cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Overview of Calcium Balance in Crustaceans

Crustaceans have been extensively used as models to study Ca balance because of their exoskeletons, which undergo Ca dynamics associated with the molting cycle. This article discusses major findings during the past 10 yr. Discussion of intermolt Ca regulation focuses on two areas: (1) mechanisms that enable extracellular (EC) Ca levels to be maintained irrespective of environmental levels and (2) evidence for acidosis-induced exoskeletal CaCO₃ mobilization. Marine crustaceans routinely maintain EC Ca levels above ambient Ca levels by protein binding and in dilute seawater (SW) by active uptake; urine is isoionic with respect to Ca. Extracellular Ca rises when subtidal species are aerially exposed. Freshwater (FW) crayfish tolerate passive branchial Ca eflux while influx mechanisms are inoperative. Filtered Ca is extensively reabsorbed in the antennal gland so that renal loss is minimal. Circulating Ca can be altered by exposure to low-Ca water or hypersaline media. Acid-intolerant species may experience a...
New Translational Research in the Medical Management of Orbital Melanoma

New translational research has paved the way for more optimistic management of melanoma. Medications targeting oncogenic signaling cascades and immune regulatory molecules have significantly improved overall survival for patients with metastatic melanoma. While isolated, operable orbital melanoma may still benefit from surgery, there potentially is an opportunity to provide patients with neoadjuvant systemic therapy with sustainable long-term effects. Additionally, patients with non-resectable orbital melanoma can benefit from systemic treatment.
Problems in public documents

The failure to understand and use public documents correctly is a serious problem. Several studies are presented which attempt to identify the aspects of documents related to the lack of understanding. Different approaches are used, including a critical incident survey, a ranking of document difficulty, correlational studies, and an information processing analysis of document users' tasks. The major conclusion is that most problems are caused by the failure to consider the requirements of a document from the perspective of the document's audience
Milk Influence and Leukemia in Mice.

SummaryPreliminary, breeding experiments did not indicate that a specific “milkinfluence” (as for mammary cancer) is concerned in the development of leukemia in strain F mice. The incidence of leukemia in a group of 48 strain F mice fostered by low leukemia-strain mice was, however, somewhat lower than in unfostered controls of thesame strain.
Feeding on fear: Edible marijuana and disproportionality in US media

AbstractAims: US marijuana policy is in flux, as some states have legalized it for medical and recreational use despite long-standing federal prohibition. Edible marijuana (edibles) allows consumption without smoke inhalation, yet concern surrounding dosing and its effect is concerning. Cohen’s moral panic framework informs how and why some societal problems are disproportionately constructed and stigmatized, while other important problems are tolerated or ignored. This qualitative study explores the construction of disproportionality within textual US news coverage of legal edibles. Methods: A three-year sample of 349 articles was retrieved and analysed. Analysis was informed a priori by the moral panic criteria of disproportionality, and data reflect headlines and story text purporting to gauge problems surrounding edibles. Findings: Using reports of emergencies, poison centre calls and anecdotes, disproportionality surrounding edibles was constructed using indefinite numeric adjectives while avoiding o...
Study on Flashover of Suspension Insulator String Caused by Windage Yaw in 500kV Transmission Lines

In recent years, windage yaw flashover frequently occurs in 500kV transmission lines, and the frequency of such accident exceeds the receivable limit of power system secure operation. The transmission lines designed according to standard are supposed to be secure in practical operation, however, since the second generation of transmission towers for 500kV transmission line are put into operation, the incidence of windage yaw flashover increases year by year, and it is unreasonable theoretically. Starting with the calculation model of windage yaw angle of suspension insulator string for 500kV transmission line, the existing problems in static stress balancing algorithm adopted in windage yaw angle calculation are analyzed in detail, and a modified method for maximum windage yaw angle calculation is given;to determine the least air clearance between tower and conductors, the traditional way estimates it by complex geometrical construction, in this paper by means of leading the two dimensional Descartes coordinate system into tower calculation model the calculation becomes more sententious and convenient, and the calculation accuracy is improved. Finally, detailed analysis on main problems existing in present research on windage yaw phenomenon is conducted.
Educating Indian Girls at Nonreservation Boarding Schools, 1878–1920

can society. One important aspect of the government's acculturation program was Indian education.' By means of reservation day schools, reservation boarding schools, and off-reservation industrial schools, the federal government attempted to obliterate the cultural heritage of Indian youths and replace it with the values of Anglo-American society. One of the more notable aspects of this program was the removal of young Indian women from their tribal homes to government schools in an effort to transform them into a government version of the ideal American woman. This program of assimilationist education, despite some accomplishments, generally failed to attain its goals. This study is a review of the: education of Indian women at the institutions that best typified the government program-the off-reservation industrial training schools. An understanding of this educational system provides some insight into the impact of the acculturation effort on the native population. Simultaneously, it illustrates some of the prevalent national images regarding both Indians and women. The concept of educating native women first gained momentum among eighteenth-century New England missionaries who recommended that Indian girls might benefit from formal training in housekeeping. This
Comparison of the two techniques of bones collection between Chiang Mai University and University of Florida

Many researches of Anthropology had to gather data from all of the human bones. For gathering the best data that not misses anything, thus a complete set of the bones collection is the most important that leads to make more researches henceforth. Thereby, the best technique of bones collection was studied in this project by comparing bone collection protocol between Chiang Mai University and University of Florida. The result showed that protocol of University of Florida provided the advantage of good protection of the delicate bones and should be suitable for keeping the bones in good condition. Chiang Mai University is ready to choose the protocol of University of Florida for collecting bones which help to avoid damages of the bones and lead to serve much more the further research in the field of anthropology than for the past.
Divergent life histories of invasive round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus) in Lake Michigan and its tributaries

Round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus) have invaded benthic habitats of the Laurentian Great Lakes and connected tributary streams. Although connected, these two systems generally differ in temperature (Great Lakes are typically colder), food availability (Dreissenid mussels are more prevalent in Great Lakes), and system size and openness. Here, we compare round goby life histories from inshore Lake Michigan and adjacent tributary systems—an uncommon case study of life-history differences between connected systems. Tributary round gobies grew much faster (average length-at-age of 122.3 vs. 65.7 mm for Age 2 + round gobies), appeared to have shorter life spans (maximum observed age of 2 vs. 5) and had lower age-at-50% maturity (1.6 vs. 2.4 years; females only) compared to gobies from Lake Michigan. In addition, tributary gobies had greater fecundity at Ages 1–2 than lake gobies, but had fewer eggs for a given body size prior to the first spawning event of the summer. We were not able to determine the cause of the observed life-history differences. Nonetheless, the observed differences in growth, maturation and longevity were consistent with known effects of water temperature, as well as predictions of life-history theory for animals at invasion fronts exposed to novel environmental conditions. The high degree of phenotypic plasticity in connected populations of this invasive species has implications for our understanding of invasive species impacts in different habitats.
Transposon-sequencing analysis unveils novel genes involved in the generation of persister cells in uropathogenic Escherichia coli

Persister cells are highly tolerant to different antibiotics and are associated with relapsing infections. In order to understand this phenomenon further, we exposed a transposon library to a lethal concentration of ampicillin, and mutants that survived were identified by transposon sequencing (Tn-Seq). We determined that mutations related to carbon metabolism, cell envelope (cell wall generation and membrane proteins), and stress response have a role in persister cell generation.
Initial development and preliminary psychometric properties of the Prodromal Inventory of Negative Symptoms (PINS)

In the psychosis prodrome, sub-threshold positive symptoms are often preceded by negative symptoms. Individuals exhibiting these attenuated symptoms are primarily adolescents and young adults at clinical high-risk (CHR) for developing a psychotic disorder. In the CHR state, negative symptoms are highly predictive of the transition to diagnosable illness, making the assessment of these symptoms very important. Existing scales used to evaluate negative symptoms in this critical population are informative but have conceptual and psychometric limitations and/or were not designed according to modern conceptions delineated in the 2005 NIMH Negative Symptom Consensus Conference. The current study reports the development of the Prodromal Interview of Negative Symptoms (PINS) - a next-generation scale designed in accordance with the consensus conference recommendations. Preliminary data on the psychometric properties of the PINS is reported as part of ongoing scale development that will use a data-driven, iterative process to generate a final scale. Analysis of data from 53 CHR cases, 30 of whom were re-evaluated at 12months, indicated that the beta version of the PINS demonstrated good internal consistency, inter-rater reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity. These preliminary findings provide direction for a revision of this measure, which resulted in the PINS-2, a promising new measure for the assessment of negative symptoms in CHR populations. This manuscript presents both the initial scale and resulting untested instrument, as well as a series of plans and recommendations for future development.
Nanoarchitecture Control Enabled by Ionic Liquids

Ionic liquids have many advantages over traditional aqueous electrosynthesis for fabrication of functional nanoarchitectures, including enabling the integration of nanoparticles into traditional coatings, superhydrophobicity, nanofoams, and other hierarchical structures. Shape and size control through ionic liquid selection and processing conditions can synthesize nanoparticles and nanoarchitectures without the use of capping agents, surfactants, or templates that are often deleterious to the functionality of the resultant system. Here we give a brief overview of some recent and interesting applications of ionic liquids to the synthesis of nanoparticles and nanoarchitectures.
Educating Latino Students: The More We Know, the Less Things Change

Hispanics, the largest growing ethnic group in the United States, currently make up 15 percent of the K-12 population. This figure is expected to increase to 25 percent by the year 2025. Latinos have the highest dropout rate of all groups. This article provides background information on this diverse group, along with an overview of factors that play a role in their low graduation rates. Current and projected trends are discussed, along with specifics on who comprises the dropout population. Specifics on how to ameliorate this problem are beyond the scope of this paper, although a general discussion on policy recommendations is provided. The author's own story as a Latina high school dropout is included. The article explains the severity of the problem while encouraging the development of an action research agenda that will improve the education of Latino youth.
Slow AMPAR Synaptic Transmission Is Determined by Stargazin and Glutamate Transporters

AMPARs mediate the briefest synaptic currents in the brain by virtue of their rapid gating kinetics. However, at the mossy fiber-to-unipolar brush cell synapse in the cerebellum, AMPAR-mediated EPSCs last for hundreds of milliseconds, and it has been proposed that this time course reflects slow diffusion from a complex synaptic space. We show that upon release of glutamate, synaptic AMPARs were desensitized by transmitter by >90%. As glutamate levels subsequently fell, recovery of transmission occurred due to the presence of the AMPAR accessory protein stargazin that enhances the AMPAR response to low levels of transmitter. This gradual increase in receptor activity following desensitization accounted for the majority of synaptic transmission at this synapse. Moreover, the amplitude, duration, and shape of the synaptic response was tightly controlled by plasma membrane glutamate transporters, indicating that clearance of synaptic glutamate during the slow EPSC is dictated by an uptake process.
Materials for the Recovery of Uranium from Seawater

More than 1000× uranium exists in the oceans than exists in terrestrial ores. With nuclear power generation expected to increase over the coming decades, access to this unconventional reserve is a matter of energy security. With origins in the mid-1950s, materials have been developed for the selective recovery of seawater uranium for more than six decades, with a renewed interest in particular since 2010. This review comprehensively surveys materials developed from 2000–2016 for recovery of seawater uranium, in particular including recent developments in inorganic materials; polymer adsorbents and related research pertaining to amidoxime; and nanostructured materials such as metal–organic frameworks, porous-organic polymers, and mesoporous carbons. Challenges of performing reliable and reproducible uranium adsorption studies are also discussed, as well as the standardization of parameters necessary to ensure valid comparisons between different adsorbents.
Optimizing residential energy management using an autonomous scheduler system

Abstract In this paper, a smart home energy management system (SHEMS) is developed using a limited memory algorithm for bound constrained problems known as L-BFGS-B, along with time-of-use (ToU) pricing to optimize appliance scheduling in a 24-h period. The allocation of energy resources for each appliance is coordinated by a smart controllable load (SCL) device embedded in the household's smart meter. SCL guarantees automation of the proposed SHEMS and prevents manual participation of customers in demand response (DR) programs. The model is simulated on a population of 247 residential prosumers with solar PV systems based on 15-min interval electric load data from a residential community in Austin, TX. After clustering households based on their electricity profiles, the proposed optimization model is performed. Simulation results show that the proposed autonomous scheduling system reduces cumulative energy consumption for customers across the different clusters. In addition, when households are grouped based on their respective category according to the ToU pricing scheme, the simulation reports a notable decrease in total energy consumption, from 65.771 kWh to 44.295 kWh, as well as a reduction in the cumulative cost of energy, from $6.550 to $4.393 per day. Simulation results confirm that the proposed algorithm effectively improves the operational efficiency of the distribution system, reduces power congestion at key times, and decreases electricity costs for prosumers.
CRISPR-Cas Technology In and Out of the Classroom

Student-centered practices, including student-focused research opportunities, enhance biology education and comprehension. One way to support student interest is through research opportunities in faculty laboratories. However, alternatives to traditional research apprenticeships are important for the inclusion of more undergraduate students in CRISPR-Cas-based research. Student interest in CRISPR-Cas technologies serves as a timely focal point for deepening undergraduate student engagement in biology courses. In this article, we describe some of the ongoing efforts to bring CRISPR-Cas technology out of the classroom and into the teaching laboratory.
Elderly Sexuality in Traditional and Nontraditional Relationships

Elderly adults may express their sexuality within a variety of interpersonal paradigms including long-term marriage, gay or lesbian relationships, bisexual relationships, second (or third or fourth) marriages, affairs outside of marriage, and various dating arrangements. Just as older adults themselves are not stereotypically traditional, neither are their intimate relationships.
Lifelong Learning on Harvested Energy

We introduce the vision of lifelong and intermittent learning, which will enable batteryless computing platforms to execute a certain class of machine learning tasks. We identify key properties and challenges to learning on harvested energy which relates to the semantics of machine learning tasks. Each of these challenges leads to a new research direction. We envision that a big chunk of research on batteryless IoT devices in the next 5-10 years will be about making them capable of continuously learning throughout their lifetime. Concepts related to intermittent learning will be at the heart of those works.
Existence of a p-glycoprotein drug efflux pump in cultured rabbit conjunctival epithelial cells.

PURPOSE To determine whether a p-glycoprotein (P-gp) drug efflux pump exists in cultured rabbit conjunctival epithelial cells (RCEs) to restrict the absorption of cyclosporin A (CSA) and other lipophilic drugs such as verapamil and dexamethasone. METHODS The anti-P-gp monoclonal antibody (mAb) C219 was used in western blot analysis to reveal the presence of P-gp in freshly isolated and cultured RCEs. Bidirectional transport of tritiated CSA, verapamil, and dexamethasone (0.5 or 5.0 microM) across cultured RCEs was evaluated in the absence and presence of P-gp inhibitors and an external mAb to P-gp (4E3). RESULTS Western blot analysis of lysates of freshly isolated and cultured RCEs with C219 mAb revealed a 170-kDa membrane protein band. At 0.5 microM CSA, the basal-to-apical (ba) apparent permeability coefficient (P(app) that is, efflux) was 9.3 times higher than that in the apical-to-basal direction (that is, influx). At 5 microM, this ratio was halved. Net CSA secretion was blocked completely at 4 degrees C. Verapamil (100 microM), progesterone (100 microM) and 4E3 mAb (5 microg/ml) increased CSA influx three times, while reducing efflux by 50% to 70%. Verapamil and progesterone inhibited CSA efflux in a concentration-dependent manner. In all cases, net secretory CSA flux was markedly reduced. The P(app) for verapamil (0.5 microM) and dexamethasone (0.5 microM) in the ba direction was 3.4 and 1.6 times, respectively, which was higher than that in the opposite direction. The 4E3 mAb reduced net verapamil secretion by 65%. CONCLUSIONS There may exist a P-gp-mediated drug efflux pump on the apical aspect of the rabbit conjunctiva to restrict the absorption of cyclosporin A and other lipophilic drugs.
Hunting in Late Upper Paleolithic Western Europe

Three papers in this volume (Fisher, Frison, Morlan) deal with the prey and hunting practices of the terminal Pleistocene/initial Holocene Paleoindians and four authors (Behrensmeyer, Trinkaus, Binford, Klein) debate the crucial issue of hunting by early (“proto-human”) hominids. The major problems discussed are (1) how to discern hunting from scavenging and hominid agency from natural processes; (2) the possible relationships between hominid physical evolution and hunting; and (3) the increasing importance of hunting and its significance in the radiation of genus Homo. However, there is little discussion on hominid hunting that evolved later in the Pleistocene in the Old World. If it is problematical that early hominids and even archaic Homo sapiens (Neanderthal et al.) were full-fledged, organized hunters, then who were the first and what were their prey and hunting practices? Two papers mention the most likely answer in passing: …it is primarily for later Upper Paleolithic populations that we have unquestionable archeological evidence of systematic, planned exploitation of larger mammals on a regular basis (Trinkaus, this volume). …there was a quantum advance in human ability to extract animal protein from nature, probably coincident with the adventof the Later Stone Age… (Klein, this volume).
Analysis of Geophysical Time Series Using Discrete Wavelet Transforms: An Overview

Discrete wavelet transforms (DWTs) are mathematical tools that are useful for analyzing geophysical time series. The basic idea is to transform a time series into coefficients describing how the series varies over particular scales. One version of the DWT is the maximal overlap DWT (MODWT). The MODWT leads to two basic decompositions. The first is a scale-based analysis of variance known as the wavelet variance, and the second is a multiresolution analysis that reexpresses a time series as the sum of several new series, each of which is associated with a particular scale. Both decompositions are illustrated through examples involving Arctic sea ice and an Antarctic ice core. A second version of the DWT is the orthonormal DWT (ODWT), which can be extracted from the MODWT by subsampling. The relative strengths and weaknesses of the MODWT, the ODWT and the continuous wavelet transform are discussed.
Using Interactive Videodisc for the Assessment of Adult Learning Styles

This paper is an account of the design, development and evaluation of the interactive videodisc Learning Style Survey, an instrument based on sections of the paper-pencil version of the Hill Cognitive Style Interest Inventory. Psychometric properties of the instrument are discussed, including face, content, and construct validity as well as stability, equivalence, and internal consistency. Suggestions for the possible use of the instrument in the identification of learning style for the improved instructional success of low-literate adults are included.
“…Love Me”: A Found Poem Exploring Black Women’s Romantic Relationships:

A found poem from a phenomenological exploration of Black women’s romantic relationship narratives and the author’s reflexive notes is presented. Drawing from Monica Prendergast’s vox autobiographi...
Attempting international normative change in gender and the law: a reply to DeLaet, Baldez and Bunting

ABSTRACTThis reply responds to contributions by DeLaet, Baldez and Bunting to the issue’s sub-theme on ‘The Role of International and Domestic Law in Attaining Gender and Sexual Equality’. While each paper allocates different degrees of importance to the role of international actors in international normative change, all agree that domestic attempts are more important to sustainable change than international attempts. This reply attempts to determine the reasons for divergence on the attribution of importance to international actors, while examining means by which these international actors can better service domestic actors rather than merely replicating neo-colonialist policies.This is a reply to:Baldez, Lisa (2018) “What’s at Stake in the Treaty Reporting Process? Cuba and the United Nations Treaty on Women’s Rights”. Global Discourse. doi: 10.1080/23269995.2018.1520009.andBunting, Annie (2018) “Gender Politics and Geopolitics of International Criminal Law in Uganda”. Global Discourse. doi: 10.1080/232...
Immunosuppression by L-Asparaginase

During the last year there have been several reports from a number of laboratories showing that L-asparaginase has profound immunosuppressive effects in animals (1–15). Until recently, this enzyme was generally considered to have specific anti-leukemic effects (16–18). However, it is now evident that asparaginase may be a useful immunosuppressive agent, inhibiting antibody formation (6,7,9–11,13,14), lymphocyte transformation (1–3), the graft-vs.-host reaction (8) and graft rejection (4,12,13,15). We have studied the effects of L-asparaginase derived from Escherichia coli on the antibody plaque response of mice to sheep erythrocytes and E. coli, as well as its effects on the allograft rejection phenomenon.
Increase of the critical current in single-crystal Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8 − δ with ion-induced flux-pinning sites

Single crystals of ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}$${\mathrm{CaCu}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{8\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$ were irradiated with 50-MeV $^{16}\mathrm{O}^{+6}$ along the c axis. Using a single coil as a noncontact probe, the transition temperature and the critical current of the samples were measured in situ as a function of total beam fluence. We observe an increase and a subsequent decrease in the critical current at 60, 75, and 80 K with a peak corresponding to fluences of \ensuremath{\sim}1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{13}$ ions/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$. Up to this fluence the transition temperature remained a constant. Higher fluences caused a decrease in both the transition temperature and the critical current. The results are discussed in terms of a simple model assuming the ion-induced defects cause flux pinning sites.
CIM/E Schema of Version Management and Mapping Method

With the development of smart grids,all kinds of smart grid information systems appear to be distributed and heterogeneous,making it necessary to facilitate smart grid information sharing and interaction by enhancing the interoperability of information systems.Aimed at improving the interoperability of CIM/E based smart grid model information,the structure of CIM/E template and its constraints on data and the expansion mode of CIM/E schema are analyzed.And CIM/E schema version management as well as the mapping system between CIM/E and CIM RDF schema is established,while the control and application-oriented flexible expansion of CIM/E schema used in grid model information interoperability is achieved.The effectiveness of CIM/E schema version management and schema mapping is validated through actual mutual conversion between CIM/E and CIM/XML,the ability of synchronizing CIM/E schema with the steadily evolving CIM versions is guaranteed,and the international promotion of CIM/E standard further promoted.
SediNet: a configurable deep learning model for mixed qualitative and quantitative optical granulometry

I describe a configurable machine-learning framework to estimate a suite of continuous and categorical sedimentological properties from photographic imagery of sediment, and to exemplify how machine learning can be a powerful and flexible tool for automated quantitative and qualitative measurements from remotely sensed imagery. The model is tested on a large dataset consisting of 400 images and associated detailed label data. The data are from a much wider sedimentological spectrum than previous optical granulometry studies, consisting of both well- and poorly sorted sediment, terrigenous, carbonate, and volcaniclastic sands and gravels and their mixtures, and grain sizes spanning over two orders of magnitude. I demonstrate the model framework by configuring it in several ways, to estimate two categories (describing grain shape and population, respectively) and nine numeric grain-size percentiles in pixels from a single input image. Grain size is then recovered using the physical size of a pixel. Finally, I demonstrate that the model can be configured and trained to estimate equivalent sieve diameters directly from image features, without the need for area-to-mass conversion formulas and without even knowing the scale of one pixel. Thus, it is the only optical granulometry method proposed to date that does not necessarily require image scaling. The flexibility of the model framework should facilitate numerous application in the spatio-temporal monitoring of the grain size distribution, shape, mineralogy and other quantities of interest, of sedimentary deposits as they evolve as well as other texture-based proxies extracted from remotely sensed imagery.
Assessing current mechanisms for the regulation of direct-to-consumer neurotechnology

Abstract Unlike products approved for clinical use, direct-to-consumer (DTC) neurotechnologies often have unknown efficacy and are not subject to the same forms of regulation. Due to these differences, neuroethicists have raised concerns about whether consumers are adequately protected from a range of potential harms. Despite these worries, there is a lack of consensus about what regulatory mechanisms should be utilized to adequately protect consumers. Although there is a growing literature on what regulatory mechanism are most appropriate, there is a lack of scholarship examining why some types of oversight are better suited to protect consumers from particular DTC neuroscience caused harms. The aim of this paper is to fill that gap by reviewing the main legal mechanisms for regulation of DTC neurotechnologies in the United States and the relative pros and cons of each of these options. When taken alone, the current regulatory mechanisms are insufficient to protect consumers from all the potential harms that are likely to result from widespread DTC neurotechnology use due to the patchwork of consumer protection laws in the United States. However, if we take a multi-faceted approach to regulation it is more likely that associated harms can be minimized.
Attitudes, perceived competence, and social limitation among older adults with hearing problems

This study aims to examine the association between attitudes, perceived competence, and social limitation among older adults with hearing impairment. Descriptive correlational design was used in th...
Ischemic Ventricular Tachycardia

Recurrence of ventricular tachycardia after catheter ablation is common. The optimal acute procedural endpoints for ablation of infarct-related VT remain unclear. Clinical criteria associated with the presence of epicardial arrhythmia substrate in infarct-related VT are lacking.
Abstract 921: TLR5 agonists enhance anti-tumor immunity and overcome resistance to immune checkpoint therapy

Despite the success of immune checkpoint therapies (ICT) in achieving durable responses in subsets of cancer patients, not all patients respond to these types of therapies. Primary and adaptive resistance to immunotherapies present a considerable obstacle in achieving enhanced survival in a broader population of patients. Innate immune activators have been actively pursued for their antitumor potential. Herein, we report that a syngeneic 4T1 mammary carcinoma murine model for established highly refractory triple negative breast cancer showed enhanced survival when treated intra-tumorally with the TLR5 agonist flagellin, in combination with intra-peritoneal antibodies targeting CTLA-4 and PD-1. Long-term survivor mice showed immunologic memory upon tumor re-challenge and a distinctive immune activating cytokine profile that engaged both innate and adaptive components of the immune system. Of note, low serum levels of G-CSF at weeks 6 and 7 correlated highly with enhanced survival at week 18 (Hazzard Ratio 11, p Citation Format: Caleb Gonzalez, Sarah Williamson, Seth Gammon, David Piwnica-Worms. TLR5 agonists enhance anti-tumor immunity and overcome resistance to immune checkpoint therapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 921.
Non-Refoldability is Pervasive Across the E. coli Proteome

Decades of research on protein folding have primarily focused on a privileged subset of small proteins that can reversibly refold out of a denaturant. However, these studies are not representative of the complexity of natural proteomes, which consist of many proteins with more sophisticated architectures. Here, we introduce an experimental approach to probe protein refolding for whole proteomes. We accomplish this by first unfolding and refolding E. coli lysates, and then interrogating the resulting protein structures using a permissive protease that preferentially cleaves at flexible regions. Using mass spectrometry, we globally analyze the digestion patterns to assess structural differences between native and "refolded" proteins. These studies show that roughly half of the E. coli proteome cannot reassemble their native states following chemical denaturation. Our results imply that thermodynamics alone cannot specify the native structures of all proteins, signaling a pervasive role for kinetic control in shaping protein biogenesis.
American Cosmic: UFOs, Religion, Technology

D. W. Pasulka’s American Cosmic: UFOs, Religion, Technology explores how belief in the existence of extraterrestrials constitutes the emergence of a new form of religion. More than a project in ufo...
Atlas Humanoid Robot Control with Flexible Finite State Machines for Playing Soccer

This work concerns Atlas robot autonomously com-pleting core soccer tasks in a static environment. A soccer ball is localized using robot 2D and 3D perception. The target kicking position is reached in a collision-free manner using robot locomotion and navigation capabilities. The ball is kicked thanks to leg manipulation motion planning. Additionally, FlexBE is used to implement a user in the loop state machine. Generic custom open-source states are used throughout the project and their functionality is tested. An overview of subject-relevant literature, techniques used and experiments performed are provided. We also discuss the system and environment-based limitations in the core project areas.
Shrinkage Estimation of Functions of Large Noisy Symmetric Matrices

We study the problem of estimating functions of a large symmetric matrix $A_n$ when we only have access to a noisy estimate $\hat{A}_n=A_n+\sigma Z_n/\sqrt{n}.$ We are interested in the case that $Z_n$ is a Wigner ensemble and suggest an algorithm based on nonlinear shrinkage of the eigenvalues of $\hat{A}_n.$ As an intermediate step we explain how recovery of the spectrum of $A_n$ is possible using only the spectrum of $\hat{A}_n$. Our algorithm has important applications, for example, in solving high-dimensional noisy systems of equations or symmetric matrix denoising. Throughout our analysis we rely on tools from random matrix theory.
Brain Endothelial Cells: Metabolic Flux and Energy Metabolism

The neurovascular unit (NVU) consists of multiple cell types including brain endothelial cells, pericytes, astrocytes, and neurons that function collectively to maintain homeostasis within the CNS microenvironment. As the principal barrier-forming component of the NVU, the endothelial cells perform an array of complex functions that require substantial energy resources. The principal metabolic pathways for producing ATP are glycolysis and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. While previous studies have demonstrated that glycolysis is a primary pathway for most endothelial cells, details about the energy producing pathways of brain endothelial cells are not fully characterized. The contributions of glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration to energy metabolism are quantifiable using metabolic flux analysis that measures cellular oxygen consumption and acidification (proton production) in a closed microtiter plate format. ATP production rates are then calculated. The bioenergetics of the human brain microvascular endothelial cell line, hCMEC/D3, indicate that these cells exhibit relatively elevated rates of glycolytic flux and glycolytic ATP production, thus confirming their glycolytic nature even in the presence of abundant oxygen. Furthermore, energy producing pathways involving mitochondrial respiration are relatively low, although contributing significantly to total ATP production. Interestingly, the bioenergetics of the hCMEC/D3 cells are relatively similar to those of human primary brain microvascular endothelial cells (hBVECs). These findings allow a quantitative understanding of the bioenergetics of brain endothelial cells in a cultured and proliferative state and also provide a platform for comparative studies of disease states and conditions involving exposures to drugs or metabolic disruptors.
Beyond Immediate Relations: Understanding Women Collaborative Networks

This study examines collaborative networks focusing on how women’s need to utilize indirect relationships influences network tie formations. Research has identified women tend to have ineffective n...
Identifying higher oxygenate synthesis sites in Cu catalysts promoted and stabilized by atomic layer deposited Fe2O3

Abstract The conversion of syngas to higher oxygenates is an important step in the pathway towards the long-term sustainable production of fuels and chemicals. Mixed Cu/Fe catalysts combine metals with different CO activation characteristics, a property that makes them promising candidates for higher oxygenate production. However, Cu/Fe catalysts suffer from instability due to sintering and phase separation, and the active sites for higher oxygenate formation on these materials are not well understood. In this work, we use atomic layer deposition (ALD) to modify silica-supported Cu nanoparticles with monolayer precise amounts of Fe2O3 and study the effects on catalyst structure, reactivity, and stability. We demonstrate that the Fe2O3 ALD process is inherently selective towards deposition on the SiO2 surface versus the Cu nanoparticles. As a result, a sufficiently thick Fe2O3 layer surrounding the Cu nanoparticles acts as a barrier against Cu migration, preventing catalyst deactivation through sintering without covering the Cu. In syngas conversion reactions, we find that higher oxygenate selectivity increases with Fe2O3 loading at low and intermediate ALD cycle numbers. Furthermore, using in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy, we demonstrate that the Fe near the Cu nanoparticles is reduced to a metallic state under reaction conditions. From these measurements, we identify these metallic Cu/Fe interfaces as the active sites for higher oxygenate formation, which are most abundant at intermediate Fe2O3 ALD cycle numbers. As the Fe2O3 loading increases, higher oxygenate selectivity falls, resulting from encapsulation of the Cu nanoparticles by thick Fe2O3 layers. The results demonstrate how thickness-controlled ALD Fe2O3 can be used as both a promoter and stabilizer of Cu-based higher oxygenate synthesis catalysts.
Augustine and the Dialogue

Contrary to the scholarly consensus, Augustine and the Dialogue argues that Augustine's dialogues, with their inconclusive debates and dramatic shifts in focus, betray a sophisticated pedagogical method which combines strategies for 'un-learning' and self-reflection with a willingness to proceed via provisional answers. By shifting the focus from doctrinal content to questions of method, Kenyon seeks to reframe scholarly discussions of Augustine's earliest surviving body of works. This approach shows the young Augustine not refuting so much as appropriating Academic skeptical practices. It also shows that the dialogues' few scriptural references, e.g. Wisdom 11:20's 'measure, number, weight', come at key structural points. This helps articulate the dialogues' larger project of cultivating virtue and their approach to philosophy as a form of purification. Augustine is shown to be at home with pluralistic approaches, and Kenyon holds up his methodology as an attractive model for thinking through problems of the liberal academy today.
Dacron® Arterial Grafts: Comparative Structures and Basis for Successful Use of Current Prostheses

By the 1960s, woven and knitted Dacron® grafts were in widespread use. Currently, approximately ten different Dacron prostheses are available for clinical use and several others are being developed. The advantages and limitations of three different types of grafts are discussed: (1) tightly woven and crimped; (2) knitted, crimped, and non-supported; and (3) knitted, noncrimped, and supported. The microanatomy of grafts from each category is presented.
Hand-held multi-parameter water quality recorder

Water resources monitoring has become an important research topic because an unreasonable use of water resources results in the deterioration of water environment and affects the development of human beings and nature. The scheme of the hand-held multi-parameter water quality recorder based on the sensor of the YSI6600 was designed. Through the multi-parameter sensor of the YSI6600, the recorder can detect and analyze the water quality of 17 parameters, such as turbidity, PH value etc. The core controller by using the low-power single-chip MSP430F149 makes the entire system with battery-powered. The use of multi-parameter sensor YSI6600 makes collection of data-processing speed and high precision, small error. The advantages of the recorder are the small size, the low cost, the low consumption, the large-screen LCD display, and easily carrying. It can communicate with the computer by RS232, position water quality data of a water area by circumscribed GPS, and provide a favorable data protection for the water sector and environmental sector by the water quality data. It has been played a significant role in environmental monitoring and water quality monitoring. Comparing with the traditional sampling from the river and instrument in the past, the recorder has greatly improved the efficiency of detection.
Analytical Theory of Transonic Normal Shock-Turbulent Boundary-Layer Interaction

This paper describes an approximate analytical theory of the nonseparating transonic interaction of a weak normal shock with an isobaric laminar or turbulent boundary layer. The complicated multisubregion disturbance field structure is simplified by appropriate approximations (including neglect of the small scale details within the shock structure regions) which reduce the problem to an analytical form, provided the incoming Mach number is not very near unity. The resulting mixed transonic flow boundary value problem is solved by Fourier transformation methods. Lateral pressure gradient effects are included. Results are presented for turbulent boundary-layer pressure distributions, flow geometry, and skin friction. Following a small post-shock subsonic expansion region, the approach of the downstream interaction pressure to the final subsonic value is found to be a slow algebraic (l/;c)-type decay in agreement with experimental observations.
Plant cysteine proteases that evoke itch activate protease-activated receptors.

It was demonstrated in the 1950s that several endopeptidases, or proteases that cleave internal residues of proteins, caused itching, often associated with a burning sensation when injected in the skin.1 The itch-inducing proteases included bromelain from pineapples, ficin from figs, papain from papaya, mucunain, also known as cowhage, from pods of a bean plant, and trypsin from animals. The molecular mechanism by which these proteases evoked pruritus was not understood. The onset of itch was rapid, occurring within seconds, and was thought to result from direct or almost direct activation of sensory fibres. The absence of a weal or flare suggested that the itch was independent of histamine. It is now known that the sensation of peripheral itch is mediated by two distinct nonoverlapping populations of cutaneous nerve fibres that evoke comparable degrees of itch. One set of fibres, the mechanoinsensitive population, is more responsive to histamine than to cowhage. The other set is mechanosensitive and is more responsive to cowhage than to histamine.2,3 An important development with respect to a new mechanism of protease action was the identification of a family of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) called protease-activated receptors or PARs.4 The family consists of four members, PAR1–PAR4, which are activated by proteolysis. GPCRs are conventionally activated by a ligand binding to an extracellular portion of the receptor leading to a conformational change with subsequent coupling to a cytoplasmic G-protein and downstream signalling. In contrast, with PARs, a residue near the N-terminus of the receptor itself is cleaved by a protease to expose a ‘tethered ligand’. This newly exposed peptide ligand folds back on to the PAR leading to activation (Fig. 1). Certain proteases were thus identified as participating in signal transduction. The only endogenous proteases known to activate PARs were serine proteases, i.e. proteases with serine residues at their active sites, including thrombin, trypsin, tryptase and several kallikreins.5,6 Exogenous cysteine proteases shown to activate PAR2 included a cockroach allergen, the dust mite allergen der p 1 and gingipain from a bacterium associated with gingivitis.7,8 The recent observations that mucunain, which is the active component of cowhage and an exogenous cysteine protease, and cathepsin S, an endogenous cysteine protease, evoke itch and activate PAR2 extended observations that PAR2 activation was associated with itch.9,10 These findings led us to consider the possibility that bromelain, ficin and papain activate PARs, providing a mechanism by which they may cause pruritus. Fig 1 Protease-activated receptors (PARs) are activated by proteolytic cleavage. Proteases cleave PARs near the extracellular N-terminus resulting in exposure of a previously cryptic tethered ligand that folds back on to the receptor to become active.
The 'rationality' of municipal capital spending. Evidence from New Jersey

Abstract Some analysts interpret movements in capital spending by sub-federal levels of government as rational reactions to changing economic and demographic conditions. Others attribute changes to myopic decision-making by politically motivated government officials. In this paper we present a formal definition of ‘rational’ decision-making that is amenable to econometric testing, and utilize panel data on capital spending by a sample of New Jersey municipalities to test it. We find that on the basis of data from all communities, one cannot reject the joint hypotheses of forward-looking, rational, and unconstrained planning. However, the behavior of capital spending differs sharply between both suburban versus non-suburban communities, and between small versus large communities.