cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mobility propagation and dynamic facilitation in superionic conductors.

In an earlier work [V. A. Annamareddy et al., Phys. Rev. E 89, 010301(R) (2014)], we showed the manifestation of dynamical heterogeneity (DH)—the presence of clustered mobile and immobile regions—in UO2, a model type II superionic conductor. In the current work, we demonstrate the mechanism of dynamic facilitation (DF) in two superionic conductors (CaF2 and UO2) using atomistic simulations. Using the mobility transfer function, DF is shown to vary non-monotonically with temperature with the intensity of DF peaking at temperatures close to the superionic transition temperature (Tλ). Both the metrics quantifying DH and DF show remarkable correspondence implying that DF, in the framework of kinematically constrained models, underpins the heterogeneous dynamics in type II superionic conductors.
Integrating Biology Into Social Work Education Using Interdisciplinary Character-Driven Case Studies

An understanding of biology is necessary for effective social work practice. However, the traditional approach to teaching biology to social work students often fails to address and promote self- efficacy. This article demonstrates the relevance of biological knowledge to social work practice and connects biology education to the curriculum standards of the Council on Social Work Education’s Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. It presents an innovative and interdisciplinary approach to teaching biology content to social work students using a theme- based, character- driven case study that (a) relates the challenges of individuals to the dynamics of their families, (b) presents biological knowledge as a necessary tool to solve complex, real- world problems, and (c) requires students to explore the personal and social dimensions of problems. Furthermore, we suggest that implementing the case study using a red thread model, which links information and ideas from multiple classes in biology and social work, can increase students’ interest in and retention of biology material.
Quality education as part of the problem: school education and inequality in Chile

The chilean educational system is in crisis due to the inequality caused by privatization that led to segregation, with the exclusion of low-income students as a consequence. Nevertheless, there is a certain level of social consensus around the need to improve the quality of education in the country. This paper discusses critically the idea that the improvement of the education quality in schools is part of the solution to the crisis in the educational system. On the contrary, this quality is part of the problem. To develop this argument, the paper is structured around three main statements: that the quality of education is part of the privatization of schools, is part of the resulting segregation, and is part of the exclusion that harms the low-income students of the country.
Hepatic control of feeding: effect of glucose, fructose, and mannitol infusion

Plasma fuels, pancreatic hormones, liver glycogen, and food and water intake were measured immediately before or during the nocturnal feeding period of rats given hepatic portal or jugular infusions of glucose, fructose, and mannitol (0.3 M x 10 ml/2 h). Compared with mock and saline control infusions, hepatic portal glucose, fructose, and mannitol reliably and equally decreased food intake. Jugular fructose and mannitol also decreased food intake when infused before rats ate but not while they ate. Jugular glucose infusion did not affect food intake. Hepatic portal glucose did not reliably elevate systemic plasma glucose or insulin but increased hepatic glycogen content, indicating that most infused glucose was taken up by the liver. In contrast, jugular glucose increased systemic plasma glucose and insulin but did not affect hepatic glycogen. Hepatic portal fructose decreased plasma ketones and increased triglycerides and liver glycogen. Jugular fructose also decreased ketone levels and tended to increase liver glycogen. Mannitol by either route decreased plasma glucose and increased plasma free fatty acids. These results indicate that hepatic portal infusions that produce changes in plasma fuel concentrations within the physiological range decrease food intake. They strongly suggest this is accomplished by a direct action of the infusates on the metabolism of the liver.
The Informational Text Structure Survey (ITS2): An exploration of primary grade teachers’ sensitivity to text structure in young children's informational texts

ABSTRACTThere has been no research reported about if or how well primary grade teachers can identify information text structures in children's authentic informational texts. The ability to do so accurately and reliably is a prerequisite for teachers to be able to teach students how to recognize and use text structures to assist them in comprehending informational texts. The authors report the development of the Informational Text Structure Survey (ITS2). Prior to training, primary grade teachers demonstrated low accuracy and reliability in identifying traditional expository text structures in well-structured children's grade level–appropriate informational texts. Results after training with the ITS2 instrument showed significant improvements in the teachers’ accuracy and reliability in identifying traditional informational text structures in well-structured children's grade level–appropriate informational texts after training with the ITS2 instrument.
Der neue VW Passat CC

Der VW Passat CC ist positioniert in dem Spannungsfeld zwischen der eleganten Anmutung eines Coupe und dem Komfortanspruch einer klassischen Limousine. Dieses Fahrzeugkonzept wird realisiert mit einem Vierturerkonzept und vollwertiger Viersitzigkeit. Der erwahnte Komfortanspruch wird daruber hinaus durch eine Vielzahl von Assistenzsystemen abgerundet.
A Fractional Order Model for the Hysteresis Non-Linearity of a Piezoelectric Actuated Fast Tool Servo

Ultra-precision turning based on fast tool servo(FTS),which is utilized to create intricate surfaces and functional structures and to actively compensate for figure errors,has been under increasing research interest.Hysteresis non-linearity,which is extremely hard to model,exists in FTS driven by whatever approach,and has become a critical limitation to tracking performance.An equivalent fractional order dynamic model of a piezoelectric actuated FTS is established based on fractional order calculus,and the transfer function of the FTS is obtained.An improved differential evolution(IDE) algorithm is employed to identify the parameters of this dynamic model.The testing results under sinusoidal and triangle excitations show that the modeling error of the proposed fractional order model for the piezoelectric actuated FTS is less than 4% and has expected model accuracy.The work presented in this paper provides a simple and efficient method for hysteresis non-linearity modeling of FTS and is of critical significance for the trajectory tracking of FTS.
What is light? The visible spectrum and beyond

In this International Year of Light, it is particularly appropriate to review the historical concept of what is light and the controversies surrounding the extent of the visible spectrum. Today we recognize that light possesses both a wave and particle nature. It is also clear that the limits of visibility really extend from about 310 nm in the ultraviolet (in youth) to about 1100 nm in the near-infrared, but depend very much on the radiance, that is, 'brightness' of the light source. The spectral content of artificial lighting are undergoing very significant changes in our lifetime, and the full biological implications of the spectral content of newer lighting technologies remain to be fully explored.
Frenkel-Kontarova Model

Simulate movement of simple molecules over a 2D potential energy landscape due to external forcing using the Frenkel-Kontarova model
Developing Institutional Research Data Repository: A Case Study

We introduce VTechData, a Sufia/Fedora based institutional repository specifically implemented to meet the needs of research data management at Virginia Tech. Despite the rapid maturity of Hydra and Fedora code bases, the gaps between the released packages and a launched production-level service are still many and far from trivial. In this practitioner paper we describe the strategy and efforts through which these gaps were filled and lessons learned in the process of creating our first Hydra/Sufia-based repository.
Down-Regulation of Bax and Bak in Immuno-Chemotherapy Resistant Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Cells.

The balance between pro-apoptotic (Bax, Bak) and anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Mcl-1) Bcl-2 family proteins is essential for the maintenance of B-cell homeostasis. Disruption of this critical balance occurs in the majority of B-cell neoplasms. Clinically, high Bcl-2/Bak and Bcl-2/Bax ratios have been associated with decreased median survival (7.3 years and 3.8 years, respectively) in follicular lymphoma patients 1 . Recent work in mouse embryonic fibroblasts deficient for the multi-domain pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins Bax and Bak has shown that they are essential for induction of cell death following apoptotic stimuli that act through the mitochondrial (intrinsic) pathway 2 . The vast majority of clinically available anti-neoplastic agents, including rituximab, are known to induce cell death via this pathway and therefore likely rely on Bax and/or Bak to exert their anti-tumor effects. Alteration in expression of Bax and/or Bak could therefore underlie acquired resistance to rituximab and chemotherapy in NHL patients. To study the phenomenon of rituximab resistance we developed several rituximab-resistant cell lines (RRCL) that we subsequently showed were also resistant to chemotherapy. RRCL were generated by exposing Raji, SU-DHL-4 and RL cells to escalating doses of rituximab +/− human serum and subsequently cloning by limited dilution. In our present work we studied the efficacy of clinically-applicable chemotherapeutic agents against RRCL. Additionally we studied the intrinsic apoptotic pathway in an attempt to explain shared mechanisms of resistance to chemotherapy and rituximab. We found that RRCL have dramatically reduced levels of both Bax and Bak proteins by Western blot while levels of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and Mcl-1 protein were comparable to parental cells. Transfection of RRCL with Bax or Bak sensitized them to apoptotic cell death. Currently, we are attempting to validate previous studies that have shown that down-regulation of Bax and/or Bak correlates with a poor prognosis in NHL. Additionally, we are exploring the mechanism(s) by which Bax and Bak are down-regulated in RRCL and primary patient samples.
Quantifying Disparities in Urban Firearm Violence by Race and Place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: A Cartographic Study

Objectives. To describe variability in the burden of firearm violence by race, income, and place in an urban context.Methods. We used Philadelphia Police Department data from 2013 to 2014 to calculate firearm assault rates within census block groups for both victim residence and event locations, stratifying by race and block group income. We used cartographic modeling to determine variations in incidence of firearm assault by race, neighborhood income, and place.Results. The overall rate of firearm assault was 5.0 times higher (95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.5, 5.6) for Black people compared with White people. Firearm assault rates were higher among Black people across all victim residence incomes. Relative risk of firearm assault reached 15.8 times higher (95% CI = 10.7, 23.2) for Black residents in the highest-income block groups when compared with high-income White individuals. Firearm assault events tended to occur in low-income areas and were concentrated in several “hot spot” locations with high p...
Chapter 12 – Water

The water, which is important for skin and cosmetics, is described with focus on the following three points: (1) the structure of water molecule and physical properties such as hydrogen bonds, thermal properties, surface tension, wettability and solubility of water; (2) the role of water in biological environments and cell membranes; and (3) the mechanism of moisture retaining of skin.
Stable small bubble clusters in two-dimensional foams.

Key features of the mechanical response of amorphous particulate materials, such as foams, emulsions, and granular media, to applied stress are determined by the frequency and size of particle rearrangements that occur as the system transitions from one mechanically stable state to another. This work describes coordinated experimental and computational studies of bubble rafts, which are quasi-two dimensional systems of bubbles confined to the air–water interface. We focus on small mechanically stable clusters of four, five, six, and seven bubbles with two different sizes with diameter ratio σL/σS ≃ 1.4. Focusing on small bubble clusters, which can be viewed as subsystems of a larger system, allows us to investigate the full ensemble of clusters that form, measure the respective frequencies with which the clusters occur, and determine the form of the bubble–bubble interactions. We emphasize several important results. First, for clusters with N > 5 bubbles, we find using discrete element simulations that short-range attractive interactions between bubbles give rise to a larger ensemble of distinct mechanically stable clusters compared to that generated by long-range attractive interactions. The additional clusters in systems with short-range attractions possess larger gaps between pairs of neighboring bubbles on the periphery of the clusters. The ensemble of bubble clusters observed in experiments is similar to the ensemble of clusters with long-range attractive interactions. We also compare the frequency with which each cluster occurs in simulations and experiments. We find that the cluster frequencies are extremely sensitive to the protocol used to generate them and only weakly correlated to the energy of the clusters.
Social scientists' data reuse behaviors: Exploring the roles of attitudinal beliefs, attitudes, norms, and data repositories

Abstract Many disciplines within the social sciences have a dynamic culture of sharing and reusing data. Because social science data differ from data in the hard sciences, it is necessary to explicitly examine social science data reuse. This study explores the data reuse behaviors of social scientists in order to better understand both the factors that influence those social scientists' intentions to reuse data and the extent to which those factors influence actual data reuse. Using an integrated theoretical model developed from the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and the technology acceptance model (TAM), this study provides a broad explanation of the relationships among factors influencing social scientists' data reuse. A total of 292 survey responses were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings suggest that social scientists' data reuse intentions are directly influenced by the subjective norm of data reuse, attitudes toward data reuse, and perceived effort involved in data reuse. Attitude toward data reuse mediated social scientists' intentions to reuse data, leading to the indirect influence of the perceived usefulness and perceived concern of data reuse, as well as the indirect influence of the subjective norm of data reuse. Finally, the availability of a data repository indirectly influenced social scientists' intentions to reuse data by reducing the perceived effort involved.
Target Tracking with Bayesian Estimation

We present a Bayesian approach for multiple target tracking. Target location and velocity are deduced probabilistically through a sequence of continuous observations of amplitude and frequency made by Doppler Radar sensors.
Anthrax immune globulin improves hemodynamics and survival during B. anthracis toxin-induced shock in canines receiving titrated fluid and vasopressor support.

Although anthrax immune globulin (AIG) improved survival in antibiotic-treated Bacillus anthracis-challenged animal models, whether it adds to the benefit of conventional hemodynamic support for B. anthracis toxin-associated shock is unknown. We therefore tested AIG in sedated, mechanically ventilated canines challenged with 24-h B. anthracis lethal and edema toxin infusions and supported for 96 h with a previously demonstrated protective regimen of titrated normal saline and norepinephrine. Compared to controls, proportional survival (%) was increased with AIG treatment started 4 h before (33 vs. 100%, n = 6 each) or 2 h (17 vs. 86%, n = 6 and 7 respectively) or 5 h (0 vs. 67%, n = 3 each) after the start of toxin (p ≤ 0.05) and overall [3 survivors of 15 controls (20%) vs. 14 of 16 AIG animals (88%); p = 0.006]. Averaged across treatment times, AIG increased blood pressure at 48 h and decreased norepinephrine requirements at 72 h (p ≤ 0.02), increased left ventricular ejection fraction at 48 and 72 h (p ≤ 0.02), and increased urine output and decreased net fluid balance at 72 and 96 h (p ≤ 0.04). AIG also reduced acidosis and renal and hepatic injury markers between 24 and 96 h. These findings further support AIG’s potential benefit for patients with B. anthracis infection and developing toxin-associated shock.
Just When We Thought We Knew Everything We Needed To Know about Zn Acquisition and Bacterial Pathogenesis

ABSTRACT It is well established that high-affinity zinc importers play essential roles in bacterial virulence, but the studies described by Moreau et al. in this issue (G. B. Moreau, A. Qin, and B. J. Mann, J Bacteriol 200:e00587-17, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1128/JB.00587-17) demonstrate that we probably still have much to learn about how these transporters function and how the genes that encode them are regulated in different bacterial pathogens.
Perioperative steroid therapy: where's the evidence?

Purpose of reviewReview of historical and current evidence of adrenal suppression in patients on chronic glucocorticoid therapy during perioperative period, and discussion of current recommendations for perioperative stress dose steroid administration.Recent findingsEvidence suggests low incidence o
The Neuronix HPC cluster: Cluster management using free and open source software tools

One of the most notable impacts of computing advancements over the last few decades has been the decentralization of resources. As the cost of computer hardware continues to decrease, significant computational power continues to become more accessible to the consumer market. Similar to personal computing, this phenomenon has also enabled the growth of low-cost high-performance computing (HPC) (e.g., desktop supercomputers). Combined with advances in computational statistics and machine learning, HPC systems can now accommodate computationally expensive research using consumer-grade hardware.
The impact of MTUP to explore online trajectories for human mobility studies

Social media data which capture long-term personal travel activities as a set of space-time points (time series) become widely used for human mobility study. The space-time points representing individual activities are massive and need aggregation upon time dimension (besides space dimension) to show temporal mobility patterns. During the temporal aggregations, time series are sliced into different temporal layers, and the aggregation results could be impacted by four parameters, including layer size (time interval of each tempoal layer), start placement (the start time of the first layer), amount of overlap between two consecutive layers, and time series extent (temporal scope of the datasets for aggregation). Different parameterizations result in different mobility patterns, known as the "Modifiable Temporal Unit Problem" (MTUP; on the analogy of the "Modifiable Areal Unit Problem" or MAUP). While the general effects of MTUP are well examined in previous studies, MTUP is often ignored in trajectory reconstructions using sparse social media data. To fill this research gap, this paper will explore the impact of different temporal aggregation schemas (parameterizations) on the discovery of human mobility patterns using geo-tagged tweets within a 3D geospatial analytical system. The case study reveals that MTUP is significant during the process of detecting an individual's daily representative (regular) trajectories based on sparse online footprints. Comprehensive analysis on multiple aggregation results with different parameters could improve understanding of an individual's regular daily travel patterns. The interactive analytical system and visualization methods proposed by this study could minimize MTUP impact and help avoid false arguments.
Quantitative metabolomics comparison of traditional blood draws and TAP capillary blood collection

Mass spectrometry and computational biology have advanced significantly in the past ten years, bringing the field of metabolomics a step closer to personalized medicine applications. Despite these analytical advancements, collection of blood samples for routine clinical analysis is still performed through traditional blood draws. TAP capillary blood collection has been recently introduced for the rapid, painless draw of small volumes of blood (~ 100 μL), though little is known about the comparability of metabolic phenotypes of blood drawn via traditional venipuncture and TAP devices. UHPLC-MS-targeted metabolomics analyses were performed on blood drawn traditionally or through TAP devices from 5 healthy volunteers. Absolute quantitation of 45 clinically-relevant metabolites was calculated against stable heavy isotope-labeled internal standards. Ranges for 39 out of 45 quantified metabolites overlapped between drawing methods. Pyruvate and succinate were over threefold higher in the TAP samples than in traditional blood draws. No significant changes were observed for other carboxylates, glucose or lactate. TAP samples were characterized by increases in reduced glutathione and decreases in urate and cystine, markers of oxidation of purines and cysteine—overall suggesting decreased oxidation during draws. The absolute levels of bile acids and acyl-carnitines, as well as almost all amino acids, perfectly correlated among groups (Spearman r ≥ 0.95). Though further more extensive studies will be mandatory, this pilot suggests that TAP-derived blood may be a logistically-friendly source of blood for large scale metabolomics studies—especially those addressing amino acids, glycemia and lactatemia as well as bile acids, acyl-carnitine levels.
Cadmium Uptake by Lettuce from Soil Amended with Phosphorus and Trace Element Fertilizers

Some phosphorus and trace element fertilizers may contain elevatedamounts of toxic metals such as cadmium (Cd) and repeated uses of the fertilizers at high rates over time may increase Cd uptake by plants. This greenhouse study investigated the availability to leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) (Royal Green) of Cd in a western phosphate rock (PR), and a zinc (G-Zn) and an iron (IR) fertilizers that are by products of industrial wastes. The water-soluble CdCl2 was included in the study for comparison. Applications of Cd from the fertilizers orCdCl2 up to 16 times the Canadian Standards for maximum annual Cd loading limit increased soil total Cd. This was true also for the labileCd extractable by DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) or 0.05 M CaCl2 for all Cd sources except IR. Lime and Cd source and rate allaffected Cd availability in the soil and accumulation by the plant. Theadded Cd from CdCl2 was more labile and readily available to the plant than the added Cd from the PR or G-Zn. Lettuce-Cd was best describedby CaCl2-Cd (r2 = 0.782), followed by DTPA-Cd (r2 = 0.686), with soil total Cd being least effective in predicting lettuce-Cd (r2 = 0.186). If soil total Cd has to be used in describing Cd accumulation bythe plant, it should be included with pH in a stepwise multiple regression. The Cd transfer coefficient for the fertilizers should be measured based on labile Cd extractable by CaCl2 or DPTA, instead of soil total Cd. The labile-based Cd transfer coefficient could improve the assessment ofthe risk of human exposure to the metal in the fertilizers through consumption of the food crop.
Insulin-dependent tyrosine protein kinase: cellular distribution and copurification with the insulin receptor.

Publisher Summary The first step in insulin action involves the binding of insulin to a class of specific, high-affinity receptors on the cell surface. The receptor is an intrinsic membrane glycoprotein that contains two kinds of subunits—alpha and beta. An additional or alternative model for the mechanism of action of insulin was suggested by recent discoveries that the insulin receptor in intact cells becomes phosphorylated on tyrosine and serine residues in response to insulin and that insulin-dependent tyrosine protein kinase activity can be demonstrated in vitro in preparations containing the insulin receptor. This chapter focuses on three properties of the insulin-dependent tyrosine protein kinase: (1) evidence that the insulin receptor isolated from a variety of tissues is immunologically conserved and associated with a constant ratio of insulin dependent tyrosine protein kinase activity to high-affinity insulin-binding activity, (2) copurification to homogeneity of the human placental insulin-dependent tyrosine protein kinase and insulin receptor, and (3) evidence that phosphorylation modifies the properties of the protein kinase intrinsic to the insulin receptor. The insulin-dependent tyrosine protein kinase can catalyze the phosphorylation of tyrosine residues in certain proteins and peptides.
Direct evidence of surface exposed water ice in the lunar polar regions

Water ice may be allowed to accumulate in permanently shaded regions on airless bodies in the inner solar system such as Mercury, the Moon, and Ceres [Watson K, et al. (1961) J Geophys Res 66:3033–3045]. Unlike Mercury and Ceres, direct evidence for water ice exposed at the lunar surface has remained elusive. We utilize indirect lighting in regions of permanent shadow to report the detection of diagnostic near-infrared absorption features of water ice in reflectance spectra acquired by the Moon Mineralogy Mapper [M (3)] instrument. Several thousand M (3) pixels (∼280 × 280 m) with signatures of water ice at the optical surface (depth of less than a few millimeters) are identified within 20° latitude of both poles, including locations where independent measurements have suggested that water ice may be present. Most ice locations detected in M (3) data also exhibit lunar orbiter laser altimeter reflectance values and Lyman Alpha Mapping Project instrument UV ratio values consistent with the presence of water ice and also exhibit annual maximum temperatures below 110 K. However, only ∼3.5% of cold traps exhibit ice exposures. Spectral modeling shows that some ice-bearing pixels may contain ∼30 wt % ice that is intimately mixed with dry regolith. The patchy distribution and low abundance of lunar surface-exposed water ice might be associated with the true polar wander and impact gardening. The observation of spectral features of H2O confirms that water ice is trapped and accumulates in permanently shadowed regions of the Moon, and in some locations, it is exposed at the modern optical surface.
Partial and Impartial Spectators in Vanity Fair

Adam Smith encourages us to regard our actions in an impartial light and to look at ourselves the way we imagine a fair-minded third person would. Society holds up a mirror for us and we can infer from other people’s reactions to our behavior whether we are acting appropriately or inappropriately. Over time, we learn to restrain our natural self-love and come to judge ourselves the way an impartial spectator would. Partial spectators are a threat to this learning process because with their flattery they encourage us to think more highly of ourselves than we should. Vanity Fair is full of partial spectators who encourage the vanity of the already vain for personal gain. They are the opposite of the person Smith describes who is forced to develop a sense of impartiality and strong self-command because he lives with strangers who care nothing for him. Becky Sharp and Jane Eyre both develop strong self-command under difficult circumstances, living with partial spectators who never let them forget their inferior place in society. Their stories raise questions about the mirror society provides to women and about the impartiality of Smith’s impartial spectator.
Low-rate frequency modulation detection across the lifespan

Frequency modulation (FM) detection at a 2-Hz rate is thought to rely on temporal cues. For a 500-Hz carrier, this reliance is heightened by the use of dichotic presentation. Here, the modulator is inverted across ears such that binaural beats can cue FM. Detection acuity for FM is better in the dichotic than diotic condition, promoting the task as a measure of temporal fine structure (TFS) sensitivity. Older adults show less benefit of dichotic presentation than young adults, suggesting deficient TFS processing. This study extended the work to school-age children in order to gain a perspective of TFS processing across the lifespan. Children aged 4–10 yrs showed poorer FM detection in both diotic and dichotic conditions re young adults, and their performance was more similar to that of older adults. The dependence of the task on TFS processing was further tested by adding background noise. This reduced FM detection acuity but more for the dichotic than diotic condition. Overall, these results support the dependence of the FM detection task on TFS processing and demonstrate that such processing appears compromised at both ends of the age spectrum. [Work supported by NIDCD DC01507 (JHG) and DC00397 [EB].)Frequency modulation (FM) detection at a 2-Hz rate is thought to rely on temporal cues. For a 500-Hz carrier, this reliance is heightened by the use of dichotic presentation. Here, the modulator is inverted across ears such that binaural beats can cue FM. Detection acuity for FM is better in the dichotic than diotic condition, promoting the task as a measure of temporal fine structure (TFS) sensitivity. Older adults show less benefit of dichotic presentation than young adults, suggesting deficient TFS processing. This study extended the work to school-age children in order to gain a perspective of TFS processing across the lifespan. Children aged 4–10 yrs showed poorer FM detection in both diotic and dichotic conditions re young adults, and their performance was more similar to that of older adults. The dependence of the task on TFS processing was further tested by adding background noise. This reduced FM detection acuity but more for the dichotic than diotic condition. Overall, these results support the ...
The Platelet—Fibrinogen Interaction

Following the observation that adding ADP to platelet-rich plasma resulted in platelet aggregation (Gaarder et al.,1961), it became apparent that factors in plasma were required for this process to proceed (Born and Cross, 1964). Experiments with washed platelets indicated that, at a minimum, calcium and fibrinogen were necessary (Cross, 1964; McLeanet aL, 1964). Similarly, fibrinogen was needed for platelets to adhere to artificial surfaces such as glass (Zucker and Vroman, 1969). The relevance of these in vitroobservations for physiologic platelet function became apparent from the study of individuals with congenital afibrinogenemia. Afibrinogenemic individuals have barely detectable concentrations of plasma fibrinogen and often have a prolonged bleeding time, indicating a concomitant defect in platelet function (Weiss and Rogers, 1971). The platelet defect is secondary to the deficiency of fibrinogen because the abnormal platelet function can be completely corrected by transfusions of fibrinogen. Further observations that platelets from individuals with Glanzmann’s thrombasthenia do not aggregate (Caen, 1972), adhere to glass (Zucker and Vroman, 1969), or adsorb fibrinogen suggest that fibrinogen and the platelet surface undergo a specific interaction (Bang et al,1972). Until recently, an explanation for the fibrinogen requirement for platelet aggregation was not available. However, the demonstration that platelet stimulation exposes a limited number of fibrinogen receptors on the platelet surface provided the key to understanding the role of fibrinogen in platelet function.
Enhancing Rose Bengal-Photosensitized Protein Crosslinking in the Cornea.

Purpose Rose bengal (RB)-photosensitized protein crosslinking has been proposed for several applications in the eye. This study identifies oxygen-dependent and oxygen-independent mechanistic pathways in cornea for RB-photosensitized crosslinking to enhance its efficiency for ocular treatments. Methods Rabbit corneas ex vivo were stained with 1 mM RB and irradiated at 532 nm. RB photobleaching, measured by spectrophotometry and linear tensile strength testing, were performed with and without oxygen present. The effects of sodium azide, D2O, arginine, and ascorbate were used to discriminate between mechanisms involving energy transfer (forming singlet oxygen) and electron transfer (forming radical ions). The influence of corneal depth on RB photobleaching was determined using inclined corneal incisions. Results RB photobleaching was greater in the presence than the absence of oxygen, enhanced by D2O and partially inhibited by azide, indicating a singlet oxygen pathway. Photobleaching without oxygen was enhanced by arginine and ascorbate and accompanied by a shift in the absorption to shorter wavelengths, suggesting that electron transfer initiates RB photodecomposition. The RB-photosensitized tensile strength increase in air was enhanced by D2O and inhibited by azide. In an O2-free environment, arginine was required for an increase in tensile strength, which matched that attained by irradiation in air without arginine, suggesting an efficient electron transfer pathway. Rapid photobleaching was observed below 80 to 120 μm only when arginine was present. Conclusions These results indicate that RB photosensitizes crosslinking in cornea by both singlet oxygen and electron transfer mechanisms and that adding enhancers may increase the efficiency of this treatment.
Does Transparency Inhibit Political Compromise

Politicians and scholars contend that governmental transparency reforms constrain politicians' capacity to negotiate and compromise in the pursuit of policy goals. However, existing research primarily emphasizes only that governments are strategic in adopting these reforms; whether lawmakers actually incur the alleged costs of transparency remains an open question. We investigate this issue in the context of American state legislatures, many of which have become exempt from "sunshine laws" in recent decades. Legislators justify these exemptions by claiming that transparency impedes deal-making and coalition-building, producing gridlock. We leverage variation in the timing of sunshine law adoptions and exemptions to identify their effect on legislative productivity, polarization, partisanship, policy change, and budget delay. Our analyses refute legislators' argument for opacity; we report precisely-estimated negligible and contradictory effects of sunshine law exposure. We conclude that transparency does not inhibit political compromise. Legislative deliberation is equally or perhaps more effective under open governance requirements.
Parity Violation in Proton-Nucleus Scattering at 6 GeV/c

We have measured a parity‐violating asymmetry in the total cross section for 6 GeV/c polarized protons on a water target. The asymmetry AL = (σ+−σ−)/(σ++σ−), defined as the fractional difference of of the total cross sections for positive and negative helicity protons on an unpolarized target, was found to have the value AL = (2.61±0.55)×10−6. The quoted error includes both statistical and systematic contributions.
Doing More With Less: Review of Dolutegravir-Lamivudine, a Novel Single-Tablet Regimen for Antiretroviral-Naïve Adults With HIV-1 Infection.

Objective:To review data on efficacy and safety of dolutegravir (DTG) and lamivudine (3TC) in treatment-naive adults with HIV-1 infection.Data Sources:Phase III clinical trials and review articles ...
Input-Output System

The framework that links offshore activity with supply vessels operating in the Gulf of Mexico is modeled using a linear time-invariant deterministic system, which means that the number of vessel trips is hypothesized to be linearly related to the level of offshore activity and model parameters are not allowed to vary across time. Vessels are distinguished by type, work activity, circuitry, and port; offshore activity is distinguished by area block, vessel type, and E&P life cycle stage. Workflows are captured using E&P life cycle stages and activity categories.
Synthetic aperture with high lateral sampling frequency for ultrasound elastography

Ultrasound elastography is a non-invasive technique for detecting pathological alterations in tissue. It is known that pathological alteration of tissue often has a direct impact on its elastic modulus, which can be revealed using elastography. For estimating elastic modulus, we need to estimate both axial and lateral displacement accurately. Current state of the art elastography techniques provide a substantially less accurate lateral displacement field as compared to the axial displacement field. One of the most important factors in poor lateral estimation is a low sampling frequency in the lateral direction. In this paper, we use synthetic aperture beamforming to benefit from its capability of high sampling frequency in the lateral direction. We compare highly sampled data and focused line per line beam formed data by feeding them to our recently published elastography method, OVERWIND [1]. According to simulation and phantom experiments, not only the lateral displacement estimation is substantially improved, but also the axial displacement estimation is improved.
Low Trypanosoma cruzi transmission risk to humans in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas

In the Trans-Pecos region of Texas, reports of domestic triatomine bites were common (67%), with 36% of residentially collected triatomines positive for Trypanosoma cruzi. Despite the transmission potential, no human infections were detected. Collected Triatoma rubida species were themselves frequently parasitized with mites.
Measurements with moored instruments in ice-covered waters

Abstract We describe a method for making measurements with moored instruments in permanently ice-covered waters.
A field guide to U.S. healthcare reform: The evolution to value-based healthcare

Objective A consolidated state-of-the-art review of U.S. healthcare reform efforts that documents the evolution towards value-based healthcare (VBH) is lacking in peer-review literature. This field guide attempts to clarify working definitions and conceptual boundaries within the lexicon of U.S. healthcare reform efforts that predated and have common thematic perspectives within the evolving VBH reform paradigm. Data sources Pubmed/MEDLINE/Google search. Review methods Pubmed/MEDLINE/Google search was performed during August 1, 2020-January14, 2021 for U.S. healthcare reform terms, legislative and government agency publications. Those citing relevant legislative, regulatory, philosophical and technological advancements integral to the development and function of VBH were catalogued according to the targeted stakeholders and evolving reform strategy or technology. Conclusions Eight healthcare reform paradigms were identified as influential precursors to VBH: Patient-Centered Care Model, Patient-Centered Medical Home, Population Health, Personalized Medicine, P4 Medicine, Precision Medicine, Managed Care, and Accountable Care. Several of these models have similar nomenclature and, confusingly, many have multiple interpretations of the terms used to describe these models. However, consistent stakeholders identified within these paradigms are key to VBH; notably the patient, the physician and the payer (the "Big 3"). Demonstrable healthcare spending reductions have been best achieved when the Big 3 stakeholder interests are aligned within healthcare reform legislation. The definition of "Value" within each reform model was found to be based upon the perspective of the targeted stakeholder. Within VBH, the perspectives of the Big 3 stakeholders form a multidimensional meaning of "Value" that can be represented by the equation Value = Patient Experience Management 3 .
Interfacing photonics with artificial intelligence: a new design strategy for photonic metamaterials based on deep learning

Over the past decades, we have witnessed tremendous progress and success of photonic metamaterials. By tailoring the geometry of the building blocks of metamaterials and engineering their spatial distribution, we can control the amplitude, polarization state, phase and trajectory of light in an almost arbitrary manner. However, the conventional physics- or rule-based approaches are insufficient for designing multi-functional and multi-dimensional metamaterials, since the degrees of freedom in the design space become extremely large. Deep learning, a subset of machine learning that learns multilevel abstraction of data using hierarchically structured layers, could potentially accelerate the development of complex metamaterials and other photonic structures with high efficiency, accuracy and fidelity. In this talk, I will present our recent works that employ advanced deep learning techniques to design and evaluate distinct photonic metamaterials.
Inverse Scattering at Fixed Energy

Let - Δ + V be a quantum mechanical two-body Hamiltonian in L 2(R n ), n ≥ 3, and let S(k) be the corresponding scattering matrix at energy k 2. We consider the classical problem of recovering V from knowledge of S(k) at one energy. The potential V(x) is not assumed to have any spherical symmetry. (The spherically symmetric case, including the non-uniqueness which arises if one allows potentials with reasonably mild decay at infinity, has been extensively studied—see [3] and references given there.) We show (Theorem 3.1) that if V has compact support and is in L n/2 then it is uniquely determined by S(k); the proof gives a method to reconstruct the potential from the scattering matrix.
Rigid E-Unification Revisited

This paper presents a sound and complete set of abstract transformation rules for rigid E-unification. Abstract congruence closure, syntactic unification and paramodulation are the three main components of the proposed method. The method obviates the need for using any complicated term orderings and easily incorporates suitable optimization rules. Characterization of substitutions as congruences allows for a comparatively simple proof of completeness using proof transformations. When specialized to syntactic unification, we obtain a set of abstract transition rules that describe a class of efficient syntactic unification algorithms.
Dilemmas in Contemporary Planning

When I was a graduate student at MIT, I signed on for a part-time job. A MIT researcher.1 I knew was in the process of perfecting a new piece of software called City View/Town View. The program was designed to assist novice users in describing their own neighborhoods using an electronic story board. The program was not a complex one; it was essentially a customization/adaptation of Apple’s HyperCard.2
On the role of amino groups in the structure and function of glutamate dehydrogenase. I. Effect of acetylation on catalytic and regulatory properties.

Abstract Acetic anhydride has been used to modify particular amino acid residues of beef liver glutamate dehydrogenase. Acetylation in tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane acetate buffer at pH 7.15 or 8 results in a striking increase in both the guanosine triphosphate and zinc dissociation constants, a decrease in the adenosine diphosphate dissociation constant, normal kinetics at high reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide levels, and a loss of adenosine triphosphate inhibition. On the other hand, Michaelis constants for coenzymes and other substrates are unaffected by such treatment. Also unaffected are the binding constants for purine nucleotides in the absence of coenzyme. It is concluded that the kinetic changes observed on acetylation reflect a loss of the interaction between the coenzyme-active site and the purine nucleotide-binding site. Acetylation also results in loss of enzymatic activity. However, it is shown that substances which inhibit the catalytic reaction protect the enzyme against both the loss of activity and loss of interaction, provided that the acetylation is carried out in the presence of coenzyme in addition to the inhibitory compound. It is suggested that there is a relationship between the functional group acetylated and a rate-limiting step in the enzymatic reaction on the basis of this type of protection and, furthermore, that this functional group is responsible for the interaction between the coenzyme and purine nucleotide site in the active enzyme. It is postulated that this functional group does not lie within any particular nucleotide site, but is masked in the presence of inhibitory substances presumably by a conformational change in the enzyme. It is also concluded, on the basis of the different effects of purine nucleotides on activity and their differing ability to protect against acetylation in the presence of DPNH, that the ADP and GTP sites do not completely overlap. Finally, two distinct types of interactions, one interpeptide chain and the other intrapeptide chain, are postulated to explain the kinetic properties of native and acetylated enzyme.
DNA polymerase III accessory proteins. II. Characterization of delta and delta

The gamma complex subassembly (gamma delta delta' chi psi) of DNA polymerase III holoenzyme couples ATP to assemble the ring-shaped beta subunit around DNA forming a DNA sliding clamp. This beta clamp is needed for highly processive synthesis by the holoenzyme. Here, the delta and delta' subunits of the gamma complex are studied for their structural and functional interaction with each other and with the gamma subunit. Both delta and delta are monomeric in their native state, and they bind each other tightly to form a 1:1 complex. Neither delta nor delta' alone binds tightly to the gamma subunit. However, as a complex, delta delta' binds gamma tightly to form a gamma delta delta' complex. The fact that all three subunits, gamma, delta, and delta', are needed to form a tight complex correlates well with activity assays which show that gamma and delta are capable but inefficient in assembly of the beta ring onto DNA and delta' is needed for an efficient reaction.
Gravitationally lensed arcs in two X-ray selected clusters of galaxies at z = 0.426 and z = 0.583

The discovery of two clusters of galaxies that contain new gravitationally lensed images (arcs) of high-redshift background galaxies is reported. Both clusters, MS1621.5+2640 and MS2053.7-0449, were selected from the Einstein Extended Medium Sensitivity Survey based on their high X-ray luminosity. V-band CCD images of the clusters taken in 0.5 arcsec seeing are presented, and it is shown that the arcs in both clusters are thin; they remain unresolved in width, but are fragmented along their length. The arc in MS1621.5+2640 has a small radius of curvature (about 7 arcsec), and spans about 70 deg centered near a 2.6 mJy radio galaxy that is not the brightest cluster galaxy. The arc in MS2053.7-0449 spans 40 deg at a radius of about 16 arcsec with a center slightly offset from the optically dominant cluster galaxy. The arc fragments into two clumps that appear to be stretched images of background galaxies.