cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Encoding user motion preferences in harmonic function path planning

Humans have unique motion preferences when pursuing a given task. These motion preferences could be expressed as moving in a straight line, following the wall, avoiding sharp turns, avoiding damp surfaces or choosing the shortest path. While it would be very useful for a range of applications to allow robot systems or artificial agents to generate paths with similar specific characteristics, it is generally very difficult to capture and reproduce them from observed information since user trajectories can not be easily generalized. To address this, this paper introduces an approach that modifies a harmonic function path planner to model the user's motion preferences as parameters which could then be used to generate new paths in similar environments without the risk of collisions or incorrect paths. Given a small set of user-specific trajectories and starting from an initial, generic parameter configuration, this approach incrementally minimizes the difference between the direction of the user trajectory segments and the gradient of the parametric harmonic function by modifying its underlying parameters, thus capturing the trajectory preferences. Subsequently, these parameters could be transferred to new, locally similar environments and used to generate new paths. The use of harmonic function parameters to represent the user preferences not only facilitates customization of the path planner but also assures that the customized planner remains complete and correct.
Holo- and Apo-bound Structures of Bacterial Periplasmic Heme-binding Proteins

Abstract An essential component of heme transport in Gram-negative bacterial pathogens is the periplasmic protein that shuttles heme between outer and inner membranes. We have solved the first crystal structures of two such proteins, ShuT from Shigella dysenteriae and PhuT from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Both share a common architecture typical of Class III periplasmic binding proteins. The heme binds in a narrow cleft between the N- and C-terminal binding domains and is coordinated by a Tyr residue. A comparison of the heme-free (apo) and -bound (holo) structures indicates little change in structure other than minor alterations in the heme pocket and movement of the Tyr heme ligand from an “in” position where it can coordinate the heme iron to an “out” orientation where it points away from the heme pocket. The detailed architecture of the heme pocket is quite different in ShuT and PhuT. Although Arg228 in PhuT H-bonds with a heme propionate, in ShuT a peptide loop partially takes up the space occupied by Arg228, and there is no Lys or Arg H-bonding with the heme propionates. A comparison of PhuT/ShuT with the vitamin B12-binding protein BtuF and the hydroxamic-type siderophore-binding protein FhuD, the only two other structurally characterized Class III periplasmic binding proteins, demonstrates that PhuT/ShuT more closely resembles BtuF, which reflects the closer similarity in ligands, heme and B12, compared with ligands for FhuD, a peptide siderophore.
Concept Development and Evaluation of a New GFRP Reinforcement Geometry for Concrete Beams

AbstractIn this paper a reinforcement system that utilizes unique geometries in order to improve reinforced concrete beam stiffness, shear strength, and reinforcement bond properties, as compared with conventional glass-fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) bar-style reinforcement is introduced. The proposed GFRP reinforcement is formed into modular units intended for use in place of traditional flexural reinforcement. Prototype reinforcement units were manufactured and cast into eight concrete beam specimens. These specimens were tested and compared to similar specimens with conventional straight GFRP bars in order to document their behavior and assess the effect on beam performance of the new geometry under typical loading. Bond failures that occurred in the control specimens were not present in the prototype specimens. Ultimate shear capacity in one of the prototype variations was increased by 26% over the bar-reinforced control specimens. Flexural performance for one of the prototypes was also found to be c...
Resource Constrained Stream Mining With Classifier Tree Topologies

Stream mining applications require the identification of several different attributes in data content and hence rely on a distributed set of cascaded statistical classifiers to filter and process the data dynamically. In this letter, we introduce a novel methodology for configuring cascaded classifier topologies, specifically binary classifier trees, with optimized operating points after jointly considering the misclassification cost of each end-to-end class of interest in the tree, the resource constraints for every classifier, and the confidence level of each data object that is classified. By configuring multiple operating points per classifier, we enable not only intelligent load shedding when resources are scarce but also intelligent replication of low confidence data across multiple edges when excess resources are available. Using a classifier tree constructed from support vector machine-based sports image classifiers, we verify huge cost savings and discuss how different classifier placements and costs can influence the gains obtained by various algorithms.
Speaker recognition with polynomial classifiers

Modern speaker recognition applications require high accuracy at low complexity. We propose the use of a polynomial-based classifier to achieve these objectives. This approach has several advantages. First, polynomial classifier scoring yields a system which is highly computationally scalable with the number of speakers. Second, a new training algorithm is proposed which is discriminative, handles large data sets, and has low memory usage. Third, the output of the polynomial classifier is easily incorporated into a statistical framework allowing it to be combined with other techniques such as hidden Markov models. Results are given for the application of the new methods to the YOHO speaker recognition database.
A statewide introduction of trauma-informed care in a child welfare system

Abstract Most children in the care of the child welfare system have been exposed to multiple traumas in addition to the stressor of being removed from their home. Because the risk for mental health problems following exposure to trauma is high, a critical need exists to introduce trauma-informed practices into the child welfare system. The purpose of this study is to evaluate initial stages of a trauma-informed training program for the Arkansas Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS). In Phase 1, 102 (75%) of DCFS area directors and supervisors participated in 10 regional, two-day workshops modeled after the National Child and Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) trauma-informed training for child welfare. Pre- and post-training evaluations demonstrated significant improvements in participants' knowledge of trauma-informed practices. A three-month follow-up with directors and supervisors indicated that use of trauma-informed practices increased significantly and that such changes were correlated with pre- versus post-training improvement in knowledge. Most participants were able to partially implement action steps established at the time of training; however, a number of barriers were cited as preventing full implementation, including time constraints, heavy caseloads, lack of staff, and limited resources. Results are discussed in light of plans under way for Phase II training for all DCFS front-line staff.
An 11-year-old boy with long lasting headaches

Materials The boy was referred to our department with right retrobulbal pain and bilateral papilledema, while brain MRI was normal. Physical examination revealed faint left radial pulse, non palpable left femoral artery, and hypertension, with right hand blood pressure 162/64 mmHg, in a difference with left hand blood pressure 128/70 mmHg. Bruits were auscultated all over the chest (precordium, supraclavicular, axillary and scapular area).
Communication-inspired sensing

Information theory, and particularly the mutual information (MI) has provided fundamental guidance for communications research. In, the MI was first applied to radar waveform design. However, the practical meaning of MI in the sensing context remains unclear. Recently, shows that under the white noise assumption, the water-filling scheme simultaneously maximizes the MI and minimizes the minimum MSE (MMSE). Such an equivalence disappears when the target parameter statistics are not perfectly known. To further the understanding of the practical meaning of MI and to establish a connection between MI and commonly adopted MSE measures for sensing, this paper takes a fresh look at the target estimation problem, by considering the general colored noise, incorporating the normalized MSE (NMSE), and establishing joint robust designs for both the transmitter (waveforms) and the receiver (estimator) under various target and noise uncertainty levels. Our results show that: i) the optimum waveform designs resulted from the MI, MMSE and NMSE criteria are all different; and ii) compared to MMSE, the NMSE-based designs share more similarities with the MI-based ones, especially when the target and noise statistics are not perfectly known.
FPGA CCSDS command decoder with BCH EDAC and level-0 command execution

This paper presents Southwest Research Institute's continuing development of flexible CCSDS compatible command and telemetry collection hardware. Results of the requirements analysis, systems design and hardware fabrication and test are presented in detail. The objective of this development effort was to provide an FPGA core module that could be used in a variety of spacecraft with minimal modification. The module must provide command decoding and BCH error detection and correction for the spacecraft's main computer. The module must also serve as a level-0 "safe" mode processor and be able to immediately execute commands received from the ground. The FPGA core module designed as a result of this effort will be used in those applications where a critical need exists for a level-0 command capability along with normal spacecraft commanding. The design may also be used to speed up system throughput by off loading the command process from the main computer's tasks.
Large power grid analysis using domain decomposition

This paper presents a domain decomposition (DD) technique for efficient simulation of large-scale linear circuits such as power distribution networks. Simulation results show that by integrating the proposed DD framework, existing linear circuit simulators can be extended to handle otherwise intractable systems.
Recent results on generalized Ramsey theory for graphs

Virtually all of the known results on generalized Ramsey theory for graphs have been reported here, and the most general method of proof was brute force. There is certainly a need for more powerful and general methods, but it is not certain that these exist. Since the study of Ramsey properties of general graphs appears less intractable than that for complete graphs, this may well suggest fruitful directions for other mathematical structures such as vector spaces. The fact that generalized Ramsey theory for graphs is in its infancy is attested by more than half of the references having the status, “to appear”.
The Trustees of Biological Abstracts, 1927–1976

In 1927, when Biological Abstracts was first incorporated and became a legal entity, the board of trustees consisted of prominent and recognized leaders in the biological community. For several years before that the Joint Publications Committee of the Union of American Biological Societies and the Division of Biology and Agriculture of the National Research Council—which metamorphosed, en masse, into the first board—made plans for and guided the actual establishment of Biological Abstracts, and then supervised the actual operation during 1926, which culminated in the first published issue of Biological Abstracts. At first, the board of trustees was self-perpetuating, with no specific terms for members; Hitchens, for example, served as a trustee from 1927 until 1944! Since 1938, however, trustees have been elected for three-year terms, with the possibility of serving two terms if reelected but not a third one. They are selected from all professional areas that are concerned with the life sciences, both theoretical and applied, and with the communication of scientific information: university professors and administrators, civil servants, scientists from private research institutions, librarians (including the directors of great university and governmental libraries), and representatives of important industrial corporations. Among the 105 outstanding individuals who have served as trustees—or are now serving as trustees—many have been elected to the presidency of AIBS, AAAS, and other prestigious societies.
Developmental changes in semantic knowledge organization

Semantic knowledge is a crucial aspect of higher cognition. Theoretical accounts of semantic knowledge posit that relations between concepts provide organizational structure that converts information known about individual entities into an interconnected network in which concepts can be linked by many types of relations (e.g., taxonomic, thematic). The goal of the current research was to address several methodological shortcomings of prior studies on the development of semantic organization, by using a variant of the spatial arrangement method (SpAM) to collect graded judgments of relatedness for a set of entities that can be cross-classified into either taxonomic or thematic groups. In Experiment 1, we used the cross-classify SpAM (CC-SpAM) to obtain graded relatedness judgments and derive a representation of developmental changes in the organization of semantic knowledge. In Experiment 2, we validated the findings of Experiment 1 by using a more traditional pairwise similarity judgment paradigm. Across both experiments, we found that an early recognition of links between entities that are both taxonomically and thematically related preceded an increasing recognition of links based on a single type of relation. The utility of CC-SpAM for evaluating theoretical accounts of semantic development is discussed.
Abstract 4131: Activation of PKC-delta inhibits apoptosis leading to mitomycin C resistance

Antioxidant-induced protein kinase C delta (PKCdelta) is known to phosphorylate cell survival transcription factor Nrf2. Phosphorylated Nrf2 translocates to the nucleus leading to coordinated activation of detoxifying enzyme gene expression. This mechanism is critical for protection against chemical and radiation stress and cell survival. Human breast cancer MCF-7 cells expressing endogenous PKCdelta, human breast cancer BT549 cells deficient in PKCdelta expression (PKCdelta-null) and BT549-C1 cells expressing cDNA derived PKCdelta demonstrated differential survival and apoptotic death responses to anti-tumor drug mitomycin C. MCF-7 and BT549-C1 cells expressing PKCdelta showed increased survival and decreased apoptotic cell death as compared with PKCdelta-null BT549 cells. The studies also demonstrated that mitomycin C induced serine40 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of Nrf2. Further studies determined that Nrf2 translocation in the nucleus led to an increase in Bcl2 and BclXL expression that contributed to the inhibition of apoptosis, increased cell survival and mitomycin C resistance. Interestingly, inclusion of antioxidant tert-butyl hydroquinone with mitomycin C further enhanced the PKCdelta effect on cell survival and apoptotic cell death. These results led to the conclusion that PKCdelta is endogenous factor in drug resistance and could serve as a therapeutic target. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4131.
Dehydrogenation of AlH3 via the Vacancy Clustering Mechanism

We present a kinetic model, based on a combination of first-principles calculations and kinetic Monte Carlo simulations, that accurately describes the dehydrogenation process of AlH3. Hybrid density functional calculations show that hydrogen vacancy defects which form in the AlH3 crystal under dehydrogenation conditions have a strong tendency toward clustering, with a binding energy of 0.5–1.6 eV. Vacancy clusters of sizes ranging from 2 to 12 are analyzed. The clusters establish the nuclei of a local Al phase which forms inside the hydride during dehydrogenation. The resulting parameters are used in a kinetic model to describe the overall dehydrogenation process with kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. Our results allow us to identify the contributions of the various microscopic mechanisms that govern the dehydrogenation reaction. The overall activation energy Ea = 1.62 eV of the dehydrogenation process is dominated by the activation energy for self-diffusion of positively charged hydrogen vacancies, Ea,sel...
Twin wall distortions through structural investigation of epitaxial BiFeO3 thin films

In this work, epitaxial (001) BiFeO3 thin films were deposited on SrTiO3 and TbScO3 single-crystal substrates and analyzed with high-resolution x-ray diffraction—reciprocal space mapping. A basic method was developed to extract structural details of the as-grown BiFeO3 film, including (i) epitaxial strain, (ii) ferroelastic domains, and (iii) lattice rotations. After demonstrating the method, extrinsic distortions at vertical twin walls were determined for specific BiFeO3 heterostructures. A relatively large distortion (0.20° ± 0.08°) was measured in a multidomain (12) and incoherent film, while a nearly intrinsic distortion (0.04° ± 0.03°) was measured in a two-domain coherent film. This work offers insights into the structure of multiferroic BiFeO3 thin films with a general approach that is appropriate for low symmetry epitaxial heterostructures.
297 CYTOKINE CONCENTRATIONS IN BONE MARROW OF STABLE SICKLE CELL PATIENTS

Over the last several years, it has become clear that inflammation plays a significant role in the clinical manifestations of sickle cell anemia, whether as a mediator of erythroid suppression or as a facilitator of thrombotic events. Determinations of the concentrations of the cytokine mediators of inflammation in serum or plasma of sickle cell patients have shown disparate results, particularly in patients not experiencing an acute crisis at the time. In studies of anemic patients with either AIDS or rheumatoid arthritis, determinations of bone marrow cytokine concentrations have provided unique correlations with clinical and laboratory parameters. We determined concentrations of IL-1, IL-6, TNF, and placental growth factor (PlGF) in bone marrow aspirates from 6 homozygous sickle cell (SS) patients who were not acutely ill and who were not receiving hydroxyurea, erythropoietin, or chronic transfusion, and compared them to specimens from 7 healthy controls. Concurrent plasma measurements were made when available. We also measured concentrations of soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) and of marrow erythroid colony-forming units (CFU-E) as markers of erythropoietic activity. As expected, sTfR concentration, whether measured in marrow or plasma, was significantly higher in SS patients (p = .024). CFU-E concentration was not significantly different between the two groups. Although plasma IL-6 was significantly higher in SS patients, and plasma IL-1 significantly higher in controls, values measured were in the normal range. Bone marrow concentrations of IL-6 and IL-1 did not differ between the study groups. TNF was undetectable in all specimens, plasma or marrow. Other investigators have reported that elevated serum PlGF distinguishes SS patients from controls and correlates with disease activity. Plasma PlGF did not differ between SS patients and controls, but bone marrow PlGF concentrations were significantly higher in SS patients (p = .004). Since PlGF is a product of erythroid cells, the ratios of marrow PlGF to marrow CFU-E and sTfR were determined and also found to be significantly greater in SS patients (p = .016 and p = .024, respectively). None of the cytokines measured in SS patients correlated with clinical parameters. The bone marrow of stable SS patients exhibits an increased PlGF concentration not seen in circulating blood. This does not represent a phenomenon general to cytokines and does not reflect increased erythroid activity but rather an increase per erythropoietic unit. The role of PlGF in the clinical manifestations of sickle disease remains to be fully determined.
Application of STATCOMs in Power Transmission System

The principles and characteristics of static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) were introduced,the functions of STATCOM to power transmission system were analyzed,and the application of large-capacity STATCOM projects in power transmission systems of China and abroad were summarized.Taking the±100 Mvar STATCOM in Sullivan substation,the United States,and the±75 Mvar STATCOM in East Claydon substation,UK,as examples,the technical characteristics and realization ways of multipulse configuration and chain circuit configuration STATCOM projects were introduced respectively.Finally,the development trend of STATCOM in power transmission system and the promotion ways suited to China's conditions were analyzed.
Monitoring on Prevalence of Mumps in Kaifeng City in 2008

[Objective]To understand the epidemiological characteristics of mumps in Kaifeng,and provide theoretical basis and scientific guidance for prevention and control.[Methods]The reported mumps cases in 2008 from China Disease Prevention and Control Information System were collected and analyzed by Excel 2003.[Results]Totally 1606 cases of mumps were reported in Kaifeng in 2008,increasing by 83.3% more than 2007.Qixian County reported more cases than other counties;the incidence of urban area was higher than that of rural area.The cases distributed in all year,the peak incidence appeared during April to July,students and preschool children were high-risk group,with highest incidence in 5～8 years age group,male cases were more than female.[Conclusion]The key to control mumps is prevention.Vaccination is the most effective and simple way to prevent and control mumps.Therefore,it is very necessary to enhance the rate of vaccination for susceptible children in mumps epidemic season.
Discriminant analysis application in spatiotemporal evaluation of water quality in South Florida

The discriminant analysis (DA) method was used to differentiate and classify the water quality of three major rivers in South Florida. In this study, DA was used to assess the water quality and evaluate the spatial and temporal variations in surface water quality in South Florida. DA, as an important data reduction method, was used to assess the water pollution status and analysis of its spatiotemporal variation. It was found by the stepwise DA that five variables (chl-a, dissolved oxygen (DO), total kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), total phosphorus (TP) and water temperature) are the most important discriminating water quality parameters responsible for temporal variations. Spatial variation in water quality was also evaluated and identified five variables (TKN, TP, ammonia-N, magnesium, and sodium) and seven variables (chl-a, DO, TKN, TP, ammonia-N, magnesium, and chloride) as the most significant discriminating variables in the wet and dry season, respectively of three selected rivers in South Florida. It is believed that the results of apportionment could be very useful to the local authorities for the control and management of pollution and better protection of important riverine water quality.
Juan Luis Vives on the Causes of the Corruption of the Arts

Juan Luis Vives on The Causes of The Corruption of The Arts Book 111 on Dialectic Chapter V But I come now to my friends the new dialecticians, or sophisters as they call themselves, in whom all the vices of this art have collected as in the bilge of a ship, both those of Aristotle and the ancients, and the far more numerous and noisome ones they have added on their own. So I shall refrain from recounting here the faults I have already blamed upon the ancients, and concentrate only upon those peculiar to the moderns.
Further Decline of Trans Fatty Acids Levels Among US Adults Between 1999–2000 and 2009–2010

Objectives. To investigate differences in levels of plasma trans fatty acids (TFAs) and a broad set of other markers for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in the US adult population between 1999-2000 and 2009-2010.Methods. Using a nationally representative sample of US adults aged 20 years and older from the 1999–2000 and 2009–2010 waves of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, regression models were estimated to compare levels of TFAs and other markers for CVD risk over time.Results. Significant declines in levels of plasma TFAs and improvements in a variety of other markers for CVD risk were observed in the US adult population.Conclusions. Between the 2 time points, 1999–2000 and 2009–2010, there were substantial decreases in TFA levels and improvements in several other important cardiovascular health indicators in US adults.
Bigger (Gesture) Isn’t Always Better

The literature suggests that familiarity and rapport are enhanced by larger, more extraverted gestures. However, the sizes of the increases in amplitude have not been reported. We sought to determine whether this relationship holds true for interaction between humans and embodied conversational agents. To this end, we conducted an experiment in which we increased gesture amplitude, with quantification of the gesture sizes. We hypothesized that rapport would be increased in the larger-gesture condition. However, our results were exactly the opposite: Rapport fell significantly in the larger-gesture condition. This means that larger may not always be better for building human-agent rapport. Our unexpected results may be because our agent’s gestures were simply too big, odd, awkward, or strange, or because of a statistical anomaly.
Template-guided Functional Network Identification via Supervised Dictionary Learning

Functional network analysis based on matrix decomposition/factorization methods including ICA and dictionary learning models have become a popular approach in fMRI study. Yet it is still a challenging issue in interpreting the result networks because of the inter-subject variability and image noises, thus in many cases, manual inspection on the obtained networks is needed. Aiming to provide a fast and reliable functional network identification tool for both normal and diseased brain fMRI data analysis, in this work, we propose a novel supervised dictionary learning model based on rank-1 matrix decomposition algorithm (S-r1DL) with sparseness constraint. Application on the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) database showed that S-r1DL can fast and accurately identify the functional networks based on the given templates, comparing to unsupervised learning method.
Central adenosine and daily torpor in mice

Daily torpor in the mouse is a comprehensive physiological and biochemical suite of changes in response to a caloric deficit and a cool ambient temperature. The well-orchestrated torpor response is...
“O que você diz de toda a minha falácia está errado”: sobre o determinismo tecnológico

O ensaio reflete sobre o chamado determismo tecnologico, discutindo-o como uma “falacia” e um termo pejorativo utilizado por academicos para criticarem seus adversarios. Mostra as origens intelectuais do conceito e seus desenvolvimentos, concluindo que, no momento atual, continuar a denuncia do determinismo tecnologico e arriscar-se a cometer um erro mais grave do que dar agencia a dispositivos – o de desistir da critica. Num momento em que o significado das tecnicas e, indiscutivelmente, uma das questoes mais essenciais enfrentada pela humanidade, e importante fazer questionamentos sobre a tecnologia e seu papel historico. Essa tematica e particularmente importante para o campo de estudos de midia, pois se explicacoes cuidadosas do papel decisivo da mediacao tecnologica sao descartadas, a razao de ser do campo e prejudicada.
Broadband nonvolatile photonic switching based on optical phase change materials: beyond the classical figure-of-merit

In this Letter, we propose a broadband, nonvolatile on-chip switch design in the telecommunication C-band with record low loss and crosstalk. The unprecedented device performance builds on: 1) a new optical phase change material (O-PCM) Ge2Sb2Se4Te1 (GSST), which exhibits significantly reduced optical attenuation compared to traditional O-PCMs, and 2) a nonperturbative design that enables low-loss device operation beyond the classical figure-of-merit (FOM) limit. We further demonstrate that the 1-by-2 and 2-by-2 switches can serve as basic building blocks to construct nonblocking and nonvolatile on-chip switching fabric supporting arbitrary numbers of input and output ports.
U.S. supercomputing strikes back

In November of 2012, the semiannual Top500 rankings of the world's supercomputers gave top billing to a machine constructed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, in Tennessee. Aptly named Titan, the machine boasted a peak performance of more than 27 x 1015 floating-point operations per second, or 27 petaflops. It was an immense computing resource for researchers in government, industry, and academe, and being at the top of the supercomputing heap, it helped to boost pride within the U.S. high‑performance computing community.
Most regulatory interactions are not in linkage disequilibrium

Linkage disequilibrium (LD) and genomic proximity are commonly used to map non-coding variants to genes, despite increasing examples of causal variants outside the LD block of the gene they regulate. We compared chromatin contacts in 22 cell types to LD across billions of pairs of loci in the human genome and found no concordance, even at genomic distances below 25 kilobases where both tend to be high. Gene expression and ontology data suggest that chromatin contacts identify regulatory variants more reliably than do LD and genomic proximity. We conclude that the genomic architectures of genetic and physical interactions are independent, with important implications for gene regulatory evolution and precision medicine.
Aplicación de la energía mecánica específica para aumentar la eficiencia del desarrollo de las operaciones de perforación

En el presente trabajo se hace un estudio basado en la Energia Mecanica Especifica (MSE) con el fin de evaluar el desempeno de las brocas PDC y de esta forma obtener nuevos parametros de perforacion para mejorar los futuros pozos del Campo de Ecopetrol S.A. Para dicho estudio se evaluaron los siguientes parametros: revoluciones por minuto, peso sobre la broca, velocidad de penetracion, torque y galonaje.
In-depth phenotypic characterization of reticulocyte maturation using mass cytometry

Progress towards an in-depth understanding of the final steps of the erythroid lineage development is paramount for many hematological diseases. We have characterized the final stages of reticulocyte maturation from bone marrow to peripheral blood using for the first time single-cell Mass Cytometry (CyTOF). We were able to measure the expression of 31 surface markers within a single red blood cell (RBC). We demonstrate the validity of CyTOF for RBC phenotyping by confirming the progressive reduction of transferrin receptor 1 (CD71) during reticulocyte maturation to mature RBC. We highlight the high-dimensional nature of mass cytometry data by correlating the expression of multiple proteins on individual RBCs. We further describe a more drastic reduction pattern for a component of the alpha4/beta1 integrin CD49d at the very early steps of reticulocyte maturation in bone marrow and directly linked with the mitochondria remnants clearance pattern. The enhanced and accurate RBC phenotyping potential of CyTOF described herein could be beneficial to decipher RBC preferences, as well as still not well understood receptor-ligand interaction of some hemotropic parasites such as the malaria causing agent Plasmodium vivax.
Multidimensional activation of the heart: The effect of anisotropy in conductivity of cardiac tissue

This paper examines the current flow patterns and excitation isochrones of a two-dimensional cardiac tissue with anisotropic intracellular and interstitial conductivity parameters. Only when the anisotrophy ratios in intracellular and interstitial space are equal does the behavior of current flow extrapolate from one dimensional cable theory. For realistic (measured) conductivities a component of action current flow is characterized by wide loops and multiple membrane crossings. Furthermore the transmembrane current at any site depend on transmembrane potential in the entire surrounding region. Isochrone simulation based on Hodgkin-Huxley rising phase shows that the assumption of local plane wave behavior is not generally acceptable. This is not surprising in view of the current flow patterns which do not correspond to simple one-dimensional flow, locally. The consequences of this study is that simulation of activation in real cardiac tissue must recognize the effects of anisotropy. The implications could be important not only for normal activation patterns but for studies of arrhythmias as well.
UNM Experience with Color Doppler Flow Mapping in Fetal Echocardiography

Fetal Echocardiography has become increasingly important in the evaluation of high risk pregnancies and abnormal fetuses. Over a five year period between June, 1985 and May, 1990, 300 fetal echocardiograms were performed in the Pediatric Echocardiographic Laboratory of the University of New Mexico Hospital. These 300 studies were analyzed as to the indications for, and the results of, the studies. Color Doppler was only available in the Laboratory after September, 1989. Selected cases will be shown during this presentation to demonstrate the utility of color Doppler during fetal echocardiography.
Treatment of Deep Vein Thrombosis Using Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins

Because it eliminates the need for intravenous infusions and lengthy hospitalizations, use of low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can improve patient outcomes of safety and efficacy and reduce the cost of medical care. In a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials involving more than 3,500 patients, treatment with LMWH versus unfractionated heparin was associated with lower mortality, a lower incidence of major bleeding episodes and thrombocytopenia, and an overall reduction of about 30% in morbidity from recurrent thromboembolism and bleeding. The meta-analysis also demonstrated cost savings of $1,900 per patient for those treated with LMWH. More recent studies evaluating several LMWHs in both hospital and outpatient settings have shown that the drugs are more effective in reducing risk for recurrent events and complications than unfractionated heparin. The use of LMWHs for outpatient treatment of DVT has, of necessity, given rise to specific protocols, inclusion and exclusion criteria, follow-up procedures, and multidisciplinary approaches to outpatient management. These guidelines are reviewed here, as are special considerations for patients who are obese or who have renal insufficiency.
Applications of NNs to Developing Hybrid Earth System Numerical Models for Climate and Weather

In this chapter, numerical modeling background is introduced and a number of neural network (NN) applications developed for numerical weather prediction (NWP) models and climate simulation systems are presented. The hierarchy of numerical models describing weather and climate processes of different scales is introduced and discussed. The notion of hybrid models that combine deterministic physically based parts with statistical blocks is introduced. Several atmospheric and oceanic applications of the NN technique to produce statistical blocks for hybrid numerical models are introduced and discussed in detail. These applications include fast and accurate NN emulations of atmospheric radiation parameterizations and new NN-based convection parameterization for atmospheric models, and fast and accurate NN emulations of nonlinear wave-wave interaction parameterization for ocean wind wave models. The chapter contains an extensive list of references giving extended background and further detail to the interested reader on each examined topic. It can serve as a textbook and an introductory reading for students and beginner and advanced investigators interested in learning how to apply the NN emulation technique to different numerical modeling problems.
Synthesising Nanofluids Using Laser Induced Plasma

Nanofluids hold enhanced physical, chemical, thermal and transport characteristics compared to the base fluids, which signify a great potential for a variety of applications including combustion, liquid propellant, microelectronics, optical and thermal emission devices, energy storage, heat exchanger-cooling systems, hydrogen generation, nuclear safety, and in underwater and military applications. Nanofluids are a new class of fluids engineered by dispersing nanoparticles of size less than 100 nm in base fluids.
The optimal biopower capacity in co-firing plants – An empirical analysis

Abstract Biomass fuels carry appealing features in replacing traditional fossil fuels, especially coal, in power generation. Due to the bulk, sparse and low-energy density drawbacks of biomass, many studies implicitly indicate small and limited scale in biopower generation. This study contributes to the bioenergy literature by explicitly studying the optimal biopower capacity of biopower co-firing technology in coal-fired power plants, which has practical implications for potential biopower practitioners, investors, and policymakers. This study indicates that the optimal biopower capacity of biomass co-firing in coal-powered plants is intermediate (i.e., 12 MW on average) in order to take advantage of economies of scale without incurring high transportation cost. Regional variations are also found in the aspects of production cost and optimal capacity due to local characteristics. Local biomass availability plays a critical role in shaping biopower's generation cost, optimal capacity and cost changing patterns.
Relational and Sexual Costs of Materialism in Couple Relationships: An Actor–Partner Longitudinal Study

This study examined the relational and sexual costs of materialism in couple relationships. Path analyses utilizing an actor–partner interdependence model (APIM) based on social comparison theory longitudinally predicted relationships across three waves of data over two years. Respondents included 338 couples (married and cohabiting) who participated in three waves of the (Day et al. 2016) Project. Women’s goods materialism at Time 2 was also directly related to their own (positively) and their partner’s (negatively) sexual satisfaction at Time 3. Men’s image materialism at Time 2 was directly and negatively related to their own commitment at Time 2 and their goods materialism at Time 2 was directly and negatively related to their own Time 2 relationship satisfaction. We also identified negative indirect associations between men’s T2 image and goods materialism and men’s and women’s T3 relationship satisfaction. This study provided evidence of the concurrent and longitudinal associations of materialism and relationship and sexual satisfaction using dyadic data. Implications for family life educators and therapists are explored.
MRI acoustic noise-modulated computer animations for patient distraction and entertainment with application in pediatric psychiatric patients

Abstract Purpose To reduce patient anxiety caused by the MRI scanner acoustic noise. Material and methods We developed a simple and low-cost system for patient distraction using visual computer animations that were synchronized to the MRI scanner's acoustic noise during the MRI exam. The system was implemented on a 3T MRI system and tested in 28 pediatric patients with bipolar disorder. The patients were randomized to receive noise-synchronized animations in the form of abstract animations in addition to music (n = 13, F/M = 6/7, age = 10.9 ± 2.5 years) or, as a control, receive only music (n = 15, F/M = 7/8, age = 11.6 ± 2.3 years). After completion of the scans, all subjects answered a questionnaire about their scan experience and the perceived scan duration. Results The scan duration with multisensory input (animations and music) was perceived to be ~15% shorter than in the control group (43 min vs. 50 min, P Conclusions This simple system provided patient distraction and entertainment leading to perceived shorter scan times, but the provided visualization with abstract animations was not favored by this patient cohort.
Community Engagement vs. Racial Equity: Can Community Engagement Work Be Racially Equitable?.

The literature on the transformation of higher education institutions into engaged institutions identifies the great potential this transformation can have on higher education’s ability to address pressing social issues. However, engagement work frequently operates in White racialized spaces and within systems that perpetuate racial oppression. A lack of critical reflection on this phenomenon may lead to racially inequitable or racially exclusive institutional transformation. If an understanding of racial equity work within community engagement does not occur, we run the risk that the transformation into engaged institutions will include some and not others, and those decisions will likely fall along racial lines. The purpose of this article is to identify and discuss four key findings based on a critical analysis of the ways in which the literature on transformation via engagement addresses issues of racial equity. The analysis leads to a discussion of the implications of the lack of connection between racial equity and community engagement. Most importantly, the overarching question of my own future research in this area is not if there is racial equity work taking place in community engagement initiatives, but how racial equity work is done in community engagement initiatives.
Germline Predisposition to Hematolymphoid Neoplasia.

Objectives The 2017 Workshop of the Society for Hematopathology/European Association for Haematopathology aimed to review clinical cases with germline predisposition to hematolymphoid neoplasms. Methods The Workshop Panel reviewed 51 cases with germline mutations and rendered consensus diagnoses. Of these, six cases were presented at the meeting by the submitting pathologists. Results The cases submitted to the session covering germline predisposition included 16 cases with germline GATA2 mutations, 10 cases with germline RUNX1 mutations, two cases with germline CEBPA mutations, two germline TP53 mutations, and one case of germline DDX41 mutation. The most common diagnoses were acute myeloid leukemia (15 cases) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS, 14 cases). Conclusions The majority of the submitted neoplasms occurring in patients with germline predisposition were myeloid neoplasms with germline mutations in GATA2 and RUNX1. The presence of a germline predisposition mutation is not sufficient for a diagnosis of a neoplasm until the appearance of standard diagnostic features of a hematolymphoid malignancy manifest: in general, the diagnostic criteria for neoplasms associated with germline predisposition disorders are the same as those for sporadic cases.
Timing and severity of skin-related adverse events in a phase II trial of sorafenib (BAY43-9006) in patients with advanced thyroid cancer.

e17009 Background: We previously conducted a phase II study of sorafenib (BAY43-9006) in advanced thyroid cancer. Rash and Hand-Foot Skin Reaction (HFSR) were two of the most common adverse events ...
Neurobehavioral phenotype of autism spectrum disorder associated with germline heterozygous mutations in PTEN.

Germline mutations in PTEN, the gene that encodes phosphatase and tensin homolog, have been identified in up to 20% of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and macrocephaly and are associated with marked abnormalities in the white matter of the brain. This study sought to characterize the neurobehavioral phenotype of PTEN-ASD. Comprehensive neurobehavioral evaluations were conducted in 36 participants (ages 3–21 years) with PTEN-ASD and compared to two groups of controls: non-syndromic ASD with macrocephaly (Macro-ASD, n = 25) and those with PTEN mutations without ASD (PTEN-no ASD, n = 23). Linear regression analysis or Kruskal–Wallis tests were used to examine group differences on neurobehavioral measures (cognitive, behavioral, sensory, and adaptive functioning) and, for select measures, one-sample t-tests were used to compare group performance to healthy control norms. These analyses revealed a distinct neuropsychological profile associated with mutations in PTEN suggesting primary disruption of frontal lobe systems (i.e., attention, impulsivity, reaction time, processing speed, and motor coordination). Cognitive deficits in PTEN-ASD are more severe than those in PTEN-no ASD and extend to other areas of neurobehavioral function, specifically, adaptive behavior and sensory deficits. While core ASD symptoms are similar in PTEN-ASD and Macro-ASD, PTEN-ASD had lower clinical ratings of autism severity and showed more sensory abnormalities suggestive of less sensory responsiveness. Together, these results suggest that PTEN-ASD has a distinct neurobehavioral phenotype compared to idiopathic ASD that is likely to warrant special consideration for overall assessment and treatment.
Speech perception frameworks revisited using the complex auditory brainstem response

Speech perception and experience-related effects have been theorized and experimentally tested through a wealth of behavioral measures as well as neural measurements focusing on cortical processes. Recently, the complex auditory brainstem response, targeting neural processes at a much earlier stage, has allowed us to generate and test new research questions from existing theoretical frameworks and can potentially expand these frameworks. We will present results from two recent studies examining different components of complex auditory brainstem responses to test hypotheses regarding universal as well as experiential effects in speech perception. In the first study (Zhao and Kuhl, 2018), the onset latency of the complex auditory brainstem response was found to predict perception of stop consonant and that both onset latency and perception are modulated by language background. In the second study (Zhao et al., 2019), the frequency-following component of the complex auditory response (FFR) was found to show directional asymmetry for the neural discrimination of an English vs. French prototypical /u/, supporting the Natural Reference Vowel framework. Implications and future directions will be discussed regarding using complex auditory response to test speech perception frameworks.