cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Practices and Perceptions of Family Practice Residency Directors toward International Medical Graduate Applicants: A National Survey

Purpose - International Medical Graduates (IMGs) are increasingly filling Family Medicine residency positions. (1) To what extent are residency programs recruiting and accepting IMG applicants? (2) What are program directors’ perceptions of IMG applicants? (3) What program characteristics are associated with their practices and perceptions? Methods - A 2002 national survey of Family Medicine program directors assessed program demographics and directors’ recruiting practices and perceptions regarding IMG applicants. Results - Although 88% of respondents would rank IMG applicants, only 40% agreed that they would perform as well as U.S. graduates. Programs with IMG faculty were more likely to have IMG residents (p<0.01). Program directors with IMG faculty or more IMG residents reported more positive perceptions of IMG residents’ performance (p<0.01). Conclusion - More experience with IMGs, such as having IMG faculty or higher numbers of IMG residents, is associated with recruitment of IMG residents and may contribute to more positive beliefs about their performance. Key Words: International Medical Graduates, Graduate Medical Education, Family Medicine Residents, Recruitment
Reliability of Focal Depth Estimates from a Small Network

An examination of the reliability of focal depth estimates for a seven station, 70 km aperture network in Virginia is presented. Eight microearthquakes featuring good P and S wave arrival-time data sets were selected for analysis, and hypocenters were calculated using a conventional iterative least squares algorithm, in conjunction with a three layer crustal velocity model. The earthquakes selected are representative in the sense that their epicenters are located at positions within, at the periphery, and outside the confines of the network. Their focal depths ranged from 6 to 16 km. Origin times for these earthquakes were reestimated from the Wadati diagram, under the assumption of a constant P to S wave velocity ratio. Also, focal depths were reestimated by assuming a constant, but unknown crustal velocity. Both of these methods are essentially independent of the velocity model used in the initial locations. Comparisons of the origin times and focal depths derived from the reestimate calculations with those determined by the conventional iterative least squares algorithm show good agreement. With both P and S wave arrival-time data at all stations, differences in depths derived by the various methods are less than 2.5 km, for events situated within the network. Also, the statistical error measures calculated by the iterative least squares location program appear to be realistic in the sense that they enclose the reestimated values. Location capability degrades considerably for earthquakes situated outside the network and it is shown (again) that the availability of good S wave arrival-time data is a critical element in obtaining reliable focal depth estimates for less than optimum epicenter-station recording configurations.
Evolution of the Surface Wind Field in an Intensifying Tropical Cyclone

Abstract The surface wind field in a developing tropical cyclone (Agnes, 1972) was analyzed over a 1660 km radius for four days using conventional surface data, as the storm evolved from a disorganized depression to a hurricane. The transition to hurricane intensity was characterized by a wavelike disturbance propagating inward at 15 m s−1 from the outermost radii to the storm core over a 36-hour period. This propagating disturbance was clearly visible in the radial and vertical motion fields as a surge of inflow and upward motion. Rapid intensification of the storm began within hours after the leading edge of the surge reached the storm center. The analysis of consecutive 12-hour periods without compositing of data from nonsynoptic times was essential for identification of this feature. The surge had the same asymmetry as the upper-level outflow channel, indicating the possible involvement of the outflow layer in its initiation. No clear evidence of an external forcing mechanism for the surge, such as th...
Food of Big Brown Bats (Eptesicus fuscus) from a Colony at Morrow, Georgia

Based on analysis of fecal pellets, June bugs, Scarabaeidae, were the most abundant food of a colony of big brown bats, Eptesicus fuscus, from Morrow, GA, forming 36.9% of the food overall. They were eaten heavily early in spring and less so in late summer and fall. Ground beetles, Carabidae, were the second most abundant food item (12.1% of the diet overall). Beetles, collec- tively, made up 57.7% of the sample, followed by hymenopterans (10.7%; composed primarily of Formicidae), dipterans (10.5%), homopterans (8.8%), and hemipterans (5.0%). Lepidopterans made up 2.8% of the diet.
History and Physical Examination

With technological advances in laboratory testing, imaging studies, and invasive procedures in cardiology, it is easy to discount the relevance of the history and physical examination. It is precisely the astute performance of the focused history and physical examination, however, that informs appropriate and efficient diagnostic testing. In the current climate emphasizing cost-effective practice, the strategic and parsimonious use of diagnostic testing is of paramount importance. Moreover, the determination of pretest probability—based on history and physical examination findings—may enhance the accuracy and clinical interpretation of subsequent diagnostic findings. In this manner, the classic teachings of the history and physical examination, coupled with the advanced capabilities of contemporary diagnostic technology, may provide optimal insight into the care of the patient.
19. Sudden Death: ECG and Biological Risk Factors

Background Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) has been proven to reduce the risk of death in ischemic cardiomyopathy with low ejection fraction, mainly by reducing arrhythmic death. However any attempt to further predict the risk of arrhythmic death in this pts gave inconsistent results. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a marker of future events in ischemic heart disease and predicts the risk of future cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stroke and sudden death in ischemic patients. We sought to assess whether CRP levels, in pts with ICD, predict recurrence of appropriate ICD intervention for sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) and/ or ventricular fibrillation (VF). Methods We enrolled 65 ICD recipients with a prior myocardial infarction and a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤30% (MADIT II –like criteria of inclusion). In all patients we measured CRP and, retrospectively, we determined the incidence of appropriate ICD therapies for TV/FV during the previous 12 months by reviewing ICD-stored electrograms. Results during follow-up 18/65 (28%) patients had VT/VF triggering ICD therapy. Twenty-nine out 65 pts had CRP levels >3mg/L (median and range: 6.2; 3.15-74) and 36 had CRP 3 mg/L had VT/VF, vs only 4/36 (11%) of those with CRP<3 mg/L (p<0.003). CRP levels were (median and range) 5.12 mg/L (0,3-74) in the 18 pts with VT/VF and 2.0 (0.4-26) in the 47 without events. In a logistic regression analysis CRP was independently associated with occurrence of VT/VF (OR 2.4, CI 1.1-5.24). Conclusions Our results suggest that CRP levels >3mg/L are associated with recurrence of VT/VF in patients with ICD (MADIT II-like criteria of inclusion). This may have implications for future risk assessment of patients with potential benefit from ICD implantation.
Epoxy-Nylon Adhesives for Low-Temperature Applications

Because of the extensive use of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen In both present and future space vehicles It has become necessary to obtain adhesives which will retain structural strengths at temperatures as low as -423°F. The Centaur vehicle is now utilizing adhesives for bonding plastic foam Insulation to a stainless steel tank, for bonding plastic honeycomb sandwich panels, and for bonding Mylar to stainless steel tanks. These adhesive bonds must withstand operating temperatures of -423°F, Future vehicles will have many more cryogenic applications which will require adhesive bonding. These applications may vary from the bonding of small clips to cryogen tanks to the problem of manufacturing full-scale, adhesive-bonded metal tanks.
Subnational Predictors of Racially Motivated Crime A Cross-National Multilevel Analysis

This study draws upon theories of intergroup prejudice and bigoted violence to examine the effects of subnational correlates on the levels of racially motivated crime across different regions in fo...
Development of an Unsupervised Classification with Multi-Level Analysis of the Heart Transplant Endomyocardial Biopsy

Purpose: Engineered heart tissue (EHT) implantation might be a promising future cardiac repair approach. Besides cell survival, electrical coupling plays a major role to support failing hearts. In this study we transplanted EHTs from human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes (CM) on cryo-injured guinea pig hearts and investigated their electrophysiological properties. Methods: Human iPSC were generated by retroviral reprogramming of dermal fibroblasts. Cardiac differentiation of hiPSC was performed by an embryoid body-based three-stage differentiation protocol. EHTs were created from hiPS-CM (5*106 cardiomyocytes and 2*106 hiPSC-endothelial cells per EHT). Left ventricular myocardial cryo-injury was induced in In Group 3, IL-6 levels were unchanged even after lungs were removed from circuit, suggesting that LF-trapped leukocytes did not contribute to increasing cytokine levels circulating in perfusate during EVLP. Conclusion: The potentially deleterious effects of LF-trapped leukocytes on lung grafts quality during EVLP appear to be limited while the cytokines storm stemming from lung grafts on EVLP can significantly impact their function. Our findings suggest the important role of leukocyte depletion or management in optimizing the lung grafts quality during EVLP.
Decoherence Allows Model Reduction in Nonadiabatic Dynamics Simulations.

A nonadiabatic (NA) molecular dynamics (MD) simulation requires calculation of NA coupling matrix elements, the number of which scales as a square of the number of basis states. The basis size can be huge in studies of nanoscale materials, and calculation of the NA couplings can present a significant bottleneck. A quantum-classical approximation, NAMD overestimates coherence in the quantum, electronic subsystem, requiring decoherence correction. Generally, decoherence times decrease with increasing energy separation between pairs of states forming coherent superpositions. Since rapid decoherence stops quantum dynamics, one expects that decoherence-corrected NAMD can eliminate the need for calculation of NA couplings between energetically distant states, notably reducing the computational cost. Considering several types of dynamics in a semiconductor quantum dot, we demonstrate that indeed, decoherence allows one to reduce the number of needed NA coupling matrix elements. If the energy levels are spaced cl...
Immune Mediated Neuropathy Following Bone Marrow Transplantation (P01.148)

OBJECTIVE: To study the incidence, characteristics and implications of recognized patterns of immune mediated neuropathy (IMN) following bone marrow transplantation (BMT). BACKGROUND: Cases of IMN following BMT have been reported in the literature, but there is no systematic review of IMN following BMT. DESIGN/METHODS: We reviewed the charts of all patients with BMT at our institution between January 1997 and August 2012. Patients with IMN following BMT were selected. Patients with non-immune polyneuropathy (treatment-emergent, neoplastic infiltration) or IMN prior to BMT were excluded. RESULTS: Of the 3305 patients who underwent BMT, 12 patients (0.36%) had IMN. Patients9 mean age was 54 years. Nine patients were men. The mean time from BMT to IMN was 12 months (range 5 days to 58 months). Neuropathy phenotypes included: 4 Guillain-Barre syndromes, 4 asymmetric plexopathies, 3 asymmetric polyradiculoneuropathies and 1 multiple mononeuropathy. EMG showed demyelinating neuropathy in 4 patients and axonal neuropathy in 8. Nerve biopsy was performed in one and showed demyelination. CSF protein was increased in 5 of 6 patients. Underlying hematological diagnoses were: 6 Non-Hodgkin lymphomas, 3 acute myeloid leukemias (AML), 2 multiple myelomas and 1 myelodysplastic syndrome. Six patients had allogenic BMT. Neurological examination showed improvement with immunotherapy in 6 patients and spontaneously in 3. One patient died from IMN9s complications. Two patients died from complications of their hematological disease. Five patients had recurrence of their malignancy within 4 months of the IMN and 4 of them died. CONCLUSIONS: IMN are rare following BMT, but do occur. The pattern of neuropathy tends to be asymmetrical and non-length dependent. Most patients respond to immune therapy, however early relapse of their hematologic malignancy is common and carry a poor prognosis. The association of the early relapse of the underlying malignancy with the onset of neuropathy suggests that some of the IMNs are likely due to paraneoplastic neuropathy. Disclosure: Dr. Karam has has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for the Neurology Resident & Fellow Section . Dr. Johnston has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lahoria has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dyck has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mauermann has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dyck has nothing to disclose.
Investigating the impact of wind turbines on distribution system stability

Modern wind turbines utilize power electronic converters to regulate their output and optimize their performance. Their impact on the distribution system is not as well understood as for transmission system. The novelty of this work is in studying the impact of wind turbines given its proximity to faults or severe voltage events, and the influence on system stability given its location relative to the substation (representing the conventional grid). This paper presents the frequency and voltage swing plots for various study scenarios. The responses are analyzed two fold - Steady state operation, and performance given a fault or voltage events occurs in the system. The findings are presented, with crucial differences from transmission systems highlighted.
Evaluation of DRAINMOD-DSSAT simulated effects of controlled drainage on crop yield, water balance, and water quality for a corn-soybean cropping system in central Iowa

Abstract Controlled drainage (CD) has been identified as a sustainable management practice whereby more soil water can be conserved and less nutrients are leached; alongside its potential benefit of alleviating drought stress and increasing yield. More than 12 million hectare of cropland in the US Midwest are suitable for implementing CD; however, the effectiveness of the practice can vary across the region with the variation in environmental conditions and management practices. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of the integrated agro-ecosystem model; DRAINMOD-DSSAT, for simulating the effects of CD on drainage flow, nitrogen losses via drainage water and crop yield. Herein, we utilized a 4-yr dataset (2006–2009) that was collected from a corn–soybean cropping system near Story City, Iowa. This site was artificially drained under free drainage (FD) and CD treatments. The model was calibrated using the data collected from the FD plots, and validated for the CD plots. DRAINMOD-DSSAT predictions of drainage flow and nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) losses were in good agreement with measured values under FD and CD, with the former treatment showed slightly better performance. The modeling efficiencies (NSE’s) for simulating monthly drainage flows were 0.81 and 0.60 for FD and CD, respectively. Monthly NO3–N mass losses were simulated with NSE’s of 0.76 and 0.66 for FD and CD, respectively. DRAINMOD-DSSAT well simulated CD-induced percent reductions in annual drainage flow (measured = 24.6%, simulated = 27.1%), and NO3-N losses (measured = 34.8%, simulated = 33.5%). Low percent error (PE) values were associated with the model predictions of corn yields (−1.3 ≤ PE ≤ 1.3) and soybean yields (−6.0 ≤ PE ≤ 12.6). Overall, results obtained from this relatively short-term modeling study demonstrated the potential use of DRAINMOD-DSSAT as a management design tool. Yet, further model testing CD effectiveness under different conditions is critically needed to establish a higher credibility in model predictions and to allow for further model improvement and expansion.
P-021 Onyx embolization in pediatric neurointerventional procedures

Introduction Although AVMs are rare among pediatric population, nearly half of spontaneous intracranial hemorrhages in children are due to these malformations. Onyx, as an FDA approved embolizant for adults, has limited studies regarding its safety and efficacy among children. Here, we evaluate the safety and efficacy of Onyx embolization in pediatric neurointerventional procedures. Methods In this study, all pediatric Onyx embolization of intracranial AVM cases are evaluated over a period of 10 years. Medical record and radiology imaging were reviewed for each patient regarding demographic data, clinical presentations, embolization procedure and related complications. Results Seventy-two patients (female=26 (36%)) with intracranial AVMs underwent total of 122 embolization procedures. Age of patients ranged between 1 month to 17 years with the mean of 10.2 years. Forty-four patients underwent a single embolization procedure and staged embolization was required for the remaining 28 patients prior to definitive treatment. Onyx embolization resulted in complete occlusion of the AVM in 10 patients (14%). A total of 66 patients underwent subsequent surgical treatment. Overall 13 complications occurred in total of 122 Onyx embolizations (10.6%) which resulted in 7 transient neurological deficits and 6 clinically silent complications (Table 1). None of the complications resulted in mortality or permanent morbidity. No significant demographic characteristic differences observed in patients with or without complications. Conclusion In this study we propose the safe and effective utilization of Onyx for embolization of pediatric cerebral AVMs. The relative low rate of complications (10.6%) along with no mortality or permanent morbidity, suggests the safe utilization of Onyx as a preoperative or primary embolization treatment of pediatric intracranial AVMs. However, specific attention should be considered for its indications and technical limitations according to the broad spectrum of complications. Disclosures T. Shokuhfar: None. A. Al-Smadi: None. S. Ansari: None. M. Hurley: None. M. Potts: None. B. Jahromi: None. A. Shaibani: None.
THE EFFECT OF CARBACHOL ON THE INDUCTION OF TYROSINE HYDROXYLASE ELICITED BY COMPOUNDS WHICH RAISE CYCLIC AMP LEVELS IN NEUROBLASTOMA CELLS

ABSTRACT Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity increases 2–3 fold 48 hrs after treatment with either 4-(3-butoxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-2-imidazolidinone (RO-20–1724) or prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) in neuroblastoma cells. Both these compounds raise intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels less than 2-fold. Carbachol transiently inhibits the elevation of cAMP levels and also delays the induction of TH elicited by these compounds.
Effect of Chemical Modifications on Aptamer Stability in Serum

There is increasing interest in the use of aptamers for the development of therapeutics. However, as oligonucleotides, aptamers are susceptible to nuclease degradation; poor serum stability is likely to negatively affect in vivo function. Modified nucleotides have been used to thwart nuclease degradation. However, few studies report the serum stability of selected aptamers. In this study, we examined the effect of various chemical modifications (2'-deoxy, 2'-hydroxyl, 2'-fluoro, and 2'-O-methyl) on the stability of a control oligonucleotide sequence following incubation in frozen human, fresh mouse, and fresh human serum. We also assessed the effect of the 3' inverted dT cap on stability. Surprisingly, we found that fYrR (2'-fluoro RNA) is only roughly as stable as DNA (2'-deoxy). Interestingly, the inclusion of a 3' inverted dT cap had only a modest effect on serum stability, if any. In one instance, the addition of a 3' inverted dT cap rendered a molecule composed of DNA more stable than its fYrR counterpart. By far, fully modified oligonucleotides (100% 2-O-Methyl or 2'-O-methyl A, C, and U in combination with 2'-fluoro G, termed fGmH) had the longest half-lives. These compositions demonstrated little degradation in human serum even after prolonged incubation. Together these results support the need for using fully modified aptamers for in vivo applications and should encourage those in the field to exploit newer polymerase variants capable of directly generating such polymers.
Poster: Time Analysis of the Feasibility of Vehicular Blocktrees

In this paper we evaluate the feasibility of the vehicular blocktree proposed by Joy whereby vehicles write and aggregate their signatures to a blockchain. We analyze the end to end cycle time to collect, write, and persist the content to the blockchain as well as the total minting time. We show via time analysis that the cycle time occurs on the order of hundreds of milliseconds, showing that the proposed design is indeed feasible.
Is completion axillary lymph node dissection necessary in patients who are underrepresented in the ACOSOG Z0011 trial

Abstract Purpose The American College of Surgeons Oncology Group trial Z0011 demonstrated that axillary node dissection (ALND) can be omitted in patients managed with breast conserving surgery and 1 to 2 positive sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) without adverse effects on locoregional recurrence or disease-free survival (DFS). We investigated patients with breast cancer for whom clinicopathologic features were underrepresented in the Z0011 trial and analyzed radiation therapy treatment patterns and clinical outcomes. Methods and materials We retrospectively reviewed records of patients who underwent a lumpectomy and SLN biopsy with positive SLNs but not an ALND and completed adjuvant radiation therapy. Eligible patients had T3 tumors, >2 positive SLNs, invasive lobular carcinoma, estrogen receptor negative status, extranodal extension, Nottingham Grade 3, or were age Results We identified 105 women treated between July 2011 and July 2016 with a median follow-up time of 48.5 months (Range, 11-83 months). There were 40 women with an extranodal extension (38.9%) and 42 women with grade 3 disease (40.0%). Nineteen patients received whole breast irradiation alone (18.1%) and 86 patients were treated with modified tangent fields including the superior axilla level I/II (81.9%). Thirty-three patients (31.4%) also received a 3rd supraclavicular, nodal-directed field. Among the 86 patients who received axillary nodal irradiation, nodal volume contouring was performed in 77 patients (89.5%). Fifty-one patients (48.6%) also received adjuvant chemotherapy. The overall rates of 4-year DFS and locoregional control (LRC) were 94.3% and 98.1%, respectively. Off all patients, 1 patient experienced an internal mammary nodal recurrence, another patient a contralateral breast tumor, and two patients distant metastases. There were no axillary or ipsilateral breast tumor recurrences. Conclusions This retrospective analysis of women who were underrepresented or excluded from the Z11 trial and underwent a lumpectomy and SLN biopsy with positive SLNs demonstrated comparable rates of LRC and DFS. The high rates of LRC and DFS suggest that completion ALND may be safely omitted in this patient population but larger data sets and longer follow-up times are needed to confirm this finding.
On Scalability of Distributed Machine Learning with Big Data on Apache Spark

Performance of traditional machine learning systems does not scale up while working in the world of Big Data with training sets that can easily contain petabytes of data. Thus, new technologies and approaches are needed that can efficiently perform complex and time-consuming data analytics without having to rely on expensive super machines.
Cellular solid structures with unbounded thermal expansion

Thermal expansion of materials is of considerable practical interest since materials in service may experience a considerable range of operating temperature. Materials with microstructure, including composites, honeycombs, and foams (which are composites with one void phase) are finding increasing application for many purposes. It is therefore of interest to explore the range of thermal expansion coefficient attainable in materials with microstructure. The constitutive equation for a linear isotropic thermoelastic continuum is [1]:
University of Michigan Department of Biostatistics

This article traces the history of biostatistics research and training at the University of Michigan which had beginnings in the Medical School and in the Department of Mathematics. With the creation of the School of Public Health and the Survey Research Center (which later led to the formation of the Institute for Social Research), Polio Salk Vaccine Trial, Dewey-Truman pre-election poll, creation of the Annals of Mathematical Statistics, visits by R. A. Fisher and Jerzy Neyman in the late 1930s, etc made Michigan a powerhouse for applied and theoretical research. The Department of Public Health Statistics was formed in 1949 though it existed as a separate unit within Epidemiology since the founding of the School of Public Health in 1941. The Department of Public Health Statistics was renamed as the Department of Biostatistics in 1960. The Department of Statistics was formed in 1969.
Characterizing Expert Psychologist Behavior: Implications from Selected Expertise Literature

This article selectively reviews literature on the development of expertise in counseling and on assessment tasks of professional psychologists. Relevant theories of the development of expertise are reviewed, as well as selected research on medical diagnostic expertise. Whereas counselor development models have become widely used conceptual tools, similar theories from the expertise literature have been relatively neglected despite their promise. Design features and research issues from investigations of medical diagnostic expertise, including the use of forward and backward reasoning processes, might help operationalize “expertise” in professional psychology.
Maternal shift-and-persist coping, SES, and adolescent type 1 diabetes management

We examined if maternal shift-and-persist coping buffers the relationship between lower socioeconomic status (SES) and adverse type 1 diabetes (T1D) outcomes during adolescence. Mothers reported an...
Demonstration of distributed capacitance compensation in a metal-insulator-metal infrared rectenna incorporating a traveling-wave diode

We experimentally demonstrate that the transmission line impedance of traveling-wave diodes can circumvent resistance-capacitance time-constant limitations of metal-insulator-metal diodes in rectennas operating at optical frequencies. We fabricated low resistance (380 Ω) and moderate responsivity (0.46 A/W) metal-insulator-metal traveling-wave diodes. When a rectenna incorporating the traveling-wave diode was illuminated with 10.6 μm radiation, it produced a peak system responsivity of 130 μA/W and a detectivity of 1.0 × 10 4 Jones. These results agree with the simulated device performance and exceed the response of an equivalent lumped-element metal-insulator-metal rectenna.We experimentally demonstrate that the transmission line impedance of traveling-wave diodes can circumvent resistance-capacitance time-constant limitations of metal-insulator-metal diodes in rectennas operating at optical frequencies. We fabricated low resistance (380 Ω) and moderate responsivity (0.46 A/W) metal-insulator-metal traveling-wave diodes. When a rectenna incorporating the traveling-wave diode was illuminated with 10.6 μm radiation, it produced a peak system responsivity of 130 μA/W and a detectivity of 1.0 × 10 4 Jones. These results agree with the simulated device performance and exceed the response of an equivalent lumped-element metal-insulator-metal rectenna.
A perspectiva canhota de um emigrado russo: expressão homoerótica na poesia de Valério Pereliéchin (1953-1992)

This article examines the poetry of Valerio Pereliechin ("Valerii Pereleshin" in his native Russian), a gay writer and translator who produced a significant collection of homoerotic poems in Portuguese over the second half of the twentieth century. Pereliechin was born in Russia in 1913 and soon migrated to China, where he lived among other Russian emigres in the town of Harbin. In 1953, after a failed attempt to go to the United States, he and his mother arrived in Brazil, where he lived–unnoticed by local writers and artists–for almost forty years. A central issue in Pereliechin's personal life, homosexuality gradually became the core theme of his work. Through the idea of "existential left-handedness," Pereliechin challenged heteronormativity, especially by refuting what Lee Edelman has called "reproductive futurity." I argue that Pereliechin's alternative way of tackling the past and future stems from the intersectionality of his experiences as a gay man and an emigre.
3’Pool-seq: an optimized cost-efficient and scalable method of whole-transcriptome gene expression profiling

The advent of Next Generation Sequencing has allowed transcriptomes to be profiled with unprecedented accuracy, but the high costs of full-length mRNA sequencing have posed a limit on the accessibility and scalability of the technology. To address this, we developed 3’Pool-seq: a simple, cost-effective, and scalable RNA-seq method that focuses sequencing to the 3′-end of mRNA. We drew from aspects of SMART-seq, Drop-seq, and TruSeq to implement an easy workflow, and optimized parameters such as input RNA concentrations, tagmentation conditions, and read depth specifically for bulk-RNA. Thorough optimization resulted in a protocol that takes less than 12 h to perform, does not require custom sequencing primers or instrumentation, and cuts over 90% of the costs associated with TruSeq, while still achieving accurate gene expression quantification (Pearson’s correlation coefficient with ERCC theoretical concentration r = 0.96) and differential gene detection (ROC analysis of 3’Pool-seq compared to TruSeq AUC = 0.921). The 3’Pool-seq dual indexing scheme was further adapted for a 96-well plate format, and ERCC spike-ins were used to correct for potential row or column pooling effects. Transcriptional profiling of troglitazone and pioglitazone treatments at multiple doses and time points in HepG2 cells was then used to show how 3’Pool-seq could distinguish the two molecules based on their molecular signatures. 3’Pool-seq can accurately detect gene expression at a level that is on par with TruSeq, at one tenth of the total cost. Furthermore, its unprecedented TruSeq/Nextera hybrid indexing scheme and streamlined workflow can be applied in several different formats, including 96-well plates, which allows users to thoroughly evaluate biological systems under several conditions and timepoints. Care must be taken regarding experimental design and plate layout such that potential pooling effects can be accounted for and corrected. Lastly, further studies using multiple sets of ERCC spike-ins may be used to simulate differential gene expression in a system with known ground-state values.
Back to the Future with Execution Methods

Despite three United States Supreme Court decisions upholding lethal injection protocols, inmates continue to challenge the method's constitutionality, and states cling to scientifically ununiformed procedures to generally ensure the death penalty's survival. Lethal injection, however, is simply the last in a long line of disastrous execution methods. This chapter explores the future of execution methods in light of states' efforts to repeat or borrow from the past, beginning with current changes to lethal injection and the inclusion of prior methods. Those previous methods include electrocution, the firing squad, and the recent adoption of nitrogen hypoxia by several states—all as constitutional substitutes for lethal injection. Older lethal injection drugs are also coming back into play, such as sodium thiopental, despite their current unavailability. This chapter concludes that states cannot go "back to the future" to re-invent or rebrand the past's problematic execution methods. While the future of execution methods is impossible to predict, twenty-one states have now abolished the death penalty, and the death penalty's use has remained near record lows. Quite possibly, current execution methods may follow the same path as hanging, which has been abolished in all fifty states. Likewise, the abolishment of the death penalty as a whole may come faster than states' abilities to change the ways they execute inmates.
Site-Selective RNA Functionalization via DNA-Induced Structure

Methods for RNA functionalization at specific sites are in high demand but remain a challenge, particularly for RNAs produced by transcription rather than by total synthesis. Recent studies have de...
Studies on Serotype-Specific Regulation of Antigen Expression in Pasteurela Haemolytica

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) remains a major economic problem for both the beef and dairy cattle industries in the U.S. (1). Recent estimates of the losses due to BRO exceed a billion dolars annually which is greater than all other diseases combined (2). The most common sequel observed in BRD is a fulminating fibrinonecrotic pleuropneumonia called shipping fever or pneumonic pasteurellosis. Although BRD is a multifactorial disease involving interaction between a number of environmental factors, various viruses and bacteria, Pasteurella haemolytica biotype A serotype 1 (A1) also called serotype 1 (ST1) has been established as the primary agent involved in the pathogenesis of the pneumonia (3). P. haemolytica ST1 can be isolated in pure culture from typical pneumonic lesions of the disease (4).
Interim Compliance Tests

Compliance tests determine whether the firm’s transaction processing is in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). They have grown increasingly important and are the basis for much of the reporting in the SAS No. 115 letter to management, and support management’s response in the Sarbanes–Oxley letter. This chapter delineates the statistical tools used to insure cost-effective compliance testing in the audit.
Construction and Validation of a Self-report Subjective Emptiness Scale:

Subjective emptiness is a psychiatric symptom that is primarily assessed and studied as a criterion of borderline personality disorder, even though research suggests that it may have clinical impor...
Gravity Model of Passenger and Mobility Fleet Origin–Destination Patterns with Partially Observed Service Data

Mobility-as-a-service systems are becoming increasingly important in the context of smart cities, with challenges arising for public agencies to obtain data from private operators. Only limited mob...
Impacts of oxidizer concentration and fuel composition on near-source aerosol emissions from lignocellulosic biomass and constituent burning

Abstract Biomass burning (BB), a multi-step process including drying, devolatilization, and oxidation of volatiles and char, is a globally occurring phenomenon that is understood to produce significant quantities of aerosols that have a broad range of local and global effects on humans and the environment. Quantities and properties of BB-derived aerosols are difficult to predict due to the complex nature of BB. Near-source conditions, such as oxygen availability and fuel composition, have been identified as influential factors in the properties of aerosol emissions. This work examined the total and size-resolved number and mass aerosol emission factors from dry, pulverized lignocellulosic biomass and its major constituents under laboratory burning conditions to understand the influence of oxygen level and fuel composition on near-source aerosol production. Lignocellulosic biomass and major constituents, including hemicellulose (xylan), cellulose and lignin, were pyrolyzed and combusted in inert and oxidative environments at varying oxygen levels, and the aerosol particle emissions were characterized in terms of size and quantity at a fixed dilution temperature. Fuel mass and fuel heating rate were varied to assess the sensitivity of results to these factors. A previously developed summative model to predict near-source BB aerosol emissions was also tested. Results showed that the total number and mass aerosol emissions decreased with increased oxygen levels. Nucleation mode particles dominated the number emissions in both inert and oxidative environments, but larger aerosol sizes were observed in the oxidative environment. Aerosol particle coagulation and growth were observed at larger fuel masses, indicated by a significant decrease in the total number emission factors in both inert and oxidative environments, while the total mass emission factor only slightly decreased and increased in inert and oxidative environments, respectively. The size of aerosols formed was found to positively correlate with absolute fuel consumption rate, and the effects of oxidation through combustion chemistry and thermal feedback were explored. Good agreement between the simulated and measured number emission factors for pinewood was observed in both the inert and oxidative reaction environments over the range of tested fuel masses. Simulated and measured mass emission factors showed good agreement in the oxidative environment and poorer agreement in the inert environment. Reasons for this discrepancy were explored and the importance of constituent surrogate selection is highlighted.
Accelerating Second-Order Differential Dynamic Programming for Rigid-Body Systems

This letter presents a method to reduce the computational demands of including second-order dynamics sensitivity information into the Differential Dynamic Programming (DDP) trajectory optimization algorithm. An approach to DDP is developed where all the necessary derivatives are computed with the same complexity as in the iterative Linear Quadratic Regulator (iLQR). Compared to linearized models used in iLQR, DDP more accurately represents the dynamics locally, but it is not often used since the second-order derivatives of the dynamics are tensorial and expensive to compute. This work shows how to avoid the need for computing the derivative tensor by instead leveraging reverse-mode accumulation of derivative information to compute a key vector-tensor product directly. We also show how the structure of the dynamics can be used to further accelerate these computations in rigid-body systems. Benchmarks of this approach for trajectory optimization with multi-link manipulators show that the benefits of DDP can often be included without sacrificing evaluation time, and can be done in fewer iterations than iLQR.
Wage theft in the United States: Towards new research agendas:

Wage theft – the nonpayment of employees’ wages and benefits by employers – is a violation of national, state, and local labour standards, yet it is prevalent in the low-wage labour market of the U...
Closing remarks at FASEB conference on the computer as a research tool in the life sciences

The variety and scope of the papers presented at this meeting do not permit a technical summary. There are, however some general impressions which we might consider.
Excitotoxic food additives: functional teratological aspects.

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the information pertaining to the potential teratological consequences of excitotoxin exposure in early life. The chapter uses the term “teratological” in its broad sense to include adverse effects on the organism at any preadult stage of development. The putative excitatory neurotransmitters, glutamate (Glu) and aspartate (Asp), and several of their structural analogues, comprise a family of excitotoxic compounds, which are so called because of their potential for destroying central neurons by excessive stimulation of postsynaptic excitatory membrane receptors. Despite evidence from animal studies that the immature nervous system is much more vulnerable than the adult to excitotoxin-induced damage, Glu and other excitotoxins are used quite heavily worldwide as additives to foods ingested by infants and children. In molecular specificity studies, it was found that specific structural analogues of Glu known to share the neuroexcitatory properties of Glu reproduce its neurotoxic effects, that these analogues have a parallel order of potencies for their excitatory and toxic actions and that analogues lacking excitatory activity also lack neurotoxicity.
Prairie Cover Crops: Germination and First-season Cover and Biomass

Introduction Planting cover crops to simultaneously establish native prairie seedlings and prevent weed invasion is an increasingly common management practice. The idea is based on the assumption that the cover plant will act as a nurse plant to prairie seedlings and will have a positive effect on seedling recruitment by increasing weed suppression and by lowering the harmful effects of high evaporation and light availabilities. Plowed ground is ideal for a host of weedy species, which have higher germination and earlier growth rates (especially above ground) than do prairie species. Cover crops could also potentially reduce the amount of soil erosion that occurs during planting. However, the evidence supporting the benefits of cover crops is mostly anecdotal and has been challenged by some. Clearly, further scientific evidence is needed on the efficacy of cover plants, whether cover plants have a facilitative or competitive effect on prairie seedlings, as well as how these processes work (i.e., whether the nurse plant effect is caused by light suppression or water uptake).
Integrating Economic and Political Considerations in the Analysis of Global Environmental Policies

Economists and other scholars have offered useful diagnoses of the market failures that underlie major global environmental problems. However, scholars have been far less successful in devising policy approaches that can overcome political barriers. They have identified the market failures without offering solutions to political failures. Three sources of political failure seem especially important (1) special interests, (2) the public goods nature of global environmental problems and associated problem of free-riding, and (3) problems in news reporting stemming from changes in the technology for communicating environmental (and other) information to the public. I recommend that the NSF give considerable support to studies that combine attention to the economics impacts with attention to any of these three underlying sources of “political failure.”
A Cooperative Algorithm for the Dynamic Stereo Problem

A basic problem in the study of visual motion is determining temporal correspondence, which is commonly called tracking. The psychophysics community suggests that motion and stereo are cooperative processes, each aiding the other in deciding the final correspondences. In this article, we introduce an algorithm which uses a cooperative process between stereo and motion to attack the dynamic stereo problem. The algorithm, after isolating the objects to be tracking in each frame, lists the possible stereo matches in the left and right views which satisfy certain constraints. It then relies on a general smoothness of motion criterion using (1) the center of gravity of each object in each monocular view, (2) the sizes of the objects, as well as (3) the stereo disparities between possible matched stereo objects. Experiments using tennis balls shows the algorithm to be very promising.
Antenna pointing and scanning control for a two axis gimbal system in the presence of platform motion

Pointing and scanning control algorithms for a two-axis gimbal, inertially stabilized, airborne antenna system are described and evaluated computer simulation. Satisfactory performance is demonstrated in the presence of aircraft maneuvers, with some (expected) degradation for the very-near-zenith antenna states. The antenna scanning algorithm presented is adaptive in its scan rate (to avoid scan distortions due to azimuth rate limiting imposed by the physical antenna system), is simple to implement, and properly accounts for aircraft maneuvering to maintain circular scanning trajectories in inertial space. >
A Comparison of Plasma Waves Produced by Ion Accelerators in the F‐Region Ionosphere

Ion beams injected into the ionosphere are known to produce waves related to the normal modes of the plasma. The spectra of plasma waves produced during four sounding rocket experiments are examined. The experimental conditions were somewhat different during each experiment. The accelerated ion was either Xe(+) or Ar(+) and the experimental geometry, described by the separation vector between the plasma wave receiver and the ion accelerator, was either parallel or perpendicular to the geomagnetic field.
Scale invariant pareto optimality: a meta--formalism for characterizing and modeling cooperativity in evolutionary systems

This article describes a mathematical framework for characterizing cooperativity in complex systems subject to evolutionary pressures. This framework uses three foundational components that constitute a meta-formalism that can be utilized in a host of research and development settings to improve the management, control, and understanding of large numbers of interacting systems such as in communication, computer, and sensor networks. A new concept, Scale Invariant Pareto Optimality, provides a mathematical basis for the efficient tradeoffs of efficiency on many scales and the measurement of cooperativity in complex systems. A mathematically oriented definition of self-organized behavior is also described. Discussion and conjectures are offered.
A Report on “One Day Symposium on Numerical Cladistics”

A recent symposium on numerical cladistics held at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, addressed novel methods for searching tree space, applications of randomizations in cladistic analysis, and data management. One of the major concerns in systematics is that of finding the global optimum in tree length. The space to search is complex because it includes many local optima. It is a difficult task to escape local optima without a great loss in efficiency. The ideal is to search among suboptimal topologies and still obtain an answer in a reasonable amount of time. Nixon presented a new family of methods called “parsimony ratchet,” which are successful at escaping local optima. Moilanen presented a new program which may have similar advantages. Two presentations, one by Goloboff and Farris and another by Farris, Goloboff, Kallersjo, and Oxelman, introduced modifications to parsimony jackknifing that improved its accuracy when compared to normal heuristic searches. Wheeler discussed the advantages of new methods of analyzing DNA and protein sequence data, which eliminate multiple alignment; the most recent one packs nucleotides into strings which constitute the new characters. Siddall discussed different applications of randomization in cladistics and their logical consistency, finding some more acceptable than others. Nixon and Carpenter presented a new program for managing data. This symposium will probably be a landmark judging from the originality and practicality of the points presented.