cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“Zero-Dimensional” Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes†

The shorter, the more dispersible: An iterative, emulsion-based shortening technique has been used to reduce the length of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) to the same order of magnitude as their diameter (ca. 1 nm), thus achieving an effectively "zero-dimensional" structure with improved dispersibility and, after hydroxylation, long-term water solubility. Finally, zero-dimensional SWNTs were positively identified using mass spectrometry for the first time.
Estrous cycle-dependent changes of Fas expression in the bovine corpus luteum: influence of keratin 8/18 intermediate filaments and cytokines.

Background: Fas expression and Fas-induced apoptosis are mechanisms attributed to the selective destruction of cells of the corpus luteum (CL) during luteal regression. In certain cell-types, sensitivity to these death-inducing mechanisms is due to the loss or cleavage of keratin-containing intermediate filaments. Specifically, keratin 8/18 (K8/K18) filaments are hypothesized to influence cell death in part by regulating Fas expression at the cell surface. Methods: Here, Fas expression on bovine luteal cells was quantified by flow cytometry during the early (Day 5, postovulation) and late stages (Days 16–18, postovulation) of CL function, and the relationship between Fas expression, K8/K18 filament expression and cytokine-induced cell death in vitro was evaluated. Results: Both total and cell surface expression of Fas on luteal cells was greater for early versus late stage bovine CL (89% vs. 44% of cells for total Fas; 65% vs.18% of cells for cell surface Fas; respectively, P 0.05, n=4 CL/stage), despite evidence these conditions increased Fas expression on HepG2 cells (P 0.05) or stage of CL (P>0.05, n= 4 CL/stage) on this outcome. Conclusion: In conclusion, we rejected our null hypothesis that the cell surface expression of Fas does not differ between luteal cells of early and late stage CL. The results also did not support the idea that K8/K18 filaments influence the expression of Fas on the surface of bovine luteal cells. Potential downstream effects of these filaments on death signaling, however, remain a possibility. Importantly, the elevated expression of Fas observed on cells of early stage bovine CL compared to late stage bovine CL raises a provocative question concerning the physiological role(s) of Fas in the corpus luteum, particularly during early luteal development.
Noninvasive Multimodality Imaging Techniques to Assess Kaposi's Sarcoma

We evaluated three non-invasive method, thermography, laser Doppler imaging and near infrared multi-spectral imaging to quantitatively assess parameters of vascularity in Kaposi's sarcoma. The KS lesion generally has increased temperature, blood velocity and blood deoxy-hemoglobin. There is a strong correlation between temperature and blood velocity (R= 81, p<0.001). After treatment with experimental drug (liposomal doxorubicin and interleukin-12), temperature, blood velocity, blood volume and deoxy-hemoglobin of the lesions are reduced from the baseline at week 18. The techniques are objective, easy to perform, and appear to be very sensitive in assessing improvement in the lesions upon administration of therapy
Price fairness perceptions and customer loyalty in a retail context

Abstract Loyalty and fairness are major research topics in the marketing literature. However, research examining how customer loyalty and fairness perceptions affect each other is lacking. This study examines these two topics in the context of a retailer increasing its prices, develops hypotheses, and tests these hypotheses using an experimental design approach. Results indicate that loyalty has a positive effect on fairness perceptions when price increases are low, though no such effect is found when price increases are high. Also, justifiable reasons for price increases lead to increased fairness perceptions when price increases are low, but any reason offered when price increases are high increases fairness perceptions. Whether distributive or procedural fairness influences post customer loyalty in the presence of price increases is dependent on both the level of the price increase and the reason offered for the price increase. This research provides implications for retailers and directions for future research.
Coherence length characteristics from broadband semiconductor emitters: superluminescent diodes versus broadband laser diodes

This paper reports on the measurement and analysis of the coherence function for broadband emitters such as superluminescent diodes (SLDs) and novel broadband laser diodes (BLDs) from self-assembled InGaAs/GaAs quantumdot (QD) and InAs/InP quantum-dash (Qdash) structures that emit at center wavelengths of 1150nm and 1650nm, respectively. Using the fiber-based spectral interferometry system, coherence lengths in fiber of 23 µm and 48 µm have been measured from the QD and Qdash BLDs. Larger spectral bandwidth of 137 nm and 78 nm have been measured from the QD and Qdash SLDs that yield coherence lengths in fiber of 3 µm and 10 µm, respectively. The coherence function of both BLDs and SLD reveals negligible secondary coherence subpeaks and sidelobes indicating the possibility of using these broadband sources to produce low artifacts optical coherence tomography (OCT) images.
A Meta-Analysis of Mentalizing Impairments in Adults With Schizophrenia and Autism Spectrum Disorder

Mentalizing has been examined both in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia (SCZ) primarily by either cognitive-linguistic (referred to as verbal) or emotion recognition from eyes (referred to as visual) mentalizing tasks. Each type of task is thought to measure different aspects of mentalizing. Differences in clinical features and developmental courses of each disorder may predict distinct patterns of mentalizing performance across dis orders on each type of task. To test this, a meta-analysis was conducted using 37 studies that assessed mentalizing either verbally or visually in adults with SCZ or ASD. We found that the estimated effect sizes of impairments in verbal and visual mentalizing tasks for both clinical groups were statistically large and at a similar level (overall Hedges’ g = 0.73-1.05). For each disorder, adults with SCZ showed a trend towards larger impairments on verbal (overall Hedges’ g = 0.99) than on visual mentalizing task (overall Hedges’ g = 0.73; Qbet = 3.45, p =.06, df =1). Adults with ASD did not show different levels of impairment on the verbal versus visual tasks (Qbet = 0.08, p =.78, df =1). These results suggest that both clinical groups share, at least in part, some common cognitive processing deficits associated with mentalizing impairments.
The Hyperbola‐Construction in the Conics, Book II: Ancient Variations on a Theorem of Apollonius

In the fourth proposition of Book II of Apollonius' Conies one finds a method of constructing the hyperbola of which a point and both asymptotes are given. But a close examination of this proposition in comparison with three other versions of the construction extant from ancient authors reveals that the version in the Conies is incorrectly established, that it was not included within the early editions of that work, but entered its tradition via late interpolation. Its composer and the agent of its insertion into the Conies proves to be Eutocius of Askalon, the early sixth-century commentator on the works of Apollonius and Archimedes. Eutocius appears to have framed his solution with the assistance of a prior text closely resembling one preserved in the Collection of Pappus of Alexandria (early fourth century). Nevertheless, one extant form of the construction may be viewed as a fragment of the ancient geometrical analysis which flourished under Apollonius and his colleagues toward the close of the third century B.C. The variant forms of this construction thus provide an unusual case history of the working methods of the editors and commentators of late antiquity. One is surprised by the low level of expertise demonstrated by Pappus, as well as the high degree of responsibility Eutocius had for the production of the extant manuscript tradition of the Conies. Further, one perceives however dimly something of the nature and objectives of the older tradition and the form of the fourth-and early third-century studies from which it developed.
An in vitro comparison of cordopexy, cordopexy and laryngoplasty, and laryngoplasty for treatment of equine laryngeal hemiplegia.

Objective— To examine the effect of cordopexy, laryngoplasty, and cordopexy combined with a modified laryngoplasty on airway mechanics. Study Design— Experimental airway mechanics were determined by subjecting equine cadaveric larynges to airflows similar to inspiratory airflow of exercising horses. Animals or Sample Population— Twenty equine larynges. Methods— Using cadaveric larynges, we developed and tested a new technique of arytenoid cartilage abduction. All larynges had the right arytenoid cartilage abducted to mimic the degree of arytenoid abduction that occurs at maximal exertion in live horses. Three surgical techniques were used to stabilize the left arytenoid cartilage of treated larynges; the left arytenoid cartilage was not stabilized in control larynges. Technique 1: Cordopexy—a suture was placed between the vocal ligament and the lamina of the thyroid cartilage. Technique 2: Standard laryngoplasty—a suture was placed between the muscular process of the arytenoid cartilage and the caudomedial aspect of the cricoid cartilage. Technique 3: Cordopexy plus modified laryngoplasty—the cordopexy suture was placed with a second suture between the horizontal ridge rostral to the muscular process of the left arytenoid cartilage and the lamina of the thyroid cartilage. Translaryngeal impedances (TI) were determined for each surgical technique by subjecting the larynges to increasing airflows and measuring the translaryngeal pressure differences. The arytenoid right to left angle quotient (RLQ) and the glottic cross-sectional area (CSA) were also measured. Results— At maximal airflow, the adjusted means for the arytenoid RLQ and the TI for the cordopexy plus modified laryngoplasty (1.48 ± 0.04, 0.69 ± 0.05 cm H2O/L/s) and the standard laryngoplasty (1.39 ± 0.04, 0.78 cm H2O/L/s,) were different (P < .05) from values obtained after cordopexy alone (2.74 ± 0.37, 1.76 ± 0.48 cm H2O/L/s) or in control larynges (3.66 ± 0.54, 4.16 ± 0.96 cm H2O/L/s). Overall, a cordopexy plus modified laryngoplasty (9.69 cm2), a standard laryngoplasty (9.34 cm2), and a cordopexy alone (9 cm2) resulted in an increased glottic CSA greater than that for control larynges (6.94 cm2; P= .0001). Conclusions— Cordopexy alone did not improve airflow in a left laryngeal hemiplegic model. Cordopexy plus modified laryngoplasty was as efficacious as the standard laryngoplasty in alleviating the effects of left laryngeal hemiplegia on TI, glottic CSA, and arytenoid RLQ. Clinical Relevance— Fixation of the vocal cord (cordopexy) in addition to a laryngoplasty procedure may prove useful in the surgical treatment of equine laryngeal hemiplegia.
Pediatric Endoscopic Nasal and Sinus Surgery

A total of 83 children and teenagers underwent endoscopic nasal and sinus surgery. Six patients had surgery for choanal atresia (4) and adenoid hypertrophy (2) and will only be briefly mentioned. Seventy-seven children and teenagers underwent endoscopic sinus surgery for acute and chronic sinusitis, choanal polyposis, and nasal polyposis with a minimum 2-year follow-up. One hundred thirty-three ethmoidectomies, 37 sphenoidotomies, and 119 maxillary antrostomies were performed. Subjective evaluation of the sinus surgery patients indicated that 38% of patients were cured and 55% improved during an average of 3.5 years of follow-up. The number cured and number improved are lower and higher, respectively, than in other reports of results because of the longer follow-up and patient selection. In addition, objective data were obtained on 34 patients with a second- or third-look procedure 2 weeks to 2 months after surgery. These examinations found significant granulation tissue, and almost 50% of patients had at least one maxillary ostia closed. Long-term objective results, however, are not available to determine whether the ostia remained closed. Problems with healing in children's endoscopic sinus surgery are unpredictable compared those in adult surgery because postoperative debridement and examination are often difficult to perform, thus allowing tissue to heal without control. In this series, other factors such as the increased risks of cystic fibrosis, allergy, and immunodeficiency were also more prevalent and compromised healing.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Partition of pyrite in aqueous biphase systems

Abstract The feasibility of extending the aqueous biphase extraction process to mineral sulfides was investigated with pyrite (FeS2) as a model metal sulfide in polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based biphase systems. The phase diagram for the PEG-2000/Na2CO3/H2O system was determined; with increase in the PEG molecular weight, the binodal curve shifted in the direction of lower polymer and salt concentrations. The partitioning behavior of pyrite in PEG/Na2CO3/H2O and PEG/Na2SO4/H2O systems was investigated and the effects of conditioning time, pH, and PEG molecular weight were also studied. Pyrite particles distributed to the interface initially; but with increasing conditioning time, the particles transferred preferentially to the bottom salt-rich aqueous phase. Pyrite partition was also pH-dependent. When the pH was above 9, pyrite transferred into the salt-rich phase; between pH 5 and 9, it preferred the interface; and below pH 5, pyrite went into the top polymer-rich phase. The above trends are rationalized in terms of the effects of conditioning time and pH on the surface oxidization of pyrite and how this, in turn, changes the relative concentrations of hydrophilic and hydrophobic sites on the solid surface.
Toward a picometer displacement-sensing interferometry for the next generation of calculable capacitor

A high resolution Fabry-Perot interferometer system is designed to measure displacement by measuring both the cavity mode spacing and absolute mode position shifts. We achieve a fractional uncertainty of 2 × 10−9/√Hz without any optical frequency standard.
A new species of Mops (Molossidae) from Pemba Island, Tanzania

The bats of Pemba are poorly known, but recent surveys have provided material to critically examine the species that occur on this island, roughly 50 km off the coast of Tanzania. A new species of Mops (Molossidae) is described from Pemba and aspects of its distinguishing characteristics from other molossids and habitat are discussed. This new species differs from the type of M. brachypterus by lacking basisphenoid pits. The form brachypterus needs critical review.
ESD effects on power supply clamps [CMOS ICs]

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage is a common failure mechanism that is seen on CMOS integrated circuit devices. Due to the ever increasing shrinkage in transistor geometries, prevention of ESD damage will become increasingly important. This paper discusses the various device level ESD in the form of power supply clamps. There are numerous power supply clamps that are currently available such as the grounded gate, thick field oxide (TFO), diode string and cantilever diode structures. Selection of the right ESD power supply clamp is essential from the aspects of their limitations, weaknesses, silicon space and effectiveness to ensure robustness during to ESD stresses on devices.
An overview of aliasing errors in discrete-time formulations of time-frequency representations

Discrete-time time-frequency representation (TFR) algorithms claim to provide alias-free approximations to their continuous-time TFR counterparts without requiring oversampling of the signal By counterexamples, we demonstrate that some of these claims are invalid. We give new necessary conditions for reducing aliasing errors in these discrete-time TFR algorithms.
THE IMPACT OF COMPUTER BASED COMMUNICATION ON THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF AN EMERGING SCIENTIFIC SPECIALTY

This is a study of the impact of a computer conference on the formation of interpersonal ties among scientists. Various techniques from social networks analysis are adapted and used to study the structure of interpersonal ties among a set of scientists both before and during a computer conference. Although the data are not experimental, the results are suggestive. The computer, it seems, can perhaps take the place of protracted face-to-face interaction and provide the sort of social structure out of which a scientific specialty can grow.
Script Training Treatment for Adults With Apraxia of Speech

Purpose Outcomes of script training for individuals with apraxia of speech (AOS) and mild anomic aphasia were investigated. Script training is a functional treatment that has been successful for in...
Angioplasty of an atherosclerotic middle cerebral artery associated with improvement in regional cerebral blood flow.

The balloon catheter used in the treatment of vasospasm are produced from a silicone elastomer that is somewhat soft (DC .65 catheter, International Therapeutics, San Francisco, CA), causing concern as to its efficacy against hard plaque. We present a case of dilatation of an atherosclerotic middle cerebral artery using the DC .65 catheter, which resulted in improved cerebral perfusion
Precision Synthesis of Alternating Copolymers via Ring-Opening Polymerization of 1-Substituted Cyclobutenes

ConspectusInvestigation of complex molecular systems depends on our ability to correlate physical measurements with molecular structure. Interpretation of studies that rely on synthetic polymers is generally limited by their heterogeneity; i.e., there is variation in the number and arrangement of the monomeric building blocks that have been incorporated. Superior physics and biology can be performed with materials and tools that exert precise control over the sequence and spacing of functional groups.An interest in functional ligands combined with a desire to control the orientation and stereochemistry of monomer incorporation led to the design of new substrates for ruthenium-catalyzed ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). We discovered that ROMP of cyclobutene-1-carboxamides provides uniform and translationally invariant polymers. In contrast, cyclobutene-1-carboxylate esters ring open upon treatment with ruthenium catalyst, but they are stable to homopolymerization. However, in the presence of ...
Integrating phylogenomic and morphological data to assess candidate species‐delimitation models in brown and red‐bellied snakes (Storeria)

Systematics at the species level is still marked by theoretical and empirical tensions amongst the desires to identify geographical lineages, delimit species, and estimate their relationships. These goals are often confounded because each relies, at least to some extent, on the others being known. However, recently developed methods can simultaneously address all three. Furthermore, next-generation genomic sequencing allows us to generate large-scale molecular data sets to examine variation within species at a fine scale. Finally, a renaissance in morphological species validation allows us to integrate historical species definitions with coalescent models for species delimitation. Here, we investigate the applicability of these methods in an empirical case, in the Nearctic snake genus Storeria. Integrating trait data into species delimitation reduces the number of species delimited from molecular data alone. Whereas molecular data support eight distinct species-level lineages, including morphological data reduces this to four. The taxa Storeria dekayi, Storeria occipitomaculata, Storeria storerioides, and Storeria victa are considered distinct, monotypic species, with no subspecies recognized. We highlight the need for careful assessment of species delimitation, combining both computational genetic methods as well as traditional character-based descriptions. It is now possible to identify phylogeographical lineages, delimit species using molecular and morphological data, and estimate their relationships in a single coherent set of analyses. Moving forward, this will allow for more rapid and objective assessments of cryptic diversity at the species level.
Multi-paradigm multi-scale modeling of dynamical crack propagation in silicon using the ReaxFF reactive force field

We report a study of dynamic cracking in a silicon single crystal in which the ReaxFF reactive force field is used for ~3,000 atoms near the crack tip while the other 100,000 atoms of the model system are described with a simple nonreactive force field. The ReaxFF is completely derived from quantum mechanical calculations of simple silicon systems without any empirical parameters. Our results reproduce experimental observations of fracture in silicon including details of crack dynamics for loading in the [110] orientations, such as dynamical instabilities with increasing crack velocity. We also observe formation of secondary microcracks ahead of the moving mother crack. We conclude with a study of Si(bulk)-O2 systems, showing that Si becomes more brittle in oxygen environments, as known from experiment.
Abstract 1917: Loss of steroid sulfotransferase (SULT) in human prostate cancer: Potential implications for SULT as a biomarker and therapeutic target.

Purpose: Reactivated androgen receptor, fueled by elevated tumor tissue 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), plays a key role in the reemergence of prostate cancer. Primary prostate cancer almost always regresses in response to androgen deprivation therapy. The disease, however, recurs and progresses to therapy resistance and death in ∼30% patients. New-generation drugs that inhibit androgen receptor (MDV3100™) or enzymes involved in androgen biosynthesis (Zytiga™, TAK-700™, Dutasteride™) extend survival of post-chemotherapy patients for a limited period following which therapy resistance emerges– hence the challenge to develop alternate means for reducing intra-tumor androgen signaling. Design and Results: 3β-sulfation of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), mediated by the prostate-expressed sulfotransferase SULT2B1b (hereon SULT), is likely to reduce intra-prostate androgen levels since sulfated DHEA cannot be converted to androstenedione and thus to testosterone and DHT. We tested whether enzyme-catalyzed sulfation of DHEA, the obligate precursor steroid for androgen synthesis, is targetable to inhibit prostate cancer. Results show that SULT silencing increased prostate cancer cell proliferation. Clinical prostate cancer specimens showed markedly reduced SULT expression, revealed by immunohistochemistry, western blotting and mRNA quantification. 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 (D3) and sterols enhanced SULT expression due to induction of the SULT2B-encoding gene by D3-activated vitamin D receptor (VDR) and sterol-activated liver X receptor (LXRα). Conclusion: Tumor SULT levels may be a marker for predicting prostate cancer recurrence and progression. We also anticipate that enhancement of SULT activity in tumors by activating VDR and LXRα through combined therapeutic intervention with D3 and sterols would limit the tumor androgen pool and inhibit recurrent, therapy-resistant prostate cancer. Citation Format: Nooshin Mirkheshti, Chung S. Song, Bandana Chatterjee. Loss of steroid sulfotransferase (SULT) in human prostate cancer: Potential implications for SULT as a biomarker and therapeutic target. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1917. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-1917
Weak Compactness and Vector Measures

Introduction. It is the purpose of this paper to develop a Lebesgue theory of integration of scalar functions with respect to a countably additive measure whose values lie in a Banach space. The class of integrable functions reduces to the ordinary space of Lebesgue integrable functions if the measure is scalar valued. Convergence theorems of the Vitali and Lebesgue type are valid in the general situation. The desirability of such a theory is indicated by recent developments in spectral theory.
ADVANCES IN THE TREATMENT OF PLASMA CELL DISEASES

Dose-intensive chemotherapy and marrow transplantation in myeloma achieve complete remission in many cases and may significantly prolong patient survival. Use of myeloid growth factors or mobilized blood stem cell preparations decreases morbidity and mortality from treatment. These approaches also show promise in AL amyloidosis.
Antigenicity of Frozen and Fresh Spermatozoa

Since cryopreservation of spermatozoa causes surface changes, we tested whether specific antigens associated with the plasmalemma might be dislodged or destroyed during freezing. When we compared the use of frozen sperm with the use of fresh sperm in indirect immunofluorescence tests for antisperm antibodies, we found changes in antigenicity. There was a decrease in antigenicity of the acrosomal region, and antigenicity of the sperm tail was increased with the addition of 10% glycerol, with or without cryopreservation. These results suggest that women who are infertile and, as demonstrated by immunofluorescence, have antibodies to sperm may be aided by artificial insemination with the husband's cryopreserved sperm.
Amar, Akbar, Anthony: Bollywood, brotherhood and the nation; Virtual homelands: Indian immigrants and online cultures in the United States

Books Virtual Homelands and Amar, Akbar, Anthony: Bollywood, Brotherhood, and the Nation (AAA) reconsider and reframe Indian nationalism, the homeland and belonging through sites of public culture ...
Hereditary Metabolic Myopathies

There are nine known hereditary enzyme defects of glycogen metabolism and glycolysis affecting skeletal muscle. “Metabolic myopathie” can be classified into two main groups: 1. Deficiencies of enzymes that occur in single molecular forms which are already present in fetal tissues and continue to be synthesized throughout life. Defects of these “household enzymes” usually cause functional impairment of muscle, as well as other organs and tissues. 2. Deficiencies of enzymes that occur in multi-molecular forms in different tissues (isozymes) which normally undergo transitions during myogenesis and muscle maturation. This developmentally-regulated process involves a gradual shift from one or more isozymes present in fetal muscle, to a muscle-specific form, which persists throughout post-natal life.
Social Media Data for Online Adolescent Suicide Risk Identification: Considerations for Integration Within Platforms, Clinics, and Schools

This chapter is designed to discuss the opportunities to use adolescent-generated social media data in order to detect and monitor behavior patterns predictive of risk for suicide. First, current suicide prevention strategies are outlined. Next, the rationale for utilization of social media is considered given that many adolescents use social media platforms. Aggregating social media data for use with machine learning strategies can provide the basis for a “virtual gatekeeper” that may augment communities’ ability to remain continually awake to suicide risk detection. Several approaches have been developed but are yet to be evaluated beyond a proof of concept phase. Three different existing digital technologies designed to apply machine learning algorithms to social media data to improve identification and management of suicide risk are presented and discussed. Finally, we consider strategies for their integration in the settings which adolescents commonly seek guidance and healthcare. Future research is needed to examine the extent to which adolescent-generated social media data can provide the information needed to accurately predict and reduce suicide risk.
Should Moderate or Less Functional Tricuspid Regurgitation be Repaired During Surgery for Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease

ABSTRACTBackground: It is unclear whether moderate or less functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) should be repaired during surgery for degenerative mitral valve (MV) disease. We studied the natural course of unaddressed moderate or less TR and identified risk factors for TR progression after surgery for degenerative MV disease.Methods: From 2001 to 2011, 2,982 patients with isolated degenerative MV disease and no evidence of coronary artery disease underwent MV surgery. To generate an enriched sample of patients with TR, by random selection 200 patients without TR, 197 with mild TR, and 177 with moderate TR were studied. A total of 1,150 echocardiograms were available for longitudinal analysis of TR progression after surgery in 550 of these 574 patients.Results: Overall prevalence of severe TR was 1.1%, 2.2%, 3.6%, and 4.4% by 1, 3, 5, and 7 years, respectively. Patients with moderate preoperative TR were more likely to progress to severe TR by 7 years (8.6%) than those with mild TR (3.2%) or no TR (1.3...
Self-triggered Nonsingular Terminal Sliding Mode Control

Effective resource allocation (e.g., CPU cycles, network bandwidth, etc.) is the key to ensuring high quality feedback control in networked control systems. This paper proposes a self-triggered control method based on nonsingular terminal sliding mode control to guarantee the required control quality while minimizing the system resource utilization. To further improve the control performance, we introduce a nonlinear disturbance observer to estimate the external disturbance. With the proof of the system stability, the self-triggering condition based on the control tasks' inter-execution time is established. This not only enhances the disturbance rejection ability but also allows the control system to sample in lower frequencies with performance guarantee. The simulation results show that compared to periodic control, the proposed self-triggered control method can significantly reduce resource utilization in networked control systems.
Distributed Fault-Tolerant Formation Control of Cooperative Mobile Robots

Abstract This paper presents the design and implementation of a distributed adaptive fault-tolerant leader-following formation control scheme for a team of uncertain cooperative mobile robots under a bidirectional communication topology with possibly asymmetric weights and subject to actuator and nonlinear process faults. A local fault-tolerant control (FTC) component is designed for each ground robot using local measurements and suitable information exchanged between neighboring agents. Each local FTC component consists of a fault diagnosis module and a reconfigurable controller module comprised of a baseline controller and two adaptive fault-tolerant controllers activated after fault detection and after fault isolation, respectively. The FTC algorithms are implemented and demonstrated using a team of ground mobile robots.
Choice overload and partial season ticket sales.

This study utilizes a consumer choice experiment to assess if choice overload exists with partial season ticket packages of a Major League Soccer (MLS) team. Individuals were randomly assigned to one of three conditions with an increasing number of partial season ticket options. Study results indicate as the number of options available increases, buyers are more likely to feel the decision-making process was difficult and regret the decision they made. However, participants were generally satisfied to be afforded so many options, and increasing the number of ticket plan options did not appear to affect purchase intent or potential purchase satisfaction. Subscribe to JASM
Early Life Programming of Aging in Genetically Long-Lived Mice

Mammalian aging and longevity are related to growth hormone (GH) actions and GH-dependent traits including growth, maturation and adult body size. In laboratory stocks of mice, genetic GH deficiency or resistance led to remarkable extension of healthspan and longevity. In GH-deficient Ames dwarf mice a brief period of GH replacement therapy normalizes (“rescues”) many adult aging-related traits and shortens longevity. This indicates that absence of GH signals during the period of rapid pre- and early post-weaning growth importantly contributes to slow and healthy aging of these long-lived mutants. More work is needed to define the role of GH at different stages of life history in the control of aging.
Understanding the role of phenotypic switching in cancer drug resistance

The emergence of acquired drug resistance in cancer represents a major barrier to treatment success. While research has traditionally focused on genetic sources of resistance, recent findings suggest that cancer cells can acquire transient resistant phenotypes via epigenetic modifications and other non-genetic mechanisms. Although these resistant phenotypes are eventually relinquished by individual cells, they can temporarily 'save' the tumor from extinction and enable the emergence of more permanent resistance mechanisms. These observations have generated interest in the potential of epigenetic therapies for long-term tumor control or eradication. In this work, we develop a mathematical model to study how phenotypic switching at the single-cell level affects resistance evolution in cancer. We highlight unique features of non-genetic resistance, probe the evolutionary consequences of epigenetic drugs and explore potential therapeutic strategies. We find that even short-term epigenetic modifications and stochastic fluctuations in gene expression can drive long-term drug resistance in the absence of any bona fide resistance mechanisms. We also find that an epigenetic drug that slightly perturbs the average retention of the resistant phenotype can turn guaranteed treatment failure into guaranteed success. Lastly, we find that combining an epigenetic drug with an anti-cancer agent can significantly outperform monotherapy, and that treatment outcome is heavily affected by drug sequencing.
Sensitivity of Clinical Pediatric Obesity Diagnosis Documented in Electronic Health Records

Objective. This study tested the sensitivity of obesity diagnosis in electronic health records (EHRs) using body mass index (BMI) classification and identified variables associated with obesity dia...
RIPK3-Dependent Recruitment of Low-Inflammatory Myeloid Cells Does Not Protect from Systemic Salmonella Infection.

ABSTRACT Regulated macrophage death has emerged as an important mechanism to defend against intracellular pathogens. However, the importance and consequences of macrophage death during bacterial infection are poorly resolved. This is especially true for the recently described RIPK3-dependent lytic cell death, termed necroptosis. Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium is an intracellular pathogen that precisely regulates virulence expression within macrophages to evade and manipulate immune responses, which is a key factor in its ability to cause severe systemic infections. We combined genetic and pharmacological approaches to examine the importance of RIPK3 for S. Typhimurium-induced macrophage death using conditions that recapitulate bacterial gene expression during systemic infection in vivo. Our findings indicate that noninvasive S. Typhimurium does not naturally induce macrophage necroptosis but does so in the presence of pan-caspase inhibition. Moreover, our data suggest that RIPK3 induction (following caspase inhibition) does not impact host survival following S. Typhimurium infection, which differs from previous findings based on inert lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injections. Finally, although necroptosis is typically characterized as highly inflammatory, our data suggest that RIPK3 skews the peritoneal myeloid population away from an inflammatory profile to that of a classically noninflammatory profile. Collectively, these data improve our understanding of S. Typhimurium-macrophage interactions, highlight the possibility that purified bacterial components may not accurately recapitulate the complexity of host-pathogen interactions, and reveal a potential and unexpected role for RIPK3 in resolving inflammation. IMPORTANCE Macrophages employ multiple strategies to limit pathogen infection. For example, macrophages may undergo regulated cell death, including RIPK3-dependent necroptosis, as a means of combatting intracellular bacterial pathogens. However, bacteria have evolved mechanisms to evade or exploit immune responses. Salmonella is an intracellular pathogen that avoids and manipulates immune detection within macrophages. We examined the contribution of RIPK3 to Salmonella-induced macrophage death. Our findings indicate that noninvasive Salmonella does not naturally induce necroptosis, but it does so when caspases are inhibited. Moreover, RIPK3 induction (following caspase inhibition) does not impact host survival following Salmonella systemic infection. Finally, our data show that RIPK3 induction results in recruitment of low-inflammatory myeloid cells, which was unexpected, as necroptosis is typically described as highly inflammatory. Collectively, these data improve our understanding of pathogen-macrophage interactions, including outcomes of regulated cell death during infection in vivo, and reveal a potential new role for RIPK3 in resolving inflammation.
Coupled nuclear–electronic decay dynamics of O2 inner valence excited states revealed by attosecond XUV wave-mixing spectroscopy

Multiple Rydberg series converging to the O2+c4Σ-u state, accessed by 20-25 eV extreme ultraviolet (XUV) light, serve as important model systems for the competition between nuclear dissociation and electronic autoionization. The dynamics of the lowest member of these series, the 3sσg state around 21 eV, has been challenging to study owing to its ultra-short lifetime (<10 fs). Here, we apply transient wave-mixing spectroscopy with an attosecond XUV pulse to investigate the decay dynamics of this electronic state. Lifetimes of 5.8 ± 0.5 fs and 4.5 ± 0.7 fs at 95% confidence intervals are obtained for v = 0 and v = 1 vibrational levels of the 3s Rydberg state, respectively. A theoretical treatment of predissociation and electronic autoionization finds that these lifetimes are dominated by electronic autoionization. The strong dependence of the electronic autoionization rate on the internuclear distance because of two ionic decay channels that cross the 3s Rydberg state results in the different lifetimes of the two vibrational levels. The calculated lifetimes are highly sensitive to the location of the 3s potential with respect to the decay channels; by slight adjustment of the location, values of 6.2 and 5.0 fs are obtained computationally for the v = 0 and v = 1 levels, respectively, in good agreement with experiment. Overall, an intriguing picture of the coupled nuclear-electronic dynamics is revealed by attosecond XUV wave-mixing spectroscopy, indicating that the decay dynamics are not a simple competition between isolated autoionization and predissociation processes.
Post-PCI outcomes in STEMI patients with coronary ectasia: meta-analysis.

Coronary ectasia (CE) is defined as dilation of the coronary artery, 1.5 times that of the surrounding vessel. Outcomes of percutaneous intervention (PCI) in patients with CE presenting as ST-eleva...
Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare and complex disease caused by clonal expansion of hematopoietic stem cells that have acquired a somatic, loss-of-function mutation in the phosphatidylinositol glycan anchor biosynthesis, class A gene. The blood cells generated by such a clone lack the expression of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins (GPI-APs) on the cell surface, including the complement inhibitors CD55 and CD59. The lack of these proteins on the surface of erythrocytes leads to complement-mediated intravascular hemolysis. Clinical features of the disease include hemolytic anemia and thrombosis. Diagnosis is reliably attained by flow cytometry-based assays aimed at the detection of the GPI-APs on the cell surface. Anticomplement therapies, such as the monoclonal antibody eculizumab, have led to significant improvements in the management of PNH. Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation is currently the only curative option.
Extraction of Construction Quality Requirements from Textual Specifications via Natural Language Processing

Construction inspection is an essential component of the quality assurance programs of state transportation agencies (STAs), and the guidelines for this process reside in lengthy textual specificat...
Disseminated Mycobacterium chelonae infection with Hughes-Stovin syndrome

Mycobacterium chelonae usually causes localized cutaneous infections and abscesses but has the potential to cause disseminated infections, especially in immunocompromised hosts. We report a 27-year-old man with Hughes-Stovin syndrome and catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome who was on chronic immunosuppressant therapy and developed disseminated M. chelonae infection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of M. chelonae infection in a patient with Hughes-Stovin syndrome.
Analysis of Gene–Gene Interactions Underlying Human Disease

Following the identification of disease-susceptibility variants in genome-wide association studies by using the standard single-locus analyses, the discovery process is shifting towards gene–gene interactions of functional importance in the pathophysiology and aetiology of complex diseases. The results from these gene–gene interaction analyses could lead to new genetic findings that account for the heritability of human diseases as well as novel insights about underlying genetic aetiology through later bench science research and clinical applications. To facilitate gene–gene interaction analyses, various statistical methods have been proposed, each of which is applicable for certain study designs and has its own advantages under certain conditions. In this article, the authors provide a survey of the statistical methods and software packages that are currently available for population-based and family-based gene–gene interaction studies. The strength of each method is discussed and the difficulties in determining the relationship between biological and statistical interactions are laid out. Key Concepts: A biological interaction describes a scenario in which two or more genes jointly affect a disease. A statistical interaction describes the nonadditive effect in generalised linear models. The heritability of a phenotype is defined as the proportion of phenotypic variations between individuals due to their genetic differences. Population based case-control study recruits individuals with a disease of interest along with the unrelated healthy individuals, and compares the allele/genotype distributions between cases and controls to determine whether a statistical interaction exists. Family based study design avoids the potential confounding effect due to population stratification and admixture by recruiting the parents and/or siblings of the cases. Keywords: epistasis; study design; population-based study; family-based study; regression-based methods; data mining approaches; high-dimensional data; high-order interactions
Cloning the metagenome: Culture-independent access to thediversity and functions of the uncultivated microbial world

Publisher Summary Microbiology has seen three major revolutions, each coupled to the development of a new powerful technique for “seeing” microorganisms. The invention of the microscope, followed by improvements in optics and manufacturing, first revealed the existence of a microbial world. Microscope remains a microbiologist's indispensable tool. In vitro cultivation opened up a vast suite of powerful experimental approaches for microbiology. In each of these revolutions, the technology innovation provided direct access to a previously inaccessible view of microorganisms. It is a statement that can rarely be made about technological innovations in science to note that none of these innovative technologies replaced a previous less powerful technology, but instead each added to the toolbox of the microbiologist. The challenge that long stumped microbiologists was to learn about the biology associated with the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequences that indicate high degree of diversity of uncultivated microorganisms. The solution lies, in part, in the application of genomics to the assemblages of microorganisms using methods that circumvent the need for cultivation.
Cytochemical studies with the electron microscope. I. Adenosinetriphosphatase in rat spermatozoa.

Abstract The cytochemical localization of adenosinetriphosphatase in the frozen-dried preparation of rat epididymal sperm is described. ATP-ase is confined to the nine longitudinal fibers of the outer axial fiber bundle of the flagellum. By means of appropriate controls it has been possible to show that neither the enzyme nor the enzyme reaction product, calcium phosphate, diffuses during the brief incubations. Specimens incubated in ATP-free buffer containing calcium chloride, in Ca-free buffer containing ATP, as well as blocks of sperm soaked in saturated aqueous calcium phosphate, show no darkening of the fibers in contrast to specimens incubated in the complete medium. In none of these preparations is there any darkening of the cortical helix; however, when glycerophosphate is substituted for ATP, regions of the helix do show signs of deposition of calcium-phosphate, whereas the fibers do not show any increase in density.
Pathophysiology of the Blood–Brain Barrier: Animal Models and Methods

The specialized cerebral microvascular endothelium interacts with the cellular milieu of the brain and extracellular matrix to form a neurovascular unit, one aspect of which is a regulated interface between the blood and central nervous system (CNS). The concept of this blood-brain barrier (BBB) as a dynamically regulated system rather than a static barrier has wide-ranging implications for pathophysiology of the CNS. While in vitro models of the BBB are useful for screening drugs targeted to the CNS and indispensable for studies of cerebral endothelial cell biology, the complex interactions of the neurovascular unit make animal-based models and methods essential tools for understanding the pathophysiology of the BBB. BBB dysfunction is a complication of neurodegenerative disease and brain injury. Studies on animal models have shown that diseases of the periphery, such as diabetes and inflammatory pain, have deleterious effects on the BBB which may contribute to neurological complications associated with these conditions. Furthermore, genetic and/or epigenetic abnormalities in constituents of the BBB may be significant contributing factors in disease etiology. Research that approaches the BBB as a dynamic system integrated with both the CNS and the periphery is therefore critical to understanding and treating diseases of the CNS. Herein, we review various methodological approaches used to study BBB function in the context of disease. These include measurement of transport between blood and brain, imaging-based technologies, and genomic/proteomic approaches.
CRLB performance for bistatic MIMO radar

This paper derives the Cramer-Rao Lower Bound (CRLB) on angular/Doppler frequency estimation and target localization using a bistatic multi-input multi-output (MIMO) radar system. The bistatic radar configuration provides flexible design on receiver and transmitter radar platforms, which allows enhanced mobility and reduced maintenance cost compared to the monostatic counterpart. The CRLB predicts the maximum achievable performance on angular/Doppler frequency estimation and target localization in terms of radar system parameters and the prior distribution of the target velocity, offering fundamental insights on designing practical bistatic MIMO radar system. A simulation based use case is exemplified for the proposed CRLB analysis.