cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Role of Ceramide in Cell Regulation

Publisher Summary Ceramides are a family of lipid molecules, composed of sphingosine and a fatty acid, and are found in high concentrations within the cell membrane of cells. Ceramides and other sphingolipids play important roles in coordinating cellular responses to extracellular stimuli and to stress. This chapter presents an overview of the role of ceramide in cellular regulation, with a focus on its role in apoptosis. It begins with an explanation of ceramide metabolism, which involves several sphingolipids with important and distinct cellular functions. Following this, it presents an overview of apoptosis. There are two main pathways for apoptosis, namely the extrinsic receptor-mediated pathway and an intrinsic mitochondrial pathway. Many targets of ceramide have been identified in vivo that could indirectly alter mitochondrial function and lead to the initiation of apoptosis. Much of the current literature on the role of ceramide in cell regulation involves the measurement of whole cell ceramides. Ceramide has been suggested to play a number of regulatory roles in cells. Improved understanding of how alterations of ceramide in particular subcellular locations impact downstream functions, the functional significance of the individual ceramide species, and how ceramide metabolism is regulated in response to individual stress stimuli, should permit more focused investigation into the molecular action of ceramide.
Customer Participation in New Product Development and New Product Performance: The Moderating Role of Expertise

New product developers have increasingly utilized input from customers to co-create innovative new products. However, while much of the extant literature focuses on the positive side of customer participation on the new product development (NPD) process, significantly less work has focused on the negative side of co-creation. This study contends that a customer participation paradox exists: while customer participation in NPD may potentially help product performance, it could also lead to the development of products that are overly radical and are too difficult for potential customers to understand. To resolve this paradox, we argue that firms with higher levels of expertise will be able to rein in the negative aspects of extreme product newness to create products that will be in high demand by the marketplace. A survey of 305 firms involved in NPD activities was used to test our conceptual model. The results show that customer participation in the NPD process leads to overly new products that do not perform well on the market. Further, a multi-group analysis reveals that customer participation in NPD only has a positively influence on product performance for firms with high levels of expertise. The findings from this study demonstrate that while customer participation in NPD is beneficial for firms with high expertise, it may actually have a detrimental impact on product performance for those firms with low ACAP.
Traumatic Laceration of Intracavernosal Arteries: The Pathophysiology of Nonischemic, High Flow, Arterial Priapism

AbstractTwo forms of priapism are known to occur. The more common type, veno-occlusive priapism, presents with a prolonged painful erection, and it is characterized by ischemia and pooling of blood within the corpora cavernosa. The less common form, high flow priapism, is characterized by lack of pain and ischemia. The pathophysiology of this disorder is poorly understood and the treatment is unclear. We report 2 cases of nonischemic priapism, one of which occurred after blunt perineal trauma and the other after intracavernosal self-injection with papaverine and phentolamine. Based on our 2 cases as well as a review of the literature (5 cases), we propose that the pathophysiological mechanism of this disorder is unregulated arterial inflow into the corpora, classify it as. arterial priapism, and describe a diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm for its management.
Case Studies: Using EventShop for Creating Multiple Situation Recognition Applications

In this chapter, we discuss how the framework can be applied to create situation-based applications—from situation modeling to situation recognition and personalized alerts. We pay particular attention to the use of these applications in real-world scenarios, and we discuss the ability of the framework to meet the design goals set forth in Chap. 2
Bone marrow edema-like lesions (BMELs) are associated with higher T 1ρ and T 2 values of cartilage in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-reconstructed knees: a longitudinal study

BACKGROUND To evaluate the longitudinal changes of bone marrow edema-like lesions (BMELs) in patients after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and to investigate the effect of BMELs on cartilage matrix composition changes measured using MR T1ρ and T2 mapping. METHODS Patients with acute ACL tear were enrolled in a prospective study. MR imaging was performed at baseline (before surgeries) and at 6-month, 1-year and 2-year after ACL reconstruction. MR imaging included sagittal high-resolution, 3D fast spin-echo (CUBE) sequences for BMEL evaluation, and 3D T1ρ mapping and T2 mapping for cartilage assessment. BMELs were assessed using whole-organ magnetic resonance imaging score (WORMS), and the volume of BMELs was measured by a semi-automatic method. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to explore association between BMELs at baseline and cartilage changes during follow-up. RESULTS Fifty four patients were included in the present study and 39 patients had completed 2-year follow-up. BMELs were noted in 42 injured knees (77.8%) with 105 lesions and in 7 contralateral knees (13.0%) with 9 lesions (χ2=45.763, P<0.001) at the baseline. The WORMS and volume of BMELs of the injured knees were 2.36±0.65 and 386.98±382.54 mm3 (r=0.681, P<0.001), respectively. 87 BMELs were found at baseline in 34 patients (87.2%) of the 39 patients who had completed 2 years follow-up. During the follow-up, 18 (20.7%), 12 (13.8%), and 5 (5.7%) baseline lesions were still seen at 6-month, 1-year and 2-year, respectively. The changes of BMELs prevalence regarding bone compartments over time points were statistically significant (χ2=163.660, P<0.001). Except T2 value at 6 months, T1ρ and T2 values of cartilage overlying baseline BMELs in the injured knees were higher than that of anatomically matched cartilage in the contralateral knees at baseline and each follow-up time-point. In the injured knees, GEE analysis showed that baseline BMELs were significantly associated with higher T1ρ and T2 values of cartilage after adjustment of age, gender, body mass index (BMI), effusion and meniscus tear. The association between BMELs and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores (KOOS) scores was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS BMEL is a common finding in patients with acute ACL injury and resolves rapidly over time after ACL reconstruction. It is often associated with increased T1ρ and T2 values of cartilage. BMEL at baseline is an independent predictor for faster cartilage degeneration during follow-up.
Real Emotion Recognition by Detecting Symmetry Patterns with Dihedral Group

In this paper, we describe how to use the dihedral group theory to detect symmetry on Facial Key Points (FKP) to recognize real emotions. We present an algorithm for symmetry detection with the dihedral group and deploy it for finding symmetry (rotation and reflection) on FKP. The method can be applied in many areas which have the same data texture. The method used for real emotion recognition and experimental results shows that using the dihedral group concept can reach it better in the subject area which contains symmetry in nature because of its robustness.
Alcohol use Exacerbates Acculturative Stress Among Recently Immigrated, Young Adult Latinas

Associations between theorized sociocultural factors and acculturative stress were examined among Latina immigrants (aged 18-23 years) during their initial months in the US. Participants' quantity of alcohol use was hypothesized to be linked with more acculturative stress. Using respondent-driven sampling, 530 Latinas who recently immigrated to Miami-Dade County, Florida, were recruited from community activities, Latino health fairs, advertisements at community agencies, and online postings. A path analysis revealed associations between acculturative stress and more time in the US and greater commitment to ethnic identity. Marianismo gender role beliefs differentially related with acculturative stress. Quantity of alcohol use moderated the positive association between time in US and acculturative stress, such that women in the US for less time who drank more alcohol experienced higher levels of acculturative stress than their peers. Findings suggest quantity of alcohol use may exacerbate acculturative stress during some Latina young adult immigrants' initial months in the US.
'What are You Going to Do About It?' Ethics and Corruption Issues in the New York State Constitution

This paper explores efforts in New York to add ethics provisions into the New York State Constitution.
Jurassic primates, immobile ducks and other oddities: a reply to Heads’ review of The Monkey’s Voyage

In The Monkey’s Voyage, I focused on the issue of disjunct distributions, and, in particular, on the burgeoning support from molecular-dating studies for long-distance dispersal over vicariance as the most reasonable explanation for many (but by no means all) distributions broken up by oceans. Michael Heads’ assessment of the book is founded on his long-standing belief, following Croizat, that long-distance dispersal is an insignificant process and, therefore, that disjunctions are virtually always attributable to vicariance. In holding to these notions, Heads offered a series of unsound arguments. In particular, to preserve an ‘all-vicariance’ perspective, he presented a distorted view of the nature of long-distance dispersal, misrepresented current applications of fossil calibrations in molecular-dating studies, ignored methodological biases in such studies that often favour vicariance hypotheses, repeatedly invoked irrelevant geological reconstructions, and, most strikingly, showed a cavalier approach to evolutionary timelines by pushing the origins of many groups back to unreasonably ancient ages. The result was a succession of implausible histories for particular taxa and areas, including the notions that the Hawaiian biota is almost entirely derived from ancient (often Mesozoic) central Pacific metapopulations, that the disjunctions of extremely mobile organisms such as ducks rarely, if ever, result from long-distance dispersal, and that primates were widespread 120 million years before their first appearance in the fossil record. In contrast to Heads’ perspective, a central message of The Monkey’s Voyage is that explanations for disjunct distributions should be evaluated on the basis of diverse kinds of evidence, without strong a priori assumptions about the relative likelihoods of long-distance dispersal and vicariance.
Freeze artifact on full-field optical coherence tomography skin imaging.

Background/purpose Full-field optical coherence tomography (FFOCT) is an emerging imaging technique for rapid histological analysis. As FFOCT is introduced into the Mohs workflow, it is important to document the effect of tissue freezing on FFOCT images and any effect FFOCT has on frozen sections. Our study aimed to evaluate the changes on FFOCT images after tissue freezing as well as FFOCT imaging effects on frozen sectioning. Methods Six normal skin specimens were imaged using FFOCT and subsequently frozen using a cryostat. The specimens were then reimaged using FFOCT and compared for any differences. To evaluate the effect of FFOCT imaging on frozen sections, five normal skin specimens were bisected and one half was imaged using FFOCT. Both halves underwent frozen sectioning and analysis. Results Significant changes in the fat, sebaceous glands, eccrine glands, and dermal collage and minimal changes in the epidermis were seen after freezing. No effect on frozen sectioning was seen after FFOCT imaging. Conclusion As FFOCT is studied for use in Mohs, clinicians should be aware that freezing prior to imaging introduces significant artifact in the FFOCT image. If possible, specimens should undergo imaging prior to being frozen.
A Review of the Neotropical Genera Badelina Thomson, 1880, Balsameda Thomson, 1880, Guatemalica Neervoort van de Poll, 1886, and Heterocotinis Martínez, 1948 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Gymnetini)

Abstract The genera Badelina Thomson, 1880, Balsameda Thomson, 1880, Guatemalica Neervoort van de Poll, 1886, and Heterocotinis Martinez, 1948 are reviewed. Redescriptions, diagnoses, distributions, and illustrations of all species in each genus are provided. Balsameda monzoni Ratcliffe and Balsameda porioni Ratcliffe are described as new species from Guatemala and Mexico, respectively. Gymnetis marginicollis Burmeister, 1842 (formerly Guatemalica marginicollis) was recently transferred to Amithao, and Gymnetis luctuosa Bourgoin, 1916 is not in the genus Guatemalica but in a yet-to-be determined species of Gymnetis MacLeay. Gymnetis smaragdinea Gory and Percheron, 1833 and Cotinis nitidicollis Moser, 1907 are placed in new junior synonymy with Heteroconitis terminata (Gory and Percheron, 1833).
Origin of π-Facial Stereoselectivity in Thiophene 1-Oxide Cycloadditions.

We report a DFT computational study (M06-2X) of π-facial selectivity in the Diels–Alder reactions of thiophene 1-oxide. The preference for the syn cycloaddition arises because the ground state geometry of thiophene 1-oxide is predistorted into an envelope conformation that resembles the syn transition state geometry. The syn distortion occurs to minimize the effect of hyperconjugative antiaromaticity in the thiophene 1-oxide, arising from overlap of the σ*SO with the π-system. The syn selectivity follows through to the product structure that is stabilized by a π–σ*SO interaction, related to the 7-norbornenyl ion stability.
Katz, Jerrold J. (1932–2002)

This biography of Jerrold J. Katz focuses on his main contributions to linguistic theory and the philosophy of language. His accomplishments include (1) developing the first comprehensive theory of semantics within generative grammar, (2) proposing that language is an abstract rather than a physical or mental object, and (3) challenging the Fregean notions that sense determines reference and that semantic form is equivalent to logical form. In addition to his general semantic theory, Katz worked out detailed accounts of presupposition, illocutionary force, idioms, and names, and published authoritatively on the work of such philosophers as Gottlob Frege, Willard van Orman Quine, among others.
Tissue Response to Implants (Biocompatibility)

In order to implant a material, we first have to injure the tissue. The injured or diseased tissues will be removed to some extent in the process of implantation. The success of the entire operation depends on the kind and degree of tissue response (biocompatibility) toward the implants during the healing process. The tissue response toward the injury may vary widely according to the site, species, contamination, etc. However, the inflammatory reaction and cellular response toward the wound for both intentional and accidental injuries are the same regardless of the site.
Simulation of the Arthropod Central Complex: Moving Towards Bioinspired Robotic Navigation Control

It is imperative that an animal have the ability to track its own motion within its immediate surroundings. It gives the necessary basis for decision making that leads to appropriate behavioral responses. It is our goal to implement insect-like body tracking capabilities into a robotic controller and have this serve as the first step toward adaptive robotic behavior. In an attempt to tackle the first step of body tracking without GPS or other external information, we have turned to arthropod neurophysiology as inspiration. The insect brain structure called the central complex (CX) is thought to be vital for sensory integration and body position tracking. The mechanisms behind sensory integration are immensely complex, but it was found to be done with an elegant neuronal architecture. Based on this architecture, we assembled a dynamical neural model of the functional core of the central complex, two structures called the protocerebral bridge and the ellipsoid body, in a simulation environment. Using non-spiking neuronal dynamics, our simulation was able to recreate in vivo behavior such as correlating body rotation direction and speed to activity bump dynamics within the ellipsoid body of the central complex. This model serves as the first step towards using idiothetic cues to track body position and orientation determination, which is critical for homing after exploring new environments and other navigational tasks.
In vivo microdialysis sampling in the bile, blood, and liver of rats to study the disposition of phenol.

Methods for continuous in vivo sampling in the bile, blood, and liver extracellular fluid are described. These methods are based on microdialysis sampling in anesthetized rats. A new flow-through microdialysis probe is described for sampling bile while maintaining normal bile flow. All three sites are simultaneously and continuously sampled to provide concentration–time profiles at multiple sites in a single experimental animal. This technique is demonstrated by studying the hepatic metabolism and biliary excretion of phenol in rats. Following an i.v. infusion of phenol, the major hepatic metabolite was found to be phenyl-glucuronide. Hydroquinone and 2-glutathionyl–hydroquinone were also detected but at lower concentrations. A similar pattern of metabolites was found in the bile and blood. For all of the metabolites, bile concentrations are higher than liver concentrations, indicating that the metabolites are actively excreted into the bile.
ONTOGENETIC TROPHIC RELATIONSHIPS AND STRESS IN A COASTAL SEAGRASS SYSTEM IN FLORIDA

Abstract Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides) undergo progressive, temporally conservative, ontogenetic changes in food habits which traverse major trophic levels. Detailed changes in this progression were used to test the effectiveness of trophic relationships as indicators of environmental changes. Stomach contents of certain carnivorous and omnivorous growth stages of pinfish were altered by pollution, probably as a result of habitat-related disruptions of benthic prey assemblages. Such changes included disjunct ontological sequences of prey use, substitution, and reduced numbers of prey items. Partial habitat recovery was reflected in selective dietary changes and a return to feeding patterns similar to those of fish in control areas. Although this approach was considered useful in explaining system interactions, the results indicate problems in current ideas of generalized trophic levels and the use of the species as an ecological entity. If the ontogenetic spectrum of feeding patterns is regrouped so as to place closely related life stages in functional trophic units, a more realistic appraisal of system reaction to pervasive habitat alteration can be made.
Information Technology Service Delivery to Small Businesses

This paper reports findings from a study conducted to evaluate Intel’s Service Delivery Platform for small businesses. The Service Delivery Platform adopted a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) approach, and aimed to deliver information technology (IT) services on a pay-as-you-go subscription model. The majority of small business decision makers found the solution appealing. Nevertheless, wide adoption of the solution will be contingent on quality and breadth of service offerings, cost, reliability of service delivery, and responsiveness of support.
Rendezvous of Wheeled Mobile Robots with Sensing and Power Constraints

This paper considers a rendezvous problem, where a group of wheeled mobile robots with sensing and power constraints is tasked to meet at a common destination. Each robot is modeled in the wheel kinematic level, which is governed by the wheel actuation power constraints. The group of robots is of a leader-follower network structure, where only the leader robot is aware of the desired destination and the follower robots are driven by the leader to the common destination via local sensing of neighboring robots. To ensure the availability of inter-robot communication, the motion of robots is constrained to preserve network connectivity, enabling leader-based guidance via connected paths. In addition, the motion of robots is further constrained to avoid collisions with other robots. To achieve these objectives, a guidance function based decentralized controller is developed to control the wheel velocities of each robot, which ensures global convergence to the destination while guaranteeing the network connectivity, collision avoidance, and not violating its sensing and actuator power capabilities. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed controller.
Order (and Disorder) in World Order

This chapter examines how the international system, through history, but especially beginning with the Treaty of Westphalia and the development of the modern state system, has construed and constructed world order. The discussions here also focus on the definition of what Great Powers are: their characteristics, which countries have been Great Powers, and how they define their interests. The chapter also examines the origins of world order and disorder, including the pursuit of colonies, and how this fostered wars, especially between the European powers. It questions whether the past two centuries have fundamentally altered how states view power, order, and war, among other things. It then examines the entry of the Global South countries into the already established international order, and how that had the effect of disrupting the system, and how Global South states have conducted themselves through the process of finding their niche in the international system.
(Meta-) Methodological Lessons for Ethics Consultation

At the outset of this chapter, I want to echo the praise offered by all of the contributors to this volume for Finder’s outstanding, thoughtful and self-critical narrative of the case of 83 year old Mrs. Hamadani and her fiercely devoted children. The brocade account is carefully woven, like a fine Persian tapestry, to convey the rich complexity of an actual ethics consultation as it transpires not over hours, but rather over days, weeks, months and even, as in this case, years. Mrs. Hamadani’s narrative so told is replete with questions worthy of critical reflection. What is an appropriate role for ethics consultation in healthcare? How can an autonomy-centric culture accommodate community-centric cultural difference? How can or should the voice of the patient be heard when she cannot speak for herself and the much louder and anguished voices of others demand to be heard? What are the bounds of acceptable medical treatment and how should care teams respond when patient or family demands threaten to push care givers to cross those bounds? What is an appropriate response for ethics consultants when they are asked to take over a case or prevent a colleague from interacting with an unwilling family? Do the motivations of patients, family, or members of the care team in calling ethics consultants necessarily shape the consultant’s role? And so the list goes on, as the variety of commentaries which comprise the majority of this volume, as well as the multitude of discussions that you, the readers, will inevitably have with colleagues, students, and friends make abundantly clear.
Effects of Pressure and Strain Rate on the Mechanical Behavior of Glassy Polymers

In this study the mechanical response of transparent polymers under varying strain rates and hydrostatic pressures is investigated. Quasi-static and dynamic tests are performed under uniaxial and multi-axial loadings and the effect of hydrostatic pressure on the response of the material is explored. In both quasi-static and dynamic experiments, the confinement pressure was increased to a predetermined level and kept constant during the test. This test subjects specimens to confining pressure (up to 200 MPa) prior to loading. Loading was either applied quasi-statically using a servo-hydraulic load frame or at dynamic rates using a modified SHPB. The strain rate dependency of the Polycarbonate material is studied using an Instron UTM and split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) technique. Digital image correlation is used to record full field deformation and calculate the strain. Ultra-high strain rate tests are also performed using a micro-Kolsky bar and small (50–100 um length) specimens. The confinement experiments show that the yield stress is linearly proportional to the confinement pressure but the elastic modulus is insensitive to confinement pressure. Significant rate sensitivity is observed at moderate strain rates and becomes insensitive to strain rate at the highest strain rates measured.
Effect of Surface Plasmons on the Insulator to Metal Transition in Thin Film Vanadium Dioxide

We report on a new mechanism capable of inducing the insulator metallic transition (IMT) in VO 2 via surface plasmon polariton (SPP) excitation and the corresponding effect that the IMT will have on the surface plasmon resonance (SPR).
Precision dietary supplementation based on personal gut microbiota

Over the past decade, many studies have revealed the importance of the gut microbiome in disease development and treatment, including in cancer. Because both host genetics and the gut microbiome can influence host phenotype and treatment outcome, there is an urgent need to develop precision medicine and personalize dietary supplementation based on an individual’s microbiome.
Workspace CPG with Body Pose Control for Stable, Directed Vision during Omnidirectional Locomotion

In this paper, we focus on the problem of directing the gaze of a vision system mounted to the body of a high-degree-of-freedom (DOF) legged robot for active perception deployments. In particular, we consider the case where the vision system is rigidly attached to the robot’s body (i.e., without any additional DOF between the vision system and robot body) and show how the supernumerary DOFs of the robot can be leveraged to allow independent locomotion and gaze control. Specifically, we augment a workspace central pattern generator (CPG) with omnidirectional capabilities by coupling it with a body pose control mechanism. We leverage the smoothing nature of the CPG framework to allow online adaptation of relevant locomotion parameters, and obtain a stable mid-level controller that translates desired gaze orientation and body velocity directly into joint angles. We validate our approach on an 18-DOF hexapod robot, in a series of indoor and outdoor trials, where the robot inspects an environmental feature or follows a pre-planned path relative to a visually-tracked landmark, demonstrating simultaneous locomotion and directed vision.
Study the Optical Properties of Iron- Free Magnetic Lens

Attention has been concentrated on the effect of the current density and lens dimensions on iron-free magnetic lens design. A magnetic field has been calculated for a such magnetic lens for different values of current density. Also, the radial and spiral distortion aberration coefficients have been computed. Results have clearly shown that the low aberration coefficients can get at current density of high value and the ratio S/D of the system within the rang 0.5 ≤ S/D ≤ 2.
End-of-mission calibration of the Cassini Imaging Science Subsystem

Abstract We provide an end-of-mission update to the in-flight calibration of the Imaging Science Subsystem cameras on the Cassini spacecraft, resolving discrepancies in our previous analyses from 2004 to 2010, incorporating data through the end of the mission, adding a correction for the weak but measurable camera sensitivity decline over time, and providing new transmission values for polarizing filters. In the new analysis, we add full-disk photometry of Jupiter and the Saturnian icy satellites Rhea, Dione and Enceladus to the previous measurements, which had consisted primarily of standard star targets, while the stellar photometry is updated to include a correction for light lost to the extended wings of the instrumental point spread function. The resulting absolute flux corrections differ considerably from those previously reported, shifting measured radiance by close to 10% in most broadband filters, and bringing agreement between star and satellite targets to within 3%. We also detail improvements to the narrow-angle camera flat field correction, and provide updates to the filter-by-filter point spread functions, hot pixel correction, and polarizer calibration. For the latter, we present new measurements of Titan’s polarization from near-UV to near-IR, including three methane bands and nearby spectral windows.
Sharp as a Fox: Are foxnews.com Visitors Less Politically Knowledgeable?:

In 2012, a survey research was publicized suggesting that Fox News viewers were not only less informed than consumers of other news media but also less informed than people abstaining from news med...
[Epidemiological characteristics of malaria in Leshan City, 1950-2015].

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of malaria in Leshan City, so as to provide the evidence for formulating the strategy and measures for consolidating the achievements of malaria elimination. Methods The data of epidemiological characteristics of malaria in Leshan City from 1950 to 2015 were collected and analyzed with the descriptive epidemiology method. Results There were four larger scale epidemics of malaria in Leshan City from 1950 to 2015. The order of malaria in infectious diseases dropped from the first to the twentieth. The peak season for malaria epidemics ceased. The Plasmodium species, patient age, occupation and sex distribution of malaria were different in the different periods. In November 2016, the whole city achieved the national standard for malaria elimination. Conclusions After years of prevention and control, the epidemiological characteristics of malaria have changed significantly in Leshan City, and the effect of anti-malarial measures is significant. In the future, we should strengthen the monitoring, and prevention and control of imported malaria.
Mandatory Disclosure: A Case Study in How Anti-Corruption Measures Can Affect Competition in Defense Markets

In the U.S. defense procurement market, regulators require contractors to make “mandatory disclosures” if principals at those firms determine, after due review, that there is credible evidence that the firms engaged in certain crimes (fraud, bribery or gratuities), civil fraud, or significant overpayment by the government. Failure to make such a mandatory disclosure, required by clause and by regulation, can lead to (among other things) the debarment of the contractor -- a potentially devastating result. Mandatory disclosure is a natural extension of a separate requirement, that contractors maintain effective corporate compliance and ethics systems, and the Defense Department’s largest prime contractors, with sophisticated compliance systems in place, have been able to accommodate the mandatory disclosure requirement. This paper asks whether this disclosure requirement in effect favors those largest contractors, and decreases competition in a already highly concentrated defense market, either by creating substantial legal risks for firms too small or inexperienced to institute effective compliance and disclosure systems, or by discouraging competition from other companies in the commercial sector. The paper concludes that the mandatory disclosure rule can impair competition in defense procurement, and recommends that regulators carefully shape any disclosure requirements, and perhaps reconsider relying on voluntary disclosure, mindful of the need to reduce costs and enhance competition in defense procurement markets.
Hydrogen isotope fractionation in modern plants along a boreal-tundra transect in Alaska

Abstract An increasing number of studies from high latitude settings use the stable hydrogen isotope ratio (δ2H) of plant leaf waxes to quantify changes in past precipitation. Calibration of modern vegetation and source water use from these landscapes is important to more accurately reconstruct past hydroclimate variability using sedimentary leaf wax δ2H values. Here, we determine plant-water fractionations from 12 sites along a south-north transect in central Alaska, from Fairbanks to Deadhorse (64-70°N). We characterize the δ2H values of n-alkanes and n-alkanoic acids from modern plants and their xylem and leaf water δ2H values, as well as plant source water using surface soils, a soil core, and previously collected meteoric water data from the region. We find both transpiration (eLW/XW) and biosynthetic (ewax/LW) fractionation are sensitive to environmental controls with latitude, with increased leaf transpiration and biosynthetic fractionation to the north, potentially due to increased summer sunlight hours. Soil water δ2H values show near linear 2H enrichment toward the surface associated with evaporation, with the δ2H value ∼40 cm matching mean annual precipitation (MAP). Average net fractionation was calculated using xylem water and chain length weighted wax δ2H values (ewax/XW) and we find nearly the same mean values for both n-alkanes, −112 ± 27‰, and n-alkanoic acids, −110 ± 23‰, from 12 common high latitude vascular plants. To provide the range of likely net fractionations along this transect, we also calculate the average net fractionation using MAP, finding values are less negative than using xylem waters (ewax/MAP, −89 ± 28‰ for n-alkanes, and −86 ± 24‰ for n-alkanoic acids). To compare across studies, we determined the average ewax/MAP of n-alkanes from all available high latitude calibration studies and found more 2H enriched (smaller fractionations) for C27 (-87 ± 29‰), C29 (-87 ± 32‰), and C31 (-91 ± 31‰) than those of global ewax/MAP homolog averages. This new work in Alaska contributes to our growing understanding of plant water-wax fractionation in the high latitudes and is potentially important for the use of sedimentary δ2H values for paleoprecipitation estimates.
Phantophlebia dicycla gen. et sp. nov., a five-merous fossil flower in mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber

A fossil flower in mid-Cretaceous amber from Myanmar (Burma) is described as the new genus and species Phantophlebia dicycla. The perianth of the flower is composed of two 5-merous whorls of tepals, the outer tepals being smaller and more irregular in shape than the inner. All the tepals are distinctly vascularized, with few to many major veins that are connected above by an irregular network of veinlets. The flower’s 5 stamens are opposite the inner tepals, with bilocular anthers that dehisce by latrorse, oblique slits. No gynoecium can be seen beneath the air bubble covering the center of the flower. The fossil shares some characteristics with myrsinoid members of family Primulaceae.
Signatures of optimal codon usage predict metabolic ecology in budding yeasts

ABSTRACT Reverse ecology is the inference of ecological information from patterns of genomic variation. One rich, heretofore underutilized, source of ecologically-relevant genomic information is codon optimality or adaptation. Bias toward codons that match the tRNA pool is robustly associated with high gene expression in diverse organisms, suggesting that codon optimization could be used in a reverse ecology framework to identify highly expressed, ecologically relevant genes. To test this hypothesis, we examined the relationship between optimal codon usage in the classic galactose metabolism (GAL) pathway and known ecological niches for 329 species of budding yeasts, a diverse subphylum of fungi. We find that optimal codon usage in the GAL pathway is positively correlated with quantitative growth on galactose, suggesting that GAL codon optimization reflects increased capacity to grow on galactose. Optimal codon usage in the GAL pathway is also positively correlated with human-associated ecological niches in yeasts of the CUG-Ser1 clade and with dairy-associated ecological niches in the family Saccharomycetaceae. For example, optimal codon usage of GAL genes is greater than 85% of all genes in the major human pathogen Candida albicans (CUG-Ser1 clade) and greater than 75% of genes in the dairy yeast Kluyveromyces lactis (family Saccharomycetaceae). We further find a correlation between optimization in the thiamine biosynthesis and GAL pathways. As a result, optimal codon usage in thiamine biosynthesis genes is also associated with dairy ecological niches in Saccharomycetaceae, which may reflect competition with co-occurring microbes for extracellular thiamine. This work highlights the potential of codon optimization as a tool for gaining insights into the metabolic ecology of microbial eukaryotes. Doing so may be especially illuminating for studying fungal dark matter—species that have yet to be cultured in the lab or have only been identified by genomic material.
Case 39-2020: A 29-Month-Old Boy with Seizure and Hypocalcemia

A Boy with Seizure and Hypocalcemia A 29-month-old boy with a history of febrile seizure, atopic dermatitis, and multiple environmental and food allergies was transferred to the hospital because of...
On Few Shot Learning of Dynamical Systems: A Koopman Operator Theoretic Approach

In this paper, we propose a novel algorithm for learning the Koopman operator of a dynamical system from a \textit{small} amount of training data. In many applications of data-driven modeling, e.g. biological network modeling, cybersecurity, modeling the Internet of Things, or smart grid monitoring, it is impossible to obtain regularly sampled time-series data with a sufficiently high sampling frequency. In such situations the existing Dynamic Mode Decomposition (DMD) or Extended Dynamic Mode Decomposition (EDMD) algorithms for Koopman operator computation often leads to a low fidelity approximate Koopman operator. To this end, this paper proposes an algorithm which can compute the Koopman operator efficiently when the training data-set is sparsely sampled across time. In particular, the proposed algorithm enriches the small training data-set by appending artificial data points, which are treated as noisy observations. The larger, albeit noisy data-set is then used to compute the Koopman operator, using techniques from Robust Optimization. The efficacy of the proposed algorithm is also demonstrated on three different dynamical systems, namely a linear network of oscillators, a nonlinear system and a dynamical system governed by a Partial Differential Equation (PDE).
Pigeons acquire the 1-back task: Implications for implicit versus explicit learning?

In humans, a distinction can be made between implicit or procedural learning (involving stimulus-response associations) and explicit or declarative learning (involving verbalizable rules) that is relatively easy to make in verbal humans. According to several investigators, it is also possible to make such a distinction in nonverbal animals. One way is by training them on a conditional discrimination task (e.g., matching-to-sample) in which reinforcement for correct choice on the current trial is delayed until after a choice is made on the next trial – a method known as the 1-back procedure. According to Smith, Jackson, and Church ( Journal of Comparative Psychology, 134(4), 423–434, 2020), the delay between the sample-correct-comparison response on one trial and reinforcement obtained on the next trial is too long for implicit (associative) learning. Thus, according to this theory, learning must be explicit. In the present experiments we trained pigeons using the 1-back procedure. In Experiment 1, pigeons were trained on red/green 1-back matching using a non-correction procedure. Some of the pigeons showed significant learning. When a correction procedure was introduced, all the pigeons showed evidence of learning. In Experiment 2, new pigeons learned red/green 1-back matching with the correction procedure. In Experiment 3, new pigeons learned symbolic 1-back matching with yellow and blue conditional stimuli and red/green choice stimuli. Thus, pigeons can learn using 1-back reinforcement. Although it would appear that the pigeons acquired this task explicitly, we believe that this procedure does not adequately distinguish between implicit and explicit learning.
Rethinking production of machine tool bases: Polymer additive manufacturing and concrete

Abstract Cast iron and steel weldments are the most common machine tool base elements. However, both construction methods have associated disadvantages for domestic machine tool manufacturers. This paper documents the investigation of an alternative method for machine tool base production using concrete to fill an additively manufactured polymer mold, where the motion components are attached to the concrete base after the initial concrete curing. Modal testing results for a three-axis, vertical spindle prototype indicate high damping and stiffness can be achieved using the concrete base construction. Advantages are reduced cost and lead time compared to traditional methods.
Networks, Property, and the Division of Labor:

We use a simulation-based method to consider the effect of different network structures on the propensity for economic producers to develop a complementary division of labor. We use a graph-colorin...
Learning and Dynamic Decision Making.

Humans make decisions in dynamic environments (increasingly complex, highly uncertain, and changing situations) by searching for potential alternatives sequentially over time, to determine the best option at a precise moment. Surprisingly, the field of behavioral decision making has little to offer in terms of theoretical principles and practical guidelines on how people make decisions in dynamic situations. My research program aims to fill in this gap by developing theoretical understandings of decision processes as well as practical demonstrations of how these theoretical developments can improve human dynamic decision making. Throughout my research career, I have helped create, test, and improve a general theory of dynamic decision making, instance-based learning theory, IBLT. The methods I have used to contribute to IBLT are (1) laboratory experiments that rely on dynamic games in which humans make choices over time and space, individually and in teams, and from which we extrapolate robust phenomena and behavioral insights; and (2) computational, actionable cognitive models, which specify the decision-making process and the cognitive mechanisms involved into a computational algorithm. The combination of these methods spawned novel applications in areas such as cybersecurity, phishing, climate change, and human-machine interactions. In this paper, I will take you through my own intellectual exploratory experience of computational modeling of human decision processes, and how the integration of experimental work and cognitive modeling helped in discovering and uncovering the field of dynamic decision making.
Disruptive Technologies in Workmanship: PH-Neutral Flux, CDM Esd Events, Hdi PCBs

This slide presentation describes what it calls "disruptive technologies", i.e., "Low-end disruption" occurs when the rate at which products improve exceeds the rate at which customers can adopt the new performance. Therefore, at some point the performance of the product overshoots the needs of certain customer segments. At this point, a disruptive technology may enter the market and provide a product which has lower performance than the incumbent but which exceeds the requirements of certain segments, thereby gaining a foothold in the market. This concept is viewed in impacting incumbent technologies Rosin Flux, with a pH-neutral water soluble Flux; electrostatic discharge models being disrupted by the charge device model (CDM) concept; and High Density Interconnect Printed Circuit Boards (HDI PCB).
Celecoxib potentiates in vitro and in vivo radiosensitivity in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 12-16, 2008; San Diego, CA 2814 Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) is characterized by aggressive growth and early lymphatic metastasis, necessitating the addition of radiation therapy (XRT) for the control of local and regional disease in patients with these cancers. Any adjuvant therapies that augment radiosensitivity could have significant impact on cancer treatment protocols for patients with SCCHN. Previous data from our lab have shown that celecoxib, a COX-2 specific non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, induces S-phase specific toxicity in SCCHN, suggesting a mechanism for therapeutic synergism. These studies were conducted to evaluate possible mechanisms of in vitro and in vivo synergism with celecoxib and XRT in an SCCHN model. In vitro clonogenic survival assays combining celecoxib with XRT in the UM-SCC-1 cell line showed synergistic toxicity, and in vivo mouse xenograft experiments demonstrated significantly decreased tumor growth with combination therapy compared to XRT or celecoxib alone. Further in vitro clonogenic survival assays were performed to analyze the effects of the timing of celecoxib administration on SCCHN toxicity. Combination therapy with celecoxib and XRT lead to increased in vitro apoptosis as determined by caspase-3 activation, and cell cycle analysis showed enhancement of XRT-induced G2 phase accumulation following celecoxib administration. These studies describe a mechanism for therapeutic synergism with celecoxib and XRT, and provide a basis for the development of clinical trials combining celecoxib with standard radiation treatment for patients with SCCHN.
4 Basic Optical Instruments

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the basic optical instruments. The basic structure and theory of each type of instrument is discussed, as well as performance criteria, limitations, and caveats. The chapter discusses the visual system. A magnifier is a single lens that produces for visual observation an erect virtual image of a nearby object. The purpose of an eyepiece is the same, but its object is an image formed by a preceding optical system. The eyepiece is discussed here as a separate instrument, since its function is the same wherever it is found. Afocal systems, whose power is zero, have a number of unique and useful properties that are not widely known. Afocal systems are also referred to as telescopes, since visual telescopes are afocal. Afocal and focal systems differ in kind, not merely in degree; afocal systems are not merely focal systems with an infinite focal length. Afocal systems have no focal points, no principal planes, and no nodal points, that is, none of the cardinal points of a focal system. The autocollimator, one of the most important instruments in metrology, is used both for measuring small differences in angles and as a nulling device for setting angles. Schlieren systems show variations in the optical path length of light passing through transparent objects or reflecting from the surface of specular objects by causing the path length differences to appear as irradiance variations.