cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Superradiant control of γ -ray propagation by vibrating nuclear arrays

The collective nature of light interactions with atomic and nuclear ensembles yields the fascinating phenomena of superradiance and radiation trapping. We study the interaction of $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays with a coherently vibrating periodic array of two-level nuclei. Such nuclear motion can be generated, e.g., in ionic crystals illuminated by a strong driving optical laser field. We find that deflection of the incident $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ beam into the Bragg angle can be switched on and off by nuclear vibrations on a superradiant time scale determined by the collective nuclear frequency ${\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{a}$, which is of the order of terahertz. Namely, if the incident $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ wave is detuned from the nuclear transition by frequency $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\gg}{\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{a}$ it passes through the static nuclear array. However, if the nuclei vibrate with frequency $\ensuremath{\Delta}$ then parametric resonance can yield energy transfer into the Bragg deflected beam on the superradiant time scale, which can be used for fast control of $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays.
Mixed mu problems and branch and bound techniques

The computation of the general structural singular value ( mu ) is NP hard. Therefore, quick solutions to medium sized problems must often be approximate. In many of the cases where the current approximate methods are unsatisfactory, improved solutions can be obtained. It is shown that, despite its combinatoric nature, branch and bound techniques can give substantially improved solutions with only moderate computational cost. >
A Comparison of Two Approaches to Fixed-Width Confidence Interval Estimation

Abstract The recent method of Serfling and Wackerly (1976) for constructing fixed-width confidence intervals for the center of location is extended to include M estimators. The resultant class of procedures is compared to the stopping times of Chow and Robbins (1965), as both the interval length d and intended noncoverage probability 2α converge to zero. Except in certain special cases, the stopping times are found to have different asymptotic distributions. The coverage probability of the Serfling-Wackerly class is found as d converges to zero.
Structure development of fibers from liquid-crystalline PET/60PHB copolyester

Effect of extrusion conditions, particularly temperature, on the structure development of fibers from poly(ethylene terephthalate) modified with 60 mol% p-hydroxybenzoic acid was investigated. Light microscopy revealed that the structure of the liquid-crystalline fiber was highly dependent on the extrusion temperature: low-temperature-spun fibers exhibited a structure with domains or clusters of crystallites randomly oriented, whereas the fibers spun at high temperatures had a well-developed fibrillar texture. Anisotropy of the fibers, as evidenced by dichroism and by the variation of brightness or darkness of the fibers between crossed polars, was significantly higher for those spun at relatively high temperatures. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the fibers spun at relatively low temperatures had poorly oriented, nonuniform morphology. Those produced at relatively high temperatures, on the other hand, consisted of well-developed fibrils. X-ray diffraction patterns showed that the molecular orientation increased with increasing extrusion temperature. A model for the development of fiber structure from thermotropic liquid-crystalline polymers is proposed.
On measurements for EIRP compliance of UWB devices

This paper discusses issues, methods, and limitations of using scalar near field measurements for determining radiator EIRP. Standard measurement methods and extrapolations used in compliance testing of UWB devices are reviewed. Next, measurements are performed which examine field attenuation rates in the near field of different radiating sources. Finally, these field attenuation rates are reviewed in relation to demonstrating DUT compliance.
19th Annual International Colorectal Disease Symposium

The 19th Annual International Colorectal Disease Symposium, hosted by the Cleveland Clinic Florida provided a comprehensive update of all aspects of colorectal disease. The course was geared towards physicians, residents and allied health professionals. The diverse program attracted a wide range of participants and also provided a unique opportunity to discuss the latest developments in colorectal surgery with numerous US and international leaders in the field.
Chemotherapy resistance in osteosarcoma: current challenges and future directions

For patients with osteosarcoma, the use of chemotherapy has improved survival from 11% with surgical resection alone in the 1960s, to 70% by the mid-1980s. However, survival has since plateaued, despite advances in anticancer therapy. Elucidation of the mechanisms of chemoresistance and implementation of strategies to overcome chemoresistance will likely be pivotal to improving survival. In this review, the focus is on the current understanding of the mechanisms of resistance to the most commonly used agents in the treatment of osteosarcoma and the methods employed to overcome chemotherapy resistance.
IMPROVEMENTS TO PWR VESSEL FRACTURE ANALYSIS METHODS

ABSTRACT The Developments in France aimed at improving the accuracy of the PWR vessel fracture resistance analysis proceed according to two objectives. Every effort is being made to expand the field of applicability of methodologies based on LEFM with plasticity corrections. At the same time, however, a more fundamental elastoplastic numerical approach based on crack tip tearing or cleavage damage criteria is being derived in order to extend the limits of validity of the J integral criterion and to define the limits of validity of the methodology based on LEFM with plasticity corrections.
Stochastic Modeling of the Influence of Environment on Pitting Corrosion Damage of Radioactive-Waste Containers

A physically-based, phenomenological stochastic model for pit initiation and growth is presented as a potential tool for predicting the degradation of high-level radioactive-waste containers by aqueous pitting corrosion. Included in the model are simple phenomenological equations describing the dependence of the controlling stochastic parameters on the applied (or corrosion) potential, chloride ion concentration, and absolute temperature. Results from this model are presented that demonstrate its ability to simulate several important environmental effects on pitting.
A unified framework for the deconvolution of traces of nonwhite reflectivity

One of the fundamental assumptions of conventional deconvolution methods is that reflection coefficients follow the white-noise model. However, analysis of well logs in various regions of the world confirms that in the majority of cases, reflectivity tends to depart from the white-noise behavior. The assumption of white noise leads to a conventional deconvolution operator that can recover only the white component of reflectivity, thus yielding a distorted representation of the desired output. Various alternative processes have been suggested to model reflection coefficients. In this paper, we will examine some of these processes, apply them, contrast their stochastic properties, and critique their use for modeling reflectivity. These processes include autoregressive moving average (ARMA), scaling Gaussian noise, fractional Brownian motion, fractional Gaussian noise, and fractionally integrated noise. We then present a consistent framework to generalize the conventional deconvolution procedure to handle reflection coefficients that do not follow the white-noise model. This framework represents a unified approach to the problem of deconvolving signals of nonwhite reflectivity and describes how higher-order solutions to the deconvolution problem can be realized. We test generalized filters based on the various stochastic models and analyze their output. Because these models approximate the stochastic properties of reflection coefficients to a much better degree than white noise, they yield generalized deconvolution filters that deliver a significant improvement on the accuracy of seismic deconvolution over the conventional operator.
Morphology of electrochemically grown silver deposits on silver-saturated Ge-Se thin films

The morphology of electrochemically grown Ag deposits on the surface of silver-saturated Ge–Se thin films of different composition is investigated using atomic force microscopy. It is shown that the morphology and the growth rate are closely related to the composition of the Ge–Se host on which the growth is developed. The main reasons for this are the structure of the host and the nature of its electrical conductivity, both being dependent on the amount and distribution of the incorporated silver. The form of the electrodeposits is important for the functionality of optical devices that use them to block or reflect light.
Sexual selection for spatial-learning ability

Sex differences in spatial learning have been thought to be universal among mammals, but their adaptive significance has been neglected. Spatial-learning skills are hypothesized to evolve in proportion to nagivational demands, and it is predicted that sex differences in spatial ability will evolve only in species where range expansion contributes differentially to the reproductive success of males and females. This prediction was tested via field studies of ranging behaviour and laboratory studies of spatial ability in two congeneric rodent species whose mating systems differ. Radiotelemetric studies showed that, in a polygynous species (meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus), males expanded their ranges only during the breeding season and only when they attained full reproductive status. Females showed neither response. This suggests that range expansion was a male reproductive tactic. In contrast, a monogamous congener (prairie voles, M. ochrogaster) showed no sex differences in ranging, regardless of reproductive status. This probably reflects the relative inability of monogamous males and females to benefit from increased exposure to members of the opposite sex. When subsequently tested in a series of seven symmetrical mazes, subjects from the field studies exhibited the predicted sex-by-species patterns of spatial ability: only meadow voles showed consistent male superiority on these spatial tasks.
Comprehension of Inferences in Discourse Processing by Adolescents With and Without Language Impairment

Purpose This study investigated inference construction within spoken narratives in adolescents with varying cognitive and language abilities, using W. Kintsch’s (1988) construction-integration model as a framework. The role of working memory in inference construction was examined along with language and nonverbal cognition. Method Participants were 527 eighth-grade students in 4 diagnostic groups: normal language (NL), low cognitive (LC), specific language impairment (SLI), and nonspecific language impariment (NLI). Participants answered premise and inference questions based on adjacent and distant information. Results Distant inferences were significantly more difficult than were adjacent inferences. When controlling for premise accuracy, the NL group performed significantly better than each of the other groups on distant inferences. The LC group demonstrated significantly higher accuracy on distant inferences than did the NLI group. Regression analyses revealed that performance on a verbal working memor...
Reducing REBT’s “Wince Factor:” an insider’s perspective

The author discusses three aspects of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) that occasionally make him wince. They are: REBT does not adequately address issues relating to diversity-sensitive counseling; there is a tendency for some REBT adherents to display poor interpersonel skills, and lack a philosophical commitment to the interdependence of humans on one another; and, there is a tendency for REBT to promise more than it can deliver. A list of 15 recommendations and wishes for a “new and improved” version of REBT are included.
Online control for self-management in computing systems

Dependable computer systems hosting critical commerce, transportation, and military applications, among others, must satisfy stringent quality-of-service (QoS) requirements. However, as these systems become increasingly complex, maintaining the desired QoS by manually tuning the numerous performance-related parameters are very difficult. This paper develops a generic online control framework to design self-managing computer systems. The proposed approach explores a limited region of the system state-space at each time step and decides the best control action accordingly. We present two case studies to demonstrate the practicality of the proposed control framework.
On the Study of a Probability Distribution for Precipitation Totals

Abstract Some of the probability distribution models for precipitation totals and their applications are briefly reviewed. The general properties of a probability distribution model which is a mixture of gamma and Poisson distributions are discussed. A new approximation is given for the solution of likelihood equations and the efficiency of the estimators is obtained. An application also is made using the monthly precipitation totals.
Temperature Effects in Flows over Nonplanar Beds

Laboratory results show that in flows over ripple and dune beds a 15-20°C increase in water temperature can affect significant changes in bed-load discharge, bed form and roughness. These results are correlated with data from natural streams. The analysis indicates that temperature related changes in a stream at constant discharge are primarily a function of grain-roughness boundary Reynolds number R′∗\db. In flows in which R′∗\db is less than a value near 10, an increase in water temperature effects an increase in bed-load discharge and an early (lower-velocity) transition from ripples to dunes. Whereas 10 〈 R′∗\db 〉 20 which is obtained in several American rivers, the temperature effect on bed-load discharge depends on the distribution of bed sediment sizes due to a qualitative change in temperature effect on bed-load discharge that takes place in this range of R′∗\db and bed form transitions, e.g., dunes to flat bed, occur at lower velocities with cold water.
Characterizing the subjective experience of episodic past, future, and counterfactual thinking in healthy younger and older adults

Recent evidence demonstrates remarkable overlap in the neural and cognitive mechanisms underlying episodic memory, episodic future thinking, and episodic counterfactual thinking. However, the extent to which the phenomenological characteristics associated with these mental simulations change as a result of ageing remains largely unexplored. The current study employs adapted versions of the Memory Characteristics Questionnaire and the Autobiographical Interview to compare the phenomenological characteristics associated with both positive and negative episodic past, future, and counterfactual simulations in younger and older adults. Additionally, it explores the influence of perceived likelihood in the experience of such simulations. The results indicate that, across all simulations, older adults generate more external details and report higher ratings of vividness, composition, and intensity than young adults. Conversely, younger adults generate more internal details across all conditions and rated positive and negative likely future events as more likely than did older adults. Additionally, both younger and older adults reported higher ratings for sensory, composition, and intensity factors during episodic memories relative to future and counterfactual thoughts. Finally, for both groups, ratings of spatial coherence and composition were higher for likely counterfactuals than for both unlikely counterfactuals and future simulations. Implications for the psychology of mental simulation and ageing are discussed.
Absorption of L-carnosine, L-methionine, and L-methionylglycine by isolated sheep ruminal and omasal epithelial tissue.

The absorption of carnosine, methionine, and methionylglycine (using 35S-methionine and 35S-methionylglycine as representative markers) across ruminal and omasal epithelia collected from four (carnosine) and seven sheep (methionine and methionylglycine) were studied using parabiotic chambers that were repeatedly sampled over a 240-min incubation. The quantity of all substrates transferred was linearly (P < .01) dependent on initial substrate concentration and time. More (P < .01) carnosine, methionine, and methionylglycine was transferred across omasal than across ruminal epithelia. Carnosine was absorbed across both tissues without hydrolysis. Methionylglycine was transferred intact across both tissues. A greater (P < .01) quantity was hydrolyzed by omasal than by ruminal epithelia, after 240 min of incubation. Greater (P < .06) quantities of methionine and methionylglycine accumulated in ruminal tissue after 240 min. Total absorption of methionine and methionylglycine did not differ within tissues, but total absorption of both substrates was greater (P < .01) by omasal tissues. There was little evidence for saturable absorption. These results indicate that omasal epithelial tissue possesses a greater ability to absorb both free and peptide-bound amino acids than does ruminal epithelial tissues.
Analysis on the Effect of WB/DFID TB Control Project in the Past Eight Years in Fuzhou City

[Objective]To analyze the effect of WB/DFID TB control project in the past eight years in Fuzhou,provide the scientific evidence for sustainable TB control.[Methods]The implementation situation of TB control project from 2002 to 2009 was summarized and analyzed.[Results]The project was fully carried out in 14 districts/counties of Fuzhou,and the DOTS coverage rate was 100%.The registration rate of new smear positive TB case increased from 23.75/lakh in 2002 to 33.22/lakh in 2009,which increased by 39.87%.The average cure rate of smear positive TB case reached 88.04%.[Conclusion]The TB control project achieved the target of high detection rate and high cure rate,which provide a successful mode for the sustainable development of TB control.
Safety Evaluation Research of Tailing Pond Based on Fuzzy Mathematics and Set Pair Analysis

According to the characteristics of the tailing pond,the index system is set up and based on the system established,fuzzy mathematics process is applied to conduct safety evaluation on tailing pond and to ensure the safety level of the tailing pond.A new,simple and practical set pair analysis process is discussed,to be used in the forecast of safety development trend of tailing pond.Difference degrees i demonstrates the transformation degree among the unified,opposite and uncertaind item of the system and reflect the safety management level of the tailing pond,which is the "barometer" and "direction sign" of the safety management of the enterprise.
The Epistemic Value of a Menu and Subjective States

A major theme in behavioral economics focuses on experimental evidence that individuals learn from the choice problems they face and consequently violate the consistency requirements of revealed preference theory. Despite the experimental evidence, the testable implications of such contextual inference remain unclear. In particular, it is an open question if learning from the choice problem imposes any restrictions on observed behavior. Motivated by the Shafir and Tversky (1992) experiments, the paper models contextual inference in the framework of preference for flexibility introduced by Kreps (1979) and extended by Dekel, Lipman, and Rustichini (2001). Within this framework, the paper proposes a relaxation of the weak axiom which formalizes the identification strategy in Shafir and Tversky (1992). A subjective state space that may depend on the subset of actions faced by the individual is uniquely identified from behavior, and 'local' preferences are partially recovered.
Student-Run Communications Agencies: Providing Students With Real-World Experiences That Impact Their Careers:

While several studies have examined the learning outcomes of student-run communications agencies, these studies have mostly been from the perspective of faculty advisors. Through in-depth interviews with student agency graduates, this study examined how current industry professionals perceive the benefits of their student agency experiences and how they applied those experiences to their professional careers. Graduates placed a high value on the real-world experience gained from student agencies, learning how a professional agency functions, and working with a diverse set of clients and people in team-based settings. Graduates also reported that their student agency involvement set them apart in job interviews and made them better prepared than their peers for entry-level positions.
Design of a low-cost and extensible acoustically-triggered camera system for marine population monitoring

As the health of the ocean continues to decline, more and more marine populations are at risk of extinction. A significant challenge facing conservation biologists is the ability to effectively monitor at-risk populations due to the challenges of the underwater environment. Obtaining visual data on a marine species typically requires significant time spent by humans observing in the field, which is both costly and time-consuming, and often yields a small amount of data. We present a low-cost, acoustically-triggered camera system to enable remote monitoring and identification of marine populations.
QUIESCENT BURST EVIDENCE FOR TWO DISTINCT GAMMA-RAY BURST EMISSION COMPONENTS

We have identified two quiescent gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) (bursts having two or more widely separated distinct emission episodes) in which the postquiescent emission exhibits distinctly different characteristics than the prequiescent emission. In these two cases (BATSE GRBs 960530 and 980125), the second emission episode has a longer lag, smoother morphology, and softer spectral evolution than the first episode. Although the prequiescent emission satisfies the standard internal shock paradigm, we demonstrate that the postquiescent emission is more consistent with external shocks. We infer that some observed soft, faint, long-lag GRBs are external shocks in which the internal shock signature is not observed. We further note that the peak luminosity ratio between quiescent episodes is not in agreement with the ratio predicated by the lag versus peak luminosity relationship. We briefly discuss these observations in terms of current collapsar jet models.
Efficacy of a new spot-on formulation of selamectin plus sarolaner against four common tick species infesting cats in Europe.

Abstract A single application of a new spot-on formulation of selamectin plus sarolaner (Stronghold®Plus, Zoetis) was evaluated for efficacy against the most common tick species infesting cats in Europe. In each of the seven laboratory studies, 16 adult and purpose-bred cats were randomly allocated to one of two treatment groups based on pre-treatment tick counts. Weekly infestations with 50 unfed adult Ixodes ricinus (2 studies), Ixodes hexagonus (1 study), Dermacentor reticulatus (2 studies), or Rhipicephalus sanguineus (2 studies) were scheduled on Days −2, 5, 12, 19, 26 and 33. Cats were treated on Day 0 with the spot-on formulation at the minimum recommended label dose of 6.0 mg selamectin and 1.0 mg sarolaner per kg bodyweight or with a placebo. Ticks were counted 48 h after treatment and after each re-infestation. No treatment-related adverse reactions were recorded in any of the studies. Geometric mean live tick counts were significantly (P ≤ 0.0012) lower in the selamectin/sarolaner-treated group compared to the placebo-treated group at all time-points. Against I. ricinus and I. hexagonus, efficacy was ≥97.2% against existing infestations and ≥97.4% against weekly re-infestations for at least 5 weeks. Treatment was 100% effective against existing R. sanguineus infestations and was ≥95.8% for at least 4 weeks. Against D. reticulatus treatment resulted in ≥94.4% efficacy for at least 4 weeks. Thus, a single application of the new spot-on formulation of selamectin plus sarolaner at the minimum dose provides rapid treatment of existing infestations and is at least one month effective against re-infestation by all relevant European tick species in cats.
Review: Strategies to improve provider adoption and implementation of clinical practice guidelines were assessed.

Source Citation Chan WV, Pearson TA, Bennett GC, et al. ACC/AHA special report: clinical practice guideline implementation strategies: a summary of systematic reviews by the NHLBI Implementation Sc...
Is This the Easiest Proof That nth Roots are Always Integers or Irrational

Most proofs that nth roots of positive integers are always integers or irrational involve concepts such as prime numbers, relative primeness, or the fundamental theorem of arithmetic. We provide an...
In vitro cytochrome P450 46A1 (CYP46A1) activation by neuroactive compounds

Cytochrome P450 46A1 (CYP46A1, cholesterol 24-hydroxylase) is the enzyme responsible for the majority of cholesterol elimination from the brain. Previously, we found that the anti-HIV drug efavirenz (EFV) can pharmacologically activate CYP46A1 in mice. Herein, we investigated whether CYP46A1 could also be activated by endogenous compounds, including major neurotransmitters. In vitro experiments with purified recombinant CYP46A1 indicated that CYP46A1 is activated by l-glutamate (l-Glu), l-aspartate, γ-aminobutyric acid, and acetylcholine, with l-Glu eliciting the highest increase (3-fold) in CYP46A1-mediated cholesterol 24-hydroxylation. We also found that l-Glu and other activating neurotransmitters bind to the same site on the CYP46A1 surface, which differs from the EFV-binding site. The other principal differences between EFV and l-Glu in CYP46A1 activation include an apparent lack of l-Glu binding to the P450 active site and different pathways of signal transduction from the allosteric site to the active site. EFV and l-Glu similarly increased the CYP46A1 kcat, the rate of the "fast" phase of the enzyme reduction by the redox partner NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase, and the amount of P450 reduced. Spectral titrations with cholesterol, in the presence of EFV or l-Glu, suggest that water displacement from the heme iron can be affected in activator-bound CYP46A1. Moreover, EFV and l-Glu synergistically activated CYP46A1. Collectively, our in vitro data, along with those from previous cell culture and in vivo studies by others, suggest that l-Glu-induced CYP46A1 activation is of physiological relevance.
High-intensity interval and moderate-intensity continuous training elicit similar enjoyment and adherence levels in overweight and obese adults

AbstractBackground: High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been shown to improve cardiometabolic health during supervised lab-based studies but adherence, enjoyment, and health benefits of HIIT performed independently are yet to be understood. We compared adherence, enjoyment, and cardiometabolic outcomes after 8 weeks of HIIT or moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), matched for energy expenditure, in overweight and obese young adults. Methods: 17 adults were randomized to HIIT or MICT. After completing 12 sessions of supervised training over 3 weeks, participants were asked to independently perform HIIT or MICT for 30 min, 4 times/week for 5 weeks. Cardiometabolic outcomes included cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2 peak), lipids, and inflammatory markers. Exercise enjoyment was measured by the validated Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale. Results: Exercise adherence (93.4 ± 3.1% vs. 93.1 ± 3.7%, respectively) and mean enjoyment across the intervention (100.1 ± 4.3 vs. 100.3 ± 4.4, respectively)...
TIM-4 Identifies IFN-γ–Expressing Proinflammatory B Effector 1 Cells That Promote Tumor and Allograft Rejection

B cells give rise to polarized subsets, including B effector 1 (Be1) cells and regulatory B cells, which can promote or inhibit immune responses through expression of IFN-γ and IL-10, respectively. Such subsets likely explain why B cell depletion can either ameliorate or exacerbate inflammatory diseases; however, these cells remain poorly understood because of the absence of specific markers. Although T cell Ig and mucin domain-containing molecule (TIM)-1 broadly identifies IL-10+ regulatory B cells, no similar markers for Be1 cells have been described. We now show that TIM-4 is expressed by a subset of B cells distinct from those expressing TIM-1. Although TIM-1+ B cells are enriched for IL-10, TIM-4+ B cells are enriched for IFN-γ. TIM-1+ B cells enhanced the growth of B16-F10 melanoma. In contrast, TIM-4+ B cells decreased B16-F10 metastasis and s.c. tumor growth, and this was IFN-γ dependent. TIM-1+ B cells prolonged islet allograft survival in B-deficient mice, whereas TIM-4+ B cells accelerated rejection in an IFN-γ-dependent manner. Moreover, TIM-4+ B cells promoted proinflammatory Th differentiation in vivo, increasing IFN-γ while decreasing IL-4, IL-10, and Foxp3 expression by CD4+ T cells-effects that are opposite from those of TIM-1+ B cells. Importantly, a monoclonal anti-TIM-4 Ab promoted allograft tolerance, and this was dependent on B cell expression of TIM-4. Anti-TIM-4 downregulated T-bet and IFN-γ expression by TIM-4+ B cells and indirectly increased IL-10 expression by TIM-1+ B cells. Thus, TIM-4+ B cells are enriched for IFN-γ-producing proinflammatory Be1 cells that enhance immune responsiveness and can be specifically targeted with anti-TIM-4.
pHirst sour taste channels pHound

Do you enjoy the tartness of apples or grapes? A touch of sour can be delicious. But, highly sour foods are repulsive. This reaction warns against consuming foods spoiled by bacterial growth, such as rancid milk. So, it is no surprise that many animals have a sense of sour taste. In humans, it is one of five basic tastes, which also include sweet, bitter, salty, and umami (the savory taste induced by l-glutamate). Many receptors and ion channels in taste buds that are critical for detecting these chemicals in foods are now known ( 1 ). However, a mammalian sour taste receptor has been elusive. On page 1047 of this issue, Tu et al. ( 2 ) reveal a previously unrecognized H+-selective channel that functions in mouse taste receptor cells (TRCs, which occur in taste buds of the tongue) that are essential for sour taste. This protein, Otopetrin1 (OTOP1), was originally identified because of its requirement in the vestibular system to maintain balance and to perceive gravity and limb orientation ( 3 ). The work by Tu et al. not only provides a strong candidate for the mammalian sour taste receptor but also raises questions concerning the broader roles of OTOP channels.
Reducing Discipline and Safety Issues: A District-Wide Bus-PBIS Initiative:

Positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) is a means to proactively address student behavior in all school settings. Misbehavior on the school bus can lead to issues with safety, carry ...
S-Pol’s Polarimetric Data Reveal Detailed Storm Features (and Insect Behavior)

Capsule Summary:Polarimetric radar data from NCAR’s S-Pol are given for a severe, hail-producing convective storm, and for wide-spread migrating insects.
Examination of the Platonic Assumptions

As is well known, the metaphysical aspects of Plato’s theory of Ideas were targets of attack by Aristotle and by Aristotelians throughout the middle ages. Yet these attacks did no achieve their objective and the ghost of Ideas, i.e. Universals, in its metaphysical form, in one way or other remained unperturbed. Few realized, it seems, that what ought to be attacked is the root of the theory, namely its semantic aspect. Berkeley and Hume, to some extent, were able to undermine a Platonic assumption which constitutes part of the semantic aspect of Ideas, namely that there is something in common, something identical among entities, by virtue of which we apply a common name to them. Their attack, however, suffered a great deal from the preoccupation with what is supposed to be a basic element of experience (impressions or ideas) and from their inability to provide a theory which explains how we do in fact learn general words and use concepts with success when we are supposedly surrounded with nothing but entities like impressions or ideas.
Prozāk Diaries: Psychiatry and Generational Memory in Iran

Orkideh Behrouzan’s Prozāk Diaries is a formidable undertaking that elegantly recounts the generational shift in how young Iranians talk about and experience their post-revolutionary and postwar ex...
Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein-derived peptide C23 attenuates inflammation and tissue injury in a murine model of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion.

Background Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein is a novel damage-associated molecular pattern that causes inflammation. C23, a short peptide derived from cold-inducible RNA-binding protein, has been found to have efficacy in blocking cold-inducible RNA-binding protein's activity. We hypothesized that C23 reduces inflammation and tissue injury induced by intestinal ischemia-reperfusion. Methods Male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to 60 minutes of intestinal ischemia by clamping the superior mesenteric artery. Immediately after reperfusion, either normal saline (vehicle) or C23 peptide (8 mg/kg body weight) was injected intraperitoneally. Four hours after reperfusion, blood, intestinal, and lung tissues were collected for analysis of inflammatory and tissue injury parameters. Results Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein levels in the intestinal tissues were significantly increased following intestinal ischemia-reperfusion. Histologic examination of the intestine revealed a significant reduction in injury score in the C23 group by 48% as compared with the vehicles after intestinal ischemia-reperfusion. The serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase were increased in animals that underwent vehicle-treated intestinal ischemia-reperfusion, whereas C23-treated animals exhibited significant reductions by 48% and 53%, respectively. The serum and intestinal tissue levels of tumor necrosis factor α were elevated in vehicle-treated intestinal ischemia-reperfusion mice but decreased by 72% and 69%, respectively, in C23-treated mice. Interleukin-6 mRNA levels in the lungs were reduced by 86% in the C23-treated group in comparison to the vehicle-treated group after intestinal ischemia-reperfusion. Expression of macrophage inflammatory protein 2 and level of myeloperoxidase activity in the lungs were dramatically increased after intestinal ischemia-reperfusion and significantly reduced by 91% and 25%, respectively, in the C23-treated group. Conclusion C23 has potential to be developed into a possible therapy for reperfusion injury after mesenteric ischemia and reperfusion.
Thirty-Day Unplanned Readmission after Total Knee Arthroplasty at a Teaching Community Hospital: Rates, Reasons, and Risk Factors.

Unplanned readmission after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has an increasing prevalence in the United States. Readmissions are now a metric for hospital quality of care, yet there are mixed results and variables associated with unplanned readmission. In this changing healthcare, it is critical for community healthcare institutions to identify risk factors for unplanned readmissions following TKA. Retrospective chart review and a hospital administrative database query to report causes, demographics, and medical comorbid risk factors result in 30-day readmission after undergoing primary TKA between 2011 and 2016 at a teaching community hospital. This study identified 7,482 primary TKA procedures of which 210 (2.8%) were unplanned readmissions. Gastrointestinal bleed (9.05%) and periprosthetic infection (8.10%) were the most common causes of readmission. Age 65 and older (odds ratio [OR], 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21–2.21; p = 0.0012), male (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.03–1.83; p = 0.0302), length of stay > 3 days (OR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.45–2.86; p
Vocal and Tactile Input to Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Purpose Caregivers may show greater use of nonauditory signals in interactions with children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH). This study explored the frequency of maternal touch and the tempo...
Treehouse: a user-friendly application to obtain subtrees from large phylogenies.

Phylogenetic trees that contain hundreds to thousands of taxa are now routinely generated. Retrieving the relationships among a subset of taxa in these large phylogenies can be a challenging or time-consuming task. Addressing this challenge requires the development of tools that facilitate the easy retrieval of subtrees from any user-specified set of taxa in a given phylogeny. We developed treehouse, an open source tool that enables the retrieval of any subtree from a given large phylogeny. With a three-step workflow, treehouse successfully allows a user to obtain a subtree from any phylogeny. Treehouse can help researchers to explore the relationships among any set of taxa from across the tree of life. Treehouse is implemented as a shiny application in the R programming language. Treehouse software and usage instructions are publicly available at https://github.com/JLSteenwyk/treehouse .
Sources, Fluxes, and Residence Times of Trace Elements Measured During the U.S. GEOTRACES East Pacific Zonal Transect

Abstract Trace element (TE) fluxes and their residence times (Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, Cd, and V) within the surface ocean were determined along the GEOTRACES East Pacific Zonal Transect (GP16/EPZT) and found to reflect the diverse physical and geochemical conditions encountered across the track. The TE flux from atmospheric deposition, vertical mixing, and upwelling into the mixed layer and into the particle production zone (PPZ) along the GEOTRACES EPZT transect were evaluated with 7Be-based methods developed in earlier works. A horizontal input flux is driven from east to west by the South Equatorial Current (SEC), and estimated advection velocities were applied to horizontal gradients in the distributions of several TEs to approximate this term. There is a minimum in atmospheric deposition in the central gyre, with higher fluxes to the east due to large near-shore aerosol TE loadings, and higher to the west due to greater precipitation-driven deposition velocities (Vb). The 7Be-derived vertical diffusion (Kz) values range from 2.5 to 39 m2/d (0.29 × 10−4 to 4.5 × 10−4 m2/s) with higher values generally within the nearshore upwelling region and the lowest values within the stratified central gyre. Manganese displayed a well-defined gradient extending from the nearshore stations into the central gyre such that the advective term is a major component of the total input flux, particularly within the central gyre. Relative to other inputs the atmospheric input of soluble Mn is only of minor importance. Unlike Mn, there is no discernable horizontal gradient in the dissolved Fe data and therefore, there is no horizontal component of flux. Nearshore removal processes are more intense for dissolved Fe than for dissolved Mn and as a result, dissolved Mn remains elevated much farther offshore than does dissolved Fe. For the stratified mid-ocean gyre stations, the total input of Fe from all sources is relatively small compared to the inshore stations, and atmospheric deposition becomes the dominant mode of input. Aerosol Fe solubility determined by a 25% acetic acid leach with hydroxylamine hydrochloride was much greater than that derived from a leach using ultra-pure deionized water. This led to significant differences in the residence time of Fe calculated for the mid-ocean gyre using these different solubilities. Generally, each element displays relatively short (weeks–months) residence times within the nearshore region of robust upwelling, reflecting large input terms and rapid removal. Moving offshore, total input fluxes decrease and the residence times of the TEs increase markedly until the western edge of the transect. There, relaxation of ocean stratification permits greater upward turbulent flux and greater rainfall leads to greater atmospheric input of TEs.
Study on Multipoint-Ranging-Target-Positioning Technologies for UAV

A target positioning method (mathematical model) and supporting photoelectric platform (physical model) based on laser ranging is proposed, which can be applied to ground and sea surface target geodetic coordinates information acquisition of UAV, especially low-cost UAV. The problem of photoelectric target consistency in the laser ranging process is solved by introducing image tracking. The impact of ranging Points’ geometry configuration and laser ranging error on positioning accuracy of multipoint-ranging-target-positioning method is emphatically discussed. A practical geometric dilution of precision (GDOP) constructor is put forward. Kalman Filter is used to estimate the ranging points in real time, and the positioning process is converged recursively to improve the positioning accuracy. The study preliminary proved the practicability of the proposed model, and the effectiveness and feasibility of positioning method. As the aircraft trajectory can be planned and the target positioning process can be controlled in real time. The model and method proposed in this article can be applied to calculate the target position only by laser ranging and measuring point position, without complex north finding, attitude and photoelectric platform state measuring.
Integrating Economic and Utility Concepts for a Comprehensive Bridge Valuation Model

Current approaches in bridge valuation mostly focus on engineering construction costs while neglecting other values generated by the bridge's functionality and utilization, along with other indirec...
Dyspnoea at rest predictor of increased in-hospital mortality in metastatic cancer patients undergoing emergent surgery in United States.

Background Dyspnoea is an extremely common finding in patients presenting with metastatic cancer and can be caused by cancer progression, treatment toxicity or pathology secondary to deteriorating overall health. In this study, we decided to analyse post-operative outcomes to understand if dyspnoea is a significant prognostic predictor of in-hospital mortality in patients with stage IV cancer who underwent emergent surgery in the United States. Methods We performed a search of the 2014 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (NSQIP) for patients with a diagnosis of malignancy (ICD-9 Codes 145.00-200.00). Cases were divided into two groups: metastatic cancer and non-metastatic cancer. Demographical data including preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative factors, as well as data regarding complications and comorbidities were compared between these two groups. Independent t-testing was used to compare continuous variables. Chi-square testing was used to compare categorical variables. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess for predictors of mortality in metastatic cancer. Mortality was adjusted for demographics, comorbid conditions and perioperative factors. Results Referring to the NSQIP database, a total of 80,275 cancer patients were analysed, 11.8% (9,423) of whom had metastatic cancer. Dyspnoea at rest/moderate exertion (OR 5.7/2.4; 95% CI 2.7/1.6-11.9/3.7; p < 0.0001) were found to be the biggest predictors of in-hospital mortality in stage IV cancer patients who underwent emergent surgery. Conclusion Dyspnoea at rest and with moderate exertion may be used as predictors of in-hospital mortality for metastatic cancer patients undergoing emergent surgery.
Ambient air pollutants and their effect on COVID-19 mortality in the United States of America.

Objective To examine the impact of four ambient air pollutants on the COVID-19 mortality rate in the United States of America. Methods Using publicly accessible data collected by the United States Census Bureau, Environmental Protection Agency, and other agencies, county-level mortality rates were regressed on concentration values of ground-level ozone, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide. Four confounder variables were included in the regression analysis: median household income, rate of hospital beds, population density, and days since first confirmed case. Results Regression analysis showed that ground-level ozone is positively correlated with county-level mortality rates regardless of whether confounders are controlled for. Nitrogen dioxide is also shown to have a direct relationship with county-level mortality rates, except when all confounders are included in the analysis. Conclusions High ground-level ozone and nitrogen dioxide concentrations contribute to a greater COVID-19 mortality rate. To limit further losses, it is important to reflect research findings in public policies. In the case of air pollution, environmental restrictions should be reinforced, and extra precautions should be taken as facilities start reopening.
Separation of Metabolites and Macromolecules for Short-TE 1 H-MRSI Using Learned Component-Specific Representations

Short-echo-time (TE) proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) allows for simultaneously mapping a number of molecules in the brain, and has been recognized as an important tool for studying in vivo biochemistry in various neuroscience and disease applications. However, separation of the metabolite and macromolecule (MM) signals present in the short-TE data with significant spectral overlaps remains a major technical challenge. This work introduces a new approach to solve this problem by integrating imaging physics and representation learning. Specifically, a mixed unsupervised and supervised learning-based strategy was developed to learn the metabolite and MM-specific low-dimensional representations using deep autoencoders. A constrained reconstruction formulation is proposed to integrate the MRSI spatiospectral encoding model and the learned representations as effective constraints for signal separation. An efficient algorithm was developed to solve the resulting optimization problem with provable convergence. Simulation and experimental results have been obtained to demonstrate the component-specific representation power of the learned models and the capability of the proposed method in separating metabolite and MM signals for practical short-TE $^{{1}}\text{H}$ -MRSI data.
Anti-Black Racism and Historical Trauma: Pushing the Positive Youth Development Paradigm:

Positive youth development (PYD), while embraced in many sectors of youth work, has faced criticism for its primary emphasis on positive personal change and adaptation, without a strong emphasis on...
Catalytic and Non-Catalytic Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Microalgae

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is an attractive thermochemical pathway that converts microalgal cells into biocrude which can be upgraded and refined into drop-in transportation fuel. HTL is propitious from an environmental sustainability standpoint because the reaction requires medium temperatures (200–400 °C) and high pressures (5–25 MPa) (subcritical and supercritical conditions) for a relatively short period of time (10–60 min) without the need for dewatering and drying of the microalgal culture (wet microalgae with cultivation culture). Instead, water provides dual use to the reaction: as a solvent and as a catalyst. At HTL conditions, water is a reactive nonpolar species with high miscibility in organics. It solubilizes even the recalcitrant microalgal components such as lignin to produce biocrude, aqueous, gaseous, and solid products. This chapter discusses the process and chemistry of microalgae HTL, the role of water in the reaction, the difference between catalytic and non-catalytic HTL as it applies to microalgae, and perspectives and direction on the state of research for microalgae HTL.