cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthetic studies of the antitumor antibiotic streptonigrin. II. Synthesis of the C-D ring portion of streptonigrin

Partial mclhylalion of gallopropiophenonc (4) followed by benzylation and base-catalyzed condensation with ethyl acetate yielded 3-(2-benzyloxy-3,4-din]etlK>xy)benzoyl-2-butanonc (6). Animation of the latter and subsequent base-catalyzed cyclization with ethyl cyanoacetate gave 4-(2-benzyloxy-3,4-dimethoxy)phenyl-5,6-dimethyl-2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyridine (8). Removal of the 2-oxo group of 8 through chlorination and dechlorination and stepwise conversion of the 5-cyano and 2-methyl groups into the 5-amino and 2-carboxylic acid groups, respectively, with introduction and removal of protecting groups at proper stages, yielded the C-D ring moiety of the antitumor antibiotic streptonigrin.
Thermal Effects of Phase Transformations: A General Approach

All stages of phase transformations in materials, nucleation, growth, and coarsening, are subjected to thermal effects that stem from the redistribution of energy in the system like, release of latent heat and heat conduction. The thermal effects change the rate and outcome of the transformation and may result in appearance of unusual states or phases, in particular in nanosystems. This paper is not a complete account of the theory of thermal effects; it is rather a guide through many seemingly unrelated effects in different phase transformations, which in fact have unified origin. Although the dynamical Ginzburg-Landau approach will be used for the analysis of the effects, they are robust and independent of the employed theoretical methods. Another purpose of this review is to bring these effects to the attention of experimenters and motivate them on conducting new experiments in the area of phase transitions.
Analysis of the Cross-Sectional Area of the Adductor Longus Tendon A Descriptive Anatomic Study

Background: Strain injury to the adductor longus muscle is a common cause of groin pain in athletes and generally occurs in the proximal portion of the muscle, near its origin from the anterior aspect of the pubis. The composition and cross-sectional anatomy of this muscle's origin has not been previously described.Hypothesis: We hypothesize that the adductor longus muscle origin is composed mainly of muscle fibers and that the tendon composes only a small part of the cross section at the origin of the muscle.Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study.Methods: We harvested 42 adductor longus muscles from 28 cadavers and measured the cross-sectional dimensions of the tendon with microcalipers. Next, we determined the relative contributions of the tendon and muscle fibers to the cross-sectional anatomy of the muscle using optical scanning. These 2 sets of measurements were obtained at 3 locations: at the muscle origin and 1.0 and 2.0 cm distal to the origin.Results: The average length and width of the tendo...
Exploring Trade-off&#8217;s Between Centralized versus Decentralized Automotive Architectures Using a Virtual Integration Environment

The large variety of architectural dimensions in automotive electronics design, for example, bus protocols, number of nodes, sensors and actuators interconnections and power distribution topologies, makes architecture design task a very complex but crucial design step especially for OEMs. This situation motivates the need for a design environment that accommodates the integration of a variety of models in a manner that enables the exploration of design alternatives in an efficient and seamless fashion. Exploring these design alternatives in a virtual environment and evaluating them with respect to metrics such as cost, latency, flexibility and reliability provide an important competitive advantage to OEMs and help minimize integration risks later in the design cycle. In particular, the choice of the degree of decentralization of the architecture has become a crucial issue in automotive electronics. In this paper, we demonstrate how a rigorous methodology (Platform-Based Design) and the Metropolis framework can be used to find the balance between centralized and decentralized architectures.
Twenty-Year Legacy of South Dakota v. Dole: Dole Dialogue

This is an edited transcript of remarks presented at a Symposium on South Dakota v. Dole at the University of South Dakota School of Law in January 2007. Topics discussed include the proper demarcation of powers between the federal and state governments, the value of federalism, conditional federal spending, and the doctrine set out in the U.S. Supreme Court's 1987 decision in South Dakota v. Dole.
SafetyNet: streamlining and automating QA in radiotherapy

Proper quality assurance (QA) of the radiotherapy process can be time-consuming and expensive. Many QA efforts, such as data export and import, are inefficient when done by humans. Additionally, humans can be unreliable, lose attention, and fail to complete critical steps that are required for smooth operations. In our group we have sought to break down the QA tasks into separate steps and to automate those steps that are better done by software running autonomously or at the instigation of a human. A team of medical physicists and software engineers worked together to identify opportunities to streamline and automate QA. Development efforts follow a formal cycle of writing software requirements, developing software, testing and commissioning. The clinical release process is separated into clinical evaluation testing, training, and finally clinical release. We have improved six processes related to QA and safety. Steps that were previously performed by humans have been automated or streamlined to increase first-time quality, reduce time spent by humans doing low-level tasks, and expedite QA tests. Much of the gains were had by automating data transfer, implementing computer-based checking and automation of systems with an event-driven framework. These coordinated efforts by software engineers and clinical physicists have resulted in speed improvements in expediting patient-sensitive QA tests.
Double Summation of Errors in Aerial Triangulation

Data from a 100-model grid triangulation are used to demonstrate certain features associated with the double summation of errors in the transfer of scale, azimuth, and longitudinal tilt in a strip of aerial triangulation. Errors in the x, y, and z machine coordinates of pass points on the center line of the strip, are first determined from the observed data. Plotted curves of these machine coordinate errors display their characteristic, systematic appearance. The second difference of these errors are then calculated and subjected to two statistical tests. These tests reveal that the systematic appearance of the machine coordinate errors can arise from the double summation of normally distributed random errors. Hence, there need not be any systematic component in the triangulation to produce a systematic appearance. This emphasizes that it is difficult to determine whether or not systematic errors are present in an aerial triangulation simply by observing the machine coordinate errors.
Uncertainties influencing health-based prioritization of ozone abatement options.

The primary goal of air quality management is protection of human health. Therefore, formulation of ground-level ozone mitigation policies could be informed by considering not just attainment of re...
SMALL POPULATION GENETIC VARIABILITY AT LOCI UNDER STABILIZING SELECTION

Genetic variability at a locus under stabilizing selection in a finite population is inves- tigated using analytic methods and computer simulations. Three measures are examined: the number of alleles k, heterozygosity H, and additive genetic variance Vg. A nearly-neutral theory results. The composite parameter S = NVM/ VS (where N is the population size, VM the variance of new mutant allelic effects and V. the weakness of stabilizing selection) figures prominently in the results. The equilibrium heterozygosity is similar to that of strictly neutral theory, H = 4NA,uy (1 + 4Nue), except that Ae = A/ 1 + cS where c is about 0.5. Simulations corroborate Vg= 1 + 1/S except for very low N. Genetic variability attains similar equilibrium values at both a "lone" locus and at an "embedded" locus. This agrees with my earlier work concerning molecular clock rates. These results modify the neutralist interpretation of data concerning genetic variability and genetic distances between populations. Low H values are proportional not to N but to \/N. This may explain the narrow observed range of H among species. Heterozygosities need not be highly correlated to genetic variances. Genetic variances are not highly dependent on population size except in very small populations which are difficult to sample without bias because the smallest populations go extinct the fastest. Nearly neutral evolution will not be easily distinguished from strictly neutral theory under the Hudson-Kreitman-Aguade inter-/intraspecific variation ratio test, since a similar effective mutation rate holds for genetic distances and D = 2,uet, where Ae = ,u/\1 + S. As with strictly neutral theory, comparisons across loci should show D and H to be positively correlated because of the shared Ae. But unlike neutral theory, for a given locus, com- parisons across species should show D and H to be negatively correlated. There is no obvious threshold of population size below which genetic variability inevitably declines. Extinction depends on both genetic variation and natural selection. Neither theory nor observation presently indicates the measure of genetic variability (k, H, VG or other) that best indicates vulnerability of a small population to extinction.
Dietary conditions affecting oxidation of tyrosine by rat liver, with particular reference to thiamine.

Summary1. Oxidation of tyrosine by the tyrosine oxidase system from livers of thiamine-deficient animals is markedly higher than that by preparations from normal animals. 2. After dialysis the activity of the normal preparation cannot be restored by the addition of ascorbic acid, glutathione, or 2,6-dichloro-phenolindophenol (DCPP). The thiamine-deficient preparations are still very active under these conditions, however. 3. Injection of thiamine into normal and deficient animals one day before assay of the livers for tyrosine oxidase has little effect on the high activity of the thiamine-dencient preparations. Feeding a complete ration for 2 weeks to thiamine-dencient animals, however, decreases the activity to the level present in the normal preparations. 4. Inanition produces an increase in tyrosine oxidase activity by liver enzymes. This may be a partial explanation for the fact that thiamine-dencient rats (which are anorexic) possess a higher activity of this enzyme. The reason for the increase under...
Investigation of the Elimination of Neonatal Tetanus in Rizhao City

[Objective]To summarize and analyze the experience and effect of eliminating NT to approach the goal of eliminating NT.[Methods] Analysis was made on the epidemic features and preventive strategies against NT in different periods.[Results] During 1950—2006,30 522 NT cases were found in Rizhao,26 013 of which died;during 1950—1959,the average annual morbidity and mortality were 34.79‰ and 90.35% respectively,14.79‰ and 79.59% respectively during 1960—1969,6.83‰ and 74.71% respectively during 1970—1979,1.46‰ and 68.89% respectively during 1980—1989,the morbidity declined to l‰ after the year of 1990.[Conclusion] High covering rate and high quality of TT immunization is a rapid,economical and effective strategy to eliminate NT;to increase the rate of childbearing in hospital and sanitary accouchement are the essential measures of controlling and eliminating NT;to carry out effective surveillance is a indispensible measure of eliminating NT.
Sequential dependence of freeze-drying and irradiation on biomechanical properties of rat bone.

Femurs of Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to in vitro 3-Mrad irradiation and/or freeze-drying to investigate whether these processes have an order-dependent effect on the biomechanical properties of bone. Four experimental groups were designated-irradiated (RAD); freeze-dried (FD); irradiated, then freeze-dried (RAD/FD); and freeze-dried, then irradiated (FD/RAD). After the various treatments, the bones were inspected for microfractures and then torsion-tested. Microfractures were seen in more than 90% of the specimens that had undergone freeze-drying alone or with irradiation. Regarding the normalized relative ratios of torque, there was a statistically significant difference (P < .05) between the RAD group (1.0) and the 3 other groups (FD, .32; RAD/FD, .40; FD/RAD, .14). Differences among the FD, RAD/FD, and FD/RAD groups were not significant. However, a trend was bones were weaker than FD and noted: FD/RAD RAD/FD bones.
Gamma-interferon induces an irreversible growth arrest in mid-G1 in mammary epithelial cells which correlates with a block in hyperphosphorylation of retinoblastoma

In this study, we analyze effects of IFN-gamma on the proliferation of normal human mammary epithelial cells (MECs) and several mammary carcinoma cell lines. We demonstrate that IFN-gamma blocks the proliferation of MECs in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. This growth arrest is irreversible and occurs at a specific stage in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. IFN-gamma caused a rapid (within 12-24 h) down-regulation of cyclin A, c-myc, and cdc2 proteins, as well as a disappearance of hyperphosphorylated forms of the retinoblastoma family proteins, Rb and p130. The synthesis of several other growth control proteins, p53, p21/Waf1, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen, was down-regulated between 24 and 48 h. In MECs synchronized by epidermal growth factor deprivation and released for cell cycle traverse by re-addition of epidermal growth factor to the medium, IFN-gamma was able to block DNA synthesis only if added in the first 6 to 7 h after epidermal growth factor. The block in Rb phosphorylation and cyclin A expression was coordinately regulated during the same narrow window of G1. Several mammary carcinoma cell lines demonstrated resistance to the growth-inhibitory effects of IFN-gamma and did not exhibit down-regulation of cdc2 and cyclin A expression or a change in hyperphosphorylation of Rb when treated with IFN-gamma. Initial studies suggest, in some carcinoma cell lines, that resistance to IFN-gamma may be caused by defects in the IFN-gamma signal transduction pathway (measured by expression of the IFN-gamma-responsive gene GBP), while resistance in others may be due to defects in cell cycle regulatory proteins that are the targets of IFN-gamma action.
Inhibitory Effects of Various Salts and/or Ionic Strengths on Growth from Clostridium botulinum 52A Spores or Vegetative Cells.

Growth response from spores and vegetative cells of Clostridium botulinum strain 52A in peptone-yeast extract-glucose (PYEG) broth at two pH levels (5.55 or 5.85) containing sodium acid pyrophosphate (SAPP) (0, 0.2, 0.4%), NaCl (0, 1.25, 2.50%) and/or potassium sorbate (KS) (0, 0.13, 0.26%) was measured as the mean A630 nm of 20 tubes at 37°C. Additional treatments contained KC1 and MgCl2 (0, 1.25, 2.50%) without SAPP or KS. Growth ratios (GR = treatment/control) based on time to reach A630 = 0.35 were calculated to compare effects of additives on strain 52A. Growth from spores was affected significantly (p≤0.01) by pH level. KS and KS/pH interactions were also significant factors in growth from both spores and vegetative cells; SAPP/pH interactions were significant for cell growth, only. Combinations of SAPP (0.2, 0.4%) NaCl (0%) and KS (0.26%) were the most favorable treatments for delaying growth from spores or vegetative cells. NaCl (1.25, 2.50%) decreased antibotulinal effects produced by combination...
Identification and characterization of rhizoctonia species associated with soybean seedling disease

In an effort to identify the Rhizoctonia spp. associated with seedling diseases of soybean, Rhizoctonia isolates were recovered from soybean seedlings with damping off and root and hypocotyl rot symptoms from Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, and the Canadian province of Ontario between 2012 and 2014. Based on cultural morphology, polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism, and phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal RNA genes, 80 isolates were confirmed to be Rhizoctonia solani, 24 were binucleate Rhizoctonia spp., and 10 were R. zeae. Of the 80 R. solani isolates, one belonged to anastomosis group (AG) 2-1, 52 belonged to AG-2-2IIIB, five belonged to AG-3 PT, three belonged to AG-4 HGI, two belonged to AG-4 HGIII, nine belonged to AG-7, and eight belonged to AG-11. Bayesian inference of phylogeny using the ITS region revealed two clades of R. solani AG-7 that possibly correspond to different AG-7 subgroups. Phylogenetic analysis also provided evidence for genetic relatedness between certain binucleate Rhizoctonia and some R. solani isolates. On 'Williams 82' soybean, isolates of AG-2-2IIIB were the most aggressive, followed by isolates of AG-7, AG-4, and AG-11. On 'Jubilee', a sweet corn cultivar, AG-2-2IIIB and AG-4 isolates caused significant stunting and root damage, whereas the damage caused by the AG-11 isolates was mostly restricted to the mesocotyl. Isolates of R. zeae and the binucleate Rhizoctonia spp. were not pathogenic on soybean or corn. Our results indicate that soybean and corn are hosts to the predominant and aggressive AG of R. solani, implying that rotation between these two crops may not be an effective management practice.
291. A Novel Safety Assay for Retroviral Vectors That Reproduces Lmo2 Proto-Oncogene Insertional Activation Events

Gene therapies for X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID-X1) and Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) with gammaretroviral vectors have caused a number of cases of acute lymphoid leukemias due to insertional activation of oncogenes, mostly LMO2. Transduction of murine bone marrow hematopoietic cells and subsequent culture for myeloid immortalization or transplant into recipient mice detected the oncogenic activity of the spleen focus-forming virus (SFFV) vector, which was used in the WAS trial, but failed to detect the oncogenic activity of the SCID-X1 gene therapy vector MFG-gc. The lack of the most relevant Lmo2 insertion by gammaretroviral vectors in these assays demands more relevant and sensitive vector safety assays. It has been shown that murine early thymic progenitor cells (ETP), when cultured on OP9-DL1 stroma cells, progress through the DN1, DN2, DN3, DN4, DP and SP differentiation stages, and that overexpression of LMO2 in ETP cells caused a differentiation block at the DN2 stage (CD4-CD8-CD25+CD44+). We tested whether transduction of ETP cells with gammaretroviral or lentiviral vectors could reproduce Lmo2 integrations and induce DN2 differentiation block. We tested three different gamma-retroviral vectors MSCV-GFP, SFFV-GFP and MFG-gc and two lentiviral vectors Cl20-SFFV-mCherry and Cl20i4r-SFFV-mCherry. The two self-inactivating lentiviral vectors contain a single internal SFFV long terminal repeat but differ in that one contains the cHS400 chromatin insulators. We transduced ETP cells with these vectors and cultured them on OP9-DL1 cells for up to 40 days. The range of vector copy number was 1.07-10.78 for the MSCV-GFP vector, 0.24-1.22 for the SFFV-GFP vector, 0.59-7.98 for the MFG-gc vector, 3.97-13.04 for the Cl20-SFFV-mCherry vector and 4.57-18.21 for the Cl20i4r-SFFV-mCherry vector at days 10-11. Between days 20-35, a distinct DN2-blocked cell subpopulation was clearly detected by flow cytometry in all the 20 gamma-retroviral groups and also in 3/9 lentiviral groups. None of the 6 mock groups had any evidence of DN2 blockade. Insertion site mapping of sorted DN2 cells showed that in the 10 MSCV-GFP groups, 3 had Lmo2 insertions, 3 had Mef2c insertions, and 3 had both Lmo2 and Mef2c insertions; in the 6 SFFV-GFP groups, 3 had Lmo2 insertions; in the 4 MFG-gc groups, 3 had Lmo2 insertions; both Cl20-SFFV-mCherry groups had Mef2c insertions and the one Cl20i4r-SFFV-mCherry group had Lmo2 insertion. These insertions occurred either in the introns or within +/- 50kb window of the gene. Transplant of the DN2-blocked cells from selected MSCV-GFP groups into recipient mice led to acute lymphoid leukemias. These results show that the transduction of ETP cells and the resultant DN2 blockade represent a more relevant and sensitive assay for vector safety assessment. Our result also suggests that an ETP-like subpopulation may be present in the bone marrow of SCID-X1 and WAS patients and explain the enhanced propensity of these disorders to oncogenic transformations.
Highly Porous Thermoelectric Nanocomposites with Low Thermal Conductivity and High Figure of Merit from Large‐Scale Solution‐Synthesized Bi2Te2.5Se0.5 Hollow Nanostructures

To enhance the performance of thermoelectric materials and enable access to their widespread applications, it is beneficial yet challenging to synthesize hollow nanostructures in large quantities, with high porosity, low thermal conductivity (κ) and excellent figure of merit (z T). Herein we report a scalable (ca. 11.0 g per batch) and low-temperature colloidal processing route for Bi2Te2.5Se0.5 hollow nanostructures. They are sintered into porous, bulk nanocomposites (phi 10 mm×h 10 mm) with low κ (0.48 W m−1 K−1) and the highest z T (1.18) among state-of-the-art Bi2Te3−xSex materilas. Additional benefits of the unprecedented low relative density (68–77 %) are the large demand reduction of raw materials and the improved portability. This method can be adopted to fabricate other porous phase-transition and thermoelectric chalcogenide materials and will pave the way for the implementation of hollow nanostructures in other fields.
Diagnosis of Guillain–Barré syndrome in children and validation of the Brighton criteria

To describe the key diagnostic features of pediatric Guillain–Barre syndrome (GBS) and validate the Brighton criteria. Retrospective cohort study of all children (<18 years) diagnosed with GBS between 1987 and 2013 at Sophia Children’s Hospital, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam. Clinical information was collected and the sensitivity of the Brighton criteria was calculated. 67 children (35 boys) were included, with a median age of 5.0 years [interquartile range (IQR) 3.0–10.0 years]. Bilateral limb weakness was present at hospital admission in 93% of children, and at nadir in all patients. Children presented with tetraparesis in 70% or with paraparesis in 23%. Reduced reflexes in paretic limbs were observed at hospital admission in 82% and during follow-up in all children. The progressive phase lasted median 6 days (IQR 3–8 days) and less than 4 weeks in all children. A monophasic disease course was seen in 97%, including 5 children with a treatment-related fluctuation. Two children had a later relapse at 9 weeks and 19 weeks after onset. 77% of the children showed an elevated protein level in CSF. Nerve conduction studies showed evidence for a poly(radiculo)neuropathy in 91% of the children. 46 children had a complete data set, the sensitivity of the Brighton criteria level 1 was 72% (95% CI 57–84) and 96% (95% CI 85–99) for level 2 and 98% (95% CI 88–100) for level 3. The majority of the pediatric GBS patients presented in this cohort fulfilled the current diagnostic criteria.
Content Analysis of a Participant-Directed Intervention to Optimize Activity Engagement of Older Adult Cancer Survivors:

Many older adult cancer survivors reduce their activity level during and after cancer treatment. Occupational therapy interventions need to flexibly address various obstacles to occupational engagement that survivors may face. The aim of this analysis was to describe the content of a participant-directed occupational therapy intervention for older adults with cancer. Content analysis was used to describe the treatment session data from the experimental arm of a pilot randomized controlled trial in terms of activities addressed, obstacles reported, and treatment strategies utilized. Participants predominantly used the intervention to increase exercise engagement or address instrumental activities of daily living. The most common obstacles to occupational engagement included fatigue, finding time, weather, and pain. Regarding treatment strategies, 77% of participants chose to practice the activity with the occupational therapist, 42% requested a piece of equipment, and 11% modified the environment to increase activity engagement. Overall, the participant-directed intervention appears flexible enough to address various activities and obstacles to occupational engagement.
Repairing Leaks in the Pipeline: A Social Closure Perspective on Underrepresented Racial/Ethnic Minority Recruitment and Retention in Business Schools

Despite initiatives to diversify business school administration, faculty, and doctoral student bodies, challenges to the recruitment and retention of underrepresented racial/ethnic minorities (URMs...
SCATTER OF NEAR‐INFRARED RADIATION BY CHERRIES AS A MEANS OF PIT DETECTION

The scattering of near-infrared radiation by intact cherries was investigated as the basis of a technique for pit detection. The magnitudes of forward scatter and scatter at right angles were used to form a pit-detection parameter which was studied as a function of certain variables encountered in processing lines. Surface color, degree of scalding and size were found in most cases to have little effect on the parameter while cherry orientation has a great effect.
Primary Care Physician Involvement in Shared Decision Making for Critically Ill Patients and Family Satisfaction with Care.

Purpose An intensive care unit (ICU) patient's primary care physician (PCP) may be able to assist family with certain ICU shared medical decisions. We explored whether families of patients in nonopen ICUs who nevertheless report involvement of a patient's PCP in medical decision making are more satisfied with ICU shared decision making than families who do not. Methods Between March 2013 and December 2015, we administered the Family Satisfaction in the ICU 24 survey to family members of adult neuroscience ICU patients. We compared the mean score for the survey subsection regarding shared decision making (graded on a 100-point scale), as well as individual survey items, between those who reported the patient's PCP involvement in any medical decision making versus those who did not. Results Among 263 respondents, there was no difference in mean overall decision-making satisfaction scores for those who reported involvement (81.1; SD = 15.2) versus those who did not (80.1; SD = 12.8; P = .16). However, a higher proportion reporting involvement felt completely satisfied with their 1) inclusion in the ICU decision making process (75.9% vs 61.4%; P = .055), and 2) control over the care of the patient (73.6% vs 55.6%; P = .02), with no difference regarding consistency of clinical information provided by the medical team (64.8% vs 63.5%; P = 1.00). Conclusions Families who report involvement of a patient's PCP in medical decision making for critically ill patients may be more satisfied than those who do not with regard to specific aspects of ICU decision making. Further research would help understand how best to engage PCPs in shared decisions.
Quantitative Analysis of Motoneurone Firing Rate Modulation in Response to Simulated Repetitive Synaptic Input

The integrative function of the nervous system is dependent on the input-output properties of its individual neural elements. Although there are a number of empirical and analytical models of neuronal input-output behaviour, none of them have general predictive value. We have compared the ability of three simple models to predict the input-output behaviour of mammalian motoneurones. The first two models are derived from empirical observations and the third is based on a basic threshold-crossing neurone model. The first empirical model predicts that a synaptically-evoked change in motoneurone discharge rate (ΔF) is equal to the product of the net effective synaptic current (IN) and the slope of the motoneurone’s steady-state frequency-current relation (f/I): ΔF = IN * f/I (Powers, Robinson, Konodi & Binder, 1992; see Figure 1A). The second empirical prediction is based on the characteristics of the post-synaptic potential (PSP) rather than the net current reaching the soma. Cope, Fetz & Matsumura (1987) found a linear relation between the amplitude of the PSP produced by a single Ia afferent fibre and the number of extra counts (above baseline) in the correlogram peak. Fetz and colleagues (Fetz, Cheney, Mewes & Palmer, 1989) have proposed that as a first approximation, the total change in motoneurone firing rate produced by activating a group of presynaptic fibres at a given rate is simply the product of the total arrival rate of PSPs (number of fibres times their average discharge frequency: PSPs/sec) and the average effect of a single-fibre PSP (spikes/mV of PSP): ΔF = (spikes/mV of PSP)* PSPs/sec (see Figure 1C). The third prediction is based on a threshold-crossing model with a fixed spike threshold and stereotyped interspike membrane potential trajectories during repetitive discharge (Fetz & Gustafsson, 1983). According to this model, the average change in firing rate is related to the mean depolarisation produced by the repetitive synaptic input at rest (emean) divided by the slope of the membrane potential trajectory during repetitive firing (dv/dt): ΔF = f0 2 * emean/(dv/dt), where f0 is the mean motoneurone firing frequency in the absence of synaptic stimulation (see Figure 1D).
Debate on Carried Interest

In this point-counterpoint article, Johnson argues that the rationales offered by Professors Douglas and Jeffry Kahn do not justify giving fund managers capital gain treatment for carried interests. Johnson argues that the manager's return is entirely labor income, and that the manager has no capital or basis that causes their gains. Partnership taxation should not be available to hide partner-level compensation. The Kahns respond to thatcontention and defend their position.
Regulation of Hepatic Long Noncoding RNAs by Pregnane X Receptor and Constitutive Androstane Receptor Agonists in Mouse Liver

Altered expression of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) by environmental chemicals modulates the expression of xenobiotic biotransformation-related genes and may serve as therapeutic targets and novel biomarkers of exposure. The pregnane X receptor (PXR/NR1I2) is a critical xenobiotic-sensing nuclear receptor that regulates the expression of many drug-processing genes, and it has similar target-gene profiles and DNA-binding motifs with another xenobiotic-sensing nuclear receptor, namely, constitutive andronstrane receptor (CAR/Nr1i3). To test our hypothesis that lncRNAs are regulated by PXR in concert with protein-coding genes (PCGs) and to compare the PXR-targeted lncRNAs with CAR-targeted lncRNAs, RNA-Seq was performed from livers of adult male C57BL/6 mice treated with corn oil, the PXR agonist PCN, or the CAR agonist 1, 4-bis[2-(3,5-dichloropyridyloxy)]benzene (TCPOBOP). Among 125,680 known lncRNAs, 3843 were expressed in liver, and 193 were differentially regulated by PXR (among which 40% were also regulated by CAR). Most PXR- or CAR-regulated lncRNAs were mapped to the introns and 3'-untranslated regions (UTRs) of PCGs, as well as intergenic regions. Combining the RNA-Seq data with a published PXR chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with high-throughput sequencing; cytochrome P450 (P450; ChIP-Seq) data set, we identified 774 expressed lncRNAs with direct PXR-DNA binding sites, and 26.8% of differentially expressed lncRNAs had changes in PXR-DNA binding after PCN exposure. De novo motif analysis identified colocalization of PXR with liver receptor homolog (LRH-1), which regulates bile acid synthesis after PCN exposure. There was limited overlap of PXR binding with an epigenetic mark for transcriptional activation (histone-H3K4-di-methylation, H3K4me2) but no overlap with epigenetic marks for transcriptional silencing [H3 lysine 27 tri-methylation (H3K27me3) and DNA methylation]. Among differentially expressed lncRNAs, 264 were in proximity of PCGs, and the lncRNA-PCG pairs displayed a high coregulatory pattern by PXR and CAR activation. This study was among the first to demonstrate that lncRNAs are regulated by PXR and CAR activation and that they may be important regulators of PCGs involved in xenobiotic metabolism.
A robotics-oriented taxonomy of how ethologists characterize the traversability of animal environments

Abstract This article surveys 21 studies of how ethologists characterize the environment for arthropods, reptiles, mammals, and birds traversing above ground, below ground, and burrowing in order to provide insights in selecting or designing a robot for a complex work envelope, for example, the 2018 Thailand Cave rescue. Roboticists are currently forced to rely on empirical expertise to select or design robots and to construct ad hoc testbeds for expected environments due to the lack of comprehensive quantitative metrics. Fortunately, ethologists have been grappling with how to quantify environmental factors that impact the traversability of different animals. That community has collectively identified 21 characteristics which this article discusses and groups into a novel taxonomy of three broad categories: local navigational constraints, surface properties, and global layout properties. One conclusion is that the set of appropriate characteristics for a specific environment depends on the scale of the environment to the agent. The article also makes four recommendations to aid roboticists in a) selecting a particular robot suitable for the environmental characteristics, b) building testbeds that are more representative of the target environment or to objectively compare different robotics, and c) collecting data about an environment for use cases or work analyses. It also discusses the limitations of the ethological studies for robotics and the remaining gaps.
Prostatectomy in Hemophilia

The advent of factor VIII concentrates has made it possible for true hemophiliac patients to survive to an age when prostatic obstruction is common. Formerly, operative procedures in these patients were limited to life-threatening situations but now prostatic operations should not be feared as long as adequate serum levels of factor VIII can be achieved and maintained throughout the wound healing period. Allergic reactions, hepatitis and cost are significant factors to consider when the concentrates are administered but hemophiliac patients are able to undergo treatment without a significantly increased risk to their lives.
Coevolutionary Couplings Unravel PAM-Proximal Constraints of CRISPR-SpCas9.

Abstract The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) system, an immune system analog found in prokaryotes, allows a single-guide RNA to direct a CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) with combined helicase and nuclease activity to DNA. The presence of a specific protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) next to the DNA target site plays a crucial role in determining both efficacy and specificity of gene editing. Herein, we introduce a coevolutionary framework to computationally unveil nonobvious molecular interactions in CRISPR systems and experimentally probe their functional role. Specifically, we use direct coupling analysis, a statistical inference framework used to infer direct coevolutionary couplings, in the context of protein/nucleic acid interactions. Applied to Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9, a Hamiltonian metric obtained from coevolutionary relationships reveals, to our knowledge, novel PAM-proximal nucleotide preferences at the seventh position of S. pyogenes Cas9 PAM (5′-NGRNNNT-3′), which was experimentally confirmed by in vitro and functional assays in human cells. We show that coevolved and conserved interactions point to specific clues toward rationally engineering new generations of Cas9 systems and may eventually help decipher the diversity of this family of proteins.
Rotational Vibration With Backlash—Part 2

This paper is a continuation of a paper [1] previously published. In this paper, the experimental results for the 3-mass system as defined in Part I are presented. Physical simulation very close to an ideal limiting case where the driven pinion is linked to the output pulley with a very low stiffness shaft was performed. The nonlinear responses of a system with backlash and subject to impact and/or displacement excitation were obtained. The presence of multiple critical speeds for a single degree of freedom system under impact and/or displacement excitation has been analytically explained and experimentally confirmed. Computer solutions based on the piecewise linear iteration technique as outlined in Part 1 have achieved a considerable degree of success. Computer predictions agree well with actual responses in various speed ranges despite a series of bold assumptions that were made to simplify the numerical process.
Optimal quantum valley Hall insulators by rationally engineering Berry curvature and band structure

Abstract We propose the concept of ”optimal quantum valley Hall insulators” and formulate it to an optimization formulation. In this new design paradigm, mechanical valley Hall insulators with simple geometries, large relative operating bandwidths and highly localized interface modes can be obtained in a systematic way. Compared to existing classical work based trail-and-error method via breaking symmetry, advantages of the new strategy are: (1) it simultaneously confines the Berry curvature and tailors the band structure to achieve robustness and optimality; (2) it adopts an explicit structural optimization method to describe and optimize the unit cells with a few design variables, which paves a rational way to explore a relatively large design space efficiently; (3) valley Hall insulators with quite different geometries and a better performance can be produced directly through an optimization process without introducing and manually tuning the unit cell with Dirac cone feature. This methodology can not only be easily extended to design optimized topological insulators in other physical systems, but also provides some insight into optimization aided band structure and Berry curvature engineering.
Applications of the Gulf of Maine Operational Forecast System to Enhance Spatio-Temporal Oceanographic Awareness for Ocean Mapping

Despite recent technological advances in seafloor mapping systems, the resulting products and the overall operational efficiency of surveys are often affected by poor awareness of the oceanographic environment in which the surveys are conducted. Increasingly reliable ocean nowcast and forecast model predictions of key environmental variables – from local to global scales – are publicly available, but they are often not used by ocean mappers. With the intention of rectifying this situation, this work evaluates some possible ocean mapping applications for commonly available oceanographic predictions by focusing on one of the available regional models: NOAA’s Gulf of Maine Operational Forecast System. The study explores two main use cases: the use of predicted oceanographic variability in the water column to enhance and extend (or even substitute) the data collected on-site by sound speed profilers during survey data acquisition; and, the uncertainty estimation of oceanographic variability as a meaningful input to estimate the optimal time between sound speed casts. After having described the techniques adopted for each use case and their implementation as an extension of publicly-available ocean mapping tools, this work provides evidence that the adoption of these techniques has the potential to improve efficiency in survey operations as well as the quality of the resulting ocean mapping products.
From Microwave Communication Systems to Nanomedicine Tools: Using Advanced Microelectronics Fabrication as an Enabler

Rhonda Franklin had a strong interest in very different things in her youth from math and science to music and ballet. Near the end of high school, a new interest arose. After attending an engineering summer camp that connected the dots between math/science and space exploration, a fascinating topic to her, she was hooked. Though few, mentors from undergrad and internships guided her journey to learn about research and to attend graduate school. Moreover, thanks to a mismatch between her first research project and desired experience, she was introduced to microwave engineering and communications technology. With exceptional support from her graduate school advisor and family, she become an engineering professor. Dr. Franklin has over two decades of experience working on integration and miniaturization methods to advance mobile low-power communications technology. She recently started working on high frequency diagnostic tools for nanomedicine applications and biological systems.
On The Determination of MDI High-Degree Mode Frequencies

The characteristic of the solar acoustic spectrum is such that mode lifetimes get shorter and spatial leaks get closer in frequency as the degree of a mode increases for a given order. A direct consequence of this property is that individual p-modes are only resolved at low and intermediate degrees, and that at high degrees, individual modes blend into ridges. Once modes have blended into ridges, the power distribution of the ridge defines the ridge central frequency and it will mask the true underlying mode frequency. An accurate model of the amplitude of the peaks that contribute to the ridge power distribution is needed to recover the underlying mode frequency from fitting the ridge. We present the results of fitting high degree power ridges (up to l = 900) computed from several two to three-month-long time-series of full-disk observations taken with the Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) on-board the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory between 1996 and 1999. We also present a detailed discussion of the modeling of the ridge power distribution, and the contribution of the various observational and instrumental effects on the spatial leakage, in the context of the MDI instrument. We have constructed a physically motivated model (rather than some ad hoc correction scheme) resulting in a methodology that can produce an unbiased determination of high-degree modes, once the instrumental characteristics are well understood. Finally, we present changes in high degree mode parameters with epoch and thus solar activity level and discuss their significance.
A Bayesian Structural Equation Modeling Factor Analysis of the UCLA Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index for DSM-5 in a Polyvictimized Sample of Adolescents.

The revised criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual necessitated the development of new screening tools for youth, one of the most widely used of which is the UCLA Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index for DSM-5 (RI-5). Thus far, the few studies that have investigated the RI-5’s factor structure have supported a four-factor model. However, to date this research has been limited to youth with histories of exposure to single-event traumatic stressors, a significant limitation as evidence suggests many trauma-exposed youth report exposure to multiple types of traumatic stressors, or polyvictimization. It is imperative to determine the generalizability of previous factor models to specific populations which they are purported to represent. We investigated whether the RI-5’s four-factor model replicated in a sample of 455 polyvictimized justice-involved adolescents. Initial confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the four-factor model did not converge. Therefore, we utilized Bayesian Structural Equations Modeling (BSEM) to determine why the previously proposed factor structure did not converge. The BSEM model suggested that the global factor structure was acceptable and did not require addition or subtraction of any factor or cross-factor loadings. However, small and moderate residual covariances resulted in model misspecification, suggesting there may be additional associations not captured by the current DSM-5 model for polyvictimized youth. Future work should continue examining the RI-5’s factor structure in order to better understand whether the current results are unique and how measurements assessing DSM-5 PTSD symptom criteria perform in diverse trauma-exposed youth populations.
Equilibrium in Queues Under Unknown Service Rates and Service Value

We study a single queue joining equilibrium when there is uncertainty in the consumers' minds about the service rate and value. Without such uncertainty, the joining equilibria are characterized by means of a single threshold queue length above which consumers do not join (Naor, 1969). We show that in the presence of such uncertainty, the equilibrium joining strategy is not fully characterized by a single threshold. A “sputtering equilibrium” might exist. In the sputtering equilibrium, the queue length generally remains within a threshold, but reaches another, strictly higher, threshold, depending on the outcome of the randomized decision of the consumer arriving at the lower threshold. We discuss when and why sputtering equilibria exist.
A Comparison of Coping Responses Among High School and College Athletes With Concussion, Orthopedic Injuries, and Healthy Controls

This study compared the coping responses of concussed athletes with those with an orthopedic injury and healthy controls and explored sex differences in coping behaviors following sport injury. Sixty-eight athletes with a concussion (CONCUSS), 42 with an orthopedic injury (ORTHO), and 33 healthy controls (CONTROL) completed the Brief COPE approximately 1 week following sport injury. The CONCUSS group reported lower active, planning, acceptance, religion, self-distraction, venting, and self-blame coping than the ORTHO group. The ORTHO group reported lower acceptance, venting, and substance use coping than CONTROLS. Females reported higher levels of planning, humor, instrumental support, and venting than males. Females reported more venting than males in the ORTHO and CONTROL groups, but not in the CONCUSS group. In conclusion, concussed athletes may not engage in coping to the same extent as athletes with other injuries.
Critical Pedagogy and Liberal Education: Reconciling Tradition, Critique, and Democracy

As we live in the tradition, whether we know it or not, so we are all liberal artists, whether we know it or not.As we should understand the tradition as well as we can in order to understand ourselves, so we should be as good liberal artists as we can in order to become as fully human as we can....The democratic ideal is equal opportunity for full human development, and, since the liberal arts are the basic means of such development, devotion to democracy naturally results in the devotion to them.