cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cellular mechanisms of action and resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to artemisinin

The recent reports of high failure rates and decline in in vitro sensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum to artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) suggest the possibility of clinical artemisinin resistance along the Thai-Cambodian and Thai-Myanmar borders. The study investigated cellular mechanisms of action and resistance of P. falciparum to artesunate (stage specific activity, interaction with hemozoin, and anti-oxidant levels) in the two paired P. falciparum isolates (MSF046 and MSF060) collected before treatment with a 3-day artesunate-mefloquine and at the time of recrudescence. In addition, the link of these cellular mechanisms to the polymorphisms of the candidate artemisinin-resistant genes (pfatp6, pfcrt, pfmdr1, pfmrp1, and K13 propeller) was also investigated. Morphological change was observed in both pairs of the primary and recrudesced P. falciparum isolates during 12–48 h of exposure to artesunate (at IC90). A marked decrease in parasite viability was found in the recrudesced isolates of both MSF046 and MSD060. The extent of the reduction (% change of baseline) in total glutathione concentrations was significantly lower in recrudesced (32.1 and 1.7%) compared with primary (45.5 and 53.7%) isolates of both MSF046 and MSF060. The extent of reduction of hemozoin content in MSF046 was significantly higher in the recrudesced (76.8%) isolate compared with the primary isolate (99.5%). For MSF060 on the other hand, increase in hemozoin content was found in the recrudesced isolate and the extent of such increase was significantly higher in recrudesced (93.1%) than the primary isolate (87.5%). Polymorphism of K13 (N458Y) together with pfmdr1 copy number correlated well with sensitivity of both isolates to artesunate. Results of this preliminary study suggests possible role of glutathione-dependent detoxification system as well as heme degradation as cellular mechanisms of action and resistance of artemisinins.
ARC Flash KPI Compliance at a Large Oil and Gas Company

An oil and gas company's arc flash electrical safe operations program is a corporate initiative to prevent electrical arc flash injuries. The program implements the company general instruction—electrical arc flash hazard mitigation, which provides minimum safe work requirements for protection of personnel in the workplace against electrical arc flash hazards in accordance with the National Fire Protection Agency 70E. The program tracks five key performance indicators (KPIs) to protect employees from arc flash hazards in all company facilities, which are as follows: 1) technology deployment; 2) training and certification; 3) operation and maintenance delineation; 4) operation and maintenance unified procedures; and 5) arc flash analysis. To verify compliance, the company initiated field-based assessments conducted by a specialized team of Power Systems Compliance and Electrical Engineers. The assessments are designed to validate each facility's compliance as well as to identify any opportunities for improvement in the application of arc flash mitigation. The assessors utilized a standardized checklist to determine the level to which established KPIs have been implemented. The checklists are weighted and scored to validate compliance in a consistent manner. This paper demonstrates a structured approach to measure arc flash KPI compliance and highlights some findings and practical examples that can be applied at many oil and gas facilities.
Consumption-Income Sensitivity and Portfolio Choice.

Contrary to the predictions of traditional life-cycle models, household consumption is excessively sensitive to current income. Similarly, weak evidence of income hedging runs against standard portfolio theory. We link these two puzzles by modifying the theoretical framework of Viceira (2001) to study how consumption-income sensitivities generated by income in the utility function affect households’ portfolio choices. Empirically, we find that consumption-income sensitivities affect asset allocation through the income hedging channel. In particular, we show that the interaction between consumption-income sensitivity and the correlation of income growth to stock market returns is an important explanatory variable for households’ stock market holdings. Received October 20, 2016; editorial decision April 25, 2018 by Editor Wayne Ferson.
Breastfeeding and the Role of Maternal Religion: Results From a National Prospective Cohort Study.

Background Recent research on religion and breastfeeding from a low-income, urban sample in the USA found that religious affiliation and religious attendance were associated with breastfeeding initiation. Purpose We assessed the relationship between religion (religious affiliation and religious attendance) and breastfeeding (initiation and duration) in a nationally representative prospective cohort study. We examined whether education and other sociodemographic characteristics mediated or moderated relationships. Methods Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (n = 3,719), we regressed breastfeeding initiation and breastfeeding duration for first births on religious affiliation and religious attendance, comparing conservative Protestants with other religious groups. Sociodemographic characteristics were explored as potential mediators or moderators of relationships. Results Other than black Protestants, all religious groups reported higher odds of breastfeeding initiation compared to conservative Protestants (odds ratios = 1.43-3.01; p < .01 for all). All groups also breastfed longer than conservative Protestants, with the exception of black Protestants and Catholics. Educational attainment explained breastfeeding initiation differences with the exception of nonaffiliates and "other" religious affiliates. Educational attainment also explained religious group breastfeeding duration differences with the exception of nonaffiliates. In our final models, regular religious attendance was not directly associated with breastfeeding, but it magnified the breastfeeding duration advantage seen among mothers who had a later age at first birth. Conclusions The role of educational attainment in explaining breastfeeding differences between conservative Protestants and other groups suggests that educational interventions may be beneficial within this population.
Genetic Risk for Subsequent Neoplasms Among Long-Term Survivors of Childhood Cancer

Purpose Childhood cancer survivors are at increased risk of subsequent neoplasms (SNs), but the germline genetic contribution is largely unknown. We assessed the contribution of pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) mutations in cancer predisposition genes to their SN risk. Patients and Methods Whole-genome sequencing (30-fold) was performed on samples from childhood cancer survivors who were ≥ 5 years since initial cancer diagnosis and participants in the St Jude Lifetime Cohort Study, a retrospective hospital-based study with prospective clinical follow-up. Germline mutations in 60 genes known to be associated with autosomal dominant cancer predisposition syndromes with moderate to high penetrance were classified by their pathogenicity according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines. Relative rates (RRs) and 95% CIs of SN occurrence by mutation status were estimated using multivariable piecewise exponential regression stratified by radiation exposure. Results Participants were 3,006 survivors (53% male; median age, 35.8 years [range, 7.1 to 69.8 years]; 56% received radiotherapy), 1,120 SNs were diagnosed among 439 survivors (14.6%), and 175 P/LP mutations were identified in 5.8% (95% CI, 5.0% to 6.7%) of survivors. Mutations were associated with significantly increased rates of breast cancer (RR, 13.9; 95% CI, 6.0 to 32.2) and sarcoma (RR, 10.6; 95% CI, 4.3 to 26.3) among irradiated survivors and with increased rates of developing any SN (RR, 4.7; 95% CI, 2.4 to 9.3), breast cancer (RR, 7.7; 95% CI, 2.4 to 24.4), nonmelanoma skin cancer (RR, 11.0; 95% CI, 2.9 to 41.4), and two or more histologically distinct SNs (RR, 18.6; 95% CI, 3.5 to 99.3) among nonirradiated survivors. Conclusion The findings support referral of all survivors for genetic counseling for potential clinical genetic testing, which should be prioritized for nonirradiated survivors with any SN and for those with breast cancer or sarcoma in the field of prior irradiation.
SECONDARY BATTERIES – LEAD– ACID SYSTEMS | Modeling

Lead–acid batteries, invented more than a century and a half ago, remain the workhorse for electric energy storage, despite the fact that some details of their chemistry are still neither yet fully characterized nor understood, making any physical-model description of the battery behavior incomplete. Nonetheless, many conceivable modeling efforts have been documented in the literature aiming to deliver a better understanding of the chemistry with respect to temperature, state of charge, aging, and failure. This article provides an overview of such notable modeling efforts to assist those interested in the subject to choose the most effective modeling approach for a given application. By all means, any practical model has to be accurate, reliable, and robust, and also easy to be developed and adapted to the application. It should be noted that, in order to achieve the goal, a compromise between efficiency and accuracy is often inevitable.
Alternative mortgage contracts and affordability- overview by Mark J. Garmaise

Abstract This paper provides an overview of alternative mortgage designs and discusses their potential role in alleviating problems of housing affordability. Alternative mortgages with backloaded payments were popular in the pre-crisis years and, from a theoretical perspective, they should have served to ease borrower constraints and to facilitate home purchases. There is some evidence that alternative mortgages perform this function for young, highly-educated borrowers. It also appears that alternative mortgages served as the vehicle for some speculative housing investments pre-2008, but it has not been compellingly demonstrated that they exacerbated the crisis.
Earthquake-Induced Floor Accelerations in Base-Rocking Wall Buildings

Base-rocking walls represent effective lateral load-resisting systems that are capable of achieving high seismic performance. However, while reliable design procedures have been proposed for these ...
HSFA2 Functions in the Physiological Adaptation of Undifferentiated Plant Cells to Spaceflight

Heat Shock Factor A2 (HsfA2) is part of the Heat Shock Factor (HSF) network, and plays an essential role beyond heat shock in environmental stress responses and cellular homeostatic control. Arabidopsis thaliana cell cultures derived from wild type (WT) ecotype Col-0 and a knockout line deficient in the gene encoding HSFA2 (HSFA2 KO) were grown aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to ascertain whether the HSF network functions in the adaptation to the novel environment of spaceflight. Microarray gene expression data were analyzed using a two-part comparative approach. First, genes differentially expressed between the two environments (spaceflight to ground) were identified within the same genotype, which represented physiological adaptation to spaceflight. Second, gene expression profiles were compared between the two genotypes (HSFA2 KO to WT) within the same environment, which defined genes uniquely required by each genotype on the ground and in spaceflight-adapted states. Results showed that the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and unfolded protein response (UPR) define the HSFA2 KO cells’ physiological state irrespective of the environment, and likely resulted from a deficiency in the chaperone-mediated protein folding machinery in the mutant. Results further suggested that additional to its universal stress response role, HsfA2 also has specific roles in the physiological adaptation to spaceflight through cell wall remodeling, signal perception and transduction, and starch biosynthesis. Disabling HsfA2 altered the physiological state of the cells, and impacted the mechanisms induced to adapt to spaceflight, and identified HsfA2-dependent genes that are important to the adaption of wild type cells to spaceflight. Collectively these data indicate a non-thermal role for the HSF network in spaceflight adaptation.
Pending Section 232 Litigation and Broader Trade Trends: Will the US Courts Restrict Presidential Authority from Relying Upon 'National Security'?

This article discusses American Institute for International Steel v. the United States, which is pending in the little-known United States Court of International Trade in New York. It involves an attempt to declare that the US legislation delegating authority to the president to impose trade restrictions is an unconstitutional delegation of legislative authority. A loss would legally curtail the president’s discretionary power to use national security as a reason to impose punitive measures against trading partners. The article identifies legal trends, where this case fits into the trade policy debates, and why it is so important. The article concludes that domestic U.S. litigation in 2019 may well have a tremendous impact on U.S. law and the global trading system. Many in the domestic and international trading communities (as well as those in the foreign policy and national security communities) are waiting for the results of this little-known steel litigation.
How waviness in the circulation changes surface ozone: a viewpoint using local finite-amplitude wave activity

Abstract. Local finite-amplitude wave activity (LWA) measures the waviness of the local flow. In this work we relate the anticyclonic part of LWA, AWA (anticyclonic wave activity), to surface ozone in summertime over the US on interannual to decadal timescales. Interannual covariance between AWA diagnosed from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast Era-Interim reanalysis and ozone measured at EPA Clean Air Status and Trends Network (CASTNET) stations is analyzed using maximum covariance analysis (MCA). The first two modes in the MCA analysis explain 84 % of the covariance between the AWA and MDA8 (maximum daily 8 h average ozone), explaining 29 % and 14 % of the MDA8 ozone variance, respectively. Over most of the US we find a significant relationship between ozone at most locations and AWA over the analysis domain (24–53 ∘ N and 130–65 ∘ W) using a linear regression model. This relationship is diagnosed (i) using reanalysis meteorology and measured ozone from CASTNET, or (ii) using meteorology and ozone simulated by the Community Atmospheric Model version 4 with chemistry (CAM4-chem) within the Community Earth System Model (CESM1). Using the linear regression model we find that meteorological biases in AWA in CAM4-chem, as compared to the reanalysis meteorology, induce ozone changes between −4 and +8 ppb in CAM4-chem. Future changes (ca. 2100) in AWA are diagnosed in different climate change simulations in CAM4-chem, simulations which differ in their initial conditions and in one case differ in their reactive species emissions. All future simulations have enhanced AWA over the US, with the maximum enhancement in the southwest. As diagnosed using the linear regression model, the future change in AWA is predicted to cause a corresponding change in ozone ranging between −6 and 6 ppb. The location of this change depends on subtle features of the change in AWA. In a number of locations this change is consistent with the magnitude and the sign of the overall simulated future ozone change.
CARRIER BEHAVIOR IN NICKEL-DOPED POLYMER CARBONS

In examining the conductivity and Hall coefficients of a series of variously heat-treated and nickel-doped polymer carbons prepared from variously loaded ion exchange resins by pyrolysis it was observed that the Hall mobility increases with impurity addition in these condensed molecular solids. Further analysis on a two-carrier model showed two prominent features: (1) both hole and electron type carriers decreased in concentration as impurity was added (2) high doping levels led to predominantly hole-type carriers alone being present. A theoretical interpretation of the conduction in such inhomogeneous molecular solids is suggested. It predicts a negative exponential dependence of the product of hole and electron carrier concentration upon the impurity concentration, and dependence of the product upon the sixth power of the Hall mobility. Both expectations appear to be borne out by data in this system. The interpretation suggested is based upon a “domain” hypothesis for the carriers, the effective domain sizes being dependent upon the nature of the material between regions of high conduction. In the case of the polymer carbon molecular solids, the latter regions are considered to be the condensed aromatic layer aggregates. An alternative interpretation based upon a barrier layer model is also considered.
Multi-scale predictors of parasite risk in wild male savanna baboons ( Papio cynocephalus )

Several factors are thought to shape male parasite risk in polygynous and polygynandrous mammals, including male-male competition, investment in potentially immunosuppressive hormones, and dispersal. Parasitism is also driven by processes occurring at larger scales, including host social groups and populations. To date, studies that test parasite-related costs of male behavior at all three scales—individual hosts, social groups, and the host population—remain rare. To fill this gap, we investigated multi-scale predictors of helminth parasitism in 97 male savanna baboons (Papio cynocephalus) living in the Amboseli ecosystem in Kenya over a 5-year span. Controlling for multi-scale processes, we found that many of the classic indicators of male mating effort—high dominance rank, testosterone, and glucocorticoids—did not predict helminth infection risk. However, we identified two parasite-related costs associated with male behavior: (i) socially connected males exhibited higher Trichuris trichiura egg counts and greater parasite species richness than socially isolated males and (ii) males with stable group residency exhibited higher parasite species richness than males who frequently dispersed to new social groups. At the population level, males harbored more parasites following periods of drought than rainfall. Lastly, parasites exhibited positive covariance suggesting that infection risk increases if a host already harbors one or more parasite taxa. These results indicate that multi-scale processes are important in driving male parasite risk and that some aspects of male behavior are costly. Together, our results provide an unusually holistic perspective on the drivers of parasite risk in the context of male behaviors and life histories. Infection by gastrointestinal helminths can have major consequences for host fitness, especially in the context of male mating effort. Multi-scale processes—from the host to its social group and population—are important for understanding key drivers of parasitism. We leveraged long-term data from one of the longest running behavioral ecology studies of a wild primate population in the world, the well-studied Amboseli baboon population in Kenya. We found that traditional indicators of male mating effort (attaining high dominance rank, high testosterone and glucocorticoids) did not predict parasitism. However, male social connectedness to females, competitive group demography, and harsh weather were all associated with higher parasitism. Because socially connected males faced the highest parasite risk, males may face a tradeoff between male-female relationships and parasitism. Our results show how processes at multiple scales contribute to variation in male parasite risk.
An Update on Ocular Gene Therapy for Monogenic and Multifactorial Retinal Diseases

Monogenic and multifactorial retinal diseases are genetically and clinically diverse conditions that have historically shared an untreatable clinical course. In recent years, the advent of targeted...
Poor ovarian response is associated with serum vitamin D levels and pro-inflammatory immune responses in women undergoing in-vitro fertilization

Abstract Poor ovarian response (POR 1 ) limits the success of infertility treatment modality. In this study, we aim to investigate if POR is associated with serum 25(OH) vitamin D (VD 2 ) levels and pro-inflammatory immune responses in infertile women with a history of in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer failures. A retrospective cross-sectional study included 157 women with IVF failures. Study patients were divided into four groups based on serum 25(OH)VD level and ovarian responses during the most recent IVF cycle; low VD (LVD 3 ) with POR, LVD with normal ovarian response (NOR 4 ), normal VD (NVD 5 ) with POR, and NVD with NOR. Serum 25(OH)VD level, cellular- and auto-immunity, and metabolic parameters, including homocysteine and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 were investigated. Peripheral blood CD56+ NK cell levels (%) and NK cytotoxicity were significantly higher in POR-LVD when compared to the other groups (P
The “Warrior” COMT Val/Met Genotype Occurs in Greater Frequencies in Mixed Martial Arts Fighters Relative to Controls

A functional single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene (rs4680) is a gene variant that has been shown to predict the ability to maintain cognitive agility during combat and competition. Critically, COMT Met (low-activity; high dopamine) allele carriers outperform Val (high-activity; low dopamine) homozygotes on a variety of cognitive tasks. However, the relationship between genotype and cognitive performance appears to reverse under stressful conditions. Stress increases pre-frontal cortex dopamine (PFC DA) levels, and Met allele carriers (with higher DA) show performance deficits relative to Val allele carriers. This pattern reflects the inverted U-shaped function of DA activity where too little (Val allele) or too much (Met allele carriers under stress) DA is associated with poor cognitive performance. The Val allele advantage for stress resiliency is referred to as the COMT "warrior/ worrier" model. In line with this model, we predicted that elite level mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters would be more likely than athlete controls to carry the GG (warrior) genotype compared to an athlete group and a non-athlete group. Based on findings in our previous studies, we also assessed the stress biomarkers cortisol and salivary alpha-amylase (sAA). There was an overall significant difference in genotype frequencies between groups (p =0.01) and the MMA group showed a significantly greater GG (warrior) genotype frequency than the non-athlete control group (p = 0.003). There was not a significant group x genotype interaction for the cortisol or sAA; however, the non-athlete GG group had significantly higher cortisol than the A/- group (p = 0.038). Combined, our findings suggest that the "warrior" genotype may play a participation role in combat sports.
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of levodopa/carbidopa cotherapies for Parkinson's disease

Introduction: Parkinson's disease is a chronic, neurodegenerative disease entity with heterogeneous features and course. Levodopa is the most efficacious dopamine substituting drug. Particularly, long-term application of oral levodopa/decarboxylase inhibitor formulations sooner or later supports onset of fluctuations of movement. It also shifts levodopa turnover to O-methylation, which impairs human methylation capacity and increases oxidative stress.Areas covered: This narrative review summarizes pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic features of available levodopa cotherapies on the basis of a literature search with the terms L-dopa, inhibitors of catechol-O-methyltransferase and monoamine oxidase-B.Expert opinion: Long-term levodopa/dopa decarboxylase inhibitor application with concomitant inhibition of both, catechol-O-methyltransferase and monoamine oxidase-B supports a more continuous dopamine substitution, which ameliorates fluctuations of motor behavior. This triple combination also enhances both, antioxidative defense and methylation capacity. Inhibition of monoamine oxidase-B reduces generation of oxidative stress in the brain. Constraint of catechol-O-methyltransferase reduces homocysteine synthesis due to diminished consumption of methyl groups for levodopa turnover at least in the periphery. An additional nutritional supplementation with methyl group donating and free radical scavenging vitamins is recommendable, when future drugs are developed for long-term levodopa/dopa decarboxylase treated patients. Personalized medicine treatment concepts shall also consider nutritional aspects of Parkinson's disease.
Wanderer on the American Frontier: The Travels of John Maley, 1803-1813

Review of: "Wanderer on the American Frontier: The Travels of John Maley, 1803-1813," edited by F. Andrew Dowdy.
Interventions to increase uptake of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in minority populations: A systematic review.

Abstract Minority youth represent a unique population for public health interventions given the social, economic, and cultural barriers they often face in accessing health services. Interventions to increase uptake of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in minority youth have the potential to reduce disparities in HPV infection and HPV-related cancers. This systematic review assesses the effectiveness of interventions to increase HPV vaccine uptake, measured as vaccine series initiation and series completion, among adolescents and young adults, aged 9–26 years old, identifying as a racial and ethnic minority or sexual and gender minority (SGM) group in high-income countries. Of the 3013 citations produced by a systematic search of three electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science) in November 2018, nine studies involving 9749 participants were selected for inclusion. All studies were conducted in the United States and were published from 2015 to 2018. Interventions utilized education, vaccine appointment reminders, and negotiated interviewing to increase vaccination. Participants were Black or African American (44.4%), Asian (33.3%), Hispanic or Latinx (22.2%), American Indian or Alaska Native (11.1%), and SGM (22.2%). Studies enrolled parent–child dyads (33.3%), parents alone (11.1%), and youth alone (55.6%). Vaccine series initiation ranged from 11.1% to 84% and series completion ranged from 5.6% to 74.2% post-intervention. Educational and appointment reminder interventions may improve HPV vaccine series initiation and completion in minority youth in the U.S. Given the lack of high quality, adequately powered studies, further research is warranted to identify effective strategies for improving HPV vaccine uptake for minority populations.
Perspectives on the utility and interest in a point-of-care urine tenofovir test for adherence to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis and antiretroviral therapy: an exploratory qualitative assessment among U.S. clients and providers.

Real-time, objective measures of adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) are needed to better assess adherence levels and to expedite clinical response for those with suboptimal adherence. Point-of-care tenofovir (POC-TFV) testing has been proposed as a solution to facilitate real-time antiretroviral adherence monitoring, but little is known about how health care providers, people living with HIV (PLWH) receiving ART, and people receiving PrEP will perceive POC-TFV testing. We conducted an exploratory qualitative study to assess perspectives on the utility and interest in POC-TFV testing from potential end users. We conducted three focus group discussions (FGDs) among 17 PLWH receiving ART and four individuals receiving PrEP, as well as eight in-depth interviews (IDIs) with health care providers in the Seattle area and presented participants with a hypothetical urine-based POC-TFV test. FGDs and IDIs were audio recorded, transcribed, coded, and analyzed to describe emerging themes. Overall, study participants demonstrated divergent opinions about the POC-TFV test. Among study participants, PLWH were most ambivalent about POC-TFV testing, first demonstrating reluctance to TFV-level monitoring and shifting positions during the FGDs. However, all PLWH participants were receptive to POC-TFV testing if requested by their provider. PrEP participants were generally supportive of POC-TFV testing for routine adherence monitoring and emphasized potential value in self-administered testing. Providers’ perceptions were equally divided – half suggested POC-TFV testing would be valuable, particularly for people receiving PrEP, while half indicated the test would have little benefit for most individuals receiving ART or PrEP in the U.S. All providers agreed that POC-TFV test results could be beneficial for assessing discrepancies in viral load results and self-reported adherence among PLWH. The study also revealed that a low-cost, non-urine-based POC-TFV test with a long-term limit of detection would be preferred over the hypothetical urine-based test. Our findings indicate POC-TFV testing may be beneficial for routine, clinic-based adherence monitoring, particularly for individuals receiving PrEP or for PLWH with persistent viremia or following recent ART initiation. These findings should also be used to formulate a target product profile for a POC-TFV test and to guide further developments in tools for objective antiretroviral adherence monitoring.
Detection and Differentiation of Replay Attack and Equipment Faults in SCADA Systems

Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems are widely used for industrial control of critical infrastructures, such as power plants and manufacturing systems. There is abundant evidence of SCADA systems being subject to cyberattacks. With increasing interest in industrial digitization, the cybersecurity of SCADA systems is poised to be even more important. Equipment faults and cyberattacks can manifest themselves in a similar fashion, i.e., they can exhibit similar signatures. This article focuses on methods that are capable of distinguishing equipment faults from bona fide cyberattacks. Especially, we consider a relatively sophisticated form of cyberattack known as the “replay attack” (RA). We derive mathematical formalisms that distinguish the RA from several classes of equipment faults and verify our methodology through an extensive numerical study. Note to Practitioners —This article is motivated by the problem of detecting replay cyberattacks in industrial control systems and differentiating it from equipment faults. Existing approaches mainly focus on the detection aspect but usually ignore the importance of differentiation. We an ensembled statistical process monitoring approach based on five statistical metrics. The statistical metrics are derived based on a theoretical analysis that shows the data characteristics under each system anomaly, including replay attack (RA), controller fault, and plant fault. We mathematically prove that the signatures generated by the derived metrics can be used to differentiate an RA from the equipment faults. We conduct a sensitivity analysis of the detection delay of our method regarding the magnitude of the cyberattack. Physical experiments on a rotating machinery setup show that the proposed approach applies to some simple real-world settings. In future research, we will address the scalability issue of our method as well as more generalized nonlinear system settings.
Ghosts in the Ultrasound: Expectant Fathers’ Experience of Trauma

This chapter examines the experiences of expectant fathers, with particular focus on how the prenatal period may be a period of stress but also growth for men. Using data from our interviews with men subsequent to attending a prenatal ultrasound appointment with their pregnant partners, we will demonstrate that early adverse events in the expectant father’s own development, as well as other traumatic events, shape men’s ideas about what they will need to become good fathers themselves. We will make recommendations for how expectant fathers could be better served to address their needs and improve parenting and partnering outcomes.
Emergency department use for nontraumatic dental conditions among children and adolescents: NEDS 2014-2015.

Objectives Despite great efforts to improve paediatric dental care access in the last two decades, the use of emergency departments (ED) for dental conditions among children that are more appropriately addressed in dental offices remains a public health concern in the United States. We examined factors associated with ED visits for nontraumatic dental conditions or NTDCs and ED visits for any other reason among children and adolescents. Methods A retrospective secondary data analysis of ED visits was conducted using the 2014-2015 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) data. NTDCs were further categorized as diseases of hard tissue (eg dental caries), pulp/periapical (eg root canal infections), gingival/periodontal (eg conditions that affect the supporting tissues) and other. We included patient/socioeconomic characteristics, disposition, time of visit, and the Grouped Charlson Comorbidity Index (GRPCI) in our analysis. Bivariate associations were tested using chi-squared test (α = 0.05). Results There were 70 616 194 ED visits in 2014-15, with 465 353 (0.7%) visits for NTDCs. Statistically significant differences were observed for all patient characteristics tested, except for gender when comparing children visiting the ED for NTDCs and children visiting for any other reason. Medicaid was the expected payer for nearly 60% of all ED visits, and the uninsured shared a larger proportion of NTDC visits (19.4%) than other visits (8.8%). Late adolescents (aged 18-21) accounted for over 50% of NTDC visits but only one-fifth of all other types of ED visits. Late adolescents (18-21 years old) who were uninsured had a significantly higher proportion of NTDC visits. Of all NTDC visits, 19.1% were related to hard tissue disease, 25.3% pulp/periapical, 7.9% periodontal disease, and the remaining were grouped as other dental diseases. Conclusions The ED use for NTDCs is more common among late adolescents, Medicaid and uninsured groups. Examining and implementing new approaches that improve access to routine dental care for these groups may help in reducing inefficient ED use related to NTDCs.
Threat imminence reveals links among unfolding of anticipatory physiological response, cortical-subcortical intrinsic functional connectivity, and anxiety

Abstract Excessive expression of threat-anticipatory defensive responses is central in anxiety. Animal research indicates that anticipatory responses are dynamically organized by threat imminence and rely on conserved circuitry. Insight from translational work on threat imminence could guide mechanistic research mapping abnormal function in this circuitry to aberrant defensive responses in anxiety. Here, we initiate such research. Fifty pediatric anxiety patients and healthy-comparisons (33 females) completed a threat-anticipation task whereby cues signaled delivery of highly-painful (threat) or non-painful (safety) heat. Temporal changes in skin-conductance indexed defensive responding as function of threat imminence. Resting-state functional connectivity data were used to identify intrinsic-function correlates of anticipatory response within a specific functional network derived from translational research. Results indicate that anxiety was associated with greater increase in anticipatory response as threats became more imminent. Magnitude of increase in threat-anticipatory responses corresponded to intrinsic connectivity within a cortical-subcortical circuit; importantly, more severe anxiety was associated with greater connectivity between ventromedial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus and basolateral amygdala, a circuit implicated in animal models of anxiety. These findings link basic-translational and clinical research, highlighting aberrant intrinsic function in conserved defensive circuitry as potential pathophysiological mechanism in anxiety.
The Control Theory Approach to Biological Neural Networks

An exact definition of the concept of “automation” in the broad sense does not exist. This term is usually defined as an apparatus with the ability to work without human intervention. The creation of calculating and regulating automatons has quite a long history (see Baev and Shimansky 1992). The idea of digital apparatus construction was elaborated as far back as the eighteenth century by Pascal and Leibniz. The first works on control system theory appeared in the nineteenth century. In Maxwell’s works, in particular, the behavior of systems incorporating feedback was analyzed. But it is usual to consider 1948 as the beginning of control theory development, when the American scientist Norbert Wiener’s Cybernetics; or, Control and Communication in the Animal and the Machine was published (see Wiener 1961).
Cerebrovascular Dilatation and Compression in Intracranial Hypertension

Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) causes dilatation of pial vessels [5]. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) may be maintained at high levels of ICP produced by infusion of the CSF spaces [7]. Ultimately, CBF begins to decline as ICP continues to rise, and when ICP equals the systemic arterial pressure (SAP), CBF ceases [3]. The cerebral vasodilatation that maintains CBF during rising ICP appears to be a form of autoregulation. The subsequent decline in CBF is due to vascular compression, and an unresolved issue is where the compression occurs. In patients in whom ICP equals SAP, opaque substances injected into the carotid or vertebral arteries does not enter the intracranial space [4]. This suggests collapse of these vessels as they penetrate the dura, but the results can be explained equally by collapse of the distal cerebrovascular tree; that is, opaque substances will not enter the intracranial space irrespective of the site of occlusion if CBF has ceased. Previous studies of cerebral venous pressure have suggested that both cerebral veins and the sagittal sinus are compressed by increased ICP [1, 6].
Application of the FM spectroscopic technique to SiH2 detection in a shock tube

Frequency modulation (FM) spectroscopy using a tunable ring-dye laser has been demonstrated on the SiH2 reaction intermediate in a shock tube. In the present application of FM spectroscopy, the modulation frequency is higher than normally employed, allowing one sideband to be well off the peak despite the broad lineshape of the rQo,4(4) line in the \( \tilde A - \tilde X \) (0,2,0)–(0,0,0) band. In addition to increasing sensitivity, the FM approach has eliminated signal contributions from particle formation that previously could dominate the long-time pro- file. Silylene absorption traces were obtained from SiHU mixtures highly diluted in argon and reflected-shock heated to temperatures between 1070 and 1610 K. Minimum detection sensitivities well below 0.05% absorption were demonstrated, corresponding to < 0.1 ppm SiH2.
Coke and Product Profiles Formed Along the Catalyst Bed duringn-Heptane Reforming: II. Influence of S on Pt/Al2O3and Pt–Re/Al2O3

Studies of coke and product profiles along catalyst beds of Pt/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and Pt-Re/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} during n-heptane reforming have provided insight into catalyst deactivation and reaction mechanisms. The addition of rhenium to a Pt catalyst changes coke and product profiles similar to those observed with an increase in pressure. Sulfur modifies these profiles in the opposite direction of rhenium. It affects the catalyst in a similar manner to a decrease in reactor pressure: a reduction in hydrogenolysis activity, an increase in dehydrogenation and coke-make, and a shift of the maximum in the coke profile toward the bottom of the reactor. Due to a slow stripping of sulfur during reforming reactions, an increasing sulfur concentration along the bed is observed at the end of several-days run. As a consequence, the coke profile does not match exactly with the C5-ring naphthene concentration profile, as was previously found on both unsulfided Pt and Pt-Re catalysts. The observed increase in coke-make and dehydrogenation activity, when sulfur is added to the Pt-Re catalyst, is probably due to a decrease in the hydrogen surface fugacity produced through electronic modifications of Pt by adsorbed sulfur atoms. 23 refs., 8 figs., 3 tabs.
Bcl-2-related protein family gene expression during oligodendroglial differentiation.

Oligodendroglial lineage cells (OLC) vary in susceptibility to both necrosis and apoptosis depending on their developmental stages, which might be regulated by differential expression of Bcl-2-related genes. As an initial step to test this hypothesis, we examined the expression of 19 Bcl-2-related genes in purified cultures of rat oligodendroglial progenitors, immature and mature oligodendrocytes. All ‘multidomain’ anti-apoptotic members (Bcl-x, Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Bcl-w and Bcl2l10/Diva/Boo) except Bcl2a1/A1 are expressed in OLC. Semiquantitative and real-time RT-PCR revealed that Bcl-xL and Mcl-1 mRNAs are the dominant anti-apoptotic members and increase four- and twofold, respectively, with maturation. Bcl-2 mRNA is less abundant than Bcl-xL mRNA in progenitors and falls an additional 10-fold during differentiation. Bcl-w mRNA also increases, with significant changes in its splicing pattern, as OLC mature. Transfection studies demonstrated that Bcl-xL overexpression protects against kainate-induced excitotoxicity, whereas Bcl-2 overexpression does not. As for ‘multidomain’ pro-apoptotic members (Bax, Bad and Bok/Mtd), Bax and Bak are highly expressed throughout differentiation. Among ‘BH3 domain-only’ members examined (Bim, Biklk, DP5/Hrk, Bad, Bid, Noxa, Puma/Bbc3, Bmf, BNip3 and BNip3L), BNip3 and Bmf mRNAs increase markedly during differentiation. These results provide basic information to guide further studies on the roles for Bcl-2-related family proteins in OLC death.
Enhancement of the thermostability of subtilisin E by introduction of a disulfide bond engineered on the basis of structural comparison with a thermophilic serine protease

Sites for Cys substitutions to form a disulfide bond were chosen in subtilisin E from Bacillus subtilis, a cysteine-free bacterial serine protease, based on the structure of aqualysin I of Thermus aquaticus YT-1 (a thermophilic subtilisin-type protease containing two disulfide bonds). Cys residues were introduced at positions 61 (wild-type, Gly) and 98 (Ser) in subtilisin E by site-directed mutagenesis. The Cys-61/Cys-98 mutant subtilisin appeared to form a disulfide bond spontaneously in the expression system used and showed a catalytic efficiency equivalent to that of the wild-type enzyme for hydrolysis of a synthetic peptide substrate. The thermodynamic characteristics of these enzymes were examined in terms of enzyme autolysis (t1/2) and thermal stability (Tm). The half-life of the Cys-61/Cys-98 mutant was found to be 2-3 times longer than that of the wild-type enzyme. Similar results were obtained by differential scanning calorimetry. The disulfide mutant showed a Tm of 63.0 degrees C, which was 4.5 degrees C higher than that observed for the wild-type enzyme. Under reducing conditions, however, the characteristics of the mutant enzyme were found to revert to those of the wild-type enzyme. These results strongly suggest that the introduction of a disulfide bond by site-directed mutagenesis enhanced the thermostability of subtilisin E without changing the catalytic efficiency of the enzyme.
The invasive coral Oculina patagonica has not been recently introduced to the Mediterranean from the western Atlantic.

Effective policies, management, and scientific research programs depend on the correct identification of invasive species as being either native or introduced. However, many species continue to be misidentified. Oculina patagonica, first recorded in the Mediterranean Sea in 1966, is believed to have been introduced in anthropogenic times and expanding in a west to east direction. However, its present identification and status as a recently introduced species remain to be explored. In this study, we used multi-locus genetic data to test whether O. patagonica in the Mediterranean has been recently introduced from the western North Atlantic. We found no genetic or historical demographic evidence to support a recent introduction of O. patagonica from the western North Atlantic or an expansion across the Mediterranean. Instead, Mediterranean and Atlantic populations are genetically distinct and appear to have begun diverging about 5 Mya. We also found evidence of a fossil record of Oculina spp. existing in the eastern North Atlantic millions of years before the present. Our results suggest that Mediterranean populations of O. patagonica have long been isolated from the western Atlantic, either in undetectable numbers or overlooked and undersampled sites and habitats, and have only recently been expanding to invasive levels as a result of environmental changes. Accurate identification of species’ invasive statuses will enable more effective research programs aimed at better understanding the mechanisms promoting the invasive nature of species, which can then lead to the implementation of efficient management plans.
An experimental analysis of bacteriophage T4 heterozygotes: I. Mottled plaques from crosses involving six rII loci☆

Abstract Phage progenies from heterozygous particles (HETs) have been classified by means of a new method for identifying genetic markers. The contents of mottled plaques of T4D, marked at six sites in the r II region, were analyzed in a way which permitted classification of the heterozygotes. The results showed, in agreement with the earlier observations of Levinthal and Trautner, that phage particles heterozygous for the central one of three markers tend to be recombinant for the terminal markers. In general the structure of HETs seems to be simple, having zero, one, or two (rarely more) end points within the confines of the area marked in these crosses. The data permit a rough estimate of the average length of the heterozygous area in T4D, giving values of 11 and 14 map units for HETs derived from normal lysis and from early premature lysis, respectively (map units corrected for high negative interference). When a HET area ends within the region marked in these crosses, the r alleles adjacent to the missing ones tend to be replicated infrequently. This is referred to as polarized segregation. The interpretation is advanced that the heterozygous area is composed of a double number of strands of genetic material which overlap where they are homologous, the two component strands ending at opposite ends of the overlap. Repetitive copy-choice replication on such a structure would explain the polarized segregation data. Assuming that such a structure is composed of DNA, a tentative estimate can be made that, in average, about 1500 nucleotide pairs from each genetic strand are included in a double double-helix overlap of normal-lysis heterozygotes and about 1900 in an overlap of early-premature-lysis heterozygotes. A possible mechanism utilizing such genetic overlaps is suggested for crossing-over in organisms with a standard meiosis. The model includes an interpretation of gene conversion, which can explain both its characteristic nonreciprocality and its association with crossing-over. The interpretation of gene conversion makes a prediction that can be tested with Neurospora or similar ascomycetes.