cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification of Interleukin-1 by Functional Screening as a Key Mediator of Cellular Expansion and Disease Progression in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Secreted proteins in the bone marrow microenvironment play critical roles in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Through an ex vivo functional screen of 94 cytokines, we identified that the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1) elicited profound expansion of myeloid progenitors in ∼67% of AML patients while suppressing the growth of normal progenitors. Levels of IL-1β and IL-1 receptors were increased in AML patients, and silencing of the IL-1 receptor led to significant suppression of clonogenicity and in vivo disease progression. IL-1 promoted AML cell growth by enhancing p38MAPK phosphorylation and promoting secretion of various other growth factors and inflammatory cytokines. Treatment with p38MAPK inhibitors reversed these effects and recovered normal CD34+ cells from IL-1-mediated growth suppression. These results highlight the importance of ex vivo functional screening to identify common and actionable extrinsic pathways in genetically heterogeneous malignancies and provide impetus for clinical development of IL-1/IL1R1/p38MAPK pathway-targeted therapies in AML.
Investigating the Relationships Between the Use Contexts, User Perceived Values, and Loyalty to a Software Product

In this study, we propose that software products provide three types of value—utilitarian, hedonic, and social—that impact user loyalty. Although the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) has focused on the user impacts of utilitarian and hedonic values provided by utilitarian and hedonic software products on system use, the impact of social value provided by the software products in general have been largely ignored. The results of a longitudinal study with actual users of three types of software products show that all three types of software products—utilitarian (Producteev), hedonic (Kerbal), and social (Facebook)—provide significant but varying degrees of all three types of values. Further, the value derived by the users’ primary use context moderated the impact of the secondary values provided by the software product to the users on their loyalty for the product.
Review: Antibiotics have no effect on diarrhea and increase bacteriologic relapse in salmonella intestinal infection

Source Citation Sirinavin S, Garner P. Antibiotics in salmonella gut infections. Cochrane Review, latest version 12 May 1998. In: The Cochrane Library. Oxford: Update Software.
Evaluating the effect of smoking cessation treatment on a complex dynamical system.

Abstract Objective To understand the dynamic relations among tobacco withdrawal symptoms to inform the development of effective smoking cessation treatments. Dynamical system models from control engineering are introduced and utilized to evaluate complex treatment effects. We demonstrate how dynamical models can be used to examine how distinct withdrawal-related processes are related over time and how treatment influences these relations. Method Intensive longitudinal data from a randomized placebo-controlled smoking cessation trial (N = 1504) are used to estimate a dynamical model of withdrawal-related processes including momentary craving, negative affect, quitting self-efficacy, and cessation fatigue for each of six treatment conditions (nicotine patch, nicotine lozenge, bupropion, patch + lozenge, bupropion + lozenge, and placebo). Results Estimation and simulation results show that (1) withdrawal measurements are interrelated over time, (2) nicotine patch + nicotine lozenge showed reduced cessation fatigue and enhanced self-efficacy in the long-term while bupropion + nicotine lozenge was more effective at reducing negative affect and craving, and (3) although nicotine patch + nicotine lozenge had a better initial effect on cessation fatigue and self-efficacy, nicotine lozenge had a stronger effect on negative affect and nicotine patch had a stronger impact on craving. Conclusions This approach can be used to provide new evidence illustrating (a) the total impact of treatment conditions (via steady state values) and (b) the total initial impact (via rate of initial change values) on smoking-related outcomes for separate treatment conditions, noting that the conditions that produce the largest change may be different than the conditions that produce the fastest change.
Gold Corroles as Near-IR Phosphors for Oxygen Sensing.

The triplet state of gold(III) corroles is exploited for optical oxygen sensing. We report intense phosphorescence for gold(III) corroles in the near-IR, an optical window that is ideal for tissue transparency. Moreover, the triplet excited-state emission exhibits significant changes in intensity and lifetime over the 0–160 Torr O2 pressure range. This renders these compounds sensitive at biologically relevant pressures and overcomes the spectral limitations of palladium and platinum porphyrins for oxygen sensing in biology.
Barriers and Benefits of Changing People’s Behavior Regarding Energy Saving of Air Conditioners at Home

Energy saving is a desirable behavior in terms of solving the global warming problem. In order to change people’s behavior from the non-saving to the saving use of air conditioners, for example, the barriers to and benefits of changing their behavior should be investigated. This study collected data from four focus groups consisting of eight adults in each group. Two of the focus groups were non-energy savers in terms of their use of air conditioners while the other two focus groups were energy savers in their use of air conditioners. The results indicated that the barriers to energy saving behavior regarding air conditioners were comfort, habit, and privacy. The benefits of energy saving in relation to the use of air conditioners included saving money, alleviating the climate change situation, saving natural resources, behaving as a good role model for family members, gaining better health, and lengthening the life of the air conditioners.
Chemical characterization of Maltese-cross birefringent particles in synovial fluid samples collected from symptomatic joints.

Joint Bone Spine - In Press.Proof corrected by the author Available online since mercredi 22 novembre 2017
A planning tool for evaluating vehicles miles travelled and traffic safety forecasts of growth management scenarios: A case study of Baton Rouge and New Orleans

Abstract This study describes an adaptable planning tool that examines potential change in vehicle miles travelled (VMT) growth and corresponding traffic safety outcomes in two urbanized areas, Baton Rouge and New Orleans, based on built environment, economic and demographic variables. This model is employed to demonstrate one aspect of the potential benefits of growth management policy implementation aimed at curbing VMT growth, and to establish targets with which to measure the effectiveness of those policies through a forecasting approach. The primary objective of this research is to demonstrate the need to break with current trends in order to achieve future goals, and to identify specific policy targets for fuel prices, population density, and transit service within the two study regions. Models indicate based on medium growth scenarios, Baton Rouge will experience a 9 percent increase in VMTs and New Orleans will experience 10 percent growth. This translates to corresponding increases in crashes, injuries and fatalities. The paper provides forecasts for planners and engineers to consider an alternative future, based on desired goals to reduce VMTs and therefore improve safety outcomes. A constrained-forecast model shows a cap on VMTs and crash rates is achievable through policy that increases fuel prices, population density and annual transit passenger miles per capita at reasonable levels through a growth management approach.
Corrosion Performance of New Generation Aluminum-Lithium Alloys for Aerospace Applications

Over the past several years, a new generation of aluminum-lithium alloys has been developed. These alloys are characterized by excellent strength, low density, and high modulus of elasticity and are therefore of interest for lightweight structural materials applications particularly for construction of current and future aircraft. These new alloys have also demonstrated significant improvements in corrosion resistance when compared with the legacy and incumbent alloys. This paper documents the superior corrosion resistance of the current commercial tempers of these materials and also discusses the corrosion performance as a function of the degree of artificial aging. Results from laboratory corrosion tests are compared with results from exposures in a seacoast atmosphere to assess the predictive capability of the laboratory tests. The correlations that have been developed between the laboratory tests and the seacoast exposures provide confidence that a set of available methods can provide an accurate assessment of the corrosion performance of this new generation of alloys.
When to Reveal Personal Secrets in a Particular Relationship

This final chapter opens with one more movie example that I think may have sent a counterproductive message to the public about how protecting one′s privacy relates to one′s integrity. In the 2000 movie, ″The Contender,″ the vice president dies, and the president appoints a replacement, Laine Hanson (played by Joan Allen). But a political opponent in charge of approving the new appointee dredges up a history of sexual misconduct on her part, threatening to destroy her political career and tarnish the reputation of the current administration. Andrew Manning wrote in his October 2000 review that the ending is ″completely unrealistic—it involves a politician being so honest that they′re willing to ruin themselves for their ideals, and I find that highly unbelievable in a field where deception and pandering are some of the cornerstones of the career″ (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/click/movie-1100998/reviews.php?critic=approved&sortby=default&page=10&rid=156099. Retrieved 3/16/01).
Hormonal Regulation of Epithelial Morphogenesis, Growth and Cytodifferentiation in Fetal and Adult Urogenital Tracts: Roles of Mesenchymal-Epithelial Interactions

The importance of mesenchymal-epithelial interactions for normal development is well established for a variety of structures and organs within the integumental, skeletal, gastro-intestinal, and neural systems (Kratochwil, 1972; Bernfield et al., 1973; Deuchar, 1975; Sengel, 1976; Saxen et al., 1976; Wessells, 1977; Fallon, 1983). Likewise, in the urogenital tract epithelial morphogenesis, growth, cytodifferentiation and function are induced and specified regionally by mesenchyme (Cunha, 1976a; Cunha et al., 1980a, 1983a). A special feature of the genital tract is that sex steroids and their analogs have profound developmental effects (Takasugi, 1976; McLachlan et al., 1980; Newbold and McLachlan, 1985; Bern and Talamantes, 1981; Clark and McCormack, 1977, 1980; Forsberg and Kalland, 1981; Taguchi and Nishizuka, 1985; Burns, 1961). These hormones may act in part by affecting mesenchymal-epithelial interactions in developing accessory sexual organs; such hormonal regulation provides unique opportunities for detailed analyses of the mechanism and control of these tissue interactions.
How a growing organismal perspective is adding new depth to integrative studies of morphological evolution

Over the past half century, the field of Evolutionary Developmental Biology, or Evo-devo, has integrated diverse fields of biology into a more synthetic understanding of morphological diversity. This has resulted in numerous insights into how development can evolve and reciprocally influence morphological evolution, as well as generated several novel theoretical areas. Although comparative by default, there remains a great gap in our understanding of adaptive morphological diversification and how developmental mechanisms influence the shape and pattern of phenotypic variation. Herein we highlight areas of research that are in the process of filling this void, and areas, if investigated more fully, that will add new insights into the diversification of morphology. At the centre of our discussion is an explicit awareness of organismal biology. Here we discuss an organismal framework that is supported by three distinct pillars. First, there is a need for Evo-devo to adopt a high-resolution phylogenetic approach in the study of morphological variation and its developmental underpinnings. Secondly, we propose that to understand the dynamic nature of morphological evolution, investigators need to give more explicit attention to the processes that generate evolutionarily relevant variation at the population level. Finally, we emphasize the need to address more thoroughly the processes that structure variation at micro- and macroevolutionary scales including modularity, morphological integration, constraint, and plasticity. We illustrate the power of these three pillars using numerous examples from both invertebrates and vertebrates to emphasize that many of these approaches are already present within the field, but have yet to be formally integrated into many research programs. We feel that the most exciting new insights will come where the traditional experimental approaches to Evo-devo are integrated more thoroughly with the principles of this organismal framework.
Writing to improve healthcare: tips for authors

Writing to Improve Healthcare , edited and authored by David P. Stevens, is a timely and important book that is designed to help quality improvers publish their quality improvement (QI) work. (Dr Stevens was the previous Editor-in-Chief of this journal, when it was called Quality & Safety in Healthcare .) The book is unique in that it applies a healthcare improvement perspective to the traditional manuscript preparation and publication process. This is useful for the novice writer and for authors accustomed to writing more traditional clinical research studies or writing for other biomedical fields. Indeed, while some prospective authors of QI work may not be first-time writers, this may be the …
A parametric cohesive zone beam theory analysis of mixed-mode graphene transfer

Abstract Competing interface fracture paths in the transfer of 2D materials from their growth substrate to a flexible polymer substrate are examined by developing finite element and semi-analytical beam theory models. With limited data on interface characterization for 2D materials, a parameter space is chosen based on the polyimide-graphene-copper foil system. Cohesive zone models with two different damage initiation criteria are explored. Algebraic equations to predict load, crack length, damage zone length, rotation and mode-mix are extracted through scaling analysis and correlation of the numerical data. Successful transfer of graphene to a polymer substrate is observed to be dependent on relative interface strengths rather than fracture energies.
Effects of Parenting on Young Children’s Language and Communication

The first years of life bring about major developmental changes in children’s lives. Among the most significant of these changes is children’s entry into formal language. Besides setting the stage for later school achievement, having skills in the understanding and expression of language allows children to interact with people around them and to participate in their culture. Parents and family members are critical in supporting children’s early language and communicative development. This chapter describes how parents influence their children’s early communicative and cognitive development. We cover current theory outlining how parents shape young children’s development in the first years of life, provide a summary of the descriptive research on the influence of parents on children’s language and communication, and discuss this literature’s strengths and weaknesses. In addition, we provide examples of interventions that have been implemented for strengthening parents’ skills in promoting children’s language. Finally, the chapter outlines needed research in this area and describes the implications for policy and practice based on current research.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SPONTANEOUS CORONARY ARTERY DISSECTION (SCAD) SPECIFIC CARE IN REDUCING RECURRENT EVENTS

Within the past decade, there has been increased investigation to better understand spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), however, there is little information regarding event recurrence. This study retrospectively investigates SCAD recurrences with respect to different precipitants and
The transformation of medical genetics by clinical genomics: hubris meets humility

There is no question that the advent of massively parallel (“next-generation”) DNA sequencing has thrust Medical Genetics and Molecular Diagnostics into a new era, availing practitioners and patients of a form of genetic testing unprecedented in its scope and comprehensiveness. It has produced impressive diagnostic yield, ended the “diagnostic odyssey” for many patients and families, expanded the known phenotypes of countless disorders, and led to almost weekly new disease gene discoveries. Nevertheless, it still fails to identify the molecular cause of many patients who clearly exhibit genetic/syndromic conditions, while at the same time unmasking other sequence changes of uncertain significance or unexpected consequences. With over six years’ experience in the clinical application of NGS, this seems an opportune time to take stock and face up honestly to how much we still do not know about genome action and, indeed, the DNA molecule itself. This review and assessment examines a number of residual deficiencies and misconceptions in clinical genomics, while daring to predict its future incorporation of other “-omics” approaches and even quantum phenomena in our unending quest to understand the heredity of Homo sapiens.
Fournier's gangrene: a modern analysis of predictors of outcomes.

Background: Fournier’s gangrene (FG) is a rapidly progressing necrotizing fasciitis that carries a significant morbidity and mortality. The present study sought to identify the predisposing factors related to FG and validate the Fournier’s Gangrene Severity Index (FGSI) score as a prognostic tool in the care of the Fournier’s patient. Methods: Medstar Washington Hospital Center records were searched from January 2003 to February 2015 for all patients with a diagnosis code of FG, n=42. Epidemiologic data was collected for patients and used to calculate an FGSI score. Results: The average age was 53.45 yrs and M/F ratio was 39:1. Patients presented with an average 2.675 predisposing factors; the most common was diabetes mellitus (n=21) followed by hypertension (n=18). The most common etiology was periscrotal (n=25) next to perirectal (n=9). Streptococcus was the most common source of infection (n=14). Patients on average required three surgical interventions. The average and median hospitalization period was 19.625 and 11.5 days respectively. Eleven patients developed sepsis. Twenty-four (60%) patients experienced a complication. The overall mortality was 5% (n=2). The average FGSI on admission was 5.368. Multivariate analysis showed FGSI score correlates with more surgical intervention, longer hospitalization, sepsis, complication and mortality. Conclusions: The FGSI score predicts a greater likelihood of more surgical interventions, longer hospitalization period, sepsis, complications and mortality within this patient population. Diabetes mellitus continues to be the most common predisposing factors in FG patients. The mortality rate of 5% is much less than the historically reported 20–30% and may reflect improved understanding and care of this aggressive disease.
A Housing Mobility Program's Impacts on Teen and Young Adult Parenting

Abstract Objective To assess the impact of Moving to Opportunity for Fair Housing Demonstration Program (MTO) implemented in 1994 in five U.S. cities (Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City) on teen births. Methods We analyzed baseline and long-term evaluation data for youth (ages 13–20) and young adults (ages 21–30) (N = 7861) who were children or teens at baseline. We used regression analyses to estimate the impact of housing vouchers on having a teen birth. Results Overall, MTO had no significant effect on teen births. However, among young adults whose parent had a child before age 20, the proportion with a teen birth themselves was 21% lower among those offered housing vouchers to low-poverty neighborhoods with no restrictions compared to those not offered housing vouchers (p Conclusion MTO appeared to decrease intergenerational teen births among young adults. Further exploration of housing relocation may help untangle risks and protective factors for reducing intergenerational teen births. Public health implications Reducing intergenerational teen births is important, especially among those facing economic, environmental, and health risks. Comprehensive programs addressing multiple social determinants of health are vital to reducing teen births.
Bayesian estimation of the normal and shear stiffness for rock sockets in weak sedimentary rocks

Abstract The design of socketed foundations in weak sedimentary rocks is often governed by settlement. The shear stiffness of the rock socket sidewalls, and the normal stiffness of the rock socket base are the main parameters that affect the settlement of rock sockets at service load conditions and are needed for settlement calculation in load-transfer method or using the theory of elasticity. In this paper, in situ load test data for socketed foundations in weak rocks are collected. The shear stiffness of the rock socket sidewalls and the normal stiffness for the rock socket base are, respectively, estimated based on the measured side shear stress and shear displacement, and base contact pressure and normal displacement relationships. The parameters affecting shear and normal stiffnesses are discussed. A Bayesian approach is used to develop probabilistic models for the rock socket shear and normal stiffnesses, which are functions of both rock properties and the rock socket size.
Looking at Europe through a Basque lens: Ethnolinguistic considerations of two worldviews

The main thesis of this article is that the Basque linguacultural complex provides a window onto conceptual frames reflecting a much earlier animistic worldview, reminiscent of the type of relational cosmologies characterizing ethnographically documented hunter-gatherers. In this respect, even though the Basque language is classed as pre-Indo-European, what that classification might mean from the point of view of the cosmological frames of thought entrenched in the Basque language is taken into consideration, especially the fact that, until the late 20th century, the orally transmitted belief that humans descended from bears was still circulating among Basque speakers. Ethnographic and linguistic evidence points to the possibility that a similar animistic linguacultural substrate was operating across much of Europe during the period in which Indo-European languages and their associated conceptual frames were gaining a foothold. Drawing on the methodological and theoretical tools of cultural linguistics and Habermas’ concept of lifeworld (Lebenswelt), defined as a culturally transmitted and linguistically organized stock of interpretative patterns, a set of asymmetric polarities are analyzed. These are deeply engrained in the linguaculture of Western thought, namely, man/woman, human/animal and culture/nature. Moreover, all of them rest, ultimately, on the notion of human exceptionalism. When viewed from the indigenous frames of the Basque language, these oppositions disappear or are represented in ways more in accordance with the underlying animistic ontology and associated conceptualizations of relational personal identity. In short, the conceptual frames discussed in this study, understandings that are projected through the linguacultural nexus of the Basque language, often align with the ways that animism has been interpreted as expressing a form of relational ontology in which notions of kinship, mutual aid and reciprocity are emphasized and hence closely intertwined. Consequently, the resulting worldview provides a different vantage point for looking back at Western thought and what might have been going on in Europe in times past.
Time-conjunctive representations of future events

It is widely accepted that people can predict the relative imminence of future events. However, it is unknown whether the timing of future events is represented using only a "strength-like" estimate or if future events are represented conjunctively with their position on a mental timeline. We examined how people judge temporal relationships among anticipated future events using the novel Judgment of Anticipated Co-Occurrence (JACO) task. Participants were initially trained on a stream of letters sampled from a probabilistically repeating sequence. During test trials, the stream was interrupted with pairs of probe letters and the participants' task was to choose the probe letter they expected to appear in the stream during a lagged target window 4-6 items (4.3-8.5 s) in the future. Participants performed above chance as they gained experience with the task. Because the correct item was sometimes the more imminent probe letter and other times the less imminent probe letter, these results rule out the possibility that participants relied solely on thresholding a strength-like estimate of temporal imminence. Rather, these results suggest that participants held (1) temporally organized predictions of the future letters in the stream, (2) a temporal estimate of the lagged target window, and (3) some means to compare the two and evaluate their temporal alignment. Response time increased with the lag to the more imminent probe letter, suggesting that participants accessed the future sequentially in a manner that mirrors scanning processes previously proposed to operate on memory representations in the short-term judgment of recency task.
Nanomaterial Synthesis Insights from Machine Learning of Scientific Articles by Extracting, Structuring, and Visualizing Knowledge

Nanomaterials of varying compositions and morphologies are of interest for many applications from catalysis to optics, but the synthesis of nanomaterials and their scale-up are most often time-consuming and Edisonian processes. Information gleaned from the scientific literature can help inform and accelerate nanomaterials development, but again, searching the literature and digesting the information are time-consuming manual processes for researchers. To help address these challenges, we developed scientific article-processing tools that extract and structure information from the text and figures of nanomaterials articles, thereby enabling the creation of a personalized knowledgebase for nanomaterials synthesis that can be mined to help inform further nanomaterials development. Starting with a corpus of ∼35k nanomaterials-related articles, we developed models to classify articles according to the nanomaterial composition and morphology, extract synthesis protocols from within the articles' text, and extract, normalize, and categorize chemical terms within synthesis protocols. We demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed pipeline on an expert-labeled set of nanomaterials synthesis articles, achieving 100% accuracy on composition prediction, 95% accuracy on morphology prediction, 0.99 AUC on protocol identification, and up to a 0.87 F1-score on chemical entity recognition. In addition to processing articles' text, microscopy images of nanomaterials within the articles are also automatically identified and analyzed to determine the nanomaterials' morphologies and size distributions. To enable users to easily explore the database, we developed a complementary browser-based visualization tool that provides flexibility in comparing across subsets of articles of interest. We use these tools and information to identify trends in nanomaterials synthesis, such as the correlation of certain reagents with various nanomaterial morphologies, which is useful in guiding hypotheses and reducing the potential parameter space during experimental design.
Chapter 47 – Satellite Encryption

According to industry analysts, more than 4500 satellites will be in orbit by the year 2016. The implications of the continuing boom in satellites are revolutionary for those who did not have access to secure encrypted data in remote locations around the world. This chapter discusses how encryption algorithms will play a key role in the next stage of development for advanced virtual satellite systems that promise to replace monolithic satellites with clusters of wirelessly interconnected satellite modules. In addition to satellite encryption use by commercial organizations and governments, this chapter presents the implementation of a secure encrypted wireless environment encompassing direct satellite communications and land-based communications links. An information assurance/cyber-security architecture that supports the sharing of common resources across multiple payloads/users at multiple encryption levels is also covered. In addition, the following are also covered: The role of satellite encryption technology trends with regards to the pace that the national cryptography policy must keep up with; the political environment; and the significant changes in the post–Cold War environment that call attention to the need for and the impact a cryptography policy would have both domestically and internationally. Furthermore, the book describes the instruments and goals of the current US satellite encryption policy and some of the issues raised by current policy. In general, the chapter covers the development, implementation, and management of advanced satellite encryption options and strategies that will forever change how organizations do business now and in the foreseeable future. The chapter discusses the misuse of satellite encryption technology by the government; the international community; international and domestic terrorist organizations; and domestic and international criminal organizations. The chapter further evaluates enlarging the space of possible satellite encryption policy options, and offers findings and recommendations. This chapter will leave little doubt that a new world infrastructure in the area of encrypted satellite communications is about to be constructed. The text will benefit organizations and governments, as well as their advanced citizens. For the disadvantaged regions of the world, however, advanced satellite encryption communications could be one of those rare technological events that enable traditional societies to leap ahead and long-dormant economies to flourish in security.
Functional interactions of adrenodoxin with several human mitochondrial cytochrome P450 enzymes

Abstract Seven of the 57 human cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes are mitochondrial and carry out important reactions with steroids and vitamins A and D. These seven P450s utilize an electron transport chain that includes NADPH, NADPH-adrenodoxin reductase (AdR), and adrenodoxin (Adx) instead of the diflavin NADPH-P450 reductase (POR) used by the other P450s in the endoplasmic reticulum. Although numerous studies have been published involving mitochondrial P450 systems, the experimental conditions vary considerably. We compared human Adx and bovine Adx, a commonly used component, and found very similar catalytic activities in reactions catalyzed by human P450s 11B2, 27A1, and 27C1. Binding constants of 6–200 nM were estimated for Adx binding to these P450s using microscale thermophoresis. All P450 catalytic reactions were saturated at 10 μM Adx, and higher concentrations were not inhibitory up to at least 50 μM. Collectively these studies demonstrate the tight binding of Adx (both human and bovine) to AdR and to several mitochondrial P450s and provide guidance for optimization of Adx-dependent P450 reactions.
Implementing Community Engaged Disaster Research in Response to Disasters

The increasing frequency and severity of disasters like tropical storms and flooding place individuals and communities at higher risk of negative health outcomes associated with exposure to disaste...
GORDON: Benchmarking Optane DC Persistent Memory Modules on FPGAs

Scalable nonvolatile memory DIMMs become commercially available on FPGAs with the release of Intel’s Optane DC Persistent Memory (DCPM) product. This new class of memory combines the benefits of DRAM-like solid-state memory (fast, byte addressable) and Flash-like persistent storage (cost- effective, non-volatile), making FPGA highly competitive in accelerating large-scale machine learning and data analytics applications. Despite of the great promise, the performance characteristics of Optane DCPM remains relatively alien to FPGA developers compared to conventional DDRx DRAM or SSD. Recent preliminary studies all use CPU-based systems running full OS stack that limits their ability to characterize the detailed performance characteristics of the Optane DCPM. To fully exploit the advantages of Optane DCPM in FPGA-based accelerator design, we present the first FPGA-based Optane DCPM profiling framework, named GORDON 1 on Stratix 10 DX FPGA. By leveraging the flexibility of the FPGA in building custom logic and the FPGA-specific features for Optane DCPM, GORDON addresses the fundamental limitations of prior CPU- based profiling. The detailed understanding on Optane DCPM may also benefit system design and optimization beyond FPGAs using CPUs and GPUs.
Electromicrobiology: the ecophysiology of phylogenetically diverse electroactive microorganisms

Electroactive microorganisms markedly affect many environments in which they establish outer-surface electrical contacts with other cells and minerals or reduce soluble extracellular redox-active molecules such as flavins and humic substances. A growing body of research emphasizes their broad phylogenetic diversity and shows that these microorganisms have key roles in multiple biogeochemical cycles, as well as the microbiome of the gut, anaerobic waste digesters and metal corrosion. Diverse bacteria and archaea have independently evolved cytochrome-based strategies for electron exchange between the outer cell surface and the cell interior, but cytochrome-free mechanisms are also prevalent. Electrically conductive protein filaments, soluble electron shuttles and non-biological conductive materials can substantially extend the electronic reach of microorganisms beyond the surface of the cell. The growing appreciation of the diversity of electroactive microorganisms and their unique electronic capabilities is leading to a broad range of applications.
Lignosulfonic Acid Sodium Is a Noncompetitive Inhibitor of Human Factor XIa

The anticoagulant activity of lignosulfonic acid sodium (LSAS), a non-saccharide heparin mimetic, was investigated in this study. LSAS is a relatively safe industrial byproduct with similar polyanionic characteristics to that of heparin. Human plasma clotting assays, fibrin polymerization testing, and enzyme inhibition assays were exploited to investigate the anticoagulant activity of LSAS. In normal human plasma, LSAS selectively doubled the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) at ~308 µg/mL. Equally, LSAS doubled APTT at ~275 µg/mL in antithrombin-deficient plasma. Yet, LSAS doubled APTT at a higher concentration of 429 µg/mL using factor XI-deficient plasma. LSAS did not affect FXIIIa-mediated fibrin polymerization at 1000 µg/mL. Enzyme assays revealed that LSAS inhibits factor XIa (FXIa) with an IC50 value of ~8 μg/mL. LSAS did not inhibit thrombin, factor IXa, factor Xa, factor XIIIa, chymotrypsin, or trypsin at the highest concentrations tested and demonstrated significant selectivity against factor XIIa and plasmin. In Michaelis-Menten kinetics, LSAS decreased the VMAX of FXIa hydrolysis of a tripeptide chromogenic substrate without significantly changing its KM indicating an allosteric inhibition mechanism. The inhibitor also disrupted the generation of FXIa-antithrombin complex, inhibited factor XIIa-mediated and thrombin-mediated activation of the zymogen factor XI to FXIa, and competed with heparin for binding to FXIa. Its action appears to be reversed by protamine sulfate. Structure-activity relationship studies demonstrated the advantageous selectivity and allosteric behavior of LSAS over the acetylated and desulfonated derivatives of LSAS. LSAS is a sulfonated heparin mimetic that demonstrates significant anticoagulant activity in human plasma. Overall, it appears that LSAS is a potent, selective, and allosteric inhibitor of FXIa with significant anticoagulant activity in human plasma. Altogether, this study introduces LSAS as a promising lead for further development as an anticoagulant.
A locality-based lens for coded computation

Coded computation is an emerging paradigm for robustness in large-scale distributed computing, which applies principles from coding theory to provide robustness against slow or otherwise unavailable workers. We propose a new approach to view coded computation via the lens of locality of codes. We do so by defining a new notion of locality, called computational locality, via the locality properties of an appropriately defined code for the function being computed. This notion of locality incorporates the unique aspects of locality arising in the context of coded computation. Using this new approach, (1) We demonstrate how to design a coded computation scheme for a function using the local decoding scheme of an appropriately defined code. This rederives the best-known coded computation scheme for multivariate polynomial functions via the viewpoint of locality of the Reed Muller code. (2) We show that the proposed locality-based approach enables coded computation schemes with significantly lower resource overhead than existing schemes. Specifically, matrix multiplication over complex numbers, a common workload in high performance computing, is achieved with 33.3% fewer workers than state-of-the-art coded computation schemes.
Thermal stability indices for polymeric materials based on energy considerations

Analysis of thermogravimetric weight loss data from the literature indicated correlations between the overall energietics of decomposition and characteristics of the thermogravimetric curves for measurements made under nitrogen. Such correlations provide a means for comparing relative thermal stabilities of polymers from easily obtained weight loss data. Eine Analyse der thermogravimetrischen Gewichtsverlust-Daten aus der Literatur hat eine Korrelation zwischen der gesamten Dekompositionsenergie und charakteristischen Eigenschaften der thermogravimetrischen Kurven fur Messungen unter Stickstoff ergeben. Diese Korrelation ermoglicht einen Vergleich der relativen thermischen Stabilitaten von Polymeren auf Grund einfach erhaltener Gewichtsverlustdaten.
Aspects of consumer search for health information: a framework for structuring information problems.

Consumer search for health information is the focus of increasing scholarly activity and administrative thinking. It has drawn attention in many circles of inquiry including marketing, health-care, and public policy. Because of this widespread attention, the literature is rather fragmented and therefore research problems are not easily defined. This paper presents an integrative framework to hlep formulate health information problems more precisely and to distinguish important areas for continued research efforts. Three major aspects of consumer search for health information are identified: sources, effort, and topics. These aspects-and the interrelationships among them-comprise the framework. Related research can be categorized and synthesized, and then critical gaps in the research streams become more evident. Furthermore, the framework can be applied to particular information problems to both clarify the issues and to communicate those issues to health care managers and relevant constituencies. Applied...
Self Efficacy as a Mediator of the Relationship between Dietary Knowledge and Behavior

Translating the dietary knowledge among individuals into healthy behavior remains a challenging task. This study examines the causal relationship between dietary knowledge and behavior by including self-efficacy in the models. A series of regression models were developed based on Baron and Kenny (1986) to assess whether self-efficacy mediated the link between the predictor variables and dietary behavior. Regression analyses supported the hypothesized relationships that self-efficacy mediates effects of dietary knowledge and social influences on dietary behavior. Self-efficacy also accounted for variance in eating behavior not explained by knowledge or demographic variables.
Abundances in Rapidly Rotating a Stars

A study is undertaken to determine abundances in rapidly rotating main sequence A stars ( v sin i = 100 − 180 km/s) in order to investigate if non-solar abundance patterns found in slow rotators (Lemke 1989, 1990) persist toward higher rotational velocities. This will provide some insight into how the Am phenomenon and other chemical peculiarities are connected with slow rotation and diffusion processes. Most stars were found to have a rather solar composition. At least one star, HR5023, is enriched in Ba by approximately one order of magnitude relative to the sun at a v sin i of 110km/s. Both C and Ba will be discussed.
New Frontiers: Training Forensic Accountants within the Accounting Program.

Accountants have recently been subject to very unpleasant publicity following the collapse of Enron and other major companies. There has been a plethora of accounting failures and accounting restatements of falsified earnings, with litigations and prosecutions taking place every day. As the FASB struggles to tighten the loopholes in accounting, and Congress and the SEC try to build safeguards for corporate governance, one group of accountants has been quietly helping corporations and investors alike in rebuilding confidence in financial statements. These are the forensic accountants. The forensic accountant actively looks for fraudulent transactions and misrepresentations. Such an accountant has a major role to play in this new environment, and universities have the responsibility to train future accountants to adequately meet the demands of the business world.
Mechanisms that control aqueous leaching of nuclear waste glass

The development of predictive models and risk calculations for the time evolution of radioactive isotope leaching from fixation solids depends on many factors, including measurement accuracy, measurement relevance, a complete understanding of possible dissolution mechanisms, and the ability to project worst case conditions for all appropriate mechanisms. Some of the mechanisms observed and understood at present are the mechanisms of dissolution of glasses in neutral unbuffered water, the effects of structural disintegration of the glass protective layer, the effects of slowly flowing bath waters and possibly, the mechanisms of leach-rate reduction by solution saturation. The mechanisms that control radiation and temperature effects including alpha particle emission and nuclear transmutations are as yet little understood or investigated.
Subcritical Crack Growth Behavior of A Perovskite‐Type Oxygen Transport Ceramic Membrane

We herein report subcritical crack growth (SCG) studies of La0.2Sr0.8Fe0.8Cr0.2O3−δ (LSFCO) perovskite membranes as oxygen transport membranes (OTM). Two sample batches of perovskite were tested to investigate the effect of temperature, specific chemical environments, and loading rate on flexure strengths, using four-point bend tests. The first batch was examined at room temperature in air. The second batch was soaked in an N2/air atmosphere at 1000°C. Stress rates varied approximately from 0.2 to 90 MPa/s. The strength–probability–time diagram is constructed for design proposes. Flexural strength data indicate that the examined OTM material showed little susceptibility to SCG at room temperature in air. However, the sample is susceptible to SCG in an N2/air environment at 1000°C. Also, the experiments demonstrate flexural-strength rate dependency, with strength increasing with the stress rate. The observed phenomena are explained by the decomposition and microstructural transitions in the perovskite.
Impingement heat transfer with a single rosette nozzle

Abstract This investigation examined the magnitude and uniformity of the convective heat transfer coefficients for a single rosette nozzle impinging air normally to a heated surface. The local heat transfer coefficient was measured using a heated 0.025-mm-thick stainless steel foil impingement surface coated with liquid crystals. The temperature distribution along the surface was determined by measuring the reflected light from the liquid crystal with the use of bandpass filters and an electronic digitizer. Measurements were obtained for low nozzle-to-plate spacings ( H = 3.81, 0.635 , and 0.159 cm) with and without a confinement surface. Local and average convective coefficients distributions illustrate the uniformity or nonuniformity of the heat transfer and assist in understanding the variations in the magnitude of the average convective coefficient. The convective coefficients for the rosette nozzle were also compared to values obtained with axisymmetric jets. Results show that the local convective coefficients are highly nonuniform for the rosette nozzle. From the comparison of the rosette nozzle with the axisymmetric jet, it would appear that the enhancement of the average heat transfer by this type of specialty nozzle design compared to an axisymmetric jet occurs only for small flow rates, small operating separation distances, and specific averaging areas. Small separation distances ( H ≤ 0.635 cm ) are required to minimize the convective coefficient degradation due to entrainment and velocity decay for the rosette nozzle.
Synthesis and Excited-State Photodynamics in Perylene-Porphyrin Dyads 2. Effects of Porphyrin Metalation State on the Energy-Transfer, Charge-Transfer, and Deactivation Channels

The photophysical properties of two perylene−porphyrin dyads have been examined in detail with the aim of expanding the functional utility of these constructs for molecular optoelectronics applications. The dyads consist of a perylene-bis(imide) dye (PDI) connected to either a magnesium porphyrin (Mg) or a free base porphyrin (Fb) via a diphenylethyne (pep) linker. The photophysical behavior of these two dyads show both similarities and differences to one another and to the dyad containing a zinc porphyrin (Zn) that was examined in the previous paper in this series. In the case of both PDI−pep−Fb and PDI−pep−Mg in toluene, the excited perylene unit (PDI*) decays rapidly (Fb = 2.9 ps; Mg = 2.5 ps) by energy transfer to the porphyrin forming PDI−pep−Por* in relatively high yield (Fb ∼ 85%; Mg ∼ 50%) and hole transfer to the porphyrin forming PDI-−pep−Por+ (Fb ∼ 15%; Mg ∼ 50%). This behavior parallels that observed for PDI−pep−Zn, for which rapid (2.5 ps) decay of PDI* affords PDI−pep−Zn* and PDI-−pep−Por+ w...