cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of beta-propiolactone (betaprone) on reaginic (skin-sensitizing) antibodies

Abstract The measurement of reaginic antibodies by transfer to nonallergic human beings has the potential risk of transferring the hepatitis virus. Since beta-propiolactone (BPL) is an effective virucidal agent in 0.40 per cent concentration and is rapidly denatured to harmless end products, its value in treating such reaginic serum was studied particularly as it may affect these labile antibodies. Despite the fact that this agent acts on various functional groups associated with proteins, the reduction in reagin titers of various sera directed against a number of allergens was slight. Only the reagin directed against penicillin was apparently completely destroyed. Experiments used nonallergic human beings and subhuman primates with the use of varying dilutions of BPL (from 0.2 per cent to 1.0 per cent) and serial dilutions of sera. The virucidal agent was added in some instances to each serum dilution and in other experiments only to the concentrated sera. The slight drop in the reagin titer was comparable in the various experiments. In vitro experiments with rabbit precipitating antibodies against several antigens showed no significant change in precipitating antibody titer after exposure to BPL. BPL (0.4 per cent), after incubation with serum, produced a minimal irritative effect in several subjects chiefly in the form of a small papule which did not interfere with the passivetransfer reaction.
Normal forms near critical points for differential equations and maps

The normal-form theory is a technique of transforming an original vector field to a simpler form by an appropriate change of coordinates, so that the essential features of the flow become more evident. A basic theory of normal forms, based on the classical idea of Poincare and Birkhoff, is presented. Normal forms for vector fields and diffeomorphisms are discussed, and their relationship is considered. The technique described is based on defining a certain linear operator and an inner product on the space of homogeneous polynomials on C/sup n/. >
Musical Navigatrics: new musical interactions with passive magnetic tags

Passive RF Tagging can provide an attractive medium for development of free-gesture musical interfaces. This was initially explored in our Musical Trinkets installation, which used magnetically-coupled resonant LC circuits to identify and track the position of multiple objects in real-time. Manipulation of these objects in free space over a read coil triggered simple musical interactions. Musical Navigatrics builds upon this success with new more sensitive and stable sensing, multi-dimensional response, and vastly more intricate musical mappings that enable full musical exploration of free space through the dynamic use and control of arpeggiatiation and effects. The addition of basic sequencing abilities also allows for the building of complex, layered musical interactions in a uniquely easy and intuitive manner.
Applied image processing to multimedia information security

Information security has traditionally been ensured with data encryption and authentication techniques. Through the years, different generic data encryption standards have been developed. Although these encryption standards provide a high level of data protection, they are not efficient in the encryption of multimedia contents due to the large volume of digital image/video data. In order to address this issue, different image/video encryption methodologies have been developed. These methodologies encrypt only the key parameters of image/video data instead of encrypting the entire bit stream. In addition, researchers start to utilize information hiding techniques to augment the security level of data encryption methodologies. The future direction of multimedia information security will be on the clever interweaving of encryption, information hiding, and lossless compression to enhance the security of multimedia systems. This paper presents a state-of-the-technology review of these processes and suggests future research directions.
Notch1 contributes to mouse T-cell leukemia by directly inducing the expression of c-myc

Recent work with mouse models and human leukemic samples has shown that gain-of-function mutation(s) in Notch1 is a common genetic event in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). The Notch1 receptor signals through a γ-secretase-dependent process that releases intracellular Notch1 from the membrane to the nucleus, where it forms part of a transcriptional activator complex. To identify Notch1 target genes in leukemia, we developed mouse T-cell leukemic lines that express intracellular Notch1 in a doxycycline-dependent manner. Using gene expression profiling and chromatin immunoprecipitation, we identified c-myc as a novel, direct, and critical Notch1 target gene in T-cell leukemia. c-myc mRNA levels are increased in primary mouse T-cell tumors that harbor Notch1 mutations, and Notch1 inhibition decreases c-myc mRNA levels and inhibits leukemic cell growth. Retroviral expression of c-myc, like intracellular Notch1, rescues the growth arrest and apoptosis associated with γ-secretase inhibitor treatment or Notch1 inhibition. Consistent with these findings, retroviral insertional mutagenesis screening of our T-cell leukemia mouse model revealed common insertions in either notch1 or c-myc genes. These studies define the Notch1 molecular signature in mouse T-ALL and importantly provide mechanistic insight as to how Notch1 contributes to human T-ALL.
BINDING OF METAL IONS TO MONOLAYERS OF LECITHINS, PLASMALOGEN, CARDIOLIPIN, AND DICETYL PHOSPHATE.

SUMMARY The surface pressure-area curves of synthetic (dipalmitoyl), egg, and yeast lecithins showed that the limiting areas depend on the degree of unsaturation of the fatty acid residues (dipalmitoyl < egg < yeast lecithin). The surface potential of phosphatidal choline (240 mv) was lower than that of the dipalmitoyl lecithin (380 mv), both at 60 A2/molecule. This difference in surface potentials is attributed to the presence of an additional induced dipole in the double bond of the vinyl ether linkage of the plasmalogen. The binding of metal ions to lecithin and phosphatidal choline resulted in an increase in the surface potential. With different lecithins, the binding of calcium varied with the degree of unsaturation, suggesting that steric characteristics of fatty acid residues significantly influence the phospholipid-metal ion interaction. The surface pressure-area curves of lecithin, phosphatidal choline, and dicetyl phosphate were not affected by the presence of the divalent metal ions in the subsolution whereas the surface pressure-area curve of cardiolipin showed 10-1 3y0 contraction of the film in their presence. The component dipoles of the dicetyl phosphate and that of the fatty acid are explained. The increase in the surface potential of phospholipids and the contraction-expansion effect of the cardiolipin monolayer is accounted for by postulating a position for the divalent metal ion in the dipole lattice. of the influence of Na+, K+, Li+, Ca++, Mg++, Ba++, Sr++, and Al+++ on monolayers of synthetic and natural phospholipids.
Human Capabilities and the Racial Contract

Global relations are largely shaped by what Charles Mills calls “the racial contract”: the sometimes explicit and sometimes unspoken agreement that social arrangements must favor whites over nonwhites. This bias is strong among white political philosophers and especially in the liberal contractarian theories of Hobbes, Rousseau, Locke, Kant, and, most recently, Rawls. While these theories pay lip service to nominal equality in the name of universalism, they also ignore the inequality and disadvantage that nonwhites suffer at the hands of whites, and thus they contribute to epistemic obscurantism and racial domination. In this paper, first, I strengthen Mills‘s argument by providing an even more convincing objection against the procedural requirements of John Rawls‘s theory of justice; second, I argue that this objection gives us a good reason to distinguish between Rawls‘s liberal contractarianism and other theories in white political philosophy that are far more sensitive to Mills‘s critique; and, finally, I offer a partial defense of Martha Nussbaum‘s and Amartya Sen‘s capability–based approach, which I think is uniquely situated to address the inequalities of the racial contract.
Comparison of the Feeding Niche of Polyphagous Insectivores (Araneae) in a Texas Cotton Plantation: Estimates of Niche Breadth and Overlap

The feeding niches of 10 spider species that are polyphagous insectivores were compared by computing coefficients of niche breadth and niche overlap. The study is based on predation evidence from an insecticide-free cotton plantation in east Texas. All overlap values were <1.00 (range, 0.08–0.94), which indicates that each spider species has its own feeding niche in the cotton agroecosystem. Diet breadth, that is inversely related to feeding specialization, was computed for each species. The highest value was approximately five times higher than the minimum, which indicates considerable differences between species in feeding specialization. Diet breadth values indicate that large web weavers exhibited a less specialized feeding behavior (relatively broad feeding niche) compared with small web weavers (narrow feeding niche). Prey specialists in this study concentrated on either aphids or fire ants as a primary food source. The nonweb-building spider Oxyopes salticus Hentz, which actively searches the cotton plant for prey (up to=6 mm maximum length), showed the highest diet breadth value (broad feeding niche) under the conditions of this experiment. This abundant species, which is considered a highly beneficial biocontrol agent of smaller cotton pests, shows high flexibility in its foraging patterns.
Pair tunneling, phase separation, and dimensional crossover in imbalanced fermionic superfluids in a coupled array of tubes

We study imbalanced fermionic superfluids in an array of one-dimensional tubes at the incipient dimensional crossover regime, wherein particles can tunnel between neighboring tubes. In addition to single-particle tunneling (ST), we consider pair tunneling (PT) that incorporates the interaction effect during the tunneling process. We find that with an increase of PT strength, a system of low global polarization evolves from a structure with a central Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) state to one with a central BCS-like fully paired state. For the case of high global polarization, the central region exhibits pairing zeros embedded in a fully paired order. In both cases, PT enhances the pairing gap, suppresses the FFLO order, and leads to spatial separation of fully paired and fully polarized regions, the same as in higher dimensions. Thus we show that PT beyond second-order ST processes is of relevance to the development of signatures characteristic of the incipience of the dimensional crossover.
Reduction in the Knee Adduction Moment During Walking Using Laterally-Wedged Shoes With and Without Ankle Support

A high maximum adduction moment at the knee during walking has been associated with an increased rate of progression [1] and worse treatment outcome [2] of medial compartment osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Laterally-wedged insoles and shoes have been shown to reduce the knee adduction moment in healthy and osteoarthritic populations [3,4]. However, the mechanism of the effectiveness of such interventions is not well understood. Toda et al. showed that subtalar strapping with laterally wedged insoles in osteoarthritic subjects can improve valgus correction, but the authors did not look at the dynamic effects of walking [5]. A second study looked at the effects of lateral wedges with both semi-rigid ankle support and a rigid ankle-foot-orthosis and found a reduction in the adduction moment only with ankle support and a 10° lateral wedge. The wedge alone did not produce a reduction in the adduction moment [6]. Thus, it seems that the mechanism of action of the lateral wedge may be influenced by ankle motion.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Human health risk assessment of CO2 leakage into overlying aquifers using a stochastic, geochemical reactive transport approach.

Increased human health risk associated with groundwater contamination from potential carbon dioxide (CO2) leakage into a potable aquifer is predicted by conducting a joint uncertainty and variability (JUV) risk assessment. The approach presented here explicitly incorporates heterogeneous flow and geochemical reactive transport in an efficient manner and is used to evaluate how differences in representation of subsurface physical heterogeneity and geochemical reactions change the calculated risk for the same hypothetical aquifer scenario where a CO2 leak induces increased lead (Pb2+) concentrations through dissolution of galena (PbS). A nested Monte Carlo approach was used to take Pb2+ concentrations at a well from an ensemble of numerical reactive transport simulations (uncertainty) and sample within a population of potentially exposed individuals (variability) to calculate risk as a function of both uncertainty and variability. Pb2+ concentrations at the well were determined with numerical reactive trans...
The Effects of Different Types of Fertilization Formula on the Growth and Physiology of Half Year Seedlings,Thespesia populnea

An experiment on the effects of different formula of nitrogenous,phosphoric and potassic fertilizers on 0.5 year old seedlings of Thespesia populnea showed that for the 4 indexes of seedling height,diameter at base,number of leaves and chlorophyll content studied,a better formula may be: urea 0.7g/pot,P2O5 0.0g/pot and K2O 0.7g/pot.Compared to the contrast without adding fertilizer,the seedling height increased by1.54 times,diameter at base increased by 0.77 times,the number of leaves increased 12.8 pieces per seedlings and chlorophyll content increased by 0.99 times.The formula aiming at increment of dry weight of root,stem and leaf may be: urea 0.7g/pot,P2O5 0.7g/pot,and K2O 0.0g/pot.The dry weight of root,stem and leaf increased by 7.00 times,7.66 times and 8.54 times respectively,compared to that of contrast.A better formula aiming at accelerating photosynthesis rate of seedlings may be: urea 0.7g/pot,P2O5 0.35g/pot,K2O 1.4.g/pot.The net rate of photosynthesis increased by 2.25μmol/ m2.s compared to the contrast.For the affecting extent of three elementson the development and physiology of the tree,nitrogenous fertilizer was the most powerful then phosphoric,and potassic was the least effective.
Radial Basis Function Artificial Neural-Network-Inspired Numerical Solver

A framework for a mesh-free numerical solver of differential equations is presented in this paper. Development of the solver is derived from machine learning techniques using artificial neural networks with Gaussian radial basis functions for their neurons. The proposed method incrementally develops an approximation through the optimization of a scalar condensed form of the differential equations. Unlike traditional solvers that require grids, volumes, or meshes, along with corresponding connectivity data, the proposed framework requires only a list of independent variable values to approximate the solution. Because of this, there is no need for the derivation or inversion of system matrices. Results are presented demonstrating the stability and accuracy of the proposed method and it is demonstrated that the spatial error estimate can exceed that of traditional methods.
BASC: applying Bayesian optimization to the search for global minima on potential energy surfaces

We present a novel application of Bayesian optimization to the field of surface science: rapidly and accurately searching for the global minimum on potential energy surfaces. Controlling molecule-surface interactions is key for applications ranging from environmental catalysis to gas sensing. We present pragmatic techniques, including exploration/exploitation scheduling and a custom covariance kernel that encodes the properties of our objective function. Our method, the Bayesian Active Site Calculator (BASC), outperforms differential evolution and constrained minima hopping--two state-of-the-art approaches-- in trial examples of carbon monoxide adsorption on a hematite substrate, both with and without a defect.
Validation of a tool predicting important findings on computed tomography among Crohn's disease patients.

BackgroundPatients with Crohn’s disease (CD) are frequently subjected to computed tomography (CT) in the emergency department (ED). This young population is at higher risk of malignancy from radiation exposure.ObjectivesWe aimed to validate a decision tool predicting complications (perforation, abscess or other serious finding) on imaging at two sites.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective review of CT outcomes among patients with CD with ED visits at two tertiary care centers. Inclusion criteria were a CT of the abdomen/pelvis with contrast and complete lab data (erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP)) within 24 hours of arrival at the University of Michigan (UM) (2012–2013) and the University of Pittsburgh (UPMC) (2009–2012). Sensitivity, negative predictive value (NPV), miss rate and CT avoidance rate were calculated.ResultsAt UPMC (n = 210), the tool had a sensitivity of 88.9% and NPV of 98.0%, potentially saving 47.1% from CT with a miss rate of 1.0%. At UM (n = 248), the tool...
Proton Pump Inhibitors Do Not Increase Risk for Clostridium difficile Infection in the Intensive Care Unit

Proton Pump Inhibitors Do Not Increase Risk for Clostridium difficile Infection in the Intensive Care Unit
Fluorescence from Molecular Silver Nanoparticles

Small metal nanoparticles are known to be much more fluorescent than larger plasmonic nanoparticles; however, the nature and origin of their fluorescence are not fully understood. Fluorescence is thought to originate from either the quantum states within the metal core or mixed ligand states at the inorganic–organic interface. Here we show that fluorescence from molecular silver glutathionate nanoparticles has its origin in interfacial electronic states. Fluorescence spectra were found to be independent of size, with very similar wavelength and bandwidth, although the quantum yield was not. Excitation spectra indicated that the strongest fluorescence had its origin in that part of the spectrum that is dominated by ligand-related states. Further, excitations to strictly core states and to higher lying d-band states had no apparent contribution to the fluorescence. Time-resolved spectroscopic measurements showed that Ag32(SG)19 and Ag15(SG)11 have a common emissive state, with the same emission wavelength a...
Alkaline Pretreatment of Switchgrass

Alkaline pretreatment using sodium hydroxide offers a means to extract lignin and acetate from lignocellulosic biomass, in turn enabling higher enzymatic digestibility of the remaining polysaccharides and production of a lignin-enriched stream for potential valorization. Key criteria for alkaline pretreatment processes, which are important for commercial feasibility, include the minimization of carbohydrate loss during pretreatment and the ability to capture carbon lost to the liquor stream, much of which will be feedstock dependent. Here, we present a comprehensive study of alkaline pretreatment of switchgrass over NaOH loadings from 35 to 140 mg NaOH/g dry switchgrass and with a constant charge of 0.2% anthraquinone for pretreatment temperatures between 100 and 160 °C for 30 min. Full compositional analysis of the pretreated solids are reported as a function of pretreatment severity, along with the yields of each biomass component present in the process streams generated during pretreatment (pretreated ...
The Spanish colonial wineries of Moquegua, Peru

The Moquegua Bodegas Project is an ongoing archaeological and historical research project focused on the bodegas (wineries) established by Spanish colonial settlers in the Moquegua valley of far southern Peru. During two seasons of survey, 130 bodega locations were identified in this small valley, testifying to the economic importance of wine and brandy production, chiefly for transport to the mining areas of “Upper Peru.” The 1987 season included shovel testing at 27 sites, mapping of the adobe ruins of 20 bodegas, and excavations at one bodega, Locumbilla, which confirmed an early 17th century date for the site and yielded evidence of a buried kiln. Continuing excavations are planned for Locumbilla and additional bodegas.
Integrated Care for Pain Management Among Hispanic Populations

The management of pain continues to challenge health care providers and the health care system with high direct expenditures for medical care and medication related to pain and the indirect costs associated with lost productivity in the work force. This has contributed to a “pain crisis in America” (Meghani et al., Pain Med, 13, 150–174, 2012, p. 150) and resonates globally. Researchers report community populations may have a pain prevalence as high as 40 % noting minority members are overrepresented and more frequently undertreated (Mossey, Clin Orthop Relat Res, 469, 1859–1870, 2011). Hispanic populations may present unique considerations that derive from the diversity of multinational backgrounds with strongly held values and beliefs and cultural perspectives. The purpose of this chapter is to explore the pain management experience of Hispanic populations, examine a quality improvement approach, and propose evidence-based integrated care solutions for more effective approaches.
Reconfigurable quarter-mode SIW antenna employing a fluidically switchable via

A new method to fluidically switch through via posts is proposed for the first time. The reconfigurable via post is used toward designing a switchable QMSIW antenna. The switching method is based on filling/emptying a non-plated via hole with/from a liquid metal alloy. A QMSIW antenna is designed to initially work at ∼3.2 GHz. Connecting the fluidically switchable via post at the corner of the QMSIW antenna shifts up the operating frequency. This translates into a switching range of 3.2–4.7 GHz. The Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) structures including the micro-channels are bonded to the QMSIW circuit board using a unique fabrication technique.
Elemental changes and alteration recorded by basaltic drill core samples recovered from in situ temperatures up to 345°C in the active, seawater-recharged Reykjanes geothermal system, Iceland

Hydrothermal activity results in element exchanges between seawater and oceanic crust that contribute to many aspects of ocean chemistry; therefore, improving knowledge of the associated chemical processes is of global significance. Hydrothermally altered basaltic drill core samples from the seawater recharged Reykjanes geothermal system in Iceland record elemental gains and losses similar to those observed in samples of hydrothermally altered oceanic crust. At Reykjanes, rocks originally emplaced on the seafloor were buried by continued volcanism and subsided to the current depths (>2250 m below surface). These rocks integrate temperature-dependent elemental gains and losses from multiple stages of hydrothermal alteration that correspond to chemical exchanges observed in rocks from different crustal levels of submarine hydrothermal systems. Specifically, these lithologies have gained U, Mg, Zn and Pb, and have lost K, Rb, Ba, Cu, and light rare earth elements (La through Eu). Alteration and elemental gains and losses in lithologies emplaced on the seafloor can only be explained by a complex multi-stage hydrothermal alteration history. Reykjanes dolerite intrusions record alteration similar to that reported for the sheeted dike section of several examples of oceanic crust. Specifically, Reykjanes dolerites have lost K, Rb, Ba and Pb, and gained Cu. The Reykjanes drill core samples provide a unique analog for seawater-oceanic crust reactions actively occurring at high-temperatures (275°C to 345°C) beneath a seafloor hydrothermal system. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Microarray Analysis of CD34+CXCR4+ and CD34+CXCR4- Cells Reveals Two Distinct Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Populations

Abstract 4798 Although CD34+ cells represent a small population of phenotypically defined cells within the bone marrow and peripheral blood circulation, they remain a very heterogeneous population of cells which contain hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. CXC Chemokine Receptor 4 (CXCR4) is an α-chemokine receptor specific for stromal-derived-factor-1 (SDF-1 also called CXCL12) and is found on CD34+ cells. Plerixafor (also known as Mozobil® or AMD3100) is currently used as a mobilizing agent for CD34+ cells by interfering with the binding of CXCR4 to SDF-1. To explore differences between CD34+CXCR4+ and CD34+CXCR4- populations, gene and microRNA signatures were determined using microarray analysis. Three healthy human donors were cytokine mobilized with G-CSF, peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected by apheresis, and CD34+ cells were immunoselected using the Miltenyi CliniMACS® system and cryopreserved. These cells were then thawed and allowed to sit overnight at 37°C in X-Vivo-10. The following day the cells were stained and sorted on a BD FACSAria III® cell sorter. All three individuals CD34+CXCR4+ and CD34+CXCR4- fell within two rather restrictive populations based on forward and side scatter gating with CD34+CXCR4+ cells routinely being smaller in size than the CD34+CXCR4- populations (Figure 1). Total RNA was isolated from the sorted cells and amplified to cRNA. Control cRNA was labeled with Cy3 dye and experimental cRNA was labeled with Cy5 dye and co-hybridized to a custom-made 17.5K cDNA (UniGene cluster) microarray. Using unsupervised and supervised Eisen9s hierarchical clustering and Array Class Comparison analysis relationships were determined. Hierarchical cluster analysis demonstrated that the CD34+CXCR4+ and CD34+CXCR4- had different gene expression patterns (Figure 2). Ingenuity Pathway Analysis revealed that genes up-regulated in the CD34+CXCR4+ population were related to TREM-1 signaling (innate immunity), dendritic cell maturation, NFAT-regulation of the immune response, and T-cell receptor and NK cell signaling. In contrast, the CD34+CXCR4- population expressed more primitive genes such as those related to IGF-1, ERK/MAPK, IL-3, and Nitric Oxide signaling as well as transcription factors such as N-myc and HOX-A9. MicroRNA profiling of the CD34+CXCR4- population also express the miR-17-92 polycistron cluster (miR17, 18a, 19a, 19b, 20a, 92) (Figure 3). These results are consistent with the CD34+CXCR4- population being more primitive than the CD34+CXCR4+ population. It is interesting to speculate whether the CD34+CXCR4+ population includes a progenitor for T cell and innate immune responses while progenitors for hematopoietic stem cells and adaptive immune responses are within the CD34+CXCR4- populations. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Periodic Solutions for certain Non-Linear Parabolic Partial Differential Equations

A fast method of calculating periodic solutions to certain non-linear parabolic partial differential equations has been developed for two particular electromagnetic problems. The range of application could be wider.
Phakomatoses-Neurocutaneous Syndromes

The phakomatoses are a heterogeneous group of neurocutaneous syndromes with hamartomas in multiple organ systems including skin and the central nervous system. The phakomatoses are neurofibromatosis type 1, neurofibromatosis type 2, tuberous sclerosis, cerebroretinal angiomatosis, encephalotrigeminal angiomatosis, ataxia-telangiectasia, incontinentia pigmenti, racemose angioma and hemangiectatic hypertrophy. This chapter will discuss the systemic and ocular findings for each of these disorders.
Trends in Special Education Eligibility Among Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, 2002-2010

Objective:Although data on publicly available special education are informative and offer a glimpse of trends in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and use of educational services, using these data for population-based public health monitoring has drawbacks. Our objective was to evaluate trends in special education eligibility among 8-year-old children with ASD identified in the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network.Methods:We used data from 5 Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network sites (Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, and North Carolina) during 4 surveillance years (2002, 2006, 2008, and 2010) and compared trends in 12 categories of special education eligibility by sex and race/ethnicity. We used multivariable linear risk regressions to evaluate how the proportion of children with a given eligibility changed over time.Results:Of 6010 children with ASD, more than 36% did not receive an autism eligibility in special education in each surveillance year. From surveilla...
The L-type calcium channel blocker, isradipine, attenuates cue-induced cocaine-seeking by enhancing dopaminergic activity in the ventral tegmental area to nucleus accumbens pathway.

Previous preclinical and clinical investigations have focused on the L-type calcium channel (LTCC) as a potential therapeutic target for substance abuse. While some clinical studies have examined the ability of LTCC blockers to alter cocaine’s subjective effects, very few LTCC studies have examined cocaine relapse. Here, we examined whether ventral tegmental area (VTA)-specific or systemic administration of the LTCC inhibitor, isradipine, altered cocaine-seeking behavior in a rat model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats first received 10 days of cocaine self-administration training (2 h sessions), where active lever depression resulted in delivery of a ∼0.5 mg/kg cocaine infusion paired with a tone + light cue. Rats then underwent 10 days of forced abstinence, without access to cocaine or cocaine cues. Rats were then returned to the opertant chamber for the cue-induced cocaine-seeking test, where active lever depression in the original training context resulted in tone + light cue presentation. We found VTA specific or systemic isradipine administration robustly attenuated cocaine-seeking, without altering cocaine-taking nor natural reward seeking. Dopamine (DA) signaling in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) core is necessary and sufficient for cue-induced drug-seeking. Surprisingly in our study, isradipine enhanced tonic and phasic DA signaling in cocaine abstinent rats, with no change in sucrose abstinent nor naive rats. Strikingly, isradipine’s behavioral effects were dependent upon NAc core DA receptor activation. Together, our findings reveal a novel mechanism by which the FDA-approved drug, isradipine, could act to decrease cocaine relapse.
Development of a Real-Time Web-Based Power Monitoring system for the substation of petrochemical facilities

Petrochemical industry not only consumes large amount of electricity every year but also requires high quality power supplies. Any unexpected power failure could shut down the entire production line and cause significant financial loss. Meanwhile, due to the large electricity consumption and intensive power demand, in-house cogeneration plants have been equipped for most petrochemical facilities. Thus, any power interruption or disturbance between petrochemical facility and interconnected power grids could affect both sides of the power systems. Therefore, having high power quality becomes one of the most critical parts for petrochemical facilities. To avoid unexpected power failure and to provide better understanding of the power system at petrochemical facilities, a fast, precise and reliable power monitoring system is required. A novel Real-Time Web-Based Power Monitoring system on field-programmable gate array (FPGA) platform is proposed in this paper for a power substation at the petrochemical facility. Besides the data collecting with event triggering mechanism and measurement data recording functions, Subsynchronous Oscillation (SSO) detection application is also developed in this system. This proposed monitoring system could provide precise data to help engineers with insightful analysis of the electric system to prevent power failure, and it also could help system operators to have a better understanding of the system operation characteristics.
Complex Motions in a Fermi Oscillator

The nonlinear dynamic behaviors of a Fermi oscillator with two periodic excitations are discussed using the theory of discontinuous dynamical systems. The mechanism of motion switchability in such a system is addressed, and the periodic and chaotic motions for such an oscillator are studied via the mapping structures. A parameter map for different motions is presented.
Lectures on the Infinite

The following set of lectures from the Winter Semester of 1924/25 (Hilbert 1924/25* ) has a different character from the other lecture notes published in this Volume. Hilbert’s logic lectures from the fall of 1917 to the spring of 1924, addressed to advanced students of mathematics, are a remarkable technical achievement.
Conditioning channel meanders to well observations

Assessment of uncertainty in the performance of fluvial reservoirs often requires the ability to generate realizations of channel sands that are conditional to well observations. For channels with low sinuosity this problem has been effectively solved. When the sinuosity is large, however, the standard stochastic models for fluvial reservoirs are not valid, because the deviation of the channel from a principal direction line is multivalued. In this paper, I show how the method of randomized maximum likelihood can be used to generate conditional realizations of channels with large sinuosity. In one example, a Gaussian random field model is used to generate an unconditional realization of a channel with large sinuosity, and this realization is then conditioned to well observations. Channels generated in the second approach are less realistic, but may be sufficient for modeling reservoir connectivity in a realistic way. In the second example, an unconditional realization of a channel is generated by a complex geologic model with random forcing. It is then adjusted in a meaningful way to honor well observations. The key feature in the solution is the use of channel direction instead of channel deviation as the characteristic random function describing the geometry of the channel.
A Wideband High-Power Multi-Standard 23–31 GHz 2×2 Quad Beamformer Chip in SiGe with>15 dBm OP1dB Per Channel

This paper presents a 2×2 quad-core beamformer transmit/receive (TRX) chip with a peak OP1dB of 17 dBm and an OP1dB >15 dBm at 23-31.5 GHz, achieved using an asymmetrical switch design. The chip is built in SiGe BiCMOS and results in a PAE >10% at 23–31 GHz at PldB. Each channel in the 2×2 chip contains 6-bit phase control, 20–26 dB gain control and with a measured IP1dB of −19 dBm and an NF <6.1 dB at 23–31 GHz. The beamformer chip is tested at 27 GHz and using a 16-QAM 7 Gbaud waveform (28 Gbps data rate) and results in <9.8% EVM. The chip is also tested at 22–30 GHz using a 64-QAM 1 Gbaud waveform (6 Gbps) and results in an EVM of 3-3.5% over the entire bandwidth. To our knowledge, this work achieves the widest bandwidth and the highest output power at record PAE levels in the Tx mode, and can support all worldwide 5G bands around 28 GHz.
Use and perceived safety of stylets for neonatal endotracheal intubation: a national survey.

To examine the use and perceived safety of stylets for neonatal intubation in a cohort of providers in the United States. A cross-sectional survey was sent to members of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine. A total of 640 responses were received. 57% reported using a stylet ‘every time’ or ‘almost every time’ they intubated. The preferred stylet bend was a smooth bend of <30 degrees. 71% of respondents believed that stylets were safe. Reported complications from stylet use included tube dislodgement during stylet removal (32%), airway injury with bleeding (9%), and tracheal perforation (2%). Stylet use was common. There was fair consistency on preference for stylet bend and position. Stylet use was believed to be safe, but complications were observed by many respondents. Additional studies are needed to examine the risks and benefits of stylet use during neonatal intubation.
Liquid crystal elastomers: an introduction and review of emerging technologies

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are a unique class of materials that combine rubber elasticity with liquid crystalline anisotropy to produce exceptional physical and optical properties such as act...
Abstract CT052: A Phase Ib and II clinical trial investigating the efficacy of nitric oxide deprivation and docetaxel in triple negative breast cancer

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive disease that currently lacks an efficacious form of therapy. Although chemotherapy is the current standard of care for metastatic TNBC, the 5-year prognosis remains grim with a high rate of disease recurrence. Cancer relapse is thought to be initiated by chemotherapy-resistant breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs). These BCSCs give rise to a diverse clonal population that results in a heterogeneous cancer, which complicates targeted therapeutic strategies. Our previous studies revealed that BCSCs utilize inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)-derived nitric oxide to promote their proliferation, migration, and self-renewal capacity. In an effort to target the BCSC population, we found that iNOS inhibition with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) sensitized BCSCs to docetaxel in vivo in TNBC xenograft models, leading to decreased BCSC viability and tumor burden. These findings suggest that BCSC resist conventional therapy in a nitric oxide-dependent manner and that combination of L-NMMA with docetaxel will effectively target BCSCs to prevent further relapse. A phase Ib/II clinical trial was conducted to determine the maximum tolerated dose, recommended phase 2 dose (R2PD), dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), and efficacy of the L-NMMA and docetaxel combination in TNBC patients with chemotherapy-refractory locally advanced or metastatic disease. For the phase Ib portion of the study, a standard Bayesian continual reassessment method is being used to investigate 7 dose levels of L-NMMA (5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15, 17.5, and 20 mg/kg) and two dose levels of docetaxel (75 and 100 mg/m2). Sixteen patients have been recruited to date, and based on current pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety data, the RP2D is expected to be docetaxel 100 mg/m2 (Day 1) and L-NMMA 20 mg/kg (Days 1-5) every 3 weeks. Two and three patients received 15 mg/kg L-NMMA + 75 mg/m2 docetaxel and 17.5 mg/kg L-NMMA + 100 mg/m2 docetaxel, respectively. Of these 5 patients, one partial responder completed 8 cycles before discontinuing treatment due to taxane-associated neuropathy. Among the five patients treated at the RP2D, only one taxane-associated DLT occurred. The overall response rate for patients treated at the higher doses was 22.2%. Early results of the phase Ib/II trial indicate the safety, tolerability, and promising activity of the first-in-class pan-NOS inhibitor L-NMMA in combination with chemotherapy in the treatment of chemotherapy-refractory TNBC. Citation Format: Chung AW, Ensor JE, Darcourt J, Belcheva A, Patel T, Chang JC, Niravath PA. A phase Ib/II clinical trial investigating the efficacy of nitric oxide deprivation and docetaxel in triple negative breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr OT3-08-01.
Renin Activity in Heart Failure with Reduced Systolic Function-New Insights.

Regardless of the cause, symptomatic heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (rEF) is characterized by pathological activation of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) with sodium retention and extracellular fluid expansion (edema). Here, we review the role of active renin, a crucial, upstream enzymatic regulator of the RAAS, as a prognostic and diagnostic plasma biomarker of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) progression; we also discuss its potential as a pharmacological bio-target in HF therapy. Clinical and experimental studies indicate that plasma renin activity is elevated with symptomatic HFrEF with edema in patients, as well as in companion animals and experimental models of HF. Plasma renin activity levels are also reported to be elevated in patients and animals with rEF before the development of symptomatic HF. Modulation of renin activity in experimental HF significantly reduces edema formation and the progression of systolic dysfunction and improves survival. Thus, specific assessment and targeting of elevated renin activity may enhance diagnostic and therapeutic precision to improve outcomes in appropriate patients with HFrEF.
Born to Be Bad

Using a geographic measure of unethical culture developed by Parsons, Sulaeman and Titman (2018) and a novel dataset of financial advisors' childhood residences, we show that advisors who grow up in U.S. counties with less ethical cultures are more likely to commit misconduct as adults. Our identification strategy exploits variation in childhood backgrounds between advisors working together in the same branch office in adulthood, thereby overcoming the reflection problem. Our results are robust to controlling for other factors from the early-life experiences literature such as income, education, ethnicity and religiosity. We find that areas with high concentrations of advisors that hail from less ethical cultures have lower levels of household equity participation. Our findings have important implications for how regional cultural norms regarding misconduct evolve.
Measurements of Resonant Kerr Self-Focusing and Self-Defocusing of Tunable, $4.3\ \boldsymbol{\mu} \mathbf{m}$ Radiation in CO 2 Gas

We report detailed measurements of resonant self-focusing and self-defocusing of a continuously tunable Fe:ZnSe laser operating within the 4P-branch of the CO 2 molecule. We determine the dispersion of this resonant nonlinearity near a rovibrational transition.
Admission and Assessment of Music Degree Candidates

The purpose of this survey study was to examine current admissions processes and assessment practices for music programs of National Association of Schools of Music member institutions. Representat...
Temperature dependence of CO oxidation on Rh(111) by adsorbed oxygen

Abstract Carbon monoxide oxidation over oxidized Rh surfaces is known to be sensitive to both the oxygen species present as well as the surface temperature. Although CO oxidation on Rh(111) is a prototypical heterogeneously catalyzed oxidation reaction, questions remain about the reactivity of the individual oxygenaceous phases present on the surface. For example, the effects of surface temperature or the duration of CO exposure have not been previously determined on the oxygen-rich, (2 × 1)-O surface adlayer. In this paper, we present results from a study that used a combination of ultra-high vacuum surface science techniques to measure the oxidation of CO by oxygen in the (2 × 1)-O adlayer. The surface temperature during the CO exposure was varied between 100 K and 350 K, and the effect of the surface temperature on CO oxidation was determined for CO exposures between 5 L and 300 L. We observed that the surface temperature had little effect on the CO2 yield or the amount of residual oxygen for CO exposures up to 300 K, but these quantities were reduced after CO exposures above 300 K. We also found that CO oxidation was unchanged by the extent of the CO exposure at both 300 K and 350 K. Taken together, these results show that CO was oxidized over the (2 × 1)-O adlayer during CO exposures above 300 K via a different reaction pathway than the one followed by co-adsorbed O and CO in the (2 × 2)-2O+CO adlayer and that these lower-barrier reactive sites were not regenerated during the CO exposure.
Economic Burden of Pain

Pain is a pervasive health issue that adversely affects both patients and society. The socioeconomic burden of pain conditions is a multifaceted problem with many involved stakeholders who work in concert with one another and are similarly affected by actions of any one party. Conservative estimates of the healthcare costs associated with the management of pain conditions suggest a burden of $560–635 billion.
Temporal trends in aluminum smelter-derived polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in outmigrant juvenile Chinook salmon from Kitimat, British Columbia, Canada.

Abstract Aluminum smelter-derived polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in outmigrant juvenile Chinook salmon were evaluated in Kitimat Arm, British Columbia, Canada from 2000 to 2004, and in 2015. Decades of continual smelter operations by Rio Tinto resulted in PAH contamination of marine sediments at levels associated with adverse effects in juvenile salmon. Recently, smelter operations have undergone process changes to reduce PAH input to the environment. The PAH concentrations in juvenile Chinook salmon observed in 2000 to 2004, at sites nearest the smelter were comparable to salmon in other urban areas where reduced disease resistance was observed; the levels were lower in 2015 than 2000–2004 suggesting that the recent process changes were effective. Further, these data establish a benchmark for assessing any future changes affecting PAH input and the potential risks to the receiving environment.
Procedural Rationality in Repeated Games

This paper considers finitely repeated games played by procedurally rational players, who sample their available alternatives and use realized payoffs as a basis for strategy selection. The corresponding solution concept is that of (payoff) sampling equilibrium, which is a distribution over strategies that is self-replicating under the sampling procedure. Sampling equilibria are rest points of a disequilibrium dynamic process, and stability with respect to this process can be used as an equilibrium selection criterion. The structure of stable sampling equilibria in symmetric, finitely repeated games is characterized, and illustrated with applications to cooperation and coordination over time.
Existential Well-Being and Health

Among the profoundly signi cant messages of Man’s Search for Meaning (Frankl, 1946/1992) was the observation that those individuals who maintained a sense that life had meaning and purpose, even amid the horrors of a Nazi concentration camp, survived longer. As a physician, Frankl re ected on this idea in terms of the workings of the body’s biological systems and, in particular, immune processes. In this chapter, scienti c evidence suggesting that possessing a strong existential well-being is, in fact, accompanied by (and possibly promotes) better biological regulation and better health is examined. is agenda, for which emerging empirical ndings are preliminary and partial at best, converges with e orts to foster a perspective on “positive health” that is fundamentally concerned with explicating the physiological substrates of human ourishing (Ry & Singer, 1998). us, rather than de ne human health as the absence of illness, the positive-health approach begins with the presence of wellness and then probes the neural circuitry and biological processes that underlie it. Probing the inner workings between well-being, the brain, and biology is the essential quest for understanding positive health.