cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genetic Determinants of Sindbis Virus Mosquito Infection Are Associated with a Highly Conserved Alphavirus and Flavivirus Envelope Sequence

Wild-type Sindbis virus (SINV) strain MRE16 efficiently infects Aedes aegypti midgut epithelial cells (MEC), but laboratory-derived neurovirulent SINV strain TE/5'2J infects MEC poorly. SINV determinants for MEC infection have been localized to the E2 glycoprotein. The E2 amino acid sequences of MRE16 and TE/5'2J differ at 60 residue sites. To identify the genetic determinants of MEC infection of MRE16, the TE/5'2J virus genome was altered to contain either domain chimeras or more focused nucleotide substitutions of MRE16. The growth patterns of derived viruses in cell culture were determined, as were the midgut infection rates (MIR) in A. aegypti mosquitoes. The results showed that substitutions of MRE16 E2 aa 95 to 96 and 116 to 119 into the TE/5'2J virus increased MIR both independently and in combination with each other. In addition, a unique PPF/.GDS amino acid motif was located between these two sites that was found to be a highly conserved sequence among alphaviruses and flaviviruses but not other arboviruses.
Generic mechanisms of decoherence of quantum oscillations in magnetic double-well systems

Fundamental conservation laws mandate parameter-free generic mechanisms of decoherence of quantum oscillations in double-well systems. We consider two examples: tunneling of the magnetic moment in nanomagnets and tunneling between macroscopic current states in SQUIDs. In both cases the decoherence occurs via emission of phonons and photons at the oscillation frequency. We also show that in a system of identical qubits the decoherence greatly increases due to the superradiance of electromagnetic and sound waves. Our findings have important implications for building elements of quantum computers based upon nanomagnets and SQUIDs.
NONCOMMUTATIVE KdV HIERARCHY

The noncommutative version of the Korteweg–de Vries equation studied here is shown to admit infinitely many constants of motion and to give rise to a hierarchy of higher-order Hamiltonian evolution equations, each one the noncommutative version of the commutative KdV equation of the same order. The noncommutative KdV polynomials span, topologically, a maximal Abelian subalgebra of the Lie algebra of noncommutative Backlund transformations. Two classes of examples of "completely integrable" systems of evolution equations to which the theory applies are described in the last two sections.
Amyloid imaging in the differential diagnosis of dementia: review and potential clinical applications

In the past decade, positron emission tomography (PET) with carbon-11-labeled Pittsburgh Compound B (PIB) has revolutionized the neuroimaging of aging and dementia by enabling in vivo detection of amyloid plaques, a core pathologic feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Studies suggest that PIB-PET is sensitive for AD pathology, can distinguish AD from non-AD dementia (for example, frontotemporal lobar degeneration), and can help determine whether mild cognitive impairment is due to AD. Although the short half-life of the carbon-11 radiolabel has thus far limited the use of PIB to research, a second generation of tracers labeled with fluorine-18 has made it possible for amyloid PET to enter the clinical era. In the present review, we summarize the literature on amyloid imaging in a range of neurodegenerative conditions. We focus on potential clinical applications of amyloid PET and its role in the differential diagnosis of dementia. We suggest that amyloid imaging will be particularly useful in the evaluation of mildly affected, clinically atypical or early age-at-onset patients, and illustrate this with case vignettes from our practice. We emphasize that amyloid imaging should supplement (not replace) a detailed clinical evaluation. We caution against screening asymptomatic individuals, and discuss the limited positive predictive value in older populations. Finally, we review limitations and unresolved questions related to this exciting new technique.
Race and Ancestry in the Age of Inclusion Technique and Meaning in Post-Genomic Science

This article examines how race and ancestry are taken up in gene-environment interaction (GEI) research on complex diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Using 54 in-depth interviews of 33 scientists and over 200 hours of observation at scientific conferences, we explore how GEI researchers use and interpret race, ethnicity, and ancestry in their work. We find that the use of self-identified race and ethnicity (SIRE) exists alongside ancestry informative markers (AIMs) to ascertain genetic ancestry. Our participants assess the utility of these two techniques in relative terms, downplaying the accuracy and value of SIRE compared to the precision and necessity of AIMs. In doing so, we argue that post-genomic scientists seeking to understand the interactions of genetic and environmental disease determinants actually undermine their ability to do so by valorizing precise characterizations of individuals' genetic ancestry over measurement of the social processes and relations that differentiate social groups.
Admission control in future multi-service wideband direct-sequence CDMA systems

A vast importance is being placed worldwide on the development of third-generation mobile systems where there will be a more complex traffic situation with multi-services. Wideband code division multiple access (CDMA) is emerging as the dominant choice for future third-generation mobile systems. Three different admission control algorithms-received power call admission control (RPCAC), predictive call admission control (PCAC), and a modified predictive call admission control (MPCAC)-were compared in terms of dropping probability, blocking probability, weighted outage and absolute throughput when using four different types of services-speech, video, WWW, and e-mail. Though the MPCAC algorithm offered best performance, the simulations showed that none of the tested algorithms coped well in a multi-service environment.
Analysis on Micro-Power Wireless Channel Communication Network Structure of The Electricity Collection Terminal

In order to further expand the application of micro-power wireless communication technology in the information collection system and implement the interchangeability and interoperability requirements of the system with a variety of communication methods,this paper introduced their main functions,typical data frame format,implementation in accordance with the structure of four layers of the protocol stack model by analyzing robustness characteristics of the micro-power wireless network,the data frames of the superframe structure and the transmission model.It has a certain reference value for further standardizing the network formation and interactive process of micro-power wireless communication technology.
Study on technology for production of technical-grade magnesium sulfate heptahydrate from the crude monohydrate by speed-controlling hydrolytic crystallization method

Treating the crude monohydrate magnesium sulfate from the byproduct potassium chloride in the bittern chemical corporation,the process for the technical-grade heptahydrate magnesium sulfate is discussed,which results in increasing additional value and extending the application range of product.The new translation process and its control are introduced.By the results of continuous flow enlarge test,MgSO4 content of the heptahydrate magnesium sulfate is 47.86% and the production achieves the industrial grade demands.
Implications for Therapy

Publisher Summary Simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIVs) are a large group of lentiviruses that naturally infect more than 40 African nonhuman primate (NHP) species. SIV prevalence in the wild ranges from 2% to more than 80% in different species. The simian lentiviruses form one of the five serogroups of the Lentiviridae genus, consisting of three species: human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1), human immunodeficiency virus 2 (HIV-2), and SIV. The SIVs from naturally infected NHPs of African origin hosts are designated by a three-letter abbreviation of the host primate species. In addition, the number of SIVs naturally infecting different African NHP species is high. There are major intrinsic limitations to the development of animal models in different species of African NHP hosts: numerous SIVs are only known from sequences, therefore they cannot be used in pathogenesis/treatment studies; numerous African NHPs that are natural hosts of SIVs are extremely endangered which generally precludes invasive studies in these hosts; and there are no currently available colonies for most of the African NHPs.
Combating TNTL: Non-Technical Loss Fraud Targeting Time-Based Pricing in Smart Grid

Electricity theft is the main form of Non-Technical Loss (NTL) fraud in the traditional power grid. In Smart Grid, NTL frauds co-occur with various attacks and have more variants. Time-based Pricing (TBP) is an attracting feature of Smart Grid, which supports real-time pricing and billing. However, adversaries could utilize TBP to commit NTL frauds, and we name them as TNTL frauds. Different from NTL frauds which “steal” electricity, TNTL frauds “steal” time. Thus, existing schemes cannot detect them. In this paper, we summarize four attack models of TNTL frauds and analyze various attacks in Smart Grid. We eliminate attacks that do not relate to TNTL frauds and propose countermeasures for those related attacks to prevent TNTL frauds.
Remote Monitoring of Data Quality

Effective monitoring of clinical trial activities is an essential component for ensuring human subjects protection and data integrity during research. Federal regulations clearly indicate that a data monitoring plan is required and delineated within the study protocol; however, until recently few specifics have been provided on what the monitoring plan should entail. This is in part due to the need to accommodate the many different types of research from observational studies with no intervention to phase I human trials. The gold standard for meeting these broad monitoring requirements to date has typically consisted of on-site visits from a representative of the research sponsor. Increasing budget constraints and regulatory requirements for sponsors, combined with technological advances have led to innovative developments in the domain of clinical research monitoring. The concept of centralized monitoring, remote, or risk-based monitoring (RBM) of clinical trials has been in existence for many years and has been in use by sponsors of clinical research. The progress in web-based technology, computing, and secure data entry has made this form of remote monitoring an economically attractive, alternative, and a more effective one in checking data integrity. This chapter discusses the definition and purpose, background, FDA guidance, and applications for RBM.
Twenty-five years of effective US and Foreign Tax Rates for Large and Small Firms and their Effect on EPS

Corporate tax law reform continues to be an important topic in the political arena, especially with the US having one of the highest marginal tax rates in the world. This paper examines twenty-five years of effective US and foreign tax rates for both large and small firms from 1990 to 2015. One of our major findings is that the effective tax burden on most US corporations is not nearly as heavy as the statutory law suggests. Our results suggest that future tax policy should consider both effective US tax rates and statutory tax rates when implementing new corporate tax laws.
A Luminescent Manganese PhotoCORM for CO Delivery to Cellular Targets under the Control of Visible Light

A photoactive manganese carbonyl complex derived from dansylimidazole (Imdansyl), namely, [Mn(Imdansyl)(CO)3(phen)](CF3SO3) (1), has been synthesized and structurally characterized. This is the first luminescent manganese carbonyl-based photoCORM reported in the literature. This complex exhibits CO release under the exclusive control of low-power broadband visible light. The corresponding rhenium carbonyl complex, namely, [Re(Imdansyl)(CO)3(phen)](CF3SO3) (2), has also been reported, which is luminescent but sensitive only to UV-B (λ<315 nm) light. The entry of the manganese photoCORM into the human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (HT-29) has been demonstrated with the aid of fluorescence microscopy. Irradiation of the photoCORM-loaded cancer cells to visible light leads to a dose-dependent apoptotic cell death.
Object-based attention modulates the discrimination of level increments in stop-consonant noise bursts.

This study tested the hypothesis that object-based attention modulates the discrimination of level increments in stop-consonant noise bursts. With consonant-vowel-consonant (CvC) words consisting of an ≈80-dB vowel (v), a pre-vocalic (Cv) and a post-vocalic (vC) stop-consonant noise burst (≈60-dB SPL), we measured discrimination thresholds (LDTs) for level increments (ΔL) in the noise bursts presented either in CvC context or in isolation. In the 2-interval 2-alternative forced-choice task, each observation interval presented a CvC word (e.g., /paek/ /paek/), and normal-hearing participants had to discern ΔL in the Cv or vC burst. Based on the linguistic word labels, the auditory events of each trial were perceived as two auditory objects (Cv-v-vC and Cv-v-vC) that group together the bursts and vowels, hindering selective attention to ΔL. To discern ΔL in Cv or vC, the events must be reorganized into three auditory objects: the to-be-attended pre-vocalic (Cv-Cv) or post-vocalic burst pair (vC-vC), and the to-be-ignored vowel pair (v-v). Our results suggest that instead of being automatic this reorganization requires training, in spite of using familiar CvC words. Relative to bursts in isolation, bursts in context always produced inferior ΔL discrimination accuracy (a context effect), which depended strongly on the acoustic separation between the bursts and the vowel, being much keener for the object apart from (post-vocalic) than for the object adjoining (pre-vocalic) the vowel (a temporal-position effect). Variability in CvC dimensions that did not alter the noise-burst perceptual grouping had minor effects on discrimination accuracy. In addition to being robust and persistent, these effects are relatively general, evincing in forced-choice tasks with one or two observation intervals, with or without variability in the temporal position of ΔL, and with either fixed or roving CvC standards. The results lend support to the hypothesis.
It's okay to talk about death: Exploring the end-of-life wishes of healthy young adults.

Young adults (N = 80) participated in advance care planning (ACP) as part of a death and dying course and submitted reflection papers on their experiences. These papers were analyzed using directed...
Estimating heterogeneous contributing strategies in threshold public goods provision: A structural analysis

Abstract We analyze a structural model of threshold public goods contributions, where the public good is provided only if the aggregated contributions reach or surpass the predetermined cost; otherwise contributions will be returned to individuals. Based on individual contributions to a public good in multiple periods, we are able to identify the number of contributing strategies, functional form for each strategy and the transition probabilities of contributing strategies conditional on the previous provision outcomes. The result of the constructive identification suggests a multi-step procedure to estimate the model primitives. Monte Carlo results illustrate that the procedure works well in practice. We apply the methodology to the experimental data we collected and show that subjects strategically respond to provision history by making an adjustment based on their preceding contributing strategies. We also find that subjects are more likely to adjust contribution strategies upon provision failures.
Jacobitism and the Historian: Some Neglected Sources on the Jacobite Insurrections of 1715 and 1745

Jacobitism — under the impact of new perspectives in political thought, religion, culture, and society — remains a contested subject of British historiography. The present article examines various aspects of this academic debate and warns against a monolithic view of the discord that fueled Jacobite disaffection. It shows that Jacobitism — whether Scottish, English, or Welsh — was riddled with ethnic and sectarian divisions that made collective, cooperative measures all but impossible. The paper also draws attention to fresh manuscript material that gives greater precision to the myriad forces shaping the agenda and direction of Jacobite activism.
Diverticula and Diverticulosis

The terms diverticulum and pseudodiverticulum are not uniformly defined. Thus, Dorland’s Medical Dictionary1 defines diverticulum as “a circumscribed pouch or sac of variable size occurring normally or created by herniation of the lining mucous membrane through a defect in the muscular coat of the tubular organ.” No definition of pseudodiverticulum is given. Stedman’s2 definition is “a pouch or sac from a tubular or saccular organ such as gut or bladder”; no reference to the layers involved is made. A pseudodiverticulum is defined as “an outpouching from the lumen into an area of central necrosis within a large smooth muscle tumor,” a narrow definition indeed Anderson and Kissane3 define pseudodiverticula as “herniations of mucous membrane,” and by implication use diverticulum to refer to outpouchings involving all layers. In the esophagus at least, current convention is to refer to all outpouchings as diverticula with the exception of the condition in which the ducts of multiple submucosal glands become dilated; this is referred to as intramural pseudodiverticulosis.
Municipal budgets: governance, surveillance, and legitimation

This study investigates the effect of institutional controls (governance), accounting controls (surveillance), and legitimation tactics on the size of municipal budgets. Ordinary least squares regression analysis is employed as the primary data analysis technique in this study. Overall, the results suggest that reform approaches to local government have not been as successful as the reformers envisioned. Additionally, while the results suggest that timely reporting is a deterrent to increased expenditures, the results also suggest that, to some degree, the use of legitimation tactics may offset the benefits of timely reporting.
Strange bedfellows: on Pritchard’s disjunctivist hinge epistemology

The paper discusses some themes in Duncan Pritchard’s last book, Epistemic Angst. Radical Skepticism and the Groundlessness of Our Believing. It considers it in relation to other forms of Wittgenstein-inspired hinge-epistemology. It focuses, in particular, on the proposed treatment of Closure in relation to entailments containing hinges, the treatment of Underdetermination-based skeptical paradox and the avail to disjunctivism to respond to the latter. It argues that, although bold and thought-provoking, the mix of hinge epistemology and disjunctivism Pritchard proposes is not motivated.
Dynamic Protein S-Acylation in Plants

Lipid modification is an important post-translational modification. S-acylation is unique among lipid modifications, as it is reversible and has thus attracted much attention. We summarize some proteins that have been shown experimentally to be S-acylated in plants. Two of these S-acylated proteins have been matched to the S-acyl transferase. More importantly, the first protein thioesterase with de-S-acylation activity has been identified in plants. This review shows that S-acylation is important for a variety of different functions in plants and that there are many unexplored aspects of S-acylation in plants.
Cannabinoids Stimulate the TRP Channel-Dependent Release of Both Serotonin and Dopamine to Modulate Behavior in C. elegans.

Cannabis sativa alters sensory perception and exhibits potential medicinal benefits. In mammals, cannabinoids activate two canonical receptors, CB 1 /CB 2 , as well additional receptors/ion channels whose overall contributions to cannabinoid signaling have yet to be fully assessed. In Caenorhabditis elegans , the endogenous cannabinoid receptor agonist, 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) activates a CB 1 ortholog, NPR-19, to modulate behavior (Oakes et al., 2017). In addition, 2-AG stimulates the NPR-19 independent release of both serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) from subsets of monoaminergic neurons to modulate locomotory behaviors through a complex monoaminergic signaling pathway involving multiple serotonin and dopamine receptors. 2-AG also inhibits locomotion in remodeled monoamine receptor mutant animals designed to measure the acute release of either 5-HT or DA, confirming the direct effects of 2-AG on monoamine release. 2-AG-dependent locomotory inhibition requires the expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and TRPN-like channels in the serotonergic or dopaminergic neurons, respectively, and the acute pharmacological inhibition of the TRPV1-like channel abolishes both 2-AG-dependent 5-HT release and locomotory inhibition, suggesting the 2-AG may activate the channel directly. This study highlights the advantages of identifying and assessing both CB 1 /CB 2 -dependent and independent cannabinoid signaling pathways in a genetically tractable, mammalian predictive model, where cannabinoid signaling at the molecular/neuronal levels can be correlated directly with changes in behavior. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT This study is focused on assessing CB 1 /CB 2 -independent cannabinoid signaling in a genetically tractable, whole-animal model where cannabinoid signaling at the molecular/neuronal levels can be correlated with behavioral change. Caenorhabditis elegans contains a cannabinoid signaling system mediated by a canonical cannabinoid receptor, NPR-19, with orthology to human CB 1 /CB 2 (Oakes et al., 2017). The present study has characterized an NPR-19-independent signaling pathway that involves the cannabinoid-dependent release of both serotonin and dopamine and the expression of distinct TRP-like channels on the monoaminergic neurons. Our work should be of interest to those studying the complexities of CB 1 /CB 2 -independent cannabinoid signaling, the role of TRP channels in the modulation of monoaminergic signaling, and the cannabinoid-dependent modulation of behavior.
Calcified Left Ventricular Pseudoaneurysm of the Base of the Heart

Cardiac pseudoaneurysms of noninfectious or nonischemic etiology are rare. This case report illustrates the surgical management of a patient with a large postsurgical calcified pseudoaneurysm located in the base of the heart that was disrupting the continuity between the aortic and mitral annulus.
Vocal Cord Dysfunction

Initially described as hysteria and then Munchausen’s stridor, we now recognize vocal cord dysfunction as a functional group of disorders. Exercise and spontaneously occurring phenotypes exist that benefit from different treatments. The former appears to respond to pharmacological pretreatment with an anticholinergic aerosol and the latter may require vocal cord training to learn to relieve the symptoms. The differential diagnosis includes consideration of neurological and anatomical abnormalities. Recognition and effective treatment is important to permit the individual to be involved in activities important to them and to avoid unnecessary and ineffective medical care.
Acute Psychosis Precipitated by Urinary Tract Infection in a Patient with Gliosis of the Basal Ganglia.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTI) have been found to be associated with a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders, and could play a role in the pathophysiology of relapse of affective and nonaffective psychosis. In addition, prior history of infarction in areas of the brain such as the cerebellum, basal ganglia, and mid-brain have been reported in patients with new onset psychotic symptoms. Case presentation: A 29-year-old woman was brought to the hospital with acute mental status changes and signs of sepsis. Infectious work-up was initiated including blood cultures, brain imaging, lumbar tap and urinalysis. Brain MRI revealed abnormalities in the basal ganglia and the urinalysis revealed signs of a urinary tract infection (UTI). Further history revealed episodes of mania and depression compatible with bipolar disorder with psychotic features that had acutely worsened. The patient’s condition improved with intravenous antibiotics and the introduction of anti-psychotics. She was discharged in stable condition with outpatient psychiatric follow-up. Conclusion: Infectious diseases (UTIs in particular) are not only more prevalent among patients with acute relapse of psychiatric disorders, but have also been found to have triggered acute psychosis among stable psychiatric patients. Organic brain lesions must be thoroughly investigated among patients presenting with new psychiatric disorders in order to initiate appropriate therapy to control the symptoms.
“What’chu Lookin’ At?”: Narrative, Spectatorship, and Ludic Constructivism in Variable State’s Virginia

This paper focuses on Variable State’s 2016 game Virginia, a game that may have as much in common with film as it does traditional video games. One of the things that makes Virginia stand out is a complete lack of dialogue, either spoken or textual. Instead, interactions within the game are abstracted; players are asked to intuit character motivations through body language and other non-verbal cues. Virginia is an interesting marriage between film and game design that surpasses the legacy of interactive films – the game has only one story to tell; there are no branching narratives or multiple endings. Instead, I argue that the game makes literal David Bordwell’s constructivist theory of narrative film in that the player must execute operations corresponding to filmic devices in order to frame narrative information within their point of view in the game.
Chapter 33 – Contraception

Publisher Summary Contraceptive use allows women to space pregnancies, which decreases infant mortality. Spacing pregnancies more than 2 years decreases infant mortality by 50%. In addition to these health benefits, allowing women to control their fertility can give them opportunities to pursue education and employment outside the home. The best contraceptive method is one a patient chooses and will use. Patients can make this decision only with timely access to the full spectrum of methods. Appropriate counseling requires presentation of a range of options with expected effectiveness rates and side-effects. Many women avoid effective methods because they or their partners hold mistaken beliefs. Clinicians who correct these misconceptions and debunk contraceptive myths can improve continuation rates and compliance. Informational counseling is especially important for adolescents. About 1 million adolescent pregnancies occur each year in the United States, and about half of all adolescents use no contraception during the first episode of sexual intercourse. Clinicians should counsel adolescents in private, with assurance that all discussions will remain confidential. Early puberty is a good time to give a young patient notice that contraception is an acceptable topic for discussion. Assurance must be given that the discussion will remain private, and parents will not be notified without the patient's consent. Although the advantages of abstinence merit discussion, clinicians must discuss contraception because many adolescents become sexually active sooner rather than later.
Cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates in Kentucky.

Abstract Objectives The goal of this study was to assess how the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer in Kentucky has changed from 1995 through 2017. Additionally, trends in incidence and mortality across different geographic areas and between different races were evaluated. Methods Age-adjusted annual incidence and mortality rates for cervical cancer were collected from the Kentucky Cancer Registry (KCR). A quadratic fit model was used to evaluate changes in the incidence and mortality over time and to compare differences in cervical cancer incidence and mortality by: 1) rural versus urban counties, 2) Appalachian versus non-Appalachian counties, and 3) black versus white women. Results Overall, the incidence of cervical cancer has significantly decreased throughout Kentucky since 1995. When comparing different geographic regions, the incidence was 14% and 23% higher in rural and Appalachian counties, respectively, compared to urban and non-Appalachian counties (p Conclusions Women residing in rural and Appalachian Kentucky have higher cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates.
Insights into the nature of non-covalent bonds accessible by quantum calculations

Abstract There are a number of experimental methods that can provide information about non-covalent bonds, the weak interactions between molecules. While each approach offers important and complementary data, there are certain aspects of these bonds which are inaccessible by experiment. Quantum calculations offer a window into the most fundamental aspects of these interactions. The preferred geometries can be elucidated, along with the energy of interaction, and the cost of deviations there from. The interaction energy can be dissected into its component parts, each with a clear physical meaning. The electrostatic potential surrounding each subunit can be computed which predicts the geometry and strength of the resulting dimer. Analysis of the wave function shows the redistributions of charge that accompany complexation, individual transfers of charge from one orbital to another, and quantitative measures of bond strength. Calculated spectra provide insights into perturbations of each molecule and can be compared with experimental data for verification.
An energy-based discontinuous Galerkin discretization of the elastic wave equation in second order form

Abstract We present an application of our general formulation (Appelo and Hagstrom (2015) [12]) to construct energy based, arbitrary order accurate, discontinuous Galerkin spatial discretizations of the linear elastic wave equation. The resulting methods are stable and, depending on the choice of numerical flux, conserve or dissipate the elastic energy. The performance of the method is demonstrated for problems with manufactured and exact solutions. Applications to more realistic problems are also presented. Implementations of the methods are freely available at Appelo and Hagstrom (2015) [19].
Unraveling city-specific signature and identifying sample origin locations for the data from CAMDA MetaSUB challenge

Composition of microbial communities can be location-specific, and the different abundance of taxon within location could help us to unravel city-specific signature and predict the sample origin locations accurately. In this study, the whole genome shotgun (WGS) metagenomics data from samples across 16 cities around the world and samples from another 8 cities were provided as the main and mystery datasets respectively as the part of the CAMDA 2019 MetaSUB “Forensic Challenge”. The feature selecting, normalization, three methods of machine learning, PCoA (Principal Coordinates Analysis) and ANCOM (Analysis of composition of microbiomes) were conducted for both the main and mystery datasets. Features selecting, combined with the machines learning methods, revealed that the combination of the common features was effective for predicting the origin of the samples. The average error rates of 11.93 and 30.37% of three machine learning methods were obtained for main and mystery datasets respectively. Using the samples from main dataset to predict the labels of samples from mystery dataset, nearly 89.98% of the test samples could be correctly labeled as “mystery” samples. PCoA showed that nearly 60% of the total variability of the data could be explained by the first two PCoA axes. Although many cities overlapped, the separation of some cities was found in PCoA. The results of ANCOM, combined with importance score from the Random Forest, indicated that the common “family”, “order” of the main-dataset and the common “order” of the mystery dataset provided the most efficient information for prediction respectively. The results of the classification suggested that the composition of the microbiomes was distinctive across the cities, which could be used to identify the sample origins. This was also supported by the results from ANCOM and importance score from the RF. In addition, the accuracy of the prediction could be improved by more samples and better sequencing depth.
Gonadal histology and concentration of 11-ketotesterone of meiotic gynogens confirm female heterogametic sex determination in sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus)

Gynogenetic progeny of sterlet Acipenser ruthenus were obtained by inseminating eggs with UV-inactivated sperm followed by meiotic restoration of ploidy by heat shock. Gynogenetic origin of progeny was assessed by parentage assignment using 15 microsatellite markers. Sex ratio was investigated by gonad histology in 15 3-year-old fish, eight of which were confirmed gynogenotes, with five of those containing primary oocytes (62.5%). Blood plasma concentration of 11-ketotestosterone (KT-11) was analyzed in 63 4-year-old juveniles, 46 of which were genetically confirmed gynogenotes. Measurement of KT-11 showed the proportion of female sterlet to be 65.2%. This sex ratio conformed to the current hypothesis of female heterogametic sex determination but was at the low end of the reported female ratio in sturgeon gynogenetic progeny.
Metabolome subtyping of severe bronchiolitis in infancy and risk of childhood asthma.

Background Infants with bronchiolitis are at increased risk for developing asthma. Growing evidence suggests bronchiolitis is a heterogeneous condition. Objectives We sought to identify biologically distinct subgroups based on the metabolome signatures (metabotypes) in infants with severe bronchiolitis and to examine the longitudinal relationships of metabotypes with asthma development. Methods In a multicenter prospective cohort study of infants (age, Results Of 918 infants hospitalized for bronchiolitis (median age, 3 months), this study identified 5 distinct metabotypes—characterized by their nasopharyngeal metabolome profile: A, glycerophosphocholine-high; B, amino acid–high, polyunsaturated fatty acid–low; C, amino acid–high, glycerophospholipid-low; D, glycerophospholipid-high; and E, mixed. Compared with infants with metabotype A (who clinically resembled “classic” bronchiolitis), infants with metabotype B had a significantly higher risk for developing asthma (23% vs 41%; adjusted odds ratio, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.07-4.69). The pathway analysis showed that metabotype B had enriched amino acid (eg, methionine, histidine, glutathione) and α-linolenic/linoleic acid metabolism pathways (false discovery rate, Conclusions In this multicenter prospective cohort study of infants with severe bronchiolitis, the clustering analysis of metabolome data identified biologically distinct metabotypes, including a metabotype characterized by high inflammatory amino acids and low polyunsaturated fatty acids that is at significantly increased risk for developing asthma.
Cellular incorporation of 32 P-orthophosphate into the membrane ATPase of Streptococcus faecalis.

Abstract We have found that Streptococcus faecalis cells incorporate 32Pi into their plasma membrane ATPase. The labeled ATPase was isolated from cells grown in a 32Pi containing medium and also from non-growing cells suspended in 32Pi and glucose. To demonstrate that the enzyme contained 32P it was solubilized and then purified by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, rate-zonal sedimentation and polyacry lamide elctrophoresis. Since the 32P remained firmly fixed to the catalytically active enzyme we conclude that it contains phosphate as a structural constituent. We estimate that one molecule of the ATPase contains 5 to 10 atoms of P.
Nucleolar and extranucleolar chromatin of rat Novikoff hepatoma cells. A comparison of histone and non-histone protein acetylation.

Abstract Histone acetylation was studied in two nuclear subfractions, nucleoli and the nuclear chromatin, which have substantially different transcriptional activity. The quantitative uptake and turnover of [1-14C]acetate into the total histone was found not to differ significantly between the two nuclear fractions. Some variations among the relative specific activities of the individual histones were observed after analysis on acrylamide gels, but their significance is questionable due to possible changes in the F3 dimer/monomer ratio induced by the isolation of histones. All histone fractions were labeled when rat ascites cells were exposed to 3H-labeled amino acids for 1.5 h. In a similar 1.5-h experiment, [1-14C]acetate was incorporated primarily into the arginine-rich histones F3 and F2a1; the lysine-rich F1 was unlabeled. Thus, the acetylation observed in these experiments occurred predominantly on pre-formed histone molecules. Nonhistone chromosomal proteins were acetylated to about 25 % of the specific activity of the histones. Only minor differences in the extent of histone acetylation in the isolated nucleoli as compared with nuclear chromatin indicate that histone acetylation is not directly related to the amount of active template in these nuclear subfractions.
Many-body instability of Coulomb interacting bilayer graphene: Renormalization group approach

Low-energy electronic structure of (unbiased and undoped) bilayer graphene consists of two Fermi points with quadratic dispersions if trigonal warping is ignored. We show that short-range (or screened Coulomb) interactions are marginally relevant and use renormalization group to study their effects on low-energy properties of the system. We find that the two quadratic Fermi points spontaneously split into four Dirac points. This results in a nematic state that spontaneously breaks the sixfold lattice rotation symmetry (combined with layer permutation) down to a twofold one, with a finite transition temperature. Critical properties of the transition and effects of trigonal warping are also discussed.
Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS) Proteins in POMC Neurons are Required for Energy Homeostasis

BBS is a pleiotropic autosomal recessive human disorder associated with several clinical features including obesity. We previously demonstrated that Bbs1 gene deletion from the leptin receptor expr...
Convex Free Boundaries and the Operator Method

We will summarize results of the author, and others, concerning the convexity (under appropriate convex conditions) of solutions to certain classical free-boundary problems in elliptical Partial Differential Equations. The free-boundary problems to be discussed include the (stationary) multilayer fluid problem and the problem of (stationary) plasma confinement in a magnetic field (the Tokomak machine). We intend to show through these examples that there exists a quite general method for obtaining convex solutions to free-boundary problems in elliptic PDE’s, which is valid in arbitrary space dimensions and is applicable to a variety of problems.
The two-dimensional ‘triangles-in-triangles’ Kagomé antiferromagnet Cu9X2(cpa)6: a topological spin-glass?

Abstract Topologically novel magnetic lattices can lead to unique ground state phenomena such as spin frustration. Recent theoretical studies have focused on Kagome antiferromagnets. We now report thermal and magnetic data that distinguish between α and β phases for the magnetic framework structure Cu9X2(cpa)6, a ‘triangles-in-triangles’ Kagome lattice.
Larval development of the southern flounder Thysanopsetta naresi from Chilean Patagonia

Se describe por primera vez el desarrollo larval del lenguado austral Thysanopsetta naresi, utilizando material proveniente de muestras obtenidas en cruceros oceanograficos realizados en los fiordos del sur de Chile. Las larvas abarcaron un rango de 2,8 a 22,4 mm de longitud corporal (LC). Un atributo que resalta en las larvas es la fuerte pigmentacion, que se desarrolla temprano en preflexion y que se acentua sobre casi todo el cuerpo, con excepcion del extremo caudal. Durante los estadios de postflexion avanzada se identifica un patron tipico de pigmentacion en la base de la aleta dorsal y anal. La secuencia de formacion de radios en las aletas es caudal, dorsal, anal, pelvica y pectoral. Se describe la secuencia del desarrollo osteologico larval, en particular de las vertebras y del esqueleto caudal. La migracion del ojo derecho ocurre desde los 11 mm LC y la transformacion se completa a >23 mm. Los caracteres larvales descritos permiten identificar las larvas de T. naresi y separarlas de las larvas de otras especies de lenguados que se encuentran en la region Patagonica.
Designing for the wisdom of elders: age related differences in online search strategies

Information search is one of the main reasons that older adults go online, but older adults experience more difficulties than younger adults when interacting with search engines. In this study, 15 younger and 14 older participants completed a battery of cognitive tasks, and then searched for information via a realistic search simulator. Older participants searched using a more methodical strategy that entailed careful word selection and serial processing of search results, while younger participants used a more impulsive strategy whereby they scanned search results quickly and jumped between links more frequently. In keeping with past studies, older adults displayed lower cognitive flexibility, but these deficiencies were apparently offset by their search strategy, and young and old participants ultimately found information in similar amounts of time. We argue that, while age-related cognitive changes certainly exist, their effect on older adults' interactions with search engines may be due to mismatches between older adults' search strategies and the design of current versions of popular search interfaces.
Reportable animal diseases in the United States.

Summary Timely reporting of animal diseases is fundamental to the detection of emerging threats, rapid and effective outbreak response, and ultimately the health of both animals and humans. In the United States, each state has the authority to regulate reporting of diseases. While past research has reviewed reportable human diseases, the research on reportable animal diseases has assessed only veterinarian knowledge and understanding of law rather than identifying the actual statutes and regulation that exists. Therefore, this article reviewed the statutes, regulations, and online reportable animal disease lists from the 50 states and District of Columbia to describe the legal landscape of animal disease reporting. The findings suggest wide variation in state animal disease reporting requirements. Three hundred and forty distinct diseases, agents, and categories were identified, with only 15 diseases being listed by 40 or more states. States typically require reporting of animal diseases within 48 h. Substantial consideration needs to be given to the implications of these variations for rapid and effective animal and zoonotic disease detection and reporting in the United States, particularly in light of One Health initiatives and international obligations.
Significance and rearrangements of quinol models of tyrosine metabolites.

Der Dualismus der o- und p-Hydroxylierung, der beim Tyrosinin vivo beobachtet wird, lasst sichin vitro mit Bleitetraazetat nachWessely an geeigneten p-substituierten Phenolen, wie zum Beispiel p-Oxyphenylessigsaureester, demonstrieren. Die o- und p-Azetoxylierung fuhrt zu Azetaten o- und p-chinoider Verbindungen, die eine Fulle neuartiger sauren- und basenkatalysierterintra- undintermolekularer Umlagerungen zu Derivaten des Resorzins, Hydrochinons und Pyrrogallols zeigen.
Cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying reading and naming: Evidence from letter-by-letter reading and optic aphasia

We report detailed analysis of language performance in a patient, RMI, a 55-year-old man who presented with a homonymous hemianopsia, optic aphasia, and alexia without agraphia (with letter-by-letter reading) acutely after stroke. MRI showed infarct in the left occipital and medial temporal lobe and hypoperfusion of the entire posterior cerebral artery territory, including the splenium. Extensive language testing revealed severely impaired picture naming and oral reading, with relatively spared tactile naming and recognition of orally spelled words, consistent with impaired access to lexical and semantic representations from vision. In addition, he had a milder deficit in accessing lexical representations for output from all input modalities. RMI’s execution of various language tasks provided considerable insight into the mechanisms that underlie oral reading. His performance indicated that both semantic access and orthographic to phonologic conversion mechanisms were partially intact. When information fr...
CRYSTAL-SIZE DEPENDENCE OF ILLITE-SMECTITE ISOTOPE EQUILIBRATION WITH CHANGING FLUIDS

Differences in equilibration rates among crystals of different sizes may be used to deduce paleofluid changes over time if the crystal-growth mechanism is known. To explore isotopic equilibration rates as a function of illite growth, we studied B-isotope changes during illitization of smectite. Montmorillonite ( 2.0 µm) fractions. The isotopic composition of B in the tetrahedral sheet was then measured for comparison with the predicted equilibrium values. The fine fraction showed equilibrium isotope ratios within 10 days, indicating that small, newly nucleated crystals precipitate in equilibrium with the fluid under supersaturated, closed conditions. These fine-fraction minerals did not re-equilibrate when the fluid was changed. The medium fraction gradually equilibrated with the initial fluid as illite grew to values >50%, but did not re-equilibrate with the later fluid. The coarse fraction was slow to begin recrystallization, perhaps due to dissolution kinetics of large crystals or the presence of detrital contaminants. However, it showed the fastest rate of isotopic change with crystal growth after R1 ordering. We conclude that at 300°C, the initial B–O bonds formed in illite are stable, and isotopic re-equilibration only occurs on new crystal growth. Therefore, different isotope ratios are preserved in different crystal size fractions due to different rates of crystal growth. Large crystals may reflect equilibrium with recent fluid while smaller crystals may retain isotope compositions reflecting equilibrium with earlier fluids.
A hierarchical choice modelling approach for incorporating customer preferences in vehicle package design

The use of customer preference models to evaluate the economic impact of design changes and new product introductions has become prevalent in the literature. However, existing approaches do not sufficiently address the needs of complex design artefacts, which typically consist of many subsystems and components designed and manufactured with significant autonomy. Characteristics of complex systems, such as heterogeneity of consumer preferences throughout the system hierarchy, multiple sources of information and qualitative consumer-desired attributes, have not been adequately addressed. In this work, we propose a hierarchical choice modelling approach for complex systems to model customer preferences for attributes throughout the system hierarchy, and to subsequently predict consumer choice behaviours. A system of hierarchical models is used to link the design attributes used for engineering design to the attributes used by consumers to choose among competing products. The model framework utilises Discrete Choice Analysis at the top level to model customer choices and Ordered Logit regression at the lower levels to model ordinal survey responses as a function of product attributes. An approach for combining choice data from multiple sources based on the Nested Logit methodology is developed. The framework is demonstrated on the vehicle occupant package case study.