cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Preprocessing for Result of Independent component analysis

In recent years, scientists, doctors in the field of biomedical engineering and researchers of the correlated fields have been concentrating on study of activities of bioelectricity of different cortex fields of human brain on the condition of different evocable and cognitive stimulations, and try to test human psychology and physiology, and control exterior environment. Independent component analysis is a tool that can help people to distinguish and understand various EEG signals. To the signal that we know very little, we can get very good explanation by using independent component analysis. In this paper a new algorithm is introduced that is adapted to the preprocessing of data that is dealt with by independent component analysis. This algorithm can not only accelerates the decomposing speed of independent component, but also can get the higher amplitude of extraction of steady-state visual evoked potentials
Additional Cranial Material of the Miocene Beaver Anchitheriomys (Rodentia, Castoridae) from Nebraska

Abstract The cranium of the Hemingfordian beaver Anchitheriomys nanus Korth differs from the previously described skull of the Barstovian A. fluminis (Matthew) in being smaller and having less procumbent incisors, grooves on the palate, and the ethmoid and optic foramina more posterior in position on the skull. These features are viewed as being primitive in A. nanus relative to A. fluminis. The basicranium of A. nanus is preserved (unknown for A. fluminis) and demonstrates the derived castorid character of lacking the stapedial foramen in the auditory bulla, but has the apomorphic features of an elongated anterior process and a concave external meatus of the bulla (evidently a functioning part of the glenoid fossa). The paroccipital process is greatly broadened, another unique feature among castorids. The cranial morphology of the earlier A. nanus suggests that the anchitheriomyines are more closely related to the advanced castorids (Castorinae and Castoroidinae) than the primitive agnotocastorines, with...
Active safety monitoring of newly marketed medications in a distributed data network: application of a semi-automated monitoring system

We developed a semi-automated active monitoring system that uses sequential matched-cohort analyses to assess drug safety across a distributed network of longitudinal electronic health-care data. In a retrospective analysis, we show that the system would have identified cerivastatin-induced rhabdomyolysis. In this study, we evaluated whether the system would generate alerts for three drug-outcome pairs: rosuvastatin and rhabdomyolysis (known null association), rosuvastatin and diabetes mellitus, and telithromycin and hepatotoxicity (two examples for which alerting would be questionable). Over >5 years of monitoring, rate differences (RDs) in comparisons of rosuvastatin with atorvastatin were -0.1 cases of rhabdomyolysis per 1,000 person-years (95% confidence interval (CI): -0.4, 0.1) and -2.2 diabetes cases per 1,000 person-years (95% CI: -6.0, 1.6). The RD for hepatotoxicity comparing telithromycin with azithromycin was 0.3 cases per 1,000 person-years (95% CI: -0.5, 1.0). In a setting in which false positivity is a major concern, the system did not generate alerts for the three drug-outcome pairs.
Cholesterol-metabolizing cytochromes P450

By catalyzing the first steps in different pathways of cholesterol degradation, cytochromes P450 (P450s) 7A1, 27A1, 11A1, and 46A1 play key roles in cholesterol homeostasis. CYP7A1 is a microsomal liver-specific enzyme that converts cholesterol to 7α-hydroxycholesterol. CYP27A1 is a ubiquitously expressed mitochondrial P450 that metabolizes cholesterol to 27-hydroxycholesterol. CYP11A1 also resides in mitochondria but is expressed mainly in steroidogenic tissues, where it catalyzes the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone. Finally, CYP46A1 is a brain-selective microsomal monooxygenase producing 24S-hydroxycholesterol from cholesterol. Catalytic efficiencies of cholesterol-metabolizing P450s vary significantly and probably reflect physiological requirements of different organs for the rate of cholesterol turnover. P450s 7A1, 27A1, 11A1, and 46A1 represent a unique system for elucidation of how different enzymes have adapted to fit their specific roles in cholesterol elimination. Studies of cholesterol-metabolizing P450s suggest that their activities could be modulated post-translationally and that they should also be considered as targets for regulation of cholesterol homeostasis.
The transaction costs theory of joint ventures: an empirical study of Japanese subsidiaries in the united states

This paper offers the first large sample empirical study of the factors which influence the choice of Japanese firms between full or partial ownership of their U.S. manufacturing subsidiaries. It studies for the first time the ownership policies of investors of a single home country in a single host country, thus keeping variations within home and host countries constant. One methodological improvement over previous studies is the use as independent variables of the relevant characteristics of the investing firms. These had been proxied in previous studies by data on U.S. industries entered. The results suggest that the degree of ownership taken by Japanese manufacturing investors in their American subsidiaries is driven by the same general transaction costs variables that determine the choices made by their U.S. counterparts: Japanese parents joint venture when they need to combine with other firms intermediate inputs which are subject to high market transaction costs. An intriguing result, however, is the lack of significance of two variables which, in the U.S. case, strongly push towards full control of foreign subsidiaries. In this study neither the Japanese parent's R&D nor its advertising intensities had any significant impact on their ownership policies.
Reverse modeling of E/D logic submicrometer MODFETs and prediction of maximum extrinsic MODFET current gain cutoff frequency

A method for estimating the source resistance, fringe capacitance, gate length, and effective saturation velocity from the microwave Y-parameters of MODFETs with known vertical structure is discussed. The scheme is applied to a variety of MODFETs fabricated on molecular-beam-epitaxial (MBE) material using a submicrometer enhancement/depletion- (E/D-) mode IC process. More than 100 MODFETs were measured and analyzed. Both the values and variances of the extracted parameters are very physical. In particular, it is found that the extracted saturation velocity (1) is independent of the gate length in the regime studied (0.25-0.91 mu m); (2) is rather independent of process and threshold voltage variations; (3) is marginally higher when the Al mole fraction is increased from 20% to 28%; (4) is not significantly higher in pseudomorphic InGaAs than in GaAs; and (5) is quite a bit higher than is often assumed or extracted, with a value close to the stationary peak velocity in undoped GaAs. There is little sign of overshoot above this limit. Using the extracted peak velocity and a simple analytical MODFET model, the extrinsic current gain cutoff frequency (f/sub Tx/) is predicted well in the gate-length regime studied. >
A von Willebrand's Factor Genomic Nucleotide Variant and Polymerase Chain Reaction Diagnostic Test Associated with Inheritable Type-2 von Willebrand's Disease in a Line of German Shorthaired Pointer Dogs

Heritable, type-2 von Willebrand's disease (vWD) was studied in a line of German Shorthaired Pointers (GSPs) in which some members had a nucleotide variant in exon 28 of the von Willebrand factor (VWF) gene. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnostic test for the nucleotide variant was developed to establish the disorder's mode of inheritance and to eliminate it from the line. Thirty-six of the 49 GSPs in the line, 14 unrelated GSP controls, and 71 unrelated dogs of various breeds were tested for the presence of the variant nucleotide. All the dogs with a vWF antigen deficiency (<70% of normal) were either homozygous or heterozygous for the nucleotide variant. The variant was not located in any tested dog in the line or outside of the line with a vWF antigen value greater than 68%. Of the GSPs in the line tested, two were homozygous for the variant, 15 were heterozygous, and 19 were variant free. The collective evidence of this and other studies is consistent with the variant nucleotide being the cause of the type-2 vWD in this line of GSPs and German Wirehaired Pointers. The PCR diagnostic test for the variant nucleotide was successfully used to select and produce progeny that were variant free and vWD free. This test should be effective in the subsequent elimination of this same variant from other lines of dogs.
Dreaming and Reality: A Neuroanthropological Account

In what sense is dreaming real to people of different cultures? How do they come to conclude that dreaming is real, and how do they use dreams to expand their knowledge and control of real events? The reader is introduced to dream anthropology and shown that there are universal patterns to how dreams are experienced, expressed, and used by societies. The distinction between monophasic and polyphasic cultures is described, the latter being the majority of societies that consider dreaming as being in some sense real. Neuroscience supports the notion that there is a natural realism behind the experience of reality in any and all alternative states of consciousness (ASC), and that whatever the ASC, there is a transcendental set of obduracies and affordances that condition the modeling, expression, and social interpretation of experiences, most especially those encountered in archetypal (or special) dreams.
Alzheimer's disease: dysfunction of a signalling pathway mediated by the amyloid precursor protein?

All individuals with Alzheimer9s disease (AD) experience a progressive loss of cognitive function, resulting from a neurodegenerative process characterized by the deposition of ϐ-amyloid (Aϐ) in plaques and in the cerebrovasculature, and by the formation of neurofibrillary tangles in neurons. The cause of the neuronal death is unknown but it is thought to be linked in some way to the ϐ-amyloid precursor protein (APP), which is the source of the Aϐ that accumulates in the AD brain. There are two pieces of supporting data for this: first, APP is overexpressed in Down9s syndrome, which leads to AD-like neuropathology by the age of 40 in virtually all affected individuals; secondly, specific point mutations in APP cause some forms of familial AD. Our laboratory has focused on a specific aspect of APP and its connection with the neuronal destruction seen in AD. We have hypothesized that AD results from a progressive dysfunction of APP. In addition, on the basis of recent data generated by our laboratory and others, we propose that in the normal brain a percentage of APP is present as an integral protein of the plasma membrane that mediates the transduction of extracellular signals into the cell via its Aϐ-containing C-terminal tail. In AD, accumulation of abnormal levels of the C-terminus in the neuron disturbs this signal-transduction function of APP, causing disorders in the cell-cycle machinery and consequent apoptosis. Here, we discuss the key findings that support this hypothesis, and discuss its therapeutic implications for AD.
Robust conditioned flavor preference produced by intragastric starch infusions in rats

Rats were intragastrically infused with hydrolyzed starch (16% Polycose) or water as they drank cherry- or grape-flavored water during 23-h/day tests; chow was available ad libitum. After 4 conditioning days the rats displayed a near-total preference (96%) for the starch-paired flavor over the water-paired flavor in two-choice tests. This conditioned flavor preference persisted during a 4-day extinction test when both flavors were paired with water infusions. The results demonstrate that the postingestive actions of starch are rewarding to nondeprived rats and can condition strong and long-lasting flavor preferences.
Hybridization Based CEGAR for Hybrid Automata with Affine Dynamics

We consider the problem of safety verification for hybrid systems, whose continuous dynamics in each mode is affine, $$\dot{X}=AX+b$$, and invariants and guards are specified using rectangular constraints. We present a counter-example guided abstraction refinement framework CEGAR, which abstract these hybrid automata into simpler ones with rectangular inclusion dynamics, $$\dot{x} \in \mathcal {I}$$, where x is a variable and $$\mathcal {I}$$ is an interval in $$\mathbb {R}$$. In contrast to existing CEGAR frameworks which consider discrete abstractions, our method provides highly efficient abstraction construction, though model-checking the abstract system is more expensive. Our CEGAR algorithm has been implemented in a prototype tool called $$\mathtt {HARE}$$ Hybrid Abstraction-Refinement Engine, that makes calls to $$\mathtt {SpaceEx}$$ to validate abstract counterexamples. We analyze the performance of our tool against standard benchmark examples, and show that its performance is promising when compared to state-of-the-art safety verification tools, $$\mathtt {SpaceEx}$$, $$\mathtt {PHAVer}$$, $$\mathtt {SpaceEx~AGAR}$$, and $$\mathtt {HSolver}$$.
Epoxyalkane:Coenzyme M Transferase Gene Diversity and Distribution in Groundwater Samples from Chlorinated-Ethene-Contaminated Sites.

ABSTRACT Epoxyalkane:coenzyme M transferase (EaCoMT) plays a critical role in the aerobic biodegradation and assimilation of alkenes, including ethene, propene, and the toxic chloroethene vinyl chloride (VC). To improve our understanding of the diversity and distribution of EaCoMT genes in the environment, novel EaCoMT-specific terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and nested-PCR methods were developed and applied to groundwater samples from six different contaminated sites. T-RFLP analysis revealed 192 different EaCoMT T-RFs. Using clone libraries, we retrieved 139 EaCoMT gene sequences from these samples. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that a majority of the sequences (78.4%) grouped with EaCoMT genes found in VC- and ethene-assimilating Mycobacterium strains and Nocardioides sp. strain JS614. The four most-abundant T-RFs were also matched with EaCoMT clone sequences related to Mycobacterium and Nocardioides strains. The remaining EaCoMT sequences clustered within two emergent EaCoMT gene subgroups represented by sequences found in propene-assimilating Gordonia rubripertincta strain B-276 and Xanthobacter autotrophicus strain Py2. EaCoMT gene abundance was positively correlated with VC and ethene concentrations at the sites studied. IMPORTANCE The EaCoMT gene plays a critical role in assimilation of short-chain alkenes, such as ethene, VC, and propene. An improved understanding of EaCoMT gene diversity and distribution is significant to the field of bioremediation in several ways. The expansion of the EaCoMT gene database and identification of incorrectly annotated EaCoMT genes currently in the database will facilitate improved design of environmental molecular diagnostic tools and high-throughput sequencing approaches for future bioremediation studies. Our results further suggest that potentially significant aerobic VC degraders in the environment are not well represented in pure culture. Future research should aim to isolate and characterize aerobic VC-degrading bacteria from these underrepresented groups.
Phase transitions of n-hexadecane in nanoencapsulated binary solutions of n-hexadecane and 1-octanol.

Binary solutions of n-hexadecane and 1-octanol were encapsulated within poly(tert-butyl methacrylate) nanocapsules and the phase transition behavior of the n-hexadecane studied. A sigmoidal correlation was found between the binary composition of the encapsulated oil and the oil formulation prior to encapsulation. At low 1-octanol fractions in the synthesis, almost no alcohol was encapsulated, but at high 1-octanol fractions, the capsules were enriched in alcohol. The freezing point of the encapsulated n-hexadecane was considerably lower than in the bulk phase. This freezing point was further reduced as the radius of the particle was reduced, which is expected from the Gibbs–Thompson equation. The extracted value at infinite radii was, however, 14 °C below the bulk freezing point. The colligative effect of 1-octanol on the freezing point of n-hexadecane, i.e., dTf/dxm, where xm is the mass fraction of 1-octanol, was nearly identical to that measured in the bulk system. The specific enthalpy of freezing for...
The reaction of carbamates with cholinesterase.

It has been shown that both complex formation and carbamylation are of major importance in the reaction between carbamates and cholinesterase. That carbamylation occurs has been shown by demonstration of leaving-group release as the reaction proceeds. Complex formation has been demonstrated by kinetic evidence. Affinity and carbamylation constants have been measured on 11 dimethylcarbamates and 10 methylcarbamates, and correlations with alkaline hydrolyzability have been sought.
Urinary lactic dehydrogenase and serum C-reactive protein as means of localizing the site of urinary tract infection in patients with ileal conduits.

AbstractMany patients with ileal conduit urinary diversion have infected urine but far fewer have clinical pyelonephritis. A noninvasive diagnostic test to distinguish renal bacteriuria from conduit colonization in these patients would seem desirable. Urine total lactic dehydrogenase and lactic dehydrogenase isoenzymes, and serum C-reactive protein have been useful to distinguish pyelonephritis from cystitis in patients with intact urinary tracts. We used these tests in patients with ileal conduits who had urine containing more and less than 105 organisms perml. All patients had elevated urine total lactic dehydrogenase and lactic dehydrogenase-5 isoenzyme, and serum C-reactive protein. No statistically significant difference in any of these parameters existed between the groups. These results may indicate that all patients with conduits have pyelonephritis but only intermittently demonstrate bacteriuria, or that the conduit mucosa contributes lactic dehydrogenase to the urine. However, it does not appear...
Safety Assessment of Insect-Protected Cotton

Publisher Summary This chapter provides information on the methods for developing Bollgard cotton event 531 and a summary of the food, feed, and environmental safety studies that support the safety of the Bollgard cotton. It discusses molecular characterization, the safety of the produced proteins, food/feed composition, and environment. On the basis of this evaluation, Bollgard cotton and its processed factions are found to be comparable to conveniently bred cotton, taking into consideration the natural variation seen among cotton varieties. Cotton is the leading plant fiber crop in the world, and the most important in the United States. Lepidopteran insects are the main pest problem on most cotton grown in the U.S. The incorporation of Bt protein into cotton reduces and in some cases eliminates the need to spray insecticides. The chapter discusses how Bollgard cotton is produced and the analyses that are performed to assess its nutritional and compositional equivalence to conventional varieties. Its molecular characterization is analyzed. Cry1Ac and NPTII protein levels in Bollgard cotton are discussed and their safety assessed. A compositional analysis and nutritional assessment of Bollgard cotton is provided, horizontal gene transfer and the assessment of marker genes are described, and an environmental assessment is provided.
Bone Artifacts from Kinishba Ruin: Their Manufacture and Use

ABSTRACTThe bone implements and ornaments from Kinishba Ruin, in east central Arizona, compare closely with those from other Late Mogollon or prehistoric Western Pueblo sites in the vicinity. Manufacturing techniques and wear patterns are examined in order to devise an appropriate local typology and to reveal regional attributes. Remarkable preservation and an inherent diversity within this collection contribute to the quality of data obtainable from the bone artifacts.
Pressure Dependence of Electrical Conductivity at Low Temperatures

The pressure dependence of electrical resistivity has been widely studied experimentally to very high pressures in the vicinity of room temperature, but relatively little has been done at low temperatures. From a theoretical viewpoint, the low temperature region is the most interesting because there the temperature dependence of the pressure coefficient of the lattice resistivity 1dρ l /ρ l dP is greatest, and also because the impurity resistivity coefficient is significant and measurable.
Marriage, Law and Gender in Revolutionary China, 1940–1960

Xiaoping Cong examines the social and cultural significance of Chinese revolutionary legal practice in the construction of marriage and gender relations. Her book is an empirically rich investigation of the ways in which a 1943 legal dispute over an arranged marriage in a Chinese village became a legal, political and cultural exemplar on the national stage. This conceptually groundbreaking study revisits the Chinese Revolution and its impact on women and society by presenting a Chinese experience that cannot and should not be theorized in the framework of Western discourse. Taking a cultural-historical perspective, Cong shows how the Chinese Revolution and its legal practices produced new discourses, neologisms and cultural symbols that contained China's experience in twentieth-century social movements, and how revolutionary practice was sublimated into the concept of 'self-determination', an idea that bridged local experiences with the tendency of the twentieth-century world, and that is a revolutionary legacy for China today.
Technical aspects and results of hybrid iliac revascularization

Hybrid iliac revascularization combines endovascular aortoiliac repair with extra-anatomic construction of the internal iliac artery, with or without replacement of the external iliac artery. The procedure may be indicated in patients with unilateral or bilateral common iliac artery aneurysms who are not candidates for total endovascular repair or when the external iliac artery segment is too small to take even a 16Fr sheath, which is the minimal profile for current iliac branch devices. Iliac revascularization is typically done using a flank retroperitoneal approach. There is paucity of data in the literature on results of this technique, which seems to add some morbidity and prolonged recovery compared to standard EVAR done using trans-femoral access. Nonetheless, hybrid iliac revascularization should be in the armamentarium of surgeons performing complex aortic repair. This chapter summarizes some of the technical aspects and results of hybrid iliac repair.
Computational and performance analysis of a continuous magnetophoretic bioseparation chip with alternating magnetic fields

This paper presents the modeling and optimization of a magnetophoretic bioseparation chip for isolating cells, such as circulating tumor cells from the peripheral blood. The chip consists of a continuous-flow microfluidic platform that contains locally engineered magnetic field gradients. The high-gradient magnetic field produced by the magnets is spatially non-uniform and gives rise to an attractive force on magnetic particles flowing through a fluidic channel. Simulations of the particle–fluid transport and the magnetic force are performed to predict the trajectories and capture lengths of the particles within the fluidic channel. The computational model takes into account key forces, such as the magnetic and fluidic forces and their effect on design parameters for an effective separation. The results show that the microfluidic device has the capability of separating various cells from their native environment. An experimental study is also conducted to verify and validate the simulation results. Finally, to improve the performance of the separation device, a parametric study is performed to investigate the effects of the magnetic bead size, cell size, number of beads per cell, and flow rate on the cell separation performance.
Ecological and Transcriptional Responses of Anode-Respiring Communities to Nitrate in a Microbial Fuel Cell

A poorly understood phenomenon with a potentially significant impact on electron recovery is competition in microbial fuel cells (MFC) between anode-respiring bacteria and microorganisms that use other electron acceptors. Nitrate is a constituent of different wastewaters and can act as a competing electron acceptor in the anode. Studies investigating the impact of competition on population dynamics in mixed communities in the anode are lacking. Here, we investigated the impact of nitrate at different C/N ratios of 1.8, 3.7, and 7.4 mg C/mg N on the electrochemical performance and the biofilm community in mixed-culture chemostat MFCs. The electrochemical performance of the MFC was not affected under electron donor non-limiting conditions, 7.4 mg C/mg N. At lower C/N, electron donor limiting and ratio electron recovery were significantly affected. The electrochemical performance recovered upon removal of nitrate at 3.7 mg C/mg N but did not at 1.8 mg C/mg N. Microbial community analysis showed a decrease in...
Pheochromocytoma in Pregnancy

A pheochromocytoma can have profound effects on pregnancy. It is important that it is diagnosed promptly and managed by an experienced multidisciplinary team in order to minimize any adverse outcomes to the mother or fetus. This chapter summarizes the issues to consider when faced with such a scenario: method of diagnosis, choice of pharmacotherapy, timing of surgery, mode of delivery, use of magnesium sulfate, and genetic testing.
Cutting-edge Biofuel Conversion Technologies to Integrate into Petroleum-based Infrastructure and Integrated Biorefineries

This chapter describes biofuel, biodiesel, and renewable diesel, how they are different from petroleum diesel, the processing pathways for conversion of biofuel into diesel fuel, the challenges from FAME use as an alternative to diesel fuels in existing infrastructure, the issues due to the presence of oxygen in biofuel, and possible solutions. The processes including hydrothermal processing, indirect liquefaction, hydroprocessing, and the fuel properties of hydroprocessed diesel product are described besides their integration with existing refineries or to form new integrated biorefineries for commercialization of biofuel and industry standards. A case study of the largest US energy company making ethanol and FAME shipments and the benefits of biodiesel use is presented. Commercialization of renewable diesel, hydroprocessed renewable jet fuel (HRJ), future utilization of biocrudes and co-processing concerns, integrated biorefineries, and co-locating biorefineries are explored.
Predicting confusions and intelligibility of noisy speech

Current predictors of speech intelligibility are inadequate for making predictions of speech confusions caused by acoustic interference. This thesis is inspired by the need for a capability to understand and predict speech confusions caused by acoustic interference. The goal of this thesis is to develop models of auditory speech processing capable of predicting phonetic confusions by normally-hearing listeners, under a variety of acoustic distortions. In particular, we focus on modeling the Medial Olivocochlear efferent pathway (which provides feedback from the brain stem to the peripheral auditory system) and demonstrate its potential for speech identification in noise. Our results produced representations and performance that were robust to varying levels of additive noise and which mimicked human performance as measured by the Chi-squared test. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)
Random Signals, Estimation, and Filtering

Electrical, mechanical, or atmospheric noise causes disturbances in the measurement of signals. The observed signals cannot be predicted deterministically. These signals are to be characterized by statistical methods. We will call these nondeterministic signals random signals. We will study the properties of random signals, known as stochastic processes, in Sections 1 through 4. The various classifications are given in Section 1. Correlation covariance functions of random signals are treated in Section 2. Section 3 is devoted to Gaussian and Brownian processes. A very important class of random processes, stationary processes, is covered in Section 4. Power spectral density is defined for these processes. We derive the second-order statistics of linear systems with stationary signal input in Section 5. A brief discussion of the narrow band process is given in Section 6. We discuss estimation of parameters of random signals and various estimation criteria in Section 7. Various estimation methods, such as maximum likelihood estimation, least-square estimation, linear meansquare estimation, and the Cramer-Rao bound, are covered in Section 8. Estimation of parameters in the presence of colored noise is treated in Section 9. We have derived the recursive estimator. Optimum linear filters are derived in Section 10. A three-step algorithm is given for Wiener filter using spectral factorization. A short bibliographical note is given in Section 11. Spectral estimation methods and Kaiman filtering are given in Appendices 3.A and 3.B.
Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Monoclonal Antibodies

As tumors grow and metastasize, they require the formation of new blood vessels or angiogenesis. This process is regulated by a complex balance of pro- and antiangiogenic factors. One of these factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), has been extensively studied and found to be an important stimulatory signal that drives angiogenesis. VEGF belongs to a family that consists of six glycoproteins and binds to one or more of the three VEGF receptors. The various VEGF ligands and receptors mediate angiogenesis, vasculogenesis, and lymphangiogenesis. Recently, neuropilins have been shown to be important co-receptors and help to modulate VEGF and VEGF receptor interactions. VEGF and its receptor have become targets for monoclonal antibody therapies in the treatment of various cancers. Bevacizumab, which is directed against VEGF, has been the most extensively studied drug with several phase III trials already completed. Based on improvement in patient survival, bevacizumab has been FDA approved for use in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and breast cancer. Although most of the trials investigating bevacizumab involved treating patients with advanced disease, there are two ongoing phase III trials of bevacizumab in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting in patients with advanced stage epithelial ovarian cancer. Newer antibody therapy directed at VEGF (VEGF-Trap and HuMV833) and VEGF receptor (IMCL-1121b and IMC-18F1) is still in development and early clinical trials. Despite the improvements in patient survival, several challenges still lie ahead and include potential serious side effects such as gastrointestinal perforation, determining appropriate dosing, dealing with resistance to antiangiogenesis drugs, and identifying biologic markers for predicting and monitoring response to therapy. Targeting VEGF has been an important novel strategy in treating cancers and will continue to improve with our understanding of angiogenesis in malignancy.
Track Forecast Guidance Improvements for Early Warnings of Tropical Cyclones

The disastrous impacts of tropical cyclones in terms of loss of lives and damage to the economies of all nations affected by these storms are well known. This paper will present an overview of progress achieved in the last decade in providing tropical cyclone track forecast guidance at a number of regional and national centers. In many cases, the accuracy of the 72-hour track forecasts is equivalent to that of the 48-hour forecasts only 10 years ago. Contributions from various factors that have led to these track forecast improvements will be described. Future needs to continue this improvement will be proposed. A number of issues that must be addressed to convert improved track forecast guidance to more accurate and earlier warnings will be suggested.
Behind-the-Meter Solar Generation Disaggregation using Consumer Mixture Models

To facilitate deep penetration of solar energy in smart grids, we need high observability of solar generation at the edges of the grid. Current advanced metering infrastructures (AMI) only monitor the aggregated measurements from net-metered households, but disaggregated consumption and solar generation components are required for grid optimizations. We propose an unsupervised disaggregation model for disaggregating solar generation from AMI measurements without the need of training data. The model requires only AMI measurements from consumers in a region and the solar irradiance as input, and models the consumption of consumers by neighboring households without rooftop photovoltaics (PV) to perform the disaggregation. We evaluate our results on a real life dataset from Austin, Texas. We show that our model is able to disaggregate consumption and solar generation measurements with 42.24% and 31.67% less mean squared error, respectively, in comparison to a baseline technique that uses supervised learning. This shows that our model is capable of disaggregating historical data even if the dataset has no training data and only contains minimal exogenous data.
Foiling Kamesian Belletristic Theory in Mid-Eighteenth-Century Scotland

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Advances in the History of Rhetoric on March 1st, 2019, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/15362426.2019.1569416.
Polyubiquitin-dependent recruitment of NEMO/IKKÎ³ into T cell receptor signaling microclusters

The NF-{kappa}B essential modulator protein (NEMO) is required for activation of canonical NF-{kappa}B by the T cell antigen receptor (TCR). However, the subcellular localization of NEMO during this process is not well understood. By dynamically imaging fluorescent NEMO chimeras in live human T cells, we demonstrate that NEMO is rapidly recruited into TCR microclusters via domains previously implicated in the recognition of linear and K63-linked polyubiquitin. The recruitment of NEMO into TCR microclusters requires the activities of the tyrosine kinases Lck and ZAP-70, but not the adaptor proteins LAT or SLP-76. Thus, our findings reveal that the pathways leading from TCR to NF-{kappa}B bifurcate downstream of ZAP-70 to independently control the recruitment and activation of NEMO.
Growth, dry weight and nitrogen distribution of red oak and 'Autumn Flame' red maple under different fertility levels.

Abstract Red oak (Quercus rubra L.) seedlings and ‘Autumn Flame’ red maple (Acer rubrum L.) rooted cuttings were grown under different fertility levels: 0, 25, 50, 100, 200 or 400 mg/liter N from 2...
Cluster Sampling Methods

The Swendsen-Wang algorithm has been initially designed for addressing the critical slowing down in sampling the Ising and Potts models described below at or near the critical temperature where phase transitions occur. Fortuin and Kasteleyn [17] have mapped the Potts model to a percolation model [7]. The percolation model is a model for a porous material with randomly distributed pores though which a liquid can percolate. The model is defined on a set of nodes (e.g. organized on a lattice), each node having a label sampled independently from a Bernoulli random variable with expectation p, where label 1 represents a pore. Two adjacent nodes with both having label 1 are automatically connected by an edge. This way random clusters of nodes are obtained by sampling the node labels and automatically connecting adjacent nodes that have label 1.
Automated Trigger Activation by Repeated Maximal Clique Sampling

Hardware Trojans are serious threat to security and reliability of computing systems. It is hard to detect these malicious implants using traditional validation methods since an adversary is likely to hide them under rare trigger conditions. While existing statistical test generation methods are promising for Trojan detection, they are not suitable for activating extremely rare trigger conditions in stealthy Trojans. To address the fundamental challenge of activating rare triggers, we propose a new test generation paradigm by mapping trigger activation problem to clique cover problem. The basic idea is to utilize a satisfiability solver to construct a test corresponding to each maximal clique. This paper makes two fundamental contributions: 1) it proves that the trigger activation problem can be mapped to clique cover problem, 2) it proposes an efficient test generation algorithm to activate trigger conditions by repeated maximal clique sampling. Experimental results demonstrate that our approach is scalable and it outperforms state-of-the-art approaches by several orders-of-magnitude in detecting stealthy Trojans.
Genes with evidence of positive selection as potentially related to coloniality and the evolution of morphological features among the lophophorates and entoprocts

Evolutionary mechanisms that underlie the origins of coloniality among organisms are diverse. Some animal colonies may be comprised strictly of clonal individuals formed from asexual budding or comprised of a chimera of clonal and sexually produced individuals that fuse secondarily. This investigation focuses on select members of the lophophorates and entoprocts whose evolutionary relationships remain enigmatic even in the age of genomics. Using transcriptomic data sets, two coloniality-based hypotheses are tested in a phylogenetic context to find candidate genes showing evidence of positive selection and potentially convergent molecular signatures among solitary species and taxa-forming colonies from aggregate groups or clonal budding. Approximately 22% of the 387 orthogroups tested showed evidence of positive selection in at least one of the three branch-site tests (CODEML, BUSTED, and aBSREL). Only 12 genes could be reliably associated with a developmental function related to traits linked with coloniality, neuroanatomy, or ciliary fields. Genes testing for both positive selection and convergent molecular characters include orthologues of Radial spoke head, Elongation translation initiation factors, SEC13, and Immediate early response gene5. Maximum likelihood analyses included here resulted in tree topologies typical of other phylogenetic investigations based on wider genomic information. Further genomic and experimental evidence will be needed to resolve whether a solitary ancestor with multiciliated cells that formed aggregate groups gave rise to colonial forms in bryozoans (and perhaps the entoprocts) or that the morphological differences exhibited by phoronids and brachiopods represent trait modifications from a colonial ancestor.
Abstract 975: Single cell RNA sequencing of esophageal adenocarcinoma before and after chemotherapy alone and with pembrolizumab identifies novel tumor immune microenvironment alterations

The PD-1 inhibitor, pembrolizumab, was recently approved for PD-L1+ esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) with a response rate (RR) of 14.3-16.7% (KEYNOTE -180, 181). Pembrolizumab is minimally active in esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) (RR 5.2%-7.7%, KEYNOTE-180,-181). Biomarkers, such as PD-L1 expression and mutation burden are poor predictors for response to pembrolizumab in EAC. We examined the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) by single cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) in EAC to improve our understanding of local immunity in EAC and how it changes with treatment. Patients with locally advanced EAC (pT2N+ or pT3-4N-/+, M0) underwent endoscopic biopsies of the tumor and adjacent non-tumor tissue (NTA) at baseline and following induction treatment with either paclitaxel/carboplatin (PC) alone or PC + pembrolizumab (NCT02998268 clinicaltrials.gov). These biopsies were subjected to scRNAseq analysis using the 10X genomics platform. scRNAseq data from 65,538 individual cells isolated from 17 baseline endoscopic EAC tumor biopsies revealed dozens of cell populations that largely grouped into 9 different clusters. Across all the baseline tumor samples assessed, epithelial (47.8%), keratinocytes (9.9%), and endothelial cells (9.8%) were the most abundant cell populations, consistent with tumor architecture in vivo. Among the immune cells (20% of the total), B cells (7.1%), T cells (6.9%) and Monocytes (2.2%) were the most abundant tumor-associated cell populations. We further assessed matched baseline and on-treatment biopsies (n=10) from six patients that received PC and four patients that received PC + pembrolizumab. We saw a significant reduction in tumor epithelial cells upon treatment in both arms suggesting effectiveness of treatment (P Our study demonstrates that scRNAseq provides a rich description of the TIME with significant value for clinical trials. The TIME of EAC is complex, largely immunosuppressive, and chemotherapy with, or without, pembrolizumab is associated with significant unique alterations in TIME. We are currently investigating differences in TIME composition between tumor and NTAs to better understand the components that contribute to tumor growth. Citation Format: Prashant V. Thakkar, Sandipto Sarkar, Chao Zhang, Dina Elmonshed, Emma Futamura, Doron Betel, Manish A. Shah. Single cell RNA sequencing of esophageal adenocarcinoma before and after chemotherapy alone and with pembrolizumab identifies novel tumor immune microenvironment alterations [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 975.
Local Recurrence Following Total Marrow Radiation: Implications for Clinical Target Delineation.

Total marrow radiation is an emerging treatment modality used in patients undergoing stem cell transplantation. We present a rare case of a patient undergoing total marrow irradiation with concurrent ablative stem cell transplantation with local failures in two out-of-field areas that were not included in the clinical target volume A 31-year-old female patient initially presented with abdominal pain secondary to chronic myelogenous leukemia. She underwent dasatinib treatment for years, but subsequently developed recurrence and underwent consolidation systemic chemotherapy followed by allogeneic stem cell transplantation with adjuvant total marrow irradiation. Several months later, she noticed increased left jaw swelling and dysphagia with associated right ankle swelling. Biopsy of the right ankle and left mandible were consistent with recurrent myeloid sarcoma. This case report suggests that inclusion of the mandible and lower extremities may be necessary when performing total marrow radiation.
Ratiometric Thermometry Using Thermochromic Tb3+:Mn4+:Na4Mg(WO4)3 Phosphors.

The utility of Tb3+:Mn4+:Na4Mg(WO4)3 phosphors as ratiometric luminescent thermometers in the 200-450 K temperature range is demonstrated. Targeted substitution of Tb3+ for Na+ and Mn4+ for Mg2+ yields phosphors of formula Na4-12xTb4xMg1-2yMny(WO4)3. UV excitation of the Na4Mg(WO4)3 host results in green emission from terbium (544 nm) and red emission from manganese (682 nm). Differential thermal quenching of these emissions renders Na3.976Tb0.008Mg0.990Mn0.005(WO4)3 thermochromic between 78 and 450 K, with an orange-to-green color change that is particularly noticeable above 200 K. As a result, this phosphor serves as a ratiometric and colorimetric thermometer between 200 and 450 K. Quantitative assessment of its performance yields a maximum relative sensitivity of 2.5 × 10-2 K-1 at 375 K, along with a resolution of 0.5 K and a repeatability of 98%. These findings highlight the versatility of Na4Mg(WO4)3 as a platform to realize luminescent thermometers via targeted aliovalent substitutions.
A complexity chasm for solving sparse polynomial equations over p-adic fields: extended abstract

The applications of solving systems of polynomial equations are legion: The real case permeates all of non-linear optimization as well as numerous problems in engineering. The p-adic case leads to many classical questions in number theory, and is close to many applications in cryptography, coding theory, and computational number theory. As such, it is important to understand the complexity of solving systems of polynomial equations over local fields. Furthermore, the complexity of solving structured systems --- such as those with a fixed number of monomial terms or invariance with respect to a group action --- arises naturally in many computational geometric applications and is closely related to a deeper understanding of circuit complexity (see, e.g., [8]). Clearly, if we are to fully understand the complexity of solving sparse polynomial systems, then we should at least be able to settle the univariate case, e.g., classify when it is possible to separate and approximate roots in deterministic time polynomial in the input size.
Movin’ on up? A Survey Experiment on Mobility Enhancing Policies

We use a nationwide survey experiment in the United States to measure whether information on intergenerational economic mobility or policy-specific arguments influence support for six pro-mobility policies advocated by political entrepreneurs. We find the information treatments do not affect support, but the argument treatments significantly increase support for three of the policies. We also include a behavioral measure by allowing respondents the opportunity to write their U.S. Senators. We find argument treatments significantly increase the likelihood that letters address economic mobility and significantly promote advocacy for that policy in the letter, but no increase in advocacy from the information treatments.
Revisiting the plastic number theory from the perspective of perceptual psychology

Architect Hans van der Laan spent his lifetime studying human perception of proportion. His work led to the development of the plastic number system. In this system every step represents a group of...
National Trends in Out-of-Pocket Costs Among U.S. Adults With Diabetes Aged 18-64 Years: 2001-2017.

OBJECTIVE To assess national trends in out-of-pocket (OOP) costs among adults aged 18–64 years with diabetes in the U.S. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Using data from the 2001–2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, we estimated total per person annual OOP costs (insurance premiums, prescription drug costs, inpatient and outpatient deductibles, copays, and other payments not covered by insurance) and high OOP cost rate, defined as the percentage of people with OOP spending >10% of their family’s pretax income. We examined trends overall, by subgroup (insurance type, income level, insulin use, size of patient’s employer, and whether the patient was enrolled in a high deductible health plan), and by type of service. Changes in trends were identified using joinpoint analysis; costs were adjusted to 2017 U.S. dollars. RESULTS From 2001 to 2017, OOP costs decreased 4.3%, from $4,328 to $4,139, and the high OOP cost rate fell 32%, from 28 to 19% (P CONCLUSIONS OOP costs among U.S. nonelderly adults with diabetes declined, especially among those least able to afford them. Future studies may explore factors contributing to the decline in OOP costs and the impact on the quality of diabetes care and complication rates.
The effect of feeding high concentrations of cholecalciferol, phytase or the combination on broiler chicks and laying hens fed various concentrations of nonphytate phosphorus

ix CHAPTER 1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1 Literature Cited 4 CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW 6 Introduction 6 Cholecalciferol effect on broilers 11 Cholecalciferol effect on layers 18 Conclusions 22 Literature Cited 23 CHAPTER 3. THE EFFECTS OF FEEDING HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF CHOLECALCIFEROL, PHYTASE OR THE COMBINATION ON BROILER CHICKS FED VARIOUS CONCENTRATIONS OF NONPHYTATE PHOSPHORUS 28 Abstract 28 Introduction 29 Materials and Methods 30 General Procedure 30 Experiment 1 33 Experiment 2 33 Results and Discussion 34 Experiment 1 34 Experiment 2 36 Literature Cited 39