cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Protectin D1 Is Generated in Asthma and Dampens Airway Inflammation and Hyperresponsiveness

Protectins are newly identified natural chemical mediators that counter leukocyte activation to promote resolution of inflammation. In this study, we provide the first evidence for protectin D1 (PD1, 10R,17S-dihydroxy-docosa-4Z,7Z,11E,13E,15Z,19Z-hexaenoic acid) formation from docosahexaenoic acid in human asthma in vivo and PD1 counterregulatory actions in allergic airway inflammation. PD1 and 17S-hydroxy-docosahexaenoic acid were present in exhaled breath condensates from healthy subjects. Of interest, levels of PD1 were significantly lower in exhaled breath condensates from subjects with asthma exacerbations. PD1 was also present in extracts of murine lungs from both control animals and those sensitized and aerosol challenged with allergen. When PD1 was administered before aeroallergen challenge, airway eosinophil and T lymphocyte recruitment were decreased, as were airway mucus, levels of specific proinflammatory mediators, including IL-13, cysteinyl leukotrienes, and PGD2, and airway hyperresponsiveness to inhaled methacholine. Of interest, PD1 treatment after aeroallergen challenge markedly accelerated the resolution of airway inflammation. Together, these findings provide evidence for endogenous PD1 as a pivotal counterregulatory signal in allergic airway inflammation and point to new therapeutic strategies for modulating inflammation in asthmatic lung.
Random coding in noise-free multiple access networks over finite fields

A two transmitter single receiver multiple access noise-free network is considered where interference is additive and the transmit and receive alphabet size is the same. We consider two performance metrics - code rate and sum rate. Code rate is defined as the ratio of the symbols recovered, after multiple access interference, to the symbols sent by the transmitters. The sum rate is the number of symbols successfully received per unit time. A packet by packet coding scheme is presented where we determine how these rates change with redundancy. We propose a coding mechanism that maximizes the code and sum rates and show that it suffices to code at only one of the transmitters and that systematic codes are sufficient for this purpose. The development is independent of the alphabet size the symbols are defined over. We also show that we can achieve maximum rates by using a random code. This allows us to choose codes in a random fashion and the scheme achieves optimality with probability tending to 1 exponentially with the code length.
Semantics Reasoning Based Video Database Systems

A constraint of existing content-based video data models is that each modeled semantic description must be associated with time intervals exactly within which it happens and semantics not related to any time interval are not considered. Consequently, users are provided with limited query capabilities. This paper is aimed at developing a novel model with two innovations: (1) Semantic contents not having related time information can be modeled as ones that do; (2) Not only the temporal feature of semantic descriptions, but also the temporal relationships among themselves are components of the model. The query system is by means of reasoning on those relationships. To support users' access, a video algebra and a video calculus as formal query languages, which are based on semantic relationship reasoning, are also presented.
Measurement of ultra-low fourth order dispersion coefficient of nonlinear fiber by distant low-power FWM

We demonstrate accurate measurement of ultra-low fourth-order dispersion coefficient in as short as 2m-long highly nonlinear fibers using phase matched four-wave-mixing between a laser at 1260nm and a noise ‘pump’ at 1550nm band.
Parameter estimation algorithms utilizing implicit phase

In a previous paper, it has been shown that time domain signal parameters such as energy center of mass, time constant, and time delay can be estimated from the FFT of the signal. The estimation techniques use phase in an implicit manner, hence the name "implicit phase". The lack of an inverse FFT can lead to a 50 percent reduction in computation time. In the present paper we minimize the error variance of the implicit phase algorithms for parameter estimation by weighting the waveform DFT before putting it through the algorithms. Two techniques for designing the weighting sequences are described. One method assigns values of one or zero to the weights. The other method finds the best real valued weights.
The dynamical character of biochemical transformations: From protein motions to metabolic “field structure”

Abstract Analogies between the character of physical fields and biological systems are explored, with emphasis on the level of cell metabolism. The ultimate concern focuses on the dynamical properties of the enzyme protein — the “event generator” in metabolic space-time. The enzyme reaction attains a holistic “field” quality, when interwoven with cellular infrastructure and cellular bioenergetics. Thermodynamic analysis yields a theoretical formalism for the cause-and-effect relations.
Identity threat and stigma in cancer patients.

Cancer stigma has undergone an important transformation in recent decades. In general, this disease no longer fits squarely into Goffman’s classic taxonomy of stigmatized conditions. This review will demonstrate that, with important adaptations, an identity-threat model of stigma can be used to organize cancer stigma research post-Goffman. This adapted model postulates that one’s personal attributions, responses to situational threat, and disease/treatment characteristics can be used to predict identity threat and well-being of individuals with cancer. Implications for further research and clinical practice are discussed.
Robust model-based control of uncertain dynamical systems: a fuzzy set theory based approach

Much of control theory is predicated upon mathematical models for physical systems. In Ghalia (1990, 1996), a new fuzzy model representation of uncertain nonlinear dynamical systems has been developed. The novel fuzzy modeling technique does not impose restrictive assumptions on system uncertainty. In this paper, we propose a robust fuzzy control scheme for a class of nonlinear uncertain systems. The proposed robust fuzzy control design approach is developed based on a fuzzy model representation of nonlinear uncertain systems and extends sliding mode control design techniques to include dynamical fuzzy models.
Electrocardiographic changes in pulmonary embolism with special reference to an early and transient shift of the electrical axis of the heart.

Abstract 1.1. A series of seven proved cases of pulmonary embolism with acute cor pulmonale presenting various electrocardiographic abnormalities has been studied. ◦a. Three patients with minor clinical episodes of pulmonary embolism showed a transient shift of the electrical axis of the heart to a relatively vertical position and a slight to moderate degree of clockwise rotation on its long axis with slight posterior displacement of the apex. This electrocardiographic pattern has been discussed in the light of the present knowledge of the physiology of the circulatory system in experimental pulmonary embolism. ◦b. The electrocardiogram of one of the patients taken eighteen hours after an attack of massive pulmonary embolism showed a few of the findings characteristic of both the classical acute cor pulmonale pattern and a shift of the electrical axis seen in cases of minor episodes of the pulmonary insult. ◦c. The electrocardiograms of the three remaining patients were quite characteristic of the acute cor pulmonale pattern with minor intraventricular conduction delay of the right bundle branch block type and marked RS-T segment and T-wave deviations suggestive of coronary insufficiency. ◦d. Prominent Q waves were observed in all seven patients in this series following the attack of acute pulmonary embolism. 2.2. The electrocardiogram may offer considerable help in the diagnosis of acute cor pulmonale. The record should be taken as soon as possible after the acute attack. The use of augmented unipolar limb and multiple central terminal chest leads is advocated. By means of this study, one may observe prominent S waves in Lead a V F and a shift of the electrical axis in the absence of suggestive changes in the conventional leads.
Proximity and Software Programming: IT Outsourcing and the Local Market

We examine the question of which services are tradable within a concrete setting: the outsourcing of IT services across a broad cross-section of establishments in the US. We analyze outsourcing decisions from 52,191 establishments with over 100 employees at the end of 2002, for two types of IT services: programming and design and hosting. Supply of programming and design services are more sensitive to increases in local market demand than are providers of hosting services, and the probability of outsourcing programming and design is increasing the local supply of outsourcing, but the outsourcing of hosting is not. This suggests that hosting services are more tradable than programming and design, and there is some irreducible non-tradable or "local" component to programming and design services
CT and MR imaging in staging non-small cell bronchogenic carcinoma: report of the Radiologic Diagnostic Oncology Group.

The accuracies of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and computed tomography (CT) in determining tumor classification and assessing mediastinal node metastases were compared in a prospective cooperative study of 170 patients with non-small cell bronchogenic carcinoma. The sensitivity of CT in distinguishing T3-T4 tumors from T0-T2 tumors was 63%; specificity was 84%. These values for MR imaging were not significantly different (56% and 80%). With receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, no difference existed between the accuracies of CT and MR imaging in diagnosis of bronchial involvement or chest wall invasion, but MR imaging was significantly more accurate than CT (P = .047) in diagnosis of mediastinal invasion. Lymph node sampling was performed in 155 patients (642 node stations). Cancerous nodes were found in 14% of stations in 21% of patients. There was no significant difference between the accuracies of CT and MR imaging in detecting mediastinal node metastases (N2 or N3); the sensitivities were 52% and 48%, respectively, and specificities were 69% and 64%. ROC analysis also showed no difference between CT and MR imaging.
Towards formal probabilistic power-performance design space exploration

We describe a formal probabilistic power-performance design space exploration technique. The technique aims at enabling hierarchical design space exploration based on a fully probabilistic description of power-performance tradeoffs. Probabilistic Pareto sets in power-performance space are proposed as canonical encodings of the power and delay tradeoffs in designs under any source of uncertainty. An algorithm to compute a composite probabilistic power-performance Pareto set for series or parallel connections of circuit blocks is also developed and validated. The algorithm is based on numerical convolution and is suitable for micro-architecture pipeline design exploration in the presence of process variability.
Generating spatially correlated fields with a genetic algorithm

Abstract Generated realizations of random fields are used to quantify the natural variability of geological properties. When the realizations are used as inputs for simulations with a deterministic model, it may be desirable to minimize differences between statistics of sequential realizations and make the statistics close to ones specified at generating the realizations. We describe the use of a genetic algorithm (GA) for this purpose. In unconditioned simulations, statistics of the GA-generated realizations were significantly closer to the input ones than those from sequential Gaussian simulations. Distributions of generated values at a particular node over sequential realizations were close to the normal distribution. The GA is computationally intensive and may not be suitable for fine grids. The sequential Gaussian algorithm conditioned with GA-generated values on a coarse grid can produce a set of realizations with similar statistics for the fine grids embedding the coarse one.
Awareness of Prediabetes and Engagement in Diabetes Risk–Reducing Behaviors

Introduction Studies have demonstrated the benefit of weight loss and physical activity for diabetes prevention among those with prediabetes. Despite this evidence, only about half of people with prediabetes report engaging in these behaviors. One presumed barrier is low patient awareness of prediabetes. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of prediabetes awareness on the odds of engagement in diabetes risk–reduction behaviors. Methods A pooled cross-sectional analysis of adults from two cycles (2007–2008, 2009–2010) of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was conducted. Those with prediabetes were identified by excluding people with self-reported diabetes and then screening for hemoglobin A1c values between 5.7% and 6.4%. This group was then divided based on self-reported prediabetes. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the effect of prediabetes awareness on the odds of engagement in physical activity, weight management, and the combination of physical activity and weight management. Results Of those meeting the defined criteria for prediabetes ( n =2,694), only 11.8% ( n =288) were aware of their status. Prediabetes-aware individuals had higher odds of engagement in the combination of moderate physical activity plus BMI-appropriate weight management (AOR=1.5, 95% CI=1.1, 2.0), and the combination of at least 150 minutes/week of moderate activity and 7% weight loss in the past year (AOR=2.4, 95% CI=1.1, 5.6). Conclusions Prediabetes-aware adults have increased odds of engagement in physical activity and weight management. Increasing patients' awareness of prediabetes could result in increased performance of exercise and weight management behaviors and, most importantly, decreased risk of future diabetes.
Lessons learned from a second generation assembly planning system

Briefly describes Archimedes 2, a second generation assembly planning system that both provides a general high-level assembly sequencing capability and, for a smaller class of products, facilitates automatic programming of a robotic workcell to assemble them. Because Archimedes can input CAD data in several standard formats, the authors have been able to test it on a number of industrial assembly models more complex than any before attempted by automated assembly planning systems. These experiments, and the authors, interaction with industrial manufacturing engineers, have led them to a number of conclusions about the state of assembly planning research, and their own future directions in particular.
Physician-Assisted Suicide: The Legal Slippery Slope:

BackgroundIn Oregon, physicians can prescribe lethal amounts of medication only if requested by competent, terminally ill patients. However, the possibility of extending the practice to patients wh...
System Identification for a Model-Based Observer of a Road Roughness Profiler

The increasing numbers of paved roadways throughout the world have motivated the development of automated methods of assessing road pavement conditions. A method of developing an automated profiling vehicle that can rapidly acquire and accurately determine road roughness levels is presented. It is shown that it is important to compensate for the chassis dynamics in order to minimize the effects of suspension system interactions when computing the road roughness level. Experimental results from a prototype vehicle are detailed where the effectiveness of the vehicle design method is demonstrated.
Electron ionization cross-sections for K, L and M shells

The total cross-sections for ionization of K, L and M shells in various atoms have been calculated using first-order perturbation theory and Hartree–Slater wave functions. For K shells, the hydrogenic wave functions have been used. The systematic changes across the Periodic Table are discussed and the results of a Bethe parametrization are also given.
Erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase deficiency in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). A comparison of the complement-sensitive and insensitive populations.

1. The complement-sensitive and -insensitive cells of patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria have been separated by differential lysis using a cold agglutinin antibody and limiting concentrations of complement. The erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity of each population of cells was determined. 2. The membranes of the complement-sensitive cells characteristic of PNH completely lack AChE activity. 3. The membranes of the complement-insensitive cells usually contain less AChE than normal and the degree of decrease roughly parallels the degree of increased sensitivity to complement. 4. Lysis of normal cells by complement does not alter the AChE activity of their membranes. 5. The inhibition of AChE activity by neostigmine methylsulfate (Prostigmin®) does not increase the sensitivity of normal red cells to lysis by C’.
Lessons from a Joint-Use College/University Library

Column Editor's NoteCommunity college libraries are deeply underrepresented in the professional literature and organizations of academic librarianship. As a result, the challenges and successes that take place in the community college world are largely invisible to others. This JLA column lifts the curtain to reveal the uniqueness of community college libraries as described by their most passionate advocates: the librarians who work there. Articles in this column pay tribute to the commitment and creativity of community college librarians by providing a platform where they can share their professional perspectives and stories. Want to write for this column? Interested authors are invited to submit articles to the editor at kimreed@cwidaho.cc.Joint-use libraries aim for the most effective use of resources in supporting the needs of multiple institutions, whether high schools, colleges, or universities. However, these streamlined organizations are challenging to design, complex to administer, and often suff...
Precision Interferometric Measurements of Mirror Birefringence in High-Finesse Optical Resonators.

High-finesse optical resonators found in ultrasensitive laser spectrometers utilize supermirrors ideally consisting of isotropic high-reflectivity coatings. Strictly speaking, however, the optical coatings are often non-uniformly stressed during the deposition process and therefore do possess some small amount of birefringence. When physically mounted the cavity mirrors can be additionally stressed in such a way that large optical birefringence is induced. Here we report a direct measurement of optical birefringence in a two-mirror Fabry-Perot cavity with R = 99.99 % by observing TEM00 mode beating during cavity decays. Experiments were performed at a wavelength of 4.53 μm, with precision limited by both quantum and technical noise sources. We report a splitting of δν = 618(1) Hz, significantly less than the intrinsic cavity linewidth of δcav ≈ 3 kHz. With a cavity free spectral range of 96.9 MHz, the equivalent fractional change in mirror refractive index due to birefringence is therefore Δn/n = 6.38(1) × 10-6.
The Innovation of Government Regulation in Constructing the Public Services-oriented Government:Loosen and Optimize the Regulation

The innovation of government regulation is an important issue in transformation from the economics construction-oriented government to public services-oriented government.This paper holds that the innovation of government regulation should loosen and optimize regulation at the same time,eliminate the economic regulation oversupply,make up the social regulation's deficiency,optimize its system,improve its quality,establish the equilibrium point between the government and market and society.
Surgical Management of Urolithiasis

A review of equine urolithiasis is presented. Special emphasis is placed on clinical diagnosis and management. Although somewhat uncommon, urolithiasis is a potentially serious condition with an apparent predilection for male horses. Although the entire urinary tract is at risk for urolith formation, the bladder and urethra are most commonly affected. The principal signs include stranguria, hematuria, and dysuria. Severe abdominal discomfort is often observed in patients suffering from distal urinary tract obstructions. If urolithiasis is promptly identified, a variety of surgical techniques may be applied to resolve and treat this condition.
The effects of colostomy on the quality of life in patients with spinal cord injury: a retrospective analysis.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of colostomy on the quality of life (QOL) in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) by designing a questionnaire that used self-report...
A prospective randomized study of medications after silicone intubation

. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Following silicone intubation, most surgeons prescribe either an antibiotic or an antibiotic-steroid combination medication. No known controlled study has been performed to determine whether steroids in addition to antibiotics improve the postoperative outcome. . PATIENTS AND METHODS: The author performed a prospective randomized study of 108 patients (118 eyes) who underwent silicone intubation over a period of 4 1/2 years. Sixty-seven patients received a combination of neomycin, polymyxin B, and dexamethasone and 41 patients received gentamicin for 2 weeks after surgery. A standardized surgical technique and instruments were used. Follow-up ranged from 8 to 44 months (average 19 months). . RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was found in the failure rates when patients treated with an antibiotic-steroid combination were compared with those treated with antibiotic alone. . CONCLUSION: Following silicone intubation, there appears to be no additional benefit of an antibiotic-steroid combination medication over an antibiotic alone.
Case 51: Sampling and Subjects

You are writing a research manuscript. The paper reports on the use of two different therapeutic management techniques in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
Middle Cerebral Artery Embolectomy

This chapter focuses on the middle cerebral artery (MCA) embolectomy. Intracranial embolisms that are most accessible for surgical removal are largely confined to the middle cerebral artery because of the ease of exposure, removal of the embolus, and arterial reconstructions. Exposure of the middle cerebral artery is obtained through a standard pterional craniotomy. Following dissection of the Sylvian fissure with identification and isolation of the internal carotid bifurcation up to the MCA trifurcation, temporary or atraumatic aneurysm clips are placed on the main branches of the MCA distal to the embolus. The surgical results were analyzed in relationship to embolic source, ipsilateral carotid occlusion, branch versus trunk MCA occlusion, angiographic assessment of collateral flow, and time for flow restoration. It is suggested that if the embolus is likely atheromatous debri from the aorta, the ability to completely remove the fragments and fully restore flow is poor. Surgery would be contraindicated when a preoperative computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging shows mass effect or other evidence suggesting that infarction has already occurred.
Vesicle Traffic at Cytokinesis

Cytokinesis, the mechanical process by which one cell becomes two, is essential to all life, be itsingle-celled bacteria or complex multicellular organisms like land plants or animals. It is now clearthat new membrane must be added to the mother cell to accomplish the complete enclosure of the two daughters.In land plants, this is especially apparent because they accomplish cytokinesis with the cell plate, a structurenewly assembled by addition of new membrane vesicles. This review will focus on what we know about thesource of the vesicles that make up the cell plate membrane, the molecular machinery involved in assemblingthose vesicles, and just what those vesicles are carrying to the cell plate.
Feasibility of a Community-Based Sickle Cell Trait Testing and Counseling Program.

BACKGROUND Sickle cell trait (SCT) screening is required at birth in the United States; however, adults rarely know their SCT status prior to having children. PURPOSE Assess feasibility of a community-based SCT education and testing intervention. METHODS Participants were recruited from eight community sites to complete an educational program and offered a hemoglobin analysis. A genetic counselor met individually with participants to discuss lab results. RESULTS Between July 14, 2010 and May 31, 2012, 637 participants completed the educational program. Five hundred seventy (89.5%) provided a blood sample, and 61 (10.9%) had SCT or other hemoglobinopathies. The genetic counselor met with 321 (56.3%) participants. CONCLUSIONS Community-based SCT testing shows initial feasibility and may increase the number of individuals who know their trait status.
Sialic Acid Deficiency Impairs GPVI-Mediated Platelet Activation in ST3Gal-IV−/− Mice.

Abstract 3005 Poster Board II-972 Lack of terminal sialic acid residues on platelet surface glycoproteins results in rapid platelet clearance. Using null mice for the ST3Gal-IV sialyltransferase gene (ST3Gal-IV−/− mice), we have recently identified galactose residues on the N-terminus of the platelet Von Willebrand Factor receptor GPIbαa as a major counter receptor for the lectin domain of the asialoglycoprotein receptor on both hepatocytes and liver Kupffer cells (Sorensen et al., Blood 2009). ST3Gal-IV−/− mice have increased tail bleeding time. However, the role of terminal sialic acid residues on platelet activation is unclear. We investigated here whether loss of sialylation affects platelet activation mediated through the collagen receptor GPVI or by thrombin. Platelets were isolated from ST3Gal-IV−/− and ST3Gal-IV+/+ mouse littermates, stimulated with collagen-related peptide (CRP), convulxin (CVX), or thrombin, and platelet activation was evaluated by flow cytometry using P-selectin expression, as a marker for αa-granule secretion, and fibrinogen binding, as a marker for integrin αaIIbβ3 activation. Stimulation of ST3Gal-IV−/− platelets with CRP and CVX revealed a profound activation defect, compared to ST3Gal-IV+/+ platelets. The defect was not due to loss of surface receptor expression since ST3Gal-IV−/− and ST3Gal-IV+/+ platelets had comparable GPVI expression, as evidenced by flow cytometry. By contrast, activation of ST3Gal-IV−/− platelets with thrombin was normal. The data show that terminal sialic acid residues on GPVI are required for maximal platelet activation by CRP and CVX. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Partial Gland Treatment of Prostate Cancer Using High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound in the Primary and Salvage Settings: A Systematic Review

Purpose: Advances in prostate imaging, biopsy and ablative technologies have been accompanied by growing enthusiasm for partial gland ablation, particularly using high-intensity focused ultrasound, to treat prostate cancer. Preserving noncancerous prostate tissue and minimizing damage to the neurovascular bundles and external urethral sphincter may improve functional outcomes.Materials and Methods: A systematic review was performed following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines using a combination of MeSH® terms, free text search and examination of relevant bibliographies using MEDLINE® and Embase® from the inception of each database through October 10, 2016. We excluded studies describing exclusively whole gland ablation, case reports and series where treatment was followed by immediate resection.Results: A total of 13 studies that enrolled 543 patients were included. Of the studies 11 were performed in the primary setting and 2 in the salvage setting. Me...
Identification and Emotions Experienced after a Celebrity Cancer Death Shape Information Sharing and Prosocial Behavior.

Based on the previous work investigating public reactions to celebrity cancer deaths as well as on the appraisal theory of emotions, an online survey (N = 641) was conducted after the cancer death of popular sportscaster Stuart Scott. The aim was to better understand how the public shared news and reactions with others and if this social sharing impacted prosocial cancer-related behaviors (e.g., donating, volunteering, talking to others about cancer research). Two hierarchical logistic regression models were run. In the first, identification with Scott and emotional reactions to hearing about his death were significant predictors of sharing, even after controlling for demographics. In the second, feeling hopeful and having shared information with others predicted prosocial cancer-related behaviors. These results suggest promising strategies for designing more effective cancer awareness messages and fundraising campaigns after celebrity cancer announcements.
States, locals and cross-border cooperation in Kashmir: Is secondary foreign policy in making in South Asia?

ABSTRACTThis article interrogates the state-centric notion of border and security in Kashmir and examines the non-state, and non-central government, actors in the borderland evolution. It analyses the border-related peace initiatives and examines the following questions: Are the initiatives purely state centric? Are the non-central government actors totally absent in the bordering practice in the Kashmir borderland? Is the secondary foreign policy as a tool for cross-border cooperation apparent in the region under scrutiny? Secondary foreign policy, a concept which has become recently vogue in border discourse in Europe, emphasizes on non-federal actors, particularly at a local level, and their role in shaping relations in border regions. Drawing on the literature on borders and qualitative field research, the article examines whether the recent border evolution in Kashmir has witnessed activism at two planes: grass-roots non-state actors and non-central government.
Determining rewiring effects of alternatively spliced isoforms on protein-protein interactions using a computational approach

The critical role of alternative splicing (AS) in cell functioning has recently become apparent, whether in studying tissue- or cell-specific regulation, or understanding molecular mechanisms governing a complex disorder. Studying the rewiring, or edgetic, effects of alternatively spliced isoforms on protein interactome can provide system-wide insights into these questions. Unfortunately, high-throughput experiments for such studies are expensive and time-consuming, hence the need to develop an in-silico approach. Here, we formulated the problem of characterization the edgetic effects of AS on protein-protein interactions (PPIs) as a binary classification problem and introduced a first computational approach to solve it. We first developed a supervised feature-based classifier that benefited from the traditional features describing a PPI, the problem-specific features that characterized the difference between the reference and alternative isoforms, and a novel domain interaction potential that allowed pinpointing the domains employed during a specific PPI. We then expanded this approach by including a large set of unlabeled interactomics data and developing a semi-supervised learning method. Our method called AS-IN (Alternatively Splicing INteraction prediction) Tool was compared with the state-of-the-art PPI prediction tools and showed a superior performance, achieving 0.92 in precision and recall. We demonstrated the utility of AS-IN Tool by applying it to the transcriptomic data obtained from the brain and liver tissues of a healthy mouse and western diet fed mouse that developed type two diabetes. We showed that the edgetic effects of differentially expressed transcripts associated with the disease condition are system-wide and unlikely to be detected by looking only at the gene-specific expression levels.
Joshua 3.0: Syntax-based Machine Translation with the Thrax Grammar Extractor

We present progress on Joshua, an open-source decoder for hierarchical and syntax-based machine translation. The main focus is describing Thrax, a flexible, open source synchronous context-free grammar extractor. Thrax extracts both hierarchical (Chiang, 2007) and syntax-augmented machine translation (Zollmann and Venugopal, 2006) grammars. It is built on Apache Hadoop for efficient distributed performance, and can easily be extended with support for new grammars, feature functions, and output formats.
Perseverance andÂ Play: Making aÂ Movie for the YouTubeÂ Generation

In place of a traditional library orientation lecture at Fairfield University, librarians created aÂ choose-your-own- adventure movie for use in the classroom with an audience response system (ARS), allowing students to vote using clickers. The library administration took a risk by sponsoring the project, but the library director believed in her staff and let us run with our ideas. When we proposed the movie, we did not have an idea for the script; we simply knew we wanted to make a movie and show it in class. Why did we decide to do this whenÂ the status quo wasn't disastrous? Like people in any industry, we were pushing ourselves to change with the times, to make our information delivery more engagingâ€”entertaining even. Working under the charge to constantly evaluate and assess our instruction program, we questioned whether it mattered if librarians or professors liked the lecture. Who was the audience after all? If we were going to be successful, we had to captivate our students, the "Millennials," by showcasing the library, its spaces and its services, as the answer to many of their varied needs: social, educational, and recreational. In pursuit of this end, we worked with the Media Center, recruited student filmmakers, employed plenty of brainstorming, wrote a successful script, and produced Fairfield Beach: the Library. The ingredients were simple: perseverance and play. What follows is how we put them together.
Overview of the HI-SCALE Field Campaign: A New Perspective on Shallow Convective Clouds

AbstractShallow convective clouds are common, occurring over many areas of the world, and are an important component in the atmospheric radiation budget. In addition to synoptic and mesoscale meteo...
The Combination of Different Types of Work

By employing four individual case studies, Jeronimo Kersh not only questions and reassesses the collective narratives in the international literature and Cuban press by demonstrating that combining multiple earning strategies was a daily phenomenon, but she also makes a general hypothesis about the overall nature of women’s ‘choices’ and earning strategies, and why they employed them. She illustrates how women would often maintain a state career for prestige and security while employing an informal—and often illegal—second home-based earning strategy to generate higher earnings and manage their increased domestic labor. By taking a historical perspective, this chapter also shows how combining distinct forms of employment did not become commonplace until the mid-1990s when the legalization of the dollar and cuentapropismo inspired such ingenuity.
Effects of preconditioning on pre- and post-shipment performance of feeder calves.

A preconditioning (PC) program that involved preweaning vaccination and preshipment weaning was evaluated utilizing 600 calves produced on four South Dakota ranches. Nonpreconditioned (NPC) controls were herd mates that were maintained with their dams during the preconditioning process. All calves were shipped from the ranch to the feedlot on the same date. In Exp. I, PC caused lower (P less than .001) preshipment gains. However, management x ranch and management x year effects indicated that response to PC was variable. Preconditioning reduced (P less than .001) transit shrink in Exp. I but caused greater (P less than .05) shrink in Exp. II. Ranch and management x ranch effects accounted for more of the variation in shrink than PC did. In the feedlot, PC calves consumed more feed initially (d 1 to 28; P less than .001) and during the entire (P less than .10) feeding period when fed to slaughter condition. During the 28-d postshipment period, calves fed higher-grain diets consumed more feed (P less than .001) and were less efficient (P less than .001) than calves fed corn silage. When fed for longer periods (greater than 28 d), higher-energy diets improved feedlot gains and feed efficiency independent of preconditioning. Health and performance responses to this preconditioning procedure were variable. Our preconditioning procedure did not improve beef production efficiency.
Fostering the X-Factor in Pakistan’s university students

Possessing the X-Factor makes one more interesting, valuable, and unique than the rest. Based on a sample of 427 bachelor’s students, results of Study 1 supported the psychometric integrity of an X-Factor scale derived from various theoretical perspectives. Study 2 was a positive psychology strengths intervention, which entailed developing the X-Factor in 200 bachelor’s students (50 students randomly allocated to four groups; one untreated control and three experimental groups). The three interventions (individual, pair, and small group work) succeeded in developing the X-Factor in bachelor’s students, as indicated by the significant interaction effects of group and time of measurement (Pretest-Posttest-Follow-up test) on scores related to the X-Factor and its dimensions/subscales (self-insight, personal magnetism, self-determination, self-discipline, catalytic learning ability, and optimism). To examine the relative difference in the effect of the interventions, three sets of analysis of effect sizes were undertaken. The first set of analysis revealed that individual work was comparatively more suitable for enhancing the total X-Factor as well as self-determination, self-discipline, and optimism in university students. The second showed that pair work was comparatively more appropriate for improving self-insight and catalytic learning capability, whereas, the third demonstrated that small group work was more fitting for developing personal magnetism. Results have potential implications for education administrators, faculty members, student affairs practitioners, and positive psychology practitioners/facilitators. Researchers may use the valid and reliable scale in various innovative contexts to evaluate the potential of the X-Factor.
Model clone detection and its role in emergent model pattern mining: Towards using model clone detectors as emergent pattern miners – Potential and challenges

Abstract Model-based software engineering approaches continue to gain traction in both industry and research. Accordingly the size, complexity, and prevalence of the models themselves are increasing. Model analysis and management thus becomes an essential task within any model-based process. One form of analysis that can support model-based approaches during the software engineering life cycle is pattern extraction, whereby tooling identifies emergent model patterns. These patterns can be used by analysts to ensure adherence to standards, software quality assurance, and library generation and optimization. In this chapter, we discuss the plausibility of using model clone detection as a form of emergent pattern mining for model-based systems. After a brief primer on the field of model clone detection and model pattern detection, we propose a conceptual framework, MCPM, centered on model clone detection that analysts can employ to detect emergent patterns in their models. In describing our framework concept, we illustrate our ideas using Simulink, and our Simulink model clone detector, Simone, as an example. However, we also consider other model clone detectors' potential within the MCPM framework. This includes how existing research and tooling can be applied to each step within the framework. We identify open challenges for researchers in realizing model clone detection as a model pattern mining tool, as well as the potential benefit that can be experienced by practitioners in the application of MCPM.
Two rare complications of myocardial infarction: a case report.

Background Mechanical complications following myocardial infarction (MI) have decreased in incidence due to the widespread use of early percutaneous coronary revascularization methods. We describe two rare complications as well as their natural history and uncertainties of the ideal management approach. Case summary Sixty-two-year-old female with multiple cardiovascular disease risk factors who had a delayed presentation of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and went on to develop dissecting intramyocardial haematoma progressing to ventricular septal rupture and coronary ventricular fistula. Discussion Intramyocardial haematoma is a rare complication of MI. It is considered to be part of the continuum of myocardial rupture which our patient eventually developed in the form of ventricular septal defect. The second rare entity in the same patient was development of a coronary ventricular fistula of the infarct-related stented, artery. The best way of managing dissecting intramyocardial haematoma is unclear with conflicting data between conservative and invasive strategies. Our patient failed the conservative approach as she progressed to frank myocardial rupture.
A two-way switch for inositol pyrophosphate signaling: Evolutionary history and biological significance of a unique, bifunctional kinase/phosphatase.

Abstract The inositol pyrophosphates (PP-InsPs) are a unique subgroup of intracellular signals with diverse functions, many of which can be viewed as reflecting an overarching role in metabolic homeostasis. Thus, considerable attention is paid to the enzymes that synthesize and metabolize the PP-InsPs. One of these enzyme families - the diphosphoinositol pentakisphosphate kinases (PPIP5Ks) - provides an extremely rare example of separate kinase and phosphatase activities being present within the same protein. Herein, we review the current state of structure/function insight into the PPIP5Ks, the separate specialized activities of the two metazoan PPIP5K genes, and we describe a phylogenetic analysis that places PPIP5K evolutionary origin within the Excavata, the very earliest of eukaryotes. These different aspects of PPIP5K biology are placed in the context of a single, overriding question. Why are they bifunctional: i.e., what is the particular significance of the ability to turn PP-InsP signaling on or off from two separate ‘switches’ in a single protein?
Clinical staging in pancreatic adenocarcinoma underestimates extent of disease.

Abstract Background/objectives We sought to identify the reliability of AJCC clinical staging was in comparison to pathologic staging in surgically resected patients with pancreatic cancer. Methods We used the National Cancer Database Pancreas from 2004 to 2016 and evaluated patients who underwent resection for PDAC with all documented components of clinical and pathologic stage. We first evaluated the distribution of overall clinical stage and pathologic stage and then evaluated for stage migration by assessing the number of patients who shifted from a clinical stage group to a respective pathologic stage group. To further characterize the migratory pattern, we assessed the distribution of clinical and pathologic T-stage and N-stage. Results In our cohort of 28,338 patients who underwent resection for PDAC, AJCC clinical staging did not reliably predict pathologic stage. Stage migration after resection was responsible for discrepancies between the distribution of overall clinical stage and pathologic stage. The predominant migration was from patients with clinical stage I disease to pathologic stage II disease. Most patients with clinical T1 and T2 disease were upstaged to pathologic T3 disease and over half of patients with clinical N0 disease were upstaged to pathologic N1 disease after resection. Discussion Clinical staging appears to overrepresent early T1, T2, and N0 disease, and underrepresent T3 and N1 disease.
The effect of foal or adult horse plasma on equine monocyte-derived dendritic cell phenotype and function

Immunological and endocrine immaturity in foals increases foal morbidity and mortality from bacterial sepsis. Dendritic cells (DC) are critical in activating the adaptive immune response, but foal DC are phenotypically and functionally different than those of adult horses. Age-related variations in availability of some soluble plasma factors, such as hormones, might govern some age-related differences in DC function. Effects of exposure to plasma factors on equine DC phenotype and function have not been described. We hypothesized that exposure to plasma from foals or adult horses would differentially impact monocyte-derived DC (MoDC) phenotype and function. Eight healthy adult horses and 8 healthy foals were divided into pairs of one adult horse and one foal. Blood was collected from each pair for MoDC generation when foals were 1 and 30 days of age. MoDC from horses and foals were then exposed to killed whole-cell bacteria in the presence of their own age-matched plasma, plasma from the opposite-aged animal in the pair, and serum-free medium alone (control). Expression of DC-relevant surface markers (MHC class-II, CD86, and CD14) and endocytosis capability were measured by flow cytometry. Supernatant cytokine concentrations (IL-4, IL-17, IFN-γ, and IL-10) were quantified with a validated bead-based immunoassay. Data were analyzed using linear mixed-effects and Tobit regression models (P < 0.05). The percentage of MoDC expressing surface markers MHC class-II and CD86 was reduced in MoDC derived from 1-day-old foals in comparison to adult horse MoDC when cultured in medium alone or with either source of plasma (P = 0.0001). Foal and adult horse MoDC cultured in either source of plasma expressed more CD86 and less CD14 than cells cultured in serum-free medium alone (P ≤ 0.02). Adult horse and foal MoDC exposed to bacterial antigen in the presence of 1-day-old foal plasma secreted less IL-10 (P ≤ 0.0008) compared to those cultured in adult horse plasma. Endogenous production of IL-17 by MoDC from foals at day 1 of age cultured in adult plasma was increased compared to foal MoDC cultured in serum-free medium (P = 0.004). Phagocytosis of killed, labeled Staphylococcus aureus was reduced when MoDC generated from foals or adult horses were exposed to plasma from foals at day 1 or 30 of age (P ≤ 0.03). Age-related variation in soluble plasma factors appear to regulate equine MoDC function, but specific plasma factors capable of regulating MoDC phenotype or function were not defined in this study.