cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The biological activity of some siderochrome derivatives.

Abstract Semisynthetic derivatives of natural trihydroxamic acid iron chelates, or siderochromes, have been prepared and tested for biological activity. The activity of these compounds as growth factors for Arthrobacter JG-9 or as antagonists to the siderochrome antibiotic, albomycin, is relatively unaffected by structural alteration. However, their ability to function as ferric ionophores for the fungus, Ustilago sphaerogena , is very sensitive to minor structural variations. Branching at the β-position of the hydroxamate acyl function leads to loss of all biological activity.
Modelling of factor Xa-inhibitor complexes: a computational flexible docking approach.

In order to understand the structural basis of Factor Xa (FXa) specificity, structural complexes of FXa with its synthetic inhibitors are determined using a computational docking approach. The AutoDock suite of programs is used to determine the binding modes of the synthetic inhibitors such as 3- and 4-amidinobenzylphenyl ether (ABP), amidinophenyl pyruvic acid (APPA), diamidinobenzofuranyl ethene (DABE), and DX-9065a 2-(5′-amidino-2′-benzofuranyl)-3-(7′amidino-2′-napthyl)-propionic acid (ABAP) to FXa. The synthetic inhibitors docked in the present study are different in size, nature of linkage, and properties. Two sets of simulations were carried out for synthetic inhibitors docking to FXa. In the first set of simulations, no explicit water molecules were included. In the second set of simulations two explicit solvent molecules were considered. In all the computationally predicted synthetic inhibitor complexes of FXa, the specificity pocket residue Asp-189 is involved in hydrogen bonding with the bound inhibitor. The active site water molecule WAT522 is involved in hydrogen bonding with all the bound inhibitors. The computed energies clearly discriminate the high affinity from low affinity binders. Proteins 1999;34:173–183. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Performance goals: The moderating roles of context and achievement orientation

Abstract Past research has yielded mixed findings for performance achievement goals. To help resolve this inconsistency, two experiments explored the moderating role of context and individual differences in achievement orientation. Participants in Study 1 pursued either a performance goal or no goal while solving enjoyable puzzles. They did so within either an evaluative or non-evaluative context, and received positive feedback after task completion. Results show that performance goals did not affect performance on the puzzles and undermined interest only when pursued within evaluative contexts by people low in achievement orientation. Study 2 replicated Study 1 and extended it by manipulating outcome feedback valence. Negative feedback given in an evaluative context undermined interest for people high in achievement orientation, but had no effect on those low in achievement orientation. The findings are related to classic achievement motivation findings and current approach–avoidant models of achievement goal theory.
Polarization-independent tunable spectral slicing filter in Ti:LiNbO_3

A two-port polarization-independent tunable spectral slicing filter at the 1530 nm wavelength regime is presented. The design utilizes an asymmetric interferometer with a sparse index grating along its arms. The sparse grating makes it possible to select equally spaced frequency channels from an incident WDM signal and to place nulls between them to coincide with the signal comb frequency. The number of selected channels and nulls between them depends on the number of coupling regions used in the sparse grating. The free spectral range depends on the spacing between the coupling regions. The Z-transform method is used to synthesize the filter and determine the spectral response. The operation of a device with six coupling regions is demonstrated, and good agreement with theoretical predictions is obtained. A 3 dB bandwidth of ∼1 nm and thermal tuning over a range of ∼13 nm are measured.
Foam Counter-current Chromatography: New Foam Separation Technique with Flow-Through Coil Planet Centrifuge

Abstract Under a rotating centrifugal force field, foams are created within a long fine coiled tube to carry foam active materials through the solvent trapped in each turn of the coil. Rhodamine B introduced at 1 ppm was almost entirely recovered at 620 ppm. High-speed chromatographic separation is possible with a small amount of sample.
Do Regions Matter? Regional Differences in Female Labour-Market Participation in Germany:

Over the last twenty years, fundamental changes have taken place in the structure of employment in the highly developed countries. In particular, the number of jobs in manufacturing has decreased, but service employment has increased considerably. This has been associated with an increase in the number of women in paid work, as well as with regional shifts in growth and decline. However, despite these fundamental changes, in Germany the pattern of female labour-market participation has, in contrast, been stable over the last 100 years. The authors aim to develop an explanation for this contrast.Labour-market analysis does not provide an adequate explanation, for there is no simple relation between female participation in employment and the presence or absence of typical ‘female’ jobs. Rather, explanations lie outside the remit of current labour-market explanations. To this end the authors examine regional differences in the ‘modernisation’ of life-styles since industrialisation in the nineteenth century. ...
Epstein-Barr virus promotes interferon-α production by plasmacytoid dendritic cells

Objective Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection has been linked to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), as demonstrated by the presence of increased seroprevalence and elevated viral loads, but the mechanism of this linkage has not been elucidated. Increased interferon-α (IFNα) levels and signatures, which are associated with innate immune responses, have been found in patients with SLE. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs) are innate immune cells that mediate viral immunity by producing large quantities of IFNα, but the role they play during infection with EBV remains unclear. To address this issue, we investigated the ability of EBV to promote IFNα production by PDCs in healthy subjects. Methods Human PDCs were sorted and cultured in the presence of EBV, EBV-encoded RNA, and EBV double-stranded DNA. IFNα production by PDCs was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, with the activation of these cells measured by flow cytometry. Results We found that EBV DNA and RNA promoted IFNα production by human PDCs through engagement of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR-9) and TLR-7, respectively, with the initial viral recognition by PDCs mediated by binding to class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. Conclusion These data demonstrate that class II MHC–specific engagement by virus, with subsequent viral nucleic acid recognition, mediates IFNα production by PDCs. Our results suggest that elevated levels of IFNα found in SLE patients may be a result of aberrantly controlled chronic viral infection.
A 22nm dynamically adaptive clock distribution for voltage droop tolerance

A 22nm all-digital dynamically adaptive clock distribution mitigates the impact of high-frequency supply voltage (VCC) droops on microprocessor performance and energy efficiency. Silicon measurements demonstrate simultaneous throughput gains and energy reductions ranging from 14% and 3% at 1.0V to 31% and 15% at 0.6V, respectively, for a 10% V CC droop.
The thermal decomposition of diimide in the gas phase: Kinetics and stoichiometry

The kinetics and stoiehiometry of the decomposition of N2H2 and N2D2 have been studied as a function of sample size, pressure, and temperature. The reaction follows a single first order kinetic expression over most of its time course. It is suggested that the rate-determining step in the mechanism is a first-order homogeneous gas-phase isomerization of trans-diimide with rate constants:k = 1.8 exp (-4.2 kcal/mol/RT) sec−1 and k = 1 exp (-4.4 kcal/mol/RT) sec−1. The detailed mechanism of this isomerization, however, is not evident. At temperatures above room temperature, self-heating has been observed which leads to an initial fast decay. At room temperature the reaction exhibits autocatalysis with the rate increasing as the reaction proceeds. This has been attributed to enhancement by a surface decay process involving adsorbed hydrazine. The only significant products from the decomposition of N2H2 are N2, H2, and N2H4, and the results are interpreted in terms of two parallel reactions: The decomposition of N2D2 occurs almost completely by the single reaction giving N2 + N2D4. No azide formation has been detected from either N2D2, or N2D2, and limits have been put on the yield of ammonia. Extinction coefficients at 365 nm of 3.9 ± 0.2 for N2H2 and 3.3 ± 0.1 for N2D2 have been measured. Both the rate of decay and the stoichiometry of products show pressure dependence below 150 torr, and this is suggested to be due to direct decomposition of cis-N2H2 on the surface.
The polymerase chain reaction in transfusion medicine

PCR is a sensitive and powerful diagnostic and research tool. Its diagnostic applications in infectious disease, genetics, and cancer will play a prominent role in transfusion medicine in the next several years. However, the indirect effect of PCR on transfusion medicine in terms of increasing our understanding of disease mechanisms and the development of therapeutic agents will be even greater.
Adaptation in Speech Motor Control

Human subjects are known to adapt their motor behavior to a shift of the visual field brought about by wearing prism glasses over their eyes. We have studied the analog of this effect in speech. Using a device that can feedback transformed speech signals in real time, we exposed subjects to alterations of their own speech feedback. We found that speakers learn to adjust their production of a vowel to compensate for feedback alterations that change the vowel's perceived phonetic identity; moreover, the effect generalizes across consonant contexts and to different vowels.
Predictors of the Successful Completion of a Biology College Course with a Laboratory Component

This study suggests guidelines that predict the success of students in a college level introductory biology class with a laboratory component before the beginning of such course. An empirical analysis of academic credentials, such as transcripts and degree audits, prior to taking the course, is the basis of this study. In addition to personal motivation and interest, elements that cannot be measured scientifically, Grade Point Average (GPA), and previously completed science and mathematics courses, as well as a measure of the number of semesters between prerequisites and lab courses, are key elements to the successful completion. Students with higher GPAs and previously completed science and mathematics courses do better in a biology course with a laboratory component.
Criterion-Related Validity of the Least Preferred Co-Worker Measure

Summary Research on the cognitive complexity interpretation of the Least Preferred Co-worker (LPC) measure has failed to determine whether high or low groups are more cognitively complex. Additionally, prior works seldom explore the relationship between the LPC and related cognitive domains such as attitudes toward co-workers. Findings from a multistage sample of 2083 work supervisors illustrated that high and low, rather than moderate, LPC groups were more cognitively complex. This complexity was predictive of complexity of responses on the Trust in Recovered Alcoholic Scale. These findings suggest a curvilinear relationship between LPC scores and cognitive complexity.
CuPIDS: An exploration of highly focused, co-processor-based information system protection

The Co-Processing Intrusion Detection System (CuPIDS) project explores improving information system security through dedicating computational resources to system security tasks in a shared resource, multi-processor (MP) architecture. Our research explores ways in which this architecture offers improvements over the traditional uni-processor (UP) model of security. One approach we examined has a protected application running on one processor in a symmetric multi-processing (SMP) system while a shadow process specific to that application runs on a different processor. The shadow process monitors the application process' activity, ready to respond immediately if the application violates policy. Experiments with a prototype CuPIDS system demonstrate the feasibility of this approach in the context of a self-protecting and self-healing system. An untuned prototype supporting fine-grained protection of the real-world application WU-FTP resulted in less than a 15% slowdown while demonstrating CuPIDS' ability to quickly detect illegitimate behavior, raise an alarm, automatically repair the damage done by the fault or attack, allow the application to resume execution, and export a signature for the activity leading up to the error.
Separation and Characterization of Respirable Amphibole Fibers from Libby, Montana

The vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana, was in operation for over 70 yr and was contaminated with asbestos-like amphibole fibers. The mining, processing, and shipping of this vermiculite led to significant fiber inhalation exposure throughout the community, and residents of Libby have developed numerous pulmonary diseases such as lung cancer and mesothelioma. The present study describes the separation of Libby 6-mix into respirable and nonrespirable size fractions by means of aqueous elutriation. The elutriator, designed to separate fibers with aerodynamic diameters smaller than 2.5 µ m( respirable) from larger fibers, used an upward flow rate of 3.4 × 10 −4 cm s −1 . The resultant respirable fraction constituted only 13% of the raw Libby 6-mix mass, and less than 2% of the fibers in the elutriated fraction had aerodynamic diameters exceeding 2.5 µm. Surface area of the elutriated fibers was 5.3 m −2 g −1 , compared to 0.53 m −2 g −1 for the raw fibers. There were no detectable differences in chemical composition between the larger and smaller fibers. Such harvesting of respirable fractions will allow toxicological studies to be conducted within a controlled laboratory setting, utilizing fiber sizes that may more accurately simulate historical exposure of Libby residents’ lungs. Importantly, this work describes a method that allows the use of material enriched in more uniform respirable material than raw Libby 6-mix, making comparisons with other known fiber preparations more valid on a mass basis.
Vascular changes in Iowa-type hereditary cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

: Vascular dysfunction due to cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) may contribute to cognitive impairment. The Iowa D694N amyloid precursor protein mutation, a recently identified cause of hereditary CAA with dementia, offers an opportunity to explore the anatomic basis of CAA-related vascular dysfunction. Examination by immunolabeling and confocal microscopy demonstrated extensive loss of smooth muscle cells in affected segments as well as a perivascular inflammatory reaction of astrocytes and microglia. On 3-D reconstruction, vessels appeared tortuous with twiglike projections that may represent areas of vascular degeneration. The observed changes in the Iowa brain suggest pathophysiologic mechanisms for vascular dysfunction in CAA and possible approaches to treatment of CAA-related cognitive impairment.
The G(1) cyclin Cln3 promotes cell cycle entry via the transcription factor Swi6.

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae (budding yeast), commitment to cell division in late G1 is promoted by the G1 cyclin Cln3 and its associated cyclin-dependent kinase, Cdc28. We show here that all known aspects of the function of Cln3 in G1 phase, including control of cell size, pheromone sensitivity, cell cycle progress, and transcription, require the protein Swi6. Swi6 is a component of two related transcription factors, SBF and MBF, which are known to regulate many genes at the G1-S transition. The Cln3-Cdc28 complex somehow activates SBF and MBF, but there was no evidence for direct phosphorylation of SBF/MBF by Cln3-Cdc28 or for a stable complex between SBF/MBF and Cln3-Cdc28. The activation also does not depend on the ability of Cln3 to activate transcription when artificially recruited directly to a promoter. The amino terminus and the leucine zipper of Swi6 are important for the ability of Swi6 to respond to Cln3 but are not essential for the basal transcriptional activity of Swi6. Cln3-Cdc28 may activate SBF and MBF indirectly, perhaps by phosphorylating some intermediary protein.
Managing Crohn disease in children and adolescents : focus on tumor necrosis factor antagonists.

Crohn disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by a relapsing course and variable presentation that often includes abdominal pain, diarrhea, and fatigue. CD frequently presents during childhood, resulting in pediatric-specific complications, such as growth failure and delayed puberty. Conventional drug therapy for moderate to severe pediatric CD includes induction of remission with corticosteroids, and maintenance of remission with immunomodulators. Patients who have an inadequate response to standard therapy are being increasingly treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) agents. Infliximab has been the most widely studied anti-TNFα agent in pediatric CD, and has been shown to be efficacious in this condition. Adalimumab has been proven to be efficacious in adults with CD, but there has been only a single case report in children. CDP571 has been tested in 20 children with CD, showing some efficacy. Finally, thalidomide therapy has been associated with improvement in two small case series. Toxicities of these agents include infusion reactions, infections, malignancies, neurologic disorders, and hematologic derangements.
An integrated low-voltage class AB CMOS OTA

We present a new circuit topology for a low-voltage class AB amplifier. The circuit shows superior current efficiency in the use of the supply current to charge and discharge the output load. It uses negative feedback rather than component matching to optimize current efficiency and performance, resulting in a current boost ratio exactly equal to one. Measurement results for an example circuit fabricated in a 2-/spl mu/m CMOS process are given. The circuit uses a quiescent supply current of 0.2 /spl mu/A and is able to settle to a 1% error in 1.1 ms for a 0.4-V input step and a load capacitance of 35 pF. The circuit design is straightforward and modular, and the core circuit can be used to replace the differential pair of other op-amp topologies.
Use of the novel hemostatic textile Stasilon ® to arrest refractory retroperitoneal hemorrhage: a case report

Stasilon® is a novel hemostatic woven textile composed of allergen-free fibers of continuous filament fiberglass and bamboo yarn. The development of this product resulted from controlled in vitro thrombogenic analysis of an array of potentially hemostatic textile materials and it has been cleared for both external and internal use by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the arrest of hemorrhage. The goal of the study was to assess the hemostatic and adhesive properties of Stasilon® in the setting of life-threatening refractory hemorrhage. A 39-year-old Caucasian man presented with severe necrotic pancreatitis that failed multiple aggressive attempts to control associated bleeding with electrocautery, suture ligation, and sequential anatomic packing with cotton-based sponges. Subsequent retroperitoneal packing with Stasilon® produced a non-adherent wound-dressing interface and resulted in the achievement of persistent hemostasis in the operative field. In our patient, Stasilon® was demonstrated to be effective in the arrest of refractory hemorrhage.
Imaging Structural Properties Of Soft Tissues Using Ultrasound

We are developing methods to estimate and image structural properties of soft tissues. The basis for our methods are measurements of acoustic backscatter coefficients. From the backscatter coefficients four parameters are estimated and displayed in images. The ability to image independent physical properties of the tissue provides more descriptive information than a B-mode image which combines these properties.
FATHERING IS A FEMINIST ISSUE

Feminist theory has not yet addressed the ways in which the ideology of fatherhood has contributed to interlocking inequalities for women in both the workplace and family life. This paper is an eff...
Pox and plumage coloration in the house finch : A critique of Zahn and Rothstein

Documenting effects and then establishing their causes lie at the heart of scientific investigation. In a recent study, Zahn and Rothstein (1999) presented evidence that the mean plumage redness of male House Finches (Carpodacus mexicanus) in coastal California has decreased over the last 100 years. They then argued that the sole cause of that change in plumage redness was an increased incidence of infection with avian pox. Finally, they looked at current geographic variation in mean male plumage redness and argued that the observed patterns were the result of differential exposure to a pox virus. Unfortunately, the authors did a poor job of documenting the effects that are the focus of their study, and then they proposed an overly simplistic cause for the purported effects. The House Finch has become a model species for studies of the function and evolution of ornamental
IN VITRO EFFECTS OF HYPOTHALAMIC–PITUITARY–ADRENAL AXIS (HPA) HORMONES ON SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI

The effects of in vitro treatment of cercariae, schistosomula, and adult worms of Schistosoma mansoni with 4 hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hormones are described. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) had the strongest effect on viability. Cercariae were more susceptible to this hormone than schistosomula and adults. Mechanically transformed schistosomula showed 100% mortality (determined microscopically by progressive internal disorganization, development of lucent areas in the cytoplasm, and progressive loss of motility) after 48 hr, whereas physiologically induced schistosomula were more resistant, maintaining viability for up to 5 days of exposure. Males were considerably less sensitive than females to the lethal action of DHEA. When adult worms were paired, DHEA lethality was markedly reduced, with viability beginning to decrease only after 4 days in culture. Cortisol reduced the viability of each of the stages tested about equally. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) did not affect the viability of any stage. DHEA and cortisol significantly inhibited in vitro oviposition, whereas CRH and ACTH did not. DHEA and cortisol exerted their effects on schistosome viability and oviposition in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest possible new avenues for the control of schistosomiasis.
An overview of prodrug technology and its application for developing abuse-deterrent opioids

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified prescription drug abuse and overdose deaths as an epidemic. Prescription drug overdose is now the leading cause of injury death, with rates that have more than doubled since 1999. This crisis has developed concurrently with the increased prescribing and availability analgesic drugs, especially opioids, resulting from an effort on the part of clinicians to address a critical need for improved pain assessment and treatment. Clinicians have recognized that oftentimes, opioid analgesics are one of the few remaining options for patients who suffer with severe pain. A 2015 fact sheet issued by the Office of National Drug Policy stated: "While we must ensure better access to prescription medications to alleviate suffering, it is also vital that we do all we can to reduce the diversion and abuse of pharmaceuticals." The US Food and Drug Administration has issued guidance that encourages the research and development of abuse-deterrent formulation of opioids which have the potential to curtail abuse. Included among the recommended formulations for development of abuse-deterrent opioids are prodrugs. Prodrugs are chemically modified versions of pharmacological agents that must undergo a biochemical conversion following administration, often by enzymatic cleavage, to free the active drug. Prodrugs may be inherently abuse-deterrent because they are inactive or significantly less active until conversion to the active drug. This requirement for conversion in the GI tract can modify the pharmacokinetic profile and eliminate or reduce the euphoria when abusers change the route of administration. Abusers often attempt to extract the active drug for injection or insufflation. Prodrugs can be designed to be resistant to crushing or dissolving. In this article, we review the concept of prodrugs and introduce and examine the potential of abuse-deterrent opioid prodrugs.
Nursing Care During Staged Reconstruction

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is often diagnosed in the prenatal period by echocardiography, but may not be recognized until after birth. Whether parents are expecting their infant to be admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) immediately following birth, or this occurs after the infant presents with symptoms, this is a very frightening and stressful time for parents. The critical care nurse plays an essential role in providing a safe and supportive environment. Known stressors for parents in an intensive care environment include sights and sounds of the ICU, the physical appearance of the child, procedures performed on the child, staff communication and staff behavior [1]. Organized and systematic preparation for admission of an infant with HLHS helps alleviate some of these parental stressors [2]. The timing of the diagnosis can greatly influence the nursing plan of care.
The Global Broadband Satellite Infrastructure Initiative

This paper describes the GBSI Initiative and analyzes its merit. It compares the GBSI Initiative with two outcome documents -- the "Tunis Commitment" and the "Tunis Agenda for the Information Society" -- that were promulgated at the WSIS2 Summit and subsequently adopted in March 2006 by the UN General Assembly. The paper discusses the extent to which the GBSI Initiative is reflected in these WSIS2 outcome documents. Finally, it assesses the prospects for the GBSI Initiative’s eventual implementation, as well as future directions for ITSO.
Oct2 interaction with Brd4 is a key component of immunoglobulin gene expression

Antibody gene expression is primarily controlled by transcription factors including the B-cell specific factor Oct2. Gene expression is also controlled through epigenetics: heritable, reversible changes, such as histone modifications which alter the ability of other proteins to interact with the DNA rather than to mutations in DNA sequence itself. Brd4 binds to acetylated lysine, including those on histones and helps to activate transcription. We therefore investigated the role of Brd4 in IgG production and the mechanisms involved. We treated the human B cell line CLNH11.4 with the Brd4 inhibitor JQ1(+) and its negative enantiomer JQ1(-) and measured cell viability, proliferation and IgG production. Whilst cell viability was unaffected by JQ1 both proliferation and IgG production were reduced by JQ1(+) but not (-) in a concentration-dependent manner. Transcription of IGKC (light chain) and IGH1G (heavy chain), measured by RT-qPCR, was significantly reduced by JQ1(+) treatment. JQ1(+) did not reduce the protein levels of Brd4 or Oct2 per se but reduced the ability of Brd4 and Oct2 to co-immunoprecipitate. The interaction was due to the presence of acetylated lysine residues on Oct2. Finally we used Chromatin Immunoprecipitation to confirm that JQ1 affected Brd4 and Oct2 binding to Ig gene promoters. Our results indicate that Oct2 contains acetylated lysine residues, which is bound by Brd4. Brd4 in turn is bound to acetylated histones in the immunoglobulin promoter regions and is critical for Oct2 binding. Therefore, Brd4 plays a crucial role regulation B cell specific gene expression and immunoglobulin production.
Emerging trends in molecularly targeted optobeacons for photoacoustic tomographic imaging

In this talk we will discuss the potential of photoacoustic imaging in combination with molecularly targeted contrast agents to detect early, sprouting angiogenic expression and the opportunities for improved recognition of cancer metastases.
STUDIES ON VIRAL INHIBITORS OF BIOLOGICAL ORIGIN. I. INHIBITION OF VIRAL REPLICATION BY PROTEIN-LIKE CONSTITUENTS OF BACTERIA.

SummaryViral inhibitory factors were isolated from several different bacterial species including representatives of both gram negative and positive groups. Two of the factors were found to prevent viral cytopathogenicity even when added as late as 18 hours after viral inoculation. Trypsin sensitivity indicates that these inhibitors are probably proteins. Evidence is presented that viral inhibition appears to occur during the intra-cellular stages of viral replication. Each factor has a sharply specific spectrum of antiviral activity. This specificity of action may reflect blocking of cellular metabolic pathways necessary only for the replication of the virus affected.
Computerized attendance surveillance to reduce absenteeism

Computerized data on absenteeism were used as a basis for employee counseling and disciplinary action, and the effect of this program on absenteeism was assessed. In the pharmacy department of an 1100-bed tertiary-care hospital, a microcomputer program provides weekly print-outs of number of occurrences of absence, reason for absence, and total hours absent for each employee. When an employee is within 10 absent hours or one occurrence of exceeding departmental absenteeism standards, these data are used in informal counseling. If absenteeism standards are exceeded, oral or written warning is given within one week after the violation. Absenteeism among pharmacists and technicians was compared for a 90-day period after implementation of this program and the same period during the year before implementation. The computerized attendance-surveillance program was associated with decreases in the mean number of absence occurrences for both pharmacists and technicians, fewer warnings issued to each group, and an increase in the mean number of hours worked.
What Makes a Good Physical plan?: Experiencing Hardware-Conscious Query Optimization with Candomblé

Query optimization is hard and the current proliferation of "modern" hardware does nothing to make it any easier. In addition, the tools that are commonly used by performance engineers, such as compiler intrinsics, static analyzers or hardware performance counters are neither integrated with data management systems nor easy to learn. This fact makes it (unnecessarily) hard to educate engineers, to prototype and to optimize database query plans for modern hardware. To address this problem, we developed a system called Candomble that lets database performance engineers interactively examine, optimize and evaluate query plans using a touch-based interface. Candomble puts attendants in the place of a physical query optimizer that has to rewrite a physical query plan into a better equivalent plan. Attendants experience the challenges when ad-hoc optimizing a physical plan for processing devices such as GPUs and CPUs and capture their gained knowledge in rules to be used by a rule-based optimizer.
Effects of Sublethal Fungicides on Mutation Rates and Genomic Variation in Fungal Plant Pathogen, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.

Pathogen exposure to sublethal doses of fungicides may result in mutations that may represent an important and largely overlooked mechanism of introducing new genetic variation into strictly clonal populations, including acquisition of fungicide resistance. We tested this hypothesis using the clonal plant pathogen, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Nine susceptible isolates were exposed independently to five commercial fungicides with different modes of action: boscalid (respiration inhibitor), iprodione (unclear mode of action), thiophanate methyl (inhibition of microtubulin synthesis) and azoxystrobin and pyraclostrobin (quinone outside inhibitors). Mycelium of each isolate was inoculated onto a fungicide gradient and sub-cultured from the 50–100% inhibition zone for 12 generations and experiment repeated. Mutational changes were assessed for all isolates at six neutral microsatellite (SSR) loci and for a subset of isolates using amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs). SSR analysis showed 12 of 85 fungicide-exposed isolates had a total of 127 stepwise mutations with 42 insertions and 85 deletions. Most stepwise deletions were in iprodione- and azoxystrobin-exposed isolates (n = 40/85 each). Estimated mutation rates were 1.7 to 60-fold higher for mutated loci compared to that expected under neutral conditions. AFLP genotyping of 33 isolates (16 non-exposed control and 17 fungicide exposed) generated 602 polymorphic alleles. Cluster analysis with principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) identified fungicide-exposed isolates as a distinct group from non-exposed control isolates (PhiPT = 0.15, P = 0.001). Dendrograms based on neighbor-joining also supported allelic variation associated with fungicide-exposure. Fungicide sensitivity of isolates measured throughout both experiments did not show consistent trends. For example, eight isolates exposed to boscalid had higher EC50 values at the end of the experiment, and when repeated, only one isolate had higher EC50 while most isolates showed no difference. Results of this support the hypothesis that sublethal fungicide stress increases mutation rates in a largely clonal plant pathogen under in vitro conditions. Collectively, this work will aid our understanding how non-lethal fungicide exposure may affect genomic variation, which may be an important mechanism of novel trait emergence, adaptation, and evolution for clonal organisms.
Distributed-memory fast maximal independent set

The Maximal Independent Set (MIS) graph problem arises in many applications such as computer vision, information theory, molecular biology, and process scheduling. The growing scale of MIS problems suggests the use of distributed-memory hardware as a cost-effective approach to providing necessary compute and memory resources. Luby proposed four randomized algorithms to solve the MIS problem. All those algorithms are designed focusing on shared-memory machines and are analyzed using the PRAM model. These algorithms do not have direct efficient distributed-memory implementations. In this paper, we extend two of Luby's seminal MIS algorithms, "Luby(A)" and "Luby(B)," to distributed-memory execution, and we evaluate their performance. We compare our results with the "Filtered MIS" implementation in the Combinatorial BLAS library for two types of synthetic graph inputs.
Simulation of a Distributed Cathode in a Linear-Format Crossed-Field Amplifier

The effects of a distributed cathode in a linear-format crossed-field amplifier are simulated in VSim and analyzed. A linear-format, injected-beam, 150-MHz, low-power (~100 W), moderate-gain (7 dB), meander-line crossed-field amplifier (CFA) designed and tested at Northeastern University is used as the basis for the simulation model. The simulation results were validated by the experimental results from that CFA. The injected-beam model was then replaced with a distributed cathode requiring electron injection with an energy below the sole electrode. A new method, which uses a divergence-free region, was developed to simulate this distributed cathode. This model was validated and studied using three different current injection profiles. The distributed cathode offered no improvements to gain or the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Increasing the cathode area lowers the noise but is counteracted by the corresponding decrease in gain. The limits to the gain in this particular device are due to the current space charge limit for the higher power operation and the SNR for the lower power operation.
Charge- and Size-Complementary Multimetal-Induced Morphology and Phase Control in Zeolite-Type Metal Chalcogenides

Zeolite-type chalcogenides are desirable due to their integration between porosity and semiconductivity. CPM-120, with super-sodalite topology (Zeolite Structure Code: RWY), is among the few zeolite-type chalcogenides with permanent porosity, and is the only chalcogenide with a zeolite code. Importantly, the RWY-type has evolved into a platform for studying properties of porous chalcogenides. Yet so far, few studies have been made to probe the effects of synthetic parameters and framework compositions on this platform. Here, we probe the effects of the third metal type (Ga3+ , In3+ , Cd2+ , and Sn4+ ) on the Zn2+ /Ge4+ /S2- platform. We find that charge-complementary and size-compatible Ga3+ leads to the synthesis of CPM-120-ZnGaGeS which is the first trimetallic zeolite-type chalcogenide, with improved crystal morphology and reproducibility. We also find that charge-compatible and size-complementary cations (Cd2+ or Sn4+ ) can induce an abrupt phase transition from super-sodalite to super-diamond, also with unprecedented trimetallic T2 clusters. For In3+ , which is dual-complementary (charge and size), a gradual phase transition is observed with increasing In3+ amount. Furthermore, by controlling the cluster composition, tunable band gaps can be realized. These materials show promising properties such as high CO2 uptake (4.32 mmol cm-3 , 298 K, 1 bar) and high photocatalytic activity.
Effects of post-training novelty exposure on contextual fear memory: An attempt to translate behavioral tagging to humans

In rodents, poorly formed hippocampal memories can be improved by novelty exploration within a critical time window, in line with the behavioral tagging hypothesis. Here, we sought to establish an analogue protocol to investigate if novelty exploration similarly operates to rescue weak hippocampal-dependent memories in humans. Adult humans underwent suboptimal contextual fear conditioning, followed 10 minutes later by open field novelty exploration in immersive 3D virtual reality. Novelty exploration did not improve long-term contextual fear memory, contrary to a behavioral tagging hypothesis. Despite this null result, we suggest further attempts to translate behavioral tagging from rodents to humans is warranted.
Adoption of a Urologic Oncology Perioperative Surgical Home Is Associated with Decreased Total Length of Stay: A Pilot Study

AbstractIntroduction:Urologists partnered with anesthesiologists to implement a model of perioperative and postoperative care known as the multidisciplinary perioperative surgical home in order to ...
600.11 Reconstructive Modeling to Identify Patients At-Risk for Coronary Occlusion Still Eligible for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is comparable to surgical valve replacement for most patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis. Low coronary arteries or narrow sinus of Valsalva (SOV) can preclude patients. We report our experience with advanced modeling in patients with the potential
Defexts: a curated dataset of reproducible real-world bugs for modern JVM languages

Software engineering studies, such as bug detection, localization, repair, and prediction, often require benchmark bug datasets for their experiments. Few publicly available reproducible bug datasets exist for research consumption. Such datasets which publicly exist tend to be applicable exclusively towards the most popular traditional programming languages (e.g., Defects4J for Java and CoreBench for C). Thus, the creation and widespread usage of bug datasets for other popular modern JVM (Java Virtual Machine) programming languages serve to provide vital resources for software engineering research. This paper introduces Defexts, a family of bug datasets currently containing child datasets for Kotlin (DefextsKotlin) and Groovy (DefextsGroovy). Each dataset contains reproducible real-world bugs and their corresponding patches scraped from real-world projects. Our introductory versions of DefextsKotlin and DefextsGroovy include 225 Kotlin and 301 Groovy bugs and patches. As development of Defexts continues, we aim to include other JVM languages, notably Scala. A video demonstration of Defexts is located at following link: https://youtu.be/lenYcVzRGGQ
A Micro-Synthetic Jet in a Microchannel Using Bubble Growth and Collapse

Abstract A concept to power micro synthetic jets using bubble growth and collapse is introduced and studied over a range of operating frequencies (0.1–2.5 Hz) and heating powers (3–4.5 W). The microfluidic device has no moving parts and uses the interfacial layer between the vapor and liquid phases which substitutes the requirement for a physical flexible membrane. A micro heater inside a chamber (3.5 mm in radius and a height of 220 µm) was connected to a main microchannel through a nozzle with a 300 µm opening. Periodically powering the micro-heater triggered bubble explosion and implosion in the chamber, which in turn generated the synthetic jet. Sequential images of bubble nucleation, growth and collapse were captured using high-speed camera photography and a microscope. A momentum coefficient was used to characterize the synthetic jet. It was found that its average value exceeds unity for a large range of operating frequencies suggesting that this synthetic jet can improve the performance of a range of micro-system performance, such as micro-mixing in microfluidic devices.
Overview and Understanding of Allergic Reactions and Allergic Disease

Allergic disease refers to a broad collection of disorders that span multiple organ systems and differentially affect patients based on age. The typical progression of these diseases is called the “atopic march,” starting with atopic dermatitis and food allergy at a young age and later development of asthma and allergic rhinitis (hay fever). Anaphylaxis and allergic skin diseases are also common. Allergic diseases represent an increasing burden to society. Approximately 25% of the population in industrialized countries suffers from one of these disorders, and the prevalence continues to rise. Allergic rhinitis alone affects 13% of children and 14% of adults in the United States with an estimated direct and indirect cost of $7–8 billion annually. Allergic diseases can also affect sleep, with allergic rhinitis being the most common allergic disease that contributes to decreased sleep quality due to nasal airway obstruction. In this chapter, we discuss the mechanisms of allergic diseases.
Interaction of physical training and chronic nitroglycerin treatment on blood pressure and plasma oxidant/antioxidant systems in rats.

Many individuals with cardiovascular diseases undergo periodic physical conditioning with or without medication. Therefore, this study investigated the interaction of exercise training and chronic nitroglycerin treatment on blood pressure (BP) and alterations in nitric oxide (NO), glutathione (GSH), antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation in rats. Fisher 344 rats were divided into four groups: (1) sedentary control, (2) exercise training for 8 weeks, (3) nitroglycerin (15 mg/kg, s.c. for 8 weeks) and (4) training + nitroglycerin for 8 weeks. BP, heart rate (HR) and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were monitored weekly for 8 weeks using tail-cuff method and oxygen/carbon dioxide analyzer, respectively. The animals were sacrificed 24 h after last treatments and plasma isolated and analyzed using HPLC, ELISA and UV-VIS spectrophotometric techniques. The results show that exercise conditioning significantly enhanced NO production (p < 0.001), GSH levels (p < 0.001), GSH/GSSG ratio (p < 0.05) and the up-regulation of the activities of catalase (CAT) (p < 0.05), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (p < 0.001), and glutathione reductase (GR) (p < 0.05), and depression of lactate levels (p < 0.001) in the plasma of the rat. These biochemical changes were accompanied by a significant increase in RER (p < 0.001) without a significant change in BP and HR. Chronic nitroglycerin administration significantly increased NO levels (p < 0.05), GSH levels (p < 0.001), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (p < 0.05), GST activity (p < 0.05), and decreased MDA levels (p < 0.05). These biochemical changes were accompanied by a significant decrease in BP (p < 0.05) and without any significant changes in HR and RER. Interaction of exercise training and chronic nitroglycerin treatment resulted in normalization of plasma NO, MDA, lactate levels, and CAT activity. The combination of exercise and nitroglycerin significantly enhanced GSH levels (p < 0.05), and the up-regulation of SOD (p < 0.001), GSH-Px (p < 0.05), GR (p < 0.05) and GST (p < 0.001) activities. These biochemical changes were accompanied by normalization of BP and a significant increased in RER (p < 0.001). The data suggest that the interaction of physical training and chronic nitroglycerin treatment resulted in the maintenance of BP and the up-regulation of plasma antioxidant enzyme activities and GSH levels in the rat.
Ion-induced electron emission reduction via complex surface trapping

A Monte Carlo model is developed and validated to understand the ion-induced electron emission (IIEE) characteristics of complex surfaces and to show the importance of using precise geometric features to examine surface morphology effects on the yield. The decrease in IIEE from carbon velvet is accurately simulated with two distinct geometries (based on SEM images), one composed of slanted, sparsely distributed fibers and the other of tightly packed, vertical fibers. Simulation results for tungsten fuzz using a cagelike geometry predict a reduction in the yield of ∼50% compared to flat W, contradictory to previous estimates. Collisional heatmaps using the cage geometry show that the angular independence of IIEE is due to electron trapping by the horizontally oriented fibers. These insights into the emission behavior of these surfaces provide guidance for the design of new surfaces that can improve the performance of plasma devices.
Blast Risk Assessment of Wood Residential Buildings: West Fertilizer Plant Explosion Case

AbstractTo predict the hazard-induced risks of buildings and infrastructures and assess the losses caused by hazards, the fragility curve method is a common quantitative risk assessment procedure f...
Donut PCR: a rapid, portable, multiplexed, and quantitative DNA detection platform with single-nucleotide specificity

Current platforms for molecular analysis of DNA markers are either limited in multiplexing (qPCR, isothermal amplification), turnaround time (microarrays, NGS), quantitation accuracy (isothermal amplification, microarray, nanopore sequencing), or specificity against single-nucleotide differences (microarrays, nanopore sequencing). Here, we present the Donut PCR platform that features high multiplexing, rapid turnaround times, single nucleotide discrimination, and precise quantitation of DNA targets in a portable, affordable, and battery-powered instrument using closed consumables that minimize contamination. We built a bread-board instrument prototype and three assays/chips to demonstrate the capabilities of Donut PCR: (1) a 9-plex mammal identification panel, (2) a 15-plex bacterial identification panel, and (3) a 30-plex human SNP genotyping assay. The limit of detection of the platform is under 10 genomic copies in under 30 minutes, and the quantitative dynamic range is at least 4 logs. We envision that this platform would be useful for a variety of applications where rapid and highly multiplexed nucleic acid detection is needed at the point of care.