cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metamorphosis of cranial design in tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum): A morphometric analysis of ontogenetic change.

While ontogenetic analyses of skull development have contributed to our understanding of phylogenetic patterns in vertebrates, there are few studies of taxa that undergo a relatively discrete and rapid change in morphology during development (metamorphosis). Morphological changes occurring in the head at metamorphosis in tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum) were quantified by a morphometric analysis of cranial osteology and myology to document patterns of change during metamorphosis. We employed a cross-sectional analysis using a sample of larvae just prior to metamorphosis and a sample of transformed individuals just after metamorphosis, as well as larvae undergoing metamorphosis. There were no differences in external size of the head among the larval and transformed samples. The hyobranchial apparatus showed many dramatic changes at metamorphosis, including shortening of ceratobranchial 1 and the basibranchial. The subarcualis rectus muscle increased greatly in length at metamorphosis, as did hypobranchial length and internasal distance. A truss analysis of dorsal skull shape showed that at metamorphosis the snout becomes wider, the maxillary and squamosal triangles rotate posteromedially, and the neurocranium shortens (while maintaining its width), resulting in an overall decrease in skull length at metamorphosis. These morphometric differences are interpreted in light of recent data on the functional morphology of feeding in salamanders. Morphological reorganization of the hyobranchial apparatus and shape changes in the skull are related to the acquisition of a novel terrestrial feeding mode (tongue projection) at metamorphosis. Metamorphic changes (both internal and external) that can be used to judge metamorphic condition are discussed.
Superior Labrum Anterior and Posterior Lesions and Microinstability

The glenohumeral joint provides the greatest range of motion of any joint in the human body. Over the past several decades, histologic studies, biomechanical studies, and improved arthroscopic techniques have contributed to improved knowledge and treatment of glenohumeral joint abnormalities. Continuing advances in magnetic resonance technology have allowed for improved noninvasive visualization of the stabilizers of the shoulder. This article reviews the concept of glenohumeral joint microinstability and its relationship with superior labrum anterior and posterior (SLAP) lesions, reviews the role of the labrum as a stabilizer of the shoulder, and focuses on the diagnosis and classification of SLAP lesions.
Displacement boundaries in TiNi Alloys

Les observations d'un contraste de frange de type antiphase pendant une transformation sans diffusion sont expliques en termes d'un defaut cristallin appele joint de deplacement
Overexpression of Several Arabidopsis Histone Genes Increases Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation and Transgene Expression in Plants

The Arabidopsis thaliana histone H2A-1 is important for Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated plant transformation. Mutation of HTA1, the gene encoding histone H2A-1, results in decreased T-DNA integration into the genome of Arabidopsis roots, whereas overexpression of HTA1 increases transformation frequency. To understand the mechanism by which HTA1 enhances transformation, we investigated the effects of overexpression of numerous Arabidopsis histones on transformation and transgene expression. Transgenic Arabidopsis containing cDNAs encoding histone H2A (HTA), histone H4 (HFO), and histone H3-11 (HTR11) displayed increased transformation susceptibility, whereas histone H2B (HTB) and most histone H3 (HTR) cDNAs did not increase transformation. A parallel increase in transient gene expression was observed when histone HTA, HFO, or HTR11 overexpression constructs were cotransfected with double- or single-stranded forms of a gusA gene into tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) protoplasts. However, these cDNAs did not increase expression of a previously integrated transgene. We identified the N-terminal 39 amino acids of H2A-1 as sufficient to increase transient transgene expression in plants. After transfection, transgene DNA accumulates more rapidly in the presence of HTA1 than with a control construction. Our results suggest that certain histones enhance transgene expression, protect incoming transgene DNA during the initial stages of transformation, and subsequently increase the efficiency of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.
Analysis of intermolecular base pair formation of prohead RNA of the phage ø29 DNA packaging motor using NMR spectroscopy

The bacteriophage o29 DNA packaging motor that assembles on the precursor capsid (prohead) contains an essential 174-nt structural RNA (pRNA) that forms multimers. To determine the structural features of the CE- and D-loops believed to be involved in multimerization of pRNA, 35- and 19-nt RNA molecules containing the CE-loop or the D-loop, respectively, were produced and shown to form a heterodimer in a Mg 2+ -dependent manner, similar to that with full-length pRNA. It has been hypothesized that four intermolecular base pairs are formed between pRNA molecules. Our NMR study of the heterodimer, for the first time, proved directly the existence of two intermolecular Watson–Crick G–C base pairs. The two potential intermolecular A–U base pairs were not observed. In addition, flexibility of the D-loop was found to be important since a Watson–Crick base pair introduced at the base of the D-loop disrupted the formation of the intermolecular G–C hydrogen bonds, and therefore affected heterodimerization. Introduction of this mutation into the biologically active 120-nt pRNA (U80C mutant) resulted in no detectable dimerization at ambient temperature as shown by native gel and sedimentation velocity analyses. Interestingly, this pRNA bound to prohead and packaged DNA as well as the wild-type 120-nt pRNA.
The CID1 cyclin C-like gene is important for plant infection in Fusarium graminearum

Head blight or scab caused by Fusarium graminearum is a destructive disease of wheat and barley. The pathogen can cause severe yield losses and contaminates infested kernels with harmful mycotoxins. In this study, we characterized the CID1 gene in F. graminearum that is an ortholog of the Fusarium verticilloidesFCC1 and yeast UME3 genes. The protein encoded by CID1 has typical structural features of C-type cyclins. Deletion of CID1 resulted in a reduction in conidiation and vegetative growth but an increase in pigmentation. The Deltacid1 mutant was female sterile but could outcross as a male. It was significantly reduced in DON production and virulence on wheat heads and corn stalks. Only about 50% of inoculated spikelets developed scab symptoms and scab disease rarely extended to nearby florets, suggesting that the Deltacid1 mutant was defective in colonizing and spreading in wheat heads. Deletion of CID1 resulted in reduced expression levels of TRI5 and TRI101 but increased PKS12 expression. When expressed in F. verticillioides, the CID1 gene complemented the defects of the Deltafcc1 mutant in conidiation, hyphal growth, and fumonisin production. Our data indicate that the CID1 C-type cyclin gene plays multiple roles in the regulation of vegetative growth, sexual development, conidiation, DON production, and pathogenicity.
Potential toxicity and feed value of onions for sheep

The feeding, ruminal effects and potential toxicity of cull onions bulbs (Allium cepa) was compared to whole sorghum grain for growing wethers. In Expt. 1, 56 Polypay X Rambouillet wethers (avg. initial BW of 32.7 ± 0.88 kg) were assigned randomly to one of four dietary treatments (dry matter basis): (1) 50% whole sorghum grain (CON); (2) 33% sorghum:17% onions (17%); (3) 17% sorghum:33% onions (33%); and (4) 50% onions (50%). The remaining 50% was pelleted alfalfa (19% CP). All wethers were group fed (seven wethers per pen; two replicates per treatment) for 6 weeks. Weight gain during the trial did not differ (P > 0.05) among treatments. Packed cell volume tended to be less (P = 0.057) for the 33% and 50% onion groups during weeks 1 and 2, and was less (P 0.05) and particulate passage (P > 0.05) were not altered by feeding onions. Water intake by drinking decreased (P < 0.0001) as percentage of onions in the diet increased, whereas total water intake (drinking and fed) increased (P < 0.0001). Effects of onions on volatile fatty acid concentrations and ruminal pH were minimal (P < 0.05), whereas ruminal ammonia-N concentration was greater (P < 0.05) in wethers fed onions. We conclude that under conditions similar to those in our study, onions can be fed safely to sheep with weight gains comparable to those from whole sorghum grain.
A bottom-up methodology to characterize delay faults

Inductive Fault Analysis is extended to consider localized spot defects in CMOS VLSI circuits which impact circuit timing performance. A scheme of deterministic introduction of spot defects into layouts of combinational logic circuits is described. A methodology and tool is developed to characterize delay defects resulting from missing and extra spot defects and to generate realistic delay defect distribution. >
Comparative Genome Sequencing for Discovery of Novel Polymorphisms in Bacillus anthracis

Comparison of the whole-genome sequence of Bacillus anthracis isolated from a victim of a recent bioterrorist anthrax attack with a reference reveals 60 new markers that include single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), inserted or deleted sequences, and tandem repeats. Genome comparison detected four high-quality SNPs between the two sequenced B. anthracis chromosomes and seven differences among different preparations of the reference genome. These markers have been tested on a collection of anthrax isolates and were found to divide these samples into distinct families. These results demonstrate that genome-based analysis of microbial pathogens will provide a powerful new tool for investigation of infectious disease outbreaks.
Birds of a Feather Have Babies Together? Family Structure Homogamy and Union Stability Among Cohabiting Parents

The association between childhood family structure and offspring wellbeing is well-documented. Recent research shows that adult children of divorced parents will likely marry someone whose parents' divorced (i.e., family structure homogamy) and are subsequently likely to divorce themselves. This literature has focused primarily on marital unions, despite the rise in cohabitation and nonmarital childbearing. Research suggests that marriage and cohabitation are different types of unions and have different implications for the wellbeing of children. Therefore, we extend the literature by examining the role of family structure homogamy in matching patterns and union stability among unmarried, cohabiting couples. Data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study suggest that unmarried, cohabiting mothers and fathers are both more likely to be from nonintact childhood family structures and are significantly more likely to dissolve their unions compared to married parents who both tend to be from intact childhood family structures.
MAPPER: a search engine for the computational identification of putative transcription factor binding sites in multiple genomes.

Cis-regulatory modules are combinations of regulatory elements occurring in close proximity to each other that control the spatial and temporal expression of genes. The ability to identify them in a genome-wide manner depends on the availability of accurate models and of search methods able to detect putative regulatory elements with enhanced sensitivity and specificity. We describe the implementation of a search method for putative transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) based on hidden Markov models built from alignments of known sites. We built 1,079 models of TFBSs using experimentally determined sequence alignments of sites provided by the TRANSFAC and JASPAR databases and used them to scan sequences of the human, mouse, fly, worm and yeast genomes. In several cases tested the method identified correctly experimentally characterized sites, with better specificity and sensitivity than other similar computational methods. Moreover, a large-scale comparison using synthetic data showed that in the majority of cases our method performed significantly better than a nucleotide weight matrix-based method. The search engine, available at http://mapper.chip.org , allows the identification, visualization and selection of putative TFBSs occurring in the promoter or other regions of a gene from the human, mouse, fly, worm and yeast genomes. In addition it allows the user to upload a sequence to query and to build a model by supplying a multiple sequence alignment of binding sites for a transcription factor of interest. Due to its extensive database of models, powerful search engine and flexible interface, MAPPER represents an effective resource for the large-scale computational analysis of transcriptional regulation.
Cell-secreted matrices perpetuate the bone-forming phenotype of differentiated mesenchymal stem cells.

Prior to transplantation, mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) can be induced toward the osteoblastic phenotype using a cocktail of soluble supplements. However, there is little evidence of differentiated MSCs directly participating in bone formation, suggesting that MSCs may either die or revert in phenotype upon transplantation. Cell-secreted decellularized extracellular matrices (DMs) are a promising platform to confer bioactivity and direct cell fate through the presentation of a complex and physiologically relevant milieu. Therefore, we examined the capacity of biomimetic DMs to preserve the mineral-producing phenotype upon withdrawal of the induction stimulus. Regardless of induction duration, ranging up to 6 weeks, MSCs exhibited up to a 5-fold reduction in osteogenic markers within 24 h following stimulus withdrawal. We show that seeding osteogenically induced MSCs on DMs yields up to 2-fold more calcium deposition than tissue culture plastic, and this improvement is at least partially mediated by increasing actin cytoskeletal tension via the ROCK II pathway. MSCs on DMs also secreted 25% more vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a crucial endogenous proangiogenic factor that is abrogated during MSC osteogenic differentiation. The deployment of DMs into a subcutaneous ectopic site enhanced the persistence of MSCs 5-fold, vessel density 3-fold, and bone formation 2-fold more than MSCs delivered without DMs. These results underscore the need for deploying MSCs using biomaterial platforms such as DMs to preserve the in vitro-acquired mineral-producing phenotype and accelerate the process of bone repair.
Women’s Behavioral Responses to the Threat of a Hypothetical Date Rape Stimulus: A Qualitative Analysis

One in four college women experience sexual assault on campus; yet, campuses rarely provide the in-depth self-defense programs needed to reduce sexual assault risk. Further, little is known about the range of possible behaviors elicited by sexual assault threat stimuli besides assertion. To fill this gap, the aim of the current study was to explore qualitative themes in women's intended behavioral responses to a hypothetical sexual assault threat, date rape, by using a laboratory-controlled threat. College women (N = 139) were randomly assigned to one of four different levels of sexual assault threat presented via an audio-recorded vignette. Participants articulated how they would hypothetically respond to the experimentally assigned threat. Responses were blinded and analyzed using Consensual Qualitative Research methodology. Six major themes emerged: assertion, compliance/acceptance, conditional decision making, avoidance, expressions of discomfort, and allusion to future contact. Although almost all participants described assertion, a number of non-assertive responses were described that are not currently recognized in the literature. These non-assertive responses, including compliance/acceptance, conditional decision making, and avoidance, may represent unique behavioral response styles and likely reflect the complex psychological process of behavioral response to threat. The variety of themes found illustrates the great range of behavioral responses to threat. This broad range is not currently well represented or measured in the literature and better understanding of these responses can inform future interventions, advocacy efforts, and policies focused on sexual assault. Language: en
Interrelationships among Reaction Times and Speeds of Movement in Different Limbs

Abstract Two movements basic to sports skills, a modified baseball throw and a football kick, were studied in 105 college men. Individual differences in ability to move an arm or leg quickly were found to be uncorrelated with the reaction time for these movements. There was only a moderately high correlation between the reaction ability of the right and left legs, and between the right and left arms. Arm vs. leg correlations were significant but low. A similar pattern of correlations between limbs was found for movement ability, but all correlations were considerably lower and movement specificity was high. The reliability of individual differences was high in all of the measures.
Comparison of Yarn Tenacity Data Obtained using the Uster Tensorapid, Dynamat II, and Scott Skein Testers1:

High speed yarn tensile testing machines increase production of yarn tensile data, but no comparisons with data from older, slow speed testing machines have been successful in determining whether these machines produce the same results. This work compares yarn tenacity data from three different machines. A family of five ring spun yarn sizes, each with five different twist factors, covers the entire range of spinning parameters for staple fibers. A new method used to analyze yarn data to determine the number of broken fibers and the effective fiber length acting in each yarn converts yarn tenacity into tenacity per broken fiber per effective fiber length. Converted yarn data from each machine show the effects of the time-to-break on tenacity and how the single strand yarn tensile test differs from one machine to another and with skein tensile test results.
A kinetic-isotope-effect study of catalysis by Vibrio cholerae neuraminidase

Michaelis-Menten parameters for hydrolysis of seven aryl N-acetyl alpha-D-neuraminides by Vibrio cholerae neuraminidase at pH 5.0 correlate well with the leaving-group pKa (delta pK 3.0; beta 1g (V/K) = -0.73, r = -0.93; beta 1g (V) = -0.25; r = -0.95). The beta-deuterium kinetic-isotope effect, beta D2(V), for the p-nitrophenyl glycoside is the same at the optimum pH of 5.0 (1.059 +/- 0.010) as at pH 8.0 (1.053 +/- 0.010), suggesting that isotope effects are fully expressed with this substrate at the optimum pH. For this substrate at pH 5.0, leaving group 18O effects are 18(V) = 1.040 +/- 0.016 and 18(V/K) = 1.046 +/- 0.015, and individual secondary deuterium effects are beta proRD(V) = 1.037 +/- 0.014, beta proSD(V) = 1.018 +/- 0.015, beta proRD(V/K) = 1.030 +/- 0.017, beta proSD(V/K) = 1.030 +/- 0.017. All isotope effects, and the beta 1g(V/K) value are in accord with the first chemical step being both the first irreversible and the rate-determining step in enzyme turnover, with a transition state in which there is little proton donation to the leaving group, the C-O bond is largely cleaved, there is significant nucleophilic participation, and the sugar ring is in a conformation derived from the ground-state 2C5 chair. The apparent conflict between the beta 1g (V) value of -0.25 with all the kinetic-isotope-effect data can be resolved by the postulation of an interaction between the pi system of the aglycone ring and an anionic or nucleophilic group on the enzyme.
Tumor necrosis factor-α regulates triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1-dependent matrix metalloproteinases in the carotid plaques of symptomatic patients with carotid stenosis.

Abstract Objective To determine the relationship between increased triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (TREM)-1 and plaque stability in atherosclerotic carotid stenosis. Methods The mRNA transcripts and protein for TREM-1, MMP-1, MMP-9, collagen type I (COL1A1) and collagen type III (COL3A1) were analyzed by qPCR and immunofluorescence in both tissues and VSMCs isolated from atherosclerotic carotid plaques of symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with carotid stenosis. Results The TREM-1, MMP-1 and MMP-9 mRNA transcripts were significantly increased (TREM-1, p Conclusion Increased expression of TREM-1 in S compared to AS patients involving MMP-1 and MMP-9 suggest a potential role of TREM-1 in plaque destabilization. Selective blockade of TREM-1 may contribute to the development of new therapies and promising targets for stabilizing vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques.
Categorical abstract algebraic logic: skywatching in semilattice systems

Font and Moraschini established a bijective correspondence between congruences of semilattices with sectionally finite height and certain special subsets of their universes, called clouds. They provided a characterization of clouds and showed that the correspondence is given by the Leibniz operator of abstract algebraic logic. We extend the bijection to one between congruence systems on the semilattice systems of categorical abstract algebraic logic and what we call cloud families. In this context, the categorical analog of the Leibniz operator plays a similar role. In addition, we show that, even though the exact analogue of the Font–Moraschini condition fails in general, a more complex variant provides an analogous characterization of cloud families.
Graphene-Based Nanoassemblies for Energy Conversion

Graphene-based assemblies are gaining attention as a viable alternate to boost the efficiency of various catalytic and storage reactions in energy conversion applications. The use of reduced graphene oxide has already proved useful in collecting and transporting charge in photoelectrochemical solar cells, photocatalysis, and electrocatalysis. In many of these applications, the flat carbon serves as a scaffold to anchor metal and semiconductor nanoparticles and assists in promoting selectivity and efficiency of the catalytic process. Covalent and noncovalent interaction with organic molecules is another area that is expected to provide new frontiers in graphene research. Recent advances in manipulating graphene-based two-dimensional carbon architecture for energy conversion are described.
Social Movements and Market Transformations: Lessons From HIV/AIDS and Climate Change

When AIDS activists launched their campaign for developing world access to antiretroviral therapy in the late 1990s, this treatment cost on average $10,000 per patient per year. More than a decade later, drug prices for “first line” therapies hovered around $100 per patient per year, and nearly 13 million people in low- and middle-income countries were receiving these life-extending medications. By contrast, climate activists during the same time period labored without much success in establishing mechanisms to put a price on carbon. We identify the global market structures most conducive for social movement-led market transformations. We argue that advocacy collective action is more likely to be successful when the global market structure involves (i) a small number of product markets, (ii) globally integrated product markets, (iii) a relatively concentrated industry with few producers or buyers, and (iv) a source of rents produced through social construction rather than natural or technological barriers to entry.
Computation of Turbulent Flow About Cone-Derived Waverider

The basic algorahm is based on finite volume disThe paper presents the results of a computational fluid dynamics study of the three-dimensional, turbulent, supersonic flowfield about the forebody of a conical waverider at zero angle of attack. The numerical method uses the flux difference splitting algorithm, a s embodied in the Navier-Stokes code entitled CFLSD, developed by NASA-Langley Research Center, and the Baldwin-Lomax algebraic turbulence model is employed. The grid selected and overall correctness of the turbulent flow computations are validated by comparison to counterpart flat plate results. The obtained turbulent flow results about the waverider are compared to previously reported results by the authors for the laminar flow about the same configuration, as well as to available experimental and analytical results.
Neo-Kantianism, pantheism, and the ego

Investigating art, literature, and thought in the Russia of the 1890's means exploring a complex cultural topography that has not yet been charted in detail. Materialism, Positivism, Darwinism, Marxism, Leibnizianism, neo-Kantianism, Nietzscheanism, Decadence, Symbolism, Naturalism, the ideas and esthetics of Tolstoi, Dostoevsky, the Populists, and Vladimir Solov'~v: all these and more crisscrossed and cross-fertilized. Distortion, dilution, and elaboration inevitably occurred. Yet, while no neat topographical chart may ever be achieved, some salient features do emerge. The fin-de-siOcle found many young Russians deeply absorbed by literary and philosophical questions while looking for a breakthrough into 'modernity.' Articles and debates in journals like Vestnik Evropy [Herald of Europe], Severnyi vestnik [Northern Messenger], and Voprosy filosofii i psikhologii [Questions of Philosophy and Psychology], the plays of Ibsen and Maeterlinck, the new French poetry, and the paintings of Boecklin and Vrubel' all fed the sense of its imminence. Some of these people, soon to figure in the Russian Symbolist and Decadent movements, were university students following the lectures of the neo-Kantian Aleksandr Vvedenskii in St. Petersburg and the philosopher-psychologists Nikolai Grot and Lev Lopatin in Moscow. 1 These students' notebooks, diaries, and correspondence often show a deep concern with questions bearing on their understanding of themselves and of the universe. The 'new' ideas coming from the West both sharpened these questions and fueled the search for answers.
Integrated Scheduling and Dynamic Optimization of Complex Batch Processes with General Network Structure Using a Generalized Benders Decomposition Approach

We address the integration of scheduling and dynamic optimization for batch chemical processes. The processes can have complex network structures, allowing material splitting and mixing. The integrated problem is formulated as a mixed-integer dynamic optimization problem where a continuous-time scheduling model is linked to the dynamic models via processing times, processing costs, and batch sizes. To reduce the computational complexity, we develop a tailored and efficient decomposition method based on the framework of generalized Benders decomposition by exploiting the special structure of the integrated problem. The decomposed master problem is a scheduling problem with variable processing times and processing costs, as well as the Benders cuts. The primal problem comprises a set of separable dynamic optimization problems for the processing units. By collaboratively optimizing the process scheduling and the process dynamics, the proposed method substantially improve the overall economic performance of t...
Calculation and Study on Resonance Over-voltage of 500 kV Compact Transmission Line in Anhui Power Grid

According to the phenomenon of resonance occurred in 500 kV long distance compact transmission line under some operation modes in Anhui Power Grid, due to the disposition of shunt and neutral reactor, the paper introduced a kind of software to adopt EMTP electromagnetic transient calculation. The over-voltage calculation and analysis of the basic operating conditions under the start-up mode and the conventional condition after putting into service were carried out, which can reach to change the start-up mode and play the role of completing safety start of line.
A Short and Direct Proof of Arrow's Impossibility Theorem

We give a short and direct proof of Arrow's Impossibility Theorem. We shall show that unanimity and independence of irrelevant alternatives implies a preference invariance (PI) property for the social welfare function. Then we show that the PI property and unanimity imply the existence of a dictator for the social welfare function.
A platform for the discovery of new macrolide antibiotics

The chemical modification of structurally complex fermentation products, a process known as semisynthesis, has been an important tool in the discovery and manufacture of antibiotics for the treatment of various infectious diseases. However, many of the therapeutics obtained in this way are no longer effective, because bacterial resistance to these compounds has developed. Here we present a practical, fully synthetic route to macrolide antibiotics by the convergent assembly of simple chemical building blocks, enabling the synthesis of diverse structures not accessible by traditional semisynthetic approaches. More than 300 new macrolide antibiotic candidates, as well as the clinical candidate solithromycin, have been synthesized using our convergent approach. Evaluation of these compounds against a panel of pathogenic bacteria revealed that the majority of these structures had antibiotic activity, some efficacious against strains resistant to macrolides in current use. The chemistry we describe here provides a platform for the discovery of new macrolide antibiotics and may also serve as the basis for their manufacture.
Tetrathiomolybdate mediates cisplatin-induced p38 signaling and EGFR degradation and enhances response to cisplatin therapy in gynecologic cancers

Cisplatin and its analogs are among the most widely used chemotherapeutic agents against various types of cancer. It is known that cisplatin can activate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which may provide a survival benefit in cancers. Tetrathiomolybdate (TM) is a potent anti-cancer and anti-angiogenic agent and has been investigated in a number of clinical trials for cancer. In this study, we explore the therapeutic potential of TM on cisplatin-mediated EGFR regulation. Our study shows that TM is not cytotoxic, but exerts an anti-proliferative effect in ECC-1 cells. However, TM treatment prior to cisplatin markedly improves cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity. TM suppressed cisplatin-induced activation of EGFR while potentiating activation of p38; the activation of p38 signaling appeared to promote cisplatin-induced EGFR degradation. These results are in contrast to what we saw when cells were co-treated with cisplatin plus an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, where receptor activation was inhibited but receptor degradation was also blocked. Our current study is in agreement with previous findings that TM may have a therapeutic benefit by inhibiting EGFR activation. We furthermore provide evidence that TM may provide an additional benefit by potentiating p38 activation following cisplatin treatment, which may in turn promote receptor degradation by cisplatin.
Rapidity correlation structure in nuclear collisions

We show that measurements of the rapidity dependence of transverse momentum correlations can be used to determine the characteristic time ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}$ that dictates the rate of isotropization of the stress energy tensor, as well as the shear viscosity $\ensuremath{\nu}=\ensuremath{\eta}/sT$. We formulate methods for computing these correlations using second-order dissipative hydrodynamics with noise. Current data are consistent with ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}/\ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{\sim}10$, but targeted measurements can improve this precision.
Manager and Analyst Meet Again

Chapter 9 summarizes the book and provides the manager and analyst a final opportunity to dialogue and discuss their common background.
Process-variation tolerant flexible circuit for wearable electronics

Flexible electronics is a promising technology for wearable applications. The flexible printed thin-film transistor (TFT) circuits, however, often suffer from large process variations and inferior long-term reliability. This paper describes recent progress on robust printed circuits, including a novel design style known as Pseudo-CMOS, which was invented [1] to tackle design challenges for flexible TFT circuits. With post-fabrication tuning capability, Pseudo-CMOS can survive large process variations which are inevitable for the low-cost printing process. Furthermore, degradation of circuit performance, either due to variations or aging, can be recovered by means of an external tuning circuit. The paper also illustrates some design examples of Pseudo-CMOS circuits for applications to energy [2], healthcare [3], biomedical [4], and near-field communication (NFC) tags [5], [6].
Acidic Deposition on Walker Branch Watershed

After nearly a decade of atmospheric deposition research on Walker Branch Watershed, an experimental watershed in eastern Tennessee, we are able to draw several conclusions as to the fate and effects of atmospheric inputs and begin to extrapolate some of the more important processes regulating element fluxes to other ecosystems. On Walker Branch Watershed we have found that dry deposition is a very important component of atmospheric deposition, accounting for as much as half of the input of N and S to the ecosystem. Both N and S accumulate within the watershed, but the mechanisms of accumulation differ considerably: N accumulation is due to biological uptake, whereas S accumulation is due to sulfate adsorption onto soils.
A Socially Responsible Islamic Finance: Character and the Common Good

This book explores how, through spirituality and the development of character, Islamic financial institutions and Muslim communities can integrate their businesses with contemporary social responsibility initiatives to produce positive social and environmental impact. From the looming environmental crisis to the divide between mainstream and extremist interpretations of Islam, the book addresses significant questions facing Muslim communities – and humanity – and demonstrates why Islam should sit ‘at the table’ with other faiths and ethical traditions discussing humanity’s great obstacles. Unlike existing literature, this work explores the intersections between classical Islamic ethics and spirituality, contemporary Islamic finance and economic markets, and select sustainability and impact initiatives (such as the Equator Principles and UN Principles of Responsible Investment) designed to make the worlds of business and finance responsible for the environments in which they operate and the communities that support them. Drawing on his years of experience in Islamic banking, Moghul addresses these applications in light of real-world practices and dilemmas, demonstrating how Islamic organizations and Muslim communities should embrace the broad range of stakeholders countenanced by the Shari’ah in conversations that affect them. By situating his exploration of Islamic finance in the light of the much larger critical issues of balance, justice, and moderation in Islamic praxis, Moghul creates an interdisciplinary book that will appeal to academics and researchers in economics, finance, business, government and policy, and law.
Abstract 2361: Pim kinase inhibition alters mRNA splicing in AML cell lines

Oncogenic kinase activity is a common feature of nearly all cancers and kinases are major targets for therapeutic intervention. Pim kinases are deregulated in hematopoietic cancers including Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), as well as prostate cancer. While cancer cells can become dependent on Pim activity to sustain proliferation, in normal adult tissues, Pim kinase activity appears to be dispensable. These features make Pim kinases an attractive target for cancer therapy, however, their physiological roles have not been fully characterized. Using the reverse in-gel kinase assay (RIKA), we identified a battery of novel Pim substrates that are involved in mRNA splicing regulation. We hypothesized that Pim family kinases regulate mRNA splicing through phosphorylation of splicing factors. Microarray analysis revealed more than 10,000 splicing changes in AML cells treated with the highly selective small molecule Pim kinase inhibitor AZD1208. Using RT-PCR analysis, multiple AZD1208-induced splicing changes were validated. To discern the mechanisms whereby Pim kinases regulate splicing, we determined whether Pim inhibition alters phosphorylation of serine/arginine-rich (SR) proteins. Inhibition of serine arginine protein kinase (SRPK) activity using a small molecular inhibitor (SRPIN340) reduced SR protein phosphorylation, whereas Pim kinase inhibition did not, suggesting that Pim kinases regulate splicing through an SRPK independent pathway. Comparison of splicing changes in AZD1208 and SRPIN340 treated AML cells demonstrated distinct patterns, providing further evidence of SRPK-independent splicing regulation by Pim kinases. Biomarkers of kinase inhibitor efficacy are critical components of clinical trials. These data suggest that changes in mRNA splicing may serve as a biomarker for assessing patient responsiveness to Pim inhibition therapy. Citation Format: Tejashree A. Joglekar, Xiang Li, Charles J. Bieberich. Pim kinase inhibition alters mRNA splicing in AML cell lines [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2361. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-2361
Excess Currents in Semiconductor Tunneling

Those components of the junction current in semiconductor tunnel diodes which cannot be explained in terms of simple tunnel transition across the junction barrier are known as excess currents. The origin and physical mechanisms of these excess currents have been stipulated and investigated in detail by many workers since Esaki first observed and interpretated the negative resistance phenomena in degenerate germanium p-n junctions (1).
A compact, portable, re-configurable, and automated system for on-demand pharmaceutical tablet manufacturing.

Abstract Due to the complex nature of the pharmaceutical supply chain, the industry faces several major challenges when it comes to ensuring an adequate supply of quality drug products. These challenges are not only the causes of supply chain disruptions and financial loss, but can also prevent underserved and remote areas from receiving life-saving drugs. As a preliminary demonstration to mitigate all these challenges, at MIT we have developed active pharmaceutical ingredients manufacturing in a miniature platform. However, manufacturing of final oral solid dosage as tablets from drug substances had not been demonstrated. In this study, a compact, portable, re-configurable, and automated tablet manufacturing system, roughly the size of a North American household oven, [72.4 cm (length) × 53.3 cm (width) × 134.6 cm (height)] was designed, built and demonstrated. This miniature system is able to manufacture on-demand tablets from drug crystals on a scale of hundreds to thousands per day. Ibuprofen and Diazepam, each having different drug loading, were manufactured using this miniature system and meet U.S. Pharmacopeia standards. We foresee this flexible, miniature, plug-and-play pharmaceutical solids dosage manufacturing system advancing on-demand ready-to-use pharmaceuticals enabling future treatment of human diseases at the point-of-care.
Are We Having Fun Yet? Exploring the Motivations of MPA and MPP Program Directors in the United States

The typical role of the graduate program director in higher education combines the responsibilities of both academic faculty and staff. This study uses survey data to investigate the motivations, expectations, and levels of satisfaction of Master of Public Administration and Master of Public Policy program directors in the United States. We explore the job characteristics that are primary motivators and look at what characteristics program directors expect and assign importance to. We also glean estimates of job satisfaction from the survey data. This study is preliminary, a first step in understanding the motivations, expectations, and job satisfaction of program directors.
Memorable Moments with Walter Kohn

Just 40 years ago I was applying for academic positions from Birmingham England where I was finishing two postdoctoral years in Rudi Peierls’ wonderful department. In those early post-sputnik halcyon days you then applied for assistant professorships and collected the offers that came in by return mail. (I exaggerate only slightly.) Peierls had suggested that I send such a letter to Walter Kohn, who disappointingly offered only a two-year postdoc. But I had never been to California and Peierls clearly had a high regard for the man, so this otherwise noncompetitive proposition was still very tempting. I asked the people at Cornell, who did come through with a faculty position, whether I could defer it for two years to do a postdoc in La Jolla. Two, they said, was too many but one would be OK. Walter said one was fine with him, so in August 1963 I showed up in La Jolla.
The serum proteins of the syrian hamster and the effect of corticosteroids on their fractions

The normal distribution of the serum proteins, as determined by paper-electrophoresis in eighty-seven Syrian hamsters, is reported.
Linear and Nonlinear Ultrasonic Properties of Fatigued 410Cb Stainless Steel

The assessment of pre-crack fatigue conditions is a problem of some importance in the nondestructive evaluation of turbine blades. Of particular concern to the electric power industry is the state of fatigue of steam driven stainless steel blades during the latter stages of service life prior to the nucleation of fatigue cracks. We report here measurements of acoustic attenuation, longitudinal velocity, and nonlinearity parameters on 410Cb stainless steel specimens provided by Virginia Power Company. Both virgin specimens and specimens from retired turbine blades were studied. From the virgin material a series of samples were prepared according to ASTM standards and cyclically fatigued from 0 to 10 million cycles at a tensile stress level of 85% of the yield strength of the material with an R value of zero. The results of the measurements are compared to that obtained from the retired turbine blade material.
Regional and disease-related differences in properties of the equine temporomandibular joint disc

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders affect up to 12% of the human population, and naturally occurring TMJ diseases are increasingly recognized in animals. The TMJ disc plays a major role in TMJ disorders in people, but little is known about its role in TMJ pathology in animals. This study characterizes differences in properties of equine TMJ discs associated with age, disc region, and presence of TMJ osteoarthritis (OA). Discs were dissected from both TMJ's of sixteen horses euthanized for reasons unrelated to this study. Each joint was grossly evaluated and scored as normal, mild OA, or severe OA. Samples from the rostral, caudal, lateral, central, and medial regions of the disc were subject to compressive testing, quantitative biochemistry, and histology. Samples from the lateral, central, and medial region were tested for tensile properties in the rostrocaudal and mediolateral directions. We found that the equine TMJ disc is highly anisotropic, and its glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content and compressive stiffness vary between disc regions. The disc also exhibits increasing GAG content and compressive stiffness with increasing age. While equine TMJ disc properties are generally similar to other herbivores, greater compressive stiffness throughout the disc and greater GAG content in its rostral region suggest that mechanical demands on the TMJ disc differ between horses and other species. Importantly, a region-specific decrease in compressive stiffness was observed associated with joint disease and corresponded to cartilage erosions in the underlying condylar surface.
Integrating Convolutional Neural Networks and Probabilistic Graphical Modeling for Epileptic Seizure Detection in Multichannel EEG

Manual seizure detection in clinical electroencephalography (EEG) is time consuming and requires extensive training. In addition, the seizure origin and spreading pattern is valuable for therapeutic planning but cannot always be manually disambiguated. Prior work in automated seizure detection has focused on engineering new features that better capture the seizure activity. However, these methods ignore crucial information in the data and are not sensitive enough to track the seizure propagation. In this work we introduce a hybrid Probabilistic Graphical Model-Convolutional Neural Network (PGM-CNN) for seizure tracking in multichannel EEG. Our model leverages the power of deep learning for data driven analysis of the raw EEG time series while retaining clinically relevant information through the latent PGM prior. We validate our hybrid model on clinical EEG data from two hospitals with distinct patient populations. Our system achieves better detection performance than baseline methods, which exclusively use PGMs or neural networks.
Characteristics predictive of response to collagenase clostridium histolyticum for Peyronie’s disease: a review of the literature

To evaluate characteristics predictive of successful treatment outcomes of Peyronie’s disease (PD) with collagenase clostridium histolyticum (CCH) CCH is the only FDA-approved medication for treating PD. We reviewed the literature that addresses pre-treatment clinical characteristics that may predict favorable response to CCH therapy. Despite significant heterogeneity in reporting treatment success, we identified four well-studied characteristics that may be predictive of favorable response to CCH therapy: baseline penile curvature, baseline IIEF, duration of PD, and presence of calcification. CCH demonstrated a favorable response in those with pre-treatment curvature 30°–60°, longer duration of disease, mild to moderate baseline sexual function, and low calcification within plaques. Of all factors, calcification is emerging as the most significant factor likely because CCH is unable to degrade the calcified plaques. There is difficulty interpreting results because of differences in reporting outcomes. Some studies compared treatment groups to placebo, others reported changes in curvature, while others reported > 20% curvature correction as treatment success. Additionally, not all studies reported outcomes after completion of four cycles of CCH, and recent studies utilized a shortened, high dose, modified protocol. The ideal candidate for CCH therapy remains elusive. Based on the available literature, the man with PD who will have the greatest chance of curvature improvement will have curvature between 30° and 60°, longer duration of disease, an IIEF > 17, no calcification, and set to receive all four cycles. For a greater understanding of CCH treatment success in PD, prospectively collected registry reporting standardized outcomes are needed.
Cas13 Helps Bacteria Play Dead when the Enemy Strikes

How RNA-targeting CRISPR-Cas13 functions as a phage defense system has been mysterious. Recently in Nature, Meeske et al. (2019) demonstrate that Cas13 provides potent immunity to dsDNA phages without cutting their genome. By sensing phage transcripts and destroying RNA nonspecifically to arrest the cell into dormancy, Cas13 provides herd immunity.