cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hydrogen peroxide, methyl hydroperoxide, and formaldehyde over North America and the North Atlantic

[1] Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), methyl hydroperoxide (CH3OOH), and formaldehyde (CH2O) were measured over North America and the North Atlantic during the INTEX-NA, TOPSE, and SONEX aircraft campaigns. An overview of H2O2, CH3OOH, and CH2O across the geographic and temporal range of these campaigns is presented. H2O2, CH3OOH, and CH2O mixing ratios and variability were larger during INTEX-NA compared to TOPSE and SONEX. Mean H2O2, CH3OOH, and CH2O were 1390, 440, and 480 pptv, respectively, more than two times higher than TOPSE measurements and an order of magnitude higher than SONEX measurements. This is attributed to higher solar radiation levels and the more polluted conditions of INTEX-NA. Mixing ratios and variability decreased with altitude for all three gases and on all three campaigns, except for CH3OOH during TOPSE. The impact of convection on H2O2, CH3OOH, and CH2O is also discussed. Using the ratio H2O2/CH3OOH, convectively influenced air parcels were found to be enhanced in CH3OOH, CH2O, CO, NO, and NO2 while H2O2 and HNO3 were depleted by wet removal. Biomass burning was also shown to increase H2O2, CH3OOH, and CH2O mixing ratios up to 1.5, 2, and 1 ppbv, respectively, even after 4–5 days of transit. Results from this study show considerable variability in H2O2, CH3OOH, and CH2O throughout the North American and North Atlantic troposphere. The variability in the upper troposphere is driven by local photochemical production and transport via regional convection and long-range pathways, suggesting transport mechanisms are important factors to include in photochemical models simulating H2O2, CH3OOH, CH2O, and HOx.
METABOLIC ACTIVITY IN COXIELLA BURNETII.

Ormsbee, Richard A. (Rocky Mountain Laboratory, Hamilton, Mont.), and Marius G. Peacock. Metabolic activity in Coxiella burnetii. J. Bacteriol. 88:1205–1210. 1964.—Purified suspensions of Coxiella burnetii were shown to utilize α-ketoglutarate, succinate, fumarate, malate, oxaloacetate, pyruvate, glutamate, and serine. The addition of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide+ was necessary to elicit the maximal rate of oxygen uptake with l-glutamate as substrate, but was unnecessary when other substrates were employed. It was concluded that the Krebs cycle of intermediary carbohydrate metabolism probably operates within C. burnetii, and that pyruvate is the chief energy source.
Transition radiation electron beam diagnostic study at ATF

Recently we have started a program to develop transition radiation based electron beam diagnostics at the Accelerator Test Facility at Brookhaven National Laboratory. In this paper, we will discuss a technique to estimate the the lower limit in electron beam divergence measurement with single foil transition radiation and two-foil transition radiation interferometer. Preliminary experimental data from a 4.5 MeV electron beam will be presented.
Data Mining Approach to Ab-Initio Prediction of Crystal Structure

Predicting crystal structure is one of the most fundamental problems in materials science and a key early step in computational materials design. Ab initio simulation methods are a powerful tool for predicting crystal structure, but are too slow to explore the extremely large space of possible structures for new alloys. Here we describe ongoing work on a novel method (Data Mining of Quantum Calculations, or DMQC) that applies data mining techniques to existing ab initio data in order to increase the efficiency of crystal structure prediction for new alloys. We find about a factor of three speedup in ab intio prediction of crystal structures using DMQC as compared to naive random guessing. This study represents an extension of work done by Curtarolo, et al. [1] to a larger library of data.
Numerical simulations of Asian dust storms using a coupled climate‐aerosol microphysical model

[1] We have developed a three-dimensional coupled microphysical/climate model based on the National Center for Atmospheric Research Community Atmospheres Model and the University of Colorado/NASA Community Aerosol and Radiation Model for Atmospheres. We have used the model to investigate the sources, removal processes, transport, and optical properties of Asian dust aerosol and its impact on downwind regions. The model simulations are conducted primarily during the time frame of the Aerosol Characterization Experiment–Asia field experiment (March–May 2001) since considerable in situ data are available at that time. Our dust source function follows Ginoux et al. (2001). We modified the dust source function by using the friction velocity instead of the 10-m wind based on wind erosion theory, by adding a size-dependent threshold friction velocity following Marticorena and Bergametti (1995) and by adding a soil moisture correction. A Weibull distribution is implemented to estimate the subgrid-scale wind speed variability. We use eight size bins for mineral dust ranging from 0.1 to 10 μm radius. Generally, the model reproduced the aerosol optical depth retrieved by the ground-based Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) Sun photometers at six study sites ranging in location from near the Asian dust sources to the Eastern Pacific region. By constraining the dust complex refractive index from AERONET retrievals near the dust source, we also find the single-scattering albedo to be consistent with AERONET retrievals. However, large regional variations are observed due to local pollution. The timing of dust events is comparable to the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) lidar data in Beijing and Nagasaki. However, the simulated dust aerosols are at higher altitudes than those observed by the NIES lidar.
3-D Mixed-Mode Simulation of Single Event Transients in SiGe HBT Emitter Followers and Resultant Hardening Guidelines

This work presents 3-D mixed-mode simulation results of single event transients (SET) in SiGe HBT emitter followers. The impact of circuit design parameters, including biasing current and resistance are detailed. A simple increase of biasing emitter current is shown to be ineffective for hardening. Instead, during SET, the emitter voltage upset simply follows the base voltage upset due to the inherent nature of the emitter follower topology during circuit operation. The duration and the peak value of the base voltage upset are determined by the impedance and electric field between collector and base. As a result, the use of a smaller base biasing resistance is desirable for reducing SETs in emitter followers.
Heterotopic Neurons with Altered Inhibitory Synaptic Function in an Animal Model of Malformation-Associated Epilepsy

Children with brain malformations often exhibit an intractable form of epilepsy. Although alterations in cellular physiology and abnormal histology associated with brain malformations has been studied extensively, synaptic function in malformed brain regions remains poorly understood. We used an animal model, rats exposed to methylazoxymethanol (MAM) in utero, featuring loss of lamination and distinct nodular heterotopia to examine inhibitory synaptic function in the malformed brain. Previous in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated an enhanced susceptibility to seizure activity and neuronal hyperexcitability in these animals. Here we demonstrate that inhibitory synaptic function is enhanced in rats exposed to MAM in utero. Using in vitro hippocampal slices and whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings from visualized neurons, we observed a dramatic prolongation of GABAergic IPSCs onto heterotopic neurons. Spontaneous IPSC decay time constants were increased by 195% and evoked IPSC decay time constants by 220% compared with age-matched control CA1 pyramidal cells; no change in IPSC amplitude or rise time was observed. GABA transport inhibitors (tiagabine and NO-711) prolonged evoked IPSC decay kinetics of control CA1 pyramidal cells (or normotopic cells) but had no effect on heterotopic neurons. Immunohistochemical staining for GABA transporters (GAT-1 and GAT-3) revealed a low level of expression in heterotopic cell regions, suggesting a reduced ability for GABA reuptake at these synapses. Together, our data demonstrate that GABA-mediated synaptic function at heterotopic synapses is altered and suggests that inhibitory systems are enhanced in the malformed brain.
Selection of optimal fault location algorithm

Once fault event in power system occurs different intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) automatically recognize the fault as abnormality. With technological development many IEDs available today are capable of recording, executing analysis automatically and communicating results to different locations. Although recording capabilities are drastically increased applications that would fully utilize recorded data are still not available. In this paper, automated fault location (FL) procedure and usage of different intelligent algorithms is presented. Data is retrieved from various data sources, processed using expert system, neural networks, and genetic algorithm in order to provide data for optimal FL algorithm selection.
On the distribution of a statistic used for testing a covariance matrix

SUMMARY A statistic is considered which has been proposed for testing whether a multivariate normal population covariance matrix is equal to a given matrix. Approximations to its distribution are derived, and comparisons are made by using a series expansion of the distribution function. A table of significance points obtained from the series is given for certain values of the parameters.
Quantitative assay for plant viruses using serologically specific electron microscopy

Abstract A rapid method for quantitative assay of plant viruses in crude extracts is described. The method involves counting virus particles attached to electron microscope grids that have been coated with specific viral antiserum. Dilutions of a crude extract of tobacco leaf infected with tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) gave 40 to 50 times more virus particles attached to grids specific for TMV than to those specific for potato virus Y (PVY). An extract of tobacco leaf infected with PVY gave approximately 20 times more virus particles attached to grids specific for PVY than to those specific for TMV. The log of the number of TMV particles attached to grids serologically specific for TMV decreased linearly with dilution of virus extract.
Regeneration mechanisms in a DC motor with an H-bridge inverter

Regeneration has been cited as a major concern in electric actuation. However, the dynamics of regeneration have not been fully explored in the literature. Presently no solution to minimizing the occurrence is known, only how to eliminate the effect through braking resistors. It is the intent of this paper to focus on the DC motor and H-bridge inverter to analyze regeneration in its simplest form. This paper outlines types of regeneration and what factors of the electrical system are responsible for it.
Rape Law in 19th-Century America: Some Thoughts and Reflections on the State of the Field

Rape is a serious crime with a long history that has not received much study until very recently. Historians should study the crime of rape in 19th-century America for many reasons, but mostly because it can tell us much about how the law operated in practice and about 19th-century notions of manhood, womanhood, sex, and violence. Historians have produced several studies on rape in the American South, while other regions of the nation have received scant attention for the 19th century. Scholars should consider studies of 19th-century rape at the micro and macro levels and should utilize interdisciplinary approaches in their analyses.
Left main coronary artery compression in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

2005;27:512Eur J Cardiothorac Surg Dumbor L. Ngaage, Andre C. Lapeyre and Christopher G.A. McGregor hypertension Left main coronary artery compression in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary This information is current as of February 26, 2007 http://ejcts.ctsnetjournals.org/cgi/content/full/27/3/512 located on the World Wide Web at: The online version of this article, along with updated information and services, is
The Synthetic-Array Radar Image of a Flat Plate

The radar cross section of a flat plate has a sin x/x lobe structure. If a synthetic-array radar flies past the plate the resulting image is dependent upon what part of this lobe structure is sampled. When the plate is parallel to the flight path, the image is a line as wide as the plate. If the plate is not parallel, only the discontinuities at the ends of the plate are visible in the image.
Structure of a complex of the human alpha/beta T cell receptor (TCR) HA1.7, influenza hemagglutinin peptide, and major histocompatibility complex class II molecule, HLA-DR4 (DRA*0101 and DRB1*0401): insight into TCR cross-restriction and alloreactivity.

The α/β T cell receptor (TCR) HA1.7 specific for the hemagglutinin (HA) antigen peptide from influenza A virus is HLA-DR1 restricted but cross-reactive for the HA peptide presented by the allo-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecule HLA-DR4. We report here the structure of the HA1.7/DR4/HA complex, determined by X-ray crystallography at a resolution of 2.4 A. The overall structure of this complex is very similar to the previously reported structure of the HA1.7/DR1/HA complex. Amino acid sequence differences between DR1 and DR4, which are located deep in the peptide binding groove and out of reach for direct contact by the TCR, are able to indirectly influence the antigenicity of the pMHC surface by changing the conformation of HA peptide residues at position P5 and P6. Although TCR HA1.7 is cross-reactive for HA presented by DR1 and DR4 and tolerates these conformational differences, other HA-specific TCRs are sensitive to these changes. We also find a dependence of the width of the MHC class II peptide-binding groove on the sequence of the bound peptide by comparing the HA1.7/DR4/HA complex with the structure of DR4 presenting a collagen peptide. This structural study of TCR cross-reactivity emphasizes how MHC sequence differences can affect TCR binding indirectly by moving peptide atoms.
Magnetically Directed Two-Dimensional Crystallization of OmpF Membrane Proteins in Block Copolymers.

Two-dimensional (2D) alignment and crystallization of membrane proteins (MPs) is increasingly important in characterizing their three-dimensional (3D) structure, in designing pharmacological agents, and in leveraging MPs for biomimetic devices. Large, highly ordered MP 2D crystals in block copolymer (BCP) matrices are challenging to fabricate, but a facile and scalable technique for aligning and crystallizing MPs in thin-film geometries would rapidly translate into applications. This work introduces a novel method to grow larger and potentially better ordered 2D crystals by performing the crystallization process in the presence of a strong magnetic field. We demonstrate the efficacy of this approach using a β-barrel MP, outer membrane protein F (OmpF), in short-chain polybutadiene-poly(ethylene oxide) (PB–PEO) membranes. Crystals grown in a magnetic field were up to 5 times larger than conventionally grown crystals, and a signal-to-noise (SNR) analysis of diffraction peaks in Fourier transforms of specime...
Surface Stoichiometry of CdSe Nanocrystals

Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS) has been applied to determine the constitution of prototypical CdSe nanocrystals synthesized by the high temperature pyrolysis of organometallics in trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO). The diameter of the nanocrystals was varied from 22 A to 58 A. For all nanocrystal sizes the nanocrystals are Cd rich with an average Cd:Se ratio of 1.2 ± 0.1. The Cd:Se stoichiometery is independent of the starting Cd:Se ratio used for nanocrystal preparation, indicating the excess Cd is not associated with the initial abundance but is an intrinsic property of nanocrystals prepared by this method. The size dependence of excess Cd indicates the extra Cd is on the surface of the crystallite. The coverage of the surface passivating TOPO ligands has also been determined and is larger than reported in previous X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies of Bowen Katari et al. The origin and structural implications of non-stoichoimetric Cd are discussed.
Inventing space in the cañada: Tracing children's agency in Los Platanitos, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic:

Informal settlements in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, tend to be located in risky and marginal lands along the banks of canadas, waterways that have been channelized and otherwise transformed by residents as they develop informal settlements on the margins of the formal city. These severely polluted waterways are represented as “decaying,” “filthy” and “dangerous” in Dominican planning discourse and drive conceptualizations of informality as an incomplete, liminal state and of informal settlements as liminal landscapes. However, while this deployment of metaphors of liminality in planning discourse supports forms of planning premised on fantasies of citizenship-formation and technical interventionism, a post-colonial, explicitly spatial conceptualization of liminality permits an understanding of the liminal as a source of agency and alternative productions of space. This article examines children's placemaking in the informal settlement of Los Platanitos, taking a phenomenological stance in order to ...
Multivalued Morphology and its Application in Moving Object Segmentation and Tracking

This paper introduces some basic definitions, notions and properties of multivalued morphology. Its application in moving object segmentation and tracking is demonstrated.
Strategic Issues in Cash Tender Offers Predicting Bid Premiums, ProbabilityOf Success, and Target Management's Response

In spite of the increased level of merger and takeover activity, and the intense interest of researchers in the subject, many important questions about tender offers remain unanswered. For example, what determines the size of bid premiums? Can we predict whether or not a tender offer will be successful? What, if anything, differentiates offers which are resisted by target management from those which are accepted? The purpose of this article is to summarize recent work (by one or both of the authors) that attempts to answer these questions by looking at a sample of 158 cash tender offers over the period 1972-1977.
Effective SPECT of the Cervical Spine

Objective: SPECT of the thoracic and lumbar spine has become a common bone imaging procedure in nuclear medicine, however, SPECT of the cervical spine is used to a much lesser degree. This is due in part to the normal lordotic curvature of the cervical spine. We present a technique for cervical spine SPECT that corrects the normal curvature and produces adequate tomographic images. Methods: Two SPECT studies of the cervical spine of a normal volunteer were acquired. One study had the volunteer lying flat on the tomographic table (HOR), while the other had her head on the angled headrest of the tomographic table (ANG). The neck support of the headrest has an angulation of 50° relative to the horizontal axis of the table. Both studies were processed using the same Butter-worth filter. The HOR study was reoriented to a sagittal angle perpendicular to the axis of the table, while the ANG study was obliquely reoriented perpendicular to the angle of the cervical spine. Results: All vertebral bodies or posterior elements are seen to the same degree on contiguous slices in coronal images of the ANG study. In the HOR study, different portions of the vertebral bodies and/or posterior elements are evident on contiguous slices. Conclusions: The ANG technique produces coronal SPECT images of the cervical spine that are considerably more useful than those of the HOR technique. The use of neck angulation to straighten out the cervical curve, combined with reorientation of SPECT images to the axis of the cervical spine, allows SPECT imaging to be effectively accomplished.
Osmotic Fragility of Erythrocytes: Comparison of Continuous Recording and Multiple Tube Methods

The osmotic fragility of erythrocytes was measured by a continuous recording method (fragilograph). The results were compared with values simultaneously obtained by the standard (multiple tube) method. The values of mean osmotic fragility obtained by the two methods correlate well in specimens of blood with normal distribution of cells. To compare the results, however, the different characteristics of the two systems should be considered.
A Recursive Formula for Moments of a Binomial Distribution

While teaching a course in probability and statistics, one of the authors came across an apparently simple question about the computation of higher order moments of a random variable. The topic of moments of higher order is rarely emphasized when teaching a statistics course. The textbooks we came across in our classes, for example, treat this subject rather scarcely; see [3, pp. 265–267], [4, pp. 184–187], also [2, p. 206]. Most of the examples given in these books stop at the second moment, which of course suffices if one is only interested in finding, say, the dispersion (or variance) of a random variable X , D2(X) = M2(X)− M(X)2. Nevertheless, moments of order higher than 2 are relevant in many classical statistical tests when one assumes conditions of normality. These assumptions may be checked by examining the skewness or kurtosis of a probability distribution function. The skewness, or the first shape parameter, corresponds to the the third moment about the mean. It describes the symmetry of the tails of a probability distribution. The kurtosis, also known as the second shape parameter, corresponds to the fourth moment about the mean and measures the relative peakedness or flatness of a distribution. Significant skewness or kurtosis indicates that the data is not normal. However, we arrived at higher order moments unintentionally. The discussion that follows is the outcome of a question raised by our students without knowing much about the motivation for studying moments of higher order. It has to do with discrete random variables
Investigations of analyte-specific response saturation and dynamic range limitations in atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry.

With this study, we investigated why some small molecules demonstrate narrow dynamic ranges in electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and sought to establish conditions under which the dynamic range could be extended. Working curves were compared for eight flavonoids and two alkaloids using ESI, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI), and heated electrospray ionization (HESI) sources. Relative to reserpine, the flavonoids exhibited narrower linear dynamic ranges with ESI-MS, primarily due to saturation in response at relatively low concentrations. Saturation was overcome by switching from ESI to APCI, and our experiments utilizing a combination HESI/APCI source suggest that this is due in part to the ability of APCI to protonate neutral quercetin molecules in the gas phase. Thermodynamic equilibrium calculations indicate that quercetin should be fully protonated in solution, and thus, it appears that some factor inherent in the ESI process favors the formation of neutral quercetin at ...
Nutritional status of children of Mexican-American migrant families.

Mexican-American migrant families generally live in extreme poverty. The nutritional status of their children reflect these conditions.
TU‐B‐BRB‐03: Panel Member

In this interactive session, liver SBRT patient cases will be presented to highlight real-world considerations for ensuring safe and accurate treatment delivery. An expert panel of speakers will discuss approaches to challenges specific to liver SBRT including motion management, target delineation and imaging strategies, online treatment alignment, and appropriate prescription regimens and OAR dose limits. Audience participation will be encouraged. Learning Objectives: This panel session is designed to provide case demonstration and review for liver SBRT in terms of 1. clinical appropriateness in patient selection 2. strategies for motion management in simulation 3. treatment planning approaches with image fusion/co-registration 4. image guidance in treatment delivery
Structure, bonding, relativistic effects, and dispersion in the group 12 dihalide (MX 2 ) 3 clusters, with lessons from the extended solids

The prediction of crystal structures for inorganic solids remains a challenge at the frontier of materials science. We examine the relationship between the group 12 dihalide monomers, small oligomers (in particular the trimers), and the extended solids. The clusters are investigated at density functional B3PW91 and MP2 computational levels and at the M06-2X, B97D3, and CCSD(T) levels for the first time for special cases where dispersion is important. Significant patterns in the bonding preferences in the dimers and extended solids of these systems are known to reflect the rigidity of the linear monomers. The trimers evolve typically as one-dimensional extensions of the dimers, but the HgX2 systems are different: They form loosely bound clusters with a few competitive geometries emerging that imply several potential directions for continued and more strongly bond higher-order clusters. The very weak intermolecular interactions in the Hg systems appear only when relativistic effects are turned on. Otherwise, they behave precisely like their Zn and Cd analogues. The HgF2 trimers, which have not been considered before, are examined in detail as well. These trimers—especially the fluorides—are somewhat more polar than the isolated monomers and dimers, and we find evidence for a gradual switch to the ionic bonding regime in the HgF2 clusters on the way to the fluorite extended solid structure. Differences between geometrical preferences obtained at the MP2 versus the B3PW91 levels for the (HgX2)3 clusters demonstrate the importance of dispersion interactions in the bonding. Successes are reported for other density functional methods that directly address dispersion.
The Cost of Inexperience

Rules and regulations inflict costs on regulated parties differently. This Article is the first to explore a discriminatory effect on startup firms. It reveals that entities that lack economies of scale, scope, and age are regulatory disadvantaged. To address this discriminatory effect, governments enact various size-based exclusionary rules. The article reveals, however, that these regulatory exclusions do not solve the problem. Rather, they create more harm. These exemptions often exacerbate the impact of the very regulation whose cost they seek to reduce. The Article makes the following additional three contributions to the current literature. First, it demonstrates that the relationship between size and regulatory effects is non-exclusive and extends to scope and age. Second, it points out to some overlooked effects of regulations on startup entities and their unregulated affiliates. Lastly, it provides policymakers with mechanisms to alleviate these latent externalities.
The EITC and the labor supply of adult dependents: direct effects and family income effects

Tax data suggest that the population of adult dependents—adults relying on the support of others for the majority of their financial needs—has more than doubled over the last decade. However, little is known about how taxes affect the labor supply decisions of this population. This paper provides an initial investigation, studying the impact of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) expansions of the early 1990s on the labor supply of adult dependents living with their relatives. I find that dependent individuals who were not a part of the nuclear family responded to the EITC expansions, increasing labor force participation by about 5 percentage points. For adult children, I show that the absence of a net response is likely due to an unexpected consequence of the EITC: expanded family credits led to a decrease in their labor force participation.
Compliance and Online Training

As ethics training for health professions is largely done online, online safety is an important consideration. Trusted information technologists provide essential up-to-date advice and service related to online activities. Training content is determined by regulations and policies, as is the frequency of retraining and its documentation. The usual goals of training are to improve competence, to achieve compliance, and to modify behaviors. Specializations have differing training requirements; physicians need state-mandated continuing medical education (CME), registered nurses need similar continuing education (CE), persons involved in clinical trials must meet FDA requirements, and researchers require training in human and animal subject research and publication ethics.
The hemi-engaging fixed dental implant prosthesis: A technique for improved stability and handling

Clinicians commonly contend that the screw-retained, implant-supported fixed dental prosthesis (FDP) should be fabricated with all nonengaging abutments to allow for the inherent nonparallelism of the implants and the inability of the abutment connections to draw together during insertion and removal. The problem with a fully nonengaging FDP is difficulty in handling and more strain on the abutment screws, ultimately leading to increased rates of breakage and loosening. The hemi-engaging FDP design regains much of the advantage afforded by the internal connection and improves prosthetic handing both clinically and in the laboratory. The benefits of this technique are best seen for short-span (fewer than 5 units), screw-retained, implant-supported FDPs.
Fibroblast growth factor receptor signaling plays a key role in transformation induced by the TMPRSS2/ERG fusion gene and decreased PTEN.

// Longjiang Shao 1, 2 , Jianghua Wang 1, 2 , Omer Faruk Karatas 1, 2 , Shu Feng 1, 2 , Yiqun Zhang 3, 4 , Chad J. Creighton 3, 4 and Michael Ittmann 1, 2 1 Deptartment of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA 2 Michael E. DeBakey Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA 3 Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA 4 Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center Division of Biostatistics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA Correspondence to: Michael Ittmann, email: mittmann@bcm.edu Keywords: prostate cancer; signal transduction; fibroblast growth factors; PTEN; TMPRSS2/ERG Abbreviations: PCa: prostate cancer; TE: TMPRSS2/ERG; FGF: fibroblast growth factors; KD: knockdown Received: December 05, 2017 Accepted: February 03, 2018 Epub: February 12, 2018 Published: March 06, 2018 ABSTRACT Prostate cancer is the most common visceral malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in US men. Correlative studies in human prostate cancers reveal a frequent association of the TMPRSS2/ERG (TE) fusion gene with loss of PTEN and studies in mouse models reveal that ERG expression and PTEN loss synergistically promote prostate cancer progression. To determine the mechanism by which ERG overexpression and PTEN loss leads to transformation, we overexpressed the TE fusion gene and knocked down PTEN in an immortalized but non-transformed prostate epithelial cell line. We show that ERG overexpression in combination with PTEN loss can transform these immortalized but non-tumorigenic cells, while either alteration alone was not sufficient to fully transform these cells. Expression microarray analysis revealed extensive changes in gene expression in cells expressing the TE fusion with loss of PTEN. Among these gene expression changes was increased expression of multiple FGF ligands and receptors. We show that activation of fibroblast growth factor receptor signaling plays a key role in transformation induced by TE fusion gene expression in association with PTEN loss. In addition, in vitro and in silico analysis reveals PTEN loss is associated with widespread increases in FGF ligands and receptors in prostate cancer. Inhibitors of FGF receptor signaling are currently entering the clinic and our results suggests that FGF receptor signaling is a therapeutic target in cancers with TE fusion gene expression and PTEN loss.
A 92dB dynamic range sub-μV rms -noise 0.8μW/ch neural-recording ADC array with predictive digital autoranging

High-density multi-channel neural recording is critical to driving advances in neuroscience and neuroengineering through increasing the spatial resolution and dynamic range of brain-machine interfaces. Neural-signal-acquisition ICs have conventionally been designed composed of two distinct functional blocks per recording channel: a low-noise amplifier front-end (AFE), and an analog-digital converter (ADC) [1,2]. Hybrid architectures utilizing oversampling ADCs with digital feedback [3-5] have seen recent adoption due to their increased power and area efficiency. Still, input dynamic range (DR) is relatively limited due to aggressive supply voltage scaling and/or kT/C sampling noise. This paper presents a neural-recording ADC chip with 92dB input dynamic range and 0.99μV rms of noise at 0.8μW power consumption per channel over 500Hz signal bandwidth, owing to 1) a predictive digital autoranging (PDA) scheme in a hybrid analog-digital 2nd-order oversampling ADC architecture, 2) no specific sampling process through capacitors, avoiding kT/C noise altogether. Digitally predicting the analog input at 12b resolution from a 1b quantization of the continuously integrated residue at effective 32 oversampling ratio (OSR), the PDA handles a ±130mV electrode differential offset (EDO) and recovers from >200mV pp transient artifacts within <1ms. Furthermore, using digital circuits for integration ensures the architecture benefits from process scaling and the resulting compactness makes it suitable for incorporation in high-density recording arrays.
Mothers and Fathers Matter: The Influence of Parental Support, Hostility, and Problem Solving on Adolescent Friendships

We examine the pathways by which parents influence adolescents’ close friendships, focusing on three types of behavioral styles: hostile, warm, and problem solving. Structural equation models are e...
Fracture in angle-ply ceramic matrix composites

An analytical/computational fracture mechanics scheme, combined with finite element computations, is presented to explain observed fracture patterns in angle ply fiber-reinforced ceramic composite laminates. Unlike polymeric composites, where microcracks are channeled parallel to the fiber directions, cracks in ceramic composites initiate perpendicularly to the load axis. The results presented herein provide rational explanations for the experimental observations and confirm the advantages bestowed by multi-directional reinforcements. Such reinforcements would still allow the development of multitudes of matrix cracks, bridged by intact fibers, that lead to the desirable gradual and `graceful' failure of the composite. At the same time, multidirectional reinforcement prevents premature failures by constraining the laminate against interfacial fiber/matrix debondings. Such debondings, which may otherwise grow rapidly along the abovementioned weak interfaces, may readily occur in unidirectionally reinforced off-axis laminates, as noted in a preceding article.
Waiting and relocation strategies in online stochastic vehicle routing

This paper considers online stochastic multiple vehicle routing with time windows in which requests arrive dynamically and the goal is to maximize the number of serviced customers. Contrary to earlier algorithms which only move vehicles to known customers, this paper investigates waiting and relocation strategies in which vehicles may wait at their current location or relocate to arbitrary sites. Experimental results show that waiting and relocation strategies may dramatically improve customer service, especially for problems that are highly dynamic and contain many late requests. The decisions to wait and to relocate do not exploit any problem-specific features but rather are obtained by including choices in the online algorithm that are necessarily sub-optimal in an offline setting.
Complications in Thyroid Surgery and How to Avoid Them

Although the current incidence of complications of thyroid surgery in good hands is acceptably low, the impact of complications can be significant
Multi-modality neurophysiologic monitoring for cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND A high percentage of patients who undergo cardiac surgery experience persistent cognitive decline. The costs to insurers from brain injury associated with cardiac surgery is enormous. Furthermore, the same processes that injure the brain also appear to cause dysfunction of other vital organs. Therefore, there are great clinical and economic incentives to improve brain protection during cardiac surgery. This article discusses the methods of monitoring neurophysiologic function during heart surgery, including electroencephalography (EEG), near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), transcranial doppler (TCD) ultrasound, and cerebral oximetry, and analyzes the effectiveness of multi-modality neuromonitoring. METHODS Neurophysiologic studies have implicated hypoperfusion and dysoxygenation as major causative factors for brain injury during cardiac surgery. Since these functional disturbances are often detectable and correctable, there is a new impetus to examine the role of neurophysiologic monitoring in brain protection. We have used a retrospective, single-surgeon case-control study to examine the influence on outcome following myocardial revascularization of multi-modality neuromonitoring, with modalities that include 4-channel EEG, bilateral cerebral oximetry, and single channel TCD. RESULTS The majority of noteworthy functional disturbances detected by neuromonitoring can be corrected by simple adjustments in perfusion, oxygenation, or anesthetic administration. In more recalcitrant cases, pharmacological neuroprotection has proven effective. In addition to the substantial reductions in length of hospital stay, costs, and neurologic complications, the results of neuromonitoring suggest a possible benefit to other vital organ systems. Future studies of neuromonitoring efficacy should not overlook these important accessory benefits. CONCLUSION This study provides the clearest evidence to date that multi-modality neuromonitoring for cardiac surgery is safe, clinically beneficial, and cost-effective. Although neuromonitoring involves negligible risk and modest costs, it's benefits for patient outcome and cost control are substantial.
Incorporating Labor Standards Into Trade Agreements: An Ethical Analysis

Some individuals advocate incorporating labor standards into trade agreements. Others are vehemently opposed to the idea. Both sides to the controversy give compelling arguments to support their positions. This paper examines the controversy and applies ethical theory to determine whether including labor standards into trade agreements is a good idea.
Pyrethroid-laden textiles for protection from biting insects

Abstract: This chapter provides an overview of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and other insecticide-laden textiles for the prevention of vector-borne diseases. The chapter first reviews the diseases, including malaria, that plague tropical and subtropical developing countries; diseases carried by arthropods such as mosquitoes and fleas. The insecticides, such as pyrethroids, that are employed to combat biting insects are also discussed. The underlying textile technology and applications for factory-prepared wash-durable insecticide-laden textiles, particularly LLINs, and approaches for derivatizing textiles on site to prepare wash-durable insecticidal textiles are then presented. Future areas of focus for insecticide-laden textiles, such as textiles to combat pyrethroid-resistant mosquitoes, are then discussed.
A Method for Calculating Space-Dependent Reactor Source Transfer Functions with Feedback

(1969). A Method for Calculating Space-Dependent Reactor Source Transfer Functions with Feedback. Nuclear Science and Engineering: Vol. 36, No. 1, pp. 122-125.
Using Predictions and Marginal Effects to Compare Groups in Regression Models for Binary Outcomes

Methods for group comparisons using predicted probabilities and marginal effects on probabilities are developed for regression models for binary outcomes. Unlike approaches based on the comparison ...
Deep Self-Taught Learning for Detecting Drug Abuse Risk Behavior in Tweets

Drug abuse continues to accelerate toward becoming the most severe public health problem in the United States. The ability to detect drug abuse risk behavior at a population scale, such as among the population of Twitter users, can help us to monitor the trend of drug-abuse incidents. Unfortunately, traditional methods do not effectively detect drug abuse risk behavior, given tweets. This is because: (1) Tweets usually are noisy and sparse; and (2) The availability of labeled data is limited. To address these challenging problems, we proposed a deep self-taught learning system to detect and monitor drug abuse risk behaviors in the Twitter sphere, by leveraging a large amount of unlabeled data. Our models automatically augment annotated data: (i) To improve the classification performance, and (ii) To capture the evolving picture of drug abuse on online social media. Our extensive experiment has been conducted on 3 million drug abuse-related tweets with geo-location information. Results show that our approach is highly effective in detecting drug abuse risk behaviors.
On the Role of Provision Points in Online Crowdfunding

Extending recent work on market mechanisms in new fintech offerings, we explore the implications of a key mechanism in online crowdfunding – the use of a provision point. Under a provision point mechanism (otherwise known as all-or-nothing or fixed fundraising scheme), the fundraiser, typically an entrepreneur, only receives funds pledged toward his or her campaign if a pre-registered fundraising target is met, rather than keeping everything that is raised. On the one hand, provision points may weaken contributors’ reliance on prior capital accumulation for judging a project’s potential for success, by eliminating their concerns about a partial fundraising outcome and by signaling the project or entrepreneur’s quality. On the other hand, provision points may induce a stronger reliance on prior capital accumulation by imposing a positive externality among contributors; the materialization of a contributor’s contribution depends explicitly on having enough contribution from others. We assess this tension empirically, examining a proprietary data set from a leading global reward-based crowdfunding platform that allows entrepreneurs to choose whether to apply a provision point. We separately consider the effects of prior capital accumulation on campaign visitors’ conversion and contribution behaviors, and how the effects shift in the presence of a provision point at different stages of the campaign lifecycle. Provision points are found to significantly weaken the association between prior capital accumulation and visitor conversion, implying a reduction in the potential for herd behavior or informational cascades.
Resource Sharing Networks and Brownian Control Problems

We consider a family of resource sharing networks that were introduced in the work of Massoulie and Roberts (2000) as models for Internet flows and study an optimal stochastic control problem associated with the dynamic allocation of resource capacities to jobs in the system. Since these stochastic control problems are in general intractable, we analyze the system in a heavy traffic regime where one can formally approximate these control problems by certain Brownian control problems (BCP). It is shown that, both for a discounted cost and an ergodic cost criterion, an appropriate BCP gives a lower bound on the best achievable asymptotic cost under any sequence of admissible policies. The lower bounds established in this work show that the threshold control policies constructed in Budhiraja and Johnson (2017), which achieve the Hierarchical Greedy Ideal (HGI) performance (cf. Harrison et al. (2014)) in the heavy traffic limit, are in fact asymptotically optimal when certain monotonicity conditions on the cost function are satisfied.
The soil line: moisture-independent soil reflectance spectra

The soil line that appears in a Red-NIR scatterplot is representative of a stable, moisture- independent spectral reflectance that spans the VNIR. This has potential for refining the characterization of, and discrimination among soil types.
WC1.3 - Antiresonances, Ultrafast Resonances and Exeptional Points in Twin Photonic Oscillators (Invited)

In this talk we will cover the properties of the small-signal modulation response of symmetry-breaking phase-locked states of twin coupled semiconductor lasers. We find sharp resonances and antiresonances as well as efficient modulation at very high frequencies exceeding free running relaxation frequencies
Relative Measures of Association for Binary Outcomes: Challenges and Recommendations for the Global Health Researcher

Background: Binary outcomes—which have two distinct levels (e.g., disease yes/no)—are commonly collected in global health research. The relative association of an exposure (e.g., a treatment) and such an outcome can be quantified using a ratio measure such as a risk ratio or an odds ratio. Although the odds ratio is more frequently reported than the risk ratio, many researchers, policymakers, and the general public frequently interpret it as a risk ratio. This is particularly problematic when the outcome is common because the magnitude of association is larger on the odds ratio scale than the risk ratio scale. Some recently published global health studies included misinterpretation of the odds ratio, which we hypothesize is because statistical methods for risk ratio estimation are not well known in the global health research community. Objectives: To compare and contrast available statistical methods to estimate relative measures of association for binary outcomes and to provide recommendations regarding their use. Methods: Logistic regression for odds ratios and four approaches for risk ratios: two direct regression approaches (modified log-Poisson and log-binomial) and two indirect methods (standardization and substitution) based on logistic regression. Findings: Illustrative examples demonstrate that misinterpretation of the odds ratio remains a common issue in global health research. Among the four methods presented for estimation of risk ratios, the modified log-Poisson approach is generally preferred because it has the best numerical performance and it is as easy to implement as is logistic regression for odds ratio estimation. Conclusions: We conclude that, when study design allows, studies with binary outcomes should preferably report risk ratios to measure relative association. Publisher's Note: A correction article relating to this paper has been published and can be found at https://annalsofglobalhealth.org/articles/10.5334/aogh.2998/
Modulated Reactance Surfaces for Leaky-Wave Radiation Based on Complete Aperture Field Synthesis

A design technique for modulated surface reactances for 1-D leaky-wave antenna applications based on complete aperture field synthesis is presented. For a given visible-region spectrum corresponding to desired radiation and polarization patterns, the evanescent or invisible-region spectrum is introduced and systematically optimized to render the antenna surface passive and lossless everywhere, while generating the specified far-zone characteristics. Design techniques for linear and circular polarizations excited by a TM-polarized feed surface wave are provided together with design examples with simulation validation. Not based on local periodicity, the proposed technique does not suffer from limitations associated with the traditional sinusoidally modulated reactance surfaces.