cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 3553: A novel allosteric mechanism for molecular inhibition of anti-apoptotic MCL-1

MCL-1 is an anti-apoptotic BCL-2 family protein that has emerged as a major pathogenic factor across a broad range of human cancers. Thus, pharmacologic inhibition of MCL-1 has been the focus of intensive drug development efforts. Like BCL-2, MCL-1 bears a C-terminal surface groove whose function is to bind and sequester the essential BH3 killer domains of pro-apoptotic BCL-2 family proteins, a mechanism harnessed by cancer cells to create formidable apoptotic blockades. Whereas drugging the BH3-binding groove has been successfully achieved for BCL-2, translating this approach to MCL-1 has been challenging. Here, we report an alternative mechanism for MCL-1 inhibition by small molecule covalent modification of an interaction site that is distant from the BH3-binding groove. Biochemical and hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry analyses revealed that both the BH3-binding capacity of MCL-1 and its functional suppression of BAX-mediated membrane poration is impaired by molecular engagement, a phenomenon recapitulated by mutagenic mimicry at the novel regulatory region. This allosteric mechanism for disrupting the anti-apoptotic, BH3-binding activity of MCL-1 could inform a new therapeutic strategy for disarming MCL-1 in cancer. Citation Format: Susan Lee, Thomas E. Wales, Catherine Gallagher, Daniel T. Cohen, Silvia Escudero, James Luccarelli, Annissa J. Huhn, Nicole A. Cohen, Gregory H. Bird, John R. Engen, Loren D. Walensky. A novel allosteric mechanism for molecular inhibition of anti-apoptotic MCL-1. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3553.
Green synthesis of gold nanoparticles reduced and stabilized by squaric acid and supported on cellulose fibers for the catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol in water

We report a simple, fast, and green method to produce gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) that are reduced and stabilized by sodium squarate in water and easily attach to cellulose fibers. The AuNPs and its nanocomposites with cellulose fibers exhibited excellent catalytic activity for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) with NaBH4. A glass column was packed with the nanocomposites and used for the continuous catalytic reduction of 4-NP with NaBH4 and demonstrated to be used multiple times (20×) without loss of catalytic activity.
The University of Central Florida STEAM program: Where engineering education and Art Meet

ICubed is a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded project housed at the University of Central Florida aimed at increasing participation in STEM fields through coordination and institutional integration. The University of Central Florida Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (UCF STEAM) is a component of ICubed. As a part of this program, UCF STEM faculty and undergraduate researchers work collaboratively with faculty and students in the College of Arts and Humanities to create science-inspired art based on the STEM researcher's explanations of scientific concepts and possibilities. Since the program's inception in 2010, over 700 University of Central Florida faculty and students have participated in the STEAM program with a large majority coming from engineering fields. An evaluation of the program over the last six years demonstrates that by encouraging strong post-secondary cross-disciplinary collaborations, the UCF STEAM program has enlightened UCF's undergraduate engineering students in a manner that not only leads to greater recognition of the interdependencies of right- and left-brain directed skills but also has helped to improve learning and communication skills. This paper highlights UCF engineering STEAM activities and lends a discussion to the educational impact of such a program.
Sir Fred Hoyle 1915–2001

Fred Hoyle was undoubtedly the most creative and original astrophysicist of the last 50 years. He was also a great popularizer of science, a broadcaster, a playwright, and a prolific author of science fiction.
A New Data-Space Inversion Procedure for Efficient Uncertainty Quantification in Subsurface Flow Problems

Uncertainty quantification for subsurface flow problems is typically accomplished through model-based inversion procedures in which multiple posterior (history-matched) geological models are generated and used for flow predictions. These procedures can be demanding computationally, however, and it is not always straightforward to maintain geological realism in the resulting history-matched models. In some applications, it is the flow predictions themselves (and the uncertainty associated with these predictions), rather than the posterior geological models, that are of primary interest. This is the motivation for the data-space inversion (DSI) procedure developed in this paper. In the DSI approach, an ensemble of prior model realizations, honoring prior geostatistical information and hard data at wells, are generated and then (flow) simulated. The resulting production data are assembled into data vectors that represent prior ‘realizations’ in the data space. Pattern-based mapping operations and principal component analysis are applied to transform non-Gaussian data variables into lower-dimensional variables that are closer to multivariate Gaussian. The data-space inversion is posed within a Bayesian framework, and a data-space randomized maximum likelihood method is introduced to sample the conditional distribution of data variables given observed data. Extensive numerical results are presented for two example cases involving oil–water flow in a bimodal channelized system and oil–water–gas flow in a Gaussian permeability system. For both cases, DSI results for uncertainty quantification (e.g., P10, P50, P90 posterior predictions) are compared with those obtained from a strict rejection sampling (RS) procedure. Close agreement between the DSI and RS results is consistently achieved, even when the (synthetic) true data to be matched fall near the edge of the prior distribution. Computational savings using DSI are very substantial in that RS requires $$O(10^5$$ – $$10^6)$$ flow simulations, in contrast to 500 for DSI, for the cases considered.
Maternal serum PFOA concentration and DNA methylation in cord blood: A pilot study

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a perfluoroalkyl substance, is commonly detected in the serum of pregnant women and may impact fetal development via epigenetic re-programming. In a pilot study, we explored associations between serum PFOA concentrations during pregnancy and offspring peripheral leukocyte DNA methylation at delivery in women with high (n = 22, range: 12–26 ng/mL) and low (n = 22, range: 1.1–3.1 ng/mL) PFOA concentrations. After adjusting for cell type, child sex, and income, we did not find differences in CpG methylation in the two exposure groups that reached epigenome-wide significance. Among the 20 CpGs with the lowest p-values we found that seven CpG sites in three genes differed by exposure status. In a confirmatory cluster analysis, these 20 CpGs clustered into two groups that perfectly identified exposure status. Future studies with larger sample sizes should confirm these findings and determine if PFOA-associated changes in DNA methylation underlie potential health effects of PFOA.
Comparing the stability of psychopathy scores in adolescents versus adults: How often is “fledgling psychopathy” misdiagnosed?

Author(s): Cauffman, E; Skeem, J; Dmitrieva, J; Cavanagh, C | Abstract: Can psychopathy be identified as accurately during adolescence as adulthood? To address this developmental question, this study compared the stability of scores on the leading measure of psychopathy, the Psychopathy Checklist (PCL), among 202 adolescent (M = 15.8 years, SD = 0.89) and 134 adult (M = 27.5, SD = 1.08) offenders. Over a 2-year period, adolescents' total scores on the PCL (r =.33) were less stable than those of adults (r =.71). Adolescents' baseline PCL scores also weakly predicted psychopathy classifications 2 years later (AUC =.62), particularly compared with those of adults (AUC =.85). Finally, increases in psychosocial maturity over time predicted decreases in PCL scores for adolescents, but not adults. These results raise questions about reliance upon psychopathy measures to inform decisions about youthful offenders that will have long-term consequences.
Economic Theories of Nonprofit Organizations

What makes for a good theory in economics? Tastes and opinions differ on this important issue, with some admiring the mathematical elegance and logical completeness of analysis, some admiring the metaphoric insight provided by deep description, and others admiring the development of new analytic tools rather than the application of those tools to nonprofit issues. In this Chapter, I choose to evaluate economic theories of the nonprofit sector by their ability to answer what I regard as the central questions in (a) describing the sector; (b) formulating governmental policy towards the sector; and (c) managing nonprofit organizations. More specifically, I discuss theories’ ability to enlighten our understanding of the scope of inquiry, the determinants of the size and scope of the nonprofit sector, and the behavioral responses of donors, volunteers, paid staff, and nonprofit organizations to changes in their external environment. I then turn, more briefly and selectively, to theories’ ability to inform tax policy towards donations, taxation of nonprofit entities, competition among and between organizations in the various sectors, and fundraising regulation. Finally, I briefly discuss theories’ ability to improve the pricing, fundraising, and evaluation functions of nonprofit management.
Testing Common Misconceptions about the Nature of Human Racial Variation

Race is a hot-button topic in American society, but one that needs to be addressed in the biological science curriculum. This paper examines how college students in a large introductory course came to understand race through the exploration of four key concepts about the nature of human biological and genetic variation. Using clicker data collected from four courses (n = 296), change in starting and ending understanding of content was compared using paired t-tests and mean difference scores. Results indicate statistically significant improvement in student understanding of common fallacies of the “biological race concept” after a single exposure to content.
Upper extremity injury biomechanics

The scapula, clavicle, humerus, radius and ulna, and bones in the hand are joined by distinct soft tissues and joints in the human. As is true in the other components of the body, these structures are complex and have unique biomechanical characteristics. The purpose of this chapter is to present some of the basic anatomy of this region with a focus on the shoulder and its complex and the forearm. Most of the injuries to this region are high energy injuries. Experimental studies using post mortem human subject (PMHS) delineating the tolerance are described. A considerable majority of tolerance literature due to impact loading is from the automotive area, similar to the other regions. Studies using component models such as isolated forearm and intact PMHS models are described from injuries and injury biomechanics perspectives. Biomechanical testing using component models provide specific loading response information of individual bone and joint, while whole-body PMHS studies facilitate development of injury criteria and understanding of the dynamic interaction between linked components. The chapter concludes with a brief discussion on field injuries and the role of the shoulder in affecting the kinematics, loading and injuries to the thorax, abdomen and pelvis are discussed, with a focus on side impacts. Where possible, injury tolerance information is provided in the form of probability curves.
The Shaman, the Greengrocer, and “Living in Truth”1:

This article turns to Havel’s contemporaries in the Czech music underground to look at earlier uses of the phrase “living in truth.” I focus on Egon Bondy’s 1976 novel The Shaman, where truth is po...
The Excessively Clotting Cancer Patient

Active cancer is associated with a hypercoagulable state that is clinically translated into an increased risk of both venous and arterial thromboembolism. This increased risk is seen both with solid tumors and with hematologic malignancies. The thrombosis risk can be further increased by additional risk factors such as extension of disease, type of chemotherapy, performance status, presence of indwelling catheters, and medical comorbidities. There are multiple pathophysiological mechanisms by which cancer cells lead to clinical hypercoagulability. But once venous thrombosis develops in a patient with active cancer, it is associated with poor disease-related prognosis and survival compared to patients with similar malignancy but without venous thrombosis. In addition, patients with active malignancy have a greater risk of both recurrent thromboses and hemorrhage while on antithrombotic therapy than patients without cancer. Best available evidence indicates that cancer-related acute venous thromboembolic events should be treated with low-molecular-weight heparins, which reduce the risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism without increasing the risk of bleeding when compared with oral vitamin K antagonists. There is insufficient data to support the use of new oral anticoagulants in patients with cancer-related venous thrombosis; thus, the use of such drugs cannot be recommended for this patient population at the present time. While primary prophylaxis against venous thrombosis may be recommended in some patients with selected malignancies, it should not be prescribed universally. There are promising research efforts to identify cancer patients who might benefit from primary prophylaxis, through the use of either clinical risk scores or biomarkers.
Water in Perspective to Population and Pollution

Various people have different impressions as to what water is and how it behaves both physically and chemically. These differing impressions are largely the result of the individual’s interest in water, his background and training, and so on.
Malnutrition, Immunodeficiency, and Mucosal Infection

Abstract Dietary patterns, specific nutrients, and overall nutritional status are critical determinants of gastrointestinal microbial diversity, and regulate the development of the mucosal immune system. Genetic and epigenetic factors associated with the human gut metagenome interact with dietary factors to program and modify immune development. New studies show that nutrients influence the establishment of the microbiota during commensal colonization. Long-term dietary patterns affect the diversity of the microbiota, whereas short-term changes in diet influence mechanisms of immune response. Emerging studies suggest that the origins of obesity and growth faltering involve interaction between diet and microbes on the predominating microbial populations that influence host gene expression required for growth and immune development. Both obesity and malnutrition lead to mucosal immune deficiencies including misdirected tolerance, autoimmune responses, and chronic inflammation. How these encounters affect susceptibility to disease, including those caused by infectious pathogens, can now be examined in new ways.
A Critique of Expressive Writing Experiment in the Cancer Population: Focus on Construct Validity

Expressive writing was proposed to facilitate cognitive processing and disinhibition of emotions in people confronted with traumatic events. Contrary to the findings found in the general population, recent meta-analyses failed to support its effect in cancer. Given the discrepancy in evidence concerning the effect of expressive writing experiment for the cancer population, this paper endeavored to reexamine the cancer literature on expressive writing focusing on assessment of threats to construct validity. A systematic search was performed in the PubMed and PsycINFO databases up to September 2018. Studies were limited to randomized controlled trials in the cancer population published in English language with written disclosure as the only source of treatment effect. Construct validity was assessed with respect to all four study features – persons, settings, treatments and outcomes. Threats to construct validity arising in the primary research include underrepresentation of the newly diagnosed cancer patients, debatable study design concerning manipulation at the home setting, the use of factual writing as attention control and study operation of treatment reflecting more than one construct, as well as missing outcomes central to the construct of interest. This review highlights the need for both primary research and research synthesis to attend to construct validity when design or evaluate experiments.
Surgical Treatment of Combined ACL Medial- and Lateral-Sided Injuries: Acute and Chronic

History and clinical examination are essential in the assessment of a patient with a multiligamentous knee injury. These injuries are complex and can be associated with serious limb-threatening vascular and neurologic damage. The appropriate diagnostic imaging is guided by thorough history and physical examination to enable an accurate diagnosis. A systematic approach first concerned with identifying and addressing tibiofemoral alignment and vascular injury is critical. Further classification of combined injuries in the setting of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears is necessary to guide treatment options and decrease the failure of ACL reconstructions. Anterior cruciate ligament tears with lower grade medial collateral ligament (MCL) injures can be treated with bracing and delayed ACL reconstruction. Higher grade and tibial-sided MCL injuries accompanied by posteromedial corner disruption require repair or reconstruction of the medial structures to protect against chronic valgus instability. Acute combined ACL and lateral-sided injuries are best treated by addressing the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) and posterolateral corner (PLC) injures surgically in conjunction with ACL reconstruction. Chronic ACL and PLC injuries along with acute midsubstance LCL and higher grade PLC disruption have led to poor outcomes without anatomic reconstruction. The orthopedic surgeon must consider acuity, comorbid conditions, pre-injury physical demands, current structural damage, vascular and soft tissue status to determine the appropriate timing, technique, and extent of surgical intervention.
Publication Rates of Posters From the Orthopaedic Trauma Association Annual Meeting 2011-2016: Posters Are Not Second Rate.

Objective To determine the publication rate of posters presented at the OTA annual meeting from 2011 to 2016. Methods All posters presented at the OTA annual meetings from 2011 to 2016 were identified from the OTA's official website and confirmed through review of the OTA official programs. This information was then used to direct a search, and if the presentation was associated with a publication, publishing information was entered into the database. Results From 2011 to 2016, there were a total of 875 posters with 473 associated publications (54%). The highest rate of publication was 64.1% of posters published in 2012. The posters were published at an average of 19.4 months after presentation. One hundred sixty posters were published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma (35%). Conclusion Our research demonstrated a 54% publication rate over a 6-year period of posters presented at the OTA annual meetings. This rate is higher than other publication rates for podium presentations in other societies (eg, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and American Academy for Surgery of the Hand). This validates the quality of research presented in poster format at the OTA annual meeting.
Acute peripheral inflammation and post‐traumatic sleep differ between sexes after experimental diffuse brain injury

Identifying differential responses between sexes following traumatic brain injury (TBI) can elucidate the mechanisms behind disease pathology. Peripheral and central inflammation in the pathophysiology of TBI can increase sleep in male rodents, but this remains untested in females. We hypothesized that diffuse TBI would increase inflammation and sleep in males more so than in females. Diffuse TBI was induced in C57BL/6J mice and serial blood samples were collected (baseline, 1, 5, 7 days post-injury [DPI]) to quantify peripheral immune cell populations and sleep regulatory cytokines. Brains and spleens were harvested at 7DPI to quantify central and peripheral immune cells, respectively. Mixed-effects regression models were used for data analysis. Female TBI mice had 77%-124% higher IL-6 levels than male TBI mice at 1 and 5DPI, whereas IL-1β and TNF-α levels were similar between sexes at all timepoints. Despite baseline sex differences in blood-measured Ly6Chigh monocytes (females had 40% more than males), TBI reduced monocytes by 67% in TBI mice at 1DPI. Male TBI mice had 31%-33% more blood-measured and 31% more spleen-measured Ly6G+ neutrophils than female TBI mice at 1 and 5DPI, and 7DPI, respectively. Compared with sham, TBI increased sleep in both sexes during the first light and dark cycles. Male TBI mice slept 11%-17% more than female TBI mice, depending on the cycle. Thus, sex and TBI interactions may alter the peripheral inflammation profile and sleep patterns, which might explain discrepancies in disease progression based on sex.
Managing spontaneous unaffiliated volunteers

Abstract When disaster strikes, people want to help. They arrive, usually unannounced, with the assumption that needs exist. However, these well-intentioned Spontaneous Unaffiliated/Unplanned Volunteers (SUVs) can cause significant challenges. How to handle spontaneous volunteers forms the core of this chapter with ideas for best practices to manage those who arrive wanting to help.
Gender Disparities in Treatment of Dysautonomia in Parkinson’s Disease (1426)

Objective: To determine whether there are gender disparities in dysautonomia treatment among patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Background: Dysautonomia is a well-known complication of PD impacting quality-of-life. Gender disparities are associated with some aspects of PD care but whether this extends to dysautonomia treatment is not known. Design/Methods: Data were obtained from Parkinson Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), a multicenter observational study. Gender, Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson’s Disease-Autonomic (SCOPA-AUT) scores (a patient-reported measure of dysautonomia), and names of medications indicated for dysautonomia treatment were extracted from year 5 data for PD subjects. Proportion of subjects treated with any medication for dysautonomia, and specific indications for treatment, were compared between genders using chi-squared analysis. Gender distribution was compared between SCOPA-AUT tertiles or SCOPA-AUT subdomain groups using 1-way analysis of variance by ranks. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine impact of gender on odds of treatment. Results: Gender distribution was not significantly different between any SCOPA-AUT tertiles or SCOPA-AUT subdomain groups. However, a significantly higher proportion of men than women was on any dysautonomia medication (p=0.022), a medication to treat urinary dysfunction (p Conclusions: Despite similar prevalence of dysautonomia, men with PD are more likely to be treated for dysautonomia than women, particularly for urinary or sexual dysfunction. This is likely multifactorial but could relate to differences in likelihood for physicians to screen for symptoms based on gender. Awareness of gender disparities in treatment of PD-related dysautonomia is critical in ensuring optimized prescribing across all groups for this common and impairing complication of PD. Disclosure: Dr. Miller-Patterson has nothing to disclose. Dr. Edwards has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chahine receives clinical trial research support from Biogen and Voyager for effort on clinical trials sponsored by these companies
Femtosecond pump-probe studies of atomic hydrogen superfluorescence in flames

We investigate the excited-state dynamics of hydrogen (H) atoms in flames by using a femtosecond (fs) pump-probe scheme and measuring directional emission signals. An approximately 100-fs pump pulse at 205.1 nm excites H atoms through a two-photon process (n = 3 ←← n = 1), which is followed by detection of the forward emission signals induced by a broadband fs probe pulse near 656 nm. Above a certain threshold, we observe a quadratic dependence of the emission signal on the pump laser energy. Moreover, the linewidth of the forward emission signal varies with the probe delay and the probe laser energy. This behavior can be explained in terms of superradiance. We perform a theoretical analysis and compare the experimental results with the theory, and conclude that, within the conditions of our experiment, the behavior of the atomic system involves atomic coherence, which is produced non-adiabatically and corresponds to a superradiant process. Variations in the duration of the gain time window and lifetime of the excited-state H atoms in flames are explored at different flame conditions (i.e., equivalence ratio and heights above the burner). The fs pump-probe technique demonstrated here can also be extended to characterize the time-resolved population dynamics and the corresponding collisional energy transfer rates for energy levels involved in laser-induced fluorescence detection of H atoms in flames relevant to practical combustion applications.
Association of Lower Urinary Tract Symptom Severity with Kidney Function among Community Dwelling Older Men.

Purpose:Most international practice guidelines recommend screening for chronic kidney disease among older men with lower urinary tract symptoms. However, prior studies supporting these guidelines a...
Radiation Exposure and Case Characteristics in National Sample of Female Orthopaedic Trauma and Arthroplasty Surgeons.

Background The risks of radiation exposure in orthopaedic surgery have become a topic of increasing interest in the setting of widespread fluoroscopy use and concern for an increased prevalence of breast cancer among female orthopaedic surgeons. The aim of this national study of 31 female orthopaedic surgeons was to achieve a deeper understanding of fluoroscopic use in the OR and its associated exposure to radiation, by comparing female orthopaedic trauma and arthroplasty surgeons. Methods A total of 31 surgeons wore dosimeters for 10 operating days each to track cumulative radiation exposure. Surgeons were not asked to modify their practice in any way, with no requirement that the operating days had to be chosen with the knowledge that fluoroscopy would be used. Participants were also asked to fill out a form at the end of each day, detailing the number of cases that day, the number of hours spent in the OR, and the total amount of time using fluoroscopy. Results Trauma surgeons received significantly higher radiation doses in the OR (p=0.01) and reported longer use of fluoroscopy (p<0.001). Trauma surgeons also spent more time per day in the OR and had more cases per day compared to arthroplasty surgeons, but this difference was not significant. Radiation dose penetrating through protective equipment remained minimal. Conclusion Although the female trauma surgeons in the study operated longer and performed more procedures per day, the higher radiation exposure was best explained by the amount of time fluoroscopy is used in the OR. The fluoroscopic times in this study therefore may be a useful self-assessment tool for attending trauma and arthroplasty surgeons. Awareness of these differences will hopefully increase an individual surgeon's mindfulness toward the length of fluoroscopy use in each case, regardless of orthopaedic subspecialty.Level of Evidence: IV.
The landscape of GPCR signaling in the regulation of epidermal stem cell fate and skin homeostasis

Continuous integration of signals from the micro and macro-environment is necessary for somatic stem cells to adapt to changing conditions, maintain tissue homeostasis and activate repair mechanisms. G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) facilitate this integration by binding to numerous hormones, metabolites and inflammatory mediators, influencing a diverse network of pathways that regulate stem cell fate. This adaptive mechanism is particularly relevant for tissues that are exposed to environmental assault, like skin. The skin is maintained by a set of basal keratinocyte stem and progenitor cells located in the hair follicle and interfollicular epidermis, and several GPCRs and their signaling partners serve as makers and regulators of epidermal stem cell activity. GPCRs utilize heterotrimeric G protein dependent and independent pathways to translate extracellular signals into intracellular molecular cascades that dictate the activation of keratinocyte proliferative and differentiation networks, including Hedgehog GLI, Hippo YAP1 and WNT/β-catenin, ultimately regulating stem cell identity. Dysregulation of GPCR signaling underlines numerous skin inflammatory diseases and cancer, with smoothened-driven basal cell carcinoma being a main example of a GPCR associated cancer. In this review, we discuss the impact of GPCRs and their signaling partners in skin keratinocyte biology, particularly in the regulation of the epidermal stem cell compartment.
Design and Implementation of Power Grid WebGIS Application Based on Dispatch and Control Cloud

In the stage of steady progress of Dispatch and Control Cloud construction, the application of power grid WebGIS is designed and implemented according to the demand of power grid panoramic display business and combined with the development status of GIS technology. Based on the in-depth understanding of the Dispatching and Control Cloud architecture design, and around the "1 + n" overall architecture logic, this paper presents the design structure of power grid WebGIS application, and further introduces the key technologies of realizing power grid WebGIS, such as the realization of custom tile WMTs, the realization of Grid GIS layer based on CIM / G standard, and the visualization display based on voronoi diagram. Grid WebGIS Application has been successfully put into operation in guofen cloud, and successfully supported the construction of GIS related modules of a series of projects.
Macroscopic entropy of N=2 extremal black holes

Abstract Extremal BPS-saturated black holes in N = 2, d = 4 supergravity can carry electric and magnetic charges ( q ( m ) Λ , q Λ ( e ) ). It is shown that in smooth cases the moduli fields at the horizon take a fixed “rational” value X Λ ( q ( m ) , q ( e ) ) which is determined by the charges and is independent of the asymptotic values of the moduli fields. A universal formula for the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy is derived in terms of the charges and the moduli space geometry at X Λ ( q ( m ) , q ( e ) ). This work extends previous results of Ferrara, Kallosh and the author for the pure magnetic case.
The franchise view of the corporation: purpose, personality, public policy

The sources and nature of business corporations’ legal personhood and purpose are intensely debated issues in today’s academic and political discourse. As the dominant “shareholder primacy” model comes under an increasing pressure, scholars and practitioners of corporate law are searching for alternative formulations of what a “good” corporation is. This essay (a chapter contribution to an edited volume) broadens the scope of the debate by taking a macro-systemic perspective on the nature and purpose of the corporation. It argues that the modern business corporation is an inherently hybrid public-private entity, an institutional device for conditional outsourcing to private parties of certain essentially public powers and functions. The corporate form is best described as a “franchise” arrangement in which the sovereign public (as franchisor) grants private firms (as franchisees) extraordinary organizational privileges, with the ultimate goal of promoting economic development and publicly beneficial growth. The proposed franchise view of the corporation has potentially significant normative implications. It pivots the discussion of corporate purpose and personality away from its current preoccupation with the micro-level balancing of competing—and frequently incommensurable—interests of multiple “stakeholder” groups. Taking the inquiry to a macro-level, it emphasizes public policy as the key factor that should determine the scope and substance of corporate powers and social responsibilities. To illustrate these dynamics, the essay (1) examines the “special” case of U.S. banks as classic franchisees of the sovereign public; and (2) explores potential ways of reintroducing robust “corporate purpose” requirements into the general incorporation process.
Efficacy of POC Antibody Assays after COVID-19 Infection and Potential Utility for Immunity Passports"."

Objective Numerous manufacturers market lateral flow assays for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, but there are many questions about the reliability and efficacy of these tests. Materials and methods Serum specimens from 60 individuals were analyzed using 2 lateral flow antibody assays, an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the Abbott SARS-CoV-2 IgG chemiluminescent immunoassay. Results The BioMedomics and Premier Biotech lateral flow assays were positive for IgM in 73.3% and 70% and for IgG in 80% and 73.3% of specimens, respectively. The ELISA assay was positive for IgM and IgG in 73.3% and 86.7% of specimens from infected individuals, whereas the Abbott assay was positive in 80%. The specificities of the 4 assays ranged from 96.7% to 100% for IgM and from 93.3% to 100% for IgG. Conclusion Results of the 2 lateral flow assays were comparable to those of the ELISA and Abbott assays. Assay efficacy depended on length of time after SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Economics of Implementing Preemptive School Closures to Mitigate Pandemic Influenza Outbreaks of Differing Severity in the United States

The use of nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to slow disease spread, is a part of national pandemic preparedness as the first line of defense against influenza pandemics. Preemptive school closures (PSCs), an NPI reserved for use in severe pandemics, are highly effective in slowing influenza spread but have unintended consequences. We simulated PSC impacts during a 1957–like pandemic to estimate population impacts and quantify costs of closing schools at the national level. We also simulated 1957–like, 1968–like, and 2009–like pandemics at the Chicago regional level. We estimated economic impacts resulting from loss of income due to illness, providing childcare during closures, and other PSC costs while taking into consideration the number of cases averted with each mitigation strategy. The estimated net PSC costs ranged from $15 billion to $192 billion (2016 USD) (1957–like, national level) where between 2.3 and 47 million US cases may be averted depending on strategy. We found that 2–week school–by–school PSCs (as opposed to county–wide or school district–wide ones) had the lowest cost per discounted life–year gained for both national and Chicago regional–level analyses of all pandemics. While feasibility of such spatiotemporally precise triggering is presently questionable for most locales, this is, theoretically, an attractive option early in an outbreak, while assessing transmissibility and severity of a novel influenza virus. In contrast, we found that county–wide PSCs of longer durations (8 to 12 weeks) would result in the most averted cases (31–47 million) and deaths (105,000–156,000), albeit at considerably more cost ($125–$150 billion net of averted illness costs) for the national–level, 1957–like analysis. The estimated net costs per death averted ($1.0 to $1.2 million) for these scenarios compare favorably to the range of values recommended for regulatory impact analyses ($4.6 to 15.0 million). Hence, economic benefits of such PSCs would exceed the population impacts and economic costs.
Probabilistic Analysis of Fiber-Reinforced Concrete

A probabilistic model simulating the behavior of fiber reinforced concrete under tensile loading is briefly described. The model, based on the statistics and mechanics of composite materials, leads to simple equations predicting the mean strength and surface energy of the composite as a function of the characteristics of the two major components and their mutual interaction. Theoretically predicted results are correlated with the observed findings of an extensive experimental program on tensile prisms. The influence of given dominant parameters, i.e., the volume fraction of fibers, their aspect ratio, and the bond strength at the fiber matrix interface is analyzed. It is concluded that the proposed equations could be beneficially used to predict tensile properties of fiber reinforced concrete.
STUDIES ON THE THYMOLYMPHATIC SYSTEM IN HUMANS. I. MORPHOLOGIC CHANGES IN LYMPH NODES IN PREGNANCY AT TERM.

Abstract 1.1. The existing information on the thymolymphatic system in pregnancy has been briefly summarized. 2.2. The changes in morphology in lymph nodes in human pregnancy at term have been reviewed. 3.3. The findings in lymph nodes during the puerperium as well as the findings during the first 36 weeks of pregnancy have been demonstrated. 4.4. The changes in lymph nodes available from patients with choriocarcinoma have been reviewed, and the changes in the absolute lymphocyte count in choriocarcinoma have been demonstrated particularly in relationship to the chorionic gonadotropin titer and the clinical course of the patient under chemotherapy. 5.5. The possible significance of these changes has been discussed.
Bid—ask spreads and volatility in the foreign exchange market: An empirical analysis

Abstract Consistent with the implications from a simple asymmetric information model for the bid-ask spread, we present empirical evidence that the size of the bid-ask spread in the foreign exchange market is positively related to the underlying exchange rate uncertainty. The estimation results are based on an ordered probit analysis that captures the discreteness in the spread distribution, with the uncertainty of the spot exchange rate being quantified through a GARCH type model. The data sets consists of more than 300,000 continuously recorded Deutschemark/dollar quotes over the period from April 1989 to June 1989.
Optimal binary search trees meet object-oriented programming

This paper presents an object-oriented approach to the problem of finding optimal binary search trees. We show that object-oriented techniques produce a solution that is an improvement over those created procedurally and that is well within the reach of our undergraduate students. Combining the study of optimality with that of object-oriented design helps the students gain a deeper appreciation of both.
Material and Process Selection—Cylinder Blocks and Heads

The choice of materials for engine structures is much more involved than considering strength and weight. Cylinder heads and blocks are highly and dynamically loaded structures that transfer a lot of heat; they must be manufactured economically and consistently, and they must be durable. These components may be reused when an engine is rebuilt, so weak structures can earn a bad reputation for an engine even past its original intended lifetime. Things that must be considered include material cost, specific weight, strength, ductility, fatigue life, thermal expansion, thermal conductivity, castability, mold sticking, machinability, processing cycle time, required tooling, corrosion resistance, and requirements for heat treatment or other post processing. Keywords: metal; process; thermal; structural; temperature; stress; fatigue; cost; castability; machinability; aluminum; cast iron; gray iron; CGI ; ductile iron; nonferrous
Morphogenesis of Cryptococcus neoformans.

Cryptococcus neoformans was first recognized as a human pathogen over 100 years ago when it was independently isolated from a patient with a tibial infection and from environmental sources (peach juice). This basidiomycete has subsequently been isolated from most regions of the world, causing a significant number of lethal infections each year, especially in AIDS patients. Originally described as a yeast-like fungus causing human and animal infections, C. neoformans is now known to undergo morphological transitions that are important for its survival and dissemination. Some of the signaling pathways that control yeast and hyphal morphogenesis in this organism are also central regulators of its pathogenesis.
Tidal Interactions in M81 Group

At a distance of 3.3 Mpc, M81 group is one of the nearest groups of galaxies and thus an ideal place to study various galactic phenomena. Observations at all wavelengths can be made with high sensitivity and excellent spatial resolution (1″ = 15 pc). The three core members M81, M82, and NGC 3077 are known to be closely interacting from the 21cm HI emission studies (van der Hulst 1979, Yun et al. 1993, 1994), and all three galaxies show evidence for an AGN or starburst activity, possibly induced by the on-going tidal interactions. A more distant member NGC 2976 also shows evidence for tidal interaction within the group (Appleton et al., 1981). Therefore M81 group is an excellent test ground for studying tidal interaction and tidally induced activities.
Stereospecificity and Other Properties of Highly Purified β-Hydroxy-β-methylglutaryl Coenzyme A Cleavage Enzyme from Bovine Liver

Abstract The β-hydroxy-β-methylglutaryl coenzyme A cleavage enzyme has been obtained in a highly purified but unstable form from bovine liver. A study of the stoichiometry of the enzyme-catalyzed reaction indicated that equimolar amounts of acetoacetate and acetyl coenzyme A are formed, and that only half the synthetically prepared substrate undergoes cleavage. From a consideration of this and other metabolic reactions in which β-hydroxy-β-methylglutaryl coenzyme A participates, it is concluded that, of the two possible diastereomers, only the one having the S configuration at the β carbon atom is active. The enzyme exhibits an absolute requirement for a divalent metal and a thiol (dithiothreitol, cysteine, or glutathione), and preincubation with the thiol is necessary for optimal initial reaction rates. The Km of the active isomer of the substrate is 8.0 x 10-6 m with Mg++ ions present, and 1.2 x 10-5 m with Co++ ions. The apparent molecular weight of the enzyme is 48,000, and the turnover number at 37° and pH 9.5 (the optimal pH) is 3,600 moles per mole of enzyme per min.
A Behavioral Model of Insurance Pricing

We develop a model of price competition between insurers where insurers maximize expected profit subject to a solvency constraint. Insurers base prices in part on expected losses, the estimates of which are updated in a Bayesian fashion. We assume that insurers are overconfident—they overestimate the precision of their private signal about expected losses. This leads insurers to overreact to their private signal on expected losses. The consequence is that prices may cycle and that the distribution of price changes may be positively skewed because of the role played by
Resonantly diode pumped Ho 3+ :YVO 4 2.1-μ laser

We report what is believed to be the first laser operation based on Ho 3+ -doped YVO 4 . The Ho +3 : YVO 4 was resonantly diode-pumped at ~1.93 μm to produce up to 1.6 W of continuous wave (CW) output power at ~2.054 μm. The laser had a slope efficiency of ~38% with respect to absorbed power. We have measured the absorption and stimulated emission cross sections of The Ho +3 : YVO 4 at 77 K and present the calculated gain cross section spectrum at 77 K for different excited state inversion levels.
Ocean chemistry and the speed of sound in seawater

Abstract For over 50 years scientists have represented the speed of sound in sea water (V) as an ad hoc high order polynomial with up to 42 coefficients linking temperature, pressure, and salinity, or via an equation of state with 104 coefficients. While this has allowed accurate calculation of sound speed profiles, these are formulations with no underlying molecular basis. We show that a simple van 't Hoff formulation with a plot of lnV versus 1/T, where T is the absolute temperature, as a basis leads to a simpler formulation with minimal error with at most only 28 coefficients required. This finding suggests that the dominant control on the speed of sound within the oceanic range appears to have the form of simple reversible equilibria within the water structure system and that V mimics, or may be treated as resulting from, a simple pressure perturbation between apparent equilibria within the water structures. The van 't Hoff slope is indicative of an endothermic reaction in which the sound wave loses energy into the ocean. Since sound speed profiles are fundamentally separable into their temperature and depth (pressure) dependencies their partial correlation with some chemical profiles appears to offer a potentially powerful proxy for separating the typically comingled properties of temperature and depth in describing ocean chemical profiles and rates.
Collaborative Spectrum Sensing in Cognitive Radio Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks: Belief Propagation on Highway

Cognitive radio technique is applied to Vehicular Ad hoc Networks (VANET) to increase frequency bandwidth. Spectrum sensing for opportunistic spectrum access is carried out collaboratively among neighboring vehicles. For the collaborative spectrum sensing, Belief Propagation (BP) is applied to tackle the distributed observations and to exploit redundancies in both space and time. The corresponding performance is analyzed for a three-vehicle case and is demonstrated using numerical simulations.
Relative genome-size differences among populations of Spartina alterniflora Loisel (Poaceae) along East and Gulf Coasts of U.S.A.

Abstract Flow cytometric analysis of mithramycin-stained rhizome nuclei was used to compare relative amounts of DNA among 18 populations of Spartina alterniflora Loisel (Poaceae) from the East and Gulf Coasts of the U.S.A. The DNA amount increases, significantly with increasing latitude. These findings support the general model of genome size change with latitude.
Pneumococcal Pneumonia in a Rat Model of Cirrhosis: Effects of Cirrhosis on Pulmonary Defense Mechanisms against Streptococcus pneumoniae

To study alterations in host defense mechanisms that enhance pneumococcal virulence, a model of Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia was developed in cirrhotic rats. Cirrhosis, with or without ascites, was produced in rats by intragastric administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Histopathologic and laboratory studies demonstrated that CCl4-induced cirrhosis was similar to alcoholic cirrhosis in humans. Cirrhotic rats were more susceptible to type 3 pneumococcal pneumonia induced by intratracheal challenge than controls, and the presence of ascites was associated with the lowest LD50. More cirrhotic rats with ascites had bacteremia and elevated levels of circulating capsular antigen after challenge compared with cirrhotic rats without ascites or controls. Pulmonary clearance of pneumococci was markedly reduced in rats with cirrhosis and ascites and was associated with reduced serum complement levels. This model may be useful in further studies of the pathogenesis and therapy of pneumococcal infections in the compromised host.