cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Asymmetrical Spectral Response in Fiber Fabry–PÉrot Interferometers

We demonstrate that the reflection spectrum of a fiber Fabry–PErot formed by a single-mode fiber and an external mirror does not exhibit the standard Lorentzian profile of a conventional bulk-optic Fabry-PErot, but is instead highly asymmetric. Measurements indicate that the sign of this asymmetry is different for dielectric and metal mirrors. We show that this asymmetry is due to one of two mechanisms, namely the beam diffraction in the cavity and the complex phase upon reflection from a metal layer. We present an analytical approach to accurately model these spectra, and provide simple analytical formulas, useful in the design and optimization of fiber Fabry-PErot-based sensors. Specifically, we present expressions for the maximum finesse and the condition to obtain full contrast in a fiber Fabry-PErot. These results are widely applicable, in particular to both low- and high-finesse interferometers.
Long-term persistence of crop alleles in weedy populations of wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum)

Summary • Hybridization allows transgenes and other crop alleles to spread to wild ⁄ weedy populations of related taxa. Researchers have debated whether such alleles will persist because low hybrid fitness and linkage to domestication traits could severely impede introgression. • To examine variation in the fates of three unlinked crop alleles, we monitored four experimental, self-seeding, hybrid populations of Raphanus raphanistrum · Raphanus sativus (radish) in Michigan, USA, over a decade. We also compared the fecundity of advanced-generation hybrid plants with wild plants in a common garden experiment. • Initially, F1 hybrids had reduced fitness, but the populations quickly evolved wild-type pollen fertility. In Year 10, the fecundity of plants from the experimental populations was similar to that of wild genotypes. Crop-specific alleles at the three loci persisted for 10 yr in all populations, and their frequencies varied among loci, populations and years. • This research provides a unique case study of substantial variation in the rates and patterns of crop allele introgression after a single hybridization event. Our findings demonstrate that certain crop alleles can introgress easily while others remain rare, supporting the assumption that neutral or beneficial transgenes that are not linked to maladaptive traits can persist in the wild.
Building parallel time-constrained HLA federates: a case study with the Parsec parallel simulation language

Based on the DIS result, the HLA framework has been defined to achieve interoperability of independent simulators. Concurrently, and for the most part, independent of that effort, the parallel and distributed simulation community has attempted to define synchronization protocols for the correct execution of parallel simulation as-fast-as possible. Building parallel time constrained federates within an HLA framework is not an easy task. We identify the potential difficulties: one or several federates, when and how to advance the federate's time, how to handle RTI notifications, etc., and present our experiences with adding HLA features into the PARSEC parallel simulation language.
The interface between language theory and database theory

ABSTRACT Two of the great themes in the work of Seymour Ginsburg are language theory and database theory. When I worked for SG at System Development Corp. in 1965, he was in the process of formulating the material of language theory: closure properties, decidability properties, and structure of subclasses. These were summarized in the book Ginsburg [1966], which I had the opportunity to read in note form. Much later, SG and I both became interested in database theory, and it is interesting to see how ideas from language theory carry over to an important area of database theory: logical rules and queries. In this paper, we shall summarize the relationship between languages and logical rules. There is a natural reduction from context-free grammars to a special case of logical rules called “chain rules.” We are able to answer difficult questions about logical queries through language-theoretic notations and results. The areas addressed include decidability, parallelizability, and the ability to factor logic programs into smaller components.
Leadership Behaviors and Subordinate Resilience

Utilizing a sample of 150 part-time MBA students, this study evaluated the relationship between leader behaviors and subordinate resilience. We proposed that the transformational leadership dimensions of Attributed Charisma, Idealized Influence, Inspirational Motivation, Intellectual Stimulation, and Individualized Consideration, as well as the transactional leadership dimension of Contingent Reward would be positively associated with subordinate resilience. We also proposed that the transactional leadership dimensions of Management-by-Exception Active and Management-by-Exception Passive and the non-leadership dimension of Laissez-Faire leadership would not be positively associated with subordinate resilience. With the exception of Inspirational Motivation, all hypothesized relationships were supported. A post-hoc analysis of open-ended responses to the question "What helped you to deal with this situation? " indicated that participants who mentioned their leaders as a positive factor in dealing with the ...
SMT: a system monitoring tool for DCE

Understanding interactions among various components in a distributed system is very important for system administrators and application developers. The System Monitoring Tool (SMT) provides the ability to view OSF/DCE traffic at multiple levels of detail, which makes this tool useful to application writers as well as people debugging protocol. SMT allows simultaneous monitoring of multiple network segments and provides protocol aware decoding of Re mote Procedure Call (RPQ activity. SMT consists of two components: a remote monitoring agent to capture packets, and a host workstation software program which analyzes and groups the captured packets according to their RPC transaction. The RPC can be viewed at multiple levels of granularity, from raw packets to complete RPC transactions. The tool is an applied example of hierarchical specification of communication protocols.
Incidence of cardiac arrest: a neglected factor in evaluating survival rates.

Study objectives: To add to our understanding of survival rates in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest studies, we examined the incidence of cardiac arrest in the published literature. We specifically estimated if incidence rates are uniform between communities and if any relationship exists between incidence and the reported survival rates. Design: A retrospective study of nearly 100 cardiac arrest peer-reviewed articles from 1970 to 1989 was performed to identify reports that included rates for incidence and survival or provided sufficient data for the calculation of these rates. Measurements and main results: We were able to obtain reported or calculated incidence and survival rates for 20 communities. Statistical analysis was performed to compare incidence rates between communities and examine the relationship across these 20 studies between incidence rates and reported survival rates. Incidence rates ranged significantly from 35.7 to 128.3 per 100,000, with a mean of 62. Survival rates ranged significantly from 1.6% to 20.7%. Incidence rates in these communities were negatively related to survival rates; that is, as the incidence rate increased, the survival rate decreased. We determined the regression curve that describes this inverse relationship. This nomogram can be used to identify survival/incidence rate combinations that are significantly above or below average. Conclusion: The marked variations in incidence and inverse relationship between incidence and survival could be due to true variation in risk among the populations reported (ie, some populations may be older or sicker than others). Also, different research methodologies may create artifactual differences among studies as standards for designing studies, terminology, and reporting data have not been uniform. Therefore, these findings may reflect methodological differences and true epidomiological differences among communities. Future reports should include a method, such as an incidence/survival nomogram, to analyze survival rates while taking into account the community incidence rate of cardiac arrest. Further analysis of incidence and survival is necessary to improve intersystem, comparisons, a prerequisite to sound decisions about cardiac arrest treatment, health policy, and allocation of resources.
STABILITY OF CEFAZOLIN SODIUM IN FOUR HEPARINIZED AND NON-HEPARINIZED DIALYSATE SOLUTIONS AT 38°C

⇔ Background: Intraperitoneal administration of antibiotics is often required in the treatment of peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis. Extended use and heating may affect drug stability. The objective of our study was to determine the stability of cefazolin sodium (125 mg/L and 500 mg/L) in heparinized and non-heparinized dextrosecontaining peritoneal dialysis solution (Dianeal PD-2; Baxter Healthcare, Deerfield, Illinois, USA) containing 1.5%, 2.5%, or 4.25% dextrose, or 7.5% icodextrin, the new colloid formulation (Extraneal; Baxter), at 38°C for 4 days. ⇔ Methods: Three poly-vinyl chloride containers of each dialysis fluid were stored at 38°C for 4 days. Samples were taken after the bags were mixed and allowed to stand for 2 minutes. Two 500-μL samples were collected from each bag at hours 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, and 96. Samples were then analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in our laboratory. In order to establish the stability-indicating nature of the method, drugs 1.0 mg/mL, vehicles, and their mixtures were subjected to a forced degradation. This is done by acid (2.0 mol/L HCl) and base (2.0 mol/L NaOH) hydrolysis, oxidation (H 2 O 2 0.3%), and heat at 80°C. Samples were analyzed every 30 minutes until approximately 25% of the drug’s peak disappeared. The drug was considered stable if its concentration exceeded 90% of the original. ⇔ Results: For all Dianeal PD-2 peritoneal dialysis solution containing 1.5%, 2.5%, and 4.25% dextrose, cefazolin sodium was considered stable at 38°C for 60 hours at low cefazolin concentrations (125 mg/L), both with and without heparin, and for 48 hours at high cefazolin concentrations (500 mg/L). Cefazolin sodium was considered stable at 38°C in icodextrin for 48 hours at low cefazolin concentrations in heparinized and non-heparinized solutions, and at high concentrations only in non-heparinized dialysate, not in heparinized dialysate. Cefazolin sodium was considered stable at 38°C in icodextrin for 60 hours at high concentrations when heparinized. ⇔ Conclusion: Cefazolin sodium was stable in all four nonheparinized dialysate fluids for at least 48 hours at 38°C. In heparinized icodextrin dialysate, high concentrations of cefazolin sodium were not stable for extended periods of time. Extended use and heating of dialysate containing cefazolin may adversely affect patient outcome.
Creating a Paleoecological Framework for Evolutionary and Paleoecological Studies: An Example from the Fort Thompson Formation (Pleistocene) of Florida

Abstract A high-resolution paleoecological analysis of an outcrop of the Pleistocene Fort Thompson Formation was conducted at the Caloosa Shell Quarry near Ruskin, Florida. This study was designed to create a conceptual framework for future evolutionary and paleoecological studies. A massive shell bed was sampled using bulk replicate sampling of small stratigraphic intervals in several stratigraphic sections. The data set derived from the molluscan remains was analyzed using principal components, factor, and cluster analyses to define fossil assemblages. Guild analyses and comparison to modern analogs of the ancient species were used to determine the most likely set of paleoenvironmental and paleoecological conditions at the time of deposition. Multivariate analyses indicate two distinct faunal assemblages. An assemblage dominated by the bivalve Carditamera floridana and other grass-dwelling mollusks was recognized from the lower zone of the outcrop. Samples from the upper zone contained an assemblage dom...
On the vibrational model of 92 Pd and comparison with 48 Cr

It was found experimentally that the yrast I = 2+, 4+ and 6+ states of 92Pd are almost equally spaced suggesting a vibrational band. We consider to what extent this should be considered as an evide...
Challenges and opportunities in stimulating public awareness and engagement on US chemicals policy

Consensus is growing among scientists and public health experts that unregulated, potentially hazardous chemicals threaten human and ecosystem viability. The USA is the second largest producer of industrial chemicals, yet very few of these chemicals have been tested for safety due to ineffective regulations. Empirical evidence suggests the American public is largely unaware of the health and environmental challenges posed by toxic substances, and many people are ignorant about chemicals policy and chemical use in consumer products. Chemicals policy reform is under negotiation in the US Congress for the first time in almost 40 years, and the public must be educated about the significance and impact of the various potential policy outcomes as well as how it can engage in reform efforts. Formulating and implementing effective public outreach and engagement methods will require integration of numerous scientific and professional disciplines and communication across traditional disciplinary boundaries. This paper intends to initiate a dialogue in an interdisciplinary venue about why potentially hazardous chemicals do not appear to be a significant concern to the general public and how advocates, academics, scientists, and the media can better work together to improve public education and engagement on chemicals in consumer products and chemicals policy reform. Using interview and focus group findings, evidence of limited science literacy among the American public, and an analysis of media coverage, we begin to address these issues. We invite others to build on this initial work by adding their insights, data, and knowledge to help promote public awareness and engagement on exposures to hazardous chemicals in everyday life and the need for reform of our current system of chemicals management.
The Balancing Act of Ribonucleotides in DNA

The abundance of ribonucleotides in DNA remained undetected until recently because they are efficiently removed by the ribonucleotide excision repair (RER) pathway, a process similar to Okazaki fragment (OF) processing after incision by Ribonuclease H2 (RNase H2). All DNA polymerases incorporate ribonucleotides during DNA synthesis. How many, when, and why they are incorporated has been the focus of intense work during recent years by many labs. In this review, we discuss recent advances in ribonucleotide incorporation by eukaryotic DNA polymerases that suggest an evolutionarily conserved role for ribonucleotides in DNA. We also review the data that indicate that removal of ribonucleotides has an important role in maintaining genome stability.
Book Review: Postcolonial Theology of Religions: Particularity and Pluralism in World Christianity:

Postcolonial Theology of Religions: Particularity and Pluralism in World Christianity. By Jenny Daggers. New York: Routledge, 2013.,x + 236 pp. $44.95 (paper).Postcolonial critique has been constructively applied to an increasing number of theological areas in the past few decades, with great success. This volume by Jenny Daggers is a timely contribution, as her book is one of the first to critique and offer a reconstruction of Christian theologies of religion from a postcolonial framework. Whether one immersed in the Eurocentric theological tradition can be successful in constructing such a work remains to be seen.Daggers seeks to develop a particularist Christian theology of religions founded on feminist and Asian Christian interpretations of postcolonial theology that remains within the orthodox realm as defined by its adherence to trinitarianism. This is no simple goal. Her book arises from a desire to resist the Eurocentric roots of theologies of religious pluralism, which guides her summary and critique of the last six hundred years of Christian engagement with other religions. To construct a new approach that acknowledges the particularity and equality of every religion while still remaining firmly grounded within mainstream theology, she appeals to Asian liberation theologians. These theologians, both male and female, serve to prove that EuroAmerican Christians may "borrow" understandings of religious co-existence from non-Christians without either succumbing to colonialism or abandoning orthodox Christian theology.The contributions of this book rest in Daggers's introductory critical survey of modern attempts at theologies of religious pluralism and in her argument that a comparative religion methodology is most productive for avoiding colonialism and for valuing the particularity of each religion. She also offers a survey of male and female Asian and Asian-American perspectives on Christianity's co-existence with other religions that is missing from contemporary Euro-American theological endeavors.Unfortunately, Daggers s work falls short of its postcolonial goal on several fronts. First, she does not engage the deeper problems of interreligious dialogue or theologies of religious pluralism: namely, the barrier that soteriology erects when differences are finally recognized. The Christian soteriological claim that Christ saves the world, or even that the realm of God is globally healing and restorative, must be evaluated as a colonial claim on theologies of religious pluralism. Daggers's failure to address soteriology, assuming it rather under the umbrella of trinitarian theology, means that her proposal contains remnants of unrecognized colonial overtones, as when she uncritically adopts Mark S. Heim's proposal that all religions ultimately find their commonality in a "single divine ultimate reality" that is implicitly, if not explicitly, triune (p. …
Managing Cultural Distance: Effects of Technological Overlap in Cross-border Acquistions

Due to lower gains from culturally closer targets and increasing costs from culturally distant targets, extant research has proposed an inverted-U relationship between cultural distance and cross-b...
Local Density Guides Visual Search: Sparse Groups are First and Faster

Visual search in an important aspect of many tasks, but it not well understood how layout design affects visual search. This research uses reaction time data, eye movement data, and computational cognitive modeling to investigate the effect of local density on the visual search of structured layouts of words. Layouts were all-sparse, all-dense, or mixed. Participants found targets in sparse groups faster, and searched sparse groups before dense groups. Participants made slightly more fixations per word in sparse groups, but these were much shorter fixations. The modeling suggests that participants may have attempted to process words within a consistent visual angle regardless of density, but that they were more likely to miss the target if the target was in a dense group. Furthermore, it was found that the participants tended to search sparse groups before dense groups. When combining densities in a layout, it may be beneficial to place important information in sparse groups.
Equilibrium orientation of nonspherical Janus particles at fluid-fluid interfaces.

We study the equilibrium orientation of nonspherical Janus particles at an oil–water interface. Two types of nonspherical Janus particles are considered: Janus ellipsoids and Janus dumbbells. To find their equilibrium orientation, we calculate and minimize the attachment energy of each Janus particle as a function of its orientation angle with respect to the oil–water interface. We find that the equilibrium orientation of the interface trapped Janus particles strongly depends on the particle characteristics, such as their size, aspect ratio, and surface properties. In general, nonspherical Janus particles adopt the upright orientation (i.e., the long axis of ellipsoids or dumbbells is perpendicular to the interface) if the difference in the wettability of the two sides is large or if the particle aspect ratio is close to 1. In contrast, Janus particles with a large aspect ratio or a small difference in the wettability of the two regions tend to have a tilted orientation at equilibrium. Moreover, we find t...
Laser-Excited Fluorescence Detection of Si2 During Silane CVD

Using laser-excited fluorescence, Si 2 has been observed in a CVD cell during the deposition of silicon from silane.The formation of Si 2 was predicted by our numerical model for CVD which includes a detailed treatment of the chemical kinetics and fluid flow in the gas phase. Our observations of Si 2 provide strong support for this model. We also find excellent agreement between the temperature dependence of silicon deposition rates predicted by the model and experimental deposition rates from the literature. These observations indicate that gas-phase chemical reaction kinetics are more important in silane CVD than has been recognized previously.
The effect of Botran on fascicle production by species of Penicillium.

--, and E. Muller. 1963. Generic correlations and concepts: Broomella and Pestalotia. Canad. J. Bot. 41: 1235-1243. --, and --. 1964. Generic correlations and concepts: Clathridium (= Griphosphaeria) and Seimatosporium (= Sporocadus). Canad. J. Bot. 42: 403410. -, and --. 1965. Types of the pyrenomycete genera Hymenopleella and Lepteutypa. Canad. J. Bot. 43: 1457-1460. -, and G. Morgan-Jones. 1966. Fuckel's Massaria marginata and Seiridium marginatnum Nees ex Steudel. Canad. J. Bot. 44: 247-254. Sutton, B. C. 1961. Coelomycetes I. Mycol. Pap. No. 80. 16 p. Swart, H. J. 1973. The fungus causing cypress canker. Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc. 61: 71-82.
Pathomorphology change of mice with the phototoxicity by Photofrin

Objective:To observe the pathomorphology change of mice with the phototoxicity by Photofrin. Methods:To administrate the drug-treated group micewith Photofrin 10 mg/kg、5 mg/kg、2.5 mg/kg by tail vein injection and the control group 5% glucose solution.At the second day and the fifteenth day,the back exposed skin,ear skin,tail,liver and kidney of mice were sampled to observe the pathomorphology change after the mice were exposed to the simulated sunlight.Results:The skin of mouse ear took on an obvious proliferation of the swuamous epithelium,the back skin of administration Photofrin 10 mg/kg mice took on an obvious papillary proliferation of the swuamous epithelium and the conglomeration of the proinflammatory cells on the skin surface.Conclusion:Photofrin enhances the phototoxicity on the mice.
An investigation of H2S adsorption mechanisms on Tire Derived Rubber Particles (TDRP TM )

VIII CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW 1 1.1 Hydrogen sulfide 1 1.2 Tire Derived Rubber Particles (TDRP) 2 1.2.1 Used tires and potential environmental problems 2 1.2.2 Tire Derived Rubber Particles (TDRP) 3 1.3 H2S removal by TDRP 4 1.4 Objectives 4 CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW 6 2.1 Adsorption 6 2.1.1 Adsorption and absorption 6 2.1.2 Equilibrium isotherms and diffusion 7 2.2 Surface characteristics and analysis methods 8 2.2.1 Langmuir isotherm 8 2.2.2 BET theory 9 2.2.3 Oxygen containing functionalities 10 2.2.4 Metal concentration 11 2.2.5 Acid-base properties 13 2.2.6 Summary 13 2.3 Tire rubber compositions and properties 13
Optical Detection of Calcium Dependent ATP Release from Stimulated Medullary Chromaffin Cells

It is well known that different types of secretory granules contain adenosine-5′-triphosphate (ATP) in addition to the specific hormones and neurotransmitters. Examples include secretory granules from chromaffin cells,32 pancreatic B-cells,27 platelets4,5,30 and mast cells. We have recently shown22 that it is possible to obtain real-time measurements of the kinetics of secretion of vesicle contents by monitoring ATP release from stimulated medullary chromaffin cells using luciferin-luciferase.
Marcus Rhoades on Preferential Segregation in Maize.

![Figure][1] On Christmas Day 1941, GENETICS received a gift: a manuscript from Marcus Rhoades describing an unexpected violation of Mendelian inheritance in maize. This was the first report of preferential segregation; a phenomenon later known as meiotic drive. Rhoades was studying a
In Pursuit of Empirically Supported Assessment for Use in Medical Settings

Psychological assessment in the medical setting presents many opportunities and challenges. On the question of what constitutes empirically supported assessment practice, there are few clear answers and perhaps fewer exemplars. The goal of this article was not to review the current status of empirically supported assessment in medical settings, but rather to highlight some areas of measurement innovation that may move this field toward its promise of a more stable evidence base supporting the use of patient-reported outcome measures for clinical research, patient education, and clinical care. In addition, assessment in the medical setting provides one very unique opportunity that many psychologists are not honed in on: the use of psychological assessment to assess quality health care. This is an emerging reality that poses significant methodological puzzles and opens doors for those committed to psychological assessment.
The UCSC Genome Browser database: 2014 update

The University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) Genome Browser (http://genome.ucsc.edu) offers online public access to a growing database of genomic sequence and annotations for a large collection of organisms, primarily vertebrates, with an emphasis on the human and mouse genomes. The Browser's web-based tools provide an integrated environment for visualizing, comparing, analysing and sharing both publicly available and user-generated genomic data sets. As of September 2013, the database contained genomic sequence and a basic set of annotation 'tracks' for ∼90 organisms. Significant new annotations include a 60-species multiple alignment conservation track on the mouse, updated UCSC Genes tracks for human and mouse, and several new sets of variation and ENCODE data. New software tools include a Variant Annotation Integrator that returns predicted functional effects of a set of variants uploaded as a custom track, an extension to UCSC Genes that displays haplotype alleles for protein-coding genes and an expansion of data hubs that includes the capability to display remotely hosted user-provided assembly sequence in addition to annotation data. To improve European access, we have added a Genome Browser mirror (http://genome-euro.ucsc.edu) hosted at Bielefeld University in Germany.
Overview and investigation of the planned dynamic voltage restorer for autonomous electrical grid: Case of Adrar, south of Algeria

Abstract This paper provides an overview and study of diesel power plant (DPP) map, configuration and design in Ain-Belbel Adrar (Situated in south of Algeria) which was constructed as basis to feed the costumers by electricity in this isolated village. Its capacity of electrical production is 5 MW; this power covers the energy demand of customers connected to the electrical distribution network. First, a brief introduction of the evolution of Algeria's electrical energy consumption and power plants installed in the south is presented, followed by studies of theoretical and experimental data. Several experimental works based on simulation and primary data from field measurement are presented to show the performance of the interconnection of Diesel power plant through 15 kV distribution line to improve electrical power supply. In power system voltage sag is considered to be the most common and serious power quality issue, Due to electrical disturbances occurred through autonomous networks such as voltage sags, swells and outages in 15 kV Ain-Belbel city feeder distribution system a dynamic voltage restorer is proposed to diminish the impact of voltage perturbation in this area. DVR should inject the equivalent dropped voltage as a reflection of active power and energy into the distribution system. However, the capability of energy storage is considered how the injection energy can be minimized and the load voltage can be close to the pre-fault voltage.
Frustrated Coalescence in a Chemically Reactive Polymer Blend Film

The phase separation of a thin polymer blend layer undergoing a simultaneous transesterification reaction is examined by a variety of experimental techniques [neutron and X-ray reflectivity, optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM)] to determine morphological features unique to reactive phase separation. Neutron reflectivity measurements suggest that a copolymer layer reactively forms at the interface between the phase-separating blend components. Evidence for a copolymer layer is also provided by AFM and optical images which indicate a strong inhibition (frustration) of droplet coalescence and a tendency of the droplets to cluster in late-stage phase separation. The influence of the transesterification reaction on phase separation is found to depend strongly on temperature.
Use Of Different Types Of Classroom Punishment By Preschool Teachers

Eight teachers were observed in individual and small group teaching sessions for preschool children with behavior problems. Teacher responses were grouped into seven categories of aversives and one category of positive reinforcement. Results suggested that, while use of aversives distributed similarly for all teachers, the percentage of aversives in the total repertoire varied considerably. Although there were no differences in effectiveness of categories, further analysis revealed that teachers escalated aversives according to a two-dimensional hierarchy, which might have been responsible for the lack of differences.
Co-option of endogenous viral sequences for host cell function

Eukaryotic genomes are littered with sequences of diverse viral origins, termed endogenous viral elements (EVEs). Here we used examples primarily drawn from mammalian endogenous retroviruses to document how the influx of EVEs has provided a source of prefabricated coding and regulatory sequences that were formerly utilized for viral infection and replication, but have been occasionally repurposed for cellular function. While EVE co-option has benefited a variety of host biological functions, there appears to be a disproportionate contribution to immunity and antiviral defense. The mammalian embryo and placenta offer opportunistic routes of viral transmission to the next host generation and as such they represent hotbeds for EVE cooption. Based on these observations, we propose that EVE cooption is initially driven as a mean to mitigate conflicts between host and viruses, which in turn acts as a stepping-stone toward the evolution of cellular innovations serving host physiology and development.
IL-4/IL-13 Heteroreceptor Influences Th17 Cell Conversion and Sensitivity to Regulatory T Cell Suppression To Restrain Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis

IL-4 and IL-13 have been defined as anti-inflammatory cytokines that can counter myelin-reactive T cells and modulate experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. However, it is not known whether endogenous IL-4 and IL-13 contribute to the maintenance of peripheral tolerance and whether their function is coordinated with T regulatory cells (Tregs). In this study, we used mice in which the common cytokine receptor for IL-4 and IL-13, namely the IL-4Rα/IL-13Rα1 (13R) heteroreceptor (HR), is compromised and determined whether the lack of signaling by endogenous IL-4 and IL-13 through the HR influences the function of effector Th1 and Th17 cells in a Treg-dependent fashion. The findings indicate that mice-deficient for the HR (13R-/-) are more susceptible to experimental allergic encephalomyelitis than mice sufficient for the HR (13R+/+) and develop early onset and more severe disease. Moreover, Th17 cells from 13R-/- mice had reduced ability to convert to Th1 cells and displayed reduced sensitivity to suppression by Tregs relative to Th17 effectors from 13R+/+ mice. These observations suggest that IL-4 and IL-13 likely operate through the HR and influence Th17 cells to convert to Th1 cells and to acquire increased sensitivity to suppression, leading to control of immune-mediated CNS inflammation. These previously unrecognized findings shed light on the intricacies underlying the contribution of cytokines to peripheral tolerance and control of autoimmunity.
Combination of a Histone Deacetylase 6 Inhibitor and a Somatostatin Receptor Agonist Synergistically Reduces Hepatorenal Cystogenesis in an Animal Model of Polycystic Liver Disease

Hepatic cystogenesis in polycystic liver disease (PLD) is associated with abnormalities in multiple cellular processes, including elevated cAMP and overexpression of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6). Disease progression in polycystic kidney (PCK) rats (an animal model of PLD) is attenuated by inhibition of either cAMP production or HDAC6. Therefore, we hypothesized that concurrent targeting of HDAC6 and cAMP would synergistically reduce cyst growth. Changes in hepatorenal cystogenesis were examined in PCK rats treated with a pan-HDAC inhibitor, panobinostat; three specific HDAC6 inhibitors, ACY-1215, ACY-738, and ACY-241; and a combination of ACY-1215 and the somatostatin receptor analogue, pasireotide. We also assessed effects of ACY-1215 and pasireotide alone and in combination on cell proliferation, cAMP production, and expression of acetylated α-tubulin in vitro in cultured cholangiocytes and the length of primary cilia and the frequency of ciliated cholangiocytes in vivo in PCK rats. Panobinostat and all three HDAC6 inhibitors decreased hepatorenal cystogenesis in PCK rats. ACY-1215 was more effective than other HDAC inhibitors and was chosen for combinational treatment. ACY-1215 + pasireotide combination synergistically reduced cyst growth and increased length of primary cilia in PCK rats. In cultured cystic cholangiocytes, ACY-1215 + pasireotide combination concurrently decreased cell proliferation and inhibited cAMP levels. These data suggest that the combination of drugs that inhibit HDAC6 and cAMP may be an effective therapy for PLD.
POWSER: A novel user-experience based power management metric

With the rapid increase in deployment of a variety of applications on mobile devices, and an increasing amount of activity and time spent on the devices, battery life continues to be a major source of concern. At the same time, hardware and software advances in mobile computing have enabled multiple usage functions to be integrated into one device, making energy consumption of the device more critical. Some approximations in computing can be made without noticeable degradation in quality to achieve savings in power. We explain the concept of user-experience based power management (UEPM) and propose a novel simple to use user-perceived-quality-energy metric called POWSER to build a UEPM-based system with a holistic objective. POWSER can also provide optimal operating points for the applications to perform fast dynamic online optimizations of applications such as video. Quality-energy tradeoffs have been carried out at various levels before. However, existing approaches do not take the final user-experience into account. POWSER is an easy to compute and easy to use weighted metric based on the nature of quality-energy tradeoffs. POWSER models QoS parameters in software that can be propagated down to hardware to implement further power savings across the system stack. Keeping acceptable user experience, POWSER provides an optimal set of operating points for each application by exploiting power savings of up to 34% in image applications.
Through-the-wall radar imaging using a distributed Quasi-Newton method

This paper considers a distributed network of through-the-wall imaging radars and provides a solution for accurate indoor scene reconstruction in the presence of multipath propagation. A sparsity-based method is proposed for eliminating ghost targets under imperfect knowledge of interior wall locations. Instead of aggregating and processing the observations at a central fusion station, joint scene reconstruction and estimation of interior wall locations is carried out in a distributed manner across the network. Using alternating minimization approach, the sparse scene is reconstructed using the recently proposed MDOMP algorithm, while the wall location estimates are obtained with a distributed quasi-Newton method (D-QN) proposed in this paper. The efficacy of the proposed approach is demonstrated using numerical simulation.
Model-based Bayesian signal processing in acoustics

Bayesian signal processing has been increasingly applied to a wide variety of acoustical research and engineering tasks. Bayesian probability theory provides acousticians with an elegant framework for inferential data analysis which facilitates learning from acoustic experimental investigations that provide an improved understanding of the underlying theory. In these inferential analysis tasks, certain prior knowledge is often available about the acoustical phenomena under investigation, based either on the underlying physical theory or on certain phenomenological relationships. Bayesian probability theory allows this available information to be incorporated in the processing and analysis and exploited in the Bayesian framework as physical or phenomenological models. Many analysis tasks in acoustics often include two levels of inference, the model selection and the parameter estimation. Bayesian signal processing provides solutions to these two levels of inference by extensively using Bayes’ theorem within this unified framework. This talk will discuss various model-based approaches recently applied to signal processing and analysis in acoustics using either one or both levels of inference.
Tuberculosis of the Cervix Mimicking Carcinoma

This is a rare case of a 35-year-old lady who presented initially to the reproductive clinic for failure to conceive after 5 years and also complained of persistent post-coital bleeding for the past 1 year. A 3-cm exophytic cervical lesion was noted on colposcopy and the impression then was of cervical cancer. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen showed multiple peritoneal nodules and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pelvis showed a 3.4-cm cervical tumor with possible parametrial invasion. Both results were also suggestive of malignancy. Histology, however, returned as caseating granulomatous inflammation compatible with tuberculosis. There was complete resolution of the cervical lesion after 3 months of anti-tuberculosis treatment. Tuberculosis of the cervix is an extremely rare initial presentation of tuberculosis. Hence, there should be a high index of suspicion during colposcopy for tuberculosis when low-risk patients are found to have a cervical lesion. J Med Cases. 2018;9(7):204-206 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc3074w
A Computation Reduced Technique to Primitive Feature Extraction for Image Information Mining Via the Use of Wavelets

NASA’s Earth Station receives terabytes of data daily from satellites. However, the usability of the vast amount of data is constrained to users of different domains because data accessibility is limited to queries based on geographical coordinates, time of acquisitions, sensor types, and acquisition mode. Research in knowledge discovery from remote sensing archives has been propelled in the last few years by the adoption of newer technologies. However, processes for archiving, information retrieval, and distribution of different kinds of imagery received from different satellites are still in their infancy. In general, the imagery received from each satellite provides different information that depends on spectral resolution, spatial resolution, temporal resolution, number of bands, and other characteristics that pose greater challenges for image information mining in remote sensing archives then in multimedia image archives. Hence, the adoption of new technologies that allow the accessibility of remote sensing data based on content and semantics is required to overcome this challenge and increase useful exploitation of the data [1, 2, 3].
Part-Pair Representation for Part Localization

In this paper, we propose a novel part-pair representation for part localization. In this representation, an object is treated as a collection of part pairs to model its shape and appearance. By changing the set of pairs to be used, we are able to impose either stronger or weaker geometric constraints on the part configuration. As for the appearance, we build pair detectors for each part pair, which model the appearance of an object at different levels of granularities. Our method of part localization exploits the part-pair representation, featuring the combination of non-parametric exemplars and parametric regression models. Non-parametric exemplars help generate reliable part hypotheses from very noisy pair detections. Then, the regression models are used to group the part hypotheses in a flexible way to predict the part locations. We evaluate our method extensively on the dataset CUB-200-2011 [32], where we achieve significant improvement over the state-of-the-art method on bird part localization. We also experiment with human pose estimation, where our method produces comparable results to existing works.
Predicting breeding values and accuracies from group in comparison to individual observations

Individual observations are routinely used in livestock evaluations. In some cases, pooled data representing the joint but not individual performance of a group of animals may be available. For example, pooled feed intake may be measured on a pen of livestock. The usual mixed model approach to genetic evaluation can still be applied as an exact method in this setting, provided incidence and residual variance-covariance matrices are suitably modified to account for the pooling. Approximate evaluations may be achieved by treating average performance as if it pertained to each individual in the pool. Theoretical accuracies can be obtained as a function of elements of the inverse coefficient matrix. A 3-generation data set representing 1,000 animals with feed intake observations from 49 sires and 200 maternal grand sires was simulated with heritability of 0.34. Individual records were pooled to represent circumstances in which animals with records were collectively measured. Animals were allocated into pens at random, by sire, or by maternal grand sire. Simulation was replicated with unique fixed effects for each pen. Following evaluation from each method, the empirical accuracy or product-moment correlation between true (simulated) and estimated merit could be quantified. The analysis of individual observations resulted in empirical accuracy of 0.63 for animals on test and 0.77 for their sires. Pooling the observations in pens of 2, 4, or 12 animals reduced empirical accuracies for animals on test to 0.50, 0.41, and 0.21 when pooling was at random and 0.53, 0.47, and 0.34 when pooling was by sire. Simulating a fixed pen effect representing 10% phenotypic variation, but ignoring that effect in the evaluation minimally reduced empirical accuracies to 0.52, 0.46, and 0.33 when pooling by sire. Theoretical accuracies were in close agreement with empirical accuracies when the exact method was used. The approximate method that treated averages of pooled data as if they were individually observed overstated accuracy and should not be used. Selection on the basis of pooled observations can be almost as effective as using individual observations when pool sizes are small. The exact method to account for pooled data is no more complex than conventional procedures.
Rat Pup Ultrasonic Vocalizations: An Ethologically Relevant Behaviour Responsive to Anxiolytics

Rat pups emit ultrasonic calls during brief periods of social isolation. These calls are reduced by most clinically anxiolytic compounds and increased by several different classes of anxiogenics. In addition to detecting anxiolytic efficacy, this behaviour may be a useful tool for studying selective aspects of the neurobiology of anxiety. It should be noted however that pharmacologic results with rat pup studies depend on both the ontogeny of the neurochemical system involved and the maturity of various factors affecting pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
Multimode VCSEL Parameter Extraction for Optical Link Models

Rate equation parameter extraction through optimization of modulation response in a two-mode VCSEL model is presented. Results show significant improvement over single mode models. It accounts for ISI and can accurately reproduce experimentally measured 10G and 25G eye diagrams.
Knockdown of Fidgetin Improves Regeneration of Injured Axons by a Microtubule-Based Mechanism.

Fidgetin is a microtubule-severing protein that pares back the labile domains of microtubules in the axon. Experimental depletion of fidgetin results in elongation of the labile domains of microtubules and faster axonal growth. To test whether fidgetin knockdown assists axonal regeneration, we plated dissociated adult rat DRGs transduced using AAV5-shRNA-fidgetin on a laminin substrate with spots of aggrecan, a growth-inhibitory chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan. This cell culture assay mimics the glial scar formed after CNS injury. Aggrecan is more concentrated at the edge of the spot, such that axons growing from within the spot toward the edge encounter a concentration gradient that causes growth cones to become dystrophic and axons to retract or curve back on themselves. Fidgetin knockdown resulted in faster-growing axons on both laminin and aggrecan and enhanced crossing of axons from laminin onto aggrecan. Strikingly, axons from within the spot grew more avidly against the inhibitory aggrecan concentration gradient to cross onto laminin, without retracting or curving back. We also tested whether depleting fidgetin improves axonal regeneration in vivo after a dorsal root crush in adult female rats. Whereas control DRG neurons failed to extend axons across the dorsal root entry zone after injury, DRG neurons in which fidgetin was knocked down displayed enhanced regeneration of axons across the dorsal root entry zone into the spinal cord. Collectively, these results establish fidgetin as a novel therapeutic target to augment nerve regeneration and provide a workflow template by which microtubule-related targets can be compared in the future. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Here we establish a workflow template from cell culture to animals in which microtubule-based treatments can be tested and compared with one another for their effectiveness in augmenting regeneration of injured axons relevant to spinal cord injury. The present work uses a viral transduction approach to knock down fidgetin from rat neurons, which coaxes nerve regeneration by elevating microtubule mass in their axons. Unlike previous strategies using microtubule-stabilizing drugs, fidgetin knockdown adds microtubule mass that is labile (rather than stable), thereby better recapitulating the growth status of a developing axon.