cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Hidden Prejudice in Selection: A Research Investigation on Skin Color Bias

In this era of affirmative action, racial discrimination in the workplace has been studied widely. A common negligence of these studies is that they disregard the subject of skin-tone stratification, and present an analysis of discrimination based on treatment of Blacks and Whites (both as collective units); thereby overlooking a prevalent issue that has long existed in western culture—colorism. This study examined the influence of colorism on job selection, and discovered a significant preferential difference among Black applicants based on their skin complexion. The findings suggest that skin tone plays a considerable role in the favorability of a Black applicant; indicating that skin color is more salient and regarded more highly than one’s educational background and prior work experience. If the average person of color were asked to describe himself or herself based on five physical characteristics, one could likely assume that the minority individual would list his or her race as one of the descriptors. Thus, it is no surprise that the concepts of race and race relations are not novelties in our society. In America, when people think of race or race relations, they commonly think of these notions as a Black and White issue, where each “race” is generalized and homogenized into one grouping (Celious & Oyserman, 2001). Most racial identity theories fall prey to this inexplicit categorization. They look at race as a simple dichotomy between Blacks and Whites, and ignore the presence of diversity within races and ethnicities.
Hyperthermia enables tumor-specific nanoparticle delivery: effect of particle size.

The efficacy of novel cancer therapeutics has been hampered by the ability to deliver these agents to the tumor at effective concentrations. Liposomes have been used as a method to overcome some delivery issues and, in combination with hyperthermia, have been shown to increase drug delivery to tumors. Particle size has been shown to affect the delivery of liposomes, but it is not known how hyperthermia affects size dependence. This study investigates the effect of hyperthermia (42 degrees C) on the extravasation of different sized nanoparticles (albumin; 100-, 200-, and 400-nm liposomes) from tumor microvasculature in a human tumor (SKOV-3 ovarian carcinoma) xenograft grown in mouse window chambers. In this model (at 34 degrees C), no liposomes were able to extravasate into the tumor interstitium. Hyperthermia enabled liposome extravasation of all sizes. The magnitude of hyperthermia-induced extravasation was inversely proportional to particle size. Thus, at normothermia (34 degrees C), the pore cutoff size for this model was between 7 and 100 nm (e.g., liposomes did not extravasate). At 42 degrees C, the pore cutoff size was increased to >400 nm, allowing all nanoparticles tested to be delivered to the tumor interstitium to some degree. With hyperthermia, the 100-nm liposome experienced the largest relative increase in extravasation from tumor vasculature. Hyperthermia did not enable extravasation of 100-nm liposomes from normal vasculature, potentially allowing for tumor-specific delivery. These experiments indicate that hyperthermia can enable and augment liposomal drug delivery to tumors and potentially help target liposomes specifically to tumors.
Optimal Sharing of Interest-Rate Risk in Mortgage Contracts: The Effects of Potential Prepayment and Default

Much of the literature on the economics of mortgage markets has studied the fixed vs. adjustable-rate mortgage choice made by individual borrowers. However, to decide if the outcome of such a choice is efficient or approximately so, it is necessary to explore the question of optimal risk-sharing in mortgage contracts. But because only a small literature has studied this question, more research is clearly warranted. The present article helps fill this gap by developing a simplified version of Arvan and Brueckner's model, using it to characterize optimal contracts in the absence of mortgage termination, and then exploring how termination via prepayment or default affects optimal risk-sharing. The broad conclusion of the analysis is that potential mortgage termination makes higher risk exposure for borrowers optimal.
Factors Contributing to the Success of Ultrasound-Guided Native Renal Biopsy.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors contributing to the success of ultrasound-guided native renal biopsy. Methods We retrospectively identified patients who had ultrasound-guided native renal biopsy at our institution over a 10-year period. We reviewed the imaging and electronic medical records to collect demographic information and clinical data, including pathologic results. Biopsy samples were categorized and compared on the basis of the number of glomeruli (optimal [≥20] versus suboptimal [<20]) and the pathologist's reported diagnostic confidence (high confidence versus limited confidence). Procedure details, including the operator and the use of the cortical tangential approach, were also obtained. Results For 282 patients with biopsies using 18-gauge needles, the number of passes made was significantly higher for optimal (P < .001) and high-confidence (P < .001) specimens than for suboptimal and limited-confidence specimens. The cortical tangential approach was used more frequently for optimal (P< .001) and high-confidence (P = .01) specimens than for suboptimal and limited-confidence specimens. Radiologists routinely doing ultrasound-guided procedures of all types had significantly more optimal (P= .01) and high-confidence (P= .001) specimens than radiologists with limited ultrasound experience. The distance to the kidney, cortical thickness, glomerular filtration rate, and body mass index were not significant factors. Conclusions The ultrasound-guided procedural experience of the operator, taking more than 1 specimen, and the use of the cortical tangential approach significantly improved the pathologic material obtained during native renal biopsies.
Antidamping spin-orbit torque driven by spin-flip reflection mechanism on the surface of a topological insulator: A time-dependent nonequilibrium Green function approach

Motivated by recent experiments observing spin-orbit torque (SOT) acting on the magnetization $\stackrel{P\vec}{m}$ of a ferromagnetic (F) overlayer on the surface of a three-dimensional topological insulator (TI), we investigate the origin of the SOT and the magnetization dynamics in such systems. We predict that lateral F/TI bilayers of finite length, sandwiched between two normal metal leads, will generate a large anti-damping-like SOT per very low charge current injected parallel to the interface. The large values of anti-damping-like SOT are spatially localized around the transverse edges of the F overlayer. Our analysis is based on adiabatic expansion (to first order in $\ensuremath{\partial}\stackrel{P\vec}{m}/\ensuremath{\partial}t$) of time-dependent nonequilibrium Green functions (NEGFs), describing electrons pushed out of equilibrium both by the applied bias voltage and by the slow variation of a classical degree of freedom [such as $\stackrel{P\vec}{m}(t)$]. From it we extract formulas for spin torque and charge pumping, which show that they are reciprocal effects to each other, as well as Gilbert damping in the presence of SO coupling. The NEGF-based formula for SOT naturally splits into four components, determined by their behavior (even or odd) under the time and bias voltage reversal. Their complex angular dependence is delineated and employed within Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert simulations of magnetization dynamics in order to demonstrate capability of the predicted SOT to efficiently switch $\stackrel{P\vec}{m}$ of a perpendicularly magnetized F overlayer.
Thermoset resin sandwich structures

Abstract In this study, the impact performance of sandwich composites fabricated using nanophased foam cores and thermoset epoxy–nanoclay reinforced face sheets was investigated. First, nanophased foam cores were prepared by adding 0.5–1% Nanocor® I-28E nanoclay in liquid polyurethane. Sandwich panels were then fabricated using these foam cores and 1–2% by nanoclay added SC-15 epoxy reinforced plain weave carbon fabric face sheets. In addition, neat sandwich panels (without nanoclay) were also fabricated for baseline comparison. The specimens cut from these panels were subjected to low-velocity impact loading and their response was recorded and compared in terms of peak load, absorbed energy, time, and deflection at peak load. The tested samples were then sectioned into two halves and failure pattern was investigated using scanning and microscopic techniques. Nanophased sandwich composites samples sustained higher loads and had lower damage areas in comparison to neat counterparts. Also, the nanophased foam cores exhibited brittle fracture.
The Wisdom of Serpents: Why Religious Groups Use Secular Language

Civil religion, the use of religious symbolism and ceremony to pro mote secular political ends, has long been a field of serious inquiry, dating at least to Plato's The Laws.1 However, its opposite, the promo tion of religiously inspired agendas through secular means has not re ceived much attention. Two recent developments, however, make addressing this scholarly neglect more urgent. The first is the articula tion of liberal theories of public reason that forbid the use of religious language in public discourse. The second is the shift of strategy in re cent decades of religious groups, most notably the Moral Majority and Christian Coalition, of abandoning explicitly religious language in favor of secular language to advance their goals. The main body of this essay is empirical in nature, an attempt to chart and document the reasons why religious groups have employed secular language in promoting religiously inspired political ends. In deed, I argue that religious groups employ secular language to promote their political ends for four broad reasons: theological, prudential, le gal, and liberal.2 As I hope to show in a brief examination of the Relig ious Right, these motivations are difficult to distinguish in practice and more than one motivation may be at work simultaneously. However, I hope to take the discussion beyond a mere description of events and reflect upon the dilemma of simultaneously encouraging secular politi
Damage Distribution Studies in Proton-Implanted GaAs

Samples of n+-GaAs implanted with 300 keV protons have been examined using high resolution electron microscopy, capacitance-voltage profilometry, and infrared reflectance. In contrast to previously reported results, electron microscopic examination of the as-implanted samples revealed the presence of dislocation loops and/or precipitates both near the wafer surface and at the bottom of the implanted layer. These results are corroborated by electrical and optical measurements.
Microarray-Based Comparative Genomic and Transcriptome Analysis of Borrelia burgdorferi

Borrelia burgdorferi, the spirochetal agent of Lyme disease, is maintained in nature in a cycle involving a tick vector and a mammalian host. Adaptation to the diverse conditions of temperature, pH, oxygen tension and nutrient availability in these two environments requires the precise orchestration of gene expression. Over 25 microarray analyses relating to B. burgdorferi genomics and transcriptomics have been published. The majority of these studies has explored the global transcriptome under a variety of conditions and has contributed substantially to the current understanding of B. burgdorferi transcriptional regulation. In this review, we present a summary of these studies with particular focus on those that helped define the roles of transcriptional regulators in modulating gene expression in the tick and mammalian milieus. By performing comparative analysis of results derived from the published microarray expression profiling studies, we identified composite gene lists comprising differentially expressed genes in these two environments. Further, we explored the overlap between the regulatory circuits that function during the tick and mammalian phases of the enzootic cycle. Taken together, the data indicate that there is interplay among the distinct signaling pathways that function in feeding ticks and during adaptation to growth in the mammal.
Implication of Natural Polymorphism in Hinge Region of HIV-1 Protease on Protein Conformations, Local Structures and Backbone Dynamics

HIV-1 protease (PR) serves as an important drug target because its inhibition generates immature non-infectious virions. However, drug-pressure selected mutations, along with natural polymorphisms, can lead to drug resistance to HIV-1 protease inhibitors (PIs), which change the drug binding configuration and equilibrium protease conformational sampling. As was suggested in our previous study, (1) a new protease conformation, curled-open, was identified in constructs carrying natural polymorphisms including E35D, and consequently, these constructs displayed higher protein backbone dynamics compared with wild-type subtype B construct characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. In the present work, we discuss the impact of the single E35D natural polymorphism on generating a minor protease conformation (curled-open), and consequently, influencing the protein structure and dynamics. The combined results from Double electron-electron resonance (DEER), NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography structures provide a possible structural mechanism for altered conformational dynamics.References:1. Huang, X., M. D. Britto, J. L. Kear, B. D. Christopher, J. R. Rocca, C. Simmerling, R. McKenna, M. Bieri, P. R. Gooley, B. M. Dunn, and G. E. Fanucci. 2014. The role of select subtype polymorphisms on HIV-1 protease conformational sampling and dynamics. J Biol Chem 289:17203 - 17214.
Implementation of Import and Export Ontology and Its Reasoning Frame

Ontology is important for information integration and share and it is intelligent business in the industry of import and export.This paper presents an ontology and its function,characteristics,representation with requirements of import and export applications.A formal reasoning solution and mechanism are illustrated for the ontology-based reasoner.A semantic query language is explored to implement the proposed reasoner.
Meigs' syndrome: A report of a case in a child

Summary A case of Meigs' syndrome is reportedthat occurred in a 9-year-old female child. The clearing of the effusions from the abdominal and chest cavities following surgery with removal of the tumor is shown graphically by the x-rays.
Evaluating Sequence Alignment for Learning Inflectional Morphology

This work examines CRF-based sequence alignment models for learning natural language morphology. Although these systems have performed well for a limited number of languages, this work, as part of the SIGMORPHON 2016 shared task, specifically sets out to determine whether these models handle non-concatenative morphology as well as previous work might suggest. Results, however, indicate a strong preference for simpler, concatenative morphological systems.
On the Fixation Space of the Double Eye

I define the fixation space of the double eye as the sum of points which can be fixated binocularly with one and the same head position. The fixation space is therefore to be thought of as bound fast to the head; it changes its position in absolute space only when the head moves.
The Regularity of Area-Minimizing Hypersurfaces

This chapter provides an overview of the regularity of area-minimizing hypersurfaces. It outlines some parts of the proof of the regularity theorem for area-minimizing rectifiable currents in R n-1 R n for n ≤ 7. The chapter explains why regularity fails for n ≤ 8. The first theorem proves a special case by methods that will be useful in the general case. The chapter presents the proof of a complete interior regularity theorem for area-minimizing rectifiable currents in R n for n < 7.
Low Testosterone Levels Result in Decreased Periurethral Vascularity via an Androgen Receptor-mediated Process: Pilot Study in Urethral Stricture Tissue

Objective To compare expression of androgen receptor (AR) and angiopoietin 1 receptor TIE-2 and vessel density of urethral stricture tissue among eugonadal and hypogonadal men to identify a pathophysiological basis for our observations that low testosterone is associated with urethral atrophy. Methods Among 1200 men having urethroplasty at our institution, we retrospectively identified 11 patients with testosterone levels drawn within 2 years of surgery. Low testosterone was defined as Results Mean testosterone was 179.4 ng/dL for patients classified as having low testosterone and 375.0 ng/dL for controls ( P = .003). We found a significant decrease of AR expression (1.11%high power field [HPF] vs 1.62, P = .016), TIE-2 expression (1.84%HPF vs 3.08, P = .006), and vessel counts (44.47 vessels/HPF vs 98.33, P = .004) in men with low testosterone. Expression levels of AR and TIE-2 were directly correlated to testosterone levels (rho: 0.685, P = .029, and rho: 0.773, P = .005, respectively). We did not find a difference in age, radiation, or comorbidities among patients with normal or low testosterone levels, with the exception of higher body mass index in the latter. Conclusion Men with low testosterone levels demonstrate decreased AR and TIE-2 expression and lower vessel counts in periurethral tissue samples of urethral strictures. Our results provide a rationale for a mechanistic relationship between low testosterone levels and decreased periurethral vascularity that may contribute to urethral atrophy in patients with urethral strictures.
Automatic calculation for the renal failure diet

A logical scheme for algorithm for computation of the renal failure diet is presented along with its application to a programmable calculator. The program is user-interractive; the user may add or delete foods without re-entering previous data. Program outputs include water, protein, calories, carbohydrate, sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and the essential amino acids (EAA) in absolute and percentage terms. As an index of relative protein quality, the chemical score is computed on a meal-by-meal basis. Individual EAA scores are available to permit designation of the limiting EAA of a meal. A major benefit of the program is the ability to explore and document rapidly a wide variety of meal plans. Improvements in "user-friendliness" will facilitate application with patients.
Design and control of a 3-chambered fiber reinforced soft actuator with off-the-shelf stretch sensors

The necessity for efficient control of soft actuators has recently resulted in the development of complex physical models that are actuator geometry and material type dependent. In this paper, we address the ability to do closed-loop control with a simplified model independent of material properties and material characteristics of a soft robotic system. We demonstrate this by using a P-controller on a new 3-chambered, fiber-reinforced elastomeric actuator (3CA) that utilizes off-the-shelf stretch sensors. A motion capture system is used to calibrate and generate two different quasi-static models (a general linear regression model and an input dependent model) that map the varying chamber pressure readings with the actuator’s end effector position, effectively represented by the stretch sensor curvature. Simulations using a closed-loop controller, with both models, provide further insight on the quality of the models and corresponding control performance. We use this information in an experimental study that yields comparable performances to the simulated results. Moreover, we demonstrate that the input-dependent model based controller can provide better results than that of the general model based controller. Finally, we demonstrate that our soft actuator can be closed-loop controlled with off-the-shelf stretch sensors with repeatable results. This opens a way to design new control concepts for multi-chambered actuators that can produce more complex motions in the future.
Improving Hepatitis Vaccination Series Completion in Patients Awaiting Liver Transplantation

Abstract The aim of this quality improvement project was to improve hepatitis A and B vaccination rates by 20% in patients listed for liver transplant by improving vaccine tracking, ordering/scheduling practices, out-of-network vaccinations, and flagging electronic health records. We audited 101 records; 44 patients were vaccine-deficient. Combined vaccine completion rates improved 94.6% (44.7%-87.0%) after implementing the educational and health record interventions. We believe the results of this study have implications for improving survival and decreasing complication rates for patients with chronic liver disease.
Observation of Van Hove Singularities and Temperature Dependence of Electrical Characteristics in Suspended Carbon Nanotube Schottky Barrier Transistors

A Van Hove singularity (VHS) is a singularity in the phonon or electronic density of states of a crystalline solid. When the Fermi energy is close to the VHS, instabilities will occur, which can give rise to new phases of matter with desirable properties. However, the position of the VHS in the band structure cannot be changed in most materials. In this work, we demonstrate that the carrier densities required to approach the VHS are reached by gating in a suspended carbon nanotube Schottky barrier transistor. Critical saddle points were observed in regions of both positive and negative gate voltage, and the conductance flattened out when the gate voltage exceeded the critical value. These novel physical phenomena were evident when the temperature is below 100 K. Further, the temperature dependence of the electrical characteristics was also investigated in this type of Schottky barrier transistor.
SIGCHI Lifetime Research Award Talk-Seeing Past Looking Forward

I have long been interested in how computers can help people perform skilled tasks-a theme that underlies essentially all of my research. As the intentionally convoluted title of this talk implies, I will take a look back at some of this research to explain what came later, and to speculate on what might be next. My earliest work as a graduate student was as part of a team developing novel hypermedia editing and presentation tools for technical documentation of equipment maintenance procedures. Understanding the effort involved in using these tools manually led to my dissertation, which explored rule-based techniques for the automated generation of 3D graphics that could ultimately replace the pictures found in maintenance manuals. Based on information about the task to be depicted, I designed a system that chose the objects to include, determined the level of detail at which to render them (e.g., adding more detail to disambiguate objects that could otherwise be confused with each other), highlighted important objects for emphasis, and created additional "metaobjects" (e.g., arrows to show actions). When I started as a faculty member, several of my students built on this research direction in both 3D and 2D domains, and we were soon collaborating with colleagues to develop generation approaches for coordinated multimedia explanations that combined graphics with text. At the same time, I was becoming excited by the potential of virtual reality (VR) to render objects stereoscopically and interact with them in 3D, in abstract domains as well as physical ones. And it was an easy jump from there to augmented reality (AR), cobbling together a simple monoscopic optical seethrough head-worn display. Our first AR system was a "hybrid" desktop window manager that embedded windows displayed on a flat panel display within a much larger virtual surround presented on the AR display. With that AR display now available as a tool, it became stunningly clear that so much of the effort we'd put into carefully crafting stand-alone pictures to explain tasks was unnecessary. If the user could instead look directly at the actual task domain, then a simple highlight or arrow, overlaid in situ, could show which button to push or knob to turn on a panel of controls.
Self-Healing in Emerging Cellular Networks: Review, Challenges, and Research Directions

Mobile cellular network operators spend nearly a quarter of their revenue on network management and maintenance. Incidentally, a significant proportion of that budget is spent on resolving outages that degrade or disrupt cellular services. Historically, operators mainly rely on human expertise to identify, diagnose, and resolve such outages. However, with growing cell density and diversifying cell types, this approach is becoming less and less viable, both technically and financially. To cope with this problem, research on self-healing solutions has gained significant momentum in recent years. Self-healing solutions either assist in resolving these outages or carry out the task autonomously without human intervention, thus reducing costs while improving mobile cellular network reliability. However, despite their growing popularity, to this date no survey has been undertaken for self-healing solutions in mobile cellular networks. This paper aims to bridge this gap by providing a comprehensive survey of self-healing solutions proposed in the domain of mobile cellular networks, along with an analysis of the techniques and methodologies employed in those solutions. This paper begins by providing a quantitative analysis to highlight why in emerging mobile cellular network self-healing will become a necessity instead of a luxury. Building on this motivation, this paper provides a review and taxonomy of existing literature on self-healing. Challenges and prospective research directions for developing self-healing solutions for emerging and future mobile cellular networks are also discussed in detail. Particularly, we identify that the most demanding challenges from self-healing perspective are the difficulty of meeting 5G low latency and the high quality of experience requirement.
Linking Cognition to Organizational Problems: Micro and Macro Approaches to Decision Making

In a series of articles on “The Behavioral Theory of the Firm” Giovanni Gavetti, Daniel Levinthal, and William Ocasio argue for a more decision-centered view of organizations. “The organizational l...
Extreme Control and Instability: Insight Into Head Injury From Intimate Partner Violence.

Aim The aim of this study was to understand the social context of the lives of women who experienced a head injury from intimate partner violence. Background Sixty percent to 92% of survivors of intimate partner violence receive head trauma during the abuse. Little research exists regarding the episodes of abuse when women receive a head injury, or the reasons women might not seek medical care for the head injury or the abuse. Method Twenty-one interviews from nine women who self-reported passing out from being hit in the head were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings Themes of extreme control and manipulation from abusers emerged, and women described living with instability from cycles of incarceration, drug and alcohol use, and fear of losing their children. Women did not receive medical care for head injury because the abusers often used forced sex immediately after the head injury to instill fear and authority. Implications for forensic nursing Hitting women in the head is not only about physical abuse, but also about exerting dominance and creating an environment of extreme control. Forensic nurses are uniquely positioned to screen for head injuries during initial assessments and follow-up visits and connect women with appropriate resources.
Imprints of r-process heating on fall-back accretion: distinguishing black hole-neutron star from double neutron star mergers

Mergers of compact binaries containing two neutron stars (NS-NS), or a neutron star and a stellar-mass black hole (NS-BH), are likely progenitors of short-duration gamma ray bursts (SGRBs). A fraction >20% of SGRBs are followed by temporally-extended (>~ minute-long), variable X-ray emission, attributed to ongoing activity of the central engine. One source of late-time engine activity is fall-back accretion of bound tidal ejecta; however, observed extended emission light curves do not track the naively-anticipated, uninterrupted ~t^{-5/3} power-law decay, instead showing a lull or gap in emission typically lasting tens of seconds after the burst. Here, we re-examine the impact of heating due to rapid neutron capture (r-process) nucleosynthesis on rate of the fall-back accretion, using ejecta properties obtained from numerical relativity simulations of NS-BH mergers in a toy model for the dynamical influence of nuclear heating. Depending on the mass of the remnant black hole, r-process heating can imprint a variety of fall-back curve shapes, ranging from temporal lulls of up to tens of seconds to complete late-time cut-off in the fall-back rate. This behavior is robust to realistic variations in the nuclear heating experienced by different parts of the ejecta. Central black holes with masses 6-8 Msun black holes instead show temporal gaps. We thus propose that SGRBs with extended emission arise from NS-BH, rather than NS-NS, mergers. Our model implies a NS-BH merger detection rate by LIGO which, in steady-state, is comparable to or greater than that of NS-NS mergers.
Design of a Solar Micro Power Plant for Home Lighting

Indonesia is a country located on the equator so that Indonesia is often referred to as one of the tropical countries in the world. Countries with tropical climate usually have two kinds of seasons, dry season and rainy season. Being on the equatorial line, Indonesia has a constant supply of sunshine throughout the year. Given the high intensity of sunlight, Indonesians should be able to utilize sunlight by developing and constructing Solar Power Plants, PLTS. This solar power plant is very beneficial for remote hinterlands and isolated islands where it is not covered by electricity from PLN. This power plant is made by using solar thermal receiver panel, Solar Cell. This paper discusses the method of design and manufacture of solar power plants for a home. It includes literature study, observation, design, and implementation. The result of making this PLTS gives a basic solution in designing solar micro plant for home lighting, and conducting better improvements in the future. It is expected to be a solution for rural communities left behind or can be a solution for urban communities who often experience power cuts with energy efficiency and affordable prices.
Estimating the norms of random circulant and Toeplitz matrices and their inverses

Abstract We combine some basic techniques of linear algebra with some expressions for Toeplitz and circulant matrices and the properties of Gaussian random matrices to estimate the norms of Gaussian Toeplitz and circulant random matrices and their inverses. In the case of circulant matrices we obtain sharp probabilistic estimates, which show that the matrices are expected to be very well conditioned. Our probabilistic estimates for the norms of standard Gaussian Toeplitz random matrices are within a factor of 2 from those in the circulant case. We also achieve partial progress in estimating the norm of the Toeplitz inverse. Namely we yield reasonable probabilistic upper estimates assuming certain bounds on the absolute values of two corner entries of the inverse. Empirically we observe that the condition numbers of Toeplitz and general random matrices tend to be of the same order. As the matrix size grows, these numbers grow equally slowly, although faster than in the case of circulant random matrices.
Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of MLO Gene Family in Octoploid Strawberry

Powdery mildew (PM) caused by Podosphaera aphanis is a major fungal disease in cultivated strawberry. Mildew Resistance Locus O (MLO) is a gene family described for having conserved seven-transmembrane domains. Induced loss-of-function in specific MLO genes can confer durable and broad resistance against PM pathogens. However, the underlying biological role of MLO genes in strawberry is still unknown. In the present study, the genomic structure of MLO genes were characterized in both diploid (Fragaria vesca) and octoploid strawberry, and the potential sources of MLO-mediated susceptibility were identified. Twenty MLO-like sequences were identified in F. vesca, with sixty-eight in F. xananassa. Phylogenetic analysis divides strawberry MLO genes into eight different clades, in which three FveMLO and ten FaMLO genes were grouped together with the functionally known MLO susceptibility. Out of ten FaMLO genes, FaMLO17-2 and FaMLO17-3 showed the highest similarity to the known susceptibility MLO proteins. Gene expression analysis of FaMLO genes was conducted using a multi-parental segregating population. Three expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) were substantially associated with MLO transcript levels in mature fruits, suggesting discrete genetic control of susceptibility. These results are a critical first step in understanding allele function of MLO genes, and are necessary for further genetic studies of PM resistance in cultivated strawberry.
Accuracy of Clinicians' Ability to Predict the Need for Intensive Care Unit Readmission.

Rationale: Determining when an intensive care unit (ICU) patient is ready for discharge to the ward is a complex daily challenge for any ICU care team. Patients who experience unplanned readmission...
Immune Profiling To Predict Outcome of Clostridioides Difficile Infection

ABSTRACT There is a pressing need for biomarker-based models to predict mortality from and recurrence of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). Risk stratification would enable targeted interventions such as fecal microbiota transplant, antitoxin antibodies, and colectomy for those at highest risk. Because severity of CDI is associated with the immune response, we immune profiled patients at the time of diagnosis. The levels of 17 cytokines in plasma were measured in 341 CDI inpatients. The primary outcome of interest was 90-day mortality. Increased tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), C-C motif chemokine ligand 5 (CCL-5), suppression of tumorigenicity 2 receptor (sST-2), IL-8, and IL-15 predicted mortality by univariate analysis. After adjusting for demographics and clinical characteristics, the mortality risk (as indicated by the hazard ratio [HR]) was higher for patients in the top 25th percentile for TNF-α (HR = 8.35, P = 0.005) and IL-8 (HR = 4.45, P = 0.01) and lower for CCL-5 (HR = 0.18, P ≤ 0.008). A logistic regression risk prediction model was developed and had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.91 for 90-day mortality and 0.77 for 90-day recurrence. While limited by being single site and retrospective, our work resulted in a model with a substantially greater predictive ability than white blood cell count. In conclusion, immune profiling demonstrated differences between patients in their response to CDI, offering the promise for precision medicine individualized treatment. IMPORTANCEClostridioides difficile infection is the most common health care-associated infection in the United States with more than 20% patients experiencing symptomatic recurrence. The complex nature of host-bacterium interactions makes it difficult to predict the course of the disease based solely on clinical parameters. In the present study, we built a robust prediction model using representative plasma biomarkers and clinical parameters for 90-day all-cause mortality. Risk prediction based on immune biomarkers and clinical variables may contribute to treatment selection for patients as well as provide insight into the role of immune system in C. difficile pathogenesis.
Athenaeus and the Control

Very early experiments described in ancient literature usually have no detailed explanation of the methods used let alone the explicit Control expected by modern scientists for comparison with Treatments. Athenaeus describes a rarely recorded exception in The Deipnosophistae which has been briefly noted in scientific literature but not sufficiently contextualized. The experiment described has one treatment, a control and Athenaeus cites the desirability of replication, making this passage read like a modern text rather than an ancient one. Because technical processes were invented in ancient times I assume that experiments were also practiced, even though they are not described in ancient literature. This passage in Athenaeus exemplifies, by rare contrast, the general lack of description for ancient scientific methods. This lack may be because the ancient practitioners of technical processes did not have the reason modern scientists use for disclosure of all methods and results. Moderns achieve monetization that is protected by Intellectual Property Law or by acquisition of authority followed by salaried teaching in the academy. Ancient experimenters protected their discoveries by secrecy and maintained monopolies by concealment, an inconvenience for modern scholars. The form of ancient literature is important for this subject: it is not like modern scientific literature. When the ancients mention scientific subjects in writing it is in the form of literary discourse and debate where the aim is cerebral. There is no description of technical details where the aim is to allow replication of the experiment. Comfortable logic not experiment is described and intellectual improvement was usually the aim of ancient literature, rather than practical outcomes. The only reason we have knowledge of ancient practitioners of something similar to modern scientific methods from literature is that their kind of technical antics were briefly mentioned by ancient authors, because of their surprising and amusing nature.
Altered Retinal Hemodynamics and Mean Circulation Time in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

Purpose Although it is known that the retinal arteriolar vasculature is constricted in hypertension, the details of retinal hemodynamics and perfusion of the retinal circulation have yet to be adequately characterized. Methods Male and female spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) controls were anesthetized before measurements of mean arterial blood pressure and preparation for intravital microscopy of the retinal microcirculation. Retinal vascular velocities were measured with the use of fluorescent microspheres, and diameters and mean circulation times were measured after the infusion of fluorescent dextran. Arteriolar and venular shear rates were calculated from the ratio of velocity to diameter. Results In the retinas of SHR, velocities were elevated (compared with control WKY) in arterioles, but not in venules. Both arteriolar and venular diameters were significantly smaller in SHR versus WKY, with substantial increases in shear rates. Despite a tendency toward lower retinal blood flow rates, the mean circulation time through the SHR retina was much faster than can be explained by the measured arteriolar and venular velocities. Conclusions The pattern of hypertension-induced increases in blood velocity, dissipating from the arteriolar to venular side of the retinal circulation, indicates a potential transfer of the extra kinetic energy through the vasculature. The combination of elevated velocities through narrower retinal arterioles resulted in a markedly higher level of wall shear rate that may induce changes in the vessel wall. Finally, significantly more rapid transits through the hypertensive retina could be a result of altered blood flow distribution.
The United States in a Warming World: The Political Economy of Government, Business, and Public Responses to Climate Change

Preface Acknowledgements Permissions Introduction Part I. Issues: 1. Questions, analytic framework, and context Part II. Domestic Economics and Politics: 2. Business: part of the problem and part of the solution 3. Public perceptions and preferences 4. State and local governments - and the courts - in a federal system Part III. National Government Policies: 5. Pricing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases 6. Facilitating energy technology innovation and diffusion 7. Strengthening international cooperation Part IV. The Future: 8. Options for the future: realities, visions and pathways References Index.
A Distributed Low-Noise Amplifier for Broadband Linearization of a Silicon Photonic Mach–Zehnder Modulator

RF photonic components suffer from poor spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) due to the high noise and distortion generated by a silicon photonic (SiP) Mach–Zehnder modulator (MZM). This work demonstrates a distributed silicon–germanium (SiGe) heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT)-based low-noise amplifier (LNA) co-designed for linearization with a SiP MZM for a broadband radio-over-fiber (RoF) link. The SiGe LNA incorporates a distributed, tunable predistortion scheme that is inherently wideband and improves the third-order intercept point over an 18-GHz range. The assembled SiGe LNA and SiP MZM prototype demonstrates an SFDR as high as 120 ${\mathrm{ dB}}\cdot {\mathrm{ Hz}}^{2/3}$ at 9 GHz, a 14-dB improvement over previous SiP RF components or RoF links.
Laser processing of nanomaterials: From controlling chemistry to manipulating structure at the atomic scale

Abstract Beginning in the mid-20th century with the invention of a coherent beam of light with precisely controlled emission known as the laser, engineers and scientists have been pushing the boundaries as to the applications of these incredible devices. Utilizing lasers as a tool to manipulate nanomaterials opens the possibility of creating unique chemistries, structures, devices, and architectures by controlling the light–matter interactions within the material. In this chapter, we provide an introduction into these light–matter interactions at the nanoscale to include laser heating, ablation, and plasmonics, provide examples of nanochemistries achievable through this technique, and discuss applications for future implementation to include film transfer, nanostructuring, and device implementation.
Metal accumulation in Lake Michigan prey fish: Influence of ontogeny, trophic position, and habitat

Abstract Developing an understanding of factors that influence the accumulation and magnification of heavy metals in fish of the Laurentian Great Lakes is central to managing ecosystem and human health. We measured muscle tissue concentrations of heavy metals in Lake Michigan prey fish that vary in habitat use, diet, and trophic position, including alewife, bloater, deepwater sculpin, round goby, rainbow smelt, and slimy sculpin. For each individual, we measured tissue concentrations of four metals (chromium [Cr], copper [Cu], manganese [Mn], and total mercury [THg]), stable isotope ratios for trophic position (δ15N and δ13C), and individual fish attributes (length, mass). Total mercury concentration was positively related to total length and δ15N. Of all species, round goby had among the greatest increases in mercury per unit growth and was most isotopically distinct from other species. Profundal species (bloater, deepwater sculpin, slimy sculpin) had similar high THg tissue concentrations, possibly due to slower growth due to cold temperatures, whereas other species (alewife, round goby, rainbow smelt) showed more variation in THg. In contrast, other metals (Cr, Cu, Mn) had either a negative or no relationship to total length and δ15N, suggesting no bioaccumulation or biomagnification. Potential incorporation of mercury by sportfish may thus be related to species, age, diet, trophic position, and habitat of prey fish. Our findings serve as a foundation for understanding how heavy metals accumulate in Lake Michigan food webs and highlight the continued need for management of metal input and cycling in Lake Michigan.
Sharpening the Focus of Free Speech Law: The Crucial Role of Government Intent

Contemporary free speech law is typically misfocused. This misfocus serves neither the purposes underlying the institution of free speech nor any broader social rights and interests in conflict with freedom of speech. As a general matter, the adjudication of free speech claims should properly focus, centrally, on the intent of the regulating government. More specifically, courts should focus crucially on whether the government has, in enacting or enforcing its speech regulation, intended to suppress or disadvantage a presumed or actual idea or its expression. This sharpened focus would allow the courts to responsibly address a surprisingly broad range of free speech cases, with a substantially diminished need for attention to a number of artificial, if not unnecessary, judicial doctrines that have gradually been incorporated into the free speech case law.
Chapter 1 Bioactivation of Estrogens to Toxic Quinones

Publisher Summary It is well known that the estrogen receptors (ER) play a major role in the mechanism of estrogen-induced carcinogenesis. The theory is that excessive binding to the ER leads to an increase in cell proliferation in hormone-sensitive target tissues, such as the breast and endometrium. It is also hypothesized that the ER could also play a role in catechol estrogen/o-quinone-induced carcinogenesis. The roles of quinones in mediating the adverse effects of estrogens are not investigated in detail. It is possible for these electrophilic/ redox active quinones to cause damage within cells by a variety of different pathways. Oxidative enzymes, metal ions, and in some cases molecular oxygen can catalyze quinoid formation; so alkylation of cellular nucleophiles (GSH, proteins, DNA) by these species may occur to a significant extent in many tissues. In addition, the formation of ROS especially through redox cycling between the quinones and semiquinone radicals, could contribute to the adverse properties of the parent compounds. Redox cycling can cause lipid peroxidation, consumption of reducing equivalents, oxidation of DNA, and DNA strand breaks. DNA binding occurs, but the sites of alkylation and relationships to cytotoxicity are dependent on the chemical structure of the quinones and the cellular environment in which they are formed. Malignant phenotypes arise as a result of a series of mutations, most likely in genes associated with tumor suppressor, oncogene, DNA repair, or endocrine functions.
The problem of extracting the knowledge of experts

The first step in the development of an expert system is the extraction and characterization of the knowledge and skills of an expert. This step is widely regarded as the major bottleneck in the system development process. To assist knowledge engineers and others who might be interested in the development of an expert system, I offer (1) a working classification of methods for extracting an expert's knowledge, (2) some ideas about the types of data that the methods yield, and (3) a set of criteria by which the methods can be compared relative to the needs of the system developer. The discussion highlights certain issues, including the contrast between the empirical approach taken by experimental psychologists and the formalism-oriented approach that is generally taken by cognitive scientists.
Disentangling Investment Returns and Stock Returns: The Importance of Time-to-Build

I provide new evidence on the failure of the Q-theory. The Q-theory implies the state-by-state equivalence of stock and investment returns|a important implication of many asset pricing models. Using aggregate US data, I nd there exists a realistic pa- rameterization of the aggregate production and adjustment cost function such that em- pirical investment returns have rst and second moments similar to historical US stock returns. Investment and stock returns are negatively correlated, however, contradicting the Q-theory. This paper also proposes a rational explanation for this nding. A general equilibrium model with production, in which investment projects involve time-to-build, can rationalize these ndings. The model is also able to explain the negative correlation of investment growth and stock returns at the aggregate level|an observation that has been interpreted as evidence for irrational markets since it cannot be reconciled with the Q-theory of investment.