cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Self-Assembled Oligomeric Structures from 1,4-Benzenedithiol on Au(111) and the Formation of Conductive Linkers between Gold Nanoparticles

The adsorption and self-assembly of 1,4-benzene dithiol (1,4-BDT) is studied on a Au(111) surface using a combination of reflection–absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). 1,4-BDT is proposed to self-assemble into Au-1,4-BDT oligomer chains based on previous observations that analogous 1,4-phenylene diisocyanide (PDI) forms oligomers in which each of the isocyanides bind to gold adatoms, and since benzene thiol also adsorbs to gold via adatoms extracted from the substrate. RAIRS reveals that 1.4-BDT adsorbed on Au(111) at ∼120 K and heated, initially forms η1-thiolate species, but adsorption at room temperature results in the formation of dithiolates with the aryl ring oriented close to parallel to the surface. STM images show the formation of zigzag structures rather than linear chains because of the hybridization of the sulfur atoms, as well as hexagonal structures at lower coverages that are assembled from 1,4-BDT trimers linked by gold adatoms. It has also bee...
Are Large Cats Compatible with Modern Society on the Korean Peninsula

Large cat species were historically abundant in Korea; however, most vanished during the 20th century. We examined the causes of this demise and diagnosed the feasibiity of felid restoration in modern Korea. “Pest” control during the Japanese Invasion (1910–1945) eradicated Panthera tigris (Siberian tiger), and Panthera pardus (Amur leopard). Lynx lynx (Eurasian lynx) never inhabited South Korea and were rare in North Korea. Prionailurus bengalensis (leopard cat) was profuse, but habitat loss, road kills, rodenticides, and competition with feral house cats relegated the species to rarity. Despite the extirpation of P. tigris and P. pardus on the Korean Peninsula, the South Korean Government listed all felids as “Endangered” and initiated the development of recovery plans. The North Korean Government followed but did not list P. bengalensis. We suggest that misdirected methods and plans for the restoration of felids were applied to an inappropriate species, L. lynx. For big felid restoration, we suggest three options. The first option for pre-restoration in North Korea includes two reserves adjacent to habitats of tigers and leopards in Russia and China. The second option includes two reserves in South Korea. The second option, primarily for P. pardus restoration, has more potential for success than the restoration of P. tigris. The third option delays restoration of the big cats and allocates revenues and governmental policy toward the survival of P. bengalensis. This option is a pragmatic choice with a greater probability of success, instead of focusing efforts on extirpated tigers and leopards.
Neuroethics for Neurology Residents: Concepts and Contingencies of a Pilot Neuroethics Curriculum

Moses and Illes (2017) posit that ethics education should be provided in the training of all neuroscience professionals, and propose coursework in ethical theories, history of ethics in neuroscienc...
The Ultrafast Laser Pump-Probe Technique for Thermal Characterization of Materials With Micro/Nanostructures

ABSTRACTAdvances in nano-electronics, nano-optics, energy harvesting materials, and nanoparticle-based photothermal therapies are motivating studies of the thermal properties of micro/nanostructures. Thus, the demands for highly sensitive and accurate thermal measurement techniques are encouraged for both fundamental studies and industrial applications. The time-domain thermoreflectance (TDTR) method, based on an ultrafast pump-probe technique, enables high-fidelity thermal measurements at the micro/nanoscale and the observation of dynamic processes with sub-picosecond time resolution. TDTR is an optical technique, capable of measuring the thermal properties of micro/nanostructures, including thermal conductivity and interfacial thermal conductance of bulk substrates, thin films, and nanoparticles, among others. Here we review some recent developments in the state-of-the-art ultrafast pump-probe method applied to study the thermal and magnetic properties of materials at the micro- and nanometer scales. We...
Layered Double Hydroxides: An Emerging Class of Flame Retardants

Abstract Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are a class of synthetic clays with brucite [Mg(OH)2]-like cationic layers containing anions in the hydrated interlayer for charge balance. Due to their tunable chemistry and high charge density, LDHs have received great attention in recent years within the polymer community where the influences of LDHs on the crystallinity, thermal stability, and combustion behavior of polymers have been focal points. This chapter summarizes some of the recent developments in the synthesis of LDHs, their morphology, and physical properties, followed by a brief discussion on various routes to prepare polymer–LDH composites and an overview of their flame retarding behavior in various thermoplastic and thermoset polymer matrices. Overall, this chapter shall serve to keep the reader abreast of the latest developments in the flame retardancy of LDH-based polymer composites, provide a mechanistic understanding of their flame retardancy, and highlight the potential of LDHs as a greener flame retardant.
“Not My Father’s Son”: Qualitative Investigation of U.S. Men’s Perceptions of Their Fathers’ Expectations and Influence

The present study examined men’s perceptions of their father’s general expectations of them when they were growing up and what the effects have been on their lives. Previous research suggests fathers influence sons’ development, but few studies have examined sons’ perceptions qualitatively. Participants were 252 demographically diverse community-dwelling and college men (ages 18-78; 36.5% men of color). Descriptive coding and content analysis were used to analyze written open-ended responses from an online questionnaire. Results suggest that fathers’ expectations for their sons are quite influential. Common topics of expectations reported by participants included Academics, Work Ethic, Athletics, Family, Career, Independence and Self-Reliance, Authenticity, and Happiness. Sons who perceived their fathers as supporting their authentic selves without having unattainable expectations reported positive impacts. Rigid and ill-fitting expectations may have negative effects. These findings suggest fathers are an...
Vulnerabilities in sequencing and task switching in healthy youth offspring of parents with mood disorders.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Visuospatial processing and task switching are impaired in individuals with mood disorders. It is unknown whether early deficits are present before mood symptom on set or are related to risk for a specific type of mood disorder. To investigate, we compared visual attention and task switching during sequencing among never-disordered youth with parental family histories of bipolar (BD) and major depressive disorders (MDD) and healthy controls (HC) with no personal or family history of psychopathology.Method: 8–17-year-old youth of parents with BD (n = 31, “BD-risk”), youth of parents with MDD (n = 49, “MDD-risk”), and demographically similar HC (n = 31, “HC”) were examined using the Delis–Kaplan Executive Functioning System Trail Making Test. Seed-based resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) was collected from a subset of 88 participants (25 BD-risk, 37 MDD-risk, 26 HC) to investigate group differences in RSFC related to visuospatial processing.Results: BD-risk and MDD-risk offsp...
Shifts in online consumer behavior: a preliminary investigation of the net generation

The main purpose of this study is to examine the factors affecting the online shopping behavior of Net-generation comparing with pre Net-generation. To do so, the research develops a research model including nine independent variables that are hypothesized to predict the intention of purchase using the online shopping context and Net-geners' characteristics. The partial least squares method of structural equation modeling was used to analyze 293 Net-geners and 246 preNet-geners. The results of the study show that the six online purchase determinants (product variety, feedback, responsiveness, personalization, acceptance of complaints, and enjoyment) are more important for Net-geners than for preNet-geners. This study contributes to the understanding of online purchasing behavior of the Net generation (Net-geners) and will help to envision new strategies for marketing to Net-geners. Previous research has focused on shifts in technology and overlooks the shift of consumer demographics as the Net-geners are the first to grow up surrounded by digital media and the Internet.
Comparison of two decalcification agents using microwave technology: a histochemical assessment of the rat cochlea

Despite the prevalence of hearing loss, there are no FDA-approved chemical entities available for either otoprotection or treatment of hearing impairment. This lack of drug-based treatments has made the assessment of the middle and inner ear a rare, challenging exercise in the pharmaceutical industry. Recently, advances in the use of various decalcifying agents, as well as heating techniques utilizing microwave technology have proven to be effective at shortening processing times, minimizing tissue damage and potentially lowering the cost of histopathological evaluation and diagnosis. This study tested decalcification agents in order to determine the most efficient decalcification procedure for rat outer, middle, and inner ear structures while preserving tissue morphology and eliminating introduction of artifacts to best facilitate histopathological analysis. Presented here are the results of rat ear histological preparations using two decalcifying agents at increasing microwave times with heat co...
Functional comparison of anoctamin 1 antagonists on human uterine smooth muscle contractility and excitability.

Background Pre-term birth is a major health care challenge throughout the world, and preterm labor represents a potentially reversible component of this problem. Current tocolytics do not improve preterm labor beyond 48 h. We have previously shown that anoctamin 1 (ANO1) channel blockade results in relaxation of pre-contracted human uterine smooth muscle (USM). Three drug classes with reported medicinal effects in humans also have members with ANO1 antagonism. In this study, we compared the ability of representatives from these 3 classes to reduce human USM contractility and excitability. Objective This study sought to examine the comparative potency of 3 ANO1 antagonists on pregnant human USM relaxation, contraction frequency reduction, inhibition of intracellular calcium release and membrane hyperpolarization. Methods Experiments were performed using: 1) Ex vivo organ bath (human pregnant tissue), 2) Oxytocin-induced calcium flux (in vitro human USM cells) and 3) Membrane potential assay (in vitro human USM cells). Results Benzbromarone (BB) demonstrated the greatest potency among the compounds tested with respect to force, frequency inhibition, reducing calcium elevation and depolarizing membrane potential. Conclusion While all 3 ANO1 antagonists attenuate pregnant human uterine tissue contractility and excitability, BB is the most potent tocolytic drug. Our findings may serve as a foundation for future structure-function analyses for novel tocolytic drug development.
Apologizing for Atrocity: Rwanda and Recognition

Apology is a necessary component of moral repair of damage done by wrongs against the person. Analyzing the role of apology in the aftermath of atrocity, with a focus on the genocide of the Tutsi in Rwanda, 1994, this chapter emphasizes the role of recognition failures in grave moral wrongs, the importance of speech acts that offer recognition, and building mutuality through recognition as a route to reconciliation. Understanding the US role in the international failure to stop the ’94 genocide raises the question of how any response could mitigate a world-shattering wrong like genocide. With a focus on survivors, this chapter explains the concepts of recognition harm and spirit murder to illuminate what survivors experience and need. The third section develops a theory of apology as offering recognition to the victim of wrongdoing – through both the act of speakingto and through its content. The chapter examines US President Bill Clinton’s 1998 apology to Rwandans, to understand it as an apology, and to see how it began reconciliation between Americans and Rwandans. The chapter concludes with a brief discussion of the inter-related signi fi cance of apology and material reparations.
Why Performance Models Matter for Grid Computing

Global heterogeneous computing, often referred to as “the Grid” [5, 6], is a popular emerging computing model in which high performance computers linked by high-speed networks are used to solve technical problems that cannot be solved on any single machine. The vision for Grid computing is that these interconnected computers form a global distributed problem-solving system, much as the Internet has become a global information system. However, to achieve this vision for a broad community of scientists and engineers, we will need to build software tools that make the job of constructing Grid programs easy. This is the principle goal of the Virtual Grid Application Development Software (VGrADS) Project, an NSF-supported effort involving 11 principal investigators at 7 institutions: Rice, Houston, North Carolina, Tennessee, UCSB, UCSD, and USC Information Sciences Institute.
Lack of Detained Parents' Access to the Family Justice System and the Unjust Severance of the Parent-Child Relationship

Immigration law enforcement has numerous intended and unintended consequences for immigrant families. When a parent is detained as a result of immigration enforcement activities, their ability to access to the family justice system is limited and there are few, if any, due process protections afforded to them. As a result, it is now well-documented that children of detained parents have been separated from their families and placed into the child welfare system at an alarming rate, despite the desire of the parents to be reunited with their children. This article addresses the United States government's legal obligation to offer immigrant detainee parents (and their children) access to, and meaningful participation in, family court proceedings affecting the parent-child relationship.
Opiate Use in the Military Context

Active Duty military personnel have been relatively unaffected by the national opioid epidemic. The Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) opioid overdose death rate is roughly one-fourth of the national rate, and its rate of opioid use disorders is likewise low in all cohorts save for retirees and their dependents. In response to the national crisis, the DoD and the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) teamed to adopt a proactive multi-faceted prevention strategy that was widely implemented across agencies by 2018. Aims in the clinical management of acute and chronic pain include avoiding or minimizing opiate use, fostering complementary and integrative pain management techniques, adhering to pain assessment and management standards for accreditation of hospitals, deploying a Stepped Care Model for the management of pain, and mandating that the DoD and VHA equip first responders with opioid overdose reversal capability.
Active-salinity-control reverse osmosis desalination as a flexible load resource

Abstract The proposed active-salinity-control reverse osmosis (ASCRO) system dynamically controls energy consumption by operating across a range of feed salinity, allowing it to shift over a wide range of pump feed flows and pressures. ASCRO utilizes feedwater from both low- and high-salinity sources. Enabling a dynamic power consumption profile can enhance demand-response capabilities, compensating for stressors on the grid. Moreover, ASCRO can improve the integration of renewable energy (RE) by responding to power fluctuations without compromising permeate production. This system can include on-site RE and energy storage to power the ASCRO plant and provide services to the grid. We considered the following grid-connected scenarios: 1) ASCRO, 2) ASCRO and battery storage, 3) ASCRO and photovoltaics (PV), and 4) ASCRO, battery storage, and PV. The levelized cost of water (LCOW) was minimized by providing load-shifting and regulation capacity services in the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) market. We quantified that the ASCRO plant can ramp from minimum to maximum load within 84 s, which is adequate for participation in fast-timescale markets. The LCOW for these scenarios ranged from 49 to 59 cents/m3. We also present sensitivity analyses showing the effects of capital cost, CAISO market prices, and PV size on LCOW.
Cell-Based Therapies to Restrict the Progress of Photoreceptor Degeneration

The first studies showing the potential of retinal cell transplantation to alleviate the progress of blindness in an animal model of retinal disease, the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat, were focused on the fact that in this animal there was a known defect in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) that resulted in secondary loss of photoreceptors. It seemed logical to effect cell replacement, by introducing into the subretinal space, normal RPE cells to replace the affected ones. A series of studies showed that the procedure did indeed rescue photoreceptors, presumably by replacing the deficiently functioning cells with ones that function normally. However, RPE cells have many functions, including phagocytosis of outer segments (OS), visual pigment recycling, maintenance of Bruch’s membrane, and transport of materials in and out of the retina (1, 2, 3, 4, 5).. How many of these several roles are replicated by the grafted cells was not explored in the early studies—indeed very little other than photoreceptor rescue per se was ever measured and, in the absence of suitable labels, it was not even clear how long the donor cells actually survived. Because it was thought that in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), dysfunction, or depletion of RPE cells might be a cause of the photoreceptor loss, the successes in the laboratory were quickly applied to patients with advanced AMD. Irrespective of the causes of AMD, one clear role for RPE cell transplantation was after removing choroidal neovascularization (CNV) membranes that invade the space between Bruch’s membrane and the RPE, RPE cells would inevitably be removed too. Repopulation with new cells might correct that deficiency. Results were disappointing: there was suggestion of graft rejection and although little hope of functional improvement might have been expected in the advanced stage patients that formed the subjects of these investigations, attempts to demonstrate visual improvement were equivocal at best.
Adhesion of electrosprayed chitosan coatings using silane surface chemistry

Abstract Biomedical implant devices for dental/craniofacial and orthopedic applications are a reliable and effective means for repairing/re-storing function of damaged, diseased or missing tissues. Electrospray coating technologies provide an additive manufacturing route to endow implant surfaces with properties to improve their performance by controlled deposition of desired materials, compounds and/or agents in the form of nano- or micro-particles on the surface of implant devices under relatively mild conditions. They provide a means to control the structure of coatings with high precision that allows the functionalization of complex 3D geometries of the implants with a range of desired physical and bioactive properties. Devices such as dental implants, total joint replacement devices, bone plates and screws that cannot be easily coated by other manufacturing methodologies such as solution casting, sputtering, or electrochemical treatments, can be robustly handled by the electrospray technique. This study focuses on assessing the adhesion of electrosprayed chitosan coatings on model titanium surfaces and screws to explore their potential as an implant treatment technology. To maximize the adhesion strength between the chitosan coating and a titanium surface, a tri-ethoxy-silylbutyraldhyde silane-based treatment is applied to chemically bond the coated chitosan to the substrate. Adhesion strength values are reported and compared between electrosprayed and solution cast chitosan coatings. For both methods, the role played by the silanation process is also explored. It is seen that silanation significantly improves the adhesion of the coatings, and electrosprayed, silanated coatings have a strength (5.87 MPa ± 2.03 MPa) that is comparable to solution-cast, silanated coatings (4.85 MPa ± 1.34 MPa) and offer control and flexibility as an additive manufacturing/coating process. We also, coat titanium screws and measure the loss of mass of chitosan coating during simulated surgery of screwing them into a polyurethane bone foam. The average loss of mass of chitosan is 34.3%, with most of it coming from the leading edge of the screw that experiences maximum shear during drilling. The merits and shortcomings of the electrospray for coating chitosan are discussed with possible improvements for future developments.
A Novel Strategy for Generation of Human Tumor-Specific T Cell Clones for Adoptive Transfer.

Adoptive T-cell therapy using donor lymphocyte infusions is a promising approach for treating hematological malignancies. But, efficacy is limited by the induction of graft-versus-host disease. Transfer of tumor-specific T-cell clones could enhance the graft-versus-tumor effect and eliminate graft-versus-host disease. However, isolating antigen-specific T-cell clones by the traditional limiting dilution approach is a time-consuming and laborious process. Here, we describe a novel strategy for rapidly cloning tumor-specific T cells. Lymphoma-specific T-cell lines were generated from two follicular lymphoma patients by repeated in vitro stimulation of lymphocytes isolated from tumor or blood with autologous soluble CD40 ligand-activated tumor cells. After four in vitro stimulations at 10-day intervals in the presence of IL-2 and IL-15, T-cell lines were found to be predominantly CD4 + T cells and produced significant amounts of TNF-a, GM-CSF, and IFN-γ in response to autologous tumor cells. The tumor reactivity was MHC class II restricted suggesting that it was mediated by CD4 + T cells. Staining with a TCR Vb antibody panel, a set of monoclonal antibodies against 24 human TCR Vb families, revealed that certain Vb families were overrepresented in each CD4 + T-cell line. In patient 1, 51% of CD4 + T cells were Vb1 positive, and in patient 2, 27% of CD4 + T cells were Vb8 positive. To clone lymphoma-specific T cells, CD4 + T-cell lines were labeled with CFSE and stimulated with autologous tumor cells. After 9 days of in vitro expansion in the presence of IL-2 and IL-15, CD4 + T-cell lines were stained with an anti-human CD4-APC monoclonal antibody and an anti-human TCR Vb-PE monoclonal antibody for each CD4 + T-cell line. Proliferating Vb1 cells from patient 1 and Vb8 cells from patient 2 were identified by their reduction in CFSE staining, and CD4 + TCRV b + CFSE dim cells were sorted by flow cytometer. Monoclonality of the sorted cells was confirmed by PCR using a panel of optimized primers specific for 24 TCR Vb families, by TCR Vb spectratype analysis, and finally, by sequencing the TCR Vb gene used by each T-cell clone. Sorted tumor-specific T-cell clones could be expanded to large numbers using a 14-day rapid expansion protocol with allofeeder PBMCs, and confirmed to retain specificity against autologous tumor cells in a cytokine induction assay. This approach was also successfully used to isolate melanoma-specific CD8 + T-cell clones from two patients. We conclude that this approach is highly reproducible, rapid, and efficient for generating antigen-specific T-cell clones for adoptive T-cell therapy against human malignancies in the autologous or allogeneic setting.
Development and characterization of a tissue mimicking psyllium husk gelatin phantom for ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging.

Purpose: To develop and characterize a tissue-mimicking phantom that enables the direct comparison of magnetic resonance (MR) and ultrasound (US) imaging techniques useful for monitoring high-inten...
Shifting forms of Engagement: Volunteer Learning in Online Citizen Science

Peer production projects involve people in many tasks, from editing articles to analyzing datasets. To facilitate mastery of these practices, projects offer a number of learning resources, ranging from project-defined FAQsto individually-oriented search tools and communal discussion boards. However, it is not clear which project resources best support participant learning, overall and at different stages of engagement. We draw onSorensen's framework of forms of presence to distinguish three types of engagement with learning resources:authoritative, agent-centered and communal. We assigned resources from the Gravity Spy citizen-science into these three categories and analyzed trace data recording interactions with resources using a mixed-effects logistic regression with volunteer performance as an outcome variable. The findings suggest that engagement with authoritative resources (e.g., those constructed by project organizers) facilitates performance initially. However, as tasks become more difficult, volunteers seek and benefit from engagement with their own agent-centered resources and community-generated resources. These findings suggest a broader scope for the design of learning resources for peer production
Lp Testing and Learning of Discrete Distributions

The classic problems of testing uniformity of and learning a discrete distribution, given access to independent samples from it, are examined under general lp metrics. The intuitions and results often contrast with the classic l1 case. For p > 1, we can learn and test with a number of samples that is independent of the support size of the distribution: For 1 4/3. The uniformity testing algorithm simply thresholds the number of "collisions" or "coincidences" and has an optimal sample complexity up to constant factors for all 1 ≤ p ≤ 2. Another algorithm gives order-optimal sample complexity for l∞ uniformity testing. Meanwhile, the most natural learning algorithm is shown to have order-optimal sample complexity for all lp metrics.The author thanks Cement Canonne for discussions and contributions to this work.
Proximal Methods for Plant Stress Detection Using Optical Sensors and Machine Learning

Plant stresses have been monitored using the imaging or spectrometry of plant leaves in the visible (red-green-blue or RGB), near-infrared (NIR), infrared (IR), and ultraviolet (UV) wavebands, often augmented by fluorescence imaging or fluorescence spectrometry. Imaging at multiple specific wavelengths (multi-spectral imaging) or across a wide range of wavelengths (hyperspectral imaging) can provide exceptional information on plant stress and subsequent diseases. Digital cameras, thermal cameras, and optical filters have become available at a low cost in recent years, while hyperspectral cameras have become increasingly more compact and portable. Furthermore, smartphone cameras have dramatically improved in quality, making them a viable option for rapid, on-site stress detection. Due to these developments in imaging technology, plant stresses can be monitored more easily using handheld and field-deployable methods. Recent advances in machine learning algorithms have allowed for images and spectra to be analyzed and classified in a fully automated and reproducible manner, without the need for complicated image or spectrum analysis methods. This review will highlight recent advances in portable (including smartphone-based) detection methods for biotic and abiotic stresses, discuss data processing and machine learning techniques that can produce results for stress identification and classification, and suggest future directions towards the successful translation of these methods into practical use.
Gang Graffiti, Group Process, and Gang Violence

Examines the neighborhood-level relationship between gang graffiti and gang violence in a large city in the western region of the US during a peak period of local gang feuds in 2014–15. Bayesian Poisson log-linear mixed regression models with a spatio-temporal autoregressive process are estimated using a combination of data for N = 42,276 space–time units. Consistent with the view of graffiti an important means of street-level communication between gangs and an integral part of group processes associated with violence escalation and contagion, results reveal a roughly 40 to 60% increase in the expected rate of gang homicides, gang assaults, and gang firearm offenses (but not gang robberies) for each unit increase in neighborhood density of gang graffiti. Somewhat unexpectedly, the relationship with both gang homicide and gang assault was stronger for non-threatening gang graffiti than gang graffiti involving explicit threats or disrespect. Findings suggest gang graffiti provides clear clues about local “staging grounds,” where gang status is on the line and violence is expected and easily provoked. Thus, while gangs increasingly are dissing rivals and airing beefs through music (e.g., “diss tracks”) and in cyberspace, many still occupy and defend turf and write graffiti that communicates threats to other gangs and feeds into group processes associated with violence escalation and contagion.
Yeast-Derived Carbon Nanotube-Coated Separator for High Performance Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery is an appealing energy storage technology because of its superior theoretical energy density, natural friendliness and low cost over Li-ion battery. However, Li-S batteries often suffer from fast capacity decay, low energy density and short lifespan due to the shuttle effect from polysulfides. Hybridizing sulfur with carbonaceous materials has been demonstrated effective in solving these challenges and thus improving Li-S battery performance. In this work, yeast as a low-cost, natural and renewable catalyst was used to grow carbon nanotubes (CNTs), which were then coated on the separator in a Li-S battery to suppress the shuttle effect of polysulfides. The Li-S cell with the CNT-coated separator exhibited significantly improved performance at high current density with an initial high specific capacity of 980 mA h g−1 and a well-retained specific capacity of ~ 450 mA h g−1 after 850 cycles at a high current density.
The Common Prosecutor

This is a symposium piece stemming from Loyola University of Chicago Law Journal's Criminal Justice Symposium and my engagement with a panel of experts discussing "Wrongful Convictions, Pleas, and Sentencing." The essay focuses on the role of prosecutors in the system. It contends that we would benefit significantly if more law school graduates--of every ideology, race, religion, gender identity, background, and other characteristics--served (at least a year or two) as prosecutors. We have witnessed the rise of the "progressive prosecutor." Now, it is time for more "common prosecutors" to take a central role in the system. The homogeneity of prosecutors is well-known and well-documented. As of October, 2020, for instance, 85% (79 of 93) U.S. attorney's offices were led by white men. Yet, the people investigated and prosecuted for crimes are disproportionately people of color. And, LGBTQ and people living in poverty are also disproportionately targeted by our justice system. Diversifying the office of the prosecutor with more "common prosecutors" is a big step forward toward improving several flaws in our current system. Adding this diversity among prosecutors will improve prosecutorial decision making, increase public confidence in the system, encourage more productive police-citizen interactions, and reduce prosecutor and law enforcement bias.
Biodiversity comparison among phylogenetic diversity metrics and between three North American prairies

Protection of Earth's ecosystems requires identification of geographical areas of greatest biodiversity. Assessment of biodiversity begins with knowledge of the evolutionary histories of species in a geographic area. Multiple phylogenetic diversity (PD) metrics have been developed to describe biodiversity beyond species counts, but sufficient empirical studies, particularly at fine phylogenetic scales, have not been conducted to provide conservation planners with evidence for incorporating PD metrics into selection of priority regions. We review notable studies that are contributing to a growing database of empirical results, we report on the effect of using high-throughput sequencing to estimate the phylogenies used to calculate PD metrics, and we discuss difficulties in selecting appropriate diversity indices. We focused on two of the most speciose angiosperm families in prairies—Asteraceae and Fabaceae—and compared 12 PD metrics and four traditional measures of biodiversity between three North American...
- Lyn: Lyn protein-tyrosine kinase (vertebrates) (p53/56lyn)

Transcripts encoding the Lyn kinase were first identified by virtue of sequence relatedness to Yes. Fyn is a typical Src family nonreceptor PTK. The LYN gene is expressed in hematopoietic cells, primarily myeloid cells and B lymphocytes. Two forms of the protein, the products of translation of alternatively spliced transcripts differing by only 21 codons, are expressed simultaneously. The Lyn kinase associates with the immunoglobulin complex on B-cell surfaces and is believed to participate in activating the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase. A possible interaction with the lL-2 and IL-3 receptors in some transformed cell lines has also been reported. In domain structure of PK, myristoylation occurs at the N-terminal glycine. There are four domains, as in other Src family kinases. The two isoforms differ in their SH3 domains; no functional differences have yet been attributed to these products of alternatively spliced transcripts. The SH3 and SH2 domains have been defined by conventional sequence comparisons, as has the SH1 (kinase) domain. Little information is available regarding posttranslational modifications of Lyn. Lyn activity is assayed in immunoprecipitates by autophosphorylation, or by phosphorylation of exogenously added, denatured enolase.
Sensitivity Analysis of Closed Queueing Networks: An Operation Approach

Perturbation analysis is an efficient method to estimate the sensitivity of performance with respect to parameters for queueing networks. An operational approach to perturbation analysis is developed. Concepts such as realization ratios and their equations are derived in the operational framework. The approach utilizes assumptions which pertain only to the average behaviour of a system in any sample path. Stochastic and operational approaches to queueing networks and their sensitivity analysis are compared. The operational approach is more appropriate for real world problems such as manufacturing systems where the time averages are the primary concern.
Cortical activity patterns predict robust speech discrimination ability in noise

The neural mechanisms that support speech discrimination in noisy conditions are poorly understood. In quiet conditions, spike timing information appears to be used in the discrimination of speech sounds. In this study, we evaluated the hypothesis that spike timing is also used to distinguish between speech sounds in noisy conditions that significantly degrade neural responses to speech sounds. We tested speech sound discrimination in rats and recorded primary auditory cortex (A1) responses to speech sounds in background noise of different intensities and spectral compositions. Our behavioral results indicate that rats, like humans, are able to accurately discriminate consonant sounds even in the presence of background noise that is as loud as the speech signal. Our neural recordings confirm that speech sounds evoke degraded but detectable responses in noise. Finally, we developed a novel neural classifier that mimics behavioral discrimination. The classifier discriminates between speech sounds by comparing the A1 spatiotemporal activity patterns evoked on single trials with the average spatiotemporal patterns evoked by known sounds. Unlike classifiers in most previous studies, this classifier is not provided with the stimulus onset time. Neural activity analyzed with the use of relative spike timing was well correlated with behavioral speech discrimination in quiet and in noise. Spike timing information integrated over longer intervals was required to accurately predict rat behavioral speech discrimination in noisy conditions. The similarity of neural and behavioral discrimination of speech in noise suggests that humans and rats may employ similar brain mechanisms to solve this problem.
Risk and Prevention

Research questions in child and adolescent social development are often inspired by practical experiences, challenges, and problems that arise in educational settings. Reciprocally, developmental psychology is a core disciplinary component of many innovative interventions that are implemented to promote social development in classrooms and social atmosphere in schools. Although current educational policies emphasize academic instruction, both within schools and across school districts, epidemiological evidence suggests that over 25% of school age children are at risk for negative social and psychological outcomes that impede learning, with low income communities particularly affected. Preventive interventions designed to ameliorate risk factors for these students, both at the population level and as individuals, rest to a large extent upon research, both basic and applied, in child and adolescent social development. However, “evidence-based” prevention efforts are often ineffectively or slowly implemented, and the connections among applied research, basic research, and practice are still poorly understood or not yet sophisticated in their design. This chapter uses two case studies at the elementary grade level as the basis for describing a new model of the connections of basic and applied risk research, and prevention practice that might efficiently and effectively serve the best interests of children. Keywords: intergroup relations; interpersonal understanding; literacy; personal meaning; practice-based research; psychosocial prevention; risk reduction; self awareness; social awareness; social development; social perspective coordination
Buffer-Stable Chitosan–Polyglutamic Acid Hybrid Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications

In spite of their attractive features, widespread biomedical applications of CS nanoparticles are yet to be realized due to their poor stability in physiological conditions, such as in buffer system at pH 7.4. Buffer-stable chitosan-based hybrid NPs (HNPs) are reported and characterized. Buffer stability is achieved by introducing polyglutamic acid to chitosan. The effect of PGA to CS molar ratio and crosslinking on HNP integrity, buffer stability, and biodegradability are studied. Preliminary in vitro studies are carried out to evaluate targeted uptake efficiency of folate conjugated HNPs. Successful demonstration of buffer stability and cancer cell targeting by HNPs achieves important milestones for chitosan-based nanoparticle technology.
Effect of d-Cycloserine on Transformation in Group H Streptococcus, Strain Challis

d-Cycloserine (d-CS), a selective inhibitor of bacterial cell wall biosynthesis, inhibited transformation in group H streptococcus, strain Challis, by preventing the development of the competent state. The incubation of strain Challis cells with d-CS resulted in the production of a substance which inhibited the action of competence factor on these cells. d-CS had an enhancing effect on transformation when deoxyribonucleic acid uptake or phenotypic expression was allowed to occur in its presence.
Methods for Fog Seal Field Test with Polymer-Modified Emulsions: Development and Performance Evaluation

Findings from a laboratory evaluation of fog seal emulsions are presented. Curing time and adhesive behavior of polymer-modified emulsions (PMEs) were compared with those of unmodified emulsions as fog seal materials. The study showed that polymer modification could improve certain properties of emulsions, such as an increase in adhesion. The evaporation test and the pneumatic adhesion tension testing instrument were used to investigate emulsion curing and adhesive behavior. Also, the rolling ball test and the damping test were developed as in situ test methods to determine an appropriate traffic opening time for roadways treated with fog seals. Finally, the third-scale Model Mobile Load Simulator was employed to compare the performance properties of the fog seal emulsions. The following main findings are presented: use of PMEs improved the emulsion bond strength and lessened the time a road was closed to traffic; PMEs showed more effective emulsion curing rates than did unmodified emulsions; strong relat...
Wheat germ hemicellulose is an absolute requirement for growth and development of the southwestern corn borer

The southwestern corn borer, Diatraea grandiosella Dyar, is a major pest of corn, Zea mays L., in the southern United States. To search for plant allelochemicals, chemically defined insect diets are commonly used, but southwestern corn borer larvae did not grow and develop unless a subnutritional amount of wheat germ was incorporated in the amino acid diet. Fractionation led to identification of hemicellulose as the active component which was then characterized. The hemicellulose permitted insect growth on a protein-free amino acid diet. Microfloral involvement was ruled out because larvae grew and developed free of intestinal microbes. Therefore, this insect has an absolute requirement for hemicellulose that has evidently not been demonstrated with other invertebrates or vertebrates. This finding is of general interest because hitherto, the contributions of hemicellulose to nutrition have generally been considered to be associated chiefly with microfloral conversion to assimilable carbohydrates. Investigations should be conducted to determine whether hemicelluloses are also important or essential for growth of vertebrates including mammals by mechanisms that may not have been considered.
Transcriptional Regulatory Network for the Development of Innate Lymphoid Cells

Recent studies on innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) have expanded our knowledge about the innate arm of the immune system. Helper-like ILCs share both the "innate" feature of conventional natural killer (cNK) cells and the "helper" feature of CD4(+) T helper (Th) cells. With this combination, helper-like ILCs are capable of initiating early immune responses similar to cNK cells, but via secretion of a set of effector cytokines similar to those produced by Th cells. Although many studies have revealed the functional similarity between helper-like ILCs and Th cells, some aspects of ILCs including the development of this lineage remain elusive. It is intriguing that the majority of transcription factors involved in multiple stages of T cell development, differentiation, and function also play critical roles during ILC development. Regulators such as Id2, GATA-3, Nfil3, TOX, and TCF-1 are expressed and function at various stages of ILC development. In this review, we will summarize the expression and functions of these transcription factors shared by ILCs and Th cells. We will also propose a complex transcriptional regulatory network for the lineage commitment of ILCs.
Late Amazonian subsidence and magmatism of Olympus Mons, Mars

Measurements of the flow directions of 80 long lava flows in the flexural basin that surrounds Olympus Mons reveal that most are no longer aligned with the regional downslope direction but diverge by an average of 15.4° ± 9.8° in the counterclockwise direction. This misalignment is consistent with topographic change in the basin after the flows were emplaced due to subsidence centered on nearby Olympus Mons. The observed tilting indicates subsidence of 0.62 to 2.13 km at the center of Olympus Mons induced by the addition of 1.33 × 105 to 1.35 × 106 km3 of volcanic material or about 1–10% of the total volume of the present-day edifice. New crater size-frequency measurements for selected areas within the flexural basin indicate that the subsidence took place in the past 210 ± 40 Ma. These findings indicate that previously recognized Late Amazonian volcanic and tectonic events at Olympus Mons signify an important period of magmatic activity during which a substantial portion of the present-day edifice may have been added.
Younger Dryas in southernmost south America — An update

Abstract High resolution pollen data from a peat section in southern Tierra del Fuego documents high paleoenvironmental variability between 11 ka and 9 ka. Detailed analysis of plant macro remains in the same section showed that the repeated high-amplitude changes in pollen taxa were related to repeated fire disturbance burning at least once even the surface of the mire. In many peat sections from southernmost Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego charcoal particles have been found intermittently since about 13 ka and in great abundance especially after 11 ka. This suggests that the environmental changes previously interpreted to imply a return to colder climates comparable to the North Atlantic Younger Dryas event instead are in response to local and regional disturbances by fires.
Experimental studies on the combustion characteristics of alternative jet fuels

Abstract Conventional Jet-A and six alternative jet fuels, including three Fischer–Tropsch “Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene” (SPK) fuels and three “Hydrotreated Renewable Jet” (HRJ) fuels, have been experimentally investigated to obtain their fundamental combustion characteristics in terms of Derived Cetane Number (DCN), autoignition response, laminar flame speed, and extinction stretch rate for premixed combustion. The ignition delay times and DCNs for each jet fuel and selected binary blends of Jet-A and alternative jet fuel were determined by using a Fuel Ignition Tester in accordance with the ASTM D7170 method. In addition, the autoignition response for fuel/air mixtures was recorded and compared in a heated Rapid Compression Machine, conducted at an air-to-fuel mass ratio of 13 and under a compressed pressure of 22 bar. By changing the compression ratio and initial temperature, the trend of autoignition behavior over a range of compressed temperatures was studied. Atmospheric laminar flame speeds and extinction stretch rates were also measured in the premixed twin-flame configuration by using a counterflow burner. The flame data at two unburned mixture temperatures of 400 K and 470 K were reported respectively over an equivalence ratio range of ϕ = 0.7–1.4 for the laminar flame speeds and of ϕ = 0.9–1.6 for the extinction stretch rate measurements. The comparison of fundamental combustion properties for Jet-A and various alternative jet fuels provides insights into understanding the impact of fuel properties on combustion performance and developing a cost-effective combustion testing program that includes fundamental characterization.
CT scan reconstruction of the palate region of Latimeria chalumnae

The palate of Latimeria chalumnae is described based mainly on three-dimensional CT scan reconstruction. It is compared with that of other osteichthyans. The palate of L. chalumnae compares best with that of rhipidistians; it is more advanced than that of actinopterygians in having fewer bones. This tendency toward bone reduction in the palate is even more pronounced in dipnoans. The interpretation of features of the Early Devonian genus Diabolepis determines if authors consider dipnoans or actinistians more closely related to tetrapods. Both groups are only distant relatives of tetrapods.