cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genome-Wide Patterns of Differentiation Among House Mouse Subspecies

One approach to understanding the genetic basis of speciation is to scan the genomes of recently diverged taxa to identify highly differentiated regions. The house mouse, Mus musculus, provides a useful system for the study of speciation. Three subspecies (M. m. castaneus, M. m. domesticus, and M. m. musculus) diverged ∼350 KYA, are distributed parapatrically, show varying degrees of reproductive isolation in laboratory crosses, and hybridize in nature. We sequenced the testes transcriptomes of multiple wild-derived inbred lines from each subspecies to identify highly differentiated regions of the genome, to identify genes showing high expression divergence, and to compare patterns of differentiation among subspecies that have different demographic histories and exhibit different levels of reproductive isolation. Using a sliding-window approach, we found many genomic regions with high levels of sequence differentiation in each of the pairwise comparisons among subspecies. In all comparisons, the X chromosome was more highly differentiated than the autosomes. Sequence differentiation and expression divergence were greater in the M. m. domesticus–M. m. musculus comparison than in either pairwise comparison with M. m. castaneus, which is consistent with laboratory crosses that show the greatest reproductive isolation between M. m. domesticus and M. m. musculus. Coalescent simulations suggest that differences in estimates of effective population size can account for many of the observed patterns. However, there was an excess of highly differentiated regions relative to simulated distributions under a wide range of demographic scenarios. Overlap of some highly differentiated regions with previous results from QTL mapping and hybrid zone studies points to promising candidate regions for reproductive isolation.
Newman's Distinction Between Inference and Assent

The Essay in Aid of a Grammar of Assent is now generally recognized as the culmination of John Henry Newman's longstanding preoccupation with what might be called the ‘Catholic problem of faith’. In numerous places Newman noted that prior to writing this work he had made sporadic and fruitless attempts to deal with the problem. In the widely cited insight of 1866 he received new ideas about the concepts involved in the problem and work on the Grammar ensued.
A solder-free interconnect approach for integrating millimeter wave high-power devices with planar circuitry

The development of commercial millimeter wave systems requires cost-effective, high-performance device/circuit assembly techniques. A solder-free thermosonic bonding approach is described here to integrate millimeter wave high-power devices with associated planar circuitry. The devices with integrated heatsink are attached to a metal block, and then ribbon bonded with planar millimeter-wave transmission line circuitry using the developed solder-free thermosonic bonding process. The assembly process is designed to minimize the stresses that damage the devices, while maintaining the bond integrity. Observations confirm that the introduction of ultrasonic energy into the bonding process significantly reduces the temperature and assembly force applied to the device. The effects of different assembly parameters on the performance of the device are also presented.
Evaluation of the Trimeric Autotransporter Ata as a Vaccine Candidate against Acinetobacter baumannii Infections

ABSTRACT Acinetobacter baumannii is a multidrug-resistant (MDR) nosocomial pathogen for which immunotherapeutic alternatives are needed. We previously identified a surface autotransporter of A. baumannii, Ata, that bound to various extracellular matrix/basal membrane proteins and was required for full virulence, biofilm formation, and the adhesion of A. baumannii to collagen type IV. We show here that Ata binding to collagen type IV was inhibited by antibodies to Ata. In addition, in the presence of complement and polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs), antibodies to Ata were highly opsonic against A. baumannii ATCC 17978 and showed low to moderate killing activity against four heterologous A. baumannii strains, whereas in the absence of PMNs, antibody to Ata efficiently promoted complement-dependent bactericidal killing of all of the tested A. baumannii isolates. Using a pneumonia model of infection in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised mice, we found that, compared to normal rabbit sera, antisera to Ata significantly reduced the levels of A. baumannii ATCC 17978 and two MDR strains in the lungs of infected mice. The ability of Ata to engender anti-adhesive, bactericidal, opsonophagocytic, and protective antibodies validates its potential use as an antigenic target against MDR A. baumannii infections.
Role of deformation in the nonmesonic decay of light hypernuclei

We discuss the nonmesonic decay of deformed p-shell hypernuclei. The Nilsson model with angular momentum projection is employed in order to take into account the deformation effects. The nonmesonic decay rate and the intrinsic $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ asymmetry parameter decrease as a function of the deformation parameter, while the ratio of the neutron- to proton-induced decay rates increases. We find that the deformation effects change these observables by about 10% for ${}_{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}^{9}\mathrm{Be}$ from the spherical limit.
Ocean Roles in the TBO Transitions of the Indian-Australian Monsoon System.

Abstract This study uses a series of coupled atmosphere–ocean general circulation model (CGCM) experiments to examine the roles of the Indian and Pacific Oceans in the transition phases of the tropospheric biennial oscillation (TBO) in the Indian–Australian monsoon system. In each of the three CGCM experiments, air–sea interactions are restricted to a certain portion of the Indo-Pacific Ocean by including only that portion of the ocean in the ocean model component of the CGCM. The results show that the in-phase TBO transition from a strong (weak) Indian summer monsoon to a strong (weak) Australian summer monsoon occurs more often in the CGCM experiments that include an interactive Pacific Ocean. The out-of-phase TBO transition from a strong (weak) Australian summer monsoon to a weak (strong) Indian summer monsoon occurs more often in the CGCM experiments that include an interactive Indian Ocean. The associated sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies are characterized by an ENSO-type pattern in the Pacific...
Versions of the Dead: Kalunga, Cuban-Kongo Materiality, and Ethnography

The Cuban-Kongo society of affliction known as Palo educates its initiates in the visceral apprehension of Kalunga, the vast sea of the dead. Kalunga is taught as unstable and unverifiable experience at the limits of sensation—chills, goose bumps, or a fluttering in the chest or stomach. Building on an account of this teaching from fieldwork, I draw from anthropology and philosophy to account for Kalunga's role in Palo materialism. In this article, I elaborate a writing strategy explicitly critical of “representation” and suggest the creation of a “foreign language within our own” as a way of handling ethnographic “content.” This “new language” for Kalunga is assembled from Palo terms, and from the turning of terms in the writing of Gilles Deleuze, Felix Guattari, G. W. F. Hegel, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Karl Marx. I arrive at a description of Kalunga as a paratactic discourse, and a “plane of immanence,” from which are assembled, and into which are dispersed, “versions of the dead,” including “objects,” and “subjects.”
Conditions of regularity of a general differential boundary-value problem for improperly elliptic equations

The Fredholm property and well-posedness of a general differential boundary-value problem for a general improperly elliptic equation are analyzed in a two-dimensional bounded domain with smooth boundary.
The larval development of the West Indian sponge crab Dromidia antillensis (Decapoda: Dromiidae)

Larvae hatched in the laboratory from a berried female of the sponge crab Dromidia antillensis Stimpson have been reared through metamorphosis. The larval development in the laboratory consisted of six zoeal stages and a megalopa. These larvae are compared with published descriptions of those of Dromia personatus which is the only other species of the Dromiidae of which larvae have been described.
Rat small mesenteric artery function after hindlimb suspension.

To determine whether simulated microgravity in rats is associated with vascular dysfunction, we measured responses of isolated, pressurized mesenteric resistance artery segments (157- to 388-μm ID)...
Adopting an Online Curriculum Planning Tool: Facilitation for Teachers’ Thinking about Student-Centered Pedagogy and Technology Integration

The current study analyzed the impact of a year-long adoption of an online curriculum planning tool on teachers’ thinking about content and pedagogy, as well as their use of technology in the classroom. The online planning tool was adopted district-wide following professional development training with the purpose of supporting teachers’ development of differentiated, student-centered instruction with digital resources. Structured interviews with high school science teachers were used to determine how teachers’ thinking about key concepts and instruction changed during the course of technology adoption. Verbal protocol analysis was used to code interviews, using comprehension theory and national reform approaches in science teaching to develop a framework that coded teachers’ interview responses as more constructive (student-centered) or more directed (teacher-centered). Results showed that teachers increased their discussion of constructive pedagogical strategies and reduced the degree to which they focused on directed uses of technology. No change was seen in teachers’ domain knowledge across the adoption process, but teachers with deeper domain knowledge were more likely to spontaneously integrate technology into their discussion of domain concepts and pedagogical strategies. Overall, findings demonstrate teachers’ adoption of an online curriculum planning tool in a supported context can have important impacts on their instructional approaches. ONLINE CURRICULUM PLANNING TOOL 3 Facilitating Teachers’ Thinking about Pedagogy and Technology with an Online Curriculum Planning Tool
Immunological orchestration of zinc homeostasis: The battle between host mechanisms and pathogen defenses☆

The importance of Zn ions (Zn) in regulating development and functions of the immune system is well established. However, recent years have witnessed a surge in our knowledge of how immune cells choreograph Zn regulatory mechanisms to combat the persistence of pathogenic microbes. Myeloid and lymphoid populations manipulate intracellular and extracellular Zn metabolism via Zn binding proteins and transporters in response to immunological signals and infection. Rapid as well as delayed changes in readily exchangeable Zn, also known as free Zn and the Zn proteome are crucial in determining activation of immune cells, cytokine responses, signaling and nutritional immunity. Recent studies have unearthed distinctive Zn modulatory mechanisms employed by specialized immune cells and necessitate an understanding of the Zn handling behavior in immune responses to infection. The focus of this review, therefore, stems from novel revelations of Zn intoxication, sequestration and signaling roles deployed by different immune cells, with an emphasis on innate immunity, to challenge microbial parasitization and cope with pathogen insult.
Math bite: The extra distance in an outer lane of a running track

This is a common question, since the inner lanes are yielded to faster runners by protocol, to slower runners and walkers who ignore or are ignorant of the protocol, and to the entire high school marching band, which just happens to be practicing on the track during your workout and is not bound by the protocol. Of the two prominent coaches who answered the question, amazingly, the first went out to his rather standard 400-meter college track and actually measured (he didn't say how) the distances in lane 4 and lane 8 and suggested interpolating for the other lanes, while the second recommended running a lap in each lane while holding the pace steady throughout and noting the time differences [2]. Needless to say, these answers leave much to be desired.
Cluster-glass behavior induced by local moment doping in the itinerant ferromagnet Sc 3.1 In

In the presented work, Sc${}_{3.1}$In, a weak itinerant ferromagnet with no magnetic constituents, is doped with Er${}^{3+}$ local moment ions, to form (Sc${}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}$Er${}_{x}$)${}_{3.1}$In. As $x$ increases, the Weiss-like temperature $\ensuremath{\theta}$ stays positive and nearly triples up to $x=0.10$. Moreover, Er doping of as little as $x=0.02$ induces a cluster-glass state, which persists up to $x=0.10$, as evidenced by dc and ac susceptibility measurements, and confirmed by the Vogel-Fulcher analysis.
Reevaluation of the Crooked Ridge River—Early Pleistocene (ca. 2 Ma) age and origin of the White Mesa alluvium, northeastern Arizona

Essential features of the previously named and described Miocene Crooked Ridge River in northeastern Arizona (USA) are reexamined using new geologic and geochronologic data. Previously it was proposed that Cenozoic alluvium at Crooked Ridge and southern White Mesa was pre–early Miocene, the product of a large, vigorous late Paleogene river draining the 35–23 Ma San Juan Mountains volcanic field of southwestern Colorado. The paleoriver probably breeched the Kaibab uplift and was considered important in the early evolution of the Colorado River and Grand Canyon. In this paper, we reexamine the character and age of these Cenozoic deposits. The alluvial record originally used to propose the hypothetical paleoriver is best exposed on White Mesa, providing the informal name White Mesa alluvium. The alluvium is 20–50 m thick and is in the bedrock-bound White Mesa paleovalley system, which comprises 5 tributary paleochannels. Gravel composition, detrital zircon data, and paleochannel orientation indicate that sediment originated mainly from local Cretaceous bedrock north, northeast, and south of White Mesa. Sedimentologic and fossil evidence imply alluviation in a low-energy suspended sediment fluvial system with abundant fine-grained overbank deposits, indicating a local channel system rather than a vigorous braided river with distant headwaters. The alluvium contains exotic gravel clasts of Proterozoic basement and rare Oligocene volcanic clasts as well as Oligocene–Miocene detrital sanidine related to multiple caldera eruptions of the San Juan Mountains and elsewhere. These exotic clasts and sanidine likely came from ancient rivers draining the San Juan Mountains. However, in this paper we show that the White Mesa alluvium is early Pleistocene (ca. 2 Ma) rather than pre–early Miocene. Combined 40 Ar/ 39 Ar dating of an interbedded tuff and detrital sanidine ages show that the basal White Mesa alluvium was deposited at 1.993 ± 0.002 Ma, consistent with a detrital sanidine maximum depositional age of 2.02 ± 0.02 Ma. Geomorphic relations show that the White Mesa alluvium is older than inset gravels that are interbedded with 1.2–0.8 Ma Bishop–Glass Mountain tuff. The new ca. 2 Ma age for the White Mesa alluvium refutes the hypothesis of a large regional Miocene(?) Crooked Ridge paleoriver that predated carving of the Grand Canyon. Instead, White Mesa paleodrainage was the northernmost extension of the ancestral Little Colorado River drainage basin. This finding is important for understanding Colorado River evolution because it provides a datum for quantifying rapid post–2 Ma regional denudation of the Grand Canyon region.
Enhancing a professional environment in the organized delivery system: Lessons in building trust for the nurse administrator

Objective: To examine the level of system integration and determine if a relationship exists between the level of nursing development and system integration. Data Source/Study Setting: Primary data was collected from Nurse Administrators in Maryland acute care hospitals in December 1999. Study Design: A survey of Maryland nurse administrators was conducted utilizing three tools. The Perceived Systemness and Integration Measure was used to measure the level of integration within the system or network. The level of professional practice development was measured utilizing a Likert-scale tool designed by the researchers based on the Transformational Model for Professional Practice in Health Care Organizations. A narrative response questionnaire was included to determine mechanisms in place to promote professional practice and clinical integration. Findings: The level of system integration was moderate in all domains: Functional (3.35), Physician-System (2.88), and Clinical (3.14). Significant correlations were found between Transformational Leadership and Culture (.539, p
Brain GABA Function and Psychosis

Disturbances in inhibitory function are thought to play a central role in schizophrenia. Cognitive deficits, a core feature strongly related to disability in the illness, have been attributed to dysfunction of specific classes of GABA-ergic interneurons(1),disruptingneuralsynchronythatiscriticalfor cognition. Investigations of GABA in vivo in schizophrenia, especiallyinunmedicatedpatients,arerelativelyrecentand correspondinglyfew,inpartbecauseoftechnicalchallenges in the available neurochemical imaging modalities, positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). The report by Marenco and colleagues in this issue (2) helps inform the field by presenting a comprehensive study of GABA in psychosis in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex. Theauthorsaddressedthree main questions: Are GABA levels abnormal in this region in medicated patients with psychosis? How does medication status affect the findings? Do unaffected siblings of patients provide an intermediate GABA phenotype? Marenco et al. investigated the first question with the largestcohortyet—70medicatedpatientswithpsychosisand 184 control subjects. They found a decrease in the GABA/ creatine ratio but not in the GABA/water ratio, an alternative method of referencing the GABA signal. On balance, these data indicate a modest decrease in GABA in the medicated patients. In a smaller sample of 25 patients, the authors controlled for medication status by acquiring a scan when the patients were on medication and another when they had been off medication (for a mean of 3.7 months; SD5 5m onths; minimum514 days). These data showed no GABA abnormality
Dissolution analysis of ursodeoxycholic acid tablets

Objective To compare the dissolution rate of ursodeoxycholic acid tablets produced by different companies for better quality control.Methods The difference of dissolution curves was observed by two mediums and different rotation speeds.PBS(pH7.5) was used as the dissolution medium with paddle method at 50 r/min.The samples were analyzed by HPLC.The dissolution rate of ursodeoxycholic acid tablets was compared by AV value and the dissolution uniformity was evaluated by A value.Results The dissolution curves of five enterprises′ samples resembled with reference in the selected fourteen pharmaceutical enterprises and only three enterprises′ all samples showed good uniformity in the detection of dissolution.Conclusion Determination of dissolution is very important in quality control of drug.The established method is reliable for the process for quality control of ursodeoxycholic acid tablets.
Use of the Swiveling Technique for Endoscopic Removal of a Colloid Cyst of the Third Ventricle: A Technical Note

Colloid cysts are considered benign brain tumors and usually occur in the anterior third ventricle. The clinical presentation may be nonspecific and heterogeneous including headaches, visual changes, nausea, and vomiting. The symptomatology is frequently associated with the development of hydrocephalus. Neuroendoscopic removal is increasingly replacing open microsurgical approaches as the standard of care for the treatment of symptomatic colloid cysts of the third ventricle. We describe the case of a 42-year-old man who was found to have a colloid cyst of the third ventricle while undergoing evaluation for a dural arteriovenous fistula. We highlight the rotational, or “swiveling,” method for extraction of the colloid cyst.
Heat budget analysis of Northern Hemisphere high‐latitude spring onset events

Regional spring onset events are identified within 4 high latitude sectors: The primary (critical) region over North Siberia (CR), Greenland-North America (G-NA), East Asia (EA), and Alaska (AL). To identify the primary forcing of the rapid temperature increases observed during spring onset, the contributions to the near-surface air temperature anomaly tendency are diagnosed within the thermodynamic equation for each of the 4 regional event categories. For each region, anomalous eddy heat flux convergence is the primary contributor to regional warming prior to, and during the early stages of, spring onset (through Day +5). Thereafter, horizontal advection of the climatological-mean temperature by the large-scale circulation anomaly field emerges as the leading contributor to regional warming (during the later stages of spring onset). A parallel diagnostic of storm track strength (using the envelope function) reveals a systematic weakening of eddy activity within each region, leading to a reduction in the northward eddy heat flux out of the domain and an accumulation of heat within the region. For CR, G-NA, and EA events, an east-west dipole structure in the sea level pressure anomaly field, with lower (higher) pressure to the west (east), generates the anomalous southerly flow linked to late period linear warm advection. Our results indicate that anomalous dynamical processes associated with synoptic eddy activity and stationary wave patterns are the primary contributors to rapid temperature increase during Arctic spring onset events, with minimal contributions from anomalous diabatic processes.
Modifying the clinical research infrastructure at a dedicated clinical trials unit: Assessment of trial development, activation, and participant accrual

Purpose: Information on processes for trials assessing investigational therapeutics is sparse. We assessed the trial development processes within the Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics (ICT) at MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX) and analyzed their effects on the trial activation timeline and enrolment.Experimental Design: Data were from a prospectively maintained registry that tracks all clinical studies at MD Anderson. From this database, we identified 2,261 activated phase I-III trials; 221 were done at the ICT. ICT trials were matched to trials from other MD Anderson departments by phase, sponsorship, and submission year. Trial performance metrics were compared with paired Wilcoxon signed rank tests.Results: We identified three facets of the ICT research infrastructure: parallel processing of trial approval steps; a physician-led research team; and regular weekly meetings to foster research accountability. Separate analyses were conducted stratified by sponsorship [industry (133 ICT and 133 non-ICT trials) or institutional (68 ICT and 68 non-ICT trials)]. ICT trial development was faster from IRB approval to activation (median difference of 1.1 months for industry-sponsored trials vs. 2.3 months for institutional) and from activation to first enrolment (median difference of 0.3 months for industry vs. 1.2 months for institutional; all matched P < 0.05). ICT trials also accrued more patients (median difference of 8 participants for industry vs. 33.5 for institutional) quicker (median difference 4.8 participants/year for industry vs. 11.1 for institutional; all matched P < 0.05).Conclusions: Use of a clinical research-focused infrastructure within a large academic cancer center was associated with efficient trial development and participant accrual. Clin Cancer Res; 23(6); 1407-13. ©2016 AACR.
Static and Dynamic Properties of Polymer Solutions

Applications of photon correlation spectroscopy and angular distribution of absolute scattered intensity to the studies of dynamic and static properties of polymer solutions in terms of large scale motions, such as translational motion of the polymer coil, pseudo-gel motion and internal motion, are reviewed. In particular, the asymptotic nature of the scaling concept is emphasized with examples based on measurements of the polystyrene-trans-decalin system.
Minor Histocompatibility Antigen-Specific CD8+ Memory T Cells in Hematopoietic Compartments Survive the Immediate Non-Ablative and Ablative TBI Milieu.

Minor histocompatibility (MiHA) antigens induce CD8+ T-cell responses that mediate resistance to bone marrow engraftment in an MHC-identical, MiHA-disparate marrow transplant model, in which recipients are sensitized to donor antigens (BALB.B a B6BALB.B) prior to BMT. The H60 H antigen has been shown to dominate the immune response in B6 mice primed with BALB.B antigens (B6BALB.B). We initially sought to determine the distribution and partially characterize the phenotype of H60-specific CD8+ cells in the blood, spleen and marrow compartments of B6 mice primed with 3 x 107 BALB.B lymphoid cells and ≥3 weeks later boosted with 2 x 107 cells. An H60 tetramer (LTFNYRNL/H2-Kb) conjugated to PE was used to detect H60-specific CD8+ cells in these compartments. Eight days following the second immunization, the mean frequency of circulating H60-specific cells was 12.2% ± SE 0.88 of CD8+ cells (range: 5.6 – 20.5%). The frequency of splenic H60-specific CD8+ cells was equivalent to that of circulating antigen-specific cells, thus peripheral blood levels of H60-specific CD8+ cells appear to be representative of those resident in the spleen. Interestingly, in the marrow compartment, the frequency of H-60+ cells amongst the CD8 T cell population was higher compared to peripheral blood and spleen levels, suggesting that H60-specific CD8+ cells in this compartment may comprise both migrant cells from the periphery and resident cells in the marrow elicited during priming. In both BM and spleen, >90% of CD8+ H60+ cells expressed the memory phenotype(CD44+, Ly6C+) and as expected, did not express early activation markers (CD25, CD69). To mediate resistance to progenitor cell engraftment, H60-specific effector CD8+ cell must first survive the immediate post-BMT milieu in the hemopoietic compartments. To examine this question, B6BALB.B mice irradiated at 3.0, 6.0 and 9.0 Gy were analyzed 24 hours later for the presence of H60-specific CD8+ cells in the spleen and marrow compartments. Although there was an expected irradiation dose-dependent decrease in absolute numbers of CD8+ H60+ cells in the two compartments, there was a dose-dependent increase in percent of CD8+ T cells expressing the H60 TCR in both compartments. This observation indicates enhanced survival of these antigen-specific CD8+ memory T cells post-conditioning. Preliminary results indicate that 24h post-BMT into 9.0 Gy TBI recipients, there was BrDU uptake in marrow and splenic CD8+H60+ T cells in B6BALB.B transplanted with 1 x 107 BALB.B BM-TCD. Approximately 80% of CD8+H60+ T cells in the marrow compartment of primed recipients of BALB.B cells exhibited proliferation by BrDU uptake. Thus, donor MiHA-disparate marrow grafts elicit antigen-driven proliferation early post-BMT by CD8+ memory T cells in both compartments consistent with the potential importance of these cells in mediating resistance against progenitor engraftment across these MiHA differences.
Atomistic Study of Intramolecular Interactions in the Closed-State Channelrhodopsin Chimera, C1C2

Abstract Channelrhodopsins (ChR1 and ChR2) are light-activated ion channels that enable photomobility of microalgae from the genus Chlamydomonas. Despite common use of ChR2 in optogenetics for selective control and monitoring of individual neurons in living tissue, the protein structures remain unresolved. Instead, a crystal structure of the ChR chimera (C1C2), an engineered combination of helices I–V from ChR1, without its C-terminus, and helices VI–VII from ChR2, is used as a template for ChR2 structure prediction. Surprisingly few studies have focused in detail on the chimera. Here, we present atomistic molecular dynamics studies of the closed-state, non-conducting C1C2 structure and protonation states. A new and comprehensive characterization of interactions in the vicinity of the gating region of the pore, namely between residues E90, E123, D253, N258, and the protonated Schiff base (SBH), as well as nearby residues K93, T127, and C128, indicates that the equilibrated C1C2 structure with both E123 and D253 deprotonated closely resembles the available crystal structure. In agreement with experimental studies on C1C2, no direct or water-mediated hydrogen bonding between an aspartate and a cysteine (D156-O…S-C128) that would define a direct-current gate in C1C2 was observed in our simulations. Finally, we show that a single hydrogen bond between a glutamic acid (E90) and an asparagine (N258) residue suffices to keep the gate of C1C2 closed and to disable free water and ion passage through the putative pore, in contrast to the double bond proposed earlier for ChR2. We anticipate that this work will provide context for studies of both the gating process and water and ion transport in C1C2, and will spark interest in further experimental studies on the chimera.
Preference Assessment for Dimensions of Reinforcement to Inform Token Economies Targeting Problem Behavior

The purpose of the current two-experiment study was to examine the use of a preference assessment for dimensions of reinforcement to inform an effective token economy arrangement. Three participants diagnosed with developmental disabilities who engaged in negatively reinforced problem behavior participated in this study. During Experiment 1, a preference assessment for four dimensions of reinforcement (i.e., quality, immediacy, magnitude, and rate) occurred to inform a more- and less-preferred token economy arrangement. During Experiment 2, a treatment evaluation compared these two token economy arrangements. Results for all three participants showed lower rates of problem behavior under the more-preferred token economy arrangement compared to the less-preferred token economy arrangement. Rates of task completion were higher under the more-preferred token economy arrangement for one of the three participants. Results are discussed in terms of their practical implications for clinicians and educators implementing token economies to manage problem behavior.
Evaluation of the elastic optical network performance with various numbers of spatial modes

We have established a network model involving routing algorithms and assignment of modulation formats and spectral and spatial modes enabled to provide more insights on impacts of relevant signal and network parameters.
Complete Responses to Mitotane in Metastatic Adrenocortical Carcinoma—A New Look at an Old Drug

PURPOSE Based largely on reports that predate modern reporting standards, mitotane has been considered a systemic treatment option for both hormone control and antitumor control of metastatic adrenocortical cancer (ACC), although the therapeutic window is narrow. METHODS We searched electronic medical records to identify patients with metastatic ACC treated and prescribed single-agent mitotane at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center from March 15, 1989-September 18, 2015. Reference radiologists reviewed all imaging and determined efficacy according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors 1.1. Patient demographics, toxicities, and treatment outcomes were reviewed. Next-generation sequencing was performed in selected cases. RESULTS Thirty-six patients were identified. The mean age was 54 and 50% had functional tumors. Grade 3 or greater toxicities were documented in 16 out of 36 patients (44%) and 17% had documented long term adrenal insufficiency. Progression of the disease as the best response occurred in 30 out of 36 patients (83%) and one patient (3%) experienced clinical progression. Three patients achieved a complete response (CR) (8%), one patient achieved a partial response (3%), and one patient (3%) had stable disease after slow disease progression prior to initiation of therapy (durable for 6 months). All responders had nonfunctional tumors. Next-generation sequencing in two of the three CR patients was performed and failed to identify any novel alterations. CONCLUSION In this retrospective series, mitotane had a low response rate and low tumor control rate; however, a disproportionately high complete response rate suggested it should be used in selected individuals. Adrenal insufficiency is common with mitotane use and aggressive treatment with steroid supplementation should be considered when appropriate to avoid excess toxicities. Biomarkers are desperately needed to further define this disease. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE This is the first objective report of single-agent mitotane using modern objective criteria. Although the vast majority of patients did not respond (and toxicity was high), we identified a remarkable 8% complete response rate (i.e. cure) in biopsy proven stage IV adrenocortical cancer patients. Biomarkers are desperately needed for this rare disease.
An algorithm to increase intelligibility for hearing-impaired listeners in the presence of a competing talker

Individuals with hearing impairment have particular difficulty perceptually segregating concurrent voices and understanding a talker in the presence of a competing voice. In contrast, individuals with normal hearing perform this task quite well. This listening situation represents a very different problem for both the human and machine listener, when compared to perceiving speech in other types of background noise. A machine learning algorithm is introduced here to address this listening situation. A deep neural network was trained to estimate the ideal ratio mask for a male target talker in the presence of a female competing talker. The monaural algorithm was found to produce sentence-intelligibility increases for hearing-impaired (HI) and normal-hearing (NH) listeners at various signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). This benefit was largest for the HI listeners and averaged 59%-points at the least-favorable SNR, with a maximum of 87%-points. The mean intelligibility achieved by the HI listeners using the algorithm was equivalent to that of young NH listeners without processing, under conditions of identical interference. Possible reasons for the limited ability of HI listeners to perceptually segregate concurrent voices are reviewed as are possible implementation considerations for algorithms like the current one.
Correlation of Ventilation-Perfusion (V/Q) Scan Results as Compared with Clinical Probability of Pulmonary Embolism in African American Population.

Introduction Current guidelines suggest the use of the more specific Wells' score could safely reduce the number of unnecessary scans. There is a lack of research to support whether these guidelines apply to the African American population. This study aims to evaluate the correlation of clinical pretest probability of pulmonary embolism (PE) with ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scan results in a predominantly African American population and to test whether current guidelines based on studies conducted in other populations hold true in this group. Material and Methods A retrospective descriptive study to determine the diagnostic utility of the V/Q scan was conducted among patients who were seen during January 2012 to January 2016. The study population included patients who underwent a V/Q scan for evaluation of PE. One hundred and seventy-five charts were reviewed and 49 were excluded due to poor quality data. A review of the initial history, as well as discharge summaries, was performed. Wells' probability of PE was compared with the results of the scan. Laboratory tests and imaging studies were reviewed and analyzed. Result The median age of the study population was 63.02 ± 16.12 years. The majority of the study population, 121 patients (92.4%), was African American. Sixty-four (48.9%) VQ scans were done for a low clinical probability for pulmonary embolism as defined by the Wells' clinical score. The most common clinical presentations were shortness of breath (SOB) - 74 (58%), leg pain or swelling - 39 (29.8%), chest pain - 36 (27.4%), and syncope - 4 (3.1%). Sixty-two (96.9 %) patients with low clinical probability had low probability VQ scans (P = 0.03). Among the patients who underwent CT angiography and V/Q scanning, a low probability scan was noted in 25 patients with no pulmonary embolism on CT (96.2 %) (P = 0.006). Conclusions This study showed a strong correlation between low clinical probability and low probability V/Q scans and its utility to safely rule out PE in a predominantly black population. Studies conducted in other populations have detected similar findings.
BVF: enabling significant on-chip power savings via bit-value-favor for throughput processors

Power reduction is one of the primary tasks for designing modern processors, especially for high-performance throughput processors such as GPU due to their high power budget. In this paper, we propose a novel circuit-architecture co-design scheme to harvest enormous power savings for GPU on-chip SRAM and interconnects. We propose a new 8T SRAM that exhibits asymmetric energy consumption for bit value 0/1, in terms of read, write and standby. We name this feature Bit-Value-Favor (BVF). To harvest the power benefits from BVF on GPUs, we propose three coding methods at architectural level to maximize the occurrence of bit-1s over bit-0s in the on-chip data and instruction streams, leading to substantial chip-level power reduction. Experimental results across a large spectrum of 58 representative GPU applications demonstrate that our proposed BVF design can bring an average of 21% and 24% chip power reduction under 28nm and 40nm process technologies, with negligible design overhead. Further sensitivity studies show that the effectiveness of our design is robust to DVFS, warp scheduling policies and different SRAM capacities. CCS CONCEPTS • Computer systems organization → Single instruction, multiple data; • Hardware → Static memory; Power estimation and optimization; Dynamic memory;
Adaptive control of turbulence intensity is accelerated by frugal flow sampling

The aerodynamic performance of vehicles and animals, as well as the productivity of turbines and energy harvesters, depends on the turbulence intensity of the incoming flow. Previous studies have pointed at the potential benefits of active closed-loop turbulence control. However, it is unclear what the minimal sensory and algorithmic requirements are for realizing this control. Here we show that very low-bandwidth anemometers record sufficient information for an adaptive control algorithm to converge quickly. Our online Newton-Raphson algorithm tunes the turbulence in a recirculating wind tunnel by taking readings from an anemometer in the test section. After starting at 9% turbulence intensity, the algorithm converges on values ranging from 10% to 45% in less than 12 iterations within 1% accuracy. By down-sampling our measurements, we show that very-low-bandwidth anemometers record sufficient information for convergence. Furthermore, down-sampling accelerates convergence by smoothing gradients in turbulence intensity. Our results explain why low-bandwidth anemometers in engineering and mechanoreceptors in biology may be sufficient for adaptive control of turbulence intensity. Finally, our analysis suggests that, if certain turbulent eddy sizes are more important to control than others, frugal adaptive control schemes can be particularly computationally effective for improving performance.
Incremental Value of Deformation Imaging and Hemodynamics Following Heart Transplantation: Insights From Graft Function Profiling

Abstract Objectives This study investigated to define graft dysfunction and to determine its incremental association with long-term outcome after heart transplantation (HT). Background Although graft failure is an established cause of late mortality after HT, few studies have analyzed the prognostic value of graft dysfunction at 1- and 5-year follow-up of HT. Methods Patients who underwent HT and completed their first annual evaluation with right heart catheterization and echocardiography at Stanford University between January 1999 and December 2011 were included in the study. Hierarchical clustering was used to identify modules to capture independent features of graft dysfunction at 1 year. The primary endpoint for analysis consisted of the composite of cardiovascular mortality, re-transplantation, or heart failure hospitalization within 5 years of HT. The study further explored whether changes in graft dysfunction between 1 and 5 years were associated with 10-year all-cause mortality. Results A total of 215 HT recipients were included in the study. Using hierarchical clustering, 3 functional modules were identified; among them, left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS), stroke volume index, and right atrial pressure (RAP) or pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) captured key features of graft function. Graft dysfunction based on pre defined LVGLS in absolute value 2 , RAP >10 mm Hg, or PCWP >15 mm Hg were present in 41%, 36%, and 27%, respectively. The primary endpoint at 5 years occurred in 52 patients (24%), whereas 10-year all-cause mortality occurred in 30 (27%) of 110 patients alive at 5 years. On multivariate analysis, RAP (standardized hazard ratio: 1.63), LVGLS (standardized hazard ratio: 1.39), and a history of hemodynamically compromising rejection within 1 year (hazard ratio: 2.18) were independent predictors of 5-year outcome. RAP at 5 years, as well as change in RAP from 1 to 5 years, was predictive of 10-year all-cause mortality. Conclusions RAP and LVGLS at the first annual evaluation provide complementary prognostic information in predicting 5-year outcome after HT.
Improved Patient Outcomes by Normalizing Sympathovagal Balance: Differentiating Syncope—Precise Subtype Differentiation Leads to Improved Outcomes

Syncope is difficult to definitively diagnose, even with tilt-table testing and beat-to-beat blood pressure measurements, the gold-standard. Both are qualitative, subjective assessments. There are subtypes of syncope associated with autonomic conditions for which tilt-table testing is not useful. Heart rate variability analyses also include too much ambiguity. Three subtypes of syncope are differentiated: vasovagal syncope (VVS) due to parasympathetic excess (VVS-PE), VVS with abnormal heart rate response (VVS-HR), and VVS without PE (VVS-PN). PS average age: 57 years; age range: 12–100 years), serially tested over four years (3.3 tests per patient, average). P&S monitoring noninvasively, independently, and simultaneously measures parasympathetic and sympathetic (P&S) activity, including the normal P-decrease followed by an S-increase with head-up postural change (standing). Syncope, as an S-excess (SE) with stand, is differentiated from orthostatic dysfunction (e.g., POTS) as S-withdrawal with stand. Upon standing, VVS-PE is further differentiated as SE with PE, VVS-HR as SE with abnormal HR, and VVS-PN as SE with normal P- and HR-responses. Improved understanding of the underlying pathophysiology by more accurate subtyping leads to more precise therapy and improved outcomes.
Functional Communication Training with Aided AAC

Challenging behaviors, though not a core characteristic, frequently occur in individuals with autism spectrum disorders, particularly those who cannot communicate effectively. Functional communication training (FCT) is a means of intervening with challenging behavior by teaching a more appropriate communicative behavior after determining the purpose the behavior served. This chapter provides an overview of FCT and a review of the research in support of the use of FCT with people with ASD.
Local Polynomial Prediction and Volatility Estimation in Financial Time Series

Chaos and nonlinear theory has significant impact on the analysis of economic and financial time series. Nonlinearity plays an important role in explaining the empirical features of asymmetric business cycles, clustered volatility, and regime switching in finance data. In this Chapter, we will focus the popular local polynomial prediction method and its applications to chaotic time series prediction and financial volatility estimation. Volatility and conditional covariance estimation is important in many aspects of modern finance theory. We introduce a nonparametric volatility model, called local ARCH, and propose a weighted least square method for goodness of fit. The statistical theory is based on a martingale regression framework developed in Lu (1999a,b), which includes a wide variety of nonlinear time series models, such as nonlinear autoregression, ARCH, and nonlinear vector autoregressive models. The daily AOL stock data is used as an example to illustrate the developed techniques. First, we apply the nonlinear regression procedure to model the spread-volume relationship—We find a nice power-law relationship in all appropriate periods after discovering that the spurious nonlinearity in the overall data is due to nonstationarity. We also find a vastly changing structure in GARCH models fitted to different parts of the return rate series based on closing prices. We apply the developed local ARCH theory to a stationary subseries of the return series, and find some encouraging results.
Job satisfaction among U.S. pharmacists

A review of the literature on job satisfaction that is relevant to pharmacists is presented. Studies conducted in the United States between 1951 and 1982 were evaluated to answer two questions: (1) What is known about the level of job satisfaction among pharmacists? and (2) What factors are related to pharmacists' job satisfaction? Some study populations were selected on the basis of work setting, others on position in the job hierarchy, and others on different criteria. Job satisfaction measures were of two general types, facet-free measures, which assess overall satisfaction, and facet-specific measures, which gauge satisfaction with respect to a specific aspect of the job. Pharmacists in the studies represented a wide variety of work settings and geographic locations. Most of the studies were not comparable because they used instruments unique to a particular study. In some cases, response rates were low and sample sizes were small. Frequently, results were not analyzed statistically for significance. A few studies compared pharmacists with other job populations; the differences were not striking, although pharmacists may be slightly less satisfied with their specific jobs than the general public. Repeatedly, job position and ability utilization appeared related to pharmacists' job satisfaction. Further study of the extent, causes, and consequences of pharmacists' job satisfaction is needed. Research methods should be designed so that results can be analyzed and compared statistically.
The Use of Cultured Astrocytes in the Study of Hepatic Encephalopathy

Considerable data implicates astrocytes in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). The Alzheimer type II astrocyte change constitutes the histopathologic hallmark in man and experimental animals with portal systemic encephalopathy (for reviews, see Norenberg, 1981, 1987). Ammonia, the chief toxin implicated in the pathogenesis of HE also causes similar astrocytic changes. Additionally, the detoxification of ammonia in brain occurs through the action of glutamine synthetase, an enzyme which in brain is exclusively localized in astrocytes (Norenberg and Martinez-Hernandez, 1979). Other implicated toxins, such as short-chain fatty acids also appear to be predominantly metabolized in astrocytes (Cremer, 1975). Finally, fulminant hepatic failure leads to the development of cerebral edema, a condition caused by water accumulation in astrocytes (Traber et al., 1987).