cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
My experiences with max mathews in the early days of computer music

��� I first met Max Mathews in about 1964, when I was still an undergraduate student at Princeton University. I had been working for Jim Randall, who was composing his piece Mudgett: Monologues of a Mass Murderer during the spring for a concert in the summer. Computer music as we now know it existed then only at Bell Telephone Laboratories, and Jim’s way of working on this piece was to compute a section of it at Princeton and drive a computer tape up to Bell Labs at Murray Hill, New Jersey, where he would convert it to sound, record it on a reel-to-reel tape, and take it back to Princeton, where he could listen to it carefully and splice it into the larger composition, or throw it out and redo that portion. The limitations of the data-storage system at that time were such that he had a maximum of about two minutes of music that could be converted on a single reel. In the fall of that year, I became a graduate student, and in collaboration with Godfrey Winham, we undertook the task of exporting the music programming language that Max Mathews had developed—Music IV—to Princeton. It was at that time that I began to realize the comprehensive nature of the vision he had developed for computer music, one that has undergirded much of the work that has been going ever since. Godfrey, Jim, and I still would visit Bell Labs to convert our files to sound, but it was not too long after that Bell Labs donated the system they had been using to Princeton, while they implemented a better system. That meant that we could do most of our work at Princeton, only going to Bell Labs for our final copies. (The converter at Princeton was limited to a 10-kHz sampling rate, monaural, whereas at Bell Labs they then had 20 kHz, stereo.) We continued to meet Max, although much of our immediate contact was with other people. In later years, I met and got to know Jean-Claude Risset, and I also saw the early GROOVE system developed by Dick Moore but used mostly by Emmanuel Ghent. Through these
A Cost-Effective, High Bandwidth Server I/O network Architecture for Cluster Systems

In this paper we present a cost-effective, high bandwidth server I/O network architecture, named PaScal (Parallel and Scalable). We use the PaScal server I/O network to support data-intensive scientific applications running on very large-scale Linux clusters. PaScal server I/O network architecture provides (1) bi-level data transfer network by combining high speed interconnects for computing inter-process communication (IPC) requirements and low-cost gigabit Ethernet interconnect for global IP based storage/file access, (2) bandwidth on demand I/O network architecture without re-wiring and reconfiguring the system, (3) multi-path routing scheme, (4) reliability improvement through reducing large number of network components in server I/O network, and (5) global storage/file systems support in heterogeneous multi-cluster and grids environments. We have compared the PaScal server I/O network architecture with the federated server I/O network architecture (FESIO). Concurrent MPI-I/O performance testing results and deployment cost comparison demonstrate that the PaScal server I/O network architecture can outperform the FESIO network architecture in many categories: cost-effectiveness, scalability, and manageability and ease of large-scale I/O network.
A rush to judgment on Th17

Some immunologists have characterized T helper (Th)17 T cells as the master mediators of tissue damage in a variety of pathological conditions. New data now demonstrate that Th1 and Th17 T cells are independently capable of inducing disease in two established models of autoimmunity. Thus, the role of Th17 cytokines as the central mediators of pathological tissue damage seems to require clarification.
SPECIALIZATION AND THE CRIMINAL CAREER

Hirschi recently (1985) attempted to show the compatibility of social control with rational choice theory. This effort by Hirschi is noteworthy because, if successful, he could provide a connection between positive and classical sentiments which have traditionally appeared in contention. Hirschi fails, however, to achieve his objective and is hindered by what he views as the incompatible objectives of the two theories. Hirschi uses the recently accepted findings which indicate lack of specialization among persons involved in illegal behavior to illustrate the difference he sees between criminality and crime and, thus, the divergence between social control and rational choice. This paper attempts to remove the barrier found by Hirschi by providing improved measurement of specialization, such as has been proposed by Farrington (1986) and Klein (1984), and by placing the results in a more realistic criminal careers perspective than has been done in previous studies. This study utilizes data from the 1958 Philadelphia Birth Cohort. With information to age 26 for 27,160 persons, these data are perhaps better suited to investigate this topic than any available.
Safety Nets or Social Insurance in the Presence of Poverty Traps? Evidence from Southern Ethiopia

Recent empirical work finds evidence of highly nonlinear wealth dynamics among the Boran pastoralists of southern Ethiopia, consistent with the hypothesis of poverty traps. We ask two critical, logically subsequent questions: (1) Do Boran pastoralists understand these dynamics? (2) If they do, what are the consequences for informal interhousehold transfers arrangements (gifts and loans of cattle)? We address these questions using original primary data collected among the same population to establish (i) pastoralists' expectations of herd dynamics and (ii) the structure of social transfers networks. Our results suggest that Borana pastoralists perceive the nonlinear dynamics that characterize livestock wealth in the region and that these result from adverse weather shocks affecting primarily households of intermediate herding ability, underscoring the criticality of methods for protecting assets in the face of unanticipated shocks. This has consequences on the design of transfer arrangements. In particular, we find that transfers of cattle respond to recipients' cattle losses, but only so long as he does not fall too far below the critical asset threshold at which herd dynamics bifurcate. Those who are persistently poor or who become destitute disappear from social networks and do not receive transfers in response to shocks. The resulting social transfers networks are highly asymmetric. These results suggest that asset transfers through social networks are better conceptualized as part of a safety net (with the objective of not letting a household falling into an asset poverty trap) than as informal mutual insurance (with the objective of providing proportional compensation for losses).
Track-width dependence of medium noise in metal-particle tape systems

Using a high-resolution positioning stage to produce narrow-track recordings, we investigated the track-width dependence of metal-particle tape medium noise. Measurements showed that the medium noise power varies with the square of the track width, creating a linear relationship between the signal power and noise power. The observed track-width dependence results from a long spatial crosstrack correlation length, leading to the conclusion that the head-medium noise continues to dominate the noise in the transition, even at high-track density. Binary noise, which produces a noise power directly proportional to the track width, does not become significant even for track widths below 2 /spl mu/m.
An interpretation of lower yield point plastic flow in the dynamic testing of mild steel

Abstract The constancy of the lower yield point in static testing of mild steel has led to its general acceptance as a measure of elastic strength. However, it is not suitable for high strain rate tests, because here neither the lower yield strain nor stress are constant. This variability results from the lack of sufficient time to establish a “steady state” and form the Luder's strain front within the length of the specimen. Evidence for such effects is obtained by arresting a dynamic testing machine during the lower yield portion of the stress-strain curve. From resulting head displacement and load records, together with measurements of plastic flow rate sensitivity from other tests, the strain distribution is calculated; a satisfactory agreement between it and the measured strain distribution behind the Luder's band is found. When the velocity of the band front is corrected for its diminution due to continued flow behind the front, it appears to be related to the driving stress with a sensitivity corresponding to that for the upper yield point, i.e. the delayed yield effect.
Path-following control for dissipative passive haptic displays

This paper addresses the problem of following an arbitrary path with a dissipative passive haptic display. Such a display has energetically passive actuators; all motive energy must come initially from the human operator and the display may then in general dissipate, redirect, and/or store the energy. Due to the passive restriction conventional haptic control techniques are not applicable. Three control concepts addressing this problem are presented. Simulated and experimental results are provided for these controllers as implemented on a 2 DOF dissipative haptic testbed with additional coupling elements.
Scaling, Universality, and Renormalization: Three Pillars of Modern Critical Phenomena

Suppose we have a simple bar magnet. We know it is a ferromagnet because it is capable of picking up thumbtacks, the number of which is called the order parameter M. As we heat this system, M decreases and eventually, at a certain critical temperature T c , it reaches zero: no more thumbtacks remain! In fact, the transition is remarkably sharp, since M approaches zero at T c with infinite slope. Such singular behavior is an example of a “critical phenomenon.”
Morphology and electrical transport in pentacene films on silylated oxide surfaces

A study comparing the morphology and electrical transport properties of pentacene films on underlayers of different self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) is presented. The SAMs studied as underlayers were phenyltrichlorosilane, n-octadecyltrichlorosilane, and t-butyldiphenylchlorosilane. Pentacene thin films were grown by vacuum sublimation on SiO2 surfaces treated with self-assembled monolayers. During deposition, substrates were held at a temperature of 70 °C. The morphologies of the films at different stages of deposition were studied by atomic force microscopy, and the transport properties of the films were characterized by I-V measurements in a simple field-effect transistor (FET) structure. The SAM underlayers strongly influence the film morphology in the first few molecular layers and hence significantly impact the electrical transport in the resulting FETs.
Links between annual, Milankovitch and continuum temperature variability

Climate variability exists at all timescales-and climatic processes are intimately coupled, so that understanding variability at any one timescale requires some understanding of the whole. Records of the Earth's surface temperature illustrate this interdependence, having a continuum of variability following a power-law scaling. But although specific modes of interannual variability are relatively well understood, the general controls on continuum variability are uncertain and usually described as purely stochastic processes. Here we show that power-law relationships of surface temperature variability scale with annual and Milankovitch-period (23,000- and 41,000-year) cycles. The annual cycle corresponds to scaling at monthly to decadal periods, while millennial and longer periods are tied to the Milankovitch cycles. Thus the annual, Milankovitch and continuum temperature variability together represent the response to deterministic insolation forcing. The identification of a deterministic control on the continuum provides insight into the mechanisms governing interannual and longer-period climate variability.
Neuroprotection by cyclodextrin in cell and mouse models of Alzheimer disease

There is extensive evidence that cholesterol and membrane lipids play a key role in Alzheimer disease (AD) pathogenesis. Cyclodextrins (CD) are cyclic oligosaccharide compounds widely used to bind cholesterol. Because CD exerts significant beneficial effects in Niemann-Pick type C disease, which shares neuropathological features with AD, we examined the effects of hydroxypropyl-β-CD (HP-β-CD) in cell and mouse models of AD. Cell membrane cholesterol accumulation was detected in N2a cells overexpressing Swedish mutant APP (SwN2a), and the level of membrane cholesterol was reduced by HP-β-CD treatment. HP-β-CD dramatically lowered the levels of Aβ42 in SwN2a cells, and the effects were persistent for 24 h after withdrawal. 4 mo of subcutaneous HP-β-CD administration significantly improved spatial learning and memory deficits in Tg19959 mice, diminished Aβ plaque deposition, and reduced tau immunoreactive dystrophic neurites. HP-β-CD lowered levels of Aβ42 in part by reducing β cleavage of the APP protein, and it also up-regulated the expression of genes involved in cholesterol transport and Aβ clearance. This is the first study to show neuroprotective effects of HP-β-CD in a transgenic mouse model of AD, both by reducing Aβ production and enhancing clearance mechanisms, which suggests a novel therapeutic strategy for AD.
Three Lectures on Minimax and Monotonicity

This is an edited version of three lectures that were given at the workshop on minimax theory and applications that was held at the “Ettore Majorana” international center for scientific culture in Erice, Sicily, September 30 – October 6, 1996. The purpose of these lectures is to show how a standard minimax theorem can be used to give some new results, and very simplified proofs of some old results, about monotone multifunctions on a Banach space.
Refinements to the study of electrostatic deflections: theory and experiment

To study electrostatic actuation, researchers commonly use a setup proposed by G. I. Taylor in [Proc. R. Soc. Lond. Ser. A, 306 (1968), pp. 423–434]. It consists of soap film held at a distance h above a rigid plate so that when a voltage difference is applied between the two components, the top film deflects towards the bottom plate. The most striking feature of this system is when the voltage difference exceeds a critical value V ∗, the electrostatic forces dominate the surface forces and the soap film gets ‘pulled-into’ or collapses onto the bottom plate. This so-called ‘pull-in’ instability is a ubiquitous feature of electrostatic actuation and as a result, has been the subject of many studies. Recently, Siddique et al. [J. Electrostatics, 69 (2011), pp. 1–6] measured the value of V ∗ as a function of the separation distance and found that the standard prediction breaks down as h increases. Here, we continue the work done in [N.D. Brubaker and J.A. Pelesko, European J. Appl. Math., 22 (2011), pp. 455–470] by investigating the cause of this discrepancy. Specifically, we model the effect of gravity on the generalized version of Taylor’s model and study whether it provides the proper correction to the predicted value of V ∗. In doing so, we derive two nonlinear eigenvalue value problems and investigate their solutions sets.
Calculating rovibrationally excited states of H2D+ and HD2+ by combination of fixed node and multi-state rotational diffusion Monte Carlo

Abstract In this work the efficacy of a combined approach for capturing rovibrational coupling is investigated. Specifically, the multi-state rotational DMC method is used in combination with fixed-node DMC in a study of the rotation vibration energy levels of H 2 D + and HD 2 + . Analysis of the results of these calculations shows very good agreement between the calculated energies and previously reported values. Where differences are found, they can be attributed to Coriolis couplings, which are large in these ions and which are not fully accounted for in this approach.
The receptor like kinase at Rhg1-a/Rfs2 caused pleiotropic resistances to SDS and SCN

Background: Soybean (Glycine max (L. Merr.)) resistance to any population of Heterodera glycines (I.), or Fusarium virguliforme (Akoi, O’Donnell, Homma & Lattanzi) required a functional allele at Rhg1/Rfs2. H. glycines, the soybean cyst nematode (SCN) was an ancient, endemic, pest of soybean whereas F. virguliforme causal agent of sudden death syndrome (SDS), was a recent, regional, pest. This study examined the role of a receptor like kinase (RLK) GmRLK18-1 (gene model Glyma_18_02680 at 1,071 kbp on chromosome 18 of the genome sequence) within the Rhg1/Rfs2 locus in causing resistance to SCN and SDS. Results: A BAC (B73p06) encompassing the Rhg1/Rfs2 locus was sequenced from a resistant cultivar and compared to the sequences of two susceptible cultivars from which 800 SNPs were found. Sequence alignments inferred that the resistance allele was an introgressed region of about 59 kbp at the center of which the GmRLK18-1 was the most polymorphic gene and encoded protein. Analyses were made of plants that were either heterozygous at, or transgenic (and so hemizygous at a new location) with, the resistance allele of GmRLK18-1. Those plants infested with either H. glycines or F. virguliforme showed that the allele for resistance was dominant. In the absence of Rhg4 the GmRLK18-1 was sufficient to confer nearly complete resistance to both root and leaf symptoms of SDS caused by F. virguliforme and provided partial resistance to three different populations of nematodes (mature female cysts were reduced by 30–50%). In the presence of Rhg4 the plants with the transgene were nearly classed as fully resistant to SCN (females reduced to 11% of the susceptible control) as well as SDS. A reduction in the rate of early seedling root development was also shown to be caused by the resistance allele of the GmRLK18-1. Field trials of transgenic plants showed an increase in foliar susceptibility to insect herbivory. Conclusions: The inference that soybean has adapted part of an existing pathogen recognition and defense cascade (H.glycines; SCN and insect herbivory) to a new pathogen (F. virguliforme; SDS) has broad implications for crop improvement. Stable resistance to many pathogens might be achieved by manipulation the genes encoding a small number of pathogen recognition proteins.
Possible Mechanism of Crude Coal Tar Therapy in Infantile Eczema.

The therapeutic value of ointments containing crude coal tar in infantile eczema has long been recognized. It is not infrequently noted in eczema cases showing extensive skin eruption that untreated areas, as well as those to which direct application of the tar is made, improve. This suggests that crude coal tar may have a systemic as well as a local effect.In the light of the observations that the serum fatty acids of infants with eczema are less unsaturated than those of normal subjects of the same age1 and that administration of oils high in unsaturated fatty acids causes an increase in the degree of unsaturation as well as a clinical improvement in the condition,2 a preliminary study of the effect of local applications of tar ointment on the fatty acids of the serum has been made. Data from 3 cases followed over a period of several months are presented here.Case 1, an eczematous male infant 15 months of age, showed values of 334 and 322 mg. iodine absorbed per 100 cc. of serum on 2 successive days at ...
A Moving Ellipsoid Method for Nonparametric Regression and Its Application to Logit Diagnostics With Scanner Data

Nonparametric regression becomes increasingly attractive for marketing applications as the required large databases become available. The well-known kernel method provides the regression E(y|x) of ...
Tips and tricks for successful electroretinography in children.

Purpose of review The role of electroretinography in pediatric practice, and to offer suggestions for successful electroretinography recordings in children. Recent findings Electroretinography can be usually be obtained in infants without resorting to general anesthesia. When general anesthesia is required, modifications to standard protocols can often reduce total anesthesia time without compromising the clinical value of the study. Summary With appropriate technique, electroretinography methods could be made more widely available for pediatric diagnosis.
Bacteriologic Studies of Rifampin, a New Semisynthetic Antibiotic

Rifampin is a semisynthetic N-methyl piperizine derivative of the antibiotic rifamycin SV produced by Streptomyces mediterranei. It is of particular interest because of its wide antibacterial spectrum against gram-positive and gramnegative bacteria as well as Mycobacterium tuberculosis [1-4]. It is an orange-red powder with a molecular weight of 822 and has the structure shown in figure 1. Clinical evaluation is now under way. This report will deal with the in vitro activity of this antibiotic against staphylococci, streptococci, and enteric bacteria. Particular emphasis will be placed on the problem of emergence of resistant strains and the effect of inoculum size
Strength and Interfacial Properties of Ceramic Composites

Results of recent micromechanics analyses of the reinforcing influence of frictionally bonded fibers in ceramic composites are summnarized. Direct measurements of the fiber/matrix interface properties are also discussed.
Toward Simple Boundary Condition Representations of Zero-Net Mass-Flux Actuators in Grazing Flow

The paper explores a set of simple boundary conditions that can represent the flow emanating from zero-net mass-flux (ZNMF) jets in grazing flow. Results from numerical simulations of ZNMF jets in grazing flows are used to determine the key characteristics of the jet profile, and these are used to construct a series of boundary condition models. These various boundary conditions are then tested for a jet exhausting in an attached boundary layer as well as a boundary layer with an induced separation bubble.
O-017 a retrospective case review using the apollo™ system for endoscopic assisted, neuro-navigation guided evacuation of intracerebral hemorrhage

Introduction Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) has been associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality and is responsible for 10–15% of all stroke cases. Larger volumes of hemorrhage correlate with poorer outcome, but many treatment options, such as craniotomy, have not demonstrated significant clinical benefits. However, some minimally invasive techniques for ICH removal have shown a positive relationship with hemorrhage volume reduction and patient outcome. The recently approved Apollo System provides a minimally invasive approach for continuous fluid removal. Reported herein is a case review of early experience using the Apollo System in the endoscopic assisted, neuro-navigation guided evacuation of ICH. Methods This was a retrospective case review of consecutively enrolled patients treated with the Apollo™ System since October 2014. Baseline characteristics, clinical performance, safety, and follow up data were assessed. Volume of hemorrhage was calculated using the A*B*C/2 method. A grading scale for volume of clot removed is described. Results To date 11 patients were identified and met analysis criteria. 27.3% were female. Mean age was 50.9 ± 16.2. Hemorrhage location comprised of 81.8% basal ganglia, 9.1% ventricular circulation, 9.1% other. Mean clot volume at baseline was 40.8 ± 32.4 cc. Immediate post-procedure, mean clot volume was 5.5 ± 8.9 cc with a percent clot reduction average of 91.4 ± 8.2% (p = 0.0020), see example pre- and post-treatment CT scan in Figure 1. Nine out of ten (9/10) patients had a final clot volume below 15 cc. Following the procedure, only 1 patient required the need for shunt placement and 45.5% of patients were discharged home. Mean length of stay in the ICU was 8.3 ± 5.0 days. Conclusion Preliminary experience using the Apollo™ System in the evacuation of ICH shows promising results in rapidly reducing overall clot volume with a favorable safety profile and ICU stay compared with historical controls. Further study is required to determine the association between the reduction in clot volume and outcome measures such as length of hospital stay and clinical recovery. Disclosures R. Ryan: 2; C; Penumbra, Inc.
Non-association of Peyronie's disease with HLA B7 cross-reactive antigens.

Abstract Twenty-eight Caucasian males with idiopathic Peyronie’s disease were phenotyped for their HLA A, B, and C locus determinants. No significant association with any HLA antigen was found in this series.
Empirical therapy of community-acquired pneumonia : Macrolides are not ideal choices

Macrolides are a rational option for patients with community-acquired pneumonia managed as outpatients. For hospitalized patients, they may be used to supplement other drugs, usually betalactams, because of their excellent activity versus Legionella, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The reason for lack of confidence for macrolides as single agents in hospitalized patients, especially for seriously ill patients, is the lack of studies confirming good results for seriously ill patients, and relatively poor in vitro activity against some important pathogens. Resistance is noted to erythromycin, clarithromycin, and azithromycin by 10% to 15% of Streptococcus pneumoniae, about 40% of penicillin resistant S pneumoniae, most Fusobacteria, some Streptococcus aureus, and all gram-negative bacilli.
A self-adaptive mesh refinement technique for boundary element solution of the Navier's equation

A self-adaptive mesh refinement technique is developed for boundary element solutions of the two-dimensional Laplace equation. The method is based on error reduction and applied on the element and global level to estimate the error associated with each mesh. This adaptive technique is then utilized to analyze problems with and without singularities. Results employing constant two-dimensional boundary elements are presented.
Aberrant Somatic Hypermutation Targets an Extensive Set of Genes in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.

Genomic instability is a driving force in tumor development that can be achieved by a variety of mechanisms, such as defective chromosome segregation or inactivation of the DNA mismatch repair pathway. Although B-cell lymphomas are associated with chromosomal translocations deregulating oncogene expression, a mechanism for genome-wide instability during lymphomagenesis has long not been described. We have reported that the somatic hypermutation process (SHM), which normally targets the immunoglobulin variable region (IgV) and BCL6 genes in germinal center (GC) B-cells, functions aberrantly in >50% of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common type of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (Pasqualucci et al., Nature412:341, 2001). As a consequence, multiple somatic mutations are introduced into the 5′ region of genes that do not represent physiologic SHM targets, including known proto-oncogenes such as PIM1, PAX5, RhoH/TTF and cMYC. To further define the extent of this phenomenon, termed aberrant somatic hypermutation (ASHM), and to identify additional hypermutated loci of possible pathogenetic significance in DLBCL, we screened 113 genes for the presence of mutations affecting their 5′ sequences (≥1.3 Kb from the transcription start site, the target region for SHM) in 10 DLBCL cell lines. Fifteen genes (13.3%) were found to harbor a significant number of mutations (p
Distress in cancer survivors attending a multidisciplinary survivorship clinic.

9575 Background: Distress is defined as an unpleasant emotional experience that may interfere with the ability to cope with cancer or its treatment. Distress screening is recommended during transitions including survivorship. We describe distress in cancer survivors before and after participation in a multidisciplinary survivorship clinic. Methods: All patients participating in the Yale Adult Survivorship Clinic were asked to complete the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Distress Thermometer (DT) immediately before and after a visit. Survivors ranked distress from 0 (none) to 10 (extreme) and indicated associated problems from a 39-item list. A score ≥ 4 was considered clinically significant. Survivors were seen by an MD/APRN, social worker, registered dietitian and physical therapist. Survivors received individual counseling on topics including survivorship care, diet and exercise, and coping. All were offered a follow-up visit approximately 8 weeks later. Distress screening was repeated at the foll...
Myosin Clusters of Finite Size Develop Contractile Stress in 1D Random Actin Arrays

Myosin-powered force generation and contraction in nonmuscle cells underlies many cell biological processes and is based on contractility of random actin arrays. This contractility must rely on a microscopic asymmetry, the precise mechanism of which is not completely clear. A number of models of mechanical and structural asymmetries in actomyosin contraction have been posited. Here, we examine a contraction mechanism based on a finite size of myosin clusters and anisotropy of force generation by myosin heads at the ends of the myosin clusters. We use agent-based numerical simulations to demonstrate that if average lengths of actin filaments and myosin clusters are similar, then the proposed microscopic asymmetry leads to effective contraction of random 1D actomyosin arrays. We discuss the model's implication for mechanics of contractile rings and stress fibers.
Imaging and Screening of Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer has a high mortality, attributed to its typically advanced stage at detection. Despite much effort to identify an effective approach for ovarian cancer screening, to date no screening test has proven to reduce ovarian cancer mortality. The natural history of ovarian cancer is reviewed as well as data from the largest trials of ovarian cancer screening. Currently, no North American society recommends routine ovarian cancer screening; some societies recommend consideration of screening with pelvic ultrasound and CA-125 in women at high risk, although its use in this setting is not supported by data demonstrating a mortality benefit.
Wireless power recovery for Internet of Things devices using pre-charged CMUTs

Capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) are currently used in diagnostic ultrasound imaging systems, and are also attractive solutions for therapeutic and tracking applications in the body. Most CMUTs require a voltage bias for operation with high sensitivity and efficiency; this requirement can be inconvenient for some applications, such as catheter- and capsule-based endoscopy, while being prohibitive for others, such as wirelessly-powered millimeter-sized nodes for the Internet of Things. The use of pre-charged CMUTs, which can operate without a voltage bias, holds the potential to open up an entire class of previously inaccessible applications for CMUTs that are incompatible, due to issues of size, complexity, or safety, with a voltage bias. Pre-charging can also greatly increase the safety and simplicity of system-level design for applications that are compatible with a voltage bias, but that do not require tuning of the bias in the course of operation.
Theological Implications of Fear: The Grasshopper Complex …:

In the pages of Scripture the conception of human fear is both sternly prohibited and warmly encouraged. Fear in itself is neither sin nor piety; other factors make this determination. Because of t...
Comparative Mammalian Cell Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity

The drinking water community provides a public health service by generating of high-quality, safe, and palatable tap water. The disinfection of drinking water primarily employs chemical disinfectants. These disinfectants are oxidants that convert naturally occurring and synthetic organic materials, bromide, and iodide in the source water into chemical disinfection by-products (DBPs). DBPs are an unintended consequence of disinfection. Each disinfection method generates a different spectrum and distribution of DBPs; to date over 600 DBPs have been identified. Although reducing the public health risk of acute infection by waterborne pathogens, the unintended generation of DBPs poses a chronic health risk. DBPs represent an important class of environmentally hazardous chemicals that may carry long-term human health implications. A systematic in vitro mammalian cell analysis of the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of emerging DBPs and related compounds has provided insight into their relative toxicities. These mammalian cell assays also allowed a comparison of the relative cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of the major DBP chemical classes. The impact of nitrogen-containing and iodinated DBPs was revealed by these cell toxicity assays. The use of alternative disinfectants generates new DBP compounds and alters the distribution of DBP chemical classes. The water supply community will be able to consider these factors when employing alternatives to chlorine disinfection. In addition, these data will be available to prioritize DBPs for future in vivo toxicological studies and risk assessment.
SEDIMENT PROBLEMS AND THEIR CONTROL IN U.S. NAVY PIER SLIPS IN SELECTED HARBORS OF THE UNITED STATES

Abstract United States Navy pier slips in the harbors of Hampton Roads, VA; Charleston, SC; Mayport, FL; and Alameda, CA experience sedimentation problems. This affects berthing of deep-draft vessels such as aircraft carriers where depths of water up to 45 ft (13.7 m) are required. In addition to problems involving grounding and clogging of cooling water systems, both of which render a vessel inoperative, increasing cost of dredging maintenance is encountered. Various means of sediment control in pier slips are discussed. These include the use of single row of water jets, water jet arrays, silt curtains, agitation dredging, and a sand crater-eductor method.
Prospective: How the Zebra Finch Genome Strengthens Brain-Behavior Connections in Songbird Models of Learned Vocalization

Songbirds are a premier model for speech and language; brain and behavior studies of song learning, perceptual processing, and production have uncovered processes fundamental to vocal communication. Recently, the first songbird genome has been sequenced and assembled. The genome represents great opportunity to advance discovery of neural mechanisms of song. Notably, it enables simultaneous measurements of thousands of genes, prediction and testing of the connections between those genes, examination of nonprotein coding RNAs, and functional structural elements. Researchers have just begun to explore these aspects. This review will therefore provide an overview of how genomic elements may interrelate with song.
Predictive modeling in reproductive medicine

The accurate prediction of fertility outcomes is an extremely interesting and challenging task in reproductive medicine. Efforts in this area focus on classic statistical models and newer technologies, including machine learning. The modeling process has three steps, namely, data preparation, model selection and data fitting, and model validation. Here, we present a review of studies on these methods of fertility prediction. Various databases were searched using relevant keywords. Original studies with full-text available on this topic were included for review. Earlier studies explored prediction models for spontaneous pregnancy prognosis, reproductive outcomes after intrauterine insemination and in vitro fertilization, and implantation potential based on embryo morphology and morphokinetic data. Future directions for predictive modeling in reproductive medicine include solving problems presented by big data, identifying novel informative features, balancing predictive power and result interpretability, and validating models with gold-standard study designs.
Transcriptome Sequencing of Immature Ants Reveals the Complete Genome Sequence of a New Isolate of Solenopsis invicta Virus 2 from the Mississippi Delta.

ABSTRACT Solenopsis invictavirus 2 (SINV-2) is an RNA virus that infects red imported fire ants. I report the genome sequence of SINV-2MSD, an isolate infecting ants collected from Mississippi. The obtained genome is 11,303 nucleotides, including six open reading frames encoding four structural proteins, a helicase, and an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase.
Enhanced Immunoaffinity Purification of Human Neutrophil Flavocytochrome B for Structure Determination by Electron Microscopy

Determination of the structure of human neutrophil (PMN) flavocytochrome b (Cytb) is a necessary step for the understanding of the structure-function essentials of NADPH oxidase activity. This understanding is crucial for structure-driven therapeutic approaches addressing control of inflammation and infection. Our work on purification and sample preparation of Cytb has facilitated progress toward the goal of structure determination. Here we describe exploiting immunoaffinity purification of Cytb for initial examination of its size and shape by a combination of classical and cryoelectron microscopic (EM) methods. For these evaluations, we used conventional negative-stain transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to examine both detergent-solubilized Cytb as single particles and Cytb in phosphatidylcholine reconstituted membrane vesicles as densely packed random, partially ordered, and subcrystalline arrays. In preliminary trials, we also examined single particles by cryoelectron microscopy (cryoEM) methods. We conclude that Cytb in detergent and reconstituted in membrane is a relatively compact, symmetrical protein of about 100 A in maximum dimension. The negative stain, preliminary cryoEM, and crude molecular models suggest that the protein is probably a heterotetramer of two p22phox and gp91phox subunits in both detergent micelles and membrane vesicles. This exploratory study also suggests that high-resolution 2D electron microscopic approaches may be accessible to human material collected from single donors.
Computer-aided GPCR drug discovery

Abstract G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest superfamily of human membrane proteins. They serve as the primary targets for ∼1/3 of currently marketed drugs. Although large chemical databases containing tens of millions of commercially available compounds are provided, it is impractical for academia and industry to perform high-throughput screening to test all the compounds experimentally. In this regard, virtual screening and computer-aided drug discovery have proven useful in selecting a small subset of promising compounds for experimental testing and reducing the cost in biomedical research of GPCRs. Here, we review applications of computational modeling for discovery of novel small-molecule GPCR ligands, including antagonists, agonists, biased agonists, and allosteric modulators. The remaining challenges for computer-aided drug discovery in GPCRs are discussed as well.
Optimizing Multi-antenna Communication in Cluster-based Wireless Networks

Wireless networks are vital for supporting a range of applications, and energy efficiency is a key factor in improving the operational lifetime for these networks. In multiantenna wireless networks, the energy optimization problem can be addressed using the trade-off between the transmit power and the circuit energy consumption. Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) communication is a promising approach that can be efficiently used to reduce the energy consumption for communication. In MIMO systems, the transmit power is spread among more than one antenna, which results in having a high power gain and better spectral efficiency. In this paper, we propose optimizing the MIMO communication within a cluster-based protocol for wireless networks in which the nodes have multiple antennas and may be powered by energy harvesting. The proposed approach adjusts the number of antennas for communication between a normal node and a cluster-head dynamically in order to improve the overall energy efficiency of the network. We evaluate the proposed approach in two scenarios, a network with static nodes with non-rechargeable batteries, and a network with mobile nodes powered through energy harvesting. In both scenarios, the simulation results show that the proposed approach of multi-antenna optimization outperforms a traditional fixed approach in terms of number of received packets, percentage of dead nodes, and energy consumption.
V -to-C coarticulation in Catalan VCV sequences: an articulatory and acoustical study

Abstract: Electropalatographic and acoustical data on VCV sequences for Catalan consonants involving contrasting degrees of tongue-dorsum contact (dorsopalatal [j], alveolo-palatals [ɲ] and [ʎ], and alveolar [n]) show that the degree of V-to-C coarticulation varies monotonically and inversely with the degree of tongue-dorsum contact and the size of the back cavity behind the place of constriction. Evidence for larger carryover than anticipatory V-to-C effects is also presented. Both findings suggest that, to a large extent, coarticulation on tongue-dorsum contact is regulated by mechanical constraints on articulatory activity.
Supporting Chinese Character Educational Interfaces with Richer Assessment Feedback through Sketch Recognition

Students of Chinese as a Second Language (CSL) with primarily English fluency often struggle with the language's complex character set. Conventional classroom pedagogy and relevant educational applications have focused on providing valuable assessment feedback to address their challenges, but rely on direct instructor observation and provide constrained assessment, respectively. We propose improved sketch recognition techniques to better support Chinese character educational interfaces' realtime assessment of novice CSL students' character writing. Based on successful assessment feedback approaches from existing educational resources, we developed techniques for supporting richer automated assessment, so that students may be better informed of their writing performance outside the classroom. From our evaluations, our techniques achieved recognition rates of 91% and 85% on expert and novice Chinese character handwriting data, respectively, greater than 90% recognition rate on written technique mistakes, and 80.4% f-measure on distinguishing between expert and novice handwriting samples, without sacrificing students' natural writing input of Chinese characters.
Risk Factors of Problem Gaming and Gambling in US Emerging Adult Non-Students: The Role of Loot Boxes, Microtransactions, and Risk-Taking.

Video gaming and gambling have increasingly converged with one another (e.g., social casino games). For emerging adults (18–25 years old), who are already at an elevated risk for addictive disorder...
Abstract 5160: A GPCR candidate in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: A potential repurposing opportunity

The 5-year survival of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common type of pancreatic cancer (90%), is very low (~9% all stages). PDAC thus requires new, effective and safe therapies. By comparing transcriptomic data for PDAC (in The Cancer Genome Atlas) with that of normal pancreas (in the GTEx database), we discovered that many G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are increased in expression in PDAC. One such GPCR is the histamine receptor H1 (HRH1). GPCRs regulate metabolism, growth/death and functional activities of normal and cancer cells, including features of the malignant phenotype. GPCRs are the largest family of targets of approved drugs but have been largely ignored in cancer therapy. We found that HRH1 is prominently (~32-fold) overexpressed in PDAC tumors compared to normal pancreatic tissue and that high HRH1 expression is an unfavorable prognostic marker for PDAC patients. HRH1 mRNA is also highly expressed in multiple human PDAC cell lines. Studies with such cell lines revealed that histamine, acting via HRH1, increases intracellular Ca2+, cell proliferation and migration, effects blocked by multiple FDA-approved HRH1 antihistamines. PDAC tumors and cancer cells isolated from KPC mice also have high HRH1 expression compared to normal mouse pancreas. Similar to human PDAC cells, the KPC cells showed histamine/HRH1-promoted increase in intracellular Ca2+. Altogether, our findings identify HRH1 as a prominently overexpressed, functional GPCR in human and mouse PDAC tumors and cells. HRH1 may thus be a novel therapeutic target; its blockade by FDA-approved antihistamines represents a novel potential repurposing approach for the treatment of PDAC. Citation Format: Cristina Salmeron, Krishna Sriram, Alyssa Baird, Paul A. Insel. A GPCR candidate in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: A potential repurposing opportunity [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 5160.
Virtual Interviews During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey of Applicants to Fellowships in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The objective was to assess female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery (FPMRS) fellowship applicants' perspectives on the effectiveness of the virtual interview format for creating their rank lists. METHODS: This was an anonymous internet-based survey study of applicants to the FPMRS fellowships in the United States, conducted from July 21, 2020, to August 5, 2020. A 34-item questionnaire queried applicants on satisfaction with interviews, comfort with creating a rank list and time, and financial cost of interviews. Applicants were invited to complete the survey via standardized emails distributed via the REDCap secure database. RESULTS: Forty-two (56.7%) of 74 applicants completed the survey. The majority of respondents were somewhat satisfied or very satisfied (92.9%) with the virtual interview process and felt comfortable ranking the programs (83.3%). A total of 9.8% of respondents found virtual interviews somewhat or much better than in-person interviews with regards to being informative and helpful, whereas 61% found them to be about the same. A majority (75.6%) found virtual interviews somewhat or much less stressful compared with in-person interviews. The majority (97.5%) spent less than $2,000 during the application process compared with more than $4,000 (87.8%) that they had anticipated spending if the interviews were in person. CONCLUSIONS: Our data revealed that FPMRS applicants overall had a positive experience with the virtual interview platform and felt comfortable creating a rank list of programs based on those interviews.
Effects of Cannabidiol and Beta-Caryophyllene Alone or in Combination in a Mouse Model of Permanent Ischemia

Current treatments for stroke, which account for 6.5 million global deaths annually, remain insufficient for treatment of disability and mortality. One targetable hallmark of stroke is the inflammatory response following infarct, which leads to significant damage post-infarct. Cannabinoids and their endogenous targets within the CNS have emerged as potential treatments for neuroinflammatory indications. We and others have previously shown that synthetic agonists of the cannabinoid CB2 receptor reduce infarct size and microglial activation in rodent models of stroke. The non-cannabinoid receptor mediated effects of the phytocannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) have also shown effectiveness in these models. The present aim was to determine the single and combined effects of the cannabis-derived sesquiterpene and putative CB2 receptor agonist β-caryophyllene (BCP) and CBD on permanent ischemia without reperfusion using a mouse model of photothrombosis. Because BCP and CBD likely work through different sites of action but share common mechanisms of action, we sought to determine whether combinations of BCP and CBD were more potent than either compound alone. Therefore we determined the effect of BCP (3–30 mg/kg IP) and CBD (3–30 mg/kg IP), given alone or in combination (30:3, 30:10, and 30:30 BCP:CBD), on infarct size, microglial activation, and motor performance.