cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A local circuit topology for inductive parasitics

A novel circuit topology for inductive coupling between interconnecting wires is presented. The model is local, i.e., only coupling between neighboring wires is explicitly modeled. However, the topology accounts for long-range coupling by propagating the vector potential from one wire to the next. Examples of model calibration, both directly from layout and as model-order reduction of a given inductance matrix, are presented for simple wiring structures.
TABS: Temperature-Aware Layout-Driven Behavioral Synthesis

With rising power densities in modern VLSI circuits, thermal effects are becoming important in the design of ICs. Elevated chip temperatures have an adverse impact on performance, reliability, power consumption, and cooling costs. To ensure adequate thermal management, all phases of the design flow must account for thermal effects on their design decisions. We present a two-stage simulated annealing-based high-level synthesis technique that combines power minimization with temperature-aware scheduling, binding, and floorplanning. In our technique, the first stage of the simulated annealing algorithm creates a low-power solution, which is then iteratively improved by the second stage to minimize estimated on-chip peak temperature using accurate module-level temperature estimation. We show that minimizing average power alone does not guarantee minimal peak temperatures. However, our approach consistently finds solutions that have lower on-chip peak temperatures and uniform on-chip temperature distributions, compared to a traditional low-power synthesis methodology that minimizes average power. Experiments show that our method reduces peak temperatures on average by 12% and up to 16%, compared to a traditional low-power synthesis algorithm that minimizes average power. These improvements in chip-level temperature distributions are achieved with a modest increase in chip area of under 15% on average.
Ceruminoma in association with other sweat gland tumours

Tumours arising from ceruminous glands of the ear are rare. Two cases of ceruminoma seen in the ENT Department, Ipswich Hospital, during the past three years were both associated with other sweat gland tumours, the first with eccrine spiradenoma in the neck, and the second with multiple cylindromata on the scalp (turban tumour).
Visual adjustments to temporal blur.

After observers have adapted to an edge that is spatially blurred or sharpened, a focused edge appears too sharp or blurred, respectively. These adjustments to blur may play an important role in calibrating spatial sensitivity. We examined whether similar adjustments influence the perception of temporal edges, by measuring the appearance of a step change in the luminance of a uniform field after adapting to blurred or sharpened transitions. Stimuli were square-wave alternations (at 1to8 Hz) filtered by changing the slope of the amplitude spectrum. A two-alternative-forced-choice task was used to adjust the slope until it appeared as a step change, or until it matched the perceived transitions in a reference stimulus. Observers could accurately set the waveform to a square wave, but only at the slower alternation rates. However, these settings were strongly biased by prior adaptation to filtered stimuli, or when the stimuli were viewed within temporally filtered surrounds. Control experiments suggest that the latter induction effects result directly from the temporal blur and are not simply a consequence of brightness induction in the fields. These results suggest that adaptation and induction adjust visual coding so that images are focused not only in space but also in time.
Essays on the emergence of captive finance companies and risk segmentation of the consumer loan market: Theory and evidence

A parental seller with market power to some degree in its product market can earn rents. In this context, there is a gain to granting credit for the purchase of the product and thus the establishment of captive finance company for expanding the sales by offering loans to consumers who need financing for purchase of durable good. This paper examines the optimal behavior of such a durable good seller and its captive finance company when the consumer loan market is segmented into captive and independent lending institutions under symmetric and imperfect information on borrowerâ€™s creditworthiness. The model presents that one critical difference for captive finance company will be its credit standard. Specifically, the model indicates that captive finance company will follow a more lenient credit standard, leading to the prediction that the likelihood of repayment of a captive loan is lower than that of a bank loan, other things equal. This prediction is tested using unique data sets drawn from a major credit bureau in the U.S. The analysis of credit bureau data shows that a captive automobile loan is less likely to be repaid than a bank automobile loan, which supports the theoretical prediction.
Distinguished material surfaces and coherent structures in three-dimensional fluid flows

We prove analytic criteria for the existence of finite-time attracting and repelling material surfaces and lines in three-dimensional unsteady flows. The longest lived such structures define coherent structures in a Lagrangian sense. Our existence criteria involve the invariants of the velocity gradient tensor along fluid trajectories. An alternative approach to coherent structures is shown to lead to their characterization as local maximizers of the largest finite-time Lyapunov exponent field computed directly from particle paths. Both approaches provide effective tools for extracting distinguished Lagrangian structures from three-dimensional velocity data. We illustrate the results on steady and unsteady ABC-type flows.
Reciprocal and dynamic polarization of planar cell polarity core components and myosin

The Ciona notochord displays planar cell polarity (PCP), with anterior localization of Prickle (Pk) and Strabismus (Stbm). We report that a myosin is polarized anteriorly in these cells and strongly colocalizes with Stbm. Disruption of the actin/myosin machinery with cytochalasin or blebbistatin disrupts polarization of Pk and Stbm, but not of myosin complexes, suggesting a PCP-independent aspect of myosin localization. Wash out of cytochalasin restored Pk polarization, but not if done in the presence of blebbistatin, suggesting an active role for myosin in core PCP protein localization. On the other hand, in the pk mutant line, aimless, myosin polarization is disrupted in approximately one third of the cells, indicating a reciprocal action of core PCP signaling on myosin localization. Our results indicate a complex relationship between the actomyosin cytoskeleton and core PCP components in which myosin is not simply a downstream target of PCP signaling, but also required for PCP protein localization. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.05361.001
Density and compressibility effects in turbulent subsonic jets part 1: mean velocity field

The behavior of compressible jets originated from initially turbulent pipe flows issuing in still air has been investigated at three different subsonic Mach numbers, 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9. Helium, nitrogen and krypton gases were used to generate the jet flows and investigate the additional effects of density on the flow structure. Particle image velocimetry, high-frequency response pressure transducers and thermocouples were used to obtain velocity, Mach number and total temperature measurements inside the flow field. The jets were formed at the exit of an adiabatic compressible frictional turbulent pipe flow, which was developing toward its corresponding sonic conditions inside the pipe, and continued to expand within the first four diameters distance after it exited the pipe. Theoretical considerations based on flow self-similarity were used to obtain the decay of Mach number along the centerline of the jets for the first time. It was found that this decay depends on two contributions, one from the velocity field which is inversely proportional to the distance from the exit and one from the thermal field which is proportional to this distance. As a result, a small non-linearity in the variation of the inverse Mach number with downstream distance was found. The decay of the Mach number at the centerline of the axisymmetric jets increases by increasing the initial Mach number at the exit of the flow for all jets. The decay of mean velocity at the centerline of the jets is also higher at higher exit Mach numbers. However, the velocity non-dimensionalized by the exit velocity seems to decrease faster at low exit Mach numbers, suggesting a reduced mixing with increasing exit flow Mach numbers. Helium jets were found to have the largest spreading rate among the three different gas jets used in the present investigation, while krypton jets had the lowest spreading rate. The spreading rate of each gas decreases with increasing its kinetic energy relatively to its internal energy.
Censored quantile regression with recursive partitioning-based weights

Censored quantile regression provides a useful alternative to the Cox proportional hazards model for analyzing survival data. It directly models the conditional quantile of the survival time and hence is easy to interpret. Moreover, it relaxes the proportionality constraint on the hazard function associated with the popular Cox model and is natural for modeling heterogeneity of the data. Recently, Wang and Wang (2009. Locally weighted censored quantile regression. Journal of the American Statistical Association 103, 1117-1128) proposed a locally weighted censored quantile regression approach that allows for covariate-dependent censoring and is less restrictive than other censored quantile regression methods. However, their kernel smoothing-based weighting scheme requires all covariates to be continuous and encounters practical difficulty with even a moderate number of covariates. We propose a new weighting approach that uses recursive partitioning, e.g. survival trees, that offers greater flexibility in handling covariate-dependent censoring in moderately high dimensions and can incorporate both continuous and discrete covariates. We prove that this new weighting scheme leads to consistent estimation of the quantile regression coefficients and demonstrate its effectiveness via Monte Carlo simulations. We also illustrate the new method using a widely recognized data set from a clinical trial on primary biliary cirrhosis.
A bulk inflaton from large volume extra dimensions

The universe may have extra spatial dimensions with large volume that we cannot perceive because the energy required to excite modes in the extra directions is too high. Many examples are known of manifolds with a large volume and a large mass gap. These compactifications can help explain the weakness of four-dimensional gravity and, as we show here, they also have the capacity to produce reasonable potentials for an inflaton field. Modeling the inflaton as a bulk scalar field, it becomes very weakly coupled in four dimensions and this enables us to build phenomenologically acceptable inflationary models with tunings at the few per mil level. We speculate on dark matter candidates and the possibility of braneless models in this setting.
Implications and limitations of the PREPIC2 study—the interventionist’s perspective

Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters have proven invaluable in the prevention algorithm for pulmonary embolism (PE), reflected in their increased use within the past decade (1). On the other hand, prolonged dwell time, overall low retrieval rates ranging from 1.0−40.5%, and lack of follow-up, have resulted in an increase incidence of filter-related adverse events (2). Permanent and retrievable filters are available Expanding indications, and specifically prophylactic placement in patients with high risk of venous thromboembolic disease, have contributed to steady rise in retrievable IVC filter placements, without clear support of clinical consensus guidelines (3). The estimated amount of implanted IVC filters were 2,000 in 1979 and increased by a factor of approximately 83.5 in 2007 to almost 167,000 (1). Though there is lack of evidence based on randomized trials for the efficacy of IVC filters to positively impact patient outcome.
A System Identification Based Approach For Estimating Modal Frequencies of Bridges Under Environmental Influence

For health monitoring of bridge structures, vibration response-based methods offer several advantages due to the global nature of the approach. Vibration based structural health monitoring identify damage by detecting the abnormal changes in the dynamic characteristics such as the frequencies and mode-shapes extracted from the vibration response. However, the environmental fluctuations in temperature, radiation, convection, and humidity may change the dynamic characteristics of a bridge structure sometime more than those caused by structural damage and thus mask the damage effects. A method is being demonstrated to estimate the change in the dynamic characteristics directly from the body temperature measurements to separate them from those caused by the damage. In this paper, we use the stochastic subspace system identification technique to estimate the frequency, given the temperature records at specific locations within the bridge. The data used for development and validation of the presented approach has been generated using a finite element analysis capable of translating thermal environmental condition. In this paper, the finite element analysis setup and the identification approach used are presented. It is observed that the temperature and frequency records have prominent yearly and diurnal trends and the relation between temperature values and modal frequencies is nonlinear. A straightforward use of the stochastic identification approach does not provide acceptable frequency estimations, especially when tested on data for different environmental conditions. However, these observed seasonal and diurnal trends motivate us to use filters to improve the results of the identification model over an extended duration spanning the seasonal variations. The identified model is tested for both reproduction and generalization performances over seasonally varying thermal conditions and, in spite of nonlinear effects, the model is shown to provide very good estimates of the system frequencies in the simulation study even under the influence of large measurement noise.
Dynamic matching via weighted myopia with application to kidney exchange

In many dynamic matching applications--especially high-stakes ones--the competitive ratios of prior-free online algorithms are unacceptably poor. The algorithm should take distributional information about possible futures into account in deciding what action to take now. This is typically done by drawing sample trajectories of possible futures at each time period, but may require a prohibitively large number of trajectories or prohibitive memory and/or computation to decide what action to take. Instead, we propose to learn potentials of elements (e.g., vertices) of the current problem. Then, at run time, we simply run an offline matching algorithm at each time period, but subtracting out in the objective the potentials of the elements used up in the matching. We apply the approach to kidney exchange. Kidney exchanges enable willing but incompatible patient-donor pairs (vertices) to swap donors. These swaps typically include cycles longer than two pairs and chains triggered by altruistic donors. Fielded exchanges currently match myopically, maximizing the number of patients who get kidneys in an offline fashion at each time period. Myopic matching is sub-optimal; the clearing problem is dynamic since patients, donors, and altruists appear and expire over time. We theoretically compare the power of using potentials on increasingly large elements: vertices, edges, cycles, and the entire graph (optimum). Then, experiments show that by learning vertex potentials, our algorithm matches more patients than the current practice of clearing myopically. It scales to exchanges orders of magnitude beyond those handled by the prior dynamic algorithm.
Would Greater Transparency Increase or Decrease Contracting Costs

This article focuses on the regulatory goal of increasing the transparency of the OTC derivatives market. We show that users of these instruments employ the services of an intermediary in order to minimize the total cost of establishing a hedge position. Financial intermediation involves almost exclusively the production of various kinds of information which gives the intermediaries a comparative advantage in the development of financial products. Would increased transparency lower contracting costs? We conclude not. The decision to use an intermediary remains optimal even in the presence of informational asymmetries when compared with the alternative of contracting directly with a counterparty. In other words, the comparative advantage of the intermediary in the production of the various types of information that go in these contracts more than offsets the expected costs and risks that informational asymmetries impose on the counterparties.
Kläui ligand thin films for rapid plutonium analysis by alpha spectrometry.

As part of a nuclear forensics capability, rapid and effective methods to analyze for plutonium and other actinide metals are needed. A key requirement of these methods is that they afford a high chemical yield while still providing isotopic information necessary for forensic evaluation. Toward this objective, a new method for binding plutonium for analysis by alpha spectrometry has been developed. Thin films of Klaui-type tripodal oxygen donor ligands were prepared by spin-casting solutions onto glass substrates. Three different ligands were evaluated for plutonium binding, and the best results were obtained using the ethyl-substituted complex Na[Cp*Co(P(O)(OEt)2)3], which bound 80–88% of the dissolved Pu under equilibrium conditions. The thin films are simple and inexpensive to prepare and exhibit excellent alpha spectral resolution, having line widths of ∼33 keV. The method has been successfully applied to analyze for plutonium in both an archived nuclear debris sample and a certified environmental soi...
ZEBRA CATERPILLAR (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE): FOLIAGE CONSUMPTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF LARVAE ON SUGARBEET

Mean durations (±S.D.) of zebra caterpillar larvae, Ceramica picta (Harris), stadia 1 to 6 were 3.5 ± 1.0, 2.9 ± 1.6, 3.3 ± 1.2, 3.0 ± 1.4, 3.4 ± 1.3, and 7.2 ± 1.1 days when fed sugarbeet foliage and reared at 27 °C. Mean lengths and weights of caterpillar larvae are presented for each day of development. Mean male pupal weight was 333.5 ± 34.4 mg and mean female pupal weight was 362.9 ± 53.0 mg. Fecundity is correlated with pupal weight. Foliage consumption increases in proportion to larval age, weight, and length. Mean total foliage consumption for instars 1 to 6 was 0.55 ± 0.27, 1.49 ± 0.82, 4.61 ± 2.98, 14.4 ± 8.50, 40.32 ± 14.55, and 210.88 ± 54.52 cm 2 . A method to estimate economic injury levels for zebra caterpillar on sugarbeet is discussed.
A Role for Social Psychology Instruction in Reducing Bias and Conflict

Two studies investigated the potential for social psychology instruction to improve interpersonal understanding and to reduce conflict among American undergraduates. In Study 1, in comparison with ...
Virtual open path diode laser spectrometer

A virtual, open-path diode laser spectrometer is implemented for use in design and modeling of openpath diode laser spectrometers. The virtual spectrometer is composed of eight modules: a diode laser source module, optical beam correction module, sample module, detection optics module, detector module, signal processing module, data handling module and display module. This modular approach increases the ease of modifying and updating the spectrometer. The virtual spectrometer allows for easy adjustment and visualization of parameters associated with real spectrometers of this design. The virtual spectrometer will be used to model behavior of a distributed, open-path, near-infrared diode laser spectrometer to be mounted on micro rover robots. The purpose of the spectrometer is to measure trace gas levels in hazardous or inaccessible places, such as the surface of Mars for water vapor or around chemical spills, in mines, or for use in covert operations in hostile areas. The virtual spectrometer will also be used to model behavior of an open-path, near-infrared diode laser for measuring chemical species produced in the exhaust plumes of hybrid rockets. Comparisons between actual and virtual spectra are made and discussed. * Graduate Student, Student Member AIAA f Undergraduate Student, Student Member AIAA | Professor, Associate Member AIAA § Professor, Associate Member AIAA Copyright © 2000 by Edmond W. Wilson, Jr. Published by the American Institute of Aeronautics, Inc. with permission. Introduction Until recently, the near infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, from approximately 0.7(J,m to 2 Jim, has been overlooked by spectroscopists. However, the rapid and extensive development of near infrared semiconductor diode lasers, driven by their use in fiber optic communications, compact disk audio players and laser printers, has led to a resurgence of interest in this spectral range. It is now possible to obtain diode lasers that operate at a variety of wavelengths in the near infrared portion of the spectrum. Diode lasers are being manufactured that have very attractive properties as sources for spectroscopic studies. They have the positive characteristics of lasers in general, i.e., the production of intense beams of nearly monochromatic radiation with low divergence. In addition, they are tunable over small wavelength ranges by varying their temperature or injection current. And they are quite small, with modest power requirements, making them ideal as probes in field applications or for space missions. Negative properties of diode lasers must be overcome to employ them successfully in spectroscopic applications. Particularly troublesome is the phenomenon called mode hoping. Instead of a linear
Serology identification and drug resistance analysis of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in seafood products from hotels

Objective:To know contamination,serogroup distribution and durg resistances about Vibrio parahaemolyticus(vp) in seafood products of hotels in wenzhou;To approach the application of PCR;To provide the scientific guidelines for the consumer of the hotel in wenzhou.Methods:A total of 235 seafood samples in hotel were collected to detest serotyping;apply PCR to test virulence(tdh,trh);make use of Kanagawa phenomenon to test haemolysin;use K-B to test susceptibility test.Results: 50 strains of VPs were detected from 235 seafood samples.The detection rate was 21.27%.The Serology typing belong to 9 serogroups.37 strains of VPs out of 51 were tested by PCR,8 strains of VPs out of 37 is positive in tdh gene,2 strains of VPs out of 37 strains is positive in tdh/trh gene,27 strains of VPs out of 37 strains is negative.2 strains of VPs out of 51 were positive in Kanagawa phenomenon test.The detection rate was 4.00%.25 strains of VPs were picked to run medicine sensitivity tests,and they showed 100% sensitivity to 12,which are CN,KZ,AK and so on,and 100% resistance to AMP and P.Conclusion:Vibrio parahaemolyticus(vp) is more serious pollution in seafood of hotel.Medicine sensitivity test showed that VP is sensitive to generally all kinds of antibiotics except that which is 100% resistant to penicillin.2 strains of VPs is positive in the test of PCR and Kanagawa phenomenon test.Kanagawa phenomenon test can be applied to animal experiments as a method of virulence to test more economics than PCR.Serology type is mainly O3 group,O4 group,O1 group,O5 group.
Clinical analysis of 17 pediatric patients with cryptococcus neoformans meningitis

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics,early diagnosis,and the methods of therapy in children with cryptococcal meningitis.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 17 patients with cryptococcal meningitis.Results Fifteen children with cryptococcal meningitis were misdiagnosed before admission to our hospita1.Seven of 13 patients totally recovered with amphotericin B and fulconazole therapy,two of them died.Conclusion The characteristic manifestation of cryptococcal meningitis in children mainly include fever and intracranial hypertension.It is helpful to make an early diagnosis by examination of cerebrospinal fluid performed repeatedly.The analysis indicates that amphotericin B and fluconazole combination therapy remains effective and is well tolerated in the treatment of Cryptococcus meningitis.
A new obstetric forceps. For rotation and extraction of the fetal head in a single application.

Abstract A new obstetric forceps, devised for use in the persistent occiput transverse and the persistent occiput posterior positions of the fetal head, has been described, and has proved to have other applications. The unusually long, shallow perineal curve, the strong inflexible shanks and shallow pelvic curve, and the somewhat narrower cephalic curve are the critical features of the instrument.
Sphincter Stretch: A New Technique Resulting in Continence and Complete Voiding in Paraplegics

AbstractA technique is described to facilitate voiding in the paraplegic, whereby external sphincter spasm is eliminated as a source of obstruction. Digital stretch on the anal sphincter combined with the Valsalva maneuver has resulted in satisfactory bladder emptying in 16 paraplegic patients. The technique has been found unsatisfactory in patients with contracted bladders or with incomplete lesions of the spinal cord.
Paget's Disease of Bone

Paget's disease of bone is a localized disorder of bone remodeling. Increased numbers of larger than normal osteoclasts initiate the process at affected skeletal sites, and the increase in bone resorption is followed by an increase in new bone formation, altering bone architecture. The signs and symptoms of Paget's disease are varied, depending in part on the location of the involved sites and the degree of increased bone turnover. Recent progress in Paget's disease research includes new data regarding the etiology of this disorder and the ongoing development of more effective therapies. Although the cause of Paget's disease remains unproven, the creation of pagetic osteoclasts seems ever more likely to result from both genetic and environmental factors. Many studies indicate that in patients with Paget's disease, both osteoclasts and their precursors harbor evidence of a paramyxovirus infection, although not all studies confirm this finding. Very recent genetic investigations have identified one candidate gene on chromosome 18q, although genetic heterogeneity is almost certainly present. Advances in treatment have resulted from the availability of several potent bisphosphonate compounds (e.g., pamidronate, alendronate, and risedronate) that, unlike earlier treatments, produce normal or near normal bone turnover indices in a majority of patients. New bone formation after such treatment has a more normal, lamellar pattern, and mineralization abnormalities are rare to absent with the newer compounds. The availability of such agents has prompted a more aggressive management philosophy in which both symptomatic disease and also asymptomatic disease at sites with a risk of progression and future complications are viewed as clear indications for pharmacologic intervention.
The Isogeny Theorems

We return to p-adic representations. Let A be an elliptic curve defined over K. We take points of A in a fixed algebraic closure Ka. We have the p-adic spaces T p (A) and V p (A) over Z p and Q p respectively.
Outcome of Invasive Aspergillosis (IA) in 30 Patients with Hematological Cancer (Hem-Ca): Immunity Is (Almost) Everything.

Abstract Background: Among IA pts receiving antifungal therapy, a strong relationship exists between outcome of IA and resolution of immunosuppression. Determining the respective contributions of immune reconstitution and antifungal therapy to response has not been attempted. Yet, treatment strategies for IA have focused almost exclusively on antifungal agents to the detriment of immune therapies. Galactomannan (GM) is an Aspergillus-specific polysaccharide released during aspergillosis and detected by the serum GM test. This FDA-approved test is an accepted diagnostic marker for aspergillosis and preliminary data suggest a correlation between GM index (GMI) and outcome. Purpose: using GMI, to describe the contribution of immune recovery to outcome of IA in pts with hematological cancer (Hem-Ca). Patients and Methods: From 11/03–2/06, pts at risk for IA underwent GMI screening during periods at risk. The clinical and radiological findings of pts with ≥ 2 positive (+) GMI (optical density ≥ 0.5) were reviewed. Results: 30 pts had GMI (+) aspergillosis of the respiratory tract [myeloma 92%; median age: 59 years (27–75); 15 males]. Aspergillosis developed following stem cell transplant (SCT) [autologous (11), allogeneic (1)], or conventional chemotherapy (18). 25 pts were neutropenic ( Overall, all 3 pts who remained neutropenic died compared to 2 of 22 pts whose myelosuppression resolved and 1/5 non-neutropenic pts (p=0.005). Conclusion: In addition to the strong association between neutrophil recovery and IA response, the critical role of immunity in IA is supported by common development of IRIS, spontaneous resolution of IA and response to immunomodulatory therapies. Daily GMI testing should be performed to accurately assess aspergillosis response. Declining GMI index obviates the need for invasive procedures and / or therapy modification. Immune therapies should be explored in IA.
Shape-Morphing Materials from Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogel Hybrids

ConspectusThe formation of well-defined and functional three-dimensional (3D) structures by buckling of thin sheets subjected to spatially nonuniform stresses is common in biological morphogenesis and has become a subject of great interest in synthetic systems, as such programmable shape-morphing materials hold promise in areas including drug delivery, biomedical devices, soft robotics, and biomimetic systems. Given their ability to undergo large changes in swelling in response to a wide variety of stimuli, hydrogels have naturally emerged as a key type of material in this field. Of particular interest are hybrid systems containing rigid inclusions that can define both the anisotropy and spatial nonuniformity of swelling as well as nanoparticulate additives that can enhance the responsiveness and functionality of the material.In this Account, we discuss recent progress in approaches to achieve well-defined shape morphing in hydrogel hybrids. First, we provide an overview of materials and methods that faci...
BRCA1 immunohistochemistry in high-grade serous ovarian cancers (HGS-OC) characterized for BRCA1 germ-line mutations.

5043 Background: The optimal use of BRCA1 germline testing in patients with HGS-OC is unclear. Moreover, BRCA1 germline testing does not provide information on non-germline mechanisms of BRCA1 loss...
A dynamical systems approach for the submaximal prediction of maximum heart rate and maximal oxygen uptake

This study examines the viability of utilizing a dynamical system model and heuristic parameter estimation algorithm to make predictions for maximum heart rate ( $$\mathrm {HR_{max}}$$ ) and maximal oxygen uptake ( $$\dot{\mathrm {V}}{\mathrm {O_{2max}}}$$ ) using data collected from a submaximal testing protocol. $$\dot{\mathrm {V}}{\mathrm {O_{2max}}}$$ is widely considered to be the best single measurement of overall fitness in humans. When a $$\dot{\mathrm {V}}{\mathrm {O_{2max}}}$$ assessment is not available, $$\mathrm {HR_{max}}$$ is often used to prescribe exercise intensities for training and rehabilitation. In the absence of maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), $$\mathrm {HR_{max}}$$ and $$\dot{\mathrm {V}}{\mathrm {O_{2max}}}$$ are typically estimated using traditional submaximal prediction methods with well-known limitations and inaccuracies. For this study, 12 regularly exercising healthy young adult males performed a bout of maximal CPET on a cycle ergometer to determine their true $$\mathrm {HR_{max}}$$ and $$\dot{\mathrm {V}}{\mathrm {O_{2max}}}$$ . Participants also performed a submaximal bout of exercise at varied intensities. A dynamical system model and heuristic parameter estimation algorithm were applied to the submaximal data to estimate the participants’ $$\mathrm {HR_{max}}$$ and $$\dot{\mathrm {V}}{\mathrm {O_{2max}}}$$ . The submaximal predictions were evaluated by computing the coefficient of determination $${R^2}$$ and the standard error of the estimate (SEE) through comparisons with the true maximal values for $$\mathrm {HR_{max}}$$ ( $${R^2 = 0.96}$$ , SEE = 2.4 bpm) and $$\dot{\mathrm {V}}{\mathrm {O_{2max}}}$$ ( $${R^2 = 0.93}$$ , SEE = 2.1 mL kg $$^{-1}$$ min $$^{-1}$$ ). The results from this study suggest that a dynamical system model and heuristic parameter estimation algorithm can provide accurate predictions for $$\mathrm {HR_{max}}$$ and $$\dot{\mathrm {V}}{\mathrm {O_{2max}}}$$ using data collected from a submaximal testing protocol.
Myopic Government and Strategic Rebels: Exchange and Escalation of Violence

This study presents a model in which the innate inability of a government to fully comprehend the ramifications of its actions, herein referred to as the myopia of the government, leads to underinv...
Tin Oxide as a Protective Heterojunction with Silicon for Efficient Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation in Strongly Acidic or Alkaline Electrolytes

Photoelectrodes without a p–n junction are often limited in efficiency by charge recombination at semiconductor surfaces and slow charge transfer to electrocatalysts. This study reports that tin oxide (SnO_x) layers applied to n‐Si wafers after forming a thin chemically oxidized SiO_x layer can passivate the Si surface while producing ≈620 mV photovoltage under 100 mW cm^(−2) of simulated sunlight. The SnO_x layer makes ohmic contacts to Ni, Ir, or Pt films that act as precatalysts for the oxygen‐evolution reaction (OER) in 1.0 m KOH(aq) or 1.0 m H_2SO_4(aq). Ideal regenerative solar‐to‐O_2(g) efficiencies of 4.1% and 3.7%, respectively, are obtained in 1.0 m KOH(aq) with Ni or in 1.0 m H2_SO_4(aq) with Pt/IrO_x layers as OER catalysts. Stable photocurrents for >100 h are obtained for electrodes with patterned catalyst layers in both 1.0 m KOH(aq) and 1.0 m H_2SO_4(aq).
Cleavage Blastomere Explant Culture in Xenopus

The individual blastomeres of Xenopus two- to 32-cell embryos have been fate mapped. This work identified the precursors of most of the embryonic cell types, tissues and organs; however, the maps do not reveal the cell interactions or signaling pathways that are required for establishing cell fates. This protocol describes an explant culture approach for culturing blastomeres in isolation to test whether a cell's fate has been determined. Cleavage blastomeres can be cultured in a simple salt medium without added factors because they contain intracellular yolk platelets, which provide an intrinsic energy source. This method allows one to test whether an isolated blastomere can produce specific cell types or express tissue-specific genes independent of interactions with other cells or specific signaling pathways. The role of cell-cell interactions can be revealed by co-culturing different sets of blastomeres. One can identify the molecules that are required for those cell fates by applying knockdown approaches to the isolated cell. One also can determine the developmental time at which cell fates are committed by explanting blastomere lineages at different stages.
Think Outside the Band: Design and Miniaturization of Absorptive Filters

A teaching assistant once told me that, as microwave engineers, impedance matching is "what we do." We do much more than that, of course. But I think it is true that this is what most of our more complex tasks ultimately boil down to. To design an amplifier, you have to match the impedance of the transistor. To design an antenna, you have to match its radiation impedance. We do it by rote, without thinking, like a writer punctuating sentences. It is no wonder that the Smith chart-the classic graphical tool for analyzing and displaying an impedance match-has become our field's own personal totem.
ReNeg and Backseat Driver: Learning from Demonstration with Continuous Human Feedback.

In autonomous vehicle (AV) control, allowing mistakes can be quite dangerous and costly in the real world. For this reason we investigate methods of training an AV without allowing the agent to explore and instead having a human explorer collect the data. Supervised learning has been explored for AV control, but it encounters the issue of the covariate shift. That is, training data collected from an optimal demonstration consists only of the states induced by the optimal control policy, but at runtime, the trained agent may encounter a vastly different state distribution with little relevant training data. To mitigate this issue, we have our human explorer make sub-optimal decisions. In order to have our agent not replicate these sub-optimal decisions, supervised learning requires that we either erase these actions, or replace these action with the correct action. Erasing is wasteful and replacing is difficult, since it is not easy to know the correct action without driving. We propose an alternate framework that includes continuous scalar feedback for each action, marking which actions we should replicate, which we should avoid, and how sure we are. Our framework learns continuous control from sub-optimal demonstration and evaluative feedback collected before training. We find that a human demonstrator can explore sub-optimal states in a safe manner, while still getting enough gradation to benefit learning. The collection method for data and feedback we call "Backseat Driver." We call the more general learning framework ReNeg, since it learns a regression from states to actions given negative as well as positive examples. We empirically validate several models in the ReNeg framework, testing on lane-following with limited data. We find that the best solution is a generalization of mean-squared error and outperforms supervised learning on the positive examples alone.
Biochar Surface Oxygenation by Ozonization for Super High Cation Exchange Capacity

Biochar cation exchange capacity (CEC) is a key property central to better retention of soil nutrients and reduction of fertilizer runoff. This paper reports a breakthrough process to improve bioch...
We Begin to Target the Biofilm

Biofilms were unknowingly observed centuries ago. Within the last 70 years, our understanding of biofilms, their morphology, and characteristics has grown. Yet despite an increased understanding, the presence of biofilms and their impact on healthcare are still often overlooked, or misunderstood. Antimicrobial technologies and applications are primarily focused on planktonic bacteria. A targeted approach against the biofilm phenotype is likely to improve infection outcomes wherein biofilms are the source of difficult-to-treat infections.
STGGAN: Spatial-temporal Graph Generation

This work addresses research on spatial-temporal graph generation and introduces a new model called "Spatial-temporal Graph Generative Adversarial Network" (STGGAN), which uses a newly developed variable-length Long Short Term Memory network via spatial-temporal random walks.
Effects of isometric exercises done with a belt upon the physical fitness status of students in required physical education classes.

Abstract Students (N = 104) enrolled in four low fitness, one middle fitness, and one high fitness class in basic physical education classes at the University of Connecticut participated in a 4-week program of isometric exercises done with an adjustable nylon belt which was stabilized against various body segments. Low, middle, and high fitness classes were compared in the amount of improvement made in the 5 items in which significant gains had been made. The MWF classes which did 30 min. of isometric exercises for 12 class meetings were compared to the TTh classes which met for 8 class meetings and which did the same isometric exercise program and in addition did stretching exercises and ran a mile. When all groups were treated together, mean gains of 1.1 in. in the vertical jump, .74 sec. in the agility run, .17 sec. in the 30-yd. dash, 151.9 lb. in the leg lift, and 57.0 lb. in the back lift were made. These were all significant at the 0.005 to the 0.0005 level. Small but significant gains were made in...
Does it matter who's at risk?: Testing message framing and narrative as moderators of the effects of self-referencing in obesity prevention messages targeting Hispanic adults living in the U.S.

This study tested whether the effect of self-referencing in a health-marketing message was amplified or attenuated when combined with message framing and narrative. Hispanic adults (N = 146) were r...
The Trump Effect: An Experimental Investigation of the Emboldening Effect of Racially Inflammatory Elite Communication

This article explores the effect of explicitly racial and inflammatory speech by political elites on mass citizens in a societal context where equality norms are widespread and generally heeded yet a subset of citizens nonetheless possesses deeply ingrained racial prejudices. The authors argue that such speech should have an ‘emboldening effect’ among the prejudiced, particularly where it is not clearly and strongly condemned by other elite political actors. To test this argument, the study focuses on the case of the Trump campaign for president in the United States, and utilizes a survey experiment embedded within an online panel study. The results demonstrate that in the absence of prejudiced elite speech, prejudiced citizens constrain the expression of their prejudice. However, in the presence of prejudiced elite speech – particularly when it is tacitly condoned by other elites – the study finds that the prejudiced are emboldened to both express and act upon their prejudices.
A proxy for all seasons? A synthesis of clumped isotope data from Holocene soil carbonates

Abstract Soil carbonates are important paleoclimate archives, but interpretations of their isotopic compositions (δ18O, δ13C, and Δ47) are hampered by uncertainty in the annual timing of their accumulation. Several previous studies have inferred the annual timing of soil carbonate formation by comparing modern air/soil temperatures with temperatures estimated from the clumped isotopic composition (TΔ47) of Holocene soil carbonates. Here, we compile the existing Δ47 data to first consider if recent changes in Δ47 standardization methods alters the apparent seasonal biases. Then we explore the importance of various environmental parameters on soil carbonate TΔ47 and discuss implications for associated paleoclimate reconstructions. Most soil carbonates record TΔ47 values higher than mean annual air temperature, but the residual varies from −4 to +24 °C. Δ47 values for most observed soil profiles do not vary with depth. We find that the grain size of the soil matrix, timing of precipitation, and presence of vegetation each explain a portion of the observed variance in seasonal bias and can be used to aid in interpretations of TΔ47 values from paleosols. In some soil carbonates, a warm-season bias in TΔ47 is accompanied with calculated δ18O values of soil water that appear to be biased toward the δ18O of summer rainfall. Most estimated values of δ18O of soil water are within 2‰ of the δ18O values of mean annual rainfall. Where possible, paleoclimate reconstructions should consider precipitation timing, soil texture, and vegetation cover to aid in identifying the seasonal bias of soil carbonate stable isotopic compositions.
Antiproliferative effect of bupivacaine on patient-derived sarcoma cells

Sarcomas are rare tumors with limited treatment options. Although chemotherapy is standard for certain subtypes, overall survival has not improved in several decades. Bupivacaine has been shown to induce apoptosis and prevent cell growth in multiple different types of malignancies but has not been studied in sarcoma. The current study evaluated the effects of bupivacaine on multiple patient-derived sarcoma cells and a commercial sarcoma cell line. Multiple patient-derived sarcoma cell subtypes and a commercial synovial cell sarcoma cell line were exposed to bupivacaine for different durations and at different concentrations. The patient-derived cells included a high-grade conventional osteosarcoma, a high-grade undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma of bone, and a high-grade synovial sarcoma. Flow cytometry and an MTT assay were used to evaluate whether a treatment effect was observed. Treatment of all the subtypes of sarcomas in this study with bupivacaine demonstrated a time- and dose-dependent increase in apoptosis and decrease in cell viability. A cell viability assay demonstrated that the IC50 was between 0.04 and 0.05% and that the treatment effect occurred at clinically relevant doses in vitro. Bupivacaine was toxic to both the patient-derived cells and the commercial cell line at doses commonly used in the clinical setting. These findings provide a foundation for further in vivo studies to evaluate whether these effects will translate to the clinical setting. Although further research is necessary, bupivacaine shows promise as not only an adjunct for pain management but as a treatment modality for sarcoma.
A Review of Approaches to Simulate Windborne Debris Dynamics in Wind Fields

Abstract Windborne debris (WBD) is one of the significant causes of damage to civil structures and infrastructures and economic loss under extreme winds, such as hurricanes and tornadoes. The impact of WBD with high momentum damages the building envelope and may further threaten the integrity of the entire structure. This study presents a comprehensive review of current literature on interactions between wind fields and WBD, with a focus on approaches to model/simulate dynamics of WBD and their impact loading on civil structures. Depending upon the applied research methodologies, the studies in the existing literature can be primarily categorized into the following three groups: 1) analytical/empirical modeling/numerical approaches, 2) experimental approaches, and 3) statistical approaches. Following brief descriptions of these approaches and their findings in the published studies, knowledge gaps are identified, and research needs are recommended.
Law and Resistance: The Republic in Crisis and the People's Response

After September 11, 2001 the United States of America has vilified and demonized Muslims and Arabs almost to the same extent that America inflicted upon the Japanese and Japanese Americans after Pearl Harbor. We American lawyers must be inspired by the stunning example set by those heroic Pakistani lawyers now leading the struggle against the brutal Bush-supported Musharraf military dictatorship.
Improving the I/O of large geophysical models using PnetCDF and BeeGFS

Abstract Large scale geophysical modeling uses high performance computing systems to expedite the solutions of very large, complex systems. High disk latencies, low IOPS, and low read/write data transfer rates are relegating many numerical simulations to I/O bound jobs, where the run time is bound not by CPU rate, but by I/O rate. In this paper we seek to improve the I/O of two geophysical modeling applications and take full advantage of the parallel nature of the programs, as well as the file management system for the large output files. Parallelizing output for these programs is achieved using PnetCDF, a parallel implementation of the netCDF format, and BeeGFS, an open-source parallel file system. Using these solutions, we have significantly decreased the amount of time spent saving data to disk, and give analysis of the features used in relation to PnetCDF with BeeGFS I/O optimization.