cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Product Fractions from Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Nannochloropsis sp. and the Influence of Solvents

We collected and analyzed the gas, crude bio-oil, dissolved aqueous solids, and insoluble residual solids product fractions arising from hydrothermal liquefaction of Nannochloropsis sp. at 350 °C for 60 min. Most of the carbon and hydrogen in the algal biomass appears in the crude bio-oil product, as desired. A majority of the original nitrogen appears as ammonia in the aqueous phase. We also determined how the solvent used to recover the crude bio-oil affected the yields and compositions of the product fractions. We used both nonpolar solvents (hexadecane, decane, hexane, and cyclohexane) and polar solvents (methoxycyclopentane, dichloromethane, and chloroform). Hexadecane and decane provided the highest gravimetric yields of bio-oil (39 ± 3 and 39 ± 1 wt %, respectively), but these crude bio-oils had a lower carbon content (69 wt % for decane) than did those recovered with polar solvents such as chloroform (74 wt %) and dichloromethane (76 wt %). We quantified the amount of 19 different individual molec...
Fast Electromagnetic Transient Simulation Method for PWM Converters Based on Averaging Theory Part Three Improved EMTP Parallel Algorithm for Graphic Processing Unit

Development of the smart grid technology requires fast electromagnetic transient simulation,which is provided with a highly-efficient simulation environment and platform by ever-increasing widely-used graphic processing unit(GPU).First,this paper puts forward two fine-grained parallel operational-level strategies,which are parallelisms based on single instruction multiple data(SIMD)and shared memory.Next,fine-grained parallel electromagnetic transient simulation algorithms for GPU are designed,and simulation procedures are implemented by adopting the two strategies in the improved electromagnetic transient algorithm.Test results of pulse-width modulation(PWM)converters show that,the fine-grained parallel simulation algorithm for GPU enhances simulation efficiency enormously while maintaining accuracy.Its also shown that the algorithm is especially useful when dealing with large system simulation problems.
Estimation of the Entropy Numbers and Kolmogorov Widths for the Nikol’skii–Besov Classes of Periodic Functions of Many Variables

We establish order estimates for the entropy numbers of the Nikol’skii–Besov classes B , of periodic functions of many variables in the space L q with certain relations between the parameters p and q. By using the obtained lower estimates of the entropy numbers, we establish the exact-order estimates for the Kolmogorov widths of the same classes of functions in the space L 1.
Stochastic Optimal Control for Ground-Based Metering Operations

Trajectory-based operations is a NextGen program concept that uses trajectory prediction, scheduling tools, and improved methods for trajectory management to improve the capacity and efficiency of the National Airspace System. Metering operations are one element of trajectory-based operations and involve the sequencing and scheduling of aircraft to flow-constrained points or meter points. Aircraft trajectories are managed to the schedule to ensure aircraft-to-aircraft spacing across the meter point. Automation tools are being developed to support air traffic controller tasks in managing aircraft trajectories to meet scheduled times of arrival at the meter points. Uncertainties in trajectory prediction, such as those related to wind-forecast and aircraft-modeling errors, pose a significant challenge in the design of automation for trajectory management. This paper proposes a framework for exploring and designing metering strategies in the presence of trajectory uncertainties, in which tradeoffs between the...
Screening for genotypic and phenotypic variations in CYP450 activity in patients with therapeutic problems in a psychiatric setting, a retrospective study.

Abstract Objectives This retrospective study aimed to assess to what extent an adverse drug reaction (ADR), an abnormal therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) or a non-response, was attributable to an abnormal cytochrome P450 activity in a psychiatric setting. Method We collected the results of investigations performed in these situations related to psychotropic drugs between January 2005 and November 2014. Activities of different cytochrome P450 were assessed by genotyping and/or phenotyping. Two experienced clinical pharmacologists assessed independently the possible association between the event and the results of the investigations. Results One hundred and thirty eight clinical or biological situations had a complete assessment of all major metabolic pathways of the target drug. A majority of clinical or biological situations were observed with antidepressants (n = 93, 67.4%), followed by antipsychotics (n = 28, 20.3%), benzodiazepines and hypnotics (n = 13, 9.4%), and psychostimulants (n = 4, 2.9%). Genotype and/or phenotype determination was mainly performed because of ADRs (n = 68, 49.3%) or non-response (n = 46, 33.3%). Inter-rate reliability of the scoring system between the pharmacologists was excellent (kappa = 0.94). The probability of an association between ADR, TDM or non-response and metabolic status was rated as intermediate to high in 34.7% of all cases, with proportions of 30.4% and 36.7%, for non-response and ADR respectively. Conclusion When indicated by clinical pharmacologists, ADR, TDM or non-response may be attributable to a variation of the metabolic status with an intermediate to high probability in 34.7% of patients, based on the congruent assessment made by two clinical pharmacologists. Further studies assessing the clinical relevance of prospective explorations and clarifying the appropriate method according to the clinical context are needed.
Abstract 14615: The Preventable Causes of Cardiovascular Diseases in China: Comparative Risk Assessment of Dietary, Lifestyle, and Metabolic Risk Factors

Background: fuelled by rapid urbanization and changes in dietary and lifestyle choices, cardiovascular disease (CVD) has emerged as the leading cause of death in China. Purposes: to estimate the CVD events that potentially contributed to 9 modifiable dietary, lifestyle, and metabolic risk factors in China. Methods: We used data on risk factor exposures in the Chinese population from nationally representative health surveys and CVD morbidity and mortality statistics from the China Health Statistical Yearbook and the National Population Census. We obtained the etiological effects of risk factors on CVD risk, by age, from systematic reviews and meta-analyses of epidemiological studies. We estimated the number of CVD events attributable to all non-optimal levels of each risk factor exposure, by urban/rural, age and sex. Results: Based on the exposure distribution estimated by 2009 China Health Nutrition Survey, the population attributable risk (PAR) on CVD events was 47.3% for high blood pressure, 23.2%, for physical inactivity, 18.5% for smoking, 13.5 for high BMI, 13.0% for high LDL cholesterol, 11.8% for high blood glucose, 11.1% for low dietary intakes of fruit and vegetable, 7.1% for high sodium intake and 3.5% for low PUFA intake, which was 78.0%, 18.8%, 20.9%, 21.9%, 8.2%, 16.1%, 12.0%, 20.3% and 2.0%, respectively, based on exposure distribution of 2002 China National Nutrition and Health Survey. In 2009, high blood pressure was responsible for 3.9 million CVD events, including 1.4 million CHD, 1.5 million ischemic strokes and 1 million hemorrhagic strokes. Large gender difference was found for PAR% of smoking (male 27.8%/female 6.5%). Conclusions: High blood pressure, smoking and physical inactivity, which all have effective interventions, are responsible for the largest number of CVD events in China. Other dietary, lifestyle, and metabolic risk factors for chronic diseases also cause a substantial number of CVD morbidity and mortality in China.
Making Claims: Knowledge Design, Capture, and Sharing in HCI

Abstract Human-centered informatics (HCI) is a young discipline that is still defining its core components, with approaches rooted in engineering, science, and creative design. In the spirit of this book series, this book explores HCI as an intersection point for different perspectives of computing and information technology, seeking to understand how groups of designers can communicate with an increasingly diverse set of colleagues on a broadening set of problems. In so doing, this book traces the evolution of claims as a way to capture and share knowledge, particularly in comparison to other approaches like patterns and issues. Claims can be a centrally important aspect in HCI design efforts, either consciously by targeted design techniques or through ingrained habits of experienced designers. An examination of claims, their uses in design, and the possibilities for explicit use in future collaborative design endeavors seeks to inspire their further development use in HCI design. Table of Contents: What...
Structure and Function of Small Non-Peptide CRF Antagonists and their Potential Clinical Use.

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) can be considered a very important hormone or a chemical mediator. It works closely with other systems to regulate the manner through which the body may respond to stress. Thus it affect many biological processes associated with stress. Dysfunction of this system has also been correlated with various diseases such as major depression, anxiety, drug addiction and eating disorders. Rationally, this means that interfering with binding of CRF to its intended receptors can be an attractive target for drug design aiming at developing new medications for many ailments that are associated with stress such as depression, anxiety and stress-induced relapse in drug addiction. Hundreds of accounts of small molecule antagonists have appeared in the literature and the preclinical and clinical pharmacology have been reported for many of these agents. Several classes of small molecule CRF receptor antagonists which belong to the non-peptide class have been developed with many being widely used for research purposes. Currently several major pharmaceutical companies are pursuing development of small non-peptide CRF1 receptor antagonists. In this review article we explain the importance of development of non-peptide CRF antagonists and their clinical relevance with emphasis on those members that showed great promise or those that were advanced to clinical trials.
Ignitability of crude oil and its oil-in-water products at arctic temperature

A novel platform and procedure were developed to characterize the ignitability of Alaska North Slope (ANS) crude oil and its water-in-oil products with water content up to 60% at low temperatures (-20-0°C). Time to ignition, critical heat flux, in-depth temperature profiles were investigated. It was observed that a cold boundary and consequent low oil temperature increased the thermal inertia of the oil/mixture and consequently the time to sustained ignition also increased. As the water content in the ANS water-in-oil mixture increased, the critical heat flux for ignition was found to increase. This is mainly because of an increase in the thermal conductivity of the mixture with the addition of saltwater. The results of the study can be used towards design of ignition strategies and technologies for in situ burning of oil spills in cold climates such as the Arctic.
Determination of T-2 and HT-2 Toxins in Oats and Oat-Based Breakfast Cereals by Liquid-Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry

This protocol specifies an accurate and sensitive method for the determination of T-2 and HT-2 toxins content in oats and oat-based foods using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry detection. T-2 and HT-2 toxins are extracted from the test material with a mixture of acetonitrile and water. The filtered extract is dried, reconstituted with a mixture of methanol and water, then purified on a polymeric solid-phase extraction cartridge. Toxins are finally eluted from the column with methanol and quantified by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry detection.
The effect of simulated inflammatory conditions and Fenton chemistry on the electrochemistry of CoCrMo alloy.

Inflamed conditions may develop in total joint replacement applications and may impact on the corrosion of metallic biomaterials like CoCrMo alloy. The influence of simulated inflammatory (SI) conditions on the corrosion behavior of CoCrMo alloy was investigated. A range of SI solutions, based on phosphate buffered saline with H2 O2 , HCl, and Fe3+ additions, were investigated. Open circuit potential (OCP), corrosion currents and impedance of the oxide film surface were all significantly (p < 0.05) affected by increases in H2 O2 concentration and decrease of pH. OCP (vs. Ag/AgCl) increased from -0.250 V in PBS solution to 0.355 V and 0.650 V in 30 mM H2 O2 at pH 7.4 and pH 1 PBS solution. Iron ions (0.1 mM) in PBS solutions with 10 mM H2 O2 (Fenton chemistry) increased OCP to 0.6 V. Icorr increased from 0.2 µA/cm2 to 14 µA/cm2 in SI conditions. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed decreased in oxide resistance (Rox , p < 0.05) while capacitance (CPE) increased (p < 0.05) in SI solutions, pH 7.4 (Rox = 5 × 103 Ω cm2 , CPE = 55 µF/cm2 ) as well as in Fenton reagent solution (Rox = 3.2 × 104 Ω cm2 , CPE = 45 µF/cm2 ) compared to PBS only (Rox = 5 × 105 Ω cm2 , CPE = 31 µF/cm2 ). These results indicate the corrosion susceptibility of CoCrMo alloy can be significantly increased by SI solutions, increasing the oxidizing power and decreasing the passivity of the oxide film. Cell-released chemicals such as H2 O2 and acid are able to facilitate the corrosion of CoCrMo alloy and demonstrate part of the mechanism of inflammatory cell induced corrosion. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 209-220, 2018.
Growth Characteristics of Aciduric Sporeforming Bacilli Isolated from Fruit Juices.

Two aciduric, aerobic, sporeforming bacteria were isolated from pasteurized juices. The gram-positive, catalase-positive rods produced spores that were located subterminally in a swollen sporangium. The cultures had an optimal pH of 3.5-4.0 for growth and preferred potato dextrose agar over many of the rich media usually used for cultivating sporeforming bacteria. Spore inocula grew well in apple juice and white grape juice. Red grape juice was inhibitory, perhaps because of the concentrations of certain phenolic compounds. The spores were sufficiently heat resistant (D90 values of 16 to 23 min and z-values of 7.2 to 7.7°C) to survive commercial pasteurization processes.
Impact of sleep, fatigue, and systemic inflammation on neurocognitive and behavioral outcomes in long-term survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

BACKGROUND Long-term survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are at risk for neurocognitive impairment, which may be associated with fatigue, sleep problems, systemic inflammation, and oxidative stress. We examined these associations among survivors of childhood ALL treated with chemotherapy only. METHODS Survivors of childhood ALL (male, n = 35 and female, n = 35; mean age, 14.3 years [standard deviation, 4.7 years] and mean years from diagnosis, 7.4 years [standard deviation, 1.9 years]) completed neurocognitive testing, behavioral ratings, and reported sleep quality and fatigue symptoms 5 years after diagnosis. Serum was collected concurrently and assayed for interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase, and oxidized low-density lipoprotein. General linear modeling was used to assess associations among biomarkers and functional outcomes, adjusting for age and stratified by sex. RESULTS Survivors performed worse than population norms on executive function and processing speed and reported more behavioral problems (P < .05 adjusted for multiple comparison). In female survivors, fatigue was associated with poor executive function (r = 0.41; P = .02), processing speed (r = 0.56; P < .001), and attention (r = 0.36-0.55; P < .05). Female survivors with frequent nighttime awakening displayed more inattention (P = .01), hyperactivity (P = .03), and aggression (P = .01). Worse executive function, processing speed, and behavioral symptoms were observed in female survivors with higher levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and hsCRP (P < .05). Male survivors with high levels of TNF-α demonstrated worse organization (P = .03), but no significant associations between neurocognitive outcomes and sleep/fatigue measures were observed. CONCLUSION Neurocognitive function in female survivors of childhood ALL appears more susceptible to the effects of sleep disturbance and fatigue. Systemic inflammation may play a role in neurocognitive impairment and behavioral symptoms. Cancer 2017;123:3410-9. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
Ageing and hypoxia cause protein aggregation in mitochondria

Aggregation of cytosolic proteins is a pathological finding in disease states, including ageing and neurodegenerative diseases. We have previously reported that hypoxia induces protein misfolding in Caenorhabditis elegans mitochondria, and electron micrographs suggested protein aggregates. Here, we seek to determine whether mitochondrial proteins actually aggregate after hypoxia and other cellular stresses. To enrich for mitochondrial proteins that might aggregate, we performed a proteomics analysis on purified C. elegans mitochondria to identify relatively insoluble proteins under normal conditions (110 proteins identified) or after sublethal hypoxia (65 proteins). A GFP-tagged mitochondrial protein (UCR-11 - a complex III electron transport chain protein) in the normally insoluble set was found to form widespread aggregates in mitochondria after hypoxia. Five other GFP-tagged mitochondrial proteins in the normally insoluble set similarly form hypoxia-induced aggregates. Two GFP-tagged mitochondrial proteins from the soluble set as well as a mitochondrial-targeted GFP did not form aggregates. Ageing also resulted in aggregates. The number of hypoxia-induced aggregates was regulated by the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) master transcriptional regulator ATFS-1, which has been shown to be hypoxia protective. An atfs-1(loss-of-function) mutant and RNAi construct reduced the number of aggregates while an atfs-1(gain-of-function) mutant increased aggregates. Our work demonstrates that mitochondrial protein aggregation occurs with hypoxic injury and ageing in C. elegans. The UPRmt regulates aggregation and may protect from hypoxia by promoting aggregation of misfolded proteins.
Color Schlieren Photography of Short Duration Transient Events

A sub—microsecond light source was combined with recent improvements in color schlieren optics to photograph transient subjects such as bullets, air flow around propellers, and sub—microsecond electric arcs. The photographs have aesthetic merit as well as technical value. The paper summarizes color schlieren development and theory, and presents calculations for camera lens selection.
The Social Capital of Serial Entrepreneurs: Using Lessons of Humility to Build not Burn It

There is no question that social capital increases the performance of serial entrepreneurs. Yet, there is a gap in the literature when it comes to understanding the relationship between prior succe...
Progress towards implementing superdense teleportation in Space

Superdense Teleportation (SDT) is a suitable protocol to choose for an advanced demonstration of quantum communication in space. We have taken further steps towards the realization of SDT in such an endeavor. Our system uses polarization and time-bin hyperentanglement via non-degenerate spontaneous parametric downconversion to implement SDT of 4-dimensional equimodular states. Previously, we have shown high fidelity (>90p) SDT implementation and the feasibility to perform SDT on an orbiting platform by correcting the Doppler shift. Here we discuss new analysis of the received state reconstruction performance in the presence of high channel loss and multiple pair events. Additionally, initial characterization of a waveguide-based entanglement source intended for space will be presented.
Analysis of Digital Evidence

This article discusses digital evidence analysis and how it fits into the traditional forensic science community. The history and context of digital evidence analysis as well as emerging standards are discussed. The digital evidence life cycle is introduced, and then the discussion focuses on process models and the five stages of digital evidence analysis. These stages include (1) identification, (2) collection/acquisition, (3) transportation, (4) examination and analysis, and (5) interpretation and report. The article concludes with a discussion of some of the challenges encountered in this emerging field.
Quality Assurance and Record Keeping

Properly conducted programs in quality control and quality assurance improve the practice of pathology and are, of course, required for accreditation of a pathology laboratory. The laws governing quality control and quality assurance in hospitals vary greatly from state to state, and thus only general points will be discussed here.
Continuous wave operation of 1.3 /spl mu/m vertical cavity InGaAsN quantum well lasers

Vertical-cavity lasers emitting at 1.3 /spl mu/m are extremely attractive for high bandwidth fiber communications where it is advantageous to operate at the dispersion minimum of silica optical fiber. To date, VCSELs based on pseudomorphic GaAs materials have achieved lasing emission only slightly longer than 1.3 /spl mu/m. We report the first 1.3 /spl mu/m selectively oxidized VCSELs using InGaAsN quantum wells which operate at continuous wave at and above room temperature.
Treatment of Caliceal Diverticular Calculi with Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy: Patient Selection and Extended Followup

AbstractWe treated 19 selected patients with calculi in 21 caliceal diverticula with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL*). By limiting this treatment to patients with relatively small (less than 1.5%cm.) calculi associated with a radiographically patent diverticular neck, a stone-free state was initially achieved in 11 patients (58%). Of 14 patients with flank pain before ESWL 12 (86%) were rendered symptom-free or markedly improved, often independent of a stone-free state. Extended followup in 13 patients for 12 to 49 months (mean 23.8 months) after ESWL revealed recurrent stones or stone growth in only 1. Although pain relief has remained constant for those initially rendered symptom-free, recurrent infection has been documented in 6 (67%) of 9 patients with infection before ESWL.We conclude that ESWL for selected patients with calculi in caliceal diverticula can achieve a relatively high initial stone-free rate and that recurrent stones may not be inevitable. Treatment in this setting also may...
Neural correlates of auditory enhancement in humans

A target sound embedded within a background sound becomes perceptually more salient if the background is presented first by itself. This phenomenon, known as auditory enhancement, reflects a general principle of contrast enhancement, and may help in the detection of new acoustic events in the environment and in establishing the perceptual constancy of speech and other biologically relevant sounds under varying acoustic conditions. Surprisingly, no neural correlates of this important phenomenon have been reported in humans. Here we used the auditory steady state response (ASSR) to determine whether the neural response to the target is amplified under conditions of enhancement. We used a double-modulation paradigm, involving the simultaneous amplitude modulation of a tone with two modulation frequencies, to distinguish cortical from subcortical contributions to this phenomenon. Robust phase-locked neural responses to both the target and masker were identified at both cortical and subcortical levels. Consistent with perceptual results, the response to the target tone embedded in the simultaneous maskers increased in the presence of the precursor, whereas the response to the masker components remained constant across conditions. The quantitative pattern of results suggest that the enhancement effects emerge at a subcortical level but are further enhanced within the auditory cortex.
CO 2 fluxes of cryptogamic crusts: I. Response to resaturation

The relationship between carbon dioxide exchange of Microcoleus- and Scytonema-dominated cryptogamic crusts and resaturation time was measured in the laboratory with a modified discrete sampling technique and infrared gas analysis. Maximum net photosynthetic rate of Microcoleus was 187 nmol CO2 m-2 s-1 and of Scytonema was 111 nmol CO2 m-2 s-1 for rehydration to 100% soil saturation. Both crust types demonstrated a slow rise in resaturation respiration and took 2 days to become fully active after the (first rehydration to 100% soil saturation after long-term dryness, and only one day to become active after the second rehydration cycle.
In Vitro Anticancer Properties of Table Grape Powder Extract (GPE) in Prostate Cancer

Although the link between diet and cancer is complex, epidemiological data confirm that diet is a risk factor for prostate cancer and indicate a reduced prostate cancer incidence associated with a diet rich in vegetables and fruits. Because of the known protective effect of grape seed extract (GSE) against prostate cancer, we evaluated the effects of grape powder extract (GPE) on cell viability, proliferation, and metastatic capability. Importantly, we explored the possible novel mechanism of GPE through metastasis-associated protein 1 (MTA1) downregulation in prostate cancer, since our previous studies indicated resveratrol (Res)- and pterostilbene (Pter)-induced MTA1-mediated anticancer activities in prostate cancer. We found that GPE inhibited the cell viability and growth of prostate cancer cells only at high 100 μg/mL concentrations. However, at low 1.5–15 μg/mL concentrations, GPE significantly reduced the colony formation and wound healing capabilities of both DU145 and PC3M cells. Moreover, we found that GPE inhibited MTA1 in a dose-dependent manner in these cells, albeit with considerably less potency than Res and Pter. These results indicate that stilbenes such as Res and Pter specifically and potently inhibit MTA1 and MTA1-associated proteins compared to GPE, which contains low concentrations of Res and mainly consists of other flavonoids and anthocyanidins. Our findings support continued interest in GPE as a chemopreventive and anti-cancer agent against prostate cancer but also emphasize the unique and specific properties of stilbenes on MTA1-mediated anticancer effects on prostate cancer.
UNIT 7.32 Isolation and Generation of Human Dendritic Cells

Dendritic cells are highly specialized antigen-presenting cells (APC), which may be isolated or generated from human blood mononuclear cells. Although mature blood dendritic cells normally represent ∼0.2% of human blood mononuclear cells, their frequency can be greatly increased using the cell enrichment methods described in this unit. More highly purified dendritic cell preparations can be obtained from these populations by sorting of fluorescence-labeled cells. Alternatively, dendritic cells can be generated from monocytes by culture with the appropriate cytokines, as described here. In addition, a negative selection approach is provided that may be employed to generate cell preparations that have been depleted of dendritic cells to be used for comparison in functional studies. Curr. Protoc. Immunol. 99:7.32.1-7.32.23. © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: immunology; immunologic study in humans; in vitro assays for immune cell function; immune disease; innate immunity; antigen presentation
Physical, chemical, and functional properties of neuronal membranes vary between species of Antarctic notothenioids differing in thermal tolerance.

Disruption of neuronal function is likely to influence limits to thermal tolerance. We hypothesized that with acute warming the structure and function of neuronal membranes in the Antarctic notothenioid fish Chaenocephalus aceratus are more vulnerable to perturbation than membranes in the more thermotolerant notothenioid Notothenia coriiceps. Fluidity was quantified in synaptic membranes, mitochondrial membranes, and myelin from brains of both species of Antarctic fishes. Polar lipid compositions and cholesterol contents were analyzed in myelin; cholesterol was measured in synaptic membranes. Thermal profiles were determined for activities of two membrane-associated proteins, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA), from brains of animals maintained at ambient temperature or exposed to their critical thermal maxima (CTMAX). Synaptic membranes of C. aceratus were consistently more fluid than those of N. coriiceps (P < 0.0001). Although the fluidities of both myelin and mitochondrial membranes were similar among species, sensitivity of myelin fluidity to in vitro warming was greater in N. coriiceps than in C. aceratus (P < 0.001), which can be explained by lower cholesterol contents in myelin of N. coriiceps (P < 0.05). Activities of both enzymes, AChE and NKA, declined upon CTMAX exposure in C. aceratus, but not in N. coriiceps. We suggest that hyper-fluidization of synaptic membranes with warming in C. aceratus may explain the greater stenothermy in this species, and that thermal limits in notothenioids are more likely to be influenced by perturbations in synaptic membranes than in other membranes of the nervous system.
Machine Learning Classifiers for Endometriosis Using Transcriptomics and Methylomics Data

Endometriosis is a complex and common gynecological disorder yet a poorly understood disease affecting about 176 million women worldwide and causing significant impact on their quality of life and economic burden. Neither a definitive clinical symptom nor a minimally invasive diagnostic method is available, thus leading to an average of 4 to 11 years of diagnostic latency. Discovery of relevant biological patterns from microarray expression or next generation sequencing (NGS) data has been advanced over the last several decades by applying various machine learning tools. We performed machine learning analysis using 38 RNA-seq and 80 enrichment-based DNA methylation (MBD-seq) datasets. We experimented how well various supervised machine learning methods such as decision tree, partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA), support vector machine, and random forest perform in classifying endometriosis from the control samples trained on both transcriptomics and methylomics data. The assessment was done from two different perspectives for improving classification performances: a) implication of three different normalization techniques and b) implication of differential analysis using the generalized linear model (GLM). Several candidate biomarker genes were identified by multiple machine learning experiments including NOTCH3, SNAPC2, B4GALNT1, SMAP2, DDB2, GTF3C5, and PTOV1 from the transcriptomics data analysis and TRPM6, RASSF2, TNIP2, RP3-522J7.6, FGD3, and MFSD14B from the methylomics data analysis. We concluded that an appropriate machine learning diagnostic pipeline for endometriosis should use TMM normalization for transcriptomics data, and quantile or voom normalization for methylomics data, GLM for feature space reduction and classification performance maximization.
Generators of Koszul homology with coefficients in a J-closed module

Abstract We introduce a class of modules, called J-closed modules, inspired by the weak complete intersection ideals studied by Rahmati, Striuli, and Yang. We present explicit formulas for the generators of Koszul homology with coefficients in such modules. This generalizes work of Herzog and of Corso, Goto, Huneke, Polini, and Ulrich. We use these formulas to study connections between J-closed ideals and weak complete intersection ideals.
Deep learning for prognostics and health management: State of the art, challenges, and opportunities

Abstract Improving the reliability of engineered systems is a crucial problem in many applications in various engineering fields, such as aerospace, nuclear energy, and water declination industries. This requires efficient and effective system health monitoring methods, including processing and analyzing massive machinery data to detect anomalies and performing diagnosis and prognosis. In recent years, deep learning has been a fast-growing field and has shown promising results for Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) in interpreting condition monitoring signals such as vibration, acoustic emission, and pressure due to its capacity to mine complex representations from raw data. This paper provides a systematic review of state-of-the-art deep learning-based PHM frameworks. It emphasizes on the most recent trends within the field and presents the benefits and potentials of state-of-the-art deep neural networks for system health management. In addition, limitations and challenges of the existing technologies are discussed, which leads to opportunities for future research.
Erythrocyte-targeted immunomodulatory antigens enabled by in vivo selection of D-peptides

Targeting of antigens to erythrocytes can be used to selectively mitigate their immunogenicity, but the methods to equip a variety of cargoes with erythrocyte-targeting properties are limited. Here we identified a D-peptide that targets murine erythrocytes and decreases anti-drug antibody responses when conjugated to the protective antigen from Bacillus anthracis, a protein of therapeutic interest. The D-peptide likewise decreases inflammatory anti-ovalbumin (OVA) CD8+ T cell responses when attached to a peptide antigen derived from OVA. To discover this targeting ligand, we leveraged mass spectrometry to decode a randomized D-peptide library selected in mice, extending the application of synthetic libraries to in vivo affinity selections.
An Engine of Change? The Affordable Care Act and the Shifting Politics of Demonstration Projects

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) made a number of institutional investments intended to expand the federal government’s ability to scale successful demonstration projects into national policy. This article considers how the ACA has reshaped the politics of programmatic innovation in Medicare and Medicaid. A qualitative synthesis of demonstration results suggests that, although the ACA has removed several important veto points to the expansion of successful demonstration projects, numerous barriers to the scaling of reforms remain. These barriers include procedures and techniques that make it difficult to certify the “success” of demonstrations yet make their limitations highly legible. From the analysis, this article draws several lessons for future efforts at delivery-system and payment reform, as well as understandings of policy learning and innovation.
Confronting Conflicting Attitudes About Racial Bias in the United States: How Communicator Identities Shape Audience Reception

Racial majority and minority groups in the United States often differ in the extent to which they believe that racial bias—including stereotyping, expressions of prejudice, and discrimination— has and continues to influence the opportunities and outcomes of individuals and communities across a wide variety of domains. Communication and dialogue between members of different racial groups is often considered an effective method to combat bias. Through dialogue, members of groups in conflict can learn about relevant issues, seek to understand each other’s perspectives and work together toward productive solutions. However, for a variety of reasons, people from different racial groups are often reluctant to initiate interracial dialogue to discuss racial bias, and often these discussions end with each “side” feeling unheard, misunderstood, rejected, and unlikely to make future attempts to engage. This conflict is present within a variety of organizations that seek to understand and address the challenges and opportunities associated with a diverse workplace. In this chapter, four scholars—a Black woman, a White woman, a Black man, and a White man—team up to discuss insights from their experiences in communicating research about the existence and nature of racial bias to various audiences in the United States. We conclude that various aspects of our own identities (race, gender, professional status) and motivational states (expectations, enthusiasm, uncertainty, threat) intersect with the identities and motivational states of our audiences to influence what we communicate and how we do so. We recommend that researchers and practitioners consider these intersections in their efforts to develop more effective confrontation strategies.
The role of nickel in methanogenic bacteria.

The methanogenic bacteria are strict anaerobes which synthesize methane from H2 and CO2, acetate, formate, methanol, or methylamines. They have two particularly relevant applications: in the anaerobic decomposition of waste materials and the conversion of biomass to fuel. Because of the economic importance of these processes, methanogens might be considered likely candidates for genetic engineering. However, two problems arise. First, methanogenic bacteria are members of the archaebacteria (28). From what is known about these organisms, we can expect that their biology will be as different from the eubacteria as the biology of the eubacteria is different from the eucaryotes. This point was elaborated by John Reeves in this volume. Secondly, not much is known about the biochemistry of the methanogenic bacteria. This is best illustrated by a short description of our knowledge concerning methane synthesis from H2 and CO2 (Fig. 1). Here we consider methanogenesis as occurring by the stepwise reduction of CO2 to methane. Of the five steps described here, only reaction V, the methylreductase reaction, has been described in detail. As we will show, a great deal more needs to be known about the methylreductase. So for the present time genetic engineers will have to cope with an unfamiliar organism and a largely unknown biochemistry.
Non-Squamous, Non-Basal Cell Cancers of the Skin: Exploring Associations Between Site of Disease and Depression.

Background:Earlier studies report a direct association between diseases of the skin—particularly those on the face—and depression. However, to our knowledge, such associations have not been examine...
Introduction to ferroelectrics and related materials

Abstract Ferroelectrics are the materials with switchable spontaneous polarization. Switching of polarization from one state to another by the application of an electric field gives rise to a hysteresis loop, the signature of ferroelectricity. In different modes of operation, ferroelectrics can be used to harvest energy from distinguished sources such as solar, thermal, magnetic, wind, and mechanical vibrations. Present chapter reviews the fundamental aspects of ferroelectricity and the other related phenomena utilized in different modes of energy harvesting. The stability of more than one polarization states in ferroelectrics has been discussed in terms of its thermodynamic formulation. Absence of the center of symmetry is the necessary condition for an insulating material to be ferroelectric. On the basis of their chemical nature and formula unit, ferroelectrics are divided into several broad categories. From the application point of view, perovskites are the most interesting class of ferroelectrics with superior functional behavior, ease of the synthesis, and conducive operational range of temperature. Distortion of the unit cell from ideal cubic symmetry and domain structure, the two most important aspects of perovskites in determining their functional behavior, have been discussed. Piezoelectricity and pyroelectricity, the two phenomena closely related to ferroelectricity and utilized in different aspects of energy harvesting, have been discussed as well. Since all these properties are tensorial in nature, a brief account has been provided reviewing the effect of crystallographic nature of materials on their functional anisotropy. In the end, different characterization techniques used to characterize ferroelectric and related materials have been introduced, followed by a brief account on the application of these materials in different models of energy harvesting.
This Land Is (Not) Your Land: Race and Ascripted Americanness in the Formation of Attitudes about Immigrants

Race consistently patterns anti-immigrant bias. However, it is less clear if all racial groups define “being American” in the same way. This work explores the ways ascribed characteristics that def...
HSF-1 displays nuclear stress body formation in multiple tissues in Caenorhabditis elegans upon stress and following the transition to adulthood

The transcription factor heat shock factor-1 (HSF-1) regulates the heat shock response (HSR), a cytoprotective response induced by proteotoxic stresses. Data from model organisms has shown that HSF-1 also has non-stress biological roles, including roles in the regulation of development and longevity. To better study HSF-1 function, we created a C. elegans strain containing HSF-1 tagged with GFP at its endogenous locus utilizing CRISPR/Cas9-guided transgenesis. We show that the HSF-1::GFP CRISPR worm strain behaves similarly to wildtype worms in response to heat and other stresses, and in other physiological processes. HSF-1 was expressed in all tissues assayed. Immediately following the initiation of reproduction, HSF-1 formed nuclear stress bodies, a hallmark of activation, throughout the germline. Upon the transition to adulthood, of HSF-1 nuclear stress bodies appeared in most somatic cells. Genetic loss of the germline suppressed nuclear stress body formation with age, suggesting that the germline influences HSF-1 activity. Interestingly, we found that various neurons did not form nuclear stress bodies after transitioning to adulthood. Therefore, the formation of HSF-1 nuclear stress bodies upon the transition to adulthood does not occur in a synchronous manner in all cell types. In sum, these studies enhance our knowledge of the expression and activity of the aging and proteostasis factor HSF-1 in a tissue-specific manner with age.
Reproducibility of Left Ventricular CINE DENSE Strain in Pediatric Subjects with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of mortality in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Left ventricular (LV) peak mid-wall circumferential strain (Ecc) is a sensitive early biomarker for evaluating both the subtle and variable onset and the progression of cardiomyopathy in pediatric subjects with DMD. Cine Displacement Encoding with Stimulated Echoes (DENSE) has proven sensitive to changes in Ecc, but its reproducibility has not been reported in a pediatric cohort or a DMD cohort. The objective was to quantify the intra-observer repeatability, and intra-exam and inter-observer reproducibility of global and regional Ecc derived from cine DENSE in DMD patients (N = 10) and age- and sex-matched controls (N = 10). Global and regional Ecc measures were considered reproducible in the intra-exam, intra-observer, and inter-observer comparisons. Intra-observer repeatability was highest, followed by intra-exam reproducibility and then inter-observer reproducibility. The smallest detectable change in Ecc was 0.01 for the intra-observer comparison, which is below the previously reported yearly decrease of 0.013 ± 0.015 in Ecc in DMD patients.
Separation of short and medium-chain fatty acids using capillary electrophoresis with indirect photometric detection: Part I: Identification of fatty acids in rat feces.

Short and medium-chain fatty acids (SMCFAs) are known as essential metabolites found in gut microbiota that function as modulators in the development and progression of many inflammatory conditions as well as in the regulation of cell metabolism. Currently, there are few simple and low-cost analytical methods available for the determination of SMCFA. This report focuses on SMCFA analysis utilizing CE with indirect photometric detection (CE-IPD). A ribonucleotide electrolyte, 5'-adenosine mono-phosphate (5'-AMP), is investigated as an IPD reagent due to its high molar absorptivity and dynamic reserve compatible with separation and detection of SMCFA. The operating parameters like the composition of organic solvent, millimolar concentrations of the complexing agent (alpha-cyclodextrin), 5'-AMP and non-absorbing electrolyte (boric acid), as well as the applied voltage, are optimized for resolution, efficiency, and signal-to-noise ratio. A baseline resolution of all nine SMCFAs is achieved in less than 15 min. Additionally, the developed CE-IPD method shows promising potential to identifying SMCFA in rat fecal supernatant. The presented analytical assay is simple, economical, and has considerably good repeatability. The intraday and interday RSD of less than 1 and 2% for relative migration time, as well as less than 14 and 15% for peak area, respectively, were obtained for SMCFA in fecal solution.
Genetic Dissection of Hypertension Related Renal Disease Using the Dahl Salt-Sensitive Rat

Previously, we reported a linkage analysis for urinary albumin excretion (UAE) from a backcross population derived from the Dahl salt-sensitive (S) rat and the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) raised on a low-salt diet. The current study sought to examine the effect of salt-loading on the observation of UAE quantitative trait loci (QTL) using a F1(SxSHR)xS backcross population (n=228) raised on 2% NaCl. Parental strain data demonstrated that S rats have significantly higher blood pressure (BP) and UAE compared to either the F1(SxSHR) or SHR at 8 weeks of age, and this difference is exacerbated by 12 weeks of age in response to a high-salt diet (2% NaCl). Genome scans done at 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age yielded eight QTL for UAE. At week 8 (low-salt), QTL for UAE were observed on rat chromosomes (RNO) 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13 and 19. Week 8 linkage analysis confirmed the previous linkage data and provided a baseline to examine the effect of salt-loading at subsequent time points. At week 12 and 16 (after salt-loading), QTL for UAE were observed on RNO1, 6, 8, 9, and 13. Surprisingly, UAE QTL were no longer observed on RNO2, 11, and 19 following salt-loading, suggesting that these QTL are attenuated by increased salt intake. The effects of UAE QTL on RNO2, 6, 9, 11, and 13 were examined using congenic strains whereby the SHR alleles at each QTL were placed on the S background. These congenic strains demonstrated large and significant effects on UAE compared to the S rat, proving that QTL for UAE reside on these chromosomes.