cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Zebrafish models in translational research: tipping the scales toward advancements in human health

Advances in genomics and next-generation sequencing have provided clinical researchers with unprecedented opportunities to understand the molecular basis of human genetic disorders. This abundance of information places new requirements on traditional disease models, which have the potential to be used to confirm newly identified pathogenic mutations and test the efficacy of emerging therapies. The unique attributes of zebrafish are being increasingly leveraged to create functional disease models, facilitate drug discovery, and provide critical scientific bases for the development of new clinical tools for the diagnosis and treatment of human disease. In this short review and the accompanying poster, we highlight a few illustrative examples of the applications of the zebrafish model to the study of human health and disease.
Vanishing Results for Toric Varieties Associated To GLn and G2

Toric varieties associated with root systems appeared very naturally in the theory of group compactifications. Here they are considered in a very different context.
Distributed Phased Arrays and Wireless Beamforming Networks

Distributed phased arrays have advantages over conventional arrays in many radar and communication applications. Additional advantages are realized by replacing the microwave beamforming circuit by a wireless network, thus forming a wirelessly networked distributed sensor array. This article examines various aspects of a distributed phased array that incorporates wireless beamforming. First, the fundamental array theory and digital signal processing are reviewed. Basic equations are presented and compared to simulations for a ship-based radar application. Next the basic array architecture is described and the critical techniques and components that are required to realize the design are discussed. Methods are introduced for time and phase synchronization, transmit-receive isolation, sensor location issues, and bandwidth and frequency dispersion.
Strategies for the Care of Adults Hospitalized for Active Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the colon; as many as 25% of patients with this disease require hospitalization. The goals of hospitalization are to assess disease severity, exclude infection, administer rapidly acting and highly effective medication regimens, and determine response. During hospitalization, patients should be given venous thromboembolism prophylaxis and monitored for the development of toxic megacolon. Patients who do not respond to intravenous corticosteroids should be considered for rescue therapy with infliximab or cyclosporine. Patients who are refractory to medical therapies or who develop toxic megacolon should be evaluated promptly for colectomy. Patients who do respond to medical therapies should be discharged on an appropriate maintenance regimen when they meet discharge criteria. We review practical evidence-based management principles and propose a day-by-day algorithm for managing patients hospitalized for ulcerative colitis.
A catalogue of 2D photometric decompositions in the SDSS-DR7 spectroscopic main galaxy sample: preferred models and systematics

We present a catalogue of two-dimensional, point spread function-corrected de Vacouleurs, Sersic, de Vacouleurs+Exponential, and Sersic+Exponential fits of $\sim7\times10^5$ spectroscopically selected galaxies drawn from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Data Release 7. Fits are performed for the SDSS r band utilizing the fitting routine GALFIT and analysis pipeline PYMORPH. We compare these fits to prior catalogues. Fits are analysed using a physically motivated flagging system. The flags suggest that more than 90 per cent of two-component fits can be used for analysis. We show that the fits follow the expected behaviour for early and late galaxy types. The catalogues provide a robust set of structural and photometric parameters for future galaxy studies. We show that some biases remain in the measurements, e.g. the presence of bars significantly affect the bulge measurements although the bulge ellipticity may be used to separate barred and non-barred galaxies, and about 15 percent of bulges of two-component fits are also affected by resolution. The catalogues are available in electronic format. We also provide an interface for generating postage stamp images of the 2D model and residual as well as the 1D profile. These images can be generated for a user-uploaded list of galaxies on demand.
Engineered microneedle arrays for transcutaneous HIV vaccine delivery

Background Needle-free delivery has the potential to enhance vaccine efficacy and safety, as well as facilitate cost-effective global vaccine distribution and storage. To this end, microneedle arrays provide the ability for pain-free, safe, and convenient materials delivery through disruption of the outer layers of the skin to access potent immunecompetent cell populations residing within the epidermal/dermal tissues.
Filtering nonlinear spatio-temporal chaos with autoregressive linear stochastic models

Abstract Fundamental barriers in practical filtering of nonlinear spatio-temporal chaotic systems are model errors attributed to the stiffness in resolving multiscale features. Recently, reduced stochastic filters based on linear stochastic models have been introduced to overcome such stiffness; one of them is the Mean Stochastic Model (MSM) based on a diagonal Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process in Fourier space. Despite model errors, the MSM shows very encouraging filtering skill, especially when the hidden signal of interest is strongly chaotic. In this regime, the dynamical system statistical properties resemble to those of the energy-conserving equilibrium statistical mechanics with Gaussian invariant measure; therefore, the Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process with appropriate parameters is sufficient to produce reasonable statistical estimates for the filter model. In this paper, we consider a generalization of the MSM with a diagonal autoregressive linear stochastic model in Fourier space as a filter model for chaotic signals with long memory depth. With this generalization, the filter prior model becomes slightly more expensive than the MSM, but it is still less expensive relative to integrating the perfect model which is typically unknown in real problems. Furthermore, the associated Kalman filter on each Fourier mode is computationally as cheap as inverting a matrix of size D , where D is the number of observed variables on each Fourier mode (in our numerical example, D = 1 ). Using the Lorenz 96 (L-96) model as a testbed, we show that the non-Markovian nature of this autoregressive model is an important feature in capturing the highly oscillatory modes with long memory depth. Second, we show that the filtering skill with autoregressive models supersedes that with MSM in weakly chaotic regime where the memory depth is longer. In strongly chaotic regime, the performance of the AR(p) filter is still better or at least comparable to that of the MSM. Most importantly, we find that this reduced filtering strategy is not as sensitive as standard ensemble filtering strategies to additional intrinsic model errors that are often encountered when model parameters are incorrectly specified.
Noise Tolerance of Expanders and Sublinear Expander Reconstruction

We consider the problem of online sublinear expander reconstruction and its relation to random walks in ``noisy" expanders. Given access to an adjacency list representation of a bounded-degree graph G, we want to convert this graph into a bounded-degree expander G' changing G as little aspossible. The graph G' will be output by a distributed filter: this is sublinear time procedure that given a query vertex, outputs all its neighbors in G', and can do so even in a distributed manner, ensuring consistency in all the answers.One of the main tools in our analysis is a result on the behavior of random walks in graph that are almost expanders: graphs that are formed by arbitrarily connecting a small unknown graph (the noise) to a large expander. We show that a random walk from almost any vertex in the expander part will have fast mixing properties, in the general setting of irreducible finite Markov chains. We alsodesign sublinear time procedures to distinguish vertices of the expander part from those in the noise part, and use this procedure in the reconstruction algorithm.
Therapeutic response assessment in radio-immunotherapy: Comparison of metabolic (PERCIST) and anatomic (RECIST) tumor response criteria

1197 Objectives To assess the correlation between tumor SUV peak change (PERCIST) and anatomic change (RECIST) for clinical response classification after radio-immunotherapy (RIT). Methods Therapeutic response to RIT was determined based on metabolic and anatomic tumor reduction for each patient, measured by 2 methods: %change in the SUV peak as determined by PERCIST, and %change in the sum of the longest diameters of target lesions as determined by RECIST. Clinical response was based on PET-CT performed at baseline and at 2 months post-RIT and defined as complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD) and progressive disease (PD). 20 patients were treated with doses of 58.2-153.8 mCi 131-I tositumomab based on individualized body dosimetry. Pre-therapy (baseline) and post-therapy PET-CT scans were obtained in all patients; 5 patients were not-eligible because their lesions had low FDG avidity or were not clearly anatomically delineated. Thirty-five target lesions were assessed in the remaining 15 patients. Correlation between two metrics were done using Kendall Tau rank correlation. Results %SUV peak change was 73-89% (mean 83%) for CR, 53-83% (mean 68%) for PR,-12-28% (mean 8%) for SD and -9-2% (mean 5%) for PD. %change in sum of diameters was 100% (mean 100%) for CR, 42-72% (mean 51%) for PR, 2-23% (mean 16%) for SD,and -9-2% (mean -2%) for PD. Based on metabolic measurement (%change in SUV peak); 5 patients were classified as CR, 4 PR, 3 SD and 3 PD according to PERCIST. Based on linear measurement (%change in sum of longest diameters); 3 patients were classified as CR, 6 PR, 3 SD and 3 PD according to RECIST. Conclusions Significant correlation between metabolic and anatomic response based on PERCIST and RECIST was observed at 2 months after RIT (Kendall9s Tau=0.913,p Research Support This work was supported by grant 2R01EB001994 awarded by the NIH, United States Department of Health and Human Services (Bethesda, MD) and Josip Matovinovic Endowed Clinical Fellowship awarded by Global Reach University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, USA
KaZaA and Punishment

This newspaper editorial ran in the Wall Street Journal the day after the music industry filed the first wave of lawsuits against individuals who engaged in illegal file-sharing online. In it, I argue that individual lawsuits are a bad idea on public policy grounds, but are also the natural ramification of court decisions that make it unnecessarily difficult to hold intermediaries like Grokster, Napster, and KaZaA appropriately liable.
Moment Closure and Finite-Time Blowup for Piecewise Deterministic Markov Processes

We present a variety of results analyzing the behavior of a class of stochastic processes---referred to as piecewise deterministic Markov processes (PDMPs)---for the infinite-time interval and determine general conditions on when the moments of such processes will, or will not, be well-behaved. We also characterize the types of finite-time blowups that are possible for these processes, and obtain bounds on their probabilities.
End of Program Assessments and Their Association with Early Career Success in LIS.

Analyses of North American LIS program alumni survey data indicate that the completion of any end of program assessment (EPA) or capstone is associated with certain early-career success measures. Using data collected in the Workforce Issues in Library and Information Science 2 project (WILIS 2), we examined the type of EPAs (internships, portfolios, theses, etc.) completed by students and assessed whether there are relationships between their completion and the following outcomes: length of time to secure employment after graduation, acquisition of managerial or leadership roles, job/ career satisfaction, and participation in professional and leadership activities. We also assessed the graduates’ attitudes about whether these experiences were a beneficial part of their career preparation. These results should be of interest to faculty curriculum developers and program administrators in LIS programs worldwide, since they provide insight into the relative merits of EPAs and are based on aggregate data from 39 programs and over 3,000 graduates.
Disseminated mucosal anti-toxin antibody responses induced through oral or intrathecal immunisation with toxoid-containing biodegradable microspheres

The utility of biodegradable and biocompatible microspheres as a vaccine delivery system for the induction of systemic and disseminated mucosal antibody responses was investigated. Following intraperitoneal (IP) injection into mice, microspheres constructed of the copolymer poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (DL-PLG) which contained a formalinized toxoid vaccine of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) were 500-fold more effective in the stimulation of circulating IgG anti-toxin antibodies than was the free toxoid. However, neither free nor microencapsulated SEB toxoid induced a detectable mucosal IgA anti-toxin response following IP administration. In contrast, three peroral immunizations with toxoid-microspheres stimulated circulating IgM, IgG and IgA anti-toxin antibodies and a concurrent mucosal IgA response in saliva, gut washings and lung washings. IP immunization effectively primed for the induction of a disseminated mucosal IgA response by a subsequent single oral dose of toxoid-microspheres. Booster immunization of IP primed mice via intratracheal instillation (IT) of toxoid-microspheres was the most effective means of inducing mucosal anti-toxin antibodies, and raised specific IgA titers in excess of 2,500 in both gut and bronchial washings. Soluble SEB toxoid was ineffective in stimulating antibody responses when administered to either naive or primed mice via the oral or IT routes. These results indicate that biodegradable and biocompatible microspheres represent an adjuvant system with potentially widespread application in the induction of both circulating and mucosal immunity.
Multiple Copula Regression Function and Directional Dependence Under Multivariate Non-exchangeable Copulas

In this paper, the multiple directional dependence between response variable and covariates using non-exchangeable copulas based regression is introduced. The general measure for the multiple directional dependence in the joint behavior is provided. Several multivariate non-exchangeable copula families including skew normal copula, and the generalized Farlie-Gumbel-Morgenstern copula models are investigated. For the illustration of main results, several examples are given.
Effect of a necrogenic yeast diet on viral hepatitis (M.H.V.3) in mice.

SummaryA necrogenic Torula yeast diet increased the susceptibility of mice to experimental viral hepatitis. Supplementation of this diet with alpha tocopherol or selenium reduced the mortality of this infection. The susceptibility of mice fed a casein diet resembled that of animals receiving a yeast diet of similar protein content and supplemented with alpha tocopherol.
Dynamic Programming and Invariant Imbedding in Structural Mechanics

The determination of configurations of equilibrium in structural mechanics usually leads to the consideration of boundary-value problems. Unfortunately, boundary-value problems cannot generally be solved directly by numerical methods, and therefore the analyst is forced to recast the problem in a manner suitable for handling by a digital computer.
Inference complexity in continuous time Bayesian networks

The continuous time Bayesian network (CTBN) enables temporal reasoning by representing a system as a factored, finite-state Markov process. The CTBN uses a traditional Bayesian network (BN) to specify the initial distribution. Thus, the complexity results of Bayesian networks also apply to CTBNs through this initial distribution. However, the question remains whether propagating the probabilities through time is, by itself, also a hard problem. We show that exact and approximate inference in continuous time Bayesian networks is NP-hard even when the initial states are given.
Abstract B043: Suppression of T cell responses by androgen deprivation drug leads to early relapse

Physical or chemical androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the cornerstone treatment for metastatic prostate cancer, but relapse eventually occurs and the results of combination of ADT with immunotherapy are disappointing. Here, we show that physical castration can synergize with subsequent immunotherapy while the more commonly used chemical ADT suppresses the immunological protection induced by immunotherapy. Furthermore, chemical ADT can broadly inhibit immune responses. Mechanistically, the inhibition of immune responses by chemical ADT targets T cells by interfering with initial T cell priming, independently of the androgen receptor. We have shown that this off-target immune suppression is mediated by a receptor shared by γ-aminobutyric acid. Further investigation of chemical ADT administered with immunotherapy has revealed that timing and dosing critically control anti-tumor effects. Therefore, this study highlights an underappreciated mechanism of ADT immune suppression and provides a new strategy to enhance immunity and prevent the relapse of advanced prostate cancer. Citation Format: Yang Pu. Suppression of T cell responses by androgen deprivation drug leads to early relapse. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR Inaugural International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; September 16-19, 2015; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2016;4(1 Suppl):Abstract nr B043.
Checkmate: kidney injury associated with targeted cancer immunotherapy

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are a class of drugs that utilizes immunotherapy to target various cancers. Included are the anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 receptor antibodies. By reprogramming the immune system, these agents provide a therapy that destroys cancer cells. However, this approach runs the risk of allowing pathologic autoimmunity and organ injury to develop. Unsurprisingly, immune-related adverse effects are described including pneumonitis, colitis, and various endocrinopathies. Now added to this list is AKI, primarily due to ATIN.
Electronically-Controlled Beam-Steering through Vanadium Dioxide Metasurfaces

Engineered metamaterials offer unique functionalities for manipulating the spectral and spatial properties of electromagnetic waves in unconventional ways. Here, we report a novel approach for making reconfigurable metasurfaces capable of deflecting electromagnetic waves in an electronically controllable fashion. This is accomplished by tilting the phase front of waves through a two-dimensional array of resonant metasurface unit-cells with electronically-controlled phase-change materials embedded inside. Such metasurfaces can be placed at the output facet of any electromagnetic radiation source to deflect electromagnetic waves at a desired frequency, ranging from millimeter-wave to far-infrared frequencies. Our design does not use any mechanical elements, external light sources, or reflectarrays, creating, for the first time, a highly robust and fully-integrated beam-steering device solution. We demonstrate a proof-of-concept beam-steering metasurface optimized for operation at 100 GHz, offering up to 44° beam deflection in both horizontal and vertical directions. Dynamic control of electromagnetic wave propagation direction through this unique platform could be transformative for various imaging, sensing, and communication applications, among others.
The Orbital Picture for Bound Electrons

The primary purpose of this book is to develop for the non-theoretically oriented chemist a pictorial approach to molecular orbitals. To accomplish this goal we consider in this chapter and Chapter 2 the fundamental properties of electrons and orbitals which are required for the introduction of “generator orbitals.” Generator orbitals (which will be defined later) constitute the tool with which the three-dimensional visualization of molecular orbitals is achieved in subsequent chapters. We will see that the vibrational modes of molecules are also easily visualized with this approach. After we apply the generator orbital concept in Chapter 3 to bonding and to vibrational motion in diatomics, we will apply this concept for the same purposes to more complex polyatomic molecules possessing a variety of geometrical shapes.
The Role of Social Partners in Transforming the German Pension System

Social partners, trade unions and employer associations have been involved in most changes to the corporatist welfare state of Germany. In 2001, the government enacted a pension reform to replace the generous but - due to demographic constraints - unsustainable pay-as-you-go public pension system. The decrease of public pensions was offset by strengthening the occupational and private pillars.This paper examines the social partners’ political lobbying before the reform, contrasted with their involvement in supplementary pension provision afterwards. The study, based on an in-depth personal interview with Mr. Walter Riester, the Labour Minister brokering the reform, shows that the parallel application of pension reform and social pacts literature contribute to the understanding of the pension structure.The social partners’ internal division prevented the cooperation with the government; however, they could prevent the implementation of a mandatory supplementary system, and could achieve concessions in exchange for not vetoing the reform. Subsequently, their involvement in pension provision turned out to be the gold standard.
Association of red blood cell transfusion and short- and longer-term mortality after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Objective Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion has been linked to increased morbidity and mortality. However, strict RBC transfusion recommendations recently have been questioned. The aim of this study was to investigate the short- and long-term mortality outcomes after RBC transfusion in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Design This was a retrospective medical record review. Setting Tertiary care academic medical center. Participants The study included patients who underwent CABG from June 2006 to May 2013. Intervention Adult (>18 years) cardiac surgery patients who were admitted to the cardiothoracic intensive care unit in a tertiary care academic medical center from June 2006 to May 2013 were collected. In all, 2,180 patients who underwent CABG surgery were included into propensity-score matching analyses, which were matched 1:1. Patients who did not receive transfusion of packed red blood cells (PRBC) (n = 937) were compared with those who received 1 to 5 U (n = 1,113). The study outcomes included mortality rates at 1, 3, and 6 months (short-term) and 1, 2, 3, and 4 years (long-term). Results No statistical significant differences were found for the 1-month (2% v 1.1%, p = 0.292), 3-month (2.9% v 2%, p = 0.396), or 6-month mortality rate (4.3% v 3.4%, p = 0.602) in 446 patients with 1 to 5 U versus 446 matched patients with no PRBC transfusion. Patients in the transfused group compared with those in the no-transfusion group had statistically significant higher 3-year mortality rate (11% v 6.7%; hazard ratio, 1.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-2.63; p = 0.038). Conclusion In the present study, patients undergoing CABG surgery and receiving
Cirrhosis and Portal Hypertension: Staging and Prognosis

Cirrhosis is a dynamic and potentially reversible disease that progresses across different stages that are not only of prognostic significance but that have distinct predominant pathophysiological mechanisms that would, in many cases, necessitate different therapies. The compensated and decompensated stages are the most important stages and it is essential that they be analyzed, described and treated separately both clinically and in research studies. Within the compensated stage, the presence or absence of clinically significant portal hypertension (defined as an hepatic venous pressure gradient of 10 mmHg or higher) is a key determinant in the development of gastroesophageal varices and decompensation. In patients with clinically significant portal hypertension, the absence or presence of varices is a stratifying factor. Within the decompensated stage (defined by the presence of clinically overt complications (ascites, variceal hemorrhage and hepatic encephalopathy), the type and quantity of decompensating events adds to the prognostic granularity of the stage. A stage of “further” or late decompensation (defined by the development of refractory ascites, hepatorenal syndrome, recurrent variceal hemorrhage and recurrent/persistent hepatic encephalopathy) is likely to provide a larger prognostic differential among patients with decompensated cirrhosis. A final stage characterized by multi-organ failure, termed “acute-on-chronic” liver failure, is associated with the worst prognosis.
Transcriptomic and phenotypic profiling in developing zebrafish exposed to thyroid hormone receptor agonists.

Abstract There continues to be a need to develop in vivo high-throughput screening (HTS) and computational methods to screen chemicals for interaction with the estrogen, androgen, and thyroid pathways and as complements to in vitro HTS assays. This study explored the utility of an embryonic zebrafish HTS approach to identify and classify endocrine bioactivity using phenotypically-anchored transcriptome profiling. Transcriptome analysis was conducted on zebrafish embryos exposed to 25 estrogen-, androgen-, or thyroid-active chemicals at concentrations that elicited adverse malformations or mortality at 120 h post-fertilization in 80% of animals exposed. Analysis of the top 1000 significant differentially expressed transcripts and developmental toxicity profiles across all treatments identified a unique transcriptional and phenotypic signature for thyroid hormone receptor agonists. This unique signature has the potential to be used as a tiered in vivo HTS and may aid in identifying chemicals that interact with the thyroid hormone receptor.
Ion-neutral Clustering of Bile Acids in Electrospray Ionization Across UPLC Flow Regimes.

Bile acid authentic standards were used as model compounds to quantitatively evaluate complex in-source phenomenon on a UPLC-ESI-TOF-MS operated in the negative mode. Three different diameter columns and a ceramic-based microfluidic separation device were utilized, allowing for detailed descriptions of bile acid behavior across a wide range of flow regimes and instantaneous concentrations. A custom processing algorithm based on correlation analysis was developed to group together all ion signals arising from a single compound; these grouped signals produce verified compound spectra for each bile acid at each on-column mass loading. Significant adduction was observed for all bile acids investigated under all flow regimes and across a wide range of bile acid concentrations. The distribution of bile acid containing clusters was found to depend on the specific bile acid species, solvent flow rate, and bile acid concentration. Relative abundancies of each cluster changed non-linearly with concentration. It was found that summing all MS level (low collisional energy) ions and ion-neutral adducts arising from a single compound improves linearity across the concentration range (0.125–5 ng on column) and increases the sensitivity of MS level quantification. The behavior of each cluster roughly follows simple equilibrium processes consistent with our understanding of electrospray ionization mechanisms and ion transport processes occurring in atmospheric pressure interfaces.
Identification of a novel regulator for smoothened signaling in human cancers

4156 Background: The hedgehog pathway plays a critical role in embryonic development, tissue polarity and carcinogenesis. It is estimated that activation of this pathway is associated with almost all basal cell carcinomas and in nearly 30% of non-skin cancers. Whereas mutations of human homologue of patched 1 (PTCH1), smoothened (SMO) or suppressor of fused [Su(Fu)] contribute to the development of BCCs and medulloblastomas, whereas elevated expression of the ligands- hedgehog molecules may be responsible for activation of hedgehog signaling in prostate, breast, lung and gastrointestinal cancers. However, the molecular basis for SMO signaling regulation, the essential event in pathway activation, remains unclear. Therefore, identification of novel regulators of SMO will further our understanding of hedgehog-mediated carcinogenesis. Results: Through yeast two hybrid screening using SMO as bait, we identified a Smooothened Interacting Protein, SIP. In cultured cells, we showed that SIP co-immunoprecipitated reciprocally with SMO. Using GST pull-down studies, we showed that the cytoplasmic tail of SMO is responsible for the interaction with SIP. We found that stability of SMO protein, but not Gli1 protein, can be enhanced with ectopic expression of SIP in a dose-dependent manner. To demonstrate whether inactivation of SIP is sufficient to inhibit growth of cancer cells with activated hedgehog signaling, we treated cancer cell lines with SIP siRNA or control siRNA and measured DNA synthesis and softagar growth. We found that SIP siRNA inhibited DNA synthesis and softagar growth of PLC/PRF/5 cells, which have activated hedgehog signaling, but had no effects on HepG2 cells, which have no detectable hedgehog signaling. Conclusion: We have identified a novel regulator of SMO, SIP. We find that SMO interacts with SIP through its c-terminal tail. The protein stability of SMO is enhanced by the presence of SIP. Inactivation of SIP by specific siRNA, just like SMO antagonist cyclopamine, reduced DNA synthesis and cell growth of cancer cells with activated hedgehog signaling. Thus, targeted inhibition of SIP may have significant implications in cancer therapeutics.
Enhancement of Transgene Expression by NF-Y and CTCF

If a transgene is effectively delivered to a cell, its expression may still be limited by epigenetic mechanisms that silence the transgene. Indeed, once the transgene reaches the nucleus, it may be bound by histone proteins and condensed into heterochromatin or associated with repressor proteins that block transcription. In this study, we sought to enhance transgene expression by adding binding motifs for several different epigenetic enzymes either upstream or downstream of two promoters (CMV and EF1a;). Screening these plasmids revealed that luciferase expression was enhanced 10-fold by the addition of a CCAAT box just upstream of the EF1a; promoter to recruit nuclear transcription factor Y (NF-Y), while inserting a CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) motif downstream of the EF1a; promoter enhanced expression 14-fold (14.03 +/- 6.54). ChIP assays confirmed that NF-Y and CTCF bound to the motifs that were added to each plasmid, but the presence of NF-Y and CTCF did not significantly affect the levels of histone acetylation (H3K9ac). Overall, these result show that transgene expression from the EF1a; promoter can be significantly increased with motifs that recruit NF-Y or CTCF.
Introductory Notes to Electron Spin Resonance Absorption Spectroscopy

Electron spin resonance (ESR) absorption spectroscopy is that branch of radio-frequency spectroscopy which deals with the lowest-lying terms of systems having some degree of electronic angular momentum. This momentum may originate from the intrinsic spin, orbital motion, or both, of electrons. In either case, terms possessing angular momentum must necessarily be degenerate [1], and it is the removal of this degeneracy that forms the basis for ESR spectroscopy. Examples of systems having this ground-term degeneracy are: (1) most free atoms; (2) free-radical molecules and molecule-ions; (3) ions of the three transition series as well as those of the lanthanide and actinide series, the last two being characterized by partially filled inner electronic shells; (4) various species trapped in solids of which the alkali halide F-centers are examples; and finally, (5) conduction electrons.
Experimental Modal Analysis of a Full-Scale Seven-Story Shear Wall Based on Nonlinear Seismic Response

In this study, the deterministic-stochastic subspace identification (DSI) method is used for estimating the instantaneous modal parameters of a full scale seven-story shear wall structure. Modal analysis is performed based on short time-windows of input-output data measured during different seismic base excitations on a shake table. The structure has been subject to four historical earthquakes with increasing intensities and various characteristics. At each time window, an equivalent global secant stiffness of the structure is estimated based on the hysteretic curve of base moment versus roof displacement. It is observed that the trend of identified instantaneous natural frequencies of the first vibration mode is strongly correlated with that of the square root of secant stiffness estimates. This observation encourages the use of experimental modal analysis for characterizing the stiffness behavior of nonlinear structures when subjected to nonstationary, large intensity excitations such as earthquakes.
Esophageal strictures and stenoses

The diagnosis and management of esophageal obstructions, namely strictures and stenoses, can be quite intimidating and challenging for the surgeon. We discuss in this chapter the many different types of esophageal obstructions and outline the major principles involved in their management. A careful understanding and thoughtful approach to the their treatment remains paramount to achieve optimal outcomes. Depending on the nature and etiology of the narrowing, the therapeutic options can range from pharmacotherapy alone to complex surgery, including esophagectomy with conduit reconstruction. More recently, endoscopic interventions have made a dramatic impact in many children previously thought to have a problem amenable only to major reconstructive esophageal surgery.
Clustered Optimization of a Small-Scale Robot Swarm with Minimal On-Board Sensing

This paper explores the ability of a swarm of small-scale robots to optimize robot locomotion speed if only extremely limited on-board sensing capability is granted for each individual robot. This is done to assess benefits of swarm optimization versus individual control. The optimization of simulated robot locomotion speed is evaluated under multiple classical and machine learning algorithms. Furthermore, a new algorithm, Clustered Particle Swarm Optimization (CPSO), is developed based on existing optimization and clustering algorithms. The algorithms are based on an experimentally-validated nominal dynamic model for small-scale robots, with environmental parameters extended over a wider range of uncertainty. The nonlinear relationship between multiple actuation parameters and robot performance, specifically robot speed in this work, encourages a numerical method to search for a set of actuation parameters that leads to a higher robot speed. Three algorithms are presented and compared, including Simulated Annealing (SA), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), and CPSO. The comparison between SA and PSO demonstrates the utility of optimizing robots in a swarm. By increasing the number of robots, the optimizing iteration number can be reduced. The comparison of simulation of PSO and CPSO shows a 23% improvement with minimal sensing assumed from the robots. The single sensing feature, selected manually using phase plots, is the average foot height at a certain actuation phase in each cycle.
Spin currents go nuclear

Generating pure spin currents is a necessary part of many spintronic devices. Now there is a new mechanism for doing this, utilizing nuclear spin waves.
New Limits on Anomalous Spin-Spin Interactions

We report the results of a new search for long-range spin-dependent interactions using a $\mathrm{Rb}\text{\ensuremath{-}}^{21}\mathrm{Ne}$ atomic comagnetometer and a rotatable electron spin source based on a ${\mathrm{SmCo}}_{5}$ magnet with an iron flux return. By looking for signal correlations with the orientation of the spin source we set new constraints on the product of the pseudoscalar electron and neutron couplings ${g}_{p}^{e}{g}_{p}^{n}/\ensuremath{\hbar}cl1.7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}14}$ and on the product of their axial couplings ${g}_{A}^{e}{g}_{A}^{n}/\ensuremath{\hbar}cl5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}42}$ to a new particle with a mass of less than about $1\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{eV}$. Our measurements improve by about 2 orders of magnitude previous constraints on such spin-dependent interactions.
Reduced order models for transstenotic pressure drop in the coronary arteries.

The efficacy of reduced order modeling for transstenotic pressure drop in the coronary arteries is presented. Coronary artery disease is a leading cause of death worldwide and the computation of fractional flow reserve from computed tomography (FFRct) has become a standard for evaluating the functional significance of a coronary stenosis. FFRct uses 3D computational fluid dynamics to simulate coronary blood flow in order to compute transstenotic pressure drop during simulated hyperemia. In this study, we evaluate different fidelity hydrodynamic models and their ability to compute transstenotic pressure drop and FFRct in the coronary arteries. Models range from simple algebraic formulae to 1D, 2D and 3D time-dependent computational fluid dynamic simulations. Although several algebraic pressure-drop formulae have been proposed in the literature, these models were found to exhibit wide variation in predictions. Nonetheless, we demonstrate an algebraic formula that provides reliable predictions over a range of stenosis severity, morphology, location and flow rate when compared to the current standard for FFRct. The accounting of viscous dissipation, flow separation and pulsatile inertial effects were found to be the most significant contributions to accurate reduce order modeling of transstenotic coronary hemodynamics.
Enhancing Teaching With Effective Data Mining Protocols

Various data systems have been long and pervasively used in schools to collect student data. However, very few educators are able to apply their collected data to improve their teaching. The purpos...
Breakdown of multiple sclerosis genetics to identify an integrated disease network and potential variant mechanisms.

Genetics of multiple sclerosis (MS) are highly polygenic with few insights into mechanistic associations with pathology. In this study, we assessed MS genetics through linkage disequilibrium and mi...
Social interaction in a virtual environment

Socio-Spatial Interactivity impacted Social Presence in the virtual environment.Social Presence impacted Socio-Spatial Interactivity in the virtual environment.Findings suggest that a positive feedback loop exists between variables. A behavioral observation methodology was employed in this study to examine how social behavior unfolds within a virtual environment and to identify what might perpetuate this behavior. Partial interval recording sampling was used to code social interactions (Socio-Spatial Interactivity and Social Presence) that occurred between experienced World of Warcraft players during their game play. Given the bidirectional nature of social interactions, Socio-Spatial Interactivity and Social Presence variables (Affective Association, Community Cohesion, Interaction Intensity, and Knowledge & Experience) were employed as both dependent and independent variables in two separate sets of regression analyses. Findings suggest that a positive feedback loop exists between Socio-Spatial Interactivity and Social Presence. Based on these findings, the researchers discuss implications for designers and end-users of virtual environments.
The microbiome of pediatric patients with chronic rhinosinusitis

Background This study aimed to compare the microbiota of pediatric patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) who are undergoing adenoidectomy to treat their disease with that of healthy control patients. Methods Patients undergoing adenoidectomy-only for obstructive sleep apnea (n = 50) and CRS (n = 37) were recruited. Preoperative 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) or Sinus and Nasal Quality of Life Survey (SN-5) were collected. Each patient had samples collected from their nasopharynx (adenoid bed) and nasal cavity (sinus) at the onset of surgery. 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene sequencing was subsequently performed to obtain per sample taxonomic abundances. Statistical analyses included permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA), alpha (within sample) diversity measures, and changes in taxonomic abundance. Results Moraxella was the most abundant organism. Nasopharyngeal swabs demonstrated higher alpha diversity compared to the nasal cavity. The diversity was not different based on CRS vs obstructive history. There was an increase in diversity with increasing age, and eczema contributed to a greater difference in diversity between the nasopharynx and nasal cavity. Diversity was not affected by adenoid size; however, use of nasal steroids, inhaled steroids, and antihistamines influenced diversity in both the nasopharynx and nasal cavity. Nasopharyngeal samples were higher in relative abundance for Fusobacterium, Prevotella, Porphyromonas, and Campylobacter compared to the nasal cavity. Conclusion The nasopharynx and nasal cavity differed in both microbiota composition and diversity. In contrast, no significant difference in composition or diversity were found in CRS vs control patients. Ecological changes in the nasopharyngeal and sinus site may contribute to the etiology for adenoid hypertrophy in both healthy controls and CRS patients.
The Role of the Family: Parents/Guardians, Siblings, Cohesion, and Interactions

In this chapter, we demonstrate how the role of the family, specifically parents/guardians, siblings, cohesion, and interactions affect the likelihood of being bullied. Several aspects of the home environment may be particularly relevant for victims of school bullying, as they may promote resilience in children going through this stressful experience. We also denote how bullied youth who have strong and intimate bonds or relationships with their parents/guardians might have more favorable psychosocial outcomes than would otherwise be the case. We present how youth from families with a culture of violence or maltreatment may feel powerless, as they are unable to protect themselves from harm and bullies. These youth are also likely to develop poor social skills, making them targets of bullying victimization and social exclusion.
Sheltered From Eviction? A Framework for Understanding the Relationship Between Subsidized Housing Programs and Eviction

Housing affordability and eviction are intertwined, yet much remains unknown about how policy responses to increase affordable housing affect the local dynamics of eviction. This article establishe...
Men and Women Lobbyists in the American States

Objective This study compares men and women lobbyists who work in the American states in 1995 and 2005, arguing in contrast to previous research that there is a consistent pattern of sex differences that cannot be explained by differential patterns of experience. Methods Men and women are contrasted across three dimensions using original survey data from lobbyists in all 50 states. First, we examine lobbyists' background and experience, such as having previously held political office and years of experience lobbying. Second, differences between tactics employed by men and women are investigated. Third, the article draws a distinction between the attitudes of male and female lobbyists toward their profession. Results Differences between men and women within the three dimensions are found in both sets of data, with changes generally smaller in 2005. Conclusion Unlike previous studies, we find differences among male and female lobbyists in their background, strategies, and attitudes, but the gap between them is moderate and in some cases has decreased.
The Manor, Etc

This case illustrates the elements, components, systems, and processing necessary to provide an excellent service experience--sustained over decades. The case illustrates leadership, innovation, employee empowerment, and all the necessary pieces to create a sustainable service package. Excerpt UVA-OM-0896 Rev. Nov. 8, 2013 THE MANOR, ETC. Harry Knowles smiled and waved goodbye to the gardener as he pulled out of the Pleasantdale Ch®teau. Though late for a lunch meeting at The Manor, Harry couldn't help but stop and compliment the gardener on a job well done. He wanted his people to know he noticed their work down to the smallest detail, and he believed that taking the time to let them know he appreciated them was what made his organization successful. Harry thought about the meeting ahead to discuss plans for a new hotel on The Manor's property. For the first time in his 40-plus-year career he would have a partner: the Marriott Corporation. Would the culture of excellent service and sense of family be maintained despite bringing in an outsider? Would the people from Marriott understand when he explained why he was running late? The Manor . . .
Equity vs. Efficiency and the U.S. Tax System in Historical Perspective

Equity versus Efficiency and the U.S. Tax System in Historical Perspective Dennis J. Ventry Jr. The concept of tax justice in the United States has historically involved both social and economic factors. Americans have used the tax system to regulate economic privilege, and to restore equitable income and wealth distributions. Tax justice “American style” considers both horizontal equity (the equal taxation of equals) and vertical or pro-— gressive equity (the unequal taxation of unequals). It emphasizes the lat»- ter, however, measuring relative societal burdens against relative societal benefits and reflecting larger notions of social justice. As the United States industrialized during the 19th century, and as concentrations of wealth increased, taxatioifs role as a social instrument became more important. “The man of great wealth,” stated President Theodore Roosevelt, “owes a peculiar obligation to the State, because he derives special advantages from the mere existence of government” (I906, 27). The failure of the market economy in the 19303 prompted politicians and tax theorists to emphasize the morality of taxation. “The case for drastic progression in taxation,” argued economist Henry Simone, “must be rested on the case against inequality—-——on the ethical or aesthetic judgment that the prevailing distribution of wealth and income reveals a degree (and/or kind) of inequality which is distinctly evil or unlovely” (1938, 18-19). By the 19405, distributive forms of tax justice had become so intertwined with federal tax policy that President Franklin Roosevelt proposed capping after—tax incomes at $25,000.‘ 25