cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stiquito for robotics and embedded systems education

Stiquito, a small robotic insect, has been used to introduce students to robotics. A new version features a preprogrammed microcontroller board that students can use to learn about the concepts of robotics and embedded systems. Most Stiquito robots built so far have been educational novelties because they could not be controlled by a programmable computer. This lack of a readily available controller hampered the efforts of academic researchers, who wanted to use it to study colony robotics and emergent systems. Another obstacle has been the robot's original low cost and the consequent need to design and implement a reliable controller that is equally inexpensive and low-power. Stiquito Controlled is a new self-controlled robot that uses a microcontroller to produce forward motion by coordinating the operation of its legs. Although the controller is sold programmed, educators and researchers can reprogram the board to examine other areas of robotics. In fact, the board can be used alone to learn embedded systems development concepts.
Activation of NF-κB in Placentas of Women with Preeclampsia

Objective. Placentas are oxidatively stressed during preeclampsia and produce more tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and more thromboxane than normal. Oxidative stress may cause these abnormalities by activating nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). We measured the levels of activated NF-κB in normal and preeclamptic placentas and determined whether oxidative stress activates NF-κB in a trophoblast-like cell line. Methods. We used immunohistochemistry to determine the percentage of the total tissue area that stained for the p65 subunit of NF-κB in placentas obtained from normal and preeclamptic pregnancies. In a second set of experiments, we used a reporter plasmid bearing the NF-κB binding site and transfected it into trophoblast-like cells. The cells were incubated with medium control, linoleic acid (LA), an oxidizing solution (Ox), or Ox enriched with LA (OxLA), TNFα, or OxLA plus TNFα for 20 h. Cell lysates were analyzed using a dual luciferase assay kit. Results. Placentas obtained from women with preeclampsia sho...
Two chronic motor training paradigms differentially influence acute instrumental learning in spinally transected rats.

The effect of two chronic motor training paradigms on the ability of the lumbar spinal cord to perform an acute instrumental learning task was examined in neonatally (postnatal day 5; P5) spinal cord transected (i.e., spinal) rats. At ∼P30, rats began either unipedal hindlimb stand training (Stand-Tr; 20-25 min/day, 5 days/wk), or bipedal hindlimb step training (Step-Tr; 20 min/day; 5 days/wk) for 7 wks. Non-trained spinal rats (Non-Tr) served as controls. After 7 wks all groups were tested on the flexor-biased instrumental learning paradigm. We hypothesized that 1) Step-Tr rats would exhibit an increased capacity to learn the flexor-biased task relative to Non-Tr subjects, as locomotion involves repetitive training of the tibialis anterior (TA), the ankle flexor whose activation is important for successful instrumental learning, and 2) Stand-Tr rats would exhibit a deficit in acute motor learning, as unipedal training activates the ipsilateral ankle extensors, but not flexors. Results showed no differences in acute learning potential between Non-Tr and Step-Tr rats, while the Stand-Tr group showed a reduced capacity to learn the acute task. Further investigation of the Stand-Tr group showed that, while both the ipsilateral and contralateral hindlimbs were significantly impaired in their acute learning potential, the contralateral, untrained hindlimbs exhibited significantly greater learning deficits. These results suggest that different types of chronic peripheral input may have a significant impact on the ability to learn a novel motor task, and demonstrate the potential for experience-dependent plasticity in the spinal cord in the absence of supraspinal connectivity.
A rare tricuspid anomaly.

54-year-old Mexican American woman was admitted to the Erie County Medical Center, Buffalo, NY, with the general symptoms of tiredness, weight loss with loss of appetite, leg weakness, and low blood pressure (80/60 mm Hg). The patient denied any paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, orthopnea, or leg edema. She did have some facial swelling, a skin rash on both hands, and joint swelling, which was consistent with a previous diagnosis of polymyositis and dermatomyositis. The patient also had evidence of septic arthritis of the left elbow. Physical examination revealed extensive wheezing and a grade 2/3 systolic ejection murmur, heard predominantly over the tricuspid valve area. Laboratory workup revealed pancytopenia and an elevation in liver function tests. All the markers for autoimmune disease were negative. Biopsies and computerized tomographic scans performed to search for visceral malignancy were negative. Blood cultures grew methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. Electrocardiography revealed normal sinus rhythm with evidence of right atrial enlarge
Co-Ordinating Systems and Behaviour In Hydra : I. Pacemaker System of the Periodic Contractions

1. A technique of recording electrical activity from an intact, essentially normal specimen of Hydra is described. 2. The existence of regularly recurring co-ordinated longitudinal contractions of the ectodermal muscles is confirmed and re-emphasized. 3. Such contractions are found to consist of a patterned series of individual coordinated contractions, each preceded by a single large, compound potential. The overall contraction, consisting of a variable number between 5 and 12 or more contractions depending on species, is thus called a contraction burst. 4. These contraction-burst potentials originate endogenously; they are considered to be the most important effector activity in Hydra . 5. Contraction-burst potentials originate in the hypostome and are conducted throughout the column at approximately 15 cm./sec. 6. Contraction-burst patterns have been studied quantitatively in two species, showing interspecific differences between both regular contraction bursts and those associated with locomotion. 7. Certain extrinsic and intrinsic variables affect contraction-burst frequency. Daylight, and nutritional state, both modify this rate, with the former giving rise to a circadian activity cycle under natural conditions. 8. Single electric shocks usually cause a single co-ordinated muscle contraction. Such stimuli can markedly reduce endogenous contraction-burst activity. 9. Sudden illumination interrupts contraction bursts temporarily, even halting those in progress. Blue light is most effective. This stimulus has been used as a tool to investigate the properties of the pacemaker systems concerned with contraction bursts. 10. The nature and properties of these pacemakers is discussed.
Interactional achievement of shared mathematical understanding in a virtual math team

Learning mathematics involves specific forms of social practice. In this paper, we describe socially situated, interactional processes involved with collaborative learning of mathematics in a special online collaborative learning environment. Our analysis highlights the methodic ways group members enact the affordances of their situation (a) to visually explore a mathematical pattern, (b) to co-construct shared mathematical artifacts, (c) to make visible the meaning of the construction, (d) to translate between graphical, narrative and symbolic representations and (e) to coordinate their actions across multiple interaction spaces, while they are working on open-ended math problems. In particular, we identify key roles of referential and representational practices in the co-construction of deep mathematical group understanding. The case study illustrates how mathematical understanding is built and shared through the online interaction.
Optimization and Innovative Modification of a Model Used to Determine the Amount of Adjustment of an Actuator for Flatness Control

Calculation of the amount of adjustment of an actuator is an important step in flatness control during the cold rolling process. It has a direct effect on the precision with which flatness of strip is controlled. In this paper, an optimal evaluation function for evaluating actuator adjustment is defined based on the efficiency of the actuator and is solved by using a feasible-directions algorithm. This approach can not only determine the amount of adjustment that is optimal but also eliminates the problems associated with irreversible iteration in the traditional method. The software package Visual Studio is used to perform graphical modeling and a function block generator is used to create an optimum function block. The proposed model has been tested on a five-stand tandem cold-rolling mill. The results show that the flatness control deviation is reduced from 9% to 5%, which demonstrates that the model is highly effective.
The nature of osmotic pressure

The hemolytic effect of formaldehyde and that of urea, which were first observed by Eisenberg, are found to be, like that of boric acid, the result of osmotic pressure.A comparative, quantitative study of the hemolytic action of these three substances shows that(1) The same degree of osmotic hemolysis is not produced by identical “osmotic concentrations” of boric acid, formaldehyde and urea nor by a corresponding lowering in the concentration of the substances in the medium of suspension of the treated corpuscles.(2) As the treating concentration of the three hemolytic substances is correspondingly diminished, the ratio between that concentration and the final concentration, in the hemolytic experiment, increases disproportionately with the different substances.(3) The osmotic hemolysis of corpuscles which have been treated with the three hemolytic substances in the same “osmotic concentrations” is not inhibited by identical concentrations of sodium chloride nor of the hemolytic substances themselves.All ...
Computational Analysis of Fluid Characteristics in Rigid and Flexible Human Respiratory Airway Models

AbstractThe effect of airway wall elasticity on fluid characteristics in an airway bifurcation was investigated in this study. A finite element model of airway generations 3 to 5, based on an anatomical symmetric airway description, was developed by separating fluid and solid domains. Simulations of fluid characteristics in the bifurcation were performed for two cases: rigid-wall and flexible-wall models. A staggered Fluid-Structure-Interaction method was chosen for the flexible-wall model. A parametric study of airway wall elasticity on fluid characteristics and strain distributions was also investigated. The simulation results showed that it is very important to incorporate airway wall elasticity into a computational model of the bifurcation when considering airway wall properties. Airway wall elasticity was shown to significantly affect fluid pressure and wall strain distributions in the bifurcation but to insignificantly affect air flow velocity and wall shear stress distributions.
EFFECT OF STRUCTURED PLATES ON FINE COAL GRAVITY SEPARATION IN A LIQUID FLUIDIZED BED SYSTEM

AbstractThe addition of structured plates in the hindered-settling bed separator (HSBS) is an improved design for the particle classification and gravity separation on the basis of size and density differences. This work presents the experimental test results of coal separation in a lab scale packed column and a series of numerical simulations of the particle classification and gravity separation in the presence of structured plates using an Euler-Lagrange approach from Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). In the simulation, the HSBS was used to separate coal particles with a size range of -2+0.25 mm. The changes of liquid phase velocity field and particle separation performance in the packed column are compared with those in the open column to get a better understanding of the possible impact of structured plates on coal separation process. It is concluded that the structured plates can offer a good gravity separation with substantial throughput increase. The throughput is nearly three times higher than t...
Mine-Water Flow between Contiguous Flooded Underground Coal Mines with Hydraulically Compromised Barriers

Groundwater flow entering closed contiguous underground coal mines may be strongly influenced by leakage across inter-mine barriers. This study examines a complex of multiple closed and flooded mines that developed into a nearly steady-state groundwater flow system within 10 to 50 years after closure. Field water-level observations, mine geometry, barrier hydraulic conductivity, recharge rates, and late-stage storage gains were parameterized to match known pumping rates and develop a fluid mass balance. Vertical infiltration (recharge and leakage) estimates were developed using a depth-dependent model based on the assumption that most vertical infiltration is focused in areas with <75 m of overburden. A MODFLOW simulation of the nearly steady-state flow conditions was calibrated to hydraulic heads in observation wells and to known pumping rates by varying barrier hydraulic conductivity. The calibrated model suggests significant head-driven leakage between adjacent mines, both horizontally through coal barriers and vertically through inter-burden into a shallower mine in an overlying seam. Calibrated barrier hydraulic conductivities were significantly greater than literature values for other mines at similar depths in the region. This suggests that some barriers may be hydraulically compromised by un-mapped entries, horizontal boreholes, or similar features that act as drains between mines. These model results suggest that post-mining inter-annual equilibrium conditions are amenable to quantitative description using mine maps, sparse observation-well data, accurately estimated pumping rates, and depth-dependent vertical infiltration estimates. Results are applicable to planning for post-flooding water-control schemes, although hydraulic testing may be required to verify model results.
C/NOFS remote sensing of ionospheric reflectance

Alfvn waves play critical roles in the electrodynamic coupling of plasmas at magnetically conjugate regions in near-Earth space. Associated electric (E*) and magnetic (dec B*) field perturbations sampled by sensors on satellites in low-Earth orbits are generally super positions of incident and reflected waves. However, lack of knowledge about ionospheric reflection coefficients (alpha) hinders understanding of generator outputs and load absorption of Alfvn wave energies. Here we demonstrate a new method for estimating using satellite measurements of ambient E* and dec B* then apply it to a case in which the Communication Navigation Outage Forecasting System (CNOFS) satellite flew conjugate to the field of view of a 630.0 nm all-sky imager at El Leoncito, Argentina, while medium-scale traveling ionosphere disturbances were detected in its field of view. In regions of relatively large amplitudes of E* and B*,calculated values ranged between 0.67 and 0.88. This implies that due to impedance mismatches, the generator ionosphere puts out significantly more electromagnetic energy than the load can absorb. Our analysis also uncovered caveats concerning the methods range of applicability in regions of low E* and B*. The method can be validated in future satellite-based auroral studies where energetic particle precipitation fluxes can be used to make independent estimates of alpha.
DIAGNOSIS: DESCRIPTION OR PRESCRIPTION?A CASE STUDY IN THE PSYCHOLOGY OF DIAGNOSIS.

This paper deals with the epistemology of diagnosis. It is suggested that the conventional view of diagnosis, which sees the diagnostician as one who describes and/or explains pathological phenomena, is inadequate. A contrasting model is proposed, one that conceptualizes diagnosis as a prescriptive and problem-solving activity. The difference between these two models is explored with particular reference to the problem of defining “illness.” The relevance of diagnosis to perception and cognition is also discussed.
ACCESSORY FACTORS IN NONPERSISTENT VIRUS TRANSMISSION

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the accessory factors in nonpersistent virus transmission. The process of transmission of nonpersistent viruses has often been considered to involve a relatively simple interaction between virus and aphid. Quite recently, however, it has been found that another component, which is termed accessory factor, is often required if transmission is to take place. Two types of accessory factors are recognized at present. The first type is produced in plants as a result of infection with certain viruses and has been termed a helper component, and the second type comprises synthetically produced polyamino acids. The ways in which the proteins and nucleic acids of viruses could assemble in mixed infections are numerous and present intriguing possibilities. The possibility that such interactions could explain the aphid transmissibility of potato virus C and potato aucuba mosaic virus from mixed infections was, thus, well recognized. Potato aucuba mosaic virus and potato virus C need not be present in a mixed infection with potato virus Y (PVY) to be transmissible. Plants infected with PVY contain something that enables aphids to transmit potato aucuba mosaic virus and potato virus C.
Miniaturized Fully Passive Brain Implant for Wireless Neuropotential Acquisition

We present an $8.7\ \text{mm} \times 10\ \text{mm}$ fully passive brain implant, capable of wireless acquisition of neuropotentials down to $20\, \mu \text{V}_{\rm{pp}}$ , viz. three times lower than before. The implant receives a 2.4-GHz carrier signal from the external interrogator and mixes it with the neurosignals having a frequency of $f_{\rm{neuro}}$ . The mixing products ( $4.8\ \text{GHz}\,\pm \, f_{\rm{neuro}}$ ) are then transmitted back to the external interrogator and further demodulated to retrieve $f_{\rm{neuro}}$ . Previous work demonstrated a $15\ \text{mm} \times 16\ \text{mm}$ wireless and fully passive brain implant, capable of detecting emulated neuropotentials as low as $63\, \mu \text{V}_{\rm{pp}}$ . In this letter, we present a new neurosensing system with the following improved features: 1) 63% smaller implant; 2) 98% smaller interrogator antenna; 3) compliance with the strictest Federal Communications Commission standards for patient safety; 4) elimination of lumped components within the implant to preserve biocompatibility; and 5) three-times sensitivity improvement. This high sensitivity implies reading of most neural signals generated by the human brain.
Nondimensionalization and Scaling

The preceding chapter had some pretty heavy analysis, and the next has even more. In what may be welcome relief, the present chapter pushes in an orthogonal direction: it focuses on nondimensionalization and scaling, which are techniques for simplifying ODEs that arise in applications.
Augmented reality digital technologies (ARDT) for foreign language teaching and learning

The present study focuses on Augmented Reality and its role in language education. It has often been claimed that emerging technologies have great potential to improve language learning and increase learner performance. While their digital capabilities are almost limitless, to our knowledge, no study has been conducted to measure their effectiveness on actual language learners. In this paper we report and discuss our on-going work on the design, management, and implementation of Augmented Reality experiences for foreign language instruction. We concentrate on the beginner's level Spanish course for which we have used Aurasma, an augmented reality app for mobile devices. The project has a three-fold purpose: 1) to increase second language learners' motivation, 2) to measure statistically the effectiveness of this technology in classroom settings, and 3) to contribute to our knowledge of digital technology and language instruction.
MNT and Emerging Concepts of MNT‐MYC Antagonism

MYC family proteins play fundamental roles in stem and progenitor cell homeostasis, morphogenesis and cancer. As expected for proteins that profoundly affect the fate of cells, the activities of MYC are regulated at a multitude of levels. One mechanism with the potential to broadly affect the activities of MYC is transcriptional antagonism by a group of MYC‐related transcriptional repressors. From this group, the protein MNT has emerged as having perhaps the most far‐reaching impact on MYC activities. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of MNT, its regulation and how, as a MYC antagonist, it functions both as a tumor suppressor and facilitator of MYC‐driven proliferation and oncogenesis.
Feasibility of Observing and Characterizing Single Ion Strikes in Microelectronic Components.

The transient degradation of semiconductor device performance under irradiation has long been an issue of concern. A single high-energy charged particle can degrade or permanently destroy the microelectronic component, potentially altering the course or function of the systems. Disruption of the the crystalline structure through the introduction of quasi-stable defect structures can change properties from semiconductor to conductor. Typically, the initial defect formation phase is followed by a recovery phase in which defect-defect or defect-dopant interactions modify the characteristics of the damaged structure. In this LDRD Express, in-situ ion irradiation transmission microscopy (TEM) in-situ TEM experiments combined with atomistic simulations have been conducted to determine the feasibility of imaging and characterizing the defect structure resulting from a single cascade in silicon. In-situ TEM experiments have been conducted to demonstrate that a single ion strike can be observed in Si thin films with nanometer resolution in real time using the in-situ ion irradiation transmission electron microscope (I3TEM). Parallel to this experimental effort, ion implantation has been numerically simulated using Molecular Dynamics (MD). This numerical framework provides detailed predictions of the damage and follow the evolution of the damage during the first nanoseconds. The experimental results demonstrate that single ion strike canmore » be observed in prototypical semiconductors.« less
Pharmacotherapy of Myelofibrosis

Myelofibrosis (MF) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm that is pathologically characterized by bone marrow myeloproliferation, reticulin and collagen fibrosis, and extramedullary hematopoiesis. Constitutive activation of the Janus associated kinase (JAK)-signal transducers and activators of transcription signaling pathway with resultant elevation in pro-inflammatory cytokine levels is the pathogenic hallmark of MF. JAK inhibitors, namely ruxolitinib, have been successful in alleviating symptoms and reducing splenomegaly, but therapy-related myelosuppression has led to the further development of highly selective JAK2 inhibitors. Additionally, ruxolitinib does not appear to affect the malignant hematopoietic clone substantially, evidenced by lack of molecular remissions, bone marrow histopathologic responses, and a proportion of treated patients developing progressive disease and leukemic transformation while receiving therapy. A number of other pharmacotherapeutic strategies are currently being explored in the clinic. Non-JAK inhibitor strategies being evaluated in MF include non-JAK signaling pathway inhibitors, epigenetic-directed therapies, immune-modulating agents, anti-fibrotic agents, and telomerase inhibitors. This review highlights the current landscape of MF pharmacotherapy and explores therapeutic advances underway.
Earthquake Rocking Response of Rigid Bodies

Using a computer program, the rocking and overturning response of rectangular blocks of various sizes and aspect ratios is studied under several strong motion earthquakes. The effect of coefficient of restitution and of vertically prestressing the blocks to the floor is also studied. This investigation was undertaken primarily to study the response of solid concrete block stacks used as radiation shields in particle accelerator laboratories. Results from this study indicate that rocking should be prevented in such systems on account of the possibility of overturning once rocking commences, unless a tie-down design is used. The paper also points out the sensitivity of overturning to small changes in base geometry and coefficient of restitution as well as to the form of the ground motion. This suggests that it may be difficult to use data from observations on standing and overturned rigid bodies after an earthquake to provide much useful information on the intensity of ground motion.
Public-private partnerships in transportation: lessons learned for the new space era

Entrepreneurial firms in the space sector have accomplished unimaginable feats unheard of just 20 years ago, such as reusable rockets and cargo launches to the International Space Station (ISS). Clearly, the private sector will continue to be a significant participant in the future of the space industry, partnering with governments and nations, to accomplish more with less. Likewise, the public sector must cope with decreased funding and worthy space objectives while balancing cost, risk, and return. Partnering with private enterprise is the best solution to meeting mandated objectives in space program advancement. This paper addresses partnerships in real property assets from the lens of the public sector, particularly with respect to spaceports. Data were collected on public-private partnerships (PPPs) and public-public partnerships (PuPs) in regulated transportation industries from years 1985 through 2014. As these arrangements were analysed, clear themes emerged that have implications for the new space environment.
The Value of Shared Information Services

In this paper, we analyze the value of shared information services, both when they are operated by their members and when they are implemented by a monopoly provider. The value of information is defined as the compensating variation in price that makes a risk-averse agent indifferent between procuring an informative signal or not. We provide investment sharing rules that implement an individually rational Nash bargaining solution and compare this to the situation in which a nonscreening monopolist maximizes profits. We find that any efficient price schedule for information should take into account (1) the agents confidence in the signal, (2) the project risk, (3) the agents risk aversion, as well as (4) her wealth and the mean return if at least one of them is quite small. Interestingly, in a cooperative bargaining situation an agents investment share may either increase or decrease when risk aversion goes up, depending on whether demand for information decreases faster than implicit bargaining power relative to the other agents or vice versa. We further show that even for CARA utilities, there are important wealth effects. Our results, including the definition of a critical Nash network size, provide a benchmark for the value of information that is shared by a group of agents for use in their respective projects and not employed strategically against each other.
Transition rates between (1f72)2 states in 42Sc

Abstract Mean lifetimes were measured for two members of the (1 f 7 2 ) 2 octet in 42 Sc with the recoil-distance method. For the 1491 keV (3 + ) level τ = 45±7 ps, and for the 1511 keV (5 + ) level τ = 74±11 ps were found.
Plasticity of Transmitter Functions in Sympathetic Neurons Developing in Cell Culture

The transmitter functions of sympathetic neurons, isolated from newborn rats and allowed to develop in cell culture, can be influenced by factor(s) from non-neuronal cells. When the neurons are grown in the absence of other cell types they develop conventional adrenergic properties; when they are grown in the presence of certain non-neuronal cells, or in medium conditioned by such cells, they become predominantly cholinergic. At early stages in culture (2-3 weeks), when the neurons are presumably in transition from one state to the other, they may release both acetylcholine and catecholamine.
PELAGIC FISHES | An Introduction to the Biology of Pelagic Fishes

Marine fishes live in every oceanic ecosystem, ranging from shallow waters to the vast, deep, open ocean, which is characterized by having a distinct thermal, oxic, and photic stratification. Open ocean (pelagic) fishes do not have access to any refuge and they must swim to escape predators, capture prey, or to search for more favorable environments. In general, pelagic fishes are continuous swimmers that routinely undergo seasonal migrations and some are capable of extensive vertical excursions from the surface to the deep layers of the ocean. Numerous pelagic species co-inhabit the same areas of the open ocean, but have different depth distributions and vertical movement patterns. This article reviews some general adaptations of pelagic fishes and describes the physiological specializations that allow some species to undergo large vertical-movement patterns.
The Dialysis Patient and Transplantation

The availability of regular dialysis as renal replacement therapy is not only an essential prerequisite for the performance of renal transplantation but also still offers the sole possibility of survival for a large percentage of patients with end-stage renal disease. The rising cost of keeping the steadily growing population of patients with endstage renal disease alive by regular dialysis challenges the health economies and the commitments of even the developed countries. Renal transplantation offers the potential to slow this cost explosion and to eventually stabilize the population on regular dialysis as well as to provide the best personal rehabilitation in the treatment of terminal renal failure (1). The consequence therefore is to offer the chance of renal transplantation to each suitable dialysis patient as substantial part of an integrated treatment framework. Unfortunately this possibility is only a theoretical one because of the limited availability of suitable organs for transplantation in most countries. Religious, social, political and educational constraints do not allow to use all available cadaver donors or to perform transplants from living related or unrelated donors
Abstract 1803: Dynamic pro-survival signaling mediates resistance to androgen receptor targeted therapy in AR-v7 splice variant expressing prostate cancer models

Patient survival rates for metastatic prostate cancer are limited by therapeutic failure and disease progression. Treatment of castrate resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) remains a clinical challenge as current treatment options offer modest benefit and are not curative. Second generation androgen axis inhibitors such as enzalutamide and abiraterone acetate provide initial clinical benefit for patients. However, responses are not durable and disease progression is inevitable, resulting in limited patient survival. Several mechanisms of resistance have been identified that relate to persistent AR signaling including AR splice variants (ARVs) which encode an AR protein lacking the ligand binding domain (LBD). Since we have demonstrated that enzalutamide induces an apoptotic response in sensitive prostate tumor cells, we hypothesized that anti-apoptotic signaling is a critical mechanism of resistance to AR-targeted therapy in resistant tumor cell populations. Using 22Rv1 cells, a cell line model that expresses high levels of AR-v7, and cell lines that express low or no ARVs, we demonstrate differential activation of intrinsic/Bcl2-mediated apoptosis signaling in response to enzalutamide. Specifically, in 22Rv1 cells we demonstrate robust induction of anti-apoptotic signaling including increased Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 expression and inactivation of the apoptosis sensitizer Bad in response to enzalutamide, where this signaling is opposed in enzalutamide-sensitive cells. Analysis of potential upstream regulators revealed phosphorylation and activation of Akt through PI3K signaling in the ARV-expressing 22Rv1 cells in response to AR antagonism. Pharmacological inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling in combination with enzalutamide prevented upregulation of Mcl-1 and inactivation of Bad, thus lowering the apoptotic threshold and sensitizing 22Rv1 cells to enzalutamide. In conclusion, this data demonstrates active engagement of pro-survival kinase signaling that mediates an increased apoptotic threshold in response to AR-directed therapy. Therefore, resistance to AR-directed therapy in ARV-expressing tumors may extend beyond the recognized mechanisms of treatment failure (i.e. lack of LBD for drug binding, constitutive AR transcriptional activity) and involve dynamic anti-apoptosis signaling. We demonstrate that strategies that lower the apoptotic threshold can increase sensitivity to AR antagonist in ARV-expressing cells and represents a novel therapeutic approach with potential to manage or overcome therapy resistance in this lethal form of prostate cancer. Citation Format: Amanda Pilling, Clara Hwang. Dynamic pro-survival signaling mediates resistance to androgen receptor targeted therapy in AR-v7 splice variant expressing prostate cancer models [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1803.
Pre-matriculation clinical experience positively correlates with Step 1 and Step 2 scores.

Background This study investigates whether students with pre-matriculation, formalized, clinical experience performed better in Step 1 and Step 2 of the United States Medical Licensing Exams (USMLE) compared to students without formal pre-matriculation clinical experience. Methods This research investigation was a retrospective cohort study conducted at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson, Arizona, USA, and analyzed students in the Class of 2017 and Class of 2018. Formal clinical experience was defined as registered nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, or licensed practical nurses for any amount of time prior to matriculation, as well as scribing for at least 6 months prior to matriculation. Students with any amount of shadowing experience were not considered to have clinical experience. The authors performed multiple regression analyses to investigate the effects of formal clinical experience on USMLE exam performance. Statistical significance was defined as P<0.05. All statistical analyses were performed using SAS 9.4. Results Our study had a total of 227 students from the two classes, with 40 (17.6%) having formal pre-matriculation clinical experience, as already defined. Nine (3.96%) students were not assessed in USMLE Step 1 calculations, and 61 (26.9%) students were not assessed in USMLE Step 2 calculations due to an absence of recorded USMLE scores. Formal pre-matriculation clinical experience was a statistically significant positive predictor of USMLE Step 1 score (P=0.03) and USMLE Step 2 score (P<0.010). Conclusion Formal pre-matriculation clinical experience, as defined previously, positively correlates with an increase in USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 scores.
Pedagogy of the “Not”: Negation, Exodus, and Postdigital Temporal Regimes

Postdigital capitalist time is an incessant acceleration that acts to homogenize time and wed us to the present, to which we have to constantly catch up. While the impulse of this is no doubt economic (the realization of value), it is crucially undergirded by a pedagogical logic wherein we have to perpetually learn and re-learn the latest apps, social media configurations, operating systems, and so on. Political strategies of resistance thus need to be bolstered by an alternative mode of educational life, and I propose a pedagogy of the “not” as one possibility. Such a pedagogy is an act of suspension that sustains a detachment from the present, clearing out oppositions and thereby exposing us to a radical indeterminacy and potentiality that is always untimely. Suspension is the praxis of negation, which means that negation operates by keeping sense indeterminate to meaning and signification. Rather than suppressing, disavowing, or annihilating the stated content, negation retains even that which is negated. While this would appear as a form of exopedagogy, which withdraws from the dialectic of the private/public, I instead argue that it redefines the terms of any dialectic, redefining the very categories exopedagogy withdraws from. Before concluding, I spend some time with Sandy Grande’s important critiques of Eurocentrism and progress in Western critical education, demonstrating how negation as suspension circumvents these errors through its accommodation of—or, better, insistence on—variegated temporalities and forms of life.
Semi-nonparametric approximation and index options

In an arbitrage-free securities market, all state-contingent claims and the stochastic discount factors can be approximated appropriately by index options with a semi-nonparametric method. These index options are constructed by efficient algorithms and uniform approximation error under these efficient algorithms are derived. This paper suggests a method to examine state-contingent claims and stochastic discount factors using index options in financial market regardless the market is complete or not.
P-Band Signals of Opportunity for Remote Sensing of Root Zone Soil Moisture

The P-band Signals of Opportunity (SoOp) technique has significant potential for remote sensing of root zone soil moisture from space. We have conducted a proof-of-concept experiment to demonstrate the sensitivity of P-band reflectivity to soil moisture. The reflectivity data has a high correlation (~0.87) with the in situ soil moisture observations. Theoretical forward modeling and retrieval analyses have been carried out to assess the accuracy of using multifrequency SoOp data to retrieve the vertical soil moisture profile. Sensitivity analysis has also been carried out to determine the impact of ancillary data.
Scattering From Dielectric Metasurfaces in Optical and Microwave Ranges

Metasurfaces composed of cylindrical dielectric resonators, responding either in optical or microwave ranges, are investigated with the goal of clarifying common features of their electromagnetic responses and their transformations at variations of array lattice constants and resonator heights. It is found that occurrence of dipolar electric resonances in dense metasurfaces is accompanied by full transmission without relation to overlapping of two dipolar resonances. Since electric resonances in dense metasurfaces experience strong coupling, these structures could not be considered as homogenized media of identical meta-atoms. We demonstrate the possibility of scaling metasurfaces, in order to substitute challenging optical experiments by experiments at microwaves.
Integrated fatigue damage diagnosis and prognosis under uncertainties

An integrated fatigue damage diagnosis and prognosis framework is proposed in this paper. The proposed methodology integrates a Lamb wave-based damage detection technique and a Bayesian updating method for remaining useful life (RUL) prediction. First, a piezoelectric sensor network is used to detect the fatigue crack size near the rivet holes in fuselage lap joints. Advanced signal processing and feature fusion is then used to quantitatively estimate the crack size. Following this, a small time scale model is introduced and used as the mechanism model to predict the crack propagation for a given future loading and an estimate of initial crack length. Next, a Bayesian updating algorithm is implemented incorporating the damage diagnostic result for the fatigue crack growth prediction. Probability distributions of model parameters and final RUL are updated considering various uncertainties in the damage prognosis process. Finally, the proposed methodology is demonstrated using data from fatigue testing of realistic fuselage lap joints and the model predictions are validated using prognostics metrics.
Comparison of Common Analytical Methods for the Quantification of Total Polyphenols and Flavanols in Fruit Juices and Ciders.

Multiple analytical methods are used for quantification of total polyphenols and total flavanols in fruit juices and beverages. Four methods were evaluated in this study: Folin-Ciocalteu (F-C), Lowenthal permanganate (L-P), 4-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DMAC), and the bovine serum albumin (BSA) precipitation method. Method validation parameters, including working range, limit of detection, limit of quantitation, precision (repeatability), accuracy, and specificity, were assessed and compared. The F-C method was not specific to polyphenols, and the L-P method had the widest working range but lacked accuracy. The DMAC method was the most specific to flavanols, and the BSA method was not suitable for quantification of smaller flavanols, such as catechin and epicatechin. Quantitative performance was evaluated using commercial fruit juice samples (n = 14), apple juice samples of different cultivars (n = 22), and commercial ciders (n = 17). In general, the L-P titration method and DMAC method resulted in higher quantitative values than the F-C method and BSA precipitation method, respectively. However, ratios of results obtained by the L-P and F-C method ranged from 1 to 28, and ratios of results obtained by the DMAC and BSA precipitation method ranged from <1 to 280. This tremendous variation is likely due to variation in polyphenol composition and sample matrix. This information provides perspective for comparison of results obtained through these different methods, and a basis for choosing the most appropriate analytical method for quantification of polyphenols to address a specific research question when working with commercial fruit juice, apple juice from different apple cultivars, and commercial ciders. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study compared results obtained when four common polyphenol quantification methods were applied to a diverse selection of fruit juices and beverages with distinct polyphenol composition and sample matrix. The matrix and polyphenol composition of the samples significantly influenced the results. Our findings can help manufacturers of fruit-based products choose the most appropriate analytical method for polyphenol quantification as part of a quality assurance program or to convey information on dietary polyphenol content to consumers. An assessment of analytical method validation parameters is provided for each of the four methods, which will help users of these methods to understand their limitations.
Inverted flexible pavement response and performance

An inverted section consists of an unstabilized crushed-stone base sandwiched between a lower cement-stabilized layer and the upper asphalt concrete (AC) surfacing. Two inverted full-scale instrumented pavement sections were tested to rutting or fatigue failure in a laboratory facility. One inverted section had a 152-mm (6-in.) cement-stabilized silty sand subbase. The inverted sections were loaded up to 4.4 million load repetitions at failure. A 28.9-kN (6,500-lb) uniform circular loading was applied to the surface and systematically moved to prevent a punching failure. The inverted sections exhibited better performance compared to conventional and full-depth AC sections also tested. The inverted sections had lower vertical stresses on the subgrade and lower resilient surface deflections than the other sections. The rigid cement-stabilized subbase was effective in bridging a weak subgrade. The inverted section made optimum use of the compressive characteristics of the unstabilized aggregate base where stresses were compressive. A nonlinear finite-element program, GT-PAVE, was used to calculate the resilient pavement response. GT-PAVE did a reasonable job of simultaneously predicting the measured deformation and stress and strain response at six points in the different layers of the inverted sections. A sensitivity analysis indicates the use of a 152-mm (6-in.) unstabilized aggregate base and a 152- to 203-mm-thick (6- to 8-in.) cement-stabilized subbase to be an attractive inverted section design.
Suspended Antenna-Coupled Nanothermocouple Array for Long-Wave Infrared Detection

We study the thermal response of arrays of suspended antenna-coupled nanothermocouple (ACNTC) in response to long-wave infrared radiation. ACNTCs in the array are suspended over air-filled cavities formed in the Si substrate by XeF2 vapor etching. The cavities thermally insulate the devices from the substrate. In addition, well-designed cavities reflect the incident IR radiation and create constructive interference, thus increasing the thermal response by about 100 fold compared to previously reported devices on a substrate. Polarization-dependent measurements are presented for antenna arrays consisting of 200 devices, and we show antenna-array-size-dependent response when various numbers of ACNTCs are connected in series.
Challenging the wisdom on preferential proportional representation

The conclusion to the special issue takes stock of both the first and the second generations of research on preferential proportional representation (PR) and electoral personalism. The article uses...
The Beatles From A to Zed: An Alphabetical Mystery Tour: by Peter Asher, New York, NY, Henry Holt, 2019, 272 pp., $27.00 (hardcover), ISBN 978-1250209597

In “The Jet Set” (2008), the eleventh episode of the second season of AMC’s Mad Men, advertising executive Don Draper (Jon Hamm) finds himself in the company of some sophisticated nomads. At dinner...
P132 Design of an adaptive, phase 2, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study to assess the efficacy and safety of AMG 570 in subjects with active SLE and inadequate response to standard of care therapy

Background/Purpose Current SLE treatment options have limited efficacy and potential toxicities that impede an individual’s ability to remain on therapy. AMG 570 is a bispecific antibody inhibiting both ICOSL and BAFF that engages ICOSL on antigen-presenting cells (dendritic cells and B cells) and reduces circulating naive B cells in healthy subjects. This phase 2 study will employ SLE drug screening and response-adaptive randomization (RAR) to optimize dose selection of AMG 570 in subjects with active SLE and inadequate response to standard of care (SOC) therapy (NCT04058028). Methods In this adaptive, phase 2, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study, subjects (N∼300, age 18–75 years) will be randomized to receive placebo or 1 of 3 doses of AMG 570 Q2W for 52 weeks, followed by 16 weeks of safety follow-up. The primary objective is to evaluate efficacy of AMG 570 compared with placebo at week 24 using the SLE Responder Index (SRI-4). Key secondary endpoints include SRI-4 at week 52 with oral corticosteroid (OCS) reduction (≥10 mg/day at baseline to ≤7.5 mg/day in weeks 44–52) and SRI-4 and Lupus Low Disease Activity State at week 52. Subjects will undergo 2 screening visits to fulfill criteria for active SLE and demonstrate adherence to prior SLE treatment including OCS, immunosuppressants, and/or immunomodulators. Blood screening tests will confirm detectable serum drug levels of baseline SOC medications. RAR aims to allocate more subjects to more efficacious doses while maintaining the placebo allocation constant; the randomization ratio could be adapted after interim analyses based on clinical efficacy. The trial includes interim analyses for futility using the Bayesian approach. Results Study ongoing. Conclusion This study will provide safety and efficacy data for AMG 570 compared with placebo, and its adaptive trial design aims to optimize development of a novel therapy for SLE patients with inadequate response to current SOC. Acknowledgments Amgen Inc. sponsored this study.