cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Targeted disruption of 5-lipoxygenase

The means to specifically and totally abolish the product of a defined mammalian gene achieved notoriety in the late 1980s [1, 2]. This process known as targeted gene inactivation, or in the common vernacular, gene knockout, has vaulted into the forefront of biology during the 1990s as the prime means to assess specific gene function [3, 4]. The technique involves cloning the murine gene of interest (or portion thereof), preparing a gene-targeting vector that involves insertion of a positive selectable marker into one of the exons or at a site that would disrupt the proper transcription and translation, and introducing the vector into mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. These totipotent cells (able to differentiate into all possible cell types), in the appropriate selection medium (usually G418), are subjected to a screening analysis to isolate clones that have undergone homologous recombination. The properly targeted ES cells are injected into 3.5-day-old mouse blastocysts which are transplanted into pseudopregnant recipient mice and result in the birth of chimeric offspring. Further breeding enables the targeted gene disruption to be passed through the germline, and mice with one or both copies of the gene are generated. The whole process takes anywhere from 8 months to 2 years.
CPAP Treats Enuresis in Adults With Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Enuresis, or “bedwetting,” in children is associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and often resolves with treatment of OSA. However, it is poorly understood whether a similar relationship ex...
Pedagogical knowledge for active-learning instruction in large undergraduate biology courses: a large-scale qualitative investigation of instructor thinking

Though active-learning instruction has the potential to positively impact the preparation and diversity of STEM graduates, not all instructors are able to achieve this potential. One important factor is the teacher knowledge that instructors possess, including their pedagogical knowledge. Pedagogical knowledge is the knowledge about teaching and learning that is not topic-specific, such as knowledge of learning theory, classroom management, and student motivation. We investigated the pedagogical knowledge that 77 instructors who report implementing active-learning instruction used as they analyzed video clips of lessons in large active-learning biology courses. We used qualitative content analysis, and drew on cognitive and sociocultural perspectives of learning, to identify and characterize the pedagogical knowledge instructors employed. We used the collective thinking of these instructors to generate a framework of pedagogical knowledge for active-learning instruction in large undergraduate biology courses. We identified seven distinct components of pedagogical knowledge, as well as connections among these components. At the core of their thinking, participants evaluated whether instruction provided opportunities for students to generate ideas beyond what was presented to them and to engage in scientific practices. They also commonly considered student motivation to engage in this work and how instruction maximized equity among students. Participants noticed whether instructors monitored and responded to student thinking in real-time, how instruction prompted metacognition, and how links were built between learning tasks. Participants also thought carefully about managing the logistics of active-learning lessons. Instructors who report using active-learning instruction displayed knowledge of principles of how people learn, practical knowledge of teaching strategies and behaviors, and knowledge related to classroom management. Their deep knowledge of pedagogy suggests that active-learning instruction requires much more than content knowledge built through training in the discipline, yet many college STEM instructors have little or no training in teaching. Further research should test this framework of pedagogical knowledge in different instruction contexts, including different STEM disciplines. Additional research is needed to understand what teacher knowledge is critical to effective active-learning instruction and how the development of this knowledge is best facilitated. Achieving widespread improvement in undergraduate STEM education will likely require transforming our approach to preparing and supporting undergraduate instructors.
Metabolic factors affecting brain cyclic nucleotides.

Initial investigations of cyclic nucleotides indi cated that they act as second messengers mediating hormonal stimulation (ROBISON et al., 1971). More recently it was recognized that in the central nervous system cyclic nucleotides might play a more general role as modulators of nerve transmission (IVERSEN et al., 1975; MCILWAIN, 1976). Thus changes of cyclic nucleotide levels might significantly affect the function of specific brain structures. In this paper we would like to demonstrate that some drugs affect cyclic nucleotide levels not by changes of neurotransmitter release but by their effects on brain metabolism.
Rapid, Remote Assessment of Hurricane Matthew Impacts Using Four-Dimensional Structure-from-Motion Photogrammetry

ABSTRACT Sherwood, C.R.; Warrick, J.A.; Hill, A.D.; Ritchie, A.C.; Andrews, B.D., and Plant, N.G., 2018. Rapid, remote assessment of Hurricane Matthew impacts using four-dimensional structure-from-motion photogrammetry. Timely assessment of coastal landforms and structures after storms is important for evaluating storm impacts, aiding emergency response and restoration, and initializing and assessing morphological models. Four-dimensional multiview photogrammetry, also known as structure from motion (4D SfM), provides a method for generating three-dimensional reconstructions of landscapes at two times (before and after events) using only photos and existing information for ground control points. Here, these techniques were applied using National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-obtained oblique aerial photos taken before (2015) and immediately after Hurricane Matthew (2016) to assess coastal changes near Matanzas, Florida. This work demonstrated that 3D digital elevation models can be constru...
Abstract 3613: Mesenchymal Stem Cells Co-overexpressing Akt and Ang-1 Enhance Angiogenesis via Synergistic Expression of HIF-1{alpha} Dependent Angiogenic Factors

Background: We have previously shown that transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) co-overexpressing Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and Akt prevented cell apoptosis, enhanced angiogenesis and improved heart function. The current study elucidated the underlying mechanism. Methods and Results: MSCs were adenovirally transduced with genes encoding for green fluorescent protein (group-1) as control, Akt (group-2), Ang-1 (group-3) and both Akt and Ang-1 (group-4). After 48 hours of transduction, the cell lysate and conditioned medium from each group was collected. Simultaneous transduction of Akt and Ang-1 in group-4 synergistically enhanced transgenes overexpression besides showing significantly higher expression of HIF-1 α , HO-1 and VEGFR2 as compared with group-2 and 3. Western blot showed that HIF-1 α specific RNA interference markedly reduced HO-1 and VEGFR2 protein expression in group-4. Paracrine release of VEGF (pg/ml) in conditioned medium (CM) from group-4 MSCs was the highest as determined by ELISA and abolished after HIF-1 α silencing by siRNA. Highest expression of VEGFR2 in group-4 MSCs was also confirmed by fluorescent immunostaining and flow cytometry. Four hours of VEGF treatment induced higher tube formation in group-4 as compared to group-1 MSCs. In transwell migration assays, VEGF exerted a stronger chemoattractant effect on group-4 as compared with group-1 MSCs. Group-4 MSCs showed higher expression of VEGFR2 after transplantation into a rat myocardial infarction model. Transplantation of group-4 MSCs also promoted the mobilization of VEGFR2 positive cells into the cell transplanted region. Conclusion: Co-overexpression of Ang-1 and Akt synergizes release of HIF-1 α dependent angiogenic mediators and promotes endothelial differentiation as well as recruitment of endothelial progenitor cells into the cell transplanted area to enhance angiogenesis.
Iron deficiency in adolescent girls. Are athletes at increased risk

Previous studies have indicated a high prevalence of nonanemic iron deficiency in female high school aged endurance athletes. It is not clear, however, whether these adolescents are at more risk for iron depletion than their nonathletic peers. We have previously reported declining serum ferritin levels in response to running but not swimming training in competitive adolescents. In this study we compared these findings with serum ferritin levels and hematologic parameters in a group of nonathletic females from the same community. Mean serum ferritin levels were not significantly different among the groups. A greater percentage of the swimmers and runners had ferritin levels less than 12 ng/ml at the beginning of the season (46.7 and 40%, respectively, compared to 26.7% in the nonathletes), but the differences were not statistically significant. These findings suggest that the high prevalence of hypoferritinemia at the beginning of a competitive season in female high school athletes is similar to that of nonathletes. Other studies have indicated, however, that some sports, particularly running, increase the incidence of iron depletion with training.
An assessment of alternative delivery doctoral programs in the foodservice and lodging management and family and consumer sciences education at Iowa State University

Societal demands of the 21 century have demonstrated the need for alternative delivery doctoral programs. Decreasing graduate student enrollments, need for additional qualified faculty, demand for academic program accessibility, and the need for colleges and universities to develop additional sources of revenue are concerns of administrators in higher education institutions. The purpose of this study was to describe the emergence, development, and implementation, and evaluate the alternative delivery doctoral programs in the Child Nutrition Program (CNP) and Family and Consumer Sciences Education (FCSEd) Leadership Academies at Iowa State University (ISU). In addition, this study determined the effectiveness of the alternative delivery format in doctoral education. Electronic questionnaires were sent to 43 CNP or FCSEd Leadership Academy graduate students/graduates (student), and 26 FLM or FCSEd faculty members/visiting professors (faculty). An ecosystem model, two-phase assessment technique was used to assess operational characteristics, and student and faculty perceptions’ of alternative delivery programs in the Department of Apparel, Educational Studies, and Hospitality Management (AESHM) at ISU. Quantitative and qualitative procedures were used in data analysis. The desire of working professionals to earn a doctoral degree while maintaining their current full-time positions was studied. Overall, student and faculty respondents found the alternative delivery doctoral programs at ISU as successful and an accessible alternative to traditional on-campus doctoral education programs. Results showed that alternative delivery doctoral programs are viable solutions to meet needs of diverse student populations.
Youth Justice in Europe: Experience of Germany, the Netherlands, and Croatia in Providing Developmentally Appropriate Responses to Emerging Adults in the Criminal Justice System

There is a growing awareness, in the United States and Europe, that emerging adults – those ages 18–25 – are a developmentally distinct group worth special treatment at the hands of the justice sys...
A methodological comparison of risk scores versus decision trees for predicting drug-resistant infections: A case study using extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) bacteremia.

Background:Timely identification of multidrug-resistant gram-negative infections remains an epidemiological challenge. Statistical models for predicting drug resistance can offer utility where rapid diagnostics are unavailable or resource-impractical. Logistic regression–derived risk scores are common in the healthcare epidemiology literature. Machine learning–derived decision trees are an alternative approach for developing decision support tools. Our group previously reported on a decision tree for predicting ESBL bloodstream infections. Our objective in the current study was to develop a risk score from the same ESBL dataset to compare these 2 methods and to offer general guiding principles for using each approach.Methods:Using a dataset of 1,288 patients with Escherichia coli or Klebsiella spp bacteremia, we generated a risk score to predict the likelihood that a bacteremic patient was infected with an ESBL-producer. We evaluated discrimination (original and cross-validated models) using receiver operating characteristic curves and C statistics. We compared risk score and decision tree performance, and we reviewed their practical and methodological attributes.Results:In total, 194 patients (15%) were infected with ESBL-producing bacteremia. The clinical risk score included 14 variables, compared to the 5 decision-tree variables. The positive and negative predictive values of the risk score and decision tree were similar (>90%), but the C statistic of the risk score (0.87) was 10% higher.Conclusions:A decision tree and risk score performed similarly for predicting ESBL infection. The decision tree was more user-friendly, with fewer variables for the end user, whereas the risk score offered higher discrimination and greater flexibility for adjusting sensitivity and specificity.
A Supervised Approach to Robust Photoplethysmography Quality Assessment

Early detection of Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) is crucial to prevent stroke recurrence. New tools for monitoring cardiac rhythm are important for risk stratification and stroke prevention. As many of new approaches to long-term AFib detection are now based on photoplethysmogram (PPG) recordings from wearable devices, ensuring high PPG signal-to-noise ratios is a fundamental requirement for a robust detection of AFib episodes. Traditionally, signal quality assessment is often based on the evaluation of similarity between pulses to derive signal quality indices. There are limitations to using this approach for accurate assessment of PPG quality in the presence of arrhythmia, as in the case of AFib, mainly due to substantial changes in pulse morphology. In this paper, we first tested the performance of algorithms selected from a body of studies on PPG quality assessment using a dataset of PPG recordings from patients with AFib. We then propose machine learning approaches for PPG quality assessment in 30-s segments of PPG recording from 13 stroke patients admitted to the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) neuro intensive care unit and another dataset of 3764 patients from one of the five UCSF general intensive care units. We used data acquired from two systems, fingertip PPG (fPPG) from a bedside monitor system, and radial PPG (rPPG) measured using a wearable commercial wristband. We compared various supervised machine learning techniques including k-nearest neighbors, decisions trees, and a two-class support vector machine (SVM). SVM provided the best performance. fPPG signals were used to build the model and achieved 0.9477 accuracy when tested on the data from the fPPG exclusive to the test set, and 0.9589 accuracy when tested on the rPPG data.
Interactions Between Genital Microbiota and Viral Sexually Transmitted Infections: Transmission, Prevention, and Treatment

Recent technological developments have vastly improved our ability to study the host microbiome and its role in many disease states. Numerous other reviews have contributed to our understanding of single viruses and gut microbiota or immunological outcomes. Here, we report, in aggregate, the newest data on genital microbiota interactions with the three most common viral STIs. Four themes emerge: (1) the repeatability of specific community state types corresponding with infection risk, (2) a role for the microbiota as both therapeutic target and major player in treatment efficacy, (3) a need for models in which to study the mechanisms at play in microbiota/virus interactions, and (4) the impact of microbiota populating external genitalia on viral transmission. The studies reviewed herein suggest a convoluted interplay between host microbiota and viral STIs. More mechanistic studies are needed in order to leverage these interactions to improve prevention and treatment strategies.
Exu is not Satan – the dialogics of memory and resistance among Afro-Brazilians

ABSTRACTIn 2000s Brazil, an unprecedented number of Brazilian afrodescendentes (Afro-Descendants) have been mobilizing to secure rights and resources for the Brazilian black population. From carniv...
Implementation of an Immediate HIV Treatment Initiation Program in a Public/Academic Medical Center in the U.S. South: The Miami Test and Treat Rapid Response Program.

Test and Rapid Response Treatment (TRRT) linkage programs have demonstrated improved HIV suppression rates. This paper describes the design and implementation of the Miami TRRT initiative and its clinical impact. Assisted by a dedicated care navigator, patients receiving a reactive HIV rapid test at the Florida Department of Health STD Clinic were offered same-day HIV care at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center Adult HIV Outpatient Clinic. Patient retention and labs were tracked for 12 months. Of the 2337 individuals tested, 46 had a reactive HIV test; 41 (89%) consented to participate. For the 36 patients in continued care for a year, 33 (91.7%) achieved virological suppression (< 200 copies/mL) within 70 days of their reactive HIV rapid test; at 12 months, 35 (97.2%) remained suppressed, and mean CD4 T cell counts increased from 452 ± 266 to 597 ± 322 cells/mm3. The Miami TRRT initiative demonstrated that immediate linkage to care is feasible and improves retention and suppression in a public/academic medical center in the U.S. South.
Experimental Analysis and Comparison of Industrial IoT Devices based on TSCH

Industrial Internet of Things demands high reliability and determinism on the one side, and easy interconnection with the existing network infrastructures on the other. A very promising class of solutions combines IEEE 802.15.4 Time Slotted Channel Hopping, to meet above communication requirements, and IPv6, to provide universal connectivity. Products compliant to this approach have recently begun to appear off-the-shelf.In this paper, two such solutions have been taken into account, namely SmartMesh IP and 6TiSCH. Their performance has been experimentally evaluated by taking into account metrics relevant to industrial applications. Since we aimed at providing a practical feedback to designers of industrial systems, devices were tested using their default configuration. Results provide valuable experimental figures on what engineers can expect from these technologies, which includes seamless connectivity and a reasonably high resilience to interfering traffic.
Impact of DNA sequences in the DNA duplex opening by the Rad4/XPC nucleotide excision repair complex

Rad4/XPC is a key DNA damage sensor for nucleotide excision repair (NER) in eukaryotes. Rad4/XPC recognizes diverse bulky lesions by flipping out two lesion-containing nucleotide pairs and inserting a {beta}-hairpin from the BHD3 domain ({beta}-hairpin3) into the DNA duplex. We have previously observed that Rad4 can form the same open structure when covalently tethered to a normal DNA sequence containing consecutive C/Gs (CCC/GGG) and that a similar open-like structure can be formed even when the {beta}-hairpin3 is lacking. Here, we report a crystal structure of the {Delta}{beta}-hairpin3 mutant tethered to a sequence containing alternating C/Gs (CGC/GCG). In contrast to the previous structures, Rad4 bound to CGC/GCG in a 180{degrees}-reversed manner, capping the end of the duplex without flipping out the nucleotides. MD simulations showed that CGC/GCG was inherently less openable than CCC/GGG and that Rad4 failed to engage with its minor groove, a hallmark of productive binding towards opening. These results reveal that DNA sequences significantly influence the thermodynamic barrier for DNA opening by Rad4, which may render certain DNA structures/sequences resistant to opening despite a long residence time of Rad4. The reverse- mode may indicate unproductive binding for NER whereas the DNA end-binding may hint at Rad4/XPCs functions beyond NER.
Accelerated Simulations of Chemical Reaction Systems using the Stochastic Simulation Algorithm on GPUs

Stochasticity due to fluctuations in chemical reactions can play important roles in cellular network-driven processes. Although the Stochastic Simulation Algorithm (SSA, aka Gillespie Algorithm) has long been accepted as a suitable method to solve the time-dependent chemical master equation, its computational cost is prohibitive for large scale complex networks such as those found in cellular processes. Here we present GPU-SSA, an implementation of the SSA formalism utilizing Graphics Processing Units for use in Python using the PySB modeling framework. We show that the GPU implementation of SSA can achieve significant speedup compared to parallel CPU or single-core CPU implementations. We further include supplementary didactic material to demonstrate how to incorporate GPU-SSA workflows for interested readers.
Keeping in School Shape (KiSS): A Program for Rehearsing Math Skills Over Breaks from School

If you don’t use it, you lose it. School breaks, during which students do not regularly participate in instruction, can therefore have negative consequences on learning. This is especially true for mathematics learning since skills build progressively on earlier materials. How can we bridge these gaps in formal instruction? The Keeping in School Shape (KiSS) program is a mobile, engaging, innovative, and cost-effective way of using technology to help students who have time off between related math courses stay fresh on prerequisite knowledge and skills. Founded on learning theory and designed on a model of behavioral change, the KiSS program embodies retrieval practice and nudges by sending students a daily multiple-choice review problem via text messaging over school break. After rating their confidence in solving the daily problem students receive feedback and a solution. This study explores measures of participation, accuracy, and confidence in an implementation of the KiSS program over winter break between two sequential introductory engineering courses at a large state university in the Southwest United States. Results indicate that careful attention should be paid to the construction of the first few days of the program, and that encouragement, additional resources for review and practice, and an increased breadth of problem difficulty may improve participation.
Evaluation of the EUROIMMUN Anti-SARS-CoV-2 ELISA Assay for detection of IgA and IgG antibodies

Abstract As the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic evolves, the development of immunoassays to help determine exposure and potentially predict immunity has become a pressing priority. In this report we present the performance of the EUROIMMUN enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for semi-quantitative detection of IgA and IgG antibodies in serum and plasma samples using recombinant S1 domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein as antigen. Specimens from patients, with and without COVID-19 infection, were tested at the University of Chicago Clinical Microbiology and Immunology Laboratory. Of 57 samples from COVID-19 PCR-negative patients, including 28 samples positive for common human coronavirus strains, 53 tested negative and 4 tested positive for IgA (93.0% agreement) while 56 tested negative and 1 tested positive for IgG (98.2% agreement). For COVID-19 PCR-positive patients, 29 of 30 (96.7%) samples collected ≥3 days after positive PCR were positive for IgA, and 28 of 28 samples collected ≥4 days after positive PCR were positive for IgG. The EUROIMMUN Anti-SARS-CoV-2 ELISA Assay demonstrates excellent sensitivity for detection of IgA and IgG antibodies from samples collected ≥3 days and ≥4 days, respectively, after COVID-19 diagnosis by PCR. This assay did not demonstrate cross reaction in any of the 28 samples from patients with common human coronaviruses, including types HKU1, NL63, CV229E, and OC43.
Pandemic Politics: Political Worldviews and COVID-19 Beliefs and Practices in an Unsettled Time

How do individuals form new health beliefs and act in the context of unprecedented uncertainty? Drawing on a unique data set of registered California voters collected a month into stay-at-home orde...
Machine learned metaheuristic optimization of the bulk heterojunction morphology in P3HT:PCBM thin films

Abstract We discuss results from a machine learned (ML) metaheuristic cuckoo search (CS) optimization technique that is coupled with coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CGMD) simulations to solve a materials and processing design problem for organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices. The method is employed to optimize the composition of donor and acceptor materials, and the thermal annealing temperature during the morphological evolution of a polymer blend active layer composed of poly-(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), for an increased power conversion efficiency (PCE). The optimal solutions, which are in qualitative agreement with earlier experiments, identify correlation between the design variables that contributes to an enhanced material performance. The framework is extended to multi-objective design (MOCS-CGMD) to attain a Pareto optimality for the blend morphology, and enhance concurrently the exciton diffusion to charge transport probability and the ultimate tensile strength of the material. The predictions reveal that a higher annealing temperature enhances the exciton diffusion to charge transport probability, while a PCBM weight fraction between 0.4 and 0.6 increases the tensile strength of the underlying blend morphology.
Joints, ears, and navels!

Infectious diseases of the joints, ears, and umbilicus are common diseases of the calf. Many different infectious agents can play a role in disease at these different anatomic sites. Combinations of these diseases often present in the same population of calves, and the problem can often be traced back to inappropriate colostrum management practices. This review provides an overview of septic arthritis, otitis, and navel ill in calves as well as a brief discussion on colostrum management practices.
Association Between Receipt of Unemployment Insurance and Food Insecurity Among People Who Lost Employment During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States.

Importance More than 50 million US residents have lost work during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and food insecurity has increased. Objective To evaluate the association between receipt of unemployment insurance, including a $600/wk federal supplement between April and July, and food insecurity among people who lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study used difference-in-differences analysis of longitudinal data from a nationally representative sample of US adults residing in low- and middle-income households (ie, Exposure Receipt of unemployment insurance benefits. Main Outcomes and Measures Food insecurity and eating less due to financial constraints, assessed every 2 weeks by self-report. Results Of 2319 adults living in households earning less than $75 000 annually and employed in February 2020, 1119 (48.3%) experienced unemployment during the COVID-19 pandemic and made up our main sample (588 [53.6%] White individuals; mean [SD] age 45 [15] years; 732 [65.4%] women). Of those who lost employment, 415 (37.1%) reported food insecurity and 437 (39.1%) reported eating less due to financial constraints in 1 or more waves of the study. Among people who lost work, receipt of unemployment insurance was associated with a 4.3 (95% CI, 1.8-6.9) percentage point decrease in food insecurity (a 35.0% relative reduction) and a 5.7 (95% CI, 3.0-8.4) percentage point decrease in eating less due to financial constraints (a 47.8% relative reduction). Decreases in food insecurity were larger with the $600/wk supplement and for individuals who were receiving larger amounts of unemployment insurance. Conclusions and Relevance In this US national cohort study, receiving unemployment insurance was associated with large reductions in food insecurity among people who lost employment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The $600/wk federal supplement and larger amounts of unemployment insurance were associated with larger reductions in food insecurity.
Analysis on Electric Vehicles Solving Carbon Emission Problem

The purpose of this paper is to give a general idea about the future of electric vehicles (EV) and their effects on carbon emission. More specifically, an analysis of the complete transition to EVs by 2050 and whether renewable energy would be enough to supply their electricity demand. Some difficulties are facing such a transition and its background. To support the analysis, an estimation of the supply and demand of electricity in the United States is made using assumptions and data provided by (mostly) government agencies. The estimation uses existing data to predict the amount of renewable power available for EVs in 2050 and the amount of power that EVs will require. These predictions have pointed out that power generated by renewable means (by 2050) available for EVs and the EVs’ power needs are both around 1 trillion kWh. Further discussions about energy storage and transportation conclude that the power generated by renewable energy may not be able to cover all the energy needs of EVs but a significant amount. The complete transition to EV in the future will largely be supported by clean and renewable energy, so the transition is warranted as it will greatly reduce carbon emissions, pollution, and even global warming.
VGLUT2 is a determinant of dopamine neuron resilience in a rotenone model of dopamine neurodegeneration

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by progressive dopamine (DA) neuron loss in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). In contrast, DA neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) are relatively protected from neurodegeneration, but the underlying mechanisms for this resilience remain poorly understood. Recent work suggests that expression of the vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGLUT2) selectively impacts midbrain DA neuron vulnerability. We investigated whether altered DA neuron VGLUT2 expression determines neuronal resilience in rats exposed to rotenone, a mitochondrial complex I inhibitor and toxicant model of PD. We discovered that VTA/SNc DA neurons that expressed VGLUT2 are more resilient to rotenone-induced DA neurodegeneration. Surprisingly, the density of neurons with detectable VGLUT2 expression in the VTA and SNc increases in response to rotenone. Furthermore, dopaminergic terminals within the nucleus accumbens, where the majority of VGLUT2-expressing DA neurons project, exhibit greater resilience compared to DA terminals in the caudate/putamen. More broadly, VGLUT2-expressing terminals are protected throughout the striatum from rotenone-induced degeneration. Together, our data demonstrate that a distinct subpopulation of VGLUT2-expressing DA neurons are relatively protected from rotenone neurotoxicity. Rotenone-induced upregulation of the glutamatergic machinery in VTA and SNc neurons and their projections may be part of a broader neuroprotective mechanism. These findings offer a putative new target for neuronal resilience that can be manipulated to prevent toxicant-induced DA neurodegeneration in PD. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Environmental exposures to pesticides contribute significantly to pathological processes that culminate in Parkinson’s disease (PD). The pesticide rotenone has been used to generate a PD model that replicates key features of the illness including dopamine neurodegeneration. To date, longstanding questions remain: are there dopamine neuron subpopulations resilient to rotenone, and if so, what are the molecular determinants of this resilience? Here we show that the subpopulation of midbrain dopaminergic neurons that express the vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGLUT2) are more resilient to rotenone-induced neurodegeneration. Rotenone also upregulates VGLUT2 more broadly in the midbrain, suggesting VGLUT2 expression generally confers increased resilience to rotenone. VGLUT2 may therefore be a new target for boosting neuronal resilience to prevent toxicant-induced DA neurodegeneration in PD.
OPEC and the Shale Boom

I examine evidence for a recent acceleration in the impact of technological change in the extraction of oil and natural gas on OPEC, associated with hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling. I estimate world demand for and non OPEC supply of crude oil simultaneously, representing technological progress using deterministic trends. The data span 45 years of history, but Zivot Andrews tests identify breaks in trend entirely within the last eight years. Drilling for tight oil causes a break in non-OPEC supply in 2011:III. Shale gas production partly explains a deceleration in demand for crude oil in 2014:IV. Both breaks have a substantial effect on price elasticity of net demand to OPEC going forward, but OPEC retains the same level of market power that it currently has, as measured by the elasticity of demand net of non OPEC production for an increase in price. I conclude that policies designed to counteract OPEC’s market power are still needed.
Design of prestressed precast pile splice using glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) dowels

Abstract For various reasons including shipping and operation limitations and unforeseen soil conditions, it often happens that splicing of precast-prestressed concrete pile (PPCP) segments has to be performed at the site to achieve longer lengths. Epoxy dowel splice is one of the common systems used for splicing PPCPs. The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) dowel bars proposed as an economic corrosion-resistant option for use in pile splices. Analysis was performed for a standard 18 × 18 in (457 × 457 mm) PPCP. Two series of material properties were considered for GFRP in the proposed design, mechanical properties in accordance with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Specifications and improved mechanical properties (2021) under consideration by ASTM D30 Committee. The results show that among various sizes and configurations, the use of 8 #10 GFRP dowels with arrangement similar to that of standard steel dowel splice provides for an optimum design. As an example, the developed design was compared to FDOT requirements. The proposed configuration of GFRP dowels satisfies the requirement for axial compression and tensile capacities. The nominal pure bending capacity of the proposed design is estimated to be 84% and 93% of the threshold capacity for the existing material and improved material, respectively. The flexural resistance of the splice increases with increasing axial compression on the pile to an extent. The use of improved GFRP material for dowel bars shows noticeable enhancement in the flexural resistance so as the use of larger diameter dowels. Detailed drawings for the proposed design were also developed and are presented in this paper.
Litigation Finance: Financial Engineering in the Courtroom

Litigation finance is a relatively new financial product that has the potential to unlock the justice system for an unmeasurable number of people in the United States who have suffered injustices that would represent meritorious claims if the victims could afford to bring a civil case. Unfortunately, the costs of litigation are so high, that many cannot. Litigation finance is quickly becoming the key to the justice system for those people. The relative lack of familiarity with third-party litigation finance, and the lack of a regulatory regime are still roadblocks to the widespread use of the product, but it’s only a matter of time before that issue fades. Fortunately, these impediments to litigation finance’s emergence as a mainstream product are being actively addressed. Multiple countries have developed regulatory regimes, while the United States has thus far deferred to state governments to develop their own rules regarding litigation finance. This process will eventually lead to a federal standard that will provide clarity and stability for litigation finance to expand. Additionally, litigation finance is increasingly becoming a known financial product. Using traditional marketing techniques and the spread by word of mouth from friends and family members who have used the product, litigation finance is moving into the mainstream. This paper will explore litigation finance and follow its evolution from its ancient beginnings to its current state as a new financial product designed to provide the financial means for unlocking justice which has always been a cornerstone of our democracy.
Genome shuffling to generate recombinant yeasts for tolerance to inhibitors present in lignocellulosic hydrolysates

To investigate the use of genome shuffling to generate recombinants from previously generated hydrolysates-tolerant strains to improve tolerance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to one or more inhibitory by-products present in lignocellulosic hydrolysates. Recombinants of previously evolved strains of S. cerevisiae were generated and analyzed for their relative performance in the individual inhibitors furfural, acetic acid, 5-(hydroxymethyl)-furfural (HMF) and in synthetic hydrolysates. One recombinant exhibited a 100 % fitness increase in the presence of HMF as compared to the wild-type diploid, while another stain exhibited a 13 % fitness increase in the presence of furfural. Furthermore, for one of these recombinants, these increases in fitness were specific to the inhibitor HMF and to synthetic hydrolysates rather than being due to a general increase in fitness. Mutations present in the evolved hydrolysates-tolerant mutants were identified via whole-genome resequencing. Recombinants of S. cerevisiae were produced with increased tolerance to inhibitory by-products present in hydrolysates of lignocellulosic biomass and identified potential genetic determinants associated with this phenotype.
Regulation of yolk protein synthesis in amphibian liver: II. Elevation of ribonucleic acid synthesis by estrogen

Abstract Changes in RNA synthesis during the course of induction of yolk protein synthesis were determined in the livers of Xenopus laevis males given estrogen. Increased synthesis of rapidly labeled nuclear RNA precedes the changes in protein synthesis induced by the hormone. Base composition analyses of this RNA suggest an initial synthesis of uridylic acid-rich RNA followed by increased synthesis of ribosomal RNA. No significant changes in leucyl-, methionyl-, or seryl-tRNAs were detected, and phosphoserine was not found in seryl-tRNA formed either in vivo or in vitro.
A trainable system for the extraction of meaning from text

This project is developing a trainable system that can extract meaning from texts in different domains (example: various Internet news-groups). The system does partial parsing based on a large dictionary containing approximately 150,000 words. The system assists the user in extracting a semantic network representation for each member of a set of training articles contained in some large database. Based on the user's training, the system forms statistical tables, a knowledge base, and a set of rules mirroring the user's actions. The system then generalizes these rules. Using statistically based semantic classification, the system applies these rules to new articles from the database for automatically building semantic networks.
Lincoln laboratory's experiential STEM programs for high school students

One of MIT Lincoln Laboratory's strategic directions is science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) outreach. The Laboratory aims to develop STEM programs that couple traditional academic classroom lectures with experiential hands-on activities. The opportunity for students to build and test engineering components based on theory that they have been taught is a very effective formula for STEM learning and development. This paper focuses on two Lincoln Laboratory STEM programs for high school students: Lincoln Laboratory Radar Introduction for Student Engineers (LLRISE) and Cyber Patriot. Both programs involve intensive classroom lectures and hands-on activities that require the students to execute final requirements.
Influence of chemical denudation on hillslope morphology

[1] Models of hillslope evolution involving diffusion-like sediment transport are conventionally presented as an equation in which the changes in land-surface elevation or soil thickness are balanced by the divergence of soil transport and tectonic uplift, soil production, or both. These models typically do not include the loss or gain of mass in hillslope soils due to processes of chemical weathering and deposition. We formulate a more general depth-integrated equation for the conservation of soil mass on a hillslope that includes a term representing chemical deposition or denudation. This general depth-integrated equation is then simplified to determine the one-dimensional form of a steady state hillslope which experiences both mechanical and chemical denudation. The differences in morphology between hillslopes only experiencing diffusion-like mechanical sediment transport and hillslopes experiencing both diffusion-like mechanical sediment transport and chemical denudation are explored. Under the conditions of a downslope increase in local soil lowering rate due to chemical weathering the hillslope profile will depart from the parabolic shape predicted by models that incorporate only linear diffusion-like mechanical sediment transport. In addition, hillslopes that experience both chemical and mechanical denudation may have a convex-concave profile at steady state. A necessary condition for such steady state profiles is that the chemical denudation rate must exceed the mechanical denudation rate. We further suggest that combinations of other physical parameter values (such as total denudation rate, average soil depth, sediment diffusivity, and the increase in soil depth away from the divide) that lead to steady state convex-concave hillslope profiles may exist in a wide variety of natural settings.
Understanding sampling-based adversarial search methods

Until 2007, the best computer programs for playing the board game Go performed at the level of a weak amateur, while employing the same Minimax algorithm that had proven so successful in other games such as Chess and Checkers. Thanks to a revolutionary new sampling-based planning approach named Upper Confidence bounds applied to Trees (UCT), today's best Go programs play at a master level on full-sized 19 × 19 boards. Intriguingly, UCT's spectacular success in Go has not been replicated in domains that have been the traditional stronghold of Minimax-style approaches. The focus of this thesis is on understanding this phenomenon. We begin with a thorough examination of the various facets of UCT in the games of Chess and Mancala, where we can contrast the behavior of UCT to that of the better understood Minimax approach. We then introduce the notion of shallow search traps — positions in games where short winning strategies for the opposing player exist — and demonstrate that these are distributed very differently in different games, and that this has a significant impact on the performance of UCT. Finally, we study UCT and Minimax in two novel synthetic game settings that permit mathematical analysis. We show that UCT is relatively robust to misleading heuristic feedback if the noise samples are independently drawn, whereas systematic biases in a heuristic can cause UCT to prematurely “freeze” onto sub-optimal lines of play and thus perform poorly. We conclude with a discussion of the potential avenues for future work.
Public Opinion, Policy Tools, and the Status Quo: Evidence from a Survey Experiment

The method in which a government policy is delivered—for example, as a tax break rather than a direct payment—could potentially have significant implications for how the public views that policy. This is an especially important consideration given the importance of indirect policy approaches like tax breaks to modern American governance. We employ a series of survey experiments to test whether citizens react more favorably to tax breaks than to equivalent spending programs. We find that citizens prefer tax breaks, particularly when they are the established means of intervention. When direct intervention is the status quo, or when any government involvement on the issue is unfamiliar, the preference is reduced. We also find an interactive effect for ideology, with conservatives strongly preferring tax breaks to direct intervention, though the effect is still present among liberals. This study establishes the importance of delivery mechanism to citizens’ policy preferences and suggests that the policy statu...
Soviet psychotherapy: The tasks and methodological problems

Soviet psychotherapy follows Western European traditional pre-psychoanalytical “rationalistic” methodology. On the other hand, Soviet therapists assign great importance to clinical diagnosis within the framework of the classical scheme of Kraepelin. Finally, methods close to behavior therapy, especially so-called “training” approaches, are popular.
Effect of different dose schedules of latanoprost on intraocular pressure and pupil size in the glaucomatous Beagle

The changes in intraocular pressure and pupil size in glaucomatous dogs were evaluated after instillations of 0.03% bimatoprost (Lumigan, Allergan, Irvine, CA USA) once in the morning, or once in the evening, or twice daily in five day multiple dose studies. Applanation tonometry (IOP) and pupil size (PS) measurements were obtained at 8 am, 10 am, 12 noon, 2 pm, and 4 pm in 8 glaucoma dogs. Methylcellulose (0.5% as placebo) was instilled in the control eye, and 0.03% bimatoprost was instilled in the opposite drug eye. Methylcellulose (0.5%) and 0.03% bimatoprost were instilled the second through the fifth days with instillations in the morning (8:30 am), or evening (8 pm), or twice daily (8:30 am and 8 pm). The mean ± SEM diurnal changes in IOP from baseline values after 0.03% bimatoprost at 8 am once daily for the next four days were 25.0 ± 3.2 mm Hg, 25.6 ± 2.9 mm Hg, 25.5 ± 3.0 mm Hg, and 26.0 ± 3.2 mm Hg respectively, and were significantly different from the control eye. After bimatoprost was instill...
Increasing the utility of negative instances in conjunctive concept identification

Two groups of Ss performed concept identifications under different conditions. Problems in which information was conveyed exclusively in negative instances were significantly more difficult than other problems in one condition but not in the other. Results are interpreted in relation to differences in strategy and memory requirements in the two conditions.
Visualizing vascular structures in virtual environments

In order to learn more about the cause of coronary heart diseases and develop diagnostic tools, the extraction and visualization of vascular structures from volumetric scans for further analysis is an important step. By determining a geometric representation of the vasculature, the geometry can be inspected and additional quantitative data calculated and incorporated into the visualization of the vasculature. To provide a more user-friendly visualization tool, virtual environment paradigms can be utilized. This paper describes techniques for interactive rendering of large-scale vascular structures within virtual environments. This can be applied to almost any virtual environment configuration, such as CAVE-type displays. Specifically, the tools presented in this paper were tested on a Barco I-Space and a large 62x108 inch passive projection screen with a Kinect sensor for user tracking.