cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High-resolution 27Al and 29Si NMR spectroscopy of glasses and crystals along the join CaMgSi2O6-CaAl2SiO6

On presente les donnees RMN MASS a haute resolution de 27 Al et 29 Si des verres et cristaux sur la ligne CaMgSi 2 O 6 -CaAl 2 SiO 6 et une nouvelle methode de determination de la quantite de 27 Al qui est detectee dans le spectre RMN
Designed proteins induce the formation of nanocage-containing extracellular vesicles

Autonomously produced hybrid biological nanomaterials termed ‘enveloped protein nanocages’ incorporate features for membrane binding, self-assembly, and ESCRT recruitment for cellular release. Inspired by the process of enveloped virus assembly, Wesley Sundquist and colleagues have designed hybrid biomaterials termed 'enveloped protein nanocages' (EPNs), which incorporate features for membrane binding, self-assembly, and for the recruitment of the endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT) machinery. The optimized EPN can be released as vesicles containing multiple nanocages, and the introduction of a viral glycoprotein allows them to fuse to target cells and deliver cargo. These autonomously produced hybrid biological nanomaterials can be modularly engineered for further applications. Complex biological processes are often performed by self-organizing nanostructures comprising multiple classes of macromolecules, such as ribosomes (proteins and RNA) or enveloped viruses (proteins, nucleic acids and lipids). Approaches have been developed for designing self-assembling structures consisting of either nucleic acids1,2 or proteins3,4,5, but strategies for engineering hybrid biological materials are only beginning to emerge6,7. Here we describe the design of self-assembling protein nanocages that direct their own release from human cells inside small vesicles in a manner that resembles some viruses. We refer to these hybrid biomaterials as ‘enveloped protein nanocages’ (EPNs). Robust EPN biogenesis requires protein sequence elements that encode three distinct functions: membrane binding, self-assembly, and recruitment of the endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT) machinery8. A variety of synthetic proteins with these functional elements induce EPN biogenesis, highlighting the modularity and generality of the design strategy. Biochemical analyses and cryo-electron microscopy reveal that one design, EPN-01, comprises small (~100 nm) vesicles containing multiple protein nanocages that closely match the structure of the designed 60-subunit self-assembling scaffold9. EPNs that incorporate the vesicular stomatitis viral glycoprotein can fuse with target cells and deliver their contents, thereby transferring cargoes from one cell to another. These results show how proteins can be programmed to direct the formation of hybrid biological materials that perform complex tasks, and establish EPNs as a class of designed, modular, genetically-encoded nanomaterials that can transfer molecules between cells.
Introduction to the Theory of Hyperbolic Conservation Laws

Abstract This is a brief, informal introduction to nonlinear hyperbolic conservation laws, underscoring their inherent properties (wave breaking, entropy conditions) and sketching the state of the art in their analysis.
Nanoscale Synthesis and Processing of Multifunctional Polymers and Composites for Photonics

Multifunctional composite materials that simultaneously exhibit more than one property are a new generation of materials which hold considerable promise for numerous applications in the field of electronics and photonics. Nanosize control of molecular architecture and morphology provides a powerful approach to control the electronic and optical properties as well as to impart processability of this new generation of materials. In recent years, the design and processing of nanostructured materials has emerged as a frontier area of research. These materials simultaneously exhibit more than one property and, in many cases, produce new effects by the combined action of more than one property. The electronic and photonic properties of these materials are strongly dependent on their bandgaps. This bandgap dependence has been well documented in the case of inorganic semiconductors, where the nanostructure control to produce quantum dots of different sizes has been used to control the electronic, luminescence and nonlinear optical properties.1,2 Quantum confined structures(quantum dots and quantum wells) of inorganic semiconductors such as CdS is an area that has been active for some time.3,4 In contrast, nanoscale polymerization in restricted geometry to produce quantum confined conjugated polymers and composites is practically unexplored. This paper focuses on nanoscale synthesis and processing to control band gap and to prepare novel composite materials for photonics applications.
Through a Window, Brightly: A Review of Selected Nanofabricated Thin-Film Platforms for Spectroscopy, Imaging, and Detection:

We present a review of the use of selected nanofabricated thin films to deliver a host of capabilities and insights spanning bioanalytical and biophysical chemistry, materials science, and fundamental molecular-level research. We discuss approaches where thin films have been vital, enabling experimental studies using a variety of optical spectroscopies across the visible and infrared spectral range, electron microscopies, and related techniques such as electron energy loss spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and single molecule sensing. We anchor this broad discussion by highlighting two particularly exciting exemplars: a thin-walled nanofluidic sample cell concept that has advanced the discovery horizons of ultrafast spectroscopy and of electron microscopy investigations of in-liquid samples; and a unique class of thin-film-based nanofluidic devices, designed around a nanopore, with expansive prospects for single molecule sensing. Free-standing, low-stress silicon nitride membranes are a canonical structural element for these applications, and we elucidate the fabrication and resulting features-including mechanical stability, optical properties, X-ray and electron scattering properties, and chemical nature-of this material in this format. We also outline design and performance principles and include a discussion of underlying material preparations and properties suitable for understanding the use of alternative thin-film materials such as graphene.
New strategies to implement in a database course

In the coming millenium, a good understanding of databases is necessary for a student to enter into the world of information processing. A review of some database curricula and classification is presented here. Even though there is not enough time in one semester to cover the most important topics in a database course, it has been found that introducing a way to develop database applications is indispensable for the student in his future career. This will encourage the student to participate in a project of his own. The introduction of a dynamic Web-Database language such as ASP is proposed to develop applications using the Internet.
An FDA perspective on EMC of medical devices WED-PM-3

• Introduction to FDA/CDRH • Medical device EMI continues to be reported — Most reports involve active implantable devices • Neurostimulators • Infusion pumps • Cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) • Pacemakers • RF wireless technology in and around healthcare is proliferating
Impact of shear rate pattern on post-occlusive near-infrared spectroscopy microvascular reactivity

The primary aim of the present study was to determine the impact of acute changes in shear rate patterns, in particular retrograde shear rate, on microvascular function in 15 healthy, young men and women as determined via the post-occlusive near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) microvascular reactivity response. Microvascular reactivity, via NIRS-derived measurements of post-occlusion tissue saturation index (TSI%) and total microvascular hemoglobin+myoglobin concentration ([Hb]total), were assessed in each participant before and immediately after exposure to a 30min retrograde shear treatment. Retrograde shear was achieved via a blood pressure cuff placed below the knee inflated to 75mmHg. One leg was exposed to the retrograde shear (Treatment leg) and the contralateral leg served as a non-treatment control. In the Treatment leg, significant increases in retrograde shear rate occurred during the retrograde intervention. Following the intervention, the area under the TSI% post-occlusion response curve, which represents the total microvascular reactivity response, and the absolute peak TSI% response were significantly increased compared to pre-intervention in the Treatment leg, but not the Control leg. The absolute peak [Hb]total response was significantly increased post-intervention in both legs. These results are in contrast to our hypothesis that 75mmHg cuff inflation, designed to increase retrograde shear rate in the femoral artery would negatively affect post-occlusive microvascular reactivity. These data suggest that the current method of increasing retrograde shear rate in the intact human does not adversely impact NIRS derived measurements of microvascular reactivity.
A Behavioral Economic Analysis of Marijuana and Other Drug Use Among Heavy Drinking Young Adults.

Objective Behavioral economic models predict that deficits in substance-free reward and future time orientation are associated with greater drug involvement, but this hypothesis has not been systematically investigated among young adult heavy drinkers. This study evaluated the association between drug use levels (heavy drinking (HD) only, HD + marijuana use, and HD + polysubstance use) and substance-free activity engagement, future orientation, and reward deprivation (comprised of reward experience and environmental suppressors of reward) among heavy drinkers. Method Participants were 358 college students who reported two or more past-month heavy drinking episodes (5/4 or more drinks in one occasion for a man/woman). The sample was 60% women, 79% Caucasian, and the average age was 18.76 (SD = 1.07) years. Participants completed measures of alcohol and drug use, weekly time allocation to various activities, future time orientation, and reward deprivation. Results Overall, any drug use was associated with less time spent engaged in academics and exercise, and lower future time orientation compared to HD only. Any drug use was associated with reward deprivation and HD + polysubstance use was associated with lower reward experience and environmental suppressors. Conclusion Drug use among heavy drinkers is associated with lower academic engagement and exercise, future orientation, and reward deprivation. These results provide support for behavioral economic models of drug abuse and suggest that prevention approaches should attempt to increase future orientation and availability of drug-free reward.
The Timing for Transplantation: Superior Genetics or Social Prejudice?⁎

In this issue of the Journal , Elmariah et al. ([1][1]) bring forward a provocative and potentially contentious idea—that men and women are not the same and should be treated differently. Specifically, these investigators assert that for patients with advanced heart failure who may require a
Scaling Fixed-Bed Reactors

This chapter discusses fixed-bed reactor scaling and presents dimensional analysis as the preferred method for scaling such reactors. This chapter also discusses the use of dimensional analysis to scale fluid flow through a catalyst mass.
Denis Thérien: Solvable Groups

This chapter describes the theory of equations over groups, and introduces connections between algebriac groups and complexity classes uncovered by Therien and his co-workers. The ability to represent solutions to certain equations makes a group “universal” for these classes, and we ponder exactly what obstructs solvable groups from being universal.
Abstract 949: Progesterone receptor/IRS-1 cooperation promotes stem cell outgrowth and endocrine resistance in estrogen receptor-positive luminal breast cancer

Luminal breast cancers account for ~75% of all cases and while adjuvant hormone therapy targeting ERα has significantly improved overall survival for patients with ER+ tumors, acquired resistance remains a major clinical problem. Tamoxifen-resistant (TamR) breast cancer models show loss of IGF1R concomitant with increased insulin-induced growth, underpinned by insulin receptor (InsR) compensation for IGF1R loss. PR (gene name PGR) is an estrogen-regulated target gene whose expression is used as a clinical marker of ER activity. However, its de novo relevance to breast cancer is unclear. We have shown previously that post-translational modifications create unique PR species whose altered behavior drives an endocrine-resistant gene signature, in part by crosstalk with the IGFR pathway. We propose that phospho-PR target gene selectivity is mediated by cooperation between PR-B and InsR/IGF1R pathway components. Herein we show that phospho-PR-expressing T47D cells lose expression of IGF1R compared to control cells expressing WT PR-B. Furthermore, expression of the adapter protein IRS-1 requires PRB expression and these IRS-1+ cells were more sensitive to insulin in anchorage-dependent growth assays. Phospho-PR T47D cells exhibit increased ALDH+ and CD24 - /CD44 + tumorsphere formation compared to wt PRB-expressing cells. Inhibitors targeting IRS-1 and InsR were used to test their requirement for tumorsphere growth and, surprisingly, IRS-1 perturbation reduced phospho-PRB but not wt PRB tumorsphere growth. Interestingly, IRS-1 replaces IGF1R in phospho-PRB-containing transcriptional complexes that are recruited to the CTSD promoter, which we previously identified as a phospho-PR target gene. Finally, breast cancer cells expressing phospho-PR species exhibited tamoxifen-resistant growth. Collectively our data suggest that phospho-PRB cooperates with IRS-1 downstream of the Ins/IGF1R system to promote outgrowth of endocrine-resistant cells that include ALDH+ stem-like cells capable of forming secondary tumorspheres in vitro. Targeting phospho-PR species in addition to the signaling components of PR-complexes may provide a means to block emergence of endocrine-resistant cancer cells during breast cancer progression. Citation Format: Amy R. Dwyer, Deepali Sachdev, Carol A. Lange. Progesterone receptor/IRS-1 cooperation promotes stem cell outgrowth and endocrine resistance in estrogen receptor-positive luminal breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 949.
Housing Tenure and Social Vulnerability to Disasters: A Review of the Evidence:

As a group, renters experience a broader range of housing problems than do owners, and disasters worsen these problems. Yet to date, housing tenure has been relatively understudied compared to othe...
A pilot study of tremelimumab, a monoclonal antibody against CTLA-4, in combination with either transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

4081 Background: Tremelimumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody that binds to CTLA-4 expressed on the surface of activated T lymphocytes and results in inhibition of B7-CTLA-4-mediated downregul...
Role of Women's Empowerment in Child Nutrition Outcomes: A Systematic Review

Women's empowerment has gained attention as critical for child nutrition during the first 1000 days of life. However, the ways in which various women's empowerment measures are applied and the evidence for how they are differentially related to child nutrition is unclear. In this systematic review, therefore, we 1) systematically parse the many ways in which women's empowerment has been quantitatively measured in the context of child nutrition through the use of a theoretically driven application of dimensions and domains of empowerment; 2) summarize evidence for each of the various pathways between women's empowerment and child nutrition, based on dimensions and domains of empowerment; and 3) offer suggestions for future research to better articulate the relationship between women's empowerment and child nutrition. A search of evidence yielded 62 quantitative studies that used 200 unique indicators of women's empowerment, tested in 1316 associations with various child nutrition outcomes. Despite the large number of unique indicators, indicators for time resource allocation and reproductive decisions and indicators for men's engagement in child care and nutrition, all pertinent to child nutrition, were missing. Overall, the findings indicated an inconclusive relationship between women's empowerment and child nutrition: 379 out of 461 (82% weighted) and 217 out of 258 (84% weighted) associations found with stunting and wasting outcomes, respectively, were not significant. The current lack of evidence is likely not due to the absence of an underlying relationship between women's empowerment and child nutrition, but rather limitations in study design. Future research should carefully select women's empowerment indicators in context-specific ways, aggregate them meaningfully, and use a longitudinal study design to conduct pathway and lifecycle analysis in appropriate populations to clarify the relationship between women's empowerment and child nutrition.
A symmetric objective function for ICP

The Iterative Closest Point (ICP) algorithm, commonly used for alignment of 3D models, has previously been defined using either a point-to-point or point-to-plane objective. Alternatively, researchers have proposed computationally-expensive methods that directly minimize the distance function between surfaces. We introduce a new symmetrized objective function that achieves the simplicity and computational efficiency of point-to-plane optimization, while yielding improved convergence speed and a wider convergence basin. In addition, we present a linearization of the objective that is exact in the case of exact correspondences. We experimentally demonstrate the improved speed and convergence basin of the symmetric objective, on both smooth models and challenging cases involving noise and partial overlap.
A One-Pot Intramolecular Tandem Michael–Aldol Annulation Reaction for the Synthesis of Chiral Pentacyclic Terpenes

A chiral tricyclic terpene possessing a 6,6,6-tricyclic framework and a 3,3-dimethyl-7-oxooctylidenyl side chain undergoes a double ring-closing reaction to give two chiral pentacyclic terpenes in a ratio of 4:3 via an intramolecular Michael addition followed by aldol condensation under basic conditions. Three new stereogenic centers are introduced in the initial Michael annulation reaction. Stereoselective installation of an ethoxycarbonyl group at C17 of the two pentacyclic terpenes separately gives the corresponding highly functionalized pentacyclic terpenoids with seven stereogenic centers. The structures and stereochemistry of key intermediates and products are established through X-ray crystallographic analysis. A mechanism is proposed for explaining the stereochemistry in the Michael annulation reaction.
Variables influencing algebra performance: Understanding rational numbers is essential

Abstract Proficiency with algebra is difficult for students, even students at the college level. We administered an assessment of algebra to 362 college students. Students also completed measures of rational numbers, mathematics fact fluency, mathematics anxiety, reading fluency , and spelling accuracy. A dominance analysis revealed that, of the 5 variables, rational numbers performance dominated all other variables, accounting for over 33% of the variance in algebra performance. As colleges look to restructure developmental mathematics sequences and as elementary and secondary schools seek to better prepare students for meeting college and career benchmarks of algebraic proficiency, results indicate instruction related to rational numbers is essential across grade levels for students to develop a deep understanding of algebra.
Characterizing Injuries from Genital Foreign Objects: Analysis from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System

AbstractIntroduction:Genital foreign body injuries are becoming more common with the growing popularity of genital piercings and devices such as penile rings. We evaluated a nationwide sample of em...
La balandra Isabel llegó esta tarde: Las metáforas del mar y la construcción de los roles de género en el cine venezolano de la primera mitad del siglo XX

El presente trabajo busca contribuir al acervo de los estudios culturales y linguisticos basados en la obra cinematografica venezolana y latinoamericana de la primera mitad del siglo XX. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar un analisis linguistico cualitativo centrado en las metaforas relativas al mar (u otras masas de agua) para desentranar su papel en la construccion de los roles tradicionales de genero en la pelicula La balandra Isabel llego esta tarde. La fundamentacion teorica se basa en los conceptos de Lakoff y Johnson (1980), sobre las metaforas estructurales y ontologicas, asi como en las nociones de poder discursivo (van Dijk, 2004) e ideologia (van Dijk, 2008). El analisis arroja que las metaforas estructurales y ontologicas en el filme retratan al hombre como el capitan, el protector y la victima de la mujer. Por su parte, las metaforas con las que se representa a la mujer son las del mar, el navio y el naufragio. Se concluye que hay un proceso de retroalimentacion que ayuda a la difusion y perpetuacion de las ideologias de los roles genero: el cine los absorbe del hablante comun y los transmite de nuevo al hablante/consumidor. Asimismo, el comportamiento linguistico de los personajes del filme revela cierto miedo a salirse de los canones de masculinidad y femineidad, lo que puede hallar su explicacion en el concepto de “obediencia linguistica” (Komska, Moyd y Gramling, 2019).
Budesonide treatment for microscopic colitis from immune checkpoint inhibitors

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) are effective against a variety of malignancies but can be limited by inflammatory toxicities such as enterocolitis. Enterocolitis is typically treated with systemically active glucocorticoids. Endoscopy can stratify patients by the severity of mucosal inflammation, including identifying patients with colitis in the absence of visible mucosal changes: microscopic colitis. Whether patients with CPI microscopic colitis could be managed differently from colitis with more severe mucosal involvement is unclear. The objective of this study was to describe outcomes in CPI microscopic colitis focusing on the response to first line treatment with budesonide. We evaluated data from a retrospective cohort from a single-center large academic hospital. The participants were all adult patients evaluated by endoscopy for suspected CPI enterocolitis between 3/2017 and 3/2019. The exposures were: Mayo Endoscopic Score (range 0–3). The subset was: oral budesonide, maximum dose 12 mg daily, administered minimum of 5 weeks. The main outcomes and measures were: Primary: time from first CPI exposure to first glucocorticoid use; use of systemic glucocorticoids; time from symptom onset to resolution; continuation of CPI therapy; number of additional CPI infusions received. Secondary: admissions for symptom control; novel irAE development; need for second-line immunosuppression; oncologic outcomes. We identified 38 patients with biopsy confirmed CPI enterocolitis, 13 in the microscopic colitis cohort, and 25 in the non-microscopic colitis cohort. Budesonide use was higher in the microscopic colitis cohort (12/13 vs 3/25, p < 0.001), and systemic glucocorticoid use was higher in non-microscopic colitis (22/25 vs. 3/13, p < 0.001). Time from symptom onset to resolution did not differ. Microscopic colitis patients more frequently remained on CPI after developing (entero)colitis (76.9% vs 16.0%, p < 0.001). Microscopic colitis patients tolerating further CPI received, on average, 4.2 CPI infusions more than non-microscopic colitis patients tolerating CPI (5.8 vs 1.6, p = 0.03). Microscopic colitis was associated with increased time-to-treatment-failure (HR 0.30, 95% CI 0.14–0.66) and progression-free survival (HR 0.22, 95% CI 0.07–0.70). Gastrointestinal mucosal inflammation without visible mucosal injury is a distinct, prevalent CPI enterocolitis subset that can be diagnosed by endoscopy. First-line budesonide appears effective in controlling “microscopic colitis” symptoms and prolonging immunotherapy duration. These findings present a compelling rationale for routine endoscopic evaluation of suspected CPI enterocolitis and suggest an alternative glucocorticoid-sparing treatment strategy for a subset of such patients.
QTL mapping of resistance to tan spot induced by race 2 of Pyrenophora tritici-repentis in tetraploid wheat

A total of 12 QTL conferring resistance to tan spot induced by a race 2 isolate, 86-124, were identified in three tetraploid wheat mapping populations. Durum is a tetraploid species of wheat and an important food crop. Tan spot, caused by the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Ptr), is a major foliar disease of both tetraploid durum wheat and hexaploid bread wheat. Understanding the Ptr-wheat interaction and identifying major QTL can facilitate the development of resistant cultivars and effectively mitigate the negative effect of this disease. Over 100 QTL have already been discovered in hexaploid bread wheat, whereas few mapping studies have been conducted in durum wheat. Utilizing resistant resources and identifying novel resistant loci in tetraploid wheat will be beneficial for the development of tan spot-resistant durum varieties. In this study, we evaluated four interconnected tetraploid wheat populations for their reactions to the race 2 isolate 86-124, which produces Ptr ToxA. Tsn1, the wheat gene that confers sensitivity to Ptr ToxA, was not associated with tan spot severity in any of the four populations. We found a total of 12 tan spot-resistant QTL among the three mapping populations. The QTL located on chromosomes 3A and 5A were detected in multiple populations and co-localized with race-nonspecific QTL identified in other mapping studies. Together, these QTL can confer high levels of resistance and can be used for the improvement in tan spot resistance in both hexaploid bread and durum wheat breeding. Two QTL on chromosomes 1B and 7A, respectively, were found in one population when inoculated with a ToxA knockout strain 86-124ΔToxA only, indicating that their association with tan spot was induced by other unidentified necrotrophic effectors, but under the absence of Ptr ToxA. In addition to removal of the known dominant susceptibility genes, integrating major race-nonspecific resistance loci like the QTL identified on chromosome 3A and 5A in this study could confer high and stable tan spot resistance in durum wheat.
Effect of matrix metallopeptidase 13 (MMP13) on multiple myeloma (MM) cells, osteoclast (OCL) activity, and bone resorption.

8099 Background: MM cells produce OCL-activating factors that induce excessive bone resorption resulting in lytic lesions. The role of MMPs in invasion/progression of solid tumors is well-known, bu...
Smart Universities: Gesture Recognition Systems for College Students with Disabilities

In a highly technological society, smart universities, smart classrooms, and smart education are the wave of the future. Of many distinct features, one of those is its ability of adaptation to and smooth accommodation of various types of learners/students in on-campus classrooms as well as for students with remote/online access. These types of environments can benefit students/learners, regular students, and special students, i.e., students with various types of disabilities including physical, visual, hearing, speech, cognitive, and other types of impairments. This paper presents the outcomes of an ongoing research project aimed at systematic identification, analysis and testing of available open-source and commercial gesture recognition systems rating those that could significantly benefit college students with disabilities in highly technological environments. Based on a careful analysis of open-source and commercially available products, we identified and recommended the top gesture recognition systems for implementation in smart universities.
Work Engagement and Burnout Within A Pediatric Hospital Medicine Division

Background: While much work has been devoted to physician wellness, literature in pediatrics is limited and there is no published data specific to Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM). Wellness is multifaceted and includes positive traits like work engagement and negative traits like burnout. Work engagement is a positive state-of-mind combining vigor, dedication, and absorption. It is the antipode of burnout, which is characterized by emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Prior studies have shown variation in burnout and work satisfaction among different specialties, so results from prior studies may not be generalizable to PHM. We sought to assess work engagement and burnout as a measure of wellness within …
Continuum Schrödinger Operators Associated With Aperiodic Subshifts

We study Schrodinger operators on the real line whose potentials are generated by an underlying ergodic subshift over a finite alphabet and a rule that replaces symbols by compactly supported potential pieces. We first develop the standard theory that shows that the spectrum and the spectral type are almost surely constant and that identifies the almost sure absolutely continuous spectrum with the essential closure of the set of energies with vanishing Lyapunov exponent. Using results of Damanik–Lenz and Klassert–Lenz–Stollmann, we also show that the spectrum is a Cantor set of zero Lebesgue measure if the subshift satisfies the Boshernitzan condition and the potentials are aperiodic and irreducible. We then study the case of the Fibonacci subshift in detail and prove results for the local Hausdorff dimension of the spectrum at a given energy in terms of the value of the associated Fricke–Vogt invariant. These results are elucidated for some simple choices of the local potential pieces, such as piecewise constant ones and local point interactions. In the latter special case, our results explain the occurrence of so-called pseudo bands, which have been pointed out in the physics literature.
Modeling COVID-19 outbreaks in United States with distinct testing, lockdown speed and fatigue rates

Each state in the United States exhibited a unique response to the COVID-19 outbreak, along with variable levels of testing, leading to different actual case burdens in the country. In this study, via per-capita testing dependent ascertainment rates, along with case and death data, we fit a minimal epidemic model for each state. We estimate infection-level responsive lockdown entry and exit rates (representing government and behavioral reaction), along with the true number of cases as of May 31, 2020. Ultimately we provide error corrected estimates for commonly used metrics such as infection fatality ratio and overall case ascertainment for all 55 states and territories considered, along with the United States in aggregate, in order to correlate outbreak severity with first wave intervention attributes and suggest potential management strategies for future outbreaks. We observe a theoretically predicted inverse proportionality relation between outbreak size and lockdown rate, with scale dependent on the underlying reproduction number and simulations suggesting a critical population quarantine “half-life” of 30 days independent of other model parameters.
Habranthus tubispathus (Amaryllidaceae/Liliaceae), new to the flora of Mississippi, U.S.A.

Habranthus tubispathus (L’Her.) Traub is reported as new to the flora of Mississippi, U.S.A.
Bone Health Among Transgender Youth: What Is a Clinician to Do?

* Abbreviations: aBMD — : areal bone mineral density BMAD — : bone mineral apparent density DXA — : dual energy radiograph absorptiometry GnRHa — : gonadotropin hormone releasing hormone agonists Recognition and support are growing for the estimated 0.7% of American teenagers who identify as transgender or gender fluid.1 Many children’s hospitals now offer multidisciplinary care to patients to assist them in transitioning from their designated sex at birth (natal sex or sex assigned at birth) to their affirmed gender. Therapy can begin in early puberty with suppression of sex steroid hormone production followed by supplementation with sex steroids appropriate for their gender identity. The duration of pubertal suppression with gonadotropin hormone releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa) varies but can be as long as 4 years for younger patients who must wait until age 16 to consent for receipt of gender-affirming sex steroid replacement. Much remains unknown about how these manipulations in sex steroids will impact bone geometry, turnover, mass, and strength, all of which contribute to peak bone mass and strength in early adulthood. Peak bone mass and strength attained by early adulthood reflects the culmination of genetic and modifiable influences on bone density and microstructure.2 Sex steroids have differing effects on bone geometry during puberty, with testosterone fostering apposition of bone on the outer cortical surface and estrogen modifying the internal, endocortical area of bone.3 Research into the skeletal effects of hormone therapy for transgender youth is a high priority. The treatment protocols provide a valuable opportunity to distinguish the relative influence of sex steroids versus genetic preprogramming in determining bone development. Beyond the academic questions to be addressed, the onus is on providers to determine if their patients will sustain any adverse effects with respect to their long-term bone health. The influence of this treatment on the skeleton can be assessed noninvasively with dual energy radiograph absorptiometry (DXA), standard or high-resolution peripheral computed tomography, and/or MRI. These tools … Address correspondence to Laura K. Bachrach MD, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, 453 Quarry Road, Stanford, CA 94305-5660. E-mail: lkbach{at}stanford.edu
Role of Computational Physics in the Age Third Millennium Automation

The current research and fast innovation and development in the field of Automation, Robotics, Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), in conjunction with the ubiquitous access to Internet, Smart Computational Devices (SCD), and Ultra-fast Global Communication is opening a new era of Experimental Computational Physics. The third millennium is a new era the Smart Fully Automated Cyberspace that is becoming pervasive in its nature while connecting the next generation of Ultra-smart Robotic Devices with the computationally powerful SCDs accessible to anyone, anywhere and at any time. In support of Smart Robotics, the telecommunications networks providers and SCDs developers, are working together to create much faster transmission channels with provision of higher quality of service for any multimedia content for anyone, anywhere at any time. The Human Machine Interface with high definition audio and video facilitates seamless control of Smart Robotics & Computational Devices (SRCD), which are becoming a common technology in family homes, business, academic, and business, and industry worldwide. The author discusses the current and future trends of research, innovation and developments in Automation, SRCD, Cyber Physical Critical Infrastructures (CPCI) and Cyber Assurance, in conjunction with the Future Ultra-Fast Internet and Ultra-SRCD. The author promotes creation of multidisciplinary multinational research teams of Experimental Computational Physicists and Technologist,to develop Next Generation SRCD and Fully Automated Environment, while utilizing Ultra-Smart Robotic & Computational Devices, in conjunction with the critical Cyber Safety and Assurance challenges for today and for tomorrow.
The Evolution of Group Stability and Roost Lifespan: Perspectives from Tent-Roosting Bats

Although multiple hypotheses have been proposed to explain group formation, few fully explain the diversity of social interactions found in foliage‐roosting bats. Among these bats, tent‐roosting species are capable of constructing their own shelters. Although many bats utilize tents previously constructed by other species, it has been suggested that a particular subset of tent‐roosting bats specialize on making tents from particular plant species. Tents provide protection from weather and often a place to roost close to foraging sites. Moreover, tent lifespan is plant species specific and may last from a few weeks to more than a year. To better understand effects that roosts have on social bonds of tent‐roosting bats, we conducted a literature review to collect information on social systems and tent lifespan. We tested correlated evolution of group stability and group longevity with tent lifespan using Pagel's method for discrete characters. We found that group stability and group longevity are correlated with tent lifespan. That there is correlated evolution between these characters contributes to our understanding of how different mechanisms interact to produce a variety of social systems in mammals.
The Wrath of High-Stakes Tests

Testing has become an attractive option for policymakers both because it has the potential to affect the behavior of educators in the educational system and because it is often viewed by the public as a way to guarantee a basic level of quality education. Whatever the reasons, formal testing tied to grade promotion and graduation continues to spread throughout the United States. A qualitative narrative is provided regarding the importance of the preparation of three minority students, Snuffi, Jasmine, and Wanda, for their high-stakes mathematics test. Afterward a critique of high-stakes tests, particularly for minority students as a requirement for high school graduation in public school districts in this country is also provided. Implications are discussed for further research in mathematics education.
Student Moon Observations and Spatial-Scientific Reasoning

Relationships between sixth grade students' moon journaling and students' spatial-scientific reasoning after implementation of an Earth/Space unit were examined. Teachers used the project-based Realistic Explorations in Astronomical Learning curriculum. We used a regression model to analyze the relationship between the students' Lunar Phases Concept Inventory (LPCI) post-test score variables and several predictors, including moon journal score, number of moon journal entries, student gender, teacher experience, and pre-test score. The model shows that students who performed better on moon journals, both in terms of overall score and number of entries, tended to score higher on the LPCI. For every 1 point increase in the overall moon journal score, participants scored 0.18 points (out of 20) or nearly 1% point higher on the LPCI post-test when holding constant the effects of the other two predictors. Similarly, students who increased their scores by 1 point in the overall moon journal score scored approxim...
Islam in Egypt's New Constitution

If a student of constitutional texts reads the Egyptian constitution of 2012 from beginning to end, he or she will find much of it familiar - a great deal of the language, structure, and institutions are common to constitutions in many countries around the world. However, he or she will also find references to Islamic law that seem unusual - unusual even among the constitutions of majority Muslim countries. The problem will not be Article 2, which declares that “the principles of Islamic shari'a are the principal source of legislation.” This type of provision is fairly common in contemporary Arab constitutions. It is understood require that all state law respect shari'a principles. What will be puzzling are some of the unusual subsequent articles. Article 4 of the new constitution gives the Islamic scholars of al-Azhar a right to be consulted on questions of Islamic law. More striking still, Article 219 adds a gloss to the term “principles of the Islamic shari'a.” It defines these principles in highly specific and technical terms from the Islamic legal tradition - terms that are rarely used outside of scholarly circles. There has never been anything quite like this language in the constitutions of any other Muslim constitution. The language in this constitution has given rise to much speculation - both about where the language comes from and what it means. This short article, published on the eve of the constitution's ratification, clarifies some of the questions surrounding the article. It discusses the background to the provision, dissects the language of Article 219, explains what the language means to different Egyptians, and considers the possible implications of Article 219 for Egypt going forward. The article concludes that Article 219 is likely to change the types of argument that competing forces will have to use when arguing about whether an Egyptian law is un-constitutional because Islamic. But there will continue to be fierce argument between liberal and anti-liberal factions about what types of law are permissible in a self-styled Islamic state and, of course, about which are wise.
Analysis of estimation of signal parameters by linear-prediction at high SNR using matrix approximation

A greatly simplified calculation of the accuracy of estimates of the parameters of exponential signals is introduced. The authors assume that the estimates are obtained by first estimating the coefficients of a prediction-error filter (PEF) that arises in signal modeling by linear prediction. A simplified approach based on matrix approximation is used to calculate the statistics of the errors in the estimated signal parameters at high SNR. This approach provides insights for design and tractable formulas even for the case of multicomponent signals and Hankel or Toeplitz data matrices. The analyses are verified by simulation examples that include single- and multiple-component signals consisting of damped or undamped complex exponential signals in noise. >
Whole-Body Human Surrogate Response to Three-Point Harness Restraint

The general objective of the Whole-Body Response (WBR) research program was to generate data on the kinematics and response of human surrogates in a realistic automobile impact environment. The program used a test configuration consisting of an idealized hard seat representation of a car seat with a three-point harness restraint system. Three different severity levels of crash test conditions were used. The human surrogates tested in this program were fifteen male cadavers, a Hybrid II (Part 572) Anthropomorphic Test Device and a Hybrid III ATD recently developed by General Motors. In addition, mathematical simulations of the response and kinematics of a 50th percentile male occupant were performed at the three levels of crash severity, using the MVMA Two-Dimensional Crash Victim Simulator.
Nitrile hydration by thiolate- and alkoxide-ligated Co-NHase analogues. Isolation of Co(III)-amidate and Co(III)-iminol intermediates.

Nitrile hydratases (NHases) are thiolate-ligated Fe(III)- or Co(III)- containing enzymes, which convert nitriles to the corresponding amide under mild conditions. Proposed NHase mechanisms involve M(III)-NCR, M(III)-OH, M(III)-iminol, and M(III)-amide intermediates. There have been no reported crystallographically characterized examples of these key intermediates. Spectroscopic and kinetic data support the involvement of a M(III)-NCR intermediate. A H-bonding network facilitates this enzymatic reaction. Herein we describe two biomimetic Co(III)−NHase analogues that hydrate MeCN, and four crystallographically characterized NHase intermediate analogues, [CoIII(SMe2N4(tren))(MeCN)]2+ (1), [CoIII(SMe2N4(tren))(OH)]+ (3), [CoIII(SMe2N4(tren))(NHC(O)CH3)]+ (2), and [CoIII(OMe2N4(tren))(NHC(OH)CH3)]2+ (5). Iminol−bound 5 represents the first example of a Co(III)-iminol compound in any ligand environment. Kinetic parameters (k1(298 K)= 2.98(5) M−1 s−1, ΔH‡ = 12.65(3) kcal/mol, ΔS‡ = −14(7) e.u.) for nitrile hydra...
Parity progression ratios confirm higher lifetime fertility in women who bear twins

We appreciate the comments by Rickard et al. [[1][1]] of our recent paper which evaluated the effects of bearing twins on maternal reproduction and survival using a large sample of women in the Utah Population Database (UPDB) [[2][2]]. While they concur with our major finding showing improved post-
Information optimal compressive sensing: static measurement design

The compressive sensing paradigm exploits the inherent sparsity/compressibility of signals to reduce the number of measurements required for reliable reconstruction/recovery. In many applications additional prior information beyond signal sparsity, such as structure in sparsity, is available, and current efforts are mainly limited to exploiting that information exclusively in the signal reconstruction problem. In this work, we describe an information-theoretic framework that incorporates the additional prior information as well as appropriate measurement constraints in the design of compressive measurements. Using a Gaussian binomial mixture prior we design and analyze the performance of optimized projections relative to random projections under two specific design constraints and different operating measurement signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regimes. We find that the information-optimized designs yield significant, in some cases nearly an order of magnitude, improvements in the reconstruction performance with respect to the random projections. These improvements are especially notable in the low measurement SNR regime where the energy-efficient design of optimized projections is most advantageous. In such cases, the optimized projection design departs significantly from random projections in terms of their incoherence with the representation basis. In fact, we find that the maximizing incoherence of projections with the representation basis is not necessarily optimal in the presence of additional prior information and finite measurement noise/error. We also apply the information-optimized projections to the compressive image formation problem for natural scenes, and the improved visual quality of reconstructed images with respect to random projections and other compressive measurement design affirms the overall effectiveness of the information-theoretic design framework.
Electromigration of gold (high concentration) in lead

Abstract The steady state method was used to study the electromigration of 195 Au in lead doped with 680 ppm Au. In the temperature range 165–270°C Au migrates toward the anode, as in the case of more dilute solutions; but the effective charge increases in magnitude with decreasing temperature at a faster rate than that observed for dilute Pb(Au) samples, so that the difference between the effective charge for the 680 ppm samples and that for dilute samples becomes larger as the solubility limit is approached. A simple model, which allows for formation of Au doublets in equilibrium with the singlets, predicts an apparent increase of Z ∗ with concentration of impurity at lower temperatures somewhat greater than the observed effect.
New York’s Crime Drop Puzzle: Introduction to the Special Issue

The best research, it has been said, seeks to solve puzzles. New York City’s dramatic crime decline over the last two decades is a real brainteaser. No one predicted it and, as yet, no one has expl...
Nicotinamide in adenocarcinoma 755 and in the milk of mice carrying the agent of spontaneous mammary tumor.

L'auteur montre que la nicotinamide se trouve dans l'adenocarcinome 755 et aussi, sous forme d'un derive non-identifie, dans le lait de souris porteuses du «milk agent». Il decrit en outre une reaction coloree de la nicotinamide avec la ninhydrine.