cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tobacco Smoke Stimulates the Transcription of Amphiregulin in Human Oral Epithelial Cells: Evidence of a Cyclic AMP-Responsive Element Binding Protein–Dependent Mechanism

Activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mediated signaling has been implicated in the pathogenesis of tobacco smoke-induced cancers. Recently, elevated levels of amphiregulin, a ligand of the EGFR, were found in the oral mucosa of smokers. The main objective of this study was to elucidate the mechanism by which tobacco smoke induces amphiregulin. Treatment of a nontumorigenic human oral epithelial cell line (MSK-Leuk1) with a saline extract of tobacco smoke stimulated amphiregulin (AR) transcription resulting in increased amounts of amphiregulin mRNA and protein. Tobacco smoke stimulated the cyclic AMP (cAMP)-->protein kinase A (PKA) pathway leading to increased cAMP-responsive element binding protein-dependent activation of AR transcription. These inductive effects of tobacco smoke were dependent on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). In fact, alpha-naphthoflavone, an AhR antagonist, blocked tobacco smoke-mediated induction of binding of cAMP-responsive element binding protein to the AR promoter and thereby suppressed the induction of amphiregulin. Notably, treatment of MSK-Leuk1 cells with tobacco smoke or exogenous amphiregulin stimulated DNA synthesis. An inhibitor of EGFR tyrosine kinase or a neutralizing antibody to amphiregulin abrogated the increase in DNA synthesis mediated by tobacco smoke. Taken together, these findings suggest that tobacco smoke stimulated a signaling pathway comprised of AhR-->cAMP-->PKA resulting in enhanced AR transcription and increased DNA synthesis. The ability of tobacco smoke to induce amphiregulin and thereby enhance DNA synthesis is likely to contribute to the procarcinogenic effects of tobacco smoke.
Sex Differences in Mathematical Reasoning Ability at Age 13: Their Status 20 Years Later

Reported is the 20-year follow-up of 1,975 mathematically gifted adolescents (top 1%) whose assessments at age 12 to 14 revealed robust gender differences in mathematical reasoning ability. Both sexes became exceptional achievers and perceived themselves as such; they reported uniformly high levels of degree attainment and satisfaction with both their career direction and their overall success. The earlier sex differences in mathematical reasoning ability did predict differential educational and occupational outcomes. The observed differences also appeared to be a function of sex differences in preferences for (a) inorganic versus organic disciplines and (b) a career-focused versus more-balanced life. Because profile differences in abilities and preferences are longitudinally stable, males probably will remain more represented in some disciplines, whereas females are likely to remain more represented in others. These data have policy implications for higher education and the world of work.
EyeMusic: performing live music and multimedia compositions with eye movements

In this project, eye tracking researchers and computer music composers collaborate to create musical compositions that are played with the eyes. A commercial eye tracker (LC Technologies Eyegaze) is connected to a music and multimedia authoring environment (Max/MSP/Jitter). The project addresses issues of both noise and control: How will the performance benefit from the noise inherent in eye trackers and eye movements, and to what extent should the composition encourage the performer to try to control a specific musical outcome? Providing one set of answers to these two questions, the authors create an eye-controlled composition, EyeMusic v1.0, which was selected by juries for live performance at computer music conferences.
Some aspects of bipolar heterothallism and other cultural characters of Poria carnegiea

Eighteen dikaryotic isolates of Poria carnegiea were used in a study of distribution and number of alleles for incompatibility in the population of the fungus. Thirty-six homokaryons representing b...
A Redescription Of Acroplous vorax (Temnospondyli: Dvinosauria) Based On New Specimens From the Early Permian Of Nebraska and Kansas, U.S.A.

ABSTRACT The Early Permian dvinosaur temnospondyl Acroplous vorax Hotton, 1959 is redescribed based on new specimens from the Eskridge Formation of Nebraska, and an unpublished specimen collected from the Speiser Shale of Kansas in 1960, along with reanalysis of previously described Acroplous specimens. The Nebraska Acroplous specimens are part of the oldest Permian (Asselian) nonmarine vertebrate faunal assemblage in the Paleozoic midcontinental sequence of the United States based upon invertebrate biostratigraphy. This study reveals previously unknown anatomical features for Acroplous, requiring a reassessment of the genus and the Eobrachyopidae. Among the new findings for Acroplous are: an anterior dorsal fenestra; prefrontals excluded from the external naris; lacrimal contacting the orbit; denticulated palatine, ectopterygoid and pterygoid; a lack of a postglenoid transverse trough; an unusual interlocking mandibular symphysis, and an elongate rod-like ilium. A cladistic analysis of 87 characters and ...
A syntax-directed keyboard extension for writing source code on touchscreen devices

As touchscreen mobile devices grow in popularity, it is inevitable that software developers will eventually want to write code on them. However, writing code on a soft (or virtual) keyboard is cumbersome due to the device size and lack of tactile feedback. We present a soft syntax-directed keyboard extension to the QWERTY keyboard for Java program input on touchscreen devices and evaluate this keyboard with Java programmers. Our results indicate that a programmer using the keyboard extension can input a Java program with fewer errors and using fewer keystrokes per character than when using a standard soft keyboard alone. In addition, programmers maintain an overall typing speed in words per minute that is equivalent to that on the standard soft keyboard alone. The keyboard extension was shown to be mentally, physically, and temporally less demanding than the standard soft keyboard alone when inputting a Java program.
Validating Practicality: Impact of Right Atrial Pressure on Fractional Flow Reserve∗

Among all diagnostic tests used in interventional cardiology, none has had the impact of fractional flow reserve (FFR). By appropriately reducing our often misplaced reliance on angiography, FFR, when measured and applied correctly, produces better percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) outcomes
Toward an agent-based simulation of the factors impacting diversity within a college student body

Colleges worldwide have identified racial diversity as a vital dimension of their educational experience. Institutions might increase their level of diversity by addressing the problem of perceived social estrangement among minorities: studies have shown that this is an important factor in minority retention. One approach is to deliberately construct integrated social groups for students at the beginning of their college experience. These early interactions, aimed at reducing the social segregation of the population, may lead to lasting friendships between students of different races, and then bear further fruit later as different cultures and attitudes interact in positive ways. In this paper we describe an agent-based simulation of a college student body in which students form dyadic and group connections and change their preferences in response to their peers. We describe how the model can be used to study the impact of institutional policies on overall degree of segregation.
Microbial Populations in Naked Neck Chicken Ceca Raised on Pasture Flock Fed with Commercial Yeast Cell Wall Prebiotics via an Illumina MiSeq Platform.

Prebiotics are non-digestible carbohydrate dietary supplements that selectively stimulate the growth of one or more beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract of the host. These bacteria can inhibit colonization of pathogenic bacteria by producing antimicrobial substances such as short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and competing for niches with pathogens within the gut. Pasture flock chickens are generally raised outdoors with fresh grass, sunlight and air, which represents different environmental growth conditions compared to conventionally raised chickens. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the difference in microbial populations from naked neck chicken ceca fed with commercial prebiotics derived from brewer’s yeast cell wall via an Illumina MiSeq platform. A total of 147 day-of-hatch naked neck chickens were distributed into 3 groups consisted of 1) C: control (no prebiotic), 2) T1: Biolex® MB40 with 0.2%, and 3) T2: Leiber® ExCel with 0.2%, consistently supplemented prebiotics during the experimental period. At 8 weeks, a total of 15 birds from each group were randomly selected and ceca removed for DNA extraction. The Illumina Miseq platform based on V4 region of 16S rRNA gene was applied for microbiome analysis. Both treatments exhibited limited impact on the microbial populations at the phylum level, with no significant differences in the OTU number of Bacteroidetes among groups and an increase of Proteobacteria OTUs for the T1 (Biolex® MB40) group. In addition there was a significant increase of genus Faecalibacterium OTU, phylum Firmicutes. According to the development of next generation sequencing (NGS), microbiome analysis based on 16S rRNA gene proved to be informative on the prebiotic impact on poultry gut microbiota in pasture-raised naked neck birds.
Exercise stress test results in patients with bare metal stents or drug-eluting stents: pathophysiological and clinical implications.

Background: Drug-eluting stents (DES) have reduced restenosis following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), but they seem to be associated with increased coronary endothelial dysfunction compared to bare metal stents (BMS). No data are available about the prognostic value of exercise stress test (EST) in PCI patients in the DES era. Methods and Results: The 160 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent PCI with either BMS (n=86) or DES (n=74) were studied. EST was performed 1 month after PCI. DES patients had a higher rate of positive EST compared to BMS patients (49% vs 32%; P=0.03). At a median follow-up of 18 months DES showed a lower rate of target vessel revascularization (TVR) (hazard ratio (HR) 0.37, P=0.07), but a higher rate of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (HR 3.33, P=0.08). At multivariate Cox-regression time to 1 mm ST and low-workload ischemia were independent predictors of AMI (HR 0.96, P=0.03; and HR 6.24, P=0.009, respectively), as well as of TVR (HR 0.96, P=0.007; and HR 6.43, P=0.001, respectively). Conclusions: DES implantation is associated with a higher rate of positive EST, compared to BMS, 1 month after PCI, likely due to a higher prevalence of endothelial dysfunction. EST seems to be helpful in predicting clinical outcome in patients with coronary stent implantation. (Circ J 2010; 74: 2372-2378)
A Transistorized Four-Quadrant Time-Division Multiplier with an Accuracy of 0.1 Per Cent

This article describes a four-quadrant time-division multiplier with an over-all accuracy of better than 0.1 per cent of full scale. The circuit is independent of the transistor characteristics, requires no complicated balancing adjustments, exhibits excellent stability and uses only simple, noncritical circuitry. The maximum output voltage is 10 v when both input voltages are 10 v.
High Strength Conductors and Structural Materials for High Field Magnets

One important approach to increasing High magnetic fields (HMF) beyond what is now possible is to improve the properties of various composite materials used as both conductors and structural support. Typical conductors for high field magnets are Cu-based metal-metal composites. To achieve high mechanical strength, these composites are fabricated by cold deformation, which introduces high densities of interfaces along with lattice distortions. During the operation of a magnet, mechanical load, high magnetic field, extreme temperatures and other stressors are imposed on the materials, causing them to be further “processed”. The composite conductors in a magnet, for example, may undergo high temperatures, which reduce lattice distortions or soften the material. At the same time, HMF may increase lattice distortion, leading to a complex change in interface characteristics. Both the mechanical properties of the conductors, like the tensile and yield strength, and the electric conductivity of the composites are closely connected to changes in lattice distortion and interface density. Understanding these changes helps us to assure that materials can operate in optimized conditions during most of magnets’ service life. Maximizing service life is critical, given the high cost of building and operating high field magnets. The goal of this paper is to 1) show our understanding of changes that occur in the properties of selected materials during the fabrication and under HMF and 2) to discuss how those changes relate to the microstructure of these materials and consequently to the service life of high field magnets.
Factors Affecting Social Sustainability in Highway Projects in Missouri

Abstract Sustainability focuses on the interaction between a given project and the social, environmental, and the economic dimensions of the system enclosing it. The majority of the studies conducted focused mostly on the environmental aspects of sustainability rather than the economic ones, while very few studies discussed the social dimension. Social sustainability promotes the concepts of respect, awareness, diversity, vitality, and responsibility toward the workforce and the society by keeping them healthy and safe from harm during the different phases of a project. Highway projects are one of the most critical infrastructure projects in the construction industry. This is due to their high budgets, frequent occurrences, and the inevitable disturbance they cause to the existing communities and environment. As such, a comprehensive study was conducted to analyze the performance of highway projects with respect to the social dimension of sustainability. Due to limitation of space, the paper presents only some aspects of this study. In this study, ten major core factors were identified as principle contributors to social sustainability, and recommended for implementation at different stages of highway projects. This paper discusses these factors in details.
The paradoxical relationship between fantasy football and NFL consumption: Conflict development and consumer coping mechanisms

Abstract Fantasy sport participation represents an increasingly popular consumer experience among the contemporary sport consumption alternatives. Previous work on fantasy sports draws attention to both its positive and negative effects on traditional sport consumption. This study investigates fantasy football participants’ perspectives, meanings, and experiences regarding their fantasy football and NFL consumption behavior. Employing a grounded theory methodology, the study draws on literatures spanning from sport consumption and fantasy sports to consumer co-creation and intrapersonal conflict, and combines them with data collection and analysis. The outcome is a new organizing framework that illustrates why there is conflict between fantasy and favorite team fandom and how fantasy sport participants cope with this conflict. First, the study illustrates that this conflict stems from the non-traditional co-creation opportunities inherent in the empowering fantasy sports experience, which leads to a psychological connection to the fantasy team and players through the feeling of self-achievement. Second, the study identifies various coping strategies that sport consumers employ to manage conflicts with player selection (i.e., safe selection, convergent selection, divergent selection, and impartial selection strategies) and rooting interests (i.e., balanced interest, principal interest-shift, temporal interest-shift, and benefit-seeking interest-shift strategies).
Untangling Wild-Type Transthyretin Amyloidosis

Heart failure (HF) affects >5 million people in the United States, approximately one-half of whom have normal systolic left ventricular function (heart failure with preserved ejection fraction [HFpEF]) [(1)][1]. HF incidence increases with age, and multiple comorbidities contribute to its
Alexandra Remizova: An “Actors’ Director”

The chapter deals with the legacy of one of Russia’s leading female directors, Alexandra Remizova (1903–1989). An actress in the legendary Vakhtangov’s Third Studio of the Moscow Art Theatre and originator of several roles in Vakhtangov’s final directorial masterpieces, Remizova by the 1940s developed into one of Vakhtangov Theatre’s leading directors. While overshadowed (due to her gender and Jewish background) by the artistic director Ruben Simonov, Remizova nevertheless is remembered today as the creator of the theatre’s classical repertoire. Moreover, from the 1940s to the 1980s, Remizova was instrumental in the shaping of Vakhtangov Theatre’s famed troupe. She was one of the few Russian “actors’ directors,” creating performances in the tradition of her great teacher, Vakhtangov, by mobilizing the collective creative individuality of the ensemble.
EffiSha: A Software Framework for Enabling Effficient Preemptive Scheduling of GPU

Modern GPUs are broadly adopted in many multitasking environments, including data centers and smartphones. However, the current support for the scheduling of multiple GPU kernels (from different applications) is limited, forming a major barrier for GPU to meet many practical needs. This work for the first time demonstrates that on existing GPUs, efficient preemptive scheduling of GPU kernels is possible even without special hardware support. Specifically, it presents EffiSha, a pure software framework that enables preemptive scheduling of GPU kernels with very low overhead. The enabled preemptive scheduler offers flexible support of kernels of different priorities, and demonstrates significant potential for reducing the average turnaround time and improving the system overall throughput of programs that time share a modern GPU.
Physiologically-Based Pattern Analysis

Abstract The digital computer is a wonderful tool for numeric calculations at incredible speeds, but humans are still vastly superior in pattern recognition and classification of complex visual image patterns. An understanding of how our visual system operates has the potential to inspire us to better, more efficient means of automatic, computer aided pattern analysis of images. Scale, shift and rotations, are easily compensated for within the Human Visual System, and the scene is understood even when presentation is made for the first time. A study of the models for the Human Visual System provides insight into pattern analysis techniques for automatic pattern recognition and classification.
Dropping the “N-Word”: Examining How a Victim-Centered Approach Could Curtail the Use of America’s Most Opprobrious Term:

The “N-word.” It’s what one scholar called “the nuclear bomb or racial epithets.” Few words are so abhorrent that just their utterance can provoke rage, hatred, and conflict. Unlike other slurs, it...
Convolutional Filtering for Accurate Signal Timing from Noisy Streaming Data

Our society depends heavily on the electric power infrastructure. To ensure its reliability, key power grid components such as transformers are extensively monitored for signs of failures and errors. This work concentrates on a type of event known as the partial discharge (PD) because it is the symptom of insulation weakness, the most common cause of transformer failures. More specifically, our work is to locate the position of a partial discharge to provide information for preventive maintenance. Our method utilizes the information from a set of ultra-high frequency (UHF) sensors inside the transformer, and proceeds in two steps: first determine the signal arrival time and then locate the position based on time differences. To determine the arrival time, we develop a convolutional filtering method based on the Savitzky-Golay filter. To provide accurate locations, we simulate the electromagnetic wave propagation using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) to generate a reference table of the travel time from each FDTD mesh point to the sensors. We exercise our method using two sets of UHF measurements with different signal to noise ratios. In both cases, our method provides more accurate locations than other methods. The difference is particularly prominent when the signal is weak. With weak signals, the best existing method, the cumulative energy method, was only able to predict the PD location within 300 mm of the known sources in 13% of the test cases, while our method is correct in 48% of the test cases.
HBCUs and Chemical Engineering: Analysis of Baccalaureate Programs.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) provide significant STEM degrees to African Americans. Initiatives toward increasing diversity in STEM fields have been implemented by government and industry leaders. HBCUs annually award over 20% of all African American baccalaureate chemical engineering degrees. This speaks volume to the contribution HBCUs are making towards workforce diversity. This paper discusses the current statistics and impacts HBCUs have and could have in chemical engineering.
In Vitro Studies of Anticarcinogenic Protease Inhibitors

Several different types of agents have been shown to modify the yield of transformed cells in vitro. We have observed that certain protease inhibitors have the ability to suppress radiation- and chemical-induced malignant transformation in vitro in a highly significant fashion (Kennedy and Little, 1978, 1980a, 1981b; Littler al., 1979; Kennedy and Weichselbaum, 1981; Kennedy, 1982, 1984a, b, 1985a, 1988, 1990a; Yavelow etal., 1983, 1985; Baturay and Kennedy, 1986; Billings et al., 1987a, 1989). Several other investigators have also observed that some protease inhibitors can effectively suppress transformation in vitro (Kuroki and Drevon, 1979; Borek et al., 1979; DiPaolo et al., 1980; Popescu et al., 1980; Sun et al. 1988). The studies showing that protease inhibitors suppress transformation in vitro have utilized several different model systems, several different carcinogens (including x-radiation, UV light, chemical carcinogens, and steroid hormones as the inducing agents) and several different agents as promoters (or cocarcinogens) (reviewed in Kennedy, 1984a), as shown in Tables I and II (culture dishes containing transformed foci/cells are shown in Fig. 1). These results suggest that protease inhibitors are capable of suppressing similar processes induced by different carcinogens (with or without promotion or cocar-cinogenesis) in several different cell systems. Protease inhibitors have an unusual ability to suppress information in vitro in a highly significant manner, as opposed to the marginal effects observed for many other classes of possible human cancer chemopreventive agents which we have studied (Kennedy, 1984a,b, 1985b, 1986; Kennedy et al., 1984b). Not only are many other potential chemopreventive agents marginal in their effectiveness, but most of them need to be added to cultures at toxic or nearly toxic levels to observe any effect [e.g., see the effective levels of vitamin E (Radner and Kennedy, 1986)]. By comparison, protease inhibitors are effective at very low concentrations.
Some Mathematical Problems of Fluid Mechanics

In this paper I will describe results concerning incompressible fluids at high Reynolds numbers — everyday fluid turbulence. I will address two broad subjects: integrals of quantities associated with the flow, and formation of large gradients.
14.8 – Marine Sediment Records of African Climate Change: Progress and Puzzles

As recently as 5000 years ago, the now-barren Sahara desert was nearly completely vegetated, dotted with large and small lakes, and supported large mammalian fauna and human populations. Land-based records of these transitions are critically important, but complete records are also rare. Deep-sea sedimentary sequences accumulating along the margins of adjacent ocean basins offer continuous and well-dated archives of past changes in African climate. These sediments are used to constrain past changes in aridity, wind speeds, river runoff, vegetation, and surface hydrology. New analytical tools, such as constant flux proxies, novel sediment grain size, and provenance methods, and stable isotopic analysis of plant wax biomolecules are reshaping our views on how and why African climate changed. North African climate change over this interval is largely one of cooler, drier, and gustier conditions associated with the remote effects of high-latitude ice sheets and millennial-scale cooling events during the last glaciation. As ice sheets receded after 14.5 ka BP, and especially after the end of the Younger Dryas near 12.5 ka BP, the rising influence of orbital precession on the African monsoon intensity abruptly brought wetter conditions, and within centuries, the vast subtropical desert was replaced by a nearly fully vegetated landscape with large lakes, swollen rivers, and abundant fauna. This humid phase ended (abruptly or gradually or both) near 5 ka BP and the most recent iteration of the Sahara desert was established. Important puzzles remain, however, including a paradoxical understanding of surface conditions during the last glacial maximum and conflicting views on the durations and regional synchronicity of the onset and termination of the African humid period.
A Mathematical Model

The mathematical model presented in this chapter is intended to be sufficiently general to include the examples of Chapter 1 as well as many others, and yet sufficiently specific to enable us to apply the concepts of statistical-decision theory as well. We shall examine the general reception problem as a statistical-decision problem and hence shall assume certain statistics of the messages and channel disturbances depending on the criterion for system evaluation prescribed and the set of decisions permitted by the receiver. We shall also have to make certain assumptions concerning the nature of the available data, such as whether it resulted from discrete or continuous sampling of the observed waveform. Finally, we must specify the performance criterion by which we are seeking the optimal system.
Patient-Centric Strategies for Drug Re-innovation

Drug repurposing, often achieved via the FDA’s 505(b) (2) pathway, is an increasingly popular approach in today’s pharmaceutical environment. Repurposing or “re-innovation” comprises a multitude of techniques, which have resulted in wide-ranging commercial success. This article explores the diverse strategies that have been taken to repurpose drugs, and distinguishes a unifying theme among the most commercially successful examples—the ability to address significant unmet needs. The examples listed in this paper relate to small molecules drugs and certainly not exhaustive, however provide some of the key strategies that have been successful using “re-innovation” pathway.
Preparing Leaders for Latina/o Academic and Language Success: Frameworks, Perspectives and Strategies

Despite the increased enrollment of students of color in Texas schools, many school leaders still need to become more knowledgeable and pedagogically prepared to better serve the needs of diverse students. This chapter highlights how current school practices are not sufficiently responsive to the cultural and linguistic assets of students from diverse backgrounds. In this chapter, the authors offer practical strategies and frameworks to facilitate a change process in schools and communities. By drawing on these strategies and frameworks, school leaders can engage in a grassroots approach to create more socially just schools and educational experiences for students of color.
Empirical Characterization of Man-Made Impulsive Noise Using Open-Source Software Defined Radio Platforms

With the widespread use of wireless systems in the modern society, every household, office, and even automobiles, now contain radio-frequency (RF) sources capable of producing interference. Unlike thermal noise, whose statistics can usually be assumed stationary and Gaussian, man-made noise includes impulsive components that depend on the environment and is described by non-Gaussian statistical models that are in general non-stationary. This paper presents the use of affordable software-defined radio (SDR) platforms for measuring and characterizing impulsive noise for various locations using a Middleton Class A impulsive noise model.
Carsharing's impact and future

Abstract Carsharing provides members access to a fleet of autos for short-term use throughout the day, reducing the need for one or more personal vehicles. This chapter reviews key terms and definitions for carsharing, common carsharing business models, and existing impact studies. Next, the chapter discusses the commodification and aggregation of mobility services and the role of Mobility on Demand (MOD) and Mobility as a Service (MaaS) on carsharing. Finally, the chapter concludes with a discussion of how the convergence of electrification and automation is changing carsharing, leading to shared automated and electric vehicle (SAEV) fleets.
Biofilm Formation by Staphylococcus aureus is Triggered by a Drop in the Levels of the Second Messenger cyclic-di-AMP

Abstract The bacterial pathogen Staphylococcus aureus forms multicellular communities known as biofilms in which cells are held together by an extracellular matrix. The matrix consists of repurposed cytoplasmic proteins and extracellular DNA. These communities assemble during growth on medium containing glucose, but the intracellular signal for biofilm formation was unknown. Here we present evidence that biofilm formation is triggered by a drop in the levels of the second messenger cyclic-di-AMP. Previous work identified genes needed for the release of extracellular DNA, including genes for the cyclic-di-AMP phosphodiesterase GdpP, the transcriptional regulator XdrA, and the purine salvage enzyme Apt. Using a cyclic-di-AMP riboswitch biosensor and mass spectrometry, we show that the levels of the second messenger drop during biofilm formation in a glucose-dependent manner and that the drop is prevented in mutants of all three genes. Importantly, we also show that expression of the “accessory gene regulator” operon agr is under the positive control of cyclic-di-AMP and that an agr mutation, which is known to promote biofilm formation, bypasses the block in biofilm formation and eDNA release caused by a gdpP mutation. We conclude that the effect of the glucose-dependent drop in c-di-AMP levels is principally mediated by a reduction in agr expression, which in turn promotes biofilm formation.
Forensic Drug Testing

The testing of biological specimens has become a major component in the identification and the treatment of drug misuse. Testing has been performed under the auspices of the military, the criminal justice system, the public sector, and the private sector. Urine remains the primary specimen for drug abuse testing, but other specimens such as oral fluid, sweat, and hair have also been used. Each testing program is different, but there are common components throughout the programs. Specimens are collected under a chain of custody that documents the location of the specimen from collection to disposal. No single test is used to identify a positive specimen; positive results are reported only after a positive initial test and a positive confirmation test. Concentration cutoffs are employed to distinguish negative from positive specimens. The analytical methods used must be validated prior to use on donor specimens. Moreover, a quality assurance program must be in place for all aspects of the process, from specimen collection to specimen testing to reporting of results. Some programs, such as the Department of Health and Human Services Program, require specimen validity tests to ensure the integrity of the specimen prior to receipt in the laboratory. To ensure continued acceptable laboratory performance, proficiency testing programs and laboratory accreditation are also components of the forensic drug-testing process.
Accuracy, stability, and performance comparison between the spectral difference and flux reconstruction schemes

Abstract We report the development of a discontinuous spectral element flow solver that includes the implementation of both spectral difference and flux reconstruction formulations. With this high order framework, we have constructed a foundation upon which to provide a fair and accurate assessment of these two schemes in terms of accuracy, stability, and performance with special attention to the true spectral difference scheme and the modified spectral difference scheme recovered via the flux reconstruction formulation. Building on previous analysis of the spectral difference and flux reconstruction schemes, we provide a novel nonlinear stability analysis of the spectral difference scheme. Through various numerical experiments, we demonstrate the additional stability afforded by the true, baseline spectral difference scheme without explicit filtering or de-aliasing due to its inherent feature of staggered flux points. This arrangement leads to favorable suppression of aliasing errors and improves stability needed for under-resolved simulations of turbulent flows.
Sometimes a Long and Winding Road: An Exploration of Kalamazoo Promise Stop Out and Reenrollment:

This exploratory, descriptive study examined trends associated with Kalamazoo Promise (KPromise) student stop out, reenrollment, and persistence to a credential upon reenrollment. For the 2006–2017...
Antigen discovery tools for adaptive immune receptor repertoire research

The adaptive immune system has evolved to recognize with incredible precision a large diversity of molecules. Innovations in high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics have accelerated large-scale immune repertoire analyses and given us important insights into the behavior of the adaptive immune system. However, establishing a connection between receptor sequence and its antigen-specificity remains a challenge despite its central role in determining T and B cell fate. We discuss recent large-scale antigen discovery technologies which can be combined with adaptive immune receptor repertoire (AIRR) studies. We highlight important discoveries made using repertoire analyses in the field of host-microbe interactions.
Hamilton's Law and Finance - Borrowing from the Brits (And the Dutch)

We live in an era when Modern Monetary Theory has gained purchase. Deficits do not seem to matter to nations or their finance ministers. States believe the can print their way to utopia without a reckoning; this is a scheme freighted with disaster. This article centers on the achievements of America’s greatest finance minister whose grasp of political economy was without equal. Hamilton charted the course for American economic power. His work is timely and worthy of study. Late-18th century America sought commercial growth and new manufacturers yet feared monopolistic economic power. Hamilton’s economic program, centered on a national bank and program for manufacturing, provided the framework for the finance-led transformation of America. In a short time, Hamilton’s elegant solutions (based upon the English financial model) transformed America from a defaulting debtor to a magnet that attracted immense amounts of capital in the 19th century. The burden of the Revolutionary War debt needed to be resolved. Hamilton’s program: the assumption of the states and Confederation debt, its monetization, the establishment of the Bank of the United States, and Report on Manufactures laid the foundation for a vibrant economy. The article demonstrates how Hamilton’s prudent program strengthened the new federal government while providing the blueprint for the commercial society that emerged in the 19th century.
Autonomous closed-loop guidance using reinforcement learning in a low-thrust, multi-body dynamical environment

Abstract Onboard autonomy is an essential component in enabling increasingly complex missions into deep space. In nonlinear dynamical environments, computationally efficient guidance strategies are challenging. Many traditional approaches rely on either simplifying assumptions in the dynamical model or on abundant computational resources. This research effort employs reinforcement learning, a subset of machine learning, to produce a ‘lightweight’ closed-loop controller that is potentially suitable for onboard low-thrust guidance in challenging dynamical regions of space. The results demonstrate the controller’s ability to directly guide a spacecraft despite large initial deviations and to augment a traditional targeting guidance approach. The proposed controller functions without direct knowledge of the dynamical model; direct interaction with the nonlinear equations of motion creates a flexible learning scheme that is not limited to a single force model, mission scenario, or spacecraft. The learning process leverages high-performance computing to train a closed-loop neural network controller. This controller may be employed onboard to autonomously generate low-thrust control profiles in real-time without imposing a heavy workload on a flight computer. Control feasibility is demonstrated through sample transfers between Lyapunov orbits in the Earth–Moon system. The sample low-thrust controller exhibits remarkable robustness to perturbations and generalizes effectively to nearby motion. Finally, the flexibility of the learning framework is demonstrated across a range of mission scenarios and low-thrust engine types.
Initial Workup, Diagnosis, and Fracture Classification for Geriatric Hip Fractures

The initial workup and diagnosis of geriatric hip fractures set the stage for the remainder of care for this multidisciplinary problem. A thorough history from the patient and caregivers provides information regarding a patient’s baseline demands and functional abilities, and it is important to know what medical comorbidities these patients have to ensure that they are appropriately medically managed during and after hospitalization. A detailed physical examination can help treating clinicians discover any additional fractures or injuries, and this is especially important in patients who are likely to sustain other low-energy fragility fractures. Appropriate radiographs include an anteroposterior (AP) view of the pelvis with a marker ball and full-length femur X-rays including an AP and lateral of the hip. Classifying the fracture allows the surgical team to properly communicate and plan for the procedure and have a more informed preoperative discussion with the patient and family members.
A 60-Year-Old Man With Acute Chest Pain: A Common Presentation, But Unusual Diagnosis.

Case Presentation A 60-year-old man with a history of COPD, uncontrolled diabetes (hemoglobin A1c, 10.6%), obesity (BMI, 33.4), and a family history of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome came to the ED with several hours of acute-onset severe left mid-axillary pleuritic chest pain without alleviating factors. The pain had no specific triggers, including activities or heavy meals. It was associated with nausea, chills, and diaphoresis; also, it was preceded by a few weeks of subacute flulike symptoms for which he did not seek medical attention. He denied previous similar symptoms, recent trauma, or surgeries.
Multiphoton imaging of synaptic dynamics

Multiphoton laser scanning microscopy is a powerful tool for studying small structures and their dynamics in living brain tissue. This paper outlines the uses of multiphoton microscopy for the in vivo imaging the structure and function of dendritic spines, which are the postsynaptic sites of synapses in the central nervous system.
Ecological transition: Using Bronfenbrenner's model to study sexual identity change

Bronfenbrenner's (1979) ecological transition model provides a framework to study coming out in lesbians. The model takes into account activities such as sexual behavior, perceptions of the behavior, and social context in which behavior takes place. The importance of context makes this model useful in identifying possible connections between sexual identity alterations and larger social forces. Interventions based on this framework can reduce stress and promote health during coming out.
Array and Pipelined Processors

The sections in this article are 1 Pipelined Processors 2 SIMD Processors 3 Example SIMD Systems 4 Concluding Remarks
Phenotype switching in polymorphic Tetrahymena: A single-cell Jekyll and Hyde

For nearly half a century, phenotype switching in the group of polymorphic species of the ciliate genus Tetrahymena has been the subject of investigations of the underlying mechanisms, the accompanying biochemical and structural changes, and the evolution of polymorphic survival strategy. Beginning with the pioneering systematic studies by Furgason in 1940 of hymenostome ciliates, the experimental approach rapidly expanded to include investigations of growth, nutrition, physiology, morphology, and morphogenesis in the polymorphic species. Recently, with progress in elucidation of the novel signaling ligand and identification of elements of the subsequent signal transduction cascade, in addition to the growing catalog of intracellular events associated with differentiation in these unicellular eukaryotes, we have begun to address the mechanistic basis of polymorphism. This review summarizes and integrates the history and recent discoveries concerning Tetrahymena polymorphic cells. We are now poised to answer fundamental questions about this interesting pathway of cell differentiation.
Anti-Proliferative and Anti-Tumor Effect of α-Interferon in Renal Cell Carcinoma: Correlation with the Expression of a Kidney Associated Differentiation Glycoprotein

Approximately 20000 cases of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are diagnosed annually in the US. About 25% of these patients have overt metastatic disease at the time of presentation. The median duration of survival in these patients have been reported to be approximately 10 months. Among the rest of the patients with cancers apparently localized to the kidney, the sole effective therapy is surgical excision of the cancer, typically by a radical nephrectomy. About one third of these patients with apparently localized disease (i.e., 25% of the total) will later manifest metastatic disease and ultimately succumb to the cancer. The annual mortality rate for renal cancer in the US is approximately 10 000.
Alternative Formulas for Rating Prediction Using Collaborative Filtering

This paper proposes and evaluates several alternate design choices for common prediction metrics employed by neighborhood-based collaborative filtering approach. It first explores the role of different baseline user averages as the foundation of similarity weighting and rating normalization in prediction, evaluating the results in comparison to traditional neighborhood-based metrics using the MovieLens data set. The approach is further evaluated on the Netflix movie data set, using a baseline correlation formula between movies, without meta-knowledge. For the Netflix domain, the approach is augmented with a significance weighting variant that results in an improvement over the original metric. The resulting approach is shown to improve accuracy for neighborhood-based collaborative filtering, and it is general and applicable to establishing relationships among agents with a common list of items which establish their preferences.
Comparison of Powertrain Configuration for Plug-in HEVs from a Fuel Economy Perspective

The first commercially available plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), the General Motors (GM) Volt, was introduced into the market in mid-December 2010. The Volt uses a series-split powertrain architecture, which provides benefits over the series architecture that typically has been considered for use in electric-range extended vehicles (EREVs). A specialized EREV powertrain, called the Voltec, drives the Volt through its entire range of speed and acceleration with battery power alone and within the limit of battery energy, thereby displacing more fuel with electricity than a PHEV, which characteristically blends electric and engine power together during driving. This paper assesses the benefits and drawbacks of these two different plug-in hybrid electric architectures (series versus series-split) by comparing component sizes, system efficiency, and fuel consumption over urban and highway drive cycles. Based on dynamic models, a detailed component control algorithm was developed for each PHEV. In particular, for the GM Voltec, a control algorithm was proposed for both electric machines to achieve optimal engine operation. The powertrain components were sized to meet all-electric-range, performance, and grade capacity requirements. This paper presents and compares the impact of these two different powertrain configurations on component size and fuel consumption.
Adaptive control for a biped locomotion system

In this paper, an adaptive control scheme is used to control a three-link biped locomotion. The control law is based on the well known computed torque method, and the adaptation law uses the tracking error to determine the parameter estimates for the control law. We conducted extensive computer simulations to evaluate the biped locomotion control by varying the initial parameter estimates, by adding a dead zone operation for adaptation, and by changing the system parameters. Simulation results show that the tracking errors are acceptably small and the performance is also robust despite large deviations in the initial parameter estimates. >
Pulsed Laser Planarization of Metals for IC Interconnect

We consider the feasibility of using an excimer laser to planarize copper deposited over polyimide. Even though the polyimide is thermally sensitive, a 2.8 μm thick copper film, deposited over polyimide, was planarized with 248 nm, 25 ns, laser fluences from 1.7 to 2.6 J/cm2. Although planar surfaces were readily produced, a variety of defects were observed in the underlying structures. The defects observed include stress induced fractures of the interconnect structure, polyimide surface roughening, and changes in the electrical characteristics of the polyimide. We also describe cross sectional TEM images of cavities formed in interlayer contacts during laser planarization that support recent descriptions of the surface tension driven flow.
Two-dimensional viscous simulation of inlet/diffuser flows with terminal shocks

Two-dimensional Navier-Stokes solutions of the flow through three inlet/diffuser configurations with terminal shock systems are reported. Calculations without bleed indicate that the terminal shock location is very sensitive to the outflow back pressure. For cases where there are little or no available experimental results, it becomes difficult to estimate the back pressure that will result in a terminal shock. Estimates based on quasi-onedimensional analysis are not found adequate for complex two-dimensional flows. It is found that since the flow downstream of the terminal shock is subsonic, and what happens at the outflow boundary affects the flow inside the inlet, enough of the subsonic diffuser must be modeled to accurately predict the terminal shock region. The diffuser portion should be fairly long with the outflow boundary occurring in a region of more or less uniform flow to be able to prescribe a uniform back pressure. The second configuration studied was investigated with and without incorporating bleed in the code. It is found that the use of bleed stabilizes the shock location and allows solutions which, without bleed, result in unstarting of the inlet. The third configuration required a significant amount of bleed through the ramp and cowl surfaces (both ahead and behind the throat) to avoid separation and provide uniform flow at the engine-face station. Comparisons are made with available experimental data. Nomenclature h - throat height M = Mach number P = pressure, N/m2 Re = Reynolds number T = temperature, K x = streamwise location from the inlet face a. = angle of attack Subscripts b = outflow boundary conditions / = inflow boundary conditions 0 = stagnation oo = freestream condition