cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Task reweighting on multiprocessors: efficiency versus accuracy

We consider the problem of task reweighting in fair-scheduled multiprocessor systems wherein each task's processor share is specified using a weight. The responsiveness of a reweighting scheme can be assessed by comparing its allocations to those of an ideal scheduler that instantly reweights task. A reweighting scheme is fine-grained if the per-task "error" (in comparison to an ideal allocation) caused by a reweighting event is constant, and coarse-grained, otherwise. When the number of tasks N is larger than the number of processors M, the worst-case time complexity for fine-grained reweighting, /spl Omega/(NlogN), is larger than that of coarse-grained reweighting, /spl Theta/(MlogN). In this paper, we construct two new reweighting algorithms that are hybrids of fine- and coarse-grained reweighting that have time complexity less than /spl Theta/(NlogN), and produce less error than current coarse-grained techniques. We also present experiments to compare relative advantages of all schemes.
Observation of ‘hidden’ planar defects in boron carbide nanowires and identification of their orientations

The physical properties of nanostructures strongly depend on their structures, and planar defects in particular could significantly affect the behavior of the nanowires. In this work, planar defects (twins or stacking faults) in boron carbide nanowires are extensively studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results show that these defects can easily be invisible, i.e., no presence of characteristic defect features like modulated contrast in high-resolution TEM images and streaks in diffraction patterns. The simplified reason of this invisibility is that the viewing direction during TEM examination is not parallel to the (001)-type planar defects. Due to the unique rhombohedral structure of boron carbide, planar defects are only distinctive when the viewing direction is along the axial or short diagonal directions ([100], [010], or ) within the (001) plane (in-zone condition). However, in most cases, these three characteristic directions are not parallel to the viewing direction when boron carbide nanowires are randomly dispersed on TEM grids. To identify fault orientations (transverse faults or axial faults) of those nanowires whose planar defects are not revealed by TEM, a new approach is developed based on the geometrical analysis between the projected preferred growth direction of a nanowire and specific diffraction spots from diffraction patterns recorded along the axial or short diagonal directions out of the (001) plane (off-zone condition). The approach greatly alleviates tedious TEM examination of the nanowire and helps to establish the reliable structure–property relations. Our study calls attention to researchers to be extremely careful when studying nanowires with potential planar defects by TEM. Understanding the true nature of planar defects is essential in tuning the properties of these nanostructures through manipulating their structures.
Samuel Robinson, Pioneer Thoracic Surgeon (1875-1947)

Sam Robinson was born in Augusta, ME, in 1875. A graduate of Harvard Medical School, and of the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), he worked in the laboratory of Walter Cannon. While a junior at MGH he spent four months abroad with Ferdinand Sauerbruch. He returned to Boston and remained there until 1912, performing his first successful lobectomy for bronchiectasis in 1909. He made important contributions to the management of pneumothorax during operation, notably Sam Robinson's box. In 1912 he moved to Clifton Springs, NY. From 1915 to 1917 he was the first Chief of Thoracic Surgery at the Mayo Clinic. Illness, probably bronchiectasis, led him to abandon academic thoracic surgery in 1918 and retire to Santa Barbara, CA, where he practiced general surgery until 1947. He was President of the Association for Thoracic Surgery in 1922. In addition to the use of positive pressure and early resections, his contributions include artificial pneumothorax for tuberculosis and management of acute and chronic empyema. His colorful writings provide a vivid picture of the early days of our specialty.
Probe signal correction for differential methylation hybridization experiments

Non-biological signal (or noise) has been the bane of microarray analysis. Hybridization effects related to probe-sequence composition and DNA dye-probe interactions have been observed in differential methylation hybridization (DMH) microarray experiments as well as other effects inherent to the DMH protocol. We suggest two models to correct for non-biologically relevant probe signal with an overarching focus on probe-sequence composition. The estimated effects are evaluated and the strengths of the models are considered in the context of DMH analyses. The majority of estimated parameters were statistically significant in all considered models. Model selection for signal correction is based on interpretation of the estimated values and their biological significance.
Ophthalmoscopic and morphogenetic changes in rat lens induced by galactose: attenuation by pyruvate.

Background: Investigations have been conducted on the potential of pyruvate, a normal tissue metabolite, in the prevention of cataract formation. Methods: Cataract was induced by maintaining young rats on a diet containing 30% galactose. The progress of cataract was monitored by visual inspection and ophthalmoscopic and slit-lamp examinations. The protective effect of pyruvate was assessed by incorporating it in the galactose diet and drinking water. The progress of cataract was substantially thwarted by this dietary regimen. Results: Substantial morphogenetic changes in the lenses of the galactosaemic animals, which by themselves can offer obstruction to light penetration through the lens and scattering, were significantly attenuated. These changes were ascertained by histological detection of errors in cellular differentiation and their migration in unwanted areas. Conclusions: As per previous studies, the pyruvate effect is attributed to its direct effect on the biochemistry of lens related to the inhibition of oxidative stress, as well as to its effect on tissue physiology related to the lifelong process of organogenesis, characteristic of this tissue.
Transcriptomic Characterization of the Novel Avian-Origin Influenza A (H7N9) Virus: Specific Host Response and Responses Intermediate between Avian (H5N1 and H7N7) and Human (H3N2) Viruses and Implications for Treatment Options

ABSTRACT A novel avian-origin H7N9 influenza A virus (IAV) emerged in China in 2013, causing mild to lethal human respiratory infections. H7N9 originated with multiple reassortment events between avian viruses and carries genetic markers of human adaptation. Determining whether H7N9 induces a host response closer to that with human or avian IAV is important in order to better characterize this emerging virus. Here we compared the human lung epithelial cell response to infection with A/Anhui/01/13 (H7N9) or highly pathogenic avian-origin H5N1, H7N7, or human seasonal H3N2 IAV. The transcriptomic response to H7N9 was highly specific to this strain but was more similar to the response to human H3N2 than to that to other avian IAVs. H7N9 and H3N2 both elicited responses related to eicosanoid signaling and chromatin modification, whereas H7N9 specifically induced genes regulating the cell cycle and transcription. Among avian IAVs, the response to H7N9 was closest to that elicited by H5N1 virus. Host responses common to H7N9 and the other avian viruses included the lack of induction of the antigen presentation pathway and reduced proinflammatory cytokine induction compared to that with H3N2. Repression of these responses could have an important impact on the immunogenicity and virulence of H7N9 in humans. Finally, using a genome-based drug repurposing approach, we identified several drugs predicted to regulate the host response to H7N9 that may act as potential antivirals, including several kinase inhibitors, as well as FDA-approved drugs, such as troglitazone and minocycline. Importantly, we validated that minocycline inhibited H7N9 replication in vitro , suggesting that our computational approach holds promise for identifying novel antivirals. IMPORTANCE Whether H7N9 will be the next pandemic influenza virus or will persist and sporadically infect humans from its avian reservoir, similar to H5N1, is not known yet. High-throughput profiling of the host response to infection allows rapid characterization of virus-host interactions and generates many hypotheses that will accelerate understanding and responsiveness to this potential threat. We show that the cellular response to H7N9 virus is closer to that induced by H3N2 than to that induced by H5N1, reflecting the potential of this new virus for adaptation to humans. Importantly, dissecting the host response to H7N9 may guide host-directed antiviral development.
Numerical Simulation of Scanning Speed and Supercooling Effects During Zone-Melting-Recrystallization of Soi Wafers

The effects of scanning speed and supercooling were studied during zone-meltingrecrystallization (ZMR) of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers. Using finite difference methods, a numerical simulation of the ZMR process was developed which captures all of the optical and thermal property changes during phase transformation. The effects of supercooling and scanning speed on the temperature profiles, the total width of the melt-zone and the width of ‘slush’ region were investigated. The melt-zone width increases for increasiongf thdee gfrreeeezsi nogf supercooling and decreases for increasing strip heater velocities. The combined effects on the melt-zone width were shown for various scanning speeds and degrees of supercooling. Supercooling also had a significant effect on the size of the freezing ‘slush’ region which was shown to decrease for increasing degrees of supercooling.
Pathogenesis and Transmission of Triple-Reassortant Swine H1N1 Influenza Viruses Isolated before the 2009 H1N1 Pandemic

The 2009 H1N1 pandemic influenza virus represents the greatest incidence of human infection with an influenza virus of swine origin to date. Moreover, triple-reassortant swine (TRS) H1N1 viruses, which share similar host and lineage origins with 2009 H1N1 viruses, have been responsible for sporadic human cases since 2005. Similar to 2009 H1N1 viruses, TRS viruses are capable of causing severe disease in previously healthy individuals and frequently manifest with gastrointestinal symptoms; however, their ability to cause severe disease has not been extensively studied. Here, we evaluated the pathogenicity and transmissibility of two TRS viruses associated with disease in humans in the ferret model. TRS and 2009 H1N1 viruses exhibited comparable viral titers and histopathologies following virus infection and were similarly unable to transmit efficiently via respiratory droplets in the ferret model. Utilizing TRS and 2009 H1N1 viruses, we conducted extensive hematologic and blood serum analyses on infected ferrets to identify lymphohematopoietic parameters associated with mild to severe influenza virus infection. Following H1N1 or H5N1 influenza virus infection, ferrets were found to recapitulate several laboratory abnormalities previously documented with human disease, furthering the utility of the ferret model for the assessment of influenza virus pathogenicity.
Relationship between serum citrulline levels and progression to parenteral nutrition independence in children with short bowel syndrome

Abstract Objective Although bowel length is an important prognostic variable used in the management of children with short bowel syndrome (SBS), reliable measurements can be difficult to obtain. Plasma citrulline (CIT) levels have been proposed as surrogate markers for bowel length and function. We sought to evaluate the relationship between CIT and parenteral nutrition (PN) independence in children with SBS. Study Design A retrospective chart review performed for all patients seen in a multidisciplinary pediatric intestinal rehabilitation clinic with a recorded CIT between January 2005 and December 2007 (n = 27). Results Median age at time of CIT determination was 2.4 years. Diagnoses included necrotizing enterocolitis (26%), intestinal atresias (19%), and gastroschisis (22%). Citrulline levels correlated well with bowel length ( R = 0.73; P P Wilcoxon=0.002; area under the receiver operating characteristic curve=0.88; 95% confidence interval, 0.75-1.00). The optimal CIT cutoff point distinguishing patients who reached PN independence was 15 μ mol/L (sensitivity = 89%; specificity=78%). Conclusion Plasma CIT levels are strong predictors of PN independence in children with SBS and correlate well with a patient's recorded bowel length. A cutoff CIT level of 15 μ mol/L may serve as a prognostic measure in counseling patients regarding the likelihood of future PN independence.
Type inference in a database programming language

We extend an ML-like implicit type system to include a number of structures and operations that are common in database programming including sets, labeled records, joins and projections. We then show that the type inference problem of the system is decidable by extending the notion of principal type schemes to include conditions on substitutions. Combined with Milner's polymorphic let constructor, our language also supports type inheritance.
HiPRIME: hierarchical and passivity reserved interconnect macromodeling engine for RLKC power delivery

This paper proposes a general hierarchical analysis methodology, HiPRIME, to efficiently analyze RLKC power delivery systems. After partitioning the circuits into blocks, we develop and apply the IEKS (improved extended Krylov subspace) method to build the multi-port Norton equivalent circuits which transform all the internal sources to Norton current sources at ports. Since there is no active elements inside the Norton circuits, passive or realizable model order reduction techniques such as PRIMA can be applied. To further reduce the top-level hierarchy runtime, we develop a second-level model reduction algorithm and prove its passivity. Experimental results show 400-700/spl times/ runtime improvement with less than 0.2% error.
Local level set method in high dimension and codimension

A new method is presented for numerically capturing a moving interface of arbitrary dimension and codimension. The method is named the 'local level set method', since it localizes the level set method near the interface to significantly reduce the computational expense of the level set method. Following the framework of the level set method, an interface is implicitly represented as the zero level set of a vector valued function. A spatial tree structure is used to locally sample the vector valued function near the interface. Using a Lipschitz stable interpolation and a semi-Lagrangian scheme, our method is stable under both the maximum norm and the Lipschitz semi-norm. Due to this stability, the method does not need to reinitialize a level set function. Several numerical examples with high codimension are successfully tested.
Interpretation of Biophysical Profiles by Nurses and Physicians

Objective: To determine the agreement between nurse and physician interpretation of biophysical profile scores. Design: A prospective evaluation of videotaped biophysical profiles was independently scored by four nurse and four physician interpreters and compared to that of an expert physician. Setting: The fetal assessment center of a large tertiary-care center; study included women from public and private practices. Patients: Twenty-three women with high-risk pregnancies who were regularly scheduled for a biophysical profile. Women pregnant with multiple fetuses or whose fetuses were less than 28 weeks' gestational age or had severe fetal anomalies were excluded. Main Outcome Measure: The proportion of agreement between the physicians and nurses and the physician expert was calculated for each biophysical profile criterion. Results: The kappa statistic was used to evaluate the proportion of agreement with the "gold standard." When compared with the expert, physicians showed 60% moderate or substantial agreement, and the nurses showed 80% moderate or substantial agreement. Conclusions: Nurses' interpretations of biophysical profiles were at least as reliable as physicians' when compared with an expert reviewer.
Recruiting rural participants for a telehealth intervention on diabetes self-management.

Recruiting rural participants for health intervention research is challenging due to a combination of factors, including large geographic areas, health care clinics with limited resources and heavy workloads, and, in some populations, low literacy rates and transportation obstacles.1–4 Rural residents, in comparison to urban residents, tend to be less educated, have lower incomes, are more likely to report poorer health status, suffer more from chronic conditions, are more likely to be uninsured, and are less likely to receive preventative health care services.5–8 Involving multiple rural sites amplifies these challenges as researchers must negotiate increased study complexity and logistics as well as the unique cultural and social characteristics of diverse communities.2, 9–15 One approach to research recruitment in rural communities has been community-based participatory research (CBPR) strategies. The CBPR approach focuses on building trust by directly involving community health center personnel and community members in study design, activities and decision-making.16, 17 Another approach, also relying on community relationships, is Practice-Based Research Networks (PBRNs). PBRNs consist of networks of local health practitioners with strong ties in the community and an awareness of the health care issues relevant to clinical practice.18–20 The presence of a network allows researchers to build long-term relationships with local care providers and establish a foundation for future research endeavors.18, 21 While these approaches have proven successful, they require significant time and effort to establish trusted and mutually beneficial relationships. Other strategies for rural recruitment have focused less on building collaborative relationships with clinic sites and more on the efficiency of recruiting potential study participants. A systematic review of recruitment strategies of vulnerable populations found that targeted marketing approaches, such as mailings, telephone calls, and media to potential participants achieved reasonably successful participant enrollment.22 Targeted approaches, such as insurance company mailings and community outreach at church and community centers, however, have proven less effective.23–25 Given the importance of including rural participants in health research, researchers must identify meaningful ways to collaborate with rural clinics for recruitment, yet accommodate the time and resource constraints of a research study. This article reports on the feasibility of a rapid, multisite recruitment approach that combines elements of the community-based, practice-based network, and targeted marketing approaches. This approach was used to recruit participants for a randomized, controlled study exploring the effectiveness of health behavior coaching for adults living with diabetes in rural communities. In the following sections, we highlight the opportunities and challenges of rapidly recruiting multiple diverse rural clinics and underserved participants, and suggest implications for recruitment in rural health research.
Characterization of secretory component from rat uterine fluid

Secretory component (SC) in uterine fluid from intact rats at the proestrous stage of the reproductive cycle and from estradiol-treated ovariectomized rats were examined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Western immunoblot analysis. HPLC analysis revealed a peak, which is associated with free SC from uterine fluid, with a molecular size of 105 kDa (range 100–115 kDa). Western blot analysis demonstrated that SC in denatured and rapidly reduced uterine fluid from both proestrous and estradiol-treated rats has a molecular mass of 87 kDa (range 83–93 kDa) with a minor band of 80 kDa. When SC in uterine fluid was compared to bile SC, both were found to have the same molecular masses. These results indicate that uterine fluid, whether from intact animals or ovariectomized rats treated with estradiol, contains SC that is identical in size to that found in bile.
Demonstration of the inherited serum group specific protein by acrylamide electrophoresis.

SummaryAcrylamide gel electrophoresis in a vertical slab has been adapted to the routine analysis of the Gc protein. The band patterns do not differ in principle from those obtained by starch gel electrophoresis using a discontinuous buffer system; however, the Gc bands are very much sharper and the fast Gc components are well separated from the trailing edge of the albumin. The method has good reproducibility and may be capable of still further refinement. At present it provides a simple and convenient way of confirming the results obtained from immunoelectrophoresis and is particularly advantageous in investigation of rapidly migrating Gc variants which are only with considerable difficulty distinguished by starch gel electrophoresis.
Nucleic acids in fetal kidney after maternal nephrectomy.

SummaryThe effect of the renoprival state in the mother on renal growth of the fetus was studied in the progeny of mice uninephrectomized on day 14 of pregnancy. Fetal kidneys removed on day 17 and at birth (day 19) and the comparable solitary maternal kidney were analyzed for content of RNA and DNA. The ratio RNA/DNA (RNA/av cell) increased about 22% in the maternal kidney compared with sham-operated controls, but no change was found in fetal RNA/DNA. Therefore, either no humoral stimulus is produced as a consequence of maternal nephrectomy, or the fetal kidney cannot respond to it.
Using the elements of cooperative learning in school band classes in the United States

The purpose of this article is to answer the question of how we might use the elements of cooperative learning in school band classes in the United States. Current school band programs use age-old ...
Experimental Study on Impact Characteristics of Grounding Module

The components of non-metallic grounding module and mechanism of resistance reduction was described.Through impulse current test platform,impulse current test had been done on grounding modules of different size,different shape and different material under different earth resistivity.The test data showed that when they had same current scattering area the current scattering effect of cylindrical grounding module was better than rectangular grounding module under different impulse current,the greater impulse current with the more obvious of the current scattering effect;The increase of grounding module size or current scattering area would increase its resistance reduction effect,but this effect was saturated trend;The resistance reduction rate of grounding module had nothing to do with the soil resistivity,the greater of the soil resistivity,the more obvious of the resistance reduction effect;The resistance reduction effect of graphite type grounding module could be compared to traditional metal grounding body and the resistance reduction effect of graphite was very obvious,its would provide the reference for the engineering application.
Jacobi Sum Matrices

In this article we identify several beautiful properties of Jacobi sums that become evident when these numbers are organized as a matrix and studied via the tools of linear algebra. In the process ...
Cholinergic regulation of resting coronary blood flow in domestic swine

Cholinergic vasoconstriction in vivo and the influence of resting cholinergic activity on basal coronary tone were investigated by measuring coronary blood flow, cardiac function, and blood gases during either acetylcholine injection, muscarinic receptor blockade, or vagal ligation, in open-chest chloralose-urethan-anesthetized swine. Intracoronary injections of acetylcholine (0.5-3.0 micrograms) caused significant (P less than 0.05) dose-dependent reductions in coronary blood flow (19.0–75.5%) and conductance (14.3–78.2%). Atropine (200 micrograms) completely blocked these responses. Cholinergic mediation of basal coronary tone was initially evaluated by determining the effects of muscarinic blockade with intracoronary injection of atropine (200 micrograms). Intracoronary injection of atropine had no significant effects on coronary blood flow or conductance. Finally, to ensure that parasympathetically released acetylcholine was not overcoming the muscarinic blockade, vagal ligation was performed during pacing. Neither coronary blood flow nor conductance was significantly altered by vagal ligation. The present studies demonstrate that acetylcholine induces a muscarinic vasoconstriction of coronary arteries in the domestic swine. However, these studies do not support a role for parasympathetic mediation of basal coronary vascular tone.
Vector Time Series and Model Representations

We study models that describe relationships among a vector of k time series variables Y1t, Y2t, …, Ykt of interest. Such multivariate processes arise when several related time series processes are observed simultaneously over time, instead of observing just a single series as is the case in univariate time series analysis. Multivariate time series processes are of considerable interest in a variety of fields such as engineering, the physical sciences, particularly the earth sciences (e.g., meteorology and geophysics), and economics and business. For example, in an engineering setting, one may be interested in the study of the simultaneous behavior over time of current and voltage, or of pressure, temperature, and volume, whereas in economics, we may be interested in the variations of interest rates, money supply, unemployment, and so on, or in sales volume, prices, and advertising expenditures for a particular commodity in a business context.
Cytoskeleton Dynamics in Health and Disease: Role of Molecular Switches and Rheostats

Cytoskeleton dynamics provides the platform for most cellular functions and thus underlies a variety of human diseases. While the cytoskeleton cannot be targeted therapeutically, context-specific regulators of its dynamics can provide selective targets. IQGAP1 couples cell growth and division by which it regulates cell homeostasis, dysregulation of which underlies the etiology of many complex human diseases. Fundamental to this role is its regulation of cytoskeleton dynamics and organization of distinct modules that control a plethora of cytoskeleton-anchored cellular functions such as protein traffic and mechanical sensing. The tenet of this chapter is that IQGAP1 serves as a universal molecular rheostat that cells employ, as a sensitive devise, to regulate distinct functions in a precise manner. Selective rewiring of IQGAP1’s subcellular modules has potential for precision medicine.
Relational learning by observation

In this dissertation, we investigate learning by observation , a machine learning approach to create cognitive agents automatically by observing the task-performance behavior of human experts. We argue that the most important challenge of learning by observation is that the internal reasoning of the expert is not available to the learner. As a solution, we propose a framework that uses multiple complex knowledge sources to model the expert more accurately. We describe a relational learning by observation framework that uses expert behavior traces and expert goal annotations as the primary input, interprets them in the context of background knowledge, inductively finds patterns in similar expert decisions, and creates an agent program. The background knowledge used to interpret the expert behavior does not only include task and domain knowledge, but also domain independent learning by observation knowledge that models the fixed mental mechanisms of the expert. We explore two learning approaches. In learning from behavior performances approach, the main source of information used in learning is behavior traces of expert recorded during actual task performance. In the learning from diagrammatic behavior specifications approach, the expert specifies behavior using a graphical representation, abstractly depicting the critical situations for the desired behavior. This provides the expert with additional modes of interaction with the learning system; simplifying the learning task at the expense of more expert effort. Both of these approaches are uniformly represented in relational learning by observation framework. Our framework maps "learning an agent program" problem on to multiple learning problems that can be represented in a "supervised concept learning" setting. The acquired procedural knowledge is partitioned into a hierarchy of goals and it is represented with first order rules. Using an inductive logic programming (ILP) learning component allows our system to combine complex knowledge from multiple sources. These sources include the behavior traces, which are temporally changing relational situations, the expert goal annotations, which are hierarchically organized and provide structured information, and background knowledge, which is represented as relational facts and first order rules. Our learning by observation framework needs to store large amounts of behavior data and access it efficiently during learning. We propose an episodic database as a solution, which is an extension of Prolog that improves Prolog by providing efficient and power mechanisms to store and query relational temporal information. We evaluated our framework using both artificially created examples and behavior observation traces generated by AI agents. We developed a general methodology to test relational learning by observation. Our methodology is based on first using a hand-coded agent program as the expert, and then comparing the decision making knowledge of the expert and learned agent programs on observed situations.
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of High Pressure Die Cast Mg–Al–Sn–Si Alloys

The effect of a small addition of silicon (Si) was studied to increase the mechanical properties of Mg–Al–Sn alloys. Test specimens were produced by a vacuum die casting process which makes it possible to perform various heat treatments on the alloy which was not possible with conventional high pressure die casting (HPDC). The addition of Si leads to the formation of a binary Mg2Si phase which contributes to an increase in strength in the as-cast condition. Artificial aging treatments were performed to further increase the strength of the alloys by precipitation of fine Mg2Sn, Mg2Si, and Mg17Al12 phases. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) techniques were used to observe these fine precipitates at different stages of the heat treatment and mechanical testing was performed to compare strength and ductility to previous magnesium alloys.
I-Seismograph: Observing, Measuring, and Analyzing Internet Earthquakes

Disruptive events, such as large-scale power outages, undersea cable cuts, or security attacks, could have an impact on the Internet and cause the Internet to deviate from its normal state of operation, which we also refer to as an “Internet earthquake.” As the Internet is a large, complex moving target, unfortunately little research has been done to define, observe, quantify, and analyze such impact on the Internet, whether it is during a past event period or in real time. In this paper, we devise an Internet seismograph, or I-seismograph , to fill this gap. Since routing is the most basic function of the Internet and the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is the de facto standard inter-domain routing protocol, we focus on BGP to observe, measure, and analyze the Internet earthquakes. After defining what an impact to BGP entails, we describe how I-seismograph observes and measures the impact, exemplify its usage during both old and recent disruptive events, and further validate its accuracy and convergency. Finally, we show that I-seismograph can further be used to help analyze what happened to BGP while BGP experienced an impact, including which autonomous systems (AS) were affected most or which AS paths or path segments surged significantly in BGP updates during an Internet earthquake.
Process optimization of graphene growth in a roll-to-roll plasma CVD system

A systematic approach to mass-production of graphene and other 2D materials is essential for current and future technological applications. By combining a sequential statistical design of experiments with in-situ process monitoring, we demonstrate a method to optimize graphene growth on copper foil in a roll-to-roll rf plasma chemical vapor deposition system. Data-driven predictive models show that gas pressure, nitrogen, oxygen, and plasma power are the main process parameters affecting the quality of graphene. Furthermore, results from in-situ optical emission spectroscopy reveal a positive correlation of CH radical to high quality of graphene, whereas O and H atoms, Ar+ ion, and C2 and CN radicals negatively correlate to quality. This work demonstrates the deposition of graphene on copper foil at 1 m/min, a scale suitable for large-scale production. The techniques described here can be extended to other 2D materials and roll-to-roll manufacturing processes.
An investigation on zero-voltage-switching condition in synchronous-conduction-mode buck converter

A buck converter operated in synchronous — conduction-mode (SCM) can obtain zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) of both switches without any auxiliary components, which is beneficial for high-switching frequency operation. To obtain ZVS of high-side switch, buck converter requires adequate dead-time duration and reverse inductor current. Through the law of conservation of energy, minimum reverse inductor current required for ZVS can be calculated accurately by a modified method. On top of the modified method, a ZVS model based on resonance is proposed in this paper. The proposed method also leads to accurate ZVS condition but with more information within the transition. The principle and application of the proposed resonant model are interpreted by a comparative example. Moreover, simulation waveforms and hardware testing results of a 1 MHz/30 W SCM buck converter prototype are presented for verification.
Effects of examination room computer on cancer patients perception of physician's compassion, communication skills, and professionalism: A randomized clinical trial.

26Background: The use of electronic health records (EHR) continues to rise in various clinical settings. The full effects of EHR use on physician-patient interactions remain unclear. This study aims to compare patient perception of physician’s compassion, communication skills, and professionalism between a traditional face to face clinic visit with a visit where an examination room computer is used by the physician to access and document patient information. Methods: RCT was conducted at an outpatient supportive care center. 120 English speaking adults with advanced cancer were recruited. Patients were randomized to watch 2 standardized, 3-minute video vignettes depicting a routine physician-patient clinical encounter. Both videos had identical script. In one video, physician communicated face to face while in the other video physician used the examination room computer during conversation. Both actors and patients were blinded to the purpose of the study. Investigators were blinded to the sequence of vid...
Treating Opioid Use Disorder as a Family Physician: Taking the Next Step.

An AHRQ review showed that there are different ways in which buprenorphine-based MAT can be safely and effectively delivered in primary care settings.
Lucent Two: A Breathable Hooded Rain Jacket

The aim of Lucent Two was to create a breathable and lightweight apparel solution for runners while running in humid climatic conditions because many rain jackets cling to the wearerâ€™s skin and become very uncomfortable. This performance running piece protects against rain through the use of silicone-impregnated ripstop nylon used as the outer shell. To keep the fabric off sweaty skin and increase ventilation, the garment is constructed with two layers where the outer layer on the upper body floats freely on top of an underlayer made of mesh. Many other functional details elevate the design of this jacket. The inspiration for the aesthetics of the jacket was drawn from Nick Veasey who creates x-rays of fashion items. By using ripstop nylon, and layering different translucent blue shades the designer was able to create an x-ray type effect when the garment is backlit.
What Is a Pseudomonas syringae Population

Although they are often best known as causative agents of agricultural disease, many phytopathogen lineages, like Pseudomonas syringae, have been sampled across a wide range of environmental contexts. These may be frequently isolated as epiphytes on disease-free plants as well as from sources associated with the water cycle like rivers, lakes, rain, snow, and clouds. The ability of these bacteria to persist across such diverse environments poses a great challenge for understanding population dynamics because adaptation likely occurs across numerous distinct niches and evolutionary parameters and will likely differ widely depending on specific contexts. Within the literature, there is an intrinsic tendency to treat all strains within these lineages the same, but such a treatment likely obscures interesting and important nuances between isolates. In this chapter, I will focus on P. syringae and explore what is known about the evolutionary dynamics of this group at the levels of genomes, phylogroups, and (broadly defined) species. I will highlight many ways in which populations could differ and will touch upon what is known and has been learned from numerous genome sequencing efforts, which hopefully shine a light toward a path forward to resolve numerous nomenclatural challenges. I will point toward the generality of what is known about P. syringae and how this may apply to other environmental systems. While there remains much to learn, the ever-increasing rate of accumulation of genomic data from diverse sources has certainly helped our ability to at least frame the evolutionarily important questions. Building from these, an impending wave of future data promises to be a powerful tool for resolving some of these discussions.
Abstract 5170: The effect of vitamin K on aggressiveness, lipid metabolism and gene expression in triple-negative breast cancer cells

Vitamin K is an essential cofactor in the γ-carboxylation of glutamate (Glu) to γ-carboxyglutamate (Gla), a post-translational modification mediated by the gamma-glutamyl carboxylase enzyme (GGCX) and vitamin K oxidoreductases (VKORC1 or VCORC1L1). All three of these genes are expressed in most breast cancer cell lines and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data indicate that upregulation of these genes is associated with reduced survival in breast cancer patients. Since vitamin K is not typically present in cell culture media, γ-carboxylation is limited in vitro despite the presence of GGCX and VKORs. To determine the functional significance of the vitamin K pathway in breast cancer cells, we assessed the effect of vitamin K treatment on cell survival, migration and mammosphere formation. SUM159 and Hs578T cells were maintained in vitamin K1 (5 ug/mL) for at least 3 passages for all assays. Cells passaged with vitamin K produced γ-carboxylated proteins and exhibited increased cell survival after 72h, increased mammosphere formation after 8 days and increased cell migration after 48h compared to cells passaged in ethanol vehicle. Inhibition of VKORC1 with 2 uM warfarin decreased the production of γ-carboxylated proteins and reduced the effects of vitamin K on cell survival and migration but not on mammosphere formation. Microarray profiling and pathway analysis indicated upregulation of several known oncogenic pathways, including PI3K-AKT, VEGF-VEGFR, RANK-RANKL and JAK/STAT in vitamin K-treated SUM159 and Hs578T cells. Thus, γ-carboxylation of proteins driven by vitamin K might indirectly activate these pathways to enhance cell survival, cell migration and mammosphere formation. Additional pathways upregulated in vitamin K-treated cells included adipogenesis, fatty acid biosynthesis and lipid metabolism. We therefore examined lipid droplet formation in cells exposed to vitamin K using Bodipy assays. We detected an increase in lipid droplet formation after 72 hours of vitamin K treatment, which was inhibited by warfarin. Since aggressive breast cancers are often associated with accumulation of cytoplasmic lipid droplets, further studies on the mechanism by which vitamin K increases lipid accumulation are warranted. In conclusion, our data indicate that vitamin K enhances γ-carboxylation, breast cancer aggressiveness and lipid metabolism, suggesting that blocking the vitamin K pathway might be of therapeutic value for patients whose tumors express GGCX and VKORs. Citation Format: Leila Kokabee, Sarah Beaudin, JoEllen Welsh. The effect of vitamin K on aggressiveness, lipid metabolism and gene expression in triple-negative breast cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5170.
Neurocutaneous Syndromes (Phakomatoses)

This group of inherited disorders is characterized primarily by skin and central nervous system (CNS) lesions. They are also known as phakomatoses, in reference to the associated skin lesions, a relationship that is explained by the common origin of ectoderm and neuro-ectoderm. Visceral lesions (mesodermal dysplasia) also may be present. These disorders are autosomally dominant and show a great propensity to develop neoplasia.
3 Biological Psychology

The great questions of philosophy, the mind–body problem and the nature of knowledge, were also the questions that drove early developments in the pathways to modern psychology. This is especially true of biological or physiological psychology. Wilhelm Wundt, who founded experimental psychology, titled his major work Foundations of Physiological Psychology (1874/1908). William James, the other major figure in the development of modern psychology, devoted a third of his influential text Principles of Psychology (1890) to the brain and nervous system. Both Wundt and James studied medicine and philosophy, and both considered themselves physiologists. Their goal was not to reduce psychology to physiology but rather to apply the scientific methods of physiology to the study of the mind. The other driving force in early biological psychology was the study of the brain and nervous system. The major topics in modern biological psychology are sensory processes, learning and memory, motivation and emotion, and, most recently, cognition—in short, behavioral and cognitive neuroscience. A number of other areas began as part of physiological psychology and have spun off to become fields in their own right. In the text that follows, we begin by briefly sketching the historical roots of the field of biological psychology. We continue by discussing each of these major topics of biological psychology separately in regards to the scientific methods employed and important findings. Finally, we conclude by acknowledging some recent advances that continue to shape our understanding of biological psychology. Keywords: physiology; memory; medial temporal lobe; amnesia; hippocampus
Determination of Selenium in coal fly ash via γ–γ coincidence neutron activation analysis

The determination of selenium (Se) in fly-ash poses difficulties to the neutron activation analyst due to high Compton backgrounds as well as interference peaks from the 180Hf(n, γ)181Hf and 181Ta(n, γ)182Ta activation products. A methodology is presented to eliminate these interferences in geological samples via γ–γ coincidence. The methodology includes experimentally correcting for dead-time and random-summing. Random-coincidence gains which may lead to an over-estimation of concentration are corrected via post-acquisition analysis of the list-mode data. Calculated Se concentrations in fly-ash and other geological and biological reference materials agreed very well with the certified values.
The perverse filtration and the Lefschetz hyperplane theorem, II

The perverse filtration in cohomology and in cohomology with compact supports is interpreted, in terms of kernels of restriction maps to suitable subvarieties by using the Lefschetz hyperplane theorem and spectral objects. Various mixed-Hodge-theoretic consequences for intersection cohomology and for the decomposition theorem are derived.
The Arabidopsis thaliana gene annotated by the locus tag At3g08860 encodes alanine aminotransferase

The aminotransferase gene family in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana consists of 44 genes, eight of which are suggested to be alanine aminotransferases. One of the putative alanine aminotransferases genes, At3g08860, was attributed the function of alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase/β-alanine:pyruvate aminotransferase based on the analysis of gene expression networks and homology to other β-alanine aminotransferases in plants. It was earlier demonstrated that At3g08860 is specifically upregulated in response to osmotic stress, but not other stresses (β-alanine is an osmoprotectant in plants). Furthermore, it was shown that the expression of At3g08860 is highly coordinated with the genes of the uracil degradation pathway leading to the non-proteinogenic amino acid β-alanine. These evidence were suggestive of the involvement of At3g08860 in β-alanine metabolism. However, direct experimental evidence for the function of At3g08860 was lacking, and therefore, the goal of this study was to elucidate the function of the uncharacterized aminotransferase annotated by the locus tag At3g08860. The cDNA of At3g08860 was demonstrated to functionally complement two E. coli mutants auxotrophic for the amino acids, L-alanine (proteinogenic) and β-alanine (non-proteinogenic). Enzyme activity using purified recombinant At3g08860 further demonstrated that the enzyme is endowed with L-alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase activity.
Biliary Tract Disease in the Bariatric Surgery Patient

Cholelithiasis is more prevalent in obese populations, and assessment of the gallbladder is important in patients who undergo bariatric surgery. After rapid weight loss through diet or surgery, a significant proportion of patients develop new gallstones. However, a significantly lower percentage of patients (6–10%) develop symptomatic disease. This has led to controversy in management of the gallbladder at the time of bariatric operations, with some surgeons arguing in favor of prophylactic cholecystectomy for all patients, regardless of biliary pathology. The dominant approach is currently selective cholecystectomy in patients with known cholelithiasis with a trend toward a conventional approach, with cholecystectomy only performed for symptomatic disease. Ursodeoxycholic acid administration in the postoperative period appears to reduce the incidence of gallstone formation but has not been conclusively demonstrated to reduce the rate of symptomatic disease or subsequent cholecystectomy. Management of biliary tract disease may be difficult in patients with surgically altered anatomy, such as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, as conventional endoscopic approaches may not be sufficient to treat choledocholithiasis. A range of options for biliary access including endoscopic and percutaneous approaches, laparoscopic-assisted transgastric ERCP, and novel transcystic approaches have been described after bariatric surgery. Biliary tract disease is a common problem for bariatric patients before and after surgery, and knowledge of management strategies for these processes is crucial for the bariatric surgeon.