cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Utilizing an improved rotorcraft dynamic model in state estimation

Multirotor aircraft have become a popular platform for indoor flight. To navigate these vehicles indoors through an unknown environment requires the use of a SLAM algorithm, which can be processing intensive. However, their size, weight, and power capacity limit the processing capabilities available onboard. In this paper, we describe an approach to state estimation that helps to alleviate this problem. By using an improved dynamic model we show how to more accurately estimate the aircraft states than can be done with the traditional approach of integrating IMU measurements. The estimation is done with relatively infrequent corrections from accelerometers (40Hz) and even less frequent updates from a vision-based SLAM algorithm (2–5 Hz). This benefit of requiring less frequent updates from processing intensive sources comes without significant increase in the estimator's complexity.
Polymerizable phosphoramidites with an acid-cleavable linker for eco-friendly synthetic oligodeoxynucleotide purification

Methacrylation phosphoramidites containing a linker cleavable with acetic acid were synthesized, and used for synthetic oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) purification. During automated synthesis, the full-length ODN was tagged with the phosphoramidite. The failure sequences were not. In purification, the full-length ODN was co-polymerized into a polyacrylamide gel, and the failure sequences and other impurities were removed by washing. Pure ODN was cleaved from the gel with 80% acetic acid. Using this method, purification of sequences as long as a 197-mer, which are from the phi29 DNA polymerase gene, and at scales as large as 50 μmol was demonstrated. The products have high purity and the recovery yields are high. The method does not use any type of chromatography and purification is achieved through simple manipulations such as shaking and filtration. Compared with gel electrophoresis and HPLC purification methods, the new technology is less labor-demanding and more amendable for automation, consumes a smaller amount of environmentally harmful organic solvents and requires little energy for solvent evaporation. Therefore, it is ideal for high throughput purification and large scale ODN-based drug purification as well as small scale purification.
Nonresponse and Dropout Rates in Outcome Studies on PTSD: Review and Methodological Considerations

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) represents a frequent consequence of a variety of extreme psychological stressors. Lists of empirically supported treatments for PTSD usually include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), but nonresponse and dropout rates in these treatments often are high. We review the treatment dropout and nonresponse rates in 55 studies of empirically supported treatments for PTSD, review the literature for predictors of dropout and nonresponse, discuss methodological inconsistencies in the literature that make comparisons across studies difficult, and outline future directions for research. Dropout rates ranged widely and may have depended, at least in part, on the nature of the study population. It was not uncommon to find nonresponse rates as high as 50%. Standard methods of reporting dropout and nonresponse rates are needed for reporting outcomes. We suggest guidelines for collecting data to help identify characteristics and predictors of dropouts and nonresponders.
Kudzu in the Courthouse: Judgments Made in the Shade

Sealing of judicial records is a recent phenomenon in our judicial history. Never a feature of English common law, and unheard of in this country at the time our Constitution was adopted, the first reported cases limiting public access to court records began to appear at the close of the 19th century. For most of the 20th century, court decisions and legislation had carved out limited exceptions to the public's right of access, such as divorce files, adoption records, and juvenile. By the end of the century, the legal boundaries confining government secrecy were being overrun; nowadays, the sealing of entire case files, including docket sheets, is not uncommon. Lack of transparency is a dire threat to the judicial branch, because its very legitimacy depends on public decisions after public arguments based on public records.In the words of our colonial ancestors: "Justice may not be done in a corner."
Scala for introductory CS

With adoption by notable companies like Twitter, FourSquare, and Linked in and a position at the top of the second tier of languages in the RedMonk rankings, it is clear that Scala has become the leader among next-generation programming languages. Can the benefits of this hybrid functional/object-oriented language that have attracted many startups and cutting edge developers carry over into the classroom? In this workshop I will introduce participants to the Scala programming language and run them through the benefits that the language can bring to CS1 and CS2. We will start with the REPL and basic scripting environment for coding in the small and see how static typing with type inference can help you out early on. We then progress to look at the basic constructs of the language and show how the uniform syntax fixes many of those trouble spots that you often get with other languages, such as Java. We will spend time on the power and expressivity that the collections library brings to play through the functional aspects of the language and show how you can bring in GUIs and Graphics to keep things visual and more interesting. Some time will also be spent looking at parallelism in Scala.
Integrating Cover Crops for Nitrogen Management in Corn Systems on Northeastern U.S. Dairies

Northeastern U.S. (New York, Pennsylvania, and New England states) dairy farmers are increasingly interested in improving soil health, nutrient sequestration, and dry matter production. Consequently, farmers ask about managing winter cover crops (WCCs) in corn silage (Zea mays L.) rotations. In this literature review we identify WCCs most suitable to the Northeast, and summarize studies on (i) fall and spring N accumulation, (ii) nitrogen fertilizer replacement value (NFRV) for the next corn crop, and (3) environmental and management variables that affect N uptake and NFRV. We also discuss the literature on use of WCCs as forage commodity crops. Overwintering species most suitable for corn silage rotations are wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) and triticale (X Triticosecale Wittm.). Clover (Trifolium spp.) and vetch (Vicia spp.) can add N but require inter-seeding in the Northeast. The NFRV for vetch typically exceeds that of clover, while the NFRVs of winter cereals tend to be low or negative. A few studies suggest cover crop termination with herbicides compared to tillage incorporation can, when no fertilizer N or manure is added, result in slower decomposition and more gradual N release. Research on the effects of tillage on NFRVs of cover crops is inconclusive. When seeded after corn silage, cereal rye is most effective in N uptake in fall and spring. A corn rotation that includes cereal rye or triticale that can be harvested has the potential to reduce soil erosion, capture residual N, increase annual forage yields, and provide quality forage.
Association of Asymptomatic Bradycardia With Incident Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Importance Bradycardia has been associated with lower cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in selected populations. There is a paucity of information available about heart rate (HR) less than 50 beats per minute (bpm) among middle-aged or older adults. Objective To determine whether asymptomatic bradycardia was associated with a lower cardiovascular risk profile, less subclinical atherosclerosis, and decreased incident CVD and mortality. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective analysis includes 6733 participants of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, which recruited men and women free of clinical cardiovascular disease ages 45 to 84 years from 2000 to 2002 and followed them over 10 years for incident CVD events and mortality. The HR was measured by baseline electrocardiogram. The analysis was performed in June 2014. Main Outcomes and Measures The association between HR categories with CVD events and all-cause mortality were examined using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for potential confounders and mediators. Results The 6733 participants had a mean (SD) age of 62 (10.2) years; 47% were male. The mean (SD) HR was 63 (9.5) bpm among the 5831 participants not taking an HR-modifying drug; 5.3% had an HR lower than 50 bpm. Preliminary results revealed significant interaction for HR categories according to use of HR-modifying drugs for mortality ( P = .002); thus, all further analyses were stratified. An HR of less than 50 bpm was not associated with incident CVD in either subgroup (participants taking or not taking HR-modifying drugs). Among participants not taking HR-modifying drugs, the fully adjusted mortality risk was not different for an HR less than 50 bpm (hazard ratio, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.41-1.09]; P = .12) and increased among those with an HR greater than 80 bpm (hazard ratio, 1.49 [95% CI, 1.08-2.05]; P = .01) (reference HR, 60-69 bpm). Among the 902 participants taking HR-modifying drugs there was an elevated mortality risk associated with an HR less than 50 bpm (hazard ratio, 2.42 [95% CI, 1.39-4.20]; P = .002) and with an HR greater than 80 bpm (hazard ratio, 3.55 [95% CI, 1.65-7.65]; P = .001) (reference HR, 60-69 bpm). Conclusions and Relevance In a contemporary, community-based cohort, bradycardia was generally not associated with incident CVD or mortality except for a potential adverse association between bradycardia among those taking HR-modifying drugs.
Dynamic strain measurement with the interferometric strain gage: Paper presents the details of optical measurement of dynamic strain over short gage lengths by use of the interferometric strain gage

The interferometric strain gage has a short gage length, high-frequency response and the capability of measuring large plastic strains. Furthermore, the gage is easily ruled directly onto the specimen, and no mechanical or electrical contact needs to be made during the measurement. These features make the interferometric strain gage particularly suitable for dynamic plastic-strain measurement.
Control of Histiostoma laboratorium in Drosophila Cultures

An almost universally used animal in genetic research and teaching is the vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster (L.). Media and culture conditions used for Drosophila are ideal for reproduction of several kinds of mites. Some mites are able to feed on pupal cases. One mite is so common in genetics laboratories that it was given the name Histiostoma genetica (Stolpe 1938). It is now known as H. laboratorium Hughes (1950). Strickberger (1962) recommends that, once infestation of Drosophila stocks has been discovered, all such stocks should be autoclaved. He suggests that valuable stocks may be saved by starting new cultures with flies that have been carefully examined and found free of mites. However, even with extreme caution it is extremely difficult to eliminate mites from Drosophila cultures. The reproductive potential of mites is much greater than Drosophila and the reproductive cycle is much shorter. Thus Drosophila cultures rapidly become overrun with mites.
A Commercial Application of Guttman Attitude Scaling Techniques

AN understanding of consumer attitudes toward particular products or services is one of the most valuable guides to increased sales. Realizing this, research people in advertising agencies are constantly experimenting to find new and practical ways to discover the underlying nature of these attitudes. This paper summarizes the results of one such experiment. It reports on a project for the W. A. Sheaffer Pen Company which used Guttman attitude scaling techniques to study consumer attitudes toward three mechanically different ballpoint pens. The survey was conducted in the Marketing Department of Russel M. Seeds Company, Inc. The report is in three main sections: the background and basic concepts of Guttman techniques; how these techniques were applied in the ballpoint pen survey; and finally what the survey showed about the commercial application of Guttman attitude scaling.
Impact of radiographic vertebral fractures on inpatient healthcare utilization in older women.

Abstract Background Vertebral fractures (VFx) are the most common osteoporotic fracture and are associated with higher risk of impaired function, additional fractures and death. The purpose of this analysis was to test the hypotheses that VFx are also associated with greater inpatient healthcare utilization. Methods We studied 4709 Caucasian women enrolled in the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF) and merged SOF cohort data with Medicare claims or Kaiser encounter data. To be included in this analysis, women had to be enrolled in Medicare Fee for Service or Kaiser as of 1/1/1991 and have radiographic information on VFx status at SOF Visit 3 (1991–92). VFx status was assessed using quantitative morphometry on lateral thoracic and lumbar spine radiographs. Prevalent VFx were defined as any height ratio > 3 standard deviations below normal. Women were considered to have a clinical VFx if they reported a new diagnosis of VFx and a clinical radiographic report that confirmed that a VFx was present. Any hospitalization and the number of annualized days of hospitalization were identified through inpatient claims or encounter data. Specific hospitalizations for 5 major common reasons for hospitalizations were also examined. Results Over 5-years, 2632 (55.9%) women were hospitalized. In multivariate adjusted models, women with a prevalent radiographic VFx were 21% (95% CI, 2–44%) more likely to be hospitalized for any reason. This association was independent of a number of risk factors including smoking. The annualized rate of inpatient day was, however, similar, 1.67 and 1.48 among women with and without a VFx, respectively, p = 0.49. Women with an incident clinical VFx were more likely to be hospitalized including women without evidence of a prevalent radiographic VFx (odds ratio (OR) = 5.33; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.81–15.71) and women with a prevalent radiographic VFx (OR = 2.13; 95% CI, 1.05–4.33). Women with a VFx were more likely to be hospitalized specifically for hip fracture or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but not stroke, myocardial infarction or congestive heart failure. The association with COPD was attenuated to non-significance after adjusting for smoking. Conclusion Our results extend the potential public health impact of radiographic and clinical VFx to include an increased risk of any hospitalization.
The association between chronic disease and smoking beliefs and behaviors in African American young adult smokers.

Purpose : African American young adults have higher rates of smoking and chronic disease than Whites. Understanding the association between chronic disease and smoking beliefs and behaviors could improve cessation strategies for young adult smokers. Methods: African American young adult smokers aged 18–29 years ( n =243) were administered surveys assessing smoking beliefs and behaviors. Participants indicated if they had physician-diagnosed asthma, diabetes, and/or hypertension. Responses were analyzed using logistic regression, comparing responses of those diagnosed with a chronic disease to those without that disease. Results: Smokers with asthma were 2.20 times more likely to acknowledge smoking negatively affected their health yet were no more likely to make a quit attempt than those without asthma. Diabetic smokers were 4.10 times more likely than those without to have made a quit attempt, yet were 3.24 times more likely to disagree that they were in control of their smoking. Hypertensive smokers were more likely to be heavier smokers and were 3.12 times more likely to disagree that they would stop smoking if they knew it affected the health of others than those without hypertension. Smokers with chronic disease were less likely to be influenced to quit by their physician than smokers without. Conclusions: African American young adult smokers with a chronic disease often diverge from smokers without that chronic disease in smoking beliefs and behaviors. These may influence how young adults respond to cessation messages and programs. ( Ethn Dis . 2014;24[4]:488–494)
Effects of antegrade cardioplegic infusion with simultaneously controlled coronary sinus occlusion on preservation of regionally ischemic myocardium after acute coronary artery occlusion and reperfusion

This study was conducted to assess the protective effects of antegrade infusion of cardioplegic solution with simultaneously controlled coronary sinus occlusion on regionally ischemic myocardium after acute coronary occlusion and reperfusion. Twelve sheep were subjected to 1 hour of occlusion of the distal left anterior descending coronary artery. Sheep in group I (n = 6) were subjected only to infusion of potassium crystalloid cardioplegic solution into the aortic root, whereas in group II (n = 6) a stitch was snared around the proximal coronary sinus for its subsequent occlusion during antegrade infusions of cardioplegic solution. All animals were placed on cardiopulmonary bypass. Five hundred milliliters of cardioplegic solution at 4° to 8° C was administered in three divided doses during the total cross-clamp period of 30 minutes. The occlusion of the left anterior descending artery was then released, and the animals were weaned from bypass and studied for an additional 4 hours. Coronary sinus pressure, myocardial temperature, regional function assessed by pairs of ultrasonic crystals, global function assessed by rate of rise of left ventricular pressure and cardiac output, and the area at risk and area of necrosis were determined. The heart was excised at the end of the experiment and stained. Animals treated by the technique of antegrade infusion combined with coronary sinus occlusion had more homogeneous myocardial cooling during cardioplegic infusions and better recovery of the first derivative of left ventricular pressure and regional segment shortening at 90 and 270 minutes of reperfusion than those treated with antegrade infusion alone (p
Ontogeny of REM rebound in postnatal rats.

Study Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine developmental changes (ontogeny) of REM rebound in postnatal rats. Design: Different groups of 2, 3, and 4-week-old experimental rats were instrumentally REM sleep deprived (RSD rats) for 33-48 hours and their sleep was monitored polysomnographically for 48 hours after the REM sleep deprivation (RSD). Age-matched control (RSC) rats also had polysomnographic recordings. Settings: N/A Participants: Subjects were 18 male Long-Evans RSD rats (5 age 2 weeks, 5 age 3 weeks, and 8 age 4 weeks); and 17 age-matched male Long Evans RSC rats (5 age 2 weeks, 5 age 3 weeks, and 7 age 4 weeks). Interventions: Implants for the polysomnographic recordings of the RSD and RSC rats were made by the soft head plug method which permitted continuous, 24 hour/day records during the REM deprivation and post deprivation periods. RSD rats had instrumental RSD by the shaking platform method. RSC rats remained in stationary cages. Measurements and Results: At age 2 weeks, compared with age-matched RSC rats, RSD rats had no REM rebound. At age 3 weeks, compared with age-matched RSC rats, RSD rats had a small but significant REM rebound limited to the first 6 hours after RSD. At age 4 weeks, compared with RSC rats, RSD rats had a larger REM rebound that extended for 18 hours after RSD. The size and duration of REM rebound at the different ages was significantly different. Total sleep lost during the RSD process at each age was made up. Conclusions: The findings possibly indicate that in rats a REM sleep homeostatic process develops between ages 2 and 4 weeks and that a total sleep homeostatic process is already developed by age 2 weeks.
Optimization of the Thermoelectric Figure of Merit in Crystalline C60 with Intercalation Chemistry

Crystalline C60 is an appealing candidate material for thermoelectric (TE) applications due to its extremely low thermal conductivity and potentially high electrical conductivity with metal atom intercalation. We investigate the TE properties of crystalline C60 intercalated with alkali and alkaline earth metals using both classical and quantum mechanical calculations. For the electronic structure, our results show that variation of intercalated metal atoms has a large impact on energy dispersions, which leads to broad tunability of the power factor. For the thermal transport, we show that dopants introduce strong phonon scattering into crystalline C60, leading to considerably lower thermal conductivity. Taking both into account, our calculations suggest that appropriate choice of metal atom intercalation in crystalline C60 could yield figures of merit near 1 at room temperature.
A Framework to Address Challenges in Communicating the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease

Findings from the field of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) suggest that some of the most pressing public health problems facing communities today may begin much earlier than previously understood. In particular, this body of work provides evidence that social, physical, chemical, environmental, and behavioral influences in early life play a significant role in establishing vulnerabilities for chronic disease later in life. Further, because this work points to the importance of adverse environmental exposures that cluster in population groups, it suggests that existing opportunities to intervene at a population level may need to refocus their efforts “upstream” to sufficiently combat the fundamental causes of disease. To translate these findings into improved public health, however, the distance between scientific discovery and population application will need to be bridged by conversations across a breadth of disciplines and social roles. And importantly, those involved will likely begin without a shared vocabulary or conceptual starting point. The purpose of this paper is to support and inform the translation of DOHaD findings from the bench to population-level health promotion and disease prevention, by: (1) discussing the unique communication challenges inherent to translation of DOHaD for broad audiences, (2) introducing the First-hit/Second-hit Framework with an epidemiologic planning matrix as a model for conceptualizing and structuring communication around DOHaD, and (3) discussing the ways in which patterns of communicating DOHaD findings can expand the range of solutions considered and encourage discussion of population-level solutions in relation to one another, rather than in isolation.
Statistical behavior of retrospective patterns and their effects on estimation of stock and harvest status

Abstract The presence of retrospective patterns in stock assessments is problematic for determining stock and harvest status because current estimates of stock size or fishing mortality are consistently lower or higher than those when the assessment model is updated with new data. A statistical measure of evidence for retrospective patterns is needed, but a requisite method to estimate variance of retrospective patterns is lacking. We evaluated the statistical behavior of a parametric bootstrap-based variance estimator for retrospective patterns that arise due to a change in natural mortality using a simulation experiment patterned after an assessment of yellowtail flounder on Georges Bank. We also evaluated effects of retrospective patterns on accuracy of stock assessment results and adjustments to terminal stock attributes intended to correct for retrospective patterns. We focused our analyses on Mohn's ρ, but the bootstrap approach could be used with any measure of retrospective pattern. We found that coverage for confidence intervals of Mohn's ρ were adequate, particularly for commonly specified percentage levels near 95%. We also found increased statistical efficiency of terminal year stock attributes that are adjusted for estimated retrospective patterns when the model structures used to simulate observations and estimate the parameters were inconsistent. Furthermore, this increase in efficiency was generally greater than the decrease in efficiency of adjusted stock attributes when models for simulated data and parameter estimation were consistent. However, the utility of adjustments for estimating stock and harvest status depended on our expectation for future productivity of the stock and using confidence interval coverage of Mohn's ρ to determine whether to adjust terminal stock attributes provided no greater benefit than simply always adjusting.
Relationship between BRCA1 promoter methylation and sensitivity of breast cancer cell lines to cisplatin and paclitaxel

21083 Background: While BRCA1 germline mutations are uncommon, and contribute to fewer than 5% of breast cancer cases, epigenetic alterations in BRCA1 occur more frequently. BRCA1 promoter methylation has been detected in 10–30% of breast tumors. Given the role of BRCA1 in DNA repair and cell cycle regulation, we hypothesize that cells with decreased expression of BRCA1 secondary to promoter methylation will be sensitive to DNA damaging agents and resistant to microtubule inhibitors, as has previously been shown for cells deficient in BRCA1 secondary to mutation. Methods: BRCA1 methylation was determined using methylation specific PCR (MSP) as previously described (Wei et al, Cancer Research 2005). The relative sensitivities of BRCA1 methylated, mutated and competent cells to cisplatin and paclitaxel were determined in five representative breast cancer cell lines using the AlamarBlue cytotoxicity assay. Exponentially growing cells were treated with increasing concentrations of cisplatin and paclitaxel for...
Resolving Quine's Confict: A Neo-Quinean View of the Rational Revisability of Logic

There is an apparent conflict in Quine’s work between, on the one hand, his clear commitment to the rational revisability of logic and, on the other, his principle of charitable translation and ‘change of logic, change of subject’ argument. I argue that the apparent conflict is mostly resolved under close exegesis, but that the translation argument normatively rules out collaborative revision and allows only revision by individuals. However, I articulate a Neo-Quinean view that preserves the rational acceptability of collaborative revision. On that view, everything is rationally revisable in some manner or other — it’s just that the logical principles that laypersons find (actually or potentially) obvious and tacitly use to govern their everyday inferences can’t be rationally revised quickly and all at once. Since, in Quine’s view, what most people find obvious resists change, rational changes to laymen’s logic must be gradual.
Primary Care-Based Skin Cancer Screening in a Veterans Affairs Health Care System.

Importance Skin cancer screening may improve melanoma outcomes and keratinocyte carcinoma morbidity, but little is known about the feasibility of skin cancer training and clinical skin examination (CSE) by primary care practitioners (PCPs) in large health care systems. Objective To assess the association of skin cancer training and screening by PCPs with dermatology referral patterns and rates of skin biopsies. Design, Setting, and Participants In this pilot interventional study performed at the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, patients 35 years or older scheduled for an annual health habits screen in the PCP general medicine clinics were studied. Interventions Six PCPs underwent Internet Curriculum for Melanoma Early Detection (INFORMED) training in May 2015, and 5 screened patients during the following 14 months. Main Outcomes and Measures Proportion of dermatology referrals, subsequent skin biopsies, and PCP diagnostic accuracy for skin cancer or precancer compared with dermatologist diagnosis were assessed in screened patients 14 months before the intervention (February 18, 2014, through April 30, 2015) and after the intervention (June 18, 2015, through August 30, 2016). Results Among 258 patients offered screening (median age, 70 years; age range, 35-94 years; 255 [98.8%] male), 189 (73.3%) received CSE and 69 (26.7%) declined. A total of 62 of 189 patients (32.8%) were referred to a dermatologist after intervention: 33 (53.2%) for presumptive skin cancers and 15 (24.2%) for precancers. Nine of 50 patients (18.0%) evaluated in dermatology clinic underwent biopsy to exclude skin cancer. Correct diagnoses were made by PCPs in 13 of 38 patients (34.2%; 4 of 27 patients [14.8%] diagnosed with skin cancers and 5 of 11 patients [45.5%] diagnosed with actinic keratoses). Comparison of all outpatient visits for the 5 main participating PCPs before vs after intervention revealed no significant differences in dermatology referrals overall and those for presumptive skin cancer or actinic keratoses, skin biopsies, or PCP diagnostic accuracy with the exception of significantly fewer postintervention dermatology referrals that lacked specific diagnoses (25 [1.0%] vs 10 [0.4%],P = .01). Conclusions and Relevance This pilot study suggests that PCP-based skin cancer training and screening are feasible and have the potential to improve PCP diagnostic accuracy without increasing specialty referrals or skin biopsies. Additional studies comparing screening rates, specialty referrals, and patient outcomes in trained vs untrained PCPs are needed before screening is widely implemented in large health care systems in the United States.
Ocular manifestations of systemic amyloidosis

Purpose:To describe ophthalmic manifestations of systemic amyloidosis, a group of devastating conditions.Methods:A retrospective chart review including patients who had ocular examinations at Mayo Clinic between January 1, 1985, and April 1, 2014, and a diagnosis of light-chain (AL), secondary (AA),
Giant magneto-spin-Seebeck effect and magnon transfer torques in insulating spin valves

We theoretically study magnon transport in an insulating spin valve (ISV) made of an antiferromagnetic insulator sandwiched between two ferromagnetic insulator (FI) layers. In the conventional metal-based spin valve, the electron spins propagate between two metallic ferromagnetic layers, giving rise to giant magnetoresistance and spin transfer torque. Here, the incoherent magnons in the ISV serve as angular momentum carriers and are responsible for the angular momentum transport between two FI layers across the antiferromagnetic spacer. We predict two transport phenomena in the presence of the temperature gradient: a giant magneto-spin-Seebeck effect in which the output voltage signal is controlled by the relative orientation of the two FI layers and magnon transfer torque that can be used for switching the magnetization of the FI layers with a temperature gradient of the order of 0.1 Kelvin per nanometer.
Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase 1, PARP1, modifies EZH2 and inhibits EZH2 histone methyltransferase activity after DNA damage

The enzyme Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) plays a very important role in the DNA damage response, but its role in numerous aspects is not fully understood. We recently showed that in the absence of DNA damage, PARP1 regulates the expression of the chromatin-modifying enzyme EZH2. Work from other groups has shown that EZH2 participates in the DNA damage response. These combined data suggest that EZH2 could be a target of PARP1 in both untreated and genotoxic agent-treated conditions. In this work we tested the hypothesis that, in response to DNA damage, PARP1 regulates EZH2 activity. Here we report that PARP1 regulates EZH2 activity after DNA damage. In particular, we find that EZH2 is a direct target of PARP1 upon induction of alkylating and UV-induced DNA damage in cells and in vitro. PARylation of EZH2 inhibits EZH2 histone methyltransferase (H3K27me) enzymatic activity. We observed in cells that the induction of PARP1 activity by DNA alkylating agents decreases the association of EZH2 with chromatin, and PARylation of histone H3 reduces EZH2 affinity for its target histone H3. Our findings establish that PARP1 and PARylation are important regulators of EZH2 function and link EZH2-mediated heterochromatin formation, DNA damage and PARylation. These findings may also have clinical implications, as they suggest that inhibitors of EZH2 can improve anti-tumor effects of PARP1 inhibitors in BRCA1/2-deficient cancers.
Harnessing the β-Silicon Effect for Regioselective and Stereoselective Rhodium(II)-Catalyzed C-H Functionalization by Donor/Acceptor Carbenes Derived from 1-Sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles.

The regioselective and enantioselective intermolecular sp3 C–H functionalization of silicon-substituted alkanes was accomplished using Rh2(S-NTTL)4 with readily available 1-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles as carbene precursors. These reactions generate a diverse array of stereodefined substituted silaalkanes.
Body mass index and cardiorespiratory fitness in persons with multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE This study examined body fatness and its association with cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) accounting for disability status. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study involved a secondary data analysis from a previous study of 62 pwMS. Body fatness was indirect measured as body mass index (BMI), and CRF was measured as peak oxygen consumption from an incremental exercise test with spirometry. Participants were allocated into 3 different groups based on established BMI categories (ie, normal, overweight, and obese), and data were analyzed using SPSS. RESULTS The average BMI was 27.0 (6.7) kg/m2 , and CRF was 19.5 (7.2) mL/kg/min. There was an inverse correlation (pr = -.38 [-.57; -.14]; P = .003) between BMI and CRF controlling for age, sex, disease duration, and disability level. ANCOVA with linear contrast analysis revealed a statistical significant reduction in CRF between groups of different BMI categories; normal weight 20.8 (0.85); overweight 19.8 (1.13); and obese 16.9 (1.73) mL/kg/min; F (2, 55) = 3.33, P = .043; η2 = .11. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that BMI has a negative impact on CRF in pwMS, with a marked reduction in CRF for those classified as obese compared to those in the normal and overweight category.
Surgical correction of the deviated penis.

Surgery for abnormal curvature of the penis is indicated only in patients with functional disability. The underlying cause of the abnormality must be determined before surgical reconstruction can be attempted. All abnormal fibrous tissue should be excised and the urethra allowed to stretch. The operation is completed by resurfacing with flaps or local tissue; if the urethra is inadequate, division and reconstruction will be necessary. Numerous surgical procedures and reconstructive techniques are available.
Performance Characteristics of High-Altitude ECC Ozonesondes

Tests and instrument modifications were made to extend the operating range of ECC (electrochemical concentration cell) ozonesondes to 40-km (3-mb) altitudes where photochemical theory predicts significant ozone depletion by chlorofluorocarbons. Heights of 40 km can be routinely attained by new, lightweight, plastic balloons. Six ECC sondes flown simultaneously to 40 km at Palestine, Texas, 21 march 1984 during a NASA-sponsored Balloon ozone Intercomparison Campaign exhibited a high degree of precision in the measurement of ozone. Comparison of the data with results of simultaneous soundings made with UV ozone photometers indicated good agreement to 30 km. the ECC sondes yielded progressively lower values at higher altitudes.
Materials Resource Considerations for Cryogenic Engineering

The period since World War II has been a very troubled one, but one of great economic and industrial expansion throughout the world. One consequence has been an exponential growth in the use of metals and other mineral-derived raw materials, and that growth has raised the question of whether the mineral requirements of industry can be met in future years.
In vitro determination of ruminal protein degradability using [15N]ammonia to correct for microbial nitrogen uptake.

An in vitro procedure was developed to estimate rate and extent of ruminal protein degradation using [15N]H3 to quantify uptake of protein degradation products for microbial protein synthesis. Incubations were conducted for 6 h in stirrer flasks with ruminal inoculum plus buffer, reducing solution, pectin, soluble carbohydrates, and added (15NH4)2SO4. Seven protein concentrates were tested in the system. Samples of media were analyzed for 15N enrichment of NH3, microbial N, and total solids N. Degradation rate was computed from net (i.e., protein-added minus blank) release of NH3 N plus net synthesis of microbial protein N; escape was estimated assuming ruminal passage rate = .06/h. Over the course of the incubations, pH was stable at 6.6, protozoal numbers increased slightly, and microbial protein content increased by more than 200%. Free AA had not accumulated at the end of the incubations. Microbial protein synthesis was a linear function (P < .001; r2 = .780) of extent of degradation. Mean degradation rates and ruminal escapes determined were, respectively, .569/h and 10% (casein), .148/h and 29% (solvent soybean meal), .036/h and 63% (expeller soybean meal), .026/h and 70% (low solubles fish meal), .063/h and 49% (high solubles fish meal), .034/h and 64% (corn gluten meal), and .050/h and 55% (roasted soybeans). Overall, degradation rates averaged 28% greater than those previously estimated using an inhibitor in vitro system; however, rates obtained for the fish meals using the 15N method were slower.
Cellular and Humoral Studies of Malignant Melanoma

Recent studies have provided additional information with regard to antigenic properties of melanoma cells. Some of these studies have been performed using material shed into culture media during the growth of melanoma cells. Reisfeld et al.(1980) describe melanoma-associated antigens (MAAs) shed in the culture media of radiolabeled melanoma cells, which react with polyclonal antimelanoma xenoantisera. MGP-1, a subunit of a larger structure, was described an antigen with a molecular weight of 240,000 that was exclusive to melanoma cells, and MGP-2, a single-chain antigen with a molecular weight of 94,000, was found to be present on melanoma cells, carcinoma cells, and fetal melanocytes. It was found that radiochemically pure antigens had different charge properties. In a recent review, these authors described the many variables to be considered in the evaluation of MAAs (Ferrone and Pellegrino, 1979). Gupta et al.(1979a) studied the antigenic activity of spent serum-free, chemically defined media by monitoring complement fixation and immune adherence. This group described two distinct antigens, namely, oncofetal antigen and tumor-associated antigen, (TAA). In a further study (Gupta and Morton, 1980), this group described the same TAA, derived from the M14 melanoma cell line after radiolabeling with 125I in radioimmunoassays (RIAs) with patient sera. Positive antibodies (positive antibody was defined as ≥ 1: 100 serum dilution) were in 65% of melanoma sera, 36% of carcinoma sera, and 15% of normal sera. Spent media of melanoma cell lines, or tumor extracts (63% of both), gave 50% inhibition, but little or no inhibition was seen using the spent media of sarcoma (0%), colon or breast cell lines (17%), or extracts of fetal and normal tissues (0%).
Controversies in Empiric Therapy of Febrile Neutropenia

Antineoplastic chemotherapy regimens induced myelosuppression was quickly recognized as a major limitation to the full utility of cytotoxic drug regimens targeting cancer. Measures taken to mitigate harm from myelosuppression have led to a number of controversies over the years. The first controversy faced by clinicians was whether or not empiric antibiotic therapy for febrile neutropenia is appropriate. The concerns was that fever may be due to noninfectious causes, inappropriate antibiotic use might lead to emergence of resistance or superinfections by resistant organisms, the patient might experience toxicities (the antibiotics of those days had considerable toxicity), and the drugs were costly. This controversy was eventually resolved in favor of empiric antibiotics through a series of studies. Today, there are yet other controversies about empiric therapy of febrile neutropenia. These include questions as to whether there is an optimal antibiotic regimen, persistent concerns about resistance, questions as to what are the causes for fevers that have no apparent explanation, quandaries about the role for empiric antifungal therapy, and the unresolved issues as to why some patients become quite ill while ­others are less affected. Other controversies as to optimal management of venous catheters, etiology of neutropenic enterocolitis (typhlitis), the role for antimicrobial prophylaxis, and antibiotic resistance are addressed in other chapters and will not be covered here.
Cro-Magnon: A Patch Hunter-Gatherer

On a relatively large and heterogeneous network, there may be several operating systems and dozens of major applications in general use. Locating and maintaining patches for these systems can take up a significant portion of a system administrator's time. In addition, groups of machines must all be kept at consistent patch levels, and the exact patch level may vary depending on the group. Security patches are especially problematic because they appear at irregular intervals, and the administrator generally wants to find and install them as soon as possible after they become available.This paper describes Cro-Magnon, a system for automating the process of patch downloading and application. Cro-Magnon can be configured with a list of patch sites and will mirror those sites, downloading new patches as they are detected and notifying the administrator of the downloads. Cro-Magnon can verify patch authenticity and can maintain patch data for multiple machine groups and architectures, all with different administrators.The Cro-Magnon architecture is intended to be as flexible as possible. It allows for multiple download methods such as FTP and HTTP and multiple authentication schemes like MD5 and PGP. Although it currently deals primarily with patch downloading and notification, it is intended to be extended to allow automated patch application and maintenance.
All- trans -retinoic-acid and arsenic trioxide induced remission in promyelocytic blast crisis.

A 78-year-old-male with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) treated for seven years with dasatinib developed an acute promyelocytic leukemia complicated by disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. A promyelocytic blast crisis was diagnosed by demonstrating co-expression of chimeric BCL/ABL and PML/RARα translocations by karyotyping, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Promyelocytic blast crisis of CML is a rare event with historically poor outcomes. Treatment of our patient with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO) resulted in complete morphologic remission. We review here the relevant literature of promyelocytic blast crisis and highlight the potential of ATRA/ATO as first line management.
Regulation of dopamine neurotransmission from serotonergic neurons by ectopic expression of the dopamine D2 autoreceptor blocks levodopa-induced dyskinesia.

Levodopa-induced dyskinesias (LID) are a prevalent side effect of chronic treatment with levodopa (L-DOPA) for the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). It has long been hypothesized that serotonergic neurons of the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) are capable of L-DOPA uptake and dysregulated release of dopamine (DA), and that this “false neurotransmission” phenomenon is a main contributor to LID development. Indeed, many preclinical studies have demonstrated LID management with serotonin receptor agonist treatment, but unfortunately, promising preclinical data has not been translated in large-scale clinical trials. Importantly, while there is an abundance of convincing clinical and preclinical evidence supporting a role of maladaptive serotonergic neurotransmission in LID expression, there is no direct evidence that dysregulated DA release from serotonergic neurons impacts LID formation. In this study, we ectopically expressed the DA autoreceptor D2Rs (or GFP) in the DRN of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesioned rats. No negative impact on the therapeutic efficacy of L-DOPA was seen with rAAV-D2Rs therapy. However, D2Rs treated animals, when subjected to a LID-inducing dose regimen of L-DOPA, remained completely resistant to LID, even at high doses. Moreover, the same subjects remained resistant to LID formation when treated with direct DA receptor agonists, suggesting D2Rs activity in the DRN blocked dyskinesogenic L-DOPA priming of striatal neurons. In vivo microdialysis confirmed that DA efflux in the striatum was reduced with rAAV-D2Rs treatment, providing explicit evidence that abnormal DA release from DRN neurons can affect LID. This is the first direct evidence of dopaminergic neurotransmission in DRN neurons and its modulation with rAAV-D2Rs gene therapy confirms the serotonin hypothesis in LID, demonstrating that regulation of serotonergic neurons achieved with a gene therapy approach offers a novel and potent antidyskinetic therapy.
Topic prominence in L2 acquisition: Evidence of Chinese-to-English typological transfer

Abstract This study investigated the topic-prominent characteristics of the interlanguage development of native speakers of Chinese learning English as a foreign language (EFL). Two groups of Chinese EFL learners – an intermediate group and an advanced group – were recruited to complete two production tasks: a written Chinese-to-English translation task and an oral story-retelling task. The findings showed that Chinese EFL learners at each proficiency level transferred Chinese topic-prominent structures to their target language production at a varying degree. The topic-prominent constructions in the learners’ production, based on a hierarchy of difficulty, were placed on two slightly different Gradation Zones, one for written production and the other for oral production. Gradation Zones were a generalized reflection of how discourse and pragmatic relations in topic-prominent Chinese were gradually reanalyzed as syntactic relations with the development of learners’ English proficiency level. There was a tendency for topic-prominent features to decrease and subject-prominent features to increase as EFL learners’ proficiency level progressed. It was also argued that sources of these topic-prominent properties in interlanguage were an interaction of factors, including degree of markedness, perceptual saliency, second language (L2) input, and language production task type.
Mathematical Model for Lithium-Ion Intercalation into the Cathode Active Material of a Lithium-Based Cell/Battery

The model describing the cell discharge behavior for short cell discharge periods was developed on the basis of lithium-ion diffusion in the cathode active material as the rate limiting step. The one-dimensional model for the slab type geometry predicts the following transient behavior: lithium-ion concentration profile, lithium-ion concentration boundary layer development, electrolyte-solid cathode active material interfacial current density, and specific active material charge storage capacity as well as fractional utilization of the active material.