cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
System Readiness and Risk Assessment for Advanced Vehicle Concepts - Discussion of Fundamental Concepts

ion, say tier 0. The physical decomposition that ensues can follow logically through tiers 1, 2, 3, and so on. IV. Review of Readiness and Risk Assessment Methods A. System Readiness as a Multi-dimensional Attribute The multi-dimensional nature of system readiness has been recognized in the past, for instance in Ref. [10], which notes that “systematically measuring technology and system maturity is a multi-dimensional process that cannot be performed comprehensively by a one-dimensional metric.” This condition naturally reveals an inherent challenge in the assessment of system readiness, prescribing methodological rigor and the careful development of metrics. It is not surprising that most well established methods only address a few aspects relevant to system readiness, and therefore manage to capture it only in part. In general, most qualitative methods alone do not provide a complete picture of system readiness [10], and the use of more than one readiness metric becomes necessary. Table 1. Hierarchical designation for physical architectures.
A Novel in Vitro Three Organ System Assay Identifies a Small Molecule Ubiquitin Analog with in Vivo Activity Against Myeloma

Taking a mechanistically unbiased approach to the discovery of new myeloma drugs we developed a three organ system assay that selected anti-myeloma compounds from a primary 30,000 small molecule ATP-based screen in one sandwich setup for tolerability by normal bone marrow, stability towards liver enzymes, and activity in the context of cell barriers, bone marrow stromal support, and short, kidney-clearance-like exposure (fig.1). The most promising compound (CCF642) emerging from this test had IC50s around 500 nM in all 8 MM cell lines tested including a proteasome inhibitor refractory line while the IC50 was not reached in 5 healthy bone marrow samples at doses up to 6750 nM. Similar sensitivity as in MM was seen in 7 lymphoma cell lines. Investigation of its mechanism of action revealed that CCF642 immediately stimulates protein ubiquitination which is followed by degradation of major myeloma survival factors (c-MYC, IRF4, NF-κB) and apoptosis, while normal bone marrow cells increase ubiquitination to a much lesser degree and only transiently without undergoing cell death. Experiments with an active biotinylated analog showed that it preferentially enters myeloma cells with cytoplasmic accumulation and over 10-fold lower entry into normal bone marrow. Immunoblots revealed that it becomes covalently attached to proteins in a time- and distribution pattern that parallels ubiquitination responses. In vitro, it bound to ubiquitin activating enzyme UBA1 at the active site cysteine in a similarly stable and reversible way as ubiquitin. Selective alkylation of cysteine sulfhydryl groups inhibited binding of biotinylated CCF642 to UBA1, while addition of ATP and ubiquitin led to its dissociation from UBA1. CCF642 may therefore at least in part act as a small molecule ubiquitin analog. Accordingly CCF642 binding to target proteins of UBA1 containing HeLa fraction II was increased by addition of ATP and blocked in the presence of EDTA. Injected twice a week IP at 30mg/kg it suppressed systemically engrafted luciferase expressing 5TGM1 mouse myeloma cells in syngeneic mice comparable to bortezomib given at the MTD for this mouse strain (0.5mg/kg SC twice a week) with equal prolongation of survival. Results support use of our sandwich assay to select myeloma drug candidates for in vivo testing and reveal a new UBA1 interacting small molecule ubiquitination enhancer with promise for clinical translation. ![Figure 1:][1] Figure 1: Sandwich Three Organ System Assay Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare. [1]: pending:yes
The 2008 Amendments to the New York Adverse Possession Law: Unresolved Ambiguity and Suggestions for Clarity

This article explores the adverse possession doctrine and the substantial revisions to statutory provisions in New York that govern acquisition of title to real property by adverse possession. It explores in detail the adversity requirement and New York’s rejection of hostile possession as an accepted form of adversity. It also explores New York’s modification of the statutory standards governing the actual possession requirement.
Use of Regenerative Tissue for Urinary Diversion

There is a large interest in developing tissue-engineered urinary diversions (TEUDs) in order to reduce the significant morbidity that results from utilization of the alimentary tract in the urinary system. TEUDs involve a complex interplay of a scaffold or support substrate and cells. Scaffolds can be comprised from natural, synthetic, or decellularized organs. Various populations of stem cells, adult cells, and combinations thereof have been investigated. However, no definitive scaffold or cell type has proven to be superior. Additionally, optimization of the cellular biology properties of TEUDs has been sought by incorporating growth factors, adhesion factors, and nutrients. Despite exciting new developments and several promising initial clinical trials, additional investigation is needed to make TEUDs a clinical reality.
Syringomyelia in Hereditary Multiple Exostosis.

We describe five children with Hereditary Multiple Exostosis (HME) who also had syringomyelia. Of these, four had a tethered cord/fibrolipoma. No spinal osteochondromas were found in these patients. All had antecedent neurological signs or symptoms that prompted spinal imaging with MRI. Of all patients with HME seen in the Midwest Regional Bone Dysplasia Clinic from 1982 to present, 44% (17/39) of patients had signs or symptoms concerning for possible cord-related neurological findings. However, only 10 of 39 had spinal imaging. Assuming that all individuals with syringomyelia were identified, then 5/39 (13%) were in that way affected. This, of course, is a minimal estimate given that many were not imaged. The incidence of syringomyelia appears to be increased in this population, and seems to be unrelated to spinal osteochondromas. A low threshold for obtaining spinal MRI in patients with Hereditary Multiple Exostosis seems rational. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mobile phone mid-range wireless charger development via coupled magnetic resonance

In this paper, wireless power transfer for mobile phones via coupled magnetic resonance with multiple transmitters (Txs) and / or receivers (Rxs) are investigated and tested. The system is able to charge cellphones with more than 3 W in a distance between 5 and 15 cm and also in different angles. The resonant frequency is 6MHz. For lower charging powers the distance between the Tx and Rx can go up to 20 cm. Additionally, the three-dimensional movement of the Rx and its effect to the charging power is tested, as self-rotation and rotation around the Tx coil. This achievement is significant to improve user experience of wireless charging for portable electronic devices.
Cross-Lingual Question Answering Using Common Semantic Space

With the advent of Big Data concept, a lot of attention has been paid to structuring and giving semantic to this data. Knowledge bases like DBPedia play an important role to achieve this goal. Question answering systems are common approach to address expressivity and usability of information extraction from knowledge bases. Recent researches focused only on monolingual QA systems while cross-lingual setting has still so many barriers. In this paper we introduce a new cross-lingual approach using a unified semantic space among languages. After keyword extraction, entity linking and answer type detection, we use cross lingual semantic similarity to extract the answer from knowledge base via relation selection and type matching. We have evaluated our approach on Persian and Spanish which are typologically different languages. Our experiments are on DBPedia. The results are promising for both languages.
Employee Exit, Voice, Loyalty, and Neglect in Response to Dissatisfying Organizational Situations: It Depends on Supervisory Relationship Quality

This study examined, via a field experiment, the extent to which the quality of leader-member exchange (LMX) and gender affect employees’ enactment of exit, voice, loyalty, and neglect (EVLN) strat...
Root Cause Investigation of Lead-Free Solder Joint Interfacial Failures After Multiple Reflows

Solder joint interconnects in three-dimensional (3D) packages with package stacking configurations typically must undergo multiple reflow cycles during the assembly process. In this work, interfacial open joint failures between the bulk solder and the intermetallic compound (IMC) layer were found in Sn–Ag–Cu (SAC) solder joints connecting a small package to a large package after multiple reflow reliability tests. Systematic progressive 3D x-ray computed tomography experiments were performed on both incoming and assembled parts to reveal the initiation and evolution of the open failures in the same solder joints before and after the reliability tests. Characterization studies, including focused ion beam cross-sections, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, were conducted to determine the correlation between IMC phase transformation and failure initiation in the solder joints. A comprehensive failure mechanism, along with solution paths for the solder joint interfacial failures after multiple reflow cycles, is discussed in detail.
A spacecraft benchmark problem for hybrid control and estimation

The development of autonomous systems is a growing area of importance across a wide range of commercial, government, and civil applications. A number of new technical tools for the design and analysis of complex autonomous systems have been proposed in the literature, including the use of hybrid systems modeling and analysis. This paper develops an exemplar autonomous system problem, namely an autonomous spacecraft rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking (ARPOD) mission, as a benchmark problem for hybrid systems analysis and control techniques. The paper provides a complete mathematical description of the ARPOD hybrid dynamics/control problem, as well as providing details on variants that can be included to emphasize different elements of the hybrid system and to increase or decrease the complexity of the problem. Some baseline results are provided for comparison.
Muir, Roosevelt, and Yosemite National Park as an Emergent Sacred Symbol: An Interaction Ritual Analysis of a Camping Trip

We argue that interaction ritual (IR) theory provides a temporal and interactional point of origin from which to trace an influential IR chain that became a deciding factor in the unification of Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove under federal control within present-day Yosemite National Park. The emotions generated by the rituals of Roosevelt's and Muir's camping trip in May, 1903 in the short term, however, failed to result in a lasting consensus on ideology. This is a point that Roosevelt's lack of support for Muir in the subsequent controversy over the damming of the Hetch Hetchy Valley clearly documents.
Science Engagement and Science Achievement in the Context of Science Instruction: A Multilevel Analysis of U.S. Students and Schools.

Using data from the 2006 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), we explored nine aspects of science engagement (science self-efficacy, science self-concept, enjoyment of science, gene...
nab-Paclitaxel-based induction chemotherapy with or without cetuximab for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Abstract Objectives To explore the effect of incorporating cetuximab into induction chemotherapy in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Materials and methods Retrospective comparative analysis of two consecutive prospective phase II trials was performed: trial 1 with nab-paclitaxel/cisplatin/5-FU and cetuximab (APF-C; n = 30) and trial 2 with APF (n = 30). Patients were scheduled to receive chemoradiation therapy (CRT) with cisplatin. T2-4 classification oropharynx (OP)/larynx/hypopharynx SCC were included. Cumulative incidence of death of disease (CIDD), overall survival (OS), and cumulative incidence of relapse were compared between APF-C and APF. Results No significant differences in patient or tumor characteristics were noted between the groups. Median follow-up of surviving patients was 52 (25–95) months. Relapse occurred in 5 (17%) patients treated with APF-C and in 2 (7%) treated with APF (p = 0.37). In human papillomavirus (HPV)-related OPSCC (n = 34), the CIDD at 52 months was 3.4% with APF-C and 2.6% with APF and the two-year OSs were 94%. In HPV-unrelated HNSCC (n = 25), the CIDD at 52 months was 4.4% with APF-C and 3.3% with APF and two-year OSs were 83% and 92%, respectively. CIDD or OS did not differ when stratified by treatment group and HPV status (CIDD: p = 0.80; OS: p = 0.30). Conclusion This exploratory retrospective comparative analysis demonstrated no significant difference in CIDD, OS, or cumulative incidence of relapse between patients treated with APF-C or APF.
Dietary Management of Obesity: Cornerstones of Healthy Eating Patterns

Several dietary patterns, both macronutrient and food based, can lead to weight loss. A key strategy for weight management that can be applied across dietary patterns is to reduce energy density. Clinical trials show that reducing energy density is effective for weight loss and weight loss maintenance. A variety of practical strategies and tools can help facilitate successful weight management by reducing energy density, providing portion control, and improving diet quality. The flexibility of energy density gives patients options to tailor and personalize their dietary pattern to reduce energy intake for sustainable weight loss.
Effects of cAMP-Dependent, Calmodulin-Dependent, and C-Type Protein Kinases on Platelet Calcium Transport

Cyclic AMP (cAMP) and Ca2+ are interrelated intracellular messengers known to modify cellular function through specific protein kinases (Cohen, 1982). In platelets, increases in cAMP inhibit platelet activation, an effect that is reversed by inhibitors of adenylate cyclase (Salzman, 1972; Chianget al., 1975), while Ca2+ is involved in activation rather than inhibition of platelet function (Detwileret al., 1978). In addition to cAMP-and calmodulindependent protein kinases, a third kinase is intimately involved in platelet activation—protein kinase C (Kishimotoet al., 1980). This kinase is activated by diacylglycerol, a product of phospholipase C—mediated hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol.
On Effective Goal Setting

Problems of effective goal setting can be formulated into complex multiple criteria optimal control systems in which the control variables are (i) selection of measurable goal functions, (ii) setting the goal achievement levels and (iii) determining effective supportive systems; and the objectives are to (I) maximize the attention time allocation to the work assigned and (II) to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness (or ability) of performing the work. Utilizing concepts of human behavior mechanism and habitual domains, we offer a general principle of effective goal setting as to select control variables to create favorable working conditions, and relative high levels of charges and confidence on the performers so that they can allocate as much time as possible to perform the desired job-related operations in a most efficient and effective way. A detailed discussion on the applications of this principle over various classes of problems is given.
Historical Introduction: The Role of Electricity in the Exploration and Elucidation of the Epileptic Seizure

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the role of electricity in the exploration and elucidation of the epileptic seizure. The role of electricity in the exploration of the epileptic nervous system emerged from two major and, at first, independent lines of observation and experiment. The realization that the applied electricity interacted with that of the cortical neurons had to wait for the discovery that the neurons were themselves the source of intrinsic current. Gray matter is insensitive to stimulation, whereas white matter is the seat of sensation and the source of movement. An epileptic attack can be accompanied by abnormal discharges. Movements do not necessarily stem from involvement of cortical gray matter for the electricity can well be conducted through it without excitation until it reaches the basal ganglia.
STING regulates IFN-β expression during endoplasmic reticulum stress (57.4)

STING (TMEM173, MPYS,MITA) located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), plays a critical role in type I IFN responses to intracellular DNA. STING activates TBK1, resulting in phosphorylated IRF3 that regulates IFN-β transcription. Our previous work showing markedly enhanced LPS-induced IFN-β during ER stress implicated increased IRF3 recruitment to the ifnb1 promoter. In this study, utilizing STING-/- mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and RNAi (in MEFs and macrophages) we determined that STING was essential for synergistic induction of IFN-β mRNA in response to LPS and ER stress (thapsigargin/TPG treatment). TPG treatment alone induced re-localization and clustering of STING and TBK1 in MEFs. Although ER stress resulted in nuclear translocation of IRF3 in a STING-independent manner, TPG and TPG+LPS-induced IRF3 phosphorylation (as detected by immunofluorescence and western blot respectively) depended upon STING. In comparison, STING was not required for LPS or LPS+TPG induced NF-κB phosphorylation. These results indicate that ER stress alone results in IRF3 nuclear translocation and phosphorylation. In mice, treatment with the ER stress inducer tunicamycin was sufficient for induction of serum-detectable IFN-β, comparable with low dose LPS. Our results also suggest that the synergistic IFN-β responses during LPS and ER stress involve STING-dependent IRF3 phosphorylation.
A study of sirolimus and mTOR kinase inhibitor in a hypomorphic Pkd1 mouse model of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is characterized by cyst formation and growth, which are partially driven by abnormal proliferation of tubular cells. Proproliferative mechanistic...
Parameter dependence of acoustic mode quantities in an idealized model for shallow-water nonlinear internal wave ducts.

Nonlinear internal waves in shallow water have significant acoustic impacts and cause three-dimensional ducting effects, for example, energy trapping in a duct between curved wavefronts that propagates over long distances. A normal mode approach applied to a three-dimensional idealized parametric model [Lin, McMahon, Lynch, and Siegmann, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 133(1), 37–49 (2013)] determines the dependence of such effects on parameters of the features. Specifically, an extension of mode number conservation leads to convenient analytical formulas for along-duct (angular) acoustic wavenumbers. The radial modes are classified into five types depending on geometric characteristics, resulting in five distinct formulas to obtain wavenumber approximations. Examples of their dependence on wavefront curvature and duct width, along with benchmark comparisons, demonstrate approximation accuracy over a broad range of physical values, even including situations where transitions in mode types occur with parameter changes. Horizontal-mode transmission loss contours found from approximate and numerically exact wavenumbers agree well in structure and location of intensity features. Cross-sectional plots show only small differences between pattern phases and amplitudes of the two calculations. The efficiency and accuracy of acoustic wavenumber and field approximations, in combination with the mode-type classifications, suggest their application to determining parameter sensitivity and also to other feature models.Nonlinear internal waves in shallow water have significant acoustic impacts and cause three-dimensional ducting effects, for example, energy trapping in a duct between curved wavefronts that propagates over long distances. A normal mode approach applied to a three-dimensional idealized parametric model [Lin, McMahon, Lynch, and Siegmann, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 133(1), 37–49 (2013)] determines the dependence of such effects on parameters of the features. Specifically, an extension of mode number conservation leads to convenient analytical formulas for along-duct (angular) acoustic wavenumbers. The radial modes are classified into five types depending on geometric characteristics, resulting in five distinct formulas to obtain wavenumber approximations. Examples of their dependence on wavefront curvature and duct width, along with benchmark comparisons, demonstrate approximation accuracy over a broad range of physical values, even including situations where transitions in mode types occur with parameter changes...
Mitochondrial mRNA fragments are circularized in a human HEK cell line.

Abstract The relatively recent focus on the widespread occurrence and abundance of circular RNAs (circRNA) in the human cell nucleus has sparked an intensive interest in their existence and possible roles in cell gene expression and physiology. The presence of circRNAs in mammalian mitochondria, however, has been under-explored. Mitochondrial mRNAs differ from those produced from nuclear genes because they lack introns and are transcribed as poly-cistronic transcripts that are endonucleolytically cleaved, leaving transcripts with very small 5′ and 3′ UTRs. Circular RNAs have been identified in the semi-autonomous organelles of single-celled organisms and plants but their purpose has not been clearly demonstrated. The goal of our project was to test the hypothesis, processed mRNAs are circularized in vertebrate mitochondria as a necessary RNA processing step prior to translation. Mitochondrial mRNAs were isolated from the human cell line HEK293 and evidence of circularization sought by treating RNA with RNAse-R and then amplifying putative 3′-5′ junction sites. Sequence results demonstrated the occurrence of mRNA circularization within each coding region of the mitochondrial genome. However, in most cases the circRNAs carried coding regions that had been truncated, suggesting they were not translatable. Quantification of the circularized versions of the mRNAs revealed they comprise a small portion (~10%) of the total mRNA. These findings demonstrate that mRNA circularization occurs in mammalian mitochondria but it does not appear to play a role in making translatable mRNAs.
The search for truth: Appositives weigh in

The semantic and pragmatic contribution of appositives to their containing sentence is a subject of continuing debate. While unidimensional semantic accounts propose that appositives contribute their truth conditions to their containing sentence, multidimensional accounts predict that they do not. In three experiments, we directly compared judgments of the truth of sentences containing appositives and sentences containing conjunctions. Our findings contribute both a methodological and a theoretical point. First, we show that no conclusions about the truth-conditional contributions of appositives can be drawn from experimental work without further investigation of how participants provide truth value judgments for complex sentences. Second, we show that while appositives appear to contribute truth values to their containing sentences, participants are highly sensitive to task features when they compute the truth value of sentences with appositives and also, crucially, with conjunctions. Specifically, we show that both sentences containing appositives and those containing conjunctions can be judged true even when the appositive or one conjunct is patently false. We conclude that it is unlikely that these results reflect semantic judgments, and suggest that they reflect truth only at the speech-act level.
Preceptor perceptions of contemporary practice skills among new graduates amid community pharmacy transformation.

Abstract Introduction With community pharmacy transitioning from a fee-for-service model to a value-based care focus, the desired skills of pharmacist graduates is an evolving paradigm. As active stakeholders in community practice, pharmacist preceptors are in a unique position to compare the ever-changing dichotomy between pharmacy practice and training. Examining preceptors' assessments of these essential contemporary practice skills may provide useful insights. Methods A survey was emailed to all regional, active college of pharmacy community advanced pharmacy practice experiences preceptors. Participating preceptors were given 30 days to complete the online survey. Weekly reminders were provided. Results Of the 168 preceptors invited to participate, 42 (25%) completed the survey. Descriptive analysis compared preceptors' perceptions of transformative services vs. their relative implementation in practice. This revealed service areas such as health screenings that were proportionate in their prevalence of offering and perception as contemporary. In contrast, services such as pharmacogenomic testing were more widely perceived as contemporary compared to their low prevalence as an offering. Participants showed broad consensus in the importance of most skills listed in the survey, predominantly indicating these skills were either “very important” or “extremely important.” Only a few specific skills areas were identified that showed less consensus, with a minority of respondents specifying that these skills were of less importance. Conclusions Preceptor surveys may offer insights on the progression of community practice curricula. Continued monitoring of changes in service parameters over time may reveal trends in practice transformation, identifying service areas being more widely adopted.
An Evaluation of the Community Recovery Program: A Case Management Approach to Assisting Individuals Recover from Substance Use and Incarceration

Successful community reintegration is an integral part of the recovery journey for individuals with a history of substance use and/or incarceration. However, many of these individuals face numerous difficulties when reintegrating into their community. The Community Recovery Program (CRP), based in Virginia, used a recovery oriented, case management approach to assist individuals reintegrate into the community by assisting in various areas (employment, education, housing, finances, mental health, physical health). Individuals that were at least 3 months sober or recently released from jail participated. The objective of this study was to evaluate CRP using case review data and interviews. Each participant was assigned a case manager and completed case reviews at the beginning of CRP and 12 months later. Case review data (N = 88) were analyzed using McNemar tests. All McNemar tests were statistically significant (p < .05), indicating significant changes in the proportion of participants in all areas of recovery from baseline to follow-up. Interviews with participants (N = 19) and stakeholder surveys (N = 34) were analyzed using thematic analysis. Participants discussed positive aspects of their lives because of involvement in CRP, such as financial stability and improved family relationships. Participants also discussed areas they are still struggling with, such as work-life balance. Stakeholders mentioned positive changes in the community because of CRP, such as strengthening awareness about services in community. Stakeholders also discussed challenges for CRP, such as lack of employment opportunities for participants. Overall, this study showed that CRP, with a case management approach, can help participants achieve their goals in multiple areas of recovery.
A study on MoS2-based multilevel transistor memories for neuromorphic computing

We study the validity of implementing MoS2 multilevel memories in future neuromorphic networks. Such a validity is determined by the number of available states per memory and their retention characteristics within the nominal computing duration. Our work shows that MoS2 memories have at least 3-bit and 4.7-bit resolvable states suitable for hour-scale and minute-scale computing processes, respectively. The simulated neural network conceptually constructed on the basis of such memory states predicts a high learning accuracy of 90.9% for handwritten digit datasets. This work indicates that multilevel MoS2 transistors could be exploited as valid and reliable nodes for constructing neuromorphic networks.
Efficient Intercarrier Compensation for Competing Networks When Customers Share the Value of A Call

In competitive telecommunications markets each carrier relies on competing networks to terminate internetwork calls. Regulators typically require the calling party's network to pay a termination fee to the called party's network equal to the terminating network's “incremental cost” of completing the call, effectively imposing all of the costs on the calling party's network. These payments can affect retail prices and therefore consumption. I show that when both parties benefit from a call, they should bear its costs in proportion to the benefit they receive. Therefore, imposing all of the costs of an internetwork call on the calling party's network can be inefficient if these costs are reflected in the calling party's usage rates. A system in which two networks exchange traffic at specified points on a bill-and-keep basis imposes some of the cost on each network, which will then be imposed on the parties. This can generate more efficient network utilization, even with unbalanced traffic between networks. Thus, regulators may improve the efficiency of telecommunications markets by establishing bill-and-keep intercarrier compensation rules.
The Role of Parvalbumin Interneurons in Neurotransmitter Balance and Neurological Disease

While great progress has been made in the understanding of neurological illnesses, the pathologies, and etiologies that give rise to these diseases still remain an enigma, thus, also making treatments for them more challenging. For effective and individualized treatment, it is beneficial to identify the underlying mechanisms that govern the associated cognitive and behavioral processes that go awry in neurological disorders. Parvalbumin fast-spiking interneurons (Pv-FSI) are GABAergic cells that are only a small fraction of the brain's neuronal network, but manifest unique cellular and molecular properties that drastically influence the downstream effects on signaling and ultimately change cognitive behaviors. Proper brain functioning relies heavily on neuronal communication which Pv-FSI regulates, excitatory-inhibitory balances and GABAergic disinhibition between circuitries. This review highlights the depth of Pv-FSI involvement in the cortex, hippocampus, and striatum, as it pertains to expression, neurotransmission, role in neurological disorders, and dysfunction, as well as cognitive behavior and reward-seeking. Recent research has indicated that Pv-FSI play pivotal roles in the molecular pathophysiology and cognitive-behavioral deficits that are core features of many psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, Alzheimer's disease, and drug addiction. This suggests that Pv-FSI could be viable targets for treatment of these disorders and thus calls for further examination of the undeniable impact Pv-FSI have on the brain and cognitive behavior.
B cells promote CD8 T cell primary and memory responses to subunit vaccines.

Summary The relationship between B cells and CD4 T cells has been carefully studied, revealing a collaborative effort in which B cells promote the activation, differentiation, and expansion of CD4 T cells while the so-called “helper” cells provide signals to B cells, influencing their class switching and fate. Interactions between B cells and CD8 T cells are not as well studied, although CD8 T cells exhibit an accelerated contraction after certain infections in B-cell-deficient mice. Here, we find that B cells significantly enhance primary CD8 T cell responses after vaccination. Moreover, memory CD8 numbers and function are impaired in B-cell-deficient animals, leading to increased susceptibility to bacterial challenge. We also show that interleukin-27 production by B cells contributes to their impact on primary, but not memory, CD8 responses. Better understanding of the interactions between CD8 T cells and B cells may aid in the design of more effective future vaccine strategies.
Enhancing the Therapeutic Efficacy of PD-L1 Antibody for Metastasized Liver Cancer by Overcoming Hepatic Immunotolerance.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Immunotherapy with PD-1/PD-L1 blockade has shown low response rates in liver cancer patients, with the underlying mechanisms unclear. To decipher a specific impact of the liver microenvironment, we compared the effects of anti-PD-L1 antibody (αPD-L1) blockade on the same tumor grown subcutaneously or in the liver. APPROACH AND RESULTS We generated subcutaneous tumors in mice by inoculating MC38 colorectal cancer (CRC) cells under the skin and metastatic liver tumors by portal vein or splenic injection of the CRC cells. Tumor-bearing mice were treated by intraperitoneal injection of αPD-L1, polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (polyIC) or both. αPD-L1 monotherapy significantly suppressed subcutaneous tumor growth but showed no effect on metastatic liver tumors. However, combination of αPD-L1 with polyIC, an innate immunity-stimulating reagent, robustly inhibited tumor progression in the liver. The combination therapy effectively down-regulated myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) but upregulated the ratios of M1/M2 macrophages, CD8/CD4 and CD8/Treg cells infiltrated into liver tumors and the whole liver. A group of long-lasting T-bet+ Eomes- PD-1- cytotoxic T cells was maintained in the Combo-treated liver, leading to resistance to tumor recurrence. Depleting macrophages or blocking type Ⅰ interferon signaling abrogated the synergistic anti-tumor effect of αPD-L1 and polyIC, indicating a requirement of boosting innate immunity for optimized activation of cytotoxic T cells by PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. CONCLUSION The poor response of liver cancers to αPD-L1 therapy is largely due to a unique hepatic immunotolerant microenvironment, independent of tumor origins or types. The success of a combinatorial immunotherapy relies on coordinated inhibition or activation of various innate and adaptive immune cell activities.
Asymptotic expansions in nonlinear rotordynamics

This paper is an examination of special nonlinearities of the Jeffcott equations in rotordynamics. The immediate application of this analysis is directed toward understanding the excessive vibrations recorded in the LOX pump of the SSME during hot-firing ground testing. Deadband, side force, and rubbing are three possible sources of inducing nonlinearity in the Jeffcott equations. The present analysis initially reduces these problems to the same mathematical description. A special frequency, named the nonlinear natural frequency, is defined and used to develop the solutions of the nonlinear Jeffcott equations as singular asymptotic expansions. This nonlinear natural frequency, which is the ratio of the cross-stiffness and the damping, plays a major role in determining response frequencies.
Immunologic studies in the lymphoblastomas. II. The ability to develop an eczematous sensitization to a simple chemical and the ability to accept passive transfer antibody.

In a previous communication, we discussed certain cutaneous reactions in persons having a lymphoblastomatous disease (1). It was shown that these patients exhibited a marked reduction in the incidence of cutaneous reactivity to such antigens as tuberculin, trichophytin and oidiomycin. It was assumed that they had previously been exposed to the microorganisms from which these antigens are derived. The depression of reactivity appeared to exist against both the immediate and delayed types of allergic reaction but was much more marked against the delayed type. There was no impairment in the ability to react to an obligatory urticariogenic agent such as histamine or a histamine liberator.
Information-Based Physics and the Influence Network

I know about the universe because it influences me. Light excites the photoreceptors in my eyes, surfaces apply pressure to my touch receptors and my eardrums are buffeted by relentless waves of air molecules. My entire sensorium is excited by all that surrounds me. These experiences are all I have ever known, and for this reason, they comprise my reality. This essay considers a simple model of observers that are influenced by the world around them. Consistent quantification of information about such influences results in a great deal of familiar physics. The end result is a new perspective on relativistic quantum mechanics, which includes both a way of conceiving of spacetime as well as particle “properties” that may be amenable to a unification of quantum mechanics and gravity. Rather than thinking about the universe as a computer, perhaps it is more accurate to think about it as a network of influences where the laws of physics derive from both consistent descriptions and optimal information-based inferences made by embedded observers.
Emission of 3914-Å N 2 + radiation from charge-transfer excitation

Using various projectile ions incident on an ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ gas target, we have determined cross sections for the ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}^{+}$ 3914-\AA{} emission in coincidence with charge transfer from ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ molecules to the projectiles. Ions of H and the inert gases, each in the energy range 10 to 100 keV, were used. As in charge transfer in which target and projectile are left in the ground state, the velocity at which the maximum cross section occurs increases as the magnitude of the potential energy change increases. Unlike the ground-state case, the value of the cross section at a fixed velocity is significantly greater for an exothermic reaction than for an endothermic reaction having the same magnitude of $\ensuremath{\Delta}E$.
WS-CAF: contexts, coordination and transactions for web services

As Web services have evolved as a means to integrate processes and applications at an inter-enterprise level, traditional transaction semantics and protocols have proven to be inappropriate. Web services-based transactions, colloquially termed Business Transactions, differ from traditional transactions in that they execute over long periods, they require commitments to the transaction to be "negotiated" at runtime, and isolation levels have to be relaxed. A solution to this problem has to work over HTTP and include existing transaction processing technologies of all types: database management systems, application servers, message queuing systems and packaged applications. In this paper we'll look at the WS-CAF standardization effort and show how it is attempting to address this important and difficult subject. We'll also consider how the architecture defined by WS-CAF fits into the evolving architecture of Web services.
Oral contraceptives and human cervical mucus lipids

Abstract Oral contraceptives containing estrogenic and progestational components caused a consistent increase in human cervical mucus lipids during the menstrual cycle. Cyclic variations in cervical mucus lipids occur during the normal cycle. Phospholipids, free cholesterol, and triglycerides in cervical mucus increase with the use of oral contraceptives.
Abstract 4: The Effect of Prehospital Hypoxia and Hypotension on Outcome in Major Traumatic Brain Injury: A Deadly Combination

BACKGROUND: Hypoxia (HOx) or hypotension (HT) occurring during the EMS management of major traumatic brain injury-TBI reduces survival. However, little is known about the impact of both HOx and HT, occurring together, on outcome. Only a handful of reports have studied the combination of prehospital HOx/HT in TBI and the largest of these only had 14 cases with both. Objectives: To evaluate the associations between mortality and prehospital HOx and HT, both separately and in combination. METHODS: All moderate/severe TBI cases (CDC Barell Matrix Type-1) in the Excellence in Prehospital Injury Care (EPIC) TBI Study (a statewide, before/after controlled study of the impact of implementing the EMS TBI Treatment Guidelines-NIH/NINDS: 1R01NS071049) from 1/1/08-6/30/12 were evaluated [exclusions: age<10; death before ED arrival; EMS O2 saturation-“sat”<11%; EMS SBP less than 40 or greater than 200; missing sat (5.4% of cases) or SBP (3.1% of cases)]. The relationship between mortality and HOx (sat <90) and/or HT (...
Treatment of pulmonary recurrences in patients with endometrial cancer.

Abstract Objective To assess the treatment and outcome of patients with endometrial cancer following isolated pulmonary relapse. Methods Between 1984 and 1996, 82 of 1109 patients undergoing surgery for primary endometrial cancer experienced a primary pulmonary recurrence, 28 of which were solitary. Median follow up of censored patients after isolated pulmonary recurrence was 159 months. Results Grade 1/2 disease, pulmonary nodule size p p =0.04). Median DSS was 28 months for patients treated with hormonal therapy compared to 18 months for those who underwent surgical resection ( p =NS). Conclusion Patients with grade 1/2 endometrial cancer and isolated pulmonary recurrences measuring less than 2 cm have appreciable median DSS, 98 months in this series. Treatment with chemotherapy appears to be associated with poor outcomes, but this finding was likely to be confounded by indication. Compared to treatment with hormonal therapy, thoracotomy was not associated with a survival advantage. Although potentially confounded by selection bias, these data suggest that initial hormonal therapy may offer the greatest risk/benefit ratio for patients with low grade isolated pulmonary failures.
Dynamic Stream Weight Modeling for Audio-Visual Speech Recognition

To generate optimal multi-stream audio-visual speech recognition performance, appropriate dynamic weighting of each modality is desired. In this paper, we propose to estimate such weights based on a combination of acoustic signal space observations and single-modality audio and visual speech model likelihoods. Two modeling approaches are investigated for such weight estimation: one based on a sigmoid fitting function, the other employing Gaussian mixture models. Reported experiments demonstrate that the later approach outperforms sigmoid based modeling, and is dramatically superior to the static weighting scheme.
Factors affecting data acquisition during gated radionuclide ventriculography

A 63-YEAR-OLD white male was referred for gated radionuclide ventriculography to evaluate left ventricular reserve and possible wall motion abnormalities during exercise. He had a questionable history of a myocardial infarction 4 years before examination. He had no history of hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, or smoking. His family history was also unremarkable. His medications included only salicylates. The patient was evaluated by semiupright bicycle ergometry using one lead for R-wave triggering. A 12-1ead electrocardiogram (ECG) was used to evaluate ST segment changes. Two-minute data acquisitions were attempted during progressive 3-minute exercise stages. The patient exercised for 12.7 minutes to a peak double product of 16,524 and stopped secondary to shortness of breath. The peak heart rate was 102 beats/min, and the actual VO2 was 14.8 mL/kg/min, representing 61% and 55% of predicted maximum, respectively. Blood pressure at rest was normal and increased appropriately during exercise. The ECG at rest showed sinus rhythm with a right bundle branch block. Reduced voltage was also seen in the limb leads. No ST segment or T wave changes were noted after hyperventilation. The patient developed 0.5 mm to 0.75 mm upsloping ST depression in the inferior and anterolateral leads. These changes resolved quickly after exercise and were not diagnostic for ischemia. The patient described no anginal symptoms. The patient's resting ejection fraction was 68% and increased to 79% and 78% during the first and second exercise stages (Fig 1). Using a 10% window for the R-R interval, all beats were accepted during rest; 13 of 143 beats were rejected during the first exercise stage; and 19 of 144 beats were rejected during the second exercise stage. Cornplete data acquisition failure was noted during the third exercise stage as significant ECG artifacts developed (Fig 2). During the postexercise period, the left ventricular ejection fraction was 84%, with 8 of 148 beats rejected. No wall motion abnormalities were noted during the study. A large number of conditions are associated with impaired data acquisition during either resting or exercise gated radionuclide ventriculography. These conditions can be divided into two groups: (1) those associated with R-R interval variability and (2) those associated with increased P or T wave amplitude or with reduced R wave amplitude. The approach to data acquisition will differ with each of these conditions. When R-R variability arises, variable windowing or list mode acquisition (when available) may be helpful. When altered P, R, or T wave amplitude is present, lead repositioning (not possible during exercise) or altered R wave trigger thresholds may be helpful.
A TRANSACTION MODEL FOR PARALLEL RULE EXECUTION PART I: MODEL AND ALGORITHMS

This paper introduces a transaction model for parallel production systems, where rules can be fired in a completely asynchronous parallel manner. A model is developed to describe two properties of a serial production system execution, namely, conditional dependence (a rule firing removes another from the conflict set) and prioritization (by the conflict resolution mechanism). These are used as the basis to define the correctness criteria for parallel production execution, namely, conditional serializability, prioritized serializability, and prioritized conditional serializability. A graph model is used to represent production system execution which provides a means of expressing correctness as graph acyclicity, which in turn is used as a basis to develop practical schedulers that manage the concurrent asynchronous production execution and ensure correctness. Two practical schedulers, namely, conditional strict two-phase locking and priority queue scheduler are developed for conditional serializability and prioritized serializability, respectively. They are combined for prioritized conditional serializability.
Teaching high performance computing via videoconferencing

As computing technologies evolve, teaching advanced computing is becoming increasingly crucial. The target audience, including not only computer scientists but also many domain scientists and engineers, requires an approach that focuses less on technologies and more on fundamental concepts. The most effective approach for this audience emphasizes not technical details but rather analogies, storytelling and play. The strong need for this kind of education, and the wide variety of institution types needing it, have lead to rising demand for remote delivery via videoconferencing, and the high failure rate of many videoconferencing technologies requires multiple simultaneous videoconferencing approaches.