cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reaction-Induced Phase Separation Dynamics: A Polymer in a Liquid Crystal Solvent

Phase separation dynamics of a mixture thermally quenched from a stable to unstable regime in the phase diagram has been extensively studied in alloys, binary fluids, and polymer mixtures [1]. Alloys and binary fluids can be reasonably explained by conventional theories of Cahn-Hillard [2] or the Hohenberg-Halperin notation [3], where the interfacial tension plays a major role in determining the morphology. For thermally quenched polymer mixtures, Takana has shown that dynamic asymmetry can result from the slow kinetics associated with the polymer glass transition, and that in this case the domain shape is determined by the mechanical balance of elastic forces, resulting in spongelike continuous patterns of the minority polymer phase to form [4]. For reaction-induced phase separation in binary polymer mixtures, Tran-Cong and Harada have demonstrated that a variety of mesoscopic structures can form with elastic stress playing an important role in the morphology when the reacting polymer is a minority phase [5].
Calcium‐dependent inhibition of in vitro thin‐filament motility by native titin

Abstract Titin (also known as connectin) is a giant filamentous protein that spans the distance between the Z- and M-lines of the vertebrate muscle sarcomere and plays a fundamental role in the generation of passive tension. Titin has been shown to bind strongly to myosin, making it tightly associated to the thick filament in the sarcomere. Recent observations have suggested the possibility that titin also interacts with actin, implying further functions of titin in muscle contraction. We show — using in vitro motility and binding assays — that native titin interacts with both filamentous actin and reconstituted thin filaments. The interaction results in the inhibition of the filaments' in vitro motility. Furthermore, the titin-thin filament interaction occurs in a calcium-dependent manner: increased calcium results in enhanced binding of thin filaments to titin and greater suppression of in vitro motility.
Immune regulatory CNS-reactive CD8+T cells in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Immune-based self-recognition and failure to modulate this response are believed to contribute to the debilitating autoimmune pathology observed in multiple sclerosis (MS). Studies from its murine model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), have shown that neuroantigen-specific CD4+T cells are capable of inducing disease, while their immune sibling, the CD8+T cells, have largely been ignored. To understand their role in autoimmune demyelination, we first confirmed that, similar to our observations in human MS, there is robust induction of neuroantigen-reactive CD8+T cells in several models, including MOG(35-55)/CFA-induced EAE. However, MOG(35-55)-specific CD8+T-cells, when purified, were unable to adoptively transfer disease into naive mice (in contrast to CD4+T-cells). In fact, we observed that the transfer of these neuroantigen-specific CD8+T cells was able to suppress the induction of EAE and to inhibit ongoing EAE. These regulatory CD8+T cells produced IFN-gamma and perforin and were able to kill MOG loaded CD4+T-cells as well as CD4-depleted APC, suggesting a cytotoxic/suppressor mechanism. Inhibition of EAE was associated with both the modulation of APC function as well as decreased MOG-specific CD4+T cell responses. Our studies reveal a novel and unexpected immune regulatory function for neuroantigen-specific CD8+T cells and have interesting biologic and therapeutic implications.
Configuration interaction effects on He(I) photoelectron spectra of nucleotide bases: Evidence for valence electron hole‐mixing in 1,9‐dimethylguanine

Semiempirical HAM/3 molecular orbital configuration interaction (CI) calculations have been employed to interpret the gas-phase He(I) photoelectron (PE) spectrum of 1,9-dimethylguanine (1,9-DMG). Previous interpretation of the PE spectrum of this molecule, which has a tautomeric structure similar to that of guanine in DNA and RNA, has relied on SCF calculations. Test calculations were performed on pyrimidine. Because HAM/3 calculations without CI were parameterized to describe PE data, ionization potentials (IPS) obtained at the SCF level agree better with experiment than IPS obtained with CI calculations. However, when pyrimidine results from the HAM/3 CI calculations are compared to previously reported results obtained using the outer-valence Green function (OVGF) method or the two-particle-hole Tamm–Dabcoff Green function approximation (2ph-TDA) method, the agreement is satisfactory. The average difference between corresponding values for the first four IPS of pyrimidine obtained from HAM/3 CI, OVGF, and the 2ph-TDA calculations is less than 0.5 eV. Furthermore, for the seven lowest-energy cation states of pyrimidine, the three computational methods yield normalized coefficients associated with the dominant Koopmans configurations that have squares that differ by less than 0.14. For 1,9-DMG, the results of HAM/3 CI calculations indicate that five of the seven lowest-energy ionization events, previously assigned to the first-to-third and to the sixth- and seventh-highest occupied orbitals, are well described within the framework of Koopmans theorem. On the other hand, the fourth and fifth ionization events in 1,9-DMG result in cation states in which there is significant hole-mixing of Koopmans configurations associated with removal of electrons from the second- and third-highest occupied π orbitals. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Dropsondes with GPS windfinding

Detailed, quantitative, atmospheric data are essential for accurate analysis and forecasting of mesoscale phenomena for both military and civilian applications. Small manned or unmanned aircraft can carry small sensors and dropsondes into remote or hazardous regions, at little or no risk to personnel and at a very low cost. This paper describes two prototype dropsondes that used the Global Positioning System (GPS) for measuring wind velocity. Flight tests using a helicopter produced results that gave an accuracy in wind velocity about the same as coincident rawinsondes. The test data suggest that it may be possible to delineate zones of significantly different wind velocity that are less than 200 metres thick, although further tests are needed to evaluate this possibility thoroughly.
Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Encodes a Mimic of Cellular miR-23

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) expresses ∼20 viral microRNAs (miRNAs) in latently infected cells. We have previously shown that two of these miRNAs function as mimics of the cellular miRNAs miR-155 and miR-142-3p. Two additional KSHV miRNAs, miR-K3+1 and miR-K3, share perfect and offset 5' homology with cellular miR-23, respectively. Here, we report a single nucleotide polymorphism that causes miR-K3+1 expression in a subset of KSHV-infected primary effusion lymphoma cell lines as a consequence of altered processing of the primary transcript by the Microprocessor complex. We confirm that miR-K3+1 regulates miR-23 targets, which is expected because these miRNAs share the entire seed region (nucleotides 2 to 8). Surprisingly, we found that miR-K3 also regulates miR-23 targets, despite offset seed sequences. In addition, the offset homology of miR-K3 to miR-23 likely allows this viral miRNA to expand its target repertoire beyond the targets of miR-23. Because miR-23 is highly expressed in endothelial cells but expressed at only low levels in B cells, we hypothesize that miR-K3 may function to introduce miR-23-like activities into KSHV-infected B cells. Together, our data demonstrate that KSHV has evolved at least three distinct viral miRNAs to tap into evolutionarily conserved cellular miRNA-regulatory networks. Furthermore, our data allow fundamental insights into the generation and functional impact of miRNA 5' end variation.
LeuX tRNA-dependent and -independent mechanisms of Escherichia coli pathogenesis in acute cystitis.

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) contain multiple horizontally acquired pathogenicity-associated islands (PAI) implicated in the pathogenesis of urinary tract infection. In a murine model of cystitis, type 1 pili-mediated bladder epithelial invasion and intracellular proliferation are key events associated with UPEC virulence. In this study, we examined the mechanisms by which a conserved PAI contributes to UPEC pathogenesis in acute cystitis. In the human UPEC strain UTI89, spontaneous excision of PAI IIUTI89 disrupts the adjacent leuX tRNA locus. Loss of wild-type leuX-encoded tRNA5Leu significantly delayed, but did not eliminate, FimB recombinase-mediated phase variation of type 1 pili. FimX, an additional FimB-like, leuX-independent recombinase, was also found to mediate type 1 pili phase variation. However, whereas FimX activity is relatively slow in vitro, it is rapid in vivo as a non-piliated strain lacking the other fim recombinases rapidly expressed type 1 pili upon experimental infection. Finally, we found that disruption of leuX, but not loss of PAI IIUTI89 genes, reduced bladder epithelial invasion and intracellular proliferation, independent of type 1 piliation. These findings indicate that the predominant mechanism for preservation of PAI IIUTI89 during the establishment of acute cystitis is maintenance of wild-type leuX, and not PAI IIUTI89 gene content.
The Effects of Processing Variables on Reaction Synthesis of Fe-Al Alloys

The effects of alloy composition and reaction atmosphere on reaction synthesis of binary FeAl alloys were studied. Reactions were observed in an open (air) furnace, under static vacuum (in an evacuated quartz tube) and in a dynamic vacuum furnace. High-speed videotapes of reaction syntheses of compacts formed from 45-{mu}m Fe and 10-{mu}m Al powders reacted in air and under static vacuum revealed that an unusual ``two-stage`` reaction exists in this system under these conditions. The first stage of the two-stage reaction lasts several seconds and starts at around 650 C. The second stage begins at about 900 C, reaching temperatures between 1,250 and 1,350 C. The progress of the reaction to the second stage is sensitive to the alloy composition and reaction environment. The reaction behavior is explained in terms of thermodynamics and heat transfer, which control the delicate balance between beat accumulation and heat loss during reaction synthesis.
Global News Flows: Dependency and Neoimperialism

This article seeks to test certain hypotheses drawn from structural communications theory, hypotheses that tend to support the call for a New World Information Order (NWIO). Structural theorists such as Johan Galtung and NWIO advocates from the Third World have charged that developing nations are dependent upon the West for international news. News dependency, in turn, is said to lead to the adoption of Western news values and subsequent cultural imperialism in the South. Finally, news dependency is said to be neocolonial in the sense that information flows through “vertical” channels (from North to South) and within distinct spheres of communication hegemony. These claims are tested with a news flow study drawn from African and Latin American dailies. Results of the empirical tests show that the Third World is dependent on Western agencies for the bulk of its international news, and that Third World newspapers reflect the news values of Western prestige dailies. Nonaligned newswires, however, are shown t...
Learning to coordinate behaviors

We describe an algorithm which allows a behavior-based robot to learn on the basis of positive and negative feedback when to activate its behaviors. In accordance with the philosophy of behavior-based robots, the algorithm is completely distributed: each of the behaviors independently tries to sensors find out (i) whether it is relevant (i.e. whether it is at all correlated to positive feedback) and (ii) what the conditions are under which it becomes reliable (i.e. the conditions under which it maximises the probability of receiving positive feedback and minimises the probability of receiving negative feedback). The algorithm has been tested successfully on an autonomous 6-legged robot which had to learn how to coordinate its legs so as to walk forward.
Local interactions and the role of the 6-120 disulfide bond in α-lactalbumin: implications for formation of the molten globule state

Molten globule states are partially folded states of proteins which are compact and contain a high degree of secondary structure but which lack many of the fixed tertiary interactions associated with the native state. A set of peptides has been prepared in order to probe the role of local interactions in the vicinity of the Cys(6)-Cys(120) disulfide bond in stabilizing the molten globule state of human alpha-lactalbumin. Peptides derived from the N-terminal and C-terminal regions of human alpha-lactalbumin have been analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance, circular dichroism, fluorescence spectroscopy and sedimentation equilibrium experiments. A peptide corresponding to the first helical region in the native protein, residues 1-13, is only slightly helical in isolation. Extending the peptide to include residues 14-18 results in a modest increase in helicity. A peptide derived from the C-terminal 12 residues, residues 112-123, is predominantly unstructured. Crosslinking the N- and C-terminal peptides by the native disulfide bond results in almost no increase in structure and there is no evidence for any significant cooperative structure formation over the range of pH 2.2-11.7. These results demonstrate that there is very little enhancement of local structure due to the formation of the Cys(6)-Cys(120) disulfide bond. This is in striking contrast to peptides derived from the region of the Cys(28)-Cys(111) disulfide.
Glutathione Is Present in Reproductive Tract Secretions and Improves Development of Mouse Embryos after Chemically Induced Glutathione Depletion

We investigated the hypothesis that reduced glutathione (GSH) is present in secretions of the female reproductive tract and that this extracellular GSH may protect preimplantation mouse embryos after intracellular GSH depletion. The cleavage-stage mouse embryo cannot synthesize GSH de novo and is unable to recover from glutathione depletion in vitro. Analysis of GSH and total protein of oviduct flushings, quantified by HPLC and the Bradford method, respectively, revealed 51 nmol GSH per mg total protein. Embryos were treated with 60 microM diethyl maleate (DEM) to deplete cellular GSH. When cultured with 1 mM GSH, these embryos exhibited improved development compared to those cultured in control medium (96% vs. 87% morula [p < 0.05], 78% vs. 75% blastocyst, 58% vs. 54% expanded blastocyst, 21% vs. 17% initiating hatching blastocyst). However, intracellular GSH content of embryos was not significantly increased by the culture of DEM-treated embryos in medium containing GSH for 16, 40, or 64 h of incubation, suggesting that the embryo is not capable of taking up intact GSH. Furthermore, addition of buthionine sulfoximine (which inhibits synthesis of GSH) or acivicin (which inhibits breakdown of GSH at the membrane) to culture medium blocked the improvement in development. These data suggest that GSH in reproductive tract fluid may help protect preimplantation embryos from the adverse effects of toxicant-induced and endogenous depletion of embryonic GSH.
The Sleep History and Physical

Patients reporting sleep-wake-related symptoms should be evaluated with a comprehensive and broad-based history, physical exam, and mental status exam that will establish a differential diagnosis and direct further investigations and treatment. The sleep history should include an elucidation of the chief complaint, details of an individual’s sleep-wake cycle and any nighttime and daytime symptoms, comorbid conditions, and a review of any medications or substances that might affect sleep. A current review of systems should further help identify symptoms of sleep disorders and commonly comorbid medical and psychiatric disorders. The routine physical exam should be supplemented by special attention to the upper airway and cardiovascular system because of the high prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing. The mental status examination may identify relevant psychiatric symptoms. Sleep logs are diaries that often are beneficial in assessing sleep-wake cycle patterns and in monitoring treatment efficacy.
Human Gut Bacteria Are Sensitive to Melatonin and Express Endogenous Circadian Rhythmicity.

Circadian rhythms are fundamental properties of most eukaryotes, but evidence of biological clocks that drive these rhythms in prokaryotes has been restricted to Cyanobacteria. In vertebrates, the gastrointestinal system expresses circadian patterns of gene expression, motility and secretion in vivo and in vitro, and recent studies suggest that the enteric microbiome is regulated by the host’s circadian clock. However, it is not clear how the host’s clock regulates the microbiome. Here, we demonstrate at least one species of commensal bacterium from the human gastrointestinal system, Enterobacter aerogenes, is sensitive to the neurohormone melatonin, which is secreted into the gastrointestinal lumen, and expresses circadian patterns of swarming and motility. Melatonin specifically increases the magnitude of swarming in cultures of E. aerogenes, but not in Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae. The swarming appears to occur daily, and transformation of E. aerogenes with a flagellar motor-protein driven lux plasmid confirms a temperature-compensated circadian rhythm of luciferase activity, which is synchronized in the presence of melatonin. Altogether, these data demonstrate a circadian clock in a non-cyanobacterial prokaryote and suggest the human circadian system may regulate its microbiome through the entrainment of bacterial clocks.
The Universe as a Quantum Computer

This article presents a sequential growth model for the universe that acts like a quantum computer. The basic constituents of the model are a special type of causal set (causet) called a $c$-causet. A $c$-causet is defined to be a causet that is independent of its labeling. We characterize $c$-causets as those causets that form a multipartite graph or equivalently those causets whose elements are comparable whenever their heights are different. We show that a $c$-causet has precisely two $c$-causet offspring. It follows that there are $2^n$ $c$-causets of cardinality $n+1$. This enables us to classify $c$-causets of cardinality $n+1$ in terms of $n$-bits. We then quantize the model by introducing a quantum sequential growth process. This is accomplished by replacing the $n$-bits by $n$-qubits and defining transition amplitudes for the growth transitions. We mainly consider two types of processes called stationary and completely stationary. We show that for stationary processes, the probability operators are tensor products of positive rank-1 qubit operators. Moreover, the converse of this result holds. Simplifications occur for completely stationary processes. We close with examples of precluded events.
The chromium isotope composition of reducing and oxic marine sediments

The chromium (Cr) isotope composition of marine sediments has the potential to provide new insights into the evolution of Earth-surface redox conditions. There are significant but poorly constrained isotope fractionations associated with oxidative subaerial weathering and riverine transport, the major source of seawater Cr, and with partial Cr reduction during burial in marine sediments, the major sink for seawater Cr. A more comprehensive understanding of these processes is needed to establish global Cr isotope mass balance and to gauge the utility of Cr isotopes as a paleoredox proxy. For these purposes, we investigated the Cr isotope composition of reducing sediments from the upwelling zone of the Peru Margin and the deep Cariaco Basin. Chromium is present in marine sediments in both detrital and authigenic phases, and to estimate the isotopic composition of the authigenic fraction, we measured δ53Cr on a weakly acid-leached fraction in addition to the bulk sediment. In an effort to examine potential variability in the Cr isotope composition of the detrital fraction, we also measured δ53Cr on a variety of oxic marine sediments that contain minimal authigenic Cr. The average δ53Cr value of the oxic sediments examined here is −0.05 ± 0.10‰ (2σ, n = 25), which is within the range of δ53Cr values characteristic of the bulk silicate Earth. This implies that uncertainty in estimates of authigenic δ53Cr values based on bulk sediment analyses is mainly linked to estimation of the ratio of Cr in detrital versus authigenic phases, rather than to the Cr-isotopic composition of the detrital pool. Leaches of Cariaco Basin sediments have an average δ53Cr value of +0.38 ± 0.10‰ (2σ, n = 7), which shows no dependency on sample location within the basin and is close to that of Atlantic deepwater Cr (∼+0.5‰). This suggests that authigenic Cr in anoxic sediments may reliably reflect the first-order Cr isotope composition of deepwaters. For Peru Margin samples, the average δ53Cr values of bulk sediments (+0.59 ± 0.06‰; 2σ) and leach fractions (+0.61 ± 0.06‰; 2σ) are also comparable with those of Cariaco Basin samples and modern deepwater values. Finally, we found that the δ53Cr of Peru Margin samples correlates with δ15N on glacial–interglacial timescales, which we attribute to secular variation in basinal or global-ocean redox conditions. Thus, the δ53Cr stratigraphic record of Peru Margin sediments indicates that Cr isotopes may be suited to tracking geologically short-term changes in ocean oxygenation.
EPISTASIS AND THE EVOLUTION OF ADDITIVE GENETIC VARIANCE IN POPULATIONS THAT PASS THROUGH A BOTTLENECK

Traditional models of genetic drift predict a linear decrease in additive genetic variance for populations passing through a bottleneck. This perceived lack of heritable variance limits the scope of founder-effect models of speciation. We produced 55 replicate bottleneck populations maintained at two male-female pairs through four generations of inbreeding (average F = 0.39). These populations were formed from an F2 intercross of the LG/J and SM/J inbred mouse strains. Two contemporaneous control strains maintained with more than 60 mating pairs per generation were formed from this same source population. The average level of within-strain additive genetic variance for adult body weight was compared between the control and experimental lines. Additive genetic variance for adult body weight within experimental bottleneck strains was significantly higher than expected under an additive genetic model This enhancement of additive genetic variance under inbreeding is likely to be due to epistasis, which retards or reverses the loss of additive genetic variance under inbreeding for adult body weight in this population. Therefore, founder-effect speciation processes may not be constrained by a loss of heritable variance due to population bottlenecks.
Development of User Interface Guidelines for Multi-Functional, In-House-Developed Information Systems

User interface guidelines were developed for Los Alamos National Laboratory information systems to satisfy several needs: (1) to provide users with consistency between systems, (2) to provide programmers with the tools that they needed to speed the development process, and (3) to distill existing knowledge in the literature regarding effective user system interface design and target it specifically to our hardware, software, applications, and user populations. The significance of the guidelines lies in the development and implementation processes used. The guidelines are flexible and subject to frequent revision, yet have resulted in a significant increase in consistency from subsystem to subsystem.
Manufacturing of Microcomputer Synthetic Protection Platform for Distribution Network

A new type microcomputer protection platform suitable for distribution network was raised. The hardware design adopted double CPU structure, "DSPMCU", giving full play to strong data processing ability of DSP and event management ability of MCU and meeting the requirements of distribution network for protection devices. The μClinux embedded real-time operation system was introduced to the microcomputer protection platform. The manufactured protection device is reasonable in design, being able to meet related technical index requirements of protection with high accuracy and high speed communication features, which completely meets the demand of distribution network automation.
Long-term survival with partial left heart bypass following perioperative myocardial infarction and shock.

During the period from July 1, 1978 to Dec. 31, 1980, we employed a partial left heart bypass (left atrium to ascending aorta) in 16 patients who could not be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass with inotropic agents and the intra-aortic balloon pump. Flow rates up to 3,500 ml/min could be obtained with this device. Eight of the 16 patients survived and left the hospital. One patient died of a cardiac arrest 4 months postoperatively and one has recurrent angina and moderate congestive heart failure 24 months postoperatively. Six patients are well 5 to 17 months after discharge. Seven of the eight deaths were characterized by progressive myocardial failure. One patient died of ventricular fibrillation 18 hours after discontinuation of the left heart bypass. All survivors had significant improvement in ventricular function 12 to 24 hours after institution of the left heart bypass, which was continued for 16 to 68 hours. These results indicate that early institution of left heart bypass in seriously ill patients can provide satisfactory long-term results.
Beyond type 2 diabetes, obesity and hypertension: An axis including sleep apnea, left ventricular hypertrophy, endothelial dysfunction, and aortic stiffness among Mexican Americans in Starr County, Texas

There is an increasing appreciation for a series of less traditional risk factors that should not be ignored when considering type 2 diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. These include aortic stiffness, cardiac structure, impaired endothelial function and obstructive sleep apnea. They are associated to varying degrees with each disease categorization and with each other. It is not clear whether they represent additional complications, concomitants or antecedents of disease. Starr County, Texas, with its predominantly Mexican American population has been shown previously to bear a disproportionate burden of the major disease categories, but little is known about the distribution of these less traditional factors. Type 2 diabetes, obesity and hypertension frequencies were determined through a systematic survey of Starr County conducted from 2002 to 2006. Individuals from this examination and an enriched set with type 2 diabetes were re-examined from 2010 to 2014 including assessment of cardiac structure, sleep apnea, endothelial function and aortic stiffness. Individual and combined frequencies of these inter-related (i.e., axis) conditions were estimated and associations evaluated. Household screening of 5230 individuals aged 20 years and above followed by direct physical assessment of 1610 identified 23.7 % of men and 26.7 % of women with type 2 diabetes, 46.2 and 49.5 % of men and women, respectively with obesity and 32.1 and 32.4 % with hypertension. Evaluation of pulse wave velocity, left ventricular mass, endothelial function and sleep apnea identified 22.3, 12.7, 48.6 and 45.2 % of men as having “at risk” values for each condition, respectively. Corresponding numbers in women were 16.0, 17.9, 23.6 and 28.8 %. Cumulatively, 88 % of the population has one or more of these while 50 % have three or more. The full axis of conditions is high among Mexican Americans in Starr County, Texas. Individual and joint patterns suggest a genesis well before overt disease. Whether they are all mediated by common underlying factors or whether there exist multiple mechanisms remains to be seen.
P114 Validation of high resolution HLA typing using NXTypeTM Ion-Torrent next generation sequencing. The University of Miami experience

Aim HLA typing using next generation sequencing (NGS) takes the Sanger based sequencing HLA typing to a higher dimension. The technology permits multiplexing of several target regions and various samples in a single run. The advantages of this technology include high throughput, improved DNA sequencing accuracy and faster data analysis. Our aim was validate the NXTypeTM Ion-Torrent NGS HLA typing procedure to implement it in our clinical laboratory. Methods 214 samples were analyzed with NXType™ Ion-Torrent NGS and compared to high resolution typing obtained by Sanger sequencing. HLA Class I (full HLA-A, -B, and -C genes) and HLA Class II (Exon 2 thru intron 3 of HLA-DR and HLA-DQ, and Exon 2 thru 3’UTR of HLA-DP) were amplified with NXType™ Class I and Class II primers set, respectively. Amplicons were fragmented with Ion Shear™ Plus Reagents Kit to sizes from 350 to 950bp. Libraries were enriched in OneTouch ES and run in an Ion PGM™. Data was analyzed with HLATypeStream (v1.0.0.86) software. Results We obtained good coverage of the target regions when multiplexing 24 samples per run using a 318™ v2 chip. Of the 1070 alleles analyzed (214 samples), 143 were homozygous and 927 heterozygous. The concordance between Sanger sequencing results and NGS was 99.2%, 99.6%, 99.8%, 100% and 99.8% for loci A, B, C, DRB1 and DQB1, respectively. The number of different alleles identified for loci A, B, C, DRB1 and DQB1 were 40, 69, 36, 42, and 18, respectively. Our results revealed that 269 NMDP codes reported by Sanger sequencing were resolved by NGS, except 3 codes in DRB1 because of mismatches present in exons 1 or 4, which are not targeted by NXType™ Class II primers. We found two new alleles in exons (A ∗ 24, exon 1 and C ∗ 01, exon 2) and variations in intronic regions of 46 alleles. All null alleles A ∗ 68:11N (10), B ∗ 15:01N (11) and C ∗ 04:09N/B ∗ 44:03 (3) seen by Sanger were resolved by NGS. Conclusions The NGS is a reliable and accurate method to determine HLA typing of a considerable number of samples relatively fast, solving most allele ambiguities (98.7%) without the need of alternative tests. We confirmed that NXTypeTM Ion-Torrent NGS is a suitable and quick method for routine use in clinical laboratories to obtain complete ultra-high-resolution HLA typing that ultimately will improve on current HLA matching for transplant.
Isolation of an ILR1 auxin conjugate hydrolase homolog from Arabidopsis suecica

We have isolated a homolog of the Arabidopsisthaliana IAA amidohydrolase ILR1 from the related speciesArabidopsis suecica. Employing PCR primers targeted to the5′ and 3′ untranslated regions of ILR1, A.suecica produced an amplified, genomic product (sILR1) of 2027 bp. Thecloned sILR1 gene was sequenced, and the DNA homology between sILR1 and ILR1found to be 98%. The sILR1 cDNA was isolated using RT-PCR, cloned and sequenced.The sILR1 cDNA was found to have 98% homology to its homolog ILR1 both at theDNA and amino acid level. The sILR1 mRNA transcript was found to be expressed inA. suecica tissues at ages 5, 10, and 15 days.Additionally, primers, designed to a ∼300 bp domain conserved in bacterial andplant amidohydrolases, were used to amplify a product from seven members of theBrassicaceae family (A. suecica, A. pumila, A.himalaica, A. griffithiana, A. wallichii, Draba nemoroza andCapsella bursa-pastoris), Lycopersiconesculentum, and two monocot species (Zea maysand Allium cepa) using PCR; this result suggests similargenes may be characterized in other species.
A domain decomposition method for solving the Pennes' bioheat transfer in a 3D triple-layered skin structure

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a domain decomposition method for solving the 3D Pennes' bioheat equation in a triple-layered skin structure composed of epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous. The Pennes' bioheat transfer equation is discretized using the Crank–Nicholson scheme. The obtained linear system is solved using a preconditioned Richardson iteration, which transfers the 3D linear system to a tridiagonal linear system obtained based on the fact that the grid size in the thickness direction is much smaller than the grid sizes in both the length and width directions. To simplify the computation, a domain decomposition algorithm is obtained based on a parallel “divide and conquer” procedure for solving tridiagonal linear systems. Numerical results for thermal analysis of a skin composed of epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous layers are obtained.
Pollination Reservoirs in Lowbush Blueberry (Ericales: Ericaceae)

Pollinator-dependent agriculture heavily relies upon a single pollinator—the honey bee. To diversify pollination strategies, growers are turning to alternatives. Densely planted reservoirs of pollen- and nectar-rich flowers (pollination reservoirs, hereafter “PRs”) may improve pollination services provided by wild bees. Our focal agroecosystem, lowbush blueberry ( Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton), exists in a simple landscape uniquely positioned to benefit from PRs. First, we contrast bee visitation rates and use of three types of PR. We consider the effects of PRs on wild bee diversity and the composition of bumble bee pollen loads. We contrast field-level crop pollination services between PRs and controls four years postestablishment. Last, we calculate the time to pay for PR investment. Social bees preferentially used clover plantings; solitary bees preferentially used wildflower plantings. On average, bumble bee pollen loads in treatment fields contained 37% PR pollen. PRs significantly increased visitation rates to the crop in year 4, and exerted a marginally significant positive influence on fruit set. The annualized costs of PRs were covered by the fourth year using the measured increase in pollination services. Our findings provide evidence of the positive impact of PRs on crop pollination services.
Tutorial 2B: CMOS integrated system on a chip for neural interface applications

The last decade has seen an explosion in research efforts which attempt to miniaturize rack-mounted, neural interface electronics to a form that is easily implantable for in vivo applications. Commensurate with this trend, neural scientist and engineers are demanding higher performance electronics for neural stimulation, recording, encoding, communication and energy harvesting, all in the context of a closed-loop neural interface. Single-chip integration of all the desired electronics appears to be the obvious solution for practical Bidirectional Brain Computer Interfaces (BBCI). However, challenges remain to realize a closed-loop neural interface which must utilize minimal energy, produce high voltages and suppress unwanted spurious signals which are created by “simulation artifacts.” This presentation will start with an overview of integrated neural interface electronics and conclude with a description of some recent work conducted at University of Washington's Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering (CSNE).
BDNF Val66Met polymorphism tunes frontolimbic circuitry during affective contextual learning

Adaptive learning impairments are common in cognitive and behavioral disorders, but the neurogenetic mechanisms supporting human affective learning are poorly understood. We designed a higher-order contextual learning task in which healthy participants genotyped for the Val66Met polymorphism of the brain derived neurotropic factor gene (BDNF) were required to choose the member of a picture pair most congruent with the emotion in a previously-viewed facial expression video in order to produce an advantageous monetary outcome. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) identified frontolimbic blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) reactivity that was associated with BDNF Val66Met genotype during all three phases of the learning task: aversive and reward-predictive learning, contextually-challenging decision-making, and choice-related monetary loss-avoidance and gain outcomes. Relative to Val homozygotes, Met carriers showed attenuated ventromedial prefrontal response to predictive affective cues, dorsolateral prefrontal signaling that depended on decision difficulty, and enhanced ventromedial prefrontal reactivity that was specific to loss-avoidance. These findings indicate that the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism is associated with functional tuning of behaviorally-relevant frontolimbic circuitry, particularly involving the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, during higher-order learning.
Survival of Termites (Isoptera) Exposed to Various Levels of Relative Humidity (RH) and Water Availability, and Their RH Preferences

Abstract Termites (Isoptera) are widely believed to be one of the most desiccation-prone insects. They must combat desiccation by locating and efficiently conserving water resources. Termites have evolved morphological, physiological, and behavioral characteristics that aid in the tolerance of desiccation. In 3 studies using 4 termite species, water loss tolerance and relative humidity (RH) preferences of termites exposed to 5 different RH, as well as the use of different water sources, were examined. Our results showed that Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Rhinotermitidae) preferred and survived better at high RH and with readily available water sources. Neotermes jouteli (Banks in Banks and Snyder) (Kalotermitidae) also preferred a high RH, but was more capable of tolerating lower RH and a lack of free water than C. formosanus. Cryptotermes brevis Walker (Kalotermitidae) and Cryptotermes cavifrons Banks (Kalotermitidae) did not exhibit greater survival in a certain RH nor when exposed to various sources ...
Outcomes of Subfascial, Suprafascial, and Super-Thin Anterolateral Thigh Flaps: Tailoring Thickness without Added Morbidity.

Background Subfascial anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap thickness can be problematic with regards to bulk, oral competence, shoe-fit, or as a potential source of recurrent wound breakdown. We have utilized distinct upper thigh fascial planes to fashion thin (suprafascial) or super-thin (periscarpal) ALT flaps to improve surface topography. We compared outcomes based on ALT flap thickness to determine any significant differences in extremity coverage and reconstruction. Methods Analysis was completed on patients who consecutively underwent ALT free tissue transfer at a single institution from May 2012 to January 2017. Patient's operative, and postoperative characteristics were evaluated. Univariate analysis determined differences among matching as well as functional outcomes. A multivariable regression identified independent risk factors associated with patient, donor site, and flap complications. Results Fifty-one patients met inclusion criteria. Of these, 16 (31.4%) underwent traditional subfascial ALT flaps, and 35 (68.6%) underwent suprafascial (N = 23) or super-thin (N = 12) flaps. Thin flap patients were more likely to use tobacco (42.9% versus 6.3%; p 0.05). In subgroup analysis, diabetes mellitus was an independent risk factor for donor site morbidity (odds ratio [OR] = 1.23; p = 0.027) for all groups, whereas tobacco use and obesity (body mass index [BMI] > 30) failed to significantly alter outcomes independently. Conclusions Tailoring ALT thickness can be performed safely without compromising flap outcomes or patient morbidity. Suprafascial and super-thin ALTs allowed for safe, precise solutions for tissue coverage.
Hierarchical distributed coordination strategy of connected and automated vehicles at multiple intersections

ABSTRACTIn this paper, we present a hierarchical distributed coordination strategy for connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) that are travelling through multiple unsignalized intersections. The control strategy focuses on the improvement of vehicle fuel efficiency and system mobility. In presence of wireless communication among the involved CAVs and the intersection controllers, our coordination strategy focuses on leading the CAVs travel through a road network without conventional traffic light control and ensuring collision avoidance at the intersection areas. We propose a three-layered coordination strategy in this paper. First, we evaluate the road desired average velocity considering both upstream and downstream traffic to speed up the traffic density balance. Second, the intersection controllers optimally assign reference velocity to each vehicle based on the minimization of velocity deviation from its current velocity and collision avoidance at the intersections. Finally, fast model predictive co...
The Structure of Consulting Cases

A classic dilemma for consulting practitioners is how much to rely on pre-defined frameworks. When does a structure stop qualifying for one size fits all and start reinventing the wheel? How to strike a right balance?
Procalcitonin-Guided Antibiotic Therapy Reduces Antibiotic Use for Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in a United States Medical Center: Results of a Clinical Trial

Background European trials using procalcitonin (PCT)-guided antibiotic therapy for patients with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) have demonstrated significant reductions in antibiotic use without increasing adverse outcomes. Few studies have examined PCT for LRTIs in the United States. Methods In this study, we evaluated whether a PCT algorithm would reduce antibiotic exposure in patients with LRTI in a US hospital. We conducted a controlled pre-post trial comparing an intervention group of PCT-guided antibiotic therapy to a control group of usual care. Consecutive patients admitted to medicine services and receiving antibiotics for LRTI were enrolled in the intervention. Providers were encouraged to discontinue antibiotics according to a PCT algorithm. Control patients were similar patients admitted before the intervention. Results The primary endpoint was median antibiotic duration. Overall adverse outcomes at 30 days comprised death, transfer to an intensive care unit, antibiotic side effects, Clostridium difficile infection, disease-specific complications, and post-discharge antibiotic prescription for LRTI. One hundred seventy-four intervention patients and 200 controls were enrolled. Providers complied with the PCT algorithm in 75% of encounters. Procalcitonin-guided therapy reduced median antibiotic duration for pneumonia from 7 days to 6 (P = .045) and acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) from 4 days to 3 (P = .01). There was no difference in the rate of adverse outcomes in the PCT and control groups. Conclusions A PCT-guided algorithm safely reduced the duration of antibiotics for treating LRTI. Utilization of a PCT algorithm may aid antibiotic stewardship efforts.This clinical trial was a single-center, controlled, pre-post study of PCT-guided antibiotic therapy for LRTI. The intervention (incorporation of PCT-guided algorithms) started on April 1, 2017: the preintervention (control group) comprised patients admitted from November 1, 2016 to April 16, 2017, and the postintervention group comprised patients admitted from April 17, 2017 to November 29, 2017 (Supplementary Figure 1). The study comprised patients admitted to the internal medicine services to a medical ward, the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU), the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU), or the Progressive Care Unit (PCU) "step down unit". The registration data for the trails are in the ClinicalTrials.gov database, number NCT0310910.
Presenting Their Gendered Selves? How Women and Men Describe Who They Are, What They Have Done, and Why They Want the Job in Their Written Applications

Occupational segregation is due, at least in part, to differences in what jobs women and men apply to and how they are evaluated. However, we know little about one mechanism that may relate to employers’ evaluations and, therefore, to occupational segregation: how applicants present themselves to employers. Theories of gender presentation offer competing predictions of how applicants present themselves to employers and empirical studies have not fully examined the issue. We address this theoretical ambiguity and empirical gap by drawing upon 1124 randomly selected applications that U.S. women and men used to apply for the same high-status job. After conducting a content analysis, we found that women and men present themselves similarly in terms of why they want the job and what experiences they have, but differently in terms of who they are and what information they divulge. We conclude that different aspects of applications correspond to different theories of gender presentation, but that most of the evidence supports a perspective of minimal gender differences. The present study implies that one way to combat occupational segregation that occurs due to employers’ essentialist beliefs is to point them to how women and men actually present themselves in their applications.
C. elegans LRP-2 functions in vulval precursor cell polarity.

The C. elegans vulva is formed from divisions of three vulval precursor cells (VPCs) – P5.p, P6.p, and P7.p – arranged along the anteroposterior axis in the ventral epithelium (Sulston and Horvitz, 1977). Previous analyses show the orientation of P5.p and P7.p descendants is determined by the interaction of multiple Wnt signals. Specifically, in the absence of all Wnts, the VPCs display a randomized orientation, which is likely the default (Green et al., 2008; Minor et al. 2013). Two separate Wnts from the anchor cell, LIN-44 and MOM-2 acting through receptors LIN-17/Frizzled and LIN-18/Ryk, respectively, regulate P7.p orientation (Ferguson et al., 1987; Sternberg and Horvitz, 1988; Sawa et al., 1996; Inoue et al., 2004; Gleason et al., 2006). In the absence of these signals the orientation of the progeny of P7.p mimic those of P5.p and face toward the posterior of the worm, a phenotype referred to as posterior-reversed vulval lineage (P-Rvl). This posterior orientation is dependent on the instructive signal EGL-20, a Wnt expressed in the tail acting through CAM-1/ROR and VANG-1/Van Gogh, and is referred to as “ground polarity” (Green et al., 2008). Here we examine the role of a low-density lipoprotein receptor, lrp-2, and its role in controlling the orientation of P7.p daughter cells. To investigate this interaction double mutants were constructed with both alleles of lrp-2 and lin-17(n671) (Table 1). Much like cam-1(gm122) and vang-1(ok1142), both alleles of lrp-2 suppress the lin-17(n671) phenotype from 74 to approximately 50% P-Rvl leading us to hypothesize that lrp-2 functions in the same pathway as cam-1 and vang-1. Furthering this hypothesis we have shown that, like cam-1 and vang-1, lrp-2 controls the localization of SYS-1/b-catenin (Minor and Sternberg, 2019). To ensure that this phenotype was a result of loss of lrp-2 function as opposed to background effects we injected a fosmid (WRM0617cA02) containing the full-length sequence of lrp-2 and found that it does rescue the double mutant phenotype of lin-17(n671); lrp-2(gk272) from 55 to 73%. In order to better test this hypothesis a triple mutant was constructed between lin-17(n671), lrp-2(gk272), and cam-1(gm122) (Table 1). This triple mutant displays the same P-Rvl penetrance as both the lin-17(n671); lrp-2(gk272) and lin-17(n671); cam-1(gm122) double mutants confirming that lrp-2 functions in the same pathway as cam-1.