cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of connective tissue progenitor cell behavior on polydimethylsiloxane smooth and channel micro-textures.

Growth of human connective tissue progenitor cells (CTPs) was characterized on smooth and microtextured polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surfaces. Human bone marrow derived cells were cultured for nine days under conditions promoting osteoblastic differentiation on Smooth PDMS and PDMS Channel microtextures (11 μm high, 45 μm wide channels, and separated by 5 μm wide ridges). Glass tissue culture dish surfaces were used as controls. Cell numbers per colony, cell density within colonies, alignment of cells, area of colonies, and colony shapes were determined as a function of substrate surface topography. An alkaline phosphatase stain was used as a marker for osteoblastic phenotype. CTPs attached, proliferated, and differentiated on all surfaces with cell process lengths of up to 80 μm. Cells on the Smooth PDMS and control surfaces spread and proliferated as colonies in proximity to other cells and migrated in random directions creating colonies that covered significantly larger areas (0.96 and 1.05 mm2, respectively) than colonies formed on PDMS Channel textures (0.64 mm2). In contrast, cells on PDMS Channel textures spread, proliferated, aligned along the channel axis, and created colonies that were more dense, and with lengths of longest colony axes that were significantly longer (3252 μm) than those on the Smooth PDMS (1265 μm) and control surfaces (1319 μm). Cells on PDMS Channel textures were aligned at an angle of 14.44° relative to the channel axis, and the resulting colonies exhibited a significantly higher aspect ratio (13.72) compared to Smooth PDMS (1.57) and control surfaces (1.51).
PS1-35: Transition to Electronic In-clinic Data Capture of Questionnaires Increases Collection Rates

Background/Aims Geisinger bariatric surgery patients complete questionnaires at various points throughout the program as part of their standard care. Until recently, this was done using paper copies completed at home, resulting in unacceptably low response rates. Opportunities to capture missed responses exist, but are difficult to identify in a busy medical clinic. The purpose of this study is to improve patient questionnaire completion rate using in-clinic capture while minimizing the impact on clinic efficiency.
Temporospatial Analysis of Hurricane Katrina Regional Evacuation Traffic Patterns

Between the fall of 2004 and spring of 2005, a plan was developed to facilitate the evacuation of southeast Louisiana, including the City of New Orleans, when under the threat of a hurricane. The plan was created by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and the Louisiana State Police with the goal of eliminating or mitigating the traffic problems that were a part of the Hurricane Ivan evacuation that occurred in Sept. 2004. The cornerstone of the plan was to maximize the available roadway infrastructure within the region to move nearly the entire population in the most rapid and efficient manner. It incorporated the reversal of about 100 miles of interstate freeway across two states, restricted access to nearly 100 additional miles of freeway, while coordinating the transportation assets on a region-wide basis. This paper summarizes an effort to describe and quantify the effect of this regional evacuation plan on the movement of traffic across roadway infrastructure covering an area of nearly 75,000 square miles and a period of 3 days. The analyses illustrate the extent to which the evacuation impacted the roads in Louisiana, where these impacts were the most significant, how long they lasted, and how they compared to a prior evacuation plan in which a much lower level of management was used.
Experimental Investigation on Interfacial Adhesion in Microelectronic Assemblies

In this paper, we report recent studies on interface adhesion in flip-chip packaging. The adhesion energies of underfill interfaces found in typical flip-chip packaging pplications are characterized and presented using a racture-mechanics approach. The effects of underfill formulations and changes in polymer top-layer on PCB and chip passivation are also evaluated. The effects of underfill organosilane content, ubstrate surface chemistry and morphology, and underfill filler content are discussed in terms of fundamental mechanisms of adhesion.
Hormonal control of Brunner's glands.

In dogs and cats with isolated pouches of the first portion of the duodenum, containing Brunner's glands, the highest rates of secretion, 1.0 ml per 15 min in dogs and 0.7 ml per hr in cats, were attained by ad libitum feeding. Dose-related responses to continuous intravenous infusions of natural or synthetic porcine secretin occurred. Maximal responses to secretin were 0.8 ml per 15 min in dogs and 0.7 ml per hr in cats; the dose required for maximal response was 2 μg per kg-hr in both species. Lower levels of stimulation occurred with histamine, pure porcine gastrin II, pure cholecystokinin-pancreozymin, and pure caerulein.
Scientific contributions of Alexandr P. Rasnitsyn, 1959 to present.

The following list provides citations for 363 scientific contributions, including 13 edited volumes and books, produced by Alexandr P. Rasnitsyn. Naturally, the list presented here is a static representation of Alex’s contributions and we look forward to years of his forthcoming publications to our shared science. Thus, this list only encompasses those papers published as of 1 August 2011. We have published it here so as to bring to the attention of colleagues Alex’s numerous and multifaceted accomplishments, and why he so richly deserves our admiration. In addition, we believe the following list is the most thorough and accurate accounting of his published scientific activities. Given that many of his works are in his native Russian, we believe this list will serve as a tool for directing interested individuals to English translations, where available. In elaborating this list we have taken a detailed approach to cataloguing Alex’s numerous publications, adopting the philosophy that bibliography is a science of its own and provides an accurate description of a work or contribution to a work (e.g., Gaskell 1972). It is with this philosophy in mind that the list was constructed and how to determine what should, or should not, constitute an individual citation, the appropriate form of citation, etc. To the best of our ability we have checked article and serial titles, as well as dates of publication and complete citations against original sources, either from the original series or official reprints. In addition, some serials and edited volumes have been checked against library copies at the University of Kansas (Lawrence) or the Library of Congress (Washington DC). Several of Alex’s contributions appear in special edited issues of otherwise serial publications. These are cited as they appear in the journal series, with the editors and titles of the special issues following in parentheticals.
Feature-Based Synthesis: A Tool for Evaluating, Designing, and Interacting with Music IR Systems

We present a general framework for performing featurebased synthesis ‐ that is, for producing audio characterized by arbitrarily specified sets of perceptually motivated, quantifiable acoustic features of the sort used in many music information retrieval systems.
Modelling topographic variation of solar radiation using GIS

Renewable energy is clean sources and has a much lower environmental impact as compare to other energy sources. Solar energy is one such renewable energy. The Estimation of solar energy potential of a region requires detailed solar radiation climatology. Also it is necessary to collect extensive radiation data of high accuracy covering all climatic zones of the region. The study area National University of Sciences and Technology is the one of the top ranked universities of Pakistan and has some limitations on the number of synoptic stations. Hence, the aim of this study is to determine the theoretical solar radiation potential in NUST by using Area Solar Radiation (ASR) model based on topography and geographical information systems. The ASR model was successfully applied with a core of practical methodology. The results show that NUST has very good solar potential with value of 15.57 KWH/m2 and 12.88 KWH/m2 as maximum and minimum respectively. The Area Solar Radiation model can also be used to calculate the insolation across an entire landscape. The ASR model is very efficient and time saving which offers means of entering, accessing, and interpreting the information for the purpose of sound decision making.
Inelastic Sway Buckling of Multistory Frames

Although it is essential to ensure that unbraced multistory steel frames are stable under fully factored gravity loads alone, only few techniques are available for analyzing them under these ultimate conditions. This paper presents one such method using the concept that frame instability occurs when one story becomes unstable. The effects of plastic hinge formation are considered, and the mechanisms which can lead to instability are described. The proposed technique has been successfully compared with experimental results and a more sophisticated approach.
MENTAL ABILITY OF RESIDENTS IN A STATE SCHOOL FOR DEPENDENT AND NEGLECTED YOUTH

To check the familix observation that institutionalized and/or delinquent youth are below average in meas~~red intelligence this study was done. The records of, plus personal acquaintance with, the residents of the State Juvenile Home at Toledo, Iowa, established that nearly all of the residents come from economically and psychologically deprived homes. The institution is one of two state-supported homes for dependent and/or neglected children. Whereas the majoricy of the residects are not delinquents in a true sense, most have had difficulties at home and at school and many have exhibited behavior that might be termed pre-delinquent. Some have been legally adjudged as delinquent. All are committed on court order. For the most part, residents range in age from 12 to 19 and come from all parts of the state. A state-accredited school is operated at the Home. In the Fall, 1965, a grou? testing program was initiated with the objective of collecting data useful in educational, vocational, and personal counseling as weU as in program planning. Testing began with the administration of a group test of intelligence, Form A of both the Verbal and Nonverbal batteries of the Lorge-Thorndike Intelligence Test, to all Ss from Grades 7 through L2 (N = 142). Level 4 was given to Grades 7 through 10 (N = 89) and Level 5 ro Grades 11 and 12 (N = 53). Ss were predominantly whire; 13.4% were non-white (Ncgr>~ and Indian). There were 85 males and 57 females. Mean scores and standara deviations were computed and t tests performed, using as the criterion group the standardization population of more than 136,000 children in 44 communities in 22 states. Ccmmunities were stratified on a composite of factors found to be related to the measured intelligence of children in the community in order to rule out bias in the norms. These factors are discussed by Thorndike (1951). Deviation IQs are pro~ided for the Lorge-Thorndike Intelligence Test. The
Combining Anthropometric Data and Consumer Review Content to Inform Design for Human Variability

In this paper, we strive to combine concepts from the field of ergonomics with techniques from design analytics in order to inform the specifications of a product, such that a designer can create products that are both universal and well-received by consumers. While the ergonomic guidelines dictated by anthropometric data can provide a broad target range for design features, consumer reviews of previous iterations of similar products can narrow the design further, within that given range, to pinpoint a more effective design. We establish a general, ergonomically-centered set of cue-phrases to identify and extract useful information from online reviews, after which this information can be coupled with anthropometric measurements to produce more accurate product dimensions and features. A new metric, the Frequency and Accuracy Summation (FAS) Number is also introduced, as a means to predict the likelihood that a cue-phrase will yield useful results. The usefulness of these cue-phrases as well as the utility of combining consumer review content with anthropometric data sets are then tested in a case study centered on the design of a new and more universal “ear bud” headphone. Using the established cue-phrases, reviews of an existing product are processed such that problem components could be targeted in the new design. The information that was gleaned from those reviews is then paired with actual human ear measurements to propose a new, hypothetical product design that is more ergonomically sound and universal.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
The Pilot Personality and Individual Differences in the Stress Response

Everyday many pilots are able to successfully perform in stressful, high demand, high workload environments under conditions of time pressure and uncertainty. These capable pilots are attributed wi...
Analysis on infection distribution and drug resistance of Acinetobacter baumanii

Objective To investigate the distribution and drug-resistance of Acinetobacter baumanii(AB), and to provide evidence for rational drug use in clinical settings. Methods AB was isolated from clinical samples collected from January 2010 to December2012, and the samples were identified with new ATB identification system. The drug sensitivity was detected with the K-B method.Results Acinetobacter baumanii was most often isolated from sputum, and ICU and the department of respiratory medicine were primary places. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests showed that AB had low resistances to cefoperazone/sulbactam to 13 other antibacterial drugs. The number of multidrug-resisitant AB had sharply increased. Conclusion Multidrug-resistance of AB is a serious problem. Monitoring of drug resistance should be enhanced, and reasonable antibiotics application according to the drug sensitivity results is required in this hospital.
High-Temperature Oxidation Behavior of ODS-Fe3Al

The high-temperature oxidation behavior of an oxide dispersion-strengthened (ODS) Fe3Al alloy has been studied during isothermal and cyclic exposures in oxygen and air over the temperature range 1000 to 1300°C. Compared to commercially available ODS–FeCrAl alloys, it exhibited very similar short-term rates of oxidation at 1000 and 1100°C, but at higher temperatures the oxidation rate increased because of increased scale spallation. Over the entire temperature range, the oxide scale formed was α-Al2O3, with the morphological features typical of reactive-element doping and was similar to those formed on the ODS–FeCrAl alloys. Although initially this scale appeared to be extremely adherent to the Fe3Al substrate, an undulating metal–oxide interface formed with increasing time and temperature, which led to cracking of the scale in the vicinity of surface undulations accompanied by a loss of small fragments of the full-scale thickness. In some instances, the surface undulations appeared to have resulted from gross outward local extrusion of the alloy substrate. Similar features developd on the FeCrAl alloys, but they were typically much smaller after a given oxidation exposure. The ODS–Fe3Al alloy has a significantly larger coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) than typical FeCrAl alloys (approximately 1.5 times at 900°C) and this appears to be the major reason for the greater tendency for scale spallation. The stress generated by the CTE mismatch was apparently sufficient to lead to buckling and limited loss of scale at temperatures up to 1100°C, with an increasing amount of substrate deformation at 1200°C and above. This deformation led to increased scale spallation by producing an out-of-plane stress distribution, resulting in cracking or shearing of the oxide.
Etoposide plus ifosfamide plus cisplatin in the treatment of small cell lung cancer.

Approximately 25% of all lung cancer cases diagnosed in 1993 were due to small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Approximately one third of all SCLC patients present with limited disease. Efforts to improve treatment results for patients with limited-stage SCLC include two recent meta-analyses of combined-modality treatment involving chemotherapy with thoracic radiotherapy versus chemotherapy alone. Both of these studies showed improvements in survival with the combined-modality approach. In addition, preliminary results of a Hoosier Oncology Group phase II study of cisplatin/ifosfamide/etoposide (VIP) in combination with thoracic radiotherapy in patients with limited disease indicate that VIP has an acceptable toxicity profile and should be studied further. For patients presenting with extensive-stage SCLC, several combination regimens have been shown to be effective in inducing responses of approximately 60%, although none has established superiority. Results of several studies evaluating the standard cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin/vincristine (CAV) regimen versus cisplatin-containing combination regimens have shown no obvious survival advantage of the cisplatin regimens over CAV. On the other hand, results of a Hoosier Oncology Group study of VIP versus cisplatin/etoposide in extensive-disease SCLC showed that overall survival favored (P = .044) the VIP arm (9.1 months v 7.3 months), although these results need to be confirmed in another trial.
The Research of Phenylhexyl Isothiocyanate’s Influence on p16 Gene Methylation of Leukaemia Cell

Objective Aberrant DNA methylation of CpG site is among the earliest and most frequent alterations in cancer. The aim of this study was to study whether phenylhexyl isothiocyanate can reduce the methylation level of P16 gene. This study used a microarray-based method for quantificationally detecting changes of P16 gene methylation in leukemia patient and U266 cell line. And to simply discuss the effect of phenylhexyl isothiocyanate on tumor methylation. Methods This method used bisulfite-modified DNA as a template for PCR amplification, resulting in conversion of unmethylated cytosine, but not methylated cytosine, into thymine within CpG islands of interest. One set of oligonucleotide probes were designed to fabricate a DNA microarray to detect the methylation changes of P16 gene CpG islands. Each set contained a pair of methylated and unmethylated oligonucleotides for interrogating 3 CpG sites in close proximity. By TA cloning, PCR, sequencing, positive and negative DNA targets were required. Next drawing a standard curve by fluorescence intensity. Leukemia samples DNA were abstracted and bisulfite-modified. Sample DNA targets were required by PCR amplification and were hybridized with the microarry. Finally the microarry was scanned with ScanArray Lite microarray analysis systems. Results The linear relationship (R 2 =0.9660) was established and it could be used to eliminate background noise. The methylation level of U266 is hypermethylation, after cultured with PHI, the level reduce. Eleven patients have P16 gene hypermethylation in thrity. After culture with PHI, seven patients showed level reduce, one patient showed raise, three patients showed remaining. Conclusion PHI can reduce the methylation level of P16 gene in U266 cell line, and also can reduce the methylation level of P16 gene of leukemia patient samples in vitro culture.
Nonimaging optics in lighting to reduce light pollution

Light pollution has become a prominent issue, specifically in National Parks such as Yosemite, where visitors go to enjoy the natural ‘night sky’. In an effort to reduce light pollution, a particularly obtrusive light source has been selected for retrofit. Using nonimaging optics and light emitting diodes (LEDs), light can be controlled to achieve a desired prescribed illumination distribution. This distribution possesses a sharp cut-off such that light leakage is minimal. Nonimaging optical designs are 3D printed, retrofitted into the candidate fixture, and tested in Yosemite National Park. The end goal is to drastically reduce and even eliminate the excess light from sources around the park.
Free-Space Electro-Optic Detection of THz Radiation with Chirped Optical Beam

We report electro-optic detection of a freely propagating THz field with chirped optical probe pulses. We also present the single-shot measurement and one-dimensional THz field imaging with an unprecedented data acquisition rate.
Pain, Fear, and Circumcision in Boys’ Adolescent Initiation Ceremonies:

Rituals that induce pain or instill fear occur in the majority of boys’ adolescent initiation ceremonies. They have been accounted for in several ways: as resolving a psychological conflict, as exp...
The human subthalamic nucleus and globus pallidus internus differentially encode reward during action control

The subthalamic nucleus (STN) and globus pallidus internus (GPi) have recently been shown to encode reward, but few studies have been performed in humans. We investigated STN and GPi encoding of reward and loss (i.e., valence) in humans with Parkinson's disease. To test the hypothesis that STN and GPi neurons would change their firing rate in response to reward- and loss-related stimuli, we recorded the activity of individual neurons while participants performed a behavioral task. In the task, action choices were associated with potential rewarding, punitive, or neutral outcomes. We found that STN and GPi neurons encode valence-related information during action control, but the proportion of valence-responsive neurons was greater in the STN compared to the GPi. In the STN, reward-related stimuli mobilized a greater proportion of neurons than loss-related stimuli. We also found surprising limbic overlap with the sensorimotor regions in both the STN and GPi, and this overlap was greater than has been previously reported. These findings may help to explain alterations in limbic function that have been observed following deep brain stimulation therapy of the STN and GPi. Hum Brain Mapp 38:1952-1964, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Exacution: Enhancing Scientific Data Management for Exascale

As we continue toward exascale, scientific data volume is continuing to scale and becoming more burdensome to manage. In this paper, we lay out opportunities to enhance state of the art data management techniques. We emphasize well-principled data compression, and using it to achieve progressive refinement. This can both accelerate I/O and afford the user increased flexibility when she interacts with the data. The formulation naturally maps onto enabling partitioning of the progressively improving-quality representations of a data quantity into different media-type destinations, to keep the highest priority information as close as possible to the computation, and take advantage of deepening memory/storage hierarchies in ways not previously possible. Careful monitoring is requisite to our vision, not only to verify that compression has not eliminated salient features in the data, but also to better understand the performance of massively parallel scientific applications. Increased mathematical rigor would be ideal,to help bring compression on a better-understood theoretical footing, closer to the relevant scientific theory, more aware of constraints imposed by the science, and more tightly error-controlled. Throughout, we highlight pathfinding research we have begun exploring related these topics, and comment toward future work that will be needed.
One-Lung Ventilation

In this brief review of one-lung ventilation (OLV), we present the case of a patient with lung cancer scheduled to undergo thoracoscopic lobectomy. We review the functional anatomy of the lung, essential components of the preoperative evaluation, concerns specific to patients with lung cancer, smoking cessation, lung isolation techniques with attendant advantages and disadvantages, ventilation/perfusion matching, approaches to hypoxemia and high peak airway pressures during OLV, hypoxemic pulmonary vasoconstriction, perioperative concerns in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, appropriate intraoperative monitoring in lobectomy, thoracic epidural analgesia, fluid management in thoracic surgery, extubation criteria, and postoperative management.
Assessment of urinary protein composition in response to consecutive days of wildland firefighting

The purpose of this study was to examine the pattern of urinary protein excretion induced by 3 consecutive days of wildland firefighting. Eighteen male active-duty military personnel served as the participants. All testing on the 3 consecutive days was conducted at a Northwestern USA fire camp. All participants consumed military-based foods containing 2620-2864 kcal/day. The work activity was evaluated with an accelerometer in association with body weight and hydration markers over the experimental period. Urinary samples were collected pre and post workshift on days 1 and 3 to assess glomerular and tubular protein excretion (total protein, albumin, β2-microglobulin, N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase and creatinine). The urinary levels of glomerular and tubular protein were not significantly different. The main findings of the present study indicate that similar alterations of urinary protein composition can be observed over consecutive days of wildland firefighting, which appears to be dependent on intensity rather than total work output.
Group peer assessment of oral English performance in a Taiwanese elementary school

Abstract While studies of peer assessment (PA) of both written and oral performance are more common in higher education settings, particularly in first-language contexts, PA’s potential for familiarizing elementary-level students with assessment criteria, empowering them to gain ownership of their learning, and developing their motivation and collaborative skills is less well understood. This study investigated the implementation of group PA of oral performance in English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) classes in Taiwan. A mixed methodology research design integrated analysis of teacher- and peer-assessment ratings for each presenting group, post-assessment survey data, and an instructor interview, documenting the perceptions of and attitudes toward PA of 130 upper elementary students (ages 10–12) and their instructor. The results show that the ratings by fifth and sixth graders, but not fourth graders, were significantly correlated with those of the instructor. Practical and research implications for future implementation of PA of oral performance are discussed.
Second Chern number of a quantum-simulated non-Abelian Yang monopole

Topological order is often quantified in terms of Chern numbers, each of which classifies a topological singularity. Here, inspired by concepts from high-energy physics, we use quantum simulation based on the spin degrees of freedom of atomic Bose-Einstein condensates to characterize a singularity present in five-dimensional non-Abelian gauge theories—a Yang monopole. We quantify the monopole in terms of Chern numbers measured on enclosing manifolds: Whereas the well-known first Chern number vanishes, the second Chern number does not. By displacing the manifold, we induce and observe a topological transition, where the topology of the manifold changes to a trivial state.
Fc receptors for IgG, IgM and IgE on human leukaemic lymphocytes.

Fc receptors for IgG, IgM, IgE and the cell surface immunoglobulins (SIg) were analysed on lymphocytes from seventeen patients with chronic lymphatic leukaemia (CLL), one with lympho-sarcoma cell leukaemia (LSL), two each with hairy cell leukaemia (HCL), acute lymphatic leukaemia (ALL) and Sezary syndrome. Fc receptors for IgG and IgM were detected by rosette formation with ox erythrocytes (EO) sensitized with rabbit IgG (EOAG) and IgM (EOAM) anti-EO antibodies, respectively. Fc receptors for IgE were analysed either with EO coated with glutaraldehyde coupled complexes consisting of rabbit Fab' fragments of anti-EO antibodies and Fc fragments of an IgE myeloma protein (EOAE), or with aldehyde fixed EO to which IgE was adsorbed. SIg of classes IgM, IgD, IgG and κ and λ light chain type were detected with EO coated with complexes consisting of Fab'-anti-EO and purified F(ab')2 fragments of specific goat antibodies. Lymphocytes of all patients with CLL, LSL and HCL had Fc receptors for IgG (65±15% EOAG+, normal 22·0±5·8%). Ten patients had significant numbers of cells with IgM Fc receptors (37±22% EOAM+, normal 1·2±1·5%) which were detected without overnight culturing of the lymphocytes. Lymphocytes of four patients (two CLL, one LSL, one HCL) had Fc receptors for IgE (22–88% EOAE+, normal 1·8±0·7%). The cells of three of these four patients were also EOAM+. The high numbers of rosetting cells indicated that individual lymphocytes must have carried more than one class of Fc receptors. The lymphocytes of the ALL and Sezary syndrome patients had few Fc receptor positive cells. Of the seventeen patients with CLL, twelve were SIgM+ and/or SIgD+, only four κ+ or λ+ and one had no SIg. The cells of the LSL and one of the HCL patients were SIgM+ and SIgD+, whilst the cells of the other HCL patient were SIgG, λ+. None of the other patients had more than 10% SIgG+ cells. The ALL and Sezary syndrome patients had low numbers of SIg+ and Fc receptor positive cells. These data indicate that lymphocytes of patients with B-cell leukaemias can carry different classes of Fc receptors simultaneously; the different classes are found in a decreasing frequency of IgG>IgM>IgE.
\(\phi ^{4}\) Continuum Breathers: Forty Years After

More than forty years ago, a perturbation series in powers of a small parameter \(\epsilon \), proportional to amplitude, was found as a description of breathers solving the \(\phi ^4\) wave equation. These breathers are periodic in time and localized in space. Thirty-five years ago, Segur and Kruskal showed that such breathers were weakly nonlocal in space because of emission of radiation with an amplitude exponentially small in \(1/\epsilon \). In this chapter we discuss existence-to-all-orders and beyond-all-orders nonexistence. We also describe progress in numerical algorithms for weakly nonlocal breathers. We also explain the slow decay of breathers on multiple logarithmic time scales.
Shelf-Slope Stability Assessment from Multiresolution (Wavelet) Estimation of Slope and Curvature from Gridded Bathymetry Data

Abstract : The overall goal of this study is to assess slope stability in the STRATAFORM study areas of the United States continental margin. The general procedure for slope assessment employs a Coulomb failure criterion which assumes accurate knowledge of local topographic or bathymetric slope.
Sociolinguistic Consequences of Economic Convergence in Galicia, Spain

Changes in the nature of capitalist production over the past thirty years have allowed regions to assert a greater political and economic presence in the new global marketplace. Galicia, a Spanish ...
ThG Cells: A Distinct T Helper Cell Subset with Lineage Characteristics

Using single-cell RNA-seq and high-dimensional single-cell mass cytometry (CyTOF), we identified eight distinct populations of antigen-experienced CD45RA-CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood of healthy donors. In addition to Tregs and established Th lineages, we also identified a distinct population of T cells that lacked expression of master transcription factors and signature cytokines of other Th cell lineages. These cells, which we tentatively designated “ThG”, were a subset of GM-CSF+ Th cells distinct from GM-CSF+ Th1, Th2, Th9, Th17 and Th22 cells. ThG cells co-expressed GM-CSF, IL-2, TNF, IL-3 and CCL20. They were also present in mice. Both human and mouse ThG cells can be efficiently differentiated from naive CD4+ T cells in vitro, suggesting that ThG cells in vivo also develop directly from naive precursors. ThG cells had a stable phenotype and were highly encephalitogenic. Similar to Th17 cells, ThG cells switched their phenotype to Th1 in response to IL-12. T-bet was not required for ThG development, but it was required for their encephalitogenicity. Analogous to other Th cells, ThG cells had a tendency to eventually cease GM-CSF expression without other major changes in their phenotype. These findings demonstrate that there are, both in humans and mice, ThG cells with stable phenotype that constitute a distinct population with lineage characteristics.
All Normal Dispersion Fiber Laser with Bandwidth Tunable Fiber Based Spectral Filter

We have demonstrated a stable ytterbium mode-locked fiber laser with an all fiber, bandwidth tunable spectral filter which can generate mode-locked spectrums of different shapes and bandwidth.
Incidence of Optic Neuritis and the Associated Risk of Multiple Sclerosis for Service Members of U.S. Armed Forces.

Introduction Optic neuritis (ON), an acute inflammation of the optic nerve resulting in eye pain and temporary vision loss, is one of the leading causes of vision-related hospital bed days in the U.S. Military and may be a harbinger of multiple sclerosis (MS). We developed a case identification algorithm to estimate incidence rates of ON and the conversion rate to MS based on a retrospective assessment of medical records of service members (SMs) of the U.S. Armed Force. Materials and methods Electronic medical records (EMRs) from 2006 to 2018 in the Defense Medical Surveillance System were screened using the case identification algorithms for ON and MS diagnosis. The incidences rates of ON were calculated. The rates of conversion to MS was modeled using the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Results The overall incidence rate of ON was 8.1 per 100,000 from 2006 to 2018. Females had a rate (16.9 per 100,000) three times higher than males. Most (68%) of subsequent diagnoses of MS were made within 1 year after diagnosis of ON. The overall 5-year risk of progression to MS was 15% (11%-16% for 95% CI). The risk of conversion to MS in females was significantly higher than in males. Conclusions We developed an efficient tool to explore the EMR database to estimate the burden of ON in the U.S. Military and the MS conversion based on a dynamic cohort. The estimated conversion rates to MS feeds into inform retention and fitness-for-duty policy in these SMs.
De-noising Spatial Expression Profiling Data Based on in situ Position and Image Information

Spatial expression profiling (SEP) technologies provide gene expression close to or even superior to single-cell resolution while retaining the physical locations of sequencing and often also providing matched pathology images. However, the expression data captured by SEP technologies suffer from high noise levels, including but not limited to drop-outs as in regular single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq). The extra experimental steps for preserving the spatial locations of sequencing could result in even more severe noises, compared to regular scRNA-seq. Fortunately, such noises could be largely reduced by leveraging information from the physical locations of sequencing and the tissue and cellular organization reflected by corresponding pathology images. In this work, we demonstrated the extensive levels of noise in SEP data. We developed a mathematical model, named Sprod, to reduce such noises based on latent space and graph learning of matched location and imaging data. We comprehensively validated Sprod and demonstrated its advantages over prior methods for removing drop-outs in scRNA-seq data. We further showed that, after adequately de-noising by Sprod, differential expression analyses, pseudotime analyses, and cell-to-cell interaction inferences yield significantly more informative results in various biological application settings. In particular, with Sprod, we discovered 3-4 times more RNA transcripts that were actively transported in mouse hippocampus neurons. We also showed that the tumor cells at the tumor-stroma boundaries demonstrate differential transcriptomic features from the tumor cells in the central regions, caused by their interactions with the stroma/immune cells. Overall, we envision denoising by Sprod to become a key first step to empower SEP technologies for biomedical discoveries and innovations.
Pronouns for an apocalyptic future: asymmetrical terms for a new era

Pronouns, particularly gendered pronouns, convey how apocalyptic futures are understood for differently positioned subjects. The “we” is not always about embracing a commons but can also be about e...
OLDER ADULTS AND E-LEARNING Opportunities and Barriers

E-learning and distance education can play a role in helping older adults become integrated with the rest of society. As demographic and cultural changes affect the place of older adults in society, online learning programs become increasingly appealing to older adults. In this aticle, I discuss (1) the changing notion of work and learning in older adulthood, (2) the myths about older adults’ use of technology, (3) the types of e-learning programs for older adults (i.e., programs for personal growth and social change, workforce development, and workplace learning), and (4) the barriers to older adults’ full participation in e-learning.
Combining liquid desiccant dehumidification with a dew-point evaporative cooler: A design analysis

This article uses a numerical model to analyze a concept combining a liquid desiccant dehumidifier with a dew-point indirect evaporative cooler. Each of these components, or stages, consists of an array of channel pairs, where a channel pair is two air channels separated by a thin plastic plate. In the first stage, a liquid desiccant film lining one side of the plates removes moisture from the process (supply-side) air through a membrane. An evaporatively cooled exhaust airstream on the other side of the plastic plate cools the desiccant. The second stage sensibly cools the dried process air with a dew-point evaporative cooler. This article uses a parametric analysis to illustrate the key design tradeoff for this concept: device size (a surrogate for cost) versus energy efficiency. The analysis finds the design parameters with the largest effect on this tradeoff and finds the combinations of design parameters giving near-optimal designs, which are designs with the highest efficiency for a given device siz...
Improving human capital through engineering and entrepreneurship

Whether the goal is to solve the grand challenges established by the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), or it is to address the developmental road blocks plaguing less economically developed countries (LEDC), engineers must be able to work together to help improve the quality of life for people all over the world. One of the primary focuses of this paper is to explore how engineers can incorporate innovation and entrepreneurship in order to elevate the living conditions for many people in developing countries. Due to the lack of investments in LEDC, much of the world is still trapped in poverty. These low levels of investments lead to minimal infrastructure building, meaning inadequate roads, schools, or hospitals. As a result, we have a population that is less productive, uneducated, and unhealthy—bringing us back to the reason why few invest in LEDC. As engineers, entrepreneurs, and educators, it is our job to promote sustainable solutions to infrastructural black holes. We must do this by enticing ...
Mechanism of ATP-Induced [Ca2+]i Mobilization in Rat Basilar Smooth Muscle Cells

Background and Purpose —We have previously reported that extracellular ATP activates P2u receptors and increases intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) by G protein/phospholipase C/inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate pathways in cerebral artery smooth muscle cells. However, the possible contribution of other signaling pathways remains unclear. This study was undertaken to investigate the role of protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in mediating ATP-induced Ca2+ mobilization in rat basilar artery smooth muscle cells (RBASMCs). Methods —RBASMCs were freshly isolated, and [Ca2+]i was monitored by fura 2 microfluorimetry. MAPK phosphorylation was studied by the Western blot technique. Results —ATP produced a biphasic [Ca2+]i response, which consists of releasing Ca2+ from internal stores and influx from extracellular space. PTK inhibitors tyrphostin 51 and genistein inhibited [Ca2+]i response to ATP. Tyrphostin A1, an inactive analogue of tyrphostins, failed to reduce the ATP-induced response. MAPK kinase inhibitor PD98059, but not U0126, reduced the ATP-induced [Ca2+]i response. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) tyrosine kinase inhibitor wortmannin, but not janus tyrosine kinase (JAK2) inhibitor AG490, partially inhibited the [Ca2+]i response induced by ATP. In addition, ATP enhanced MAPK phosphorylation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and genistein, tyrphostin 51, PD98059, and U0126 inhibited MAPK phosphorylation. Conclusions —Extracellular ATP produced [Ca2+]i elevation and MAPK phosphorylation in RBASMCs, and the effect was regulated by PTK. The role of MAPK in ATP-induced [Ca2+]i elevation is not clear. PI3-K tyrosine kinase and JAK2 tyrosine kinase may not play an important role in the ATP-induced [Ca2+]i response in RBASMCs.
The impact of clinical and demographic variables on cognitive performance in methamphetamine-dependent individuals in rural South Carolina.

Inconsistencies in reports on methamphetamine (METH) associated cognitive dysfunction may be attributed, at least in part, to the diversity of study sample features (eg, clinical and demographic characteristics). The current study assessed cognitive function in a METH-dependent population from rural South Carolina, and the impact of demographic and clinical characteristics on performance. Seventy-one male (28.2%) and female (71.8%) METH-dependent subjects were administered a battery of neurocognitive tests including the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM), Shipley Institute of Living Scale, Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT), Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Grooved Pegboard Test, California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT), and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Demographic and clinical characteristics (eg, gender, frequency of METH use) were examined as predictors of performance. Subjects scored significantly lower than expected on one test of attention and one of fine motor function, but performed adequately on all other tests. There were no predictors of performance on attention; however, more frequent METH use was associated with better performance for males and worse for females on fine motor skills. The METH-dependent individuals in this population exhibit very limited cognitive impairment. The marked differences in education, Intellectual Quotient (IQ), and gender in our sample when compared to the published literature may contribute to these findings. Characterization of the impact of clinical and/or demographic features on cognitive deficits could be important in guiding the development of treatment interventions. Language: en
The transmembrane 7-alpha-bundle of rhodopsin: distance geometry calculations with hydrogen bonding constraints

A 3D model of the transmembrane 7-alpha-bundle of rhodopsin-like G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) was calculated using an iterative distance geometry refinement with an evolving system of hydrogen bonds, formed by intramembrane polar side chains in various proteins of the family and collectively applied as distance constraints. The alpha-bundle structure thus obtained provides H bonding of nearly all buried polar side chains simultaneously in the 410 GPCRs considered. Forty evolutionarily conserved GPCR residues form a single continuous domain, with an aliphatic "core" surrounded by six clusters of polar and aromatic side chains. The 7-alpha-bundle of a specific GPCR can be calculated using its own set of H bonds as distance constraints and the common "average" model to restrain positions of the helices. The bovine rhodopsin model thus determined is closely packed, but has a few small polar cavities, presumably filled by water, and has a binding pocket that is complementary to 11-cis (6-s-cis, 12-s-trans, C = N anti)-retinal or to all-trans-retinal, depending on conformations of the Lys296 and Trp265 side chains. A suggested mechanism of rhodopsin photoactivation, triggered by the cis-trans isomerization of retinal, involves rotations of Glu134, Tyr223, Trp265, Lys296, and Tyr306 side chains and rearrangement of their H bonds. The model is in agreement with published electron cryomicroscopy, mutagenesis, chemical modification, cross-linking, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, NMR, and optical spectroscopy data. The rhodopsin model and the published structure of bacteriorhodopsin have very similar retinal-binding pockets.
Social Factors Affecting Emotionality and Resistance to Disease in Animals: IV. Differential Housing, Emotionality, and Walker 256 Carcinosarcoma in the Rat:

Two experiments were conducted in which male, Sprague-Dawley rats were housed individually or in groups of 5 to 7 per cage from weaning until maturity. On the standard tests of emotionality there w...
Rebounding from Disruptive Events: Business Recovery Following the Northridge Earthquake

Although the long‐term effects of disasters and the factors that affect the ability to recover have received increasing attention from social science researchers, little systematic research has been conducted on the processes and outcomes associated with business disaster recovery. This article attempts to fill that void by exploring the determinants of recovery within the private sector. We develop a model of business recovery by drawing from existing research on disaster recovery and on organizational survival in nondisaster contexts and test it by using data collected from a stratified random sample of 1,110 Los Angeles area firms affected by the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Business size, disruption of business operations due to the earthquake, earthquake shaking intensity, and the utilization of external postdisaster aid are all predictors of business recovery. Size helps businesses weather disaster losses, just as it proves advantageous in nondisaster contexts. How businesses fare following disasters...
Effects of three stabilizing agents—Proline, betaine, and trehalose—on membrane phospholipids

We have studied the interaction between three compounds which accumulate in organisms under hydration stress--proline, betaine, and trehalose--and the membrane phospholipids dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC), palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylcholine (POPC), and dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine in bulk solution. Film balance studies reveal that these compounds increase the area/molecule of these lipids. Differential scanning calorimetry has been employed to investigate the effect these agents have on the gel-to-liquid crystalline phase transition of multilamellar and small unilamellar vesicles of DMPC, dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, and POPC:phosphatidylserine (90:10 mole ratio) in bulk solution. In the presence of 1 M proline, trehalose, or betaine, the midtransition temperature in small unilamellar vesicles is reduced (up to 7 degrees C in 1 M trehalose), and the transition broadened. In contrast, multilamellar vesicles of similar lipid composition show an increased transition temperature in the presence of the same concentration of these compounds. This result suggests that the inner lamellae in multilamellar vesicles may be dehydrated with only a few outer lamellae exposed to the protective compound. Finally, we have used stereomodels of phosphatidylcholine to investigate the mechanism of action of these agents. Hydrogen bonding of trehalose to the head group region results in an increase in the distance between head groups of 6.9 A. This amount of spreading compares well with data from the monolayer experiments which indicate that maximal spreading of DMPC monolayers by trehalose is 6.5 A. Molecular models of proline and betaine have also been constructed, and these models suggest potential interactions between these compounds and phosphatidylcholines. For the amphipath proline, this interaction may involve intercalation between phospholipid head groups.