cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Economic Governance Series II - The Strength of Competition Policy and Regulation in the Arab Region

The present paper summarizes the finding of the survey on competition policy strength in Arab countries. For this first of a kind analysis, UNESCWA used the established OECD instrument to complement the existing global dataset on competition policy and to provide decision-makers in the Arab countries a reference measure for achievements and gaps related to competition policy, legislation and institutional structures. Building on the 2013 OECD study on Competition Law and Policy, the UNESCWA survey applies the same indicators, seeking to assess the scope, legal framework and enforcement capability of competition regimes in the Arab region.The results of the survey discussed in the previous chapters highlight that there is a clear push towards the development of competition regimes in the region and that the efforts in the Arab region are strong in comparison with the OECD average. The legal and procedural frameworks underpinning national competition policy have seen multiple reforms in the past decade, increasing the scope of activity, the investigative and enforcement powers of competition authorities in the region. Spearheaded by reforms in Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt, other countries are beginning to re-evaluate the role of antitrust regulation.Nonetheless, the survey also shows the need for improvement in terms of independence of competition authorities, procedural fairness as well as enforcement concerns. With the exception of Tunisia, all other countries have not investigated or imposed sanctions on some or all antitrust infringements related to mergers, horizontal and vertical agreements, or exclusionary conducts. Most competition authorities surveyed are nominally independent, though subject to government interference in certain aspects of the decision-making, investigative and sanctioning process. Furthermore, issues of transparency and fairness in the application of antitrust measures are observed. Decisions on antitrust infringements are often not disclosed, while the publication of investigative and decision-making processes is limited in a number of countries. In the broader context of economic governance in Arab countries, the paper testifies to the commitment of some Arab countries towards establishing better policies and the authors hope the paper contributes towards building a sustainable and fair “competition culture” to the benefit of all people in the Arab region.
Evolutionary Specializations of the Human Limbic System

The limbic system consists of multiple neural circuits, composed of select brain areas and structures that underlie emotion processing and are implicated in many functions throughout the brain, including complex socio–cognitive abilities that are thought to be uniquely human. Here, we review the history of comparative primate limbic neuroanatomy to define and contextualize the limbic system in human evolution. We then identify cortical and subcortical regions and structures that demonstrate significant involvement in emotional processing, and review evidence from the human/nonhuman primate comparative literature that may indicate human-specific specializations of the limbic system.
Self-ordering dual-layered honeycomb nanotubular titania: Enhanced structural stability and energy storage capacity

Abstract Electrochemical energy storage of TiO 2 anodic oxide with a novel honeycomb morphology was characterized and compared with that of standard TiO 2 nanotubes. The new morphology consists of several smaller-diameter (∼20 nm) nanotubes stacked inside of each honeycomb like hemisphere. The honeycomb like hemispheres are 160–200 nm in diameter with inter-wall thicknesses of 20–50 nm grown onto a planar barrier layer. The dual-layered honeycomb oxide has a total thickness of about 350–500 nm and high surface area. Cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge tests were carried out on these oxide samples in as-anodized and thermally annealed conditions using 0.1 M NaOH and 0.1 M LiCl + 0.1 M HCl electrolytes. The honeycomb arrays showed an areal capacitance of 56 mF cm −2 at 100 mV s −1 scan rate, and 0.75 mF cm −2 at a current density of 0.1 mA cm −2 . The areal capacitance of the honeycomb structured samples were about 60% higher than that of the regular TiO 2 nanotubes. The honeycomb structured TiO 2 also showed 33% higher capacitance retention after 10,000 cycles than that of regular TiO 2 nanotubes. The higher capacitance retention could be attributed to the enhanced structural stability of the honeycomb structures.
Inheritance of resistance to the Moroccan watermelon mosaic virus in the cucumber line TMG-1 and cosegregation with zucchini yellow mosaic virus resistance

Inbred lines derived from the Chinese cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) cultivar, ‘Taichung Mou Gua’ (TMG), have been shown to be resistant to several potyviruses including: zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV), zucchini yellow fleck virus (ZYFV), watermelon mosaic virus (WMV) and the watermelon strain of papaya ringspot virus (PRSV-W). Recently, an additional virus that infects cucurbits, the Moroccan watermelon mosaic virus (MWMV), has been determined to be a distinct member of the potyvirus group. This study demonstrates that TMG-1 possesses resistance to MWMV. Rub or aphid inoculated TMG-1 seedlings remain free of symptoms. Progeny analyses of the F1, F2 and backcross generations show that resistance to MWMV is conferred by a single recessive gene (proposed designation, mwm). Sequential inoculation of progeny possessing resistance to ZYMV followed by MWMV (or MWMV followed by ZYMV) and analysis of F3 families derived from F2 individuals selected for resistance to ZYMV indicate that both resistances are conferred by the same gene, or two tightly linked genes.
Pseudoamniotic Band Syndrome Post Fetal Thoracoamniotic Shunting for Bilateral Hydrothorax.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Pseudoamniotic band syndrome (PABS) occurs iatrogenically after fetal surgery or amniocentesis due to chorioamniotic membrane separation. Separation of the amnion from the chorion can expand to form fibrous amniotic bands that can envelope fetal limbs or the umbilical cord, with consequences ranging from limb constriction to fetal demise. Case Report: We report a case of bilateral fetal pleural effusions at 27 weeks' gestation treated by bilateral thoracoamniotic shunts. Following shunt placement, the hydrothorax resolved. However, chorioamniotic membrane separation developed resulting in PABS with subsequent umbilical cord strangulation and fetal demise at 32 weeks' gestation. Conclusion: PABS has been previously described in the literature following various fetal interventions. This is the first reported case of pseudoamniotic band syndrome after placement of fetal thoracoamniotic shunts. A high index of suspicion is required to diagnose PABS via postoperative ultrasound. Post inte...
Synthesis of Indicators Through Weighting: The Experiences of Quality of Life Measures

Development and construction of synthetic indicators for socioeconomics inevitably face the very same concern confronting many quality of life (QOL) measures for individuals: how to account for potential societal, cultural and individual differences in values associated with different sectors, facets or domains represented by different indicators. In QOL research, a common approach is to use weighting to reflect the potential individual differences in values associated with different facets or domains of life. Also known as importance weighting in QOL literature, researchers capture individual differences in values, using relative importance of different facets or domains of life with the assignment of weights. Although using importance weighting to capture relative importance of various life facets or life domains appears straightforward, there are a number of conceptual and methodological issues that remain unsettled. In this chapter, major issues related importance weighting in QOL measures are discussed to provide implications for developing and constructing synthetic indicators.
Examining Federally Funded Secondary Transition Personnel Preparation Programs

The purpose of this study was to examine 41 secondary transition-focused personnel preparation projects funded between 2001 and 2016. Specifically, this study examined the amount and characteristic...
Pattern Analysis of Sedentary Behavior Change after a Walking Intervention.

Objectives We examined the pattern of change in sedentary behavior (SB) resulting from a physical activity (PA) intervention in older adults, and the influence of sex on changes in SB. Methods One hundred twenty (N = 120) inactive older adults from 2 12-week step/day-target interventions were included in this pooled reanalysis. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention (STEP) or control group (CON). A Hip-worn accelerometer (Actigraph) was used to assess SB and PA. Results Significant decreases in SB (-25 minutes) were largely accounted for by the increase in moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA; +17.3 minutes). More broadly, data showed that for every 1% increase in proportion of time spent in MVPA, SB decreased by 1.21%. Results of the pattern analysis showed significant pre-post decreases in the number of daily sedentary bouts lasting 10, 20, and 30 minutes and the number of sit-to-stand transitions in the STEP group. Males tended to decrease time spent in longer bouts and females tended to decrease the number of sit-to-stand transitions to achieve lower SB. Conclusions Decreases in SB were accomplished through reductions in shorter bouts of SB and likely through a variety of small changes that differed between individual participants and sexes.
Observation of wind-induced sea surface feature off Pulu Bawean, Java, from LANDSAT-1

Photographic data received from the LANDSAT-1 (ERTS-1) satellite on 2 November 1972 while over the Java Sea revealed an anomalous ocean feature extending to the northwest from Pulu Bawean (Bawean Island). The cause of this feature is discussed and compared to similar features in the lee of the Lesser Antilles Islands and in the Red Sea.
Ventricular Arrhythmias in Right Ventricular Dysplasia/Cardiomyopathy

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) is a genetic cardiomyopathy characterized by ventricular arrhythmias and structural abnormalities of the right ventricle (RV). In ARVD/C there is progressive replacement of right ventricular myocardium with fatty and fibrous tissue. The precise prevalence of ARVD/C has been estimated to vary between 1 in 1000 and 1 in 5000 of the general population. The purpose of this chapter is to review the current understanding of ARVD/C and its management. Particular attention will be focused on some of the recent advances in the understanding of the genetic basis of ARVD/C and how this information provides insight into the mechanism of ventricular arrhythmias that can cause sudden death.
Solvent extraction and ion exchange in the nuclear fuel industry

In this paper, the student is introduced to the hydrometallurgical techniques of solvent extraction and ion exchange. These procedures have been used in the nuclear industry since the 1940s for both the front and back ends of the fuel cycle. The aqueous chemistry of uranium, plutonium, and fission products, and adjustment of oxidation state and solution variables such as pH, which can be used for separation procedures are reviewed. Practical processes are discussed. 17 refs.
Purposes of a Phenology Book

This volume’s authors make a case for phenology—not so much for phenology as it is commonly understood (a field technique of agricultural meteorology), but as an aspect of analysis and management of ecological systems or ecosystems. We have indicated its importance earlier (e.g., Lieth, 1970, 1971; Lieth and Radford, 1971) but our experience is mostly confined to plant-environment relations. Ecosystems require more comprehensive study.
The American Red Cross and local response to the 1918 influenza pandemic: a four-city case study

The role of the American Red Cross in the U.S. response to the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic holds important lessons for current-day pandemic response. This article, which examines local ARC responses in Boston, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Richmond, Virginia, demonstrates how the ARC coordinated nursing for military and civilian cases; produced and procured medical supplies and food; transported patients, health workers, and bodies; and aided influenza victims' families. But the organization's effectiveness varied widely among localities. These findings illustrate the persistently local character of pandemic response, and demonstrate the importance of close, timely, and sustained coordination among local and state public health authorities and voluntary organizations before and during public health emergencies. They further illustrate the persistently local character of these emergencies, while underscoring the centrality and limits of voluntarism in American public health.
Validation 3D Ray Tracing for UT Examination of the Nozzle Inner Blend Region

The inner blend regions of some pressure vessel nozzles are examined ultrasonically from the outside surface of the nozzle or of the vessel. Design and interpretation of these examinations are complicated because of multiple curvatures of the inside and outside surfaces and because the sound beam must be oriented properly with respect to the flaw in order for an echo to be detected at the transducer. In a previous paper [1], the software system (WARay3D) for designing and verifying wedges to be used in detecting flaws in the inner blend region of nozzles by corner reflection or by normal incidence was discussed; see Figure 1. The present paper describes experimental validation of 3D geometric modeling of nozzles and pressure vessels and raytracing to compute and display sound paths of UT inspections. A series of experiments was conducted at the EPRI NDE Center on a 20-inch diameter BWR nozzle specimen containing six artificially-induced flaws. WARay3D was used to determine specific search unit positions, beam angles and skew angles for manual ultrasonic detection of each flaw from both sides. All flaws were detected from both sides with high signal-to-noise ratio and with close correlation between the predicted and actual search unit locations and metal paths.
Heart of the matter: reverse takotsubo syndrome in an anthracycline-exposed oncology patient

A 24-year-old man with acute myelogenous leukaemia and a history of anthracycline treatment is hospitalised for non-anthracycline chemotherapy. He develops new-onset heart failure requiring intesive care unit (ICU) admission during his stay. There is debate as to the aetiology of his heart failure, whether anthracycline cardiotoxicity or takotsubo syndrome. He is diuresed and discharged home with close follow-up. Ultimately, the retrospective use of two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography derived strain helps diagnose reverse takotsubo syndrome.
Bennett lesions in overhead athletes and associated shoulder abnormalities on MRI

To determine if a Bennett lesion and its size are associated with additional MRI shoulder abnormalities in an overhead athlete. An IRB-approved retrospective review of our database from 1 January 2012 to 1 April 2018 identified 35 overhead athletes with a Bennett lesion on MRI. A control group consisting of 35 overhead athletes without a Bennett lesion were matched for age, level of play (professional vs non-professional), and type of study (arthrogram vs non-arthrogram). Each study was assessed independently by two MSK fellowship trained radiologists. The sizes of the Bennett lesions were measured. Each MRI was assessed for the presence of a labral tear, posterior glenoid cartilage abnormality, humeral head notching or cysts, and fraying or tear of the supraspinatus or infraspinatus tendons. Statistical analyses were performed using Student’s t test, Fisher’s exact test, and Chi-squared test. There was an increased incidence of posterior glenoid cartilage abnormalities in athletes with Bennett lesions vs those without (23% vs 3%, p value = 0.01). There was no difference in any other MRI abnormalities, including labral tears and findings of internal impingement between these two groups (p value range = 0.09–0.46). There was no association between the size of a Bennett lesion and the presence of glenoid cartilage lesions, labral tears, internal impingement, age, professional status, or need for surgery (p value range = 0.08–0.96). Symptomatic overhead athletes with Bennett lesions have an increased frequency of posterior glenoid cartilage abnormalities, but not labral tears or findings of internal impingement compared to those without Bennett lesions.
Enhanced 4Pi single-molecule localization microscopy with coherent pupil based localization and light sheet illumination

Abstract Over the last decades, super-resolution techniques have revolutionized the field of fluorescence microscopy. Among them, interferometric or 4Pi microscopy methods exhibit supreme resolving power in the axial dimension. Combining with single-molecule detection/localization and adaptive optics, iPALM/4PiSMS/W-4PiSMSN allowed 10-15 nm isotropic 3D resolution throughout the whole cell. However, further improving the achieved 3D resolution poses significantly challenges which, in part, is blocked by the complexity of single-molecule emission pattern generated by these systems rendering a large portion of information carrying photons unusable. Here we introduce a localization algorithm that achieves the theoretical information limit for 4Pi based single-molecule switching nanoscopy (4Pi-SMSN), and demonstrates improvements in resolution, accuracy as well as applicability comparing with the state of art 4Pi-SMSN methods. Further, with a novel 4Pi-compatible light-sheet illumination reducing the fluorescence background by >5-fold, we demonstrated the new system enables further improvement in the achievable resolution of 4Pi/interferometric single-molecule imaging systems.
A Novel Approach for Assessing and Training the Drilling Skills of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Background Although experiences in the operating room can help surgeons to learn simple bone-drilling techniques, outside training may be better suited for complex procedures. We adapted a rotary handpiece to evaluate the bone-drilling skills of orthopaedic resident physicians during the 2017 Southwest Orthopaedic Trauma Association (SWOTA) motor skills course. Methods Twenty-five postgraduate year (PGY)-1 orthopaedic residents from 7 institutions were asked to perform a bicortical drilling task 3 times both before and after attending a motor skills course. Kinetic and kinematic data were collected using force, acceleration, and visual sensors. Results Sixteen parameters were measured. The interdependence of these parameters (taken separately for precourse and postcourse performance) is presented. Evidence for motor skill acquisition across a short time scale is elucidated. Noteworthy correlations include overpenetration with force (0.65 mm), palmar-dorsal (P-D) toggle (0.65°), vibration in the P-D direction (0.53 m/s), time (-0.41 sec), and RPM (revolutions per minute; -0.36); time with both RPM (0.38) and P-D toggle (-0.40°); and force with both RPM (-0.41) and P-D toggle (0.32°). Differences in performance before and after the motor skills course include reduction in overpenetration (28.8 to 18.2 mm), reduction in skiving (22% to 6%), and reduction in preparation time (27.3 to 9.65 sec). Additionally, there were several differences in performance by institution that were significant (overpenetration, toggle in the P-D and radial-ulnar [R-U] directions, and both drilling force and drilling time). Conclusions Understanding how performance and outcome parameters are correlated provides powerful insight into how surgical procedures can be best performed. In particular, we hope that these findings will inform new training paradigms. Variations in resident training from 1 institution to another are evidenced in surgical performance. Similarly, the methods used here to quantify changes in performance across the 3-day SWOTA training course allow a unique vehicle for optimization of these types of training opportunities outside of the operating room.
An Overdue Theoretical Discourse: Pierre Bourdieu’s Theory of Practice and Critical Race Theory in Education

Scholars often use Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Bourdieusian analyses with the aim of studying inequities in education. Despite their usefulness and popularity, a theoretical discourse between th...
Fabrication of hybrid composite T-joints by co-curing with 3D printed dual cure epoxy

Abstract A 3D printed dual cure epoxy is evaluated as a bonding material for composite T-joint structures and compared with other traditional bonding materials by mechanical testing. The epoxy is processed in two steps. First, it is 3D printed using Digital Light Synthesis (DLS), a vat photopolymerization process, resulting in semi-rigid, but only partially cured part. This part is then integrated with pre-impregnated fiber reinforced epoxy resin sheets and co-cured in a second, thermally activated, stage. The bonding strength of the 3D printed epoxy is first investigated by single lap-shear joints and is then implemented in the manufacturing of composite T-joints. The T-joints utilizing 3D printed epoxy as a bonding material show sufficient joint strength in tensile pull-out tests when compared to other common bonding methods. In addition, the 3D printed joints provide a highly reproducible, defect-free bond with improved geometric accuracy. This technology enables the ability to manufacture hybrid composite structures with decreased manufacturing costs due to fewer fixtures, shorter manufacturing times, and a reduction in defects. Furthermore, these adhesive parts can utilize the design freedom of 3D printing by including intricate internal geometries, such as lattice structures, textures, or channels.
The rank of abelian groups with commutative endomorphism ring

AbstractThis paper compares of the rank of a torsion-free Abelian group G of finite rank and the rank of its endomorphism ring E(G) under the condition that E(G) is commutative. In particular, if G...
Vector and Tensor Analysis

This chapter covers mathematical background needed for the theoretical analyses in later chapters. A brief introduction to vector and tensor analysis is provided, with tensor manipulations done using dyadic notation. Basic tensor operations, special tensors, coordinate transformation, and tensor calculus are discussed.
Kallikrein 6, a degradative serine proteinase, is expressed by glioblastoma cells in vivo

1811 Background and Rationale: The human kallikreins are a large multigene family of closely related serine-type proteases. Human kallikrein 6 (K6) is an arginine-specific serine proteinse abundantly expressed in the central nervous system and its proteolytic activity has been implicated in the inflammatory disorder multiple sclerosis. In the current project, we sought to determine if this potent proteinase is expressed by the highly invasive primary brain tumor glioblastoma. While the expression of numerous metalloproteinaes and serine proteinases have been reported in glioblastomas, K6 expression in primary brain tumors has not been evaluated to date. Methods and Results: We evaluated K6 expression in a unique animal glioblastoma model that recapitulates the invasive behavior of these tumors. In this model, glioblastoma cells resected from patients are orthotopically implanted into the brain of nude mice. In this microenvironment, the implanted tumor cells demonstrate the molecular genetic alterations that are hallmark of human glioblastoma. Moreover, these tumor cells invade the surrounding brain parenchyma, traversing white matter tracts such as the corpus callosum and seeding perivascular and leptomeningeal compartments. Tumor cells - in particular, those seen invading along the leptomeninges - labeled intensely for K6. Moreover, K6-labeling colocalized with immunohistochemical labeling for SPARC, a glioma-derived matricellular protein involved in tumor invasion. This colocalization further corroborates that K6-expressing cells are human glioblastoma. Perspectives and Conclusions: Kallikrein 6 (K6), a brain-enriched serine proteinase, is expressed by human glioblastoma cells implanted intracranially in nude mice. K6 expression colocalizes with the expression of an invasion-associated matricellular protein SPARC. We are currently evaluating K6 expression in additional xenografted tumors as well as in patient tumor samples obtained from biopsy/surgery. Moreover, cell lines are being investigated for K6 expression to determine if K6 expression is functionally important in tumor invasiveness. To date, this represents the first report of kallikrein 6 expression by glioblastoma.
Examining the Effects of Integrated Science and Literacy Instruction to Teach Second-Graders to Write Compare and Contrast Informational Text

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a form of writing instruction designed to teach second-graders to write compare and contrast informational texts. 73% of the participants (N = 45) were White, 22% were Hispanic, 2% were Asian, and 1% were Black, with 63% of the students eligible for free or reduced lunch. 48% of the students were female and 52% were male. Data collection included pre- and post-instruction writing samples that were scored using both a holistic and analytic writing rubric. A paired samples t-test revealed statistically significant differences (p = .000 for both the holistic and analytic rubric analyses) in student writing scores before and after instruction with a medium (d = .52) and large (d = .95) effect size reported. These findings suggest that the integrated science and literacy instructional approach supported the second-graders as they learned to write science informational texts that employed a compare and contrast text structure. Because the analytic rubric produced ordinal data, a Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test was used to explore any differences noted for the individual rubric elements. Results in these analyses indicated that there were statistically significant increases from pre- to post-instruction for the use of science vocabulary and definitions, for word count, and for the use of periods. There were no statistically significant differences in the use of signal words to indicate the compare/contrast text structure, in the use of capitals, or an introduction or conclusion.
Pfinzing and Friends: Surveying Culture in Renaissance Nuremberg

Paulus Pfinzing von Henfenfeld embodied the gentrification of geometry in late sixeenth-century Nuremberg. A patrician merchant, Pfinzing developed and invented surveying tools, and publicized their use. He is famed for his so-called Pfinzing Atlas of manuscript maps of the Nuremberg area that he completed in 1594. His legacy in print of two now rare books from 1598–1599 on surveying and on geometric solids is less well known, as Pfinzing published them both anonymously. The former entreated the well-educated to take up surveying, while the latter presented a summary of recent scholarship on geometric solids based on Albrecht Durer and Wenzel Jamnitzer, among other luminaries. This article investigates the ways Pfinzing used his knowledge of surveying and familiarity with Nuremberg publishing to present geometry as a gentlemanly pursuit.
Lagrangian three-dimensional transport and dispersion by submesoscale currents at an upper-ocean front

Abstract The three-dimensional transport pathways, the time and space scales of vertical transport, and the dispersion characteristics (single-, pair- and multi-particle statistics) of submesoscale currents at an upper-ocean front are investigated using material points (tracer particles) that advect with the local fluid velocity. Coherent vortex filaments and eddies, generated and sustained during the evolution of baroclinic instability, dominate submesoscale (0.1 - 10 km) dynamics. These coherent structures play a crucial role in the particle transport and dispersion, which we quantify here. Particles in the central frontal region organize into vertically inclined lobes with anticyclonic circulation, each associated with a coherent eddy with cyclonic rotation. Furthermore, the coherent filaments associated with heavy/light edges of the front transfer particles from the edges to the lobes by downwelling/upwelling. This flux of new particles into the central region causes the particles circulating in the lobes to adjust, which leads to slumping of the front. The particle motion in the vertical shows multiple time scales – a fast time scale with O ( 10 m ) vertical displacement within an hour and a slower near-inertial time scale, comparable to the intrinsic time scale of the growing instability. The fast O ( 1 h ) time scale is also seen in the decorrelation of vertical velocity and the tapering of the initial ballistic growth of relative particle dispersion. The overall slumping process is slower than what one might anticipate from the large magnitude of vertical velocity in the filaments since it requires a sustained correlation over time between the lateral and the vertical motion. By tracking clouds of particles, we show that their centers of mass downwell/upwell over 1 − 2 inertial time periods, after which an adjustment follows with a sub-inertial time scale. The shape change in clusters of four particles reveals filamentogenesis, i.e. deformation into thin, needle-like structures by the coherent, anisotropic motions of the submesoscale, which occurs as a rapid process that is complete within approximately an hour.
A Framework for Estimating Privacy Risk Scores of Mobile Apps

With the rapidly growing popularity of smart mobile devices, the number of mobile applications available has surged in the past few years. Such mobile applications collect a treasure trove of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) attributes (such as age, gender, location, and fingerprints). Mobile applications, however, are many and often not well understood, especially for their privacy-related activities and functions. To fill this critical gap, we recommend providing an automated yet effective assessment of the privacy risk score of each application. The design goal is that the higher the score, the higher the potential privacy risk of this mobile application. Specifically, we consider excessive data access permissions and risky privacy policies. We first calculate the privacy risk of over 600 PII attributes through a longitudinal study of over 20 years of identity theft and fraud news reporting. Then, we map the access rights and privacy policies of each smart application to our dataset of PII to analyze what PII the application collects, and then calculate the privacy risk score of each smart application. Finally, we report our extensive experiments of 100 open source applications collected from Google Play to evaluate our method. The experimental results clearly prove the effectiveness of our method.
Melanocortin 1 Receptor Activation Protects Against Alpha-Synuclein Pathologies in Models of Parkinson’s Disease

Epidemiological studies suggest a link between the melanoma-related pigmentation gene melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), hair color, and risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD). We previously showed that MC1R signaling is required for nigrostriatal dopaminergic neuron maintenance in adult mice. Here, we report exacerbated synucleinopathies induced by targeted expression of α-synuclein (αSyn) in the nigrostriatal pathway in MC1R mutant mice, which were accompanied by neuroinflammation and altered nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) response. The resulting exacerbated dopaminergic neurotoxicity was reversed by humanMC1R transgene. Additionally, pharmacological MC1R activation was neuroprotective against αSyn-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity. Further in vitro experiments showed that Nrf2 was a necessary downstream mediator of MC1R activation. Finally, MC1R was present in dopaminergic neurons in the human substantia nigra and was reduced in PD patients. Our study supports an interaction between MC1R and αSyn that is mediated by neuronal MC1R through Nrf2. It provides evidence for MC1R as a therapeutic target and a rationale for development of MC1R-activating strategies in PD.
G2S3: A gene graph-based imputation method for single-cell RNA sequencing data

Single-cell RNA sequencing technology provides an opportunity to study gene expression at single-cell resolution. However, prevalent dropout events result in high data sparsity and noise that may obscure downstream analyses in single-cell transcriptomic studies. We propose a new method, G2S3, that imputes dropouts by borrowing information from adjacent genes in a sparse gene graph learned from gene expression profiles across cells. We applied G2S3 and ten existing imputation methods to eight single-cell transcriptomic datasets and compared their performance. Our results demonstrated that G2S3 has superior overall performance in recovering gene expression, identifying cell subtypes, reconstructing cell trajectories, identifying differentially expressed genes, and recovering gene regulatory and correlation relationships. Moreover, G2S3 is computationally efficient for imputation in large-scale single-cell transcriptomic datasets.
Cannabis Contract Woes in Washington State

Recent decisions in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, point to troubling developments in the treatment of cannabis related contract disputes that find themselves in federal court. While the main case discussed by this article does not create precedent, it does reveal the thinking of some federal judges in a jurisdiction with long-time legal cannabis at the state level. It is unclear what this means for those drafting contracts and those currently operating under contracts related to cannabis business. This article unpacks some of the initial issues in an effort to uncover potential takeaways.
Clinical reviewMedical-legal risks of incident cancers after clearing colonoscopy

Colonoscopy and polypectomy effectively reduce the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer, but some patients present with fully developed cancers within 1–4 yr of a colonoscopy that apparently cleared the colon of neoplasia. These events may result in medical-legal action against colonoscopists, generally based on an assumption of negligent technical performance of the procedure. Alternative explanations for the development of interval cancers include variable growth rates of colorectal cancers, the inherent miss rate of the procedure even when optimal examination techniques are used, and the possibility of flat lesions that are not readily detected by standard colonoscopic techniques. This paper discusses issues relevant to reduction of medical-legal risks associated with interval cancers after clearing colonoscopy. These issues include informed consent, documentation of cecal intubation, appropriate description of preparation, documentation of examination time and technique, and attention to potential atypical neoplasms.
Identification of a novel cancer microbiome signature for predicting prognosis of human breast cancer patients

Prognosis of breast cancer (BC) patients differs considerably and identifying reliable prognostic biomarker(s) is imperative. With evidence that the microbiome plays a critical role in the response to cancer therapies, we aimed to identify a cancer microbiome signature for predicting the prognosis of BC patients. The TCGA BC microbiome data (TCGA-BRCA-microbiome) was downloaded from cBioPortal. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to examine association of microbial abundance with overall survival (OS) and to identify a microbial signature for creating a prognostic scoring model. The performance of the scoring model was assessed by the area under the ROC curve (AUC). Nomograms using the microbial signature, clinical factors, and molecular subtypes were established to predict OS and progression-free survival (PFS). Among 1406 genera, the abundances of 94 genera were significantly associated with BC patient OS in TCGA-BRCA-microbiome dataset. From that set we identified a 15-microbe prognostic signature and developed a 15-microbial abundance prognostic scoring (MAPS) model. Patients in low-risk group significantly prolong OS and PFS as compared to those in high-risk group. The time-dependent ROC curves with MAPS showed good predictive efficacy both in OS and PFS. Moreover, MAPS is an independent prognostic factor for OS and PFS over clinical factors and PAM50-based molecular subtypes and superior to the previously published 12-gene signature. The integration of MAPS into nomograms significantly improved prognosis prediction. MAPS was successfully established to have independent prognostic value, and our study provides a new avenue for developing prognostic biomarkers by microbiome profiling.
Measurement of Density of Fe-Co Alloys Using Electrostatic Levitation

The density of a series of five different iron-cobalt alloys was measured using electrostatic levitator processing. Each sample was processed through multiple thermal cycles and the liquid density was measured, while the superheated sample was cooled down to its undercooled state. The volume of the sample was estimated by analyzing captured high-speed video data of the projected shape of the sample. The mass change during the melt cycle was also tracked using Langmuir’s equation of mass evaporation. The density was then calculated as a function of temperature based on these measurements of volume and mass. Density values obtained showed higher precision than existing data from the literature obtained using a variety of different techniques, although the accuracy was consistent.
An analysis of an ordinal-valued time series

Time series and spatial processes are sometimes ordinal-valued. It can be convenient to handle such types of data via generalized linear model algorithms employing the complimentary loglog link function. This approach facilitates the use of standard statistical packages and leads to a convenient technique for handling serial dependence. Model fit is assessed by uniform residuals, amongst other tools. In this article an example of such an analysis is provided for a three-valued series corresponding to the possible results loss, tie, win of events involving a sports team.
C4 Photosynthesis (The CO2-Concentrating Mechanism and Photorespiration)

Despite previous reports of no apparent photorespiration in C4 plants based on measurements of gas exchange under 2 versus 21% O2 at varying [CO2], photosynthesis in maize (Zea mays) shows a dual response to varying [O2]. The maximum rate of photosynthesis in maize is dependent on O2 (approximately 10%). This O2 dependence is not related to stomatal conductance, because measurements were made at constant intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci); it may be linked to respiration or pseudocyclic electron flow. At a given Ci, increasing [O2] above 10% inhibits both the rate of photosynthesis, measured under high light, and the maximum quantum yield, measured under limiting light ([phi]CO2). The dual effect of O2 is masked if measurements are made under only 2 versus 21% O2. The inhibition of both photosynthesis and [phi]CO2 by O2 (measured above 10% O2) with decreasing Ci increases in a very similar manner, characteristically of O2 inhibition due to photorespiration. There is a sharp increase in O2 inhibition when the Ci decreases below 50 [mu]bar of CO2. Also, increasing temperature, which favors photorespiration, causes a decrease in [phi]CO2 under limiting CO2 and 40% O2. By comparing the degree of inhibition of photosynthesis in maize with that in the C3 species wheat (Triticum aestivum) at varying Ci, the effectiveness of C4 photosynthesis in concentrating CO2 in the leaf was evaluated. Under high light, 30[deg]C, and atmospheric levels of CO2 (340 [mu]bar), where there is little inhibition of photosynthesis in maize by O2, the estimated level of CO2 around ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) in the bundle sheath compartment was 900 [mu]bar, which is about 3 times higher than the value around Rubisco in mesophyll cells of wheat. A high [CO2] is maintained in the bundle sheath compartment in maize until Ci decreases below approximately 100 [mu]bar. The results from these gas exchange measurements indicate that photorespiration occurs in maize but that the rate is low unless the intercellular [CO2] is severely limited by stress.
Change-impact analysis of firewall policies

Firewalls are the mainstay of enterprise security and the most widely adopted technology for protecting private networks. The quality of protection provided by a firewall directly depends on the quality of its policy (i.e., configuration). Due to the lack of tools for analyzing firewall policies, most firewalls on the Internet have been plagued with policy errors. A firewall policy error either creates security holes that will allow malicious traffic to sneak into a private network or blocks legitimate traffic and disrupts normal business processes, which in turn could lead to irreparable, if not tragic, consequences. A major source of policy errors stem from policy changes. Firewall policies often need to be changed as networks evolve and new threats emerge. In this paper, we first present the theory and algorithms for firewall policy change-impact analysis. Our algorithms take as input a firewall policy and a proposed change, then output the accurate impact of the change. Thus, a firewall administrator can verify a proposed change before committing it.
Automatic inhibition and habitual control: alternative views in neuroscience research on response inhibition and inhibitory control.

Decades of theory and experimental evidence underscore the critical importance of inhibitory functions to flexible, context-appropriate and goal-directed action (Diamond et al., 1963; Logan and Cowan, 1984; Aron et al., 2004; Friedman and Miyake, 2004; Ridderinkhof et al., 2004; Munakata et al., 2011). Deficits in inhibitory control and response inhibition have been implicated in substance use disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and impulse control disorders (Jentsch and Taylor, 1999; Nigg, 2001; Li and Sinha, 2008; Groman et al., 2009), and may also play a role in depression and anxiety (Disner et al., 2011; Jovanovic and Norrholm, 2011). But despite exciting progress in this area of cognitive and clinical neuroscience, some fundamental questions remain unsolved, and may be hindering the translational efforts aiming at improving the treatment and prevention of disorders characterized by impairment or dysregulation of inhibitory functions. The purpose of this Opinion is to highlight some alternative ideas and approaches in neuroscience research on response inhibition and inhibitory control that have emerged in the literature, in order to stimulate debate and suggest hypotheses for future research. In particular, building on recent neuroscience-based accounts of response inhibition (e.g., Mostofsky and Simmonds, 2008; van Gaal et al., 2008; Munakata et al., 2011), I argue against the long-standing and pervasive view that there is a fundamental distinction between inhibitory processes on the one hand and response selection and execution processes on the other hand. Although intuitive, this view does not appear to be supported by evidence. Instead, until there is evidence to the contrary, I propose a more parsimonious view of inhibitory control mechanisms in the brain, such that: (1) response inhibition can be either a control process (to override a prepotent response tendency) or it can itself be a prepotent response tendency (to be overridden); (2) response inhibition processes and response selection and execution processes are fundamentally the same; and (3) we learn to inhibit a response in fundamentally the same way that we learn to select and execute a response.
Cryo-em Study Of Trna Hybrid States Stabilized By Viomycin

Translocation is the step in translation where the peptidyl A-site tRNA on the ribosome moves to the P site and the deacylated P-site tRNA moves to the E site. Recently, several single-molecule FRET studies and cryo-EM studies have confirmed the existence of the tRNA hybrid states (A/P and P/E) and the spontaneous ratchet motion of the ribosome from Macrostate I to Macrostate II prior to translocation (Agirrezabala et al., 2008; Ermolenko et al., 2007a,b; J. Fu, J.B. Munro, S. Blanchard, J. Frank, unpublished). In one of the studies, antibiotic viomycin, which is known to block translation, was shown to promote MS II and the hybrid states the tRNA (Ermolenko et al., 2007B). To determine the mechanism by which viomycin blocks translation, and to further understand the intermediate states during translocation, we studied a pre-translocational complex prepared with viomycin. Single-particle reconstruction was used to determine the structure of the complex. Subsequent classification resulted in two distinct ribosome complexes in MS I and II. We believe that MS II represents the state in which translation is stalled by viomycin. Subsequent analysis revealed that the A-site tRNA is in the A/P hybrid state and the P site tRNA in a novel position in which it makes extensive contacts with the L1 stalk. The results confirmed the observation, by the single molecule FRET study, that viomycin locks the ribosome in the hybrid state. We are setting out for a more detailed analysis to understand the molecular details of the viomycin-induced hybrid states.X. Agirrezabala et al., Mol. Cell, in press (2008).D. N. Ermolenko et al., Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol. 14, 493 (2007a)D. N. Ermolenko et al., J Mol Biol. 370, 530 (2007b).J. B. Munro. et al., Mol. Cell. 25, 505 (2007).
Detection and quantitation of fatty acid acyl conjugates of triamcinolone acetonide via gas chromatography-electron-capture negative-ion mass spectrometry.

Abstract The inherent electron-capture properties of triamcinolone acetonide (TAA) fatty acid conjugates were exploited for development of a GC–MS technique for quantitation of C21 long-chain fatty esters of TAA synthesized in BEAS-2B cells, an immortalized airway epithelium cell line. TAA esters extracted from BEAS-2B cells were purified and detected via selected ion monitoring of the molecular anions generated from the TAA esters under electron-capture negative-ion mass spectrometric conditions. Standard curves were linear over a range of 0.0 to >4.5 ng/mg protein with r 2 values = 1. Levels of TAA conjugates extracted from BEAS-2B treated with 10 −5 M TAA for 24 h ranged from 0.024 to 0.301 ng/mg protein. Further evidence for confirmation of the identity of TAA fatty esters formed in BEAS-2B cells was obtained via selected reaction monitoring. The transition monitored was formation of the carboxy anion generated from each of the respective molecular anions of the TAA esters during collision-induced decomposition. These findings indicate that the GC–MS analysis is suitable for studies of the kinetics of the TAA fatty acid conjugates formation in vitro and may be directly applicable to determination of the kinetics of TAA fatty acid conjugation in vivo.