cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Two new ArrayTrack libraries for personalized biomedical research

Recent advances in high-throughput genotyping technology are paving the way for research in personalized medicine and nutrition. However, most of the genetic markers identified from association studies account for a small contribution to the total risk/benefit of the studied phenotypic trait. Testing whether the candidate genes identified by association studies are causal is critically important to the development of personalized medicine and nutrition. An efficient data mining strategy and a set of sophisticated tools are necessary to help better understand and utilize the findings from genetic association studies. SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) and QTL (quantitative trait locus) libraries were constructed and incorporated into ArrayTrack, with user-friendly interfaces and powerful search features. Data from several public repositories were collected in the SNP and QTL libraries and connected to other domain libraries (genes, proteins, metabolites, and pathways) in ArrayTrack. Linking the data sets within ArrayTrack allows searching of SNP and QTL data as well as their relationships to other biological molecules. The SNP library includes approximately 15 million human SNPs and their annotations, while the QTL library contains publically available QTLs identified in mouse, rat, and human. The QTL library was developed for finding the overlap between the map position of a candidate or metabolic gene and QTLs from these species. Two use cases were included to demonstrate the utility of these tools. The SNP and QTL libraries are freely available to the public through ArrayTrack at http://www.fda.gov/ArrayTrack . These libraries developed in ArrayTrack contain comprehensive information on SNPs and QTLs and are further cross-linked to other libraries. Connecting domain specific knowledge is a cornerstone of systems biology strategies and allows for a better understanding of the genetic and biological context of the findings from genetic association studies.
An environment for automatic system performance evaluation

A wide range of modeling and simulation packages have been applied to evaluate manufacturing systems, computer systems, and telecommunication networks. The objective of using simulation is to assess system designs prior to their implementation. In this paper, a modeling and simulation environment supported by a hierarchical, model-based management methodology is presented. This environment allows users to efficiently construct system models and procedures for performance evaluation without requiring prior knowledge of the simulation description language. The environment, called Performance index-Oriented modeling and Simulation Environment (POSE), provides hierarchical function manipulation based on the partition of the system's architecture. A window-based graphical front-end has been developed to offer a simple and straightforward user interface. Through POSE, the model and simulation development time has been significant reduced. An example of a manufacturing system is presented to illustrate POSE.
Non-contiguous finished genome sequence of Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale strain H06-030791

The Gram-negative, pleomorphic, rod-shaped bacterium Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale is a cause of pneumonia and airsacculitis in poultry. It is a member of the family Flavobacteriaceae of the phylum “Bacteroidetes”. O. rhinotracheale strain H06-030791 was isolated from the lung of a turkey in North Carolina in 2006. Its genome consists of a circular chromosome of 2,319,034 bp in length with a total of 2243 protein-coding genes and nine RNA genes. Genome sequences are available for two additional strains of O. rhinotracheale, isolated in 1988 and 1995, the latter described in a companion genome report in this issue of SIGS. The genome sequence of O. rhinotracheale strain H06-030791, a more contemporary isolate, will be of value in establishing core and pan-genomes for O. rhinotracheale and elucidating its evolutionary history.
Studies on the role of routes of allergen exposure in high IgE‐producing beagle dogs sensitized to house dust mites

The current study aimed to investigate the role played by oral, epicutaneous, and inhalation routes of exposure to house dust mites (HDM). The colony of high IgE-producing beagle dogs has been shown to develop pruritic dermatitis compatible with atopic dermatitis following environmental exposure (EE) to HDM. In crossover experiments, the response to EE was compared to two modified challenges, oral exposure (OE) and snood and muzzle exposure (SME). For OE, HDM were fed daily for 3 days. For SME, ingestion of allergen was prevented but there was inhalation and epicutaneous exposure to all body regions except to one ear. In all experiments, dogs were challenged for three consecutive days, and evaluated before, 6 h after exposure and daily thereafter, for 5 days. After a wash-out period, groups were crossed-over so that each dog was randomly challenged to all three protocols. Clinical scores were analysed using least squares analysis of variance. All dogs developed pruritic dermatitis regardless of the protocol. With OE, lesions developed in the same body regions as with EE although scores were lower. This difference became more evident after the first 3 days when OE scores decreased and EE scores continued to increase. The scores of covered and uncovered ears did not differ with SME. Scores for the remainder of the body were significantly lower than for EE. The development of lesions on covered ears supports the importance of inhalation or a systemic reaction to epicutaneous exposure in other areas. It is concluded that all routes are important and have additive effects, that route of exposure does not determine the distribution of lesions and that continuous epicutaneous exposure probably plays the most important role.
THE PRIVATIZATION OF COMMERCIAL AIRPORTS IN THE UNITED STATES: WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION PRIVATIZATION PROGRAM, AND WHAT MIGHT BE MORE SUCCESSFUL?

This article summarizes current discussion regarding the privatization of U.S. airports in general and the Federal Aviation Administration airport privatization pilot program in particular. The lack of success of this program is analyzed in terms of general airline opposition to privatization and the inherent advantages to the airlines of the current airport financial system. Those advantages are primarily (a) the historic cost method of calculating landing fees and (b) the subsidization of the capital improvement program. Reference is made to other airport financial systems that may be more successful, such as the management of Indianapolis Airport by the British Airport Authority U.S., Inc.
What is the expectation maximization algorithm

The expectation maximization algorithm arises in many computational biology applications that involve probabilistic models. What is it good for, and how does it work?
A Comparison of Three Strategies to Reduce Student Procrastination in PSI

Student procrastination in one the most serious drawbacks of self-paced learning. Our study investigated the effectiveness of three types of course contingencies (contracting, doomsday, and doomsday with tokens) designed to reduce student procrastination in a personalized system of instruction (PSI) course. Students participants (N = 610). Student progress was fastest, p < .001, and course completion was most likely, p <.01, in the contracting condition, which was also the most costly in terms of administrative effort.
Emergence of strain-rate sensitivity in Cu nanopillars: Transition from dislocation multiplication to dislocation nucleation

We demonstrate strain-rate sensitivity emerging in single-crystalline Cu nanopillars with diameters ranging from 75 up to 500 nm through uniaxial deformation experiments performed at different constant strain rates. In the range of pillar diameters and strain rates tested, we find that the size dependence of the pillar strength deviates from the ubiquitously observed power law to a relatively sizeindependent flow strength, markedly below the predicted theoretical strength for strain rates slower than 10 � 1 s � 1 . We find this transition diameter, Dt, to be a function of strain rate, where faster strain rates shift the transition diameter to smaller pillar diameters: Dt � 150 nm at 10 � 3 s � 1 and Dt � 675 nm at 10 � 1 s � 1 . We compute the activation volumes, X, as a function of pillar diameter at each strain rate and find that for pillar diameters below Dt, the activation volumes are relatively small, X <1 0b 3 . This range agrees favorably with atomistic simulations for dislocation nucleation from a free surface. We postulate a plasticity mechanism transition from dislocation multiplication via the operation of truncated dislocation sources, also referred to as single-arm sources, in pillars with diameters greater than Dt to dislocation nucleation from the surface in the smaller samples.
Blazing the Way: Developing and Implementing a Burn Simulation

Approximately 40,000 burn victims require hospitalization at more than 5,000 hospitals in the United States each year (Carter, Neff, & Holmes, 2010). According to the American Burn Association (ABA), there are only 125 burn facilities in the United States; most burn patients are being evaluated and treated at hospitals where staff may not be trained to care for this type of patient. There is a need to train health care providers at facilities without burn centers to care for these patients, who require specialized care. The ABA has set criteria for determining when patients need to be transferred to a facility with a burn center. To date, there are no set criteria for caring for these patients prior to transfer to a burn center or for providing preliminary care for those who do not meet transfer criteria. There may be differences of opinion over which resuscitation formula to use, when to change fluid types, what type of dressings to use, and other specifics of care for burn patients. Fortunately, there is no argument that this type of patient requires rapid assessment and treatment. Early management is essential to reduce patient mortality and morbidity (Williams, 2009). The management of the burn patient at a facility that has a low frequency of this type of injury may not provide the patient with the care needed to maximize long-term outcomes. Nurses and physicians not routinely exposed to low-volume, high-risk burn patients can easily become overwhelmed with the care of a complex burn patient. It is essential that these burn patients receive initial care that will not harm them or hinder the care they may require at a burn center. Proper burn care, including assessment by referringhospital providers, can have a profound impact on burn patients’ outcomes (Freilburg, Igneri, Sartorelli, & Rogers, 2007). Airway, breathing, and circulation must be
Transparent concurrent execution of mutually exclusive alternatives

The task of concurrently computing alternative solutions to a problem where only one of the solutions is needed is examined. In this case the rule for selecting between the solutions is faster first, where the first successful alternative is selected. For problems where the required execution time is unpredictable, this method shows substantial execution time performance increases over other methods. In order to test the utility of the design, it is used for two application areas: distributed execution of recovery blocks and OR-parallelism in Prolog. The authors present: (1) a model for selection of alternatives in a sequential setting: (2) a transformation that allows alternatives to execute concurrently; (3) a description of the semantics-preservation mechanism; and (4) parameterization of where the performance improvements can be expected. Additionally, examples of application areas for the method are given. >
Find It, Fix It, and Thrive: The Impact of Insisting on Proficiency in Prerequisite Knowledge in Intermediate Accounting

ABSTRACT: Success in upper-level accounting courses depends on adequate prerequisite knowledge because the learning process is sequential and hierarchical (Bentz 1975) and because prior learning pr...
A clinical trial of wound closure by constant tension approximation

Background Wounds that heal slowly may pass through a subacute phase and proceed to reach a chronic situation. The latter may heal slowly, if at all. These wounds often heal by secondary intention with a single layer of epithelium that has a tendency to break down. Methods that expedite healing by full-thickness skin usually involve operative procedures. A nonoperative method of achieving coverage of tardy wounds with fullthickness skin, partial or complete depending on the wound, would be valuable. Patients and methods A device has been designed that approximates the wound margins by applying constant low-grade tension over a period of days or weeks. One or more devices have been applied to the wounds of 25 patients to date. results: Healing has been obtained in those patients (20) where the devices were used optimally. In 5 patients, optimal use was not possible, mostly for socioeconomic reasons; the latter included noncompliance, insurance problems, economic difficulties, and personal considerations. In these 5 cases, healing was obtained in the 3 that were available for follow-up, full-thickness skin coverage being estimated by grid photography to be in the 80% to 90% range. One patient was lost to follow-up after the wound was 95% covered by full-thickness skin. One patient whose wound reduced in size declined further treatment after 12 days of treatment. conclusions: It appears that when constant-tension, low-grade force is applied to subacute and chronic wounds, healing is accelerated and, depending on the wound, a considerable number of ulcers can be closed by full-thickness skin.
Effect of pre-procedural interrupted apixaban on heparin anticoagulation during catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: a prospective observational study

Effective intraprocedural anticoagulation is considered essential to minimize the risk of thromboembolism in catheter ablation (CA) of atrial fibrillation (AF). The effect of interrupted apixaban on intraprocedural heparin dosing requirements and levels of achieved anticoagulation with heparin has not been well studied. The purpose of the present study was to compare heparin administration and activated clotted times (ACTs) for patients undergoing CA for AF treated with interrupted apixaban before the procedure with patients on uninterrupted warfarin. Consecutive patients undergoing CA for AF treated with interrupted apixaban or uninterrupted warfarin were prospectively enrolled. Heparin administration determined by a standard protocol and normalized to patient weight and procedure duration, as well as rapidity, and degree of anticoagulation with heparin (as measured by mean ACT, peak ACT, time to ACT ≥300 s, and time to ACT ≥350 s) were compared between the groups. Forty-eight patients were enrolled (25 apixaban and 23 warfarin). Heparin administered by bolus (51.3 ± 21.5 vs 27.8 ± 9.6 units/kg/h; p < 0.001) and mean heparin drip rate (25.3 ± 3.6 vs 20.7 ± 2.4 units/kg/h; p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the apixaban group compared to the warfarin group. Despite greater heparin administration, apixaban patients achieved a significantly lower mean ACT (332.3 ± 17.0 vs 384.5 ± 53.9; p < 0.001) and peak ACT (369.5 ± 22.6 vs 432.3 ± 75.8, p < 0.001) compared to the warfarin group. The time to ACT ≥350 s (66.7 ± 35.8 vs 26.9 ± 34.0; p < 0.001) was significantly longer for apixaban-treated patients. Outcome differences persisted after analysis using linear models and Cox proportional hazard regression with adjustment for propensity scores. A standard intraprocedural heparin protocol results in delayed and lower levels of anticoagulation as measured by the ACT for interrupted apixaban-treated patients in comparison to those on uninterrupted warfarin during CA of AF.
A comparative analysis of angiogenesis between male and female breast cancers

21101 Background: Tumor angiogenesis and vascularization are essential for the growth and metastasis of tumors. VEGF-C expression and peritumoral lymphocyte density (PLD) are markers of angiogenesi...
Fatigue Performance of Powder Metallurgy (PM) Ti-6Al-4V Alloy: A Critical Analysis of Current Fatigue Data and Metallurgical Approaches for Improving Fatigue Strength

A comprehensive assessment of fatigue performance of powder metallurgy (PM) Ti-6Al-4V alloy, manufactured using various powder-based processing approaches to-date, is performed in this work. The focus is on PM processes that use either blended element (BE) or pre-alloyed (PA) powder as feedstock. Porosity and the microstructure condition have been found to be the two most dominant material variables that control the fatigue strength. The evaluation reveals that the fatigue performance of PM Ti-6Al-4V, in the as-sintered state, is far lower than that in the wrought condition. This is largely caused by residual porosity, even if it is present in small amounts, or, by the coarse lamellar colony microstructure. The fatigue strength is significantly improved by the closure of pores, and it approaches the levels of wrought Ti-6Al-4V alloys, after hot-isostatic-pressing (HIPing). Further thermo-mechanical and heat treatments lead to additional increases in fatigue strength–in one case, a high fatigue strength level, exceeding that of the mill-annealed condition, was achieved. The work identifies the powder, process and microstructure improvements that are necessary for achieving high fatigue strength in powder metallurgical Ti-6Al-4V alloys in order for them to effectively compete with wrought forms. The present findings, gathered from the traditional titanium powder metallurgy, are also directly applicable to additively manufactured titanium, because of the similarities in pores, defects, and microstructures between the two manufacturing processes.
Misadventures in Election Forensics: A Note on Choquette & Johnson 2012

Choquette and Johnson’s “2008/2012 Election Anomalies, Results, Analysis and Concerns” purports to have uncovered an anomaly that “helped…Mitt Romney win the Republican nomination in 2012 and John McCain gain votes against Barack Obama in 2008.” Specifically, they cite the positive correlation, at the precinct level, between votes cast and Romney (or McCain) vote share. Their conclusions are unsupported: (1) They offer no theory supporting their assumption that the correlation should be zero in the absence of fraud, and therefore no reason to treat a positive correlation as suspicious. (2) Although they assert that the positive correlation is anomalous, it appears in other primary and general elections — including at least one (the 2008 Minnesota contest for U.S. Senate) in which an exhaustive hand recount rebuts any inference of massive fraud. (3) Their method for estimating the true vote counts often yields implausible results, providing further evidence that their assumption is false. (4) Their theory of how fraud created the positive correlation is poorly developed, and is contradicted by evidence. An addendum briefly discusses the controversy about the 2014 Kansas general election, and comments on the 2015 Kentucky general election.
Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Characterization of DNA Wrapping in Closed and Open Escherichia coli RNA Polymerase-λP(R) Promoter Complexes.

Initial recognition of promoter DNA by RNA polymerase (RNAP) is proposed to trigger a series of conformational changes beginning with bending and wrapping of the 40-50 bp of DNA immediately upstream of the -35 region. Kinetic studies demonstrated that the presence of upstream DNA facilitates bending and entry of the downstream duplex (to +20) into the active site cleft to form an advanced closed complex (CC), prior to melting of ∼13 bp (-11 to +2), including the transcription start site (+1). Atomic force microscopy and footprinting revealed that the stable open complex (OC) is also highly wrapped (-60 to +20). To test the proposed bent-wrapped model of duplex DNA in an advanced RNAP-λP(R) CC and compare wrapping in the CC and OC, we use fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between cyanine dyes at far-upstream (-100) and downstream (+14) positions of promoter DNA. Similarly large intrinsic FRET efficiencies are observed for the CC (0.30 ± 0.07) and the OC (0.32 ± 0.11) for both probe orientations. Fluorescence enhancements at +14 are observed in the single-dye-labeled CC and OC. These results demonstrate that upstream DNA is extensively wrapped and the start site region is bent into the cleft in the advanced CC, reducing the distance between positions -100 and +14 on promoter DNA from >300 to <100 A. The proximity of upstream DNA to the downstream cleft in the advanced CC is consistent with the proposed mechanism for facilitation of OC formation by upstream DNA.
Abstract 1653: Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein ser157 and ser239 are antimetastatic targets in colon cancer

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Colorectal cancer is the third deadly cancer worldwide. Patient mortality is largely the result of metastatic disease progression, in which tumor cells undergo dramatic morphological changes characterized by the formation of membrane protrusive structures mediating invasion (lamellipodia, filopodia, invadopodia). These events are driven by the activity of actin-regulatory proteins, including the vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP), which reorganize the actin cytoskeleton to promote cell migration and invasion. In colon cancer, cAMP- and cGMP-dependent VASP phosphorylation at Ser157 (pVASP-Ser157) and Ser239 (pVASP-Ser239) represent opposing molecular switches, which regulate the invasive cell shape. Here, pVASP-Ser157 and pVASP-Ser239 differentially affected the metastatic potential of colon cancer cells, including tumor proliferation, colony formation, migration, adhesion and metastasis in vivo. Investigations employed intestinal cancer cells, human tumor cells expressing serine phosphoresistant VASP mutants, cGMP or cAMP analogs, agonists selectively elevating intracellular cGMP or cAMP levels, and orthotopic mouse models of colorectal cancer. Collectively, results demonstrated pVASP-Ser239 suppresses, while pVASP-Ser157 promoted, the metastatic phenotype of colon cancer cells. Thus, differential VASP serine phosphorylation is a novel targeted strategy to prevent colon cancer metastasis. Clinical translation of these findings may provide original therapeutic interventions to reduce mortality in patients with colon cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1653. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1653
Morphology of intracellular structures in host tissues infected by rust fungi

Selon le stade de developpement du Champignon, il presente differents modes de colonisation de l'hote: il peut etre du type extracellulaire strict, haustorial ou purement intracellulaire. Les struc...
Characterization of Excited State Etheno-Fad: A Probe of the Role of Adenine in DNA Photolyase

Using femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, we have characterized flavin 1,N6 - ethenoadenine dinucleotide (e-FAD), an analog of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), to understand the role of adenine in the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) reaction between reduced FAD (∗FADH-) and thymine dimers during its repair in DNA photolyase. The adenine in FAD may serve as a virtual or real intermediate in the PET reaction. e-FAD was used to modify the driving force between the adenine and its partners, providing data on parameters and processes that dictate the kinetics and pathways of electron transport. The neutral oxidized and the fully reduced anionic states of e-FAD, FAD, and flavin mononucleotide (FMN) in free solution exhibited multi-exponential decay kinetics that reflect their excited state quenching pathways and possible conformational heterogeneity. Generally, the introduction of the e-Ade group leads to much faster excited state decay in the reduced state. To investigate this further, the evolution of the excited state was probed in the visible, near-UV, and UVB spectral regions to determine whether PET was responsible for the short-lived excited state. The significance of these results to the role of the FAD adenine in DNA photolyase are discussed.
Attractants for synanthropic flies: attractant-toxicant formulations, their potency against a Hippelates eye gnat.

Dichlorvos, naled, trichlorfon and Isolan® (1-isopropyl-3-methylpyrazolyl-5-dimethylcarbamate), when incorporated into a protein-base attractant, produced good kill and knockdown of an eye gnat, Hippelates collusor (Townsend). The first three, when added at high concentrations to Lursect,™ attracted fewer eye gnats, but Isolan showed good activity at all concentrations employed. Acetone, ethyl ether, methyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol, used as solvents for toxicant impregnation, reduced initial attractiveness. Decline in attractancy was greater when solvents were employed that impregnated higher concentrations of the toxicants. Duration of activity of attractant formulations in the field was directly proportional to the concentration of the attractant. Activity under field exposure lasted for 3–4 days when dichlorvos was used at 0.5–2.0% concn. Naled at 0.5 and 1.0% in the formulation showed little activity 3 days postexposure, but at 2% showed higher activity. Dichlorvos (2%) employed as resin regrinds imparted higher activity to the formulation, being active beyond the 48-h exposure period.
63 ENDOTHELIAL FUNCTION IN NONALCOHOLIC STEATOHEPATITIS.

Background Endothelial vascular function, an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, is impaired by insulin resistance. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is associated with insulin resistance. However, the effect of NASH on endothelial function, either direct or via insulin resistance, is unknown. Hypothesis NASH impairs endothelial function either directly or as a consequence of insulin resistance (IR). To test this hypothesis, we assessed endothelial function as well as insulin sensitivity in subjects with biopsy-proven NASH and BMI-matched controls. Materials and Methods We studied four biopsy-proven NASH and four control subjects matched for age, gender, and BMI. We assessed lipid parameters by standard procedures and insulin sensitivity using the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp technique. We determined endothelial vascular function by measuring changes in leg blood flow (LBF) in response to graded intrafemoral arterial infusion of the endothelium dependent vasodilator methacholine (MCh). Results are expressed as mean ± SEM in NASH vs controls and compared using an unpaired t -test. Results Total cholesterol was 224 ± 36 vs 177 ± 42 mg/dL NASH and controls, respectively ( p = .05). LDL cholesterol was 151 ± 30 and 103 ± 29 mg/dL NASH and controls, respectively ( p = .05). Triglyceride and HDL cholesterol levels did not differ between groups. Glucose disposal rates (insulin sensitivity) were 3.9 ± 1.3 and 6.2 ± 1.9 mg/kg/min NASH and controls, respectively ( p = ns). Maximal increments in LBF in response to intra-arterial Mch, expressed as a percentage of baseline, were 34 ± 17 vs 193 ± 58% in NASH and controls, respectively ( p = .05). Conclusions NASH is associated with endothelial dysfunction over and above that associated with the obesity of NASH. Whether the endothelial dysfunction is attributable to the elevated LDL cholesterol levels, the differences in insulin sensitivity, or the intrinsic process of NASH itself requires further work and investigation.
The Richness Available Within Medication Management

PROBLEM An 18-year-old male patient comes in for an initial evaluation of his anxiety. His anxiety is not in remission on his current medication, and he is experiencing tics when his anxiety escalates. METHODS Time and patience are used to complete a comprehensive evaluation of the patient by interviewing him, gathering collateral information from a family member, utilizing a screening tool, reviewing past history and treatment regimens, and conceptualizing the patient. FINDINGS A thorough interview and assessment reveals a rich history of possible antecedents to the anxiety of the patient. CONCLUSION In order to make a thorough biopsychosocial assessment, the practitioner needs to approach the patient with a genuine interest. By utilizing time and patience, the practitioner has a greater opportunity to gather pertinent information for comprehensive recommendations. Underlying issues contributing to the patient's anxiety may be alleviated through nonpharmacologic management in addition to medication.
γδ T Cells in Cancer

The field of cancer immunology and immune therapy has been an important focus of basic and clinical research since early discoveries of tumor antigens and adoptive immunity (Disis et al. 2009; Dougan and Dranoff 2009a, b). As techniques developed that allowed researchers to distinguish various lymphocyte subsets, more ­specific strategies began to develop, and included such therapies as IL-2 stimulation of autologous lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells from peripheral blood and ex vivo culture and activation of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL). Most of these studies focused on natural killer (NK) cells or cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) as the primary mediators of antitumor immunity (Yannelli et al. 1996; Bloom et al. 1997; Fleischhauer et al. 1997; Kawakami et al. 1998; Kim et al. 1998; Dudley et al. 1999; Mateo et al. 1999; Colella et al. 2000) and although notable successes have been achieved, most CTL- or NK-based immunotherapeutic strategies have ­delivered mixed results. The contribution of γδ T cells, a minor T cell subset with distinct innate immune recognition properties, has not been explored until recently.
Progressive Recovery from Failure in Multi-layered Interdependent Network Using a New Model of Interdependency

A number of models have been proposed to analyze interdependent networks in recent years. However most of the models are unable to capture the complex interdependencies between such networks. To overcome the limitations, we have recently proposed a new model. Utilizing this model, we provide techniques for progressive recovery from failure. The goal of the progressive recovery problem is to maximize the system utility over the entire duration of the recovery process. We show that the problem can be solved in polynomial time in some special cases, whereas for some others, the problem is NP-complete. We provide two approximation algorithms with performance bounds of 2 and 4 respectively. We provide an optimal solution utilizing Integer Linear Programming and a heuristic. We evaluate the efficacy of our heuristic with both synthetic and real data collected from Phoenix metropolitan area. The experiments show that our heuristic almost always produces near optimal solution.
Acute cerebellar syndrome, conjunctivitis, and hearing loss associated with low-dose cytarabine administration

An unusual reaction associated with chronic low-dose cytarabine is described. A 77-year-old man complained of three to four weeks of hearing loss and progressive inability to walk without assistance. He had received two courses of cytarabine 100 mg sc/wk for the management of myelofibrosis myeloid metaplasia over 21 months. He received a total of 3 g over seven months during his first course followed ten months later with a 1.2 g over four months. Conjunctivitis was also identified on physical examination at the time of his admission. He was admitted to the neurology service where a complete neurological work-up with consultations from the ophthalmology, audiology, hematology, and ear, nose, and throat services failed to identify a cause of his symptoms. Cytarabine was discontinued on the suspicion that his symptoms were drug induced. The conjunctivitis resolved completely with ophthalmic antibiotics and corticosteroids. His hearing slowly improved over three to four weeks, and he was able to ambulate with a walker. He continued to improve at home although some hearing loss remained three months after his initial presentation. Although conjunctivitis and neurotoxicity are well-known complications of high-dose cytarabine, there are no prior reports of these reactions after low-dose therapy. Hearing loss, which has not been previously reported with cytarabine alone, appears to be a new complication of cytarabine administration.
Multiobjective $H_{\infty }$ Control for String Stability of Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control Systems

Autonomous vehicle following systems are playing a decisive role to increase vehicle density on roads by shortening intervehicle time gaps. However, disturbance attenuation along a platoon of vehicles, i.e., string stability, is being a challenging task while time gap is getting shorter. In order to guarantee the string stability of a vehicle platoon, a multiobjective $H_{\infty }$ control formulation for adaptive cruise control and cooperative adaptive cruise control structures has been investigated in this paper. The proposed control method solves an optimization problem and achieves a controller that is able to provide not only the system stability, but also the string stability as distinct from the traditional $H_{\infty }$ control.
Experimental modeling of horizontal and vertical wave forces on an elevated coastal structure

Abstract A large-scale physical model was created in Oregon State University's Large Wave Flume to collect an extensive dataset measuring wave-induced horizontal and vertical forces on an idealized coastal structure. Water depth was held constant while wave conditions included regular, irregular, and transient (tsunami-like) waves with different significant wave heights and peak periods for each test. The elevation of the base of the test specimen with respect to the stillwater depth (air gap) was also varied from at-grade to 0.28 m above the stillwater level to better understand the effects of raising or lowering a nearshore structure on increasing or decreasing the horizontal and vertical wave forces. Results indicate that while both horizontal and vertical forces tend to increase with increasing significant wave height, the maximum and top 0.4% of forces increased disproportionally to other characteristic values such as the mean or top 10%. As expected, the horizontal force increased as the test specimen was more deeply submerged and decreased as the structure was elevated to larger air gaps above the stillwater level. However, this trend was not true for the vertical force, which was maximized when the elevation of the base of the structure was equal to the elevation of the stillwater depth. Small wave heights were characterized by low horizontal to vertical force ratios, highlighting the importance of considering vertical wave forces in addition to horizontal wave forces in the design of coastal structures. The findings and data presented here may be used by city planners, engineers, and numerical modelers, for future analyses, informed coastal design, and numerical benchmarking to work toward enabling more resilient nearcoast structures.
Towards Sustainable Small Hydro Power Development in Himachal Pradesh, India

Long considered to be a non-polluting and renewable energy source, small hydroelectric power (SHP) has been promoted as an alternative approach to electrical energy production in India. In recent years the government has opened up the SHP sector to private investors, offering tax breaks and other incentives to stimulate development. Such accelerated expansion has come at a cost. In many cases development has proceeded with inadequate feasibility analysis and with a lack of consideration of the risk factors and environmental, social and economic impacts. This paper explores sustainable SHP development in India, focusing on the state of Himachal Pradesh (HP). Using publically available state government data, as well as web-based and academic literature sources, the paper presents multiple perspectives on sustainable SHP development in the state of HP. We conclude with reflections on how sustainable SHP development in India might be achieved and suggestions for future policy-making and research.
An Area-Efficient 8-Bit Single-Ended ADC With Extended Input Voltage Range

This brief presents an 8-bit successive approximation register analog-to-digital converter (ADC) implemented within a system-on-chip (SoC) for autonomous flapping-wing microrobots. The ADC implements hybrid split-capacitor sub-digital-to-analog converter (DAC) techniques to achieve 35.72% improvement in a capacitor bank energy-area product. The device also implements an extended single-ended input voltage range allowing a direct connection to sensors while maintaining low-power operation. This technique allows 51.7% DAC switching energy reduction compared to the state of the art. The SoC, fabricated in 40-nm CMOS, includes four parallel 0.001 mm2 1 MS/s ADC cores multiplexed across 13 input ports. It enables 0 to 1.8-V input range while operating off of a 0.9 V supply. At 1 MS/s, the ADC achieves a signal-to-noise and distortion ratio of 45.6 dB for a 1.6-Vpp input signal and consumes 10.4 $\mu \text{W}$ .
Preharvest sprouting and α-amylase activity in soft winter wheat

Abstract The wheat value chain is vulnerable to reduced grain quality caused by preharvest sprouting. The Great Lakes region and the Pacific Northwest are particularly vulnerable to sprouting related quality issues because precipitation events near or at the time of harvest are common and are the leading cause of sprout related losses. Both visual preharvest sprouting (PHS) and alpha-amylase activity (αAmy) influence grain quality. In this study, standardized methods for phenotying PHS and αAmy have been implemented in soft winter wheat varieties and advanced breeding lines. The methods utilized here for rating visual PHS and αAmy using a scaled down Ceralpha method produce consistent and reliable results across years and can be implemented in screening large wheat breeding populations. The populations phenotyped for PHS and αAmy were also genotyped at grain color (R), photoperiod (Ppd), and reduced height (Rht) genes to determine their influence on PHS and αAmy. Phenotypic variation for PHS and αAmy is present in both soft red and soft white wheat market classes. Soft red winter wheat genotypes were identified that have PHS susceptibility and moderate levels of αAmy. Conversely, genotypes of soft white winter wheat were identified that have PHS resistance and low levels of αAmy. As variation exists for PHS and αAmy in soft wheat germplasm, progress can be made using phenotypic selection for these traits in breeding programs. Development of varieties with improved sprouting resistance will mitigate the risk of sprouting and increase the production of high quality wheat.
Marriage: an evolutionary perspective.

Marriage is universal, and pair bonding is found in other species too with highly dependent young. So marriage functions as a reproductive social arrangement that traditionally involved the extended family. The sexes are not identical in their biological contributions to children's survival, so they seek somewhat different attributes in a mate. Men seek a young, attractive, sexually faithful bride. Women seek a man who is older, taller, and (as in many other species) socially dominant. Both sexes prefer a kind, healthy, attractive, similar mate who is emotionally attached to them. A spouse who fails to maintain sufficiently high mate value is vulnerable to divorce. Infertility and sexual dissatisfaction predict divorce, as does death of a child, but the more children, the stabler the marriage. Cross-cultural data suggest that cruel or subdominant men (e.g., poor providers) and unfaithful women are prone to divorce. Marriages in which the wife dominates the husband in economic contributions, nonverbal behavior, and decision making tend to be less satisfying. In societies in which wives are economically independent of husbands, divorce rates are high. As women's economic power has risen with industrialization, divorce rates have climbed. Economic and fitness considerations also help explain cultural differences in polygyny, age at marriage, arranged marriage, concern with the bride's sexual chastity, and marriage ceremonies. Other factors also affect marital dynamics, such as state subsidies to families, the sex ratio, and influence of the couple's parents.
Folded planar metasurface spectrometer

We present a folded planar spectrometer based on dielectric metasurfaces operating in the near-IR range (760 nm-860 nm) and achieving ∼1.22-nm spectral resolution. The planar and compact shape makes the demonstrated spectrometer well-suited for applications requiring integrated and portable spectrometers.
Learning: Conditioning, Instrumental, Motor Skill, Procedural

Imagine what life would be like if all learning suddenly stopped at some point in late adulthood. Knowledge, of course, would be frozen. That is, there would be no further additions to knowledge—no updating of information concerning, for example, local, national, and international events. The names of a new mayor, a new senator, and a new prime minister for a foreign country would all be perceived, but they would be unfamiliar every time they were encountered. An elderly person planning a trip to a foreign country would find nothing but frustration in trying to acquire a working vocabulary for traveling in that country. Attendance at adult-education classes would be a wasted effort.
Will workfare work? Job availability for welfare recipients in rural and urban America

Ongoing concern over welfare dependency has stimulated the US Government to enact welfare reform legislation that features work requirements. Under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, millions of able-bodied welfare recipients will now be expected to find work within two years. We analyze data from the March 1994 Current Population Survey to address the neglected question of whether a sufficient number of jobs will be available for those looking for work. Using two methods to estimate job availability, and a variety of assumptions about which welfare recipients will be required to work, we estimate that as few as 18 and as many as 54 welfare recipients and other unemployed individuals would be competing for each available job. Separate analyses by residence provided equivocal evidence on whether metropolitan or nonmetropolitan welfare recipients will have the more difficult time finding gainful employment.
Clinical Epidemiology of NAFLD

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is defined as the presence of hepatic fat accumulation after the exclusion of other causes of hepatic steatosis, including other causes of liver disease, excessive alcohol consumption, and other conditions that may lead to hepatic steatosis. NAFLD encompasses a broad clinical spectrum ranging from nonalcoholic fatty liver to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), advanced fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. NAFLD is the most common liver disease in the world and NASH may soon become the most common indication for liver transplantation. The ongoing persistence of obesity with increasing rate of diabetes will increase the prevalence of NAFLD, and as this population ages, many will develop cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease. There has been a general increase in the prevalence of NAFLD, with Asia leading the rise, but the United States (U.S.) is following closely behind with prevalence increasing from 15% in 2005 to 25% within 5 years. NAFLD is commonly associated with metabolic comorbidities, including obesity, type II diabetes, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome. Our understanding of the pathophysiology of NAFLD is constantly evolving. Based on NAFLD subtypes, it has the potential to progress into advanced fibrosis, end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. The increasing prevalence of NAFLD with advanced fibrosis is concerning because patients appear to experience higher liver-related and non-liver-related mortality than the general population. The increased morbidity and mortality, healthcare costs and declining health related quality of life associated with NAFLD makes it a formidable disease, and one that requires more in-depth analysis.
Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Gastroenterostomy (EUS-GE)

Gastric outlet obstruction is a mechanical obstruction that typically involves the distal stomach or proximal duodenum. Presenting signs and symptoms include nausea, vomiting, early satiety, and abdominal distention. Common etiologies range from malignant (pancreatic cancer) to benign causes (peptic ulcer disease). Historic management options consist of surgical gastrojejunostomy formation that is durable but carries significant morbidity and mortality compared to enteral stenting that while safer is far less durable. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided creation of a gastroenterostomy has been facilitated by the off-label use of the lumen apposing metal stent and various techniques consisting of water immersion method, balloon assisted method, double balloon gastroenterostomy bypass (EPASS), and Direct method. The technical success rate of EUS-GE ranges from 90% to 92% in the reported literature with a clinical success rate (defined as able to tolerate PO diet) of 85%. Several case series and comparative studies have confirmed that EUS-GE can be performed with high technical and clinical success rates. Recent data has suggested that this approach for the treatment of GOO may also be a more cost-effective option compared to surgical gastrojejunostomy and more durable than enteral stenting.
Daily Consumption of Oregon Hazelnuts Affects α-Tocopherol Status in Healthy Older Adults: A Pre-Post Intervention Study.

Background Inadequate vitamin E and magnesium intakes are of concern for older adults owing to the associated incidence of age-related diseases. Objective This study was designed to determine the extent to which a 16-wk intervention with hazelnuts alters vitamin E and magnesium status in a group of older men and women, and used a pre-post intervention design without a control group to adjust for temporal changes. Methods Participants (n = 32 including 22 women; mean ± SD age: 63 ± 6 y) consumed hazelnuts (∼57 g/d) for 16 wk. Blood and urine samples and anthropomorphic measures were taken at the start and end of the intervention to determine plasma concentrations of α-tocopherol and serum concentrations of magnesium, lipids, glucose, insulin, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein along with urinary vitamin E metabolites; several other micronutrients were measured by a lymphocyte proliferation assay. There were 3 primary endpoints, calculated as the mean changes in measurements between baseline and the end of the 16-wk intervention for 1) plasma α-tocopherol, 2) urinary α-carboxyethyl hydroxychromanol (α-CEHC; an α-tocopherol metabolite), and 3) serum magnesium. Results Hazelnut consumption increased concentrations of the urinary α-tocopherol metabolite α-CEHC (mean ± SD: 0.84 ± 0.45 to 1.14 ± 0.50 µmol/g creatinine; P = 0.0006). In addition, hazelnut consumption increased serum concentrations of magnesium (+2.1%, P = 0.05), decreased concentrations of fasting glucose (-3.4%, P = 0.03) and LDL cholesterol (-6.0%, P = 0.02), and decreased total:HDL cholesterol ratios (-4.5%, P = 0.009). No significant changes were observed in blood pressure, lymphocyte proliferation assays, and serum concentrations of insulin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, triglyceride, α-tocopherol, or HDL cholesterol. Conclusions Consuming hazelnuts improves a biomarker of vitamin E status in older adults. Vitamin E is a shortfall micronutrient, as identified by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015-2020, which frequently is consumed at levels less than the Estimated Average Requirement of 12 mg/d; thus, hazelnuts should be considered as part of a healthy dietary pattern. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03485989.