cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Environmental stressors and lipid production by Dunaliella spp. I. Salinity

Abstract Fourteen strains within four species of the marine chlorophyte genus, Dunaliella were assessed for their potential utility in sustainable biofuel production by tracking lipid production under salinity stress. A modified technique with Nile Red stain was used to screen cultures rapidly for the presence of neutral lipid content. Promising strains with visually high lipid content and high growth as cell production were selected to enhance lipid production using high salinity (hyperosmotic) stress in short-term (s to h) and long-term (≥ 24 h) bench-scale experiments (culture volume 0.1 to 3.5 L). These strains were also grown at mass culture scale (culture volume ~ 150 to 175 L). The difference in experimental scale was imposed because of the container effects shown for various algae, and in recognition of the importance of scale-up feasibility in harnessing algae for biofuel production. Saponifiable lipids were converted to fatty acid methyl esters, here referred to as total fatty acids (FAs), by direct transesterification. High salinity stress generally resulted in maximal total fatty acid (FA) content (up to 65% by dry weight) in comparison to controls (~ 10–25% total FAs by dry weight). Glycerol production, a known mechanism of osmoregulation in Dunaliella, was measured in a short-term salinity stress experiment on a promising strain and found to increase significantly 30 min to 24 h after exposure to high salinity. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to evaluate the relative expression of glyceryl-3-phosphate dehydrogenase ( GPDH), one of the primary glycerol biosynthesis genes for glycerol production, during a short-term experiment with high salinity stress. GPDH was significantly expressed (≥ 2-fold when compared to the endogenous gene ACTIN) 30 min after exposure and continued to be expressed for 2 h. In general, when cellular glycerol content was low, total FAs increased as an immediate or short-term response (30 s to 30 min) to hyperosmotic stress. Responses were strain-specific and indicated both inter- and intraspecific variation . Overall, a simple high salinity adjustment significantly increased lipid production in selected strains of Dunaliella spp. The data suggest that these Dunaliella strains may incorporate a portion of the available glycerol as triacylglycerols (TAGs) or neutral lipids under short-term high salinity stress.
Personalized sedation level monitoring in ICU patients using heart rate variability

Aim: To develop an automated system to monitor sedation levels in intensive care unit patients using heart rate variability (HRV). Methods: We developed an automatic sedation level prediction system using HRV as input to a support vector machine learning algorithm. Our data consisted of electrocardiogram recordings from a heterogeneous group of 50 mechanically ventilated adults receiving sedatives in an ICU setting. The target variable was the Richmond agitation-sedation scale score, grouped into four levels: “comatose” (−5), “deeply sedated” (−4 to −3), “lightly sedated” (−2 to 0), and “agitated” (+1 to +4). As input we used 14 features derived from the normalized-RR (NN) interval. We used leave-one-subject-out cross-validated accuracy to measure system performance. Results: A patient-independent version of the proposed system discriminated between the 4 sedation levels with an overall accuracy of 52%. A patient-specific version, where the training data was supplemented with the patient's labeled HRV epochs from the preceding 24 hours, improved classification accuracy to 60%. Conclusions: Our preliminary results suggest that the HRV varies systematically with sedation levels and has potential to supplement current clinical sedation level assessment methods. With additional variables such as disease pathology, and pharmacological data, the proposed system could lead to a fully automated system for depth of sedation monitoring.
Fruit and Seed Dispersal of Salvia L. (Lamiaceae): A Review of the Evidence

The seed dispersal mechanisms of Salvia species are reviewed, with particular attention to quantitative or experimental evidence of dispersal. Despite having rather uniform fruit morphology, Salvia has several dispersal mechanisms: dispersal of mericarps by water (hydrochory), wind (anemochory), animals (zoochory) or gravity (barochory). Cases of myrmecochory are highlighted, along with dispersal by the plant itself via springy or hygroscopic pedicels. Despite having no visible means of dispersal, many Salvia species disperse for short to medium distances. Many gaps in our knowledge of dispersal exist, despite the fact that knowledge of dispersal mechanisms is critical in evaluating invasive potential, conservation status, usefulness in habitat restoration, and geographic distribution.
Abstract 274: Spatiotemporal Regulation of β Adrenergic Signaling In Heart failure

Our long-term goal is to understand mechanisms that govern spatiotemporal regulation of cAMP/PKA signaling in cardiac myocytes under physiological and pathophysiological conditions, and their implication in cardiac disease therapy. Here we use a series of biosensors to measure cAMP/PKA activity under βAR subtype regulation. In failing cardiac myocytes, the cAMP and PKA activity are shifted from the plasma membrane to the intracellular sarcoplasmic reticulum and the myofilaments. Meanwhile, β2AR displays an increased role in signaling to the myofilaments in failing myocytes when compared to the control myocytes. Moreover, we show that an increased βAR association with phosphodiesterases promotes the alteration in spatiotemporal propagation of cAMP/PKA signaling in failing myocytes. These observations and the underlying mechanisms and functional implications will be discussed.
Combined-chain nested sampling for efficient Bayesian model comparison

Abstract Model comparison problems arise in many fields of science and engineering, including signal processing. In these problems, we wish to quantify how well each of a set of possible models describes a set of observations. Many numerical techniques exist to perform model comparison, but this paper focuses on nested sampling, which is a numerical integration algorithm for evaluating probabilities of models. The original formulation of nested sampling is a strictly sequential algorithm. Most modern advances in computing are via parallel processing, however, and we therefore present a novel method for parallelizing nested sampling. This paper sets out the mathematical foundation for this parallelization, as well as ideas for implementing it. Three examples demonstrate the effectiveness of the present parallel technique in realistic scientific and engineering data analysis problems.
Take the edge off: A hybrid geographic food access measure

Abstract Measures of geographic food access overlook an important source of statistical biases, termed the edge effect. The edge effect refers to the fallacy that events contributing to the spatial pattern of an analysis unit may be outside of that unit; thus merely summarizing events within the unit may lead to distortion of the estimation. Food procurement activities can happen beyond existing administrative boundaries. Delineating food access using unit-based metrics may misrepresent the true space within which food stores are accessible. To overcome this problem, this paper proposes a gravity-based accessibility measure to improve unit-based statistical approaches in food access research. In addition, this method accounts for the spatial interaction between food supply (e.g., food items in stock) and demand (e.g., population) as well as how this interaction is mediated by the spatiotemporal separation (e.g., travel time, modality). The method is applied to the case of Franklin County, OH and has revealed the food access inequity for African Americans by modes of transport, including walking, biking, and driving. The analysis of the correlation between mode-specific food access and socioeconomic status (SES) variables reveals that using a single modality in food access research may not fully capture the travel behavior and its relationship with local food environments. With modifications, the proposed method can help evaluate food access for a target population group, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) users or selected ethnic minorities who may face acute difficulties in procuring economically affordable and culturally appropriate foods.
Mandatory helmet legislation as a policy tool for reducing motorcycle fatalities: Pinpointing the efficacy of universal helmet laws ☆

This study uses repeated cross-sections of individual level crash data to study the effectiveness of motorcycle helmet legislation. Results suggest that motorcycle helmet laws reduce average individual fatality risks by 20.5%. From a policy standpoint, large states such as Florida and Texas can reduce annual motorcycle fatalities by an average 100 deaths through reinstating universal helmet laws. Valuing these fatality reductions at the U.S. DOT suggested $9.4 million value of a statistical life yields aggregate annual state benefits of approximately $940 million. The effectiveness of helmet legislation can be attributed to the technological efficacy of helmets as well as enhancing behavior in the form of reduced risk taking among motorcyclists. Specifically, motorcyclists who use helmets in order to comply with mandatory helmet laws are 29.8% less likely to receive a traffic citation for risky driving behavior (speeding, alcohol, etc.), travel at a 6 mph lower average speed, and have a 47.4% reduction in the probability of "severely" damaging their motorcycle in a crash.
OUTLIER PRONENESS OF PHENOMENA AND OF RELATED DISTRIBUTIONS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the outliner proneness of the phenomena and of related distributions. It discusses the distinction between cases where the tendency to suspect and to eliminate outlier observations may be justifiable and those in which it is not. The chapter discusses three concepts: (1) the concept of a k-outlier, (2) the concept of families of distributions that are outlier-resistant, and (3) the concept of families that are outlier-prone. If a substantial previous experience in a particular domain of study appears sufficient for the statistician to act on the assumption that the observable variables follow an outlier-resistant distribution, then the efforts to seek out and, possibly, to eliminate the outliers are justified. In statistical practice, when applying a test, it is important to see that the theory underlying the test is not in conflict with the phenomenon studied. The customary requirements on the test of a hypothesis H are two: (i) if H is true, the use of the test should ensure the maintenance of the desired level of significance and (ii) if H is false and some contemplated alternative hypothesis H1 is true, the power with regard to H1 should be high.
Wartime Soft Tissue Coverage Techniques for the Deployed Surgeon.

Background Since the start of the conflict in the Middle East in 2001, military orthopedic surgeons have faced complex orthopedic injuries including high-energy soft tissue wounds, traumatic amputations, and open fractures. Although orthopedic surgeons are well trained in the management of osseous injuries, the treatment of soft tissue injuries can be technically challenging and unfamiliar. Early washout, debridement of devitalized tissue, external fixation of bony injuries, and antibiotic therapy remain the foundation of early wound management. However, these unique extremity injuries have no standard plan of care, and definitive treatment options continue to evolve. The following report highlights the typical cases seen in the wartime setting and offers possible solutions for the associated soft tissue injuries. Methods A single orthopedic surgeon at a Role 3 combat support hospital performed all cases in this series. This study is a report of the cases that the orthopedic surgeon encountered while deployed and the various techniques that can be used to manage the complex wounds seen in a deployed setting. Findings Twelve patients were included in this report and the data are shown. Of the 12 patients, 6 were injured by an improvised explosive device (IED), 4 were injured by a high-velocity gunshot wound (HVGSW), 1 was injured by a gunshot wound (GSW), and 1 was injured in an auto versus pedestrian motor vehicle crash. The wound sizes ranged from 10 to 300 cm2. All patients required more than one irrigation and debridement before wound closure. There was a successful outcome in 11 of the 12 patients. The only patient without a known successful outcome was lost to follow up. Six patients were treated with split thickness skin graft (STSG) alone. Four patients were treated with STSG plus an additional means of coverage. One patient was treated with a random flap and one patient was treated with a full thickness skin graft. Integra was used in two of the patients. Each of the patients in whom integra was used had exposed bone and had a successful outcome with respect to tissue coverage. Discussion This study details different soft tissue coverage techniques that must be learned and possibly employed by the deployed surgeon. Limitations of this study include its retrospective nature and the selected sampling of cases. At initial presentation, the management of war wounds secondary to high-velocity gunshot wounds and improvised explosive devices can be quite daunting. Adhering to firm surgical principles of thorough and meticulous debridement is the foundation of later soft tissue reconstructive options. Once the tissue is deemed clear of infection and contamination, there are myriad treatment options utilizing flaps, synthetic materials, and skin grafting. These are relatively straightforward techniques that the general orthopedic surgeon can utilize while deployed in a combat setting. In the end, it is critical for deployed surgeons to learn multiple techniques to provide definitive soft tissue coverage in a wartime theater.
How to connect with your best student prospects: Saying the right things, to the right students, in the right media

Most market segmentation in prior academic research on higher education has been largely based on demographic variables, providing a limited view of potential targeting opportunities. This research...
Slow Scintillation Component and Radiation-Induced Readout Noise in Undoped CsI Crystals

Because of its fast scintillation and low cost, undoped CsI crystal has been used to construct crystal calorimeters for high-energy physics experiments. Undoped CsI crystal samples from three vendors were investigated at the Caltech Crystal Laboratory. In addition to the 30-ns fast scintillation peaked at 310 nm, a slow scintillation component peaked at 450 nm was found with a decay time of a few microseconds. The intensity of the slow component may be varied from the seed to the tail end, so it affects crystal’s light response uniformity. It was also found that the slow component is highly correlated with the radiation-induced readout noise and may be eliminated spectroscopically by using an optical filter. The slow component is believed to be related to impurities and/or defects in the crystal.
A PAC Framework for Aggregating Agents' Judgments.

Specifying the objective function that an AI system should pursue can be challenging. Especially when the decisions to be made by the system have a moral component, input from multiple stakeholders is often required. We consider approaches that query them about their judgments in individual examples, and then aggregate these judgments into a general policy. We propose a formal learning-theoretic framework for this setting. We then give general results on how to translate classical results from PAC learning into results in our framework. Subsequently, we show that in some settings, better results can be obtained by working directly in our framework. Finally, we discuss how our model can be extended in a variety of ways for future research.
A New Understanding of the Role of IL‐1 in Age‐Related Intervertebral Disc Degeneration in a Murine Model

Increased cytokine expression, in particular interleukin-1β (IL-1β), is considered a hallmark of intervertebral disc degeneration. However, the causative relationship between IL-1 and age-dependent degeneration has not been established. To investigate the role of IL-1 in driving age-related disc degeneration, we studied the spine phenotype of global IL-1α/β double knockout (IL-1KO) mice at 12 and 20 months. Multiplex ELISA analysis of blood revealed significant reductions in the concentrations of IFN-γ, IL-5, IL-15, TNF-α, IP-10, and a trend of reduced concentrations of IL-10, macrophage inflammatory protein 1α (MIP-1α), keratinocyte chemoattractant/human growth-regulated oncogene (KC/GRO), and IL-6. However, the circulating level of MIP-2, a neutrophil chemoattractant, was increased in the IL-1KO. The alterations in systemic cytokine levels coincided with altered bone morphology-IL-1KO mice exhibited significantly thicker caudal cortical bone at 12 and 20 months. Despite these systemic inflammatory and bony changes, IL-1 deletion only minimally affected disc health. Both wild-type (WT) and IL-1KO mice showed age-dependent disc degeneration. Unexpectedly, rather than protecting the animals from degeneration, the aging phenotype was more pronounced in IL-1KO animals: knockout mice evidenced significantly more degenerative changes in the annulus fibrosis (AF) together with alterations in collagen type and maturity. At 20 months, there were no changes in nucleus pulposus (NP) extracellular matrix composition or cellular marker expression; however, the IL-1KO NP cells occupied a smaller proportion of the NP compartment that those of WT controls. Taken together, these results show that IL-1 deletion altered the systemic inflammatory environment and vertebral bone morphology. However, instead of protecting discs from age-related disc degeneration, global IL-1 deletion amplified the degenerative phenotype. © 2019 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Heart Function Disorders In Sickle Cell Disease

Abstract Abstract 4815 Abstract Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary anemia characterized by chronic hemolytic anemia and vaso-occlusive episodes, associated with a high susceptibility for infections and damage to all vital organs. Cardiologic effects of SCD are dilatation and hypertrophy of the left ventricle and pulmonary hypertension. The prevalence of these cardiac complications in children with SCD living in the Netherlands is unknown. The role of hemolysis in this process is still unclear. Therefore, the objectives of this study are: 1) to evaluate the prevalence of cardiac abnormalities in children with SCD living in the Netherlands, 2) to analyse the association between cardiac abnormalities and the severity of anemia and hemolysis. Methods: Cross-sectional study, including 92 children with SCD (genotype HBSS, HBSC or HBS-beta 0) treated at the Emma Children's Hospital AMC. None of the children had cardiac abnormalities unrelated to SCD. Echocardiograms and electrocardiograms were performed in a stable state. All cardiac values were corrected for BSA. Echocardiographic values 20% above or under the average of an age matched control group were considered abnormal. Laboratory hematological parameters were obtained within one year of the cardiac imaging. All statistical analyses were performed with SPSS 18 software, using Pearson correlations and T-tests. Forced-entry multivariate regression analysis was conducted with hematological parameters, age and SCD genotype as independent variables and cardiologic parameters as dependent variables. Results: The study group had a mean age of 13 years (SD 5,5) and contained 49 boys (53,3%). All children had a normal shortening fraction. Almost half of the children (39%) had a dilated left ventricular internal diameter in diastole and systole. Dilatation was inversely correlated with the Hb level. When analysed with multivariate analysis, both Hb and bilirubin were independently associated with left ventricular dilatation, suggesting that hemolysis deteriorates cardiac structure by a mechanism separate from the effect of anemia. There was no association between the left ventricular dilatation and age. Conclusion: Pediatric sickle cell patients have significant dilatation of the left ventricle, an abnormality that is significantly and independently associated with the severity of anemia and bilirubin levels, but in spite retain a normal shortening fraction. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Annual Fluctuation in Chigger Mite Populations and Orientia Tsutsugamushi Infections in Scrub Typhus Endemic Regions of South Korea.

Objectives Chigger mites are vectors for scrub typhus. This study evaluated the annual fluctuations in chigger mite populations and Orientia tsutsugamushi infections in South Korea. Methods During 2006 and 2007, chigger mites were collected monthly from wild rodents in 4 scrub typhus endemic regions of South Korea. The chigger mites were classified based on morphological characteristics, and analyzed using nested PCR for the detection of Orientia tsutsugamushi. Results During the surveillance period, the overall trapping rate for wild rodents was 10.8%. In total, 17,457 chigger mites (representing 5 genera and 15 species) were collected, and the average chigger index (representing the number of chigger mites per rodent), was 31.7. The monthly chigger index was consistently high (> 30) in Spring (March to April) and Autumn (October to November). The mite species included Leptotrombidium pallidum (43.5%), L. orientale (18.9%), L. scutellare (18.1%), L. palpale (10.6%), and L. zetum (3.6%). L. scutellare and L. palpale populations, were relatively higher in Autumn. Monthly O. tsutsugamushi infection rates in wild rodents (average: 4.8%) and chigger mites (average: 0.7%) peaked in Spring and Autumn. Conclusion The findings demonstrated a bimodal pattern of the incidence of O. tsutsugamushi infections. Higher infection rates were observed in both wild rodents and chigger mites, in Spring and Autumn. However, this did not reflect the unimodal incidence of scrub typhus in Autumn. Further studies are needed to identify factors, such as human behavior and harvesting in Autumn that may explain this discordance.
Eight-band k ⋅ p model of strained zinc-blende crystals

Second-order L\"owdin perturbation theory is used to calculate the interaction matrices for an eight-band k\ensuremath{\cdot}p model (near the \ensuremath{\Gamma} point) of zinc-blende crystals under a uniform strain. The model treats the ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}}_{6}$ conduction bands, ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}}_{8}$ valence bands, and ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}}_{7}$ spin-orbit split-off bands. The model includes strain interactions arising from both the orbital and spin-orbit terms of the Hamiltonian. In addition to the usual Pikus-Bir deformation-potential constants, a, b, and d, which describe the coupling of the valence band to strain, two new deformation-potential constants arise, a' and b', which describe the coupling of the conduction band to strain. The constant a' couples the conduction band to hydrostatic deformations and the constant b', which results from a lack of inversion symmetry, couples the conduction band to shear deformations. The strain also introduces a k-dependent conduction-band--valence-band mixing that is linear in strain, in wave vector, and in the momentum matrix element between the conduction and valence bands. In the absence of strain, the eight-band Kane model is recovered. Under a finite strain, in the limit of a large conduction-band--valence-band gap and large spin-orbit splitting, the four-band Luttinger model with strain is recovered.
Timing and extent of crop damage by wild pigs (Sus scrofa Linnaeus) to corn and peanut fields

Abstract The global expansion of wild pigs over the last few decades has resulted in an increase in extent and distribution of damages to crops, placing a growing strain on agricultural producers and land managers. Despite the extent of wild pig damage to agriculture, there is little data regarding timing and spatial variability of damage to corn (Zea mays Linnaeus) and we found no data regarding the effect of these factors on peanuts (Arachis hypogaea Linnaeus). Our objective was to determine the timing and extent of wild pig damage to corn and peanut fields, as well as the extent to which local habitat attributes are useful predictors of damage to these crops. During 2017–2018 we performed ground-based surveys throughout the growing season for 29 corn and 41 peanut fields in South Carolina, USA to determine the most important growth stages for wild pig depredation in both crops. Damage to corn peaked shortly after planting during the seedling stage, fell to nearly zero during V4–V6 stages, and resumed during the silk and mature stages. Peanut damage was almost exclusively limited to the seedling stage. Landscape models for both crops identified the extent of forested and wetland areas surrounding crop fields as the most important attributes positively associated with wild pig damage, while the amount of adjacent agricultural area and paved roads were associated negatively. The number of wild pigs identified by remote cameras also was an important indicator of the extent of damage to peanut fields. Results suggest management efforts to limit crop depredation by wild pigs should be targeted shortly prior to planting. Further, because damage was positively associated with the availability of wetland and forest habitats, our results suggest agricultural damage by wild pigs may be most severe near areas of preferred native habitats.
Real Money, Real Clients, Real Experience: Using Google Ad Grants to Teach Online Marketing

The GOMC challenge project was implemented in a graduate-level digital marketing course taught in Spring, 2019. Google provided each student team a Google Ads advertising budget (up to $329/ day; $10,000/month) to help non-profit organizations promote their strategic goals. In the first month, the students were provided with online learning resources offered by the Google Academy for Ads. The students were required to obtain the certificate for the Google Ads Fundamentals Assessment. All the students enrolled in the class passed the certification exams.
Molecular Mechanisms of Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Transformation and Replication

Viral infection underlies a significant share of the global cancer burden. Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is the newest member of the human oncogenic virus family. Its discovery over a decade ago marked the beginning of an exciting era in human tumor virology. Since then, significant evidence has emerged to support the etiologic role of MCPyV in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), an extremely lethal form of skin cancer. MCPyV infection is widespread in the general population. MCC diagnoses have tripled over the past 20 years, but effective treatments are currently lacking. In this review, we highlight recent discoveries that have shaped our understanding of MCPyV oncogenic mechanism and host cellular tropism, as well as the molecular events occurring in the viral infectious life cycle. These insights will guide future efforts in developing novel virus-targeted therapeutic strategies for treating the devastating human cancers associated with this new tumorigenic virus.
Visual Search for Circumscribed Interests in Autism Is Similar to That of Neurotypical Individuals.

Intense interests are a core symptom of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and can be all-encompassing for affected individuals. This observation raises the hypothesis that intense interests in ASD are related to pervasive changes in visual processing for objects within that category, including visual search. We assayed visual processing with two novel tasks, targeting category search and exemplar search. For each task, three kinds of stimuli were used: faces, houses, and images personalized to each participant’s interest. 25 children and adults with ASD were compared to 25 neurotypical (NT) children and adults. We found no differences in either visual search task between ASD and NT controls for interests. Thus, pervasive alterations in perception are not likely to account for ASD behavioral symptoms.
SAMPL7 Host–Guest Challenge Overview: assessing the reliability of polarizable and non-polarizable methods for binding free energy calculations

The SAMPL challenges focus on testing and driving progress of computational methods to help guide pharmaceutical drug discovery. However, assessment of methods for predicting binding affinities is often hampered by computational challenges such as conformational sampling, protonation state uncertainties, variation in test sets selected, and even lack of high quality experimental data. SAMPL blind challenges have thus frequently included a component focusing on host-guest binding, which removes some of these challenges while still focusing on molecular recognition. Here, we report on the results of the SAMPL7 blind prediction challenge for host-guest affinity prediction. In this study, we focused on three different host-guest categories-a familiar deep cavity cavitand series which has been featured in several prior challenges (where we examine binding of a series of guests to two hosts), a new series of cyclodextrin derivatives which are monofunctionalized around the rim to add amino acid-like functionality (where we examine binding of two guests to a series of hosts), and binding of a series of guests to a new acyclic TrimerTrip host which is related to previous cucurbituril hosts. Many predictions used methods based on molecular simulations, and overall success was mixed, though several methods stood out. As in SAMPL6, we find that one strategy for achieving reasonable accuracy here was to make empirical corrections to binding predictions based on previous data for host categories which have been studied well before, though this can be of limited value when new systems are included. Additionally, we found that alchemical free energy methods using the AMOEBA polarizable force field had considerable success for the two host categories in which they participated. The new TrimerTrip system was also found to introduce some sampling problems, because multiple conformations may be relevant to binding and interconvert only slowly. Overall, results in this challenge tentatively suggest that further investigation of polarizable force fields for these challenges may be warranted.
As California Goes, So Goes the Nation: A Title IX Analysis of the Fair Pay to Play Act

Signed into law on September 30, 2019, California’s Fair Pay to Play Act (FPTP) made the Golden State the first ever to give student-athletes the legal right to receive compensation for the use of their names, images and likenesses (NILs). Soon after, thirty-four states and Congress introduced similar legislation, while the NCAA issued NIL recommendations of its own. Opponents of NIL compensation argue that it will have a negative disparate impact on female student-athletes, thereby conflicting with Title IX. This argument hinges on the tension between two often competing norms in intercollegiate athletics: equal opportunity and equal treatment. This Article challenges the narrative that the two norms are incompatible. In so doing, it provides the first in-depth analysis of NIL compensation under Title IX. This Article advances two main arguments. The first argument suggests that, contrary to popular belief, Title IX will apply to NIL compensation provided by both schools and third parties. The second argument suggests that while fostering parity for NIL compensation, Title IX’s applicability will produce the secondary benefit of bolstering participation opportunities for female student-athletes. This Article proposes viable solutions for implementing NIL compensation, using strategies that can provide both male and female student-athletes with equal opportunities and equal treatment.
Naïve T Cell Quiescence in Immune Aging

Naive T cells are critical for protection against emerging viral and bacterial infections. However, the ability of these cells to elicit effective long-term immune responses declines with age and contributes to increased disease susceptibility in older individuals. This decline has been linked with the breakdown of cellular quiescence that causes partial differentiation of naive T cells with age, but the underlying mediators of this breakdown are unclear. Comparisons to stem cell quiescence in mice and man offer insight into naive T cells and aging. However, the utilization of single cell technologies in combination with advances in the biology of human tissue aging is needed to provide further understanding of naive T cell complexity and quiescence breakdown with age.
A mixed-methods study of novice teachers’ technology integration: Do they leverage their TPACK knowledge once entering the profession?

Research indicates educators benefit from developing Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK), a combination of constructs that inform the design of pedagogically-sound technology-integr...
Communication Networks An Optimization Control And Stochastic Networks Perspective

Provides a modern mathematical approach to the design of communication networks for graduate students, blending control, optimization, and stochastic network theories. A broad range of performance analysis tools are discussed, including important advanced topics that have been made accessible to students for the first time. Taking a top-down approach to network protocol design, the authors begin with the deterministic model and progress to more sophisticated models. Network algorithms and protocols are tied closely to the theory, illustrating the practical engineering applications of each topic. The background behind the mathematical analyses is given before the formal proofs and is supported by worked examples, enabling students to understand the big picture before going into the detailed theory. End-of-chapter problems cover a range of difficulties, with complex problems broken into several parts, and hints to many problems are provided to guide students. Full solutions are available online for instructors.
IgG anti-HA Fc glycoform modulation is predictive of influenza vaccine efficacy (IRC10P.412)

Protective anti-viral vaccines elicit high affinity, antigen-specific neutralizing antibodies through secondary diversification mechanisms involving the selection of B cells bearing somatically hypermutated B cell antigen receptors in the germinal center. This selection process involves the interaction of the B cell receptor with antigen retained in the form of immune complexes, thus dictating that Fc-Fc receptor (FcR) interactions contribute to the selection process. FcRs are diverse in function and can transduce immunomodulatory, activating, or inhibitory signaling depending on which receptor(s) are engaged; the sum of these activities contributes to the generation of protective IgGs through mechanisms including efficient antigen presentation and dendritic cell maturation as well as directing B cell activation and selection. Immune complex-FcR interactions are governed by the precise structure of Fc domains within an immune complex, which, in turn, depends on the subclass distribution and Fc glycan composition of antigen-specific serum IgG. We performed the first detailed structural analysis of IgG Fc domains following influenza virus vaccination and found complex regulation of both subclass and Fc glycoforms. The abundance of sialylated Fc glycans on HA-specific IgG was found to predict the quality of vaccine response suggesting a mechanism by which sFc glycans modulate B cell activation thresholds, thereby driving the production of neutralizing, high affinity IgGs.
Flinn Diagram Construction on Macintosh Computers

Abstract Flinn diagrams, two-dimensional data plots that offer graphical means of quantitatively describing and comparing ellipsoids, have long been part of the standard strain analysis repertoire and are receiving increased attention by instructors and students in structural geology courses. This paper describes and discusses two Flinn diagram plotting programs written in BASIC for Macintosh computers. The two programs utilize XYZ-type and Rf — or Rs — type data, respectively.
Functional characterization of calliphorid cell death genes and cellularization gene promoters for controlling gene expression and cell viability in early embryos

The New World screwworm fly, Cochliomyia hominivorax, and the Australian sheep blow fly, Lucilia cuprina, are major pests of livestock. The sterile insect technique was used to eradicate C. hominivorax from North and Central America. This involved area-wide releases of male and female flies that had been sterilized by radiation. Genetic systems have been developed for making ‘male-only’ strains that would improve the efficiency of genetic control of insect pests. One system involves induction of female lethality in embryos through activation of a pro-apoptotic gene by the tetracycline-dependent transactivator. Sex-specific expression is achieved using an intron from the transformer gene, which we previously isolated from several calliphorids. In the present study, we report the isolation of the promoters from the C. hominivorax slam and Lucilia sericata bnk cellularization genes and show that these promoters can drive expression of a GFP reporter gene in early embryos of transgenic L. cuprina. Additionally, we report the isolation of the L. sericata pro-apoptotic hid and rpr genes, identify conserved motifs in the encoded proteins and determine the relative expression of these genes at different stages of development. We show that widespread expression of the L. sericata pro-apoptotic genes was lethal in Drosophila melanogaster. The isolated gene promoters and pro-apoptotic genes could potentially be used to build transgenic embryonic sexing strains of calliphorid livestock pests.
Effects of 30 Days of Undernutrition on Reaction Time, Moods, and Symptoms

Abstract Few modern studies have addressed the effects of undernutrition on the behavior of healthy individuals. This study, conducted as part of a test of a nutritionally balanced but calorie-deficient experimental ration, examined the effects of 30 days of undernutrition on healthy, physically active soldiers. Tests of reaction time and standardized questionnaires assessing mood and symptom parameters (known to be sensitive to nutritional and other factors) were administered prior to and following a 30-day field exercise. During the exercise, 17 soldiers consumed a calorie-deficient, lightweight ration (LW group, 1946 kcal/day) and 17 consumed a calorie-adequate control ration (FN group, 2782 kcal/day). Mean energy expenditure for both groups was 3200–3300 kcal/day. There were no differences between the two diet groups on any of the measures of reaction time, mood, or symptoms after 30 days of ration consumption. Additionally, there were no adverse changes in reaction time performance from pre- to post-testing. Adverse changes in moods and symptoms were seen in both groups at the conclusion of the test, possibly because of the rigors of living in the field for an extended period of time. This study demonstrates that, in healthy individuals, various aspects of mental performance, mood, and symptoms are not affected by up to 30 days of moderate undernutrition.
The Origin of Tc Enhancement in Heterostructure Cuprate Superconductors

Recent experiments on heterostructures composed of two or more films of cuprate superconductors of different oxygen doping levels have shown a remarkable Tc enhancement (up to 50%) relative to single compound films. We provide a simple explanation of the enhancement which arises naturally from a collection of experimental works. We show that the enhancement could be caused by a structural change in the lattice, namely an increase in the distance of the apical oxygen from the copper-oxygen plane. This increase modifies the effective off-site interaction in the plane which in turn enhances the d-wave superconductivity order parameter. To illustrate this point we study the extended Hubbard model using the fluctuation exchange approximation.
Estimating one mean of a bivariate normal distribution using a preliminary test of significance and a two-stage sampling scheme

Let (X,Y) have a bivariate normal distribution with unknown mean vector (y ,y K and known covariamce matrix E. It is desired A i to estimate y . A first stage sample is obtained on (X,Y), X only, and Y only, A preliminary test of Hn: y = y is performed, the U I A result of which specifies a second-stage sample. The estimator of y is either a regression estimator or a pooled estimator which pools estimators of y and y v The bias and mean square error (MSE) of this estimation procedure are derived, and a numerical example is discussed, It appears that the effects on the estimatorfs bias and MSE of (1) the level of significance of the test of Hn, and (2) a standardized measure of the difference between yy and y , are similar to those reported by investigators of related problems, Moreover, an increase in PW1 will generally decrease the MSE
Porphyromonas gingivalis Promotes Monocyte Migration by Activating MMP-9

Zhou J, Zhang J, Chao J. Porphyromonas gingivalis promotes monocyte migration by activating MMP-9. J Periodont Res 2012; 47: 236–242. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S Background and Objective: The migration of monocytes into the local environment is crucial for their maturation into macrophages or osteoclasts in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. The objective of this study was to investigate the role and mechanisms mediated by Porphyromonas gingivalis in promoting the migration of monocytes by regulating MMP-9 and TIMP-1 expression. Material and Methods: Human THP1 monocytes were treated with culture supernatant derived from P. gingivalis (ATCC 33277) for 24 h. Zymography, western blot analysis and quantitative PCRs were performed to analyse protein and mRNA levels of MMP-9. Protein and mRNA levels of TIMP-1 from monocytes treated with or without P. gingivalis were determined as well. Transwell migration assay was carried out to analyse the effect of P. gingivalis on the migration of human peripheral blood CD14-positive monocytes. An MMP inhibitor (GM6001) and a proteinase inhibitor (leupeptin) were used to determine the role of MMP-9 in P. gingivalis supernatant- and lipopolysaccharide-induced monocyte migration. Results: In zymography and western blot, an 82 kDa band of active MMP-9 emerged in P. gingivalis-treated monocyte culture media in a dose-dependent manner, in addition to the MMP-9 proenzyme (92 kDa) band expressed in control cell culture media. P. gingivalis supernatant increased both the protein and the mRNA levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1. P. gingivalis supernatant, but not its lipopolysaccharide, increased the migratory ability of CD14-positive monocytes. The increased migratory ability of P. gingivalis-treated monocytes was partly inhibited by leupeptin (200 μg/mL) and completely antagonized by the MMP inhibitor GM6001 (100 nm). Lipopolysaccharide of P. gingivalis increased protein and mRNA levels of MMP-9 in monocytes, but had no effect on the migratory ability or MMP-9 activation. Conclusion: P. gingivalis supernatant increased the migratory ability of monocytes, in part, by increasing activation and expression of MMP-9.
Agonist-Dependent Downregulation of Progesterone Receptors in Human Cervical Stromal Fibroblasts

Progesterone (P(4)) maintains uterine quiescence during the majority of pregnancy, whereas diminished progesterone receptor (PR) expression and/or activity (ie, functional P(4) withdrawal) promotes parturition. To investigate the regulation of PR expression in cervical stroma, fibroblasts from premenopausal hysterectomy specimens were prepared. Greater than 99% of the cultures were vimentin positive (mesenchymal cell marker) with only occasional cytokeratin-8 positivity (epithelial cell marker) and no evidence of CD31-positive (endothelial cell marker) cells. Cells were immunolabeled with antibodies directed against PRs (PR-A and PR-B), estrogen receptor α (ER-α), and glucocorticoid receptor-α/β (GR-α/β). All cells were uniformly immunopositive for ER-α and GR-α/β but did not express PRs. Incubation of cells with 10(-8) mol/L 17β-estradiol induced a time-dependent increase in PR-A and PR-B messenger RNAs (mRNAs) by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions and proteins by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence. Incubation of cervical fibroblasts with PR ligands (medroxyprogesterone acetate or Org-2058) downregulated PR-A and PR-B levels. Coincubation of cells with PR ligands plus RU-486, a PR antagonist, partially abrogated agonist-induced receptor downregulation. Dexamethasone, a pure glucocorticoid, had no inhibitory effect on PR expression. These results indicate that progestins and estrogens regulate PR expression in cervical fibroblasts. We postulate that hormonal regulation of PR expression in the cervical stroma may contribute to functional P(4) withdrawal in preparation for parturition.
SEASONAL PATTERNS IN PERINATAL MORTALITY AND PRETERM DELIVERY

An investigation of possible seasonal patterns in preterm delivery and perinatal mortality utilized linked birth, infant death, and fetal death records from Minnesota for the years 1967-1973. Data included over 400,000 white singleton live births and stillbirths of 29 or more weeks completed gestation. Composite monthly cohorts of ongoing pregnancies were constructed for each month of the year and the probability of a preterm delivery and/or perinatal death was estimated. A statistically significant increase in the probability of a preterm delivery or perinatal death occurred during July, August, and September. The probability of a preterm delivery ranged from a low of 55 per 1000 pregnancies at risk in April to a high of over 59 per 1000 in July and August. In addition, although each assigned cause of death group showed a similar pattern, perinatal deaths due to infection in the mother or fetus showed a standardized mortality ratio of 65 in May and 155 in August and September, while the ratios of all other causes combined ranged from 94 to 108. Fetal deaths reported as having occurred before labor began showed a seasonal pattern nearly identical with that for all perinatal deaths, while those occurring during labor showed no seasonal pattern. The findings are consistent with published evidence that environmental factors likely involving ascending infections may play a larger role in preterm delivery and perinatal mortality than has been generally recognized.
Object queries over relational databases: Language, implementation, and applications

A query language called the Concise Object Query Language (COQL) is described. COQL is unique in its conciseness, in its support of inheritance, and in the capabilities it provides for defining application-specific structures. The COQL-to-SQL translation, its implementation on top of a commercial relational DBMS, and the ways in which COQL can be used for constructing application-specific views for scientific applications are discussed. The typical three-level architecture approach for supporting data management applications and previous work on the translation of extended entity-relationships schemas into relational database management system schemas are reviewed. >
Automated Immunoprecipitin Technique for Analysis of the Third Component of Complement (C'3) in Human Serum

An automated continuous-flow procedure has been developed for measuring C'3 in human serum, by reaction with specific antiserum. The procedure is standardized with pooled human serum, appropriate dilutions of which had previously been measured for C'3 by a reference method. C'3 values obtained by this new automated procedure correlate with values obtained by radial immunodiffusion. The precision (CV) of this method is 1.65%.