cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantitative in situ localization of tenascin-C alternatively spliced transcripts in the avian optic tectum.

PURPOSE Tenascin-C is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein found at sites of embryonic cell motility, including the developing visual system. Numerous alternatively spliced variants of tenascin-C have been identified, and these variants have distinctive properties in vitro. The purpose of this study was to use quantitative in situ hybridization to determine the relative abundance of transcripts encoding the alternatively spliced fibronectin type III repeats of tenascin-C in the embryonic avian optic tectum. METHODS Similarly sized DNA probes specific for sequences encoding the alternatively spliced repeats of tenascin-C were labeled with 35-S and applied to frozen sections of the E10 optic tectum. After determining the linear period of exposure, silver grain densities in the ventricular zone were calculated. RESULTS Densitometric analysis revealed that more than half of the total tenascin-C mRNAs expressed in the ventricular zone of the E10 optic tectum encode the variable fibronectin type III repeats "A," "AD1" and "D." Transcripts encoding other variable repeats were detectable, but at considerably lower levels. CONCLUSIONS The most abundant form of tenascin-C in the developing optic tectum has a molecular weight of 230 kDa. Most of this form contains the variable repeats "A," "AD1," and "D," a combination of fibronectin type III repeats that has previously been identified only in a tumor-derived cell line.
Thymoma: Analysis of benign and malignant criteria

A series of 32 patients with thymomas are reviewed, and the pathological findings used to predict benign or malignant behavior are correlated with clinical follow-up. Some important points noted in predicting benign and malignant behavior of thymoma are as follows: Benign thymomas are grossly well encapsulated and have pushing margins. Nodularity in benign thymomas is apparent both grossly and microscopically and is usually well preserved. In malignant thymomas the margins are always infiltrating and the lobulations are, at best, vague or completely lost. Degeneration and necrosis are more common in malignant thymoma. Foci of calcification are more common in benign thymoma. The nuclei of cells of malignant thymoma have malignant characteristics. Mitotic figures are usually present and easily identified. These changes may be present only in isolated areas of the tumor, but they are significant. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain shows a slight but insignificant prevalence for malignant thymomas. Reticulin stain shows groups of cells and lobules surrounded by a reticulin framework in benign thymoma. A more common feature of malignant thymoma is a sparse reticulin surrounding individual cells. There is an interesting and unusual finding of association of myasthenia gravis and malignant thymoma with extrathoracic metastases. These criteria predicted accurately the outcome of benign thymoma in 11 of 12 cases and predicted the malignant behavior of thymoma in 11 of 13 cases.
Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832)

John G. Lockhart’s biography of Sir Walter Scott (his father-in-law) was but recently published when Wordsworth, responding to a gift copy, wrote to Lockhart describing Scott as a man who lived ‘a favored and happy life’, who had carried on his anonymity too long; alas, ‘the burthen of secrecy’ had been contrary to his ‘open genial nature’. The misfortunes plaguing the latter part of his life constituted a moral lesson, since Scott had responded to adversity in a way that provided ‘much consolation both for those that loved him, and for Persons comparatively indifferent to his fate’. Wordsworth did not praise the biography, and chose not to discuss it in any detail. Lockhart thought that Wordsworth had seen the book as a broad-brush tribute to Scott, and (though he had raised the possibility that the book might be considered too long) he resented Wordsworth’s willingness to agree that it was. He was annoyed by Wordsworth’s correction of ‘a few trifling inaccuracies’.
Fully automated macromolecule suppressed single voxel glutamate spectroscopy (FAMOUS SVGS).

Purpose The aim of the study was to develop and validate a new localized 1H MRS pulse sequence and automated post-processing software for the quantification of brain Glutamate (Glu) in clinical conditions at 7.0T in order to get reliable and reproducible results for acute intervention studies.
Academic Careers in Quality Improvement

Codman introduced the modern concept of quality improvement (QI) in surgery in the late nineteenth century. The assessment of surgical outcomes helped pave the way for provider and hospital comparisons on complications and mortality after various procedures. Later, mortality and morbidity were risk adjusted based on patient factors, which allowed for comparisons across different populations and environments. The science behind risk adjustment was the pillar of academic career development for surgeons in the twentieth century. The field later incorporated patient safety, patient satisfaction, quality of life after surgery, long-term functional outcome, access to care, disparities and cost. As such, the field evolved from risk adjusted mortality and morbidity to the broader field of surgical outcomes. Adding infrastructure, processes, coordination of care, staff education and culture transformed the field into the broader arena of health services. Surgeons interested in any of these areas can endeavor into scholarly activities and have a lasting impact. Over the last two decades, the health services research and practice derived from nurturing young surgeons and supporting them through their career development has resulted in improved systems, provider performance and patient care. The founders of surgical QI would be proud of the field’s rapid and far-reaching expansion and the enthusiasm of academic surgeons of all ages to pursue new related ventures. With the availability of health services research fellowships and the multitude of institutional, regional, national and international programs serving the surgical patient, careers dedicated to quality improvement present many opportunities for growth and future leadership in surgical care.
Deep sequencing of phage-displayed peptide libraries reveals sequence motif that detects norovirus

Norovirus infections are the leading cause of non-bacterial gastroenteritis and result in about 21 million new cases and $2 billion in costs per year in the United States. Existing diagnostics have limited feasibility for point-of-care applications, so there is a clear need for more reliable, rapid, and simple-to-use diagnostic tools in order to contain outbreaks and prevent inappropriate treatments. In this study, a combination of phage display technology, deep sequencing and computational analysis was used to identify 12-mer peptides with specific binding to norovirus genotype GI.1 virus-like particles (VLPs). After biopanning, phage populations were sequenced and analyzed to identify a consensus peptide motif-YRSWXP. Two 12-mer peptides containing this sequence, NV-O-R5-3 and NV-O-R5-6, were further characterized to evaluate the motif's functional ability to detect VLPs and virus. Results indicated that these peptides effectively detect GI.1 VLPs in solid-phase peptide arrays, ELISAs and dot blots. Further, their specificity for the S-domain of the major capsid protein enables them to detect a wide range of GI and GII norovirus genotypes. Both peptides were able to detect virus in norovirus-positive clinical stool samples. Overall, the work reported here demonstrates the application of phage display coupled with next generation sequencing and computational analysis to uncover peptides with specific binding ability to a target protein for diagnostic applications. Further, the reagents characterized here can be integrated into existing diagnostic formats to detect clinically relevant genotypes of norovirus in stool.
111-P: PREDICTING UNRELATED DONOR SEARCH PRODUCTIVITY USING GENOTYPE FREQUENCY

Aim The ability to identify suitably matched (10/10 or 9/10) adult unrelated donors (URD) impacts the patients’ search time and costs. A simple scoring system that provides a prognosis of the patient (Pt) search success could be a useful tool for transplant physicians and would provide a surrogate measure of search productivity. We aimed to determine if Pt genotype frequency (GF) can predict whether a Pt is likely to have a potential 10/10 and/or 9/10 URD in the Be The Match (BTM) Registry. Methods A test dataset contained 516 Caucasian (CAU) Pts who initiated a search of the BTM Registry with 5 locus (HLA-A, B, C, DRB1, DQB1) intermediate/high resolution typing. Pt HLA was analyzed in the haplostats.org application and the output of GF for the most common predicted haplotype pair was recorded. Pt BTM URD search results output was then recorded for URD who had a HapLogic predicted match of > 50% 10/10 and >50% 9/10. GF ranges were defined to identify pts with search prognosis categories of: (1) “productive” (>15 10/10 and > 2 9/10), (2) “good” (between 3 and 14 10/10 and > 2 9/10), (3) “fair” (⩽2 10/10 and >2 9/10), or (4) “poor” (No 10/10 and ⩽2 9/10). A second cohort (N= 1126) was used to validate the precision of using GF. Results The table below shows the categories and precision. For example, patients with GF ⩾ 2x10ˆ-6, 93.5% were category 1, 5.5% were category 2, and 1% category 3. [ Table 1 ] Conclusions This study demonstrates a categorization scheme for CAU Pts using GF as a predictive measure for the productivity of an URD search. When GF did not correspond with the productivity category, it was most often in a bordering category. Although no replacement for running an unrelated search for a Pt, this is a quick way for physicians to get an indication of the search productivity.
La subversión de conciencia en Rosario Castellanos: un acercamiento didáctico a “Lección de cocina”

“Leccion de cocina”, de Rosario Castellanos, se construye en forma de fluir de conciencia de una recien casada mientras asa dos filetes. El discurso se entremezcla con sus propias experiencias culturales, conyugales y con el ardor de las quemaduras solares sufridas en la luna de miel. Los pensamientos se subvierten en consonancia con el propio proceso de coccion de los alimentos, que tambien van quemandose por su inexperiencia culinaria. Se estructura como respuesta un entretejido simbolico: carne asada como correlato de la propia carne, del coito y de la accion literaria, especialmente en lo que afectan a la identidad de la mujer. Esta triple caracterizacion sustenta las pautas que proponemos para el acercamiento a este relato, desde una perspectiva didactica, que trasciende lo literario, pues cada uno de estos estratos se encuentra sazonado por la opresion de la sociedad mexicana hasta mediados del siglo XX.
An area-scalable two-layer evaporator wick concept for high-heat-flux vapor chambers

For vapor chamber heat spreaders to operate at very high heat fluxes, the internal wick layer at the evaporator must simultaneously minimize the device temperature rise and the flow resistance to liquid resupply by capillary action. Prior investigations in the literature have reported sustained capillary-fed boiling at heat fluxes as high as 1 kW/cm2 for small hotspots of significantly less than ∼1 cm2. However, the need to provide liquid feeding to avoid dryout prevents high levels of heat fluxes from being dissipated over areas any larger than localized hotspots. Thin layers of homogeneous evaporator wicks can help reduce the thermal resistance across the layer, but fail to sustain adequate liquid supply at high heat fluxes or over large areas. Thicker evaporator wicks offer greater flow cross-sections to better feed liquid to the evaporator by capillary action, but induce unacceptably large surface superheats due to the high thermal resistance across these thick layers. This work proposes and analyzes a hybrid two-layer evaporator wick for passive, high-heat-flux dissipation. A thick cap layer of wick material evenly routes liquid to a thin, low-thermal-resistance base layer through an array of vertical liquid-feeding posts. This two-layer structure decouples the functions of liquid resupply (cap layer) and capillary-fed boiling heat transfer (base layer), making the design scalable to heat input areas of ∼1 cm2 for operation at 1 kW/cm2. A model is developed to demonstrate the potential performance of a vapor chamber incorporating such a two-layer evaporator wick design and to establish the target sizes of critical wick features that must be fabricated. The model comprises simplified hydraulic and thermal resistance networks for predicting the capillary-limited maximum heat flux and the overall thermal resistance, respectively. The performance of the vapor chamber is analyzed with varying two-layer wick geometric feature sizes.
'Pokémon Go' a Year-In: How Scarcity and Needs for Uniqueness Lead Consumers to Complete Collections

A revolutionary cellphone game called “Pokemon Go” encouraged players to move about in the real world in an attempt to collect as many virtual images of characters as they could from a cartoon series. Why do individuals seek out hard-to-complete collections? A review of research on scarcity, and research on the need for uniqueness (the motivation to distinguish oneself from others), are both analyzed to illustrate why people acquire rare objects and seek out distinctive experiences. Before the “Pokemon Go” cellphone game the Pokemon collectible card game led to incidents of thefts, assaults, and obsessive behaviors. With the “Pokemon Go” cellphone game players have put themselves in harm’s way by not paying attention to traffic when crossing the street, by trespassing onto other people’s property without their consent, and by entering unsafe neighborhoods. Such dramatic incidents stemming from these two games demonstrate how strong the urge to complete a collection can become, and why it is important to examine these motivations.
Phase stability in Ag-Cu-In-Ga metal precursors for (Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)Se2 thin films

Abstract The addition of Ag to Cu-Ga-In precursors for reaction to form (AgCu)(InGa)Se2 has shown benefits including improved adhesion, greater process tolerance and potential for improved device performance. In this study, metal precursors were sputtered with a Cu-Ga/In/Ag-Ga sequence with Ag/(Cu+Ag) = 0.25 and (Ag+Cu)/(Ga+In) = 0.90. These precursor layers are shown to be unstable, with a phase evolution during storage at room temperature revealed by x-ray diffraction (XRD). This behavior was studied in samples annealed in the temperature range of 60–150 °C or stored for up to 90 days. XRD analyses indicated the formation of (Ag1−xCux)In2 with Cu content of 28% and 36% for samples annealed at 100 °C and 150 °C, respectively. Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and XRD analyses on selenized samples showed a uniform distribution of Ag and Cu through the films and a Ga accumulation near the back interface. Solar cells fabricated from the selenized films showed improved device performance in VOC and FF as a result of the precursor anneal.
The Transfer of Earth-Time to the Planets

Understanding the development and future of the solar system requires an appreciation of the processes and physical laws that govern both motion and time in a gravitational environment. Processes and changes that appear small on human timescales may have a significant impact in the long term, and understanding them requires measurements of extreme accuracy. The history of the evolution of the solar system is manifest in the present-day motions and positions of the planetary bodies and the forces that helped shape them. Position and time are interrelated, and it is impossible to provide meaning to a precise position unless the precise time is known. Here we describe recent space experiments that attempt to synchronize events that take place at other planets with time on Earth, how time and distance are interrelated, and how being able to transfer time accurately and measure the positions of the planets can help understand the future of the solar system.
Tools for rapid genetic engineering of Vibrio fischeri

Vibrio fischeri is used as a model for number of processes, including symbiosis, quorum sensing, bioluminescence, and biofilm formation. Many of these studies depend on generating deletion mutants and complementing them. Engineering such strains, however, is a time-consuming, multi-step process that relies on cloning and subcloning. Here, we describe a set of tools that can be used to rapidly engineer deletions and insertions in the V. fischeri chromosome without cloning. We developed a uniform approach for generating deletions using PCR SOEing (Splicing by Overlap Extension) with antibiotic cassettes flanked by standardized linker sequences. PCR SOEing of the cassettes to sequences up- and downstream of the target gene generates a DNA product that can be directly introduced by natural transformation. Selection for the introduced antibiotic resistance marker yields the deletion of interest in a single step. Because these cassettes also contain FRT sequences flanking the resistance marker, Flp recombinase can be used to generate an unmarked, in-frame deletion. We developed a similar methodology and tools for the rapid insertion of specific genes at a benign site in the chromosome, for purposes such as complementation. Finally, we generated derivatives of these tools to facilitate different applications, such as inducible gene expression and assessing protein production. We demonstrated the utility of these tools by deleting and inserting genes known or predicted to be involved in motility. While developed for V. fischeri strain ES114, we anticipate that these tools can be adapted for use in other V. fischeri strains and, potentially, other microbes. Importance. Vibrio fischeri is a model organism for studying a variety of important processes, including symbiosis, biofilm formation, and quorum sensing. To facilitate investigation of these biological mechanisms, we developed approaches for rapidly generating deletions and insertions, and demonstrated their utility using two genes of interest. The ease, consistency, and speed of the engineering is facilitated by a set of antibiotic resistance cassettes with common linker sequences that can be amplified by PCR with universal primers and fused to adjacent sequences using splicing by overlap extension, then introduced directly into V. fischeri , eliminating the need for cloning and plasmid conjugation. The antibiotic cassettes are flanked by FRT sequences, permitting their removal using Flp recombinase. We augmented these basic tools with a family of constructs for different applications. We anticipate that these tools will greatly accelerate mechanistic studies of biological processes in V. fischeri , and potentially other Vibrio species.
Serdar Somuncu: Turkish German Comedy as Transnational Intervention

A reconceptualization of Germanness, combined with a reconsideration of what constitutes “Germanness” and “Turkishness” and how they are linked, is a central theme in the programs of a younger generation of Turkish German cabaret artists and comedians. As a member of the new generation of performers, Serdar Somuncu stands out, not only for his unapologetic embrace of political theater critical of both German and Turkish social politics, but also for his assertion of a right and responsibility to engage with Germany’s past, coupled with an insistence on differentiation and balanced comparison when discussing integration. After gaining notoriety through his Mein Kampf readings, Somuncu launched a series of programs highlighting Germany’s failure to come to terms with Nazism, the persistence of ethnic stereotypes, the debilitating influence of mass media, and the necessity of a reciprocal process of integration. As a German citizen of Turkish heritage, well versed in the socio-political issues that unite and divide the two countries and zealous in his efforts to incite mutually informed, critical reflection on Turkish German relations, Somuncu has contributed to the transformation of the German comedy stage into a site of transnational intervention.
Predicting Perceived Stress Through Mirco-EMAs and a Flexible Wearable ECG Device

Self-reported perceived stress does not often correlate with physiologic and behavioral stress response. Current perceived stress self-report assessment methods require users to answer many questions at different time points of the day. Reducing it to one question at multiple time points throughout the day, using microinteraction-based Ecological Momentary Assessment (micro-EMA) allows us to identify smaller or more subtle changes in physiology and corresponding emotional reactions that reflect experiences of stress. We identify the optimal micro-EMAs by finding single item questions that correlate with intended stressors, and are most predictive from physiological signals. Physiological signals were collected in lab with a flexible wearable sensor that captured R-R IBI and motion from 22 female participants performing multiple stressful and non-stressful activities. Results show that simply asking how stressed a person is with a 7-scale Likert scale response results in 0.63 correlation with intended stressful activities, and a 68% F1-Score in predicting stress. We further report on acceptability and feasibility of using this sensor.
On the Erasure of race in control culture discourse: a case study of Trayvon Martin’s role in the Black Lives Matter movement

In this paper, we analyze an emergent cultural clash between: (a) how media outlets and other control culture institutions have portrayed events related to Black Lives Matter, and (b) the complex r...
Orbital lifetime and collision risk reduction for inclined geosynchronous disposal orbits

Abstract A growing number of satellites are operating on inclined geosynchronous orbits (IGSOs) with inclination typically much higher than that of traditional geosynchronous orbits (GEOs). Several recent studies have considered the long-term evolution of IGSOs. Unlike traditional GEO disposal orbits, IGSO disposal orbits can undergo large excursions in eccentricity due to the effect of luni-solar gravity perturbations. For specific ranges of initial orbital elements, perigee can reach the Earth's atmosphere, resulting in vehicle reentry. A previously published study by the authors on Tundra orbits, a specific class of IGSO with critical inclination and moderate eccentricity, demonstrated that orbital lifetime can be reduced below 200 years (in some cases below 25 years) and that the corresponding collision probability with background objects can be significantly reduced below that for traditional GEO disposal orbits. This paper presents a study of a broad range of IGSO disposal orbits. Three cases of IGSO disposal orbit were considered: (1) near circular orbits (motivated by the BeiDou and IRNSS constellations); (2) orbits with intermediate eccentricity (motivated by the QZS constellation); and (3) orbits with larger eccentricity (motivated by the Sirius Tundra constellation). For each case, a large number of long-term propagations using the high-precision code TRACE were performed. Disposal orbit initial inclination and right ascension of ascending node (RAAN) were parametrically varied. The Aerospace Debris Environment Projection Tool (ADEPT) suite was used to determine collision probability with inactive background objects and with operational satellites in GEO, medium Earth orbit (MEO), and low Earth orbit (LEO). Study results show that orbital lifetime of IGSOs can be reduced to less than 200 years for all three IGSO cases considered if initial inclination is high enough. The minimum required inclination depends on initial RAAN. An orbital lifetime less than 200 years offers effective reduction of probability of collision with inactive background objects (by 0.7–1.8 orders of magnitude) and can be achieved in a wider disposal orbit design space than would be needed to reduce orbital lifetime to less than 25 years. For near circular IGSOs, collision probability with operational satellites will be higher at high inclinations than at low inclinations, but there are options for mitigation. When inclination is not high enough to achieve reentry, a high eccentricity storage disposal orbit may be a consideration if collision probability is lower than for other options.
Behavioral Health in Pediatrics (BeHiP) Improving Behavioral Health for Children in Tennessee Foster Care

Introduction The Tennessee Chapter of the AAP secured financial support from BlueCross and BlueShield of Tennessee to fund Behavioral Health in Pediatrics (BeHiP)--a pilot foster care learning collaborative in northeast Tennessee. Pediatricians were recruited to participate in an intensive one-day behavioral health training and monthly video learning collaborative sessions. Sessions focused on discussion of challenging foster care patient cases submitted by the pediatricians and discussed with representatives from the regional behavioral system of care, including a child and adolescent psychiatrist and psychologist, the health nurse and patient advocate from the …
Chickens, weeds, and the production of green middle-class identity through urban agriculture in deindustrial Michigan, USA

In recent decades, urban agriculture has drawn practitioners seeking ways to increase both environmental sustainability and social equity in their cities. The practice has also drawn criticism for the ways it reproduces inequalities based on differences of class and race. In this paper, I argue contestations around urban agriculture are part of ongoing yet shifting processes of class formation intersecting with racial differentiation, in particular the emergence of green middle-class identity. Drawing on fourteen months of ethnographic fieldwork in a small city in Michigan, USA, I examine urban agriculture as a historic spatial and aesthetic practice, drawing on examples of chicken-keeping, permaculture-style gardening, and concerns with neatness and blight. By positioning urban agriculture within historical narratives of landscape aesthetics and land use policy, I demonstrate how this practice becomes bound up in the ongoing production of class distinctions and inequalities. Throughout, I draw attention to how processes of class formation unfold in ways that diverge from, or are in excess of, local gardeners’ and agriculturalists’ intentions. In conclusion, I gesture to the ways the instability and dynamism of class formation via urban agriculture presents opportunities for addressing the reproduction of race- and class-based inequalities and for nurturing more equitable and sustainable forms of urban agriculture practice.
Entangled with the necropolis: a decolonial feminist analysis of femicide news coverage in Latin America

This project examines how Latin American print media discursively construct the issue of femicide/feminicide in the context of rampant judicial impunity, state neglect, neoliberal decimation, and e...
Risk factors for severe hypocalcemia after parathyroidectomy in prevalent dialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Hypocalcemia is one of the common complications after parathyroidectomy (PTX). Severe hypocalcemia (SH) can lead to tetany, cardiac arrhythmia and even sudden death. However, predictors for the development of SH in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism demonstrated in some small-scale studies with a limited sample size remain inconclusive. A retrospective chart review of 420 consecutive dialysis patients who underwent PTX during a 12-year period was performed. We checked serum levels of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) for three consecutive days postoperatively. SH was defined as the minimum values of serum calcium lower than 1.875 mmol/L (7.5 mg/dL) within 3 days after operation. The mean (±SD) age of our study population was 53 ± 12 years, and more than half (57 %) were female. SH occurred in 37 % of the patients after PTX. Using a multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis, lower preoperative levels of Ca (odds ratio 0.69, 95 % CI 0.60–0.79, P < 0.001), higher preoperative levels of iPTH (odds ratio 1.04, 95 % CI 1.00–1.07, P = 0.048), P (odds ratio 2.43, 95 % CI 1.49–3.95, P < 0.001) and ALP (odds ratio 1.08, 95 % CI 1.05–1.11, P < 0.001) were found to be independent predictors of occurrence of SH following PTX. The readily obtainable preoperative laboratory parameters including Ca, iPTH, P, and ALP will allow identification of a subgroup of patients who are at greater risk for the development of SH following PTX.
“What You Would Like to Hear”: Sex, Lies, and Life Writing in Diane di Prima's Memoirs of a Beatnik

(2007). “What You Would Like to Hear”: Sex, Lies, and Life Writing in Diane di Prima's Memoirs of a Beatnik. a/b: Auto/Biography Studies: Vol. 22, No. 1, pp. 26-45.
Residual algorithms: reinforcement learning with function approximation

ABSTRACT A number of reinforcement learning algorithms have been developed that are guaranteed to converge to the optimal solution when used with lookup tables. It is shown, however, that these algorithms can easily become unstable when implemented directly with a general function-approximation system, such as a sigmoidal multilayer perceptron, a radial-basis-function system, a memory-based learning system, or even a linear function-approximation system. A new class of algorithms, residual gradient algorithms, is proposed, which perform gradient descent on the mean squared Bellman residual, guaranteeing convergence. It is shown, however, that they may learn very slowly in some cases. A larger class of algorithms, residual algorithms, is proposed that has the guaranteed convergence of the residual gradient algorithms, yet can retain the fast learning speed of direct algorithms. In fact, both direct and residual gradient algorithms are shown to be special cases of residual algorithms, and it is shown that residual algorithms can combine the advantages of each approach. The direct, residual gradient, and residual forms of value iteration, Q-learning, and advantage learning are all presented. Theoretical analysis is given explaining the properties these algorithms have, and simulation results are given that demonstrate these properties.
Highly available cloud-based cluster management

We present an architecture that increases persistence and reliability of automated infrastructure management in the context of hybrid, cluster-cloud environments. We describe our highly available implementation that builds upon Chef configuration management system and infrastructure-as-a-service cloud resources from Amazon Web Services. We summarize our experience with managing a 20-node Linux cluster using this implementation. Our analysis of utilization and cost of necessary cloud resources indicates that the designed system is a low-cost alternative to acquiring additional physical hardware for hardening cluster management.
Scattering and absorption of electromagnetic radiation by a semi-infinite medium in the presence of surface roughness

In this paper, we present a theoretical description of the scattering and absorption of electromagnetic radiation induced by roughness on the surface of a semi-infinite medium. We approach the problem by the use of scattering theory applied to the classical Maxwell equations. We obtain formulas for the roughness-induced scattering from the surface of an isotropic dielectric for both $s$- and $p$-polarized waves incident on the surface at a general angle of incidence. When the real part of the dielectric constant of the material is negative and its imaginary part small (as in a simple nearly-free-electron metal), we extract from the expressions for the total absorption rate that portion which describes roughness-induced absorption by surface polaritons (surface plasmons). We compare our results with those recently published by Ritchie and collaborators for the case of normal incidence, and we present a series of numerical studies of the roughness-induced scattering and absorption rates in aluminum.
Signs of culture

Ramsey et al. present an ingenious method to study behavioral novelty under field conditions within relatively narrow time constraints. This evokes discussion of lateral spread of innovation from individual to individual versus vertical spread from generation to generation. This discussion of incipient culture helps to place the traditional biological tool of cross-fostering into philosophical and anthropological context.
Targeting tumor cells by enhancing radiation sensitivity.

The work of Al Knudson created the paradigm in which we see cancer as a result of the accumulation of multiple mutations. Our goal has been to exploit these mutations to develop strategies to enhance therapy for cancer by targeting the malignant cell while sparing the normal tissue. In studying the RAS oncogene, we observed that its expression when activated resulted in enhanced radioresistance. Conversely, inhibition of RAS made cells with activated RAS more radiosensitive. Hence, we postulated that it would be possible to sensitize tumors with RAS mutations to radiation without affecting the sensitivity of the normal tissue in patients with such tumors. This proved to be the case in animal models and has led to current clinical trials. These studies raised the question of identifying the downstream effectors of RAS that are responsible for altering the radiosensitivity of cells. We have found that phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3 kinase) is a critical component of this pathway. Blocking PI3 kinase enhanced the radiation response in vitro or in vivo of cells actively signaling through that pathway, but did not affect cells not actively signaling through PI3 kinase at the time of irradiation. Identification of tumors with active signaling in this pathway by immunohistochemical staining for phosphorylated AKT, the downstream target of PI3 kinase correlated with those patients for which radiation failed to achieve local control. Thus, characterization of the active signaling pathways in a given tumor might enable the selection of patients likely to respond to radiation. Pathways upstream from RAS may also be useful targets to consider for enhancing radiation therapy. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is upstream of PI3 kinase, may also mediate resistance through a common pathway. In addition to EGFR and RAS, PTEN can also regulate the PI3 kinase pathway. Identifying a common signal for EGFR, RAS, and PTEN that results in radiation resistance may uncover targets for developing molecular-based radiosensitization protocols for tumors resistant to radiation and thus lead to improvement of local control.
Learning term-relationships for ontology construction: creating business ontologies for event explanation

Term-Relationship plays major role in several areas of research including document relevance, domain ontology construction or metadata extraction. As part of our work in finding explanation for market events (such as sudden or significant stock price change for a company), we use business ontologies to facilitate the relevance ranking of documents. We use the ontologies even further to rank individual sentences in a news article so that irrelevant events (in the form of sentences) in a relevant article will not get undue importance. This two-step ranking helps us in extracting important sentences which can be labelled as "responsible" or "explanatory" sentences for a significant stock price change. In this paper we show the performance evaluation of our relevance model using ontologies. We also show a few examples of sentences which can be thought of as providing explanation for some recent price changes.
Exploring optimization and caching for efficient collection operations

Many large programs operate on collection types. Extensive libraries are available in many programming languages, such as the C++ Standard Template Library, which make programming with collections convenient. Extending programming languages to provide collection queries as first class constructs in the language would not only allow programmers to write queries explicitly in their programs but it would also allow compilers to leverage the wealth of experience available from the database domain to optimize such queries. This paper describes an approach to reduce the run time of programs involving explicit collection queries by performing run time query optimization that is effective for single runs of a program. In addition, it also leverages a cache to store previously computed results. The proposed approach relies on histograms built from the data at run time to estimate the selectivity of joins and predicates in order to construct query plans. Information from earlier executions of the same query during run time is leveraged during the construction of the query plans, even when the data has changed between these executions. An effective cache policy is also determined for caching the results of join (sub) queries. The cache is maintained incrementally, when the underlying collections change, and use of the cache space is optimized by a cache replacement policy. Our approach has been implemented within the Java Query Language (JQL) framework using AspectJ. Our approach demonstrated that its run time query optimization in integration with caching sub query result significantly improves the run time of programs with explicit queries over equivalent programs performing collection operations by iterating over those collections. This paper evaluates our approach using synthetic as well as real world Robocode programs by comparing it to JQL as a benchmark. Experimental results show that our approach performs better than the JQL approach with respect to the program run time.
Polyaniline Electrodes Containing Tri-Atomic Au/Pd Clusters: Effect of Ordering

Our atom-by-atom deposition method has been used to prepare hetero-tri-atomic clusters of Au 1 Pd 2 and Au 2 Pd 1 in polyaniline as isolation matrix. The sequence in which individual atoms are added affects the final structure of the cluster. Because of the uniquely defined point of attachment of the cluster to the PANI, isomers such as PANI-Pd–Au–Pd, PANI–Au–Pd–Pd and PANI–Pd–Pd–Au have been created. It is shown that the latter has much higher activity towards electrooxidation of n-propanol in alkaline medium than the first two. In fact, its activity is even higher than that of the most active homo-clusters PANI–Au 6 and PANI–Pd 2 . The observed results are in good agreement with few available theoretical calculations of the HOMO–LUMO gap energy of these structures.
The structural role of lipids in mitochondrial and sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes. Freeze-fracture electron microscopy studies.

Abstract The role of phospholipid in the structure of the membranes of beef heart mitochondria and of the sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes from rabbit skeletal muscle has been investigated by freeze-fracture electron microscopy. Progressive removal of membrane phospholipids, by phospholipase A treatment or detergent treatment, or by organic solvent extraction, results in loss of the smooth background seen in membrane fracture faces and decreased ability of membrane to undergo freeze fracture to yield fracture faces. Instead cross-section of vesicles or particle clusters are observed. Sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles have a 9 to 1 asymmetry in the distribution of particles between the convex and concave fracture faces. There is also a wide range of particle size distribution in both of these fracture faces with 85-A particles in greatest number. The removal of membrane associated proteins by detergent extraction does not appreciably change the distribution in particle size. Sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles were dissolved with detergent and reassembled to form membrane vesicles containing mainly one protein (approx. 90%), i.e. the Ca 2+ pump protein, and with a ratio of lipid to protein similar to the original membrane. The reconstituted vesicles readily underwent freeze fracture but the asymmetric particle distribution between the fracture faces was no longer observed. The size distribution of particles in the reconstituted membrane, consisting mainly of Ca 2+ pump protein, and phospholipid, was similar in heterogeneity to the original sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane. Thus the heterogeneity in particle size could reflect variation in the orientation of the Ca 2+ pump protein within the membrane.
A cytoskeletal-based perimeter fence selectively corrals a sub-population of cell surface Kv2.1 channels.

The Kv2.1 delayed-rectifier channel trafficks to 1-3 μm2 clusters on the surface of neurons and transfected HEK cells. Single quantum dot (Qdot) tracking and FRAP approaches were used to quantify the diffusion of GFP-labeled Kv2.1 channels on the cell surface and address the mechanisms underlying the formation of these unique membrane structures. Mean square displacement analysis of single Kv2.1 channel tracks inside or outside the surface clusters yielded mean diffusion coefficients of 0.03±0.02 μm2/second and 0.06±0.05 μm2/second, respectively. Kv2.1 channels outside the clusters effectively ignore the cluster boundary, readily diffusing through these microdomains. However, in 5% of the tracks analyzed, single, non-clustered channels were observed to cross into a cluster and become corralled within the cluster perimeter. Alexa Fluor 594-labelled phalloidin staining and mCherry-Kv2.1 co-expression with GFP-actin indicated that the Kv2.1 surface clusters form where the cortical actin cytoskeleton is reduced. Kv2.1 channels lacking the C-terminus do not form clusters, freely diffusing over the cell surface with a mean diffusion coefficient of 0.07±0.04 μm2/second. These data support a model whereby the Kv2.1 clusters are formed by sub-membrane cytoskeletal structures that limit the lateral diffusion of only the sub-population of Kv2.1 channels carrying the appropriate modifications on the Kv2.1 C-terminus.
Growth of self-canceling code in evolutionary systems

This research examines the behavior of inoperative code (introns) in the evolution of genetically robust solutions. Genetically robust solutions are solutions that are less likely to be degraded by genetic operators, such as crossover. Previous work has shown that there is significant evolutionary pressure in favor of genetically robust solutions and that evolving programs adopt a number of strategies to increase genetic robustness, notably an increase in inoperative 'genes' (individual genetic units that don't influence fitness) and a preference for 'genes' with a relatively small effect on fitness.Here we examine the role of genes that cancel each other out. We find that allowing such 'canceling genes' leads to an overall increase in the rate of code growth, both through the inclusion of self-canceling code and through a general increase in introns. Finally, we find that the evolution generally follows a two-step process. Initially the operative code evolves rapidly to achieve a (near) optimal fitness. Then, the inoperative code begins to evolve most rapidly to increase robustness. In an extreme case of a problem that can be solved with no operative genes, individuals evolve by losing all operative genes and then losing all inoperative genes.
Understanding transformation: progress and gaps

Cancer is a collection of complex genetic diseases characterized by multiple defects in the homeostatic mechanisms that regulate cell growth, proliferation and differentiation. Although the analysis of human tumor specimens has allowed the identification of many molecules and pathways important for the malignant phenotype, we still lack a complete understanding of the events that conspire to program any specific type of cancer. Recent advances in developing human experimental models of cancer have provided new insights into the pathways whose perturbation is necessary to achieve cell transformation. These studies indicate that many combinations of genetic mutations confer tumorigenicity on human cells and that both cell-type and tumor-stromal interactions play critical roles in dictating the tumor phenotype.
Compatible relations on filters and stability of local topological properties under supremum and product

Abstract An abstract scheme using particular types of relations on filters leads to general unifying results on stability under supremum and product of local topological properties. We present applications for Frechetness, strong Frechetness, countable tightness and countable fan-tightness, some of which recover or refine classical results, some of which are new. The reader may find other applications as well.
Role of neuritic plaques and blood brain barrier in pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease

Abstract The authors suggest primary roles for the neuritic plaque and a breakdown in the blood brain barrier in Alzheimer's disease. Although the role of the plaque seems reasonable and empirically justified, the hypothesized role for changes in the blood brain barrier remains in doubt.
A Substantial Improvement in Predictions of Intrinsically Disordered Protein

The most accurate predictors of Intrinsically Disordered Protein (IDP) structure, as determined by their performance on the DP_NEW data set in 2013 [Mizianty et al] are, for the true positive rate (TPR), true negative rate (TNR), and area under the ROC curve (AUC) respectively: MFDp2: 75.9%, 95.3%, 0.940; and CSpritzL: 83.5%, 85.9%, 0.909. The sum of type I and type II errors for these predictions is, for MFDp2 29%, and for CSpritzL 30%. The Random Forests predictor reported here, named RFDPred, applied to the same test data, yields a TPR, FNR, and AUC of 88.7%, 94.3%(0.4%), and 0.959 respectively, where the sum of type I and II errors is 17%. A similar improvement is seen when RFDPred is tested against the Spritz test data. In a 31 fold cross validation that includes all of Disprot, with no optimizations between tests, TPR, FNR, and AUC are 78.3%, 94.3%(0.4%), and 0.94(0.04), respectively. The hypothesis: residues missing from the PDB evidence are not disordered, was tested with RFDPred. Disprot residues assigned to disordered (D) only on the strength of their being missing from their PDB structures were not counted as disordered in an otherwise same cross validation, TPR, FNR, and AUC improved to 81.1, 96.7, and 0.96(0.01) respectively, and the sum of type I and II errors decreased by 19%. Missing residues (M) are weakly predicted to be ordered and disordered with equal frequency. These results indicate that missing residues should not be assigned as intrinsic disorder without supporting evidence. The improvement seen here is attributed to a much larger set of variables, more than 500, where a PCA yields 130 components, and a much larger training set, including all unique (E-value > 1) PDB data at and below 3 angstroms resolution.
Simulations of the Amazon Basin Circulation with a Regional Model

Abstract Numerical simulations of the atmospheric circulation over tropical South America are performed with a regional model developed at The Pennsylvania State University and the National Center for Atmospheric Research and commonly referred to as the MM4. The authors focus on a 5-day period beginning at 1200 UTC 27 February 1990. The observed circulation is evaluated in terms of initialized analyses of standard meteorological variables from the National Meteorological Center, outgoing longwave radiation from polar orbiting satellites, and surface observations. The NMC analyses are also used to specify the initial conditions, as well as provide the lateral boundary conditions, for the 5-day simulations. The impacts on the simulated circulation of major changes to the standard MM4 are assessed. When an improved treatment of radiative processes is included, excessive rainfall develops over the Andes Mountains and over the Amazon Basin. The excessive rainfall is concentrated in “gridpoint” storms that are ...