cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evidence that protons act as neurotransmitters at vestibular hair cell-calyx afferent synapses

Present data support the conclusion that protons serve as an important neurotransmitter to convey excitatory stimuli from inner ear type I vestibular hair cells to postsynaptic calyx nerve terminals. Time-resolved pH imaging revealed stimulus-evoked extrusion of protons from hair cells and a subsequent buildup of [H(+)] within the confined chalice-shaped synaptic cleft (ΔpH ∼ -0.2). Whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings revealed a concomitant nonquantal excitatory postsynaptic current in the calyx terminal that was causally modulated by cleft acidification. The time course of [H(+)] buildup limits the speed of this intercellular signaling mechanism, but for tonic signals such as gravity, protonergic transmission offers a significant metabolic advantage over quantal excitatory postsynaptic currents--an advantage that may have driven the proliferation of postsynaptic calyx terminals in the inner ear vestibular organs of contemporary amniotes.
Comparative evaluation of latency reducing and tolerating techniques

Techniques that can cope with the large latency of memory accesses are essential for achieving high processor utilization in large-scale shared-memory multiprocessors. In this paper, we consider four architectural techniques that address the latency problem: (i) hardware coherent caches, (ii) relaxed memory consistency, (iii) softwareconuolled prefetching, and (iv) multiple-context suppon. We some studies of benefits of the individual techniques have been done, no Study evaluates all of the techniques within a consistent framework. This paper attempts to remedy this by providing a comprehensive evaluation of the benefits of the four techniques, both individually and in combinations, using a consistent set of architectural assumptions. The results in this paper have been obtained using detailed simulations of a large-scale shared-memory multiprocessor. Our results show that caches and relaxed consistency UNformly improve performance. The improvements due to prefetching and multiple contexts are sizeable, but are much more applicationdependent. Combinations of the various techniques generally amin better performance than each one on its own. Overall, we show that using suitahle combinations of the techniques, performance can be improved by 4 to 7 dmes
Particle Production During Out-of-equilibrium Phase Transitions

Techniques are developed to calculate the energy production in quantum fields which obtain a mass through the spontaneous symmetry breaking of a second field which is undergoing a phase transition. All fields are assumed to be out of thermal equilibrium and weakly coupled. The energy produced in a field, which is initially in its ground state, is computed for two generic types of time-dependent masses: a roughly monotonic turn on of the mass and an oscillatory mass. The formalism is applied to the questions of particle production and reheating in inflationary universe models. Requirements are found which the couplings in new-inflation-type models must satisfy for efficient reheating to occur.
DBPubs: multidimensional exploration of database publications

DBPubs is a system for effectively analyzing and exploring the content of database publications by combining keyword search with OLAP-style aggregations, navigation, and reporting. DBPubs starts with keyword search over the content of publications. The publications' metadata such as title, authors, venues, year, and so on, provide traditional OLAP static dimensions, which are combined with dynamic dimensions discovered from the content of the publications in the search result, such as frequent phrases, relevant phrases, and topics. We compute publication ranks based on the link structure between documents, i.e., citations, and aggregate them to find seminal papers, discover trends, and rank authors. We deploy an OLAP tool for multidimensional content exploration through traditional OLAP rollup-drilldown operations on the static and dynamic dimensions, solutions for multi-cube analysis, dynamic navigation of the content, and highlighting of interesting dices of the multidimensional content dataspace.
Captopril prevents experimental autoimmune myocarditis

Captopril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, is widely used in the treatment of a variety of cardiomyopathies, but its effect on autoimmune myocarditis has not been addressed experimentally. We investigated the effect of captopril on myosin-induced experimental autoimmune myocarditis. A/J mice, immunized with syngeneic cardiac myosin, were given 75 mg/L of captopril in their drinking water. Captopril dramatically reduced the incidence and severity of myocarditis, which was accompanied by a reduction in heart weight to body weight ratio and heart weight. Captopril specifically interfered with cell-mediated immunity as myosin delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) was reduced, while anti-myosin Ab production was not affected. Captopril-treated, OVA-immunized mice also exhibited a decrease in OVA DTH. In myosin-immunized, untreated mice, injection of captopril directly into the test site also suppressed myosin DTH. Interestingly, captopril did not directly affect Ag-specific T cell responsiveness because neither in vivo nor in vitro captopril treatment affected the proliferation, IFN-γ secretion, or IL-2 secretion by Ag-stimulated cultured splenocytes. These results indicate that captopril ameliorates experimental autoimmune myocarditis and may act, at least in part, by interfering with the recruitment of cells to sites of inflammation and the local inflammatory environment.
Treatment of atherosclerosis in the new millennium: is there a role for vitamin E?

Oxidative stress appears to be of fundamental relevance to diseases as diverse as atherosclerosis, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease. Observational data in humans have suggested that antioxidant vitamin intake is associated with reduced cardiovascular disease. Animal studies are largely consistent with the concept that dietary supplementation with antioxidant vitamins reduces the progression of atherosclerosis. However, recent prospective, controlled clinical trials of vitamin E, including the Cardiovascular Disease, Hypertension and Hyperlipidemia, Adult-Onset Diabetes, Obesity, and Stroke (CHAOS) study, the Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation (HOPE) trial, Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio della Sopravvivvenza nell'Infarto Miocardico (GISSI)-Prevenzione trial, the Secondary Prevention with Antioxidants of Cardiovascular Disease in End Stage Renal Disease (SPACE) trial, and the Heart Protection Study (HPS) present a confused picture. The various possibilities that have been advanced to explain this discrepancy are discussed in this review. A striking feature of these and other trials of antioxidants is the absence of a biochemical basis for patient inclusion or, indeed, dose selection. Patients with high levels of oxidant stress or depletion of natural antioxidant defense systems may be the most likely to benefit from antioxidant therapy. If this is the case, then reliable, quantitative indices of in vivo oxidant stress such as urinary isoprostane levels should be considered as an inclusion criterion for patient selection. Future trials of antioxidant therapy in cardiovascular disease should then be targeted toward such patients with high levels of oxidant stress or patients with depletion of natural antioxidant defense systems. Furthermore, the dose of antioxidant should be chosen based on a surrogate readout that is a reliable, reproducible, and easily obtainable in vivo measure of oxidant stress. In the interim, although the safety of vitamin E up to doses of 800 IU/day has been determined, the conflicting nature of the results published to date encourages us to avoid making premature recommendations with respect to vitamin E supplementation in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.
Modified tree structure for location management in mobile environments

Suggests a new data structure for location management in mobile networks. The data structure is based on the tree location database structure. The authors suggest replacing the root and some of the higher levels of the tree with another structure that balances the average load of search requests. For this modification they use a set-ary butterfly network, which is a generalization of the well-known k-ary butterfly. They also suggest modifying the lowest level of the tree in order to reflect neighboring geographical regions more accurately and to support simple location data management. The modification of the lowest level also supports simple handoffs. The update of the proposed location database ensures correct location data following any number of transient faults that corrupt the location database information and thus is self-stabilizing.
Benjamin Franklin Unmasked: On the Unity of His Moral, Religious, and Political Thought – By Jerry Weinberger

This is an absurd and egregiously ahistorical book, oozing with ersatz profundity. The earnest and intellectual author takes a long time unpacking his thesis: Franklin was a genius full of contradi...
Stepwise Regression in Mixed Quantitative Linear Models with Autocorrelated Errors

ABSTRACT In the stepwise procedure of selection of a fixed or a random explanatory variable in a mixed quantitative linear model with errors following a Gaussian stationary autocorrelated process, we have studied the efficiency of five estimators relative to Generalized Least Squares (GLS): Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), Maximum Likelihood (ML), Restricted Maximum Likelihood (REML), First Differences (FD), and First-Difference Ratios (FDR). We have also studied the validity and power of seven derived testing procedures, to assess the significance of the slope of the candidate explanatory variable x 2 to enter the model in which there is already one regressor x 1. In addition to five testing procedures of the literature, we considered the FDR t-test with n − 3 df and the modified t-test with nˆ − 3 df for partial correlations, where nˆ is Dutilleul's effective sample size. Efficiency, validity, and power were analyzed by Monte Carlo simulations, as functions of the nature, fixed vs. random (purely random or...
Crystal Structures of β-Neurexin 1 and β-Neurexin 2 Ectodomains and Dynamics of Splice Insertion Sequence 4

Presynaptic neurexins (NRXs) bind to postsynaptic neuroligins (NLs) to form Ca(2+)-dependent complexes that bridge neural synapses. beta-NRXs bind NLs through their LNS domains, which contain a single site of alternative splicing (splice site 4) giving rise to two isoforms: +4 and Delta. We present crystal structures of the Delta isoforms of the LNS domains from beta-NRX1 and beta-NRX2, crystallized in the presence of Ca(2+) ions. The Ca(2+)-binding site is disordered in the beta-NRX2 structure, but the 1.7 A beta-NRX1 structure reveals a single Ca(2+) ion, approximately 12 A from the splice insertion site, with one coordinating ligand donated by a glutamic acid from an adjacent beta-NRX1 molecule. NMR studies of beta-NRX1+4 show that the insertion sequence is unstructured, and remains at least partially disordered in complex with NL. These results raise the possibility that beta-NRX insertion sequence 4 may function in roles independent of neuroligin binding.
Germination and seedling growth of Quercus (section Erythrobalanus) across openings in a mixed-deciduous forest of southern New England, USA

Abstract In this study three species of the genus Quercus section Erythrobalanus (Quercus coccinea, Quercus rubra, Quercus velutina) were investigated. All occur together as canopy trees in forests of southern New England. Acorns of each Quercus species were planted in plots located in five zones that represent a range of forest gap/canopy conditions that can occur within a southern New England forest. These five zones were demarcated adjacent to and across large openings of two physiographic sites—valley and ridgetop. Experiments were designed to monitor germination and initial growth of seedlings for the first three growing seasons. During the start of the first growing season germination was monitored. At the end of the first growing season measurements of height and number of flushes were taken and destructive samples of seedlings made for dry mass of root, stem and leaves. At the end of the third growing season height was recorded for surviving seedlings. Comparisons were made of germination and growth of seedlings located in the different gap/canopy conditions. Results demonstrated clear differences in patterns of germination and early growth among species and among gap/canopy conditions of the sites. All species showed an increased lag in germination with reduced amounts of light. Highest growth and flushing rate were in the center conditions of the openings for all species during the first growing season. Quercus rubra had the greatest height growth the first growing season but a lower number of flushes than Q. velutina and Q. coccinea. In comparison with the other species, Q. rubra had the greatest total dry mass in most gap/canopy conditions after the first growing season. However, Q. velutina had the greatest total dry mass in the center of the ridgetop opening. In almost all gap/canopy conditions Q. velutina had greater proportions of dry mass allocated to roots compared with the other species. After 3 years, greatest height growth in any of the gap/canopy conditions was recorded for all three species in the center of the valley site. Under this condition Q. rubra had significantly greater growth than Q. velutina and Q. coccinea. Quercus rubra also had significantly greater height growth and survival beneath the canopy conditions of the valley site than the other species. On the ridgetop site regeneration failed to establish beneath canopy conditions that provided low amounts of light. Quercus velutina showed greatest height growth after three years in the center and edge conditions of the ridgetop opening compared with the other species. Environmental influences that determine species germination and growth performance are suggested.
Detection of acute myocardial ischemic injury by gender using a novel cardiac electrical biomarker.

Abstract Objective The objective of this study us to stratify by gender a new cardiac electrical biomarker (CEB) diagnostic accuracy for detection of acute myocardial ischemic injury (AMII). Methods This is a noninferiority retrospective, case-control, blinded study of 310 archived measured electrocardiograms (ECGs) acquired from 218 men and 92 women. The CEB is constructed from the derived ECG (dECG) synthesized from 3 leads. Electrocardiograms were included if acquired less than or equal to 1 day from patient presentation. Electrocardiograms were interpreted by 2 blinded physicians and adjudicated by consensus. Standard ST analyses and computerized ECG interpretations were active controls. Electrocardiograms were excluded for noise and baseline wander, age younger than 18 years, and ectopic beats in the 10-second ECG acquisition. Diagnostic accuracy measures of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and likelihood ratios were stratified by gender. Measured vs derived ECG correlations were quantitatively compared using Pearson correlation and qualitatively by percent agreement methodology. Results The CEB sensitivities for AMII detection in men and women were 93.9% and 90.5%, respectively, and CEB specificities were 90.7% and 95.2%, respectively, and were superior to active controls. Derived and measured ECGs showed high correlation for both men and women with r = 0.857 and r = 0.893, respectively. Reference standard intra-agreement analysis for measured ECGs and dECGs with AMII was 99.4%. Conclusions The CEB demonstrates high diagnostic accuracy for detection of AMII in men and women. The ECG can be derived with accuracy from 3 leads. This technology is an efficient real-time method of identifying patients with AMII who are being monitored in acute care settings.
A Perspective on the History of Chemical Ionization (CI) in Mass Spectrometry

Abstract This article provides a brief history of chemical ionization from its origins in fundamental studies of ion molecule physical studies. It then focuses on the development of commercial CI sources by several different manufacturers with a principal emphasis on the pioneering work of Scientific Research Instruments.
Values and Prosocial Behaviour in the Global Context: Why Values Predict Public Support for Foreign Development Assistance to Developing Countries:

Do basic human values facilitate prosocial behaviour on a global scale? This study, for the first time, analyzes the effect of values on prosocial behaviour in the context of public support for for...
Surface Charge Controls the Suborgan Biodistributions of Gold Nanoparticles

Surface chemistry plays a deciding role in nanoparticle biodistribution, yet very little is known about how surface chemistry influences the suborgan distributions of nanomaterials. Here, using quantitative imaging based on laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), we demonstrate that surface charge dictates the suborgan distributions of nanoparticles in the kidney, liver, and spleen of mice intravenously injected with functionalized gold nanoparticles. Images of the kidney show that positively charged nanoparticles accumulate extensively in the glomeruli, the initial stage in filtering for the nephron, suggesting that these nanoparticles may be filtered by the kidney at a different rate than the neutral or negatively charged nanoparticles. We find that positively and negatively charged nanoparticles accumulate extensively in the red pulp of the spleen. In contrast, uncharged nanoparticles accumulate in the white pulp and marginal zone of the spleen to a greater extent than ...
Antiproliferative effects of masitinib and imatinib against canine oral fibrosarcoma in vitro

Canine oral fibrosarcoma (COF) is one of the most common oral tumors in dogs and carries a guarded prognosis due to a lack of effective systemic therapeutic options. Mastinib and imatinib are two commonly used tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in veterinary oncology but their potential efficacy against COF is uncharacterized. To begin investigating the rationale for use of these TKIs against COF, the present study tested for the presence TKI targets PDGFR-α, PDGFR-β, Kit, and VEGFR-2 and examined the in vitro effects on cell viability after TKI treatment alone or with doxorubicin. Immunohistochemistry for PDGFR-α, PDGFR-β, Kit, and VEGFR-2 was performed in 6 COF tumor biopsies. Presence of these same receptors within 2 COF cell lines was probed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and, for those with mRNA detected, confirmed via western blot. Effects on cell viability were assessed using an MTS assay after masitinib or imatinib treatment alone (0-100 μM), or in combination with doxorubicin (0-3000 nM doxorubicin). Anti-PDGFRB siRNA knockdown was performed and the effect on cell viability quantified. Expression of the TKI targets evaluated was similar between the 2 COF cell lines and the 6 COF tumor biopsies: PDGFR-α and PDGFR-β were detected in neoplastic cells from most COF tumor biopsies (5/6 and 6/6, respectively) and were present in both COF cell lines; KIT and KDR were not detected in any sample. Masitinib and imatinib IC50 values ranged from 7.9–33.4 μM, depending on the specific TKI and cell line tested. The addition of doxorubicin resulted in synergistic cytotoxicity with both TKIs. Anti-PDGFRB siRNA transfection reduced PDGFR-β protein expression by 77 % and 67 % and reduced cell viability by 24 % (p < 0.0001) and 28 % (0 = 0.0003) in the two cell lines, respectively. These results provide rationale for further investigation into the use of TKIs, possibly in combination with doxorubicin, as treatment options for COF.
Developing virtue and rehabilitating vice: Worries about self-cultivation and self-reform

AbstractAristotelian virtue theorists have emphasized the role of the self in developing virtue and in rehabilitating vice. But this article argues that, as Aristotelians, we have placed too much emphasis on self-cultivation and self-reform. Self-cultivation is not required for developing virtue or vice. Nor will sophia-inspired self-reform jumpstart change in the vicious person. In each case, the external environment has an important role to play. One can unwittingly acquire virtues or vices from one’s environment. Likewise, a well-designed environment may be the key ingredient for jumpstarting change in the vicious person. Self-cultivation and late-stage self-reform are not ruled out, but the role of the self in character development and rehabilitation is not as exalted as we might have thought.
Design and execution of Dawn HAMO to LAMO transfer at Ceres

On October 23, 2015, the Dawn spacecraft left the High Altitude Mapping Orbit (HAMO) around Ceres and began its final decent to the Low Altitude Mapping Orbit (LAMO), arriving on December 15. The transfer between the two science orbits, a tight spiraling trajectory with over 100 revolutions, required the operations team to perform weekly maneuver designs for a period of 50 days. While the first six weeks of the transfer executed as planned, unexpectedly the spacecraft incurred a multi-sigma delivery error to the final science orbit that was subsequently clean-up at the first orbit maintenance maneuver. In this paper we discuss the design architecture for the transfer in detail, including challenges the team faced in flying the transfer and lessons learned.
Theoretical modeling of boundary conditions in microfabricated beams

The authors report detailed modeling of step-up boundary conditions in surface micromachined beams and investigate their effects on the onset of buckling in doubly supported beams. Both cantilever and doubly supported beams are considered. Finite element analysis is used to accurately model the mechanical behavior of the step-up boundary conditions. An extended beam model which uses equivalent torsional and axial stiffnesses in conjunction with a simply supported boundary condition is developed to account for the finite stiffness of a step-up boundary condition. The finite element results are used to calculate the values of the equivalent stiffnesses of the extended beam model for practical geometries of step-up boundary conditions. The extended beam model is used to calculate buckling loads for doubly supported beams. Equivalent stiffness values for torsional and axial springs are for geometries of practical importance to microelectromechanical systems. >
Disruptive silence: deepening experiential learning in the absence of technology

ABSTRACTTechnology plays an integral role in the lives of the majority of the US population. As technology becomes integrated into young people’s lives, questions arise regarding its effects on learning. This exploratory study draws on interviews with students who attend university in the United States to determine how separating students from technology deepens experiential learning. Participants were interviewed following a study abroad course to New Zealand, during which they were disconnected from technologies such as cell phones, the Internet and social media. In the interviews, students discussed their feelings of being disconnected and describe how disconnecting impacted their overall experience. Participants agreed that disconnecting from technology had positive effects on experiential learning and the global experience. Major themes that emerged include students’ enhanced immersion and engagement, the value of disconnection in providing opportunities for personal growth and the difficulty of init...
Aquaculture of Animal Species

Aquaculture, defined as cultivation of both freshwater and marine aquatic species, is well documented as early as 2000 BC (20). Though aquaculture has been practiced through the ages, it has never received as much attention as it has during the last twenty years. This interest has undoubtedly been promoted by the world’s quest for answers to human nutritional problems and the limitations of our natural fisheries.
Minocycline in Multiple Sclerosis — Compelling Results but Too Early to Tell

Care for persons with multiple sclerosis has evolved as options for disease-modifying treatments have expanded. The high cost of current treatments1 has stimulated interest in repurposing existing, lower-cost drugs as new therapies for multiple sclerosis. One appealing candidate is minocycline, a relatively safe and inexpensive synthetic tetracycline that crosses the blood–brain barrier.2 Minocycline has antiinflammatory and antiapoptotic properties beyond its antibiotic activity. As an antiinflammatory agent, minocycline inhibits reactive microgliosis, production of interleukin-1β, up-regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase, and activation of CD4+ T cells.3–5 As an antiapoptotic agent, the drug impedes cellular stress–mediated release of caspase-dependent and caspase-independent . . .
Invention and Reinvention in Modern South Korean Shamanism

The historical records of Korean spiritual life establishes an essential trinity of faiths that have built the nation's religious experiences while wrestling and negotiating with each other in relative peace. Buddhism and Confucianism have long been seen the two stalwarts of the spirits and moral reinforcement, while the recent introduction of Christianity has become a symbol of modernity. However, one of the most overlooked features of Korea's pre-history, history, and current reality has been the function of Shamans within the cultural and religious backdrop of the longest unified state. With the fracturing of the Korean peninsula and the sudden and nearly all-penetrating influence of globalization, the Shamanic traditions have shown the historical ability to adapt to change in their rituals and their social roles while continuing to today.
The Percolation Transition for the Zero-Temperature Stochastic Ising Model on the Hexagonal Lattice

On the planar hexagonal lattice \(\mathbb{H}\), we analyze the Markov process whose state σ(t), in \(\{ - 1, + 1\} ^\mathbb{H} \), updates each site v asynchronously in continuous time t≥0, so that σv(t) agrees with a majority of its (three) neighbors. The initial σv(0)'s are i.i.d. with P[σv(0)=+1]=p∈[0,1]. We study, both rigorously and by Monte Carlo simulation, the existence and nature of the percolation transition as t→∞ and p→1/2. Denoting by χ+(t,p) the expected size of the plus cluster containing the origin, we (1) prove that χ+(∞,1/2)=∞ and (2) study numerically critical exponents associated with the divergence of χ+(∞,p) as p↑1/2. A detailed finite-size scaling analysis suggests that the exponents γ and ν of this t=∞ (dependent) percolation model have the same values, 4/3 and 43/18, as standard two-dimensional independent percolation. We also present numerical evidence that the rate at which σ(t)→σ(∞) as t→∞ is exponential.
Predictors of Mortality in Elder Patients With Proximal Humeral Fracture.

Background:Known possible consequences of proximal humerus fractures include impaired shoulder function, decreased independence, and increased risk for mortality. The purpose of this report is to d...
Predictive Link Following Plug-In For Web Browsers

We demonstrate a target-aware pointing assistance software plug-in for web browsers. Web browsing can be difficult for people with motor impairments because of small links and cluttered web pages. The lack of high-precision movements presents a challenge for such interfaces because clicks may miss a link, or links may be followed unintentionally. Our approach is based on Predictive Link Following which alleviates the difficulties with link selection when using mouse replacement interfaces by predicting which link should be clicked based on the proximity of the cursor to the link. We previously presented and evaluated this method as lab-based experiments that were restricted to our custom web pages. We here demonstrate a plug-in for web browsers that allows our method to work on any web page. This publication accompanies the public release of the software as a freely-available download.
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and the potential role of mast cell activation

Though a sizeable amount of data connects mast cell activity to the neurologic system, less is known about the true clinical implications of this relationship. Even less is understood about treatment strategies in those with both allergic and neurologic complaints. This is particularly true in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a common type of dysautonomia, where patients are burdened by symptoms of orthostatic cerebral hypoperfusion and several other comorbidities that are likely influenced by autonomic tone. Some patients describe characteristic allergic symptoms, in the absence of typical IgE mediated triggers, and also improvement with traditional mast cell directed medications. Further work is necessary to determine whether these anecdotal observations are valid. The answer to this question will likely be addressed as the mechanisms of POTS are better characterized, which may include a phenotype with distinct mast cell involvement.
Reconstructed discontinuous Galerkin methods for linear advection–diffusion equations based on first-order hyperbolic system

Abstract Newly developed reconstructed Discontinuous Galerkin (rDG) methods are presented for solving linear advection–diffusion equations on hybrid unstructured grids based on a first-order hyperbolic system (FOHS) formulation. Benefiting from both FOHS and rDG methods, the developed hyperbolic rDG methods are reliable, accurate, efficient, and robust, achieving higher orders of accuracy than conventional DG methods for the same number of degrees-of-freedom. Superior accuracy is achieved by reconstruction of higher-order terms in the solution polynomial via gradient variables introduced to form a hyperbolic diffusion system and least-squares/variational reconstruction. Unsteady capability is demonstrated by an L-stable implicit time-integration scheme. A number of advection–diffusion test cases with a wide range of Reynolds numbers, including boundary layer type problems and unsteady cases, are presented to assess accuracy and performance of the newly developed hyperbolic rDG methods. Numerical experiments demonstrate that the hyperbolic rDG methods are able to achieve the designed optimal order of accuracy for both solutions and their derivatives on regular, irregular, and heterogeneous grids, indicating that the developed hyperbolic rDG methods provide an attractive and probably an even superior alternative for solving the linear advection–diffusion equations.
The initiation of the tissue factor dependent pathway of blood coagulation.

A schematic representation of a present concept of the blood coagulation reactions is shown in Figure 1. In my lecture I will discuss two questions related to the reactions shown in the upper left hand portion of this figure, ie., to the tissue factor dependent pathway of blood coagulation.
Hole-Size Effects in Pultruded Composites

The stress-gradient effects on the fracture strength of materials have been recognized for a long time. In metals, Neuber's elementary block theory has been used to explain why the actual strength reduction due to notches is less than that indicated by the stress-concentration factor. In fiber-reinforced composites, the same concept was renamed as the “hole-size effect,” giving rise to a “point-stress characteristic dimension” and an “average-stress characteristic dimension.”
Nonsuicidal Self-Injury: A Neglected Public Health Problem Among Adolescents.

An editorial is presented which addresses nonsuicidal self-injuries (NSSIs) inflicted by adolescents, and it mentions public health and another article which appears in the same issue of the journal and deals with the health risk behaviors that are associated with NSSI. A population-based survey of high school students in Minnesota is examined, along with the risk factors for attempting suicide. 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) data is assessed.
A methodology for the measurement and evaluation of complex system designs

Most complex systems incorporate hardware, software and humanware elements operating synergistically under conflicting functional and nonfunctional objectives. These systems are usually embedded, mission-critical, performance-critical, real-time, distributed, highly integrated, heterogeneous, cost millions of dollars, and take many years to develop. Examples include space stations, combat vessels and aircraft, nuclear power stations, communication networks, and robotics-based manufacturing. Early system design evaluation is essential to assess a design's potential for satisfying operational and budgetary requirements, since a significant percentage of the system life cycle cost is committed by design decisions made early in the system life cycle. However, at the design decision point, knowledge of technology, the operational environment, the political climate, etc., on which to make technically effective and cost efficient decisions is incomplete. Consequently, early design evaluation approaches are needed which yield credible results in the presence of incomplete knowledge. This dissertation describes a multifaceted methodology for complex system design measurement and evaluation which exploits experience, techniques, and heuristics of technical and operational domain experts. The methodology is computer and knowledge based, and includes indicator-based assessment, visual simulation, the analytic hierarchy process, and fuzzy mathematics. The use of this methodology enables qualitative and quantitative measurement and evaluation of system designs at any level of detail desired. An independent assessment of the methodology by researchers and systems engineering practitioners from the DOD, other federal government agencies, commercial industry, and academia affirmed the methodology to be a useful approach in the measurement and evaluation of complex system designs.
Amphiphilic second-order phase transitions determined through NMR

Abstract In this work, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is used to investigate surfactant phase behavior over a broad concentration region. This technique is an adaptation of a previously developed method applied to detect the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of surfactants. In this method, a surfactant concentration is correlated to the normalized intensity, or area, of the NMR signal for each surfactant. In this procedure a linear relationship develops on either side of the CMC, with a distinct change in slope where the primary phase change occurs. The research conducted herein investigates the NMR response at higher surfactant concentration, where the phase change consists of a change in micelle shape or other structural configurations. These secondary phase transitions can be expected from 10 to 90 wt.%, where the CMC measurements are conducted at concentrations
Abstract 966: Oncogenic signaling pathways differentially regulate clathrin-mediated endocytosis in cancer cells

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME), the major endocytic pathway, regulates the rates of internalization of receptors as well as their downstream signaling activities. Recently, our lab has discovered that signaling can reciprocally regulate CME in cancer cells. The crosstalk between signaling and CME contributes to abnormal trafficking of signaling receptors and altered downstream signaling, leading to enhanced cancer metastasis. Accordingly, it is important to understand the nature and extent of interactions between CME and intracellular signaling in cancer cell biology. To address this issue, we targeted a set of prioritized kinases that are often implicated in cancer-relevant signaling pathways using validated pharmacologic inhibitors and compared their effects on CME function using different models for human noncancerous and cancer cells. We found that inhibition of several kinases selectively affected CME function in cancer cells. Notably, ERK inhibition had the most significant and consistent effects on CME activity across different types of cancer cells, while not affecting CME in several noncancerous cell lines tested. We established that a second ERK inhibitor, and importantly inhibition of the essential upstream kinase MEK, had the same cancer cell-specific effects on CME activity. Furthermore, we found that inhibition of ERK dramatically reduced the rate of clathrin-coated pit (CCP) initiation selectively in cancer cells. Characterization of one potential ERK substrate, FCHSD2, showed that knockdown of FCHSD2 had the similar cancer cell-specific effects on CME activity and on CCP initiation rate and that the cells depleted for FCHSD2 were insensitive to ERK inhibition. Surprisingly, the expression level of FCHSD2 is positively correlated with higher cancer patient survival rate, suggesting that FCHSD2 might be a tumor suppressor regulated by ERK. Our study provides new insight into the mechanisms and consequences of the reciprocal regulation of signaling and CME in cancer cells. Citation Format: Guan-Yu Xiao, Sandra Schmid. Oncogenic signaling pathways differentially regulate clathrin-mediated endocytosis in cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 966.
Gene Expression Signatures Point to a Male Sex-Specific Lung Mesenchymal Cell PDGF Receptor Signaling Defect in Infants Developing Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Male sex is a risk factor for development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a common chronic lung disease following preterm birth. We previously found that tracheal aspirate mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from premature infants developing BPD show reduced expression of PDGFRα, which is required for normal lung development. We hypothesized that MSCs from male infants developing BPD exhibit a pathologic gene expression profile deficient in PDGFR and its downstream effectors, thereby favoring delayed lung development. In a discovery cohort of 6 male and 7 female premature infants, we analyzed the tracheal aspirate MSCs transcriptome. A unique gene signature distinguished MSCs from male infants developing BPD from all other MSCs. Genes involved in lung development, PDGF signaling and extracellular matrix remodeling were differentially expressed. We sought to confirm these findings in a second cohort of 13 male and 12 female premature infants. mRNA expression of PDGFRA, FGF7, WNT2, SPRY1, MMP3 and FOXF2 were significantly lower in MSCs from male infants developing BPD. In female infants developing BPD, tracheal aspirate levels of proinflammatory CCL2 and profibrotic Galectin-1 were higher compared to male infants developing BPD and female not developing BPD. Our findings support a notion for sex-specific differences in the mechanisms of BPD development.
Historical record of an alligator gar, Atractosteus spatula (Lacépède, 1803), captured on the floodplain of the Middle Mississippi River at Columbia, Illinois, USA

Historical photographs, newspapers, and interviews can provide useful information on the abundance, distribution, and habitat use of rare fish species and can be useful in the development of conservation and management plans for target species. We report on the historical occurrence of Atractosteus spatula (alligator gar) on the Middle Mississippi River (MMR) floodplain near Columbia, Illinois (Monroe County), approximately 280.5 river kilometers above the Ohio River (River Mile 168) during the spring of 1937. Based on measurements taken from a photograph of a captured specimen and Mr. Paul Lopinot's recollection of the specimen's weight, the alligator gar was approximately 2.0 m total length and weighed 60 kg. An additional 25–30 large alligator gar were observed on the floodplain approximately 3.6 km from the river. The loss of seasonally inundated floodplain habitat due to construction of an extensive agricultural levee system on the MMR may be a contributing factor to the decline of the alligator gar in the northern portion of its range.
When Disney came to Broadway: Assessing the impact of corporatization in an art world

Abstract This article explores the commercial and creative impact of diversified corporations on artistic production. Drawing on original data from 70 seasons of Broadway musical theater, I examine the relationship between measures of corporate involvement in theater production and measures of content innovation and success. Contrary to my hypotheses, I find that musicals produced by diversified corporations are not systematically less innovative than musicals produced solely by non-corporate producers, as levels of innovation vary across measures. However, average levels of innovation on Broadway have declined over time due, in part, to the growing number of diversified-corporate musicals in the market. With respect to success, I observe two systematic trends. First, relative to non-corporate musicals, diversified-corporate musicals achieved equivalent to exceptional success as they were establishing themselves in Broadway’s theater market. Second, the relative success of diversified-corporate musicals declined as their prevalence in Broadway’s theater market grew. Together, these findings highlight the non-trivial ways in which an artistic market can change when corporate involvement in artistic production grows.
The Family Adjustment Measure: Identifying Stress in Parents of Youth with Autism

Families caring for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a unique parenting experience and often report high stress. Resilience factors such as coping and social support are linked to positive family outcomes and protect against stress. The Family Adjustment Measure (FAM) was developed as a screener for both parental stress and coping, and in the current study, we validated its use for ASD-affected families. With data from parents of children and adolescents with rigorously-confirmed ASD diagnoses (n = 362), we also used receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) analyses to identify cut-off scores, sensitivity, and specificity for the FAM’s four subscales, which differed for parents of children versus parents of adolescents. For parents of children, FAM subscale cut-off scores were: Parental Distress = 16.5 (78% sensitivity, 64% specificity); Social Support = 30.5 (70% sensitivity, 52% specificity); Family-Based Support = 27.5 (73% sensitivity, 57% specificity); and Positive Coping = 24.5 (58% sensitivity, 54% specificity). For parents of adolescents, FAM subscale cut-points were: Parental Distress = 18.5 (83% sensitivity, 82% specificity); Social Support = 30.5 (73% sensitivity, 51% specificity); Family-Based Support = 28.5 (80% sensitivity, 62% specificity); and Positive Coping = 22.5 (70% sensitivity, 50% specificity). Results support the validity of using the FAM subscales to predict clinically-significant stress within families of both children and adolescents with ASD, though the differing cut-off scores underscore the need for age-related considerations when working with ASD-affected families. Findings suggest potential clinical utility of using the FAM to identify unique risk and protective factors of families raising children and adolescents.
Endoscopic Management of Stomal Stenosis

The number of bariatric procedures being performed in the United States continues to increase. The obesity rates in the United States continue to rise as well, despite millions of dollars being spent in healthcare and education to help treat obesity. Currently, the two most common bariatric surgeries performed are the vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) and Roux-en-y gastric bypass (RYGB). With the continued evolution of bariatric procedures, the bariatric surgeon should be comfortable with diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy to evaluate and treat patient complaints and symptoms in the pre- and postoperative period. Complications of the VSG can include postoperative leak, bleeding, and stenosis. Complications associated with RYGB can vary based on timing. During the perioperative period (0–72 h), patients may experience bleeding, venous thromboembolism, myocardial infarction, or leak. Acute complications include bowel obstruction, surgical site infection, venous thromboembolism, pneumonia, and stricture. Anastomotic stricture, marginal ulceration, gastro-gastric or gastrocutaneous fistula, bowel obstruction, hernia, and others can all be seen after 8 weeks postoperatively. This chapter will focus on the utilization of endoscopy to treat stenosis in sleeve and gastric bypass patients. Currently the most common procedure to treat stoma stenosis is endoscopic balloon dilation. Other endoscopic treatment options include self-expandable metal stents, bougie dilation, and needle-knife papillotome. For those patients that fail endoscopic treatment of stoma stenosis, revision surgery may be necessary.
Single-Hydrophone Low-Cost Underwater Vehicle Swarming

Swarms of robots are starting to appear in aerial and ground robotics across multiple operational domains: be it for search-and-rescue mapping, or Olympic light shows, controlled groups of drones are able to be coordinated in groups. This capability does not currently extend to the underwater domain, for a reason of basic physics: the attenuation of light in water is 10 orders of magnitude greater than that in air, rendering ineffective the navigation and communication technologies used in terrestrial robotics. Autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) navigation is either expensive or unwieldy, requiring high-power sensors such as inertial navigation sensors (INS) that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, frequent surfacing for GPS, or the deployment of geo-located acoustic beacons, limiting the operational area which is a severe constraint given the scale of oceanographic sensing. To do swarms of underwater vehicles will require a navigation and communication scheme that allows vehicles to remain together in an area while prosecuting a mission without these constraints. This paper suggests a system that would make underwater swarming possible by using single-transducer, Doppler-based and multi-frequency attenuation-based acoustic navigation without time-synchronization for multi-vehicle swarming. In this solution, a leader with good navigation carries a multi-frequency sound source. Scalable numbers of followers equipped with a custom low-cost acoustic package then adapt heading based on Doppler-shifted frequency and range using multi-frequency difference in absorption. In this paper, the theory behind this technique is presented and tested under different simulation conditions. Design of a prototype low-cost system is also described.
Oil-mineral flocculation and settling velocity in saline water

Abstract Cohesive particles in aquatic systems can play an important role in determining the fate of spilled oil via the generation of Oil-Mineral Aggregates (OMAs). Series of laboratory experiments have been conducted aiming at filling the knowledge gap regarding how cohesive clay particles influence the accumulation of petroleum through forming different aggregate structures and their resulting settling velocity. OMAs have been successfully created in a stirring jar with artificial sea-water, crude oil and two types of most common cohesive minerals, Kaolinite and Bentonite clay. With the magnetic stirrer adjusted to 490 rpm to provide a high level homogeneous flow turbulence (Turbulence dissipation e estimated to be about 0.02 m2⋅s−3), droplet OMAs and flake/solid OMAs were obtained in oil-Kaolinite sample and oil-Bentonite sample, respectively. Kaolinite clay with relatively low flocculation rate ( R f = 0.13 min−1) tends to physically attach around the surface of oil droplets. With the lower density of oil, these oil-Kaolinite droplet OMAs generally show lower settling velocity comparing to pure mineral Kaolinite flocs. Differently, Bentonite clay with higher flocculation rate ( R f = 0.66 min−1) produces more porous flocs that can absorb or be absorbed by the oil and form compact flake/solid OMAs with higher density and settling velocity than pure Bentonite flocs. In the mixed Kaolinite-Bentonite sample (1:1 in weight), oil is observed to preferably interacting with Bentonite and increase settling velocity especially in larger floc size classes.