cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
View-dependent geometry

When constructing 3D geometry for use in cel animation, the reference drawings of the object or character often contain various view-specific distortions, which cannot be captured with conventional 3D models. In this work we present a technique called View-Dependent Geometry, wherein a 3D model changes shape based on the direction it is viewed from. A view-dependent model consists of a base model, a set of key deformations (deformed versions of the base model), and a set of corresponding key viewpoints (which relate each 2D reference drawing to the 3D base model). Given an arbitrary viewpoint, our method interpolates the key deformations to generate a 3D model that is specific to the new viewpoint, thereby capturing the view- dependent distortions of the reference drawings.
Recent Discoveries on the Control of Gonadotrophin‐Releasing Hormone Neurones in Nonhuman Primates

Since Ernst Knobil proposed the concept of the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse-generator in the monkey hypothalamus three decades ago, we have made significant progress in this research area with cellular and molecular approaches. First, an increase in pulsatile GnRH release triggers the onset of puberty. However, the question of what triggers the pubertal increase in GnRH is still unclear. GnRH neurones are already mature before puberty but GnRH release is suppressed by a tonic GABA inhibition. Our recent work indicates that blocking endogenous GABA inhibition with the GABA(A) receptor blocker, bicuculline, dramatically increases kisspeptin release, which plays an important role in the pubertal increase in GnRH release. Thus, an interplay between the GABA, kisspeptin, and GnRH neuronal systems appears to trigger puberty. Second, cultured GnRH neurones derived from the olfactory placode of monkey embryos exhibit synchronised intracellular calcium, [Ca(2+)](i), oscillations and release GnRH in pulses at approximately 60-min intervals after 14 days in vitro (div). During the first 14 div, GnRH neurones undergo maturational changes from no [Ca(2+)](i) oscillations and little GnRH release to the fully functional state. Recent work also shows GnRH mRNA expression increases during in vitro maturation. This mRNA increase coincides with significant demethylation of a CpG island in the GnRH 5'-promoter region. This suggests that epigenetic differentiation occurs during GnRH neuronal maturation. Third, oestradiol causes rapid, direct, excitatory action in GnRH neurones and this action of oestradiol appears to be mediated through a membrane receptor, such as G-protein coupled receptor 30.
Comparison of the efferents of the amygdala and the hippocampal formation in the rhesus monkey: II. Reciprocal and non-reciprocal connections.

The pattern of direct connections between the amygdala and the hippocampal formation in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) was delineated by using both anterograde and retrograde tract-tracing techniques. From the amygdala the accessory basal, medial basal, and the cortical nuclei and the cortical amygdaloid transition area send projections to the hippocampal formation. The efferents from the magnocellular part of the accessory basal nucleus and the cortical nuclei terminate in the molecular layer of subfields CA3, CA2, and CA1′, and to a lesser extent in the molecular layer and the superficial part of the pyramidal cell layers of the prosubiculum. In contrast, the projections from the medial basal nucleus and the cortical amygdaloid transition area terminate in the molecular layer and the superficial part of the pyramidal cell layers of the prosubiculum only. From the hippocampal formation, subfield CA1′ and the prosubiculum send efferents that terminate in the medial basal nucleus, the cortical transition area, and the ventral part of the cortical nuclei. In addition, the CA1′ subfield projects to the ventral, parvicellular part of the accessory basal nucleus. The present data emphasize an important role for the prosubiculum and the CA1′ subfield in medial temporal lobe area connections. Both regions, in addition to supporting direct connections between the amygdala and the hippocampal formation, also have extensive connections with the entorhinal cortex. As for the amygdala, the accessory basal nucleus sends efferents to both the hippocampal formation and the entorhinal cortex. The data demonstrate an anatomical means by which the amygdala, hippocampal formation, and the entorhinal cortex may interact. It is proposed that these connections may be important in the limbic memory system.
How doctors cope with death

Perspective on the paper by Baverstock and Finlay (see page 774) Modern medicine focuses largely on treatment and cure, but care of the dying and bereaved remains an important duty of a doctor. After the death of a child, healthcare professionals are required to help support bereaved families. However, medical staff may feel ill prepared to do so. In this issue, Baverstock et al 1 report some of the emotions experienced by paediatric specialist registrars dealing with the recent death of a patient and the coping mechanisms the registrars used. There is little previously published on the topic but the importance the survey respondents attached to this issue is reflected in the high response rate. Registrars report various emotional reactions to the death of a child. A sudden death produces a feeling of shock. Registrars also report self doubt, which may be a reflection of inexperience. Skill and confidence in communication with a bereaved family can be taught and are enhanced with practice. Doctors may struggle to support a family when they …
Quinine Concentrations in Blood Following the Consumption of Gin and Tonic Preparations in a Social Setting

In some parts of the country, quinine is often detected in heroin users as the result of its use to dilute the narcotic. It is also used in various medical preparations and in some beverages. In order to evaluate quinine concentrations in blood after ingestion of quinine-containing beverages under the conditions of "social drinking," mixtures of gin and tonic (quinine) water were imbibed by human subjects in a social setting. Blood samples were taken at 45-minute intervals for quinine analysis and urine samples were collected at 12 and 24 hours in some subjects. The mean concentration found was 0.22 :t: 0.01 /~g/ml after three drinks. This was substantially lower than concentrations reported after therapeutic administration, or after death from quinine-contaiffing narcotics.
Quantification of Uncertainty in Creep Failure in RF-MEMS Switches

We present simulations of the dynamic response of radio frequency micro-electro-mechanical-systems (RF-MEMS) switches undergoing creep deformation. The model includes a microscale-informed Coble creep formulation incorporated in a beam model of an electrostatically actuated RF-MEMS switch, and it is solved using a Ritz-Galerkin based modal expansion. The resulting effects on the long-term device behavior as well as the implications of uncertainty in the device geometry and material parameters are studied. We find that the addition of creep to the beam model results in an undesired degradation of the device performance, as evidenced by decreases in the closing and release voltages.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Principles of thermal expansion in the feldspar system

Following the recent thermal expansion work of Hovis et al. (2008) on AlSi 3 feldspars, we have investigated the thermal expansion of plagioclase, Ba-K, and Ca-K feldspar crystalline solutions. X-ray powder diffraction data were collected between room temperature and 925 °C on six natural plagioclase specimens ranging in composition from anorthite to oligoclase (and as well on their K-exchanged equivalents) and five synthetic Ba-K feldspars with compositions from 25 to 99 mol% BaAl 2 Si 2 O 8 . The resulting thermal expansion coefficients for volume (α V ) have been combined with earlier results for end-member Na- and K-feldspars. Unlike AlSi 3 feldspars, Al 2 Si 2 feldspars, including anorthite and celsian from the present study, and Sr- and Pb-feldspar from other workers, show essentially constant, and relatively limited, thermal expansion. In the context of structures where the Lowenstein rule requires Al and Si to alternate among tetrahedra, the proximity of bridging Al-O-Si O atoms to divalent neighbors (ranging from 0 to 2) results in Ca-O (or Ba-O) bonds that are especially short. It is suggested that short bonds such as these have a partly covalent character resulting from the requirement for local charge balance. This, in turn, stiffens the structure. For feldspar series with coupled substitution, the change away from a purely divalent M-site occupant gives the substituting (less strongly bonded) monovalent cations increasingly greater influence on thermal expansion. Overall, thermal expansion in the feldspar system is well represented on a plot of α V against room-temperature volume ( V RT ), where one sees a quadrilateral bounded by data for: (1) AlSi 3 feldspars whose expansion behavior is governed largely by the size of the monovalent alkali-site occupant; (2) Al 2 Si 2 feldspars whose expansion is uniformly limited by divalent cations having stronger, partially covalent, bonds to bridging Al-O-Si O atoms; and (3,4) plagioclase and Ba-K feldspars where expansion behavior across the series transitions from one control to the other. Overall, the coefficient of thermal expansion in any binary feldspar series is a linear function of V RT between the pertinent end-members. This makes it possible to predict the thermal expansion behavior of any feldspar simply from knowledge of its chemical system and room-temperature volume.
FOXP3: Of Mice and Men

AbstractThe immune system has evolved mechanisms to recognize and eliminate threats, as well as to protect against self-destruction. Tolerance to self-antigens is generated through two fundamental mechanisms: (a) elimination of self-reactive cells in the thymus during selection and (b) generation of a variety of peripheral regulatory cells to control self-reactive cells that escape the thymus. It is becoming increasing apparent that a population of thymically derived CD4+ regulatory T cells, exemplified by the expression of the IL-2Rα chain, is essential for the maintenance of peripheral tolerance. Recent work has shown that the forkhead family transcription factor Foxp3 is critically important for the development and function of the regulatory T cells. Lack of Foxp3 leads to development of fatal autoimmune lymphoproliferative disease; furthermore, ectopic Foxp3 expression can phenotypically convert effector T cells to regulatory T cells. This review focuses on Foxp3 expression and function and highlights...
Does Being Social Matter? Effects of Enabled Commenting on Credibility and Brand Attitude in Social Media

Public relations practitioners are actively building relationships with bloggers to obtain high-credibility brand mentions and reviews. Practitioners may request bloggers limit comments to maintain control over messages and constrain dissonant perspectives; however, the impact of limiting social features of blogs is unknown. Utilizing source credibility and warranting theory, this article examines the relationship between enabled comments on blogs and brand attitudes, with the moderating variables of credibility and expertise, from both a public relations and consumer behavior perspective. Using an online experiment (N = 527) we found that socialness increases perceptions of blogger expertise, brand attitudes, and purchase intention, but not credibility.
Lattice structure of pseudorandom sequences from shift-register generators

The author develops a theory of the lattice structure of pseudorandom sequences from shift register generators, i.e. Tausworthe sequences and GFSR (generalized feedback shift register) sequences. The author defines an analog of linear congruential sequences in GF(2,x), the field of all Laurent series over the Galois field of two elements GF(2), and shows that this class of sequences contains as a subclass the Tausworthe sequence. He derives a theorem that links the k-distribution of such sequences and the successive minima of the k-dimensional lattice over GF(2,x) associated with the sequences, thereby leading to the geometric interpretation of the lattice structure in the k-dimensional unit space of these sequences. This result is generalized to define the successive minima for the point set of k-dimensional vectors each consisting of k consecutive terms of GFSR sequences, and it is shown that GFSR sequences have a similar structure to that of Tausworthe sequences. A simulation problem in which shift-register-type pseudorandom sequences yield useless results due to such lattice structures is discussed. >
Establishing the Design Rules for DNA-Mediated Programmable Colloidal Crystallization

DNA-programmable colloidal crystals are assembled with 5–80 nm nanoparticles, and the lattice parameters of the resulting crystals vary from 25 to 225 nm. A predictable and mathematically definable relationship between particle size and DNA length dictates the assembly and crystallization processes, creating a set of design rules for DNA-based nanoscale assembly.
10nm Gate-length junctionless gate-all-around (JL-GAA) FETs based 8T SRAM design under process variation using a cross-layer simulation

Gate-all-around (GAA) FETs is proposed as a choice for deeply scaled MOSFETs beyond the 10 nm technology node. In this paper, we present a device and circuit (8T SRAM) co-simulation work based on Junctionless-GAA (JL-GAA) FETs. The same doping concentration level in channel and source/drain can mitigate fabrication complexity and process variability. The 8T SRAM monte carlo simulation results considering process variations shows JL-GAA FETs can reliably operate at low supply voltage.
Testing FPGAs using JBits RTP cores

In this paper, we present a fault-testing technique for field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) that is based on the features offered by Java Bits (JBits). Our technique can detect single and multiple stuck at faults, and is capable of detecting the faulty CLB within the FPGA. The algorithm proposed for testing the faults in the CLB utilizes the unified-library primitives and the run-time parameterizable (RTP) cores of the JBits programming language. The method also explores the object-oriented approach of the Java programming language used in JBits. It has the capability of providing run-time fault avoidance in FPGAs based on the faults detected during the testing process. Since JBits involves programming directly at the bitstream level, the proposed method offers additional advantages over traditional testing techniques
A Fully Integrated UHF CMOS Power Amplifier for Spacecraft Applications

A power amplifier (PA) is designed for a surface-to-orbit proximity link microtransceiver on Mars exploration rovers, aerobots, and small networked landers and works in conjunction with a 0.2-dB loss transmit/receive switch to allow nearly the full 1 W to reach the antenna. The fully integrated UHF CMOS PA with more than 30-dBm output is reported for the first time. A differential pMOS structure with floating-bias cascode transistors and 1:3-turn ratio output transformer are chosen to overcome low breakdown voltage (V bk) of CMOS and chip area consumption issues at UHF frequencies. The high-Q on-chip transformer on a sapphire substrate enables the differential PA to drive a single-ended antenna effectively at 400 MHz. The PA in a standard package delivers 30-dBm output with 27% power-added efficiency. No performance degradation was observed in continuous-wave operation and the design has been tested to 136% of its nominal 3.3-V supply without failure.
Active mode locking of linear and ring external-cavity semiconductor lasers

Pulses on the order of 6-8 ps are obtained in an actively mode-locked external-cavity antireflection (AR) coated semiconductor laser. We also report the mode locking of a ring-cavity semiconductor laser.
Modeling operations management support systems

An abstract model for operations management support systems (OMSSs) is proposed. These are systems that provide end-users with intelligent support based on comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of overall system status. In the model, a system is represented as a collection of distributed intelligent objects, each encapsulating data, process, and other knowledge associated with an operation. The model uses production rules and separates data, procedural knowledge, and control knowledge within an object. It is demonstrated how to extend object modeling to include control knowledge within objects and how to introduce structure and software engineering principles in knowledge modeling systems such as production systems. >
Effect of Different Postnatal Periods of Protein-Energy Malnutrition in Young Rats upon Subsequent Protein Utilization

Previously it had been shown that rat pups, malnourished during the 3-week suckling period and the nutritionally rehabilitated for about 30 weeks, showed an increase in the efficiency of dietary protein utilization of the protein was fed at a less than optimal level and if the protein was of poor nutritional quality (J. Nutr. 103, 273, 1973). The present study extends this observation to growing rats malnourished during the first 3 weeks of life and then rehabilitated with a 25% casein diet for 4 weeks. The test proteins were casein, fed at a level of 12%, and wheat gluten, at a level of 25%. Efficiency of nitrogen retention was greater for both proteins in rats previously malnourished than for control, non-malnourished rats. Malnutrition was then imposed on rats malnourished by feeding a low protein diet either during the first 4 weeks postweaning or from the 7th to 11th week of life. After these periods of malnourishment, the rats were rehabilitated for 4 weeks and efficiency of utilization measured for both casein and wheat gluten fed at 10% of the diet. No change in utilization was found for either protein fed to rats rehabilitated from either of these periods of malnutrition.
Relative Thermal Performance of Carbon Dioxide and Helium in Nuclear-Power Cycles

Analytical comparison is made of the relative heat-transfer-area requirements of carbon dioxide and helium in nuclear-powered gas-turbine cycles and gas cooled reactor–steam turbine systems. Helium is shown to require considerably less heat-transfer area than carbon dioxide in equivalent direct gas-turbine cycles. However, conclusion as to which gas should be considered to have the better heat-transfer characteristics for use in gas cooled reactor–steam turbine systems is indefinite for it appears to depend on the basis of comparison used.Copyright © 1959 by ASME
Heliothis virescens: Sensitivity of Larvae to Pyridoxine Deficiency

Omission of supplemental pyridoxine from the artificial medium or addition of pyridoxine metabolites (4-pyridoxic acid, pyridoxamine 5′-phosphate, and pyridoxal 5-phosphate) to the medium in the presence of adequate pyridoxine caused retardation of development and death in Heliothis virescens (Fabr.) larvae. However, known pyridoxine antagonists ( deoxypyridoxine and deoxypyridoxine phosphate) did not adversely affect survival or development in these insects.
Experimental Dysentery: Produced by Introducing Bacterium Dysenteriae (Flexner) Into Isolated Segments of the Colon of Monkeys

Monkeys have not been used extensively for the study of bacillary dysentery, although the infection has been reported to develop spontaneously in them.1 Their lack of popularity as suitable experimental animals may be due to failure in some instances 2 to infect them. In this investigation a study was made of bacterial activity in two isolated segments of large intestine into which dysentery bacilli were injected. The bacterial changes could thus be determined in the absence of microorganisms carried in the fecal stream.
Recurrent self-mutilation. A case study in morbid mood and behavior.

Self-mutilation is encountered more frequently than is generally realized. To the psychiatrist it often presents a kind of paradox in the spectrum of human behavior. This paper centers around a dramatic example of repeated self-mutilation. The underlying mood of the woman described is highlighted by a series of her own artistic expressions. A number of contemporary theories regarding self-mutilation are reviewed briefly, and an interpersonal theory is formulated which the writers feel may be helpful in understanding some episodes of violence done to the self.
Schwannoma of the Epiglottis: First Report of a Case:

Schwannomas of the larynx are rare. Most of the few such reports in the literature have described schwannomas that occurred in the aryepiglottic fold or the true vocal folds. In this article, we report what we believe is the first case of a schwannoma arising from the epiglottis.
Deficits, Debt, and the New Politics of Tax Policy: A Brief History of Federal Taxation

The modern federal tax system is based on income taxation. This tax system, and the size and role of government it supports, is largely a creation of the New Deal and World War II. Although the U.S. Constitution granted Congress authority to levy many types of taxes, the first federal tax measure was a tariff bill, and the tariff remained the principal source of federal revenue until World War I. Partisan conflicts over federal taxing power quickly emerged in the 1790s as Federalists proceeded to raise tariff rates and levy new excise taxes (notably an unpopular tax on whiskey) and direct taxes on land and property. Jeffersonian Republicans, in turn, denounced these “internal taxes” and the spending regime that they supported. As president, Thomas Jefferson proceeded to repeal internal taxes while pursuing balanced budgets and debt reduction exclusively through spending cuts. The War of 1812 then temporarily reinstated internal taxes, but tariffs and revenues from the sale of public lands largely funded the federal government for the next several decades. While tariff rates and protectionism continued to fuel partisan and sectional disputes over this period, federal budgets remained small and usually balanced.
Diabetes increases the risk of liver, pancreas, and gastric cancer among the Puerto Rican population

B111 Introduction: The purpose of our study is to determine the possible risk of developing cancer associated with diabetes in a Puerto Rican population. Several epidemiological studies have suggested that diabetes may influence the risk of developing a variety of cancers. Given that Puerto Ricans are the ethnic group in the USA with the second highest prevalence of diabetes it is vital that said associations be studied. A recent study found an odds ratio of 2.87 for the association between diabetes and liver cancer. However, the link between diabetes and cancer in Hispanic populations has been scarcely studied. In our investigation, we study the association of diabetes and three prevalent GI cancers in Puerto Rico: pancreatic cancer, liver cancer and stomach cancer. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that diabetes increases the risk of developing liver, pancreatic, and gastric cancer among the Puerto Rican population. Methods: Our study is a cross-sectional analysis of health insurance data for the years 2000-2002 obtained from a private and public health insurance (HI) organization in Puerto Rico. Variables such as type of insurance (private vs. public), age, and sex were analyzed. Proportional Odds Ratios (POR) was determined for the risks associated with diabetes for the three types of cancer. Results: In general, diabetes was associated with an increase risk of liver (POR = 5.79), pancreatic (POR=6.7) and gastric cancer (POR=4.09). For liver cancer patients the risk was higher for males (POR = 6.9) than females (POR= 4.7). Similarly, for pancreatic and gastric cancer the risk were higher for males than females (POR= 7.78 vs. 5.72; POR= 5.4 vs. 3.14), respectively. For liver cancer patients the risk was higher for individuals under public (POR = 7.24) compared to individuals under private (POR = 4.86) HI. The risk for males with public HI showed a higher risk (POR = 8.05) than females (POR= 6.82). Similarly, males with private HI showed a higher risk (POR = 5.79) than females (POR= 3.805). Furthermore, for pancreatic and gastric cancer the risk was higher for individuals under public (POR = 7.89 vs. 5.54) than for individuals under private (POR = 4.27 vs. 3.26). For pancreatic and gastric cancer, when comparing the risk for those under public HI, the risk was higher for males (POR= 8.3; POR= 5.56) than females (POR= 7.8; POR= 3.4). For pancreatic and gastric cancer, when comparing the risk for those under private HI, the risk was higher for males (POR= 7.68; POR= 4.27) than females (POR= 3.05; POR= 3.11). Conclusions: Diabetes increases the risk of developing liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, and gastric cancer. The risk tends to be greater for those with public health insurance and among men. Further studies will evaluate the association of liver, pancreatic and gastric cancer with diabetes in the Puerto Rican population.
Expanded Mobius Syndrome

An infant born with Mobius syndrome died at 22 days and was found at autopsy to have more widespread involvement of brainstem and cranial nerve nuclei than usual, resulting in an “expanded Mobius syndrome,” as reported from the University of Iowa Hospital, Iowa City, IA.
Extreme warming challenges sentinel status of kelp forests as indicators of climate change.

The desire to use sentinel species as early warning indicators of impending climate change effects on entire ecosystems is attractive, but we need to verify that such approaches have sound biological foundations. A recent large-scale warming event in the North Pacific Ocean of unprecedented magnitude and duration allowed us to evaluate the sentinel status of giant kelp, a coastal foundation species that thrives in cold, nutrient-rich waters and is considered sensitive to warming. Here, we show that giant kelp and the majority of species that associate with it did not presage ecosystem effects of extreme warming off southern California despite giant kelp’s expected vulnerability. Our results challenge the general perception that kelp-dominated systems are highly vulnerable to extreme warming events and expose the more general risk of relying on supposed sentinel species that are assumed to be very sensitive to climate change. Giant kelp is sometimes considered the ‘canary in the coal mine’ of coastal ecosystems. However, Reedet al. demonstrate that kelp did not decline during recent ocean warming in California, questioning whether this species is an appropriate indicator for ecosystem responses to future climate change.
In silico predicted reproductive endocrine transcriptional regulatory networks during zebrafish (Danio rerio) development.

Abstract The interconnected topology of transcriptional regulatory networks (TRNs) readily lends to mathematical (or in silico ) representation and analysis as a stoichiometric matrix. Such a matrix can be ‘solved’ using the mathematical method of extreme pathway (ExPa) analysis, which identifies uniquely activated genes subject to transcription factor (TF) availability. In this manuscript, in silico multi-tissue TRN models of brain, liver and gonad were used to study reproductive endocrine developmental programming in zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) from 0.25 h post fertilization (hpf; zygote) to 90 days post fertilization (dpf; adult life stage). First , properties of TRN models were studied by sequentially activating all genes in multi-tissue models. This analysis showed the brain to exhibit lowest proportion of co-regulated genes (19%) relative to liver (23%) and gonad (32%). This was surprising given that the brain comprised 75% and 25% more TFs than liver and gonad respectively. Such ‘hierarchy’ of co-regulatory capability (brain Second , TRN models were constrained with varying TF availabilities during zebrafish development. Normalized numbers of genes active during development showed concomitant activations between brain and gonad from 10 to 12 hpf (embryonic life stage) up to 30–90 dpf (adult life stage). This indicated a putative ‘syncing’ between the brain and gonad, and initiation of an early reproductive endocrine developmental program. Finally, comparison of in vivo active genes with those predicted in silico showed relatively good agreement for brain (49%), liver (27%) and gonad (32%). The multi-tissue TRN models presented can lend diagnostic insights into the effects of changing environmental and/or genetic constraints on reproductive endocrine function.
Andrew Marvell: Traveling Tutor

It is well known that Marvell tutored the daughter of Thomas, Lord Fairfax, at Nun Appleton at the start of the 1650s. This article attempts to shed light on his less well-known stints of tutoring young gentlemen in the late 1640s and mid-1650s. It establishes the distinctive characteristics of the traveling tutor, responsible for the education and governance of a young gentleman on the tour. And it considers the opportunities for advancement, in both private and public service, presented by such responsibilities, briefly examining the successful careers of other such tutors. Curricular traces of Marvell’s tutoring are found in his poetry and prose, and the suggestion is advanced that Marvell’s experience was thought to have prepared him for, and may have led him to expect, a high-profile public career: a career which did not, in the end, materialize.
Genome-Wide Association Study of Heavy Smoking and Daily/Nondaily Smoking in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL).

Introduction Genetic variants associated with nicotine dependence have previously been identified, primarily in European-ancestry populations. No genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been reported for smoking behaviors in Hispanics/Latinos in the United States and Latin America, who are of mixed ancestry with European, African, and American Indigenous components. Methods We examined genetic associations with smoking behaviors in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) (N = 12 741 with smoking data, 5119 ever-smokers), using ~2.3 million genotyped variants imputed to the 1000 Genomes Project phase 3. Mixed logistic regression models accounted for population structure, sampling, relatedness, sex, and age. Results The known region of CHRNA5, which encodes the α5 cholinergic nicotinic receptor subunit, was associated with heavy smoking at genome-wide significance (p ≤ 5 × 10-8) in a comparison of 1929 ever-smokers reporting cigarettes per day (CPD) > 10 versus 3156 reporting CPD ≤ 10. The functional variant rs16969968 in CHRNA5 had a p value of 2.20 × 10-7 and odds ratio (OR) of 1.32 for the minor allele (A); its minor allele frequency was 0.22 overall and similar across Hispanic/Latino background groups (Central American = 0.17; South American = 0.19; Mexican = 0.18; Puerto Rican = 0.22; Cuban = 0.29; Dominican = 0.19). CHRNA4 on chromosome 20 attained p < 10-4, supporting prior findings in non-Hispanics. For nondaily smoking, which is prevalent in Hispanic/Latino smokers, compared to daily smoking, loci on chromosomes 2 and 4 achieved genome-wide significance; replication attempts were limited by small Hispanic/Latino sample sizes. Conclusions Associations of nicotinic receptor gene variants with smoking, first reported in non-Hispanic European-ancestry populations, generalized to Hispanics/Latinos despite different patterns of smoking behavior. Implications We conducted the first large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) of smoking behavior in a US Hispanic/Latino cohort, and the first GWAS of daily/nondaily smoking in any population. Results show that the region of the nicotinic receptor subunit gene CHRNA5, which in non-Hispanic European-ancestry smokers has been associated with heavy smoking as well as cessation and treatment efficacy, is also significantly associated with heavy smoking in this Hispanic/Latino cohort. The results are an important addition to understanding the impact of genetic variants in understudied Hispanic/Latino smokers.
Synthesis of Control Structures for Chemical Plants

Abstract A conceptual hierarchical framework is proposed for the analysis of process operations and the synthesis of plant-wide control structures. The complexity of the design problem is reduced, by designing the control structures in a hierarchical manner, through a series of successively refined representations of the process plant. In a progressive manner, the plant-wide control structure can be developed using formal techniques that address issues such as: (1) Consistent identification of controlled objectives. (2) Meeting multiobjective production requirements in a multivariable system. (3) Simultaneous maintenance of long-horizon as well as short-horizon control objectives. The proposed methodology is systematic and is applicable to large, complex processes such as those encountered in the chemical industry.
HEAT EFFECTS AT ELECTRODES

Abstract A twin calorimeter has been developed which makes it possible to measure the total heat effect of an electrochemical reaction and, at the same time and separately, the heat effect associated with the cathodic reaction and the anodic reaction. Each electrode is contained in a vacuum jacketed compartment; the two compartments are separated by a filter paper partition. To avoid thermoelectric effects the two compartments are maintained at the same temperature during the electrolysis. The calorimeter was tested by measuring the heat effects during the electrolysis of a dilute sulfuric acid solution. Excellent agreement with the accepted value for the heat of formation of water was obtained. The technique was extended to include systems of copper sulfate-copper and silver nitrate-silver. The enthalpy change for the total reaction as well as the entropy change for the reaction occurring at each electrode was determined.
Pattern and predictors of dual antiplatelet use after coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Abstract Background Resumption of dual antiplatelet therapy after coronary artery bypass grafting in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome is recommended, but the current practice pattern in the United States remains unknown. We aimed to investigate the current pattern of dual antiplatelet therapy use after coronary artery bypass grafting at the Yale-New Haven Hospital. Methods We conducted a single-center retrospective review of patients who presented with acute coronary syndrome and underwent coronary artery bypass grafting between 2014 and 2016. The primary outcome was hospital discharge with dual antiplatelet therapy. Mixed-effect multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate predictors of dual antiplatelet therapy use or nonuse, accounting for surgeon-specific preference. The discriminatory ability of the model was evaluated with receiver operating characteristics analysis. Results Of 572 patients included, only 29% were discharged with dual antiplatelet therapy. In the mixed-effect multivariate model isolating surgeon preferences, increase in age (odds ratio, 0.95; 95% confidence interval, 0.92-0.98; P Conclusions The overall rate of dual antiplatelet therapy use in patients with acute coronary syndrome who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting was low and variable among surgeons. The use or nonuse was guided by previously established risk factors of recurrent ischemia and bleeding, along with surgeon preference.
Integrated and steerable vortex laser using bound states in continuum (Conference Presentation)

Steering the beam of a wave source has been demonstrated using mechanical and non-mechanical techniques. While mechanical techniques are bulky and slow, non-mechanical techniques rely on breaking the symmetry of the refractive index profile either using asymmetric structure or injecting a non-uniform current. In this contribution, we theoretically and experimentally demonstrated a new type of topological steering of light sources in which the phase offset is provided by Floquet-Bloch phase in periodic structure. It was shown that in periodic structures, there exist singular states in the radiation region of the band diagram that exhibit diverging quality factor. Thus light sources can operate at these states with lower power threshold. The existence of these singular states are topologically protected, and their momentum are very sensitive to any small perturbations, which is used to control the steering angle. By uniformly controlling some parameters in the system, such as a physical dimension or injecting current uniformly, the beam of the light source steers. Our experimental demonstrations open new paradigm in the implementation of light steering with applications in data communications, bio imaging and sensing.
Sustainable Cross-Boundary Information Sharing

Information is one of the most valuable resources in government. Government managers are finding however, that information needed to plan, make decisions, and act is often held outside their own organizations, maintained in disparate formats, and used for widely different purposes. Efforts to bring this data together across boundaries have provided new understanding into just how difficult cross-boundary information sharing is. Finding ways to bring together information and integrate it for use in solving pressing public problems is fast becoming a focus of attention for digital government practitioners and researchers alike. This chapter reports on one such study of cross-boundary information integration that revealed three important lessons for creating and sustaining cross-boundary information sharing: 1) interoperability is key, 2) a shift in agency culture is necessary, and 3) the role of policymakers is central to this type of project. Four recommendations for action derived from the case studies are presented as well. Government executives and policy-makers need to ensure the creation of enterprise-wide mechanisms and capabilities such as (1) governance structures, (2) resource allocation models, (3) scalable strategies, and (4) non-crisis capacity.
Carbon Materials for Energy Production and Storage

Carbon materials play a vital role in several energy production and storage systens. Their flexibility of product fom, tailorable propres and, in many instmces, unique combinations of physical and chemical attributes make carbon an obvious choice for a variety of energy technology applications, One can think of nmnoous examples, such as carbon and graphite in eledrical energy storage devices (batteries and capacitors), or the use of nuclear graphite as a moderator in fission reactors. Here we discuss the utiliation of carbon materials in there areas of energy production and storage: nuclear fusion, space nuclear power, and transportetion technology.
Recent Functional Changes in International Finance and Their Implications for International Financial Centers

It is well known that the State of Alaska has experienced severe economic difficulties in recent years. The adverse economic impact on the people of Alaska is exacerbated by the fact that the state used to enjoy bountiful economic growth in the 1970s riding on the crest of the Alaskan oil boom.
Experimental observations of stability, instability, and shear planes in granular materials

Materials exhibiting nonassociated flow should according to stability postulates by Drucker and by Hill become unstable when exposed to certain stress-paths inside the failure surface. Results of two series of triaxial compression tests designed to expose the type of behavior displayed by granular materials are presented and discussed. In one series of tests the sand dilated during shear, it exhibited nonassociated flow, and when exposed to stress paths in the region of potential instability, none was observed. In the other series of tests the sand tended to compress during shear, it exhibited nonassociated flow, and instability was observed along stress paths in the region of potential instability. The type of volume change behavior is of great importance in the question of stability of granular materials. Stability conditions for materials with non-associated flow are presented. Shear planes occur after peak failure in triaxial compression on granular materials that dilate. They do not develop inside the failure surface for triaxial compression, and they are not associated with the question of stability considered here.
Standard Dimensions and Definitions for the Human Palate

The palate can be an informative region of the skeleton, especially with regard to the estimation of sex and ancestry. However, few standard definitions exist for both the region and the measurements that can be derived from it. To be able to compare results across studies, researchers must be confident that the data compared are complementary. This article seeks to establish both a standard definition for the dental arcade-palate region and to clarify terminology surrounding the axes of measurement. Existing literature in anthropology as well as clinical applications are examined to determine how the term “palate” is being used and what measurements are used to describe it. Across disciplines, especially between anthropological and clinical literature, the term “palate” refers to different regions. Therefore, the authors suggest differentiating between “hard palate,” “dental arcade,” and “palatal vault” to ensure that researchers are discussing comparable regions. Furthermore, there is a conflict in the literature with regard to the terms applied to specific axes of measurement. The medial-lateral axis has been referred to as both “width” and “breadth”; the anterior-posterior axis has been termed both “length” and “depth”; and the superior-inferior axis has been called both “depth” and “height.” Additionally, the term “depth” has been used for measurements between teeth, meant to capture the curvature of the region. The conflicted state of the literature will lead, and likely has led, to misunderstandings in comparing studies and to misinterpretations of results. Standard definitions and practices are needed to ensure confidence in future comparative studies.
The Use of Telehealth by Medical and Other Health Professional Students at a College Counseling Center

ABSTRACTMost college counseling centers do not utilize telehealth despite evidence of positive outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine the telehealth experience of students in a college coun...
Demonstrating Credentials? Female Executives, Women’s Status, and the Use of Force

ABSTRACTPrior research has found that though higher levels of women’s equality are associated with more peaceful interstate relations, female executives have been found to be significantly more haw...
Integrated Approaches for the Use of Large Datasets to Identify Rational Therapies for the Treatment of Lung Cancers.

The benefit and burden of contemporary techniques for the molecular characterization of samples is the vast amount of data generated. In the era of “big data”, it has become imperative that we develop multi-disciplinary teams combining scientists, clinicians, and data analysts. In this review, we discuss a number of approaches developed by our University of Texas MD Anderson Lung Cancer Multidisciplinary Program to process and utilize such large datasets with the goal of identifying rational therapeutic options for biomarker-driven patient subsets. Large integrated datasets such as the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) for patient samples and the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) for tumor derived cell lines include genomic, transcriptomic, methylation, miRNA, and proteomic profiling alongside clinical data. To best use these datasets to address urgent questions such as whether we can define molecular subtypes of disease with specific therapeutic vulnerabilities, to quantify states such as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition that are associated with resistance to treatment, or to identify potential therapeutic agents in models of cancer that are resistant to standard treatments required the development of tools for systematic, unbiased high-throughput analysis. Together, such tools, used in a multi-disciplinary environment, can be leveraged to identify novel treatments for molecularly defined subsets of cancer patients, which can be easily and rapidly translated from benchtop to bedside.
A commentary on national adaptation drivers: the case of small island developing states

This paper comments on the applicability of the global indicators of climate change adaptation policy drivers contained in Berrang-Ford et al. (2014) (Climatic Change, 124(1–2), 441–450. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-014-1078-3 ) for small island developing states (SIDS). SIDS are a globally recognised ‘special’ case in terms of environment and sustainable development issues as they are disproportionately vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. While acknowledging that the choice of final indicators in the Berrang-Ford et al. (2014) assessment was primarily the function of the results of bivariate analyses with their Adaptation Initiatives Index and that there is no certainty of statistically significant relationships with any measure of adaptation initiatives, this paper proposes the inclusion of a number of predictor variables for a future SIDS-specific quantitative analysis. By doing this, this commentary helps to contribute a more nuanced understanding of potential national adaptation policy drivers in SIDS.
The "-OMICS" facet of melanoma: Heterogeneity of genomic, proteomic and metabolomic biomarkers.

Abstract In the recent decade, cutting edge molecular and proteomic analysis platforms revolutionized biomarkers discovery in cancers. Melanoma is the prototype with over 51,100 biomarkers discovered and investigated thus far. These biomarkers include tissue based tumor cell and tumor microenvironment biomarkers and circulating biomarkers including tumor DNA (cf-DNA), mir-RNA, proteins and metabolites. These biomarkers provide invaluable information for diagnosis, prognosis and play an important role in prediction of treatment response. In this review, we summarize the most recent discoveries in each of these biomarker categories. We will discuss the challenges in their implementation and standardization and conclude with some perspectives in melanoma biomarker research.
Computational simulations of TNF receptor oligomerization on plasma membrane

The interactions between tumor necrosis factors (TNFs) and their corresponding receptors (TNFRs) play a pivotal role in inflammatory responses. Upon ligand binding, TNFR receptors were found to form oligomers on cell surfaces. However, the underlying mechanism of oligomerization is not fully understood. In order to tackle this problem, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been applied to the complex between TNF receptor-1 (TNFR1) and its ligand TNF-α as a specific test system. The simulations on both all-atom (AA) and coarse-grained (CG) levels achieved the similar results that the extracellular domains of TNFR1 can undergo large fluctuations on plasma membrane, while the dynamics of TNFα-TNFR1 complex is much more constrained. Using the CG model with the Martini force field, we are able to simulate the systems that contain multiple TNFα-TNFR1 complexes with the timescale of microseconds. We found that complexes can aggregate into oligomers on the plasma membrane through the lateral interactions between receptors at the end of the CG simulations. We suggest that this spatial organization is essential to the efficiency of signal transduction for ligands that belong to the TNF superfamily. We further show that the aggregation of two complexes is initiated by the association between the N-terminal domains of TNFR1 receptors. Interestingly, the cis-interfaces between N-terminal regions of two TNF receptors have been observed in the previous X-ray crystallographic experiment. Therefore, we provide supportive evidence that cis-interface is of functional importance in triggering the receptor oligomerization. Taken together, our study brings insights to understand the molecular mechanism of TNF signaling.