cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modified CTAB and TRIzol protocols improve RNA extraction from chemically complex Embryophyta.

Premise of the study: Here we present a series of protocols for RNA extraction across a diverse array of plants; we focus on woody, aromatic, aquatic, and other chemically complex taxa. Methods and Results: Ninety-one taxa were subjected to RNA extraction with three methods presented here: (1) TRIzol/TURBO DNA-free kits using the manufacturer's protocol with the addition of sarkosyl; (2) a combination method using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and TRIzol/sarkosyl/TURBO DNA-free; and (3) a combination of CTAB and QIAGEN RNeasy Plant Mini Kit. Bench-ready protocols are given. Conclusions: After an iterative process of working with chemically complex taxa, we conclude that the use of TRIzol supplemented with sarkosyl and the TURBO DNA-free kit is an effective, efficient, and robust method for obtaining RNA from 100 mg of leaf tissue of land plant species (Embryophyta) examined. Our protocols can be used to provide RNA of suitable stability, quantity, and quality for transcriptome sequencing.
Local Labor Supply Responses to Immigration

How natives adjust is central to an understanding of the impact of immigration in destination countries. Using detailed labor force data for Malaysia for 1990–2010, we provide estimates of native responses to immigration on multiple extensive margins and rare evidence for a developing country. Instrumental variable estimates show that increased immigration to a state causes substantial internal inward migration, consistent with the fact that immigration increases the demand for native workers. Relocating Malaysian workers are accompanied by their spouses (three-quarters of whom are housewives) and children who attend school. We find that these effects are concentrated among middle- and lower-skilled Malaysians.
Intermolecular forces and nonbonded interactions: Superoperator nonlinear time-dependent density-functional-theory response approach

Electrostatic and dispersive interactions of polarizable molecules are expressed in terms of generalized (nonretarded) charge-density response functions of the isolated molecules, which in turn are expanded using the collective electronic oscillator (CEO) eigenmodes of linearized time-dependent density-functional theory. Closed expressions for the intermolecular energy are derived to sixth order in charge fluctuation amplitudes.
An improved method for computing a discrete Hankel transform

Abstract A new and simple algorithm for computing a discrete Hankel transform, which does not rely on the fast Fourier transform is described. In the solution of certain types of differential equations this algorithm can provide a major improvement in speed and accuracy over previously described methods. An application to a particular form of tile transport equation relevant to a class of problems in electron scattering is given.
Contact Surface Temperature Models for Finite Bodies in Dry and Boundary Lubricated Sliding

A model is proposed for use is determining the contact surface temperature in dry and boundary lubricated sliding systems. The model uses the concepts of small scale and large scale heat flow restrictions to divide the temperature increase in a sliding contact into two contributions, a nominal surface temperature rise and a local temperature rise. The model is particularly useful in studying the slidingsurface temperature in bodies of finite thickness and in cases when the sliding contact area repeatedly sweeps over the same path on one of the contacting solids. Multiple heat sources within the real area of contact can be included, as can the effects of a cooling and/or lubricating fluid
Architecture of the IBM 3277 graphics attachment

The IBM 3277 Graphics Attachment is an interactive computer graphics workstation using a dual-screen concept. A storage display monitor is attached to an IBM 3277 Display Station, the combination providing low-cost, moderate-performance interactive graphics. This paper describes the architecture of the Graphics Attachment, both functional structure and rationale. Nonarchitectural characteristics are also considered.
The Role of Carotenoids in Human Health

Dietary carotenoids are thought to provide health benefits in decreasing the risk of disease, particularly certain cancers and eye disease. The carotenoids that have been most studied in this regard are beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. In part, the beneficial effects of carotenoids are thought to be due to their role as antioxidants. beta-Carotene may have added benefits due its ability to be converted to vitamin A. Furthermore, lutein and zeaxanthin may be protective in eye disease because they absorb damaging blue light that enters the eye. Food sources of these compounds include a variety of fruits and vegetables, although the primary sources of lycopene are tomato and tomato products. Additionally, egg yolk is a highly bioavailable source of lutein and zeaxanthin. These carotenoids are available in supplement form. However, intervention trials with large doses of beta-carotene found an adverse effect on the incidence of lung cancer in smokers and workers exposed to asbestos. Until the efficacy and safety of taking supplements containing these nutrients can be determined, current dietary recommendations of diets high in fruits and vegetables are advised.
Assessment of the bilateral asymmetry of human femurs based on physical, densitometric, and structural rigidity characteristics

The purpose of this study was to perform a comprehensive geometric, densitometric, biomechanical, and statistical analysis of paired femurs for an adult population over a wide age range using three imaging modalities to quantify the departure from symmetry in size, bone mineral density, and cross-sectional structural rigidities. Femur measurements were obtained from 20 pairs of cadaveric femurs. Dimensions of these anatomic sites were measured using calipers directly on the bone and plain radiographs. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure bone mineral density. Bone mineral content and axial and bending rigidities were determined from the CT imaging. No differences were observed between the geometric measurements, DXA based bone mineral density and axial and bending rigidities of left and right femurs (P>0.05 for all cases). Left and right proximal femurs are not significantly different based on geometric, densitometric, and structural rigidity measurements. However, absolute left-right differences for individual patients can be substantial. When using the contralateral femur as a control, the number of femur pairs required to assess significant changes in anatomic dimensions and structural properties induced by a tumor, infection, fracture, or implanted device can range from 3 to 165 pairs depending on the desired effect size or sensitivity (5% or 10% difference). This information is important both for femoral arthroplasty implant design and the use of the contralateral femur as an intra-subject control for clinical assessment and research studies. In addition, our statistical analysis provides sample size estimates for planning future orthopedic research studies.
ATM dynamic bandwidth allocation using F-ARIMA prediction model

Measurements of high-speed network traffic have shown that traffic data exhibits a high degree of self-similarity. Traditional traffic models such as AR and ARMA are not able to capture this long-range-dependence making them ineffective for the traffic prediction task. In this paper, we apply the fractional ARIMA (F-ARIMA) model to predict one-step-ahead traffic value at different timescales. F-ARIMA has the ability to capture both the short- and long-range dependent characteristics of the underlying data. We present a simplified adaptive prediction scheme to reduce the F-ARIMA computational complexity. The performance of the proposed F-ARIMA prediction model is tested on four different types of traffic data: MPEG and JPEG video, Ethernet and Internet. We also apply the F-ARIMA prediction model to a dynamic bandwidth allocation scheme. The results show that the performance of F-ARIMA outperforms the AR model. They also show that the prediction performance depends on the traffic nature and the timescale.
The Role of an Ideology of Anti-Paternalism in the Development of American Bioethics

One embraces ideology when one holds a position or takes a stance for which argument is not given or for which a flawed argument is given but one is unaware of or, worse, elects to ignore those flaws. The first form of ideology is egregious in any intellectually and practically serious field of inquiry, including bioethics, because it patently violates the standards of argument-based ethics (McCullough et al. 2004). The second form of ideology is at once more subtle and powerful, for it shapes perceptions and therefore the discourses of any intellectually and practically serious form of inquiry and does so in such a thoroughgoing way that these perceptions and the discourses that they shape are taken for granted. They become part of the accepted self-understanding of fields of inquiry, making challenges to them especially unwelcome to those wedded to them.
Remote and interdisciplinary research in surgical knowledge production

Abstract Background Surgical knowledge production has changed dramatically in the last 30 y, moving away from investigations by individual surgeon researchers and toward remote and interdisciplinary research. We investigated how surgeons make decisions about engaging in research and identify motivators, facilitators, and barriers to conducting research in an increasingly challenging environment. Materials and methods We performed a qualitative analysis of semistructured interviews with surgeons from academic medical centers across the United States. We asked participants to describe their experiences and opinions regarding remote and interdisciplinary collaborations. Results Of 64 surgeon researchers invited, 21 (33%) agreed and participated in semistructured interviews. Each interview lasted an average (standard deviation) of 29 min (12). Surgeons were motivated by both internal and external factors, including some that might be identified as barriers. The internal desire to improve care and the need for collaboration to address increasingly complex questions requiring larger samples sizes emerged as most significant to interview participants. Social networks were identified as the dominant facilitator of multisite research, with technology playing a supporting role. Barriers to remote and interdisciplinary research ranged from individual, “micro” level barriers, through structural barriers that include institutional level challenges and competing priorities, to macrolevel system and policy-level barriers. Conclusions Surgeons clearly recognize the importance of high-quality research aligned with current paradigms of clinical care and are using remote and interdisciplinary collaboration to improve the quality of the science they produce and align their work with the demand for increasingly high levels of evidence.
The Pennsylvania State University's Advanced Vehicle Team: EcoCAR3 Year One Final Technical Report

Abstract This paper details the powertrain modeling and control strategies the Penn State Advanced Vehicle Team (PSUAVT) developed for submission to the EcoCAR 3 competition, an advanced vehicle design competition in which university teams compete to hybridize a stock 2016 Chevrolet Camaro. The team utilized model-in-the-loop studies using both public-domain and custom-built vehicle simulation packages to undergo an iterative powertrain model development process. This analysis lead to the development of a pre-transmission plug-in parallel hybrid electric vehicle that uniquely meets PSUAVT's goals. The design process was guided by vehicle technical specifications (VTS) based on consumer market research as well as the team's emphasis on producing a technically-feasible but performance-weighted hybrid architecture. Component models are presented that blend physics-based and map-based methods. A heuristic master vehicle controller (MVC) is described that splits the required driving torque between the motor and engine so engine brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) is minimized. Fault analysis of this controller is also presented based on design failure mode and effects analysis (DFMEA) performed in previous studies.
Multiple Layers of Stress-Induced Regulation in tRNA Biology

tRNAs are the fundamental components of the translation machinery as they deliver amino acids to the ribosomes during protein synthesis. Beyond their essential function in translation, tRNAs also function in regulating gene expression, modulating apoptosis and several other biological processes. There are multiple layers of regulatory mechanisms in each step of tRNA biogenesis. For example, tRNA 3′ trailer processing is altered upon nutrient stress; tRNA modification is reprogrammed under various stresses; nuclear accumulation of tRNAs occurs upon nutrient deprivation; tRNA halves accumulate upon oxidative stress. Here we address how environmental stresses can affect nearly every step of tRNA biology and we describe the possible regulatory mechanisms that influence the function or expression of tRNAs under stress conditions.
Abstract 3090: RREB1 is necessary for the proliferation of bladder cancer cell lines

It is estimated that in 2009 nearly 71,000 Americans will be diagnosed with bladder cancer and over 14,000 will die of the disease (SEER Database). With few treatment advances we studied the Ral GTPases as possible therapeutic targets, finding that the Ral paralogs are necessary for cell migration, anchorage independent growth, and metastasis (Gildea et al., Cancer Res. 2002 Feb 15;62(4):982-5)(unpublished data). To investigate possible transcription factors downstream of Ral in the bladder cancer cell line UMUC3 we performed gene expression profiling on cells with siRNA to both Ral paralogs. Computational analysis identified a statistical over representation of RREB1 binding sites in the promoters of differentially expressed genes. Further analysis confirmed RREB1 to be a novel transcriptional effector of Ral (Oxford et al., Oncogene. 2007 Nov 1;26(50):7143-52.) However, the role of RREB1 in bladder cancer has yet to be studied. Genetic depletion of RREB1 in the bladder cancer cell lines UMUC3, KU7 and J82 show a statistically significant decrease in growth in vitro. Furthermore, we identified two previously unreported RREB1 isoforms in addition to the two identified in NCBI genbank. Stable expression of each RREB1 isoform individually in the UMUC3 cell line resulted in significantly faster growth rates. Our data is consistent with the recent identification of RREB1 as an oncogene in the Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus (MuLV) tumor model (Uren et al., Cell 2008;133:727-41.) Our preliminary findings suggest that RREB1 is necessary for the survival of bladder cancer cell lines. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3090.
Centralized Monitoring System Design for Electric Vehicle Charging and Swapping Station

This paper introduces and analyzes electric vehicle charging and swapping station in terms of its composition and communications network.Then based on the experience for designing power substation centralized monitoring system,the centralized monitoring system for EV charging and swapping station is designed in regard of the system configuration,communications mode and device model.
Evaluation of a Sparse Representation-Based Classifier For Bird Phrase Classification Under Limited Data Conditions.

This paper evaluates the performance of a sparse representation-based (SR) classifier for a limited data, bird phrase classification task. The evaluation database contains 32 unique phrases segmented from songs of the Cassin’s Vireo (Vireo cassinii). Spectrographic features were extracted from each phrase-segmented audio file, followed by dimension reduction using principal component analysis (PCA). A performance comparison to the nearest subspace (NS) and support vector machine (SVM) classifiers was conducted. The SR classifier outperforms the NS and SVM classifiers, with a maximum absolute improvement of 3.4% observed when there are only four tokens per phrase in the training set.
Corrigendum to “On the field of definition of a cubic rational function and its critical points” [J. Number Theory 167 (2016) 1–6]

Abstract We correct an error in the statement and proof of Proposition 1.5. It follows that for any prime p, there exists a cubic rational function over Q ¯ p with Q p -rational critical points that is not equivalent to a function with Q p -rational coefficients.
Spatial and temporal coordination of traction forces in one-dimensional cell migration.

ABSTRACTMigration of a fibroblast along a collagen fiber can be regarded as cell locomotion in one-dimension (1D). In this process, a cell protrudes forward, forms a new adhesion, produces traction forces, and releases its rear adhesion in order to advance itself along a path. However, how a cell coordinates its adhesion formation, traction forces, and rear release in 1D migration is unclear. Here, we studied fibroblasts migrating along a line of microposts. We found that when the front of a cell protruded onto a new micropost, the traction force produced at its front increased steadily, but did so without a temporal correlation in the force at its rear. Instead, the force at the front coordinated with a decrease in force at the micropost behind the front. A similar correlation in traction forces also occurred at the rear of a cell, where a decrease in force due to adhesion detachment corresponded to an increase in force at the micropost ahead of the rear. Analysis with a bio-chemo-mechanical model for tr...
Optimal membranes for biogas upgrade by removing CO2: High permeance or high selectivity?

ABSTRACTBiogas can be upgraded to biomethane through CO2 removal as a sustainable replacement of natural gas. Membrane systems that are based on a two-step design have emerged as an attractive approach for the CO2 removal. The objective of this work is to determine optimal membranes for this application by performing process simulation and techno-economic analysis. Practical membranes with the trade-off of CO2 permeance and CO2/CH4 selectivity on the Robeson’s upper bound are considered, and the membranes in the two steps are varied independently. Optimal membranes should have high CO2 permeance with sufficient CO2/CH4 selectivity (10–25) to achieve the lowest operating cost for the CO2 removal.
A New Strategy for Engineering One-pot, Multi-step Reaction Sequences with Catalyst Recovery in Pure Form

In biological systems, chemical processes are controlled via the combination of numerous simultaneous catalytic reactions, often in cascades, mediated by enzymes. To date, practitioners of chemical catalysis have been relegated to the use of simple catalytic reactions in a single reaction vessel in most cases. Here we show that complex, multi-step reactions can be sequentially steered in a single reaction vessel by using an array of catalytic sites on traditional solid supports in combination with superparamagnetic nanoparticles. This methodology allows for excellent control over the reacting system, with the ability to steer a reaction down a multitude of pathways, all while permitting recovery of the individual catalysts after the reaction, allowing reuse in subsequent sequences.
Updating the Social Network: How Outdated and Unclear State Legislation Unconstitutionally Violates Sex Offenders’ First Amendment Rights

In an effort to protect the public, sex offenders are subject to a wide variety of restrictions. Where they live, what they can do, who they can see – the government regulates almost every aspect of sex offenders’ lives. In an effort to curb internet based criminal activity, states have enacted legislation restricting sex offenders’ internet use. Unfortunately, current legislation is often outdated, overly restrictive, and unconstitutional. To avoid being unconstitutional and irrelevant, these statutes must be tailored to restrict social media use by the type of offense and/or offender, differentiate true social networking sites from those websites that employ secondary social features, and provide caveats for job related sites. This paper will analyze current state legislation, focusing specifically on North Carolina’s statute, and how it falls short of the requirements. In comparing and contrasting North Carolina’s statute to other state statutes, this paper will also provide an analysis of State v. Packingham, and its importance to future legislation. Finally, this paper will suggest a model statute for restricting sex offenders’ internet use, while avoiding constitutional concern.
Association Between Depressive Symptom Patterns and Clinical Profiles Among Persons Living with HIV

To describe patterns of depressive symptoms across 10-years by HIV status and to determine the associations between depressive symptom patterns, HIV status, and clinical profiles of persons living with HIV from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (N = 980) and Women's Interagency HIV Study (N = 1744). Group-based trajectory models were used to identify depressive symptoms patterns between 2004 and 2013. Multinomial logistic regressions were conducted to determine associations of depression risk patterns. A 3-group model emerged among HIV-negative women (low: 58%; moderate: 31%; severe: 11%); 5-groups emerged among HIV-positive women (low: 28%; moderate: 31%; high: 25%; decreased: 7%; severe: 9%). A 4-group model emerged among HIV-negative (low: 52%; moderate: 15%; high: 23%; severe: 10%) and HIV-positive men (low: 34%; moderate: 34%; high: 22%; severe: 10%). HIV+ women had higher odds for moderate (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.10, 95% CI 1.63-2.70) and severe (AOR 1.96, 95% CI 1.33-2.91) depression risk groups, compared to low depression risk. HIV+ men had higher odds for moderate depression risk (AOR 3.23, 95% CI 2.22-4.69), compared to low risk. The Framingham Risk Score, ART use, and unsuppressed viral load were associated with depressive symptom patterns. Clinicians should consider the impact that depressive symptoms may have on HIV prognosis and clinical indicators of comorbid illnesses.
Paracellular transport and energy utilization in the renal tubule.

Purpose of review Paracellular transport across the tight junction is a general mechanism for transepithelial transport of solutes in epithelia, including the renal tubule. However, why paracellular transport evolved, given the existence of a highly versatile system for transcellular transport, is unknown. Recent findings Recent studies have identified the paracellular channel, claudin-2, that is responsible for paracellular reabsorption of sodium in the proximal renal tubule. Knockout of claudin-2 in mice impairs proximal sodium and fluid reabsorption but is compensated by upregulation of sodium reabsorption in the loop of Henle. This occurs at the expense of increased renal oxygen consumption, hypoxia of the outer medulla and increased susceptibility to ischemic kidney injury. Summary Paracellular transport can be viewed as a mechanism to exploit the potential energy in existing electrochemical gradients to drive passive transepithelial transport without consuming additional energy. In this way, it enhances the efficiency of energy utilization by transporting epithelia.
Comparison of Chemiluminescent and Radioactive Methods of DNA Typing

DNA typing has the potential to completely replace the immunological and biochemical genetic tests that have been used over the past decade in parentage testing and forensic analysis. The method is easily performed, but there are several incubation periods which result in the procedure taking a number of days to complete. Nevertheless, DNA typing is attractive because: 1) it is a single technique, 2) with the exception that identical twins cannot be distinguished, conclusive results are always obtainable since the same blot of genomic DNA can be sequentially stripped and tested with different probes, 3) once a blot has been made, the reprobings are extremely quick and easy to perform, 4) it is cost-competitive with the other group of tests, 5) it is more sensitive than the other methods in that far less sample is required for the analysis
Evaluation of Vanadium(IV) as a Non-radioactive Surrogate for Technetium(IV) by Comparison of Stability Constants for Polyamino Polycarboxylate Ligand Complexation

The stability constants for the Tc(IV) and V(IV) complexation with the polyamino polycarboxylate ligands IDA, NTA, HEDTA and DTPA were determined using liquid–liquid extraction techniques. These stability constants were then used to evaluate the validity of using V(IV) as a chemical analogue for Tc(IV). Results suggest that Tc(IV), as TcOOH+, will form β 1−11 complexes with the selected ligands, while V(IV), as VO2+, will form β 101 complexes. The values for these determined stability constants are (in log10 unit) 10.9 ± 0.1, 11.4 ± 0.1, 14.9 ± 0.1, and 20.1 ± 0.1 for Tc(IV) in 0.5 mol·L−1 NaCl at 25 °C, for IDA, NTA, HEDTA and DTPA, respectively, they are 9.3 ± 0.1, 11.6 ± 0.2, 15.8 ± 0.1, and 20.8 ± 0.1 for V(IV) in 0.5 mol·L−1 NaCl at 25 °C, for the same suite of ligands. The incorporation of a hydroxide into the metal ligand complexes formed by Tc(IV) is proposed as the largest factor differentiating the apparent stability constants of Tc(IV) and V(IV). This work shows that V(IV) is a poor analog for Tc(IV); however, despite the differences in complexation mechanism between V(IV) and Tc(IV), V(IV) still appears to have some use for predicting Tc(IV) complexation behavior.
The Recursion Method and the Schroedinger Equation

The use of generalized orthogonal polynomials is described for the calculation of quantum mechanical properties of physical systems. Quantum mechanics and its mathematical representation are reviewed. Expressions for various physical quantities are related to the orthogonal polynomials obtained from the action of an observable on particular states. Polynomial sets for which weight distributions are known may be used as exact models form which the solutions of other models may be approximated by perturbations. The finite precision, orthogonal polynomial can be constructed numerically even for infinite dimensional models.
Data Sampling Schemes for Microstructure Design with Vibrational Tuning Constraints

Microstructures significantly impact the performance of sensitively engineered components, such as wireless impact detectors used in military vehicles or sensors used in aircrafts. These components...
Low Prevalence of Human Pathogens on Fresh Produce on Farms and in Packing Facilities: A Systematic Review.

Foodborne illness burdens individuals around the world and may be caused by consuming fresh produce contaminated with bacterial, parasite, and viral pathogens. Pathogen contamination on produce may originate at the farm and packing facility. This research aimed to determine the prevalence of human pathogens (bacteria, parasites, and viruses) on fresh produce (fruits, herbs, and vegetables) on farms and in packing facilities worldwide through a systematic review of 38 peer-reviewed articles. The median and range of the prevalence was calculated, and Kruskal-Wallis tests and logistic regression were performed to compare prevalence among pooled samples of produce groups, pathogen types, and sampling locations. Results indicated a low median percentage of fresh produce contaminated with pathogens (0%). Both viruses (p-value = 0.017) and parasites (p-value = 0.033), on fresh produce, exhibited higher prevalence than bacteria. No significant differences between fresh produce types or between farm and packing facility were observed. These results may help to better quantify produce contamination in the production environment and inform strategies to prevent future foodborne illness.
Supercomputer Performance Evaluation: The PERFECT Benchmarks

Supercomputers, designed to solve problems that would be otherwise intractable, have received considerable attention in recent years. It has been claimed that they are critical to national defense, that the economic well-being of companies and nations depends on their exploitation, and that the grand challenges facing today’s scientists — global change phenomena and human genome definition, e.g. — would remain as open challenges without supercomputer access [1].
Structural Gene Expression in Tobacco

Cellular and developmental processes in higher plants differ significantly from those of other eukaryotes. Although plant biology plays a central role in food production and agriculture, our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms which control gene expression in plants remains scant. This paper briefly reviews current information regarding DNA sequence organization and expression in the tobacco plant. In addition, new data are summarized which show that mRNA sequence sets are strikingly regulated in major plant tissues and that post-transcriptional selection mechanisms play a central role in the regulation of gene expression in plants.
REDUCING ICE FORMATION AT NAVIGATION DAMS

Increasing the turbulence at the movable gates of the Mississippi River Navigation Dams in the St. Paul District by discharging over bulkheads during the winter rather than under the gates has prevented severe icing at the dam. This study has shown that movement of the gates has been facilitated substantially, but maintenance costs on the bulkheads have increased. Providing aeration facilities culverts through the earth dams and slots through emergency spillways, have increased dissolved oxygen in downstream slackwaters and have benefited fish life by reducing stagnation. Additional aeration is possible by improving facilitations.
The Current Crisis of US Neoliberal Capitalism and Prospects for a New “Social Structure of Accumulation”:

Wage squeeze/profit squeeze crisis theories provide a powerful framework for the historical analysis of US capitalist crises and the alternating demand-side and supply-side social structures of acc...
Treatment of Parkinson's Disease through Personalized Medicine and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is an intractable disease resulting in localized neurodegeneration of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta. Many current therapies of PD can only address the symptoms and not the underlying neurodegeneration of PD. To better understand the pathophysiological condition, researchers continue to seek models that mirror PD’s phenotypic manifestations as closely as possible. Recent advances in the field of cellular reprogramming and personalized medicine now allow for previously unattainable cell therapies and patient-specific modeling of PD using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). iPSCs can be selectively differentiated into a dopaminergic neuron fate naturally susceptible to neurodegeneration. In iPSC models, unlike other artificially-induced models, endogenous cellular machinery and transcriptional feedback are preserved, a fundamental step in accurately modeling this genetically complex disease. In addition to accurately modeling PD, iPSC lines can also be established with specific genetic risk factors to assess genetic sub-populations’ differing response to treatment. iPS cell lines can then be genetically corrected and subsequently transplanted back into the patient in hopes of re-establishing function. Current techniques focus on iPSCs because they are patient-specific, thereby reducing the risk of immune rejection. The year 2018 marked history as the year that the first human trial for PD iPSC transplantation began in Japan. This form of cell therapy has shown promising results in other model organisms and is currently one of our best options in slowing or even halting the progression of PD. Here, we examine the genetic contributions that have reshaped our understanding of PD, as well as the advantages and applications of iPSCs for modeling disease and personalized therapies.
Four Questions in Cellular Material Design

The design of cellular materials has recently undergone a paradigm shift, enabled by developments in Additive Manufacturing and design software. No longer do cellular materials have to be limited to traditional shapes such as honeycomb panels or stochastic foams. With this increase in design freedom comes a significant increase in optionality, which can be overwhelming to the designer. This paper aims to provide a framework for thinking about the four key questions in cellular material design: how to select a unit cell, how to vary cell size spatially, what the optimal parameters are, and finally, how best to integrate a cellular material within the structure at large. These questions are posed with the intent of stimulating further research that can address them individually, as well as integrate them in a systematic methodology for cellular material design. Different state-of-the-art solution approaches are also presented in order to provoke further investigation by the reader.
Early Screening for Decoding- and Language-Related Reading Difficulties in First and Third Grades:

The present study investigated the identification of end of first grade (n = 125) and end of third grade (n = 77) reading comprehension difficulties using beginning of first grade decoding-related ...
CFD Simulation of Vortex Flashing R134a Flow Expanded through Convergent-Divergent Nozzles

Abstract Vortex control is a novel two-phase convergent-divergent nozzle restrictiveness control mechanism. The flow control is achieved by adjustable nozzle inlet vortex strength. The underlying mechanism behind vortex control is still unclear. In this study, 3D CFD simulations of vortex flashing R134a flows in convergent-divergent nozzles have been conducted. Good agreement was found between the simulation and experimental results. When there is no vortex applied, the void fraction at the nozzle center remains low. When the vortex is applied, vapor bubbles are driven towards the nozzle center. The applied vortex significantly increases the interphase mass transfer near the nozzle outlet with more uniform interfacial area per unit volume and better utilization of liquid superheats at the nozzle center for evaporation. Thus, after the introduction of inlet vortex, more vapor is generated in the divergent part of the nozzle. As a result, the pressure drop across the divergent part of the nozzle is increased. There is negligible vapor content upstream of the throat even though the pressure is already below saturation pressure. When the inlet vortex is applied, with elevated pressure at the nozzle throat and constant inlet conditions, the pressure difference across the nozzle convergent part decreases and therefore the nozzle mass flow rate is reduced. The overall nozzle outflow mass flow averaged axial velocity can be increased by 30.1%, nozzle isentropic efficiency increases from 37.7% to 63.8% and nozzle mass flow rate drops from 16.0 g s−1 to 12.6 g s−1 when inlet vortex is introduced.
Design and Implementation of an e-Voting System Based on Paillier Encryption

With the rapid development of cloud computing technology, cloud services are gaining wider application space. It gives users the advantage of computing power and storage space that were beyond the reach of the past. However, user privacy and data security are the main problems in the application and promotion of cloud system. How to ensure the privacy of data and ensure its availability in the process of calculating data is a major problem. Ensuring both the privacy and the usability of the data in the process of calculation remains a major challenge. As a promising tool for solving such problem, homomorphic encrytion is a hot topic in both academia and industry in recent years. The purpose of this research is to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Paillier encryption and its homomorphic properties implemented in an electronic voting system. We describe an e-voting system based on Paillier homomorphic encryption along with other cryptographic tools such as blind signatures and zero-knowledge proof. The proposed scheme guarantees the general voting system requirements such as eligibility, accuracy, simplicity, privacy, robustness and verifiability. The scheme is implemented in C++ using GMP, an arithmetic multiprecision library, and the “Paillier” library. This implementation uses the CPU to make the calculations necessary during encryption, decryption, vote validation, and tallying. Some portions of the proposed e-voting scheme such as signing the blinded ballots, checking for valid votes and counting up the votes could be made to run in parallel in order to improve the e-voting system performance. We also implement a “small” version of the voting system using CUDA and demonstrate that it is possible to use the GPU’s processing power to accelerate the speed of this e-voting system.
Mechanism of Cleavage Fracture In Fully Pearlitic 1080 Rail Steel

Under service conditions, final failure of rails is usually caused by impact. To elucidate the phenomenon, the mechanism of impact-initiated cleavage fracture has been studied in fully pearlitic rail steel. The study has demonstrated that the early stages of cracking probably occur by strain localization in the ferritic lamellae. By direct correlation studies of fracture surface and microstructure, it has been further shown that a crack usually does not change direction at pearlite colony boundaries. Rather, the prior austenite grain size is the controlling agent for the more effective obstacle to crack propagation, namely, the cleavage facet size. The data show that the facet size is dependent on the prior austenite grain size, although it is always somewhat less, particularly for the larger grain size materials. The reasons why it is an effective parameter to represent the toughness of eutectoid steels are discussed.
Long-term response of tropical Andisol properties to conversion from rainforest to agriculture

Abstract Short-term changes in tropical rainforest soil properties and their impact on C cycling following land-use conversion to agriculture have received intensive study. However, long-term, land-use changes have not been explored for tropical Andisols, whose high carbon stocks and several distinctive properties may differ in their response to land-use conversion. Thus, the primary objective of this study was to assess changes in selected soil properties of Andisols in response to long-term (>100 years) changes of land use from tropical rainforests to agriculture. Soils were sampled by horizon to a depth of 110–140 cm in pine forests (PF), tea plantation (TP) and horticultural crops with either intensive cultivation (IH) or bare fallow (FH) cropping systems. Selected physical, chemical and biological soil properties were characterized, including microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and laboratory CO2 mineralization rates. Results showed that land-use change from rainforest to agriculture resulted in increased soil bulk density and meso/micropores that contributed to increased plant-available water retention capacity. Soil carbon and nitrogen stocks in the upper 1 m of soil were higher in agricultural soils (25–29 kg C m−2; 1.7 – 2.3 kg N m−2) than pine forest soil (17 kg C m−2; 1 kg N m−2) with a redistribution of organic matter from topsoil to subsoil horizons. Organic matter quality was also affected by land-use conversion with the horticultural soils having lower rates of carbon mineralization per unit soil carbon (PF > TP > IH > FH) and lower microbial biomass, especially in topsoil horizons. The MBC sharply decreased in the topsoil horizon due to land-use change from forest (330 mg kg−1) to agricultural production (
Ethnopopulism and democratic backsliding in Central Europe

Ethnopopulism is an elite strategy for winning votes and concentrating power – a common playbook for the erosion of liberal democracy that is empowered and justified by a companion playbook of ethn...
Performance of offline passive tracer advection in ROMS (v3.6,revision 904)

Abstract. Offline advection schemes allow for low computational cost simulations using existing model output. This study presents the approach and assessment for passive offline tracer advection within the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS). An advantage of running the code within ROMS itself is consistency in the numerics on and offline. We find that the offline tracer model is robust: after about 14 days of simulation (almost 60 advection timescales), the skill score comparing offline output to the online simulation using the TS_U3HADVECTION and TS_C4VADVECTION (3rd-order upstream horizontal advection and 4th-order centered vertical advection) tracer advection schemes is 99.6 % accurate for an offline time step 20 times larger than online, and online output saved with a period below the advection timescale. For tracer advection scheme MPDATA, accuracy is more variable with offline time step and forcing input frequency choices, but is still over 99 % for many reasonable choices. Both schemes are conservative. Important factors for maintaining high offline accuracy are: outputting from the online simulation often enough to resolve the advection timescale, forcing offline using realistic vertical salinity diffusivity values from the online simulation, and using double precision to save results.
Leeches in the extreme: Morphological, physiological, and behavioral adaptations to inhospitable habitats

With more than 700 described species, leeches include morphological, physiological, and behavioral diversity and occur in terrestrial and aquatic habitats, including freshwater, estuarine, and marine ecosystems. Leeches inhabit a number of extreme environments, including extremes in temperature, moisture, salinity, pressure, light, and pollution. In some cases, leeches in extreme environments have specialized morphological, physiological, or behavioral adaptations to survive these conditions, yet unique adaptations are not apparent in some species. Leeches that inhabit inhospitable habitats occur in more than one branch or family of leech phylogeny suggesting that there have been independent invasions of environments with extreme conditions. Herein, we review examples of leeches that live in extreme conditions and the exceptional biology that has contributed to leeches being the most extreme annelids.
Metric-driven search for structurally stable inorganic compounds

Abstract We report a facile `metric’ for the identification of structurally and dynamically (positive definite phonon structure) stable inorganic compounds. The metric considers charge-imbalance within the local substructures in crystalline compounds calculated using first-principles density-functional theory. To exemplify, we chose carbon-based nitrides as it provides a large pool of structurally stable and unstable phases. We showcase how local structural information related to Wyckoff symmetry uniquely identifies four new carbon-nitride phases. The metric predicts three new structurally stable phases of 4 (C):3 (N) stoichiometry, i.e., C4N3, which is further confirmed by direct phonon calculations. The structurally stable phases also satisfy the thermodynamic stability and mechanical stability criteria. New phases possess extraordinary mechanical properties, similar to diamond, and show insulating bandgap ranging from optimal, 1.45 eV (optimal) to 5.5 eV (large gap). The structural, electronic, and optical properties of P m ( 1 ) − C 4 N 3 , discussed in detail, indicate possible application in optoelectronic and photovoltaic technologies. The way metric is designed, it can be used to predict stability of any material with three-dimensional bonding network. The metric was also able to predict structural stability of other nitride polymorphs with 100% accuracy. We believe that the proposed ‘Metric’ will accelerate the search of unknown and unexplored inorganic compounds by quick filtering of dynamically stable phases without expensive density-functional theory calculations.
Factors influencing implementation of personalized prevention plans among annual wellness visit patients using the theory of planned behavior: A quantitative study

Abstract Background The Affordable Care Act provides Medicare Part B beneficiaries access to cost-free Annual Wellness Visits (AWVs). Patients receive health behavior recommendations from a Personalized Prevention Plan (PPP) during AWV encounters. Aims To identify factors clinical pharmacists can use to influence adoption of PPPs in primary care practices. Method Utilizing a cross-sectional design, 77 Medicare patients (mean age 74.05 ± 8.04 years) presenting for subsequent AWV completed a theory of planned behavior (TPB) based questionnaire at two primary care practices. Results 66.2% reported they were in the process of implementing PPPs and 51.9% reported implementing recommendations in the previous 12 months. TPB constructs accounted for 35.8% (p Discussion This study demonstrates utility of the TPB in predicting implementation of PPPs. Conclusions. Clinical pharmacists positioned as providers of AWVs can strengthen intention to adopt PPPs by integrating referents into AWV processes, and evaluating past behavior trends to improve future PPP implementation.
Digital Simulation of Continuous‐Time Systems

This chapter compares how well the various methods of converting continuous‐time systems to discrete‐time systems work when they are implemented in MATLAB. The utility of the z‐transform for solving difference equations in discrete‐time systems parallels that of the Laplace transform for solving differential equations in continuous time. The chapter explores that the continuous‐time system can be converted into more than one equivalent discrete‐time systems, depending on the method employed to perform the analog‐to‐digital transformation. Another important parameter in this process is the rate at which the sampling of the continuous‐time signal is carried out. The chapter shows a schematic diagram that highlights how the integral pulse frequency modulation (IPFM) model works, and a SIMULINK implementation of the IPFM model. It also shows the IPFM model as a subsystem that receives the neural drive input and outputs the corresponding response in the form of a spike train.
The Impact of Dental Care in Head and Neck Cancer Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the impact of dental care on head and neck (H&N) cancer survival. METHODS A comprehensive literature search was performed using PubMed, MEDLINE, and CINAHL to find all relevant studies from the date of inception to March 2020. Systematic review was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, and meta-analysis was performed using the random effects logistic regression model. Primary outcomes of interest were 5-year survival and hazard ratios comparing survival between dental care subgroups. RESULTS H&N cancer survival rates strongly correlate with dental care adherence. Patients with good dental care had significantly better survival than patients with poor dental care (HR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.55-0.83), with similar improved survival among patients with moderate versus poor dental care (HR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.57-0.80). In addition, patients with good dental care had significantly decreased mortality than those with moderate dental care (HR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.69-0.96), indicating an exposure-response gradient. CONCLUSIONS For patients with H&N cancer, survival is significantly higher in those who receive recommended dental care compared with those who do not. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE N/A Laryngoscope, 2021.