cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hierarchical Modeling and Differential Expression Analysis for RNA-seq Experiments with Inbred and Hybrid Genotypes

The performance of inbred and hybrid genotypes is of interest in plant breeding and genetics. High-throughput sequencing of RNA (RNA-seq) has proven to be a useful tool in the study of the molecular genetic responses of inbreds and hybrids to environmental stresses. Commonly used experimental designs and sequencing methods lead to complex data structures that require careful attention in data analysis. We demonstrate an analysis of RNA-seq data from a split-plot design involving drought stress applied to two inbred genotypes and two hybrids formed by crosses between the inbreds. Our generalized linear modeling strategy incorporates random effects for whole-plot experimental units and uses negative binomial distributions to allow for overdispersion in count responses for split-plot experimental units. Variations in gene length and base content, as well as differences in sequencing intensity across experimental units, are also accounted for. Hierarchical modeling with thoughtful parameterization and prior specification allows for borrowing of information across genes to improve estimation of dispersion parameters, genotype effects, treatment effects, and interaction effects of primary interest.
The Mind of the Master Class: The Slaveholders' Quest for a History of the Common People

History, in matter of fact, is information about human social organization, which itself is identical with world civilization. It deals with such conditions affecting the nature of civilization as, for instance, savagery and sociability, group feelings, and the different ways by which one group of human beings achieves superiority over another. It deals with royal authority and the dynasties … and with the various ranks that exist within them. It further deals with the different kinds of gainful occupations and ways of making a living, with the sciences and crafts that human beings pursue as part of their activities and efforts, and with all the other institutions that originate in civilization through its very nature. —Ibn Khaldun In 1848, the 28-year-old Henry Augustine Washington, a lawyer in Richmond, published a remarkable essay on “The Social System of Virginia” that propelled him into a professorship of history at the College of William and Mary. For Washington – kin to George Washington, son-in-law of Nathaniel Beverley Tucker, and editor of Thomas Jefferson's papers – Virginia ranked as an anomaly in modern times or, more accurately, with parallels only in other southern slave states. Washington described Virginia's social system as “the remnant of an older civilization – a fragment of the feudal system floating about here on the bosom of the nineteenth century” and focused on the emergence of a society based upon slave and indentured-servant labor. Noting an abundance of histories of kings, rulers, and statesmen, he welcomed a marriage of history with philosophy: “We are now at last, to have a history of the PEOPLE.”
Oncologic and Perioperative Outcomes Following Selective Application of Laparoscopic Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Periampullary Malignancies.

Data are sparse regarding patient selection criteria or evaluating oncologic outcomes following laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD). Having prospectively limited LPD to patients with resectable disease defined by National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) criteria, we evaluated perioperative and long-term oncologic outcomes of LPD compared to a similar cohort of open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD). Consecutive patients (November 2010–February 2014) undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for periampullary adenocarcinoma were reviewed. Patients were excluded from further analysis for benign pathology, conversion to OPD for portal vein resection, and contraindications for LPD not related to their malignancy. Outcomes of patients undergoing LPD were analyzed in an intention-to-treat manner against a cohort of patients undergoing OPD. These selection criteria resulted in offering LPD to 77 % of all cancer patients. Compared to the OPD cohort, LPD was associated with significant reductions in wound infections (16 vs. 34 %; P = 0.038), pancreatic fistula (17 vs. 36 %; P = 0.032), and median hospital stay (9 vs. 12 days; P = 0.025). Overall survival (OS) was not statistically different between patients undergoing LPD vs. OPD for periampullary adenocarcinoma (median OS 27.9 vs. 23.5 months; P = 0.955) or pancreatic adenocarcinoma (N = 28 vs. 22 patients; median OS 20.7 vs. 21.1 months; P = 0.703). The selective application of LPD for periampullary malignancies results in a high degree of eligibility as well as significant reductions in length of stay, wound infections, and pancreatic fistula. Overall survival after LPD is similar to OPD.
A Redox Active [2Fe-2S] Cluster on the Hydrogenase Maturase HydF.

[FeFe]-hydrogenases are nature’s most prolific hydrogen catalysts, excelling at facilely interconverting H2 and protons. The catalytic core common to all [FeFe]-hydrogenases is a complex metallocofactor, referred to as the H-cluster, which is composed of a standard [4Fe-4S] cluster linked through a bridging thiolate to a 2Fe subcluster harboring dithiomethylamine, carbon monoxide, and cyanide ligands. This 2Fe subcluster is synthesized and inserted into [FeFe]-hydrogenase by three maturase enzymes denoted HydE, HydF, and HydG. HydE and HydG are radical S-adenosylmethionine enzymes and synthesize the nonprotein ligands of the H-cluster. HydF is a GTPase that functions as a scaffold or carrier for 2Fe subcluster production. Herein, we utilize UV–visible, circular dichroism, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic studies to establish the existence of redox active [4Fe-4S] and [2Fe-2S] clusters bound to HydF. We have used spectroelectrochemical titrations to assign iron–sulfur cluster midpoint pote...
Measuring the impact of a posterior compartment procedure on symptoms of obstructed defecation and posterior vaginal compartment anatomy.

We hypothesized that there would be a significant difference in changes in obstructed defecation symptoms and posterior compartment prolapse between women who underwent posterior vaginal wall prolapse repair (PR) and those who did not. This was a two-site prospective cohort study of women undergoing prolapse or incontinence surgery in which a PR was, or was not, performed at the discretion of the surgeon. Women were assessed using validated obstructed defecation questionnaires and standardized examination measures (including POP-Q, measurement of transverse gh, and assessment for a rectovaginal pocket and laxity) prior to pelvic surgery and 12 weeks after surgery. Of 68 women who underwent surgery, 43 had PR. The PR group had higher obstructed defecation symptoms and greater posterior compartment prolapse at baseline. At 12 weeks, obstructed defecation symptoms had improved significantly more in the PR group than in the no PR group (all p < 0.03). Anatomic outcomes showed greater improvement in point Bp in the PR group (−3.4 vs. −0.7 no PR, p < 0.001) and resolution of the rectovaginal pocket (86 % vs. 42 %, p = 0.002). There were no significant changes in obstructed defecation symptoms or anatomic outcomes from baseline in the no PR group, while the PR group showed significantly improved obstructed defecation symptoms and anatomic outcomes after repair (p < 0.001 for both). Significant improvements in obstructed defecation symptoms and posterior compartment prolapse were seen after PR, but not in women who did not receive PR. Obstructed defecation symptoms, Bp and rectovaginal pocket were the measures best able to demonstrate improvement after PR. We recommend the use of these measures to assess the impact of surgery in the posterior compartment.
White matter and cognition: making the connection

Whereas the cerebral cortex has long been regarded by neuroscientists as the major locus of cognitive function, the white matter of the brain is increasingly recognized as equally critical for cognition. White matter comprises half of the brain, has expanded more than gray matter in evolution, and forms an indispensable component of distributed neural networks that subserve neurobehavioral operations. White matter tracts mediate the essential connectivity by which human behavior is organized, working in concert with gray matter to enable the extraordinary repertoire of human cognitive capacities. In this review, we present evidence from behavioral neurology that white matter lesions regularly disturb cognition, consider the role of white matter in the physiology of distributed neural networks, develop the hypothesis that white matter dysfunction is relevant to neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and the newly described entity chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and discuss emerging concepts regarding the prevention and treatment of cognitive dysfunction associated with white matter disorders. Investigation of the role of white matter in cognition has yielded many valuable insights and promises to expand understanding of normal brain structure and function, improve the treatment of many neurobehavioral disorders, and disclose new opportunities for research on many challenging problems facing medicine and society.
Dielectric–electrode interactions in glass and silicon-compatible thin-film (Ba,Sr)TiO3 capacitors

This paper investigates the role of electrode–dielectric interactions, and barrier materials on leakage current, breakdown voltage, yield and reliability of thinfilm (Ba,Sr)TiO3 capacitors on silicon and glass substrates. The first part of the paper investigates the electrode–dielectric interactions with sputtered Cu and Ni electrodes to identify the mechanisms that lead to high leakage current and low yield. The second part of the paper presents lanthanum nickel oxide as a viable solution to overcome the problems with sputtered Cu and Ni electrodes. A combination of low leakage current, high yield and capacitance densities was achieved with the oxide electrode systems.
Ergotism due to simultaneous use of ergot alkaloids and high activity antiretroviral therapy

High activity antiretroviral therapy may exacerbate the activity of ergot alkaloids due to an inhibition of cytochrome P450. We report a 57 years old female with AIDS treated with lamivudine, zidovudine, atazanavir, ritonavir and cotrimoxazole presenting with ischemic signs in the four limbs. There was acrocyanosis and weak radial and ulnar pulses. A family member referred that the patient used ergot alkaloids for headaches. An ergotism due to the simultaneous use of ergot alkaloids and antiretroviral therapy was suspected. The latter was discontinued and intravenous nitroglycerin, nifedipine and pentoxifyline were started with good results.
Correction: 3D Bioprinting Technologies for Hard Tissue and Organ Engineering. Materials 2016, 9, 802

Department of Tissue Engineering, Center of 3D Printing & Organ Manufacturing,School of Fundamental Sciences, China Medical University (CMU), No. 77 Puhe Road,Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang 110122, China; aoqiang00@163.com (Q.A.);xhtian@cmu.edu.cn (X.T.); jfan@cmu.edu.cn (J.F.); Weiyj2011@gmail.com (Y.W.);wjhou@cmu.edu.cn (W.H.); tongh007@hotmail.com (H.T.); baishuling@hotmail.com (S.B.)
Huanglongbing pathogen Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus exploits the energy metabolism and host defence responses of its vector Diaphorina citri

Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri is the vector of the citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) associated bacterial agent ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas). The molecular interactions between CLas and D. citri remain unclear. In the present study, protein profiles of mitochondrial, microsomal and cytosolic fractions from uninfected and CLas-infected adult D. citri are investigated using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The comparative analysis reveals a total of 18, 24 and 20 protein spots that are unique or differentially expressed in mitochondrial, microsomal and cytosolic proteins fractions respectively. These proteins are successfully identified by mass spectrometry. Among the 62 identified proteins, 30 are up-regulated, whereas 32 are down-regulated. These proteins include important components in energy metabolism such as ATP synthase, ATPase, ATP/ADP carrier protein, etc.; host stress responses such as heat shock proteins; host detoxification processes (i.e., cytochrome P450 and glutathione S-transferase); and the cytoskeleton (such as actin, tubulin, myosin and tropomyosin). These data suggest that, after CLas infection, several proteins of D. citri, especially energy metabolism and protein biosynthesis, are altered, and extensive host defence responses are induced. In conclusion, the present study reports proteomic information that is helpful in understanding the vector–pathogen relationship between CLas and D. citri, and could be used to identify potential targets for limiting the spread of CLas, as well as to provide new insights into HLB management.
Executive Function in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

The role of executive function in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is far from fully understood. Deficits are subtle, and findings are often inconsistent. Impairments have been related to worsening of psychological symptoms, functioning, and quality of life. They can also negatively impact treatment. Functional imaging shows that neurocognitive deficits in PTSD may be related to an imbalance in brain connectivity, where emotion processing is enhanced and control is reduced. Structural findings show abnormalities in brain regions involved in higher level functions. However, findings are often discrepant. Factors related to these inconclusive results are considered, including developmental course, premorbid functioning, and comorbidities, such as traumatic brain injury, depression, substance use, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, health behaviors, and medical concerns. Treatment implications, limitations of this work, and future directions are presented. It is our hope that future research will advance our scientific understanding of PTSD, neurocognitive impairments, and related conditions, with the goal of improving outcomes for those who encounter trauma.
Theta in new QCD-like sectors

New QCD-like “hypercolor” sectors can generate a broad class of new signatures at hadron colliders and furnish a variety of dark matter candidates. Paired diboson resonances are a particularly important collider signature, arising both from CP-conserving vector hypermeson decays of the form ρ˜→π˜π˜→4V and from CP-violating pseudoscalar hypermeson decays of the form η˜→π˜π˜→4V. The latter are sensitive to the vacuum angle θ˜ in the hypercolor sector. We study single- and paired-diboson resonance signatures in final states involving gluons and photons at the LHC and a future 100 TeV pp collider, illustrating the discovery potential at both colliders in simple benchmark models. We also describe some of the theoretical and cosmological consequences of θ˜. If CP-violating hypermeson decays are observable at hadron colliders, ordinary QCD must have an axion. Such scenarios also provide a natural setting for a dark pion component of dark matter, with its relic abundance set by CP-violating annihilations. If the new vacuum angle is relaxed to zero by a dark axion, the relic density can instead be a mixture of axions and dark axions. Overproduction of dark axions is most easily avoided if the Universe underwent a period of early matter domination.
Exploring Complex Disease Gene Relationships Using Simultaneous Analysis

The characterization of complex diseases remains a great challenge for biomedical researchers due to the myriad interactions of genetic and environmental factors. Adaptation of phylogenomic techniques to increasingly available genomic data provides an evolutionary perspective that may elucidate important unknown features of complex diseases. Here an automated method is presented that leverages publicly available genomic data and phylogenomic techniques. The approach is tested with nine genes implicated in the development of Alzheimer Disease, a complex neurodegenerative syndrome. The developed technique, which is an update to a previously described Perl script called “ASAP,” was implemented through a suite of Ruby scripts entitled “ASAP2,” first compiles a list of sequence-similarity based orthologues using PSI-BLAST and a recursive NCBI BLAST+ search strategy, then constructs maximum parsimony phylogenetic trees for each set of nucleotide and protein sequences, and calculates phylogenetic metrics (partitioned Bremer support values, combined branch scores, and Robinson-Foulds distance) to provide an empirical assessment of evolutionary conservation within a given genetic network. This study demonstrates the potential for using automated simultaneous phylogenetic analysis to uncover previously unknown relationships among disease-associated genes that may not have been apparent using traditional, single-gene methods. Furthermore, the results provide the first integrated evolutionary history of an Alzheimer Disease gene network and identify potentially important co-evolutionary clustering around components of oxidative stress pathways.
A Simple Additive Potential Model for Simulating Hydrogen Peroxide in Chemical and Biological Systems

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has numerous industrial, environmental, medical, cosmetic, and biological applications. Given its importance, we provide a simple model as an alternative to experiment for studying the properties of pure liquid H2O2 and its concentrated aqueous solutions, which are hazardous, and for understanding the biological roles of H2O2 at the molecular level. A four-site additive model is calibrated for H2O2 based on the ab initio and experimental properties of the gaseous monomer and the density and heat of vaporization of liquid H2O2 at 0 °C. Our model together with the TIP3P water model reproduce the ab initio binding energies of (H2O2)m, H2O2·nH2O, and nH2O2·H2O clusters (m = 2, 3 and n = 1, 2) calculated at the MP2 level using the 6-311++G(d,p) or the 6-311++G(3df,3pd) basis set. It yields structure, the self-diffusion coefficient, heat capacity, and densities at temperatures up to 200 °C of the pure liquid in good agreement with experiment. The model correctly predicts the hydration f...
The Role of Emotion in the Effect of Price Discount for Apparel Products

Although price promotion is one of the most popular marketing strategies in the apparel industry because of a short product life cycle, price discount research remains a largely unexplored area in the apparel literature. Extending the price-quality-value (P-Q-V) model, we investigated the mediating role of affect in the relationship between price discount and consumers' perceptions (perceived savings, quality, and value), and examined the relationship between perceived value and purchase intentions in the context of fashion products. A between-subjects experimental design was used, and a total of 209 usable responses was collected by a research firm. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed to examine the proposed model and test the hypotheses. The findings showed that affect plays an important mediating role in the relationship between price discount and perceptions of savings, quality, and value. Based on the findings, we present theoretical and pragmatic implications of the research.
Can Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring Improve Postpartum Management of Pregnancy-Associated Hypertension?

See related article, pp 425–432 Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, affect 5% to 12% of all pregnancies around the globe and are a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality.1 Although delivery of the fetus and placenta remains the only definitive treatment for preeclampsia, the sequalae do not end with delivery. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are long lasting and multigenerational: women with preeclampsia are at increased risk for future hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and end-stage renal disease; their offspring, if born premature or at low birth weight, are at increased risk for chronic disease in adulthood.2,3 Clinical trials on the treatment and monitoring of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy have focused on the antepartum period. Historically, it was believed that blood pressure would progressively resolve with removal of the placenta, and few studies have addressed the issue of hypertension in the postpartum period. Now, there is recognition that hypertensive disorders of pregnancy can persist after delivery or arise newly postpartum, and many women treated for preeclampsia or gestational hypertension require large doses of antihypertensive medications after delivery. In the current …
Effect of testosterone on insulin-like growth factor-I, androgen receptor, and myostatin gene expression in splenius and semitendinosus muscles in sheep

Testosterone is known to act differentially on skeletal muscle from different regions. Two genes likely to mediate the testosterone effect are IGF-I, an important growth regulator acting in an autocrine and paracrine way, and androgen receptor (AR), as receptor density could account for differential muscle growth. Another muscle-specific gene that may play a role in differential muscle growth is myostatin, a member of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily, shown to be a negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass. The objective of this study was to quantify and compare the expression of these three genes in two different skeletal muscles in sheep. East Friesian x Dorset-sired ram lambs from Dorset ewes were used in a 2 x 4 factorial experiment. Eighteen sets of twins were assigned to four age groups corresponding to 77, 105, 133, and 161 d of age, and one individual from each set was castrated at birth. Total RNA was extracted from samples of splenius (SP) and semitendinosus muscles collected at the time of slaughter. Insulin-like growth factor-I mRNA was measured using competitive reverse-transcription PCR. Androgen receptor and myostatin mRNA were measured by ribonuclease protection assay with standard curves. Weight of SP was greater than semitendinosus in rams compared with wethers at 105, 133, and 161 d (P = 0.05, P = 0.04, and P = 0.02, respectively). The difference in IGF-I mRNA levels between the two muscles was greater in rams than in wethers at 133 (P = 0.001) and 161 d (P = 0.014), and the difference in AR mRNA levels was greater in rams than in wethers at 105, 133, and 161 d (P = 0.002, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively), with greater abundance in the SP. No difference was found in myostatin mRNA level between the two muscles in rams and wethers at any age. These results suggest that locally produced IGF-I and the regulation of AR expression are important for sexually dimorphic muscle growth patterns.
US-Japan Cooperative Science Seminar

S. Ebashi (National Institute for Physiological Science) summarized the conference from the Japanese point of view. He emphasized the opportunities for fruitful cooperation between basic and clinical scientists of both the United States and Japan. C.F. Code (La Jolla, California), speaking for the United States and third country groups, pointed out the tremendous growth in the field, as evidenced by the quantity of new data and the quality and uniqueness of the experiments. He stressed that continuing efforts are needed to ensure US-Japan communication and cooperation in the future, efforts made easier by seminars such as this.
The role of inflammation in the generation and maintenance of memory T cells.

Following infection or vaccination, antigen-specific T cells undergo enormous expansion in numbers and differentiate into effector cells that control infection and modulate other aspects of innate and adaptive immunity. The effector T-cell expansion phase is followed by an abrupt period of contraction, during which 90–95% of antigen-specific T cells are eliminated. The surviving pool of T cells subsequently differentiates into long-lived memory populations that can persist for the life of the host and mediate enhanced protective immunity following pathogen re-infection. The generation and maintenance of memory T-cell populations are influenced by a multitude of factors, including inflammatory cytokines that can act on T cells at various points during their differentiation. Herein, we discuss our current understanding of how inflammation shapes not only the quantity and quality of memory T cells, but also the rate at which functional memory T-cell populations develop.
Amplitude-width encoding for error correction in bacterial communication networks

In this work, we consider the problem of forward error correction in a multiple access molecular communication network with bacteria as transceivers. A number of forward error correction techniques have been developed to maximize throughput and achieve the lower bound on the bit error rate performance. All existing codes were developed for traditional networks and hence the constraints on computational complexity do not match that of bio-circuits. Designing reliable and accurate bio-circuits for operations like polynomial multiplication that are basic to FEC is extremely challenging.We propose and design Amplitude-Width Forward Error Correction, a simple and efficient FEC mechanism that can be implemented using bio-circuits reliably for real-time application. FEC techniques allow the receiver to detect and correct for errors by introducing redundancy in the message transmitted. EEC introduces redundancy by varying the on-period of the signal transmitted across senders. Senders with the same on-period are assigned amplitudes with maximum distance. Increasing the distance between amplitudes of senders with the same on-period increases the error resilience of the receiver. Bit error rate of the order of 10-2 is achieved using the proposed error correction mechanism.
Risk Factors for Pseudarthrosis in Minimally-Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study (level of evidence: 4). PURPOSE To describe the potential comorbid, operative, and radiographic risk factors for the development of clinically-relevant pseudarthrosis following minimally-invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE MIS-TLIF has shown long-term clinical outcomes with decreased perioperative morbidity and earlier return to work, similar to those of open TLIF. However, unsuccessful fusion still remains a concern. The impacts of various patient, operative, and radiographic risk factors have not been evaluated for their potential association with pseudarthrosis related to MIS-TLIF. METHODS Between 2012 and 2015, 204 consecutive patients underwent one or two-level MIS-TLIF at St. Joseph's University Medical Center, Paterson, NJ, USA; they had a minimum of 1 year of follow-up. The patients were divided into two cohorts: those who developed clinically-relevant pseudarthrosis and those who did not. Clinically-relevant pseudarthrosis was determined by both evidence on computed tomography and presence of continued clinical symptoms at 1-year follow-up. RESULTS Revision surgery was the only identified non-radiographic factor associated with pseudarthrosis. Disc angle had the highest (R 2=0.8), followed by anterior disc height (R 2=0.79). Although posterior disc height and the ratio of anterior to posterior disc height showed a marked relationship with the outcome, the R 2-values were <0.3, thus indicating a less-strong correlation. The overall pseudarthrosis rate was 8%. No statistically significant differences were identified between the two cohorts with respect to mean age, sex, medical comorbidities, smoking status, or number of levels fused. CONCLUSIONS Clinically-relevant pseudarthrosis is not uncommon following MIS-TLIF. In the current study, undergoing revision surgery, disc angle, and anterior disc height were observed to be associated with clinically-relevant pseudarthrosis. This study demonstrated that the patient population may benefit from an alternate approach.
Evaluation of Secure Messaging Applications for a Health Care System: A Case Study

Objective The use of text messaging in clinical care has become ubiquitous. Due to security and privacy concerns, many hospital systems are evaluating secure text messaging applications. This paper highlights our evaluation process, and offers an overview of secure messaging functionalities, as well as a framework for how to evaluate such applications. Methods Application functionalities were gathered through literature review, Web sites, speaking with representatives, demonstrations, and use cases. Based on similar levels of functionalities, vendors were grouped into three tiers. Essential and secondary functionalities for our health system were defined to help narrow our vendor choices. Results We stratified 19 secure messaging vendors into three tiers: basic secure communication, secure communication within an existing clinical application, and dedicated communication and collaboration systems. Our essential requirements revolved around functionalities to enhance security and communication, while advanced functionalities were mostly considered secondary. We then narrowed our list of 19 vendors to four, then created clinical use cases to rank the final vendors. Discussion When evaluating a secure messaging application, numerous factors must be considered in parallel. These include: what clinical processes to improve, archiving text messages, mobile device management, bring your own device policy, and Wi-Fi architecture. Conclusion Secure messaging applications provide a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant communication platform, and also include functionality to improve clinical collaboration and workflow. We hope that our evaluation framework can be used by other health systems to find a secure messaging application that meets their needs.
Nuclear Legitimacy: Why Insurgents Seek and Destroy Nuclear Technology*

Scholars observe that we know little about what motivates non-state actors’ strategic interest in nuclear technology. This article argues that insurgents with ideological ambitions to form new stat...
Finding Densest Lasting Subgraphs in Dynamic Graphs: A Stochastic Approach

One important problem that is insufficiently studied is finding densest lasting-subgraphs in large dynamic graphs, which considers the time duration of the subgraph pattern. We propose a framework called Expectation-Maximization with Utility functions (EMU), a novel stochastic approach that nontrivially extends the conventional EM approach. EMU has the flexibility of optimizing any user-defined utility functions. We validate our EMU approach by showing that it converges to the optimum—by proving that it is a specification of the general Minorization-Maximization (MM) framework with convergence guarantees. We then devise EMU algorithms for the densest lasting subgraph problem. Using real-world graph data, we experimentally verify the effectiveness and efficiency of our techniques, and compare with two prior approaches on dense subgraph detection.
Recent Charmonium Results from BES

This paper summarizes recent results obtained from the BES psi(2S) data, which with 3.8 M events, is the world's largest data set. Distributions for psi(2S) -> pi^+ pi^- J/psi are fit to the Novikov-Shifman model. Preliminary branching fractions are reported for psi(2S) -> gamma f_2(1270) and gamma f_J(1710), as well as for decays into states containing an omega or phi. Finally recent measurements of the mass of the chi_c0 and eta_c are reported.
An assessment of racial differences in epidemiological, clinical and psychosocial factors among head and neck cancer patients at the time of surgery.

Abstract Objective Racial disparities have been well characterized and African American (AA) patients have 30% lower 5-year survival rates than European Americans (EAs) for head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSCC). This poorer survival can be attributed to a myriad of different factors. The purpose of this study was to characterize AA-EA similarities and differences in sociodemographic, lifestyle, clinical, and psychosocial characteristics in HNSCC patients near the time of surgery. Methods Setting: Single tertiary care center. Participants: Thirty-nine newly diagnosed, untreated HNSCC patients (n = 24 EAs,n = 15 AAs) who were to undergo surgery were recruited. Study Design: Cross-sectional study Sociodemographic, lifestyle factors, and disease factors (cancer site, AJCC clinical and pathologic stage, and HPV status)were assessed. Risk factors, leisure time, quality of life and social support were also assessed using validated questionnaires. Exposures: EA and AA patients were similar in the majority of sociodemographic factors assessed. AAs had a higher trend toward pathologically later stage disease compared to EAs and significantly increased time to treatment. Results EA and AA patients were similar in the majority of sociodemographic factors assessed. AAs had a higher trend toward pathologically later stage disease compared to EAs. AAs also had significantly increased time to treatment (P = 0.05). The majority of AA patients (62%) had later stage pathologic disease. AA were less likely to complete high school or college (P = 0.01) than their EA counterparts. Additionally, AAs were more likely to report having a gap in health insurance during the past decade (37% vs. 15%). Conclusions This preliminary study demonstrates a similar profile of demographics, clinical and psychosocial characteristics preoperatively for AAs and EAs. Key differences were AAs tending to have later pathologic stage disease, educational status, delays in treatment initiation, and gaps in health insurance.
CHAPTER 13 – Basic Integration

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the fundamental theory of integration. The fundamental theorem of integral calculus gives a simple way to exactly compute the limit of the sum approximations. In order for sum approximations to tend to an integral, one needs to write them in the form f(a) Δx + f(a + Δx) Δx + f(a + 2Δx) Δx + … + f(b - Δx) Δx, where Δx is the thickness of the slice and f(x) is the variable amount of the slice. This symbolic expression is an important part of the way the formulas are expressed in integration; without the symbolic expression, the more or less obvious approximations could not be computed exactly in a common way. One of the most important algebraic properties of summation, the telescoping sum theorem, plus the differential approximation, or microscope equation for a smooth function gives half of the fundamental theorem of integral calculus. This theorem tells how to find exact symbolic integrals without summing or taking a limit.
Comparative study on the developmental characteristics of mathematical cognitive between ADHD and normal children

Objective To compare the differences of the development of mathematical cognitive characteristics between ADHD children and normal children aged from 7 to 12 years old with event-related potentials (ERP) in the mathematical tasks, and to explore the neural mechanisms and characteristics. Methods ERP and behavioral data of 72 ADHD children and 88 normal children in three groups(7-8 years old, 9-10 years old, 11-12 years old) were recorded, and analyzed N1, P2 and N2 components' amplitude and latency of Fz by judging the answers to simple calculation within 20. Results (1)Vertical comparative analysis(the three age groups were compared): the differences of N1, P2 and N2 amplitudes in normal groups were considered to be statistically significant (right answer: N1(-3.8±2.1)μV, (-4.3±3.4)μV, (-2.2±2.4)μV; P2(10.6±4.3)μV, (12.6±5.1)μV, (8.5±2.4)μV; N2(-6.5±3.1)μV, (-10.2±4.2)μV, (-6.8±3.4)μV; error answer: N1(-2.8±2.7)μV, (-4.5±3.0)μV, (-2.9±2.5)μV; P2(9.3±5.9)μV, (12.1±5.0)μV, (8.2±3.6)μV; N2(-7.4±3.7)μV, (-11.4±5.5)μV, (-7.7±3.7)μV; all P 0.05). (2)Horizontal comparative analysis(ADHD group and normal group were compared): N1 amplitude of ADHD group aged from 7 to 8 years old was higher than normal group’s while judging the right answer((-5.3±2.4)μV, (-3.8±2.1)μV, P 0.05). The latent period of the wrong answers was longer than that of the right ones among normal groups aged from 11-12 while the difference of ADHD group had no statistical significance((312.9±42.3)ms, (292.2±21.2)ms, P<0.05). Conclusion The development trend of mathematical ERP component in ADHD children is different from normal ones, and it is closely related to the maldevelopment of frontal lobe.The characteristics of cognitive deficit differ from ages.ADHD children in low and intermediate level were damaged primarily with inhibition function, while the senior were damaged mainly in collision detection function. Key words: School-age; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Children; Mathematical cognition; Event related potential; Characteristics of development
Quadriwave lateral shearing phase imaging of EUV masks

We present a phase imaging technique for measuring the phase of EUV masks. In this technique we use a Quadriwave Zone Plate (QZP) to superpose four laterally separated copies of the complex amplitude function in the image plane, causing them to interfere onto a detector. By changing the scanning angle, we can control the relative phase between these images, which allows us to extract two orthogonal derivative phases directly, and then subsequently reconstruct the phase of the EUV mask. If the region of interest contains a reference region such as a clear field, the phase can be extracted from the derivative phases directly. Simulations and an experiment are performed to demonstrate the method accuracy.
CaMV35S promoter – A plant biology and biotechnology workhorse in the era of synthetic biology

Abstract Transgene over-expression has fueled many important plant biology discoveries in the last 40 years, as well as the development of economically important transgenic crop varieties. The 35S promoter from the plant pathogen Cauliflower Mosaic Virus (CaMV) has been instrumental in driving constitutive expression of these transgenes, helping elucidate the function of many plant genes and increasing the understanding of plant processes. The CaMV 35S promoter is arguably the most well studied and experimentally used regulatory component with activity in plant cells, with abundant information available on its individual functional domains and their contribution to promoter activity. Besides its use for constitutive expression of genes, the modular architecture has allowed the CaMV 35S promoter to serve as a backbone to develop a variety of transcription control systems for inducible or repressible gene expression in plants. As plant research embarks onto the era of synthetic biology, novel and more complex plant traits will be developed that require multigene circuits and quantitative understanding of the function of each individual genetic part, so that we can better predict their interactions in vivo. Genetic regulatory parts (e.g., promoters, terminators) are becoming more standardized regarding their nucleotide sequence composition and length, and quantitative parameters combined with mathematical models are increasingly being used to describe and predict the behavior of biological systems. In this context, it is fitting for plant synthetic biologists to establish the CaMV 35S promoter as a quantitative reference standard for transcription activity in plants — all other promoters would have their activity expressed relative to CaMV 35S. This will provide a reference point for synthetic biology approaches in plants and leverage plant biology and biotechnology for the next 40 years and beyond.
Diabetes mellitus: A common comorbidity increasing hemorrhagic transformation after tPA thrombolytic therapy for ischemic stroke

Abstract Intravenous tissue type plasminogen activator thrombolytic therapy has long been a mainstay in acute ischemic stroke therapy. However, patients receiving IV tPA therapy may have variable response with some subsets of patients having worsened outcomes. Diabetes mellitus, a clinically important and common vascular co-morbidity in AIS patients, can result in increased risk of hemorrhagic transformation after IV tPA therapy. In this short-review, we summarize the recent advances in understanding the mechanisms underlying the exacerbated HT after IV tPA therapy in AIS patients with DM. Potential precipitating factors including more severe blood–brain barrier disruption, enhanced oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and apoptosis, as well as several others contributors such as abnormal protein glycation, extracellular proteolytic dysfunction and impairment of collateral flow in DM are discussed. Additionally, several tPA combination approaches from experimental studies that may help to ameliorate the aggravation of post IV tPA-induced HT in AIS patients with DM are also briefly summarized. Urgently, more clinical and experimental studies aiming to better understand the mechanisms involved in DM-related exacerbation of HT after IV tPA therapy in AIS are needed for developing potential approaches protecting against this harmful complication in the management of AIS patients with DM.
Improved Incidence of Cardiovascular Disease in Patients With Incident Rheumatoid Arthritis in the 2000s: A Population-based Cohort Study.

Objective To assess trends in incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality following incident CVD events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) onset in 1980–2009 vs non-RA subjects. Methods We studied Olmsted County, Minnesota residents with incident RA (aged > 18 yrs, 1987 American College of Rheumatology criteria met in 1980–2009) and non-RA subjects from the same source population with similar age, sex, and calendar year of index. All subjects were followed until death, migration, or December 31, 2016. Incident CVD events included myocardial infarction and stroke. Patients with CVD before RA incidence/index date were excluded. Cox models were used to compare incident CVD events by decade, adjusting for age, sex, and CVD risk factors. Results The study included 905 patients with RA and 904 non-RA subjects. Cumulative incidence of any CVD event was lower in patients with incident RA in the 2000s vs the 1980s. The HR for any incident CVD in the 2000s vs 1980s was 0.53 (95% CI 0.31–0.93). The strength of association attenuated after adjustment for anti-rheumatic medication use (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.34–1.22). Patients with RA in the 2000s had no excess in CVD over non-RA subjects (HR 0.71, 95% CI 0.42–1.19). Risk of death after a CVD event was somewhat lower in patients with RA after the 1980s with an HR of 0.54 (95% CI 0.33–0.90) in the 1990s vs 1980s and 0.68 (95% CI 0.33–1.41) in the 2000s vs 1980s. Conclusion The incidence of major CVD events in RA has declined in recent decades. The gap in CVD occurrence between patients with RA and the general population is closing. Mortality after CVD events in RA may be improving.
Efficient and Private Divisible Double Auction in Trusted Execution Environment

Auction mechanisms for exchanging divisible resources (e.g., electricity, cloud resources, and network bandwidth) among distributed agents have been extensively studied. In particular, divisible double auction allows both buyers and sellers to dynamically submit their prices until convergence. However, severe privacy concerns may arise in the double auctions since all the agents may have to disclose their sensitive data such as the bid profiles (i.e., bid amounts and prices in different iterations) to other agents for resource allocation. To address such concerns, we propose an efficient and private auction system ETA by co-designing the divisible double auction mechanism with the Intel SGX, which executes the computation for auction while ensuring confidentiality and integrity for the buyers/sellers’ sensitive data. Furthermore, ETA seals the bid profiles to achieve a Progressive Second Price (PSP) auction for optimally allocating divisible resources while ensuring truthfulness with a Nash Equilibrium. Finally, we conduct experiments to validate the performance of private auction system ETA.
Voltage Breakdown Characteristics of Microwave Antennas

The problem of voltage breakdown and its effects is discussed for a pulse antenna system. Voltage breakdown occurs at power levels when the pressure is reduced. The minimum breakdown potential occurs approximately at the pressure where the frequency of collision between electrons and gas atoms is equal to the frequency of the applied field. Experiments were made to determine the power levels required to produce breakdown and the effect of breakdown on the VSWR, pulse shape, radiation pattern, and radiated power. It is shown that all four of the quantities vary with pulse width and peak power.
Patriots, Politics, and the Oklahoma City Bombing

1. Codicil to a Patriot profile 2. Patriots, political process, and social movements 3. Historical context of Patriot insurgency 4. The farm crisis, threat attribution, and Patriot mobilization 5. State mobilization: building the trajectory of contention 6. The gun rights network and nascent Patriots: rise of a threat spiral 7. Movement-state attributions of war: Ruby Ridge and Waco 8. Patriot insurgency and the Oklahoma City bombing 9. Patriot movement demobilization and decline.
Localizations of $$ U_{q}(\mathfrak{s}\mathfrak{l}(2))$$ and Uq((1|2))$$ U_{q}(\mathfrak{o}\mathfrak{s}\mathfrak{p}(1\vert 2))$$ Associated with Euclidean and Super Euclidean Algebras

We construct homomorphisms from the Euclidean and super Euclidean algebras, \( \mathfrak{i}\mathfrak{s}\mathfrak{o}(2)\) and \( U(\widetilde{\mathfrak{i}\mathfrak{s}\mathfrak{o}}(2))\), onto their images in localizations of \( U_{q}(\mathfrak{s}\mathfrak{l}(2))\) and \( U_{q}(\mathfrak{o}\mathfrak{s}\mathfrak{p}(1\vert 2))\), respectively, and, conversely, we describe homomorphisms of \( U_{q}(\mathfrak{s}\mathfrak{l}(2))\) and \( U_{q}(\mathfrak{o}\mathfrak{s}\mathfrak{p}(1\vert 2))\) into localizations of \( U(\mathfrak{i}\mathfrak{s}\mathfrak{o}(2))\) and \( U(\widetilde{\mathfrak{i}\mathfrak{s}\mathfrak{o}}(2))\). These homomorphisms give results on the relationship between the representation theory of the respective algebras, and, in particular, lead to new representations of \( U_{q}(\mathfrak{o}\mathfrak{s}\mathfrak{p}(1\vert 2))\).
Urban Forced Removals in Rio de Janeiro and Los Angeles: North-South Similarities in Race and City

In April of 2010, Rio de Janeiro’s mayor, Eduardo Paes, announced that two in-city, poor, and largely Afro-Brazilian neighborhoods, Morro dos Prazeres and Laboriaux, would be cleared and all inhabitants would be forced to move. Despite devastating winter storms, which had indicated again the precariousness of Rio’s hillside favelas, this was not really new news. Rio’s favelas have experienced a century of forced removal. The early neighborhoods were built in historically undesirable, beautiful, but steeply inaccessible parts of Rio, and today these are important pieces of Rio’s real estate. For more than a century, many such favelas have allowed poor, working class Afro-Brazilians immediate access to the city below. While there are incredible challenges with living in neighborhoods cut off from good, or in some cases even basic, city services and infrastructure, the resources of the city at large continued to make these neighborhoods highly desirable for those who lived, and as importantly, worked there. Cities across the globe use this mandate for the forced movement of poor populations out of in-city urban neighborhoods.