cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and evaluation of multivalent M2pep peptides for targeting alternatively activated M2 macrophages

Abstract The tumor microenvironment in the majority of cancers is known to favor polarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) to alternatively activated M2 phenotype, promoting disease progression and reducing patient survival. Effective therapy targeting this M2 macrophage population is thus a promising adjuvant to approved cancer therapies. One of the challenges in targeting M2-like TAMs is a lack of high affinity targeting ligand with good selectivity over anti-tumor M1-like TAMs. We have previously identified an M2 macrophage-targeting peptide (M2pep) that binds preferentially to murine M2 macrophages and M2-like TAMs. A fusion peptide of M2pep with pro-apoptotic peptide KLA (M2pepKLA) was further used to reduce TAM population in vivo but high concentrations and frequent dosing were required due to low binding affinity of M2pep for M2 macrophage. The goal of this study was to develop more potent TAM depletion constructs by increasing the valency of both the M2pep targeting and KLA drug domains. Divalent and tetravalent displays of M2pep ([M2pep] 2 –Biotin and [M2pep] 4 –Biotin) were synthesized and evaluated for improvement in binding avidity to the murine macrophages. High avidity and selective binding of [M2pep] 2 –Biotin to M2 macrophages were achieved with at least 10-fold lower concentration than required for monovalent M2pep activity. Increasing M2pep valency to four, however, resulted in a reduction in both binding activity and selectivity. Surprisingly, both divalent and tetravalent M2pep, without conjugation of any cytotoxic drug cargo, exhibited M2 macrophage-selective toxicity not observed in monovalent M2pep treatment. We next synthesized divalent M2pep with monovalent and divalent KLA ([M2pep] 2 –[KLA] and [M2pep] 2 –[KLA] 2 ) to evaluate its enhanced potency compared to M2pepKLA. While both constructs were significantly more toxic than M2pepKLA to primary, bone marrow-derived M2 macrophage, desired selectivity was retained only with [M2pep] 2 –[KLA]. Finally, we evaluated all multivalent M2pep and M2pepKLA analogs using a syngeneic CT-26 tumor cell suspension. In this setting, [M2pep] 4 –Biotin and [M2pep] 2 –[KLA] 2 exhibited selective toxicity to both M2-like TAMs and malignant cells but not to M1-like TAMs. Therefore, these constructs are promising anti-cancer constructs with dual-modality mechanisms: malignant cell killing and TAM-based immunomodulation.
Perspectives on Torture in East Asia

Several international agreements (such as the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights) have banned the use of state-sponsored torture. Torture was also a major issue at the United Nation’s first Geneva Convention where they drafted the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Not only does the Convention against Torture require countries to make the use of torture illegal, but it also specifies that under no state of emergency, external threat, or orders from a superior officer or authority can a right to torture be justifiably invoked. As of June 1, 2011, 65 nations, including China and Japan, but not North and South Korea, had ratified the Convention against Torture.
New insights into rotating frame relaxation at high field

Measurements of spin-lock relaxation rates in the rotating frame (R1ρ ) at high magnetic fields afford the ability to probe not only relatively slow molecular motions, but also other dynamic processes, such as chemical exchange and diffusion. In particular, measurements of the variation (or dispersion) of R1ρ with locking field allow the derivation of quantitative parameters that describe these processes. Measurements in deuterated solutions demonstrate the manner and degree to which exchange dominates relaxation at high fields (4.7 T, 7 T) in simple solutions, whereas temperature and pH are shown to be very influential factors affecting the rates of proton exchange. Simulations and experiments show that multiple exchanging pools of protons in realistic tissues can be assumed to behave independently of each other. R1ρ measurements can be combined to derive an exchange rate contrast (ERC) that produces images whose intensities emphasize protons with specific exchange rates rather than chemical shifts. In addition, water diffusion in the presence of intrinsic susceptibility gradients may produce significant effects on R1ρ dispersions at high fields. The exchange and diffusion effects act independently of each other, as confirmed by simulation and experimentally in studies of red blood cells at different levels of oxygenation. Collectively, R1ρ measurements provide an ability to quantify exchange processes, to provide images that depict protons with specific exchange rates and to describe the microstructure of tissues containing magnetic inhomogeneities. As such, they complement traditional T1 or T2 measurements and provide additional insights from measurements of R1ρ at a single locking field. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Genetic Factors Contribute to Risk for Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome among Moderately Preterm, Late Preterm, and Term Infants

Objective To determine the genetic contribution to risk for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) among moderately preterm, late preterm, and term infants (estimated gestational age ≥32 weeks) of African- and European-descent. Study design We reviewed clinical records for 524 consecutive twin pairs ≥32 weeks gestation. We identified pairs in which at least 1 twin had RDS (n = 225) and compared the concordance of RDS between monozygotic and dizygotic twins. Using mixed-effects logistic regression, we identified covariates that increased disease risk. We performed additive genetic, common environmental, and residual effects modeling to estimate genetic variance and used the ratio of genetic variance to total variance to estimate genetic contribution to RDS disease risk. Results Monozygotic twins were more concordant for RDS than dizygotic twins ( P = .0040). Estimated gestational age, European-descent, male sex, delivery by cesarean, and 5-minute Apgar score each independently increased risk for RDS. After adjusting for these covariates, genetic effects accounted for 58% ( P = .0002) of the RDS disease risk variance for all twin pairs. Conclusions In addition to environmental factors, genetic factors may contribute to RDS risk among moderately preterm, late preterm, and term infants. Discovery of risk alleles may be important for prediction and management of RDS risk.
Abstract 17406: Association of Post-operative Complications with Clinical Outcomes and Hospital Costs following the Norwood Operation

Introduction: Patients undergoing the Norwood operation consume considerable healthcare resources. However, data are limited regarding factors impacting hospitalization costs for these patients. We evaluated the association of post-operative complications with hospital costs. Methods: We utilized a unique dataset consisting of prospectively collected clinical outcomes and complications data from the Pediatric Heart Network Single Ventricle Reconstruction trial linked at the patient level with cost data for hospitals (n=10) participating in the Children’s Hospital Association administrative databases during the trial period. Probabilistic matching of indirect identifiers was used to link records. Cost-to-charge ratios were used to estimate costs, which were adjusted for regional differences and inflation. The relationship between complications and cost was modeled using linear regression, accounting for the skewed distribution of cost, and adjusting for within-center clustering and patient characteristics....
Fracture of a Tapered Femoral Neck After Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Case Report

Fracture of the femoral component after total hip arthroplasty is an uncommon event according to Swedish registry data1 and retrospective data in the United States2. Early monoblock components demonstrated fatigue fracturing through the implant stem3-5. Fracture through the tapered femoral neck is extremely rare, although it has been reported6-10. We describe a case of fracture through the tapered neck of a cementless femoral component that had been coupled with a skirted femoral head with a high neck length. The patient was informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication, and she provided consent. A sixty-one-year-old woman had undergone primary total hip arthroplasty with an uncemented prosthesis for osteoarthritis of the left hip in February 2004. The procedure had been performed at an outside institution. A modified Hardinge approach had been used. The components included a Meridian (Howmedica) uncemented size-4 femoral stem, a 32-mm femoral head with a +16-mm skirted neck length, a Trident (Howmedica) 54-mm hemispherical acetabular shell, and a 54/32-mm 10° liner. The femoral stem and head were both composed of forged Vitallium, an alloy consisting of 60% cobalt, 20% chromium, and 5% molybdenum, among other substances. This stem was only available in a standard offset and had a 30-mm neck length and a neck-shaft angle of 132°. The tapered neck was a V40 taper. As was routine for the surgeon who had performed the index procedure, the anterior third of the abductor was elevated off of the greater trochanter for exposure, and then repaired with two screw anchors. The index operative report stated that a skirted head with a +16-mm neck length was required to provide appropriate soft-tissue tension and stability of the construct. Documentation from the outside hospital did not mention a preoperative …
Winning by Losing: How CEO Wealth Changes Around Seasoned Equity Offerings

We develop a methodology to decompose CEO wealth into three major components: pure price effect, board compensation effect, and CEO's own portfolio adjustment effect. Using this decomposition we examine how CEO wealth changes around SEOs. We find that in contrast to shareholders, CEOs actually gain. We document that CEO wealth gains are predominantly due to increased pay following SEOs. We also find that CEO wealth gains are more pronounced for CEOs who experience a larger price decline in their existing equity holdings. Additional results suggest that CEO wealth gains are highly associated with CEO power, market condition changes and CEO's opportunity cost of undertaking SEOs. In comparison, CEOs are not rewarded for undertaking debt issuance.
Weak ferromagnetic ordering of the Li(+)[TCNE](•-) (TCNE = tetracyanoethylene) organic magnet with an interpenetrating diamondoid structure.

Li[TCNE] (TCNE = tetracyanoethylene) magnetically orders as a weak ferromagnet (canted antiferromagnet) below 21.0 ± 0.1 K, as observed from the bifurcation of the field-cooled and zero-field-cooled magnetizations, as well as remnant magnetization. The structure, determined ab initio from synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data, consists of a planar μ4-[TCNE]•– bound to four tetrahedral Li+ ions. The structure consists of two interpenetrating diamondoid sublattices, with closest interlattice distances of 3.43 and 3.48 A. At 5 K this magnetic state is characterized by a coercivity of ∼30 Oe, a remnant magnetization of 10 emu·Oe/mol, and a canting angle of 0.5°.
Size Distribution and Counting of Liver Nuclei by an Electronic Particle Counter

SummaryA procedure is described that allows rapid counting and sizing of liver nuclei. A good correlation exists between the degree of liver polyploidy and nuclear size. Both of these parameters increase as a function of age.
Developmental Science and Executive Function

Executive function abilities, including working memory, inhibitory control, and the flexible volitional shifting of the focus of attention provide a foundation for reflection on experience, reasoning, and the purposeful regulation of behavior. These abilities and their underlying neurobiology, however, are inherently malleable and influenced by characteristics of individuals and contexts. Implications of this malleability for research on the development of executive function in early childhood, for the prospect that these abilities can be fostered and promoted by specific types of activities, and for issues relating to the reliable and valid measurement of executive function are considered.
Stability of Laser Annealed Contacts on Barium Titanate

Low resistance Ohmic contacts were produced by evaporating nickel and aluminum films on barium titanate substrates, and subsequently irradiating them with Q-switched ruby laser pulses (λ = 0.694 μm, τ = 15×10 −9 s, pulse energy density 1.0 − 1.2 J cm −2 ). Stability and aging behavior of these contacts were comparable to those of conventional contacts, i.e. flame sprayed aluminum, In-Sn solder, fritted silver and electroless nickel under test conditions (ambient temperatures in air, in boiling water and organic liquids at 150°C, 100 psi).
The Path to Thioredoxin and Redox Regulation in Chloroplasts

After a brief discussion of my graduate work at Duke University, I describe a series of investigations on redox proteins at the University of California, Berkeley. Starting with ferredoxin from fermentative bacteria, the Berkeley research fostered experiments that uncovered a pathway for fixing CO2 in bacterial photosynthesis. The carbon work, in turn, opened new vistas, including the discovery that thioredoxin functions universally in regulating the Calvin-Benson cycle in oxygenic photosynthesis. These experiments, which took place over a 50-year period, led to the formulation of a set of biological principles and set the stage for research demonstrating a role for redox in the regulation of previously unrecognized processes extending far beyond photosynthesis.
Can Fishy Odor Be a Risk Factor for Coronary Artery Disease

There is interest in describing more definitive risk factors for coronary artery disease that mechanistically link to the actual disease process, as opposed to indirect measures of disease, such as age, sex, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, and diabetes, all of which are used in the Framingham
The Dynamics of Parenting in Stepfamilies

How are parent–child relationships maintained during stepfamily formation, what changes in those relationships occur over time, and what influences these changes? The primary focus of the chapter is a review and critique of research with mothers in stepfamily households. Role functions of mothers (i.e., protector of children, gatekeeper, defender, mediator, interpreter) are discussed. Mothers experience parenting difficulties shortly after remarrying, but over time their parenting resembles that of mothers in first marriages. The few studies of nonresidential mothers are briefly covered. A second major focus of the chapter is on residential and nonresidential fathers in stepfamilies and their relationships with children living in stepfamily households. Also examined are older parents and their adult children in stepfamilies, and intergenerational exchanges of resources.
Abstract 5078: Human breast carcinoma-associated mesenchymal stem cells promote breast cancer cell proliferation, irreversible EMT and invasion through Collagen I

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are recruited to the tumor microenvironment and play roles in tumor progression; however their specific mechanisms and functions need further investigation. In this study, we identified the presence of carcinoma-associated MSCs (CA-MSCs) isolated from breast cancer metastasis to a human lymph node (LNM) and liver (LM). We hypothesized that CA-MSCs may increase the invasive abilities of breast cancer cells and that they may enhance collagen expression to promote breast cancer progression. Methods: We isolated CA-MSCs from fresh samples of breast cancer metastasis to a lymph node and liver obtained from the operating room. A portion of each specimen was subjected to HE 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 5078. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-5078
Satellite remote sensing of Vatnajökull, Iceland

Iceland’s largest ice cap, Vatnajokull, has been the test site for a series of airborne and satellite remote-sensing studies since 1966. Various types of image data acquired by the Landsat Multispectral Scanner (MSS) and the Seasat Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) are assessed for their value to glaciological studies of Vatnajokull. A low Sun angle winter 1973 MSS band 7 Landsat image of Vatnajokull provides information about the distribution and size of subglacial volcanic calderas, cauldron subsidence caused by subglacial geothermal and (or) intrusive volcanic activity, and delineation of the probable position of surface ice divides. Two types of multi-spectral digital enhancements were applied to a late summer 1973 MSS image of Vatnajokull. The first type was used to prepare a planimetric base map showing the location of the principal surface features and an inventory of 38 named outlet glaciers, one internal ice cap (Oraefajokull), and two detached glaciers which comprise this complex ice cap, and to measure its area (8300 km2). The second type provides information about the position of the snow line at the approximate end of the 1973 melt season, the areas encompassed by the ice fades of the ablation area and the slush zone and wet-snow facies/percolation facies of the accumulation area. More information about the surface morphology of Vatnajokull was available from the Sow Sun angle winter and the digitally enhanced summer Landsat image of the ice cap than from the Seasat SAR image.
Nitric Oxide Donors and Therapeutic Applications in Cancer

Abstract A major challenge in designing novel anticancer drugs is the generation of compounds with improved efficacy, lower side effects, and potential synergism with currently available antitumor agents. In chemotherapy, intrinsic and/or acquired drug resistance is a huge hurdle that oftentimes results in poor outcomes. Nitric oxide (NO) is a gasotransmitter of physiological relevance and although it has a dichotomous role in cancer biology, it may yet prove to hold a major key role in unraveling the challenges that are encountered in cancer treatment. In this chapter, we briefly describe the synthesis and the important role that NO plays in treatment of malignancies. We then hone in on various NO-releasing “designer” pharmaceuticals, presenting the rationale for their development, reviewing in vitro, in vivo, and some available clinical data. Molecular targets affected by these agents are also discussed.
Perovskite solar cells: High voltage from ordered fullerenes

The open-circuit voltage is one of the parameters determining the efficiency of solar cells in converting solar radiation to electricity. Reducing the structural disorder in fullerene electron-transport layers is now shown to significantly improve the open-circuit voltage of perovskite solar cells.
Challenges to African Entrepreneurship in the Twenty-First Century

Sandberg’s concluding chapter extracts insights from the research offered by the authors in this volume to summarize many of the challenges of African entrepreneurs in the twenty-first century and some of their coping strategies.
Inflammation investigated as a source of pharmacokinetic variability of atazanavir in AIDS Clinical Trials Group protocol A5224s.

BackgroundInflammation is associated with the down-regulation of drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters. Thus, we investigated the chronic inflammatory state associated with HIV infection as a ...
A Public Pedagogy of White Victimhood: (Im)Moral Facts, Settler Identity, and Genocide Denial in Dakota Homeland:

This article examines dominant discourses driving southern Minnesota’s white public pedagogy of the U.S.–Dakota War of 1862, focusing specifically on hardline separations between fact and opinion that divert citizens from acknowledging the moral significance of their state’s genocidal founding. Supported by objectivist discourses enshrined in today’s Common Core Standards, the regional need to distinguish fact from opinion reveals highly situated white-supremacist roots when historicized, originating in primary-source materials that perplexingly frame white “victimhood” and Dakota “savagery” as objective moral knowledge. Critically analyzing recent acts of fact-checking performed by members of a regional settler discourse community, this article shows such “objective” knowledge at work, persistently thriving on age-old notions of white-settler identity and white community belonging. Ultimately, this article exposes the ongoing persuasive power of the primary sources’ dominant discourse, the anti-Indian su...
Perceptions of Success and Self-Sustainability Among Women Participating in an Entrepreneurial Skills Development and Empowerment Program Through Photovoice

Financial independence has been identified in the literature as a means of promoting women’s self-sufficiency and a key aspect of the concepts of success and self-efficacy. Few studies, however, ha...
Improved muscle activation using proximal nerve stimulation with subthreshold current pulses at kilohertz-frequency.

Objective Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation can help individuals with neurological disorders to regain their motor function by activating muscles externally. However, conventional stimulation technique often induces near-simultaneous recruitment of muscle fibers, leading to twitch forces time-locked to the stimulation. Approach To induce less synchronized activation of finger flexor muscles, we delivered clustered narrower pulses to the proximal segment of the median and ulnar nerves at a carrier frequency of either 10 kHz (with an 80 µs pulse width) or 7.14 kHz (with a 120 µs pulse width) (high-frequency mode, HF), and different clustered pulses were delivered at a frequency of 30 or 40 Hz. Conventional stimulation with pulse frequency of 30 or 40 Hz (low-frequency mode, LF) was used for comparison. With matched elicited muscle forces between the HF and LF modes, the force variation, the high-density electromyogram (EMG) signals recorded at the finger flexor muscles and stimulation-induced-pain levels were compared. Main results The compound action potentials in the 10 kHz HF mode revealed a significant difference (i.e. a lower amplitude and area, and a wider duration) compared with the LF mode, indicating cancellations of asynchronized action potentials. A smaller fluctuation in the elicited forces in the 10 kHz mode further demonstrated the less synchronized activation of different motor units. These effects tended to be weaker in the 7.14 kHz HF condition. However, the levels of pain sensation was not reduced in the HF mode potentially due to the high charge density used in the HF mode. Our findings indicated that different nerve fibers were recruited asynchronously through summations of different numbers of subthreshold depolarizations in the HF mode. Significance Compared with the LF mode, the HF mode stimulation was capable of activating the nerve fibers in a less synchronized way, which is more similar to the physiological activation pattern.
Photoinitiated Cationic Polymerization

Photoinitiated cationic polymerization has not as yet achieved the commercial significance of radical polymerization in important photopolymerization processes, including UV curing and photoimaging. Several reasons for this may be advanced, including: (1) the development of photoinitiators for cationic polymerization was preceded by substantial advances in UV curing technology based on radical polymerization; (2) the early developmental work on UV curing by cationic polymerization utilized aryl diazonium salts as photoinitiators which, while highly photoactive, are thermally unstable, thereby preventing long-term storage of fully formulated compositions; and (3) the discovery of thermally stable onium salts, such as diaryliodonium and triarylsulfonium salts, as effective photoinitiators for cationic polymerization of epoxy-functional resins was made almost simultaneously by several industrial groups, which resulted in an unclear patent situation—a situation which appears, at least in part, to be resolved at present.
LEUKOCYTES | Pulmonary Macrophages

Macrophages serve as the first cellular line of defense against inhaled particulates and infectious agents. They are key participants in both innate non-antigen-specific immune responses and adaptive antigen-specific immune responses in the lung. They may play central roles in the transition from lung injury and inflammation to fibrosis in both chronic airway and diffuse interstitial lung diseases. The macrophages of the lung arise from hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow. Several populations of macrophages reside in the normal healthy lung: alveolar, interstitial, airway and intravascular macrophages, dendritic cells, and monocytes. The pulmonary macrophage plays a central role in the homeostasis of the lung. Under normal resting conditions it protects against the daily burden of inhaled particulates, microbes, and cellular debris without triggering an inflammatory or immune response that could injure the lung. When challenged by virulent infectious agents, the macrophage is a first line of defense, a sentinel that calls forth additional immune inflammatory resources, and when activated it is an effective participant in microbial killing. Its potent degradative enzymes, inflammatory cytokines, and mediators that signal fibroblast growth and collagen production appear to be key elements in a wide variety of environmental and idiopathic lung diseases.
Right Atrial Speckle Tracking Strain Echocardiography in HeartFailure

Background Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) has emerged as a useful tool in diagnostic and prognostic cardiology, especially for pathologies such as heart failure (HF). This review represents a comprehensive review of contemporary data available on right atrial (RA) STE studies for various cardiac pathologies in the form of a meta-analysis and literature review. Methods The authors searched the PubMed databases for the key terms related to ‘‘Right atrial/ atrial/atrium’’ and ‘‘strain/function/deformation/stiffness’’ and ‘‘speckle tracking imaging.’’ Studies of global RA function using speckle-tracking were selected if they involved >25 participants. The search was completed on January 25, 2018. Abstract posters were excluded because of inadequate baseline characteristics or methodology. Results Our searches returned 463 studies. Fifty-nine studies met criteria, eight were excluded. Our review did not show a significant difference between R-R (62%) and P-P (38%) gating with regard to the practice of measurement of RA strain. Most studies were focused on the pulmonary hypertension (PH) (35%) and heart failure (HF) (30%). The remainder (35%) were studies of other cardiac diseases. Almost (80%) were retrospective single studies, and (37%) had control groups. Our subgroup analysis compared vendors General Electric (GE) (58%) vs non-GE (42%), because vendor differences are based primarily on algorithms used to compute strain. We found no significant difference between vendors. Conclusion Studies evaluating RA STE diagnostic and prognostic importance are minimal, however STE studies presented added a prognostic value to the traditional echocardiographic parameters. There are no reference values for RA strain measurements in the guidelines. Additional prospective and randomized controlled trials are needed to establish right atrial STE as a standardized approach to patient care.
Highly tin doped GaAs at low growth temperatures using tetraethyl tin by metal organic vapor phase epitaxy

Abstract GaAs layers with a high tin (Sn) doping concentration and a smooth surface morphology were successfully grown at temperatures as low as 425 °C using tetraethyl tin (TESn) by metal organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE). The samples grown at 650 °C showed Sn-rich droplets even with a low TESn molar flow rate of 0.06 μmol/min, indicating that Sn atoms were not incorporated into the GaAs film but segregated and accumulated on the film surface. Droplet formation was suppressed at a low growth temperature of 425 °C. This suggests that the segregation process is kinetically-limited, with the segregation mechanism is slow compared to the growth rate at low growth temperatures. Uncorrected Hall effect measurements found an electron concentration of ∼1 × 1019 cm−3, which is close to the maximum reported doping-limit obtainable in GaAs:Sn grown by MOVPE, while avoiding droplet formation and maintaining a smooth surface morphology. The electron mobility is dominated by the ionized impurity scattering. The sample possesses a generally flat Sn profile extending from the substrate to the film surface. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy indicates that the Sn is electrically active but compensated by carbon acceptors to yield the measured carrier concentration.
Emotion and decision-making: Induced mood influences IGT scores and deck selection strategies.

The somatic marker hypothesis (SMH) represents a rich neuropsychological framework to study emotion-based decision-making. It originates from early brain lesion studies using the Iowa Gambling Task...
The Evolution of Concentration and Velocity Fluctuations in the Richtmyer-Meshkov Instability

The Richtmyer-Meshkov instability (RMI) is studied experimentally in the Wisconsin Shock Tube Laboratory (WiSTL) using a broadband, shear layer initial condition at the interface between a helium-acetone mixture and argon. This interface (Atwood number A = 0.7) is accelerated by either a M = 1.6 or M = 2.2 planar shock wave, and the development of the RMI is investigated through simultaneous planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) and particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements at the initial condition and four post-shock times. Simultaneously measuring concentration and velocity allows us, for the first time, to experimentally determine turbulence quantities in this regime, such as the Reynolds stresses, as well as study the effect of incident shock strength on turbulent mass-flux velocities, and the evolution of the planar turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) spectrum.
Class V. Epsilonproteobacteriaclass. nov.

Ep.si.lon.pro.te.o.bac.te′ri.a. Gr. n. epsilon name of fifth letter of Greek alphabet; Gr. n. Proteus ocean god able to change shape; Gr. n. bakterion a small rod; M.L. fem. pl. n. Epsilonproteobacteria the class of bacteria having 16S rRNA gene sequences related to those of the members of the order Campylobacterales.
Threats Against the Virtual Machine Environment of NFV

Network Function Virtualization (NFV) is an implementation of cloud computing that leverages virtualization technology to provide on-demand network functions such as firewalls, domain name servers, etc., as software services. One of the methods that help us understand the design and implementation process of such a new system in an abstract way is architectural modeling. Architectural modeling can be presented through UML diagrams to show the interaction between different components and its stakeholders. Also, it can be used to analyze the security threats and the possible countermeasures to mitigate the threats. In this paper, we show some of the possible threats that may jeopardize the security of NFV. We use misuse patterns to analyze misuses based on privilege escalation and VM escape threats. The misuse patterns are part of an ongoing catalog, which is the first step toward building a security reference architecture for NFV.
Concurrent Unrolled Skiplist

Skiplist is an important data structure used for storing and managing ordered data. It provides logarithmic time complexity (in list size) for lookup, insert and remove operations with high probability without the need for complex balancing actions. Several algorithms have been proposed for concurrent maintenance of a skiplist using both blocking and non-blocking synchronization techniques. In this work, we propose a new algorithm for maintaining a concurrent skiplist that uses two techniques to boost performance. The first technique, referred to as "unrolling", involves storing multiple key-value pairs in the same node. The second technique involves using an advanced locking primitive, based on "group mutual exclusion", to allow certain operations to work on the same node concurrently. In our experiments, our concurrent skiplist consistently outperformed existing concurrent skiplists by as much as 90% in some cases.
Direct evidence using a controlled greenhouse study for threshold effects of soil organic matter on crop growth

Soil organic matter (SOM) is a key indicator of soil fertility, and building SOM is assumed to decrease reliance on external inputs and ensure stable crop production. Recent syntheses of field data support this assumption with positive SOM-productivity relationships that asymptote at ~4% SOM. Teasing out the directionality of this relationship-the extent to which SOM increases crop growth vs. greater growth leading to higher SOM concentrations-requires controlled experimentation. To disentangle this causative pathway, we conducted a greenhouse experiment whereby we manipulated SOM concentrations from 1% to 9% and evaluated whether the SOM-productivity relationship differed for spring wheat (Triticum aestivum, L.) under nitrogen fertilization crossed with irrigation due to the expectation that SOM buffers the effects of reduced fertilization and/or irrigation. We found that higher concentrations of SOM led to greater productivity (measured as aboveground biomass) up to a threshold of 5% SOM, after which productivity declined across all treatments. These declines occurred despite the fact that indicators of soil health (water-holding capacity, microbial biomass, and bulk density) improved linearly with increasing SOM concentrations. That is, improvements in soil properties did not translate to gains in productivity at the highest SOM levels. Nitrogen fertilization led to greater productivity across all treatments, but to a greater relative extent at lower SOM levels, where we found that productivity on unfertilized soils with 4% SOM matched that of fertilized soils with 2% SOM. Differences in productivity on unfertilized soils due to irrigation emerged at higher SOM levels (>5%), highlighting SOM's role in water retention. Our results demonstrate that building SOM leads to improved growth of a globally important crop; however, our results also indicated a pronounced SOM threshold, after which crop growth declined. This underscores the need to develop optimal SOM targets for desired agricultural and environmental outcomes.
Broadcast Meteorologists’ Views on Climate Change: A State-of-the-Community Review

AbstractBroadcast meteorologists—highly skilled professionals who work at the intersection between climate scientists and the public—have considerable opportunity to educate their viewers about the...
Multi-resolution flow simulations by smoothed particle hydrodynamics via domain decomposition

We present a methodology to concurrently couple particle-based methods via a domain decomposition (DD) technique for simulating viscous flows. In particular, we select two resolutions of the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method as demonstration. Within the DD framework, a simulation domain is decomposed into two (or more) overlapping sub-domains, each of which has an individual particle scale determined by the local flow physics. Consistency of the two sub-domains is achieved in the overlap region by matching the two independent simulations based on Lagrangian interpolation of state variables and fluxes. The domain decomposition based SPH method (DD-SPH) employs different spatial and temporal resolutions, and hence, each sub-domain has its own smoothing length and time step. As a consequence, particle refinement and de-refinement are performed asynchronously according to individual time advancement of each sub-domain. The proposed strategy avoids SPH force interactions between different resolutions on purpose, so that coupling, in principle, can go beyond SPH-SPH, and may allow SPH to be coupled with other mesoscopic or microscopic particle methods.The DD-SPH method is validated first for a transient Couette flow, where simulation results based on proper coupling of spatial-temporal scales agree well with analytical solutions. In particular, we find that the size of the overlap region should be at least r c , 1 + 2 r c , 2 , where r c , 1 and r c , 2 are cut off radii in the two sub-domains with r c , 1 ? r c , 2 . Subsequently, a perturbation wave is considered traveling either parallel or perpendicular to the hybrid interface. Compressibility is significant if transient behavior at short sonic-time-scale is relevant, while the fluid can be treated as quasi-incompressible at sufficiently long time scale. To this end, we propose a coupling of density fields from the two sub-domains. Finally, a steady Wannier flow is simulated, where a rotating cylinder is placed next to a wall. Lubrication effects are prominent in the gap between the cylinder and the bottom wall, rendering a high resolution necessary, whereas in the rest of the domain the flow can be simulated at much lower resolution. DD-SPH simulation results with both spatial and temporal resolution ratios up to 16 agree well with the results of a single high resolution simulation, but with the former two-orders of magnitude faster in the region away from the cylinder.
A Cultural Sociology of Social Media: Social Drama, Cultural Affordances and Blogging in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina:

Research on social media, networks and collective action currently lacks a strong cultural component, often focusing on network formation and characteristics from afar. At the same time, research i...
The microbiome requires a genetically susceptible host to induce central nervous system autoimmunity.

While the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) is recognized to have both genetic and environmental components, little is known about these complex interactions. The microbiome has recently been recognized as an environmental factor that contributes to MS. In Montgomery et al. (1), the authors harnessed the natural genetic diversity between B6 mice, PWD/PhJ (PWD) wild-derived mice, and a panel of 27 B6.ChrPWD consomic mice to investigate gene plus microbiome interactions. They identified chromosomes that affected disease susceptibility and also identified microbes that increased disease severity in disease-susceptible hosts. They found that while the PWD mice are resistant to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), these mice surprisingly harbor a microbiota that increases central nervous system (CNS) autoimmunity when transferred into the genetically susceptible B6 mice (Fig. 1). This study advances the field by illustrating an important point: that altered microbiota alone may not be sufficient to cause MS, but rather, a perfect storm of host genetic risk plus specific microbes triggers CNS autoimmunity. Fig. 1. Genetic susceptibility to EAE shapes interactions with the microbiome. PWD mice are genetically resistant to EAE, whereas B6 mice are susceptible. However, transfer of the microbiota from PWD mice or colonization with PWD-enriched microbe L . reuteri worsens disease in B6 mice and increased inflammatory cytokines interleukin-17 (Th17) and interferon-gamma (IFNγ), highlighting the importance of gene × microbiome interactions. In the last 5 years, several studies have identified alterations in the microbiome of patients with MS (2⇓–4), with consistent depletions in butyrate producing bacteria and elevations in Akkermansia and Clostridia . Furthermore, the transfer of microbiota from patients with MS can increase disease incidence in spontaneous models of the disease (5, 6), demonstrating that alterations in the microbiome are not just a bystander of disease but may actually contribute to MS. Germfree mice … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence may be addressed. Email: hweiner{at}rics.bwh.harvard.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Malle's conjecture for for

We propose a framework to prove Malle's conjecture for the compositum of two number fields based on proven results of Malle's conjecture and good uniformity estimates. Using this method, we prove Malle's conjecture for quintic extensions over arbitrary number fields by adapting Bhargava's geometric sieve and averaging over fundamental domains of the parametrization space.
All the lonely people: Comparing the effects of loneliness as a social stressor to non-lonely stress on blood pressure recovery.

Abstract Objective This study examined whether recalling a social stress that evoked lonely feelings produces greater affective and blood pressure responses than recalling non-social stress or a relaxing event. Methods Young adults (n = 114) underwent one of three inductions: recalling a social stressor in which one felt lonely, recalling a non-social non-lonely stressor, and relaxation. Negative affect was assessed during baseline, induction, and recovery. Blood pressure was assessed continuously using a finger cuff. Results Both the lonely and non-lonely stress conditions reported increased negative affect following the induction, with neither condition having fully recovered to baseline levels by the end of the study. For blood pressure, during recovery, blood pressure increased linearly for the lonely stress condition, but remained steady for the other conditions. Conclusions Recalling a social stress evoking lonely feelings may be more harmful for cardiovascular health than recalling non-social stressors. Results extend work demonstrating that in vivo stressors involving social evaluation elicit larger stress responses compared to stressors without this component.
Dynamics of Multilayer Shear Flows

The multi-layer shear flows are one of the most graphic and experimentally accessible examples of conservation laws system. The flows are interesting due to their conceptual simplicity, rich dynamical phenomenology, and technological relevance. The simplest system is multilayer thin film flowing down an inclined plane the process used in manufacturing of color photographic films and papers. Conservation of mass in each layer leads to a system of coupled PDEs. Its hyperbolic part corresponds to a kinematic part of the motion. Investigation of its structure reveals a very nontrivial types of behaviour that might appear in such system. Namely, in addition to hyperbolic waves, the system may also exhibit elliptic behaviour. The influence of dissipative effects results in a simple and remarkable manifestation of the result obtained by Majda and Pego (1985): that the dissipative terms may in fact destabilize the hyperbolic system, and that the solutions of viscosity-smoothed system do not converge to the solutions of the corresponding hyperbolic system.
Chapter 6 Exocytosis and Endocytosis: Membrane Fusion Events Captured in Rapidly Frozen Cells

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the structural analysis of the events in endocytosis and exocytosis. Exocytosis and endocytosis present some mechanistic problems that are solved in a similar manner. Both utilize membrane fusion events that occur in highly localized environments. During exocytosis, membrane fusion creates an exceedingly small pore that leads to the formation of a narrow, tubular neck. During endocytosis, the formation of a narrow tubular neck is required before fusion will take place. Yet, they are fundamentally different. Exocytosis involves the release of potential energy that is stored in the highly organized structure of the granule core. The contents of nearly all secretory granules are packaged so as to limit hydration and to maximize interaction between constituents. In some cases, the granule membrane is designed to maintain ion gradients between the interior of the granule and the cytoplasm. In addition, the formation of a narrow neck during endocytosis or enlargement of the pore during exocytosis requires rapid movements of phospholipids into or out of the region. In this region, the bilayer must be highly mobile, a characteristic that may be of importance in the fusion event itself.
Administrative Constitutionalism and the Re-Entrenchment of Surveillance Culture

Administrative constitutionalism is a recent theory of extra-judicial constitutionalism that studies the role of agencies on the front line of constitutional interpretation. In this role, agencies are constitutional norm entrepreneurs, suggesting constitutional norms and beginning a process of national deliberation that results in the entrenchment of norms that reflect the majority viewpoint. This Article challenges the assumption that agencies are appropriate constitutional norm entrepreneurs. Through a detailed historical study of the development and evolution of the Attorney General Guidelines, the governing document for the FBI, I demonstrate that without intervention, agencies are appropriate norm entrepreneurs only during rare constitutional moments, when the entire country is galvanized around a major reinterpretation of our framework of constitutional rights. Outside of these moments, the governmental machine is more insular than deliberative. This lack of deliberation implicitly grants agencies, the least accountable members of our tripartite government, the power to create and entrench constitutional norms that ultimately inform the development of constitutional law. However, structural interventions can be manufactured to force deliberation. In particular, stronger internal checks on the executive branch, congressional oversight, judicial intervention, and public accountability can force the deliberation necessary to ensure the legitimacy of administrative constitutionalism.
Molded circuit interconnects: electronic packaging in the third dimension

Molded circuit interconnects are high-performance injection-molded thermoplastic devices with electrical and mechanical functions, incorporating printed-circuit boards, chip carriers, connectors, and structural elements. The change from a flat board or ceramic substrate to a molded three-dimensional part permits more original packaging solutions, with less parts, less assembly steps and lower total system cost. Selection of the right thermoplast material allows high-temperature, high-frequency applications and use where high-speed signal transmission is important. Produced by injection molding and selectively metallized, the parts have precise circuit traces, holes, and shapes, which is especially important for surface mount device (SMD) applications; they also have all the flexibility and three-dimensional capabilities expected from the molding process. Recessed circuitry and chip placement allows low-profile, high-density circuits, including chip-on-board applications. >
Electron paramagnetic resonance on transition metal complexes

The EPR signal of Cp2TiIIIH2AlCl2 in tetrahydrofuran shows an alternating line-width effect involving the MI = ±1 and MI = 0 spin states of the two bridge hydrogens, and indicating the existence of a dynamic molecular process in which the involved coupling constant undergoes an out-of-phase modulation. Evaluation of the temperature dependence of the line-width effect leads to an activation energy of 4 kcal/mol, which implies that complete breaking of a chemical bond is not involved. It is proposed that one hydrogen is more tightly bonded to the Al, the other to the Ti, and that the molecular motion concerns the flopping to the reverse conformation. When di-π-cyclopentadienyltitanium dichloride (Cp2TiCl2) in tetrahydrofuran is reduced with metallic sodium in the presence of freshly sublimed AlCl3, a paramagnetic species is formed after several hours stirring at room temperature. The reaction solution gives a strong electron resonance signal. Double integration of the first derivative spectrum indicates some 60% of the initial amount of titanium ([Ti] = 10 x 10−3 mol/1) is present in the signal-producing form. The essential feature of the spectrum is the interaction of the unpaired electron of a TiIII species with one nucleus of Al (I = 52), giving rise to six equivalent hyperfine lines. On extreme dilution further hyperfine structure is resolved (Fig. 1). Each of the six lines is split into a 1/2/1 triplet by two equivalent hydrogen nuclei, and furthermore a splitting of each component into an uneven number of very narrow lines is