cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Building the infrastructure for the virtual observatory

The goal of the virtual observatory is to provide seamless, efficient access to astronomical data archives, catalogs, bibliographic services, and computational resources worldwide. This goal can be realized only through the development of a sophisticated information technology infrastructure. The infrastructure must accommodate the integration of diverse data types from potentially thousands of sites and services, capitalizing on emerging computational grid technologies for resource allocation and management. This paper describes the major IT challenges facing the virtual observatory and suggests a middleware architecture capable of supporting its scientific objectives.
Estrogenic activity of the bis (γ -methylthiobutyryl) ester of diethylstilbestrol

Abstract The bis (γ -methylthiobutyryl) ester of diethylstilbestrol possessed higher estrogenic activity than diethylstilbestrol based on mouse uterine bioassays. A similar comparison of these hormones in young female broiler chicks resulted in approximately the same stimulation of oviduct development, but the ester did not cause hypertrophy of the liver nor did it elevate plasma lipids to the degree found with diethylstilbestrol.
Synthesis of shape morphing compliant mechanisms using load path representation

Synthesis of shape morphing compliant mechanism is inherently different from typical single output problems, due to the multiple output points along the morphing boundary. Two synthesis approaches, using a fixed initial discretization mesh and using a load path representation, have been developed previously to simultaneously address the topology, size, and geometry aspects of a compliant mechanism. Due to insufficient diversity in later generations, pre-matured convergence to sub-optimal solution is observed in the load path approach. In this paper, additional genetic operation strategies are introduced to enhance the design diversity in each Genetic Algorithm population. The capabilities and limitations of the fixed mesh approach and the improved load path approach are studied through several examples. The results show that the load path approach can achieve better quality solution with less computation time than the fixed mesh approach. The load path representation can potentially lead to a fully systematic synthesis approach due to the absence of a prespecified initial discretization mesh. Boundary conditions are currently being incorporated into the design variable to understand their importance in structural topology.
Are voluntary muscle activation deficits in older adults meaningful

The relationship between the central activation ratio (CAR) and contraction force is curvilinear, not linear as was previously believed. Voluntary quadriceps femoris muscle activation from previously collected data sets in 46 older adults (64–84 years) and 46 young adults (18–32 years) were therefore reexamined using a curvilinear model of the voluntary muscle activation–percent maximum voluntary force relationship. This method revealed lower voluntary muscle activation in older adults (0.868 ± 0.018) than younger subjects (0.978 ± 0.005). The mean difference between older and younger adults was 11%, which may be more meaningful than previous reports of 2–4% because it could explain the greater rate of strength loss as compared to loss of muscle mass as humans age. Muscle Nerve 27: 99–101, 2003
Marxism and Communism in Twentieth-Century Mexico

In spite of the significance of the Mexican political left, which has surged in recent years, little information has been available to English-language readers. In this important book Barry Carr describes the Mexican leftist movement's attempts to come to grips with the Mexican Revolution of 1910-20 and the ruling party that resulted, and its own efforts to radicalize and organize Mexican workers. Carr offers intriguing new material on the Mexican Communist party's international relations, especially with its counterpart in the United States, and on the Mexican background to the assassination of Leon Trotsky in 1940. He also examines the non-Communist left as it has emerged since 1960. Based on archival sources, "Marxism and Communism in Twentieth-Century Mexico" is the first study of the entire spectrum of the Mexican left to appear in any language.
The economic theory of the household and impact measurement of nutrition and related health programs

This paper conveys in broad terms an economist's approach to concepts and measurement of nutrition and related health programs. It is an outgrowth of an interdisciplinary research project involving the School of International Health of the Johns Hopkins University and the Development Economics Department of the World Bank. This project, which summarized the Narangwal intervention experiment in India, and policy interventions in general gave rise to the need for laying out informally the conceptual framework of the economic theory of the household and the relevance of this theory to evaluation research in nutrition. This paper is an attempt to meet this need by outlining, with no loss of generality, how this theory and its statistical adjunct--econometrics--can be used for suggesting testable hypotheses concerning program impact, defining outcome measures, and measuring program impact.
DYNAMIC RESPONSES OF TRANSMISSION TOWER-LINE SYSTEM UNDER ICE SHEDDING

Ice shedding from conductors may easily induce electrical and mechanical accidents, which cause a serious threat to the safe operation of transmission lines. In this paper, a 3D finite element model of tower-conductor-ground wire-insulator system was established in ANSYS, and the dynamic responses of ice shedding under different cases were analyzed for a transmission tower-line system. The computed jumping heights are in excellent agreement with the experimental values of a two span conductors model. Many variables were considered in the ice-shedding simulations that include tower-line coupled effect, phase combination of the ice-shedding conductors, thickness of the accreted ice, length of the ice-shedding span as well as elevation difference. Influences of all the variables on the dynamic responses of jumping heights, loads at the end of insulators and the forces of transmission tower were studied. Ice-shedding simulations of an actual 500 kV transmission line section which experience failure under ice shedding in 2008 were performed. The results show that stress ratios of members at the tower head under design ice thickness exceed the limiting values when the amount of shedding ice is large. For ice shedding at the top phase conductors, the jumping height and unbalanced tension at the end of insulator can be reduced by applying interphase spacers in triangular arrangement. The tower is in a safe state under the load of the design ice thickness. In order to prevent ice-shedding accidents, interphase spacers should be used, and the weak members at the tower head should be strengthened according to the calculated load values at the end of insulators.
The foreign body response to the Utah Slant Electrode Array in the cat sciatic nerve.

Abstract As the field of neuroprosthetic research continues to grow, studies describing the foreign body reaction surrounding chronic indwelling electrodes or microelectrode arrays will be critical for assessing biocompatibility. Of particular importance is the reaction surrounding penetrating microelectrodes that are used to stimulate and record from peripheral nerves used for prosthetic control, where such studies on axially penetrating electrodes are limited. Using the Utah Slant Electrode Array and a variety of histological methods, we investigated the foreign body response to the implanted array and its surrounding silicone cuff over long indwelling periods in the cat sciatic nerve. We observed that implanted nerves were associated with increased numbers of activated macrophages at the implant site, as well as distal to the implant, at all time points examined, with the longest observation being 350 days after implantation. We found that implanted cat sciatic nerves undergo a compensatory regenerative response after the initial injury that is accompanied by shifts in nerve fiber composition toward nerve fibers of smaller diameter and evidence of axons growing around microelectrode shafts. Nerve fibers located in fascicles that were not penetrated by the array or were located more than a few hundred microns from the implant appeared normal when examined over the course of a year-long indwelling period.
ON 3-CLASS GROUPS OF CERTAIN PURE CUBIC FIELDS

Recently Calegari and Emerton made a conjecture about the 3-class groups of certain pure cubic fields and their normal closures. This paper proves their conjecture and provides additional insight into the structure of the 3-class groups of pure cubic fields and their normal closures.
Error Patterns Measured On Transequatorial HF Communication Links

As part of the MITRE Corporation's program for improvement of HF communication, the performance of coding and a means for evaluating coding equipment has been presented. It is, however, preferable to have a channel model upon which various error control techniques can be tried out as opposed to the direct approach, which is available only to the possessor of the data. This paper has been developed with the intention of presenting both the traditional channel modeling statistics (consecutive error distributions and gap distributions) and a set of new statistics against which modeling can be performed, The error statistics incurred in the transmission of high-frequency digital data at rates of from 600 to 2400 bit/s over various paths of the Eastern Test Range are presented herein. The data was transmitted on and parallel to the range using various modulation systems (modems). It is demonstrated that the errors occur in nonrandom fashion and in some cases are periodic. These error patterns (especially the periodic ones) present a new important problem for channel modeling of HF data From a heavily-used transequatorial circuit. While the basic approach is not new, the characteristics of the data are different from those previously reported and imply that channel performance is relatively independent of modulation technique. The error statistics presented herein should assist those, not having direct access to the data, who are interested in the problem of modeling this data which does not fit any known model (e.g. Gilbert, Berkovits, and Pareto[2]-[4]). Until such a model is available, this author will continue to report on error control performance using the direct simulation approach.
Aortic stenosis and coronary artery disease: What do we know? What don't we know? A comprehensive review of the literature with proposed treatment algorithms

Aortic valve stenosis is the most common form of valvular heart disease in the elderly population and occurs frequently in conjunction with coronary artery disease. The standard treatment option for patients with these two conditions has been surgical aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting. The arrival of transcatheter aortic valve replacement has considerably shifted the treatment paradigms. Nevertheless, a lot of questions remain unanswered regarding the management of coronary artery disease in the setting of the transcatheter options for severe aortic stenosis. This article includes a comprehensive review of the literature and seeks to describe the actual knowledge on the topic of aortic stenosis and concomitant coronary artery disease.
Interactions between water stress, sun-shade acclimation, heat tolerance and photoinhibition in the sclerophyll Heteromeles arbutifolia

Gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence techniques were used to evaluate the acclimation capacity of the schlerophyll shrub Heteromeles arbutifolia M. Roem. to the multiple co-occurring summer stresses of the California chaparral. We examined the influence of water, heat and high light stresses on the carbon gain and survival of sun and shade seedlings via a factorial experiment involving a slow drying cycle applied to plants grown outdoors during the summer. The photochemical efficiency of PSII exhibited a diurnal, transient decrease ( ΔF/Fm') and a chronic decrease or photoinhibition (Fv/Fm) in plants exposed to full sunlight. Water stress enhanced both transient decreases of ΔF/Fm' and photoinhibition. Effects of decreased ΔF/Fm' and Fv/Fm on carbon gain were observed only in well-watered plants since in waterstressed plants they were overidden by stomatal closure. Reductions in photochemical efficiency and stomatal conductance were observed in all plants exposed to full sunlight, even in those that were well-watered. This suggested that H. arbutifolia sacrificed carbon gain for water conservation and photoprotection (both structurally via shoot architecture and physiologically via down-regulation) and that this response was triggered by a hot and dry atmosphere together with high PFD, before severe water, heat or high PFD stresses occur. We found fast adaptive adjustments of the thermal stability of PSII (diurnal changes) and a superimposed long-term acclimation (days to weeks) to high leaf temperatures. Water stress enhanced resistance of PSII to high temperatures both in the dark and over a wide range of PFD. Low PFD protected photochemical activity against inactivation by heat while high PFD exacerbated damage of PSII by heat. The greater interception of radiation by horizontally restrained leaves relative to the steep leaves of sun-acclimated plants caused photoinhibition and increased leaf temperature. When transpirational cooling was decreased by water stress, leaf temperature surpassed the limits of chloroplast thermostability. The remarkable acclimation of water-stressed plants to high leaf temperatures proved insufficient for the semi-natural environmental conditions of the experiment. Summer stresses characteristic of Mediterranean-type climates (high leaf temperatures in particular) are a potential limiting factor for seedling survival in H. arbutifolia, especially for shade seedlings lacking the crucial structural photoprotection provided by steep leaf angles.
Gross forest cover loss in temperate forests: biome-wide monitoring results using MODIS and Landsat data

The temperate forest is a complex biome due to the diversity of forest types, forest cover change dynamics and forest use management practices. While temperate forests play an important role in the global carbon cycle, their net carbon exchange is uncertain. Quantifying forest cover change is an important step in documenting disturbance regimes and carbon exchange estimates. Biome-wide gross forest cover loss was estimated using a probability-based sampling approach that integrated moderate and high spatial resolution satellite data sets. Area of gross forest cover loss from 2000 to 2005 within the temperate forest biome is estimated to be 1.03% of the total biome area, or 18.41 Mha. Estimated forest cover loss represented a 3.5% reduction in year 2000 forest area. About 68% of the total forest cover loss occurred in Eastern North America and in Europe. The mid-latitude forests of the United States exhibited the highest forest cover loss rates within the biome. Biome-wide rate of gross forest cover loss gradually increased from 2001 to 2005. The lowest change was detected in 2004, followed by the year of the highest change over the 5-year period. The regional forest cover change dynamics were confirmed by official forest fire and timber production statistics. The validation of the MODIS-based product demonstrated its efficiency in forest cover mapping and monitoring. Forest cover change monitoring using the approach presented should bring greater understanding on forest cover dynamics in temperate forests and enable improved carbon accounting.
Calibration of the lick red CCD bandpasses.

Red bandpasses indigenous to the Lick Observatory CCD imaging and photometry are defined and described. A set of primary calibration standards which define the magnitude zero points is presented. Color equations, relating these bandpasses to the other, commonly used photometric systems are evaluated by numerical integration of stellar spectra, and compared to the real data. It is estimated that the present calibration is accurate and consistent to about 2-3 percent as a magnitude predictor, if the primary standards are used; this accuracy is only about 3-5 percent if VR photometry is used for calibration, and only about 5-8 percent if BV photometry is used. (These estimates do not include the errors of measurement). This is sufficient for most scientific applications of data taken in these bandpasses, although it may be improved somewhat in a future work.
The Role of the Food and Drug Administration in Pharmacoeconomic Evaluation during the Drug Development Process

Economic analysis is increasingly being integrated into Phase III clinical trials. In 1995, the Clinical Economics Research Unit of Georgetown University Medical Center implemented a survey to assess the use of pharmacoeconomic data in the clinical development process. This survey gathered information regarding the companies’ use of economic analyses in the drug approval process and the analyses commented upon by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in its review (17). The results from the 1995 survey found that companies reported that pharmacoeconomic data were increasingly being submitted to the FDA in product approval packages, and that the FDA increasingly commented on these data. Given the growth of interest in economic evaluation since 1995, the survey was re-implemented in 1998 to examine the current state of the art in economic evaluation. The results indicate continuing and expanding interest in submitting pharmacoeconomic data to the FDA during the drug development process and reports of recent approval of economic claims in product labeling.
Investigating biomineralization using synchrotron based X‐ray computed microtomography

[1] This work presents the results of a study where synchrotron based x-ray computed microtomography (CMT) was used to investigate changes in pore morphology during calcium carbonate biomineralization. We simultaneously examine changes in pore microstructure and bulk permeability within glass bead columns during biogenic CaCO3 precipitation induced by Sporosarcina pasteurii. We observe a three order of magnitude reduction in permeability over relatively short time-scales (∼60 hrs) during the carbonate precipitation process. The resulting precipitates were a micro-porous composite of spherical and cubic CaCO3 precipitates. CMT images taken during precipitation were analyzed for effective pore radii, effective throat radii, and other pore-scale characteristics using 3DMA-ROCK. The Kozeny-Carman relation provided a poor fit to the raw permeability data, however, once this function was augmented with geometric information extracted from CMT imagery a better fit was provided suggesting that pore geometry should be considered temporally variable when modeling permeability change during biomineralization.
Design and evaluation of alternative selection placement strategies in optimizing continuous queries

We design and evaluate alternative selection placement strategies for optimizing a very large number of continuous queries in an Internet environment. Two grouping strategies, PushDown and PullUp, in which selections are either pushed below, or pulled above, joins are proposed and investigated. While our earlier research has demonstrated that the incremental group optimization can significantly outperform an ungrouped approach, the results from the paper show that different incremental group optimization strategies can have significantly different performance characteristics. Surprisingly, in our studies, PullUp, in which selections are pulled above joins, is often better and achieves an average 10 fold performance improvement over PushDown (occasionally 100 times faster). Furthermore, a revised algorithm of PullUp, termed filtered PullUp is proposed that is able to further reduce the cost of PullUp by 75% when the union of the selection predicates is selective. Detailed cost models, which consider several special parameters, including (1) characteristics of queries to be grouped, and (2) characteristics of data changes, are presented. Preliminary experiments using an implementation of both strategies show that our models are fairly accurate in predicting the results obtained from the implementation of these techniques in the Niagara system.
Recent developments in artificial insemination in horses

Abstract The primary factors affecting fertility in a program utilizing artificial insemination (A.I.) are number and quality of spermatozoa in the inseminate, timing and frequency of insemination, volume inseminated, seminal handling, seminal extenders, and cleanliness of procedures and equipment. The number of spermatozoa available for insemination depends upon age of the stallion, season of the year, testicular size, frequency of seminal collection and stallion sexual behavior. Other factors affecting fertility, in general, are inherent fertility of the animals, nutrition, disease, hormonal concentrations in the blood and overall management.
Identification of a nonlinear multivariable dynamic process using feed-forward networks

The practical aspects of identifying a nonlinear multi-input-multi-output dynamic system using feedforward neural networks (NNs) are discussed. By utilizing the measurements of 25 input and internal variables of the process, the primary process output is estimated with a network that has one hidden layer and partial connectivity. Two different connectivity patterns are compared, and problems encountered during the development are summarized. The accuracy of the estimate is demonstrated by comparing the NN output with the process output in time domain and frequency domain. >
Climate Field Reconstruction under Stationary and Nonstationary Forcing

The fidelity of climate reconstructions employing covariance-based calibration techniques is tested with varying levels of sparseness of available data during intervals of relatively constant (stationary) and increasing (nonstationary) forcing. These tests employ a regularized expectation-maximization algorithm using surface temperature data from both the instrumental record and coupled ocean‐atmosphere model integrations. The results indicate that if radiative forcing is relatively constant over a data-rich calibration period and increases over a data-sparse reconstruction period, the imputed temperatures in the reconstruction period may be biased and may underestimate the true temperature trend. However, if radiative forcing is stationary over a data-sparse reconstruction period and increases over a data-rich calibration period, the imputed values in the reconstruction period are nearly unbiased. These results indicate that using the data-rich part of the twentieth-century instrumental record (which contains an increasing temperature trend plausibly associated with increasing radiative forcing) for calibration does not significantly bias reconstructions of prior climate.
Risk Management for Nitrate-Contaminated Groundwater Under Imprecise Conditions

Many areas throughout U.S. and Europe have experienced problems with increased nitrate contamination of groundwater supplies. The concern over nitrate contamination stems from the fact that nitrates have been associated with the genesis of infant methemoglobinemia and linked to the possible formation of nitrosoamines and nitrosoamides which are known etiologic agents for human gastric cancer. This paper describes research which was directed toward the development of risk management techniques for nitrate-contaminated groundwater supplies. To reduce nitrate risk from groundwater supplies, several strategies can be developed based on an acceptable level of human health risk, the reasonableness of nitrate control cost, and the technical feasibility of nitrate control methods. However, the objectives of the risk reduction and cost are in conflict with each other, and the objectives may be of varying degrees of importance. In addition, each phase of the risk and cost analysis, and the evaluation of technical feasibility are associated with imprecision. In this paper, a multicriterion decision-making methodology is presented to assist decision makers in determining, with imprecise information, a nitrate risk management strategy that best satisfies the objectives of input variables (reducing the risk and cost, and assuring the technical feasibility).
The enterprise reforms and entrepreneurial development in China

China has become a highly entrepreneurial country in the world since the 1990s. In this paper, we investigate the history and nature of Chinese enterprise reforms and focus on the recent development of its private sector. Then, we study the major characteristics of Chinese entrepreneurs and find most of the entrepreneurship in current China is still necessity-driven. With the aid of individual-level and aggregated data, we explore how different socioeconomic factors are associated with Chinese entrepreneurial activities. By doing so, we hope to provide timely and meaningful insights on Chinese entrepreneurship to researchers, the general public, and policymakers at all levels.
The Comorbid Influence of High Depressive Symptoms and Diabetes on Mortality and Disability in Mexican Americans Aged 75 and Above

Objective: To examine the individual and combined effects of depression and diabetes on mortality and disability over 6 years among Mexican Americans aged ≥75. Method: The final sample included 1,7...
Phenotypic Heterogeneity within Clonogenic Ductal Cell Populations Isolated from Normal Adult Rat Liver

Oval cells represent a heterogeneous population composed of ductal cells, transitional cells with characteristics of both hepatocytes and bile ductal cells, and bipotential stem cells capable of differentiation along a biliary or hepatocytic lineage. In an attempt to define markers that would distinguish between individual cell types within the oval cell population, a number of investigators have utilized hybridoma technology to produce cell type-specific monoclonal antibodies. Several of these have proved to be of value in delineating lineage relationships during fetal development and carcinogenesis in the adult liver. Most recently, monoclonal antibodies specific for OC2 and OC3, two oval cell antigens identified in our laboratory, have been used in combination with magnetic beads or a fluorescence-activated cell sorter to isolate antigenically defined subpopulations from adult and fetal rat liver. Using OC2-positive fetal liver cells as an immunogen, we have produced a monoclonal antibody identifying a bile ductal antigen, designated BD1, that is differentially expressed by oval cells and normal ductal cells. This antigen shows a heterogeneous pattern of reactivity that defines three distinct cell populations in regenerating rat liver: a BD1-negative, [3H]thymidine-labeled cell population thought to contain hepatic stem cells; a BD1-positive, thymidine-negative population of terminally differentiated ductal cells; and a BD1-positive, [3H]thymidine-positive population of mature ductal cells. Analysis of BD1 expression in vitro on continuous lines of bile duct epithelial cells (BDEC) demonstrated that BD1 was rapidly increased in late G1 and lost during G2/M. High passage cultures of BDEC and primary cultures of oval cells expressed low or undetectable levels of BD1 and high passage BDEC failed to express BD1 when arrested in late G1. Taken together, these results suggested that oval cells and high passage BDEC might share a subtle defect in cell cycle regulation marked by an inability to upregulate the expression of BD1.
Maternal relationship during adolescence predicts cardiovascular disease risk in adulthood.

Objective The current study investigated whether greater maternal support during adolescence is associated with lower levels of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in adulthood, and whether maternal support serves as a moderator or a mediator of the socioeconomic status (SES) and CVD risk association. In addition, potential moderators and mediators of the association between adult CVD risk and adolescent maternal support and SES were tested. Method Using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (n = 11,013), we examined relations between maternal support during adolescence (M = 15.3 years) and CVD risk in young adulthood (M = 28.7 years) via path analysis. Maternal support was assessed by a composite of adolescent and mother report. CVD risk was calculated with a Framingham-based prediction model that uses age, sex, body mass index, smoking, systolic blood pressure, diabetes, and use of antihypertensive medication. Results Greater maternal support in adolescence was related to lower CVD risk in young adulthood (B = -0.56, 95% CI: -0.91 to -0.20, p .05), but there was an interaction between maternal support and race such that African American adolescents were more sensitive than Whites to the effects of maternal support on CVD risk (B = -0.90, 95% CI: -1.56, -0.25, p .05), and there was no association between SES and maternal support (p > .05), adjusting for confounders. However, the relations of adolescent maternal support and SES to adult CVD risk were mediated by young adult health behaviors and financial stress but not by depressive symptoms. Conclusion Greater maternal support during adolescence appears to act independently of SES when impacting CVD risk and may operate through health behaviors and financial stress. (PsycINFO Database Record
Demographic predictors of eye care utilization among women.

BACKGROUND Visual impairment may be preventable or treatable with timely intervention. Differences in the use of eye care services may play a role in fostering the racial and socioeconomic gap in the burden of visual impairment in the United States. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to examine the frequency of eye examinations in women and how this varies with age, race, marital status, geographic region, profession, education, and income. SUBJECTS AND METHODS We used logistic regression models to examine data obtained by mailed questionnaires from 39,876 female health professionals participating in the Women's Health Study. RESULTS Most women (83%) had an eye examination within the past 2 years. The likelihood of having an eye examination in the past 2 years increased with age (odds ratio [OR] = 2.59 for age > or =75 years versus those or =$100,000 versus <$10,000; P [trend] <0.0001). Women from the south were less likely to have had an eye examination than those from the west (OR = 0.92; P = 0.03). Compared with whites, Asian/Pacific Islanders were less likely (OR = 0.76; P = 0.02) and blacks more likely (OR = 1.27; P = 0.02) to have had an eye examination within 2 years. CONCLUSIONS Age, education, income, race/ethnicity, and region of residence were independent predictors of having had an eye examination in the past 2 years. Known medical and ocular problems appeared to explain the association with age but not the other findings, although the clinical significance of these associations was not determined in the present study. Additional research on determinants of eye care-seeking behavior could help in devising new strategies to encourage preventive behaviors, especially among groups at higher risk of visual impairment.
Importance of Genetic Variation to the Viability of Mammalian Populations

Small populations lose genetic variability because of genetic drift, and inbreeding within populations can further decrease individual variability. Lower variation depresses individual fitness, resistance to disease and parasites, and flexibility in coping with environmental challenges. Lower variation decreases mean fitness of populations (population growth rates), resilience, and long-term adaptability. Genetic drift can threaten viability of populations not just by depleting variation, but also by replacing natural selection as the predominant force driving evolutionary change. Although most genetic studies use laboratory or domesticated populations, evidence is accumulating that the effects of inbreeding are at least as severe on wild animals in natural habitats. Natural selection is expected to reduce the frequency of deleterious alleles in populations that persist through bottlenecks, but as yet there is little evidence for such purging of the genetic load in mammalian populations. No species of mammal has been shown to be unaffected by inbreeding. Genetic problems are contributing to the decline and vulnerability of at least several mammalian taxa. Genetic threats to population viability will be expressed through their effects on and interactions with demographic and ecological processes. Theoretical analyses, experimental tests, field studies, and conservation actions should recognize the fundamental interdependency of genetic and non-genetic processes affecting viability of populations.
HIV-1 Integrase as a Target for Antiviral Drugs:

Retrovirus integration requires at least two viral components, one of the three retroviral enzymes, integrase, and cis-acting sequences at the ends of the retroviral DNA termini U3 and U5 ends of the long terminal repeats. Because the virus cannot replicate without integration into a host chromosome, integrase is a logical therapeutic target. Therapeutic inhibitors already exist for reverse transcriptase and protease, and attacking the virus on these sites together has already proven effective for combination therapy. Thus, the discovery of integrase inhibitors should provide an additional benefit. Screening and pharmacology of anti-integrase drugs is facilitated by the cloning and expression of recombinant retroviral integrases and their use in a series of in vitro assays that mimic integration in vivo. This review first describes the integration reactions in the retrovirus life cycle and the integrase protein. Then we provide a comprehensive review of the inhibitors identified to date.
Prediction of Vibrational Frequencies of UO22+at the CCSD(T) Level

Electronic structure calculations at the coupled cluster (CCSD(T)) and density functional theory levels with relativistic effective core potentials and large basis sets were used to predict the isolated uranyl ion frequencies. The effects of anharmonicity and spin−orbit corrections on the harmonic frequencies were calculated. The anharmonic effects are larger than the spin−orbit corrections, but both are small. The anharmonic effects decreased all the frequencies, whereas the spin−orbit corrections increased the stretches and decreased the bend. Overall, these two corrections decreased the harmonic asymmetric stretch frequency by 6 cm-1, the symmetric stretch by 3 cm-1, and the bend by 3 cm-1. The best calculated values for UO22+ for the asymmetric stretch, symmetric stretch, and bend were 1113, 1032, and 174 cm-1, respectively. The separation between the asymmetric and the symmetric stretch band origins was predicted to be 81 cm-1, which is consistent with experimental trends for substituted uranyls in s...
OBSERVATION OF INTRINSIC OPTICAL BISTABILITY ARISING FROM LASER-INDUCED STRUCTURAL TRANSITION IN A NEMATIC FILM

It is now well known that in a proper, geometry, a laser beam with intensity I ≥ Ith can induce a Freederiekscz transition in a nematic liquid crystal film.1 In the transition, molecules in the bulk of the film are reoriented by the laser field, leading to a very large induced birefringence. The transition is of second-order and exhibits critical behavior. With a sufficiently strong applied magnetic field, however, it is predicted that the optical-field-induced Freederickscz transition can become first-order.2 In this paper, we demonstrate experimentally that this is indeed the case. Laser-induced first-order transition is characterized by a hysteresis loop in the plot of induced birefringence versus laser intensity. It is a display of an intrinsic optical bistability with no external feedback.
Eligibility Criteria Affecting Landowner Participation in Greenhouse Gas Programs

Numerous studies have concluded that agriculture and forestry sectors could play an important role in minimizing the costs of achieving greenhouse gas mitigation targets, either through reduced emissions or increased carbon (C) sequestration in soils and forests. Here we assess landowner responsiveness to different carbon payment levels and provide sensitivity analysis over several eligibility criteria. Such criteria are used to limit mitigation efforts to management practices and sectors that are thought to provide GHG benefits that are additional, permanent, verifiable, and measurable. Simulation analysis indicates that facing a modest C payment of $5 per metric ton of GHG mitigation, agriculture and forest landowners could increase their incomes and reduce emissions in the United States on average by more than 100 megatonnes (Mt) per year over the next 40 years. Our analysis suggests that more restrictive mitigation criteria, such as limitation on bioenergy inclusion or land-use change, would lead to fewer emission reductions at any C price, while less restrictive activities, such as an increase in available cropland due to lower CRP enrollment, would lead to greater GHG mitigation.
Rheology of Soft and Rigid Micro Particles in Curved Microfluidic Channels

We investigated the rheological behavior of micro particles in inertial flow in a curved microfluidic channel. Different from the typical microfluidic regime operating at low Reynolds number, inertial flow provides hydrodynamic manipulation, namely inertial focusing of particles at high flow speeds. Primary influences of inertial flow on particle motions are several: repulsive force from the wall due to a pressure buildup in the constriction between the wall and the particle, shear gradient lift force due to the parabolic flow profile at microscale, and secondary drag force in the cross-sectional direction due to channel curvature. These forces result in particle moving across the streamlines to certain predictable equilibrium positions in the flow. With regard to soft particles, their flow behavior and equilibrium positions may deviate from the theoretical predictions based on rigid particles. This study provides a proof-of-concept of inertial focusing-based separation of particles with different deformability. We demonstrated its capability by separating yeast cells and polystyrene particles of similar sizes in a double spiral channel.
An adaptive fast multipole accelerated Poisson solver for complex geometries

Abstract We present a fast, direct and adaptive Poisson solver for complex two-dimensional geometries based on potential theory and fast multipole acceleration. More precisely, the solver relies on the standard decomposition of the solution as the sum of a volume integral to account for the source distribution and a layer potential to enforce the desired boundary condition. The volume integral is computed by applying the FMM on a square box that encloses the domain of interest. For the sake of efficiency and convergence acceleration, we first extend the source distribution (the right-hand side in the Poisson equation) to the enclosing box as a C 0 function using a fast, boundary integral-based method. We demonstrate on multiply connected domains with irregular boundaries that this continuous extension leads to high accuracy without excessive adaptive refinement near the boundary and, as a result, to an extremely efficient “black box” fast solver.
Risk Factors for Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE) Infection and Its Influence On Survival After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell Transplantation (aHPCT)

Abstract Abstract 4147 VRE is a well known infectious complication among immunocompromised patients. We previously reported that early-onset VRE bacteremia after aHPCT was associated with a rapidly deteriorating clinical course and death (Bone Marrow Transplant 2005; 35: 497–499). The current analysis was performed to identify risk factors for the development of VRE infection after aHPCT and to determine its prognostic importance for other post transplant outcomes. From 1997–2011, 800 consecutive adult patients with hematologic diseases underwent aHPCT at our institution. These included 448 (56%) males and 723 (90%) Caucasians. The median age was 46 yrs (range, 18–71), 451 (56%) had ≥ 2 chemotherapy regimens before aHPCT, 92 (12%) had prior radiation therapy, 470 (59%) were in remission at transplant, and comorbidity scores included: 280 (36%) low, 229 (30%) intermediate and 268 (34%) high-risk. The most common diagnoses were AML (306), ALL (111), MDS (110), CML (87), and NHL (85). 389 (49%) patients had unrelated donors, 676 (85%) were 8/8 HLA matched, 632 (79%) had myeloablative transplants, and HPC sources included 532 (66%) bone marrow, 213 (27%) peripheral blood progenitor cell, 55 (7%) umbilical cord blood. Eighty-three (10%) pts developed VRE after aHPCT and 8 of these had recurrent episodes. The median time from transplant to the first episode of VRE was 54 days (range, 2–2256); 37 (45%) occurred during the initial transplant hospitalization and 9 (11%) were in outpatient reduced intensity conditioning transplants. Due to the many different underlying diagnoses a recursive partitioning analysis was performed which categorized them into 3 risk groups for VRE: ALL (high risk), AML/MDS/CLL (intermediate risk) and all other diagnoses (low risk). Incidences of VRE by date of aHPCT were 6.1% (1/97-4/01), 10.9% (5/01–8/04), 12.5% (9/04–6/08) and 16.5% (7/08–12/11). Multivariable Cox analysis found 6 risk factors for VRE infection: year of aHPCT (per one year increase) (p=0.047), intermediate + high comorbidity score (p=0.005), active disease at transplant (p=0.014), ALL diagnosis (p=0.003), unrelated donor (p Download : Download high-res image (20KB) Download : Download full-size image Seventy-three (88%) pts with VRE died at a median of 1.2 mos (range, 0–32) after it was detected. However, only 4 (6%) of these deaths were due to VRE while the remaining resulted from other infections (27%), disease relapse (23%), non-pulmonary organ failure (12%), GVHD (22%), pulmonary failure (6%) and graft failure (4%). We conclude that the incidence of VRE after aHPCT has increased over time and is highly associated with mortality although not usually directly from VRE. Strategies to further enhance immune reconstitution post transplant and strict adherence to infection control measures are needed particularly for those with ALL, alternative donors, higher comorbidity scores or not in remission at the time of aHPCT. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Acquired Resistance to the Hsp90 Inhibitor, Ganetespib, in KRAS-Mutant NSCLC Is Mediated via Reactivation of the ERK–p90RSK–mTOR Signaling Network

Approximately 25% of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients have KRAS mutations, and no effective therapeutic strategy exists for these patients. The use of Hsp90 inhibitors in KRAS -mutant NSCLC appeared to be a promising approach, as these inhibitors target many KRAS downstream effectors; however, limited clinical efficacy has been observed due to resistance. Here, we examined the mechanism(s) of acquired resistance to the Hsp90 inhibitor, ganetespib, and identified novel and rationally devised Hsp90 inhibitor combinations, which may prevent and overcome resistance to Hsp90 inhibitors. We derived KRAS -mutant NSCLC ganetespib-resistant cell lines to identify the resistance mechanism(s) and identified hyperactivation of RAF/MEK/ERK/RSK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways as key resistance mechanisms. Furthermore, we found that ganetespib-resistant cells are “addicted” to these pathways, as ganetespib resistance leads to synthetic lethality to a dual PI3K/mTOR, a PI3K, or an ERK inhibitor. Interestingly, the levels and activity of a key activator of the mTOR pathway and an ERK downstream target, p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK), were also increased in the ganetespib-resistant cells. Genetic or pharmacologic inhibition of p90RSK in ganetespib-resistant cells restored sensitivity to ganetespib, whereas p90RSK overexpression induced ganetespib resistance in naive cells, validating p90RSK as a mediator of resistance and a novel therapeutic target. Our studies offer a way forward for Hsp90 inhibitors through the rational design of Hsp90 inhibitor combinations that may prevent and/or overcome resistance to Hsp90 inhibitors, providing an effective therapeutic strategy for KRAS -mutant NSCLC. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(5); 793–804. ©2017 AACR . This article is featured in Highlights of This Issue, [p. 773][1] [1]: /lookup/volpage/16/773?iss=5
A time-frequency block structure approach to denoising sleep EEG

Automated sleep staging is an extensively researched problem with a spread of hand-crafted feature representations. Currently available representations, however, fail to produce sufficiently accurate results. Previously used features tend to struggle with artifacts and inter-patient variability. To address these issues, an aligned time-frequency block structure model was created. This model can be learned by building upon a combination of existing denoising and consensus clustering techniques. Across multiple datasets, this model significantly reduced error rates from raw spectral features and outperformed bandpower features commonly used in commercial tools. For the DREAMS dataset, classic band power features yielded a 30% error rate; raw spectral features had a higher error rate of 37%; and the novel Dense Denoised Spectral (DDS) features resulted in a 17% error rate.
Maternal cortisol slope at 6 months predicts infant cortisol slope and EEG power at 12 months

Physiological stress systems and the brain rapidly develop through infancy. While the roles of caregiving and environmental factors have been studied, implications of maternal physiological stress are unclear. We assessed maternal and infant diurnal cortisol when infants were 6 and 12 months. We measured 12-month infant electroencephalography (EEG) 6-9 Hz power during a social interaction. Steeper 6-month maternal slope predicted steeper 12-month infant slope controlling for 6-month infant slope and breastfeeding. Steeper 6-month maternal slope predicted lower 6-9 Hz power. Six-month maternal area under the cuve (AUCg) was unrelated to 12-month infant AUCg and 6-9 Hz power. Psychosocial, caregiving, and breastfeeding variables did not explain results. At 6 months, maternal and infant slopes correlated, as did maternal and infant AUCg. Twelve-month maternal and infant cortisol were unrelated. Results indicate maternal slope is an informative predictor of infant physiology and suggest the importance of maternal physiological stress in this developmental period.
SN2 Reaction Rate Enhancement by β-Cyclodextrin at the Liquid/Liquid Interface

An inverse phase transfer catalyst typically enhances the rate of biphasic reaction by bringing the water-insoluble reactant from the organic to the aqueous phase. We use the empirical valence bond (EVB) approach to obtain reaction free energy profiles for a model SN2 reaction inside the β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) cavity at the water/1-bromooctane interface and in bulk water to show that a significant rate enhancement is taking place at the liquid/liquid interface rather than in the bulk. By examining several solvent–solute structural and energetic properties, we demonstrate that the rate enhancement when the reaction takes place inside the cavity at the interface is primarily due to limited accessibility of interfacial water molecules, which results in destabilization of the reactants. Greater accessibility of water molecules when the catalyst is in the bulk stabilizes the reactants and does not lead to rate enhancement despite the significant hydrophobicity of the cavity’s interior.