cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Full field tabletop EUV coherent diffractive imaging in a transmission geometry

We demonstrate the first general tabletop EUV coherent microscope that can image extended, non-isolated, non-periodic, objects. By implementing keyhole coherent diffractive imaging with curved mirrors and a tabletop high harmonic source, we achieve improved efficiency of the imaging system as well as more uniform illumination at the sample, when compared with what is possible using Fresnel zone plates. Moreover, we show that the unscattered light from a semi-transparent sample can be used as a holographic reference wave, allowing quantitative information about the thickness of the sample to be extracted from the retrieved image. Finally, we show that excellent tabletop image fidelity is achieved by comparing the retrieved images with scanning electron and atomic force microscopy images, and show superior capabilities in some cases.
Cross-Cultural Virtual Design Teams: Cultural Influences on Team Performance in Global Projects

Globalization of the construction industry has brought unique challenges such as coordination among project participants from different countries. This research attempts to understand cultural differences in international joint-venture (IJV) teams composed of Japanese and American participants, and to develop a prototype computational model— “Cross-Cultural”-Virtual Design Team (CC-VDT)—to seek better organization designs for cross-cultural engineering teams. Based on our case studies, we characterize cultural differences along the dimension of cultural values and cultural practices. Cultural values refer to an individual’s preferences in decision making and communication. Cultural practices include the cultural norms for adopting specific coordination mechanisms to control organizations and tasks. CC-VDT incorporates value-practice dimensions based on our observations and a literature survey. The simulated results of the effects of cultural impacts are qualitatively consistent with cultural contingency theory and our observations, validating the reasoning of CC-VDT. These results extend the possibility of using simulation modeling to capture distinguishing cross-cultural phenomena that emerge in global construction projects.
Capital Mobilization and Southern Industry, 1880–1905: The Case of the Carolina Piedmont

As the American South commenced its modern industrialization in the late nineteenth century, it found itself handicapped not simply by its poverty, but also by its lack of institutionalized means for mobilizing investment capital for manufacturing. Using evidence from the first major southern manufacturing region, the Carolina Piedmont, we argue that the resulting high information and transactions costs forced industrial promoters to rely heavily upon small, local investors who preferred safety to innovation. As a result, southern manufacturing firms were hampered in their flexibility, and southern industrial structure was skewed toward mature industries with little developmental potential.
Selectively acquiring ratings for product recommendation

Accurate prediction of customer preferences on products is the key to any recommender systems to realize its promised strategic values such as improved customer satisfaction and therefore enhanced loyalty. In this paper, we propose proactively acquiring ratings from customers for a newly introduced product to quickly improve the accuracy of the predicted ratings generated by a collaborative filtering recommendation algorithm for the entire customer population. We formally introduce the problem of identifying the most informative ratings to acquire and termed it as the product rating acquisition problem. We proposed an active learning sampling method for this problem that is generic to any recommendation algorithms. Using the Netflix Prize dataset, we experimented with our proposed method, a uniform random sampling method, and a degree-based sampling method that is biased toward customers with large numbers of ratings for the user-based and item-based neighborhood recommendation algorithms. The experimental results showed that even with the random sampling method, acquiring 10% of all ratings in addition to a randomly selected 10% initial ratings achieved 4.5% improvement on overall rating prediction accuracy of the movie. In addition, our proposed active learning sampling method consistently outperformed the random and degree-based sampling for the better-performing item-based algorithm and achieved more than 8% improvement by acquiring 10% of the ratings.
Antibody neutralization of neurite growth inhibitors from oligodendrocytes results in expanded pattern of postnatally sprouting retinocollicular axons

After early postnatal ablation of one superior colliculus together with the ipsilateral eye in Syrian hamsters, retinofugal fibers abnormally cross the tectal midline and innervate the remaining superior colliculus. The fibers of this aberrant decussation are confined mainly to the superficial gray layer, with little ingrowth or termination in the deeper stratum opticum; laterally, most termination is in the superficial part of the superficial gray. Establishment of this abnormal pattern is temporally correlated with the appearance of oligodendrocytes at progressively more superficial locations in the colliculus. Oligodendrocytes express, on their surface, molecules that are inhibitory to neurite growth. This raises the possibility that their differential distribution in the superior colliculus during growth of retinal fibers is causally involved in the generation of the observed termination pattern. We tested this hypothesis by applying the monoclonal antibody IN-1, which neutralizes this inhibitory activity, during the time of postnatal fiber growth and terminal arbor formation. We found that in the presence of IN-1, but not a control antibody, recrossing retinofugal fibers, observed at postnatal day 12, traverse the stratum opticum as well as the superficial gray, with greater depth of termination in superficial gray and stratum opticum. This pattern resembles that of the normal contralateral retinotectal projection. The results indicate that neurite growth inhibitors expressed by oligodendrocytes are responsible for restricting the innervation of a target area in postnatal plasticity.
Calcium and cardiac rhythms: physiological and pathophysiological.

Calcium plays two pivotal roles in cardiac excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling.1 Ca2+ drives myofilament activation and carries or regulates ionic currents that are responsible for normal electrical rhythms2 as well as life-threatening arrhythmias.3 In this editorial, I will focus on Ca2+ and pacemaker activity and arrhythmogenesis. Ca2+ entry via Ca2+ current ( I Ca) triggers sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ release via ryanodine receptors (RyRs), and relaxation is driven by Ca2+ transport by the SR Ca2+-ATPase and Na+-Ca2+ exchange. Two I Ca types occur in cardiac myocytes: L-type ( I Ca,L) activated at Em>−40 mV and T-type ( I Ca,T) activated at Em>−60 mV (near the pacemaker range). Inward I Ca,T and I Ca,L can contribute importantly to both normal and abnormal cardiac depolarization. I Ca,L is crucial in E-C coupling in all cardiac myocytes. I Ca,T is absent in most ventricular myocytes but is present in neonatal ventricular myocytes, some atrial myocytes, and in conducting and pacemaker cells. β-Adrenergic receptors (β-ARs) and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) increase I Ca,L amplitude and shift activation to more negative Em (closer to the pacemaker range). Parasympathetic stimulation of the heart (via muscarinic receptors) can offset the β-AR effect. Withdrawal of muscarinic activation can also cause a rebound overshoot in I Ca,L and may contribute directly to postvagal tachycardia.4,5⇓ I Ca,L is rapidly inactivated by local [Ca2+] at the inner channel mouth (mediated by calmodulin associated with the channel).6,7⇓ As [Ca2+]i declines, I Ca,L can recover partially from inactivation, even at depolarized Em.8 This can allow I Ca,L reactivation before the action potential (AP) fully repolarizes, inducing early afterdepolarizations (EADs). Resting myocytes exhibit spontaneous, localized SR Ca …
Underfill fracture toughness as a function of cooling rate

Organic package failure during thermal cycling to low temperatures is often associated with underfill failure such as fracture. To categorize the propensity of underfills to fracture the fracture toughness measured by applying a mechanical load to the material at a constant temperature is used. However, this fracture toughness is insensitive to cooling rate. In order to account for cooling rate a fracture toughness based on a thermally applied stress is defined and a method to measure this thermally induced fracture toughness and results on a commercial underfill are presented. Thermal shifting factors used for the construction of a relaxation modulus master curve were obtained and used to calculate the rate-dependent thermal stress and thermal stress intensity factor. In separate experiments the mechanically induced fracture toughness of the underfill is determined at various isothermal temperatures. The two fracture toughness values are compared. The thermally induced underfill fracture toughness was found to be nearly 50% smaller than the one induced mechanically. Slower cooling rates resulted in greater thermal fracture toughness. The use of thermally induced fracture toughness values allows more realistic modeling of package lifetimes.
Trophobiosis between a blattellid cockroach (Macrophyllodromia spp.) and fulgorids (Enchophora and Copidocephala spp.) in Costa Rica

Abstract Three instances were observed in Costa Rica, of an adult cockroach feeding on or palpating the waxy material secreted on the tegmina of a fulgorid; in one instance, the cockroach was a female Macrophyllodromia sp. and the homopteran a fulgorid, Enchophora sanguinea. In another, the cockroach was Macrophyllodromia maximiliani and the fulgorid was Copidocephala guttata. These are the first observations of trophobiosis in a cockroach. Brief descriptions of known species of Macrophyllodromia, and the male genitalia of 2 species are given.
Incomplete sister chromatid separation is the mechanism of programmed chromosome elimination during early Sciara coprophila embryogenesis

Sex in Sciara coprophila is determined by maternally supplied factors that control the number of paternal X chromosomes eliminated during the syncytial embryonic divisions. Confocal microscopy and FISH demonstrate that the centromeres of the X chromosomes separate at anaphase and remain functional during the cycle in which the X chromosomes are eliminated. However, a region of the sister chromatids fails to separate and the X chromosomes remain at the metaphase plate. This indicates that failure of sister chromatid separation is the mechanism of chromosome elimination. Elimination of the X chromosomes requires the presence of a previously discovered Controlling Element that acts in cis during male meiosis. Using an X-autosome translocation, we demonstrate that the Controlling Element acts at-a-distance to prevent sister chromatid separation in the arm of an autosome. This indicates that the region in which sister chromatid separation fails is chromosome-independent. Although chromosome elimination occurs in all somatic nuclei and is independent of location of the nuclei within the embryo, the decision to eliminate is made at the level of the individual nucleus. Programmed X chromosome elimination occurs at different cycles in male and female embryos. These observations support a model in which elements on the X chromosome are titrating maternally supplied factors controlling the separation of sister X chromatids.
Brittle-elastic Solids With Interacting Non- Circular Pores: Stress Concentrations And Microfracturing Patterns

Elastic interactions between holes of diverse eccentricities, as well as between holes and cracks, are analyzed. We examine various physical effects produced by mteracmons and the impact of hole eccentricities on these effects. Mixtures of holes of diverse eccentricities and sizes are of particular interest. Patterns of stress concentrations in such mixtures imply certain microfracturing patterns in materials with multiple defects. ^
State Tracking of Composite Delaminations with a Bayesian Filter

We propose a method for tracking the condition of a composite part using Bayesian filtering of nondestructive evaluation (NDE) data over the lifetime of the part. NDE provides information about the state of a part or material without destroying or degrading the part. The Bayesian process builds on the lifetime history of NDE scans and can give better estimates of material condition compared to the most recent scan alone, which is the common practice in the aerospace industry. Bayesian inference provides probabilistic estimates of damage state that are updated as each new set of NDE data becomes available. The method is tested on simulated data and then on an experimental data set. Flash thermography NDE data was collected over the lifetime of a part to serve as a time history of that part. Computed tomography (CT) data was also collected after each damage event and provided a high resolution volume model of damage that acted as 'truth'. After each time point, the condition estimate was compared to 'ground truth' from CT to evaluate the performance of the thermography-based condition tracking.
Multiple Quantum Coherences from Hyperfine Transitions in a Vanadium(IV) Complex

We report a vanadium complex in a nuclear-spin free ligand field that displays two key properties for an ideal candidate qubit system: long coherence times that persist at high temperature, T2 = 1.2 μs at 80 K, and the observation of quantum coherences from multiple transitions. The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum of the complex [V(C8S8)3]2– displays multiple transitions arising from a manifold of states produced by the hyperfine coupling of the S = 1/2 electron spin and I = 7/2 nuclear spin. Transient nutation experiments reveal Rabi oscillations for multiple transitions. These observations suggest that each pair of hyperfine levels hosted within [V(C8S8)3]2– are candidate qubits. The realization of multiple quantum coherences within a transition metal complex illustrates an emerging method of developing scalability and addressability in electron spin qubits. This study presents a rare molecular demonstration of multiple Rabi oscillations originating from separate transitions. These result...
Munchausen's syndrome presenting as baroreflex failure.

To the Editor: Baroreflex failure is characterized by episodes of severe hypertension and tachycardia,1 alternating with episodes of normal or even low blood pressure and bradycardia.2 It is often caused by interruption of the baroreflex arch as a result of bilateral damage to the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves from trauma, radiation, or surgery. Less often, the lesion is in the brain stem,3 and in some cases, the primary cause is not found. A 68-year-old woman was referred for evaluation of baroreflex failure because of a four-year history of severe episodes of hypertension (systolic blood pressure >200 mm Hg for two . . .
The Correlative Research of Enterprise Technological Capabilities and Technology Transfer From Foreign Firms

Enterprise technological capabilities are composed of technological storeroom and five idiographic capabilities,which are capability of technological identification,selection,getting,acquirement,utilization and protection.Those five idiographic capabilities can bring both positive and negative effects.The improvement of technology capabilities is decided by the technology acquirement.It is the necessary choice of the core knowledge.We must try our enterprises' best to accumulate knowledges of technology storeroom.
The Fanconi anemia complementation group C protein corrects DNA interstrand cross-link-specific apoptosis in HSC536N cells

Fanconi anemia (FA) cells are hypersensitive to cytotoxicity, cell cycle arrest, and chromosomal aberrations induced by DNA cross-linking agents, such as mitomycin C (MMC) and nitrogen mustard (HN2). Although MMC hypersensitivity is complemented in a subset of FA cells (complementation group C [FA-C]) by wild-type FAC cDNA, the cytoprotective mechanism is unknown. In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that FAC protein functions in the suppression of DNA interstand cross-link (ISC)-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Comparison of HN2-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis with those of its non-cross-linking analogs, diethylaminoethyl chloride and 2-dimethylaminoethyl chloride, delineated the DNA ISC specificity of FAC-mediated cytoprotection. Overexpression of wild-type FAC cDNA in FA-C lymphoblasts (HSC536N cell line) prevented HN2-induced growth inhibition, G2 arrest, and DNA fragmentation that is characteristic of apoptosis. In contrast cytoprotection was not conferred against the effects of the non-cross-linking mustards. Our data show that DNA ISCs induce apoptosis more potently than do DNA monoadducts and suggest that FAC suppresses specifically DNA ISC-induced apoptosis in the G2 phase of the cell cycle.
Anatomic considerations in carotid endarterectomy.

Patients with ccrebral vascular insufficiency can frequently be treatcd and benefitted by carotid endarterectomy. Approximately 60 to 70 per cent of patients with cerebral vascular insufficiency have stenotic, ulcerative, or occlusive lesions in the extracranial portion of one or more of the four major arteries that supply the brain.
Insomnia symptoms as a risk factor for cessation failure following smoking treatment.

AbstractInsomnia symptoms are associated with smoking and may interfere with smoking cessation. Specifically, studies have shown that smoking-related sleep problems are associated with long-term smoking relapse, and longer sleep duration is associated with successful smoking cessation. However, it is currently unclear whether pre- or post-quit insomnia symptoms are associated with smoking cessation outcomes. As such, the current study aimed to extend previous findings by using a measure of insomnia symptoms as a predictor of smoking cessation failure by Month 3 following smoking cessation treatment. Additionally, we examined whether post-quit insomnia symptoms predicted cessation outcomes. Results indicated that pre-, but not post-quit insomnia, predicted smoking cessation failure by 3-month post-cessation, after covarying for depressive symptoms, anxiety sensitivity, alcohol use disorder severity, treatment condition, and number of cigarettes per day. These findings add to the literature on insomnia symp...
Comparison of Experimental with Theoretical Photon Attenuation Cross Sections Between 10 eV and 100 GeV

A computerized photon attenuation data base has been developed by the NBS Photon and Charged Particle Data Center for the photon energy range 10 eV to 100 GeV and for elements, with Z = 1 to 94. An example of use of this data base in the critical evaluation of a theory-based data-set is presented.
Violence Affecting Youth: Pervasive and Preventable

Violence is a preventable, public health crisis in the United States. Young people are powerfully affected by violence, and it is critical that we advance prevention as a vital part of the solution to defend childhood. Violence affects where we live, where we work, where we go to school, and whether our children go to school or if we can work. Experiencing or fearing violence in the street, in their homes, and in their relationships directly impacts children’s physical and emotional health and has long-term emotional and mental health consequences that can, in turn, further affect physical health, relationships, learning, and the ability to work. These impacts are disproportionately felt by disenfranchised and under-resourced communities where children nearly always suffer the most and bear the greatest burden of reduced health and safety, but have the fewest resources to respond to these mounting challenges. Fortunately, there is a strong and growing evidence-base that confirms that violence is preventable if it is approached with commitment and sustained attention. It requires coordinated and comprehensive efforts and resources, and the active cooperation of sectors and fields that might not typically work together. This chapter provides the three keys to preventing violence and emphasizes comprehensive strategies for changing norms so we no longer allow a culture of violence to flourish without protest.
Point-of-care international normalized ratio testing is rapid and reliable: A prospective observational cohort study

Background: International normalized ratio (INR) >1.5 may indicate need for reversal of coagulopathy or massive transfusion (MT) in trauma patients. Thus, obtaining INR values as early as possible would expedite both clinical decisions. This study evaluates the reliability of using a point-of-care (POC) device to obtain INR results more rapidly. Methods: A trained pharmacist used the CoaguChek® XS Plus (Roche Diagnostics, Basel, Switzerland) device to determine POC INRs in venous blood from adult (>18 years) trauma patients not transfused prior to arrival. POC and laboratory INR (lab INR) values and times to availability were compared. The POC INR value was not used for clinical treatment decisions. Results: POC INR was performed on 177 patients; 43 were excluded due to missing lab INR or later recognition of prehospital blood transfusion. The mean lab INR was 1.163, and the mean POC INR was 1.167. The paired samples correlation was 0.958 (P Conclusion: This study confirms that POC INR is a rapid, reliable tool to detect patients who may need prompt reversal of anticoagulant medications or initiation of MT. The following core competencies are addressed in this article: Patient care, Medical knowledge, Systems based practice
Semiparametric Bayesian optimal replacement policies: application to railroad tracks

We present a Bayesian decision theoretic approach for developing replacement strategies. In so doing, we consider a semiparametric model to describe the failure characteristics of systems by specifying a nonparametric form for cumulative intensity function and by taking into account effect of covariates by a parametric form. Use of a gamma process prior for the cumulative intensity function complicates the Bayesian analysis when the updating is based on failure count data. We develop a Bayesian analysis of the model using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods and determine replacement strategies. Adoption of Markov chain Monte Carlo methods involves a data augmentation algorithm. We show the implementation of our approach using actual data from railroad tracks. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Studying pancreas development and diabetes using human pluripotent stem cells.

For over two decades now, studies into pancreatic development have relied largely on the mouse as a model organism. These studies have generated a wealth of information into the genetic regulatory networks involved in pancreas formation, identifying key transcription factors involved in early pancreatic differentiation, endocrine cell specification, and mature hormone-producing cell production [reviewed recently in (1)]. Many of these genes have been confirmed to play a role in β-cell development in humans as well, with some factors linked to monogenic forms of diabetes, while others through Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) have been linked to increased risk of developing either type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus.
The role of antibiotics in pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis.

Objectives Presenting the role of antibiotics in pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis based on its pathophysiology and microbiology. Data source Review of the literature searching PubMed for microbiology and treatment of pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis. Results Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is an inflammatory condition of the paranasal sinuses that persists for 12 weeks or longer, despite medical management. The microbiology of rhinosinusitis evolves through several stages. The early phase (acute) is generally caused by a virus that may be followed by an aerobic bacterial infection in 2% to 10% of patients. Aerobic (Staphylococcus aureus) and anaerobic (Prevotella and Fusobacteria) members of the oral flora emerge as predominant sinus cavity isolates. Antimicrobials are one component of comprehensive medical and surgical management for this disorder. Because most of these infections are polymicrobial and many include beta-lactamase producing aerobic and anaerobic organisms, amoxicillin-clavulanate is the first-line regimen for most patients. Clindamycin is adequate for penicillin-allergic children and is also generally appropriate for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus treatment is administered for at least three weeks and may be extended for up to 10 weeks in refractory cases. A culture preferably from the sinus cavity should be obtained from individuals who have not shown improvement or deteriorated despite therapy. Conclusions Antimicrobial therapy of pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis should be adequate against the potential aerobic and anaerobic pathogens. Level of Evidence 7.
The Percentage of Supported Employees with Significant Disabilities Who Would Earn More in Sheltered Workshops.

This study examined the percentage of 21,257 supported employees served by 74 state-federal vocational rehabilitation agencies in 2013 who would have earned more wages in sheltered workshops than in the community. It found that the overwhelming majority of supported employees earned more in their communities at all wage comparison points; however, substantial differences in wages were identified according to the participant’s disability type, occupation, vocational rehabilitation agency, and the region in which they lived.
Roadmap-Based level clearing of buildings

In this paper we describe a roadmap-based approach for a multi-agent search strategy to clear a building or multi-story environment. This approach utilizes an encoding of the environment in the form of a graph (roadmap) that is used to encode feasible paths through the environment. The roadmap is partitioned into regions, e.g., one per level, and we design region-based search strategies to cover and clear the environment. We can provide certain guarantees within this roadmap-based framework on coverage and the number of agents needed. Our approach can handle complex and realistic environments where many approaches are restricted to simple 2D environments.
Chapter 25 – Fluorocarbon metal compounds—Role models in organotransition metal chemistry

Publisher Summary Success in preparing perfluoroalkyl metal compounds and the timely coincidence that perfluoroaromatic compounds had become commercially available led naturally to synthesis of pentafluorophenyl metal species upon the author's arrival at Queen Mary College in late 1962. While studying pentafluorophenyl metal complexes, Prof. F. Gordon A. Stone's long time interest in boron compounds, including an earlier preparation of B(CF=CF2)3, led to synthesis of B(C6F5)3. The discovery of B(C6F5)3, followed by the very long period before its usefulness became recognized in a different area of chemistry, well illustrates the benefit of conducting unfettered research in chemical synthesis. The author was moved to a new environment at Bristol. During two decades the study of fluorocarbon derivatives of the transition elements formed the main focus of his research. However, from 1963 onwards studies in other areas gathered momentum. These were organoruthenium chemistry, followed by Michael Bruce's discovery of a convenient low-pressure synthesis of the carbonyl [Ru3 (CO)12], and metallacarboranes, through John Spencer's interests in employing Pt complexes for new syntheses of the cage compounds. Work with the fluorocarbon metal compounds seemed less exciting at the time and was therefore terminated. This was especially so following their synthesis of naked platinum complexes, where alkenes are the only ligands. The very successful application of isolobal mapping to the synthesis of organometallic compounds diverted his group still further from the fluorocarbon studies. The author regrets at abandoning studies on fluorocarbon metal compounds, as it was easy to envisage much new chemistry that could be developed.
Identification of B-Cell Growth Factors (Interleukin-14; High Molecular Weight-B-Cell Growth Factors) in Effusion Fluids From Patients With Aggressive B-Cell Lymphomas

The molecular basis of neoplastic B-cell growth is complex and poorly understood. Cytokines have been postulated to contribute to neoplastic cell growth, and many in vitro studies have confirmed this prediction, but little is known about the in vivo role of these growth factors. We have examined the production of interleukin-14 (IL-14) (high molecular weight [HMW], B-cell growth factor [BCGF]) by aggressive intermediate (diffuse large cell) lymphomas of the B-cell type non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL-B) in four patients with lymphomatous effusions. In these studies, IL-14 was detected in the effusion fluids by Western blots and IL-14 mRNA was constitutively expressed in the freshly isolated lymphoma cells that also expressed the receptor for IL-14 (IL14R). Lymphoma B cells placed at low serum and cell density proliferated in vitro to either purified IL-14 or IL-14 derived from effusion fluids. Antibodies to IL-14 removed the growth-stimulating cytokine(s) from the effusions. Cell lines developed from these patients produced IL-14 in vitro and antisense oligos to IL-14 blocked their growth in vitro. Thus, autocrine or paracrine production of IL-14 may play a significant role in the rapid proliferation of aggressive NHL-B. Interrupting this pathway could be a useful goal of therapy for patients resistant to conventional chemotherapy.
UXO detection and identification based on intrinsic target polarizabilities — A case history

Electromagnetic induction data parameterized in time dependent object intrinsic polarizabilities allow discrimination of unexploded ordnance (UXO) from false targets (scrap metal). Data from a cart-mounted system designed for discrimination of UXO with 20 mm to 155 mm diameters are used. Discrimination of UXO from irregular scrap metal is based on the principal dipole polarizabilities of a target. A near-intact UXO displays a single major polarizability coincident with the long axis of the object and two equal smaller transverse polarizabilities, whereas metal scraps have distinct polarizability signatures that rarely mimic those of elongated symmetric bodies. Based on a training data set of known targets, object identification was made by estimating the probability that an object is a single UXO. Our test survey took place on a military base where both 4.2-inch mortar shells and scrap metal were present. The results show that we detected and discriminated correctly all 4.2-inch mortars, and in that process we added 7%, and 17%, respectively, of dry holes (digging scrap) to the total number of excavations in two different survey modes. We also demonstrated a mode of operation that might be more cost effective than the current practice.
SF3B1 Gene Expression in Erythroid Cells Is Regulated By Intron Retention Via a Posttranscriptional Mechanism Involving Cryptic Exons Proposed to Function As Splicing Decoys

Proper expression of the MDS-disease gene, SF3B1, ensures appropriate pre-mRNA splicing in erythroid progenitors and during terminal erythropoiesis. We previously showed that the SF3B1 gene is post-transcriptionally regulated in a differentiation stage-specific manner by intron retention (IR), such that ~50% of its transcripts in mature erythroblasts retain intron 4. Based on new mechanistic studies, we propose a model in which mostly unannotated and noncoding exons within intron 4 function as splicing decoys; i.e., they promote retention of intron 4 by interacting with, and blocking splice sites of, the adjacent exons 4 and 5. A total of six putative decoy exons were revealed via RT-PCR and RNA-seq analysis of RNA from erythroblasts treated with inhibitors of nonsense-mediated decay. That decoy exons have IR-promoting activity is suggested by several criteria. First, the frequency of interaction between constitutive exons 4 and 5 and putative decoy exons within intron 4, measured by the abundance of splice junctions in RNA-seq read data, is temporally correlated with levels of intron 4 retention during terminal erythropoiesis. Both IR and decoy splice junctions were low in early stage erythroblasts and much higher in mature erythroblasts. Second, selected decoy exons exhibited IR-promoting activity in the context of minigene splicing reporters expressing the exon 3-6 region of SF3B1 in transfected K562 cells. The wild type minigene reproduced the intron-specific retention phenotype, since it was fully spliced at introns 3 and 5 but exhibited substantial retention of intron 4, whereas deletion of decoy exon 4e, or mutation of its splice sites, substantially decreased IR. Third, RBP (RNA binding protein) cross-linking data from K562 cells show that 39 splice site factors including U2AF1 and U2AF2 can bind specifically to 39 splice sites of intron 49s decoy exons. Finally, several experiments showed that IR-promoting activity of decoy exons is a more general phenomenon that likely governs IR in other erythroid genes. We observed not only that SF3B1 intron 4 decoy exons could promote IR in heterologous contexts, but also that predicted decoy exons from other erythroblast transcripts could promote IR in the SF3B1 minigene. Apart from this experimental data, comparative genomics revealed that the SF3B1 decoy exons are extremely conserved among vertebrate genomes, with two of the exons being essentially identical from fish to humans. Together this data supports the hypothesis that a subset of up-regulated IR events in late erythroblasts are controlled by decoy exons that block productive splicing at the flanking exons. We propose that regulated IR is an important post-transcriptional mechanism for adjusting cellular splicing capacity during terminal erythropoiesis by regulating expression of key splicing factors such as SF3B1. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Quasi continuous wave laser sintering of Si-Ge nanoparticles for thermoelectrics

Silicon-germanium is an important thermoelectric material for high temperature applications. In this study, thin films composed of SiGe nanoparticles were synthesized in a plasma reactor and sintered by a millisecond pulse width, quasi continuous wave, near infrared laser of wavelength 1070 nm. We demonstrate that laser sintered SiGe thin films have high electrical and low thermal conductivity, dependent on the surface morphology and dopant concentration. Substrate wetting of laser heating induced molten SiGe was found to play an important role in the final surface morphology of the films. Interconnected percolation structures, formed when proper substrate wetting occurs, were found to be more conductive than the balling structure that formed with insufficient wetting. Laser power was adjusted to maximize dopant reactivation while still minimizing dopant evaporation. After optimizing laser sintering process parameters, the best electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and Seebeck coefficient were found to be 70.42 S/cm, 0.84 W/m K, and 133.7 μV/K, respectively. We demonstrate that laser sintered SiGe thin films have low thermal conductivity while maintaining good electrical conductivity for high temperature thermoelectric applications.
Two-Component Optical Sugar Sensing Using Boronic Acid-Substituted Viologens with Anionic Fluorescent Dyes

The design and synthesis of chemosensors for biologically important molecules has developed into a major research area. Progress has been driven by advances in the analytical capabilities of biologists and chemists and from medical professionals whose practices lay increasing emphasis on accurately monitoring a patient’s biochemical balance. In particular, medical providers are interested in the accurate and real-time measurement of blood glucose levels for diabetic patients. The shortcomings of existing glucose detection methods available to both patient and clinician have inspired the development of many new glucose sensing strategies over the past fifteen years. Many of these are fluorescence-based systems that rely on the use of glucose oxidase. A large number of non-enzymatic glucose sensing systems, however, have also been developed.1 Many of these non-enzymatic systems rely on a signal derived from the modulated emission of a fluorophore. Such modulation can be made to occur upon glucose binding to a boronic acid receptor.
Evaluation of KAr isochron methods

Abstract The KAr isochron method is an attempt to obtain the initial age or reset age and the extraneous argon isotopic ratio of a suite of cogenetic samples of different K-contents. Some samples contain excess argon-40 and others lose argon-40. The resultant ages on single samples are not significant geologically. We have discussed the principles of three types of isochrons commonly used, the 40Ar vs 40K isochron, the 40Ar/36Ar vs 40K/30Ar isochron, and the 40Ar/36Ar vs 39Ar/36Ar isochron, and evaluated the first two types for ten different hypothetical cases. If a straight line is obtained in the 40Ar vs 40K isochron, a positive intercept indicates an approximately constant amount of excess argon, whereas a negative intercept indicates argon loss. A curved line or scattering of points indicates that the basic assumptions are not valid for the set of samples under consideration. The 40Ar/36Ar vs 40K/36Ar isochron method is valid, rigorously, only when all samples of the system under consideration have the same non-radiogenic argon isotope composition. This requires that either no excess argon is present in the system, or else each analysis contains the same proportion of excess and atmospheric argon. If these conditions do not hold, approximately, invalid ages and invalid intercepts are obtained. Any KAr isochron needs to be used with caution.
Living Standards: Income Distribution

In spite of the very significant accomplishments thus far reviewed, modern assessments of the eighth-seventh centuries B.C.E. are almost uniformly unflattering, so much so indeed that in the social scientist they must strike a note of unreality, that is, of being out of social character. This negativism can be partially traced to religious presuppositions. Israel-Judah was ultimately destroyed. In some Jewish circles where ideas related to theodicy prevail, the fact of destruction is sufficient proof that “the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord,” while in some intellectual Christian circles, the destruction symbolizes the coming replacement of “ethnic-nationalist religions by the true and only universal faith” (see Kaufmann 1960, p. 135).
Adoptive T-cell therapy for B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Preclinical studies

We have previously shown that leukemia-specific cytotoxic T cells (CTL) can be generated from the bone marrow of most patients with B-cell precursor acute leukemias. If these antileukemia CTL are to be used for adoptive immunotherapy, they must have the capability to circulate, migrate through endothelium, home to the bone marrow, and, most importantly, lyse the leukemic cells in a leukemia-permissive bone marrow microenvironment. We demonstrate here that such antileukemia T-cell lines are overwhelmingly CD8+ and exhibit an activated phenotype. Using a transendothelial chemotaxis assay with human endothelial cells, we observed that these T cells can be recruited and transmigrate through vascular and bone marrow endothelium and that these transmigrated cells preserve their capacity to lyse leukemic cells. Additionally, these antileukemia T-cell lines are capable of adhering to autologous stromal cell layers. Finally, autologous antileukemia CTL specifically lyse leukemic cells even in the presence of autologous marrow stroma. Importantly, these antileukemia T-cell lines do not lyse autologous stromal cells. Thus, the capacity to generate anti–leukemia-specific T-cell lines coupled with the present findings that such cells can migrate, adhere, and function in the presence of the marrow microenvironment enable the development of clinical studies of adoptive transfer of antileukemia CTL for the treatment of ALL.
General Arguments from VP Denotations

In this section, our focus will be on arguments in favor of the sets theory based on possible VP denotations. The discussion will run as follows. First I will make some preliminary adjustments to our theories in order to accommodate the kinds of examples we need to consider. Next I will present a number of examples from work by Hoeksema, Link and Landman which argue for the sets approach. I will temporarily adopt this theory. Then I will argue for the introduction of two shifting operations which can apply to predicates to allow them to apply to entities of different types. Next, I will show that once these operations are in place, the motivation for the sets approach is eroded. I end this section by returning to the simpler union approach.
Assessment of hepatic initiation-promotion properties of trichloroacetic acid.

The ability of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) to act as an initiator or promoter of carcinogenesis was studied in the γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) enzyme altered foci (EAF) assay, using the rat partial hepatectomy model and diethylnitrosamine (DEN) phenobarbital (PB) positive controls. The capacity of TCA to induce peroxisomal proliferation was examined by measuring the induction of hepatic peroxisomal-dependent14C-palmitoyl-CoA. Induction of hepatic ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) was also measured.
Delegating Creativity: Use of Musical Algorithms in Machine Listening and Composition

The affinity between mathematics and music has always spurred musicians to define various aspects of their practice in formal terms. This led historically to important innovations in tuning systems , design of new sounds and advances in music theory as well as emergence of new musical languages and their cultural expressions . Today the technology offers more intelligent and complex ways for automatic manipulation of musical knowledge and structure. This raises new challenges for understanding aspects of music creativity and music perception that have largely remained beyond the reach of formal algorithmic composition and generative music procedures . In this chapter we will consider the role of creative music systems in music making today and speculate whether this is going to be the next revolution in music cultures. Autonomous (music for games), human assisted (meta-creation) and recombinant and audience interactive systems (music apps) will be considered as examples of novel directions in music creation and public engagement with musical contents. It is argued that modeling of creative processes in music can be done within a framework of cognitive probabilistic modeling , laying the foundation for novel research on music information dynamics and action-cognition models applied to music.
Companion Simulations and Modeling to NMR-Based Dynamical Studies of Proteins

Abstract NMR-based studies of protein dynamics and molecular simulations have a synergistic relationship. Molecular simulations, in combination with interpretative theoretical models, leverage the dynamical information obtained from NMR. They provide the concrete physical schema underlying the quantities measured by NMR, and help extend the range of applications beyond the strictly dynamic properties. NMR data in turn provide concrete data to test and improve the potential functions used for simulation of dynamics of proteins. The concept of time correlation functions is central to the understanding of many dynamical processes. Their evaluation through atomistic simulations is discussed, with application to different dynamical quantities measured by NMR. While advances in computers have made such atomistic simulations almost routine, the companion use of simple interpretive models is stressed, to provide not just numbers but physical insight.
Association of CD47 with Integrin Mac-1 (αMβ2, CD11b/CD18) Regulates Macrophage Responses

Abstract CD47 is a cell surface receptor, which is expressed by virtually all cells in the body, including immune cells. CD47 has originally been identified as an integrin-associated protein (IAP) and shown to associate with several integrins that belong to the β1 and β3 subfamilies. In addition, association of CD47 with a member of the β2 subfamily, integrin αLβ2, has also been reported. In neutrophils, CD47 mediates a number of integrin αvβ3-dependent functions, including adhesion, migration and phagocytosis. Surprisingly, the association of CD47 with integrin αMβ2 (Mac-1, CD11b/CD18, CR3), the major adhesion receptor on the surface of myeloid cells, has not been documented. Furthermore, while the major focus of recent studies was the mechanism by which CD47 on various host cells prevents phagocytosis by macrophages, the question as to how CD47 expressed on the surface of macrophages influences the responses of these cells has not been addressed. In the present study, we demonstrated that an association of CD47 with Mac-1 regulates Mac-1-dependent macrophage functions. In particular, adhesion of macrophages isolated from CD47-/- mice to fibrinogen and ICAM-1, the established physiological ligands of Mac-1 was significantly decreased compared to wild-type counterparts. In addition, spreading of CD47-deficient macrophages was decreased by four- and two-fold on fibrinogen and ICAM-1, respectively. Compared to wild-type macrophages, migration of CD47-deficient macrophages to the Mac-1 ligand, cathelicidin peptide LL-37 was significantly reduced. The lack of CD47 on the surface of macrophages impaired their ability to fuse in the presence of IL-4. Finally, the deficiency of CD47 also reduced phagocytosis of opsonized latex beads, a process fully dependent on Mac-1. The functional association of CD47 with Mac-1 implied that similar to other integrins, Mac-1 might form a complex with CD47. Indeed, co-immunoprecipitation experiments using peritoneal mouse macrophages, the IC21 murine macrophage cell line and Mac-1-expressing HEK293 cells revealed that Mac-1 forms a complex with CD47. The cis interaction between Mac-1 and CD47 was also detected using the proximity ligation assay. Together, these results indicate that Mac-1 forms a lateral complex with CD47, which regulates important macrophage functions. Studies to determine the structural requirements for the physical interaction between Mac-1 and CD47 are in progress. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Mixing Models for Turbulent Flows with Exothermic Reactions

The potential influence of age-biased sampling for mixing as suggested by Pope (1982) was investigated for turbulent reacting and nonreacting jet flows with a modified coalescence/dispersion (C/D) model. Age-biased sampling is found to have little influence on the predicted scalar statistics up to fourth moments. To account for the combined effects of mixing and chemical reaction on the joint probability density function (pdf), the modified C/D model is further improved by conditioning the mixing process on the existence of the reaction zone. Monte Carlo simulation of turbulent reacting jet flames with an ideal flame-sheet chemical model demonstrates that the proposed model is capable of predicting physically correct results in the flame-sheet combustion regime.
Lloyd George and the American Naval Challenge: “The Naval Battle of Paris”

In the immediate aftermath of the First World War, naval competition loomed between Great Britain and the United States. This American naval challenge frustrated Britain’s leaders, who were determi...