cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Keratin Polypeptides 8 and 19 Variants in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background/Aims: Keratin-8 (KRT8)–null mice develop spontaneous colitis and predisposition to liver injury. Human studies show that some KRT8 variants predispose to end-stage liver disease and progression and suggest that such variants might associate with UC or CD. We asked whether mutations in KRT8 or KRT19, the major intestinal keratins, are associated with UC/CD. Methods: Exonic regions of the KRT8/KRT19 genes were polymerase chain reaction–amplified using genomic DNA from 2 independent groups. Group I included 91 unrelated patients with CD, 93 unrelated patients with UC, and 70 unrelated/unaffected volunteers. KRT8 variants were also tested with pyrosequencing in Group II that included 682 independent nuclear families with both parents and at least 1 CD/UC-affected offspring and 273 unaffected controls. Both cohorts were enriched for familial IBD. Results: In Group I, KRT19 variants were identified in CD/UC patients within the promoter and exons 1+2, with similar mutation frequencies in the control/CD/UC groups. In contrast, 16 of 184 CD+UC patients harbored KRT8 heterozygous variants involving Gly62-to-Cys and Arg341-to-His and a novel Arg341-to-Cys, which were noted in 4 volunteers (Arg341-to-His) and correlated with extensive UC (P = .005). One family with unaffected parents had 3 pediatric-affected siblings with severe disease, 2 of whom are compound heterozygous (Gly62-to-Cys/Arg341-to-His). However, there was no significant departure from random transmission of the 3 alleles in Group II IBD families. Conclusions:KRT8 and KRT19 variants are not overtransmitted or associated with familial IBD, although a potential role in sporadic IBD cannot be excluded. A novel but rare keratin-8 Arg341-to-Cys is identified in IBD patients.
High-Speed Transmitters in 90nm CMOS for High-Density Optical Interconnects

Small, high-speed and low power optical transmitter circuits are needed for optical interconnects to play a role in improving chip I/O bandwidth. This paper demonstrates two different transmitter designs fabricated in a 1V 90nm CMOS technology, one suitable for driving vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) and the other for driving multiple quantum well modulators (MQWMs). A four-tap current summing FIR equalizer extends VCSEL data rate for a given average current. It consumes 80mW at 18Gb/s operation and occupies 0.03mm2 area. The MQWM transmitter has a pulsed-cascode output stage capable of supplying a voltage swing of twice the 1V supply without overstressing thin-oxide core devices. It consumes 38mW at 16Gb/s and occupies 0.014mm2 area
Gap junctions with amacrine cells provide a feedback pathway for ganglion cells within the retina

In primates, one type of retinal ganglion cell, the parasol cell, makes gap junctions with amacrine cells, the inhibitory, local circuit neurons. To study the effects of these gap junctions, we developed a linear, mathematical model of the retinal circuitry providing input to parasol cells. Electrophysiological studies have indicated that gap junctions do not enlarge the receptive field centres of parasol cells, but our results suggest that they make other contributions to their light responses. According to our model, the coupled amacrine cells enhance the responses of parasol cells to luminance contrast by disinhibition. We also show how a mixed chemical and electrical synapse between two sets of amacrine cells presynaptic to the parasol cells might make the responses of parasol cells more transient and, therefore, more sensitive to motion. Finally, we show how coupling via amacrine cells can synchronize the firing of parasol cells. An action potential in a model parasol cell can excite neighbouring parasol cells, but only when the coupled amacrine cells also fire action potentials. Passive conduction was ineffective due to low–pass temporal filtering. Inhibition from the axons of the coupled amacrine cells also produced oscillations that might synchronize the firing of more distant ganglion cells.
Proximity-Dependent Inhibition of Growth of Mannheimia haemolytica by Pasteurella multocida

Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, and Bibersteinia trehalosi have been identified in the lungs of pneumonic bighorn sheep (BHS; Ovis canadensis). Of these pathogens, M. haemolytica has been shown to consistently cause fatal pneumonia in BHS under experimental conditions. However, M. haemolytica has been isolated by culture less frequently than the other bacteria. We hypothesized that the growth of M. haemolytica is inhibited by other bacteria in the lungs of BHS. The objective of this study was to determine whether P. multocida inhibits the growth of M. haemolytica. Although in monoculture both bacteria exhibited similar growth characteristics, in coculture with P. multocida there was a clear inhibition of growth of M. haemolytica. The inhibition was detected at mid-log phase and continued through the stationary phase. When cultured in the same medium, the growth of M. haemolytica was inhibited when both bacteria were separated by a membrane that allowed contact (pore size, 8.0 μm) but not when they were separated by a membrane that limited contact (pore size, 0.4 μm). Lytic bacteriophages or bactericidal compounds could not be detected in the culture supernatant fluid from monocultures of P. multocida or from P. multocida-M. haemolytica cocultures. These results indicate that P. multocida inhibits the growth of M. haemolytica by a contact- or proximity-dependent mechanism. If the inhibition of growth of M. haemolytica by P. multocida occurs in vivo as well, it could explain the inconsistent isolation of M. haemolytica from the lungs of pneumonic BHS.
Atrial fibrillation in healthy adolescents after highly caffeinated beverage consumption: two case reports

Introduction: Energy drinks and highly caffeinated drinks comprise some of the fastest growing products of the beverage industry, often targeting teenagers and young adults. Cardiac arrhythmias in children related to high caffeine consumption have not been well described in the literature. This case series describes the possible association between the consumption of highly caffeinated drinks and the subsequent development of atrial fibrillation in the adolescent population. Case presentations: We report the cases of two Caucasian adolescent boys of 14 and 16 years of age at the time of presentation, each without a significant cardiac history, who presented with palpitations or vague chest discomfort or both after a recent history of excessive caffeine consumption. Both were found to have atrial fibrillation on electrocardiogram; one patient required digoxin to restore a normal sinus rhythm, and the other self-converted after intravenous fluid administration. Conclusion: With the increasing popularity of energy drinks in the pediatric and adolescent population, physicians should be aware of the arrhythmogenic potential associated with highly caffeinated beverage consumption. It is important for pediatricians to understand the lack of regulation in the caffeine content and other ingredients of these high-energy beverages and their complications so that parents and children can be educated about the risk of cardiac arrhythmias with excessive energy drink consumption.
The complexity of the certification of properties of Stable Marriage

We give some lower bounds on the certificate complexity of some problems concerning stable marriage, answering a question of Gusfield and Irving.
Pitch vs. spectral encoding of harmonic complex tones in primary auditory cortex of the awake monkey

Neuromagnetic studies in humans and single-unit studies in monkeys have provided conflicting views regarding the role of primary auditory cortex (A1) in pitch encoding. While the former support a topographic organization based on the pitch of complex tones, single-unit studies support the classical tonotopic organization of A1 defined by the spectral composition of the stimulus. It is unclear whether the incongruity of these findings is due to limitations of noninvasive recordings or whether the discrepancy genuinely reflects pitch representation based on population encoding. To bridge these experimental approaches, we examined neuronal ensemble responses in A1 of the awake monkey using auditory evoked potential (AEP), multiple-unit activity (MUA) and current source density (CSD) techniques. Macaque monkeys can perceive the missing fundamental of harmonic complex tones and therefore serve as suitable animal models for studying neural encoding of pitch. Pure tones and harmonic complex tones missing the fundamental frequency (f0) were presented at 60 dB SPL to the ear contralateral to the hemisphere from which recordings were obtained. Laminar response profiles in A1 reflected the spectral content rather than the pitch (missing f0) of the compound stimuli. These findings are consistent with single-unit data and indicate that the cochleotopic organization is preserved at the level of A1. Thus, it appears that pitch encoding of multi-component sounds is more complex than suggested by noninvasive studies, which are based on the assumption of a single dipole generator within the superior temporal gyrus. These results support a pattern recognition mechanism of pitch encoding based on a topographic representation of stimulus spectral composition at the level of A1.
Lumbar discography in normal subjects. A controlled, prospective study

Major advances in the techniques of discography since 1968, in conjunction with major strides in the evaluation of pain in recent years, prompted a study in which Holt's work on the specificity of discography was replicated and extended. For the present study, seven patients who had low-back pain and ten volunteers who had been carefully screened, with a questionnaire and a physical examination, to ensure that they had no history of problems with the back, had an injection at three levels, and all sessions were videotaped. After each injection, the participant was interviewed about the pattern and intensity of the pain, and then the discs were imaged with computed tomography. Five raters, who were blind to the condition of the participant, graded each disc as normal or abnormal on the basis of findings on magnetic resonance images that had been made before the injection and computed tomography (discography) were done. There was only one disagreement between the ratings that were made on the basis of the magnetic resonance images and those that were made on the basis of the discograms. Each participant's pain-related response was evaluated independently by two raters who viewed the videotapes of the discography. Inter-rater reliability was 0.99, 0.93, and 0.88 for the evaluation of intensity of the pain, pain-related behavior, and similarity of the pain to pain that the subject had had before the injection. In the asymptomatic individuals, the discogram was interpreted as abnormal for 17 per cent (five) of the thirty discs and for five of the ten subjects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A Retórica da Loucura em Quincas Borba

Este artigo explora a variedade de maneiras como a loucura e apresentada em Quincas Borba, de Machado de Assis. A estrutura da narrativa e ate mesmo os personagens que nao sao literalmente representadas como loucos, contem em si caracteristicas frequentemente associadas a loucura, como a fragmentacao, dualismo, confusao e euforia. Essas mesmas caracteristicas funcionam como uma ferramenta para levantar questoes ligadas a estrutura social brasileira, bem como os valores da burguesia em ascensao. Este artigo tambem traz a tona uma nova perspectiva sobre as possiveis interligacoes entre os personagens Sofia, Rubiao e o cao e como a loucura e usado como retorica literaria para liga-los.
Genetic mapping uncovers cis-regulatory landscape of RNA editing

Adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing, catalysed by ADAR enzymes conserved in metazoans, plays an important role in neurological functions. Although the fine-tuning mechanism provided by A-to-I RNA editing is important, the underlying rules governing ADAR substrate recognition are not well understood. We apply a quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping approach to identify genetic variants associated with variability in RNA editing. With very accurate measurement of RNA editing levels at 789 sites in 131 Drosophila melanogaster strains, here we identify 545 editing QTLs (edQTLs) associated with differences in RNA editing. We demonstrate that many edQTLs can act through changes in the local secondary structure for edited dsRNAs. Furthermore, we find that edQTLs located outside of the edited dsRNA duplex are enriched in secondary structure, suggesting that distal dsRNA structure beyond the editing site duplex affects RNA editing efficiency. Our work will facilitate the understanding of the cis-regulatory code of RNA editing.
The contraceptive and hormonal requirements of the premenopausal woman: the years from forty to fifty.

There is a growing awareness that many women over 40 require both contraceptive protection and hormonal replacement for the symptoms of the climacteric. These women are still menstruating and the risk of pregnancy remains overshadowed by the increased life-threatening risk due to childbirth in this age group. The risk of mortality due to the use of oral contraceptives (OCs) is little increased for the nonsmoking woman in the years over 40 compared with the years under 40. In contrast women over 40 who smoke are best advised not to use hormonal contraceptives. It is evident from all the existing data that combination therapy is strongly advised if any replacement therapy is to be given a woman. There is considerable evidence suggesting that estrogen alone may be insufficient therapy and progestogen should be added to prevent endometrial hyperplasia decrease the risk of breast cancer and prevent bone loss. In the premenopausal woman such therapy should also provide contraception. Many physicians allow women 35-45 who do not smoke to continue on an OC if there is no contraindication. However a minimum-dose product has yet to be found close to the ideal of fulfilling both the contraceptive and therapeutic needs of women traversing a physiologically very hazardous period. (authors)
Change, Challenge and Opportunity: Departments of Medicine and Their Leaders

Abstract Academic Health Centers are evolving to larger and more complex Academic Health Systems (AHS), reflecting financial stresses requiring them to become nimble, efficient, and patient (consumer) and faculty (employee) focused. The evolving AHS organization includes many positive attributes: unity of purpose, structural integration, collaboration and teamwork, alignment of goals with resource allocation, and increased financial success. The organization, leadership, and business acumen of the AHS influence directly opportunities for Departments of Medicine. Just as leadership capabilities of the AHS affect its future success, the same is true for departmental leadership. The Department of Medicine is no longer a quasi- autonomous entity, and the chairperson is no longer an independent decision-maker. Departments of Medicine will be most successful if they maintain internal unity and cohesion by not fragmenting along specialty lines. Departments with larger endowments or those with public financial support have more flexibility when investing in the academic missions. The chairpersons of the future should serve as change agents while simultaneously adopting a “servant leadership” model. Chairpersons with executive and team building skills, and business acumen and experience, are more likely to succeed in managing productive and lean departments. Quality of patient care and service delivery enhance the department’s effectiveness and credibility and assure access to additional financial resources to subsidize the academic missions. Moreover, the drive for excellence, high performance and growth will fuel financial solvency.
Fun with Copyright

Copyright law can be pretty complicated. There are several reasons for this, but they mainly boil down to the need for copyright law to be flexible in applying to widely different situations, and its need to balance competing public interests. The Fair Use Doctrine statute, for example, is comparatively short. It simply outlines four factors that must be evaluated in order to determine if a use is fair. However, applying those factors to every unique potential fair use of copyright material is where the challenge comes in. Courts continue to struggle with their decisions, which can limit the guidance that they give to users of copyrighted works.There a few innovative tools and resources that have emerged to help content users understand fair use and other copyright issues a bit better. Some are fairly new, others have been around awhile. They may not answer all of the copyright questions that may come up, but they can help. And a couple of them even have a sense of humor.
Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Antenatal Depression in the United States: A Systematic Review

Objectives More than 10 % of pregnant women in the United States (U.S.) suffer from depression, which has far-reaching consequences on maternal and fetal well-being. There is conflicting evidence regarding the prevalence of antenatal depression among different race and ethnic groups. This systematic review aimed to summarize the existing literature concerning racial/ethnic disparities in the prevalence and correlates of antenatal depression in the U.S. Methods PubMed, CINAHL and PsycINFO databases were searched online for research studies published in English in peer-reviewed journals until March 2015, using a pre-designed search strategy. Eligibility was determined using pre-specified criteria; and quality was assessed. Results Forty-one (41) articles met the criteria; 13 were cross-sectional, and 21 were longitudinal studies. Overall, the prevalence of antenatal depression was 10-30 %; it was higher among non-Hispanic blacks (NHBs) and Hispanics, compared to non-Hispanic whites (NHWs). Few studies looked at the correlates of depression by race/ethnicity. Among employed women, higher depression scores were observed among NHBs, compared to NHWs; while there was no racial difference among unemployed women. Racial difference and race-employment interaction disappeared once discrimination was accounted for. In another study, higher parity, higher stress, and lower self-esteem were significant correlates of depression among NHBs, while less satisfaction with social support, and higher stress predicted higher depression scores among NHWs and Hispanics respectively. Conclusions The findings of our review suggest that not only is antenatal depression a major public health issue that needs to be addressed, but different racial/ethnic groups seem to differ in their vulnerability and risk factors.
Mother-to-child transmission of HIV in the United States. Many HIV-infected women are now planning to have children. What are the risks to mother and infant?

OVERVIEW With the rise in the number of HIV-infected women of childbearing age in the United States, nurses are increasingly likely to be caring for such women. Although the exact mechanism of mother-to-child HIV transmission is unknown, experts believe that it can occur during any of three stages: before birth by microtransfusion of maternal blood across the placenta, during labor and delivery by exposure to maternal cervicovaginal secretions and blood, and after birth through breastfeeding. Treating pregnant women with highly active antiretroviral therapy dramatically reduces the risk of such transmission, but little is known about long-term effects of such therapy on the children. This article reviews the literature on the risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission in the United States and the factors that influence that risk, details current practice recommendations, and discusses implications for nursing.
Markers of cell lineage, differentiation and activation.

The most widespread use of CD markers is in the determination of cell lineage and sublineage. For example, T cells are identified by the expression of CD3 (reviewed in this issue of CD corner). A mature T cell may belong to the T4 subset, in which case it will express CD4. Similarly, there are markers for other cell populations and sub-populations. Within the lineages, it is helpful to distinguish cells at different stages of differentiation and activation. Differentiation status is particularly useful in the diagnostic analysis of the lymphoid and myeloid malignancies, and in research on the haemopoietic system. Examples include markers for naive or antigen-experienced cells (especially the CD45 isoforms) and molecules such as CALLA (CD9) found on B-lineage precursors, including B lineage acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Activation status is especially interesting in studies of cell function. Activation markers include growth factor receptors such as CD25 (a component of the receptor for IL-2), and molecules who's cellular function is not fully understood, such as CD69 and CD98. These markers have revolutionised aspects of pathology and research, and the ease with which some cell populations can be identified has lead to some unrealised, and perhaps unrealistic, expectations. We expect to be able to identify T helper type 1 (TH1) and T helper type 2 (TH2) cells on the basis of a simple surface marker; we are frustrated by the lack of a single marker for all dendritic cells or for all NK cells; we are confused by the un-coordinated expression of different activation markers; we tend to over-interpret phenotype in some situations. To find solutions to these problems it is helpful to examine why the successful lineage markers work so well, and to reconsider our expectations. Lineage markers are the main focus in this commentary; the question of activation markers and markers of differentiation state will be considered in a separate paper.
Investigation on Sewage Disposal in Medical Units in Downtown of Yuxi City

[Objective]To understand the sewage disposal status,sanitary quality and existed problem in medical units in downtown of Yuxi City.[Methods]Sewage disposal of 26 medical units were investigated,sewage sanitary quality of 14 medical units were sampled and examined.[Results] 21 hospitals(80.77%) had sewage treatment facilities;5 hospitals(19.23%) had no sewage treatment facilities.Wastewater treatment facilities operated well in 13 hospitals(61.91%).The sewage quality selection check showed the total qualified rate was 71.43%.[Conclusion]Some issues exist in sewage treatment of medical units in Yuxi City.Therefore,supervision and monitoring should be strengthened to ensure the sewage quality meet the standard.
The application of creatine phosphate in hypoxic-ischemic myocardial injury

Objective To discuss the application of creatine phosphate in hypoxic-ischemic myocardial injury.Methods Fifty eight patients with heart disease were chosen in our hospital from February 2009 to February 2011 and were randomly divided into groups of creatine phosphate (CP group) and control group 29 cases,CP group added creatine phosphate on the basis of basic treatment,control group used conventional treatment only.Resuscitation of patients were observed features,the ascending aorta blocking enzymes before and after the opening of the measured values.Results The two groups of patients after aortic enzymes were higher than the measured value before blocking (P 0.05),8 h,24 h point CP group was significantly higher (P 0.05);CP group and control group automatically re-jump rates were 89.7% (26/29) and 72.4% (21/29),open the aorta to cardiac resuscitation time was (0.92±0.27) min,(1.59±0.43) min,the two sets of data between the two groups were statistically significant (P 0.05).Conclusion Creatine phosphate hypoxic-ischemic myocardial injury can play a good protection,both in myocardial protection during surgery can accelerate recovery of myocardial injury for clinical treatment.
Opening rules of vent panels and its effect on interior deflagration pressure

The motion equations of various vent panels were established.The effective vent areas of interior gas were obtained.The vent deflagration process of the combustible gas mixture was analyzed on the basis of the theory of thermodynamics and aerodynamics.The calculation method of interior deflagration pressure was proposed in consideration of the opening patterns of vent panels,and its efficiency was verified by the existing experimental data.The results computed for the cube and sphere enclosures with various vent panels in their exterior wall and roof show that the vent panels whose hinges were installed in the side or bottom edge of the vent of the exterior wall have better effect of pressure reduction.Under the same condition,the reduced pressure of sphere enclosure is greater than that of the cube enclosure,while the deflagration duration of sphere enclosure is shorter than cube enclosure.
Investigations of Desorption of Hydrogen from Low Temperature Surfaces of Silicates

We report on experimental investigations of HD production on low temperature surfaces of silicates under conditions relevant to hydrogen recombination on dust grain surfaces in the interstellar medium. Following adsorption of H and D at thermal energies on a silicate surface (olivine) in the 5–15 K range, flash desorption experiments were conducted to yield desorption energies and order of desorption kinetics. We find that significant recombination occurs only at the lowest temperatures. Current models of diffusion and recombination of H on cold surfaces, developed to explain interstellar recombination processes, will be discussed and appraised in the light of the new results.
In the beginning and at the end: calreticulin.

In this issue of Blood, Theocharides et al report one of likely many functionally important untoward consequences of mutant calreticulin that may arise in the clinical context of myelofibrosis. Even when viewed through the narrow prism of neutrophil biology, mutant calreticulin will adversely affect myeloid cells throughout their lifespan, from the production of critical glycoproteins in bone marrow precursors to the clearance of spent neutrophils.
Impacts of Rotation Length, Forage Legume Identity, and Composted Manure on Organic Crop Production

Introduction Since 1990, the American market for organic foods has grown at a rate of 20% per year or more, and is now worth at least $7 billion annually. Price premiums paid to farmers for organically produced crops can increase their value substantially compared with conventionally produced crops. The potential economic advantages for organic production, coupled with increasing concerns about environmental and human health impacts of conventional farming practices, have sparked interest by farmers and researchers in the development of best management practices for organic farming systems.
Taking Big Data apart: local readings of composite media collections

ABSTRACTIf we are to think critically about Big Data initiatives, we must learn to take them apart. This paper explains how to interrogate Big Data, not as large homogenous resources, but as heterogeneous collections with varied and discordant local ties. My argument focuses on the Big Data of media collections: composite digital repositories of texts, images, and video created in different contexts, but brought together online. The primary example used in this paper is the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA), a collection composed of digitized library, museum and archive records from institutions across the United States. I demonstrate how local readings of DPLA data can uncover schemata, errors, infrastructures, classifications, absences, and rituals that have important origins. Moreover, I explain how identifying these local features can support new forms of scholarship, pedagogy, and advocacy in the face of Big Data. For this last point, I use two additional cases: NewsScape, a real-time archive ...
Immunotherapy of Central Nervous System Tumors

The overall objective of this chapter is to evaluate significant progress and research advances within the field of immunotherapy and to delineate the challenges associated with the utilization of immunotherapies that are unique to central nervous system (CNS) tumors. Immunotherapy of CNS tumors is complicated by multiple factors, such as, tumor heterogeneity, immunosuppression, and immunologic privilege. The study of immunotherapies requires a thorough knowledge of immunological response within the CNS and its potential consequences, including the induction of autoimmune disorders, is mandatory.
Use of a multiple schedule to evaluate long-acting drugs: results with mephenytoin

The utility of a novel procedure to examine a drug’s time course of behavioral action was evaluated. Time- and dose-effect relations for the antiepilepsy drug mephenytoin were examined in pigeons during 12-hr sessions through the use of a multiple variable-interval 60-sec extinction (mult VI EXT) schedule of food delivery. The VI 60-sec components were programmed for the first 10 min of each hr and were followed by 50-min EXT components. Mephenytoin produced dose-dependent decreases in rate of responding; the higher the dose the longer the duration of effect. Peak effects of mephenytoin were observed 2 hr after injection (during the third VI component). At the higher doses drug effects were still evident at the end of the session (i.e., 12 hr after injection). The orderliness of results suggests that, although session length was too short to profile fully the time course of high mephenytoin doses, the present procedure merits further attention by behavioral pharmacologists.
Tritium breeding management in the high yield lithium injection fusion energy chamber

The high yield lithium injection fusion energy chamber with a tritium breeding ratio (TBR) of 1.75 is a prolific producer of excess tritium, which is currently considered a valuable commodity. Future safety, environmental, and political factors can, however, change this perception. In this paper, design modifications are discussed that can be used to control the TBR between 1.0 and 1.75. 11 refs.
PIC Activation through Functional Interplay between Mediator and TFIIH

The multiprotein Mediator coactivator complex functions in large part by controlling the formation and function of the promoter-bound preinitiation complex (PIC), which consists of RNA polymerase II and general transcription factors. However, precisely how Mediator impacts the PIC, especially post-recruitment, has remained unclear. Here, we have studied Mediator effects on basal transcription in an in vitro transcription system reconstituted from purified components. Our results reveal a close functional interplay between Mediator and TFIIH in the early stages of PIC development. We find that under conditions when TFIIH is not normally required for transcription, Mediator actually represses transcription. TFIIH, whose recruitment to the PIC is known to be facilitated by the Mediator, then acts to relieve Mediator-induced repression to generate an active form of the PIC. Gel mobility shift analyses of PICs and characterization of TFIIH preparations carrying mutant XPB translocase subunit further indicate that this relief of repression is achieved through expending energy via ATP hydrolysis, suggesting that it is coupled to TFIIH's established promoter melting activity. Our interpretation of these results is that Mediator functions as an assembly factor that facilitates PIC maturation through its various stages. Whereas the overall effect of the Mediator is to stimulate basal transcription, its initial engagement with the PIC generates a transcriptionally inert PIC intermediate, which necessitates energy expenditure to complete the process.
Task Transition Scheduling for Data-Adaptable Systems

Data-adaptable embedded systems operate on a variety of data streams, which requires a large degree of configurability and adaptability to support runtime changes in data stream inputs. Data-adaptable reconfigurable embedded systems, when decomposed into a series of tasks, enable a flexible runtime implementation in which a system can transition the execution of certain tasks between hardware and software while simultaneously continuing to process data during the transition. Efficient runtime scheduling of task transitions is needed to optimize system throughput and latency of the reconfiguration and transition periods. In this article, we provide an overview of a runtime framework enabling the efficient transition of tasks between software and hardware in response to changes in system inputs. We further present and analyze several runtime transition scheduling algorithms and highlight the latency and throughput tradeoffs for two data-adaptable systems. To evaluate the task transition selection algorithms, a case study was performed on an adaptable JPEG2000 implementation as well as three other synchronous dataflow systems characterized by transition latency and communication load.
Army Soldiers and Suicidal Thoughts: The Impact of Negative Relationship Dynamics Moderated by the Dissolution of Romantic Relationships

Suicide among United States active-duty Army soldiers rapidly increased over the past two decades. Using a sample of 322 soldiers from the Army STARRS study, the researchers examined if romantic relationship factors (i.e., hostile disagreements and relationship distress) were linked with suicidal thoughts in Army soldiers, and if these associations were moderated by a recent separation or divorce. Hostile disagreements and relational distress were both significantly associated with higher rates of suicidal ideation. These associations were significantly amplified in magnitude when in the context of a recent separation or divorce. Implications include novel assessment, prevention, and treatment efforts focused on romantic relationships that may reduce the likelihood of soldiers experiencing thoughts of suicide.
Causes and Effects of Child Welfare Workforce Turnover

ABSTRACT This paper provides an overview of the current state of knowledge on the causes and effects of workforce turnover in child welfare. The causes of workforce turnover are abundant and have been categorized into three areas cited most often throughout the literature: individual factors, supervisory factors, and organizational factors. On the other hand, the empirical research on the effects of workforce turnover in child welfare is scant. This paper discusses the need for new empirical knowledge on the relationship between turnover and child welfare outcomes. The authors conclude with consideration of the gaps in the research and implications for social work practice and profession.
Effect of Moisture on the Compressive Behavior of Dense Eglin Sand Under Confinement at High Strain Rates

Dynamic compressive behavior of moist Eglin sand (Quikrete #1961 sand quarried in Pensacola, FL) under confinement was characterized using a long split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). Moist sand grains were confined inside a hollow cylinder of hardened steel and capped by cemented tungsten carbide (WC) cylindrical rods with the same mechanical impedance as steel bars. A high-vacuum grease was used to seal the gaps to prevent leaking of moisture from the cavity. A given mass of water was added into dry sand. This assembly was subjected to repeated manual shaking to consolidate sand to attain the given bulk mass densities, and allow the water to be evenly-distributed around the sand grains. After 2 days of setting, the sand assembly is then sandwiched between incident and transmission bars on SHPB for dynamic compression under high strain rate. Sand specimens of five moisture contents in weight ratios of 0 %, 4.2 %, 8.2 %, 12.4 % and 16.5 %, were characterized to determine the volumetric and deviatoric behavior at high strain rates, and the moisture effect was discussed. The stresses-strain relationship and the compressibility of sand were determined as a function of sand moisture.
Realizability-preserving DG-IMEX method for the two-moment model of fermion transport

Abstract Building on the framework of Zhang & Shu [1] , [2] , we develop a realizability-preserving method to simulate the transport of particles (fermions) through a background material using a two-moment model that evolves the angular moments of a phase space distribution function f. The two-moment model is closed using algebraic moment closures; e.g., as proposed by Cernohorsky & Bludman [3] and Banach & Larecki [4] . Variations of this model have recently been used to simulate neutrino transport in nuclear astrophysics applications, including core-collapse supernovae and compact binary mergers. We employ the discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method for spatial discretization (in part to capture the asymptotic diffusion limit of the model) combined with implicit-explicit (IMEX) time integration to stably bypass short timescales induced by frequent interactions between particles and the background. Appropriate care is taken to ensure the method preserves strict algebraic bounds on the evolved moments (particle density and flux) as dictated by Pauli's exclusion principle, which demands a bounded distribution function (i.e., f ∈ [ 0 , 1 ] ). This realizability-preserving scheme combines a suitable CFL condition, a realizability-enforcing limiter, a closure procedure based on Fermi-Dirac statistics, and an IMEX scheme whose stages can be written as a convex combination of forward Euler steps combined with a backward Euler step. The IMEX scheme is formally only first-order accurate, but works well in the diffusion limit, and — without interactions with the background — reduces to the optimal second-order strong stability-preserving explicit Runge-Kutta scheme of Shu & Osher [5] . Numerical results demonstrate the realizability-preserving properties of the scheme. We also demonstrate that the use of algebraic moment closures not based on Fermi-Dirac statistics can lead to unphysical moments in the context of fermion transport.
High-homogeneity functional parcellation of human brain for investigating robust functional connectivity

Over the years, resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) has been a preferred design tool to analyze human brain functions and brain parcellations. Several different statistical methods have been proposed to study functional connectivity and generate various parcellation atlases based on corresponding connectivity maps. In this study, we employ a sliding window correlation method to generate accurate individual voxel-wise dynamic functional connectivity maps, based on which the brain can be parcellated into highly homogeneous functional parcels. Because there is no ground truth for functional brain parcellation, we accomplish parcellation via k-means clustering to compare with other available parcellations. With temporal characteristics of functional connectivity taken into consideration, high homogeneity can be observed in high resolution parcellation of human brain.
The Role of the General Manager in the New Economy: Can We Save People from Technology Dysfunctions?

Artificial intelligence may destroy and transform millions of jobs, possibly exacerbating the shift in power from labor to capital. Low birth rates, aging populations, and budgetary stringency leave countries ill-prepared to provide the training and income support to help people transition to an AI-dominated world. Jeff Pfeffer argues in this chapter that work environments profoundly affect people’s physical and psychological health, health care costs, and company performance. Therefore, general managers’ decisions about work arrangements, will help determine AI’s effects on people.
The addition of a polyglutamate domain to the angiogenic QK peptide improves peptide coupling to bone graft materials leading to enhanced endothelial cell activation

Vascularization of bone grafts is vital for graft integration and bone repair, however non-autologous graft sources have limited potential to induce angiogenesis. Accordingly, intensive research has focused on functionalizing non-autologous materials with angiogenic factors. In the current study we evaluated a method for coupling an angiogenic peptide to the surface of two clinically-relevant graft materials, anorganic bovine bone (ABB) and synthetic hydroxyapatite (HA). Specifically, the VEGF-derived "QK" peptide was synthesized with a heptaglutamate (E7) domain, a motif that has strong affinity for calcium phosphate graft materials. Compared with unmodified QK, a 4-6 fold enrichment was observed in the binding of E7-modified QK (E7-QK) to ABB and HA. The E7-QK peptide was then assessed for its capacity to stimulate angiogenic cell behaviors. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with solutions of either QK or E7-QK, and it was found that QK and E7-QK elicited equivalent levels of cell migration, tubule formation and activation of the Akt and ERK signaling pathways. These data confirmed that the inherent bioactivity of the QK sequence was not diminished by the addition of the E7 domain. We further verified that the activity of E7-QK was retained following peptide binding to the graft surface. HA disks were coated with QK or E7-QK, and then HUVECs were seeded onto the disks. Consistent with the increased amount of E7-QK bound to HA, relative to QK, markedly greater activation of Akt and ERK 1/2 was observed in cells exposed to the E7-QK-coated disks. Taken together, these results suggest that the E7 domain can be leveraged to concentrate angiogenic peptides on graft materials, facilitating delivery of higher peptide concentrations within the graft site. The ability to endow diverse graft materials with angiogenic potential holds promise for augmenting the regenerative capacity of non-autologous bone grafts.
Effect of Tornado Outbreaks on Morbidity and Mortality in Texas

Introduction:In the United States, tornadoes are the third leading cause of fatalities from natural disasters1. To aid prevention and mitigation of tornado-related morbidity and mortality, improvement in standardizing tornado specific threat analysis terminology was assessed. The largest number of tornado-related fatalities has occurred in the state of Texas for over a hundred years. The occurrence of tornadic clusters or “outbreaks” has not been formally standardized. The concept of “tornado outbreaks” is better defined and its role in fatality mitigation is addressed in this Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved study.Aim:To understand the role of “tornado outbreaks” related clusters in Texas in relationship to morbidity and mortality.Methods:This IRB approved (IRB2017- 0507) research study utilized GIS tools and statistical analysis of historical data to examine the relationship between tornado severity (based on the Fujita Scale), the number of tornadoes, and the trends in morbidity and mortality. This study was funded in part from The National Science Foundation grant (NSF Grant #1560106) in support of the CyberHealthGIS Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU).Results:A statistically significant difference was demonstrated between the severity of a tornado and related morbidity and mortality during “tornado outbreaks” in Texas during a defined 30-year period.Discussion:Understanding the role and discerning the impacts of “tornado outbreaks” as related to tornado severity has critical implications to disaster preparedness. Applications of this conclusion may improve shelter planning/preparation, timely warning, and educating the at-risk public. Subsequently, examining the likelihood and improved descriptions of “tornado outbreaks” may aid in reducing the number of tornado-related injuries and fatalities nationally.
Comment on “Impacts of historical warming on marine fisheries production”

Free et al. (Reports, 1 March 2019, p. 979) linked sea surface temperature (SST) to surplus production and estimated a 4% decline in maximum sustainable yield (MSY) since 1930. Changes in MSY are expected when fitting production models to age-structured data, so attributing observed changes to SST is problematic. Analyses of recruitment (a metric of productivity in the same database) showed increases in global productivity.
Improved broadband performance of an adjoint shape optimized waveguide crossing using a Levenberg-Marquardt update.

We derive an adjoint shape optimization algorithm with a compound figure of merit and demonstrate its use with both gradient descent and Levenberg-Marquart updates for the case of SiO2-buried SOI coplanar waveguide crossings. We show that a smoothing parameter, basis function width, can be used to eliminate small feature sizes with a small cost to device performance. The Levenberg-Marquardt update produces devices with larger bandwidth. A waveguide crossing with simulated performance values of > 60 dB cross power extinction ratio and > −0.08 dB through power over the 1500-1600 nm band is presented. A fabricated device is measured to have a maximum of −0.06 dB through power and a 50 dB cross power extinction ratio.
Cubismo: decloaking server-side malware via cubist program analysis

Malware written in dynamic languages such as PHP routinely employ anti-analysis techniques such as obfuscation schemes and evasive tricks to avoid detection. On top of that, attackers use automated malware creation tools to create numerous variants with little to no manual effort. This paper presents a system called Cubismo to solve this pressing problem. It processes potentially malicious files and decloaks their obfuscations, exposing the hidden malicious code into multiple files. The resulting files can be scanned by existing malware detection tools, leading to a much higher chance of detection. Cubismo achieves improved detection by exploring all executable statements of a suspect program counterfactually to see through complicated polymorphism, metamorphism and, obfuscation techniques and expose any malware. Our evaluation on a real-world data set collected from a commercial web hosting company shows that Cubismo is highly effective in dissecting sophisticated metamorphic malware with multiple layers of obfuscation. In particular, it enables VirusTotal to detect 53 out of 56 zero-day malware samples in the wild, which were previously undetectable.
The Impact of Neighboring on Changes in Sense of Community Over Time: A Latent Transition Analysis

Sense of community (SOC) is associated with the quality of community life and the building of social capital. While its linkage to informal social behavior, such as neighboring, is inherent in discussions regarding theory, empirical evidence remains scarce. Moreover, the degree to which neighboring behavior influences SOC over time is largely unknown. Using a latent transition analysis, the effect of neighboring on SOC was investigated over a 5-year span from 2006 to 2011 among a sample of adults (n = 165) in Arizona. Initially, a latent class analysis identified two SOC subgroups: Low SOC and High SOC. The likelihood of shifts in SOC class membership over 5 years was generally stable, with most individuals staying in the same group (82.3% Low SOC; 92.4% High SOC). Neighboring behavior and socio-demographic covariates impacted the likelihood that individuals changed classes, with 25.3% of Low SOC individuals transitioning to High SOC in 2011 and 55.4% of High SOC individuals moving to Low SOC in 2011. Specifically, having an income greater than $60,000 and visiting with neighbors lessened the likelihood of being in the Low SOC class in 2006; and length of residence and exchanging favors with neighbors lessened the likelihood of being in the Low SOC class in 2011. These findings have implications for both community design and community development practice. Design and development interventions that promote greater social interaction may help build and sustain SOC over time.