cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rapid detection of Escherichia coli O157: H7 and its virulence genes by helicase-dependent isothermal DNA amplification

Objective To develop a quick and sensitive helicase- dependent isothermal DNA amplification( HDA) assay for the detection of Escherichia coli O157: H7 and its virulence genes. Methods Three pairs of primers were designed in the segments of the hemolysin gene( hlyA),the adhesion gene( eaeA),and the O157 gene( rfb). After establishing and optimizing the HDA method,specific and sensitivity were tested,and then compared with PCR method. Results The hlyA,eaeA and rfb genes were detected positive in the standard O157: H7 strains and the isolated strains,with the product sizes of 100bp,93bp and 109bp,respectively. And no cross- reactions were found in the background bacteria. The sensitivity of HDA assay was 3. 0 × 101cfu / ml which was similar to the result of PCR method. Conclusions The HDA assay is highly specific and sensitive in detecting Escherichia coli O157: H7 and has lower instrumental requirements. It is particularly suitable for auxiliary diagnosis in emergency disposal fields and grassroots medical institutions.
Aedes albopictus in the United States: current status and prospects for further spread.

Since its initial discovery in the continental USA in 1985, the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, has spread rapidly throughout the eastern part of the country. Infestations of Ae. albopictus now have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 919 counties in 26 states in the continental USA. This species is believed to be established in 911 counties in 25 states. Single individuals or small numbers of Ae. albopictus have been intercepted and destroyed in 3 additional states (California, New Mexico, and Washington). Five states (Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee) have reported infestations in all of their counties. The current reported distribution of Ae. albopictus was compared to ecoregions of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Level III ecoregion map. Several areas are identified as probable candidates for extension of this species based on ecological characteristics of the landscape. In other areas, populations seem likely to become locally abundant in urban or suburban oases that do not reflect the native ecology of the region. The ability of Ae. albopictus to transmit a variety of pathogens of human and veterinary public health importance, coupled with its ability to colonize diverse ecological settings makes continued surveillance an important issue.
Molecular traffic through plasma membrane disruptions of cells in vivo.

We have recently shown that mechanical forces, experimentally imposed or physiologically generated, transiently disrupt or wound the plasma membranes of epithelial cells of the gut and that cultured endothelial cells similarly wounded mechanically at their plasma membranes release a potent basic fibroblast growth factor-like molecule. Here we show that mechanical forces generated by experimental manipulation (tape stripping and needle puncture), or by animal locomotion, transiently wound the plasma membranes of various cells of skin, allowing otherwise impermeant tracer molecules to enter and become trapped within cell cytoplasm. We estimate that the epidermis of digits from actively locomoting animals is composed of 10.5% (+/− 4.9% S.D.) wounded cells, and that from quiescent animals has 3.7% (+/− 2.5%) wounded cells. Wounded fibroblast, glandular and endothelial cells were also identified in mechanically stressed skin. Cells retaining fluorescein dextran, used as a label for wounding, were observed 24h after the imposition of mechanical force, and wounded cells were generally of normal ultrastructure, indicating that cells in skin can survive membrane wounding. We propose that plasma membrane disruptions are an overlooked but probably common occurrence in cells residing in tissues such as gut and skin that are normally exposed to mechanical stress in vivo, and that such disruptions provide the physical basis in vivo for a previously unrecognized and diffusion-mediated route for molecular traffic directly across the plasma membrane into and out of living cell cytoplasm.
Childhood Sexual Abuse: Identification, Screening, and Treatment Recommendations in Primary Care Settings

It is estimated that 8% to 12% of American youths have experienced at least one sexual assault in their lifetime, making childhood sexual abuse (CSA) an important public health problem that is likely to be encountered by primary care providers. Use of screening tools and understanding the principles behind targeted clinical evaluation can aid in identification of CSA victims despite highly variable presentation. The primary care provider must be aware of potential signs and symptoms as well as differential diagnoses in order to identify children who may benefit from further mental health evaluation and intervention.
Null Arguments in Transitional Trilingual Grammars: Field Observations from Misionero German.

In this field note we discuss findings from pilot research on a variety of heritage German spoken in the Northeastern Province of Misiones of Argentina. Based on sociolinguistic field interviews with 25 consultants possessing varying degrees of proficiency in the language, we show that this variant of heritage German does in fact occasionally display instances of both null subjects (e.g. pro-drop) and null objects. These preliminary findings are consistent with other recent studies in the contact linguistics literature (cf. Camacho et al. 1997; Sanchez 1997, 1999a, 1999b; Cuza et al. 2013). In conclusion, we introduce suggestions for future research.
Union Decline in a Neoliberal Age Globalization, Financialization, European Integration, and Union Density in 18 Affluent Democracies

This paper examines the long-run effects of globalization, financialization, and European integration on union density in 18 affluent capitalist democracies between 1981 and 2010. After appropriate...
Interactions Between the Complement System and Fcγ Receptors

The key roles of the complement cascade and cellular Fcγ receptors in the innate and adaptive immune system are well documented. Recognition of soluble or cell-bound IgG-containing immune complexes by either of these two respective effector systems leads to a complex series of separate and non-overlapping inflammatory reactions and cytotoxic processes, each of which serves to remove or destroy opsonized microorganisms or targeted tumor cells. Alternatively, in autoimmune diseases these reactions mediate severe pathologies which are manifested in local or systemic inflammation as well as in tissue injury. For some time, it appeared that these two effector systems functioned independently and did not communicate; however, increasing evidence reveals synergy and feedback control between these two systems. Indeed, danger signals can alert one system leading to cross-communication and cooperation with the other to efficiently eliminate the threat. On the other hand, undesired and deleterious inflammation can be controlled by FcγR-mediated suppression of complement.
High aspect ratio InGaAs FinFETs with sub-20 nm fin width

We demonstrate self-aligned InGaAs FinFETs with sub-20 nm fin width fabricated through a CMOS compatible front-end process. Working devices with fins as narrow as 7 nm, fin aspect ratios in excess of 5 and gate lengths as short as 20 nm have been fabricated using precision dry etching and digital etch. The devices also feature self-aligned metal contacts that are 20–30 nm away from the edge of the gate. FinFETs with L g =30 nm, W f =22 nm and channel height of 40 nm exhibit a transconductance of 1400 µS/µm at V DS =0.5 V. When normalized to W f , this is a record value among all III–V FinFETs, indicating that our device architecture makes efficient use of conduction along the fin sidewalls.
Aerial standoff detection with the High Efficiency Multimode Imager (HEMI)

The High Efficiency Multimode Imager, HEMI, is a combined Compton and coded mask camera designed to detect and image gamma rays from ∼30 keV up to a few MeV. It consists of individual 1-cm3-size CZT detector modules with an energy resolution of ∼2%. Their modularity allows for a wide range of detector setups and application scenarios. Here we present modeling results for an aerial standoff detection system based on HEMI detectors.
A unified description of ordering in HCP Mg-RE alloys

Abstract High throughput first-principles calculations were employed to unravel the thermodynamic stability of two sets of hierarchical phases, β P ‴ and β S ‴ , in Mg-RE (rare-earth) alloys. The β P ‴ orderings (with compositions greater than xRE=0.125) are predicted to form in the Mg-{La,Ce,Pr,Nd,Pm,Sm} binary alloys, thus explaining experimental observations of RE atoms arranged as hexagonal rings in these alloys. Mg-{Sc,Y,Tb,Dy,Ho,Er,Tm,Lu} alloys are predicted to form β S ′ (xRE=0.125) precipitates without hexagonal ring arrangements. The calculated misfit strains are used to infer the qualitative shapes of the precipitates and their relative aspect ratios. High aspect-ratio precipitates may be formed using alloying elements that encourage the formation of β P ‴ . The predictions in this study can be used to inform alloy design of precipitation strengthened magnesium alloys.
Strategic R&D Investment around Seasoned Equity Offerings: Evidence from High-Technology Industries

Focusing on high-technology issuers, this study provides new evidence that managers strategically overinvest in research and development (R&D) projects prior to seasoned equity offerings (SEOs). It corroborates the theoretical prediction that managers with short-term valuation pressure tend to overinvest in long-term projects to elevate investors’ growth expectations (Bebchuk and Stole, 1993). I find that issuers with more intensive pre-SEO R&D expenditures exhibit lower productivity in terms of innovative output and operating performance following offerings, which is a primary manifestation of overinvestment. Such issuers also have higher price run-ups prior to offerings and lower long-term stock returns thereafter, suggesting that investors initially overestimate the future benefits of R&D expenditures but are subsequently disappointed by their low productivity. In additional analysis, I document that analysts make higher long-term growth forecasts prior to offerings for R&D intensive issuers, whereas such issuers are more likely to miss analysts’ sales forecasts subsequently relative to non-intensive issuers. This evidence suggests that analysts fare no better than investors in correctly anticipating the future benefits of pre-SEO R&D expenditures. Further analysis of managers’ disclosure of the intended use of proceeds indicates that R&D intensive issuers tend to provide more non-financial R&D information to reinforce investors’ growth expectations. Finally, I provide evidence that the documented strategic R&D investment behavior among seasoned issuers is not explained by managerial overconfidence.
History of ChE at the University of Washington

The University of Washington as an educational entity is not old compared to many other institutions of higher learning in the United States. It was founded in 1861 at a time when the northwestern section of the United States was still being developed politically and geographically into the present states of Washington and Oregon. Approximately ten acres of land in what is now downtown Seattle was set aside for the territorial university. As the State grew and increased in population, so did the city of Seattle. The need for a university was present but the number of students with the right preparation to enter a university was minimal. The financing of the institution was shaky and during the first decades of its existence the University opened and closed at different times depending upon the availability of money to meet operating expenses. In spite of this rather erratic beginning, the university continued to grow and became stronger and more of a definite entity toward the end of the 19th century.
Characterization of Sulfur and Nanostructured Sulfur Battery Cathodes in Electron Microscopy Without Sublimation Artifacts

Lithium sulfur (Li–S) batteries have the potential to provide higher energy storage density at lower cost than conventional lithium ion batteries. A key challenge for Li–S batteries is the loss of sulfur to the electrolyte during cycling. This loss can be mitigated by sequestering the sulfur in nanostructured carbon–sulfur composites. The nanoscale characterization of the sulfur distribution within these complex nanostructured electrodes is normally performed by electron microscopy, but sulfur sublimates and redistributes in the high-vacuum conditions of conventional electron microscopes. The resulting sublimation artifacts render characterization of sulfur in conventional electron microscopes problematic and unreliable. Here, we demonstrate two techniques, cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) and scanning electron microscopy in air (airSEM), that enable the reliable characterization of sulfur across multiple length scales by suppressing sulfur sublimation. We use cryo-TEM and airSEM to examine carbon–sulfur composites synthesized for use as Li–S battery cathodes, noting several cases where the commonly employed sulfur melt infusion method is highly inefficient at infiltrating sulfur into porous carbon hosts.
Marijuana Prohibition and Rent Seeking

A popular theory explains that marijuana’s criminalization resulted from DuPont’s lobbying as DuPont viewed hemp as competition for their products and was politically connected. To test the effects of this rent seeking story I analyze DuPont’s stock price. Initially, Congress taxed marijuana at a prohibitive level instead of an outright ban on consumption. Such legislative authority of prohibitive taxation remained in question until a Supreme Court decision in March 1937. DuPont’s Sharpe Ratio saw a break in trend immediately upon this ruling. However, in a panel dataset the effects of the ruling are found to be highly insignificant. While DuPont may have gained from marijuana’s criminalization, ultimately it was not reflected in its stock price.
Automating network node behavior characterization by mining communication patterns

Enterprise networks of scale are complex, dynamic computing environments that respond to evolving business objectives and requirements. Characterizing system behaviors in these environments is essential for network management and cybersecurity operations. Characterization of system's communication is typical and is supported using network flow information (Net-Flow). Related work has characterized behavior using theoretical graph metrics; results are often difficult to interpret by enterprise staff. We propose a different approach, where flow information is mapped to sets of tags that contextualize the data in terms of network principals and enterprise concepts. Frequent patterns are then extracted and are expressed as behaviors. Behaviors can be compared, identifying systems expressing similar behaviors. We evaluate the approach using two case studies.
Abstract 9772: Antagonism of Rosuvastatin-induced Elevation of Circulating PCSK9 in Hamsters by Liver-specific Knockdown of HNF1α or HNF1β

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) induces hepatic LDL receptor (LDLR) degradation and lowers the removal of LDL-cholesterol from circulation. Thus, PCSK9 has become an important therapeutic target for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. The transcription of PCSK9 is prominently controlled by the HNF1 binding motif embedded in its proximal promoter region that binds to HNF1α or HNF1β as homodimers or heterodimers. Our previous in vivo studies showed that only HNF1α but not HNF1β regulates PCSK9 transcription in mouse liver. Statin has been shown to elevate circulating PCSK9 levels through stimulating PCSK9 gene transcription, which reduces the clinical efficacy of statin in LDL-cholesterol reduction. In this study, we utilized adenoviral shRNA expression vectors (Ad-shHNF1α and Ad-shHNF1β) to generate liver specific knockdown of HNF1α or HNF1β in hamsters to examine the impact of reduced expression of HNF1 transcription factors on statin-induced elevation of PCSK9. Administration of rosuvastatin (RSV) at a daily dose of 15 mg/kg to hamsters infected with a control adenovirus significantly increased liver PCSK9 mRNA levels by 94% and serum PCSK9 levels by 37%. However, injection of Ad-shHNF1α into hamsters largely abolished the RSV-induced elevation of PCSK9 serum levels and hepatic mRNA levels, which was accompanied by a significant increase in liver LDLR protein abundance by 64% as compared to hamsters injected with control virus. Surprisingly, injection of Ad-shHNF1β produced similar inhibitory effects on the RSV-induced PCSK9 expression as that of Ad-shHNF1α. This was different from the negative results of HNF1β knockdown conducted in mice. In addition to changes in PCSK9 levels, we observed a modest but significant reduction in serum non-HDL cholesterol level after knockdown of HNF1α (27%) or HNF1β (32%) in hamsters treated with RSV. Altogether, our study demonstrates that unlike mice, both HNF1α and HNF1β are positive regulators of hepatic PCSK9 transcription in hamster species and that transient, liver specific knockdown of either HNF1α or HNF1β could antagonize the RSV-induced elevation of serum PCSK9 and non-HDL cholesterol levels.
Family Life and Social Medicine: Discourses and Discontents Surrounding Puebla’s Psychiatric Care

Drawing on clinical data from 15 months of on-site participant observation in the only public psychiatric hospital in the state of Puebla, Mexico, this article advances our understanding of globalization in relation to psychiatry. I challenge the construction of psychiatry as only treating the individual patient and provide grounded doctor-patient-family member interaction in a Mexican psychiatric clinic in order to review what happens when doctors cannot interact with patients as atomized individuals even though in theory they are trained to think of patients that way. Challenged by severe structural constraints and bolstered by lessons from other nations' efforts at deinstitutionalization, psychiatrists in Puebla push to keep patients out of the inpatient wards and in their respective communities. To this end, psychiatrists call upon co-present kin who are identified both as the customer and part of the caretaking system outside the clinic. This modification to the visit structure changes the dynamic and content of clinical visits while doctors seamlessly respond to unspoken beliefs and values that are central to local life, ultimately showing that efforts to define a "global psychiatry" informed by global policy will fail because it cannot exist in a uniform way-interpersonal interaction and personal experience matters.
Conflicts and Contradictions in Current Skin Cancer Screening Guidelines

The purpose of this paper is to review skin cancer screening guidelines from major public health/medical organizations. No consensus exists on whether or not screening to prevent skin cancer is warranted. The best evidence of screening efficacy should come from population-based randomized trials, but is unlikely to exist due to feasibility constraints. Consequently, consensus should be built from observational/non-randomized designs, such as the SCREEN study in Germany. Current guidelines often focus on melanoma alone, while potential benefits of screening for non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) are largely overlooked. There may be less room for doubt regarding the value of screening, if both diseases were considered. Further, targeted approaches, i.e., screening only in high-risk populations, remain poorly defined and untested. Continuing to state that there is insufficient evidence to recommend screening leads to confusion about whether or not to screen and is unlikely to result in substantial changes to the morbidity of NMSC and significant mortality from melanoma.
The effects of disclosure format on native advertising recognition and audience perceptions of legacy and online news publishers

This experiment with a representative sample of US adults (N = 800) examines the effects of disclosure design characteristics in sponsored news on readers’ ability to recognize such content as paid...
How secure is WiFi MAC layer in comparison with IPsec for classified environments

The IEEE 802.11--2007, like its earlier versions, provides a robust MAC layer with the help of mandatory CCMP and comprehensive key-generation, derivation, and distribution mechanisms. However, the physical layer continues to be without any protection from signal privacy attacks and anonymity of attacker within the WLAN, and it has no solution in the standard. The MAC layer, too, has not quite achieved the confidence of the networking community at the level of IPsec as of yet. In this paper, we present the results of a study that looks at the IEEE 802.11--2007 MAC security in juxtaposition to IPsec. We thus compare the attacks that can be thwarted by IEEE 802.11--2007 MAC as well as IPsec and the manners in which they can be thwarted by each security layer. The results can be used to propose enhancements to the IEEE 802.11--2007 MAC layer in order for it to gain the same level of confidence as obtained by IPsec. The purpose is not to choose between IPsec and IEEE 802.11--2007 security (as both are required at different layers), rather it is to help understand what could be added to the IEEE 802.11--2007 standard to make it as secure as IPsec.
High Cycle Fatigue of Polycrystalline Ni3AL and Ni3(Al,Mn)

ABSTRACT The tensile and high cycle fatigue behavior of Ni 3 Al+B and an alloy containing 9.36a%Mn, produced by powder metallurgical processing, has been determined between 25°C and 800°C. Manganese decreases strength and fatigue life of Ni 3 Al+B, primarily due to increased porosity, but does not change crack paths. The high temperature ductility minimum in Ni 3 Al+B is somewhat raised by Mn. However, under cyclic loading in moderate vacuum life falls sharply at temperatures above 500°C. The results are discussed in the light of the effects of Mn on notch sensitivity of Ni 3 Al+B.
Root Nodules of Legumes

The root nodules of leguminous plants are caused by nitrogen-fixing bacteria belonging to the genus Rhizobium. Root nodules are well-organized and differentiated structures, a striking contrast to the cancerous growth of crown gall.
The Role of Growth Factors in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

This chapter reviews the research done on the role of growth factor in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and demonstrates the increasingly recognized therapeutic potential of growth factors in inflammatory demyelinating disease.
An Integrated Clinical Classification for Ischemic Heart Disease: A Combined Assessment of Severity of Coronary Disease, Left Ventricular Function and Myocardial Ischemia

The traditional clinical classifications of patients with coronary heart disease have utilized either a descriptive categorization of the extent of coronary artery disease, ie. single, double or triple vessel disease, or have relied on a description of the associated pattern of symptoms of angina pectoris. Although numerous studies have demonstrated the importance of the extent of disease and symptomatology in diagnosis and management (1–5), it is becoming increasingly clear that symptoms of angina may be poorly correlated with prognosis as angina may be an insensitive marker of the activity of ischemic heart disease (6–10). It is therefore important that the descriptive clinical classifications be revised by integrating the three major components influencing prognosis and management including coronary anatomy, left ventricular function, and the presence and extent of myocardial ischemia.
Tunneling in Polytype InAs/AlSb/GaSb Heterostructures

Polytype heterostructures of GaSb/AlSb/InAs show interband tunneling due to the 0.1 eV overlap of the InAs conduction band and the GaSb valence band. This broken-gap configuration results in a novel mechanism for negative differential resistance (NDR) that has potential applications in highspeed devices. Single-barrier structures show negative differential resistance due to the change in interband tunneling with applied bias. Double-barrier structures exhibit resonant interband tunneling with higher peak-to-valley current ratios due to the resonance enhancement of the tunneling current and the bandgap blocking of the nonresonant current components. Using InAs as the base in a double-barrier polytype heterostructure, resonant tunneling at room temperature through a quantum well as wide as 110 nm has been demonstrated. Also, GaSb/InAs/AlSb/GaSb structures have exhibited NDR with peak-to-valley ratios as high as 20:1 at 300 K and peak current densites of 28 kA/cm2 as a result of resonant interband coupling.
Altimeter Data Assimilation into Ocean Circulation Models — Some Preliminary Results

Assimilation of observations into ocean circulation models has become a worth-while endeavor now that synoptic data from satellites are becoming available. In contrast to the atmospheric case, however, where fairly complete observations of the three dimensional structure of the atmosphere are available through an extensive observing system, the oceanic assimilation problem is much more difficult and will require quite novel techniques for blending observations and model predictions into a best possible, coherent picture of the four dimensional oceanic circulation. This is because ocean observations will be available mainly at the sea surface from the ocean satellite observing platforms. Ocean models will have to play a much more important role in that they must be able to successfully extrapolate surface observational information downward into the ocean interior if they are to achieve success in reconstructing a realistic ocean circulation.
Peeking under the Hood of Naive T Cells.

Signaling and transcriptional regulation of metabolic reprogramming upon T cell activation has been studied intensively. In this issue of Cell Metabolism, Ricciardi et al. (2018) show that translational regulation of key metabolic enzymes GLUT1 and ACC1 plays a novel role in human naive CD4 T cell activation and subset differentiation.
Technical Feasibility of Diagnosis of Electrical Busbar Connections by Infrared Thermography

Infrared thermography is widely used in predictive maintenance of electrical connections, in which an increase of their temperatures is an indicative of failure. However, there are few published studies about the use of this technique in the analysis of failures of screw connections of electric busbars, a device widely used in switchgear. In this context, the purpose of this study is to analyze the technical feasibility of diagnosing connections of electric busbars using infrared thermography. An experimental planning was elaborated and executed by means of which three busbars of different dimensions, connected by screws of different diameters, were analyzed. The aim was to evaluate the relation between temperature rise and the conformity of the connections, represented by the torque applied to the screws. The results obtained show insignificant temperature differences under different quality conditions in the electrical connections. This led to the conclusion that there is no significant correlation between the measurable variable by infrared thermography - temperature rise - and the conformity of the electrical connection - torque in its screws - making impossible to diagnose failure in electrical busbar connections using thermographic inspection.
Pelvic resection of recurrent rectal cancer: Technical considerations and outcomes

PURPOSE: Pelvic recurrence of rectal cancer is an ominous event for the patient and a formidable challenge to the managing surgeon. We reviewed the results of abdominosacral resection to manage these patients and correlated outcome (survival and recurrence) with known prognostic factors. METHODS: An abdominosacral resection was performed on 61 patients with pelvic recurrence (53 with curative intent and 6 for palliation; 2 had extended pelvic resection). Of the 53 patients (32 males; average age, 59 years) previous resection included abdominoperineal resection in 27 patients, abdominoperineal resection plus hepatic lobectomy in 2 patients, low anterior resection in 19 patients, plus trisegmentectomy in 1 patient, and advanced primary cancers in 4 patients. Initial primary stage was Dukes B (64 percent) and Dukes C (36 percent). All had been irradiated (3,000–6,500 in 50 patients, 8,300 and 11,000 in 2 patients, and unknown dose in 3 patients). Preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen was elevated (>5 ng/ml) in 54 percent. Extent of resection: high sacral resection S-1–S-2 was done in 32 patients, midsacrum in 14 patients, and low S-4–S-5 in 6 patients. Twenty-eight patients (60 percent) required partial or complete bladder resection with or without adjacent viscera, and all had internal iliac and obturator node dissection. RESULTS: There were four postoperative (within 60 days) deaths, 8 percent in curative groups (5.4 percent overall). Major complications included prolonged intubation (20 percent), sepsis (34 percent), posterior wound infection or flap separation (38 percent). The survival rate in the curative group (49 postoperative survivors) was 31 percent at five years, with 13 patients surviving beyond five years. Seven of these patients survived from 5 to 21 years, whereas six patients recurred again and died within 5.5 to 7.5 years after abdominosacral resection. Disease-free survival rate at five years was 23 percent. Recent reconstruction with large composite myocutaneous gluteal flaps in 5 patients permitted complete sacral wound coverage, resulting in earlier ambulation and reduced hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: Abdominosacral resection permits removal of pelvic recurrence of rectal cancer that is fixed to the sacrum and is associated with long-term survival in 31 percent of patients. Recent technical advances have improved the short-term outcome and have made the procedure more feasible for surgical teams familiar with these techniques.
A merged SMAP – Sentinel-1 soil moisture product using Artificial Neural Networks: a case study in Central Italy

This study aims at merging SMAP and Sentinel-1 (S-1) data for obtaining a surface soil moisture (SMC) product improved in accuracy, spatial and temporal resolution that can be used for hydrological modelling in small basins. A method based on Artificial Neural Networks has been developed and validated in a test area in central Italy. All the S-1 images available on the area between 2014 and 2017 have been considered for the analysis, along with the corresponding SMAP acquisitions. Distributed SMC values, to be used as reference for implementing and validating the algorithm, have been derived from the available in-situ data by using the well-assessed Soil Water Balance hydrological model (SWBM). The research is still ongoing; however, some preliminary results show that the merged ANN SMC product is improved in resolution and accuracy with respect to the SMC obtainable from a single sensor.The ANN SMC was successfully assimilated in the MISC hydrological model for improving the model predictions in small and medium basins.
Fee Shifting and Sovereign Immunity after Seminole Tribe

Something of a crisis for fee-shifting regimes is lurking in the Supreme Court's sovereign immunity jurisprudence. Cases like Seminole Tribe and Edelman v. Jordan call into question the permissibility of assessing fees against a state under Section 1988, among other fee-shifting provisions, in cases that do not involve a post-Eleventh Amendment cause of action. This Essay examines the conceptual and practical problems presented by a federal court's entry of a fee award against a state, along with the problems that would be caused by barring such awards as a constitutional matter. It analyzes the conceptual question through several lenses and ultimately concludes that fee awards may not be barred after all, but the answer is far from clear.
“I” or “she/he”? The effects of visual perspective on consumers’ evaluation of brands’ social media marketing: From imagery fluency perspective

This study examined the effects of visual perspective in a brand’s Instagram content on attitudinal and relational outcomes. This study particularly addresses how viewers’ perceived point of view i...
A Novel, Broadband, Divide-by-3 Planar Power Divider

This paper presents a new compact three way planar power divider exhibiting high isolation and equal split ratio, based on series multi-section impedance transformers and recombinant technique. The structure achieves smaller size than recombinant designs and higher isolation than planarized Wilkinson dividers. The recombinant structure is used to obtain odd equal division ratio in a planar form while multisection impedance sections enables size reduction and impedance matching at input and output ports. To verify this mechanism, the three way divider is characterized analytically using transmission line theory and confirmed through simulation and measurements. The divider exhibits a broad band operation from 1.9 GHz to 2.7 GHz with measured 20-dB isolation bandwidth of 34.8%, peak isolation of 30 dB, equal power split loss of $4.99\pm 0.5\ \text{dB}$ and return loss greater than 13 dB at 2.3 GHz, with overall small dimensions of $23\ \text{mm}\times 27\ \text{mm}$ . The new planar divider is useful for microwave subsystems like power amplifiers, antenna feed networks and MMICs.
Mast cells in asthma: Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.

Bonvini and co-workers employ a creative combination of cell, tissue and in vivo models to delineate a complex intercellular communication between mast cells and airway smooth muscle by which TRPV4 activation causes bronchoconstrictionhttps://bit.ly/35U4Mqg
The efficacy of real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging neurofeedback for psychiatric illness: A meta-analysis of brain and behavioral outcomes.

Abstract Real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging neurofeedback (rtfMRI-NF) has gained popularity as an experimental treatment for a variety of psychiatric illnesses. However, there has yet to be a quantitative review regarding its efficacy. Here, we present the first meta-analysis of rtfMRI-NF for psychiatric disorders, evaluating its impact on brain and behavioral outcomes. Our literature review identified 17 studies and 105 effect sizes across brain and behavioral outcomes. We find that rtfMRI-NF produces a medium-sized effect on neural activity during training (g = .59, 95 % CI [.44, .75], p
Developmental synaptic regulator, TWEAK/Fn14 signaling, is a determinant of synaptic function in models of stroke and neurodegeneration

Identifying molecular mediators of neural circuit development and/or function that contribute to circuit dysfunction when aberrantly reengaged in neurological disorders is of high importance. The role of the TWEAK/Fn14 pathway, which was recently reported to be a microglial/neuronal axis mediating synaptic refinement in experience-dependent visual development, has not been explored in synaptic function within the mature central nervous system. By combining electrophysiological and phosphoproteomic approaches, we show that TWEAK acutely dampens basal synaptic transmission and plasticity through neuronal Fn14 and impacts the phosphorylation state of pre- and postsynaptic proteins in adult mouse hippocampal slices. Importantly, this is relevant in two models featuring synaptic deficits. Blocking TWEAK/Fn14 signaling augments synaptic function in hippocampal slices from amyloid-beta-overexpressing mice. After stroke, genetic or pharmacological inhibition of TWEAK/Fn14 signaling augments basal synaptic transmission and normalizes plasticity. Our data support a glial/neuronal axis that critically modifies synaptic physiology and pathophysiology in different contexts in the mature brain and may be a therapeutic target for improving neurophysiological outcomes.
Considerations of Conscience.

The proper role of conscience in healthcare continues to be a topic of deep interest for bioethicists, healthcare professionals, and health policy experts. This issue of HEC Forum brings together a collection of articles about features of these ongoing discussions of conscience, advancing the conversations about conscience in healthcare from a variety of perspectives and on a variety of fronts. Some articles in this issue take up particularly challenging cases of conscientious objection in practice, such as Fleming, Frith, and Ramsayer’s contextually rich piece on midwives in Scotland or Harter’s professionally grounded analysis; others engage the changing institutional landscapes which impact considerations of conscience, such as Cummins’ work on the role of employers in institutional policies about conscience and Ben Moshe’s discussion of publicity and institutional committees. Pieces by Howard and Pilkington both raise conceptual considerations about how we think about the role of conscience in medicine, questioning the use of “conscientious objection” in these discussions, and Byrnes pushes back on the most influential work in this area by Mark Wicclair. The issue concludes with a piece by Wicclair, which engages each of these distinct offerings, further extending the discussions of conscience in healthcare and helpfully connecting key themes discussed by authors in this issue to his contributions and to the longer tradition of discussions of conscience in medicine. This issue challenges readers to engage different arguments from different perspectives and asks them—in some cases—to be open to revising how they think about the role of conscience and the existence of and justification for conscientious objection in the dynamic, interdisciplinary fields of healthcare.
Constrained-Based Differential Privacy (Invited Talk)

Data sets and statistics about groups of individuals are increasingly collected and released, feeding many optimization and learning algorithms. In many cases, the released data contain sensitive information whose privacy is strictly regulated. For example, in the U.S., the census data is regulated under Title 13, which requires that no individual be identified from any data released by the Census Bureau. In Europe, data release is regulated according to the General Data Protection Regulation, which addresses the control and transfer of personal data. Differential privacy has emerged as the de-facto standard to protect data privacy. In a nutshell, differentially private algorithms protect an individual’s data by injecting random noise into the output of a computation that involves such data. While this process ensures privacy, it also impacts the quality of data analysis, and, when private data sets are used as inputs to complex machine learning or optimization tasks, they may produce results that are fundamentally different from those obtained on the original data and even rise unintended bias and fairness concerns. In this talk, I will first focus on the challenge of releasing privacy-preserving data sets for complex data analysis tasks. I will introduce the notion of Constrained-based Differential Privacy (C-DP), which allows casting the data release problem to an optimization problem whose goal is to preserve the salient features of the original data. I will review several applications of C-DP in the context of very large hierarchical census data, data streams, energy systems, and in the design of federated data-sharing protocols. Next, I will discuss how errors induced by differential privacy algorithms may propagate within a decision problem causing biases and fairness issues. This is particularly important as privacy-preserving data is often used for critical decision processes, including the allocation of funds and benefits to states and jurisdictions, which ideally should be fair and unbiased. Finally, I will conclude with a roadmap to future work and some open questions.
Saturation Kinetics for Preferential Nitrogen Uptake

Mathematical models of aquatic systems frequently represent phytoplankton growth dynamics in nutrient limited environments by saturation or Michaelis-Menton type kinetics. When nitrogen is the limiting nutrient and both ammonia and nitrate are present, the representation is complicated by the fact that one form of nitrogen may substitute nutritionally for the other, and the uptake rate of ammonia is significantly faster than that of nitrate. A modified form of nonlinear saturation kinetics, to represent the preference of algae for the ammonia form of nitrogen over the nitrate form, is proposed and examined.
Psychologists Interested in the Advancement of Psychotherapy (Section 2), 1963–1967

After World War II, a situation existed for clinical psychologists in which psychotherapy training was highly desirable but difficult to obtain. It has already been noted that David Rapaport said he found “no paved way” to learn psychotherapy. If he had trouble doing this in the relatively benign atmosphere of the Menninger Foundation, imagine how difficult it must have been for other clinical psychologists. Strupp (1991) has pointed out that in the early 1950s psychology departments, even if they had APA-approved PhD programs in clinical psychology, cautiously labeled what they taught as “counseling” rather than “psychotherapy.”
Effects of Video Adaptations on Comprehension of Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

This study investigated the effects of alternative narration, highlighted text, picture/word-based captions, and interactive video searching features for improving comprehension of nonfiction acade...
Succinylation of pepsinogen.

Succinic anhydride reacts with pepsinogen to form succinylpepsinogen in which the 10 e-amino groups of the lysine residues are succinylated. In addition reaction occurs with 16 tyrosine residues and 10 to 13 hydroxyamino acid residues of the protein. In contrast to the O-succinyltyrosines of succinylpepsinogen which are spontaneously decomposed in 3 to 4 hours, the succinylhydroxyamino acid residues are stable but can be deacylated with hydroxylamine. Succinylation of pepsinogen is accompanied by a decreased susceptibility to activation at pH 2.0. An enzymically active product can be obtained on exposure of succinylpepsinogen to pH 5.0 followed by assay for proteolysis of hemoglobin at pH 2.0. Succinylation results in a change of the macromolecular conformation of the protein as reflected by a decrease of λc from 236 to 222 mµ and a decrease in [α]366 from -222 to -320 and of [R']227 from -3978 to -5200.
Functional Video Games in CS1 III

This article advocates that developing distributed multiplayer video games using functional programming should be a new trend in the CS1 classroom. This is premised on two facts: most students are excited by video game development and distributed programming is now common and not beyond the abilities of beginning students. A design recipe for the development of distributed applications is presented which has successfully been used at Seton Hall University over the past few semesters. The primary goal is to expose students to distributed programming and to have students think about some of the problems programmers face when writing distributed applications. To the CS1 instructor, this article presents a model for developing their own distributed programming module.
World coverage for single station lightning detection

[1] This paper analyzes the possibility of using single station measurements of low-frequency electromagnetic waves to locate lightning occurring around much, and possibly all, of the world. The electromagnetic waves generated by lightning, which propagate through the Earth-ionosphere waveguide, are known as sferics. We combine a direction finding algorithm to compute the arrival azimuth of the recorded sferic along with a distance of propagation estimate to deduce the location of the lightning. While the methodology used for estimating the distance of propagation is described by Mackay and Fraser-Smith (2010), this paper analyzes the effectiveness of the method. We examine the limitations including those independent of station location and performance, and those which are station dependent. We analyze the geographic coverage attained from a single station along with the percentage of lightning emitting sferics that are recorded at the station and available for computing the lightning locations.
Peptide and non-peptide mimetics utilize different pathways for signal transduction.

Introduction Despite the central importance of peptides as drugs such as insulin, oxytocin, calcitonin, ace inhibitors, etc., there has been a prejudice against developing peptide drugs. Instead large efforts are made to develop non-peptide small molecules (“peptide mimetics”) to replace peptides. But are they true mimetics (same SAR, same bioactivity, same toxicity profile, etc.)? This issue generally has not been addressed directly. This is especially the case when the targets for the ligands are GPCRs. When the ligands are antagonists (for receptors, enzymes, etc.) this issue is not as critical as when the ligand is an agonist for a GPCR (or growth factors, or cytokines, etc.). The issue is highly relevant because biological function will depend on activation of a particular signaling pathway, and to obtain the same bioactivity will require the same SARs. To examine this conundrum we have begun to carefully evaluate whether peptide and non-peptide mimetics utilize the same signaling pathways. We find that often they do not, which raises questions regarding drug design. Here we examine the signaling of two agonist (a peptide and a nonpeptide) ligands for the human melanocortin 4 receptor (hMC4R) utilizing molecular biological, pharmacological, biophysical, and biochemical methods and demonstrate that though both are agonists they utilize quite different signaling pathways. The implications for drug design are briefly discussed.
Rapid identification of Vibrio vulnificus on nonselective media with an alkaline phosphatase-labeled oligonucleotide probe.

Abstract An oligonucleotide DNA probe (VVAP) was constructed from a portion of the Vibrio vulnificus cytolysin gene (hylA) sequence and labeled with alkaline phosphatase covalently linked to the DNA. Control and environmental isolates probed with VVAP showed an exact correlation with results obtained with a plasmid DNA probe (derived from pCVD702) previously described as having 100% specificity and sensitivity for this organism. Identification of V. vulnificus strains was confirmed independently by analysis of the cellular fatty acid composition and by API 20E. Naturally occurring V. vulnificus bacteria were detected without enrichment or selective media by VVAP in unseeded oyster homogenates and seawater collected from a single site in Chesapeake Bay during June at concentrations of 6 x 10(2) and 2 x 10(1) bacteria per ml, respectively. V. vulnificus bacteria were also enumerated by VVAP in oysters seeded with known concentrations of bacteria and plated on nonselective medium. The VVAP method provides a rapid, accurate means of identifying and enumerating V. vulnificus in seawater and oysters without the use of selective media or additional biochemical tests.
System Hazard Platform: Case Study NASA Field Joint Failure

NASA became overconfident with consecutive successful flights with no major failures leading up to Flight 25 of the Space Shuttle Challenger and failed to correctly apply quality assurance to reanalyze the possibilities of failure when extreme cold weather was present for what would become the last Challenger launch. System Hazard Analysis applied correctly to analyze the failure rate patterns of the NASA Space Shuttle Challenger Solid Rocket Booster field joints may have prevented the launch of the tragic Flight 25, where there was a total loss of aircraft and seven astronauts were killed in the accident. The steps of System Hazard Analysis will be explained that if followed may have provided the data necessary for NASA to correct the field joint error prior to instead of after the Challenger explosion.