cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (Erythrohepatic Protoporphyria)

: An 8-year-old Caucasian girl had recurrent swelling, itching, burning, and painful sensations in her face and hands since 12 months of age. This reaction occurred after sunlight exposure and to a lesser extent with heat and wind. On physical examination the patient demonstrated mild focal thickening of the skin of the nose and upper lip and dorsa of the hands and toes. Laboratory studies were notable for a high free erythrocyte protoporphyrin level, which is diagnostic for erythropoietic protoporphyria (Erythropoietic Protoporphyria Research and Educational Fund. Available at http://www.brighamandwomens.org/eppref/patient/eppinfo.aspx.). Erythropoietic protoporphyria is a rare genetic disorder of porphyrin metabolism caused by impaired activity of ferrochelatase. The mainstay of therapy is photosensitivity reduction through the use of reflectant sunscreens and beta-carotene administration.
Towards a cognitive formulation of metaphor use in psychotherapy

Abstract Characterized by many as “the language of change,” metaphor has naturally become central to psychotherapy where change is a definitive aspect. This article reviews linguistic and psychological conceptualizations of metaphor and argues against popular psychotherapeutic applications that regard metaphor as the language of the unconscious and use it as an indirect method of communication. Rather, it presents a cognitive model of metaphor that is active and directive and that accurately acknowledges the nature of metaphor as an heuristic and epistemic device. This model also recognizes the potential harm of metaphor and reiterates the importance of explicitness and shared understanding according to communication theory.
On the matrix equation XA+AXT=0, II: Type 0–I interactions

Abstract The matrix equation X A + A X T = 0 was recently introduced by De Teran and Dopico (2011) [3] to study the dimension of congruence orbits. They reduced the study of this equation to a number of special cases, several of which have not been explicitly solved. In this note we obtain an explicit, closed-form solution in the difficult Type 0–I interaction case.
Low-complexity nonlinear least squares carrier offset estimator for OFDM: identifiability, diversity and performance

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) transforms frequency-selective channels into multiple low-rate flat-fading subchannels. Carrier frequency offset between transmitter and receiver local oscillators must be estimated and compensated at the receiver to maintain orthogonality of these subchannels. In this paper, we derive the nonlinear least squares (NLS) estimator for carrier frequency synchronization that exploits receiver diversity and known OFDM signal subspace structure due to the placement of unmodulated (virtual) subcarriers. The resulting estimator benefits from the high-resolution subspace method without the computational overhead associated with subspace decomposition. Fundamental estimator performance relationships against parameters such as signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), frequency-selective fading, and diversity branch correlation are derived. In particular, we derive the Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) for the mean square error (MSE) of the carrier frequency offset estimator. Numerical studies are presented to verify the results.
Hunting for Coherent Co-clusters in High Dimensional and Noisy Datasets

Clustering problems often involve datasets where only a part of the data is relevant to the problem, e.g., in microarray data analysis only a subset of the genes show cohesive expressions within a subset of the conditions/features. The existence of a large number of non-informative data points and features makes it challenging to hunt for coherent and meaningful clusters from such datasets. Additionally, since clusters could exist in different subspaces of the feature space, a co-clustering algorithm that simultaneously clusters objects and features is often more suitable as compared to one that is restricted to traditional "one-sided" clustering. We propose Robust Overlapping Co-clustering (ROCC), a scalable and very versatile framework that addresses the problem of efficiently mining dense, arbitrarily positioned, possibly overlapping co-clusters from large, noisy datasets. ROCC has several desirable properties that make it extremely well suited to a number of real life applications. Through extensive experimentation we show that our approach is significantly more accurate in identifying biologically meaningful co-clusters in microarray data as compared to several other prominent approaches that have been applied to this task. We also point out other interesting applications of the proposed framework in solving difficult clustering problems.
THE DIVERSITY AND OCCURRENCE OF POTASSIUM-DOMINANT AMPHIBOLES

La Commission des nouveaux mineraux et des noms de mineraux (CNMMN) de l'Association Internationale de Mineralogie (IMA) reconnait sept especes d'amphibole dans lesquelles le potassium est predominant au site A.Ce sont: potassic-ferrisadanagaite, potassic-fluororichterite, potassic-magnesiosadanagaite, potassicpargasite, potassicsadanagaite, potassic-chloropargasite et potassicleakeite. Par contre, comme resultat d'une evaluation des compositions d'amphiboles contenant du chlore, provenant de systemes mineralises en oxydes de fer, et d'une comparaison avec les donnees dans la litterature, on peut justifier quatorze nouvelles especes d'amphibole a dominance de potassium en utilisant les protocoles recommandes pour la normalisation. Ceux-ci se nommeraient, en termes du schema de nomenclature accepte, "potassichastingsite", "potassic-chlorohastingsite", "potassic-ferropargasite", "potassic-chloro-ferropargasite", "potassic-aluminosadanagaite", "potassic-chlorosadanagaite", "potassic-chloro-ferro-edenite", "potassicrichterite", "potassic-ferrorichterite", "potassic-fluoromagnesiokatophorite", "potassic-ferritaramite", "potassic-magnesio-arfvedsonite", "potassic-fluoro-magnesio-arfvedsonite" et "potassickornite". Dans plusieurs cas, le chlore est un composant important du site OH, meme ou il n'y est pas l'anion predominant, et le qualificatif "chlorien" semblerait approprie. En fait, plusieurs especes de ferropargasite et de hastingsite riches en K et en Cl (sensu laro dans les deux cas) seraient caracteristiques de certains systemes hydrothermaux enrichis en oxydes de fer et associes a une metasomatose alcaline et chloree. A un endroit, une autre amphibole nouvelle a dominance de Cl a ete reperee, quoique sa teneur en K est plus faible: "chlorosadanagaite" potassienne. En plus des exemples associes a la mineralisation causee par une phase fluide hypersaline, les amphiboles susceptibles de porter le prefixe "potassic-" sont aussi repandues dans les roches ignees, metamorphiques, et metasomatiques diverses. Il est donc souhaitable et justifiable, surtout la ou les resultats d'analyses chimiques sont deja accompagnees de donnees cristallographiques et ou les proprietes physiques sont connues, d'attribuer le statut d'espece a ces amphiboles.
Evaluation of nutritional and environmental variables during early larval culture of pigfish Orthopristis chrysoptera (Linnaeus)

Pigfish (Orthopristis chrysoptera Linnaeus) are a commonly used baitfish in the southeastern United States. Aquaculture methods for broodfish spawning and juvenile grow-out have been developed but there is still a paucity of information regarding larval culture methods. Five, short duration (10 days) experiments were conducted to determine effective strategies to yield high larval survival and growth during early development. Experiment one examined the rotifer enrichments Ori-Green, DHA Protein Selco, and AlgaMac 3050 as well as a non-enriched control along with corresponding fatty acid levels in the enriched rotifers and pigfish larvae. Experiment two evaluated three, once daily feeding frequencies of either 5, 10 or 20 rotifers mL−1. Experiment three compared feeding 20 rotifers mL−1 once daily to feeding 5 rotifers mL−1 twice daily. Experiment four examined four different larval stocking densities: 50, 75, 100, or 125 larvae L−1. Experiment five examined green water strategies using either live Tahitian strain Isochrysis galbana (Parke) or Nannochloropsis oculata (Hibberd) paste at either 250 000 or 500 000 cells mL−1 as well as a clear water control. Results indicated rotifer enrichment with DHA Protein Selco and green water application using live T-ISO at 500 000 cells mL−1 had the highest survival of pigfish during early stages of larval culture. A once daily rotifer feeding regime of 20 rotifers mL−1 and stocking density of 50 larvae L−1 also improved survival. These results provide producers with methods to improve efficiency for pigfish larval culture and provide researchers with new foundational data, such as potential fatty acid requirements.
Neural networks as an intelligence amplification tool: A review of applications

The sophisticated algorithms we use to process, analyze, and interpret geophysical data automate tasks we used to do by hand, transform data into domains where patterns are more obvious, and allow us to calculate quantities where we used to rely on intuition or back‐of‐envelope estimates. But, the crux of the exploration problem is still interpretation—associating abstract patterns with geologic formations of economic value. Artificial neural networks are able to couple the speed and efficiency of the computer with the pattern recognition and association capabilities of the brain to aid the exploration process. The key concept to understand in the application of neural network technology is that they should not be used as an artificial intelligence tool to replace a human interpreter; rather, neural networks are an intelligence amplification toolkit that allows the interpreter to focus on the important information.More than 102 neural network papers have been published by SEG since 1988, and more than 550...
Eastern Bering Sea Ice Processes

Abstract During March 1979, hydrographic, meteorological and ice floe data were collected over the Bering Sea shelf. The ice pack extended to 59°however, there appeared to be little in situ freezing south of 62°N farther than 100 km from land. Hydrographic data from the southern margin of the ice (seaward limit) showed that a lens of less saline, colder water existed in the upper 20 m of the water column along the southern ice margin. During north-to-northeast wind events, floes were advected toward the south to southwest at rates as high as 0.5 m s−1 and rotted along the margin on the order of days. Little ridging of ice was observed over the open shelf. Rafting was prevalent among floes battered by wind and swell at the ice edge. Each year in the fall, northerly winds cool the water of Norton Sound and the Bering Sea north of St. Lawrence Island until the water column is isothermal and at freezing temperatures. Further cooling causes freezing. Under northerly wind conditions, ice is advected south into ...
Workforce Discrimination: An Inquiry on the Perceptions of Afghan-American Professionals

Ethnic and religious diversity is part of each society in the modern world and being an Afghan is another dimension of these differences in the United States. The research question for this study was to see if Afghan-Americans are experiencing more discriminatory practices as a result of the 9/11 events. The results of 502 Afghan-Americans demonstrated that they do report more discrimination in the post-9/11 era. Furthermore, the results of 280 males and 222 females demonstrate no difference in questioning of their civil rights in the United States. Implications and recommendations are offered for effective diversity management.
Frequency Studies of English Consonants

In this study an explanation was sought for the disagreement among the various frequency counts which have been made of English consonants. The data for a set of ten different frequency counts were converted to IPA symbols and compared by means of the coefficient of linear correlation. It was found that the relative frequency of consonants in English is not seriously affected by the style of literary content or by the dialect of the sample and that a relatively small sample yields typical values. Differences in the general type of corpus (dictionary or running texts) and in transcription, however, cause significant discrepancies among the various studies. It is concluded that higher order frequency data are probably more relevant to mechanical speech recognition than the first order data considered in this paper.
Epidemiological Aspects of Infant Botulism in California, 1976–1991

Infant botulism is the most common form of human botulism in the United States and is now known to be global in extent. The disease, an infectious intestinal form of botulism, was first recognized as a distinct medical entity in late 1976 in California, where all suspected cases are diagnosed microbiologically in this laboratory. Although its clinical spectrum ranges from mild outpatient illness to sudden unexpected death, most recognized cases are hospitalized.
What is the best way to develop new managers? Problem-based learning vs. lecture-based instruction

Abstract What is the best way to develop the next generation of managers and leaders? The present study takes aim at directly comparing the effectiveness of problem-based learning with the more traditional, lecture-based instruction, as well as a hybrid approach, on student learning in the management classroom. It seems clear from the literature on problem-based learning in medical schools that problem-based learning has a positive impact on the acquisition of problem-solving skills but either a negative impact or no impact on knowledge acquisition. The present study was designed to directly assess the differential impact of problem-based learning and lecture-based instruction on both the acquisition of problem-solving skills, specifically critical thinking skills, and knowledge acquisition in the management classroom. Findings parallel those found in medial school classrooms. Implication for instruction and curriculum design in the management classroom are considered.
Gadd45b deficiency promotes premature senescence and skin aging

The GADD45 family of proteins functions as stress sensors in response to various physiological and environmental stressors. Here we show that primary mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) from Gadd45b null mice proliferate slowly, accumulate increased levels of DNA damage, and senesce prematurely. The impaired proliferation and increased senescence in Gadd45b null MEFs is partially reversed by culturing at physiological oxygen levels, indicating that Gadd45b deficiency leads to decreased ability to cope with oxidative stress. Interestingly, Gadd45b null MEFs arrest at the G2/M phase of cell cycle, in contrast to other senescent MEFs, which arrest at G1. FACS analysis of phospho-histone H3 staining showed that Gadd45b null MEFs are arrested in G2 phase rather than M phase. H2O2 and UV irradiation, known to increase oxidative stress, also triggered increased senescence in Gadd45b null MEFs compared to wild type MEFs. In vivo evidence for increased senescence in Gadd45b null mice includes the observation that embryos from Gadd45b null mice exhibit increased senescence staining compared to wild type embryos. Furthermore, it is shown that Gadd45b deficiency promotes senescence and aging phenotypes in mouse skin. Together, these results highlight a novel role for Gadd45b in stress-induced senescence and in tissue aging.
Efforts to Curtail the Spread of Adult Entertainment in Portland, Oregon, through the Use of Public Policy and Urban Planning, 1970-1987

Like many American cities, Portland attempted to use urban planning and policy to control the geographic spread of adult entertainment during the 1970s. Portland’s efforts, however, were complicate...
Four Major Problems Perplexing MBO

More and more companies implement MBO (Management Buy-out), since it is an innovation of the property right system reform. And the question exposed out thereupon attracts people's attention day by day. This paper, through analyzing four major perplexing problems in MBO, proposes that if we withdraw state-run assets in the competitive trade through MBO, the market environment, legal system and financial environment all need to be perfected further.
Learning Topology of Curves with Application to Clustering.

We propose a method for learning the intrinsic topology of a point set sampled from a curve embedded in a high-dimensional ambient space. Our approach does not rely on distances in the ambient space, and thus can recover the topology of sparsely sampled curves, a situation where extant manifold learning methods are expected to fail. We formulate a loss function based on the smoothness of a curve, and derive a greedy procedure for minimizing this loss function. We compare the efficacy of our approach with representative manifold learning and hierarchical clustering methods on both real and synthetic data.
Understanding EU and Danish Higher Education Governance through a Comparison with US Reforms

In this contribution, we describe the changing landscape for higher education in Europe and Denmark under the Bologna Process, as viewed through the eyes of two historical case studies in US higher education reform. Our focus will be on governance. As a quintessential public good, higher education has always been within the province of the state.
Age-related differences in beta engagement during single word processing

Linguistic processing involves the activation of many underlying conceptual features, including semantic and sensori-perceptual information, a process referred to as semantic motor embodiment. Stud...
The Regulation of Biotechnologies

The Food and Drug Administration's regulation of drugs, cosmetics, and devices takes the form of risk-benefit analyses on the basis of two criteria: safety and efficacy. The problem is that enhancement uses cannot be singled out effectively in FDA review. The FDA's evaluative framework is one-size-fits-all. It requires the agency to express concerns about competitive fairness or resource allocation in the language of safety and efficacy, or to filter arguments about social prejudice and subtle coercion through the lens of cost-benefit analysis. This stacks the deck in favor of automatic approval for safe uses of enhancement products, which merit more careful scrutiny. Instead of, Do the product's benefits outweigh its harms? we should be asking, Is this a good use of medical technology? What we need is a more holistic decision-making strategy to govern biomedical enhancement activity. I propose four structural changes that we should make to the FDA's decisionmaking process.
A Scanning Focused-Beam System for Real-Time Diagnostic Imaging

Several promising approaches to real-time acoustic imaging employ laser beams to read out the image information. In other approaches the readout is by piezoelectric transducers. Previous analyses have shown that, in terms of sensitivity, this latter category of systems is inherently superior to the former.
The central 5-HT3 receptor in CNS disorders.

Among the characterized 5-HT receptors of the central nervous system, the type 3 receptor subtype (5-HT3R) is the only one known to be a ligand-gated ion channel. Its early pharmacological characterization and mapping by radioligand binding autoradiography suggested that this receptor may, among other actions, regulate dopamine release in the nigro-striatal pathway and reduce alcohol consumption in experimental animals while antagonists of this receptor have been reported to treat anxiety disorders. Following the cloning of this receptor in 1991, direct cellular localization was made possible by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analysis. Here we summarize our recent efforts showing that 5-HT3R-expressing neurons are mainly GABA containing cells in the rat neocortex, olfactory cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala which also often contain chole-cystokinin (CCK) immunoreactivity. These results provide a means to unify some of the initial pharmacological observations.
SELECTIVITY OF OPIATE AND OPIOID PEPTIDE INTERACTION WITH CEREBROSIDE SULFATE

Interaction of cerebroside sulfate (CS) with a variety of opiates was studied using a heptane-water partition system. Analqetically active β-endorphin analogs and μ-types of opiate aqonists induced 3H-CS transfer from the aqueous phase to the nonaqueous phase, while analgetically inactive α and γ-endorphin as well as δ and κ-agonists did not interact with CS. Thus, CS appears to interact selectively with opiates of μ type but not δ and κ types.
Polymorphism within the mitochondrial genome of the ctenophore, Pleurobrachia bachei, and its ongoing rapid evolution

The mitochondrial genomes in ctenophores are among the most compact in the animal kingdom with multiple rearrangements and examples of gene loss. Here, by resequencing of the Pleurobrachia bachei mitochondrial genome, we show that the high level of polymorphism (>10%) in Pleurobrachia might contribute to the ongoing fast evolution of ctenophores including the presence of truncated versions of apparently canonical genes such as cox1. Second, the codon interpretations in ctenophores, without robust proteomic data related to mitochondrial genes, is still a challenging issue, which is open for future experimental analyses.
At the Crossroads of Healing and Punishment

I t’s an unlikely place for a correctional facility. There’s a wooden sign at the entrance to the road. The sign has too many words to read on it while moving; at a glance, it looks like the sign for a national park, with all of the rules. A smaller sign reads, “Private road, Use at own risk.” After a short run of woods, the road opens up to a large field. A huge prison, surrounded by shiny fences looped at the top with coils of barbed wire, stands in the distance. Two more buildings are farther away; again, there are the fences, again, the barbed wire. Along the road, there are dark Ford sedans with stars on the side. Eyes peer out of them. You are watched as you pass. Over the hill, the road dead-ends into a set of low buildings surrounded by two parallel fences topped with wire. On closer inspection, it is a sharper, flatter variant of barbed wire appropriately known as razor wire. As night falls, the loops pick up the bright lights and glow, sharp points and round loops gleaming.
Harsh Parenting and Violence Against Children: A Trial with Ultrapoor Families in Francophone West Africa.

Few culturally congruent interventions are available to reduce abusive practices in families living in abject poverty in francophone West Africa. This study tests the effects of economic interventi...
Simultaneous Passive Acoustic Mapping and Magnetic Resonance Thermometry for Monitoring of Cavitation-Enhanced Tumor Ablation in Rabbits Using Focused Ultrasound and Phase-Shift Nanoemulsions.

Abstract Thermal ablation of solid tumors via focused ultrasound (FUS) is a non-invasive image-guided alternative to conventional surgical resection. However, the usefulness of the technique is limited in vascularized organs because of convection of heat, resulting in long sonication times and unpredictable thermal lesion formation. Acoustic cavitation has been found to enhance heating but requires use of exogenous nuclei and sufficient acoustic monitoring. In this study, we employed phase-shift nanoemulsions (PSNEs) to promote cavitation and incorporated passive acoustic mapping (PAM) alongside conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) thermometry within the bore of a clinical MRI scanner. Simultaneous PAM and MRI thermometry were performed in an in vivo rabbit tumor model, with and without PSNE to promote cavitation. Vaporization and cavitation of the nanoemulsion could be detected using PAM, which led to accelerated heating, monitored with MRI thermometry. The maximum heating assessed from MRI was well correlated with the integrated acoustic emissions, illustrating cavitation-enhanced heating. Examination of tissue revealed thermal lesions that were larger in the presence of PSNE, in agreement with the thermometry data. Using fixed exposure conditions over 94 sonications in multiple animals revealed an increase in the mean amplitude of acoustic emissions and resulting temperature rise, but with significant variability between sonications, further illustrating the need for real-time monitoring. The results indicate the utility of combined PAM and MRI for monitoring of tumor ablation and provide further evidence for the ability of PSNEs to promote cavitation-enhanced lesioning.
Lipopolysaccharide-induced CD300b receptor binding to Toll-like Receptor 4 alters signaling to drive cytokine responses that enhance septic shock.

LPS, present in gram-negative bacteria membranes, causes strong immune responses following detection by TLR4 on immune cells. Excess immune cell activation resulting from severe infection initiates a pro-inflammatory cytokine storm that leads to a more severe immunopathology, like septic shock, and subsequently, death. Intriguingly, Cd300b −/− mice were observed to be more resistant to septic shock than WT mice, however the mechanism responsible for this phenomenon remained elusive. Here, we identify LPS as a ligand for CD300b, and demonstrate that CD300b-expressing macrophages (Mφ) are key cells augmenting septic shock. We show that CD300b and DAP12, associate with TLR4/CD14 upon LPS binding, resulting in the dissociation of MyD88/TIRAP from the complex and the recruitment and activation of Syk and PI3K. This leads to a PI3K/AKT-dependent inhibition of the MEK1/2-ERK1/2-NFκB pathway, subsequently resulting in a reduced IL-10 production by Mφ. In addition, CD300b also enhances TLR4/CD14-TRIF-IRF3 signaling, resulting in elevated IFN-β levels. Compared to WT mice, Cd300b −/− mice demonstrate decreased serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and elevated levels of the IL-10 anti-inflammatory cytokine. Neutralization of IL-10 in Cd300b −/− mice diminishes their survival advantage over WT animals. Importantly, we demonstrate that an anti-CD300b Ab treatment suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokine and enhances anti-IL-10 production in Mφ, thus reducing the mortality of septic mice. These findings provide evidence for a previously unappreciated regulation of TLR4 signaling by CD300b in myeloid cells, and highlight CD300b as a potential therapeutic target for clinical intervention to manage septic shock in humans.
Persistent Craniopharyngeal Canal: A Rare Cause for Recurrent Meningitis in Pediatric Population

We present the case of a 5-year-old girl who had six episodes of meningitis. She also had panhypopituitarism and was found to have a persistent craniopharyngeal canal (CPC) as the cause of her recurrent meningitis. Role of neuroradiology and a high index of suspicion by the clinical team are highlighted here. Persistent CPC is a rare cause of recurrent meningitis. We discuss the approach to the child with recurrent meningitis.
Camera Modeling, Centroiding Performance, and Geometric Camera Calibration on ASTERIA

The Arcsecond Space Telescope Enabling Research in Astrophysics (ASTERIA) is a 10-kg, 6U CubeSat in low-Earth orbit that was able to achieve subarcsecond pointing stability and repeatability. To date, this is the best pointing on a spacecraft of its size. This paper will analyze various aspects of the performance of its key piece of hardware-the payload. First, a model of the optics and imager, which is used to simulate stellar images, will be presented. The imager parameters used in this model were derived from simple ground measurements. Next, a centroiding algorithm is provided and used on the simulated images to predict centroiding performance. These results will be shown to match on-orbit telemetry of centroiding performance, validating the modeling approach. This paper will then describe an approach for and results of a geometric camera calibration algorithm to estimate the focal length, distortion, and alignment parameters. The modeling, analyses, and results presented in this paper provide key information that can be used in a time-domain pointing simulation or a frequency-domain pointing error analysis.
Examining the nutritional value and effects of different floral resources in pumpkin agroecosystems on Bombus impatiens worker physiology

Floral enhancement schemes in agroecosystems are a common method to supplement bee dietary requirements, yet there is little information about how species used in these schemes influence bee physiology and how their nutritional value compares to the floral resources provided by the crop species. Here, we examined the pollen nutritional quality (macronutrient concentrations and protein:lipid ratio) of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo, Cucurbitaceae), two species commonly used in enhancement schemes, Helianthus annuus (Asteraceae) and Crotalaria juncea (Fabaceae), a multifloral diet and an artificial diet. We tested effects of these diets on physiological characteristics of Bombus impatiens, a generalist pollinator. Bees performed best on real pollen diets, with consumption of C. juncea and multifloral pollen having the most pronounced effects on bee physiology. Our results underscore the importance of considering nutritional quality when selecting plant species for these schemes.
Genome-wide screening identifies novel genes implicated in cellular sensitivity to BRAFV600E expression

The V600E mutation of BRAF (BRAFV600E), which constitutively activates the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway, is frequently found in melanoma and other cancers. Like most other oncogenes, BRAFV600E causes oncogenic stress to normal cells, leading to growth arrest (senescence) or apoptosis. Through genome-wide screening, we identified genes implicated in sensitivity of human skin melanocytes and fibroblasts to BRAFV600E overexpression. Among the identified genes shared by the two cell types are proto-oncogenes ERK2, a component of the ERK/MAPK pathway, and VAV1, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rho family GTPases that also activates the ERK/MAPK pathway. CDKN1A, which has been known to promote senescence of fibroblasts but not melanocytes, is implicated in sensitivity of the fibroblasts but not the melanocytes to BRAFV600E overexpression. Disruptions of GPR4, a pH-sensing G-protein coupled receptor, and DBT, a subunit of the branched chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase that is required for the second and rate-limiting step of branched amino acid catabolism and implicated in maple syrup urine disease, are the most highly selected in the melanocytes upon BRAFV600E overexpression. Disruption of DBT severely attenuates ERK/MAPK signaling, p53 activation, and apoptosis in melanocytes, at least in part due to accumulation of branched chain α-keto acids. The expression level of BRAF positively correlates with that of DBT in all cancer types and with that of GPR4 in most cancer types. Overexpression of DBT kills all four melanoma cell lines tested regardless of the presence of BRAFV600E mutation. Our findings shed new lights on regulations of oncogenic stress signaling and may be informative for development of novel cancer treatment strategies.
Quantitative Investing with Tail Behavior—A Distributional Approach

In previous chapters, we introduced classical mean–variance methodologies. Classical methodologies have been used widely in risk management, such as the use of standard deviation for risk; alpha models, such as the use of OLS for weighting schemes; and modern portfolio theory, such as the mean–variance optimization. However, these are all based on the assumption that the first two moments will capture most information about asset returns, which is usually not true of real-world finance data, where fat and long tails are often the case. In this chapter, we present a distributional approach to capture tail behaviors for quantitative investing. Quantile regression (QR), a frontier methodology that extends beyond the median into tail percentiles, provides a useful tool for incorporating tail information into portfolios. We explore how QR can be employed for risk management, alpha modeling, and portfolio construction. The last section introduces R codes and packages for QR.
Frictional force on sliding drops

A recent claim that a liquid drop sliding on a solid has a transition from static to sliding friction, based on an ingenious but indirect experiment, disagrees with molecular dynamics simulations which directly measure the forces involved.
Desire for a Magnificent Seven: A Queer Reading of a Western Remake

Reflecting on his audiencing experience of Westerns between the 1960 and 2016 remake of the movie, The Magnificent Seven, the author reflects on the social justice mission of the film plot. He comm...
Recent Advances in In Planta Transient Expression and Silencing Systems for Soybean Using Viral Vectors

Transient methods for overexpressing and silencing plant genes enable rapid analysis of gene function and gene regulation. Several methods that avoid the traditional time- and labor-intensive generation of stable transgenic plants have been used recently in soybean and other plants to express or silence genes. In this post-genomic era, the sequences of the soybean genome and many other crop genomes are readily available. Genome sequences coupled with transient expression and silencing systems enable large-scale screens to associate genes with traits, or more detailed characterization of gene products and regulatory sequences. Recombinant plant viruses that can carry genetic payloads of whole genes or gene fragments provide convenient platforms as vectors for transient gene expression and silencing in soybean. This chapter focuses on seven viral vector systems that have been used in soybean for overexpression and/or virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) applications. We discuss the features of the viral genomes, strategies for their use, applications in gene expression and/or VIGS, and future prospects to expand the utility of viral vectors for soybean improvement.
RNA transcripts stimulate homologous recombination by forming DR-loops.

Homologous recombination (HR) repairs DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle1–3. Several HR proteins are preferentially recruited to DSBs at transcriptionally active loci4–10, but how transcription promotes HR is poorly understood. Here we develop an assay to assess the effect of local transcription on HR. Using this assay, we find that transcription stimulates HR to a substantial extent. Tethering RNA transcripts to the vicinity of DSBs recapitulates the effects of local transcription, which suggests that transcription enhances HR through RNA transcripts. Tethered RNA transcripts stimulate HR in a sequence- and orientation-dependent manner, indicating that they function by forming DNA–RNA hybrids. In contrast to most HR proteins, RAD51-associated protein 1 (RAD51AP1) only promotes HR when local transcription is active. RAD51AP1 drives the formation of R-loops in vitro and is required for tethered RNAs to stimulate HR in cells. Notably, RAD51AP1 is necessary for the DSB-induced formation of DNA–RNA hybrids in donor DNA, linking R-loops to D-loops. In vitro, RAD51AP1-generated R-loops enhance the RAD51-mediated formation of D-loops locally and give rise to intermediates that we term ‘DR-loops’, which contain both DNA–DNA and DNA–RNA hybrids and favour RAD51 function. Thus, at DSBs in transcribed regions, RAD51AP1 promotes the invasion of RNA transcripts into donor DNA, and stimulates HR through the formation of DR-loops. RNA transcripts stimulate homologous recombination through the formation of DR-loops, intermediate structures that contain both DNA–DNA and DNA–RNA hybrids.
Safety protocols in an exercise facility result in no detectable SARS-CoV-2 spread: A case study

Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) disease has been a public health emergency of international concern with millions of confirmed cases globally. Closed environments with reduced ventilation contribute to the spread of COVID-19, including superspreading events. Exercising in closed places further increases the risk for transmission. Therefore, many fitness facilities were closed as part of mandated shutdowns early in the pandemic. Evidence-based safety protocols have now emerged and substantially reduce the risk of transmission. We report three positive cases of SARS-CoV-2 identified at a Dojo exercise facility in Manlius, NY, at three distinct time points. All cases were present in the Dojo 2 days prior to symptoms, a time period considered to be highly infectious. The safety protocols included universal mask wearing (no valves), multiple high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, and reduced capacity which resulted in no known spread of COVID-19.
On the role of surface oxygen during nascent single-walled carbon nanotube cap spreading and tube nucleation on iron catalysts

Abstract Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are commonly grown in oxygen-rich environments. The precursor used as input for the SWCNT synthesis reaction typically provides oxygen atoms either as a pure gas or as an oxygen-containing compound. Similarly, metal oxide substrates are used to support the catalysts or as reactor wall materials and can transfer oxygen atoms while in contact with the catalytic particles. It has been proposed and experimentally observed that the interaction of the metal catalyst with specific promoters (e.g., oxygen, sulfur, hydrogen) triggers significant changes in the SWCNT properties during spreading, nucleation and growth. However, very few studies address the carbon-catalyst surface interactions in rich oxygen environments. Here we show that an increased surface oxygen concentration in the neighborhood of a spreading nascent carbon shell reduces the strength of interaction of the carbon shell with the iron catalyst's surface and increases the probability of carbon nucleation and SWCNT lift-off. The evolution of the carbon-surface interaction during the spreading and nucleation phases suggests that closed pentagons at the rim are preferentially formed in oxidized iron surfaces, and they exhibit the strongest and most stable interaction with the iron surface.
Heat transfer behavior of as-processed and cleaned picosecond pulse laser processed copper

Abstract Improving the heat transfer characteristics of materials can be accomplished by increasing the surface area. This surface roughening can be accomplished efficiently and directly using pulsed-laser processing. Here, laser processing of copper using a picosecond laser pulse technique produced mound-like structures, with surface morphologies and subsurface microstructures dependent on laser pulse count, with higher pulse counts producing a unique layering of Cu and Cu2O in the mounds. Processing in ambient air resulted in the formation of surface oxides. The presence of oxides deleteriously influenced the heat transfer characteristics, with a lower heat transfer coefficient compared to unprocessed Cu. To remove the oxidation, the laser-processed copper was subjected to different acid treatments. It was found that treatment using citric acid resulted in efficient and effective removal of oxides both surface and subsurface. For low pulse count samples, an improvement in the heat transfer characteristics was observed after oxide removal, and outperformed the polished reference sample at heat fluxes above approximately 90 W/cm2. However, the removal of oxides using citric acid was found to actually decrease heat transfer characteristics for high pulse count samples with the onion-like subsurface layers, as oxide removal left behind voids in the structure which were detrimental to heat transfer. Thus, optimized laser surface processing which avoids subsurface onion-like layer formation enhances heat transfer performance.
Africa’s security landscape of securitised-development and human rights issues

Africa’s security landscape has been experiencing securitised-development practices through counterterrorism activities from donor countries engaged in the ‘Global War on Terror’ (GWOT). While some...
STIMULUS MOVEMENT AND THE INTENSITY OF ATTENTION

A stimulus movement effect has been reported in which learning by nonhuman animals was significantly better with moving than with stationary stimuli. In the present investigation, this effect was extended to human participants (N = 56) and further explicated. In Experiment 1 the students responded significantly more accurately and rapidly on a battery of computerized tasks with moving versus stationary stimuli. In Experiment 2 performance on a concurrent task was systematically slowed even as performance was enhanced on two different primary tasks by stimulus movement, which supports the interpretation that these effects are mediated by attention. A distinction between procedural and performance difficulty was made, in which increasing the former (e.g., with moving stimuli) appears to enhance concentration and improve performance, whereas performance difficulty makes a task harder to do correctly and impairs performance. Experiment 3 was a replication of Experiment 2 with rhesus monkeys in which essentially the same procedural difficulty effects were found. This series of experiments demonstrates for the first time stimulus movement effects in human learning, and it is the first study of which we are aware to examine the intensity of attention in nonhuman primates using dual-task methodology.
On the Origins of Philosophical Language

My essay proposes an hypothesis regarding the evolution of one “idiom” of human language, namely, philosophical discourse. The feature of this discourse that I focus on is the prevalence of “high level” abstractions, such as “being” and “cause,” and the question addressed is: Why should such an ability have evolved in humans, that is, what value for species survival might it have had? Friedrich Nietzsche claimed that philosophical abstractions are vestiges of primitive and outmoded ways of understanding the environment; and Ludwig Wittgenstein regarded such discourse as an aberration of “ordinary language” resulting from using that tool of culture and survival in inappropriate ways.
Über das Heil

Worin bestunde nun ein hochstes Leben? Ich sitze jetzt gerade in Orlando in einem Disney-Resort in der Sonne. Eine Konferenz ist um 12 Uhr zu Ende gegangen. Es ist Anfang Marz. Vogel zwitschern; es ist warm. Um mich herum ist ein kunstliches Paradies aufgebaut. Helle, freundliche Farben - die Vogel genau dazu abgestimmt. Alle 10 Yards ist eine andere Pflanzenart um den See gesaumt, nie verschiedene Pflanzen durcheinander. In dieser Reihung ist alles leichter zu pflegen oder zu andern. Die Menschen gehen in freundlichen Uniformen herum und sorgen sich, dass ich mich freue - ich, noch im Sakko, den ich gleich fur den Flug gegen einen Fleece umtausche. Ist hier das Paradies? Alle lacheln heiter. Ich sehe mich nachdenklich um und erkenne plotzlich: Es ist das Paradies der richtigen Menschen, Fachrichtung Denken. Sie lassen sich hier einmal fur ein paar Tage „richtig“ gehen. Es gibt Orangewassereis mit Mausohren, niemand stort beim Schlangestehen, hier ist alles so ungeheuer richtig, dass ich es kaum glauben kann. Ich muss keinerlei Verantwortung tragen. Beim Besuch eines Parks oder einer „Attraction“ beruhigen sie mich: „Watch your step. Hold on. We’ll serve.“ Ich lasse mich fliesen und reihe mich in Track funf zum Fahren durch eine Art Museum ein. Es ist wie gigantisches Fernsehen wahrend einer Karussellfahrt, ich bin ganz ruhig. Zwischendrin, immer etwa nach sechzig Prozent der kurzen Sekunden des Vergnugens, kommt Gefahr auf. Irgendwer schreit, sie schiesen ein bisschen herum, wir lachen oder es spritzt etwas, wenn sie diesmal mit Wasser spasen. Hui, das war jetzt aufregend fur mein Flash-Mode-System. Hold on. Es wird weiter erklart, warum es gesund war, wenn die Vereinigten Staaten das so machen. Jetzt bin ich stolz und etwas wackelig auf den Beinen, als ich aussteige. Ich habe mich vergnugt.
Tunnel Dehydrators for Fruits and Vegetables

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses tunnel dehydrators, as used to dehydrate certain fruits and vegetables. It provides a general introduction to the subject, primarily for the use of students, food technologists, and engineers. Although it goes into a number of matters concerned with the design and operation of this kind of equipment, it is, in no sense, a manual either of design or of operation. Emphasis has been laid on the discussion of underlying principles and the more recent advances in application of these principles. An effort has been made to bring together published information from many different sources, some of which are not widely available. Tunnel dehydrators, as a class, are frequently called tunnel-and-truck, truck-and-tray, or simply tunnel driers. Principles pertaining to their use have been discussed. All tunnel-and-truck dehydrators for fruits and vegetables have a common feature that distinguishes them from other kinds of drier. Numerous factors govern the selection of the drying system, or type of dehydrator, for a particular plant. Economic factors, such as initial and installation costs and operating labor costs, although important, are not the only criteria for proper selection. Some of the other important considerations have been listed in the chapter.
Recent Advances in the Morphological Localization of γ-Aminobutyric Acid Receptors in the Cerebellum by Means of [3H]Muscimol

Publisher Summary Muscimol, a structural analogue and potent agonist of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), was used in its tritiated form for the autoradiographic localization of GABA receptors in the rat cerebellum. [ 3 H]Muscimol ([ 3 H]M) was incubated with brain slices or was injected intracortically or into intraocular brain transplants. As indicated by [ 3 H]M binding and autoradiographic silver grains, GABA receptors display a laminar distribution over the cerebellar cortex. Specificity was indicated in control experiments by inhibition of binding by [ 3 H]muscimol after pretreatment with GABA, GABA and aminooxyacetic acid or the GABA analogues, THIP (isoxazole 16) and isoguvacine, or with receptor antagonist bicuculline and picrotoxin. Tritiated muscimol binding and electron microscope autoradiography localized GABA receptor sites in the cerebellum of the rat. In the cerebellar cortex, silver grains were associated with somata and dendrites of basket and stellate cells in the molecular layer; with somata and primary and secondary dendritic shafts of Purkinje cells; with axons and terminals of basket cells in the pinceau or basket, initial axonal segments and myelinated axons of Purkinje cells; with dendrites of granule and Golgi cells in the granular layer; and with somata and dendritic shafts of large and small cells in the cerebellar nuclei.
Rotational dynamics of skeletal muscle troponin C.

Upon excitation by 280 nm, the intensity decay of the 2 tyrosine residues (residues 10 and 109) of rabbit skeletal muscle troponin C is resolved into three components. The anisotropy decay in the absence of divalent cation is biphasic with a short correlation time of 0.67 ns and a long correlation time of 9.23 ns. The limiting anisotropy is 0.225, considerably lower than the value expected for immobilized tyrosine. Upon excitation by 290 nm, the anisotropy decay is also biphasic, and the limiting anisotropy increases to 0.274. The recovery of anisotropy by excitation at a wave-length near the red edge of the tyrosine absorption spectrum is evidence of fluorescence resonance energy transfer between the two tyrosines. For energy transfer to occur, the average separation between the 2 tyrosines is unlikely much larger than the Forster distance Ro, congruent to 10 A, and this close proximity of the residues would require a highly distorted dumbbell shape of troponin C in solution. These results are consistent with a flexible central helix, which either has a segmental flexibility with large amplitude or results in a spectrum of conformations including those in which the two globular domains are in a very close proximity.