cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sub-Domino logic: ultra-low power dynamic sub-threshold digital logic

Sub-threshold static and ratioed logic have recently been proposed to satisfy the ultra-low power requirement in applications such as hearing aids, pace-makers, wearable wrist-watch computers etc. These logic circuits, however, can be operated only at lower frequencies due to lower supply voltage. To increase the frequency of operation, we propose sub-threshold dynamic logic: Sub-Domino logic. A standard full-adder circuit is implemented in both Sub-Domino and Sub-CMOS logic operating in the subthreshold region. Simulation results show that Sub-Domino logic has lower power consumption, smaller area (60% of Sub-CMOS logic), and is 3 times faster than Sub-CMOS logic. It is also shown that Sub-Domino logic has excellent noise margin.
Evolving fuzzy controllers through evolutionary programming

Fuzzy logic controllers have been proven to be an effective means of solving real world control issues. One of the difficulties in the construction of fuzzy controllers is the design of the rule base under which they operate. This paper investigates the application of evolutionary programming as an iterative learning process for the fuzzy rule base. This approach is applied to the problem of an elevator control system. The system is optimized for efficiency and smoothness by encouraging higher velocities with minimal changes in acceleration, and by discouraging violations of the design parameters for the system. The performance of the evolved system compares favorably to that of fuzzy controllers designed using traditional methods.
Asymmetric Cooperative Communications Based Spectrum Leasing via Auctions in Cognitive Radio Networks

Dynamic spectrum leasing (DSL) was proposed recently as a new paradigm for dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) in cognitive radio networks (CRN's). In this paper, we propose a new way to encourage primary users to lease their spectrum: The secondary users (SU's) place bids indicating how much power they are willing to spend for relaying the primary signals to their destinations. In this formulation, the primary users achieve power savings due to asymmetric cooperation. We propose and analyze both a centralized and a distributed decision-making architecture for the secondary CRN. In the centralized architecture, a Secondary System Decision Center (SSDC) selects a bid for each primary channel based on optimal channel assignment for SU's. In the decentralized cognitive network architecture, we formulate an auction game-based protocol in which each SU independently places bids for each primary channel and receivers of each primary link pick the bid that will lead to the most power savings. A simple and robust distributed reinforcement learning mechanism is developed to allow the users to revise their bids and to increase their rewards. The performance results show the significant impact of reinforcement learning in both improving spectrum utilization and meeting individual SU performance requirements.
Demand Interrelations for Selected Agricultural Products

Interrelations of demand for meat: general characteristics of demand for meat, 265; interrelations of beef, pork, lamb, veal, and chicken 1899 to 1939, including shifts in interrelations, 269.— Interrelations of demand for fruit: apples and citrus fruits, 284; peaches in different producing areas, 290.— Interrelations of demand for grain: general characteristics of production and demand for corn, oats and barley, 292; interrelations 1866 to 1939, including shifts in relations, 293.— Significance of results obtained, 299.
Distortions in Genealogies Due to Purifying Selection

Purifying selection can substantially alter patterns of molecular evolution. Its main effect is to reduce overall levels of genetic variation, leading to a reduced effective population size. However, it also distorts genealogies relative to neutral expectations. A structured coalescent method has been used to describe this effect, and forms the basis for numerical methods and simulations. In this study, we extend this approach by making the additional approximation that lineages may be treated independently, which is valid only in the strong selection regime. We show that in this regime, the distortions due to purifying selection can be described by a time-dependent effective population size and mutation rate, confirming earlier intuition. We calculate simple analytical expressions for these functions, N(e)(t) and U(e)(t). These results allow us to describe the structure of genealogies in a population under strong purifying selection as equivalent to a purely neutral population with varying population size and mutation rate, thereby enabling the use of neutral methods of inference and estimation for populations in the strong selection regime.
Re-entry into quiescence protects hematopoietic stem cells from the killing effect of chronic exposure to type I interferons

Type I interferons (IFN-1s) are antiviral cytokines that suppress blood production while paradoxically inducing hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) proliferation. Here, we clarify the relationship between the proliferative and suppressive effects of IFN-1s on HSC function during acute and chronic IFN-1 exposure. We show that IFN-1–driven HSC proliferation is a transient event resulting from a brief relaxation of quiescence-enforcing mechanisms in response to acute IFN-1 exposure, which occurs exclusively in vivo. We find that this proliferative burst fails to exhaust the HSC pool, which rapidly returns to quiescence in response to chronic IFN-1 exposure. Moreover, we demonstrate that IFN-1–exposed HSCs with reestablished quiescence are largely protected from the killing effects of IFNs unless forced back into the cell cycle due to culture, transplantation, or myeloablative treatment, at which point they activate a p53-dependent proapoptotic gene program. Collectively, our results demonstrate that quiescence acts as a safeguard mechanism to ensure survival of the HSC pool during chronic IFN-1 exposure. We show that IFN-1s can poise HSCs for apoptosis but induce direct cell killing only upon active proliferation, thereby establishing a mechanism for the suppressive effects of IFN-1s on HSC function.
Relationship between plasma NOx and cardiac and vascular dysfunction after LPS injection in anesthetized dogs

The relationship between plasma nitrite, nitrate, and nitric oxide (NOx), cytokines, and cardiac and vascular dysfunction after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was studied in chronically instrumented anes...
Recombinant Rabies Virus Vaccines

Reverse genetics technology has been used to generate safe and potent live-attenuated recombinant rabies virus (RABV) vaccines. This was achieved by eliminating the pathogenic properties and enhancing the immunogenicity of the virus. Although the new generation of live RABV vaccines represents a safe and effective approach to the prevention, control, and elimination of rabies in wildlife, major efforts must be put into the development of vaccine formulations that can stabilize such live recombinant viral vaccines and prevent their degradation during storage and transport.
Lie-Theoretic Multi-Robot Localization

This chapter presents a new distributed cooperative localization technique based on a second-order sensor fusion method developed for the special Euclidean group. Uncertainties in the robot pose, sensor measurements, and landmark positions (neighboring robots in this case) are modeled as Gaussian distributions in exponential coordinates. This proves to be a better fit for both the prior and posterior distributions resulting from the motion of nonholonomic kinematic systems with stochastic noise (as compared to standard Gaussians in Cartesian coordinates). We provide a recursive closed-form solution to the multi-sensor fusion problem that can be used to incorporate a large number of sensor measurements into the localization routine and can be implemented in real time. The technique can be used for nonlinear sensor models without the need for further simplifications given that the required relative pose and orientation information can be provided, and it is scalable in that the computational complexity does not increase with the size of the robot team and increases linearly with the number of measurements taken from nearby robots. The proposed approach is validated with simulation in Matlab.
Abstract 4112: Prognostic impact of autophagic markers LC3, Beclin 1 and p62/sequestosome 1 in colon carcinomas from patients treated in 5-FU-based adjuvant therapy trials

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Background. Autophagy maintains energy metabolism and enables tumor cell survival during cellular stress. Beclin 1 is involved in autophagosome formation during which membrane-bound LC3 binds to p62/sequestosome 1. We reported that ectopic p62 can promote 5-fluorouracil-induced cell death (JBC 286:40002-12, 2011). It is unknown whether these autophagy markers can predict clinical outcome. Materials & Methods. Beclin 1, LC3B, and p62 proteins were analyzed by immunohistochemistry in tissue microarrays containing stage II and III colon carcinomas (N=151) from patients receiving 5-FU or surgery alone. The mean weighted score (intensity x extent) was dichotomized for survival analysis using Cox models. Results. Increased levels of cytoplasmic LC3, Beclin 1, and p62 expression were detected in 21%, 14%, and 68% of cancers, respectively, and were not associated with tumor site, stage or grade. By multivariable analysis, increased LC3 was significantly associated with worse disease-free survival (DFS) (p=0.022), but not overall survival (OS) \[p=0.069\](Table). Beclin 1 was not prognostic, but increased p62 was significantly associated with improved DFS (p=0.038), but not OS (p= 0.176)[Table]. When restricted to 5-FU-treated patients, increased LC3 was associated with worse DFS [HR= 2.38 (1.19, 4.75, p=0.020), elevated Beclin 1 predicted worse OS [HR=2.83 (1.27, 6.34), p = 0.019], and p62 was not prognostic. Conclusion. LC3 and Beclin 1 overexpression were independently associated with adverse outcome. Increased p62 was associated with better outcome consistent with its ability to promote cell death. These data support strategies to inhibit autophagy for therapeutic advantage. ![Figure][1] Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4112. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4112 [1]: pending:yes
Parametric investigation of two aerosol scavenging models in the inertial regime

Abstract Models of drop scavenging of aerosols via inertial impaction proposed by Slinn and by Calvert are compared with published experimental measurements to determine which model is a better predictor of the data. Additionally, a parametric study was performed on the residual of the model predictions from the measurements to identify dimensionless groups not included in these models, which might increase model performance. The study found that the Calvert model predicts scavenging in the inertial regime with less error than the Slinn model. The study also found that two dimensionless groups, the relative Stokes number, Stkr, and the drop Reynolds number, ReD, are both well correlated with the residual of these models. They are included in modified versions of both of these models to provide better performance. That these two dimensionless groups improve model performance suggests that an inertial mechanism and an advective mechanism not accounted for in the existing models play some role in aerosol scavenging in the inertial regime.
More Is Better: Selecting for Broad Host Range Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria. In this perspective, we discuss several aspects of a characteristic feature of bacteriophages, their host range. Each phage has its own particular host range, the range of bacteria that it can infect. While some phages can only infect one or a few bacterial strains, other phages can infect many species or even bacteria from different genera. Different methods for determining host range may give different results, reflecting the multiple mechanisms bacteria have to resist phage infection and reflecting the different steps of infection each method depends on. This makes defining host range difficult. Another difficulty in describing host range arises from the inconsistent use of the words “narrow” and especially “broad” when describing the breadth of the host range. Nearly all bacteriophages have been isolated using a single host strain of bacteria. While this procedure is fairly standard, it may more likely produce narrow rather than broad host range phage. Our results and those of others suggest that using multiple host strains during isolation can more reliably produce broader host range phages. This challenges the common belief that most bacteriophages have a narrow host range. We highlight the implications of this for several areas that are affected by host range including horizontal gene transfer and phage therapy.
DXA in Children with Special Needs

While measuring and assessing bone mineral density (BMD) in the growing skeleton presents unique challenges, performing these measures in children with musculoskeletal involvement that affects positioning or who have skeletal abnormalities that affect interpretation creates additional unique challenges. Cognitive deficits seen in a variety of medical conditions can also pose challenges to acquiring valid bone density scans. This chapter addresses common scan acquisition and interpretation concerns when measuring/assessing bone density by dual-energy absorptiometry (DXA) in children with special needs. Total body, lumbar spine, forearm, and lateral distal femur regions of interest (ROI) are discussed with regard to their suitability for use in this population. Strategies and solutions for obtaining meaningful scans and for their interpretation are reviewed. Specific medical conditions that result in high risk for compromised bone density, including cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, spinal muscular atrophy, and osteogenesis imperfecta will be described with a review of current research findings. This chapter is intended to expand on the principles described in earlier chapters of this book and to highlight the special considerations required when assessing bone density in children with special needs.
Degradation of protein by mixed cultures of rumen bacteria: identification of Streptococcus bovis as an actively proteolytic rumen bacterium.

Mixed cultures of rumen bacteria were inoculated into anaerobic buffer solutions containing mixed carbohydrates, casein and ammonia, and rates of bacterial growth, protein degradation, ammonia formation or utilization and lactate production were determined. Bacterial growth rate was varied by the provision of excess carbohydrate (one large dose at the onset of the incubation) or limited carbohydrate (small doses every hour or every 2 hr). When carbohydrate was limited, growth rate was slow, the extent of protein degradation was small and lactate did not accumulate in the fermentation vessels. Lactate production and protein degradation were also negligible during the initial phases of the high carbohydrate, fast growth rate incubations, but large increases in each were seen after 3 hours. Microscopic examination of the fast growth incubations revealed large numbers of small ovoid cells similar to Streptococcus bovis, while tha slow growth incubations exhibited a variety of morophological types and very few small ovoid cells. Because the lactic acid and morphological data suggested that proliferation of S. bovis might be responsible for rapid proteolysis, effects of gram-positive antibiotics were examined. When compared against a fast growth control, both thiopeptin (5 ppm) and monensin (5ppm) were found to decrease protein degradation, but the inhibition by thiopeptin (50%) was greater than that by monensin (13%). The ratios of protein degraded to bacteria protein synthesized were .659, .362 and .628 for the control, thiopeptin and monensin treatments, respectively. Actively proteolytic strains of S. bovis were isolated from fast growth incubations, and subsequent experiments showed that the ratio of protein degraded to bacterial protein synthesized was approximately 1.50. Collectively, the data indicate that S. bovis is a very proteolytic rumen bacterium.
Electron spin control of an optically levitated nanodiamond in vacuum

We optically levitated a nanodiamond in partial vacuum and demonstrated electron spin control of its built-in nitrogen-vacancy centers. We observed that the strength of electron spin resonance is enhanced when the air pressure is reduced.
Cell reintegration: Stray epithelial cells make their way home

Ongoing work shows that misplaced epithelial cells have the capacity to reintegrate back into tissue layers. This movement appears to underlie tissue stability and may also control aspects of tissue structure. A recent study reveals that cell reintegration in at least one tissue, the Drosophila follicular epithelium, is based on adhesion molecules that line lateral cell surfaces. In this article we will review these observations, discuss their implications for epithelial tissue development and maintenance, and identify future directions for study.
Measuring the Benefits of Water Quality Improvement: Recent U.S. Practice

Recent U.S. practice in measuring the benefits of water quality improvement is reviewed and interpreted. Particular attention is given to distinctions between market-based methods, where actual markets in resource services or in related commodities are assumed, and non-market-based methods, which make use of administered valuations or of hypothetical markets. Issues associated with the use of non-market-based methods in centrally planned economies are briefly reviewed.
A Sex Chromosome piRNA Promotes Robust Dosage Compensation and Sex Determination in C. elegans

Summary In metazoans, Piwi-related Argonaute proteins engage piRNAs (Piwi-interacting small RNAs) to defend the genome against invasive nucleic acids, such as transposable elements. Yet many organisms—including worms and humans—express thousands of piRNAs that do not target transposons, suggesting that piRNA function extends beyond genome defense. Here, we show that the X chromosome-derived piRNA 21ux-1 downregulates XOL-1 (XO Lethal), a master regulator of X chromosome dosage compensation and sex determination in Caenorhabditis elegans . Mutations in 21ux-1 and several Piwi-pathway components sensitize hermaphrodites to dosage compensation and sex determination defects. We show that the piRNA pathway also targets xol-1 in C. briggsae , a nematode species related to C. elegans . Our findings reveal physiologically important piRNA-mRNA interactions, raising the possibility that piRNAs function broadly to ensure robust gene expression and germline development.
Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis, acute myeloid leukemia, and myelofibrosis in a large family and review of the literature

Abstract Background There is mounting evidence that Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are hematopoietic neoplasms that arise from the same myeloid precursor cell. In addition, studies suggest a relationship between LCH and primary idiopathic myelofibrosis (MF). Furthermore familial LCH, AML, and MF have each been reported. Methods We examined more than 750 pedigrees of familial hematologic malignancies for evidence of familial LCH, AML, and/or MF and identified one family with all three neoplasms, which is presented here. Findings In four generations of this large family there are five cases of AML in three generations, two cases of LCH in two generations and three cases of MF in two generations. Anticipation of −18 and −6 years was present in the patients with MF, and −8 years in the patients with LCH. Anticipation was also identified between one AML patient pair in generations III and IV (−18 years) and three patients with AML in generations II, III, and IV (−5 years and −10 years). Interpretation This is the first report of familial LCH, AML, and MF in one family. The pedigree suggests a common basis for these entities, which is further suggested by the presence of anticipation in the pedigree.
A. F. Losev and the Rebirth of Soviet Aesthetics After Stalin

The emergence of aesthetics as a legitimate philosophical discipline in the U.S.S.R. in recent years has been powerfully aided by the rehabilitation of a number of theorists who provided a lifeline to the richer intellectual culture of an earlier age. Without the opportunity to read once again the writings of Mixail Baxtin, Lev Vygotskij, and others it is doubtful that Soviet aestheticians could have made the advances they have succeeded in making beyond the intellectual wilderness of the Stalin era. And among those voices from the past, none was heard sooner or has continued to be heard longer than that of the still active classicist and philosopher, Aleksej Fedorovic Losev.
Using a virtual machine to protect sensitive Grid resources: Research Articles

Most Grid systems rely on their operating systems (OSs) to protect their sensitive files and networks. Unfortunately, modern OSs are very complex and it is difficult to completely avoid intrusions. Once intruders compromise the OS and gain system privilege, they can easily disable or bypass the OS security protections. This paper proposes a secure virtual Grid system, SVGrid, to protect sensitive system resources. SVGrid works by isolating Grid applications in Grid virtual machines. The Grid virtual machines' filesystem and network services are moved into a dedicated monitor virtual machine. All file and network accesses are forced to go through this monitor virtual machine, where SVGrid checks request parameters and only accepts the requests that comply with security rules. Because SVGrid enforces security policy in the isolated monitor virtual machine, it can continue to protect sensitive files and networks even if a Grid virtual machine is compromised. We tested SVGrid against attacks on Grid virtual machines. SVGrid was able to prevent all of them from accessing files and networks maliciously. We also evaluated the performance of SVGrid and found that performance cost was reasonable considering the security benefits of SVGrid. Furthermore, the experimental results show that the virtual remote procedure call mechanism proposed in this paper significantly improves system performance. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Immune correlates of depression.

Substantial evidence has shown that major depression is associated with immune variations. In a meta-analytic review of over thirty-five independent study samples conducted through 1991, depression was found to be associated with reliable alterations in several enumerative measures and in functional assays such as mitogen induced lymphocyte proliferation and natural killer (NK) cell activity (Herbert & Cohen, 1993a). Since 1991, many additional studies on the relationship between depression and immune measures have been published which has led to a recent reevaluation of the immune findings in depression (Zorrilla, Luborsky, McKay, Rosenthal, Houldin, Tax, McCorkle, Seligman, & Schmidt, 1998). While both reviews observed similar relations between depression and several immune measures including major immune cell classes, lymphocyte proliferation, and NK activity, conflicting results were obtained for many other measures. An enormous heterogeneity in the findings is suggested by the discrepancies between these two large meta-analytic reviews.
Vitamin D deficiency increases blood-brain barrier dysfunction after ischemic stroke in male rats.

Abstract Because vitamin D hormone deficiency (VDHdef) can worsen severity and outcome for ischemic stroke, we examined the role of VDH in maintaining blood-brain-barrier (BBB integrity) in a rat model of stroke. In most types of stroke, the BBB is markedly compromised, potentially leading to a cascade of injury processes and functional deficits, so we examined a number of biomarkers associated with BBB disruption to determine whether VDH deficiency would further compromise the BBB following a stroke. Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to one of two diet cohorts, VDH-sufficient (VDHsuf) and VDHdef. The VDHsuf group was fed standard rat chow and the VDHdef group got a VDH-null version of the same diet for 8 weeks. Animals from both cohorts were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) surgery, killed at 72 h post-stroke, and their brains evaluated for BBB permeability and injury severity using expression of immunoglobulin (IgG), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity and alteration of tight junction (TJ) proteins as markers of BBB disruption. We also evaluated modulation of glucose transporter-1 (GLUT1), osteopontin (OPN), β-catenin and vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression in VDHsuf and VDHdef subjects. At the time of MCAO, rats on the VDHdef diet had circulating VDH levels one-fourth that of rats fed control chow. IgG extravasation after MCAO, indicating more severe BBB injury, was significantly higher in the MCAO+VDHdef than the MCAO+VDHsuf rats. Following MCAO, expression of MMP-9, GLUT1, VDR and OPN increased and the TJ proteins occludin and claudin-5 decreased significantly in the VDHdef compared to the VDHsuf group. We also observed significantly lower expression of β-catenin in the MCAO group of both VDHsuf and VDHdef rats. Under these conditions, VDH deficiency itself can compromise the BBB. We think that low serum VDH levels are likely to complicate stroke severity and its chronic consequences.
Terrorism, gender, and the 2016 U.S. presidential election

Abstract The 2016 U.S. election provides the opportunity to assess how gender, party, and experience shape candidate evaluations when terrorist threat is elevated. The presidential contest featured the first woman major party nominee (Hillary Clinton), a major party nominee without political experience (Donald Trump), and terrorism was salient. We argue that security threats dampen public confidence in Democratic women running for office, yet an experience advantage could countervail against those tendencies. We test expectations using the 2016 ANES and two experimental studies. We first affirm that individuals worried about terrorism held lower evaluations of Clinton and higher evaluations of Trump. We then test an active manipulation of the salience of national security experience and find that it mitigates Clinton's disadvantage, but only in the absence of a counter-message. The results underscore the difficulty that Democratic women face in overcoming the negative influence of party and gender stereotypes when running for office in times of terrorist threat.
REPLAB: A Reproducible Low-Cost Arm Benchmark Platform for Robotic Learning

Standardized evaluation measures have aided in the progress of machine learning approaches in disciplines such as computer vision and machine translation. In this paper, we make the case that robotic learning would also benefit from benchmarking, and present the "REPLAB" platform for benchmarking vision-based manipulation tasks. REPLAB is a reproducible and self-contained hardware stack (robot arm, camera, and workspace) that costs about 2000 USD, occupies a cuboid of size 70x40x60 cm, and permits full assembly within a few hours. Through this low-cost, compact design, REPLAB aims to drive wide participation by lowering the barrier to entry into robotics and to enable easy scaling to many robots. We envision REPLAB as a framework for reproducible research across manipulation tasks, and as a step in this direction, we define a template for a grasping benchmark consisting of a task definition, evaluation protocol, performance measures, and a dataset of 92k grasp attempts. We implement, evaluate, and analyze several previously proposed grasping approaches to establish baselines for this benchmark. Finally, we also implement and evaluate a deep reinforcement learning approach for 3D reaching tasks on our REPLAB platform. Project page with assembly instructions, code, and videos: this https URL.
Patient Education for Overactive Bladder in the Digital Era

To encourage clinicians to offer appropriate electronic resources to patients with overactive bladder (OAB) and to aid them in deciphering the quality of available online information. Patients are turning to the Internet, including social media sites and podcasts, for further education on their medical conditions. Mobile medical applications also have a role in patient education, symptom management, and treatment. Internet-based interventions using behavioral changes may be a suitable option for patients. However, many resources on the Internet are not validated so physicians are strongly encouraged to play a role in directing patients to appropriate resources. As Internet access and capabilities continue to expand, it will play an increasing role in healthcare, particularly with patient education and treatment. Clinicians should encourage patients to seek out certified sites that contain evidence-based information that aligns with current OAB recommendations.
Internet Securities, Inc.: Financing Growth

SUBJECT AREAS: International entrepreneurial finance; forecasting; assessment of funding needs; valuation; sources of funding; international business CASE SETTING: October, 1998, Internet Securities, $12.5 million investment This case describes Internet Securities Inc. (ISI), an Internet-based financial information service focusing on emerging markets started in 1994. At the time of the case, (October, 1998) the founder and CEO seeks to raise $12.5 million to finance the expansion of his rapidly growing firm. The company has yet to break even but a number of financing alternatives seem feasible, these include a sale to a financial buyer, an initial public offering and a sale of ISI to a larger firm in the information services industry. Time is of essence since ISI's date of illiquidity is approaching rapidly. A unique feature of this case are three different sets of financial forecasts. These forecasts were created at three different points in time by ISI management. The case also contains actual performance data for two fiscal years. While not obvious at first glance, a tabulation of all forecasts and the actual numbers reveals that the three sets of forecasts differ considerably from each other and from the financial performance actually achieved. Some of the differences are in orders of magnitude. The case allows for a good discussion about ISI's management's ability to make forecasts and, therefore, about the valuation of the firm and financing needs. On a more general level, the case highlights the challenges of forecasting sales and costs in entrepreneurial settings. It also suggests ways in which entrepreneurial firms can deal with these challenges, namely contingency plans, for financing the venture. The case can be used to teach how and from whom an entrepreneurial firm can raise additional capital if the original financing plan proves inadequate. In order to achieve this objective, class discussion should first focus on re-assessing the opportunity that led to the creation of ISI in the first place. Subsequently, class discussion should analyze why additional capital is needed, how much, and under what terms it can be raised. This will set the stage for a comparison of alternative sources of expansion financing for ISI. Class discussion can be concluded by a discussion of deal structures appropriate for the different potential sources of capital. The case has been used in MBA and executive education programs at Harvard Business School and in MBA programs at several other leading business schools.
Dietary supplements in dermatology: A review of the evidence for zinc, biotin, vitamin D, nicotinamide, and Polypodium.

Dietary supplements are commonly recommended by dermatologists in the treatment of skin, hair, and nail disorders. This review of oral over-the-counter supplement use in dermatology summarizes current evidence for the use of zinc, biotin, vitamin D, nicotinamide, and Polypodium in the management of common dermatologic disorders. Evidence for the safety and efficacy of these supplements is limited. Very few large-scale randomized controlled trials exist for these over-the-counter supplements, particularly biotin and Polypodium. The lack of standardized dosing and standardized outcome measures makes comparison across existing studies challenging, and the lack of adverse events reporting in the majority of studies limits analysis of supplement safety. The most promising evidence exists for the use of nicotinamide in preventing nonmelanoma skin cancers. There is some evidence for the role of vitamin D in decreasing melanoma risk and progression in some individuals and for the photoprotective role of Polypodium, although additional high-quality studies are needed to determine appropriate dosing. Current evidence is insufficient to recommend the use of biotin or zinc supplements in dermatology. Large-scale randomized controlled trials investigating safety and efficacy are needed before widespread incorporation of these oral supplements into the general practice of dermatology.
Comparative transcriptome analyses reveal genes associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection of human lung epithelial cells

Abstract Understanding the molecular mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 infection (the cause of COVID-19) is a scientific priority for 2020. Various research groups are working toward development of vaccines and drugs, and many have published genomic and transcriptomic data related to this viral infection. The power inherent in publicly available data can be demonstrated via comparative transcriptome analyses. In the current study, we collected high-throughput gene expression data related to human lung epithelial cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 or other respiratory viruses (SARS, H1N1, rhinovirus, avian influenza, and Dhori) and compared the effect of these viruses on the human transcriptome. The analyses identified fifteen genes specifically expressed in cells transfected with SARS-CoV-2; these included CSF2 (colony-stimulating factor 2) and S100A8 and S100A9 (calcium-binding proteins), all of which are involved in lung/respiratory disorders. The analyses showed that genes involved in the Type1 interferon signaling pathway and the apoptosis process are commonly altered by infection of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses. Furthermore, results of protein-protein interaction analyses were consistent with a functional role of CSF2 in COVID-19 disease. In conclusion, our analysis has revealed cellular genes associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection of the human lung epithelium; these are potential therapeutic targets.
Mechanism and interpretation of two-for-one response to premature atrial complexes during atrioventricular node re-entry tachycardia.

Aims The response to premature atrial complexes (PACs) during tachycardia has been shown to differentiate atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT) from focal junctional tachycardia (JT). His refractory PAC (HrPACs) perturbing the next His (resetting with fusion) is diagnostic of AVNRT and such a late PAC fusing with the native beat cannot reset the focal source of JT. Early PAC advancing the immediate His with continuation of tachycardia suggests JT but can also occur in AVNRT due to simultaneous conduction through the AV nodal fast and slow pathways [two-for-one response (TFOR)]. The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence and mechanism of TFOR after early premature atrial complexes (ePACs) during AVNRT and to differentiate it from the known response to ePACs during JT. Methods and results Typical AVNRT cases were diagnosed using standard criteria. We evaluated the responses to scanning PACs delivered during tachycardia in 100 patients undergoing AV node slow pathway modification for AVNRT. The responses to HrPACs and ePACs delivered from coronary sinus os or high right atrium were retrospectively reviewed. In 10 patients, ePACs advanced the immediate His with continuation of tachycardia. In all 10 cases, HrPACs advanced the next His, confirming AVNRT as the mechanism, and indicating a TFOR. Conclusion A TFOR can occur in a small number of patients during AVNRT and is therefore not diagnostic of JT. However, HrPACs always perturbed the next His in these cases, confirming the diagnosis of AVNRT and allowing for differentiation from JT.
Emotion regulation, pain interference and affective symptoms in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease

Abstract Background The ability to regulate emotion is associated with affective disorders and the experience of pain. However, little is known about emotion regulation in youth with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), a population that regularly experiences pain and symptoms of depression and anxiety. This study examines the relationship between emotion regulation and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and pain interference in youth with SCD. Methods Participants ages 8–20 at a university-based pediatric sickle cell clinic completed the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), self-report measures assessing use of emotion regulation strategies. Participants also completed the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS), measures for symptoms of anxiety, depression, and pain interference. Multiple regression models tested associations between use of emotion regulation strategies and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and pain interference. Results Participants were 51 patients with SCD, 30 female and 21 male, with a mean age of 13.02 years (SD = 0.47, mid-max = 8–20). Use of maladaptive emotion regulation strategies was associated with increased symptoms of depression (r = .58), anxiety (r = .45) and pain interference (r = .30) in youth with SCD. Limitations Potential limitations of our study include small sample size, use of youth self-report measures, and participant selection contingent on the ability to attend an outpatient appointment. Conclusion Identifying maladaptive emotion regulation strategies in youth with SCD may provide clinicians with targeted pathways for improving emotional and psychological functioning.
Reputation and Compliance with International Human Rights Law: Experimental Evidence from the U.S. and South Korea

Past studies suggest that domestic public support for compliance with international human rights law can constrain governments to comply with human rights law. But the question remains: Why does the public care about compliance? Using a series of survey experiments in South Korea and the United States, this study finds that constituents are concerned about compliance in one issue area — such as human rights — because they believe it will affect the country's reputation in other domains of international law. Cross-national survey experiments demonstrate that past noncompliance negatively affects the South Korean public's second-order beliefs about the likelihood of future compliance across different issue areas. However, past noncompliance has a limited impact on the US public's first-order beliefs across different domains.
Water Quality Impacts of the Energy-Water Nexus

Energy and water have been fundamental to powering the global economy and building modern society. This cross-disciplinary book provides an integrated assessment of the different scientific and policy tools around the energy-water nexus. It focuses on how water use, and wastewater and waste solids produced from fossil fuel energy production affect water quality and quantity. Summarizing cutting edge research, it describes the scientific methods for detecting contamination sources in the context of policy and regulations. The authors highlight the growing evidence that fossil fuel production, from both conventional and unconventional sources, leads to water quality degradation, while regulations for the water and energy sector remain fractured and highly variable across and within countries. This volume will be a key reference for scholars, industry professionals, environmental consultants and policy makers seeking information on the risks associated with the energy cycle and its impact on the environment, particularly water resources.
Weight Concerns in Black Youth: The Role of Body Mass Index, Gender, and Sociocultural Factors.

Weight concerns are prevalent among Black adolescents and have negative ramifications for well-being. We examined racial identity and racial socialization as potential sociocultural resources that might mitigate the development of weight concerns among Black adolescents, and we evaluated gender differences in these links. Participants were 132 Black youth (45% female; M age = 14.33 years at Time 1) who completed two annual home interviews. Results revealed that for adolescents with high (but not low) body mass indices (BMI), racial identity may be protective against developing weight concerns. Further, fathers' (but not mothers') racial socialization was protective against weight concerns for girls with high BMI. Findings highlight the importance of sociocultural contexts toward refining theory and advancing evidence-based practice.
Number Counts at 3 μm < λ < 10 μm from the Spitzer Space Telescope

Infrared source counts at wavelengths 3 μm < λ < 10 μm cover more than 10 mag in source brightness, reach 4 orders of magnitude in surface density, and reach an integrated surface density of 105 sources deg-2. At m < 14 mag, most of the sources are Galactic stars, in agreement with models. After removal of Galactic stars, galaxy counts are consistent with what few measurements exist at nearby wavelengths. At 3.6 and 4.5 μm, the galaxy counts follow the expectations of a Euclidean world model down to ~16 mag and drop below the Euclidean curve for fainter magnitudes. Counts at these wavelengths begin to show decreasing completeness around 19.5 mag. At 5.8 and 8 μm, the counts relative to a Euclidean world model show a large excess at bright magnitudes. This is probably because local galaxies emit strongly in the aromatic dust (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) features. The counts at 3.6 μm resolve less than 50% of the cosmic infrared background at that wavelength.
The Marketplace for French and Francophone Materials

While American libraries have a long tradition of collecting publications from France, the emergence of francophone literatures and the interest it has generated in academia is compelling American libraries to shift their focus, and to acquire more materials in this field. Francophone literatures-that is, French texts written outside of France-in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, and the Caribbean-require the identification of vendors able to provide materials from these geographically diverse regions. After a discussion of francophone literatures, this article will review the results of a survey of the major vendors of French and francophone materials and the kinds of services they offer American libraries. The nine vendors surveyed offer an array of materials and services that should fulfill the needs of any American library.
Location of action of burning-rate catalysts in composite propellantcombustion.

H + 62 + M -> HO2 + M Reaction in Lean Hydrogen-Oxygen Mixtures," Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol. 43, No. 9, Nov. 1965, pp. 3237-3247. 7 Getzinger, R. W., "A Shock Wave Study of Recombination in Near Stoichiometric Hydrogen-Oxygen Mixtures," Eleventh Symposium (International) on Combustion, The Combustion Institute, Pittsburgh, Pa., 1967, pp. 117-124. s Stull, D. R., JANAF Thermochemical Tables, Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich.; may be purchased as Rept. PB-168370 ($10.00) and addenda PB-168370-1 and PB-168370-2 ($3.00 each), National Bureau of Standards, CFSTI, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Springfield, Va. 9 Bird, P. F., Duff, R. E., and Schott, G. L., "HUG, a Fortran-Fap Code for Computing Normal Shock and Detonation Parameters in Gases," Rept. LA-2980, Feb. 1964, Los Alamos Scientific Lab., The Univ. of California, Los Alamos, N. Mex. 10 White, D. R. and Millikan, R. C., "Oxygen Vibrational Relaxation in O2-H2 Mixtures," Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol. 39, No. 8, Oct. 1963, pp. 2107-2108. 11 White, D. R. and Millikan, R. C., "Vibrational Relaxation of Oxygen," Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol. 39, No. 7. Oct. 1963, pp.1803-1806. 12 White, D. R. and Millikan, R. C., "Oxygen Vibrational Relaxation in O2-He and O2-Ar Mixtures," Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol. 39, No. 7, Oct. 1963, pp. 1807-1808. 13 Gilbert, R. B. and Strehlow, R. A., "Theory of Detonation Initiation Behind Reflected Shock Waves," AIAA Journal, Vol. 4, No. 10, Oct. 1966, pp. 1777-1783. 14 Getzinger, R. W. and Blair, L. S., "A Shock Tube Study of the Effects of Nitrogen and Water Vapor on Recombination in the Hydrogen-Oxygen System," 6th International Shock Tube Symposium, Freiberg, Germany, April 12-14, 1967; also The Physics of Fluids, to be published. 15 Shchelkin, K. I. and Troshin, Ya. K., Gas Dynamics of Combustion, Mono Book Corp., Baltimore, Md., 1965, pp. 1-53. 16 Voitsekhovskii, B. V., Mitrofanov, V. V., and Topchian, M. E., Struktura Fronta Detonatsii v Gaza, Akademiya Nauk SSSR Novosibirsk, 1963, pp. 81-96; transl. as The Structure of a Detonation Front in Gases, Rept. FTD-MT-64-527 (AD 633821), Feb. 1966, Foreign Technology Div., Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, pp. 81-97. 17 Strehlow, R. A. and Engels, C. D., "Transverse Waves in Detonations II. Structure and Spacing in H2—O-2, C2H2—O2, C2H4—O2 and CEU—O2 Systems," AIAA Journal, to be published.
Dependence Networks and the International Criminal Court

This article explores why governments commit to human rights enforcement by joining the International Criminal Court (ICC). Compared with other international institutions, the ICC has substantial authority and autonomy. Since governments traditionally guard their sovereignty carefully, it is puzzling that the ICC was not only established, but established so rapidly. Looking beyond traditional explanations for joining international institutions, this study identifies a new causal factor: a country's dependence network, which consists of the set of other states that control resources the country values. This study captures different dimensions of what states value through trade relations, security alliances, and shared memberships in international organizations. Using event history analysis on monthly data from 1998 to 2004, we find that dependence networks strongly affect whether and when a state signs and ratifies the ICC. Some types of ratification costs also influence state commitment, but many conventional explanations of state commitment receive little empirical support.
A Preliminary Analysis on the Cross-cultural Applicability of the Structural Model of Consumer Knowledge Assessment

The purpose of this paper is to generalize the scales including stored product-class information (SPCI), product-related experience (PRE), general self-confidence (GENSC), self-assessed knowledge (SAK), and objective knowledge (OK) as well as to test the structural model of Consumer Knowledge Assessment proposed by Park et al. (1994). The research follows the suggested methodology for testing the cross-national applicability of measures (Berry 1980; Hui and Triandis 1985; Irvine and Carroll 1980).
Cleavage of Mengovirus Polyproteins In Vivo

Abstract The synthesis of mengovirus-specific proteins in vivo was studied by labeling the viral proteins with radioactive amino acids under conditions in which host protein synthesis was almost completely inhibited. Pulse-chase experiments enabled the kinetic analysis of the cleavages of certain viral protein precursors and the formation of others. The pattern of cleavages of mengovirus precursor polypeptides is similar to that of encephalomyocarditis virus. The major difference between the two viruses seems to be in the molar concentration in which the various primary products are produced. The molar ratio of the A protein, which is the precursor of the capsid proteins, to that of the primary products F and C, is approximately 1.5 to 2.0: 1: 1. Possible explanations for the unequal appearance of the structural and nonstructural proteins are discussed.