cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simulating multivariate time series using flocking

Notions from agent based modeling (ABM) can be used to simulate multivariate time series. An example is given using the ABM concept of flocking, which models the behaviors of birds (called boids) in a flock. A multivariate time series is mapped into the coordinates of a bounded orthotope. This represents the flight path of a boid. Other boids are generated that flock around this data boid. The coordinates of these new boids are mapped back to simulate replicates of the original time series. The flock size determines the number of replicates. The similarity of the replicates to the original time series can be controlled by flocking parameters to reflect the strength of the belief that the future will mimic the past. It is potentially possible to replicate general non-stationary, dependent, high-dimensional time series in this manner.
The role of education in a globalized world : internationalizing the curriculum

The College of Education and Professional Studies at UWW produces the largest number of teacher educators in the state of Wisconsin. While we are proud of this "local" achievement, we also understand that changing demographics have created international classrooms and communities in which our graduates live and work. Several faculty members in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction are developing an interdisciplinary global education major. At the most fundamental level, it considers the role and purpose of education in developing individuals and societies highlighting the role of the educator in a globalized world. The global education major will seek to prepare leaders to critically explore and deconstruct perspectives to increase their leadership capacity in schools and communities around the world. The idea for the global education major has emerged as a response to the growing economic, political, and socio-cultural interdependency between countries and stronger connections between local and global communities that shape educational organizations. New immigration patterns, the growth of information and communication technologies, and competitive global markets permeate geopolitical borders having implications for educational practices. Further, a growing awareness of global impacts, necessitates an immediate response from institutions of higher education in the preparation of leadership for this interdependent global reality. To this end, the paper highlights challenges and lessons learned in creating a global education major that focuses on the role of the educator and of education in shaping societies.
An integrative genome-wide transcriptome reveals that candesartan is neuroprotective and a candidate therapeutic for Alzheimer's disease

Background Alzheimer’s disease is the most frequent age-related dementia, and is currently without treatment. To identify possible targets for early therapeutic intervention we focused on glutamate excitotoxicity, a major early pathogenic factor, and the effects of candesartan, an angiotensin receptor blocker of neuroprotective efficacy in cell cultures and rodent models of Alzheimer’s disease. The overall goal of the study was to determine whether gene analysis of drug effects in a primary neuronal culture correlate with alterations in gene expression in Alzheimer’s disease, thus providing further preclinical evidence of beneficial therapeutic effects.
Hydrodynamic loading in concomitance with exogenous cytokine stimulation modulates differentiation of bovine mesenchymal stem cells towards osteochondral lineages

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are viewed as a having significant potential for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine therapies. Clinical implementation of MSCs, however, demands that their preparation be stable and reproducible. Given that environmental and bioprocessing parameters such as substrate stiffness, seeding densities, culture medium composition, and mechanical loading can result in undirected differentiation of the MSC population, the objective of this study was to systematically investigate how hydrodynamic loading influences the differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) towards the osteochondral lineages both in the presence and absence of exogenous, inductive factors. Expanded bovine MSCs were suspended in 2.5 % agarose, cast in a custom mold, and placed into either static or one of two dynamic culture environments consisting of “high” and “low” magnitude shear conditions. Constructs were supplemented with varying concentrations (0, 1, 10, 100 ng/mL) of either TGF-β3 or BMP-2 throughout cultivation with tissue samples being collected following each week of culture. In the absence of exogenous supplementation, hydrodynamic loading had little effect on cell phenotype at either magnitude of stimulation. When cultures were supplemented with BMP-2 and TGF-β3, MSCs gene expression progressed towards the osteogenic and chondrogenic pathways, respectively. This progression was enhanced by the presence of hydrodynamic loading, particularly under high shear conditions, but may point the chondrogenic cultures down a hypertrophic path toward osteogenesis reminiscent of endochondral ossification if TGF-β3 supplementation is insufficient. Moving forward, these results suggest bioprocessing conditions which minimize exposure of chondrogenic cultures to fluid shear stress to avoid undesirable differentiation of the MSC population.
Budget-constrained stochastic approximation

Traditional stochastic approximation (SA) schemes employ a single gradient or a fixed batch of noisy gradients in computing a new iterate. We consider SA schemes in which Nk samples are utilized at step k and the total simulation budget is M, where [EQUATION] Nk ≤ M and K denotes the terminal step. This paper makes the following contributions in the strongly convex regime: (I) We conduct an error analysis for constant batches (Nk = N) under constant and diminishing steplengths and prove linear convergence in terms of expected error in solution iterates based on prescribing Nk in terms of simulation and computational budgets; (II) we extend the linear convergence rates to the setting where Nk is increased at a prescribed rate dependent on simulation and computational budgets; (III) finally, when steplengths are constant, we obtain the optimal number of projection steps that minimizes the bound on the mean-squared error.
Entropically stabilized dislocations.

Dislocations are line defects that play a key role in the plasticity of crystalline materials and affect their thermal, chemical, and electrical properties. Typically dislocations are treated as stable defects; e.g., the equilibrium core structure of a dislocation is obtained by minimizing the crystal potential energy with respect to atom positions. Here we show for the first time the possibility of ``entropically stabilized dislocations'' that exist due to entropic effects without a corresponding potential energy well. An entropically stabilized dislocation was discovered in an accelerated multiscale quasicontinuum simulation. Its entropic nature was verified with fully atomistic free energy calculations and explained by a simple continuum-based model. This result has important consequences for the study of dislocations as well as for temporal multiscale methods that use information from the potential energy surface to accelerate time in molecular simulations.
Design, Fabrication, and Characterization of Piezoresistive MEMS Shear Stress Sensors

This paper presents the design, fabrication, and characterization of unique piezoresistive microfabricated shear stress sensors for direct measurements of shear stress underwater. The uniqueness of this design is in its transduction scheme which uses sidewall-implanted piezoresistors to measure lateral force (and shear stress), along with traditional top-implanted piezoresistors to detect normal forces. Aside from the oblique-implant technique, the fabrication process also includes hydrogen anneal step to smooth scalloped silicon sidewalls due to Deep Reactive Ion Etch process, which was shown to reduce 1/f noise level by almost an order of magnitude for the sidewall-implanted piezoresistors. Lateral sensitivity characterization of the sensors was done using a microfabricated silicon cantilever force sensor, while out-of-plane characterization was done using Laser Doppler Vibrometry technique. In-plane sensitivity and out-of-plane crosstalk were characterized, as well as hysteresis and repeatability of the measurements. The sensors are designed to be used underwater for various applications.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Reappraising Mail Survey Response Rates

A consistent frustration for both commercial and academic survey researchers is the difficulty of stimulating mail questionnaire response rates. Monetary incentives, personalized cover letters, preaddressed and stamped return envelopes, offers of survey results, and follow-up reminders have all been employed singly and in combination in an effort to prompt replies to mail surveys. Andreasen, for example, found response rates decreased with increased personalization, possibly because increased personalization implied reduced respondent anonymity. His conclusion echoed that of Simon [10], but violated those of other studies:
Regulation of the renal Na-HCO3 cotransporter. XI. Signal transduction underlying CO2stimulation

We have previously shown that CO2 stimulation of the renal Na-HCO3 cotransporter (NBC) activity is abrogated by general inhibitors of protein tyrosine kinases. The more selective inhibitor herbimyc...
Automated identification of molecular effects of drugs (AIMED)

Introduction Genomic profiling information is frequently available to oncologists, enabling targeted cancer therapy. Because clinically relevant information is rapidly emerging in the literature and elsewhere, there is a need for informatics technologies to support targeted therapies. To this end, we have developed a system for Automated Identification of Molecular Effects of Drugs, to help biomedical scientists curate this literature to facilitate decision support. Objectives To create an automated system to identify assertions in the literature concerning drugs targeting genes with therapeutic implications and characterize the challenges inherent in automating this process in rapidly evolving domains. Methods We used subject-predicate-object triples (semantic predications) and co-occurrence relations generated by applying the SemRep Natural Language Processing system to MEDLINE abstracts and ClinicalTrials.gov descriptions. We applied customized semantic queries to find drugs targeting genes of interest. The results were manually reviewed by a team of experts. Results Compared to a manually curated set of relationships, recall, precision, and F2 were 0.39, 0.21, and 0.33, respectively, which represents a 3- to 4-fold improvement over a publically available set of predications (SemMedDB) alone. Upon review of ostensibly false positive results, 26% were considered relevant additions to the reference set, and an additional 61% were considered to be relevant for review. Adding co-occurrence data improved results for drugs in early development, but not their better-established counterparts. Conclusions Precision medicine poses unique challenges for biomedical informatics systems that help domain experts find answers to their research questions. Further research is required to improve the performance of such systems, particularly for drugs in development.
Determination of 18 Sulfonamides in Veterinary Pharmaceutical Powder by High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization triple-quadruple tandem mass spectrometric(HPLC-ESI-MS/MS) method was established for the determination of 18 sulfonamides and their potentiators in veterinary pharmaceutical powder, including sulfadimidine,sulfacetamide, sulfamethizole, sulfachloropyridazine, sulfamethoxazole, sulfathiazole, sulfamonomethoxine,sulfamerazine, sulfadoxine, sulfapyridine, sulfameter, sulfamethoxypyridazine, sulfaphenazolum, sulfadimethoxypyrimidine, sulfisoxazole, sulfaquinoxaline, sulfadiazine and trimethoprim. The 18 banned additives were extracted with methanol-H2O(90 ∶ 10). Then the reconstituted sample solution was analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS under positive ion mode,with a C18column(2. 1 mm × 150 mm,5 μm) as analytical column. The detection limits of 18 sulfonamides were all10 μg/kg. The calibration curves were linear in the range of 50-2 000 μg/kg,with correlation coefficients more than 0. 99. The method was validated at spiked levels of 50,200,1 000 μg/kg,and the overall recoveries were in the range of 86. 8%-115% with relative standard deviations(RSDs) of 1. 0%-9. 7%.
Cognitive situation of measles,rubella and mumps and effect of health education among students in 3 middle schools in Tianjin

[Objective]To understand the cognitive situation of measles,rubella and mumps among middle school students in Tianjin,evaluate the health education. [Methods]By using stratified random cluster sampling,1 075 students were collected from 3middle schools,and the questionnaire survey was conducted before and after the intervention. The ways of health education included promotional leaflet,publicity pictures,health lecture,knowledge prize play,broadcast and letter to parents. The awareness rate before and after the intervention was analyzed by χ2test,and the influencing factors were investigated by logistic regression analysis.[Results]The baseline survey showed that the total awareness rate of measles,rubella and mumps among 1 075 students was48. 19%,and the awareness rates of peak season,preventive measures,susceptible population,quarantine,transmission route,infection sources and main symptoms ranged from 14. 60% to 69. 12%. The awareness rates after the intervention have increased as compared with those before the intervention,and the differences were statistical significant. The correct rate of behavior problems after the intervention was respectively 91. 67%,94. 01% and 92. 07%,which were significantly higher than those before the intervention( P 0. 05). There was no significant difference in awareness rates of related knowledge between boys and girls. The habitat of students was the main influencing factor of awareness rates. [Conclusion]The health education of measles,rubella and mumps among middle school students can improve their cognitive level of these diseases,and promote the active prevention consciousness. The form and implementation of health education should focus on the outer suburbs and rural areas.
Evaluation of Iowa's anti-bullying law

Bullying is the most common form of youth aggression. Although 49 of all 50 states in the U.S. have an anti-bullying law in place to prevent bullying, little is known about the effectiveness of these laws. Our objective was to measure the effectiveness of Iowa’s anti-bullying law in preventing bullying and improving teacher response to bullying. Sixth, 8th, and 11th grade children who completed the 2005, 2008 and 2010 Iowa Youth Survey were included in this study (n = 253,000). Students were coded according to exposure to the law: pre-law for 2005 survey data, one year post-law for 2008 data, and three years post-law for 2010 data. The outcome variables were: 1) being bullied (relational, verbal, physical, and cyber) in the last month and 2) extent to which teachers/adults on campus intervened with bullying. Generalized linear mixed models were constructed with random effects. The odds of being bullied increased from pre-law to one year post-law periods, and then decreased from one year to three years post-law but not below 2005 pre-law levels. This pattern was consistent across all bullying types except cyberbullying. The odds of teacher intervention decreased 11 % (OR = 0.89, 95 % CL = 0.88, 0.90) from 2005 (pre-law) to 2010 (post-law). Bullying increased immediately after Iowa’s anti-bullying law was passed, possibly due to improved reporting. Reductions in bullying occurred as the law matured. Teacher response did not improve after the passage of the law.
Incidence, etiology, and classification of congenital heart disease.

A classification of congenital heart disease is presented which is based on the presence or absence of cyanosis.
Spontaneous rupture on natural fractures and seismic radiation during hydraulic fracturing treatments

We extend spontaneous rupture models in earthquake source studies to analyze fluid injection problems. We perform these analyses on a 2-D fracture network model with a propagating hydraulic fracture (HF) and three sets of natural fractures (NFs). We find that it is difficult for NFs that are either parallel or perpendicular to the HF to slip because of little resolved shear stress on them in the prestress field. Shear failure of optimally oriented NFs depends on frictional parameters, such as the critical slip distance in slip-weakening laws. Slip of NFs near the tips of the HF may affect HF opening. Nonsmooth fracture opening generates isolated spiky seismic signals, while unstable frictional slip radiates strong and continuous seismic signals with long-duration coda waves. These results suggest microseismicity may be primarily generated by unstable frictional slip on NFs with some contribution from nonsmooth opening motions on HFs and/or NFs.
Placental Weight in Pregnant Women with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: The Association with Fetal Growth

Objective To determine the association between placental weight (PW) and large for gestational age (LGA) in women with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and whether glycemic control modifies the association. Study Design In a retrospective analysis of a cohort of women with T1DM, poor glycemic control was defined as glycohemoglobin A1(HbA1)≥ 8.5% (≥2 standard deviations [SD] above mean), and LGA as birth weight > 90th percentile, according to gestation, race, and sex. Multivariable logistic regression was used for analysis. Stratified analyses (HbA1 < 8.5% vs. HbA1 ≥ 8.5%) assessed the role of glycemic control on association between PW and LGA. Results PW in 302 pregnancies was positively associated with LGA (first vs. fourth quartile of PW; odds ratio [OR] = 9.56; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.14-22.08). Association varied significantly by glycemic control in the first trimester, but not in the second and third trimesters. For women with first trimester HbA1 concentration < 8.5%, there was no statistically significant association; however, with HbA1 ≥ 8.5%, there was a strong association (OR = 13.40, 95% CI: 3.31, 54.27). Conclusion There was a significant positive association between PW and LGA in infants of women with T1DM, particularly evident in pregnancies with poor glycemic control during the first trimester, highlighting the importance of achieving good glycemic control early in gestation.
Revisiting the nilpotent polynomial Hales–Jewett theorem

Abstract Answering a question posed by Bergelson and Leibman in [6] , we establish a nilpotent version of the Polynomial Hales–Jewett Theorem that contains the main theorem in [6] as a special case. Important to the formulation and the proof of our main theorem is the notion of a relative syndetic set (relative with respect to a closed non-empty subsets of β G ) [25] . As a corollary of our main theorem we prove an extension of the restricted van der Waerden Theorem to nilpotent groups, which involves nilprogressions.
Wanda: Securely introducing mobile devices

Nearly every setting is increasingly populated with wireless and mobile devices — whether appliances in a home, medical devices in a health clinic, sensors in an industrial setting, or devices in an office or school. There are three fundamental operations when bringing a new device into any of these settings: to configure the device to join the wireless local-area network, to partner the device with other nearby devices so they can work together, and (3) to configure the device so it connects to the relevant individual or organizational account in the cloud. The challenge is to accomplish all three goals simply, securely, and consistent with user intent. We present a novel approach we call Wanda — a ‘magic wand’ that accomplishes all three of the above goals — and evaluate a prototype implementation.
Studying the effect of lubricant on laser joining of AA 6111 panels with the addition of AA 4047 filler wire

Abstract This paper explores the feasibility of laser joining of aluminum alloy 6111 panels with the presence of lubricant used in the preceding stamping operation. The effects of two commonly used automotive lubricants, Bonderite L-FM MP-404 and Ferrocote 61 MAL HCL lubricant, on the weld quality were investigated. Images captured by a CCD camera showed that the presence of lubricant caused the poor wetting and spreading of the filler wire. The decomposition of lubricant formed hydrogen pores in the weld, promoted the plasma plume with a high intensity, and elevated the temperature of the molten pool. The simulation of rapid solidification revealed that the formation mechanism of pores was related to the temperature distributions and the solidification rates. The comparison of effects of diluted lubricants in different concentrations on the weld surface quality and the mechanical properties provides a reference on an acceptable level of lubricant on the stamped panels prior to welding.
Aging and the Cardiovascular System

Cardiovascular aging is characterized by increased thickness and stiffness of the central arterial walls, a preserved ejection fraction at rest through an increase in the thickness of the left ventricular wall, an enhanced ability of the myocardium to bear force in late systole, and diminished responsiveness to β-adrenergic modulation. During maximal exercise older individuals, as compared to younger individuals, exhibit diminished exercise capacity with preserved cardiac reserve, due to peripheral factors that determine oxygen utilization; lower ejection fraction due to an age-associated uncoupling of arterial and cardiac energies; and reduced cardiac output with preserved stroke volume, due to an age-associated decrease in maximal heart rate. The incidence and prevalence of cardiovascular diseases increase with advancing age. This association may be explained, in part, by the fact that many of the same factors that underlie the age-associated structural and functional alterations in central arterial walls are also implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases.
Age, sex, and race/ethnic temporal trends in metabolic syndrome prevalence among individuals with myocardial infarction or stroke in the United States

Abstract Introduction Metabolic syndrome (MetS), an independent risk factor for myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke, affects 1 in 3 adults in the United States. Recent trends in MetS prevalence among MI and stroke survivors are unknown. Methods We assessed age, sex, race/ethnicity, and socio-economic status specific trends in rates of MetS among adults ≥ 18 years who participated in National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 1999–2010 and who fasted for 8 h ( n = 12,502). MetS was defined using the 2009 harmonized definition. MI and stroke were defined by self-reported diagnosis by a health care provider. Results MetS prevalence was 65.8% (2.2%) in MI survivors ( n = 663) and 61.2% (3.8%) in stroke survivors (299). Women aged 35 to 64 years with prior MI were more likely to have MetS compared to similarly aged stroke survivors (unadjusted OR 3.13, 95% CI 1.38–7.10). MetS prevalence among MI/stroke survivors remained flat from 1999 to 2010 in all groups except non-Hispanic blacks with prior MI, in whom prevalence increased. From 1999 to 2010, dyslipidemia declined and abdominal obesity and hyperglycemia increased among individuals with prior MI. MetS components remained unchanged among those with prior stroke. Conclusion The persistent high prevalence of MetS among stroke and MI survivors highlights the need for more effective interventions.
Pharmacokinetics of two 6-mercaptopurine liquid formulations in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Background A liquid formulation of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (Purixan®) based on bioavailability (BA) data from healthy adults. We examined the pharmacokinetics (PK) and BA of 6-MP in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) comparing a marketed tablet, two extemporaneously prepared liquid formulations, and data from the approved liquid formulation. Methods Twenty-two children (6–17 years) participated in a randomized two-way, crossover study of two cohorts. Group 1 (n = 11; five males) received a 5 mg/ml liquid formulation and the marketed 50 mg 6-MP tablet on separate occasions, and Group 2 (n = 11; five males) received a 50 mg/ml liquid formulation and the marketed tablet. The usual prescribed 6-MP dose (25–115 mg/m2) was given after an 8-hr fast. Serial blood samples were collected over 8 hr postdose. Plasma 6-MP concentrations were determined using a good laboratory practice (GLP)-validated liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method. PK parameters were calculated using noncompartmental analysis and compared within and between cohorts, and thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) genotype was analyzed. Results No patient had a TPMT genotype reflective of a poor metabolizer phenotype. Comparison of PK parameters between 5 and 50 mg/ml treatments revealed significant differences (P <0.05) in AUCN (where AUC is area under the curve), CmaxN, and Tmax. Comparisons within each group revealed significant differences in AUC0-∞ and Tmax in the 5 mg/ml group. Conclusions Pharmacokinetic profiles of 6-MP established in healthy adults with the approved liquid formulation may not reflect the PK profile in children with ALL. Formulation-specific differences in PK may significantly impact the dose–exposure profile in these children and must be considered.
Reduced specificity in emotion judgment in people with autism spectrum disorder

There is a conflicting literature on facial emotion processing in autism spectrum disorder (ASD): both typical and atypical performance have been reported, and inconsistencies in the literature may stem from different processes examined (emotion judgment, face perception, fixations) as well as differences in participant populations. Here we conducted a detailed investigation of the ability to discriminate graded emotions shown in morphs of fear-happy faces, in a well-characterized high-functioning sample of participants with ASD and matched controls. Signal detection approaches were used in the analyses, and concurrent high-resolution eye-tracking was collected. Although people with ASD had typical thresholds for categorical fear and confidence judgments, their psychometric specificity to detect emotions across the entire range of intensities was reduced. However, fixation patterns onto the stimuli were typical and could not account for the reduced specificity of emotion judgment. Together, our results argue for a subtle and specific deficit in emotion perception in ASD that, from a signal detection perspective, is best understood as a reduced specificity due to increased noise in central processing of the face stimuli.
High level synthesis using vivado HLS for optimizations of SHA-3

Hash functions represent a fundamental building block of many network security protocols. The SHA-3 hashing algorithm is the most recently developed hash function, and the most secure. Implementation of the SHA-3 hashing algorithm in Hardware Description Language (HDL) is time demanding and tedious to debug. On the other hand, High-Level Synthesis (HLS) tools offer potential solutions to the hardware design. HLS tools provide us with advanced capabilities for design evaluation and a wide variety of optimization techniques. In this paper, the SHA-3 hashing algorithm and its implementation onto a Xilinx® Zynq-7000 SoPC is explored. The SHA-3 hashing algorithm is initially coded in C programming language and then implemented with Xilinx Vivado HLS. The HLS tool enabled us to quickly analyze our design to make suitable optimizations which led to increased throughput of the SHA-3 hashing algorithm, up to 2000 Mbps. After pipelining the synthesized hardware design, it was capable of hashing a block of 1088 bits in 70 clock cycles.
Human DNA polymerase η accommodates RNA for strand extension.

Ribonucleotides are the natural analogs of deoxyribonucleotides, which can be misinserted by DNA polymerases, leading to the most abundant DNA lesions in genomes. During replication, DNA polymerases tolerate patches of ribonucleotides on the parental strands to different extents. The majority of human DNA polymerases have been reported to misinsert ribonucleotides into genomes. However, only PrimPol, DNA polymerase α, telomerase, and the mitochondrial human DNA polymerase (hpol) γ have been shown to tolerate an entire RNA strand. Y-family hpol η is known for translesion synthesis opposite the UV-induced DNA lesion cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer and was recently found to incorporate ribonucleotides into DNA. Here, we report that hpol η is able to bind DNA/DNA, RNA/DNA, and DNA/RNA duplexes with similar affinities. In addition, hpol η, as well as another Y-family DNA polymerase, hpol κ, accommodates RNA as one of the two strands during primer extension, mainly by inserting dNMPs opposite unmodified templates or DNA lesions, such as 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine or cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer, even in the presence of an equal amount of the DNA/DNA substrate. The discovery of this RNA-accommodating ability of hpol η redefines the traditional concept of human DNA polymerases and indicates potential new functions of hpol η in vivo.
Adolescent Female Aggression: Functions and Etiology

Despite the narrowing gap between male and female use of aggressive behavior, much of the extant aggression research has centered on males. Various internal, or psychological factors, including att...
Non-Native Conformational Isomers of the Catalytic Domain of PCSK9 Induce an Immune Response, Reduce Lipids and Increase LDL Receptor Levels

PCSK9 (Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) increases plasma cholesterol levels by promoting LDL receptor degradation. Current antibody inhibitors block the interaction between PCSK9 and LDL receptors, significantly decrease plasma cholesterol levels, and provide beneficial clinical outcomes. To reduce the action of PCSK9 in plasma, a novel strategy that will produce a panel of non-native, conformationally-altered isomers of PCSK9 (X-PCSK9) to develop active immunotherapy targeting of native PCSK9 and inhibiting/blocking the interaction of PCSK9 with LDL receptor, thus decreasing plasma cholesterol levels is proposed. The authors used the scrambled disulfide bond technique to generate conformationally-altered isomers of the catalytic domain of mouse PCSK9. The focus was on the immune response of four X-isomers and their effects on plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels in both C57BL/6J and Apoe−/− mice. The authors showed that the four immunogens produced significant immunogenicity against native PCSK9 to day 120 after immunization of C57BL/6J and Apoe−/− mice. This resulted in significantly decreased plasma cholesterol levels in C57BL/6J mice, and to a lesser degree in Apoe−/− mice. The X-PCSK9-B1 treated mice had increased LDL receptor mRNA and protein levels at day 120 after treatment. Thus, this study provides a new, potentially promising approach that uses long-term immunotherapy for a treatment of hypercholesterolemia.
Green competition, hybrid equilibrium, and establishment of a resale market

Abstract This paper investigates competition between firms whose choices of how much “green effort” to devote to building their reputations as socially responsible producers are determined in the contexts of simultaneous-move and hybrid simultaneous/sequential-move Bertrand equilibria. We derive conditions under which (1) the inter-temporal, green-effort reaction function of the firm with the less-aggressive green strategy is non-monotonic, (2) the level of green effort chosen by the firm with the more-aggressive green strategy increases when it views itself as the leader in a hybrid game rather than moving concurrently in a simultaneous-choice game, and (3) the establishment of a resale market by the more aggressive firm acts as a substitute for its choice of green-effort level. The sufficiency conditions underlying these results impose qualitative restrictions on the more-aggressive firm's lagged (i.e., reputational) and contemporaneous cross effects of its green effort on demand for the less-aggressive firm's product, as well as on the less-aggressive firm's price markup and marginal cost associated with its production and green-effort choices, respectively.
Determinants and Eigenvalues

In Chapter 3, we define the determinant of a matrix using cofactor expansion, and then show how to compute the determinant using row reduction. We compute the areas and volumes of parallelograms and parallelepipeds as an application. The determinant also provides a quick method for discovering whether a matrix is nonsingular and whether certain linear systems have a unique solution. Finally, we use determinants to introduce eigenvalues and eigenvectors, and diagonalization of a square matrix, when possible.
EMPIRICAL COMPARISON OF LOTTERY- AND RATING-BASED PREFERENCE ASSESSMENT

We investigate the performance of direct rating, probability equivalent, and lottery equivalent assessment techniques for a set of 41 individuals in terms of the ability of the techniques to reproduce indifference between two-criteria outcomes previously judged to be indifferent. To compare the performance before and after gaining familiarity with the techniques, we use data obtained both at the beginning and at the end of the interview sessions. The results show that the probability equivalent and lottery equivalent techniques performed no worse, and generally better than the rating technique. These results refute claims that lottery-based techniques are too complicated and too unrealistic compared to simpler techniques to be used in MCDA preference assessment. The results also show that all three techniques performed better when using data obtained at the end of the session—after the individuals gained familiarity with the techniques—and that the relatively complex lottery equivalent technique performed as well as the other techniques when using data obtained at the end of the session.
The mass difference of the neutral kaons and the decay K 2 0 →γγ

The current-current form of the weak Hamiltonian is used, in a pole-dominance model, to study the mass difference of the neutral kaons, and the decay K20→γγ.
Direct Image Reconstruction-Segmentation, as Motivated by Electron Microscopy

Our aim is to produce a tessellation of space into small voxels and, based on only a few tomographic projections of an object, assign to each voxel a label that indicates one of the components of interest constituting the object. Examples of application are in the areas of electron microscopy, industrial nondestructive testing, cardiac imaging, etc. Current approaches first reconstruct the density distribution from the projections and then segment (label) this distribution. We instead postulate a low-level prior knowledge regarding the underlying distribution of label images and then directly estimate the label image based on the prior and the projections. In particular, we show, in the binary (i.e., two labels) case, that the marginal posterior mode estimator outperforms the widely known maximum a posteriori probability estimator. As measured by label misclassification in the reconstructions, our direct labeling method was experimentally proved (in the binary case) to be superior to current approaches. However, when a detectability measure was used, its relative performance was less satisfactory. We discuss possible improvements.
Osseous cavernous hemangioma of the superior orbital rim.

A 53-year-old male presented with a bony lesion over the superior orbital rim increasing in size over several months. CT imaging showed a circumscribed, osseous lesion involving the outer table of ...
Radiation environment in the I2S-LWR concept: Part I – Radial distribution and its impact on vessel fluence, neutron detectors placement, and radial reflector gamma heating

Abstract The neutron and gamma environment surrounding the Integral Inherently-Safe Light Water Reactor (I2S-LWR) core was characterized to ensure safe operation over the 100-year lifetime of the plant with respect to important design parameters. To demonstrate that all requirements were met, a detailed shielding model was developed in the Scale6.1 code package and used with the MAVRIC shielding sequence. The neutron fluence to the reactor vessel at the end of the plant lifetime was shown to be almost two orders of magnitude below levels that would lead to neutron embrittlement (due to a wide downcomer region despite the increased plant lifetime and higher power density). Additionally, the feasibility of placing radiation-hardened high-temperature silicon carbide semiconductor detectors within the pressure vessel was demonstrated showing that flux levels could be monitored covering all ranges from startup (“source range”) through full-power operations. Furthermore, the gamma heating distribution within the radial neutron reflector directly outside of the core was determined and used to guide the design of cooling channels in order to remove the 6.6 MW of energy deposited in the reflector.
Dual-Band Filtering Antenna With Novel Transmission Zero Characteristics

A single-layer two-pole dual-band filtering antenna (DBFA) with orthogonal polarizations in the two bands is presented in this letter. The DBFA is based on a common dual-mode T-shaped resonator (TR). The two modes of the common resonator each couple to one of the two orthogonally placed patches, resulting in required radiation. The TR is responsible for generation of three transmission zeroes (TZs) in frequency response corresponding to each polarization at the broadside: two of them being intrinsic TZs due to the TR and the third caused by far field interference of TR's radiation with that of the patch.The low profile microwave design has its two passbands operating at 4.13 and 4.7 GHz (resulting in a frequency ratio of 1.14) with 10 dB return loss bandwidths of 1.2% and 2.9%, respectively.
How Social Networking Use and Beliefs About Inequality Affect Engagement With Racial Justice Movements

Social media is an increasingly prominent platform for sharing information about current social issues. In the recent case of the fatal shooting of unarmed Black teenager Michael Brown by a White p...
Dynamic Pricing of Omnichannel Inventories

Omnichannel retail refers to a seamless integration of an e-commerce channel and a network of brick-and-mortar stores. An example is cross-channel fulfillment, which allows a store to fulfill onlin...
The ZOONIVERSE is Expanding: Crowdsourced Solutions to the Hidden Collections Problem and the Rise of the Revolutionary Cataloging Interface

AbstractExperimental crowdsourced strategies pertaining to library resource description are becoming increasingly common. This research introduces the term “revolutionary cataloging interface” to describe the characteristics of crowdsourced metadata creation portals: capable of being learned during a 10–15 minute tutorial, requiring little or no previous cataloging experience, yet with demonstrated potential for producing robust and rich metadata with an impressive level of automated quality control. Focusing on a case study of Zooniverse’s Operation War Diary, this paper investigates, explains, and assesses the potential of such innovations to meet successfully the challenges posed by Hidden Collections.
Infrared Heating for Improved Drying Efficiency, Food Safety, and Quality of Rice

Infrared radiation (IR) heating has a promising potential to achieve high drying rate, energy saving, effective disinfestation, and disinfection of rough rice. It can also inactivate lipase and extend the storage lives of both rough and brown rice. Moreover, IR can effectively stabilize the rice bran and improve its utilization without affecting the quality of rice bran oil. Consequently, through the recent investigations about IR heating on rice, it has proven the feasibility of simultaneous drying, disinfestation, disinfection, and stabilization. This chapter summarizes the drying characteristics, milling quality, sensory quality, effectiveness of disinfestation and disinfection, rice bran stabilization, and storage stability of rough rice under IR heating. The outcomes of recent studies on rice drying by using IR heating have clearly revealed that a high heating rate, fast drying, good quality, and improved food safety can be achieved. IR drying provides a potential to store brown rice instead of rough rice to retain all benefits with reduced costs. Additionally, IR drying could effectively maintain the stability of physicochemical characteristics of rice during storage. It has been confirmed that IR heating followed by natural cooling should be an effective approach for designing IR rough rice dryers.
7 – MATRICES AND DETERMINANTS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses matrices and determinants. The material on matrices and determinants serves as an introduction to linear algebra, a mathematical subject that is used in the natural sciences, business and economics, and the social sciences. As matrix methods may require millions of numerical computations, computers have played an important role in expanding the use of matrix techniques to a wide variety of practical problems. A system can be displayed by a matrix, which is simply a rectangular array of mn real numbers arranged in m horizontal rows and n vertical columns. The numbers are called the entries or elements of the matrix and are enclosed within brackets. If the numbers of rows and columns of a matrix are both equal to n, the matrix is called a square matrix of order n. In the system of linear equations, the matrix in which the first column is formed from the coefficients of x and the second column is formed from the coefficients of y, is called the coefficient matrix. The matrix that includes a column consisting of the right-hand sides of the equations, separated from the other columns by a dashed line, is called the augmented matrix.
Sustainability Science: Toward a Synthesis

This review synthesizes diverse approaches that researchers have brought to bear on the challenge of sustainable development. We construct an integrated framework highlighting the union set of elem...
Reading De Quinceyan Rhetoric Against the Grain: An Actor-Network-Theory Approach

Anuj Gupta reads the inter-textualities between Confessions and nineteenth-century medical texts on opium to argue that the concept of “anthropocentric utilitarianism” was the dominant discursive trope through which the nineteenth-century English public understood the drug effects of psychoactive substances. Literary as well as medical texts of the time imagined humans as subjects and the plant product opium as an inert object and conceptualised the latter only in terms of advantages/disadvantages to the former. Using an actor-network approach, Gupta offers a possible method to read these eighteenth-century texts on opium against the grain by re-contextualising them within a complex global history of human-plant co-evolution.
Mechanics for Tendon Actuated Multisection Continuum Arms

Tendon actuated multisection continuum arms have high potential for inspection applications in highly constrained spaces. They generate motion by axial and bending deformations. However, because of the high mechanical coupling between continuum sections, variable length-based kinematic models produce poor results. A new mechanics model for tendon actuated multisection continuum arms is proposed in this paper. The model combines the continuum arm curve parameter kinematics and concentric tube kinematics to correctly account for the large axial and bending deformations observed in the robot. Also, the model is computationally efficient and utilizes tendon tensions as the joint space variables thus eliminating the actuator length related problems such as slack and backlash. A recursive generalization of the model is also presented. Despite the high coupling between continuum sections, numerical results show that the model can be used for generating correct forward and inverse kinematic results. The model is then tested on a thin and long multisection continuum arm. The results show that the model can be used to successfully model the deformation.
Variation in Expression of Reference Genes across Life Stages of a Bee, Megachile rotundata

The alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megachile rotundata is widely used in the western United States as a pollinator for alfalfa seed production. Unfortunately, immatures experience high mortality in agriculturally managed populations. Quantified gene expression could be used to identify how this bee responds during different life stages to pathogens, environmental toxins, and other stresses, but stably expressed reference genes are needed to normalize transcription data. We evaluated twelve candidate genes for their transcription stability across different life stages, including during and after diapause. RPS18 and RPL8 were the two most stably expressed genes, followed by RPS5 and RPL27A. These genes were also very stable even during and after diapause, while the most variable genes being APN, PMIIM, NPC2, and Cr-PII had increased expression levels during larval growth and were also variable during and after diapause. The four reference genes we identified in M. rotundata may prove useful for transcriptomic studies in other bees as well, such as honey bees.
Neurologisch-neurochirurgische Rehabilitation älterer Patienten nach neurochirurgischen Eingriffen

Immer mehr altere Menschen benotigen nach einem neurochirurgischen Eingriff eine Rehabilitationsbehandlung. Dominiert die akute Erkrankung die Symptomatik, sollten die Patienten indikationsspezifisch einer neurologisch-neurochirurgischen Rehabilitation zugefuhrt werden. Die Behandlung erfolgt gemas dem Phasenmodell der Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft fur Rehabilitation. Ziel der Behandlung ist die grostmogliche Teilhabe am bisherigen Leben (ICF-Konzept der WHO). Die Komplexitat der Storungsbilder erfordert ein multidisziplinares Team von Arzten, Pflegekraften, Therapeuten und Sozialarbeitern. Besonders wichtig sind das Erkennen und Behandeln von Komplikationen sowie die Berucksichtigung der Besonderheiten alterer Patienten bei der Medikation. Vorsorgevollmachten und Patientenverfugungen sollen dem Patientenwillen auch in Situationen von existenzieller Bedeutung und bei Entscheidungen am Lebensende Gehor verschaffen. Die Rehabilitation alterer Menschen kann sehr erfolgreich sein, ist aber abhangig von vielen Faktoren, nicht zuletzt von der Motivation der Betroffenen.