating erythropoiesis: microRNA-150, microRNA-223, microRNA15a, and microRNA-24. These microRNAs were all upregulated significantly, with trauma/hip replacement fold changes of 1.7, 1.8, 1.2, and 1.2 respectively, and all act to suppress or regulate erythropoiesis. Conclusion Assessment of the bone marrow microRNA profile in trauma patients compared to those undergoing elective hip replacement revealed the differential expression of microRNA-150, microRNA-223, microRNA-15a, and microRNA-24. These microRNAs all play a role in decreased erythroid progenitor cell growth and provide important insight to the erythropoietic dysfunction seen after trauma.
Structuring Academic Jobs for Engaged Art History

This case study examines the Public Scholar of Civic Engagement positions at Indiana University IUPUI as an example of an academic appointment that encourages faculty members to pursue engaged research and teaching. Faculty members who hold Public Scholar appointments have responsibilities similar to those of a typical tenure-track professor in the arts and humanities, but they are also explicitly charged with working beyond the boundaries of the university in collaboration with community partners. This essay describes the nature of the job expectations and explains how and why the university created these positions. With a particular focus on how the Public Scholar positions can support engaged art history, the author reflects on opportunities and challenges that come with a faculty role structured in this way.
Production Scheduling of Supply Chains Comprised of Modular Production Units

Abstract In this work, we introduce a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) formulation to determine the optimal production schedule of a supply chain network with production facilities comprised of transportable modular production units. The problem is solved in a rolling horizon fashion, which allows for rapid changes in raw material availabilities and product demands. The effectiveness of our methodology is illustrated through the use of a circular supply chain case study. The case study is centered in the Permian Basin and focuses on a set of wastewater treatment facilities comprised of modular processing units. The results illustrate the benefits of utilizing production facilities comprised of modular production units operating in parallel, wastewater storage units, and fresh water storage units.
Cadaveric Evaluation of Load to Failure in Canine Gingiva Apposed With Varied Suture Patterns Using Poliglecaprone 25

The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of suture pattern and repair length on the load to failure in an ex vivo canine gingival model. Healthy mandibular gingiva and mucosa were harve...
Identifiability-Guaranteed Simplex-Structured Post-Nonlinear Mixture Learning via Autoencoder

This work focuses on the problem of unraveling nonlinearly mixed latent components in an unsupervised manner. The latent components are assumed to reside in the probability simplex, and are transformed by an unknown post-nonlinear mixing system. This problem finds various applications in signal and data analytics, e.g., nonlinear hyperspectral unmixing, image embedding, and nonlinear clustering. Linear mixture learning problems are already ill-posed, as identifiability of the target latent components is hard to establish in general. With unknown nonlinearity involved, the problem is even more challenging. Prior work offered a function equation-based formulation for provable latent component identification. However, the identifiability conditions are somewhat stringent and unrealistic. In addition, the identifiability analysis is based on the infinite sample (i.e., population) case, while the understanding for practical finite sample cases has been elusive. Moreover, the algorithm in the prior work trades model expressiveness with computational convenience, which often hinders the learning performance. Our contribution is threefold. First, new identifiability conditions are derived under largely relaxed assumptions. Second, comprehensive sample complexity results are presented—which are the first of the kind. Third, a constrained autoencoder-based algorithmic framework is proposed for implementation, which effectively circumvents the challenges in the existing algorithm. Synthetic and real experiments corroborate our theoretical analyses.
Gameplay as Network: Understanding the Consequences of Automation on Play and Use

The design of software is often a process of intuition, guessing, and luck. It does not have to be. We present association mapping (AM), a novel take on social-network analysis that removes the human-centric biases of network analysis. To show the usefulness of this approach, we deploy AM on a board game and compare it to the digital version of that same board game. Overall, we show just how much less central humans are in thedigital version of the board game and how that loss of centrality influenced the humans themselves. After discussing the reasoning behind the method, how to do AM, and what the data mean, we discuss how to deploy AM for design and different paths AM could develop.
Random Groups-Smoothing in Equipercentile Equating

As described in Chapter 2, sample statistics are used to estimate equating relationships. For mean and linear equating, the use of sample means and standard deviations in place of the parameters typically leads to adequate equating precision, even when the sample size is fairly small. However, when sample percentiles and percentile ranks are used to estimate equi-percentile relationships, equating often is not sufficiently precise for practical purposes because of sampling error.
Performance of ARQ Go-Back-N protocol in Markov channels with unreliable feedback

In this paper, an ARQ Go-Back-N protocol with time-out mechanism is studied. Transmissions on both the forward and the reverse channels are assumed to be subject to Markovian errors. A recently developed approach, based on renewal theory, is further extended and the steady state average number of packets in the ARQ system is evaluated. This allows us to determine analytically both throughput and transmission delay of the system. Simulation results, that confirm the analysis, are also presented. Based on the analysis, the trade-off involved in the choice of the time-out parameter is identified and discussed.
The Complexity of Some Lattice Problems

We survey some recent developments in the study of the complexity of certain lattice problems. We focus on the recent progress on complexity results of intractability. We will discuss Ajtai’s worst-case/average-case connections for the shortest vector problem, similar results for the closest vector problem and short basis problem, NP-hardness and non-NP-hardness, transference theorems between primal and dual lattices, and application to secure cryptography.