cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
COREMIC: a web-tool to search for a niche associated CORE MICrobiome

Microbial diversity on earth is extraordinary, and soils alone harbor thousands of species per gram of soil. Understanding how this diversity is sorted and selected into habitat niches is a major focus of ecology and biotechnology, but remains only vaguely understood. A systems-biology approach was used to mine information from databases to show how it can be used to answer questions related to the core microbiome of habitat-microbe relationships. By making use of the burgeoning growth of information from databases, our tool "COREMIC" meets a great need in the search for understanding niche partitioning and habitat-function relationships. The work is unique, furthermore, because it provides a user-friendly statistically robust web-tool (http://coremic2.appspot.com or http://core-mic.com), developed using Google App Engine, to help in the process of database mining to identify the "core microbiome" associated with a given habitat. A case study is presented using data from 31 switchgrass rhizosphere community habitats across a diverse set of soil and sampling environments. The methodology utilizes an outgroup of 28 non-switchgrass (other grasses and forbs) to identify a core switchgrass microbiome. Even across a diverse set of soils (five environments), and conservative statistical criteria (presence in more than 90% samples and FDR q-val <0.05% for Fisher's exact test) a core set of bacteria associated with switchgrass was observed. These included, among others, closely related taxa from Lysobacter spp., Mesorhizobium spp, and Chitinophagaceae. These bacteria have been shown to have functions related to the production of bacterial and fungal antibiotics and plant growth promotion. COREMIC can be used as a hypothesis generating or confirmatory tool that shows great potential for identifying taxa that may be important to the functioning of a habitat (e.g. host plant). The case study, in conclusion, shows that COREMIC can identify key habitat-specific microbes across diverse samples, using currently available databases and a unique freely available software.
Glacial Inception on Baffin Island: The Interaction of Ice Flow andMeteorology

Abstract. Over the past 0.8 million years, 100 kyr ice ages have dominated Earth's climate with geological evidence suggesting the last glacial inception began in the mountains of Baffin Island. Currently, state-of-the-art global climate models (GCMs) have difficulty simulating glacial inception, possibly due in part to their coarse horizontal resolution and the neglect of ice flow dynamics in some models. We attempt to address the initial inception problem on Baffin Island by asynchronously coupling the Weather Research and Forecast model (WRF), configured as a high resolution inner domain over Baffin and an outer domain incorporating much of North America, to an ice flow model using the shallow ice approximation. The mass balance is calculated from WRF simulations, and used to drive the ice model, which updates the ice extent and elevation, that then serve as inputs to the next WRF run. We drive the regional WRF configuration using atmospheric boundary conditions from 1986 that correspond to a relatively cold summer, and with 115 kya insolation. Initially, ice accumulates on mountain glaciers, driving downslope ice flow which expands the size of the ice caps. However, continued iterations of the atmosphere and ice models reveal a stagnation of the ice sheet on Baffin Island, driven by melting due to warmer temperatures at the margins of the ice caps. This warming is caused by changes in the larger-scale circulation that are forced by elevation changes due to the ice growth. A stabilizing feedback between ice elevation and atmospheric circulation thus prevents full inception from occurring.
Risk Factors for Poststroke Cognitive Decline: The REGARDS Study (Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke).

Background and Purpose— Poststroke cognitive decline causes disability. Risk factors for poststroke cognitive decline independent of survivors’ prestroke cognitive trajectories are uncertain. Methods— Among 22 875 participants aged ≥45 years without baseline cognitive impairment from the REGARDS cohort (Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke), enrolled from 2003 to 2007 and followed through September 2015, we measured the effect of incident stroke (n=694) on changes in cognitive functions and cognitive impairment (Six-Item Screener score Results— Incident stroke was associated with acute declines in global cognition, new learning, verbal memory, and executive function. Acute declines in global cognition after stroke were greater in survivors who were black ( P =0.04), men ( P =0.04), and had cardioembolic ( P =0.001) or large artery stroke ( P =0.001). Acute declines in executive function after stroke were greater in survivors who had P =0.01). Incident stroke was associated with faster declines in global cognition and executive function but not new learning or verbal memory compared with prestroke slopes. Faster declines in global cognition over years after stroke were greater in survivors who were older ( P P =0.005), or had cardioembolic stroke ( P =0.01). Faster declines in executive function over years after stroke were greater in survivors who were older ( P P =0.03). Conclusions— Incident stroke alters a patient’s cognitive trajectory, and this effect is greater with increasing age and cardioembolic stroke. Race, sex, geography, and hypertension status may modify the risk of poststroke cognitive decline.
Do latent tree learning models identify meaningful structure in sentences

Recent work on the problem of latent tree learning has made it possible to train neural networks that learn to both parse a sentence and use the resulting parse to interpret the sentence, all witho...
21st Century Stock Market: A Regulatory Model for Daily Fantasy Sports

The popularity of daily fantasy sports contests has risen exponentially as daily fantasy sports providers have raised hundreds of millions of dollars in seed funding from major sport industry and media stakeholders. Amongst this industry rise, concerns over whether the industry’s consumer protection mechanisms are stringent enough have arisen. In response, individual states executed varied approaches to regulating the industry within their borders. Some have imposed complete bans, while few allow the industry to widely operate and others have imposed significant regulations. States’ responses to the daily fantasy sports industry are akin to state legislators’ regulation of the securities industry in the 20th century. This paper analyzes state and federal regulations imposed on the securities industry in the 20th century to provide an argument as to why federal regulation of the daily fantasy sports industry is necessary.
Asymptotically Optimal Regenerating Codes Over Any Field

The study of regenerating codes has advanced tremendously in recent years. However, most known constructions require large field size and, hence, may be hard to implement in practice. By restructuring a code construction by Rashmi et al. , we obtain two explicit families regenerating codes. These codes approach the cut-set bound as the reconstruction degree increases and may be realized over any given finite field if the file size is large enough. Essentially, these codes constitute a constructive proof that the cut-set bound does not imply a field size restriction, unlike some known bounds for ordinary linear codes. The first construction attains the cut-set bound at the MBR point asymptotically for all parameters, whereas the second one attains the cut-set bound at the MSR point asymptotically for low-rate parameters. Even though these codes require a large file size, this restriction is trivially satisfied in most conceivable distributed storage scenarios, that are the prominent motivation for regenerating codes.
Cryopreserved Homografts in Infected Infrainguinal Fields Are Associated with Frequent Reinterventions and Poor Amputation-Free Survival.

Background Single-length saphenous vein continues to be the conduit of choice in infected-field critical limb ischemia. However, half of these individuals have inadequate vein secondary to previous use or chronic venous disease. We reviewed our outcomes of infected-field infrainguinal bypasses performed with cryopreserved homografts (CHs), a widely accepted alternative to autogenous vein in this setting. Methods This is a retrospective, institutional descriptive analysis of infected-field infrainguinal revascularizations between 2012 and 2015. Results Twenty-four operations were performed in the same number of patients for limb ischemia with signs of active infection. The mean age of the cohort examined was 62.5 ± 14.4 (standard deviation) years. Mean Society of Vascular Surgery risk score was 3.9 with a baseline Rutherford's chronic ischemia score of 4.3 at presentation. Emergent procedures constituted 29% of cases, and the remainder cases were urgent procedures. The CH bypass captured was a reoperative procedure in all but one of the patients. Culture positivity was present in 75% of cases with Staphylococcus aureus (29%), the most commonly isolated organism. Thirty-day mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events were both 4%. Amputation-free survival (AFS) was 75% at 30 days. Similarly, 30-day reintervention was 38% with debridement (43%) and bleeding (29%), the most common indications. Average duration of follow-up was 27.9 ± 20.4 months (range: 0.5–60.4). Mean length of stay was 14.8 days. Reinfection requiring an additional procedure or antibiotic regimen separate from the index antibiotic course was 13%. Primary patency and AFS at 1 year was 50% and 58%, respectively. Primary patency and AFS at 2 years was 38% and 52%, respectively. Limb salvage at 1 and 2 years was 70% and 65%, respectively. Fifteen patients (63%) required reintervention during the follow-up period with 40% of those subjects undergoing multiple procedures. Conclusions CHs remain a marginal salvage conduit in the setting of infection and no autogenous choices. Therefore, clinicians should individualize usage of this high-cost product in highly selected patients only.
A Self-Fulfilling Cycle of Coercive Surveillance: Workers’ Invisibility Practices and Managerial Justification

In the past few decades, the growth of surveillance has become a fixture of organizational life. Past scholarship has largely explained this growth as the result of traditional managerial demands f...
Design Principles for Robust Vesiculation in Clathrin-Mediated Endocytosis

Budding of membranes by protein coats is a universal phenomenon that is critically important in cellular trafficking pathways. Recent experiments have demonstrated that elevated membrane tension inhibits the ability of protein coats to deform membranes into buds. However, the robustness of clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) across a diverse range of organisms and mechanical environments suggests that the protein machinery in this process has evolved to take advantage of some set of design principles to ensure robust vesiculation against opposing forces like membrane tension. Using a modified Helfrich model for membrane mechanics and membrane protein interaction, we have investigated the influence of membrane rigidity, curvature induced by the protein coat, area covered by the protein coat, membrane tension and force from actin polymerization on robust bud formation. Under low tension, the membrane smoothly evolves from a flat to budded morphology as the coat area or spontaneous curvature increases, whereas the membrane remains essentially flat at high tensions. At intermediate, physiologically relevant, tensions, the membrane undergoes a snapthrough instability in which small changes in the coat area, spontaneous curvature or membrane tension cause the membrane to ¯¯snap“ from an open, U-shape to a closed bud. Through systematic analyses of the different parameters contributing to membrane budding, we have identified potential ways of overcoming the energy barrier associated with the instability. For example, increasing the bending rigidity of the coat smooths out this instability, allowing for successful budding at higher membrane tensions. Additionally, applied force from actin polymerization can induce the transition from an open to a closed bud, bypassing the instability. Finally, a combination of increased coat rigidity and force from actin polymerization ensures robust vesiculation, even at high membrane tensions.
Beyond Covalent Crosslinks: Applications of Supramolecular Gels

Traditionally, gels have been defined by their covalently cross-linked polymer networks. Supramolecular gels challenge this framework by relying on non-covalent interactions for self-organization into hierarchical structures. This class of materials offers a variety of novel and exciting potential applications. This review draws together recent advances in supramolecular gels with an emphasis on their proposed uses as optoelectronic, energy, biomedical, and biological materials. Additional special topics reviewed include environmental remediation, participation in synthesis procedures, and other industrial uses. The examples presented here demonstrate unique benefits of supramolecular gels, including tunability, processability, and self-healing capability, enabling a new approach to solve engineering challenges.
Deep advantage learning for optimal dynamic treatment regime

Recently deep learning has successfully achieved state-of-the-art performance on many difficult tasks. Deep neural network outperforms many existing popular methods in the field of reinforcement learning. It can also identify important covariates automatically. Parameter sharing of convolutional neural network (CNN) greatly reduces the amount of parameters in the neural network, which allows for high scalability. However few research has been done on deep advantage learning (A-learning). In this paper, we present a deep A-learning approach to estimate optimal dynamic treatment regime. A-learning models the advantage function, which is of direct relevance to the goal. We use an inverse probability weighting (IPW) method to estimate the difference between potential outcomes, which does not require to make any model assumption on the baseline mean function. We implemented different architectures of deep CNN and convexified convolutional neural networks (CCNN). The proposed deep A-learning methods are applied to a data from the STAR*D trial and are shown to have better performance compared with the penalized least square estimator using a linear decision rule.
On the quadratic dual of the Fomin–Kirillov algebras

We study ring-theoretic and homological properties of the quadratic dual (or Koszul dual) $\mathcal{E}_n^!$ of the Fomin-Kirillov algebras $\mathcal{E}_n$; these algebras are connected $\mathbb{N}$-graded and are defined for $n \geq 2$. We establish that the algebra $\mathcal{E}_n^!$ is module-finite over its center (so, satisfies a polynomial identity), is Noetherian, and has Gelfand-Kirillov dimension $\lfloor n/2 \rfloor$ for each $n \geq 2$. We also observe that $\mathcal{E}_n^!$ is not prime for $n \geq 3$. By a result of Roos, $\mathcal{E}_n$ is not Koszul for $n \geq 3$, so neither is $\mathcal{E}_n^!$ for $n \geq 3$. Nevertheless, we prove that $\mathcal{E}_n^!$ is Artin-Schelter (AS-)regular if and only if $n=2$, and that $\mathcal{E}_n^!$ is both AS-Gorenstein and AS-Cohen-Macaulay if and only if $n=2,3$. We also show that the depth of $\mathcal{E}_n^!$ is $\leq 1$ for each $n \geq 2$, conjecture we have equality, and show this claim holds for $n =2,3$. Several other directions for further examination of $\mathcal{E}_n^!$ are suggested at the end of this article.
Protein structural biology using cell-free platform from wheat germ

One of the biggest bottlenecks for structural analysis of proteins remains the creation of high-yield and high-purity samples of the target protein. Cell-free protein synthesis technologies are powerful and customizable platforms for obtaining functional proteins of interest in short timeframes, while avoiding potential toxicity issues and permitting high-throughput screening. These methods have benefited many areas of genomic and proteomics research, therapeutics, vaccine development and protein chip constructions. In this work, we demonstrate a versatile and multiscale eukaryotic wheat germ cell-free protein expression pipeline to generate functional proteins of different sizes from multiple host organism and DNA source origins. We also report on a robust purification procedure, which can produce highly pure (> 98%) proteins with no specialized equipment required and minimal time invested. This pipeline successfully produced and analyzed proteins in all three major geometry formats used for structural biology including single particle analysis with electron microscopy, and both two-dimensional and three-dimensional protein crystallography. The flexibility of the wheat germ system in combination with the multiscale pipeline described here provides a new workflow for rapid production and purification of samples that may not be amenable to other recombinant approaches for structural characterization.
Learning from Your Friends’ Check-Ins: An Empirical Study of Location-Based Social Networks

Recently, mobile applications have offered users the option to share their location information with friends. Using data from a major location-based social networking application in China, we estim...
Two-temperature GRRMHD Simulations of M87

We present axisymmetric two-temperature general relativistic radiation magnetohydrodynamic (GRRMHD) simulations of the inner region of the accretion flow onto the supermassive black hole M87. We address uncertainties from previous modeling efforts through inclusion of models for (1) self-consistent dissipative and Coulomb electron heating (2) radiation transport (3) frequency-dependent synchrotron emission, self-absorption, and Compton scattering. We adopt a distance $D=16.7$ Mpc, an observer angle $\theta = 20^{\circ}$, and consider black hole masses $M/M_{\odot} = (3.3\times10^{9}, 6.2\times10^{9})$ and spins $a_{\star} = (0.5, 0.9375)$ in a four-simulation suite. For each $(M, a_{\star})$, we identify the accretion rate that recovers the 230 GHz flux from VLBI measurements. We report on disk thermodynamics at these accretion rates ($\dot{M}/\dot{M}_{\mathrm{Edd}} \sim 10^{-5}$). The disk remains geometrically thick; cooling does not lead to a thin disk component. While electron heating is dominated by Coulomb rather than dissipation for $r \gtrsim 10 GM/c^2$, the accretion disk remains two-temperature. Radiative cooling of electrons is not negligible, especially for $r \lesssim 10 GM/c^2$. The Compton $y$ parameter is of order unity. We then compare derived and observed or inferred spectra, mm images, and jet powers. Simulations with $M/M_{\odot} = 3.3\times10^{9}$ are in conflict with observations. These simulations produce mm images that are too small, while the low-spin simulation also overproduces X-rays. For $M/M_{\odot} = 6.2\times10^{9}$, both simulations agree with constraints on radio/IR/X-ray fluxes and mm image sizes. Simulation jet power is a factor $10^2-10^3$ below inferred values, a possible consequence of the modest net magnetic flux in our models.
Design and rationale of a randomized trial: Using short stay units instead of routine admission to improve patient centered health outcomes for acute heart failure patients (SSU-AHF).

Abstract Nearly 85% of acute heart failure (AHF) patients who present to the emergency department (ED) with acute heart failure are hospitalized. Once hospitalized, within 30 days post-discharge, 27% of patients are re-hospitalized or die. Attempts to improve outcomes with novel therapies have all failed. The evidence for existing AHF therapies are poor: No currently used AHF treatment is known to improve long-term outcomes. ED treatment is largely the same today as 40 years ago. Admitting patients who could have avoided hospitalization may contribute to adverse outcomes. Hospitalization is not benign; patients enter a vulnerable phase post-discharge, at increased risk for morbidity and mortality. When hospitalization is able to be shortened or avoid completely, certain risks can be mitigated, including risk of medication errors, in-hospital falls, delirium, nosocomial infections, and other iatrogenic complications. Additionally, patients would prefer to be home, not hospitalized. Furthermore, hospitalization and re-hospitalization for AHF predominantly affects patients of lower socioeconomic status (SES). Avoiding hospitalization in patients who do not require admission may improve outcomes and quality of life, while reducing costs. Short stay unit (SSU:
Developing an Explicit Instruction Special Education Teacher Observation Rubric

In this study, we developed an Explicit Instruction special education teacher observation rubric that details the elements of explicit instruction and tested its psychometric properties using many-...
Calling Mogadishu: How Reminders of Anarchy Bias Survey Participation

How does the fear of anarchy affect telephone survey behaviors? A survey experiment administered to a sample of Mogadishu residents—validated with a natural experiment—is used to assess this question. Randomly assigned reminders of anarchic violence conditioned differential effects on survey participation depending on subjects’ background level of security and welfare. Vulnerable subjects were more likely than non-vulnerable subjects to refuse to provide sensitive survey information after reminders of anarchy.
Applying Spatial Aggregation Methods to Identify Opportunities for New Bus Services in London

Innovative analyses of origin–destination (OD) data derived from automatic fare collection and automatic vehicle location systems in public transport networks enable planners to gain new insights i...
Faster variational execution with transparent bytecode transformation

Variational execution is a novel dynamic analysis technique for exploring highly configurable systems and accurately tracking information flow. It is able to efficiently analyze many configurations by aggressively sharing redundancies of program executions. The idea of variational execution has been demonstrated to be effective in exploring variations in the program, especially when the configuration space grows out of control. Existing implementations of variational execution often require heavy lifting of the runtime interpreter, which is painstaking and error-prone. Furthermore, the performance of this approach is suboptimal. For example, the state-of-the-art variational execution interpreter for Java, VarexJ, slows down executions by 100 to 800 times over a single execution for small to medium size Java programs. Instead of modifying existing JVMs, we propose to transform existing bytecode to make it variational, so it can be executed on an unmodified commodity JVM. Our evaluation shows a dramatic improvement on performance over the state-of-the-art, with a speedup of 2 to 46 times, and high efficiency in sharing computations.
ESTIMATING CAUSAL EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ACCESS AND USE ON A BROAD SET OF RISKY BEHAVIORS: REGRESSION DISCONTINUITY EVIDENCE

A growing body of evidence suggests large increases in criminal behavior and mortality coinciding with a young adult's 21st birthday, when alcohol consumption becomes legal. The policy implications from these findings have focused on the need to reduce drinking among young people, potentially by enforcing stricter alcohol controls. However, mortality and arrests are relatively infrequent outcomes and relatively less is known about the intermediate and more prevalent consequences of legal access to alcohol at age 21. This paper uses the Add Health data combined with a regression discontinuity approach to examine the effects of alcohol access on sexual behavior, drunk driving, violence, and other outcomes. The results suggest relatively large effects that appear concentrated in men. The sample also allows some suggestive policy implications on whether changing the minimum drinking age may reduce these consequences. (JEL I12, I18)
Increasing display luminance as a means to enhance interpretation accuracy and efficiency when reducing full-field digital mammography dose.

Reducing dose increases noise impacting image quality but can be offset by increasing display luminance. Two contrast detail mammography images were obtained at 26 kV and the same distance between detectors, at 45 and 50 mAs resulting in entrance surface doses of 7.09 and 7.88 mGy, respectively. They were processed to make average gray level of the background independent of the dose level while maintaining original SNR. Eight radiologists viewed the images at 420, 1000 cd / m 2 , and SpotView™ a tool that resulted in an average display luminance of 3138.8 cd / m 2 . Percent correct (PC) for all three luminances was higher for high versus low dose. Performance was always higher with high dose no matter what the luminance. For low dose, PC was highest with SpotView™, and SpotView™ and 1000 cd / m 2 were significantly higher than 420 cd / m 2 . At high dose, SpotView™ PC was significantly higher than both lower luminances. Average time per image was lower in high dose, and, at both doses, time decreased as luminance increased, with SpotView™ having significantly shorter times. Increasing luminance from 420 to 1000 cd / m 2 significantly increases target detection by ∼ 3.0 % and with SpotView™ by ∼ 6.2 % . Increasing display luminance with SpotView™ significantly decreases reading time by 16.0%.
The Effects of Competition from S Corporations on the Organizational Form Choice of Rival C Corporations

Subchapter C of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code levies an entity‐level tax on corporate profits, whereas Subchapter S allows corporations meeting specific criteria to elect out of this tax. Despite these differences, C and S corporations regularly compete for customers and capital. We examine whether and the extent to which competition from S corporations influences the future organizational form choice of rival C corporations and explore outcomes of this choice. Using data for 4,462 private U.S. commercial banks grouped by Metropolitan Statistical Area during 1997–2010, we find that greater competition from S corporation banks increases the likelihood that rival C corporation banks convert to Subchapter S status. We estimate that the aggregate first‐year tax savings from S conversion exceed $372 million. Consistent with these savings being used to maintain competitive parity with rivals, we find that converting banks increase their interest rates on customer deposits and advertising intensity. Our findings provide insight into whether competition from tax‐advantaged firms influences the organizational form choice of rival tax‐disadvantaged firms. Les repercussions de la concurrence des societes S sur la forme d'organisation choisie par les societes C rivales Le sous‐chapitre C de l'Internal Revenue Code des Etats‐Unis prevoit la perception d'un impot sur les benefices d'entreprise a l’echelle de l'entite, tandis que le sous‐chapitre S permet aux societes respectant certains criteres precis de produire un choix qui les soustrait a cet impot. Malgre ces differences, les societes assujetties aux sous‐chapitres C et S (societes C et societes S) se disputent regulierement les clients et les capitaux. Les auteurs se demandent si la concurrence des societes S influe sur la forme d'organisation que choisissent ulterieurement les societes C rivales — et, le cas echeant, dans quelle mesure — et ils etudient egalement les resultats de ce choix. En analysant les donnees relatives a 4 462 banques commerciales privees americaines groupees par zone statistique metropolitaine (Metropolitan Statistical Area) au cours de la periode s’echelonnant de 1997 a 2010, ils constatent que l'intensification de la concurrence des banques ayant le statut de societes S accroit la probabilite que les banques rivales ayant celui de societes C se convertissent en societes S. Les auteurs estiment que les economies d'impot agregees resultant de la conversion au statut de societe S excedent 372 millions de dollars la premiere annee. Si tant est que ces economies sont utilisees pour maintenir la parite concurrentielle avec les societes rivales, les auteurs constatent que la conversion des banques entraine la hausse de leurs taux d'interet sur les depots des clients et l'augmentation de l'intensite de la publicite. Ces observations nous eclairent quant a savoir si la concurrence de societes jouissant d'un avantage fiscal influe sur la forme d'organisation que choisissent les societes rivales en situation de desavantage fiscal.
Surgeons see anatomical structures faster and more accurately compared to novices: Development of a pattern recognition skill assessment platform.

Abstract Background This study aimed to identify differences in pattern recognition skill among individuals with varying surgical experience. Methods Participants reviewed laparoscopic cholecystectomy videos of various difficulty, and paused them when the cystic duct or artery was identified to outline each structure on the monitor. Time taken to identify each structure, accuracy and work load, which was assessed using the NASA-Task Load Index (TLX), were compared among the three groups. Results Ten students, ten residents and eight attendings participated in the study. Attendings identified the cystic duct and artery significantly faster and more accurately than students, and identified the cystic artery faster than residents. The NASA-TLX score of attendings was significantly lower than that of students and residents. Conclusions Attendings identified anatomical structures faster, more accurately, and with less effort than students or residents. This platform may be valuable for the assessment and teaching of pattern recognition skill to novice surgeons. Short summary Accurate anatomical recognition is paramount to proceeding safely in surgery. The assessment platform used in this study differentiated recognition skill among individuals with varing surgical experience.
ProPatrol: Attack Investigation via Extracted High-Level Tasks

Kernel audit logs are an invaluable source of information in the forensic investigation of a cyber-attack. However, the coarse granularity of dependency information in audit logs leads to the construction of huge attack graphs which contain false or inaccurate dependencies. To overcome this problem, we propose a system, called ProPatrol, which leverages the open compartmentalized design in families of enterprise applications used in security-sensitive contexts (e.g., browser, chat client, email client). To achieve its goal, ProPatrol infers a model for an application’s high-level tasks as input-processing compartments using purely the audit log events generated by that application. The main benefit of this approach is that it does not rely on source code or binary instrumentation, but only on a preliminary and general knowledge of an application’s architecture to bootstrap the analysis. Our experiments with enterprise-level attacks demonstrate that ProPatrol significantly cuts down the forensic investigation effort and quickly pinpoints the root-cause of attacks. ProPatrol incurs less than 2% runtime overhead on a commodity operating system.
Visualizing Behavioral Data from a 3D Virtual Learning Environment: A Preliminary Study

This paper describes a preliminary study which attempted to apply learning analytics methods to usage data generated by students with autism spectrum disorders using iSocial, a collaborative, three-dimensional virtual learning environment. Drawing from similar methods in the area of learning and content management systems, the work presented in this paper considers two types of user behaviors that are not present in LMS/CMS and are unique to 3D VLEs: avatar movement and spoken dialogue. The method developed for capturing avatar movements and spoken dialogue and writing these data to a log file is explained, along with a description of the process the research team underwent in order to transform the log data into graphical depictions of user behavior over time. Examples of five different visualization types are examined. Conclusions and directions for future research are provided.
Non-Coding Micro RNAs and Hypoxia-Inducible Factors Are Selenium Targets for Development of a Mechanism-Based Combination Strategy in Clear-Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma—Bench-to-Bedside Therapy

Durable response, inherent or acquired resistance, and dose-limiting toxicities continue to represent major barriers in the treatment of patients with advanced clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). The majority of ccRCC tumors are characterized by the loss of Von Hippel⁻Lindau tumor suppressor gene function, a stable expression of hypoxia-inducible factors 1α and 2α (HIFs), an altered expression of tumor-specific oncogenic microRNAs (miRNAs), a clear cytoplasm with dense lipid content, and overexpression of thymidine phosphorylase. The aim of this manuscript was to confirm that the downregulation of specific drug-resistant biomarkers deregulated in tumor cells by a defined dose and schedule of methylselenocysteine (MSC) or seleno-l-methionine (SLM) sensitizes tumor cells to mechanism-based drug combination. The inhibition of HIFs by selenium was necessary for optimal therapeutic benefit. Durable responses were achieved only when MSC was combined with sunitinib (a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-targeted biologic), topotecan (a topoisomerase 1 poison and HIF synthesis inhibitor), and S-1 (a 5-fluorouracil prodrug). The documented synergy was selenium dose- and schedule-dependent and associated with enhanced prolyl hydroxylase-dependent HIF degradation, stabilization of tumor vasculature, downregulation of 28 oncogenic miRNAs, as well as the upregulation of 12 tumor suppressor miRNAs. The preclinical results generated provided the rationale for the development of phase 1/2 clinical trials of SLM in sequential combination with axitinib in ccRCC patients refractory to standard therapies.
Spin–Orbit Torque Switching in a Nearly Compensated Heusler Ferrimagnet

Ferrimagnetic materials combine the advantages of the low magnetic moment of an antiferromagnet and the ease of realizing magnetic reading of a ferromagnet. Recently, it was demonstrated that compensated ferrimagnetic half metals can be realized in Heusler alloys, where high spin polarization, zero magnetic moment, and low magnetic damping can be achieved at the same time. In this work, by studying the spin-orbit torque induced switching in the Heusler alloy Mn2 Ru1- x Ga, it is found that efficient current-induced magnetic switching can be realized in a nearly compensated sample with strong perpendicular anisotropy and large film thickness. This work demonstrates the possibility of employing compensated Heusler alloys for fast, energy-efficient spintronic devices.
A conserved enhancer regulates Il9 expression in multiple lineages

Cytokine genes are regulated by multiple regulatory elements that confer tissue-specific and activation-dependent expression. The cis-regulatory elements of the gene encoding IL-9, a cytokine that promotes allergy, autoimmune inflammation and tumor immunity, have not been defined. Here we identify an enhancer (CNS-25) upstream of the Il9 gene that binds most transcription factors (TFs) that promote Il9 gene expression. Deletion of the enhancer in the mouse germline alters transcription factor binding to the remaining Il9 regulatory elements, and results in diminished IL-9 production in multiple cell types including Th9 cells, and attenuates IL-9-dependent immune responses. Moreover, deletion of the homologous enhancer (CNS-18) in primary human Th9 cultures results in significant decrease of IL-9 production. Thus, Il9 CNS-25/IL9 CNS-18 is a critical and conserved regulatory element for IL-9 production.
Modeling processor idle times in MPSoC platforms to enable integrated DPM, DVFS, and task scheduling subject to a hard deadline

Energy efficiency is one of the most critical design criteria for modern embedded systems such as multiprocessor system-on-chips (MPSoCs). Dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) and dynamic power management (DPM) are two major techniques for reducing energy consumption in such embedded systems. Furthermore, MPSoCs are becoming more popular for many real-time applications. One of the challenges of integrating DPM with DVFS and task scheduling of real-time applications on MPSoCs is the modeling of idle intervals on these platforms. In this paper, we present a novel approach for modeling idle intervals in MPSoC platforms which leads to a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) formulation integrating DPM, DVFS, and task scheduling of periodic task graphs subject to a hard deadline. We also present a heuristic approach for solving the MILP and compare its results with those obtained from solving the MILP.
Targeted substrate degradation by Kelch controls the actin cytoskeleton during ring canal expansion

During Drosophila oogenesis, specialized actin-based structures called ring canals form and expand to accommodate growth of the oocyte. Previous work demonstrated that Kelch and Cullin 3 function together in a Cullin 3-RING ubiquitin ligase complex (CRL3Kelch) to organize the ring canal cytoskeleton, presumably by targeting a substrate for proteolysis. Here, we use tandem affinity purification followed by mass spectrometry to identify HtsRC as the CRL3Kelch ring canal substrate. CRISPR-mediated mutagenesis of HtsRC revealed its requirement in the recruitment of the ring canal F-actin cytoskeleton. We present genetic evidence consistent with HtsRC being the CRL3Kelch substrate, as well as biochemical evidence indicating that HtsRC is ubiquitylated and degraded by the proteasome. Finally, we identify a short sequence motif in HtsRC that is necessary for Kelch binding. These findings uncover an unusual mechanism during development wherein a specialized cytoskeletal structure is regulated and remodeled by the ubiquitin-proteasome system.
A general setting for functions of Fueter variables: differentiability, rational functions, Fock module and related topics

We develop some aspects of the theory of hyperholomorphic functions whose values are taken in a Banach algebra over a field—assumed to be the real or the complex numbers—and which contains the field. Notably, we consider Fueter expansions, Gleason’s problem, the theory of hyperholomorphic rational functions, modules of Fueter series, and related problems. Such a framework includes many familiar algebras as particular cases. The quaternions, the split quaternions, the Clifford algebras, the ternary algebra, and the Grassmann algebra are a few examples of them.
Do Noisy Stock Prices Impede Real Efficiency

Using volatile and correlated liquidity shocks to investors as a source of noise trading, I show that noise in stock prices impedes real efficiency. A one-standard-deviation increase in mutual fund...
Case-Control Study, Population Based †

A population-based case–control study is based on a well-defined source population from which all cases that arise in a given time period can be enumerated. Controls consist of random samples of persons without the disease of interest from the source population. Cases consist of all cases or a random sample of those cases. This study design can, in principle, reduce selection bias and, when combined with census data on the source population, yield information on absolute as well as relative risk. Keywords: case–control study; population-based; absolute risk; selection bias; relative risk
From here to there! Elementary: a game-based approach to developing number sense and early algebraic understanding

This paper examines whether using From Here to There! (FH2T:E), a dynamic game-based mathematics learning technology relates to improved early algebraic understanding. We use student log files within FH2T to explore the possible benefits of student behaviors and gamification on learning gains. Using in app measures of student interactions (mouse clicks, resets, errors, problem solving steps, and completions), 19 variables were identified to summarize overall problem solving processes. An exploratory factor analysis identified five clear factors including engagement in problem solving, progress, strategic flexibility, strategic efficiency, and speed. Regression analyses reveal that after accounting for behavior within the app, playing the gamified version of the app contributed to higher learning gains than playing a nongamified version. Next, completing more problems within the game related to higher achievement on the post-test. Third, two significant interactions were found between progress and prior knowledge and engagement in problem solving and prior knowledge, where low performing students gained more when they completed more problems and engaged more with those problems.
Do peers influence occupational preferences? Evidence from randomly-assigned peer groups at West Point

Abstract There is substantial variation across occupations in outcomes, such as earnings, job satisfaction, and health, yet little is known about how occupational preferences are shaped and evolve. This paper assesses a channel that may influence occupational preferences—peer effects—by exploiting unique institutional features and a natural experiment at West Point to document the way students' (i.e., cadets') occupational preferences evolve, and to test for peer effects. After graduation, cadets must enter the U.S. Army as an officer in one of 16 occupational branches, and are required to rank-order their preferences for the branches repeatedly over four years. West Point randomly assigns cadets to social groups, both at broad company and narrow roommate levels. We leverage the timing of the randomization and preference elicitations to test for peer effects at the company, roommate, and older-peer levels. With the possible exception of the first few weeks of exposure, we find little evidence of peer effects. We also use a survey of cadets to explore mechanisms and find evidence that peer information may not be credible in this case, but rather cadets rely on mentors and job characteristics when making this decision.
Cryptococcus deuterogattii VGIIa Infection Associated with Travel to the Pacific Northwest Outbreak Region in an Anti-Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor Autoantibody-Positive Patient in the United States.

ABSTRACT The region encompassing the Pacific Northwest (PNW), Vancouver Island, Oregon, and Washington has been the location of an ongoing Cryptococcus gattii outbreak since the 1990s, and there is evidence that the outbreak is expanding along the West Coast into California. Here we report a clinical case of a 69-year-old, HIV-negative man from North Carolina who was diagnosed with a fungal brain mass by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and pathology. He had traveled to Seattle and Vancouver 3 years earlier and to Costa Rica 4 months prior to presentation. Phenotypic evidence showed that the fungal mass isolated from the patient’s brain represented C. gattii. In agreement with the phenotypic results, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) provided genotypic evidence that assigned the infecting organism within the C. gattii species complex and to the C. deuterogattii VGIIa clade. Whole-genome sequencing revealed >99.99% identity with the C. deuterogattii reference strain R265, indicating that the infecting strain is derived from the highly clonal outbreak strains in the PNW. We conclude that the patient acquired the C. gattii infection during his travel to the region 3 years prior and that the infection was dormant for an extended period of time before causing disease. The patient tested positive for anti-granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) autoantibodies, supporting earlier reports that implicate these autoantibodies as a risk factor associated with C. gattii infection. IMPORTANCE Mortality rates associated with C. gattii infections are estimated to be between 13% and 33%, depending on an individual’s predisposition, and C. gattii has caused at least 39 deaths in the PNW region. There have been four other international travel cases reported in patients from Europe and Asia with travel history to the PNW, but this report describes the first North American traveler who acquired C. deuterogattii infection presenting within the United States and the first case of a C. deuterogattii outbreak infection associated with anti-GM-CSF autoantibodies. Early and accurate diagnoses are important for disease prevention and treatment and for control of infectious diseases. Continual reporting of C. deuterogattii infections is necessary to raise awareness of the ongoing outbreak in the PNW and to alert travelers and physicians to the areas of endemicity with potential risks.
A policy of credit disruption: the Punjab Land Alienation Act of 1900

If land is titled and transferable, it can be used as collateral against which money can be borrowed. The resulting increase in access to credit is usually expected to foster economic growth. We study a policy in colonial India that made land less available as collateral for debt. Using a panel dataset for Punjab districts from 1890 to 1910, we find that this reduced the availability of mortgage-backed credit, but did not hurt proxies for economic development such as acreage and cattle, at least in the short run.
Structural Models of the Prescription Drug Market

We survey the literature on structural models for the prescription drug market, which has attracted significant attention from researchers in marketing and economics, and related fields. The literature has evolved from adopting standard structural models developed for other markets to models that are specifically designed to capture the institutional details of the prescription drug market. Along the way, these empirical frameworks have not only greatly improved in terms of explaining stylized facts, but also in terms of producing better counterfactual predictions. Topics covered by this survey include the application of learning models to explain slow diffusion, post-patent expiry competition, prepatent expiry competition, R&D and new drug introduction, managerial and public policy analysis, and the economics of the Medicare Part-D program. We conclude by discussing future research directions.
Greater Weight Gain in Treatment-naive Persons Starting Dolutegravir-based Antiretroviral Therapy.

BACKGROUND Recent studies have reported weight gain in virologically suppressed persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) switched from older antiretroviral therapy (ART) to newer integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI)-based regimens. In this study, we investigated whether weight gain differs among treatment-naive PLWH starting INSTI-based regimens compared to other ART regimens. METHODS Adult, treatment-naive PLWH in the Vanderbilt Comprehensive Care Clinic cohort initiating INSTI-, protease inhibitor (PI)-, and nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-based ART between January 2007 and June 2016 were included. We used multivariable linear mixed-effects models to generate marginal predictions of weights over time, adjusting for baseline clinical and demographic characteristics. We used restricted cubic splines to relax linearity assumptions and bootstrapping to generate 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS Among 1152 ART-naive PLWH, 351 initiated INSTI-based regimens (135 dolutegravir, 153 elvitegravir, and 63 raltegravir), 86% were male, and 49% were white. At ART initiation, median age was 35 years, body mass index was 25.1 kg/m2, and CD4+ T-cell count was 318 cells/μL. Virologic suppression at 18 months was similar between different ART classes. At all examined study time points, weight gain was highest among PLWH starting dolutegravir. At 18 months, PLWH on dolutegravir gained 6.0 kg, compared to 2.6 kg for NNRTIs (P < .05), and 0.5 kg for elvitegravir (P < .05). PLWH starting dolutegravir also gained more weight at 18 months compared to raltegravir (3.4 kg) and PIs (4.1 kg), though these differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Treatment-naive PLWH starting dolutegravir-based regimens gained significantly more weight at 18 months than those starting NNRTI-based and elvitegravir-based regimens.