cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects Energy Supplementation and Time on Use of Medusahead by Grazing Ewes and Their Lambs

ABSTRACT Medusahead is an annual weed that invades millions of acres in the western United States. This study explored the effect of energy supplementation on use of this unpalatable weed by ewes and their lambs. Thirty-six ewes with their lambs (2–3 mo old) were randomly assigned to 12 groups (3 ewes with their lambs per group), and half of the groups received 2.5 kg group d-1 of an energy-based supplement (beet pulp—barley—Ca-propionate, 66:30:4; as-fed basis). After supplementation, all groups grazed plots with medusahead infestation for 15 d. Lambs were then weaned, kept in the same groups but without supplementation, and allowed to graze medusahead-infested plots for 3 d. Grazing events were recorded daily at 5-min intervals, and defoliation of medusahead tillers was measured in all plots. The proportion of grazing events recorded on medusahead and the proportion of defoliated medusahead tillers were not affected by supplementation in either ewes or lambs (P > 0.05). All ewe-lamb groups presented a g...
A comparative study of leg kinematics for energy-efficient locomotion

It has been theorized that biological legs or the serial leg with a knee and hip joint has evolved over centuries for energy efficient locomotion and as such, has been adapted into a multitude of legged robots. However, recent success of legged robots with alternate leg morphologies without actuated knees, such as the parallel and symmetric five-bar link leg raises the question: which leg geometry is more energy-efficient and why? To answer this question, we created a minimal model of bipedal walking whose non-dimensionalised equations of motion have a single free parameter, the leg ratio and defined as the ratio of the distal to the proximal leg length. Then we performed an energy minimization for a given leg ratio and combination of speed and step length. When we optimized mechanical work, we found that all three legs have an identical efficiency, but the symmetric leg has the lowest peak torque. When we optimized a cost representative of an electric motor, we found that the serial leg is most energy efficient for all leg ratios, and the cost decreases as the leg ratio increases. For a leg ratio of 1, the parallel and symmetric leg have identical efficiencies. As the leg ratio increases, the efficiency of the symmetric leg approaches that of the serial leg while that of parallel leg decreases. However, the symmetric leg produces the least peak torque followed by the serial leg for leg ratios greater than 1. Our conclusion is that the symmetric leg rivals the serial leg by being easier to design and having smaller peak torques leading to smaller actuators at the cost of being slightly less energy-efficient.
Nonstandard interactions in solar neutrino oscillations with Hyper-Kamiokande and JUNO

Abstract Measurements of the solar neutrino mass-squared difference from KamLAND and solar neutrino data are somewhat discrepant, perhaps due to nonstandard neutrino interactions in matter. We show that the zenith angle distribution of solar neutrinos at Hyper-Kamiokande and the energy spectrum of reactor antineutrinos at JUNO can conclusively confirm the discrepancy and detect new neutrino interactions.
La redención del Egotismo: James y Proust como ejercicios espirituales

Based on the recommendations of Harold Bloom regarding what one should read and why, the article proposes that imaginative literature, more than argumentative literature, is the most efficient way to reach intellectual autonomy, a kind of autonomy that liberates one from stereotyped forms of thought regarding human beings. After stating these positions, the writers James and Proust are extrapolated as examples of creators of works that free one from egotism.
Abstract WP187: Predictors of Medication Adherence Prior to Hospitalization in a Multi-ethnic Cohort of First Stroke Survivors

Poor medication adherence is associated with poor health outcomes and elevated health care costs. Although studies have examined predictors of medication adherence after stroke, few have assessed f...
The Symbolism of Ebonics: I'd Rather Switch than Fight

Ebonics is a variety of English spoken by a majority of Black Americans. It dates from preslavery to the present while undergoing many linguistic changes along the way. Not until the 1960s had Ebonics become a topic of educational and social significance. The emergence of Ebonics as a prominent issue and ensuing controversy is a product of a period during which Black people were in the midst of great consciousness raising and self-approbation. It was during this time that Ebonics assumed its highest stature, symbolizing a peoples' pride in its language. Few will deny the importance of symbols to the civil rights efforts during the sixties and early seventies. Such slogans and symbols as "Black is Beautiful," "Black power," "Black handshake," "colorful dashikies," "large Afro-hair styles," to name a few, were indeed powerful symbolic affectations, in that they helped unite and solidify Black people in their efforts to differentiate themselves from and intimidate those who opposed their plight. Just as symbolic of ethnic identity, cultural distinctness, and rejection of behavioral values of white America was the spoken English of Black people. Indeed, some Black
Correntropy for Random Variables: Properties and Applications in Statistical Inference

Similarity is a key concept to quantify temporal signals or static measurements. Similarity is difficult to define mathematically, however, one never really thinks too much about this difficulty and naturally translates similarity by correlation. This is one more example of how engrained second-order moment descriptors of the probability density function really are in scientific thinking. Successful engineering or pattern recognition solutions from these methodologies rely heavily on the Gaussianity and linearity assumptions, exactly for the same reasons discussed in Chapter 3.
Role of Lymphocytes and Mast Cells in Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the esophagus characterized by significant eosinophilic infiltration of the esophageal mucosa. Although the exact pathogenesis of EoE remains unclear, an immunological reaction to foods and possibly to aeroallergens has been implicated based on several short-term clinical trials consisting of dietary eliminations with resultant disease remission, and observations of seasonal variability in disease severity. The immunological reaction to dietary and environmental antigens is thought to consist of a mix of IgE-mediated and non-IgE-mediated, i.e., cell-mediated, allergic reactions. Histopathologically, similar to allergic diseases in other organs, various inflammatory cells are found in increased numbers in the esophagus, including lymphocytes, mast cells, and eosinophils, the latter serving as the diagnostic hallmark for the disease. In this chapter, we summarize data demonstrating increased numbers of lymphocytes and mast cells in the esophagus of EoE patients. We also discuss evidence for the role of lymphocytes in EoE, focusing on the allergic phenotype of some of these cells. Since the role of mast cells in EoE has not been well studied, we speculate on the potential role of these cells in the pathogenesis of EoE.
Biochemistry and Pharmacology of Human ABCC1/MRP1 and Its Role in Detoxification and in Multidrug Resistance of Cancer Chemotherapy

Human ABCC1 is a member of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily and serves as an efflux pump to a wide variety of substrates. Similar to most other ABC transporters, ABCC1 consists of both membrane-spanning and nucleotide-binding domains which function coordinately to actively transport substrates with the energy provided by ATP hydrolysis. Different from many other ABC transporters, ABCC1 has an additional membrane-spanning domain which may be responsible for its dimerization as well as a putative gating function. ABCC1 is ubiquitously expressed and its substrates vary from anticancer drugs to conjugated organic anions to heavy metals. Thus, it likely protects normal tissues where it is expressed from environmental cytotoxins and also protects cancer cells from cytotoxicities of anticancer drugs. Inhibitors of ABCC1 have been discovered and many are in process of further development. In this chapter, we review the current knowledge and recent progress in the studies of ABCC1, its structure and mechanism of action, its role in physiologic protection and drug resistance, as well as the discovery of ABCC1 inhibitors for development as chemosensitizers for combinational therapy of human cancers.
Modern Biological Determinism

The cover of the November, 1992, issue of the Journal of NIH Research shows a howling rhesus monkey clinging to a tree. However, the story inside is not about rhesus monkeys. Rather, it deals with the “Violence Initiative” of the United States government’s Department of Health and Human Services, including the National Institutes of Health.1 The Violence Initiative is a $400 million program designed to apply the tools of biology — particularly organic psychiatry and behavior genetics — to potential criminals, especially black and Latino youth in America’s inner cities. Dr. Frederick Goodwin, in 1992 the head of the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration, described the Violence Initiative as “a public health approach to violence,” that focused on screening out and treating preventively “violence-prone individuals.”2 According to Goodwin, various studies within the context of the Violence Initiative aim “to design and evaluate psychosocial, psychological, and medical interventions for at-risk children before they become labeled as delinquent or criminal. This is the basic point of it all... identifying at-risk kids at a very early age before they have become criminalized.”3 According to Goodwin, this is a public health, or medical, approach to the recurrent problem of violence in our society. Estimated by some to comprise a population of 100,000 or more, such at-risk children come predominantly from what Goodwin calls “high-impact urban areas.” Goodwin claims that targeted groups would include those in the inner city, families in which the parents (or other custodial adults) have a low income and a low educational level, or female-headed households — all synonyms, of course, for poor, urban, African-American (or in some areas, Hispanic-American) populations.
Locating the avalanche structure and the origin of breakdown generating charge carriers in silicon photomultipliers by using the bias dependent breakdown probability

Abstract We present characterization results of two silicon photomultipliers; the Hamamatsu LVR-6050-CN and the Ketek PM3325 WB. With our measurements of the bias dependence of the breakdown probability we are able to draw conclusions about the location and spatial extension of the avalanche region. For the KETEK SiPM we find that the avalanche region is located close to the surface. In the Hamamatsu SiPM the high-field region is located 0 . 5 μ m below the surface, while the volume above is depleted almost until the surface. Furthermore, for the Hamamatsu SiPM we find that charge carriers produced by optical-crosstalk photons enter a cell below the avalanche region as opposed to an earlier device where most of the photoelectrons enter a cell from above. The present paper is an attempt to spur further interest in the use of the bias dependence of the breakdown probability and establish it as a standard tool not only to determine the location of the high-field region but also to determine the origin of charge carriers relative to the high-field region. With the knowledge of where the charges come from it should be possible to further improve the optical crosstalk, dark count, and afterpulsing characteristics of SiPM.
Multimodal Control of Lighter-Than-Air Agents

This work describes our approach to controlling lighter-than-air agents using multimodal control via a wearable device. Tactile and gesture interfaces on a smart watch are used to control the motion and altitude of these semi-autonomous agents. The tactile interface consists of the touch screen and rotatable bezel. The gesture interface detects when the user puts his/her hand in the stop position. The touch interface controls the direction of the agents, the rotatable bezel controls the altitude set-point, and the gesture interface stops the agents. Our interactive demonstration will allow users to control a lighter-than-air (LTA) system via the multimodal wearable interface as described above.
Understanding Selection And Diversity For Evolution Of Spiking Recurrent Neural Networks

Evolutionary optimization or genetic algorithms have been used to optimize a variety of neural network types, including spiking recurrent neural networks, and are attractive for many reasons. However, a key impediment to their widespread use is the potential for slow training times and failure to converge to a good fitness value in a reasonable amount of time. In this work, we evaluate the effect of different selection algorithms on the performance of an evolutionary optimization method for designing spiking recurrent neural networks, including those that are meant to be deployed in a neuromorphic system. We propose a selection approach that utilizes a richer understanding of the fitness of an individual network to inform the selection process and to promote diversity in the population. We show that including this feature can provide a significant increase in performance over utilizing a standard selection approach.
Revolution and Reaction: The Diffusion of Authoritarianism in Latin America

Why did so many Latin American leftists believe they could replicate the Cuban Revolution in their own countries, and why did so many rightists fear the spread of Communism? Cognitive-psychological insights about people's distorted inferences and skewed interest calculations explain why the left held exaggerated hopes and why the right experienced excessive dread. The resulting polarization provoked a powerful backlash in which the right uniformly defeated the left. To forestall the feared spread of revolution, the military in many countries imposed authoritarian regimes and brutally suppressed left-wingers. Overly worried about the advance of Cuban-inspired radicalism as well, the United States condoned and supported the installation of dictatorship, but Latin American elites took the main initiative in these regressive regime changes. With a large number of primary and secondary sources, this book documents how the misperceptions on both sides of the ideological divide thus played a crucial role in the frequent destruction of democracy.
Association of food parenting practice patterns with obesogenic dietary intake in Hispanic/Latino youth: Results from the Hispanic Community Children's Health Study/Study of Latino Youth (SOL Youth)

Some food parenting practices (FPPs) are associated with obesogenic dietary intake in non-Hispanic youth, but studies in Hispanics/Latinos are limited. We examined how FPPs relate to obesogenic dietary intake using cross-sectional data from 1214 Hispanic/Latino 8-16-year-olds and their parents/caregivers in the Hispanic Community Children's Health Study/Study of Latino Youth (SOL Youth). Diet was assessed with 2 24-h dietary recalls. Obesogenic items were snack foods, sweets, and high-sugar beverages. Three FPPs (Rules and Limits, Monitoring, and Pressure to Eat) derived from the Parenting strategies for Eating and Activity Scale (PEAS) were assessed. K-means cluster analysis identified 5 groups of parents with similar FPP scores. Survey-weighted multiple logistic regression examined associations of cluster membership with diet. Parents in the controlling (high scores for all FPPs) vs. indulgent (low scores for all FPPs) cluster had a 1.75 (95% CI: 1.02, 3.03) times higher odds of having children with high obesogenic dietary intake. Among parents of 12-16-year-olds, membership in the pressuring (high Pressure to Eat, low Rules and Limits and Monitoring scores) vs. indulgent cluster was associated with a 2.96 (95% CI: 1.51, 5.80) times greater odds of high obesogenic dietary intake. All other associations were null. Future longitudinal examinations of FPPs are needed to determine temporal associations with obesogenic dietary intake in Hispanic/Latino youth.
A call for ecologically-based teacher-parent communication skills training in pre-service teacher education programmes

Communication plays a critical role in building and supporting healthy interpersonal relationships. American teacher development standards recognise this and outline the importance of communication...
Cell pouch devices

Abstract Diabetes is a debilitating disease affecting millions of people and leading to billions of dollars in healthcare expenditures. While exogenous insulin therapy can be highly effective, it does not completely replace the function of pancreatic islets and is fraught with complications when used long term for diabetes management. Islet transplantation has a high potential to treat these patients, especially type 1 diabetics who have lost a pancreatic function due to autoimmunity against these cells, but fundamental challenges specific to an effective encapsulation system need to be overcome. Macroencapsulation devices offer an effective delivery platform, as they protect the islets from the immune environment of the recipient, allow for less-invasive treatment (compared to organ transplant), reduce cost, can accommodate many sources of cells (e.g., allogenic, xenogenic, iPS) and have been shown to produce exogenous insulin independence. Although encapsulation devices have met several challenges, the synergistic convergence of knowledge from stem cell biology, immunology material science, and nanotechnology will allow us to get closer to the objective of achieving long-term survival and function of encapsulated cells, ease of application, and ultimately, a cost-effective treatment for patients.
Rare-earth and precious-metal free Cu-based metallic glasses with superior glass-forming ability and processability

Metallic glasses have many fascinating properties such as theoretical-limit approaching strength, high wear and corrosion resistance, and extremely smooth surfaces enabling high-performance thin film diodes. Copper-based metallic glasses are of particular interest due to the low cost and attractive characteristics of the base element, but the copper-based metallic glasses known to date rely on rare-earth or precious metals that have limited supplies and relatively high cost, in order to achieve good glass-forming ability. Here, we report our discovery of a series of rare-earth and precious-metal free copper-based metallic glasses formulated as Cu46Zr47−xHfxAl7 (8 ≤ x ≤ 20, at. %), which possess superior glass-forming ability and processability. Fully amorphous ingots with a large cross section of 15 (all x) to 28.5 mm (x = 13.5) diameter can be readily produced by a simple water quenching method. The Cu46Zr33.5Hf13.5Al7 alloy, in particular, presents the highest glass-forming ability and processability of all known copper-based metallic glasses. The adjustable Hf content in the composition offers a range of physical properties (e.g., density) that can be chosen based on applications. We also discuss the physical origin of the superior glass-forming ability and processability in these copper-based metallic glasses.
Decay of Ir 192

Gamma-gamma angular correlation experiments have been performed for the 604-316, 588-613, and 468-316 kev cascades in ${\mathrm{Pt}}^{192}$ and the 485-206 kev cascade in ${\mathrm{Os}}^{192}$. The data are consistent with a spin of 3 for the 690-kev level in ${\mathrm{Os}}^{192}$ and the 921- and 1201-kev levels in ${\mathrm{Pt}}^{192}$. The assignment of spin 3 to the 1201-kev level in ${\mathrm{Pt}}^{192}$ requires an admixture of about 8.5 percent $M1$ radiation in the 588-kev transition. Spin 5 for the ground state of ${\mathrm{Ir}}^{192}$ is indicated.
Linkages of calcium-induced calcium release in a cardiomyocyte simulated by a system of seven coupled partial differential equations

Cardiac arrhythmias affect millions of adults in the U.S. each year. This irregularity in the beating of the heart is often caused by dysregulation of calcium in cardiomyocytes, the cardiac muscle cell. Cardiomyocytes function through the interplay between electrical excitation, calcium signaling, and mechanical contraction, an overall process known as calcium-induced calcium release (CICR). A system of seven coupled nonlinear time-dependent partial differential equations (PDEs), which model physiological variables in a cardiac cell, link the processes of cardiomyocytes. Through parameter studies for each component system at a time, we create a set of values for critical parameters that connect the calcium store in the sarcoplasmic reticulum, the effect of electrical excitation, and mechanical contraction in a physiologically reasonable manner. This paper shows the design process of this set of parameters and then shows the possibility to study the influence of a particular problem parameter using the overall model.
The optic nerve head, lamina cribrosa, and nerve fiber layer in non-myopic and myopic children.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate the optic nerve head, lamina cribrosa, retina, and choroid in school age children using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and to assess these structural parameters in relation to age, axial length, and refractive error. Healthy children, ages 11.15 ± 2.62 years (range 6–15 years, n = 53), underwent cycloplegic autorefraction, biometry, and SD-OCT imaging in both eyes. Images were analyzed using custom written programs in MATLAB, after adjustment for lateral magnification. Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, retinal and choroidal thicknesses, Bruch's membrane opening (BMO) area, minimum rim width (MRW), and anterior lamina cribrosa surface depth (ALCSD) were determined and analyzed with age, axial length, and refraction. Results show that axial length increased and refractive error became more myopic with increasing age (R2 = 0.25, β = 0.18, P
Prevalence of medication related osteonecrosis of the jaw in patients treated with sequential antiresorptive drugs: systematic review and meta-analysis

Antiresorptive drugs (ARD) are associated with a known serious adverse event, known as medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ). Transition from one ARD to another has become common clinical practice with the advent of more potent or safer agents; however, the influence of sequential antiresorptive therapy as a risk factor for MRONJ has not been established. To investigate the prevalence of MRONJ in oncology or osteoporosis patients treated with two or more sequential ARDs as opposed to a single antiresorptive drug. Systematic electronic literature searches were conducted using Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Two review authors retrieved studies using pre-determined eligibility criteria and conducted quality assessment and data extraction. Fixed or random-effects meta-analysis models were used to summarize relative estimates for prevalence of MRONJ. A total of 483 titles and abstracts were screened, and 18 full texts were retrieved for review. Twelve studies were included in the final qualitative and quantitative synthesis. Random effects meta-analysis models revealed a weighted pooled MRONJ prevalence of 19% (95% CI 10–27%) for sequential pamidronate-zoledronate therapy, 10% (95% CI 3–22%) for sequential ibandronate-zoledronate therapy. Pooled weighted prevalence of MRONJ was 13% (95% CI 3–22%) for sequential bisphosphonate-denosumab therapy while bisphosphonates only was 5% (95% CI 0–9%) and denosumab only was 4% (95% CI 3–5%). The present systematic review suggests an increased prevalence of MRONJ associated with sequential ARD therapy for pamidronate-zoledronate and bisphosphonate-denosumab administration when compared to single ARD therapy.
Role of equilibrium and non-equilibrium grain boundary stress fields on dislocation transmission

This study presents an approach to investigate the influence of intergranular stresses induced by equilibrium and non-equilibrium grain boundaries (GBs) on dislocation transmission via the discrete dislocation dynamics simulation method. First, a disclination-based construct is used to describe the equilibrium intergranular stress fields of two symmetric tilt GBs. Then, slip transfer through these GBs is simulated via an algorithm that predicts dislocation transmission considering geometric and plastic dissipation criteria. Results show that the locations for transmission and the glide of residual dislocations are strongly correlated with GB stresses. Next, ordered structural defects in the equilibrium GBs are modified using a new approach to simulate disruptions in GB structure caused by dislocation transmission, creating non-equilibrium GBs. Slip transmission preferentially occurs near the non-equilibrium defects, illustrating the effect of modified GB screening characteristics due to prior dislocation transmission. The present work provides a basis for physically representative modeling of GBs and dislocation-GB phenomena in mesoscale simulations of polycrystalline plasticity.
Family Cash Balances, Income, and Expenditures Trends Through 2021: A Distributional Perspective

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in unprecedented economic changes that impacted families’ financial positions. In this report, the JPMorgan Chase Institute uses administrative banking data to assess checking account balances in conjunction with household income and spending. We analyze activity from 1.7 million families who were active checking account users between December 2018 and January 2021 to understand changes in household finances during the COVID-19 pandemic. We find that cash balances temporarily increased by roughly 70 percent after the arrival of stimulus payments in April 2020 and January 2021, with lower-income and younger account holders experiencing the largest balance increases on a percent basis. Balances fell continuously after the stimulus payments, with faster spend-down for families that are lower-income, younger, or working in essential industries. Furthermore, the mechanisms for initial pandemic balance increases differed by family income. Despite greater job losses, low-income families experienced balance increases driven by increases in income, due in part to government supports. High-income families, in contrast, experienced balance increases despite decreases in account inflows because of large concurrent decreases in account outflows. Altogether, our results offer new insights into families’ financial lives and cash balances during the COVID-19 pandemic, and contribute to the ongoing understanding of the economic impacts of the pandemic and associated government supports.
The Uneasy Relation between Chinese and Western Philosophy

The article considers the relation between Chinese philosophy as an academic discipline and Western philosophy. In the academy there are three ways Chinese philosophy can relate to Western philosophy: Chinese philosophy may see itself as the other of Western philosophy, Chinese philosophy may seek recognition from Western philosophy, and Chinese philosophy may refuse to see Western philosophy as the measure for what is philosophy. I consider scholars from each of these three positions as well as the debate between them. Through this review it becomes clear that the relation between Chinese and Western philosophy is an uneasy one. In conclusion I suggest that the relation between Chinese and Western philosophy is not a relation between two separate entities; the rise of Chinese philosophy is rather a symptom of the decline of Western learning.
High Grade Glioma of the Spinal Cord: A Cases Series of Rare Malignancy (2758)

Objective: To describe a single-institution experience with primary spinal cord high grade astrocytomas. Background: Primary spinal cord astrocytomas represent a rare class of central nervous system malignancy comprising approximately 6–8% of all spinal cord tumors. The vast majority are low grade (WHO I and II), while high grade tumors (WHO III and IV) are much less common; specifically, primary spinal cord glioblastoma accounts for only 1.5% of all spinal cord tumors. Primary spinal cord astrocytomas most commonly affect the cervicothoracic segments and present in all age groups. For high grade tumors, overall survival is poor due to their aggressive nature. Furthermore, unlike their intracranial counterparts, there is not a clear consensus on the optimal treatment. Here, we present our institutional experience with three varied cases of primary spinal cord high grade astrocytoma. Design/Methods: Case series Results: Of our three patients, two had PSC GBM (WHO IV), while one had IDH-wildtype anaplastic astrocytoma (WHO III). Of the two patients with PSC GBM, one received no treatment given the extent of neurologic debilitation at the initial presentation and she died five months after diagnosis. The other patient was initially treated with surgical resection, radiation, and bevacizumab before developing intraventricular metastases 14 months after initial diagnosis; he was subsequently treated with temozolomide and bevacizumab until he suffered recurrent, progressive disease 14 months later, at which time he was treated with carboplatin and bevacizumab. However, he continued to suffer from progressive disease and died three years after the initial diagnosis. Our patient with anaplastic astrocytoma shows no evidence of disease recurrence eight months after initial diagnosis following treatment with surgical resection and adjuvant radiation/temozolomide. Conclusions: These cases demonstrate varied clinical courses of and treatment approaches for primary spinal cord high grade astrocytoma, thereby highlighting the challenges that can arise in treating these rare tumors. Disclosure: Dr. Shoaf has nothing to disclose. Dr. Peters has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Bayer. Dr. Peters has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Agios. Dr. Peters has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Boehringer. The institution of Dr. Peters has received research support from Agios. The institution of Dr. Peters has received research support from Abbvie. The institution of Dr. Peters has received research support from Novocure. The institution of Dr. Peters has received research support from Biomimetix.
Field Capture of Male Oriental Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Traps Baited with Solid Dispensers Containing Varying Amounts of Methyl Eugenol

Detection of invasive populations of Bactrocera dorsalis relies on traps baited with the male-specific attractant methyl eugenol. Standard protocol involves applying 5 mL of liquid methyl eugenol (1% naled) to a cotton wick, which is then placed inside a Jackson trap. Because of the lure's high volatility, the lure is replaced every 6 wk. Prolonging the lure's longevity would increase trap servicing intervals and reduce associated costs. Conducted at 2 sites in Hawaii, the present study investigated the performance of weathered solid dispensers containing 3, 6, or 10 g of methyl eugenol, deployed with solid insecticidal strips, relative to freshly baited liquid-bearing cotton wicks. At the cooler site, the solid lure/toxicant combination captured as many males as the fresh liquid formulation for as long as 12 wk. At the warmer site, the solid lure/toxicant system had shorter longevity, apparently owing to the reduced effectiveness of the insecticidal strip over time.
Targeting a conserved structural element from the SARS-CoV-2 genome using l-DNA aptamers

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes COVID-19, has resulted in an ongoing global pandemic that has already claimed more than 4 million lives. While most antiviral efforts have focused on essential SARS-CoV-2 proteins, RNA structural elements within the viral genome are also compelling targets. In this study, we identified high-affinity L-DNA aptamers against a SARS-CoV-2 stem-loop II-like motif (s2m), a highly conserved RNA structure with promising diagnostic and therapeutic potential. Optimized L-C1t and L-C3t aptamers bind selectively to s2m RNA with Kd values in the nanomolar range, and are capable of differentiating the monomeric s2m stem-loop from the proposed homodimer duplex. This structure-specific mode of recognition also allows L-C1t and L-C3t to discriminate between s2m RNAs from SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-1, which differ by just two nucleotides. Finally, we show that L-C1t and L-C3t induce dramatic conformational changes in s2m structure upon binding, and thus, have the potential to block protein–s2m interactions. Overall, these results demonstrate the feasibility of targeting SARS-CoV-2 RNA using L-aptamers, which has important implications in the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19. Moreover, the high affinity and selectivity of L-C1t and L-C3t, coupled with the intrinsic nuclease resistance of L-DNA, present an opportunity for generating new tools and probes for interrogating s2m function in SARS-CoV-2 and related viruses.
cPCA++: An Efficient Method for Contrastive Feature Learning

Abstract In this work, we propose a new data visualization and clustering technique for discovering discriminative structures in high-dimensional data. This technique, referred to as cPCA++, is motivated by the fact that the interesting features of a “target” dataset may be obscured by high variance components during traditional PCA. By analyzing what is referred to as a “background” dataset (i.e., one that exhibits the high variance principal components but not the interesting structures), our technique is capable of efficiently highlighting the structures that are unique to the “target” dataset. Similar to another recently proposed algorithm called “contrastive PCA” (cPCA), the proposed cPCA++ method identifies important dataset-specific patterns that are not detected by traditional PCA in a wide variety of settings. However, unlike cPCA, the proposed cPCA++ method does not require a parameter sweep, and as a result, it is significantly more efficient. Several experiments were conducted in order to compare the proposed method to state-of-the-art methods. These experiments show that the proposed method achieves performance that is similar to or better than that of the other methods, while being more efficient.
Unsupervised dimensionality estimation and manifold learning in high-dimensional spaces by tensor voting

We address dimensionality estimation and nonlinear manifold inference starting from point inputs in high dimensional spaces using tensor voting. The proposed method operates locally in neighborhoods and does not involve any global computations. It is based on information propagation among neighboring points implemented as a voting process. Unlike other local approaches for manifold learning, the quantity propagated from one point to another is not a scalar, but is in the form of a tensor that provides considerably richer information. The accumulation of votes at each point provides a reliable estimate of local dimensionality, as well as of the orientation of a potential manifold going through the point. Reliable dimensionality estimation at the point level is a major advantage over competing methods. Moreover, the absence of global operations allows us to process significantly larger datasets. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method on a variety of challenging datasets.
Possible regulation of connexin function through gene duplication events

Gap junctions are proteinaceous channels that allow direct cell–cell communication via the exchange of small molecules and ions among neighboring cells. The subunits of gap junction channels found in chordates are termed connexins. Remarkably, a large number of connexin genes have been identified in all vertebrate species examined to date. It is not fully understood why so many connexin genes are required for what appears to be a simple function. Phylogenetic analyses have revealed connexin losses and gains during evolution. Presently, it is of interest to clarify why so many connexin genes are retained within genomes. One possibility is that additional connexins provide novel coupling properties for gap junction channels. Alternatively, connexin genes may be capable of establishing novel functions in order to regulate their paralogous connexin, which retains a more typical gap junction activity. Two examples of the latter have been identified. Both mouse Cx33 and zebrafish Cx40.8 can be found intracellularly, and both are implicated in the regulation of Cx43-based gap junctional communication. Continuing studies will provide mechanistic details into how these non-gap junction channel connexins regulate the function of gap junction channels. WIREs Membr Transp Signal 2013, 2:221–225. doi: 10.1002/wmts.92 Conflict of interest: The author has declared no conflicts of interest for this article. For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
Perceived Support, Belonging, and Possible Selves Strategies Among Incarcerated Juvenile Offenders1

Possible selves theory (Markus & Nurius, 1986) suggests that future-oriented expectations, fears, and strategies are constrained by feedback in one's sociocultural context. The current paper represents a preliminary look into the relationship between support in one's immediate context and the development of strategies for the achievement of desired future selves. Youthful offenders (N = 543) were surveyed in secured treatment facilities in Alaska, Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon. Program belonging was a consistent predictor of strategy generation among both males and females, and attributional support from a staff person was significant among males. The findings support further examination of interpersonal interactions as they relate to future-oriented planning and point to a need for further investigation into the development of concrete strategies.
Mostly-Functional Behavior in Java Programs

We present a lightweight type-and-effect system for Java programs that features two major innovations over extant object-oriented effects systems: initialization effects , which are writes to an object's state while it is being constructed, and quiescing fields , which are fields that are never written after an object is constructed. We also present a novel taxonomy of degrees of method purity in object-oriented programs, which characterizes methods whose effects are confined to their receiver object. Finally, we find significant amounts of mostly-functional behavior in realistic Java programs: in the benchmarks we analyzed, between 48---53% of declared fields were identifiable as quiescing and between 24---78% of dynamic field reads were from quiescing fields.
Phylogenetic analysis of the genus Euglena (Euglenophyceae) with particular reference to the type species Euglena viridis

Euglena viridis (subgenus Euglena) serves as the type species for the genus Euglena. In this study, molecular phylogenetic analyses using a small subunit (SSU) and a combined SSU-partial large subunit rDNA data set for members of the genus Euglena showed that strains identified as E. viridis on the basis of morphology are distributed between two separate nonsister clades. Although all the E. viridis strains examined were morphologically indistinguishable and possessed spherical mucocysts and stellate chloroplasts with one paramylon center, there was a high degree of sequence divergence between the E. viridis strains in different clades, making this a cryptic species. Like E. viridis, all taxa from the subgenus Euglena are characterized by having one or more stellate chloroplasts with paramylon grains clustered around the center of the chloroplast. These additional taxa were divided into four clades in all the molecular analyses. Strains of Euglena stellata formed two nonsister clades whose members had a single aggregate chloroplast with paramylon center and spindle-shaped mucocysts. A geniculata clade included species with one or two stellate chloroplasts with paramylon centers and spherical mucocysts, and the cantabrica clade had members with one stellate chloroplast with paramylon center and spherical mucocysts often arranged in spiral rows. Interspersed among these were three additional clades bearing taxa from the subgenus Calliglena that contains members with discoid plastids and pyrenoids that may or may not be capped with paramylon. These taxa formed a laciniata clade, mutabilis clade, and gracilis clade. This study demonstrates that E. viridis and E. stellata are cryptic species that can only be distinguished at the molecular level. Because E. viridis is the designated type species for the genus Euglena, we designated an epitype for E. viridis.
Visual Presentations in Multimedia Learning: Conditions that Overload Visual Working Memory

How should we design visual presentations to explain how a complex system works? One promising approach involves multimedia presentation of explanations in visual and verbal formats, such as presenting a computer-generated animation synchronized with narration or on-screen text. In a review of three studies, we found evidence that presenting a verbal explanation of how a system works with an animation does not insure that students will understand the explanation unless research-based cognitive principles are applied to the design. The first two studies revealed a split-attention effect, in which students learned better when the instructional material did not require them to split their attention between multiple visual sources of information. The third study, revealed a modality effect, in which students learned better when verbal input was presented auditorily as speech rather than visually as text. The results support two cognitive principles of multimedia learning.
PROPERTIES OF A BACULOVIRUS MUTANT DEFECTIVE IN THE PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE GENE

Autographa california nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) contains a gene, ptp, encoding a protein tyrosine/serine phosphatase, BV-PTP. To investigate the biological function of ptp in the baculoviral replication cycle, we constructed a recombinant baculovirus, vPTPdel, in which the catalytically active site of BV-PTP was deleted. Although the vPTPdel mutant was viable in cell culture, it was partially defective in occluded virus production in SF-21 but not TN-368 cell lines. SF-21 cells infected with vPTPdel were heterogeneous in their ability to support occluded virus production. These results suggest that BV-PTP functions in a cell line-specific and possibly a cell cycle-specific fashion. The yield of occlusion bodies, infectivity (concentration of virus causing 50% mortality) and virulence (the time at which 50% of the cells died) of vPTPdel appeared to be normal in insect larvae. We identified a 35-kDa phosphoprotein as a potential target of the BV-PTP in SF-21 cells.
Objective convective updraft identification and tracking: Part 1. Structure and thermodynamics of convection in the rainband regions of two hurricane simulations

To better understand the life cycles of convective elements in numerical model simulations, a convective updraft tracking algorithm, dubbed the Statistical and Programmable Objective Updraft Tracker (SPOUT), is developed. SPOUT identifies updraft cores in horizontal slices through a given model data set, links these cores in three dimensions to form vertically coherent updrafts, and then tracks updrafts in time via estimates of the mean local advection. SPOUT is evaluated in idealized hurricane simulations from both the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) and Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF). In both simulations, SPOUT indicates most updrafts live less than 60 min, but some can persist for over 2 h. Updrafts are typically manifested as shallow cumulus, cumulus congestus, and deep cumulonimbus. Overall, there is reasonable agreement between the vigor of convection and the amount of localized conditional convective instability. Also, the majority of updrafts attain a tilted structure that is in accordance with the localized vertical wind shear. Nonetheless, there are striking differences between models, with the higher-resolution WRF simulation producing around twice as many updrafts as RAMS. Moreover, the WRF updrafts are significantly weaker. This paper highlights the utility of SPOUT for studying convective life cycles in high-resolution numerical simulations and provides some basic features of convection in two hurricane simulations.
CA simulation of biological evolution in genetic hyperspace

Realistic simulation of biological evolution by necessity requires simplification and reduction in the dimensionality of the corresponding dynamic system Even when this is done, the dynamics remain complex We utilize a Stochastic Cellular Automata model to gain a better understanding of the evolutionary dynamics involved in the origin of new species, specifically focusing on rapid speciation in an island metapopulation environment The effects of reproductive isolation, mutation, migration, spatial structure, and extinction on the emergence of new species are all studied numerically within this context.
Model Atmospheres for Population Synthesis

I have used my newly calculated iron group line list together with my earlier atomic and molecular line data, 58,000,000 lines total, to compute new opacities for the temperature range 2000K to 200000K. Calculations have been completed at the San Diego Supercomputer Center for 56 temperatures, for 21 pressures, for microturbulent velocities 0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 km/s, for 3,500,000 wavelength points divided into 1221 intervals from 10 to 10000 nm, for scaled solar abundances [+1.0], [+0.5], [+0.3], [+0.2], [+0.1], [+0.0], [−0.1], [−0.2], [−0.3], [−0.5], [−1.0], [−1.5], [−2.0], [−2.5], [−3.0], [−3.5], [−4.0], [−4.5], and [−5.0]. I have rewritten my model atmosphere program to use the new line opacities, additional continuous opacities, and an approximate treatment of convective overshooting. The opacity calculation was checked by computing a new theoretical solar model that matches the observed irradiance. Thus far I have completed a grid of 7000 model atmospheres at 2 km/s for all the abundances, for the temperature range 3500K to 50000K, and for log g from 0.0 to 5.0. This grid will allow a consistent theoretical treatment of photometry from K stars to B stars. Fluxes are tabulated from .09 to 160 micrometers. Preliminary results are reported for many photometric systems. Work is underway on grids for other microturbulent velocities. Microturbulent velocity strongly affects the interpretation of Cepheid and RR Lyrae photometry. The models, fluxes, and colors are available on magnetic tape and will also be distributed on CD-ROMs.