cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
UV multiphoton decomposition of di-n-butyl tin diacetate: fluorescence detection of CH radicals

Abstract Multiphoton-induced fragmentation of di-n-butyl tin diacetate was investigated using fluorescence spectroscopy. One-color multiphoton dissociation/laser-induced fluorescence (MPD/LIF) experiments were performed at 236.28 nm and 227.5 nm on gas-phase samples of di-n-butyl tin diacetate. These wavelengths correspond to one-photon excitation above the predicted onset of absorption for the dissociative ligand-centered 1 ( n ,π ∗ ) transition. With the excitation laser focused into a gas-phase sample, two bands were observed in the dispersed fluorescence spectrum. The band centered at 390 nm was assigned to the CH (B2Σ-X2Π) 0-0 transition and the band at 430 nm was assigned to the CH (A2Δ-X2Π) transition. Emission from the CH (B2Σ-X2Π) 1-1 transition was also observed in the MPD/LIF spectrum obtained using 227.5 nm excitation.
Convective plasma transport modelled with propagators

Modele numerique, base sur les propagateurs, du transport du plasma sous l'influence d'une vitesse d'ecoulement significative dans un stellarator toroidal
Why Teach Nursing Theory

Nurse faculty face challenges in sharing the values and beliefs that make sense of the phenomena of nursing with their students. A focus on nursing theory is weakening. Insights are offered here from the unique perspective of the humanbecoming teaching-learning model (Parse, 2014) to guide nurse educators in promoting the integrity of nursing curriculum and providing nurses with the theoretical foundation to inform research, practice, and education.
Younger Dryas sea level and meltwater pulse 1B recorded in Barbados reef crest coral Acropora palmata

The Younger Dryas climate event occurred during the middle of the last deglacial cycle and is marked by an abrupt shift in the North Atlantic polar front almost to its former glacial position, trending east to west. Using high-precision and high-accuracy U-Th-dated Barbados reef crest coral, Acropora palmata, we generate a detailed sea level record from 13.9 to 9000 years before present (kyr B.P.) and reconstruct the ice volume response to the Younger Dryas cooling. From the mid-Allerod (13.9 kyr B.P.) to the end of the Younger Dryas (11.65 kyr B.P.), rates of sea level rise decreased smoothly from 20 mm yr−1 to 4 mm yr−1, culminating in a 400 year “slow stand” before accelerating into meltwater pulse 1B (MWP-1B). The MWP-1B event at Barbados is better constrained as beginning by 11.45 kyr B.P. and ending at 11.1 kyr B.P. during which time sea level rose 14 ± 2 m and rates of sea level rise reached 40 mm yr−1. We propose that MWP-1B is the direct albeit lagged response of the Northern Hemisphere ice sheets to the rapid warming marking the end of the Younger Dryas coinciding with rapid warming in the circum-North Atlantic region and the polar front shift from its zonal to meridional position 11.65 kyr B.P. As predicted by glaciological models, the ice sheet response to rapid North Atlantic warming was lagged by 400 years due to the thermal inertia of large ice sheets. The regional circum-North Atlantic Younger Dryas climate event is elevated to a global response through sea level changes, starting with the global slowdown in sea level rise during the Younger Dryas and culminating with MWP-1B. No meltwater pulses are evident at the initiation of the Younger Dryas climate event as is often speculated.
Dephosphorylating eukaryotic RNA polymerase II

The phosphorylation state of the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II is required for the temporal and spatial recruitment of various factors that mediate transcription and RNA processing throughout the transcriptional cycle. Therefore, changes in CTD phosphorylation by site-specific kinases/phosphatases are critical for the accurate transmission of information during transcription. Unlike kinases, CTD phosphatases have been traditionally neglected as they are thought to act as passive negative regulators that remove all phosphate marks at the conclusion of transcription. This over-simplified view has been disputed in recent years and new data assert the active and regulatory role phosphatases play in transcription. We now know that CTD phosphatases ensure the proper transition between different stages of transcription, balance the distribution of phosphorylation for accurate termination and re-initiation, and prevent inappropriate expression of certain genes. In this review, we focus on the specific roles of CTD phosphatases in regulating transcription. In particular, we emphasize how specificity and timing of dephosphorylation are achieved for these phosphatases and consider the various regulatory factors that affect these dynamics.
Rac regulates the stability of the adherens junction and its components, thus affecting epithelial cell differentiation and transformation

We have previously reported that activated rac (V12rac) can bring about hypertransformation of ras-transformed epithelial cells, which can be suppressed by the dominant negative form of rac (N17rac). Starting with primary epithelial cells, a series of cell lines expressing wild type (WT) or mutated forms of ras or rac were generated and analysed for their adhesive function and expression and association of adherens junction (AJ) proteins. Normal, primary epithelial cells were self-adhesive and expressed AJs that were very stable. The expression of constitutively active ras resulted in a decrease in, but not loss of, cell-cell adhesion, with concomitantly decreased stability of AJ components. This was extremely exacerbated by the co-expression of constitutively activate rac, but was suppressed by dominant negative rac, which resulted in increased cell-cell adhesion and extremely stable AJs. alpha-catenin also failed to associate with E-cadherin-beta-catenin complexes in cells expressing V12rac. Expression of V12rac resulted in the loss of epithelial morphology. The extent of transformation of each cell type corresponded to the stability of the respective AJ complexes. Thus, rac seems to be involved in regulating the stability of AJs, which promote epithelial cell differentiation, and consequently, modulating tumor progression.
Cardan and the Pascal Triangle

(1950). Cardan and the Pascal Triangle. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 57, No. 6, pp. 387-390.
Adult-Onset Acid Maltase Deficiency: Morphologic and Biochemical Abnormalities Reproduced in Cultured Muscle

Abstract We established muscle-tissue cultures from biopsy of a patient with adult-onset acid maltase deficiency. Morphologically and biochemically, the newly grown fibers of the cultured muscle sh...
Resting Spore Germination in Three Chytrids

The resting spore of Phlyctochytrium planicorne enlarges within a resting sporangium, distends it, and discharges endogenously cleaved planonts which cluster at the orifice. In P. aureliae, the res...
Ethnic Comparisons in HIV Testing Attitudes, HIV Testing, and Predictors of HIV Testing Among Black and White College Students

This study’s primary aim was to examine ethnic differences in predictors of HIV testing among Black and White college students. We also examined ethnic differences in sexual risk behaviors and attitudes toward the importance of HIV testing. An analytic sample of 126 Black and 617 White undergraduatestudents aged 18–24 were analyzed for a subset of responses on the American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment II (ACHA-NCHA II) (2012) pertaining to HIV testing, attitudes about the importance of HIV testing, and sexual risk behaviors. Predictors of HIV testing behavior were analyzed using logistic regression. t tests and chi-square tests were performed to access differences in HIV test history, testing attitudes, and sexual risk behaviors. Black students had more positive attitudes toward testing and were more likely to have been tested for HIV compared to White students. A greater number of sexual partners and more positive HIV testing attitudes were significant predictors of HIV testing among White students, whereas relationship status predicted testing among Black students. Older age and history of ever having sex were significant predictors of HIV testing for both groups. There were no significant differences between groups in number of sexual partners or self-reports in history of sexual experience (oral, vaginal, or anal). Factors that influence HIV testing may differ across racial/ethnic groups. Findings support the need to consider racial/ethnic differences in predictors of HIV testing during the development and tailoring of HIV testing prevention initiatives targeting college students.
Using the Bayesian Shtarkov solution for predictions

The Bayes Shtarkov predictor can be defined and used for a variety of data sets that are exceedingly hard if not impossible to model in any detailed fashion. Indeed, this is the setting in which the derivation of the Shtarkov solution is most compelling. The computations show that anytime the numerical approximation to the Shtarkov solution is 'reasonable', it is better in terms of predictive error than a variety of other general predictive procedures. These include two forms of additive model as well as bagging or stacking with support vector machines, Nadaraya-Watson estimators, or draws from a Gaussian Process Prior.
Effects of Contact-Induced Doping on the Behaviors of Organic Photovoltaic Devices

Substrates can significantly affect the electronic properties of organic semiconductors. In this paper, we report the effects of contact-induced doping, arising from charge transfer between a high work function hole extraction layer (HEL) and the organic active layer, on organic photovoltaic device performance. Employing a high work function HEL is found to increase doping in the active layer and decrease photocurrent. Combined experimental and modeling investigations reveal that higher doping increases polaron–exciton quenching and carrier recombination within the field-free region. Consequently, there exists an optimal HEL work function that enables a large built-in field while keeping the active layer doping low. This value is found to be ∼0.4 eV larger than the pinning level of the active layer material. These understandings establish a criterion for optimal design of the HEL when adapting a new active layer system and can shed light on optimizing performance in other organic electronic devices.
The Art of Education

The sense in which man is viewed as a taker or holder of perspectives is the sense in which he is seen to be involved in choices and selections whose consequences and ramifications determine the character of options which subsequently ensue. Man is involved in a world to which he owes the character of his judgments, the modes of his behavior. And to the world or environment in which he lives, he responds not only by atomic movements, by specific actions, but also by fundamental choices and selections which affect the structure of his further products. Every product results from the selection of different alternatives, the exercise of certain options, and the acceptance of the consequences of the choices made.
Designs with One Source of Variation

The design of an experiment (including determination of the number of observations to be collected), the model, and the analysis of the experiment are all dependent upon one another. This chapter introduces the analysis of an experiment based on a completely randomized design. A one-way analysis of variance model together with its assumptions is described, and estimation of the model parameters using least squares is discussed in detail. The estimation of the error variance is described, together with the calculation of a confidence bound. A hypothesis test, based on the F distribution, for testing equality of treatment effects is developed, and the analysis of variance table (ANOVA) is introduced. The chapter provides a detailed discussion of the calculation of sample sizes in a one-way analysis of variance model setting using the power of a test. The concepts introduced in this chapter are illustrated through a real experiment and with the use of SAS and R software.
Esophageal Cancer Treatment Is Underutilized Among Elderly Patients in the USA

Large numbers of elderly patients in the USA receive no treatment for esophageal cancer, despite evidence that multimodality treatment can increase survival. Our goal is to identify factors that may contribute to lack of treatment. Using Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-Medicare Linked Database (2001−2009), we identified regional esophageal cancer patients ≥65 years old. Treatment was defined as receiving any medical or surgical therapy for esophageal cancer. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with failure to receive treatment. Overall survival (OS) was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard model. There were 5072 patients (median age, 75 years; interquartile range (IQR), 71–81 years). Majority were treated with definitive chemoradiation (48.49 %). Factors associated with lack of treatment included West geographic region and ≥80 years old. Patients who received therapy had better OS (log-rank, p < 0.001). Compared with treated patients, non-treated patients had worse adjusted OS (HR, 1.43; 95 % confidence interval (CI), 1.33–1.55; p < 0.001). Elderly patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer who received treatment had improved 5-year survival compared with patients without treatment. Disparities in utilization of treatment are associated with regional and socioeconomic factors, not presence of comorbidities.
Perceiving Systematically, Not Just Differently: Calling for Perceptual Models With Explanatory Power

Evidence across social psychology, vision science, health science, judgment and decision making, and affective neuroscience suggests that perception is inherently tied to social experiences. To thi...
Quantitative histological grading methods to assess subchondral bone and synovium changes subsequent to medial meniscus transection in the rat

Aim of the Study: The importance of the medial meniscus to knee health is demonstrated by studies which show meniscus injuries significantly increase the likelihood of developing osteoarthritis (OA...
Insect Cytochrome P450

Cytochrome P450 (P450) dependent monooxygenase systems occur in most if not all organisms, from bacteria to mammals and higher plants. In insects, the biochemical functions ascribed to this enzyme system include the metabolism of a wide variety of endogenous substrates such as hormones and the oxidation of xenobiotics such as pesticides and secondary plant metabolites. Insect monooxygenase systems appear to be involved in many different physiological processes with roles in growth and development, insecticide resistance and in the interaction of phytophagous insects with multiple host plants. A number of reviews have appeared on these topics in recent years (1–5). Due to it’s importance in the study of the biochemistry and genetics of insecticide resistance the house fly (Musca domestica) has been a useful model species for the study of insect monooxygenases. The purification and characterization of multiple cytochrome P450 isozymes from this species, as well as their role in insecticide resistance is discussed. Recently with the cloning and sequencing of a P450 isozyme from the housefly (6,7) a beginning has been made in the study of the molecular biology of insect cytochrome P450. Heliothis spp are also useful model species since their polyphagy has led to the study of the role of P450 in insect-plant interactions.
Super pixel based classification using conditional random fields for hyperspectral images

Classification plays a significant role in analyzing remotely sensed imagery. In order to obtain an optimized classier, following aspects are rather challenging: 1) complexity in dealing with the overwhelming amount of data information from an advanced high resolution hyperspectral imaging sensor; 2) difficulty in leveraging spectral and spatial information across the sensed wavelengths; 3) struggles in obtaining adequate dataset as in the same modalities with labeled ground truth in the training process. Therefore, we propose a novel classification approach to tackle these issues by utilizing probabilistic graphical model on super-pixel segmentation. This method is capable of compacting hyperspectral information efficiently which decreases computing complexity. Moreover, the employment of probabilistic graphical models that weighs the strong dependency in spatial and spectral neighbors improves accuracy. One of the most successful probabilistic graphical models is Conditional Random Fields (CRFs). Conventional methods utilize all spectral bands and assign the corresponding raw intensity values into the feature functions in CRFs and build the grid graph. These methods, however, require significant computational efforts and yield an ambiguous summary from the data. To mitigate these problems, we cooperate a non-linear kernel based classier to provide the meaningful probability features for CRFs and learn the non-grid graph from super pixel segmentation.
Assessing Moral Arguments Against Living Organ Donation by Prisoners

Because of their limited rights within the penal system, prisoners are generally considered to be especially vulnerable to certain kinds of coercion and exploitation. It is in part to protect prisoners from these abuses that their freedom to be living organ donors is restricted. Many in the transplant and bioethics communities support these restrictions based on moral grounds. In this manuscript, we assess these moral arguments and suggest that they may not be sufficiently compelling to justify current restrictions on living organ donation by prisoners.
Coupling sentiment and human mobility in natural disasters: a Twitter-based study of the 2014 South Napa Earthquake

Understanding population dynamics during natural disasters is important to build urban resilience in preparation for extreme events. Social media has emerged as an important source for disaster managers to identify dynamic polarity of sentiments over the course of disasters, to understand human mobility patterns, and to enhance decision making and disaster recovery efforts. Although there is a growing body of literature on sentiment and human mobility in disaster contexts, the spatiotemporal characteristics of sentiment and the relationship between sentiment and mobility over time have not been investigated in detail. This study therefore addresses this research gap and proposes a new lens to evaluate population dynamics during disasters by coupling sentiment and mobility. We collected 3.74 million geotagged tweets over 8 weeks to examine individuals’ sentiment and mobility before, during and after the M6.0 South Napa, California Earthquake in 2014. Our research results reveal that the average sentiment level decreases with the increasing intensity of the earthquake. We found that similar levels of sentiment tended to cluster in geographical space, and this spatial autocorrelation was significant over areas of different earthquake intensities. Moreover, we investigated the relationship between temporal dynamics of sentiment and mobility. We examined the trend and seasonality of the time series and found cointegration between the series. We included effects of the earthquake and built a segmented regression model to describe the time series finding that day-to-day changes in sentiment can either lead or lag daily changed mobility patterns. This study contributes a new lens to assess the dynamic process of disaster resilience unfolding over large spatial scales.
Earliest microbotanical evidence for maize in the Northern Lake Michigan Basin

There is no recorded maize (Zea mays spp. mays) from sites predating circa cal AD 800 in the northern Lake Michigan or Lake Superior basins of the western Great Lakes, despite the presence of maize microbotanicals including phytoliths and starches in Michigan, New York, and Quebec as early as 400 cal BC. To evaluate the potential for an earlier maize presence in the northern Lake Michigan basin, samples of carbonized food residues adhering to 16 ceramic vessels were obtained from the Winter site (20DE17) located on the Garden Peninsula in the northern Lake Michigan basin. Each sample was split and sent to two analysts. Both analysts identified low incidences of maize starch and phytoliths in multiple samples, with overlapping identifications on several. Three direct accelerator mass spectrometry dates on the carbonized residues reveal maize incorporated into the residues as early as the second century cal BC, 800 years before any regional macrobotanical evidence. Although the method of dispersal cannot be determined, these results support the proposition that initial northern dispersal of maize in the region may have been nearly 800 years earlier than macrobotanical evidence would suggest and is consistent with the timing of its introduction to the lower Great Lakes area.
Saturation Recovery EPR

Saturation recovery EPR measures electron spin relaxation times, T 1e Measurement techniques and applications to relaxation mechanisms, oximetry, Heisenberg exchange and spin-spin distance measurements are discussed.
Stimulation of ribonucleic acid synthesis by steroid hormones. I. Transfer ribonucleic acid.

(Received for publication, March 4, 1965) Earlier reports from this laboratory have described rapid stimulations of ribonucleic acid synthesis in the livers of adrenal- ectomised rats treated with glucocorticoids (1) and in seminal vesicles of castrates after androgen administration (2). In the liver, the effect is limited to nuclear RNA synthesis, and begins between 30 and 45 min after hormone is given. Accumulation of the induced enzyme tyrosine-ar-ketoglutarate transaminase does not begin until 60 min after treatment, and thus the results are kinetically consistent with the conclusion that increased enzyme synthesis (3) is secondary to the hormonal stimulation of RNA synthesis. In the seminal vesicle, a marked elevation in the rate of RNA synthesis can be seen as early as 20 min after testosterone administration. In both organs, RNA synthesis is increased 2- to 3-fold within 2 hours of hormone treatment. These steroid effects on RNA synthesis are thus both rapid and large, and it seems reasonably safe to assume, first, that they play a signifi- cant role in the ultimate physiological shifts that occur as a result of steroid hormone treatment, and second, that RNA syn- thesis is closely linked to the primary site of action of these hormones. In this series, we describe the results of experiments in which we have analyzed the nature of the RNA synthesized in response to hydrocortisone and testosterone. In these experiments, we have used the differential thermal extraction procedure elaborated by Georgiev, Samarina, Lerman, Smirnov, and Severtzov (4), in which extraction with phenol at various temperatures is employed to separate the different types of RNA that are labeled when tissues are exposed to isotopic RNA precursors for a limited time. Extraction of tissue prep- arat.ions with phenol at low temperature yields a fraction con- taining most of the unlabeled tissue RNA as well as the low molecular weight labeled RNA components. In this paper, we will discuss the identification of these low molecular weight components, and the effect of steroid hormone treatment on the labeling of each. The labeled RNAs extracted at low tempera- ture include transfer RNA and a poorly defined heterogeneous fraction. Labeling of transfer RNA can be traced to terminal nucleotide turnover, which is hormone-independent, and to synthesis G% novo, which is stimulated by steroid hormones. * Research supported jointly by the National Institutes of Health, and by the United States Atomic Energy Commission under contract with the Union Carbide Corporation. t Postdoctoral Fellow of the American Cancer Society. $ Public Health Service Postdoctoral Fellow of the National Cancer Institute (Grant 6F2-CA-16, 375-OlAl). Present address, McCollum-Pratt Institute, The Johns Hopkins University, Balti- more, Maryland.
OpenEM – Electromagnetic field mapping robot for microwave and RF measurements

Abstract A low-cost, fully automated, electromagnetic field probing robot is described in this paper. The platform, called OpenEM Field Robot, is capable of mapping the spatial electromagnetic fields in free space. The system supports multiple antenna configurations and is scalable to large measurement domains. 3D printed antenna holders are also incorporated in order to allow for the near field measurements with minimal scattering and interference with the measurement. The goal of the system is to design a fully integrated platform for measuring electromagnetic fields that can be used with various other RF measurement devices and is configurable and easily modified for various applications in scientific research and education.
Paternal malnutrition programs breast cancer risk and tumor metabolism in offspring.

While many studies have shown that maternal factors in pregnancy affect the cancer risk for offspring, few studies have investigated the impact of paternal exposures on their progeny’s risk of this disease. Population studies generally show a U-shaped association between birthweight and breast cancer risk, with both high and low birthweight increasing the risk compared with average birthweight. Here, we investigated whether paternal malnutrition would modulate the birthweight and later breast cancer risk of daughters. Male mice were fed AIN93G-based diets containing either 17.7% (control) or 8.9% (low-protein (LP)) energy from protein from 3 to 10 weeks of age. Males on either group were mated to females raised on a control diet. Female offspring from control and LP fathers were treated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) to initiate mammary carcinogenesis. Mature sperm from fathers and mammary tissue and tumors from female offspring were used for epigenetic and other molecular analyses. We found that paternal malnutrition reduces the birthweight of daughters and leads to epigenetic and metabolic reprogramming of their mammary tissue and tumors. Daughters of LP fathers have higher rates of mammary cancer, with tumors arising earlier and growing faster than in controls. The energy sensor, the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway, is suppressed in both mammary glands and tumors of LP daughters, with consequent activation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. Furthermore, LP mammary tumors show altered amino-acid metabolism with increased glutamine utilization. These changes are linked to alterations in noncoding RNAs regulating those pathways in mammary glands and tumors. Importantly, we detect alterations in some of the same microRNAs/target genes found in our animal model in breast tumors of women from populations where low birthweight is prevalent. Our study suggests that ancestral paternal malnutrition plays a role in programming offspring cancer risk and phenotype by likely providing a metabolic advantage to cancer cells.
Neuroevolution Based Optimization of Hybrid Transmission Shift Points

In a hybrid vehicle the speeds at which the transmission shifts between gears has a large impact on energy consumption. Dynamic Programming (DP) can be used to find the optimal transmission gear for a given torque and speed. Neuroevolution of Augmenting Topologies (NEAT) is then utilized to find the shift lines which allow the transmission to be at the most energy efficient point in an implementable way. Through this strategy, an improvement of 7% was achieved compared to the traditional approach.
The effects of parent coaching on language outcomes at 18 and 24 months: A randomized controlled trial

The prevalence of parentese in speech directed to 11- and 14-month-old infants predicts infants’ concurrent babbling as well as their future language skills at 24 months, suggesting that this speaking style may enhance learning. We recently showed that when parents are “coached” about the importance of language input to infants, and parentese, they increase the proportion of parentese and child-directed speech. This has an immediate and positive effect on child language outcomes at 14 months. In the present study, we asked whether the effects of coaching parents extend to longer-term language outcomes. Families of typically developing 6-month-old infants were assigned to Intervention (parent coaching) and Control (no coaching) groups. Parent coaching took place when infants were 6- 10-, 14- and 18-months of age, and included quantitative and qualitative linguistic feedback derived from each family’s first-person LENA recordings at home. Language outcomes were measured at 18- and 24-months of age. Parent coaching significantly enhanced the percentage of child-directed speech and parentese in parental input between 6 and 18 months in coached vs. uncoached parents. Children of parents who received coaching showed enhanced language outcomes at 18 and 24 months.
Use of Immunotherapy and Radiation Treatment in the Management of Metastatic Melanoma With Rhabdomyosarcomatous Differentiation

Abstract Introduction Melanoma with rhabdomyosarcomatous differentiation is an extremely rare disease for which limited treatment information exists. Although immunotherapy and radiation treatment (RT) have been successfully used in metastatic melanoma, they have been seldom used in the management of this rare melanoma variant. Moreover, the efficacy of RT for this disease remains unknown and the use of hypofractionated RT has not been tested. Case presentation We describe a case of a 72-year-old male who was diagnosed with malignant melanoma of the left lateral scalp and underwent wide local excision. Four months after surgery, the patient presented with a progressive, nodular rash overlying the surgical bed, which was biopsied and found to be rhabdomyosarcomatous differentiation of melanoma. He was initially treated with nivolumab, with an initial modest response, but slow subsequent local progression. He was then treated with hypofractionated RT to 30 Gy in five fractions to the involved scalp; a remarkable response was noted after only two fractions with complete resolution of the gross disease. He subsequently developed disease progression outside of the treated field with symptomatic progression in the upper neck. He was again treated with hypofractionated RT to the bilateral upper neck after which a rapid complete response was again noted. Ultimately, he continued to have disease progression outside of the irradiated areas. Conclusions Melanoma with rhabdomyosarcomatous differentiation may be responsive to radiotherapy and its use should be encouraged for this rare variant of disease. Hypofractionated RT may be considered for palliative treatment given its theoretical benefit and widespread use in treating metastatic melanoma. Immune checkpoint inhibition, alone and in combination with RT, deserves future study; there was no evidence of synergism or abscopal effect in our case.
A synthetic Pur-based peptide binds and alters G-quadruplex secondary structure present in the expanded RNA repeat of C9orf72 ALS/FTD.

Abstract Increased Pur-alpha (Pura) protein levels in animal models alleviate certain cellular symptoms of the disease spectrum amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/frontotemporal dementia (ALS/FTD). Pura is a member of the Pur family of evolutionarily conserved guanine-rich polynucleotide binding proteins containing a repeated signature PUR domain of 60–80 amino acids. Here we have employed a synthetic peptide, TZIP, similar to a Pur domain, but with sequence alterations based on a consensus of evolutionarily conserved Pur family binding domains and having an added transporter sequence. A major familial form of ALS/FTD, C9orf72 (C9), is due to a hexanucleotide repeat expansion (HRE) of (GGGGCC), a Pur binding element. We show by circular dichroism that RNA oligonucleotides containing this purine-rich sequence consist largely of parallel G-quadruplexes. TZIP peptide binds this repeat sequence in both DNA and RNA. It binds the RNA element, including the G-quadruplexes, with a high degree of specificity versus a random oligonucleotide. In addition, TZIP binds both linear and G-quadruplex repeat RNA to form higher order G-quadruplex secondary structures. This change in conformational form by Pur-based peptide represents a new mechanism for regulating G quadruplex secondary structure within the C9 repeat. TZIP modulation of C9 RNA structural configuration may alter interaction of the complex with other proteins. This Pur-based mechanism provides new targets for therapy, and it may help to explain Pura alleviation of certain cellular pathological aspects of ALS/FTD.
Sleep Duration and Quality in Relation to Fruit and Vegetable Intake of US Young Adults: a Secondary Analysis

Sleep is gaining recognition as a determinant of diet, yet this relationship remains understudied among young adults. We sought to examine how sleep duration and quality were related to fruit and vegetable (FV) intake within a diverse sample of young adults. Participants (n = 1444) ages 21–30 (69% women, 15% African American, 35% full or part time in college) consuming 30, African American race/ethnicity, less education, unemployment, higher depression, and stress were related to suboptimal sleep. Bivariate analyses showed that better sleep was associated with higher FV intake. After accounting for confounders, men with better sleep quality and shorter time to fall asleep had higher intakes of FV (1.12 serving/day difference in highest versus lowest quality [95% CI 0.48, 1.75] and a 0.52 serving/day higher intake difference for shortest versus longest fall asleep time [95% CI 0.90, 0.15], respectively). Sleep was highly prevalent in a diverse sample of community-based young adults and may contribute to lower FV intake among men. These associations highlight young adulthood as an important period for promoting healthy sleep habits.
Paragenesis of silicified mid-Paleozoic and mid-Cenozoic corals based on petrography and silicon isotopic analyses

Abstract Petrographic analyses of silicified coral fossils from the Upper Ordovician Cutter Formation and Silurian Fusselman Formation of New Mexico, and the Paleogene-Lower Neogene Tampa Member and Suwannee Limestone of Florida show that septal voids of these coral fossils are filled with megaquartz and septal walls are replaced by chalcedonic microspherulites and microquartz. The boundaries of the microquartz and spherulites of the septal walls conform to accommodation space left by the megaquartz that filled the septal voids. These textures suggest that megaquartz filled the septal voids prior to silicification of the septal walls. The measured δ30Si compositions of silica defining the septal walls and silica that fills the septal voids range from −5.23‰ to +1.03‰. The void-filling silica has isotopically light Si and the septal wall replacement Si is isotopically heavier. The silicon isotopic data are consistent with distillation of a finite silica reservoir which favors incorporation of lighter silicon isotopes in earlier-formed silica by Rayleigh fractionation. Distillation of light isotopes during progressive silica precipitation is also documented in vug-filling silica. Thus, silica replacement textures and silica isotopic compositions of samples from different geologic ages and locations, regardless of crystal sizes or degree of cementation of the primary porosity in the corals, support early void-filling silica precipitation followed by septal wall silica precipitation in essentially closed system environments.
Impact of Tax Simplification on Tax Efficiency

Tax simplification always has been on the agenda of policymakers to increase the efficiency of tax systems. Less complex taxes can contribute to higher tax revenues with minimum negative distortions to economies. Therefore, the link between tax simplification and tax efficiency is even more relevant now for policymakers in the era of high government budget deficits. The aim of this paper is to explain the empirical study of this important link in a panel setting, which is considerably limited in the literature. The findings of the paper place numerical values on the impact of tax simplification on the effectiveness of tax collection systems. Tax efficiency is measured by tax efforts which are introduced through two alternative measures: a traditional regression approach and a stochastic frontier analysis. Tax simplification is measured by Time to Comply and Number of Payments from the “Doing Business Database”. The paper investigates both direct and indirect links between tax simplification and efforts. The indirect link, introducing a kind of transmission mechanism, works through changing values of tax corruption associated with adjustments in tax complexity. The tax corruption indicator is generated from the Enterprise Surveys Database. The panel dataset includes 104 developed and developing countries and covers the years from 2002 to 2016.
40 Gbit/s waveguide photodiode using III–V on silicon heteroepitaxy

Low-dark-current waveguide modified uni-traveling carrier photodiodes (PDs) are demonstrated by direct heteroepitaxy of InGaAs/InAlGaAs on silicon templates. The PDs have a dark current of 0.1 µA at −3V bias and an internal (external) responsivity of 0.78 A/W (0.27 A/W). The 3 dB bandwidth is 28 GHz, and open eye diagrams are detected at 40 Gbit/s.
Molecular Docking Study of Some Nucleoside Analogs against Main Protease of SARS-CoV-2

Objectives: The global pandemic outburst of SARS-CoV-2 in December 2019 infected a large number of people and hasclaimed a significant number of lives Given the lack of proper therapeutic agents or vaccinefor this pandemic disease, the world is faced with a huge challenge of curingthe infected patients Therefore, the development of potential therapeutic agents against COVID-19 is a dire need of the situation Methods: Herein, we utilized molecular docking to explore the inhibitory potential of nine nucleoside analogs, includingTelbivudine, Entecavir, Clevudine, Zalcitabine, Taribavirin, Stavudine, Lamivudine, Cordycepin, and cordycepin triphosphate, against the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 Results: The binding energy (Delta G) ofthenine nucleoside analogs against the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 were -6 5 Kcal/mole (Telbivudine), -6 8 Kcal/mole (Entecavir), -6 8 Kcal/mole (Clevudine), -5 8 Kcal/mole (Zalcitabine),-6 1 Kcal/ mole ( Taribavirin), -6 5 Kcal/mole (Stavudine), -5 7 Kcal/mole (lamivudine),-6 5 Kcal/mole(Cordycepin), and -6 9 Kcal/ mole (Cordycepin triphosphaye) Conclusion: Although the molecular docking results are promising, further in vitro and in vivo studies are required to understand the mechanism of binding of thesenucleoside analogs to the COVID-19 Protein
Implementing Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) with Dowel Bars in Longitudinal Joints (Shear Key) in an Adjacent Box Beam Bridge

Adjacent precast prestressed box beam bridges are widely used in the United States for medium and short spans due to ease of construction, economics, and low profile. However, the longitudinal connections between adjacent box beams (shear keys) tend to crack. The cracking allows leakage of water carrying corrosive road salts between the joints, which can accelerate corrosion of the beams’ reinforcement. Cracking of the joints may also reduce load transfer between beams. Different grouted materials and shear key configurations combined with transverse post-tensioning with or without a composite deck have been employed to reduce cracking. However, some adjacent box beam bridges still exhibit longitudinal cracks in the shear keys. In this research, a new partial depth shear key configuration grouted with ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) and equally spaced dowel bars were used for the longitudinal connections. No transverse tie bars or intermediate diaphragms were utilized. This first adjacent box beam bridge in the USA containing UHPC shear keys and transverse dowel bars was constructed in the summer of 2014 in Fayette County, Ohio. The bridge was instrumented and monitored. This paper presents the static truck load testing results of the shear keys and the dowel bars. Finite element modeling was also created and calibrated with the field data. The UHPC connection with dowel bars performed satisfactory in load transfer with no cracking in longitudinal connection to date.
Between the Nation and the Empire: The Transmission of Texts and Ideas about Temperance in the USA and Russia in the early 20th century

The 19th century witnessed the rise of various reformist movements at both international and local levels, such as clean-living crusades, public health campaigns, and temperance activism. Anti-alcohol activism flourished in different countries and regions and resulted in a wave of legal restrictions on the sale, production, and use of alcoholic beverages, or as a political thinker Mark Schrad called it, ‘the global prohibition drama.’ The most significant temperance movements were those in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Nordic countries. Nevertheless, Russia, which is traditionally represented as an “alcoholic empire” is absent from the map of ‘temperance cultures’. This article seeks to bridge the distance between the metropolis of the anti-alcohol world - the United States, - and its imagined periphery. It will be shown how the ideas and practices of sobriety traveled across the Atlantic and found their implementation in late imperial Russia. To trace this international exchange of ideas, I will focus on the conference presentation made by the American temperance activist Cora Frances Stoddard at the 12th Anti-alcohol Congress in 1909 and its Russian translation of 1914. The proposed research will address the “glocalization” of temperance on several levels. A comparative consideration of the report and its translation will contribute to the understanding of the national contexts in which American and Russian temperance movements were developing. Of particular interest to me is the invention of sobriety as an international social movement and political practice in the modern era, as well as the circulation and transfer of ideas from one continent to another. From a larger perspective, this work aims at placing Prohibition into the global context and understanding the causes and outcomes of the worldwide policy in the first quarter of the 20th century.
The Good Life Versus the “Goods Life”: An Investigation of Goal Contents Theory and Employee Subjective Well-Being Across Asian Countries

Asian economies have experienced extraordinary growth in recent decades, and yet individual employee happiness and satisfaction has remained relatively stagnant. This can be explained in part by a related shift toward materialist goal aspirations. Goal Contents Theory (GCT) suggests that not all goals are created equal: intrinsic goal orientations are more strongly related to subjective well-being, for example. Using one of the most comprehensive surveys of Asia ever conducted, the current study examines the central tenets of GCT in several ways. Results show intrinsic (i.e., health, safety and security, affiliation, community feeling, self-acceptance and growth) relative to extrinsic goal orientation (i.e., money and materialism) is more strongly related to higher levels of satisfaction with one’s income, job, life, and accomplishments. Additionally, results of linear and nonlinear modeling display the diminishing marginal utility of income (the most widely utilized extrinsic incentive) on satisfaction. This curvilinear effect is exacerbated by extrinsic orientation. Finally, Multilevel Item Response Theory (MIRT) analysis confirmed a hierarchical ordering of intrinsic need strength and displayed the positive effect of national human development (i.e., Human Development Index) on individual intrinsic goal orientation. Results demonstrate the importance of organizational and national policies that emphasize human as well as economic development.
Generation of Feasible Test Sequences for EFSM Models

A method that enables the generation of realizable test sequences from a class of EFSMs is presented. If the interdependencies among the variables used in the actions and the conditions of EFSMs are not considered during test generation, the test sequences may be unrealizable in a test laboratory. Algorithms for the detection and elimination of inconsistencies from the EFSM models are presented. Once inconsistencies are eliminated, realizable test sequences can be generated from the resulting consistent EFSM by using the methods available for FSM models.
Block-oriented continuous-time modelling for nonlinear systems under sinusoidal inputs

Discrete-time modelling (DTM) dominates the systems engineering literature in the applications of block-oriented modelling. The discrete environment of computer-based process control systems and discrete sampling are two major reasons [1]. Also, a DTM is easier to obtain because all input changes are approximated by piecewise step input sequences. Nonetheless, DTM has (potentially) two critical drawbacks relative to continuous-time modelling (CTM). DTM requires constant and frequent sampling and can only predict at those points. DTM is not potentially as accurate as CTM because, at best, it can only approximate continuous-time processes. For Hammerstein and Wiener CTM, this article proposes compact CTM algorithms under sinusoidal input sequences for Hammerstein and Wiener modelling. The proposed method depends only on the most previous input changes and provides exact solutions that are applicable to multiple-input, multiple-output systems as demonstrated.
Automating cut-off for multi-parameterized systems

Verifying that a parameterized system satisfies certain desired properties amounts to verifying an infinite family of the system instances. This problem is undecidable in general, and as such a number of sound and incomplete techniques have been proposed to address it. Existing techniques typically focus on parameterized systems with a single parameter, (i.e., on systems where the number of processes of exactly one type is dependent on the parameter); however, many systems in practice are multi-parameterized, where multiple parameters are used to specify the number of different types of processes in the system. In this work, we present an automatic verification technique for multiparameterized systems, prove its soundness and show that it can be applied to systems irrespective of their communication topology. We present a prototype realization of our technique in our tool Golok, and demonstrate its practical applicability using a number of multi-parameterized systems.
Public Savings from the Prevention of Unintended Pregnancy: A Cost Analysis of Family Planning Services in California

Objective To assess the short-term economic savings associated with the prevention of unintended pregnancies through California's Medicaid family planning demonstration project.
The Adaptive Object-Model Architectural Style

We have noticed a common architecture in many systems that emphasize flexibility and mn-time configuration. In these systems, business rules are stored externally to the program such as in a database or XML files. The object model that the user cares about is part of the database, and the object model of the code is just an interpreter of the users’ object model. We call these systems “Adaptive Object-Models”, because the users’ object model is interpreted at runtime and can be changed with immediate (but controlled) effects on the system interpreting it. The real power in Adaptive Object-Models is that the definition of a domain model and rules for its integrity can be configured by domain experts external to the execution of the program. These systems are important when flexibility and dynamic runtime configuration is needed, but their architectures have yet to be described in detail. This paper describes the Adaptive Object-Model architecture style along with its strengths and weaknesses. It illustrates the Adaptive Object-Model architectural style by outlining examples of production systems.