cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electronic Cigarettes for Smoking Cessation

Abstract The use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) is increasing, but their use as a smoking-cessation aid is controversial. The reporting of e-cigarette studies on cessation is variable and inconsistent. To date, only 1 randomized clinical trial has included an arm with other cessation methods (nicotine patches). The cessation rates for available clinical trials are difficult to compare given differing follow-up periods and broad ranges (4% at 12 months with non-nicotine e-cigarettes to 68% at 4 weeks with concomitant nicotine e-cigarettes and other cessation methods). The average combined abstinence rate for included prospective studies was 29.1% (combination of 6-18 months׳ rates). There are few comparable clinical trials and prospective studies related to e-cigarettes use for smoking cessation, despite an increasing number of citations. Larger randomized clinical trials are essential to determine whether e-cigarettes are effective smoking-cessation devices.
Short-gate-length epitaxial-channel, self-aligned GaAs MESFETs with very large k-factor

The fabrication of short-gate-length, epitaxial-channel self-aligned GaAs MESFETs with very large k-factor is described. It is shown that devices with gate lengths of less than 0.25 mu m can be fabricated with well-controlled short-channel effects. Finally, it is demonstrated that self-aligned devices with gate lengths as short as 50 nm can retain reasonable FET characteristics for operation near maximum transconductance. >
Effects of Fat Content on the Microstructure of Domiati-Type Cheese

Domiati-type cheese was manufactured from skim milk and milk fortified to contain 6.1% milkfat. At the time of hooping and at 8 weeks of ripening in brine, samples were removed and prepared for scanning electron microscopy. Photomicrographs revealed differences in the internal and external microstructure of the two types of cheese, which became more evident during ripening. The microstructure of the high-fat cheese exhibited the greatest morphological alterations. Addition of a mixed culture to the vat milk did not appear to give rise to any additional changes in microstructure although the presence of microbial cells was readily evident and a more intense flavor developed in the finished cheese.
Fabrication and Characterization of GaN/AlGaN Ultraviolet-Band Heterojunction Photodiodes

Results from MOCVD grown n-Al0.1Ga0.9N/i-GaN/p-GaN UV photodetectors on sapphire substrates are presented. The devices show peak responsivities near 0.2A/W for wavelengths between 352nm and 362nm, and responsivities of less than 10−3A/W for wavelengths longer than 375nm and shorter than 342nm. The data is explained in terms of a simple device model.
Rethinking compassion fatigue

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to argue for a revision of the concept of compassion fatigue in light of both its history and psychodynamics. Design/methodology/approach This paper calls into question conventional interpretations of compassion fatigue and the assumptions underlying them. As an alternative, a psychoanalytic interpretation is offered that sheds light on the phenomenon's unconscious and organizational dynamics. This interpretation also aligns with the concept's historical use in media and politics. Findings In contrast to the assumption that compassion fatigue arises from too much compassion, historical use of the term suggests just the opposite: compassion fatigue is the result of too little compassion. Healthcare literature on compassion fatigue has not only failed to account for this opposing view, but also the underlying psychodynamics at play. By attending to these neglected dimensions, healthcare scholars and practitioners can gain new insights into compassion fatigue and devise more sustainable interventions. Originality/value This paper reveals hidden dimensions to compassion fatigue that call into question conventional interpretations and offer novel perspectives on a core concern of healthcare work.
The care and feeding of wild-caught mutants

Mutation testing of a test suite and a program provides a way to measure the quality of the test suite. In essence, mutation testing is a form of sensitivity testing: by running mutated versions of the program against the test suite, mutation testing measures the suite's sensitivity for detecting bugs that a programmer might introduce into the program. This paper introduces a technique to improve mutation testing that we call wild-caught mutants; it provides a method for creating potential faults that are more closely coupled with changes made by actual programmers. This technique allows the mutation tester to have more certainty that the test suite is sensitive to the kind of changes that have been observed to have been made by programmers in real-world cases.
Tuning the crystalline microstructure of Al-doped ZnO using direct ink writing

ZnO-based materials are commonly used in electronic device fabrication due to the interesting piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and optical properties of this tunable band-gap semiconductor. In this research, Al-doped ZnO structures have been fabricated through continuous-flow direct writing of sol–gel inks on glass substrates. We focus on understanding the transformations occurring in the materials synthesis from solution to crystalline structures as an essential step for their use in electronic devices. We investigate the relationships between the inks' rheological properties and direct writing parameters with respect to the printed pattern dimensions, and obtained microstructures, after annealing at 500 °C. We demonstrate how, by varying the printing conditions and composition of the ink formulations, the crystallographic-growth and materials' microstructure can be controlled. Finally, we illustrate an example of the optoelectronic functionality of the directly written AZO patterns using their photosensitivity properties upon different illumination conditions as well as their flexibility. Our work aims to establish relationships between materials processing and properties in emerging additive printing methods, which is of paramount importance towards innovation and new paradigms in advanced manufacturing.
An Adaptive Differential Privacy Algorithm for Range Queries over Healthcare Data

Differential privacy is an approach that preserves patient privacy while permitting researchers access to medical data. This paper presents mechanisms proposed to satisfy differential privacy while answering a given workload of range queries. Representing input data as a vector of counts, these methods partition the vector according to relationships between the data and the ranges of the given queries. After partitioning the vector into buckets, the counts of each bucket are estimated privately and split among the bucket's positions to answer the given query set. The performance of the proposed method was evaluated using different workloads over several attributes. The results show that partitioning the vector based on the data can produce more accurate answers, while partitioning the vector based on the given workload improves privacy. This paper's two main contributions are: (1) improving earlier work on partitioning mechanisms by building a greedy algorithm to partition the counts' vector efficiently, and (2) its adaptive algorithm considers the sensitivity of the given queries before providing results.
The relationship of race discipline with overall performance in sprint and standard distance triathlon age-group world championships:

The study analysed data of 25 - to 29-year-old athletes from the 2015 International Triathlon Union Age-group World Championship. Four separate draft-illegal races were analysed (male standard, male sprint, female standard and female sprint). The correlation of individual race disciplines with overall finish time, and the variance accounted for by each discipline was considered. Running had the strongest relationship with finishing time in standard racing. Cycling had the strongest relationship in sprint racing. There were no gender differences in correlations or in the greatest predictors of performance. It was concluded that the importance of running in predicting triathlon performance seen in previous research on standard distance racing is not due to the legality of drafting in the cycle discipline.
They Want What I’ve Got (I Think): The Causes and Consequences of Attributing Coworker Behavior to Envy

The focus in research on envy has recently shifted to include not only the envious person but also the person who is a target of that envy. We join the conversation in this nascent but developing l...
Introduction: Quality of Life Studies; Our Dulling and Rusting Tools

The notion of what it means to have a high quality of life, to lead the good life, or simply to be happy has become increasingly the focus of social scientists. Its roots, however, extend much farther, at least to the foundations of the western world in philosophical treatises, the platonic dialogues, and perhaps most significantly in the Aristotelian conception of eudaimonia and questions of the proper social and political order (Russel, 2014). These philosophical foundations are all rooted in the commonality of what seems to be a near universal longing for a life well lived, and as a corollary a society organized in such a way as to achieve that life.
Spatial Augmented Reality on Person: Exploring the Most Personal Medium

Spatial Augmented Reality (SAR) allows users to collaborate without need for see-through screens or head-mounted displays. We explore natural on-person interfaces using SAR. Spatial Augmented Reality on Person (SARP) leverages self-based psychological effects such as Self-Referential Encoding (SRE) and ownership by intertwining augmented body interactions with the self. Applications based on SARP could provide powerful tools in education, health awareness, and medical visualization. The goal of this paper is to explore benefits and limitations of generating ownership and SRE using the SARP technique. We implement a hardware platform which provides a Spatial Augmented Game Environment to allow SARP experimentation. We test a STEM educational game entitled ‘Augmented Anatomy’ designed for our proposed platform with experts and a student population in US and China. Results indicate that learning of anatomy on-self does appear correlated with increased interest in STEM and is rated more engaging, effective and fun than textbook-only teaching of anatomical structures.
Evaluating the Consistency of Age and Sex Assessments of Ohio Hopewell Human Remains by Previous Investigators

The thick prehistory approach that we suggest for bringing past peoples and their cultures to life from their bioarchaeological remains requires, by definition, the identification of individuals and social groups. It also involves describing these individuals in action through their on-the-ground, sociocultural roles. An essential step in this reconstructive process is to determine the age and sex of each individual for which skeletal remains are extant. The age and sex of an individual at death will have played a part in determining the culture-specific age and gender categories of his or her social personae at the time of death, and the roles associated with those personae.
Sea-Ice Morphology Change in the Canada Basin Summer: 2006–2015 Ship Observations Compared to Observations From the 1960s to the Early 1990s

An ice watch, encompassing visual observation of sea ice conducted from the ship’s bridge, is typically performed on sea-ice oriented research cruises. Ice watch data collected during a decade, 2006-2015, of annual cruises to the Beaufort Sea and Canadian Basin characterizes sea-ice morphology during mid to late summer. Observations not otherwise available on extensive regional scales with remote sensing are highlighted, including stage of melt, floe size and surface topography in summer. The summer ice pack in the Canada Basin is found to be of smaller floe size than found in 1973-1975. A disintegrating ice pack of mainly small floe size covered much on the Canada Basin in 2006-2009 and 2011-2012. Since 2007 the ice in the Canada Basin has experienced more extensive melt, and more advanced stages of melt than in 1973-1975, during the Arctic Ice Dynamics Joint Experiment (AIDJEX), and early 1990s. Since 2007, Summer ridge sail heights are lower and ridges less extensive compared to the AIDJEX period.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evaluation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated With Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy: Long Term Imaging Follow-Up.

Purpose To determine the natural history of imaging findings seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). Although arterial hyperenhancement is a key feature of untreated HCC, our clinical experience suggested that tumors that never progressed could still show hyperenhancement. Therefore, we undertook a systematic study to test the hypothesis that persistent arterial phase hyperenhancement (APHE) after SBRT is an expected finding that does not suggest failure of treatment. Methods and Materials One hundred forty-six patients undergoing SBRT for HCC between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2015, were screened retrospectively using an institutional review board–approved prospectively maintained registry. Inclusion criteria were (1) HCC treated with SBRT, (2) multiphasic MRI ≤3 months before SBRT, (3) up to 1 year of follow-up MRI post-SBRT, and (4) cirrhosis. The exclusion criterion was ≤3 months of locoregional therapy to the liver segment containing the SBRT-treated HCC. Pre- and post-SBRT MRI from up to 3 years were analyzed in consensus by independent pairs of subspecialty-trained radiologists to determine the temporal evolution of major features for HCC and imaging findings in off-target parenchyma. Results Sixty-two patients with 67 HCCs (Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network imaging criteria [OPTN] 5a [n = 26], OPTN 5b [n = 28], OPTN 5x [n = 7]; Liver Imaging Reporting Data System [LI-RAD]-M [n = 4] and LiRADs-4 [n = 2]) were studied. Tumor size either decreased (66% [44 of 67]) or remained unchanged (34% [23 of 67]) within the first 12 months. Post-SBRT APHE was common (58% [39 of 67]). When graded using modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors at 3 to 6 months, 25% (17 of 67) met criteria for complete response and 75% (50 of 67) met criteria for stable disease. Conclusions SBRT is an effective locoregional treatment option for HCC. Persistent APHE is common and does not necessarily indicate viable neoplasm; thus, standard response assessment such as modified Response Evaluation Criteria should be used with caution, particularly in the early phases after SBRT therapy.
Complex body size differences in thermal tolerance among army ant workers (Eciton burchellii parvispinum).

Abstract In social insects, group members can differ in thermal physiology, and these differences may affect colony function. Upper thermal tolerance limits (CTmax) generally increase with body size among and within ant species, but size effects on lower thermal tolerances (CTmin) are poorly known. To test whether CTmin co-variation with body size matched patterns for CTmax, we measured CTmax and CTmin in workers of four size-based worker subcastes in the army ant Eciton burchellii parvispinum. CTmax increased with worker body size as expected. CTmin showed a more complex relationship with size: the two intermediate-size subcastes (media and porters) tolerated lower temperatures than the smallest (minims) and the largest (soldiers) worker subcastes. Body-size effects on CTmax were not predictive of body-size effects on CTmin. These patterns held for colonies collected across elevations that spanned approximately 8 °C in mean annual temperature, even though high-elevation colonies had significantly lower CTmin overall. We predict Eciton army ant subcastes will be differentially affected by directional changes in high and low temperature extremes. Worker subcastes perform distinct but complementary roles in colony function, and differential temperature effects among subcastes could impair colony performance and negatively impact colony fitness.
Two new species of Hurleyella Runyon and Robinson (Diptera: Dolichopodidae), with the first record from the Neotropics

Two new species of the long-legged fly genus Hurleyella Runyon & Robinson, 2010 are described and illustrated: Hurleyella belizensis sp. nov. from Belize and Hurleyella salina sp. nov. from alkali areas of the Northern Rockies of the USA (Idaho, Montana, Wyoming). The discovery of these new species greatly extends the known distribution of Hurleyella northward in the Nearctic and southward into the Neotropics. Notes, photos of habitats, a distribution map, and a key to the four known species of Hurleyella are provided.
Hepatitis associated with iproniazid (marsilid); report of 3 cases.

The case histories of 3 patients who developed hepatitis with jaundice while taking iproniazid have been described. It is suggested that it might be wiser for the present not to use the drug in any patient with liver disease or impaired hepatic function. It is also recommended that the dose of the drug be reduced as rapidly as possible to the lowest level consistent with adequate clinical maintenance and that it be used for the shortest time possible.
The mystical and the mundane: the human/animal distinction in Animal Parade

ABSTRACTThis essay is a response to Christopher Collins’ “Animal Parade.” The author reflects on the productive ambiguity in Collins’ representation of non-human animals, and offers preliminary tho...
Immunogenetic Studies on Cell Surface Components of the Mammalian Nervous System

Interest in the composition of the outer membrane surface of nerve cells stems from its possible significance for morphogenesis and differentiation. The ontogenetic specification of tissue organization has been elaborated to a very elegant extreme in the nervous system, since most of its functional properties derive from the particular ways in which nerve cell contacts are organized. In terms of cytoarchitecture, the outstanding feature of the nervous system is that each neuron receives information from many other neurons and in turn transmits to many target cells, the extent of this convergence and divergence varying among regions and among classes of cells. Evidence from morphological and biochemical studies suggests that this functional specialization involves the development of topographically distinct sites on the surface membrane of a given nerve cell [1–3]. It is commonly assumed that these mosaic surface properties, which seem to mediate the specificity of surface contacts, become established in the mammal during embryonic and early postnatal development [3]. Direct molecular data on these organizational features at any stage of development, under any normal or pathological conditions are, however, very scarce.
Rising Household Debt and Children’s Socioemotional Well-being Trajectories

Debt is now a substantial aspect of family finances. Yet, research on how household debt is linked with child development has been limited. We use data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 cohort and hierarchical linear models to estimate associations of amounts and types of parental debt (home, education, auto, unsecured/uncollateralized) with child socioemotional well-being. We find that unsecured debt is associated with growth in child behavior problems, whereas this is not the case for other forms of debt. Moreover, the association of unsecured debt with child behavior problems varies by child age and socioeconomic status, with younger children and children from less-advantaged families experiencing larger associations of unsecured debt with greater behavior problems.
A new method for measurement of lithium isotopes with nuclear applications

Abstract Extreme isotope abundance ratios occur naturally, but also result from enrichment processes required for various industrial applications. The range of elements used for these industrial applications spans essentially the entire periodic table; thus, the need for a low cost (both in labor and finance) analytical technique to measure isotopic enrichments that create extreme isotope abundance ratios has never been greater. Molten salt reactors are one such application, where high purity 7Li is required for cooling processes due to its low neutron cross-section compared to 6Li. Several new technologies are required for these reactors to be viable, both technically and financially, including an efficient method for enrichment of 7Li. Many methods are being tested, but there is a need for a high-performance, high-throughput method for determination of extreme lithium isotope abundance ratios. High abundance sensitivity mass spectrometry provides a path forward for measurement of lithium isotopes. Here, we present a new method for measuring enriched lithium isotope ratios by using multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and combined faraday-ion counting detectors. We carefully characterize the abundance sensitivity and background signals associated with combined Faraday-ion counting techniques. To test the accuracy of the method, we measured lithium isotopic compositions of a suite of pure lithium salts using the standard static faraday measurement and compare those results to isotope ratios measured using the new method. Isotope ratios of the two techniques agree to within 1.5‰. We also achieved 7Li isotope abundance for a previously characterized enriched lithium salts within 0.0035%, indicating that the technique will provide a way forward for measuring enriched lithium isotope ratios in nuclear materials. The technique can be applied to any element with unnatural isotopic compositions and/or extreme abundance ratios.
STFL-DDR: Improving the Energy-Efficiency of Memory Interface

Power dissipation is a significant problem limiting the performance of today's computer systems. One of the main contributors to power consumption in microprocessors is data movement in cache and memory interface. Several solutions such as low power interconnects, energy-aware data encoding, and low power signaling have been proposed to mitigate this problem. Almost all of these techniques result in a significant system performance degradation. This article examines the application of a novel technique, called STFL-DDR, for hybrid signaling on low-power DRAM interface. To keep the power consumption low, STFL-DDR employs a high-performance clock rate for transferring data on low power wires. To avoid any signal deterioration, STFL-DDR employs data encoding/decoding to prevent each wire from switching in any two consecutive cycles. STFL-DDR creates new opportunities for optimizing the energy-efficiency of DRAM systems. We compare the efficiency of STFL-DDR with the state-of-the-art methods by simulating a mix of 12 parallel benchmark applications on a muticore system. Our simulation results indicate that STFL can reduce the energy consumption of a contemporary DRAM interface by 17 percent as compared to an LPDDR baseline while achieving the throughput of a high-performance DRAM. Applying STFL to both last level cache and DRAM interface results in improving the system energy, energy-delay product, and performance by 8, 15, and 9 percent respectively. Compared with a high-performance memory interface, STFL improves the system energy and energy-delay product by 25 and 75 percent, while reaching 98 percent of the average performance of the high-performance system.
The Changing Role of Hunting and Wildlife in Pastoral Communities of Northern Tibet

Hunting and wild animals have long been part of pastoralist life across the Tibetan Plateau, and especially in the northern Changtang region. Most recent research on Changtang hunting has focussed upon economic aspects in relation to conservation issues, wildlife ecology and status, human-wildlife conflicts and modern development. In contrast, the present study emphasizes social and cultural features of subsistence hunting practice and establishes some historical depth with which to contextualize data from recent decades. This chapter offers a rare diachronic perspective on hunting in a case study area located in the north-west of the Tibet Autonomous Region (China) and utilizes ethnohistorical evidence from throughout the twentieth century and contemporary ethnographic data from repeat fieldwork visits to the area. The results demonstrate that hunting in Changtang areas is best conceived of as a dynamic arena of practice. A subsistence hunting pattern for the region is described in relation to local ecological factors which seasonally determine hunting activity. This pattern is then viewed in relation to two historical periods of regional-level social and economic transition: a pre-modern wealth division between local pastoralist groups and the modern Communist period of collectivization into pastoralist communes. In conclusion, a range of local attitudes towards wildlife are examined in an attempt to open alternatives to the predominant economic, conservation and development-centred discussions of hunting and wild animals in Changtang pastoral communities.
The BBC’s ‘little man’ in the age of supermen: situation comedy, national character and masculinity in the late-1930s

In November 1936, the BBC premiered its first serialised situation comedy, The Strange Adventures of Mr. Penny. In its use of many of the hallmarks of early situation comedy, the popular fifteen mi...
Workflow Barriers and Strategies to Reduce Antibiotic Overuse in Nursing Homes

Objectives Antibiotic overuse is a significant problem in nursing homes (NHs). Strategies to improve antibiotic prescribing practices in NHs are a critical need. In this study, we analyzed antibiotic prescribing workflows to identify strategies for improving antibiotic prescribing in NHs. Design Qualitative descriptive study using prospective field-based assessment of workflows. Setting Six NHs in Wisconsin (n = 3) and Pennsylvania (n = 3). Participants A total of 44 interviews with 68 NH professionals, including leadership, nurses, and prescribers. Measurements During a 1-day field visit in each NH, we conducted semistructured interviews with NH professionals, collected artifacts (policies, procedures, and documentation and communication tools), and observed clinical meetings. Study participants were interviewed (30-60 minutes) about antibiotic prescribing workflows in their facility. Information collected during site visits was used to create a representative workflow map of NH antibiotic prescribing. The workflow map guided thematic analysis to identify barriers corresponding to workflow steps across multiple NHs. Results The representative antibiotic preprescribing workflow map included 17 steps, beginning with resident change in condition and ending with the decision to prescribe an antibiotic. Thematic analysis identified common step-specific barriers to antibiotic stewardship centering on three themes: (A) information barriers, comprising (A1) inconsistent nurse assessment report and (A2) misalignment between the work and tools of information sharing within the facility, (B) communication barriers, comprising (B1) mismatched perception of prescriber information needs and (B2) difficulty reaching prescribers for direct interaction, and (C) professional barriers, comprising (C1) low prescriber confidence in nurse assessment report and (C2) nurse reluctance to express their professional opinions. Conclusion Strategies addressing workflow barriers are important targets for antibiotic stewardship. Such strategies include structured information tools, nurse and prescriber education, and organizational improvement. Future research can build on combinations of existing and new strategies to measure their effects in improving antibiotic prescribing. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:2222-2231, 2020.
Turbulence at the edge of continuum

For high-Mach-number turbulent flows, the Kolmogorov length scale can be comparable to the gas-molecule mean-free path, which could introduce noncontinuum molecular-level effects into the turbulent energy cascade. To investigate this issue, compressible Taylor-Green vortex flow is simulated using both noncontinuum molecular gas dynamics and continuum computational fluid dynamics. Although the energy-decay rates are the same, molecular-level fluctuations break the flow symmetries and thereby produce different but statistically similar routes from the initial nonturbulent flow to the long-time turbulent flow.
Physician experiences of screen-level features in a prominent electronic health record: Design recommendations from a qualitative study.

The goal of this qualitative study was to assess physicians’ perceptions around features of key screens within a prominent commercial EHR, and to solicit end-user recommendations for improved retri...
SAIGE-BRUSH: an efficient, user-friendly and low cost cloud implementation for genome-wide association studies

SAIGE-Biobank Re-Usable SAIGE Helper (SAIGE-BRUSH) allows users with little computational expertise to utilize SAIGE for GWAS with parallelization and data collection on biobank data sets. This implementation requires no installation and has additional features not programmed within the original SAIGE framework, such as concurrency, reproducibility, reusability, scalability, association analysis results filtering and output plots. This is all achieved without writing any code from the user. This implementation is currently being utilized by the Biobank at the Colorado Center for Personalized Medicine (CCPM) on Google Cloud but is flexible for a number of architectures available to genetic analysts. Availability: This open source implementation is freely available at https://github.com/tbrunetti/SAIGE-BRUSH and is licensed under the MIT License. Contact: Chris Gignoux at chris.gignoux@cuanschutz.edu & Nick Rafaels at nicholas.rafaels@cuanschutz.edu Supplemental Material: For detailed user documentation, please visit https://saige-brush.readthedocs.io/en/latest/
Abstract 2082: Deciphering the nucleosome acidic patch binding at amino acid resolution

In all eukaryotic cells, nucleosomes provide basic organization of genomic DNA and serve as signaling hubs for gene expression, DNA replication and DNA damage repair. These genome-templated processes are tuned by chromatin enzymes that introduce chemical modifications to nucleosomes and control their positioning and occupancy. Mutations in genes encoding chromatin enzymes are highly correlated with numerous cancer types. A thorough exploration of how these chromatin enzymes act on their physiologic target, the nucleosome, is critical to understanding abnormal DNA methylation, histone posttranslational modifications, and chromatin composition, leading to cancer. In our recent nucleosome interactome proteomic screen, we demonstrated that the vast majority of nuclear proteins require a group of acidic residues on the nucleosome disk surface to interact with nucleosomes. This acidic patch and an adjacent region were recognized by over 50% and 18% of nuclear proteins, respectively, while almost half of the nucleosome disk surface contributed only minimally to nucleosome recognition. Overall, we paired about 300 proteins representing diverse nuclear functions including DNA methylation (DNMT1 and 3, Tet1), histone modification (HAT complexes, kinases), nucleosome remodeling (SWI/SNF), DNA repair (MRN complex), DNA replication (ORC complex), RNA processing, and cell cycle progression (APC/C) with specific nucleosome surface requirements. We have now repeated our screen at amino acid resolution using a library of fifteen nucleosomes containing single point mutations in and around the acid patch, including potential histone oncomutations identified to be overrepresented in cancers. Using our nucleosome library, we preformed pulldowns from human embryonic kidney 293 cell nuclear lysates to comprehensively evaluate the role of single histone residues in nucleosome recognition. Overall, this study dissects the primary nucleosome binding hot-spot at high resolution and provide a robust resource for further exploration of the nucleosome interactome in normal and cancer cell biology. Citation Format: Aleksandra Skrajna, Holly Simmons, Charlotte Smith, Jeanne-Marie E. Mcpherson, Dennis Goldfarb, Robert K. McGinty. Deciphering the nucleosome acidic patch binding at amino acid resolution [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 2082.
The Saccharinic Acids

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the saccharinic acids. Three structurally isomeric forms have been established for the six-carbon saccharinic acids. In the order of their discovery, these are the saccharinic or 2- C -methylpentonic acids, the isosaccharinic or 3-deoxy-2- C - (hydroxymethyl)-pentonic acids, and the metasaccharinic or 3-deoxyhexonic acids. Although none of these six-carbon, deoxyaldonic acids has been crystallized, six are known in the form of crystalline lactones (saccharins). All the possible metasaccharinic acids of less than six-carbon content have been obtained, in the form of crystalline derivatives, by the sugaralkali reaction. Only one example of a branched-chain deoxyaldonic acid (the racemic, five-carbon isosaccharinic acid) of other than six-carbon content has been so obtained. The formation of saccharinic acids containing more than six carbon atoms remains to be explored. Isomeric with the saccharinic acids that arise from the sugar-alkali reaction are the ω-deoxy- and 2-deoxy-aldonic acids. Both of these latter types may be obtained by oxidation of the corresponding deoxy sugars, and the 2-deoxyaldonic acids also result from the action of lead oxide on the 1,2-dideoxy-1 ,2-dihalogeno-aldoses.
Truth and Stability in Descartes' Meditations

The announced project of the Meditations, it is usually supposed, is to get rid of all error by rejecting everything that might be false, thus retaining only what is certainly true; the next step is to acquire further certainly true beliefs by valid inference from that foundation.
APPLICATIONS OF SAMPLE PATH ANALYSIS TO COMMUNICATION NETWORK CONTROL

In this paper we survey some techniques that are useful for proving the optimality of control procedures for networks. These techniques are based on the comparison of sample path realizations under different procedures in order to show that one performs better than the other. Although sample path analysis is capable of solving only a subset of problems that arise in the design of optimal control procedures, it typically requires a minimal set of assumptions regarding the workload and provides considerable insight into the behavior of different procedures. The other main technique based on Markov decision processes usually requires Markovian assumptions and provides less insight. We review different ways of comparing sample paths based on the ideas of vector majorization and set dominance. Applications of these two types of comparisons are drawn from problems in routing, internetwork flow control, and scheduling of real-time data. These applications attempt to address the problems of how to choose a state descriptor to be used for comparison purposes and of how to couple sample paths under different policies in order to facilitate the comparisons.
Periodical and Age-related Variation in Chemical Communication System of Black Cutworm Moth, Agrotis ipsilon

Periodical and age-related changes in sex pheromone signaling and response were studied in the black cutworm moth, Agrotis ipsilon. Females began to call on the first night after eclosion and called mainly during the second half of the scotophase. The percentage of females calling increased from 1- to 3-day-old females and decreased from 3- to 6-day-old females (P < 0.001). One-day-old females called later in the scotophase than 2- and 3-day-old females (P = 0.016). The quantity of Z7–12:Ac, Z9–14:Ac, and Z11–16:Ac in pheromone gland extracts of 1- to 6-day-old females varied with time of the photoregime, increasing during scotophase and decreasing during photophase (P ≤ 0.001). These oscillations were described by using equations containing angular terms with a period of 24 hr. The quantities of Z7–12:Ac and Z9–14:Ac, but not of Z11–16:Ac, varied with female age during the calling period (P < 0.001, P = 0.021, and P = 0.529, respectively). The ratios of Z9–14:Ac and Z11–16:Ac to Z7–12:Ac did not change with age or time during calling period. Male response to female pheromone in a wind tunnel increased with age and time of the scotophase. The type of response exhibited by the males (taking flight, oriented flight, and pheromone source contact) was affected by both age and time of the scotophase (P < 0.001).
Lymphoscintigraphy in Melanoma: Initial Evaluation of a Low Protein Dose Monoclonal Antibody Cocktail

A low protein dose (73 +/- 10 micrograms total) 131I-labeled monoclonal antibody cocktail made of equal microgram quantities of 225.28S (IgG2a) and 763.24T (IgG1) murine monoclonal antibodies, which bind additively to a high molecular weight antigen of melanoma, was evaluated as a lymphoscintigraphic agent in 17 patients with intermediate to thick (mean Breslow depth, 3.39 +/- 0.64 mm) melanomas or clinical Stage II disease scheduled for nodal dissection. Eleven of the patients were clinically Stage I while 6 were clinically Stage II. 131I antibody cocktail, 258 +/- 10 microCi, was administered s.c. at the site of the primary melanoma or its scar following surgical removal. In eight patients, 63 +/- 8 microCi of 125I nonspecific normal sheep IgG was coadministered s.c. Gamma camera imaging was conducted beginning immediately after and continuing for several days following injection. Surgical resection, weighing, and gamma counting of the draining lymph nodes were undertaken in all patients. On gamma scans, early nodal uptake of antibody was most pronounced and of longest duration in the tumor pathologically positive patients (5 of 7 had visible nodal uptake, 4 of 7 visually stable or rising with time), with the t 1/2 of nodal clearance by gamma scan significantly (P less than 0.05) longer than in the negative patients in whom 4 of 10 showed some, although generally transient (0 of 10 stable or rising), nodal uptake. Scans were not easily interpretable when the injection site was very near the draining nodal group, in part due to the detection of scatter activity from the injection site. In several instances the scan was correct and the clinical examination was incorrect as regards nodal disease. Quantitative analysis of the surgically excised draining nodes showed significantly (P less than 0.001) more 131I anti-melanoma antibody uptake in the 21 tumor-involved nodes [0.01217% injected dose (ID)/node median] than in the 512 tumor-negative nodes (0.00051% ID/node median). Median percentage ID/g of anti-melanoma antibody in tumor-involved nodes was significantly greater (P less than 0.01) than in tumor-negative nodes (0.01984 versus 0.003215% ID/g). 125I-labeled nonspecific antibody did not accumulate significantly more in the tumor-involved nodes on a per node or per g basis in the 283 of 533 nodes studied using the dual-label approach (0.0036 versus 0.00092% ID/g). These data demonstrate that by external imaging and by tissue counting that a radiolabeled anti-melanoma monoclonal antibody cocktail can specifically accumulate to melanoma-involved lymph nodes following s.c. administration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Source existence and parameter fitting when few counts are available.

Frequently, astronomers are confronted with situations where only a very small number of events must be interpreted as tests of models or used to constrain parameter values. Three recent examples of such problems are presented, with a discussion of the statistical resolution chosen. The intent of this review is to alert astronomers to the pitfalls of utilizing ordinary statistical tools in these cases, and to interest statisticians in giving these “special cases” more consideration in their popular work.
A broadly tunable IR source

The LiNbO3 parametric oscillator described here forms the central element in a widely tunable coherent spectrometer system. Efficient extended frequency tuning by harmonic generation to the visible and ultraviolet is possible in angle phase-matched crystals of LiNbO3 (1.4 μn to 0.7 μn), LiIO3 (0.7 μn to 0.35 μm) and ADP (0.35 μm to 0.26 μm), and by mixing to the extended infrared in AgGaSe2(3 μm to 12 μm), CdSe (10 μm to 25 μm), GaP (20 μm to 200 μm) and LiNbO3 (170 μm to 1 cm). We have recently carried out the doubling steps in LiNbO3 and LiIO3 and generated output wavelengths to 0.490 μm. We plan to conduct the mixing experiments in AgGaSe2 and CdSe in the near future.
Rhythm Generator Circuits in a Simple Nervous System

Publisher Summary The comparatively simple central nervous system of the leech consists of a nerve cord of 32 segmentally iterated ganglia. The rostral four and caudal seven segmental ganglia are fused, constituting a head and a tail ganglion, respectively. The other, unfused, or abdominal ganglia, are numbered rostrocaudally from 1 to 21. Each contains about 400 bilaterally paired neurons, as well as a few unpaired neurons. Sensory and effector neurons project their processes to targets outside the CNS via segmental nerves, whose roots emerge from the lateral edge of the ganglion. The anatomy of the leech ganglion is sufficiently stereotyped so that about one-quarter of the neurons of the segmental ganglion of the medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis have by now been identified according to various criteria, including function. Thus, some cells have been classified as sensory, others as motor neurons, and yet others as interneurons, and their connectivity has been elucidated. The most complex behavioral routines of the leech, of which accounts have so far been given in terms of networks of identified neurons, are the heartbeat and swimming rhythms.
Governance of Fracking in Africa

Concerns about the environmental and ecological consequences of hydraulic fracturing have accompanied the shale boom in developed countries at the forefront of shale exploration and production. These environmental and ecological consequences may be of even greater concern in developing countries with less governance capacity. We present a conceptual framework that specifies several variables that are expected to contribute to sustainable hydraulic fracturing. We use the framework to characterize prospects for sustainable hydraulic fracturing in South Africa and Botswana. The framework and evidence clarifies the institutional capacity and institutional challenges confronting the sub-Saharan African countries as extraction of natural resources using hydraulic fracturing begins in earnest.
A hybrid bayesian approach for genome-wide association studies on related individuals

MOTIVATION Both single marker and simultaneous analysis face challenges in GWAS due to the large number of markers genotyped for a small number of subjects. This large p small n problem is particularly challenging when the trait under investigation has low heritability. METHOD In this article, we propose a two-stage approach that is a hybrid method of single and simultaneous analysis designed to improve genomic prediction of complex traits. In the first stage, we use a Bayesian independent screening method to select the most promising SNPs. In the second stage, we rely on a hierarchical model to analyze the joint impact of the selected markers. The model is designed to take into account familial dependence in the different subjects, while using local-global shrinkage priors on the marker effects. RESULTS We evaluate the performance in simulation studies, and consider an application to animal breeding data. The illustrative data analysis reveals an encouraging result in terms of prediction performance and computational cost.
Interactive effects of growth hormone and exercise on muscle mass in suspended rats

Measures to attenuate muscle atrophy in rats in response to stimulated microgravity [hindlimb suspension (HS)] have been only partially successful. In the present study, hypophysectomized rats were in HS for 7 days, and the effects of recombinant human growth hormone (GH), exercise (Ex), or GH+Ex on the weights, protein concentrations, and fiber cross-sectional areas (CSAs) of hindlimb muscles were determined. The weights of four extensor muscles, i.e., the soleus (Sol), medial (MG) and lateral (LG) gastrocnemius, and plantaris (Plt), and one adductor, i.e., the adductor longus (AL), were decreased by 10-22% after HS. Fiber CSAs were decreased by 34% in the Sol and by 17% in the MG after HS. In contrast, two flexors, i.e., the tibialis anterior (TA) and extensor digitorum longus (EDL), did not atrophy. In HS rats, GH treatment alone maintained the weights of the fast extensors (MG, LG, Plt) and flexors (TA, EDL) at or above those of control rats. This effect was not observed in the slow extensor (Sol) or AL. Exercise had no significant effect on the weight of any muscle in HS rats. A combination of GH and Ex treatments yielded a significant increase in the weights of the fast extensors and in the CSA of both fast and slow fibers of the MG and significantly increased Sol weight and CSA of the slow fibers of the Sol. The AL was not responsive to either GH or Ex treatments. Protein concentrations of the Sol and MG were higher only in the Sol of Ex and GH + Ex rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Autoionization in the uv Photoabsorption of Atomic Calcium

Detailed measurements of the absolute photoabsorption cross section of atomic calcium between 2028 and 1753 \AA{} and 1589 and 1424 \AA{} are presented. Structure is displayed in the absorption cross section below 1589 \AA{}, confirming previous theoretical predictions of autoionization in this region. However, the observed peak magnitudes are an order of magnitude smaller than suggested by theory. A theoretical analysis has succeeded in achieving better agreement between experiment and the two-channel quantum-defect theory for the $^{1}S_{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{1}P_{1}^{0}$ transitions in the 2028-1753-\AA{} region, both in the magnitude and in the general shape of the absorption profile.
Infrared Optimized AO System for a 15 - 20m Class Telescope

Despite the relatively large number of proposed 'extremely large telescopes' very few of them concentrate on the thermal infrared as their main operating wavelengths. An IR-optimized large telescope located in the Atacama dessert at about 5500m altitude, where many atmospheric windows in the mid-IR open up, would be ideal to study astronomical targets that are either intrinsically red or heavily obscured by dust. A large aperture in the order of 15 - 20m requires adaptive optics correction out to λl20 μm with the least possible thermal emission from the instrument itself. Here we discuss a specialized, integrated AO system that provides diffraction-limited performance in the thermal infrared (at λg2.5 μm). This approach is very different from the AO systems proposed for other 10m+ class telescopes. We present the basic concept of such an IR-optimized AO system, based on a 2m chopping adaptive secondary. We derive its technical specifications: configuration, bandwidth, and degrees of freedom show its predicted performance for typical seeing in terms of Strehl ratio as a function of limiting guide star magnitude, wavelength and corrected field-of-view. We also briefly address the science that this AO system/telescope would be ideal for.