cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the context-dependent effect of family history of stroke in a genome scan for hypertension

Background and Purpose— Hypertension is an important risk factor for stroke, and the 2 diseases may share susceptibility genes in common. We sought to identify genomic regions influencing susceptibility to both hypertension and stroke. Subjects and Methods— Genome-wide linkage scans were performed in samples of 338 white and 265 black hypertensive sibships recruited by the Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy Study of the NHLBI Family Blood Pressure Program (FBPP). The hypertensive sibships were stratified by positive (+FH) or negative (−FH) family history of stroke. Genome-wide scans were repeated in each stratum, and the results were compared within each ethnic group by a regression-based analysis of heterogeneity. Results— In whites, the best evidence for linkage was found on chromosome 16 in the unstratified sample of hypertensive sibpairs (logarithm of odds [LOD]=1.85 at 71 cM). In blacks, the best evidence for linkage was found on chromosome 2 in the unstratified sample of hypertensive sibpa...
AN ESTIMATE OF THE NEARBY INTERSTELLAR MAGNETIC FIELD USING NEUTRAL ATOMS

The strength and orientation of the magnetic field in the nearby interstellar medium have remained elusive, despite continual improvements in observations and models. Data from NASA’s Voyager mission and the Solar Wind ANisotropies(SWAN)experimentonboardSolarandHeliosphericObservatory(SOHO)haveplacedobservational constraints on the magnetic field, and the more recent Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) data appear to also bear an imprint of the interstellar magnetic field (ISMF). In this paper, we combine computational models of the heliosphere with data from Voyager, SOHO/SWAN, and IBEX to estimate both the strength and direction of the nearby ISMF. On the basis of our simulations, we find that a field strength of 2‐3 μG pointing from ecliptic coordinates (220‐224, 39‐44), combined with an interstellar hydrogen density of ∼0.15 cm −3 , produces results most consistent with observations.
Congenital sciatic hernia

Sciatic hernia is defined as a protrusion of abdominal viscera through the greater or lesser sciatic foramina. This type of hernia represents the rarest of all hernias with\100 total reported cases—of which only ten relate to children [1]. The incidence is equal in both sexes [2]. While no underlying etiology for sciatic hernias has been identified, the typical scenario involves older, adult females who present with chronic pelvic pain with or without mass in the thighs or buttocks. To date, less than ten cases of congenital sciatic hernias were reported, undergoing an open repair [2–7]. We present a case of a neonate with a congenital sciatic hernia that was repaired with laparoscopic assistance. To our knowledge, this is the first laparoscopically assisted congenital sciatic hernia repair in a preterm infant.
Early dysregulation of cripto-1 and immunomodulatory genes in the cerebral cortex in a macaque model of neuroAIDS.

Abstract Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and related primate lentiviruses are known to enter the central nervous system (CNS) during the primary phase of infection. Neuroinvasion by simian immunodeficiency virus and simian human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) is characterized by transient meningitis and astrocytosis. In this report, we used targeted cytokine cDNA arrays to analyze cortical brain tissue from four pig-tailed macaques inoculated for 2 weeks with pathogenic SHIV 50OLNV and a normal age-matched pig-tailed macaque. Our results revealed that eight genes were significantly upregulated in all four macaques. These included: leukocyte interferon inducible peptide, corticotrophin releasing factor receptor 1, interleukin 6, CDW40 antigen, cysteine-rich fibroblast growth factor, neurotrophin 3, ciliary neurotrophin factor receptor and cripto-1. The upregulation of three of these genes was confirmed by reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR). Since cripto-1 had not been previously identified within specific cell types within the primate central nervous system, we performed immunohistochemical studies, which revealed the presence of cripto-1 in neurons. RT-PCR studies demonstrated that cripto-1 mRNA was widely expressed in the CNS. These results indicate that immunomodulatory genes are upregulated during the primary phase of infection of the central nervous system. Cripto-1, which acts as a survival factor in tumor cells and may be neuroprotective, is expressed in neurons within the CNS and is upregulated during viral invasion.
Atmospheric effects and societal consequences of regional scale nuclear conflicts and acts of individual nuclear terrorism

We assess the potential damage and smoke production associated with the detonation of small nuclear weapons in modern megacities. While the number of nuclear warheads in the world has fallen by about a factor of three since its peak in 1986, the number of nuclear weapons states is increasing and the potential exists for numerous regional nuclear arms races. Eight countries are known to have nuclear weapons, 2 are constructing them, and an additional 32 nations already have the fissile material needed to build substantial arsenals of low-yield (Hiroshima-sized) explosives. Population and economic activity worldwide are congregated to an increasing extent in megacities, which might be targeted in a nuclear conflict. We find that low yield weapons, which new nuclear powers are likely to construct, can produce 100 times as many fatalities and 100 times as much smoke from fires per kt yield as previously estimated in analyses for full scale nuclear wars using high-yield weapons, if the small weapons are targeted at city centers. A single "small" nuclear detonation in an urban center could lead to more fatalities, in some cases by orders of magnitude, than have occurred in the major historical conflicts of many countries. We analyze the likely outcome of a regional nuclear exchange involving 100 15-kt explosions (less than 0.1% of the explosive yield of the current global nuclear arsenal). We find that such an exchange could produce direct fatalities comparable to all of those worldwide in World War II, or to those once estimated for a "counterforce" nuclear war between the superpowers. Megacities exposed to atmospheric fallout of long-lived radionuclides would likely be abandoned indefinitely, with severe national and international implications. Our analysis shows that smoke from urban firestorms in a regional war would rise into the upper troposphere due to pyro-convection. Robock et al. (2007) show that the smoke would subsequently rise deep into the stratosphere due to atmospheric heating, and then might induce significant climatic anomalies on global scales. We also anticipate substantial perturbations of global ozone. While there are many uncertainties in the predictions we make here, the principal unknowns are the type and scale of conflict that might occur. The scope and severity of the hazards identified pose a significant threat to the global community. They deserve careful analysis by governments worldwide advised by a broad section of the world scientific community, as well as widespread public debate.
Functional implications of seizure-induced neurogenesis.

The neurobiological doctrine governing the concept of neurogenesis has undergone a revolution in the past few years. What was once considered dubious is now well accepted: new neurons are born in the adult brain. Science fiction is quickly becoming a reality as scientists discover ways to convert skin, bone, or blood cells into neurons.
Association of Postoperative Hyperglycemia With Outcomes Among Patients With Complex Ventral Hernia Repair

Importance Patients with medically complex conditions undergoing repair of large or recurrent hernia of the abdominal wall are at risk for early postoperative hyperglycemia, which may serve as an early warning for delays in recovery and for adverse outcomes. Objective To evaluate postoperative serum glucose level as a predictor of outcome after open ventral hernia repair in patients with major medical comorbidities. Design, Setting, and Participants We performed a retrospective medical record review of 172 consecutive patients who underwent open ventral hernia repair at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, an academic tertiary referral center, from May 1, 2011, through November 30, 2013. We initially identified patients by medical complexity and repair requiring a length of stay of longer than 1 day. Main Outcomes and Measures Postoperative recovery variables, including time to the first solid meal, length of stay, total costs of hospitalization, and surgical site occurrence. Results Postoperative serum glucose values were available for 136 patients (79.1%), with 130 (95.6%) obtained within 48 hours of surgery. Among these patients, Ventral Hernia Working Group grade distributions included 8 patients with grade 1, 79 with grade 2, 41 with grade 3, and 8 with grade 4. Fifty-four patients (39.7%) had a postoperative glucose level of at least 140 mg/dL, and 69 patients (50.7%) required insulin administration. Both outcomes were associated with delays in the interval to the first solid meal (glucose level, ≥140 vs P = .01; ≥2 insulin events vs P = .02); increased length of stay (glucose level, ≥140 vs P = .008; ≥2 insulin events vs P P P P = .06; ≥2 insulin events vs P = .06). Not all patients with diabetes mellitus developed postoperative hyperglycemia or needed more intense insulin therapy; however, 46.4% of the patients who developed postoperative hyperglycemia were not previously known to have diabetes mellitus, although most had at least 1 clinical risk factor for a prediabetic condition. Conclusions and Relevance Postoperative hyperglycemia was associated with outcomes in patients in this study who underwent complex ventral hernia repair and may serve as a suitable target for screening, benchmarking, and intervention in patient groups with major comorbidities.
Dynamic vehicle routing with heterogeneous demands

In this paper we study a variation of the Dynamic Traveling Repairperson Problem (DTRP) in which there are two classes of demands; high priority, and low priority. In the problem, demands arrive in the environment randomly over time and assume a random location and on-site service requirement. A service vehicle must travel to each demand location and provide the required on-site service. The quality of service provided to each class of demands is measured by the expected delay between a demand?s arrival and its service completion. The goal is to design policies for the service vehicle which minimize a convex combination of the delays for each class. We provide a lower bound on the achievable delay for this problem, and propose a policy which performs within a known constant factor of the optimal in heavy load (i.e., when the fraction of time the service vehicle spends performing on-site service approaches one). The problem studied in this paper is analogous to the multi-class queuing problem in classical queuing theory.
Epstein-Barr Virus LF2 Protein Regulates Viral Replication by Altering Rta Subcellular Localization

The switch from Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent infection to lytic replication is governed by two viral transactivators, Zta and Rta. We previously reported that the EBV protein LF2 binds Rta, inhibits Rta promoter activation, and blocks EBV replication in cells. In addition, LF2 induces SUMO2/3 modification of Rta. We now show that this modification occurs at four lysines within the Rta activation domain (426, 446, 517, and 530) and that sumoylation of Rta is not essential for its repression. Coexpression studies demonstrated that Rta is sequestered to the extranuclear cytoskeleton in the presence of LF2. We mapped the LF2 binding site to Rta amino acids (aa) 476 to 519 and showed that LF2 binding is critical for Rta relocalization and repression. The core of this binding site, Rta aa 500 to 526, confers LF2-mediated relocalization and repression onto the artificial transcription factor GAL4-VP16. Mutational analysis of LF2 provided further evidence that Rta redistribution is essential for repression. Rta localization changes during replication of the LF2-positive P3HR1 genome, but not during replication of the LF2-negative B95-8 genome. BLRF2 protein expression was decreased and delayed in P3HR1 cells compared with B95-8 cells, consistent with reduced Rta activity. By contrast, BMRF1 expression, regulated primarily by Zta, did not differ significantly between the two cell lines. Our results support a model in which LF2 regulates EBV replication by binding to Rta and redistributing it out of the nucleus.
TSH-suppressive doses of levothyroxine are required to achieve preoperative native serum triiodothyronine levels in patients who have undergone total thyroidectomy

Objective: Thyroidal production of triiodothyronine (T3) is absent in patients who have undergone total thyroidectomy. Therefore, relative T3 deficiency may occur during postoperative levothyroxine (L-T4) therapy. The objective of this study was to evaluate how the individual serum T3 level changes between preoperative native thyroid function and postoperative L-T4 therapy. Methods: We retrospectively studied 135 consecutive patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma, who underwent total thyroidectomy. Serum free T4 (FT4), free T3 (FT3), and TSH levels measured preoperatively were compared with those levels measured on postoperative L-T4 therapy. Results: Serum TSH levels during postoperative L-T4 therapy were significantly decreased compared with native TSH levels (P!0.001). Serum FT4 levels were significantly increased (P!0.001). Serum FT3 levels were significantly decreased (PZ0.029). We divided the patients into four groups according to postoperative serum TSH levels: strongly suppressed (less than one-tenth of the lower limit); moderately suppressed (between one-tenth of the lower limit and the lower limit); normal limit; and more than upper limit. Patients with strongly suppressed TSH levels had serum FT3 levels significantly higher than the native levels (P!0.001). Patients with moderately suppressed TSH levels had serum FT3 levels equivalent to the native levels (PZ0.51), and patients with normal TSH levels had significantly lower serum FT3 levels (P!0.001). Conclusions: Serum FT3 levels during postoperative L-T4 therapy were equivalent to the preoperative levels in patients with moderately suppressed TSH levels. Our study indicated that a moderately TSH-suppressive dose of L-T4 is required to achieve the preoperative native serum T3 levels in postoperative L-T4 therapy.
The Kalman Filter for Complex Fibonacci Systems

This paper investigates the characteristics of the Kalman filter for a broad class of complex Fibonacci systems and represents an extension to the complex domain of the state estimation problem for the real-valued Fibonacci system. Complex Fibonacci systems are obtained by modifying the real-valued Fibonacci recurrence relation to include complex coefficients, control and noise inputs, and a noisy output-measurement equation. Analytic expressions for the Kalman filter’s steady-state gain and error covariance matrices are obtained, and it is found that for a broad subclass of these complex systems the elements of the matrices are functions of the golden ratio.
Glucocorticoid Inhibition of Gene Expression and Proliferation of Murine Lymphoid Cells in Vitro

Glucocorticoids inhibit the proliferation of murine T-lymphoma P1798 cells. P1798 cells do not die in the presence of dexamethasone, and the process of inhibition of proliferation is completely reversible. As cells cease to divide, expression of a number of genes is inhibited. Among these are genes the expression of which is regulated in some manner that is linked to cell proliferation. We have undertaken to study the mechanism whereby glucocorticoids inhibit the expression of genes in P1798 cells. Three model systems will be reviewed. In all cases, these appear to be examples of secondary regulation. Glucocorticoid-mediated inhibition of transcription of the DNA encoding ribosomal RNA (rDNA) has been investigated in some detail. The data indicate that dexamethasone causes a decrease in the amount or activity of an RNA polymerase I transcription initiation factor. This factor exhibits a short biological half-life and the data are consistent with the hypothesis that glucocorticoids regulate the synthesis of this transcription factor. The gene encoding thymidine kinase appears to be regulated in a similar fashion. On this basis, we propose that glucocorticoids may have the general property of regulating the synthesis of certain transcription factors. Glucocorticoids also regulate the translation of a certain class of mRNAs, including those that encode ribosomal proteins. These are characterized by a low efficiency of translation in untreated cells. Upon exposure to dexamethasone, the translation of these mRNAs is disproportionately inhibited. We speculate that translation of the mRNAs encoding certain transcription factors may be regulated in a similar fashion. Specifically, we propose that transcription of certain proliferation-related genes may be dependent upon factors of short biological half-life. These are encoded by mRNAs that are poorly translated under optimal growth conditions. Any slight perturbation in translation efficiency, as caused by glucocorticoids, results in a disproportionate inhibition of synthesis of these hypothetical transcription factors. Transcription of a class of proliferation-related genes ceases as a result.
Tracking a moving target with multiple doppler sensors using an artificial neural network

Tracking of human movements using radar in a high-clutter environment or even through walls is a problem of current interest. Example applications include law enforcement, disaster search-and-rescue and urban military operations. One approach to human tracking is to use wideband waveforms. Such system is capable of high range localization, but the cost of the hardware tends to be high. Doppler-based sensors, on the other hand, offer an inexpensive way to detect moving targets in the presence of stationary clutter. However, target location information is not possible, unless frequency or spatial diversity is incorporated. In this work, we investigate the use of a collection of spatially diverse Doppler sensors to derive the location information of a moving target. This problem has been investigated previously by Armstrong and Holeman in the context of tracking a baseball in 3D using a number of speed guns. In that work, a local search method was employed for the maximum-likelihood estimation of target parameters (position and velocity) from the measured Doppler shifts. However, the results can be very dependent on the initial guess so that the parameter estimation may not be robust. In this paper, an artificial neural network is proposed to estimate the target parameters using Doppler information measured by a set of spatially distributed sensors. The neural network is trained to relate the nonlinear relationship between the observed Doppler information and the target parameters. For the training, point scatterer data generated by simulation are used. Some preliminary measurement data are collected using a toy car that runs a round track. Its trajectory and velocity are estimated by the neural network. The simulation and measurement results are reported.
Design of Robust Business-to-Business Electronic Marketplaces with Guaranteed Privacy

Firms that set up electronic marketplaces to enhance their supply and/or distribution channels face challenges in attracting their competitors to participate. A major obstacle is the perception that the owner can unfairly exploit trading information for competitive advantage. In this paper, we propose a marketplace design that shifts the locus of control over trader privacy from the marketplace operator to each individual trader. We show how online transactions between trading partners can be conducted in total privacy, so that not even the marketplace owner/operator can exploit transaction information for strategic purposes. At the same time, our approach includes robust methods for transaction integrity and nonrepudiation, as well as posttransaction dispute resolution.
Correlated single quantum dot blinking and interfacial electron transfer dynamics

The electron transfer (ET) dynamics from core/multi-shell (CdSe/CdS3MLZnCdS2MLZnS2ML) quantum dots (QDs) to adsorbed Fluorescein (F27) molecules have been studied by single particle spectroscopy to probe the relationship between single QD interfacial electron transfer and blinking dynamics. Electron transfer from the QD to F27 and the subsequent recombination were directly observed by ensemble-averaged transient absorption spectroscopy. Single QD-F27 complexes show correlated fluctuation of fluorescence intensity and lifetime, similar to those observed in free QDs. With an increasing ET rate (controlled by F27-to-QD ratio), the lifetime of on states decreases and relative contribution of off states increases. It was shown that ET is active for QDs in on states, the excited state lifetime of which reflects the ET rate, whereas in the off state QD excitons decay by Auger relaxation and ET is not a competitive quenching pathway. Thus, the blinking dynamics of single QDs modulate their interfacial ET activity. Furthermore, interfacial ET provides an additional pathway for generating off states, leading to correlated single QD interfacial ET and blinking dynamics in QD-acceptor complexes. Because blinking is a general phenomenon of single QDs, it appears that the correlated interfacial ET and blinking and the resulting intermittent ET activity are general phenomena for single QDs.
Wet corn gluten feed and alfalfa hay levels in dry-rolled corn finishing diets: effects on finishing performance and feedlot nitrogen mass balance.

One-hundred ninety-two crossbred steers (initial BW = 351 ± 11 kg) were used to determine the effects of removing alfalfa hay (AH) from dry-rolled corn-based diets containing wet corn gluten feed (WCGF) on animal performance and nutrient (N and OM) mass balance in open feedlot pens. Steers were stratified by weight and assigned randomly to 24 pens (2 × 3 factorial) and fed for 132 d from June to October 2002. Experimental diets contained either 0 or 35% WCGF and 0, 3.75, or 7.5% AH, and were formulated to be isonitrogenous. For efficiency of gain, an interaction occurred (P = 0.09) between AH and WCGF. Feed effi- ciencies of cattle fed 35% WCGF were improved 4.4% (P = 0.10) compared with efficiencies of cattle fed no WCGF at 0% AH; there was a marked improvement in ADG for cattle fed WCGF compared with no WCGF in diets with 0% AH. Within 35% WCGF diets, efficiency decreased as AH inclusion increased (P = 0.06). Effi- ciency was equal across AH levels when 0% WCGF was fed; however, ADG was decreased when AH was removed. Interactions between AH and WCGF were not detected for other performance or carcass criteria; therefore, main effects of AH and WCGF are discussed.
Optical and thermal response of single-walled carbon nanotube-copper sulfide nanoparticle hybrid nanomaterials.

This paper reports the optical and thermal response of a single-walled carbon nanotube–copper sulfide nanoparticle (SWNT–CuS NP) hybrid nanomaterial and its application as a thermoelectric generator. The hybrid nanomaterial was synthesized using oleylamine molecules as the linker molecules between SWNTs and CuS NPs. Measurements found that the hybrid nanomaterial has significantly increased light absorption (up to 80%) compared to the pure SWNT. Measurements also found that the hybrid nanomaterial thin-film devices exhibit a clear optical and thermal switching effect, which can be further enhanced up to 10 × by asymmetric illumination of light and thermal radiation on the thin-film devices instead of symmetric illumination. A simple prototype thermoelectric generator enabled by the hybrid nanomaterials is demonstrated, indicating a new route for achieving thermoelectricity.
Performance analysis of split and merge production systems

Production split and merge are widely used in many manufacturing systems to increase production capacity and variety, improve product quality, and carry out scheduling and control activities. In this paper, we present analytical methods to analyze such systems with exponential machine reliability models, operating under circulate, strictly circulate, priority and percentage split/merge policies.
Analyzing, modeling and predicting organizational effects in a distribuited sensor network

The organizational design of a distributed system defines how entities act and interact to achieve local and global objectives. We describe how a system employing different types of organizational techniques has been used to address the challenges posed by a distributed sensor network environment. The high-level, multi-agent architecture of this realworld system is given in detail, and we provide empirical results demonstrating the effects the organization has on the system’s performance across several different metrics. As with any design, the particular approach that is employed makes trade-offs, some of which are obvious and some more subtle. The presence of such trade-offs motivates the need for a better understanding of precisely how the organization influences large and small-scale behaviors. To address this need, we first demonstrate how a collection of analytic models can be developed to predict such effects. This experience is then used to ground the presentation of a more comprehensive, domain-independent organizational modeling language called ODML. The structure and capabilities of ODML are explained through the construction of a unified model of our sensor network organization. We then show that this model provides an accurate prediction of the original empirical results.
Influence of System Integration and Packaging on Its Inductive Power Link for an Integrated Wireless Neural Interface

In an integrated wireless neural interface based on the Utah electrode array, the implanted electronics are supplied with power through inductive coupling between two coils. This inductive link is affected by conductive and dielectric materials and media surrounding the implant coil. In this study, the influences of the integration of an implant coil on a silicon-based IC and electrode array, thin-film Parylene-C encapsulation, and physiological medium surrounding the coil were investigated systematically and quantitatively by empirical measurements. A few embodiments of implant coils with different geometrical parameters were made with a diameter of ~5.5 mm by winding fine wire with a diameter of approximately 50 mum. The parasitic influences affecting the inductive link were empirically investigated by measuring the electrical properties of coils in different configurations and in different media. The distance of power transmission between the transmit and receive coils was measured when the receive coil was in air and immersed in phosphate buffered saline solution to simulate an implanted physiological environment. The results from this study quantitatively address the influences of factors such as device integration, encapsulation, and implantation on its inductive power link, and suggest how to maximize the efficiency in power transmission for such neural interface devices powered inductively.
The object-oriented trivia show (TOOTS)

OOPSLA has a longstanding tradition of being a forum for discussing the cutting edge of technology in a fun and participatory environment. The type of events sponsored by OOPSLA sometimes border on the unconventional. This event represents an atypical panel that conforms to the concept of a game show that is focused on questions and answers related to SPLASH, OOPSLA, and Onward! themes. The goal of the panel is to provide an educational opportunity for attendees to learn about a broad range of topics in a style that encourages audience participation.
Experimental design of complement component 5a-induced acute lung injury (C5a-ALI): a role of CC-chemokine receptor type 5 during immune activation by anaphylatoxin

Excessive activation of the complement system is detrimental in acute inflammatory disorders. In this study, we analyzed the role of complement-derived anaphylatoxins in the pathogenesis of experimental acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) in C57BL/6J mice. Intratracheal administration of recombinant mouse complement component (C5a) caused alveolar inflammation with abundant recruitment of Ly6-G(+)CD11b(+) leukocytes to the alveolar spaces and severe alveolar-capillary barrier dysfunction (C5a-ALI; EC(50[C5a]) = 20 ng/g body weight). Equimolar concentrations of C3a or desarginated C5a (C5a(desArg)) did not induce alveolar inflammation. The severity of C5a-ALI was aggravated in C5-deficient mice. Depletion of Ly6-G(+) cells and use of C5aR1(-/-) bone marrow chimeras suggested an essential role of C5aR1(+) hematopoietic cells in C5a-ALI. Blockade of PI3K/Akt and MEK1/2 kinase pathways completely abrogated lung injury. The mechanistic description is that C5a altered the alveolar cytokine milieu and caused significant release of CC-chemokines. Mice with genetic deficiency of CC-chemokine receptor (CCR) type 5, the common receptor of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand (CCL) 3, CCL4, and CCL5, displayed reduced lung damage. Moreover, treatment with a CCR5 antagonist, maraviroc, was protective against C5a-ALI. In summary, our results suggest that the detrimental effects of C5a in this model are partly mediated through CCR5 activation downstream of C5aR1, which may be evaluated for potential therapeutic exploitation in ALI/ARDS.
Law Enforcement and Crime Prevention

The primary mission of police departments as seen by both the public and police professionals is the management of crime. How to achieve crime prevention, however, is not agreed upon in professional police circles (Larson, 1972). Indeed, the absence of a validated crime prevention technology for police has been documented in numerous articles (e.g., Dixon, 1978; Pate, Bowers, & Park, 1976).
Random Noise Generation

If P is a covariance then P is positive semi definite and P = T’ ΛT with T orthogonal and λ i ≥ 0. The n-dimensional Gaussian integral is defined and the normalization satisfies $${\left( {2\pi } \right)^{n/2}}{\left| P \right|^{1/2}} = \int {{e^{ - 1/2\left\| {x - \mu } \right\|_{p - 1}^2}}} dx$$ $$ = {\left( {2\pi } \right)^{n/2}}{\left( {{\lambda _1} \cdots {\lambda _n}} \right)^{1/2}}$$
Toward a domain-specific visual discussion forum for learning computer programming: An empirical study of a popular MOOC forum

Online discussion forums are one of the most ubiquitous kinds of resources for people who are learning computer programming. However, their user interface - a hierarchy of textual threads - has not changed much in the past four decades. We argue that generic forum interfaces are cumbersome for learning programming and that there is a need for a domain-specific visual discussion forum for programming. We support this argument with an empirical study of all 5,377 forum threads in Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python, a popular edX MOOC. Specifically, we investigated how forum participants were hampered by its text-based format. Most notably, people often wanted to discuss questions about dynamic execution state - what happens “under the hood” as the computer runs code. We propose that a better forum for learning programming should be visual and domain-specific, integrating automatically-generated visualizations of execution state and enabling inline annotations of source code and output.
Becoming a Social Worker: BSW Social Workers' Educational Experiences

In this exploratory qualitative study, researchers examined key educational experiences bachelor- level social workers identified as being most helpful in transitioning to current social work caree...
Phylogenetic Correlation Between Male Nuptial Color and Behavioral Responses to Color Across a Diverse and Colorful Genus of Freshwater Fish (Etheostoma spp., Teleostei: Percidae)

Sexual selection theory predicts that preferences in both sexes select for the elaboration of male nuptial coloration, with empirical evidence supporting these predictions. Empirical studies are often limited in their taxonomic inclusiveness, however, and typically do not examine how male and female preferences contribute to macroevolutionary patterns of male color variation across multiple lineages in a clade. This study examined color preferences in a group of dichromatic freshwater fishes known as darters (genus Etheostoma) that vary in the presence of male coloration. The strengths of attraction to black, blue, gray, and red models were tested in females of 18 species, in addition to males of five species. We found a positive association between the presence of red or orange on the body and the amount of time associating with red models, suggesting color variation is at least in part due to variation in female preferences between species. Males also spent more time associating with colors that most closely resembled conspecifics, suggesting that preferential responses to color in males also can contribute to the diversity of nuptial coloration in darters.
cGMP stimulates bile acid-independent bile formation and biliary bicarbonate excretion

The effect of guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) on hepatic bile formation was studied in isolated perfused rat livers and rat hepatocytes. Studies in isolated perfused rat livers showed that infusion of 8-bromoguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-BrcGMP, 3 micromol/min or 100 microM) 1) increased bile flow without affecting biliary excretion of simultaneously infused taurocholate, 2) increased biliary concentration and excretion of HCO3(-) but did not affect biliary excretion of glutathione, and 3) increased net perfusate H+ efflux without affecting hepatic O2 uptake. Studies in isolated rat hepatocytes showed that 1) 8-BrcGMP increased intracellular pH in the presence (but not in the absence) of extracellular HCO-3, and effect inhibited by 4,4' -diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid and Na+ replacement, 2) 8-BrcGMP did not affect taurocholate uptake and intracellular [Ca2+], and 3) bile acids, like ursodeoxycholate and cholate, did not increase cellular cGMP. Taken together, these results indicate that cGMP stimulates bile acid-independent bile formation, in part by stimulating biliary HCO3- excretion. cGMP may increase HCO3- excretion by stimulating sinusoidal Na+ - HCO3- cotransport, but not Na+/H+ exchange. cGMP, unlike adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, may not regulate hepatic taurocholate transport, and bile acid-induced HCO3- rich choleresis may not be mediated via cGMP.
Multifunctional Adhesins in Yeasts

Various types of mammalian cells possess receptors for the complement C3 conversion products C3b, iC3b and C3d. In the case of C3b and iC3b, these products act as ligands as they are generated on the surface of microorganisms opsonized with complement (Ross, 1986). Phagocytic cells use receptors which recognize these ligands as a first step in the process of eliminating opsonized organisms from circulation. The receptor for C3b and iC3b are referred to as complement receptor 1 (CR1) and complement receptor 3 (CR3), respectively (Ross, 1986). They are not found exclusively on phagocytic cells and have been described from erythrocytes and lymphocytic cells (Ross, 1986). The CR3 receptor is a glycoprotein with an α chain of 165 kDa molecular mass and a 95 kDa β-chain. It is a member of a family of receptors referred to as “integrins” which have a common β-chain and a variable α-chain. These receptors are transmembrane proteins and, in addition to their role in phagocytosis (as, for example, the CR3), also confer adhesive properties and are involved in homing mechanisms for mammalian cells (Stoolman, 1989).
Assessing the Usefulness of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security 's Terrorism Advisory System

This study reports the results of a national survey of 1023 U.S. adults and their evaluations of the usefulness of the color-coded U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Advisory System. The study explores the relationships among information sources, risk perception, demographics, and preparedness behaviors within the context of the social amplification of risk. Half of the respondents (48.8 percent) rated the advisory system as useful and half (47.0 percent) rated it as not useful; however, far fewer respondents reported having made any preparations for a future attack. Strong support was found for the social amplification of risk model with 87.1 percent of the respondents reporting that terrorism was an important problem and two-thirds of those respondents reporting that news reports had influenced how important they believed the problem was. The findings also underscore that information sources were not of consequence for all respondents and that it was the perceived utility of the advisory system, not risk perception, that impacted whether or not respondents made preparations.
Response of Jakobshavn Isbræ, Greenland, to Holocene climate change

Rapid fluctuations in the velocity of Greenland Ice Sheet (GIS) outlet glaciers over the past decade have made it difficult to extrapolate ice-sheet change into the future. This significant short-term variability highlights the need for geologic records of preinstrumental GIS margin fluctuations in order to better predict future GIS response to climate change. Using 10 Be surface exposure ages and radiocarbon-dated lake sediments, we constructed a detailed chronology of ice-margin fluctuations over the past 10 k.y. for Jakobshavn Isbrae, Greenland9s largest outlet glacier. In addition, we present new estimates of corresponding local temperature changes using a continuous record of insect (Chironomidae) remains preserved in lake sediments. We find that following an early Holocene advance just prior to 8 ka, Jakobshavn Isbrae retreated rapidly at a rate of ∼100 m yr −1 , likely in response to increasing regional and local temperatures. Ice remained behind its present margin for ∼7 k.y. during a warm period in the middle Holocene with sustained temperatures ∼2 °C warmer than today, then the land-based margin advanced at least 2–4 km between A.D. 1500–1640 and A.D. 1850. The ice margin near Jakobshavn thus underwent large and rapid adjustments in response to relatively modest centennial-scale Holocene temperature changes, which may foreshadow GIS response to future warming.
Spatial Distribution of Hovering Male Tabanus nigrovittatus (Diptera: Tabanidae)

Male Tabanus nigrovittatus Macquart hover as a premating strategy in the early morning over Atlantic coastal salt marshes. These males are distributed with peak densities near mosquito ditches and with fewer hovering males farther from the ditch. Multivariate analysis indicated that male density or the distance between individuals is an important factor in structuring hovering male spatial distribution. When compared with previously published data, male densities match peak emergence of females. T. nigrovittatus numbers are lowest directly adjacent to mosquito ditches, where Tabanus conterminus (Walker) tends to hover, suggesting that spatial separation may contribute to reproductive isolation in these two sibling species.
Comparative Observer-Based Nutation Control Techniques for NASA Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) Mission Spacecraft

Current research with the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) involves the dynamic modeling and control of the spacecraft of the NASA Magnetosphereic Multiscale (MMS) Mission, a Solar-Terrestrial Probe mission to study Earth’s magnetosphere. Four observer-based attitude and nutation controllers are designed and evaluated to determine the comparative performance of each of the feedback control systems as it applies to the MMS mission. Linear (not shown in this paper) and nonlinear observers are developed through simulations to estimate satellite attitude and angular body rates without the use of rate sensors. After observing that linear estimation techniques do not satisfy mission design requirements, linear and nonlinear (Sliding Mode Control) techniques are implemented in conjunction with only the nonlinear observers to complete the observer-based control system. The results of this research show that, of the methods analyzed, both the Extended Kalman Filter and Sliding Mode Observer implemented with Sliding Mode Control yield the most satisfactory performance out of the systems studied. Both observer-based control systems satisfy NASA design requirements while reducing thruster control effort and reducing the effects of measurement noise and spacecraft uncertainties/disturbances. More investigation, however, is needed to verify performance of the proposed observer-based control system over all possible ranges of mission operation.
Modeling and Simulation of a Tethered Harpoon for Comet Sampling

This paper describes the development of a dynamic model and simulation results of a tethered harpoon for comet sampling. This model and simulation was done in order to carry out an initial sensitivity analysis for key design parameters of the tethered system. The harpoon would contain a canister which would collect a sample of soil from a cometary surface. Both a spring ejected canister and a tethered canister are considered. To arrive in close proximity of the spacecraft at the end of its trajectory so it could be captured, the free-flying canister would need to be ejected at the right time and with the proper impulse, while the tethered canister must be recovered by properly retrieving the tether at a rate that would avoid an excessive amplitude of oscillatory behavior during the retrieval. The paper describes the model of the tether dynamics and harpoon penetration physics. The simulations indicate that, without the tether, the canister would still reach the spacecraft for collection, that the tether retrieval of the canister would be achievable with reasonable fuel consumption, and that the canister amplitude upon retrieval would be insensitive to variations in vertical velocity dispersion.
Effect of Surgeon Volume on Sleeve Gastrectomy Outcomes

Background Prior studies have shown a relationship between surgeon volume and patient outcomes in Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) patients. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is now the most common bariatric procedure, but there is a little data on surgeon volume and outcomes after SG. We examined the relationship between annual surgeon bariatric volume and 30-day complication rate after SG.
Changes in extravascular lung water during venovenous perfusion.

The accumulation of extravascular lung water was related to changes in plasma colloid osmotic pressure and pulmonary hydrostatic pressures in 12 normal dogs and 13 dogs that had venovenous perfusion for 2 hours at 45 to 70 ml. per kilogram per minute. The venovenous perfusion system included a membrane oxygenator and a roller pump. Net intravascular filtration pressure was calculated from plasma colloid osmotic pressure and pulmonary hydrostatic pressures. Rapid accumulation of extravascular lung water occurred in control and bypass animals when net intravascular filtration pressure exceeded zero. At lower filtration pressures, venovenous perfusion did not affect accumulation of extravascular lung water.
Immune Responses Associated to Viral Control

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the critical gaps in knowledge and interpretation related to adaptive and innate immune responses in HIV controllers (HICs). Of the many adaptive immune responses generated in viral infections and the extensive interplay among them, the overwhelming majority of data suggest that HIV-specific CD8 T cells play the major role in modulating viral load. The strongest association has been between specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I alleles and disease progression. The enrichment of certain class I HLA alleles in cohorts of HICs, as well as the footprints that these alleles leave on the human immunodeficiency (HIV) , has indirectly linked effective immune responses to HIV-1-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). In addition, the mapping of all classical HLA allele associations with specific amino acids located within the peptide-binding groove of the HLA molecule has underscored the critical causal role that the viral peptide—major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and, indirectly, CTLs play in spontaneous HIV control.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Participation Among US Medical Graduates Pursuing a Career in Neurology (P1.363)

Objective: We sought to evaluate trends in loan forgiveness participation among US medical graduates pursuing a career in neurology and examine the financial implications of the program. Background: The PSLF program was established in 2007 as a means for public sector employees to pursue educational loan forgiveness. Under the program, graduates are offered complete loan forgiveness after 120 qualifying monthly payments while employed at public or nonprofit institutions, which includes payments made during residency. Methods: We assessed trends in planned loan forgiveness participation among US medical graduates indicating pursuit of a career in neurology using a census of over 50,000 graduating medical students from the 2010-2014 Association of American Medical Colleges Graduation Questionnaire. We estimated the average neurologist’s loan repayment and forgiveness amounts under PSLF using financial modeling based on academic salary, residency length and income, and average US medical education debt ($175,000). Financial data were adjusted to 2014 US dollars. Results: Among the graduates responding to the Graduation Questionnaire, 2.6[percnt] (n=1,299) of US medical graduates were identified as pursuing a career in neurology. Among graduates choosing neurology, 21.0[percnt] (n=55) intended to use a loan forgiveness program in 2010 compared to 39.4[percnt] (n=99) in 2014 (P<0.001). The increase was largely due to rises in intended participation in PSLF, which grew from 13.7[percnt] (n=36) of graduates in 2010 to 27.5[percnt] (n=69) in 2014 (P<0.001). For a 2014 graduate pursuing a general neurology career as an employee of a nonprofit hospital for at least 10 years, the federally funded program will forgive an estimated $164,000 in loans after making an estimated $123,000 in repayment. Conclusions: The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program may provide incentive to indebted trainees to pursue work in a nonprofit hospital or seek an academic career, and is increasingly used among US graduates pursuing neurology. Disclosure: Dr. George has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dorsey has received research support from Avid Radiopharamaceuticals, Biogen, Google, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, Lundbeck, Medtronic, and Prana Biotechnology. Dr. Grishkan has nothing to disclose.