cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Established T-cell inflamed tumors rejected after adaptive resistance was reversed by combination STING activation and PD-1-pathway blockade

Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma harbor T cell-inflamed and non-T cell-inflamed tumors. Despite this, only 20% of patients respond to checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy. Lack of induction of innate immunity through pattern-recognition receptors, such as the stimulator of interferon (IFN) genes (STING) receptor, may represent a significant barrier to the development of effective antitumor immunity. Here, we demonstrate robust control of a T cell-inflamed (MOC1), but not non-T cell-inflamed (MOC2), model of head and neck cancer by activation of the STING pathway with the synthetic cyclic dinucleotide RP,RP dithio-c-di-GMP. Rejection or durable tumor control of MOC1 tumors was dependent upon a functional STING receptor and CD8 T lymphocytes. STING activation resulted in increased tumor microenvironment type 1 and type 2 IFN and greater expression of PD-1 pathway components in vivo Established MOC1 tumors were rejected and distant tumors abscopally controlled, after adaptive immune resistance had been reversed by the addition of PD-L1 mAb. These findings suggest that PD-1 pathway blockade may reverse adaptive immune resistance following cyclic dinucleotide treatment, enhancing both local and systemic antitumor immunity. Cancer Immunol Res; 4(12); 1061-71. ©2016 AACR.
The Acquisition of Polysemy

A characteristic of common English words is polysemy. Most natural language processing systems have failed to adequately deal with this issue. A two part approach to this problem involving a large Metaphoric Lexicon and a dynamic extension system is described. The extension mechanism operates by analogically mapping previously understood mappings to account for new uses based on known regularities in the English metaphor system. A system based on this approach has been applied to the UNIX domain. Results indicate that this domain exhibits all the predicted regularities and that learning new senses is possible using these regularities.
Targeting Atrial Fibrillation Rotors: Does Being Close Count?

The hypothesis that rotors or areas of rapid reentry are critical to maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF) has gained considerable currency with clinical data supporting enhanced efficacy when targeting these sites in AF ablation [(1–3)][1]. Regions bordering AF rotors have been shown to
Time fractional equations and probabilistic representation

Abstract In this paper, we study the existence and uniqueness of solutions for general fractional-time parabolic equations of mixture type, and their probabilistic representations in terms of the corresponding inverse subordinators with or without drifts. An explicit relation between occupation measure for Markov processes time-changed by inverse subordinator in open sets and that of the original Markov process in the open set is also given.
Gene Expression during Anther and Pollen Developmental Transformation in Rice

In situ hybridization of anther sections of rice (Oryza sativa) with a radioactively labeled RNA probe for rice histone 3 gene showed that transcripts complementary to histone mRNA were expressed only in the endothecium of the anther wall and in the bicellular pollen grains. Intense binding of the probe however occurred in the embryogenically determined uninucleate pollen grains and in the vegetative cell of potentially embryogenic bicellular pollen grains of cultured anthers. Transcripts of histone 3 gene were also found to accumulate in the cells of early division phase pollen embryoids. These results suggest a role for histone gene expression in the induction of embryogenic divisions in pollen grains of cultured anthers of rice.
Dynamic relaxometry: application to iron uptake by ferritin.

We introduce dynamic relaxometry as a novel technique for studying biochemical reactions, such as those leading to mineral formation (biomineralization). This technique was applied to follow the time course of iron oxidation and hydrolysis by the protein ferritin. Horse spleen apoferritin was loaded with single additions of 4, 10, 20, 40, and 100 ferrous ions per protein, and with multiple additions of 4, 10, 20, and 100 ferrous ions. The NMR T2 relaxation time was then measured sequentially and continuously for up to 24 h. At low loading factors of 4–10 Fe atoms/molecule, the iron is rapidly bound and oxidized by the protein on a time scale of approximately 15 s to several minutes. At intermediate loading factors (10–40), rapid initial oxidation was observed, followed by the formation of antiferromagnetic clusters. This process occurred at a much slower rate and continued for up to several hours, but was inhibited at lower pH values. At higher loading factors (40–1000), iron oxidation may occur directly on the core, and this process may continue for up to 24 h following the initial loading. Dynamic relaxometry appears to be a potentially powerful technique that may well have applications beyond the study of iron upake by the ferritin protein.
Pan Chao (c. 45/51–114/120)

Pan Chao (Ban Zhao) is first among the few women who have sustained notice in China’s long history. A respected scholar, teacher, and writer in the Imperial Court of the Later Han Dynasty in first century C.E., China,1 Pan Chao taught history, literature, the Classics, and astronomy. While she wrote poetry and the singular Lessons for Women, her most famous achievement was finishing after his death, her brother Pan Ku’s exceptional history Han Shu. 2
Functional MRI Brain Mapping Prior to Craniotomy or Radiosurgery: Initial Clinical Experience

The primary motor, sensory, visual, and language regions of the cerebral cortex can be identified using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques. Identification of these cortical regions is a valuable tool for differentiating patients that may benefit from surgery from those in which focused radiotherapy (i.e. radiosurgery) is best. A variety of lesions that are located near primary cortical areas have the potential for neurologic deficit following craniotomy and surgery. Although neurologic deficits may arise from radiosurgical techniques, in general these methods have somewhat better success in treating lesions near primary eloquent cortex with minimal damage to normal brain tissue. In this investigation functional MRI applications were evaluated to provide a battery of fMRI paradigms capable of activating eloquent brain cortex adjacent to sites of various pathologic processes such as cerebral gliomas and arteriovenous malformations.
Central serotonin and the control of arterial blood pressure and heart rate in infant rats: influence of sleep state and sex.

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is associated with serotonin (5-HT) neuron abnormalities. There is evidence of autonomic dysfunction during sleep in infants eventually succumbing to SIDS, as we...
Leveraging frame aggregation to improve access point selection

With the incredible rise in WiFi devices, proper assessment for performance is essential for Quality of Experience (QoE). In the past, many access point (AP) assessment metrics have been exploited to achieve optimal AP selection. However, these conventional metrics (e.g., throughput) are insufficient to capture the full dynamics of the AP load condition. In our paper, we posit that the recent introduction of frame aggregation by 802.11e can offer a compact and efficient representation of expected throughput for improving AP selection. We show that by conveying the characteristics of subframes during frame aggregation, we can uniquely embody the utilization, interference, and backlog traffic pressure for an access point. We validate the effectiveness of the proposed metrics with the commercial off the shelf (COTS) experiments. In addition, we explore an application case of using the metrics by adopting simple machine learning methods.
Allosteric Modulation of Intact γ-Secretase Structural Dynamics

Abstract As a protease complex involved in the cleavage of amyloid precursor proteins that lead to the formation of amyloid β fibrils implicated in Alzheimer's disease, γ -secretase is an important target for developing therapeutics against Alzheimer's disease. γ -secretase is composed of four subunits: nicastrin (NCT) in the extracellular (EC) domain, presenilin-1 (PS1), anterior pharynx defective 1, and presenilin enhancer 2 in the transmembrane (TM) domain. NCT and PS1 play important roles in binding amyloid β precursor proteins and modulating PS1 catalytic activity. Yet, the molecular mechanisms of coupling between substrate/modulator binding and catalytic activity remain to be elucidated. Recent determination of intact human γ -secretase cryo-electron microscopy structure has opened the way for a detailed investigation of the structural dynamics of this complex. Our analysis, based on a membrane-coupled anisotropic network model, reveals two types of NCT motions, bending and twisting, with respect to PS1. These underlie the fluctuations between the “open” and “closed” states of the lid-like NCT with respect to a hydrophilic loop 1 (HL1) on PS1, thus allowing or blocking access of the substrate peptide (EC portion) to HL1 and to the neighboring helix TM2. In addition to this alternating access mechanism, fluctuations in the volume of the PS1 central cavity facilitate the exposure of the catalytic site for substrate cleavage. Druggability simulations show that γ -secretase presents several hot spots for either orthosteric or allosteric inhibition of catalytic activity, consistent with experimental data. In particular, a hinge region at the interface between the EC and TM domains, near the interlobe groove of NCT, emerges as an allo-targeting site that would impact the coupling between HL1/TM2 and the catalytic pocket, opening, to our knowledge, new avenues for structure-based design of novel allosteric modulators of γ -secretase protease activity.
Effects of temperature and precipitation on grassland bird nesting success as mediated by patch size

Grassland birds are declining faster than any other bird guild across North America. Shrinking ranges and population declines are attributed to widespread habitat loss and increasingly fragmented landscapes of agriculture and other land uses that are misaligned with grassland bird conservation. Concurrent with habitat loss and degradation, temperate grasslands have been disproportionally affected by climate change relative to most other terrestrial biomes. Distributions of grassland birds often correlate with gradients in climate, but few researchers have explored the consequences of weather on the demography of grassland birds inhabiting a range of grassland fragments. To do so, we modeled the effects of temperature and precipitation on nesting success rates of 12 grassland bird species inhabiting a range of grassland patches across North America (21,000 nests from 81 individual studies). Higher amounts of precipitation in the preceding year were associated with higher nesting success, but wetter conditions during the active breeding season reduced nesting success. Extremely cold or hot conditions during the early breeding season were associated with lower rates of nesting success. The direct and indirect influence of temperature and precipitation on nesting success was moderated by grassland patch size. The positive effects of precipitation in the preceding year on nesting success were strongest in relatively small grassland patches and had little effect in large patches. Conversely, warm temperatures reduced nesting success in small grassland patches but increased nesting success in large patches. Mechanisms underlying these differences may be patch-size-induced variation in microclimates and predator activity. Although the exact cause is unclear, large grassland patches, the most common metric of grassland conservation, appears to moderate the effects of weather on grassland-bird demography and could be an effective component of climate-change adaptation.
Cartographies of Disease: Maps, Mapping, and Medicine (New Expanded Edition)

Tom Koch. Redlands, CA: ESRI Press, 2017. xxi and 403 pp., maps, illustrations, notes, bibliography, index. $79.99 paper (ISBN 978-1-58948-467-2); $59.99 electronic (ISBN 978-1-589-48476-4).Tom Koc...
Demand-Side Management in Micro-Grids and Distribution Systems: Handling System Uncertainties and Scalabilities

Abstract With the increasing penetration of distributed energy resource (DER) in distribution networks, demand side management (DSM) is facing new challenges. On one hand, stochastic nature of DER introduces uncertainties that affect the performance of the system; on the other hand, the distributed nature of DER calls for new DSM techniques that account for system scalability. To address these new challenges, this chapter studies two typical DSM scenarios with DER integration in both microgrids (lumped model, for readers such as a building manager) and distribution systems (networked model, for readers such as distribution system operator). Stochastic optimization is applied in both models. A model-free approximation method is adopted to extract the probability distribution. To make the problem tractable, we have further used numerical approximation methods. A decentralized method of solving the DSM problem is studied to dispatch the centralized computational burden to distributed nodes. Extensive numerical experiments are carried out to validate the proposed DSMs. In the end, insightful analysis is performed to compare the two proposed DSMs.
Chinese security as Asia evolves: Constraints and ambiguities

Beijing’s weapons modernization, arms transfer, and arms control policies reflect priorities and internal and external constraints established in previous decades. Although Chinese perceptions of the evolving security environment in Asia have prompted some adjustments, PRC policies remain constricted by a security structure originally formed during the cold war, domestically driven security policymaking, and non-security factors, including economic and technological limitations imposed by the global market, the domestic economy and budgetary resources, and technological developments. Constraints notwithstanding, it is China’s policy ambiguities and opaque intentions that fuel suspicions throughout Asia that the PRC seeks to dominate the region.
Public-Private R&D Collaboration in Korea - A Cross-Sector Survey of Incentive Structures

Public-private R&D collaboration is a goal oriented effort to generate results while temporarily bridging differing incentive patterns. In the following discussion, these incentive patterns are identified and analyzed for both the public and the private research sectors. The potential for these incentives to affect cross-sector research collaboration has ramifications for science and technology (S&T)-driven policies, so an understanding of these intangibles in the public-private research relationship allows for a more efficient direction of resources. The following discussion, thus, progresses beyond popularized and theory-based calls for greater investments in R&D (Solow 1957), for increasing the rate at which new ideas are discovered (Romer 1990), or for fostering the ability to use such ideas (Jones 2002). Offered here is a descriptive analysis of whether public-private R&D collaboration is sustainable, given inherent differences between participants. The case under analysis is Korea, whose overall pattern of development has been framed by government directives emulating successful policies elsewhere. This changed with shifting emphases from reverse engineering of foreign technologies to the generation of new innovations (Kim 1997). Emulation has resurfaced, however, in the form of S&T policies which coordinate the efforts of the public and private research sectors. Given large stocks of human capital in Korea, this method has great potential,1 but effectiveness rests largely on how researchers perceive particular aspects of their research partners. It is the goal of the following discussion, thus, to examine the strength of the intrinsic objectives of actors. These objectives
Guilt, Responsibility, and Forgiveness: Lessons from Lifers in Prison

For three decades, I have organized, facilitated, and participated in peace building events and actions around the world. Some of these experiences have been exquisite and inspiring, while others have revealed important lessons about the shortcomings in our peacemakers’ toolkits.
From Relativity to Representations

In an essay entitled “Relativity Theory as a Stimulus in Mathematical Research” [1949:400] Weyl wrote: For myself I can say that the wish to understand what really is the mathematical substance behind the formal apparatus of relativity theory led me to the study of representations and invariants of groups....
Virtual healthcare delivery: defined, modeled, and predictive barriers to implementation identified.

Provider organizations lack: 1. a definition of "virtual" healthcare delivery relative to the products, services, and processes offered by dot.coms, web-compact disk healthcare content providers, telemedicine, and telecommunications companies, and 2. a model for integrating real and virtual healthcare delivery. This paper defines virtual healthcare delivery as asynchronous, outsourced, and anonymous, then proposes a 2x2 Real-Virtual Healthcare Delivery model focused on real and virtual patients and real and virtual provider organizations. Using this model, provider organizations can systematically deconstruct healthcare delivery in the real world and reconstruct appropriate pieces in the virtual world. Observed barriers to virtual healthcare delivery are: resistance to telecommunication integrated delivery networks and outsourcing; confusion over virtual infrastructure requirements for telemedicine and full-service web portals, and the impact of integrated delivery networks and outsourcing on extant cultural norms and revenue generating practices. To remain competitive provider organizations must integrate real and virtual healthcare delivery.
Optimizing the use of operating rooms through retrospective gap analysis

Abstract In support of system-wide improvement efforts, the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) recently spearheaded initiatives to increase utilization of its operating rooms (OR). Simultaneously, the demand for additional OR block time by surgical services increased as the volume of patients needing surgery rose. The hospital sought strategies to increase capacity in order to meet this demand. While much has been written about increasing on-time starts and reducing turnover times, the utility of these strategies can be limited at large quaternary medical centers where acuity is high and case lengths are long. Retrospective analysis of gaps in the surgery schedule provides a realistic and accurate measurement of additional cases that could be performed, and in turn, quantifies potential increases in net margin. This analysis can enable perioperative leadership to identify non-random variability in their schedule and prospectively redesign their system to accommodate additional demand. Through this analysis, the hospital identified over 2000 gaps per year of greater than 210 min in the surgical schedule that could be utilized for additional cases, representing more than $2 million in incremental net margin. Moreover, these cases could be accommodated within existing fixed operational capacity without negatively impacting operations. This analysis was extended to other academic medical centers and community hospitals in the health system, where capacity to accommodate over 8000 additional cases per year was identified.
Barium titanate at the nanoscale: controlled synthesis and dielectric and ferroelectric properties

The current trend in the miniaturization of electronic devices has driven the investigation into many nanostructured materials. The ferroelectric material barium titanate (BaTiO3) has garnered considerable attention over the past decade owing to its excellent dielectric and ferroelectric properties. This has led to significant progress in synthetic techniques that yield high quality BaTiO3 nanocrystals (NCs) with well-defined morphologies (e.g., nanoparticles, nanorods, nanocubes and nanowires) and controlled crystal phases (e.g., cubic, tetragonal and multi-phase). The ability to produce nanoscale BaTiO3 with controlled properties enables theoretical and experimental studies on the intriguing yet complex dielectric properties of individual BaTiO3 NCs as well as BaTiO3/polymer nanocomposites. Compared with polymer-free individual BaTiO3 NCs, BaTiO3/polymer nanocomposites possess several advantages. The polymeric component enables simple solution processibility, high breakdown strength and light weight for device scalability. The BaTiO3 component enables a high dielectric constant. In this review, we highlight recent advances in the synthesis of high-quality BaTiO3 NCs via a variety of chemical approaches including organometallic, solvothermal/hydrothermal, templating, molten salt, and sol-gel methods. We also summarize the dielectric and ferroelectric properties of individual BaTiO3 NCs and devices based on BaTiO3 NCs via theoretical modeling and experimental piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) studies. In addition, viable synthetic strategies for novel BaTiO3/polymer nanocomposites and their structure-composition-performance relationship are discussed. Lastly, a perspective on the future direction of nanostructured BaTiO3-based materials is presented.
Comparing 3D Vector Field Visualization Methods: A User Study

In a user study comparing four visualization methods for three-dimensional vector data, participants used visualizations from each method to perform five simple but representative tasks: 1) determining whether a given point was a critical point, 2) determining the type of a critical point, 3) determining whether an integral curve would advect through two points, 4) determining whether swirling movement is present at a point, and 5) determining whether the vector field is moving faster at one point than another. The visualization methods were line and tube representations of integral curves with both monoscopic and stereoscopic viewing. While participants reported a preference for stereo lines, quantitative results showed performance among the tasks varied by method. Users performed all tasks better with methods that: 1) gave a clear representation with no perceived occlusion, 2) clearly visualized curve speed and direction information, and 3) provided fewer rich 3D cues (e.g., shading, polygonal arrows, overlap cues, and surface textures). These results provide quantitative support for anecdotal evidence on visualization methods. The tasks and testing framework also give a basis for comparing other visualization methods, for creating more effective methods, and for defining additional tasks to explore further the tradeoffs among the methods.
Unapologetic: A Black, Queer, and Feminist Mandate for Radical Movements

This is an overview and honest review of the 192 page, paperback edition of Unapologetic: A Black, Queer, and Feminist Mandate for Radical Movements, authored by Charlene Carruthers.
Label-free proteomics differences in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex between bipolar disorder patients with and without psychosis.

Abstract Background Psychosis is common in bipolar disorder (BD) and is related to more severe cognitive impairments. Since the molecular mechanism of BD psychosis is elusive, we conducted this study to explore the proteomic differences associated with BD psychosis in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC; BA9). Methods Postmortem DLPFC gray matter tissues from five pairs of age-matched male BD subjects with and without psychosis history were used. Tissue proteomes were identified and quantified by label-free liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and then compared between groups. Statistical significance was set at q Results Eleven protein groups differed significantly between groups, including the reduction of tenascin C (q = 0.005, Log2FC = −1.78), the elevations of synaptoporin (q = 0.235, Log2FC = 1.17) and brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1-associated protein 3 (q = 0.241, Log2FC = 2.10) in BD with psychosis. The between-group differences of these proteins were confirmed by Western blots. The top enriched pathways (p Limitations Small sample size and uncertain relationships of the observed proteomic differences with illness stage and acute psychosis. Conclusions These results suggested BD with psychosis history may be associated with abnormalities in neurodevelopment, neuroplasticity, neurotransmission, and neuromodulation in the DLPFC.
Enhancing the soft magnetic properties of FeGa with a non-magnetic underlayer for microwave applications

An ultra-thin (∼2.5 nm) non-magnetic Cu underlayer was found to have a significant effect on the microstructure, magnetic softness, and magnetostriction of sputter-deposited Fe81Ga19 (FeGa) thin films. Compared to the experimental control where FeGa was deposited directly on Si without an underlayer, the presence of Cu increased the in-plane uniaxial anisotropy of FeGa and reduced the in-plane coercivity by nearly a factor of five. The effective Gilbert damping coefficient was also significantly reduced by a factor of four, between FeGa on Si and FeGa on a Cu underlayer. The FeGa films on Cu also retained a high saturation magnetostriction comparable to those without an underlayer. The enhancement of the desirable magnetic properties for microwave applications is attributed to the Cu underlayer, promoting the (110) film texture and increasing the compressive film strain. The results demonstrated that the structural control is viable to simultaneously achieve the necessary magnetic softness and magnetostriction in FeGa for integration in strain-mediated magnetoelectric and microwave devices.
Wave Function Based Analysis of Dynamics versus Yield of Free Triplets in Intramolecular Singlet Fission.

Experiments in several intramolecular singlet fission materials have indicated that the triplet–triplet spin biexciton has a much longer lifetime than believed until recently, opening up loss mecha...
Blueprint for cancer research: Critical gaps and opportunities.

We are experiencing a revolution in cancer. Advances in screening, targeted and immune therapies, big data, computational methodologies, and significant new knowledge of cancer biology are transforming the ways in which we prevent, detect, diagnose, treat, and survive cancer. These advances are enabling durable progress in the goal to achieve personalized cancer care. Despite these gains, more work is needed to develop better tools and strategies to limit cancer as a major health concern. One persistent gap is the inconsistent coordination among researchers and caregivers to implement evidence-based programs that rely on a fuller understanding of the molecular, cellular, and systems biology mechanisms underpinning different types of cancer. Here, the authors integrate conversations with over 90 leading cancer experts to highlight current challenges, encourage a robust and diverse national research portfolio, and capture timely opportunities to advance evidence-based approaches for all patients with cancer and for all communities.
Ovarian teratoma with pituitary tissue: A case report.

Abstract Ovarian cysts and specifically ovarian teratomas are a common finding in young patients. These cysts display histological cell types from all three cells lines: endodermal, ectodermal and mesodermal origins. A 22-year-old woman who displayed classic signs of cortisol excess – excessive weight gain, difficultly losing weight and abdominal striae – was found to have a 10 cm mature teratoma cyst. This patient presented with ovarian torsion, a common complication of ovarian cysts, and was treated surgically. Pathology was significant for an ovarian teratoma with pituitary secreting cells, most significantly cells secreting adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).
Nifla and the Construction of Compelled Speech Doc

First Amendment doctrine disfavoring compelled speech originated in 1943 in the classic case of West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette. There are good and convincing explanations for the Court’s decision in Barnette, but the Court’s recent expansion of the doctrine has culminated in National Institute of Family & Life Advocates [“NIFLA”] v. Becerra in the assertion that compelled speech is in most instances “content-based” regulation requiring heightened judicial scrutiny. Using examples ranging from professional malpractice to compulsory tax returns, this article argues that the doctrinal rule of NIFLA is demonstrably incorrect. It suggests that the doctrinal category of “compelled speech” may itself be confused insofar as it imagines that all legal obligations to communicate are constitutionally disfavored. Courts should scrutinize instances of compelled speech as necessary to protect threatened constitutional values, but the presence of these values will vary depending upon social context. Courts must therefore learn to read the geography of our social landscape, and the article offers some hints for how this might be done. Applying these insights to NIFLA, the article argues that the outcome of the case actually depended upon preconscious and undefended suppositions about social context. If constitutional decisions like NIFLA are to be made persuasive, such suppositions must be made explicit and justified.
The effects of belief in pure good and belief in pure evil on consumer ethics

Abstract Even if businesses try to be ethical, they can succeed only if there are ethically-minded consumers. Three studies using college (N = 199) and nationwide (Ns = 345 and 327) convenience samples examined the effects of belief in pure evil (BPE) and belief in pure good (BPG) on consumer ethics attitudes and behavior, after controlling for demographic variables and various moral attitude scales. Across S1 and S2, BPG uniquely predicted greater endorsement of more prosocial consumer actions (e.g., eco-friendly/green behaviors) and greater admonition of more questionable, passive, and active forms of consumer misconduct. BPE, surprisingly, did not consistently predict (or even consistently correlate bivariately with) consumer ethics attitudes. However, in S3, BPE uniquely predicted greater likeability/intentions to buy a product with a poor (vs. excellent) environmental rating regardless of price; meanwhile, BPG uniquely predicted lower likeability/intentions to buy the environmentally unfriendly product and greater likeability/intentions to buy the environmentally friendly product. Parallel findings were found for intentions to watch YouTube videos that explained how to do ethical (vs. unethical) consumer behaviors. In sum, BPG—but not BPE—appears to most consistently relate to both perceptions of ethical consumer behavior and behavioral intentions to act ethically in the marketplace.
Combining machine learning with 3D-CFD modeling for optimizing a DISI engine performance during cold-start

Abstract This work presents a methodology for using machine learning (ML) techniques in combination with 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling to optimize the cold-start fast-idle phase of a gasoline direct injection spark ignition (DISI) engine. The optimization process implies the identification of the range of operating parameters, that will ensure the following criteria under cold-start conditions: (1) a fixed IMEP of 2 bar (BMEP of 0 bar), (2) a stoichiometric exhaust equivalence ratio (based on carbon-to-oxygen atoms) to ensure the efficient operation of the after-treatment system, (3) enough exhaust heat flux to ensure a rapid light-off of the after-treatment system, and (4) reduced NOx and HC emissions. A total of six operating parameters will be identified as having a significant influence on cold-start engine performance. These parameters are associated with the fuel injection strategy (end of the second injection, injection pressure, and fuel mass); combustion strategy (spark timing, spark energy); and intake airflow (intake manifold pressure). Performing an optimization study exclusively using multi-cycle (at least 3 cycles) 3D CFD simulations would be an arduous task. For example, to achieve an exhaust equivalence ratio of 1 and an IMEP of 2 bar, multiple iterations would be required for fuel mass (to account for film formation), intake manifold pressure (to ensure enough air in-cylinder), and spark timing (to ensure the fixed load). This process would be more convoluted and expensive with the addition of constraints for exhaust heat flux and emissions. A promising approach to tackling such a complicated optimization process is to employ the concept of machine learning, which demands a database formed by the six operating parameters mentioned above. The current work will demonstrate a strategy of combining CFD modeling with advanced Gaussian Process Regression (GPR)-based ML models to make predictions about DISI cold-start behavior with acceptable accuracy and a substantially reduced computational time.
Visual stimulation induces distinct forms of sensitization of On-Off direction-selective ganglion cell responses in the dorsal and ventral retina

Abstract Experience-dependent modulation of neuronal responses is a key attribute in sensory processing. In the mammalian retina, the On-Off direction-selective ganglion cell (On-Off DSGC) is well known for its robust direction selectivity. However, how the On-Off DSGC light responsiveness dynamically adjusts to the changing visual environment is underexplored. Here, we report that the On-Off DSGC can be transiently sensitized by prior stimuli. Notably, distinct sensitization patterns are found in dorsal and ventral DSGCs that receive visual inputs from lower and upper visual fields respectively. Although responses of both dorsal and ventral DSGCs to dark stimuli (Off responses) are sensitized, only dorsal cells show sensitization of responses to bright stimuli (On responses). Visual stimulation to the dorsal retina potentiates a sustained excitatory input from Off bipolar cells, leading to tonic depolarization of dorsal DSGCs. Such tonic depolarization propagates from the Off to the On dendritic arbor of the DSGC to sensitize its On response. We also identified a previously overlooked feature of DSGC dendritic architecture that can support direct electrotonic propagation between On and Off dendritic layers. By contrast, ventral DSGCs lack a sensitized tonic depolarization and thus do not exhibit sensitization of their On responses. Our results highlight a topographic difference in Off bipolar cell inputs underlying divergent sensitization patterns of dorsal and ventral On-Off DSGCs. Moreover, substantial crossovers between dendritic layers of On-Off DSGCs suggest an interactive dendritic algorithm for processing On and Off signals before they reach the soma.
GluN2B S1303 phosphorylation by CaMKII or DAPK1: No indication for involvement in ischemia or LTP

Binding of two different CaM kinases, CaMKII and DAPK1, to the NMDA-type glutamate receptor (NMDAR) subunit GluN2B near S1303 has been implicated in excitotoxic/ischemic neuronal cell death. The GluN2BΔCaMKII mutation (L1298A, R1300Q) is neuroprotective but abolishes only CaMKII but not DAPK1 binding. However, both kinases can additionally phosphorylate GluN2B S1303. Thus, we here tested S1303 phosphorylation for possible contribution to neuronal cell death. The GluN2BΔCaMKII mutation completely abolished phosphorylation by CaMKII and DAPK1, suggesting that the mutation could mediate neuroprotection by disrupting phosphorylation. However, S1303 phosphorylation was not increased by excitotoxic insults in hippocampal slices or by global cerebral ischemia induced by cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation in vivo. In hippocampal cultures, S1303 phosphorylation was induced by chemical LTD but not LTP stimuli. These results indicate that the additional effect of the GluN2BΔCaMKII mutation on phosphorylation needs to be considered only in LTD but not in LTP or ischemia/excitotoxicity.
Implementing U.S. Airline Industry Deregulation: Lessons for Emerging Countries

Airline deregulation began in the United States in 1978, introducing dramatic changes that opened the door to competition, lowered fares, and reshaped the industry. It also created new problems, leaving major carriers in a precarious financial condition, increasing congestion in airport terminals and in the air, and leading to mergers that could eventually threaten the competition the original reforms were designed to encourage. During the past 30 years, new issues have emerged and become prominent—particularly safety and security. After more than a quarter century, it is important to review what has happened and to delineate the lessons that can be learned from the deregulation experience.
Using Time Separation of Signals to Obtain Independent Proton and Antiproton Beam Position Measurements Around the Tevatron

Independent position measurement of the counter-circulating proton and antiproton beams in the Tevatron, never supported by the original Tevatron Beam Position Monitor (BPM) system, presents a challenge to upgrading that system. This paper discusses the possibilities and complications of using time separation of proton and antiproton signals at the numerous BPM locations and for the dynamic Tevatron operating conditions. Results of measurements using one such method are presented.
Receiving and Stores

It was once thought that the receiving and stores functions were relatively unimportant, that anyone could work in these capacities. This kind of thinking led to poor supplier relationships, inaccurate inventory records, lost materials, unhappy customers, and other problems. Receiving and stores are vital to a well-run materials/logistics management program. The personnel within these groups must be educated, responsible, and capable individuals.
α-TEA plus cisplatin reduces human cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cell tumor burden and metastasis

A novel nonhydrolyzable ether-linked acetic acid analog of vitamin E, 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2R-(4R,8R,12-trimethyltridecyl)-chroman-6-yloxyacetic acid (alpha-TEA) in combination with cisplatin, reduces tumor burden of A2780/cp70 (cp70) cisplatin-resistant human ovarian cancer cells xenografted into immune compromised nude mice. Two xenograft studies were conducted using cp70 cells stably expressing green fluorescent protein (cp70-GFP) subcutaneously transplanted into NU/NU mice. For studies 1 and 2, alpha-TEA was formulated in liposomes and delivered by aerosol such that approximately 36 microg and 72 microg of alpha-TEA were deposited in the respiratory tract of each mouse each day, respectively. Cisplatin at 5 mg/kg was administered by intraperitoneal injections once weekly for the first 3 weeks in Study 1 and on the third and 10th days following treatment initiation in Study 2. The combination alpha-TEA + cisplatin treatment reduced tumor burden and metastasis of cp70-GFP cells in comparison to control mice or mice treated with alpha-TEA or cisplatin singly. A significant reduction (P < 0.001) in growth of subcutaneous transplanted tumors was obtained with alpha-TEA + cisplatin for both studies. Visible metastases were observed in the lungs of animals from control and cisplatin-treated groups but not in animals from the alpha-TEA- or alpha-TEA + cisplatin-treated groups. The alpha-TEA + cisplatin significantly reduced the total number of lung and axillary lymph node micrometastasis (P < 0.03 and P < 0.0001, respectively). Analyses of tumor sections showed the alpha-TEA + cisplatin treatment group, in comparison to control, to have a significantly lower level of cell proliferation (Ki-67 staining; P < 0.0001) and a significantly higher level of apoptosis (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling [TUNEL]; P < 0.0001). In summary, combinations of alpha-TEA + cisplatin significantly reduced tumor burden and metastases in a xenograft model of cisplatin-resistant human ovarian cancer cells. These data show promise for combination alpha-TEA + cisplatin chemotherapy for ovarian cancer.
ENZYMATIC OXIDATION OF XANTHOBILIRUBIC ACID

Xanthobilirubic acid (XBR) undergoes enzymatic oxidation in the presence of horseradish peroxidase and tertbutyl hydroperoxide to give cleanly methylethylmaleimide (1) and 5-formyl-2,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrrole-3-propanoic acid (2).
Scale-dependent fiber kinematics of elastomeric electrospun scaffolds for soft tissue engineering.

Electrospun poly(ester urethane)urea (PEUU) scaffolds contain complex multiscale hierarchical structures that work simultaneously to produce unique macrolevel mechanical behaviors. In this study, we focused on quantifying key multiscale scaffold structural features to elucidate the mechanisms by which these scaffolds function to emulate native tissue tensile behavior. Fiber alignment was modulated via increasing rotational velocity of the collecting mandrel, and the resultant specimens were imaged using SEM under controlled biaxial strain. From the SEM images, fiber splay, tortuosity, and diameter were quantified in the unstrained and deformed configurations. Results indicated that not only fiber alignment increased with mandrel velocity but also, paradoxically, tortuosity increased concurrently with mandrel velocity and was highly correlated with fiber orientation. At microlevel scales (1–10 μm), local scaffold deformation behavior was observed to be highly heterogeneous, while increasing the scale resulted in an increasingly homogenous strain field. From our comprehensive measurements, we determined that the transition scale from heterogenous to homogeneous-like behavior to be ~1 mm. Moreover, while electrospun PEUU scaffolds exhibit complex deformations at the microscale, the larger scale structural features of the fibrous network allow them to behave as long-fiber composites that deform in an affine-like manner. This study underscores the importance of understanding the structure–function relationships in elastomeric fibrous scaffolds, and in particular allowed us to link microscale deformations with mechanisms that allow them to successfully simulate soft tissue mechanical behavior.
Are health care professionals advising adults with arthritis to become more physically active

Objective To describe the proportion and characteristics of adults with self-reported, doctor-diagnosed arthritis who report ever having been advised by a health professional to become more physically active and to assess whether the advice was associated with recent physical activity. Methods Using population-based data from the 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, respondents were classified according to their arthritis status, whether or not they were ever advised by a health professional to increase their physical activity to help them better manage their arthritis, and whether they engaged in exercise or physical activity within the past month. Results Overall, 42% of respondents with arthritis reported ever being advised to increase their physical activity to help their arthritis. Respondents who were more likely to have ever received the advice were female, middle-aged or older, African American, Hispanic, overweight or obese, sedentary or insufficiently physically active, and had higher levels of education. Persons who reported ever receiving the advice were less likely to report that they had exercised within the past month. A higher level of education was the only variable associated with recent exercise or physical activity among those advised to be more active. Conclusion Less than 50% of adults with arthritis report ever being advised by a health professional to become more physically active. Advice alone appears insufficient to promote increased physical activity in adults with arthritis.
Modeling of gene regulatory networks with hybrid differential evolution and particle swarm optimization

In the last decade, recurrent neural networks (RNNs) have attracted more efforts in inferring genetic regulatory networks (GRNs), using time series gene expression data from microarray experiments. This is critically important for revealing fundamental cellular processes, investigating gene functions, and understanding their relations. However, RNNs are well known for training difficulty. Traditional gradient descent-based methods are easily stuck in local minima and the computation of the derivatives is also not always possible. Here, the performance of three evolutionary-swarm computation technology-based methods, known as differential evolution (DE), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and the hybrid of DE and PSO (DEPSO), in training RNNs is investigated. Furthermore, the gene networks are reconstructed via the identification of the gene interactions, which are explained through corresponding connection weight matrices. The experimental results on two data sets studied in this paper demonstrate that the DEPSO algorithm performs better in RNN training. Also, the RNN-based model can provide meaningful insight in capturing the nonlinear dynamics of genetic networks and revealing genetic regulatory interactions.
Sediment distribution in the Indian Ocean

Abstract Seismic data in the Indian Ocean are used to construct an isopach map of unconsolidated sediments. The major thickness of sediments is found in the following places: (a) the Indus and Ganges cones, which comprise about 40% of the sediment of the Indian Ocean; (b) basins adjacent to the continents on the east and west containing largely terrigenous sediments; (c) a zone south of the Polar Front, which is high in biologic productivity and where extensive non-stratified accumulations of sediment occur. Sediment cores indicate that the sediments in this last category are largely siliceous oozes. The crestal area of the mid-oceanic ridge is consistently bare of sediment to a distance of at least 100 km from the axis, except on the southwestern branch where thick sediment pockets have been found within 100 km of the crest. This relative abundance of sediment close to the ridge axis in places on the southestern branch may be related to a much slower spreading rate here than elsewhere, or to the complications introduced by the numerous fracture zones offsetting the ridge crest.
Daptomycin for the Treatment of Gram-Positive Bacteremia and Infective Endocarditis: A Retrospective Case Series of 31 Patients

Study Objective. To evaluate the outcomes in patients with bacteremia and/or infective endocarditis who were treated with daptomycin. Design. Retrospective chart review. Setting. A university-affiliated medical center in Chicago, Illinois, and a regional hospital in Fountain Valley, California. Patients. Thirty-one inpatients treated with daptomycin for bacteremia and/or infective endocarditis. Measurements and Main Results. Patients were given daptomycin 4–6 mg/kg intravenously every 24–48 hours based on the practitioner's discretion and depending on the patient's clinical condition and presence of comorbidities. Primary end points were resolution of signs and symptoms of infection and discharge from the hospital. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ([MRSA] 11 patients) and vancomycin-resistant entercocci ([VRE] 11 patients) were the most common pathogens, whereas 7 patients had methicillin-sensitive S. aureus infection and 1 patient had coagulase-negative Staphylococcus infection. One patient with endocarditis had a negative culture result. Overall, 24 (77%) of the 31 patients achieved clinical resolution and were discharged, including all patients infected with MRSA; 7 patients died, 6 of whom had VRE infection. Duration of treatment for infective endocarditis lasted longer (typically 22–43 days) than that for bacteremia only (≤ 14 days), and no patients discontinued daptomycin because of adverse events. Conclusion. In these patients, daptomycin was safe and well tolerated even for extended durations of treatment. Daptomycin may provide an effective option for treating drug-resistant gram-positive bloodstream infections and endocarditis.
Experimental determination of the H3+ bond dissociation energy

Abstract The results of recent photoionization and photodissociation studies of the H3 molecule are used to establish an experimental value for the H3+ ion bond dissociation energy of D00(H3+) = 4.373±0.021 eV. Comparison is made with the theoretical value and with previous measurements.