cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 4266: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER), a potential therapeutic target for mutant p53 colorectal cancer

Introduction: Inactivating p53 mutations contribute to tumor progression and treatment-resistance, resulting in poor patient survival in colorectal cancer patients (CRC). The goal of this study is to identify novel small molecules that therapeutically target mutant p53 in CRC. Methods: We analyzed the effects of small molecule (ASR458) on p53-wild type (p53-wt; HCT116) and mutant p53 (p53-mut; SW620) colon cancer cells by phenotypic, molecular and in vivo assays. Results: ASR458 treatment significantly inhibited the proliferation of both HCT116 and SW620 cells at nM concentrations. In p53-wt HCT116 cells, ASR458 caused induction of p53 that resulted in caspase-mediated cell death in both in vitro and in vivo models. On the contrary, ASR458 treatment induced ER-stress signaling (i.e., phosphorylation of ERK and eIF2-α) in p53-mut SW620 cells, which triggered ATF4 activation and subsequent induction of cascade of autophagy events (Atg family proteins, LC3B and Lamp1), causing autophagy-mediated cell death. Silencing ER stress marker ATF-4, a key regulator of autophagy, caused resistance to ASR458 and abrogated autophagy signaling in SW620 cells. This suggested that induction of ER-stress is critical for the cytotoxic effects of ASR458 in p53-mut CRC. Preliminary knockdown studies indicate that silencing of ER markers causes resistance to ASR458 in vitro, further confirming ER-stress as the mechanism of ASR458 action in p53-mut CRC. ASR458 significantly inhibited the growth of SW620 tumors in xenograft. Tissue analysis confirmed the ER-stress signaling observed in vitro. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate ASR458 as a potential therapeutic agent with distinct targets in p53-wt and p53-mut CRC. This study also suggests that ATF4 mediated autophagy in unmanaged ER stress can reduce CRC pathogenesis. Further investigation into the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ASR458 should help clinical translation of this agent. Citation Format: Ashish Tyagi, Balaji chandrasekaran, Venkatesh Kolluru, Becca V. Baby, Alatassi Houda, Srinivasa Ramisetti, Arun Sharma, Murali Ankem, Chendil Damodaran. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER), a potential therapeutic target for mutant p53 colorectal cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4266.
Surgical and Non-surgical Penile Elongation Techniques

To summarize data on lengthening treatments from PubMed-indexed scientific publications. Several surgical techniques achieve penile lengthening when combined with penile prosthesis (PP) implantation, including the sliding, incision/excision and grafting, and multiple incision techniques. Other factors associated with greater length with PP include use of AMS 700 LGX devices, new length measurement technique, immediate activation, and regular device cycling. Among non-surgical therapies, penile traction achieves lengthening in most studies, while vacuum therapies demonstrate milder improvements. Other treatments either have failed to demonstrate consistent benefits or have mixed data, including isolated incision/excision and grafting, scrotoplasty, lipectomy/escutcheonectomy, suspensory ligament release, placement of cylindrical silicone (Penuma), or penile injections with silicone, hyaluronic acid, or other similar materials. Although multiple surgical and non-surgical therapies exist for penile lengthening, most have limited data available. Additionally, injection and surgical treatments can result in severe complications in some cases.
AGA Clinical Practice Update on Young Adult-Onset Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Management: Expert Review.

Description The objectives of this expert review are: (1) to prepare clinicians to recognize the presentation and evidence-based risk factors for young adult–onset colorectal cancer (CRC), defined as CRC diagnosed in individuals 18 - Methods The evidence reviewed in this manuscript is a summation of relevant scientific publications, expert opinion statements, and current practice guidelines. Best Practice Advice 1 With the rising incidence of people developing CRC before 50 years of age, diagnostic evaluation of the colon and rectum is encouraged for all patients, irrespective of age, who present with symptoms that may be consistent with CRC, including but not limited to: rectal bleeding, weight loss, change in bowel habit, abdominal pain, iron deficiency anemia. Best Practice Advice 2 Clinicians should obtain family history of colorectal and other cancers in first and second degree relatives of patients with young adult–onset CRC and discuss genetic evaluation with germline genetic testing either in targeted genes based on phenotypic presentation or in multiplex gene panels regardless of family history. Best Practice Advice 3 Clinicians should present the role of fertility preservation prior to cancer-directed therapy including surgery, pelvic radiation, or chemotherapy Best Practice Advice 4 Clinicians should counsel patients on the benefit of germline genetic testing and familial cancer panel testing in the pre-surgical period to inform which surgical options may be available to the patient with young adult–onset CRC Best Practice Advice 5 Clinicians should consider utilizing germline and somatic genetic testing results to inform chemotherapeutic strategies Best Practice Advice 6 Clinicians should offer hereditary CRC syndrome specific screening for CRC and extra-colonic cancers only to young adult–onset CRC patients who have a genetically or clinically diagnosed hereditary CRC syndrome. For patients with sporadic young adult–onset CRC, extra-colonic screening and CRC surveillance intervals are the same as for patients with older adult–onset CRC.
Hepatic separation of conjoined twins: Operative technique and review of three-dimensional model utilization

Abstract Background The separation of conjoined twins is a challenging and rare operation. Recent technological advances in imaging and three-dimensional printing (3DP) have allowed for enhancements in preoperative surgical planning and intraoperative anatomical orientation for complex operations. This report aims to consolidate the current clinical evidence utilizing 3DP models as an effective tool for surgical planning of conjoined twin separation and to detail our surgical approach for complex hepatic separation and management. Methods A literature review was conducted for conjoined twin separations with preoperative use of 3D models including age at attempted separation, operative outcome, 3D modality, and postoperative course between 1998 and 2020. We also conducted a chart review of our electronic medical record for conjoined twin separations between January 2015 and December 2019. Results We report two cases of conjoined twin separation with preoperative use of 3DP models from our institution: one set in the thoracoomphaloischiopagus orientation and the other set in the thoracoomphalopagus orientation with the presence of intrahepatic vascular anomalies. The literature review produced 10 case reports of conjoined twin separation with use preoperative 3D models accounting for 17 individual separation procedures. We summarize our preoperative radiological planning, the evidence of 3DP models as an educational and preoperative tool, ideal timing for separation, and our surgical approach for complex hepatic separation. Conclusions Conjoined twin separation requires a multidisciplinary effort to address the multisystem surgical and medical needs of these patients. These complex patients require extensive preoperative imaging for planning separation, and we strongly recommend utilizing 3D printed models when possible for better surgeon understanding of complex variable anatomy. We have found numerous reports of successful conjoined twin separation using 3DP technology in preoperative planning. The use of three-dimensional printed models for preoperative assessments is an invaluable tool and is rapidly improving in fidelity. Type of study Operative technique and case series. Level of evidence Level IV.
How to stop pandemics

We should start using genetic techniques to prevent animal diseases spilling over into humans, say Scott Nuismer and James Bull
Ageing processes in reversible reaction–diffusion systems: Monte Carlo simulations

Reaction–diffusion systems with reversible reactions generically display power-law relaxation toward chemical equilibrium. In this work we investigate, through numerical simulations, ageing processes that characterize the non-equilibrium relaxation. Studying a model which excludes multiple occupancy of a site, we find that the scaling behaviors of the two-time correlation and response functions are similar to that discovered previously in an exactly solvable version with no restrictions on the occupation numbers. In particular, we find that the scaling of the response depends on whether the perturbation conserves a certain quantity or not. Our results point to a high degree of universality in relaxation processes taking place in diffusion-limited systems with reversible reactions.
Teasing Influence: News Teases, Elite Cues, and Information Use

The impact of television news teases has not been explored from the standpoint of response to political positions featured in the tease taken by religious and business elites. We theorize that the ...
A clinical score (CS) for patients with well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (WD NETs) under consideration for peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) with Lu 177-dotatate.

363Background: Despite the benefit of PRRT for patients with WD NETs, questions remain regarding sequencing and optimal patient selection for the treatment. We developed a CS at Vanderbilt Ingram C...
Amos Akerman -- Grant's Attorney General Who Broke the Back of the Ku Klux Klan

Amos Akerman, a small-town Georgia lawyer and former Confederate soldier, was appointed in 1870 by President Ulysses S. Grant as the first US Attorney General to lead the new Department of Justice. He marshaled federal forces to drive the Ku Klux Klan into virtual extinction for over 40 years.
A system of shared autonomous vehicles for Chicago: Understanding the effects of geofencing the service

With autonomous vehicles (AVs) still in the testing phase, researchers and planners must resort to simulation techniques to explore possible futures regarding shared and automated mobility. An agent-based discrete-event transport simulator, POLARIS, is used in this study to simulate travel in the 20-county Chicago region with a shared AV (SAV) mobility option. Using this framework, the effect of an SAV fleet on system performance when constrained to serve within geofences is studied under four distinct scenarios: service restricted to the city, to the city plus suburban core, to the core plus exurban areas, and to the entire region — along with the choice of dynamic ridesharing (DRS) versus solo travel in an SAV. Results indicate that service areas need a balanced mix of trip generators and attractors, and an SAV fleet’s empty VMT (eVMT) can be noticeably reduced through suitable geofencing and DRS. Geofences can also help lower response times, reduce systemwide VMT across all modes, and ensure uniform access to SAVs. DRS is most useful in lowering VMT and %eVMT that arises from sprawled land development, but with insufficient demand to share rides, savings from the use of geofences is higher. Geofences targeting neighborhoods with high trip density bring about low response times and %eVMT, but fleet sizes in these regions need to be designed for uniformly low response times throughout a large region, as opposed to maximizing vehicle use in a 24-hour day.
Sexting to sex: Testing an attachment based model of connections between texting behavior and sex among heterosexually active women

Abstract A lack of clarity exists regarding associations between sexting – an increasingly common form of sexual communication – and sexual risk taking. This is particularly relevant for younger, heterosexually-active women who are at elevated risk for sexually transmitted infections and may be likely to consent to sexting that is unwanted in response to partner pressure. Separately, attachment insecurity has been associated with overall sexting and unwanted (but consensual) sexting specifically. This study tested a model comprised of two paths linking attachment insecurity, sexting and sexual risk through 1) sexual communication skills and 2) smartphone-related expectancies. Participants included 2559 women (Mage = 23.07; SD = 3.04) who reported US residence and recent (past 60 day) sex with a male partner. Attachment anxiety and avoidance were negatively associated with the odds of sex with casual partners (both with and without condoms) through sexual communication and overall sexting. Attachment anxiety was positively associated with the odds of sex with casual partners (with and without condoms) through escape motivations and overall sexting. Simultaneously, attachment anxiety was associated with increased odds of condomless sex through escape motivations and unwanted sexting. Implications are discussed for smartphone-based, sexual risk reduction interventions targeting relationship expectancies, sexual communication, and emotional regulation.
Molecular Characterization of Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii, ac-208: A Plastocyanin-Less Mutant

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, ac-208, is an acetate-requiring mutant which was isolated on the basis of its inability to fix carbon dioxide and is derived from the wild type (137c) by ultra violet irradiation (1,2). Gorman and Levine concluded that the only deficiency in this strain with respect to photosynthesis lies in the absence of plastocyanin (3). This conclusion was based on two experimental observations: plastocyanin could not be spectroscopically detected in extracts from the mutant cells and the addition of purified plastocyanin could restore electron transfer activity in chloroplast fragments of the mutant cells (4). The mutation was mapped to linkage group III and was found to be difficult to maintain free of suppressors (4).
The agro-food sector and the transnational state: The case of the EC

Abstract Employing the case of the European Community, the paper discusses the relationship between the state and the economy in the evolving global organization of the agricultural and food sector. It is maintained that a gap between the sphere of action of the economy and the sphere of action of the state has been created. This situation is the consequence of the process of globalization which has characterized the evolution of socio-economic arrangements. Furthermore, it is maintained that this gap has been partially addressed by the emergence of transnational state forms. This solution, however, is ultimately partial as it entails a spatial dimension which does not encompass the global range of activity of transnational economic actors.
Regulation of Payday Loans: Misguided?

Table of ContentsI. Introduction 1024II. Evidence of Consumer Behavior 1031A The Importance of Rollovers and Defaults 1031B. Loan Sizes 1032C. Loan Lengths 1033D. The Interaction of Payday Loans and Other Forms of Credit 1035E. Evidence on Consequences of Using Payday Loans 1038III. Current Regulations and Recommendations 1041A. Bans 1043B. Interest Rate Caps 1043C. Information Disclosures 1043D. Loan Lengths 1044IV. Discussion 1044Appendix 1047I. IntroductionThe Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act,1 passed in July 2010, rang in a new era of financial regulation. Its reforms will affect financial institutions from big banks to pawnbrokers. Payday loans are no exception. We can expect many changes to the regulatory landscape of these small-dollar, shortterm loans from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which opened its doors in July 201 1.2 Payday loans are about the most expensive form of credit consumers can legally obtain. The originating loan lasts just a matter of days and is used primarily by low- and middle-income households. Given that ten milhon households use payday loans every year,3 these regulatory changes will have a significant impact on a large group of consumers.Payday loans are almost universally deemed "predatory" and "usurious" by consumer advocates, policymakers, and the media. Alabama state senator Lowell Barron has stated, for example, that "[t]he consumers being picked on here are the poorest, low-income people . . . there is no reason why anyone should exploit people with a short-term cash problem."4 Others have described payday lending as an "immoral practice" (State Senator Groff, Colorado),5 as a "trap" (Michael A. Stegman, Director of Housing and Pohcy at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Illinois),6 as "ruin[ing] lives" (State Representative McClure, Arizona),7 and as imposing "astronomical interest rates" and "unrealistic payment terms" (Senator Hagan, South Carolina).8Adopting similar views, many state policymakers have worked hard to curb or halt payday lenders' operations. We can predict even more regulation with the advent of Dodd-Frank and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Recently appointed Bureau Director Richard Cordray gave a lecture on payday loans in January 2012, stating that regulators at the CFPB "recognize the need for emergency credit. At the same time, it is important that these products actually help consumers, rather than harm them. . . . [N]ow, the Bureau will be giving payday lenders much more attention."9 At the state level, regulation of payday loans has already taken many forms. In this Article, I argue that current forms of state and federal regulation of payday lending are largely misguided. I summarize the growing body of microeconomic evidence on borrowers' use of payday loans and assess what their predicted responses to a number of different regulatory schemes - outright bans, price caps, and restrictions on loan size, duration, and renewals - means about the soundness of those types of regulations. …
Protein Separation and Characterization Procedures

This chapter covers the principles, procedures, and applications of a variety of techniques used to separate and characterize proteins. Separation techniques rely on the differences in the solubility, size, charge, adsorption characteristics of protein molecules. Commonly used protein separation techniques include the following: ion-exchange chromatography, affinity chromatography, dialysis, ultrafiltration, size-exclusion chromatography, electrophoresis [sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), isoelectric focusing, and capillary electrophoresis]. Proteins can be characterized by their amino acid content, nutritional value, and functional properties. Chromatographic techniques are used to determine the amino acid composition of a protein. The nutritional quality of a protein is determined by its amino acid composition and protein digestibility, measured for nutrition labeling purposes by expensive and time consuming assays, protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) or protein efficiency ratio (PER). Other more rapid methods and calculations can be done to assess nutritional value for other purposes. Common tests of protein functionality for a particular food application include solubility, emulsification, foaming, and gelation.
Insulin stimulates a novel Mn2+-dependent cytosolic serine kinase in rat adipocytes.

Abstract The cytosolic fraction of insulin-treated adipocytes exhibits a 2-fold increase in protein kinase activity when Kemptide is used as a substrate. The detection of insulin-stimulated kinase activity is critically dependent on the presence of phosphatase inhibitors such as fluoride and vanadate in the cell homogenization buffer. The cytosolic protein kinase activity exhibits high sensitivity (ED50 = 2 X 10(-10) M) and a rapid response (maximal after 2 min) to insulin. Kinetic analyses of the cytosolic kinase indicate that insulin increases the Vmax of Kemptide phosphorylation and ATP utilization without affecting the affinities of this enzyme toward the substrate or nucleotide. Upon chromatography on anion-exchange and gel filtration columns, the insulin-stimulated cytosolic kinase activity is resolved from the cAMP-dependent protein kinase and migrates as a single peak with an apparent Mr = 50,000-60,000. The partially purified kinase preferentially utilizes histones, Kemptide, multifunctional calmodulin-dependent protein kinase substrate peptide, ATP citrate-lyase, and acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase as substrates but does not catalyze phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6, casein, phosvitin, phosphorylase b, glycogen synthase, inhibitor II, and substrate peptides for casein kinase II, protein kinase C, and cGMP-dependent protein kinase. Phosphoamino acid analyses of the 32P-labeled substrates reveal that the insulin-stimulated cytosolic kinase is primarily serine-specific. The insulin-activated cytosolic kinase prefers Mn2+ to Mg2+ and is independent of Ca2+. Unlike ribosomal protein S6 kinase and protease-activated kinase II, the insulin-sensitive cytosolic kinase is fluoride-insensitive. Taken together, these results indicate that a novel cytosolic protein kinase activity is activated by insulin.
Time course of arthralgia among women initiating aromatase inhibitor therapy and a postmenopausal comparison group in a prospective cohort

Background More than 80,000 postmenopausal breast cancer patients in the United States each year are estimated to begin a 5-year course of aromatase inhibitors (AIs) to prevent recurrence. AI-related arthralgia (joint pain and/or stiffness) may contribute to nonadherence, but longitudinal data are needed on arthralgia risk factors, trajectories, and background in postmenopause. This study sought to describe 1-year arthralgia trajectories and baseline covariates among patients with AI and a postmenopausal comparison group. Methods Patients initiating AIs (n = 91) were surveyed at the time of AI initiation and at 6 repeated assessments over 1 year. A comparison group of postmenopausal women without breast cancer (n = 177) completed concomitantly timed surveys. Numeric rating scales (0-10) were used to measure pain in 8 joint pair groups (bilateral fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders, hips, knees, ankles, and toes). Poisson regression models were used to analyze arthralgia trajectories and risk factors. Results By week 6, the AI-initiating group had more severe arthralgia than did the comparison group (ratio of means = 1.8, 95% confidence interval = 1.24-2.7, P = .002), adjusting for baseline characteristics. Arthralgia then worsened further over 1 year in the AI group. Menopausal symptom severity and existing joint-related comorbidity at baseline among women initiating AI were associated with more severe arthralgia over time. Conclusions Patients initiating AI should be told about the timing of arthralgia over the first year of therapy, and advised that it does not appear to resolve over the course of a year. Menopausal symptoms and joint-related comorbidity at AI initiation can help identify patients at risk for developing AI-related arthralgia.
Pre-Angkor Khmer Religion and State

This article surveys recent scholarship on Southeast Asian religion and state formation by using the pre-Angkor Khmer religio-political organizational patterns as a case study. It begins by situating the debate in the broader chronological frame of both the pre-Angkor and Angkor periods by outlining both the India-centric, ‘Khmer Hinduism’ model and the Khmer-centric, indigenous model for religio-political formation. It then shifts its focus to the pre-Angkor period and uses the recent work of Michael Vickery and Alexis Sanderson to discuss the debate concerning the influence of Śaivism on pre-Angkor Khmer state and society. In doing so, it argues that the idea of a ‘ state’, combined with the recognition of a distinction between elite religio-political constructions and the common experience and practice of religion, serves to reconcile Vickery’s and Sanderson’s arguments. The article ends with a discussion of new avenues of research that have opened up in the last decade.
The design, implementation and operation of an email pseudonym server

Attacks on servers that provide anonymity generally fall into two categories: attempts to expose anonymous users and attempts to silence them. Much existing work concentrates on withstanding the former, but the threat of the latter is equally real. One particularly effective attack against anonymous servers is to abuse them and stir up enough trouble that they must
Programming the Intel 80-core network-on-a-chip terascale processor

Intel's 80-core terascale processor was the first generally programmable microprocessor to break the Teraflops barrier. The primary goal for the chip was to study power management and on-die communication technologies. When announced in 2007, it received a great deal of attention for running a stencil kernel at 1.0 single precision TFLOPS while using only 97 Watts. The literature about the chip, however, focused on the hardware, saying little about the software environment or the kernels used to evaluate the chip. This paper completes the literature on the 80-core terascale processor by fully defining the chip's software environment. We describe the instruction set, the programming environment, the kernels written for the chip, and our experiences programming this microprocessor. We close by discussing the lessons learned from this project and what it implies for future message passing, network-on-a-chip processors.
Effect of splenectomy on cardiovascular response to injected methylcellulose.

SummarySplenectomized animals given intraperitoneal injections of methylcellulose developed a much higher incidence of hypertension than did similarly treated intact rats, although degree of hypertension in both groups was of much the same order of magnitude. The adrenals, liver and kidneys were enlarged to a comparable degree in either group as compared with those of untreated controls. Splenectomized methylcellulose-treated rats, however, developed significant cardiac hypertrophy whereas this was not true of similarly treated intact rats. The results are interpreted as reflecting the more severe damage inflicted by methylcellulose upon animals deprived of one of the organs most concerned with removal of this material from the circulation.
Proton capture to bound and unbound states of /sup 12/C

The cross section for the $^{11}\mathrm{B}$($p$,$\ensuremath{\gamma}$)$^{12}\mathrm{C}$ reaction leading to the 19 MeV region of $^{12}\mathrm{C}$ has been measured at ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{\mathrm{lab}}=60\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ for ${E}_{p}$ of 23 to 60 MeV. Angular distributions of cross sections and analyzing powers were measured at ${E}_{p}=28.7$ MeV. The $^{11}\mathrm{B}$($p$,${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{0,1}$)$^{12}\mathrm{C}$ cross sections were measured at ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{\mathrm{lab}}=60\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ for ${E}_{p}$ of 8 to 60 MeV, with angular distribution measurements at ${E}_{p}$ of 14.5, 17.0, and 28.7 MeV. The results are compared to direct capture calculations which, in the case of transitions to the 19 MeV region, treat the final state as both a bound and unbound state. The procedures for calculating direct capture to unbound final states are described. The possible existence of a giant resonance state is discussed.NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{11}\mathrm{B}$($p$,$\ensuremath{\gamma}$)$^{12}\mathrm{C}$; measured $\ensuremath{\sigma}(E)$ for transitions to the 19 MeV region of $^{12}\mathrm{C}$ at $\ensuremath{\theta}=60\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ for ${E}_{p}$ of 23 to 60 MeV, measured $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\theta})$ and $A(\ensuremath{\theta})$ at 28.7 MeV for these transitions. $^{11}\mathrm{B}$($p$,${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{0,1}$)$^{12}\mathrm{C}$, measured $\ensuremath{\sigma}(60\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{})$ for ${E}_{p}$ of 8 to 60 MeV, $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\theta})$ at 14.5, 17.0, and 28.7 MeV. Results are compared to direct capture calculations treating the final state both as bound and unbound. Procedures for calculating direct capture to unbound final states are described. The possible existence of giant resonance states is discussed.
Automatic detection of floating-point exceptions

It is well-known that floating-point exceptions can be disastrous and writing exception-free numerical programs is very difficult. Thus, it is important to automatically detect such errors. In this paper, we present Ariadne, a practical symbolic execution system specifically designed and implemented for detecting floating-point exceptions. Ariadne systematically transforms a numerical program to explicitly check each exception triggering condition. Ariadne symbolically executes the transformed program using real arithmetic to find candidate real-valued inputs that can reach and trigger an exception. Ariadne converts each candidate input into a floating-point number, then tests it against the original program. In general, approximating floating-point arithmetic with real arithmetic can change paths from feasible to infeasible and vice versa. The key insight of this work is that, for the problem of detecting floating-point exceptions, this approximation works well in practice because, if one input reaches an exception, many are likely to, and at least one of them will do so over both floating-point and real arithmetic. To realize Ariadne, we also devised a novel, practical linearization technique to solve nonlinear constraints. We extensively evaluated Ariadne over 467 scalar functions in the widely used GNU Scientific Library (GSL). Our results show that Ariadne is practical and identifies a large number of real runtime exceptions in GSL. The GSL developers confirmed our preliminary findings and look forward to Ariadne's public release, which we plan to do in the near future.
Chemical characterization of ozone formation in the Houston-Galveston area: A chemical transport model study

[1] An episodic simulation is conducted to characterize ozone (O3) formation and to investigate the dependence of O3 formation on precursors in the Houston-Galveston (HG) area using a regional chemical transport model (CTM). The simulated net photochemical O3 production rates, P(O3), in the Houston area are higher than those in most other U.S. urban cities, reaching 20–40 ppb hr−1 for the daytime ground NOx levels of 5–30 ppb. The NOx turnaround value (i.e., the NOx concentration at which P(O3) reaches a maximum) is also larger than those observed in most other U.S. cities. The large abundance and high reactivity of anthropogenic volatile organic compounds (AVOCs) and the coexistence of abundant AVOCs and NOx in this area are responsible for the high O3 production rates and the NOx turnaround value. The simulated O3 production efficiency is typically 3–8 O3 molecules per NOx molecule oxidized during the midday hours. The simulation reveals a RO2 peak up to 70 ppt at night, and the reactions of alkene-NO3 and alkene-O3 are responsible for more than 80% of the nighttime RO2 in the residual layer, contributing to over 70% and about 10%, respectively. Isoprene accounts for about 40% of the nighttime RO2 peak concentration. The nighttime RO2 level is limited by the availability of alkenes. Hydrolysis of N2O5 on sulfate aerosols leads to an increase of HNO3 by as much as 30–60% but to a decrease of NOx by 20–50% during the night in the lower troposphere. Heterogeneous conversion of NO2 to HONO on the surfaces of soot aerosol accelerates the O3 production by about 1 hour in the morning and leads to a noticeable increase of 7 ppb on average in the daytime O3 level. The sensitivity study suggests that the near-surface chemistry over most of the Houston metropolitan area is in or close to the NOx-VOC transition regime on the basis of the current emission inventory. Doubling AVOC emissions leads to the NOx sensitive chemistry. Biogenic VOCs contribute about 5% on the average to the total near-surface O3 in the Houston area.
Family Contingencies Across the Generations: Grandparent‐Grandchild Relationships in Holistic Perspective

Family relationships do not occur in isolation but rather are embedded within greater systems of family ties. In recognition of the need to study families holistically, we explore how relations between grandparents and grandchildren are contingent upon a matrix of intergenerational relationships. Using data from the Iowa Youth and Families Project, our analyses focus on person-centered types of grandparent-grandchild relationships and the legacy of social ties across the generations, as mediated by other family relationships. We find multiple dimensions of grandparents' involvement with their grandchildren to be associated with (a) whether the grandparents knew their own grandparents when they were young, (b) the grandparent's perceptions of contact and closeness with the target grandchild, and (c) nuances in the relationships of grandparents with the parent generation.
Xenobiotic metabolism by alveolar type II cells isolated from rabbit lung

Abstract A procedure for the isolation of alveolar type II cells from rabbit lung was developed. Following pulmonary lavage to minimize macrophage contamination, viable cells (30% type II cells) were released by digestion with 0.1% Protease type I (Sigma) in 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazine-ethanesulphonic acid (HEPES)-buffered balanced salt solution containing 0.5 mM ethyleneglycolbis (amino-ethylether) tetra-acetate (EGTA) instilled via the trachea. Type II cells were enriched to 50–60 per cent purity by centrifugal elutriation. Density gradient centrifugation in metrizamide was used to increase the purity of the type II cells from the elutriator fraction to 80 per cent. Whole, freshly isolated alveolar type II cells metabolized 7-ethoxycoumarin at a rate of 30 pmoles umbelliferone formed per mg protein/min. However, only traces of coumarin hydroxylase activity were detected which could be accounted for by 1–2% Clara cell contamination in the type II cell fraction. NADPH-cytochrome c (cyt c) reductase activity in the sonicated type II cell fraction was 44 nmoles cyt c reduced per mg protein/min compared to 25 for lung homogenate. Benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase and N,N-dimethylanilineN-oxidase activities were also demonstrated in the type II cell fraction to be 13 pmoles 3-OH benzo[a]pyrene · (mg protein)−1 · min−1 and 0.8 nmole DMA N-oxide · (mg protein)−1 · min−1 respectively. Microsomes prepared from the isolated type II cell fraction contained 74 pmoles cytochrome P-450/mg protein and 90 pmoles cytochrome b5/mg protein.
Theoretical Development and Experimental Validation of an Adaptive Controller for Tremor Suppression at Musculoskeletal Level

Tremor is a rhythmical and involuntary oscillatory movement of a body part. Mechanical loading via wearable exoskeletons is a non-invasive tremor suppression alternative to medical treatments. In this approach, the challenge is attenuating the tremor without affecting the patient’s intentional motion. An adaptive tremor suppression algorithm was designed to estimate and restrict motion within the tremor frequency band. An experimental setup was designed and developed to simulate the dynamics of a human arm joint with intentional and tremorous motion. The required orthotic suppressive force was applied via a pneumatic cylinder. The algorithm was implemented with a real-time controller and experimental results show tracking of the tremor frequency and a 97% reduction of tremor amplitude at the fun-
Participation in Religious Groups as a Function of Group Composition: A Self‐Attention Perspective1

A self-attention approach to the effect of the group on the individual is applied to the phenomenon of participation in religious groups. Previous work indicates that group members become more self-attentive, and thus more concerned with matching to standards of appropriate behavior, as the relative size of their subgroup decreases. This suggests that, in the context of religious groups, members of a congregation will be more self-attentive, and thus more likely to participate in the religious group, when there are fewer congregation members relative to the number of ministers. The results of analysis of ten archival records of participation in religious groups support this perspective. The importance of self-attention processes in religious group settings is discussed.
Materials budget allocation: A formula fitness review

AbstractThis paper describes a formula fitness review project at a top college library. It was discovered that the collection policy was very outdated and the allocation formula was no longer a good fit. Calculations had become arbitrary expressions of years of ad hoc annual adjustments. Although the formula was supposed to support multiobjective allocation decisions, this was not actually happening in an unambiguous fashion. Formula decomposition, formula simplification and multiattribute utility theory suggest that a change from the traditional allocation formulas—including abandoning aggregate topical allocations and FTE—despite the popularity of these variables—is probably in order.
A structural neural system for mechanical, biological, and environmental systems

A structural neural system (SNS) and continuous sensors that mimic the neurons of the human biological system are described for monitoring the health of large structures. An example of use of the SNS to monitor damage on a nine meter long wind turbine blade is also described. The blade is a complex anisotropic structure that was tested at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colorado, USA under quasi static loading to determine the strength and ability of the blade to withstand wind loading. The SNS along with piezoelectric sensors was installed to monitor the composite blade material during this testing. Multiple cracks originated during this test and were detected by the SNS well before the final failure of the blade. This testing provides confidence that SNS has the capability to monitor crack growth in complex anisotropic structures using piezoelectric sensors. The SNS is currently being extended to sense signals from other types of sensors including continuous sensors based on accelerometers, pressure sensors, piezoresistive, chemical, and biosensors. This would extend application of the SNS into biological and environmental systems where different types of sensors are used to measure chemicals and biological materials. It is predicted that the SNS can provide high accuracy, low cost, and simplicity for monitoring the health of many types of systems.
A figure of merit for oscillator-based thin-film circuits on plastic for high-performance signaling, energy harvesting and driving of actuation circuits

For even basic sensing and energy-harvesting functions, large-area systems-on-plastic require digital oscillators as a key circuit block [1]. However, their use to generate control signals, or drive actuator/energy-harvesting circuits requires different performance metrics compared to conventional digital circuits. In this abstract we (1) propose a figure of merit for these applications and (2) show experimentally how the dependence of this new metric on the scaling of resistive loads differs from that of the conventional digital circuit metric of power-delay (PD) product [2].
Resistance measurements at high pressure in the system BaPb1-xBixO3

Abstract Resistance measurements have been made in the system BaPb1-xBixO3 at pressures of up to ∼ 125 kbar at room temperature. A distinct change in slope of R/R0 vs P indicates the onset of a transition, possibly to the metallic state, which takes place continuously over a wide range of pressure.
13C NMR and Electron Ionization Mass Spectrometric Data-Activity Relationship Model of Estrogen Receptor Binding

Abstract Two Spectroscopic Data-Activity Relationship (SDAR) models based on 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron ionization mass spectra (EI MS) data were developed for 108 compounds whose relative binding affinities (RBA) to the estrogen receptor are known. The 13 C NMR and EI MS data were used as spectrometric digital fingerprints to reflect the electronic and structural characteristics of the compounds. Both SDAR models segregated the 108 compounds into 20 strong, 15 medium, and 73 weak relative binding classifications. The first SDAR model, based on 13 C NMR data alone, gave a leave-one-out (LOO) cross-validation of 75.0%. The second SDAR model, based on a composite of 13 C NMR and EI MS data, gave a LOO cross-validation of 82.4%. Many of the misidentifications from the cross-validations were between medium and weak classifications, where there were fewer specific spectrometric characteristics to identify the relationship of spectra to estrogen receptor binding. Real and predicted 13 C NMR chemical shifts were used to test the predictive behavior of both SDAR models. The ease of use and speed of SDAR modeling may facilitate their use with other toxicological endpoints.
Freezing of preembryos: early vs late stages.

World Congress of In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer. Norfolk, Virginia, April 5-10, 1987. 20. Edwards RG: In vitro fertilization: past and future. Ann Biol Clin 1987;45:321-329 21. Gordts S, Roziers P, Campo R, Noto V: Survival and pregnancy outcome after ultrarapid freezing of human embryos. Fertil Steril 1990;53:469-472 22. Barg PE, Barad DH, Feichtinger W: Ultrarapid freezing (URF) of mouse and human preembryos: A modified approach. J Vitro Fert Embryo Transfer 1990;7:355-357 23. Feichtinger W, Hochfellner C, Ferstl U: Clinical experience with ultra-rapid freezing of embryos. Hum Reprod 1991;6: 735-736
Three-Dimensional Blood Flow Alterations After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

We present findings in a 79-year-old man after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for severe symptomatic aortic stenosis using a 26-mm Edwards Lifesciences Sapien 9000TFX valve.1 His predicted risk of operative mortality (Society of Thoracic Surgery score) was 12% on the basis of the following comorbidities: 2 previous coronary artery bypass operations, New York Heart Association functional class IV, hypertension, mild lung disease, ejection fraction of 25%, creatinine of 1.2 mg/dL, atrial fibrillation, and peripheral vascular disease. He underwent transapical delivery of the valve on January 5, 2011, without complication. His initial postoperative echocardiogram showed moderate aortic regurgitation (AR), mean gradient of 49mm Hg, and ejection fraction of 25%. After discharge, the patient was reevaluated for recurrent dyspnea. To gain further insight into the systemic implications of AR on hemodynamics of the left ventricular outflow tract in relation to potential congestive heart failure after TAVI, we performed time-resolved 3-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance velocity mapping (4-dimensional [4D] flow magnetic resonance imaging [MRI])2 6 months postoperatively. The study was approved by the institutional review board, and informed consent was obtained from the patient. Magnetic resonance imaging examination (1.5T Espree, Siemens, Germany) included 4D flow (velocity sensitivity=150 cm/s, spatial/temporal resolution=2.5×2.1×3.2 mm3/42 ms) and dynamic 2D cine imaging of the heart (steady-state free precession, spatial/temporal resolution=1.4×1.6×8 mm3/49 ms). Echocardiographic assessment of aortic insufficiency was performed using standard parasternal and apical views with …
Interband Optical Properties of Grain Boundaries in Germanium: An Amorphous System

We have measured the interband optical properties of grain boundaries by a spatial-modulation technique which allows direct observation of the differences between the regular lattice and the grain boundary. These results are obtained by periodic motion of the grain boundary in a bicrystal in and out of a narrow light beam and phase-sensitive detection of the difference signal. The grain boundary is found to have an absorption edge which is broadened by the electric fields within the boundary as well as an exponential distribution of states below the direct edge. The results were independent of the tilt axis of the grain boundary (from 4\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to 25\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}) and the data are found to be very similar to those observed for amorphous films of germanium. A 6\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} twist boundary gave identical results. While this paper is concerned with the properties of a planar defect, we believe the method will also prove useful for the study of point defects in crystals.
Vibration of simply supported cylindrical shells with longitudinal stiffeners

Abstract The vibration of simply supported cylindrical shells stiffened by discrete longitudinal stiffeners is investigated by using an energy method. Vlasov's thin walled beam theory is used for stringers. Shell theories based on Donnell's approximate theory and Flugge's more exact theory are used for the skin and numerical results indicate that Donnell's approximate theory gives excellent results for the stiffened shells. Sinusoidal wave form is considered in the longitudinal direction, and mode shapes in the circumferential direction are represented by Fourier series. Numerical results on frequencies and mode shapes computed for a shell stiffened by various number of stiffeners are presented and compared favorably with existing experimental results and other analytical solutions.
Integrating communication skills into the computer science curriculum (abstract only)

The fact that employers regularly list communication skills among their top requirements for graduates of Computer Science programs and that communication skills are specifically included in ABET program outcomes attests to their significance for Computer Science educators. To prepare students, Computer Science programs typically require students to take a course in technical communications or writing intensive courses. A recent trend emerging from the communication specialist suggests that integrating communication skills with content across the Computer Science curriculum is more effective strategy. The three-year NSF-funded CPATH II project (CCF-0939122 and CCF-0939081) "Incorporating Communication Skills into the Computer Science Curriculum" brought together 40 Computer Science educators and communications specialists to develop assignments and communications supports that implement content and communication skills integration. The results are available on the project website (http://cs-comm.lib.muohio.edu/). Computer Science educators who seek to provide graduates of Computer Science programs with excellent communication skills will find this approach relevant and valuable. Those who have developed integrated materials will be encouraged to contribute to the project repository. Those who are interested in increasing the amount of communication taught in their curriculum will be encouraged to adapt assignments from the repository to their needs.
Murine hematopoietic cell surface antigen expression.

Abstract Monoclonal antibodies have identified numerous cell surface antigens expressed at various stages of hematopoietic cell development in mice and humans. Complex systems of nomenclature have evolved as new antigens have been discovered. Here, Kevin Holmes and Herbert Morse III summarize Ly antigen expression during murine hematological cell development and in the accompanying centre-page diagram provide a comprehensive guide to antigen nomenclature.