cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of pH on the Carbonate Incorporation into the Hydroxyapatite Prepared by an Oxidative Decomposition of Calcium–EDTA Chelate

In this study, the carbonate incorporation into the hydroxyapatite (HAp) lattice under various pH conditions was investigated. Crystalline-sodium and carbonate-containing calcium HAp (NaCO3HAp) powders were prepared using an oxidative decomposition of calcium–EDTA chelates in a sodium phosphate solution with hydrogen peroxide. The powders obtained were characterized by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. Depending on pH, spherical particles approximately 3.5 μm in diameter or hexagonal prismatic particles measuring 3–9 μm in length were obtained. Various characterization techniques showed that the precipitates were a single-phase NaCO3HAp. The carbonate content and the lattice parameters of the HAp were a function of solution pH. Maximum carbonate incorporated into the HAp lattice was at pH=10, corresponding to lattice parameters of a=0.93880 nm and c=0.69070 nm. Furthermore, spectroscopic analyses indicate that the as-prepared samples are B-type carbonated HAp, in which carbonate ions occupy the phosphate sites. After heat treatment at 965°C, most of the carbonate is removed from the HAp lattice.
Indoor positioning based on statistical multipath channel modeling

In order to estimate the location of an indoor mobile station (MS), estimated time-of-arrival (TOA) can be obtained at each of several access points (APs). These TOA estimates can then be used to solve for the location of the MS. Alternatively, it is possible to estimate the location of the MS directly by incorporating the received signals at all APs in a direct estimator of position. This article presents a deeper analysis of a previously proposed maximum likelihood (ML)-TOA estimator, including a uniqueness property and the behavior in nonline-of-sight (NLOS) situations. Then, a ML direct location estimation technique utilizing all received signals at the various APs is proposed based on the ML-TOA estimator. The Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB) is used as a performance reference for the ML direct location estimator.
Hybrid Atomistic-Coarse-Grained Treatment of Thin-Film Lubrication I

A new hybrid atomistic-coarse-grained (HACG) treatment of reversible processes in multiple-scale systems involving fluid-solid interfaces was tested through isothermal-isobaric Monte Carlo simulations of the quasistatic shearing of a model two-dimensional lubricated contact comprising two planar Lennard-Jones solid substrates that sandwich a softer Lennard-Jones film. Shear-stress profiles (plots of shear stress T_{yx} versus lateral displacement of the substrates) obtained by the HACG technique, which combines an atomistic description of the interfacial region with a continuum description of regions well removed from the interface, are compared with "exact" profiles (obtained by treating the whole system at the atomic scale) for a selection of thermodynamic states that correspond to systematic variations of temperature, load (normal stress), film-substrate coupling strength, and film thickness. The HACG profiles are in excellent agreement overall with the exact ones. The HACG scheme provides a reliable description of quasistatic shearing under a wide range of conditions. It is demonstrated that the elastic response of the remote regions of the substrates can have a significant impact on the static friction profile (plot of maximum magnitude of T_{yx} versus load).
Woman with abdominal distention

An 86-year-old woman presented to the Emergency Department after falling and being unable to get up. Her physical exam revealed massive abdominal distention and spider angiomata suspicious for possible ascites. The treating physician performed a bedside ultrasound that showed a discrete echogenic mass without evidence of ascites that was subsequently confirmed on computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis. The utility of bedside ultrasound in the diagnostic evaluation of abdominal distention and possible ascites is discussed.
Biochemical Specificity of Human Complement Component C1q

The serum complement system has an important role in host defense and haemostasis, and inflammatory processes1. It consists of 9 components, 2 factors and 9 regulatory processes2,3. With the exception of factor D, the complement proteases circulate in vivo as zymogens which are activated to a system of interacting transiently active proteases by antigen-antibody complexes and/or by both cationic and anionic biopolymers. The latter include DNA, acidic proteoglycans, acidic polysaccharides and polymers of basic amino acids. There are at least three inactivator proteins which exert internal control on the complement system by interacting with the activated forms of various components2,3.
Generative model-based speaker clustering via mixture of von Mises-Fisher distributions

This paper proposes a generative model-based speaker clustering algorithm in the maximum a posteriori adapted Gaussian mixture model (GMM) mean supervector space. The algorithm can be viewed as an extension of the standard expectation maximization algorithm for fitting a mixture model to the data, which iterates between two steps - a sample re-assignment step (E-step) and a model re-estimation step (M-step) - until it converges. The directional scattering patterns of GMM mean supervectors suggest that we employ a mixture of von Mises-Fisher distributions in the model re-estimation step. In the sample re-assignment step, four sample-to-mixture assignment strategies, namely soft, hard, stochastic, and deterministic annealing assignments, are used. Our experiments on the GALE Mandarin dataset show that the use of a mixture of von Mises-Fisher distributions as the underlying model yields significantly higher speaker clustering accuracies than the use of a mixture of Gaussian distributions. It is further shown that deterministic annealing assignment outperforms soft assignment, that soft assignment is comparable to stochastic assignment, and that both soft and stochastic assignments outperform hard assignment.
Optical activity of simple cyclic amides in solution

The cyclic dipeptide, L-alanylglycyl anhydride, has been studied by optical rotatory dispersion; both L-alanylglycyl anhydride and the lactam, L-3-aminopyrrolidin-2-one, have been studied by circular dichroism. In hydroxylic solvents the circular dichroism spectra of 3-aminopyrrolidin-2-one can be attributed to an n–π* transition near 220 mμ and a π–π* transition near 190 mμ. In these solvents the optical activity of L-alanylglycyl anhydride can be explained as being due to contributions of n–π* transitions and a split π–π* transition. In acetonitrile, however, the circular dichroism spectrum of 3-aminopyrrolidin-2-one shows an additional apparent minimum near 200 mμ. The CD spectrum of the dipeptide is also quite distinctive in this solvent. The possible nature of the band at 200 mμ and the implications of these findings are discussed.
FLEXIBILITY IN THE USE OF GRAPHIC AND CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION BY GOOD AND POOR READERS

Two studies are reported that investigate the use of graphic and contextual information in word recognition. Subjects orally read stories that contained ten words that were altered by substituting a single letter, so that another word was formed that was anomalous within the sentence. The critical dependent variable was the proportion of times the subject read the contextually appropriate word rather than the actual stimulus word. The first study used different orienting instructions to manipulate subjects' response set. In the second experiment, instructions for either contextually appropriate reading or accurate reading were given in order to examine the relationships between information processing demands and reading ability. The results indicated that good and poor readers were equally able to conform to task demands for contextually appropriate reading responses, but poor readers were less able to suppress contextual information when accurate reading was required. Contextual and graphic cues represent two different types of information that a reader might draw on to recognize words during reading. Reliance on one type of in- formation to some extent obviates the necessity of using information of the other type. The research presented in this paper investigated the use of graphic and contex- tual information in word recognition, and the extent to which good and poor readers are flexible in their ability to trade off one type of information for another when the situation warrants. The research to be reported made use of a paradigm employed by Allington and Strange (1977). They had both good and poor fourth-grade readers respond to passages where a letter was changed in five percent of the words so that the letter string was transformed into a different word that made the sentence anomalous. Ex- amples of such sentences are, "He leaned too fan over the edge of the wall," and
The Use of Magnetite as a Facilitator for the Microwave Heating of Contaminated Soils

Previous research work in the area of microwave heating for low temperature thermal desorption of contaminates has led to a novel method of delivering heat energy to contaminated materials (soils) that have poor electrical characteristics for the absorption of microwaves. This method involves the use of a heating facilitator. The facilitator, which in this case is a ferromagnetic material (magnetite), is admixed with the soil or sludge to be treated. When exposed to microwave energy, the facilitator preferentially absorbs the energy and transfers heat to the contaminated matrix. Using this method, it has been possible to achieve temperatures in excess of 900 °C (1650 °F) in test soils. At these temperatures, even the highest molecular weight hydrocarbon contaminants are compelled to desorb from the soil. The advantage of using magnetite is that it can be separated by conventional separation methods for recycle and reuse. The technology has implications of being useful in several chemical processing operations.
Sensitivity and mitigation of Reverse IMD in power amplifiers

The generation of intermodulation distortion products due to the coupling of signals into the output port of an amplifier, often referred to as Reverse Intermodulation Distortion (IMD) can be a major problem when multiple transmitters are operated in close proximity. Such conditions can exist at cell telephone sites, broadcast facilities and even on satellites. This type of distortion can also be a problem when making high linearity measurements. The sensitivity of different types of power amplifiers to Reverse IMD and techniques for mitigating the resulting distortion has been experimentally investigated.
Inherent optical properties of the ocean: Retrieval of the absorption coefficient of chromophoric dissolved organic matter from fluorescence measurements

The quantitative relationship between the absorption and fluorescence emission of chromophoric (colored) dissolved organic matter (CDOM) has been determined along five cruise tracks in the western North Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and Monterey Bay, and includes Gulf Stream, Loop Current, slope, shelf, and coastal waters. We present a protocol for the determination of CDOM fluorescence that will allow both interlaboratory comparisons and the calibration of airborne fluorescence measurements. This protocol is based on the use of the water Raman signal as an internal radiometric standard and quinine sulfate as an external standard. This study demonstrates that when an appropriate and consistent procedure is used to standardize fluorescence measurements, the fluorescence per unit absorption exhibits surprisingly little variation for diverse waters. The maximum variability observed between all sites was 36% and within the western North Atlantic the variability was only 12%. Algorithms are presented for retrieval of the absorption coefficient of CDOM at 355 and 337 nm from shipboard or airborne measurements of the water-Raman-normalized fluorescence emission resulting from 355- and 337-nm excitation.
Variable neighbor selection in live peer-to-peer multimedia streaming networks

Data-driven (or swarming based) streaming is one of the popular ways to distribute live multimedia streaming traffic over peer-to-peer (P2P) networks. The efficiency and user satisfaction highly depend on the constructed overlays. The common neighbor selection algorithms in existing overlay construction schemes usually randomly select a fixed number of neighbors which satisfy the selection requirements, such as end-to-end delay or a peerpsilas sojourn time. However, this fixed random neighbor-selection algorithm (FRNS) neglects the peerspsila upload bandwidth heterogeneity and therefore, the upload bandwidth cannot be efficiently used. In this paper, we propose a variable random neighbor-selection (VRNS) scheme to alleviate the problems due to bandwidth heterogeneity, and in which the number of neighbors with different upload bandwidths is dynamically determined by the statistical bandwidth information of the system. Our proposed scheme is shown to outperform FRNS based upon a large volume of carefully designed simulations.
Amino Derivatives of Thiophene Isosteres of Indanone and Tetralone

The investigation of α - and β -aminoketones derived from thiophene isosteres of 1-indanone and 1-tetralone is described. Preliminary pharmacological data are provided.
A globally convergent and consistent method for estimating the shape parameter of a generalized Gaussian distribution

We propose a novel methodology for estimating the shape parameter of a generalized Gaussian distribution (GGD). This new method is based on a simple estimating equation derived from a convex shape equation. The estimating equation is completely independent of gamma and polygamma functions. Thus, no lookup table, interpolation, or additional subroutine to evaluate these functions are required for real-time implementations of the proposed method, which is in contrast to all existing methods. Furthermore, we establish that the shape equation has a unique global root on the positive real line and the Newton-Raphson root-finding algorithm converges to the unique global root from any starting point in a semi-infinite interval Thetamin. More importantly, we show that the sample-based shape estimating equation has a unique global root with probability tending to one and the root is consistent for the true shape parameter. Finally, we prove via fixed point arguments that, with probability tending to one, the Newton-Raphson algorithm converges to the unique global root of the sample shape estimating equation from any starting point in Thetamin. Some numerical experiments are also provided to demonstrate the global convergence and the excellent finite sample performance of the proposed method
TeChnology MaJorS: Why are WoMen abSenT?

IT jobs continue to increase; however, the number of women pursuing a career in technology has declined. We conducted a study of incoming freshmen to examine previous course taking patterns, access to computers, interest in technology majors and reasons students opted in or out of a technology major. Males and females exhibited differences in course taking patterns. We found a significant difference in course taking patterns in physics, but not differences in computer access. We also report on perception of technology majors.
Crystal structure of N-(2-{[2,6-bis-(2,2,2-tri-fluoro-acetamido)-phen-yl]disulfan-yl}-3-(2,2,2-tri-fluoro-acetamido)-phen-yl)-2,2,2-tri-fluoro-acetamide.

The title compound, C20H10F12N4O4S2, is an organic diaryl di­sulfide compound with tri­fluoro­acetamide substituents at the ortho-positions of each benzene ring. There are two mol­ecules (labeled A and B) in the asymmetric unit. The F atoms of three of the –CF3 groups exhibit rotational disorder over two positions each. The S—S bond distances are 2.0914 (7) and 2.0827 (6) A for mol­ecules A and B, respectively. The dihedral angle between the S—S—C and S—C—C planes is 103.05 (15)° for mol­ecule A and 104.09 (15)° for mol­ecule B. The three-dimensional supra­molecular architecture of the crystal is sustained by numerous N—H⋯O, N—H⋯S and C—H⋯O inter­actions.
The European Union: A Comparative Perspective

This chapter, to be included in the Oxford Principles of EU Law volume, compares the federalisms of Europe and the United States. It argues that Europe can be sensibly viewed from both federal and intergovernmental perspectives, and that particular aspects of the European Union’s structure fit each model. In particular, the EU is federal — that is, integrated to a comparable degree to the U.S. — with respect to its distribution of competences and the sovereignty attributed to EU law and institutions. But it is intergovernmental — that is, it preserves a center of gravity within the individual member states — with respect to the allocation of governmental capacity to enforce the law as well as to tax and spend, and also because Europeans continue to identify primarily with their member states.The chapter also addresses two sets of questions about the EU’s future. One concerns the possibility of “creeping centralization” that one observes in the United States, and which one might also detect in the EU’s slogan of “ever closer union.” I argue that any such tendency will be limited by the fact that the modern regulatory and welfare bureaucracies that have spurred centralization in the America instead developed at the member state level in Europe, prior to the advent of the EU. I also consider the impact of exogenous shocks, especially the euro crisis but also parallel crises over migration and terrorism. The response to these crises so far seems to have strengthened the EU’s intergovernmental tendencies.Comparing Europe and the United States can provide helpful insights about both systems-and federal systems in general. As is often true, the primary value of comparative law here is in the questions it raises, not the answers it may provide. Many aspects of federalism taken for granted in one system are considered nonobvious or even controversial in the other, and an appreciation of this fact can enrich federalism debates on both sides of the Atlantic.
In vitro and in vivo neutralization of the virus of visceral lymphomatosis.

SummaryEvidence is presented for the production of antibodies which neutralize the oncogenic activity of the virus of visceral lymphomatosis, by hens injected with virulent virus. Serum from such hens injected into chicks has produced a passive immunity.
Reflections on Leadership: Jean-Jacques Dordain of the European Space Agency

In 2015, Jean-Jacques Dordain retired as director general of the European Space Agency (ESA). This is Europe's NASA and includes a host of sovereign nations that differ in language, culture, economics, and politics. As ESA’s director general, Dordain pulled together a disparate and often quarreling group of countries and got them moving in the same direction. Billions of dollars were involved in a sequence of large-scale, complex spaceflights. Successes far surpassed failures. Dordain stated that if there is one area of administration about which ESA could teach the world, it is “that of international cooperation. Very simple—it's because ESA is an institutional cooperation venture.” In this Administrative Profile, Dordain comments on the issues he faced in guiding European cooperation as well as relations with the United States and other countries.
Literature review of the causes, treatment, and prevention of dermatitis linearis.

Background: Dermatitis linearis is a skin condition that affects both local populations and travelers alike. Dermatitis linearis is caused by some beetles within the subtribe Paederina and manifests as painful lesions, blisters and intense itching. Though outbreaks are widespread, the condition as a whole still remains relatively unknown. Methods: An extensive search of the existing Paederus literature was conducting in order to elucidate relevant information regarding the occurrence of outbreaks, seasonality, exposure and symptom onset, and management of dermatitis linearis. Special consideration was given to behavioral and environmental factors. Results: Epidemics of dermatitis linearis are most commonly observed during the rainy season or after particularly hot and humid weather patterns. Symptom onset is typically delayed 6–48 h after exposure. The most common symptoms are stinging, burning and itching, with later development of erythematous plaques and blisters. Though symptoms of dermatitis linearis resolve spontaneously, wet compresses, antihistamines and topical steroid ointments and lotions are recommended to alleviate symptoms. Conclusions: Dermatitis linearis in travelers and local populations can be prevented through minimizing or modifying sources of artificial light, using pesticide-treated nets near beds and lights, general housekeeping and vegetation maintenance, and by raising awareness regarding the conditions caused by Paederus .
Determination of carbon nanotubes solid-phase extraction-GC/MS of bisphenol A in drinking water

Objective:The establishment of drinking water trace bisphenol A GC/MS detection method.Methods:Trace bisphenol A in drinking water through carbon nanotube concentration enrichment column after elution with methanol,use acetic anhydride after drying derivatives,and then GC/MS method.Results:Bisphenol A,GC/MS determination of linear range of 0.025 mg/L～0.5 mg/L,bisphenol A in drinking water spiked concentration 2.5 μg/L～10 μg/L,recovery was 94.3%～95.9%.When the water sample volume of 10 ml,the quantitative detection limit of this method is 2.5 μg/L.Conclusion:Used this method to detect bisphenol A,which is simple,less sampling,rapid analysis,high sensitivity,and it is able to meet the daily sample testing requirements.
Graph Topology Abstraction for Distributed Path Queries

Querying graph data often involves identifying matching paths, either as an end product, or as an intermediate step for further graph analysis. Distributed graph querying, suffers from high communication to computation costs, due to challenges in constructing comprehensive structural indexes. This could result in severe performance degradation in terms of turnaround time, which often worsens with increasing graph size and density. In this paper, we propose a novel topology abstraction layer, that helps improve query response time by reducing the communication overhead for selective exploration of large distributed graphs. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our model and also go on to show that our abstraction layer works well in both data-parallel and graph-parallel paradigms.
Molecular neurobiology of circadian rhythms.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the genes expressed in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) and the proteins they encode that are responsible for this daily rhythmicity. The core circadian oscillator is autonomous to individual neurons of the SCN and is the result of the daily oscillation in the levels of several clock component proteins. The basis for this oscillation in mammals, as in other organisms, lies in rhythmic feedback regulation of transcription of the genes encoding these proteins. The levels of the period (PER) and cryptochrome (CRY) proteins alter the rate of transcription of their own genes. This alteration is achieved by inhibition of the enhancement of transcription that results from binding of the CLOCK–BMAL 1 heterodimer to the E-box element of the promoter region of the Per and Cry genes. Rhythmic transcription of Bmal1 appears to result from regulation via an orphan nuclear receptor (REV-ERB α), itself regulated by E-box elements. Rhythms in histone acetylation contribute to the circadian expression pattern of some core circadian genes. Additional genes have been identified based on altered circadian rhythms in mutants, although the roles of these genes in the circadian system remain to be determined. It is fortuitous that the unraveling of the molecular basis for circadian rhythmicity is occurring at a time when the biomedical research community and the general public are becoming aware of the importance of normal circadian time keeping for human health, safety, performance, and productivity.
Genetic correlations among reproductive traits and uterine dimensions in mice

The objective of this experiment was to identify relationships among reproductive and uterine traits in mice having normal or crowded uterine conditions. Littermate females were randomly assigned to be either unilaterally ovariectomized (ULO) or to remain intact (C) and to be killed either 3 d after mating (PM) or 4 d after parturition (PP) in a 2 x 2 factorial design. Measurements taken were ovulation rate (OR) and uterine length (UL), wet weight (UWW), dry weight (UDW) and displacement (UDP) in PM females and number born (NB) and implantation rate (IMP) in PP females. Heritability estimates from full-sib correlations were .18, .01, .33, .04, .14, .47 and .06 for OR, IMP, NB, UL, UWW, UDW and UDP, respectively. Phenotypic correlations among uterine measurements were moderate to high and positive. Genetic correlations for C and ULO females for OR with NB were .62 and .73, respectively. Genetic correlations between C and ULO females were .53 for NB and 1.05 for OR. Genetic correlations of UL and UWW with NB were high for C (.70 and .59, respectively) and moderate for ULO (.47 and .36, respectively). Genetic correlations between NB and other uterine dimensions were lower.
Alpha-crystallin can act as a chaperone under conditions of oxidative stress.

PURPOSE: Previous studies have shown that alpha-crystallin, a major lens protein, acts as a chaperone preventing the thermal denaturation of other lens crystallins. However, there has not been an examination of the alpha-crystallin chaperone ability with respect to the types of insult thought to cause human cataract. Therefore, an examination of the chaperone potential of alpha-crystallin under conditions of oxidative stress was undertaken. METHODS: Oxidation of alpha-, beta low (beta L)-, and gamma-crystallins was performed with an ascorbate FeCl3-EDTA-H2O2 system. Thermal denaturation was carried out by heating preparations at 62 degrees C or 72 degrees C. After protein denaturation, 360 nm scatter was measured. Protein-complex formation was measured with a TSK gel G4000 SW 600 x 7.5 mm exclusion column. RESULTS: This study indicates that: (1) alpha-crystallin markedly reduces the 360-nm light scatter of gamma-crystallin caused by oxidation at 37 degrees C. (2) alpha-crystallin appears to protect the gamma-crystallin thiol groups from extensive oxidation. (3) Oxidation of alpha-crystallin causes only a small change in its ability to prevent heat-induced scattering of either gamma- or beta L-crystallin. (4) Oxidation of both alpha- and gamma-crystallin does not significantly affect the ability of alpha-crystallin to inhibit 360-nm light scattering of gamma-crystallin at 72 degrees C. (5) Oxidation of beta L-crystallin decreases its susceptibility to thermally induced scattering, but, conversely, oxidation of gamma-crystallin increases such susceptibility. (6) Oxidation of beta L-crystallin at 37 degrees C produces only a slight increase in light scatter, in contrast to observations obtained with gamma-crystallin. (7) alpha-crystallin provides long-term protection against thermally induced scatter of beta L-crystallin but not of gamma-crystallin. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis suggests that the alpha-gamma-crystallin complex gradually becomes insoluble at 72 degrees C, in contrast to the alpha-beta L-crystallin complex. Differing from thermal insult, alpha-crystallin causes a marked decrease in gamma-crystallin light scattering under long-term oxidation. (8) The alpha-gamma-crystallin complex that results from oxidation represents a weak interaction because it cannot be isolated with procedures used to obtain the thermally induced complex. (9) This work confirms a previous study demonstrating that each alpha monomer (alpha m) contains a binding site for a partially denatured crystallin. CONCLUSIONS: The overall results indicate that alpha-crystallin can act as a chaperone under conditions of oxidative stress, decreasing the light scatter and thiol oxidation of other crystallins. Because oxidative stress is thought to be present under normal physiological conditions, it is probable that alpha-crystallin contributes to the mechanisms that maintain the lens in a transparent state.
Classical Discourse and British Imperial Identity: The Imperial Character

In 1877 Edward Dicey wrote ‘England, like Rome, is the corner-stone of an imperial fabric such as it has fallen to the lot of no other country to erect, or uphold when erected.’389 This is familiar territory, where the comparison to Rome establishes or confirms the special magnificence of Britain’s Empire. But that was only the first step. Dicey continued, revealing still more of the conceptual imperial constellation bound up with classical discourse. Having acknowledged the role of naked self-interest in the foundation and maintenance of Britain’s rule in India, he came to the crux of the issue. He claimed that the real reason the British, as opposed to another equally avaricious rival, held India was that ‘to us has been given a mission like to that of ancient Rome’.390 This too is familiar territory: Britain’s civilizing mission, so similar to Rome’s, made the Indian Empire special and historically great. But the conclusion of Dicey’s thought carries us onto new ground, revealing the final element in the imperial nexus derived from classical discourse. As he put it ‘we too might well be bidden to remember that regere imperio populos is the talent committed to us.’391 Romans and Britons shared the same rare and innate capacity for imperial rule, inimitably described by the immortal and apparently irresistible genius of Virgil.392 Everything followed from this essential similarity in character. Without it there could be no talk of a magnificent and durable ‘imperial fabric’ or of an imperial civilizing ‘mission’.
Refining Disordered Peptide Ensembles with Computational Amide I Spectroscopy: Application to Elastin-Like Peptides

The characterization of intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) ensembles is complicated both by inherent heterogeneity and by the fact that many common experimental techniques function poorly when applied to IDPs. For this reason, the development of alternative structural tools for probing IDP ensembles has attracted considerable attention. Here we describe our recent work in developing experimental and computational tools for characterizing IDP ensembles using Amide I (backbone carbonyl stretch) vibrational spectroscopy. In this approach, the infrared (IR) absorption frequencies of isotope-labeled amide bonds probe their local electrostatic environments and structures. Empirical frequency maps allow us to use this spectroscopic data as a direct experimental test of atomistic structural models. We apply these methods to a family of short elastin-like peptides (ELPs), fragments of the elastin protein based around the Pro-Gly turn motif characteristic of the elastomeric segments of the full protein. Using a...
Toilets, Transgenders, and the Supreme Court

Various state legislatures have passed a law that prohibits transgender individuals from using certain public toilets. The legislation has been controversial. The Supreme Court has agreed to place this issue on its docket (Gloucester County School Board vs. G.G.). This article summarizes that case and examines the issue of the use of public toilets by transgenders and applies logic and ethical theory to arrive at a resolution of the problem that does not involve the violation of anyone’s rights.
Association of a Clinical Practice Guideline With Blood Culture Use in Critically Ill Children.

Importance Sepsis and septic shock are common and, at times, fatal in pediatrics. Blood cultures are often obtained when clinicians suspect sepsis, yet are low-yield with a false-positive rate up to 50%. Objectives To determine whether a novel, 2-part, clinical practice guideline could decrease the rates of total blood cultures and cultures collected from central venous catheters in critically ill children and to examine the effect of the guideline on patient outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants A retrospective cohort study was performed to determine the effect of a new clinical practice guideline on blood culture practices in a 36-bed, combined medical/surgical pediatric intensive care unit of an urban, academic, tertiary care center from April 1, 2013, to March 31, 2015. All patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit with length of stay of 4 hours or more were evaluated (4560 patient visits: 2204 preintervention, 2356 postintervention visits). Interventions Two documents were developed: (1) fever/sepsis screening checklist and (2) blood culture decision algorithm. Clinicians consulted these documents when considering ordering blood cultures and for guidance about the culture source. Main Outcomes and Measures Primary outcome was the total number of blood cultures collected per 100 patient-days. Results Of the 2204 children evaluated before the intervention, 1215 were male (55.1%); median (interquartile range) age was 5 (1-13) years. Postintervention analysis included 2356 children; 1262 were male (53.6%) and median (interquartile range) age was 6 (1-13) years. A total of 1807 blood cultures were drawn before the intervention during 11 196 patient-days; 984 cultures were drawn after the intervention during 11 204 patient-days (incidence rate, 16.1 vs 8.8 cultures per 100 patient-days). There was a 46.0% reduction after the intervention in the blood culture collection rate (incidence rate ratio, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.50-0.59). After the intervention, there was an immediate 25.0% reduction in the rate of cultures per 100 patient-days (95% CI, 4.2%-39.7%; P = .02) and a sustained 6.6% (95% CI, 4.7%-8.4%; P P P = .09, compared with 56.7% vs 55.0%, P = .75). In-hospital mortality (45 [2.0] vs 37 [1.6]; P = .23) and hospital readmissions (107 [4.9] vs 103 [4.4]; P = .42) were unchanged after the intervention. Conclusions and Relevance A systematic approach to blood cultures decreased the total number of cultures and central venous catheter cultures, without an increase in rates of mortality, readmission, or episodes of suspected infection and suspected septic shock.
Risk Prediction of Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia and Thrombosis in the Tertiary Care Setting.

Background: Heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a challenging diagnosis; especially post cardiac surgery and patients with cardiac support devices. The diagnosis is based on clinicopathologic findings including pertinent clinical history, and heavy reliance on laboratory testing (Heparin PF-4 ELISA) to detect antibodies immunologically or by functional means (serotonin release assay - SRA). Experience with routine measurement of SRA in combination with HPF4 in this setting is limited. Aim: To determine the clinical and laboratory findings most predictive of thrombosis in patients with HIT. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective analysis where we reviewed data on patients who had a positive heparin antibody thrombocytopenia from 1/1/06 to 5/1/07 at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston. We evaluated their diagnosis, O.D., SRA, Doppler ultrasound and platelet count. Results: Our study found 52 (12.5%) out of 416 patients with positive heparin antibody. Thirty-two patients (62%) with positive heparin antibody had undergone a cardiac procedure within last 30 days. Sixteen (31%) out of the 52 patients with positive heparin antibody had thrombosis confirmed by Doppler/Ultrasound study. Of those 16 patients, 12 (80%) had undergone a cardiac procedure and 10 (63%) had their platelets drop below 75,000. Mean O.D. in patients with thrombosis was 1.10 versus 0.82 for patients with no thrombosis (p=0.14). Serotonin Release Assay (SRA) was considered positive if the serotonin release was > or = 20%. It was positive in only 5 (10%) patients, however, 3 out of those 5 patients had thrombosis. Mean O.D. for patients with positive SRA were 1.88 as compared to O.D. of 0.81 (P Conclusion: Our study found almost one third of patients with positive HPF4 antibody developed thrombosis. Patients with thrombosis were more likely to have a positive SRA, higher O.D. and more likely to have undergone a cardiac procedure. Prospective studies are planned to further delineate the relationship between O.D., SRA and thrombosis in the setting of cardiac procedures.
Afterword: Sanders, Clinton, and Trump

American capitalism is continually threatened by democratic ingressions, forces for equality. The welfare state capitalism of Bernie Sanders caused a feverish overreaction, an overkill with extreme prejudice that annihilated the intrusion, illustrating Marx’s observation that economic systems will reflexively conspire to protect themselves and engage in all manner of defense mechanisms to do so. The removal of Sanders produced a desperate battle of behavior: vulgar Trump versus polite Clinton. The figure of Trump incited a second grand desublimation—the first was provoked by Ronald Reagan —that discharges repressed sadistic urges. The rhetoric of Trump taps into the general dissatisfaction and anger felt by working class whites and harnesses regressive oedipal urges into a symbolic rebellion, a diffuse antiauthoritarianism, while at the same time embodying hegemonic male authority in itself. The neoliberal American body politic senses the pathogenic threat to its integrity and produces antibodies to neutralize the pathogen and digest it into the system. It then transforms the pathogen into a politics of identity and behavior in order to protect its inegalitarian economy from further threat.
Multiple types of topological fermions in transition metal silicides

Exotic massless fermionic excitations with nonzero Berry flux, other than the Dirac and Weyl fermions, could exist in condensed matter systems under the protection of crystalline symmetries, such as spin-1 excitations with threefold degeneracy and spin-$3/2$ Rarita-Schwinger-Weyl fermions. Herein, by using the ab initio density functional theory, we show that these unconventional quasiparticles coexist with type-I and type-II Weyl fermions in a family of transition metal silicides, including CoSi, RhSi, RhGe, and CoGe, when spin-orbit coupling is considered. Their nontrivial topology results in a series of extensive Fermi arcs connecting projections of these bulk excitations on the side surface, which is confirmed by (001) surface electronic spectra of CoSi. In addition, these stable arc states exist within a wide energy window around the Fermi level, which makes them readily accessible in angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements.
t(3;11) translocation in treatment-related acute myeloid leukemia fuses MLL with the GMPS (GUANOSINE 5' MONOPHOSPHATE SYNTHETASE) gene.

The partner gene of MLL was identified in a patient with treatment-related acute myeloid leukemia in which the karyotype suggested t(3;11)(q25;q23). Prior therapy included the DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors, teniposide and doxorubicin. Southern blot analysis indicated that the MLL gene was involved in the translocation. cDNA panhandle polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used, which does not require partner gene-specific primers, to identify the chimeric transcript. Reverse-transcription of first-strand cDNAs with oligonucleotides containing known MLL sequence at the 5′ ends and random hexamers at the 3′ ends generated templates with an intra-strand loop for PCR. In-frame fusions of either MLL exon 7 or exon 8 with the GMPS ( GUANOSINE 5′-MONOPHOSPHATE SYNTHETASE ) gene from chromosome band 3q24 were detected. The fusion transcript was alternatively spliced. Guanosine monophosphate synthetase is essential for de novo purine synthesis. GMPS is the first partner gene of MLL on chromosome 3q and the first gene of this type in leukemia-associated translocations.
The Evolution of the Enablement and Written Description Requirements under 35 U.S.C. 112 in the Area of Biotechnology

This Comment focuses on the current trend of the Federal Circuit to heighten both the enablement and written description requirements for biotechnological inventions under 35 U.S.C. § 112. It explores the history of the enablement requirement through a series of opinions by the Federal Circuit and the evolution of this requirement in case law. The Federal Circuit has interpreted the enablement requirement such that it is not satisfied if undue experimentation is required to practice the claimed invention. Likewise, the use of a heightened written description requirement by the Federal Circuit requiring the use of exact nucleotide sequences, allows definition and limitation of the scope of claimed genetic inventions. An analysis of the Revised Interim Guidelines on the written description requirement recently issued by the PTO is also made, concluding that the Interim Guidelines are not entirely consitent with the trend set forth by the Federal Circuit. The Comment suggests that although the Federal Circuit has been repeatedly criticized for the standards it has set in the area of biotechnology, to date the court's analysis has been reasoned and has solved many problems involving the potential for overly broad patents in this complex field. It argues that this approach is workable and concludes that the power of biotechnology to benefit humankind will withstand the disadvantages that it suffers under the current patent system.
ATP in and Around the Bile Canaliculus

ATP is a major high energy phosphate-containing compound which is critical in metabolism and energy-dependent transport. In recent years, ATP has been recognized as a putative neurotransmitter and there has been a surge of interest in the presence and function of extracellular ATP. ATP has traditionally been considered solely as an intracellular constituent. However, the development of sensitive methods for measurement of ATP, detection of ATP “receptors” on the plasma membrane of many cell types, and description of cellular effects of ATP have renewed interest in extracellular ATP (Cornwell et al., 1986b; Daly, 1983).
Clinical, radiological, and pathological features in liver explants with hepatocellular carcinoma.

e15116 Background: The role of radiology in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is expanding beyond screening and staging. Recent literature demonstrates the use of imaging in conjunction with gene expr...
“It’s Not About Me No More”: Fatherhood and Mechanisms of Desistance Among At-Risk Men

Work and marriage seem out of reach for many at-risk young men, but fatherhood is relatively common. The growing body of quantitative research on parenthood and desistance from crime is mixed, yet the changes associated with the transition to fatherhood align with the mechanisms implied by theories of desistance. To understand whether and how fatherhood relates to desistance and persistence in crime, I examine how fatherhood shapes cognitive shifts and routine activities among persisting and desisting men in early adulthood. I analyze in-depth interviews with a subsample of 17 desisting and persisting fathers from the qualitative component of the Pathways to Desistance Study. The meanings and structures of fatherhood experiences were sensitive to local life circumstances, yet distinct patterns emerged. Desisting fathers experienced changes in thinking, including a sense of maturity and an increase in consideration for others. Shifts often emerged from parenting experiences after the birth of a child. Desisting fathers also described time with children in terms of structured childcare activities. Persisting fathers viewed themselves as failing to fulfill role obligations and as ignoring parenthood hook for change. Persisting fathers described time with children as “babysitting” and as oriented around leisure activities. These findings provide insight into the lived experience of fatherhood among at-risk men. It highlights the intersection of situational and cognitive mechanisms implicated in the desistance process and supports contemporary theories of desistance and persistence.
STOCHASTIC MODELS OF EXPERTISE FORMATION, OPINION CHANGE, AND LEARNING

This chapter discusses two groups of models concerning formation of opinions, particularly in expertise and learning material of a course. The superficial similarity of these groups of models lies in the fact that they postulate that the process under investigation is representable as a multidimensional random walk: the state, at any given time, is supposed to be a vector with integer-valued coordinates, with transitions always leading to the neighboring state. The transition intensities are assumed to depend on the state, possibly on control variables, and on an environmental process. In the case of changes of expert opinions, the state vector represents evaluations on various scales; the control process may, for instance, represent the way in which the information is given to an expert, while the environmental process is the process of arrivals of new data items, which affect the opinion. The chapter also discusses the concept of learning. It presents an assumption that the state of knowledge is assumed to be representable as the vector of numbers of enlightenments in various topics that occurred up to a given time.
Energy-Efficient Wireless Communications: From Energy Modeling to Performance Evaluation

In this paper, we analyze energy-efficient communications based on an advanced energy consumption model for wireless devices. The developed model captures relationships between transmission power, transceiver distance, modulation order, channel fading, power amplifier (PA) effects, as well as other circuit components in the radio frequency transceiver. Based the developed model, we are able to identify the optimal modulation order in terms of energy-efficiency under different situations (e.g., different transceiver distance, different PA classes and efficiencies, different pulse shape, etc). This provides an important framework for analyzing energy-efficient communications for different wireless systems ranging from cellular networks to wireless Internet of Things.
Inflation in Eastern China during the Second Sino-Japanese War

Abstract. Although the history of the Japanese invasion of China is well-known and well-taught in China, the history of the currency war between China and Japan during the time is far less known. From 1937-1945, China and Japan engaged in not only a military war but also a "currency war." Japan, in an attempt to generate funds for the war from the war itself and to overthrow the Chinese government, attacked China's currency, the fabi (meaning “legal tender”), by printing counterfeit fabi notes and establishing “puppet” banks in China to issue mass amounts of puppet currencies to displace the fabi. These counterfeit notes and puppet currencies quickly circulated into the economy and led to a period known as the Great Chinese Inflation. Both the Nationalists (the governing party) and the Communists immediately took different actions to control inflation and the influx of counterfeit notes. The inflation was widespread not only in Nationalist and Communist-controlled areas, but also in Japanese-occupied areas of China. Keywords. China, Hyperinflation, Inflation, Second Sino-Japanese War, World War II. JEL. N15, N25, N45.
Temporary Circulatory Support Devices

The use of temporary mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices has expanded over the last decade to include use during high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention or ablation procedures and to support patients in cardiogenic shock. The choice of device to implant depends upon the anticipated duration of support, the need for uni- or biventricular support, the potential for recovery and candidacy for a fully implantable left ventricular assist device and/or cardiac transplantation. Typically, these are devices used from hours to days or weeks, depending upon the clinical scenario. This chapter will provide an overview of temporary MCS devices, including Impella® (Abiomed, Danvers, MA, USA), TandemHeart™ (CardiacAssist, Inc. dba TandemLife, Pittsburgh, PA), and CentriMag™ (Abbott Labs, Lake Bluff, IL, USA), describing advantages as well as adverse events associated with each strategy.