cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multidimensional analysis of suction feeding performance in fishes: fluid speed, acceleration, strike accuracy and the ingested volume of water

Suction feeding fish draw prey into the mouth using a flow field that they generate external to the head. In this paper we present a multidimensional perspective on suction feeding performance that we illustrate in a comparative analysis of suction feeding ability in two members of Centrarchidae, the largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus). We present the first direct measurements of maximum fluid speed capacity, and we use this to calculate local fluid acceleration and volumetric flow rate. We also calculated the ingested volume and a novel metric of strike accuracy. In addition, we quantified for each species the effects of gape magnitude, time to peak gape, and swimming speed on features of the ingested volume of water. Digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) and high-speed video were used to measure the flow in front of the mouths of three fish from each species in conjunction with a vertical laser sheet positioned on the mid-sagittal plane of the fish. From this we quantified the maximum fluid speed (in the earthbound and fish's frame of reference), acceleration and ingested volume. Our method for determining strike accuracy involved quantifying the location of the prey relative to the center of the parcel of ingested water. Bluegill sunfish generated higher fluid speeds in the earthbound frame of reference, accelerated the fluid faster, and were more accurate than largemouth bass. However, largemouth bass ingested a larger volume of water and generated a higher volumetric flow rate than bluegill sunfish. In addition, because largemouth bass swam faster during prey capture, they generated higher fluid speeds in the fish's frame of reference. Thus, while bluegill can exert higher drag forces on stationary prey items, largemouth bass more quickly close the distance between themselves and prey. The ingested volume and volumetric flow rate significantly increased as gape increased for both species, while time to peak gape had little effect on the volume. However, peak gape distance did not affect the maximum fluid speed entering the mouth for either species. We suggest that species that generate high fluid speeds in the earthbound frame of reference will commonly exhibit small mouths and a high capacity to deliver force to buccal expansion, while species that ingest a large volume of water and generate high volumetric flow rates will have larger buccal cavities and cranial expansion linkage systems that favor displacement over force delivery.
Minimally destructive sampling of type specimens of Pyropia (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) recovers complete plastid and mitochondrial genomes

Plant species, including algae and fungi, are based on type specimens to which the name of a taxon is permanently attached. Applying a scientific name to any specimen therefore requires demonstrating correspondence between the type and that specimen. Traditionally, identifications are based on morpho-anatomical characters, but recently systematists are using DNA sequence data. These studies are flawed if the DNA is isolated from misidentified modern specimens. We propose a genome-based solution. Using 4 × 4 mm2 of material from type specimens, we assembled 14 plastid and 15 mitochondrial genomes attributed to the red algae Pyropia perforata, Py. fucicola and Py. kanakaensis. The chloroplast genomes were fairly conserved, but the mitochondrial genomes differed significantly among populations in content and length. Complete genomes are attainable from 19th and early 20th century type specimens; this validates the effort and cost of their curation as well as supports the practice of the type method.
Antibiotic prescription practices for pneumonia, skin and soft tissue infections and urinary tract infections throughout the US Veterans Affairs system.

Currently used metrics for antibiotic utilization are not linked to a diagnosis and may be difficult to interpret. We aimed to describe patterns and variation in antibiotic management of three common infectious disease diagnoses in Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs).
R-matrix propagator with perfectly matched layers for the study of integrated optical components

The perfectly matched layer boundary conditions are incorporated into the R-matrix propagator method to achieve an extended capability for the modeling of integrated optical devices. As examples, with this technique we calculate the free-space coupling of a Gaussian beam into a planar waveguide, both with and without surface roughness on the waveguide surface.
Invasions by Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in the Western Hemisphere: implications for South America

The multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas), native to Asia, has recently been detected in South America after successfully invading North America and Europe. This coccinellid is a voracious predator; therefore, it is popular and effective in biological control. Unfortunately, H. axyridis also has associated adverse impacts (i.e., as a household pest, pest of fruit production, and threat to non-target organisms). To predict the potential geographic extent of impacts of H. axyridis in South America we review the history of its invasion in the Western Hemisphere and address various factors critical to the future invasion (i.e., arrival, establishment, and spread) of new areas of South America. The likelihood of continued introductions (i.e., arrival) of H. axyridis to South America seems high, due to its popularity as a biological control agent and through accidental introductions. Establishment also seems likely in broad regions of South America. Climate matching with the native range suggested that much of southern South America may be suitable for establishment. In contrast, habitat matching with the native range suggested that northern South America may be more suitable. In addition, prey availability should not limit establishment of this predator. Once established, H. axyridis seems likely to spread by flight and human-assisted means. Overall, the invasion of H. axyridis over broad areas in South America seems likely.
Endotrophic Mycorrhizae Influence Yellow Poplar Seedling Growth

Yellow poplar seedlings infected with endotrophic mycorrhizal fungi grow much faster than seedlings grown without mycorrhizae. A method of pot culture that uses natural soil structure provides an excellent means of studying growth differences due to microorganisms.
Internal Polyolefins and a Few Highly Substituted Polyvinyls

Internal olefins are molecules in which the ethylenic double bond is fully substituted by hydrocarbon moities, e.g.
'Pioneering Modern Painting': the Cézanne and Pissarro exhibition

The touring exhibition “Pioneering Modern Painting: Cezanne & Pissarro 1865–1885,” which opened in June 2005 at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, is among the most serious, inquiring, and, more important, open-ended exhibitions ever held of modern 19th-century painting. The show is most decidedly not an attempt to resurrect the reputation of Pissarro by placing him at the side of one of the giants of modern painting; instead, it tells a tale of artistic interaction—of prolonged and repeated approaches, engagements, and avoidances that lasted almost 20 crucial years in the careers of both men. The exhibition establishes a narrative that is fascinating and worth the closest scrutiny, though with 93 paintings and drawings in New York and 106 in the catalog, the reading of the artists' dialog is rather more generous than a visitor might require.
Dynamics of Interfacial Charge Transfer to Formic Acid, Formaldehyde, and Methanol on the Surface of TiO2 Nanoparticles and Its Role in Methane Production

Transient absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies were used to study reactions of photogenerated electrons and holes on TiO2 with methanol, formaldehyde, and formic acid (compounds that, together with methane, have been observed in the photocatalytic reduction of CO2). The ultrafast dynamics of hole scavenging was found to be an order of magnitude faster on the surface of TiO2 than in the corresponding homogeneous systems. Additionally, the equilibrium constant for the reaction of photogenerated electrons in TiO2 with adsorbed CO2 was estimated to be less than 3.2 M–1, regardless of the presence of hole scavengers and product molecules. Formic acid serves as both the hole and the electron acceptor, yielding the protonated radical anions (OC•OH), and formyl radicals, respectively. For methanol and formaldehyde only photooxidation, but no one-electron photoreduction, was observed by EPR spectroscopy; these molecules are either reduced in a two-electron process or act only as hole...
Study of the inorganic substitution in a functionalized UiO-66 metal–organic framework

In this study the band gap modulation was studied in response to inorganic ion substitution within a thermally stable UiO-66 metal-organic framework (MOF). A combination of density functional theory prediction in conjunction with experimental predictions were used to map out the complete composition space for three inorganic ions (Zr, Ti, Hf) and three functional groups. The three functional groups include an amino group (NH2), a nitro group (NO2), and a hydrogenated case (H). The smallest band gap that experimentally determined was for a partially substituted UiO-66(Ti5Zr1)-NH2 resulting in 2.60 eV. Theoretical results indicated that Ti can be fully substituted within the lattice resulting in a predicted band gap as low as 1.62 eV. Modulation was a result of a mid-gap state introduced through the amino functionalization and HOMO shifting as a result of increased binding of the Ti-O-C bonds.
Survival of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria and Horizontal Gene Transfer Control Antibiotic Resistance Gene Content in Anaerobic Digesters

Understanding fate of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) vs. their antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) during wastewater sludge treatment is critical in order to reduce the spread of antibiotic resistance through process optimization. Here, we spiked high concentrations of tetracycline-resistant bacteria, isolated from mesophilic (Iso M1-1-a Pseudomonas sp.) and thermophilic (Iso T10-a Bacillus sp.) anaerobic digested sludge, into batch digesters and monitored their fate by plate counts and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) of their corresponding tetracycline ARGs. In batch studies, spiked ARB plate counts returned to baseline (thermophilic) or 1-log above baseline (mesophilic) while levels of the ARG present in the spiked isolate [tet(G)] remained high in mesophilic batch reactors. To compare results under semi-continuous flow conditions with natural influent variation, tet(O), tet(W), and sul1 ARGs, along with the intI1 integrase gene, were monitored over a 9-month period in the raw feed sludge and effluent sludge of lab-scale thermophilic and mesophilic anaerobic digesters. sul1 and intI1 in mesophilic and thermophilic digesters correlated positively (Spearman rho = 0.457-0.829, P < 0.05) with the raw feed sludge. There was no correlation in tet(O) or tet(W) ratios in raw sludge and mesophilic digested sludge or thermophilic digested sludge (Spearman rho = 0.130-0.486, P = 0.075-0.612). However, in the thermophilic digester, the tet(O) and tet(W) ratios remained consistently low over the entire monitoring period. We conclude that the influent sludge microbial composition can influence the ARG content of a digester, apparently as a result of differential survival or death of ARBs or horizontal gene transfer of genes between raw sludge ARBs and the digester microbial community. Notably, mesophilic digestion was more susceptible to ARG intrusion than thermophilic digestion, which may be attributed to a higher rate of ARB survival and/or horizontal gene transfer between raw sludge bacteria and the digester microbial community.
Morphology-dependent load transfer governs the strength and failure mechanism of carbon nanotube yarns

The outstanding properties of individual carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have motivated interest in CNT fibers and yarns for composite materials, high-strength conductors and multifunctional textiles. However, despite advances in manufacturing, the strength of CNT yarns remains 10–100 fold less than individual CNTs. In light of the complex, multi-scale load transfer in CNT yarns, a hierarchical model taking into consideration the morphology-dependent mechanics is necessary to understand this limitation. We present a coupled analytical and finite element model of three-dimensional morphology and the full tensile behavior of CNT yarns. By incorporating load-induced changes in morphology, simulations of yarns in tension show different load paths such as fracture-type or stick–slip failure depending on the waviness and number density of CNTs. The strength of untwisted pristine CNT yarns is shown to be limited to <10% of the intrinsic CNT strength, even at practical limits to CNT packing density and alignment. Load-induced changes in CNT morphology are verified by tensile testing of CNT yarns along with in-situ X-ray scattering. In addition, the nominal structure of the yarn is shown to strongly influence the improvement in strength achieved by densified and/or cross-linking, and a sublinear relationship between CNT contact enhancement and yarn strength is predicted. Thus, this work provides a means to investigate the complex load transfer mechanisms in CNT yarns and other assemblies, to further study their process–structure–property relationships, and to understand potential property limits.
Commissioning Technical Essential and Abnormal Analysis on Sing-ring Type Seal Oil System

Based on the structural features of the hydrogen-cooled generator set with single-ring seal oil system and the cumulative experiences of commissioning,and trial operation process of seal oil system for a new power plant,the key commissioning technical essentials of the system are summarized in this paper and the reasons for the main anomalies generated of the system during start-up commissioning process are analyzed.Furthermore,the prevention and treatment measures for these anomalies are put forward,which could reduce the anomalies occurrence such as oil-entering into the generator,hydrogen quality dropping or large hydrogen complement.And the study could provide guidance to some extent for the commissioning and operation of the same type of seal oil system of the generator sets.
Long-term effects of developmental exposure to cocaine on learned and unlearned behaviors.

A search was made of the experimental literature on the effects of prenatal and/or early postnatal exposure to cocaine. The search encompassed the years 1982 to mid-1993. Only one selection criterion was imposed on the search: only articles reporting original experimental results were included. The search generated 57 relevant articles. A tabular summary of these, presented in chronological order, is provided in table 1. The table is structured with authors and date in the first column, with subsequent columns for dose (expressed as the hydrochloride unless specified as the free base), species and strain, dose rate expressed on a per diem basis, exposure period (embryonic or postnatal age given in days), route of drug administration, the concentration of the drug in solution, the major types of control groups used, principal variables investigated, and finally the major effects obtained (including negative findings).
Picosecond Optics Measurements of the Acoustic Impedance of Water at Frequencies up to 280 GHz

We report the first ultrasonic measurements of the acoustic impedance of water at frequencies as high as 280 GHz. We describe the picosecond optical technique and present preliminary results at 25 C for the reflection coefficient of bismuth/water interfaces as a function of frequency.
Biomedical systems and biological sciences: A mathematical model of the proximal nephron

A model of the proximal nephrovascular unit is formulated which tracks the concentrations and fluxes of Na^+,K^+,H^+, Cl^-, HCO^-"3, HPO^-"4, H"2PO^-"4, glucose, and urea. In this model, a glomerulus provides initial data for proximal tubule and peritubular capillary, which exchange mass across a well-stirred interstitial compartment. The equations for glomerular and peritubular capillaries include the hemoglobin buffer model of Atherton et al. (1984). The glomerulus itself constitutes a boundary value problem, with Bowman's space concentrations determined by the integral of transported solute. The glomerular problem is solved in two steps --- first, the determination of protein concentration and volume flow, and then the calculation of the concentrations of the permeant solutes. In the calculation of the permeants, it is found that if only total filtration rates are required, the assumption of Donnan equilibrium at the glomerular capillary end is a useful approximation, which permits substantial savings in computation time. This model nephron is the first to allow simulation of physiologic maneuvers in which both tubular and peritubular conditions may vary simultaneously, such as changes in renal perfusion pressure, afferent or efferent arteriolar resistance, or plasma protein concentration.
Evaluation of the Direct Actions of HI-6 in Reversing Soman-Induced Tetanic Fade

The most widely accepted mechanism for the acute toxicity of organophosphorus anticholinesterase agents is irreversible inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), an enzyme present at all known cholinergic synapses (Taylor, 1990). Inhibition of AChE results in accumulation of acetylcholine (ACh), which then leads to aberrant cholinergic transmission (Katz and Miledi, 1973). The precise nature of the abnormality varies with the synapse, and can include depolarization, desensitization, repetitive firing or sustained activation (Hobbiger, 1976; Adler et al., 1992).
Impact Investment and Risk Management: Overview and Approach

Managing financial risk has proven difficult over time as evidenced by numerous high profile failures over the recent past including and especially those experienced in the stock market crash of 1987, the financial crisis of 1997-1998 (also known as the “Asian Contagion”) and the 2007-2008 financial crisis (also known as “The Big Short”). Therefore, managing both the financial and social risks inherent in an impact investment, and across a portfolio of impact investments, could be particularly challenging in the absence of a practical framework. This paper profiles a framework for managing Impact Investment Risk as a function of investment risk, social impact risk, and the problem-set common to both. The taxonomy of the framework is illustrated, explained and then applied to a case study. The subject of the case is an actual impact investment that has been profiled as, “The Triple Bottom Line and Investing for Impact: The Case of Afram Plains District of Ghana.” The case analysis leads to a discussion of performance measurement, basic statistical analysis and potential enterprise risk management considerations such as exposure classification and tracking, tail risk analysis, and potential broader uses of impact investment risk information.
Risk factors for revision surgery following isolated ulnar nerve release at the cubital tunnel: a study of 25,977 cases.

Background The literature investigating risk factors for failure after decompression of the ulnar nerve at the elbow (cubital tunnel release [CuTR]) is limited. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for failure of isolated CuTR, defined as progression to subsequent ipsilateral revision surgery. Methods The 100% Medicare Standard Analytic Files from 2005 to 2012 were queried for patients undergoing CuTR. Patients undergoing any concomitant procedures were excluded. A multivariate binomial logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate patient-related risk factors for ipsilateral revision surgery. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for each risk factor. Results A total of 25,977 patients underwent primary CuTR, and 304 (1.4%) of those with ≥2 years of follow-up required revision surgery. Although the rate of primary procedures is on the rise ( P = .002), the revision rate remains steady ( P = .148). Significant, independent risk factors for revision surgery included age P P = .022), morbid obesity (OR, 1.3; P = .044), tobacco use (OR, 2.0; P P = .011), hyperlipidemia (OR, 1.2; P = .015), chronic liver disease (OR, 1.6; P = .001), chronic anemia (OR, 1.6; P = .001), and hypercoagulable disorder (OR, 2.1; P = .001). Conclusions The incidence of failure requiring ipsilateral revision surgery after CuTR remained steadily low (1.4%) during the study period. There are numerous patient-related risk factors that are independently associated with an increased risk for revision surgery, the most significant of which are tobacco use, younger age, hypercoagulable disorder, liver disease, and anemia.
Towards Learning From Stories: An Approach to Interactive Machine Learning.

In this work, we introduce a technique that uses stories to train virtual agents to exhibit believable behavior. This technique uses a compact representation of a story to define the space of acceptable behaviors and then uses this space to assign rewards to certain world states. We show the effectiveness of our technique with a case study in a modified gridworld environment called Pharmacy World. The results show that a reinforcement learning agent using Q-learning was able to learn a policy that results in believable behavior.
Decision making for breast cancer prevention among women at elevated risk

Several medical management approaches have been shown to be effective in preventing breast cancer and detecting it early among women at elevated risk: 1) prophylactic mastectomy; 2) prophylactic oophorectomy; 3) chemoprevention; and 4) enhanced screening routines. To varying extents, however, these approaches are substantially underused relative to clinical practice recommendations. This article reviews the existing research on the uptake of these prevention approaches, the characteristics of women who are likely to use various methods, and the decision-making processes that underlie the differing choices of women. It also highlights important areas for future research, detailing the types of studies that are particularly needed in four key areas: documenting women’s perspectives on their own perceptions of risk and prevention decisions; explicit comparisons of available prevention pathways and their likely health effects; the psychological, interpersonal, and social processes of prevention decision making; and the dynamics of subgroup variation. Ultimately, this research could support the development of interventions that more fully empower women to make informed and values-consistent decisions, and to move towards favorable health outcomes.
Exploring Habermas’ theory of communicative ethics as an approach to physician communication training: the case of pediatric end-of-life care

In pediatric end-of-life (EOL) care, the partnership between physicians and parents is principally centered on communication and the parents’ decision-making role about the patient’s impending death. And, because parents are charged with EOL decision-making for their children, physicians are morally responsible to ensure that prognoses and treatment options are communicated to parents in a comprehendible way. Poor communication has been posited as a primary reason why the end-of-life (EOL) wishes of patients and surrogates are not implemented. This paper is based on findings from a qualitative study that utilized observation in a high-fidelity simulation and semi-structured interviews with physicians to explore narrative influences on pediatric EOL communication. The findings of this study, which revealed an inherent connection between communication, decision-making, and ethics, are reflected Habermas’ theory of Communicative Ethics (The theory of communicative action: reason and the rationalization of society, Beacon Press, Boston, 1984; The theory of communicative action: lifeworld and system: a critique of functionalist reason, Beacon Press, Boston, 1987). Therefore this paper proposes communicative ethics as an important model which, if utilized in physician education and training, could improve physician communication and in particular, physician–parent EOL communication.
Congenital disorders of platelet function

Platelets play a major role in normal hemostasis and congenital defects in platelet function are associated with bleeding manifestations that are largely mucocutaneous in origin and markedly variable in severity. They arise by different mechanisms and may be classified as disorders of: (1) platelet-agonist interaction, (2) platelet-vessel wall interaction (vWD and Bernard-Soulier syndrome), (3) platelet-platelet interaction (congenital afibrinogenemia and Glanzmann's thrombasthenia), (4) platelet secretion, and (5) platelet-coagulant protein interaction. Excluding vWD, most congenital platelet dysfunctions currently fall in the category of platelet secretion defects. Some of these patients have storage pool deficiency or defects in thromboxane synthesis, but the majority have normal granule stores. The underlying mechanisms in this large, heterogeneous group of dysfunctions remain to be elucidated. Bleeding episodes of vWD are managed by the administration of DDAVP or cryoprecipitate. The major treatment modality in the management of bleeding episodes and surgical procedures in patients with congenital platelet defects is platelet transfusions. Evidence is becoming available that many of these patients may respond to intravenous infusion of DDAVP with a shortening of the bleeding time. The specific groups of patients who will respond, and the efficacy of DDAVP in clinical situations remains to be established.
Predictors of burnout among community therapists in the sustainment phase of a system-driven implementation of multiple evidence-based practices in children’s mental health.

Burnout among community mental health (CMH) therapists has been associated with poorer therapist health, high agency turnover, poorer client outcomes, and compromised quality of care. Recent mandates to learn and implement multiple evidence-based practices (EBPs) within CMH settings are intended to improve the quality of community care, yet there is mixed evidence concerning the impacts on workforce burnout. The current study sought to identify correlates of therapist emotional exhaustion, a key aspect of burnout, during the sustainment phase of a system-driven implementation of multiple EBPs in children’s mental health services. We hypothesized that high workload and unfavorable organizational climate would relate to therapist emotional exhaustion, but that positive experiences with EBPs adopted would relate to lower exhaustion. Although agency-level indices of organizational climate were unrelated to exhaustion, a multilevel model revealed that therapists’ weekly work hours, caseload, and number of EBPs delivered were associated with increased emotional exhaustion. Additionally, activities associated with the EBP implementation efforts (e.g., hours spent in EBP-related activities, supervision or consultation, or outcome monitoring), were not associated with emotional exhaustion. Therapists’ knowledge and confidence delivering EBPs and their positive perceptions of EBPs were protective against emotional exhaustion, but these perceptions did not buffer the risks associated with heavy workload. Findings point to implementation strategies to prevent burnout and associated turnover that compromise the returns on investments in EBP implementation.
RANKL deletion in periodontal ligament and bone lining cells blocks orthodontic tooth movement.

The bone remodeling process in response to orthodontic forces requires the activity of osteoclasts to allow teeth to move in the direction of the force applied. Receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) is essential for this process although its cellular source in response to orthodontic forces has not been determined. Orthodontic tooth movement is considered to be an aseptic inflammatory process that is stimulated by leukocytes including T and B lymphocytes which are presumed to stimulate bone resorption. We determined whether periodontal ligament and bone lining cells were an essential source of RANKL by tamoxifen induced deletion of RANKL in which Cre recombinase was driven by a 3.2 kb reporter element of the Col1α1 gene in experimental mice (Col1α1.CreERTM+.RANKLf/f) and compared results with littermate controls (Col1α1.CreERTM−.RANKLf/f). By examination of Col1α1.CreERTM+.ROSA26 reporter mice we showed tissue specificity of tamoxifen induced Cre recombinase predominantly in the periodontal ligament and bone lining cells. Surprisingly we found that most of the orthodontic tooth movement and formation of osteoclasts was blocked in the experimental mice, which also had a reduced periodontal ligament space. Thus, we demonstrate for the first time that RANKL produced by periodontal ligament and bone lining cells provide the major driving force for tooth movement and osteoclastogenesis in response to orthodontic forces. Cells and tissues have been identified that produce a signaling molecule essential for bone remodeling in orthodontic patients. Directional mechanical force, when applied to teeth, instigates changes to remodel the bone around the tooth. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in Philadelphia, led by Dana Graves, genetically altered mice to remove ‘RANKL’, a protein thought to be a mediator in the breakdown of bone. The team found that the immune cells responsible for producing RANKL are primarily found in the tissue connecting tooth roots to the ridges of bone containing the tooth sockets and the protective cells that line the bones. Removing RANKL impaired the ability of the teeth to move in response to external directional force. This study provides insights into the relationship between RANKL production and orthodontic tooth movement.
Protective Effects of Donepezil Against Alcohol-Induced Toxicity in Cell Culture: Role of Caspase-3.

Ethanol (EtOH) is one of the most frequently abused drugs with heavy health, economic, and societal burdens. Although moderate to low EtOH may have some neuroprotective effects, heavy EtOH consumption associated with high blood alcohol level (BAL) can be quite detrimental. The brain is particularly vulnerable to the damaging effects of high BAL, leading to neuronal loss, cognitive, and behavioral deficits. Although the exact causes of these detriments are not fully elucidated, it is believed that damage to the cholinergic system is at least partially responsible for the cognitive impairment. Thus, high BAL may result in selective apoptotic damage to the cholinergic neurons. Donepezil (DON), a centrally acting, reversible and non-competitive acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, approved for use in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), may also attenuate EtOH-induced cognitive impairment. Cognitive effects of DON might be due to an anti-apoptotic activity as some AChE inhibitors have been shown to have this property. The aim of this study was to determine whether DON might protect against EtOH-induced toxicity and whether such protection might be apoptotically mediated. We exposed the human neuroblastoma-derived, SH-SY5Y cells to a relatively high concentration of EtOH (500 mM) for 24 h and evaluated the effects of two concentrations of DON (0.1 and 1.0 μM) on alcohol-induced toxicity and caspase-3, an apoptotic marker. We found a dose-dependent protection of DON against EtOH-induced toxicity as well as dose-dependent attenuation of EtOH-induced increases in caspase-3 levels. Thus, DON may inhibit apoptosis as well as alcohol-induced toxicity.
Applied and Theoretical Aspects of Virus Adsorption to Surfaces

Publisher Summary This chapter highlights how the current understanding of the mechanisms and factors influencing virus adsorption can be used to interpret and control virus behavior in the environment. An understanding of factors controlling the interaction has already led to new and improved methods for the concentration of viruses from water, and their isolation from the environment. It is evident that not all viruses behave alike toward a solid under identical conditions. Under most natural conditions viruses with a low isoelectric point appear to be more poorly adsorbed to most solid surfaces. This must be taken into consideration when evaluating concentration or treatment systems which involve adsorption. This phenomenon is also important in determining the transport of viruses in the environment. Certain enteric viruses appear to adsorb less readily to soils and aquatic sediments than others. Thus their potential transport to groundwater may be greater and they may be less likely to settle in surface waters. To take into consideration these differences in virus behavior, it is perhaps best to use viruses with widely varying isoelectric points or marked differences in hydrophobicity to evaluate the extremes in virus interaction with a given surface which could occur.
Measurements of stratospheric residence times

Measurements of the32P/7Be ratios conducted on Zugspitze Mountain in Germany can be used to establish residence times of airmasses in the lower stratosphere. There appears to be a seasonal trend to such residence times, yielding a median value of ≧36 days during spring and ≧17 days during fall.
Some Features of Three-Phase Emulsions

Emulsions with three phases are discussed with three examples to illustrate the manner in which the third phase may influence the properties of the system. In the first example, a liquid is present in addition to the common oil and aqueous phases. The presence of the “extra” liquid facilitates the formation of an emulsion with small droplets. The second emulsion system contains small solid particles as the third phase. The particles serve as stabilizers for the emulsion; their increase in wetting energy is sufficient to prevent coalescence. Finally, the third emulsion includes a liquid crystal, which serves as a stabilizer with two functions. It is dispersed in the continuous phase as a network, effectively preventing movement and, hence, flocculation of the droplets and it also, in adsorbed form, changes the distance dependence of the van der Waals potential between the droplets.
Nature's Trust: A Legal, Political and Moral Frame for Global Warming

This essay portrays the urgency of global warming and discusses the role of environmental law in bringing about this crisis. It explains why our regulatory system ignored this problem for too long and offers a property-based perspective to frame government’s responsibility in confronting climate crisis.
Fermentation of plant polysaccharides: role of biochemical genetics.

The application of biochemical genetics to the improvement of industrially important microorganisms has long been focused primarily on medical and agricultural products. Over the past few years, several novel ideas for genetic modification have been evoked for microbial systems. These advances in both cellular and molecular genetics and the advent of specific techniques in both in vitro and in vivo gene transfer for prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms now give rise to applications in biotechnology for conversion of agricultural renewable resources to fuels and chemical feedstocks. These techniques include the use of directed mutasynthesis, cell and protoplast fusion, DNA transformation, and recombinant DNA technology. New and significant advances have been demonstrated in cellulosic conversions, enzymatic hydrolysis, alcohol production and tolerance, and substrate preparation relative to biological conversions. This biotechnology is now a prime candidate for transformation of fermentation genes necessary for plant polysaccharide conversions.
The Impact of Detubularization on Ileal Reservoirs

AbstractFor many years, parts of the large or small bowel have been used for bladder augmentation and substitution. Recent controversy over the advantages and disadvantages of continent urinary diversion using detubularized ileum (the Kock pouch) and tubular ileum (the Carney procedure) focussed on how a highly compliant urinary reservoir should be formed. We compared the compliance of isolated intact ileal segments and ileal pouches constructed after transection of the antimesenteric border. Hydrodynamic data was obtained at four different points in time: acute (immediately after pouch construction), and after two, six and twelve weeks. Over the first six weeks the reservoirs were connected to the bladder for drainage. At six weeks, subtotal cystectomy and separate anastomosis of the tubular ileal loop and the detubularized ileal pouch to the trigone was performed to study the influence of cyclic reservoir distention. Statistical analysis of the pressure-volume curves revealed significantly better compli...
Cognitive Deficits in Psychotic Disorders: A Lifespan Perspective.

Individuals with disorders that include psychotic symptoms (i.e. psychotic disorders) experience broad cognitive impairments in the chronic state, indicating a dimension of abnormality associated with the experience of psychosis. These impairments negatively impact functional outcome, contributing to the disabling nature of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and psychotic depression. The robust and reliable nature of cognitive deficits has led researchers to explore the timing and profile of impairments, as this may elucidate different neurodevelopmental patterns in individuals who experience psychosis. Here, we review the literature on cognitive deficits across the life span of individuals with psychotic disorder and psychotic-like experiences, highlighting the dimensional nature of both psychosis and cognitive ability. We identify premorbid generalized cognitive impairment in schizophrenia that worsens throughout development, and stabilizes by the first-episode of psychosis, suggesting a neurodevelopmental course. Research in affective psychosis is less clear, with mixed evidence regarding premorbid deficits, but a fairly reliable generalized deficit at first-episode, which appears to worsen into the chronic state. In general, cognitive impairments are most severe in schizophrenia, intermediate in bipolar disorder, and the least severe in psychotic depression. In all groups, cognitive deficits are associated with poorer functional outcome. Finally, while the generalized deficit is the clearest and most reliable signal, data suggests specific deficits in verbal memory across all groups, specific processing speed impairments in schizophrenia and executive functioning impairments in bipolar disorder. Cognitive deficits are a core feature of psychotic disorders that provide a window into understanding developmental course and risk for psychosis.
Abstract B60: Nanoparticles directed to IL13RA2 for targeted therapy of basal-like breast cancer

Basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) is among the most aggressive forms of breast cancer and is highly prevalent in young African-American women. It is nonresponsive to targeted hormonal therapy due to the lack of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2 expression. To identify effective targetable biomarkers for BLBC, we performed gene expression profiling of a breast cancer progression model system representing the different stages of the cancer. We discovered in metastatic BLBC cells high expression of IL13RA2, a cell surface receptor, which corresponded to poor survival in patients with high-grade tumors based on in silico meta-analysis of publicly available microarray datasets. To assess its functional roles in breast cancer progression, we knocked down IL13RA2 in BLBC cells and found that it is essential for lung colonization and tumorigenesis in vivo. Next, to establish the clinical utility of this candidate biomarker to inform prognosis, we performed immunohistochemical analysis of breast cancer tissue microarrays and found that IL13RA2 is overexpressed in a subset of lymph node metastases, hence supporting its role as a metastasis promoter. Based on these observations, we hypothesize that IL13RA2 may serve as a biomarker for disease stage and an active target for nanoparticle-mediated delivery of therapeutic agents to eradicate metastatic BLBC cells. We are in the process of conjugating gold nanoparticles with monoclonal antibodies to assess their binding specificity to IL13RA2-overexpressing cells in vitro and in vivo. Ultimately, these nanoparticles could be used to monitor disease spread as well as to actively target metastatic BLBC cells overexpressing IL13RA2 to block metastasis. Citation Format: Chen Khuan Wong, Sandy Zhang, Bjorn Reinhard, Sam Thiagalingam. Nanoparticles directed to IL13RA2 for targeted therapy of basal-like breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Tenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2017 Sep 25-28; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2018;27(7 Suppl):Abstract nr B60.
Exploring RNNs for analyzing Zeek HTTP data

Cyber vulnerabilities pose a threat across systems in the Department of Defense. Finding ways to analyze network traffic and detect malicious behavior on a network will help keep these systems safe. This poster looks at the data collection techniques, model creation, and results of building a recurrent neural network to classify incoming traffic as normal or malicious. Additionally, it considers how the information will be best portrayed on a GUI to network administrators. The model's initial accuracy is 83.45% when trained on 500,017 connections. With increased accuracy, this tool may be used by the Department of Defense to help defend its networks.
Multifidelity model-assisted probability of detection via Cokriging

Abstract This work introduces multifidelity metamodeling for reliability analysis of nondestructive testing (NDT) systems. Specifically, the Cokriging metamodel is utilized to accelerate the uncertainty propagation within model-assisted probability of detection (MAPOD) analysis of ultrasonic testing (UT) systems. The Cokriging multifidelity metamodel fuses a limited amount of data obtained from high-fidelity (HF) physics-based UT models, which are accurate but time-consuming to evaluate, with a conservative to large amount of data from low-fidelity (LF) physics-based UT models, which are less accurate but faster to evaluate. The resulting Cokriging metamodel is fast to evaluate and yields an accurate estimate of the output of the HF model. The proposed approach is demonstrated on three benchmark UT MAPOD cases involving spherically-void and pill-box shaped defects in flat aluminum plates using planar and focused transducers. The results show that a two-level Cokriging metamodel is capable of yielding estimations of the HF model that are globally accurate within 1% of the standard deviation of the testing points. Furthermore, the result show that the Cokriging metamodeling approach needs around one order of magnitude fewer training data points when compared to the current state-of-the-art approaches that rely on metamodels constructed with Kriging.
CD133-Expressing Cells with High Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Activity Represent a Primitive Human Hematopoietic Stem Cell Population with Enhanced Repopulating Potential.

Human hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) are commonly purified by the phenotypic expression of cell surface markers such as CD34. We have recently characterized a novel strategy to purify reconstituting HSC from human umbilical cord blood (UCB) by lineage depletion (Lin − ) followed by selection of cells with high aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) enzyme activity. Lin − cells with high ALDH activity (ALDH hi Lin − ) represented approximately 0.1% of total UCB mononuclear cells and demonstrated enriched expression of the primitive HSC markers CD34 (91.0±2.9%) and CD133 (70.9±4.0%). Most notably, clonogenic progenitor function and in vivo reconstituting ability in immune deficient mice were exclusive to the ALDH hi Lin − population. Here, we have further purified the ALDH hi Lin − population based on the expression of CD133, or prominen, a non-restricted surface molecule expressed on primitive progenitor cells of hematopoietic, endothelial, and neural epithelial lineages. ALDH hi CD133 − and ALDH hi CD133 + cells, sorted to >95% purity, represented 14.7±2.1% and 23.2±4.3% of the total human UCB Lin − population respectively (n=6). Both ALDH hi CD133 − Lin − and ALDH hi CD133 + Lin − cells demonstrated clonogenic progenitor function in vitro. However, total colony production was significantly enhanced (p hi CD133 − Lin − cells (1 CFU in 3.5 cells, n=5) when directly compared to ALDH hi CD133 + Lin − cells (1 CFU in 10 cells, n=6). Human hematopoietic repopulation was consistently observed in the bone marrow, spleen, and peripheral blood of NOD/SCID (n=23) and NOD/SCID B2M null (n=27) mice transplanted with as few as 10 3 ALDH hi CD133 + Lin − cells, whereas transplantation of up to 2x10 5 ALDH hi CD133 − Lin − cells produced no detectable human engraftment. BM repopulation at limiting dilution demonstrated increased NOD/SCID repopulating ability elicited by ALDH hi CD133 + Lin − cells when directly compared to CD133 + Lin − cells not selected for ALDH activity. Repopulating ALDH hi CD133 + Lin − cells differentiated into cells expressing markers for mature myeloid (CD33, CD14) and B-lymphoid (CD19, CD20) cells. ALDH hi CD133 + Lin − cells also supported the maintenance of primitive cell phenotypes up to 8 weeks post-transplantation (2.4±0.7% CD34 + CD38 − , 5.5±0.6% CD34 + CD133 + , n=6) and the repopulating function of these cells are currently being confirmed by secondary transplantation. We are also investigating the ability of ALDH hi CD133 + Lin − cells to mediate tissue repair in non-hematopoietic organs. Fractionation of human HSC based on combined expression of CD133 and high ALDH activity provides a rigorous selection of purified hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells that maintain primitive characteristics after transplantation, and may be considered a potential alternative to CD34 + cell isolation.
Fidelity Assessment of a Social Work–Led Intervention Among Patients With Firearm Injuries:

Purpose:To support future development and refinement of social work–led intervention programs among patients with firearm injuries and to demonstrate how a fidelity assessment can be used to adjust...
Influence of Bending on Ultrafast Nonlinear Dynamics in Gas-filled Hollow-core Fiber

A multiple octave-spanning supercontinuum generation spanning 400-5000 nm is generated in a Xe-filled hollow-core anti-resonant fiber pumped at 3 μm with pulses of 100 fs duration and 15 μJ energy. A significant reduction of the spectral broadening under tight bending conditions has been demonstrated.
A lateral optical equilibrium in waveguide-resonator optical force

We consider the lateral optical force between a resonator and a waveguide, and study the possibility of an equilibrium that occurs solely from the optical force in such system. We prove analytically that a single-resonance system cannot give such an equilibrium in the resonator-waveguide force. We then show that two-resonance systems can provide such an equilibrium. We provide an intuitive way to predict the existence of an equilibrium, and give numerical examples.