cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Detailed Analysis of Empirical Measures for Real Activities Manipulation

I perform a detailed analysis of the three traditional measures for real activities manipulation. I find that the measures are highly persistent, suggesting the presence of omitted variables. I further demonstrate that the measures are a function of the underlying performance, potentially creating a correlated omitted variable problem in certain research settings. Finally, I summarize and evaluate several alternative approaches to improve traditional measures including model adjustments, performance-matching procedure, reversal incorporation, and extraction of firm and time fixed effects. I find that the time-series-adjusted measures exhibit desirable properties of real activities manipulation and advocate the use of these measures in future research.
Abstract 286: The Role of Gut Microbiota in Neointimal Hyperplasia After Vascular Injury

Introduction: There is increasing evidence that the gut microbiome regulates susceptibility to certain diseases through systemic effects of microbe-derived metabolites. Sodium butyrate is a short chain fatty acid that is produced by microbial fermentation of dietary fiber and has known anti-proliferative and anti-migratory effects on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). We hypothesized that perturbation of the gut microbiome with antibiotics would alter systemic serum butyrate concentration and impact neointimal hyperplasia after vascular injury. Methods: 10-wk-old male Lewis Inbred rats were treated with vancomycin (“vanco”) in the drinking water (0.5mg/mL) ± sodium butyrate (“buty”, 0.5mg/mL) for 4 wks prior to undergoing left carotid angioplasty. Serum butyrate concentration was assessed by gas chromatography. Gut microbial composition was assessed by 16S rRNA gene surveys of fecal samples. VSMC were treated with butyrate (0-5mM) and assessed for cell proliferation using cell counting, cell migration u...
Ebola Response: Modeling the Risk of Heat Stress from Personal Protective Clothing.

Introduction A significant number of healthcare workers have responded to aid in the relief and containment of the 2013 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa. Healthcare workers are required to wear personal protective clothing (PPC) to impede the transmission of the virus; however, the impermeable design and the hot humid environment lead to risk of heat stress. Objective Provide healthcare workers quantitative modeling and analysis to aid in the prevention of heat stress while wearing PPC in West Africa. Methods A sweating thermal manikin was used to measure the thermal (Rct) and evaporative resistance (Ret) of the five currently used levels of PPC for healthcare workers in the West Africa EVD response. Mathematical methods of predicting the rise in core body temperature (Tc) in response to clothing, activity, and environment was used to simulate different responses to PPC levels, individual body sizes, and two hot humid conditions: morning/evening (air temperature: 25°C, relative humidity: 40%, mean radiant temperature: 35°C, wind velocity: 1 m/s) and mid-day (30°C, 60%, 70°C, 1 m/s). Results Nearly still air (0.4 m/s) measures of Rct ranged from 0.18 to 0.26 m2 K/W and Ret ranged from 25.53 to 340.26 m2 Pa/W. Conclusion Biophysical assessments and modeling in this study provide quantitative guidance for prevention of heat stress of healthcare workers wearing PPC responding to the EVD outbreak in West Africa.
Genetic variability in cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) under salinity

Variability parameters were estimated using 10 genotypes of cumin (Cuminum cyrninum L.) under saline condition for days to 50% flowering, plant height, branches per plant, umbels per plant, umbellets per umbel, test weight, harvest index, and grain yield. Relatively high GCV and PCV, heritability alongwith high genetic advance as percentage of mean were recorded for grain yield, umbels per plant, grains per umbel,and harvest index. Selection based on these traits would be effective for yield in cumin under salinity.
BEHAVIORAL LEARNING THEORY: ITS RELEVANCE TO MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS

Behavioral learning theory has been generally overlooked in the development of marketing thought. The central concept states that behavior that is positively reinforced is more likely to recur than...
Increasing glioma-associated monocytes leads to increased intratumoral and systemic myeloid-derived suppressor cells in a murine model

Background Patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) exhibit marked intratumoral and systemic immunosuppression. GBM is heavily infiltrated with monocytic cells. Monocytes contacting GBM cells develop features of immunosuppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), which are elevated in GBM patients. Therefore, we hypothesized that circulating MDSC levels could be raised in vivo by increasing glioma-associated macrophages. Methods GL261-luciferase glioma was implanted intracranially in C57BL/6 mice with or without additional normal syngeneic CD11b+ monocytes. Tumor growth and intratumoral and systemic MDSC (CD11b+/Gr-1+) levels were determined. Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-transgenic monocytes were coinjected intracranially with GL261-luciferase cells. GFP+ cell frequency among splenic and bone marrow MDSCs was determined. Impact of increased MDSC's on spontaneous immune responses to tumor cells expressing a model antigen (ovalbumin [OVA]) was determined. Results Tumors grew faster and MDSC's were increased in tumor, spleen, and bone marrow in mice receiving GL261-Luc plus monocytes. Many (30%-50%) systemic MDSC's were GFP+ in mice receiving intracranial tumor plus GFP-transgenic monocytes, suggesting that they originated from glioma-associated monocytes. Tumor-infiltrating OVA-specific CD8+ T cells were markedly reduced in mice receiving GL261-OVA and monocytes compared with mice receiving GL261-OVA alone. Conclusions Increasing glioma-associated macrophages in intracranial GL261 glioma decreases survival and markedly increases intratumoral and systemic MDSC's, many of which originate directly from glioma-associated macrophages. This is associated with decreased spontaneous immune responses to a model antigen. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence in cancer that systemic MDSC's can arise directly from normal monocytes that have undergone intratumoral immunosuppressive education.
THE AMERICAN VOCATION AND ITS CONTEMPORARY DISCONTENTS

In most of the West a people are identified not only by what they have done but also by what they are about to do. The meaning of nationhood is found in purposes that transcend daily life. For Americans this intentional collective identity goes beyond the record of the past, based as it is on a sense of vocation-a concrete faith in the future of new beginnings which will mediate the limitations of the past and fulfill the promises of the fathers to their children. The vocation is fulfilled in the present as long as the people are on the way toward its fulfillment, but it is also locked in a dynamic tension between the immanent and the imminent because it poses ideals which are usually just beyond reach. While a people's vocation offers meaning, purpose, and worthwhileness to daily history, the promises are not ultimately guaranteed because there are always the threats of default-abandonment of the vocation-or idolatry, its perversion. Thus the spirit of vocation concerns the promises of the future as well as the ways toward the future. Traveling the way requires sets of communal beliefs and rituals capable of sustaining the faith and overcoming unholy obstacles. This article is an effort to outline the nature of the American vocation, aspects of its history, and some of its corruptions.
Infantile hemangioma status by dynamic infrared thermography: A preliminary study

Background Infantile hemangiomas (IH) are initially warm due to increased proliferation and perfusion then involute with apoptosis and reduced perfusion. Objective quantitative evaluation of IH treatment response is essential for improving outcomes. We applied a functional imaging method, dynamic infrared (IR) thermography, to investigate IH status versus control skin and over time. Materials and methods A preliminary prospective observational study was conducted among 25 subjects with superficial or mixed IHs (< 19 months) over 59 clinic visits. Infrared images of IHs and control sites, standardized color images, and three-dimensional images were obtained. Tissue responses following application and removal of a cold stress were recorded with video IR thermography. Outcomes included areas under the curve during cooling (AUCcool) and rewarming (AUCrw) and thermal intensity distribution maps. Results AUCcool and AUCrw were significantly higher and cooling rate slower for IHs versus uninvolved tissue indicating greater heat, presumably due to greater perfusion and metabolism for the IH. IR distribution maps showed specific areas of high and low temperature. Significant changes in IH thermal activity were reflected in the difference (AUCcool – AUCrw), with 6.2 at 2.2 months increasing to 37.6 at 12.8 months. IH cooling rate increased with age, indicating slower recovery, and interpreted as reduced proliferation and/or involution. Conclusions Dynamic IR thermography was a well-tolerated, quantitative functional imaging modality appropriate for the clinic, particularly when structural changes, i.e., height, volume, color, were not readily observed. It may assist in monitoring progress, individualizing treatment, and evaluating therapies. Clinical Trial Registration: www.clinicaltrials.gov (Identifier NCT02061735)
Single vs. Multilamp Blacklight Insect Trap Collections of Tobacco Hornworm Moths

Three arrangements of blacklight lamps, one single and two multiple, were compared for trapping Manduca sexta (Johannson) with traps on Vieques, Puerto Rico. There were no significant differences in the total hornworm catches caused by lamp arrangements. The multilamp arrangements were significantly superior for capturing females, especially virgins, Collections in multilamp traps were greater for males but not significant.
What We Know and Need to Know About Disruptive Innovation

Technology is changing the practice of law, at times dramatically. It is safe to say that the legal profession is at the cusp of a disruption: a transformative shift that will likely change the practice of law in the United States for the foreseeable future, if not forever. This shift has profound impacts on not just the legal profession, but also on clients as well as the broader society. This Paper explores the nature of this transformative shift and its implications for the legal community and the clients that are presently served by it, as well as those who might be served in the future. It argues that what this transformative shift may do, more than anything else, is improve access to justice in communities not traditionally served by lawyers and the law. In addition, it argues that the central disruption that appears to be taking place in the legal profession is not technology itself, but what technology provides: namely, a means for those providing legal services to streamline the delivery of those services in a fashion that is far less expensive than the manner in which such services have been provided to date. Thus, what I identify here is where innovation appears to be occurring in the delivery of legal services: that is, innovations in the “supply chain” of legal services, and these are the innovations that may embody the coming disruption.
Study on Toxicological Safety of Radix Ranunculi Ternati Extracts

Objective To study the safety of radix ranunculi ternati extracts in toxicological aspects. Methods The toxicological safety of radix ranunculi ternati extracts was assessed by mouse acute oral toxicity test,Ames test,mouse bone marrow micronucleus test,mouse sperm abnormality test and 90-day feeding test. Results MTD in mouse acute oral toxicity test was higher than 20.0 g/kg·bw.Negative results were showed in Ames test,mouse bone marrow micronucleus test and sperm abnormality test.No significant differences were found in body weight gain,food utilization rates and haemotological indices between test groups and control group.Serum biochemical indices all fell into the ranges of normal values.No meaningful histological changes were observed in the rats' main tissues. Conclusions No significant toxic effects were found in radix ranunculi ternati extracts in this study.
Cellular responses in exertion-induced skeletal muscle injury

Muscle injury is a common result of muscle exertion caused by overload and over-activity. In this presentation, an attempt was made to discuss models of muscle injury which involve exertion but not excessive strain, although most functional activities of the extremities require some eccentric muscle actions. Muscle injury is characterized by cellular and extracellular matrix responses which appear to be common to all types of muscle trauma - even in the absence of bleeding. Using tenotomy and functional over-load of the rat hindlimb muscles as examples, illustrations of several of these responses are presented and discussed.
The sociological imagination and legal ethics

ABSTRACTFor ten years, General Motors (GM) denied that an ignition switch that could easily be turned to ‘Off’ constituted a safety defect. Accidents, deaths and injuries resulted. Despite many, many suits against GM, the problem remained uncorrected. The explanations that have been proffered are interrogated in this article and others are suggested. It concludes that a bureaucratic legal department is partly to blame, and criticises how the legal department evaluated cases by their settlement value. It criticises GM’s culture of blaming drivers for accidents. It concludes that the main problem at GM was not bureaucracy, but poor organisation of team management. GM was not organised for accountability without hierarchy. The article suggests that lawyers can play a key role in improving corporate decision making.
Adjacent segment disease requiring reoperation in cervical total disc arthroplasty: A literature review and update

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the difference in rate of reoperation for adjacent segment disease (ASD) between anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) and total disc replacement (TDR). Method: A systematic review of literature was performed using PubMed, clinicaltrials.gov, and various other search engines. Nine studies met the inclusion criteria and were used to report an estimated overall rate of reoperation secondary to ASD for both ACDF and TDR. Results: Forty-six clinical trials were identified after the initial search, and 9 studies met our inclusion criteria. Although the data was not pooled due to significant variation in level of evidence and length of follow-up, the overall rate of reoperation for ASD in the TDR cohort of patients analyzed in our review was 3.1% (range: 0–7.1%) with a follow-up between 24 and 80 months. In contrast, the reoperation rate for ASD in the ACDF control was 6.0% (range: 1.0–11.9%). Conclusion: The average reoperation rate for ASD was 3.1% for the TDR across all studies, which was lower than the reoperation rate of 6.0% in the ACDF group. Further studies and follow-up data are still needed to determine if cervical TDR preserves adjacent segment motion more efficiently than the natural history of the disease, and if it will be a durable option when compared to the already excellent results of ACDF.
Curriculum and Achievement in Algebra 2: Influences of Textbooks and Teachers on Students’ Learning about Functions

Textbooks are a major factor in creating opportunities for learning in high school mathematics. However, teachers sometimes skip or modify lessons in the textbook. Thus, the enacted curriculum can be quite different from the intended curriculum of the textbook. This chapter describes a study of the intended, enacted, and attained curriculum conducted in ten matched pairs of Algebra 2 classes in five high schools in the United States. In particular, because functions are a major content strand of high school mathematics across the world, we discuss relationships between students’ achievement on items testing their knowledge of functions and the opportunities to learn provided by their textbooks and teachers.
Optimization of Renewable Energy Businesses under Operational Level Uncertainties through Extensive Sensitivity Analysis and Stochastic Global Optimization

This work presents a decision-making framework for stochastic optimization of renewable energy businesses considering technological uncertainties and risk management. With the help of a global sensitivity analysis based on Sobol’s method, significant uncertain parameters from biochemical reactions are identified. Moreover, two options for selecting sensitive parameters are explored: (1) when all parameters are simultaneously evaluated, and (2) when parameters are separately evaluated based on their kinetic pathway. For both cases, the renewable energy facility is simulated considering uncertainty. To maximize the profitability of the business, a metaheuristic stochastic global optimization technique is incorporated to the framework. This method uses a radial basis function which approximates a computationally expensive objective function and permits intelligent selection of the best operating conditions. To evaluate the efficacy of this framework, a hypothetical multiproduct lignocellulosic biorefinery mo...
Vascular Remodeling: Homocysteine and Diabetes

Remodeling of the vascular wall contributes to hypertension in humans owing to changes in vessel diameter and thickening of intimal and medial layers of the vascular wall promoting total peripheral resistance. This chapter describes the mechanisms that contribute to the pathogenesis of arterial remodeling. It also highlights endothelial dysfunction observed in arteries of hypertensive subjects and role of elevated homocysteine in facilitating peripheral vascular remodeling. The chapter also describes metabolism of homocysteine and how it functions as an independent risk factor of atherothrombotic complications of vascular disease.
A flexible distribution class for count data

The Poisson, geometric and Bernoulli distributions are special cases of a flexible count distribution, namely the Conway-Maxwell-Poisson (CMP) distribution – a two-parameter generalization of the Poisson distribution that can accommodate data over- or under-dispersion. This work further generalizes the ideas of the CMP distribution by considering sums of CMP random variables to establish a flexible class of distributions that encompasses the Poisson, negative binomial, and binomial distributions as special cases. This sum-of-Conway-Maxwell-Poissons (sCMP) class captures the CMP and its special cases, as well as the classical negative binomial and binomial distributions. Through simulated and real data examples, we demonstrate this model’s flexibility, encompassing several classical distributions as well as other count data distributions containing significant data dispersion.
Complications and Management in Radiosurgery

Radiosurgery is the precise application of focused radiation to a targeted volume within the brain or spine, in one to five sessions, identified on magnetic resonance (MR) or computed tomography (CT) imaging using multiple beams to deposit a large dose to a defined region while limiting the exposure of normal tissue [1]–[6]. This new definition of radiosurgery, involving one to five treatment sessions for the treatment of brain or spinal lesions, was recently approved by the American Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncology and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurologic Surgeons. Although initially conceptualized by Leksell for use in functional neurosurgery, radiosurgery has progressively widened its scope and is now also an option for numerous neoplastic and vascular indications [7], [8]. Differing from standard fractionated radiotherapy (6 to 30 sessions), radiosurgery requires the precise delivery of radiation to smaller volumes without affecting large portions of normal parenchyma, thus allowing for a powerful radiobiologic effect on the targeted volume [2], [9]–[11].
Expression of Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) in Posttreatment Primary Inflammatory Breast Cancers and Clinical Implications

Objectives Inflammatory breast carcinoma (IBC) is rare but is the most lethal type of breast cancer. Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in IBCs has been understudied. Methods In this study, tissue microarrays of 68 IBCs were immunostained with a PD-L1 antibody using an antibody clone (28-8) and detection system approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for selecting patients with non-small cell lung cancer and melanoma for anti-PD-L1 therapy. Results Positive PD-L1 expression was found in 25 (36.8%) of 68 samples but was not significantly associated with the clinicopathologic variables examined. Univariate analysis of overall survival (OS) revealed that worse OS was significantly associated with positive PD-L1, negative estrogen receptor, and triple-negative status. The 5-year OS rate was 36.4% for patients with PD-L1-positive IBC and 47.3% for those with PD-L1-negative IBC. In multivariate analyses, PD-L1 status remained a statistically independent predictor of OS. Conclusions These findings indicate that PD-L1 inhibitors could potentially improve the clinical outcome of patients with PD-L1-positive IBC.
Are violence and disorder at school placing adolescents within immigrant families at higher risk of dropping out

ABSTRACTViolence and disorder occurring within schools have received increased attention and scrutiny over the years; however, few have explored how violence and school disorder are influencing the...
Responses to Nutrients

The nutritionist’s credo is “Balance, Variety, and Moderation.” This chapter explores a quantitative model that helps explain why caution is always necessary when one contemplates making any drastic changes in the diet to which one is accustomed. There is always some level below which serious deficiencies may occur, and another level above which the likelihood of toxicity or at least interference with other nutrients increases (as indicated in the maxim of the Swiss alchemist, Paracelsus).
Identifying Changepoints in Biomarkers During the Preclinical Phase of AD

Abstract Objective Several models have been proposed for the evolution of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) biomarkers. The aim of this study was to identify changepoints in a range of biomarkers during the preclinical phase of AD. Methods We examined nine measures based on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cognitive testing, obtained from 306 cognitively normal individuals, a subset of whom subsequently progressed to the symptomatic phase of AD. A changepoint model was used to determine which of the measures had a significant change in slope in relation to clinical symptom onset. Results All nine measures had significant changepoints, all of which preceded symptom onset, however the timing of these changepoints varied considerably. A single measure, CSF-tau, had an early changepoint (40 years prior to symptom onset). A group of measures, including the remaining CSF measures (CSF-Abeta and phosphorylated tau) and all cognitive tests had changepoints 10-15 years prior to symptom onset. A second group is formed by medial temporal lobe shape composite measures, with a five-year time difference between the right and left side (respectively nine and three years prior to symptom onset). Conclusions These findings highlight the long period of time prior to symptom onset during which AD pathology is accumulating in the brain. There are several significant findings, including the early changes in cognition and the laterality of the MRI findings. Additional work is needed to clarify their significance.
Vancomycin Enema in the Treatment of Clostridium difficile Infection.

Abstract Background: Current guidelines for the treatment of Clostridium difficile infections (CDIs) recommend vancomycin enemas for patients with adynamic ileus. There is significant variability i...
Diet and Headache: Part 2

Background Comprehensive diets do not require the exclusion of a specific provocative food or ingredient, but regulate the quantities of core components of foods such as vitamins, ions, proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Objectives To review the evidence supporting the use of comprehensive diets in the prevention of migraine and other headache disorders and to discuss the mechanisms through which food, and ingredients within foods and beverages might trigger attacks of headache Methods This represents Part 2 of a narrative review of the role of diet in the prevention of migraine and other headache disorders. A PubMed search was performed with the following search terms: “folate,” “vitamin D,” “low fat diet,” “omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid diet,” “ketogenic diet,” “Atkins diet,” and “sodium.” Each of these search terms was then crossreferenced with “headache” and “migraine” to identify relevant studies. Only studies that were written in English were included in this review. Results Low fat and high omega-3/low omega-6 fatty diets decrease the frequency of attacks of migraine and/or other headache disorders as demonstrated in two separate randomized controlled trials. A ketogenic diet was more effective than a standard diet in reducing the frequency of migraine in a single nonrandomized clinical study. An observation study found that dietary consumption of folate was inversely associated with the frequency of migraine attacks in persons with migraine with aura that have the C variant of the methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase gene. The mechanisms though which diets may precipitate headache include their effects on neuropeptides, neuro-receptors and ion channels, inflammation, sympathetic nervous system, release of nitric oxide, vasodilation, and cerebral glucose metabolism. Conclusions Evidence exists to support the use of comprehensive diets in the prevention of migraine and other headache disorders. However, the results of these studies should be considered preliminary until replicated in larger randomized controlled clinical trials.
An Analysis through an Equity Lens of the Implementation of Computer Science in K-8 Classrooms in a Large, Urban School District

Major metropolitan school districts around the United States are implementing computer science in elementary school classrooms as part of the CS for All (CS4All) initiative. Little is known, however, about the success of such a large-scale rollout, especially in terms of equity. In this study we analyze the performance of 4th grade classrooms completing three modules of an introductory computational thinking curriculum, looking at not only overall results but also the variance in performance between high-, mid-, and low-performing schools (as identified by their school report cards). We find that all classrooms are benefiting from the computational thinking (CT) curriculum, making great strides in providing equitable access to CT education. However, statistically-significant differences in performance are present, especially between the high- and low-performing schools, showing that there is still room for improvement in developing strategies and curricula for struggling learners.
COMMENTS ON CAROTID BODY STRUCTURE, METABOLISM AND CATECHOLAMINES

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on carotid body structure, metabolism, and catecholamines. It is known from HRP studies that neuronal soma in the brain are labeled following application of the marker to the carotid sinus nerve. In individual experiments, 1–20 cells are labeled in the brain while about 400 are marked in the petrosal ganglion; consequently, the efferent component of the carotid sinus nerve innervation of the carotid body must represent a very small percentage of axons reaching the body. It has been shown that cells maintain O2 consumption until PO2 falls to very low levels at the expense of decreased ATP and increased NADH/NAD ratio, which occur at much higher pCO2. In other words, the critical pO2 for increased reduction of the electron transport chain and for decreased ATP is much higher than the critical pO2 for O2 consumption. It is the changes in ATP which are more directly linked to receptor activity.
The Role of Water-Soluble Polypeptides and Calcium in Photosynthetic Oxygen Evolution

The oxidizing side of photosystem II operates at unusually high redox potentials (2H2O → O2 + 4H+ + 4e−, EO' = + 0.82V), and this implies the presence of a structural environment which can contribute to the stabilization of the reactive chemical intermediates formed during water oxidation. The photocatalysts of PSII activity are thought to be associated with two hydrophobic proteins of molecular weights of 43 and 47 kDa found in the PSII “core” complex as described by Satoh, et al. (1). This complex, although photochemically active, does not possess the capacity to evolve oxygen. A substantial body of experimental evidence now supports the view that three water-soluble proteins (33, 23 and 17 kDa) form part of the structure of the oxygen evolving apparatus. These water soluble polypeptides are believed to be essential for productive binding of inorganic cofactors such as Mn, Cl− and Ca2+ within the oxygen-evolving complex. The involvement of Mn in water oxidation is well-documented (2–5). The implication of Cl− as a cofactor for oxygen evolution activity by Warburg and Luttgens (6) and later by Bove, et al. (7) has been confirmed by Izawa and his colleagues (8,9). The presence of the anion stabilizes activity against inactivation by heat, elevated pH and amines (10–13); Cl− probably binds to a site on, or very near, Mn (13,14). Recent work has established the existence of a high-affinity Ca2+ binding site within the oxygen-evolving complex (15–18). Our own observations indicate that the 17 and 23 kDa polypeptides are important for the structural integrity of the oxidizing side of PSII (19,20). The presence of the 17 and 23 kDa species forms an environment which favors tight binding of Ca2+ (19) and Cl− (21,22), and also shields the manganese complex from destruction by bulky reductants (20). Many studies have provided data to indicate that the 33 kDa protein is somehow associated with manganese binding to the PSII complex, although there are reports in the literature which describe conditions for release of the 33 kDa polypeptide which produce minimal effects on Mn binding to the PSII complex (23,24). To further investigate the involvement of calcium in oxygen evolution activity, we have used various lanthanides which are known to substitute for calcium in other calcium-binding proteins isolated from biological systems (25). In this paper, we show that calcium and lanthanum compete for sites on the oxidizing side of photosystem II, and in addition we report conditions which allow release of the 33 kDa protein without extraction of manganese.
The Irrelevance of Active Poison Pills: Evidence from a Natural Experiment

I use a novel, hand coded dataset with pill-related information for a large sample of large firms over the period 2000/2011 to analyze how having an active poison pill affects firm value and operating performance. I exploit a change in the voting guidelines of Institutional Shareholder Services as a source of exogenous variation in the extent to which firms have an active poison pill in place. I conclude that, contrary to what one may believe by using a simpler identification strategy, there is no evidence that having an active pill in place has any effect on firm value or operating performance.
A Simple Synthesis of Phenanthrene

In continuation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) synthesis via an aryne Diels-Alder cycloaddition and bridge extrusion methodology,1–5 we now describe a simple phenanthrene (1) synthesis u...
IgA MAb blocks SARS-CoV-2 Spike-ACE2 interaction providing mucosal immunity

COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 has become a global pandemic requiring the development of interventions for the prevention or treatment to curtail mortality and morbidity. No vaccine to boost mucosal immunity or as a therapeutic has yet been developed to SARS-CoV-2. In this study we discover and characterize a cross-reactive human IgA monoclonal antibody, MAb362. MAb362 binds to both SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins and competitively blocks hACE2 receptor binding, by completely overlapping the hACE2 structural binding epitope. Furthermore, MAb362 IgA neutralizes both pseudotyped SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 in human epithelial cells expressing hACE2. SARS-CoV-2 specific IgA antibodies, such as MAb362, may provide effective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 by inducing mucosal immunity within the respiratory system, a potentially critical feature of an effective vaccine.
Triplet Merge Trees

Merge trees are fundamental data structures in computational topology. They track connected components in sublevel sets of scalar functions and can be used to compute 0-dimensional persistence diagrams, to construct contour trees on simply connected domains, and to quickly query the relationship between connected components in different sublevel sets. We introduce a representation of merge trees that tracks the nesting of their branches. We present algorithms to construct and manipulate the trees in this representation directly. We show that our algorithms are not only fast, outperforming Kruskal’s algorithm, but they are easy to parallelize in shared memory using double-word compare-and-swap operations. We present experiments that illustrate the scaling of our algorithms as functions of the data size and of the number of threads.
Exploring school bus ridership and absenteeism in rural communities

Abstract Absenteeism continues to demand more attention as educators look for promising practices that might promote positive school-going behaviors. This is salient for kindergartners, who miss the most school out of any elementary grade level. Research is lacking in how the school bus might be associated with attendance, though we hypothesize that improve attendance would occur because bus-riding assists with the development of family routines and logistics. To address this, this study uses the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey to look descriptively at how school busing might be associated with absenteeism for kindergartners in rural communities. We find that school bus riders in rural communities miss fewer school days on average than those in suburban, urban, or town communities and are less likely to be chronically absent, although this varies depending on the degree of rurality. Rural communities have unique features that are very different from their urban or suburban counterparts and these features should be considered when designing interventions for rural students.
Examining the heritage and legacy of Indigenous land management in oak and pine forests of northeastern United States

Abstract .—This review paper examines the role of Indigenous people (Native American Indians) land-use and climate in the historical development of Quercus (oak) and Pinus (pine) forests of northeastern United States and changes associated with European settlement (circa 1600). Prior to European settlement vast areas forests in coastal areas of the northeastern U.S. were dominated by oak and pine species. Evidence of periodic understory fire in the historical development of oak and pine forests and the role of Indigenous agriculture has been debated by paleoecologists and fire-scar dendroecologists. As European populations rapidly expanded during the 18 th Century onward, much of the northeastern U.S. was impacted by extensive timber harvesting, land clearing, and severe fires. However, the westward movement of Europeans into the fertile Midwest during the 19 th Century led to farm displacement and land abandonment in the Northeast. Starting in the 20 th Century, a variety of ecological phenomena set in, including old field succession, chestnut blight, fire suppression, intensive deer browsing, and urbanization, resulting in dramatic changes in forest composition and the extent of open lands. These trends has culminated in recruitment failures of most oak and pine species on all but the most xeric sites. Instead, late successional mesic hardwoods such as Acer (maple) and Fagus (beech) are aggressively replacing oak and pine in a process known as mesophication. The leaf litter and woody debris of these replacement species are less flammable and more rapidly mineralized than that of the upland oak and pine, further suppressing fire. The trend toward increases in non-oak tree species will continue in fire-suppressed forests, rendering them less combustible for forest managers who wish to restore vital historic fires regimes. We conclude that the most profound changes in forest composition during the late Holocene were due to human land-use rather than climate change.
A Cost Effective UV Robot for Disinfecting Hospital and Factory Spaces for Covid-19 and Other Communicable Diseases

This paper presents a cost effective UV robot for applications of disinfecting hospital and factory spaces from Covid-19 and other communicable diseases. This is based on a disinfection method using a remotely controlled Ultra-Violet (UV) disinfection robot. The robot is equipped with 3 UVC lamps in a 360 degree beam coverage setting, on a mobile base which is equipped with motors, controllers and sensors that allow the lamps to move around and disinfect surfaces with ease. The robot can automatically detect human and or other types of non-living presence over which machine learning models are built that allows for some degree of autonomous control. Its main control unit is operated via WiFi using the mobile as a transceiver device allowing for remote safe control of UVC lamp disinfection.
Racial Disparities in Low Birthweight Risk: an Examination of Stress Predictors.

This paper describes racial disparities in low birthweight (LBW) risk between Black women and White women and examines the relationship between race and stressors such as socioeconomic factors, access to health care, and social and health characteristics. We analyzed data from the National Survey of Family Growth dataset collected in the USA between 2006 and 2010 (N = 1516). Multivariate logistic regression models were performed. Prevalence of LBW was 5.6 % for pregnancies among White women and 12.2 % among Black women. Black women who had a LBW baby had a lower socioeconomic status (e.g., received assistance to pay for delivery of the baby and public assistance in the prior year). Black women who had a LBW baby were more likely to have reported having good health compared with White women (67.8 vs. 45.1 %, p < .10). Pregnancies of Black women were 2.6 times more likely (odds ratio (OR) = 2.33; 95 % confidence interval (CI), 1.12–6.04) to result in a LBW baby than pregnancies among White women. Pregnancies of women in the income group of 300 % or higher than the poverty level were less likely to be associated with a LBW baby than those among women in the 150–299 % income group (p < .10). Obese women were less likely to have LBW children than those who were underweight or normal weight (p < .10). Among pregnancies of White mothers (n = 943), the only significant variable was self-reported health status. White women who reported having poorer health were 3.7 times more likely to have LBW than those who reported having better health (p < .10). Among Black mothers, the only predictor that was negatively associated with an increased likelihood of having a LBW baby was the SES stressor related to receiving public assistance. Racial differences between Black and White women were observed in LBW risk based on socioeconomic factors. We analyzed a large number of stressors, but racial differences remained even after taking these stressors into account. Future policies and research should continually address these differences to decrease LBW risk within and across racial groups.
Shades of grey: The conundrum of implantable defibrillators in individuals with advanced CKD

CKD contributes significantly to the global health burden, with a prevalence estimated at 10%–12% of individuals worldwide ([1][1]). Morbidity and mortality rates remain high in these individuals ([2][2]–[5][3]), and they are at a particularly magnified risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) ([6][4
A unique complication of the GuideZilla guide extension support catheter and the risk of stent stripping in interventional & endovascular interventions

Supporting catheters in percutaneous stenting of anatomically difficult coronary lesions are utilized by interventional cardiologists. The GuideZilla guide extension catheter is designed for deep seating in coronary arteries to provide extra guidance support for equipment delivery during difficult coronary interventions or for coaxial alignment in tortuous vessels. There are limited GuideZilla-related complications reported in the literature. We present a challenging case of a left main and left anterior descending artery dissection, complicated with stent stripping off the delivery balloon by the GuideZilla support catheter.
Interface Cracks in Thermally Loaded Multilayer Ceramic Coatings

The crack tip deformations and strain energy release rates were calculated for interface cracks in multilayer ceramic coatings subjected to transient heating followed by cooling. It was shown that the interface nearest tothe surface of the coating experiences the largest G. As the length of the crack increases, G becomes significantly larger. Reducing the thermal expansion coefficient and modulus of elasticity of the coating reduces the maximum interfacial strain energy release rate.
On speed scaling via integer programming

We consider a class of convex mixed-integer nonlinear programs motivated by speed scaling of heterogeneous parallel processors with sleep states and convex power consumption curves. We show that the problem is N P -hard and identify some polynomially solvable classes. Furthermore, a dynamic programming and a greedy approximation algorithms are proposed to obtain a fully polynomial-time approximation scheme for a special case. For the general case, we implement an outer approximation algorithm.
Privacy-preserving publishing data with full functional dependencies

We study the privacy threat by publishing data that contains full functional dependencies (FFDs). We show that the cross-attribute correlations by FFDs can bring potential vulnerability to privacy. Unfortunately, none of the existing anonymization principles can effectively prevent against the FFD-based privacy attack. In this paper, we formalize the FFD-based privacy attack, define the privacy model (d, l)-inference to combat the FFD-based attack, and design robust anonymization algorithm that achieves (d, l)-inference. The efficiency and effectiveness of our approach are demonstrated by the empirical study.
Waves of Being: Merleau-Ponty with Bion and Meltzer Toward an Ontology of Music

Phenomenologist Merleau-Ponty, early on, neglected music's theoretical value in favor of painting's. Later, however, he found that it is the transience of music that speaks to the phenomenological experience of Being. This transition from painting to music presents the possibility of an ontological understanding of music for psychoanalysis. For Freud, music and morality were both from a “beyond” that was an effect of neurosis. Drawing on psychoanalyst Bion's idea of container–contained, and his disciple Meltzer's application of this to art, as well as Bion's later innovation of the unknowable O, I apply Merleau-Ponty's distinction between painting and music to the therapeutic nature of art in order to see what sort of psychoanalytically significant revelation is obtained through music.
Using Intelligent Agents to Build Navigation Meshes

We present a novel algorithm that allows agents to discover a navigation mesh for an environment as they move through the environment. The Navigation-Mesh Automated Discovery (NMAD) algorithm works by constructing its best guess for the navigation-mesh of a game level and then refines it when the agents moving through the world using the navigation mesh encounter unexpected or unknown obstacles. Using this algorithm, agents can enter a world in which they know nothing about, while still enjoying all of the advantages of a navigation mesh for path planning. We validated the effectiveness of this technique by showing that for both random and deliberative searches through multiple game worlds the error present in the best guess approximation the navigation mesh generated and maintained by NMAD converges to zero.
Quantum Dissipative Chaos

Using the decoherence formalism of Gell-Mann and Hartle, a quantum system is found which is the equivalent of the classical chaotic Duffing oscillator. The similarities and the differences from the classical oscillator are examined; in particular, a new concept of quantum maps is introduced, and alterations in the classical strange attractor due to the presence of scale- dependent quantum effects are studied. Classical quantities such as the Lyapunov exponents and fractal dimension are examined, and quantum analogs are suggested. These results are generalized into a framework for quantum dissipative chaos, and there is a brief discussion of other work in this area.
Elevated serum chymotrypsin levels in a patient with junctional epidermolysis bullosa. Normalization after UVB therapy with good clinical response.

: A. 16-year-old Hispanic woman, covered with blisters since birth, was found to have markedly elevated chymotrypsin levels in her serum. This proteolytic enzyme is thought to digest laminin, thus causing separation of the basement membrane at the level of the lamina lucida, corroborating findings on electron microscopy. On the basis that the sun-exposed areas of the skin were relatively less involved, she received a course of UVB therapy, with total clinical clearance if her lesions after 3 weeks. A repeat estimation of serum chymotrypsin at this time revealed normal levels of this enzyme. It is thought that the elevated Chymotrypsin levels were either released from the Langerhans cells themselves or from lymphocytes or keratinocytes as a result of Langerhans cell activity, and that the suppression of Langerhans cell activity by UVB inhibited the release of this proteolytic enzyme, resulting in the suppression of blister formation in our patient.
Design of a multi-disc electromechanical modulated dissipator

This paper presents the design of an electrically-actuated, proportional brake that provides a significantly greater torque-to-weight ratio than a magnetic particle brake (considered a benchmark of the state-of-the-art) without sacrificing other characteristics such as dynamic range, bandwidth, or electrical power consumption. The multi-disc brake provides resistive torque through a stack of friction discs which are compressed by a dc-motor-driven ball screw. Unlike nearly all other proportional brakes, which operate in a normally unlocked mode, the brake presented here is designed such that it may be configured in either a normally unlocked or normally locked mode. The latter enables lower electrical energy consumption and added safety in the event of electrical power failure in certain applications. Following the device description, experimental data is presented to characterize the performance of the brake. The performance characteristics are subsequently compared to those of a commercially available magnetic particle brake of comparable size.
Looks Aren't Everything: 24-Month-Olds' Willingness to Accept Unexpected Labels

A label can efficiently convey nonobvious information about category membership, but this information can sometimes conflict with one's own expectations. Two studies explored whether 24-month-olds (N = 56) would be willing to accept a category label indicating that an animal (Study 1) or artifact (Study 2) that looked like a member of one familiar category was actually a member of a different familiar category. Results showed that children were receptive to these unexpected labels and used them as the basis for inference. These findings indicate that linguistic information can lead even toddlers to “disbelieve their eyes.”