cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The magnitude and source of air emissions from asphalt blowing operations

The US EPA has developed emission factors for estimating the emissions of filterable particulate, total organic compounds, and carbon monoxide from asphalt blowing operation sThese are published by the EPA in a series called AP-42, which contain factors for many manufacturing processes. The emission factors for asphalt blowing are acknowledged by the EPA to be of poor quality .Owens Corning has taken extensive data in various manufacturing facilities and an asphalt Pilot Plant to provide more information on air emissions from these operations . The results of that work clearly show that the current AP42 emission factors for asphalt processed by air blowing are deficient in that they omit significant emissions of SO x and HCl, overestimate particulate and CO emissions, and potentially underestimate both VOC and NO x emissions. In fact, SOx, which is not addressed by AP-42 ,is the major air emission contributed by the fumes from the asphalt blowing process when those fumes are incinerated .The sources of SO x from air blowing are discussed in detail in this paper .The impact of incineration temperature on carbon monoxide is also illustrated .With the exception of HCl, the hazardous air pollutants encountered in the asphalt blowing process are minimal.
Mechanics of forced unfolding of proteins

Abstract We describe and solve a two-state kinetic model for the forced unfolding of proteins. The protein oligomer is modeled as a heterogeneous, freely jointed chain with two possible values of Kuhn length and contour length representing its folded and unfolded configurations. We obtain analytical solutions for the force–extension response of the protein oligomer for different types of loading conditions. We fit the analytical solutions for constant-velocity pulling to the force–extension data for ubiquitin and fibrinogen and obtain model parameters, such as Kuhn lengths and kinetic coefficients, for both proteins. We then predict their response under a linearly increasing force and find that our solutions for ubiquitin are consistent with a different set of experiments. Our calculations suggest that the refolding rate of proteins at low forces is several orders larger than the unfolding rate, and neglecting it can lead to lower predictions for the unfolding force, especially at high stretching velocities. By accounting for the refolding of proteins we obtain a critical force below which equilibrium is biased in favor of the folded state. Our calculations also suggest new methods to determine the distance of the transition state from the energy wells representing the folded and unfolded states of a protein.
Self-emulsifying polymerization (SEP) of 3,6-dioxa-Δ7-4-trifluoromethyl perfluorooctyl trifluoromethyl sulfonimide with tetrafluoroethylene

Abstract The copolymerization of an insoluble gaseous monomer with a soluble monomer that behaves as its own surfactant is described. This process is called self-emulsifying polymerization (SEP). A variety of sulfonamide monomers can be used in SEP, but current work has focused on copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene with 3,6-dioxa-Δ 7 -4-trifluoromethyl perfluorooctyl trifluoromethyl sulfonimide 1 . 19 F NMR was used to determine the critical micelle concentration of the sodium salt of the monomer 1 for the SEP with tetrafluoroethylene.
HUMAN AGENCY, ENVIRONMENTAL DRIVERS, AND WESTERN JUNIPER ESTABLISHMENT DURING THE LATE HOLOCENE

Western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis var. occidentalis) is undergoing rapid rates of expansion, and human activities (domestic livestock grazing, fire suppression) are typically presented as the primary agents of change. To determine the importance of active disturbance as a vehicle for these major ecosystem changes (e.g., a near doubling of western juniper cover at some locales over a recent 30-yr period), we conducted a comparative study of western juniper establishment at matched disturbed and less-disturbed sites in Oregon (USA). We used dendroecological techniques to randomly sample and cross-date 160–200 trees per site from five Research Natural Areas (RNAs) or proposed RNAs, and from areas adjacent to these RNAs that are actively disturbed. For each location we determined the density of adult and juvenile western juniper and created a timeline of tree establishment. We discuss the probable causes of these establishment pattern changes. Recent increases in establishment could best be described as geometric on the disturbed sites. While trees on the less disturbed sites are generally older and have a more consistent establishment history, they also are experiencing increasing rates of establishment. Disturbance does appear to accelerate rates of establishment of western juniper, especially with domestic livestock grazing on sites that are downslope from established woodlands. Climatic changes, a lack of high-severity fires, an increasing seed rain, and atmospheric carbon dioxide enrichment are more recent causal mechanisms contributing to establishment. The driving forces proffered to explain the late 1800s to early 1900s pulse of establishment for western juniper (e.g., favorable climatic conditions, domestic livestock grazing) appear to be operative at the majority of our study sites. Conversely, a second pulse of establishment (post 1940s) occurred during a period that was not characterized by climatic conditions favorable for above-average radial growth of western juniper. Because our results show that rates of establishment are generally accelerating regardless of the disturbance regime, we suggest that active human disturbance is not a required element for these ecosystem changes to occur, and that other agents of change have either appeared or become more dominant in recent decades.
Liberalized Markets Have More Stable Exchange Rates: Short-Run Evidence from Four Transition Countries

The paper looks at the hypothesis that financial market liberalization can create a basis for more stable exchange rates, as deviations of exchange rates from equilibrium levels bring forth stabilizing flows of liquidity. This hypothesis suggests that opening financial markets militates in favor of exchange rate flexibility by increasing the viability of a floating regime, as well as making it more difficult to maintain a peg. The paper examines this hypothesis in a sample of four transition economies and finds that exchange rates tend to return faster to their Hodrick-Prescott-based values where markets are liberalized. The results suggest that early and successful foreign exchange liberalization pays off in terms of depth of the market and, hence, faster adjustment of exchange rate to shocks. Moreover, it implies that central banks should not be overly concerned with short-run volatility of their national exchange rates.
Near real-time assimilation in IRI of auroral peak E-region density and equatorward boundary

The paper describes the method and initial results of assimilating the auroral peak E-region density (NmE) and the auroral equatorward boundary (EB) into the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI). The NmE and EB are obtained using a FUV based auroral model or FUV measurements in near real-time. Initial results show that the auroral NmE is often significantly larger than the NmE due to the solar EUV. This indicates the importance of including the contribution of precipitating electrons in IRI. The global equatorial boundary helps to improve the specification of the sub-auroral ionosphere trough in IRI. An IDL software package has been developed to interactively display the IRI parameters with assimilated NmE and EB. It can serve as an operational tool for space weather monitoring.
Integrated electrochemical detection for lab on a chip analytical microsystems

The purpose of this study is to develop a portable capillary electrophoresis (CE) "lab-on-a-chip" device that is integrated with on-chip separation and electrochemical detection (ECD) electrodes. Platinum electrodes were photolithographically patterned on soda lime glass substrates and 20 /spl mu/m by 80 /spl mu/m channels were constructed within a second soda lime glass substrate. To fully realize the portability offered by this microfabricated device, a handheld battery powered CE/ECD circuit was also developed. Experimental flow visualization and computer simulation studies were performed to investigate electrokinetic flow within the microfabricated capillaries. CE/ECD "lab-on-a-chip" devices were successfully fabricated. These devices produced identical electrochemical responses for dopamine and catechol with both the portable electronics and conventional bench top power supply and detection equipment. Finally, the computer simulation results were within 10% of the experimental flow visualization results for injection and separation of dichlorofluoroscein.
Transform Potential-Theoretic Method for Acoustic Radiation from Structures

This paper presents further development in a new time-domain computational technique developed for the determination of far-field acoustic radiation. This method, referred to as the transform potential-theoretic (TPT) method, solves linear time-dependent wave propagation problems in an unbounded medium, combining techniques involving numerical transforms/inverse transforms and potential theory. The end result is a robust procedure that is accurate and computationally efficient. The TPT technique is meshless, yet it can handle arbitrary geometries for the acoustic source. The validity of the procedure is demonstrated for the case of an acoustic wave propagation from a two-dimensional bounded surface embedded in a uniform flow. Both direct simulations as well as the current method(s) are compared. The single-layer potential theory based TPT method required fewer points on the boundary than the double-layer potential theory based TPT and performs better than direct simulation in high subsonic Mach number flo...
The political economy of religion and social insurance in the United States, 1910-1939

There are few scholars who would disagree with the proposition that individual economic position and economic risk play a critical role in shaping preferences for income redistribution and social insurance. There is less consensus, however, about the extent to which non-economic factors also influence individual preferences regarding social insurance provision. A number of scholars have examined how issues of race and identity have influenced the development of social insurance programs in the United States, as well as individual attitudes with respect to these programs. In a theoretical context, other authors have considered how attitudes toward income redistribution might also depend upon psychological dispositions such as the “belief in a just world.” In this article, we focus on religiosity as an important factor that can shape both individual preferences and policy outcomes regarding social insurance in the United States. To do so, we develop an argument about religion and social insurance as substitutes that draws both on existing work on the political economy of social insurance and on findings in social psychology regarding what we call the “coping effect” of religion. We test our hypothesis using historical evidence from two early social insurance policies: workers’ compensation legislation enacted by state governments between 1910 and 1930 and New Deal unemployment relief.
Effect of nonionic surfactant on transport of surface-active and non-surface-active model drugs and emulsion stability in triphasic systems.

A study was carried out to determine the effect of excess surfactant on transport kinetics in emulsions, using surface-active (phenobarbital, barbital) and non-surface-active (phenylazoaniline, benzocaine) model drugs (pH 7.0). Mineral oil was chosen as the oil phase, and the ionic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was chosen as the emulsifier. The effect of nonionic surfactant Brij 97 on transport kinetics of these model drugs were determined by authors elsewhere. Model drug transport in the triphasic systems was investigated using side-by-side diffusion cells mounted with hydrophilic dialysis membranes (molecular weight cutoffs 1 kD and 50 kD) and a novel bulk equilibrium reverse dialysis bag technique. Emulsion stability was determined by droplet size analysis as a function of time, temperature, and the presence of model drugs using photon correlation spectroscopy. Mineral oil/water partition coefficients and aqueous solubilities were determined in the presence of surfactant. The droplet size of the CTAB-stabilized emulsion system is bigger than that of the Brij 97-stabilized system because of the relatively less dense interfacial packing of the cationic surfactant. CTAB forms a complex with the model drugs because of ionic interaction between CTAB and the aromatic and azo groups of the model drugs. This complexation is expected to increase emulsion stability and affect model drug transport kinetics. The transport rates of model drugs in emulsions increased with increases in CTAB micellar concentrations up to 0.5% w/v and then decreased at higher surfactant concentrations. Total transport rates of phenobarbital and barbital were faster than those of phenylazoaniline and benzocaine. Excess surfactant affected the transport rates of the model drugs in the emulsions depending on drug surface activity and lipophilicity. The transport profiles of the model drugs appeared to be governed by model drug oil/water partition coefficient values and by micellar shape changes at higher surfactant concentrations.
Purification and characterization of the heteromeric transcriptional activator MvaT of the Pseudomonas mevalonii mvaAB operon

The mvaAB operon of Pseudomonas mevalonii encodes HMG-CoA reductase (EC 1.1.1.88) and HMG-CoA lyase (EC 4.1.3.4), enzymes that catalyze the initial reactions of mevalonate catabolism in this organism. Expression of this operon is regulated by the constitutively expressed transcriptional activator protein MvaT that binds in vitro to an upstream regulatory element. Mevalonate is essential for activation of transcription in vivo, and in vitro data demonstrated that MvaT binds to the mvaAB cis-regulatory element in the absence of mevalonate with a Kd,app of 2 nM. Purification of MvaT enriched for two polypeptides of approximate molecular mass 15 kDa and 16 kDa, designated P15 and P16. MvaT, assayed by its DNA-binding activity, comigrated with P15 and P16 during DNA-affinity chromatography, size-exclusion chromatography, and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. P15 and P16 also comigrated during denaturing isoelectric focusing of purified MvaT. Treatment of MvaT with dimethylsuberimidate formed a 31-kDa polypeptide complex that contained N-terminal sequences from P15 and P16. The apparent association of P15 and P16 in solution and their copurification with MvaT activity strongly suggests that MvaT is comprised of these two subunits. Size-exclusion chromatography gave an estimated molecular mass for MvaT of 33 kDa. A partial DNA sequence of the P16 gene was obtained using PCR employing degenerate primers directed against the N-termini of P15 and P16. P16 appears to be comprised of at least 128 aminoacyl residues having a predicted molecular mass of 14.3 kDa.
Improved Techniques for Evaluating GCM Cloudiness Applied to the NCAR CCM3

Abstract Evaluations of GCM cloudiness typically compare climatological output with observations, but averaging over time can obscure the presence of compensating errors. A more informative and stringent evaluation can be obtained by averaging cloud properties according to meteorological process (i.e., compositing). The present study illustrates this by comparing simulated and observed cloudiness composited on 500-mb pressure vertical velocity over the summertime midlatitude North Pacific. Observed cloud properties are daily ERBE cloud radiative forcing, daily NVAP liquid water path, and 3-hourly ISCCP cloud optical thickness and cloud-top pressure. ECMWF and NCEP–NCAR reanalyses provide vertical velocity. The GCM evaluated is the NCAR CCM3 with Rasch and Kristjansson (1998) predicted cloud condensate. Results show that CCM3 overproduces cloud optical thickness, cloud-top height, and cloud radiative forcing under conditions of synoptic ascent and underproduces cloud cover, cloud-top height, and cloud radi...
Penciling in details of the Hadean

Some truly remarkable graphite is described by Bell et al. in PNAS (1). Graphite is, of course, the same material as found in pencil tips or in the anode of lithium ion batteries. Graphite is, however, also a very common material in Earth Science, and is often the form of carbon found in very old fossils that have been subjected to substantial heat. The graphite described in the Bell et al. article is remarkable because it is exceptionally old, dating to the Hadean eon. Officially, the Hadean is defined as the time period from the formation of the Earth until 4 billion y ago. Until recently, this has been a seemingly convenient definition, leaving it as the geological eon without a rock record on Earth. Over the past quarter century, however, the discovery and exploration of detrital zircon minerals from the Jack Hills conglomerates of Western Australia (2) have provided a new window into this early time. Jack Hills zircons crystallized in magma chambers at various times as far back as 4.4 billion y ago (3, 4). So far, these zircons and their inclusions are currently our only tangible record of the first half a billion years of Earth history. Based in part on the extreme age of some of these zircon minerals, along with similarly old age dates for a Martian meteorite (5), the Planetary Science and Earth Science communities now appreciate that planets form and cool rather quickly (6). No longer is the Hadean just a placeholder on our timelines between the formation of the Earth and the oldest known rocks. The Hadean Earth is represented by tangible samples that appear to have formed in a continental crust setting, likely above an active subduction zone (7). Specifically, Bell et al. (1) describe two sizable graphite inclusions within a 4.1 billion-y-old zircon from the Jack Hills. This sample implies that a Hadean chunk of organic material was transported by geological processes (including subduction) to a granitic magma chamber, where it was incorporated into the crystalizing minerals. The sheer existence of this new record of early carbon is exciting because it provides a new window into the seemingly accessible Hadean Earth.
Procedural Injustice in the System of Peer Review and Scientific Misconduct

Scientific misconduct, an alarming problem in the social and natural sciences, is rarely addressed through systematic research. Why do scholars do it? Using a group engagement model of procedural j...
Traveling Waves in One-Dimensional Excitable Media

Chapter 2 covers the classical problem of waves in one-dimensional excitable media, as exemplified by the FitzHugh–Nagumo model of action potential propagation along an axon. Standard methods for analyzing front and pulse solutions of PDEs are described, including phase-plane analysis, singular perturbation methods and slow–fast analysis, and Evans functions for wave stability. In addition, the problem of wave propagation failure in myelinated axons is considered, where an averaging method is used to determine the effects of spatial discreteness on wave speed. This method is later used to analyze wave propagation failure in inhomogeneous neural fields. Finally, stochastic traveling waves are considered, where formal perturbation methods are used to show how to separate out fast fluctuations of the wave profile from the slow diffusive-like wandering of the wave.
Functional Tuning of Intrinsic Endothelial Ca2+ Dynamics in Swine Coronary Arteries

Rationale: Recent data from mesenteric and cerebral beds have revealed spatially restricted Ca 2+ transients occurring along the vascular intima that control effector recruitment and vasodilation. Although Ca 2+ is pivotal for coronary artery endothelial function, spatial and temporal regulation of functional Ca 2+ signals in the coronary endothelium is poorly understood. Objective: We aimed to determine whether a discrete spatial and temporal profile of Ca 2+ dynamics underlies endothelium-dependent relaxation of swine coronary arteries. Methods and Results: Using confocal imaging, custom automated image analysis, and myography, we show that the swine coronary artery endothelium generates discrete basal Ca 2+ dynamics, including isolated transients and whole-cell propagating waves. These events are suppressed by depletion of internal stores or inhibition of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors but not by inhibition of ryanodine receptors or removal of extracellular Ca 2+ . In vessel rings, inhibition of specific Ca 2+ -dependent endothelial effectors, namely, small and intermediate conductance K + channels (K Ca 3.1 and K Ca 2.3) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase, produces additive tone, which is blunted by internal store depletion or inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor blockade. Stimulation of endothelial inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate–dependent signaling with substance P causes idiosyncratic changes in dynamic Ca 2+ signal parameters (active sites, event frequency, amplitude, duration, and spatial spread). Overall, substance P–induced vasorelaxation corresponded poorly with whole-field endothelial Ca 2+ measurements but corresponded precisely with the concentration-dependent change in Ca 2+ dynamics (linearly translated composite of dynamic parameters). Conclusions: Our findings show that endothelium-dependent control of swine coronary artery tone is determined by spatial and temporal titration of inherent endothelial Ca 2+ dynamics that are not represented by tissue-level averaged Ca 2+ changes.
Metabolism, Metabolomics, and Nutritional Support of Patients with Sepsis

Sepsis is characterized by profound changes in systemic and cellular metabolism that disrupt normal metabolic homeostasis. These metabolic changes can serve as biomarkers for disease severity. Lactate, a metabolite of anaerobic metabolism, is the most widely used ICU biomarker and it is incorporated into multiple management algorithms. Technological advances now make broader metabolic profiling possible, with early studies identifying metabolic changes associated with sepsis mortality. Finally, given the marked changes in metabolism in sepsis and the association of worse prognosis in patients with severe metabolic derangements, we summarize the seminal trials conducted to optimize nutrition in the ICU.
Ovipositional Sites of the Potato Leafhopper (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) on Vegetative Stage Soybean Plants

Ovipositional site selection of the potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae (Harris), was studied on five early vegetative growth stages of ‘Essex’ soybeans. In a greenhouse study, plants were exposed to female leafhoppers for 24 h, whereas a natural population was allowed to oviposit on the plants in a field study. After oviposition, plants were divided into predetermined morphological parts, and eggs were counted utilizing a staining technique. Results from the greenhouse study indicated that oviposition in the stems predominates in stages VC and V1 contrasted with primarily leaf oviposition in stages V2, V3 and V4. The total number of eggs per plant generally was greater in older than in younger plants. Among the stem sections, that portion between the cotyledon and unifoliolates was preferred for oviposition. Among the leaf parts, the petioles and midribs were preferred for oviposition with the petiolules and other veins less preferred. Within a growth stage, whether leaf or stem tissue, the newest (i.e., apical) part was preferred over older tissue.
‘Bloom of Youth’: a labelled Syro-Palestinian unguent jar

The inscribed miniature jar shown in the photograph (Plate VI (c)) and drawing Fig. 1) is part of a collection of artifacts purchased many years ago in Palestine that was recently donated to Ashland University in Ohio (United States) by Professor and Mrs. Delbert H. Flora. Only 5.2 cm. in height and 5.5 cm. in diameter, the vessel has a biconical, wheelmade body and a string-cut base. The ware, which appears to be Syro-Palestinian, is moderately well levigated and fired light brown. Inclusions, so far as they can be discerned, consist predominantly of quartz and chert particles in various sizes, both angular and round, as well as of some small limestone and unidentified rock fragments. The upper portion of the exterior and the interior of the rim display remnants of a dark brownish-black slip imitating black gloss (‘glaze’); in places where it was thinly applied, the slip has become pale brown or has disappeared entirely.
Proteinlike copolymers as encapsulating agents for small-molecule solutes.

We describe the utilization of proteinlike copolymers (PLCs) as encapsulating agents for small-molecule solutes. We perform Monte Carlo simulations on systems containing PLCs and model solute molecules in order to understand how PLCs assemble in solution and what system conditions promote solute encapsulation. Specifically, we explore how the chemical composition of the PLCs and the range and strength of molecular interactions between hydrophobic segments on the PLC and solute molecules affect the solute encapsulation efficiency. The composition profiles of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic segments, the solute, and implicit solvent (or voids) within the PLC globule are evaluated to gain a complete understanding of the behavior in the PLC/solute system. We find that a single-chain PLC encapsulates solute successfully by collapsing the macromolecule to a well-defined globular conformation when the hydrophobic/solute interaction is at least as strong as the interaction strength among hydrophobic segments and ...
Controls on metal exposure to aquatic organisms in urban streams

Streams in urban ecosystems receive metal inputs primarily from stormwater runoff and wastewater effluent. The relative contribution of these metal sources to stream impairment is difficult to discern based on simple water characteristics and biological surveys. Stream impairment in these systems is often indicated by reduced abundance and diversity of aquatic insects, which tend to be more sensitive to chronic metal exposures. Metal species and controls on metal species in both the waterborne and dietborne exposure pathways to aquatic organisms are reviewed here. In addition, ecological changes that can control dietborne species are discussed. A main focus is on how organic matter from different anthropogenic sources may control both aqueous metal speciation as well as interaction with various inorganic or microbiological surfaces in streams. Most of the reviewed research focuses on Cu, Zn or Pb as those are the primary metals of concern in developed systems and Cu and Pb have unique and strong interactions with organic matter. Recommendations for further research are described in the context of exposure species, dynamics of exposure, stoichiometry, or advanced analytical tools, and regulatory implications are discussed.
Development and clinical application of an integrative genomic approach to personalized cancer therapy

Personalized therapy provides the best outcome of cancer care and its implementation in the clinic has been greatly facilitated by recent convergence of enormous progress in basic cancer research, rapid advancement of new tumor profiling technologies, and an expanding compendium of targeted cancer therapeutics. We developed a personalized cancer therapy (PCT) program in a clinical setting, using an integrative genomics approach to fully characterize the complexity of each tumor. We carried out whole exome sequencing (WES) and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) microarray genotyping on DNA from tumor and patient-matched normal specimens, as well as RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) on available frozen specimens, to identify somatic (tumor-specific) mutations, copy number alterations (CNAs), gene expression changes, gene fusions, and also germline variants. To provide high sensitivity in known cancer mutation hotspots, Ion AmpliSeq Cancer Hotspot Panel v2 (CHPv2) was also employed. We integrated the resulting data with cancer knowledge bases and developed a specific workflow for each cancer type to improve interpretation of genomic data. We returned genomics findings to 46 patients and their physicians describing somatic alterations and predicting drug response, toxicity, and prognosis. Mean 17.3 cancer-relevant somatic mutations per patient were identified, 13.3-fold, 6.9-fold, and 4.7-fold more than could have been detected using CHPv2, Oncomine Cancer Panel (OCP), and FoundationOne, respectively. Our approach delineated the underlying genetic drivers at the pathway level and provided meaningful predictions of therapeutic efficacy and toxicity. Actionable alterations were found in 91 % of patients (mean 4.9 per patient, including somatic mutations, copy number alterations, gene expression alterations, and germline variants), a 7.5-fold, 2.0-fold, and 1.9-fold increase over what could have been uncovered by CHPv2, OCP, and FoundationOne, respectively. The findings altered the course of treatment in four cases. These results show that a comprehensive, integrative genomic approach as outlined above significantly enhanced genomics-based PCT strategies.
Boundary refinement of the lysozyme antigenic site around the disulphide bond 6–127 (site 1) by `surface-simulation' synthesis

1. We have previously shown that an antigenic site (site 1) in native lysozyme resides around the disulphide bond 6-127 and, by classical synthesis of nine disulphide peptides, the antigenic site was accurately narrowed down to the structure Cys((6))-Arg((14))-[Cys((6))-Cys((127))] -Gly((126))-Arg((128)). Only a few residues on this disulphide peptide were proposed to be involved in the reactivity with antibody. However, this lacked direct verification and the role of Arg-128 remained uncertain. 2. In the present work, several peptides were designed and synthesized by the surface-simulation concept devised in our laboratory. These enabled the precise definition of the site as well as the investigation of its conformational and directional requirements. 3. The results showed that the antigenic site (site 1) is made up of the spatially contiguous surface residues: Arg-125, Arg-5, Glu-7, Arg-14, Lys-13. The surface-simulation synthetic peptide Arg-Gly-Gly-Arg-Gly-Glu-Gly-Gly-Arg-Lys (which does not exist in native lysozyme, but copies a surface region of it) accounted entirely for the maximum expected reactivity of the site (i.e. about one-third of the total antigenic reactivity of lysozyme). An immunoadsorbent of the peptide also removed about one-third of the total lysozyme antibodies. 4. The antigenic site exhibited restricted conformational freedom. The achievement of the full reactivity of the site by surface-simulation synthesis requires the appropriate choice of spacer separation between its reactive residues. The surface-simulation synthetic site exhibits the same mono-directional preference (Arg-125 to Lys-13) for the rabbit and goat antisera so far tested. The site describes a line which encircles a part (3.01 nm in C((alpha))-to-C((alpha)) distance from Arg-125 to Lys-13) of the surface of the molecule.
Irreversible evolution of a wave packet in the rigged-Hilbert-space quantum mechanics

It is well known that a state with complex energy cannot be the eigenstate of a self-adjoint operator, such as the Hamiltonian. Resonances, i.e., states with exponentially decaying observables, are not vectors belonging to the conventional Hilbert space. One can describe these resonances in an unusual mathematical formalism based on the so-called rigged Hilbert space (RHS). In the RHS, the states with complex energy are denoted as Gamow vectors (GVs), and they model decay processes. We study the GVs of the reversed harmonic oscillator, and we analytically and numerically investigate the unstable evolution of wave packets. We introduce the background function to study initial data that are not composed only by a summation of GVs, and we analyze different wave packets belonging to specific function spaces. Our work furnishes support for the idea that irreversible wave propagation can be investigated using rigged-Hilbert-space quantum mechanics and provides insight for the experimental investigation of irreversible dynamics.
Equilibrium Independent Stability Certification

One of the difficulties in analyzing the stability of networks is that the equilibrium point depends on all subsystems. Thus, adding or removing subsystems change the equilibrium and require cumbersome iterations of the analysis. To achieve a truly compositional technique that does not require such iterations, in this chapter we introduce the notion of equilibrium independent dissipativity (EID). Instead of relying on the knowledge of the equilibrium, this notion requires dissipativity with respect to any point that has the potential to become an equilibrium when the system is interconnected with others. We present a numerical technique to certify EID and conclude with a test that exploits the EID properties of the subsystems to establish stability without exact knowledge of the equilibrium.
Condensing osteitis of the clavicle in children

Aim To confirm the rarity of this disorder and then to evaluate the effects of antibiotic treatment alone and assess whether this could produce a complete remission of symptoms in children and adolescents. Methods We made a retrospective review of all cases of condensing osteitis of the clavicle in children and adolescents between January 2007 and January 2016. Outpatient and inpatient medical records, with radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging, triphasic bone scan and computed tomography scans were retrospectively reviewed. All the patients underwent biopsy of the affected clavicle and were treated with intra venous (IV) antibiotics followed by oral antibiotics. Results Seven cases of condensing osteitis of the clavicle were identified. All the patients presented with swelling of the medial end of the clavicle, and 5 out of 7 reported persisting pain. The patients' mean age at presentation was 11.5 years (range 10.5-13). Biopsy confirmed the diagnosis in all cases. All the patients completed the treatment with IV and oral antibiotics. At last follow-up visit none of the patients complained of residual pain; all had a clinically evident reduction in the swelling of the medial end of the affected clavicle. The mean follow-up was 4 years (range 2-7). Conclusion Our findings show that condensing osteitis of the clavicle is a rare condition. Biopsy is needed to confirm diagnosis. The condition should be managed with IV and oral antibiotics. Aggressive surgery should be avoided.
Lichtenberg's Visits to England as Described in his Letters and Diaries. Translated and Annotated by Margaret L. Mare and W. H. Quarrell.: New York: Oxford University Press, 1938. xxiv, 130 pp. $2.75.

(1940). Lichtenberg's Visits to England as Described in his Letters and Diaries. Translated and Annotated by Margaret L. Mare and W. H. Quarrell. The Germanic Review: Literature, Culture, Theory: Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 63-64.
Ring-enhancing spinal cord lesions in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders

Objective We assessed the frequency and characteristics of ring-enhancing spinal cord lesions in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) myelitis and myelitis of other cause. Methods We reviewed spinal cord MRIs for ring-enhancing lesions from 284 aquaporin-4 (AQP4)-IgG seropositive patients at Mayo Clinic from 1996 to 2014. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) AQP4-IgG seropositivity, (2) myelitis attack and (3) MRI spinal cord demonstrating ring-enhancement. We identified two groups of control patients with: (1) longitudinally extensive myelopathy of other cause (n=66) and (2) myelitis in the context of a concurrent or subsequent diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) from a population-based cohort (n=30). Results Ring-enhancement was detected in 50 of 156 (32%) myelitis episodes in 41 patients (83% single; 17% multiple attacks). Ring-enhancement was noted on sagittal and axial images in 36 of 43 (84%) ring enhancing myelitis episodes and extended a median of two vertebral segments (range, 1–12); in 21 of 48 (44%) ring enhancing myelitis episodes, the ring extended greater than or equal to three vertebrae. Ring-enhancement was accompanied by longitudinally extensive (greater than or equal to three vertebral segments) T2-hyperintensity in 44 of 50 (88%) ring enhancing myelitis episodes. One case of a spinal cord biopsy during ring-enhancing myelitis revealed tissue vacuolation and loss of AQP4 immunoreactivity with preserved axons. The clinical characteristics of ring-enhancing myelitis episodes did not differ from non-ring-enhancing episodes. Ring-enhancing spinal cord lesions were more common in NMOSD than other causes of longitudinally extensive myelopathy (50/156 (32%) vs 0/66 (0%); p≤0.001) but did not differ between NMOSD and MS (50/156 (32%) vs 6/30 (20%); p=0.20). Conclusions Spinal cord ring-enhancement accompanies one-third of NMOSD myelitis episodes and distinguishes NMOSD from other causes of longitudinally extensive myelopathies but not from MS.
Conflict of Interest and Funding Disclosure Policies of Environmental, Occupational, and Public Health Journals

Objective:The aim of this study was to analyze conflict of interest (COI) and funding disclosure policies of 224 journals listed in Journal Citation Reports as focusing on environmental, occupational, or public health research.Methods:A survey of journal policies and content analysis.Results:About 9
CFTR Modulator Therapies in Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF), the most common life-shortening autosomal recessive disorder in Caucasians, results from mutations in the gene that encodes the cystic fibrosis transmembrane-conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. Nearly 2000 CFTR mutations have been identified as being associated with disease, with known effects of a given mutation on protein structure and/or function. Within the last 5 years, novel therapies called CFTR modulators have emerged that directly target the CFTR protein rather than treating only the clinical consequences of protein dysfunction. The categorization of mutations into classes has aided in the development of modulators that, in some instances, can restore CFTR function resulting from multiple different but related mutations. The development of CFTR modulators is rapidly expanding, with an increasing proportion of the CF population having genotype-specific therapies on the market or in clinical trials. As more patients become eligible for therapies and approvals are expanded to patients of younger ages, CFTR modulators have the potential to fundamentally change the way in which CF care is delivered.
Characterization of Optically and Electrically Evoked Dopamine Release in Striatal Slices from Digenic Knock-in Mice with DAT-Driven Expression of Channelrhodopsin.

Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FCV) is an established method to monitor increases in extracellular dopamine (DA) concentration ([DA]o) in the striatum, which is densely innervated by DA axons. Ex vivo brain slice preparations provide an opportunity to identify endogenous modulators of DA release. For these experiments, local electrical stimulation is often used to elicit release of DA, as well as other transmitters, in the striatal microcircuitry; changes in evoked increases in [DA]o after application of a pharmacological agent (e.g., a receptor antagonist) indicate a regulatory role for the transmitter system interrogated. Optogenetic methods that allow specific stimulation of DA axons provide a complementary, bottom-up approach for elucidating factors that regulate DA release. To this end, we have characterized DA release evoked by local electrical and optical stimulation in striatal slices from mice that genetically express a variant of channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2). Evoked increases in [DA]o in the dorsal ...
Books and Toddlers in Child Care: Under What Conditions are Children Most Engaged?

Although shared book reading is seen as an effective way to support children’s early literacy and language development, less is known about the factors associated with toddlers’ engagement with books. The goal of the current study was to examine younger and older toddlers’ engagement with books during one-on-one reading with a teacher in an interactive versus non-interactive manner and during independent exploration. Using single-case design, the study examined how engagement among toddlers (N = 6) in a childcare classroom varied under different book reading/exploration conditions. Results indicated that overall engagement was greater when teachers read interactively compared to when children explored books on their own, with this effect differing for younger versus older toddlers. Understanding how teachers reading to younger and older toddlers is associated with children’s engagement with books compared to children’s engagement when exploring books on their own can inform early care and education reading practices with toddlers. Implications for book reading with toddlers in group childcare are discussed.
Letter by Vallurupalli and Uretsky Regarding Article, "Optical Coherence Tomography to Optimize Results of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With Non-ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome: Results of the Multicenter, Randomized DOCTORS Study (Does Optical Coherence Tomography Optimize Results of Stenting)".

We read with interest the results of the DOCTORS study (Does Optical Coherence Tomography Optimize Results of Stenting) of the use of optical coherence tomography to optimize stent implantation in non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction.1 The finding that stent underexpansion detected by optical coherence tomography occurs in 42% of implants and often goes undetected by angiography is sobering and calls for the interventional …
Probabilistic modeling of the indoor climates of residential buildings using EnergyPlus

The indoor air temperature and relative humidity in residential buildings significantly affect material moisture durability, heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system performance, and occupant comfort. Therefore, indoor climate data are generally required to define boundary conditions in numerical models that evaluate envelope durability and equipment performance. However, indoor climate data obtained from field studies are influenced by weather, occupant behavior, and internal loads and are generally unrepresentative of the residential building stock. Likewise, whole-building simulation models typically neglect stochastic variables and yield deterministic results that are applicable to only a single home in a specific climate. The purpose of this study was to probabilistically model homes with the simulation engine EnergyPlus to generate indoor climate data that are widely applicable to residential buildings. Monte Carlo methods were used to perform 840,000 simulations on the Oak Ridge National L...
Improving Hip-Worn Accelerometer Estimates of Sitting Using Machine Learning Methods.

ABSTRACTPurposeThis study aimed to improve estimates of sitting time from hip-worn accelerometers used in large cohort studies by using machine learning methods developed on free-living activPAL data.MethodsThirty breast cancer survivors concurrently wore a hip-worn accelerometer and a thigh-worn ac
Postradiation hypothyroidism in head and neck cancers: A Department of Veterans Affairs single-institution case-control dosimetry study

We performed a case-control study to characterize the dose-volume relationship and other variables leading to hypothyroidism after head and neck (HN euthyroid > 2 years: n = 16), and dose-volume histograms based on physical dose and biologically equivalent dose (BED) were compared systematically to find the significant dose-volume thresholds that distinguish the patients who developed clinical hypothyroidism. Dosimetric and clinical variables were considered in univariate and multivariate analysis. Preirradiation prevalence of hypothyroidism was 8 of 143 (5.6%). After RT, 36 of 77 (47%) screened patients had abnormally high TSH, of which 22 of 36 (61%) had clinical hypothyroidism after 1.29 ± 0.99 years. The median follow-up durations were 3.3 years and 4.7 years for euthyroid and hypothyroid patients, respectively. Compared with the euthyroid cohort (n = 41), these hypothyroid patients displayed no significant difference in age, gender, primary tumor site, thyroid volume, hypertension, diabetes, or use of chemotherapy, surgery, or intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). They were more likely to have had stage 3 or 4 cancer than euthyroid patients (86.5% vs 73.2%, p = 0.01). The odds ratios of hypothyroidism for stage 3 + 4 cancers and V50Gy < 75% were 5.0 and 0.2, respectively (p < 0.05). Equivalent BED threshold of V75Gy3 < 75% gave an odds ratio of 0.156 for developing hypothyroidism (p = 0.02). The prevalence of post-RT clinical hypothyroidism was relatively high for patients with H&N cancers and warrants routine surveillance, especially in those with higher stage malignancy. V50Gy < 75% may be a useful guideline to avoid hypothyroidism. We also show BED data which could be used for unconventionally fractionated schemes, and V75Gy3 < 75% may be a useful guideline.
S1P-1 Receptor

S1P1 is a prototype of a family of G protein-coupled receptors that specifically interact with sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). S1P1 and the other family members, S1P2, S1P3, S1P4, and S1P5, share about 50% amino acid sequence identity …
Diffusion of Information in Social Networks

Social networks are a growing phenomenon in today’s Internet media consumption. Social networks are used to not only stay in touch with friends and family, but also to seek and receive information on specific products/services as well as social activism. Understanding and quantifying the information flow within these networks is, therefore, of great interest to individuals, groups and businesses. Several models have been proposed to describe the mechanism of spread of information. We describe these models in detail in this chapter. We then study the importance of “influencers” (nodes that have a higher influence on information spread in a network) and discuss the spread of both truthful and mis-information in a network. Methods to control the spread of mis-information through a social network is also discussed. We then discuss the inverse problem of discovering the source of any given piece of information. Both single and multi-source problems are considered.
Crack Tip Strain Field and Its Propagation Characteristics in a Polymer Foam

In recent years there has been an increasing interest in using foam composites as shipbuilding materials. A sandwich panel built of fiberglass face sheets and a foam core has strong rigidity and bending strength. It’s advantage for ship construction is obvious. Furthermore when a small amount of nanoparticles are added to the material, it tends to increase its stiffness and retards fire as well. In this paper we employ a unique micro/nano speckle technique to investigate the crack tip deformation field of two different polymer foams at a length scale that has never been studied before. The principle of the technique is described in [1]. Figure 1 shows the micrograph recorded by a scanning electron microscope of a crack propagating through a NEAT foam specimen under uniaxial tension. The void in front of the crack tip was kind of spontaneously generated as a result of the load. The main crack then tends to link itself towards the void as demonstrated in the sequence of pictures shown.
238U Issues Resolved and Unresolved

The interaction of 1 eV to 20 MeV neutrons with238U is discussed with emphasis on recently resolved and remaining issues relevant to both application need and physical understanding.
Neuroinflammation and the cGAS-STING pathway.

The recent discovery of cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) as the mammalian cytosolic DNA sensor has profound therapeutic implications for infection, immunology, and cancer. Because neurovirology, neur...