cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Real-time monitoring and control of CHO cell apoptosis by in situ multifrequency scanning dielectric spectroscopy

Abstract Process control strategies based on the physiological status of cells have recently been used to enhance mammalian cell culture productivity and robustness. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of using full-spectrum dielectric spectroscopy for detecting shifts in cell physiology and as a feedback tool to increase process efficiency. Multi-frequency permittivity spectra were collected from cell culture processes in which apoptosis was induced by glucose depletion, nutrient depletion, or chemical treatment. Meanwhile, key parameters of critical frequency (fc) and Cole-Cole alpha (α) were calculated in real time from the β-dispersion curve and correlated to data from off-line viability measurements. Results show that physiological changes in apoptotic cells were reflected in the on-line parameters earlier than from off-line methods. Using information from the on-line parameters, we achieved partial or full recovery from early apoptosis by replenishing the depleted feed. We also demonstrate that by using trends in fc, we could detect a deviation in media preparation in a manufacturing process which could not be achieved using conventional measurements. The results demonstrate that full-spectrum dielectric spectroscopy can be used as a facile tool for early detection of physiological changes and process adjustment in real-time to enhance bioreactor process productivity and robustness.
The tumor metabolic microenvironment: Lessons from lactate

The extracellular milieu of tumors is generally assumed to be immunosuppressive due in part to metabolic factors. Here, we review methods for probing the tumor metabolic microenvironment. In parallel, we consider the resulting available evidence, with a focus on lactate, which is the most strongly increased metabolite in bulk tumors. Limited microenvironment concentration measurements suggest depletion of glucose and modest accumulation of lactate (less than 2-fold). Isotope tracer measurements show rapid lactate exchange between the tumor and circulation. Such exchange is catalyzed by MCT transporters, which cotransport lactate and protons (H+). Rapid lactate exchange seems at odds with tumor lactate accumulation. We propose a potential resolution to this paradox. Because of the high pH of tumor cells relative to the microenvironment, H+-coupled transport by MCTs tends to drive lactate from the interstitium into tumor cells. Accordingly, lactate may accumulate preferentially in tumor cells, not the microenvironment. Thus, although they are likely subject to other immunosuppressive metabolic factors, tumor immune cells may not experience a high lactate environment. The lack of clarity regarding microenvironmental lactate highlights the general need for careful metabolite measurements in the tumor extracellular milieu.
HOS Simulations of Nonlinear Water Waves in Complex Media

We present an overview of recent extensions of the high-order spectral method of Craig and Sulem (J Comput Phys 108:73–83, 1993) to simulating nonlinear water waves in a complex environment. Under consideration are cases of wave propagation in the presence of fragmented sea ice, variable bathymetry and a vertically sheared current. Key components of this method, which apply to all three cases, include reduction of the full problem to a lower-dimensional system involving boundary variables alone, and a Taylor series representation of the Dirichlet–Neumann operator. This results in a very efficient and accurate numerical solver by using the fast Fourier transform. Two-dimensional simulations of unsteady wave phenomena are shown to illustrate the performance and versatility of this approach.
Fragmentación sociotécnica. Un análisis sobre la forma y la distribución de las edificaciones en la Región Metropolitana de Santiago

To explore the effects of the building processes on the urban developments, the statistics of buildings, population, and housing for the comunas [neighborhood] in the SantiagoMetropolitan Area (RMS, Spanish acronym) were analyzed for the term 1990-2014. The statistical analysis of these data allowed identifying that the observed process, mostly residential, was driven by two types of buildings: a first type of one- and two-story houses, and a second type of buildings with nine or more floors. When verifying the distributionof these two types along the comunas in the RMS, it was observed that these types are useful to group and define the comunas, thus shaping two different sociotechnicalscenarios within the same city. This text explores the influences of these differences identified as a part of the sociotechnical condition in this city.
Salivary Gland Anatomy and Physiology

In mammals, saliva is a mildly acidic secretion made mostly of water (99.5–99.8%). In a healthy state, humans produce between 500 mL and 1.5 L of saliva per day. Saliva has numerous functions including lubrication, digestion, and immunity. Salivary glands are classified as exocrine, and as such, they produce secretions (i.e., saliva) onto an epithelial surface via a system of ducts. Saliva secretion and production are mediated by the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and thus; salivary glands have both parasympathetic and sympathetic innervation.
Comments on Kothalawala et al.

Systematic reviews of the growing literature on pre-school asthma prediction can help determine whether the available evidence supports the use of existing prognostic models to inform childhood asthma prevention and clinical management. The most salient prognostic review questions should address not only the accuracy of predictions derived from a prediction model but more importantly how the results affect patient management and outcomes.
Doing things with “nothing”: the pragmatics of democratic multilingualism in South African parliamentary debate

This paper engages the weaponisation of democratic multilingualism in South African parliamentary debate on the part of opposition political party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). It focuses o...
Silence is Golden: Using a 'Silent Scrolling Powerpoint' Series to Enhance Your Course Dynamic

This article explores the use of an alternative teaching tool in a law school classroom as a method of inspiring law students and prompting excited engagement in both the underlying course and the legal profession. The author, a seven-year Legal Research & Writing Professor, first explains how she has used the automatic advance feature in Microsoft PowerPoint to create a semester series of weekly “Silent Scrolling PowerPoints,” 5 to 7 minutes in length, on a variety of topics of interest and inspiration to her first-year law students. She then summarizes the six benefits observed while experimenting with this tool over a three year period, including a sustained and enthusiastic engagement by the students, a weekly opportunity to model good organization, clear writing, and professional citation habits, and a creative and motivating outlet for the professor. As part of the article, she also examines the pedagogical benefits of the silent delivery method, suggests ways in which this tool could be used by a professor teaching any law-related course, and includes her Fall semester “Silent Scroll” playlist to illustrate the types of topics that work well in this format because they resonate with students and professors alike.
Small-Signal, High Frequency Performance of Vertical GaN FinFETs with fmax = 5.9 GHz

GaN vertical finFETs are capable of high breakdown voltages and large current density without the need for regrowth or p-type doping. These attributes make them a promising candidate for next-generation high-frequency power applications. Here, we demonstrate the first high frequency characterization of vertical GaN finFETs. These devices utilize a highly insulating sapphire substrate and a quasi-vertical design that avoids the expensive bulk-GaN substrates typically used in vertical power applications. Moreover, contacts remain on the top of the wafer, thereby enabling high-frequency characterization and potentially easing future system integration.
Firearm Relinquishment Laws Associated With Substantial Reduction In Homicide Of Pregnant And Postpartum Women.

Homicide is a leading cause of death among women who are pregnant and up to one year postpartum in the United States. Most incidents are perpetrated by an intimate partner with a firearm. Some stat...
Et tu, Professor Wimmer?

Andreas Wimmer is an outstanding scholar whose vast knowledge of peace and conflict studies I deeply admire. I would gladly defer to him and the rest of the large-N gang the task of advising various troubled regimes on statecraft and conflict management. (Disclosure: Professor Wimmer and I are friends and collaborators on an unrelated, large-N pro ject.) Unfortunately, as they say, all politics is local, and epistemologically sound generalizations do not always make for the best policy prescrip tions. Without sounding too strident, I would like to defend my small-yV, rich-country comparison just a bit. First, why Canada? As most small-TV, qualitative sociologists will agree, context is everything. No, Iraq and Afghanistan are not Canada or the United States, but yes, they are cur rently undergoing regime change under the leadership of those very same countries (plus Great Britain, the forefather of both). Not surprisingly, foreign policymakers have a pronounced tendency to draw on their under standing of their own country's past in trying to create other nations' futures. This is certainly the case in the United States today. (The Cana dian government, for better or worse, is more modest about its goals in Afghanistan.) While understanding that there are infinitely more than two choices in the Middle East, Canada's past seems to offer some useful precedents, particularly in comparison with that of the United States. A clear challenge facing both smalland large-N comparisons is establishing suitable criteria for sample selection. If, as Andreas recom mends, we throw all territorial regimes of the modern era together into one model and look for those factors correlated with destabilization, then why stop there? There were multiethnic regimes resembling nation-states well before Waterloo; why not include those, too? I have done enough large-yV comparative-historical work to know that sample selection is
Abstract 28: Deregulation of NAC complex inhibits muscle differentiation and blocks apoptosis in rhabdomyosarcoma cells

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a common malignant soft tissue sarcoma in children with limited treatment options and high failure rate during standard therapy. New therapeutic targets or strategies are therefore in high demand. The NAC complex performs many diverse biological functions, and the deregulation of its subunits has been correlated with many cancers. We sought to understand the function of NAC complex in normal muscle cells and rhabdomyosarcoma cells. With western blot, quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR), chromatin immunoprecipitation and immunostaining analysis, we found that the muscle specific subunit of NAC complex, skNAC, which is the alternatively spliced isoform of NACα, was downregulated in RMS cells. In normal cells, skNAC shuttled from the cytoplasm to the nucleus upon differentiation. We also showed that skNAC associated with muscle specific promoters together with BTF3 in differentiated cells, and this association is dependent on the expression of BTF3. The expression of skNAC was regulated by the splicing factor SRPK3, a serine arginine protein kinase. Overexpression of SPRK3 induced skNAC expression and muscle differentiation. We also detected the deregulation of another NAC complex subunit, NACβ (also known as BTF3). We found that BTF3 is highly overexpressed and localized in the nucleus in both RMS cell lines and human RMS tumor samples compared with normal samples. Depletion of BTF3 induced apoptosis as detected by the strong cleavage of PARP and caspase 3. BTF3 depletion also decreased the cell viability in RMS by a cologenic assay. We also confirmed that BTF3 downregulation promoted muscle gene expression and induced muscle differentiation in RMS cells. However, BTF3 played a different role in normal cells. With the deletion of BTF3 in C2C12 cells, no apoptosis signal was detected and cell differentiation was inhibited, which suggested that a precise level of BTF3 is important for normal cell function. In conclusion, we found that the NAC complex subunits, skNAC and BTF3, were deregulated in RMS cells. The restoration of skNAC by SRPK3 overexpression rescued muscle differentiation. BTF3 functioned as an anti-apoptosis factor in RMS cells and depletion of BTF3 induced apoptosis and promoted differentiation. With no apoptosis effect in normal cells, BTF3 could serve as a cancer specific therapeutic target in RMS cells. Citation Format: Meiling Zhang, Judith Davie. Deregulation of NAC complex inhibits muscle differentiation and blocks apoptosis in rhabdomyosarcoma cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 28. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-28
Socially capable conversational tutors can be effective in collaborative learning situations

Tutorial Dialog has been shown to be effective in supporting both individual as well as group learners. However, unlike the case with individual learners, teams of learners often ignore and abuse the automated tutors. Both theory and empirical work in the area of small group communication argue that group participants display both task as well as socio-emotional behaviors during interactions. However, in connection with automated conversational agents, the effects of socio-emotional behaviors are much less well understood, especially in the case of multi-party interactions. In this paper, we will describe an evaluation of a socially capable conversational tutor that supports teams of three (or more) learners in a design task. This tutor is evaluated in comparison with a socially neutral baseline agent and human capability “gold standard” tutors demonstrating that the socially capable tutor achieves significantly higher learning gains than the neutral, purely task focused tutor and learning gains not significantly different from the human capability “gold standard” tutors.
Metabolic considerations in the use of antipsychotic medications: A review of recent evidence.

Compared with the general population, persons with schizophrenia have up to a 20% shorter lifespan, with cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death. In addition, persons with schizophrenia have increased prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, impaired glucose tolerance, and hypertension), increased prevalence of risk factors such as smoking, poverty, and poor nutrition, and reduced access to medical care. Results from the recent Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness (CATIE) provide further evidence of the metabolic risk associated with different atypical antipsychotics. Based on this study and a growing number of other randomized clinical trials, clozapine and olanzapine treatment can produce substantial mean changes in weight and an increased risk of associated metabolic disturbances. Risperidone and quetiapine treatment can produce intermediate changes in mean weight in comparison to treatment with other atypical antipsychotics, with discrepant results with respect to metabolic risk. Aripiprazole and ziprasidone treatment induced the lowest mean changes in weight gain and had no effect on risk for adverse metabolic changes, among currently available atypical agents. Considerable evidence indicates that mentally ill patients often do not receive adequate recognition of, monitoring of, or care for their medical illnesses. There is a critical need for psychiatrists and primary care professionals to increase awareness of and attention to the physical health problems of persons with mental illness, including appropriate management of metabolic adverse events associated with psychiatric medications.
Packing C60 in boron nitride nanotubes.

We have created insulated C60 nanowire by packing C60 molecules into the interior of insulating boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs).For small-diameter BNNTs, the wire consists of a linear chain of C60 molecules.With increasing BNNT inner diameter, unusual C60 stacking configurations are obtained (including helical, hollow core, and incommensurate) that are unknown for bulk or thin-film forms of C60.C60 in BNNTs thus presents a model system for studying the properties of dimensionally constrained “silo” crystal structures. For the linear-chain case, we have fused the C60 molecules to form a single-walled carbon nanotube inside the insulating BNNT.
Helical Buckling of Pipes in Extended Reach and Horizontal Wells—Part 1: Preventing Helical Buckling

This paper studies the helical buckling of pipes (drillstring and tubing) in extended reach and horizontal wells, theoretically and experimentally, resulting in new equations to correctly predict and effectively prevent the helical buckling of pipes in such wells. The theoretically study shows that the so-called helical buckling load that appears in the current literature is only the average axial load in the helical buckling development process. The laboratory experiments confirm the theoretical analysis. The new helical buckling load equations are formulated by combining the theoretical analysis and the experimental results, thereby resolving the existing assumption-and-result inconsistency in the current literature. The new equation predicts the true helical buckling load to be about 1.3 times the so-called helical buckling load in the current literature, and about 1.8 times the critical buckling load that predicts the onset of sinusoidal buckling. Consequently, larger bit weights or packer setting loads can be applied to increase the drilling rate or to ensure a proper seal, before the helical buckling of the pipes can occur.
A New Mesostructural Soft Tissue Testing System With Multiaxial Loading and Local Strain Measurement Capabilities

A new mesostructural testing system (MSTS) has been developed to measure structural and material properties of soft tissues at an intermediate, or “mesostructural” scale (i.e. ~ .01 to 10 mm). Key features of this new system are biaxial computer controlled loading and synchronized high-resolution microscopic digital imaging. The system uses a marker-less feature tracking algorithm to measure local deformation of mesostructures such as the fiber bundles of the aortic valve. Validation and bioengineering applications are described.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Publishing medical schools’ USMLE Step 1 scores: increase preclinical education accountability and national standards

Dear editor Medical education innovation is a field of active investigation.1,2 Whether it is problem-based learning, lectures, discussion groups, systems-based blocks, integrated courses, video-captured, pass-fail, or iPad-requiring, every medical school approaches preclinical education differently. Which combination of these methods is most effective? To answer this, I propose that medical schools ought to be required to publish their average United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 scores annually. In doing so, the most effective education methods will emerge. Individual school’s curricular changes can function as pilot studies. For example, if one year, a medical school implements a curriculum innovation and its students perform on average 10 points higher on the USMLE Step 1, then the innovation should earn greater consideration. Or, if another medical school consistently scores below medical schools with similar student bodies, then the curricular differences should be examined. Publishing medical schools’ USMLE Step 1 scores, will increase transparency and make each school more accountable for the quality of its education. Deans of medical education around the country will be able to collaborate and implement the most effective strategies at their own schools. The “multi-institutional curricular effort”3 will progressively raise the standards of medical education, translating into better educated future physicians.
Nonunion of the capitate: A case report

A patient with nonunion of the capitate presented for treatment with a painful, snapping wrist. Grafting was successful in obtaining union of the fracture and relief of symptoms.
Marx's Concept of an Economic Law of Motion

Au-dela d'une analogie entre les lois physiques de Newton et le projet economique de Marx, l'A. propose une nouvelle interpretation du «Capital» dont l'objet est de mettre en evidence la loi economique du mouvement dans la societe moderne. Examinant le concept de loi et la distinction entre mouvement necessaire et mouvement contingent chez Hegel, l'A. montre que Marx substitue au modele scientifique newtonien une methodologie hegelienne appliquee a l'economie.
Effect of oral clofibrate administration on intestinal 3-O-methyl glucose absorption in rat and chick

Abstract 1. 1. These studies were undertaken to determine the effect of clofibrate ( p -chlorophenoxyisobutyrate, CPIB) on intestinal glucose absorption and the possible relationship to its hypolipidemic action in rat and chick. The effect of CPIB and diabetes on intestinal mucosal C-AMP concentration as well as the role of C-AMP in intestinal glucose absorption was also determined in rat. 2. 2. CPIB treatment decreased intestinal 3- O -methyl glucose absorption when expressed as absolute transport (1.37 ± 0.27 vs 3.47 ± 0.27 μ moles/g mucosa) or as serosal: mucosal ratio (1.28 ± 0.05 vs 1.62 ± 0.04) for the CPIB treated and control rats respectively. In the chick CPIB had no effect. 3. 3. In vitro addition of dibutyryl C-AMP significantly increased glucose transport in sacs prepared from control rats (1.96 ± 0.14 vs 3.23 ± 0.38 μ moles/g respectively) but not from CPIB treated rats. 4. 4. The mucosal C-AMP contents for the control, diabetic and CPIB treated rats were 248.2 ± 24.3, 428.5 ± 65.2 and 214.0 ± 23.9 pmole/g mucosa respectively. 5. 5. After an oral glucose load both serum glucose and insulin levels were higher during the first 20 min for the control rats compared to CPIB treated rats. 6. 6. Serum triglycerides were significantly lower in the CPIB treated rats compared to control rats and decreased in both groups following oral glucose load. 7. 7. Whereas CPIB increased liver weight in the rat (6.34 ± 0.20 vs 4.13 ± 0.09 g/100 g body wt.), it had no effect in the chick (2.57 ± 0.04 vs 2.56 ± 0.14 g/100 g body wt.) for the CPIB treated and controls respectively. 8. 8. Although CPIB decreased glucose transport only in the rat, it had a hypolipidemic effect in both the rat and the chick. 9. 9. Our results suggest that either intestinal glucose absorption is not involved in the hypolipidemic effect or there are species differences in the mechanism of action of CPIB.
Regression analysis for prediction of residential energy consumption

Abstract The considerable amount of energy consumption associated to the residential sector justifies and supports energy consumption modeling efforts. Among the three approaches to develop energy models, statistical approaches are a good option to avoid the burden associated to engineering approaches when observed/measured data is available. Among the statistical models, the linear regression analysis has shown promising results because of the reasonable accuracy and relatively simple implementation when compared to other methods. In this study, simple and multiple linear regression analysis along with a quadratic regression analysis were performed on hourly and daily data from a research house. The time interval of the observed data showed to be a relevant factor defining the quality of the model. Multiple linear regression models using the outdoor temperature and solar radiation offered improved coefficient of determination, but deteriorated root mean square error emphasizing the importance of using both parameters to assess and compare models. The content and structure of the paper has been devised to become a comprehensive material to be considered as the starting point for future work in this interesting research area. This paper also conveys the authors׳ belief that the future of residential energy forecasting is moving toward the development of individual models for each household due to the availability of data from smart meters, as well as the development of friendly and easy-to-use engineering software.
Increasing neurofilament subunit NF-M expression reduces axonal NF-H, inhibits radial growth, and results in neurofilamentous accumulation in motor neurons

The carboxy-terminal tail domains of neurofilament subunits neurofilament NF-M and NF-H have been postulated to be responsible for the modulation of axonal caliber. To test how subunit composition affects caliber, transgenic mice were generated to increase axonal NF-M. Total neurofilament subunit content in motor and sensory axons remained essentially unchanged, but increases in NF-M were offset by proportionate decreases in both NF-H and axonal cross-sectional area. Increase in NF-M did not affect the level of phosphorylation of NF-H. This indicates that (a) in vivo NF-H and NF-M compete either for coassembly with a limiting amount of NF-L or as substrates for axonal transport, and (b) NF-H abundance is a primary determinant of axonal caliber. Despite inhibition of radial growth, increase in NF-M and reduction in axonal NF-H did not affect nearest neighbor spacing between neurofilaments, indicating that cross-bridging between nearest neighbors does not play a crucial role in radial growth. Increase in NF-M did not result in an overt phenotype or neuronal loss, although filamentous swellings in perikarya and proximal axons of motor neurons were frequently found.
Simulating flow microfluorometry experiments with the computer language cellsim.

Abstract CELLSIM is a digital simulation language specifically designed for simulating cell kinetics models. Recently a flow microfluorometry (FMF) command has been added to the language. In the command, the modeler indicates when his simulated FMF analyses are to take place, and what cell states are to be included. He may specify different coefficients of variance and a non-linear DNA synthesis rate for S phase cells. The FMF capability of the language has proved to be a useful tool in several applications.
Rapid fusion method for determination of actinides in fecal samples

A new rapid fusion method for the determination of actinides in fecal samples has been developed at the Savannah River National Laboratory that can be used for emergency response or routine bioassay analyses. If a radiological dispersive device, improvised nuclear device or nuclear accident occur, there will be an urgent need for rapid analyses of environmental, food and bioassay matrices. If an inhalation event occurs and there is confirmed radionuclide activity present via urine analyses of individuals, fecal analyses will typically be required to determine the soluble/insoluble fraction of actinides present as a result of the event to allow a more reliable estimate of radiological dose. The new method for actinides in fecal samples uses accelerated furnace heating, a rapid sodium hydroxide fusion method, a lanthanum fluoride matrix removal step, and a column separation process with stacked TEVA, TRU and DGA resin cartridges. The rapid fusion method provides rugged digestion of any refractory particles present, essential for reliable analysis of actinides in fecal samples. Alpha spectrometry was used to determine the actinide isotopes, but this method can be adapted for assay by inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry for actinide isotopes with longer half-lives that have sufficient mass to allow measurement. The method showed high chemical recoveries and effective removal of interferences. The determination of actinides in fecal samples can be performed in less than 12 h in an emergency with excellent quality for emergency samples. The new method, which is much less tedious and time-consuming than other reported methods, can be used for emergency or routine fecal sample analyses. This enables more timely estimates of radiological dose to be performed that utilize soluble/insoluble actinide ratios.
Polarization of protons elastically scattered from deuterons from 4 to 12 MeV

Abstract The polarized proton beam from the Wisconsin tandem accelerator was scattered from targets of gaseous deuterium and deuterated polyethylene. Left-right asymmetries were measured for the elastically scattered protons and recoil deuterons at 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 MeV to obtain angular distributions of the proton polarization in the angular range 26 dg θ c.m θ c.m. = 120°. The peak height increases from 0.070±0.005 at 4 MeV to 0.168±0.014 at 12.12 MeV. At some angles and energies measurements were also made to determine the asymmetry of protons from deuteron breakup, the polarization of protons elastically scattered from 12 C, and the asymmetry of protons inelastically scattered in the process 12 C(p, p′) 12 C ∗ (4.43 MeV).
Thin malignant melanomas with regression and metastases

• The significance of partial regression in thin malignant melanomas (0.76 mm or less) of the skin was evaluated to determine if the regression was associated with the later development of metastases in patients who previously were considered to have a favorable prognosis. Of 575 patients with primary cutaneous melanoma treated and followed up by the Division of Surgical Oncology at the University of Illinois, Chicago, we found that 103 (18%) had tumors that measured less than 0.76 mm. Of these, 30 (29%) showed histologic evidence of partial regression. In six (20%) of the 30 patients, visceral metastases developed and the patients died. All six had more than 77% regression of their primary tumors. Of the remaining 24 patients, only one had regression greater than 77% and she is still alive three years after diagnosis. Most of these 24 (83%) patients had regression of less than 50% (mean, 29.9%). No metastasis occurred in the 73 patients who had thin melanomas without histologic evidence of regression. It is apparent from this study that patients with thin melanomas who show partial regression cannot be included in the "low-risk" group if the extent of regression is 75% to 80% or more. (Arch Dermatol1987;123:1326-1330)
Quantization of crack speeds in dynamic fracture of silicon: Multiparadigm ReaxFF modeling

We report a study of dynamic cracking in a silicon single crystal in which the ReaxFF reactive force field is used for about 3,000 atoms near the crack tip while the other 100,000 atoms of the model system are described with a simple nonreactive force field. The ReaxFF is completely derived from quantum mechanical calculations of simple silicon systems without any empirical parameters. This model has been successfully used to study crack dynamics in silicon, capable of reproducing key experimental results such as orientation dependence of crack dynamics (Buehler et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 2006). In this article, we focus on crack speeds as a function of loading and crack propagation mechanisms. We find that the steady state crack speed does not increase continuously with applied load, but instead jumps to a finite value immediately after the critical load, followed by a regime of slow increase. Our results quantitatively reproduce experimental observations of crack speeds during fracture in silicon along the (111) planes, confirming the existence of lattice trapping effects. We observe similar effects in the (110) crack direction.
Analysis of Simulatenous Faults by Two-Port Network Theory

Simultaneous faults of common configuration may be described mathematically in terms of two-port network theory with one port for terminating the network at each fault point. Combining the sequence networks, with appropriate phase shifts, will then permit-direct solution of the network voltages and currents in a general way. This approach to solving for simultaneous fault quantities is very orderly and makes solution by hand computation or by computer more straightforward than previous methods.
Mouse epidermal stem cells proceed through the cell cycle

The epidermis is a continuously renewing tissue maintained by undifferentiated stem cells. For decades it has been assumed that epidermal stem cells (ESCs) were held in the G0 phase of the cell cycle and that they only entered the cell cycle when needed. Previously, we showed that ESCs retained nuclear label for long periods, indicating that these cells did not proceed through the cell cycle at the same rate as the other proliferative basal cells. However, their exact cell-cycle profile has not been determined because a pure population of ESCs has not been available. In this study, we sorted stem and transient amplifying (TA) cells from murine neonatal back skin, and adult ear, footpad, and back skin, using our recently developed method. We found that neonatal back skin had two times the number of ESCs as the adult tissues. Despite the age and anatomical difference, these ESC populations exhibited similar cell cycle profiles with approximately 96% in G0/G1 and 4% in S-G2/M. The cell cycle profiles of the TA cells from neonatal back skin and adult footpad also showed a profile similar to each other (85% in G1 and 15% in S-G2/M). Examination of genes on a cell cycle chip showed that proliferation associated genes and only p57 were upregulated in the TA cell and ESC population, respectively. We found BrdU positive and cyclin B1 positive cells in all groups, confirming that both ESCs and TA cells were cycling. These data demonstrate that there are more TA cells dividing than ESCs, that the cell cycle profile of adult TA cells is related to the proliferative state of the tissue in which they reside, and that ESC proceed through the cell cycle. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Validation and implementation of a liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry assay to quantitate ABT-751, ABT-751 glucuronide, and ABT-751 sulfate in human plasma for clinical pharmacology studies.

Abstract A method has been developed for the quantitation of ABT-751, ABT-751 glucuronide, and ABT-751 sulfate in human plasma. ABT-751 and metabolites were separated from endogenous material on a C18 column with acetonitrile–ammonium acetate (2 mM) mobile phase containing formic acid (0.1%, v/v) using isocratic flow for 5 min. The analytes were monitored by tandem-mass spectrometry. Calibration curves were generated over the range of 20–5000 ng/ml for ABT-751, ABT-751 glucuronide, and ABT-751 sulfate. A 20,000 ng/ml sample that was diluted 1:10 (v/v) with plasma was accurately quantitated. The method has been successfully applied to study the plasma pharmacokinetics of ABT-751 in humans.
P pili in uropathogenic E. coli are composite fibres with distinct fibrillar adhesive tips

ESCHERICHIA coli is a frequent cause of several common bacterial infections in humans and animals, including urinary tract infections, bacteraemia and bacteria-related diarrhoea and is also the main cause of neonatal meningitis1. Microbial attachment to surfaces is a key event in colonization and infection and results mainly from a stereochemical fit between microbial adhesins and complementary receptors on host cells. Bacterial adhesins required for extracellular colonization by Gram-negative bacteria are often minor components of heteropolymeric fibres called pili which must be oriented in an accessible manner in these structures to be able to bind to specific receptor architectures. P pili mediate the binding of uropathogenic E. coli to a digalactoside receptor determinant present in the urinary tract epithelium. We report here that the adhesin is a component of distinct fibrillar structures present at the tips of the pili. These virulence-associated tip fibrillae are thin, flexible polymers composed mostly of repeating subunits of PapE that frequently terminate with theα-D-galactopyranosyl-(l-4)-β-D-galactopyranose or Galα(l-4)Gal binding PapG adhesin.
The Harmonic Convergence of Fathers Predicts the Mating Success of Sons in Aedes aegypti.

During courtship males often communicate information about their fitness to females. The matching of harmonic components of flight tone in male–female pairs of flying mosquitoes, or harmonic convergence, was recently described. This behaviour occurs prior to mating and has been suggested to function in mate selection. We investigated the hypothesis that harmonic convergence is a component of mosquito courtship. A key prediction of this hypothesis is that harmonic convergence should provide information to potential mates about fitness benefits. We measured the effect of harmonic convergence behaviour on the direct and indirect benefits obtained by females. We found that the sons of pairs that converged at harmonic frequencies prior to mating had increased mating success and that these offspring were themselves more likely to converge prior to mating. These results suggest that males may be able to signal information about their genetic quality to females prior to mating and that this signal may be heritable. These findings are important for our understanding of mosquito behaviour and have applications in the control of mosquito-borne disease. This study also contributes to the study of male–female interactions and signal coevolution.
Rotation of comet p/Tempel 2 from CCD and photoelectric photometry

Two lightcurves have been obtained of the periodic comet Tempel 2 during May and June 1988, using a CCD camera, as well as five photoelastic photometer lightcurves. On each observational occasion, two uneven maxima were observed which suggest that the lightcurves in question are not products of an active spot on the comet, but rather are true reflections from an elongated rotating nucleus that are being observed through a transparent coma. A comparison of CCD and photoelectric photometry leads to an encouragement of users of the latter to sustain their efforts with such instruments.
Roaming Radical Reactions

An unusual decomposition mechanism of highly vibrationally excited molecules, dubbed the “roaming mechanism”, has recently been discovered and is now an active area of investigation. In these reactions, a molecule undergoes partial dissociation to radical fragments by simple bond fission. When the fragments separate to 3−4 A, roaming reorientation becomes feasible as the kinetic energy is low and the angular forces may be comparable to the radial forces. If this leads the system to access a distinct reactive domain, intramolecular abstraction may take place, giving molecular products with large vibrational excitation. This pathway may deviate substantially from the nominal minimum-energy path and in some cases appears to avoid the normal transition-state geometry entirely. Many of the details have come to light through high-resolution ion imaging studies of formaldehyde, in concert with quasi-classical trajectory calculations from Bowman and co-workers. Many other examples of roaming dynamics have recentl...
Shared Savings Models for ACOs-Incentivizing Primary Care Physicians

Increasing numbers of health systems and physician practices are considering formation of accountable care organizations (ACOs) to promote clinical integration and to create a potential revenue stream through shared savings. In large part, the ACO triple aim of improved experience of care, better population health and decreased cost is to be achieved by empowering primary care physicians who will be the “quarterbacks” for preventive care and care coordination and will serve as the main source of attribution for patients to an ACO. As competing ACOs are established within overlapping markets, an ACO’s success will be determined in large part by its ability to attract and retain a vibrant and effective primary care workforce, currently experiencing a national shortage. Although the potential for financial incentives through shared savings is one way in which ACOs can attract primary care providers, there is currently no agreed upon taxonomy for categorizing or evaluating shared savings distribution methodologies and their impact on primary care providers and organizational success. Herein we propose a taxonomy of shared savings decision-making and discuss four models for shared savings distribution that recognize the increasing importance of primary care within ACOs.
SU-E-T-529: A Study of the Dosimetric Impact of Gold Fiducial Markers in Image Guided Radiation Therapy

Purpose: During image‐guided radiation therapy, gold seeds as fiducial markers are often implanted to the target to track the tumor motion. The presence of the gold seeds could perturb the dose distribution and may cause either cold or hot spots in the target. This study investigates the dosimetric effects of gold seeds by film measurements and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. Methods: A gold seed of 5mm long and 1mm in diameter was sandwiched between a piece of EBT2 film and a bolus material, with film under the seed, and was positioned at 10 cm depth in a 30×30×20 cm3 solid‐water phantom. Three plans were delivered with 6MV radiation beams: (1) a single field in anterior‐posterior direction; (2) a single field in posterior‐anterior direction; (3) 9 fields in equally‐spaced gantry angles. Film dosimetry was performed and the measured dose profiles were compared to MC calculations. CT image‐based MC calculations were performed for several lung tumor IMRT cases with gold seeds implanted. Dose comparison was performed between overriding the seed with tissue and with gold material. Results: For single field irradiations, film measurement shows significant dose enhancement (∼25%) in proximal side and dose attenuation (∼15%) in the distal side of the seed. However, the attenuation effect disappears for the 9 field irradiation. The dose enhancement for the 9 field plan is up to 7∼8% in regions within 1mm to the seed. MC calculations also support the measurements. For the IMRT lung cancer cases, the dose enhancement is around 4∼8% adjacent to the seed. Conclusion: For multiple‐field IMRT/Arc treatment, the tissue adjacent to the implanted gold marker will most likely get hot instead of cold. This is because the dose enhancement in the proximal side outruns the attenuation in the distal side of seeds and dose enhancement presents in all the other directions.
A compiler technique for improving whole-program locality

Exploiting spatial and temporal locality is essential for obtaining high performance on modern computers. Writing programs that exhibit high locality of reference is difficult and error-prone. Compiler researchers have developed loop transformations that allow the conversion of programs to exploit locality. Recently, transformations that change the memory layouts of multi-dimensional arrays---called data transformations---have been proposed. Unfortunately, both data and loop transformations have some important draw-backs. In this work, we present an integrated framework that uses loop and data transformations in concert to exploit the benefits of both approaches while minimizing the impact of their disadvantages. Our approach works inter-procedurally on acyclic call graphs, uses profile data to eliminate layout conflicts, and is unique in its capability of resolving conflicting layout requirements of different references to the same array in the same nest and in different nests for regular array-based applications.The optimization technique presented in this paper has been implemented in a source-to-source translator. We evaluate its performance using standard benchmark suites and several math libraries (complete programs) with large input sizes. Experimental results show that our approach reduces the overall execution times of original codes by 17.5% on the average. This reduction comes from three important characteristics of the technique, namely, resolving layout conflicts between references to the same array in a loop nest, determining a suitable order to propagate layout modifications across loop nests, and propagating layouts between different procedures in the program --- all in a unified framework.
MOLECULAR DYNAMICS SIMULATION STUDY OF THE B-STATES OF SOLVATED CARBON MONOXYMYOGLOBIN

Classical molecular dynamics simulation is employed to study the photodissociated B-states of carbon monoxymyoglobin. Four independent 10 ps dynamical trajectories of the fully solvated protein, in a box of 2988 water molecules using periodic boundary conditions, were simulated at 300 K starting from the equilibrium deoxymyoglobin structure. Two prototypical protein conformational substates, defined by the conformation of the distal histidine, were sampled from a 1.5 ns trajectory of solvated, room temperature deoxymyoglobin. The structure and ligand vibrational spectral line shapes and frequency shifts were derived from the simulation trajectories. The simulated structure of the ligand−heme complex shows that the ligand is localized under the C-ring of the heme, which is consistent with the low-temperature X-ray crystal structures of the photolyzed state [Schlichting et al. Nature 1994, 371, 808. Teng; Srajer; Moffat Nat. Struct. Biol. 1994, 1, 701]. The ligand is found to be parallel to the heme “plane”...
Negotiation and Design: Supporting Resource Allocation Decisions through Analytical Mediation

The common element of all negotiations is change. Design is the key to directing and managing change, and resource allocation is the most critical component of design. Negotiations about change are, therefore, fundamentally, negotiations about design and resource allocation. Negotiations vary along a continuum, from those in which negotiators have consonant interests (share objectives) to discordant ones (disagree about appropriate objectives). The joint distribution of all possible payoffs defines the structure of the negotiation problem—the opportunities the problem affords and constraints it imposes on negotiators. The analytical mediation approach supports the activities of an impartial, neutral third party who attempts to assist the disputants to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement. It makes use of different types of techniques to support negotiations, depending on their location along the negotiation continuum. Two case studies involving analytical mediation are reported. One case study involves a budgeting exercise, in which the negotiators’ interests were essentially consonant. The second case study involves a labor-management contract problem, in which the negotiators’ interests were highly discordant.
Type I diabetes as a chronic autoimmune disease.

The realization that Type I diabetes is an autoimmune disease and, in particular, a chronic autoimmune disease is beginning to impact on clinical care and research directed at elucidating the cause and prevention of diabetes. For example, specialized laboratory evaluation can now be used to exclude potential renal donors who are at high risk of developing diabetes (by screening renal donor candidates who are relatives of Type 1 diabetics for cytoplasmic islet cell antibodies and evaluating first phase insulin secretion on intravenous glucose tolerance testing). The most important long-term consequence of the ability to predict Type 1 diabetes may be the development of effective immunotherapy to prevent the disease. Finally, the realization that Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease and that some of the antigens expressed by islets (e.g., specific gangliosides identified with monoclonal antibodies) are expressed by renal glomerular cells, retinal microvascular pericytes, and neurons has renewed interest in searching for immunologic factors contributing to secondary complications.