cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Non-normality and the localized control of extended systems

The idea of controlling the dynamics of spatially extended systems using a small number of localized perturbations is very appealing-such a setup is easy to implement in practice. However, when the distance between controllers generating the perturbations becomes large, control fails due to extreme sensitivity of the system to noise. This sensitivity results from strong non-normality of the evolution operator governing the dynamics of disturbances in the controlled system. We investigate how non-normality can arise in an originally normal system and study how the noise amplification depends on the distance between controllers.
Properties of mitochondrial thymidine kinases of parental and enzyme-deficient HeLa cells

Abstract HeLa(BU25), a mutant subline of HeLa S3 cells, contains mitochondrial thymidine (dT) kinase, despite a marked deficiency in the dT kinase activity of the “cytosol” (high-speed supernatant) cell fraction. The HeLa(BU25) mitochondrial dT kinase differs from the “cytosol” enzyme of parental HeLa S3 cells in sedimentation coefficient, ability to utilize ribonucleoside 5′-triphosphates other than ATP as phosphate donors, sensitivity to inhibition by dCTP, and in disc polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic (disc PAGE) patterns. Two dT kinase activities [relative mobilities (Rm) of 0.4 and 0.6–0.7] were detected after disc PAGE of HeLa(BU25) mitochondrial extracts and both activities migrated more rapidly than the typical cytosol enzyme (Rm = 0.2) of dT kinase-positive human cells. The 0.6 to 0.7-Rm dT kinase of HeLa(BU25) mitochondria, but not the 0.4-Rm activity, utilized GTP and UTP, as well as ATP, as phosphate donors. HeLa S3 mitochondrial fractions contained the 0.6–0.7 Rm and the 0.4-Rm activities, and in addition, a “cytosol-like” 0.2-Rm activity. The 0.6 to 0.7-Rm dT kinase of HeLa S3 mitochondria utilized either UTP or ATP as phosphate donors, but the 0.4- and 0.2-Rm dT kinases utilized only ATP. Similarly, the HeLa S3 cytosol dT kinase efficiently utilized ATP, but not UTP, as a phosphate donor.
A three-ring circuit model of the magnetosphere

The magnetosphere is modeled by superimposing a dipole field, a uniform field and a perturbation field due to a simple current system. This current system comprises a ring current in the neutral line of the dipole plus uniform fields, together with vertical currents representing field-aligned currents to the neutral line. The current circuit is closed through two additional ring currents above and below the equatorial plane representing distributed adiabatic perpendicular currents. This system produces many magnetospheric features, among them a magnetopause, bending of magnetic field lines in the anti-solar direction, a magnetotail, and cusps in the day-side of the earth. The objective is to demonstrate that it is not necessary to think of the magnetic field topology as being caused by the flowing plasma carrying field lines. The primary physical problem is to derive the current system from the self-consistent interaction of the solar-wind and magnetospheric plasmas and fields.
The fastcube: a variation on hypercube topology with lower diameter

Abstract This paper presents a class of n-dimensional interconnection topologies with N=2n nodes which we refer to as n-fastcubes. The node degree of the n-fastcube is n and its diameter is ⌈(n+1)/2⌉, which is substantially smaller than that of the same size hypercube. Topological properties as well as several routing algorithms for fastcubes are developed. In addition, a new methodology for the design and analysis of fastcubes is employed. This methodology is based on modeling interconnection networks as finite state automata. The inputs to these particular automata are routing sequences. The routing and embedding algorithms developed in this paper produce routing sequences. The main characteristic of routing sequences is their node independence. A node independent routing sequence, p(H), produces a path between any pair of nodes with the Hamming distance of H. Thus, these sequences can be used, without modification, at any node to establish paths in a fastcube.
Sex Relations and Gender Relations: Understanding Kwoma Conception

An analysis of Kwoma conception theory shows that the Kwoma regard men and women as mutually dependent equals, and that they regard women as the fertile sex that men must capture and keep so as to reproduce their patrilineages. The relationship between men and women is analogous to that between Kwoma and the bush spirits, sikilowas, the true source of all fertility and well-being.
Effects of Load Train Alignment on the Fatigue Failure Characteristics of Unidirectional Graphite/Epoxy Composite Materials

The effect of load train alignment on the fatigue life, remaining strength, and fracture behavior of unidirectional graphite epoxy laminates was studied. Eight-ply, unidirectional graphite/epoxy specimens with a layer of release cloth embedded at the mid plane were examined. The remaining quasi-static strength of specimens containing fatigue damage was relatively unaffected by alignment; however, alignment was found to greatly influence the fatigue life of the specimens, especially at low load levels. Misalignment effects are very evident in the S-N diagram of the laminate. 10 refs.
8 THE USE OF ANNEXIN V MAGNETIC-ACTIVATED CELL SORTING TO SEPARATE APOPTOTIC SPERM FROM THE EJACULATE OF STALLIONS

Magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) has been used successfully in humans to remove apoptotic sperm from the ejaculate. Annexin V-conjugated microbeads recognise sperm with externalized phosphatidylserine, which is considered one of the features of apoptosis, and the labelled sperm is separated by MACS. The goals of the study were to determine if MACS can be used to separate apoptotic sperm from the ejaculate of stallions; and to determine if removal of apoptotic sperm improves the quality of stallion sperm. Our hypothesis was that MACS would improve semen quality by removing apoptotic sperm, resulting in samples with higher motility and viability. Two ejaculates from three different stallions of good fertility were used. Sperm were diluted with Tyrode’s albumin lactate pyruvate (TALP) and incubated with annexin V-conjugated microbeads for 15 min at 37°C. Control samples were incubated in the absence of annexin V microbeads. The suspension was then loaded into the separation column containing iron globes, which were fitted in a magnet (MiniMACS; Miltenyi Biotec Inc., Auburn, CA, USA). The effluent sample containing annexin-negative sperm was collected and then, the column was removed from the magnetic field and rinsed with TALP to collect the annexin-positive cells. Sperm viability, motility, morphology and caspase activation were determined in all three samples: control, annexin-negative, and annexin-positive. Data were evaluated by ANOVA and individual comparisons were performed by Tukey’s hsd test. Significance was set at P < 0.05 and data is presented as means ± SEM (Table 1). The main effect of stallion was significant only for sperm motility parameters. Sperm recovery rate following MACS was 46 ± 3%. In conclusion, the use of MACS was effective in removing apoptotic sperm from the ejaculate. The annexin-positive population displayed a higher proportion of sperm with activated caspases and lower membrane integrity and motility. However, removal of apoptotic sperm from the ejaculate did not improve sperm parameters in the annexin-negative group compared to control group. In addition, sperm morphology was not affected by MACS. Further studies are necessary to determine if MACS could be used successfully to improve sperm quality from subfertile stallions and frozen semen. Table 1.Sperm parameters following annexin V MACS (mean ± SEM) The authors are thankful to Mark Williams at Miltenyi Biotec Inc. for providing supplies; and Dr Ashok Agarwal at The Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, for scientific input.
Regional Sediment Processes, Sediment Supply, and their Impact on the Louisiana Coast

Morang, A.; Rosati, J.D., and King, D.B., 2013. Regional sediment processes, sediment supply, and their impact on the Lousiana coast. In: Brock, J.C.; Barras, J.A., and Williams, S.J. (eds.), Understanding and Predicting Change in the Coastal Ecosystems of the Northern Gulf of Mexico, Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 63, pp. 141–165, Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.
Environmental enrichment of brown capuchins (Cebus apella): behavioral and plasma and fecal cortisol measures of effectiveness.

No consensus exists about the quantity and variety of environmental enrichment needed to achieve an acceptable level of psychological well-being among singly housed primates. Behavioral and plasma and fecal cortisol measures were used to evaluate the effectiveness of four levels of toy and foraging enrichment provided to eight wild-caught, singly housed adult male brown capuchins (Cebus apella). The 16-week-long study comprised six conditions and began with a 4-week-long preexperimental and ended with a 4-week-long postexperimental period during which the subjects were maintained at baseline enrichment levels. During the intervening 8 weeks, the subjects were randomly assigned to a sequence of four 2-week-long experimental conditions: control (baseline conditions), toy (the addition of two plastic toys to each cage), box (access to a foraging box with food treats hidden within crushed alfalfa), and box & toy (the addition of two plastic toys and access to a foraging box). Behavioral responses to changes in enrichment were rapid and extensive. Within-subject repeated-measure ANOVAs with planned post hoc contrasts identified highly significant reductions in abnormal and undesirable behaviors (and increases in normal behaviors) as the level of enrichment increased from control to toy to box to box & toy. No significant behavioral differences were found between the control and pre- and postexperimental conditions. Plasma and fecal cortisol measures revealed a different response to changing enrichment levels. Repeated-measure ANOVA models found significant changes in both these measures across the six conditions. The planned post hoc analyses, however, while finding dramatic increases in cortisol titers in both the pre- and postexperimental conditions relative to the control condition, did not distinguish cortisol responses among the four enrichment levels. Linear regressions among weekly group means in behavioral and cortisol measures (n = 16) found that plasma cortisol was significantly predicted by the proportions of both normal and abnormal behaviors; as the proportion of normal behaviors increased, the plasma cortisol measures decreased. Plasma cortisol weekly group means were also significantly and positively predicted by fecal cortisol weekly group means, but no behavioral measure significantly predicted fecal cortisol weekly group means. In sum, these findings argue strongly that access to a variety of toy and foraging enrichment positively affects behavioral and physiological responses to stress and enhances psychological well-being in singly housed brown capuchins. Am. J. Primatol. 48:49–68, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Is nasogastric tube decompression necessary after major abdominal surgery in children

Nasogastric (NG) decompression has traditionally been used after major abdominal surgery in pediatric patients. This study was designed to determine if NG tubes could be routinely omitted in pediatric patients undergoing major abdominal procedures. Between January 1993 and December 1995, 83 patients had follow-up prospectively without NG decompression after a variety of major abdominal surgeries. NG tubes were inserted for persistent vomiting or abdominal distension. Exclusion criteria included bowel obstruction, intestinal atresia, and perforation of the stomach or duodenum. Ages ranged from 13 days to 22 years. Seventy-four patients (89%) were treated successfully without postoperative NG decompression. There were no cases of pneumonia, wound dehiscence, anastomotic leak, or delay in return of gastrointestinal function. Nine patients required NG tubes for persistent vomiting or abdominal distension. An anastomotic leak developed in one patient after endorectal pull-through. NG decompression is unnecessary after most major abdominal operations in pediatric patients. The endorectal pull-through may represent a group of patients that benefit from routine decompression.
Effect of pentachloronitrobenzene upon egg production, hatchability, and residue accumulation in the tissues of White Leghorn hens☆

Abstract Individual groups of White Leghorn female chickens were fed graded concentrations (0, 10, 50, 100, and 1000 ppm) of pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB), containing hexachlorobenzene (HCB), pentachlorobenzene (PCB), and tetrachloronitrobenzene (TCNB) as contaminants, from 1 day through 35 weeks of age. No concentration of PCNB caused toxic effects or death. Histopathologic examination of 10 organs, including ovaries, failed to reveal abnormalities in either control or treated groups. Onset of egg production was delayed for 1 month, and hatchability of eggs was significantly lower in hens at 1000 ppm PCNB. No embryonic abnormalities were observed. Only small amounts of PCNB and metabolites, pentachloroaniline (PCA) and pentachloro-phenylmethylsulfide (PCMS), were found in eggs. Conversely, HCB and PCB were readily transmitted into eggs. TCNB either was not detected or was present in only trace or finite amounts in eggs. PCNB, contaminates of PCNB (HCB, PCB, and TCNB), and metabolites of PCNB (PCA and PCMS) occurred in the highest concentration in adipose tissue. PCNB was not detectable (
Resistance of body lice to carbaryl.

A strain of body lice, Pediculus humanus humanus L. developed only 4-fold resistance to carbaryl at the LC50 level after being selected with carbaryl for 55 generations. However, by the 71st generation, the resistance jumped to at least 67-fold. The lice also became highly resistant to DDT, but their resistance to lindane decreased. Synergized carbaryl was effective against the carbaryl-resistant strain.
Cervical Spine Injuries and the Return to Football

The literature dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of cervical spine injuries is considerable. Absent, however, are comprehensive criteria or guidelines for permitting or prohibiting return to collusion activities such as tackle football. The purpose of this report is to describe developmental and posttraumatic conditions of the cervical spine as presenting (1) no contraindication, (2) relative contraindication, or (3) an absolute contraindication to continued participation. For the purpose of this discussion, the following guidelines are used: First, no contraindication is a condition where no recognized risk factors are documented in the literature or known on the basis of anecdotal experience; second, relative contraindication is a condition where permitting return to play is predicated on less-than-unequivocally substantiated data regarding risk, as documented in the literature or by anecdotal experience; and, finally, an absolute contraindication is a condition in which recognized risk factors are documented in the literature or known on the basis of experience. The structure and mechanics of the cervical spine enable it to perform 2 important functions: First, it supports and permits multiplan motion of the head; second, it serves as a protective conduit for the spinal cord and cervical nerve roots. Any condition that impedes or prevents the performance of these functions constitutes a contraindication to participation in contact sports. The one overriding principle regarding the return to football or, for that matter, any collusion activity is that the individual be neurologically intact, asymptomatic, and pain-free and have full strength and a full range of cervical motion. The following criteria for return to contact activities in the presence of cervical spine abnormalities or postinjury are intended as guidelines only. Owing to a lack of creditable scientific evidence, they are for the most part predicated on anecdotal experience at best.
Feature-positive discriminations during a spatial-search task with humans

During feature-positive operant discriminations, a conditional cue, X, signals whether responses made during a second stimulus, A, are reinforced. Few studies have examined how landmarks, which can be trained to control the spatial distribution of responses during search tasks, might operate under conditional control. We trained college students to search for a target hidden on a computer monitor. Participants learned that responses to a hidden target location signaled by a landmark (e.g., A) would be reinforced only if the landmark was preceded by a colored background display (e.g., X). In Experiment 1, participants received feature-positive training (+←YB/ XA→+/A−/B−) with the hidden target to the right of A and to left of B. Responding during nonreinforced transfer test trials (XB−/YA−) indicated conditional control by the colored background, and spatial accuracy indicated a greater weighting of spatial information provided by the landmark than by the conditional cue. In Experiments 2a and 2b, the location of the target relative to landmark A was conditional on the colored background (+←YA/ XA→+/ ZB→+/ +←C /A−/B−). At test, conditional control and a greater weighting for the landmark’s spatial information were again found, but we also report evidence for spatial interference by the conditional stimulus. Overall, we found that hierarchical accounts best explain the observed differences in response magnitude, whereas spatial accuracy was best explained via spatial learning models that emphasize the reliability, stability, and proximity of landmarks to a target.
On the analysis and implications of Maori verb alternations

Abstract This paper investigates certain widely-cited facts about the verbal morphology of modern Maori, the relative appropriateness of two different grammatical analyses of these facts, and the possible implications of the Maori data with respect to a number of general issues concerning the evaluation of alternative grammars and the nature and validation of linguistic analyses in general.
Linear modeling and simulation of low-voltage electric system for single-point vulnerability assessment of military installation

This paper describes the formulation and development of a linear model to support the single-point vulnerability assessment of electric distribution systems at existing and future U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) military sites. The model uses flow sensitivity factors to rank candidates for designation as "critical components" and uses triggered cascading line outages to confirm the component's criticality. The model is written in Java and integrated in a package that employs a user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI) for convenient display of results. This paper describes the process used to formulate the model and presents a sample application.
Effects of temperature on somatosensory evoked potentials during open heart surgery

Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) have been found to be useful for early detection of brain ischemia during hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass in cardiac surgery. However, the relationship between temperature and latency period remains unclear. We prospectively analyzed SEPs obtained during hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass in 20 patients who had valvular replacement. We concluded that i) a linear correlation was found between temperature and latency period during cooling and rewarming, ii) no hysteresis effect existed in cooling and rewarming, iii) there was a greater hypothermic effect on the synaptic transmission than on the conduction velocity, and, iv) age had also more profound effect on relationship between temperature and latency of SEPs.
Differential reactivity of the red-and far-red-absorbing forms of phytochrome to [ 14 C] N-ethyl maleimide

The red-absorbing form (P r ) and the far-red absorbing form (P fr ) of undergraded, high-molecular-weight phytochrome from rye (Secale cereale L.) seedlings were examined for their reactivity toward N-ethyl-[14C]maleimide ([14C]-NEM). After pre-treatment of P r with cold NEM and extensive dialysis, photoconversion to P fr and treatment with [14C]NEM resulted in an approximately 70% increase in incorporation of radioactivity over the dark control. These results are discussed in relation to the view that phytochrome undergoes a protein conformational change upon phototransformation.
Rapid strategy for screening by pyrosequencing of influenza virus reassortants--candidates for live attenuated vaccines.

Background Live attenuated influenza vaccine viruses (LAIVs) can be generated by classical reassortment of gene segments between a cold adapted, temperature sensitive and attenuated Master Donor Virus (MDV) and a seasonal wild-type (wt) virus. The vaccine candidates contain hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes derived from the circulating wt viruses and the remaining six genes derived from the MDV strains. Rapid, efficient selection of the viruses with 6∶2 genome compositions from the large number of genetically different viruses generated during reassortment is essential for the biannual production schedule of vaccine viruses. Methodology/Principal Findings This manuscript describes a new approach for the genotypic analysis of LAIV reassortant virus clones based on pyrosequencing. LAIV candidate viruses were created by classical reassortment of seasonal influenza A (H3N2) (A/Victoria/361/2011, A/Ohio/02/2012, A/Texas/50/2012) or influenza A (H7N9) (A/Anhui/1/2013) wt viruses with the MDV A/Leningrad/134/17/57(H2N2). Using strain-specific pyrosequencing assays, mixed gene variations were detected in the allantoic progenies during the cloning procedure. The pyrosequencing analysis also allowed for estimation of the relative abundance of segment variants in mixed populations. This semi-quantitative approach was used for selecting specific clones for the subsequent cloning procedures. Conclusions/Significance The present study demonstrates that pyrosequencing analysis is a useful technique for rapid and reliable genotyping of reassortants and intermediate clones during the preparation of LAIV candidates, and can expedite the selection of vaccine virus candidates.
[Formula: see text]Neuropsychologists' Validity Testing Beliefs and Practices: A Survey of North American Professionals.

Objective: The current study investigated changes in neuropsychologists’ validity testing beliefs and practices since publication of the last North American survey targeting these issues in 2007 and explored emerging issues in validity testing that had not been previously addressed in the professional survey literature. Methods: Licensed North American neuropsychologists (n = 316), who primarily evaluate adults, were surveyed in regard to the following topics: (1) comparison of objective validity testing, qualitative data, and clinical judgment; (2) approaches to validity test administration; (3) formal communication in cases of suspected malingering; (4) reporting of validity test results; (5) suspected causes of invalidity; (6) integration of stand-alone, embedded, and symptom-report validity measures; (7) multiple performance validity test interpretation; (8) research practices; and (9) popularity of specific validity instruments. Results: Overall, findings from the current survey indicated that all bu...
Effects of catalyst and polymerization temperature on the in-situ polymerization of cyclic poly(butylene terephthalate) oligomers for composite applications

The in-situ polymerization at different polymerization temperatures, and the crystallization behavior of cyclic poly(butylene terephthalate) oligomers, using various process-suitable catalysts, are investigated in this paper. The choice of the catalyst has a large effect on the polymer conversion and the time required for polymerization, as studied by light transmittance measurements. The resulting polymer is characterized by GPC for molecular weight and polydispersity and by WAXD and DSC for crystal morphology. SALS is used for in-situ observation of the melt crystallization during polymerization.
The Fractional Morphology and Growth Rate of the Nautilus pompilius: Preliminary Results Based on the R1-Fractional Trigonometry

This paper studies the morphology and evolutionary growth of the Nautilus pompilius based on the fractional R1 -trigonometry. Morphological models based on the fractional trigonometry are shown to be superior to those of the commonly assumed logarithmic spiral. The R1 -trigonometric functions further infer fractional differential equations which, based on power law parametric functions, are used to develop a fractional growth equation modeling evolution from conception to maturity.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Modeling expansion of individual leaves in the potato canopy

A model to simulate expansion of individual leaves in potato (Solanum tuberosum cv. Kennebec) was developed by modifying a growth simulation routine from the model POTATO. Data for model development and testing were obtained from three soil–plant– atmosphere-research (SPAR) chamber experiments. The first experiment (D1) used six SPAR chambers with treatments of 14/10, 17/12, 20/15, 23/18, 28/23, or 34/29 8C day/night temperatures (16 h thermoperiod) at an elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2]) of 740 mmol mol � 1 . Experiment D2 used two SPAR chambers at 23/18 8C at 740 mmol mol � 1 [CO2]. Experiment D3 duplicated the temperature treatments of D1 but at ambient [CO2] (370 mmol mol � 1 ). Potato leaf area expansion was sensitive to air temperature and [CO2]. Maximum individual leaf area values were highest at cooler temperatures and elevated [CO2]. Growth duration, defined as the time interval between leaf appearance and when 99% of final area was attained, was negatively correlated with increasing temperature. Growth duration increased by about 4 days at 14/10 and 34/29 8C at ambient [CO2]. Temperature response and leaf physiological aging functions were developed from D1 and used to modify the existing growth model. D2 and D3 data were used to evaluate the modified model simulations during conditions of non-limited and limited carbohydrate availability. By varying an input to the model that simulates the effect of plant carbohydrate status on leaf expansion, the model was shown to be capable of reproducing leaf growth curves within 8% of the measured final area. The modified leaf expansion model is suitable for integration with existing potato models that simulate canopy leaf appearance. The expansion model provides an approach for coupling plant assimilate, water, and nutrient status with canopy expansion and the new response functions in the model can potentially be modified for use in different crop models. # 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Estimation of surface snow properties using combined millimeter-wave backscatter and near-infrared reflectance measurements

Knowledge of surficial snow properties such as grain size, surface roughness, and free-water content provides clues to the metamorphic state of snow on the ground, which in turn yields information on weathering processes and climatic activity. Remote sensing techniques using combined concurrent measurements of near-infrared passive reflectance and millimeter-wave radar backscatter show promise in estimating the above snow parameters. Near-infrared reflectance is strongly dependent on snow grain size and free-water content, while millimeter-wave backscatter is primarily dependent on free-water content and, to some extent, on the surface roughness. A neural-network based inversion algorithm has been developed that optimally combines near-infrared and millimeter-wave measurements for accurate estimation of the relevant snow properties. The algorithm uses reflectances at wavelengths of 1160 nm, 1260 nm and 1360 nm, as well as co-polarized and cross-polarized backscatter at a frequency of 95 GHz. The inversion algorithm has been tested using simulated data, and is seen to perform well under noise-free conditions. Under noise-added conditions, a signal-to-noise ratio of 32 dB or greater ensures acceptable errors in snow parameter estimation.
Functional-Genomics-Based Identification and Characterization of Open Reading Frames Encoding α-Glucoside-Processing Enzymes in the Hyperthermophilic Archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus

Bioinformatics analysis and transcriptional response information for Pyrococcus furiosus grown on α-glucans led to the identification of a novel isomaltase (PF0132) representing a new glycoside hydrolase (GH) family, a novel GH57 β-amylase (PF0870), and an extracellular starch-binding protein (1,141 amino acids; PF1109-PF1110), in addition to several other putative α-glucan-processing enzymes.
Interpretation and Misinterpretation of Semen Parameters

Semen analysis, which is traditionally used to evaluate male fertility, may be misleading if sample is lost or inadequately mixed. A short or excessive abstinence period may cause a low count or a high count with low motility. Damage from low temperature or delay in evaluation may decrease the reported motility. Computer-assisted semen analysis has eliminated some of the variability and has allowed the evaluation of other sperm motion variables such as sperm velocity, linearity, maximum and mean amplitude lateral head displacement, and beat-cross frequency. These measurements may also occasionally be misleading. Other tests may give a better indication of the function of sperm. The hamster egg penetration test has been used but is technically difficult, and perhaps that is why there is controversy as to the clinical value of the test in predicting subfertile sperm despite normal conventional semen analysis. Some recent data suggest that the hypo-osmotic swelling test, which determines the functional integrity of the sperm membrane, may be the appropriate prognosticator. There is a need for further studies to define the best method to determine whether a male factor is responsible for a couple's infertility.
The role of genetic screening in medullary thyroid cancer: a clinician's view on the recent ATA guidelines

The American Thyroid Association recently released its revised guidelines on the management of medullary thyroid carcinoma. This editorial highlights the American Thyroid Association recommendations on genetic screening for medullary thyroid carcinoma and briefly discusses the future perspectives from the clinician’s standpoint.
Semicontinuous bioreactor production of a recombinant human therapeutic protein using a chemically inducible viral amplicon expression system in transgenic plant cell suspension cultures.

Plant cell culture is an alternative for the production of recombinant human therapeutic proteins because of improved product safety, lower production cost, and capability for eukaryotic post-translational modification. In this study, bioreactor production of recombinant human alpha-1-antitrypsin (rAAT) glycoprotein using a chemically inducible Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) viral amplicon expression system in transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana cell culture is presented. Optimization of a chemically inducible plant cell culture requires evaluation of effects of timing of induction (TOI) and concentration of inducer (COI) on protein productivity and protein quality (biological functionality). To determine the optimal TOI, the oxygen uptake rate (OUR) of the plant cell culture was chosen as a physiological indicator for inducing maximum rAAT expression. Effects of COI on rAAT production were investigated using a semicontinuous culture, which enables the distinction between effects of growth rate and effects of inducer concentration. An optimized semicontinuous bioreactor operation was further proposed to maximize the recombinant protein production. The results demonstrated that the transgenic plant cells, transformed with the inducible viral amplicon expression system, maintain higher OUR and exhibit lower extracellular protease activity and lower total phenolics concentration in the optimized semicontinuous bioreactor process than in a traditional batch bioreactor operation, resulting in a 25-fold increase in extracellular functional rAAT (603 µg/L) and a higher ratio of functional rAAT to total rAAT (85–90%). Surprisingly, sustained rAAT production and steady state, long-term bioreactor operation is possible following chemical induction and establishment of the viral amplicons. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010; 106: 408–421. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Teaching big data through project-based learning in computational linguistics and information retrieval

In Project Based Learning (PBL), students acquire knowledge just-in-time while completing a large project driven by a particular question. We demonstrate that this approach is particularly well suited to courses in two computer science (CS) domains pertaining to Big Data: Computational Linguistics and Information Retrieval. The courses presented here proved successful, as evidenced by both the high quality of the student projects and the positive responses on end-of-semester surveys.
Visual spatial perception in adolescents and their parents: the X-linked recessive hypothesis.

If high ability in visual spatial perception is determined by an X-linked recessive major gene, then the following pattern of correlations is expected across the four groups of parents and children, that is, the nother-son, father-daughter, mother-daughter, and father-son groups:r MS=r FD>r MD>r FS=0. In a sample of 129 adolescents and their parents, the Spatial Relations Test of the Differential Aptitude Test and the Identical Blocks Test showed the pattern of correlations expected under the above hypothesis, but the Water Level Test did not. The present results provide but limited support for the X-linked recessive hypothesis.
Induction of cellular DNA synthesis by a simian virus 40 mutant defective in nuclear transport of T antigen.

Abstract The simian virus 40 (SV40) (cT)-3 mutant [SV40(cT)-3], which is defective in nuclear transport of T antigen, was utilized to determine whether cellular DNA synthesis can be stimulated by SV40 in the absence of detectable nuclear T antigen. Cellular DNA synthesis was examined in the temperature-sensitive cell cycle mutants, BHK ts13 and BHK tsAF8, after microinjection of quiescent cells with plasmid DNA containing cloned copies of wild-type SV40 or SV40(cT)-3. The efficiency of induction of cellular DNA synthesis was identical for both wild-type SV40 and SV40(cT)-3 in both cell lines. The results suggest that cell surface-associated T antigen, either alone or possibly in combination with minimal amounts of nuclear T antigen below our limit of detection, is able to stimulate cellular DNA synthesis.
Free-Form Surface Geometric Information Extraction System

Based on the analysis of the present CAD software,a new method is presented to extract the information of free-form surface.By using the extracted information the contours of curvature can be drawn easily and quickly,and the precision and influencing factor in this method are researched and some conclusions are got.These functions are implemented by further development on UG,and it is not necessary to do more calculation.The applied value can be presented in the evaluation of the fairness of reconstructed surfaces and the selection of tool radius in the product manufacturing,and so on.
Imaging of Athletic Groin Pain

Diagnostic imaging supplements the history and physical examination in athletes with groin pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) accurately depicts the anatomy of the pubic bones and pubic symphysis, the rectus abdominis–adductor longus aponeurosis, and the associated abdominal, pelvic, and thigh muscles. The pattern of injuries to these structures can support or refute the suspected clinical diagnosis, and may help guide treatment planning. Some MRI findings are relatively nonspecific, seen in patients with different causes of pain or even in asymptomatic athletes. Other features are characteristic of a particular injury. This chapter will review the MRI appearances of the normal groin and pubic anatomy, as well as the imaging features of the major categories of sports-related groin injuries.
Risky Business: Managing Interagency Acquisition

This brief piece applauds the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for adding the management of interagency contracting to its High Risk List. It suggests that interagency acquisition, the poster child for the flexible, streamlined, businesslike approach of the 1990's acquisition reform movement, has become the federal procurement system's Achilles heel. It recommends that the government needs more qualified professionals to proactively craft results-oriented contracts and to manage effectively contractors' performance. Finally it suggests commencing a meaningful conversation about the appropriate role of businesslike models, generally, and fees, specifically, in governance.
How Local Governments Can Plan for Autonomous Vehicles

Autonomous vehicles have the potential to change all aspects of mobility—from driver safety and insurance liability to car ownership and how Americans commute. It has the potential to disrupt both public and private transportation as we know it. As Google, Uber, the automobile industry, and other organizations continue to make rapid technological advances, it is vital that federal, state, and local governments establish policies, laws and regulations that account for these disruptions. Of utmost importance is finding a balance between guarding public safety while regulating insurance/liability and still encouraging investment in research and development of autonomous vehicles. Most research papers and news reports regarding autonomous vehicles focus on the technological advancement or implications for society (e.g., improved safety and greater mobility for the elderly and disabled people). Many articles cite the importance of government regulation; however, very few provide targeted guidance on how government agencies should respond. The intent of this paper is to outline the role of government in autonomous vehicles and present information local and regional governments need to inform planning and decision-making—both now and in the future.
The Treatment and Outcomes of Extraskeletal Osteosarcoma: Institutional Experience and Review of The Literature.

Background Extraskeletal osteosarcoma is a rare tumor with a poor prognosis. The purpose of this study is to examine the oncologic outcomes of this disease as they relate to surgical treatment and use of adjuvant therapies. Methods We retrospectively analyzed all patients treated at our institution for high-grade extraskeletal osteosarcoma of the limb or chest wall. We recorded demographic data, presenting stage, surgical margin, use of adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation, incidence of local recurrence, metastases, and death. Overall and event-free survival were calculated using Kaplan-Meier survival methods. Results There were 12 patients treated with primary wide resection or re-excision of a previously operated tumor bed. Four patients presented with metastases. Seven patients received chemotherapy and four patients received radiation therapy. There were two local recurrences, six patients developed new metastases, and nine patients died. There was no difference in overall survival in patients who received chemotherapy. There was, however, a trend towards increased length of survival in patients who received chemotherapy compared to those who did not (16.4 months vs. 9.3 months, p=0.16). Conclusions Despite no difference in overall survival, patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy have a trend towards increased length of survival. We suggest that extraskeletal osteosarcoma be treated with standard osteosarcoma chemotherapy regimens in addition to wide resection.
Resilient Subclass Discriminant Analysis

We propose a dimension reduction technique named Resilient Subclass Discriminant Analysis (RSDA) for high dimensional classification problems. The technique iteratively estimates the subclass division by embedding the Fisher Discriminant Analysis (FDA) with Expectation-Maximization (EM) in Gaussian Mixture Models (GMM). The new method maintains the adaptability of SDA to a wide range of data distributions by approximating the distribution of each class as a mixture of Gaussians, and provides superior feature selection performance to SDA with modified EM clustering that estimates a posteriori probability of latent variables in lower-dimensional Fisher's discriminant space, which also improves the robustness in problems of small training datasets compared with conventional EM algorithm. Extensive experiments and comparison results against other well-known Discriminant Analysis (DA) methods are presented using synthetic data, benchmark datasets as well as a real computational vision problem.
Developing Cross-culturally Competent Social Workers Through International Education: Meeting the Challenges of the 2008 EPAS

Students must be prepared for living in a global community. This is especial­ly the case for helping professionals. This paper presents a curriculum model for increasing cultural competency in a baccalaureate program for social workers through international education in Belize.
Of Wise Choices, Evidence That Matters, and Leaving Old Friends Behind

Initiatives such as Choosing Wisely and updating services such as POEMs let us decide what's best to do based on unbiased, updated information.
Site-specific azide-acetyllysine photochemistry on epigenetic readers for interactome profiling

Chemical modifications on DNA, RNA and histones are recognized by an array of 'reader' modules to regulate transcriptional programming and cell fate. However, identification of reader-specific interacting partners in a dynamic cellular environment remains a significant challenge. Herein, we report a chemoproteomic approach termed 'interaction-based protein profiling' (IBPP) to characterize novel interacting partners of potentially any reader protein. IBPP harnesses a photosensitive amino acid introduced into the hydrophobic pocket of a reader module to crosslink and enrich transient interacting partners that are inaccessible to traditional methods. Using bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) as a paradigm, we engineer an 'aromatic cage' of the bromodomain to introduce 4-azido-l-phenylalanine (pAzF) without compromising its ability to recognize acetylated lysine residues in histone proteins. We establish the binding efficiency, substrate specificity and crosslinking ability of the engineered 'reader' module in biochemical assays. Applying IBPP, we uncovered novel acetylated interacting partners of BRD4, such as transcription factors, expanding on its previously unappreciated role in diverse biological processes. By setting up an azide-acetyllysine photoreaction deep inside the bromodomain aromatic cage as a means to detect protein acetylation, our approach provides a potentially general platform for rapid and unbiased profiling of interacting partners of diverse epigenetic readers whose functions in eukaryotic gene regulation remain convoluted.
Cross-course project-based learning in requirements engineering: An eight-year retrospective

This paper focuses presents a study of eight years of cross-course project-based learning (CC-PjBL) in an upper-level requirements and project management (RPM) course. Project-based learning (PjBL) is a method of instruction in which students learn by investigating and solving real-world problems in and open-ended, time-limited context1. Our instantiations of CC-PjBL matched paired students in an introductory software Requirements and Project Management (RPM) with students in different technology-oriented software development course(s) to utilize the requirements deliverables created by their RPM-course colleagues. The paper includes a review of relevant related PjBL literature, descriptions of our initiative and experience in applying CC-PjBL to RPM topics over eight years, and the lessons learned thereof. This paper reports summary experiences from student evaluations of these courses to evaluate the CC-PjBL experiences. The discussion also includes problems encountered with CC-PjBL assessment, faculty participation, and course hand-off, which may be useful to instructors that are considering to apply CC-PjBL as a method of instruction and to those that are currently practicing PjBL.
The Feasibility of Venovenous ECMO at Role-2 Facilities in Austere Military Environments.

Introduction Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) has been gaining use to bridge the recovery from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) refractory to conventional treatment. However, these interventions are often limited to higher echelons of military care. We present a case of lung salvage from severe ARDS in an Afghani soldier with VV-ECMO at a Role-2 (R2) facility in an austere military environment in Afghanistan. Case A 25-year-old Afghani soldier presented to an R2 facility with blast lung injury and multiple penetrating injuries following an explosion. The patient underwent immediate damage control laparotomy. The abdomen was left open for subsequent washouts and ongoing resuscitation. Due to his ineligibility for evacuation and worsening ARDS, despite 5 d of conventional ventilation strategies, he was started on VV-ECMO. The patient had immediate improvements in oxygenation, which continued for 10 d. Moreover, he underwent three transportations to the operating room without accidental decannulation or disruption of the VV-ECMO device. Despite significant improvements, the patient expired on postoperative day 15, due to an overwhelming intra-abdominal sepsis. Conclusion As future advancements are sought, VV-ECMO may become a consideration for casualties with severe ARDS at the point of injury and at lower echelons of military care.
A fate and transport model for Asian carp environmental DNA in the Chicago area waterways system

Abstract Detection of environmental DNA (eDNA) is widely employed to infer the presence of endangered or invasive species in the aquatic environment. Detection of eDNA, however, does not guarantee the presence of the species in question. The location, time, and nature of the eDNA source are unknown. An eDNA fate and transport model can help to address these unknowns. Construction of such a model requires resolution of multiple issues including: 1) Quantification of eDNA concentration in the environment; 2) Quantification of the eDNA source; 3) Quantification of decay rate; and, 4) Model application and validation. We address these issues and present the results of a fate and transport model for eDNA originating from an invasive species, silver carp (Hypophthalmicthys molitrix), in the Chicago Area Waterways System, USA. Results indicate the presence of roughly 4600 kg of silver carp, distributed along the major axes of the system, is required to produce the eDNA detected in routine monitoring. Positive detection of eDNA in a sample suggests a source within days and km of the sample time and location.