cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Increased Germination Of Diverse Crop–Wild Hybrid Sunflower Seeds

Gene flow from crop fields to wild populations produces hybrids that often differ from their wild counterparts in growth form, phenology, and life history characteristics. Germination and dormancy dynamics have a strong influence on population persistence, competitive dynamics, and ultimately, plant fitness. They may also play a role in modifying crop gene introgression, which has been of primary interest since the release of transgenic crops. We investigated how seed germination and dormancy were affected by sunflower crop–wild hybridization in both laboratory and field experiments. Hybridization increased seed germination and decreased dormancy. Of the nine wild populations we assayed, most of their hybrids had higher germination than the wilds of the same population. However, absolute germination levels varied by population and testing environment. Hybrids produced by three different crop lines differed in germination, and their germination rankings shifted across populations. Increased germination in hybrids could accelerate crop gene introgression, provided that hybrids germinate in an appropriate period. Differences in relative germination of wild and hybrid seed indicated that the effect of germination on introgression will likely vary by population due, in part, to initial levels of dormancy in the population. Therefore, the implications of gene flow from crops with novel characteristics or from transgenic crops will also vary by population.
Resting state and task-induced deactivation: A methodological comparison in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls

Changes in the default mode network (DMN) have been linked to multiple neurological disorders including schizophrenia. The anticorrelated relationship the DMN shares with task-related networks permits the quantification of this network both during task (task-induced deactivations: TID) and during periods of passive mental activity (extended rest). However, the effects of different methodologies (TID vs. extended rest) for quantifying the DMN in the same clinical population are currently not well understood. Moreover, several different analytic techniques, including independent component analyses (ICA) and seed-based correlation analyses, exist for examining functional connectivity during extended resting states. The current study compared both methodologies and analytic techniques in a group of patients with schizophrenia (SP) and matched healthy controls. Results indicated that TID analyses, ICA, and seed-based correlation all consistently identified the midline (anterior and posterior cingulate gyrus) and lateral parietal cortex as core regions of the DMN, as well as more variable involvement of temporal lobe structures. In addition, SP exhibited increased deactivation during task, as well as decreased functional connectivity with frontal regions and increased connectivity with posterior and subcortical areas during periods of extended rest. The increased posterior and reduced anterior connectivity may partially explain some of the cognitive dysfunction and clinical symptoms that are frequently associated with schizophrenia.
Camouflage and Misdirection: The Full-On Assault of Ebola Virus Disease

Ebolaviruses cause a severe hemorrhagic fever syndrome that is rapidly fatal to humans and nonhuman primates. Ebola protein interactions with host cellular proteins disrupt type I and type II interferon responses, RNAi antiviral responses, antigen presentation, T-cell-dependent B cell responses, humoral antibodies, and cell-mediated immunity. This multifaceted approach to evasion and suppression of innate and adaptive immune responses in their target hosts leads to the severe immune dysregulation and "cytokine storm" that is characteristic of fatal ebolavirus infection. Here, we highlight some of the processes by which Ebola interacts with its mammalian hosts to evade antiviral defenses.
Alternate path routing in mobile ad hoc networks

This research used a custom event-driven network simulator to evaluate alternate path routing's (APR's) behavior in mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs). In particular, it investigated how much route-diversity is inherent in typical ad-hoc networks, and the ability of a globally reactive routing-protocol (such as the zone routing protocol) to capture and utilize that route diversity. It then explored the end-to-end capacity improvements provided by APR. Results indicate that APR's benefit is highly dependent on both the network topology and the channel access methods.
Inverse scattering for near-field scanning optical microscopy with broadband illumination

The linear inverse problem for near-field optical microscopy is solved for a broadband scanning modality. Pseudo-inverse formulae are derived and illustrated with numerical simulations.
Natural killer cells activity in patients with multiple sclerosis given α interferon

The purpose of this study was to examine the function and regulation of natural killer cells in vitro and in vivo in patients with multiple sclerosis. Of 12 patients who received 5 X 10(6) international units of human alpha interferon, 9 demonstrated an increase in natural killer cell activity within 48 hours as defined by the lysis of 51Cr-labeled K-562 cells. The activity was normal before treatment, unlike that of tumor-bearing patients, and reached baseline levels within one week despite continuous interferon administration over the next six months. The same patients given a placebo preparation failed to show this enhanced natural killer cell activity. We also studied K-562 killing in 36 other patients and age- and sex-matched control subjects and were unable to demonstrate any differences between the two groups or any correlation of natural killer cell function with disease activity. The in vitro augmentation of natural killer cell activity by purified measles virions, which is associated with the release of interferon, and by the isolated glycoproteins of measles virus, which activates natural killer cells without the extracellular release of interferon, was similar in both patients and control subjects. Further, the proportion of cells defined by the monoclonal antibody HNK-1, which defines both natural killer cells and a small subset of cytotoxic T lymphocytes, was normal. In patients with multiple sclerosis, the normality of natural killer cell function, as defined by these several interrelated assays, speaks against a defect in this nonspecific antiviral defense mechanism in the pathogenesis of the disease.
THE IMPACT OF INVASIVE GRASSES ON THE POPULATION GROWTH OF ANEMONE PATENS, A LONG‐LIVED NATIVE FORB

Negative impacts of invasive plants on natives have been well documented, but much less is known about whether invasive plants can cause population level declines. We used demographic models to investigate the effects of two invasive grasses on the demography and population growth of Anemone patens, a long-lived native perennial of North American grasslands. Demographic data of A. patens growing in patches characterized by Bromus inermis, Poa pratensis, or native grasses were used to parameterize integral projection models. Models based on both average conditions and those allowing for environmental stochasticity indicate that A. patens is slowly increasing in patches of native grass (λ = 1.02) and declining in patches of invasive grasses, particularly those dominated by B. inermis (λ = 0.93). Extinction probabilities indicate that A. patens should persist in native grass patches, but has a much higher probability of extinction in Bromus patches compared to Poa patches. While sensitivity analyses showed that survival had the biggest effect on population growth rates in all habitats, results of a Life Table Response Experiment (LTRE) revealed that slower individual growth rates in patches of invasive grasses contributed the most to the observed reduction in population growth. These results suggest that invasive grasses may cause slow declines in A. patens, despite short-term coexistence, and that controlling B. inermis only would not be sufficient to ensure A. patens persistence.
Food hoarding: future value in optimal foraging decisions

Abstract Traditionally, optimal foraging theory has been applied to situations in which a forager makes decisions about current resource consumption based on tradeoffs in resource attributes (e.g. caloric intake versus handling time). Food storage, which permits animals to manage the availability of food in space and time, adds a complex dimension to foraging decisions, and may influence the predictions of traditional foraging theory. One key question about the role of caching behavior in optimal foraging theory is the degree to which information about future value might influence foraging decisions. To investigate this question, we use a simple prey selection model that minimizes the time spent foraging and is modified to include food storage and changes in nutritional value through time. We used simulations to evaluate time spent in foraging activities per prey item and optimal foraging strategies (e.g. cache versus consume immediately) for 3125 parameter combinations, representing different abundance levels, handling times, and nutritional values. Using discriminant function analysis it was possible to distinguish situations where “caching” versus “immediate consumption” were optimal strategies with abundance as the single predictive variable. The circumstances where caching was optimal were characterized by a decline in prey abundance and an increase in nutritional value through time. These results provide a framework for identifying subtle differences in foraging behavior when future value is accounted for thereby improving our predictive understanding of how caching animals forage.
Characterization of the Cryptosporidium antigens from sporulated oocysts of Cryptosporidium parvum.

Abstract The antigenic constituents of sporulated Cryptosporidium parvum oocyst antigens were characterized with antisera from mice immunized against C. parvum. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by silver staining defined the major proteins. Six of seven lectins used recognized as many as 15 bands. The lectins concanavalin A, Dolichos biflorus, and wheat germ agglutinin showed strong activity against the same eight bands with molecular weights ranging from 72,000 to greater than 100,000. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect antibody to C. parvum. Antibody binding was significantly decreased by heat and enzymatic treatment with trypsin, protease, and mixed glycosidases. C. parvum antigens were further defined by the reactivity of immune sera with a C. parvum sonicate preparation separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and electrophoretically transferred to nitrocellulose paper. Antisera from orally infected mice consistently recognized four antigens with molecular weights ranging from 72,000 to greater than 100,000. These antigens also bound concanavalin A. Treatment of the antigen preparation with mixed glycosidases reduced the reactivity of antisera with most antigens with molecular weights greater than 60,000. The data suggest that the antigenic composition of C. parvum is complex and that carbohydrates alone or in association with lipids or proteins may be important in the immune response to C. parvum.
Formation of Ultrathin Stacked Dielectrics Prepared by In-Situ Multi-Step RTP-CVD

Ultrathin stacked SiO2/Si3N4/SiO2 films have been fabricated successfully using in-situ multi-step rapid thermal processing chemical vapor deposition (RTP-CVD). Stacked Si3N4/SiO2 (NO) layers were deposited first by RTP-CVD. Some samples were further rapid-thermal oxidized after stacked layer deposition to form oxide/nitride/oxide (ONO) stacked layers. Ellipsometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) ,and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) were performed to characterize the films. Results show that well defined stacked Si3N4/SiO2 layers were fabricated and for wafers subjected to rapid-thermal oxidation an oxygen-rich SixNyOz layer was formed on the top of the dielectric stack. Nitrogen pile-up at the dielectric/substrate interface was observed for all wafers indicating that nitrogen diffuses into the bottom oxide during nitride deposition even though the deposition temperature is well below those used in thermal nitridation of thermal oxides.
THE FRACTIONATION OF EXOGENOUS AND ENDOGENOUS THYROID-STIMULATING HORMONE FROM HUMAN AND RAT PLASMA AND TISSUES

A method of fractionation is presented which permits the recovery of thyrotropic activity from serum, plasma and tissue homogenates even when present in concentrations as low as 0.002 mU per ml. A single application of the acid-salt fractionation method permits discard of about 75 per cent of the plasma proteins. After a second fractionation, as much as 95 per cent of the plasma proteins may be discarded without significant loss of thyrotropic activity. By this method, the potency of normal rat serum was found to be 0.02 mu per ml., and that of normal human plasma only 0.002 mu per ml. In hypothyroid rats and patients the levels were elevated, and in some patients with Graves' disease the levels were as high as 6000 times normal.
Scalable audio streaming over the internet with network-aware rate-distortion optimization

Reliable audio streaming over the unreliable Internet is a challenging task. Because during a connected session, the bandwidth can vary greatly and the data packets can be lost in the transmission, it is difficult to guarantee a smooth quality of the delivered audio over the Internet. In this work, a system for streaming of scalable coded audio over the Internet is proposed. Scalable audio coding generates a bitstream consisting a number of data units (DUs), where a subset of the DUs can be extracted to reconstruct audio at a lower quality level. A network aware ratedistortion optimization model is proposed so that the server can easily adapt to the network bandwidth fluctuation by sending less packets when the network is congested. The server can also deal with severe packet loss by only retransmitting the more important data packets. By using the scalable audio coding and network aware delivery scheme, the quality of the audio streaming over severe network condition is improved dramatically.
An Overview of Contemporary Financial Education Initiatives Aimed at Minority Populations

Minority groups, particularly Hispanics and Blacks, are less likely to use formal financial advice compared to their White counterparts and have lower levels of financial literacy on average. This gap in literacy may have important implications for savings, investing, and retirement planning. To better reach these groups and improve financial literacy, the literature recommends making access to financial education easier, targeting the education to the population, and delivering it through preferred methods. Although they have not been thoroughly evaluated for effectiveness, this chapter provides an overview of several promising, real-world financial education initiatives targeted toward minority populations.
Reduced arachidonate metabolism in ATP-depleted myocardial cells occurs early in cell injury

Exposure of cultured neonatal rat myocardial cells to metabolic inhibitors results in cellular ATP depletion. If prolonged, arachidonic acid is released from membrane phospholipid and irreversible cell injury may ensue. The present study was undertaken to identify the major products of arachidonic acid formed when myocardial cells are depleted of ATP by the metabolic inhibitors 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) and oligomycin (OG). Under basal conditions, myocardial cells metabolize [3H]arachidonic acid to 6-keto-[3H]prostaglandin (PG)F1 alpha, [3H]PGE2, [3H]PGF2 alpha, 12-[3H]hydroxy-6,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (12-[3H]HETE) and 11-[3H]HETE, indicating that these cells contain both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways. After exposure of myocardial cells to 10 mM 2-DG and 0.1 micrograms/ml OG for 4 h, the basal release of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and PGE2 is reduced by 3.4-fold and 2-fold, respectively. Supernatants obtained from cells prelabeled with [3H]arachidonic acid and treated with 2-DG and OG for 4 or 12 h did not contain detectable [3H]prostaglandins or [3H]HETEs, but only [3H]arachidonic acid when compared with untreated cells. After 4 and 12 h of treatment with 2-DG and OG, there was a 3.4- and 4.4-fold net release of endogenous arachidonic acid from treated compared with untreated cells. When stimulated with bradykinin, melittin (a phospholipase activator), or arachidonic acid, the synthesis of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha increased to a similar extent in both 2-DG- and OG-treated and -untreated cells. Hence, ATP-depleted myocardial cells do not convert arachidonic acid to oxygenated metabolites under basal conditions. The reduced arachidonic acid metabolism during ATP depletion is not due to direct inactivation of cyclooxygenase or membrane phospholipase. This impairment in arachidonic acid metabolism may represent an early event in myocardial cell injury.
Hardiness as a Relationship and Work Facilitator

Emphasized is the hardiness approach to turning stresses into growth and development. It is important to recognize the inherently changing nature of relationships and work situations, and to immerse yourself in this. This takes the courage of hardy attitudes, and the hard work of hardy strategies. One must learn through failures as well as successes. Significant relationships need to be deepened in intimacy. Work needs to be fulfilled through what one continues to learn. In all this, neither particular relationships nor work settings need to last forever.
Evaluation of Dredged Material Disposal Options Using Chemical and Biological Testing Data and Risk Based Indices

This paper provides an overview of the Green Book testing regime, focusing on evaluation of risk and compares the results of synoptic testing of sediments from three harbors in the Northeast. First, sediment chemical concentrations from the three locations are compared to established sediment quality guidelines (SQGs). Next, biological effects tests, including the 10-day toxicity tests using Ampelisca abdita and Americamysis bahia are conducted to determine the potential for adverse effects. Finally, 28-day bioaccumulation tests using Macoma nasuta and Nereis virens are used to assess contaminant mobility. Alone, these tests only assess exposure and not the potential for adverse effects-from COCs to higher trophic levels. For this reason, a risk-based approach is also used to evaluate the potential for ecological and human impacts from exposure to contaminated sediments. Risk-based evaluations, performed on bioaccumulation data from the 28-day tests, were conducted and the results are evaluated in the context of the standard evaluations for suitability of dredged material disposal in open waters. This risk-based approach to evaluate disposal options allows an effective management strategy, which minimizes environmental effects.
Vancomycin and gentamicin in neonates: hindsight, current controversies, and forethought.

The use of both vancomycin and gentamicin in the treatment of suspected or documented neonatal infections, while routine, is a challenge for bedside and advanced practice nurses caring for neonates in intensive care units. A review of the background information surrounding neonatal infections as wel
Translations in Architecture

In a recently discovered photograph of German architect Bruno Taut's retrospective exhibition at the Istanbul Academy of Fine Arts, which opened on 4 June 1938, Taut in-exile stands with Erica Taut and his assistant Sinasi Lugal in front of a display (see Figure 1). What interests me in this image is not so much the frontal figures who posed for it as the documentary value of the exhibit in the background, the photographs inside the photograph. These images display Taut's Siedlungen (residential settlements/collective housing projects), designed and constructed as part of the Berlin Housing Program (1924–33) just before Taut was exiled from Germany due to the rise of National Socialism. After stays in Russia and Japan, Taut moved to Turkey, where he became head of the Architecture Department at the Istanbul Academy. Through a seminar and a studio he taught on Siedlung, he participated in a translation of the idea of collective housing that would shape the discursive space and practice of architecture in Turkey for decades to come. Most of the images in the exhibition were taken by the now-famous photographer Arthur Koster. The exhibit bears witness to the fact that Turkish architects were exposed not only to the influential Siedlungen of the Weimar period in Germany but also to their soon-to-be canonical photographs earlier than most of their colleagues around the world.
Detecting Shear and Tension Bond Failures in Composite Aircraft Structures

Composite aircraft structures commonly use bonded joints to adhere the wing and fuselage skins to the wing spars, stringers, ribs, and frames. Unfortunately the bond out-ofplane normal (peel) strength is many orders of magnitude less than the fiber strength of the adjacent laminates. Moreover, the adhesive failure is brittle in nature so that it is difficult to monitor an impending overload or fatigue failure. In order to avoid failures due to interlaminar damage without using high margins of safety, a Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system can be used. While extensive literature on SHM systems for fiber-driven damage exists, there is no mention of an SHM system that specifically addresses these types of matrix-driven damage. The proposed SHM system spans the acquisition, location, reconstruction, and damage type decision of Acoustic Emission (AE) damage signals. An algorithm is presented to calculate the location of AE damage signals in a laminated composite structure using an over-determined approach to minimize location errors. Also, a novel procedure is presented to simultaneously reconstruct the loading source time series for a recorded damage signal and identify the source type. Parametric studies are presented for both algorithms to gauge their effectiveness under varying levels of noise, number of sensors, material properties and different types of uncertainty. Two experimental studies were undertaken to exercise the SHM algorithm presented in this study. The first experiment models a predominantly single type quasi-static damage case, and the second experiment studies a mixed damage impact case.
Small Obscurins at the Intercalated Disc Mediate Structure, Cell Size, and Adhesion

The intercalated disc (ID) of cardiac muscle embodies a highly ordered, multifunctional network, essential for the transmission of electrical stimuli and mechanical force resulting in the synchronous beating of the heart. Recently, a plethora of proteins have been identified as novel components of the ID. The challenge now lies in their characterization as it relates to the coupling of neighbouring cardiomyocytes and whole heart function. Here we focus on the functional characterization of two novel ID proteins, obscurin-40 and obscurin-80.Obscurins are a family of proteins expressed in striated muscle cells where they localize to distinct substructures, contributing to their assembly and integration with other sarcoplasmic elements. Our previous studies have shown that the obscurin transcript, arising from the single OBSCN gene is extensively spliced, resulting in several obscurin isoforms. Complex splicing at the 3’ end of OBSCN results in at least two novel products, obsc-40 and obsc-80, which preferentially concentrate at the ID. Consistent with their ID subcellular localization, biochemical assays demonstrated that obsc-40 and obsc-80 are in a complex with major ID proteins, including N-cadherin, connexin-43, vinculin, and ankyrin-G. In addition, the obscurin pleckstrin homology (PH) domain present in both obsc-40 and obsc-80 binds specifically and directly to phosphatidylinositol 3,4 and 4,5 bisphosphates, likely targeting both proteins to the ID membrane. Overexpression of the obscurin-PH domain in a cardiac derived cell line results in decreased activation of the PI3K/Akt and mTOR pathways. These molecular alterations lead to decreased cellular aggregation and overall cardiomyocyte size. Furthermore, both obsc-40 and obsc-80, but not giant obscurins, exhibit reduced expression in myocardial infarction and transaortic constriction cardiac-stress models. Taken together these important findings implicate these novel small obscurins in the maintenance of heart size and the prevention of hypertrophy.
Improvement on oil-supplying measure for traditional analytical ferrograph

To solve the problem that the debris is prone to deposit in the bottom of the container,which may debase the quality of ferrogram and influence the oil monitoring,the force state of single particle in oil sample and the law of magnetic field with a mass of ferromagnetic debris was analyzed.Based on these,the conclusion was presented that the phenomenon of debris depositing in the tube still existed although being pretreated well,resulting in the interference in the magnetic field for too dense debris depositing.To eliminate the disadvantage caused by this problem,a simple measure that gives a control to the position of the supplying pipe was also presented.It is showed by experiment that while the bigger debris could be prevented from depositing largely,the number of the smaller ones could increase at the end of ferrogram.Moreover,the information from the oil samples could be held as much as possible.So the quality of ferrogram made by this new measure could be improved.
Delayed hypersensitivity skin testing: response rates in a surgical population.

Delayed hypersensitivity skin testing is the single most important means currently available for the clinical evaluation of the status of the cellular immune response in hospitalized patients.
Nested Cohort Study to Identify Characteristics That Predict Near-Term Disablement From Lung Cancer Brain Metastases

Abstract Objective To test whether the presence of patient- and imaging-level characteristics (1) are associated with clinically meaningful changes in mobility among patients with late-stage cancer with metastatic brain involvement, and (2) can predict their risk of near-term functional decline. Design Prospective nested cohort study. Setting Quaternary academic medical center. Participants The study population consisted of a nested cohort of the patients with imaging-confirmed brain metastases (n=66) among a larger cohort of patients with late-stage lung cancer (N=311). Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Functional evaluations with the Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care Computer Adaptive Test (AM-PAC-CAT) and symptom intensity ratings were collected at monthly intervals for up to 2 years. Results In exploratory univariate models, whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) and imaging findings of cerebellar or brainstem involvement were associated with large AM-PAC-CAT score declines reflecting worsening mobility (−4.55, SE 1.12; −2.87, SE, 1.0; and −3.14, SE 1.47, respectively). Also in univariate models, participants with new neurologic signs or symptoms at imaging (−2.48; SE .99), new brain metastases (−2.14, SE .99), or new and expanding metastases (−2.64, SE 1.14) declined significantly. Multivariate exploratory mixed logistic models, including WBRT, cerebellar/brainstem location, presence of new and expanding metastases, and worst pain intensity, had excellent predictive capabilities for AM-PAC-CAT score declines of 7.5 and 10 points (C statistics ≥0.8). Conclusions Among patients with lung cancer and brain metastases, cerebellar/brainstem location, new and expanding metastases, and treatment with WBRT may predict severe, near-term mobility losses and indicate a need to consider rehabilitation services.
P-024 Prominent Condylar Veins Causing Pulsatile Tinnitus: Dynamic Angiographic Confirmation

Introduction/purpose Numerous processes can cause pulsatile tinnitus (PT), some of which are potentially life threatening. This case series describes a cause of PT – prominent condylar veins – that has undergone little investigation to date. This report characterizes angiographic findings in patients with prominent condylar veins and means to localize symptoms to these structures using dynamic angiography with head positioning and venous balloon test occlusion. Materials and methods Retrospective analysis was performed under IRB approved protocol for 43 consecutive PT patients referred for diagnostic angiography at a major academic medical center between January 2013 and December 2015. Rates of different etiologies of PT among patients in this group were noted. In addition to standard diagnostic cervicocerebral angiography, dynamic angiography with head turning was conducted. The effects of provocative maneuvers were measured using time-resolved flow analysis known (iFlow, Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen Germany). Results 5 (11.6%) patients were found to have prominent condylar veins. 16 (37.2%) had a dAVF, 4 (9.3%) had a venous diverticulum, and 9 (20.9%) had no angiographic abnormality detected. The findings of the five patients with prominent condylar veins are summarized in the table. Representative images are provided in the figure. Conclusion Prominent flow in condylar veins should be considered among the numerous causes of PT. This may be a frequent cause of these symptoms in patients who previously would have had no identifiable cause Further investigation is warranted with respect to this cause of PT and PT in general. Disclosures M. Alexander: None. K. Meisel: None. V. Halbach: None. R. Darflinger: None. A. Nicholson: None. F. Settecase: None. D. Cooke: None. R. Higashida: None. C. Dowd: None. S. Hetts: None. M. Amans: None.
Ferro-Electric RAM Based Microcontrollers: Ultra-Low Power Intelligence for the Internet of Things

Microcontrollers (MCUs) serve a central role in the design of IoT leaf nodes. A typical microcontroller comprises of a processing core, program and data memory, serial communication interfaces, general purpose IO (GPIOs) ports, comparators and ADCs, clock generation and power regulators. Microcontrollers have modest clock frequencies and memory capacities, keeping the IC cost low. High level of integration helps improves performance, lowers power and helps achieve a small form factor. All of these are critical in the design of ICs for IoT applications. This chapter focuses on the design of low power microcontrollers using two Texas Instruments (TI) microcontrollers as examples. Both microcontrollers feature embedded Ferro-electric RAM (FRAM) as a low power non-volatile unified data and program memory. Low write power non-volatile memory with high write endurance (number of write cycles) is critical in IoT applications that feature data logging. FRAM has low power writes at 1.5 V, practically unlimited write endurance (>1015), and high yields with millions of shipped parts. In the following sections we describe analog, digital and system design techniques that help achieve the low power metrics in TI microcontrollers.
Identifying dynamic changes with noisy labels in spatial-temporal data: A study on large-scale water monitoring application

The need for effective change detection is ever growing with more emerging large-scale spatial-temporal datasets that contain gridded time series data. To detect meaningful changing events with respect to our desired characteristics, in this paper we focus on the post-classification change detection problem which aims to apply change detection techniques on the time series of classification outputs. To study the challenges and to evaluate the performance, we apply the change detection techniques to an application of water monitoring using remote sensing data. Since the learning model can be affected by special properties of remote sensing data, the obtained classification outputs usually contain much noise. Therefore the successful change detection requires an elaborate mechanism to handle the time series of noisy classification outputs. To this end we propose to integrate spatial and temporal constraints into an optimization based change detection framework. The proposed framework mitigates the noise in the time series and can be efficiently solved by an EM-style algorithm. The extensive experimental results on both synthetic and real-world datasets very well demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in detecting the water dynamics.
NEW MODIFICATION OF ISOMETRIC HANDGRIP STRESS ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY FOR DETECTION OF CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE: COMBINATION OF EXERCISE AND EMOTIONAL STRESS ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY

Background: Conventional isometric stress echocardiography is not routinely used in the assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD) because of low sensitivity in diagnosis of coronary lesions. The purpose of this study was to determine diagnostic value of new modification of isometric handgrip
Adjuvant radiotherapy improves overall survival in patients with resected gastric adenocarcinoma: A National Cancer Data Base analysis.

BACKGROUND For patients with resectable gastric adenocarcinoma, perioperative chemotherapy and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) are considered standard options. In the current study, the authors used the National Cancer Data Base to compare overall survival (OS) between these regimens. METHODS Patients who underwent gastrectomy for nonmetastatic gastric adenocarcinoma from 2004 through 2012 were divided into those treated with perioperative chemotherapy without RT versus those treated with adjuvant CRT. Survival was estimated and compared using univariate and multivariate models adjusted for patient and tumor characteristics, surgical margin status, and the number of lymph nodes examined. Subset analyses were performed for factors chosen a priori, and potential interactions between treatment and covariates were assessed. RESULTS A total of 3656 eligible patients were identified, 52% of whom underwent perioperative chemotherapy and 48% of whom received postoperative CRT. The median follow-up was 47 months, and the median age of the patients was 62 years. Analysis of the entire cohort demonstrated improved OS with adjuvant RT on both univariate (median of 51 months vs 42 months; P = .013) and multivariate (hazard ratio, 0.874; 95% confidence interval, 0.790-0.967 [P = .009]) analyses. Propensity score-matched analysis also demonstrated improved OS with adjuvant RT (median of 49 months vs 39 months; P = .033). On subset analysis, a significant interaction was observed between the survival impact of adjuvant RT and surgical margins, with a greater benefit of RT noted among patients with surgical margin-positive disease (hazard ratio with RT: 0.650 vs 0.952; P for interaction <.001). CONCLUSIONS In this National Cancer Data Base analysis, the use of adjuvant RT in addition to chemotherapy was associated with a significant OS advantage for patients with resected gastric cancer. The survival advantage observed with adjuvant CRT was most pronounced among patients with positive surgical margins. Cancer 2017;123:3402-9. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
Comparison of two bioinformatics tools used to characterize the microbial diversity and predictive functional attributes of microbial mats from Lake Obersee, Antarctica

In this study, using NextGen sequencing of the collective 16S rRNA genes obtained from two sets of samples collected from Lake Obersee, Antarctica, we compared and contrasted two bioinformatics tools, PICRUSt and Tax4Fun. We then developed an R script to assess the taxonomic and predictive functional profiles of the microbial communities within the samples. Taxa such as Pseudoxanthomonas, Planctomycetaceae, Cyanobacteria Subsection III, Nitrosomonadaceae, Leptothrix, and Rhodobacter were exclusively identified by Tax4Fun that uses SILVA database; whereas PICRUSt that uses Greengenes database uniquely identified Pirellulaceae, Gemmatimonadetes A1-B1, Pseudanabaena, Salinibacterium and Sinobacteraceae. Predictive functional profiling of the microbial communities using Tax4Fun and PICRUSt separately revealed common metabolic capabilities, while also showing specific functional IDs not shared between the two approaches. Combining these functional predictions using a customized R script revealed a more inclusive metabolic profile, such as hydrolases, oxidoreductases, transferases; enzymes involved in carbohydrate and amino acid metabolisms; and membrane transport proteins known for nutrient uptake from the surrounding environment. Our results present the first molecular-phylogenetic characterization and predictive functional profiles of the microbial mat communities in Lake Obersee, while demonstrating the efficacy of combining both the taxonomic assignment information and functional IDs using the R script created in this study for a more streamlined evaluation of predictive functional profiles of microbial communities.
Conflicted conservatives, punitive views, and anti-Black racial bias 1974–2014:

Research suggests that the views of “conflicted conservatives,” Americans who self-identify as conservative but express support for liberal governmental policies and spending, are particularly impo...
Why 3D Print? The 21st-Century Skills Students Develop While Engaging in 3D Printing Projects

The emergence of 3D printing has raised hopes and concerns about how it can be used effectively as an educational technology in school classrooms. This paper presents the results of a survey asking...
Common basis for orofacial clefting and cortical interneuronopathy

Orofacial clefts (OFCs) of the lip and/or palate are among the most common human birth defects. Current treatment strategies focus on functional and cosmetic repair but even when this care is available, individuals born with OFCs are at high risk for persistent neurobehavioral problems. In addition to learning disabilities and reduced academic achievement, recent evidence associates OFCs with elevated risk for a constellation of psychiatric outcomes including anxiety disorders, autism spectrum disorder, and schizophrenia. The relationship between these outcomes and OFCs is poorly understood and controversial. Recent neuroimaging studies in humans and mice demonstrate subtle morphological brain abnormalities that co-occur with OFCs but specific molecular and cellular mechanisms have not been investigated. Here, we provide the first evidence directly linking OFC pathogenesis to abnormal development of GABAergic cortical interneurons (cINs). Lineage tracing revealed that the structures that form the upper lip and palate develop in molecular synchrony and spatiotemporal proximity to cINs, suggesting these populations may have shared sensitivity to genetic and/or teratogenic insult. Examination of cIN development in a mouse model of nonsyndromic OFCs revealed significant disruptions in cIN proliferation and migration, culminating in misspecification of the somatostatin-expressing subgroup. These findings reveal a unified developmental basis for orofacial clefting and disrupted cIN development, and may explain the significant overlap in neurobehavioral and psychiatric outcomes associated with OFCs and cIN dysfunction. This emerging mechanistic understanding for increased prevalence of adverse neurobehavioral outcomes in OFC patients is the entry-point for developing evidence-based therapies to improve patient outcomes.
Loops in SL(2, ℂ) and root subgroup factorization

In previous work, we proved that for a SU(2, ℂ)-valued loop having the critical degree of smoothness (one half of a derivative in the L2 Sobolev sense), the following are equivalent: (1) the Toepli...
Deciding Whether to Interact

Why are people generally honest in their dealings with others, even in the absense of a central authority to enforce good behavior? In this chapter, we model the role of ostracism as a tool for discouraging bad behavior, and thereby encouraging good behavior. We first look at two cases in which people have the ability to remember or learn about other people’s bad behavior. In the first situation, people remember every individual who hasdone them wrongin a previous encounter and they refuse to interact with such a person again. In the second situation, good guys use word-of-mouth or gossip in addition to personal experience to learn who are the bad guys, and they avoid interacting with a person with abad repeven once. In a final case, people will be able topick up onthe signals of intent (to be good or bad) emitted by each person and use thosevibesto decide whether to interact with a stranger about whom they have no information.
High perceived social support and hospital readmissions in an older multi-ethnic, limited English proficiency, safety-net population

Early readmission amongst older safety-net hospitalized adults is costly. Interventions to prevent early readmission have had mixed success. The role of perceived social support is unclear. We examined the association of perceived social support in 30-day readmission or death in older adults admitted to a safety-net hospital. This is an observational cohort study derived from the Support From Hospital to Home for Elders (SHHE) trial. Participants were community-dwelling English, Spanish and Chinese speaking older adults admitted to medicine wards at an urban safety-net hospital in San Francisco. We assessed perceived social support using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). We defined high social support as the highest quartile of MSPSS. We ascertained 30-day readmission and mortality based on a combination of participant self-report, hospital and death records. We used multiple/multivariable logistic regression to adjust for patient demographics, health status, and health behaviors. We tested for whether race/ethnicity modified the effect high social support had on 30-day readmission or death by including a race-social support interaction term. Participants (n = 674) had mean age of 66.2 (SD 9.0), with 18.8% White, 24.8% Black, 31.9% Asian, and 19.3% Latino. The 30-day readmission or death rate was 15.0%. Those with high social support had half the odds of readmission or death than those with low social support (OR = 0.47, 95% CI 0.26–0.88). Interaction analyses revealed race modified this association; higher social support was protective against readmission or death among minorities (AOR = 0.35, 95% CI 0.16–0.76) but increased likelihood of readmission or death among Whites (AOR = 3.7, 95% CI 1.07–12.9). In older safety-net patients nearing discharge, high perceived social support may protect against 30-day readmission or death among minorities. Assessing patients’ social support may aid targeting of transitional care resources and intervention design. How perceived social support functions across racial/ethnic groups in health outcomes warrants further study. NIH trials registry number ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01221532 .
Abstract 4826: Enhancement of PTEN activity via peptidomimetics

Compromised PTEN function is associated with multiple cancers. As per the continuum model, variable degree of PTEN inactivation drives distinct cancer phenotypes. Loss of PTEN activity, via genomic/non-genomic mechanisms, leads to enhanced oncogenic PI3K signaling. While kinase inhibitors have proved effective in the clinic, they are increasingly met with off-target effects and therapy-resistance due to compensatory feedback mechanisms. Although PTEN restoration therapy has proved promising in experimental models; implementation of these therapies in the clinic remains challenging. To fill this therapy gap, we have targeted endogenous PTEN for activation via peptidomimetics, mitigating PI3K signaling. Our selected peptidomimetics reduced cell proliferation, migration and cell cycle activity after treatment of non-small cell lung cancer cells expressing endogenous PTEN. Computational studies utilizing PTEN crystal structures revealed a binding site at the interface of the Phosphatase Domain (PD) and C2 Domain (C2D). Induced fit docking indicated that a unique functional group is responsible for peptidomimetic-mediated enhancement of PTEN activity. Molecular dynamics analysis revealed energetically favorable binding of our lead peptidomimetic at the PD/C2D interface, which allosterically modulated the conformation of the active site. Binding of our peptidomimetic altered the active site orientation of PIP3, increasing its binding affinity. In summary, we have developed the first-known direct PTEN activators and analyzed their effects in suppressing oncogenic activities in lung cancer. Refinement of our peptidomimetics, complemented with in vivo studies, will provide a novel clinical rationale to reduce doses of standard therapy and their associated toxicities, decreasing morbidity and mortality observed in the clinic. Citation Format: Emily Palumbo, Peng Teng, Prerna Malaney, Jacob Wilson, Fiona Kearns, Michael T. Kemp, Zhi Tian, Vladimir Uversky, Diane Allen-Gipson, Yu Chen, H. Lee Woodcock, Jianfeng Cai, Vrushank Dave. Enhancement of PTEN activity via peptidomimetics [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4826.
QoS-Aware Rechargeable UAV Trajectory Optimization for Sensing Service

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have attracted attention from both the academic and industry because of its highly controllable mobility. The UAV has hence become a potential alternative for a large amount of geographically distributed sensors in provisioning sensing service where the information of different locations (e.g., temperature, humidity, pollutant level and traffic condition) are sensed and sent to the ground station (GS). However, the UAV on-board battery is usually limited due to the size and weight constraints, and greatly affects the UAV performance. Practically, the UAV usually needs to return to the GS for recharging before the battery exhaustion. The trajectory routes, therefore, should be well designed to meet the battery capacity constraint and improve the quality of service (QoS). In this paper, we investigate the trajectory optimization of rechargeable UAV for sensing service to minimize the task completion latency. We formulate this problem as a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model. A Clone Searching Algorithm (CSA), which clones the rechargeable UAV into several non-rechargeable virtual UAVs and simultaneously search trajectory routes for each virtual UAV, is then designed to reduce the computational complexity of MILP. Numerical results demonstrate the performance of our proposed algorithm.