cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A phosphatase threshold sets the level of Cdk1 activity in early mitosis in budding yeast

Entry into mitosis is initiated by synthesis of cyclins, which bind and activate cy- clin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1). Cyclin synthesis is gradual, yet activation of Cdk1 occurs in a stepwise manner: a low level of Cdk1 activity is initially generated that triggers early mitotic events, which is followed by full activation of Cdk1. Little is known about how stepwise acti- vation of Cdk1 is achieved. A key regulator of Cdk1 is the Wee1 kinase, which phosphorylates and inhibits Cdk1. Wee1 and Cdk1 show mutual regulation: Cdk1 phosphorylates Wee1, which activates Wee1 to inhibit Cdk1. Further phosphorylation events inactivate Wee1. We discovered that a specific form of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A Cdc55 ) opposes the initial phosphorylation of Wee1 by Cdk1. In vivo analysis, in vitro reconstitution, and mathematical modeling suggest that PP2A Cdc55 sets a threshold that limits activation of Wee1, thereby al- lowing a low constant level of Cdk1 activity to escape Wee1 inhibition in early mitosis. These results define a new role for PP2A Cdc55 and reveal a systems-level mechanism by which dy-
Identification of Higher Order Long-Propagation-Length Surface Plasmon Polariton Modes in Chemically Prepared Gold Nanowires

A comprehensive understanding of the type of modes and their propagation length for surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) in gold nanowires is essential for potential applications of these materials as nanoscale optical waveguides. We have studied chemically synthesized single gold nanowires by a novel technique called bleach-imaged plasmon propagation (BlIPP), which relies on the plasmonic near-field induced photobleaching of a dye to report the SPP propagation in nanowires. We observed a much longer propagation length of 7.5 ± 2.0 μm at 785 nm compared to earlier reports, which found propagation lengths of ~2.5 μm. Finite difference time domain simulations revealed that the bleach-imaged SPP is a higher order m = 1 mode and that the lowest order m = 0 mode is strongly quenched due to the loss to the dye layer and cannot be resolved by BlIPP. A comparative assessment of BlIPP with direct fluorescence imaging furthermore showed that the significant difference in propagation lengths obtained by these two techniques can be attributed to the difference in their experimental conditions, especially to the difference in thickness of the dye layer coating on the nanowire. In addition to identifying a higher order SPP mode with long propagation length, our study infers that caution must be taken in selecting indirect measurement techniques for probing SPP propagation in nanoscale metallic waveguides.
Upstream tRNA genes are essential for expression of small nuclear and cytoplasmic RNA genes in trypanosomes

An interesting feature of trypanosome genome organization involves genes transcribed by RNA polymerase III. The U6 small nuclear RNA (snRNA), U-snRNA B (the U3 snRNA homolog), and 7SL RNA genes are closely linked with different, divergently oriented tRNA genes. To test the hypothesis that this association is of functional significance, we generated deletion and block substitution mutants of all three small RNA genes and monitored their effects by transient expression in cultured insect-form cells of Trypanosoma brucei. In each case, two extragenic regulatory elements were mapped to the A and B boxes of the respective companion tRNA gene. In addition, the tRNA(Thr) gene, which is upstream of the U6 snRNA gene, was shown by two different tests to be expressed in T. brucei cells, thus confirming its identity as a gene. This association between tRNA and small RNA genes appears to be a general phenomenon in the family Trypanosomatidae, since it is also observed at the U6 snRNA loci in Leishmania pifanoi and Crithidia fasciculata and at the 7SL RNA locus in L. pifanoi. We propose that the A- and B-box elements of small RNA-associated tRNA genes serve a dual role as intragenic promoter elements for the respective tRNA genes and as extragenic regulatory elements for the linked small RNA genes. The possible role of tRNA genes in regulating small RNA gene transcription is discussed.
Rotary haptic knob for vehicular instrument controls

Instrument controls in motor vehicles have haptic properties (force and compliance) designed to enhance the ease of use. In conventional control knobs, these properties are obtained mechanically via springs, detents, hard stops and the like. The work reported here concerns the use of a single force-feedback knob to emulate the feel of various conventional control knobs, thus retaining their desirable haptic properties while allowing multiple functions to be controlled through one device. Compared to existing haptic knobs, this one is novel in its use of a brake to provide high torque capability in a small volume.
USING LOG-LINEAR TESTS OF FIT FOR A TRANSACTIONAL SYSTEMS MODEL:

For the past decade the Interact System Model (ISM) of Fisher and Hawes (1971) has been used in conjunction with traditional statistical tests of fit of discrete-time, discrete-state Markov models to examine small group processes of communication. The authors argue that the ISM is an inappropriate model of interpersonal and noninterpersonal communication processes, in part because it takes no account of nonverbal messages. As an alternative, they propose a Transactional Systems Model (TSM) of person-to-person communication, and, using data on police-complainant interaction for illustration, show how log-linear statistical models provide an efficient and flexible means of testing and comparing ISM with TSM models. Log-linear tests may replace traditional tests of such models and open the way to a greater understanding of complex communication processes.
Doppler Centroid Estimation Ambiguity For Synthetic Aperture Radars

A technique for estimation of the Doppler centroid of an SAR in the presence of large uncertainty in antenna boresight pointing is described. Also investigated is the image degradation resulting from data processing that uses an ambiguous centroid. Two approaches for resolving ambiguities in Doppler centroid estimation (DCE) are presented: the range cross-correlation technique and the multiple-PRF (pulse repetition frequency) technique. Because other design factors control the PRF selection for SAR, a generalized algorithm is derived for PRFs not containing a common divisor. An example using the SIR-C parameters illustrates that this algorithm is capable of resolving the C-band DCE ambiguities for antenna pointing uncertainties of about 2-3 deg.
Compensation of arbitrary chromatic dispersion in analog links using a modulation-diversity receiver

We present the design and demonstration of a receiver that compensates for arbitrary net chromatic dispersion in an analog fiber-optic link for double-sideband amplitude and phase modulation formats.
Theory of morphology-dependent resonances : shape resonances and width formulas

The theory of morphology-dependent resonances of a spherical particle is developed in analogy with the theory of quantum-mechanical shape resonances. Exact analytic formulas for predicting the widths of the resonances for both real and complex indices of refraction are developed.
Statistical analysis of renal clearance by the dog.

SummaryFrom data accumulated over a 6-year period on 31 trained, unanesthetized female dogs the following mean values for several renal functions were calculated: glomerular filtration rate (creatinine clearance) = 94 ml/min./sq. M surface area; renal plasma flow (p-aminohippurate clearance following its oral administration) =238 ml/min./sq. M; p-aminohippurate Tm = 16.5 mg/min./sq. M; arginine Tm = 12.9 mg/ min./sq. M; simultaneous (creatinine) GF/ p-aminohippurate RPF filtration fraction = 0.40; and GF/penicillin RPF “filtration fraction” = 0.35. A statistical analysis of the variability of the results was presented and the significance of the data was discussed.
Metastatic gestational trophoblastic neoplasia complicated by tumor lysis syndrome, heart failure, and thyrotoxicosis: A case report

Background Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is an extremely rare complication of solid tumors and is more frequently observed in patients with hematologic malignancies. This report describes a novel approach to the management of a rare case of TLS in metastatic gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN). Case A 17-year-old female presented 8 weeks postpartum with severe anemia, thyrotoxicosis, and elevated serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG). Imaging studies confirmed metastatic GTN to the lungs. The patient developed grade 4 TLS after the first cycle of etoposide, methotrexate, dactinomycin, cyclophosphamide, and vincristine (EMA-CO). She did not respond to standard treatment of aggressive hydration and allupurinol and continued to be in renal failure with elevated uric acid. A single dose of recombinant urate oxidase, rasburicase, rendered the uric acid level undetectable in 3 days and completely reversed the renal failure, avoiding hemodialysis. Three more cycles of EMA-CO were then administered. Subsequently, the patient developed congestive heart failure and was switched to single-agent actinomycin-D. Beta-hCG became negative after 5 cycles, and her ejection fraction returned to baseline. Conclusion This is a rare case of TLS in the setting of metastatic GTN. To our knowledge this is the first reported case of utilizing rasburicase for the management of TLS in GTN.
Multistage treadmill walking performance and associated cardiorespiratory responses of middle-aged men.

(Received 21 October 1971) SUMMARY 1. Eighty apparently healthy sedentary males, aged 31-69 years, undertook a multistage treadmill walking test that was terminated at maximum tolerable effort. 2. An electrocardiogram (ECG), blood pressures and respiratory metabolism measures were taken at rest, during the walk and for 15 min post-exercise. The mean values for four age groups of twenty subjects each were analysed statistically. 3. A near rectilinear decrease in walk-time and maximum oxygen uptake ( VO~,,,,,~.) (ml mid kg-') with advancing age was observed. A difference in VO~,,,,,~. of 26.5% between the oldest and youngest groups was decreased to 17.7% when expressed in ml min-lkg-' of lean body weight (LBW). Heart rate (HR) and pulmonary ventilation ( VE) at maximum tolerable effort also declined with age. 4. There were no age-related differences in VE and HR during submaximal work, whereas significant differences in Po2 were observed only during early stages. 5. It was concluded that the decline in maximum performance with age was not due to differences in the efficiency of aerobic energy utilization but to factors limiting energy production. 6. Prediction of walk-time utilizing anthropometric, resting and submaximal work, measurements proved unsatisfactory. Although an r value of -0.69 between age and walk-time was obtained, VO~,,,~~. and walk-time yielded an r or 0.93, thus indicating that chronological age alone was not adequate to assess work capacity.
Frames: data-driven windows

Traditional Data Stream Management Systems (DSMS) segment data streams using windows that are defined either by a time interval or a number of tuples. Such windows are fixed---the definition unvarying over the course of a stream---and are defined based on external properties unrelated to the data content of the stream. However, streams and their content do vary over time---the rate of a data stream may vary or the data distribution of the content may vary. The mismatch between a fixed stream segmentation and a variable stream motivates the need for a more flexible, expressive and physically independent stream segmentation. We introduce a new stream segmentation technique, called frames. Frames segment streams based on data content. We present a theory and implementation of frames and show the utility of frames for a variety of applications.
Population-based risks of mortality and preterm morbidity by gestational age and birth weight.

Population-based risks of mortality and preterm morbidity by gestational age and birth weight
The Brain and its Activity

Introduction Measuring the activity and function of the brain is more complex than measuring the electrical activity of the heart. Signals from the brain are more random and have only recently been translated for use in specific applications. Even though brain signals can be extremely useful in patient assessment, in general, measuring the function of the brain is far less common than other technology- facilitated patient care tools. Review of Neuroanatomy and Physiology Here is a brief review of basic neuroanatomy and physiology terminology. Neuron – this is the most basic cell associated with the brain. Neurons communicate using electrical energy. Brainstem – this portion of the brain controls life-s ustaining functions. Cerebellum and cerebrum – these major parts of the brain control various body functions and memory. Ventricles of the brain – these spaces within the brain are important because implants and monitors often involve these areas. Spinal cord sections – the spinal cord includes the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions. Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) – this fluid is very important because it cushions the brain and can be monitored to assess brain health. The fluid circulates around the brain and spinal cord. Electrical Activity in the Brain Electroencephalography (or electroencephalogram): The electrical signals from the brain can be measured using many electrodes placed on the scalp. EEG signals created inside the brain are complex and relatively random. Measured at the scalp, EEG amplitudes are very small, in the range of microvolts. Specifically, EEGs are used to Evaluate brain lesions Identify epilepsy Evaluate mental disorders Assess sleep patterns Evaluate brain responses to stimuli Patterns and information are more difficult to obtain from an EEG than from an ECG. In contrast to the patterned electrical activity of the heart, EEG signals may be as unique as a fingerprint. Nevertheless, tests are often performed that evaluate the EEG waveform in response to an input like light or sound as well as to assess patient alertness. Since data can be gathered from many people, a normal EEG response can be predicted and compared to the response of a particular patient. Noise, motion artifacts, and ECG signal interference can present some major issues because EEG waveforms appear at the scalp in such low voltages.
Rhea: a student-driven tool for enhancing the educational experience

Rhea is a student-driven on-line learning tool developed by a team of students at Purdue University. Rhea is a new teaching paradigm where students take a center stage: not only are students teaching each other, but they are also the architects and developers of their own learning tools. The core feature of Rhea is a wiki that enables students across campus to create and share learning material. Student-created learning material is valued both as a personal learning exercise and as teaching material. Rhea also provides other features including a dropbox for files and assignments, a double-blind peer review system, and on-line testing system. We are inviting other universities to join this project. There is also a possibility to include K-12 schools.
Cerebral Blood Volume after Birth Asphyxia

Cerebral hemodynamics and oxygenation in 18 perinatally asphyxiated neonates were compared with 13 healthy controls using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) at the Dept of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Leiden, The Netherlands.
p15 Expression Differentiates Nevus from Melanoma

Most melanomas are driven by BRAF(V600E) -activating mutations, while nevi harboring the same mutations have growth arrest. Although decreased p16 expression has been associated with melanoma formation, in recent work, p15 represented a primary effector of oncogene-induced senescence in nevomelanocytes that was diminished in melanomas. This study determined whether decreased p15 levels represent a general biomarker for the transition from nevus to melanoma. We performed p15 and p16 IHC analyses on a random series of nevi and melanomas. Staining was evaluated and graded for percentage and intensity to determine the H score. For real-time quantitative RT-PCR analysis of p15, RNA was extracted from FFPE sections from 14 nevus and melanoma samples via macrodissection. A two-sided t -test was used to evaluate between-group differences in mean H scores and qΔCt values. p15 Expression was significantly increased in melanocytic nevi compared with melanomas (mean H scores, 254.8 versus 132.3; P H score differential was greater than that with p16 staining [122.5 ( P P = 0.055), respectively]. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed a lower mean qΔCt value in melanomas, consistent with lower p15 expression ( P = 0.018). Together, these data support the hypothesis that decreased p15 expression is a robust biomarker for distinguishing nevus from melanoma.
Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Adverse Events Occurring 5 Years and Beyond.

Abstract Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is the treatment of choice for patients with relapsed/refractory DLBCL. ASCT is widely quoted as being potentially curative. We queried whether surviving patients free of disease five years after transplant were still at ongoing risk for relapse or other adverse events. We therefore retrospectively reviewed 174 patients with DLBCL receiving an ASCT from 1/1992 through 12/2001 who have been followed for at least 5 years since the date of transplant. Of these, 121 relapsed or died within the first 5 years of transplant; 42 are alive without disease greater than 5 years after transplant; and 11 relapsed or died greater than 5 years post-transplant. The median follow up among survivors is 7.3 years. Among the 11 patients with late events, 3 experienced non-relapse mortality: one died of secondary malignancy 104 months post-transplant; one died in a car accident 62 months post-transplant; one committed suicide 93 months post-transplant. Eight patients relapsed beyond 5 years from transplant: 3 have died and 5 are still alive. The three patients who expired from their relapse did so at 0.4, 2.5 and 23.2 months after relapse. Five patients relapsed between 63 and 102 months post-transplant and remain alive 6–72 months later. Two demographic trends were of interest: patients experiencing late adverse events were more likely to have bone marrow involvement at diagnosis, as 36% of patients with late events had marrow involvement at diagnosis as compared to 19% who remain alive and disease free; and of patients alive and disease free 5+ years post-transplant, 67% are male and 33% are female; of patients with late adverse events, 45% are male and 55% are female. The relapse-free survival curve for the entire patient cohort is shown below: Download : Download high-res image (80KB) Download : Download full-size image We conclude that there is a low, but detectable, risk of disease relapse that continues beyond 5 years after ASCT for DLBCL. However, in this series the majority of patients experiencing delayed relapse remain alive with additional therapy. This underscores the importance of extended ongoing follow up for DLBCL patients treated with ASCT.
How geometric frustration shapes twisted fibres, inside and out: competing morphologies of chiral filament assembly.

Chirality frustrates and shapes the assembly of flexible filaments in rope-like, twisted bundles and fibres by introducing gradients of both filament shape (i.e. curvature) and packing throughout the structure. Previous models of chiral filament bundle formation have shown that this frustration gives rise to several distinct morphological responses, including self-limiting bundle widths, anisotropic domain (tape-like) formation and topological defects in the lateral inter-filament order. In this paper, we employ a combination of continuum elasticity theory and discrete filament bundle simulations to explore how these distinct morphological responses compete in the broader phase diagram of chiral filament assembly. We show that the most generic model of bundle formation exhibits at least four classes of equilibrium structure—finite-width, twisted bundles with isotropic and anisotropic shapes, with and without topological defects, as well as bulk phases of untwisted, columnar assembly (i.e. ‘frustration escape’). These competing equilibrium morphologies are selected by only a relatively small number of parameters describing filament assembly: bundle surface energy, preferred chiral twist and stiffness of chiral filament interactions, and mechanical stiffness of filaments and their lateral interactions. Discrete filament bundle simulations test and verify continuum theory predictions for dependence of bundle structure (shape, size and packing defects of two-dimensional cross section) on these key parameters.
Aggregative and feeding thresholds of sympatric rorqual whales within a fjord system

Rorqual whales (f. Balaenopteridae) supposedly respond to increases in prey supply according to both aggregative and feeding thresholds. With the former, they gather in areas above a minimum prey density set by their basal metabolic needs. With the latter, feeding occurs only above a prey density set by the energetic cost of lunge feeding. To compare prey preferences and the two threshold types in sympatric rorquals, I conducted systematic transect surveys and behavioral observations of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) in a British Columbia fjord system. While multiple prey features were found to influence whale aggregation and feeding, both threshold types were observed in each species' response to krill volume. Humpback response to prey features was less predictable and influenced by more factors than that of fin whales, which appeared to be exclusively euphausivorous and interested in the deepest high-volume krill patches within the deepest channels. Compared with fin whales, humpbacks found higher-volume krill patches and had higher aggregative thresholds, but had lower feeding thresholds. Findings aligned overall with the expectations that aggregative behavior is responsive to local prey supply, while feeding thresholds are governed by less mutable energetic constraints imposed by body size and feeding mode. Both aggregative and feeding threshold responses appeared to be a function of local conditions: As total krill-like backscatter increased, feeding thresholds stabilized (became more nonlinear and more nonrandom), while aggregative thresholds destabilized. All results emphasized the importance of incorporating observations of feeding effort in studies of prey preference and habitat use.
An SH0 Lithium Niobate dispersive delay line for chirp compression-enabled low power radios

This paper presents the first demonstration of a shear-horizontal mode Lithium Niobate dispersive delay line, featuring a center frequency of 250 MHz, a delay-bandwidth (TB) product of 100, an electromechanical coupling (k2) in excess of 35%, and a low insertion loss of 10 dB. The high compression is attained via a large bandwidth of 125 MHz, centered at 250 MHz, and an extensive delay of 0.8 μS. The device shown herein has greatly outperformed the state of the art, namely surface acoustic wave delay lines which typically have an insertion loss over 25 dB for a comparable compression ratio. The attained performance can be attributed to the excellent piezoelectric coupling of lamb waves in a suspended Lithium Niobate X-cut thin film. A voltage gain of 3 has been demonstrated for instantaneously amplifying chirp-coded signals, a feature that can be harnessed to enhance signal to noise ratio in low power wake-up radios for Internet of Things (IoT) applications.
Distortion of the Actin A-Triad Results in Contractile Disinhibition and Cardiomyopathy.

Summary Striated muscle contraction is regulated by the movement of tropomyosin over the thin filament surface, which blocks or exposes myosin binding sites on actin. Findings suggest that electrostatic contacts, particularly those between K326, K328, and R147 on actin and tropomyosin, establish an energetically favorable F-actin-tropomyosin configuration, with tropomyosin positioned in a location that impedes actomyosin associations and promotes relaxation. Here, we provide data that directly support a vital role for these actin residues, termed the A-triad, in tropomyosin positioning in intact functioning muscle. By examining the effects of an A295S α-cardiac actin hypertrophic cardiomyopathy-causing mutation, over a range of increasingly complex in silico, in vitro, and in vivo Drosophila muscle models, we propose that subtle A-triad-tropomyosin perturbation can destabilize thin filament regulation, which leads to hypercontractility and triggers disease. Our efforts increase understanding of basic thin filament biology and help unravel the mechanistic basis of a complex cardiac disorder.
The art of empty space

Porous metals, semiconductors, and ceramics are widely used in optoelectronics, biological sensing, catalysis, and energy conversion and storage. Materials with pore diameters ranging from less than a nanometer to a few nanometers include zeolites ( 1 ), metalorganic frameworks ( 2 ), supramolecular coordination frameworks ( 3 ), and DNA lattices ( 4 ). Alternatively, colloidal crystals can be used to create micrometer-scale pores. However, voids that are several nanometers to several tens of nanometers in size make atomic lattices unstable and often collapse; such materials are therefore difficult to synthesize. On page 514 of this issue, Udayabhaskararao et al. ( 5 ) report a method for engineering primarily two-dimensional and, in some instances, three-dimensional materials that have regular nanometer-scale spaces between 5 and 25 nm and do not collapse.
Young Children's Dyadic Pretend Play: A communication analysis of plot structure and plot generative strategies

Pretend play in early childhood arises in the context of social interaction and, as such, constitutes a form of discourse indigenous to the child's world. The present study is a first detailed investigation of thematic-ideational structure in young children's dyadic pretend play with special emphasis on major generative strategies involved in the realization of coherent play action sequences. Play was conceptualized as a story in a dramatic mode where two actors jointly generate or attempt to generate ideationally coherent action sequences or play plots resulting in a complex, ever-evolving thematic structure at a number of levels of analysis. Methodological problems of analysis resulted in the creation of an analytic procedure — Master Text — that simultaneously addresses structural and processual features of play and is able to deal with lengthy play segments. The results characterize playing as a form of discourse which proceeds according to patterned regularities at the level of Thematic Core Structures and associated schemata which underly the plot surface. The realization of such structurizations comes about during the play process in a complex interplay with features of the setting and requires establishing and modifying a shared knowledge base. These findings are discussed in light of their significance for childhood socialization.
Biodynamic imaging of therapeutic efficacy for canine B-cell lymphoma: preclinical trial results

Biodynamic imaging uses coherence-gated dynamic light scattering to create three dimensional maps of intracellular dynamics in living tissue biopsies. The technique is sensitive to changes in intracellular dynamics dependent on the mechanism of action (MoA) of therapeutics applied in vitro to the living samples. A preclinical trial in the assessment of chemotherapeutic response of dogs with B-cell lymphoma to the doxorubicin-based therapy CHOP has been completed using biodynamic imaging. The trial enrolled 19 canine patients presenting with non-Hodgkin’s B-cell lymphoma. Biopsies were acquired through surgery or through needle cores. The time-varying power spectrum of scattered light after drugs are applied ex vivo to the biopsies represent biodynamic biomarkers that are used in machine learning algorithms to predict the patient clinical outcome. Two distinct phenotypes emerged from the analysis that correlate with patient drug resistance or sensitivity. Cross validation of the algorithms perform with an accuracy of 90% in the prediction of dogs that will respond to treatment. Biodynamic imaging has the potential to help select chemotherapy for personalized cancer care.
Does micropuncture technique really help reduce vascular complications

Abstract Background Micropuncture technique (MPT) is being adapted nationally to reduce vascular complications (VC). We initiated a quality improvement project in our cath lab to reduce VCs utilizing MPT. Methods We utilized MPT on all of our non-STEMI femoral artery (FA) access cases starting September 2016. As a comparator group, we collected data from April to August 2016. Anatomic localization of FA and fluoroscopic marking of femoral head was utilized in all cases. VCs were defined by BARC definitions for bleeding/hematomas, retroperitoneal bleed, pseudoaneurysm, AV fistula, arterial thrombosis, distal embolism, dissection, and transient limb ischemia. Results A total of 647 patients (Male 357, Female 290; MPT 333) were included in the analysis. MPT as compared to regular 18-gauge needle access did not demonstrate a reduction in VCs (2.4% vs. 2.2%; p = 1.0). MPT utilization did not affect the risk of VCs on univariate (OR 1.08; 95% CI 0.38–3.01; p = 0.88) or multivariate analysis (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.28–2.93; p + 0.87). Vascular closure device (VCD) utilization as compared to manual/fem-stop hemostasis was the only factor that demonstrated a statistically significant and lower VC rate on both univariate (OR 0.28; 95% CI: 0.08–0.89; p = 0.03), and multivariate (OR 0.24; 95% CI 0.06–0.93; p = 0.039) analysis. Conclusion Utilization of MPT in conjunction with fluoroscopic marking of the femoral head and without ultrasound guidance did not contribute to statistically significant reduction in the VC rate. The only factor found to be beneficial is utilization of VCDs. Further large randomized studies are required to demonstrate benefit of routinely utilizing MPT.
Low-Nutrient Environments

Habitable, oxygenated aquatic environments in which primary productivity and microbial densities are very low because of a sparse supply of nutrients are classified as oligotrophic. The major oligotrophic waters are deep freshwater lakes and the open ocean. Oligotrophic waters are susceptible to eutrophication in the natural development of lakes and estuaries into marshes; the process can be greatly accelerated by anthropogenic pollution. Oligotrophic bacteria are typically found only in waters of vanishingly low nutrient flux. Although such bacteria have seemed uncultivable because of intolerance of sudden nutrient abundance, persistence in methodology of oligotrophic cultivation has led to cultivation of 10–40% of the bacteria seen in oligotrophic samples. Among cultivated oligotrophs, isolates from relatively stringent oligotrophic conditions are predominantly alphaproteobacteria and cytophagas, whereas gammaproteobacteria and flavobacteria rise during periods of nutrient enrichment. The outstanding properties of bacteria in both groups – but especially the stricter oligotrophs – are high-affinity, low-specificity nutrient transport systems, and cell morphology that confers high surface-to-volume ratio. It is reasonable to interpret the niche of oligotrophic bacteria as ultimate organic-nutrient scavengers that recycle traces of organic nutrients through the microbial loop into the biosphere as fully oxidized carbon, CO2, and particulate organic matter (POM) – their own biomass.
Reprint of: Effects of maternal work incentives on youth crime

Abstract This study exploits differences in the implementation of welfare reform in the United States across states and over time to identify causal effects of maternal work incentives, and by inference employment, on youth arrests between 1988 and 2005, the period of time during which welfare reform unfolded. We consider both serious and minor crimes as classified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, consider differential effects by the youth's gender and age, investigate the extent to which effects were stronger in states with more stringent work incentive policies and larger welfare caseload declines, and use a number of different model specifications to assess robustness and patterns. We find that welfare reform led to reduced arrests for minor crimes among youth ages 15–17 years by 9–11%, with similar estimates for males and females, but that it did not affect youth arrests for serious crimes. The results from this study add to a scant knowledge base about the effects of maternal employment on adolescent behavior by exploiting a large-scale social experiment that greatly increased employment of low-skilled women. The results also provide some support for the widely-embraced argument that welfare restrictions discourage undesirable social behavior, not only of mothers, but also of the next generation.
Single particle tracking assay to study coronavirus membrane fusion

Single particle tracking (SPT) of individual virion fusion with host cell membranes using total internal reflection microscopy (TIRFM) is a powerful technique for quantitatively characterizing virus-host interactions. One significant limitation of this assay to its wider use across many types of enveloped viruses, such as coronavirus, has been incorporating non-lipid receptors (proteins) into the supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) used to monitor membrane fusion. Here, we describe a method for incorporating a proteinaceous viral receptor, feline aminopeptidase N (fAPN), into SLBs using cell blebbing of mammalian cells expressing fAPN in the plasma membrane. This receptor binds feline coronavirus (FECV 1683). We describe how to carry out single particle tracking of FECV fusion in this SLB platform to obtain fusion kinetics.
The Riemann Hypothesis and Coding Theory

The Duursma zeta function is the coding-theoretic analog of the Artin–Weil zeta function of an algebraic curve over a finite field. This chapter explores some of the fascinating properties and conjectures surrounding the Duursma zeta function. Numerous computational examples are given.
Tangled Up: Gendered Metaphors of Nation in Contemporary Indo-Caribbean Narratives

Chapter 4 analyzes contemporary anti-colonial texts that nonetheless replicate some of the ideologies of empire: David Dabydeen’s The Counting House and Sharlow’s The Promise. Both novels contain the same trope that appeared in earlier indenture narratives (described in Chap. 3), a British man in power developing a relationship with a young Indian woman. However, these authors deploy this trope to attack the empire; the British male takes advantage of the Indian female, using her for sexual favors and giving little in return. This represents the relationship of Britain to India, suggesting violent, greedy motivations for imperialism, as opposed to noble, altruistic ones. While Dabydeen and Sharlow restructure the metaphor of the British man/Indian woman relationship, they fail to dismantle the traditional patriarchal view of gender that underlies this metaphor. By using female characters to represent India, they support the notion that women are the bearers of tradition and culture, that they are not individuals in their own right, and that their sexuality must be controlled and protected. As a counterpoint to these novels, this chapter explores depictions of a similarly exploitative relationship in Patricia Powell’s The Pagoda, which touches on Chinese indenture in Jamaica. Rather than using her characters as representatives of their nation, Powell explores the ways that colonized individuals were trapped within yet transgressed against repressive gender and racial categorizations, offering a critique of imperialism without perpetuating the ideologies that underpin it.
Bisphosphonate-related atypical femoral fracture: Managing a rare but serious complication

Atypical femoral fracture is a rare but serious complication of long-term bisphosphonate therapy. Although the benefit of preventing osteoporotic fractures greatly outweighs the risk of atypical fracture in bisphosphonate users, concern about atypical fracture risk has led to a decrease in bisphosphonate use. What are the risks, and how do we treat atypical femoral fracture?
Catalytic Radical-Polar Crossover Reactions of Allylic Alcohols

Radical–polar crossover hydrofunctionalizations of tertiary allylic alcohols are described. Depending on the structure of the catalyst, corresponding epoxides or semipinacol rearrangement products are selectively obtained in good yields. Experimental evidence points to the participation of alkylcobalt complexes as electrophilic intermediates.
Feature Extraction for Next-Term Prediction of Poor Student Performance

Developing tools to support students and learning in a traditional or online setting is a significant task in today's educational environment. The initial steps toward enabling such technologies using machine learning techniques focused on predicting the student's performance in terms of the achieved grades. However, these approaches do not perform as well in predicting poor-performing students. The objective of our work is twofold. First, in order to overcome this limitation, we explore if poorly performing students can be more accurately predicted by formulating the problem as binary classification, based on data provided before the start of the semester. Second, in order to gain insights as to which are the factors that can lead to poor performance, we engineered a number of human-interpretable features that quantify these factors. These features were derived from the students’ grades from the University of Minnesota, an undergraduate public institution. Based on these features, we perform a study to identify different student groups of interest, while at the same time, identify their importance. As the resulting models provide us with different subsets of correct predictions, their combination can boost the overall performance.
Recovery of photodegraded rhodamine 6g in ester-containing polymer matrices

Self-healing, rhodamine 6g, dye-doped polymers are reported. The amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) photodegrades after repeated exposure to 532 nm laser light at 10 Hz. Recovery of the ASE signal is observed in dye-doped thermoplastic polyurethane and glycol-modified poly(ethylene terephthalate); both polymers contain repeating ester groups in their backbone. The polymer ester groups are hypothesized to mediate the full recovery of rhodamine 6g from a photodegraded state. A small amount of ASE recovery after photodegradation is observed in dye-doped poly(vinyl alcohol), >98% hydrolyzed, where conversion of rhodamine 6g from a long-lived dark state contributes to the majority of the increased ASE signal in poly(vinyl alcohol) while small amounts of recovery from interactions with residual acetate groups are also possible.
Resilience as a coping strategy for reducing departure intentions of accounting students

This study evaluates the influence of resilience as a potential coping strategy to help reduce student departure from the accounting major. We collected data from 443 accounting majors at four geog...
Research on New Characteristics of Power Quality in Distribution Network

In recent years, power systems have gradually become electronically powered, the quality of power in the distribution network presents new features. Although power electronics technology brings qualitative leap to renewable energy, microgrid technology, distributed power supplies, electric vehicles, etc, it also affects the power quality of the distribution network. Discussion on the new characteristics of power quality in distribution network, This paper discusses the new characteristics of power quality of distribution network, such as rapid voltage fluctuation, frequent three-phase unbalance, subsynchronous harmonic caused by disturbance frequency variation, and Ultra harmonics. At the same time, the governance recommendations are elaborated. Combined with existing problems, we will look forward to the development direction of power quality in distribution networks in the future.
The impact of interrogation stress on compliance and suggestibility in U.S. military special operations personnel

Summary The present study was performed to test whether acute stress exposure would significantly increase human compliance and suggestibility. One hundred active duty military participants enrolled in military survival school training were randomized to receive the Gudjonsson Compliance and Suggestibility Scales (GCS and GSS) prior to, during or after exposure to interrogation stress. All participants were also assessed prior to, and after stress exposure for symptoms of dissociation. Stress exposure significantly increased compliance in individuals who exhibited a pre-stress propensity to dissociation; stress exposure significantly increased suggestibility. These data support the view that some individuals are more likely than others to experiencing an increase in compliance and in suggestibility if exposed to interrogation stress. These data also suggest that individuals who are vulnerable to stress induced increases in suggestibility and compliance can be identified using psychological measures of dissociation.
Microfluidic Isolation of Aptamers with Affinity towards Multiple Myeloma Monoclonal Immunoglobulins (M-Ig)

Abstract Multiple myeloma (MM) is a bone marrow cancer of resident plasma cells that affects 125,000 patients in the U.S. with ∼ 30,000 new cases per year. Its signature is the clonal over-proliferation of a single plasma cell that secretes a patient specific monoclonal immunoglobulin (M-Ig). Detecting this patient specific M-Ig could allow sensitive detection of minimal residual disease in multiple myeloma from patient serum. Aptamers, single-stranded oligonucleotides with affinity and specificity to a target molecule, have recently been introduced as affinity reagents able to detect MM M-Igs. Here we adapt these benchtop M-Ig systematic evolution of ligands through exponential enrichment (SELEX) techniques to our bead integrated microfluidic SELEX (BIMS) device to rapidly generate patient specific aptamers. Using MM patient serum, we isolate patient M-Ig specific aptamers rapidly (runtime
Breathe Deeply: The Tort of Smokers' Battery

This Article explores the long and faltering history of attempts to impose liability on tobacco product manufactures. It traces the manufacturers' historical and ongoing targeting of youth through both promotions and deceptive advertising. It argues for an expanded cause of action against the manufacturers for the intentional tort of battery, and discusses the prospect of punitive damages awards.
Cardiac symptom burden and arrhythmia recurrence drives digital health use: results from the iHEART randomized controlled trial.

AIMS Digital health can transform the management of atrial fibrillation (AF) and enable patients to take a central role in detecting symptoms and self-managing AF. There is a gap in understanding factors that support sustained use of digital health tools for patients with AF. This study identified predictors of Alivecor® KardiaMobile ECG monitor usage among patients with AF enrolled in the iPhone®Helping Evaluate Atrial fibrillation Rhythm through Technology (iHEART) randomized controlled trial. METHODS AND RESULTS We analysed data from 105 English and Spanish-speaking adults with AF enrolled in the intervention arm of the iHEART trial. The iHEART intervention included smartphone-based electrocardiogram self-monitoring with Alivecor® KardiaMobile and triweekly text messages for 6 months. The primary outcome was use of Alivecor® categorized as: infrequent (≤5 times/week), moderate (>5 times and ≤11 times/week), and frequent (>11 times/week). We applied multinomial logistic regression modelling to characterize frequency and predictors of use. Of the 105 participants, 25% were female, 75% were White, and 45% were ≥65 years of age. Premature atrial contractions (PACs) [adjusted odds ratio (OR): 1.23, 1.08-1.40, P = 0.002] predicted frequent as compared to infrequent use. PACs (adjusted OR: 1.17, 95% confidence interval 1.06-1.30, P = 0.003), lower symptom burden (adjusted OR: 1.06, 1.01-1.11, P = 0.02), and less treatment concern (adjusted OR: 0.96, 0.93-0.99, P = 0.02) predicted moderate as compared to infrequent use. CONCLUSIONS Frequent use of AliveCor® is associated with AF symptoms and potentially symptomatic cardiac events. Symptom burden and frequency should be measured and incorporated into analyses of future digital health trials for AF management.
Effect of Pore Size and Interactions on Paracetamol Aggregation in Porous Polyethylene Glycol Diacrylate Polymers

In this study, we report the results of an all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) based simulation that elucidates the effect of pore size and interactions on the aggregation of paracetamol in polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) polymers. Recent experimental studies ( J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011 , 133 , 3756 - 3759 ) have shown that nucleation rate of paracetamol is highest in one of the PEGDA polymers (PEG200DA) but lack clear understanding of the factors responsible for this anomaly. Our simulation results show that paracetamol aggregation is predominantly governed by the size of PEGDA pores and that the polymer-paracetamol interactions play a secondary role. The probability of formation of paracetamol aggregates, especially of size four, is highest for pore sizes in the range of 14-25 A, and the drug-drug angle distributions in all the PEGDA polymers that we have studied here have characteristics of both forms I and II of paracetamol crystals. We also demonstrate that the pores in PEGDA polymers can be further engineered by the use of a suitable solvent concentration to achieve pore sizes optimal for improved paracetamol aggregation.
Effectiveness of California’s High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) System

This report presents an empirical evaluation of the effectiveness of the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) system in California based on traffic sensor data. The study examines the following aspects: utilization of HOV lanes; congestion in HOV lanes; capacity of HOV lanes; travel time savings in HOV lanes; effectiveness of HOV lanes in inducing carpooling; and the effect of HOV lanes on overall congestion. Four conclusions are drawn from the evaluation: 1) Because an HOV lane operates as a single lane freeway, it suffers from a 20 percent capacity loss when compared with multi-lane freeways; 2) HOV lanes are either under-utilized or or suffer from degraded operations; 3) Carpooling is not measurably increased as a result of HOV lanes; and, 4) Overall congestion is not reduced by HOV lanes in a reasonably well-managed system.
An extension of a theorem of Nicolaescu on spectral flow and the Maslov index

In this paper we extend a theorem of Nicolaescu on spectral flow and the Maslov index. We do this by studying the manifold of Lagrangian subspaces of a symplectic Hilbert space that are Fredholm with respect to a given Lagrangian Lo. In particular, we consider the neighborhoods in this manifold of Lagrangians which intersect Lo nontrivially.
NNS lower bounds via metric expansion for l

We give new lower bounds for randomized NNS data structures in the cell probe model based on robust metric expansion for two metric spaces: l∞ and Earth Mover Distance (EMD) in high dimensions. In particular, our results imply stronger non-embedability for these metric spaces into l1. The main components of our approach are a strengthening of the isoperimetric inequality for the distribution on l∞ introduced by Andoni et al [FOCS'08] and a robust isoperimetric inequality for EMD on quotients of the boolean hypercube.