cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parsimony Analysis of Total Evidence from Extinct and Extant Taxa and the Cetacean-Artiodactyl Question (Mammalia, Ungulata)☆

Many molecule-based phylogenetic analyses find that the mammalian order Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates) is paraphyletic unless cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) are nested within it, a hypothesis that runs contrary to traditional morphology-based ideas. Here I present a total evidence analysis of this question based on 10 extant and 27 extinct taxa, using two character data partitions: (i) skeletal data and (ii) neontological data (soft morphology, retroposons, and DNA sequences [γ-fibrinogen, β-casein, and κ-casein and mt cytochrome b]). A sensitivity analysis varying gap cost and transversion/transition ratio over nine parameters was implemented in the sequence alignment and in the parsimony analysis. The two data partitions are significantly incongruent, and the neontological data partition includes over six times as many characters as the osteological data partition. The osteological data partition, however, samples almost three times more taxa, taxa that cannot be sampled for neontological data because they are extinct. Osteological data resulted in artiodactyl monophyly, and neontological data resulted in artiodactyl paraphyly over all nine parameters. In the total evidence analysis the parameter most congruent with the overall character data is unresolved as to the sister taxon of Cetacea; however, the Adams consensus tree favors the neontological result. Extinction of almost 90% of the clade and particularly poor knowledge of stem taxa at the base of Artiodactyla make resolution of conflicting molecule- and morphology-based phylogenetic signals particularly difficult.
Atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry: The routine determination of 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid and its metabolites

This study demonstrated the utility of negative ion atomospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry for the routine quantitation of 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetric acid and its glycine and taurine amide metabolites in mouse blood, urine and feces samples. The quantitation of 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid in blood follows a short cleanup procedure and used 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy-13C6-acetic acid as the stable label isotope diluent. A more extensive cleanup procedure utilizing high-pressure liquid chromatography was required for the determination of 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid and its two metabolites in urine and feces. The glycine amide metabolite was quantitated by the 13C stable label isotope diluent method. The taurine amide relied on an initial separation step followed by using a second 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy-13C6-acetic acid spike for its isotope diluent. Alkaline hydrolysis of the metabolites, followed by methylation, allowed the methyl ester of 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid to be solely used as the analyte in the negative ion atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry quantitation step.
Low-Cost Pathway to Ultra Efficient City Car: Series Hydraulic Hybrid System with Optimized Supervisory Control

A series hydraulic hybrid concept (SHHV) has been explored as a potential pathway to an ultra-efficient city vehicle. Intended markets would be congested metropolitan areas, particularly in developing countries. The target fuel economy was ~100 mpg or 2.4 l/100km in city driving. Such an ambitious target requires multiple measures, i.e. low mass, favorable aerodynamics and ultra-efficient powertrain. The series hydraulic hybrid powertrain has been designed and analyzed for the selected light and aerodynamic platform with the expectation that (i) series configuration will maximize opportunities for regeneration and optimization of engine operation, (ii) inherent high power density of hydraulic propulsion and storage components will yield small, lowcost components, and (iii) high efficiency and high power limits for accumulator charging/discharging will enable very effective regeneration. The simulation study focused on the SHHV supervisory control development, to address the challenge of the low storage capacity of the accumulator. Two approaches were pursued, i.e. the thermostatic SOC control, and Stochastic Dynamic Programming for horizon optimization. The stochastic dynamic programming was setup using a set of naturalistic driving schedules, recorded in normal traffic. The analysis included additional degree of freedom, as the engine power demand was split into two variables, namely engine torque and speed. The results represent a significant departure from the conventional wisdom of operating the engine near its “sweet spot” and indicate what is preferred from the system stand-point. Predicted fuel economy over the EPA city schedule is ~93 mpg with engine idling, and ~110 mpg with engine shutdowns.
Subjective Responses to Caffeine Are Influenced by Caffeine Dose, Sex, and Pubertal Stage

Background: Our previous work has shown that there are sex differences in subjective responses to acute caffeine administration in adolescents. The purpose of this study was to determine if these sex differences are dependent on pubertal development. Materials and Methods: We examined subjective responses before and after administration of 0, 1, and 2 mg/kg of caffeine in pre- and postpubertal boys and girls (n = 112). In addition, we examined differences in subjective responses to acute caffeine in both the luteal and follicular phases of the menstrual cycle in postpubertal girls. Results: Caffeine at both doses resulted in greater changes in responses on the Addiction Research Center Inventory and the Brief Assessment of Mood States compared with placebo. Girls reported greater increases from baseline to peak in feeling different and liking the feeling than boys after 2 mg/kg of caffeine regardless of pubertal stage. Postpubertal girls also had a greater decrease from baseline in reports of feeling high...
Developmental regulation of amino acid transport in Neurospora crassa.

Abstract Conidia of Neurospora crassa exhibit an ability to transport various amino acids against a concentration gradient. The conidial transport system has previously been characterized in terms of kinetics, competitions, and genetic control. This study describes the development of a new and highly active transport capability which is elaborated during the early stages of development but prior to evident germination. It has been named “postconidial” transport activity and represents as much as 20-fold greater initial rates as compared to those observed with conidia. Development of the postconidial transport activity requires protein synthesis and can be partially repressed when the substrate amino acid is present during the developmental preincubation period. A mutant has been utilized which exhibits normal conidial but fails to develop normal postconidial transport activity for any amino acid examined. Although temperature optimum and pH dependence are similar in conidial and postconidial systems, there is evidence that the new activity is not a simple amplification of an existing capability. This is reflected as a change in competition patterns between particular amino acids as development proceeds.
Type?Ia Supernovae: Burning and Detonation in the Distributed Regime

A simple, semianalytic representation is developed for nuclear burning in Type Ia supernovae in the special case where turbulent eddies completely disrupt the flame. The speed and width of the "distributed" flame front are derived. For the conditions considered, the burning front can be considered as a turbulent flame brush composed of corrugated sheets of well-mixed flames. These flames are assumed to have a quasi-steady state structure similar to the laminar flame structure, but controlled by turbulent diffusion. Detonations cannot appear in the system as long as distributed flames are still quasi-steady state, but this condition is violated when the distributed flame width becomes comparable to the size of the largest turbulent eddies. When this happens, a transition to detonation may occur. For current best estimates of the turbulent energy, the most likely density for the transition to detonation is in the range (0.5-1.5) × 107 g cm-3.
Optimization of structures based on fracture mechanics and reliability criteria

Spacecraft structures weight optimization based on fracture mechanics and reliability cost constraints applied to pressure vessel design
Formation of Ganymede Grooved Terrain by Sequential Extensional Episodes: Implications of Galileo Observations for Regional Stratigraphy☆

Abstract High-resolution Galileo images of grooved terrain on Ganymede have revealed details of the morphology of grooves and their stratigraphic relationships. Based on lower resolution Voyager images, complex areas of grooved terrain in Uruk Sulcus were interpreted in the context of structurally isolated grooved polygons which were resurfaced by cryovolcanism and individually deformed by local processes. In Galileo images of grooved polygon boundaries, the faults comprising the groove lanes between the polygons are observed to truncate features within the polygons, and incipient fractures from these groove lanes modify the edges of the polygons, indicating that these groove lanes are younger than the polygons. In the Uruk Sulcus region, tectonic resurfacing by the formation of younger sets of grooves appears to be obscuring older patterns of deformation. The grooved polygons are thus remnants of terrain affected by older episodes of deformation isolated from each other by areas of more recent deformation. The stratigraphy of grooves can be determined for small areas covered by high-resolution Galileo images (∼100 m/pixel) and then generalized to larger areas imaged by Voyager at lower resolution (∼1 km/pixel). This method has been applied to the regions around Uruk Sulcus and Nippur Sulcus, resulting in two preliminary conclusions about the nature of grooved terrain deformation: (1) the style of deformation has changed through time and (2) the orientation of least compressive stress has changed through time. Throughout the mapped region, the stratigraphically oldest grooves are closely spaced, subdued structures which indicate least compressive stress oriented NW–SE, while the youngest grooves exhibit morphology consistent with tilt block normal faulting, with least compressive stress oriented NE–SW. These observations are consistent over an area of 1.6 million square kilometers and therefore do not favor highly localized or low-strain mechanisms for grooved terrain formation, such as the cooling of cryovolcanic flows or the surface expression of diapirs. Instead, the formation of grooved terrain on Ganymede may be dominated by global expansion due to tidal heating and/or differentiation, possibly organized into coherent regional patterns by transient low-order convection or changes in the satellite's figure.
Predicting reuse of end-user web macro scripts

Repositories of code written by end-user programmers are beginning to emerge, but when a piece of code is new or nobody has yet reused it, then current repositories provide users with no information about whether that code might be appropriate for reuse. Addressing this problem requires predicting reusability based on information that exists when a script is created. To provide such a model for web macro scripts, we identified script traits that might plausibly predict reuse, then used IBM CoScripter repository logs to statistically test how well each corresponded to reuse. We then built a machine learning model that combines the useful traits and evaluated how well it can predict four different types of reuse that we saw in the repository logs. Our model was able to predict reuse from a surprisingly small set of traits. It is simple enough to be explained in only 6–11 rules, making it potentially viable for integration in repository search engines for end-user programmers.
Expanding Usage of a Community Cannery

Public Services are sometimes not utilized to the extent that their planners expected. An anthropological investigation revealed a number of reasons for this pattern with respect to a community cannery facility. The research team initiated a series of measures to remedy this situation among selected demographic groups. The project was successful in attracting more users to the cannery, in having many of its recommendations adopted by county officials, and in developing a positive image of anthropology among these officials. [nutritional anthropology, food preservation, public services]
Stress-based crystal analysis of yielding in rolled Mg AZ31B

A stress-based analysis is demonstrated that can be used to evaluate the effect of material orientation and loading conditions on the micro- and macro-scale yield response of strongly textured metals. This analysis is used to construct microscale yield surfaces for selected deformation mechanisms in rolled AZ31B. Two-dimensional projections of these surfaces are plotted along sample directions to quantify the relative activity of each mechanism for various loading conditions. By assigning each mechanism realistic strengths, the analysis is used to quantify the influence of each deformation mechanism on macroscale yield behaviour. Due to its simplicity, this analysis can be easily carried out to probe and visualize projections of material response in any part of stress space given the material’s texture, its relevant deformation mechanisms and realistic initial strengths of these mechanisms.
Interaction of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) with hematite studied by second harmonic generation

The fate of chromium in the environment relies heavily on its redox chemistry and interaction with iron oxide surfaces. Atomic layer deposition was used to deposit a 10 nm film of polycrystalline α-Fe2O3 (hematite) onto a fused silica substrate which was analyzed using second harmonic generation (SHG), a coherent, surface-specific, nonlinear optical technique. Specifically, the χ(3) technique was used to investigate the adsorption of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) to the hematite/water interface under flow conditions at pH 4 with 10 mM NaCl. We observed partially irreversible adsorption of Cr(III), the extent of which was found to be dependent on the concentration of Cr(III) ions in solution. This result was confirmed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The interaction of Cr(III) with hematite is compared with the adsorption of Cr(III) to the silica/water interface, which is the substrate for the ALD-prepared hematite films, and found to be fully reversible under the same experimental conditions. The observed bin...
Metal-binding effects of sirtuin inhibitor sirtinol

Sirtinol, a Schiff base derived from 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde, is an inhibitor of sirtuin proteins, a family of deacetylases active in gene regulation and relevant to the study of cancer growth. The formation of copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes of sirtinol is investigated by spectroscopic and structural methods. The molecular structure of this protein inhibitor allows for coordination of first-row transition metals in both tridentate and bidentate fashion. In addition, assays in cultured breast cancer cells reveal that CuII(sirtinol−H)2 and previously reported FeIII(sirtinol−H)(NO3)2 present enhanced cytotoxicity when compared to the free ligand, and that the ferric complex causes an increase in intracellular oxidative stress. Transition metal coordination in the biological milieu could therefore contribute additional effects to the biological profile of sirtinol.
An Empirical Study on the Factors Affecting the Contribution of the Military Industrial Enterprises to Local Economy——on the Case of Shanxi Province

Applying positive research method to the factor analysis of data from investigation and research,factors influencing contribution of military enterprises to local economy can be reduced to five key factors: market environment,funds,enterprise strategy,management innovation and human resources.The result of factor analysis is evaluated by using structural equation modeling.Corresponding tentative model is constructed and tested quantitatively.According to the model and in view of the five key factors,suggestions on improving the contribution of the military industrial enterprise to local economy development are put forward.
Genetic Testing as Part of a Plan for Preemptive Suicide in the Face of Impending Dementia

Genetic testing is an important factor in an array of biomarkers that help patients and clinicians to estimate an individual’s risk for developing Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease. This array of tests makes more feasible the possibility of choosing to end one’s life before one becomes demented. These new possibilities raise important ethical issues. Should clinicians, researchers, and regulators seek to erect roadblocks in the path of individuals who seek this information, in a paternalistic attempt to thwart rational suicide? Do volunteers in research have a right to the “return of research results,” to use those results as they see fit? Should we think of suicide in the face of impending dementia as one rational choice to preserve one’s identity before the loss of self that is associated with Alzheimer’s, or should we continue to view suicide as either selfish, or deranged, or both?
Should the cancer patient be told

The type and location of a malignancy; how a patient reacts to stress, as judged by previous experiences; the ability of the physician to be understanding and consistently supportive; the type of therapy necessary, etc., all have a bearing on whether or not a patient should be told he has cancer.Studies have shown that most patients want to know whether or not they have cancer, and it has been determined that each patient has a legal right to know the truth.The author presents arguments to support the contention that with few exceptions patients should be told of this diagnosis.
TU-FG-209-04: Testing of Digital Image Receptors Using AAPM TG-150's Draft Recommendations - Investigating the Impact of Different Processing Parameters

Purpose: To evaluate implementation of AAPM TG-150's draft recommendations via a parameter study for testing the performance of digital image receptors. Methods: Flat field images were acquired from 9 calibrated digital image receptors associated with 9 new portable digital radiography systems (Carestream Health, Inc.) based on the draft recommendations and manufacturer-specified calibration conditions (set of 4 images at input detector air kerma ranging from 1 to 25 µGy). Effects of exposure response function (linearized and logarithmic), ‘Presentation Intent Type’ (‘For Processing’ and ‘For Presentation’), detector orientation with respect to the anode-cathode axis (4 orientations; 900 rotations per iteration), different ROI sizes (5×5–40×40 mm2) and elimination of varying dimensions of image border (0 mm i.e., without boundary elimination to 150 mm) on signal, noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the associated nonuniformities were evaluated. Images were analyzed in Matlab and quantities were compared using ANOVA. Results: Signal, noise and SNR values averaged over 9 systems with default parameter values in draft recommendations were 4837.2±139.4, 19.7±0.9 and 246.4±10.1 (mean ± standard deviation), respectively (at input detector air kerma: 12.5 µGy). Signal, noise and SNR showed characteristic dependency on exposure response function and on ‘Presentation Intent Type’. These values were not affected by ROI size and detector orientation, but analysis showed that eliminating the edge pixels along the boundary was required for the noise parameter (coefficient of variation range for noise: 72%–106% and 3%–4% without and with boundary elimination; respectively). Local and global nonuniformities showed a similar dependence on the need for boundary elimination. Interestingly, computed non-uniformities showed agreement with manufacturer-reported values except for noise non-uniformities in two units; artifacts were seen in images from these two units highlighting the importance of independent evaluations. Conclusion: The effect of different parameters on performance characterization of digital image receptors was evaluated based on TG-150's draft recommendations.
Too Tall, Too Dark to Be Australian

This chapter discusses African diasporas’ experiences with racism in Australia. It provides alternative categorizations, definitions and understandings of race and racism by focusing not only on historical, discursive, systemic, epistemological and symbolic forms but also on everyday forms of discrimination that are hidden in small talk, elite and political discourses and in government policies that supposedly recognize and accommodate diversity. The chapter also signposts the meanings of Australian citizenship and identity expressed in everyday interactions in public spaces, in buses, in shopping malls and in workplaces; and looks at how discourses that operate in these settings have shaped and mediated perceptions and sensibilities about African diaspora identities in Australia.
Genome sequences and annotation of two urinary isolates of E. coli

The genus Escherichia includes pathogens and commensals. Bladder infections (cystitis) result most often from colonization of the bladder by uropathogenic E. coli strains. In contrast, a poorly defined condition called asymptomatic bacteriuria results from colonization of the bladder with E. coli strains without symptoms. As part of an on-going attempt to identify and characterize the newly discovered female urinary microbiota, we report the genome sequences and annotation of two urinary isolates of E. coli: one (E78) was isolated from a female patient who self-reported cystitis; the other (E75) was isolated from a female patient who reported that she did not have symptoms of cystitis. Whereas strain E75 is most closely related to an avian extraintestinal pathogen, strain E78 is a member of a clade that includes extraintestinal strains often found in the human bladder. Both genomes are uncommonly rich in prophages.
The Great Demarcation: The French Revolution and the Invention of Modern Property: Blaufarb, Rafe, Oxford: Oxford University Press 304 pp., $74.00, ISBN 978-0199778799 Publication Date: June 2016

The Great Demarcation recounts the process by which the successive governments of revolutionary France created a modern system of property. On the night of August 4, 1789, as professor of history a...
Common Factors' Role in Accredited MFT Training Programs

Common factors proponents discuss the benefits and methods of including common factors in marriage and family therapy (MFT) training; yet there are no empirical investigations of how common factors are incorporated into MFT curricula. The purpose of this study was to obtain a baseline understanding of common factors' role in MFT training. Thirty-one directors of COAMFTE- and CACREP-accredited MFT training programs responded to a survey about the inclusion of common factors in their training program, as well as the benefits, challenges, and students' reactions to common factors training. Findings show that common factors are regularly included in MFT training programs and have garnered largely positive responses. Additional results are discussed regarding the implications of common factors in MFT training.
Diabetes Complications Severity Index (DCSI)-Update and ICD-10 translation.

Abstract Aims The Diabetes Complications Severity Index (DCSI) converts diagnostic codes and laboratory results into a 14-level metric quantifying the long-term effects of diabetes on seven body systems. Adoption of the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) necessitates translation from ICD-9-CM and creates refinement opportunities. Methods ICD-9 codes for secondary and primary diabetes plus all five ICD-10 diabetes categories were incorporated into an updated tool. Additional modifications were made to improve the accuracy of severity assignments. Subjects The tools were tested in a Medicare Advantage population. Results In the type 2 subpopulation, prevalence steadily declined with increasing score according to the updated DCSI tool, whereas the original tool resulted in an aberrant local prevalence peak at DCSI = 2. In the type 1 subpopulation, score prevalence was greater in type 1 versus type 2 subpopulations (3 versus 0) according to both instruments. Both instruments predicted current-year inpatient admissions risk and near-future mortality, using either purely ICD-9 data or a mix of ICD-9 and ICD-10 data. Discussion While the performance of the tool with purely ICD-10 data has yet to be evaluated, this updated tool makes assessment of diabetes patient severity and complications possible in the interim.
Inheritance and fitness costs of Cry1A.105 resistance in two strains of Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith)

Abstract Cry1A.105 is a Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) protein expressed in many Bt corn hybrids for controlling moth pests including the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith). The objective of this study was to compare the inheritance and fitness costs of two Cry1A.105-resistant FAW strains (RR32 and RR67) from Florida, U.S. To assess inheritance of the resistance, larval mortality of one susceptible strain (SS), RR32, RR67, and eight FAW strains generated from various genetic crosses was assayed on Cry1A.105-treated diet and Cry1A.105 corn leaf tissues. In the fitness cost study, survival, growth, development, and fecundity of SS, RR32, RR67, and two F 1 heterozygous-resistant FAW strains were evaluated on non-Bt corn leaf tissue. The Cry1A.105 resistance in both RR32 and RR67 was likely inherited as a single autosomal gene with no fitness costs. The dominance levels differed between the two strains and varied from incompletely recessive to incompletely dominant, depending on Cry1A.105 concentrations and assay materials. The results of this study indicate a relatively high risk of resistance development to single-gene Cry1A.105 corn in FAW. Together with published data, the results also show that non-recessive resistance and lack of fitness costs in resistance to Bt crops are not uncommon, which provides a cautionary evidence against the assumption that resistance is recessive in an resistance management plan for Bt crops.
Therapy related-chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML): Molecular, cytogenetic, and clinical distinctions from de novo CMML.

Therapy related myeloid neoplasms (t-MN) including therapy related myelodysplastic syndromes (t-MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML) are associated with aggressive disease biologies and poor outcomes. In this large (n = 497) and informative (inclusive of molecular and cytogenetic information) chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) patient cohort, we demonstrate key biological insights and an independent prognostic impact for t-CMML. T-CMML was diagnosed in 9% of patients and occurred approximately 7 years after exposure to prior chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. In comparison to de novo CMML, t-CMML patients had higher LDH levels, higher frequency of karyotypic abnormalities and had higher risk cytogenetic stratification. There were no differences in the distribution of gene mutations and unlike t-MDS/AML, balanced chromosomal translocations, abnormalities of chromosome 11q23 (1%) and Tp53 mutations (<2%) were uncommon. Molecularly integrated CMML prognostic models were not effective in risk stratifying t-CMML patients and responses to hypomethylating agents were dismal with no complete responses. Median overall (OS) and leukemia free survival (LFS) was shorter for t-CMML in comparison to d-CMML (Median OS 10.9 vs 26 months and median LFS 50 vs 127 months) and t-CMML independently and adversely impacted OS (P = .0001 HR 2.1 95% CI 1.4-3.0). This prognostic impact was retained in the context of the Mayo Molecular Model (P = .001, HR 2.4, 95% CI 1.5-3.7) and the GFM prognostic model (P < .0001, HR 2.15, 95% CI 1.5-3.7). In summary, we highlight the unique genetics and independent prognostic impact of t-CMML, warranting its inclusion as a separate entity in the classification schema for both CMML and t-MN.
Novel in Vitro Transcription Assay Indicates that the ACCD Nep Promoter is Contained in a 19 BP Fragment

In order to characterize promoters for the nuclear-encoded plastid RNA polymerase (NEP), we developed a novel in vitro transcription system. The assay is based on extracts from plants lacking the plastid-encoded RNA polymerase (PEP) activity due to targeted deletion of the PEP α subunit gene. We report here the characterization of PaccD-129, the promoter for accD, encoding a subunit of the acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Dissection of a ~0.8 kb fragment determined that the accD promoter is contained within a 19-bp fragment (-17/+2).
On the Structure of Generalized Effect Algebras and Separation Algebras

Separation algebras are models of separation logic and effect algebras are models of unsharp quantum logics. We investigate these closely related classes of partial algebras as well as their noncommutative versions and the subclasses of (generalized) (pseudo-)orthoalgebras. We present an orderly algorithm for constructing all nonisomorphic generalized pseudoeffect algebras with n elements and use it to compute these algebras with up to 10 elements.
Attentive Neural Architecture for Ad-hoc Structured Document Retrieval

The problem of ad-hoc structured document retrieval arises in many information access scenarios, from Web to product search. Yet neither deep neural networks, which have been successfully applied to ad-hoc information retrieval and Web search, nor the attention mechanism, which has been shown to significantly improve the performance of deep neural networks on natural language processing tasks, have been explored in the context of this problem. In this paper, we propose a deep neural architecture for ad-hoc structured document retrieval, which utilizes attention mechanism to determine important phrases in keyword queries as well as the relative importance of matching those phrases in different fields of structured documents. Experimental evaluation on publicly available collections for Web document, product and entity retrieval from knowledge graphs indicates superior retrieval accuracy of the proposed neural architecture relative to both state-of-the-art neural architectures for ad-hoc document retrieval and probabilistic models for ad-hoc structured document retrieval.
Biomass Fast Pyrolysis Using a Novel Microparticle Microreactor Approach: Effect of Particles Size, Biomass Type, and Temperature

Biomass fast pyrolysis is emerging as a front-running approach for the generation of renewable chemical and fuel resources. The pyrolysis temperature, solid- and gas-phase residence times, and biomass particle size and type have a substantial impact on char, oil, and gas yields. A laboratory-scale fast pyrolysis technique was demonstrated using manufactured biomass microspheres. A unique single-particle (∼10 μg) microreactor technology coupled to a millisecond response flame ionization detector was used to investigate the effects of relevant particle and process parameters and to capture the dynamics of real-time microscale single-particle pyrolysis for the first time. The manufactured biomass microspheres were produced by spray-drying finely milled microcrystalline cellulose, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), and tall fescue straw (Festuca arundinacea) flour.
Phenology and species diversity in a Lake Huron ichthyoplankton community: Ecological implications of invasive species dominance

Abstract Ichthyoplankton communities are dynamic and vary spatiotemporally based on factors such as wind, water currents, and phenology. Nonetheless, ichthyoplankton are an indicator of spawning success in fish populations and examining their community diversity and composition can serve to provide information on ecosystem integrity. Although some ichthyoplankton species may be transient, understanding their distribution in space and time provides information on species composition, abundance, and habitat use during critical early life stages. We sampled the spring-summer ichthyoplankton community during 2008 and 2009 in northern Lake Huron to determine species succession, abundance, and species diversity along physical and environmental gradients. Seasonal succession of species was similar during both years, indicating well-defined patterns in spawning by northern Lake Huron fish populations. Invasive alewife, rainbow smelt, and round goby were the dominant species during both years, with native stickleback species also abundant. Shannon Entropy (H′) increased with increasing water temperature until late summer when H′ declined. H′ decreased with increasing bottom depth and distance to tributary mouth indicating the important ecological role of these habitat features during early life stages. Although ichthyoplankton diversity was comparable to or higher than that reported for other areas of the Great Lakes, the prominence of invasive species in our study is reflective of the disturbed state of the Lake Huron fish community, despite large reductions in invasive planktivorous fish since 2004. Continued monitoring of ichthyoplankton communities will be important for measuring the impacts of species invasions or other ecosystem stressors on fish community structure in the Great Lakes.
Reconciling the Bayes Factor and Likelihood Ratio for Two Non-Nested Model Selection Problems

In statistics, there are a variety of methods for performing model selection that all stem from slightly different paradigms of statistical inference. The reasons for choosing one particular method over another seem to be based entirely on philosophical preferences. In the case of non-nested model selection, two of the prevailing techniques are the Bayes Factor and the likelihood ratio. This article focuses on reconciling the likelihood ratio and the Bayes Factor for comparing a pair of non-nested models under two different problem frameworks typical in forensic science, the common-source and the specific-source problem. We show that the Bayes Factor can be expressed as the expected value of the corresponding likelihood ratio function with respect to the posterior distribution for the parameters given the entire set of data where the set(s) of unknown-source observations has been generated according to the second model. This expression leads to a number of useful theoretic and practical results relating the two statistical approaches. This relationship is quite meaningful in many scientific applications where there is a general confusion between the various statistical methods, and particularly in the case of forensic science.
Physical education teachers' and principals' perspectives on the use of FitnessGram.

Objectives:FitnessGram is commonly used to measure physical fitness and improve physical activity and health in youth. However, little is known about its use for informing physical activity and hea...
The Dark Prince of the Republic: Machiavelli, Batman, and Gotham City

Gotham is a fallen city. The city is not only violent but criminality is so entrenched that Gotham’s problems are political, not simply criminal. In the 80 years since Bob Kane’s creation of Batman, Gotham has not improved. No matter how many times Batman upends a criminal enterprise, interrupts a one-off act of violence, or defeats super-villains bent on world domination, Gotham does not change. So how effective is Batman, really? Why does Batman limit himself to stopping crime, rather than seizing the state and running it properly (a la Lenin)? Curiously enough, Niccolo Machiavelli, often caricatured as a theorist of the unethical use of violence, can help explain this.
The use of the counterflow diffusion flame in studies of inhibition effectiveness of gaseous and powdered agents

The problem of laboratory assessment of the relative effectiveness of gaseous and powdered agents in chemically inhibiting real fires is approached by use of the recently developed counterflow diffusion flame. The regions of stability of such flames are presumed to correlate with the chemically controlled reaction rate in inhibited flames. A scaled-down version of the flame system developed by Tsuji and Yamaoka is described, together with the provisions made to add gaseous and powdered agents in known amounts. The effect of addition of gases such as CF3Br, CF2ClBr, CH3Br, CO2, Ar, and N2 to the air and fuel side of methane-air, propane-air, and n-butane-air flames is shown. The results are consistent with expectations based on other techniques. The counterflow flame technique works equally well with powdered agents, apart from the only partially solved problems inherent in achieving steady powder loading of the air stream. A comparison of three commercial powdered agents added to the air stream of a CH4-air flame is shown. The powders are more effective on a weight basis than CF3Br.
Mycological Insights Into Wetland Fungal Communities: The Mycobiome of Camassia in the Pacific Northwest

Fungal communities in ephemeral wetland habitats of the Pacific Northwest (PNW) are poorly understood. Because Camassia (camas) populations are a distinctive component of native plant communities i...
Principal Components, Classical Multidimensional Scaling, and Factor Analysis

This chapter introduces the theory and application of principal components, classical multidimensional scaling, and factor analysis. Principal components seek to effectively summarize high dimensional data as lower dimensional scores. Multidimensional scaling gives a visual representation of points when all we know about the points are the distances separating them. Classical multidimensional scaling is seen to be an application of principal components when the distances are standard Euclidean distances. Principal components and factor analysis are often used for similar purposes but their theoretical background is quite different.
First‐Year Economic and Quality of Life Effects of the RAINBOW Intervention to Treat Comorbid Obesity and Depression

Objective Obesity and depression are prevalent and often co-occurring conditions in the United States. The Research Aimed at Improving Both Mood and Weight (RAINBOW) randomized trial demonstrated the effectiveness of an integrated intervention for adults with both conditions. Characterizing the intervention's economic effects is important for broader dissemination and implementation. Methods This study evaluated the cost (2018 US dollars) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) impacts during RAINBOW's first year, comparing intervention (n = 204) and usual-care groups (n = 205). Outcomes included intervention delivery costs, differential changes in antidepressant medication spending compared with the pretrial year, differential changes in medical services spending compared with the pretrial year, and HRQoL changes from baseline using Euroqol-5D US utility weights. Results RAINBOW's 1-year delivery cost per person was $2,251. Compared with usual care, annual antidepressant medication days increased more (38 days [95% CI: 4 to 72]; P = 0.027). Annual antidepressant medication spending had a larger, nonsignificant increase ($89 [95% CI: -$20 to $197]; P = 0.109). Annual spending on medical care services had a smaller, nonsignificant decrease (-$54 [95% CI: -$832 to $941]; P = 0.905). HRQoL had a nonsignificant increase (0.011 [95% CI: -0.025 to 0.047]; P = 0.546). Conclusions The RAINBOW intervention's economic value will depend on how its 1-year improvements in obesity and depression translate into long-term reduced morbidity, delayed mortality, or averted costs.
A Practice Continuum: Integrating Experiential Education into the Curriculum

Legal education has been inundated in the last decade by criticism that many graduates are unable to function competently in today’s practice venues. Although the term “practice-ready” is at best elusive and at worst impossible, law schools continue to grapple with the most fundamental question: how to educate law students so that they can enter the legal market as competent, ethical lawyers. Some argue the traditional law school curriculum teaches law students how to find the law and analyze the law. Others state that it exposes students to legal skills and may provide opportunities for immersion in real practice. However, what the traditional law school curriculum generally does not do is integrate doctrine, skills, and practice in a way that allows students to understand their simultaneous integration to serve clients’ needs.Drawing on the lessons laid out in two major reports on the state of legal education — Best Practices for Legal Education and the Carnegie Report — this article addresses integration by infusing experiential education throughout the “traditional” curriculum. The Article proposes a continuum of legal education focused on practice: a system where a student’s experience begins with the traditional doctrinal classroom but his or her role can be expanded beyond that of a passive listener, moves to simulation courses where the student first begins to put his or her doctrinal knowledge into practice, and culminates in an immersion into real practice through an externship or field placement, where the student’s role emulates the role of the practicing attorney as closely as possible. Ultimately, the Article recommends a set of best practices specific to the practice continuum, while acknowledging the challenges involved in shifting the legal academy’s inertia towards a more experientially integrated curriculum.
A conserved amino acid in the C-terminus of HPV E7 mediates binding to PTPN14 and repression of epithelial differentiation

The human papillomavirus (HPV) E7 oncoprotein is a primary driver of HPV-mediated carcinogenesis. The E7 proteins from diverse HPV bind to the host cellular non-receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase type 14 (PTPN14) and direct it for degradation through the activity of the E7-associated host E3 ubiquitin ligase UBR4. Herein we show that a highly conserved arginine residue in the C-terminal domain of diverse HPV E7 mediates interaction with PTPN14. We found that disruption of PTPN14 binding through mutation of the C-terminal arginine did not impact the ability of several high-risk HPV E7 proteins to bind and degrade the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor or activate E2F target gene expression. HPVs infect human keratinocytes and we previously reported that both PTPN14 degradation by HPV16 E7 and PTPN14 CRISPR knockout repress keratinocyte differentiation-related genes. Now we have found that blocking PTPN14 binding through mutation of the conserved C-terminal arginine rendered both HPV16 and HPV18 E7 unable to repress differentiation-related gene expression. We then confirmed that the HPV18 E7 variant that could not bind PTPN14 was also impaired in repressing differentiation when expressed from the complete HPV18 genome. Finally, we found that the ability of HPV18 E7 to extend the lifespan of primary human keratinocytes required PTPN14 binding. CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of PTPN14 rescued keratinocyte lifespan extension in the presence of the PTPN14 binding-deficient HPV18 E7 variant. These results support the model that PTPN14 degradation by high-risk HPV E7 leads to repression of differentiation and contributes to its carcinogenic activity.
Relationship between peak density and acoustic scattering in high-frequency ultrasound wave propagation

Ultrasound wave propagation in materials has been used in different manners to determine the characteristics of materials including detecting defects, understanding the microstructure, thickness, density, elastic modulus, etc. Each of these parameters can be characterized using one or more ultrasound characteristics. Acoustic scattering is one of the key features of ultrasound that can be used to evaluate microstructural features. Peak density of the receiving signal in a pitch-catch mode is an ultrasound parameter that can be a characteristic of acoustic scattering and an indicative of microstructural features. The objective of this study was to establish a relationship between peak density and acoustic scattering while varying microstructural parameters like scatterer size, number of scatterer, and propagation path of ultrasound. Frequency range from 18 to 41 MHz was used as high-frequency ultrasound analysis. The focus was to demonstrate the pitch-catch technique during peak evaluation. Peak density obtained from the frequency spectrum of phantoms with different microstructures was compared to detect a pattern in microstructural change. An analytical study was conducted to measure peak density from various scatterer sizes and propagation distances. Multiple scattering was evaluated in computational simulation with varying scatterer size, number, and travel distance. The results were compared and validated with results obtained from the experimental analysis conducted in this same study. Inter-scatterer distance was also evaluated to explore randomness in scatterer position during ultrasound scattering in computation level. The level of significance of each parameter toward the diversification of peak density was evaluated during the study.
Neuroplastic changes in auditory cortex induced by long-duration "non-traumatic" noise exposures are triggered by deficits in the neural output of the cochlea.

Abstract Long-term exposure to moderate intensity noise that does not cause measureable hearing loss can cause striking changes in sound-evoked neural activity in auditory cortex. It is unclear if these changes originate in the cortex or result from functional deficits in the neural output of the cochlea. To explore this issue, rats were exposed for 6-weeks to 18–24 kHz noise at 45, 65 or 85 dB SPL and then compared the noise-induced changes in the cochlear compound action potential (CAP) with the neurophysiological alterations in the anterior auditory field (AAF) of auditory cortex. The 45-dB exposure, which had no effect on the cochlear CAP also had no effect on the AAF. In contrast, the 85-dB exposure greatly reduced CAP amplitudes at high frequencies, but had little or no effect on low frequencies. Despite the large reduction in high-frequency CAP neural responses, high frequency AAF neural responses (spike rate and local field potential amplitude) remained largely within normal limits, evidence of central gain compensation. AAF responses were also enhanced at the low frequencies even though CAP responses were normal; this AAF hyperactivity only occurred at low-moderate intensities (level-dependent enhanced central gain). The 65-dB exposure also caused a moderate reduction in high-frequency CAP amplitudes. Notwithstanding this cochlear loss, AAF responses were boosted into the normal range, evidence of homeostatic gain compensation. Our results suggest that the noise-induced neuroplastic changes in the auditory cortex from so-called “non-traumatic” exposures are triggered from functional deficits in the neural output of the cochlea.
Sensing Textures: Tactile Resistance

Sensing Textures: Tactile Resistance is a collection of eight swatches comprised of e-textile sensors and actuators that probe ideas around the politics of crafting handmade technological artifacts. By engaging hands-on with the production of these artifacts, this work aims to reflect on alternative modes of world-building that allow for speculation about how bespoke technology can look and feel like when it is highly personalized. These eight swatches explore different crafting techniques while responding to personal narratives, questions about how we perceive the world and how we embody the making of technology collectively in a critical manner.
Endoscopic Resection for Gastric Cancer

Endoscopic resection of early gastric cancer has been a well-established standard therapy in Japan, and it is increasingly accepted in other countries. Accurate evaluation of the lesion with careful endoscopic examination and histologic assessment are critical for appropriate patient selection in order to avoid performing this procedure on patients with high risk of lymph node involvement and metastasis. Currently, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is performed for lesions smaller than 20 mm. En bloc resection is preferred because of the high risk of local recurrence after piecemeal resection, therefore, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) should be considered for lesions larger than 20 mm.