cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nitrogen uptake and phytoplankton growth in coastal upwelling regions

Uptake of nitrogenous nutrients by microplankton off the Washington and Oregon coasts was measured during the 1985 upwelling period. Nitrogen uptake rates in low-NO,- waters (~5 PM) were 0.020-0.258 pmol N liter ’ h-l and were primarily supported by regenerated nitrogen (7 1% of total uptake). Nitrogen uptake rates in high-NO, waters (~20 PM) were 0.281-1.480 pmol N liter I h-’ and new (NO,-) nitrogen supported 83% oftotal uptake. Phytoplankton N was estimated by assuming a constant Chl a : PN for phytoplankton and was used to calculate phytoplanktonspecific uptake rates. Despite differences in nutrient concentrations, PN and Chl a at three upwelling sites (Oregon, Bcnguela, and Peru), NO, uptake normalized to Chl a, and estimates of NO,--supported phytoplankton growth rates are remarkably similar. Nitrate uptake supports growth rates on the order of l-2 d-l. Estimates of phytoplankton growth from rates of NH,+ + NO,- uptake range from 1.36 to 4.79 d-l and are negatively correlated with concentrations of NO,- and phytoplankton N. The apparent increase in phytoplankton growth rates for waters with lower nitrogen availability may result from heterotrophic bacterial utilization of NH,+ nitrogen.
Non-volatile memory and disks: avenues for policy architectures

As computing models change, so too do the demands on storage. Distributed and virtualized systems introduce new vulnerabilities, assumptions, and performance requirements on disks. However,traditional storage systems have very limited capacity to implement needed "advanced storage" features such as integrity and dataisolation. This is largely due to the simple interfaces and limited computing resources provided by commodity hard-drives. A new generation of storage devices affords better opportunities to meet these new models, but little is known about how to exploit them. In this paper, we show that the recently introduced fast-accessnon-volatile RAM-enhanced hybrid (HHD) disk architectures can be used to implement a range of valuable storage-security services. We specifically discuss the use of these new architectures to provide data integrity, capability-based access control, and labeled information flow at the disk access layer. In this, we introduce systems that place a security perimeter at the disk interface--and deal with the parent operating system only as a largely untrusted entity.
ADVANCED PARKING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS: MODELS OF DRIVERS' PARKING STRATEGIES

Advanced Parking Management Systems (APMS's) are being designed as part of the Intelligent Transportation Systems effort. APMS's utilize variable message signs that provide drivers with real-time information on the availability of parking at alternative lots in downtown areas, airports, or other relatively congested parking environments. The goal of this study was to identify and model the strategies people employ when deciding where to park. Specifically, three experiments, a pencil-and-paper survey and two driving simulator studies, were conducted to determine which of four hypothetical decision rules most accurately describes drivers' parking choice strategies. Two-thirds of the participants were found to employ a lexicographic strategy, choosing the lot nearest the final destination if the number of open spaces was above some criterion. The remaining one-third of the participants were found to employ a more computationally intensive strategy, choosing the lot which minimized the total expected travel ...
Neural network aided prosthetic alignment

Some 43,000 lower-limb amputations are performed in the United States each year. Current procedures for fitting a prosthesis to an amputee are somewhat time-consuming and costly, requiring the subjective judgement of trained prosthetists, but necessary to avoid discomfort and ensure successful rehabilitation of the patient. We consider a neural network model which automatically recognizes certain types of misalignment using data obtained from an instrumented shank. Training procedures and partial results are described.
The end of industry

Timothy Minchin's new book, Empty Mills: The Fight Against Imports and the Decline of the U.S. Textile Industry, examines why powerful economic interests, including both employers and trade unionis...
Are “2D DNS” results of turbulent fuel/air mixing layers useful for assessing subgrid-scale models?

ABSTRACTDirect Numerical Simulations (DNS) are frequently used to evaluate subgrid-scale models, but for practical flows full three-dimensional (3D) DNS is often computationally infeasible. It is a common practice to employ two-dimensional (2D) DNS, but since turbulence is inherently a three-dimensional phenomenon, the validity of this approach is questionable. In this study, we compare the evolution of a turbulent fuel/air mixing layer employing 3D and 2D DNS. While there are significant differences in detail, it is shown that employing either set of results leads to the same conclusion about the superiority of one subgrid-scale model over another.
A second look at oblivious simulation

The two predominant logic simulation techniques are event-driven simulation, and levelized compiled code simulation. In the past, studies have been performed to characterize these algorithms, and compare their performance under various different conditions. However, these studies were done a number of years ago on equipment that varies substantially from the equipment that is available to us today. Today's equipment is less dependent on small tight loops than the equipment of several years ago. Furthermore, the studies that were done years ago we re generally done assuming a uniform activity rate throughout all parts of a complex circuit. In fact, activity rate varies substantially within a circuit, with high bursts of activity at various times. This paper examines a combined approach that can increase performance despite very low activity rates. A large number of studies were performed that show that the earlier assumptions about event-driven vs. oblivious simulation should be re-examined.
A tight-binding interaction between smooth-muscle native thin filaments and heavy meromyosin in the presence of MgATP

The binding of the Ca2+-regulated native thin filaments from vascular smooth muscle to vascular smooth-muscle heavy meromyosin was measured in the presence of 3 mM-MgATP. At 25 degrees C and I 0.25 binding had an affinity of 1 X 10(-6)-0.3 X 10(-6) M-1 with a stoichiometry of one molecule bound to one actin monomer. The Km for the activation of heavy-meromyosin ATPase was 20-50 microM. Thin filament-heavy meromyosin binding was not altered by Ca2+ (pCa 9-4) or the extent of myosin phosphorylation. With skeletal-muscle heavy meromyosin affinity was 0.023 X 10(6) M-1 in parallel with activation of the ATPase (Km 54 microM). It is concluded that tight binding is specific to smooth-muscle proteins and that it is not related to the ATPase activation site.
The mechanistic basis of hyperoxaluria following gastric bypass in obese rats

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery is a popular and extremely effective procedure for sustained weight loss in the morbidly obese. However, hyperoxaluria and oxalate kidney stones frequently develop after RYGB and steatorrhea has been speculated to play a role. We examined the effects of RYGB and the role of dietary fat in an obese rat model by measuring fecal fat content and transmural oxalate fluxes across the distal colon compared to sham-operated controls (SHAM). Direct measurements of fecal fat content confirmed that RYGB on a 10 % fat diet excreted 40-fold more fecal fat than SHAM and, on a 40 % fat diet, RYGB excreted sevenfold more fecal fat than SHAM fed similarly. Results from the transport studies revealed a clear effect of high dietary fat (40 %) on colonic oxalate permeability and tissue conductance (G T) with comparable oxalate fluxes in RYGB and in SHAM. Administering a diet containing 10 % fat to both groups distinguished differences between RYGB and SHAM, revealing a 40 % increase in G T in RYGB and a reversal in the direction of net oxalate flux from absorption in SHAM to secretion in RYGB. These changes in colonic oxalate permeability were associated with a fourfold increase in urinary oxalate excretion in RYGB compared to SHAM. Therefore, oxalate solubility and permeability in the RYGB model are promoted by steatorrhea and result in enhanced passive oxalate absorption and hyperoxaluria. To our knowledge, these are the first measurements of intestinal oxalate transport in rats with RYGB.
Children with rare diseases, is it true that they have an enhanced anesthesiological risk?

The anesthesiological approach to rare diseases (RD) is particularly challenging for providers. The high number of pathologies and the scarcity of clinical reports impedes to arrange a pool of dedicated anaesthesiologists. When facing RD, the risk linked to unaware malpractice is often due to lack of experience, mostly of urgent/emergent procedures [1]. It is probably impossible to know all relevant aspects in more than 8000 pathologies that affect approximately 6-8% of the population [2]. In order to reduce anesthesiological risk, it is mandatory to develop a systematic approach. 1. First and foremost, let’s take advantage of previous experiences. There are specific search engines available online [http://www.orphananesthesia.eu; http://www. orpha.net; http://www.omim.org ], which briefly summarize the knowledge about RDs. Furthermore, for major pathologies there are national and international main centres providing medical counselling. As a whole, we can attribute the anesthesiological risk to four cohorts. Careful evaluation should be dedicated to current systemic impairments [3]. Children affected by cystic fibrosis need special care, due to specific organ failure. In some types of porphyrias it is mandatory to achieve a good control on pain, anxiety and nausea, because stressful events could trigger a severe crisis. In some cases, pathological processes can affect pharmacodynamics causing abnormal responses to drugs, such as the enhancement of curarization in myasthenic patients, or a real adverse event like the risk of Malignant Hyperthermia associated with Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome [4] or Arthrogryposis. A third item to investigate is whether anesthetic drugs can interact with specific concurrent therapies. There are some suggestions that the previous therapy with eculizumab, a new monoclonal antibody for the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria, predisposes to haemolytic crisis in occurrence of general anesthesia. The last cohort, but the most frequent, concerns the difficult management of airways. Craniofacial malformations can represent a very big deal due to mandible hypoplasia such as Pierre Robin syndrome or Treacher-Collins syndrome; hemifacial microsomia such as Goldenhar syndrome; midface hypoplasia as Apert syndrome [5], Crouzon syndrome, Pfeiffer syndrome and macroglossia such as Hurler’s syndrome, Hunter’s syndrome, or weakness of atlanto-occipital joint such as Downs syndrome, EhlersDanlos syndrome type IV or osteogenesis imperfecta. Tracheal intubation should indeed be avoided in syndromes as epidermolysis bullosa to prevent severe tracheal lesions. In conclusion, besides patients with a clear diagnosis, sometimes a simple pathology can hide unknown RDs [6]. For this reason the pre-anesthesiological evaluation is crucial, more than ever in syndromic children, to assess the risk before undergoing general anesthesia or sedation. This allows the best strategy to work safely to be put in place and to improve outcome.
In Situ Atomic Force Microscopy of Lithiation and Delithiation of Silicon Nanostructures for Lithium Ion Batteries

Using electron beam lithography, amorphous Si (a-Si) nanopillars were fabricated with a height of 100 nm and diameters of 100, 200, 300, 500, and 1000 nm. The nanopillars were electrochemically cycled in a 1 M lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate in propylene carbonate electrolyte. In situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to qualitatively and quantitatively examine the morphology evolution of the nanopillars including volume and height changes versus voltage in real-time. In the first cycle, an obvious hysteresis of volume change versus voltage during lithiation and delithiation was measured. The pillars did not crack in the first cycle, but a permanent volume expansion was observed. During subsequent cycles the a-Si roughened and deformed from the initial geometry, and eventually pillars with diameters >200 nm fractured. Furthermore, a degradation of mechanical properties is suggested as the 100 and 200 nm pillars were mechanically eroded by the small contact forces under the AFM probe. Ex situ scanni...
Hunger and satiety responses to saturated fat-rich meals before and after a high PUFA diet

ObjectiveHigh-fat meals rich in poly-unsaturated fats (PUFAs) have been shown to induce greater satiety than meals rich in saturated (SFA) or mono-unsaturated (MUFA) fats in an acute setting. It re...
Effects of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles on the Stability of Dispersions of Weakly Charged Colloids

The stability behavior of dispersions of weakly charged silica colloids was studied in the presence of highly charged metal oxide nanoparticles. Experiments were performed using 5 nm zirconia as well as 10 nm alumina nanoparticles (both positively charged), which were added to 0.1 vol % suspensions of 1.0 μm silica microparticles at the silica IEP. Both types of nanoparticles provided effective stabilization of the silica; i.e., the silica suspensions were stabilized for longer than the observation period (greater than 12 h). Stability was observed at zirconia concentrations as low as 10–4 vol % and at an alumina concentration of 10–2 vol %. The nanoparticles adsorbed onto the microparticle surfaces (confirmed via SEM imaging), which increased the zeta-potential of the silica. Force profile measurements performed with colloidal probe atomic force microscopy showed that the adsorption was effectively irreversible.
A Novel Method for Designing Band-pass Filter Based on Chebyshev Function

in order to meet the high-demand of modern communication equipment,a novel design method for band-pass filter is introduced.Compared to the traditional Chebyshev filter,it has better stopband rejection because of applying the finite transmission zeros,and the circuit topology is more easily to realize than the elliptic function filter by using equivalent network transformation.Experiment results show that the filter has the characteristics of low insertion loss,high steepness,small size,and so on.
Towards a strategy of quality assurance. From concepts to action

The purpose of this paper is to present the basic principles needed to implement a national strategy for quality assurance in medical care in Mexico. The first part is devoted to a review of the basic concepts of quality of care with the aim of analyzing the evolution of the discussion of the concept of "quality assurance". This review constitutes the reference frame of the description of the historical evolution of quality assurance in different parts of the world. Finally, the experiences regarding quality assurance in Mexico are discussed and several basic proposals for the design of a national quality assurance strategy are presented.
Machine Tool Components

The power, precision, accuracy, and speed of a machine tool largely affect the quality and cost of the produced parts and products. Designers have to consider latitude of factors including dimensions, material, configuration, and power source of the machines in order to deliver the functionality as demanded by the users. Advances in machine tool design and fabrication philosophy are quickly eliminating the differences among machine types. Fifty years ago, most machine tools had a single function such as drilling or turning, and operated alone. With the addition of automatic turrets, tool changers, and CNC systems, lathes become turning centers and milling machines become machining centers. Turning centers can also become machining centers with the addition of live or powered tool spindles in addition to the traditional single-point tools. These multiprocess centers can perform all the standard machining functions: turning, milling, boring, drilling, and even grinding.
Fine structure in 153Tm alpha decay.

In an investigation of A = 153 isotopes fine structure was observed in /sup 153/Tm ..cap alpha.. decay. Besides the previously known ..cap alpha.. transitions that feed the /sup 149/Ho h/sub 11/2/ (0.0 keV) and s/sub 1/2/ (49.0 keV) isomers, two, very much weaker, ..cap alpha.. groups were found to populate the d/sub 3/2/ (220.4 keV) and d/sub 5/2/ (564.4 keV) states in /sup 149/Ho. Based on the /sup 149/Ho level scheme and on the Q/sub ..cap alpha../ values for the two main /sup 153/Tm ..cap alpha.. transitions, we determine that the h/sub 11/2/ level in /sup 153/Tm is the ground state and that the s/sub 1/2/ state lies 43 +- 7 keV above it. Energy systematics for the s/sub 1/2/ and h/sub 11/2/ proton states in even-N odd-Z nuclei near N = 82 are discussed.
A Secure Network Architecture for the Internet of Things Based on Local Authorization Entities

Security is essential to enable the Internet of Things (IoT). Key security measures that work well on the traditional Internet, however, do not necessarily adapt well to the IoT. Specifically, authentication and/or authorization based on certificates provided by certificate authorities (CAs) cannot, in current form, scale to the expected 50 billion devices. And widely used encryption technologies for the Internet require too much energy for resource-constrained devices. This paper describes a secure network architecture with key distribution mechanisms using local, automated authorization entities. The architecture provides security guarantees while addressing IoT-related issues including resource constraints. For evaluation, we show that the architecture's overhead scales at a significantly slower rate than widely used SSL/TLS and works well with resource-constrained devices.
Three-Dimensional Phosphorus-Doped Graphitic-C3N4 Self-Assembly with NH2-Functionalized Carbon Composite Materials for Enhanced Oxygen Reduction Reaction.

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is the major reaction that occurs at the cathodes of fuel cells and metal–air batteries. Development of inexpensive, active, and durable heteroatom doped carbon-based ORR catalysts can lead to significant cost reduction of these electrochemical energy devices, which therefore has recently attracted enormous research attentions. This work reports a three-dimensional porous composite (P-g-C3N4@NH2–CB) for the highly efficient ORR catalyst. P-g-C3N4@NH2–CB was prepared by mixing phosphorus-doped graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (P-g-C3N4 NSs) with NH2-functionalized carbon black (NH2–CB) via a novel self-assembly approach. The NH2–CB was rationally chosen as the spacer that enables the self-assembled with the P-g-C3N4 NSs driven by the electrostatic interaction. The intercalation of NH2–CB induces the transformation of 2-D P-g-C3N4 NSs into a 3-D composites material of higher surface area, thereby exposing more ORR active sites. The P-g-C3N4@NH2–CB exhibited a remarkable OR...
Automated Counting and Tracking of Vehicles

A robust traffic surveillance system is crucial in improving the control and management of traffic systems. Vehicle flow processing primarily involves counting and tracking vehicles; however, due to complex situations such as brightness changes and vehicle partial occlusions, traditional image segmentation methods are unable to segment and count vehicles correctly. This paper presents a novel framework for vision-based vehicle counting and tracking, which consists of four main procedures: foreground detection, feature extraction, feature analysis, and vehicles counting/tracking. Foreground detection intends to generate regions of interest in an image, which are used to produce significant feature points. Vehicles counting and tracking are achieved by analyzing clusters of feature points. As for testing on recorded traffic videos, the proposed framework is verified to be able to separate occluded vehicles and count the number of vehicles accurately and efficiently. By comparing with other methods, we observe that the proposed framework achieves the highest occlusion segment rate and the counting accuracy.
Party–Group Ambivalence and Voter Loyalty: Results From Three Experiments

Renewed emphasis on the group-based nature of political parties makes understanding the relationship between partisan and group identities essential. How do citizens respond to the internal disconnect between their partisan identity and their other politically salient identities? In addition, do differences in the group-based nature of each party lead to asymmetric effects of party–group ambivalence? Using data from an original survey experiment across three samples—the 2012 Cooperative Congressional Election Study, the 2012 Convention Delegate Study, and a 2015 sample from Amazon Mechanical Turk—I find that party–group ambivalence diminishes party loyalty, making respondents less likely to vote for, contribute to, or volunteer for their political party’s candidate. Moreover, the strength of this impact is consistently larger among Republican identifiers than Democratic identifiers. These results suggest that party asymmetry in party coalitions may have an impact on party loyalty.
Extracellular vesicles: nature's nanoparticles for improving gene transfer with adeno-associated virus vectors

Gene therapy, the ability to treat a disease at the level of nucleic acid, has journeyed from science fiction, to hard lessons learned from early clinical trials, to improved technologies with efficacy in patients for several diseases. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors are currently a leader for direct in vivo gene therapy. To date, AAV is safe in patients, with clinical benefit in trials to treat blindness, hemophilia, and a lipid disorder, with many more trials underway. Despite this remarkable progress, barriers exist for AAV vectors to be effective gene transfer vehicles in all organ/cell targets, as well as patient subpopulations. Extracellular vesicles (EVs, e.g., exosomes, microvesicles) are natural lipid particles released by many cell types. They have been reported to mediate cell to cell communication via transferred contents including proteins, nucleic acids, and metabolites. These properties of EV attracted our attention to help solve certain gene transfer issues encountered by AAV vectors. We made the initial discovery that a subpopulation of AAV vectors isolated from media directly interacted with EVs [referred to as exosome-associated AAV (exo-AAV)]. In following reports, we have demonstrated that exo-AAV has advantages over the conventional AAV vector in areas such as anti-AAV antibody evasion and transduction of cells of the eye and cochlea in preclinical models. The work of others using EVs as therapeutics as well as our continued development of the exo-AAV platform may advance the field towards useful clinical applications. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Lipid-Based Structures Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Neurological Disease.
The ISNT Rule: How Often Does It Apply to Disc Photographs and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Measurements in the Normal Population?

Purpose To determine what percentage of normal eyes follow the ISNT rule, and whether ISNT rule variants may be more generalizable to the normal population. Design Cross-sectional study. Methods Setting: Institutional setting. Study Population: Total of 110 normal subjects. Observation Procedures: Neuroretinal rim assessments from disc photographs and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measurements from spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Main Outcome Measures: The percentages of subjects that obeyed the ISNT rule and its variants. Results The ISNT rule is only valid for 37.0% of disc photograph rim assessments and 43.8% of RNFL measurements. Deviation of the nasal sector from the expected ISNT pattern was a major cause for the ISNT rule not being obeyed for both rim and RNFL assessments. Specifically, 10.9% of subjects had wider nasal rims than the inferior rims, 29.4% had wider nasal rims than the superior rims, 14.7% had narrower nasal rims than the temporal rims, and 42.9% had thinner nasal RNFLs compared to the temporal quadrant. Exclusion of the nasal quadrant from the ISNT rule significantly increased the validity of ISNT variant rules, with 70.9% and 76.4% of disc photographs following the IST rule and the IS rule, respectively. Similarly, for RNFL thickness, 70.9% and 71.8% of patients followed the IST and IS rule, respectively. Conclusions The ISNT rule is only valid for about a third of disc photographs and less than half of RNFL measurements in normal patients. ISNT rule variants, such as the IST and IS rule, may be considered, as they are valid in more than 70% of patients.
Fast Lossless Depth Image Compression

A lossless image compression technique for 16-bit single channel images typical of depth cameras such as Microsoft Kinect is presented. The proposed "RVL" algorithm achieves similar or better compression rates as existing lossless techniques, yet is much faster. Furthermore, the algorithm's implementation can be very simple; a prototype implementation of less than one hundred lines of C is provided. The algorithm's balance of speed and compression make it especially useful in interactive applications of multiple depth cameras on local area networks. RVL is compared to a variety of existing lossless techniques, and demonstrated in a network of eight Kinect v2 cameras.
Integrated common mode and differential mode inductors with low near magnetic field emission

The paper investigates the near magnetic field performance of integrated CM and DM inductors. The reluctance model is developed for near magnetic field analysis. Based on the analysis, several integrated inductor structures using commercial EE/EI cores to achieve low near magnetic field emission are proposed. Simulations and experiments were conducted to verify the proposed inductor structures.
Evaluating the Efficacy of Polyhexamethylene Biguanide at Suppressing Salmonella Typhimurium in the Water Column of Red-Eared Slider Turtles, Trachemys scripta elegans, under Transport

ABSTRACT Red-eared sliders, Trachemys scripta elegans, have been found to shed Salmonella spp. in their feces. Because of the risk of reptile-associated salmonellosis attributed to terrapins in the 1960s and 1970s, the United States Food and Drug Administration established regulations restricting the sale of chelonian <10.2 cm. In an attempt to reverse this regulation, aquatic chelonian farmers from Louisiana have been evaluating different methods to suppress or eliminate Salmonella spp. in their turtles. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a non-antibiotic compound, polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB), as a potential method to suppress or eliminate Salmonella Typhimurium in the water column of red-eared sliders being transported off farm. Hatchling red-eared sliders were divided into three groups: Group 1—Water inoculated with S. Typhimurium (107, 106, 105) and treated with PHMB, Group 2—water inoculated with S. Typhimurium (107, 106, 105) and not treated with PHMB, and Group 3—water not inoculated ...
Heavy-Ion Driven Inertial Fusion Energy

Heavy ion driven inertial fusion energy is an approach to controlled fusion energy that appears to satisfy the scientific, economic, and environmental criteria for a desirable, long-term solution to mankind’s energy needs. Because of projected reliability, efficiency, and cost advantages the U.S. inertial fusion energy program is concentrating on the heavy ion induction accelerator as the inertial fusion driver. This paper describes scaled experiments that have demonstrated many important elements required by induction accelerator/drivers. These include: adequate heavy ion sources; high voltage ion injectors; transport and acceleration of multiple intense ion beams; and beam current amplification with acceleration. Plans for the ILSE accelerator are described. This facility would permit the study of driver beam manipulations at full beam size and intensity but at energies much less than required by a driver.
BIOLOGICAL ANTIFREEZES AND SURVIVAL IN FREEZING ENVIRONMENTS

ABSTRACT Many polar and north-temperate marine fishes live at temperatures of -1.9 ° C in the presence of ice but do not freeze until the temperature is lowered well below the freezing point of seawater. Most of the freezing point depressions of the body fluids of these fishes result from the presence of either glycopeptides or peptides. These compounds are present in the blood and other body fluids, except the urine, at concentrations of 3 percent (W/V). They lower the freezing point in a non-colligative manner and therefore are referred to as antifreeze agents. They do so by binding to the surface of ice and interferring with the addition of water molecules to the ice lattice. This adsorption-inhibition mechanism involves dividing the ice front into many small fronts which become highly curved and unstable. The glycopeptides and peptides bind to ice through the many polar groups which are present. Structural studies of these molecules have shown that many of these polar groups are spaced 4.5a apart, a distance corresponding to a distance that also separates oxygens in the ice lattice along the a-axis. Fishes that live in constant freezing environments such as the Antarctic maintain high levels of glycopeptide antifreeze which are not changed by warm acclimation. Fishes which experience large seasonal temperature changes have antifreezes that are present in the winter but not in the summer. Both the glycopeptide and peptide antifreeze molecules are small enough to be filtered by the glomerular kidney of marine fishes, however they are never found in the bladder urine. In the case of the peptide antifreezes no filtration occurs because there is a charge repulsion between the peptide and the endothelial lining of the pores in the glomerular capillary wall. Fishes that possess glycopeptide antifreezes have kidneys that are either aglomerular or ones that are glomerular but do not function. Therefore in these species urine formation involves only secretion.
On The Modification of Metal/Ceramic Interfaces by Low Energy Ion/Atom Bombardment During Film Growth

Elemental Cu and Ti films have been deposited onto ceramic substrates with a plasma-aided physical vapor deposition (ion-plating) process. This paper discusses how the structure and chemistry of the metallic film and the metal/ceramic interface are modified by low energy ion and neutral atom bombardment. Emphasis is placed on determining how low energy ion/neutral atom bombardment affects the strength of the metal/ceramic interface. Analyses of the film, interface and substrate regions have employed scanning Auger microprobe, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, SEM/STEM-energy dispersive x-ray and TEM/STEM imaging and microdiffraction techniques.
Parties and Affected Others: Signatories and Nonsignatories to International Arbitration Agreements

This chapter discusses the parties to international arbitration agreements. Part I addresses the treatment of ‘parties’ in the New York Convention and national arbitration laws governing international commercial arbitration, and the ICSID Convention governing (many) investor-State arbitrations. Part II examines the theories under which affected others — that is, nonsignatories to an international arbitration agreement — might nonetheless be bound, likewise first in international commercial arbitration and then in investor-State arbitration. Finally, Part III discusses the available empirical evidence on the parties to international commercial arbitration and investor-State arbitration proceedings.
Reference values for the Balance Error Scoring System as measured by the Tekscan MobileMat™ in a physically active population.

ABSTRACTObjectives: The Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) is commonly used to measure postural stability; however, it has demonstrated inconsistent reliability values when administered by humans....
The Last Stand: John C. Calhoun

This chapter analyzes the contribution of John C Calhoun to the decentralist philosophy. John C. Calhoun is probably the most original and penetrating thinker of the early American liberalism. He saw clearly the two major problems of constitutional design and protection of liberty and offered solutions for them; first, any constitutional limitations of central government are worthless if not followed up by a real, political, and territorial checks and balances. The second is rejection of the Lockean and Hobbesian social contract framework of a unified body politic represented by a sovereign central government, tied to the individual directly by social contract. Calhoun rehabilitates society as an intermediary force between the central government and individuals, by interjecting state governments and local factions as constitutional political actors. In clear contradiction to all modern theories of democracy and social choice, Calhoun argues that it is not the quantitative, but rather the qualitative or “concurrent” majority that counts in terms of real representation and democracy, which are primarily focused on protecting community powers of self-government. The chapter concludes that Calhoun both clearly formulated an attractive alternative to majoritarianism and reconciled the compact theory with nationalism, by making it a national decision-making mechanism.
Child Influenza Vaccination and Adult Work Loss: Reduced Sick Leave Use Only in Adults With Paid Sick Leave.

Introduction Children are a population of interest for influenza. They are at increased risk for severe influenza, comprise a substantial portion of influenza morbidity, and significantly contribute to its transmission in the household and subsequent parental work loss. The association between influenza vaccination and work loss prevention, however, has rarely been studied, and the sparse existing literature has very limited generalizability to U.S. adults, thus requiring better characterization. Methods Using pooled National Health Interview Survey data (2013–2015, analyses conducted in 2018) nationally representative of working U.S. adults with household children (n=23,014), zero-inflated negative binomial regression examined the association of child influenza vaccination (exposure) with sick days (outcome) stratified by paid sick leave (no: n=10,741, yes: n=12,273). Results Child influenza vaccination was associated with significantly lower sick day usage, but only among adults with paid sick leave (prevalence rate ratio=0.79, 95% CI=0.67, 0.93), equating to average annual sick days of 4.07 vs 3.29 in adults with unvaccinated versus vaccinated household children (difference=0.78 fewer days annually). Conclusions Influenza vaccination of children is associated with reduced sick leave in household adults, helping to keep the workforce healthy and reduce influenza's costly annual economic burden. This only occurred among adults with paid sick leave, however, which is distributed inequitably by income, education, gender, occupation, and race/ethnicity. Health in All Policies considers downstream health effects of social and economic policy; the failure of federal policy to ensure paid sick leave likely contributes to propagating influenza and health inequities.
The PX Motif of DNA Binds Specifically to Escherichia coli DNA Polymerase I

The PX motif of DNA is a four-stranded structure in which two parallel juxtaposed double-helical domains are fused by crossovers at every point where the strands approach each other. Consequently, its twist and writhe are approximately half of those of conventional DNA. This property has been shown to relax supercoiled plasmid DNA under circumstances in which head-to-head homology exists within the plasmid; the homology can be either complete homology or every-other-half-turn homology, known as PX homology. It is clearly of interest to establish whether the cell contains proteins that interact with this unusual and possibly functional motif. We have examined Escherichia coli extracts to seek such a protein. We find by gel mobility studies that the PX motif is apparently bound by a cellular component. Fractionation of this binding activity reveals that the component is DNA polymerase I (Pol I). Although the PX motif binds to Pol I, we find that PX-DNA is not able to serve as a substrate for the extension of a shortened strand. We cannot say at this time whether the binding is a coincidence or whether it represents an activity of Pol I that is currently unknown. We have modeled the interaction of Pol I and PX-DNA using symmetry considerations and molecular dynamics.
SIX2 Mediates Late-Stage Metastasis via Direct Regulation of SOX2 and Induction of a Cancer Stem Cell Program

The capacity for tumor cells to metastasize efficiently is directly linked to their ability to colonize secondary sites. Here we identify Six2, a developmental transcription factor, as a critical regulator of a breast cancer stem cell program that enables metastatic colonization. In several triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) models, Six2 enhanced the expression of genes associated with embryonic stem cell programs. Six2 directly bound the Sox2 Srr2 enhancer, promoting Sox2 expression and downstream expression of Nanog, which are both key pluripotency factors. Regulation of Sox2 by Six2 enhanced cancer stem cell properties and increased metastatic colonization. Six2 and Sox2 expression correlated highly in breast cancers including TNBC, where a Six2 expression signature was predictive of metastatic burden and poor clinical outcome. Our findings demonstrate that a SIX2/SOX2 axis is required for efficient metastatic colonization, underscoring a key role for stemness factors in outgrowth at secondary sites. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings provide novel mechanistic insight into stemness and the metastatic outgrowth of triple-negative breast cancer cells.Graphical Abstract: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/79/4/720/F1.large.jpg.
NIR-Fluorescent Multidye Silica Nanoparticles with Large Stokes Shifts for Versatile Biosensing Applications

We have synthesized and characterized of a series of single and multidye copolymerized nanoparticles with large to very large Stokes shifts (100 to 255 nm) for versatile applications as standalone or multiplexed probes in biological matrices. Nanoparticles were prepared via the Stober method and covalently copolymerized with various combinations of three dyes, including one novel aminocyanine dye. Covalently encapsulated dyes exhibited no significant leakage from the nanoparticle matrix after more than 200 days of storage in ethanol. Across multiple batches of nanoparticles with varying dye content, the average yields and average radii were found to be highly reproducible. Furthermore, the batch to batch variability in the relative amounts of dye incorporated was small (relative standard deviations <2.3%). Quantum yields of dye copolymerized nanoparticles were increased 50% to 1000% relative to those of their respective dye-silane conjugates, and fluorescence intensities were enhanced by approximately three orders of magnitude. Prepared nanoparticles were surface modified with polyethylene glycol and biotin and bound to streptavidin microspheres as a proof of concept. Under single wavelength excitation, microsphere-bound nanoparticles displayed readily distinguishable fluorescence signals at three different emission wavelengths, indicating their potential applications to multicolor sensing. Furthermore, nanoparticles modified with polyethylene glycol and biotin demonstrated hematoprotective qualities and reduced nonspecific binding of serum proteins, indicating their potential suitability to in vivo imaging applications.
Renal hilar block predicts long-term success of renal auto-transplantation for loin pain hematuria syndrome

In patients with loin pain hematuria syndrome (LPHS), a response to percutaneous renal hilar blockade (RHB) and a multidisciplinary team (MDT) evaluation predicts patient’s potential renal auto-transplantation (RAT) success. A pain assessment was performed using a 0–10 numeric pain rating scale prior to a percutaneous RHB under CT guidance. If the pain score was reduced > 50% immediately after the RHB, patients were evaluated for RAT by a MDT. Pre-operative and 1-year post-operative quality-of-life surveys were administered to each RAT patient. 43 LPHS patients were referred for RHB. Of the 38 patients who received a RHB, 31 had > 50% reduction in pain scores. Pre- and post-RHB mean pain scores were 6/10 and 0.7/10, respectively, in patients who had > 50% reduction in pain. 22 of the patients who responded favorably then proceeded to RAT. Twelve patients had at least 1-year follow-up after RAT. All patients had a meaningful decrease in their pain. Mean pain score at 1 year was 0.8/10 for an 85% overall reduction in pain. 92% of patients experienced a ≥ 50% reduction in pain at 1 year. Mean Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score (0–66) 1 year after RAT decreased from 25.2 pre-op (moderate depression) to 12.8 post-op (minimal depression). A MDT approach utilizing a RHB should be considered as a tool to select appropriate LPHS patients for RAT to achieve long-term success in reducing chronic pain and depression while increasing quality of life.
Investigation of Solvation and Solvent Coordination Effects in Iron Porphyrin Nitrosyls by Infrared Spectroelectrochemistry and DFT Calculations

Visible and infrared spectroelectrochemistry of Fe(OEPone)(NO) (H2OEPone = octaethylporphinone) were examined in methylene chloride and THF. The visible spectra of Fe(OEPone)(NO) were similar in bo...
Manufacturing Artificial Wings Based on the Manduca sexta Hawkmoth

This work includes the analysis and evaluation of surgically removed wings from Manduca sexta hawkmoth and the fabrication and testing of moth-like wings for the eventual goal of developing a flapping wing micro air vehicle. The natural and manufactured wings are compared in three main characteristics, their distribution of mass, their flexural stiffness, and their camber. Previous results indicate that if these three properties can be mimicked, manufactured wings could produce similar flight properties to the natural wings. Wings are manufactured based on templates created from three different moths. Additionally, three different materials are used for fabricating the membrane, Icarex Ripstop Fabric, Mylar Film, and Kapton Film. Strips of unidirectional carbon fiber are used to mimic the venation structure. Wings manufactured from Icarex and Kapton replicated the mass of the natural wings. However, all manufactured wings are far stiffer than the natural ones. Icarex retains its camber the best.
Dynamics of Left Ventricular Filling

The laws of physics indicate that transmitral filling patterns are uniquely determined by the impedance of the mitral apparatus and the atrioventricular pressure difference. This paper reviews the results of the simultaneous measurement of left atrial and ventricular pressures and mitral flow in the experimental laboratory. The data support the theory: the pressure difference is due to accelerative and dissipative forces. It is now important to determine how disease and stress acutely and chronically affect the properties of both the ventricle and the atrium. With this knowledge, we will be better able to relate the non-invasive measurement of transmitral filling patterns to the active and passive properties of both chambers of the left heart.
In Vivo Determination and Comparison of Total Hip Arthroplasty Kinematics for Normal, Preoperative Degenerative, and Postoperative Implanted Hips

Abstract Background The study objective is to analyze subjects having a normal hip and compare in vivo kinematics to subjects before and after receiving a total hip arthroplasty. Methods Twenty subjects, 10 with a normal hip and 10 with a preoperative, degenerative hip were analyzed performing normal walking on level ground while under fluoroscopic surveillance. Seven preoperative subjects returned after receiving a total hip arthroplasty using the anterior surgical approach by a single surgeon. Using 3-dimensional to 2-dimensional registration techniques, joint models were overlayed on fluoroscopic images to obtain transformation matrices in the image space. From these images, displacements of the femoral head and acetabulum centers were computed, as well as changes in contact patches between the 2 surfaces throughout the gait cycle. Results Implanted hips experienced the least amount of separation, compression, and overall sliding throughout the entire gait cycle, but they did show signs of edge loading contact patterns. Conversely, the degenerative hips experienced the most compression, sliding, and separation, with the maximum amount of sliding being 6.9 mm. The normal group ranged in the middle, with the maximum amount of sliding being 1.75 mm. Conclusion Current analysis revealed trends that degenerative hips experience more abnormal hip kinematics that leads to higher articulating surface forces and stresses within the acetabulum. None of the implanted hips experienced hip separation.
Undergraduate Upper Division Quantum Mechanics: An Experiment in Maple ® Immersion.

Dirac-notation based upper division undergraduate quantum mechanics was taught in the Spring semester of 2019 using Maple to present the mathematics of the course and to solve all mathematical and computational problems. In addition to step-by-step presentations on using Maple, students were provided with numerous examples of solving quantum mechanical problems using Maple. Students were required to submit all homework and “take-home” exam solutions as PDF documents, primarily generated from a Maple worksheet. However, students were not required to solve all problems using Maple. Through external evaluation and student survey, it was determined that by the end of the semester, all students used Maple for solving over half the problems; nearly three-quarters of the students developed sophisticated Maple skill sets; and a third of the students used Maple to solve every type of problem – completing assignments in a single worksheet. Maple was most frequently used to solve problems involving single variable continuous functions, vectors and matrices. Maple was least frequently used to solve problems involving Dirac-notation based algebra. Maple was nearly universally appreciated by the students.