cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Convex Programming Model for Optimizing SLBM Attack of Bomber Bases

This paper formulates a convex programming model allocating submarine-launched ballistic missiles SLBMs to launch areas and providing simultaneously an optimal targeting pattern against a specified set of bomber bases. Flight times of missiles from launch areas to bases vary and targets decrease in value over time. A nonseparable concave objective function is given for expected destruction of bombers. An example is presented.
No Control Genes Required: Bayesian Analysis of qRT-PCR Data

Background: Model-based analysis of data from quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) is potentially more powerful and versatile than traditional methods. Yet existing model-based approaches cannot properly deal with the higher sampling variances associated with low-abundant targets, nor do they provide a natural way to incorporate assumptions about the stability of control genes directly into the model-fitting process. Results: In our method, raw qPCR data are represented as molecule counts, and described using generalized linear mixed models under Poisson-lognormal error. A Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm is used to sample from the joint posterior distribution over all model parameters, thereby estimating the effects of all experimental factors on the expression of every gene. The Poisson-based model allows for the correct specification of the mean-variance relationship of the PCR amplification process, and can also glean information from instances of no amplification (zero counts). Our method is very flexible with respect to control genes: any prior knowledge about the expected degree of their stability can be directly incorporated into the model. Yet the method provides sensible answers without such assumptions, or even in the complete absence of control genes. We also present a natural Bayesian analogue of the ‘‘classic’’ analysis, which uses standard data pre-processing steps (logarithmic transformation and multi-gene normalization) but estimates all gene expression changes jointly within a single model. The new methods are considerably more flexible and powerful than the standard delta-delta Ct analysis based on pairwise t-tests. Conclusions: Our methodology expands the applicability of the relative-quantification analysis protocol all the way to the lowest-abundance targets, and provides a novel opportunity to analyze qRT-PCR data without making any assumptions concerning target stability. These procedures have been implemented as the MCMC.qpcr package in R.
Bolivia has the opportunity to create the planet's richest park for terrestrial biota

Establishing a reserve of approximately 10,000 km at a strategic location in depto. La Paz, northern Bolivia, would create the planet's richest park for birds and presumably all other forest-dwelling biota that reach peak diversity at tropical latitudes. By connecting puna and montane forest habitats of the Andes with lowland tropical forest and savannas of the Amazon basin, we predict that the proposed reserve would contain at least 1,088 bird species, or roughly 11% of all bird species on the planet. Among these are many threatened species and species with relatively small geographical ranges. The proposed reserve would also include threatened habitats, such as lower montane forest, dry forest, and grassland.El establecimiento de una reserva de aproximadamente 10.000 km en un lugar estrategico en el departamento de La Paz, Bolivia, crearia el parque de major riqueza de aves en el planeta. Asi es de suponer que la flora y fauna que habitan en la area, llegan a su grado maximo de diversidad en las latitudes tropicales. Conectando puna, los habitats de bosque tropical (areas bajas) y sabanas de la cuenca del Amazonas, predecimos que la reserva que se propone tendria a lo menos 1.088 especies de aves, o aproximadamente 11% de todas las especies de aves del planeta. Dentro de estas hay muchas especies amenazadas y especies con areas de rango geografico muy restringido. Ademas la reserva que se propone tambien incluiria habitats amenazados, como bosque montano, bosque seco y pajonales tropicales.
Changes in search rate but not in the dynamics of exogenous attention in action videogame players

Many previous studies have shown that the speed of processing in attentionally demanding tasks seems enhanced following habitual action videogame play. However, using one of the diagnostic tasks for efficiency of attentional processing, a visual search task, Castel and collaborators (Castel, Pratt, & Drummond, Acta Psychologica 119:217–230, 2005) reported no difference in visual search rates, instead proposing that action gaming may change response execution time rather than the efficiency of visual selective attention per se. Here we used two hard visual search tasks, one measuring reaction time and the other accuracy, to test whether visual search rate may be changed by action videogame play. We found greater search rates in the gamer group than in the nongamer controls, consistent with increased efficiency in visual selective attention. We then asked how general the change in attentional throughput noted so far in gamers might be by testing whether exogenous attentional cues would lead to a disproportional enhancement in throughput in gamers as compared to nongamers. Interestingly, exogenous cues were found to enhance throughput equivalently between gamers and nongamers, suggesting that not all mechanisms known to enhance throughput are similarly enhanced in action videogamers.
On dynamic data clustering and visualization using swarm intelligence

Clustering and visualizing high-dimensional sparse data simultaneously is a very attractive goal, yet it is also a challenging problem. Our previous studies using a special type of swarms, known as flocks of agents, provided some promising approaches to this challenging problem on several limited size UCI machine learning data sets and Web usage sessions (from web access logs) [1], [2]. However, dynamic domains, such as practically any data generated on the Web, may require frequent costly updates of the clusters (and the visualization), whenever new data records are added to the dataset. The new coming data may be due to new user activity on a website (clickstreams) or a search engine (queries), or new Web pages in the case of document clustering, etc. Additionally, data records may result in a change of clustering in time. Therefore, clusters may need to be updated, thus leading to the need to mine dynamic clusters. This paper summarizes our initial studies in designing a simultaneous clustering and visualization algorithm and proposes the Dynamic-FClust Algorithm, which is based on flocks of agents as a biological metaphor. This algorithm falls within the swarm-based clustering family, which is unique compared to other approaches, because its model is an ongoing swarm of agents that socially interact with each other, and is therefore inherently dynamic.
Opposing roles of cotransmission of dynorphin and hypocretin on reward and motivation

In PNAS, Muschamp et al. (1) report that hypocretin and dynorphin are coexpressed in the same synaptic vesicles of hypothalamic neurons. Their data from behavioral, pharmacological, and electrophysiological studies suggest that hypocretin and dynorphin are coreleased, and that they play opposing roles in cocaine self-administration, brain stimulation reward, and impulsivity. The authors’ data also suggest that the critical brain site for these opposing effects of coreleased hypocretin and dynorphin is the ventral tegmental area (VTA), the cell body region of the mesolimbic dopamine reward system (2). Fig. 1 provides a summary of the main findings from the study.
Diffusions and Stochastic Calculus

A diffusion is a time-homogeneous continuous-in-time strong Markov process. Most often, the state space is ℝ d , although other spaces are also considered, especially in current research.
No Crooked Death: Coatesville Pennsylvania and the Lynching of Zachariah Walker

Prophet Andrew Jones, an itinerant black minister, preached a religious revival at the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Coatesville, Pennsylvania during the first week of August 1911. "The colored prophet," the local newspaper noted, predicted a "great disaster," a "great misfortune was about to fall on the town." Jones counseled local blacks to "make no attempt at violence although they would be sorely tested." Less than two weeks later, Jones' prediction came true when a company policeman was killed and a black man was lynched. This essay will briefly describe the events of the lynching, but more importantly, will focus on the multiple factors that helped precipitate what John Jay Chapman called an "American Tragedy."1 Zachariah Walker was an obscure lever-puller at the Worth Brothers Steel Company, one of the two behemoth steel mills that dominated Coatesville. Brought from rural Virginia as an unskilled laborer, Walker hoped for a better life outside the Jim Crow South. After drinking all day Saturday, August 12, 1911, the black man staggered toward home and discharged his pistol twice to frighten two Polish workers. Edgar Rice, a commissioned coal and iron policeman of the Worth Brothers Company, heard the shots, found Walker along the darkened road and proceeded to question him. "I got a little sassy with him," Walker later explained, and when Rice attempted an arrest, the two men began to fight. "I was too quick for him," Walker later
Reductive Coupling of an Indenylidene with Calcium To Form Bis(indenyl) ansa-Metallocenes: Molecular Structures of trans-Ph2C2H2-rac-(η5-4,7-Me2C9H4)2Ca(THF)2 and trans-Ph2C2H2-rac-(η5-4,7-Me2C9H4)2Fe

1-E-benzylidene-4,7-dimethylindene (1) is reductively coupled by activated calcium to form two isomers, trans-Ph2C2H2-rac-(η5-4,7-Me2−C9H4)2Ca(THF)2 (trans-rac-2) and cis-Ph2C2H2-meso-(η5-4,7-Me2−C9H4)2Ca(THF)2 (cis-meso-2) in an approximately 1:1 ratio. Reaction of the calcium species with FeCl2 produces a mixture of the corresponding trans-rac and cis-meso ferrocenophane species (3) along with another ferrocenophane isomer that is presumed to be either the trans-meso or cis-rac isomer. Thus, the relative geometry of the indenyl rings is not retained entirely during the transfer of the ligand framework from calcium to iron. A complete scrambling of the indenyl ring geometry appears to occur upon transfer of the ligand framework from calcium to zirconium. The results of X-ray crystal structure determinations of 1-E-benzylidene-4,7-dimethylindene, trans-Ph2C2H2-rac-(η5-4,7-Me2−C9H4)2Ca(THF)2, and trans-Ph2C2H2-rac-(η5-4,7-Me2−C9H4)2Fe are described.
Microaggressions: The experience of individuals with mental illness

The main objective of the study was to investigate the types of microaggressions experienced by individuals with mental illness (MI) based on this marginalized group status. This study included 4 focus groups, comprised of 18 individuals diagnosed with MI(es). The researchers qualitatively identified four themes (a) conveying stereotypes against individuals with MI (i.e. assumptions of inferiority, seeking attention or being dramatic, assumptions of coldness, bringing MI upon themselves, and using MI as an excuse), (b) invalidating the experience of having a MI (i.e. doubting existence, doubting severity, and avoiding acknowledgment of the MI), (c) defining a person by their disorder, and (d) misuse of terminology. Participants revealed the main perpetrators (i.e. family, friends, and professionals) of the microaggressions. The researchers discuss: how the identified themes compare to the three categories of microaggressions (i.e. microinsults, microinvalidations, and microassaults); similarities and diff...
Taxonomy of anaerobes: present state of the art

Results of nucleic acid studies, which indicate relationships among strains and species more clearly than do usual phenotypic tests, have led to new bacteriologic nomenclature. Some major changes in Bacteroides include the recognition of three species (Bacteroides melaninogenicus, Bacteroides denticola, and Bacteroides loescheii) formerly grouped in B. melaninogenicus subspecies melaninogenicus; two species (Bacteroides intermedius with two closely related homology groups and Bacteroides corporis) formerly grouped together as B. melaninogenicus subspecies intermedius; and two species (Bacteroides buccae and Bacteroides oris) formerly thought to be human isolates of Bacteroides ruminicola subspecies brevis. Former subspecies of Bacteroides fragilis have been elevated to species rank; and Bacteroides uniformis and an unnamed group ("3452A"), recognized. A new genus, Capnocytophaga, with three species, is composed of strains formerly classified as Bacteroides ochraceus or Centers for Disease Control (CDC) group DF-1. Strains previously thought to be human isolates of "Vibrio succinogenes" and related organisms that derive energy by reduction of fumarate or nitrate with formate or hydrogen have been reclassified in Bacteroides (Bacteroides gracilis), Campylobacter (Campylobacter concisus), or in a new genus, Wolinella.
Influenza Subtype Identification with Molecular Methods

Gene sequencing and RT-PCR based methods are the molecular alternative to serology for the identification of influenza virus hemagglutinin and neuraminidase antigenic subtypes. Compared to serology both RT-PCR and sequencing are preferred subtyping methods because of the number of reference reagents which need to be prepared for serological methods and results of molecular methods are often easier to interpret. The best method to utilize will depend on the goals of the work being conducted and the resources available. The salient features and basic outline of workflow for subtype identification by molecular methods will be discussed.
Centrifugal pumping: the patient outcome benefits following coronary artery bypass surgery

The increased use of the centrifugal pump during coronary artery bypass surgery has been based primarily on theoretical data related to patient safety. There is minimal evidence suggesting improved outcome when compared to the traditional roller pump technology. We prospectively randomized 200 patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting into centrifugal pump (100 patients) and roller pump (100 patients) groups to compare differences in blood product usage, complication rate, length of stay and net hospital financial balance. Moderate hypothermic bypass was employed on all patients. Cardiopulmonary bypass circuits were similar in both groups with the exception of the arterial pump. Both groups were statistically identical in regard to age, sex, surgeon, complications, total pump time, aortic cross clamp time, prebypass hematocrit and platelet count. The twenty-four hour postoperative hematocrits, platelet counts, red blood cell requirements, blood loss and mortality (2%) were identical in both groups. The centrifugal pump patients had less 24 hour weight gain than their peers in the roller pump group (p=0.05) The length of stay and net hospital financial balance were also statistically favored in the centrifugal pump group (p<0.05). These latter findings were significant when studied in all payors and coronary artery bypass diagnostic related group classifications. Although the mechanism for improvement in length of stay and net hospital financial balance cannot fully be explained, the ramifications in an increasingly cost conscious environment are obvious.
Models of Achievement: Muslim Girls and Religious Authority in a Modernist Islamic Boarding School in Indonesia

AbstractMadrasah Mu’allimaat Muhammadiyah in Yogyakarta, Indonesia is a unique Islamic boarding school for girls; a cadre (kader) school, it aims to mould the future female leaders of Muhammadiyah – the second largest Muslim social welfare organisation in the country. Instruction includes both general and religious education while emphasising girls’ leadership training and religious dakwah (religious outreach) to other Muslims on Islamic normativity. In recent years, however, the school and Muhammadiyah more generally have experienced an identity crisis: as their young, largely middle-class members increasingly set their sights on upward mobility and prestigious careers, students’ attention to the Islamic sciences has decreased. This article analyses how this decline in interest in religious training may pose problems for the future female leadership of Muhammadiyah. I argue that a closer examination of the pedagogical energies of teachers and administrators at Mu’allimaat illustrates their own understand...
Innate Immune Sensing in Anti-Tumor Immunity and Cancer Immunotherapy

Most cancers express tumor antigens that can be recognized by T cells of the host. The fact that cancers that become clinically relevant grow, nonetheless implies that immune escape must occur to allow cancer outgrowth. We have observed two major subsets of human melanoma metastases based on gene expression profiling and confirmatory assays. One subgroup of patients has a T cell-inflamed phenotype that includes expression of chemokines, T cell markers, and a type I interferon (IFN) signature. In contrast, the other major subset lacks this phenotype and appears to display immune "exclusion". The mechanisms of immune escape are likely distinct in these two phenotypes, and therefore the optimal immunotherapeutic interventions necessary to promote clinical responses may be different. The T cell-inflamed tumor microenvironment subset shows the highest expression of negative regulatory factors, including PD-L1, IDO, and FoxP3+ Tregs, and evidence for T cell-intrinsic anergy has also emerged aided by a recently defined functional role of EGR2. In addition, the mechanism of induction of these inhibitory mechanisms has been elucidated-PD-L1 and IDO are induced by IFN-g, and Tregs are largely recruited by the chemokine CCL22, both being produced by activated CD8+ effector T cells. Preclinical experiments have confirmed a critical role for each of these mechanisms in limiting anti-tumor T cell efficacy in vivo , giving candidate treatment strategies for translation back into the clinic. These include anti-PD-1/PD-L1 mAbs, IDO inhibitors, and approaches to deplete CD25+ Tregs and/or reverse anergy. The presence of multiple inhibitory mechanisms in the same tumor microenvironment argues that combination therapies may be advantageous. Preclinical data have indicated synergy between anti-CTLA-4 +/- anti-PD-L1 +/- IDO inhibition. Clinical translation of multiple combination immunotherapies is promising and ongoing. In contrast to the T cell-inflamed melanomas, a new paradigm may be needed to promote de novo inflammation in cases of the non-T cell-infiltrated tumor microenvironment. Natural innate immune sensing of tumors appears to occur via the host STING pathway, type I IFN production, and cross-priming of T cells via CD8a+ dendritic cells. New strategies are being developed to engage or mimic this pathway as a therapeutic endeavor, including STING agonists. A phase I study of intratumoral injection of the first STING agonist is ongoing. As an environmental variable, recent work has implicated the commensal microbiota as a regulator of DC activation status and systemic anti-tumor immunity, and clinical analysis of microbiota sequencing in the context of checkpoint blockade is ongoing. Disclosures Gajewski: Evelo: Patents & Royalties: Patent application; Jounce: Consultancy; Merck: Consultancy, Research Funding; Aduro: Patents & Royalties: Patent application; Incyte: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celldex: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; Roche/Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bayer: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy.
Biological Sequence Search and Analysis

Protein and genomic sequence analyses helps in understanding the structure, function, and organization of cellular systems. Important features of genes include identifying promoter regions, protein-coding regions, and intron-exon boundaries. Protein sequence analysis involves identifying functional motifs and patterns. Sequence search tools help in identifying similar sequences in protein and genomic databases. Here, we will discuss bioinformatics tools that help in biological sequence searches and analyses.
Factors explaining the North–South differentials in contraceptive use in Nigeria: A nonlinear decomposition analysis

Background: Northern Nigeria has some of the worst reproductive health indicators worldwide. Conspicuous North–South variations exist in contraceptive use; not much is known about the drivers of contraceptive use disparities in the North compared to the South. Objective: In this study, we examine the relative weights of the factors that contribute to this North–South gap in contraceptive prevalence. Methods: Using the women’s 2013 Demographic Health Survey dataset, we applied a nonlinear decomposition technique to determine the contribution of sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics, conjugal relationship dynamics, intimate partner violence, ideational variables, and Islamic culture to the North–South disparities in contraceptive use. Results: There was a gap of 12.4 percentage points in contraceptive prevalence between the north and south of Nigeria (5.2% vs 17.6%). The largest contributors to the gap were ideational characteristics (explaining 42.0% of the gap) and socio-economic profiles (explaining 42.6%). Patterns of conjugal relationship dynamics (11.1%), socio-demographic characteristics (‒11.0%), Islamic religious culture (7.6%), and exposure to family planning messaging (6.1%) were also significant contributors. Conclusions: Effective interventions to increase contraceptive use in northern Nigeria should aim at addressing socioeconomic disadvantage in the North, impacting ideational characteristics and specifically targeting poor women and those with low levels of education. Working with Islamic religious leaders is also critical to bridging the gap. Contribution: This paper broadens the knowledge on the determinants of contraceptive use in Nigeria by identifying contextual factors that operate differently in the North compared to the South.
The impact of fossil fuel burning related to scientific activities in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica: Revisited

Fossil fuel use associated with scientific activities in the Taylor Valley, Antarctic has been examined to determine the fluxes of particulate organic and elemental carbon and nitrogen as well as NOx for the 2015–2016 austral summer field season. These carbon and nitrogen fluxes are compared to our previously published calculations for the 1997–1998 austral summer. In addition, we compile fossil fuel usage and resulting C and N fluxes from the major field camp in Taylor Valley, Lake Hoare Camp (LHC) from the late 1990’s through 2017. In general, the annual fluxes do vary from year to year, but there is no significant trend, at least during the primary summer field season. There is indication that increasing the length of scientific operations does increase the C and N inputs via fossil fuel burning. This works supports our original results demonstrating that over long periods of time the anthropogenic flux of N from local fossil fuel burning could become quantitatively important in the region. Although the particulate C fluxes remain very low, the recent finding of black carbon in the Taylor Valley landscape indicates more on-going monitoring of the source of this material is merited.
Interruption and reduction of Erysiphe necator chasmothecia development utilizing fungicidal oil.

Grape powdery mildew epidemics, caused by Erysiphe necator, are initiated by the release and subsequent germination of ascospores from mature chasmothecia. Interrupting the development of chasmothe...
Initiating the Breath: The Drive to Breathe, Muscle Pump

The initiation of a breath is the consequence of the interaction of a complex set of neural inputs to the respiratory centers of the brain and the mechanical properties of the ventilatory pump. Automatic and volitional elements must be considered, as well as behavioral effects resulting from symptoms and psychological factors. A range of pathological conditions may alter different pieces of the respiratory system resulting in changes in respiratory pattern and, in some cases, gas exchange. This chapter will outline the physiology of the key neuromechanical components of the respiratory system responsible for initiation of the breath and review the tests that may be used to assess the system.
Abandoned Property Laws: … an Important Collections Management Tool

On September 30, 2010, Connecticut began its journey to the passage of an Abandoned Property/Old Loan Law. On this day, Kendall F. Wig-gin, Connecticut State Librarian; Barbara Austen, Florence M. ...
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Infections

Review recent developments pertaining to the epidemiology, molecular pathogenesis, and sequelae of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) infections in addition to discussion of challenges for vaccinology. ETEC are a major cause of diarrheal illness in resource poor areas of the world where they contribute to unacceptable morbidity and continued mortality particularly among young children; yet, precise epidemiologic estimates of their contribution to death and chronic disease have been difficult to obtain. Although most pathogenesis studies, and consequently vaccine development have focused intensively on canonical antigens, more recently identified molecules unique to the ETEC pathovar may inform our understanding of ETEC virulence, and the approach to broadly protective vaccines. ETEC undeniably continue to have a substantial impact on global health; however, further studies are needed to clarify the true impact of these infections, particularly in regions where access to care may be limited. Likewise, our present understanding of the relationship of ETEC infection to non-diarrheal sequelae is presently limited, and additional effort will be required to achieve a mechanistic understanding of these diseases and to fulfill Koch’s postulates on a molecular level. Precise elucidation of the role played by novel virulence factors, the global burden of acute illness, and the contribution of these pathogens and/or their toxins to non-diarrheal morbidity remain important imperatives.
High-Status Exemplars and the Misperception of the Asian-White Wealth Gap

In this research, we test the central hypothesis that perceptions of Asian Americans as a high-status “model minority” lead to overestimates of the extent of wealth equality between Asian and White...
NOMA-Aided Massive MIMO Downlink with Distributed Antenna Arrays

The feasibility of implementing non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) in massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) downlink with distributed antenna arrays is investigated. The achievable downlink rates are derived for two channel state information (CSI) cases, namely (i) estimated uplink CSI at the access points (APs) via user uplink pilots and statistical CSI at the users, and (ii) estimated uplink CSI at the APs via uplink user pilots and estimated downlink CSI at the users via downlink pilots beamformed by the APs. The trade-off between the number of served user nodes and their achievable rates is investigated. The adverse effects of imperfect successive interference cancellation (SIC) and detection uncertainty on the achievable downlink rates are quantified. We show that the achievable downlink rate of NOMA can be inferior to that of the orthogonal multiple-access (OMA) counterpart in the low-user regime. This is a direct consequence of residual interference caused by intra-cluster pilot contamination and error propagation from imperfect SIC. However, the proposed massive MIMO NOMA downlink outperforms the OMA counterpart in the highuser regime in terms of the achievable downlink rate. Moreover, the impact of downlink pilots on the sum rate is also investigated.
Nuclear Data Sheets for A=69☆

Abstract Experimental data on ground– and excited–state properties for all known nuclei with mass number A = 69 have been compiled and evaluated. States populated in radioactive decay, as well as in nuclear reactions, have been considered. For these nuclei, level and decay schemes, as well as tables of nuclear properties, are given in detail. This work supersedes the 2000 evaluation by M.R. Bhat and J.K. Tuli (2000Bh05).
Decreased Responsiveness of Mature Dendritic Cells from Cord Blood to Chemotaxis Induced by CXCR4 Ligand CXCL12, and CCR7 Ligand CCL19 May Explain Lowered GVHD Associated with Cord Blood Tranplantation.

Cord blood has been successfully used as a transplantable source of hemopoietic stem cells with a relatively low incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Mature dendritic cells (DC), as the most efficient antigen presenting cells, play a critical role in the pathogenesis of GVHD and their function is intimately linked to their capacity to migrate. Chemokines and their G-protein linked receptors are of particular importance in DC migration. CCR7 and CXCR4 are two chemokine receptors expressed on mature DC. Binding of CCR7 ligand, MIP-3β/CCL19 and CXCR4 ligand, SDF-1/CXCL12 induce chemotaxis of mature DC and are pivotal for DC to initiate their functions in vivo. We hypothesized that the relatively lowered level of GVHD elicited by cord blood, compared to adult cells, might be due, at least in part, to a reduced capability of cord blood DC to migrate to lymphoid organs to initiate immune reactions and to organs such as liver and skin where GVHD pathogenesis usually occurs. To begin testing this hypothesis, we randomly picked 16 cord blood donors and 14 adult blood donors and did paired comparison study on chemotactic responses of cord blood and adult blood DC to CXCL12 and CCL19. Monocytes were isolated from both cord blood and adult blood and cultured with GM-CSF and IL-4 for 5 days to generate immature DC. LPS was added into cell culture for an additional 1 day to induce the maturation of these DC. Mature DC were harvested on day 6. We found that cord blood DC expressed significantly reduced surface levels of CCR7 compared with that of adult blood DC (p = .00067) and migrated at significantly lower efficiency towards the CCR7 ligand, CCL19 than did adult blood DC (p=0.029). Cord blood DC expressed significantly higher surface expression of CXCR4 than adult blood DC (p = .0018), but migrated at significantly lower efficiency towards CXCR4 ligand, CXCL12 than adult blood DC (p=0.00012). The lowered responsiveness of mature cord blood DC to chemotaxis by CXCL12 may reflect the enhanced truncation of CXCR4 we found on these cells. Also, cord blood DC migrated less well than adult blood DC toward the combination of CXCL12 and CCL19 than adult blood DC (p = .0014). These results suggest that low incidence and pathogenesis of GVHD observed in cord blood might be due, at least in part, to reduced capability of cord blood mature DC to migrate to critical organs where immune reaction and inflammation occur, effects reflecting lowered expression of CCR7 and enhanced truncation of CXCR4 on mature cord blood DC.
Integer-valued skew polynomials

For a commutative integral domain D with field of fractions K, the ring of integer-valued polynomials on D is Int(D) = {f ∈ K[x] | f(a) ∈ Dfor all a ∈ D}. In this paper, we extend this construction...
The Design and Implementation of a Verified File System with End-to-End Data Integrity

Despite significant research and engineering efforts, many of today's important computer systems suffer from bugs. To increase the reliability of software systems, recent work has applied formal verification to certify the correctness of such systems, with recent successes including certified file systems and certified cryptographic protocols, albeit using quite different proof tactics and toolchains. Unifying these concepts, we present the first certified file system that uses cryptographic primitives to protect itself against tampering. Our certified file system defends against adversaries that might wish to tamper with the raw disk. Such an "untrusted storage" threat model captures the behavior of storage devices that might silently return erroneous bits as well as adversaries who might have limited access to a disk, perhaps while in transit. In this paper, we present IFSCQ, a certified cryptographic file system with strong integrity guarantees. IFSCQ combines and extends work on cryptographic file systems and formally certified file systems to prove that our design is correct. It is the first certified file system that is secure against strong adversaries that can maliciously corrupt on-disk data and metadata, including attempting to roll back the disk to earlier versions of valid data. IFSCQ achieves this by constructing a Merkle hash tree of the whole disk, and by proving that tampered disk blocks will always be detected if they ever occur. We demonstrate that IFSCQ runs with reasonable overhead while detecting several kinds of attacks.
Development and validation of a PIV processing routine for two-phase index-matched flows

Implementing particle image velocimetry (PIV) in particle-laden flows is a challenging task due to the optical effects of the added particles. The addition of particles reduces optical access in the measurement region, degrades image quality and increases the experimental uncertainty. One method for reducing this effect is by using refractive index matching (RIM) which matches the index of refraction of the fluid and added particles rendering the particles optically transparent. Exact matching of the refractive index is difficult to achieve in practice. Even slight mismatches in the refractive indices lead to degradation of the image quality which will impact the higher-order statistics. Comparisons of statistics between loading levels are difficult under these conditions. In this work, the effect of processing methodology on RIM PIV images is investigated. RIM is achieved through the use of superabsorbent hydrogel materials in water. Two processing methods are investigated. The baseline method is a basic PIV correlation process without any pre- or post-processing. The refined process utilizes image pre-processing, data post-processing, and experimental error compensation. The goal for the refined method was to optimize and implement a more sophisticated PIV processing routine using existing commercial software on a particle-laden flow to reduce progressive error artifacts. Images from a fully turbulent channel flow with particle loading levels of 0–15% are utilized. Past literature indicates that turbulence levels will be attenuated for the particles used. Turbulence levels calculated using the baseline method show a linear increase with increasing loading, which is a non-physical result. The refined processing method shows a slight attenuation of turbulence which is consistent with expectations. The study highlights the need for careful processing and interpretation of results in cases where changes in image quality can be expected between different experimental conditions.
Voluntary Kids' Meal Beverage Standards: Are They Sufficient to Ensure Healthier Restaurant Practices and Consumer Choices?

Many quick-service restaurants (QSRs) instituted voluntary kids’ meal default beverage standards (standards) between 2013 to 2017. Little is known about impacts of standards on QSR drive-through practices and on customer choices. This study assessed differences in restaurant practices including kids’ meal beverages shown on menu boards, offered by cashiers, and selected by customers in QSRs with and without voluntary standards. Observations (n = 111) and customer surveys (n = 84) were conducted in 2018 at QSRs with standards (n = 70) and without (n = 41) in low-income California, U.S. neighborhoods. Kids’ meal beverages on menu boards (n = 149) and offered by cashiers (n = 185) at QSRs with and without standards were analyzed using multilevel logistic regression. Significantly more menu boards at QSRs with standards (n = 103) vs. without (n = 46) featured only milk, water or unsweetened juice (65.1% vs. 4.4%; p < 0.001). Most cashiers at QSRs with standards and QSRs without (53.1%, 62.5%) asked what drink the data collector wanted rather than first offering default beverages. A small sample of customer interviews found that customers at QSRs with standards most commonly ordered juice (37.0%); at QSRs without standards, soda (45.5%). Although menu boards showed healthier kids’ meal beverages at QSRs with standards than without, cashier behavior was inconsistent. Results suggest additional measures (legislation, implementation support, enforcement) may be needed to ensure optimal implementation.
The interplay between brand relationship norms and ease of sharing on electronic word-of-mouth and willingness to pay

Abstract This research develops a conceptual framework that delineates the interplay between brand relationship norms and ease of sharing on electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) and willingness to pay (WTP). We find that when sharing is difficult, compared to those in a communal relationship, consumers in an exchange relationship are more likely to generate eWOM and pay a higher price premium. Conversely, when sharing is easy and self-brand connection is deep, consumers in a communal relationship are more likely to contribute eWOM and a higher WTP than those in an exchange relationship. Our findings offer significant theoretical and practical implications on managing consumer outcomes in the digital media era.
The entrepreneurial characteristics of national board certified health and wellness coaches

Efforts to professionalise the health and wellness coaching field led the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching to establish a national board certification for health and wellness coachin...
BIOL-08. IGFBP2 PROMOTES TUMOR METASTASIS IN SHH MEDULLOBLASTOMA

Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common pediatric brain malignancy. MB comprises 5 major subgroups known as WNT, SHH p53wt, SHH p53mut, Group 3 and Group 4. Among the four MB subgroups SHH group is the most dominant molecular subgroup in infants and adults. These tumors are proposed to arise from cerebellar granule neuron precursors (CGNPs), whose developmental expansion requires SHH signaling from the neighboring Purkinje neurons. Previous reports suggest that SHH group features a unique tumor microenvironment compared with other MB groups. Recently, we performed cytokine array analysis of culture media from different MB cell lines. Interestingly, our data showed increased levels of IGFBP2 produced by SHH MB cell lines compared to others. We confirmed these results using ELISA and Western blotting from 3 human SHH MB cell lines, and Smo/A1 mouse tumor cells. IGFBP2 is a member of IGFBP super family of proteins; it plays important roles in tumor cell proliferation, metastasis and drug resistance. We analyzed the role of IGFBP2 in SHH group medulloblastoma tumor growth and metastasis. IGFBP2 knock-down stable cell lines showed phenotypic changes including reduced cell proliferation, cell migration and colony size. Our preliminary in vitro data suggest IGFBP2 exerts it metastasis-promoting role in SHH MB by regulating the expression of EMT marker proteins such as N cadherin, slug etc. and matrix remodeling proteins like MMPs and TIMPs. We are currently performing functional studies in organotypic tumor slice cultures to validate these findings and establish IGFBP2 as a novel regulator of aggressive tumor growth and spread in SHH MB.
Racial Bias in Algorithmic IP

Machine learning systems, a form of artificial intelligence (AI), are increasingly being deployed both for the creation of innovative works and the administration of intellectual property (IP) rights associated with those works. At the same time, evidence of racial bias in IP systems is manifest and growing. Legal scholars have already noted that as AI becomes part of the intellectual property landscape, the biases present in existing IP systems may infect algorithmic processes trained on data from past practices. Unfortunately, much of the discussion to date conflates technical biases in AI systems with social biases, requiring disambiguation of the two. The latter type of bias, social bias, is already endemic throughout IP, and so the addition of AI systems requires special consideration only to the extent that they present special problems. In this essay I begin identifying such social bias problems that are particular to algorithmic determinations through AI processing. One set of problems relates to the illusion of numerical objectivity; AI outputs tend to be assigned undue weight due to the universal but fallacious impression that they are objective and neutral. A second set of problems relates to the performative nature of algorithmic processes; they tend to produce the effects that they assume, and in the intellectual property context hold the potential for altering the nature of protected works. Identifying these problems indicates that currently proposed solutions will be inadequate, and points toward a different approach to dealing with racial bias in algorithmic IP.
Experiments on the Recirculating Planar Magnetron with Coaxial All-Cavity Extraction

Calibrated microwave power measurements are presented for the Recirculating Planar Magnetron with Coaxial-All-Cavity Extraction (RPM-CACE). Experimental results are compared with computational predictions using the particle-in-cell code ICEPIC. The RPM-CACE was designed using extensive simulation and optimization to demonstrate the RPM concept, and was simulated to operate at 1.89 GHz and produce peak powers of $\sim 400$ MW at 50-70% efficiency. The experiment utilizes a novel coaxial extraction system to minimize the total diameter of the device.
Democracy Defended: Strategic voting and agenda control

As we have seen, Riker (1982, 122, 128) acknowledges that debate and discussion lead to similarities of judgment, that “a wide variety of rather mild agreement about the issue dimension guarantees a Condorcet winner,” that uncontrived cyclical outcomes are “quite rare,” so that “intransitivities only occasionally render decision by majoritarian methods meaningless.” His remaining objection then is that outcomes may be manipulated by strategic voting, agenda control, and contrived introduction of new alternatives and dimensions. “Manipulated outcomes are meaningless because they are manipulated, and unmanipulated outcomes are meaningless because they cannot be distinguished from manipulated ones” (Riker 1982, 237). To introduce his concern, consider the following exercise. Suppose that a majority of 60 percent favors A over B , and a minority of 40 percent favors B over A . The minority faction could contrive a cycle if it has some idea of the distribution of preferences over original alternatives A, B , and new issue C . Issue C splits the majority. See Table 7.1. With C on the scene, A beats B by 60 percent, B beats C by 70 percent, and C beats A by 70 percent. Then, the minority can propose C against A , which C wins, then C against B , which B wins, thus, the minority view favoring B over A prevails (but only if the majority is somehow incapacitated from continuing the cycle by proposing A against B which of course A would win, ad infinitum ).
Detectors and Receivers

This chapter reviews optical detectors and receivers for optical communication systems. An optical receiver includes both the optical detectors, or photodetectors, and various electronic circuits such as amplifiers or clock recovery circuits. It discusses semiconductor devices such as PIN photodiodes, avalanche photodiodes (APD), photodiode arrays, Schottky-Barrier photodiodes, metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) detectors, resonant-cavity photodetectors, and interferometric devices. APDs are used in high sensitivity applications, MSM photoconductive detectors are sometimes used because of their ease of fabrication, and Schottky-barrier photodiodes are used for high-speed applications. The chapter discusses optical receiver circuits. It concludes with a discussion of noise sources and their impact on the detection electronics. Detectors are an integral part of all fiber optic communication systems. They convert a received optical signal into an electrical signal, demodulating the optical signal that was modulated at the transmitter.
Dynamic Resizing of Parallel Scientific Simulations: A Case Study Using LAMMPS

Large-scale computational science simulations are a dominant component of the workload on modern supercomputers. Efficient use of high-end resources for these large computations is of considerable scientific and economic importance. However, conventional job schedulers limit flexibility in that they are `static', i.e., the number of processors allocated to an application can not be changed at runtime. In earlier work, we described ReSHAPE, a system that eliminates this drawback by supporting dynamic resizability in distributed-memory parallel applications. The goal of this paper is to present a case study highlighting the steps involved in adapting a production scientific simulation code to take advantage of ReSHAPE. LAMMPS, a widely used molecular dynamics code, is the test case. Minor extensions to LAMMPS allow it to be resized using ReSHAPE, and experimental results show that resizing significantly improves overall system utilization as well as performance of an individual LAMMPS job.
PASSENGER CAR AND LIGHT TRUCK FUEL ECONOMY TRENDS THROUGH 1980

The 4000-mi. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fuel economy figures are presented for passenger cars from pre-emission control models through 1980, for light trucks from 1975 through 1980, and for motorcycles for 1980 (first EPA listing of motorcycles). The data include stratification by weight class, vehicle size class, manufacturer, and mpg range; domestic vs. import, gasoline vs. diesel, and 49-states vs. California models. Passenger car fleet mpg in 1980 is up 11% from 1979, due to a shift in the inertia weight mix, followed by system optimization. The 1980 diesel car fleet average (28.6 mpg) is 29% higher than that for 1980 gasoline cars (22.2 mpg). Even with 6000 to 8500 lb. trucks added to the 1980 data base, sales-weighted combined car/truck fleet mpg is up from 1979, and average weight and engine displacement are down. The 1980 light truck fleet mpg average is 17.1 mpg, compared to 17.5 mpg in 1979 without the heavier trucks. Average EPA city mpg for the 1980 motorcycle fleet is 54 mpg (excluding motorcycles with engines less than 50 cc., those for off-road use, and cycles with low sales volume).
Kayano et al. v. Hokkaido Expropriation Committee: ‘The Nibutani Dam Decision’

On March 27, 1997, the Sapporo District Court issued a decision in the Nibutani Dam case that broke new ground by recognizing Japan's indigenous Ainu people as a distinct ethnic group. The case arose when Ainu landowners, Kaizawa Tadashi and Kayano Shigeru, refused to consent to the expropriation of their land for the construction of a large industrial dam in close proximity to their homes in Nibutani Village. When the Hokkaido Development Bureau tried to force the seizure of their land, Kaizawa and Kayano filed suit. The decision declared the government's attempt to confiscate the land illegal, although the plaintiffs were denied substantive relief because of the court's application of Administrative Litigation Law. The heart of the decision included extensive historical fact-finding detailing the history of the inequitable deprivations suffered by the Ainu people. It also emphasized the importance of the Saru River to Ainu religion and cultural practices and concluded that the dam project would negatively impact the lives of the Ainu people living in the Nibutani area. The decision ultimately binds the Japanese government under Article 13 of its constitution and the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights to consider the rights of the Ainu people as an indigenous minority in the nation.