cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Positive autoregulation of c-myb expression via Myb binding sites in the 5' flanking region of the human c-myb gene.

Abstract The nuclear proto-oncogene c-myb is preferentially expressed in lymphohematopoietic cells, in which it plays an important role in the processes of differentiation and proliferation. The mechanism(s) that regulates c-myb expression is not fully understood, although in mouse cells a regulatory mechanism involves a transcriptional block in the first intron. To analyze the contribution of the 5' flanking sequences in regulating the expression of the human c-myb gene, we isolated a genomic clone containing extensive 5' flanking sequences, the first exon, and a large portion of the first intron. Sequence analysis of a subcloned 1.3-kb BamHI insert corresponding to 687 nucleotides of the 5' flanking sequence, the entire first exon, and 300 nucleotides of the first intron revealed the presence of closely spaced putative Myb binding sites within a segment extending from nucleotides -616 to -575 upstream from the cap site. A 165-bp segment containing these putative Myb binding sites was linked to a human thymidine kinase (TK) cDNA driven by a low-activity proliferating cell nuclear antigen promoter and cotransfected into TK- ts13 cells with a plasmid in which a full-length human c-myb cDNA is driven by the early simian virus 40 promoter; Myb inducibility of TK mRNA expression was observed both in transient expression assays and in stable transformants. The highest level of inducibility was detected when the 165-bp fragment was placed 138 bp upstream of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen promoter-TK cDNA reporter unit or 3' of the TK cDNA. Mutation of the putative Myb binding sites greatly reduced c-myb transactivation of TK mRNA expression and specifically reduced the binding of in vitro-translated Myb protein at those sites. Finally, c-myb transactivated TK mRNA expression driven by a segment of the authentic c-myb 5' flanking region containing the Myb binding sites. These data suggest that human c-myb maintains high levels of Myb protein in cells that require this gene product for proliferation and/or differentiation by an autoregulatory mechanism involving Myb binding sites in the 5' flanking region.
Co capping layers for Cu/low-k interconnects

Co films were selectively deposited as Cu capping layers by chemical vapor deposition technique. X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy determined the Co deposition selectivity as a function of the deposition temperature and substrate materials. Co/Cu interfacial property was characterized and revealed no detectable oxygen at the interface. In addition to electrical resistance measurements of the resulted Cu/low-k interconnects, selectivity of the Co deposition process and property of the resulted Co/Cu interface were further confirmed with time-dependent-dielectric-breakdown and electromigration tests.
Optimal control of the fermentation process based on improved differential evolutionary algorithm

Aiming at the complexity of the glutamic acid fermentation process, a neural network dynamic model of the fermentation process was established. The improved differential evolutionary algorithm (DEA) was used to the multi-variables optimal control of the fermentation process and the optimal control trajectories of operating variables were found out. Some improvements of the primitive DEA were made by the means of randomly selecting the mutation factor and the re-initialization of the individuals in the population on a suitable time, so that it could solve the constrained optimization effectively and avoid the problem caused by premature. Simulation results show the proposed method is effective.
Understanding the Relationship Between Christian Orthodoxy and Environmentalism The Mediating Role of Perceived Environmental Consequences

The present study evaluated the hypothesis that people who strongly adhere to Christian orthodoxy may be less proenvironmental to the extent that they are less aware of the biospheric consequences of environmental problems (biospheric AC) but that they may be more proenvironmental than others to the extent that they are more aware of the egoistic and social-altruistic consequences of environmental problems (egoistic AC and social-altruistic AC, respectively). College students (N = 192) completed measures of awareness of negative consequences (AC), Christian orthodoxy, and environmental behavior. Results showed that Christian orthodoxy negatively related to all measures of environmental behavior. Additionally, biospheric AC was a complete mediator in Christian orthodoxy’s relationships with environmental intentions and willingness to pay for environmental protection and was a partial mediator in Christian orthodoxy’s relationship with proenvironmental political behavior. Neither egoistic AC nor social-altruistic AC correlated with Christian orthodoxy, so their mediating properties were not assessed. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Support for Nickel as the Labile Metal in the A‐center of the M. Barkeri Acetyl‐CoA Decarbonylase/Synthase Complex

The α 8 β 8 γ 8 δ 8 e 8 acetyl-CoA decarbonylase synthase (ACDS) complex catalyzes the first step in the conversion of acetate to methane. The critical C-C bond cleavage of the acetyl group is mediated by the A-center, a Ni-X-Fe 4 S 4 cluster that has been localized to the β-subunit. To elucidate the identity of the labile metal X in the A-center of purified enzyme, the β-subunit of the M. barkeri ACDS complex was isolated and studied. Metal analysis revealed the presence of both nickel (1.9) and copper (0.2) per subunit indicating a mixture at the metal site. Treatment of the β-subunit with the Cu(I) specific chelator, bathocuproine disulfonate (BCS), allowed for the complete removal of the copper in the sample as confirmed by fluorescence quenching of the BCS chelator and subsequent metal analysis. The BCS-treated β-subunit was found to have nearly identical activity to the as-isolated enzyme; importantly, addition of Ni(II) to this BCS-treated β-subunit resulted in a 24% increase in acetyltransferase activity over that of the isolated enzyme consistent with activation of the A-center by incorporation of Ni(II) into sites previously occupied by Cu. These results suggest that while Cu can occupy the labile metal site, it is the Ni-bound form that is active - providing additional support that the A-center of the methanogenic ACS consists of a Ni-Ni-Fe 4 S 4 cluster. Perhaps equally important, these studies demonstrate that BCS/Ni(II) treatment provides a means of curing samples from Cu inactivation - a key step towards obtaining the uniform A-center needed for detailed structural and mechanistic studies.
A Mathematical Theory of Energy Efficient Neural Computation and Communication

A neuroscience-based mathematical model of how a neuron stochastically processes data and communicates information is introduced and analyzed. Call the neuron in question 'neuron j", or just "j". The information j transmits approximately describes the time-varying intensity of the excitation j is continuously experiencing from neural spike trains delivered to its synapses by thousands of other neurons. Neuron j "encodes" this excitation history into a sequence of time instants at which it generates neural spikes of its own. By propagating these spikes along its axon, j acts as a multiaccess, partially degraded broadcast channel with thousands of input and output terminals that employs a time-continuous version of pulse position modulation. The mathematical model features three parameters, m, ?, and b, which largely characterize j as an engine of computation and communication. Each set of values of these parameters corresponds to a long term maximization of the bits j conveys to its targets per joule it expends doing so, which is achieved by distributing the random duration between successive spikes j generates according to a gamma pdf with parameters ? and b and distributing b/A according to a beta probability density with parameters ? and m-?, where A is the random intensity of the effectively Poisson process of spikes that arrive to the union of all of j's synapses at a randomly chosen time instant.
Improved Water Institutions for Food Security and Rural Livelihoods in Afghanistan's Balkh River Basin

Crop and livestock production in Afghanistan is constrained by weak infrastructure, poor information, and inadequate institutional capacity to manage water to sustain food security and support farm income. Afghan decision-makers currently lack the information and its application to evaluate the economic performance of alternative irrigation institutions. This analysis develops and applies a framework that informs water decision-makers on profitable and food-secure uses of land and water resources in the Balkh River Basin of Afghanistan. Several arrangements for allocating water among a system of irrigation canals are analysed for their impacts on land and water use, farm profitability, and food security at both the canal and basin levels. Findings show that total water supply and institutional arrangements for allocating water shortages have important influences on farm income and food security. The methods used and results found provide a framework for informing decisions on the sustainable use of land a...
Spontaneous tumors of small mammals.

For our purposes, small mammals include guinea pigs, chinchillas, hamsters, hedgehogs, mice, rats, gerbils, prairie dogs, and sugar gliders. Only spontaneous, not experimentally induced, tumors will be addressed. Some current research issues will be incorporated if of clinical relevance. For each species a general discussion of the most common tumors encountered will be included as well as a breakdown of spontaneous tumors reported in the literature by system. Oftentimes there will be conflicting opinions as to which tumor is the most common, and this probably reflects differences between colonies of animals, changes in emphasis (research animal now popular as a pet), or the amount of literature available on any given species. Although treatment for various tumors in all species is addressed in another article, such as surgical removal, especially for skin and subcuticular masses, or an ovariohysterectomy for reproductive tumors after thoracic radiographs to check for metastasis, some specific therapeutic options will be addressed in some species. Unfortunately, many of our small mammal patients are experts at hiding signs of illness, and owners or caretakers present them to the veterinarian at a point in the disease process when little can be done. In general, mice and rats have a very high incidence of spontaneous tumors, whereas hamsters are low (3.7%). Hamsters have the highest variety of tumors. Research in carcinogenesis requires a species like the hamster with low tumor incidence, but also is easily stimulated to produce tumors when exposed to carcinogens. All removed masses should be submitted for histopathology for accurate diagnosis, and to provide an estimated prognosis. In some cases, long-term analgesia may be indicated for the patient, whether the animal had surgery or not.
SWOT and AHP hybrid model for sport marketing outsourcing using a case of intercollegiate sport

Abstract Given the importance and prevalence of commercialization in intercollegiate sport, outsourcing sport marketing functions has become a popular business decision with the possibility of becoming more popular in the future. Yet, there is a lack of research about outsourcing in sport marketing with respect to decision making factors when determining whether or not to outsource some aspects of an organization's marketing functions. Thus, the purpose of this case study is to examine sport marketing outsourcing decision-making factors using a SWOT and AHP combined model. These results indicate that decision makers at this institution consider strengths, or potential positive outcomes, more importantly than weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Specifically, financial return is the most important decision making factor for decision makers whereas cost minimization is not as important.
Habitat and Diet Partitioning between Shoal Bass and Largemouth Bass in the Chipola River, Florida

Abstract We investigated the macrohabitat use, microhabitat use, and food habits of shoal bass Micropterus cataractae and largemouth bass M. salmoides in the upper Chipola River, Florida. We electrofished two macrohabitats (pools and shoals) during the summer (May–August) and fall (September–December) of 1999 and 2000. The ratio of shoal bass to largemouth bass differed among macrohabitats, being highest in the shoals and lowest in the pools. Age-0 and adult (age-1 and older) shoal bass were collected in areas of higher-than-average percentages of rocky substrate in both shoals and pools. Age-0 and adult largemouth bass were associated with areas of reduced current velocity and those with higher-than-average amounts of woody debris. Though the diets of age-0 and adult shoal bass and largemouth bass were similar, a few differences were apparent. Age-0 largemouth bass diets contained grass shrimp Palaemonetes spp., whereas age-0 shoal bass diets contained mostly mayflies (order Ephemeroptera: families Baeti...
Colloidal processing of chemically prepared zinc oxide varistors. Part II: Near-net-shape forming and fired electrical properties

Chemically prepared zinc oxide powders were processed for the production of high aspect ratio varistor components (length/diameter >5). Near-net-shape casting methods including slip casting and agarose gelcasting were evaluated for effectiveness in achieving a uniform green microstructure that densifies to near theoretical values during sintering. The structure of the green parts was examined by mercury porisimetry. Agarose gelcasting produced green parts having low solids loading values and did not achieve high fired density. Isopressing the agarose cast parts after drying raised the fired density to greater than 95%, but the parts exhibited catastrophic shorting during electrical testing. Slip casting produced high green density parts, which exhibit high fired density values. The electrical characteristics of slip-cast parts are comparable with dry-pressed powder compacts.
MARIOnET: motion acquisition for robots through iterative online evaluative training

As robots become more commonplace, the tools to facilitate knowledge transfer from human to robot will be vital, especially for non-technical users. While some ongoing work considers the role of human reinforcement in intelligent algorithms, the burden of learning is often placed solely on the computer [2]. These approaches neglect the expressive capabilities of humans, especially regarding our ability to quickly refine motor skills. Thus, when designing autonomous robots that interact with humans, not only is it important to leverage machine learning, but it is also very useful to have the tools in place to facilitate the transfer of knowledge between man and machine. We introduce such a tool for enabling a human to transfer motion learning capabilities to a robot.In this paper, we propose a general framework for Motion Acquisition in Robots through Iterative Online Evaluative Training (MARIOnET). Specifically, MARIOnET represents a direct and real-time interface between a human in a motion-capture suit and a robot, with a training process that provides a convenient human interface and requires no technical knowledge. In our framework, the learning happens exclusively by the human - not the robot. However, the robot provides a natural interface for interaction, and is able to store and reuse trained behaviors autonomously in the future. Our approach exploits the ability at which humans are able to learn and refine fine-motor skills [6, 4]. Implemented on two robots (one quadruped and one biped), our results indicate that both technical and non-technical users are able to harness MARIOnET to quickly improve a robot's performance of a task requiring fine-motor skills.
Branched chain amino acids in heptatic encephalopathy

Abstract Background: Early theories or hepatic encephalopathy focused on ammonia-driven disruption of the Krebs cycle and cellular energy production. The “false-neurotransmitter” theory directed attention toward the interactions of amino acids, metabolism, the blood-brain barrier and neurotransmission. As they evolved, these studies revealed surprising and subtle effects of ammonia on brain amino acid uptake. Data Sources: Research over a 15-year period in Josef E. Fischer’s laboratory explored many aspects of these interactions. Subsequent studies by others have confirmed and extended them into other areas. Insights from this work continue to stimulate attempts to confirm or disprove the clinical utility of branched chain amino acids. Conclusions: Increased understanding of the factors affecting ammonia, amino acid and neurotransmitter disturbances in chronic liver failure have made a significant and ongoing contribution to the study of metabolism in health and disease.
Malaria-associated atypical memory B cells exhibit markedly reduced B cell receptor signaling and effector function

Protective antibodies in Plasmodium falciparum malaria are only acquired after years of repeated infections. Chronic malaria exposure is associated with a large increase in atypical memory B cells (MBCs) that resemble B cells expanded in a variety of persistent viral infections. Understanding the function of atypical MBCs and their relationship to classical MBCs will be critical to developing effective vaccines for malaria and other chronic infections. We show that VH gene repertoires and somatic hypermutation rates of atypical and classical MBCs are indistinguishable indicating a common developmental history. Atypical MBCs express an array of inhibitory receptors and B cell receptor (BCR) signaling is stunted in atypical MBCs resulting in impaired B cell responses including proliferation, cytokine production and antibody secretion. Thus, in response to chronic malaria exposure, atypical MBCs appear to differentiate from classical MBCs becoming refractory to BCR-mediated activation and potentially interfering with the acquisition of malaria immunity.
Chromosomal DNA fingerprint patterns produced with IS6110 as strain-specific markers for epidemiologic study of tuberculosis.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates werestudied bycomparing chromosomal DNA fingerprint patterns produced bydigestion ofchromosomal DNA withBamHI,followed byagarose electrophoresis andhybridizationwithradiolabeled probes ofinsertion sequence IS6110. DNA fingerprints of14isolates fromseparate membersoffive households orclosely associated individuals werecompared. Markeddifferences wereobserved whenunrelated isolates werecompared. Therewerenoorminimal differences intherestriction fragment patterns generated fromisolates ofanyonehousehold orassociated group. Amongrelated isolates, theonly noticeable difference wasanadditional fragment ofIS6110 inthefingerprint pattern ofoneisolate. Insertional activity wasalso suggested whenrestriction fragment patterns ofH37RvDNA isolated in1987and1990were compared. Inasimilar manner, M.tuberculosis reference strain Erdmanwascompared toaclinical isolate fromanindividual working withthat strain. These isolates hadidentical DNAfingerprints whichweredistinct fromallotherisolates, verifying laboratory-acquired infection. Chromosomal DNA fingerprint patterns produced withIS6110 areexcellent strain-specific markers fortheepidemiologic study oftuberculosis. Epidemiological methods usedtostudy tuberculosis have beenlimited ineffectiveness. Tracing aparticular strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis asitmovesthrough asusceptible population grouphasbeenalmost impossible, since in mostcases thestrain ofinterest cannot bedistinguished from otherstrains. Theearliest methods ofstrain comparison relied uponantibiotic sensitivity patterns, butthis approach isverylimited since somanystrains showidentical sensitivity patterns. Bacteriophage typing hasalso beenused, but this technique isnotdefinitive since moststrains aregrouped into onlyafewdistinct phagetypes. Withadvances inmolecular biology, strain-specific epidemiologic studies oftuberculosis arebecoming available. Recently, Caveetal.described aDNA fingerprinting technique whichusesprobes oftheinsertion sequence IS6110 to detect differences ingenomic digests ofM. tuberculosis strains (1). IS6110 wasconserved inalloftheM.tuberculosisstrains studied andwasusually present inhighcopy numbers. Thechromosomal fingerprint patterns wereobtained bydigesting genomic DNA withBamHI,separating thefragments byagarose gelelectrophoresis, transferring theDNA fragments toanylonmembrane, andhybridizing themembrane withcloned DNA segments representing two different portions ofIS6110. TheIS6110 probes hybridized toalloftheM. tuberculosis strains studied (sixclinical isolates andtworeference strains). Thenumberandsize of restriction fragments hybridizing withtheIS6110 probes varied suchthat notwostrains analyzed produced identical patterns. Hermansetal.usedsimilar methods tocompare restriction digests ofclinical M. tuberculosis isolates (6). Oneepidemiologically related groupofisolates produced identical DNA fingerprints, while unrelated strains haddissimilar patterns. Otaletal.reported thattheDNA fingerprints fromM.tuberculosis isolates obtained after relapse of
Orienting to the Public Good: Developing a Moral Self in the Middle Grades

This study takes up the challenge of middle level researchers to investigate the extent to which schools prepare young adolescents to commit themselves to serve the public interest. One way of assessing the orientation of children and adolescents to the public good is through their emerging self-understanding. This study analyzes middle school students’ descriptions of the ideal, real, and dreaded selves. Fewer than half the participants describe themselves with at least one moral characteristic and many of them focus narrowly on attaining material and social success. These findings raise questions about the hidden curriculum of individualism in schools as well as in the wider culture.
Justin L. Barrett: Born Believers: The Science of Children's Religious Belief

Born Believers: The Science of Children’s Beliefs ,b y Justin Barrett, explores the development of religious belief and argues that humans are predisposed to believe in ‘‘natural religion.’’ Barrett’s work could be considered a primer for the study of religion and human development for the academic or interested layman alike. Barrett’s thesis is not that humans are predisposed to believe one particular theology, but rather that holding a general belief in a supernatural, nonhuman deity/deities is part of natural human development. Barrett divides his book into two parts. Part 1, ‘‘The Evidence,’’ lays out the social science research of children’s religious beliefs. Part 2, ‘‘The Implications,’’ builds upon the evidence presented in Part 1 to draw conclusions and identify understudied areas. Chapter one begins with a main theme of Born Believers, the concept of ‘‘agents.’’ Agents are entities that can move on their own, have purpose, and create order. While adults typically only view other humans and animals as agents, children have the tendency to see agents in places adults do not. For example, an infant would consider a robotic toy an agent. Furthermore, children develop the understanding that agents can act even when not seen, for example when a parent leaves the room to prepare a meal. These two elements lend themselves to religious belief. Deities are nonhuman agents that can act, even though they cannot be seen. Chapter two explores children’s propensity to find purpose in everyday objects. Children have a heightened teleological reasoning, reasoning about purpose or function, and desire to know ‘‘what things are for.’’ Because children tend to see their world as ordered, and only agents create order, children naturally believe that someone created the world around them. This reasoning does not extend just to objects, but to events as well. Events have purpose in life, even those events that are seemingly random. Children (and adults) strive to find out what is the purpose behind their life.
HP-SPECTRAL FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF SHEAR DEFORMABLE BEAMS AND PLATES

There are different finite element models in place for predicting the bending behavior of shear deformable beams and plates. Mostly, the literature abounds with traditional equi-spaced Langrange based low order finite element approximations using displacement formulations. However, the finite element models of Timoshenko beams and Mindlin plates with linear interpolation of all generalized displacements have suffered from shear locking, which has been alleviated with the help of primarily reduced/selective integration techniques to obtain acceptable solutions [1-4]. These kinds of 'fixes' have come into existence because the element stiffness matrix becomes excessively stiff with low-order interpolation functions. In this study we propose an alternative spectrally accurate hp/spectral method to model the Timoshenko beam theory and first order shear deformation theory of plates (FSDT) to eliminate shear and membrane locking. Beams and isotropic and orthotropic plates with clamped and simply supported boundary conditions are analyzed to illustrate the accuracy and robustness of the developed elements. Full integration scheme is employed for all cases. The results are found to be in excellent agreement with those published in literature. © 2009 IAU, Arak Branch. All rights reserved.
Salt and Water: Intestinal Water and Electrolyte Transport

This chapter considers the different sources and relative amounts of intestinal secretions. The discussion includes important functional anatomic features involved in the absorption and secretion of intestinal fluids and electrolytes. Related to this topic is a description of the mechanisms for absorption and secretion of fluids and electrolytes in the intestines. Finally the three basic types of diarrhea and the use of the fecal osmolar gap in recognizing the disturbances are considered.
Individual movement rates are sufficient to determine and maintain dynamic spatial positioning within Uca pugilator herds

Spatial location within aggregations (i.e., periphery, central) is of biological significance to gregarious animals. Because these positions are a potential consequence of consistent individual behavioral differences, or personality, a better understanding of potential mechanisms concerning personality is central to predicting an individuals’ location. To determine the effects of individual personality on the dynamic spatial positioning of Uca pugilator while herding, field data collection and agent-based modeling were employed. Individuals were assayed to establish their personalities and returned to the field for observation as a means of identifying location preference within selfish herds. There was a significant difference between the extreme personalities and the proportion of time spent on the edge of the herd. The active individuals were at the periphery ~50 % more of the time than less active individuals. An individual-based model qualitatively replicated these field results by applying the mechanism of activity level as an indicator of individual personality. This suggests that differences in personality-dependent movement are sufficient to explain the spatial positioning of individuals within selfish herds. This study enhances our understanding of the possible mechanisms that govern group movement, and has implications for modeling population dynamics that can be influenced by individual personality. Animal personality influences the level of exploratory activity of individual animals, with some individuals being consistently more active and others consistently less active, and may therefore be used to mechanistically predict the location of individual animals within groups or herds. Here, we investigate the relationship between individual personality and location on the edge vs. in the center of foraging herds of the sand fiddler crab Uca pugilator. We combine observational testing of activity level in lab, observations of spatial positioning within herds in the field, and agent-based computer simulation modeling to demonstrate that differences in exploratory movement can sufficiently explain the spatial positioning of individuals within herds. Thus, the spatial positioning of individual animals within herds can be explained without relying on choices by individual animals.
A case for protein-level and site-level specificity in glycoproteomic studies of disease

Abnormal glycosylation of proteins is known to be either resultant or causative of a variety of diseases. This makes glycoproteins appealing targets as potential biomarkers and focal points of molecular studies on the development and progression of human ailment. To date, a majority of efforts in disease glycoproteomics have tended to center on either determining the concentration of a given glycoprotein, or on profiling the total population of glycans released from a mixture of glycoproteins. While these approaches have demonstrated some diagnostic potential, they are inherently insensitive to the fine molecular detail which distinguishes unique and possibly disease relevant glycoforms of specific proteins. As a consequence, such analyses can be of limited sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy because they do not comprehensively consider the glycosylation status of any particular glycoprotein, or of any particular glycosylation site. Therefore, significant opportunities exist to improve glycoproteomic inquiry into disease by engaging in these studies at the level of individual glycoproteins and their exact loci of glycosylation. In this concise review, the rationale for glycoprotein and glycosylation site specificity is developed in the context of human disease glycoproteomics with an emphasis on N-glycosylation. Recent examples highlighting disease-related perturbations in glycosylation will be presented, including those involving alterations in the overall glycosylation of a specific protein, alterations in the occupancy of a given glycosylation site, and alterations in the compositional heterogeneity of glycans occurring at a given glycosylation site. Each will be discussed with particular emphasis on how protein-specific and site-specific approaches can contribute to improved discrimination between glycoproteomes and glycoproteins associated with healthy and unhealthy states.
Stability Domain Estimation for Dynamic Inversion Embedded SDRE Flight Controller

The Dynamic Inversion embedded SDRE control law combines dynamic inversion and state dependent riccati equation techniques such that the desired dynamics required for dynamic inversion is calculated by solving an SDRE. The resulting closed loop system is similar to a pure SDRE controller. This controller has been previously applied to the control of the rotational dynamics of a flight vehicle and simulations have shown that the origin of the closed loop system is a locally asymptotically stable equilibrium point. The stability of SDRE controlled systems have been previously studied in literature, however, it is still dicult to show global stability properties for this controller. The analytical solution of the state dependent riccati equation is possible for systems of order less than or equal to 2 by choosing the state dependent system matrix carefully. The global stability properties can then be determined by studying the analytical expression of the closed loop system. The stability of SDRE controlled systems of order greater than 2 such as the rotational dynamics of a flight vehicle are determined by calculating the Domain or Region Of Attraction (ROA) around the equilibrium point. A method for estimating the ROA of a nonlinear system by defining an overvaluing matrix using vector norms has been extended in past literature to calculate the stability domains for SDRE controlled systems. In this paper, we use this method of vector norms to analyze the stability properties of the DISDRE controlled rotational dynamics of a flight vehicle and illustrate our results with a Region of Attraction around the origin of the closed loop system.
The Impact of Maternal Body Mass Index and Gestational Age on the Detection of Uterine Contractions by Tocodynamometry: A Retrospective Study

To examine the impact of maternal body mass index (BMI) and gestational age (GA) on uterine contraction detection by tocodynamometry. Gravidas with preterm labor (PTL) complaints who were evaluated by tocodynamometry, discharged from Labor and Delivery triage, and subsequently readmitted for preterm delivery were studied. Forty-six patients in whom contractions were detected (group 1) were compared to 49 women in whom contractions were not detected (group 2) with respect to BMI and GA at both evaluation and delivery. Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for confounders. Group 2 had a higher mean BMI (31.7 vs 26.1, P < .001), were more likely to be obese (57.1% vs 19.6%, P < .001), and were more likely to have been evaluated in the mid-trimester (36.7% vs 17.4%, P = .04) compared to group 1. Independent risk factors for the inability of the tocodynamometer to detect contractions were obesity (odds ratio [OR] 0.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.07-0.46) and evaluation in the mid-trimester (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.13-0.84). Our study provides evidence that the effectiveness of tocodynamometry diminishes with increasing maternal BMI. Efficacy of tocodynamometry is also decreased at earlier GA, most pronounced below 25 weeks. To evaluate women with PTL symptoms in the mid-trimester or symptomatic obese women at any GA, a modality other than tocodynamometry could be valuable to more accurately assess uterine activity.
Exploring the spin states of 90Zr populated by (p,p’), (p,d), and (p,t) reactions

The 90 Zr nucleus was produced by three different reactions: 90 Zr( p , p ’), 91 Zr( p , d ), and 92 Zr( p , t ), and the spin-parity ( J π ) population of the 90 Zr states produced by these reactions was studied to investigate the surrogate reaction approach, which aims at indirectly determining cross sections for compound-nuclear reactions involving unstable targets such as 89 Zr( n , γ ). Discrete γ-rays, associated with the de-excitation of 90 Zr and 89 Zr, were measured in coincidence with light ions at 90 Zr excitation energies extending above the neutron separation energy. Low-lying states populated by ( p , d ) and ( p , t ) reactions agreed well with the previous measurements. The measured γ transition systematics were used to gain insights into the J π distribution of 90 Zr around the neutron separation energy and it was found that the ( p , p ’) reaction preferentially produces lower J states than ( p , d ) and ( p , t ) reactions in the studied energy region.
Evaluation of time and temperature sufficient to inactivate porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in swine feces on metal surfaces

Materials and methods: Thirty-two 4-week-old barrows were inoculated via oral gastric tube with 5 mL of either PEDV-negative feces (Neg; n = 4), untreated PEDVpositive feces (Pos; n = 4), or PEDV-positive feces subjected to 71°C for 10 minutes (71C-10M; n = 4), 63°C for 10 minutes (63C-10M; n = 4), 54°C for 10 minutes (54C-10M; n = 4), 38°C for 12 hours (38C12H; n = 4), 20°C for 24 hours (20C-24H; n = 4), or 20°C for 7 days (20C-7D; n = 4). These pigs served as a bioassay to determine the infectivity of virus following treatment. Bioassay results were determined by reversetranscriptase polymerase chain reaction on rectal swabs collected from the inoculated pigs on days 3 and 7 post inoculation.
Application to Observations of Planet-Hosting Stars

In this chapter, I present the work I have done towards characterising three planetary systems: CoRoT-7, Kepler-78 and Kepler-10. CoRoT-7 is an active star host to a small hot Neptune and the first Earth-size exoplanet ever discovered. Kepler-78 is an active star orbited by an extremely close-in hot, Earth-mass planet. Kepler-10 is old and quiet, and harbours two transiting planets—one a super-Earth, the other a rocky world the size of Neptune whose discovery challenges our theories of planet formation. All three of these systems were first discovered via the transit method, by the CoRoT and Kepler space missions. They were followed up with HARPS, HARPS-N and HIRES in order to obtain a precise mass determination of the planets present in these systems.
Association of Regional Intensity of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ Treatment With Likelihood of Breast Preservation.

Importance Large regional variation exists in the use of radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Although patients who do not receive initial radiotherapy for DCIS are candidates for subsequent BCS if they experience a second breast event, many undergo mastectomy instead. Objective To examine whether regional practice patterns of radiotherapy for DCIS affect the use of mastectomy in these patients. Design, Setting, and Participants A retrospective analysis of population-based databases (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results [SEER] and SEER-Medicare). Data were obtained for 2679 women in SEER with a diagnosis of DCIS between 1990 and 2011 and for 757 women in SEER-Medicare with a DCIS diagnosis between 1991 and 2009 who had not undergone radiotherapy for DCIS and experienced a subsequent breast cancer or DCIS diagnosis. Exposures Treatment intensity for primary DCIS (high, medium, low), as defined by separating health service areas (HSAs) into 3 clusters based on radiotherapy use. Main Outcomes and Measures Mastectomy vs BCS at a second breast event defined as DCIS recurrence or new invasive cancer. Results The median (SD) ages of the participants was 64 (13) years for the 2679 SEER population and 79 (6) years for the SEER-Medicare cohort. Residence in an HSA characterized by greater radiotherapy use for DCIS increased the likelihood of receiving mastectomy vs BCS at a subsequent breast event, even among women who had not previously received radiotherapy for DCIS. Adjusted odds ratios for receiving mastectomy were 1.43 (95% CI, 1.10-1.85) and 1.90 (95% CI, 1.27-2.84) in SEER and SEER-Medicare databases, respectively, among women residing in an HSA with the greatest radiotherapy use vs the least, corresponding to an adjusted increase from 40.8% to 49.6%, and from 38.6% to 54.5%. Conclusions and Relevance Areas with more radiotherapy use for DCIS had increased use of mastectomy at the time of a second breast event even among patients eligible for breast conservation. This association suggests that physician-related factors are affecting the likelihood of breast preservation.
WSCISOM: wireless sensor data cluster identification through a hybrid SOM/MLP/RBF architecture

Networks of wireless sensors are very popular devices for monitoring and collecting information about phenomena in many aspects of life. While very versatile and widely applicable, there are few key issues related to the operation of wireless sensors as well as the processing of information collected by them. In this paper, we focus on wireless sensor network (WSN) organization and protocols, energy consumption as related to information exchange and calculations, and making sense and applying the concluded decisions by the WSN. In addition to the clustering technique—we are utilizing modified self-organizing map (SOM)—we propose a hybrid multilayer perceptron (MLP) and radial basis functions (RBF) neural network to analyze and classify the possible routes taken by devices activating our WSN. The results demonstrate that the SOM modifications made with energy savings in mind perform very well and provide a quality input for the MLP/RBF classifier. The final goal of determining all possible areas of activity within an input space of interest is successfully achieved as demonstrated by the experiments.
Probing electrical signals in the retina via graphene-integrated microfluidic platforms.

Graphene has attracted extensive attention in biological and biomedical fields due to its unique physical properties and excellent biocompatibility. We combine graphene field-effect transistors and scanning photocurrent microscopy with microfluidic platforms to investigate electrical signals in mouse retina. Remarkable photocurrent signals were detected from the graphene underneath the optic nerve head (ONH) of the retina, where the electrical activity from this region can modulate the carrier concentration of the graphene and induce local potential gradients. These built-in electrical potential gradients can efficiently separate photo-excited electron–hole pairs, leading to strong photocurrent responses in the graphene underneath the ONH. We also show that no significant photocurrent signal was observed in the graphene underneath either dehydrated or fixed retinal tissues, verifying that the photocurrent responses generated in the graphene underneath the ONH were indeed induced by the electrical activity in living retina. This method not only provides a way to investigate electrical processes in living retinal tissues, but also offers opportunities to study many other cellular systems involving cell–cell interactions through electrical signaling.
Millimeter Resolution Reflectometry Over Two Kilometers

Millimeter resolution optical frequency domain reflectometry measurements are achieved over 2 km of length. This level of spatial resolution over kilometer distances enables unprecedented link characterization in emerging short-haul applications such as avionics and FTTx.
Abstract 1173: Extracellular ATP is internalized through not only macropinocytosis but also other endocytic process and promotes growth of human lung cancer cells with Ras mutations

Within a tumor, extracellular ATP (exATP) concentrations are in the range of several hundred micromolars or higher, 103-104 times higher than those in normal tissues1. We recently showed that extracellular ATP, within the intratumoral concentrations, was internalized by Ras-mutated (Rasmut) A549 human lung cancer cells through macropinocytosis, elevated intracellular ATP levels and rescued cancer cells under various stresses2. However, macropinocytosis3 alone could not account for all the elevated intracellular ATP increase. Here, we show that other endocytic processes, in addition to macropinocytosis, also contributed to the internalization of exATP in A549 and H1299 human lung cancer cells. Cell viability assays, intracellular ATP luminescence measurement assays, fluorescent microscopy were used in this study. First, high-molecular-weight (HMW) dextran uptake assay indicated that A549 and H1299, both Rasmut cancer cells, exhibited a phenotype of macropinocytosis. The colocalization of the red fluorescent HMW dextran and green nonhydrolyzable ATP analog inside the cells indicated that extracellular ATP was internalized by macropinocytosis. In contrast, significantly fewer macropinosomes were found in NL-20 noncancerous lung cells. In addition, the colocalization of low-molecular-weight (LMW) dextran, an endocytic tracer, and ATP analog indicated the internalization of exATP through non-macropinocytic-endocytosis in both lung cancer cell lines. Interestingly, when both red HMW dextran and green LMW dextran were applied to cancer cells, not only colocalization, but also some green-only endosomes were observed, strongly suggesting that both endocytic processes were responsible for exATP internalization. Collectively, these data indicated for the first time that other endocytic processes in addition to macropinocytosis contributed to the internalization of exATP in human lung cancer cells with Rasmut. This finding may significantly enhance our understanding of energy hemostasis within cancer cells and the Warburg effect, which in turn facilitates the development of anticancer therapeutics targeting the endocytic processes and Ras mutations as well as novel anticancer strategies. 1. Pellegatti, et al. (2008). PLoS ONE 3, e2599. 2. Qian, et al. (2014). Cancer Letters 351, 242-251. 3. Commisso, et al. (2013). Nature 497, 633-637. Citation Format: Yanrong Qian, Xuan Wang, Yunsheng Li, Yanyang Cao, Shiyong Wu, Xiaozhuo Chen. Extracellular ATP is internalized through not only macropinocytosis but also other endocytic process and promotes growth of human lung cancer cells with Ras mutations. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 1173. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-1173
Ischemic Stroke After Plasma Donation (P4.365)

Introduction: Routine hypercoagulability testing is not currently indicated in patients undergoing plasma donation. We present two cases in young males without significant risk factors or other identifiable causes of stroke who unexpectedly developed ischemic strokes within 24 hours of donating plasma. Case Presentation: A 24-year-old man with a family history of factor V leiden deficiency presented with right sided weakness one hour after donating plasma. MRI brain revealed an acute infarct involving the left basal ganglia and adjacent periventricular region. Investigations including a glycohemoglobin level, lipid panel, echocardiogram, MRV brain, and cerebral angiogram were unremarkable. A hypercoagulable work-up revealed borderline elevations in factor II (129[percnt], reference range 65-120[percnt]). Testing for prothrombin 20210A mutation was negative. The patient was also found to be heterozygous for the MTHFR gene, with normal homocysteine levels. (6.1; reference range 4-12) Our second patient was a 42-year-old man with a 20 pack smoking history who presented with a right facial droop, expressive aphasia, and right arm weakness. He donated plasma twice weekly and last donated plasma 18 hours prior to presentation. MRI brain revealed a subacute infarct in the left parietal lobe. Routine stroke investigations were unremarkable. A hypercoagulable work-up revealed a borderline elevation in von willebrand antigen (165; reference range 65-120) and significantly increased high sensitivity CRP (15.2; reference range <3). Hypothesis: Plasma donation across a selectively permeable membrane may result in changes in the balance of pro-coagulant and anti-coagulant factors. This may result in a ‘second hit’ in patients with borderline elevations in pro-coagulant factors, resulting in arterial thrombosis. Conclusions: Plasma donation may result in arterial thrombosis in patients with a mild hypercoagulable disorder, which is otherwise not phenotypically expressed. Further studies are needed to evaluate plasma donation as a potential etiology for ischemic stroke. Disclosure: Dr. Salahuddin has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hussaini has nothing to disclose. Dr. Tietjen holds stock and/or stock options in Johnson & Johnson and Stryker.
Adolescentia: “For Youthe and Elde is Often at Debaat”

This chapter addresses adolescence, here described as ages fourteen through twenty-one, and includes Nicholas and Alisoun of the Miller’s Tale, Malyne, John, and Aleyn of the Reeve’s Tale, Palamon and Arcite of the Knight’s Tale, May and Damian of the Merchant’s Tale, the youngest reveler of the Pardoner’s Tale, the Squire, the Canon’s Yeoman, and the Cook’s apprentice. In narratives in which little is spoken by some of these characters, the gaps in their stories are filled in by their peers (e.g., the Canon’s Yeoman completes what it left unsaid in the Cook’s Tale). In keeping with the flexibility of the Ages of Man theories and Chaucer’s propensity for disrupting social conventions, this chapter also considers Troilus and Criseyde to be children subjected to a political system over which they have no control.