cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simple and Intuitive Mathematics for Learning Elementary Physics

Mathematics is a useful tool for describing concepts in physics [1]. However, students fail to notice physical meaning when they are focused on mathematical calculations. Simple and intuitive mathematics is effective for learning elementary physics, and therefore diagrams for visual thinking for mathematics are effective for avoiding the above situation [2, 3]. Geometrical viewpoints inspire ideas in physics, as seen from the fact that kinematics, referred to as the geometry of motion, describes the motion of a particle. In this presentation, some problems on the motion of a particle in a uniform gravitational field are illustrated using simple diagrams.
Navigating the cell: how motors function in vivo

Abstract The Company of Biologists Workshop entitled ‘Navigating the Cell: How Motors Function in vivo’ was held in March 2014 at Wiston House in Steyning, West Sussex, UK. The meeting was an opportunity for a diverse group of experts in the biology and physics of cytoskeletal dynamics, and molecular motors to come together in a setting that promoted scientific interactions and the development of new collaborations. Here, we summarize the highlights of the meeting, one of which was the unique organizational principle that promoted cross-fertilization of ideas and approaches among the participants.
Amorphic Diamond Films Produced By Laser Ablation

Four types of diamond films have been shown to be stable and free from hydrogen: crystalline diamond, amorphic diamond, i-C and defected graphite. Each is significantly harder than other forms of carbon, but only now are quantitative values of hardness being reported. In this work nanoindentation techniques were used on these highly elastic films and linear ranges of plastic response were identified. Values of hardness were extracted from the on-load data for amorphic diamond and crystalline diamond that could not be distinguished from the hardness of naturally occurring diamond. This seems to explain why thin layers of amorphic diamond have been so effective in protecting substrates from the erosive impacts of particles and droplets reported in previous studies.
Parameters Optimization Method of Hybrid HVDC Transmission System

By combining the advantages of line commutated converter(LCC)and voltage source converter(VSC),the hybrid high voltage direct current(HVDC)transmission system has extensive application prospects.Based on the hybrid HVDC transmission system,whose rectifier is LCC and inverter is VSC,the characteristics and application fields of monopole,pseudo-bipole and bipole hybrid structures are described.In consideration of the main circuit system parameters and control parameters having direct influence on the system operation performance,a novel method of synchronously optimizing the main circuit system parameters and control parameters is proposed.Firstly,the parameters design principle of smooth reactor L and capacitor C at direct current side is presented,then the LC parameters and proportional-integral control parameters are optimized based on the Simplex algorithm.A hybrid HVDC transmission model is developed in PSCAD/EMTDC,the simulation results showing that its operation performance is improved with optimized parameters,proof of the effectiveness of the proposed optimized method.
Effect of corn- vs molasses-based supplements on trace mineral status in beef heifers

Two studies were conducted to compare the availability of trace minerals offered to Brahman-crossbred heifers in either grain- or molasses-based supplements. Heifers were randomly assigned to bahiagrass pastures of equal size (n = 3 and 2 heifers/ pasture with 6 and 4 pastures/treatment for Experiment 1 and 2, respectively). Two supplements were formulated using corn and cottonseed meal (DRY) or molasses and cottonseed meal (LIQ). In Experiment 2, a third treatment consisted of the DRY supplement with additional S to equal the amount naturally supplied by the LIQ treatment (DRY+S). Supplements were formulated to provide, on average, 1.5 kg of TDN and 0.3 kg of CP/heifer daily and were fed three times weekly. Supplements also were fortified to provide 140, 76, and 63 mg of Cu, Mn, and Zn per heifer daily. Individual heifer weights were collected at the start and conclusion of the study, following a 12-h shrink. Plasma ceruloplasmin and liver Cu, Mn, Mo, Fe, and Zn concentrations were determined on d 0, 29, 56, and 84 in Experiment 1, and d 0, 32, 57, and 90 in Experiment 2. No differences were detected in heifer BW change (-9.3 and -7.3 kg for DRY and LIQ in Experiment 1, and 51.7, 46.3, and 46.7 kg for DRY, DRY+S, and LIQ in Experiment 2, respectively). In both experiments, liver Fe, Mn, and Zn concentrations were not affected by supplement treatment. Molybdenum tended (P = 0.06 and 0.10 for Experiments 1 and 2, respectively) to accumulate in the liver of heifers fed molasses-based supplements. In Experiment 1, Cu accumulation was less (P < 0.001) in heifers fed the liquid supplements (271 vs 224, 286 vs 202, and 330 vs 218 ppm, for DRY and LIQ supplements on d 29, 56, and 84, respectively). In Experiment 2, heifers receiving Cu from DRY supplements had a 155-ppm increase in liver Cu concentration, which was greater (P = 0.03) than DRY+S (87 ppm increase) and LIQ (P < 0.001; 13 ppm increase). Although lower than heifers receiving DRY, heifers receiving DRY+S had greater (P = 0.02) liver Cu concentrations than heifers receiving LIQ by the end of the study. In both experiments, plasma ceruloplasmin concentrations were highest (P < 0.04) in heifers receiving DRY supplement. The results of these studies suggest that components in molasses-based supplements decrease the accumulation of Cu in the liver of beef heifers. The S and Mo components of molasses may be responsible, at least in part, for this antagonism.
Current concepts of wound healing.

Electronic excitation states, especially of oxygen, place the energetics of the fibroblast in a new energy realm. An understanding of the mechanisms of induction and inhibition of fibroblast excited state production could represent a key target for modifying collagen synthesis or alteration of its properties.
Symmetry and Dynamics: Two Distinct Methodologies from Kepler to Supersymmetry

Symmetry and Dynamics are different ways of formulating the laws of physics, not necessarily one derivable from the other; sometimes conflicting, sometimes complementary to each other, often answering to different typs of questions, together necessary for a more complete understanding of nature. The scope and limitations of both methods are investigated.
Dünnschicht- und Papier-Chromatographie

Die Dunnschicht-Chromatographie (DC, TLC) und Papier-Chromatographie (PC) sind die einfachsten flussigkeitschromatographischen Methoden, die in diesem Buch vorgestellt werden. Da die PC in den meisten Laboratorien weitgehend von der DC verdrangt worden ist, werden wir fast ausschlieslich die DC behandeln. Ein kurzer Abschnitt am Ende des Kapitels wird dazu dienen, die PC zusammenzufassen und die Unterschiede zur DC darzustellen.
Exposure Matching of Pediatric Anti-infective Drugs: Review of Drugs Submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for Pediatric Approval.

Abstract Purpose Over the last decade, few new antibiotics have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for pediatric use. For most anti-infective agents, including antibiotics, extrapolation of efficacy from adults to children is possible if the disease and therapeutic exposures are similar between the 2 populations. This approach reduces the number of studies required in children, but relies heavily on exposure matching between children and adults. Failures in exposure matching can lead to delays in pediatric approvals of new anti-infective agents. We sought to determine the extent of exposure matching, defined by a comparison of area under the concentration-time curve, between children and adults, for anti-infective drug products submitted to the FDA for approval. Methods We reviewed anti-infective submissions to the FDA (2002–2014) for pediatric indication. We included drug products administered via oral, intravenous, or intramuscular administration routes, and those with AUC estimates for children in available FDA reports. Our main outcome of interest was the proportion of drugs with median (or mean) pediatric AUC within 20% of the median (or mean) reported adult value. Findings We identified 29 drug products that met inclusion criteria, 14 (48%) of which had mean (or median) AUCs of all submitted age groups within 20% of that in adults. Only route of administration and drug class were associated with pediatric AUC within 20% of adult AUC. Implications Future research is needed to define criteria for and predictors of successful exposure matching of anti-infectives between children and adults.
Quasi-Experimental Designs for Causal Inference

When randomized experiments are infeasible, quasi-experimental designs can be exploited to evaluate causal treatment effects. The strongest quasi-experimental designs for causal inference are regression discontinuity designs, instrumental variable designs, matching and propensity score designs, and comparative interrupted time series designs. This article introduces for each design the basic rationale, discusses the assumptions required for identifying a causal effect, outlines methods for estimating the effect, and highlights potential validity threats and strategies for dealing with them. Causal estimands and identification results are formalized with the potential outcomes notations of the Rubin causal model.
Characterization of the Interaction of the Intracellular Domain of 5-HT3A Receptors with the Chaperone Protein RIC-3

Nicotinic acetylcholine (nACh), γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA), glycine, and 5-HT3 (serotonin) receptors are members of the pentameric ligand-gated ion channel (pLGIC) superfamily. Each channel consists of five homologous subunits consisting of three domains, namely, extracellular (ECD), transmembrane (TMD), and intracellular domain (ICD). The ECD and TMD that display high sequence-similarity between different subunits are well-studied and their structures have been solved. The ICD on the contrary is extremely diverse between subunits and therefore may provide a specific target for future drug development. For both nAChR and 5-HT3A receptors the chaperone protein resistance to inhibitors of cholinesterase (RIC-3) modulates functional maturation. We have shown previously, that the replacement of the ICD in 5-HT3A by a heptapeptide abrogates this modulation by RIC-3. Additionally, we have shown, that adding either the 5-HT3A or nAChRα7 ICD to the prokaryotic Gloeobacter violaceus pLGIC (GLIC) confers RIC-3 sensitivity to otherwise RIC-3-insensitive GLIC. Together, this demonstrated that the ICD is required for the RIC-3 modulation. The present study is aimed at identifying the molecular identity within the 5-HT3A-ICD that interacts with RIC-3. To this end we have genetically engineered chimeras containing the 5-HT3A-ICD and expressed them in Escherichia coli (E. coli). These chimeras are then purified to homogeneity and their interaction with RIC-3, which is separately expressed and purified from E. coli, assessed. It is thought that RIC-3 associates with monomers and promotes pentamerization. Therefore, we investigate both 5-HT3A-ICD chimera constructs that form pentamers, but also those that form monomers. Additionally, we are using 5-HT3A-ICD chimera constructs to further identify interacting cytosolic proteins.
Access to 6a-Alkyl Aporphines: Synthesis of (±)-N-Methylguattescidine.

(−)-N-Methylguattescidine (3) is an alkaloid recently isolated from Fissistigma latifolium and assigned as a rare example of a 6a-alkyl aporphine. Herein, we report the synthesis of (±)-3 and the des-hydroxyl derivative 4 using our previously reported ortho-phenol arylation methodology mediated by the XPhos precatalyst as a key synthetic step. In addition, substituents on the aryl halide portion of the ortho-phenol arylation substrates significantly influenced the formation of an oxidized side product.
Cationized Carbohydrate Gas-Phase Fragmentation Chemistry

We investigate the fragmentation chemistry of cationized carbohydrates using a combination of tandem mass spectrometry, regioselective labeling, and computational methods. Our model system is D-lactose. Barriers to the fundamental glyosidic bond cleavage reactions, neutral loss pathways, and structurally informative cross-ring cleavages are investigated. The most energetically favorable conformations of cationized D-lactose were found to be similar. In agreement with the literature, larger group I cations result in structures with increased cation coordination number which require greater collision energy to dissociate. In contrast with earlier proposals, the B n -Y m fragmentation pathways of both protonated and sodium-cationized analytes proceed via protonation of the glycosidic oxygen with concerted glycosidic bond cleavage. Additionally, for the sodiated congeners our calculations support sodiated 1,6-anhydrogalactose B n ion structures, unlike the preceding literature. This affects the subsequent propensity of formation and prediction of B n /Y m branching ratio. The nature of the anomeric center (α/β) affects the relative energies of these processes, but not the overall ranking. Low-energy cross-ring cleavages are observed for the metal-cationized analytes with a retro-aldol mechanism producing the 0,2 A 2 ion from the sodiated forms. Theory and experiment support the importance of consecutive fragmentation processes, particularly for the protonated congeners at higher collision energies.
Using machine learning to identify major shifts in human gut microbiome protein family abundance in disease

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is an autoimmune condition that is observed to be associated with major alterations in the gut microbiome taxonomic composition. Here we classify major changes in microbiome protein family abundances between healthy subjects and IBD patients. We use machine learning to analyze results obtained previously from computing relative abundance of ∼10,000 KEGG orthologous protein families in the gut microbiome of a set of healthy individuals and IBD patients. We develop a machine learning pipeline, involving the Kolomogorv-Smirnov test, to identify the 100 most statistically significant entries in the KEGG database. Then we use these 100 as a training set for a Random Forest classifier to determine ∼5% the KEGGs which are best at separating disease and healthy states. Lastly, we developed a Natural Language Processing classifier of the KEGG description files to predict KEGG relative over-or under-abundance. As we expand our analysis from 10,000 KEGG protein families to one million proteins identified in the gut microbiome, scalable methods for quickly identifying such anomalies between health and disease states will be increasingly valuable for biological interpretation of sequence data.
Alcohol-flavoured tobacco products.

Background In 2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned characterising flavours in cigarettes (except for menthol) due to their appeal to teen starter smokers. In August 2016, the agency deemed all tobacco products to be under its authority and a more comprehensive flavour ban is under consideration. Objectives To determine the scope and scale of alcohol-flavoured tobacco products among cigars & cigarillos, hookahs and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). Methods Alcohol-flavoured tobacco products were identified by online search of tobacco purveyors’ product lines and via Google search cross-referencing the various tobacco product types versus a list of alcoholic beverage flavours (eg, wine, beer, appletini, margarita). Results 48 types of alcohol-flavoured tobacco products marketed by 409 tobacco brands were identified. Alcohol flavours included mixed drinks (n=25), spirits (11), liqueurs (7) and wine/beer (5). Sweet and fruity tropical mixed drink flavours were marketed by the most brands: pina colada (96), mojito (66) and margarita (50). Wine flavours were common with 104 brands. Among the tobacco product categories, brands offering alcohol-flavoured e-cigarettes (280) were most numerous, but alcohol-flavoured products were also marketed by cigars & cigarillos (88) and hookah brands (41). Brands by major tobacco companies (eg, Philip Morris, Imperial Tobacco) were well represented among alcohol-flavoured cigars & cigarillos with five companies offering a total of 17 brands. Conclusions The widespread availability of alcohol-flavoured tobacco products illustrates the need to regulate characterising flavours on all tobacco products.
Numerical study of a boosted HCCI engine fueled with n-butanol and isobutanol

Abstract Butanol, as a fuel in internal combustion engines, has many advantages over ethanol as biologically derived component of gasoline. The benefits include higher energy density, less water solubility, and better engine compatibility. This study assesses four different chemical kinetic mechanisms for two butanol isomers (n-butanol and isobutanol) in a single-zone engine model and compares the results to experiments conducted on a Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) engine. The simulations, and experiments, spanned a range of intake pressures (1.0–1.8 bar) and equivalence ratios (0.3–0.4). As was seen in the experiments, the numerical model was able to reflect delayed combustion timings as the intake temperature was decreased. Additionally, the mechanisms were able to qualitatively differentiate the fuel sensitivity of the two isomers, with n-butanol being more reactive than isobutanol across all cases. However, for each mechanism, the computational results for required intake temperature at a given combustion timing were different than that observed in experiments by 20 to 40 °C. Furthermore, the rate of change of intake temperature versus combustion timing varied across the mechanisms, which were all different than that of the experiments. Heat release rates, generation of intermediate species (OH, HO2, H2O2, CH2O, and CO), and temperature/pressure histories corresponded well with combustion timing, though significant differences existed between the mechanisms. The results indicated that kinetic mechanisms for butanol isomers do not reliably capture the ignition behavior of HCCI engines, which points to an acute development need as low temperature combustion strategies become an increasingly important part of the pathway towards engines with higher efficiencies and lower emissions.
A neurosurgical perspective on PLDD.

ABSTRACT This paper discusses the evolution of PLDD and its risks and complications, and points out some advantages and disadvantages. It presents data from a clinical study of 81 patients in which three technologies—automated percutaneous discectomy, KTP, and Nd:YAG laser instruments—were used. The study concludes that PLDD is safe and cost-effective. If the patients are properly chosen PLDD can be a good choice for treatment of herniated lumbar discs.
Liver Transplantation in Cryptogenic Cirrhosis: Outcome Comparisons Between NASH, Alcoholic, and AIH Cirrhosis.

Background The outcomes of liver transplantation (LT) in patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis (CC) have not been adequately examined except for small case series. We believe that patients currently listed as CC have truly cryptogenic liver disease and may have different post-LT outcomes compared with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Methods We compared the post-LT outcomes of adults with CC (n = 3241) and compared them with cirrhosis from NASH (n = 4089), alcoholic cirrhosis (AC) (n = 7837), and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) (n = 1435) using the United Network for Organ Sharing database from 2002 to 2016. We excluded those who had multiorgan transplantation and hepatocellular carcinoma. In addition to the well-known predictors of liver transplant outcomes, we analyzed the impact of Karnofsky Performance Status score at LT on immediate and late outcomes. Results There were significant differences in clinical characteristics between the groups. Despite these differences in clinical characteristics and risk factors, CC had similar graft and patient survival to NASH, AC, and AIH when assessed by Kaplan-Meier survival. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that graft and patient survival was similar in all 4 groups after adjusting for other confounders. Hispanics had a 24% lower risk of death (hazard ratio, 0.76) compared with whites in these combined cohorts after adjusting for all risk factors. In addition to other known risk factors, Karnofsky Performance Status score of 30% or less was associated with a 33% increase in risk of death (hazard ratio, 1.33) on multivariate analysis. Conclusion Patients with CC had similar graft and patient survival when compared with NASH, AC, and AIH cirrhosis.
Linear actuator robots: Differential kinematics, controllability, and algorithms for locomotion and shape morphing

We consider a class of robotic systems composed of high elongation linear actuators connected at universal joints. We derive the differential kinematics of such robots, and formalize concepts of controllability based on graph rigidity. Control methods are then developed for two separate applications: locomotion and shape morphing. The control algorithm in both cases solves a series of linearly constrained quadratic programs at each time step to minimize an objective function while ensuring physical feasibility. We present simulation results for locomotion along a prescribed path, and morphing to a target shape.
Mark Coeckelbergh , New Romantic Cyborgs: Romanticism, Information Technology, and the End of the Machine . Reviewed by

Mark Coeckelbergh argues that Romanticism and the Enlightenment philosophies are not that far apart when it comes to philosophy of technology.
The Social Worker as Agent of Policy Change

Social workers need to be aware of the great and ingenious effort that will be required if they are to succeed in influencing social policy
Rund um vier Scheitel

In der Mathematik gibt es Resultate, auf die man leicht viel fruher hatte kommen konnen, als es tatsachlich der Fall war. Ein Beispiel, das einem einfallt, ist die Formel von Pick aus Ubung 1.1 auf Seite 26, die schon den alten Griechen hatte bekannt sein konnen. Sie wurde aber erst 1899 von Georg Pick entdeckt.
Remote Cooling with a G-M Cryocooler by Use of Cold Electromagnetic Valves Driving an External Flow Loop

A major limitation of Gifford-McMahon, G-M, cryocoolers is the requirement to conduction cool the refrigeration load. A number of earlier attempts to use check valves to rectify the oscillating pressure from the G-M expansion in an external flow loop were unsuccessful because of valve leakage. A G-M cryocooler is being modified with the addition of Boreas style cold electromagnetic valves to utilize the oscillating pressure to drive the unidirectional flow in an external cooling loop. The cold valve of the Boreas cooler demonstrated minimum leakage and acceptable electrical dissipation even at 4.5 K. Preliminary analysis indicated that the G-M blow down process could be used to power the external flow without seriously degrading the G-M cooler capacity.
Views versus subscriptions: which one matters to a YouTuber's monetisation success?

The critical factors to a video monetisation success have gained tremendous interests from YouTubers. However, there has not been a rigorous study testing the effects of video view factors and channel subscription factors on a YouTuber's revenues. We introduce a new empirical model to address this knowledge gap. Validating our model by a panel dataset of 116 most viewed YouTuber channels, we find that the new daily views, the daily view growth rate and the existing total views of a YouTuber's videos are significantly positively associated with her daily revenue. The subscription variables do not directly contribute to a YouTuber's daily revenue. Our study is the first of its kind that establishes a clear definition on the term 'YouTubers'. The monetisation model introduced by this study can provide several practical implications to YouTubers and users of other web communities, when they attempt to derive business values from video sharing.
Tenacic Acids: A New Class of Tenacious Binders to Metal Oxide Surfaces

The backbone of 2-hydroxyisophthalic acid was identified as a potential metal oxide anchor because of the perfect alignment of all three of its donor groups for binding to inorganic surfaces. It can therefore be used in the design of organic linkers for metal oxide based hybrid materials. Optimized and scalable methods for the synthesis of 2-hydroxyisophthalic acid (1) and its 5-substituted derivatives: 5-bromo- (2), 5-sulfooxy- (3), 5-hydroxy- (4), and 5-PEG600 (5) are presented. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) demonstrated that compound 2 inhibits Fe(OH)3 precipitation when FeIII aqueous solutions are titrated with NaOH, while similar titrations in the presence of the structurally-related isophthalic and salicylic acids, both missing the third donor group, show turbidity at pHs as low as 2.3 and 3.5, respectively. The adduct synthesized from 4.5 nm γ-Fe2 O3 nanoparticles and 5 is water-, alcohol- and CH2 Cl2 -soluble, and forms stable aqueous colloids in the pH range of 4.4-8.7. Moreover, at a pH close to neutral these colloids survive at 100 °C, demonstrating the high practicality of 2-hydroxyisophthalic acid for nanoparticulate inorganic/organic hybrid material design.
A neuroeconomic theory of (dis) honesty

Abstract We develop a theory of dishonesty based on neurophysiological evidence that supports the idea of a two-step process in the decision to cheat. Formally, decisions can be processed via a costless “honest” channel that generates truthful behavior or via a costly “dishonest” channel that requires attentional resources to trade-off costs and benefits of cheating. In the first step, a decision between these two channels is made based on ex-ante information regarding the expected benefits of cheating. In the second step, decisions are based on the channel that has been selected and, when applicable, the realized benefit of cheating. The model makes novel predictions relative to existing behavioral theories. First, adding external complexity to the decision-making problem (e.g., in the form of multi-tasking) deprives the individual from attentional resources and consequently decreases the propensity to engage in dishonest behavior. Second, higher expectations about the benefits of cheating results in a higher frequency of trial-by-trial cheating for any realized benefit level. Third, multiplicity of equilibria (characterized by different levels of cheating) emerges naturally in the context of illegal markets, in which expected benefits are endogenous.
Participation of the Arab World in MOOCs

One of the original purposes of MOOCs is to democratize education worldwide in order to advance towards a fairer society and universal human development. However, initial findings suggest that there are a number of challenges that MOOCs face to achieve their maximum potential in developing countries and regions with complex issues of access to high quality education. The majority of research studies on MOOCs focus on one or a small number of courses, or an overview of an entire platform or system, such as edX or FutureLearn. However, these kinds of investigations can mask important regional variation in different parts of the world. In this study we conduct a longitudinal analysis using data from six years of courses from MITx and HarvardX, focusing on the particular Arab world sub-population, and comparing to the rest of the world and also on their human development index. A close investigation of this subpopulation will help us better understand what kinds of course registration and course-taking patterns are influenced by regional cultural factors, and what dimensions of MOOC learning are more universal. In this work we present initial results after conducting exploratory analysis on 452 MOOCs (∼4.5M unique learners) from MITx and HarvardX, which show that despite the important cultural and geographical contrasts, the general trends are quite similar. Still, we observe some significant differences, such as lower completion metrics for Arabic countries when performing this comparison within each human development category and also some differences in percentage of enrolments per course category.
NF-κB signaling dynamics is controlled by a dose-sensing autoregulatory loop

Over the last decade, multiple studies have shown that signaling proteins activated in different temporal patterns, such as oscillatory, transient, and sustained, can result in distinct gene expression patterns or cell fates. However, the molecular events that ensure appropriate stimulus- and dose-dependent dynamics are not often understood and are difficult to investigate. Here, we used single-cell analysis to dissect the mechanisms underlying the stimulus- and dose-encoding patterns in the innate immune signaling network. We found that Toll-like receptor (TLR) and interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R) signaling dynamics relied on a dose-dependent, autoinhibitory loop that rendered cells refractory to further stimulation. Using inducible gene expression and optogenetics to perturb the network at different levels, we identified IL-1R-associated kinase 1 (IRAK1) as the dose-sensing node responsible for limiting signal flow during the innate immune response. Although the kinase activity of IRAK1 was not required for signal propagation, it played a critical role in inhibiting the nucleocytoplasmic oscillations of the transcription factor NF-κB. Thus, protein activities that may be "dispensable" from a topological perspective can nevertheless be essential in shaping the dynamic response to the external environment.
Cerebral oximetry performance testing with a 3D-printed vascular array phantom

Cerebral oximetry based on near-infrared spectroscopy represents a unique noninvasive tool for real-time surgical monitoring, yet studies have shown a significant discrepancy in accuracy among commercial systems. Towards the establishment of a standardized method for performance testing, we have studied a solid phantom approach - based on a 3D-printed cerebrovascular module (CVM) incorporating an array of 148 cylindrical channels - that has several advantages over liquid phantoms. Development and characterization of a CVM prototype are described, including high-resolution imaging and spectrophotometry measurements. The CVM was filled with whole bovine blood tuned over an oxygen saturation range of 30-90% and molded-silicone layers simulating extracerebral tissues were used to evaluate penetration depth. Saturation measurement accuracy was assessed in two commercially-available clinical cerebral oximeters. For one oximeter, both neonatal and pediatric sensors showed a high degree of precision, whereas accuracy was strongly dependent on saturation level and extracerebral geometry. The second oximeter showed worse precision, yet greater robustness to variations in extracerebral layers. These results indicate that 3D-printed channel array phantoms represent a promising new approach for standardized testing of clinical oximeters.
Modeling Impacts of Tracking on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Photovoltaic Power

Abstract A life cycle assessment (LCA) of photovoltaic (PV) power is conducted. The PV LCA is used to estimate the emissions impact of a common PV practice that has not been comprehensively analyzed by LCA: solar tracking. Relative to stationary mounting, solar tracking is found to decrease the greenhouse gas emissions of power from multi-crystalline silicon PV in most regions analyzed (by 0 to ~ 12%, or 0 to ~ 4 gCO2e/kWh), and to increase the emissions of power from cadmium telluride PV in most regions analyzed (by 0 to ~ 12%, or 0 to ~ 4 gCO2e/kWh). This dependence on cell type is explained by the interaction of tracker production emissions, module production emissions, and tracking energy gain. For both PV cell types, if the ratio of module production emissions to tracker production emissions increases in future, independent of absolute emission values, tracking will more commonly decrease PV carbon intensity. Conversely, if the ratio decreases, tracking will more commonly increase PV carbon intensity. Equations are presented to explain this relationship between module production emissions and tracker production emissions. These equations apply to emissions of all pollutants, not only greenhouse gases.
A Reinvestigation of the Source Dilemma Hypothesis

In a recent article, Bonin, Trainor, Belyk, and Andrews (2016) proposed a novel way in which basic processes of auditory perception may influence affective responses to music. According to their source dilemma hypothesis (SDH), the relative fluency of a particular aspect of musical processing—the parsing of the music into distinct audio streams—is hedonically marked: Efficient stream segregation elicits pleasant affective experience whereas inefficient segregation results in unpleasant affective experience, thereby contributing to (dis)preference for a musical stimulus. Bonin et al. (2016) conducted two experiments, the results of which were ostensibly consistent with the SDH. However, their research designs introduced major confounds that undermined the ability of these initial studies to offer unequivocal evidence for their hypothesis. To address this, we conducted a large-scale (N = 311) constructive replication of Bonin et al. (2016; Experiment 2), significantly modifying the design to rectify these methodological shortfalls and thereby better assess the validity of the SDH. Results successfully replicated those of Bonin et al. (2016), although they indicated that source dilemma effects on music preference may be more modest than their original findings would suggest. Unresolved issues and directions for future investigation of the SDH are discussed.
Polyiamonds Attaining Extremal Topological Properties, Part I

We consider two optimization questions with respect to polyiamonds. What is the maximum number of holes that a polyiamond with $n$ tiles can enclose, and what is the minimum number of tiles required to construct a polyiamond with $h$ holes? These numbers will be given by the sequences $f_{\triangle}(n)$ and $g_{\triangle}(h)$, respectively. In this paper, we construct a sequence of polyiamonds with $h_k=(3/2)(k^2-k)$ holes and $n_k=(1/2)(9k^2+3k-4)$ tiles such that $g_{\triangle}(n_k)=h_k$. Furthermore, these polyiamonds all attain a specific set of efficient geometric and topological properties.
Comparative analysis of the diffusion of Covid-19 infection in different countries

The sudden spread of Covid-19 outside China has pushed on March 11 the World Health Organization to acknowledge the ongoing outbreak as a pandemic. It is crucial in this phase to understand what should countries which presently lag behind in the spread of the infection learn from countries where the infection spread earlier. The choice of this work is to prefer timeliness to comprehensiveness. By adopting a purely empirical approach, we will limit ourselves to identifying different phases in the plots of different countries, based on their different functional behaviour, and to make a comparative analysis. The comparative analysis of the registered cases curves highlights remarkable similarities, especially among Western countries, together with some minor but crucial differences. We highlight how timeliness can largely reduce the size of the individual national outbreaks, ultimately limiting the final death toll. Our data suggest that Western governments have not unfortunately shown the capability to anticipate their decisions, based on the experience of countries hit earlier by the outbreak.
Accra’s Old Fadama/Agbogbloshie Settlement. To What Extent is This Slum Sustainable?

Slum conditions associated with squatter settlements pose major challenges in African cities. In the city of Accra, Ghana, municipal officials traditionally addressed squatter settlements through d...
Learned linear models for detecting watercraft in a maritime environment

This work provides a new, to the best of our knowledge, approach to constructing linear models for object detection in a scene. Specifically, we use representative training data in order to estimate the parameters describing a generalized wavelet model for the express purpose of detecting the presence of maritime targets in a scene. The parameter estimates are taken as those that maximize the probability of detecting the targets for a fixed probability of false alarm. The approach is then demonstrated on a database of short-wave infrared imagery containing various watercraft. Results are then compared to some of the more standard wavelet bases used in detection applications.
Nanofiltration of saline oil-water emulsions: Combined and individual effects of salt concentration polarization and fouling by oil

Abstract This study employed NF270 nanofiltration membranes and SDS-stabilized hexadecane to identify mechanisms of membrane fouling by highly saline oil-water emulsions. Concentration dependencies of NaCl reflection coefficient σ and NaCl permeability coefficient B were measured and used to determine the separate contributions of osmotic pressure and fouling to the overall flux decline. The NaCl permeability coefficient asymptotically converged to the same steady state value across a range of feed salinities and concentration polarization conditions. The measured near-hyperbolic dependence of the reflection coefficient on the transmembrane concentration differential ( σ Δ π m ≈ const) negated the effect of concentration polarization on permeate flux. Oil caused an abrupt decrease in permeate flux but only for more saline feeds (seawater level and higher), which was interpreted as a result of membrane surface sealing by coalesced oil. Headloss analysis showed that over the longer term, the additional hydraulic resistance due to a layer of oil droplets on the membrane surface became the dominant fouling mechanism.
Overview of Mechanical Circulatory Support Devices and Concepts

Mechanical circulatory support is an evolving technology that changed the paradigm for management of critically ill patients secondary to cardiogenic shock from different etiology with improved outcomes. The significant advances in the field during the recent years resulted in better, safer, and easier to implant devices that allow more reliable and durable support.
Uma quinta que fosse só sua: Sobre A Cidade e as Serras

(limite: 200 palavras por resumo ultrapassado): Nao vejo razoes para argumentar contra as varias interpretacoes que ate agora foram formuladas, mas tambem nao vejo nenhuma razao especial para tomarmos essa funcao representativa como se fosse um axioma inelutavel. Mudando os termos da discussao, neste ensaio procuro mostrar o que acontece se resistirmos a tentacao de explicar uma abstracao como «Tormes» nos termos de uma imagem de Portugal e dos portugueses. Concluirei argumentando que que, se quisermos encontrar na licao exemplar de Jacinto um conjunto de sugestoes ainda uteis acerca de como viver uma vida boa e gratificante, devemos ver a sua opcao por Tormes como contingencial, privada e temporaria, nao como uma solucao permanente e comunitaria para o tedio moderno.
Testing and Social Stratification in American Education

We focus on how standardized testing in American education has reflected, reproduced, and transformed social inequalities. We begin by describing inequalities in test score distributions by race/ethnicity, social origins, and gender over time. We then define learning, cognitive ability, and opportunity to learn, each of which influences the results of standardized tests. Next, we offer a brief history of standardized testing's role in American education. We then discuss the relationship between social stratification and measurement issues that arise in the context of standardized testing and the contemporary uses and misuses of standardized testing for diagnostic purposes, accountability, and gatekeeping. We conclude by reflecting on the past, present, and future role of testing in social stratification.
Modernizing payment systems in emerging economies

The authors address the following questions in this overview of payment systems: What is a payment system? How can efficient systems contribute to the development of modern, market-based financial institutions and markets? What elements are necessary for payment systems to operate efficiently? What are the operational characteristics of a modern payment system? What is the World Bank approach to selected payment system initiatives, design, and development? Effective, efficient payment systems, they conclude, are vital for the economic development of emerging economies. Efficient payment systems help promote the development of commerce, enhance economic policy oversight, control the risk inherent in moving large values, and reduce the financial, capital and human resources devoted to the transfer of payments. Many emerging economies lack the financial and technical resources to develop such systems. Many turn technical resources to develop such systems. Many turn to the World Bank and other international agencies for assistance. Unfortunately, some believe that the entire solution for an effective payment system rests in obtaining modern computer hardware and believe the World Bank`s sole contribution is to finance hardware costs. Hardware procurement alone will not solve problems of payment systems. These countries need organizational plans and structure for national payment systems before they spend money on computer equipment. They often lack the expertise to design and operate modern payment systems, so they may need technical assistance from financial experts before they invest in systems development. The design of a new payment system should be kept simple. Many emerging economies lack the infrastructure and banking sophistication to leapfrog from basic to state-of-the-art payment systems. The first task is to fix the most serious problems. The second is to upgrade the current systems incrementally, to meet basic standards of timeliness, security, and reliability. As these improvements are made, the countries can turn their attention to long-term, advanced solutions. Each country`s payments system is unique. To simply import another country`s system without adjusting for the target country`s geography, infrastructure, banking and legal structures, culture, and needs could lead to suboptimal solutions. Development of the system should follow a disciplined plan for defining the needs of users and for organizing the project team and project goals.
The Genetic Basis of Plant-Herbivore Interactions

Plants and their herbivores have been interacting for ~400 million years. To understand how plant defense against herbivory evolves, it is necessary to characterize the genetic underpinnings of resistance traits, quantify genetic variation in defense trait production, and characterize how natural selection is acting on these traits. In many plant species, it is possible to identify genes that underlie defense traits, a process that was not possible only one or two decades ago. Advances in genetic technology thus allow us to test evolutionary and ecological hypotheses of plant-herbivore interactions and improve agricultural breeding for defense at increasingly precise levels.
Multimodal AI to Improve Agriculture

Advances in natural language processing (NLP) and computer vision are now being applied to many agricultural problems. These techniques take advantage of nontraditional (or nonnumeric) data sources such as text in libraries and images from field operations. However, these techniques could be more powerful if combined with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and numeric sources of data in multimodal pipelines. We present several recent examples, where United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) researchers and collaborators are using AI methods with text and images to improve core scientific knowledge, the management of agricultural research, and agricultural practice. NLP enables automated indexing, clustering, and classification for agricultural research project management. We explore two case studies where combining techniques and data sources in new ways could accelerate progress in personalized nutrition and invasive pest detection. One challenge in applying these techniques is the difficulty in obtaining high-quality training data. Other challenges are a lack of machine learning (ML) techniques customized for use and ML skills or experience among researchers and other stakeholders. Initiatives are underway at USDA-ARS to address these challenges.
Latest impact of engineered human liver platforms on drug development.

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a leading cause of drug attrition, which is partly due to differences between preclinical animals and humans in metabolic pathways. Therefore, in vitro human liver models are utilized in biopharmaceutical practice to mitigate DILI risk and assess related mechanisms of drug transport and metabolism. However, liver cells lose phenotypic functions within 1–3 days in two-dimensional monocultures on collagen-coated polystyrene/glass, which precludes their use to model the chronic effects of drugs and disease stimuli. To mitigate such a limitation, bioengineers have adapted tools from the semiconductor industry and additive manufacturing to precisely control the microenvironment of liver cells. Such tools have led to the fabrication of advanced two-dimensional and three-dimensional human liver platforms for different throughput needs and assay endpoints (e.g., micropatterned cocultures, spheroids, organoids, bioprinted tissues, and microfluidic devices); such platforms have significantly enhanced liver functions closer to physiologic levels and improved functional lifetime to >4 weeks, which has translated to higher sensitivity for predicting drug outcomes and enabling modeling of diseased phenotypes for novel drug discovery. Here, we focus on commercialized engineered liver platforms and case studies from the biopharmaceutical industry showcasing their impact on drug development. We also discuss emerging multi-organ microfluidic devices containing a liver compartment that allow modeling of inter-tissue crosstalk following drug exposure. Finally, we end with key requirements for engineered liver platforms to become routine fixtures in the biopharmaceutical industry toward reducing animal usage and providing patients with safe and efficacious drugs with unprecedented speed and reduced cost.
Automated Smart House 2015 via Ubiquitous Computing

The speed and omnipresent accessibility to current Internet providing any information, any time and anywhere creates global very complex communications infrastructures that will facilitate the fully-automated information cyberspace systems, such as Future House 2015. The author discusses the current state of the art in the world of Telecommunications and Internet Technologies, new technological trends directions in the Internet and Automation Industries, as well as the concept of the Fully-automated Future House 2015. The paper presents a survey of current developments and future directions in Telecommunications Industry and Automation while promoting research and development in the interdisciplinary projects conducting by multinational teams world-wide.
Allograft Prosthetic Composite Arthroplasty for Limb Salvage and Revision Arthroplasty

The use of allograft bone to replace defects about the hip and knee is not a new technique first popularized for tumor reconstruction. Several authors have published encouraging clinical results with osteoarticular allografts [9, 10, 14–20, 22]. This surgical procedure, however, is associated with many reported complications, especially in weight-bearing joints [13]. Some of the complications inherently associated with osteoarticular allografts include instability, joint collapse with malalignment, and cartilage fragmentation with secondary degenerative arthritis. Various techniques have been attempted to improve the cartilage viability during processing [2, 7, 8, 21]. These attempts have centered around the use of cryoprotective agents to prevent crystal formation during the freezing process. Despite the use of these techniques, the viability of the articular surface remains in doubt.