cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Summing the partial-wave series for spin-0-spin-0 and spin-1/2-spin-0 amplitudes

After briefly reviewing the literature on Regge poles in nuclear resonant reactions, an integrodifferential equation for summing the partial-wave series is cast into the form of a standard integral equation and several methods of solution are suggested, including Fredholm methods, straight iteration and another type of series solution. The solution by straight iteration is shown to be a generalization of previous work by the author. The results are presented for scattering of spin-0 particles from a spin-0 target, and spin-1/2 particles from a spin-0 target; they may be useful both for calculating low-energy nuclear resonant reaction amplitudes and for performing high-energy bootstrap calculations.
The influence of contextual diversity on word learning

In a series of analyses over mega datasets, Jones, Johns, and Recchia (Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology, 66(2), 115-124, 2012) and Johns et al. (Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 132:2, EL74-EL80, 2012) found that a measure of contextual diversity that takes into account the semantic variability of a word's contexts provided a better fit to both visual and spoken word recognition data than traditional measures, such as word frequency or raw context counts. This measure was empirically validated with an artificial language experiment (Jones et al.). The present study extends the empirical results with a unique natural language learning paradigm, which allows for an examination of the semantic representations that are acquired as semantic diversity is varied. Subjects were incidentally exposed to novel words as they rated short selections from articles, books, and newspapers. When novel words were encountered across distinct discourse contexts, subjects were both faster and more accurate at recognizing them than when they were seen in redundant contexts. However, learning across redundant contexts promoted the development of more stable semantic representations. These findings are predicted by a distributional learning model trained on the same materials as our subjects.
Yang–Mills gauge theory and the Higgs boson family

The gauge symmetry principles of the Yang–Mills field of 1954 provide the solid rock foundation for the Standard Model of particle physics. To give masses to the quarks and leptons, however, SM calls on the solitary Higgs field using a set of mysterious complex Yukawa coupling matrices. We enrich the SM by reducing the Yukawa coupling matrices to a single Yukawa coupling constant, and endowing it with a family of Higgs fields that are degenerate in mass. The recent experimental discovery of the Higgs resonance at 125.09 ± 0.21 GeV does not preclude this possibility. Instead, it presents an opportunity to explore the interference effects in background events at the LHC. We present a study based on the maximally symmetric Higgs potential in a leading hierarchy scenario.
Effect of Big and Little Gastrins on Pancreatic and Gastric Secretion

SummaryIn dogs with gastric and pancreatic fistulas the potency of porcine big gastrin (G34-II) relative to human little gastrin (G17-1) was not significantly different for stimulation of gastric acid and pancreatic protein secretion.
First-Cycle Evolution of Local Structure in Electrochemically Activated Li2MnO3

X-ray absorption spectroscopy is utilized to determine changes in the local structure of Li2MnO3 resulting from electrochemical extraction and insertion of lithium. Specially prepared electrodes allow for a first-cycle charge close to 100% of theoretical, even in crystalline Li2MnO3 prepared at 850 °C. After full delithiation to ∼5 V, the local Mn environments are similar to those of the freshly prepared Li2MnO3 electrodes but with increased disorder. On discharge, significant reduction of Mn is observed accompanied by rearrangement of Mn resulting in Jahn–Teller distorted, Mn3+ local environments. It is also shown, as expected, that the electrochemical and structural behavior of pure Li2MnO3 is markedly different than that observed for the structurally similar Li2MnO3 component of lithium- and manganese-rich composite cathodes.
Microlithography : Science and Technology, Second Edition

This new edition of the bestselling Microlithography: Science and Technology provides a balanced treatment of theoretical and operational considerations, from elementary concepts to advanced aspects of modern submicron microlithography. Each chapter reflects the current research and practices from the world's leading academic and industrial laboratories detailed by a stellar panel of international experts.New in the Second EditionIn addition to updated information on existing material, this new edition features coverage of technologies developed over the last decade since the first edition appeared, including: Immersion Lithography 157nm Lithography Electron Projection Lithography (EPL) Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) Lithography Imprint Lithography Photoresists for 193nm and Immersion Lithography Scatterometry Microlithography: Science and Technology, Second Edition authoritatively covers the physics, chemistry, optics, metrology tools and techniques, resist processing and materials, and fabrication methods involved in the latest generations of microlithography such as immersion lithography and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. It also looks ahead to the possible future systems and technologies that will bring the next generations to fruition.Loaded with illustrations, equations, tables, and time-saving references to the most current literature, this book is the most comprehensive and reliable source for anyone, from student to seasoned professional, looking to achieve robust, accurate, and cost-effective microlithography processes and systems.
Inheritance of pollen color in hazelnut

In contrast to the yellow color of pollen of European hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) cultivars, an unusual cream color was observed in some seedlings from self-pollination of the Sicilian cultivar ‘Montebello.’ After elimination of accidental outcrosses, the segregation fit a 3 yellow: 1 cream ratio, indicating the possibility of simple genetic control. Two seedlings with cream-colored pollen were backcrossed to their parent ‘Montebello,’ and the progeny segregated 1 yellow: 1 cream for pollen color. When two seedlings with cream-colored pollen were crossed with each other, all of the resulting seedlings had cream-colored pollen. These segregation ratios indicate that pollen color in hazelnut is controlled by a single locus with yellow dominant to cream color. The symbol pc is proposed for this locus.
A Simulation Model for Erosion and Sediment Yield at the Hillslope Scale

As a physical feature of the landscape, hillslopes connect high points with low points. A hillslope can be defined as the zone of the landscape from the crest of a ridge along the slope in the direction of flow to a defined drainage, water body, or other feature that interrupts the overland flow profile at the toe of the slope. The evolution and visible forms of hillslopes are in large part determined by the effects of water driven erosion. In the absence of activities such as land forming, grading, cultivation, etc., hillslopes are relatively stable and their forms evolve slowly.
Advanced-Stage Colorectal Cancer in Persons Younger Than 50 Years Not Associated With Longer Duration of Symptoms or Time to Diagnosis.

Background & Aims The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) is increasing in the United States among adults younger than the age of 50 years. Studies of young-onset CRC have focused on outcomes and treatment patterns. We examined patient presentation, provider evaluation, and time to diagnosis, which can affect stage and prognosis. Methods In a retrospective study, we collected data from patients with a diagnosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma, confirmed by pathologists, seen at the Stanford Cancer Institute from January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2014. We compared symptoms, clinical features, time to diagnosis, and cancer stage in patients with young-onset CRC (diagnosed at an age younger than 50 years; n = 253) with patients diagnosed with CRC at an age of 50 years or older (n = 232). Results A higher proportion of patients with young-onset CRC were diagnosed with advanced-stage tumors (72%) compared with older patients (63%) ( P = .03). Larger proportions of patients with young-onset CRC also had a family history of CRC (25% vs 17% in older patients; P = .03), confirmed or probable hereditary cancer syndromes (7% vs 1% in older patients; P P = .01; and rectal cancer in 40% vs 35% in older patients; P = .29). Patients with young-onset CRC had a significantly longer median time to diagnosis (128 vs 79 days for older patients; P P P P Conclusions In a retrospective analysis of patients with CRC, we found that greater proportions of patients younger than 50 years were diagnosed with advanced-stage tumors than older patients; this difference could not be explained simply by delays from symptom onset to diagnosis. Although tumor biology may be an important determinant of stage at diagnosis, clinicians should be aware of CRC alarm symptoms, family history, and genetic syndromes, to speed evaluation and diagnosis of younger patients and potentially improve outcomes. It remains to be determined whether subgroups of persons at risk for young-onset CRC who benefit from early screening can be identified.
Dual frequency band RCS reduction using checkerboard designs

Checkerboard surfaces, combining two different EBG structures, can realize a wide frequency bandwidth for a 10-dB RCS reduction because the scattered fields from checkerboard surfaces are re-directed toward four quadrants. This paper exhibits dual-frequency band checkerboard EBG surfaces with 10-dB RCS reduction bandwidths of 61% and 24% by utilizing two dual-band EBG structures, while the surfaces maintain scattering in four quadrants. Bistatic RCS of dual-band checkerboard surfaces are compared to the RCS of the corresponding PEC surface. Excellent agreement is obtained between measurements and simulations.
Convolutional Sparse and Low-Rank Coding-Based Image Decomposition

We propose novel convolutional sparse and low-rank coding-based methods for cartoon and texture decomposition. In our method, we first learn a set of generic filters that can efficiently represent cartoon-and texture-type images. Then, using these learned filters, we propose two optimization frameworks to decompose a given image into cartoon and texture components: convolutional sparse coding-based image decomposition; and convolutional low-rank coding-based image decomposition. By working directly on the whole image, the proposed image separation algorithms do not need to divide the image into overlapping patches for leaning local dictionaries. The shift-invariance property is directly modeled into the objective function for learning filters. Extensive experiments show that the proposed methods perform favorably compared with state-of-the-art image separation methods.
Effects of exogenous progesterone and estrone on conceptus development in swine.

Administration of progesterone (P4, .55 mg/kg) and estrone (E1, .275 micrograms/kg) during discrete periods in early gestation was found to have beneficial effects on conceptus development in gilts. Three trials were conducted, with each trial examining two hormone treatment groups and one control group. In all trials, P4-E1 supplementation for either one or both of the time periods examined resulted in larger (P less than .05) placentas at d 50 of gestation. Administration of exogenous P4-E1 from either d 20 to 30 (trial 1) or d 25 to 30 (trial 3) of gestation resulted in the greatest augmentation in placental development. In all three trials, exogenous P4-E1 elicited beneficial effects on areolae formation and development. In all nine groups examined (both P4-E1-treated and controls), a positive uterine artery minus uterine vein difference in progesterone concentration was found. This suggests that the conceptus is metabolizing progesterone to metabolites that may have a local effect within the pregnant uterus. It is suggested that augmentation of placental growth, as demonstrated in this study, may reduce secondary fetal death losses in latter gestation (i.e., post-d 70) due to placental insufficiency.
Reversing Glial Scar Back To Neural Tissue Through NeuroD1-Mediated Astrocyte-To-Neuron Conversion

Nerve injury often causes neuronal loss and glial proliferation, disrupting the delicate balance between neurons and glial cells in the brain. Recently, we have developed an innovative technology to convert internal reactive glial cells into functional neurons inside the mouse brain. Here, we further demonstrate that such glia-to-neuron conversion can rebalance neuron-glia ratio and reverse glial scar back to neural tissue. Specifically, using a severe stab injury model in the mouse cortex, we demonstrated that ectopic expression of NeuroD1 in reactive astrocytes significantly reduced glial reactivity and transformed toxic A1 astrocytes into less harmful astrocytes before neuronal conversion. Importantly, astrocytes were not depleted after neuronal conversion but rather repopulated due to its intrinsic proliferation capability. Remarkably, converting reactive astrocytes into neurons also significantly reduced microglia-mediated neuroinflammation. Moreover, accompanying regeneration of new neurons together with repopulation of new astrocytes, blood-brain-barrier was restored and synaptic density was rescued in the injury sites. Together, these results demonstrate that glial scar can be reversed back to neural tissue through rebalancing neuron:glia ratio after glia-to-neuron conversion.
Dietary Iron Fortification Normalizes Fetal Hematology, Hepcidin, and Iron Distribution in a Rat Model of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure.

BACKGROUND Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) causes neurodevelopmental disability. Clinical and animal studies show gestational iron deficiency (ID) exacerbates PAE's behavioral and growth deficits. In rat, PAE manifests an inability to establish iron homeostasis, increasing hepcidin (maternal and fetal), and fetal liver iron while decreasing brain iron and promoting anemia. Here, we hypothesize dietary iron fortification during pregnancy may mitigate alcohol's disruption of fetal iron homeostasis. METHODS Pregnant Long-Evans rats, fed iron-sufficient (100 ppm iron) or iron-fortified (IF; 500 ppm iron) diets, received either 5 g/kg alcohol (PAE) or isocaloric maltodextrin daily on gestational days (GD) 13.5 through 19.5. Maternal and fetal outcomes were evaluated on GD20.5. RESULTS PAE reduced mean fetal weight (p < 0.001) regardless of maternal iron status, suggesting iron fortification did not improve fetal growth. Both PAE (p < 0.01) and IF (p = 0.035) increased fetal liver iron. In fetal brain, PAE (p = 0.015) affected total (p < 0.001) and nonheme iron (p < 0.001) such that iron fortification normalized (p = 0.99) the alcohol-mediated reductions in brain iron and nonheme iron. Iron fortification also improved fetal hematologic indices in PAE including hemoglobin, hematocrit, and mean cell volume (ps<0.001). Iron fortification also normalized hepcidin expression in alcohol-exposed maternal and fetal liver. Neither diet nor PAE affected transferrin (Tf) and ferritin (FTN) content in fetal liver, nor Tf or transferrin receptor in fetal brain. However, IF-PAE fetal brains trended to less FTN content (p = 0.074), suggesting greater availability of nonstorage iron. In PAE, hepcidin levels were linearly related to increased liver iron stores and decreased red blood cell count and brain iron. CONCLUSIONS Maternal oral iron fortification mitigated PAE's disruption of fetal iron homeostasis and improved brain iron content, hematologic indices, and hepcidin production in this rat PAE model. Clinical studies show maternal ID substantially enhances fetal vulnerability to PAE, and our work supports increased maternal dietary iron intake may improve fetal iron status in alcohol-exposed pregnancies.
Intercultural Communication: Taking Stock of the Domain

I began studying intercultural communication in the 1970s as a graduate student from Korea, just about the time when intercultural communication was formally instituted as a subdiscipline of commun...
Perceptuo-Motor Development in the Child and the Adolescent: Perceptuo-Motor Coordination

Although, at first glance, perceptuo-motor development during childhood seems to unfold more slowly and progressively than during infancy –this may explain in part the relative lack of interest of developmental psychologists in this topic–, a more thorough investigation shows that a consistent enhancement of perceptuo-motor performance takes place between two and fifteen years of age. Furthermore, several experimental findings strongly suggest that the child improves her/his performance not only quantitatively (i.e., speed, precision, force, etc.), but also qualitatively. Indeed, dramatic changes occur in the acquisition of perceptuo-motor skills between four and seven years of age, entailing temporary “regressions” in performance. These have been interpreted as functional or strategical changes, which influence the way movement is controlled. To understand these so-called “U-shaped” trends, and to present a brief and partial state of the art, this chapter reviews alternative interpretations of these behavioral changes, based on the most prevailing frameworks in the domain. Although this discussion provides no definite conclusion regarding the issue of perceptuo-motor development, it points out the necessity of a more rigorous approach at the methodological level, and perhaps, a more open-minded attitude within the theoretical realm.
Coxeter-Killing Transformations of Simple Lie Algebras

To determine the Betti numbers of complex simple Lie groups (algebras) is a classical problem. It is known that these Betti numbers are simply the coefficients of the Poincare polynominal $$p\left( t \right)=\left( 1+{{t}^{{{2}_{1}}m+1}} \right)\cdots \left( 1+{{t}^{2{{m}_{1}}+1}} \right)$$ of the corresponding Lie group, where m 1,..., m 1 are called the Poincare indices of the Lie algebras. Brauer and Pontryagin (see Ref. 1) already determined these numbers for four classes of classical simple Lie algebras, and in 1950 C. Chevalley [1] announced the result for several exceptional Lie algebras.
Quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) Breeding

Quince, Cydonia oblonga Mill. is one of the most important pome fruit species in the Rosaceae family. The genus Cydonia is monospecific and includes only a single species. Quince is grown for both fruit production and rootstock, and pear scion cultivars. It is cultivated for fruit production all over the world but most of the production is around its origin. Its fruits are used both for fresh consumption and for industry such as jam, jelly, marmalade, canning etc. Quince rootstocks such as Quince A and Quince C provide dwarfing to pear scion cultivars. The cultivar breeding by intraspecific crossing is very limited, and mostly all the cultivars in the production are selections from either nature or backyards. There are a few quince germplasm resources in the world characterized phenotypically and by different molecular marker systems. There are also studies aiming to produce quince x apple and pear x quince intergeneric crosses for rootstock. Quince is highly sensitive to fire blight ( Erwinia amylovora Burril) which is the most important problem in fruit and rootstock production. Although genomic resources are very limited for Cydonia, apple and pear genomic resources in genebanks can be used for genetic and molecular studies in quince. It is necessary to have a large germplasm collection from diverse countries and with segregating populations for economically-important characters to start genetic studies in quince. This will allow use of molecular tools in the future breeding programs in quince.
Identification of Ge vacancies as electronic defects in methyl- and hydrogen-terminated germanane

We use a combination of optical and electrostatic surface science techniques to measure electronically active native defects in multilayer GeCH3 and GeH, two-dimensional (2D) functionalized materials. Chemical processing techniques coupled with density functional theory enable us to identify the specific physical nature of both native point defects and synthesis-related impurities which can limit the optical and charge transport properties of these materials. Direct comparison of optical measurements with calculated electronic levels provides identification of these localized, deep level gap states and confirms partial H-passivation of dangling bonds, revealing synthesis and processing methods needed to control specific defects and optimize these 2D materials for emergent solid state-electronics.We use a combination of optical and electrostatic surface science techniques to measure electronically active native defects in multilayer GeCH3 and GeH, two-dimensional (2D) functionalized materials. Chemical processing techniques coupled with density functional theory enable us to identify the specific physical nature of both native point defects and synthesis-related impurities which can limit the optical and charge transport properties of these materials. Direct comparison of optical measurements with calculated electronic levels provides identification of these localized, deep level gap states and confirms partial H-passivation of dangling bonds, revealing synthesis and processing methods needed to control specific defects and optimize these 2D materials for emergent solid state-electronics.
Universal Basic Incomes versus Targeted Transfers: Anti-Poverty Programs in Developing Countries

Of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals articulated by the United Nations, number one is the elimination of extreme poverty by 2030. While future economic growth should continue to reduce poverty, it will not solve the problem by itself; thus, there is a potentially important role for national-level transfer programs that assist poor families in developing countries. Such programs are often run by developing country governments. Many countries have implemented transfer programs that seek to target beneficiaries: that is, to identify who is poor and then to restrict transfers to those individuals. Some people have begun to advocate for "universal basic income" programs, which dispense with trying to identify the poor and instead provide transfers to everyone. We begin by considering the universal basic income as part of the solution to an optimal income-taxation problem, focusing on the case of developing countries, where there is limited income data and inclusion in the formal tax system is low. We examine how the targeting of transfer programs is conducted in these settings, and provide empirical evidence on the tradeoffs involved between universal basic income and targeted transfer schemes using data from Indonesia and Peru—two countries that run nationwide transfer programs that are targeted to the poor. We conclude by linking our findings back to the broader policy debate on what tools should be preferred for redistribution, as well as the practical challenges of administering them in developing countries.
The Success of Market Reforms in China: Competing Paradigms of Information Economics and Neoclassical Economics

The transition from centrally planned to market-based economies is a crucial experiment highlighting the relative merits of different economic schools of thought. This manuscript is the first one of two interconnected research papers examining this transition in different contexts: China and Russia. In the current paper, we evaluate the success of the new information paradigm applied in China. We argue that markets cannot be efficient without a role for the government, and pitting market against government is an outdated dichotomy. Public administration, government regulations and intervention, and social institutions are all impacting the efficiency of economic markets. The new information economics is important for the future of public administration.
Management of symptomatic os acromiale: a survey of the American shoulder and elbow surgeons

The purpose of this paper was to survey members of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) to assess their opinion on management options, help highlight important clinical factors, and elucidate surgical preferences for the treatment of a symptomatic meso-os. An online questionnaire was distributed to the active members of the ASES. The survey queried surgeon demographics and perioperative management preferences, and presented multiple clinical case scenarios of patients with a presumed symptomatic, unstable os acromiale. There were 116 ASES members who responded to the survey, and 26% (n = 30) who stated they do not operatively manage a symptomatic os. We identified two main clusters of respondents. Cluster 1 (n = 67) (as compared to cluster 2, n = 19) was comprised of surgeons with significantly more experience treating a symptomatic os acromiale (p < 0.05). These surgeons regarded gender, age, BMI, and hand dominance as important clinical factors when deciding when to proceed to surgery. Overall, arthroscopic management of the os was preferred, but those surgeons more experienced in treating os acromiale preferred open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) in specific clinical cases. The survey findings reflect the current lack of consensus in the treatment of a unstable, symptomatic os acromiale. Overall, arthroscopic management was preferred by most surgeons, though ORIF was preferred in certain clinical scenarios by those more experienced with os acromiale. The overall preference for arthroscopy suggests a possible shift in the treatment paradigm for patients with symptomatic meso-acromions, but higher level studies are needed to substantiate these findings.
Exploring the Impact of Worked Examples in a Novice Programming Environment

Research in a variety of domains has shown that viewing worked examples (WEs) can be a more efficient way to learn than solving equivalent problems. We designed a Peer Code Helper system to display WEs, along with scaffolded self-explanation prompts, in a block-based, novice programming environment called \snap. We evaluated our system during a high school summer camp with 22 students. Participants completed three programming problems with access to WEs on either the first or second problem. We found that WEs did not significantly impact students' learning, but may have impacted students' intrinsic cognitive load, suggesting that our WEs with scaffolded prompts may be an inherently different learning task. Our results show that WEs saved students time on initial tasks compared to writing code, but some of the time saved was lost in subsequent programming tasks. Overall, students with WEs completed more tasks within a fixed time period, but not significantly more. WEs may improve students' learning efficiency when programming, but these effects are nuanced and merit further study.
Topological Reasoning for Identifying a Complete Set of Topological Predicates between Vague Spatial Objects.

Current implementations of spatial databases are not capable of handling data that is intrinsically indeterminate or vague. The goal of the Vague Spatial Algebra (VASA) project is to define concepts and implementations that will address this problem. In this paper we further develop work on topological predicates between vague spatial objects. The new developments make use of spatial reasoning techniques that provide the necessary tools for the definition of a mechanism to identify a complete set of vague topological predicates. These predicates work on a definition of vague spatial data types defined previously as part of VASA and that are based on well known definitions of crisp spatial data types.
Hypertriglyceridemia Induced Pancreatitis Due to Brentuximab Therapy: First Case Report

Brentuximab vedotin is used for relapsed classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma and mature T-cell lymphomas. We present a unique case of severe hypertriglyceridemia after one dose of single-agent brentuximab therapy. A Middle-Eastern male with a history of primary progressive cutaneous gamma/delta T-cell lymphoma was started on single-agent brentuximab vedotin therapy. Two weeks after single dose brentuximab therapy, he complained of severe epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting and was admitted to the intensive care unit with acute pancreatitis. Physical examination revealed an acutely ill patient with abdominal tenderness and laboratory data showed triglyceride levels of 3175 mg/dL, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) 9%, lipase 145 U/L and glucose 594 mg/dL. Computed tomography scan of the abdomen and pelvis confirmed acute interstitial pancreatitis. With medical management patient triglyceride levels decreased and the patient improved. This is the first case report in literature depicting, brentuximab induced hypertriglyceridemia leading to acute pancreatitis. It is a serious complication and can be lethal. Therefore, it is critical to maintain a high index of suspicion for hypertriglyceridemia induced pancreatitis after single dose brentuximab therapy.
THE CONNECTED WORLD: EXAMINING THE INTERNET OF THINGS

Testimony of Adam Thierer (Mercatus Center at George Mason University) before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation for hearing on “The Connected World: Examining the Internet of Things.”The three key takeaways of the testimony: (1) First, the Internet of Things offers compelling benefits to consumers, companies, and our country’s national competitiveness that will only be achieved by adopting a flexible policy regime for this fast-moving space. (2) Second, while there are formidable privacy and security challenges associated with the Internet of Things, top-down or one-size-fits-all regulation will limit innovative opportunities. (3) Third, with those first two points in mind, we should seek alternative and less costly approaches to protecting privacy and security that rely on education, empowerment, and targeted enforcement of existing legal mechanisms. Long-term privacy and security protection requires a multifaceted approach incorporating many flexible solutions.
Prominent Stereoselectivity of NNAL Glucuronidation in Upper Aerodigestive Tract Tissues

Tobacco specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) are among the most potent carcinogens found in cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products. Decreases in TSNA detoxification, particularly 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), have been associated with tobacco-related cancer incidence. NNK is metabolized by carbonyl reduction to its major carcinogenic metabolite, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), which is detoxified by glucuronidation at the nitrogen within the pyridine ring or at the chiral alcohol to form four glucuronide products: (R)-NNAL-O-Gluc, (S)-NNAL-O-Gluc, (R)-NNAL-N-Gluc, (S)-NNAL-N-Gluc. Stereoselective NNAL-Gluc formation and the relative expression of NNAL-glucuronidating UGTs (1A4, 1A9, 1A10, 2B7, 2B10, 2B17) were analyzed in 39 tissue specimens from the upper aerodigestive tract (esophagus (n = 13), floor of mouth (n = 4), larynx (n = 9), tongue (n = 7), and tonsil (n = 6)). All pooled tissue types preferentially formed (R)-NNAL-O-Gluc in the presence of racemic-NNAL; only esophagus exhibited any detectable formation of (S)-NNAL-O-Gluc. For every tissue type examined, UGT1A10 exhibited the highest relative expression levels among the NNAL-O-glucuronidating UGTs, ranging from 36% (tonsil) to 49% (esophagus), followed by UGT1A9 > UGT2B7 > UGT2B17. UGT1A10 also exhibited similar or higher levels of expression as compared to both NNAL-N-glucuronidating UGTs, 1A4 and 2B10. In a screening of cells expressing individual UGT enzymes, all NNAL glucuronidating UGTs exhibited some level of stereospecific preference for individual NNAL enantiomers, with UGTs 1A10 and 2B17 forming primarily (R)-NNAL-O-Gluc. These data suggest that UGTs 1A10 and 2B17 may be important enzymes in the detoxification of TSNAs like NNK in tissues of the upper aerodigestive tract.
Newly Discovered Micropeptide Regulators of SERCA Form Oligomers but Bind to the Pump as Monomers

Abstract The recently-discovered single-span transmembrane proteins endoregulin (ELN), dwarf open reading frame (DWORF), myoregulin (MLN), and another-regulin (ALN) are reported to bind to the SERCA calcium pump in a manner similar to that of known regulators of SERCA activity, phospholamban (PLB) and sarcolipin (SLN). To determine how micropeptide assembly into oligomers affects the availability of the micropeptide to bind to SERCA in a regulatory complex, we used co-immunoprecipitation and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) to quantify micropeptide oligomerization and SERCA-binding. Micropeptides formed avid homo-oligomers with high-order stoichiometry (n > 2 protomers per homo-oligomer), but it was the monomeric form of all micropeptides that interacted with SERCA. In view of these two alternative binding interactions, we evaluated the possibility that oligomerization occurs at the expense of SERCA-binding. However, even the most avidly oligomeric micropeptide species still showed robust FRET with SERCA, and there was a surprising positive correlation between oligomerization affinity and SERCA-binding. This comparison of micropeptide family members suggests that the same structural determinants that support oligomerization are also important for binding to SERCA. Moreover, the unique oligomerization/SERCA-binding profile of DWORF is in harmony with its distinct role as a PLB-competing SERCA activator, in contrast to the inhibitory function of the other SERCA-binding micropeptides.
From the simulation center to the bedside: Validating the efficacy of a dynamic haptic robotic trainer in internal jugular central venous catheter placement

Abstract Background The objective of this study was to validate the transfer of ultrasound-guided Internal Jugular Central Venous Catheterization (US-IJCVC) placement skills from training on a Dynamic Haptic Robotic Trainer (DHRT), to placing US-IJCVCs in clinical environments. DHRT training greatly reduces preceptor time by providing automated feedback, standardizes learning experiences, and quantifies skill improvements. Methods Expert observers evaluated DHRT-trained (N = 21) and manikin-trained (N = 36) surgical residents on US-IJCVC placement in the operating suite using a US-IJCVC evaluation form. Performance and errors by DHRT-trained residents were compared to traditional manikin-trained residents. Results There were no significant training group differences between unsuccessful insertions (p = 0.404), assistance on procedure (p = 0.102), arterial puncture (p = 0.998), and average number of insertion attempts (p = 0.878). Regardless of training group, previous central line experience significantly predicted whether residents needed assistance on the procedure (p = 0.033). Conclusion The results failed to show a statistical difference between DHRT- and manikin-trained residents. This study validates the transfer of skills from training on the DHRT system to performing US-IJCVC in clinical environments.
Extensible Interface for a Compact Spectrophotometer for Teaching Molecular Absorption in the Undergraduate Laboratory

A simple computer interface for controlling a compact spectrograph for use as a spectrophotometer in an undergraduate teaching laboratory was developed. The project was implemented on a Raspberry P...
Analysis on factors of H1N1 flu pandemic influenza in Qingxin county

[Objective]To grasp the dynamic features and popular rule of H1N1 flu outbreak in our county through the system monitoring survey,to analyze the popular factors of influenza H1N1flu,provide the scientific basis for improving the prevention and control measures.[Methods]Six towns were selected as monitoring stations in Qingxin county central,southem and northern region,extracting the general population venous blood,ELISA test was carried out on a H1N1 IgG antibody serologicad survey,at the same time the face to face questionnaire of epidemiological investigation was also conducted.[Results]The serum samples of 1325 persons were tested,influenza H1N1 flu antibody positive for 190 people,positive rate was 14.34％,H1N1 influenza virus infection in patients in our county were mainly light and inapparent,the life of a crowd gathered H1N1 IgG antibody was higher than that in the crowd gathered(P＜ 0.05),influenza H1N1 flu vaccine for 2.49％ rate,the effect of immunity for 57.58％,a cold of visit for 70.66％ rate,the case of H1N1 influenza was not found in the survey group.[Conclusions]The main factors influencing our county H1N1 flu pandemic influenza are the vaccine immunization rates among immune effect and medical diagnosis accuracy,the susceptibility of living gathering group,infections status with light and inapparent as main condition,the vaccination for H1N1 flu vaccine crowd influenza and influenza H1N1 flu knowledge training for clinical doctors should be strengthened,the nursery institutions and schools and other clustering area are still important places to be prevented and controlled for H1N1 flu prevention in our county. Key words: Influenza HIN1 flu; Epidemiological survey; Serum antibodies; ELISA
Spatiotemporal Pattern Recognition in the PMU Signals in the WECC system

Phasor measurement unit (PMU) data has been used by multiple power system applications, including state estimation, post event analysis, oscillation detection, model validation, and many others. Still, due to the big data nature and availability to general research institutions, comprehensive understanding of the spatiotemporal patterns in PMU signals and underlying mechanisms are incomplete. This study applies a set of signal processing and machine learning approaches aiming at deciphering the characteristic behaviors of multiple PMU attributes (e.g., voltage, frequency, rate of change of frequency, phase angle), including their auto-correlation, cross-dependence, similarities and discrepancies across units and temporal scales, and distributions of anomalies and their linkages to potential external factors such as weather events. Data analytics are applied to PMUs from the U.S. Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) system. The PMU measurements, recorded events, and weather extremes are all from real-world datasets. The findings from the study and mechanistic understanding of the PMU dynamics help provide guidance on system control or preventing blackouts. The derived metrics can be directly used for adjusting or filtering simulated PMU data used for advanced algorithm development.
Leveraging Uncertainty Quantification to Design Ocean Climate Observing Systems

Ocean observations are expensive and difficult to collect. Designing effective ocean observing systems therefore warrants deliberate, quantitative strategies. We leverage adjoint modeling and Hessi...
THE SQUAMATE TREE OF LIFE

Squamates (lizards, snakes, and their kin such as amphisbaenians, or “worm lizards”) represent the world's most diverse clade of terrestrial vertebrates with ∼11,000 described extant species, representing key components in many of the world's most diverse ecosystems. With an evolutionary history dating back at least to the Middle Triassic at 242 Ma, the squamate Tree of Life also features numerous diverse but extinct branches, with hundreds of fossil species found all over the world. Despite their biological relevance both today and in the geological past, there remains a centuries-old controversy on how the major lineages of squamates are related to each other, with a direct impact on studies in ecology, evolution, paleontology, toxinology, and other fields. Here, we provide a historical overview of this long research tradition, from 19th century naturalists to 21st century phylogenomics, with special emphasis on several recent advances over the last two decades. These insights have had a dramatic effect on our understanding of the squamate Tree of Life and clarify several possible future research agendas. We provide an integrative perspective derived from genomics, morphology, and the fossil record and propose several points of synthesis in our current knowledge of broadscale squamate evolution and systematics. Key topics of interest include dating the origin and early evolution of lizards, the phylogenetic origin of snakes, the evolution of venom, recent agreements between morphological and molecular squamate evolutionary trees, genomic patterns of evolution, and the integration of morphological and molecular data sets. We conclude by providing perspectives on possible advancements in the field, directing researchers to promising future lines of investigation that are necessary to further expand our synthetic knowledge of squamate evolution.
Recoverability-Based Optimal Control for a Bipedal Walking Model With Foot Slip

Walking on slippery surfaces presents a challenge for bipedal walkers. A moving contact point between a biped foot and the ground introduces nonlinearities, which are usually not explicitly captured in the existing biped dynamics models. This work uses a two-mass linear inverted pendulum (LIP) model to describe the dynamics of walking gait in both the presence and absence of a foot slip. A single optimization-based controller is presented for control of both the normal walking and slip gait. The appropriate control strategy is determined by recoverability analysis. Based on the current state of the walker that lies within the recoverable or the fall-prone set, the proposed algorithm determines single and multiple step targets that lead the walker to recover to either the stationary configuration or to the periodic gait, respectively. An optimal control is designed within every swing phase to track the target states. When the within-step control is not sufficient, the algorithm searches for the optimal foot placement location and commands a recovery step to regain stability. The performance of the proposed control algorithm is validated by simulation, and results demonstrate successful recovery for within step and multi-step recovery of a walker.
Provably Safe Model-Based Meta Reinforcement Learning: An Abstraction-Based Approach.

While conventional reinforcement learning focuses on designing agents that can perform one task, meta-learning aims, instead, to solve the problem of designing agents that can generalize to different tasks (e.g., environments, obstacles, and goals) that were not considered during the design or the training of these agents. In this spirit, in this paper, we consider the problem of training a provably safe Neural Network (NN) controller for uncertain nonlinear dynamical systems that can generalize to new tasks that were not present in the training data while preserving strong safety guarantees. Our approach is to learn a set of NN controllers during the training phase. When the task becomes available at runtime, our framework will carefully select a subset of these NN controllers and compose them to form the final NN controller. Critical to our approach is the ability to compute a finite-state abstraction of the nonlinear dynamical system. This abstract model captures the behavior of the closed-loop system under all possible NN weights, and is used to train the NNs and compose them when the task becomes available. We provide theoretical guarantees that govern the correctness of the resulting NN. We evaluated our approach on the problem of controlling a wheeled robot in cluttered environments that were not present in the training data.
The Origin of Early Life

The review of the genetic apparatus at both the precellular and cellular levels of life provides the information necessary to suggest what steps actually took place during the development of organisms beyond the primitive broth stage. The existence of that stage can scarcely be doubted, because of the biological requirements for it and the demonstration by biochemists of numerous paths for creating its organic ingredients. Although it may not be possible to establish firmly the exact species, or even types, of amino acids that had been present in the primeval soup, it is obvious that a sufficiency of those biochemicals had been created to permit their polymerization into early polyamino acids. The formation of these polyamines is also beyond question, for the presence of some type of proteinoid is an absolute requirement for life, as was revealed by the analysis of the gentic apparatus in Chapter V. In addition, nucleosides and nucleotides of various sorts probably had existed in the primeval seas, but they do not appear to have been essential during the earliest period of life’s development.
Boeck's sarcoid and pregnancy

Abstract This paper presents 17 pregnancies in 10 patients with Boeck's sarcoid, delivered at the Sloane Hospital for Women between 1945 and 1956, as disclosed by a survey of the Hospital records from 1932 to 1956, during which period 72,983 deliveries occurred. It will be shown that the pregnancies in this series were unaffected by Boeck's sarcoid, and that pregnancy has no consistent effect on the course of Boeck's sarcoid. Differences from tuberculosis in its relation to pregnancy will be outlined. Some histologic observations on tissues removed from several of these patients are reported.
A conditional-lethal vaccinia virus mutant demonstrates that the I7L gene product is required for virion morphogenesis

A conditional-lethal recombinant virus was constructed in which the expression of the vaccinia virus I7L gene is under the control of the tetracycline operator/repressor system. In the absence of I7L expression, processing of the major VV core proteins is inhibited and electron microscopy reveals defects in virion morphogenesis subsequent to the formation of immature virion particles but prior to core condensation. Plasmid-borne I7L is capable of rescuing the growth of this virus and rescue is optimal when the I7L gene is expressed using the authentic I7L promoter. Taken together, these data suggest that correct temporal expression of the VV I7L cysteine proteinase is required for core protein maturation, virion assembly and production of infectious progeny.
Who is God in the Old Testament? Retrieving Aquinas after Rahner's Answer

Karl Rahner adamantly argued that the God of the Old Testament is the unoriginate Person of the Father. This forms the bedrock of his trinitarian theology, often credited as renewing Christian appreciation for the Trinity. However, his position that the Old Testament God must be identified as the Father contradicts much of the Christian tradition, including strands of Greek theology whose emphasis on the Father he claimed to restore to the West. This article retrieves the theology of Thomas Aquinas after Rahner in order to correct the imbalance of Rahner's position with greater nuance in appreciating the mystery of God in the Old Testament.
Whole body hyperthermia induces apoptosis in subpopulations of blood lymphocytes.

Summary Whole Body Hyperthermia (WBH) has been shown to induce alterations of lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood: T-cells decrease and NK-cells increase in number in the course of this therapy. As elevated temperature induces programmed cell death in healthy lymphocytes in vitro , we intended to determine the role of lymphocyte apoptosis in WBH by measuring the rate of apoptosis in blood lymphocytes in the course of this treatment. Blood was taken from cancer patients, treated with whole body hyperthermia and chemotherapy, before, during and the day after treatment. Apoptosis rates of the whole lymphocyte population, as well as, of B-, T-, CD4+-T-, CD8+-T-, and Natural-Killer (NK)-cell-subpopulations were determined by staining with AnnexinV-FITC and FACS flow analysis. A significant rise of apoptosis in the whole lymphocyte population, in CD4+-T- and in CD8+-T-cells occurred during treatment. In contrast, an elevated rate of apoptosis in NK-cells was observed 20 hours after termination of WBH. These differences were similar when the cells were incubated at 37 °C for 24 hours. Our results suggest, that apoptosis is one reason for the previously described decrease of T-cells during WBH and of NK-cells after WBH, and that the hyperthermia-related apoptosis-inducing mechanism is different in T-cells and NK-cells.