cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Knock down of GCN5 histone acetyltransferase by siRNA decreases ethanol-induced histone acetylation and affects differential expression of genes in human hepatoma cells

We have investigated whether Gcn5, a histone acetyltransferase (HAT), is involved in ethanol-induced acetylation of histone H3 at lysine 9 (H3AcK9) and has any effect on the gene expression. Human hepatoma HepG2 cells transfected with ethanol-metabolizing enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase 1 (VA 13 cells) were used. Knock down of Gcn5 by siRNA silencing decreased mRNA and protein levels of general control nondepressible 5 (GCN5), HAT activity, and also attenuated ethanol-induced H3AcK9 in VA13 cells. Illumina gene microarray analysis using total RNA showed 940 transcripts affected by GCN5 silencing or ethanol. Silencing caused differential expression of 891 transcripts (≥1.5-fold upregulated or downregulated). Among these, 492 transcripts were upregulated and 399 were downregulated compared with their respective controls. Using a more stringent threshold (≥2.5-fold), the array data from GCN5-silenced samples showed 57 genes differentially expressed (39 upregulated and 18 downregulated). Likewise, ethanol caused differential regulation of 57 transcripts with ≥1.5-fold change (35 gene upregulated and 22 downregulated). Further analysis showed that eight genes were differentially regulated that were common for both ethanol treatment and GCN5 silencing. Among these, SLC44A2 (a putative choline transporter) was strikingly upregulated by ethanol (three fold), and GCN5 silencing downregulated it (1.5-fold). The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction profile corroborated the array findings. This report demonstrates for the first time that (1) GCN5 differentially affects expression of multiple genes, (2) ethanol-induced histone H3-lysine 9 acetylation is mediated via GCN5, and (3) GCN5 is involved in ethanol-induced expression of the putative choline transporter SLC44A2.
The case study as research heuristic: lessons from the R&D value mapping project

Abstract How can case studies be used as a research heuristic? If prototype case studies are performed, what can researchers expect to learn from them and how can they be structured to enhance their learning value? This paper considers that question and the learning from two case studies intended to inform multiple case studies undertaken later in the project. Two prototype cases are presented, one Brookhaven National Laboratory, the other from Los Alamos National Laboratory, each having as its objective providing information about how to design and execute the subsequent 30 case studies to be undertaken. This paper summarizes the cases, presents some of the lessons learned for the subsequent larger project and then considers more generally the use of prototype case studies and the preconditions for their successful deployment. Prototype case studies are particularly useful for helping set boundaries for later studies, identifying the ways in which the research setting affects research findings, making judgments about the accessibility and availability of data, and determining respondents reactions to the research and the researchers.
Charge-injection noise in CCDs

An analysis of the noise associated with electronic charge injection in charge-coupled devices (CCDs) is presented, including the effects of diffusion currents. The capacitance of the injection circuit determines the charge-injection noise, and specification of the noise requires consideration of the quoted capacitance; for large charge packets, the noise has a characteristic variance of kTC/2 or kTC, depending on whether the capacitance is defined by microscopic (internal) or macroscopic (external) potentials. The variance is Poissonian for small charge packets. The noise values presented in this paper may serve as a target when optimizing charge-injection operation of a CCD
Learning under social influence

In this paper, we study a model of social learning where individuals are under influence of others in their social clique. In our model, each agent receives private noisy signals about an unobservable, underlying state of the world. At the end of each time period, the belief of an individual is equal to the convex combination of her posterior beliefs derived from the signal observed, and the priors of her neighbors. Our model reduces to the well-known consensus model when private signals are non-informative. We show that if the network of social influences is strongly connected, then all agents will have asymptotically correct forecasts. In other words, all individuals will be able to asymptotically learn the true state of the world, as far as their observations are concerned. Finally, we show that all agents assign asymptotically equal beliefs to the true state of the world.
A 35-GHz differential distributed loss-compensation amplifier

The demand for 40+ Gb/s broadband drivers and equalizers for electrical and optical links compels the use of distributed circuit techniques and on-chip loss compensation. A distributed loss-compensation scheme is presented for synthetic transmission lines. The distributed loss-compensated amplifier is implemented in a 120 nm BiCMOS process using only NMOS devices. A 3 dB bandwidth of 35 GHz is measured with gain ripple of +/-1 dB while consuming only 18 mW.
Diseases of wheat and barley in conservation cropping systems of the semiarid Pacific Northwest

Diseases continue to be important constraints in wheat and barley conservation cropping systems in the semiarid Pacific Northwest. Several diseases are more damaging in highthan low-residue seedbeds, and in crops planted during early autumn to reduce soil erosion during winter, especially unirrigated winter wheat in rotation with summer fallow in low rainfall zones (250–400 mm). Changes in cropping systems in the region have made disease management and maintenance of yield goals and farm profitability more challenging because disease management often is more complex and expensive with conservation tillage than inversion tillage. Practices being developed to meet this challenge are reviewed for diseases that are particularly trouble some in conservation farming systems of the Pacific Northwest.
Seeing Cells on the Web

Cells are the fundamental unit of life and disease; therefore, many avenues of research converge on cells, making images of cells prominent in research and teaching. Besides, cells are beautiful, and a gorgeous photo of a cell can spice up an otherwise dreary talk. Much of the progress of modern biomedical science can be tied to advances in our ability to better visualize the functional morphology of cells, including higher resolution imaging, informative molecular tags, and techniques for making observations in living cells. Given the microscopic scale that cells inhabit, and the variety of imaging techniques used to visualize them, it's not surprising that students are both inspired and confused by cells. How big are they? What shapes can they exhibit? How do cells perform their myriad functions? How do scientists produce all those pretty colors? This Feature describes websites that would help answer these and other important questions about cells, as well as sites that would help address some common sources of difficulty in the presentation of cellular information.
A CASE OF MULTIPLE CARTILAGINOUS EXOSTOSES

This is a report of a typical case of multiple osteochondromata with photographs of neck, wrists, hands, knees, ankles and feet. X-rays are given which demonstrate abnormal growths in cervical, dorsal and lumbo-sacral regions of the spine, on the right scapula and both iliac bones, femori, tibiae, fibulae, left humerus, right radius, left ulna and first metacarpal bone of the right hand. Excision of a small tumor on the fifth cervical vertebra was followed by relief from slight aches previously complained of locally in the neck and head. Microscopic appearances of the excised mass are given, indicating its benign character, and showing an irregular grouping of hyaline cartilage and bony trabeculae surrounding bone marrow. The history tends to confirm the importance of congenital developmental defects as causes and their transmission from mother to offspring; also locations and sizes of abnormal growths indicate that continuous mechanical strains or repeated mechanical irritations may accelerate tumor growth. Multiple cartilaginous exostoses have been discussed recently by Ehrenfried and Ashhurst and their papers should be referred to for further details and for bibliography of the subject.
Segmented iterative learning control for precision positioning of waferstages

This paper presents an application of a segmented iterative learning control (ILC) scheme for precision positioning of wafer stages using linear motors. The process of wafer scanning is repetitive, hence ILC has been used to improve performance from cycle to cycle. However, using uniform learning over the entire cycle results in degraded performance in those areas of the trajectory where nonrepetitive disturbances dominate. The paper proposes and compares implementation and performance of a segmented ILC scheme (a segmented P-type ILC algorithm) vis-a-vis a standard P-type ILC algorithm. Segmentation refers to separating the repetitive process into smaller segments with different learning rates. In this paper, we first consider the simple case of on-off learning, i.e., in certain segments learning is switched on, and in others, no learning is done. A metric is proposed to determine which segments to learn, and sufficient conditions for convergence and stability aspects of an on-off type segmented ILC scheme are presented. Finally, a comparison of the segmented ILC scheme and the standard P-type scheme is provided to illustrate the advantages of segmentation. Experimental validation of the theory developed is provided by implementation of these ILC schemes on a one-DOF prototype wafer stage.
Scattering function estimation

The estimation of the scattering function of a random, zero-mean, homogeneous, time-variant, linear filter is considered. The sum of the random filter output and independent noise is the input to an estimator. The estimator structure is equivalent to a bank of linear filters followed by squared-envelope detectors; the envelope detector outputs are the input to a final linear filter. The estimator output is shown to be an unconstrained linear operation on the ambiguity function of the estimator input. Except for a bias term due to the additive noise, the mean of the estimator output is an unconstrained linear operation on the scattering function of the random filter. The integral variance of the output is found for a Gaussian channel. The mean and variance clearly indicate the tradeoff between resolution and variance reduction obtained by varying the estimator structure. For any well-behaved channel it is shown that an effectively unbiased estimate of the scattering function can be obtained if the input signal has both sufficient energy and enough time and frequency spread to resolve the random filter; the random filter is not required to be underspread. The variance of an estimate can be further reduced by increasing the time or frequency spread of the transmitted signal.
Pulse Pressure Widening is a Determinant of Diastolic Dysfunction

Background: Widened pulse pressure, a marker for increased vascular stiffness, is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Since diastolic dysfunction may also relate to vascular stiffness and may portend a poor prognosis, our aim was to determine the association between pulse pressure and diastolic dysfunction in patients with preserved LVEF. Methods: 150 consecutive patients with and 300 consecutive controls without diastolic dysfunction and LVEF $50% were studied. We excluded patients with severe valve abnormalities and incomplete documentation. Severity of diastolic dysfunction was graded 1-3 (abnormal relaxation, pseudonormal, restrictive). We compared pulse pressure (at time of echo) in patients with and without diastolic dysfunction and adjusted for baseline covariates before and after propensity score matching. We analyzed the data before and after excluding patients with mild diastolic dysfunction to determine the association in the absence of borderline dysfunction. Results: Data from 269 controls were compared to 130 patients with diastolic dysfunction. Of those, 74 (57%) had abnormal relaxation, 45 (35%) had pseudonormal and 11 (8%) had restrictive patterns. Pulse pressure was wider in patients with diastolic dysfunction compared to controls (74 6 24 vs. 65 6 18, p!.0001). After adjustment for baseline covariates this association was not statistically significant. In 63 propensity-matched patient pairs, diastolic dysfunction was associated with a numerically greater but statistically non-significant difference in pulse pressure (74 6 24 vs. 70 6 18 mmHg, p50.26). After excluding patients with mild (grade 1) diastolic dysfunction, pulse pressure was wider in those with diastolic dysfunction (79 6 23 vs. 65 6 19 mmHg, p!.0001), and remained statistically significant after multivariate adjustment. The odds ratio comparing 25 vs. 75 percentile of pulse pressure for presence of diastolic dysfunction was 1.57 (95% CI 1.01-2.43). Other predictors of diastolic dysfunction that remained significant after multivariable adjustment were older age, LVH, hypertension, and low GFR. Conclusion: Patients with more severe diastolic dysfunction have a wider pulse pressure compared to controls. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that increased vascular stiffness contributes to both a widened pulse pressure and diastolic dysfunction, and may help to explain the increased risk in these patients. We speculate that pulse pressure may be a modifiable risk factor to improve diastolic dysfunction and long term outcomes.
Fluorescence lifetime imaging

We describe a new fluorescence imaging methodology in which the image contrast is derived from the fluorescence lifetime at each point in a two-dimensional image and not the local concentration and/or intensity of the fluorophore. In the present apparatus, lifetime images are created from a series of images obtained with a gain-modulated image intensifier. The frequency of gain modulation is at the light-modulation frequency (or a harmonic thereof), resulting in homodyne phase-sensitive images. These stationary phase-sensitive images are collected using a slow-scan CCD camera. A series of such images, obtained with various phase shifts of the gain-modulation signal, is used to determine the phase angle and/or modulation of the emission at each pixel, which is in essence the phase or modulation lifetime image. An advantage of this method is that pixel-to-pixel scanning is not required to obtain the images, as the information from all pixels is obtained at the same time. The method has been experimentally verified by creating lifetime images of standard fluorophores with known lifetimes, ranging from 1 to 10 ns. As an example of biochemical imaging we created lifetime images of Yt-base when quenched by acrylamide, as a model for a fluorophore in distinct environments that affect its decay time. Additionally, we describe a faster imaging procedure that allows images in which a specific decay time is suppressed to be calculated, allowing rapid visualization of unique features and/or regions with distinct decay times. The concepts and methodologies of fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) have numerous potential applications in the biosciences. Fluorescence lifetimes are known to be sensitive to numerous chemical and physical factors such as pH, oxygen, temperature, cations, polarity, and binding to macromolecules. Hence the FLIM method allows chemical or physical imaging of macroscopic and microscopic samples.
Assessing the global energy innovation system: some key issues

Abstract Energy technology innovation has played central role in the evolution and advancement of the energy sector. The major challenges facing the energy system—ensuring adequacy supply of energy services at low cost while mitigating adverse local and global environmental impacts—will doubtless require further innovation (i.e., research, development, demonstration and deployment) in energy technologies. Yet our understanding of the global energy innovation system is incomplete, with a majority of analyses focusing on energy research and development in industrialized countries, and within that domain, on funding levels. A much more systematic effort is warranted to assess, and fill, the gaps in understanding of the global energy innovation system—only then we will able to develop appropriate policies to guide this system to enable it to meet future challenges.
Stack monitor operating experience review

Stack monitors are used to sense radioactive particulates and gases in effluent air being vented from rooms of nuclear facilities. These monitors record the levels and types of effluents to the environment. This paper presents the results of a stack monitor operating experience review of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Occurrence Reporting and Processing System (ORPS) database records from the past 18 years. Regulations regarding these monitors are briefly described. Operating experiences reported by the U.S. DOE and in engineering literature sources were reviewed to determine the strengths and weaknesses of these monitors. Electrical faults, radiation instrumentation faults, and human errors are the three leading causes of failures. A representative “all modes” failure rate is 1E-04/hr. Repair time estimates vary from an average repair time of 17.5 hours (with spare parts on hand) to 160 hours (without spare parts on hand). These data should support the use of stack monitors in any nuclear facility, including the National Ignition Facility and the international ITER project.
Virtual seminars for disseminating medical nutrition education curriculum ideas

There is a need and a desire for educators working toward implementation of nutrition in medical schools and residency programs to share ideas and materials. The World Wide Web enables computer-mediated communications through which a medical nutrition curriculum could be discussed; however, existing formats lack focus and structure. In January 1999, a virtual seminar that focused on nutrition education in medical schools and residency programs was conducted. The seminar, titled "Making Room for Nutrition Education, was sponsored by organizations that have active medical nutrition educators. The seminar included 5 topics discussed over a 4-d period. The transcript was made available at http://www.preventivenutrition. com. There were 119 registered participants. Responses to a postseminar questionnaire were positive; there was interest in an ongoing series of virtual seminars.
Toxic Metals in the Environment: The Role of Surfaces

Metals are prevalent in the environment. They are derived from both natural and anthropogenic sources. Certain metals are essential for plant growth and for animal and human health. However, if present in excessive concentrations they become toxic. Metals undergo an array of biogeochemical processes at reactive natural surfaces, including surfaces of clay minerals, metal oxides and oxyhydroxides, humic substances, plant roots, and microbes. These processes control the solubility, mobility, bioavailability, and toxicity of metals in the environment. The use of advanced analytical techniques has furthered our understanding of the reactivity and mobility of metals in the near-surface environment.
Waiting for triage: unmeasured time in patient flow.

Introduction: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requires reporting of multiple time-sensitive metrics. Most facilities use triage time as the time of arrival. Little is known about how long patients wait prior to triage. As reimbursement to the hospital may be tied to these metrics, it is essential to accurately record the time of arrival. Our objective was to quantify the time spent waiting to be triaged for patients arriving to the emergency department (ED). Methods: We conducted this study in an urban, academic, tertiary care center with approximately 54,000 annual ED visits. All patients arriving to the ED from November 1, 2012, to October 1, 2013, were enrolled. If patients didn’t go directly to a bed or triage, an observer greeted patients as they entered the ED and recorded the time of arrival. The triage time was recorded as normal. We calculated the difference between the arrival time and triage time. Results: There were 50,576 patient visits during the study period. Of these, 7,795 (15.4%) patients did not go directly to a bed or triage. For patients who waited for triage, median time from arrival to triage was 11 minutes (IQR 5-19, range 1-105). When stratified by the number of new patients who arrived in the ED in the previous hour, the percentage of greeted patients who waited more than 10 minutes for triage was: 0-5 new patients – 12.4%; 6-10 new patients – 48.8%; 11-15 new patients – 64.4%; 16+ new patients – 68%. Conclusion: Patients often waited more than 10 minutes to be triaged. As the number of patients registered in the previous hour increased, the percentage of patients who waited more than 10 minutes for triage increased significantly. During times of peak volume, 8.5% of all patients arriving to the ED waited more than 10 minutes for triage. This wait is not accounted for in the normal reporting of ED throughput times and metrics. [West J Emerg Med. 2015;16(1):–0.]
TetFusion: an algorithm for rapid tetrahedral mesh simplification

This paper introduces an algorithm for rapid progressive simplification of tetrahedral meshes: TetFusion. We describe how a simple geometry decimation operation steers a rapid and controlled progressive simplification of tetrahedral meshes, while also taking care of complex mesh-inconsistency problems. The algorithm features a high decimation ratio per step, and inherently discourages any cases of self-intersection of boundary, element-boundary intersection at concave boundary-regions, and negative volume tetrahedra (flipping). We achieved rigorous reduction ratios of up to 98% for meshes consisting of 827,904 elements in less than 2 minutes, progressing through a series of level-of-details (LoDs) of the mesh in a controlled manner. We describe how the approach supports a balanced re-distribution of space between tetrahedral elements, and explain some useful control parameters that make it faster and more intuitive than 'edge collapse'-based decimation methods for volumetric meshes [3, 19, 21, 22]. Finally, we discuss how this approach can be employed for rapid LoD prototyping of large time-varying datasets as an aid to interactive visualization.
SYSTEMATICS OF THE AMPHISBAENIA (LEPIDOSAURIA:SQUAMATA) BASED ON MORPHOLOGICAL EVIDENCE FROM RECENT AND FOSSIL FORMS

Abstract Amphisbaenians are a poorly known group of squamate reptiles with over 150 extant species in 23 genera. They live almost exclusively under loose or sandy soil in tropical to temperate areas around the world, and their anatomy is modified in many ways related to this lifestyle. Most recent studies recognize four families within Amphisbaenia—Bipedidae, Amphisbaenidae, Trogonophidae, and Rhineuridae. Only the Rhineuridae are well represented in the fossil record. Two exclusively fossil families, Hyporhinidae and Crythiosauridae, have also been recognized in some studies. In this paper, a phylogenetic study of the Amphisbaenia is presented based on morphological characters investigated in living and fossil forms. Amphisbaenian monophyly is supported, but the recent identification of the late Cretaceous Sineoamphisbaena hextabularis† as a primitive amphisbaenian is not supported. The monophyly of two of the four families of extant amphisbaenians is upheld, with one family being more inclusive than pre...
High-resolution computed tomography and diffuse lung disease

La tomoscintigraphie est un nouvel outil de haute resolution permettant le diagnostic de la pathologie pulmonaire diffuse chez l'homme
Thin film thermoelectric metal-organic framework with high Seebeck coefficient and low thermal conductivity (Presentation Recording)

Inorganic, low bandgap semiconductors such as Bi2Te3 have adequate efficiency for some thermoelectric energy conversion applications, but have not been more widely adopted because they are difficult to deposit over complex and/or high surface area structures, are not eco-friendly, and are too expensive. As an alternative, conducting polymers have recently attracted much attention for thermoelectric applications motivated by their low material cost, ease of processability, non-toxicity, and low thermal conductivity. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which are extended, crystalline compounds consisting of metal ions interconnected by organic ligands, share many of the advantages of all-organic polymers including solution processability and low thermal conductivity. Additionally, MOFs and Guest@MOF materials offer higher thermal stability (up to ~300 °C in some cases) and have long-range crystalline order which should improve charge mobility. A potential advantage of MOFs and Guest@MOF materials over all-organic polymers is the opportunity for tuning the electronic structure through appropriate choice of metal and ligand, which could solve the long-standing challenge of finding stable, high ZT n-type organic semiconductors. In our presentation, we report on thermoelectric measurements of electrically conducting TCNQ@Cu3(BTC)2 thin films deposited using a room-temperature, solution-based method, which reveal a large, positive Seebeck coefficient. Furthermore, we use time-dependent thermoreflectance (TDTR) to measure the thermal conductivity of the films, which is found to have a low value due to the presence of disorder, as suggested by molecular dynamics simulations. In addition to establishing the thermoelectric figure of merit, the thermoelectric measurements reveal for the first time that holes are the majority carriers in TCNQ@Cu3(BTC)2.
Abstract 679: Modeling Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm of Bicuspid Aortic Valve Patients with Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Reveals Distinct Phenotypes of Smooth Muscle Cells from Different LIneages

Ascending aortic aneurysm occurs in 35%-68% patients with bicuspid aortic valves (BAV), which is more frequently than it does in patients with normal trileaflet aortic valves (TAV). In contrast to recurrent aneurysms of the ascending aorta, descending aortic aneurysms is very rare in patients with BAV. Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells (SMCs) make up the media of the aortic walls, and their contractile properties help sustain vessel tone. Interestingly, ascending aorta is populated by SMCs arising from neural crest and descending aorta by SMCs from paraxial mesoderm. An intriguing hypothesis is that the distinct susceptibility of aneurysm in the ascending and descending aorta in patients with BAV is due in part to disparities in SMC embryonic origins. To prove our hypothesis, we used an induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPS) model system to generate SMCs from neural crest and paraxial mesoderm. Firstly, iPSCs were established from a patient with BAV and ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (BAV/TAA) and two control patients with normal aorta and TAV. The iPSCs pluripotency was verified by standard stem cell markers and teratoma formation. Neural crest stem cells (NCSCs) were differentiated from iPSCs and expressed neural crest markers, including P75, HNK1, AP2 and Sox9. In parallel, paraxial mesoderm cells (PMCs) were differentiated from iPSCs and expressed specific markers, including TCF15, TBX6, Meox1 and Pax1. The SMCs differentiated from both lineages had expression of SMC markers including MYH11, CNN1, ACTA2, SM22α. Interestingly, SMCs derived from BAV-NCSCs had significantly decreased in MYH11 and ACTA2 gene expression and impaired contractile property by gel contraction assay compared to SMCs derived from control-NCSCs. However, SMCs from BAV-PMCs had similar level of expression of MYH11 and ACTA2, and strong contractile activity with Carbacol treatment compared to SMCs derived from control PMCs. In conclusion, the iPS model system revealed decreased expression of contractile proteins and impairment of contractility in SMCs derived from NCSCs in BAV patient, but not in the SMCs derived from paraxial mesoderm cells. The high susceptibility of aneurysm in the ascending aorta in patients with BAV might be partly due to embryonic origin of the SMCs.
A personal video summarization system by integrating RFID and GPS information for marathon activities

This paper presents a video summary system that generates an interesting personal video efficiently in marathon activities. First, a video pre-processing program uploads captured videos into the cloud storage. Second, a video clip searching program identifies the personal video segments. Finally, all personal video segments are summarized with different special-effects in predefined scripts by the video post-processing program. Videos are segmented in seconds and managed by meta-data, and human assisted requirement is low for cutting and editing videos. This system severs over 200,000 people in two marathon activities, and the evaluation results show that our system achieves a high experience satisfaction.
Receptor specificity and receptor-induced conformational changes in mouse hepatitis virus spike glycoprotein.

Coronavirus spike (S) glycoproteins bind to specific glycoproteins on host cell membranes that serve as virus receptors. Receptors for S glycoproteins of several coronaviruses have been identified (Dveksler, et al, 1991; Dveksler, et al, 1993; Chen, et al, 1995; Yeager, et al, 1992; Delmas, et al, 1992; Tresnan, et al, 1996; Benbacer, et al, 1997). The specificity of virus/receptor interactions is an important determinant of the species-specificity of Coronavirus infection, and may play a role in the tissue tropism and virulence of Coronavirus diseases (Kolb, et al, 1997; Ballesteros, et al, 1997; Sanchez, et al, 1999). The mechanism of entry has been studied in great detail for several enveloped viruses including influenza A virus, avian leukosis viruses and HIV-1 (Kemble, et al, 1994; Stegmann, et al, 1990; Chen, et al, 1999; Gilbert, et al, 1995; Hernandez and White, 1998; Zhang, et al, 1999; Turner and Summers, 1999). Binding of the spike glycoprotein on the viral envelope to the receptor on the cell membrane may induce specific, pre-programmed conformational changes in the spike protein and/or the receptor that bring together the lipid bilayers of the viral envelope and the cell membrane. A fusion pore is created that expands to permit the entry of the viral nucleocapsid into the cytoplasm, leading to virus infection. This chapter will summarize the specificity of the interactions of murine Coronavirus MHV and mutants of MHV with cellular receptors, and discuss evidence that receptor binding induces a temperature-dependent conformational change in the MHV S glycoprotein that may play a role in virus entry and MHV-induced cell fusion.
Prognostic markers in clinically localized prostate cancer.

Current dilemmas for physicians managing patients with localized prostate cancer include deciding: (1) which patients need aggressive treatment; (2) what treatment options are best for a given patient; and (3) what treatment outcomes can be expected. This article reviews our ability to prognosticate outcome (including pathological stage and disease-free survival rate) in patients with clinically localized adenocarcinoma of the prostate (AJCC, stage T1-T2. N0, M0) subsequent to analysis of several contemporary series involving patients treated with radical prostatectomy and external-beam radiation therapy. Pretherapy prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level ( 20 ng/mL) and Gleason score ( or =8) as individual variables provide independent prognostic information for only a subset of patients undergoing radical prostatectomy and external-beam radiation therapy. Pathological stage is the most powerful predictor of outcome following radical prostatectomy, and its prediction (organ-confined vs. seminal vesicle or lymph node involvement) is aided by knowledge of clinical stage, Gleason score, and PSA level. Planned systematic biopsies also provide useful prognostic information for the prediction of pathological stage and tumor volume, as well as providing additional tissue for pathological assessment of tumor heterogeneity. Several novel markers of biological aggressiveness are associated with critical steps of the metastatic cascade (growth, invasion, angiogenesis, and resistance to apoptosis) and include the p53 tumor suppressor gene, the bcl-2 proto-oncogene, markers of increased proliferation (Ki-67), apoptosis, and angiogenesis (microvessel density). Their evaluation in clinical specimens is currently being used to prognosticate outcome. Current clinical and pathological parameters provide a "ballpark" estimate of outcome for patients with clinically localized prostate cancer. Further elucidation of the critical molecular events associated with prostate cancer progression and metastasis should help in identifying molecular markers that more accurately predict the prognosis for an individual patient with clinically localized prostate cancer.
Expert Consensus on Photosensitive Epilepsies

The literature and data on photic- and pattern-induced seizures were reviewed and a consensus was developed of risk factors for visually evoked seizures, at a workshop of the Epilepsy Foundation of America, in Alexandria, VA, August 2004.
Exploring the Role of Computer Science in the Liberal Arts (Abstract Only)

There is a growing body of evidence that indicates that many students would benefit from coursework in computer science regardless of their academic majors. While there are obvious advantages to learning computer science for students in the quantitative and analytical fields that comprise the STEM disciplines, the advantages to other students are less obvious. In order to investigate the impact of computer science principles and methods on students in the liberal arts we convened a workshop of faculty comprised of an equal number of participants from each discipline, i.e. computer science and the various liberal arts. We identified a clear need to better understand the computational needs of liberal arts students and faculty and we identified opportunities for computer scientists and liberal arts students and faculty to work together to better prepare students in both disciplines and better support faculty research in the liberal arts.
Dietary Granulocytopenia in Rats Corrected by Crystalline L. casei Factor (“Folic Acid”)

Summary1. Granulocytopenia was observed in a small percentage of rats fed purified diets without sulfonamides. 2. Crystalline L. casei factor (“folic acid”) administered to 5 rats with granulocytopenia corrected the blood dyscrasia in every case. One or more relapses occurred in 3 of the rats. Crystalline L. casei factor (“folic acid”) corrected the granulocytopenia in relapse.
Expansion of Transmission Networks Considering Large Wind Power Penetration and Demand Uncertainty

This paper presents an algorithm for solving the Transmission Expansion Planning (TEP) problem when large scale wind generation is considered. Variability of wind speed and demand uncertainty are also taken into account. The formulation includes the DC model of the network, and the obtained expansion plans minimize the investment, the load shedding, and also the wind generation curtailment. The Chu-Beasley Genetic Algorithm (CBGA) is used for finding feasible optimal expansion plans. Uncertainties are included by scenario reduction to obtain robust expansion plans capable of meeting the uncertainty set. The approach allows finding robust expansion plans to cope with the uncertainties in load forecasting and also to take advantage of wind generation. The proposed algorithm is validated on the 6-bus Garver system, IEEE 24-bus RTS test system and the real life South-Brazilian 46-bus system. Comparison with other methods is carried out to demonstrate the performance of the proposed approach.
Influence of cottonseed meal supplementation on voluntary intake, ruminal and cecal fermentation, digesta kinetics and serum insulin and growth hormone in mature ewes fed prairie hay.

To determine the influence of protein supplementation on intake and fermentation of low-quality hay, six ruminal- and cecal-cannulated Rambouillet ewes (avg wt 43.6 kg) in a crossover design were given ad libitum access to prairie hay with or without 80 g of cottonseed meal (CSM) X head-1 X d-1. Voluntary hay intake was measured the last 7 d of each 18-d period. Ruminal, cecal and blood samples were collected at 0, 1 (except cecal), 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 h post-supplementation on d 14 of each period to measure fluid dilution rate, fermentation characteristics and serum concentrations of insulin and growth hormone. An intraruminal dose of Yb-labeled hay, followed by fecal sampling on d 15 through 18, was used to measure particulate passage rate. Voluntary intake of prairie hay was increased (P less than .04) from 23.7 to 28.3 g/kg of body weight by CSM supplementation. Particulate passage rate constants did not differ (P greater than .15) between supplemented (3.76%/h) and control (3.72%/h) ewes, and total mean retention time was not altered (P greater than .15) by CSM supplementation. Ruminal retention time of particulates did not differ (P greater than .15) between treatments; however, intestinal transit time was faster (P less than .03; 18.1 vs 22.6 h) in supplemented than in control ewes. Estimated gastrointestinal dry matter fill was greater (P less than .05; 14.3 vs 12.9 g/kg body weight) in supplemented ewes. Ruminal fluid volume did not differ (P greater than .15) between treatments; however, supplemented ewes tended to have faster fluid dilution rates (P less than .14) and fluid outflow rates (P less than .11) than control ewes. Cecal fluid volume, dilution rate and outflow rate did not differ (P greater than .15) between groups. Ruminal and cecal pH and total volatile fatty acids were similar between treatments. Similarly, cottonseed meal supplementation did not affect (P greater than .15) ruminal or cecal ammonia concentrations. Molar proportions of ruminal and cecal individual fatty acids were not affected (P greater than .15) by CSM supplementation. Feeding cottonseed meal increased (P less than .05) serum insulin, decreased (P less than .07) serum growth hormone and increased (P less than .06) serum free fatty acids, but did not influence (P greater than .15) either serum urea N or glucose concentrations. Cottonseed meal supplementation in ewes fed prairie hay caused increased hay intake but had minimal effects on ruminal and cecal fermentation.
A Brief Report on the Development of The Usability of Sleep Apnea Equipment-Oral Appliance (USE-OA) Questionnaire: A Pilot Study

Study Objectives To develop a questionnaire for measuring human factors (usability) associated with oral appliance use and to assess the feasibility of administering the questionnaire to patients with obstructive sleep apnea in a clinic setting.
Treemaps as a Tool for Social Network Analysis

Abstract : We apply treemap technology in the analysis of large, social network datasets principally for examining network subgroups. A treemap is graphically-based information and exploration tool which is used in diverse fields such as computer science, finance, and human-gene research; from our experience, we find treemaps also useful in the social network analysis setting. A treemap represents hierarchical and categorical data in a mosaic form containing embedded, rectangular shapes, where the size of each shape is germane. Treemap displays are especially helpful when examining data in an interactive mode (as opposed to a static or printed form). We have found that treemaps are a powerful tool for exploring large social-networks, particularly during the exploratory data analysis phase. Their use quickly leads to a thorough perspective of the holistic characteristics of the network and to easier identification of significant subgroups; both of these perspectives may otherwise remain hidden using traditional visualization techniques. In this report, we introduce treemap technology, first broadly, then, specifically how it can be applied to social network analysis. We also show how we have actually applied treemaps to an interactive study of a large, real-world dataset. As a result of our experiences, we encourage other social network analysts to consider applying treemaps in their work.
Local-Level Adult Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccination Disparities: Chicago, Illinois, 2015–2016

Objectives. To investigate local-level adult influenza and pneumococcal vaccination disparities to inform targeted interventions.Methods. Questions on influenza and pneumococcal vaccination uptake were included in a door-to-door community-based representative survey conducted in 10 Chicago, Illinois, neighborhoods in 2015 and 2016. A total of 1543 adults completed the survey, including 172 adults aged 65 years or older. We calculated adult influenza (≥ 18 years) and pneumococcal (≥ 65 years) vaccination coverage by community area and respondent characteristics.Results. We observed significant differences in pneumococcal vaccination coverage between community areas (range = 18%–91%). Influenza vaccination coverage differed by gender, age, insurance coverage, acculturation, and confidence or trust in physician. Non-Hispanic Blacks were more likely to be vaccinated when they had higher confidence or trust in their physician (45% vs 20%; P < .01). Mexicans who reported less acculturation were more likely to b...
Risk Premia and Preemption in R&D Ventures

I analyze the impact of competition on the risk premia of R&D ventures engaged in a multiple-stage patent race with technical and market uncertainty. After solving in closed form for the case of a two-stage race in continuous time, I show that a firm's risk premium decreases as a consequence of technical progress and increases when a rival pulls ahead. Compared to the case where firms collude, R&D competition erodes the option value to mothball a project, reduces the completion time and the failure rate of R&D, and causes higher and more volatile risk premia. Numerical simulations reveal that competition can generate risk premia up to 500 annual basis points higher and up to three times more volatility than in a collusive industry.
Chiroptical Activity in BINAP- and DIOP-Stabilized Octa- and Undecagold Clusters

In order to learn more about the origin of chirality in chiral organometallic complexes and to contribute to the understanding of the differences in chiroptical activity of metal clusters stabilized by various phosphine ligands, we examined the optical properties of undecagold (Au113+) and octagold (Au82+) clusters protected by two types of bisphosphine ligands [BINAP (2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthyl) and DIOP (o-isopropylidene-2,3-dihydroxy-1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane)]. The chirality of pairs of clusters [Au11(BINAP)4Cl2]+, [Au11(DIOP)4Cl2]+ and [Au8(BINAP)3(PPh3)2]2+, [Au8(DIOP)3(PPh3)2]2+ are investigated with density functional theory (DFT) and time–dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). The geometries of the octa- and undecagold cores in the model clusters are similar to the gold cores of the crystal structures. Theoretical optical absorption and CD spectra of the model clusters are in good agreement with experimental data. Three main hypotheses to explain the different chirop...
From the Margins to the Center: Generative Possibilities in Multicultural Dialogue on Spirituality

This chapter introduces the book, Meeting in Sacred Space: Engaging with Spirituality in Family Therapy, an edited volume whose chapters are written from the authors’ diverse perspectives informed by Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Native American spiritual practice, Sikhism, Southern and Eastern African spiritual traditions, and Taoism. It offers a challenge to the current dominant global cultural discourse of individualism, offering the possibility of alternative global culture grounded in respect for the universality of human spirituality. Recognizing the problems of sectarian religious violence, fundamentalism, and struggles for hegemonic dominance, the authors offer an alternative model of ethical dialogue in a metaphorical “sacred space” shared by participants deeply grounded in the particulars of their faiths. Respectful witnessing of each other’s practices opens hearts to profound, tangible, yet inexpressible realms of common human spiritual experience. Authors were invited to write transparently about their engagement with spirituality in their therapeutic and teaching practices, to share their spiritual journeys in the context of their complex social identities, and to provide illustrations of their work. As the Editor and author of this introductory chapter, I trace my journey as the scion of generations of Protestant Christian ministry through a range of esoteric traditions into Judaism and the study of Jewish esoterica in Kabbalah and Chasidut. I illustrate my work with the case of a Roman Catholic patient for whom I drew from related traditions in Christianity and Judaism to help her overcome a pattern of misfortune and build resilience.
Caspase-independent mitotic death

The spindle checkpoint ensures proper chromosomal segregation by monitoring kinetochore–microtubule attachment. A failure of this checkpoint causes aneuploidy, which leads to tumorigenesis. The cell death that prevents the aneuploidy caused by failure of the spindle checkpoint is yet unknown. We have identified a novel type of mitotic cell death, which we term caspase-independent mitotic death (CIMD). When BUB1 but not MAD2 is depleted, CIMD is induced by conditions that activate the spindle checkpoint [e.g., cold shock or treatment with microtubule inhibitors or 17-AAG (17-allylaminogeldanamycin)]. CIMD depends on the apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) and endonuclease G (Endo G), which are effectors of caspase-independent cell death. CIMD also depends on p73, a homologue of p53, but not on p53. When BUB1 is completely depleted, aneuploidy occurs instead of CIMD. Therefore, CIMD may be the programmed cell death that protects cells from aneuploidy by inducing the death of cells prone to substantial chromosome missegregation.
Resolving file conflicts in the Ficus file system

Ficus is a flexible replication facility with optimistic concurrency control designed to span a wide range of scales and network environments. Optimistic concurrency control provides rapid local access and high availability of files for update in the face of disconnection, at the cost of occasional conflicts that are only discovered when the system is reconnected. Ficus reliably detects all possible conflicts. Many conflicts can be automatically resolved by recognizing the file type and understanding the file's semantics. This paper describes experiences with conflicts and automatic conflict resolution in Ficus. It presents data on the frequency and character of conflicts in our environment. This paper also describes how semantically knowledgeable resolvers are designed and implemented, and discusses our experiences with their strengths and limitations. We conclude from our experience that optimistic concurrency works well in at least one realistic environment, conflicts are rare, and a large proportion of those conflicts that do occur can be automatically solved without human intervention.
A defense of acting from duty

Defense du devoir comme motif premier de l'action. Examinant les critiques des theories morales kantiennes et utilitaristes fondees sur le rejet de l'emotion et l'application de principe moraux, developpees par B. Williams et M. Stocker, l'A. etudie les reponses apportees par B. Herman et M. Baron a partir de la distinction entre les motifs premiers et les conditions limites de l'action. Soulignant le lien entre moralite et interet de la personne, et analysant les contextes intimes de l'action, l'A. montre que le devoir n'est pas lie a l'amitie en tant que sentiment affectif, mais a la reconnaissance des autres personnes comme autant de moi