cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Control of polysilicon on-film particulates with on-product measurements

Historically, a number of in-line particle measurements have been performed on separate test wafers included with product wafers during polysilicon processes. By performing film thickness and particulate measurements directly on product wafers, instead, a number of benefits accrue: (1) reduced test wafer usage, (2) reduced test wafer storage requirements, (3) reduced need for equipment to reclaim test wafers, (4) reduced need for direct labor to reclaim test wafers, and (5) reduced engineering 'false alarms' due to incorrectly processed test wafers. Implementation of on-product measurements for the polysilicon diffusion process required a number of changes in both philosophy and methodology. We show the necessary steps to implementation of on-product particle measurements with concern for overall manufacturing efficiency and the need to maintain appropriate control. Particle results from the Tencor 7600 Surfscan are presented.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Auditory Nerve Activity and Cochlear Morphology after Noise Exposure

Four chinchillas were exposed for 5 days to an octave band of noise centered at 4 kHz and having an SPL of 86 dB. After a recovery period of approximately 6 months, behavioral audiograms were obtained and auditory nerve fiber activity was recorded. The animals were killed and the cochleas embedded in plastic to obtain a surface preparation and 1 μ radial sections of the organ of Corti. Behavioral threshold shifts ranged from 5 to 20 dB at frequencies between 4 and 11 kHz. Auditory nerve fiber thresholds were elevated up to 70 dB for units with characteristic frequencies between 4 and 14 kHz. Units with higher and lower characteristic frequencies had normal thresholds. Cochleagrams showed narrow lesions of inner and/or outer hair cells over approximately a 1 mm distance. A comparison of the three realms of data revealed the following: (1) The greatest threshold shifts from the noise exposure were seen in the single nerve fiber thresholds while the smallest shifts were seen in the behavioral thresholds, (2) the greatest behavioral and neural threshold shifts and greatest cochlear damage occurred 1 octave above the center frequency of the noise exposure, and (3) based on the frequency-place map of the chinchilla cochlea, the range of fibers with elevated thresholds exceeded the extent of the OHC lesion. A number of anatomical changes were seen that effectively increased the extent of the damage found in the chochleagram. These changes included: distortions in the surface topography of the organ of Corti affecting the orientation of IHC; missing pillar cells in the presence of normal OHC and/or IHC and protrusion of the IHC cuticular plate into the subtectorial space.
Fear conditioning by-proxy: social transmission of fear during memory retrieval.

After fear conditioning (e.g., by pairing a tone to a shock), memory retrieval typically leads to fear expression (e.g., freezing to the tone). Here, we examined the effect of a conditioned rat's fear memory retrieval on a naive cage-mate's behavior to the conditioned stimulus. We show that rats exposed to a novel tone in the presence of a cage-mate previously conditioned to that same tone selectively showed increased freezing to the stimulus the next day (fear conditioning by-proxy). In addition, fear conditioning by-proxy experienced prior to pairing the tone to a mild shock increased freezing during presentation of that tone the next day. Our results suggest that, during memory retrieval, fear of a stimulus can be socially transmitted to a cage-mate. These findings may have implications for models of phobias.
The Temporal Doppler Effect When the Future Feels Closer Than the Past

People routinely remember events that have passed and imagine those that are yet to come. The past and the future are sometimes psychologically close ("just around the corner") and other times psychologically distant ("ages away"). Four studies demonstrate a systematic asymmetry whereby future events are psychologically closer than past events of equivalent objective distance. When considering specific times (e.g., 1 year) or events (e.g., Valentine's Day), people consistently reported that the future was closer than the past. We suggest that this asymmetry arises because the subjective experience of movement through time (whereby future events approach and past events recede) is analogous to the physical experience of movement through space. Consistent with this hypothesis, experimentally reversing the metaphorical arrow of time (by having participants move backward through virtual space) completely eliminated the past-future asymmetry. We discuss how reducing psychological distance to the future may function to prepare people for upcoming action.
Accurate Lung Segmentation For X-ray CT Images

Segmentation of pulmonary X-ray computed tomography image is the first step to detect nodule of lung. This paper presents a fully automatic method for segmenting lung from three-dimensional thorax. First, the large airway is removed from lung region by anisotropic diffusion to smooth edges and region- growth. Second, we use an optimal threshold to automatically choose a threshold value, get binary images, and remove vessel of pulmonary using the optimal threshold. Third, left and right lungs are separated by detecting the anterior and posterior junctions using the largest threshold. Finally, we smooth the lung boundary along the mediastinum and lung wall by morphological smoothing. We show that our results are better than that achieved manually. Since there are no accepted criteria for defining the lung boundary near the mediastinum, we believe that our method of defining the boundary of lung near the mediastinum based on the structure of the airway tree provides a good basis for three-dimensional smoothing.
The Effects of Midgut Serine Proteases on Dengue Virus Type 2 Infectivity of Aedes aegypti

Dengue viruses (DENV) cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide and are transmitted by the mosquito Aedes aegypti. Mosquitoes become infected after ingesting a viremic bloodmeal, and molecular mechanisms involved in bloodmeal digestion may affect the ability of DENV to infect the midgut. We used RNA interference (RNAi) to silence expression of four midgut serine proteases and assessed the effect of each RNAi phenotype on DENV-2 infectivity of Aedes aegypti. Silencing resulted in significant reductions in protease mRNA levels and correlated with a reduction in activity except in the case of late trypsin. RNA silencing of chymotrypsin, early and late trypsin had no effect on DENV-2 infectivity. However, silencing of 5G1 or the addition of soybean trypsin inhibitor to the infectious bloodmeals significantly increased midgut infection rates. These results suggest that some midgut serine proteases may actually limit DENV-2 infectivity of Ae. aegypti.
Poly(amidoamine) dendrimer-erythromycin conjugates for drug delivery to macrophages involved in periprosthetic inflammation.

Abstract Erythromycin (EM), an antibiotic that has been used for infectious diseases, is now gaining attention because of its novel anti-inflammatory effects. We explore a dendrimer-EM nanodevice for sustained treatment of orthopedic inflammation. To sustain pharmacological activity, EM was conjugated to poly(amidoamine) dendrimer (PAMAM) through an ester bond. A bifunctional PAMAM dendrimer was prepared having neutral hydroxy and reactive amine groups on the surface and was reacted with EM prodrug (EM-2′-glutarate). The cytotoxicity, efficacy and antibacterial properties were evaluated on macrophages (RAW 264.7 cells) associated with periprosthetic inflammation. The conjugate is noncytotoxic and showed significant reduction of nitrite level (by 42% as compared with untreated cells and free EM). The zone of inhibition of the conjugate on bacterial growth at different concentrations showed similar activity compared to free EM. The anti-inflammatory properties of EM combined with the targeting potential of the dendrimer can lead to sustained and targeted intracellular delivery. From the Clinical Editor In this study, a specific dendrimer-erythromycin conjugate nanodevice is investigated for the treatment of periprosthetic inflammation. The anti-inflammatory properties of erythromycin combined with the targeting potential of the dendrimer can lead to sustained and targeted intracellular delivery.
An Overview of Issues and Recent Developments in Cloud Computing and Storage Security

The recent rapid growth in the availability and popularity of cloud services allows for convenient on demand remote storage and computation. Security and privacy concerns, however, are among the top impediments standing in the way of wider adoption of cloud technologies. That is, in addition to the new security threats that emerge with the adoption of new cloud technology, a lack of direct control over one’s data or computation demands new techniques for service provider’s transparency and accountability. The goal of this chapter is to provide a broad overview of recent literature covering various aspects of cloud security. We describe recently discovered attacks on cloud providers and their countermeasures, as well as protection mechanisms that aim at improving privacy and integrity of client’s data and computations. The topics covered in this survey include authentication, virtualization, availability, accountability, and privacy and integrity of remote storage and computation.
Evidence for a branched respiratory system with two cytochrome oxidases in autotrophically grown Alcaligenes latus

The respiratory system of chemolithoautotrophically-grown Alcaligenes latus contains a, b, and c type cytochromes. Two cytochrome oxidases were identified by their carbon monoxide difference spectra and their differing sensitivities to cyanide and carbon monoxide. The oxidases were cytochrome o and an a-type cytochrome. Ubiquinone was present in A. latus membranes and could be reduced by H2. The quinone analogue, 2-heptyl-4-hydroxy-quinoline-N-oxide (HQNO), was a strong inhibitor of the H2 oxidase reaction, but did not prevent the reduction of either ubiquinone or the cytochromes.
Spin injection in spin FETs using a step-doping profile

We investigate the effect of a step-doping profile on the spin injection from a ferromagnetic metal contact into a semiconductor quantum well in spin field-effect transistors using a Monte Carlo model. The considered scheme uses a heavily doped layer at the metal-semiconductor interface to vary the Schottky barrier shape and enhance the tunneling current. It is found that spin flux (spin current density) is enhanced proportionally to the total current, and the variation of current spin polarization does not exceed 20%.
The vision is set, now help chronicle the change.

The Vision and Change effort to explore and implement needed changes in undergraduate biology education has been ongoing since 2006. It is now time to take stock of changes that have occurred at the faculty and single-course levels, and to consider how to accomplish the larger-scale changes needed at departmental and institutional levels. This article is a continuation of our efforts to keep people informed about the next steps for Vision and Change, in particular ongoing activities that need community (your) input, and what resources are available to support the Vision stated in 2009: “the biology we teach should reflect the biology we do” (American Association for the Advancement of Science [AAAS], 2011 ).
Enzyme activity during the growth and aging of human cells in vitro.

Acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactic dehydrogenase activities have been compared in normal human diploid cell strains and in SV40-transformed heteroploid cell lines derived from them. A higher level of acid phosphatase activity was observed in diploid cultures derived from adult lung than in cultures derived from fetal lung of similar passage levels. The alkaline phosphatase activity of normal diploid fibroblasts was significantly higher than that of SV40-transformed cell lines derived from them. Generally, the lactic dehydrogenase activities of all these cell cultures were similar. Human diploid cells in culture “age,” in the sense that their ability to proliferate decreases with time during serial subcultivation. Evaluation of the activities of these three enzymes during the “aging” process showed that, although alkaline phosphatase and lactic dehydrogenase activities were similar in “young” and “senescent” cells, acid phosphatase showed a small but significant increase in the senescent cells.
Synergistic Lethal Effect of a Combination of Phage Lytic Enzymes with Different Activities on Penicillin-Sensitive and -Resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae Strains

Pal and Cpl-1, two purified bacteriophage lytic enzymes, were tested for their in vitro activity, alone and in combination, against several serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae, including penicillin-resistant strains. The enzymes demonstrated synergism in their ability to cleave the bacterial peptidoglycan and thus may be more efficient for the prevention and elimination of pneumococcal colonization.
Extrusion of a solvated polymer into a moving viscous medium allows generation of continuous polymer nanofibers via hydrodynamic focusing

Continuous, small-diameter polymer fibers may be fabricated by a method that involves injecting a solvated polymer into a highly viscous moving medium through a microaperture. The extruded fiber moves in a predictable spiral path and is collected around a spinning mandrel that also serves to pull the extruded fiber away from the aperture. In this study, fibers as small as 400 nm diameter were observed, but there was no indication that the experiments reported here have achieved the smallest structures possible by this technique. Video microscopy experiments revealed significant fiber diameter reduction in close proximity to the point of precursor injection via hydrodynamic focusing. This occurred due to flow mismatch between the precursor and surrounding media. This effect may be the dominant draw-down mechanism in a process that can produce truly continuous nanofiber. This method is capable of generating fibers from precursors with viscosities that would render them unspinnable by any other known method.
Association of Nef with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Core

Highly conserved among primate lentiviruses, the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Nef protein enhances viral infectivity by an unknown mechanism. Nef-defective virions are blocked at a stage of the HIV-1 life cycle between entry and reverse transcription, possibly virus uncoating. Nef is present in purified HIV-1 particles; however, it has not been determined whether Nef is specifically recruited into HIV-1 particles or whether virion-associated Nef plays a functional role in HIV-1 replication. To address the specificity and potential functionality of virion-associated Nef, we determined the subviral localization of Nef. HIV-1 cores were isolated by detergent treatment of concentrated virions followed by equilibrium density gradient sedimentation. Relative to HIV-1 virions, HIV-1 cores contained equivalent amounts of reverse transcriptase and integrase, decreased amounts of the viral matrix protein, and trace quantities of the viral transmembrane glycoprotein gp41. Examination of the particles by electron microscopy revealed cone-shaped structures characteristic of lentiviral cores. Similar quantities of proteolytically processed Nef protein were detected in gradient fractions of HIV-1 cores and intact virions. In addition, detergent-resistant subviral complexes isolated from immature HIV-1 particles contained similar quantities of Nef as untreated virions. These results demonstrate that Nef stably associates with the HIV-1 core and suggest that virion-associated Nef plays a functional role in accelerating HIV-1 replication.
PID stabilization of a position controlled manipulator with wrist sensor

In this paper we discuss PID stabilization of a position-controlled manipulator equipped with a wrist sensor using the Hermite-Biehler theorem framework. A second order transfer function for the manipulator is assumed along each coordinate direction that can be replaced by unity gain at slow speeds of manipulation. The wrist sensor impedance is similarly represented by a second order transfer function. The Hermite-Biehler theorem is used for the stability analysis of the closed-loop system. The general theoretical framework presented here can be easily adapted to other low order plant models.
Behavior-based clustering and analysis of interestingness measures for association rule mining

A number of studies, theoretical, empirical, or both, have been conducted to provide insight into the properties and behavior of interestingness measures for association rule mining. While each has value in its own right, most are either limited in scope or, more importantly, ignore the purpose for which interestingness measures are intended, namely the ultimate ranking of discovered association rules. This paper, therefore, focuses on an analysis of the rule-ranking behavior of 61 well-known interestingness measures tested on the rules generated from 110 different datasets. By clustering based on ranking behavior, we highlight, and formally prove, previously unreported equivalences among interestingness measures. We also show that there appear to be distinct clusters of interestingness measures, but that there remain differences among clusters, confirming that domain knowledge is essential to the selection of an appropriate interestingness measure for a particular task and business objective.
CXCR4 is required for the quiescence of primitive hematopoietic cells

The quiescence of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is critical for preserving a lifelong steady pool of HSCs to sustain the highly regenerative hematopoietic system. It is thought that specialized niches in which HSCs reside control the balance between HSC quiescence and self-renewal, yet little is known about the extrinsic signals provided by the niche and how these niche signals regulate such a balance. We report that CXCL12 produced by bone marrow (BM) stromal cells is not only the major chemoattractant for HSCs but also a regulatory factor that controls the quiescence of primitive hematopoietic cells. Addition of CXCL12 into the culture inhibits entry of primitive hematopoietic cells into the cell cycle, and inactivation of its receptor CXCR4 in HSCs causes excessive HSC proliferation. Notably, the hyperproliferative Cxcr4−/− HSCs are able to maintain a stable stem cell compartment and sustain hematopoiesis. Thus, we propose that CXCR4/CXCL12 signaling is essential to confine HSCs in the proper niche and controls their proliferation.
Teaching Powerful Social Studies Ideas through Literature Circles.

The author describes the use of literature circles in a social studies methods course for elementary preservice teachers and analyzes their effectiveness in teaching powerful social studies ideas. Literature circles encourage students to take more of a leadership role in the classroom, expect their active involvement, and challenge them to think more deeply about social studies content within texts. Students can compare different perspectives on the same historical event, such as the encounter between Columbus and the Taino, and reasons for including and omitting important ideas. Students can also note similarities and differences among cultures and current and historical events through literature circle discussions. However, teachers must carefully select texts which focus on powerful social studies ideas, emphasize the goal of thoughtful discussions when introducing literature circles, and be ready to raise significant issues ignored in the literature circle discussions during follow-up class discussions.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ub-Conjugating Enzyme Ubc4 Binds the Proteasome in the Presence of Translationally Damaged Proteins

Surveillance mechanisms that monitor protein synthesis can promote rapid elimination of misfolded nascent proteins. We showed that the translation elongation factor eEF1A and the proteasome subunit Rpt1 play a central role in the translocation of nascent-damaged proteins to the proteasome. We show here that multiubiquitinated proteins, and the ubiquitin-conjugating (E2) enzyme Ubc4, are rapidly detected in the proteasome following translational damage. However, Ubc4 levels in the proteasome were reduced significantly in a strain that expressed a mutant Rpt1 subunit. Ubc4 and Ubc5 are functionally redundant E2 enzymes that represent ideal candidates for ubiquitinating damaged nascent proteins because they lack significant substrate specificity, are required for the degradation of bulk, damaged proteins, and contribute to cellular stress-tolerance mechanisms. In agreement with this hypothesis, we determined that ubc4Δ ubc5Δ is exceedingly sensitive to protein translation inhibitors. Collectively, these studies suggest a specific role for Ubc4 and Ubc5 in the degradation of cotranslationally damaged proteins that are targeted to the proteasome.
Fast full-wavefield seismic inversion using encoded sources

Full-wavefield seismic inversion (FWI) estimates a subsurface elastic model by iteratively minimizing the difference between observed and simulated data. This process is extremely computationally intensive, with a cost comparable to at least hundreds of prestack reverse-time depth migrations. When FWI is applied using explicit time-domain or frequency-domain iterative-solver-based methods, the seismic simulations are performed for each seismic-source configuration individually. Therefore, the cost of FWI is proportional to the number of sources. We have found that the cost of FWI for fixed-spread data can be significantly reduced by applying it to data formed by encoding and summing data from individual sources. The encoding step forms a single gather from many input source gathers. This gather represents data that would have been acquired from a spatially distributed set of sources operating simultaneously with different source signatures. The computational cost of FWI using encoded simultaneous-source gathers is reduced by a factor roughly equal to the number of sources. Further, this efficiency is gained without significantly reducing the accuracy of the final inverted model. The efficiency gain depends on subsurface complexity and seismic-acquisition parameters. There is potential for even larger improvements of processing speed.
Looking into the Black Box: Insights into the Mechanisms of Somatic Cell Reprogramming

The dramatic discovery that somatic cells could be reprogrammed to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), by the expression of just four factors, has opened new opportunities for regenerative medicine and novel ways of modeling human diseases. Extensive research over the short time since the first iPSCs were generated has yielded the ability to reprogram various cell types using a diverse range of methods. However the duration, efficiency, and safety of induced reprogramming have remained a persistent limitation to achieving a robust experimental and therapeutic system. The field has worked to resolve these issues through technological advances using non-integrative approaches, factor replacement or complementation with microRNA, shRNA and drugs. Despite these advances, the molecular mechanisms underlying the reprogramming process remain poorly understood. Recently, through the use of inducible secondary reprogramming systems, researchers have now accessed more rigorous mechanistic experiments to decipher this complex process. In this review we will discuss some of the major recent findings in reprogramming, pertaining to proliferation and cellular senescence, epigenetic and chromatin remodeling, and other complex cellular processes such as morphological changes and mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition. We will focus on the implications of this work in the construction of a mechanistic understanding of reprogramming and discuss unexplored areas in this rapidly expanding field.
Software Support for Teaching and Measuring Cognitive Readiness

Cognitive readiness to perform complex decision-making or problem-solving tasks can be, and often is, taught and measured in the context of interactive practice environments, including computer games and simulations. Traditionally, human experts have observed learners in such practice environments and have made assessments of cognitive readiness for the task by evaluating the performance. Such experts sometimes also instructed the learners, either in real time or in after-action reviews that sometimes included playback of a recorded practice session. Progress has been made toward supporting automated assessment in simulations and games and in providing automated instruction. The TAO Sandbox, a practice environment for planning surface warfare naval tactics, has such features that support automated assessment. Elements of that system suggest universal services that games and simulations could offer to support automated instruction and assessment of cognitive readiness.
The Effect of Ground-Level Ozone County Non-Attainment Status on Product Mix

This paper examines the effect of ground-level ozone county non-attainment status on the product-mix decisions of plants in the pulp, paper, and paperboard industries. Plants located in non-attainment counties face more stringent standards than plants located in attainment counties. These standards may plausibly induce firms to reduce output of pollution-intensive products (products that lead to emissions of volatile organic compounds) or drop some of these products entirely. We find evidence that plants in non-attainment counties are more likely to drop pollution-intensive products and more likely to add non-pollution-intensive products.
EFFICIENT STOCHASTIC GLOBAL OPTIMIZATION FOR PROTEIN STRUCTURE PREDICTION

The native structure of a protein may be described with reasonable accuracy as the global minimum of the free energy (in the pseudo-potential energy form), only as a function of free torsion angles. Therefore, global optimization methods might be preferable over methods designed to create dynamic ensembles, such as MD or MC that are bound by the trajectory continuity requirement or the local balance requirement.
Red cell oxygen affinity in severe hypertriglyceridemia.

SummaryThe clinical manifestations of impaired oxygen transport in severely hyper-triglyceridemic patients have been attributed to a reversible increase in red cell oxygen affinity (low P50) in recent studies. In seven patients with comparably lipemic plasma (triglyceride levels 970-6600 mg/dl) the mean standard P50 measured by the mixing technique was normal. However when measurements were repeated on three of the samples using the Duvelleroy dissociation curve apparatus, the measured P50 was decreased by 5-9 torr. This difference was secondary to a time dependent interference of the lipemic plasma with the blood O2 electrode, increasing the blood-gas O2 correction factor. The red cell oxygen affinity of subjects with severe hypertriglyceridemia is normal and other explanations need be sought for the clinical observations suggesting a decrease in tissue oxygen delivery.
Fugitive Emissions from the Bakken Shale Illustrate Role of Shale Production in Global Ethane Shift

Ethane is the second most abundant atmospheric hydrocarbon, exerts a strong influence on tropospheric ozone, and reduces the atmosphere's oxidative capacity. Global observations showed declining ethane abundances from 1984 to 2010, while a regional measurement indicated increasing levels since 2009, with the reason for this subject to speculation. The Bakken shale is an oil and gas-producing formation centered in North Dakota that experienced a rapid increase in production beginning in 2010. We use airborne data collected over the North Dakota portion of the Bakken shale in 2014 to calculate ethane emissions of 0.23 +/- 0.07 (2 sigma) Tg/yr, equivalent to 1-3% of total global sources. Emissions of this magnitude impact air quality via concurrent increases in tropospheric ozone. This recently developed large ethane source from one location illustrates the key role of shale oil and gas production in rising global ethane levels.
Advanced glycation end-product accumulation reduces vitreous permeability.

Purpose. To evaluate the effect of nonenzymatic cross-linking (glycation) upon the permeability of the vitreous to small- and large-solute diffusion.
Effect of dietary vitamin C addition on performance, plasma vitamin C and hematic iron status in weanling pigs.

Each of 64 pigs weaned between 4 and 5 weeks of age was fed ad libitum one of four diets: (1) a basal 18% crude protein, corn-soybean meal-oats-dried whey starter diet or (2,3,4) the basal diet supplemented with 330, 660 or 990 ppm L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C). The pigs were kept in groups of four and housed in an environmentally regulated nursery with a raised, expanded metal floor. The room temperature was maintained at 21 C and floor allowance was .54 m2/pig. After 28 days, dietary vitamin C supplementation had improved daily weight gain and daily feed intake of pigs without altering gain to feed ratio. Plasma vitamin C concentration decreased during the 4 weeks period after weaning in pigs not fed supplemental vitamin C but not in those fed supplemental vitamin C. Plasma Fe was reduced at day 28 in pigs given supplemental vitamin C. Simple correlation indicated a positive (P less than .05) relationship between plasma vitamin C concentration and weight gain and a negative (P less than .05) relationship between plasma vitamin C and plasma Fe concentration. Results obtained suggest that, under the experimental conditions, young pigs weaned between 4 and 5 weeks of age require dietary vitamin C supplementation for maximum weight gain and that the benefit of vitamin C addition may be related to Fe metabolism.
Combination chemotherapy modulates mitochondrial calcium compartmentalization to induce colonocyte apoptosis.

B67 We have previously demonstrated that the combination of dietary fish oil enriched in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) and butyrate (4:0), a fiber fermentation product in the colon, is protective against experimental colon carcinogenesis via induction of mitochondrial lipid peroxidation and dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential. Given that alterations in mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis and cytochrome-C release from the mitochondria have been strongly implicated in the induction of apoptosis, we hypothesized that DHA and butyrate act synergistically to modulate intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, enhancing mitochondrial Ca2+ levels. In order to determine the combined effects of DHA and butyrate on Ca2+ homeostasis, young adult mouse colonocytes (YAMC) and human colorectal adenoma (HCT-116) cells were treated with a combination of DHA (50 μM, for 72 h) or control polyunsaturated fatty acid, linoleic acid (LA) with or without butyrate (0-10 mM for the final 6, 12 or 24 h). Cytosolic and mitochondrial Ca2+ levels were measured by live-cell fluorescence microscopy using Ca2+ sensitive dyes Fluo-4 and Rhod-2, respectively. Only the combination of DHA and butyrate decreased (p
Influence of Thermal Time Constant of a Micro-Fabricated Thermal Modulator ( $\mu $ TM) for Comprehensive Microscale 2-D Gas Chromatography ( $\mu $ GC $\times \mu $ GC)

Designing a high-performance a micro-fabricated thermal modulator ( $\mu $ TM) is critical for realizing a portable comprehensive microscale 2-D gas chromatography ( $\mu $ GC $\times \mu $ GC) system. However, there is little fundamental understanding of the physics governing two-stage thermal modulation. Toward that goal, we perform finite element and analytical modeling based on convection-diffusion equations and obtain excellent match with experimental results. We demonstrate that unlike bench-top TMs, species are not immobile during the trapping phase of modulation. A 10% decrease in time-constant of the first stage improves peak capacity of $\mu $ GC $\times \mu $ GC, full-width-at-half-height of the modulated peak proportionately, and reduces breakthrough by ~70%. Due to the high cost of micro-fabrication, it is prohibitively expensive to perform such studies experimentally. Performing design optimizations numerically using such models could lead to the realization of portable $\mu $ GC $\times \mu $ GC systems and low-cost bench-top $\mu $ TMs. We conclude by suggesting some possible improvements to our $\mu $ TM design. [2016-0296]
Length Biased Sampling, Multiplicative Censoring and Survival Analysis

With the preparation of the previous chapter on survival analysis, we are ready to move to the latest development on the survival analysis based on length-biased and right-censored data.
Parallel triangle counting and k-truss identification using graph-centric methods

We describe CPU and GPU implementations of parallel triangle-counting and k-truss identification in the Galois and IrGL systems. Both systems are based on a graph-centric abstraction called the operator formulation of algorithms. Depending on the input graph, our implementations are two to three orders of magnitude faster than the reference implementations provided by the IEEE HPEC static graph challenge.
Time Domain B-Spline BEM Methods for Wave Propagation in 3-D Solids and Fluids Including Dynamic Interaction Effects of Coupled Media

This chapter summarizes the theoretical developments of the author’s research team during the last 15 years in the area of a new family of direct time domain Boundary Element Methods that are based on the B-Spline fundamental solutions for wave propagation in solid and fluid media, and the resulting methodologies for solving problems involving dynamic interaction of coupled media. Special element types have been developed to accommodate rigid assemblages and fluid-solid interfaces and are summarized herein. Coupling procedures of the proposed BEM methods with the FEM are also outlined. A number of examples reported in the literature by the author and his coworkers are included at the end of the chapter.
Well-being and Substance Use in Emerging Adulthood: The Role of Individual and Family Factors in Childhood and Adolescence

The present study examined the long-term impact of individual and family factors during childhood and adolescence on outcomes associated with the transition to adulthood, specifically well-being and substance use. Data for this study were drawn from the Child Development Supplement (CDS) and Transition to Adulthood (TA) surveys (n = 1362), both a part of The Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID). We first examined the influence of individual and family factors from childhood and adolescence on well-being and substance use during the transition to adulthood using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). We then applied a mixture modeling approach to evaluate whether there were subgroups (latent classes) in these transitions to adulthood outcomes, and how these subgroups linked with the individual and family factors from younger years. We found that, in general, parental acceptance and psychological control in childhood and adolescence predicted all aspects of well-being during the transition to adulthood. Substance use during this transition was linked with being male, White, and heightened parental psychological control. Overall, observable differential associations between individual and family factors during childhood and adolescence and outcomes in later life highlighted a need to evaluate transitional aspects independently, rather than grouping young adults all together.
Addition of a polygenic risk score, mammographic density, and endogenous hormones to existing breast cancer risk prediction models: A nested case-control study.

Background No prior study to our knowledge has examined the joint contribution of a polygenic risk score (PRS), mammographic density (MD), and postmenopausal endogenous hormone levels—all well-confirmed risk factors for invasive breast cancer—to existing breast cancer risk prediction models.
Can fiscal rules constrain the size of government? An analysis of the “crown jewel” of tax and expenditure limitations

Abstract Fiscal rules attempt to alter budget outcomes by constraining policy makers. They have been one of the primary responses to the recent string of fiscal crises around the globe. We ask if these rules succeed in altering fiscal outcomes by examining what is arguably the most stringent set of fiscal rules in the U.S.—Colorado's Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR). As TABOR attempts to constrain both taxes and expenditures, we develop a novel approach of estimating treatment effects for multiple outcomes simultaneously using the synthetic control methodology of Abadie et al. (2010). Although there will always be a degree of uncertainty over external validity when a policy is enacted in only a single state, our results provide no evidence that TABOR affected the level of taxes or spending in Colorado and are precise enough to rule out large negative effects. Thus, no support is found for the contention that fiscal rules alter budget outcomes. Instead, TABOR appears to have been partly evaded by policy makers and voters despite its stringency and partly nothing more than a ratification of the state's preference over the size of its public sector.
Luchadores patéticos: perspectivismo en «Fénix» de J. R. Ribeyro y «Jacob y el otro» de J. C. Onetti

espanolEste trabajo presenta un analisis comparativo de «Fenix» de Julio Ramon Ribeyro y «Jacob y el otro» de Juan Carlos Onetti. Ambos autores tienen proyectos literarios que convergen en su vision del mundo, el perfil de sus personajes y ciertos recursos narrativos. Los protagonistas de estos cuentos son luchadores pateticos, porque han tenido carreras fracasadas, nadie les tiene ya fe y su victoria tampoco sera reconocida. El analisis se enfoca en el recurso del perspectivismo, o multiplicidad de voces narrativas, y su funcion en ambos cuentos. Finalmente, se presta atencion a la presencia del escepticismo en el desenlace de estos relatos. Mientras para Ribeyro la lucha, aunque no conduzca a nada, otorga dignidad al hombre, para Onetti, luchar, aunque se sepa que se va a perder, es lo que otorga emocion y sentido a la existencia. EnglishThis article offers a comparative analysis of «Fenix» by Julio Ramon Ribeyro and «Jacob y el otro» by Juan Carlos Onetti. Both authors have literary projects that merge in terms of worldview, profiles of their characters, and certain narrative devices. The protagonists of these two short stories are pathetic fighters, in the sense that they both failed in their athletic careers, nobody keeps the faith on them, and their victory won’t be praised. The analysis focuses on narrative perspectivism (the variety of narrative voices) and its function in each short story. Finally, I pay attention to the presence of skepticism in the ending of the both narratives. While in «Fenix» fight seems unproductive but provides human dignity, in «Jacob y el otro», fight, although everybody always fails, represents the liveliest emotion for human beings.
Implicit Bias and the “In/visible Indian” in the Classroom

The study of the impact of stereotypes on American Indian children has origins to the early American Indian boarding school period—which used cultural degradation to support assimilative-centered educational pedagogies and goals. The current literature on the impact of stereotypes on American Indian children spans a number of social science disciplines. This vein of work describes the misrepresentations of Indigenous people within classrooms due to bias in teacher pedagogy, textbooks and curriculums, and the effects of this bias on the self-esteem, learning outcomes, and the identities of American Indian children. The outcomes of stereotypes on American Indian children do not stop at the classroom. Numerous autoethnographies and phemonenographic texts have also demonstrated the negative impacts of American Indian caricatures, iconic imagery, and cultural appropriation in popular culture arenas, such as sports, art, and media. The literature presented in this chapter will be defined by the broad research question of what are the effects of American Indian stereotypes on American Indian children inside and outside of the classroom. This chapter will utilize systematic methods to conduct a cross-discipline literature review based upon the relevance, methods, and findings of a variety of texts.
Healthcare disparities among cancer patients in the emergency department: How do race and ethnicity affect bounce-back rates?

e18150Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that patients with cancer utilize the emergency department (ED) more frequently than the general population. Additionally, cancer patients are m...
Recent insights into apoptosis and toxic autophagy: The roles of MDA-7/IL-24, a multidimensional anti-cancer therapeutic.

Abstract Apoptosis and autophagy play seminal roles in maintaining organ homeostasis. Apoptosis represents canonical type I programmed cell death. Autophagy is viewed as pro-survival, however, excessive autophagy can promote type II cell death. Defective regulation of these two obligatory cellular pathways is linked to various diseases, including cancer. Biologic or chemotherapeutic agents, which can reprogram cancer cells to undergo apoptosis- or toxic autophagy-mediated cell death, are considered effective tools for treating cancer. Melanoma differentiation associated gene-7 (mda-7) selectively promotes these effects in cancer cells. mda-7 was identified more than two decades ago by subtraction hybridization showing elevated expression during induction of terminal differentiation of metastatic melanoma cells following treatment with recombinant fibroblast interferon and mezerein (a PKC activating agent). MDA-7 was classified as a member of the IL-10 gene family based on its chromosomal location, and the presence of an IL-10 signature motif and a secretory sequence, and re-named interleukin-24 (MDA-7/IL-24). Multiple studies have established MDA-7/IL-24 as a potent anti-cancer agent, which when administered at supra-physiological levels induces growth arrest and cell death through apoptosis and toxic autophagy in a wide variety of tumor cell types, but not in corresponding normal/non-transformed cells. Furthermore, in a phase I/II clinical trial, MDA-7/IL-24 administered by means of a non-replicating adenovirus was well tolerated and displayed significant clinical activity in patients with multiple advanced cancers. This review examines our current comprehension of the role of MDA-7/IL-24 in mediating cancer-specific cell death via apoptosis and toxic autophagy.
Self serving reference points in double auctions

We present a novel approach for modelling self serving bias by way of reference dependence. Bias is modelled as a systematic individual level deviation of the endogenous reference point from the expected price of a good in a two person k‐double auction. We find that bias decreases the efficiency of the model, and that efficiency is decreasing in both the level of bias and reference dependence.
An Initial Study of Practicing Psychologists' Views of the Utility of Ecological Momentary Assessment for Difficult Psychotherapy Cases.

Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is a burgeoning area of research, and several clinical applications of the resulting data have been identified by researchers, suggesting potential benefit to psychotherapy practice. However, practitioners often do not use traditional empirically-supported tools for diagnosis and outcome monitoring (e.g., validated interview measures and questionnaires). Thus, it is not clear how readily practitioners will take up newer technology-enhanced assessment methods, despite current enthusiasm among researchers. The current study aimed to explore the perceived usefulness of EMA-based tools for clinical assessment and outcome monitoring of difficult psychotherapy cases, as well as to identify correlates of attitudes about the usefulness of these tools. Clinical psychologists in active therapy practice with adults (n = 375) completed an internet survey including the Attitudes toward Standardized Assessment scale and the Attitudes toward Standardized Assessment Scales-Monitoring and Feedback. Respondents characterized their current diagnostic and outcome monitoring practices and rated how helpful they would find several assessment and outcome monitoring resources for a difficult case, including both traditional instruments and EMA-based methods. EMA-based tools had lower perceived usefulness than existing instruments. Attitudes toward standardized assessment and outcome monitoring predicted the perceived utility of these methods, as did several professional variables. Practicing psychologists may not adopt EMA for clinical assessment more readily than traditional assessment tools. Recommendations for facilitating the uptake of new technologies by psychotherapists are offered.
Concussion Knowledge, Attitude, and Risk Management Practices of High School Girls’ Soccer Coaches

Concussion rates in soccer are comparable to those found in high-contact and/or collision sports. Evidence has suggested a higher concussion rate among female soccer players compared to their male counterparts. The purpose of this study was to examine (1) concussion knowledge, attitude, and risk management practices of high school girls’ soccer coaches and (2) the interrelationships between knowledge, attitude, and risk management practices. One hundred forty high school girls’ soccer coaches completed an online survey. Most coaches demonstrated a high level of knowledge regarding key concussion facts and strongly agreed that it is important to create an environment in which athletes are encouraged to report concussions. A positive attitude toward concussions had a strong influence on employment of risk management practices (F = 4.20, p < .001). Findings from this study may help develop, revise, and promote effective concussion education programs and safety policies in interscholastic and youth soccer. Subscribe to TPE
Presynaptic Gq-coupled receptors drive biphasic dopamine transporter trafficking that modulates dopamine clearance and motor function

Extracellular dopamine (DA) levels are tightly constrained by presynaptic reuptake mediated by the DA transporter (DAT). Despite its necessity for DA neurotransmission, DAT regulation in situ is poorly understood, and it is unknown whether DAT regulation impacts dopaminergic signaling and/or behaviors. Here, we leveraged chemogenetics and conditional gene silencing and found that presynaptic Gq-coupled receptor activation, induced by either hM3Dq or mGluR5 activation, drives biphasic DAT trafficking in striatum. Two PD risk alleles, Vps35 and Rit2, were required for mGluR5-stimulated DAT insertion and retrieval, respectively. Conditional dopaminergic mGluR5 silencing abolished DAT trafficking and resulted in motor dysfunction. Moreover, ex vivo voltammetric studies demonstrate that DAT trafficking significantly impacts DA clearance. These studies reveal that presynaptic DAT trafficking is complex, multimodal, and region-specific, and identify cell autonomous mechanisms required for DAT trafficking. Importantly, the findings suggest that regulated DAT trafficking likely impacts both DA clearance and motor function.
Impermissive Bayesianism

This paper examines the debate between permissive and impermissive forms of Bayesianism. It briefly discusses some considerations that might be offered by both sides of the debate, and then replies to some new arguments in favor of impermissivism offered by Roger White. First, it argues that White’s (Oxford studies in epistemology, vol 3. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 161–186, 2010) defense of Indifference Principles is unsuccessful. Second, it contends that White’s (Philos Perspect 19:445–459, 2005) arguments against permissive views do not succeed.
Moving to Online Education Virtually Overnight Due to a Pandemic: Perceptions of Hospitality and Tourism Students and Faculty Members

This survey research study explored the perceptions of hospitality and tourism educators and students regarding the rapid move to online education due to the coronavirus pandemic during the spring ...