cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An upwelling model for the Phosphoria sea: A Permian, ocean-margin sea in the northwest United States

The Permian Phosphoria Formation, a petroleum source rock and world-class phosphate deposit, was deposited in an epicratonic successor basin on the western margin of North America. We calculate the seawater circulation in the basin during deposition of the lower ore zone in the Meade Peak Member from the accumulation rates of carbonate fluorapatite and trace elements. The model gives the exchange rate of water between the Phosphoria sea and the open ocean to the west in terms of an upwelling rate (84 m yr -1 ) and residence time (4.2 yr) of seawater in the basin. These hydrographic properties supported a mean rate of primary productivity of 0.87 g m -2 d -1 of carbon in the uppermost few tens of meters of the water column (the photic zone) and denitrifying redox conditions in the bottom water (below approximately 150 m depth). High rain rates, onto the sea floor, of the organic matter that hosted the phosphate and several trace elements contributed to the accumulation of phosphorite, chert, and black shales and mudstones. Evaporation in the Goose Egg basin to the east of the Phosphoria basin ensured the import of surface seawater from the Phosphoria sea. Budgets of water, salt, phosphate, and oxygen, plus the minor accumulation of the biomarker gammacerane, show that exchange of water between the two basins was limited, possibly by the shallow carbonate platform that separated the two basins.
Feeding Wolves: Punitiveness and Culture

This article considers the implications of cultural values, political-cultural arrangements and the changing mediascape for the distinct cultural resources on crime and punishment that we consume a...
Gas‐Filled Bubbles in Ionic Solids

A device to selectively introduce gases into a melt of KCl from which single crystals or oriented bicrystals are being pulled is described. The insoluble gases (e.g. Ar, Cl2, N2, and CO2) were incorporated into the growing crystals in the form of bulk and grain boundary bubbles having a decided crystallographic appearance. The as-grown bubbles of Ar and Cl2 were extended along the growth axis, whereas those of N2 and CO2 were compressed in this direction. The bubble shapes are expected to depend on surface energy considerations and on the way in which the gas interacts with the solid; the bubble geometries were qualitatively consistent with available data on the theoretical adsorption behavior of these gases on (100) crystal faces of KCl. On annealing under load, the bubbles became highly faceted. Only the very stable (100) plane developed; this indicates the extreme anisotropy of the surface energy even at temperatures approaching the melting point. The failure of bubbles to evolve completely into cubes is probably due to the difficulty of establishing growth habits normal to the (100) plane.
Differentiation: Functions of Several Variables

In this chapter we shall extend the concept and methods of differentiation to functions of several variables. Most economic relationships involve more than one variable and their analysis require the methods of this chapter. In addition, many economic models consist of several equations. Tracing the effect of a change in one variable in an equation throughout the model is a preoccupation of economics. In later sections we shall learn how to solve such problems. Differentiation plays an important role in statistics and econometrics as well. In particular, derivation of least squares and maximum likelihood estimators rely on differentiation. Differentiation of functions of several variables brings up the issues of continuity and differentiability. We discussed these subjects in the previous chapters and their extension to the case of functions of several variables, using notations developed in this chapter, is straightforward. Therefore, we will not revisit these topics in this chapter.
Acquired Immunity: Chronic Bacterial Infections

This chapter discusses what happens when the immune response is capable of controlling a bacterial pathogen but not eliminating it. In this case, acquired immunity is defined not as the response capable of eliminating the pathogen but the response that allows survival of the host. The presence of ongoing infection and inflammation is likely to severely interfere with the generation of acquired specific memory. In this chapter the authors have consider the acquired cellular response to bacterial challenge with a focus on members of the genus Mycobacterium. The chapter focuses on the elements of the acquired immune response that mediate both immunity as well as the immunopathologic consequences that are often concomitant with expression of immunity to chronic bacterial pathogens. More recent studies, made possible by the development of tools capable of dissecting the nature of the T-cell response during an infection, have highlighted the truly complex nature of acquired immunity. The nature of the inflammatory response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the absence of acquired immune response suggests that the pathogen makes use of the acquired response to generate the damage required for transmission. The relative importance of cytokine cross-regulation, regulatory T-cell control, and the active cytotoxic activity of the bacteria in regulating the acquired response to Mycobacterium ulcerans has yet to be fully defined.
WP744, an novel anthracycline highly active against wild-type and doxorubicin-resistant bladder cancer cell lines

2389 The lack of availability of effective drugs and acquired drug resistance are two significant problems in the treatment of bladder cancer. WP744 is a novel DNA binder that is structurally related to doxorubicin (DOX) and highly apoptotic and active against multidrug-resistant tumors of several types. We tested WP744 activity against a panel of sensitive and DOX-resistant human bladder cancer cell lines. WP744 showed 3 to 5 times the cytotoxicity of DOX against human bladder cancer cell lines UM-UC-6, UM-UC-2, UM-UC-3, and UM-UC-14. WP744 was still more cytotoxic (78-fold greater than DOX) and an effective inducer of apoptosis in the DOX-resistant variant UM-UC-6dox. WP744-induced cell growth inhibition and apoptosis seem to result from cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase. The uptake of WP744 was much faster than DOX in the both sensitive and resistant cell lines (UM-UC-6 and UM-UC-6dox). The cellular localization of WP744 was similar to that of DOX, but the nuclear concentrations of WP744 were much higher than those of DOX. We conclude that WP744 is a potent cytotoxin and inducer of apoptosis in human bladder cancer cells and can overcome resistance to DOX. These results warrant further evaluation in in vivo tumor models. This work was supported, in part, The University of Texas Genitourinary Cancer SPORE Grant (Grant NO. P50 CA91846), and by the Grant from the Welch Foundation.
Construction of eukaryotic expression vector of avian influenza virus H5N1 nuclear protein (NP) and expression,confirmation of recombinant NP protein in mammalian eukaryotic cells

Objective To construct an eukaryotic expression vector of high pathogenic avian influenza(HPAI)virus H5N1 nuclear protein(NP)gene;to express and confirm the expression of NP recombinant protein in 293 Tcells.Methods The complete coding sequence of NP gene was amplified by RT-PCR and cloned into pMD18-T vector to construct pMD18-T-NP plasmid by T-A cloning,which was validated by PCR and double digestion analysis.Double digestion of pMD18-T-NP and pXJ40-HA plasmids,followed by ligation of gel-purified fragments constructed pXJ40-HA-NP plasmid,which was verified by PCR,double digestion and sequencing analysis.pXJ40-HA-NP plasmid was transfected into 293 Tcells.Expression of recombinant NP protein was confirmed by Western blot analysis.Results Eukaryotic expression vector pXJ40-HA-NP was successfully constructed.A 56 kD recombinant protein was expressed in mammalian eukaryotic cells,which was confirmed by Western blot analysis.Conclusion The successful construction of NP gene eukaryotic expression plasmid should lay a foundation for further study of NP function and lay a solid foundation on development of diagnosis,treatment and vaccines for HPAI virus H5N1 infection.
48 PROCOLLAGEN TYPE IC PEPTIDE ELEVATION IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DIASTOLIC DYSFUNCTION

Background Diastolic dysfunction (DD), a condition characterized by impaired relaxation of the left ventricle, is common among elderly. Increased myocardial fibrosis, a major determinant of diastolic function, has been observed with advancing age. Procollagen type Ic peptide (PICP) is generally elevated in cardiac fibrosis. We sought to determine if PICP is elevated in elderly patients with diastolic dysfunction when compared to healthy controls. Methods Serum levels of PICP were measured in 29 patients aged 60-85 years with echocardiographic evidence of diastolic dysfunction and 25 healthy subjects with no symptoms suggestive of diastolic dysfunction. Data were presented as mean ± SD. Student t-test was used for comparison between the groups. A p value of .05 was considered statistically significant. Results Mean age of subjects with DD was 70.3 ± 6 years. 72% of them were female. Hypertension (HTN) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) were present in 90% and 66%, respectively. Mean age of healthy persons was 29.8 ± 4 years. 36% were female. HTN was present in only 8%. The PICP level was 300.99 ± 52 ng/mL in the DD group vs 262.87 ± 45.3 ng/mL in healthy controls (p = .025). The PICP levels in the DD with LVH (298.10 ± 53.3 ng/ml) as well as those without LVH (299.18 ± 48.8 ng/mL) were significantly higher than healthy controls (p = .025 and p = .04 respectively). However, there was no significant difference between the PICP levels in DD with and without LVH. Conclusion Procollagen type Ic peptide is significantly elevated in elderly patients with diastolic dysfunction regardless of the presence or absence of left ventricular hypertrophy when compared to PICP levels in healthy controls. PICP may be used to monitor the course of cardiac fibrosis in elderly persons with diastolic dysfunction.
Soot-blowing optimization of boiler heating surface based on thermal performance mechanistic model and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation

Against the fouling and slagging problems occurred on convection heating surface of boilers,an clean factor based online monitoring method for pollution degrees of the heating surface was put forward,by using the calculating method combining theoretical heat transfer coefficient with the actual one.On the basis of the theoretical model and actual measured data,the boiler performance was predicted,the pretreatment method for real time collecting the thermal parameters was provided,and the economic efficiency of fouling and soot-blowing processes was analyzed.Moreover,considering multiple factors related to the soot-blowing,a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model of the boiler soot-blowing was established.Finally,the soot-blowing optimization model of the boiler heating surface based on thermal performance mechanistic models and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation was proposed to optimize the determination of soot-blowing.At last this model was applied in simulator of a subcritical 300 MW unit.The results show that,under rated load condition,the optimal time interval of soot blowing for the superheater is 9.14 h.
Ureterocalicostomy for Renal Salvage

AbstractThe surgical technique and indications of ureterocalicostomy in children are presented along with 6 illustrative cases. Ureterocalicostomy should be considered as a method of renal salvage in cases of upper ureteral stenosis.
Supporting the Paraprofessional Home Visitor

The expansion of home visiting programs for families of young children, both nationally and internationally, has placed increased focus on how to support the provider who actually delivers the services. Early childhood home visiting remains a service field that often relies on lay or paraprofessional home visitors. This chapter provides a brief overview of how paraprofessionals are used in home visiting programs and the issues that arise in their professional development and training. Special emphasis is placed on the way that many paraprofessional home visitors relate to families, particularly, with an orientation that is flexible in incorporating more personal qualities into their help-giving. This is an approach that has both strengths and challenges and it is important to recognize both.
Sense and nonsense in genetic epidemiology: a critique of the statistical model of Williams and Iyer.

The statistical model for the analysis of twin·family data of Williams and Iyer is examined. The mo~l uses a large number of redundant parameters. It does not lead to quantitative predictions for new relationships. It allows for epistasis but not dominance. It makes assumptions about assortative mating which are inconsistent with any biological· ly plausible mechanism. It assumes that the environmental correlation between parent and offspring is due to the direct effect of the parental genotypes, not phenotypes, on offspring environment. Other models which avoid these problems are more appropriate for the analysis of extended twin-family data.
Inadequate self-care knowledge among elderly hemodialysis patients: assessing its prevalence and potential causes.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine how well informed elderly hemodialysis patients (EHP) are about information needed for self-care and to identify factors that might lead their self-care knowledge to be inadequate. SAMPLE/SETTING The sample included 142 patients over the age of 65 in 17 outpatient hemodialysis units in three Eastern states. METHODS Interviews were conducted to test factual knowledge of dialysis and to assess how well informed EHP thought they were about self-care related issues. Interviewers also asked demographic questions and administered the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) to assess cognitive capacity. RESULTS Seventy-five percent of patients believed they were well informed; however, only 14% answered all three questions correctly. The average number correct on a three-question, self-care knowledge measure was only 1.67. Knowledge was lowest for older, poorly-educated patients with diminished cognitive capacity (DCC) who had recently begun dialysis (mean correct score 1.1). Thirty-nine percent of our sample had DCC. CONCLUSIONS Because a majority of EHP lack information needed for self-care and many have DCC, nurses should not unquestioningly accept EHP claims that they are well informed. EHP with DCC, less than a high school education, and advanced age require extra educational efforts closer monitoring, and more family involvement in decision making. Using the MMSE to identify patients with DCC is one of six recommendations we offer to improve EHP self-care.
Historical Perspectives on the Development of the Biology of Learning and Memory

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a broad survey of more than a century of research on learning and memory and their biological mechanisms. The decade of the 1880s saw several major advances in research on learning and memory. The theory of free arborization of cellular branches capable of growing seems to be not only very probable but also most encouraging. During the first half of the twentieth century, psychologists and other scientists proposed memory hypotheses involving either the growth of neural fibrils toward one another to narrow the synaptic gap or more subtle chemical changes at synapses. This chapter underlines the fact that the original clues for the discovery of the Berkeley group came from data on rats given formal training in a variety of problems in order to examine possible relations between individual differences in brain chemistry and problem-solving ability. Instead of continuing to train rats in problem-solving tests, a time-consuming and expensive procedure, housing the animals in different environments that provided differential opportunities for informal learning was decided.
President Obama, the Nobel Peace Prize Winner and the War on Terror

President Obama had vowed, as a candidate for the US presidency, not to push America into any new wars. Likewise, he vowed to make peace with the Arab-Islamic world and to end the War on Terror. In this chapter I examine the President’s use of executive emergency power and make a startling discovery that the Nobel Peace Prize winning President Obama is actually just a ruthless, if not more, than the cowboy President G. W. Bush.
Error interpretation during everyday automation use

Experienced users of everyday technologies may perceive automation errors. This paper examines how those users know an automation error has occurred and with what level of detail users interpret th...
Capacity of the MLC NAND Flash Channel

In this paper, we develop a framework for evaluating the symmetric capacity of multilevel-cell (MLC) NAND flash devices while making very few assumptions regarding the underlying device physics. A set of recursive equations are derived that allow one to measure the symmetric capacity for any given page in a flash device using simple conditional statistics that can be extracted experimentally. Using data captured from two different 1y nm MLC devices, we demonstrate that the symmetric capacity of a flash page not only depends on the amount of program/erase cycling and data retention stress that has accumulated, but also on the position of the page within the flash block. We then study the effect on symmetric capacity of using optimized read-back schemes (both hard and soft) and show that while there is significant benefit, not all pages in the block are improved by the same amount. Finally, we show that it is possible to design error correction architectures that harness the inherent variation of symmetric capacity within a flash block to dramatically extend the program/erase cycling endurance of flash-based storage systems.
Poetry and Hedonic Error in Plato’s Republic

This paper reads Republic 583b-608b as a single, continuous line of argument. First, Socrates distinguishes real from apparent pleasure and argues that justice is more pleasant than injustice. Next, he describes how pleasures nourish the soul. This line of argument continues into the second discussion of poetry: tragic pleasures are mixed pleasures in the soul that seem greater than they are; indulging them nourishes appetite and corrupts the soul. The paper argues that Plato has a novel account of the ‘paradox of tragedy’, and that the Republic and Philebus contain complementary discussions of tragic and comic pleasure.
Caveolin-1 Deletion Prevents Hypertensive Vascular Remodeling Induced by Angiotensin II

It has been proposed that membrane microdomains, caveolae, in vascular cells are critical for signal transduction and downstream functions induced by angiotensin II (AngII). We have tested our hypothesis that caveolin-1 (Cav1), a major structural protein of vascular caveolae, plays a critical role in the development of vascular remodeling by AngII via regulation of epidermal growth factor receptor and vascular endothelial adhesion molecule-1. Cav1−/− and control Cav+/+ mice were infused with AngII for 2 weeks to induce vascular remodeling and hypertension. On AngII infusion, histological assessments demonstrated medial hypertrophy and perivascular fibrosis of aorta and coronary and renal arteries in Cav1+/+ mice compared with sham-operated Cav1+/+ mice. AngII-infused Cav1+/+ mice also showed a phenotype of cardiac hypertrophy with increased heart weight to body weight ratio compared with control Cav1+/+ mice. In contrast, Cav1−/− mice infused with AngII showed attenuation of vascular remodeling but not cardiac hypertrophy. Similar levels of AngII-induced hypertension were found in both Cav1+/+ and Cav1−/− mice as assessed by telemetry. In Cav1+/+ mice, AngII enhanced tyrosine-phosphorylated epidermal growth factor receptor staining in the aorta, which was attenuated in Cav1−/− mice infused with AngII. Enhanced Cav1 and vascular endothelial adhesion molecule-1 expression was also observed in aorta from AngII-infused Cav1+/+ mice but not in Cav1−/− aorta. Experiments with vascular cells further provided a potential mechanism for our in vivo findings. These data suggest that Cav1, and presumably caveolae, in vascular smooth muscle and the endothelium plays a critical role in vascular remodeling and inflammation independent of blood pressure or cardiac hypertrophy regulation. # Novelty and Significance {#article-title-49}
A 'Ship-to-Mouth' Nuclear Power: The Johnson Administration and the Indian Proliferation Tilt, 1964-1968

This paper explores Lyndon B. Johnson administration's nonproliferation policy towards India in light of China's nuclear program. It argues that although the administration prioritized nonproliferation, it was unwilling to undertake the necessary steps to prevent an Indian pro-bomb decision. This was owing to downgrading South Asia as a US foreign policy priority at the time, and the shared belief within the administration that India will go nuclear anyway in the long run. At a time when US-Indian diplomatic relations had reached a nadir and India’s regional security environment was highly precarious, Washington’s wait-and-watch policy proved counterproductive to its own nonproliferation goals. New Delhi demonstrated its tacit decision for the bomb with its 1968 refusal to sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, and gravitated more towards Moscow.
Cardiovascular Toxicity of Ionophores Used as Feed Additives

Formidable quantities of microbial metabolites belonging to the class of ionophores are currently being fed to poultry and cattle raised for human consumption. Most fryers and broilers in the United States received 120 ppm monensin in their feed to control coccidiosisl while beef cattle are fed 30 ppm monensin which, possibly by exerting a favorable effect on the flora of the rumen,2 promotes a more efficient fermentation of cellulose and subsequent conversion of feed to meat.3
Integrating proxy theories and numeric model lifting for floating-point arithmetic

Precise reasoning for floating-point arithmetic (FPA) is as critical for accurate software analysis as it is hard to achieve. Several recent approaches reduce solving an FPA formula f to reasoning over a related but easier-to-solve proxy theory. The rationale is that a satisfying proxy assignment may directly correspond to a model for f. But what if it doesn't? Prior work deals with this case somewhat crudely, or discards the proxy assignment altogether. In this paper we present an FPA decision framework, parameterized by the choice of proxy theory T, that attempts to lift an encountered T model to a numerically close FPA model. Other than assuming some "proximity" of T to FPA, our lifting procedure is T-agnostic; it is in fact designed to work independently of how the proxy assignment was obtained. Should the lifting fail, our procedure gradually reduces the gap between the FPA and the proxy interpretations of f. We have instantiated the framework using real arithmetic and reduced-precision FPA as proxy theories, and demonstrate that we can, in many cases, decide f more efficiently than earlier work.
Estimating daily global solar radiation by day of the year in Algeria

This study presents six empirical models based on the day-of-the-year number for estimating global solar radiation on a horizontal surface. For this case study, 21 years of experimental data sets for 21 cities over the whole Algerian territory are utilized to develop these models for each city and for all of Algeria. In this study, the territory of Algeria was divided into four different climatic zones, i.e., Arid, Semi-arid, Highlands and Mediterranean. The accuracy of the all-Algeria model was tested for each city and for each climate zone. To evaluate the accuracy of the models, the RMSE, rRMSE, MABE, MAPE, and R, which are the most commonly applied statistical parameters, were utilized. The results show that the six developed models provide excellent predictions for global solar radiation for each city and for all-Algeria. Furthermore, the model showing the greatest accuracy is the sine and cosine wave trigonometric model.
An Interview with APPLE Lecture Speaker Professor James Pennebaker

On February 24, 2017, the TESOL/AL Web Journal (represented by Eun Young Kang, Yulin Liu, Sarah Sok, Di Yu and Yuna Seong) had the opportunity to sit down with Professor James Pennebaker, guest speaker for the 2017 Applied Linguistics & Language Education (APPLE) Lecture Series, hosted annually by the TESOL/Applied Linguistics Programs at Teachers College, Columbia University. Professor Pennebaker spoke about his research and advice he has for current and future researchers in the TESOL and Applied Linguistics fields.
Interfacial-entropy-driven thermophoretic tweezers

Directed migration of particles and molecules in a temperature gradient field, which is known as thermophoresis or the Soret effect, is of fundamental importance for mass transfer in colloid science and life sciences. However, thermophoretic tweezers that enable versatile particle manipulation have remained elusive due to the complex underlying physical forces in thermophoresis and the lack of general thermophilic particles above room temperature. Herein, we exploit entropic response and permittivity gradient at the particle–solvent interface to optically generated thermal gradient to achieve the thermophoretic trapping and dynamic manipulation of charged particles over an optothermal-responsive substrate. Engineering the interfacial properties, i.e., the surface charge of particles and the ionic strength of the solvent, further enhances the trapping efficiency. Through the rational design of optothermal potential profiles and substrate geometries, we have achieved various tweezing functionalities, including particle assembly, alignment, rotation and guiding, as well as precise transport of single nanoparticles. Based on the general concept of entropic change of polarized molecules structured at the particle–solvent interlayer, the thermophoretic tweezers are applicable to various types of particles, biological cells, and molecules and a wide range of solvents.
Legal Requirements and Liabilities of Canner as Well as Equipment Supplier

To undertake to speak on this subject perhaps indicates that one is in need of a mental examination, and to actually talk on the subject one needs a crystal ball and the clairvoyance and prognosticative abilities of a Jeane Dixon. However, as I often participate as an expert witness in various cases involving liability I did have the temerity to accept the invitation to talk to you about some of the liabilities you face as canners and equipment suppliers.Paper published with permission.Compilation Copyright © 2018 ASME
Endothelia extrude apoptotic cells to maintain a constant barrier

Abstract The vascular system is lined with endothelial cells that, although only existing in a single monolayer, are key in the regulation of vascular barrier function. One of the major challenges these cells face is a routine exposure to environmental stressors that can induce apoptosis. Uncontrolled apoptosis in the endothelial monolayer threatens the ability of the cells to maintain their barrier function, resulting in vascular dysfunction. Therefore, we sought to identify ways in which endothelia maintain a cohesive monolayer during apoptotic events. We found that endothelial cells fated die will undergo a process of apoptotic cellular extrusion, similar to what has been described in the epithelium. We further show that endothelial extrusion uses a conserved S1P-S1PR2-RhoA signaling pathway in order to induce the formation of an actin ring that contracts closed, forcing the dying cell out of the monolayer while simultaneously filling in the gap left behind. Thus, endothelial extrusion successfully removes an apoptotic cell before it compromises the monolayer, preserving the barrier function.
Mammalian Development in Space

Life on Earth, and thus the reproductive and ontogenetic processes of all extant species and their ancestors, evolved under the constant influence of the Earth's l g gravitational field. These considerations raise important questions about the ability of mammals to reproduce and develop in space. In this chapter, I review the current state of our knowledge of spaceflight effects on developing mammals. Recent studies are revealing the first insights into how the space environment affects critical phases of mammalian reproduction and development, viz., those events surrounding fertilization, embryogenesis, pregnancy, birth, postnatal maturation and parental care. This review emphasizes fetal and early postnatal life, the developmental epochs for which the greatest amounts of mammalian spaceflight data have been amassed. The maternal-offspring system, the coordinated aggregate of mother and young comprising mammalian development, is of primary importance during these early, formative developmental phases. The existing research supports the view that biologically meaningful interactions between mothers and offspring are changed in the weightlessness of space. These changes may, in turn, cloud interpretations of spaceflight effects on developing offspring. Whereas studies of mid-pregnant rats in space have been extraordinarily successful, studies of young rat litters launched at 9 days of postnatal age or earlier, have been encumbered with problems related to the design of in-flight caging and compromised maternal-offspring interactions. Possibilities for mammalian birth in space, an event that has not yet transpired, are considered. In the aggregate, the results indicate a strong need for new studies of mammalian reproduction and development in space. Habitat development and systematic ground-based testing are important prerequisites to future research with young postnatal rodents in space. Together, the findings support the view that the environment within which young mammals develop, comprised of its mother and siblings, is of paramount importance in interpreting spaceflight effects.
6.11 – Trophic Relationships in Salt Marshes of Coastal and Estuarine Ecosystems

As an easy and relevant assessment within communities and arguably the most important in relating a species to its environment are its trophic interactions. Food webs and food chains offer visualizations of organismal connections, usually in direct predator–prey interactions. Nevertheless, indirect interactions and non-predator–prey interactions are also important. Food resources are primary niche dimensions in terms of resources used (i.e., energy, material, and sites). As parts of food webs, predator–prey relationships are the primary source of negative feedback loops that stabilize communities. Simple models are excellent for small point-in-time studies or parsing diets of particular species; however, when relating any study to a larger whole, the environmental factors are also necessary to reflect the reality of processes. Tides, seasons, and other events can play a significant role in the primary and secondary production of salt marshes due to ontogenetic shifts of some species to different trophic levels. However, many species can operate at multiple feeding levels, and though adults of a species might be listed as feeding at a higher trophic level, the species’ major influence on its community might occur as a juvenile at a different trophic level.
Reduction of Risks Associated with Fumonisin Contamination in Corn

Fumonisins, produced by Fusarium moniliforme, have been recognized as an important group of chemicals which cause health risks in domestic animals and humans. Decontamination procedures for fumonisin B1 (FB1) were evaluated to determine chemical modification and reduction in toxic/carcinogenic potentials. Ammoniation, a procedure used for decontamination of aflatoxins, yielded a 79% reduction in FB1 levels in naturally contaminated corn. Authentic FB1 and FB1-contaminated corn were exposed to alternative treatments containing various combinations of Ca(OH)2, NaHCO3, and H2O2 simulating a modified nixtamalization procedure. Treatments also included NH4C1 alone or in combination with H2O2 or horseradish peroxidase. The brine shrimp assay (Artemia spp.) was used to monitor toxicity of reaction products and the Salmonella/microsomal mutagenicity assay, using tester strains TA-100 and TA-102, was used to evaluate mutagenicity. Treatments of FB1-contaminated corn simulating modified nixtamalization (Ca(OH)2 alone or with NaHCO3 + H2O2) gave 100% reduction of FB1 and reduced brine shrimp toxicity by ca. 40%. The positive mutagenic potential (without S-9) for extracts of corn naturally contaminated with FB1 was eliminated following exposure to modified nixtamalization. Reaction products formed when pure FB1 was treated with Ca(OH)2 and H2O2/NaHCO3 were inhibitory to Bacillus cereus, B. subtilis, and B. megaterium. No inhibitory potential was evident for contaminated corn extracts following the chemical treatments.
The Case for a Humorous Philosophy of Education

This chapter is designed to contextualize and advance the conversation among philosophers of education about humor and laughter by focusing on some interesting connections among humor, philosophy and education. I begin my analysis by discussing the nature and purpose of humor in general, while distinguishing it from laughter and amusement. I argue for an eclectic view of humor, one which integrates insights from different theories and avoids the reductionism that has often resulted from trying to create a comprehensive theory of humor. In the next part, I examine some of the historical tensions between traditional education and humor and laughter. I then proceed to lay out some important, though often neglected, similarities and links between humor and philosophy. In the final part of this essay, I attempt to respond to the question: what does a study of humor and laughter bring to philosophy of education?
The role of an overlooked adductor muscle in the feeding mechanism of ray-finned fishes: Predictions from simulations of a deep-sea viperfish.

Abstract In a majority of ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii), effective acquisition of food resources is predicated on rapid jaw adduction. Although the musculoskeletal architecture of the feeding system has been the subject of comparative research for many decades, individual contributions of the major adductor divisions to closing dynamics have not been elucidated. While it is understood that the dorsal divisions that arise from the head and insert on the posterior of the lower jaw are major contributors to closing dynamics, the contribution of the ventral components of the adductor system has been largely overlooked. In many ray-finned fishes, the ventral component is comprised of a single division, the Aω, that originates on an intersegmental aponeurosis of the facialis divisions and inserts on the medial face of the dentary, anterior to the Meckelian tendon. This configuration resembles a sling applied at two offset points of attachment on a third-order lever. The goal of this study was to elucidate the contributions of the Aω to jaw adduction by modeling jaw closing in the deep-sea viperfish Chauliodus sloani. To do this, we simulated adduction with a revised computational model that incorporates the geometry of the Aω. By comparing results between simulations that included and excluded Aω input, we show that the Aω adds substantially to lower-jaw adduction dynamics in C. sloani by acting as a steering motor and displacing the line of action of the dorsal facialis adductor muscles and increasing the mechanical advantage and input moment arms of the jaw lever system. We also explored the effect of the Aω on muscle dynamics and found that overall facialis muscle shortening velocities are higher and normalized force production is lower in simulations including the Aω. The net effect of these changes in muscle dynamics results in similar magnitudes of peak power in the facialis divisions between simulations, however, peak power is achieved earlier in adduction Modifications of muscle mechanics and posture result in significant increases in closing performance, including static bite force, angular velocity, and adduction time. We compare this configuration to a similar design in crocodilians and suggest that the Aω configuration and similar sling configurations across the vertebrate tree of life indicate the importance of this musculoskeletal design in feeding.
Chitosan-Based Hydrogels

Chitosan is a deacetylated derivative of chitin. This polysaccharide has received a great attention due to its biocompatibility, low toxicity, biodegradable, furthermore can be used into different shapes, such as beads, hydrogels, powders, films and membranes. Chitosan hydrogels may be formed by different mechanisms, as physical association or chemically cross-linked, thus can vary its geometries, formulations and shapes. Usually, hydrogels are prepared using a conventional sol-gel process, where polymer is dissolved in dilute acid to form an aqueous solution, after complete dissolution the cross-linking agents are subsequently incorporated, and the solution/gel transition depends on the number cross-links between the polymer chains and the cross-linking agents, and these should be enough until reaching the formation of a network. The chitosan hydrogels are formed from cross-linking of hydrogen bonds, hydrophilic interactions and crystalline groups of chitosan present in the sol-gel.
The impact of diet on psoriasis

Because psoriasis is a chronic and inflammatory disease, many patients seek alternative therapies and lifestyle modifications to supplement their treatments and help relieve symptoms. Both the disease and the modifications are multifactorial, making it difficult to quantify the effectiveness of a single change. A review of the available literature reveals that most diets have mixed impacts on psoriasis, though some individual foods have seen more prominence in studies. Foods and supplements with systemic anti-inflammatory effects seem to have a higher chance of improving psoriasis symptoms. Overall, additional large-population studies with a higher statistical power are needed to review these studies. We suggest web-based national cohort surveys as a possible method to quickly gather a large amount of data for future studies.
Experiential self-focus as a facilitator of processing interpersonal hurt and as a buffer in the relationship between anger rumination and psychological outcomes

The present study compared the effects of writing about an interpersonal hurt in an experiential self-focus mode of processing on unforgiveness, benevolence, intrusive thoughts and negative affects to a control group. It also examined the moderating role of experiential and control writing conditions on the association between anger rumination and unforgiveness, benevolence, intrusive thoughts and negative affect. Latent growth curve analyses were conducted. The results indicated that unforgiveness decreased significantly over time in the experiential condition. Intrusive thoughts increased over time in both the experiential and the control conditions. After writing the average level and rates of change of unforgiveness, intrusive thoughts and benevolence over time did not differ between the two writing conditions. However, after writing the average level and linear rate of change of negative affect differed between the two groups. A piecewise analysis showed that negative affect decreased at a faster rate during writing in the experiential group than the control group. However, negative affect increased at a slower rate after the writing intervention and in the follow-up sessions in the experiential condition compared to the control group. Moreover, the results showed that the writing conditions moderated the association between anger rumination and benevolence over time. In simple slope analysis, results showed that benevolence increased during writing but decreased during the follow-up sessions among individuals with low anger rumination in the experiential condition. Benevolence significantly increased over time among those with low anger rumination in the control condition. For those with high anger rumination in the control condition, benevolence significantly decreased over time. For those with high anger rumination in the experiential condition, benevolence decreased during writing but increased during the follow-up sessions.
Analysis of GaAs Solar Cells Grown on 50 mm Wafers at 700 °C by Dynamic Hydride Vapor Phase Epitaxy

We grew and analyzed GaAs photovoltaics devices grown by dynamic hydride vapor phase epitaxy (D-HVPE) on 50 mm GaAs substrates. These were grown at 700 °C in a kinetically-limited growth regime. These devices exhibited nearly identical performance to our previous single-junction GaAs devices (>25% efficiency) that were grown at 650 °C in a transport-limited growth regime. We determined that the relatively low non-uniformity in device efficiency was not related to variations in structural characteristics, such as GaAs base thickness or Ga x In 1-x P composition or thickness, but rather uniformity of the absorber doping. These results show that growth of high quality material is possible in multiple growth regimes by D-HVPE.
Latent Space Modeling for Cloning Encrypted PUF-Based Authentication

Physically Unclonable Functions (PUFs) have emerged as a lightweight, viable security protocol in the Internet of Things (IoT) framework. While there have been recent works on crypt-analysis of PUF-based models, they require physical access to the device and knowledge of the underlying architecture along with unlimited access to the challenge-response pairs in plain text without encryption. In this work, we are the first to tackle the problem of encrypted PUF-based authentication in an IoT framework. We propose a novel, generative framework based on variational autoencoders that is PUF architecture-independent and can handle encryption protocols on the transmitted CRPs. We show that the proposed framework can successfully clone three (3) different PUF architectures encrypted using two (2) different encryption protocols in DES and AES. We also show that the proposed approach outperforms a brute-force machine learning-based attack model by over \(20\%\).
Comparative pharmacokinetic analysis of the blood-brain barrier penetration of dasatinib and ponatinib in mice.

The use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) targeting the BCR-ABL fusion protein have dramatically changed the clinical management and outcomes for patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)...
Reconstructing Referrals: Overcoming Barriers to Quality Obstetric Care for Maya Women in Guatemala Through Care Navigation

Guatemala has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in Latin America, a burden faced disproportionately by the majority Indigenous Maya population. Most Maya women prefer to deliver at home with traditional midwives, a practice with religious and cultural significance. However, racial discrimination, poor transportation infrastructure, and hospital resource constraints delay and prevent Maya women’s access to biomedical care during obstetric emergencies. This chapter describes ethnographic cases of rural Maya women with high-risk pregnancies seeking biomedical care at government health facilities. We illustrate how institutionalized racism and health care bureaucracy produce adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes while escalating obstetric violence against Maya women. Our analysis of hospital resource constraints and bureaucracy calls into question the sustainability of universal institutional delivery in Guatemala and other low-resource settings. Instead, we present a model of obstetric care navigation and accompaniment, deployed selectively for Maya women with high-risk pregnancies, to offer safer and more respectful institutional birth. Indigenous obstetric care navigators offer a sustainable solution that complements robust local practices of home birth and empowers Maya women and their midwives to obtain successful obstetric referrals within a severely resource-limited health system.
Primary Care for Homeless Veterans: A Systematic Review of the Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team (HPACT)

Abstract Background In 2011, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) implemented homeless-tailored primary care medical home models, called the Homeless Patient Aligned Care Teams (HPACT) to improve care for homeless Veterans. The aim of this study was to describe the existing peer-reviewed literature on HPACTs by systematically reviewing studies published since 2011 to date. Methods We conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed studies published from 2011 to June 2019 to evaluate the literature since the inception of the VHA’s Homeless PACT program implementation. We included original research articles evaluating the Homeless PACT and excluded those that did not contain original data. Results Of 379 studies screened, 20 studies met our inclusion criteria and were included for analysis. Given wide variability in research designs and outcome measures, a narrative review was conducted. The 20 included studies were categorized into 3 groups: Early HPACT pilot implementations; Association of HPACT clinics with quality and utilization; and Specialized programs within HPACTs. Observational findings suggest reductions in emergency department utilization, improvements in primary care treatment utilization, engagement, and patient experience; but limited rigorous studies exist beyond single site pilots and a few large observational cohort studies. Discussion The HPACT model has been successfully implemented in VHA medical centers throughout the country with multiple studies showing increased primary care engagement and improved patient experience; however, further studies are needed about quality, utilization and whether the model can be implemented outside the VHA system. Registration Number/Funding source none
Personality Measurement: Reliability and Validity Issues

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on personality measurement. There are three fundamental issues in personality measurement: (1) the nature of constructs, (2) reliability, and (3) validity. Trait and ability measures are utilized by personality researchers. Personality researchers typically assume that a single dimension underlies each construct. The dimension may be assumed to be bipolar as in a mood scale that is anchored by “high degree of positive mood” and “high degree of negative mood” as its two ends. One of the important properties of good measures is reliability. Reliability is a simple concept—it is an index of the reproducibility or dependability of measurements. Personality researchers have traditionally treated issues of reliability within the framework of classical test theory. Classical test theory begins by partitioning each observed measurement into two components: true score and measurement error. Each true score represents the mean of a very large number of measurements on a specific individual. On the other hand, measurement error lumps together all the transient influences that can affect test scores. Once it is established that a measure has adequate reliability, the issue of validity arises. Validity as the degree to which empirical evidence and theoretical rationales support the adequacy of interpretations based on test scores or other measures.
Specimen Preparation for Transmission Electron Microscopy

Before beginning this section, I want to recommend the book Fixation for Electron Microscopy (Hayat, 1981), which is an invaluable source and contains information concerning all aspects of biological specimen preparation in much greater depth than can be provided in this text.