cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
New electrolyte systems for capillary zone electrophoresis of metal cations and non-ionic organic compounds

Excellent separations of metal ions can be obtained very quickly by capillary electrophoresis provided a weak complexing reagent is incorporated into the electrolyte to alter the effective mobilities of the sample ions. Indirect photometric detection is possible by also adding a UV-sensitive ion to the electrolyte. Separations are described using phthalate, tartrate, lactate or hydroxyisobutyrate as the complexing reagent. A separation of twenty-seven metal ions was achieved in only 6 min using a lactate system. A mechanism for the separation of lanthanides is proposed for the hydroxyisobutyrate system.
Rasputin, the Drosophila homologue of the RasGAP SH3 binding protein, functions in ras- and Rho-mediated signaling.

The small GTPase Ras plays an important role in many cellular signaling processes. Ras activity is negatively regulated by GTPase activating proteins (GAPs). It has been proposed that RasGAP may also function as an effector of Ras activity. We have identified and characterized the Drosophila homologue of the RasGAP-binding protein G3BP encoded by rasputin (rin). rin mutants are viable and display defects in photoreceptor recruitment and ommatidial polarity in the eye. Mutations in rin/G3BP genetically interact with components of the Ras signaling pathway that function at the level of Ras and above, but not with Raf/MAPK pathway components. These interactions suggest that Rin is required as an effector in Ras signaling during eye development, supporting an effector role for RasGAP. The ommatidial polarity phenotypes of rin are similar to those of RhoA and the polarity genes, e.g. fz and dsh. Although rin/G3BP interacts genetically with RhoA, affecting both photoreceptor differentiation and polarity, it does not interact with the gain-of-function genotypes of fz and dsh. These data suggest that Rin is not a general component of polarity generation, but serves a function specific to Ras and RhoA signaling pathways.
Intellectual Property and Standard Setting

This Chapter, forthcoming in the ABA Handbook on the Antitrust Aspects of Standards Setting (2010) provides an analytical overview of the antitrust issues involving intellectual property and standard setting including, but not limited to, patent holdup, royalty stacking, refusals to license, and patent pools.
Mechanics of Elastic Dislocations in Strained Layer Structures

Application of the elastic continuum theory of dislocations to modeling of phenomena associated with elastic strain relaxation in strained layer epitaxial heterostructures is discussed. The concept of critical thickness for onset of strain relaxation in a strained epitaxial layer is first reviewed, and some extensions to periodic arrays of dislocations and to multiple layers are described. Then, two issues are addressed that arise when the assumptions underlying the critical thickness concept are not met. One issue concerns the nucleation of dislocations at the growth surface of an epitaxial film, particularly the influence of surface irregularities on the activation energy for surface nucleation. A second issue concerns the kinetics of glide of a threading dislocation as it lays down an interface misfit dislocation when the layer thickness exceeds the critical thickness. A generalized driving force for the glide process is defined, and a relationship between this force and the glide speed is proposed.
Internet Streaming SIMD Extensions

Because floating-point computation is the heart of 3D geometry, speeding up floating-point computation is vital to overall 3D performance. To produce a visually perceptible difference in graphics applications, Intel's 32-bit processors-based on the IA-32 architecture-required an increase of 1.5 to 2 times the native floating-point performance. One path to better performance involves studying how the system uses data. Today's 3D applications can execute a lot faster by differentiating between data used repeatedly and streaming data-data used only once and then discarded. The Pentium III's new floating-point extension lets programmers designate data as streaming and provides instructions that handle this data efficiently. The authors designed the Internet Streaming SIMD Extensions (ISSE) to enable a new level of visual computing on the volume PC platform. They discuss their results in terms of boosting the performance of 3D and video applications.
Shock pulse mitigation in various organic foams

The mechanical behavior of three kinds of organic foams, each at two different densities, was experimentally investigated under conditions of pulsed one-dimensional strain shock loading. The input pulse width in each experiment was nominally 0.1 μsec, and the input stress level (as referenced to quartz) was varied between 10 and 23 kbar. The materials studied were polyurethane foam at bulk densities of 0.33 and 0.21 g/cc, syntactic foam (phenolic microballoons dispersed in a resin binder) at 0.66 and 0.23 g/cc, and polystyrene bead foam at 0.091 and 0.049 g/cc. Specimen thicknesses varied between 1.0 and 6.5 mm. It was found that the pulse duration was greatly lengthened and that the peak stress was decreased (accounting for both impedance mismatch and attenuation effects) by factors of between about 8 and 500, depending upon the type of foam, its thickness, and its density.
Wavelength dependence of polarization by small graphite flakes.

Wavelength dependence of polarization by small graphite flakes with anisotropic dielectric constant
Bacterial Communities Associated with Junco Preen Glands: Preliminary Ramifications for Chemical Signaling

Intraspecific chemical communication may play a significant role in avian behavior. Preen oil secreted by the uropygial gland emits volatile compounds that vary with many aspects of bird biology and may figure prominently in mate choice. Many of these compounds are known end products of bacterial metabolism in other environments. The fermentation hypothesis for chemical recognition suggests that symbiotic bacteria in mammalian scent glands produce volatile odorants that are used as recognition cues by the host animals and that variation in these bacterial communities contributes to variation in the animal scents. We preliminarily evaluated whether this hypothesis could apply to birds by sampling and sequencing bacterial communities associated with the preen gland of adult breeding dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis). The most common operational taxonomic units (OTUs), defined by the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene, belonged to the phyla Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria. Most of the identified bacterial genera contain species that are known odor producers. Most notably, Burkholderia and Pseudomonas species consistently produce 9 of the 17 volatile compounds whose production is either upregulated during the breeding season or differs between the sexes in juncos. Other genera have documented antifungal or antibacterial properties and may provide other valuable services to the birds. We found no effect of host sex on bacterial community composition or structure. Instead, paired males and females clustered together, suggesting that individuals that have frequent contact may develop similar microbial communities quickly. Our study suggests that the fermentation hypothesis for chemical recognition, originally formulated for mammals, may apply to birds as well, opening new pathways for avian-microbial research.
Method for Generating Design Earthquake Time Histories With an Emphasis on Maintaining Phasing

A method has been developed which takes a seed earthquake time history and modifies it to produce a time-history with a given design response spectrum. It is a multistep process with an emphasis on maintaining phasing during the strong motion duration. Initially, the seed earthquake time history is broken into a series of separate time histories which added together produce the original time history. Each separate time history is drift corrected using modifications only outside the strong motion duration of the seed earthquake time history. This allows the separate time histories to be individually scaled to improve the response spectrum match while the phase of the motion during the strong motion duration remains unchanged. To further improve the design response spectrum match, low cycle, low energy waves are added. This is primarily to control the response at higher frequency. These waves are tuned to improve the response at existing peaks.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Lifting Assembly to Intermediate Representation: A Novel Approach Leveraging Compilers

Translating low-level machine instructions into higher-level intermediate language (IL) is one of the central steps in many binary analysis and instrumentation systems. Existing systems build such translators manually. As a result, it takes a great deal of effort to support new architectures. Even for widely deployed architectures, full instruction sets may not be modeled, e.g., mature systems such as Valgrind still lack support for AVX, FMA4 and SSE4.1 for x86 processors. To overcome these difficulties, we propose a novel approach that leverages knowledge about instruction set semantics that is already embedded into modern compilers such as GCC. In particular, we present a learning-based approach for automating the translation of assembly instructions to a compiler's architecture-neutral IL. We present an experimental evaluation that demonstrates the ability of our approach to easily support many architectures (x86, ARM and AVR), including their advanced instruction sets. Our implementation is available as open-source software.
Applied First Amendment Jurisprudence for Public Libraries

Whether the physical space of a public library is entitled to some degree of special protection under First Amendment jurisprudence is of great import to public library administrators for a variety of reasons that include the development of patron behavior policies, patron interaction and staff training, and reducing the probability of litigation involving the infringement of First Amendment rights of patrons. This paper discusses the legal intersection of First Amendment protections and public library spaces and suggests constructive steps public libraries may take to reduce risks of litigation, legal costs, and exposure to First Amendment hazards with patrons.
Fidelity and Persistence of Ring-Billed (Larus delawarensis) and Herring (Larus argentatus) Gulls to Wintering Sites

Abstract. While the breeding ecology of gulls (Laridae) has been well studied, their movements and spatial organization during the non-breeding season is poorly understood. The seasonal movements, winter-site fidelity, and site persistence of Ring-billed (Larus delawarensis) and Herring (L. argentatus) gulls to wintering areas were studied from 2008–2012. Satellite transmitters were deployed on Ring-billed Gulls (n = 21) and Herring Gulls (n = 14). Ten Ring-billed and six Herring gulls were tracked over multiple winters and > 300 wing-tagged Ring-billed Gulls were followed to determine winter-site fidelity and persistence. Home range overlap for individuals between years ranged between 0–1.0 (95% minimum convex polygon) and 0.31–0.79 (kernel utilization distributions). Ringbilled and Herring gulls remained at local wintering sites during the non-breeding season from 20–167 days and 74–161 days, respectively. The probability of a tagged Ring-billed Gull returning to the same site in subsequent winters was ...
Plants and History

Although man domesticated plants at an early date, he did not study them seriously for a long time afterwards. Occasional plant sketches, made for example, on horn, by Paleolithic artists exist, but they are not nearly so cornmon as pictures of animals, and it seems clear that man was inclined to take the plants in his environment much more for granted.
Global Population and Public Health

Although it took all of human history up until the 1800s for the global population to reach one billion, the most recent billion was added in a mere 12 years. This unprecedented growth in the global population has contributed to many serious moral problems, but arguably the most dire of these is climate change. The Earth’s atmosphere can only absorb so much greenhouse gas before it violently disrupts the climate, and the number of people on the planet make staying below that limit very difficult. In this chapter, I will argue that the relationship between the world’s population and the threat of catastrophic climate change entails that we have a global population crisis, and that the fact of this crisis constitutes a public health emergency.
Comparison of the Effects of Stable and Dynamic Furniture on Physical Activity and Learning in Children.

We compared the effects of traditional (stable) and non-traditional (dynamic) school furniture on children’s physical activity (PA), energy expenditure (EE), information retention, and math skills. Participants were 12 students (8.3 years, 58 % boys) in grades 1–5. Participants wore an Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometer (to assess PA), and an Oxycon Mobile indirect calorimetry device (to assess EE) for 40 min (20 min for each session). Each session consisted of a nutrition lecture, multiple choice questions related to the lecture, and grade-appropriate math problems. We used paired t tests to examine differences between the stable and dynamic furniture conditions. Average activity counts were significantly greater in the dynamic than the stable furniture condition (40.82 vs. 9.81, p < 0.05). We found no significant differences between conditions for average oxygen uptake (p = 0.34), percentage of nutrition questions (p = 0.5), or math problems (p = 0.93) answered correctly. Movement was significantly greater in the dynamic than the stable furniture condition, and did not impede information acquisition or concentration. Future studies should compare the long-term effects of traditional and dynamic furniture on health and academic outcomes in schools and other settings.
Identification and Profiling of Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators in Human Tears by Lipid Mediator Metabolomics

Specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPM), e.g. Resolvin D1, Protectin D1, Lipoxin A₄, and Resolvin E1 have each shown to be active in ocular models reducing inflammation. In general, SPMs have specific agonist functions that stimulate resolution of infection and inflammation in animal disease models. The presence and quantity of SPM in human emotional tears is of interest. Here, utilizing a targeted LC-MS-MS metabololipidomics based approach we document the identification of pro-inflammatory (Prostaglandins and Leukotriene B₄) and pro-resolving lipid mediators (D-series Resolvins, Protectin D1, and Lipoxin A₄) in human emotional tears from 12 healthy individuals. SPMs from the Maresin family (Maresin 1 and Maresin 2) were not present in these samples. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed gender differences in the production of specific mediators within these tear samples as the SPMs were essentially absent in these female donors. These results indicate that specific SPM signatures are present in human emotional tears at concentrations known to be bioactive. Moreover, they will help to further appreciate the mechanisms of production and action of SPMs in the eye, as well as their physiologic roles in human ocular disease resolution.
The effect of community policing on fear and crime reduction, police legitimacy and job satisfaction: an empirical review of the evidence

Since the 1970s, community policing strategies or the language thereof have been purportedly initiated by a number of police departments nationwide to address notable issues such as crime, neighbor...
The Prosecution of Climate Change Dissent

A May 2015 op-ed in the Washington Post by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D. RI) accused the fossil fuel industry of “funding a massive and sophisticated campaign to mislead the American people about the environmental harm caused by carbon pollution. Their activities are often compared to those of Big Tobacco denying the health dangers of smoking. Big Tobacco’s denial scheme was ultimately found by a federal judge to have amounted to a racketeering enterprise.” The Attorneys General of New York and Massachusetts began investigating Exxon Mobil because its chairmen expressed opinions such as - “Efforts to address climate change should focus on engineering methods to adapt to shifting weather patterns and rising sea levels rather than trying to eliminate use of fossil fuels.” We look at these two investigations through the lenses of the federal mail and wire fraud statutes (at issue in the racketeering case against big tobacco), and the First Amendment. We analyze the difficulty of prosecuting someone under the federal mail and wire fraud statutes for expressing an opinion, and discuss why scientific statements are more akin to opinions than statements of fact. We conclude that a case can be made against the Exxon chairmen only if the chairmen did not actually believe the opinions they uttered. Holding the chairmen to the standard of an expert, their opinions entail liability only if the opinions lacked a reasonable basis, or if the chairmen knew material facts, unknown to the public, which conflicted with their opinions. Even if the case could be made that the Exxon statements were not true, climate change is a matter of public concern and active public debate, so that even if the statements could be categorized as a form of commercial speech, the First Amendment would allow only counter speech as a remedy. We conclude that Sen. Whitehouse’s analogy to the tobacco case was misconceived, that it is highly unlikely that the Exxon statements can lead to RICO liability, or fraud liability of any kind, that there is no probable cause to believe that an offense has been committed, and that the AGs’ investigations are misconceived. Being lawyers (and since only one of us is also a meteorologist), we have focused on the law, and express no opinion regarding the existence of global warming or climate change.
Communication in Co-innovation Networks

The aim of this study is to develop an integrative understanding of the factors fostering communication activities in co-innovation networks. Participants in these social networks must communicate actively to foster collaboration and idea generation, but communication may not develop naturally, even if the platform provides the software features to do so. This study clarifies the mechanism underlying the relationship between co-innovation platform affordances and communication. We explored the role of sociotechnical affordances, social experience, and desire for learning that are believed to influence individuals’ continuous communication intentions. We outline how social technology affordances that enable socialization may affect actors experience and behavior and ultimately the co-innovation outcomes. We conclude with a discussion of future explorations of this perspective.
Time-dependent effects of HJP272, an endothelin receptor antagonist, in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis

Abstract Using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) model of acute lung injury, we have previously shown that endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent mediator of vasoconstriction, may act as a “gatekeeper” for the influx of inflammatory cells into the lung. To further investigate the potential of ET-1 to limit the progression of lung injury, hamsters were treated with an endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA), HJP272, either 1 h prior to intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (BLM) or 24 h afterwards. Lung injury and repair were examined by measuring the following parameters: 1) histopathological changes; 2) neutrophil content in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF); 3) lung collagen content; 4) tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) expression by BALF macrophages; 5) BALF levels of: a) transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1), b) stromal cell-derived factor 1 (commonly referred to as CXCL12), and c) platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB); 6) alveolar septal cell apoptosis (as measured by the TUNEL assay). For each of these parameters, animals pretreated with HJP272 showed significant reductions compared to those receiving BLM alone. In contrast, post-treatment with HJP272 was either ineffective or produced only marginally significant changes. The efficacy of a single pretreatment with HJP272 prior to induction of lung injury suggests that subsequent features of the disease are determined at a very early stage. This may explain why ERAs are not an effective treatment for human pulmonary fibrosis. Nevertheless, our findings suggest that they may be useful as prophylactic agents when given in combination with drugs that have fibrogenic potential.
Coupled Human and Water Infrastructure Systems Sector Interdependencies: Framework Evaluating the Impact of Cities Experiencing Urban Decline

AbstractWater, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure systems are intrinsically interdependent, impacting the performance and operations of each individual infrastructure. The demands placed on ...
In Situ Photogeneration of Palladium Nanoparticles in Thermoplastic Polyurethane: Photopatterning and Enhanced Oxygen Barrier Property

A solid phase synthesis of sub 5 nm palladium nanoparticles (Pd NP) by in situ photogeneration in thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) composite films containing metal precursor and organic photoreducing agent is reported. The technique is highly facile, controllable, and potentially scalable to production quantities. Selective reduction and photopatterning can also be afforded using a shadow mask. The TPU films with Pd NP significantly enhance the barrier property by 64%. This photochemical approach shows promise for the fabrication of oxygen scavenging packaging systems for food, pharmaceutical, and electronics applications as well as for other products that require low oxygen storage atmosphere.
Conversion from insulin glargine U-100 to insulin glargine U-300 or insulin degludec and the impact on dosage requirements.

Background:We wanted to determine whether basal insulin requirements change when patients transition from insulin glargine U-100 (Gla-100) to insulin glargine U-300 (Gla-300) or insulin degludec.Me...
Are Pax proteins potential therapeutic targets in kidney disease and cancer

Pax genes encode developmental regulators that are expressed in a variety of tissues and control critical events in morphogenesis. In the kidney, Pax2 and Pax8 are expressed in embryonic development and in specific renal diseases associated with aberrant epithelial cell proliferation. Prior genetic and cell biological studies suggest that reducing the activity of Pax proteins in renal cancer or in polycystic kidney disease can slow the progression of these conditions. The Pax proteins may be critical for providing tissue and locus specificity to recruit epigenetic modifiers that control gene expression and chromatin structure. Although they are nuclear, targeting Pax proteins to inhibit function may be feasible with small molecules. Such inhibition of Pax protein function may provide novel therapies for subsets of renal disorders that are tissue- and cell type–specific and avoid systemic effects on non-Pax–expressing cells and tissues. Given the paucity of effective treatments for renal cancer and cystic disease, the Pax family of proteins represents new pharmaceutical targets that merit exploration and further development.
Field and Laboratory Evaluation of Mating Disruptants of HeliothisZea and SpodopteraFrugiperda in Florida

The corn earworm (cotton bollworm, tomato fruit worm), Heliothis zea (Boddie), is one of the most destructive pests of many valuable crops in the United States and in Central and South America. Estimated losses within the United States attributable to this pest exceed $500 million annually (unofficial estimates of USDA entomologists per authors’ survey).
Secret Communication When the Eavesdropper Might Be an Active Adversary

We study how secret communication can be effected by the fact that an adversary’s capability to eavesdrop on a collection of communications from a base station to a set of users may be restricted and unknown to the transmitter. In this situation, the eavesdropping adversary might have to choose which user to eavesdrop upon if it cannot eavesdrop upon the full set. Thus, the transmitter must make a decision on how to better maintain secret communication, and to do this it must take into account that the eavesdropper might possibly be passive or could be an active adversary that must actively make a choice about which user to eavesdrop upon. Using an example of a Bayesian game-theoretical model with unknown eavesdropping capacity we show why it is important to incorporate in a secret transmission protocol the possibility of an eavesdropper having restricted eavesdropping capacity. Also, since the equilibrium strategies are obtained explicitly, we establish some interesting properties that can guide deployment of such a system.
Object-Oriented Systems Analysis and Design Pedagogy: A Constructionist Approach

A major limitation in traditional classes in systems analysis and design is that students often are unable to "experience" the process in a real world setting. This limitation can be overcome by using the constructionist approach in a local academic environment that includes the students working in teams to develop a system design based on a real organization. This allows them to be involved in the process to "do" or "construct" so that they can understand and remember. This paper describes a case scenario that was developed based on the constructionist approach, to teach students object-oriented systems analysis and design using the Unified Process.
Induction Therapy for Stage IIIA (N2) Lung Cancer

One of the major goals of the International Staging System for Lung Cancer, first introduced in 1986 and subsequently revised in 1997, was the separation of patients into potentially resectable and unresectable categories. This dividing line was set between stage IIIA and stage IIIB disease with contralateral lymph node metastases or local involvement of unresectable or marginally resectable structures defining the limits of surgical treatment. treatment. The advent of modern cancer therapy with multimodality approaches including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy has raised significant questions that are still not completely resolved as to the best approach for patients with potentially resectable stage IIIA (N2) disease at presentation.
Prevention of bacterial meningitis. Vaccines and chemoprophylaxis.

The morbidity and mortality caused by bacterial meningitis remains significant despite advances in antimicrobial therapy and supportive care. Prevention of meningitis by routine immunization of infants, who are at greatest risk, offers the only practical way of reducing the incidence of this disease. Widespread use of the recently developed protein conjugate vaccines against Haemophilus influenzae type b by itself could reduce the incidence of bacterial meningitis in the U.S. by more than half. To prevent disease caused by the other pathogens, an effective vaccine against the group B meningococcus must be developed, and the immunogenicity of the pneumococcal and quadrivalent meningococcal vaccines should be improved. Until such time that universal immunization of infants with highly immunogenic vaccines is possible, continued efforts must focus on targeting immunization at high-risk individuals and using chemoprophylaxis to prevent secondary disease where indicated. Addendum: On October 4, 1990, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration licensed the praxis Haemophilus influenzae type b-protein conjugate vaccine (Hboc) for use in infants at 2, 4, and 6 months of age with a booster dose at 15-18 months. Physicians are directed to statements by the Immunizations Practices Advisory Committee and the American Academy of Pediatrics for official recommendations concerning its use.
Bioinformatics of Seven-Transmembrane Receptors in Plant Genomes

Seven-transmembrane receptors (7TMRs; also known as G protein-coupled receptors, GPCRs) constitute the largest receptor superfamily in metazoa. In striking contrast, very few numbers of 7TMRs are reported in plants. Comparative analysis revealed that many of 7TMR proteins found in plants are in fact unique to the plant kingdom. More interestingly, some 7TMR proteins appear to have acquired GPCR functions independently during their evolution. Furthermore, the origin(s) of 7TMR proteins goes back to the level of eukaryote–prokaryote divergence. In order to understand such deep divergence, powerful and sensitive bioinformatics tools are necessary. In this chapter, we first overview the plant 7TMR proteins and how they are distinct from metazoan counterparts. We review various computational methods that are used for classifying 7TMR proteins and their strengths and weaknesses when they are applied for this divergent protein family. We describe our recent efforts to provide a computational tool that facilitates identifying 7TMR candidates from diverse genomes.
Newsworthiness of reform: prison news stories in an era of change

Media representations of prison have been cited as a source of information for those who do not have personal experience with these institutions. While found in various facets of the media, the news media can offer immediate information about prison-related issues. Traditionally, news coverage of prison has featured negative stories about escaped inmates, riots, and abusive guards, and their messages have served to justify get tough policies. Combined these types of news stories have contributed to penal populism. In recent years, efforts aimed at fixing the damage done by the imprisonment binge have become prevalent. What is not known is how the news media are covering these reform efforts. This study examines prison news articles published in The New York Times during 2015 to determine if and how prison reform efforts are being covered. While traditional prison news stories are still being published, prison reform was newsworthy. Readers were exposed to bipartisan arguments supporting prison ref...
Estrogen Upregulates Cyclic AMP Response Element Modulator α Expression and Downregulates Interleukin-2 Production by Human T Lymphocytes

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with a complex multifactorial pathogenesis. T lymphocytes play a critical role in disease pathogenesis and display abnormal gene expression and poor interleukin (IL)-2 production. We previously showed that the expression of the transcriptional repressor cyclic AMP response element modulator α (CREMα) is increased in SLE T cells and contributes to reduced IL-2 production. Although estrogen is implicated in the onset and exacerbation of SLE, the precise nature of molecular events regulated by estrogen in immune cell function is not well understood. Here, we asked whether estrogen regulates the expression of CREMα in human T lymphocytes. We show that exposure of human T cells to 17-β-estradiol leads to a dose-dependent increase in CREMα mRNA expression, and this increase appears to be mediated through the estrogen receptors α and β. We show that the increased expression of CREMα is due to increased transcriptional activity of the CREM promoter and is mediated by increased expression and binding of the Sp1 transcriptional activator. We further show that estrogen treatment leads to a dose-dependent decrease in IL-2 mRNA and cytokine production by T cells. Finally, the effect of β-estradiol on CREMα is observed more frequently in T cells from women than from men. We conclude that estrogen can modulate the expression of CREMα and lead to IL-2 suppression in human T lymphocytes, thus revealing a molecular link between hormones and the immune system in SLE.
Abstract 372: The Endothelial Glycocalyx Promotes Homogenous Blood Flow Distribution within the Microvasculature

Introduction: Impaired tissue oxygenation is observed in many disease states including congestive heart failure, diabetes, cancer and aging. Decreased tissue perfusion and heterogeneous distributio...
Turbulence with Large Thermal and Compositional Density Variations

Density variations in fluid flows can arise due to acoustic or thermal fluctuations, compositional changes during mixing of fluids with different molar masses, or phase inhomogeneities. In particul...
A two-level distributed algorithm for nonconvex constrained optimization

This paper aims to develop distributed algorithms for nonconvex optimization problems with complicated constraints associated with a network. The network can be a physical one, such as an electric power network, where the constraints are nonlinear power flow equations, or an abstract one that represents constraint couplings between decision variables of different agents. Despite the recent development of distributed algorithms for nonconvex programs, highly complicated constraints still pose a significant challenge in theory and practice. We first identify some difficulties with the existing algorithms based on the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) for dealing with such problems. We then propose a reformulation that enables us to design a two-level algorithm, which embeds a specially structured three-block ADMM at the inner level in an augmented Lagrangian method (ALM) framework. Furthermore, we prove the global and local convergence as well as iteration complexity of this new scheme for general nonconvex constrained programs, and show that our analysis can be extended to handle more complicated multi-block inner-level problems. Finally, we demonstrate with computation that the new scheme provides convergent and parallelizable algorithms for various nonconvex applications, and is able to complement the performance of the state-of-the-art distributed algorithms in practice by achieving either faster convergence in optimality gap or in feasibility or both.
Thoracic spinal cord neuromodulation obtunds dorsal root ganglion afferent neuronal transduction of the ischemic ventricle.

Aberrant afferent signaling drives adverse remodeling of the cardiac nervous system in ischemic heart disease. This study determined that thoracic spinal column stimulation (SCS) obtunds the capaci...
A new spin on fidgets.

We express decisions through movements, but not all movements matter to the outcome. For example, fidgeting is a common yet ‘nonessential’ behavior we exhibit. New evidence suggests that this non-task-related movement profoundly shapes neural activity in expert mice performing tasks.
"Echo pause" for postoperative transthoracic echocardiographic surveillance.

Background No guidelines exist for inpatient postoperative transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) surveillance in congenital heart disease. We prospectively evaluated indications for postoperative TTEs in patients with congenital heart disease to identify areas to improve upon (Phase 1) and then assessed the impact of a simple pilot intervention (Phase 2). Methods We included patients with RACHS-1 (Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery) scores of 2 and 3 to keep the cohort homogenous. During Phase 1, we collected data prospectively to identify postoperative TTEs for which there were no new findings and no associated clinical management decisions ("potentially redundant" TTEs). During Phase 2, prior to placement of a TTE order, an "Echo Pause" was performed during rounds to prompt review of prior TTE results and indication for the current order. The number of "potentially redundant" TTEs during Phase 1 vs. Phase 2 was compared. Results During Phase 1, 98 postoperative TTEs were performed on 51 patients. Potentially "redundant" TTEs were identified in two main areas: (a) TTEs ordered to evaluate pericardial effusion and (b) TTEs ordered with the indication of "postoperative," "follow-up," or "discharge" in the setting of a prior complete postoperative TTE and no apparent change in clinical status. During Phase 2, 101 TTEs were performed on 63 patients. The number of "potentially redundant" TTEs decreased from 14/98 (14%) to 5/101 (5%) (P = .026). Conclusion Our results suggest that the number of "potentially redundant" TTEs during inpatient postoperative surveillance of patients with congenital heart disease can be decreased by a simple intervention during rounds such as an "Echo Pause."
A hybrid concept analysis of fall risk appraisal: Integration of older adults' perspectives with an integrative literature review.

Aim This study aimed to define the concept of fall risk appraisal (FRA) and its measures by integrating the older adults' perspectives with an integrative literature review. Background Appraised fall risk is based mainly on either subjective or objective measures, which may result in inaccurate predictions of fall risk. Design This study was developed based on three phases of the hybrid concept analysis including a theoretical phase, a fieldwork phase, and an analytic phase. Eleven articles were selected to review in the theoretical phase. Qualitative data from in-depth interviews and focus groups in the fieldwork phase were used to compare and integrate into the analytic phase. Results FRA is a two-dimensional assessment of fall risk in older adults. Two independent dimensions were defined as (a) physiological fall risk dimension reflecting physical or body function, which may decline with age, and (b) perceived fall risk dimension reflecting the older adults' perception of their likelihood to fall. FRA consists of two categories including adaptive fall risk appraisal and maladaptive fall risk appraisal. Conclusion A practical definition of FRA and its measures could be extremely valuable for supporting the need for fall risk assessments and would be integral to nursing practice.
Identification of TAL1/SCL Target Genes through siRNA and Microarray Expression Analysis.

TAL1 is a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) protein that is essential for hematopoiesis. Activation of the TAL1/SCL gene occurs in as many as 60% of patients with pediatric and adult T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Mouse models have demonstrated that TAL1 transforms by inhibiting the function of E proteins, however the transcriptional targets of TAL1 that contribute to leukemia are not known. In this study we sought to identify targets of TAL1 that contribute to the transformation of thymocytes through siRNA-mediated knockdown of TAL1 expression in the Jurkat T-ALL cell line that expresses high levels of TAL1. We have generated several clonal cell lines that stably express a siRNA directed against TAL1 with up to 90% knockdown of TAL1 at both the RNA and protein level. Phenotypic characterization of these cells revealed that Jurkat cells with decreased TAL1 expression display a decreased proliferative capacity. This phenotype is augmented in lower serum concentrations in which wild-type and siRNA control Jurkat cells proliferate rapidly. Microarray expression analysis using Affymetrix U133 Plus 2.0 arrays has revealed that TAL1 is a global regulator of gene expression and that many pathways are affected by TAL1 knockdown, including those implicated in cell growth and proliferation. This data will enable us to dissect the downstream pathways of TAL1 by knocking-down or overexpressing these TAL1 targets (depending on whether they are up- or down-regulated in the absence of TAL1), and assessing whether they affect the proliferative rate or survival T-ALL cells. We anticipate that we will identify and validate potential therapeutic targets for TAL1-induced leukemia using this combination of approaches.
Formation and stability of long basal-prismatic facets in Mg

Abstract Long BP facets bounding { 10 1 ¯ 2 } 〈 1 ¯ 011 〉 twins in Mg ( ≥ 4 nm) have been observed experimentally. However, the formation of these long BP facets has not been studied and their contribution/role to the twin growth remains unclear. We observe a long straight BP facet (27 nm) using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and investigate its formation, stability, and mobility by atomistic simulations. Experimentally, a serrated twin interface containing short CTBs and short BP facets near a ( 10 1 ¯ 2 ) twin tip is observed to transform under the effects of the electron beam into a long straight semi-coherent BP facet that contains disclination dipoles. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the relaxation of a 3D twin domain reveals another process whereby a long partially-relaxed BP interface forms and contains an I2 stacking fault. A comparison between the energy of these configurations as obtained by atomistic simulations suggests that these transformations occur in two steps: (1) serrated interfaces composed of coherent BP segments with lengths less than 2 nm combine and form a long and straight coherent BP facets and (2) these long coherent BP facets quickly transform into relaxed ones with misfit defects. Importantly, it is found that long BP facets are relatively immobile, and upon reloading, decay into more mobile serrated interfaces prior to migrating. The work presented suggests that the atomistic configurations of BP facets during twin growth processes differ significantly from relaxed BP interfaces that would be observed by TEM.
Micro-computed Tomographic Evaluation of the Shaping Ability of WaveOne Gold, TRUShape, EdgeCoil, and XP-3D Shaper Endodontic Files in Single, Oval-shaped Canals: An In Vitro Study.

Abstract Introduction This study evaluated and compared the shaping ability of the WaveOne Gold (Dentsply/Tulsa Dental Specialties, Tulsa, OK), TRUShape 3D Conforming File (Dentsply/Tulsa Dental Specialties), EdgeCoil (EdgeEndo, Albuquerque, NM), and XP-3D Shaper (Brasseler USA, Savannah, GA) endodontic file systems on oval-shaped canals using micro–computed tomographic (micro-CT) technology. Methods Thirty-two oval-shaped, single-canal extracted human teeth were decoronated 1 mm coronal to the cementoenamel junction and scanned via a micro-CT scanner (μCT100; Scanco Medical, Bassersdorf, Switzerland). Teeth were divided into 4 groups (n = 8) and instrumented according to the manufacturer's instructions. Coregistered images, before and after root canal preparation, were evaluated for morphometric measurements of the surface area, volume, structure model index (SMI), conicity, and percent of walls untouched using the manufacturer's evaluation software (IPL Register, Scanco Medical). Data were statistically compared between groups using 1-way analysis of variance and within groups using a paired sample t test. Results Instrumentation with all file types increased the surface area, volume, and conicity between and within groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups for any of the rotary instruments used (P Conclusions Instrumentation of oval-shaped canals with WaveOne Gold, TRUShape, EdgeCoil, and XP-3D Shaper rotary endodontic instruments similarly increase the volume, surface area, and conicity. None of the file systems were capable of contacting all of the surface area in any canal.
Abstract 44: Quality of Life for Younger Patients Following Lacunar Stroke: A Secondary Analysis of SPS-3

Background: The long-term quality of life (QoL) effects of stroke on younger patients has not been adequately compared to older stroke patients. Methods: We included patients from the Secondary Pre...
Exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of first responders.

The present investigation evaluated the preliminary impact of COVID-19 exposure on first responder mental health. Data were collected between June and August 2020. The sample was comprised of 189 first responders (Mage = 47.58, SD = 10.93; 21% female), recruited nationally, who completed an online survey. Results indicated that COVID-19-exposed first responders were more likely to be emergency medical services [EMS] personnel (vs. non-EMS) in career (vs. volunteer) roles. COVID-19-exposed first responders reported higher alcohol use severity; no other between-group differences were noted. COVID-19-related worry and medical vulnerability were incrementally associated with more severe symptoms of anxiety and depression; only COVID-19-related worry was associated with alcohol use severity. Among the subset of first responders (n = 122) who reported COVID-19 exposure, COVID-19-related worry was significantly associated with PTSD symptom severity. Covariates included gender, trauma load, years as a first responder, and COVID-19 exposure. Clinical and policy implications as well as future directions will be discussed.
A Distortion-Free VCO-Based Sensor-to-Digital Front-End Achieving 178.9dB FoM and 128dB SFDR with a Calibration-Free Differential Pulse-Code Modulation Technique

Motion and stimulation artifacts encountered in wearable sensors present difficult dynamic range (DR) and linearity challenges: AFEs need to be able to resolve $\mu \mathrm{V} -$ level signals in the presence of artifacts up to 100s of mV in amplitude while maintaining linearity without saturation, such that the signal of interest can be readily recovered during post-processing. Since it is not possible to build an amplifier with appreciable gain and linearity for $ \gt 100$ mV inputs under $ \lt 1\mathrm{V}$ SoC-compatible supply, most high-DR AFEs instead incorporate an LNA into $\mathrm{a}\Delta \sum -$ based ADC-direct architecture [1] –[3]. However, as many emerging wearable devices desire single-chip integration in scaled CMOS for size and digital performance considerations, conventional $\Delta \sum$ Ms, which rely on voltage-domain building blocks, suffer from reduced intrinsic gain and headroom. Instead, time-domain quantization through VCO-based AFEs benefits from scaled CMOS and offers intrinsic $1 ^{st} -$ order noise shaping. However, the non-linear V-F conversion of conventional VCO-based AFEs makes achieving a large and linear DR difficult [1]. To address this, [3] adopts a differential pulse code modulation (DPCM) technique that enables the VCO to process only a small prediction error, V ERR , by subtracting from $V_{IN}\mathrm{a}$ digital predictor value fed through a DAC (Fig. 28.1.1 top). Maximal linearity would be achieved if the predictor was perfect, resulting in $V_{ERR},\approx 0$; however, this requires a highperformance and power-expensive DAC. Therefore, [3] truncates the predictor’s output, reducing the DAC requirements to 9b, but adding truncation error, E T . If the gain of paths P 1 and P 2 are made equal, which is enforced in [3] via a gain error calibration (GEC) circuit, E T will ideally cancel at the output. However, it is not possible to achieve perfect E T cancellation, and any residual E T will degrade SQNR, limiting the extent to which truncation can be used to relax the DAC’s resolution. In addition, GEC itself introduces power overhead.
Point Clouds of Bridge Generated by Terrestrial Laser Scanner and Images via Structure from Motion Technique: Comparison Study

A collection of points representing an object in space is commonly called a point cloud. There are several techniques for collecting point clouds. This research is focused on a comparison study of two approaches: (1) collecting point clouds with a surveying grade terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) and (2) generating point clouds from drone-taken still images by utilizing Structure-from-Motion (SFM) technique. The paper’s main objective is to compare the generated point clouds to each other and show the advantages and disadvantages of both techniques for structural health monitoring of bridges. To achieve the goal of the paper, we selected a pedestrian bridge for a comparison study. For simplicity, the study was limited to a single-span bridge. The bridge we studied is a composite steel and reinforced concrete (RC) bridge with a curved deck. A terrestrial laser scanner was used to scan the bridge from several positions, and point clouds were registered based on point-cloud to point-cloud matching. No targets were used during the collection of the point clouds by the laser scanner. In addition, still images of both bridges were taken by a drone. Based on a quantitative comparison of the results, the paper discusses the pros and cons of both approaches.