cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The devil's advocate responds to an MBA student’s claim that research harms learning

Snapshots from Hell describes the turmoil experienced by some MBA students. Their feelings and reactions are compatible with what might be expected from prior research findings. Peter Robinson represents a growing segment of MBA students. Although I enjoyed Robinson's book, I found that it offered a chilling view of the future. Leading business schools are not designed to serve everyone, nor are they designed to ensure the happiness of all students. The prospect of serving a student body consisting of Robinsons conjures up thoughts of committees of uninformed and disinterested students taking time from their busy schedules to dictate what the professors should teach and how they should behave in the classroom. Whether students are interested in certification or learning, they can all benefit from research. Research enhances the prestige of their institution, and this apparently leads to higher earnings for the graduates. It also produces gains in learning, which are achieved at no loss in student satisfaction. Meanwhile, faculty research will also benefit others, which is its most important function. The key issue is not who is the consumer, but who is the producer. A system in which professors are viewed as producers cannot succeed. It will produce confrontation and turmoil, especially if learning is relevant. A system in which students are viewed as producers would enhance the efficiency of the learning and aid in the pursuit of knowledge by the faculty.
Creation and analysis of a scenario based universal sensory driver layer with real-time fault tolerant properties

Sensor fusion and sensor integration is becoming an increasingly popular approach in dealing with complex sensor systems in autonomous mobile robots (AMR). However, the procedure for the sensor integration and sensor fusion is a non-trivial process. This paper presents a scenario based approach to sensor fusion based on the autonomous evolution of sensory and actuator driver layers through environmental constraints (AEDEC) [T.A Choi, 2002]. Using the scenario based approach, the programmer's work of creating a sensory driver will be eliminated by having the AMR learn the driver on its own. In the process of creating each scenario, sensor fusion is automatically implemented. If sensors change or even if the sensor configuration changes, the driver can be updated by having the AMR relearn the driver over again. Due to the tabular structure of the scenario based sensory drivers, malfunctioning sensors can not only be detected, but the driver can automatically adapt to the malfunctioning sensor in real-time. Furthermore, different AMR's trained using AEDEC architecture will have similar interpretations of its environment. This is guaranteed by having the AMR learn the driver in the same highly structured training environment. The behavioral coding is simplified by eliminating any reference to hardware dependent parameters. Finally, the level of abstraction and the consistency of the highly structured environment allows for coding portability.
Railway Vehicle Active Suspensions

SUMMARY This paper reviews the state-of-the-art of active suspensions for use on railway vehicles. The primary focus of the paper is on ride quality control, both vertical and lateral, and on lateral stability control. The section on theoretical considerations summarizes the results of a one-degree of freedom optimization and then investigates analytically the use of active suspensions for lateral ride and stability augmentation. It is shown that separate control structures using different measurements and actuator actions are very effective in controlling both ride quality and stability. A section on a survey ofcurrent activities reviews published research on active railway suspension work around the world. Finally a concluding section indicates future trends in active suspension applications.
High Performance Quantum Well Asymmetric Fabry-Perot Reflection Modulators: Effect of Layer Thickness Variations

We present a study of the effects of the active cavity layer thickness variation on the operating characteristics of normally-on low-voltage high performance asymmetric Fabry-Perot modulators. For a modulator consisting of 25.5 periods of a multiple-quantum-well active region (100A GaAs / 45A (GaAs/AlAs) short period superlattices) with 5 pairs and 20.5 pairs of top and bottom quarter-wave stacks respectively, assuming only layer thickness variation in the active cavity caused by Ga flux nonuniformity, the shift of the Fabry-Perot mode wavelength is ∽5.8 times that of the QW heavy-hole exciton. This affects the relative distance between the wavelengths of the quantum well exciton and the Fabry-Perot resonance, and hence the performance of the modulators. Also, the tolerable percentage change of the Fabry-perot mode wavelength should be less than 0.13% in order that such modulator arrays have at least 10:1 contrast ratios at a fixed optimum operating wavelength. This defines the epitaxial growth tolerance for obtaining the uniformity of the operating wavelength of an array and the precision with which we can obtain a desired wavelength, its reproducibility, and its uniformity across a wafer.
Cognitive Profiles of Mathematical Problem Solving Learning Disability for Different Definitions of Disability

Three cohorts of third-grade students (N = 813) were evaluated on achievement, cognitive abilities, and behavioral attention according to contrasting research traditions in defining math learning disability (LD) status: low achievement versus extremely low achievement and IQ-achievement discrepant versus strictly low-achieving LD. We use methods from these two traditions to form math problem solving LD groups. To evaluate group differences, we used MANOVA-based profile and canonical analyses to control for relations among the outcomes and regression to control for group definition variables. Results suggest that basic arithmetic is the key distinguishing characteristic that separates low-achieving problem solvers (including LD, regardless of definition) from typically achieving students. Word problem solving is the key distinguishing characteristic that separates IQ-achievement-discrepant from strictly low-achieving LD students, favoring the IQ-achievement-discrepant students.
Ceiling radiant cooling panel capacity enhanced by mixed convection in mechanically ventilated spaces

Abstract The main thrust of this research is to estimate the impact of the mixed convection effect on the cooling capacity of a ceiling radiant panel in mechanically ventilated spaces. To estimate panel cooling capacity enhancement caused by mixed convection, a verified analytical panel model was used. The simplified correlation for mixed convection heat transfer coefficient which can be easily adopted in panel cooling capacity estimation was derived from established mixed convection and natural convection correlations. It was found that the total cooling capacity of radiant panels can be enhanced in mixed convection situations by 5–35% under normal operating panel surface temperatures.
New studies on trans-anethole oxide and trans-asarone oxide

The widespread use of naturally occurring alkenylbenzenes as flavoring and fragrance agents has led to a long-standing interest in their toxicity and carcinogenicity. Among them several allyl- and propenylbenzenes have been found to be mutagenic and carcinogenic. It has been shown that the carcinogenicity of several allylbenzenes can be related to the formation of electrophilic sulfuric acid esters following 1'-hydroxylation. Unlike the allylbenzenes, the mechanisms of carcinogenesis of propenylbenzenes such as anethole and asarone are not clear. It has been reported that one of the main metabolic pathways of trans-anethole is the epoxidation of the side chain 1,2-double bond, which was responsible for cytotoxicity but not for genotoxicity. However, we report here that synthetic trans-anethole oxide prepared from trans-anethole and dimethyldioxirane is not only mutagenic for Salmonella tester strains but is also carcinogenic in the induction of hepatomas in B6C3F1 mice and skin papillomas in CD-1 mice. Synthetic trans-asarone oxide was also carcinogenic in the induction of hepatomas as well as mutagenic for Salmonella strains. Further studies are needed on these side chain oxides of trans-anethole and trans-asarone as possible metabolites in the toxicity, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of these and other propenylbenzenes.
Cooperative vocal control in marmoset monkeys via vocal feedback

Humans adjust speech amplitude as a function of distance from a listener; we do so in a manner that would compensate for such distance. This ability is presumed to be the product of high-level soci...
High-Confidence Medical Device Software Development

The design of bug-free and safe medical device software is challenging, especially in complex implantable devices. This is due to the device's closed-loop interaction with the patient's organs, which are stochastic physical environments. The life-critical nature and the lack of existing industry standards to enforce software validation make this an ideal domain for exploring design automation challenges for integrated functional and formal modeling with closed-loop analysis. The primary goal of high-confidence medical device software is to guarantee the device will never drive the patient into an unsafe condition even though we do not have complete understanding of the physiological plant. There are two major differences between modeling physiology and modeling man-made systems: first, physiology is much more complex and less well-understood than man-made systems like cars and airplanes, and spans several scales from the molecular to the entire human body. Secondly, the variability between humans is orders of magnitude larger than that between two cars coming off the assembly line. Using the implantable cardiac pacemaker as an example of closed-loop device, and the heart as the organ to be modeled, we present several of the challenges and early results in model-based device validation. We begin with detailed timed automata model of the pacemaker, based on the specifications and algorithm descriptions from Boston Scientific. For closed-loop evaluation, a real-time Virtual Heart Model VHM has been developed to model the electrophysiological operation of the functioning and malfunctioning i.e., during arrhythmia hearts. By extracting the timing properties of the heart and pacemaker device, we present a methodology to construct timed-automata models for formal model checking and functional testing of the closed-loop system. The VHM's capability of generating clinically-relevant response has been validated for a variety of common arrhythmias. Based on a set of requirements, we describe a framework of Abstraction Trees that allows for interactive and physiologically relevant closed-loop model checking and testing for basic pacemaker device operations such as maintaining the heart rate, atrial-ventricle synchrony and complex conditions such as avoiding pacemaker-mediated tachycardia. Through automatic model translation of abstract models to simulation-based testing and code generation for platform-level testing, this model-based design approach ensures the closed-loop safety properties are retained through the design toolchain and facilitates the development of verified software from verified models. This system is a step toward a validation and testing approach for medical cyber-physical systems with the patient-in-the-loop.
Salmon carcasses influence genetic linkages between forests and streams

Biodiversity at many scales (functional group, species, genetic) can result in emergent ecological patterns. Here we explore the influence of tree genotypic variation and diversity on in-stream ecosystem processes and aquatic communities. We test whether genetically diverse inputs of leaf litter interact with a keystone organism, anadromous salmon, to influence in-stream ecosystem function. We used reach-level manipulation of salmon carcasses and leaf litter bags to examine how nutrient inputs interact with genetic variation in leaf litter decomposition. Genotypic variation in black cottonwood (Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa) significantly influenced leaf litter chemistry, litter mass loss, and fungal biomass, but these variables were only weakly influenced by salmon carcass presence or a genotype × salmon (G × E) interaction. Mixtures of genotypes tended to demonstrate antagonistic effects (slower than expected decomposition) in the absence of salmon, but synergistic effects (faster than expected d...
Real-Time Acoustic and Pressure Characterization of Two-Phase Flow for Quality Control of Expanded Polystyrene Injection Molding Processes

A method is proposed for real-time process monitoring for expanded polystyrene (EPS) injection molding systems. The method employs measurement of two variables: vacuum pressure in the EPS supply hose and phase difference between two points along an acoustic standing wave generated within the EPS flow path. High-speed videography is utilized as a secondary means of monitoring the injection molding process. Video data are correlated with pressure and acoustic data to substantiate those variables’ validity as indicators of intended molding system performance. Data show recorded parameter curve shapes to be indicative of key injection molding milestone events, such as valve timing and changes in flow regime.
Abstract 634: Selective Genetic Deletion of the Brain-Specific Intracellular Renin Isoform (Renin-1b) Results in Altered Metabolic and Fluid Balance Regulation

An evolutionarily-conserved mRNA initiating with an alternative first exon (exon 1b) of the renin gene codes for an active renin enzyme that should be targeted to the cytoplasm instead of the cellular export apparatus. This intracellular renin (icREN) is expressed primarily in brain and is regulated independently from the traditional secreted isoform of renin (sREN), which is encoded by a mRNA initiated at the traditional first exon (exon 1a). We have developed two mouse models containing conditional alleles of either exon 1a (knocking out sREN and preserving icREN) and exon 1b (knocking out icREN and preserving sREN), thus allowing for global and site-selective knockout (KO) of the individual renin isoforms. icREN-KO mice (n=5, vs n=8 littermate controls) exhibit a trend toward reduced body mass (25.1±2.3 vs 29.0±1.0 g) despite normal food intake (3.2±0.3 vs 2.9±0.9 g/day). During a two-bottle choice between water and 0.15 M NaCl, icREN-KO mice exhibit, at baseline, normal total fluid intake (3.4±0.8 vs 2.8±0.4 mL/day), total sodium intake (0.7±0.2 vs 0.6±0.1 mEq/day), and preference for 0.15 M NaCl (47.6±11.0 vs 42.8±9.5 %). Following an 18-hour dehydration, icREN-KO mice exhibit a trend toward increased water intake (1.5±0.3 vs 1.1±0.2 mL/2hr) that is exaggerated when normalized to their smaller body size (63±15 vs 37±7 mL/kg/2hr). Despite normal 5-hour fasted blood glucose (202±6 vs 214±11 mg/dL), icREN-KO mice exhibit markedly improved glucose tolerance (2 mg/kg ipGTT; 18,540±4,937 vs 33,003±2,578 mg/dL*min, P=0.02). Ongoing studies include measurement of resting metabolic rate under baseline conditions, and assessment of all of the above endpoints following chronic treatment of icREN-KO mice with deoxycorticosterone acetate and high dietary sodium (DOCA-salt treatment). Interestingly, DOCA-salt treated C57BL/6 mice also exhibit improved glucose tolerance (39,901±2,198 vs 31,712±1,722 mg/dL*min, P
Abstract 695: Low-density Lipoprotein Receptor-related Protein in the Endothelium Regulates Metabolic Responses

The endothelium, a biologically active barrier, is the site of metabolic exchange between circulation and underlying tissues. Endothelial dysfunction is a common feature in obesity, dyslipidemia and diabetes. Yet the roles endothelial cells play in systemic metabolic responses are unclear. A recent study showed that PPARγ in the endothelium regulates metabolic responses to high fat diet in mice, suggesting that endothelial cells may play a direct role in regulation of obesity, lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Our studies demonstrate that Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1), a member of LDL receptor family, influences many biological processes such as lipid metabolism, endocytosis and signal transduction, is required for endothelial functions. More interestingly, we discovered that LRP1 interacts with and positively regulates PPARγ activity. Therefore, we wanted to investigate the role of endothelial cell-specific LRP1 in the regulation of systemic metabolic responses. To do this, we used mice deficient in LRP1 in the endothelium and fed a high-fat diet. After 12 weeks of feeding, we found LRP1EC-KO mice to be more sensitive to insulin following a glucose bolus, demonstrated by decreased glucose level in serum (LRP1EC-KO=114.4±15.59 mg/dL glucose; LRP1EC-WT=157.60±14.64 mg/dL glucose). These LRP1EC-KO mice exhibited a smaller increase in body weight (LRP1EC-KO=34.65±2.996g; LRP1EC-WT=44.55±1.752g) compared to wild-type mice following high fat food feeding. In addition to these findings, The composition of white adipose tissue such as the inguinal fat in LRP1EC-KO mice are only 3.9±1.42% of total body weight compared to 6.37±0.342% of total body weight in LRP1EC-WT mice. The levels of circulating leptin and resistin, factors associated with adipogenesis, were also significantly different, with leptin at 7419.25±2031.197 pg/ml in LRP1EC-KO; 16496.2±1921.146 pg/ml in LRP1EC-WT mice; and resistin at 6033.55±3034.54pg/ml in LRP1EC-KO; 17382.6±2894.95pg/ml in LRP1EC-WT mice. Taken all together, our data demonstrate a previously unrecognized role for endothelial cell-specific LRP1, very similar to PPARγ, in regulating systemic metabolic responses, thus expanding the functional roles of endothelium.
Thermophysical Properties and Proton Transport Mechanisms of Trialkylammonium and 1-Alkyl-1H-imidazol-3-ium Protic Ionic Liquids

We investigated the thermophysical and electrochemical properties of eight model protic ionic liquids (PILs) primarily because of our interest in their proton conductivity and low volatility. The chemical structures of the cations (ammonium vs imidazolium) and anions (mesylate vs triflate) were found to strongly govern properties such as density, viscosity, ionic conductivity, thermal and electrochemical stability, and phase transition behaviors. Structure–property relations were analyzed on the basis of charge delocalization, cation π-stacking, van der Waals interactions of alkyl tails, and hydrogen bonding interactions between cations and anions. The diffusion coefficients of the free proton, the cation, and the anion were determined by using NMR spectroscopy, and were used to differentiate between the vehicular and Grotthuss mechanisms of diffusion of protons. A correlation, based on the Sutherland–Einstein equation, was developed to predict ionic conductivity by using the room temperature molar volume...
The Reduction Of Methylene Blue By Nervous Tissue

A number of years ago Ehrlich pointed out the ability of living cells to decolorize (i. e., reduce) solutions of methylene blue. Later, Neisser and Wechsbergf devised an application of this phenomenon to determine the cytocidal effect of some cellular poisons upon leucocytes. They found that living leucocytes were able to reduce the dye quantitatively, but when they were killed by heat, alcohol, an immune leucotoxic serum, or staphylococcus "leucocidin," they lost this power. Other cells, when fresh (spermatozoa, pancreas, kidney), also reduced the dye, but not after treatment with an injurious agent (alcohol). Living microorganisms had a similar effect, which was lost on treating them with a bactericidal substance. Ferments and bacterial toxins had
Platelet-Rich Plasma Modulates Actions on Articular Cartilage Lubrication and Regeneration.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by articular cartilage degeneration in the joints and results in pain, swelling, stiffness, muscle atrophy, and attendant functional disability. The progression of OA cannot be prevented by drugs. Current treatments for OA focus on symptomatic relief of pain. Recently, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection has attracted much attention for modulating articular cartilage and synovial membrane in OA. Despite the increasing interest in PRP for the treatment of OA, the precise mechanisms underlying the actions of PRP on OA remain unclear. We have reviewed the known actions of PRP in the joint. The in vitro and in vivo evidence is reviewed concerning the potential of the modulation of PRP on normal articular cartilage and OA progression. PRP modulates the repair and regeneration of damaged articular cartilage in the joints and delays the degeneration of cartilage by stimulation of mesenchymal stem cell migration, proliferation, and differentiation into articular chondrocytes....
PsychicVR: Increasing mindfulness by using Virtual Reality and Brain Computer Interfaces

We present PsychicVR, a proof-of-concept system that integrates a brain-computer interface device and Virtual Reality headset to improve mindfulness while enjoying a playful immersive experience. The fantasy that any of us could have superhero powers has always inspired people around the world. By using Virtual Reality and real-time brain activity sensing we are moving one step closer to making this dream real. We non-invasively monitor and record electrical activity of the brain and incorporate this data in the VR experience using an Oculus Rift and the MUSE headband. By sensing brain waves using a series of EEG sensors, the level of activity is fed back to the user via 3D content in the virtual environment. When the user is focused they are able to make changes in the 3D environment and control their powers. Our system increases mindfulness and helps achieve higher levels of concentration while entertaining the user.
Inference of Intention and Permissibility in Moral Decision Making.

The actions of a rational agent reveal information about its mental states. These inferred mental states, particularly the agent’s intentions, play an important role in the evaluation of moral permissibility. While previous computational models have shown that beliefs and desires can be inferred from behavior under the assumption of rational action they have critically lacked a third mental state, intentions. In this work, we develop a novel formalism for intentions and show how they can be inferred as counterfactual contrasts over influence diagrams. This model is used to quantitatively explain judgments about intention and moral permissibility in classic and novel trolley problems.
Multi-lithic phased array architecture for airborne sense and avoid radar

Transmit and receive Ku-band phased array designs are described for testing an airborne sense and avoid radar. The arrays are small with a size of 24 cm × 9 cm and operate from 13 to 17 GHz with electronic scanning from plus or minus 45 degrees in azimuth and plus or minus 30 degrees in elevation. A novel design architecture allows the use of multiple multilayered printed circuit boards and simple air cooling.
Experimental Resistance and Available Ductility of Steel-Plate Composite Walls in One-Way Bending

AbstractThis paper presents the results of an experimental program in which eight one-third-scale steel-plate composite (SC) wall sections were tested in four-point bending to ultimate failure (ten...
Planar cell polarity in development and disease

Planar cell polarity (PCP) is an essential feature of animal tissues, whereby distinct polarity is established within the plane of a cell sheet. Tissue-wide establishment of PCP is driven by multiple global cues, including gradients of gene expression, gradients of secreted WNT ligands and anisotropic tissue strain. These cues guide the dynamic, subcellular enrichment of PCP proteins, which can self-assemble into mutually exclusive complexes at opposite sides of a cell. Endocytosis, endosomal trafficking and degradation dynamics of PCP components further regulate planar tissue patterning. This polarization propagates throughout the whole tissue, providing a polarity axis that governs collective morphogenetic events such as the orientation of subcellular structures and cell rearrangements. Reflecting the necessity of polarized cellular behaviours for proper development and function of diverse organs, defects in PCP have been implicated in human pathologies, most notably in severe birth defects.
Mass spectrometric analysis of the N-glycoproteome in statin-treated liver cells with two lectin-independent chemical enrichment methods

Protein N-glycosylation is essential for mammalian cell survival and is well-known to be involved in many biological processes. Aberrant glycosylation is directly related to human disease including cancer and infectious diseases. Global analysis of protein N-glycosylation will allow a better understanding of protein functions and cellular activities. Mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics provides a unique opportunity to site-specifically characterize protein glycosylation on a large scale. Due to the complexity of biological samples, effective enrichment methods are critical prior to MS analysis. Here, we compared two lectin-independent methods to enrich glycopeptides for the global analysis of protein N-glycosylation by MS. The first boronic acid-based enrichment (BA) method benefits from the universal and reversible interactions between boronic acid and sugars; the other method utilizes metabolic labeling and click chemistry (MC) to incorporate a chemical handle into glycoproteins for future affinity enrichment. We comprehensively compared the performance of the two methods in the identification and quantification of glycoproteins in statin-treated liver cells. Based on the current results, the BA method is more universal in enriching glycopeptides, while with the MC method, cell surface glycoproteins were highly enriched, and the quantification results appear to be more dynamic because only the newly-synthesized glycoproteins were analyzed. In addition, we normalized the glycosylation site ratios by the corresponding parent protein ratios to reflect the real modification changes. In combination with MS-based proteomics, effective enrichment methods will vertically advance protein glycosylation research.
Comparison of Gadolinium Concentrations within Multiple Rat Organs after Intravenous Administration of Linear versus Macrocyclic Gadolinium Chelates

Intravenous administration of high doses of gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) is associated with extensive multiorgan deposition that is reduced but not eliminated by use of macrocyclic GBCA chelates in lieu of linear chelates.
Barriers to blood pressure control as reported by African American patients.

Abstract Purpose To understand African American patients’ opinions as to barriers to hypertension treatment. Methods Focus groups (n = 3) were led by a trained African American moderator of African American patients with hypertension (n = 26) who receive their care from a large primary care network. Discussions were transcribed verbatim. Information was displayed in a data matrix and analyzed for emerging themes. Descriptive statistics were used to enhance the content validity of lifestyle modification efforts planned as part of this ongoing research. Results Most participants were female (n = 20), and the mean age was 49 years. All participants were at least high school graduates. Four major levels of influence emerged from data analysis: (1) the health care system, (2) the community, (3) the family, and (4) the individual. The most prevalent concerns about hypertension centered on sodium, diet, neighborhoods, mistrust, and denial. Of great concern was lack of provider trust and a fatalistic, hopeless mindset. To improve trust, our participants suggested developing a hypertension education program and providing patients with culturally specific materials. Conclusions Culturally sensitive materials need to be designed and tested to improve blood pressure control. Community input regarding cultural issues is essential for designing effective and successful programs for reducing health disparities.
Dynamic SEU Sensitivity of Designs on Two 28-nm SRAM-Based FPGA Architectures

Two field-programmable gate array (FPGA) designs are tested for dynamic single event upset (SEU) sensitivity on two different 28-nm static random access memory-based FPGAs—an Intel Stratix V and a Xilinx Kintex 7 FPGA. These designs were tested in both a conventional unmitigated version and a version to tolerate SEUs with feedback triple modular redundancy (TMR). The unmitigated design sensitivity and the low-level device sensitivity were found to be similar between the devices through neutron radiation testing. Results also show that feedback TMR and configuration scrubbing benefit both designs on both FPGAs. While TMR is helpful, the benefit of TMR depends on the design structure and the device architecture. TMR and scrubbing reduced dynamic SEU sensitivity by a factor of 4– $54\times $ .
Confidentiality, Privacy, and Anonymity

The focus of this chapter is on the important issues of privacy, confidentiality, and anonymity. But it will also touch on issues around asking sensitive questions and the evidence regarding the self-administration of surveys and its utility for collecting information about sensitive topics. It will also address opportunities for trying to get beyond self-administration and improve reporting further if self-administration improves reporting. Eleanor Singer has done interesting work on the concepts of confidentiality in privacy in connection with the decennial Census. She classifies items as assessing concerns about privacy versus concerns about confidentiality, which can be a subtle distinction.
High-throughput screen for inhibitors of protein–protein interactions in a reconstituted heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) complex

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are an important category of putative drug targets. Improvements in high-throughput screening (HTS) have significantly accelerated the discovery of inhibitors for some categories of PPIs. However, methods suitable for screening multiprotein complexes (e.g. those composed of three or more different components) have been slower to emerge. Here, we explored an approach that uses reconstituted multiprotein complexes (RMPCs). As a model system, we chose heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), which is an ATP-dependent molecular chaperone that interacts with co-chaperones, including DnaJA2 and BAG2. The PPIs between Hsp70 and its co-chaperones stimulate nucleotide cycling. Thus, to re-create this ternary protein system, we combined purified human Hsp70 with DnaJA2 and BAG2 and then screened 100,000 diverse compounds for those that inhibited co-chaperone-stimulated ATPase activity. This HTS campaign yielded two compounds with promising inhibitory activity. Interestingly, one inhibited the PPI between Hsp70 and DnaJA2, whereas the other seemed to inhibit the Hsp70-BAG2 complex. Using secondary assays, we found that both compounds inhibited the PPIs through binding to allosteric sites on Hsp70, but neither affected Hsp70's intrinsic ATPase activity. Our RMPC approach expands the toolbox of biochemical HTS methods available for studying difficult-to-target PPIs in multiprotein complexes. The results may also provide a starting point for new chemical probes of the Hsp70 system.
Religion, Art, and Money: Episcopalians and American Culture from the Civil War to the Great Depression

The publication of Peter W. Williams’s Religion, Art, and Money brings a long, fruitful career full circle. Ever since his 1970 dissertation at Yale University, which explored Unitarians’ cultural ...
Introduction: lasting and resurgent racism after recognition in Latin America

This special issue examines and theorizes lasting and resurgent forms of racism after recognition and claims to decolonization in Latin America. It also analyses what the authors interpret as a ret...
On the Complexity of Loss of Control in Aviation

Loss of control (LOC) in the aviation realm is continuously studied with regards to its definition, recognition, and mitigation. Problematics exist with the high level of complexity present during LOC situations, especially given the non-linear consequences. The study of LOC requires an almost “philosophical” analysis to understand its origins; a study that this paper investigates through complexity analysis. LOC can involve a socio-technical instability on the flight deck: an instability that can be analyzed in the field of cognitive engineering (for the sociological side) and complexity analysis (for the technological side). This document guides the reader through thoughts involving the cognitive aspects of cockpit management and operation during LOC events and the realization that the mitigation of such events need to be recognized and resolved as naturalized complex systems. These systems require a specific framework for research involving human agents that can be executed via human-systems integrated flight testing.
Uses and Meanings of Full Social Cost Estimates

Social costs include all costs to society, direct or indirect, monetized or in-kind, incurred by private individuals and firms or by collective entities up to and including the planet. Costs occurring outside private markets, such as environmental externalities, are of special concern. Government decisions need to be informed by cost information that is comprehensive and consistent, whatever its source. Many of these costs have only gradually become recognized, some have not been valued, and many of those that have been valued are not comparable across transportation modes. Whether for purposes of active management of transportation systems, for monitoring their status and performance, or for evaluating policies or projects, full social cost information is at least valuable and often essential.
MTComm Based Virtualization and Integration of Physical Machine Operations with Digital-Twins in Cyber-Physical Manufacturing Cloud

Digital-Twins simulate physical world objects by creating 'as-is' virtual images in a cyberspace. In order to create a well synchronized digital-twin simulator in manufacturing, information and activities of a physical machine need to be virtualized. Many existing digital-twins stream read-only data of machine sensors and do not incorporate operations of manufacturing machines through Internet. In this paper, a new method of virtualization is proposed to integrate machining data and operations into the digital-twins using Internet scale machine tool communication method. A fully functional digital-twin is implemented in CPMC testbed using MTComm and several manufacturing application scenarios are developed to evaluate the proposed method and system. Performance analysis shows that it is capable of providing data-driven visual monitoring of a manufacturing process and performing manufacturing operations through digital twins over the Internet. Results of the experiments also shows that the MTComm based digital twins have an excellent efficiency.
Outcomes of melanoma brain metastases treated with stereotactic radiosurgery with and without concurrent immune checkpoint therapy.

e21026Background: Evidence supports a synergistic effect between immunotherapy and radiotherapy. In this single-institution study, we compared outcomes of patients (pts) with melanoma brain metasta...
Centralized Microgrid Energy Management System Based on Successive Linearization

This paper presents a new centralized microgrid energy management system (EMS) formulation based on successive linearization. The presented formulation incorporates the control of energy storage systems (ESSs), controllable loads (CLs), and distributed generators (DGs). Two objective functions are formulated, (a) minimization of operational cost of DGs and cost of electricity bought from the grid, and (b) minimization of generation ramping. In order to mitigate the computational burden of centralized EMS schemes, we propose a solution methodology based on successive linearization of the microgrid non-linear optimization model. Several case studies are performed to optimize the operation of a test microgrid during a time span of 6 hours with a resolution of 15 minutes. Simulation results indicate the capability of the proposed EMS in reducing operational cost and generation ramping within acceptable computational times.
Welcome to WTS 2013

Welcome to the twelfth annual Wireless Telecommunications Symposium, WTS 2013: Global Wireless Communications - Future Directions. We hope that it will be a stimulating and rewarding experience for you. During the next three days of invited speakers' presentations, accepted paper sessions, tutorials and panel discussions, WTS 2013 will explore a wide range of global wireless communications and mobile cloud computing, e-health and telecommunications in healthcare, and new generation media topics in depth.
Disorders of mitochondrial dynamics in peripheral neuropathy: Clues from hereditary neuropathy and diabetes

Peripheral neuropathy is a common and debilitating complication of diabetes and prediabetes. Recent clinical studies have identified an association between the development of neuropathy and dyslipidemia in prediabetic and diabetic patients. Despite the prevalence of this complication, studies identifying molecular mechanisms that underlie neuropathy progression in prediabetes or diabetes are limited. However, dysfunctional mitochondrial pathways in hereditary neuropathy provide feasible molecular targets for assessing mitochondrial dysfunction in neuropathy associated with prediabetes or diabetes. Recent studies suggest that elevated levels of dietary saturated fatty acids (SFAs) associated with dyslipidemia impair mitochondrial dynamics in sensory neurons by inducing mitochondrial depolarization, compromising mitochondrial bioenergetics, and impairing axonal mitochondrial transport. This causes lower neuronal ATP and apoptosis. Conversely, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) restore nerve and sensory mitochondrial function. Understanding the mitochondrial pathways that contribute to neuropathy progression in prediabetes and diabetes may provide therapeutic targets for the treatment of this debilitating complication.
Wildlife value orientation of landowners from five states in the upper midwest, USA

ABSTRACTFive Upper Midwest states (Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa) participated in a Plains and Prairie Landscape Conservation Cooperative (PPP-LCC) funded survey of landowner...
Effect of Chronic Kidney Disease on Mortality Outcomes of Heart Failure with Stable Mid-Range Ejection Fraction

Background Heart failure with mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF) of 40-49% is an under-recognized class of CHF. In patients with HFmrEF and stable ejection fraction (EF) of 1 year, the effect of CKD on mortality outcomes is unclear. Objectives We sought to determine if the presence of CKD can result in a higher mortality rate in patients with HFmrEF and stable EF of 1 year. Methods At our academic center, we evaluated 2593 baseline echo studies and their subsequent echo studies to identify HFmrEF patients with stable EF of 1 year. Student's T-test and chi-square test were used to assess baseline differences between CKD and non-chronic kidney disease (NCKD) patients. Kaplan Meier survival analysis was conducted and Log-rank p values were calculated to assess the association of the different groups with all-cause mortality, cardiac mortality, and non-cardiac mortality. Multivariate Cox regression was adjusted for age, gender, race, HTN, DM, CAD, NYHA class, OSA, and Malignancy. Results A total of 132 patients were included in our study. Thirty-three patients (25%) had CKD. The race was the only significantly different characteristic between the two groups, p-value of 0.003. Follow up period was 58.7 ± 29.1 months. CKD patients had higher all-cause and non-cardiac mortality rates (figures 1 and 2) than NCKD patients, p-value of 0.012 and 0.007 respectively. In adjusted model, all-cause and non-cardiac mortality rates remained higher in CKD patients (HR = 2.020, 95% CI = 1.06-3.83, p-value = 0.031) and (HR = 4.461, 95% CI = 1.51-13.11, p-value = 0.007) respectively. Cardiac mortality rate difference was not significant with p-value 0.084. Conclusion We found that patients with CKD and stable mid-range EF of 1 year had significantly higher all-cause mortality and non-cardiac mortality compared to patients with NCKD. Further studies are needed to validate our results.
Increasing Accurate Palliative Care Consultation in the NICU

Background: NICU length of stay (LOS) data revealed patient outliers with significantly longer LOS and concomitant increased risk of mortality. Baseline data revealed under-utilization of Pediatric Palliative Care (PPC) consultative services in this population. We desired that those at highest risk of extended LOS with associated mortality receive early PPC consultation. Our multidisciplinary quality improvement project aimed to …
Hydrodeoxygenation of m-Cresol Over Pt-WOx/C Using H2 Generated In Situ by n-Hexane Dehydrogenation

Hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of m-cresol using H2 produced by dehydrogenation of n-hexane to hexenes is demonstrated at 673 K over a Pt-WOx/C catalyst at 36 bar. The reaction is possible because deactivation of Pt/C during n-hexane dehydrogenation is greatly suppressed at higher pressures. Flow-reactor measurements of pure n-hexane over Pt/C showed rapid deactivation at 1 bar and 773 K but the catalyst was stable for at least 5 h at 36 bar. While the Pt/C catalyst showed poor activity for HDO of m-cresol, the Pt-WOx/C catalyst was able to utilize the H2 to selectively catalyze m-cresol to toluene, simultaneously pushing the conversion of n-hexane above the equilibrium value that would be achieved in the absence of H2 consumption. To explain the increased stability for alkane dehydrogenation at higher pressures, a microkinetic model of propane dehydrogenation, a surrogate of hexane, was analyzed. The model demonstrates that the coverage of vacancies increases with increasing pressure at the expense of species believed to be coke precursors.
There goes the neighborhood: Urban coyotes and the politics of wildlife

Coyotes have incorporated themselves into nearly every major city in North America. As apex predators, coyotes’ ability to thrive in cities testifies not only to the blurring of human-wildlife boun...
Principles of Modern Trauma Resuscitation

Hemorrhage accounts for nearly 40% of civilian trauma deaths and up to two-thirds of preventable military battlefield deaths. In addition to the already high morbidity and mortality associated with major hemorrhage, there has been an increasing realization that some widely accepted and utilized resuscitation practices were actually contributing to the development or worsening of coagulopathy, excess hemorrhage, and increased late complications including ARDS and abdominal compartment syndrome. Modern trauma resuscitation practices have evolved significantly and now include the core concepts of allowing permissive hypotension, performing low volume fluid resuscitation prior to hemorrhage control, initiating blood products as early as possible and in a 1:1:1 ratio, avoiding over-resuscitation (particularly with crystalloids), and using a reliable marker as an endpoint for ceasing the aggressive resuscitation. These practices must be utilized in conjunction with any endovascular intervention aimed at achieving temporary or durable hemorrhage control and can be expected to continue to evolve as we gain more data and experience with REBOA and other endovascular techniques.
Identifying the Relationship between Precipitation and Zika Outbreaks in Argentina

Dengue, Malaria and Zika are vector-borne diseases caused by mosquitoes that carry the parasites that lead to illnesses. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) hundreds of thousands of people around the world die every year due to disease-transmitting mosquitoes [6]. Mosquito outbreaks occur most commonly in warm climates, in areas close to the equator and tropical regions. Female mosquitoes lay their eggs in the ponds and puddles where water accumulates due to rainfall. In 2016, there was a significant spike in the number of dengue cases in Argentina; there were 79,455 cases of dengue reported in 2016 compared to 3250 cases in 2014 and 4774 in 2015 and went back down to the hundreds in 2017 and rose to thousands again in 2018 [1]. Since Dengue and Zika are spread by the same species of mosquito, Aedes aegypti, [2], the goal of this project is to examine whether the spike in dengue cases in 2016 in Argentina also led to a spike in Zika cases. During this study we will determine if there is a correlation between the number of Zika cases and rainfall precipitation levels. For the analysis, we use available Zika data for Argentina obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) database [8]. More specifically, we are looking at the number of cases per month at a county level in Argentina. The precipitation data is obtained from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) through the Global Precipitation Measurement Mission (GPM) [7]. Just like the Zika data, precipitation data is also on a monthly basis and data is available at a county level. There are existing systems for forecasting the outbreak of vector-borne diseases in various countries and each system looks at a particular factor. For example, the Dengue forecasting MOdel Satellite-based System (D-MOSS) is a system that issues warnings of dengue outbreaks eight months before outbreaks are likely to occur in Vietnam [3]. Another existing early warning system is the Predictive fLUshing Mosquito (PLUM) model. PLUM was developed by Draper Scientists in collaboration with scientists from Boston University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to help predict and decrease outbreaks of dengue fever using observations collected in Singapore, Peru, and Puerto Rico [4]. Our work is inspired by D-MOSS, but instead of including water availability as a component in the prediction and focusing on Vietnam, we are interested in finding out the relationship between Zika outbreaks and precipitation levels in Argentina. The Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations aim to address global problems of peace, justice, gender equality, good health and many others [5]. Similar to how D-MOSS targets these UN Sustainability goals [3], our project aspires to bring a similar approach when dealing with the Zika Virus. We will produce a report of our analysis results and visualizations that can be used by beneficiaries in Argentina to help in the efforts of combating and controlling the spread of Zika virus.