cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Developing an Event Database for Cutoff Low Climatology over Southwestern North America

Cutoff lows (COLs) can impact southwestern North America with heavy rainfall that leads to flooding. Despite the societal challenges presented by this weather phenomenon, there has been no recent study of COLs focused on this region. This information need, in combination with the current availability of large, multivariate atmospheric datasets, offers a clear data mining and applied research opportunity. Here, we describe our method to produce an objective, physically based algorithm that identifies COLs in reanalysis data and apply this method to a known COL event. Results suggest that the initial algorithm is too selective for adequately identifying COLs and needs additional adjustments in order to resolve the different spatial scales of COLs and reanalysis data. We further discuss the attributes of information extracted through this data mining approach that will be used to populate an event database for COL climatology over southwestern North America, as well as the verification of individual COL events. Integration of our COL event database with other data mining approaches has great potential to expand our currently limited knowledge on this important weather phenomenon.
Interactive control of avatars animated with human motion data

Real-time control of three-dimensional avatars is an important problem in the context of computer games and virtual environments. Avatar animation and control is difficult, however, because a large repertoire of avatar behaviors must be made available, and the user must be able to select from this set of behaviors, possibly with a low-dimensional input device. One appealing approach to obtaining a rich set of avatar behaviors is to collect an extended, unlabeled sequence of motion data appropriate to the application. In this paper, we show that such a motion database can be preprocessed for flexibility in behavior and efficient search and exploited for real-time avatar control. Flexibility is created by identifying plausible transitions between motion segments, and efficient search through the resulting graph structure is obtained through clustering. Three interface techniques are demonstrated for controlling avatar motion using this data structure: the user selects from a set of available choices, sketches a path through an environment, or acts out a desired motion in front of a video camera. We demonstrate the flexibility of the approach through four different applications and compare the avatar motion to directly recorded human motion.
Path-Integral Monte Carlo Determination of the Fourth-Order Virial Coefficient for a Unitary Two-Component Fermi Gas with Zero-Range Interactions.

The unitary equal-mass Fermi gas with zero-range interactions constitutes a paradigmatic model system that is relevant to atomic, condensed matter, nuclear, particle, and astrophysics. This work determines the fourth-order virial coefficient ${b}_{4}$ of such a strongly interacting Fermi gas using a customized ab initio path-integral Monte Carlo (PIMC) algorithm. In contrast to earlier theoretical results, which disagreed on the sign and magnitude of ${b}_{4}$, our ${b}_{4}$ agrees within error bars with the experimentally determined value, thereby resolving an ongoing literature debate. Utilizing a trap regulator, our PIMC approach determines the fourth-order virial coefficient by directly sampling the partition function. An on-the-fly antisymmetrization avoids the Thomas collapse and, combined with the use of the exact two-body zero-range propagator, establishes an efficient general means to treat small Fermi systems with zero-range interactions.
A Computational Model for the Dimerization of Allene

Computations at the CCSD(T)/6-311+G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level of theory support long-held beliefs that allene dimerization to 1,2-dimethylenecyclobutane proceeds through diradical intermediates rather than a concerted π2s + π2a mechanism. Two diastereomeric transition states with orthogonal and skew geometries have been located for C2–C2 dimerization of allene, with predicted barriers of 34.5 and 40.3 kcal/mol, respectively. In dimerization, the outward-facing ligands rotate in a sense opposite to the forming C–C bond. Both transition states lead to nearly orthogonal (D2) singlet bisallyl (or tetramethyleneethane) diradical. This diradical has a barrier to planarization of 3.2 kcal/mol through a planar D2h geometry and a barrier to methylene rotation of 14.3 kcal/mol. Bisallyl diradical closes through one of four degenerate paths by a conrotatory motion of the methylene groups with a predicted barrier of 15.7 kcal/mol. The low barrier to planarization of bisallyl, and similar barriers for methylene r...
Building the Cheapest Sandbox: an Allegory with Spinoff

The department secretary hands me a telephoned message from Rocky's Sand and Gravel. "I need a rectangular-based box that will hold three yards of sand when filled level. The width must be half the length, and the box is to be open at the top. Material for the base of the box costs $4 per square foot while the material for the sides and ends costs $3 per square foot. Can you give me the dimensions of the minimum-cost box? Thanks. (signed) Rocky." It's the day before Easter recess, so hardly anyone has come to my calculus class. The four attending students and I agree to make a field trip to Rocky's Sand and Gravel. Rocky invites us inside his tiny office, graciously proffering coffee and cookies (sand tarts, naturally). We begin to show him how to formulate his problem using L, W, and H for the length, width, and height in feet. We draw a box and observe that the area of the base will be LW square feet. There are four other pieces: two ends each with area HW square feet and the two longer sides with areas HL square feet. Incorporating costs, we get the objective function: Cost in dollars = C = 4LW + 3(2 HW + 2 HL) =4LW+6H(L+ W). After Rocky informs us that "three yards" means 81 cubic feet, we write down the constraints: LWH=81 and W=0.5L. Substitution gives the cost as a function of length alone:
Notice of release of Turkey Lake germplasm of bottlebrush squirreltail

Turkey Lake Germplasm of bottlebrush squirreltail ( Elymus elymoides (Raf.) Swezey ssp. californicus (J.G. Smith) Barkworth [Poaceae]) was released by USDA Agricultural Research Service in 2015 as a selected class of pre-variety germplasm (natural track). This new plant material originates in Gooding County in southern Idaho’s Snake River Plain. In replicated rangeland trials at 3 locations (Juab County, Utah; Sanpete County, Utah; White Pine County, Nevada), Turkey Lake Germplasm displayed substantially better establishment frequency than Toe Jam Creek Germplasm, a previous release of E. elymoides ssp. californicus (origin: Elko County, Nevada), as well as other released squirreltail plant materials. Comparative trials were also conducted in Cache County, Utah, and Bingham County, Idaho.
BILAYER CHARACTERISTICS OF A DIETHER PHOSPHONOLIPID ANALOG OF THE MAJOR LUNG SURFACTANT GLYCEROPHOSPHOLIPID DIPALMITOYL PHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINE

Thermal and lyotropic phase behavior was studied by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry for a diether phosphonolipid analog (DEPN-8) of the major lung surfactant glycerophospholipid dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC). DEPN-8 differs in an ether, rather than an ester, bond at the acyl chain-backbone linkage and a headgroup phosphonate (isosteric methylene substitution) versus phosphate constituent. Analysis of lamellar diffraction maxima demonstrated that at high relative humidity (98%) and temperatures below the liquid crystal phase transition (approximately 45 degrees C), DEPN-8 formed interdigitated bilayers with a characteristic periodicity of 41.9-46.5 A. At low humidity the gel phase DEPN-8 bilayers were characteristic of a normal L beta phase with a periodicity equivalent to DPPC (57-59 A). Above the liquid crystal thermal phase transition, bilayer spacing for both DEPN-8 and DPPC was 51-52 A, characteristic of the L alpha phase. Complete assessments of both lamellar and in-plane X-ray scattering used to construct electron density profiles and structure-factor plots for DEPN-8 defined more fully the interdigitated bilayer state at high humidity and low temperature. Compared to DPPC, it is energetically favorable for DEPN-8 to form interdigitated bilayers under conditions of excess water and low temperature. The flexible character of the ether bonds in DEPN-8 allows increased hydrophobic interactions between acyl chains, without generating a steric penalty from the increased packing density of the molecules. Additionally, the ether bond and the phosphonate moiety may allow for more energetically favorable interactions between the choline portion of the headgroup and water. The DEPN-8 ether linkage may also contribute to the improved adsorption and film respreading found previously for this phosphonolipid compared to DPPC.
The giant : A calssroom collaborator

The purpose of this paper is to report on the research involved in the development of a software agent—the Giant — that collaborates with students in their construction and sharing of knowledge. The Giant’s working environment is an educational software tool used by students in and between classrooms to collaborate on a subject of study. Its task is to reason about the student’s beliefs and ideas and automatically generate tentative conclusions. The Giant uses these conclusions to display its own, naive understanding of the world to the student and asks him to decide upon its soundness. When interacting with the system, students assist the Giant in completing and correcting its propositions. This leads the students to review their personal, other students’, and the Giant’s claims, encouraging them to elaborate on their own knowledge.
Virus zoonoses and their potential for contamination of cell cultures.

Silent virus infections of laboratory animals present a human health hazard, from direct exposure and from contamination of biological products for human use. Here we report two recent examples. In 1989, an outbreak of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infections was recognized among workers at a cancer research center after an animal caretaker developed viral meningitis. Investigation revealed that multiple tumor cell lines at the facility were infected with LCMV, as were research animals injected with these cell lines. Of 82 workers tested, eight (10%) were found to have been infected. The infected workers were more likely than other animal handlers to report handling athymic (nude) mice (p less than .0.007). The number of nude mice used in this facilty had increased five-fold in the previous year, possibly explaining the timing of the outbreak. This is the first reported LCMV outbreak since 1975, and the first to implicate nude mice as a source of human LCMV infections. In November 1989 and January 1990, infections caused by two distinct Ebola-like filoviruses were discovered in non-human primates at quarantine facilities in Virginia and Pennsylvania. Although 22 persons were considered to have high- or medium-risk exposures for Ebola infection, no Ebola-compatible illnesses occurred. One of the medium-risk persons had Ebola IgG antibodies confirmed by IFA and Western blot. Rigorous use of barrier precautions may have limited exposure and infection with these filoviruses. In February 1990, new groups of filovirus-infected monkeys were identified in Virginia and in Texas. Seroconversion occurred in four animal handlers, including one to very high titer, but again no illness was observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Use of Clinical Decision Support to Tailor Drug Therapy Based on Genomics

Clinical decision support (CDS) has been an effective tool to improve prescribing to prevent errors, avoid adverse events, and optimize dosing. The imminent adoption of inexpensive panel assays to generate dense molecular data offers new opportunities to improve prescribing. Yet realizing the potential of such data to improve care faces many challenges to clinical informatics. These ‘omic’ data are large, are frequently stored and presented within non-computable narrative reports, require maintenance of an updated interpretation, and lack widespread representation standards for interoperability. In this chapter, we focus on using genomic data to guide drug therapy as a prototypic class of omic data with the greatest evidence base to support its clinical use in routine clinical care. We provide an overview of the challenges and opportunities of using genomic information within CDSS, the evidence for clinical utility, the emergence of genomic data standards, and examples of systems of pharmacogenomic prescribing. We conclude that the opportunities for genomic-guided therapy will likely increase over time. Clinical informatics development will be required to meet rapidly evolving needs, toward an outcome of improved patient care with the right drug at the right dose the first time, decreasing “idiopathic” adverse events.
The impact of magnetic fields on thermal instability

Cold ($T\sim 10^{4} \ \mathrm{K}$) gas is very commonly found in both galactic and cluster halos. There is no clear consensus on its origin. Such gas could be uplifted from the central galaxy by galactic or AGN winds. Alternatively, it could form in situ by thermal instability. Fragmentation into a multi-phase medium has previously been shown in hydrodynamic simulations to take place once $t_\mathrm{cool}/t_\mathrm{ff}$, the ratio of the cooling time to the free-fall time, falls below a threshold value. Here, we use 3D plane-parallel MHD simulations to investigate the influence of magnetic fields. We find that because magnetic tension suppresses buoyant oscillations of condensing gas, it destabilizes all scales below $l_\mathrm{A}^\mathrm{cool} \sim v_\mathrm{A} t_\mathrm{cool}$, enhancing thermal instability. This effect is surprisingly independent of magnetic field orientation or cooling curve shape, and sets in even at very low magnetic field strengths. Magnetic fields critically modify both the amplitude and morphology of thermal instability, with $\delta \rho/\rho \propto \beta^{-1/2}$, where $\beta$ is the ratio of thermal to magnetic pressure. In galactic halos, magnetic fields can render gas throughout the entire halo thermally unstable, and may be an attractive explanation for the ubiquity of cold gas, even in the halos of passive, quenched galaxies.
Both pharyngeal and esophageal phases of swallowing are associated with recurrent pneumonia in pediatric patients.

INTRODUCTION One of the underlying causes of recurrent pneumonia in children is swallowing dysfunction, with aspiration syndrome. Swallowing dysfunction should be considered not only a problem of the oropharyngeal phase but also a problem of the esophageal phase. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to determine the relationship between findings from a swallowing study and a history of recurrent pneumonia in pediatric patients. METHODS A videofluroscopic swallowing study of 274 pediatric patients who had swallowing dysfunction was conducted. Information on a history of recurrent pneumonia during a 1-year period was obtained from hospital files. RESULTS The median age of the participants was 33 months (min =10, max = 180), of whom 51.8% were females. In the study, 83.2% of the patients had cerebral palsy, 7.7% had syndromic symptoms, 3.6% had muscular dystrophy, and 5.5% were classified as "other." During the 1-year period, 67.9% of the participants had a history of recurrent pneumonia history. Furthermore, 66.4% had oral dysfunction, 32.5% had laryngeal penetration, 46.4% had aspiration, 45.3% had abnormal esophageal body function, and 35.8% had reflux symptoms. There was no correlation between oral dysfunction and recurrent pneumonia (P = .902), but there was a positive correlation between recurrent pneumonia and laryngeal penetration (P < .001, r = .26), aspiration (P < .001, r =.49), abnormal esophageal body function (P = .002, r = .18), and reflux (P < .001, r = .22). CONCLUSION Both pharyngeal swallowing disorders, such as penetration and aspiration, and esophageal disorders and reflux may result in recurrent pneumonia in pediatric patients. Thus, all phases of deglutition should be considered and followed up during swallowing evaluation.
A population-based study of prevalence and compliance trends in colorectal and breast cancer screening

A26 Objectives: To identify prevalence and compliance trends in colorectal and breast cancer screening among average risk men and women residing in Olmsted County, MN; and to use this data to recommend approaches to improve screening compliance. >Methods: Electronic medical record and billing data from the Rochester Epidemiology project were available from 1987-2003 and were used to generate screening compliance data starting in 1997. Eligible women and men were those residing in Olmsted County without diagnoses or procedures indicating that they were at greater than average risk of developing CRC or BC. Men and women age 50+ were evaluated for CRC screening and women age 40+ were evaluated for BC screening. CRC screening exams included colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, barium enema, CT colonography or fecal occult blood test. BC screening exams were restricted to mammography. According to ACS screening guidelines, individuals were classified as "Never Screeners," "Ever Screeners," (i.e. undergone screening before, but not current) or "Current Screeners" for each calendar year. > >Results: From 1997-2003, the number of screen-eligible women each year ranged from 12,405 to 12,731 for CRC; 19,663 to 21,123 for BC; and 5,409 to 6,292 for both CRC and BC. The number of screen-eligible men ranged from 9,006 to 9,377 annually for CRC. The proportion of women current with BC screening increased steadily over time from 44% to 57%, while the proportion of never screened women steadily declined from 30% to 15%. The percentage of women who had undergone BC screening but were not current with the yearly guidelines was consistent across all 7 years, ranging from 25% to 30%. Median age at first BC screening in this population decreased from age 53 to 49 between 1997 and 2003. For CRC screening, women who were compliant increased steadily from 19% to 42%, while the percentage of never screeners steadily declined from 79% to 54%. The proportion of men compliant with CRC screening also increased steadily from 16% to 37%,. Median age at first CRC screening among men decreased from 61 to 59 years, and among women from 64-59 years. Among women who were current with BC screening, the proportion who were also current with CRC screening steadily increased from 24% to 52% between 1997 and 2003. >Conclusions: Our study indicates that compliance with CRC screening and BC screening improved over time. However, both CRC and BC screening rates remain suboptimal. The largest percentage of women classified as "ever" but not "current" screeners for BC suggests that women may not be undergoing annual evaluation. Age at first CRC screening indicates that women and men are initiating this preventive service later than recommended. Interventions designed to decrease rates of differential screening for breast and CRC, improve yearly compliance to BC screening, and lowering age at first screening for both cancers appear warranted.
Application of Cluster Analysis for Spatial Classification

The present study was undertaken in South Konkan region of Maharashtra state. Cluster analysis is a multivariate statistical procedure that starts with data set containing information about a sample of entities into attempts to reorganize these entities into relatively homogeneous groups or groups of highly similar entities, called as "clusters". The variables were based on the set of 23 agroclimatic characteristics. The analysis has classified in to all 17 Tahsils of South Konkan region into two distinct clusters. It was concluded from the study that cluster analysis technique is useful in spatial classification, which can be further used for making development policy in general agriculture in particular for deciding the region specific cropping as well fanning systems.
Low-dose cadmium exposure induces peribronchiolar fibrosis through site-specific phosphorylation of vimentin

Exposure to cadmium (Cd) has been associated with development of chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD). The mechanisms and signaling pathways whereby Cd causes pathological peribronchiolar fibrosis, airway remodeling, and subsequent airflow obstruction remain unclear. We aimed to evaluate whether low-dose Cd exposure induces vimentin phosphorylation and Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) activation leading to peribronchiolar fibrosis and subsequent airway remodeling. Our data demonstrate that Cd induces myofibroblast differentiation and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition around small (<2 mm in diameter) airways. Upon Cd exposure, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression and the production of ECM proteins, including fibronectin and collagen-1, are markedly induced in primary human lung fibroblasts. Cd induces Smad2/3 activation and the translocation of both Smad2/3 and Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) into the nucleus. In parallel, Cd induces AKT and cdc2 phosphorylation and downstream vimentin phosphorylation at Ser39 and Ser55, respectively. AKT and cdc2 inhibitors block Cd-induced vimentin fragmentation and secretion in association with inhibition of α-SMA expression, ECM deposition, and collagen secretion. Furthermore, vimentin silencing abrogates Cd-induced α-SMA expression and decreases ECM production. Vimentin-deficient mice are protected from Cd-induced peribronchiolar fibrosis and remodeling. These findings identify two specific sites on vimentin that are phosphorylated by Cd and highlight the functional significance of vimentin phosphorylation in YAP1/Smad3 signaling that mediates Cd-induced peribronchiolar fibrosis and airway remodeling.
Characterization of BRK/Sik tyrosine kinase in oral squamous cells

78 Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an aggressive epithelial malignancy that is the sixth most common neoplasm in the world today. The mortality rate, which includes patients receiving traditional treatment, remains approximately 50%, and therapies that are targeted specifically to oral epithelial cells are limited. The non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase BRK/Sik (BRK: human breast tumor kinase; PTK) (Sik: mouse src-related intestinal kinase) is an epithelial cell specific kinase which has a tissue specific pattern of expression. BRK appears to play a role in cell proliferation, migration and differentiation in different cell types under different conditions. Thus far, very little is known about BRK expression and function in human oral epithelium. The purpose of this study was to characterize the function of BRK/Sik in normal oral squamous cells and in oral squamous cell carcinoma. To this end, we generated oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells that express wildtype (WT), kinase defective (KM), and constitutively active (YF) BRK/Sik using retroviral transduction and studied signal transduction upon addition of EGF. We also performed immunohistochemistry of archival tissues as well as FACS analysis to identify cells that do not express BRK in oral epithelium. In addition, we examined the effect of BRK siRNA on normal oral epithelial cells. The results are as follows: In a time course analysis, WT BRK/Sik in OSCC is phosphorylated within 2 min of adding EGF and this phosphorylation dissipates in 5-10 min. WT and YF BRK/Sik co-immunoprecipitates with tyrosine phosphorylated proteins of 180,125 and 70 kD. However, KM BRK/Sik co-immunoprecipitates with the 125kD protein only. The known substrate of BRK, SAM68, associates with BRK/Sik in 20 min of adding EGF. Immunohistochemistry and FACS data indicate that cells in basal epithelial layers and cells in the mitotic phase of the cell cycle do not express BRK/Sik. In addition, suppression of BRK expression in normal oral squamous cells is associated with an increase in PCNA expression, further indicating that BRK/Sik is involved in suppressing cell proliferation in normal oral epithelium. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that BRK/Sik functions to suppress cell proliferation in oral epithelial cells, which is contrary to its reported function in other cell types. In addition, BRK/Sik associates with a minimum of three distinct proteins whose identity is not yet established.
On the roles of stress-triaxiality and strain-rate on the deformation behavior of AZ31 magnesium alloys

The presence of complex states-of-stress and strain-rates directly influence the dominant deformation mechanisms operating in a given material under load. Mg alloys have shown limited ambient tempe...
Integrating Foundational Sciences in a Clinical Context in the Post-clerkship Curriculum

This study aims to design, implement, and launch courses that integrate foundational science learning and clinical application in a post-clerkship undergraduate medical school curriculum. In academic year 2015–2016 (AY15–16), as part of a comprehensive curricular revision, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (VUSM) formally implemented “Integrated Science Courses” (ISCs) that combined rigorous training in the foundational sciences with meaningful clinical experiences. These courses integrated foundational sciences that could be leveraged in the clinical environment, utilized a variety of instructional modalities, and included quantitative and qualitative (competency-based milestones) student assessments. Each ISC underwent a rigorous quality-improvement process that required input on foundational science content, student experience, and student performance assessment. Eleven ISCs were delivered to 173 students in AY15–16, with some students taking more than one ISC. Immediately after completing each course, 93% (n = 222) of ISC enrollees completed a course evaluation. Students (91%; n = 201) “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that foundational science learning informed and enriched the clinical experiences. Furthermore, 94% (n = 209) of students thought that the clinical experiences informed and enriched the foundational science learning. Ninety-four percent of the students anticipated using the foundational science knowledge acquired in future clinical training and practice. The teaching of foundational sciences in the clinical workplace in the post-clerkship medical curriculum is challenging and resource intensive, yet feasible. Additional experience with the model will inform the mix of courses as well as the breadth and depth of foundational science instruction that is necessary to foster scientifically based clinical reasoning skills in each student.
The event tracking dashboard: from multilingual social media feeds to event patterns and anomalies

The proliferation of real-time information on social media opens up unprecedented opportunities for situation awareness that arise from extracting unfolding physical events from their social media footprints. The paper describes experiences with a new social media analysis toolkit for detecting and tracking such physical events. A key advantage of the explored analysis algorithms is that they require no prior training, and as such can operate out-of-the-box on new languages, dialects, jargon, and application domains (where by "new", we mean new to the machine), including detection of protests, natural disasters, acts of terror, accidents, and other disruptions. By running the toolkit over a period of time, patterns and anomalies are also detected that offer additional insights and understanding. Through analysis of contemporary political, military, and natural disaster events, the work explores the limits of the training-free approach and demonstrates promise and applicability.
Perceived Need and Receipt of Behavioral Health Services at Drop-In Centers among Homeless Youth.

This survey of 273 homeless youth indicates that, despite one-third meeting criteria for behavioral health problems such as PTSD, depression, or substance use problems, only about half of those meeting criteria reported a need for services.
Profiling Facebook Public Page Graph

This paper focuses on the Facebook public page graph, which represents the “Like” connections among public pages on Facebook. In the first part, an efficient algorithm is proposed to predict the geographic location of the public page with 90.25% accuracy. In the second part, we compute various properties of the graph including page distribution by country and category, graph connectivity, and country international impact. There are four main findings. First, the usage of the public page on Facebook is imbalanced. Second, nearly all countries are closely connected on Facebook. Third, the country’s PageRank is highly correlated with the number of nations to which the country’s pages connect. Finally, by clustering the countries, we find that the Islamic countries are clustered into a separate group.
Green and Biomimetic Tribology

Green Tribology is a new area of tribology studying ecological approaches, methods, and applications in tribology. The major premise of green tribology is minimization of friction and wear, and reduction or elimination of lubrication. It includes eco-friendly materials and coating, green lubricants (biodegradable lubricants) and biomimetic surfaces used in tribological application. Using sustainable chemistry and engineering principles, biomimetic approaches and surface texturing are other concerns of green tribology. The area also takes degradation of surfaces, coatings, and components into consideration during design stages. The tribology of renewable sources of energy can also be considered as a relatively new challenge. We discuss areas and principles of green tribology and current developments in biomimetic materials and surfaces.
Early Studies on the Biosynthesis of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

The synthesis of olefinic fatty acids, whether mono-, di-, or polyunsaturated, begins in all eukaryotic cells with the aerobic desaturation of stearate to oleate and more rarely with the conversion of palmitate to palmitoleate. Andreasen and Stier, the first investigators to implicate molecular oxygen in this 9,10 hydrogen abstraction process observed in 1952 that oleate becomes an essential nutrient for yeast growing under strictly anaerobic conditions (1). The evidence available today points to a similar obligatory role of oxygen for all subsequent desaturation steps. The detailed reaction mechanisms responsible for the very earliest events in the desaturation chain may therefore be of some relevance to the steps that follow.
Transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus carrier sow.

A sow infected with virulent transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) shed virulent virus in her feces for 18 months. The virus was isolated from rectal swabs beginning 2 days postexposure (PE) and continued at irregular intervals. Virus shedding was detected on 24 separate occasions. The titer of the virus shed ranged from <1 × 102 pfu/ml to 7.2 × 103 pfu/ml, while the duration of the shedding ranged from 1 to 5 consecutive days. Inoculation of 3-day-old piglets with TGEV isolated from the sow proved the virus was virulent throughout the study. Virulent TGEV was isolated from the spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes, and the liver of the sow 544 days PE. This study demonstrates an apparently healthy sow can be a reservoir and shed virulent TGEV for an extended period of time.
Una mirada al origen, funcionamiento y desafíos del nuevo sistema de donación y trasplantes chileno

Chile made several legal, practical and educational changes to the organ donation and transplant system in recent years, to improve its results. However, studies evaluating these reforms and suggesting further corrections are still pending. Our aim is to assess the new regulations and their reception by both the population and health care providers. Proposals are made to promote the development of a model of Chilean transplantation able to respond to the needs of the population.
A ROAD TO ZACATECAS: FORT SAN JUAN AND THE DEFENSES OF SPANISH LA FLORIDA

From 1565 to 1570, Spain established no fewer than three networks of presidios (fortified military settlements) across portions of its frontier territories in La Florida and New Spain. Juan Pardo's network of six forts, extending from the Atlantic coast over the Appalachian Mountains, was the least successful of these presidio systems, lasting only from late 1566 to early 1568. The failure of Pardo's defensive network has long been attributed to poor planning and an insufficient investment of resources. Yet recent archaeological discoveries at the Berry site in western North Carolina—the location of both the Native American town of Joara and Pardo's first garrison, Fort San Juan—warrants a reappraisal of this interpretation. While previous archaeological research at Berry concentrated on the domestic compound where Pardo's soldiers resided, the location of the fort itself remained unknown. In 2013, the remains of Fort San Juan were finally identified south of the compound, the first of Pardo's interior forts to be discovered by archaeologists. Data from excavations and geophysical surveys suggest that it was a substantial defensive construction. We attribute the failure of Pardo's network to the social geography of the Native South rather than to an insufficient investment of resources.
Effect of Artefact Removal Techniques on EEG Signals for Video Category Classification

Pre-processing, Feature Extraction, Feature Selection and Classification are the four sub modules of the Signal Processing module of a typical BCI system. Pattern recognition is mainly involved in this Signal Processing module and in this paper, we experimented with different state-of-the-art algorithms for each of these submodules on two separate datasets we acquired using Emotiv EPOC and the Muse headband from 38 college-aged young adults. For our experiment, we used two artefact removal techniques, namely Stationary Wavelet Transform (SWT) based denoising technique and an extended SWT technique (SWTSD). We found SWTSD improves average classification accuracy up to 7.2 % and performs better than SWT. However, that does not state that SWTSD will outperform SWT when implemented on other BCI paradigms or on other EEG-based applications. In our study, the highest average accuracy achieved by the data of the Muse headband and Emotiv EPOC were 77.7% and 66.7% respectively and from our results we conclude that, the performance of different BCI systems depends on several different factors including artefact removal techniques, filters, feature extraction and selection algorithms, classifiers, etc. and appropriate choice and usage of such methods can have a significant positive impact on the end results.
Cost Comparison between Subclavian-Artery Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump and Intravascular Ventricular Assist System as a Bridge to Transplant Therapy

Purpose With an increased scrutiny over financial performance and outcomes across healthcare, it is now as crucial as ever to add value to programs while maintaining the highest standard of care for our patients. The Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump (IABP) can be used as a bridge to heart transplantation therapy. More recently, there have been many benefits shown with placing the IABP through a graft on the Subclavian/Axillary Artery, allowing patients to ambulate and participate in physical therapy. This subclavian approach has also opened the door to a new counter-pulsation therapy: the Intravascular Ventricular Assist System (iVAS). This study will compare the financial implications of a traditional subclavian Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump (sIABP) with the iVAS as a bridge to heart transplant. Methods A chart review was performed on 12 of the most recent patients supported by either an iVAS or a sIABP that successfully received a heart transplant. For consistency, only patients that remained in the hospital on support until transplant were included. The metrics reviewed were cost and duration on device. Results The sIABP group had an average cost of $237,257.00 and duration on support of 16 days. This broke down to an average cost of $14,828.00 per day. The iVAS group had an average cost of $360,727.00 and duration on support of 66 days. This came to an average cost of $5,465.00 per day. Conclusion When comparing these two therapies in a similar patient population, we see a reduction of both operating cost and total charges in patients on iVAS support by roughly sixty percent. This review clearly suggests a correlation between support type and cost. Given these findings, further investigation is warranted to complete a more in-depth cost analysis of these therapies.
What Is Study Abroad

In this chapter, we introduce a number of concepts fundamental to our discussion of study abroad and language gains. As researchers, we must identify appropriate participants in order for our findings to be scientifically relevant. Therefore, we begin with an overview of the varying reasons sojourners might live, work, and/or study in a host country. We then limit the discussion to those sojourns that are primarily undertaken with the purpose of learning the host country’s language, and we focus on what education abroad means to these learners. We continue with a description of typical study abroad program durations, types, and housing options, and consider their varying benefits and limitations on language learning. The chapter concludes with an overall summary as well as questions for reflection and suggestions for further reading.
Sibling dynamics in adolescence predict young adult orientations to couple relationships: A dyadic approach

Abstract Introduction Adolescents' sibling relationships may serve as a training ground for couple relationships given their similar features, including companionship, closeness and role structure. This study used a dyadic approach to examine sibling intimacy and control in adolescence as predictors of young adults' couple relationship orientations (attachment avoidance and anxiety and attitudes toward marriage). Additionally, research documenting the significance of an other-sex sibling for adolescents’ romantic competence guided tests of sibling dyad sex constellation as a moderator of links between sibling relationships and couple relationship orientations in our predominantly heterosexual sample of youth. Method Firstborns and secondborns from 151 families (Time 1 ages M = 16.42, SD = 0.79 and M = 13.83, SD = 1.14, respectively) reported on their sibling relationships in three annual home interviews and on their couple relationship orientations in web surveys ten years after Time 1. Results Estimating actor-partner interdependence models revealed negative effects of sibling intimacy and positive effects of control toward sibling on avoidant attachment, and positive effects of control toward and by sibling on anxious attachment. Sex constellation moderated the interaction effects of the two siblings' intimacy reports on attitudes toward marriage: Mutual high intimacy among mixed-sex dyads predicted more positive attitudes; among same-sex dyads, adolescents' own intimacy compensated for siblings’ lower intimacy in predicting positive attitudes toward marriage. Findings emerged with parent marital love controlled. Conclusion Findings suggest long-term effects of sibling relationships on couple relationship orientations and demonstrate the benefits of using dyadic approaches to examine the implications of sibling relationships.
Nanoelectrochemistry in the study of single-cell signaling

Label-free biosensing has been the dream of scientists and biotechnologists as reported by Vollmer and Arnold (Nat Methods 5:591–596, 2008). The ability of examining living cells is crucial to cell biology as noted by Fang (Int J Electrochem 2011:460850, 2011). Chemical measurement with electrodes is label-free and has demonstrated capability of studying living cells. In recent years, nanoelectrodes of different functionality have been developed. These nanometer-sized electrodes, coupled with scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), have further enabled nanometer spatial resolution study in aqueous environments. Developments in the field of nanoelectrochemistry have allowed measurement of signaling species at single cells, contributing to better understanding of cell biology. Leading studies using nanoelectrochemistry of a variety of cellular signaling molecules, including redox-active neurotransmitter (e.g., dopamine), non-redox-active neurotransmitter (e.g., acetylcholine), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), are reviewed here.
Nonparanormal Structural VAR for Non-Gaussian Data

The vector autoregression (VAR) model profoundly uses the lagged causal relationships among variables. It is well known that VAR models say little about contemporaneous time correlation of these variables. However, ignoring causal orderings among VAR endogenous variables in contemporaneous time may produce not representative impulse response functions. The recent advances in Machine/Statistical Learning literature initiated the use of conditional independence test based directed acyclic graph algorithms to impose structure on VAR by exploiting Gaussianity, where tests of conditional independence are usually based on Pearson correlation. In this paper, we propose a new, computationally efficient algorithm to impose structure on VAR when the data does not follow a Gaussian distribution. The algorithm uses a broader class of Gaussian copula or nonparanormal models, where correlation is estimated using rank-based measures. As well, for the structural VAR estimation we derive the likelihood function when the Gaussian assumption is not satisfied. The performance of our method on capturing the contemporaneous time ordering of VAR model was shown using simulation studies and a real Macroeconomic dataset.
Perturbing Smart Contract Execution Through the Underlying Runtime

Because the smart contract is the core element that enables blockchain systems to perform diverse and intelligent operations, the security of smart contracts significantly determines the reliability and availability of the blockchain applications. This work examines security from the perspective that, although a smart contract may be programmatically correct, the environment in which the smart contract is carried out is vulnerable. Adversaries do not need to necessarily concern themselves with how a smart contract is programmed or whether it is vulnerable; the integrity of the smart contract can be undermined by perturbing the output of smart contract execution. Such an approach does not rely on exploiting programming errors or vulnerabilities in smart contract verification and protection frameworks. Instead, it leverages the flaws in the underlying smart contract lifecycle and virtualization mechanisms. The Hyperledger Fabric platform is used to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed attack.
Early iron supplementation and iron sufficiency at one month of age in NICU patients at-risk for iron deficiency.

Abstract In order to reduce iron deficiency in neonates at-risk for iron deficiency, we implemented a guideline to increase the consistency of early iron supplementation in infants of diabetic mothers, small for gestational age neonates and very low birthweight premature neonates. Three years following implementation we performed a retrospective analysis in order to assess adherence to the guideline and to compare timing of early iron supplementation and reticulocyte-hemoglobin (RET-He) values at one month of life in at-risk infants. Adherence with early iron supplementation guidelines was 73.4% (399/543) with 51% (275/543) having RET-He values obtained at one month. Despite good adherence, 16% (44/275) had RET-He
Metaplastic Carcinoma of the Breast

Metaplastic carcinoma (MC) accounts for roughly 1% of all breast carcinomas and represents a group of breast carcinomas that have marked heterogeneity in tumor morphology as well as in clinical behavior. These unique lesions have differentiation of their glandular epithelial components into metaplastic components that may have squamous or mesenchymal features with spindled, osseous, chondroid, or rhabdoid morphology. The resulting lesion may be entirely composed of the metaplastic elements or there may be an admixture of carcinomatous components as well as metaplastic components. Some of these lesions represent low-grade invasive carcinomas that have a risk for local recurrence but appear to lack metastatic potential, while at the other end of the spectrum are rapidly growing, high-grade invasive carcinomas that will follow an aggressive clinical course. A common feature of these lesions, regardless of grade, is their overall triple negative status. That said, their prognosis seems to be worse than stage and grade matched triple-negative invasive ductal carcinoma, NOS (IDC-NOS). It bears stating and repeating that in the evaluation of any spindle cell lesion of the breast, irrespective of bland or malignant cytomorphology, MC must be excluded and should be at the top of any differential diagnosis.
NbN-Gated GaN Transistor Technology for Applications in Quantum Computing Systems

A NbN-gated AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) technology for applications in quantum computing systems is demonstrated for the first time. Transistors with gate lengths scaled to 250 nm were characterized at 4.2 K, with excellent gate modulation (I D,ON /I D,OFF ~ 108) and current saturation. The potential of these devices for low noise amplifiers was evaluated, revealing a low DC power dissipation of 25 μW/μm when biased for expected minimum noise. The RF performance was also characterized at 4.2 K. This work highlights the potential of NbN-gated GaN transistor technology for applications in low-noise cryogenic amplifiers in future quantum computing systems.
Rodent models based on endolysosomal genes involved in Parkinson's disease.

Abstract Genes associated with endolysosomal function have been recently associated with familial Parkinson's disease and described as risk factors for sporadic cases. This indicates that deficits in this pathway predispose to parkinsonism. To better understand the role of these genes in disease development, rodent models have been created by targeting genes playing a role in endolysosomal function, such as LRRK2, DNAJC6, SYNJ1, VPS35, GBA1, ATP13A2 and TMEM175. Here, we review the latest findings describing parkinsonian features in these animal models secondary to endolysosomal dysfunction. Also, we provide suggestions for further development and application of these animal models to better understand the contribution of endolysosomal dysfunction in Parkinson's disease and provide novel models for testing therapeutic approaches.
Water Loss Estimates for Five Recently Transplanted Landscape Tree Species in a Semi-Arid Climate

Over three growing seasons (1994–1996), water loss of five recently transplanted, balled and burlaped (B&B) tree species was investigated using below-ground, electronic weighing lysimeters. For each species, actual tree water loss was correlated with reference evapotranspiration (ETO) to create a water loss multiplier. At the beginning of each growing season a single tree was planted into each lysimeter. Selected species were: London planetree (Platanus x acerifolia ‘Bloodgood’), corkscrew willow (Salix matsudana ‘Tortuosa’), littleleaf linden (Tilia cordata ‘Greenspire’), Norway maple (Acer platanoides ‘Emerald Queen’), and green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica ‘Patmore’). Throughout each growing season, trees were well-watered and lysimeter mass and meteorological variables were collected on site. Water loss multipliers for each tree species were calculated as the ratio of water loss (based upon total leaf area) to total daily ETO. Results indicate corkscrew willow and littleleaf linden had the greatest daily mean water loss (5.6 and 4.8 mm, respectively) (0.22 and 0.18 in, respectively), while Norway maple had the least (1.1 mm) (0.04 in). Water loss multipliers were greatest for corkscrew willow and littleleaf linden (1.1 and 0.9, respectively) and least for Norway maple (0.2). Regression analysis indicated total daily ETO had limited influence on total daily tree water loss. This suggests factors other than ETO influence water loss of recently transplanted, B&B trees in a semi-arid climate.