cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microarray-based genomic surveying of gene polymorphisms in Chlamydia trachomatis

By comparing two fully sequenced genomes of Chlamydia trachomatis using competitive hybridization on DNA microarrays, a logarithmic correlation was demonstrated between the signal ratio of the arrays and the 75-99% range of nucleotide identities of the genes. Variable genes within 14 uncharacterized strains of C. trachomatis were identified by array analysis and verified by DNA sequencing. These genes may be crucial for understanding chlamydial virulence and pathogenesis.
Expression of photosynthesis genes in relation to nitrogen fixation in the diazotrophic filamentous nonheterocystous cyanobacterium Trichodesmium sp. IMS 101

The daily cycle of nitrogenase expression in the marine filamentous nonheterocystous cyanobacterium Trichodesmium spp. is controlled by a circadian rhythm. We evaluated the rhythm of two key photosynthesis genes, psbA of photosystem II and psaA of photosystem I, in Trichodesmium sp. IMS 101 using the 3 criteria for an endogenous rhythm. The transcript abundance of psbA and psaA transcripts oscillated with a period of ca. 24 h under a 12 h light/12 h dark regime. At 24 °C and 28 °C the cyclic pattern of transcript abundance was maintained for at least 58 h under constant light conditions, whereas the periods were about 24 h at 24 °C, and 26–30 h at the higher temperature. The cycles of psbA and psaA gene expression were entrained using light-dark cues. Transcription of nifHDK was initiated prior to the light period, followed by psbA and finally psaA. There was a 90° (6 h) phase difference between the net accumulation of nifHDK and psbA transcripts, as well as between that of psbA and psaA transcripts. Results of inhibitor experiments indicated that psbA and psaA transcription was regulated differently by initiation and degradation during the light period. Short-term changes of light conditions resulted in significant effects on psbA transcription and nitrogenase activity, but had less of an effect on psaA and nifHDK transcription.
Identification of the SlmA active site responsible for blocking bacterial cytokinetic ring assembly over the chromosome.

Bacterial cells use chromosome-associated division inhibitors to help coordinate the processes of DNA replication and segregation with cytokinesis. SlmA from Escherichia coli, a member of the tetracycline repressor (TetR)–like protein family, is one example of this class of regulator. It blocks the assembly of the bacterial cytokinetic ring by interfering with the polymerization of the tubulin-like FtsZ protein in a manner that is dramatically stimulated upon specific DNA binding. Here we used a combination of molecular genetics and biochemistry to identify the active site of SlmA responsible for disrupting FtsZ polymerization. Interestingly, this site maps to a region of SlmA that in the published DNA–free structure is partially occluded by the DNA-binding domains. In this conformation, the SlmA structure resembles the drug/inducer-bound conformers of other TetR–like proteins, which in the absence of inducer require an inward rotation of their DNA-binding domains to bind successive major grooves on operator DNA. Our results are therefore consistent with a model in which DNA-binding activates SlmA by promoting a rotational movement of the DNA-binding domains that fully exposes the FtsZ-binding sites. SlmA may thus represent a special subclass of TetR–like proteins that have adapted conformational changes normally associated with inducer sensing in order to modulate an interaction with a partner protein. In this case, the adaptation ensures that SlmA only blocks cytokinesis in regions of the cell occupied by the origin-proximal portion of the chromosome where SlmA-binding sites are enriched.
Prostatic Squamous Metaplasia in a Cat with Interstitial Cell Neoplasia in a Retained Testis

An 11-year-old cat with a retained testis was presented with a chronic history of dysuria and bladder atony. Medical therapy failed to alleviate the clinical signs. Contrast radiography demonstrated a diffusely narrowed urethra. During a celiotomy and prepubic urethrostomy, a retained testis, stenosed urethra, and irregularly enlarged prostate were observed. Histopathologic diagnosis was retained testis with a well-differentiated interstitial cell tumor, a poorly differentiated interstitial cell tumor, and marked squamous metaplasia of the prostatic epithelium with suppurative prostatitis. Neoplastic interstitial cells were immunoreactive for Melan A, consistent with reports of Melan A expression in steroid hormone-producing tissue. This is the first report of prostatic squamous metaplasia associated with testicular neoplasia in a felid.
Poynting flux studies of hiss with the Injun 5 satellite

A study was made of very-low-frequency hiss emissions in the region 677 to 2528 km and 35° to 75° invariant latitude (in the northern hemisphere) by using the Injun 5 Poynting flux measurement technique. Downgoing ELF hiss is observed over the entire region of altitude-invariant latitude space under study, whereas ELF hiss having an upward-directed net Poynting flux is only observed at invariant latitudes below about 60°. A new propagation phenomenon is proposed in which downgoing ELF hiss may propagate across the plasmapause boundary to lower latitudes and become subsequently reflected and trapped within the plasmasphere. Measurements indicate that at least part of the VLF hiss that is observed by the Injun 5 satellite must be generated above the Injun 5 altitude range. A new type of subauroral-zone VLF hiss has been observed and is called midlatitude hiss.
Cationic Liposomes Containing Disulfide Bonds in Delivery of Plasmid DNA

AbstractCationic liposomes are non-viral gene transfer vectors for in vitro and in vivo experiments. In the present studies, we investigated whether a disulfide linkage in a cationic lipid was reducible by cell lysate resulting in the release of plasmid DNA and enhanced gene transfection. We also investigated if the differences in transgene production were from differences in total amount of cellular associated plasmid DNA. We systematically compared the gene transfection of disulfide bond containing-cationic lipid, 1', 2'-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3'-succinyl-2-hydroxyethyl disulfide ornithine conjugate (DOGSDSO), its non-disulfide-containing analog, 1', 2'-dioleyl-sn-glycero-3'-succinyl-1, 6-hexanediol ornithine conjugate (DOGSHDO), 1, 2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP). Two transgene reporter systems (i.e., luciferase and green fluorescent protein (GFP)) were used to address transgene transgene expression and transgene efficiency. Experiments with the luciferase expression plasmid resulted in tra...
The Role of Genetics in Graves' Disease and Thyroid Orbitopathy

Graves' disease is a complex autoimmune disorder characterized by multiple systemic manifestations of overproduction of thyroid hormone, and in some cases, orbitopathy. The etiology of this disorder is multifactorial, involving heritable abnormalities of immune regulation as well as environmental triggers. The goal of this paper is to provide a review of recent research investigating candidate genes involved in the pathophysiology of both Graves' disease per se and of thyroid orbitopathy.
Guard Cell Signal Transduction Network: Advances in Understanding Abscisic Acid, CO2, and Ca2+ Signaling

Stomatal pores are formed by pairs of specialized epidermal guard cells and serve as major gateways for both CO(2) influx into plants from the atmosphere and transpirational water loss of plants. Because they regulate stomatal pore apertures via integration of both endogenous hormonal stimuli and environmental signals, guard cells have been highly developed as a model system to dissect the dynamics and mechanisms of plant-cell signaling. The stress hormone ABA and elevated levels of CO(2) activate complex signaling pathways in guard cells that are mediated by kinases/phosphatases, secondary messengers, and ion channel regulation. Recent research in guard cells has led to a new hypothesis for how plants achieve specificity in intracellular calcium signaling: CO(2) and ABA enhance (prime) the calcium sensitivity of downstream calcium-signaling mechanisms. Recent progress in identification of early stomatal signaling components are reviewed here, including ABA receptors and CO(2)-binding response proteins, as well as systems approaches that advance our understanding of guard cell-signaling mechanisms.
A robust single-cable sensor array for oceanographic use

Simple, inexpensive and easy to deploy, pressure and temperature arrays have been constructed and tested in the near shore. A method has been devised whereby low data-rate sensors can be powered and send data over a two-conductor cable using time division multiplexing. Using this technology it is possible to rapidly deploy large numbers of sensors in environments that are impractical to instrument with individually cabled or autonomous sensors. Pressure and temperature data collected using two arrays in the surf zone are shown to illustrate the practicality of the deployment method and feasibility of the technology.
Treatment of age-related macular degeneration: Beyond VEGF

Current therapy for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) shows a dramatic change from clinical practice a decade ago. While the first pharmacologic treatment, verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) slowed disease progression, newer anti-vascular epithelial growth factor (VEGF) therapies have also shown vision improvement in many patients. Combination therapies (PDT + steroid + anti-VEGF) have shown some promise, particularly in certain classes of disease. Genetic studies have identified common gene variants in the complement factor H gene that confers susceptibility to AMD, and treatments targeting the complement pathway are being explored. Another area of research is directed at the components of Bruch membrane; studies of changes in the elastic fibers and collagen within Bruch may yield drug targets for prevention and halting of disease progression. Finally, studies in photoreceptor apoptosis have identified the role of cytokines, such as monocyte chemotactic protein 1, tumor necrosis factor α, and interleukin 1β, associated with photoreceptor cell death and should be pursued as potential therapies to improve vision outcomes in neovascular AMD. Today’s research into the biology of AMD will lead us to better treatment and perhaps even preventive measures in the decades ahead.
Stresses between Adherends with Different Curvatures

Abstract Closed form solutions are derived to predict the peel stresses developed between adherends which form a parallel bond but would have slightly different curvatures in their unbonded, stress-free states. The solutions are based on beam on elastic foundation analysis and may be applicable to a variety of geometries. Failure analysis based on a maximum stress criterion as well as a fracture mechanics approach are also provided. The possibility of using the analysis as the basis for a fracture test is also discussed.
Behavioral assessment of prelingually deaf children before cochlear implantation.

Objectives/Hypothesis: To determine whether scores from a behavioral assessment of prelingually deafened children who present for cochlear implant surgery are predictive of audiological outcomes Study Design: Retrospective review of longitudinal data collected from 42 children with prelingual hearing loss who presented for a cochlear implant before age 5 years. Methods: The Vineland Adaptive Behavioral Scales (VABS) was administered during the preimplant workup. Standardized scores reflect daily living skills, socialization, and motor development compared with a normative sample. Regression analyses were conducted to determine whether any subject variables were related to VABS scores. Mixed-model analyses were computed to determine whether preimplant VABS scores were predictive of longitudinal spoken-language data obtained after cochlear implant surgery. Results: Motor scores tended to be higher than nonmotor scores. Nonmotor scores were significantly lower than the normative mean and decreased with testing age. Children with acquired deafness demonstrated lower motor scores than children with congenital causes. Children with higher motor scores demonstrated significantly higher performance on language, vocabulary, and word recognition tests than children with lower motor scores. Nonmotor domains were not as robustly related to spoken-language measures, although similar trends were observed Conclusion: Profound deafness and language delay may confound the assessment of daily living skills and socialization in the population studied. Motor development appears to proceed normally in prelingually deafened children and is a preimplant predictor of spoken-language outcome in young infants and children with cochlear implants, a finding consistent with the large body of work establishing links between perceptual-motor and language development.
When is endoscopic polypectomy adequate therapy for colonic polyps containing invasive carcinoma

We correlated the histopathology with outcome for all patients with endoscopically removed colonic polyps containing invasive adenocarcinoma seen at our institution over a 10-yr period. Invasion was defined as infiltration of malignant cells into the submucosa. Of a total of 1523 adenomatous polyps, 41 polyps (2.7%) in 39 patients contained invasive adenocarcinoma. One patient was excluded from further analysis because of a synchronous colonic carcinoma. Fourteen patients (37%) had favorable histologic features (grade I or grade II carcinoma with free margin of resection and absence of lymphatic invasion), and none developed metastatic carcinoma during the follow-up period (mean 6.5 yr, range 4-10.6 yr). Twenty-four (63%) had unfavorable histologic features (grade III tumor with tumor at or near the margin of resection or lymphatic invasion), and 10 of these (42%) had either residual local or metastatic carcinoma in subsequent operations or during the follow-up period. This difference in outcome was statistically significant (p less than 0.05) when compared with the outcome of the group with favorable histology. We conclude that endoscopic polypectomy is adequate therapy for colonic polyps containing invasive carcinoma, provided that the favorable histologic features are present.
Five-year outcome of surgical treatment of migraine headaches.

Background: This study was designed to assess the long-term efficacy of surgical deactivation of migraine headache trigger sites. Methods: One hundred twenty-five volunteers were randomly assigned to the treatment (n 100) or control group (n 25) after examination by the team neurologist to ensure a diagnosis of migraine headache. Patients were asked to complete the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, Migraine-Specific Quality of Life, and Migraine Disability Assessment questionnaires before treatment and at 12- and 60-month postoperative follow-up. The treatment group received botulinum toxin to confirm the trigger sites; controls received saline injections. Treated patients underwent surgical deactivation of trigger site(s). Results were analyzed at 1 year (previously published) and 5 years postoperatively (the subject of this report). Results: Eighty-nine of 100 patients in the treatment group underwent surgery, and 79 were followed for 5 years. Ten patients underwent deactivation of additional (different) trigger sites during the follow-up period and were not included in the data analysis. The final outcome with or without inclusion of these 10 patients was not statistically different. Sixty-one (88 percent) of 69 patientshaveexperiencedapositiveresponsetothesurgeryafter5years.Twenty (29 percent) reported complete elimination of migraine headache, 41 (59 percent) noticed a significant decrease, and eight (12 percent) experienced no significant change. When compared with the baseline values, all measured variables at 60 months improved significantly (p 0.0001). Conclusion: Based on the 5-year follow-up data, there is strong evidence that surgical manipulation of one or more migraine trigger sites can successfully eliminateorreducethefrequency,duration,andintensityofmigraineheadache in a lasting manner. (Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 127: 603, 2011.)
Catalysis by cationic oxorhenium(V): hydrolysis and alcoholysis of organic silanes

The cationic [2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)-2-oxazolinato(−2)]oxorhenium(V) complex 1 promotes oxidative dehydrogenation of organosilanes with water and alcohols in a catalytic manner to give excellent yields of silanols and silyl ethers, respectively. The reactions proceed conveniently under ambient and open-flask conditions with low catalyst loading (≤1 mol%). The scope of the reaction with water is quite broad and includes aliphatic, aromatic, tertiary, secondary and primary silanes. The rate of reaction depends on the catalyst and silane concentrations and kinetic isotope effect measurements demonstrate involvement of the Si–H bond in the activated complex. The most influential factor on the silane affecting reactivity is steric hindrance and a quantitative correlation with the Taft steric parameter (E) is presented. A combination of kinetic data and isotope labelling results are used to discuss plausible mechanisms for the oxidative dehydrogenation reaction pathway.
Maintaining Hope at the 11th Hour: Authenticity Buffers the Effect of Limited Time Perspective on Hope

Four studies tested the hypothesis that limited time perceptions are associated with lower levels of hope, and that this effect is buffered by high levels of authenticity. Study 1 (n = 256) utilized a cross-sectional design in which participants completed dispositional measures of time perspective, hope, and authenticity. Three subsequent studies tested our hypothesis experimentally. In a pilot study (n = 124), participants reported their perceived authenticity, future time perspective (FTP) was manipulated (limited vs. open-ended), and state hope was assessed. Study 2 (n = 156) introduced a new manipulation of FTP, and Study 3 (n = 242) replicated Study 2 with the addition of a neutral control condition. Across all studies, individuals who perceived time as limited reported lower levels of hope relative to those who perceived time as open-ended (or those in a neutral control condition), but, importantly, this effect was attenuated for highly authentic individuals.
Parental Sources of Support and Guidance When Making Difficult Decisions in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Objective To assess sources of support and guidance on which parents rely when making difficult decisions in the pediatric intensive care unit and to evaluate associations of sources of support and guidance to anxiety, depression, and positive and negative affect. Study design This was a prospective cohort study of 86 English-speaking parents of 75 children in the pediatric intensive care unit at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia who were hospitalized greater than 72 hours. Parents completed standardized instruments and a novel sources of support and guidance assessment. Results Most parents chose physicians, nurses, friends, and extended family as their main sources of support and guidance when making a difficult decision. Descriptive analysis revealed a broad distribution for the sources of support and guidance items related to spirituality. Parents tended to fall into 1 of 2 groups when we used latent class analysis: the more-spiritual group (n = 47; 55%) highly ranked "what my child wants" ( P = .023), spouses ( P = .002), support groups ( P = .003), church community ( P P P P P = .005). Less-spiritual parents had greater depression scores ( P = .043). Conclusions Parents rely most on physicians, nurses, and friends and extended family when making difficult decisions for their critically ill child. Respondents tended to fall into 1 of 2 groups where the more-spiritual respondents were associated with greater positive affect and may be more resistant to depression.
The Solution Properties of One-Dimensional Metal Chain Complexes

The properties of one-dimensional materials in solution have received relatively little attention. This is not particularly surprising since dissolving these highly polymerized materials breaks up the one-dimensional chains into much smaller units. In the process the unique properties of the long chains are lost, and the segments or pieces that remain become disordered.
Improving the Consistency of Multitemporal Land Cover Maps Using a Hidden Markov Model

Land cover and land use affect a wide range of regional-scale to global-scale ecosystem processes, and many Earth system models rely on accurate land cover information. However, multitemporal land cover products often show unrealistically high levels of year-to-year label change, particularly at coarse spatial resolution (i.e., 300–500 m). Much of this apparent land cover change arises from errors in classification and does not indicate real change in land cover or land use. In this paper, we present a novel framework that uses a hidden Markov model (HMM) to help distinguish real land cover change from spurious land cover changes in classification time series. We apply the HMM as a postprocessing step to supervised classification, and we solve for the optimal label sequence using existing HMM algorithms. Our results demonstrate that the HMM provides a rigorous framework for capturing temporal context and likelihood of land cover change at each pixel. We evaluated our approach using the MODIS Collection 5.1 Land Cover Type product (MCD12Q1), focusing on areas that have experienced little change over the MODIS time series, and areas that have experienced well characterized change (e.g., deforestation). We show that the HMM method provides label sequences that are more accurate and that exhibit less year-to-year variability than label sequences produced by ensemble-decision-tree classification or by postprocessing heuristics that have been used in recent versions of MCD12Q1 product. The framework that we present offers an improvement over conventional multitemporal land cover classification methods, and it is widely applicable to problems in multitemporal land cover and land use monitoring.
Modeling reaction–diffusion processes within catalyst washcoats: II. Macroscale processes informed by microscale simulations

Abstract This paper first develops a two-dimensional Thiele-type cylindrical-pore model that predicts catalytic washcoat performance, albeit for idealized cylindrical pores. The primary purpose for the cylindrical-pore model is to serve as a basis of comparison with three-dimensional models of catalytic performance in actual geometrically complex washcoat pores that are tomographically reconstructed from focused-ion-beam–scanning-electron-microscopy (FIB–SEM) measurements. In both models, the reaction–diffusion processes are characterized by a Damkohler number that is based on a pore diffusion coefficient and a single first-order reaction rate. Performance metrics include effective product flux from the pores, pore effectiveness, and reaction depth within the pore. In all cases, the models are generalized by casting the conservation equations and performance metrics as dimensionless variables. The paper then derives expressions to upscale individual pore performance to full-scale washcoats. The new understanding that emerges from these studies provides qualitative and quantitative insight that can assist the design and fabrication of improved washcoat microstructures.
The Correlation of Skeletal and Cardiac Muscle Dysfunction in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Background: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is characterized by progressive skeletal muscle and cardiac dysfunction. While skeletal muscle dysfunction precedes cardiomyopathy, the relationship between the progressive decline in skeletal and cardiac muscle function is unclear. This relationship is especially important given that the myocardial effects of many developing DMD therapies are largely unknown. Objective: Our objective was to assess the relationship between progression of skeletal muscle weakness and onset of cardiac dysfunction in DMD. Methods: A total of 77 DMD subjects treated at a single referral center were included. Demographic information, quantitative muscle testing (QMT), subjective muscle strength, cardiac function, and current and retrospective medications were collected. A Spearman rank correlation was used to evaluate for an association between subjective strength and fractional shortening. The effects of total QMT and arm QMT on fractional shortening were examined in generalized least square with and without adjustments for age, ambulatory status, and duration of corticosteroids and cardiac specific medications. Results: We found a significant correlation between maintained subjective skeletal muscle arm and leg strength and maintained cardiac function as defined by fractional shortening (rho = 0.47, p = 0.004 and rho = 0.48, p = 0.003, respectively). We also found a significant association between QMT and fractional shortening among non-ambulatory DMD subjects (p = 0.03), while this association was not significant in ambulatory subjects. Conclusions: Our findings allow us to conclude that in this population, there exists a significant relationship between skeletal muscle and cardiac function in non-ambulatory DMD patients. While this does not imply a causal relationship, a possible association between skeletal and cardiac muscle function suggests that researchers should carefully monitor cardiac function, even when the primary outcome measures are not cardiac in nature.
A Metric Model of Plane Euclidean Geometry

(1980). A Metric Model of Plane Euclidean Geometry. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 87, No. 7, pp. 567-572.
The Clostridium difficile Proline Racemase is not Essential for Early Logarithmic Growth and Infection

Proline racemase (PrdF), which is important for energy metabolism via the Stickland pathway and is unique to certain clostridia, was investigated as a potential anti-Clostridium difficile target by examining its effects on the growth and virulence of C. difficile. Inactivation of PrdF by insertional mutagenesis did not affect early logarithmic growth but only attenuated growth in the mid- and late logarithmic phases. There was no effect on virulence in vivo, suggesting that PrdF is also not required for C. difficile infection. These findings indicate that PrdF as well as other enzymes encoded by the proline reductase operon are all nonessential and are unsuitable targets for anti-C. difficile drug discovery.
Microseismic multidimensional information identification and spatio-temporal forecasting of rock burst:A case study of Yima Yuejin coal mine,Henan,China

As the depth and intensity of coal mining increase,rockbursts have been common security issues in coal mines.For solving the difficult problem of the spatio-temporal forecasting of rock bursts,the method of the spatio-temporal forecasting for rock bursts was further developed using microseismic multidimensional information(MMI).First,the index system of MMI identification was established,including the preferred index about the frequency and the proposed indexes about the hypocenter concentration,the maximum and total equivalent stresses.Secondly,the temporal sequence curves and the spatial contour nephograms of each index were obtained based on the normalization method,the classification scriteria of anomaly,and the spatially and temporally statistical smoothed model.Moreover,the score method of R-value was adopted to evaluate and verify the forecasting efficiency of each index,and further determine the weights for each index.Finally,using the method of comprehensive anomaly index,the dangerous state,the specific hazardous areas and levels of rock burst were quantitatively analyzed in real time for the monitoring area.A forecasting example shows that this method has considered the microseismic time-space-strength factor,and played a better prediction on the rock burst.Specifically,it can quantitatively describe the dangerous state of rock burst for the monitoring area in time;reflect the hazardous areas and levels of rock burst in space;and guide the implementation of the measures to control rock burst in the field.Therefore,this study can,to some degree,solve the blindness in implementing the measures to control rock burst,and further develop the approach to monitor and forecast rock burst in space and time.
Collective creativity: the emergence of World of Warcraft machinima

HCIs interest in creativity support has extended beyond the realm of information-oriented professionals to the efforts of experience-driven collective communities. World of Warcraft machinima provides an opportunity to study networked creativity among a widely distributed and highly productive amateur community. We present an analysis of metadata gathered from the most viewed machinima on YouTube and WarcraftMovies. We demonstrate (1) a means for selecting an accessible corpus from a large population of videos, and (2) provide early evidence to support the claim that collective creativity develops over time and reaches a point of stabilization of production practices, technological infrastructure, aesthetic forms, and critical appreciation.
Neuropsychology and Alzheimer's disease

This article discusses the usefulness of neuropsychological testing in AD, as an adjunct to the diagnosis, as a means of the evaluation of progression, and response to treatment. Clinical neuropsychological tests that have direct relevance to AD are reviewed, with particular emphasis on recently developed tests of memory function.
Abstract 2891: High throughput single cell gene expression profiling by multiplex qPCR

Single cell gene expression analysis is a powerful technique that provides a unique and insightful perspective on biological pathways and processes. Here we present a robust workflow that enables fast and accurate analysis of up to 100 genes in isolated single cells. Our workflow is highly sensitive, by assessing RNA reference standards we find that a single RNA transcript is detected with about 80% efficiency. We used this workflow to study differentiation in cultured NTera2 cells (NT2), a human embryonic stem cell model system. We analyzed untreated NT2 cells, and NT2 cells treated with low and high doses of retinoic acid (RA) for 10 days to initiate differentiation to a neuronal lineage. The expression levels of 16 genes were quantified in 164 single cells by multiplex real-time qPCR with two technical replicates. The entire experiment, from cultured cells to results, can be completed in 2-3 days and requires four 384-well qPCR plates for gene expression quantification. We find that control cells and cells treated with a high dose of RA (10 uM) are relatively homogeneous in the expression levels of the targeted genes. However cells treated with a low dose of RA (0.25 uM) exhibit significant heterogeneity with respect to gene expression; about half of the cells are similar to the high-dose RA cells, the other cells exhibit a wide range of partial differentiation. Interestingly, we find that LEFTY2 expression is almost exclusive to the low dose RA cells and strongly correlates with partial differentiation. A time-course study analyzing cell populations reveals that LEFTY2 is only transiently expressed in differentiating NT2 cells with peak expression at 3 days of high dose RA treatment. These findings imply that, in NT2 cells, LEFTY2 is a potential biomarker of early differentiation. In summary, we present an accurate, sensitive and robust single cell analysis procedure that uses standard reagents and platforms. We envision that this workflow will enable researchers to investigate cell heterogeneity in biological pathways in a cost-effective way. Citation Format: Steven T. Okino, Michelle Kong, Jason Ma, Joshua Fenrich, Luca Boveri, Yann Jouvenot, Yan Wang. High throughput single cell gene expression profiling by multiplex qPCR. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2891.
Aging, Infection and Immunity

Older adults are at high risk for developing an infection. Once an infection occurs, older adults experience high short- and long-term morbidity and mortality. A number of risk factors (e.g., living in a long-term care facility, chronic disease, malnutrition, age-related immune dysfunction, polypharmacy, difficulty in accessing health care, increased use of prosthetic devices and medical instrumentation) place older adults at high risk for increased susceptibility to infection, and older adults tend to have poor outcomes from infection. Common clinical infections in older adults include pneumonia, urinary tract infections, sepsis, gastroenteritis and viral infections. Serious infection in older adults can result in an increased risk of adverse events well beyond the patient’s hospital stay. Acute infections may worsen chronic diseases in older adults, which may in turn put the older adult at a greater risk of serious infection. Altering modifiable risk factors (e.g., inactivity, malnutrition) may reduce the risk of infection in older adults. Vaccination remains an important strategy to prevent infections despite their variable efficacy in older adults.
Recent Developments in Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy Thin Films for Data Storage Applications

Abstract The incessant demand for higher density, faster access time and lower power consuming memory devices such as random access memories have driven tremendous research and development of materials with out-of-plane magnetization. Magnetic materials with strong out-of-plane magnetization, i.e. perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), offer superior qualities compared to the in-plane anisotropy materials for hard disk drive and magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) devices and have been successfully commercialized in the last decade. With the recent demonstration of spin-transfer torque (STT) magnetic switching, an urge for new materials has emerged for promising STT-MRAM applications. Here, we present a brief overview of PMA materials for two important data storage applications: perpendicular recording and MRAM. We review the various PMA materials developed in recent years for STT-MRAM applications. We discuss the major requirements, challenges and future prospects of these materials for future STT-MRAM devices.
Use of fly ash as eco-friendly filler in synthetic rubber for tire applications

Abstract A byproduct of the power generation industries, fly ash can be used as a potential filler in many commercial products including rubber-based products. Reusing the fly ash in this manner is an efficient way to help prevent air pollution which occurs if such particles are released freely to the atmosphere. The reinforcement efficiency of fly ash for partial replacement of carbon black and silica fillers in styrene-butadiene rubber compounds was investigated in this work. The total content of fillers was held constant at 50 phr (weight ratio of filler to rubber was 0.5) when not using silica fillers at all, and 54 phr when using 4 phr carbon black only with silica fillers, while the content of fly ash increased from 0 to 10 phr. In the evaluation of the rubber compounds, the focus was the mechanical properties and adhesion of steel reinforcement cords to the styrene-butadiene rubber compounds. Adhesion between the compounds and steel wire reinforcement was measured for assessing efficacy of adding fly ash to the rubber compounds in tire applications. Ball mill treatment was used to reduce the size of the fly ash particles while also modifying their surface topography. The comparisons of untreated and ball mill treated fly ash filled rubber compounds and rubber compounds containing different fillers were accomplished subsequently. The results revealed that the partial addition of up to 10 phr fly ash to rubber compounds resulted in increases in elongation at break, adhesion to reinforcement steel cord, wet-grip, as well as lower rolling resistance as attributed to more effective filler dispersion and the reinforcing effect of silica present in fly ash.
Progressive Surgical Autonomy in a Plastic Surgery Resident Clinic.

BACKGROUND Resident clinics are thought to catalyze educational milestone achievement through opportunities for progressively autonomous surgical care, but studies are lacking for general plastic surgery resident clinics (PSRCs). We demonstrate the achievement of increased surgical autonomy and continuity of care in a PSRC. METHODS A retrospective review of all patients seen in a PSRC from October 1, 2010, to October 1, 2015, was conducted. Our PSRC is supervised by faculty plastic surgery attendings, though primarily run by chief residents in an accredited independent plastic surgery training program. Surgical autonomy was scored on a 5-point scale based on dictated operative reports. Graduated chief residents were additionally surveyed by anonymous online survey. RESULTS Thousand one hundred forty-four patients were seen in 3,390 clinic visits. Six hundred fifty-three operations were performed by 23 total residents, including 10 graduating chiefs. Senior resident autonomy averaged 3.5/5 (SD = 1.5), 3.6/5 (SD = 1.5), to 3.8/5 (SD = 1.3) in postgraduate years 6, 7, and 8, respectively. A linear mixed model analysis demonstrated that training level had a significant impact on operative autonomy when comparing postgraduate years 6 and 8 (P = 0.026). Graduated residents' survey responses (N = 10; 100% response rate) regarded PSRC as valuable for surgical experience (4.1/5), operative autonomy (4.4/5), medical knowledge development (4.7/5), and the practice of Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education core competencies (4.3/5). Preoperative or postoperative continuity of care was maintained in 93.5% of cases. CONCLUSION The achievement of progressive surgical autonomy may be demonstrated within a PSRC model.
An analysis of couplings between solar activity and atmospheric opacity at the South Pole

Abstract A spectral radiometer located at the South Pole has obtained a long-term record of ground-level solar irradiance at wavelengths from 315 to 600 nm. Data acquired during the sunlit periods from 1992 to 2016 provide information on the scattering properties of the atmosphere and their variation covering more than two solar cycles. Prior to the late 1990s the time-integrated solar energy received over an entire observing season, September to March, displayed no organized trend. However, between 1996 and 2000 the irradiances began a decline which persisted through the end of the record. The observations imply a small systematic increase in attenuation at the South Pole, presumably associated with cloudiness, during the current century. The dataset allows a search for links between atmospheric opacity and solar activity. There is no significant correlation between seasonally-integrated irradiances and the 11-year solar cycle as measured by the 10.7 cm radio flux or the ground-level neutron count. On a much shorter timescale, a statistically significant positive relationship exists between the geomagnetic activity index Ap on one day and ground-level irradiance on the following day. Two days that differ in Ap by 10 units are followed by days whose irradiances differ, on average, by about 0.25 ± 0.19% in the wavelength band 400–600 nm. The wavelength dependence of this effect from the near-ultraviolet into the visible is consistent with a small decrease in the optical thickness of tropospheric clouds or of scattering layers at higher altitudes following magnetic disturbances.
Detecting random responders with infrequency scales using an error-balancing threshold

Infrequency scales are becoming a popular mode of data screening, due to their availability and ease of implementation. Recent research has indicated that the interpretation and functioning of infrequency items may not be as straightforward as had previously been thought (Curran & Hauser, 2015), yet there are no empirically based guidelines for implementing cutoffs using these items. In the present study, we compared two methods of detecting random responding with infrequency items: a zero-tolerance threshold versus a threshold that balances classification error rates. The results showed that a traditional zero-tolerance approach, on average, screens data that are less indicative of careless responding than those screened by the error-balancing approach. Thus, the de facto standard of applying a “zero-tolerance” approach when screening participants with infrequency scales may be too stringent, so that meaningful responses may also be removed from analyses. Recommendations and future directions are discussed.
PheWAS and Beyond: The Landscape of Associations with Medical Diagnoses and Clinical Measures across 38,662 Individuals from Geisinger

Most phenome-wide association studies (PheWASs) to date have used a small to moderate number of SNPs for association with phenotypic data. We performed a large-scale single-cohort PheWAS, using electronic health record (EHR)-derived case-control status for 541 diagnoses using International Classification of Disease version 9 (ICD-9) codes and 25 median clinical laboratory measures. We calculated associations between these diagnoses and traits with ∼630,000 common frequency SNPs with minor allele frequency > 0.01 for 38,662 individuals. In this landscape PheWAS, we explored results within diseases and traits, comparing results to those previously reported in genome-wide association studies (GWASs), as well as previously published PheWASs. We further leveraged the context of functional impact from protein-coding to regulatory regions, providing a deeper interpretation of these associations. The comprehensive nature of this PheWAS allows for novel hypothesis generation, the identification of phenotypes for further study for future phenotypic algorithm development, and identification of cross-phenotype associations.
Cultures and Societies

The picture is not pretty. Physical attractiveness touches practically every corner of human existence and it does so with great impact. The research thoroughly documents the advantages of higher physical attractiveness and the disadvantages of lower physical attractiveness. Preferential and detrimental treatment operates regardless of age, culture, or society. Overall, there is a bias in favor of those higher in physical attractiveness and against those lower profilerates.
Fuzzy C-Means Based Stop Line and Crosswalk Placement at Right Turn Vehicle Exclusive Lane

An intersection is one of the most complex traffic situations that motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists all encounter. With different crossing and entering movements by motor vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles are often facing safety problems especially when crossing the right turn vehicle exclusive lanes. Currently the pedestrian crosswalks on pavements are not properly placed and there is no detailed guideline or procedures to locate such lane markings. In this paper, a fuzzy c-means based procedure is proposed to determine the placement of pedestrian crosswalk at right turn vehicle exclusive lane, which is based on the identification of the clusters of vehicle stopping positions. A case study in La Port, Texas, USA was conducted to illustrate how the procedure can be used in the real practice.
Thymic Mechanisms for Inducing Tolerance to Mls

As T cells develop in the thymus, they are subjected to a number of selective events which determine the antigen recognition repertoire of mature T cells. Also, as a result of selection, T cells emerge that are able to distinguish self from non-self. A number of mechanisms have been proposed for establishing self tolerance.1 In this report, it is demonstrated that T cells developing in the thymus become tolerant of the minor lymphocyte stimulatory antigens, Mis,2-4 by at least two distinct mechanisms. Through the use of V/9-specific antibodies that identify receptors with Mls specificity,5-7 it is possible to show that tolerance to this self antigen can be acquired by clonal deletion or functional inacti-vation (clonal anergy). Whether tolerance to Mls is achieved and the type of tolerance induced appears to be critically dependent upon a number of factors, most notably the MHC haplotype, the tissue involved in antigen presentation, and the type of Mis antigen (Mls-1 or Mls-2). Here, chimeric animals are used in order to manipulate the site of tissue expression of MHC and Mls antigens. The results obtained reveal that clonal deletion is dependent on the type of MHC expressed by the bone marrow-derived elements and not on the tissue source of the Mls antigen. Furthermore, in the absence of clonal deletion, tolerance to Mls can be achieved by clonal anergy. This latter form of tolerance induction appears to be the result of interactions with radiation-resistant host elements, most likely the thymic epithelium.
Study on Phase Transformation and Desulfurization Ability during Refining with Flux Additions of B2O3 and CaF2 into CaO-Based Desulfurizer

CaF 2 aids melting and desulfurization, but can also cause environmental pollution. Thus, it has become important to discuss the phase transformation and find a substitute for CaF 2 . A CaO-based desulfurizer with various flux additions of B 2 O 3 and CaF 2 is investigated during the refining process. The purpose of this study is to discuss the phase transformation and desulfurization ability and during refining with B 2 O 3 and CaF 2 using a high frequency furnace. Experimental results indicate that the melting temperature of CaO-Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 series desulfurizer becomes lower when more B 2 O 3 and less CaF 2 are added. On the other hand, the desulfurization ability can be affected within 15 min when various proportions of B 2 O 3 and CaF 2 are added. The desulfurization ability is better with a high content of B 2 O 3 desulfurizer within a 15 min period. However, the desulfurization ability is not affected by the proportion of B 2 O 3 and CaF 2 for a long melting period (30 min).
The Search for A : College Commons:

Can the new forms of learning championed by scholars and activists flourish on our campuses? Probably not, says the author, until we make a place in our college structure where it can grow. This me...
Novel Algorithm of Matrix Converter with Indirect Space Vector Modulation

The indirect space vector modulation (ISVM) approach of matrix converters (MC) is researched firstly. In ISVM, complex coordinate transformation is required to acquire relevant control variable in fictitious rectifier and fictitious inverter, and sectors judgment and quantity of trigonometric operations are involved in the modulation process. In this paper, trigonometric function analysis is applied to analyze the detecting signal relations, and a novel sector judging and duty cycle calculation method in fictitious rectifier and fictitious inverter is proposed. Comparing with the traditional ISVM, this method can omit the $\mathfrak{a}-\beta$ coordinate and polar coordinate transformation, thus, greatly simplify the calculation process and enhance the real-time performance. The feasibility and validity of the new approach is verified by both simulation and experimental results.