cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Importance of rain evaporation and continental convection in the tropical water cycle

Atmospheric moisture cycling is an important aspect of the Earth's climate system, yet the processes determining atmospheric humidity are poorly understood. For example, direct evaporation of rain contributes significantly to the heat and moisture budgets of clouds, but few observations of these processes are available. Similarly, the relative contributions to atmospheric moisture over land from local evaporation and humidity from oceanic sources are uncertain. Lighter isotopes of water vapour preferentially evaporate whereas heavier isotopes preferentially condense and the isotopic composition of ocean water is known. Here we use this information combined with global measurements of the isotopic composition of tropospheric water vapour from the Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES) aboard the Aura spacecraft, to investigate aspects of the atmospheric hydrological cycle that are not well constrained by observations of precipitation or atmospheric vapour content. Our measurements of the isotopic composition of water vapour near tropical clouds suggest that rainfall evaporation contributes significantly to lower troposphere humidity, with typically 20% and up to 50% of rainfall evaporating near convective clouds. Over the tropical continents the isotopic signature of tropospheric water vapour differs significantly from that of precipitation, suggesting that convection of vapour from both oceanic sources and evapotranspiration are the dominant moisture sources. Our measurements allow an assessment of the intensity of the present hydrological cycle and will help identify any future changes as they occur.
Fatty acid composition of flora and fauna associated with Sargassum mats in the Gulf of Mexico

Feeding ecology of organisms associated with floating Sargassum in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico was assessed using fatty acids. Nineteen groups were collected from the Sargassum community including four autotrophs, eight invertebrates, five juvenile fishes, and two adult fishes. Spatial and temporal variability in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) signatures of selected taxa (Sargassum fluitans [autotroph], Leander tenuicornis [primary heterotroph], Balistes capriscus [secondary heterotroph]) was examined to quantify natural variation within these dietary tracers. Although PUFA signatures varied seasonally for all three taxa, no differences were detected between samples collected in year 2000 and 2001 or from different sample locations in the northwest Gulf. PUFA signatures made up 16.3–62.3% of the total fatty acid composition of main autotrophs present in the pelagic environment [particulate organic matter (POM), epiphytic algae, S. fluitans, S. natans], and PUFA profiles of selected primary producers were distinct. Specifically, levels of 20:5n−3, 22:5n−3, and 22:6n−3 were significantly higher in POM than Sargassum spp. or epiphytic algae (Cladophora sp.). Dominant PUFA in the tissue of invertebrate and vertebrate consumers were 18:2n−6, 20:4n−6, 20:5n−3, 22:5n−3, 22:6n−3 and multivariate analyses indicated that PUFA signatures of all consumers were highly similar to POM. As a result, heterotrophs utilizing the Sargassum complex may rely heavily on phytoplankton production rather than production by Sargassum or associated epiphytic algae.
Modern pollen spectra from Madagascar

Abstract Modern sediments from 13 perennial lakes and bogs in central, eastern and northern Madagascar (Malagasy Republic) provide information concerning modern pollen rain. Many of the major pollen types could be positively identified to genus. Land-cover analysis utilizing Landsat MSS false color imagery, stereo airphotos, published vegetation maps, and ground reconnaissance was used to classify the vegetation at each site. Pollen spectra from environments such as grassland, forest, and montane shrub grassland have discernible differences. Wooded grasslands and various types of mosaic environments produce spectra that are of an intermediate character.
The Kinsey Report: Manifest and Latent Implications

spoke of "the manifest dream-content as it is retained in the memory," in contrast to the latent dream-content or dream thoughts, which are obtained only through our methods (i.e., analysis)." (2) Merton further explored the sociological possibilities of this frame of reference, with special reference to the concept of function. In this context, he defined manifest functions as "referring to those objective consequences for a specified unit (person, subgroup, social or cultural system) which contribute to its adjustment or adaptation and were so intended." Latent func-
Metrization theorem for space-times: From urysohn's problem towards physically useful constructive mathematics

In the early 1920s, Pavel Urysohn proved his famous lemma (sometimes referred to as "first non-trivial result of point set topology"). Among other applications, this lemma was instrumental in proving that under reasonable conditions, every topological space can be metrized. A few years before that, in 1919, a complex mathematical theory was experimentally proven to be extremely useful in the description of real world phenomena: namely, during a solar eclipse, General Relativity theory - that uses pseudo-Riemann spaces to describe space-time - was (spectacularly) experimentally confirmed. Motivated by this success, Urysohn started working on an extension of his lemma and of the metrization theorem to (causality-)ordered topological spaces and corresponding pseudo-metrics. After Urysohn's early death in 1924, this activity was continued in Russia by his student Vadim Efremovich, Efremovich's student Revolt Pimenov, and by Pimenov's students (and also by H. Busemann in the US and by E. Kronheimer and R. Penrose in the UK). By the 1970s, reasonably general space-time versions of Urysohn's lemma and metrization theorem have been proven. However, these 1970s results are not constructive. Since one of the main objectives of this activity is to come up with useful applications to physics, we definitely need constructive versions of these theorems - versions in which we not only claim the theoretical existence of a pseudometric, but we also provide an algorithm enabling the physicist to generate such a metric based on empirical data about the causality relation. An additional difficulty here is that for this algorithm to be useful, we need a physically relevant constructive description of a causality-type ordering relation. In this paper, we propose such a description and show that, for this description, a combination of the existing constructive ideas with the known (non-constructive) proof leads to successful constructive spacetime versions of the Urysohn's lemma and of the metrization theorem.
Dialogue-Oriented Review Summary Generation for Spoken Dialogue Recommendation Systems

In this paper we present an opinion summarization technique in spoken dialogue systems. Opinion mining has been well studied for years, but very few have considered its application in spoken dialogue systems. Review summarization, when applied to real dialogue systems, is much more complicated than pure text-based summarization. We conduct a systematic study on dialogue-system-oriented review analysis and propose a three-level framework for a recommendation dialogue system. In previous work we have explored a linguistic parsing approach to phrase extraction from reviews. In this paper we will describe an approach using statistical models such as decision trees and SVMs to select the most representative phrases from the extracted phrase set. We will also explain how to generate informative yet concise review summaries for dialogue purposes. Experimental results in the restaurant domain show that the proposed approach using decision tree algorithms achieves an outperformance of 13% compared to SVM models and an improvement of 36% over a heuristic rule baseline. Experiments also show that the decision-tree-based phrase selection model can achieve rather reliable predictions on the phrase label, comparable to human judgment. The proposed statistical approach is based on domain-independent learning features and can be extended to other domains effectively.
The acquisition of /r/ and /l/ by Japanese children and adults learning English as a second language

Abstract In Experiment I, 54 native Japanese children (ages 3–12) and 24 Japanese adults residing in the USA were required to produce and discriminate the English /r/ and /l/ in a variety of speaking and listening tasks. Children's /r/ and /l/ speaking performances were found to be significantly better than adults’. Three factors ‐ age, sociolinguistic factors, and linguistic factors ‐ emerged as significant predictors of the Japanese children's /r/ and /l/ abilities. No significant predictors were found for Japanese adults’ performances. In Experiment II, 17 of the Japanese subjects received identical, programmed /r/ and /l/ training, followed by repetition of the initial evaluation procedures. Only the Japanese adults improved significantly on all post‐training measures.
Use and Misuse of Speech Diagnostics for African American Students

Many African American students have been tested using speech pathology diagnostics that are ill suited to their distinctive linguistic circumstances. Slave descendants of African origin share a unique linguistic heritage in contrast and comparison to every other immigrant group residing within America. In an effort to overcome the legacy of educational bias born of inappropriate speech diagnostics for Black students, this article begins with observations about racial discrimination that reinforced educational disparities that were, at times inadvertently, exacerbated by remedial education programs that failed to improve educational outcomes for Black students. The remainder of the article describes the combination of educational and legal circumstances, owing their existence largely to the efforts of Geneva Smitherman, that gave rise to the controversy over Ebonics and ensuing demands for linguistic human rights in support of educational equality for all students regardless of race.
BRD4-targeted therapy induces Myc-independent cytotoxicity in Gnaq/11-mutatant uveal melanoma cells

// Grazia Ambrosini 1 , Ashley D. Sawle 1 , Elgilda Musi 1 , Gary K. Schwartz 1 1 The Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA Correspondence to: Grazia Ambrosini, e-mail: ga2391@columbia.edu Keywords: BRD4, JQ1, Gnaq/11, Bcl-xL, Rad51 Received: June 18, 2015 Accepted: August 24, 2015 Published: September 05, 2015 ABSTRACT Uveal melanoma (UM) is an aggressive intraocular malignancy with limited therapeutic options. Both primary and metastatic UM are characterized by oncogenic mutations in the G-protein alpha subunit q and 11. Furthermore, nearly 40% of UM has amplification of the chromosomal arm 8q and monosomy of chromosome 3, with consequent anomalies of MYC copy number. Chromatin regulators have become attractive targets for cancer therapy. In particular, the bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) inhibitor JQ1 has shown selective inhibition of c-Myc expression with antiproliferative activity in hematopoietic and solid tumors. Here we provide evidence that JQ1 had cytotoxic activity in UM cell lines carrying Gnaq/11 mutations, while in cells without the mutations had little effects. Using microarray analysis, we identified a large subset of genes modulated by JQ1 involved in the regulation of cell cycle, apoptosis and DNA repair. Further analysis of selected genes determined that the concomitant silencing of Bcl-xL and Rad51 represented the minimal requirement to mimic the apoptotic effects of JQ1 in the mutant cells, independently of c-Myc. In addition, administration of JQ1 to mouse xenograft models of Gnaq-mutant UM resulted in significant inhibition of tumor growth. Collectively, our results define BRD4 targeting as a novel therapeutic intervention against UM with Gnaq/Gna11 mutations.
The 'Madness' of Islamist Terrorism: A Rethinking of the Cognitive Imaginaryand Ethics of Locke’s Theory of Toleration

The alarming conflation between Islamic religiosity and terrorism is a striking element of the discursive conditions of contemporary political life in Euro-Atlantic world. This conflation becomes legible specifically in the depictions of the suicide bomber as the potent symbol of moral aberration and political illegitimacy. It is marshaled in justifications of a wide range of state policies and social practices that span from exclusionary mobilizations against Muslim minorities to "humanitarian" or aggressive military action against other peoples labeled as "security threats". This paper interrogates the discursive frame within which the conflation between (Islamic) religiosity and propensity for violence becomes intelligible. While its historical origins reach back to ethical and epistemological premises of liberal-secular governmentality introduced by John Locke in 17th century Europe, it was elaborated within the context of late 18th and early 19th century European imperial expansion by liberals such as J.S. Mill. To illustrate the contemporary political effects of this discursive conflation, the paper draws upon the framing of Palestinian suicide bombings in the aftermath of 9/11 attacks on the U.S. The overarching aim is to highlight that the utilization of this discursive conflation underwrites the delegimitization of non-secular and non-liberal political formations as well as the unraveling of Muslims' rights to equal status as citizens in Euro-Atlantic countries.
Convulsant properties of methylxanthines, potential cognitive enhancers in dementia syndromes

One of the major side effects of the methylxanthines and adenosine receptor antagonists caffeine and theophylline is the provocation of seizures. With the availability of highly selective adenosine receptor antagonists it was of interest to investigate if they would also induce seizures. In experiments with mice it was found that also highly selective adenosine receptor antagonists like Xanthine Amine congener are able to induce seizures. The therapeutic usefulness of highly selective adenosine receptor antagonists as e.g. cognitive enhancers in dementia syndromes is thus limited by this serious side effect.
Acute Effect of Metal Ions on Uptake of Alpha-Aminoisobutyric Acid (AIB) by Rat Parathyroids in vivo.

SummaryAcute increases in serum calcium concentration produced by administration of calcium salts, parathyroid extract or high dosages of dihydrotachysterol generally resulted in a decrease in the uptake of AIB by the rat parathyroids in vivo. Acute decreases in serum calcium concentration produced by administration of sodium oxalate, sodium phosphate, or thyrocalcitonin resulted in increases in the uptake of AIB by the parathyroids. Large increases in serum magnesium or strontium concentration also suppressed parathyroid AIB uptake. Administration of EDTA to decrease serum calcium concentration resulted in variable effect on parathyroid AIB uptake. This study provides further direct evidence for a negative feedback control of parathyroid function by serum calcium concentration.
Postoperative chemotherapy without radiation in young children with malignant non-astrocytic brain tumours. A report from the Australia and New Zealand Childhood Cancer Study Group (ANZCCSG).

Young children with malignant brain tumours have particularly poor survival and manifest severe sequelae of radiation therapy. A multi-institutional pilot study of post-operative primary chemotherapy for children under 3 years with primitive neuroectodermal tumours (PNET) or ependymoma was initiated in 1987. The chemotherapy protocol comprised earboplatin, vincristine and the “eight drugs in 1 day” regimen. Radiation was recommended only if tumour progression or recurrence was documented. A total of 14 patients between 5 and 36 months of age were enrolled. Seven had supratentorial tumours (PNET, pinealoblastoma, intracranial retinoblastoma) with multiple predictors of adverse outcome. Four of these responded to initial chemotherapy but subsequently progressed and all had died by 16 months from diagnosis. The seven patients with infratentorial tumours (three medulloblastomas, four ependymomas) had more favourable predictors of outcome: no meningeal dissemination and gross macroscopic resection in six of the seven cases. One patient progressed rapidly and died within 5 months. The other six are alive at 37–57 months from diagnosis. Four are in continuous complete remission at 57, 51, 41 and 37 months, respectively from the time of their tumour resection. One is described as having stable disease with a persistent radiographic lesion at 41 months from diagnosis. One has relapsed on two occasions and is the only surviving patient to have been irradiated. Intelligence scores for the six long-term survivors have thus for remained within the normal range. It is suggested that some infants with standard-risk ependymoma and, possibly, medulloblastoma may be cured without radiation therapy.
Robust optimization model of multi-period inventory with uncertain demand distribution

The robust optimization models for multi-period inventory based on the max-min method are developed under the uncertain discrete demand probability. The interval and ellipsoid uncertain sets which the uncertain demand distribution belongs to are considered, and the multi-period inventory robust optimization models are transformed to tractable convex programmings by using the dual theory. The numerical results show that, comparing to the optimal condition with full distribution information, the robust ordering strategies will lead to performance loss, but the loss is very small. The results show that the multi-period inventory strategies derived by robust optimization has superior robustness, so that can reduce the impact of demand distributional uncertainty on the multi-period inventory operation performance.
Joint Inference for Extracting Text Descriptors from Triage Images of Mass Disaster Victims

The major contributions of this work include a set of biographical feature extractors brought together by a probabilistic graphical model. The graphical model acts as a communication medium between different feature extractors, together resulting in a text descriptor to describe triage images of disaster victims. The model is built using domain information gathered from data and literature.
Ways and Means Resolutions: The Cornerstone of the Origination Clause

The Origination Clause is a modern constitutional backwater, even though it was one of the most fiercely debated topics at the 1787 Constitutional Convention and a centerpiece of British parliamentary custom and usage.This Article, for the first time, examines the role that Ways and Means resolutions played as agenda-setting vehicles for revenue legislation in the British House of Commons and colonial assemblies. These procedural instruments authorized the Crown to begin collecting taxes at the amended rates set by the unicameral resolution and set the stage for subsequent budgetary legislation enacted into law. Though only passed by the lower house and subject to further amendment, these resolutions were powerful agenda-setting devices within the legislative process that today offers a glimpse into the core meaning of the Origination Clause.Part I places these issues into context, while Part II of this Article traces the development of Origination Clause jurisprudence from the early British period through the Constitutional Convention. Part III analyzes British and colonial practice surrounding Ways and Means resolutions and considers their effect as agenda-setting devices. Part IV considers the force of this agenda-setting purpose in light of germanity and Origination Clause precedent. Finally, Part V concludes by translating these ideas into the modern Congressional context and offers solutions for restoring substantive meaning to this important constitutional provision.
Online Appendix to 'Patient Capital Outperformance'

This is the online appendix to the paper by Cremers and Pareek (2017, forthcoming in the JFE) titled "Patient Capital Outperformance: The Investment Skill of High Active Share Managers Who Trade Infrequently," which is available at http://ssrn.com/abstract=2498743.
A hybridizable discontinuous Galerkin method for modeling fluid-structure interaction

Abstract This work presents a novel application of the hybridizable discontinuous Galerkin (HDG) finite element method to the multi-physics simulation of coupled fluid–structure interaction (FSI) problems. Recent applications of the HDG method have primarily been for single-physics problems including both solids and fluids, which are necessary building blocks for FSI modeling. Utilizing these established models, HDG formulations for linear elastostatics, a nonlinear elastodynamic model, and arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian Navier–Stokes are derived. The elasticity formulations are written in a Lagrangian reference frame, with the nonlinear formulation restricted to hyperelastic materials. With these individual solid and fluid formulations, the remaining challenge in FSI modeling is coupling together their disparate mathematics on the fluid–solid interface. This coupling is presented, along with the resultant HDG FSI formulation. Verification of the component models, through the method of manufactured solutions, is performed and each model is shown to converge at the expected rate. The individual components, along with the complete FSI model, are then compared to the benchmark problems proposed by Turek and Hron [1] . The solutions from the HDG formulation presented in this work trend towards the benchmark as the spatial polynomial order and the temporal order of integration are increased.
RNA-binding protein HuR regulates nuclear import of protein.

ABSTRACT The RNA-binding protein HuR binds to elements rich in adenylate and uridylate (AU-rich elements) in target mRNAs and stabilizes them against degradation. The complete spectrum of genes whose expression is regulated by HuR and are the basis for the broad range of cellular functions of the protein is incompletely understood. We show that HuR controls the expression of multiple components of the nuclear import machinery. Consequently, HuR is crucial for the nuclear import of cellular retinoic acid-binding protein 2 (CRABP2), which delivers RA to the nuclear retinoic acid receptor (RAR) and whose mobilization to the nucleus is mediated by a ‘classical-like’ nuclear localization signal (NLS). HuR is also required for heregulin-induced nuclear translocation of the NFκB subunit p65, which contains both classical and non-canonical NLSs. HuR thus regulates the transcriptional activities of both RAR and NFκB. The observations reveal that HuR plays a central role in regulating nuclear import of proteins.
A Growth Curve Analysis of Housing Quality among Transition-Aged Foster Youth.

Procuring safe housing is a salient developmental task during emerging adulthood, one that is especially challenging for emancipated foster youth. Yet, little is known about factors that influence foster youths’ housing experiences. This investigation documented changes in foster youth’s housing quality during the first 24 months following their emancipation. Analyses also evaluated associations between changes in housing quality and youth’s sociodemographic characteristics, childhood maltreatment experiences, and out-of-home placement history. Recently emancipated foster youth (N = 172; 66 % female; M age = 19.63 years, 84.3 % non-White) who were participating in an ongoing longitudinal study of Adapting to Aging Out provided sociodemographic information, a history of their childhood maltreatment and out-of-home placement experiences, and a month-by-month summary of their housing since emancipation. Parenting youth and youth with a high school degree had higher housing quality 6 months post-emancipation. Females and youth who emancipated at older ages showed a linear increase in housing quality at 6 months post-emancipation. Childhood exposure to domestic violence, older age of entry into foster care, and placement with a relative just prior to emancipation were associated with declining housing quality over time. These findings highlight the need to provide safe and stable housing opportunities for transition-aged foster youth, and elucidate risk and protective factors to guide applied efforts to support particularly vulnerable foster youth, including those who are male, have lower education attainment, have a history of childhood domestic violence exposure, entered foster care at older ages, and/or resided with a relative at the time of their emancipation.
A novel genetic-based therapeutic platform for eradicating Metastatic cancer

W developed a therapeutic platform for eliminating a wide range of metastatic cancer types including melanoma, which was utilized as a test model for the studies below. The first generation of our therapeutic modality has demonstrated a 70-100% killing efficiency in chemoand radioresistant human melanoma cells through apoptosis, with no apparent effect on non-transfected cells. Recently, through the optimization of transfection efficiency, our therapeutic modality eliminated five different primary/metastatic human melanoma types with a 96-100% killing efficiency. Only half of the initial therapeutic dose was utilized in the above preliminary in vitro survival assays, indicating that the in vitro potency of our therapy is greater than initially observed. Our therapeutic modality has been devised to overcome cancer resistance to apoptosis, which accounts for the inability of conventional and recently developed therapies to eradicate metastatic cancer. Our therapy is based on the novel approach of triggering apoptosis without activating the apoptosis signaling cascade or using the native apoptosis executioner nuclease. This is achieved by triggering apoptosis from the bottom end of the cascade, at the level of the DNA-degrading nuclease, resulting in the bypass of all upstream anti-apoptosis defense mechanisms. We engineered a human recombinant deoxyribonuclease1 (hrDNase1) that avoids being secreted from the cell, resists inactivation by its major intracellular inhibitor, actin and can access nuclear DNA. Next, we constructed and tested the killing efficiency of a second hrDNase1 generation, which was designed to have greater resistance to intracellular inhibition. The hrDNase1 approach provides several substantial advantages over other therapies in that it: (1) overcomes cancer resistance to chemotherapy-, radiotherapyand immunotherapy-induced apoptosis; (2) eliminates cancer cells without needing to recruit the patient’s immune system, indicating that hrDNase1 should maintain its high therapeutic efficacy in severely immunocompromised patients; (3) has demonstrated selective killing of transfected cells through apoptosis. Clinically, these features will enable the hrDNase1 therapeutic modality to achieve high, selective tumor targeting and minimal adverse effects. hrDNase1 structure, killing efficiency in various settings and future clinical capacity as a personalized therapy that can be customized to each patient will be discussed. Karli Rosner, J Cancer Sci Ther 2013, 5:10 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/1948-5956.S1.028
Corrosion resistant coatings and paints

Most metallic alloys are susceptible to corrosion in their service environments. One of the most practical and cost-effective ways to slow or stop corrosion is by application of a protective coating or paint. Coatings and paints can be applied to large surface areas and are protective, even though they are relatively thin. They can be applied rapidly and the associated material and labor cost is usually much less than the cost (or value) of the object being protected. Over the past 150 years, corrosion resistant coating and paint technology has evolved steadily, resulting in a vast array of products for protecting many different substrates under many different conditions. Coating technology is certainly a mature discipline, but the field continues to evolve as new substrates are developed and made available for application and as new coatings and application methods are devised to meet emerging demands and constraints. Over the past 30 years, the desire to lower the toxic hazard and pollution has strongly influenced coating technology. This has resulted in the emergence of new coating systems and methods of application. This chapter focuses on issues related to protective coatings and paints used for structural metals and alloys used in high volume applications.
Physical Education Teacher Perceptions of Teacher Evaluation

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a better understanding of current PE teachers’ perceptions of teacher evaluation systems. Method: A mixed methods approach was used and two sources of data collection were used: (a) a short survey of PE teachers (n = 22) in one urban school district and (b) a formal semistructured interview with 10 PE teachers from the same school district. Results: Statements from the survey showed low level of agreement in the following areas: (a) PE was a priority, (b) evidence of student growth and achievement were important factors of teacher evaluation in PE, and (c) PE teachers were confident in evaluation system and evaluators ability to determine effectiveness of PE teacher. Three common themes were revealed from the interviews: (a) PE is valued, but not prioritized; (b) teacher evaluation in PE is greatly needed, yet not transparent; and (c) physical educators are not confident in their evaluators. Conclusion: Results are consistent with current literature suggesting that (a) PE remains a marginalized subject with low priority; (b) teacher evaluation systems are not tailored toward noncore subjects; (c) and PE teachers, like classroom teachers, are not confident that their evaluators can give a fair and valid assessment.
Location of skin lesions in Henoch-Schönlein purpura and its association with significant renal involvement

Background Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is a small vessel IgA-predominant vasculitis. Objective To describe adult patients with HSP and determine if the distribution of skin lesions (ie, purpura above the waist or purpura below the waist only), is a predictor of significant renal involvement at the time of the skin biopsy and the months following. Methods A retrospective study on renal function from 72 adult patients with skin-biopsy proven HSP. Longitudinal renal data were analyzed after HSP diagnosis by using baseline renal function for comparison. Results Statistical analysis adjusted for sex, age, and baseline creatinine revealed a trend between HSP lesions only on the upper and lower extremities and long-term renal involvement (4.767, P = .067). Moreover, in another analysis adjusted for age and baseline creatinine, lesions located only on the upper and lower extremities significantly increased the odds of having long-term significant renal involvement (6.55, P = .049) in men. Limitations This retrospective study used patient information that was subject to selection bias. Conclusion In patients with HSP, skin lesion distribution on the extremities might be predictive of significant long-term renal involvement and might be critical for risk stratification and development of personalized diagnostics and therapeutics.
The NCBI BioCollections Database

The rapidly growing set of GenBank submissions includes sequences that are derived from vouchered specimens. These are associated with culture collections, museums, herbaria and other natural history collections, both living and preserved. Correct identification of the specimens studied, along with a method to associate the sample with its institution, is critical to the outcome of related studies and analyses. The National Center for Biotechnology Information BioCollections Database was established to allow the association of specimen vouchers and related sequence records to their home institutions. This process also allows cross-linking from the home institution for quick identification of all records originating from each collection. Database URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/biocollections
Wireless Scheduling with Delayed CSI: When Distributed Outperforms Centralized

The performance of wireless scheduling algorithms directly depends on the availability and accuracy of channel state information (CSI) at the scheduler. As CSI updates must propagate across the network, they are delayed as they arrive at the controller. In this paper, we analyze the effect that delayed CSI has on the throughput performance of scheduling in wireless networks. By accounting for the delays in CSI as they relate to the network topology, we revisit the comparison between centralized and distributed scheduling. We explore the tradeoff between optimal centralized scheduling using delayed CSI and imperfect distributed scheduling using timely CSI. In particular, we show that under certain conditions distributed scheduling outperforms the optimal centralized scheduling policy, and we characterize the point at which distributed scheduling outperforms centralized scheduling for tree and clique networks. Lastly, we propose a partially distributed scheme that achieves high throughput amidst delayed CSI.
Cigarette smoke-induced inflammation: NLRP10-mediated mechanisms.

Abstract Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive, life-threatening disease that causes irreversible lung damage. Cigarette smoking is the chief etiologic factor for the commencement of this condition. Despite constant efforts to develop therapeutic interventions and to ascertain the molecular mechanism leading to the pathophysiology of this disease, much remains unknown. However, pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), i.e., Toll-like-receptors (TLRs) and NOD-like receptors (NLRs) are believed to play important roles in COPD and could serve as effective therapeutic targets. Although the role of TLRs in COPD has been well studied, the importance of NLRs has not yet been explored in detail. The NLR family member NLRP10 (aka NOD8, PAN5, PYNOD) is the only member of this family of proteins that lacks the leucine rich repeat (LRR) domain responsible for detection of pathogen and danger-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs/DAMPs). Therefore, instead of functioning as a PRR, NLRP10 may have a broader regulatory role. To elucidate the role of NLRP10 in secondhand smoke (SHS)-induced inflammation, we exposed C57Bl/6 (WT) and Nlrp10-deficient mice (Nlrp10−/−) on the C57Bl/6 background to filtered air- or SHS- for 6 weeks (acute exposure) and assessed the resulting molecular events. Leukocyte recruitment in SHS-exposed Nlrp10−/− mice was found to be significantly lower compared to SHS-exposed WT mice. In addition, we observed an important role for NLRP10 in SHS-mediated caspase-1 activation, cytokine/chemokine production (IL-1β, IL-18, MCP-1 and IL-17A), and induction of NF-κB and MAPKs in the lungs of C57Bl/6 mice. The reduced influx of CD4+IL-17A+ and CD8+IL-17A+ cells into the lungs of SHS-exposed Nlrp10−/− mice and impaired differentiation of Nlrp10−/− Th0 cells into Th17 cells (ex vivo) provide insight into the mechanistic details underlying NLRP10-dependent IL-17 production. We further substantiated our in vivo findings by challenging human alveolar type II epithelial cells (A549) transfected with scrambled- or Nlrp10-siRNA with cigarette smoke extract (CSE). We observed an important role of NLRP10 in cytokine and chemokine production as well as expression of NF-κB and MAPKs in CSE-exposed A549 cells. Furthermore, replenishment of A549 cell culture with recombinant IL-17A (rIL-17A) during NLRP10 knockdown rescued CSE-induced inflammatory responses. To identify upstream mediators of NLRP10 regulation we investigated epigenetic markers within the Nlrp10 promoter following cigarette smoke exposure and observed significant changes in active as well as repressive gene markers on histone 3 and histone 4 using both in vivo and in vitro study models. Further, alterations in the respective histone acetyl- and methyltransferases (PCAF, SET1, ESET, SUV20H1) correlated well with the observed histone modifications. Overall, our findings suggest a novel role of epigenetically regulated NLRP10 in Th17/IL-17 signaling during CS exposure.
Membrane theory of entanglement dynamics from holography

Recently, a minimal membrane description of the entanglement dynamics of large regions in generic chaotic systems was conjectured in Jonay, Huse, and Nahum (arXiv:1803.00089). Analytic results in random circuits and spin chain numerics support this theory. We show that the results found by Mezei [J. High Energy Phys. 05 (2017) 064], about the dynamics of entanglement entropy in theories with a holographic dual, can be reformulated in terms of the same minimal membrane, providing strong evidence that the membrane theory describes all chaotic systems. We discuss the implications of our results for tensor network approaches to holography and the holographic renormalization group.
Say CHEESE: Common Human Emotional Expression Set Encoder and Its Application to Analyze Deceptive Communication

In this paper we introduce the Common Human Emotional Expression Set Encoder (CHEESE) framework for objectively determining which, if any, subsets of the facial action units associated with smiling are well represented by a small finite set of clusters according to an information theoretic metric. Smile-related AUs (6,7,10,12,14) in over 1.3M frames of facial expressions from 151 pairs of individuals playing a communication game involving deception were analyzed with CHEESE. The combination of AU6 (cheek raiser) and AU12 (lip corner puller) are shown to cluster well into five different types of expression. Liars showed high intensity AU6 and AU12 more often compared to honest speakers. Additionally, interrogators were found to express a higher frequency of low intensity AU6 with high intensity AU12 (i.e. polite smiles) when they were being lied to, suggesting that deception analysis should be done in consideration of both the message sender's and the receiver's facial expressions.
The effect of municipal treated wastewater on the water holding properties of a clayey, calcareous soil.

Abstract Wastewater reuse is a practice that has been gaining attention for the past few decades as the world's population rises and water resources become scarce. Wastewater application on soil can affect soil health, and the manner and extent to which this occurs depends heavily on soil type and water quality. This study compared the long-term (15+ years) effects and suitability of using secondary-level treated municipal wastewater and brackish groundwater for irrigation on the water holding capacity of a clayey, calcareous soil on a cotton farm near San Angelo, Texas. The soil-water holding properties were determined from the extracted hydrostructural parameters of the two characteristic curves: water retention curve and soil shrinkage curve based on the pedostructure concept. In the pedostructure concept, these hydrostructural parameters are characteristic properties of the soil aggregates structure and its thermodynamic interactions with water. Results indicate that use of secondary treated wastewater increased available water capacity in the top horizon (0–15 cm) and decreased the available water holding capacity of this particular soil in the sub-horizons (15–72 cm). The brackish groundwater irrigation resulted in no effect on available water capacity in the top horizon, but significantly decreased it in the sub-horizons as well. The rainfed soil was the healthiest soil in terms of water holding capacity, but rainfall conditions do not produce profitable cotton yields. Whereas, treated wastewater irrigated soil is producing the highest yields for the farmer. Thus, this treated wastewater source and irrigation system can serve as a suitable irrigation alternative to using brackish groundwater, enhancing the water resource sustainability of this region.
15 – Varying Views of Animal and Human Cognition

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the varying views of animal and human cognition. The term “cognitive ethology” currently connotes and denotes more than what is represented in this chapter. It includes current descendants of behavioristic learning theory, evolutionary epistemology, evolutionary psychology, and the recent comparative turn in cognitive science. These several approaches, despite their considerable overlap, often appear independent and even ignorant of one another. Although each approach may indeed need the space to work out its own conceptual and methodological preoccupations without confounding interference from other views, a utopian spirit envisages an ultimate coming together, a more comprehensive realization of the synthetic approach to animal cognition. Continuity between human and animal minds offers a two-way street: contemplation of animals in human terms, or of humans in animal terms. One could either humanize the brutes or brutalize the humans. In conclusion, it is worth quoting Niko Tinbergen who said that it is useful both to distinguish between them and to insist that a comprehensive, coherent science of ethology has to give equal attention to each of them and to their integration. A very similar statement applies to the varying views of animal and human cognition.
The Perfect Storm: Bankruptcy, Choice of Law, and Same-Sex Marriage

The bankruptcy courts are currently split on the appropriate choice of law rule, some contend that they must apply the forum state's choice of law rule while others contend that they are free to create a federal choice of law rule. This Article contends that the forum state's choice of law rule is inapplicable in the bankruptcy context when interpretation and application of the Bankruptcy Code requires reference to state law. In these instances,bankruptcy courts should be free to develop a federal choice of law rule that promotes the federal policies underlying the Bankruptcy Code. This approach will result in the Bankruptcy Code being interpreted by reference to state laws that are consistent with and promote the Code's underlying policies. Importantly, such an approach requires courts to ensure that the parties' rights and obligations are not unnecessarily altered by the bankruptcy process. Likewise, it avoids the situation where a state's public policy dictates which state law should be used to interpret and apply federal law. Under this paradigm, courts would choose the state law that aids a debtor's fresh start upon emergence from bankruptcy, promotes the ratable distribution of available assets among the creditors, and, perhaps most importantly, ensures that the rights of the parties are not unnecessarily undermined by the happenstance of bankruptcy.
Placental Regulation of Fetal Growth

Growth of the fetus should be of paramount concern to those involved in animal production. The influence of fetal growth on animal production is manifest in several ways. Birth weight is typically related to neonatal mortality by a “U”-shaped curve. Birth weights lower than optimum are associated with reduced energy reserves, lowered thermoregulatory capability, and increased perinatal mortality. In addition, low birth weight is correlated with low rates of growth postnatally and decreased mature size. Conversely, birth weights that are greater than optimum result in increased dystocia and perinatal mortality as well as decreased rebreeding performance of the dam.
Converging Technologies for Improving Human Performance: Integrating From the Nanoscale

In the early decades of the twenty-first century, concentrated efforts can unify science based on the unity of nature, thereby advancing the combination of nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology, and new humane technologies based in cognitive science. Converging technologies integrated from the nanoscale could determine a tremendous improvement in human abilities and societal outcomes. This is a broad, cross cutting, emerging, and timely opportunity of interest to individuals, society, and humanity in the long term. About eighty scientific leaders, industry experts, and policy makers across a range of fields have contributed to develop a vision for the potential to improve human physical, mental, and social capabilities through the convergence of the four technologies. Six major themes have emerged: (a) The broad potential of converging technologies; (b) Expanding human cognition and communication; (c) Improving human health and physical capabilities; (d) Enhancing group and societal outcomes; (e) National security, and (f) Unifying science and education. This article summarizes the observations, conclusions, and recommendations made in the report (Roco & Bainbridge, eds., 2002. Converging Technologies for Improving Human Performance, NSF-DOC Report, June 2002, Arlington VA, USA).
Adjuvant HER2-Targeted Therapy Update in Breast Cancer: Escalation and De-escalation of Therapy in 2018

The introduction of trastuzumab for the adjuvant treatment of tumors with amplification of HER2/neu has been one of the most exciting advances in systemic treatment in the history of breast cancer and has transformed the natural history of HER2/neu-positive (HER2+) breast cancer (BC). There have been several recent advances in the adjuvant treatment of HER2+ BC and herein we review recently reported clinical trials focusing on the impact of expanding therapeutic options with attention to optimal sequence of the available treatment options and clinical aspects of escalating or de-escalating therapy for patients based on their level of risk. Two major clinical trials (APHINITY and EXTENET) reported modest improvements in disease-free survival (DFS) leading to FDA approval of pertuzumab in the adjuvant setting and neratinib in the extended adjuvant setting for HER2+ BC. In addition to the previously established utility of trastuzumab in combination with chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting, we now have expanded options with two additional agents. However, it has become challenging to appropriately sequence therapies and select patients who will truly benefit from receipt of additional therapies and for which patients de-escalation of therapy may be possible. Although significant advances have been made in the treatment of HER2+ BC since the introduction of trastuzumab over the past 20 years, patients do still harbor primary resistance and experience recurrence following optimal treatment. In this review, we seek to provide a practical approach for clinicians to optimally utilize the available adjuvant anti-Her2 drugs with the data currently available.
Elastic net ensemble classifier for event-related potential based automatic spelling

Abstract Background Brain–computer interface (BCI) refers to a direct communication between the brain and an object to be controlled by information embedded in various signals originated from the brain. Electroencephalogram (EEG) is the most common brain signal modality due to its noninvasiveness, ease-of-use, and high time-resolution. P300-based automatic spelling is the most celebrated EEG-based BCI system, which allows its user to relay a message by just staying focused on letters and numbers displayed on a screen. The objectives of this work are (1) to introduce a novel P300 detection algorithm and (2) to compare its performance against the best current practice algorithm for P300 detection. Results Four volunteers tried to spell letters, “PIRATES”, using our automatic spelling system after proper training. Our results indicate that the proposed P300 detection algorithm can speed up the automatic spelling process since it requires a smaller number of flashing sequences than the best current practice algorithm does to recognize target event-related potentials. While the proposed P300 detection algorithm performs better than the best current practice algorithm, it does not necessarily require a heavy computational burden. Conclusion We designed a novel P300 detection algorithm assuming that the sparsity of EEG signals could be effectively utilized to detect target event-related potentials such as P300. Our pilot study results indicate that utilizing the sparsity of EEG signals can improve the automatic spelling experience.