cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A chemical-genetic approach for precise spatio-temporal control of cellular signaling

Recently we have perfected a chemical-genetic approach to gain precise spatio-temporal control of cellular signaling. This approach entails the cell-type specific expression of mutant G-protein coupled receptors which have been evolved to be activated by the pharmacologically inert drug-like small molecule clozapine N-oxide. We have named these mutant GPCRs DREADDs (Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs). In this paper we will first review recent applications of this technology for the remote control of neuronal and non-neuronal signaling. Next, we will also introduce new variants which could be useful for the control of cellular signaling in discrete cellular compartments. Finally, we will suggest future basic science and therapeutic applications of this general technology.
A distinct pathway for tetrahymanol synthesis in bacteria

Tetrahymanol is a polycyclic triterpenoid lipid first discovered in the ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis whose potential diagenetic product, gammacerane, is often used as a biomarker for water column stratification in ancient ecosystems. Bacteria are also a potential source of tetrahymanol, but neither the distribution of this lipid in extant bacteria nor the significance of bacterial tetrahymanol synthesis for interpreting gammacerane biosignatures is known. Here we couple comparative genomics with genetic and lipid analyses to link a protein of unknown function to tetrahymanol synthesis in bacteria. This tetrahymanol synthase (Ths) is found in a variety of bacterial genomes, including aerobic methanotrophs, nitrite-oxidizers, and sulfate-reducers, and in a subset of aquatic and terrestrial metagenomes. Thus, the potential to produce tetrahymanol is more widespread in the bacterial domain than previously thought. However, Ths is not encoded in any eukaryotic genomes, nor is it homologous to eukaryotic squalene-tetrahymanol cyclase, which catalyzes the cyclization of squalene directly to tetrahymanol. Rather, heterologous expression studies suggest that bacteria couple the cyclization of squalene to a hopene molecule by squalene-hopene cyclase with a subsequent Ths-dependent ring expansion to form tetrahymanol. Thus, bacteria and eukaryotes have evolved distinct biochemical mechanisms for producing tetrahymanol.
Constraint-based design-space exploration and model synthesis

An important bottleneck in model-based design of embedded systems is the cost of constructing models. This cost can be significantly decreased by increasing the reuse of existing model components in the design process. This paper describes a tool suite, which has been developed for component-based model synthesis. The DESERT tool suite can be interfaced to existing modeling and analysis environments and can be inserted in various, domain specific design flows. The modeling component of DESERT supports the modeling of design spaces and the automated search for designs that meet structural requirements. DESERT has been introduced in automotive applications and proved to be useful in increasing design productivity.
A Eubacterial Gene Conferring Spectinomycin Resistance on Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii: Integration into the Nuclear Genome and Gene Expression

We have constructed a dominant selectable marker for nuclear transformation of C. reinhardtii, composed of the coding sequence of the eubacterial aadA gene (conferring spectinomycin resistance) fused to the 5' and 3' untranslated regions of the endogenous RbcS2 gene. Spectinomycin-resistant transformants isolated by direct selection (1) contain the chimeric gene(s) stably integrated into the nuclear genome, (2) show cosegregation of the resistance phenotype with the introduced DNA, and (3) synthesize the expected mRNA and protein. Small linearized plasmids appeared to be inserted into the nuclear genome preferentially through their ends, with relatively few large deletions and/or rearrangements. Multiple copy transformants often integrated concatemers of transforming DNA. Our detailed analysis of the complex integration patterns of plasmid DNA in C. reinhardtii nuclear transformants should be useful for improving the technique of insertional mutagenesis. We also found that the spectinomycin-resistance phenotype was unstable in about half of the transformants. When maintained under nonselective conditions, neither the aadA mRNA nor the AadA protein were detected in these subclones. Moreover, since the integrated transforming DNA was not altered or lost expression of the RbcS2::aadA::RbcS2 gene(s) appears to be repressed. Measurements of transcriptional activity, mRNA accumulation, and mRNA stability suggest that expression of this chimeric gene(s) may also be affected by rapid RNA degradation, presumably due to defects in mRNA processing and, or nuclear export. Thus, both gene silencing and transcript instability, rather than biased codon usage, may explain the difficulties encountered in the expression of foreign genes in the nuclear genome of Chlamydomonas.
Analysis of challenges for on-chip optical interconnects

Optical interconnects are touted as the solution to the performance bottleneck of future interconnects in scaled technology nodes. Though significant strides have been made in realizing silicon photonic devices that can give high performance in controlled lab environments, there still exist technical challenges preventing dense integration and reliability in widely varying conditions. This paper examines such problems while suggesting possible solution space and proposing some alternatives. We also calculate the actual power advantage that optical links will have compared to an electrical link while considering the thermal stabilization and other technological issues. We show that the ~4X power advantage that ideal on-chip global optical interconnects have been projected to have is reduced to null when the power required for thermal regulation of critical optical components alone are added into the calculations. We also discuss latency, spatial bandwidth, polarization and a host of other technological issues and reassess the benefits of dense on-chip optical interconnects for dense global routing.
Pharmacokinetics of Zanamivir following Intravenous Administration to Subjects with and without Renal Impairment

Intravenous zanamivir is in clinical development for the treatment of influenza in hospitalized patients, many of whom have renal impairment. This open-label study evaluated zanamivir pharmacokinetics and clinical safety following a single 100-mg intravenous infusion dose in subjects with impaired renal function compared with normal renal function. Male and female subjects between 18 and 79 years of age were recruited, four subjects to each renal function group (normal function and mild, moderate, and severe impairment). Serial blood samples were collected up to 24 h after dose administration (48 h for the severe renal impairment group) to estimate zanamivir serum pharmacokinetic parameters. Urine was collected over the same 24-h (or 48-h) period for estimation of renal clearance (CLR). Zanamivir pharmacokinetics were assessed by regression analysis of systemic clearance (CL) and CLR as a function of creatinine clearance (CLCR). Safety evaluations included adverse-event monitoring, vital signs, electrocardiogram, and clinical laboratory assessments. Zanamivir clearance (total and renal) significantly decreased with decreasing renal function, with corresponding increases in area under the concentration-time curve and elimination half-life. Renal impairment had no apparent effects on peak concentration or volume of distribution. Regression analysis indicated that zanamivir clearance was highly correlated (r(2) = 0.89) with creatinine clearance: CL ≅ 7.08 + 0.826 · CLCR. There were no patterns or trends in adverse events, and no new safety concerns were identified following administration of intravenous zanamivir. Results from this study support the inclusion of subjects with renal impairment, with appropriate dose adjustment, in studies to evaluate intravenous zanamivir in the treatment of influenza.
The Metabolism and Nuclear Migration of Estrogen in Porcine Uterus throughout the Implantation Process

Gilts and sows were inseminated at estrus and sacrificed from 0 to 25 days later. Minced uterine samples were incubated for 2 h with 1 7j3-(6, 7�3 HI -estradiol ((6, 7�3 HI -E2), 3 X 10-#{176} M and Na2 So4 (\‘l X i0� M) and the labeled metabolic products were extracted and analyzed. At the same time, endometrial samples were taken for E2 nuclear receptor assays. It was found that sulfurylation, insignificant at the time of insemination (Day 0), rose to a plateau by Day 5 (average 49.2 ± 7.6%) and continued at that level for at least 25 days of pregnancy. During and after implantation, the proportions of estrone, estrone sulfate and E2 -3-sulfate were essentially the same as those seen in the cycling animal at diestrus: i.e., 18.7 ± 7.2%, 32.6 ± 6.4% and 16.6 ± 9.5%, respectively. The E2 nuclear receptor level averaged 0.32 pmoles/mg DNA from the day of insemination to Day 8 of pregnancy then dropped to 0 where it remained until Day 17. However, instead of increasing to 1.00-1.50 pmoles/mg DNA as it would at the next estrus (Packet al., 1978a), only a slight increase then occurred (average 0.09 pmoles/mg DNA), which was maintained at least until Day 25 of pregnancy. Therefore, the combined conditions of a high level of estrogen sulfotransferase and E2 dehydrogenase activities with a low E2 nuclear receptor level are characteristic of implantation and early pregnancy in the pig.
Nighttime Observation of Sheared Tropical Cyclones Using GOES 3.9-μm Data

Abstract This note discusses a Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite product that can reveal the low clouds associated with tropical cyclones at night. It is based on a pixel-by-pixel difference of the longwave (10.8 μm) and shortwave (3.9 μm) brightness temperature fields. This product is compared with daytime visible images from the same satellite and passive microwave images from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Microwave Imager and the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program Special Sensor Microwave/Imager. Implications for weather analysis and forecasting are discussed for weak and shearing systems.
Bis[2,3,4-trimethyl-5-[(3,4,5-trimethyl-2H-pyrrol-2-yl-idene-κN)meth-yl]-1H-pyrrolato-κN]copper(II).

In the title complex, [Cu(C15H19N2)2] or [Cu(L2)] (HL is 3,3′,4,4′,5,5′-hexa­methyl­pyrromethene), the CuII atom is coordinated by four N atoms [Cu—N 1.939 (2)–1.976 (2) A] from two L ligands in a distorted tetra­hedral geometry. The mean planes of the CuN2C3 metallocyclic rings form a dihedral angle of 72.73 (6)°. In the L ligands, the pyrrole rings are inclined to each other at dihedral angles of 3.03 (7) and 9.83 (7)°. The crystal packing exhibits weak inter­molecular C—H⋯π inter­actions, which form chains in [100].
A hybrid lehmer code genetic algorithm and its application on traveling salesman problems

Traveling Salesman Problems (TSP) is a widely studied combinatorial optimization problem. The goal of the TSP is to find a tour which begins in a specific city, visits each of the remaining cities once and returns to the initial cities such that the objective functions are optimized, typically involving minimizing functions like total distance traveled, total time used or total cost. Genetic algorithms were first proposed by John Holland (1975). It uses an iterative procedure to find the optimal solutions to optimization problems. This research proposed a hybrid Lehmer code Genetic Algorithm. To compensate for the weaknesses of traditional genetic algorithms in exploitation while not hampering its ability in exploration, this new genetic algorithm will combine genetic algorithm with 2-opt and non-sequential 3-opt heuristics. By using Lehmer code representation, the solutions created by crossover parent solutions are always feasible. The new algorithm was used to solve single objective and multi-objectives Traveling Salesman Problems. A non Pareto-based technique will be used to solve multi-objective TSPs. Specifically we will use the Target Vector Approach. In this research, we used the weighted Tchebycheff function with the ideal points as the reference points as the objective function to evaluate solutions, while the local search heuristics, the 2-opt and non-sequential 3-opt heuristics, were guided by a weighted sum function.
Focusing of elliptical reflector covered with chiral medium

Abstract Maslov's method has been used to analyze the caustic region high frequency fields of an elliptical reflector covered with isotropic, reciprocal and homogeneous chiral medium. Geometrical Optics (GO) approximation is used at first to describe the desired electromagnetic fields at high frequency but GO become invalid at caustic region due to un-realistic singularity. Therefore, an asymptotic method based on Maslov's theory has been applied to solve the discrepancies in GO. The field patterns are calculated numerically using MATLAB software and the results are plotted. The plots indicate the effects of thickness (d) of the covered chiral medium, chirality parameter (β) of the chiral medium and permittivity (ɛ) of the medium.
The Co-Organization of Demonstratives and Pointing Gestures

Demonstratives and pointing gestures are universal, early emerging, and ubiquitous, and it has long been claimed that there is a special relationship between them. But what exactly is the nature of this relationship? The present study investigates this question using a referential communication task. Speakers referred to targets that were near or far and pointed with the hand (more ambiguous) or a laser pointer (less ambiguous). Demonstratives and pointing frequently co-occurred but were also related in less obvious ways: speakers (1) used fewer demonstrative-pointing combinations when pointing was ambiguous, (2) preferred proximal demonstratives when pointing and distals when not pointing, and (3) used fewer proximal demonstratives when pointing was ambiguous. These findings suggest that the relationship between demonstratives and pointing goes beyond one of mere co-occurrence or functional resemblance and reveal some of the principles by which speakers organize these two powerful tools in relation to ea...
Controlled Synthesis of Gold Nanorods and Application to Brain Tumor Delineation

Gold nanorods are candidates for tumor delineation due to their unique optical properties and biocompatibility. The optical characteristics of nanorods are tuned during synthesis. Anti-EGFR nanorods effectively label tumors within brain slices.
Coupling-Inductor-Based Hybrid mm-Wave CMOS SPST Switch

This brief presents a hybrid CMOS millimeter-wave single-pole single-throw (SPST) switch. This newly invented hybrid structure demonstrates better tradeoffs between insertion loss and isolation compared to conventional distributed structures. The performance benefits are analyzed in detail and validated by both simulation and measurement results. Additionally, the chip area is conserved by using lump elements, the coupled inductor. Moreover, a specific bias scheme is used to further decrease insertion loss by about 0.5 dB. This SPST switch achieves higher than 35-dB isolation over an ultrawide frequency range, from 54 to 84 GHz, a minimum 1.7-dB insertion loss, and <−10-dB reflection coefficient with 0.012-mm2 chip area in 65-nm CMOS. The design achieves more than 10-dB enhancement of isolation in comparison with the state-of-the-arts while maintaining similar insertion loss.
Invertebrates in Managed Waterfowl Marshes

Invertebrates are an important food for breeding, migrating, and wintering waterfowl. Sparse study has been devoted to understanding the influence of waterfowl and wetland management on production of invertebrates for waterfowl foods; however, manipulation of hydrology and soils may change or enhance production. Fish can compete with waterfowl for invertebrate forage in wetlands and harm aquatic macrophytes; biomanipulation (e.g., stocking piscivores) may improve waterfowl habitat quality. Similarly, some terrestrial vertebrates (e.g., beaver (Castor canadensis)) may positively or negatively impact invertebrate communities in waterfowl habitats. Various challenges exist to wetland management for invertebrates for waterfowl, but the lack of data on factors influencing production may be the most limiting.
Analysis of distribution and drug resistance of Shigella spp.about children′s intestinal isolates in Lianxi urburn area

Objective: To investigate the distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility about the Shigella spp.of childrens′ intestinal isolates in Lianxi urburn area to provide important evidence for paediatrics clinical therapy and prevention of bacterialdiarrhea.Methods:The fecal samples of 3078 Children in or out school were cultured and identified.The antimicrobial susceptibility testing were performanced by K-B methods.Results:In 3078 children′s fecal,we isolated 86(2.79%)strains of Shigella spp.about Shigella dysenteride 17 strains(19.8%),Shigella flexneriⅡ 57 strains(66.3%) and Shigella sonneis 12 strains(13.9).For 86 isolates,the resistance percentage of ampicillin,ceftriaxone,imipenem,chloramphenicol,tetracycline,gentamicin,ciprofloxacin,trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was 76.7%,14.0%,0.0%,9.3%,75.6%,37.2%,4.7%,81.4%,respectively.Conclusion:The Shigella spp.is isolated in some childrens′ fecal,the dominated strain is Shigella flexneriⅡ.The third-generation cephalosporin,imipenem and ciprofloxacin are more sensitive antibiotics.
Development of Satellite Service Software Test Platform Based on DAQ and FPGA Module

Design of a satellite service software test platform based on DAQ(Data AcQuisition) and FPGA(Field-Programmable Gate Array) is presented to meet higher and higher requirements of aerospace software for automatic and universal tests.DAQ and FPGA cards of NI(National Instruments) are used in the PXI(PCI eXtensions for Instrumentation) system to facilitate data exchange with satellite software and LabVIEW is used to faclilitate signal analysis and user-friendly interface.It performs well automated dynamic tests and fault simulation tests for series of satellite service software and significantly shortens test cycle and increases test efficiency.Therefore,the platform well meets requirements of modernized tests on aerospace software.
The Pelger-Huët anomaly in three families and its use in determining the disappearance of transfused neutrophils from the peripheral blood.

1. Thirteen cases of Pelger-Huet anomaly occurring in three families are presented and discussed. The second recorded case of the anomaly in Negroes is included; the occurrence of familial hereditary elliptocytosis in this same family and the possible relationship to the Pelger-Huet anomaly are discussed. 2. Certain less well-known facts about Pelger-Huet anomaly are considered in relation to the cases presented. 3. The survival time of transfused neutrophils in the peripheral blood was investigated using the anomaly as a tagging device. Most of the cells were found to be absent from the peripheral blood stream in 6 to 8 hours, and none was found after 49.5 hours.
A statistical polishing pad model for chemical-mechanical polishing

Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) has emerged as a critical technology for advanced integrated circuit fabrication. This paper presents for the first time a physical CMP model that includes the effects of polishing pad roughness and dynamic interaction between pad and wafer. Two new feature-scale polishing mechanisms based on asperity theory are proposed and investigated experimentally. a statistical asperity model is first introduced and applied to characterize surface roughness of polishing pads. The data is then used to calculate pad-wafer contact properties and predict feature-scale polishing rates. CMP experiments suggest that the time-dependent deformation of polishing pads and asperity-device interaction both affect planarization of device features. >
Kinder- und Jugendliteratur im Spannungsfeld zwischen pädagogischer Autorität und literarischer Subversion

In meinem Grundkurs lasse ich die Studienanfanger(innen) jeweils in einer kurzen Notiz eine Lektureerinnerung an ein Kinder- oder Jugendbuch aufschreiben. Einige Beispiele aus den vielen Auserungen, die ich auf diese Weise gesammelt habe, seien hier als Ausgangspunkt fur Uberlegungen genommen, mit denen ich das Problem der Autoritat in der Kinderund Jugendliteratur von der Rezeption her angehen mochte. Ich beginne mit einer Notiz, die ich ohne Angabe des Titels des Buches, um das es geht, abdrucke; ob Sie, liebe Leserin, lieber Leser, erraten, um welches Werk es sich handelt?
Research Performance Support: Connecting Online Graduate Students from the LMS to the Library

ABSTRACTUniversities expand their online graduate programs daily, which challenges academic librarians to maintain research support and information literacy instruction for the growing number of online students. Performance support offers a scalable solution to the problems of limited time and staffing that academic librarians face. When embedded in the learning management system throughout a course or program, performance support provides point of need research help and scaffolds students' information literacy development. Librarians are able to focus their limited time helping students with their more advanced research needs.
Devouring the Hematopoietic Stem Cell: Setting the Table for Marrow Cell Transplantation.

Recent publications by Chhabra et al.1 and Palchaudhuri et al.2 reported two novel approaches to safely opening marrow niches without using toxic alkylating agents or ionizing radiation (Figure 1). These studies in mouse models using clinically relevant reagents achieved high levels of donor cell chimerism with either congenic or allogeneic mismatched donor stem cells. Currently, the only clinical approach for creating marrow space for hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) that achieves significant donor chimerism requires an allogeneic setting and the use of moderate doses of alkylating agents or total body irradiation (TBI).
Structural variation in the maize genome

14 Introduction 15 Results 16 Discussion 25 Methods 30 Acknowledgements 33 References 35 Tables 43 Figures 45 CHAPTER 3. ARRAY COMPARATIVE GENOMIC HYBRIDIZATION (ARRAY-CGH) BASED GENOTYPING FOR 2 LINES OF THE MAIZE INTER-MATED B73 X MO17 (IBM) MAPPING POPULATION. 53 Abstract 53 Introduction 54 Results 56 Discussion 59 Materials and methods 62 Acknowledgements 63 References 64 Tables 67 Figures 67 CHAPTER 4. CHANGES IN GENOME CONTENT GENERATED VIA SEGREGATION OF NONALLELIC HOMOLOGS. 69 Abstract 70 Introduction 70 Results 71 Discussion 74 Materials and methods 76 Acknowledgements 80 References 81 Tables 87 Figures 8870 Introduction 70 Results 71 Discussion 74 Materials and methods 76 Acknowledgements 80 References 81 Tables 87 Figures 88 CHAPTER 5. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS AND PROSPECTS OF POPULATION LEVEL ANALYSES OF STRUCTURAL VARIATION IN ZEA. 93
Accuracy of Cardiovascular Risk Prediction Varies by Neighborhood Socioeconomic Position: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background Inequality in health outcomes in relation to Americans' socioeconomic position is rising. Objective First, to evaluate the spatial relationship between neighborhood disadvantage and major atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD)-related events; second, to evaluate the relative extent to which neighborhood disadvantage and physiologic risk account for neighborhood-level variation in ASCVD event rates. Design Observational cohort analysis of geocoded longitudinal electronic health records. Setting A single academic health center and surrounding neighborhoods in northeastern Ohio. Patients 109 793 patients from the Cleveland Clinic Health System (CCHS) who had an outpatient lipid panel drawn between 2007 and 2010. The date of the first qualifying lipid panel served as the study baseline. Measurements Time from baseline to the first occurrence of a major ASCVD event (myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular death) within 5 years, modeled as a function of a locally derived neighborhood disadvantage index (NDI) and the predicted 5-year ASCVD event rate from the Pooled Cohort Equations Risk Model (PCERM) of the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association. Outcome data were censored if no CCHS encounters occurred for 2 consecutive years or when state death data were no longer available (that is, from 2014 onward). Results The PCERM systematically underpredicted ASCVD event risk among patients from disadvantaged communities. Model discrimination was poorer among these patients (concordance index [C], 0.70 [95% CI, 0.67 to 0.74]) than those from the most affluent communities (C, 0.80 [CI, 0.78 to 0.81]). The NDI alone accounted for 32.0% of census tract-level variation in ASCVD event rates, compared with 10.0% accounted for by the PCERM. Limitations Patients from affluent communities were overrepresented. Outcomes of patients who received treatment for cardiovascular disease at Cleveland Clinic were assumed to be independent of whether the patients came from a disadvantaged or an affluent neighborhood. Conclusion Neighborhood disadvantage may be a powerful regulator of ASCVD event risk. In addition to supplemental risk models and clinical screening criteria, population-based solutions are needed to ameliorate the deleterious effects of neighborhood disadvantage on health outcomes. Primary funding source The Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative of Cleveland and National Institutes of Health.
Investors and Choice Overload: Evidence from IPOs

This paper provides evidence consistent with retail investors experiencing choice overload when presented with an increasing number of IPOs to choose from. We find that both the average first day return and trading volume are lower in weeks with higher number of IPOs. However, with more IPOs, average return during the week following the first day of trading is higher. These findings suggest that proliferation of choices either debilitates or delays investor participation due to cognitive limitations.
The Phenology of Wilderness Use: Backcountry Recreation in a Changing Climate

AbstractPhenology studies are a critical tool for identifying the ways that changing climate affects species and ecosystems. Here, a phenological framework was used to assess the sensitivity of human behavior to temperature and hydroclimate variables that are likely to change as temperatures warm under twenty-first-century climate change. The timing of visitation to wilderness areas of the Sierra Nevada was used as a case study. Visitation timing was assessed using a backcountry permit database and data collected from weblogs or blogs. Mean, earliest, and latest visitation dates were regressed against temperature, streamflow, and snowpack variables: seasonally averaged air temperatures, snow water equivalent (SWE) in spring months, center of timing (CT), and total annual flow. Mean visitation was sensitive to CT, total annual flow, April and May SWE, and spring and summer temperatures, with visitors advancing 0.20–0.28 days for each day advance in CT and 3.7 to 5.7 days for each degree Celsius increase in...
The effect of excited state occupation and phonon broadening in the determination of the non-equilibrium hot-carrier temperature in InGaAsP quantum-well absorbers (Conference Presentation)

Hot carrier solar cells (HCSCs) have been proposed as potential systems to increase the conversion efficiency of single gap solar cells beyond the Shockley-Queisser limit. Despite a great deal of recent progress in HCSCs, designing an effective and efficient hot carrier absorber remains challenging. To evaluate the efficiency of any proposed absorber accurate determination of the carrier temperature is required. This can be non-trivial, particularly in the quantum wells (QW) where state-filling effects can complicate the simple extraction of carrier temperature from photoluminescence (PL) spectra. Specifically, the PL may be distorted if there are other linewidth broadening mechanisms prevalent in addition to non-equilibrium carriers. These may include; in addition to state filling, the effects of phonons and system inhomogeneities, all of which serve to perturb the PL linewidth. In this study, an InGaAsP QW with a type-II band alignment is investigated using continuous wave power and temperature dependent PL to evaluate the effects of broadening on the extraction of the true carrier temperature in the system [1]. Since there is a relatively small energy separation between the ground and first excited state transitions in the QW studied, state filling effects can be controlled and their contribution to the linewidth evaluated, using various conditions and combinations of excitation power and lattice temperature. The role of phonons is also presented, and supported within the framework of a theoretical model that includes the various phononic processes and their temperature dependent contribution to the PL. This work is supported by the National Science Foundation Grant ECCS #1610062 [1] Esmaielpour, Hamidreza, Vincent R. Whiteside, Louise C. Hirst, Joseph G. Tischler, Chase T. Ellis, Matthew P. Lumb, David V. Forbes, Robert J. Walters, and Ian R. Sellers. Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications (2017).
Dual PI3K blockade: PTCL's Achilles heel?

In this issue of Blood, 2 companion articles by Flinn et al1 and Horwitz et al2 present promising phase 1 data demonstrating clinical efficacy of the dual inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-δ and PI3K-γ duvelisib in patients with advanced hematologic malignancies, including T-cell lymphomas (TCLs).
Local Heteroepitaxial Diamond Growth on (100) Silicon

Diamond film has been successfully grown on various substrates in its metastable state (low pressure and low temperature) via the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process1. However, successful epitaxial diamond growth was limited only on diamond substrate (homoepitaxy), which are very costly. The advent of CVD diamond has stimulated great interests in various applications primarily due to the unique combination of electronic, mechanical and optical properties of diamond. Unfortunately, the grain boundaries existing in polycrystalline type diamond film will limit the performancesin electronic devices as well as in optical components2. To overcome this disadvantage, several researchers have attempted for growing textured or oriented diamond on foreign substrates, and each effort has resulted in various degree of success3,4,5. The maturity in silicon technology and the near defect-free quality of silicon material available, together with its carbide (SiC) forming property has made silicon the choice as the substrate material for diamond film growth6. However, as high as 50% lattice mismatch between.Silicon and diamond has lowered the hope of diamond/silicon heteroepitaxy7. In this paper, we are presenting the phenomena of local heteroepitaxial diamond grown on silicon (100) substrates. The in situ pretreatment of the substrate surface prior to the diamond growth, has resulted in an off axis growth of high purity local epitaxial diamond pyramids over various parts of the substrate surface.
The Glomerulosclerosis of Aging in Females: Contribution of the Proinflammatory Mesangial Cell Phenotype to Macrophage Infiltration

Age-associated renal changes may be an important cause of renal failure. We recently found that aged female B6 mice developed progressive glomerular lesions. This was associated with macrophage infiltration, a frequent finding in glomerulosclerosis. We used these mice as a model for studying the mechanisms of glomerular aging. We compared the gene expression profile of intact glomeruli from late postmenopausal (28-month-old) mice to that of intact glomeruli from premenopausal (5-month-old) mice. We found that inflammation-related genes, especially those expressed by activated macrophages, were up-regulated in the glomeruli of 28-month-old mice, a result correlating with the histological observation of glomerular macrophage infiltration. The mechanism for macrophage recruitment could have been stable phenotypic changes in mesangial cells because we found that mesangial cells isolated from 28-month-old mice expressed higher levels of RANTES and VCAM-1 than cells from 5-month-old mice. The elevated serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels present in aged mice may contribute to increased RANTES and VCAM-1 expression in mesangial cells. Furthermore, cells from 28-month-old mice were more sensitive to TNF-α-induced RANTES and VCAM-1 up-regulation. The effect of TNF-α on RANTES expression was mediated by TNF receptor 1. Interestingly, mesangial cells isolated from 28-month-old mice had increased nuclear factor-κB transcriptional activity. Inhibition of nuclear factor-κB activity decreased baseline as well as TNF-α-induced RANTES and VCAM-1 expression in mesangial cells isolated from 28-month-old mice. Thus, phenotypic changes in mesangial cells may predispose them to inflammatory stimuli, such as TNF-α, which would contribute to glomerular macrophage infiltration and inflammatory lesions in aging.
PFault: A General Framework for Analyzing the Reliability of High-Performance Parallel File Systems

High-performance parallel file systems (PFSes) are of prime importance today. However, despite the importance, their reliability is much less studied compared with that of local storage systems, largely due to the lack of an effective analysis methodology. In this paper, we introduce PFault, a general framework for analyzing the failure handling of PFSes. PFault automatically emulates the failure state of each storage device in the target PFS based on a set of well-defined fault models, and enables analyzing the recoverability of the PFS under faults systematically. To demonstrate the practicality, we apply PFault to study Lustre, one of the most widely used PFSes. Our analysis reveals a number of cases where Lustre's checking and repairing utility LFSCK fails with unexpected symptoms (e.g., I/O error, hang, reboot). Moreover, with the help of PFault, we are able to identify a resource leak problem where a portion of Lustre's internal namespace and storage space become unusable even after running LFSCK. On the other hand, we also verify that the latest Lustre has made noticeable improvement in terms of failure handling comparing to a previous version. We hope our study and framework can help improve PFSes for reliable high-performance computing.
An Integrated Health Management System Approach: Application to Shipboard Rotating Machinery

This paper aims to develop an integrated shipboard condition prognostics system that integrates sensing, feature extraction, and particle filtering-based diagnostic and prognostic algorithms with applications to bearing systems. The proposed effort aims to provide effective assessment of the condition of shipboard rotating machinery systems and lower the operation and maintenance (O&M) cost. The proposed work is tested on data of various fault modes, models with multiple interactive faults, and experimental testbed as a whole system. The proposed condition prognostics system is scalable, generic, easy-to-implement, and mathematically rigorous, which can be applied to a variety of Navy applications.
Breaking Spectral and Performance Barriers for Diode Lasers with Material Innovation

From humble beginnings, diode laser technology has evolved to become an invaluable tool for many aspects of our daily lives. Diode lasers exhibit a number of favorable properties which have led to their wide adoption, including compactness, robustness, and mass producibility. Just as important is the ability to engineer the emission wavelength and performance to be suitable for an application of interest. However, accomplishing this often requires significant innovation. A principal illustration of this was the development of 1.3 and 1.55 micron wavelength lasers for telecommunication, which required innovations in InP-based Quantum physics, atomic engineering, and material growth. Other examples include Al-free near infrared lasers for high efficiency solid state laser pumping and the III-Nitride materials for blue/violet laser diodes.
Evaluation of physical parameterizations for atmospheric river induced precipitation and application to long-term reconstruction based on three reanalysis datasets in Western Oregon.

Abstract Dynamically downscaled precipitation is often used for evaluating sub-daily precipitation behavior on a watershed-scale and for the input to hydrological modeling because of its increasing accuracy and spatiotemporal resolution. Despite these advantages, physical parameterizations in regional models and systematic biases due to the dataset used for boundary conditions greatly influence the quality of downscaled precipitation data. The present paper aims to evaluate the performance and the sensitivities of physical parameterizations of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model to simulate extreme precipitation associated with atmospheric rivers (ARs) over the Willamette watershed in Oregon. Also investigated was whether the optimized WRF configuration for extreme events can be used for long-term reconstruction using different boundary condition datasets. Three reanalysis datasets, the Twentieth Century Reanalysis version 2c (20CRv2c), the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) twentieth century reanalysis (ERA20C), and the Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR), which have different spatial resolutions and dataset periods, were used to simulate precipitation at 4 km resolution. Sensitivity analyses showed that AR precipitation is most sensitive to the microphysics parameterization. Among 13 microphysics schemes investigated, the Goddard and the Stony-Brook University schemes performed the best regardless of the choice of reanalysis. Reconstructed historical precipitation with the optimized configuration showed better accuracies during the wet season than the dry season. With respect to simulations with CFSR, it was found that the optimized configuration for AR precipitation can be used for long-term reconstruction with small biases. However, systematic biases in the reanalysis datasets may still lead to uncertainties in downscaling precipitation in a different season with a single configuration.
Taking Stock of Flow: Revisiting the Link between FDI and Human Rights

Research suggests a positive link between foreign direct investment (FDI) and human rights. In this study, we revisit this relationship and find that FDI does not produce significant improvements in human rights conditions. Both flow and stock measures of FDI are negatively associated with human rights ratings, with the negative effect of stock being notably larger. We discuss complications associated with the use of flow measures in panel estimation and argue that stock measures represent what scholars more likely have in mind when estimating the longitudinal effect of foreign capital. We then show that stock9s negative effect is robust to several methodological concerns, including denominator effects in the foreign investment rate, information effects in the dependent variable, endogeneity in the FDI–human rights relationship, and the removal of wealthy countries and influential observations from our models. Finally, we find that stock9s negative effect is significantly smaller in democratic regimes. Overall, the results suggest that foreign capital does not improve human rights conditions, and it may prove detrimental, especially in authoritarian states.
Chapter 4.3 Application of protein engineering to enhance crystallizability and improve crystal properties

Until recently, protein crystallization has mostly been regarded as a stochastic event over which the investigator has little or no control. With the dramatic technological advances in synchrotron-radiation sources and detectors and the equally impressive progress in crystallographic software, including automated model building and validation, crystallization has increasingly become the rate-limiting step in X-ray diffraction studies of macromolecules. However, with the advent of recombinant methods it has also become possible to engineer target proteins and their complexes for higher propensity to form crystals with desirable X-ray diffraction qualities. As most proteins that are under investigation today are obtained by heterologous overexpression, these techniques hold the promise of becoming routine tools with the potential to transform classical crystallization screening into a more rational high-success-rate approach. This chapter presents an overview of protein-engineering methods designed to enhance crystallizability and discusses a number of examples of their successful application. Keywords: protein engineering; protein crystallization; fusion proteins; crystallization chaperones; post-translational modifications; surface-entropy reduction
Filtrage adaptatif à complexité réduite

Dans un systeme de transmission de donnees sur voie telephonique, les distorsions lineaires peuvent etre compensees par un egaliseur qui est souvent realise a l’aide d’un filtre transversal numerique adaptatif. Cet article presente un algorithme heuristique permettant la reduction de la complexite du calcul dans un filtre adaptatif sans diminuer les performances du recepteur. Le fonctionnement du systeme a ete simule et les resultats de cette simulation sont presentes. In a data transmission over a telephone channel, linear distorsions may be compensated with an equalizer. This system is quite often implemented with a digital adaptive transversal filter. An heuristic algorithm is presented in the paper, this algorithm allows the reduction of computation complexity in an adaptive filter without decreasing the receiver performances. The operation of a system using this algorithm has been simulated and the results of the simulation are presented.
Soft manipulators with programmable motion using twisted-and-coiled actuators (Conference Presentation)

A robot capable of shape morphing, to change its configuration without modifying design, can adapt to environments better than a robot with only a fixed configuration. We propose a three-dimensional shape-morphing link that can achieve complex three-dimensional shapes by embedding a variable-stiffness element and multiple twisted-and-coiled actuators (TCA) into a soft elastomer. The TCA, with intrinsic softness, can be driven by electricity and generate forces 100 times larger than a human muscle of the same weight and length. In order to achieve a decoupled actuation of each TCA, the structure of the soft elastomer body is designed to isolate heat from other TCAs in the same body. By feeding back the position of markers on the shape-morphing link, we can precisely control the shape of the link. We demonstrate that a spatial mechanism consists of one or more these links can morph to a variety of configurations thus allowing for different functions. We envision that the proposed morphing link will have a wide range of applications in robotics locomotion mechanisms such as flying wings, walking legs, and swimming fins.
Short-Term Risk Factor Profile of Pediatric Choanal Atresia Repair Using ACS-NSQIP National Database.

OBJECTIVES The goal of this study is to describe the 30-day postoperative sequelae of pediatric choanal atresia repair and identify predictive factors for adverse events. STUDY DESIGN The American College of Surgeons' National Surgery Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric (NSQIP-P) database was searched between January 2012 and December 2015 to identify pediatric patients status post choanal atresia repair. Postoperative outcomes included surgical site complications, readmissions, and total length of stay. RESULTS A total of 178 children underwent choanal atresia repair. The overall complication rate was 6.2%, while the 30-day readmission rate was 15%. Patients with CHARGE had a longer mean duration of hospitalization (26.91 days vs 8.05 days, P = .013). Additionally, patients ≤10 days of age had longer duration of hospitalization (17.84 days vs 9.24 days, P ≤ .001) and higher readmission rates (33.30% vs 10.1%, P = .001). Among the nonsyndromic cohort, ventilator dependence was a predictor of postoperative complications (odds ratio [OR] = 16.08, P < .001), higher readmission rates (OR = 5.46, P = .002), and a longer hospital stay (OR = 18.69, P < .001). CONCLUSION Analysis of the 2012-2015 NSQIP-P data set reveals that patients with a diagnosis of CHARGE and those ≤10 days of age have a longer duration of hospitalization. Increased risk of postoperative complications and longer duration of hospitalization were both influenced by chronic steroid use and ventilator dependence.
Evaluation of Technology Concepts for Traffic data Management and Relevant audio for Datalink in Commercial Airline Flight Decks

Datalink is currently operational for departure clearances and in oceanic environments and is currently being tested in high altitude domestic enroute airspace. Interaction with even simple datalink clearances may create more workload for flight crews than the voice system they replace if not carefully designed. Datalink may also introduce additional complexity for flight crews with hundreds of uplink messages now defined for use. Finally, flight crews may lose airspace awareness and operationally relevant information that they normally pickup from Air Traffic Control (ATC) voice communications with other aircraft (i.e., "party-line" transmissions). Once again, automation may be poised to increase workload on the flight deck for incremental benefit. Datalink implementation to support future air traffic management concepts needs to be carefully considered, understanding human communication norms and especially, the change from voice- to text-based communications modality and its effect on pilot workload and situation awareness.Increasingly autonomous systems, where autonomy is designed to support human-autonomy teaming, may be suited to solve these issues. NASA is conducting research and development of increasingly autonomous systems, utilizing machine-learning algorithms seamlessly integrated with humans whereby task performance of the combined system is significantly greater than the individual components. Increasingly autonomous systems offer the potential for significantly improved levels of performance and safety that are superior to either human or automation alone.Two increasingly autonomous systems concepts - a traffic data manager and a conversational co-pilot -were developed to intelligently address the datalink issues in a complex, future state environment with significant levels of traffic. The system was tested for suitability of datalink usage for terminal airspace. The traffic data manager allowed for automated declutter of the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) display. The system determined relevant traffic for display based on machine learning algorithms trained by experienced human pilot behaviors. The conversational co-pilot provided relevant audio air traffic control messages based on context and proximity to ownship. Both systems made use of the connected aircraft concepts to provide intelligent context to determine relevancy above and beyond proximity to ownship.A human-in-the-loop test was conducted in NASA Langley Research Center’s Integration Flight Deck B-737-800 simulator to evaluate the traffic data manager and the conversational co-pilot. Twelve airline crews flew various normal and non-normal procedures and their actions and performance were recorded in response to the procedural events. This paper details the flight crew performance and evaluation during the events.