cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
RagPools: RNA-As-Graph-Pools--a web server for assisting the design of structured RNA pools for in vitro selection.

Summary: Our RNA-As-Graph-Pools (RAGPOOLS) web server offers a theoretical companion tool for RNA in vitro selection and related problems. Specifically, it suggests how to construct RNA sequence/structure pools with user-specified properties and assists in analyzing resulting distributions. This utility follows our recently developed approach for engineering sequence pools that links RNA sequence space regions with corresponding structural distributions via a "mixing matrix" approach combined with a graph theory analysis of RNA secondary-structure space (Kim et al., 2007); the mixing matrix specifies nucleotide transition rates, and graph theory links sequences to simple graphical objects representing RNA motifs. The companion RAGPOOLS web server (“Designer” component) provides optimized starting sequences, mixing matrices, and associated weights in response to a user-specified target pool structure distribution. In addition, RAGPOOLS (“Analyzer” component) analyzes the motif distribution of pools generated from user-specified starting sequences and mixing matrices. Thus, RAGPOOLS serves as a guide to researchers who aim to synthesize RNA pools with desired properties and/or experiment in silico with various designs by our approach.
Flexible information discovery in decentralized distributed systems

The ability to efficiently discover information using partial knowledge (for example keywords, attributes or ranges) is important in large, decentralized, resource sharing distributed environments such as computational grids and peer-to-peer (P2P) storage and retrieval systems. This paper presents a P2P information discovery system that supports flexible queries using partial keywords and wildcards, and range queries. It guarantees that all existing data elements that match a query are found with bounded costs in terms of number of messages and number of peers involved. The key innovation is a dimension reducing indexing scheme that effectively maps the multidimensional information space to physical peers. The design, implementation and experimental evaluation of the system are presented.
Transgenic plants from shoot apical meristems of Vitis vinifera L. “Thompson Seedless” via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation

Shoot apical meristem explants of Vitis vinifera “Thompson Seedless” were used for Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation. It was determined that the meristems had to be subjected to a dark growth phase then wounded to obtain transgenic plants. Morphological and histological studies illustrated the role of wounding to expose apical meristem cells for transformation. A bifunctional egfp/nptII fusion gene was used to select kanamycin resistant plants that expressed green fluorescent protein (GFP). Kanamycin at a concentration of 16 mg L−1 in selection medium resulted in recovery of non-chimeric transgenic plants that uniformly expressed GFP, whereas 8 mg L−1 kanamycin allowed non-transgenic and/or chimeric plants to develop. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern blot analyses confirmed the presence of transgenes and their stable integration into the genome of regenerated plants. Up to 1% of shoot tips produced stable transgenic cultures within 6 weeks of treatment, resulting in a total of 18 independent lines.
Critical issues in the modeling of WDM systems in the linear and nonlinear regimes

We describe the critical aspects of WDM systems that must be considered in order to accurately model signal propagation in the linear and nonlinear regimes. We experimentally validate the results of numerical simulation. The use of modeling tools has proven to be a crucial and efficient way of determining the performance of optical communication systems. Rigorous experimental validation is essential in order to identify the critical aspects of these systems and incorporate them into the modeling tools to ensure accurate results.
Stereospecific coupling of α-aminoalkylcuprates with vinyl iodides

Abstract Allylic amines can be prepared stereospecifically via a coupling reaction of vinyl iodides and α-aminoalkylcuprates prepared from the corresponding lithium reagents and LiCl solubilized CuCN. The reaction works well for both E and Z dialkyl substituted vinyl iodides. 1-Iodoalkynes can also be coupled in modest yields to afford propargyl amines.
Binding Sites for l‐[3H]Glutamate on Hippocampal Synaptic Membranes: Three Populations Differentially Affected by Chloride and Calcium Ions

: The effects of Cl− and Ca2+ were studied on the specific binding of l-[3H]glutamate to multiple sites on rat hippocampal synaptic membranes. Quisqualate (5 μM) or dl-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate (2-APB) (300 μM) was used to discriminate two previously identified classes of binding sites. Saturation isotherms and displacement curves constructed under different ionic conditions suggested that the effects of Cl− and Ca2+ could best be explained by postulating the existence of three major binding site populations in this preparation rather than two. The binding of l-glutamate to Glu A sites exhibits an absolute dependence on Cl−, and Ca2+ markedly increases the maximum density of these sites. Glu A sites bind quisqualate and 2-APB with relatively high affinity. Cl− (47 μM) more than doubles the maximum density of Glu B sites, but Ca2+ appears to have no effect. Glu B sites can be discriminated from the other classes by their relatively low affinity for quisqualate and 2-APB. There is reason to think that the Glu B population is heterogeneous. The novel Glu C population can be virtually selectively labeled by exposing 2-APB-sensitive binding sites to radioligand in Tris-HOAc buffer with Ca2+. Binding of l-[3H]glutamate to these sites is enhanced by both Cl− and Ca2+, but requires neither ion. Ca2+ appears to increase both the affinity of Glu C sites for l-glutamate and their maximum binding site density. In the presence of Ca2+ and Cl−, Glu C sites bind the radioligand with micromolar affinity (KD > 2 μM) and high capacity (Bmax > 160 pmol/mg protein). The structural specificity of these binding sites closely resembles that of Glu A sites, but these sites bind excitants with about an order of magnitude lower affinity. The Glu C binding sites exhibit characteristics compatible with a synaptic receptor function in the hippocampal formation.
Homing endonucleases: keeping the house in order

Homing endonucleases are rare-cutting enzymes encoded by introns and inteins. They have striking structural and functional properties that distinguish them from restriction enzymes. Nomenclature conventions analogous to those for restriction enzymes have been developed for the homing endonucleases. Recent progress in understanding the structure and function of the four families of homing enzymes is reviewed. Of particular interest are the first reported structures of homing endonucleases of the LAGLIDADG family. The exploitation of the homing enzymes in genome analysis and recombination research is also summarized. Finally, the evolution of homing endonucleases is considered, both at the structure-function level and in terms of their persistence in widely divergent biological systems.
Thermodynamics and defect structure of intermetallic phases with the B2 (CsCl) structure

Abstract Available theoretical models that describe the thermodynamic properties and the defect structures of intermetallic phases with the B2 structure are reviewed. The experimental methods for the determination of the Gibbs energy of alloys are briefly discussed and a summary of experimental data of lattice parameters, densities, activities, and enthalpies for nearly 30 B2 phases is given. It is shown that the data can be expressed in terms of a few simple model parameters. The importance of theoretical models for an understanding of the structural stability of intermetallic phases and for the evaluation and eventual prediction of binary and ternary phase diagrams is discussed.
Brush lifting system for wound rotor induction motors

Wound Rotor Induction Motors have the rotor windings connected to an external resistance through a brush/slip ring assembly. When the brushes are in continuous contact with the slip rings during normal operation of the motor, the brushes and the slip rings experience premature wearing. This leads to frequent stops for maintenance and brush replacements. Once the motor reaches the normal operation speed, there is no need to have the external resistance in the circuit and so the brushes-to-slip rings contact can be ceased. Disengaging the brush/slip ring assembly during rated operation avoids wearing of brushes and collector rings. This also allows longer usage time of the machine. In this paper a novel method of brush lifting and shorting the rotor winding is discussed along with key design challenges and reliability requirements.
Combining use of rough set and artificial neural networks in doweled-pavement-performance modeling: A hybrid approach

This paper explores the potential applications of rough set theory and neural networks in concrete-faulting-performance modeling. The rough set can be used to reduce the dimension of the original pavement database in terms of attributes and rows. The reduced table can then be used as an input into the neural network. Since there are no universal rules for neural network construction, this approach is very important. Constructive and destructive methods have been used in the construction of neural network architecture. Although these methods are appropriate, they do not have a strong scientific proof. The key characteristics of the proposed method is that the new decision table created by using the rough set analysis will free the neural network paradigm from redundancy. A simple example for faulting performance in concrete pavement is presented.
Short‐term relationship between solar irradiances and equatorial peak electron densities

[1] The short-term relationship of the equatorial peak electron density and the solar short-wavelength irradiance is examined using foF2 observations from Jicamarca, Peru and recent solar irradiance measurements from satellites. Solar soft X-ray measurements from both the Student Nitric Oxide Explorer (SNOE) (1998–2000) and Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics Dynamics (TIMED) (2002–2004) satellites as well as extreme ultraviolet (EUV) measurements from the TIMED satellite are used. Soft X-rays show similar or higher correlation with foF2 at short timescales (27 days or less) than EUV does, although the EUV correlation is higher for longer periods. For the short-term variations, both SNOE and TIMED observations have a higher correlation in the morning (∼0.46) than in the afternoon (∼0.1). In the afternoon, SNOE observations have a higher correlation (∼0.2) with foF2 than the TIMED observations (∼0.1 correlation), which may be due to differences in the solar cycle. At morning times, foF2 has a ∼27-day variation, consistent with the solar rotation rate. After noon, but not in the morning, a ∼13.5-day variation consistently appears in foF2. This ∼13.5-day variation is attributed to geomagnetic influences.
Error and time delay in pediatric trauma resuscitation Addressing the problem with color-coded resuscitation aids

This article concentrates on two pediatric specific factors operational in pediatrics therapeutics 1) the necessity to perform calculations; and 2) the lack of recognition of significant pediatric error. Resuscitation aids and their optimal function in pediatric trauma resuscitation are examined.
A double edge notch specimen design for tension–compression fatigue crack growth testing

Abstract Compact, C(T), specimens are commonly used for fatigue and creep-fatigue crack growth testing under constant-load-amplitude conditions. The use of the standard C(T) specimens [ASTM] is limited to positive load ratios. They are also limited in the amount of crack growth data that can be developed at high stress intensity values due to accumulation of plastic and/or creep strains leading to ratcheting in the specimen. Testing under displacement control can potentially address these shortcomings of the load-controlled tests for which the C(T) geometry is unsuitable. A double edge notch tension–compression, DEN(T–C), specimen to perform displacement controlled creep-fatigue crack growth testing is developed and optimized with the help of finite element and boundary element analyses. The specimen has threaded cylindrical ends for applying the loads. The test section is rectangular with a half width, W , and half height, H, and a constant thickness, B . The height to width ratio, H/W , of the specimen must be kept low to avoid buckling during compressive loading while ensuring that the stress-intensity parameter values are not strongly dependent on the chosen H/W value. Simple optimization analysis shows that a H/W ratio of 1.2 is likely to best meet these requirements. However, only performing actual experiments will confirm whether this choice of H/W value is optimum. In the finite element analyses, the specimen is modeled using an effective height ( h eff ) to width ( W ) ratio, h eff /W , of 1.46 to account for the fillet regions on the two ends of the specimens. Accurate expressions for estimating the fracture mechanics crack tip parameters such as the stress intensity parameter, K , the crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD), and the load-line displacement (LLD) are developed over a wide range of crack sizes for the DEN(T–C) specimen. Expressions are also developed for crack size as a function of specimen compliance.
Endourological management of a large distal ureteral calculus in a patient with ureterosigmoidostomy diversion.

As a form of urinary diversion in patients with bladder exstrophy, ureterosigmoidostomy has been performed for more than 145 years.' In addition to the complications of this procedure, including renal deterioration, pyelonephritis, ureterosigmoid anastomotic stricture and carcinoma, nephrolithiasis has been a recognized and nettlesome problem associated with ureterosigmoidostomy. We report a case of a large distal ureteral calculus managed with endourological techniques.
Watershed analysis with GIS: The watershed characterization and modeling system software application

The watershed characterization and modeling system (WCMS) was developed to support decision making and the management of water resources at a statewide level in West Virginia. Specific hydrological analysis functions were combined within a customized GIS interface to provide decision support capabilities to both technical and non-technical users. Components of the current system include: an overland flow path model that indicates optimum water quality sampling locations, flow estimation for all streams in an identified area, an instream water quality and loading model for pollutant levels, and a ranking model to prioritize treatment alternatives based on user defined criteria and preferences. The primary goals of this system are to provide consistent technical information related to natural watershed processes and to predict the impacts of alternative management scenarios for decision makers. WCMS is currently used by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) to guide policy development and management decisions that address watershed and water quality issues throughout the state.
On Collective Mind and Conversational Analysis Response to Cooren

The authors note an important problem with Cooren’s (2004) argument that processes of representing, subordinating, and contributing, accomplished routinely in “mundane” conversations, constitute co...
KILLING, SELF-DEFENSE, AND BAD LUCK

This essay argues on behalf of a hybrid theory for an ethics of self-defense understood as the Forfeiture-Partiality Theory. The theory weds the idea that a malicious attacker forfeits the right to life to the idea that we are permitted to prefer one's life to another's in cases of involuntary harm or threat. The theory is meant to capture our intuitions both about instances in which we can draw a moral asymmetry between attacker and victim and cases in which we cannot. I develop the theory by attending to instances of intentional, villainous harm and instances of involuntary danger—the latter of which are a matter of bad luck. I call some bad luck cases “Interpersonal Lottery Conflicts.” These cases refer to potentially lethal conflicts into which parties are thrown as victims of circumstance. Although neither party has a moral advantage over another, that fact does not preclude permissible self-defense.
A Universally Designed for Learning (UDL) Infused Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) Practitioners' Model Essential for Teacher Preparation in the 21st Century

This article challenges educational computing researchers and teacher educators to consider a merger between universal design for learning and technological pedagogical content knowledge to create a practitioners' model to prepare teachers to graduate with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to teach the full spectrum of learners. Presently, these models are being developed on parallel tracks because of the existing bifurcated system of general (regular) and special education. The two models together would create a cohesive, comprehensive, theoretical model for the preparation of 21st century teachers.
On the retrieval of attenuation and site amplifications from ambient noise on linear arrays: further numerical simulations

S U M M A R Y While it is clear that ambient noise correlations contain information on seismic attenuation, retrieval of that information requires disentangling the influences of site amplification factors and anisotropic noise intensity. Recent work has argued that recognition that ambient noise intensity is governed by a radiative transfer equation will facilitate that retrieval. This sufficiently constrains the noise field to permit amplitudes of noise correlation waveforms to be fit to models of spatially varying attenuation, noise intensity and site amplification factors. Numerical simulations, for the case of a uniformly spaced linear array of receivers, homogeneous attenuation and wave speed and mild directionality to the noise field, were shown earlier to be consistent with the assertion. Here, the numerical simulations are extended to a broader class of systems. Accurate retrieval is demonstrated using a priori error estimates and weighted least-squares fitting. Attenuations and site factors are retrieved in systems with spatially varying attenuation, highly directional noise intensities, irregular line arrays and poor signal-to-noise ratios. Examination of a variety of systems illustrates some of the range of applicability and limits of the approach.
Plant design for efficiency using AutoCAD and FactoryFLOW

Designing industrial facilities in AutoCAD is very different from designing the office and laboratory environments typically discussed at AEC-oriented shows and seminars. In factories the cost of moving equipment and automated material handling systems is significant, making their initial placement critical. In addition, factories are designed for the optimal flow of materials, which requires a significant quantitative review and can be very time consuming and difficult to present. This paper discusses the systematic approach to the design of industrial facilities and how this approach can be greatly simplified with the use of such tools as AutoCAD with FactoryFLOW.
Engineering an HL7 interface and wireless infrastructure to improve the efficiency of ECG analysis at Hartford Hospital

This paper describes the integration of Hartford Hospital's current 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) software with the hospital's information systems (admit, discharge, transfer (ADT); orders; and billing) by engineering a Health Level Seven Standard Interface (HL7) specifically for the hospital's unique software amalgamation. Data formats for the wireless transmission of information were investigated. Distinctive requirements, work-flow, and validation procedures for interfacing the 12-lead ECG system using the HL7 standard were configured. Lastly, the implementation of a wireless transmission component was also developed so completed ECGs could be instantaneously sent to the ECG software directly from the ECG machine, where the analysis was performed. Spectrum analysis was utilized to scrutinize the hospital's current unique wireless infrastructure.
To the point: reviews in medical education-the Objective Structured Clinical Examination

This article, the eighth in the To the Point Series prepared by the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics Undergraduate Medical Education Committee, discusses the effectiveness of the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) for assessment of learners' knowledge, skills, and behaviors. The OSCE has also been used for the appraisal of residents and physicians undergoing licensure examinations; herein we focus on its application to undergraduate medical education. We review evidence for best practices and recommendations on effective use of the OSCE and requirements for and challenges to its implementation, including creative ways to design an OSCE program with a limited budget. We discuss its role in providing formative and summative feedback and describe learner performance on the OSCE as the OSCE relates to subsequent testing, including US Medical Licensing Examination step 1. A representative case with assessment used at the authors' medical schools is included.
Application of Cox Regression with a Change Point in Clinical Studies

Cox regression with an unknown change point and the corresponding large sample theory are discussed. We show how the results of this approach can be applied to computer-simulated data and to failure-time data from a large cohort of children treated at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for newly diagnosied acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Caregiver Sexual and HPV Communication Among Female Survivors of Childhood Cancer.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is recommended for all female survivors of childhood cancer; yet, it is underused. Parent-child sexual communication and health care provider recommendation for HPV vaccination influence familial vaccination decisions. However, caregivers may be less likely to discuss sexual health issues with survivors as compared to healthy peers. Therefore, this study compared mothers of daughters with/without history of childhood cancer on measures of sexual communication, HPV-specific communication, and health care provider recommendation for HPV vaccination, and examined the effects of sociodemographic and medical factors on these measures. There were no differences between mothers of survivors/noncancer survivors on the outcomes (Ps > .05). Among all mothers, daughter’s age was associated with sexual communication (Ps < .05). Household income and daughter’s age were associated with health care provider recommendation for vaccination (Ps < .05). Among mothers of survivors, daug...
Level Surveys and Patterns of Movement in Collapsible and Expansive Soils Studies

AbstractThe demerits of level surveys for assessing foundation movements associated with moisture-induced volume change of soils have been well discussed and debated in the literature. In spite of the limitations of level surveys, and the associated strong desirability of benchmarked survey data for assessment of foundations movements on moisture sensitive soils, unbenchmarked level surveys continue to be used in forensic studies of buildings damaged by expansive and collapsible soils. The common uses and limitations of level survey data are briefly reviewed, and unbenchmarked level survey data are presented and discussed for three different cases of residential structures founded on collapsible and/or expansive clays. The level survey data are used, together with other available sources of information, in developing plausible explanations for building damage resulting from soil-wetting-induced differential movement of the structures.
The effect of enucleation on orbital growth in patients with retinoblastoma

Purpose To measure orbital volume using serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to determine the effect of enucleation on orbital growth over time. Methods The medical records of patients who underwent unilateral enucleation for retinoblastoma with a minimum of 2 MRIs were retrospectively reviewed. Orbital asymmetry was calculated using MRI measurements. Nonlinear and linear mixed effect regression models were used to predict the effect of age at time of enucleation on degree of orbital asymmetry. Results A total of 27 patients were included (mean age at enucleation, 2 years; range, 2.5 months to 5 years). Age at scan ( P = 0.046) and age at enucleation ( P = 0.0006) were found to have a significant effect on orbital asymmetry. Change in orbital asymmetry over time was more pronounced after enucleation in children enucleated at P P = 0.0109). Younger age at enucleation was associated with a greater degree of asymmetry over time, although this effect was extinguished for patients enucleated after the age of 3 years. Conclusions In patients with retinoblastoma, enucleation with orbital implant before 3 years of age has a significant effect on orbital volume asymmetry. After the age of 3, this effect appears to be less detrimental to the degree of orbital asymmetry.
Chronic low-calorie sweetener use and risk of abdominal obesity among older adults: A cohort study

Introduction Low-calorie sweetener use for weight control has come under increasing scrutiny as obesity, especially abdominal obesity, remain entrenched despite substantial low-calorie sweetener use. We evaluated whether chronic low-calorie sweetener use is a risk factor for abdominal obesity. Participants and Methods We used 8268 anthropometric measurements and 3096 food diary records with detailed information on low-calorie sweetener consumption in all food products, from 1454 participants (741 men, 713 women) in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging collected from 1984 to 2012 with median follow-up of 10 years (range: 0–28 years). At baseline, 785 were low-calorie sweetener non-users (51.7% men) and 669 participants were low-calorie sweetener users (50.1% men). Time-varying low-calorie sweetener use was operationalized as the proportion of visits since baseline at which low-calorie sweetener use was reported. We used marginal structural models to determine the association between baseline and time-varying low-calorie sweetener use with longitudinal outcomes—body mass index, waist circumference, obesity and abdominal obesity—with outcome status assessed at the visit following low-calorie sweetener ascertainment to minimize the potential for reverse causality. All models were adjusted for year of visit, age, sex, age by sex interaction, race, current smoking status, dietary intake (caffeine, fructose, protein, carbohydrate, and fat), physical activity, diabetes status, and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension score as confounders. Results With median follow-up of 10 years, low-calorie sweetener users had 0.80 kg/m2 higher body mass index (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.17–1.44), 2.6 cm larger waist circumference (95% CI, 0.71–4.39), 36.7% higher prevalence (prevalence ratio = 1.37; 95% CI, 1.10–1.69) and 53% higher incidence (hazard ratio = 1.53; 95% CI 1.10–2.12) of abdominal obesity than low-calorie sweetener non-users. Conclusions Low-calorie sweetener use is independently associated with heavier relative weight, a larger waist, and a higher prevalence and incidence of abdominal obesity suggesting that low-calorie sweetener use may not be an effective means of weight control.
Some Volatile and Nonvolatile Compounds Associated with Milk and Their Effects on Certain Bacteria. A Review1

Raw and heated milks contain numerous volatile and other compounds. This review discusses some of the available information with particular emphasis on compounds having a low boiling point and which are likely to be removed by the vacuum treatment that often is combined with commercial pasteurization of milk. Reports dealing with carbonyl compounds including fatty acids, alcohols, and ketones have been reviewed. Emphasis has been given to fatty acids having up to 10 carbon atoms. Sections dealing with the occurrence in milk of volatile sulfur compounds, nitrogenous compounds, and alcohols also are included. A brief discussion about some miscellaneous compounds concludes the first part of this review. A detailed discussion of the effects of some compounds associated with milk on certain bacteria constitutes the second part of this review. The inhibitory effect of fatty acids, aldehydes, ketones, sulfur compounds, amines, alcohols, and some other compounds on lactic streptococci, lactobacilli. Escherichia c...
The Use of Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus paracasei in Clinical Trials for the Improvement of Human Health

Abstract Strains of Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus paracasei are widely utilized as probiotic or synbiotic supplementations to improve clinical outcomes. Here, the results from a number of clinical trials that have assessed the efficacy of these probiotic strains are summarized. These trials include quantitative evaluation of the influences of L. casei and L. paracasei on patients with conditions ranging from a variety of digestive diseases, chronic infectious diseases, obesity, and depression disorders. For each trial, the major findings are documented, as well as a comparison of clinical trials that yield conflicting conclusions. Finally, recommendations for the future assessment of probiotic functions will be stated.
Solving satisfiability problems by the ground-state quantum computer

A quantum algorithm is proposed to solve the satisfiability (SAT) problems by the ground-state quantum computer. The scale of the energy gap of the ground-state quantum computer is analyzed for the 3-bit exact cover problem. The time cost of this algorithm on the general SAT problems is discussed.
1H NMR study of the phase behavior of aqueous eutectic solutions using the inverse Laplace transform analysis of T2 relaxation

High-field 1H NMR T2 relaxation studies were used to characterize the changes in the physical phases of water, NaCl, and dextrose solutions over a temperature range of -65 to 15 °C. The data were analyzed with the inverse Laplace transform and with a linear fit to the logarithm of the time domain signal. Two liquid phases were detected for the NaCl and dextrose solutions at lower temperatures, and assigned to low and high concentrated solution domains. The high concentrated solution domain was found to be present between -30 and -5 °C in the NaCl solution and between -55 and -5 °C in the dextrose solution.
Salvage Lenvatinib Therapy in Metastatic Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer

Background: Historical anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) outcomes have been terrible, with a median survival of only five months and <20% one-year survival. Improved outcomes are now achieved with aggressive initial therapy in stages IVA and IVB disease, but patients with distant metastatic disease (stage IVC) still do poorly; improved therapies are sorely needed. Kinase inhibitors have emerged as promising agents in the therapy of advanced medullary and differentiated thyroid cancer, but there are limited data regarding the use of lenvatinib in ATC. The aim of this study was to delineate clinical outcomes in a series of patients with advanced ATC in response to lenvatinib therapy. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted involving all lenvatinib-treated Mayo Clinic ATC patients in 2015. Results: Of 28 distinct ATC patients seen in 2015, three (11%) with metastatic disease of ECOG performance status 2–3 were treated with lenvatinib. Two patients were male; age range at ATC diagnosis was 57–84 years. ...
Oliver Smithies, DPhil: 1925–2017

Dr Oliver Smithies, Weatherspoon Eminent Distinguished Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, passed away on January 10 after a short illness at the age of 91. Dr Smithies made many contributions to biomedical science during his more than 60 years at the laboratory bench but is best known for his contribution to developing the concepts and operative techniques that enabled thousands of laboratories to carry out targeted, homologous recombination in mammalian cells, enabling targeted genetic modifications in mice. The ability to rapidly effect directed changes at the genetic site of one’s choice opened a golden age for establishing cause-and-effect relationships for normal and mutated genes. Indeed, the sequences that both control gene activity and modulate the protein complement of different cells were suddenly amenable to mechanistic dissection. The development of gene targeting via homologous recombination led to his sharing the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2007, with Mario Capecchi, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and University of Utah, and Sir Martin Evans, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. The Nobel was only one of many prestigious honors awarded to Dr Smithies during his long career. He was elected to the United States National Academy of Sciences in 1971 and inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1978. He won the Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research in 2001; again along with Drs Capecchi and Evans, the Alfred P. Sloan, Jr Prize from the General Motors Foundation; jointly with Capecchi in 1994, the March of Dimes Prize in Developmental Biology; again jointly with Capecchi in 2005; and the Thomas Hunt Morgan Medal in 2007. A complete listing of all his awards and honors, regional, national, and international would fill this entire In Memoriam , but suffice …
High Frequency Actionable Pathogenic Exome Mutations in an Average-Risk Cohort

Whole exome sequencing (WES) is increasingly utilized in both clinical and non-clinical settings, but little is known about the utility of WES in healthy individuals. In order to determine the frequency of both medically actionable and non-actionable but medically relevant exome findings in the general population we assessed the exomes of 70 participants who have been extensively characterized over the past several years as part of a longitudinal integrated multi-omics profiling study at Stanford University. We assessed exomes for rare likely pathogenic and pathogenic variants in genes associated with Mendelian disease in the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database. We used American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) guidelines were used for the classification of rare sequence variants, and additionally we assessed pharmacogenetic variants. Twelve out of 70 (17%) participants had medically actionable findings in Mendelian disease genes, including 6 (9%) with mutations in genes not currently included in the ACMG's list of 59 actionable genes. This number is higher than that reported in previous studies and suggests added benefit from utilizing expanded gene lists and manual curation to assess actionable findings. A total of 60 participants (89%) had non-actionable findings identified including 57 who were found to be mutation carriers for recessive diseases and 21 who have increased Alzheimer's disease risk due to heterozygous or homozygous APOE e4 alleles (18 participants had both). These results suggest that exome sequencing may have considerably more utility for health management in the general population than previously thought.
Enabling unrestricted UAS airspace access: Performance based navigation

The goal of the integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in the National Airspace System (NAS) is to achieve “file-and-fly” access to all classes of airspace. This means the UAS will fly without limitations or waivers in airspace shared with other manned and unmanned aircraft. In the case of large UAS operating in a similar manner to transport category aircraft in terminal, en-route and oceanic/remote environments, this includes the ability to perform area navigation.
Predicting conditions for intermediate phase formation in surfactant systems

For a pure surfactant below its cloud point, only the location of the limiting tie-line between L 1 and L 2 regions is needed to predict with diffusion path theory whether an intermediate phase such as a liquid crystal or microemulsion forms when an aqueous solution of the surfactant is brought into contact with a pure oil. A critical surfactant concentration should exist above which intermedaite phase formation occurs. Experiments for anionic and nonionic surfactants with pure polar oils are consistent with this prediction. In view of results presented previously, removal of pure oils from polyester/cotton fabric during washing processes should improve significantly when intermediate phasews develop. If the surfactant is above its cloud point, at least one intermediated phase forms. In this case the criterion for improved detergency is that water, which solubilizes little oil, not be the only intermediate phase. An approximate method for predicting when such behavior will occur is presented. The results seem generally consistent with available experimental observations.
Introducing High School Students to Chemical Engineering Kinetics With a Simple Experiment-Based Smartphone Education Application

A community outreach project was integrated in a District of Columbia public schools summer internship program for students from underrepresented minorities in STEM. The project introduced these students to fundamental engineering principles by leveraging a smartphone application (App) so readily accessible and attractive to them that it boosted their learning interest. Kinetics experiments using the App features were developed and made suitable for pre-college students by undergraduate mentors.
Analysis and Comparison of High-Resolution GS/s Samplers in Advanced BiCMOS and CMOS

High-speed and high-resolution analog to digital converters (ADCs) (10+ bits) are essential components of modern wireless communication systems and mmWave radios. Their performance is often limited by the noise and distortion from the front-end samplers, the design of which can be challenging. Modern ADC design has moved heavily to scaled CMOS technologies due to its attractive digital and integration capabilities, but these processes face challenges of high fabrication costs, and diminishing analog performance that has to be bolstered by extensive digital calibration. On the other hand, BiCMOS processes have advanced and scaled sufficiently that they may be able to offer the best of the mixed signal world. This brief examines, both theoretically and through simulations, the design of samplers for high-speed, low-distortion in CMOS and BiCMOS for GS/s ADCs. Two fully differential samplers, with an equivalent sampling frequency of 5 GS/s and an input frequency range of up to 10 GHz, are designed in a 90-nm BiCMOS and a 28-nm CMOS process, respectively, and their distortion performance is analyzed, simulated, and compared.
Stability and Equilibrium Properties of Stochastic Flows of Diffeomorphisms

Let M be a smooth paracompact d-dimensional manifold, and consider the (Stratonovich) stochastic differential equation on M $$d{x_t} = {V_0}({x_t})dt + \sum\limits_{\alpha = 1}^r {{V_\alpha }({x_t}) \circ dW_t^\alpha } $$ (1.1) where V 0, V 1,…, V r are smooth vector fields on M and {(W t 1 ,…, W t r ) : t ≥ 0} is a standard R r -valued Brownian motion on some probability space (Π,F,P). If V 1 = V 2 = … = V r = 0 then (1.1) reduces to the ordinary differential equation $$d{x_t} = {V_0}\left( {{x_t}} \right)dt$$ (1.2) on M; it is well known that the solutions of (1.2) for different initial positions x ∈ M can be pieced together to give a flow of diffeomorphisms of M, and the theory of dynamical systems describes the behavior of the resulting flow. See for example Ruelle [Ru2].
Automated Analysis of the Esophageal Accelerogram as a Minimally Invasive Monitor of Manifest Contractile State

Automated real-time monitoring of the heart’s relative contractile state was achieved simply and cost effectively through automated analysis of the esophageal accelerogram (EA) and electrocardiogram (ECG). Previous work showed that the first major complex of the EA contains information which is a sensitive indicator of the left ventricle’s mechanical activity. An automated system was developed around a small, inexpensive, personal computer through the application of current software engineering design and implementation techniques. The resulting system has freed the physician from tedious, time consuming data analysis in the operating room. The ECG and EA analog signals are obtained from conventional physiologic monitors and processed by the system to yield an index of the relative contractile state every five seconds. This discrete index is trended along with heart rate (HR) by plotting the last twenty minutes of data. In addition, the most current numeric values of HR and the contractile index are presented. The system is contained on a single cart, and therefore, is easily rolled into the operating room (OR). Operation of the system was designed to be simple and unoccupying in the sometimes hectic environment of the operating room. System performance was tested and found to be accurate when supplied with correct analog signals. Electrocautery device generated electromagnetic interference of the ECG or EA caused the system to produce an appropriate error message and “hold” until an acceptable signal was obtained. Due to the minimally invasive nature of the esophageal probe, monitoring of the heart’s relative contractile state is performed on a routine basis with minimal risk to the patient.
Direct conversion of cellulose into ethanol and ethyl-β-d-glucoside via engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of cellulose via engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a sustainable solution to valorize cellulose into fuels and chemicals. In this study, we demonstrate the feasibility of direct conversion of cellulose into ethanol and a biodegradable surfactant, ethyl-β-d-glucoside, via an engineered yeast strain (i.e., strain EJ2) expressing heterologous cellodextrin transporter (CDT-1) and intracellular β-glucosidase (GH1-1) originating from Neurospora crassa. We identified the formation of ethyl-β-d-glucoside in SSF of cellulose by the EJ2 strain owing to transglycosylation activity of GH1-1. The EJ2 strain coproduced 0.34 ± 0.03 g ethanol/g cellulose and 0.06 ± 0.00 g ethyl-β-d-glucoside/g cellulose at a rate of 0.30 ± 0.02 g·L-1 ·h-1 and 0.09 ± 01 g·L-1 ·h-1 , respectively, during the SSF of Avicel PH-101 cellulose, supplemented only with Celluclast 1.5 L. Herein, we report a possible coproduction of a value-added chemical (alkyl-glucosides) during SSF of cellulose exploiting the transglycosylation activity of GH1-1 in engineered S. cerevisiae. This coproduction could have a substantial effect on the overall technoeconomic feasibility of theSSF of cellulose.
Sex Discrimination Law and LGBT Equality

This Issue Brief lays out the arguments for why sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination must also be considered sex discrimination under well-established principles of anti-discrimination law. It also addresses some of the common counter-arguments to interpreting sex discrimination law to include the LGBT community, and concludes that each runs afoul of well-established statutory interpretation and/or anti-discrimination precedents.
Gain Properties of InGaN Quantum Wells with AlGaInN Barriers

The material gain properties of the InGaN quantum well (QW) with various AlInGaN barriers are studied through self-consistent k·p formalism. Our study shows that the InGaN QW with lattice-matched AlGaInN barriers achieves remarkable improvement over conventional InGaN QW.
Environmental Monitoring of Archival Collections: An Exploratory Study of Professionals’ Data Monitoring Dashboard Needs and Related Challenges

This work explores the data dashboard monitoring needs and challenges encountered by archives professionals engaged in environmental monitoring, such as collection of temperature and humidity data, across a variety of cultural heritage domains. The results of a practitioner focus group and data dashboard feature ideation session are presented. Findings suggest that practitioners’ environmental monitoring struggles include a variety of factors ranging from little budget or staff buy-in, to struggles with environmental monitoring device features, data collection, and interpretation. Suggested revisions to popular data dashboard tools in use included integrating multiple sensors’ data into a single, remotely-accessible real-time control interface. Participants’ required features in a data dashboard included: charts, export options, value ranges and exceeded alerts, web and mobile access, real-time data, and a date range selector. An initial data dashboard mockup based on the expressed end user needs and challenges is presented.
Another look at matrix correlations

Motivation High throughput technologies are widely employed in modern biomedical research. They yield measurements of a large number of biomolecules in a single experiment. The number of experiments usually is much smaller than the number of measurements in each experiment. The simultaneous measurements of biomolecules provide a basis for a comprehensive, systems view for describing relevant biological processes. Often it is necessary to determine correlations between the data matrices under different conditions or pathways. However, the techniques for analyzing the data with a low number of samples for possible correlations within or between conditions are still in development. Earlier developed correlative measures, such as the RV coefficient, use the trace of the product of data matrices as the most relevant characteristic. However, a recent study has shown that the RV coefficient consistently overestimates the correlations in the case of low sample numbers. To correct for this bias, it was suggested to discard the diagonal elements of the outer products of each data matrix. In this work, a principled approach based on the matrix decomposition generates three trace-independent parts for every matrix. These components are unique, and they are used to determine different aspects of correlations between the original datasets. Results Simulations show that the decomposition results in the removal of high correlation bias and the dependence on the sample number intrinsic to the RV coefficient. We then use the correlations to analyze a real proteomics dataset. Availability and implementation The python code can be downloaded from http://dynamic-proteome.utmb.edu/MatrixCorrelations.aspx. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
A Primer for Dignity Rights

Human dignity refers to the inherent humanness of each member of the human family. It recognizes and reflects the equal worth of each person and attaches to each person equally, regardless of gender, race, social or political status, talents, merit, or any other differentiator. It is not an attribute or an interest to be protected or advanced, like liberty or equality or a house or free speech, but exists anywhere there is a person, or perhaps two, whether or not it is named or recognized in law. It is what makes us all human, and what confirms the equal worth of human beings.