cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of Monte Carlo Simulation for a Sensitivity Analysis of Highway Safety Manual Calibration Factors

The Highway Safety Manual (HSM) is a comprehensive traffic safety tool that allows administrators, planners, engineers, and other agency representatives to make informed decisions about programs for highway safety improvement. Part C of the HSM contains predictive models for quantifying the safety of roadways and intersections; these models require significant data inputs. Because the models were developed with data from specific states, the HSM recommends the use of a calibration factor to account for local conditions when a model is applied elsewhere. The calibration process uses a set of sites and criteria for calculating the calibration factor. The accuracy and the precision of these models depend on the calibration process that develops the factor. This study evaluated the HSM calibration criteria's guidance for two-lane, two-way undivided urban arterial roadways and examined a method for improving the accuracy and precision of calibration factors. A sensitivity analysis used calibration sets of vari...
Albumin Turnover in Renal Disease

Hypoalbuminemia is found in patients both with the nephrotic syndrome and with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) treated either with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) or hemodialysis. In nephrotic patients the primary causes of hypoalbuminemia are urinary albumin losses, an inappropriate increase in the fractional catabolic rate (FCR) of albumin and an insufficient increase in the rate of albumin synthesis to replace these losses. Nevertheless, the albumin synthetic rate is increased significantly. In patients on CAPD, albumin losses into the urine and across the peritoneal membrane contribute significantly to hypoalbuminemia. In contrast to nephrotic patients, albumin FCR decreases as serum albumin falls and serum albumin levels are significantly greater than in nephrotic patients with the same external losses of albumin. CAPD patients, like nephrotic patients with normal renal function, can increase albumin synthesis to replace losses. Thus ESRD does not directly suppress albumin synthesis. In contrast, hypoalbuminemia in hemodialysis patients results from reduced albumin synthesis. The cause of decreased albumin synthesis is a combination of response to inflammation (acute-phase response) and, to a lesser extent, inadequate nutrition. There is no evidence that shifts of albumin to the extravascular space or that dilution of the plasma by volume expansion play any role in causing hypoalbuminemia in ESRD or nephrotic patients.
Implementation implications of biometrics

Abstract Over the past five years, the Biometrics Industry has leaped forward. It is predicted that it will be one of the great growth technologies of the new millennium. Given the ever-increasing choice of biometrics and manufacturers, a case is being made for the development, implementation, and use of a generic Application Programming Interface (API) for all biometrics. This article reviews the requirements and current contenders for this generic API, along with an introduction to the corresponding industry interest groups.
Folate binding protein—Outlook for drug delivery applications

Abstract Serum proteins represent an important class of drug and imaging agent delivery vectors. In this mini-review, key advantages of using serum proteins are discussed, followed by the particular advantages and challenges associated with employing soluble folate binding protein. In particular, approaches employing drugs that target folate metabolism are reviewed. Additionally, the slow-onset, tight-binding interaction of folate with folate binding protein and the relationship to a natural oligomerization mechanism is discussed. These unique aspects of folate binding protein suggest interesting applications for the protein as a vector for further drug and imaging agent development.
Paramutation Alters Regulatory Control of the Maize pl Locus

The maize purple plant ( pl ) locus encodes a transcription factor required for anthocyanin pigment synthesis in vegetative and floral tissues. The strongly expressed Pl-Rhoades ( Pl-Rh ) allele is unstable, spontaneously changing to weaker expression states ( Pl ′) at low frequencies and exclusively changing to Pl ′ in Pl ′/ Pl-Rh heterozygotes. The weakly expressed Pl ′ state is mitotically and meiotically stable, yet reversible. This type of allele-dependent, heritable alteration of gene control is called paramutation. Expression studies herein demonstrate that visible differences in anthocyanin pigment levels mirror pl RNA abundance and that pl paramutation is associated with reduced transcription of the pl gene. This transcriptional alteration is accompanied by acquisition of light-dependent regulation. Restriction endonuclease mapping indicates that these changes in pl gene regulation are not associated with detectable DNA alterations or with extensive changes in cytosine methylation patterns. Genetic tests show that Pl-Blotched ( Pl-Bh ), a structurally similar pl allele encoding an identical pl RNA and PL protein, does not participate in pl paramutation. This result suggests that if cis -acting sequences are required for pl paramutation they are distinct from the protein coding and immediately adjacent regions. A model is discussed in which pl paramutation results in heritable changes of chromatin structure that fundamentally alter regulatory interactions occurring during plant development.
Force tracking with unknown environment parameters using adaptive fuzzy controllers

The paper proposes an adaptive fuzzy control scheme for explicit force control of a robot manipulator in contact with an environment whose parameters are unknown and vary considerably. The scheme consists of three main components, a reference force model describing the desired behaviour of the force control system, a fuzzy force controller that determines the adjustment to the position control loop, and a fuzzy learning and adaptation mechanism that modifies the fuzzy force controller according to the difference between the actual and desired force responses. The modification is performed by shifting and contracting/expanding the membership functions of the fuzzy sets associated with the consequent rules of the fuzzy force controller. It is demonstrated through simulations of a manipulator that the scheme is capable of force tracking despite wide parameter variations, such as when the environment stiffness changes by several orders of magnitude.
THE INFLUENCE OF CHOLESTEROL ON EXPERIMENTAL TUBERCULOSIS

1. Cholesterol, administered intraperitoneally, in these experiments definitely prolonged the lives of tuberculous guinea pigs when the infection was of an acute type produced by inoculation with a small dose of very virulent human type organisms. 2. Intraperitoneally administered cholesterol did not definitely prolong the lives of tuberculous guinea pigs when the infection was of the chronic type produced by the injection of a small dose of human type tubercle bacilli of relatively low virulence, or when the infection was more acute owing to the injection of a large dose of organisms of low virulence. It had no beneficial effect on an acute type of infection produced by the bovine type organism. 3. Cholesteryl chloride, cholesteryl toluide, cholesteryl anilide, sodium cholesterol sulfate, and quinine cholesterylate did not significantly prolong the lives of tuberculous guinea pigs. 4. Sodium cholesterylate, in optimal dosage, definitely prolonged the lives of tuberculous guinea pigs. 5. There was a significant shortening in the duration of life of tuberculous guinea pigs subjected to the trauma of intraperitoneal injection and repeated handling as compared with tuberculous guinea pigs that were not handled or traumatized by intraperitoneal injections.
Patient and Caregiver Incongruence in Advanced Heart Failure

The important role of caregivers in heart failure (HF) management is well documented, but few studies have explored HF patient–caregiver dyads when dyadic incongruence is evident. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of incongruence between HF patient–caregiver dyads, areas of incongruence, and the impact on individuals in the dyadic relationship. Data were collected as part of a longitudinal qualitative study examining the palliative care needs of HF dyads. Interviews with dyads determined to be incongruent were further analyzed. Of the 100 dyads, 47 were identified as being incongruent. Dyads were found to be incongruent in illness management, health care issues, and end-of-life decisions. Dyads that were incongruent reported more psychosocial issues and distress within the dyad and individually. Further research is needed to determine the impact of incongruence and whether interventions to modify incongruence will lead to improved HF patient and caregiver outcomes and experiences.
A phylogenetic analysis of microbial communities associated with methane hydrate containing marine fluids and sediments in the Cascadia margin (ODP site 892B)

Methane hydrates represent an enormous carbon and energy source in many low temperature deep marine sediments. However, little information is available concerning the nature of the microbial communities associated with these structures. Here, we describe a phylogenetic analysis based on ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences obtained from sediment and fluid samples present in a region of gas hydrate formation in shallow sediments within the Cascadia margin in and around Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Site 892B. Our studies detected diverse sulfur-utilizing microbes, methanogens, methanotrophs, and non-thermophilic members of the kingdom Crenarchaeota. This is the first culture-independent phylogenetic analysis of a gas hydrate habitat.
Evidential Effort and Risk Assessment in Auditing

This study responds to prior literature highlighting the need for academic research to study the linkage of risks to audit procedures purported in the Audit Risk Model. We use audit workpaper data from a Big 4 firm to examine two significant relationships implicit in authoritative audit guidance: (1) the application of the audit risk model in practice, and the relationship between preliminary risk assessments and audit procedures, and (2) the potential loss of risk information upon risk aggregation suggested in the Audit Risk Model. Our findings indicate that preliminary risk assessments significantly affect planned audit procedures, and the potential for loss of information upon risk aggregation is not to be ignored. These results provide important evidence useful in developing audit policy for linking risk assessments and audit procedures.
Sievers‘ Law in Gothic: A Response to Pierce

Gothic scribes divided words at the ends of lines following basic principles of syllabification except in the case of glide-final clusters, where the division appeared immediately before the glide (-C/G-). Pierce (2006) accepts this practice as evidence that such sequences were heterosyllabified, -C.G-. He rejects arguments that such breaks occur because morpheme boundaries (#) normally precede the glides, -VC0C/#GV-, and that hence these clusters were actually tauto-syllabified: -VC0.C#GV-. Pierce counters that (a) the Law of Initials forbids such tautosyllabification; (b) morphology cannot account for similar division in forms evincing Verscharfung or /-ngw-/, where there are no morpheme boundaries; (c) his opponents are inconsistent because they ignore the role of morphology in the division of stop + liquid clusters; (d) evidence from the other Germanic dialects cor-roborates his position; (e) if -VC0CGV- were truly tautosyllabified, one would expect occasionally to find erroneous divisions exhibiting this, -VC0/.C#GV-. In this rejoinder, I argue that Pierce's arguments rest on false premises.
Religion, Ethnicity, and Party Affiliation in the U.S.: Evidence from Pooled Electoral Surveys, 1968–72

By analyzing a white Christian subsample of pooled national survey data collected in 1968, 1970, and 1972 (subsample's n = 4,142), we try to determine whether ethnicity has a direct effect on party identification net of parental party identification. In so doing, we raise a number of subsidiary issues: (1) how best to measure ethnicity, (2) the need to distinguish between ethnically identified and ethnically assimilated respondents, and (3) possible regional variation in the impact of ethnicity. We find that religion alone (Protestant versus Catholic) is an adequate measure of ethnicity for this analysis, there being little intrareligious variation in party identification by national origin. Second, religion's effect is largely limited to the ethnically identified. Third, its effect holds up when controlling for parental party identification and SES. Fourth, regional variation in the impact of religion is understood as largely flowing from regional variations in the distribution of Catholics. That parental party affiliation affects one's own identification is by now a virtual truism, well-documented in the social science literature. But the question still unresolved is whether ethnicity's effect on party affiliation is largely transmitted by the parents, or whether ethnicity exerts an influence independent of parental party affiliation. An argument in favor of the existence of a direct ethnic effect can be constructed from various sources. For example, a survey of much of the pertinent research on America's nineteenth and twentieth centuries notes, "historians have offered strong evidence that the most important deter*Work on this paper was supported by a grant from the Research Foundation of the City University of New York, No. 11387. We want to gratefully acknowledge the editorial suggestions provided by Paul Ritterband and Eleanor Singer.
Unfilled orbitals of C60 and C70 from carbon K-shell X-ray absorption fine structure

Abstract The K-shell near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectra of solid C 60 and C 70 have been recorded with high spectral resolution. The spectra exhibit sharp resonances associated with transitions to unfilled π * molecular orbitals and, at higher energy, broader resonances associated with σ * -like orbitals. The observed energy splitting of the π * resonances can be accounted for by published extended Huckel calculations. Our data clearly reveal that the fullerence films resemble molecular solids with considerably stronger intra-molecular than inter-molecular interactions.
Interactive error recovery in facsimile without retransmission

The paper develops and studies interactive techniques for recovery from transmission errors that occur in facsimile images compressed with Group 3, Extended 2 Dimensional MMR coding scheme. When an error occurs in an MMR coded bitstream, the bitstream cannot be decoded after the error point. To prevent losing all information after an error, we develop standalone and interactive error recovery systems that utilize syntactical structure information of the coded bitstream to recover nearly all the data. The standalone recovery works well on text documents or regular graphics, but cannot handle more complex document structures. Interactive recovery, using feedback from a user, can recover from errors in a wide range of document types.
Process Trace Identification from Unstructured Execution Logs

Many real world business processes are executed without explicit orchestration and hence do not generate structured execution logs. This is particularly true for the class of business processes which are executed in service delivery centers in emerging markets where rapid changes in processes and in the people executing the processes are common. In such environments, the process execution logs are usually natural language descriptions of actions performed and hence are noisy. Despite the lack of structured logs, it is crucial to know the trace of activities as they happen on the ground. Without such a visibility into the ground activities, regulatory compliance audit, process optimization, and best practices standardization are severely disabled. Process monitoring on top of unstructured execution logs has been a relatively unexplored research area. This paper proposes an approach for process trace identification from unstructured logs that applies state-of-the-art text mining techniques. It applies this approach on logs of a real-world business process used in a service delivery center and shows that individual process activities are correctly identified 90% of the time. Also, 65% of the activity traces were identified with zero errors and an additional 24% with a single error. This approach is generic and applicable to a wide array of business processes.
SURGICAL TREATMENT OF PAINFUL HIPS OF ADULTS

The operation most certain to relieve pain in cases of painful hips is arthrodesis. Less certain relief of pain, but preservation of motion, will follow the use of cup arthroplasty. Acetabuloplasty offers a less certain means of treatment, but it has a definite place in certain types of cases, particularly among elderly patients. Drilling operations are indicated only in the earliest stages of hypertrophic arthritis of the hip joint.
Restructuring Agricultural Economics Extension to Meet Changing Needs: Discussion

Federal funding for cooperative extension has not failed to increase each year since the depression (except Gramm-Rudman-Hollings) when it represented 59% of the total funding versus 30% of the total in 1986. State funding for cooperative extension has not failed to increase each year since the depression when it represented 19% of the total funding versus 47% of the total in 1986. County funding for cooperative extension has not failed to increase each year since the depression when it represented 19% of the total funding versus 20% of the total in 1986. Non-tax funding wobbles around, representing only 3% of the total support during the depression and still only 3% in 1986. Extension is not a generic whole, it is fiftysix contributing parts and a federal partner. Evidence follows. Educational attainment of faculty/staff ranges from 82% of state specialists in Florida holding the Ph.D. to 25% in Colorado, and 93% of the county faculty in Ohio holding the masters degree to 14% in South Dakota. Academic rank and tenurlg are norms at more than forty locations, but total separation of extension specialists and research/teaching faculty still exists at more than one land grant university. Extension is a line item in many state budgets but not all. Land grant university presidents and colleges of agriculture deans/vice-presidents understand, appreciate, and use extension in many states but certainly not all. County agents have faculty status and tenure in some states but certainly not all. Many agents and specialists use advisory committees effectively but not all. A few states have no computers at the county level; many states have computers at every county office. Last year, the computer software package developed in Minnesota, entitled FINPACK, was used or under observation in twelve states, but thirty-five states are now using that package. And so it goes.
The insulin-like growth factor II/mannose-6-phosphate receptor : IGF-II/Man-6-P receptor.

Recent evidence from molecular cloning, biochemical and immunological experiments has established that the cation-independent mannose-6-phosphate (Man-6-P) receptor and insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) receptor are the same protein. Although the role of the IGF-II/Man-6-P receptor as a transporter of hydrolytic enzymes in the biogenesis of lysosomes is certain, elucidation of the receptor's structure has not yet provided major insights into the function of IGF-II binding. Mutually exclusive binding of IGF-II and naturally occurring phosphomannosyl ligands to distinct but proximal sites on the receptor suggests that the IGF-II/Man-6-P receptor cannot simultaneously fulfill the functional requirements of both IGF-II and lysosomal enzymes. Does the receptor transduce on intracellular signal in order to mediate the biological effects of IGF-II? If so, then the receptor must interact with an effector molecule, perhaps a G protein, in the mechanism of IGF-II action. Further information from ligand binding and especially mutagenesis experiments will be needed to elucidate the potentially multiple functions of the IGF-II/Man-6-P receptor.
Rice Milling Coproducts as Feedstuffs for Beef Cattle

ABSTRACT The objective of this paper was to collectively present literature on the performance, intake, and digestibility of diets containing rice milling coproducts. Rice milling coproducts may be an economical alternative feedstuff in the south-central United States and California; however, limited studies have been published in peer-reviewed journals on the utilization of rice milling coproducts within the United States. Most published research about rice milling coproducts were conducted outside the United States and application of results within the United States may be difficult due to basal dietary differences. Performance between cattle supplemented with corn and rice bran or de-oiled rice bran have been variable. Part of this variability may be due to variation in the nutrient composition of the rice bran among studies and regional differences due to milling procedures and rice varieties. Variability in performance results of rice bran and de-oiled rice bran and limited research with forages and feedstuffs common to the United States warrants a further investigation into how rice milling coproducts can be effectively used in cattle diets in the United States.
A miniature microbial fuel cell with conducting nanofibers-based 3D porous biofilm

Miniature microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology has received growing interest due to its potential applications in high-throughput screening of bacteria and mutants to elucidate mechanisms of electricity generation. This paper reports a novel miniature MFC with an improved output power density and short startup time, utilizing electrospun conducting poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) nanofibers as a 3D porous anode within a 12 μl anolyte chamber. This device results in 423 μW cm−3 power density based on the volume of the anolyte chamber, using Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 as a model biocatalyst without any optimization of bacterial culture. The device also excels in a startup time of only 1hr. The high conductivity of the electrospun nanofibers makes them suitable for efficient electron transfer. The mean pore size of the conducting nanofibers is several micrometers, which is favorable for bacterial penetration and colonization of surfaces of the nanofibers. We demonstrate that S. oneidensis can fully colonize the interior region of this nanofibers-based porous anode. This work represents a new attempt to explore the use of electrospun PEDOT nanofibers as a 3D anode material for MFCs. The presented miniature MFC potentially will provide a high-sensitivity, high-throughput tool to screen suitable bacterial species and mutant strains for use in large-size MFCs.
The Zoning Map and American City Form

This paper investigates a common mode of visual communication in planning practice, the use of maps to regulate urban development. Holding equal legal status with the text, the zoning map was invented in the early twentieth century as a tool for implementing municipal policy and, although debated, modified, and sometimes repurposed over the past nine decades, it remains standard. Mundane and largely taken for granted, the zoning map itself has aroused little scholarly interest. However, as an image of the city and as a graphic intermediary used in administrative processes, it reveals how planning thought is embedded in planning tools.
Long-term behavioral characterization of a rat model of intracerebral hemorrhage

We tested the behavioral effects of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in adult male rats. ICH was induced by collagenase injection into the basal ganglia and the rats were subjected to a longitudinal behavioral test battery. Both learning and memory deficits were detected shortly after injury. Two months after injury, there were still significant short- and long-term memory deficits. Rotarod testing also revealed long-term sensorimotor coordination deficits. No differences in activity levels were detected at any time. Thus, spontaneous ICH produced detectable cognitive and motor deficits that evolved over the course of 2 months. Along with histological analysis of infarct volume, this characterization provides a suitable baseline for the analysis of therapeutic interventions.
Structure with Time Dependent Behavior

Open form approaches to the analysis of structural systems are usually complicated to a significant degree by the transition from a statics to a dynamics analysis; however, for a field approach the addition of D’Alembert inertial forces or time dependent loads does not significantly complicate the analysis. As a working hypothesis, one could, over the protests of specialists in structural dynamics, characterize a trivial field problem as one whose solution is made much more complex by the addition of time dependent effects in the model. It is the goal of this section to illustrate use of the micro discrete field approach to the dynamic analysis of selected simple but nontrivial structural lattices.
Identification of major QTLs underlying tomato spotted wilt virus resistance in peanut cultivar Florida-EP TM ‘113’

Spotted wilt caused by tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) is one of the major peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) diseases in the southeastern United States. Occurrence, severity, and symptoms of spotted wilt disease are highly variable from season to season, making it difficult to efficiently evaluate breeding populations for resistance. Molecular markers linked to spotted wilt resistance could overcome this problem and allow selection of resistant lines regardless of environmental conditions. Florida-EPTM ‘113’ is a spotted wilt resistant cultivar with a significantly lower infection frequency. However, the genetic basis is still unknown. The objective of this study is to map the major quantitative trait loci (QTLs) linked to spotted wilt resistance in Florida-EPTM ‘113’. Among 2,431 SSR markers located across the whole peanut genome screened between the two parental lines, 329 were polymorphic. Those polymorphic markers were used to further genotype a representative set of individuals in a segregating population. Only polymorphic markers on chromosome A01 showed co-segregation between genotype and phenotype. Genotyping by sequencing (GBS) of the representative set of individuals in the segregating population also depicted a strong association between several SNPs on chromosome A01 and the trait, indicating a major QTL on chromosome A01. Therefore marker density was enriched on the A01 chromosome. A linkage map with 23 makers on chromosome A01 was constructed, showing collinearity with the physical map. Combined with phenotypic data, a major QTL flanked by marker AHGS4584 and GM672 was identified on chromosome A01, with up to 22.7 % PVE and 9.0 LOD value. A major QTL controlling the spotted wilt resistance in Florida-EPTM ‘113’ was identified. The resistance is most likely contributed by PI 576638, a hirsuta botanical-type line, introduced from Mexico with spotted wilt resistance. The flanking markers of this QTL can be used for further fine mapping and marker assisted selection in peanut breeding programs.
Comparison Of Token Holding Time Strategies For A Static Token Passing Bus

Waiting times have been calculated for an explicit token passing static LAN with two different types of token holding time strategies. The first strategy allows each station to transmit only one information packet during a token holding time and the second allows each station to empty its buffer when it receives the token. It is shown that for a given server utilization both strategies result in exactly the same mean token rotation time. The strategy that allows each station to empty its buffer when gated infinite server and find the mean arrival rate of the customers at the gate. SYSTEM MODEL, Consider an M station system. Let us assume that on the average there are N stations that are active. Let the stations receive packets at a Poisson rate of G/IM packets per second and let the distribution of the packet lengths be either deterministic or exponential. We use two different system models for two different toit gets the token results in approximately three times smaller mean waiting times at 50% bus loading. This improvement in waiting time becomes greater as the bus loading is increased. Regardless of which of the two strategies is used, the mean waiting time is independent of the packet length distribution. ken holding time algorithms. For the single packet transmission algorithm, we assign a certain portion of the total channel bandwidth to a station and calculate the waiting times assuming that this station can be modeled as an M/D/1 system. For the multipacket transmission algorithm, we model a station as an infinite server separated from the customers by a gate. We assume that every time the station gets the token the gate opens for a short period of time and provides bulk service to the waiting customers.
Seasonal hyporheic dynamics control coupled microbiology and geochemistry in Colorado River sediments

©2016. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. Riverbed microbial communities play an oversized role in many watershed ecosystem functions, including the processing of organic carbon, cycling of nitrogen, and alterations to metal mobility. The structure and activity of microbial assemblages depend in part on geochemical conditions set by river-groundwater exchange or hyporheic exchange. To assess how seasonal changes in river-groundwater mixing affect these populations in a snowmelt-dominated fluvial system, vertical sediment and pore water profiles were sampled at three time points at one location in the hyporheic zone of the Colorado River and analyzed by using geochemical measurements, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and ecological modeling. Oxic river water penetrated deepest into the subsurface during peak river discharge, while under base flow conditions, anoxic groundwater dominated shallower depths. Over a 70 cm thick interval, riverbed sediments were therefore exposed to seasonally fluctuating redox conditions and hosted microbial populations statistically different from those at both shallower and deeper locations. Additionally, microbial populations within this zone were shown to be the most dynamic across sampling time points, underlining the critical role that hyporheic mixing plays in constraining microbial abundances. Given such mixing effects, we anticipate that future changes in river discharge in mountainous, semiarid western U.S. watersheds may affect microbial community structure and function in riverbed environments, with potential implications for biogeochemical processes in riparian regions.
Somatic molecular subtyping of prostate tumors from HOXB13 G84E carriers.

// Tamara L. Lotan 1, 2 , Alba Torres 1 , Miao Zhang 3 , Jeffrey J. Tosoian 4 , Liana B. Guedes 1 , Helen Fedor 1 , Jessica Hicks 1 , Charles M. Ewing 4 , Sarah D. Isaacs 4 , Dorhyun Johng 4 , Angelo M. De Marzo 1, 2, 4 , William B. Isaacs 2, 4 1 Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA 2 Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA 3 Department of Pathology the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA 4 Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA Correspondence to: Tamara L. Lotan, email: tlotan1@jhmi.edu Keywords: prostatic adenocarcinoma, HOXB13 G84E, familial prostate cancer, PTEN, ERG Received: December 20, 2016 Accepted: January 21, 2017 Published: February 08, 2017 ABSTRACT A recurrent germline mutation (G84E) in the HOXB13 gene is associated with early onset and family history-positive prostate cancer in patients of European descent, occurring in up to 5% of prostate cancer families. To date, the molecular features of prostate tumors occurring in HOXB13 G84E carriers have not been studied in a large cohort of patients. We identified 101 heterozygous carriers of G84E who underwent radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer between 1985 and 2011 and matched these men by race, age and tumor grade to 99 HOXB13 wild-type controls. Immunostaining for HOXB13, PTEN, ERG, p53 and SPINK1 as well as RNA in situ hybridization for ETV1/4/5 were performed using genetically validated assays. Tumors from G84E carriers generally expressed HOXB13 protein at a level comparable to benign and wild-type glands. ETS gene expression (either ERG or ETV1/4/5 ) was seen in 36% (36/101) of tumors from G84E carriers compared to 68% (65/96) of the controls ( p < 0.0001). PTEN was lost in 11% (11/101) of G84E carriers compared to 25% (25/99) of the controls ( p = 0.014). PTEN loss was enriched among ERG-positive compared to ERG-negative tumors in both groups of patients. Nuclear accumulation of the p53 protein, indicative of underlying TP53 missense mutations, was uncommon in both groups, occurring in 1% (1/101) of the G84E carriers versus 2% (2/92) of the controls ( p = NS). Taken together, these data suggest that genes other than ERG and PTEN may drive carcinogenesis/progression in the majority of men with germline HOXB13 mutations.
A stable and accurate partitioned algorithm for conjugate heat transfer

Abstract We describe a new partitioned approach for solving conjugate heat transfer (CHT) problems where the governing temperature equations in different material domains are time-stepped in an implicit manner, but where the interface coupling is explicit. The new approach, called the CHAMP scheme (Conjugate Heat transfer Advanced Multi-domain Partitioned), is based on a discretization of the interface coupling conditions using a generalized Robin (mixed) condition. The weights in the Robin condition are determined from the optimization of a condition derived from a local stability analysis of the coupling scheme. The interface treatment combines ideas from optimized-Schwarz methods for domain-decomposition problems together with the interface jump conditions and additional compatibility jump conditions derived from the governing equations. For many problems (i.e. for a wide range of material properties, grid-spacings and time-steps) the CHAMP algorithm is stable and second-order accurate using no sub-time-step iterations (i.e. a single implicit solve of the temperature equation in each domain). In extreme cases (e.g. very fine grids with very large time-steps) it may be necessary to perform one or more sub-iterations. Each sub-iteration generally increases the range of stability substantially and thus one sub-iteration is likely sufficient for the vast majority of practical problems. The CHAMP algorithm is developed first for a model problem and analyzed using normal-mode theory. The theory provides a mechanism for choosing optimal parameters in the mixed interface condition. A comparison is made to the classical Dirichlet–Neumann (DN) method and, where applicable, to the optimized-Schwarz (OS) domain-decomposition method. For problems with different thermal conductivities and diffusivities, the CHAMP algorithm outperforms the DN scheme. For domain-decomposition problems with uniform conductivities and diffusivities, the CHAMP algorithm performs better than the typical OS scheme with one grid-cell overlap. The CHAMP scheme is also developed for general curvilinear grids and CHT examples are presented using composite overset grids that confirm the theory and demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach.
NPM1 for MRD? Droplet Like It's Hot!

This commentary highlights the article by Mencia-Trinchant et al that describes a novel digital PCR assay for sensitive detection of minimal residual disease in NPM1 mutated acute myeloid leukemia.
Augmenting Primary and Secondary Education with Polymer Science and Engineering

Despite the prevalence of polymers in modern everyday life, there is little introduction to the topic in science education throughout primary or secondary schooling in the United States. Of the few states that do include polymer education, this is only found at the high school level, primarily in biology or chemistry. Over the past year, we have developed a graduate-student-run outreach initiative aimed at providing young students with an understanding and appreciation of this class of materials through the interactive teaching of polymer science with audience-appropriate language. Our lessons are developed to align with the Michigan State Education Standards (Michigan is an NGSS Lead State Partner), such that each lesson can be adapted to the vocabulary of the classroom, even across different grade levels and school curricula. Most importantly, each of our lessons has multiple hands-on activities to reiterate and reinforce the concepts taught through active learning. In teaching our graduate student volu...
Ecological panela production in Honduras: A lighter footprint for non-centrifugal sugar

AbstractPanela is a block sugar produced by small low-income farmers around the world. Evaporators used in the process are often inefficient and depend on firewood for fuel, which is costly and contributes to deforestation, This paper reports on the development of an evaporator in Honduras using a flue pan and improved oven that small-scale producers found lowered their fuelwood demand by 82% while reducing production time by 27% per day and 47% per unit of production. The evaporator can be built and maintained locally. Over 174 evaporators have been installed in Honduras since 2003, currently used by more than 2,000 small-scale producers. This study discusses the impact of the new evaporator based on a survey of 64 producers who have used the evaporator. The study found that fuel savings are sufficient to repay the cost of the evaporator, including interest, in 3 months of use. Panela projects using efficient evaporators can lower the environmental impact of small-scale sugarcane processing and increase ...
Rethinking the Profession Formerly Known as Advertising: How Data Science Is Disrupting the Work of Agencies

There is nothing new about the claim that advertising is not what it used to be. In 2012, the annual report of WPP noted, “We are applying more and more technology to our business, along with big data. We are now Math Men as well as Mad Men (and Women). Thus, we go head-to-head not only with
Progress for whom, toward what? Progressive politics and New York City’s Mandatory Inclusionary Housing

ABSTRACTIn both its historical Progressive Era roots and its contemporary manifestations, U.S. urban progressivism has evinced a contradictory tendency toward promoting the interests of capital and...
Brain Cytosolic Phospholipase A2α Mediates Angiotensin II-Induced Hypertension and Reactive Oxygen Species Production in Male Mice

Background Recently, we reported that angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced hypertension is mediated by group IV cytosolic phospholipase A2α (cPLA2α) via production of prohypertensive eicosanoids. Since Ang II increases blood pressure (BP) via its action in the subfornical organ (SFO), it led us to investigate the expression and possible contribution of cPLA2α to oxidative stress and development of hypertension in this brain area. Methods Adenovirus (Ad)-green fluorescence protein (GFP) cPLA2α short hairpin (sh) RNA (Ad-cPLA2α shRNA) and its control Ad-scrambled shRNA (Ad-Scr shRNA) or Ad-enhanced cyan fluorescence protein cPLA2α DNA (Ad-cPLA2α DNA) and its control Ad-GFP DNA were transduced into SFO of cPLA2α+/+ and cPLA2α-/- male mice, respectively. Ang II (700 ng/kg/min) was infused for 14 days in these mice, and BP was measured by tail-cuff and radio telemetry. cPLA2 activity, reactive oxygen species production, and endoplasmic reticulum stress were measured in the SFO. Results Transduction of SFO with Ad-cPLA2α shRNA, but not Ad-Scr shRNA in cPLA2α+/+ mice, minimized expression of cPLA2α, Ang II-induced cPLA2α activity and oxidative stress in the SFO, BP, and cardiac and renal fibrosis. In contrast, Ad-cPLA2α DNA, but not its control Ad-GFP DNA in cPLA2α-/- mice, restored the expression of cPLA2α, and Ang II-induced increase in cPLA2 activity and oxidative stress in the SFO, BP, cardiac, and renal fibrosis. Conclusions These data suggest that cPLA2α in the SFO is crucial in mediating Ang II-induced hypertension and associated pathogenesis. Therefore, development of selective cPLA2α inhibitors could be useful in treating hypertension and its pathogenesis.
Software support for software-independent auditing

Electronic voting machines have the potential to make the election process more efficient, but concerns over their reliability and security could undermine confidence in election results. The most effective way of verifying election results is by auditing physical copies of the ballots that have been verified by the voter. Since manually viewing every ballot is unrealistic, a variety of algorithms can be used to determine which ballots or precincts to audit. These algorithms generate a list of ballots (or precincts) to audit and declare the election outcome correct (with a certain confidence level) if the audited physical ballot matches the corresponding electronic records. Many of these algorithms are complicated and require a computer on which to run. Since this computer is susceptible to the same issues as electronic voting machines, we want to be able to trust the output of these algorithms without trusting the computer on which the auditing algorithms run. We created an online auditing system with three goals in mind. First, we ensure softwareindependence by publishing a log that allows anyone to verify (either manually or by using a computer) that the audit procedures were followed correctly. This allows the computer running the auditing algorithms to be untrusted. Second, we implemented recently published auditing algorithms that reduce the number of precincts or ballots to be inspected. Third, we provide a user-friendly interface that can be used by ordinary government officials. Additionally, the modular design of our system does not restrict the algorithms that can be used, allowing it to satisfy the variety of legal requirements in different states.
The role of continuous renal replacement therapy in the management of acute kidney injury associated with sinusoidal obstruction syndrome following hematopoietic cell transplantation

Maintaining fluid balance, pre- and post-MA-HCT is essential and usually requires frequent administration of diuretics. Hepatic sinusoidal obstructive syndrome is potentially life-threatening, especially when associated with AKI and MOF. This study describes six patients who developed AKI-associated SOS and diuretic-resistant FO who subsequently underwent CRRT using standardized management guidelines for fluid balance post-HCT. Retrospective chart review was done for HCT patients between September 2011 and October 2013 at a tertiary care children's hospital. Thirty-four patients underwent MA-HCT in the study period. Six patients had SOS complicated by diuretic-resistant FO and underwent CRRT. Defibrotide was used in three patients. Median time on CRRT was 10.5 days. Sixty-six percent (N = 4 of 6) of patients had full resolution of SOS symptoms with a mortality rate of 34% (N = 2 of 6). Among patients who had full recovery of SOS symptoms, one patient developed AKI, end-stage renal diseases and underwent kidney transplantation 34-months post-HCT. Thus, of six included patients, two died and one developed ESRD with only 50% (N = 3 of 6) good outcome. Use of a standardized, evidence-based fluid balance protocol and early initiation of CRRT for HCT-related AKI/SOS was associated with good outcomes.
Rectal Prolapse in the Healthy Patient: Is Perineal Approach Ever Indicated?

Perineal proctosigmoidectomy or the Altemeier procedure has been marginalized to the elderly due to high recurrence rates. However, a review of the literature suggests that this technique may be unfairly scrutinized due to outdated techniques and severe heterogeneity among the earlier published reports. In fact, recent studies show that the perineal proctosigmoidectomy with levatorplasty is safe and effective, has a favorably low recurrence rate, and should also be considered in healthy, young patients.
Internet Securities, Inc.: Path to Sustainability

Founded in 1994 when the Internet was still a "toy for techies," the case is set in 1998 when Internet IPOs were red-hot. Internet Securities provides hard-to-find financial, business, economic, and political information on emerging markets. Information from over 600 information suppliers in more than 25 emerging markets (e.g., China, Russia, Poland, Venezuela, Argentina, Chile, Turkey) is provided to over 650 institutional clients, including J.P. Morgan, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell, KPMG, and ING Barings. After ruling out seeking another round of VC financing, the cash-strapped founder of this Internet information service provider must decide whether to IPO or accept an offer to be acquired by Euromoney, a global publishing and information content provider that is eager to launch an Internet information service. The case contains a term sheet that can be reviewed to support analysis and decision making.Learning Objective:The case enables students to: Understand the challenges of building a sustainable business from idea to opportunity to launch and growth; Analyze the company's business model; Compare Internet IPO data and comparable company acquisition transactions from 1994 through 1998; Determine valuation and deal terms; and Identify personal motivations of a founder at key transition periods in the process of launching and growing a new venture.
Attitude Control on SO(3) with Sinusoidal Torques

This paper addresses the problem of rigid-body attitude control using vibrating internal-momentum actuators. We consider a free rigid body with momentum-wheel actuators that are driven by small ( $\epsilon$ ) amplitude piecewise sinusoidal internal torques. A second-order approximation of the rigid body rotational motion on SO(3) is derived.
Modulation of macrophage phenotype via phagocytosis of drug-loaded microparticles

Monocyte-derived macrophages play a critical role in directing wound pathology following injury. Depending on their phenotype, macrophages also promote tissue regeneration. However, the therapeutic administration of macrophages with a controlled phenotype is challenging because macrophages are highly plastic and quickly revert to a detrimental, inflammatory phenotype in response to the environment of a damaged tissue. To address this issue, we developed a novel strategy to modulate macrophage phenotype intracellularly through phagocytosis of drug-loaded microparticles. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microparticles loaded with the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone (Dex) were phagocytosed by monocytes and stored intracellularly for at least 5 days. After differentiation into macrophages, cell phenotype was characterized over time with high-throughput gene expression analysis via NanoString. We found that the microparticles modulated macrophage phenotype for up to 7 days after microparticle uptake, with decreases in inflammation-related genes at early timepoints and upregulation of homing- and phagocytosis-related genes at multiple timepoints in a manner similar to cells treated with continuous free Dex. These data suggest that intracellularly loading macrophages with Dex microparticles via phagocytosis could be a unique methodology to selectively modulate macrophage phenotype over time. This strategy would allow therapeutic administration of macrophages for the treatment of a number of inflammatory disease and disorders. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 107A: 1213-1224, 2019.