cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Liberalism and the Limits of Inclusion: Race and Immigration Law in the Americas, 1850-2000

Most scholars argue that the global triumph of liberal norms within the last 150 years ended discriminatory immigration policy. Yet, the United States was a leader in the spread of policy restrictions aimed at Asian migrants during the early twentieth century, and authoritarian Latin American regimes removed racial discrimination from their immigration laws a generation before the United States and Canada did. By the same token, critical theorists claim that racism has not diminished, but most states have removed their discriminatory laws, thus allowing significant ethnic transformation within their borders. An analysis of the immigration policies of the twenty-two major countries of the Americas since 1850 reveals that liberal states have been discriminatory precisely because of their liberalism and elucidates the diffusion of international legal norms of racial exclusion and inclusion.
Coronary flow regulation in the fetal sheep

The two ventricles of the fetal sheep heart have anatomic and biochemical differences that account for their differing functional capabilities and blood flows. Coronary flows to both ventricles hav...
Reductions in systemic oxygen delivery induce a hypometabolic state in the turtle Trachemys scripta.

We investigated the effects of vagal reductions in O2 delivery on oxygen consumption (V˙o 2) in the anesthetized freshwater turtle Trachemys scripta. Specifically, these experiments tested the hypo...
Community dependency on sand dunes for household income: Evidence from two coastal villages in Pottuvil

The eastern coast of Sri Lanka contains the longest stretch of sand dunes in the country. The Pottuvil sand dunes are a part of the sand dune series which extends from Pottuvil to Panama seashore. Sand dunes were excessively mined for commercial purposes in Pottuvil, both for sand and turtle egg poaching. The main purpose of this study was to determine the economic dependency of the community on the sand dunes. Through a survey using structured questionnaires for personal interviews, data on coastal community dependence on the coastal resources and income gained were collected. A multi-stage random sampling method was used, and 45 people were selected from two coastal villages of Pottuvil. The income dependency level of the community was analyzed through a linear regression model (double Log model). The average family size was 5 persons, with about 68.9% of the respondents involved in fishing for their livelihood. 57.8% of respondents had been educated above the secondary level. Around 84.5% of the families were recipients of Samurdhi benefits. The families earned an average of Rs.6,746.7 per month from fishing and coastal resources exploitation. The linear regression results indicated that there was a significant relationship between total income of households and income from exploiting coastal resources (sand mining and turtle egg poaching). Although 95.5% of respondents had good knowledge about the importance of the coastal resources and its’ conservation, only 20% had the view that these resources were deteriorating over time due to exploitation. Results also indicated that about 86.5% of the respondents shared an optimistic behaviour to adopt environment friendly attitudes towards coastal resource conservation. Coastal community seemed to have a more positive attitude towards the coastal resources, but was ignorant of conservation issues or impact of their actions on the environment. Hence, there is an urgent need to create awareness among the community for adopting participatory conservation activities to sustain the coastal resources.
Video-rate two-photon microscopy of cortical hemodynamics in-vivo

A video-rate two-photon microscopy system was constructed for optimized in-vivo imaging of functional activation and hemodynamics in rat brain. The system has been used to explore the vascular mechanisms underlying functional responses and baseline oscillations.
Brazil's Bourgeois Revolution?

The centennial of the founding of the Brazilian Republic, which coincides with the bicentennial of France's republican revolution of 1789, has not aroused the same debates as the French Revolution. The extent to which France's eruption represented a bourgeois revolution has been much questioned. Indeed, bourgeois revolutions everywhere have been subject to greater scrutiny and skepticism. This debate has excited much less passion in Brazil. Most historians have viewed the Brazilian Republic's birth as a rather unimportant event—and a failure. It was neither bourgeois nor a revolution. Rather, the overthrow of the Emperor on November 15, 1889 was a palace coup that replaced one authoritarian rural regime with another. According to this interpretation, no social change occurred as the population stood by “beastlike.” Historians often argue that although the army, which launched the coup, was able to maintain some autonomy in policy formulation for five years, it soon succumbed to the revived agrarian export elite, leaving behind few positive achievements. Yet at the time, the London Statesman declared that the overthrow of the Brazilian monarchy to be the world's most significant event in a very busy 1889. Historians are now starting to echo this sentiment, reasserting the importance of the early 1890s. Decio Saes, for instance, asserts that the 1889-1891 period marked the advent of the “bourgeois state” which confirmed on the political level the transformation set into motion by the emancipation of slaves in 1888.
The characteristics of medical disputes in clinical teaching hospitals and their prevention

Along with the increase of medical disputes year by year, it increasingly brings many negative impacts towards the hospitals and other social aspects, medical disputes already become a problem that various medical institutions can not avoid. The medical disputes occurred in clinical teaching hospitals have their own characteristics. Based on the practice of activities in teaching hospitals, the article analyses the characteristics of medical disputes in clinical teaching hospitals and explores the policies to prevent them.
Multiple Cadaveric Organ Procurement for Transplantation with Emphasis on the Heart

The operative technique for multiple cadaveric organ procurement is described. Delineated in detail are the means by which the cardinal principle of in situ core-cooling of different organs is applied to obtain liver, kidneys, and a heart for transplantation.
An AAV promoter-driven neuropeptide Y gene delivery system using Sendai virosomes for neurons and rat brain

An adeno-associated virus (AAV)-derived construct (pJDT95npy) containing rat neuropeptide Y (NPY) cDNA inserted downstream of endogenous AAV promoters was used to investigate AAV-driven NPY expression in postmitotic neurons in vitro and in the brain. NPY mRNA was expressed in NT2/N and rat brain primary neuronal cultures after transfection. There was a corresponding increase in the number of neurons staining for NPY-like immunoreactivity and an increase in NPY release during depolarization in the primary cultures. Injections of Sendai-virosome encapsulated pJDT95npy into neocortex increased NPY-like immunoreactivity in neurons but not glia indicating that the latter cell type did not have the translational, post-translational or storage capacity to accumulate the peptide. Injections into the rat hypothalamic para-ventricular nucleus increased body weight and food intake for 21 days, though NPY-like immunoreactivity remained elevated for at least 50 days. These studies demonstrate that AAV-derived constructs may be useful for delivering genes into post-mitotic neurons, and that Sendai virosomes are effective for delivering these constructs in vivo.
Benign Lesions of the Tunica Albuginea

AbstractAlthough most testicular masses are malignant we present 7 cases to demonstrate that benign lesions of the tunica albuginea do occur and that these may be a source of diagnostic confusion. Consideration should be given to the possibility of a benign lesion of the tunica albuginea when the lesion is small, discrete, painless and projecting above the surface of the tunica albuginea. All of our patients were referred to us with a tentative diagnosis of testicular malignancy. We do not wish to decrease the importance of vigilance concerning testicular masses but the cases presented herein demonstrate that all masses of the testis are not malignant.
Narcissism and self-presentation: Profiling grandiose and vulnerable Narcissists' self-presentation tactic use

This is the first study to investigate narcissism in relation to multiple self-presentation behaviors. In Study 1, we tested the relation between grandiose narcissism and 12 self-presentation tactics (as measured by the Self-Presentation Tactics Scale). In Study 2, we replicated Study 1 and included a measure of vulnerable narcissism. Our review of the literature implied that vulnerable narcissism and grandiose narcissism might relate differentially to self-presentation tactic categories. Results generally supported the idea that grandiose narcissism is associated with heightened use of assertive but not defensive self-presentation tactics. Vulnerable narcissism was associated with heightened use of both assertive and defensive self-presentation tactics. Overall, narcissists' utilization of self-presentation tactics seemed largely rational: grandiose narcissists assumed that assertive self-presentation tactics were more effective (Study 1), and both grandiose and vulnerable narcissists did not over-utilize tactics that convey identity images inconsistent with their narcissistic identity (Studies 1 and 2). Self-presentation is central to narcissism, and the present findings offer the first empirical evidence for a descriptive profile of self-presentation tactics that are most typical of grandiose and vulnerable narcissists.
Inverse uncertainty quantification of reactor simulations under the Bayesian framework using surrogate models constructed by polynomial chaos expansion

Abstract Modeling and simulations are naturally augmented by extensive Uncertainty Quantification (UQ) and sensitivity analysis requirements in the nuclear reactor system design, in which uncertainties must be quantified in order to prove that the investigated design stays within acceptance criteria. Historically, expert judgment has been used to specify the nominal values, probability density functions and upper and lower bounds of the simulation code random input parameters for the forward UQ process. The purpose of this paper is to replace such ad-hoc expert judgment of the statistical properties of input model parameters with inverse UQ process. Inverse UQ seeks statistical descriptions of the model random input parameters that are consistent with the experimental data. Bayesian analysis is used to establish the inverse UQ problems based on experimental data, with systematic and rigorously derived surrogate models based on Polynomial Chaos Expansion (PCE). The methods developed here are demonstrated with the Point Reactor Kinetics Equation (PRKE) coupled with lumped parameter thermal-hydraulics feedback model. Three input parameters, external reactivity, Doppler reactivity coefficient and coolant temperature coefficient are modeled as uncertain input parameters. Their uncertainties are inversely quantified based on synthetic experimental data. Compared with the direct numerical simulation, surrogate model by PC expansion shows high efficiency and accuracy. In addition, inverse UQ with Bayesian analysis can calibrate the random input parameters such that the simulation results are in a better agreement with the experimental data.
Paving the Way For Differentiated Instruction in Rural Classrooms Under Common Core State Standards: An Interview with Carolyn Callahan

The author interviewed Dr. Carolyn Callahan, an eminent scholar in gifted education. The interview focused on Dr. Callahan’s work on implementing gifted program in rural areas, and illustrated her ...
Dietary intake and peripheral arterial disease incidence in middle-aged adults: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Background: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a costly source of morbidity and mortality among older persons in the United States. Dietary intake plays a role in the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; however, few studies have examined the relation of food intake or dietary patterns with PAD.Objective: We examined the relation between habitual dietary intake at midlife and incident PAD over ∼20 y of follow-up.Design: Among 14,082 participants enrolled in the ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) Study initially free of PAD, dietary intake was assessed at baseline in 1987-1989 by using a modified Harvard food-frequency questionnaire. Food groups were created, and principal components analysis was used to develop "healthy" and "Western" dietary patterns; both were categorized into quintiles or quartiles. Incident PAD was determined by an ankle-brachial index <0.9 assessed at 2 subsequent examinations and hospital discharge codes through 2012. Multivariate-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression was used.Results: During a mean follow-up of 19.9 y, 1569 participants developed incident PAD. In models adjusted for demographic characteristics, behaviors, and food groups, the HRs (95% CIs) for incident PAD increased across quintiles of meat consumption [quintile 1: reference, quintile 2: 1.38 (1.16, 1.65), quintile 3: 1.38 (1.16, 1.65), quintile 4: 1.45 (1.20, 1.74), quintile 5: 1.66 (1.36, 2.03); P-trend <0.001]. Compared with those who drank no alcohol, those who had 1-6 drinks/wk had a lower risk of incident PAD [0.78 (0.68, 0.89)]. For coffee, ≥4 cups/d compared with none was inversely associated with incident PAD [quintile 5 compared with quintile 1: 0.84 (0.75, 1.00); P-trend = 0.014]. There was no association between other food groups or patterns and incident PAD.Conclusions: In this prospective cohort study, greater meat consumption was associated with a higher risk, and moderate alcohol consumption was associated with a lower risk of incident PAD. Whether these associations are causal remains to be seen. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00005131.
Heat transfer enhancement in turbulent drag reducing surfactant solutions by agitated heat exchangers

Abstract Drag reducing solutions can reduce turbulent pressure loss by nearly 90% and can decrease pumping energy requirements and increase flow rates in fluid flow systems. Unfortunately, drag reduced flow is accompanied by lower convective heat transfer coefficients, which is undesirable in district heating and cooling systems, heated tube bundles for undersea petroleum production, and other recirculating heat transport systems. In this study, three different rotating agitators were installed inside the inner tube of a concentric tube heat exchanger to enhance heat transfer in a surfactant drag reducing solution. An earlier mathematical model for heat transfer in scraped surface heat exchangers was adapted for this application so that the effectiveness of agitators with different geometries could be compared quantitatively. In addition, an enhancement efficiency factor was defined to compare power efficiency with previous methods. It was found that agitation can increase the effective inner heat transfer coefficient to exceed that of pure water; heat transfer reduction compared to water was reduced from 60% to −20%. In addition, the enhancement can be more energy-efficient than that of previously studied static mixers.
An Exploratory Multiple Case Study about Using Game-Based Learning in STEM Classrooms

This exploratory multiple case study attempted to examine whether game- based learning activities had any impacts on students’ academic performances and behaviors, and what perceptions the teachers had toward implementing games into their classrooms. Data used in this study included 101 students’ pre and post-test scores, and four structured written reflection papers by four STEM classroom teachers. The results indicated that students’ academic performances improved during the week GBL was implemented. In addition, their behaviors were noticed to change positively. Finally, teachers’ perceptions about GBL changed before and after they integrated the games into their classroom. The study was concluded with discussions, implementation of using GBL in STEM classrooms and suggestions for future studies.
Intractable Nausea Due to the Area Postrema Syndrome of Neuromyelitis Optica: An Uncommon Cause of a Common Symptom

Abstract Background Nausea and vomiting are common emergency department (ED) complaints. Neuromyelitis optica, a demyelinating disorder, has a predilection for the area postrema, the central nausea and vomiting center. Demyelinating lesions in this region cause intractable nausea and vomiting. Case Report We present a case of area postrema syndrome due to neuromyelitis optica in a 34-year-old woman who was seen in several EDs before the appropriate diagnosis was made. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? Nausea and vomiting are complaints that commonly bring people to the ED, thus, emergency physicians are likely to be the first to encounter and diagnose the area postrema syndrome.
The Unfolded State of the C-Terminal Domain of L9 Expands at Low but Not at Elevated Temperatures.

Abstract The temperature dependence of the overall dimensions of the denatured state ensemble (DSE) of proteins remains unclear. Some studies indicate compaction of the DSE at high temperatures, whereas others argue that dimensions do not decrease. The degree of compaction or expansion in the cold-denatured state has been less studied. To investigate the temperature dependence of unfolded state dimensions, small angle x-ray scattering measurements were performed in native buffer in the absence of denaturant for a designed point mutant of the C-terminal domain of L9, a small cooperatively folded α-β protein, at 14 different temperatures over the range of 5–60°C. The I98A mutation destabilizes the domain such that both the DSE and the folded state are populated at 25°C in the absence of denaturant or extreme pH. Thermal unfolding as well as cold unfolding can thus be observed in the absence of denaturant, allowing a direct comparison of these regimes for the same protein using the same technique. The temperature of maximal stability, Ts, is 30°C. There is no detectable change in Rg of the unfolded state as the temperature is increased above Ts, but a clear expansion is detected as the temperature is decreased below Ts. The Rg of the DSE populated in buffer was found to be 27.8 ± 1.7 A at 5°C, 21.8 ± 1.9 A at 30°C, and 21.7 ± 2.0 A at 60°C. In contrast, no significant temperature dependence was observed for the value of Rg measured in 6 M guanidine hydrochloride. The small angle x-ray scattering data reported here indicate clear differences between the cold- and thermal-unfolded states and show that there is no significant compaction at elevated temperatures.
A Miniaturized Particulate Matter Sensing Platform Based on CMOS Imager and Real-Time Image Processing

A miniaturized particulate matter (PM) sensing platform was developed. The platform uses a CMOS imager as sensor, electrostatic particle collector to collect ambient PM on an imaging substrate, and a laser diode as light source to scatter light from the particles. Image processing-based PM sensing algorithm was developed to obtain particle number, size, and size distribution in real time. The system is compact, power efficient, and low cost. The PM sensing platform is suitable for personal PM exposure monitoring with applications in environmental health, occupational, and epidemiological studies.
Real-time heuristic algorithms for the static weapon target assignment problem

The problem of targeting and engaging individual missiles (targets) with an arsenal of interceptors (weapons) is known as the weapon target assignment problem. Many optimal solution techniques are applied to solve problem variants having linear approximations of the objective function, and their final solutions rarely yield optimal solutions to the original problem. Herein, we propose a nonlinear branch and bound algorithm to solve the untransformed problem. We also develop two heuristics respectively based on a branch and bound algorithm and the optimal solution to the quiz problem, and we compare them to a well-embraced heuristic from the literature. We test the three heuristics to solve a set of 15 problem sizes and 20 instances for each size, comparing their performance with respect to solution quality and required computational effort. The heuristic based upon the optimal solution to the quiz problem finds solutions within $$6\%$$ of optimal for small problems and provides statistically similar results as one of the best heuristics found in the literature for larger problems, while solving these problems in ten thousandths of the time.
Detrital K-feldspar Pb isotopic evaluation of extraregional sediment transported through an Eocene tectonic breach of southern California's Cretaceous batholith

Abstract Sedimentary provenance studies have come to be overwhelmingly based upon U–Pb geochronologic measurements performed with detrital zircon while alternative and potentially complementary approaches such as conglomerate clast studies and heavy mineral analysis have faded in importance. Measurement of Pb isotopic compositions in detrital K-feldspar is among the under-utilized approaches available to ascertain sedimentary source regions. While it has been long recognized that common Pb isotope compositions recorded by K-feldspar vary widely and reflect the crustal provinces from which the host basement rocks crystallized, use of the approach has suffered due to a lack of appropriate statistical models and ground truth compositional data from source regions. In this paper, we: (1) present high-throughput LA-ICPMS analysis protocols needed to generate statistically meaningful detrital K-feldspar Pb isotope data sets; (2) develop an interpretative approach based upon 208Pb/206Pb vs. 207Pb/206Pb that incorporate information from the U- and Th-decay systems into one two-dimensional plot that is amenable to analysis using two-dimensional Kolmogorov–Smirnoff statistical tests; (3) generate new Pb isotopic data from basement rocks from southwestern North America to improve knowledge of the Pb isotopic properties of potential source regions; and (4) generate new Pb isotopic data from Lower Eocene to Lower Miocene sedimentary rocks to evaluate changes in drainage patterns that occurred in response to deformation that affected the southern California margin. Through this case study, we demonstrate how our new analytical and interpretative methods could be profitably applied to future geochemical and provenance studies and tectonically driven re-organization of drainage patterns.
Applying Project-Based Learning for An Online Object-Oriented Systems Course

Traditionally, students are introduced to programming oriented courses by covering a series of topics and having a programming project due at the end of each topic. Assigned projects are often not connected to each other, but are rather used to expose students to a variety programming constructs and concepts. Students take the most direct approach such as trial and error to complete these projects. While this scenario utilizes projects, it approaches the use of projects as a means to assess learning rather than a means for learning. In this poster, we present results from a project-based online course in object-oriented analysis and design. We present a model for structuring project modules that provide opportunities for students to prepare, design, implement and reflect on each project module. By providing multiple points for feedback and reflection, as well as assigning projects with visual components, the course aims to promote engagement of undergraduate students, while at the same time maintaining rigor. Preliminary results from this course are encouraging, and could potentially become a model for project based learning.
Association of Overlapping, Nonconcurrent, Surgery With Patient Outcomes at a Large Academic Medical Center: A Coarsened Exact Matching Study.

Objective Assess the safety of overlapping surgery before implementation of new recommendations and regulations. Background Overlapping surgery is a longstanding practice that has not been well studied. There remains a need to analyze data across institutions and specialties to draw well-informed conclusions regarding appropriate application of this practice. Methods Coarsened exact matching was used to assess the impact of overlap on outcomes amongst all surgical interventions (n = 61,524) over 1 year (2014) at 1 health system. Overlap was categorized as: any, beginning, or end overlap. Study subjects were matched 1:1 on 11 variables. Serious unanticipated events were studied including unplanned return to operating room, readmission, and mortality. Results In all, 8391 patients (13.6%) had any overlap and underwent coarsened exact matching. For beginning/end overlap, matched groups were created (total matched population N = 4534/3616 patients, respectively). Any overlap did not predict unanticipated return to surgery (9.8% any overlap vs 10.1% no overlap; P = 0.45). Further, any overlap did not predict an increase in reoperation, readmission, or emergency room (ER) visits at 30 or 90 days (30D reoperation 3.6% vs 3.7%; P = 0.83, 90D reoperation 3.8% vs 3.9%; P = 0.84) (30D readmission 9.9% vs 10.2%; P = 0.45, 90D readmissions 6.9% vs 7.0%; P = 0.90) (30D ER 5.4% vs 5.6%; P = 0.60, 90D ER 4.8% vs 4.7%; P = 0.71). In addition, any overlap was not associated with mortality over the surgical follow-up period (90D mortality 1.7% vs 2.1%; P = 0.06). Beginning/end overlap had results similar to any overlap. Conclusion Overlapping, nonconcurrent surgery is not associated with an increase in reoperation, readmission, ER visits, or unanticipated return to surgery.
Perpetual Flight for UAV Drone Swarms Using Continuous Energy Replenishment

Today’s off-the-shelf, inexpensive Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are an emerging breed of devices that promise to reshape tomorrow’s search and rescue landscape. Multiple identical drones can be utilized to achieve more complex tasks when arranged in a swarm formation. In either the single-drone or swarm configuration, these Lithium Polymer (LiPo) battery-powered machines can only stay in the air for a brief period of time (usually between 10 and 30 minutes) due to the high power consumption of their motors. For example, drones weighing only 200 to 600 grams can consume between 100–600 Watts. Most search-and-rescue operations last for days, even weeks, rendering these inexpensive drones impractical.A novel charge replenishment mechanism is proposed in this paper that allows a swarm of drones to stay in the air perpetually. This is achieved by employing a fleet of drones much larger than the flying swarm in order to continuously replace and charge energy-depleted drones. The required fleet size for various drone models is calculated analytically and through a simulation. A rule-of-thumb formula is derived based on Queuing Theory and Energy Conversation to confirm the feasibility of this proposal with simulation results.
DNA damage accumulates and responses are engaged in human ALS brain and spinal motor neurons and DNA repair is activatable in iPSC-derived motor neurons with SOD1 mutations

DNA damage is implicated in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, relationships between DNA damage accumulation, DNA damage response (DDR), and upper and lower motor neuron vulnerability in human ALS are unclear; furthermore, it is unknown whether epigenetic silencing of DNA repair pathways contributes to ALS pathogenesis. We tested the hypotheses that DNA damage accumulates in ALS motor neurons along with diminished DDR, and that DNA repair genes undergo hypermethylation. Human postmortem CNS tissue was obtained from ALS cases (N = 34) and age-matched controls without neurologic disease (N = 15). Compared to age-matched controls, abasic sites accumulated in genomic DNA of ALS motor cortex and laser capture microdissection-acquired spinal motor neurons but not in motor neuron mitochondrial DNA. By immunohistochemistry, DNA damage accumulated significantly in upper and lower motor neurons in ALS cases as single-stranded DNA and 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (OHdG) compared to age-matched controls. Significant DDR was engaged in ALS motor neurons as evidenced by accumulation of c-Abl, nuclear BRCA1, and ATM activation. DNA damage and DDR were present in motor neurons at pre-attritional stages and throughout the somatodendritic attritional stages of neurodegeneration. Motor neurons with DNA damage were also positive for activated p53 and cleaved caspase-3. Gene-specific promoter DNA methylation pyrosequencing identified the DNA repair genes Ogg1, Apex1, Pnkp and Aptx as hypomethylated in ALS. In human induced-pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived motor neurons with familial ALS SOD1 mutations, DNA repair capacity was similar to isogenic control motor neurons. Our results show that vulnerable neurons in human ALS accumulate DNA damage, and contrary to our hypothesis, strongly activate and mobilize response effectors and DNA repair genes. This DDR in ALS motor neurons involves recruitment of c-Abl and BRCA1 to the nucleus in vivo, and repair of DNA double-strand breaks in human ALS motor neurons with SOD1 mutations in cell culture.
Celastrol dilates and counteracts ethanol-induced constriction of cerebral arteries

The increasing recognition of the role played by cerebral artery dysfunction in brain disorders has fueled the search for new cerebrovascular dilators. Celastrol, a natural triterpene undergoing clinical trials for treating obesity, exerts neuroprotection, which was linked to its antioxidant/anti-inflammatory activities. We previously showed that celastrol fitted pharmacophore criteria for activating calcium- and voltage-gated potassium channels of large conductance ("BK") made of subunits cloned from cerebrovascular smooth muscle (SM). These recombinant BKs expressed in a heterologous system were activated by celastrol. Activation of native SM BKs is well-known to evoke cerebral artery dilation. Current data demonstrate that celastrol (1-100 µM) dilates de-endothelialized, ex-vivo pressurized middle cerebral arteries (MCA) from rats with EC50=45 µM and Emax=100 µM, with MCA diameter reaching a 10% increase over vehicle-containing, time-matched values (P Significance Statement Our study demonstrates for the first time that celastrol significantly dilates rat cerebral arteries both ex-vivo and in vivo, and both prevents and reverses ethanol-induced cerebral artery constriction. Celastrol actions are endothelium-independent but mediated through voltage-gated potassium and calcium/voltage-gated, big-conductance (BK) potassium channels. This makes celastrol an appealing new agent to evoke cerebrovascular dilation under conditions where endothelial and/or BK channel function are impaired.
Serological Responses of Raccoons and Striped Skunks to Ontario Rabies Vaccine Bait in West Virginia during 2012-2016.

Since the 1990s, oral rabies vaccination (ORV) has been used successfully to halt the westward spread of the raccoon rabies virus (RV) variant from the eastern continental USA. Elimination of raccoon RV from the eastern USA has proven challenging across targeted raccoon (Procyon lotor) and striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) populations impacted by raccoon RV. Field trial evaluations of the Ontario Rabies Vaccine Bait (ONRAB) were initiated to expand ORV products available to meet the rabies management goal of raccoon RV elimination. This study describes the continuation of a 2011 trial in West Virginia. Our objective was to evaluate raccoon and skunk response to ORV occurring in West Virginia for an additional two years (2012–2013) at 75 baits/km2 followed by three years (2014–2016) of evaluation at 300 baits/km2. We measured the change in rabies virus-neutralizing antibody (RVNA) seroprevalence in targeted wildlife populations by comparing levels pre- and post-ORV during each year of study. The increase in bait density from 75/km2 to 300/km2 corresponded to an increase in average post-ORV seroprevalence for raccoon and skunk populations. Raccoon population RVNA levels increased from 53% (300/565, 95% CI: 50–57%) to 82.0% (596/727, 95% CI: 79–85%) during this study, and skunk population RVNA levels increased from 11% (8/72, 95% CI: 6–20%) to 39% (51/130, 95% CI: 31–48%). The RVNA seroprevalence pre-ORV demonstrated an increasing trend across study years for both bait densities and species, indicating that multiple years of ORV may be necessary to achieve and maintain RVNA seroprevalence in target wildlife populations for the control and elimination of raccoon RV in the eastern USA.
Bessel-Type Operators and a Refinement of Hardy’s Inequality

The principal aim of this paper is to employ Bessel-type operators in proving the inequality $$\displaystyle \begin{aligned} \int _0^\pi dx \, |f'(x)|{ }^2 \geq \dfrac {1}{4}\int _0^\pi dx \, \dfrac {|f(x)|{ }^2}{\sin ^2 (x)}+\dfrac {1}{4}\int _0^\pi dx \, |f(x)|{ }^2,\quad f\in H_0^1 ((0,\pi )), \end{aligned} $$ where both constants 1∕4 appearing in the above inequality are optimal. In addition, this inequality is strict in the sense that equality holds if and only if f ≡ 0. This inequality is derived with the help of the exactly solvable, strongly singular, Dirichlet-type Schrodinger operator associated with the differential expression $$\displaystyle \begin{aligned} \tau _s=-\dfrac {d^2}{dx^2}+\dfrac {s^2-(1/4)}{\sin ^2 (x)}, \quad s \in [0,\infty ), \; x \in (0,\pi ). \end{aligned} $$ The new inequality represents a refinement of Hardy’s classical inequality $$\displaystyle \begin{aligned} \int _0^\pi dx \, |f'(x)|{ }^2 \geq \dfrac {1}{4}\int _0^\pi dx \, \dfrac {|f(x)|{ }^2}{x^2}, \quad f\in H_0^1 ((0,\pi )), \end{aligned} $$ and it also improves upon one of its well-known extensions in the form $$\displaystyle \begin{aligned} \int _0^\pi dx \, |f'(x)|{ }^2 \geq \dfrac {1}{4}\int _0^\pi dx \, \dfrac {|f(x)|{ }^2}{d_{(0,\pi )}(x)^2}, \quad f\in H_0^1 ((0,\pi )), \end{aligned} $$ where d(0,π)(x) represents the distance from x ∈ (0, π) to the boundary {0, π} of (0, π).
Designing GPU Architecture for Memory Bandwidth Reservation

The trend of growing GPU capacity necessitates the support for concurrent executions of multiple applications in a GPU, since a single application cannot fully utilize hardware resources. Interference between the co-running applications, however, increases non-deterministic timing behaviors. In this paper, we propose an extension of the GPU memory architecture to support bandwidth reservation that provides flexible resource sharing, while reserving the required GPU memory bandwidth for each application. Our experimental results show that our approach supports the required memory bandwidth reservation for each application and improves the performance by 20% on average, compared to strict partitioning of hardware resources.
Cryogenic spectrometer for measuring the far-IR to millimeter-wave absorptivity of cosmic analog dusts.

We report on the design, construction, and performance of a custom apparatus built to measure the frequency- and temperature-dependent absorptivity of millimeter-wave light by cosmic analog dusts. We highlight the unique challenges faced as well as a few key innovations that are part of the instrument. Among those is an ultra-compact Fourier transform spectrometer. We have measured its effective frequency range and FWHM resolution to be 150–2100 GHz and ∼45GHz, respectively. Another innovation is a cold sample positioner whose temperature can be controlled within the range of 3.7–50 K. The use of a pulse-tube cryocooler results in a pulse-synchronous signal that dominates the detector (bolometer) signal. Methods used to address that challenge are also presented.
APPLICATION OF MULTIDIMENSIONAL TIME MODEL TO DYNAMICAL RELATION OF POISSON SPIKE TRAINS IN NEURAL ION CURRENT MODELS AND FORMATION OF NON-CANONICAL BASES, ISLANDS, AND G-QUADRUPLEXES IN DNA, MRNA, AND RNA AT OR NEAR THE TRANSCRIPTION

Ground breaking application of mathematics and biochemistry to explain formation of non-canonical bases, islands, G-quadruplex structures, and analog bases in DNA and mRNA at or near the transcription with connection to neural networks is implemented using statistical and stochastic methods apparatus with the addition of quantum principles. As a result the usual transience of Poisson spike trains (PST) becomes very instrumental tool for finding periodical type of solutions to Fokker-Plank (FP) stochastic differential equation (SDE). The present study develops new multidimensional methods of finding solutions to SDE. This is based on more rigorous approach to mathematical apparatus through Kolmogorov-Chentsov continuity theorem (KCCT) that allows the stochastic processes with jumps under certain conditions to have γ-Holder continuous modification, which is used as basis for finding analogous parallels in dynamics of formation of CpG and non-CpG islands (CpGI or non CpGI), repeats of G-quadruplexes, and non canonical bases during DNA (de)- methylation and neural networks.
Amber light treatment produces hyperopia in tree shrews.

PURPOSE Exposure to narrow-band red light, which stimulates only the long-wavelength sensitive (LWS) cones, slows axial eye growth and produces hyperopia in tree shrews and macaque monkeys. We asked whether exposure to amber light, which also stimulates only the LWS cones but with a greater effective illuminance than red light, has a similar hyperopia-inducing effect in tree shrews. METHODS Starting at 24 ± 1 days of visual experience, 15 tree shrews (dichromatic mammals closely related to primates) received light treatment through amber filters (BPI 500/550 dyed acrylic) either atop the cage (Filter group, n = 8, 300-400 human lux) or fitted into goggles in front of both eyes (Goggle group, n = 7). Non-cycloplegic refractive error and axial ocular dimensions were measured daily. Treatment groups were compared with age-matched animals (Colony group, n = 7) raised in standard colony fluorescent lighting (100-300 lux). RESULTS At the start of treatment, mean refractive errors were well-matched across the three groups (p = 0.35). During treatment, the Filter group became progressively more hyperopic with age (p < 0.001). By contrast, the Goggle and Colony groups showed continued normal emmetropization. When the treatment ended, the Filter group exhibited significantly greater hyperopia (mean [SE] = 3.5 [0.6] D) compared with the Goggle (0.2 [0.8] D, p = 0.01) and Colony groups (1.0 [0.2] D, p = 0.01). However, the refractive error in the Goggle group was not different from that in the Colony group (p = 0.35). Changes in the vitreous chamber were consistent with the refractive error changes. CONCLUSIONS Exposure to ambient amber light produced substantial hyperopia in the Filter group but had no effect on refractive error in the Goggle group. The lack of effect in the Goggle group could be due to the simultaneous activation of the short-wavelength sensitive (SWS) and LWS cones caused by the scattering of the broad-band light from the periphery of the goggles.
Socially assistive robotics: Personalized machines that (Provide) care

Socially assistive robotics (SAR) is a new subfield of robotics that bridges human-robot interaction (HRI), rehabilitation robotics, social robotics, and service robotics. SAR focuses on developing machines capable of assisting users, typically in health and education contexts, through social rather than physical interaction. The robot's physical embodiment is at the heart of SAR's effectiveness, as it leverages the inherently human tendency to engage with lifelike (but not necessarily humanlike or otherwise biomimetic) social behavior. This talk will describe research into embodiment, modeling and steering social dynamics, and long-term user adaptation for SAR. The research will be grounded in projects involving analysis of multi-modal activity data, modeling personality and engagement, formalizing social use of space and non-verbal communication, and personalizing the interaction with the user over a period of months. The presented methods and algorithms will be validated on implemented SAR systems evaluated by human subject cohorts from a variety of user populations, including stroke patients, children with autism spectrum disorder, and elderly with Alzheimers and other forms of dementia.
Social smokers: Smoking motivations, behavior, vulnerability, and responses to antismoking advertising

Antismoking campaigns have traditionally ignored the differences between social and regular smokers. This paper reports the results of three studies: interviews with 17 college students describing themselves as social smokers, a survey verifying the interview results with a larger sample of undergraduates, and an experimental test of advertising appeals based on the survey results. In the interviews, social smokers differentiated themselves from regular smokers and described smoking mostly in situations where drinking and smoking goes hand in hand. They did not feel vulnerable to the long-term consequences of smoking. The survey confirmed differences between the behaviors, motivations, and perceived vulnerability of social and regular smokers. The experimental study found that both social and regular smokers were persuaded by an advertisement describing the risk of cancer, but social smokers expressed the lowest vulnerability to this risk. A message strategy describing the risk of addiction was particularly effective in capturing the attention of social smokers. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Molecular basis of histone acetyllysine recognition by the BRPF1 bromodomain (537.1)

Covalent modifications on histone tails play a key role in determining the outcome of many nuclear processes including transcription, DNA repair, recombination, and replication. In humans, translocation of the monocytic leukemia zinc finger (MOZ) histone acetyltransferase (HAT) complex has been linked to a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). MOZ forms tetrameric complexes with ING5 (inhibitor of growth 5), EAF6 (Esa1-associated factor 6 ortholog), and the bromodomain-PHD finger protein. BRPF proteins have been shown to bridge the association of MOZ with ING5 and EAF6. Deletion mapping studies have also revealed that the acetyltransferase domain of MOZ is sufficient for the interaction with BRPF1. BRPF proteins therefore play a key role in assembling and activating MOZ acetyltransferase complexes. BRPF1 contains a unique combination of domains typically found in chromatin-associated factors, including PHD (plant homeodomain) fingers, a bromodomain and a PWWP (Pro-Trp-Trp-Pro) domain. The bromodomain a...
Rethinking Religious Minorities' Political Power

This Article challenges the assumption that small religious groups enjoy little political power. According to the standard view, courts, because of their countermajoritarian qualities, are indispensable for protecting religious minority groups from oppression by the majority. But this assumption fails to account for the many and varied ways in which the majoritarian branches have chosen to protect and accommodate even unpopular religious minority groups, as well as the courts’ failures to do so. The Article offers a public choice analysis to account for the surprising majoritarian reality of religious accommodationism. Further, it explores the important implications of this reality for deeply contested legal doctrines, as well as the insights it offers for recent and looming high profile cases pitting state law against religious liberty.
Observations on the behavior of human endometrial cells in tissue culture

T HE investigations, a brief account of which is presented here, were initiated about three and one-half years ago. They were motivated by the wish to obtain more information on the normal and malignant cytology of the human endometrium and its rather unique potentialities for proliferation. growth, and differentiation. One might indeed expect to find these qualities highly accentuated in an organ subjected to such severe losses of tissue as those occurring periodically in the endometrium t,hroughout the entire reproductive life of a woman. Because of its ever-changing character and its many important functions, the endometrium presents a variet.y of interesting problems for study. One* of these is related to an observation made in our laboratory about four years ago, that of a rat,her specific morphologic process consisting of a mass production of phagocytic elements through the differentiation of cells exfoliating from the endometrial mucosa.l Its occurrence toward the end’of the menstrual bleeding and the beginning of the proliferative phase is so timed as tc, serve the purpose of contributing to the cleansing of the uterine cavity from the menstrual detritus. It was hoped that corroborating evidence of this phenomenon might be obtained through the study of endometrial tissue in vitro.
New Tourism Archives: The records of the East African Professional Hunters’ Association

The newly released records of the East African Professional Hunters’ Association (EAPHA), held at the University of Florida, contain a wide variety of documentary source material for scholars interested in hunting, tourism, conservation, wildlife management, land use issues and the history of colonialism and white settlement in East Africa. Despite a parochial and somewhat misleading name, the EAPHA served as the leading professional association for those involved in East Africa's safari tourism industry, including safari companies, outfitters, travel and tourism agencies, hotels and lodges, rail and airline corporations, and the professional guides for whom the Association was created. From its foundation in 1934 to its dissolution in 1977, the Association strived to promote the safari business for its members, to ensure a high quality of experience for visiting tourists, and to conserve the wildlife upon which the industry depended. In pursuing these objectives, the EAPHA left behind numerous reports, c...
Ostwald Ripening of a Narrow Precipitate Size Distribution

An analytical study is presented of the Ostwald-ripening kinetics of a narrow size distribution of precipitate particles. It is shown that, as long as the distribution remains narrow, the temporal evolution of various of its gross properties can be quantitatively described without requiring detailed knowledge of its actual shape. In particular, it is shown that the standard deviation of a narrow distribution of particle radii increases exponentially with time, a result which is consistent with that of another investigation in which the evolution of an initially Gaussian distribution was evaluated. Die Kinetik der Ostwald-Reifung eines Niederschlags mit schmaler Grosenverteilung der Teilchen wurde analytisch untersucht. solange die Verteilung schmal bleibt, kann der zeitliche Verlauf einiger ihrer Eigenschaften quantitativ beschrieben werden, ohne das die Gestalt der Verteilungskurve genau bekannt sein mus. Insbesondere wird gezeigt, das die Standardabweichung bei einer schmalen Verteilung von Teilchenradien exponentiell mit der Zeit zunimmt; dieses Ergebnis steht in Einklang mit dem Ergebnis einer anderen Untersuchung, bei der die zeitliche Anderung einer ursprunglich Gausschen Verteilung untersucht wurde.