cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Uptake pathway of polyomavirus via ganglioside GD1a

The pathway of entry of polyomavirus (Py) has been investigated with glycolipid-deficient C6 cells and added ganglioside GD1a as a specific virus receptor. Unsupplemented C6 cells show a low basal level of infection but become highly infectable by Py following preincubation with the sialic acid-containing ganglioside GD1a (38). Addition of GD1a has no effect on the overall level of virus binding but mediates the internalization and transit of virus to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). This pathway of entry is cholesterol and caveola dependent and requires intact microtubules as well as a dynamic state of the microfilament system. In contrast to vesicular transport of other cargo via glycolipids, Py particles do not appear to pass through the Golgi apparatus. Colcemid and brefeldin A block transport of the virus to the ER in GD1a-supplemented cells and lead to accumulation of virus in a caveolin-1-containing environment. Several features distinguish the efficient GD1a-mediated pathway of virus uptake from the less-efficient pathway of basal infection in C6 cells.
Confronting change: Labor, state, and privatization

ABSTRACT This article examines how organized labor has responded to and sought to influence privatization of the public sector. In order to explain the variation in labor organizations' influence on the process of privatization design and implementation it examines the interaction between reforming governments and organized labor in Poland, Egypt, Mexico and the Czech Republic. The article argues that we can more fully account for organized labor's influence on economic restructuring policies by considering the historical legacies of state–labor interaction. Those interactions affect the resources available to labor, such as legal prerogatives, financial autonomy and experience. These resources in turn affect the relative power between organized labor and the reforming government and thus influence the ability of organized labor to shape privatization policies.
Composition and Structure of the Centromeric Region of Rice Chromosome 8

Understanding the organization of eukaryotic centromeres has both fundamental and applied importance because of their roles in chromosome segregation, karyotypic stability, and artificial chromosome-based cloning and expression vectors. Using clone-by-clone sequencing methodology, we obtained the complete genomic sequence of the centromeric region of rice (Oryza sativa) chromosome 8. Analysis of 1.97 Mb of contiguous nucleotide sequence revealed three large clusters of CentO satellite repeats (68.5 kb of 155-bp repeats) and >220 transposable element (TE)–related sequences; together, these account for ∼60% of this centromeric region. The 155-bp repeats were tandemly arrayed head to tail within the clusters, which had different orientations and were interrupted by TE-related sequences. The individual 155-bp CentO satellite repeats showed frequent transitions and transversions at eight nucleotide positions. The 40 TE elements with highly conserved sequences were mostly gypsy-type retrotransposons. Furthermore, 48 genes, showing high BLAST homology to known proteins or to rice full-length cDNAs, were predicted within the region; some were close to the CentO clusters. We then performed a genome-wide survey of the sequences and organization of CentO and RIRE7 families. Our study provides the complete sequence of a centromeric region from either plants or animals and likely will provide insight into the evolutionary and functional analysis of plant centromeres.
Using random forests to diagnose aviation turbulence

Atmospheric turbulence poses a significant hazard to aviation, with severe encounters costing airlines millions of dollars per year in compensation, aircraft damage, and delays due to required post-event inspections and repairs. Moreover, attempts to avoid turbulent airspace cause flight delays and en route deviations that increase air traffic controller workload, disrupt schedules of air crews and passengers and use extra fuel. For these reasons, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration have funded the development of automated turbulence detection, diagnosis and forecasting products. This paper describes a methodology for fusing data from diverse sources and producing a real-time diagnosis of turbulence associated with thunderstorms, a significant cause of weather delays and turbulence encounters that is not well-addressed by current turbulence forecasts. The data fusion algorithm is trained using a retrospective dataset that includes objective turbulence reports from commercial aircraft and collocated predictor data. It is evaluated on an independent test set using several performance metrics including receiver operating characteristic curves, which are used for FAA turbulence product evaluations prior to their deployment. A prototype implementation fuses data from Doppler radar, geostationary satellites, a lightning detection network and a numerical weather prediction model to produce deterministic and probabilistic turbulence assessments suitable for use by air traffic managers, dispatchers and pilots. The algorithm is scheduled to be operationally implemented at the National Weather Service's Aviation Weather Center in 2014.
A mixed branch length model of heterotachy improves phylogenetic accuracy.

Evolutionary relationships are typically inferred from molecular sequence data using a statistical model of the evolutionary process. When the model accurately reflects the underlying process, probabilistic phylogenetic methods recover the correct relationships with high accuracy. There is ample evidence, however, that models commonly used today do not adequately reflect real-world evolutionary dynamics. Virtually all contemporary models assume that relatively fast-evolving sites are fast across the entire tree, whereas slower sites always evolve at relatively slower rates. Many molecular sequences, however, exhibit site-specific changes in evolutionary rates, called “heterotachy.” Here we examine the accuracy of 2 phylogenetic methods for incorporating heterotachy, the mixed branch length model—which incorporates site-specific rate changes by summing likelihoods over multiple sets of branch lengths on the same tree—and the covarion model, which uses a hidden Markov process to allow sites to switch between variable and invariable as they evolve. Under a variety of simple heterogeneous simulation conditions, the mixed model was dramatically more accurate than homotachous models, which were subject to topological biases as well as biases in branch length estimates. When data were simulated with strong versions of the types of heterotachy observed in real molecular sequences, the mixed branch length model was more accurate than homotachous techniques. Analyses of empirical data sets confirmed that the mixed branch length model can improve phylogenetic accuracy under conditions that cause homotachous models to fail. In contrast, the covarion model did not improve phylogenetic accuracy compared with homotachous models and was sometimes substantially less accurate. We conclude that a mixed branch length approach, although not the solution to all phylogenetic errors, is a valuable strategy for improving the accuracy of inferred trees.
Topology Preservation and Cooperative Learning in Identification of Multiple Model Systems

The self-organizing network (SON)-based multiple model system is a recently proposed method for identifying the dynamics of a general nonlinear system. It has been observed by researchers that cooperative learning among neighboring regions is sometimes important for the success of identification of a nonlinear system under the multiple model system framework. In this paper, we intend to formally evaluate the effects of cooperative learning and topology preservation in identification of multiple model system based on SON. The results of the mathematical analysis supports the heuristic that a good learning strategy for identifying the local model parameters of a SON-based multiple model system is to choose a neighborhood function whose effective region is initially wider and is reduced gradually during learning. An example of nonlinear function approximation is also provided at the end of this paper to demonstrate the results of the mathematical analysis.
Personality disorders and traits as predictors of incident cardiovascular disease: findings from the 23-year follow-up of the Baltimore ECA study.

Background Over the past several decades, the relationship between personality traits and heart disease has interested clinicians and researchers alike. Objective The authors investigated personality disorders (PDs) and PD dimensional traits as prospective risk factors for incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) follow-up study. Method In 1981, 244 community residents were examined for DSM–III PDs, and PD dimensional traits and were followed for incident CVD by 2004. Results Logistic-regression models with or without adjustment for potential confounders revealed that Cluster B PD and PD dimensional traits at baseline were consistently associated with increased risk of incident CVD by 2004. Post-hoc analysis also revealed that Cluster B PD and traits also predict CVD mortality. Conclusion Cluster B PDs and dimensional traits may be independent risk factors for incident CVD in the community.
Intranasal buprenorphine alone and in combination with naloxone: Reinforcing efficacy and abuse liability in physically dependent opioid abusers

Drug and Alcohol Dependence 156 (2015) e183–e245 e233 distinctive phenotype; (3) absence of dependence observed at long ETFL might give clues for resilience research; (4) to the extent that drug availability fosters longer ETFL and does not alter these estimates, one result of increased availability might be upturning numbers of dependence cases perhaps observable as soon as ∼7.5 months after regime change. Financial support: Supported by NIDA T32DA021129 (OAV); K05DA015799 (JCA). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.07.626 Feasibility of web-based treatment delivery for cocaine use disorder: Profile of Internet access by active cocaine users Frances P. Wagner1,∗, Justin C. Strickland2, William W. Stoops1,2,3, Craig R. Rush1,2,3 1 Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States 2 Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States 3 Psychiatry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY,
Prevention of Psychosocial Problems in Hemophiliacs

At times, psychiatrists have caused themselves an identity crisis by branching out into areas of community problems, national problems, international affairs, poverty, politics and criminality which they are not well qualified to handle. Many of us have met the fate of Dr. Peck, illustrated in the verse entitled “Psychiatrists Beware”: There was a doctor named Dr. Peck Who fell in a well and broke his neck. People said he should have known To treat the sick and leave the well alone.
Identification of melanocortin-1 receptor selective small molecule agonists

The melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) is a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) that is involved in skin pigmentation and animal coat coloration. The MC1R is stimulated by the melanocortin agonists which include melanocyte stimulating hormones (MSH) and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH). All the melanocortin agonists contain a core His-PheArg-Trp sequence that is attributed to melanocortin receptor specific molecular recognition and stimulation. Previous studies of triand tetrapeptides based upon this core sequence have been reported [1] to selectively agonize the human skin MC1 and brain MC4 receptors. Based upon this and structural studies implicating the importance of a reverse turn in the region of the His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp sequence of several highly potent and enzymatically stable melanocortin ligands [2,3], we examined a -turn mimetic library of 951 compounds for agonist activity at the MC1R. This library was generated using a parallel synthetic strategy [4] and screened at the MC1R using a 96-well colorimetric reporter gene bioassay (CRE-galactosidase) [5].
Quantification of Amyloid Precursor Protein Isoforms Using Quantification Concatamer Internal Standard

It is likely that expression and/or post-translational generation of various protein isoforms can be indicative of initial pathological changes or pathology development. However, selective quantification of individual protein isoforms remains a challenge, because they simultaneously possess common and unique amino acid sequences. Quantification concatamer (QconCAT) internal standards were originally designed for a large-scale proteome quantification and are artificial proteins that are concatamers of tryptic peptides for several proteins. We developed a QconCAT for quantification of various isoforms of amyloid precursor protein (APP). APP-QconCAT includes tryptic peptides that are common for all isoforms of APP concatenated with those tryptic peptides that are unique for specific APP isoforms. Isotope-labeled APP-QconCAT was expressed, purified, characterized, and further used for quantification of total APP, APP695, and amyloid-β (Aβ) in the human frontal cortex from control and severe Alzheimer’s diseas...
Modeling of Manual Handling in Unusual Postures

Subjects performed a series of psychophysical lifting tasks simulating USAF aircrew maintenance activities. The tasks involved lifting while in unusual postures: lying prone, supine, sideways, and standing. Maximum acceptable weights on the tasks were then related to performance on a series of isoinertial and isometric strength tests. High correlations were obtained between lifting task and strength test performance. Prediction models developed indicated that an isoinertial 1.8 m lift and isometric one hand pull were the best predictors of task performance. The prediction models can be used in the establishment of design weights for aircrew maintenance tasks.
Tracking PRSEUS Technical Progress with Reduction of Performance Uncertainty Through Technology Development and Demonstration Phases

Technology development and demonstration is performed in order to mature a technology and reduce the risk of implementing it on current and future aircraft. The Pultruded Rod Stitched Efficient Unitized Structure (PRSEUS) technology was developed by Boeing and NASA and has been demonstrated through the Environmentally Responsible Aviation (ERA) program. Throughout this demonstration process, experiments have been executed to gain performance information for the structure. For most experiments, however, performance has been assessed through lower level metrics and proof of concept checks rather than with system level metrics such as structural weight reduction. An approach is presented that translates the lessons learned from various milestones in the PRSEUS technology development and demonstration phases to system level performance metrics. Uncertainty about those metrics is quantified to show the achievement of technical progress, i.e. reduction of uncertainty, through demonstration. This process was performed for a 300-passenger hybrid wing body (HWB) configuration and a large twin aisle (LTA) tube-and-wing configuration similar to a B777-200LR. It was shown that a reduction of uncertainty of 38.8% and 35.5% of the original uncertainty range for the HWB and LTA, respectively, was achieved through manufacturing milestones and experiments performed in ERA Phase II.
Effects of intraluminal infusion of short-chain fatty acids on the healing of colonic anastomosis in the rat

The effects of an intracolonic infusion of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) on the healing of colonic anastomosis in the rat were investigated. Thirty-three Sprague-Dawley rats underwent transection and anastomosis of the descending colon and transection and diversion of the ascending colon. The proximal limb of the ascending colon was exteriorized as an end colostomy, and the distal (defunctionalized) limb was cannulated for continuous infusion. Rats received either no infusion (N = 11) or an infusion of either electrolytes (N = 11) or SCFA (acetate, propionate, and butyrate; N = 11) into the defunctionalized colonic segment. On the sixth postoperative day bursting pressure (BP) and bowel wall tension (BWT) were determined. The occurrence of spontaneous anastomotic dehiscence was significantly less for the SCFA group (0/11) compared with the no infusion group (5/11, p less than 0.01). The anastomotic suture line burst in significantly fewer colons from the SCFA group (1/11) than either the electrolyte infusion (8/11, p less than 0.003) or the no infusion (6/6, p less than 0.001) groups. BP and BWT were significantly higher for the SCFA group (BP: 147 +/- 10 mm Hg; BWT: 59 +/- 1.0 dyne 10(3)/cm) than for either the electrolyte (BP: 99 +/- 30 mm Hg, p less than 0.002; BWT: 45 +/- 19, p less than 0.03) or no infusion (BP: 111 +/- 42, p less than 0.02; BWT 36 +/- 15, p less than 0.007) groups. The results of this study indicate that intracolonic infusion of SCFA resulted in significantly stronger colonic anastomosis in the rat.
The psychopathology of trichotillomania and trichophagy.

(1963). The Psychopathology of Trichotillomania and Trichophagy. Psychiatry: Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 95-103.
A Phenomenology of the Present: Toward a Digital Understanding of Gravity’s Rainbow

This essay presents the results produced by the application of three corpus analysis tools to Thomas Pynchon’s Gravity’s Rainbow: word frequency/keyness analysis, social network analysis, and topic modeling. It uses these data to argue that the novel is peculiarly concerned with the concept of the present moment. Engaging along the way traditional arguments about the nature of the book’s Romanticism and its sense of “connectedness,” the essay demonstrates how distant reading can aid us in perceiving aspects of overwhelming texts that are not easy to perceive otherwise, consequently complementing rather than opposing close reading practices.
‘Lettice & Lovage’: New Comedy for a New Age

Lettice & Lovage caught audiences off guard. After twenty years building an international career centred on serious drama, Peter Shaffer in 1987 suddenly returned to comedy. An entirely new generation was thus introduced to the less serious side of the award-winning playwright.
Color Doppler Imaging of the Appendix Criteria to Improve Specificity for Appendicitis in the Borderline-Size Appendix

OBJECTIVES To test the hypothesis that continuous intramural vascular signal measuring at least 3 mm on color Doppler imaging is highly specific for appendicitis in patients with diagnostically borderline-size appendices. METHODS Two blinded observers independently reviewed color Doppler images of the appendix in 94 consecutive patients who had undergone sonography for suspected appendicitis and whose appendices were of diagnostically borderline size (6-8 mm maximum outer diameter). Intramural vascular flow on color Doppler images was classified as absent, type 1 (only punctate and dispersed signal), or type 2 (continuous linear or curvilinear signal measuring at least 3.0 mm in long- or short-axis views). Histopathologic examination and clinical follow-up served as reference standards. Proportions were assessed by the exact binomial test. RESULTS Of the 94 patients, 33 (35.1%) had type 1 flow (of whom 5 [15.2%] had appendicitis); 23 (24.5%) had type 2 flow (of whom 20 [87.0%] had appendicitis); and 38 (40.4%) had absent flow (of whom 10 [26.3%] had appendicitis). The sensitivity, specificity, and odds ratio of type 2 flow as an indicator of appendicitis were 57.1%, 94.9%, and 24.9 (P< .001), respectively; the corresponding values for type 1 flow as an indicator of normal appendices were and 47.5%, 85.7%, and 5.4 (P = .002). CONCLUSIONS Continuous intramural linear or curvilinear signal measuring at least 3 mm on color Doppler imaging is a highly specific, although relatively insensitive, sign of acute appendicitis in noncompressible appendices of diagnostically borderline size (6-8 mm).
Reliability analysis of smart house system

With the advance of technologies, smart house design is becoming a very important area of research applications. A large number of applications in a smart house are controlled by smart devices that incorporates various sensors. Recent consumer surveys show that people are concerned about privacy and security regarding personal information, but also the vulnerabilities found in house appliances. This paper presents reliability analysis of a smart house system, using various modules and prediction methods of CARE — Computer Aided Reliability Engineering tool, a powerful software tool for reliability analysis. The prototype of the smart house system was built, tested and is fully functional. Estimating the reliability of various blocks and components of the smart house system help the designer to make the necessary changes from an initial phase of the project, designing more reliable and safe smart houses.
An information-based machine learning approach to elasticity imaging

An information-based technique is described for applications in mechanical property imaging of soft biological media under quasi-static loads. We adapted the Autoprogressive method that was originally developed for civil engineering applications for this purpose. The Autoprogressive method is a computational technique that combines knowledge of object shape and a sparse distribution of force and displacement measurements with finite-element analyses and artificial neural networks to estimate a complete set of stress and strain vectors. Elasticity imaging parameters are then computed from estimated stresses and strains. We introduce the technique using ultrasonic pulse-echo measurements in simple gelatin imaging phantoms having linear-elastic properties so that conventional finite-element modeling can be used to validate results. The Autoprogressive algorithm does not require any assumptions about the material properties and can, in principle, be used to image media with arbitrary properties. We show that by selecting a few well-chosen force-displacement measurements that are appropriately applied during training and establish convergence, we can estimate all nontrivial stress and strain vectors throughout an object and accurately estimate an elastic modulus at high spatial resolution. This new method of modeling the mechanical properties of tissue-like materials introduces a unique method of solving the inverse problem and is the first technique for imaging stress without assuming the underlying constitutive model.
Phase Ib study of gemcitabine and oxaliplatin with erlotinib in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer.

e14503 Background: Gemcitabine (GEM) with a platinum agent such as oxaliplatin (OX) is standard therapy for advanced biliary tract cancers (ABTC). The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosi...
A Bleak Outlook for Future Combat Systems

This chapter provides a detailed examination of the Army’s failed and ambitious modernization program, Future Combat Systems. Despite a herculean congressional engagement strategy on the part of senior Army leaders, the program’s funding fluctuated over multiple fiscal years and was eventually terminated due to its technological immaturity, its complex management scheme, and its failure to engender sustained congressional support. Interestingly, the Future Combat Systems case suggests that the Army’s shifting priorities may be most effectively resourced through incremental funding adjustments to existing programs in the budget request, rather than large, dramatic budgetary changes.
Effect of temperature induced bond degradation on fire response of reinforced concrete beams

Abstract The influence of temperature induced bond degradation on response of reinforced concrete (RC) beams exposed to fire is presented. A finite element based numerical model is developed in ABAQUS for tracing the response of reinforced concrete beams exposed to fire. Temperature induced interfacial bond degradation between concrete and reinforcing steel is specifically taken into account using bond-link element approach. The effect of temperature dependent local bond stress-slip relations on fire resistance of both normal strength and high strength reinforced concrete beams is investigated. A comparison of numerical model predictions with response parameters measured in fire tests clearly indicate that interfacial bond between reinforcing steel and concrete can influence extent of strength degradation and deflections in RC beams exposed to fire leading to relatively lower fire resistance in the beams. Hence, the current approach of assuming a perfect bond between rebar and concrete in fire resistance analysis of reinforced concrete structures may be un-conservative in certain scenarios, especially for RC beams reinforced with smooth rebars and when rebar temperature exceeds 400 °C.
The Economics of the Internet

As a general matter, the economics of the Internet is largely the same as any other industry. But although obedient to basic economic principles, high tech industries—in particular those related to the Internet ecosystem—are susceptible to certain market tendencies and forces dictated by such industries’ defining characteristics. This short chapter distills those characteristics down to three key categories: (I) two-sided markets and network effects; (II) rapid innovation and (III) regulatory impacts. The purpose of this chapter is to explore the identified issues by summarizing some of the notable, scholarly literature in each category.
Copyright Questions and Answers for Information Professionals: From the Columns of Against the Grain

Copyright Law and Public Domain, from Nolo. Copyright questions and answers for information professionals: from the columns of Against the Grain Gasaway. by Samantha Hines — Information is developing more and more past the purely textual. Questions and Answers – p. 49. Copyright Column by Laura Gasaway — As always, Lolly answers many questions this time especially presentations from several information professionals discussing various aspects of altmetrics.
Probing Attacks on Integrated Circuits: Challenges and Research Opportunities

Editor’s note: As a type of invasive physical attacks, probing attacks are able to access and directly monitor security critical nets of an IC and extract sensitive information. In this paper, the authors summarize the state-of-the-art probing and anti-probing technologies and their challenges, and discuss the opportunities in the relevant research. —Yiran Chen, Duke University
Health Humanities Baccalaureate Programs and the Rhetoric of Health and Medicine

ABSTRACTThis article argues that technical and professional communication (TPC) programs and specialists need to contribute more to health humanities scholarship and program curricula. The article reviews the writing courses offered by baccalaureate health humanities programs and “to support further TPC engagement in these programs” offers core generalizations and strategies for managing their approval process.
PREDICTING CARDIOVASCULAR RISK USING COMMON UTILIZATION MANAGEMENT CRITERIA FOR PROPROTEIN CONVERTASE SUBTILISIN/KEXIN TYPE 9 INHIBITORS IN COMMERCIALLY INSURED PATIENTS WITH ATHEROSCLEROTIC CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

A growing body of literature suggests significant difficulty in gaining access and reimbursement for proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors (PCSK9i), which are indicated for additional lowering of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in patients with atherosclerotic
Digital Writing, Multimodality, and Learning Transfer: Crafting Connections between Composition and Online Composing

Abstract Most university students have a wealth of prior writing experience from writing in digital spaces before entering their first writing class, and much of this prior experience includes making meaning using multiple modes of communication. However, these students may not perceive their digital and multimodal writing as connected to classroom practice. Because of this, they may have a challenging time using writing knowledge learned in digital spaces to help with their academic writing. This study uses survey and interview data gathered from first-year university students to help better understand what prior digital and multimodal writing experiences students have as well as how students perceive the connections between these experiences and their own classroom practice. The author suggests ways to help students see connections between their varied writing experiences in order to facilitate learning transfer between their prior digital and multimodal experiences, their experiences in the composition classroom, and their experiences in other contexts.
Ocean-floor Metamorphism and its Significance

Deep ocean floors are mostly covered by unconsolidated sediments, commonly a few to several hundred metres thick, which are underlain usually by basaltic rocks.
The rapidity of variations in gene activity in differentiated cells

This chapter explains the rapidity of variations in gene activity in differentiated cells. A temporal aspect of gene control over cellular function is the rapidity of response in metazoan cells toward activation signals of external origin. It is at present well known that inducible bacterial systems react almost at once to the appropriate inductive stimulus. The metazoan cell genome is capable of responding to the appropriate environmental stimuli with the same rapidity as the bacterial genome, that is., within a brief period of time ranging from seconds to 1 or 2 minutes. A temporal asymmetry, thus, exists in the metazoan genomic control system in the sense that change in the patterns of cell function resulting from gene activation can be effected with far greater temporal sharpness than can control by gene repression, even though the genome-level response may be equally rapid in cases of external signals causing gene repression. The asymmetry follows [A7]
Three-Dimensional Electrocardiographic Tomographic Imaging

Cardiac electrical activity is distributed over the three dimensional (3D) myocardium. It is of significance to noninvasively image distributed cardiac electrical activity throughout the 3D volume of the myocardium. Such knowledge of the source distribution would play an important role in our effort to relate the electrocardiographic inverse solutions with regional cardiac activity.
Combating Resource Crunch in an Optical Network: Demand-Responsive Dynamic OSNR Margin Allocation

Several network operators run their networks at high average utilization. At high utilization, it is more likely that Resource Crunch will occur due to there not being enough capacity to serve all offered traffic. One solution is to increase the capacity of the underlying optical network by using higher modulation formats (which provide higher throughput) through transponders capable of dynamically adjusting modulations. This is possible since operators traditionally use large Optical Signal-to-Noise Ratio (OSNR) margins (i.e., the difference between the minimum OSNR for a certain modulation and the observed OSNR). Using modulation formats with higher spectral efficiency (i.e., increasing modulation) decreases OSNR margins. When OSNR margins are small, OSNR fluctuations may trigger the transponder to use more robust, lower modulations. If these changes are frequent, Quality of Service may suffer. To reduce the number of modulation changes, we propose a Machine Learning model to forecast OSNR. When Resource Crunch starts, we choose what modulations to use in each lightpath (according to the forecast); and, when it is over, we revert to large margins, in a demand-responsive manner. Our results show that, during Resource Crunch, our method carries a larger load when compared to a scenario where conservative OSNR margins are used, while incurring significantly fewer modulation changes than a system that always uses the tightest OSNR margin possible.
Sporulating behavior of Bacillus licheniformis strains influences their population dynamics during raw milk holding

ABSTRACT To understand the role of strain variability, population dynamics of 2 strains of Bacillus licheniformis, ATCC 6634 and ATCC 14580, were modeled as a function of temperature (4.0–12.0°C) and duration (0–72 h) using regression analysis. Based on the initial spiking of vegetative cells (approximately 4.0 log cfu/mL) and spores (approximately 2.0 log cfu/mL), regression equations, elucidating B. licheniformis growth behavior during raw milk holding at low temperature, were obtained. Contour plots were developed to determine the time-temperature combinations, keeping the population changes to less than 1.0 log. In vegetative cell spiking study of B. licheniformis ATCC 6634 (S1), cell population changes remained below 1.0 log up to 72 h at 8°C. For B. licheniformis ATCC 14580 (S2), 1.0 log shift was not observed only after 80 h at 8°C, indicating higher multiplication potential of S1 as compared with S2. As S2 was a readily sporulating strain, the vegetative spiking study showed spore formation at different storage temperatures. Evidence of some parallel germination was observed for this strain at 8°C or higher, when raw milk samples were spiked with spores. The experimental values obtained for sporeformers and spore counts were validated with contour plot-generated values. Overall, for raw milk samples predominated by the low sporulating strain, the contour plots suggested holding at 8°C or below for up to 72 h. In the case of the readily sporulating strain (S2), raw milk could be held at 8°C for 80 h, where little or no sporulation is observed. Sporulation behavior, germination and multiplication ability, strain variability, and temperature and duration of holding raw milk influenced the population dynamics of Bacillus species. However, in the presence of equivalent numbers of both types of sporulating strains in raw milk, despite strain variability, holding milk at 8°C for not more than 72 h would keep any cell population changes below 1.0 log. In addition, under these storage conditions, the population would remain as vegetative cells that are likely to be inactivated by pasteurization. The contour plots, so generated, would help predict the population shifts and define optimum holding conditions for raw milk before further processing.
The impact of dopamine D2-like agonist/antagonist on [18F]VAT PET measurement of VAChT in the brain of nonhuman primates.

Abstract Vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) is a promising target for a PET measure of cholinergic deficits which contribute to cognitive impairments. Dopamine D2-like agonists and antagonists are frequently used in the elderly and could alter cholinergic function and VAChT level. Therefore, pretreatment with dopamine D2-like drugs may interfere with PET measures using [18F]VAT, a specific VAChT radioligand. Herein, we investigated the impact of dopaminergic D2-like antagonist/agonist on VAChT level in the brain of macaques using [18F]VAT PET. PET imaging studies were carried out on macaques at baseline or pretreatment conditions. For pretreatment, animals were injected using a VAChT inhibitor (-)-vesamicol, a D2-like antagonist (-)-eticlopride, and a D2-like agonist (-)-quinpirole, separately. (-)-Vesamicol was injected at escalating doses of 0.025, 0.05, 0.125, 0.25 and 0.35 mg/kg; (-)-eticlopride was injected at escalating doses of 0.01, 0.10 and 0.30 mg/kg; (-)-quinpirole was injected at escalating doses of 0.20, 0.30, and 0.50 mg/kg. PET data showed [18F]VAT uptake declined in a dose-dependent manner by (-)-vesamicol pretreatment, demonstrating [18F]VAT uptake is sensitive to reflect the availability of VAChT binding sites. Furthermore, (-)-eticlopride increased [18F]VAT striatal uptake in a dose-dependent manner, while (-)-quinpirole decreased its uptake, suggesting striatal VAChT levels can be regulated by D2-like drug administration. Our findings confirmed [18F]VAT offers a reliable tool to in vivo assess the availability of VAChT binding sites. More importantly, PET with [18F]VAT successfully quantified the impact of dopaminergic D2-like drugs on striatal VAChT level, suggesting [18F]VAT has great potential for investigating the interaction between dopaminergic and cholinergic systems in vivo.
Optimal Design of the Resonant Tank of the Soft-Switching Solid-State Transformer

The Soft-Switching Solid-State Transformer (S4T) is a minimal single-stage current source topology with high frequency isolation and soft switching across the entire load range. The resonant tanks, consisting of a resonant LC circuit and an auxiliary switch, are crucial to the proper operation of the S4T by setting the zero voltage switching conditions across all the power devices. The selection of the resonant inductor and capacitor greatly affects the overall converter design in terms of voltage and current stress, achievable switching frequency and DC link utilization. This paper presents a detailed analysis of the resonant tanks operation and interaction with the transformer magnetizing and leakage inductances. The main relations are derived analytically and explained physically. Based on this mathematical framework, a Pareto optimization of the resonant circuits is proposed for a given set of transformer parameters. Finally, simulation and experimental results verifying the analysis are presented.
Hepatitis C infection among men who have sex with men living with HIV in New York City, 2000-2015.

Objectives To calculate the rate of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) with no reported history of injection drug use (IDU), and to assess whether disparities exist in HIV/HCV coinfection by race/ethnicity and neighbourhood poverty level within this population in New York City. Methods HIV-positive men who reported sex with men and did not report IDU at the time of HIV diagnosis, diagnosed through 2015 and alive as of 2000, were matched to people with HCV first reported to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene between 2000 and 2015. Those with HCV reported before or within 90 days of HIV infection were excluded. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was fit to compare the association between HCV diagnosis, race/ethnicity and neighbourhood poverty level. Results From 2000 to 2015, 54 488 non-IDU MSM were diagnosed with HIV, of whom 2762 (5.1%) were diagnosed with HCV after HIV diagnosis, yielding an overall age-adjusted HCV diagnosis rate of 512 per 100 000 person-years. HIV/HCV coinfection was significantly higher among non-Latino blacks (adjusted HR (aHR)=1.24, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.40) compared with non-Latino whites and among persons living in high-poverty neighbourhoods compared with those in low-poverty neighbourhoods (aHR=1.17, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.35) after stratification by year of HIV diagnosis. Conclusion Disparities in HIV/HCV coinfection among HIV-positive MSM were observed by race/ethnicity and neighbourhood poverty level. Routine HCV screening is recommended for people infected with HIV. People coinfected with HIV and HCV should be linked to HCV care, treated and cured to reduce morbidity and mortality, and to avoid ongoing HCV transmission.
Characterization and regulation of extracellular vesicles in the lumen of the ovine uterus

Secretions of the endometrium are vital for peri-implantation growth and development of the sheep conceptus. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are present in the uterine lumen, emanate from both the endometrial epithelia of the uterus and trophectoderm of the conceptus, and hypothesized to mediate communication between those cell types during pregnancy establishment in sheep. Size-exclusion chromatography and nanoparticle tracking analysis determined that total EV number in the uterine lumen increased from days 10 to 14 of the cycle but was lower on days 12 and 14 of pregnancy in sheep. Intrauterine infusions of interferon tau (IFNT) did not affect total EV number in the uterine lumen. Quantitative mass spectrometric analyses defined proteins and lipids in EVs isolated from the uterine lumen of day 14 cyclic and pregnant sheep. In vitro analyses found that EVs decreased ovine trophectoderm cell proliferation and increased IFNT production without effects on gene expression as determined by RNA-seq. Collective results support the idea EVs impact conceptus growth during pregnancy establishment via effects on trophectoderm cell growth.
Compact, “Clickable” Quantum Dots Photoligated with Multifunctional Zwitterionic Polymers for Immunofluorescence and In-Vivo Imaging

We detail the preparation of highly fluorescent quantum dots (QDs), surface-engineered with multifunctional polymer ligands that are compact and readily compatible with strain-promoted click conjug...
Correction to: Dot tracking methodology for background‑oriented schlieren (BOS)

In the version of the article originally published, a source of funding was missing under the Acknowledgment section.
Do novel insecticides pose a threat to beneficial insects

Systemic insecticides, such as neonicotinoids, are a major contributor towards beneficial insect declines. This has led to bans and restrictions on neonicotinoid use globally, most noticeably in the European Union, where four commonly used neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin and thiacloprid) are banned from outside agricultural use. While this might seem like a victory for conservation, restrictions on neonicotinoid use will only benefit insect populations if newly emerging insecticides do not have similar negative impacts on beneficial insects. Flupyradifurone and sulfoxaflor are two novel insecticides that have been registered for use globally, including within the European Union. These novel insecticides differ in their chemical class, but share the same mode of action as neonicotinoids, raising the question as to whether they have similar sub-lethal impacts on beneficial insects. Here, we conducted a systematic literature search of the potential sub-lethal impacts of these novel insecticides on beneficial insects, quantifying these effects with a meta-analysis. We demonstrate that both flupyradifurone and sulfoxaflor have significant sub-lethal impacts on beneficial insects at field-realistic levels of exposure. These results confirm that bans on neonicotinoid use will only protect beneficial insects if paired with significant changes to the agrochemical regulatory process. A failure to modify the regulatory process will result in a continued decline of beneficial insects and the ecosystem services on which global food production relies.
Randomized Value Functions via Posterior State-Abstraction Sampling.

State abstraction has been an essential tool for dramatically improving the sample efficiency of reinforcement-learning algorithms. Indeed, by exposing and accentuating various types of latent structure within the environment, different classes of state abstraction have enabled improved theoretical guarantees and empirical performance. When dealing with state abstractions that capture structure in the value function, however, a standard assumption is that the true abstraction has been supplied or unrealistically computed a priori, leaving open the question of how to efficiently uncover such latent structure while jointly seeking out optimal behavior. Taking inspiration from the bandit literature, we propose that an agent seeking out latent task structure must explicitly represent and maintain its uncertainty over that structure as part of its overall uncertainty about the environment. We introduce a practical algorithm for doing this using two posterior distributions over state abstractions and abstract-state values. In empirically validating our approach, we find that substantial performance gains lie in the multi-task setting where tasks share a common, low-dimensional representation.
Effective anaerobic treatment of produced water from petroleum production using an anaerobic digestion inoculum from a brewery wastewater treatment facility.

Abstract Produced water is a major waste problem in oil production yet it also represents a potential water source if treated properly, especially in arid regions. In this study, we investigate the anaerobic treatability of an oil-produced water with extremely high chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total dissolved organic carbon (TOC) from Wyoming’s Greater Green River Basin using anaerobic microcosms inoculated with a microbial consortium derived from a brewery wastewater treatment facility. The results demonstrate that for this water and an appropriate microbial inoculation, high-COD/TOC can be effectively removed with concomitant energy recovery as a form of methane. 93% and 89% of the COD and TOC were removed with a final high methane yield of 33.9 mmol/g carbon (848 μmol/g carbon/day). Chemical analyses showed that the ethylacetate-extractable compounds were much more amenable to biodegradation than the CH2Cl2 extractable compounds. Furthermore, compounds that were added during drilling and completion remained in the water and contributed significantly to the COD and anaerobic degradability. This study demonstrates that produced waters are amenable to anaerobic biological treatment and also that thorough chemical analyses are necessary to fully understand the potential for treatment.
National Early Career Transplant Hepatologist Survey: Compensation, Burnout, and Job Satisfaction.

Despite the growth of transplant hepatology as a subspecialty over the past decade, data on professional roles and compensation models remain lacking. Furthermore, the prevalence of physician burnout and job satisfaction are unknown in this profession. We aimed to conduct a comprehensive assessment of early career transplant hepatologists to fill these voids in knowledge and to inform current and future transplant hepatologists. An online survey designed to quantify clinical and nonclinical roles, compensation and structure, job satisfaction, and burnout was sent to 256 early career transplant hepatologists. Respondents were divided into three practice settings: university hospital clinical (n = 79), non-university hospital clinical (n = 35), and research (n = 25). The median age of respondents was 38 (interquartile range [IQR] 36-40) years, and 44% were women. The median half-days/week spent in clinic was 4 (IQR 3-6) and in endoscopy was 1 (IQR 1-2). Most of the respondents provided inpatient care (88%) for a median of 9 (IQR 6.5-10) weeks/year. The median base compensation was $300,000 (IQR US $263,750-$326,250), and most (76%) had salary-based compensation. Although only 8% of respondents were dissatisfied with their position, the prevalence of burnout was high at 35%. Conclusion: This survey is a comprehensive assessment focusing on early career transplant hepatologists, is reflective of the current training paradigm and practice of transplant hepatology, and provides transparency to guide professional negotiations and empower both trainees pursuing careers in transplant hepatology and early career transplant hepatologists.