cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CENP-C recruits M18BP1 to centromeres to promote CENP-A chromatin assembly

Eukaryotic chromosomes segregate by attaching to microtubules of the mitotic spindle through a chromosomal microtubule binding site called the kinetochore. Kinetochores assemble on a specialized chromosomal locus termed the centromere, which is characterized by the replacement of histone H3 in centromeric nucleosomes with the essential histone H3 variant CENP-A (centromere protein A). Understanding how CENP-A chromatin is assembled and maintained is central to understanding chromosome segregation mechanisms. CENP-A nucleosome assembly requires the Mis18 complex and the CENP-A chaperone HJURP. These factors localize to centromeres in telophase/G1, when new CENP-A chromatin is assembled. The mechanisms that control their targeting are unknown. In this paper, we identify a mechanism for recruiting the Mis18 complex protein M18BP1 to centromeres. We show that depletion of CENP-C prevents M18BP1 targeting to metaphase centromeres and inhibits CENP-A chromatin assembly. We find that M18BP1 directly binds CENP-C through conserved domains in the CENP-C protein. Thus, CENP-C provides a link between existing CENP-A chromatin and the proteins required for new CENP-A nucleosome assembly.
Communicating to the world: technical communication directions for the 1990s

The trend in business today is to place publishing tools at the disposal of the engineers, scientists, programmers, and other technical professionals. Providing technical professionals with online publishing tools shortens and simplifies publication cycles. It is argued that translating desktop publishing verbatim could be catastrophic if engineering and scientific professionals circumvent the technical communicators and rely solely on publishing systems to produce documents. The author reemphasizes the team approach required for developing quality documentation. >
Bioleaching of copper and other metals from low-grade oxidized mining ores by Aspergillus niger

A study was initiated to determine the feasibility of using the fungus Aspergillus niger for bioleaching metals from oxide low-grade ore. Large quantities of the metals are embodied in the low-grade ores and mining residues that can be recovered. Presently available techniques (pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical) are expensive or may have a negative impact on the environment. An oxidized mining ore containing mainly copper (7245 mg kg−1 residue) was studied. In this study, the fungus A niger produced a variety of organic acids. Addition of small quantities of sulfuric acid enhanced the organic acids, efficiency. Various agricultural wastes were evaluated as substrates and a maximum solubilization of 68% for copper for a medium containing potato peels was achieved. In conclusion, leaching of copper from a mining ore is technically feasible using A niger. Further research must be performed to increase the rate of copper removal. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry
Research needs and potential effects of biomass crops on pest management.

Projected demand for one billion or more tons of plant biomass for ethanol and other uses may be partially met using crop residues, but >10 million ha of perennial grass and tree crops also may be needed. Limited research has been conducted on management of insects in biomass crops, but agricultural change on a scale of several million hectares indicates established or emerging pests will have impacts on management in both perennial and annual crops. For crops without significant food or feed uses (primary-use biomass crops), immediate research needs are general because little is known regarding their insect herbivores and insect-transmitted pathogens or their effects on biomass. Recent work in perennial grasses has revealed species that were undescribed previously, described but without known host associations or other general biological information, or well-known pests of food or feed crops. Conversely, in food or feed crops modified for biomass production (secondary use), information on pest biology and management should overlap with their close-relatives (e.g., corn for food or feed versus tropical maize for biomass), with some changes needed in economic thresholds or management strategies. To the degree that biomass crops and food crops share insects and insect-transmitted pathogens, insects provide an avenue for interactions between biomass and food crops. Some possible effects of biomass crops are positive, such as providing refugia from insecticides and acting as sources for natural enemies or pollinators. Unfortunately, broad conclusions about the effects of biomass crops are difficult to make because the outcomes depend on which biomass crops are planted, where they are planted, and how they are managed. Additional investment and interdisciplinary research are needed to address new pest management challenges posed by the expansion of biomass crops.
A Case Study of Isosurface Extraction Algorithm Performance

Isosurface extraction is an important and useful visualization method. Over the past ten years, the field has seen numerous isosurface techniques published, leaving the user in a quandary about which one should be used. Some papers have published complexity analysis of the techniques, yet empirical evidence comparing different methods is lacking. This case study presents a comparative study of several representative isosurface extraction algorithms. It reports and analyzes empirical measurements of execution times and memory behavior for each algorithm. The results show that asymptotically optimal techniques may not be the best choice when implemented on modern Computer architectures
Effect of a rapid clinical protocol to the conversion from central venous hemodialysis catheter to arteriovenous access

PurposeEvaluation of the rapid conversion protocol that includes an ambulatory dialysis access center (DAC), and a three-step clinical pathway, to the conversion rate from central venous hemodialys...
New DNA Repair Systems and New Insights on Old Systems in Escherichia coli

One can deduce the extreme importance of maintaining the integrity of cellular DNA, simply by noting the numerous and diverse types of systems that a cell has at its disposal for the repair of damaged DNA (for reviews, see references 1-3). There is a repair system that requires visible light (i. e., photoreactivation), and several systems that can work in the absence of light. There are repair systems that can function in the absence of DNA replication (e. g., excision repair), and systems that can only function after damaged DNA has been replicated (i. e., postreplication repair). There are systems for the repair of DNA base damage, and systems for the repair of single-strand and double-strand breaks in DNA. Certain alterations in DNA can be repaired by more than one type of repair system, suggesting that cells have “backup ” systems for DNA repair. Some of these repair systems are constitutive and some are inducible. Finally, some of these repair systems are error-free and some are error-prone (i. e., the repair is not accurate and, therefore, produces mutations). Within the space limitations for this review, we will describe some new DNA repair systems and discuss new insights on some old repair systems in Escherichia coli.
Reseña de Nudos como estrellas // Book Review of Nudos como estrellas

Book Review: Nudos como estrellas. ABC de la imaginacion ecologica en nuestras Americas by Roberto Forns Broggi
An Optimized Protocol for Detection of Coronary Artery Disease Using Technetium-99m-Sestamibi

This is the second article in the four-part series on “New Radiopharmaceuticals.” Upon completion of this article the reader should be able to: (1) identify imaging characteristics of technetium-99m-sestamibi and (2) understand the reconstruction and processing protocol.
The Department of State and U.S. Consular Officers Abroad in Citizenship Determinations

In his dissent in the 1958 case of Perez v. Brownell (356 U.S. 44) Chief Justice Warren stated: "The fatal defect in the statute before us is that its application is not limited to those situations that may rationally be said to constitute an abandonment of citizenship. In specifying that any act of voting in a foreign political election results in loss of citizen? ship, Congress has employed a classification so broad that it encom? passes conduct that fails to show a voluntary abandonment of citizen? ship_" Prescient and perceptive consular officers of the Department of State were apprehensive; the Chief Justice was seeking to introduce into the determination of loss of U.S. citizenship the element of in? tent?an element the statute carefully excluded. Of course, in some instances the state of mind of the individual has always been pertinent to such determinations, such as where it is claimed that the expatriative act was performed involuntarily or under duress. But, for the most part, the performance of the objective act defined by the law?e.g., voting in a foreign political election; taking an oath of allegiance to a foreign state; serving in the armed forces of a foreign state; holding an office, post or employment under the government of a foreign state?was determinative and the intentions or motives of the individual
Seismic performance of steel MRF building with nonlinear viscous dampers

This paper presents an experimental study of the seismic response of a 0.6-scale three-story seismicresistant building structure consisting of a moment resisting frame (MRF) with reduced beam sections (RBS), and a frame with nonlinear viscous dampers and associated bracing (called the DBF). The emphasis is on assessing the seismic performance for the design basis earthquake (DBE) and maximum considered earthquake (MCE). Three MRF designs were studied, with the MRF designed for 100%, 75%, and 60%, respectively, of the required base shear design strength determined according to ASCE 7-10. The DBF with nonlinear viscous dampers was designed to control the lateral drift demands. Earthquake simulations using ensembles of DBE and MCE ground motions were conducted using the real-time hybrid simulation method. The results show the drift demand and damage that occurs in the MRF under seismic loading. Overall, the results show that a high level of seismic performance can be achieved under DBE and MCE ground motions, even for a building structure designed for as little as 60% of the base shear design strength required by ASCE 7-10 for a structure without dampers.
Identifying the Intracellular Function of APOL1.

“We have to remember that what we observe is not nature herself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning”– Werner Heisenberg In 2010, nonsynonymous coding variants in the gene for APOL1 were strongly associated with nondiabetic CKD in blacks. A recessive model of inheritance best
Partial differential equations

* Introduction* Where do PDE come from* First order scalar semilinear equations* First order scalar quasilinear equations* Distributions and weak derivatives* Second order constant coefficient PDE: Types and d'Alembert's solution of the wave equation* Properties of solutions of second order PDE: Propagation, energy estimates and the maximum principle* The Fourier transform: Basic properties, the inversion formula and the heat equation* The Fourier transform: Tempered distributions, the wave equation and Laplace's equation* PDE and boundaries* Duhamel's principle* Separation of variables* Inner product spaces, symmetric operators, orthogonality* Convergence of the Fourier series and the Poisson formula on disks* Bessel functions* The method of stationary phase* Solvability via duality* Variational problems* Bibliography* Index
Faecal Campylobacter shedding among dogs in animal shelters across Texas.

Summary Epidemiologic studies on faecal Campylobacter shedding among dogs in the United States have been limited, despite evidence that the incidence of human campylobacteriosis has increased over the last decade. Our objectives were to estimate the prevalence of faecal Campylobacter shedding among shelter dogs in Texas, to estimate the specific prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli shedding, and to identify risk factors for Campylobacter-positive status. Using a cross-sectional study design, we collected faecal samples from dogs in six animal shelters across Texas between May and December, 2014. Quantitative PCR protocols were used to detect Campylobacter in samples and to specifically identify C. jejuni and C. coli. The prevalence of faecal Campylobacter shedding among sampled dogs was 75.7% (140/185). Prevalence varied significantly by shelter (p = .03), ranging from 57% to 93%. There was a marginal association (p = .06) between abnormal faecal consistency and positive Campylobacter status, after controlling for shelter as a random effect. However, approximately 70% of Campylobacter-positive dogs had grossly normal faeces. Campylobacter prevalence did not vary significantly by age group or sex. The prevalence of C. jejuni-positive samples was 5.4% (10/185), but C. coli was not detected in any samples. Dogs are a potential source of zoonotic Campylobacter transmission.
Nested Identities as Cognitive Drivers of Strategy

Firms face the dilemma to conform to industry logics while differentiating to gain competitive advantage when implementing strategic actions. We suggest this tension is due to and resolved through ...
Exploring uncertainties in terrain feature extraction across multi-scale, multi-feature, and multi-method approaches for variable terrain

Terrain analysis uses different workflows to extract features from terrain models for the purpose of understanding topographic patterns and processes. However, the results of different workflows of...
Rapid, Directed Differentiation of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells from Human Embryonic or Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

We describe a robust method to direct the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE). The purpose of providing a detailed and thorough protocol is to clearly demonstrate each step and to make this readily available to researchers in the field. This protocol results in a homogenous layer of RPE with minimal or no manual dissection needed. The method presented here has been shown to be effective for induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and human embryonic stem cells. Additionally, we describe methods for cryopreservation of intermediate cell banks that allow long-term storage. RPE generated using this protocol might be useful for iPSC disease-in-a-dish modeling or clinical application.
Automatic data processing and data display system for the hermes III accelerator

This paper describes the software changes made to the data processing and display system for HERMES III accelerator at the Simulation Technology Laboratory (STL) at Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico. The HERMES III accelerator is a gamma ray simulator producing 100kRad[Si] dose per shot with a full width half max pulse duration of ~25 nanoseconds averaging six shots per day. For each accelerator test approximately 400 probe signals are recorded over approximately 65 digitizers. The original data processing system provided the operator a report summarizing the start of probe signal timings for groups of probes located within the power flow conductors. This timing information is indicative of power flow symmetry allowing the operator to make necessary adjustments prior to the next test. The report also provided data overlays concerning laser trigger light output, x-ray diode currents and x-ray source output. Power flow in the HERMES III accelerator is comprised of many circuit paths and detailed current and voltage information within these paths could provide a more thorough understanding of accelerator operation and performance, however this information was either not quickly available to the operators or the display of the data was not optimum. We expanded our data processing abilities to determine the current and voltage amplitudes throughout the power flow conductors and improved the data display abilities so data plots can be presented in a more organized fashion. We detail our efforts creating a software program capable of processing the ~ 400 probe signals together with an organized method for displaying the dozens of current and voltage probes. This process is implemented immediately after all digitizer data has been collected so the operator is provided timing and power flow information shortly after each accelerator shot.
Economic Investigation of Poverty and Income Distribution in Pistachio Cultivating Areas of Kerman Province

The study of poverty and income in equality are the most important subjects of social/ economic research in agriculture sector. The present study focuses on poverty and income inequality among pistachio growers in Kerman province. Absolute poverty line, relative poverty line, poverty gap and intensity were calculated. Also income distribution was investigated using Ginny coefficient, Lorenz curve and income distribution index. The statistical community was all pistachio producers in Kerman province. Data collected through personally interviewing of 200 producer, using multi-stage cluster random sampling, during 2012-2015 cropping years. The results showed that absolute poverty line for pistachio growers in Kerman province was 24000000 (10 Rials) while, relative poverty line was 64922675(10 Rials), annually. Results also indicated that 30 percent of farmers were suffering from absolute poverty while, 57 percent from relative poverty. Income gap for poor pistachio growers under absolute poverty was 0.48, but for poor pistachio growers under relative poverty was 0.60. According to Lorenz curve, Ginny coefficient of 0.66 and income distribution index, it can be concluded that there is an un-fair income distribution among pistachio growers in study area. Finally supporting capital availability specially for small scale poor farmers through low interest credit, production subsidies and national development funds is suggested.
Survivors of Childhood Cancer: Risk of New Primary Neoplasms of the CNS

Survival following childhood cancer diagnosis has improved dramatically over the past four decades. With this improvement has come increased identification of therapy-related late effects. Among the best studied of these late effects are second neoplasms, and although these can occur at nearly any site, one of the locations often associated with high morbidity and, in some cases mortality, is the central nervous system. Second tumors of the central nervous system most commonly arise in survivors treated for primary CNS tumors or for acute leukemias; this association can be attributed to therapeutic risk factors, most notably prior treatment with radiation therapy. Additional risk factors have been identified, including age at initial cancer diagnosis, as well as underlying genetic predisposition syndromes. Data from multiple childhood cancer survivor cohorts have helped in predicting time to second tumor development and have also helped inform survivor screening and surveillance.
The Impact of Obesity Intervention on Cancer: Clinical Perspectives

Previous chapters have clearly demonstrated the underlying association between obesity and risk of specific cancer types, with particular attention focused on the role of adipose tissue in cancer development. In addition to cancer incidence risk attributed to obesity, increasing cancer recurrence risk may also be associated with obesity (Ligibel, Oncology (Williston Park) 25(11):994–1000, 2011; Protani et al., Breast Cancer Res Treat 123(3):627–635, 2010; Patlak & Nass, The role of obesity in cancer survival and recurrence: workshop summary, The National Academies Press, Washington, DC, 2012; Hewitt et al., From cancer patient to cancer survivor: lost in the transition. Institute of Medicine and National Research Council, Washington, DC, 2005; Demark-Wahnefried et al., Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 21(8): 1244–1259, 2012). Given the positive link between obesity and increased cancer risk, it should follow that cancer risk reduction could be achieved through intervention efforts to prevent patients from becoming overweight or obese or through weight loss in patients already identified as overweight or obese. Unfortunately, evidence supporting a favorable link between voluntary weight loss and subsequent reduced cancer risk is limited and not as conclusive as research findings that clearly demonstrate greater cancer risk with obesity. This chapter highlights the proposed clinical approaches for treating adult obesity, including bariatric surgery, and explores the degree to which these obesity interventions have been shown to favorably impact cancer incidence and cancer recurrence.
Some Recent Advances in Numerical Methods in Structural Dynamics

The purpose of this paper is to present some recent developments in the area of numerical dynamic analysis of large structural systems. The first part of the paper is devoted to the finite dynamic element method, a new concept in the discretization of a continuum, the adoption of which effects considerable reduction in the number of degrees of freedom for a required solution accuracy, when compared with the usual finite element method. This is followed by a brief description of eigenproblem solution techniques, for the free vibration analysis of both rotating and nonrotating structures, that fully exploit the associated matrix sparsity. Together, these techniques constitute a powerful tool for the free vibration and subsequent dynamic response analysis of complex practical structures.
Synthesis of fused indolines by interrupted Fischer indolization in a microfluidic reactor

This study describes our development of a microfluidic reaction scheme for the synthesis of fused indoline ring systems found in several bioactive compounds. We have utilized a continuous-flow microfluidic reactor for the reaction of hydrazines with latent aldehydes through the interrupted Fischer indolization reaction to form fused indoline and azaindoline products. We have identified optimal conditions and evaluated the scope of this microfluidic reaction using various hydrazine and latent aldehyde surrogates. This green chemistry approach can be of general utility to rapidly produce indoline scaffolds and intermediates in a continuous manner.
Myalgia and Arthralgia Immune-related Adverse Events (irAEs) in Patients With Genitourinary Malignancies Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

Abstract Background Myalgia and arthralgia immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in patients treated with checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) present a clinical challenge. We describe the clinical characteristics and treatment of myalgia and arthralgia irAEs in CPI-treated patients with genitourinary (GU) malignancies. Patients and Methods Patients with GU malignancies who were treated with CPIs and developed myalgia and arthralgia irAEs that resulted in interruption or discontinuation of CPI therapy were reviewed. Patient-, disease-, and irAE-related data were collected and analyzed. Results Twenty-one patients were identified. Eighteen (86%) had renal cell carcinoma; 3 (14%) had urothelial carcinoma. The majority (71%) were male; the median age at diagnosis was 56 years (range, 36-78 years). CPI therapy included anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (29%), anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (48%), and combined programmed cell death protein 1/cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 antibodies (24%). The median time from CPI initiation to myalgia and arthralgia irAE was 5.1 months (range, 0.23-50.5 months). All patients were treated with prednisone with a median initial dose of 40 mg/d (range, 10-90 mg/d) for a median duration of 64 weeks (range, 3-242 weeks). Treatment with methotrexate (14%), infliximab (14%), tocilizumab (10%), gabapentin (10%), and etanercept (5%) was also required in some patients. Six (29%) patients restarted CPI therapy following symptom improvement, 3 (15%) switched to a subsequent therapy, and 12 (55%) patients had an ongoing sustained response to therapy (median, 14.5 months; range, 3-55 months) despite no subsequent anti-cancer therapy. Conclusion Myalgia and arthralgia irAEs in CPI-treated patients with GU malignancies vary in timing of presentation, severity, and treatment. Multidisciplinary teams that include a rheumatologist are critical for optimal management. Durable response to CPIs can be maintained even after therapy discontinuation.
Transportation and homelessness: a systematic review

Transportation disadvantage can negatively impact access to employment and educational opportunities, healthcare, and social services. Cost of transportation, in particular, has been found to preve...
2012 Robotics activities at JPL

The Robotics Section of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), California Institute of Technology, is engaged in a full spectrum of flight project and research activities. This paper will provide an overview of these efforts, and discuss the recent accomplishments and future directions of them. Specific activities will be high- lighted based on their level of accomplishment, impact on the community, maturity, or novelty. Robotics activities on flight projects are a significant subset of the full effort for these large missions. Complementing flight activities is a diverse set of research efforts for NASA and other U.S. Government agencies. Future directions will be motivated by NASA and other sponsor objectives, as well as success experienced in these current endeavours.
Reproducible large-scale synthesis of surface silanized nanoparticles as an enabling nanoproteomics platform: Enrichment of the human heart phosphoproteome

A reproducible synthetic strategy was developed for facile large-scale (200 mg) synthesis of surface silanized magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (NPs) for biological applications. After further coupling a phosphate-specific affinity ligand, these functionalized magnetic NPs were used for the highly specific enrichment of phosphoproteins from a complex biological mixture. Moreover, correlating the surface silane density of the silanized magnetite NPs to their resultant enrichment performance established a simple and reliable quality assurance control to ensure reproducible synthesis of these NPs routinely in large scale and optimal phosphoprotein enrichment performance from batch-to-batch. Furthermore, by successful exploitation of a top-down phosphoproteomics strategy that integrates this high throughput nanoproteomics platform with online liquid chromatography (LC) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), we were able to specifically enrich, identify, and characterize endogenous phosphoproteins from highly complex human cardiac tissue homogenate. This nanoproteomics platform possesses a unique combination of scalability, specificity, reproducibility, and efficiency for the capture and enrichment of low abundance proteins in general, thereby enabling downstream proteomics applications.
Using GIS to Explore Disparities between the Location of Food Deserts and Vulnerability to Food Insecurity

Targeted food insecurity interventions in Tampa, FL have focused on increasing the availability of free food distributed through food pantries. The locations of pantries do not always take into con...
Hepatobiliary cancer and pyogenic liver abscess: when poking the skunk is not enough: invited commentary on Chen, et al. Am J Surg 2013;205:52-7.

Patients with hepatobiliary or pancreatic cancer who develop pyogenic liver abscesses (PLAs) are an incredibly complex group of patients. First, these patients often harbor advanced malignancies that are associated with immune suppression. Furthermore, these cancers result frequently in biliary obstruction that can lead to overt or insipid cholangitis and subsequent liver abscess formation. If the cancer or associated obstructed biliary tree is not recognized promptly, patients may develop multiple abscesses or multiloculated abscesses, which are notoriously difficult to treat. In addition, the performance status of these patients is typically poor, and therefore, complicated invasive treatment plans are tolerated poorly. Moreover, data from the past 15 years suggest that the incidence of PLA is increasing, and most of PLAs are associated with cancer.1,2 Most of these PLAs are now treated with percutaneous drainage and antibiotics.3 The report by Lai et al4 in this issue adds valuable insight into the treatment of PLAs in patients with hepatobiliary malignancies. In this series of 44 patients with PLAs, treatment with percutaneous drainage failed in 34%. Importantly, the mortality in these 15 patients was an astounding 60%. Twelve of these 15 patients underwent salvage surgery, but only 6 survived. Factors associated with failure of percutaneous drainage on multivariate analysis were multiloculated abscesses and abscesses with biliary communication. The overall mortality for all patients was 32%, which is not surprising, considering that previous work has clearly demonstrated mortality ranging from 5.6% to 33%.1-3,5 Thus, the dilemma for surgeons treating patients with cancer with PLAs is to recognize early those patients with high likelihood of failure of percutaneous drainage. Aside from those factors identified by multivariate analysis, the data presented offer some clues. Patients in whom percutaneous drainage failed were older (P =.061), had multiple abscesses (P = .042), and took longer to defervesce after admission (P = .052). Most patients who responded to treatment were without fever within 5 days of treatment. Therefore, a persistent fever should be an indicator that percutaneous management may not be the remedy. Likewise, an obstructed biliary tree may be a persistent nidus of infection, and thus, biliary decompression with endoscopic or percutaneous stenting is warranted. In addition, unresponsive PLA may actually be a manifestation of an underlying liver tumor.6 Although several of these factors did not reach statistical significance, a larger series of patients may provide the data necessary to avoid a type 2 statistical error. In summary, percutaneous drainage of PLAs associated with hepatobiliary malignancies is the primary treatment, but surgeons should be cognizant of those patients at risk for treatment failure. Poking pungent PLAs may not be treatment enough when only operative therapy will provide adequate drainage and perhaps diagnose underlying malignancies.
Behavior Change for Caries Prevention: Understanding Inconsistent Results:

Most applied work on caries prevention acknowledges the role of oral hygiene and dietary control strategies in reducing the prevalence and incidence of caries. What we seldom address, however, is t...
Sugar and Behavior

Of the many components in our diets, none has been condemned as frequently and as vehemently as sugar. Studies reviewed by the federal government indicate that after salt and sodium, sugar is the food ingredient people most consistently want to avoid and the one they look for most often on a food label’s list of ingredients (Lecos 1980, 1988). In recent years, the use of sugars in the diet has become an extremely controversial issue involving scientists, dietitians, physicians, government officials, and private citizens. Sugar has been blamed, although in some cases wrongly, for a myriad of ills including obesity, diabetes, dental disease, and behavioral disorders. Modern attitudes toward sugar have led some to conclude that our society suffers from “saccrophobia” or the fear or sugar (Fischler 1987).
Dynamic Analysis of Suction Stabilized Floating Platforms

The occurrence of parametric resonance due to the time varying behavior of ocean waves could lead to catastrophic damages to offshore structures. A stable structure that could withstand the wave perturbations is quintessential to operate in such a harsh environment. In this work, the authors detail the relevance of a Suction Stabilized Float (SSF) or a Suction Stabilized Floating platform towards such an application. A generic design of a symmetrically shaped float structure along with its inherent stabilization behavior is discussed. Furthermore, the authors extend their prior research on this topic towards modelling the dynamics of SSF and perform stability analysis. The authors demonstrate the dynamical characteristics of SSF analytically using Floquet theory and Normal Forms technique, in this work. Additionally, the simulation results are verified and validated with the numerical methods.
The Decision-Making Ideology of Federal Judges Appointed by President Trump

What is the ideological direction of the judges appointed by President Donald Trump during his first four years in office? To answer this question we analyzed 395 U.S. district court decisions handed down by 87 judges appointed to the federal trial court bench by President Trump. These decisions were studied along with over 117,000 opinions by over 2,400 judges published in the Federal Supplement from 1932 through 2020. We find that judges appointed by Trump are significantly more conservative than judges appointed by other Republican presidents in recent decades. In particular, the Trump judges are much more conservative in the areas of civil liberties/rights and labor/economic regulation than judges appointed by any previous Republican or Democrat dating back to JFK.
Origins and diversity of the Bering Sea Island fauna: shifting linkages across the northern continents

We synthesize the historical biogeography of non-marine fauna (mammals, birds, fish, non-parasitic and parasitic invertebrates) occurring across Bering Sea islands, considering endemism, species with origins in both North America and Far East Asia, and the impacts of introduced species through the Bering region. Insular communities often constitute assemblages of unique evolutionary lineages that reflect both neutral and selective processes of diversification as a consequence of isolation and through responses to in situ environmental change. However, current knowledge of the basic distribution, ecology, and evolutionary identity of the majority of terrestrial species through the Bering Sea region is still generally lacking. A preponderance of scientific effort associated with these islands has instead focused on conservation and management of marine-associated species and economically viable biological resources. Given the critical role that terrestrial environments play in maintaining evolutionary and ecological linkages between land and sea, a greater understanding of existing biodiversity, and the biological processes that influence community integrity through this remote region is warranted. Resolving responses of resident insular species to rapidly warming Arctic climate and to modern human-associated disturbances provides valuable insight for effective management of future population trajectories and for revealing the dynamics of intra- and inter-specific connectivity across the northern hemisphere and between marine and terrestrial ecosystems. The location of this region at a high-latitude cross-roads has led to a preponderance of island taxa having trans-Beringian distributions. Species associated with the Palearctic or the Nearctic occur across a strong longitudinal gradient, reflecting the role of the Bering Sea as a dispersal filter between mainland areas. Aleutian oceanic islands reflect different biogeographic histories among taxonomic groups from land-bridge islands of the Bering Sea. We discuss evidence of recent biodiversity responses to modern environmental perturbations, including continued colonisations and novel species interactions, and call for increased scientific scrutiny of terrestrial fauna across these remote outposts.
User Identification Across Multiple Smart Pill Bottle Systems: Poster Abstract

Medication adherence is one of the leading factors that can make the difference between life and death, especially for patients managing chronic conditions [2]. Indeed, these issues have driven a recent wave of research, including the development of smart pill bottles that monitor when a pill is extracted. In this poster, we extend our recent work [1], where we present adaptive learning techniques for subject identification across multiple pill bottle systems. We collect inertial signals from 10 subjects taking medication pills and encode the activity signals by transforming them into 2D texture images. Then we use pre-trained Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) models for image-based classification tasks. Our approach achieved improved differentiation capacity over existing models by using deep learning models, modified through domain adaptation and transfer learning.
Security in Database Systems - from a Researcher’s View

Database security has been the subject of active research for the past several years. In the last five years, rapid progress has been made in defining what, security means for such systems and in developing laboratory prototypes and even products that meet those definitions. However, much more work remains to be done in certain key re- search areas. This paper provides an overview of the database security issues for both mandatory and discretionary security and describcs areas of ongoing research.
Mechanical Properties of Metal Nitrides for Radiation Resistant Coating Applications: A DFT Study

Abstract Metal nitrides compounds like aluminum nitride (AlN), titanium nitride (TiN), tantalum nitride (TaN), hafnium nitride (HfN) and zirconium nitride (ZrN) are of great interesting because of their chemical and physical properties such as: high melting point, resistivity, thermal conductivity and extremely high hardness. They are the materials of choice for various applications like protective coating for tools, diffusion barriers or metal gate contact in microelectronics, and lately their potential applications as radiation-resistive shields. In order to assess their use for radiation tolerance we have studied the structural, mechanical and electronic properties. We have evaluated the anisotropic elastic constants and their pressure dependence for three different crystalline phases: B1-NaCl, B2-CsCl, and B3-ZnS crystal structures. In addition to these cubic polymorphs, we also have studied potential hexagonal structures of some of the same metal nitrides. All computations are carried out using first principles Density Functional Theory (DFT) approach.
Cryocooler Reliability and Redundancy Considerations for Long-Life Space Missions

One means of achieving high reliability with cryogenic payloads involving cryocoolers is to incorporate redundancy, either in the form of redundant coolers and/or redundant drive electronics. To access the redundant elements, electrical and/or heat switches must also be incorporated. Although the redundant elements protect against a possible failure, the increased system complexity and increased cryogenic load associated with the incorporation also have a negative effect on reliability that must be taken into account.
Specificity of Computed Tomography in the Diagnosis of Supratentorial Neoplasms

A previously unsuspected linear relationship between the initial density and the amount of uptake of various tumors is described. As a rule, initially radio-dense neoplasms enhance less than radiolucent neoplasms. For a given amount of enhancement, meningiomas are initially more radiodense than metastases; also, breast metastases are more radiodense than lung metastases. The density versus uptake curve tends to show certain specificity for a given type of neoplasm. Absolute differentiation of histologic types is still not possible on the basis of these curves. The correlation, however, is interesting and seems to be related to the amount of damage to the blood-brain barrier and the degree of calcification, vascularity, and cellularity of the various tumors. With improved precision of scanners the specificity of the CT image may be improved.
Cost Swaps And Risk: An Analysis Of The Effect Of Cost Swaps On Degree Of Operating Leverage And Break-Even Points

Financial institutions have, for a long time, used interest rate swaps to address risk in managing assets and liabilities. Variable interest streams can be “swapped” for fixed payment streams (or visa versa) to either increase or decrease the sensitivity of the financial institution’s profits to changes in interest rates. With the advent of outsourcing, all businesses have the ability to do essentially the same thing by swapping fixed or variable cost streams. This article addresses managerial accounting topics of break-even analysis and degree of operating leverage which both have implications on risk and cost of capital. The analysis demonstrates a point that is generally ignored in the treatment of these issues. Conventional understanding says that shifting costs from variable to fixed will increase both the break-even point and degree of operating leverage. The analysis demonstrates that this is not necessarily true and could, indeed, have the opposite effect. The analysis also provides the conditions for determining how a shift in cost will impact break-even points and degree of operating leverage. The analysis is timely and offers insights to managers as to how outsourcing can be used to address the management of risk.
Opial’s inequality and oscillation of 2nd order equations

For a second-order differential equation, we obtain from Opial’s inequality lower bounds for the spacing between two zeros of a solution or between a zero of a solution and a zero of its derivative. These bounds are expressed in terms of antiderivatives of the potential, and in particular we derive some new Liapunov type inequalities from them.
Thermal management of projection displays

The key requirements constraining the solutions were described. One constraint on the cooling design for most projection display products was cost. This, almost immediately, pointed to an air-cooled solution using conventional fans and heat sinks. Another constraint with a more direct customer impact that couples in with the air-cooled approach was audible noise. A third constraint was that the cooling design for projection displays must accommodate a variety of different types of components. As evident from these design constraints, the cooling solutions for projection displays was confined to conventional air-cooling approaches. The challenge was using the conventional techniques to achieve an efficient design that met all the requirements for the product.
Subsystems performance modeling for fiber optic local area network components

Fiber optic subsystems for local area networks (LANs) are discussed, focusing on the need to achieve interoperability in a multivendor environment. The author explores performance and specification issues for fiber optic LAN subsystems. Modeling, based on both fast Fourier transforms and Gaussian equations, is used to show parameter sensitivity tradeoffs, design limits, and contributions to channel distortion and jitter. >
Managing power dissipation in portable battery charger applications

Dissipating battery-charger power outside small portable products makes them operate cooler. Because of their small size, most of these applications have strict limitations on the available space and power dissipation and tend to use lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. This paper describes a charger design topology that moves the bulk of the power dissipation of battery charging out of the portable device but leaves the charger circuit embedded in the application. The performance of a circuit with high-accuracy voltage regulation, battery conditioning, temperature monitoring, and charge-status indication is analyzed for the effects of power dissipation, circuit area, and charging time.
Densification of synthetic fused silica under ultraviolet irradiation

Fused silica undergoes densification upon prolonged exposure to high energy radiation and explanations in terms of changes in the silica tetrahedral ring structure have been offered. Under laser irradiation, the densification is often less than 10 parts per million, necessitating sensitive optical techniques for its measurement. This paper reviews some of the key literature, with emphasis on recent studies involving 193 nm excimer laser irradiation, and presents recent evidence that the UV laser-induced densification involves optically-induced weakening of bonds, via a two-photon absorption process, and subsequent structural relaxation of the glass.
Efficient data gathering in distributed hybrid sensor networks using multiple mobile agents

Mobile agent based data gathering in Distributed Sensor Networks (DSN) has been a topic of significant research in recent years. In this paper, we consider a network architecture for DSN that makes use of hybrid nodes with RF and Ultra-wideband (UWB) communication. It uses a cluster based approach with reduced connectivity constraint between cluster heads. Each cluster of sensor nodes (and the corresponding cluster head) will be working as an independent unit, with mobile agents such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) or mobile robots used to gather the data from the cluster heads. Intra-cluster data gathering will be done using traditional RF communication. Cluster heads will also be equipped with UWB transmitters to transfer data with high rate to mobile agents. Further, we also propose a multiple mobile agent based data gathering algorithm (MMDG) that takes into account the priority of data and life time of the cluster heads. Simulation based analysis is used to show the effectiveness of algorithm in terms of time of tour, network coverage and life-time of the cluster heads.
Computer-assisted Stereotactic Resection of Posterior Fossa Lesions

Abstract A method for computer-assisted stereotactic laser resection of posterior fossa lesions is described. This procedure has been used successfully to treat 10 patients having a variety of lesions deep in the cerebellar hemisphere, vermis, and brainstem with satisfactory postoperative neurologic results.
Pepsin fibrinolysis of artificial clots made from fibrinogen concentrate and bovine thrombin: the effect of pH and epsilon aminocaproic acid.

Artificial clots made from fibrin glue with and without an inhibitor of fibrinolysis can be used to treat gastrointestinal bleeding. We have been unable to find descriptions of the effects of acid and pepsin upon such artificial clots. Therefore, 10−2 mol/l epsilon aminocaproic acid was added to fibrin glue in vitro at acid concentrations of pH 1.0 and pH 5.5. Pepsin was added at 9000 U/50 ml, the expected value for fasting human subjects. There was a highly significant reduction in clot survival at pH 1.0. At pH 5.5, clot weight was also significantly decreased with pepsin, compared to control. Thus pepsin and acidity greatly affect survival of artificial clots, but the addition of epsilon aminocaproic acid did not affect clot survival.
Integrating the Core Competencies: Proceedings from the 2005 Academic Assembly Consortium

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education mandated the integration of the core competencies into residency training in 2001. To this end, educators in emergency medicine (EM) have been proactive in their approach, using collaborative efforts to develop methods that teach and assess the competencies. The first steps toward a collaborative approach occurred during the proceedings of the Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors (CORD-EM) academic assembly in 2002. Three years later, the competencies were revisited by working groups of EM program directors and educators at the 2005 Academic Assembly. This report provides a summary discussion of the status of integration of the competencies into EM training programs in 2005.