cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Larval susceptibility of an insecticide-resistant western corn rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) population to soil insecticides: laboratory bioassays, assays of detoxification enzymes, and field performance.

Soil insecticides were evaluated in laboratory and field studies against larvae of an insecticide resistant population (Phelps County, NE) of western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte. Insecticide toxicity was evaluated by topical application of technical insecticides to 3rd instars from Saunders County, NE (susceptible) and Phelps County populations. Resistance ratios (LD50 Phelps County/LD50 Saunders County) for the insecticides methyl parathion, tefluth- rin, carbofuran, terbufos, and chlorpyrifos were 28.0, 9.3, 8.7, 2.6 and 1.3, respectively. Biochemical investigation of suspected enzymatic resistance mechanisms in 3rd instars identified significant elevation of esterase activity (alpha and beta naphthyl acetate hydrolysis (3.8- and 3.9-fold)). Examination of 3rd instar esterases by native PAGE identified increased intensity of several isoen- zymes in the resistant population. Assays of cytochrome P450 activity (4-CNMA demethylation and aldrin epoxidation) did not identify elevated activity in resistant 3rd instars. Granular soil insecticides were applied at planting to corn, Zea mays L., in replicated field trials in 1997 and 1998 at the same Phelps County site as the source of resistant rootworms for the laboratory studies. In 1997, planting time applications of Counter 20CR, Counter 15 G (terbufos), and Lorsban 15 G (chlorpyrifos) resulted in the lowest root injury ratings (1—6 Iowa scale); 2.50, 2.55, 2.65, respectively (untreated check root rating of 4.55). In 1998, all insecticides performed similarly against a lower rootworm density (untreated check root rating of 3.72). These studies suggest that resistance previously documented in adults also is present in 3rd instars, esterases are possibly involved as resistance mechanisms, and resistance to methyl parathion in adults is also evident in larvae, but does not confer cross-resistance in larvae to all organophosphate insecticides.
Kinetic paths of B2 and DO 3 order parameters: Theory

It is shown that a binary alloy with an AB{sub 3} stoichiometry on a bcc lattice may develop various combinations of B2 and DO{sub 3} order along its kinetic path toward equilibrium. The temporal evolution of these two order parameters is analyzed with an activated-state rate theory. Individual vacancy jumps are treated in a master equation formalism that involves first-nearest-neighbor (1nn) and second-nearest-neighbor (2nn) interactions. In our formulation, a set of coupled differential equations is obtained describing the time-dependence of six order parameters. These equations were integrated numerically for a variety of interatomic interactions and initial conditions. It was found that the {ital relative} rates of B2 and DO{sub 3} ordering, and hence the path of the alloy through the space spanned by the B2 and DO{sub 3} order parameters, depend on the relative strengths of the interatomic interaction potentials and on the temperature. For very strong 2nn interactions, a transient B32 structure was observed to develop at early times, although this phase disappeared as equilibrium was approached.
An evaluation of hybrid methods for matching biomedical terminologies: mapping the gene ontology to the UMLS.

Integration of disparate biomedical terminologies is becoming increasingly important as links between biological science and clinical medicine grow. Mapping concepts in the Gene Ontology TM (GO) to the UMLS may help further this integration and allow for more efficient information exchange among researchers. Using a gold standard of GO term ‐ UMLS concept mappings provided by the NCI, we examined the performance of various published and combined mapping techniques, in order to maximize precision and recall. We found that for the previously published techniques precision varied between (0.61-0.95), and recall varied from (0.65-0.90), whereas for the hybrid techniques, precision varied between (0.66-0.97), and recall from (0.59-0.93). Our study reveals the benefits of using mapping techniques that incorporate domain knowledge, and provides a basis for future approaches to mapping between distinct biomedical vocabularies.
Evidence of Cosecretion of Islet Amyloid Polypeptide and Insulin by β-Cells

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) has been identified as the major constituent of the pancreatic amyloid of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and is also present in normal beta-cell secretory granules. To determine whether IAPP is a pancreatic secretory product, we measured the quantity of IAPP-like immunoreactivity (IAPP-LI), insulin, and glucagon released into 5 ml of incubation medium during a 2-h incubation of monolayer cultures (n = 5) of neonatal (3- to 5-day-old) Sprague-Dawley rat pancreases under three conditions: 1.67 mM glucose, 16.7 mM glucose, and 16.7 mM glucose plus 10 mM arginine and 0.1 mM isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX). The quantity of IAPP-LI, insulin, and glucagon in the cell extract was also determined. Mean +/- SE IAPP-LI in the incubation medium increased from 0.041 +/- 0.003 pmol in 1.67 mM glucose to 0.168 +/- 0.029 pmol in 16.7 mM glucose (P less than 0.05) and 1.02 +/- 0.06 pmol in 16.7 mM glucose plus arginine and IBMX (P less than 0.05 vs. 1.67 or 16.7 mM glucose). Insulin secretion increased similarly from 4.34 +/- 0.27 to 20.2 +/- 0.6 pmol (P less than 0.05) and then to 135 +/- 5 pmol (P less than 0.05 vs. 1.67 or 16.7 mM glucose). Glucagon release tended to decrease with the increase in glucose concentration (0.39 +/- 0.01 vs. 0.33 +/- 0.02 pmol, P less than 0.1), whereas with the addition of arginine and IBMX to high glucose, glucagon release increased to 1.32 +/- 0.03 pmol (P less than 0.05 vs. 1.67 or 16.7 mM glucose).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Stochastic efficiency measurement: a new approach

A new method of measuring productive efficiency is proposed and empirically applied here, when the input output data are subject to random variations. This method is useful in applications of Farrell efficiency and data envelopment analysis.
Effect of Temporal Sampling on Inferred Rainfall Spatial Statistics

Abstract On the basis of temporally sampled data obtained from satellites, spatial statistics of rainfall can be estimated. In this paper, the authors compare the estimated spatial statistics with their “true” or ensemble values calculated using 5 yr of 15-min radar-based rainfall data at a spatial domain of 512 km × 512 km in the central United States. The authors conducted a Monte Carlo sampling experiment to simulate different sampling scenarios for variable sampling intervals and rainfall averaging periods. The spatial statistics used are the moments of spatial distribution of rainfall, the spatial scaling exponents, and the spatial cross correlations between the sample and ensemble rainfall fields. The results demonstrated that the expected value of the relative error in the mean rain-rate estimate is zero for rainfall averaged over 5 days or longer, better temporal sampling produces average fields that are “less noisy” spatially, an increase in the sampling interval causes the sampled rainfall to be...
Visualizing and Understanding Patterns of Brain Architecture

We illustrate application of computer science to neuroscience at three levels: measuring, modeling, and understanding the computational function of the columnar pattern of ocular dominance in primate visual cortex. We review our methods for the quantitative reconstruction of the pattern of binocular input to the visual cortex of monkeys. We show that an oriented bandpass filter, applied to white noise, provides a simple parametric characterization of the observed pattern. We suggest a computational motivation for the columnar architecture as a “brain data structure” for a stereo vision algorithm based on the properties of a nonlinear filter, the cepstrum. This work illustrates some of the algorithmic difficulties and novel research problems encountered when computational approaches are used to visualize the patterns of neural architecture of the primate visual system.
Long Range Transport: Evaluation of a Particle-Incell Model Using Sources in the US and USSR

After being informed that radioactive material from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant had been discovered on the clothing of workers at a Swedish reactor site, the United States Department of Energy requested that the Atmospheric Release Advisory Capability (ARAC) evaluate both the extent and the magnitude of the accident (Dickerson and Sullivan, 1987). ARAC is a real-time emergency response service that specializes in the regional assessment of radiological accidents using advanced dispersion models. While we possessed a sizable inventory of computer models with which to address this problem, we lacked an operational tool that could be used with confidence in determining the fate of airborne radioactivity beyond about 500 km. As an outgrowth of this experience, we began to explore the spatial limits of applicability of our Advection-Diffusion Particle-In-Cell (ADPIC) model (Lange, 1978). At the same time, we began testing a hybrid version of this model that uses the Air Force Global Weather Central’s Northern Hemisphere Whole Mesh Grid of wind velocities as input. In combination, these models can provide, potentially, a response capability that extends from tens of kilometers to the entire Northern Hemisphere.
(Not) Identifying a Desiderian Evangelistary Fragment: BAV Vat. lat 10644, f. 28r-31v

The article provides a full codicological and palaeographical description of a fragment of an evangelistary currently preserved in the composite manuscript Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. lat. 10644, ff. 28r-31r. It identifies the fragment for the first time as a product of the scriptorium of the Abbey of Montecassino at the height of its cultural and ecclesio-political power in the late 11th century. The identification has important implications for earlier identification of other gospel books produced at the Abbey which are discussed here.
Eyebrowse: Selective and Public Web Activity Sharing

Browsing the Internet today is for the most part a private ex-perience, with the exception of a few websites. We explore the possibilities and design considerations around a system to make browsing the web a more social activity. In order to address this, we present a system called Eyebrowse that allows users to selectively share their web browsing activ-ity publicly and with friends, using a whitelist at the domain level. This opens up the capabilities to conduct discussions both in real-time and asynchronously around webpages that are designated by the user as a “public space”, much like public spaces in real life. Eyebrowse also allows users to find interesting content recommendations, collect personal, web-scale, and friend browsing analytics, and maintain a public persona around their browsing data.
'Well that is beautiful, Miss Jane!': Jane Eyre and the Creation of the Female Artist

AbstractThis article suggests that female artistry in Jane Eyre serves an integral purpose in Jane's individual psychic identity development and in her courtship with Edward Rochester. It views Jane's practice of and attitudes towards artistry in light of various female models in the novel who are either artists themselves or appreciators of art. Her art, either as storyteller or painter, helps to serve her domestic artistry as she (re)imagines the domestic life and landscape of Jane and Rochester's life at Ferndean. Female artistry functions to promote a feminist agenda of gender equality in Charlotte Bronte's text.
A Quantitative Study of Erosion Surface Remnants in two Multicyclic Landscapes of South Africa

Power series polynomial trend analysis of summit elevations used in conjunction with altitude-frequency and analysis of variance techniques can be a powerful tool in the study of multicyclic landsc...
Bedaquiline as Salvage Therapy for Mycobacterium Abscessus Surgical Site and Lung Allograft Infection in a Transplant Recipient

s S121 and peripheral O2 extraction components of pVO2. Serial measurements of PCWP in relation to CO were particularly informative based on a 2-fold PCWP-CO slope (1.5 vs. 3.1 mmHg/L/min) in the patient not explanted. Summary: Our findings suggest that reliance on LVAD explant criteria of a pVO2 > 16 mL kg/min may not adequately reflect reserve capacity and sustained recovery potential of the native heart. Enhanced phenotyping during exercise merits further investigation to refine LVAD explant criteria.
Discussion on Problems of Net Source Coordination for 670 MW Grid-connected Unit

In combination of special verification of grid-connected units net source coordination carried out by State Grid in 2012,it is found out that problems existed in 670 MW grid-connected units such as rota overload and the differerntial coefficient of fixed value,which could not meet the requirements of relevant national standards and industry standards. Also malfunctions occured to auxiliary system protection. Countermeasures are proposed to ensure safe and stable operation of the system.
Acoustic-based model estimation of snapping shrimp populations and the effects of a sponge die-off

Human use of the ocean and its ecosystems continues to degrade coastal habitats around the world. Assessing anthropogenic impacts on these environments can be cost and manpower intensive; thus, developing rapid, remote techniques to assess habitat quality has become increasingly important. We employed autonomous hydrophone receivers to record the soundscapes of healthy hard-bottom habitat in Florida Bay, Florida (USA) and hard-bottom areas impacted by sponge die-offs. We also recorded sounds emanating from individual sponges of three species that were isolated in underwater sound booths, and then enumerated the invertebrates (mostly snapping shrimp) dwelling within the canals of each sponge. From these recordings, a modified cylindrical sound propagation model was used to estimate distances to snapping shrimp snaps. Using the program Distance, which applies distance sampling theory to cue count surveys, we estimated snapping shrimp population density and abundance within both habitat types. More snapping shrimp snaps per unit time were recorded in healthy hard-bottom areas as compared to degraded hard-bottom areas. In addition, the average distance to a snap source was greater within degraded hard-bottom areas than within healthy hard-bottom areas. As a consequence, the estimated density and abundance of snapping shrimp were one to two orders of magnitude greater within healthy habitat than within degraded habitat. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using acoustic sampling and modeling to rapidly assess populations of soniferous benthic indicator species, whose vocalizations may yield indirect estimates of habitat quality.
A statistical assessment of pesticide pollution in surface waters using environmental monitoring data: Chlorpyrifos in Central Valley, California.

Abstract Pesticides are routinely monitored in surface waters and resultant data are analyzed to assess whether their uses will damage aquatic eco-systems. However, the utility of the monitoring data is limited because of the insufficiency in the temporal and spatial sampling coverage and the inability to detect and quantify trace concentrations. This study developed a novel assessment procedure that addresses those limitations by combining 1) statistical methods capable of extracting information from concentrations below changing detection limits, 2) statistical resampling techniques that account for uncertainties rooted in the non-detects and insufficient/irregular sampling coverage, and 3) multiple lines of evidence that improve confidence in the final conclusion. This procedure was demonstrated by an assessment on chlorpyrifos monitoring data in surface waters of California's Central Valley (2005–2013). We detected a significant downward trend in the concentrations, which cannot be observed by commonly-used statistical approaches. We assessed that the aquatic risk was low using a probabilistic method that works with non-detects and has the ability to differentiate indicator groups with varying sensitivity. In addition, we showed that the frequency of exceedance over ambient aquatic life water quality criteria was affected by pesticide use, precipitation and irrigation demand in certain periods anteceding the water sampling events.
CRACK PROPAGATION AND FRACTURE RESISTANCE BEHAVIOR UNDER FATIGUE LOADING OF A CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITE

The crack growth behavior of unidirectional silicon carbide (SCS-6) fiber reinforced zircon (ZrSiO 4 ) matrix composites under cyclic fatigue is studied in the temperature range 20 -1400°C. In situ crack length measurements under fatigue loading are obtained from single edge notched specimen using a traveling optical microscope. Fracture resistance curves (R-curve) are obtained from the experimental crack growth data, which show a rising R-curve behavior with a decreasing value of the fracture resistance at elevated temperatures. Numerical analyses/iterations, based on the micromechanical models, are done to determine the relationship between the bridging stress function and the R - curve behavior of the composite. The effect of residual stress and constituent properties such as fiber strength, interfacial shear stress, and matrix toughness on the bridging stress function is systematically studied both at room and elevated temperatures.
Role of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in the mouse. Influence of gene transfer in vivo.

Abstract Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is believed to play an important role in maintaining low pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and may be involved in modulating the pulmonary vascular response to chronic hypoxia. In the present study, an adenoviral vector encoding CGRP (AdRSVCGRP) was used to examine the effects of in vivo gene transfer of CGRP to the lung on increases in PVR, right ventricular mass, and pulmonary vascular remodeling that occurs in chronic hypoxia in the mouse. Following intratracheal administration of AdRSVCGRP or reporter gene mice were exposed to 16 days of chronic hypoxia (FIO 2 0.10). The increase in pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), PVR, right ventricular mass, and pulmonary vascular remodeling in response to chronic hypoxia was attenuated in animals overexpressing CGRP, whereas systemic arterial pressure was not altered. Following exposure to hypoxia, a subgroup of mice were treated with capsaicin, which did not significantly alter CGRP expression in the mouse lung. These data show that in vivo transfer of the CGRP gene to the lung attenuates the increase in PVR, right ventricular mass, and pulmonary vascular remodeling in chronically hypoxic mice with little effect on the systemic circulation. Moreover, these data suggest that adenoviral gene transfer of CGRP to the lung results in expression of the gene product in non-neural tissue.
Direct Proximity Tagging of Small Molecule Protein Targets Using an Engineered NEDD8 Ligase

Identifying the protein targets of bioactive small molecules remains a major problem in the discovery of new chemical probes and therapeutics. While activity-based probes and photo-cross-linkers have had success in identifying protein targets of small molecules, each technique has limitations. Here we describe a method for direct proximity tagging of proteins that bind small molecules. We engineered a promiscuous ligase based on the NEDD8 conjugating enzyme, Ubc12, which can be covalently linked to a small molecule of interest. When target proteins bind the small molecule, they are directly labeled on surface lysines with a biotinylated derivative of the small ubiquitin homologue, NEDD8. This unique covalent tag can then be used to identify the small molecule binding proteins. Utilizing the drug dasatinib, we have shown that dasatinib-directed NEDDylation occurs for known endogenous protein binders in complex cell lysates. In addition, we have been able to improve NEDDylation efficiency through rational m...
TCT-278 Radiation Safety: Every Little Bit Helps

Ionizing radiation makes invasive diagnostic imaging and therapeutic procedures possible but is also associated with deterministic and stochastic effects. Strategies to reduce radiation in the cardiac catheterization lab are well established and include appropriate collimation, reducing fluoroscopy
Acoustofluidic bacteria separation

Bacterial separation from human blood samples can help with the identification of pathogenic bacteria for sepsis diagnosis. In this work, we report an acoustofluidic device for label-free bacterial separation from human blood samples. In particular, we exploit the acoustic radiation force generated from a tilted-angle standing surface acoustic wave (taSSAW) field to separate E. coli from human blood cells based on their size difference. Flow cytometry analysis of the E. coli separated from red blood cells (RBCs) shows a purity of more than 96%. Moreover, the label-free electrochemical detection of the separated E. coli displays reduced non-specific signals due to the removal of blood cells. Our acoustofluidic bacterial separation platform has advantages such as label-free separation, high biocompatibility, flexibility, low cost, miniaturization, automation, and ease of in-line integration. The platform can be incorporated with an on-chip sensor to realize a point-of-care (POC) sepsis diagnostic device.
Development of a General Approach to the Leucetta-Derived Alkaloids

Abstract The Leucetta alkaloids are a group of marine sponge-derived secondary metabolites that contain a polysubstituted imidazole moiety. A general strategy toward this family of alkaloids has been developed that relies on the site-specific metalation of 4,5-dihaloimidazole derivatives to provide entry to the general structural features found in this group. Further elaboration of these primary adducts through a variety of loosely biomimetic pathways permits the construction of more highly functionalized derivatives.
Industry–university–government partnership in technology management in Poland: the system in transition

The framework for industry–university–government cooperation in research and development (R&D) in Poland has undergone significant changes in recent years as a result of political and economic liberalization. The role of large government–controlled enterprises and government agencies in supporting R&D has diminished. The dynamically growing small business sector has not been able to fill the vacuum left by these entities in sponsoring R&D. Significant progress in disarmament between East and West and the collapse of the Warsaw Pact have decreased the demand for defence–related R&D. The liberalization of trade policies and the abolition of most Coordinating Committee on Multilateral Export Controls (COCOM) restrictions on technology transfer to Poland have reduced the need to undertake domestic R&D efforts in non–military areas. The unstable business environment and prevailing traditional management practices make difficult the creation of effective agreements with foreign partners in the field of technology management. In this paper we examine the changes that have taken place in Poland in the system of technology management and make recommendations for the future.
HANDHELD NAVIGATION IN TKA: THE ORTHOPAEDIST9S SMART PHONE

Computer navigation is an attractive tool for use in total knee arthroplasty (TKA), as it is well known that alignment is important for the proper function of a total knee replacement. Malalignment of the prosthetic joint can lead to abnormal kinematics, unbalanced soft-tissues, and early loosening. Although there are no long term studies proving the clinical benefits of computer navigation in TKA, studies have shown that varus alignment of the tibial component is a risk factor for early loosening. A handheld, accelerometer based navigation unit for use in total knee replacement has recently become available to assist the surgeon in making the proximal tibial and distal femoral cuts. Studies have shown the accuracy to be comparable to large, console-based navigation units. Additionally, accuracy of cuts is superior to the use of traditional alignment guides, improving the percentage of cuts within 2 degrees of the desired alignment. Because the registration is based on the mechanical axis of the knee, anatomic variables such as femoral neck-shaft angle, femoral length, and presence of a tibial bow do not affect the results. The handheld aspect of this navigation unit allows its use without additional incisions or array attachment. Furthermore, the learning curve and usage time is minimal, supporting its use in primary TKA.
Understanding heterogeneity in Genesis diamond-like carbon film using SIMS analysis of implants

An amorphous diamond-like carbon film deposited on silicon made at Sandia National Laboratory by pulsed laser deposition was one of several solar wind (SW) collectors used by the Genesis Mission (NASA Discovery Class Mission #5). The film was ~1 μm thick, amorphous, anhydrous, and had a high ratio of sp^3–sp^2 bonds (>50%). For 27 months of exposure to space at the first Lagrange point, the collectors were passively irradiated with SW (H fluence ~2 × 10^(16) ions cm^(−2); He fluence ~8 × 10^(14) ions cm^(−2)). The radiation damage caused by the implanted H ions peaked at 12–14 nm below the surface of the film and that of He about 20–23 nm. To enable quantitative measurement of the SW fluences by secondary ion mass spectroscopy, minor isotopes of Mg (^(25)Mg and ^(26)Mg) were commercially implanted into flight-spare collectors at 75 keV and a fluence of 1 × 10^(14) ions cm^(−2). The shapes of analytical depth profiles, the rate at which the profiles were sputtered by a given beam current, and the intensity of ion yields are used to characterize the structure of the material in small areas (~200 × 200 ± 50 μm). Data were consistent with the hypothesis that minor structural changes in the film were induced by SW exposure.
Using automatic speech processing to analyze fundamental frequency of child-directed speech stored in a very large audio corpus

Child-Directed-Speech (CDS) is associated with raised fundamental frequency (f 0 ). In a previous paper we claimed that f0 could be extracted from 500 hours of audio recordings using soft computing techniques and that mothers, but not fathers, increase f 0 in CDS. Using an audio corpus more than ten times larger, this paper reports that fathers do raise f 0 but not as much as mothers. The principle finding is a proof of concept: 1) very large speech corpora, unavailable until recently, can be processed using soft computing techniques; 2) the use of very large corpora may force revisions of conclusions based on smaller datasets.
Crowdsourcing and Self-Instruction: Turning the Production of Teaching Materials Into a Learning Objective

This article describes a lesson plan that harnessed students’ abilities to generate new teaching material by constructing country timelines. This involved crowdsourcing, or the reliance upon task i...
Cognitive Approaches to Depression in Children

The investigation of depressive cognitions in children may offer a unique opportunity both to understand vulnerability in children and to explore the childhood precursors of depression in adults. The goal of this chapter is to examine the yield of the research on depression-related cognitions in children, and to consider the extent to which the opportunities for conceptual and clinical advancement have been met.
Fourier Analysis of Intracranial Pressures During Experimental Intracranial Hypertension

Intracranial pulse transmission under three conditions of intracranial hypertension was investigated with single pulse spectral analysis in an effort to elucidate the effects of intracranial hypertension on the cerebrovasculature.
Clinical Decision Making Among Fourth-Year Nursing Students: An Interpretive Study

This study investigated how fourth-year nursing students learned clinical decision making. Seventeen fourth-year nursing students between ages 21 and 37, who were completing their last semester of a baccalaureate nursing program, were interviewed. A research team using a modified seven-step process developed by Diekelmann and Allen analyzed the data. Five themes or essential components associated with learning clinical decision making were identified, including gaining confidence in their skills, building relationships with staff, connecting with patients, gaining comfort in self as a nurse, and understanding the clinical picture.
Cross Sections for Bremsstrahlung Production and Electron-Impact Ionization

Electron transport codes require extensive information on the cross sections that govern electron interactions with the atoms that make up the medium. These processes include bremsstrahlung production in the atomic field, excitation and ionization of atomic electrons, and elastic scattering by screened atomic nuclei. These fundamental processes are of basic interest in many fields, but their inclusion in general purpose Monte Carlo transport codes imposes the requirement that reasonably accurate cross-section data be available over a very wide range of energies and for virtually any material. In this chapter, we discuss two of these processes: bremsstrahlung production and electron—impact ionization. Both of these interactions result in the production of secondary radiations that can be important in radiation transport calculations. Other processes are covered elsewhere in this volume.
Exposure to per-fluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances leads to immunotoxicity: epidemiological and toxicological evidence

In this perspective, we evaluate key and emerging epidemiological and toxicological data concerning immunotoxicity of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and seek to reconcile conflicting conclusions from two reviews published in 2016. We summarize ways that immunosuppression and immunoenhancement are defined and explain how specific outcomes are used to evaluate immunotoxicity in humans and experimental animals. We observe that different approaches to defining immunotoxicological outcomes, particularly those that do not produce clinical disease, may lead to different conclusions from epidemiological and toxicological studies. The fundamental point that we make is that aspects of epidemiological studies considered as limitations can be minimized when data from toxicological studies support epidemiological findings. Taken together, we find that results of epidemiological studies, supported by findings from toxicological studies, provide strong evidence that humans exposed to PFOA and PFOS are at risk for immunosuppression.
Aging-aware predictive control of PV-battery assets in buildings

Abstract This paper presents an aging-aware model predictive control (MPC) approach for operation of sustainable buildings with on-site photovoltaic (PV) and battery systems. On-site batteries can be used to collect excess PV power during low demand hours and to discharge when PV generation is not enough to meet loads. To further increase the value of the PV-battery assets, batteries can be proactively charged/discharged to shed peak demands for utility cost reduction. The battery life span is highly dependent on the operation strategy and aggressive charge/discharge actions lead to faster battery capacity degradation and higher overall operation cost due to more frequent replacement. The control strategy developed in this study incorporates a convex battery capacity loss model, derived from a physically-based degradation model, to capture the battery aging cost in the control optimization. The degradation model used in the control optimization consists of a set of convex and piece-wise linear sub-models to approximate the battery degradation effect at different time instances. A convex MPC problem is solved in the proposed control strategy to seek the optimal balance between the building utility cost and the battery life-cycle cost. Whole month simulation tests were carried out for a typical office building with on-site PV and battery assets. To quantify the benefits of the proposed control approach, three baseline strategies were also simulated that represent the best current practices. Test results showed that conventional battery control strategies seeking minimum utility cost could double the battery degradation rate and lead to a significant increase in the battery life-cycle cost. The proposed strategy could foresee the tradeoff between the utility cost and battery aging cost and make decisions accordingly. It was demonstrated that the proposed control solution could reduce the utility cost by 9% with moderate battery degradation increase, leading to overall building operation cost reduction up to 4%.
From Ethics to Ethics: Combatting Dangers to Democracy.

This article posits an interpersonal ethical commitment to combat dangers to democracy in current times. Largely within an American context, two complementary pillars of ethics are presented. The f...
4CPS-029 Clinical experience of new lipid-lowering therapies: evolocumab and alirocumab

Background Evolocumab and alirocumab, protein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors, are indicated for the treatment of familial hypercholesterolaemia and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Purpose The objectives of the study were to evaluate the profile of medication use, effectiveness and safety of the treatment. Material and methods Retrospective observational study of patients treated with evolocumab or alirocumab from September 2016 to the present. The collected variables were: sex, age, statins tolerance, lipid profile, lipid-lowering therapies coadyuvant, duration and reason for treatment. Effectiveness was evaluated as low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction. The safety profile has been determined according to the adverse reactions. Results Twenty patients were included, 12 male; follow-up (median, range): 60 (19–109) weeks; age: 55 (33–74) years. Two patients were excluded because follow-up was less than 4 weeks. The therapeutic indications were: familial hypercholesterolaemia 61% (n=11) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease 39% (n=7). All of them had been previously treated with statins until resistance (maximum dose) or intolerance was developed. The treatment received was: evolocumab (72%) and alirocumab (28%). The average of basal LDL-C and post-treatment was 164 mg/dL (108–369) and 78 mg/dL (39–153), respectively. Patients treated with evolocumab decreased LDL-C levels by 67% and patients treated with alirocumab decreased LDL-C levels by 29%. Fifty-five per cent of the patients received PCSK9 inhibitor treatment combined with statin and ezetimibe. Currently, all patients continue with the treatment. Conclusion Clinical criteria for treatment initiation should be considered individually. The results of the study evidence the effectiveness of both treatments, being superior in the group treated with evolocumab. The treatment’s safety profile is very favourable. Studies with a larger sample size are required to obtain representative data and determine the optimal duration of the treatment. References and/or acknowledgements No conflict of interest.
Barracuda: The Power of e-polling in Proof-of-Stake Blockchains

A blockchain is a database of sequential events that is maintained by a distributed group of nodes. A key consensus problem in blockchains is that of determining the next block (data element) in the sequence. Many blockchains address this by electing a new node to propose each new block. The new block is (typically) appended to the tip of the proposer's local blockchain, and subsequently broadcast to the rest of the network. Without network delay (or adversarial behavior), this procedure would give a perfect chain, since each proposer would have the same view of the blockchain. A major challenge in practice is forking. Due to network delays, a proposer may not yet have the most recent block, and may therefore create a side chain that branches from the middle of the main chain. Forking reduces throughput, since only one a single main chain can survive, and all other blocks are discarded. We propose a new P2P protocol for blockchains called Barracuda, in which each proposer, prior to proposing a block, polls e other nodes for their local blocktree information. Under a stochastic network model, we prove that this lightweight primitive improves throughput as if the entire network were a factor of e faster. We provide guidelines on how to implement Barracuda in practice, guaranteeing robustness against several real-world factors.
What are the costs of glenohumeral osteoarthritis in the year prior to a total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA)

Objectives: To identify patterns of health-care utilization and costs associated with management of glenohumeral osteoarthritis in the year prior to undergoing an anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (ATSA).Methods: The PearlDiver Humana database, an administrative database of Medicare Advantage (MA) and Commercial insurance beneficiaries was queried for active records of patients undergoing a primary ATSA from the fourth quarter of 2010-2015. Pre-operative health-care utilization was categorized as 1) Procedures & Anesthesia, 2) Office visits, 3) Radiology, 4) Injections - a) Steroid injections and b) Hyaluronic Acid (HA) injections, 5) Physical Therapy, 6) Non-opioid pain medications and 7) Opioids. Overall costs/reimbursement and Per-patient average reimbursements (PPARs) were calculated for each category.Results: A total of 3,920 patients (MA = 3,691; Commercial = 229) undergoing primary ATSA were retrieved. Based on defined categories, the total costs prior to ATSA were $368,137 and $2,812,617 for Commercial and MA beneficiaries, respectively. Overall 1-year PPAR for each category was as follows: Procedures & Anesthesia (MA = $1765; Commercial = $5333), Office visits (MA = $441; Commercial = $396); Radiology (MA = $253; Commercial = $558), Injections (MA = $117, Commercial = $173), Physical therapy (MA = $473; Commercial = $372), Non-opioid pain meds (MA = $49; Commercial = $147) and Opioids (MA = $26; Commercial = $49). The highest utilization was seen in the three months prior to ATSA with 42-81% of overall PPAR being accounted for various categories.Conclusion: A high utilization of all health-care resource categories was noted within three months prior to surgery. Providers should consider judicious use of such interventions, particularly in patients which ultimately require surgery in a short frame of time, to reduce the costs associated with the overall episode of care.
MAGOS: Discovering Subclones in Tumors Sequenced at Standard Depths

ABSTRACT Understanding intratumor heterogeneity is critical to designing personalized treatments and improving clinical outcomes of cancers. Such investigations require accurate delineation of the subclonal composition of a tumor, which to date can only be reliably inferred from deep-sequencing data (>300x depth). To enable accurate subclonal discovery in tumors sequenced at standard depths (30-50x), we develop a novel computational method that incorporates an adaptive error model into statistical decomposition of mixed populations, which corrects the mean-variance dependency of sequencing data at the subclonal level. Tested on extensive computer simulations and real-world data, this new method, named model-based adaptive grouping of subclones (MAGOS), consistently outperforms existing methods on minimum sequencing depth, decomposition accuracy and computation efficiency. MAGOS supports subclone analysis using single nucleotide variants and copy number variants from one or more samples of an individual tumor. Applications of MAGOS to whole-exome sequencing data of 331 liver cancer samples discovered a significant association between subclonal diversity and patient overall survival. MAGOS is freely available as an R package at github (https://github.com/liliulab/magos).
The 1933 Long Beach Earthquake (California, USA): Ground Motions and Rupture Scenario

We present a synoptic analysis of the ground motions from the 11 March 1933 Mw 6.4 Long Beach, California, earthquake, the largest known earthquake within the central Los Angeles Basin region. Our inferred shaking intensity pattern supports the association of the earthquake with the Newport-Inglewood fault; it further illuminates the concentration of severe damage in the town of Compton, where accounts suggest vertical ground motions exceeding 1 g. We use a broadband simulation approach to develop a rupture scenario for this earthquake, informed by the damage distribution. The predicted shaking for a 25-km-long fault matches the intensity distribution, with an indication that non-linear site response on soft sediments in some near-field regions was stronger than predicted using a simple model to account for non-linearity. Our results suggest that the concentration of damage near Compton can be explained by a combination of local site amplification, source-controlled directivity, and three-dimensional basin effects whereby energy was channeled towards the deepest part of the Los Angeles Basin.
Pesticides Bring the War on Nature to the Chesapeake Bay

The end of World War II brought DDT and other organic pesticides to Chesapeake Bay agriculture. These new insecticides and herbicides supported the industrialization of farming that primarily produced feedstock for the manufacture of animal-based foods. The widespread use of these new chemicals constituted a war on nature with the intent of poisoning non-human animals that ate crops and weeds that competed for land, space, light, nutrients, and water. The pesticides tended to fail as the artificial selection they imposed on their targets promoted the evolution of resistant pests. In the 1960s, herbicides replaced insecticides as the dominant pesticide. Genetic engineered pesticide resistant corn and soybean facilitated the marketing of the generalist herbicides glyphosate, and later dicamba. The genetically engineered crops and pesticide dominate the animal feedstock agriculture in the region. Years of pesticide use have contaminated water, soils, fish and wildlife. The pesticides threaten both human health and that of the environment. Adopting sustainable organic agricultural practices can end the war on nature and help recover the health of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem and that of its people.
Structure-preserving numerical schemes for Lindblad equations.

We study a family of structure-preserving deterministic numerical schemes for Lindblad equations, and carry out detailed error analysis and absolute stability analysis. Both error and absolute stability analysis are validated by numerical examples.
Influence of the proton relay spacer on hydrogen electrocatalysis by cobalt hangman porphyrins

A cobalt hangman porphyrin system with a phenyl spacer between the porphyrin ring and an internal carboxylic acid group as well as its non-hangman analogue were synthesized and utilized for the stu...
Decay Properties of Pu 235 , Pu 237 , and a New Isotope Pu 233

Electron-capture and alpha-decay properties of ${\mathrm{Pu}}^{237}$, ${\mathrm{Pu}}^{235}$, and the new isotope ${\mathrm{Pu}}^{233}$ have been measured. The over-all half-lives are 44\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2 days for ${\mathrm{Pu}}^{237}$, 26\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2 minutes for ${\mathrm{Pu}}^{235}$, and 20\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2 minutes for ${\mathrm{Pu}}^{233}$. Two alpha groups, one of 5.65\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02 Mev and one of 5.36\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02 Mev, were detected in the decay of ${\mathrm{Pu}}^{237}$, one group of 5.85\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02 Mev in the decay of ${\mathrm{Pu}}^{235}$, and one of 6.30\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02 Mev in the decay of ${\mathrm{Pu}}^{233}$. The partial alpha half-lives corresponding to these alpha groups are, for ${\mathrm{Pu}}^{237}$, (1.7\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.4)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{4}$ years and (4.6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.6)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{3}$ years, respectively; for ${\mathrm{Pu}}^{235}$, (1.7\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.4) years; and for ${\mathrm{Pu}}^{233}$, 11\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}4 days. On the basis of the experimental data it has been possible to calculate hindrance factors for the alpha decay and $log\mathrm{ft}$ values for the electron-capture decay of the three isotopes and to correlate their properties with the alpha and electron-capture systematics.
The Significance of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – and Why it Demands the Creation of an Asian/Pacific Disability Rights Tribunal

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is the most important international human rights document ever drafted and ratified on behalf of persons with disabilities, especially mental disabilities. It has already had a major impact on the behavior of nations in Europe and South America, and even – though still not yet ratified there – in the United States. But it is likely to be of solely symbolic value in Asia and the Pacific unless and until a disability rights tribunal is created in that area, the only part of the world that has no such court or commission. The author and others are currently working toward the creation of a Disability Rights Tribunal for Asia and the Pacific (DRTAP) so as to rectify this situation.This paper proceeds in this manner. First, I discuss the CRPD and focus on some of its most important articles. Next, I look at its singular role in international human rights law, and why it is so important. Then, I sketch out the contours of the proposed Disability Rights Tribunal for Asia and the Pacific, and explain why it is essential to create such a Tribunal if the CRPD is to have authentic life in this part of the world. I conclude with some modest recommendations.
Bound on cosα from exclusive weak radiative B decays

Abstract We present a bound on the weak phase α from isospin-breaking effects in weak radiative decays, which requires the CP-averaged branching ratios for the weak radiative decays B±→ρ±γ, B0→ρ0/ωγ, B→K ∗ γ and the photon energy spectrum in B→γlνl. We carefully identify all sources of isospin-violating effects, which could possibly mask information about the CKM parameters. They are introduced by diagrams with photon bremsstrahlung off the spectator quark and diagrams with annihilation penguin topologies. The former can be eliminated by combining B→ργ and B→K ∗ γ data, whereas the latter effects are OZI-suppressed and can be controlled by measuring also the weak radiative modes Bs→ρ(ω)γ. The resulting bound excludes values of α around 90°, provided that the combined ratio B (B ± →ρ ± γ)/ B (B 0 →ρ 0 /ωγ)× B (B 0 →K ∗0 γ)/ B (B ± →K ∗± γ) is found to be different from 1.
Self Esteem Theory and Measurement: A Critical Review

Recently in North America, the self-esteem of children of immigrants and of adolescents from other cultures has been measured and compared with American-born adolescents using a scale developed over three decades ago in the United States. This study seeks to critically examine the theoretical assumptions behind this measure of self-esteem and the scale commonly used to measure the concept of self-esteem in order to discern whether they can apply adequately to adolescents of both genders and to adolescents from diverse cultural backgrounds. In this paper, I first give an historical overview of the concepts of self, self-esteem, and adolescence. Then, I critically analyze theoretical assumptions and methodological applications of the notion and measurement of self-esteem as utilized in the United States. Finally, I conclude that the existing assumptions about the concept of self-esteem reflect and are biased toward Western ideas of the self that are not inclusive of diverse cultural norms. My paper suggests that we refine our current universalistic notion of self-esteem to incorporate cultural diversity and gender socialization. This critical discussion is essential in an increasingly multicultural North American setting in which many currently held assumptions need to be challenged and revised.