cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Developmental Model of Heterogeneous Economic Voting in New Democracies

I argue that information and trust in nascent democratic institutions are two important sources of heterogeneity in economic voting in transition democracies. Economic voting develops in postcommunist electorates as ambiguity regarding the link between government policy and economic outcomes declines. The link becomes less ambiguous as citizens become more informed about how democratic institutions function and gain increasing confidence or trust in the responsiveness of these institutions to public preferences. In the early period of democratization the conditions necessary for an effective agency relationship between voter and incumbent are not yet fully developed. Economic voting increases as these levels of information on, and trust in, government rise. The analysis that tests these propositions is based on a public opinion survey conducted in Hungary in 1997. The test is replicated with a 1997 Polish election survey.
The agonism and synergistic potentiation of weak partial agonists by triethylamine in α1-adrenergic receptor activation: Evidence for a salt bridge as the initiating process

α1-adrenergic receptor (AR) activation is thought to be initiated by disruption of a constraining interhelical salt bridge ([Porter et al., 1996][1]). Disruption of this salt bridge is achieved through a competition for the aspartic acid residue in transmembrane domain three by the protonated amine of the endogenous ligand norepinephrine and a lysine residue in transmembrane domain seven. To further test this hypothesis, we investigated the possibility that a simple amine could mimic an important functional group of the endogenous ligand and break this α1-AR ionic constraint leading to agonism. Triethylamine (TEA) was able to generate concentration-dependent increases of soluble inositol phosphates in COS-1 cells transiently transfected with the hamster α1b-AR and in Rat-1 fibroblasts stably transfected with the human α1a-AR subtype. TEA was also able to synergistically potentiate the second messenger production by weak partial α1-AR agonists and this effect was fully inhibited by the α1-AR antagonist prazosin. However, this synergistic potentiation was not observed for full α1-AR agonists. Instead, TEA caused a parallel rightward shift of the dose-response curve, consistent with the properties of competitive antagonism. TEA specifically bound to a single population of α1-ARs with a K i of 28.7 ± 4.7 mm. In addition, the site of binding by TEA to the α1-AR is at the conserved aspartic acid residue in transmembrane domain three, which is part of the constraining salt bridge. These results indicate a direct interaction of TEA in the receptor agonist binding pocket that leads to a disruption of the constraining salt bridge, thereby initiating α1-AR activation. [1]: #ref-10
Come Fly with Me: Screencasts with Zooming Fly-in-style Highlights

Abstract Although digital learning objects such as screencasts and video tutorials are increasingly used to teach information literacy and library-related content, the design of those learning objects has been little studied and has been rarely tied to findings from the learning sciences literature. Low-effort, high-impact evidence-based enhancements are especially important with screencasts that teach library interfaces, since they are often updated and redesigned. This study analyzes the performance of library-related tasks by 39 students exposed to digital learning objects, and it tests whether learning is facilitated by highlighting elements known as “callouts.” This study tests a) whether these callouts improve learning and, b) whether gradually revealed, “fly-in” style callouts—in contrast with tutorials with abruptly revealed callouts and with tutorials without callouts—have a more pronounced effect on learning. Study results supported the hypothesis that these highlighting callouts improved learning, although gradually revealed callouts and abruptly revealed callouts were similarly effective. Participants who viewed tutorials with callouts performed twice as well on some library-related tasks. Although the relatively small size of the study sample limits the statistical power, these results suggest that callouts are effective in helping learners select and pay attention to the most relevant aspects of a presentation.
On Models of Sustainable Development of Key District of Chang-Zhu-Tan Metropolitan Area——A Case Study from Tianxin District of Changsha City

The model of sustainable development,such as new eco-demonstration area of Tianxin District,which is a key district of Chang-Zhu-Tan Metropolitan Area,was studied in this paper.The two models of eco-urban and complex system of nature-economic-society of ecological economic,ecological society,ecological environment was set up through eco-demonstration city construction of Tianxin District,sustainnable development of society,economic and environment was realized.It's a good case of sustainable development for Chang-Zhu-Tan Metropolitan Area.
Book Review: How Legal Academics Can Participate in Judicial Education: A How-To Guide by Richard Posner; Divergent Paths: The Academy and the Judiciary. By Richard A. Posner. Cambridge, Mass. Harvard University Press, 2016

One of the core axioms of legal and political philosophy that everyone in society benefits from a well-informed judiciary. However, most academics working in the area of judicial studies focus on issues relating to judicial selection and judicial independence, overlooking the critical role that continuing judicial education can play in improving judicial performance. Although some progress has been made in this regard in recent years, more needs to be done.Help seems to be on the way in the form of Judge Richard Posner’s most recent book, Divergent Paths: The Academy and the Judiciary, which provides a detailed analysis of how the legal academy can assist with the education of current and future judges. Judge Posner’s candid discussion is both novel and noteworthy, particular given various controversies relating to the nature, scope and need for judicial education as well as the role that outsiders, including academics, can and should play in judicial education.This Review begins with a brief introduction to the contemporary debate about judicial education at both the federal and state level before analyzing Judge Posner’s proposals regarding the academy’s role in judicial education in light of best practices in the field. The discussion focuses on three separate types of initiatives: those involving legal scholarship, those involving the law school curriculum and those involving academic participation in continuing judicial education. In so doing, this Review seeks not only to provide individual academics with tangible ideas on how to enhance their own teaching and scholarship, but also to offer the legal academy an opportunity to improve educational practices on both an institutional and systemic level.
The Biopolitical Usage of Colonial Camp Systems between 1896 and 1908 and the Quest for Restorative Justice

In 2004, a minister from Germany visited Namibia and personally apologized for the colonial-era violence that killed at least 60,000 Herero people who survived the Battle of Waterberg and who were then rounded up and placed in German prisoner of war camps. Seven years later, German medical institutions repatriated Herero and Nama skulls that had been transported from Africa to Germany for anthropological studies in race science. All this happened because today’s Namibia have to deal with some of the imperial and colonial legacies that were bequeathed by those who once lived in a place called German South-West Africa (GSWA).
Review of Critical Illness Myopathy and Neuropathy.

Critical illness myopathy (CIM) and neuropathy are underdiagnosed conditions within the intensive care setting and contribute to prolonged mechanical ventilation and ventilator wean failure and ultimately lead to significant morbidity and mortality. These conditions are often further subdivided into CIM, critical illness polyneuropathy (CIP), or the combination—critical illness polyneuromyopathy (CIPNM). In this review, we discuss the epidemiology and pathophysiology of CIM, CIP, and CIPNM, along with diagnostic considerations such as detailed clinical examination, electrophysiological studies, and histopathological review of muscle biopsy specimens. We also review current available treatments and prognosis. Increased awareness and early recognition of CIM, CIP, and CIPNM in the intensive care unit setting may lead to earlier treatments and rehabilitation, improving patient outcomes.
The Impact of Obesity on Patients Bridged to Transplantation With Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices.

Abstract Objectives This study sought to determine if obese patients had worse post–left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation outcomes and if the implantation of an LVAD allowed for weight loss. Background Obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease including heart failure. Obese heart failure patients have better outcomes than those with normal weight; however, obese patients have worse outcomes after heart transplantation. Methods Patients were identified in the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database that underwent LVAD implantation as bridge to transplantation from May 2004 and April 2014, with follow-up through June 2014. Patients were grouped according to body mass index (BMI) based on the World Health Organization classification. Results Among 3,856 patients, the risk of death or delisting was not significantly different between BMI groups (p = 0.347). There was no increased risk of death (p = 0.234) or delisting (p = 0.918). The risk of complication requiring UNOS status upgrade was increased for those with class II obesity or greater (hazard ratio: 1.48; p = 0.004), driven by increased infection and thromboembolism. Obese patients had worse post-transplantation outcomes. Weight loss substantial enough to decrease BMI group was achieved by a small proportion of patients listed with class I obesity or greater (9.6% to 15.5%). Conclusions Patients with obesity had similar freedom from death or delisting while on LVAD support. However, class II obese or greater patients had an increased risk of complications requiring UNOS status upgrade compared with those with normal BMI during LVAD support and decreased post-transplantation survival. Weight loss on device therapy was possible, but uncommon. Careful consideration is needed when a bridge to weight loss strategy is proposed.
Rapid transition from drinking to alcohol dependence among adolescent and young-adult newly incident drinkers in the United States, 2002–2013

Background To study male-female and age differences in estimates of rapid transition from first full drink to alcohol dependence among youthful newly incident drinkers in the United States (US). Method The study population included 12-to-25-year-old non-institutionalized US civilian residents, sampled for US National Surveys on Drug Use and Health 2002-2013, with assessments via confidential computer assisted self-interviews. Newly incident drinkers are those who had their first full drink soon before the assessment (n=32,562 12-to-25-year- olds). Alcohol dependence (AD) criteria are from DSM-IV. Results For 12-to-25-year-old females, the peak risk for making a rapid transition from first full drink to alcohol dependence is seen during adolescence, followed by declining estimates (meta-analysis summary=3% at 12-17 years of age, 95% CI=2%, 3%). Among males, corresponding estimates fluctuate around 2%, with no appreciable differences across age strata. Among 12-to-17-year-old newly incident drinkers, there is a female excess in the rapid transition to alcohol dependence; a male excess is observed among young adult newly incident drinkers. Evaluated cohort-wise, using an epidemiological mutoscope view, individual cohorts show a congruent pattern, with age at first drink held constant. Conclusions Studying multiple replication samples of young newly incident drinkers, we discovered a clear female excess in the risk of a rapid transition from first full drink to alcohol dependence among adolescents, with age patterns differing across males and females.
Decreasing maternal myostatin programs adult offspring bone strength in a mouse model of osteogenesis imperfecta

During fetal development, the uterine environment can have effects on offspring bone architecture and integrity that persist into adulthood; however, the biochemical and molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Myostatin is a negative regulator of muscle mass. Parental myostatin deficiency (Mstntm1Sjl/+) increases muscle mass in wild-type offspring, suggesting an intrauterine programming effect. Here, we hypothesized that Mstntm1Sjl/+ dams would also confer increased bone strength. In wild-type offspring, maternal myostatin deficiency altered fetal growth and calvarial collagen content of newborn mice and conferred a lasting impact on bone geometry and biomechanical integrity of offspring at 4 mo of age, the age of peak bone mass. Second, we sought to apply maternal myostatin deficiency to a mouse model with osteogenesis imperfecta (Col1a2oim), a heritable connective tissue disorder caused by abnormalities in the structure and/or synthesis of type I collagen. Femora of male Col1a2oim/+ offspring from natural mating of Mstntm1Sjl/+ dams to Col1a2oim/+sires had a 15% increase in torsional ultimate strength, a 29% increase in tensile strength, and a 24% increase in energy to failure compared with age, sex, and genotype-matched offspring from natural mating of Col1a2oim/+ dams to Col1a2oim/+ sires. Finally, increased bone biomechanical strength of Col1a2oim/+ offspring that had been transferred into Mstntm1Sjl/+ dams as blastocysts demonstrated that the effects of maternal myostatin deficiency were conferred by the postimplantation environment. Thus, targeting the gestational environment, and specifically prenatal myostatin pathways, provides a potential therapeutic window and an approach for treating osteogenesis imperfecta.
Improvements in Gait With Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants.

Objective:To evaluate whether wearing auditory assistive devices can improve gait and dynamic balance.Patients:Three adult users of bilateral hearing assistive devices: one with cytomegalovirus exposure wearing cochlear implants, one with Meniere's disease wearing hearing aids, and one with presbyst
Social outrage and organizational behavior: A national study of child protective service decisions

Abstract In this paper, we extend to CPS, a risk model commonly employed in the fields of environmental science, food safety and chemical engineering, where risk is conceptualized as a function of both technical hazard and social outrage. Much as Jagannathan and Camasso (2011, 2013) did, we argue that child fatalities resulting from maltreatment and the social outrage they often engender serve to influence CPS operations by altering CPS worker and child welfare organizational decision rules. In our empirical analyses, we test for an independent effect of social outrage (captured by child fatalities) on worker decisions while controlling for hazard and other relevant determinants. We also test whether this relationship is mediated by child welfare reform measures undertaken via judicial interventions or class action litigation. Using data from NCANDS (n = 1122 state-year observations over a 22 year time period across all 50 states and District of Columbia) and panel regression methods we show that social outrage caused by child fatalities significantly and directly influence child welfare worker decisions to: accept a referral of alleged maltreatment for investigation, substantiate reports of maltreatment, and place children out-of-home.
Social Relationships and Inflammatory Markers in the MIDUS Cohort: The Role of Age and Gender Differences.

Objective: To better understand age and gender differences in associations of social relationships with chronic inflammation. Method: Using a sample of middle-aged and older adults (N = 963) from t...
Biologically inspired optical materials and devices harnessing nature's light manipulation strategies for dynamic optical materials

Many concepts for the realization of photonic elements that are unique in their design, material composition and fabrication strategies can be identified by taking a careful look at nature's light manipulation strategies. By exploring design concepts found in biological photonic systems, versatile approaches for the creation of multifunctional, hierarchically structured, dynamic bio-inspired material systems can be identified. Here we present a choice of material systems and devices that employ bio-inspired photonic architectures, implemented in soft, and fluid materials, with tunable and stimuli-responsive behavior.
Backstories on the US Opioid Epidemic. Good Intentions Gone Bad, an Industry Gone Rogue, and Watch Dogs Gone to Sleep

Epidemics of opioid use are old news in the United States, but an epidemic that kills over 200,000 Americans is not. A multiplicity of intertwined factors have brought us to this place. From 30,000 feet, it is the story of good intentions gone bad, a drug industry gone rogue, and government watch dog agencies gone to sleep. At ground level, it is the story of physicians unfamiliar with addictive drugs and drug addiction, new long-acting opioids deceptively marketed, cheap black tar heroin, encouragement to use opioids for chronic noncancer pain by professional organizations with conflicts of interest and without science, a culture intolerant to pain and tolerant to drug use, and the greedy response of the pharmaceutical industry and drug cartels to an expanding market opportunity. These factors are among those that have joined to form a tsunami of addiction and deaths that keeps on coming. A better understanding of them could speed the end of the present cycle of opioid abuse, perhaps prevent others, and inform future decisions about pain management.
Erratum to “A Critical Analysis of Eight-Electromagnet Manipulation Systems: The Role of Electromagnet Configuration on Strength, Isotropy, and Access”

It is known that in the creation of isotropic magnetic manipulation systems using a set of stationary electromagnets, eight electromagnets are necessary to ensure that there are no singularities in the workspace. A variety of eight-electromagnet configurations have been proposed to date. In the first contribution of this letter, we conduct a critical comparison of these proposed configurations, and find that certain configurations are superior in terms of field and torque generation, whereas others are superior in terms of force generation due to the spatial derivative of the field. All of the prior configurations comprise a high degree of symmetry, yet access to the workspace varies widely between designs. In the second contribution of this letter, we propose a new configuration that does not comprise the symmetry seen in prior systems, and also provides more open access to the manipulation workspace than prior systems, yet still exhibits an isotropic workspace with comparable performance to prior systems. We conclude that designers of isotropic eight-electromagnet manipulation systems should not feel obliged to incorporate symmetry into their design.
Novel strategies of gastric and duodenal mucosal protection against NSAID injury: role of protease inhibitors, muscle relaxants and growth factors

The pathogenesis of gastroduodenal mucosal lesions induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is a complex and multifactorial process [1–3]. Since these lesions involve a spectrum of alterations including single ulcers, multiple localized haemorrhagic erosions and diffuse mucosal changes whose pathogenesis is poorly understood, the term NSAID gastropathy is often used as a group designation [3]. The NSAID gastropathy has certain similarities and differences with non-specific ‘peptic’ ulcers, e.g. the natural history of both lesions is incompletely understood and while NSAID gastropathy is more frequent in females and localized mostly in the stomach, ‘peptic’ ulcers are more prevalent in males and in the duodenum [2].
Peroxidase as an Oxygenase

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the role of peroxidase as an oxygenase. The oxidations carried out by plant tissues are varied in character than those in animal systems. The study of the oxidatic action of peroxidase has thrown light on the chemical behavior of the enzyme but also provides a cautionary tale for enzymologists. The demonstration of oxygenase-like activity in an enzyme preparation does not prove enzymic activation of oxygen. The occurrence of hydroxylations in which the oxygen atom incorporated is derived from molecular oxygen does not suffice for such a proof. The peroxidase effect is the most striking example of a group of autoxidations catalyzed by hemoproteins subserving other roles. Under some conditions, catalase promotes the oxidation of azide by molecular oxygen and affects the rates of oxidation produced by certain flavoproteins, in an indirect way. Methemoglobin, which gives rise to free radicals in the presence of peroxide, catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of oxalacetic. Peroxidase catalyzes a reaction with molecular oxygen by forming reactive free radicals during its peroxidatic activity; as an enzyme it remains specific for peroxide as substrate.
Alternative Splicing: Regulation of Drosophila melanogaster Sex Determination

Alternative splicing of pre-mRNAs is widespread in eukaryotes and provides a key mechanism for generating different gene products, often with distinct or specialized functions, from a single transcription unit. In insects, alternative splicing plays an especially important role in the process of sex determination, providing the mechanism for remembering sexual identity (determination) and for orchestrating sexual development (differentiation).
On Sensory Eye Dominance Revealed by Binocular Integrative and Binocular Competitive Stimuli.

Purpose Two core processes underlie 3-D binocular vision. The first, a binocular combination/summation process, integrates similar feature signals from the two eye channels to form a binocular representation. The second, a binocular inhibitory process, suppresses interocular conflicting signals or falsely matched binocular representations to establish single vision. Having an intrinsic interocular imbalance within one or both processes can cause sensory eye dominance (SED), related to imbalances of combination (SEDcombo) and/or inhibition (SEDinhibition). While much has recently been revealed about SEDcombo and SEDinhibition, the relationship between them is still unknown. Methods We measured observers' foveal SEDcombo and SEDinhibition, respectively, with a pair of dichoptic horizontal sine wave gratings with different phases and binocular rivalry stimulus with vertical and horizontal gratings. We then measured horizontal and vertical monocular contrast thresholds using sinusoidal grating stimuli, and stereo thresholds using random-dot stereograms. Results There exists a strong correlation between SEDcombo and SEDinhibition. An observer's interocular difference in contrast threshold was not always consistent with his/her SEDcombo and SEDinhihition, suggesting a partial binocular origin for the underlying imbalances. We also found stereo thresholds significantly increased with the magnitudes of SEDcombo, as well as with the magnitude of SEDinhibition. Conclusions Our findings suggest a common origin for interocular imbalance in the two different binocular processes and that both types of sensory eye dominance are significant factors in impeding stereopsis.
NIMG-19. SEX-SPECIFIC BRAIN MAPS FOR RISK OF SEIZURE AMONG GLIOMA PATIENTS

PURPOSE: Despite a growing body of research on the etiology of seizures in the brain tumor population, it is not yet clear why approximately one third of this population presents with seizure. In this retrospective study we seek to assess the impact of tumor location on the risk of seizure among male and female glioma patients, respectively. METHODS From our multi-institutional database, we selected adult patients with contrast-enhancing gliomas (any grade) and known seizure-presentation status at initial diagnosis. Tumors were segmented on pretreatment T2-FLAIR, T2, and post-gadolinium T1 (T1Gd) MR sequences. We warped cortical and subcortical probabilistic atlases to patient images and estimated tumor burden (%) on structures within each lobe and the deep brain. We calculated risk of seizure for various levels of tumor burden and used the result to create sex-specific risk-maps
Chronic Inflammation in HIV Pathogenesis: Effects on Immune Cells, Organ Systems, and Systemic Consequences

Abstract Chronic inflammation in HIV infection arises mainly from a gut breach that occurs early in infection. The breach is followed by microbial translocation which activates a myriad of immune components and is not fully rescued by antiretroviral therapy (ART). T cells are activated, memory B cells and natural killer cells have abnormal function, neutrophils become suppressive, and platelets are activated. Monocyte and macrophages become pro-inflammatory and their activation is associated with systemic inflammation which subsides in treated HIV infection but does not return to normal. Recovery of CD4 T cells after ART treatment is linked to levels of chronic inflammation. Multiorgan systems are affected by chronic inflammation during HIV infection including liver and kidney. Other comorbidities are increased including cardiovascular disease, lipodystrophy, and reduced neurocognition which are all associated with increased levels of inflammation. Accelerated aging post-ART may also occur. In many ways, this confluence of effects can resemble obesity, which is also characterized by microbial translocation and chronic inflammation.
Biomarkers Detection for Toxicity Testing Using Metabolomics

Abstract Metabolomics is the comprehensive and quantitative analysis of all small molecule metabolites in a biological system under study. Statistical analyses are performed on metabolomics data and the results reveal metabolites whose concentrations are significantly different between groups of organisms in a study. These results can lead to the identification of biomarkers. Metabolomics has been widely applied in many subdisciplines of toxicology to help elucidate pathways and modes of action of toxicity. These studies have also identified a large number of candidate biomarkers of toxicity. However, with the exception of a few more thoroughly investigated areas such as hepatotoxicity, most of these candidate biomarkers are not validated. Validation will require more accurate and precise quantitation of candidate biomarkers in larger groups of subjects. With further validation, biomarkers discovered using metabolomics approaches have the potential to become extremely useful tools for investigation of effect, exposure, and susceptibility in toxicology.
Hypoglycemia awareness and burden among hospitalized patients at high risk for hypoglycemia

Abstract Background Hypoglycemia, a common complication of insulin therapy in patients with diabetes, is associated with increased hospital morbidity and mortality. Hypoglycemia may be underrecognized in hospitalized patients due to impaired counter regulation or reduced recognition. Beta blocker (BB) use may also affect hypoglycemia recognition. Aim To characterize hypoglycemia unawareness and patient perceived hypoglycemia burden in hospitalized patients. Materials and methods Over a 2-month period, we prospectively identified non-critically ill cognitively intact hospitalized insulin-requiring patients who were undergoing bedside glucose monitoring. Participants were included if they reported any episode of hypoglycemia in the 30 days prior to admission and either had no BB use or were on stable BB for 90 days. Hypoglycemia unawareness was assessed using the Clarke score and burden of hypoglycemia was assessed with the (TRIM-HYPO) score. Results Of the 46 participants, 20 were not taking a BB and 26 were taking a BB. Predictors of hypoglycemia during admission included glucose coefficient of variation and hospital length of stay. Nine participants (20%) had hypoglycemia unawareness (Clarke score ≥4). Participants with a history of coronary artery disease were less likely to have impaired awareness. Burden of hypoglycemia was associated with more hypoglycemia and longer hospital length of stay. There were no differences in measures of hypoglycemia unawareness or burden according to BB use. Conclusions BB use was not related to hypoglycemia unawareness, or burden in hospitalized high risk patients. Hypoglycemia burden may identify patients at higher risk of hypoglycemia during admission.
Concept of overweight bias among healthcare professionals: An evolutionary concept analysis

The aim of this concept analysis was to identify the attributes of overweight bias among healthcare providers (HCPs) and create a clear definition to guide the recognition of overweight bias among HCPs. Settings within the healthcare system are not exempt from bias and the stigmatization of persons with obesity. Overweight bias among HCPs may negatively impact health care and health outcomes. Rodger's evolutionary method was used to guide this concept analysis. The databases CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO were searched. The analysis provided clarification of the concept to facilitate HCP self-awareness of overweight bias. A definition of the concept of overweight bias among HCPs is provided along with its attributes, antecedents, and consequences.
In silico analyses suggest the cardiac ganglion of the lobster, Homarus americanus, contains a diverse array of putative innexin/innexin-like proteins, including both known and novel members of this protein family

Gap junctions are physical channels that connect adjacent cells, permitting the flow of small molecules/ions between the cytoplasms of the coupled units. Innexin/innexin-like proteins are responsible for the formation of invertebrate gap junctions. Within the nervous system, gap junctions often function as electrical synapses, providing a means for coordinating activity among electrically coupled neurons. While some gap junctions allow the bidirectional flow of small molecules/ions between coupled cells, others permit flow in one direction only or preferentially. The complement of innexins present in a gap junction determines its specific properties. Thus, understanding innexin diversity is key for understanding the full potential of electrical coupling in a species/system. The decapod crustacean cardiac ganglion (CG), which controls cardiac muscle contractions, is a simple pattern-generating neural network with extensive electrical coupling among its circuit elements. In the lobster, Homarus americanus, prior work suggested that the adult neuronal innexin complement consists of six innexins (Homam-Inx1-4 and Homam-Inx6-7). Here, using a H. americanus CG-specific transcriptome, we explored innexin complement in this portion of the lobster nervous system. With the exception of Homam-Inx4, all of the previously described innexins appear to be expressed in the H. americanus CG. In addition, transcripts encoding seven novel putative innexins (Homam-Inx8-14) were identified, four (Homam-Inx8-11) having multiple splice variants, e.g., six for Homam-Inx8. Collectively, these data indicate that the innexin complement of the lobster nervous system in general, and the CG specifically, is likely significantly greater than previously reported, suggesting the possibility of expanded gap junction diversity and function in H. americanus.
Urban youth preserving the environmental commons: student learning in place-based stewardship education as citizen scientists

The urban ecology and especially youth of color living in urban spaces have received relatively little attention in environmental education. The purpose of this work was to assess what urban youth learn about the Environmental Commons by participating in place-based stewardship education (PBSE) projects. By the Environmental Commons we refer to: 1) the natural resources and systems on which all life depends, and 2) the public spaces and processes in which people work together to determine how they will care for those resources and for the communities they inhabit. Core principles in all projects include: experiential education about the natural environment in the local urban ecology; students’ scientific and civic agency; and collective learning/action in teams of students, teachers, and adult community partners committed to sustaining the local ecosystem. After engaging in the projects, students were asked to reflect in their own words on what they had learned. The reflective essays of 205 children (14% in 4th–5th grade) and adolescents (86% in 6th–12th grade) from predominantly (79%) racial/ethnic minority backgrounds and residing in urban communities were analyzed. Coding was informed by Environmental Commons theory and by Elinor Ostrom’s work on the practices of groups that are effective in stewarding common pool resources, with the highest number of coding categories assigned to any individual response being 8. Analyses revealed that students: became aware of human impact on nature and were resolved to redress negative impact; identified as stakeholders of the environmental commons and their local community; felt a sense of pride and collective efficacy in their team efforts that benefitted both the human and more than human communities with whom they identified. Verbatim excerpts from students’ reflective essays are included to illustrate the range of ways that youth interpret in their own words the interdependence of human life with other living systems and the responsibility of humans to work together to sustain those living systems. Since younger generations will bear the burdens of the climate crisis, it is imperative that they reimagine what gives their lives meaning. The PBSE model documented here offers hope for nurturing an identification and commitment to the Environmental Commons in urban youth.
Hawaiian Nysius Insects Rely on an Obligate Symbiont with a Reduced Genome That Retains a Discrete Nutritional Profile to Match Their Plant Seed Diet.

Seed-feeding Nysius insects (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) have a symbiotic association with distinct intracellular bacteria, "Candidatus Schneideria nysicola" (Gammaproteobacteria). While many other hemipteran insect groups generally rely on bacterial symbionts that synthesize all ten essential amino acids lacking in their plant sap diets, the nutritional role of Schneideria in Nysius hosts that specialize on a more nutritionally complete seed-based diet has remained unknown. To determine the nutritional and functional capabilities of Schneideria, we sequenced the complete Schneideria genomes from three distantly related endemic Hawaiian Nysius seed bug species. The complete Schneideria genomes are highly conserved and perfectly syntenic among Hawaiian Nysius host species. Each circular chromosome is ∼0.57 megabases in size and encodes 537 protein-coding genes. They further exhibit a strong A + T nucleotide substitution bias with an average G + C nucleotide content of 29%. The predicted nutritional contribution of Schneideria includes four B-vitamins and five of the ten essential amino acids that likely match its hosts' seed-based diet. Disrupted and degraded genes in Schneideria suggests that Hawaiian lineages are undergoing continued gene losses observed in the smaller genomes of the other more ancient hemipteran symbionts.
Hybrid Adaptive Control for the DC-DC Boost Converter

Abstract In this paper, we consider the problem of practically asymptotically stabilizing the DC-DC boost converter under parameter uncertainty. In particular, we propose an estimation algorithm that identifies the input voltage and output load of the converter in finite time. Using these estimates, we design a control algorithm that “unites” global and local control schemes. The global control scheme induces practical asymptotic stability of a desired output voltage and corresponding current, and the local control scheme maintains industry-standard PWM behavior during steady state. Stability properties for the resulting hybrid closed-loop system are established and simulation results illustrating the main results are provided.
Equivalent circuit and fundamental limit of multi-stage infrared photodetectors

Based on an equivalent circuit model, a signal current in a multi-stage infrared (IR) photodetector is derived and used to discover a meaningful relation among quantum efficiency, collection efficiency, and particle conversion efficiency. Based on such a relation, it is demonstrated theoretically that the ultimate detectivities in multi-stage interband cascade infrared photodetectors (ICIPs) with identical discrete absorbers are the same as that in a conventional single-absorber detector in the limit of perfect collection (i.e., independent of the number of cascade stages) but higher than that in the single-stage detector with a finite diffusion length. Detailed derivations and calculations, along with relevant discussion, are provided to show how ICIPs are optimized for maximizing the detectivity and to understand the underlying physics. Multi-stage ICIPs with identical discrete absorbers are robust and durable against structural variations without being restricted by current matching and, therefore, are of more significance for practical applications such as those that require high-speed response or circumventing the diffusion length limitation. The results obtained for ICIPs with identical discrete absorbers can also be applied for quantum cascade detectors and photovoltaic quantum well infrared photodetectors. The results and insights gained from this work will further improve the understanding of multi-stage IR photodetectors and generate increased interest in the development of ICIPs and related devices for useful applications.
Carotenoids as Provitamin A

In 1930, Moore discovered that β-carotene (3) could be converted in vivo into vitamin A [1]. Since then, the vitamin A values of β-carotene and other provitamin A carotenoids, particularly α-carotene (7) and β-cryptoxanthin (55), have been investigated by various techniques. As discussed in Chapter 9, vitamin A nutrition is of worldwide interest; deficiency of the vitamin remains a problem in developing countries, affecting 75 to 140 million children [2]. Deficiency of vitamin A (VAD) can result in visual malfunction such as night blindness and xerophthalmia [3], and can impair immune function [4], resulting in an increased incidence and/or severity of respiratory infections, gastrointestinal infections [5], and measles [6]. Vitamin A levels in HIV-positive children are lower than those in HIV-negative children [7]. Open image in new window
Actelated dextran microparticle delivery as a means to generate regulatory myeloid cells (IRC5P.470)

Myeloid cells (MC) have potent regulatory abilities but factors influencing the development of such regulatory myeloid cells (MC-regs) remain poorly understood. Retinoic acid (RA) is a metabolite of vitamin A that has regulatory abilities and impacts myeloid cell differentiation. We have previously shown that RA produces MC-regs that expressed increased IL-10, regulatory T (Treg) cells, and were able to suppress the proliferation and cytotoxicity of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, respectively. We hypothesize that encapsulation of RA within acetalated dextran (AC-DEX) microparticles (MPs) can be used for targeted generation of MC-regs in vivo. We used MPs containing encapsulated FITC-labeled BSA to determine the relative uptake of Ac-DEX MPs by myeloid cell populations in vitro and in vivo. We found that labeled MPs were readily taken up by macrophages, DCs and myeloid progenitors in vitro. Following in vivo injection, increased percentage of FITC+ cells was seen in both CD11c+CD11b- and CD11c-CD11b+ cells in draining lymph nodes (DLN) over controls of free FITC or empty MP administration. When RA was encapsulated into MPs, CD11b+ cells within the DLNs had a increased PD-L1 expression and proliferation in DLNs was decreased. These results suggest that in vivo targeted delivery of regulatory compounds by Ac-DEX MPs can induce MC-regs which may be useful to treat inlammatory and immune-mediated diseases.
Studies on the mechanism of purine nucleotide inhibition of a triphosphopyridine nucleotide-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase.

Abstract A triphosphopyridine nucleotide-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase from Salmonella typhimurium has been shown to be inhibited by purine nucleoside di- and triphosphates. Other nucleotides do not have the same capacity to inhibit the reaction, and the presence of both a purine nucleus and a pyrophosphate moiety seems to be necessary. The nucleotides appear to have a dual action. At low concentration they are competitive inhibitors of TPN+, and at higher concentration they are primarily competitive inhibitors of isocitrate. Evaluation of kinetic data indicates a distinct difference in mechanism of inhibition between ATP and sodium pyrophosphate with respect to the coenzyme. Competition with TPN+ appears to be a function of the purine nucleus, while that with isocitrate probably is due to chelation of Mn++ by the pyrophosphate grouping of the nucleotide.
Discovering Hidden Gems: The Story of Daryl Morey, Shane Battier, and the Houston Rockets (A)

Supplement to the (A) case.Learning Objective:To address the operational and organizational dynamics of an NBA franchise.
Providing High Reliability in a Minimum Redundancy Archival Storage System

Inter-file compression techniques store files as sets of references to data objects or chunks that can be shared among many files. While these techniques can achieve much better compression ratios than conventional intra-file compression methods such as Lempel-Ziv compression, they also reduce the reliability of the storage system because the loss of a few critical chunks can lead to the loss of many files. We show how to eliminate this problem by choosing for each chunk a replication level that is a function of the amount of data that would be lost if that chunk were lost. Experiments using actual archival data show that our technique can achieve significantly higher robustness than a conventional approach combining data mirroring and intra-file compression while requiring about half the storage space.
A New Measurement of the Geometry of Space

This paper discusses the recent measurement of the number of galaxies vs. redshift and flux and presents new results pertaining to the two dimensionless geometrical quantities that describe the geometry of the conventional big-bang cosmology, the density parameter H and the dimensionless form λ = Λ/(3H0 2) of the cosmological constant. In contrast to the classical redshift-magnitude test as applied to the brightest galaxies in clusters, this new method is able to separate the effects of evolution from geometrical effects and is therefore able to measure the geometry of space. The 95% confidence limits are Ω – =0.9 − +0 7 and − 1.5 < Ω + λ < 7.1. The principal conclusions are these: (1) For both λ = 0 and inflationary models of the universe, this measurement and primordial nucleosynthesis imply a large density of nonbaryonic matter. (2) Hubble’s constant Ho and the age of the universe τ are constrained by 0.60 < H 0 τ <0.88 (95% confidence).
A simplified fuzzy connectedness method used for segmentation of vessel images

Vasculature is of utmost importance in planning surgical procedures and diagnoses of vessel diseases such as angioma and vessel stenosis. Fuzzy connectivity algorithm computes strength of connection between two voxels of the image and can be used to separate object from background of image. It needs to compute affinity of voxel of 4-connection in all paths, which is a big computing burden. In this paper, a simplified fuzzy connectedness method (SFC) is proposed. First, for the calculation of affinity, only the voxels satisfied certain condition are used. That reduces the computing range dramatically. Second, after careful analysis, only parts of the paths are searched which speeds up the segmentation greatly. Segmented results of both synthetic image and clinical image are very promising. The comparison between SFC and manual segmentation shows that the SFC algorithm improves efficiency and is potential for the segmentation of vessels in medical images.
Pension systems in East Asia and the Pacific : challenges and opportunities

With the recovery from the recent crisis, countries of the East Asia and Pacific region are rethinking their financial, and social policy, including old-age protection. Population aging, in combination with ongoing urbanization, and economic transformation, will place increasing pressure on traditional family care arrangements. Coverage under formal pension systems is generally low, and the absence of social safety nets for the needy elderly, poses risks in the face of breaks in the economic growth path. In addition to common systemic challenges, formal old-age income support systems confront issues specific to their design type: 1) The national provident fund, and social security systems with reserve funds, have demonstrated problems with investment policy, and performance, governance and management. 2) In the established market economies, social security systems are fiscally unsustainable in the long run, and often have a weak benefit-contribution link. 3) These types of systems encounter additional problems in transition economies, including low contribution collection from previously socialized enterprises. Options addressed by the paper involve the adoption of an integrated view on retirement income provision, averting fiscal un-sustainability, and, integrating public, and private sector pensions. Additionally, moving toward a multi-pillar structure with prudent coverage extension, and, fostering financial markets, to allow decentralized pension funds management, are also suggested.