cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Graph fractional-order total variation EEG source reconstruction

EEG source imaging is able to reconstruct sources in the brain from scalp measurements with high temporal resolution. Due to the limited number of sensors, it is very challenging to locate the source accurately with high spatial resolution. Recently, several total variation (TV) based methods have been proposed to explore sparsity of the source spatial gradients, which is based on the assumption that the source is constant at each subregion. However, since the sources have more complex structures in practice, these methods have difficulty in recovering the current density variation and locating source peaks. To overcome this limitation, we propose a graph Fractional-Order Total Variation (gFOTV) based method, which provides the freedom to choose the smoothness order by imposing sparsity of the spatial fractional derivatives so that it locates source peaks accurately. The performance of gFOTV and various state-of-the-art methods is compared using a large amount of simulations and evaluated with several quantitative criteria. The results demonstrate the superior performance of gFOTV not only in spatial resolution but also in localization accuracy and total reconstruction accuracy.
Reconfigurable energy-efficient wireless sensor networks for real-time data acquisition

This paper presents an energy-efficient data acquisition scheme that enables continued data sampling and on-node data feature extraction, based on the Dynamic Voltage Scaling concept. A reservation-based Time Division Multiple Access protocol was employed to allow staggered data transmissions within a sensor cluster. As a result, sensor nodes that were scheduled to transmit their data later in sequential order could take advantage of the ldquoextrardquo time allocated to slow down the speed of data processing by lowering the supply voltage, thereby reducing energy consumption. The design of reconfigurable sensor nodes was demonstrated through the integration of a Crossbow Imote2 platform with a customized sensor board. To evaluate the data acquisition scheme, a sensor network was designed that featured autonomous sensor cluster head selection, time synchronization, and dynamic allocation of computation times at the sensor node level. It was found that energy reduction of up to 50% could be achieved, which effectively translates into prolonged service life of the sensor network. The study demonstrates the ability of reconfiguration techniques in improving energy efficiency in sensor networks.
Paying Too Dearly for a Whistle: How to Avoid Over-Protection for Whistleblowers

In light of substantial disagreement among the circuits on which types of whistleblowers Dodd-Frank intends to protect, and newly proposed legislation which suggests a solution, this Note will inspect Dodd-Frank’s whistleblower protections in an effort to better explain which corporate whistleblowers should and should not be protected. In Part I, this Note briefly outlines America’s repeated history of increased regulation following financial crisis, which culminates in Sarbanes-Oxley and the Dodd-Frank Act. It then describes the goals that motivated these Acts and how whistleblowers play an outsized role in accomplishing those goals. In Part II, the Note examines the critical statute for corporate whistleblower protection — Dodd-Frank’s § 922 — and describes the SEC’s interpretation of that text. In Part III, the Note contrasts the competing interpretations of § 922 and compares the policy results of those interpretations. It also looks at how existing structures within the SEC and the protections from other related whistleblower regimes might inform Dodd-Frank’s protections. And finally, in Part IV, the Note proposes a cohesive solution that protects internal whistleblowers, respects corporate decision-making, and furthers Sarbanes-Oxley’s and Dodd-Frank’s goals.
Analysis of high‐frequency and long‐term data in undergraduate ecology classes improves quantitative literacy

Ecologists are increasingly analyzing long-term and high-frequency sensor datasets as part of their research. As ecology becomes a more data-rich scientific discipline, the next generation of ecologists needs to develop the quantitative literacy required to effectively analyze, visualize, and interpret large datasets. We developed and assessed three modules to teach undergraduate freshwater ecology students both scientific concepts and quantitative skills needed to work with large datasets. These modules covered key ecological topics of phenology, physical mixing, and the balance between primary production and respiration, using lakes as model systems with high-frequency or long-term data. Our assessment demonstrated that participating in these modules significantly increased student comfort using spreadsheet software and their self-reported competence in performing a variety of quantitative tasks. Interestingly, students with the lowest pre-module comfort and skills achieved the biggest gains. Furthermore, students reported that participating in the modules helped them better understand the concepts presented and that they appreciated practicing quantitative skills. Our approach demonstrates that working with large datasets in ecology classrooms helps undergraduate students develop the skills and knowledge needed to help solve complex ecological problems and be more prepared for a data-intensive future.
Making sense of the lived body and the lived world: meaning and presence in Husserl, Derrida and Noë

I argue that Husserl’s transcendental account of the role of the lived body in sense-making is a precursor to Alva Noe’s recent work on the enactive, embodied mind, specifically his notion of “sensorimotor knowledge” as a form of embodied sense-making that avoids representationalism and intellectualism. Derrida’s deconstructive account of meaning—developed largely through a critique of Husserl—relies on the claim that meaning is structured through the complication of the “interiority” of consciousness by an “outside,” and thus might be thought to lend itself to theories of mind such as Noe’s that emphasize the ways in which sense-making occurs outside the head. But while Derrida’s notion of “contamination” rightly points to an indeterminateness of meaning in an outside, extended, concrete lived world, he ultimately reduces meaning to a structure of signification. This casts indeterminateness in terms of absence, ignoring the presence of non-linguistic phenomena of embodied sense-making central to both the contemporary enactivist program and to the later Husserl, who is able to account for the indeterminateness of meaning in lived experience through his distinction between sense (Sinn) and more exact linguistic meaning (Bedeutung). Husserl’s transcendental theory of meaning also allows for a substantive contribution to sense-making from the side of the perceived object—an aspect missing from Noe’s account. Thus, in contrast to Derrida and to Noe, Husserl accounts for sense-making in terms of both the lived body and the lived world.
Cryptographic Function Detection in Obfuscated Binaries via Bit-Precise Symbolic Loop Mapping

Cryptographic functions have been commonly abused by malware developers to hide malicious behaviors, disguise destructive payloads, and bypass network-based firewalls. Now-infamous crypto-ransomware even encrypts victim's computer documents until a ransom is paid. Therefore, detecting cryptographic functions in binary code is an appealing approach to complement existing malware defense and forensics. However, pervasive control and data obfuscation schemes make cryptographic function identification a challenging work. Existing detection methods are either brittle to work on obfuscated binaries or ad hoc in that they can only identify specific cryptographic functions. In this paper, we propose a novel technique called bit-precise symbolic loop mapping to identify cryptographic functions in obfuscated binary code. Our trace-based approach captures the semantics of possible cryptographic algorithms with bit-precise symbolic execution in a loop. Then we perform guided fuzzing to efficiently match boolean formulas with known reference implementations. We have developed a prototype called CryptoHunt and evaluated it with a set of obfuscated synthetic examples, well-known cryptographic libraries, and malware. Compared with the existing tools, CryptoHunt is a general approach to detecting commonly used cryptographic functions such as TEA, AES, RC4, MD5, and RSA under different control and data obfuscation scheme combinations.
Taking the Initiative: Risk-Reduction Strategies and Decreased Malpractice Costs

Background To heighten awareness of attending and resident surgeons regarding strategies for defense against malpractice claims, a series of risk reduction initiatives have been carried out in our Department of Surgery. We hypothesized that emphasis on certain aspects of risk might be associated with decreased malpractice costs. The relative impact of Department of Surgery initiatives was assessed when compared with malpractice experience for the rest of the Clinical Practices of the University of Pennsylvania (CPUP). Study Design Surgery and CPUP malpractice claims, indemnity, and expenses were obtained from the Office of General Counsel. Malpractice premium data were obtained from CPUP finance. The Department of Surgery was assessed in comparison with all other CPUP departments. Cost data (yearly indemnity and expenses), and malpractice premiums (total and per physician) were expressed as a percentage of the 5-year mean value preceding implementation of the initiative program. Results Surgery implemented 38 risk reduction initiatives. Faculty participated in 27 initiatives; house staff participated in 10 initiatives; and advanced practitioners in 1 initiative. Department of Surgery claims were significantly less than CPUP (74.07% vs 81.07%; p Conclusions The data suggest that educating surgeons on malpractice and risk reduction may play a role in decreasing malpractice costs. Additional extrinsic factors may also affect cost data. Emphasis on risk reduction appears to be cumulative and should be part of an ongoing program.
New Application of Neomycin B–Bisbenzimidazole Hybrids as Antifungal Agents

Alkylated aminoglycosides and bisbenzimidazoles have previously been shown to individually display antifungal activity. Herein, we explore for the first time the antifungal activity (in liquid cultures and in biofilms) of ten alkylated aminoglycosides covalently linked to either mono- or bisbenzimidazoles. We also investigate their toxicity against mammalian cells, their hemolytic activity, and their potential mechanism(s) of action (inhibition of fungal ergosterol biosynthetic pathway and/or reactive oxygen species (ROS) production). Overall, many of our hybrids exhibited broad-spectrum antifungal activity. We also found them to be less cytotoxic to mammalian cells and less hemolytic than the FDA-approved antifungal agents amphotericin B and voriconazole, respectively. Finally, we show with our best derivative (8) that the mechanism of action of our compounds is not the inhibition of ergosterol biosynthesis, but that it involves ROS production in yeast cells.
Gastric adaptation: Studies in humans during continuous aspirin administration

Abstract To study the process of gastric mucosal adaptation to aspirin administration, 14 normal men underwent a study with continued administration of aspirin. Endoscopic assessment, biopsies, and gastric wash collections for acid, mucus, and deoxyribonucleic acid recovery were performed weekly; aspirin was continued until the endoscopy showed minimal damage. Six subjects took 650 mg of aspirin b.i.d., and 8 took 650 mg q.i.d.; adaptation and resolution took longer with the higher dose (median 4.5 wk vs. 1 wk, p
Nitric oxide and myocarditis

Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the heart, usually caused by viral infection. The clinical course of patients with myocarditis is paradoxical. The survival of patients with mild forms of myocarditis is much worse than the survival of patients with severe, fulminant myocarditis. One hypothesis explaining this paradox involves nitric oxide (NO). Perhaps myocarditic patients who produce large amounts of NO clear their viral infections and so survive longer, although they suffer from hemodynamic instability due to excess NO. Conversely, myocarditic patients who generate less NO are hemodynamically stable, but less NO permits greater levels of viral replication, leading to a higher mortality. This review examines the role of NO in myocarditis, focusing on viral myocarditis.
Financial Preparedness for Long-Term Care Needs in Old Age

With the first of the large baby boom generation poised to retire, there is little evidence that they or the retirees to follow are financially prepared for the risk of potentially catastrophic costs of disability-related long-term care. Both the high cost of insurance and uncertainty about its value are widely thought to account for the lack of preparedness. This chapter reviews evidence on the risk of long-term care, types of long-term care, associated financial risks, and consumer knowledge of these risks. Common and not-so-common options for private financing of long-term care and barriers to their widespread adoption are discussed, and a final section briefly reviews policies in place or proposed for increasing private preparation.
High levels of sewage contamination released from urban areas after storm events: A quantitative survey with sewage specific bacterial indicators

Background Past studies have demonstrated an association between waterborne disease and heavy precipitation, and climate change is predicted to increase the frequency of these types of intense storm events in some parts of the United States. In this study, we examined the linkage between rainfall and sewage contamination of urban waterways and quantified the amount of sewage released from a major urban area under different hydrologic conditions to identify conditions that increase human risk of exposure to sewage. Methods and findings Rain events and low-flow periods were intensively sampled to quantify loads of sewage based on two genetic markers for human-associated indicator bacteria (human Bacteroides and Lachnospiraceae). Samples were collected at a Lake Michigan estuary and at three river locations immediately upstream. Concentrations of indicators were analyzed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and loads were calculated from streamflow data collected at each location. Human-associated indicators were found during periods of low flow, and loads increased one to two orders of magnitude during rain events from stormwater discharges contaminated with sewage. Combined sewer overflow (CSO) events increased concentrations and loads of human-associated indicators an order of magnitude greater than heavy rainfall events without CSO influence. Human-associated indicator yields (load per km2 of land per day) were related to the degree of urbanization in each watershed. Contamination in surface waters were at levels above the acceptable risk for recreational use. Further, evidence of sewage exfiltration from pipes threatens drinking water distribution systems and source water. While this study clearly demonstrates widespread sewage contamination released from urban areas, a limitation of this study is understanding human exposure and illness rates, which are dependent on multiple factors, and gaps in our knowledge of the ultimate health outcomes. Conclusions With the prediction of more intense rain events in certain regions due to climate change, sewer overflows and contamination from failing sewer infrastructure may increase, resulting in increases in waterborne pathogen burdens in waterways. These findings quantify hazards in exposure pathways from rain events and illustrate the additional stress that climate change may have on urban water systems. This information could be used to prioritize efforts to invest in failing sewer infrastructure and create appropriate goals to address the health concerns posed by sewage contamination from urban areas.
Eosinophilic esophagitis: short and long-term considerations.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a relatively new disease but its understanding is evolving over a period of time. This review highlights recent advances in the understanding of pathophysiology, diagnostic modalities, short and long-term goals of therapy and novel therapeutic agents. RECENT FINDINGS The prevalence of EoE is increasing. Upper endoscopy and biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosing EoE but less invasive and more cost-effective testing has been under investigation. Scoring systems to assess symptoms, histology and endoscopic findings can distinguish between active and inactive disease. Step up therapy with 2-4-6 food elimination can result in early identification of triggering foods and reduce frequency of endoscopies. The term proton pump inhibitor (PPI) responsive eosinophilia should be avoided and PPI should be considered a therapeutic modality. Oral viscous budesonide has been more effective than fluticasone in achieving remission. Adrenal suppression should be looked for patients on swallowed steroids. IL-13 antagonists can be a promising therapy for EoE and dilation is a safe and effective treatment modality in patients with EoE but as is expected, does not decrease inflammation. SUMMARY EoE has been increasingly recognized as a cause of food impactions and dysphagia. Less invasive methods for diagnosis and to monitor treatment response have been studied but need validation in children. Short-term treatment goals include symptomatic and histological improvement, with prevention of fibrostenotic disease the primary long-term goal. Elemental diet and empiric elimination diet appear to be successful in inducing remission. PPI and swallowed steroids cause symptomatic improvement and histological remission but relapse is common after discontinuation of therapy.
Trends in the Use of Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 in Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery: A 10-Year Analysis of 54 054 Patients.

ABSTRACT Background: Bone morphogenetic protein–2 (BMP-2) is an available bone graft option in spinal fusion surgery. The purpose of this study is to investigate the trends of BMP-2 utilization in adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery. Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database from 2002 to 2011 was reviewed. Inclusion criteria were patients over 18 years of age who underwent spinal fusion for ASD. Trends of BMP-2 use were examined over time, as well as stratified based on patient and surgical characteristics. All analyses were done after application of discharge weights to produce national estimates. Results: There were 54 054 patients who met inclusion criteria and were included in this study. The overall rate of BMP-2 use was 39.7% (95% confidence interval 35.0%- 44.3%). Overall, there was steady increase in its use over time, with the highest peak in 2009 (55.3% of all cases used BMP-2), and then a decrease up to 37.9% in 2011 (P Conclusion After analysis of a large nationwide database, it was found that the rate of BMP-2 use in ASD surgery is approximately 40%. There was a significant increase in use from 2002 to 2009, and a decrease thereafter. The highest rates of use were found in older patients, female patients, white patients, Medicare patients, circumferential approaches, and patients undergoing surgery in the Midwest and West regions.
Impact of a Care Management Entity on Use of Psychiatric Services Among Youths With Severe Mental or Behavioral Disorders.

Objective:Care management entity models have a positive impact on functioning and symptom control among youths with serious emotional and behavioral disorders. However, little is known about whethe...
Dysfunctional Mitochondrial Bioenergetics and Synaptic Degeneration in Alzheimer Disease

Synapses are sites of high energy demand which are dependent on high levels of mitochondrial derived adenosine triphosphate. Mitochondria within synaptic structures are key for maintenance of functional neurotransmission and this critical biological process is modulated by energy metabolism, mitochondrial distribution, mitochondrial trafficking, and cellular synaptic calcium flux. Synapse loss is presumed to be an early yet progressive pathological event in Alzheimer disease (AD), resulting in impaired cognitive function and memory loss which is particularly prevalent at later stages of disease. Supporting evidence from AD patients and animal models suggests that pathological mitochondrial dynamics indeed occurs early and is highly associated with synaptic lesions and degeneration in AD neurons. This review comprehensively highlights recent findings that describe how synaptic mitochondria pathology involves dysfunctional trafficking of this organelle, to maladaptive epigenetic contributions affecting mitochondrial function in AD. We further discuss how these negative, dynamic alterations impact synaptic function associated with AD. Finally, this review explores how antioxidant therapeutic approaches targeting mitochondria in AD can further clinical research and basic science investigations to advance our in-depth understanding of the pathogenesis of AD.
Organometallic anions containing isonitrile ligands

Abstract Reduction of the dimer, [(η5-C5H5)Fe(CO)CNCH3]2, with sodium amalgam in tetrahydrofuran leads to the formation of the hydride, (η5-C5H5)Fe(CO) (CNCH3)H. It engages in a base-catalyzed reaction with Group IVB halides to form compounds of the type (η5-C5H5)FeCO(CNCH3)R, (R = CH2CN, Ge(CH3)2Cl, Sn(CH3)3) and also Hg[Fe(η5-C5H5)(CO)(CNCH3)]2. It is proposed that the hydride reacts via the anion, (η5-C5H5)Fe(CO) (CNCH3)−, which is formed by base-induced deprotonation.
Estimating Hazard Events and Consequences through a Victimization Survey

Every year many lives are lost and much property is damaged by the ravages of natural hazards. There is some evidence, moreover, that the magnitude of these losses, especially to property, has increased substantially in constant dollars in recent years, mainly because economic growth has tended to concentrate more and more persons and property in high-risk areas (Cochrane, 1975; Dacy and Kunreuther, 1969; White and Haas, 1975). In addition, the past decade has produced several very-large-scale disaster events that imposed severe burdens on the public treasury for relief and rehabilitation, for example, Hurricane Agnes in 1973.1 Spurred by these rising costs and by other reasons, federal hazards policy has been shifting away from providing relief and fostering rehabilitation in the aftermath of disasters, and toward developing strategies that are aimed at mitigating hazard risks before disasters strike. Perhaps, in the long run, a vigorous and scientifically informed program of risk mitigation will reduce substantially, as hoped, the need for relief and rehabilitation programs. In the foreseeable future, however, it is likely that policies involving direct relief for and rehabilitation of victims will figure prominently in the repertoire of federal disaster responses.
Oriented Ice Crystals: A Single-Scattering Property Database for Applications to Lidar and Optical Phenomenon Simulations

AbstractA database (TAMUoic2019) of the scattering, absorption, and polarization properties of horizontally oriented hexagonal plates (HOPs) and horizontally oriented hexagonal columns (HOCs) at th...
A 3-arm randomized clinical trial comparing interscalene blockade techniques with local infiltration analgesia for total shoulder arthroplasty.

Background The ideal analgesic modality for total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) remains controversial. We hypothesized that a multimodal analgesic pathway incorporating continuous interscalene blockade (ISB) provides better analgesic efficacy than both single-injection ISB and local infiltration analgesia. Methods This single-center, parallel, unblinded, randomized clinical trial evaluated 129 adults undergoing primary TSA. Patients were allocated to single-injection ISB, continuous ISB, or local infiltration analgesia. The primary outcome was the Overall Benefit of Analgesia Score (range, 0 [best] to 28 [worst]) on postoperative day 1. Additional outcomes included pain scores, opioid consumption, quality of life, and postoperative complications in the first 24 hours, at 3 months, and at 1 year. Results We analyzed 125 patients (42 with single-injection ISB, 41 with continuous ISB, and 42 with local infiltration analgesia). The Overall Benefit of Analgesia Score was significantly improved in the continuous group (median [25th percentile, 75th percentile], 0 [0, 2]) compared with the single-injection group (2 [1, 4]; P = .002) and local infiltration analgesia group (3 [2, 4]; P Conclusion Continuous ISB provides superior analgesia compared with single-injection ISB and local infiltration analgesia in the first 24 hours after TSA.
234-OR: Postprandial Glucose Control Using the Medtronic Advanced Hybrid Closed-Loop System: Faster-Acting Insulin Aspart vs. Insulin Aspart

Background: Faster-acting insulin aspart (FiAsp) may improve responsiveness of closed-loop (CL) systems and provide better postprandial glucose (PPG) management due to its more rapid onset and offset compared to insulin aspart (Asp). The Medtronic Advanced Hybrid Closed Loop (AHCL) System features auto-basal and auto-bolus functions. Aim: To compare PPG control using FiAsp vs. Asp delivered using AHCL. Methods: Twelve adults with T1D (median HbA1c 7.1% [IQR 6.8, 7.2]; 54mmol/mol [51, 55]) were assigned to FiAsp or Asp (unblinded) in random-order over two-stages (6-weeks duration each) using AHCL. Postprandial periods were defined using set time-blocks for breakfast (06:00-10:00); lunch (11:00-15:00); and dinner (17:00-21:00), based on conventional meal-times and meal distribution. CGM data was analyzed using signed-rank test. Results: With all postprandial time-block data aggregated, FiAsp demonstrated greater overall time-in-range (TIR) (70-180mg/dL) (p=0.028) and less hyperglycaemia (p=0.041) compared with Asp (Table). TIR was greater during lunch (p=0.034) for FiAsp vs. Asp, with no difference during breakfast or dinner. Over the 6-week duration, FiAsp use trended towards greater TIR vs. Asp (82.7% vs. 80.4%, p=0.07). Conclusions: FiAsp appears to confer an advantage compared with Asp for PPG control whilst using AHCL even in subjects with high overall TIR. Disclosure M.H. Lee: Research Support; Self; Medtronic. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; AstraZeneca, Medtronic. S. Vogrin: None. B. Paldus: Research Support; Self; JDRF. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Australian Diabetes Society, Medtronic. D. Morrison: None. D. Zaharieva: Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Ascensia Diabetes Care, Insulet Corporation, Medtronic. J. Lu: None. H. Jones: None. S.A. Wyatt: Other Relationship; Self; Medtronic, Ypsomed AG. E. Netzer: None. C.M. Sims: Stock/Shareholder; Self; Medtronic. R. MacIsaac: None. B. Grosman: Employee; Self; Medtronic. A. Roy: Employee; Self; Medtronic. N. Kurtz: Employee; Self; Medtronic. A. Jenkins: Advisory Panel; Self; Abbott, Medtronic. Research Support; Self; Abbott, GlySens Incorporated, Medtronic, Sanofi-Aventis. D.N. ONeal: None.
Targeted Deletion of CXCR2 in Myeloid Cells Alters the Tumor Immune Environment to Improve Antitumor Immunity

Recruitment of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) into the tumor microenvironment (TME) contributes to cancer immune evasion. MDSCs express the chemokine receptor CXCR2, and inhibiting CXCR2 suppresses the recruitment of MDSCs into the tumor and the premetastatic niche. Here, we compared the growth and metastasis of melanoma and breast cancer xenografts in mice exhibiting or not exhibiting targeted deletion of Cxcr2 in myeloid cells (CXCR2myeΔ/Δ vs. CXCR2myeWT). Detailed analysis of leukocyte populations in peripheral blood and in tumors from CXCR2myeΔ/Δ mice revealed that loss of CXCR2 signaling in myeloid cells resulted in reduced intratumoral MDSCs and increased intratumoral CXCL11. The increase in intratumoral CXCL11 was derived in part from tumor-infiltrating B1b cells. The reduction in intratumoral MDSCs coupled with an increase in intratumoral B1b cells expressing CXCL11 resulted in enhanced infiltration and activation of effector CD8+ T cells in the TME of CXCR2myeΔ/Δ mice, accompanied by inhibition of tumor growth in CXCR2myeΔ/Δ mice compared with CXCR2myeWT littermates. Treatment of tumor-bearing mice with a CXCR2 antagonist (SX-682) also inhibited tumor growth, reduced intratumoral MDSCs, and increased intratumoral B1b cells expressing CXCL11, leading to an increase in activated CD8+ T cells in the tumor. Depletion of B220+ cells or depletion of CD8+ T cells reversed the tumor-inhibitory properties in CXCR2myeΔ/Δ mice. These data revealed a mechanism by which loss of CXCR2 signaling in myeloid cells modulates antitumor immunity through decreasing MDSCs and enriching CXCL11-producing B1b cells in the TME, which in turn increases CD8+ T-cell recruitment and activation in tumors.
Islet Dysfunction in a Novel Transgenic Model of T Cell Insulitis.

The newly established CD3FLAG-mIR transgenic mouse model on a C57Bl/6 background has a FLAG tag on the mouse Insulin Receptor (mIR), specifically on T cells, as the FLAG-tagged mIR gene was engineered behind CD3 promoter and enhancer. The IR is a chemotactic molecule for insulin and the Flag-tagged mIR T cells in the BL/6-CD3FLAGmIR transgenic mice can migrate into the pancreas, as shown by immunofluorescent staining. While the transgenic mice do not become diabetic, there are phenotypic and metabolic changes in the islets. The transgenic islets become enlarged and disorganized by 15 weeks and those phenotypes continue out to 35 weeks of age. We examined the islets by RT-PCR for cell markers, ER stress markers, beta cell proliferation markers, and cytokines, as well as measuring serum insulin and insulin content in the pancreas at 15, 25, and 35 weeks of age. In transgenic mice, insulin in serum was increased at 15 weeks of age and glucose intolerance developed by 25 weeks of age. Passage of transgenic spleen cells into C57Bl/6 RAG−/− mice resulted in enlarged and disorganized islets with T infiltration by 4 to 5 weeks post-transfer, replicating the transgenic mouse studies. Therefore, migration of non-antigen-specific T cells into islets has ramifications for islet organization and function.
The NF-κB transcriptional footprint is essential for SARS-CoV-2 replication.

SARS-CoV-2, the etiological agent of COVID-19, is characterized by a delay in Type I interferon (IFN-I)-mediated antiviral defenses alongside robust cytokine production. Here we investigate the underlying molecular basis for this imbalance and implicate virus-mediated activation of NF-κB in the absence of other canonical IFN-I-related transcription factors. Epigenetic and single cell transcriptomic analyses show a selective NF-κB signature that was most prominent in infected cells. Disruption of NF-κB signaling through the silencing of the NF-κB transcription factors p65 or p50 resulted in loss of virus replication that was rescued upon reconstitution. These findings could be further corroborated with the use of NF-κB inhibitors, which reduced SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro. These data suggest that the robust cytokine production in response to SARS-CoV-2, despite a diminished IFN-I response, is the product of a dependency on NF-κB for viral replication. IMPORTANCE The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant mortality and morbidity around the world. Although effective vaccines have been developed, large parts of the world remain unvaccinated while new SARS-CoV-2 strains keep emerging. Furthermore, despite extensive efforts and large-scale drug screenings, no fully effective antiviral treatment options have been discovered yet. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to gain a better understanding of essential factors driving SARS-CoV-2 replication in order to be able to develop novel approaches to target SARS-CoV-2 biology.
“Like a Flame Through the Reeds”: An Iranian Image in the Buzandaran Patmut‘iwnk‘

The paper discusses the simile of the fire running through the reeds, which is well attested in classical Armenian literature and is used to describe a formidable assault of an army. The connection of the image with the Iranian concept of kingship and supernatural valour is confirmed by the occurrence of the same simile in the Iranian epic. The original value of the image still survives in some later attestations, though in a less clear and conscious form, and sometimes it is reinterpreted with a Christian context. In most of the later occurrences, anyway, this meaning is completely lost, and the image is employed just as a simile for the violence and destructiveness of an attack. That is the reason why it is applied not only to Armenian troops but also to the enemies, and some later authors show a contact between the original image and a similar simile occurring in the Bible. However, a closer analysis of the texts and a comparison with the Septuagint shows that the interference of the Bible with the traditional Armenian image is just a formal one.
Dynamic Analysis of Plane Frames

The dynamic analysis using the stiffness matrix method for structures modeled as beams was presented in Chapter 14. This method of analysis when applied to beams requires the calculation of element matrices (stiffness, mass, and damping matrices), the assemblage from these matrices of the corresponding system matrices, the formation of the force vector, and the solution of the resultant equations of motion. These equations, as we have seen, may be solved in general by the modal superposition method or by numerical integration of the differential equations of motion. In this chapter and in the following chapters, the dynamic analysis of structures modeled as frames is presented.
A Formal Model for Systematic Design of Key Establishment Protocols

We present an abstract formal model for protocols, based on abstract logical secure channels. Unlike other models it is not primarily intended for protocol analysis but to serve as the top layer of a layered top-down design method for protocols. We show examples of key establishment protocols for which this model can be used. Modular design of protocols is supported with a concatenation theorem for protocols.
Recurrence phenomenon for microwave solitons in ferrite films

Summary form only given. Recurrence is a fundamental effect in nonlinear wave dynamics. The effect consists of a spatial recurrence of the temporal wave form for nonlinear excitations. Even though nonlinear dispersive systems have been studied extensively, recurrence has been observed in only a few systems. Recurrence has never been observed in any solid state system or for envelope solitons. In this work, a unique time and space resolved microwave probe system was used to observe recurrence for the first time for microwave magnetic envelope solitons in thin ferrite films.
Response of the hypoxic fetal and neonatal lamb to administration of base solution

Abstract The hemodynamic effects of intermittent injections of bicarbonate solution (0.6M) were investigated in experimentally induced fetal and neonatal hypoxia. Base administration failed to reverse the pulmonary vasoconstriction elicited by hypoxia in both the fetus and neonate despite the transitory increase in blood pH. Oxygenation of the fetal or neonatal blood, however, promptly relieved the pulmonary vasoconstriction and bradycardia that had been produced by hypoxia. The absence of circulatory effects in the hypoxic animal is probably due to the lack of changes in plasma osmolality and blood volume following intermittent injections of base solutions.
Principles of Virus Structural Organization

Viruses, the molecular nanomachines infecting hosts ranging from prokaryotes to eukaryotes, come in different sizes, shapes, and symmetries. Questions such as what principles govern their structural organization, what factors guide their assembly, how these viruses integrate multifarious functions into one unique structure have enamored researchers for years. In the last five decades, following Caspar and Klug’s elegant conceptualization of how viruses are constructed, high-resolution structural studies using X-ray crystallography and more recently cryo-EM techniques have provided a wealth of information on structures of a variety of viruses. These studies have significantly ­furthered our understanding of the principles that underlie structural organization in viruses. Such an understanding has practical impact in providing a rational basis for the design and development of antiviral strategies. In this chapter, we review principles underlying capsid formation in a variety of viruses, emphasizing the recent developments along with some historical perspective.
Progressive Integration of Design Process into Civil Engineering Curriculum

AbstractThe design process has been successfully infused in the civil engineering curriculum at an undergraduate institution through progressive and consistent integration of key design principles throughout the four years of education. This has been accomplished without adding new courses to the curriculum. Students are introduced to a problem-solving framework in the freshman year that is used as the basis of further instruction in the design process in subsequent courses. Several upper-level courses were structured to include project-enhanced, project-based learning and cooperative learning that promote learning at higher levels. Assessment data indicate that students are making progressive improvement in problem-solving abilities, performing better on senior capstone design projects, and show better preparedness to make the transition to practice engineering after graduation.
Signing RDF graphs

Assuming P <GI < NP, the creation and verification of a digital signature of an arbitrary RDF graph cannot be done in polynomial time. However, it is possible to define a large class of canonicalizable RDF graphs, such that digital signatures for graphs in this class can be created and verified in O(nlog(n)). Without changing its meaning, an arbitrary RDF graph can be nondeterministically pre-canonicalized into a graph of this class, before signing. The techniques in this paper are key enablers for the use of digital signature technology in the Semantic Web.
Gilhuly, Kate. The Feminine Matrix of Sex and Gender in Classical Athens

Classical Athens has frequently provided theorists with a testing ground for discourses on gender and sexuality because it offers an unusually rich archive of evidence on ancient Athenian thought a...
Structure of a glutamate-receptor ligand-binding core in complex with kainate

Ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) mediate excitatory synaptic transmission in vertebrates and invertebrates through ligand-induced opening of transmembrane ion channels. iGluRs are segregated into three subtypes according to their sensitivity to the agonists AMPA (α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid), kainate (a structural analogue of glutamate) or NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) (Fig. 1). iGluRs are important in the development and function of the nervous system, are essential in memory and learning, and are either implicated in or have causal roles in dysfunctions ranging from Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases, schizophrenia, epilepsy and Rasmussen's encephalitis to stroke1,2. Development of iGluR agonists and antagonists has been hampered by a lack of high-resolution structural information. Here we describe the crystal structure of an iGluR ligand-binding region in a complex with the neurotoxin (agonist) kainate. The bilobed structure shows the determinants of receptor–agonist interactions and how ligand-binding specificity and affinity are altered by remote residues and the redox state of the conserved disulphide bond. The structure indicates mechanisms for allosteric effector action and for ligand-induced channel gating. The information provided by this structure will be essential in designing new ligands.
Immunoassays of Soy Proteins

Proteins of soybeans (Glycine max) are widely used in animal and human nutrition. In addition to the bulk of the seed storage proteins, which are classified as albumins and globulins, approximately 6% of soybean proteins are classified as inhibitors of trypsin and chymotrypsin and approximately 0.5% are sugar-binding lectins. The two major classes of inhibitors are the Kunitz trypsin inhibitor, which inhibits trypsin, and the Bowman-Birk inhibitor (BBI), which inhibits both trypsin and chymotrypsin. Unless removed or inactivated, these inhibitors and lectins can impair the nutritional quality and safety of soy-based diets. On the other hand, several studies suggest that BBI can also function as an anticarcinogen, possibly through interaction with a cellular serine protease. Good-quality soybean proteins contribute to the nutritional value of many specialty foods including infant soy formulas and milk replacers for calves, and provide texture to many processed foods. However, they may also induce occasional allergic responses in humans. This paper outlines immunoassays developed to analyze for soy proteins in different soybean lines, in processed foods, and in nonsoy foods fortified with soy proteins. An assessment of the current status of immunoassays, especially of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for soybean inhibitors of digestive enzymes, soy globulins, and soy lectins, demonstrates the usefulness of these methods in plant and food sciences and in medicine.
Determining ab initio interfacial energetics

An efficient ab initio method for determining ideal adhensive energy versus interfacial spacing is introduced. Cleavage, surface, and interfacial energies and strengths can be extracted from this adhesive curve. Results for Mo, Nb, V, and ${\mathrm{MoSi}}_{2}$ fall accurately on a single, universal curve. This method makes ab initio calculations for ideal interfacial properties tractable, requiring calculations at only four interfacial spacings.
A Peaceful, Silent, Deadly Remedy: The Ethics of Economic Sanctions

Economic sanctions are emerging as one of the major tools of international governance in the post-Cold War era. Sanctions have long been seen as a form of political intervention that does not cause serious human damage, and therefore does not raise pressing ethical questions. However, the nature of sanctions is that they effectively target the most vulnerable and least political sectors of society, and for this reason they must be subject to ethical scrutiny.This essay looks at sanctions in the context of three ethical frameworks: just war doctrine, deontological ethics, and utilitarianism. It argues that sanctions are inconsistent with the principle of discrimination from just war doctrine; that sanctions reduce individuals to nothing more than means to an end by using the suffering of innocents as a means of persuasion, thereby violating the Kantian principle that human beings are “ends in themselves”; and that sanctions are unacceptable from a utilitarian perspective because their economic effectiveness necessarily entails considerable human damage, while their likelihood of achieving political objectives is low.
Construction of Electrocatalytic Electrodes Bearing the Triphenylamine Nucleus Covalently Bound to Carbon. A Halogen Dance in Protonated Aminotriphenylamines

The triarylamine nucleus has been attached to a carbon fiber electrode by diazotization of an aminotriphenylamine followed by electrochemical reduction. The resulting electrodes can electrocatalyze the oxidation of organic substrates. In acid, 4-amino-4‘,4‘ ‘-dibromotriphenylamine undergoes dismutation into a mixture of amines containing from 0 to 3 bromine atoms.
Calcium-dependent inactivation of L-type calcium channels in planar lipid bilayers

Intracellular Ca2+ can inhibit the activity of voltage-gated Ca channels by modulating the rate of channel inactivation. Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation of these channels may be a common negative feedback process important for regulating Ca2+ entry under physiological and pathological conditions. This article demonstrates that the inactivation of cardiac L-type Ca channels, reconstituted into planar lipid bilayers and studied in the presence of a dihydropyridine agonist, is sensitive to Ca2+. The rates and extents of inactivation, determined from ensemble averages of unitary Ba2+ currents, decreased when the calcium concentration facing the intracellular surface of the channel ([Ca2+]i) was lowered from approximately 10 microM to 20 nM by the addition of Ca2+ chelators. The rates and extents of Ba2+ current inactivation could also be increased by subsequent addition of Ca2+ raising the [Ca2+]i to 15 microM, thus demonstrating that the Ca2+ dependence of inactivation could be reversibly regulated by changes in [Ca2+]i. In addition, reconstituted Ca channels inactivated more quickly when the inward current was carried by Ca2+ than when it was carried by Ba2+, suggesting that local increases in [Ca2+]i could activate Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation. These data support models in which Ca2+ binds to the channel itself or to closely associated regulatory proteins to control the rate of channel inactivation, and are inconsistent with purely enzymatic models for channel inactivation.
Melding War and Politics in Namibia: South Africa's Counterinsurgency Campaign, 1966-1989:

Namibia was the last League of Nations mandated territory to receive independence because the South African Government not only refused to place it under the United Nations trusteeship system but also refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of any trans-tribal African nationalism in the territory which they termed South West Africa. Following the 1966 decision of the International Court of Justice to uphold the South African position on Namibia, African nationalists under the banner of the South West African People's Organization (SWAPO of Namibia) undertook a lengthy insurgency campaign involving military operations by the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN). The brunt of the South African counterinsurgency campaign was waged by the South African Defense Force (SADF) in conjunction with the local police units. This article considers the conflict between the SADF and the PLAN in terms of small unit warfare, imported and localized counterinsurgency doctrine, the efficacy and application of civic actio...
Sparking Research Ideas from the Friction Between Doctrine and Reality

Good research ideas often arise from critical observation of inconsistencies between researchers assumptions about software development and practical reality. This dissonance creates a kind of friction that can spark research ideas. This is the text for the Stevens Award Lecture on November 8, 2005. The Stevens Award was created to recognize outstanding contributions to the literature or practice of methods for software and systems development.
The Social Construction of Death in the Gulf War

Military and media reports indicated that the Gulf War was characterized by a striking absence of death. This article applies a social construction of reality paradigm to explain why and how media ...
On Teichmüller spaces of surfaces with boundary

We characterize hyperbolic metrics on compact triangulated surfaces with boundary using a variational principle. As a consequence, a new parameterization of the Teichmuller space of a compact surface with boundary is produced. In the new parameterization, the Teichmuller space becomes an explicit open convex polytope. Our results can be considered as a generalization of the simplicial coordinate of Penner [P1], [P2] for hyperbolic metrics with cusp ends to the case of surfaces with geodesic boundary. It is conjectured that the Weil-Petersson symplectic form can be expressed explicitly in terms of the new coordinate