cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microstructure of nickel-base superalloy MAR-M247 additively manufactured through scanning laser epitaxy (SLE)

Abstract Scanning laser epitaxy (SLE) is a laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) based additive manufacturing (AM) process developed for the repair and manufacture of gas turbine hot-section components made of nickel-base superalloys. In the present study, the single-pass fabrication of more than 1500 μm thick deposits of MAR-M247, a non-weldable superalloy atop similar chemistry substrates using a high-power laser beam is demonstrated. Metallurgical continuity is achieved across the entire deposit-substrate interface and the samples show little or no warpage across a broad range of processing parameters. In order to relieve the residual stresses and enable precipitation of the strengthening phases, the SLE-deposited MAR-M247 samples are subjected to a commercially available heat treatment process. Microstructures of the as-deposited and the heat-treated MAR-M247 samples are investigated using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Vickers microhardness measurements. The crack-free deposits obtained here for MAR-M247 represent one of the first few successes reported for a non-weldable alloy of its kind. The results demonstrate that the SLE process has significant potential for the AM-based repair of existing and fabrication of entirely new gas turbine hot-section components utilizing feedstocks of high γ′ content nickel-base superalloy powders. The results also establish that MAR-M247 is an attractive material for the LPBF-based AM processes.
A comparison of olivine-melt thermometers based on DMg and DNi: The effects of melt composition, temperature, and pressure with applications to MORBs and hydrous arc basalts

A new olivine-melt thermometer based on the partitioning of Ni ( D Ni Ol/liq ) , with a form similar to the Beattie (1993) D Mg Ol/liq thermometer, is presented in this study. It is calibrated on a data set of 123 olivine-melt equilibrium experiments from 16 studies in the literature that pass the following five filters: (1) 1 bar only, (2) analyzed totals between 99.0–101.0 wt% for olivine and 98.5–101.0 wt% for quenched glasses, (3) olivine is the only silicate phase in equilibrium with the melt, (4) the NiO concentration is ≥0.1 wt% in olivine and ≥0.01 wt% in quenched glass, and (5) no metallic phase is present other than the capsule. The final data set spans a wide range of temperatures (1170–1650 °C), liquid compositions (37–66 wt% SiO 2 ; 4–40 wt% MgO; 107–11 087 ppm Ni), and olivine compositions (Fo 36–100 ; 0.10–15.7 wt% NiO). The Ni-thermometer recovers the 123 experimental temperatures within ±29 °C (1σ), with an average residual of 0 °C. A re-fitted version of the Mg-thermometer of Beattie (1993), calibrated on the same 123 experiments as for the Ni-thermometer, results in an average residual of 1 ± 26 °C (1σ). When both thermometers are applied to the same 123 experiments, the average Δ T ( T Mg − T Ni ) is 1 ± 29 °C (1σ), which confirms that the Mg- and Ni-thermometers perform equally well over a wide range of anhydrous melt composition and temperature at 1 bar. The pressure dependence of the Ni-thermometer under crustal conditions (≤1 GPa) is shown to be negligible through comparison with experimental results from Matzen et al. (2013), whereas the pressure dependence of the Mg-thermometer is up to 52 °C at ≤1 GPa (Herzberg and O’Hara 2002). Therefore, neglecting the effect of pressure when applying both thermometers to basalts that crystallized olivine at crustal depths (≤1 GPa) is expected to lead to negative Δ T ( T Mg − T Ni ) values (≤ −52 °C). Application of the two thermometers to nine mid-ocean ridge basalts results in an average Δ T of −3°, consistent with shallow crystallization of olivine under nearly anhydrous conditions. In contrast, application of the two thermometers to 18 subduction-zone basalts leads to an average Δ T of +112°; this large positive Δ T value cannot be explained by the effect of pressure, temperature or anhydrous melt composition. It is well documented in the literature that D Mg Ol/liq is affected by dissolved water in the melt and that Mg-thermometers overestimate the temperature of hydrous basalts if an H 2 O correction is not applied (e.g., Putirka et al. 2007). Therefore, the reason why hydrous arc basalts have higher Δ T ( T Mg − T Ni ) values than MORBs may be because D Ni Ol/liq is less sensitivite to water in the melt, which is supported by new Ni-partitioning results on three olivine-melt equilibrium experiments on a basaltic andesite with up to 5 wt% H 2 O. More hydrous experiments are needed to confirm that the Ni-thermometer can be applied to hydrous melts without a correction for H 2 O in the melt.
Editorial for robotic left lower lobectomy

Dr. Jin and colleagues from Ruijin Hospital have presented a nice review of their technique for left lower lobectomy (1). The authors are to be commended for their further advancement of minimally invasive surgery. We present a few comments.
Detecting polarization in ratings: An automated pipeline and a preliminary quantification on several benchmark data sets

Personalized recommender systems are becoming increasingly relevant and important in the study of polarization and bias, given their widespread use in filtering information spaces. Polarization is a social phenomenon, with serious consequences, in real-life, particularly on social media. Thus it is important to understand how machine learning algorithms, especially recommender systems, behave in polarized environments. In this paper, we study polarization within the context of the users' interactions with a space of items and how this affects recommender systems. We first formalize the concept of polarization based on item ratings and then relate it to the item reviews to investigate any potential correlation. We then propose a domain independent data science pipeline to automatically detect polarization using the ratings rather than the typical properties used to detect polarization, such as item's content or social network topology. We perform an extensive comparison of polarization measures on several benchmark data sets and show that our polarization detection framework can detect different degrees of polarization and outperforms existing measures in capturing an intuitive notion of polarization. Our work is an essential step toward quantifying and detecting polarization in ongoing ratings and in benchmark data sets, and to this end, we use our developed polarization detection pipeline to compute the polarization prevalence of several benchmark data sets. It is our hope that this work will contribute to supporting future research in the emerging topic of designing and studying the behavior of recommender systems in polarized environments.
Politicization of Companies? Empirical Evidence on Corporate Citizenship Activities in Europe

This chapter critically discusses the thesis of ‘politization of companies’ developed by some academic scholars. The ‚Good Company Ranking’ of Manager Magazin screened the social engagement of EuroStoxx and DAX listed companies biannualy from 2005 onwards. The architecture of the Ranking in general and the criteria for Corporate Citizenship Engagement in particular are explained. Drawing on best practice cases and tendencies of Corporate Citizenship Engagement derived from the ranking the business logic of CC is described. In spite of a academic conceptualization the chapter pledges for more careful analysis of real world projects and proposes first analytical tools in that respect.
Structure learning for statistical relational models

Many data sets routinely captured by businesses and organizations are relational in nature yet over the past decade most machine learning research has focused on “flattened” propositional data. Propositional data record the characteristics of a set of homogeneous and statistically independent objects; relational data record characteristics of heterogeneous objects and the relations among those objects. Examples of relational data include citation graphs, the World Wide Web, genomic structures, fraud detection data, epidemiology data, and data on interrelated people, places, and events extracted from text documents. Relational data offer unique opportunities to boost the accuracy of learned models and improve the quality of decision-making if the algorithms can learn effectively from the additional information the relationships provide.
The Mott Mobility Edge and the Magnetic Polaron

This paper reviews the metal-insulator transition in a magnetic semiconductor with random potential fluctuations. The transition is explained in terms of Mott’s mobility edge in disordered systems and the magnetic polaron.
Limbo: Iran’s Non-State Foreign Policy in 1968–73

In this period, Iran’s non-state foreign policy reached its zenith. With the formation of the second Baath regime in Baghdad, Iran intensified its support for the Iraqi Kurds while, at the same time, pressed Iraq in Arvand Rud. In the meantime, the Shah put his weight behind the Kurdish appeals for the U.S. to side with Iran in containing the Iraqi threat. Extensively utilizing Cold War language, the Shah finally convinced Nixon and Kissinger at the Tehran Summit of 1972 to follow his policy toward Iraq. In the meantime, the Shah gradually linked the Kurdish War with border disputes with Iraq in Arvand Rud. It heralded a change in Iran’s non-state foreign policy in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Reactogenicity and immunogenicity of tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) in pregnant and nonpregnant women.

Abstract Objective Tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertusiss (Tdap) vaccine is recommended during each pregnancy, regardless of prior receipt. Data on reactogenicity and immunogenicity, particularly after repeated Tdap, are limited. We compared local injection-site and systemic reactions and serologic response following Tdap in (1) pregnant and nonpregnant women and (2) pregnant women by self-reported prior Tdap receipt. Study design Pregnant women (gestational age 20–34 weeks) and nonpregnant women receiving Tdap were enrolled in this observational study. Injection-site and systemic reactions were assessed for one week post-vaccination. Pertussis toxin, filamentous hemagglutinin, pertactin, fimbriae, tetanus and diphtheria specific IgG antibody titers were determined by standardized enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at baseline and 28 days post-vaccination. Reactogenicity and serologic responses were compared by pregnancy status, and within pregnant women by self-reported prior Tdap receipt. Results 374 pregnant and 225 nonpregnant women were vaccinated. Severe local or systemic reactions or “any” fever were uncommon (≤3% for both groups). Moderate/severe injection-site pain was significantly higher in pregnant (17.9%) versus nonpregnant (11.1%) women, but did not prompt a healthcare visit. Proportions of other moderate/severe or any severe reactions were not significantly higher in pregnant compared to nonpregnant women. Moderate/severe (including pain) and severe reactions were not significantly higher in pregnant women receiving repeat versus first-time Tdap. Antibody titers increased from baseline to post-vaccination for all vaccine antigens in pregnant and nonpregnant women; post-vaccination titers against pertussis toxin and filamentous hemagglutinin were significantly higher in nonpregnant versus pregnant women (p Conclusion Tdap was well-tolerated in pregnant and nonpregnant women. Pregnant women were more likely to report moderate/severe pain at the Tdap injection-site compared with nonpregnant women, but did not necessitate medical visits. Prior Tdap receipt did not increase occurrence of moderate/severe local or systemic reactions in pregnant women. Serologic responses to all vaccine antigens were robust. Clinical Trial Registration@ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT02209623. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02209623 .
The Impact of Poverty and Discrimination on Family Interactions and Problem Development

Extensive research has explored the relationship between family interactions and problem development in youth. When families are living in poverty and facing discrimination at work, in schools, and in society in general, it exacerbates the difficulties in these families. Problem behaviors include antisocial behavior, substance use, high-risk sexual behavior, dropping out of school, depression, and suicide, among others. Problem behaviors are often interrelated and occur concurrently, resulting in a high burden of cost to society.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: Development of a Novel Deep-Brain Triple-Halo Coil

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive treatment for major depressive disorder. TMS coil design plays an important role in maximizing the magnetic field strength at the required location in the brain. Development of deep-brain TMS coils to stimulate subcortical structures will expand the uses of TMS beyond the simulation of superficial cortical targets. The simulation of deep-brain regions may have beneficial effects on neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, posttraumatic stress disorder, and mild traumatic brain injury. In this letter, a multicoil configuration, the triple-halo coil (THC), which can stimulate deep brain structures such as the hippocampus and amygdala, is designed and tested. A finite element tool is used to determine the induced electric field and magnetic field in these regions due to the THC alone and in combination with a figure-of-8 coil. Analysis of the results is done with the help of an anatomically accurate heterogeneous head model of a 34-year-old man derived from magnetic resonance imaging. The magnetic field of the THC is measured and compared with the simulated field.
A signaling-enhanced chimeric receptor to activate the ICOS pathway in T cells.

Activation of the inducible costimulator (ICOS) signaling pathway in T cells is difficult to assess with bioassays, because most T cell lines do not constitutively express ICOS. Additionally, engagement of ICOS by its natural ligand B7 related protein 1 (B7RP1) is insufficient to elicit ICOS signaling, but requires simultaneous costimulation of the T cell receptor (TCR) to be effective. Here we describe a genetically engineered human T cell line that expresses a chimeric receptor (ICOS–CD3) consisting of full-length human ICOS fused at its C-terminal end to the cytoplasmic domain of human CD3 zeta. When engaged by B7RP1, ICOS–CD3 initiated signaling independently of TCR costimulation and induced substantially more IL-2 secretion in Jurkat T cells compared to wildtype ICOS. We demonstrate that this signaling-enhanced chimeric receptor can be used in simple and sensitive bioassays to detect bioactive B7RP1, anti-B7RP1 drugs, and the presence of corresponding neutralizing anti-drug antibodies.
On a sum rule for Schrödinger operators with complex potentials

We study the distribution of eigenvalues of the onedimensional Schrodinger operator with a complex valued potential V . We prove that if |V | decays faster than the Coulomb potential, then the series of imaginary parts of square roots of eigenvalues is convergent.
Programmed Chromosome Deletion in the Ciliate Oxytricha trifallax

The ciliate Oxytricha trifallax contains two nuclei: a germline micronucleus and a somatic macronucleus. These two nuclei diverge significantly in genomic structure. The micronucleus contains approximately 100 chromosomes of megabase scale, while the macronucleus contains 16,000 gene-sized, high ploidy "nanochromosomes." During its sexual cycle, a copy of the zygotic germline micronucleus develops into a somatic macronucleus via DNA excision and rearrangement. The rearrangement process is guided by multiple RNA-based pathways that program the epigenetic inheritance of sequences in the parental macronucleus of the subsequent generation. Here, we show that the introduction of synthetic DNA molecules homologous to a complete native nanochromosome during the rearrangement process results in either loss or heavy copy number reduction of the targeted nanochromosome in the macronucleus of the subsequent generation. This phenomenon was tested on a variety of nanochromosomes with different micronuclear structures, with deletions resulting in all cases. Deletion of the targeted nanochromosome results in the loss of expression of the targeted genes, including gene knockout phenotypes that were phenocopied using alternative knockdown approaches. Further investigation of the chromosome deletion showed that, although the full length nanochromosome was lost, remnants of the targeted chromosome remain. We were also able to detect the presence of telomeres on these remnants. The chromosome deletions and remnants are epigenetically inherited when backcrossed to wild type strains, suggesting that an undiscovered mechanism programs DNA elimination and cytoplasmically transfers to both daughter cells during conjugation. Programmed deletion of targeted chromosomes provides a novel approach to investigate genome rearrangement and expands the available strategies for gene knockout in Oxytricha trifallax.
Application of Atom Probe Tomography for Advancing GaN Based Technology

Atom Probe Tomography (APT) has emerged as a stand-alone technique for material characterization at the sub-nanometer level, with unrivaled spatial resolution, coupled with three-dimensional atomic...
CHANGES IN THE PSYCHOLOGICAL COSTS OF MATERNAL FAVORITISM FOR DAUGHTERS AND SONS AS MOTHERS AGE

Life course perspectives suggest that the consequences of being mothers’ favorite children will vary, depending on the expectations associated with that status at different points in mothers’ lives. We propose that maternal favoritism predicts depressive symptoms only when mothers are older and at greater risk of facing losses for which favored children perceive they should provide additional emotional support. To address this question we used mixed-methods panel data collected from 479 adult children as part of the Within-Family Differences Study. Multi-level regression analyses revealed that perceiving oneself as the child most emotionally close to the mother did not predict depressive symptoms for daughters or sons at T1, but was a predictor of daughters’ depressive symptoms at T2. Qualitative analyses revealed that by T2, favored daughters had begun perceiving themselves as emotional caregivers when mothers faced age-related losses, whereas favored sons did not hold these role perceptions at either wave.
Young Adults lnterest In Nutritious Fast Foods

The nutritious concerns of young adults are of particular importance to fast food operators. The author reports on a study of this population designed to determine whether young adults are concerned about healthier menu items and if that would affect their choice to eat at fast food places.
Engineered IL-2 Cytokine-Cytokine Receptor Complex Enables Selective Expansion of Regulatory T Cells and Facilitates Establishment of Organ Transplantation Tolerance

Mixed hematopoietic cell chimerism induction is a promising approach to establish transplantation tolerance, though achievement of donor cell engraftment in patients given non-myeloablative conditioning remains challenging. Adoptive transfer of regulatory T cells (Tregs) has been shown to improve alloengraftment in animal models. However, ex vivo Treg expansion for the purpose of infusing large numbers is technically challenging. An innovative approach is to engineer an orthogonal IL-2 (oIL-2) cytokine-receptor pair that selectively interacts with each other and transmits native IL-2 signals, but does not interact with the natural cytokine or receptor counterparts, thereby enabling selective stimulation of target cells in vivo. Here, we introduced this ortho cytokine-receptor combination into Treg with the goal of improving donor hematopoietic cell engraftment upon adoptive transfer in a murine mixed chimerism model to induce tolerance to a transplanted organ allograft. CD4+CD25hiFoxp3GFP+cells were isolated from Foxp3GFP-BALB/c mice. Purified Tregs were preactivated and transduced with the construct for murine oIL-2 receptor β chain (oIL-2Rβ) through a retroviral vector. Transduction efficiency was approximately 40%. Transduced oIL-2Rβ+Tregs (oTreg) were injected at 1 × 106 /mouse together with 15 × 106 bone marrow cells (BMCs) that were obtained from luciferase transgenic C57BL/6 donor mice into WT BALB/c recipient mice that received 3.3-Gy total body irradiation and anti-CD40L mAb (0.3 mg, ip on d0) as preconditioning. Recipients were treated with PBS, WT IL-2, or oIL-2 (both 25K IU/day) for 14 days. Without oTreg transfer, donor cells were rejected by d10 as measured by bioluminescence. Improvement of engraftment by oTreg transfer was not statistically significant without IL-2 injection (P = 0.13 compared to BMC + PBS group on d30). WT IL-2 injection increased CD8+T cells and resulted in rapid graft rejection. On the other hand, oIL-2 injection significantly increased %Foxp3GFP+ in CD4+T cells (PBS; 4.3±1.6%, oIL-2; 9.3±4.7%, each n = 10, P = 0.007) without increasing CD8+T cells. Consequently, donor cell engraftment was significantly improved in this group (P Our data indicates that selective IL-2 stimulation improves Treg potential for facilitation of engraftment and for the induction of transplantation tolerance. Cytokine receptor engineering could be a powerful option to manipulate target cells such as Treg in vivo.
Network Identification and Authentication

Research on networks is commonly performed using anonymized network data for various reasons such as protecting data privacy. Under such circumstances, it is difficult to verify the source of network data, which leads to questions such as: Given an anonymized graph, can we identify the network from which it is collected? Or if one claims the graph is sampled from a certain network, can we verify it? The intuitive approach is to check for subgraph isomorphism. However, subgraph isomorphism is NP-complete; hence, infeasible for most large networks. Inspired by biometrics studies, we address these challenges by formulating two new problems: network identification and network authentication. To tackle these problems, similar to research on human fingerprints, we introduce two versions of a network identity: (1) embedding-based identity and (2) distribution-based identity. We demonstrate the effectiveness of these network identities on various real-world networks. Using these identities, we propose two approaches for network identification. One method uses supervised learning and can achieve an identification accuracy rate of 94.7%, and the other, which is easier to implement, relies on distances between identities and achieves an accuracy rate of 85.5%. For network authentication, we propose two methods to build a network authentication system. The first is a supervised learner and provides a low false accept rate and the other method allows one to control the false reject rate with a reasonable false accept rate across networks. Our study can help identify or verify the source of network data, validate network-based research, and be used for network-based biometrics.
Qualitative Inverse Scattering for Sparse-Aperture Data Collections Using a Phase-Delay Frequency Variation Constraint

We present a formulation of the linear sampling method (LSM) for reconstructing target shape from spatially sparse data sets. The technique compensates for a lack of spatial data by incorporating $a$ priori propagation information into the LSM inversion. A constraint is placed on the LSM solution that enforces a phase relationship across frequency that is determined by the electrical path length between the array transmitters and the imaging scene pixels. The effect of the constraint is that image artifacts that do not evince the expected phase relationship according to their position relative to the array are suppressed. We apply the proposed technique to simulated and experimental sparse-aperture data sets and show that the resulting imagery is significantly more faithful to the true target shape as compared to the imagery created with the standard LSM.
Ultrasound and multi-biomarker disease activity score for assessing and predicting clinical response to tofacitinib treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) and the multi-biomarker disease activity (MBDA) score are outcome measures that may aid in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. This study evaluated tofacitinib response by MSUS/MBDA scores and assessed whether baseline MSUS/MBDA scores or their early changes predict later clinical response. Twenty-five RA patients treated with tofacitinib were assessed at baseline, 2, 6 and 12-weeks. Power doppler (PDUS) and gray scale (GSUS) ultrasound scores, MBDA score, clinical disease activity index (CDAI), and disease activity score (DAS28) were obtained. Pearson correlations and multiple linear regression models were used to evaluate associations and identify predictors of response to therapy. MSUS, MBDA scores, CDAI, and DAS28 improved significantly over 12 weeks (p < 0.0001). Baseline MSUS and MBDA score correlated with each other, and with 12-week changes in CDAI/DAS28 (r = 0.45–0.62, p < 0.05), except for GSUS with DAS28. Two-week change in MSUS correlated significantly with 12-week changes in CDAI/DAS28 (r = 0.42–0.57, p < 0.05), except for early change in PDUS with 12-week change in CDAI. Regression analysis demonstrated significant independent associations between baseline PDUS/MBDA score and 6-week change in CDAI/DAS28, with adjustment for baseline CDAI/DAS28 (all p < 0.05); and between baseline MBDA scores and 12-week change in DAS28 (p = 0.03). RA patients treated with tofacitinib for 12 weeks demonstrated improvement by clinical, imaging, and biomarker end-points. Baseline PDUS and MBDA score were predictive of CDAI and DAS28 responses. This is the first study to evaluate early measurements of MSUS and MBDA score as predictors of clinical response in RA patients treated with tofacitinib. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02321930 (registered 12/22/2014).
What Do You See?--A Discovery Approach to Prime Numbers.

JL he question "What do you see?" can be the springboard to many interesting discussions. The following example has been successful not only with students but also with teachers taking inservice courses. Students are directed to make a table of multiples of 2, 3, 4, and so on, as in table 1. Each set of multiples is labeled (A, B, C, . . . ) for ease of identification. Students are also reminded that this is only the upper left-hand corner of an infinite table. Once the table has been constructed, the students can be asked what they observe. The following are examples of some of the patterns and relationships identified by students.
Thomas Aquinas: The Basics

Thomas Aquinas: The Basics is an engaging introduction to the theology of arguably the greatest theologian and philosopher of the Middle Ages. The sophistication and complexity of his thought can be daunting for those approaching his work for the first time. Through this lively and accessible book, Harkins provides an entry point to understanding Aquinas’s mature theological thought. As well as giving an overview of Aquinas’s life and written works, this book examines Aquinas’s understanding of: • the nature and purpose of theology; • God’s nature, existence, and operations; • the Trinity; • creation; • evil; • the human person, human happiness, and the virtues; • Christ and salvation; and • the sacraments. Including a useful glossary of key terms, this text is ideal for students and interested non-specialists seeking an understanding of the theology of Aquinas.
Comparison of angiopoietin-like protein 3 and 4 reveals structural and mechanistic similarities.

Elevated plasma triglycerides are a risk factor for coronary artery disease, which is the leading cause of death worldwide. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) reduces triglycerides in the blood by hydrolyzing them from triglyceride-rich lipoproteins to release free fatty acids. LPL activity is regulated in a nutritionally responsive manner by macromolecular inhibitors including angiopoietin-like proteins 3 and 4 (ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL4). However, the mechanism by which ANGPTL3 inhibits LPL is unclear, in part due to challenges in obtaining pure protein for study. We used a new purification protocol for the N-terminal domain of ANGPTL3, removing a DNA contaminant, and found DNA-free ANGPTL3 showed enhanced inhibition of LPL. Structural analysis showed that ANGPTL3 formed elongated, flexible trimers and hexamers that did not interconvert. ANGPTL4 formed only elongated flexible trimers. We compared the inhibition of ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL4 using human very-low-density lipoproteins as a substrate and found both were noncompetitive inhibitors. The inhibition constants for the trimeric ANGPTL3 (7.5 ± 0.7 nM) and ANGPTL4 (3.6 ± 1.0 nM) were only 2-fold different. Heparin has previously been reported to interfere with ANGPTL3 binding to LPL, so we questioned if the negatively charged heparin was acting in a similar fashion to the DNA contaminant. We found that ANGPTL3 inhibition is abolished by binding to low-molecular-weight heparin, whereas ANGPTL4 inhibition is not. Our data show new similarities and differences in how ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL4 regulate LPL and opens new avenues of investigating the effect of heparin on LPL inhibition by ANGPTL3.
Understanding the characteristics of Latino individuals with first-time DUI offenses to facilitate effective interventions.

Literature shows that Latinos who drink are more likely to experience alcohol-related consequences and less likely to seek care for alcohol misuse than Whites. We aim to understand characteristics,...
Early Childhood Special Education Teachers’ Job Burnout and Psychological Stress

Research Findings: All teachers have demanding jobs and work with limited resources. However, working with young children with disabilities may place additional demands on early childhood special e...
An Updated Review of the Efficacy and Safety of Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Treatment of Left Ventricular Thrombus.

Abstract Left ventricular (LV) thrombus is a potentially serious complication affecting males and females with ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy—specifically, after acute myocardial infarctions of the anterior left ventricular wall and long-standing tachyarrhythmias, respectively. LV thrombi pose significant risks for systemic embolization and devastating stroke events, while also demanding a treatment carrying inherent risks of its own. It is therefore imperative to have accurate detection of these ventricular thrombi and an appropriate understanding of the risks and benefits regarding management. Anticoagulation using warfarin has long been established as the gold-standard level of care in the current guidelines of the American College of Cardiology but the advent of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) prompts a re-examination of the literature. The particular question we seek to answer lies in the efficacy of these drugs and the safety and outcomes when used to treat LV thrombi. Recent case reports, meta-analyses, and most recently, the breakthrough of 2 novel randomized controlled trials have shown DOACs to be a promising treatment for LV thrombus. Contrarily, some retrospective cohort reviews suggest less-than-promising outcomes. This meta-analysis hopes to provide a current, curated review of up-to-date safety and efficacy in the documented tales of DOACs and LV thrombi that has been published since early 2020—by selecting these curated case studies, and analyzing the most recent randomized controlled trials, we hope to engage the reader with clearer illustrations of the key components of both the advocacy and warning of this pharmaceutical intervention.
Storage, Replication, and Utilization of Biochemical Information

This chapter discusses the structures, functions, and biochemical reactions of the two major nucleic acids found in biochemical systems: DNA and RNA. Present-day living systems continue to grow and undergo change via a chain of events that may be thought of as starting from the chromosomal DNA. The chromosomal DNA contains all the information essential for cell maintenance, growth, and replication. This information is transferred from one cell generation to the next, following DNA replication and cell division. The DNA does not transfer sequence information directly. Instead, it passes through RNA intermediaries known as messenger RNAs. This chapter describes the process of DNA replication transcription and translation. A large body of chemical information that proved vital to understanding the DNA structure came from Erwin Chargaff's analyses of the nucleotide composition of the DNAs from various sources. If single-stranded RNAs with complementary base pairs are mixed together, they spontaneously form a double-helix structure similar to that formed by the DNA. However, the RNAs isolated from cells exist as unpaired polynucleotide chains. Instead of a double-helix structure, most cellular RNAs form intricate folded structures that rival protein structures in their complexity. Chromosomal DNA replicates once in every cell division. In that way, the amount of DNA per cell remains constant. RNA polymerases such as DNA polymerases utilize nucleoside triphosphates as substrates in the polymerization process except that in this case, ribonucleoside triphosphates are used. In the transcription process, one of the DNA strands serves as the template for the growing RNA molecule.
PiP Virtual Rehabilitation System

Traditional rehabilitation in the United States has been ineffective mainly due to the lack of patients fulfilling their program requirements. The PiP Virtual Rehabilitation System offers patients an engaging and customizable rehabilitation program. The PiP system is able to quantify improvement in balance by using the Nintendo Wii Balance Board (WBB) to measure the patient's center of pressure (CoP). Microsoft's Kinect for Windows (KW) is used in conjunction with the WBB to render a virtual environment for patient engagement. While the patient performs tasks in the virtual setting, their progress is monitored and displayed for the user via a graphical user interface (GUI). The anterior/posterior (A/P) maximum excursion range is calculated by identifying the largest range on the y-axis between the plotted CoP positional data. Similarly, the medial/lateral (M/L) maximum excursion range is calculated using the x-axis. Plots depicting a decrease in maximum excursion values in either the A/P or M/L directions are indicative of an improvement in balance. The PiP system is an improvement on prior rehabilitation systems.
Transparency at the Federal Trade Commission: The Horizontal Merger Review Process 1996-2003

This paper empirically analyzes the Federal Trade Commission's merger enforcement decisions, to supplement the 2004 release of the Horizontal Merger Investigation Data. The study provides insights into the review process for both multi- and single-market mergers. We present concentration-based models, customized to the relevant industry, for mergers with large numbers of overlaps. When more detailed data is available (for mergers with 3 or fewer overlaps), the analyses also focus on additional factors. We find evidence to suggest that, in addition to market structure, verified customer complaints and entry considerations also affect the enforcement decision. Finally, the study notes that the Commission's enforcement policy has been stable during the 1996 through 2003 time period.
Reliability prediction for a class of highly reliable digital systems

Three theorems which show that the reliability of a popular class of systems can be computed using small and simple models are presented. This class consists of systems that are assemblages of subsystems where each subsystem is a majority-voting threeplex plus spares or majority-voting fourplex plus spares. The theorems are error bounds for model reduction and simplification. The error bounds are given in terms of readily available system parameters. The three theorems have been applied to a system that has been used as an example that generates extremely large reliability models; the system considered is one version of AIPS (Advanced Information Processing System) for IAPSA (Integrated Airframe Propulsion System Architecture). >
Smart energy storage system for integration of PMSG-based wind power plant

This paper presents the control and integration of a smart energy storage system (SESS) to a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) wind power plant. For the purpose of long-term energy management the fuel cell/electrolyzer (FC/ELZ) is utilized in the SESS, whereas the ultra-capacitor is dedicated to the SESS in order to compensate for the short-term transient energy fluctuations caused by wind speed variations or load changes. The control schemes enable the integration of the SESS to the wind turbine system and determine the SESS power that should be generated according to the amount of available energy in the dc-link. By maintaining the dc-link voltage constant at the rated value the output ac voltage of the inverter is immune to fluctuations despite of the wind power interruption or sudden load changes. The performance of the integrated system is verified under sudden load changes and wind speed variations in Matlab Simulink environment. The results demonstrate the applicability of the overall operation and control architecture for the integrated system.
Creating and Completing Service-Learning within Medical School Curricula: From the Learner’s Perspective

Background: This article describes a service-learning project implemented at local free clinics by students at the Ohio State University College of Medicine and identifies key factors in their success. Methods: In response to a lack of longitudinal patient-physician relationships at free clinics, the students developed an initiative linking free clinic patients with diabetes to primary care homes for longitudinal care and counseled patients on the benefits of establishing a longitudinal relationship with a primary care physician. Results: All patients counseled were linked, compared to a historical 10% linkage rate, and 78% of patients scheduling initial appointments. Five factors were identified and listed by the students as key to the project’s process, success, and impact. Conclusion: Although all of these listed factors may prove difficult to replicate, this case-study serves as a model for other medical schools incorporating service-learning and exhibits that medical students can become integral portions of healthcare infrastructure.
Familial empiric risk estimates of inflammatory bowel disease in Ashkenazi Jews

Genetic factors have been implicated in the etiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) because of the increased occurrence of IBD in relatives. To further characterize the familial aggregation of IBD, we obtained family histories by interview on 188 IBD patients, including 154 Ashkenazi Jews (82%), ascertained through a Los Angeles gastroenterology practice. Thirty-three index cases (17.6%) had at least one affected first-degree relative; an additional 11 had more distant affected relatives. Thus, 23.4% of our sample had a positive family history. The quantification of empiric risk estimates for various classes of relatives has been quite limited and has been reported in only a few series. An important goal of our study was the determination of the specific empiric risk figures for relatives. We obtained uncorrected risk estimates of 2.5% to off-spring, 5.2% to siblings, and 2.9% to parents. Although the highest risk we observed is to siblings, IBD has a variable and often late age of onset, and it is likely that many relatives, particularly offspring, of patients in this sample have not reached the age at which they will manifest clinical disease. Thus, these uncorrected risks as well as those reported in the literature are an underestimate of the true empiric risks. To provide an estimate of the true lifetime risks, we utilized age-specific incidence data to calculate the following age-corrected empiric risk estimates for IBD: 8.9% to offspring, 8.8% to siblings, and 3.5% to parents. It is these latter age-corrected estimates that are most appropriate for both genetic counseling and genetic modeling.
On the experience of using cause-effect graphs for software specification and test generation

The notion of cause-effect graphs (CEGs) has existed for more than two decades, but its use is not yet popular. In this paper, we describe several empirical studies of using cause-effect graphs for the specification and testing of real software, including a boiler control and monitor system, a set of N-version programs for navigation tracking, and a database monitoring system. We present the problems encountered in these empirical studies, the solutions developed to solve them, the evaluation of CEG-based specification and test generation, and the experience of using CEG-based tools.
Undocumented College Students in the United States: A category in need of further analysis

This paper concerns itself with a subset of undocumented immigrants, that of undocumented students in the United States. While many sociologists have engaged with undocumented immigration in general, not much attention has been paid to this growing group and when it has been done these students were treated as a unified and undiversified category. In this letter, instead, I intend to outline some of the ways in which the label of undocumented student and its consequences may vary greatly depending on a number of different elements, among them: the different legal status of various family members, the different methods of entry into the country, family structure, and the influence of the communities that surround them.
Behavioral Portfolio Management

Behavioral Portfolio Management (BPM) is presented as a superior way to make investment decisions. Underlying BPM is the dynamic market interplay between Emotional Crowds and Behavioral Data Investors. BPM’s first Basic Principle is that Emotional Crowds dominate the determination of both prices and volatility, with fundamentals playing a small role. The second Basic Principle is that Behavioral Data Investors earn superior returns. I present the evidence supporting these first two Principles. The third Basic Principle is that investment risk is the chance of underperformance. It is important to distinguish between emotions and investment risk so that good decisions are made. In order to achieve the best results using BPM, investment professionals should redirect their own emotions, harness the market’s emotions, and mitigate the impact of client emotions on their portfolio.
Responding on a multiple variable-time variable-time schedule as a function of component duration

Five pigeons pecked lighted keys for food reinforcers delivered by a multiple variable-time 30-sec variable-time 2-min schedule. The duration of the components varied from 5 sec to 16 min. The rate of responding generated by the more favorable component schedule decreased as component duration increased to an intermediate value and then increased with additional increases in duration. The decrease confirmed a prediction of additive theories of behavioral contrast. The rate of responding generated by the less favorable component did not increase as component duration increased. This decrease may represent a floor effect or it may violate a prediction of one additive theory of contrast.
Absorption and excretion of mercury in man. XIII. Effects of mercury exposure on urinary excretion of coproporphyrin and delta-aminolevulinic acid

Individuals chronically exposed to mercury were experimentally evaluated to determine its effects on urinary coproporphyrin (CP) and delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA). Blood and urine samples were chemically analyzed and the levels of mercury found were used as an index of exposure. No correlation was observed between urinary ALA content and any of the following values: urinary mercury, CP, pH, or blood mercury. However, a significant correlation between urinary levels of mercury and CP was found.
Poor compliance with breast cancer treatment guidelines in men undergoing breast-conserving surgery.

Lumpectomy is performed in a small but growing proportion of men with breast cancer. It is unknown whether men undergoing breast-conserving surgery (BCS) receive care compliant with breast cancer treatment guidelines. Patients with breast cancer in the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) database who underwent lumpectomy between 1983 and 2009 were identified. Gender differences in the receipt of lymph node staging and adjuvant radiation therapy were assessed. Multivariate logistic regression was utilized to evaluate the independent association of gender on these outcomes. The influence of gender on breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) was analyzed. 382,030 of 824,408 (46.3 %) women compared to 712 of 6,039 (11.8 %) men with breast cancer underwent lumpectomy. Men were older, more likely to be black, less likely to have stage I disease and more likely to have stage IV disease. Only 59.2 % of men had lymph nodes sampled at the time of surgery compared to 81.6 % of women (p < 0.0001). In addition, only 35.4 % of men received adjuvant breast radiation therapy compared to 69.8 % of women (p < 0.0001). After controlling for age, race, stage, grade, and year of diagnosis, female gender was significantly associated with receiving adjuvant radiation therapy (OR 2.9, 95 % CI 2.4–3.4) and lymph node staging (OR 1.6, 95 % CI 1.3–1.90). Five- and ten-year BCSS were 88.0 and 83.5 % for men compared to 93.2 and 88.2 % for women (p < 0.001). Men with breast cancer are less likely to receive lymph node staging or adjuvant radiation therapy following BCS compared to women.
Glass formation of the SiO2B2O3 system by the gel process from metal alkoxides

Abstract Glasses of the SiO 2 B 2 O 3 system containing up to about 33 mol% B 2 O 3 were prepared from Si(OC 2 H 5 ) 4 and B(OCH 3 ) 3 through hydrolysis, gelling and heating. The transparent monolithic gels were obtained by hydrolyzing the solution of B(OCH 3 ) 3 , reacted with the partially hydrolyzed Si(OC 2 H 5 ) 4 . On heating the gels, the network structure was strengthened accompanying the formation of SiOB bonds. The gels were converted into the glasses by heating above the critical temperature which corresponded to about 0.7 to 0.8 of the liquidus temperature. The glasses thus obtained had the glass transition temperatures. The glass transition temperature, Vickers hardness and density of the glasses prepared by the gel process were almost the same as those of the conventional glasses. The BOB bonds were not found in the glasses which contained B 2 O 3 below about 33 mol%.