cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Time Dependent Nucleation in a Bulk Metallic Glass Forming Alloy

The effect of composition on the time-dependent nucleation rates in Zr65Al7.5Ni10CU17.5 glasses is investigated to better understand nucleation processes in partitioning systems. Asquenched glasses were annealed to produce a homogeneous dispersion of nanocrystals within the amorphous matrix. The nucleation rates were estimated from the number of crystallites produced as function of annealing time, using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Experimental results for single and multiple-step annealing treatments are presented. The nucleation results are discussed briefly within the time-dependent model of the classical theory of nucleation.
Reciprocal inhibition in writer's cramp

We studied the inhibition of median H-reflexes by conditioning stimuli on the radial nerve in 13 patients with writer's cramp, eight of the simple type and five of the dystonic type, and in 14 normal volunteers. The patients and controls were right-handed, and their right arms were studied. Asymptomatic left arms were also studied in nine of 13 patients. In the control group we identified three periods of inhibition, with maximum peaks at conditioning-test intervals of 0 ms (41 +/- 17%), 20 ms (40 +/- 13%), and 100 ms (36 +/- 20%). In the patient group, the amplitudes of inhibition of these three periods in both arms were significantly less than those in the control group. However, there were no significant differences in the amplitudes of inhibition of these three periods between symptomatic and asymptomatic arms. There were also no significant differences between simple and dystonic writer's cramps. Our results indicate that the attenuation of reciprocal inhibition was present not only in symptomatic arms but also in asymptomatic arms of patients with writer's cramp. The defect of reciprocal inhibition in the asymptomatic hand has never been documented. We suggest that the preexistent electrophysiological abnormality may provide an explanation for the development of hand cramp after shifted writing.
Timestamping after commit

Many applications need transaction-consistent pictures of past states of the database. These applications use the commit time of the transaction to timestamp the data. When a transaction is distributed, the cohorts must vote on a commit time and the coordinator must choose a commit time based on the votes of the cohorts. This implies that timestamps are applied after commit. Until the timestamps are on all the records, one must keep a table of all the committed transaction identifiers and their commit times. The main problem solved is that of determining when all timestamps corresponding to a given transaction have been placed in the records so that a committed transaction entry can be erased from the table. This information must be stable. Logging and recovery details are included. >
Concentrations of airborne Aspergillus compared to the incidence of invasive aspergillosis: lack of correlation

Air sampling of the rooms and corridors of the oncology wards of the hospital was carried out over a 54-week period to assess the concentration of viable Aspergillus conidia. A. fumigatus and A. flavus were recovered at a mean of 1.83 cfu m-3 air sampled. Individual samplings yielded concentrations of up to 11.6 cfu m-3. Other Aspergillus spp. were recovered at a mean of 2.38 cfu m-3 (maximum 32.6 cfu m-3). Concentration was not correlated with season or hospital ward. Review of autopsy results showed an average of 6.6 cases of aspergillosis annually over a 22-year period. No seasonal variation in case incidence was found. Six cases of invasive aspergillosis were diagnosed on the three cancer wards during the air-sampling period, but no association was seen linking these cases with changes in recovery of airborne Aspergillus. A seasonal pattern was not observed in the overall incidence of aspergillosis cases nor concentrations of airborne conidia.
Nonlinear microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) analysis and design via the Lyapunov stability theory

This article applies the Lyapunov stability theory to microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) analysis and design. A desired level of validity and performance can be attained through synergy of nonlinear control, electromagnetics, and electromechanics. Microelectromechanical systems integrate microstructures and microdevices, and the component models are described by nonlinear deterministic/stochastic time-invariant/time-varying multivariable ordinary and partial differential equations as well as difference equations. We apply Lyapunov's stability theory. The microscale motion devices are integrated with ICs. The circuitry dynamics is very fast compared with the electromechanical transients. Therefore, the motion devices behavior has the dominant effect. Analysis and design should be performed researching electromagnetic, electromechanical and circuitry aspects. Fundamental, analytical, numerical, and experimental results are documented in this paper.
Parallel image component labeling for target acquisition

An important step in target acquisition is to be able to label various unconnected objects (components) in the scene. We present new algorithms for labeling connected components in a binary image. Eight connectivity for object and background pixels is assumed. The sequential algorithm is described first. The computational complexity of the algorithm is linear (optimal) in the number of object pixels in the image. The memory requirement is also linear in the number of object pixels. The representation of the connected components used in the algorithm makes it easy to calculate certain properties of regions, i.e., area, perimeter, etc. The algorithm is then parallelized and implemented on a shared memory computer. The computational complexity of this parallel algorithm is O(dlog ne) for an image with n object pixels using n processors, and is the best achieved yet. The implementations of the algorithm on several distributed memory architectures, i.e., a binary tree connected computer @O(log n)#, a unidirectional and bidirectional mesh connected computer @O(n 1/2 )#, and a hypercube computer @O(log n)# are discussed. The computational and communicational complexities of these implementations are computed, and are the best yet achieved. The algorithm is easily extended for gray-level images without affecting the complexities. Results of the implementation on the sequent balance multiprocessor are presented. © 1998 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. (S0091-3286(98)00307-9)
Vocational Rehabilitation for Substance Abusers: A Model Program

Recent researchers in the field of substance abuse have established that vocational stability is an important variable in the rehabilitation of substance abusers. Snyderman (1974), for example, relates working with a low recidivism rate for substance abuse clients. Simmons (1973) states that work influences the client’s self attitudes and attitudes toward society. Matthews (1976) documents that treatment has a significantly positive influence on job performance. Ginzburg (1976) reports, from a study of 1,396 clients, that vocational stability is closely related to successful treatment for substance abuse.
Response of the left ventricular end-systolic pressure-volume relation in conscious dogs to a wide range of contractile states.

We assessed the linearity and slope of the left ventricular end-systolic pressure (PES)-volume (VES) relation over a wide range of contractile states in conscious dogs. The animals were instrumented to determine left ventricular volume from ultrasonic left ventricular internal dimensions and measure left ventricular pressure with a micromanometer. Studies were performed 1-2 weeks after instrumentation while the animals were conscious. Contractile state was increased by incremental infusion of dobutamine (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 micrograms/kg/min i.v.) and decreased by verapamil (10 mg i.v.) given after autonomic blockade. The 44 +/- 11 mm Hg (mean +/- SD) portion of the PES-VES relation generated by bicaval occlusion demonstrated a slight but consistent nonlinearity, apparent as a concavity toward the volume axis. This nonlinearity, present at all inotropic states, did not prevent the PES-VES relation from being well approximated by a straight line (r = 0.984 +/- 0.020, SEE = 2.1 +/- 1.4 mm Hg); furthermore, the slope of the PES-VES line provided a sensitive index of contractile state, progressively increasing with incremental doses of dobutamine and decreasing in response to verapamil. The volume-axis intercept of the linear approximation of the PES-VES relation was 2.9 +/- 3.3 ml less (p less than 0.05) than the volume-axis intercept of the nonlinear quadratic fit. Thus, the linear PES-VES relation, whose slope is sensitive to a wide variety of inotropic states, is a reasonable and useful description of the left ventricle in the range of PES-VES points that can be produced by bicaval occlusion in the conscious dog. However, linear extrapolation of the relation beyond the range of data points may not be accurate.
Cell Delay Analysis Based on Rate-of-Current Change

A cell delay model based on rate-of-current-change is presented, which accounts for the impact of the shape of the noisy waveform on the output voltage waveform. More precisely, a pre-characterized table of time derivatives of the output current as a function of input voltage and output load values is constructed. The data in this table, in combination with the Taylor series expansion of the output current, is utilized to progressively compute the output current waveform, which is then integrated to produce the output voltage waveform. Experimental results show the effectiveness and efficiency of this new delay model.
Investigating Foreign Policy Attitudes Among Second-Generation Americans

Our project asks whether second-generation ‘hyphenated’ Americans share the opinions of older individuals in their communities of origin. Or do their beliefs map more closely on to those of their age cohort in the general population? Do marked differences appear on foreign policy issues concerning the country of national origin? Are certain ethnic communities more likely to be divergent than others from the general population? The answers to these questions should be of interest to scholars from International Relations and American Politics, as well as to other disciplines. They also have implications for understanding foreign policies as ethnic diversity continues to grow in the United States. In our initial investigation with a survey of nearly 400 U.S. college students we find that second generation Americans express similar attitudes to their general population peers on most foreign policy issues, although they are significantly more supportive of immigration and immigrant rights. In addition, we find that degree of American social identification plays a stronger role in predicting political attitudes than does second generation status.
End-of-Life Communication in Cancer Care

Enabling optimal end-of-life care and effective communication presents a key priority in cancer care. While communication at the end of life continues to be fraught with challenges and barriers, concerted efforts have been made in recent years to improve communication and alleviate burden and suffering for seriously ill cancer patients and their families. This chapter reviews key advances in end-of-life communication in research and practice. Beginning with the historical context, we identify major domains of end-of-life communication, describe key intervention efforts oriented towards providers, patients and caregivers, as well as the clinical systems, and highlight remaining research questions and future directions.
The Right to Vote in Local Elections: The Story of Kramer v. Union Free School District No. 15

In 1965, New York had a statute on the books requiring residents to own taxable real property in their voting districts or else to have children enrolled in the district schools to vote in school board elections. The state defended its requirement on the grounds that it benefited those voters who were "most interested" in the running of the schools. Morris Kramer was a 31-year-old unwed stockbroker who lived with his parents, paid no rent, and had no children. He did not qualify to vote for his school board in New York, and he sued to invalidate the statute. In Kramer v. Union Free School District No. 15, 395 U.S. 621 (1969), the Supreme Court did just that, applying strict scrutiny and finding that it violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Morris Kramer’s case is more than just a voting rights story. It is also an important local government story. And it is also an important community membership story. Kramer’s case urges us to reflect on the local political communities that we each inhabit, to consider who constitutes their membership, and to think about who should be given a say over their affairs. It is a story that asks us to contemplate the role that local communities play in each of our lives. This is the introduction for a chapter telling the behind-the-scenes history of Kramer v. Union Free School District No. 15, which was published in the Foundation Press book Election Law Stories (Joshua A. Douglas & Eugene D. Mazo eds. 2016).
A Methodology for Calculating Radiation Signatures

A rigorous formalism is presented for calculating radiation signatures from both Special Nuclear Material (SNM) as well as radiological sources. The use of MCNP6 in conjunction with CINDER/ORIGEN is described to allow for the determination of both neutron and photon leakages from objects of interest. In addition, a description of the use of MCNP6 to properly model the background neutron and photon sources is also presented. Examinations of the physics issues encountered in the modeling are investigated so as to allow for guidance in the user discerning the relevant physics to incorporate into general radiation signature calculations. Furthermore, examples are provided to assist in delineating the pertinent physics that must be accounted for. Finally, examples of detector modeling utilizing MCNP are provided along with a discussion on the generation of Receiver Operating Curves, which are the suggested means by which to determine detectability radiation signatures emanating from objects.
The unfinished business of perestroika: Latvia's memory politics and its quest for acknowledgment of victimhood in Europe

In the 25 years since the re-establishment of Baltic independence from the Soviet Union, there has been no conclusive public conversation, or “coming to terms with the past” with respect to crimes against Latvian and other persecuted groups under Communism. This paper examines how national politicians, members of the European Parliament in Brussels, representatives of Latvia's Russian-speaking minority, and the Russian government have engaged in a difficult, long-overdue conversation. Conflicting historical narratives about victimhood are at the heart of these disagreements. Special emphasis is given to Latvia's historical narrative, its development over the past 25 years, and the way it challenges Russia's interpretation of history. I argue that Latvian memory politics at the European level are a continuation of Latvia's quest for acknowledgment of its victimhood, thereby trying to finish the process started in the late 1980s when Balts first demanded acknowledgment of human rights violations they had su...
Differentiating quiescent cancer cell populations in heterogeneous samples with fluorescence lifetime imaging

Measurement of relative fluorescence intensities of NAD(P)H and FAD with fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) allows metabolic characterization of cancerous populations and correlation to treatment response. However, quiescent populations of cancer cells introduce heterogeneity to the tumor and exhibit resistance to standard therapies, requiring a better understanding of this influence on treatment outcome. Significant differences were observed between proliferating and quiescent cell populations upon comparison of respective redox ratios (p<0.05) and FAD lifetimes (p<0.05) across monolayers and in mixed samples. These results demonstrate that metabolic activity may function as a marker for separation and characterization of proliferating and quiescent cancer cells within mixed samples, contributing to comprehensive investigation of heterogeneity-dependent drug resistance.
Learning Science by Constructing Models: Can Dragoon Increase Learning without Increasing the Time Required?

A common hypothesis is that students will more deeply understand dynamic systems and other complex phenomena if they construct computational models of them. Attempts to demonstrate the advantages of model construction have been stymied by the long time required for students to acquire skill in model construction. In order to make model construction a feasible vehicle for science instruction, the Dragoon system combined three simplifications: (1) a simple notation for models of dynamic systems, (2) a step-based tutoring system, and (3) problems that described the model to be constructed as well as the system represented by the model. In order to test whether these simplifications reduced the time for learning how to construct models while preserving the benefits of model construction over baseline instruction, three classroom studies were conducted. All studies were experiments, in that they compared classes using Dragoon to classes learning the same material without Dragoon. However, as classroom studies, they could not tightly control all sources of variation. The first study produced null results, but it compared learning across just one class period. The second study in 4 high school science classes showed that instruction based on Dragoon cost only one extra class period (about 50 min) out of 4 class periods and was more effective than the same content taught without Dragoon. A third study in 3 more high school science classes, where 2 Dragoon classes and 1 non-Dragoon class met for the same number of class periods, showed that Dragoon was more effective than the same content taught without Dragoon. The effect sizes were moderately large on both an open response test (d = 1.00) and a concept mapping task (d = 0.49). Thus, it appears that our efforts have simplified model construction to the point that it can be used in science instruction with no additional class time needed, and yet it still seems to be more effective than the same instruction done without model construction.
Advances in the Therapy for Mastitis

Methods to enhance mammary resistance to bacterial infection and to reduce the effects of existing infections without the use of antimicrobial agents are becoming more attractive, primarily because of increasing pressure from consumers and regulatory agencies to decrease the risk of drug residues in milk. Because of the difficulty in obtaining satisfactory results with existing drug formulations, new approaches in the treatment of mastitis should emphasize better understanding of mammary gland pharmacokinetics, ameliorating the pathologic effects of infection, and enhancing natural defenses. Efficacy studies should emphasize milk production and long-term survival of cows to allow economic evaluations.
Stability analysis of a continuum-based constrained mixture model for vascular growth and remodeling

A stabilizing criterion is derived for equations governing vascular growth and remodeling. We start from the integral state equations of the continuum-based constrained mixture theory of vascular growth and remodeling and obtain a system of time-delayed differential equations describing vascular growth. By employing an exponential form of the constituent survival function, the delayed differential equations can be reduced to a nonlinear ODE system. We demonstrate the degeneracy of the linearized system about the homeostatic state, which is a fundamental cause of the neutral stability observations reported in prior studies. Due to this degeneracy, stability conclusions for the original nonlinear system cannot be directly inferred. To resolve this problem, a sub-system is constructed by recognizing a linear relation between two states. Subsequently, Lyapunov’s indirect method is used to connect stability properties between the linearized system and the original nonlinear system, to rigorously establish the neutral stability properties of the original system. In particular, this analysis leads to a stability criterion for vascular expansion in terms of growth and remodeling kinetic parameters, geometric quantities and material properties. Numerical simulations were conducted to evaluate the theoretical stability criterion under broader conditions, as well as study the influence of key parameters and physical factors on growth properties. The theoretical results are also compared with prior numerical and experimental findings in the literature.
Microstructural evolution and mechanics of hot-drawn CNT-reinforced polymeric nanofibers

Abstract To unravel reinforcing effect of CNTs in polymeric nanofibers, polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/SWNTs nanofibers with various CNTs content (0.1–0.5 wt%) were electrospun. Nanofibers were hot-drawn to enhance PAN chains and SWNT alignment. The microstructure of composite nanofibers was studied via polarized Raman and IR spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, and TEM imaging. The study pointed to a marked contribution of SWNTs at low SWNT contents (0.1 wt%) to chain mobility and alignment during electrospinning. Evidence of volume changes was reported during hot-drawing, depending on CNT content, alluding to arrangement of CNTs in nanofibers. Indirect evidence of SWNT agglomeration, adversely affecting reinforcement efficiency at higher SWNT contents, was presented. Hot-drawing above T g of PAN led to massive chain and SWNT alignment and orientation-induced crystallization. The most promising mechanical performance was achieved in hot-drawn ribbons with low SWNT content, where formation of an interphase –evidenced in TEM images – led to significant enhancement of effective reinforcement modulus of ∼2.15 ± 1.97 TPa, with the average value considerably higher than modulus of CNTs. This study demonstrates a clear path to prepare PAN nanofibers with high chain alignment as precursor for the next generation of carbon nanofibers with unprecedented strength and modulus.
"What Today's University Students Have Taught Us”

Today, more students in the US are attending university than ever before. An unprecedented number of these students were born digital —meaning digital technologies have been a constant feature in their lives. For these young adults, information literacy competencies are always being formed, practiced, and learned. Project Information Literacy (PIL) is a series of ongoing quantitative and qualitative research studies in the US that investigates what it is like to be a university student in the digital age. This research study has investigated how students find information and conduct research—in their words and through their experiences—for coursework, use in their everyday lives, and, once they graduate, in the workplace and their communities. Since 2008, more than 11,000 university students at nearly 60 US higher education institutions have been surveyed or interviewed, making PIL the largest study of information literacy ever conducted. Results from PIL’s studies have concluded students’ information competencies are put to the test in the vast information landscape they inhabit. Furthermore, finding and using information is exponentially more complex than it was a generation ago, especially since the information landscape has shifted from one of scarce resources to one of overload. In this keynote, five research takeaways were presented from PIL’s eight studies: (1) Students find research more difficult than ever before, (2) getting started is the hardest part of research, (3) frustrations begin with finding context, i.e., big picture, information-gathering, language, and situational context, (4) search strategies are based on predictability, familiarity, and efficiency, and (5) evaluation is the one information skills most learn to use. Discussion included implications of these findings for teaching, learning, work, and librarianship in the 21st century.
Bandwidth provision strategies for reliable data movements in dedicated networks

Sheer volumes of data are being generated in extreme-scale distributed scientific applications, and need to be transferred remotely in fast, predictable and reliable way for data storage and analysis purpose. Reserving bandwidth along selected paths in high-performance networks (HPNs) has proved to be an effective way to satisfy the high-demanding performance requirements of such data transfer. However, node and link failures within the HPNs potentially degrade the quality of data transfer. In this paper, we focus on the scheduling of two generic types of bandwidth reservation requests concerning data transfer reliability: (i) to achieve the highest data transfer reliability under a given data transfer deadline, and (ii) to achieve the earliest data transfer completion time while satisfying a given data transfer reliability requirement. Poisson distribution is used to model the node and failures within the HPNs, and two periodic bandwidth reservation algorithms with rigorous optimality proofs are proposed.
Recognizing Redemption: Old Criminal Records and Employment Outcomes

Upon completion of their sentences and when attempting to ‘reenter’ society, offenders face large barriers, often referred to as the ‘collateral consequences’ of conviction. One of the largest barriers, given the stigma of a criminal record, is finding employment. The problem primarily arises because of increases in the use of background checks by employers and the use of a criminal record to eliminate candidates. Such a practice is partly understandable for employers, as a recent conviction is one of the best predictors of future criminal activity. However, recent evidence suggests that an offender’s risk of reoffending decreases over time and can eventually come “close enough” to that of one who has never offended, even becoming lower than that risk for a random person within the general population. Building off this research, we present our research question, which asks whether there are employment outcome differences between hypothetical applicants with older and more recent criminal records. Results indicate that those possessing older criminal records still face barriers when seeking employment. Based on these findings, we present policy considerations.
Effect of benign and tumor parenchyma metabolomic profiles on compensatory renal growth in renal cell carcinoma surgical patients.

446Background: Pre-operative kidney volume is an independent predictor of glomerular filtration rate in renal cell carcinoma patients. Compensatory renal growth (CRG) can ensue prior to nephrectomy...
Clinical Models for Testing Chemopreventative Agents in Prostate Cancer and Overview of SELCT: The Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial

Target populations for chemoprevention trials should include those at higher than average risk for the development of prostate cancer as defined by explicit epidemiologic and genetic criteria. Such populations include a “primary prevention” group without histologic or clinical evidence of cancer, and several clinical models of “secondary prevention,” including those with clinically evident disease prior to definitive therapy and those at high risk of recurrence after therapy based on histology and/or biochemical status. Each risk group and clinical model has potential advantages and disadvantages, and the mechanisms which underlie disease development and progression in each group may be unique. These observations give rise to many potential clinical trials of specific agents. These trials should also include collection of data on potentially confounding influences on disease development and progression. Preclinical, epidemiologic, and Phase II data suggest that both selenium and vitamin E have potential efficacy in prostate cancer prevention. The experience of the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT) demonstrates the interest and dedication of healthy men to long-term studies of cancer prevention. SELECT, the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial, is an intergroup phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, population-based clinical trial designed to test the efficacy of selenium and vitamin E alone and in combination in the prevention of prostate cancer which builds on secondary analyses of large-scale chemoprevention trials for other cancers and the lessons of PCPT.
Effect of dried distiller’s grains plus solubles in postpartum diets of beef cows on reproductive performance of dam and heifer progeny

Forty-eight primiparous and multiparous cows were fed a silage-based total mixed ration (TMR; CON), a TMR with 2.5 kg/d DM dried distiller's grains plus solubles (DDGS; MID), or a TMR with 4.7 kg/d DM DDGS (HIGH) from 8.5 ± 4 to 116 ± 4 d postpartum (DPP). All diets were formulated to be isocaloric for a postpartum ADG targeted at 0.22 kg, whereas CP exceeded requirements in both diets containing DDGS. Blood samples were collected from dams at 7- and 21-d intervals for progesterone concentration (resumption of cyclicity) and plasma urea nitrogen, respectively. A weigh-suckle-weigh procedure was used to measure milk production, and samples were collected for milk composition and fatty acid profile. A 5-d Co-Synch + controlled internal drug release (CIDR) protocol was used, and cows were bred (97 ± 4 DPP) by timed AI (TAI). Ultrasonography was used for measurement of the largest antral follicle at TAI and pregnancy diagnosis. Nineteen days after TAI, cow and calf pairs were managed as a single group until weaning and exposed to natural mating for a total of a 60-d breeding season. Starting at weaning, blood samples were collected from heifer offspring at 7-d intervals for progesterone concentration used as an indicator of puberty. A 5-d Co-Synch + CIDR protocol was used, and heifers were bred by TAI. Transrectal ultrasonography was used for measurement of the largest antral follicle at TAI and antral follicle count (AFC) at CIDR device insertion as well as pregnancy diagnosis. There were no differences in dam ADG ( = 0.364); however, DMI decreased with increasing DDGS ( < 0.0001), resulting in an increased feed efficiency ( = 0.042). Milk fat and lactose tended to increase with the addition of DDGS in the diet ( ≤ 0.055), and milk urea nitrogen increased ( < 0.001). There were no differences in resumption of cyclicity ( = 1.00) or diameter of the largest antral follicle ( ≥ 0.372). Timed AI pregnancy rates were not different with the addition of DDGS in the diet ( ≥ 0.174). Heifer ADG was reduced with DDGS during late lactation ( = 0.031). Heifer AFC had a tendency to increase with increasing DDGS ( = 0.081), with no impacts on dominant follicle diameter at TAI ( = 0.161). Heifer TAI pregnancy rate also was not different among treatments ( = 0.508). Overall, feeding 4.7 kg/d DM of DDGS to dams during early lactation increases feed efficiency of the dam, with minor statistically significant effects on dam or heifer offspring reproduction.
Comparative transcriptomic analysis of human placentae at term and preterm delivery.

Preterm birth affects 1 out of every 10 infants in the United States, resulting in substantial neonatal morbidity and mortality. Currently, there are few predictive markers and few treatment options to prevent preterm birth. A healthy, functioning placenta is essential to positive pregnancy outcomes. Previous studies have suggested that placental pathology may play a role in preterm birth etiology. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that preterm placentae may exhibit unique transcriptomic signatures compared to term samples reflective of their abnormal biology leading to this adverse outcome. We aggregated publicly available placental villous microarray data to generate a preterm and term sample dataset (n = 133, 55 preterm placentae and 78 normal term placentae). We identified differentially expressed genes using the linear regression for microarray (LIMMA) package and identified perturbations in known biological networks using Differential Rank Conservation (DIRAC). We identified 129 significantly differentially expressed genes between term and preterm placenta with 96 genes upregulated and 33 genes downregulated (P-value <0.05). Significant changes in gene expression in molecular networks related to Tumor Protein 53 and phosphatidylinositol signaling were identified using DIRAC. We have aggregated a uniformly normalized transcriptomic dataset and have identified novel and established genes and pathways associated with developmental regulation of the placenta and potential preterm birth pathology. These analyses provide a community resource to integrate with other high-dimensional datasets for additional insights in normal placental development and its disruption.
Extracellular DNA and Type IV Pilus Expression Regulate the Structure and Kinetics of Biofilm Formation by Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae.

Biofilms formed in the middle ear by nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) are central to the chronicity, recurrence, and refractive nature of otitis media (OM). However, mechanisms that underlie the emergence of specific NTHI biofilm structures are unclear. We combined computational analysis tools and in silico modeling rooted in statistical physics with confocal imaging of NTHI biofilms formed in vitro during static culture in order to identify mechanisms that give rise to distinguishing morphological features. Our analysis of confocal images of biofilms formed by NTHI strain 86-028NP using pair correlations of local bacterial densities within sequential planes parallel to the substrate showed the presence of fractal structures of short length scales (≤10 μm). The in silico modeling revealed that extracellular DNA (eDNA) and type IV pilus (Tfp) expression played important roles in giving rise to the fractal structures and allowed us to predict a substantial reduction of these structures for an isogenic mutant (ΔcomE) that was significantly compromised in its ability to release eDNA into the biofilm matrix and had impaired Tfp function. This prediction was confirmed by analysis of confocal images of in vitro ΔcomE strain biofilms. The fractal structures potentially generate niches for NTHI survival in the hostile middle ear microenvironment by dramatically increasing the contact area of the biofilm with the surrounding environment, facilitating nutrient exchange, and by generating spatial positive feedback to quorum signaling.IMPORTANCE NTHI is a major bacterial pathogen for OM, which is a common ear infection in children worldwide. Chronic OM is associated with bacterial biofilm formation in the middle ear; therefore, knowledge of the mechanisms that underlie NTHI biofilm formation is important for the development of therapeutic strategies for NTHI-associated OM. Our combined approach using confocal imaging of NTHI biofilms formed in vitro and mathematical tools for analysis of pairwise density correlations and agent-based modeling revealed that eDNA and Tfp expression were important factors in the development of fractal structures in NTHI biofilms. These structures may help NTHI survive in hostile environments, such as the middle ear. Our in silico model can be used in combination with laboratory or animal modeling studies to further define the mechanisms that underlie NTHI biofilm development during OM and thereby guide the rational design of, and optimize time and cost for, benchwork and preclinical studies.
High precession resistive touch screen driver circuitry for ball on plate balancing systems

Ball on plate is the intelligent control system to drive the ball above the plate with the desired movement patterns without dropping the ball. This system is controlled by two servo motors (two degree of freedom) as an actuator to control the position of the ball and a resistive touch screen as the sensor position of the ball. Resistive touch screen will convert pixels (the position of the ball) into the shape of the output voltage the position X and Y, through 2 channels of analog to digital conversion (ADC), an Arduino UNO R3 microcontroller form a close loop control system. This paper will discuss about electronic circuits supporting in the ball on plate balancing system primarily to gain speed and accuracy in reading the ADC microcontroller on a variety of the inertia moment of the ball. The parameters of the noise rejection became the most important part in the electronic circuits, if the system implemented without electronic circuit supporting then the noise from servo motor will affect the performance of the main power supply or analog input voltage. The disturbance from analog input voltage automatically affect the digital output voltage so that it required electronic circuit supporting in order to stabilize the results of reading the ADC in the resistive touch screen.
Relation of Optical Coherence Tomography to Microanatomy in Normal and rd Chickens

Purpose To elucidate the relation between optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans and retinal histology in normal and retinal degeneration (rd) chickens. Methods Retinas from adult normal and rd chickens were examined in vivo with OCT at 850 nm and compared quantitatively with stained cryosections of unfixed retinas from the same locations. Results The nerve fiber layer (NFL) and inner plexiform layer (IPL) show homogeneous backscatter throughout their thicknesses. NFL reflectivity is approximately 0.6 log units higher than that of the IPL. The inner nuclear layer shows a low reflectivity; the properties of reflections from ganglion cell and outer nuclear layers are indeterminate. The outer retina and choroid form a large reflective complex. Photoreceptor inner segments produce the highest of these reflections in normal chicken retinas, approximately 1.5 log units higher than that of the IPL. The retinal pigment epithelium also has a relatively large backscatter coefficient and is the dominant reflector in rd retinas that lack photoreceptors. Choroidal pigment produces an intermediate level of backscatter and is the largest attenuator of signal at 850 nm. Conclusions Quantified OCT signals have a predictable relationship to histology and pathology in chicken retinas. The results from rd retinas represent a first step toward in vivo quantitation of retinal structure in retinal degenerative disease.
A Preliminary Account of the Ecology of Sandy Beaches in Southern Brazil

Sandy beaches constitute by far the most important littoral habitat along the southern coast of Brazil, running almost without interruption for nearly 700 kilometers (Fig.1). Although it forms the habitat of two commercially important species of molluscs no detailed study of their ecology has yet been conducted.
Ultrastructure and Calcium Stores in the Myometrium

This chapter is designed to provide the nonspecialist with an introduction to and an overview of uterine smooth muscle ultrastructure, particularly as it pertains to the development and transmission of force. A detailed description of intracellular calcium storage sites has been included along with a discussion of the release and recycling of activatable calcium in smooth muscle. Because of the paucity of information available in these areas with respect to uterine muscle, much of what is conveyed herein is a generalized summary of data from other visceral muscles as well as vascular smooth muscle, with specific reference to uterine muscle whenever possible. This is not meant to contend that all smooth muscles are alike; however, most points of ultrastructure are consistent among the muscle types, and, in fact, all salient features discussed are demonstrated with electron micrographs of uterine smooth muscle prepared specifically for this text. Although direct electron-optical quantitation of intracellular calcium stores and demonstration of calcium release/recycling has been made only in vascular muscle, it is hypothesized, based on the similarities in ultrastructure and physiological responses, that this information is applicable to uterine as well as other visceral smooth muscles. Resolution of these questions in myometrial muscle has lagged somewhat, partly because of a concentration of effort on its “wealthier” cousin vascular smooth muscle, and further research is required.
Finite-Element Analysis and Parametric Study of Perforated Steel Plate Shear Connectors for Wood–Concrete Composites

AbstractWood–concrete composites are structural deck systems that benefit from the use of wood as a lightweight, sustainable substructure and concrete as a wear-resistant, vibration-damping top ele...
Severe folate deficiency anemia associated with the use of a PARP inhibitor (olaparib) in a patient with fallopian tube cancer

Treatment of cancer patients with olaparib (PARP inhibitor) is associated with an increased risk of anemia, which is seen in a majority of treated patients. However, symptomatic anemia requiring transfusion is rare. Olaparib-induced anemia can be secondary to bone marrow suppression, hemolysis or folate deficiency. We report a case of new onset severe folic acid deficiency anemia in a patient with breast and relapsed fallopian tube cancer being treated with olaparib. Complete blood count on admission showed a hemoglobin of 4.2 g/dl and serum folate was undetectable (< 1.6 ng/ml; reference range 7-31.4 ng/ml). This is the second report of olaparib-induced folate deficiency anemia. She received three units packed red cell transfusion and parenteral folic acid supplementation and improved symptomatically. This case highlights the importance of recognizing folate deficiency as a reversible cause of anemia with PARP inhibitor therapy.
Optimizing the Number of Cores Targeted During Prostate Magnetic Resonance Imaging Fusion Target Biopsy

Abstract Background The number of prostate biopsy cores that need to be taken from each magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) region of interest (ROI) to optimize sampling while minimizing overdetection has not yet been clearly elucidated. Objective To characterize the incremental value of additional MRI-ultrasound (US) fusion targeted biopsy cores in defining the optimal number when planning biopsy and to predict men who might benefit from more than two targeted cores. Design, setting, and participants This was a retrospective cohort study of MRI-US fusion targeted biopsies between 2015 and 2017. Intervention MRI-US fusion targeted biopsy in which four biopsy cores were directed to each MRI-targeted ROI. Outcomes measurements and statistical analysis The MRI-targeted cores representing the first highest Gleason core (FHGC) and first clinically significant cancer core (FCSC; GS≥3+4) were evaluated. We analyzed the frequency of FHGC and FCSC among cores 1–4 and created a logistic regression model to predict FHGC >2. The number of unnecessary cores avoided and the number of malignancies missed for each Gleason grade were calculated via clinical utility analysis. The level of agreement between biopsy and prostatectomy Gleason scores was evaluated using Cohen's κ. Results and limitations A total of 479 patients underwent fusion targeted biopsy with four individual cores, with 615 ROIs biopsied. Among those, FHGC was core 1 in 477 (76.8%), core 2 in 69 (11.6%), core 3 in 48 (7.6%), and core 4 in 24 men (4.0%) with any cancer. Among men with clinically significant cancer, FCSC was core 1 in 191 (77.8%), core 2 in 26 (11.1%), core 3 in 17 (6.2%), and core 4 in 11 samples (4.9%). In comparison to men with a Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) score of 5, patients were significantly less likely to have FHGS >2 if they had PI-RADS 4 (odds ratio [OR] 0.287; p=0.006), PI-RADS 3 (OR 0.284; p=0.006), or PI-RADS 2 (OR 0.343; p=0.015). Study limitations include a single-institution experience and the retrospective nature. Conclusions Cores 1–2 represented FHGC 88.4% and FCSC 88.9% of the time. A PI-RADS score of 5 independently predicted FHGC >2. Although the majority of cancers in our study were appropriately characterized in the first two biopsy cores, there remains a proportion of men who would benefit from additional cores. Patient summary In men who undergo magnetic resonance imaging-ultrasound fusion targeted biopsy, the first two biopsy cores diagnose the majority of clinically significant cancers. However, there remains a proportion of men who would benefit from additional cores.
Sterol synthesis is essential for viability in the planctomycete bacterium Gemmata obscuriglobus.

Oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs) are remarkable enzymes that catalyze the production of the first sterol, lanosterol, in sterol biosynthetic pathways. These reactions are present in a limited number of bacterial species unlike eukaryotic species where sterol synthesis is ubiquitous. The biological role(s) of OSCs, and the sterols produced by the different sterol biosynthetic pathways in bacteria, are not clearly understood. Here, we show that inhibition of the Gemmata obscuriglobus OSC enzyme resulted in the inability of cells to form colonies on solid medium and resulted in cell death within 24 hr of inactivation for planktonic cells. The inclusion of lanosterol in cell culture medium was able to rescue the cell lethality associated with the OSC inhibitors. We purified active, recombinant bacterial OSC to high levels (> 3 mg L-1 of culture) and demonstrated that the purified enzyme is active and inhibited by common OSC inhibitors. Comparable inhibitor concentrations were used in in vivo lethality experiments and in vitro enzymatic assays. Together, these results show that OSC, and the sterols produced by this enzyme, are essential for G. obscuriglobus viability.
YAP1 is involved in replenishment of granule cell precursors following injury to the neonatal cerebellum

The cerebellum undergoes major rapid growth during the third trimester and early neonatal stage in humans, making it vulnerable to injuries in pre-term babies. Experiments in mice have revealed a remarkable ability of the neonatal cerebellum to recover from injuries around birth. In particular, recovery following irradiation-induced ablation of granule cell precursors (GCPs) involves adaptive reprogramming of Nestin-expressing glial progenitors (NEPs). Sonic hedgehog signaling is required for the initial step in NEP reprogramming; however, the full spectrum of developmental signaling pathways that promote NEP-driven regeneration is not known. Since the growth regulatory Hippo pathway has been implicated in the repair of several tissue types, we tested whether Hippo signaling is involved in regeneration of the cerebellum. Using mouse models, we found that the Hippo pathway transcriptional co-activator YAP1 (Yes-associated protein 1) but not TAZ (transcriptional coactivator with PDZ binding motif, or WWTR1) is required in NEPs for full recovery of cerebellar growth following irradiation one day after birth. Although Yap1 plays only a minor role during normal development in differentiation of NEPs or GCPs, the size of the cerebellum, and in particular the internal granule cell layer produced by GCPs, is significantly reduced in Yap1 mutants after irradiation, and the organization of Purkinje cells and Bergmann glial fibers is disrupted. The initial proliferative response of Yap1 mutant NEPs to irradiation is normal and the cells migrate to the GCP niche, but subsequently there is increased cell death of GCPs and altered migration of granule cells, possibly due to defects in Bergmann glia. Moreover, loss of Taz along with Yap1 in NEPs does not abrogate regeneration or alter development of the cerebellum. Our study provides new insights into the molecular signaling underlying postnatal cerebellar development and regeneration.