cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Authigenic carbonate formation rates in marine sediments and implications for the marine δ13C record

Abstract Carbon isotope ( δ 13 C) variations measured in carbonates have been attributed to large-scale phenomena throughout Earth history, such as changes in atmospheric oxygen or global glaciations. These interpretations follow from a model wherein the δ 13 C of marine dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) is controlled by the relative sedimentary burial rates of biogenic carbonate (BC) and organic carbon (OC). A new model proposes authigenic carbonate (AC) as a third major sedimentary C pool, implying that δ 13 C anomalies are not necessarily indicative of extreme changes in the global carbon cycle and/or atmospheric oxygen. Two conditions are required for AC formation to significantly alter bulk carbonate δ 13 C: the AC isotopic composition must be at least ∼3‰ different from that of BC and the AC/BC ratio must be >0.1. We use pore fluid Ca and Sr concentrations to estimate rates of AC formation in Late Cenozoic marine sediments, then calculate relative fractions of AC, OC, and BC. Today AC is not expected to constitute a significant fraction of total sedimentary carbon (AC+OC+BC) globally; however, there are modern sites where local conditions promote elevated AC/BC and anaerobic metabolisms can alter the δ 13 C of pore fluids. We investigate these sites to determine what conditions might enable AC to alter δ 13 C of marine DIC. We find there is very little net addition of AC relative to BC, but large quantities of AC form today across many settings via recrystallization. In settings where remineralization of organic matter causes recrystallized carbonate to form with modified δ 13 C, AC/BC is generally too low for this recrystallization to significantly shift the δ 13 C of the bulk carbonate. However, exceptions are found in sites with very low BC and extensive methane oxidation, suggesting that this environment type would need to be globally extensive in the past in order for AC formation to change the δ 13 C of marine DIC.
The Influence of William James on the Spirituality of Alcoholics’ Anonymous:

This article challenges Bevacqua and Hoffman’s (2010) seminal article in this journal on the degree to which Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) falls short in its attempt to download the complete spirituali...
A computer program for analysis of interferometric data

The computer program FRINGE was developed at the Optical Sciences Center of the University of Arizona for the purpose of aiding in the interpretation of interferometric data. The program fits a set of Zernike polynomials to the data. The polynomial expansion provides optical aberration information and serves as an interpolation function. Contour maps, geometric ray analyses, and diffraction calculations are made from the interpolated pupil function. Simple methods of fitting tilt and defocus can be used when available computers are limited to programmable calculators.
Gap-Interpolation Theorems

There are many theorems in classical analysis where gaps play a role. We take up now some considerations from [N. Kalton and L. A. Rubel] where gaps and interpolation are mixed. The idea is to take the Germay interpolation situation, where we want f(zn) = wn, n = 1,2,3,… for some entire function f but now require that f have the form $$ f(z) = \mathop{\Sigma }\limits_{{\lambda \in \Lambda }} \,{a_{\lambda }}{z^{\lambda }} $$ where ⋀ is a given set of positive integers. For certain ⋀ (like ⋀ = \( \Lambda = \mathbb{N} \), the set of all positive integers), this interpolation is always possible—provided we require |zn| → ∞ (and no zn = 0).
Collective dynamics of internal states in a Bose-Einstein gas

A theory for the Rabi and internal Josephson effects in an interacting, homogeneous Bose-Einstein gas in the cold collision regime is presented. By using the microscopic transport equation for the density matrix the problem is mapped onto a problem of precession of two coupled classical spins. In the absence of an external excitation field our results agree with the theory of density induced frequency shifts in atomic clocks. In the presence of the external field, the internal Josephson effect occurs in a condensed Bose-Einstein gas as well as in a noncondensed gas. The crossover from Rabi oscillations to Josephson oscillations as a function of interaction strength is studied in detail.
Correlation of High-Density Lipoprotein-Associated Paraoxonase 1 Activity With Systemic Inflammation, Disease Activity, and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Psoriatic Disease.

OBJECTIVE To compare the activity of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-associated paraoxonase 1 (PON1) in patients with psoriasis (PsO) and patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and to evaluate the association of PON1 activity with the extent of disease activity and severity of the cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden in these patients. METHODS Serum levels of paraoxonase and arylesterase activity (both measures of PON1 function in humans) were measured in patients with PsA (n = 198, 51.0% male) and patients with PsO (n = 145, 50.3% male) who were enrolled in a longitudinal psoriatic disease biorepository. Data on PsA disease activity (using the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints [DAS28], Clinical Disease Activity Index, and painful/swollen joint counts), preexistent CVD and CVD risk factors (including diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and smoking), Framingham Risk Scores for CVD, quality of life measures, and laboratory test findings (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein level, and lipid profiles) were recorded. RESULTS Serum arylesterase activities were significantly lower in patients with PsO and patients with PsA (mean ± SD 111.1 ± 25.5 μmoles/minute/ml and 124.4 ± 33.4 μmoles/minute/ml, respectively) compared to healthy controls (144.3 ± 33.4 μmoles/minute/ml) (each P < 0.001 versus healthy controls). Serum arylesterase activity decreased in parallel with increasing levels of disease activity (DAS28 scores, P = 0.012), older age (P = 0.013), higher body mass index (P = 0.042), greater incidence of metabolic syndrome (P = 0.004) and hypertension (P = 0.014), and worsening Framingham Risk Scores (P = 0.001). However, no correlation was seen between serum arylesterase activity and the extent of disease activity or CVD burden in patients with PsO. Serum paraoxonase activity trended lower both in patients with PsO and in patients with PsA (each P = 0.073 versus healthy controls). However, no association was seen between serum paraoxonase activity and the extent of disease activity or CVD burden in either of the patient cohorts. CONCLUSION PON1 activity is decreased in psoriatic diseases. In the PsA cohort, decreases in arylesterase activity correlated with increasing severity of joint disease and CVD burden. Arylesterase activity, as compared to paraoxonase activity, appeared to serve as a more sensitive predictor of preexisting CV risk factors in the PsA cohort. However, this correlation was not observed in the PsO population.
Emergence of MRSA in the Community

Antimicrobial-resistant variants of S. aureus have been known to cause human disease for decades, primarily in healthcare settings. However, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infections emerged in the community in the United States during the late 1990s–early 2000s. Community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) infections are often caused by unique strain types that produce characteristic clinical manifestations. Although new antimicrobials are available, it is unclear how they should be used in the treatment of CA-MRSA. Preventing MRSA infections in the community requires engagement of public health officials, clinical providers, patients, and community members. The epidemiology of community-associated MRSA continues to evolve, and continued monitoring of MRSA to assess for new developments and novel strategies for prevention will be critical in the upcoming years.
Growth and yield parameters, water relations, and photosynthesis of soybean plants infected with Phialophora gregata

Phialophora gregata, causal agent of brown stem rot of soybean and adzuki bean, causes internal stem browning and interveinal chlorosis and necrosis of leaves. Water relations and photosynthesis were studied in diseased and healthy soybeans to determine the physiological effects of brown stem rot. A susceptible (Pride B216) and a resistant (HSR 201) cultivar were grown in the greenhouse and growth chamber and injection-inoculated at vegetative stage 1. A significant amount of disease developed in both cultivars, but Pride B216 was more highly stressed by disease than BSR 201. Stem conductance was reduced, and stomatal conductance was increased in both inoculated cultivars compared to uninoculated plants. Transpiration was increased more in Pride B216 than in BSR 201, and photosynthesis was significantly increased in BSR 201 plants when inoculated. Disease-caused water stress can be attributed to a combination of reduced stem conductance and increased water loss resulting from increased stomatal conductance. Additionally, results indicate that photosynthesis may be directly affected by disease rather than by disruption of stomatal control. Preliminary data indicating tolerance to disease by a resistant cultivar, exclusive of pathogen inhibition, are presented.
The Two-Year Radiometric Evaluation of Sentinel-3A OLCI via Intersensor Comparison With SNPP VIIRS

The on-orbit calibration performance of the Ocean and Land Color Instrument (OLCI) onboard the Sentinel-3A satellite, launched on February 16, 2016, is evaluated via a radiometric intersensor comparison with reference to the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) onboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) satellite. Among the 21 OLCI bands (designated as “Oa” bands), which are reflective solar bands (RSBs), seven OLCI bands match up sufficiently well with the seven shortest wavelength SNPP VIIRS bands (M1–M7)—they are Oa02 at 412.5 nm, Oa03 at 442.5 nm, Oa04 at 490 nm, Oa06 at 560 nm, Oa08 at 665 nm, Oa12 at 754 nm, and Oa17 at 865 nm. The radiometric comparison adopts a “nadir-only” refinement of the simultaneous nadir overpass (SNO) approach and uses the official SNPP VIIRS RSB data processed by the Interface Data Processing Segment (IDPS). The time-series result for bands Oa02, Oa03, Oa08, and Oa17, with spectral coverage that well represents the spectral range of OLCI, shows two-year stability at the level of 0.3% that supports nominally correct on-orbit calibration. The result for Oa08, Oa09, and Oa10, the three spectrally adjacent bands matching M5, demonstrates the effects of spectral mismatch—different radiometric ratio baselines and seasonally modulating patterns. Lastly, this result clarifies some key findings of earlier studies involving SNPP VIIRS and illustrates great potential for significantly more radiometric evaluation activities in the new era of Earth observations with many more powerful multispectral sensors coming into operation.
Air quality measurements in the western Eagle Ford Shale

The Eagle Ford Shale in southern Texas remains one of the most productive oil and gas regions in the US. Like the Permian Basin and Bakken Shale, ubiquitous natural gas flaring serves as an uncertain source of trace gas emissions within the Eagle Ford. A lack of ambient air quality data, especially in the western shale, impedes a thorough understanding of trace gas emissions within the shale and the subsequent local/regional air quality impacts. Meteorological and trace gas instrumentation was deployed to Shape Ranch in southwestern Dimmit County, near the US/Mexico border, from April to November of 2015. Mixing ratios of CO, NOx, O3, and VOCs did not exceed ambient air quality standards and were generally lower than mixing ratios measured in US cities, with the exception of alkanes. A non-negative matrix factorization demonstrated the dominance of oil and gas-sector emission sources in local trace gas variability, with combustion processes and transport of continental air also present. An analysis of NOx/CO and NOx/CO2 ratios during periods of O3 titration, identified by the ambient NOx/O3 ratio, suggested that combustion and biospheric sources contributed to emissions of NOx, CO, and CO2. In-plume NOx/CO2 ratios indicated relatively low-temperature combustion sources, with median NOx/CO2 ratios close to that expected for natural gas flaring (0.54 ppb/ppm), and much lower than emission ratios for internal combustion engines (>10 ppb/ppm). However, the NOx/CO2 ratio within these plumes exhibited a large variability, spanning more than an order of magnitude. Future research should focus on improving flaring emission factors and flaring volume estimates such that their air quality impacts can be better understood.
Fenofibrate Improves Liver Function and Reduces the Toxicity of the Bile Acid Pool in Patients With Primary Biliary Cholangitis and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis Who Are Partial Responders to Ursodiol

Cholestatic liver diseases result in the hepatic retention of bile acids, causing subsequent liver toxicity. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) regulates bile acid metabolism. In this retrospective observational study, we assessed the effects of fenofibrate (a PPARα agonist) therapy on bile acid metabolism when given to patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) who have had an incomplete response to Ursodiol monotherapy. When fenofibrate was added to Ursodiol therapy there was a significant reduction and in some cases normalization of serum alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase abnormalities, as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines. Combination fenofibrate treatment also reduced 7α-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one (C4), the bile acid precursor, as well as total, primary, and conjugated bile acids. In addition, principal components analysis and heatmap analysis show that bile acid metabolites trended closer to that of healthy control subjects. These favorable effects of fenofibrate on bile acid metabolism may contribute to its beneficial clinical effects in patients with PBC and PSC experiencing a subtherapeutic response to Ursodiol monotherapy.
CD47 prevents the elimination of diseased fibroblasts in scleroderma

Abstract Scleroderma is a devastating fibrotic autoimmune disease. Current treatments are partly effective in preventing disease progression, but do not remove fibrotic tissue. Here, we evaluated whether scleroderma fibroblasts take advantage of the “don’t-eat-me-signal” CD47 and whether blocking CD47 enables the body’s immune system to get rid of diseased fibroblasts. To test this approach, we used a Jun-inducible scleroderma model. We first demonstrated in patient samples that scleroderma upregulated JUN and increased promotor accessibilities of both JUN and the CD47. Next, we established our scleroderma model demonstrating that Jun mediated skin fibrosis through the hedgehog-dependent expansion of CD26+Sca1-fibroblasts in mice. In a niche-independent adaptive transfer model, JUN steered graft survival and conferred increased self-renewal to fibroblasts. In vivo, JUN enhanced the expression of CD47, and inhibiting CD47 eliminated an ectopic fibroblast graft and increased in vitro phagocytosis. In the syngeneic mouse, depleting macrophages ameliorated skin fibrosis. Therapeutically, combined CD47 and IL6 blockade reversed skin fibrosis in mice and led to the rapid elimination of ectopically transplanted scleroderma cells. Altogether, our study is the first to demonstrate the efficiency of combining different immunotherapies in treating scleroderma and provide a rationale for combining CD47 and IL6 inhibition in clinical trials.
E-029 Clinical, angioarchitectural and treatment characteristics of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas versus spinal epidural arteriovenous fistulas

Background and Purpose Spinal epidural arteriovenous fistulas (SEDAVFs) are an increasingly recognized form of spinal vascular malformation. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical presentation, imaging findings and treatment outcomes of spinal epidural arteriovenous fistulas in a contemporary single-center series. Materials and Methods Consecutive patients diagnosed and/or treated for SEAVFs at our institution between January 2000 and November 2018 were included. Data were collected on demographics, clinical presentation, imaging findings and treatment outcomes. All cross-sectional and angiographic imaging were reviewed by a diagnostic and interventional neuroradiologist and endovascular neurosurgeon. All patients underwent at least 3 months of clinical follow-up. Results Forty-nine patients were included. Median follow-up was 21 months. 29 patients (59.2%) were males and mean age was 63.5±14.8 years. The median time from symptomatic presentation to diagnosis was 12 months. The most common finding on lumbar spine MRI were T2 hyperintense signal in the conus (42 patients, 85.7%), perimedullary flow voids (34 fistulas, 69.4%) and cord enhancement (30 patients, 61.2%). Thirty-eight patients had a spinal MRA and 35 (92.1%) had a pouch of contrast/venous varix in the epidural space. All patients on DSA had a pouch of contrast in the ventral or lateral epidural space at the site of the abnormal fistulous connection (49 lesions, 100.0%). 40 SEAVFs (81.6%) were located in the lumbosacral spine. A total of 40 patients underwent endovascular embolization for treatment of their fistula. One patient suffered a treatment related complication (2.5%). Of the treated patients, 4 patients (10.0%) had residual fistula requiring additional embolization or surgery. Conclusions SEDAVFs have similar findings to spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas on conventional MRI with high T2 cord signal, cord enhancement and perimedullary flow voids. However, they have a characteristic appearance on spinal MRA and DSA with a large pouch of epidural contrast. Endovascular embolization is safe and effective for treatment of these lesions. Disclosures W. Brinjikji: None. H. Cloft: None. G. Lanzino: None.
Trigeminal neuralgia associated with a variant of persistent trigeminal artery

A persistent trigeminal artery variant (PTAV) is an anomalous vessel that originates from the internal carotid artery and directly supplies the cerebellum without interposition of the basilar artery. This anatomic variant is usually found incidentally on imaging but can rarely have clinical implications. We describe a case of a 74-year-old woman presenting with multiple years of lower jaw pain attributed to trigeminal neuralgia, unresolved with medication. A persistent trigeminal artery variant compressing the trigeminal nerve was identified on magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography. The characteristic imaging findings of PTAV are essential for identifying an etiology of medically refractory trigeminal neuralgia and may assist with preoperative planning.
Assessment of Time-to-Treatment Initiation and Survival in a Cohort of Patients With Common Cancers.

Importance: Resource limitations because of pandemic or other stresses on infrastructure necessitate the triage of time-sensitive care, including cancer treatments. Optimal time to treatment is underexplored, so recommendations for which cancer treatments can be deferred are often based on expert opinion. Objective: To evaluate the association between increased time to definitive therapy and mortality as a function of cancer type and stage for the 4 most prevalent cancers in the US. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study assessed treatment and outcome information from patients with nonmetastatic breast, prostate, non-small cell lung (NSCLC), and colon cancers from 2004 to 2015, with data analyzed January to March 2020. Data on outcomes associated with appropriate curative-intent surgical, radiation, or medical therapy were gathered from the National Cancer Database. Exposures: Time-to-treatment initiation (TTI), the interval between diagnosis and therapy, using intervals of 8 to 60, 61 to 120, 121 to 180, and greater than 180 days. Main Outcomes and Measures: 5-year and 10-year predicted all-cause mortality. Results: This study included 2â¯241â¯706 patients (mean [SD] age 63 [11.9] years, 1â¯268â¯794 [56.6%] women, 1â¯880â¯317 [83.9%] White): 1â¯165â¯585 (52.0%) with breast cancer, 853â¯030 (38.1%) with prostate cancer, 130â¯597 (5.8%) with NSCLC, and 92â¯494 (4.1%) with colon cancer. Median (interquartile range) TTI by cancer was 32 (21-48) days for breast, 79 (55-117) days for prostate, 41 (27-62) days for NSCLC, and 26 (16-40) days for colon. Across all cancers, a general increase in the 5-year and 10-year predicted mortality was associated with increasing TTI. The most pronounced mortality association was for colon cancer (eg, 5 y predicted mortality, stage III: TTI 61-120 d, 38.9% vs. 181-365 d, 47.8%), followed by stage I NSCLC (5 y predicted mortality: TTI 61-120 d, 47.4% vs 181-365 d, 47.6%), while survival for prostate cancer was least associated (eg, 5 y predicted mortality, high risk: TTI 61-120 d, 12.8% vs 181-365 d, 14.1%), followed by breast cancer (eg, 5 y predicted mortality, stage I: TTI 61-120 d, 11.0% vs. 181-365 d, 15.2%). A nonsignificant difference in treatment delays and worsened survival was observed for stage II lung cancer patients-who had the highest all-cause mortality for any TTI regardless of treatment timing. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study, for all studied cancers there was evidence that shorter TTI was associated with lower mortality, suggesting an indirect association between treatment deferral and mortality that may not become evident for years. In contrast to current pandemic-related guidelines, these findings support more timely definitive treatment for intermediate-risk and high-risk prostate cancer.
Curricular Study of AACSB Accounting Programs: What Core Accounting Courses are Required to Earn an Accounting Generalist Degree?

This descriptive research studies the set of core undergraduate accounting courses at 175 U.S. universities with separate AACSB accounting accreditation to understand what is required to earn an undergraduate accounting generalist degree and the extent to which innovation is occurring. Faculty considering a change to their set of core courses will find this information relevant. Findings indicate that undergraduate accounting program curricula generally require what might be described as a recognizable, or fairly traditional, set of functional courses including two courses in intermediate accounting, one course each in cost/managerial accounting, tax, auditing, accounting information systems and two other courses on average. Despite this rather traditional structure of the required set of core courses for an accounting degree, significant innovations are popping up including a bridge course between principles and intermediate accounting, accounting control systems, data analytics, ethics, financial statement analysis, fraud examination, information systems security, strategic cost management, and courses that blend areas of accounting such as tax and financial accounting or financial and managerial accounting.
Examining frequent emergency department use among children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

We analyze the 2011–2016 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Emergency Department Databases and State Inpatient Databases for all emergency department visits by children and adolescents i...
Mealtime Environment and Feeding Practices in Urban Family Child Care Homes in the United States.

Background: Family Child Care Homes (FCCHs) are the second-largest childcare option in the US. Given that young children are increasingly becoming overweight and obese, it is vital to understand th...
Applicability of linear elastic fracture mechanics to compressive damage in carbon fiber reinforced epoxy matrix composites

The failure of carbon fiber reinforced epoxy matrix composites has been attributed to different mechanisms involving tensile, compressive and shear failure of the fibers or the matrix. This researc...
Reactivation of infant memory: implications for cognitive development.

Publisher Summary Studies have shown that procedures that tap long-term memory yield a picture of infant memory radically different from that provided by paradigms involving measures of visual attention. Not only can 2- to 3-month-old infants recognize a specific cue, but they also can remember its predictive significance. In addition, their long-term memories are highly specific. Whether they remember or not on any given occasion depends upon the context, both proximal and distal, in which the retrieval cue is encountered. However, infants' memories are hierarchically organized. They forget specific details of the proximal context more rapidly than its general features; as this occurs, they increasingly exploit distal contextual cues. Distal contextual information sharpens their discrimination of the test situation after increasingly longer delays, thereby protecting the original memory against retrieval in an inappropriate context.
Adolescent outcomes of childhood conduct disorder among clinic-referred boys: predictors of improvement.

Much remains to be learned about the adolescent outcomes of clinic-referred boys whose childhood conduct problems are serious enough to meet diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder (CD). Six structured diagnostic assessments were conducted over 7 years of 73 clinic-referred 7‐12-year-old boys who met criteria for CD in Wave 1. There were substantial individual differences in the adolescent outcomes of CD, ranging from worsening to sustained recovery, with most boys showing persistent, but fluctuating levels of CD. Improvement in CD was not accounted for by treatment or incarceration, but more positive outcomes over Waves 2‐7 were predicted prospectively with substantial accuracy, using a combination of baseline predictors: less initial severity of CD, fewer symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, higher child verbal intelligence, greater family socioeconomic advantage, and not having antisocial biological parents.
Binocular cross-orientation suppression in the primary visual cortex (V1) of infant rhesus monkeys.

Purpose To better understand the course of cortical maturation during early development, the phenomenon of binocular cross-orientation suppression in neurons of the primary visual cortex (V1) in young infant monkeys was investigated. Methods Extracellular single-unit recordings were made in anesthetized and paralyzed monkeys ranging in age between 6 days and 8 weeks. Orthogonally oriented, dichoptic sine-wave gratings were used as visual stimuli. Results V1 neurons in young infant monkeys showed a higher prevalence and greater magnitude of binocular cross-orientation suppression than in adult monkeys. Binocular suppression decreased and reached an adult level between 4 and 8 weeks of age, the presumed onset-age for stereopsis in monkeys. Conclusions During the first 4 weeks of life, the functional connections that are necessary for initiating binocular cross-orientation suppression exist in the monkey primary visual cortex. This finding is consistent with the view that before the abrupt onset of stereopsis, human infants may detect the differences between interocularly iso-oriented gratings and orthogonal gratings.
A Study of Embedment and Other Metallurgical and Mechanical Characteristics of Cross-Wire Resistance Welds

Evaluation of cross-wire resistance welded joints used in electronic assemblies for aerospace applications
Enzymatic Evidence for a Revised Congocidine Biosynthetic Pathway

Naturally produced pyrrolamides, such as congocidine, are nonribosomal peptides that bind to the minor groove of DNA. Efforts to delineate the biosynthetic machinery responsible for their assembly have mainly employed genetic methods, and the enzymes responsible for their biosynthesis remain largely uncharacterized. We report the biochemical characterization of four proteins involved in congocidine formation: the adenylation-thiolation (A-T) di-domain Cgc18(1-610), its MbtH-like partner SAMR0548, the AMP-binding enzyme Cgc3*, and the T domain Cgc19. We assayed the ATP-dependent activation of various commercially available and chemically synthesized compounds with Cgc18(1-610) and Cgc3*. We report the revised substrate specificities of Cgc18(1-610) and Cgc3*, and loading of 4-acetamidopyrrole-2-carboxylic acid onto Cgc19. Based on these biochemical studies, we suggest a revised congocidine biosynthetic pathway.
Analytics that Inform the University: Using Data You Already Have

The authors describe the University of Central Florida’s top-down / bottom-up action analytics approach to using data to inform decision-making at the University of Central Florida. The top-down approach utilizes information about programs, modalities, and college implementation of Web initiatives. The bottom-up approach continuously monitors outcomes attributable to distributed learning, including student ratings and student success. Combined, this top-down/bottom up approach becomes a powerful means for using large extant university datasets to provide significant insights that can be instrumental in strategic planning.
Optimal lost-link policies for unmanned aircraft

Loss of communication links between unmanned aircraft and its pilot on the ground have resulted crashes over the years. This paper presents a method for computing optimal lost-link policies for unmanned aircraft conducting surveillance alongside manned aircraft in a wildfire scenario. In this setting, the unmanned aircraft must determine how to trade off the reward gained by continuing the surveillance mission against the risk of a malfunction or collision with the manned aircraft. We extend the model by allowing for the possibility of communication restoration. The unmanned aircraft pilot is modeled as a boundedly rational decision maker to consider possible human error in the future. We compute optimal policies using Monte Carlo simulation. To enhance convergence of the Monte Carlo estimate, a multilevel splitting method is introduced, which results in a 25% higher rate of convergence.
Natural Gas as a Clean Fuel

The emergence of a global natural gas industry accelerated at the turn of recent century. While global leaders are perplexed by the “energy dilemmas” that quest for energy security and environment, which often contradict each other, natural gas, the cleanest fossil fuel and globally abundant, appears to be able to provide a temporary leeway to get around these dilemmas. This article seeks to introduce and explore relevant issues of developing natural gas as a clean fuel. It starts by providing a concise introduction to the diverse attributes, subtle meanings, and global trends of “natural gases.” It then summarizes the key arguments of the debate around whether natural gas should be considered a clean energy option. It goes on to investigate the social-technical conditions of gas trade and production. The article argues that should natural gas, or could it, be developed as a clean fuel is largely dependent on geographical, institutional, and organizational contexts. Keywords: natural gas; social production; supply chain; institution; production network
A solvable continuous time dynamic principal-agent model

Abstract I study the provision of incentives in a continuous time dynamic moral hazard model with hidden actions and hidden states. I consider a principal–agent model with linear production and exponential utility, whose explicit solution allows me to show how allocations are distorted for incentive reasons, and how access to hidden savings further alters allocations. I solve the model by applying a stochastic maximum principle, where the co-state variables from the agent's optimization problem become state variables for the principal's problem of choosing an optimal contract. I show that the main effect of moral hazard is a distortion on the effort margin, with a smaller effect on the intertemporal consumption allocation. Access to hidden savings shuts down the intertemporal distortions and increases the effort distortion. I also show how the optimal contracts can be implemented via a constant equity share, a constant flow payment, and a constant tax on savings.
Hematic and fluid barriers in the optic nerve.

Hematic and fluid barriers in the optic nerve have been studied by tracing the in vivo penetration of diaminoacridines in tissue nuclei and tissue fluids. Diaminoacridines were administered at non-toxic doses and were detected by the fluorescence they produced when properly excited. Diaminoacridine concentrations of 10−6M or higher in circulating blood failed to penetrate into tissues and fluids protected by hemato-encephalic or hemato-ocular barriers. However, fluoresence was found in: (a) optic nerve dura mater including the mesothelium lining its inner surface, but not in the subjacent arachnoid, pia, or cerebrospinal fluid; (b) all orbital and dural vessel walls, including their endothelium, but not in the pial nor optic nerve vessel walls; (c) choroid, sclera, and Kuhnt's tissue, but not in the optic nerve. Diaminoacridine concentrations of 10−6M in cerebrospinal fluid produced fluorescence in optic nerve tissues and vessels, including their endothelium, and meninges, including dural mesothelium, but not in retina or vitreous. Similar concentrations in the vitreous showed fluorescence in the retina and optic nerve head tissues, but not farther in the optic nerve. Thus: (a) there is a blood-optic nerve barrier; (b) this barrier is located in the mesothelium lining the inner dural surface, in pial and optic nerve vessels endothelium, and Kuhnt's tissue; (c) endothelium and mesothelium showed one-way permeability; (d) there is a vitreous optic-nerve barrier preventing passage of fluids from optic nerve to vitreous or vice versa.
Peptidyl-prolyl cis–trans isomerase Pin1 in ageing, cancer and Alzheimer disease

Phosphorylation of proteins on serine or threonine residues preceding proline is a key signalling mechanism in diverse physiological and pathological processes. Pin1 (peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase) is the only enzyme known that can isomerise specific Ser/Thr-Pro peptide bonds after phosphorylation and regulate their conformational changes with high efficiency. These Pin1-catalysed conformational changes can have profound effects on phosphorylation signalling by regulating a spectrum of target activities. Interestingly, Pin1 deregulation is implicated in a number of diseases, notably ageing and age-related diseases, including cancer and Alzheimer disease. Pin1 is overexpressed in most human cancers; it activates numerous oncogenes or growth enhancers and also inactivates a large number of tumour suppressors or growth inhibitors. By contrast, ablation of Pin1 prevents cancer, but eventually leads to premature ageing and neurodegeneration. Consistent with its neuroprotective role, Pin1 has been shown to be inactivated in neurons of patients with Alzheimer disease. Therefore, Pin1-mediated phosphorylation-dependent prolyl isomerisation represents a unique signalling mechanism that has a pivotal role in the development of human diseases, and might offer an attractive new diagnostic and therapeutic target.
Novel mechanistic insights into treadmill exercise based rescue of social defeat-induced anxiety-like behavior and memory impairment in rats.

Abstract Social defeat (SD) induced stress causes physiological and behavioral deficits in rodents, including depression and anxiety-like behaviors, as well as memory impairment. Anxiolytic and mood elevating effects of physical exercise are also known. However, rescue effect of physical exercise in social defeat-induced anxiety, depression or memory impairment has not been addressed. The role of epigenetic mechanisms that potentially contribute to these rescue or protective effects is also not known. The present study investigated the effect of moderate treadmill exercise on anxiety-like behavior and memory function in rats subjected to SD using a modified version of the resident–intruder model for social stress (defeat). Changes in histone acetylation and histone-modifying enzymes were examined in hippocampus, amygdala and frontal cortex which are considered critical for anxiety, depression and cognition. Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned in four groups; control, exercised, social defeat, social defeat and exercise. At the end of the SD or control exposure lasting 30 min daily for 7 days, one group of SD rats was subjected to treadmill exercise for 2 weeks, whereas the other SD group was handled without exercise. Anxiety-like behavior tests and radial arm water maze test suggested that moderate treadmill exercise rescued social defeat induced anxiety-like behavior and memory impairment. Moreover, exercise normalized SD-induced increase in oxidative stress, most likely by adjusting antioxidant response. Our data suggests involvement of epigenetic mechanisms including histone acetylation of H3 and modulation of methyl-CpG-binding in the hippocampus that might contribute to the rescue effects of exercise in SD-induced behavioral deficits in rats.
Heroism and the political scientist: reflections on Richard Iton, Nick Nelson, and Hanes Walton

Earlier this year, political scientists Hanes Walton, William “Nick” Nelson, and Richard Iton passed away. Their contributions to political science cannot be over-emphasized. In this essay I use li...
Controlling the Mobility of Network Nodes using Decentralized Extremum Seeking

A decentralized mobility control scheme, using Extremum Seeking methods, is presented that forms a linked chain of mobile relays, having nonholonomic constraints, that maximizes the total link bandwidth. The factors that determine the final arrangement are numerous and hard to model and predict in real time. Thus controlling the mobile nodes by position alone to form a linked communication chain is not adequate. Instead, an extremum seeking algorithm is used to drive the location of the relay to an optimal place by maximizing a performance function of the received signal-to-noise power ratios of immediate neighbors. A unique application of the ES algorithm is presented where the dither signal that drives the gradient estimation is derived from the motion of mobile relay orbiting about a virtual center point.
A Phenomenological Model for the Photocurrent Transient Relaxation Observed in ZnO-Based Photodetector Devices

We present a phenomenological model for the photocurrent transient relaxation observed in ZnO-based metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) planar photodetector devices based on time-resolved surface band bending. Surface band bending decreases during illumination, due to migration of photogenerated holes to the surface. Immediately after turning off illumination, conduction-band electrons must overcome a relatively low energy barrier to recombine with photogenerated holes at the surface; however, with increasing time, the adsorption of oxygen at the surface or electron trapping in the depletion region increases band bending, resulting in an increased bulk/surface energy barrier that slows the transport of photogenerated electrons. We present a complex rate equation based on thermionic transition of charge carriers to and from the surface and numerically fit this model to transient photocurrent measurements of several MSM planar ZnO photodetectors at variable temperature. Fitting parameters are found to be consistent with measured values in the literature. An understanding of the mechanism for persistent photoconductivity could lead to mitigation in future device applications.
ANG II stimulates phospholipase D through PKCζ activation in VSMC: implications in adhesion, spreading, and hypertrophy

ANG II stimulates phospholipase D (PLD) activity and growth of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). The atypical protein kinase C-ζ (PKCζ) plays a central role in the regulation of cell survival an...
Adaptive general perfectly periodic scheduling

We propose an adaptive algorithm Adaptmin to create perfectly periodic schedules. A perfectly periodic schedule schedules a client regularly after a predefined amount of time known as the period of the client. The periodicity of such schedules can be used to save battery life of nodes in a wireless network. The quality of a perfectly periodic schedule is a function of the ratio between the granted and requested periods. We find a worst case performance bound on the quality of schedules produced by Adaptmin. We compare our algorithm to previously proposed algorithm A in [Z. Brakerski, A. Nisgav, B. Patt-Shamir, General perfectly periodic scheduling, in: Proc. 21st Annual Symp. on Principles of Distributed Computing, 2002, pp. 163-172], and show families of input instances where either Adaptmin does no worse than A, or always outperforms A. The better performance of the proposed algorithm is also confirmed by simulations results for randomly generated input instances. Adaptmin produces 25% more efficient schedules as compared to A in our experiments. We also propose a variant of Adaptmin which is computationally much less demanding compared to A, but is very close to Adaptmin in terms of efficiency. Finally, we compare our algorithms to exponential-time optimal scheduling. Our simulation results indicate that the performance of the proposed algorithms is close to that of optimal scheduling.
Hook Shedding and Mortality of Deeply Hooked Brook Trout Caught with Bait on Barbed and Barbless Hooks

Abstract We compared hook shedding rates, mortality, and bleeding of cultured brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis subjected to intentional deep hooking on size-6 barbed or barbless single hooks (with line cutting) baited with leaf worms Lumbricus rubellus. Hook shedding at the end of the 6-week holding period averaged 20% and did not differ between hook types. Neither immediate mortality (average = 12.5%) nor mortality after 5 d (average = 20%) differed between hook types. Although we cannot demonstrate a survival advantage for cultured brook trout that were baitfished with barbless hooks over those caught on barbed hooks, we did find that significantly less bleeding was caused by barbless hooks. Further research examining whether the use of barbless hooks results in increased survival of wild brook trout or other trout species under different fishing conditions is warranted.
SELECTIVE BLOOD LIPID REDUCTIONS BY NEWER PHARMACOLOGIC AGENTS.

Abstract Preliminary data have shown that it is possible to selectively decrease cholesterol with a bile-sequestering resin (Cholestyramine), the triglycerides with an essential phospholipid preparation (Eplid), or both with an androsterone-fatty acid mixture (Atromid). However, it must be emphasized that whether a reduction of any or all of these lipid fractions has any real therapeutic or preventive value is certainly not decided at this time and awaits a prolonged and critical follow-up period in patients being treated with these agents.
Innate Differences between Simian–Human Immunodeficiency Virus (SHIV)KU-2-Infected Rhesus and Pig-Tailed Macaques in Development of Neurological Disease

Neurological disease associated with HIV infection results from either primary replication of the virus or a combination of virus infection and replication of opportunistic pathogens in the CNS. Recent studies indicate that the primary infection is mediated mainly by viruses that utilize CCR5 as the coreceptor; it is not known whether the syndrome can be mediated by viruses that use the CXCR4 coreceptor. The macaque model of the disease using simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) has confirmed that CCR5-using viruses such as SIV(mac)251 can cause primary disease in the CNS. In this report we have examined the role of simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV)(KU-2), a CXCR4 virus which replicates productively in rhesus macrophages, in causing CNS disease. A survey of archival brain tissues from SHIV(KU-2)-infected rhesus and pig-tailed macaques that succumbed to AIDS showed productive viral replication in the CNS of 10 of 14 rhesus animals. Eight of these 10 had additional infections with opportunistic pathogens. In contrast, 21 of 22 pig-tailed macaques had no evidence of productive viral infection in the brain. In an earlier study we had shown that inoculation of SHIV-infected rhesus macaques with eggs of Schistosoma mansoni, a potent inducer of IL-4, resulted in enhanced replication of the virus in tissue macrophages. In the present study, we compared the replication of the virus in macrophages from normal rhesus and pig-tailed macaques and determined further whether exogenous IL-4 could cause enhancement of virus replication in these cells. These studies showed that the virus replicated productively in rhesus macrophages, and this was enhanced significantly after recombinant macaque IL-4 was added to the medium. IL-4 also caused enhancement of virus production in macrophages isolated from virus-infected animals. In contrast, the virus replicated only minimally in pig-tailed macaque macrophages and supplemental IL-4 had negligible effects. The data thus suggested that failure of pig-tailed macaques to develop encephalitis was due to the innate resistance of macrophages from this species of macaque to support replication of SHIV(KU-2). The ability of the virus to replicate in the brains of rhesus macaques was dependent on coinfection in the brain with opportunistic pathogens which presumably induced both macrophages and IL-4 in the CNS microenvironment. A supportive role for IL-4 in the CNS disease was suggested by the presence of IL-4 RNA in the encephalitic brains of rhesus macaques and reduced levels of this cytokine in the brains from pig-tailed macaques.
On the scattering of an obliquely incident plane wave by a biisotropic cylinder

Scattering of an obliquely incident electromagnetic plane wave by an infinitely long, homogeneous, biisotropic cylinder is addressed. The ambient host medium considered is isotropic, homogeneous and dielectric-magnetic. It is observed that the constitutive coupling of the electric and the magnetic fields in the biisotropic material causes the cross-polarization component of the scattered field not to vanish even for the normal incidence case.
On the reactions of β-ketoesters with 2,3-diaminopyridine and its derivatives

Studies in these laboratories and elsewhere on the condensation of β-ketoesters with unsym-metrical o-diamines have thus far failed to explain the factors which govern the direction of cyclization in these reactions. Various additional diamine-ketoester condensations have been studied and the results compared in an attempt to develop generalizations of predictive value regarding the direction of ring closure to form diazepinones. The following condensation reactions are described: 2,3-diaminopyridine with 2-ethoxycarbonylcyclohexanone and with ethyl α-methylacetoacetate, 5-bromo-2,3-diamino-4-methylpyridine with ethyl acetoacetate, 3-amino-2-anilinopyridine and 3-amino-2-methylaminopyridine with ethyl acetoacetate, and N-methyl-o-phenylenediamine with ethyl acetoacetate.
INVESTIGATIONS OF THIN FILMS ON GaAs USING THE PROTON RESONANT SCATTERING TECHNIQUE

Abstract We have characterized a number of thermally stable thin film/GaAs systems including thin films of refractory metal suicides and nitrides as well as dielectric films on GaAs substrates using a MeV proton scattering technique. Thin films of tungsten suicides, zirconium nitride and silicon dioxide on GaAs substrates are investigated. The enhanced proton scattering cross sections of nitrogen, silicon and oxygen at their corresponding resonant energies enable us to accurately measure the compositions of these films. The advantages and disadvantages of this technique regarding depth resolution, accessible depth, and mass resolution compared to the conventional Rutherford backscattering spectrometry for thin film analysis are discussed.
Three dimensional reconnection in astrophysical plasmas

Theoretical issues related to three-dimensional reconnection and its application to the space and astrophysical environment are reviewed. Consideration is given to the meaning of reconnection in three dimensions, the way in which periodic and nonperiodic magnetic topologies alter the physics of reconnections, and the effects of chaotic magnetic fields on the reconnection process.