cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reflections of an Online Geographic Information Systems Course Based on Open Source Software

This article summarizes the experience of offering an online introductory course on geographic information systems (GIS) that utilizes available free/libre and open source software (FOSS). Two primary objectives are to (a) reach students in developing countries and (b) to help move forward the development of an open-content GIS curriculum as part of the Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo; OSGeo.org) educational effort. Course design, key software (QGIS, GRASS, PostgreSQL//PostGIS), and online delivery methods are described. Results and factors leading to a low course-completion rate are discussed. Contributing factors include (a) a for-credit versus no-credit decision and (b) technical issues. Recommendations for others considering online offerings and for the OSGeo educational effort are provided.
Magnetic Fields of Twistors Represented by Confocal Hollow Prolate Spheroids

A twistor is an anisotropic ferromagnetic cylindrical wire with nonmagnetic core. The intrinsic magnetization flux curls in helical sense in the wire and has an air return path. Many field problems must be solved for their successful use as information storage elements. For instance, the demagnetizing field in the wire causes instability of storage and therefore must be reduced by suitable geometry of the twistor. The flux lines emanating from a bit link neighboring windings and also impose a magnetic field intensity in neighboring bits. The interactions, although undesirable in packing bits in a memory array, can be used to advantage as operating forces in logical devices.1 This paper analyzes the demagnetizing field in a twistor bit, based on the geometrical model of a confocal hollow prolate spheroid and the magnetic characterization of the material by B? = ?0(H+M) where M? is the intrinsic magnetization, constant in magnitude, but oriented by the external field. Demagnetizing factors for confocal hollow prolate spheroids are plotted against length-to-diameter ratio and wall thickness. Expressions for field intensities outside a twistor bit are given. Analogies between twistors and thin films are examined.
Reduction of aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated activity of polychlorinated biphenyl mixtures due to anaerobic microbial dechlorination

Aroclors 1242 and 1254 were anaerobically dechlorinated by microorganisms eluted from polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-contaminated River Raisin (RR) and Silver Lake (SL) sediments. Dechlorination occurred primarily from the meta positions. H4IIE rat hepatoma cell bioassays for ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) induction potency, a measure of aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated toxic potential, revealed that the potencies of the Aroclors were considerably reduced after dechlorination. The decreases in EROD induction potencies were dependent on the extent of dechlorination of the non-ortho-substituted and mono-ortho-substituted PCBs. Calculated 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) equivalents (TEqscalc) for the PCB mixtures were 5.7, 0.08, and 0.05 pM TEqcalc/μmole of PCBs for non-, RR-, and SL-dechlorinated Aroclor 1242, and 7.8, 1.6, and 1.0 pM TEqcalc/μmole of PCBs for non-, RR-, and SL-dechlorinated Aroclor 1254, respectively. Correspondence between TEqsassay determined using the H4IIE bioassay and TEqscalc indicated that no unexpected synergistic interactions occurred among components of the dechlorinated mixtures. These results indicate that the dioxinlike toxicities of PCB mixtures are substantially reduced by microbial reductive dechlorination, and that a constant ratio of TEq to total PCBs cannot be assumed in risk assessments.
Association of parental pretransplant psychosocial assessment with post-transplant morbidity in pediatric heart transplant recipients

Because parents assume the primary responsibility for pro- viding ambulatory post-transplant care to pediatric patients, pretrans- plant psychosocial evaluation in these recipients is usually focused on parents rather than on patients themselves. We sought to determine whether pretransplant parental psychosocial evaluation predicts post- transplant medical outcome at current levels of psychosocial support. We compared relative risk (RR) of rejection and hospitalizations (days of all-cause hospitalization) following initial discharge in patients in risk and control groups defined by their pretransplant parental psy- chosocial evaluation. We also compared the two groups of patients for the proportion of all outpatient trough cyclosporine A (CSA) or tac- rolimus (FK) levels that were <50% of the target level (defined as the mid-therapeutic range level). There were seven patients in the risk group with a median age 0.25 yr (range 0.19-14.7 yr) and total follow up 20.5 patient-yr. There were 21 patients in the control groups with a median age of 2.1 yr (range 0.05-16.2 yr) and total follow up of 71.3 patient-yr. There was no significant difference between the groups in rejection-risk or days of all-cause hospitalization early after trans- plant (first six months). During the late period (after the first six months), there were 11 rejection episodes in the risk group over 17.4 patient-yr and four rejection episodes in control group over 61.8 patient-yr of follow up. After adjustment for age and race, patients in the risk category had a RR of 3.4 for developing a rejection episode (p ¼ 0.06) and 3.1 for being inpatient (p < 0.001) during the late period. Patients in the risk group were 2.9 times more likely to have subtherapeutic trough levels (<50% target level) of calcineurin in- hibitor (CSA or FK) during both early and late periods (p < 0.01 for both periods) after adjustment for patient age and race. We conclude that pretransplant parental psychosocial risk assessment is associated with post-transplant morbidity in children after cardiac transplantation. These patients may benefit from closer outpatient monitoring and a higher level of psychosocial support.
The politics of palliative care and the ethical boundaries of medicine: Gonzales v. Oregon as a cautionary tale.

The U.S.Supreme Court's 6-decision in Gonzales v. Oregon is the latest defeat for the Bush administration in its sustained attack on Oregon's physician-assisted suicide law. Both the majority opinion and the major dissent in Oregon provide an opportunity to assess the dangers inherent in allowing a political agenda that emphasizes the sanctity of life and minimizes professional ethical obligations to overshadow quality patient care at the end of life.
The analysis of designs in which individuals are in more than one group

The design and analysis of data when individuals are in more than one group are discussed. In the generations design, the group members change across time in a pattern that mimics the birth and death of members in families. We present a regression-based approach to the estimation of conformity and stability parameters. In a rotation design, people interact in multiple groups and multiple sessions and each group involves a different set of partners. For two different types of rotation designs, we present a variance decomposition approach. For all designs discussed, we illustrate the analysis with results from actual studies
On the concept of “tractor beams”

We demonstrate the existence of a class of optical beams where the nonconservative forces can be locally oriented in a direction opposite to the propagation wave vector. Objects placed in the vicinity of these locations will move toward the source of light. The behavior of these negative forces is discussed for the particular case of nondiffracting rotating scale-invariant vector electromagnetic waves.
Future therapies for the prevention and treatment of venous and arterial thrombosis.

The incidence of thrombosis as a complication of invasive surgery, in cancer patients, as a cause or complication of stroke, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), thrombolysis, unstable angina (UA) or angioplasty is substantial. To better serve this patient population in the prevention and prophylaxis of thrombosis, new types of anticoagulant drugs are under development by the pharmaceutical industry. The goal of these efforts are orally-active anticoagulants with specificity and pharmacokinetic properties that could translate into better control of anticoagulation and thrombosis and less bleading liability compared to the currently used anticoagulants: heparin, the low molecular weight heparins and warfarin. Various approaches for which there is a great deal of activity include: tissue factor/Factor VIIa inhibitors, Factor Xa inhibitors, thrombin inhibitors, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists. There is also interest in Factor IXa inhibitors, thrombin receptor antagonists and inhibitors of plasminogen activat...
Interpreting shock tube ignition data

Chemical kinetic modelers make extensive use of shock tube ignition data in the development and validation of combustion reaction mechanisms. These data come from measurements using a range of diagnostics and a variety of shock tubes, fuels, and initial conditions. With the wide selection of data available, it is useful to realize that not all of the data are of the same type or quality, nor are all the data suitable for simple, direct comparison with the predictions of reaction mechanisms. We present here a discussion of some guidelines for the comparison of shock tube ignition time data with reaction mechanism modeling. Areas discussed include definitions of ignition time; ignition time correlations (with examples taken from recent n-heptane and isooctane measurements); shock tube constant-volume behavior; shock tube diameter and boundary layer effects; carrier gas and impurity effects; and future needs and challenges in shock tube research. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36:510–523, 2004
P04-15. Prevalence of broadly neutralizing antibody responses during acute/early HIV infection

Background Determining how cross-reactive neutralizing antibody (NAb) responses develop during natural HIV-1 infection may provide key information to understand the role they play in controlling the infection and in disease progression. Here we investigated the frequency and breadth of broadly NAb responses during acute and early infection in a well controlled cohort, and attempted to characterize the factors associated with the development of such responses.
Efficient coloring of a large spectrum of graphs

We have developed a new algorithm and software for graph coloring by systematically combining several algorithm and software development ideas that had crucial impact an the algorithm's performance. The algorithm explores the divide-and-conquer paradigm, global search for constrained independent sets using a computationally inexpensive objective function, assignment of most-constrained vertices to least-constraining colors, reuse and locality exploration of intermediate solutions, search time management, post-processing lottery-scheduling iterative improvement, and statistical parameter determination and validation. The algorithm was tested on a set of real-life examples. We found that hard-to-color real-life examples are common especially in domains where problem modeling results in denser graphs. Systematic experimentations demonstrated that for numerous instances the algorithm outperformed all other implementations reported in literature in solution quality and run-time.
Combating immunosuppression in glioma

Despite maximal therapy, malignant gliomas have a very poor prognosis. Patients with glioma express significant immune defects, including CD4 lymphopenia, increased fractions of regulatory T cells in peripheral blood and shifts in cytokine profiles from Th1 to Th2. Recent studies have focused on ways to combat immunosuppression in patients with glioma as well as in animal models for glioma. We concentrate on two specific ways to combat immunosuppression: inhibition of TGF-β signaling and modulation of regulatory T cells. TGF-β signaling can be interrupted by antisense oligonucleotide technology, TGF-β receptor I kinase inhibitors, soluble TGF-β receptors and antibodies against TGF-β. Regulatory T cells have been targeted with antibodies against T-cell markers, such as CD25, CTLA-4 and GITR. In addition, vaccination against Foxp3 has been explored. The results of these studies have been encouraging; combating immunosuppression may be one key to improving prognosis in malignant glioma.
Fraternity in the Christian Tradition: Koinonia as an Interpretive Hermeneutic

I am pleased to have the opportunity to offer a brief approach to the Christian understanding of fraternity as we move into the next dimension of our theme, “Fraternity as the Way Forward.” At the outset, I am quite happy with this title, since the original name by which the disciples of Jesus were known was “The Way.”1 My approach to doing so will be first to look at a biblical text (Acts 2:42) whose interpretation will form the basis of my proposal for a Christian understanding. This particular text also describes the fraternal experience in the church immediately after its full manifestation at Pentecost. Regardless of the church or ecclesial community you might encounter, this biblical approach should be universal, by which I mean that not only Catholics but also all Christians should recognize their own teaching in my interpretation.
Antecedents and near-term consequences for interdisciplinary dissertators

Given the complexity of questions studied by academicians, institutions are increasingly encouraging interdisciplinary research to tackle these problems; however, neither the individual-level pathways leading to the pursuit of interdisciplinary research nor the resulting market outcomes have been closely examined. In this study, we focus attention on the individuals who complete interdisciplinary dissertations to ask "who are they and how do they fare after earning the PhD?" Since interdisciplinary research is known to be relatively risky among academics, we examine demographic variables that are known to be associated in other contexts with risk-taking before considering whether interdisciplinarians' outcomes are different upon graduating. First among our three main findings, students whose fathers earned a college degree demonstrated a 1.3% higher probability of pursuing interdisciplinary research. Second, the probability that non-citizens pursue interdisciplinary dissertation work is 4.6% higher when compared with US citizens. Third, individuals who complete an interdisciplinary dissertation tend to earn approximately 2% less in the year after graduation; however, mediation analyses show that the decision to become a postdoctoral researcher accounts for the apparent salary penalty. Our findings shed light on the antecedents and near-term consequences for individuals who complete interdisciplinary dissertations and contribute to broader policy debates concerning supports for academic career paths.
Effect of Forced Use of the Upper Extremity of a Hemiplegic Patient on Changes in Function A Single-Case Design

This study was designed to examine the effect of forced use of the affected upper extremity of a hemiplegic patient on the quantity, quality, and efficiency of functional behaviors. The patient was a woman with right hemiplegia of 18 months' duration. The study was divided into three one-week phases: an initial base-line, and experimental, and a second base-line phase. Base-line scores of frequency, quality, and time were recorded for completion of functional tasks. During the experimental phase, the patient's intact upper extremity was restrained. The efficiency and quality of movement scores did not reflect changes related to the period of restraint; however, the frequency of purposeful behaviors and the patient's functional use of her affected extremity increased during the experimental phase. The relationship of forced use to recovery of function in hemiplegia remains uncertain.
HANDEDNESS AND STRESS-RELATED HEALTH PROBLEMS

meaningful relationship benveen handedness and stress-related health problems. In making the case For their controversial and widely publicized hypothesis that righthanders live longer than left-handers, Halpern and Coren (3) cited evidence (2) which suggesred that left-handers experience a higher rate of stress-linked and immune disorders than righthanders. Our purpose here was to provide data pertinent to the assessment of the reliability of the prior dara (2) by measuring the relationship benveen handedness classification and a set of stress-related health problems. To do this, we classified a large group of university undergraduates as right-handed (n= 163), mixed-handed (n=22), or left-handed (n=20), using the Briggs-Nebes Handedness Scale (1). As part of a larger questionnaire, these students also responded to a 48-item Stress-related Health l'roblems scale that assessed their experience with each symptom on a 5-point summated scale, anchored by Never (or almost never) 0, Seldom 1, Occasionally 2, Frequently 3, and Always (or almost always) 4. Questions from the 48-item scale were grouped into seven sets of symptoms: Respirarory, Allergy, Anxiety, Circulatory, Gastric, Headache, and Pain and Sensiuvity and scored so seven subscale scores were derived for each student. We compared the three individual handedness groups (left-, tight-, and mixed-handers) on the seven symptom s~~bscales and observed that only one of the 21 statistical tests barely reached significance (t,,,= 1.99, p<.05 benveen means of left- and right-handers for the Respiratory symptoms). Inspection of the patterns of individual items for these nvo groups showed only two of the nine items d8erentiated significantly benveen these handedness groups. We observed no clear trends in the Datterns of other subscale means that could be viewed as consistenr with the hypothesis that left-handedness is associated with an increased risk of stress-related health problems. The one significant difference should be attributed to chance. Thus, in contrast to the hypothesis (3), we conclude that handedness classification and the risk of stress-related health problems are not correlated in a meaningful way.
Reynolds number effects on the performance of small-scale propellers

The growing use of small UAVs and MAVs has increased the interest in determining the performance of small-scale propellers that power them. These small-scale propellers operate at much lower Reynolds numbers than propellers for larger aircraft; typical Reynolds numbers for small-scale propellers are less than 100,000 based on the velocity and chord at the 75% span station. The low Reynolds numbers of the propellers make predicting the performance of these propellers difficult as the performance of the propellers generally change with Reynolds numbers. In order to understand the Reynolds number effects on small-scale propellers, the performance data of twenty-seven off-the-shelf propellers and four 3D-printed propellers were measured in both static and advancing-flow conditions. The diameters of these propellers ranged from 2.25 in to 9 in. From these tests, the performance of the propellers was shown to improve as the Reynolds number increased. This improvement was seen as either an increase in the thrust coefficient, a decrease in the power coefficient, or both. For propellers in an advancing flow, performance improvement was also seen as an increase in the propeller efficiency. Results from some of the propellers tested showed an efficiency improvement of around 10%. Nevertheless, the maximum efficiency achieved by the small-scale propellers is still low when compared to typical values of larger propellers.
On the ontology of psychological attributes

Coherent interpretations of many claims about measurement in the psychological sciences depend on philosophically realist commitments regarding the psychological attributes purportedly being measured. However, what it means to be a realist regarding psychological attributes has not been clarified, and this may contribute to the reluctance of psychometricians and others to embrace realist positions. This paper attempts to clarify what a psychological attribute might believably be. Drawing on conceptual resources provided by Searle’s (1992) biological naturalism, as well as other perspectives from the philosophies of mind and language, it is argued that psychological attributes can, in principle, be said to exist. On the realist perspective, the existence of an attribute is a necessary but insufficient condition for its measurability. However, existence is not the same as immutability or independence from human intentionality, and the role that humans play in creating psychological attributes cannot be ignored.
An Analogy Explanation for the Evaluation of Entrepreneurial Opportunities

Entrepreneurs evaluate opportunities under conditions of uncertainty; they make judgments. To understand these evaluations, I develop an analogical model that represents an entrepreneurial opportunity in the mind of an individual. The model proposes that an opportunity is an analogical knowledge transfer from a source business domain to a target business domain. According to the model, the cognitive distance between the domains influences the opportunity evaluation. Additionally, the inspiration behind the analogy construction influences the opportunity evaluation. The empirical design employs a hypothetical scenario experiment and the results show that the two analogical properties matter for evaluation.
Empirical Analysis of Judicial Opinions: Methodology, Metrics, and the Federal Circuit

Despite the popularity of empirical studies of the Federal Circuit’s patent law decisions, a comprehensive picture of those decisions has only recently begun to emerge. Historically, the literature has largely consisted of individual studies that provide just a narrow slice of quantitative data relating to a specific patent law doctrine. Even studies that take a more holistic approach to the Federal Circuit’s jurisprudence primarily focus on their own results and address only briefly the findings of other studies. While recent developments in the field hold great promise, one important but yet unexplored dimension is the use of multiple studies to form a complete and rigorously supported understanding of particular attributes of the court’s decisions. Drawing upon the empirical literature as a whole, this Article examines the degree to which the reported data can be considered in collective terms. It focuses specifically on the rates at which the Federal Circuit reverses lower tribunals — a subject whose importance is likely to continue to grow as scholars, judges, and practitioners attempt to ascertain the impact of the Supreme Court’s recent decisions addressing the standard of review applied by the Federal Circuit, including in the highly contentious area of claim construction. The existence of multiple studies purportedly measuring the same thing should give a sense of the degree to which researchers can measure that attribute.Surprisingly, as this examination reveals, there is often substantial variation of reported results within the empirical literature, even when the same parameter is measured. Such variation presents a substantial hurdle to meaningful use of metrics such as reversal rates. This article explores the sources of this variability, assesses its impact on the literature and proposes ways for future researchers to ensure that their studies can add meaningful data (as opposed to just noise) to the collective understanding of both reversal rate studies and quantitative studies of appellate jurisprudence more broadly. Although its focus is on the Federal Circuit, a highly studied court, the insights of this Article are applicable to virtually all empirical studies of judicial opinions.
Lessons Learned From The Gulf Of Maine Case: The Development Of Maritime Boundary Delimitation Jurisprudence Since UNCLOS III

The Chamber of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivered its judgment on the location of the maritime boundary between Canada and the United States in the Gulf of Maine, on October 12, 1984. Less than two years before, after many years consideration, and an almost complete failure of consensus during the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III),1 the international community adopted the text of Articles 74 and 83 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.2 These two almost identically-worded articles provided the formula for delimiting the maritime boundaries between States' exclusive economic zones (EEZ) and continental shelves. They provide, in part, as follows: The delimitation of the exclusive economic zone/continental shelf between States with opposite or adjacent coasts shall be effected by agreement on the basis of international law, as referred to in Article 38 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice, in order to achieve an equitable solution.3
Commentary: Biliary Strictures from Liver Transplantation

This commentary summarizes personal experience with anastomotic and intrahepatic strictures following both deceased donor and living donor liver transplantation. Historical notes are highlighted, as well as the evolution of the treatment of biliary strictures. We discuss the incidence, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term outcomes, as well as economic impact. The added challenges of biliary strictures in living donor transplantation are addressed, as well as in recipients of death after cardiac death grafts, and following retransplantation.
A review of dimensional assessment for statistics and probability

Numeric values that are meant to describe physical attributes are given a precise context by association with measurement units. Units define the quantification of the attribute’s dimension within a specific measurement system. Science and engineering disciplines have long relied on measurement systems and dimensional reasoning. This article explores the (long-held) notion that dimensional awareness can also stimulate unique insight into statistics and probability concepts. Linear algebra developed for dimensioned physical quantities provides a rigorous framework for analyzing applied equations. Units associated with descriptive statistics can be determined by dimensional assessment of basic definitions. Dimensioned linear algebra can be used to trace units through more advanced statistical constructs. Any dimensional context precludes a non-dimensionless probability unit, and requires probability density to have a dimension that is reciprocal to that of the random variable. The physical meaning of distribution parameters becomes clear in a dimensional context, and several pervasive inconsistencies in graphics and basic equations are clarified. The ideas presented in this article are not new. Dimensional awareness also contributes to a broader system-level foundation for utilizing statistics and probability concepts as tools in applied scenarios.
With a little help from your friend Transactive memory in best friendships

Transactive memory is a system for encoding, storing, and retrieving information between people, where each person has knowledge of the other’s memory. Through two studies, we assessed whether transactive memory occurs in best friendships (N = 682). Results showed that transactive memory systems (TMSs) do exist in best friendships. Importantly, stronger TMSs are associated with higher friendship quality (satisfaction and commitment), and their strength is related to different friendship characteristics (e.g., trust). A novel method for assessing TMS structure was developed. Mixed-gender friendships were associated with more differentiated structures (different knowledge), and friendships higher in inclusion of other in the self were associated with more integrated structures (similar knowledge). These studies have implications for the quality and operation of friendships.
Uncertainty Propagation in Numerical Modeling of Direct Chill Casting

Complex solidification processes are often simulated to gain insight into physical phenomena that cannot be experimentally observed. Validation of these models is done through direct comparison to scarce experimental data, in which agreement can be misinterpreted due to uncertainties from the model and experimental measurements. A fully transient numerical model of the direct chill casting process of Al-4.5 wt.% Cu is used to examine the propagation of input uncertainty to outputs of interest. This model solves equations for momentum, temperature, and species conservation. The effect of material property input uncertainties are examined. Probability density functions are calculated based on these input uncertainties for metrics that characterize the ingot macrosegregation and sump depth.
Microbiome: Ecology of eczema

Patients with atopic dermatitis have fundamentally different skin microbial populations compared with people with healthy skin. Bacteria associated with atopic dermatitis express genes for survival in dry conditions and for ammonia production, modulating the pH of this distinct environment and driving complex ecological interactions.
A systematic investigation of the link between rational number processing and algebra ability

Recent research suggests that fraction understanding is predictive of algebra ability; however, the relative contributions of various aspects of rational number knowledge are unclear. Furthermore, whether this relationship is notation-dependent or rather relies upon a general understanding of rational numbers (independent of notation) is an open question. In this study, college students completed a rational number magnitude task, procedural arithmetic tasks in fraction and decimal notation, and an algebra assessment. Using these tasks, we measured three different aspects of rational number ability in both fraction and decimal notation: (1) acuity of underlying magnitude representations, (2) fluency with which symbols are mapped to the underlying magnitudes, and (3) fluency with arithmetic procedures. Analyses reveal that when looking at the measures of magnitude understanding, the relationship between adults' rational number magnitude performance and algebra ability is dependent upon notation. However, once performance on arithmetic measures is included in the relationship, individual measures of magnitude understanding are no longer unique predictors of algebra performance. Furthermore, when including all measures simultaneously, results revealed that arithmetic fluency in both fraction and decimal notation each uniquely predicted algebra ability. Findings are the first to demonstrate a relationship between rational number understanding and algebra ability in adults while providing a clearer picture of the nature of this relationship.
Incremental Hemodialysis: The University of California Irvine Experience

Incremental hemodialysis has been examined as a viable hemodialysis regimen for selected end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Preservation of residual kidney function (RKF) has been the driving impetus for this approach given its benefits upon the survival and quality of life of dialysis patients. While clinical practice guidelines recommend an incremental start of dialysis in peritoneal dialysis patients with substantial RKF, there remains little guidance with respect to incremental hemodialysis as an initial renal replacement therapy regimen. Indeed, several large population-based studies suggest that incremental twice-weekly vs. conventional thrice-weekly hemodialysis has favorable impact upon RKF trajectory and survival among patients with adequate renal urea clearance and/or urine output. In this report, we describe a case series of 13 ambulatory incident ESRD patients enrolled in a university-based center's Incremental Hemodialysis Program over the period of January 2015 to August 2016 and followed through December 2016. Among five patients who maintained a twice-weekly hemodialysis schedule vs. eight patients who transitioned to thrice-weekly hemodialysis, we describe and compare patients' longitudinal case-mix, laboratory, and dialysis treatment characteristics over time. The University of California Irvine Experience is the first systemically examined twice-weekly hemodialysis practice in North America. While future studies are needed to refine the optimal approaches and the ideal patient population for implementation of incremental hemodialysis, our case-series serves as a first report of this innovative management strategy among incident ESRD patients with substantial RKF, and a template for implementation of this regimen.
Runx1 Is Strictly Required for Cbfb-MYH11 Induced Leukemia Development

Abstract Inversion of chromosome 16 is a consistent finding in patients with acute myeloid leukemia subtype M4 with eosinophilia (AML M4Eo), which generates a CBFB-MYH11 fusion gene. The prevailing hypothesis for the mechanism of leukemia development by CBFbeta-SMMHC, the fusion protein encoded by CBFB-MYH11, is that CBFbeta-SMMHC is a dominant negative repressor of RUNX1, a transcription factor that physically interacts with CBFbeta and CBFbeta-SMMHC. If this hypothesis is correct, reducing RUNX1 activity should facilitate leukemogenesis by CBFB-MYH11. In fact, loss-of-function mutations in RUNX1 are common in human AML, but not in inv(16) AML. However, we previously demonstrated that CBFB-MYH11 has RUNX1-repression independent functions (Hyde et al., Blood 115:1433, 2010). Moreover, we recently showed that a dominant negative allele of Runx1, Runx1-lz, delayed leukemogenesis by CBFB-MYH11 in a mouse model (Hyde et al., Leukemia 29:1771, 2015). These findings challenge the RUNX1-repression model for CBFbeta-SMMHC mediated leukemogenesis. However, our previous findings are not conclusive since the Runx1+/lz mice used in the previous study have one wild-type Runx1 allele, and still retain some Runx1 function. To definitively address this question, we crossed Cre-based conditional Runx1 knockout mice (Runx1f/f) with Cre-based conditional Cbfb-MYH11 knockin mice (Cbfb+/56M) and Mx1-Cre mice to generate Runx1f/f, Mx1-Cre, Cbfb+/56M mice, which express CBFbeta-SMMHC but not Runx1 after pIpC (poly I:C) treatment to induce Cre expression. Runx1f/f, Mx1-Cre, Cbfb+/56M mice had more severe platelet deficiencies and higher numbers of Lin-/Sca1-/C-kit+ progenitors and Lin-/Sca1+/C-kit+ hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow when comapred with Runx1f/f, Mx1-Cre mice. Unexpectedly Runx1f/f, Mx1-Cre, Cbfb+/56M mice also developed severe macrocytic anemia within two weeks after pIpC induction, which was lethal in about 1/3 of the mice. However, none of the Runx1f/f, Mx1-Cre, Cbfb+/56M mice developed leukemia up to one year after pIpC treatment. In contrast, all Mx1-Cre, Cbfb+/56M mice developed leukemia with an average survival of 4 months, as reported previously. These results suggest that Runx1 is strictly required for Cbfb-MYH11 induced leukemogenesis. To further study the mechanism of leukemogenesis, we performed RNA-Seq on C-kit+ bone marrow cells isolated from mice two weeks after pIpC treatment, to explore the global gene expression changes caused by Runx1 knockout on Cbfb-MYH11 expressing mice. Our preliminary data analysis showed that 1688 genes were differential expressed (Padj ≤0.05, FC ≥ 2) between Runx1f/f, Mx1-Cre, Cbfb+/56M and Mx1-Cre, Cbfb+/56M mice. Interestingly, many of these genes (48%) are Runx1 target genes. The above results suggest that mis-regulating the expression of Runx1 target genes contributes to leukemogenesis by CBFbeta-SMMHC. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Looking back and looking forward: The white coat lecture.

Donald Knowlan, MD, presenting the white coat lecture in August 2013. Photo: Georgetown University School of Medicine.
Think Tanks, Foreign Policy, and National, Regional, and Global Politics

The emergence of new powers in the past decade has opened up a number of new fields of academic and policy inquiry regarding the role of these newly empowered state actors in the international environment, in the management of the global order, and in the recalibration of international relations. Similarly, it has brought about new, challenging conditions for these emerging powers themselves to assert their position and voice within international institutions and, more generally, an ever more complex global setting. The challenge, as many of the chapters in this book have demonstrated, is rendered even harder by the simultaneous need to claim a more active international role while at the same time dealing with the numerous internal political and social transformations that most of these countries are witnessing, and with the regional dynamics in which these emerging powers are involved as stakeholders.
Neutralization Role in College Students' Information Seeking Procrastination

ABSTRACTThis study examines the current state of research in academic procrastination. Neutralization theory is then explored with emphasis on its applicability to academic information seeking and ...
Happiness, Health and Altruism

Happiness, health, and mortality are examined in association with altruism, generous emotions, and volunteerism. Mental as well as physical health are considered, along with prolongevity. Existing empirical studies are brought to bear on the claim, made in various philosophical systems and through literature, that a virtuous, other-regarding life brings its own rewards to the agent. Several explanatory models are offered to suggest why positive other-regarding emotions and behaviors might carry such benefits. Public health needs to take into account such phenomena as volunteerism and positive psychology in the context of primary prevention of anxiety, depression, and stress-induced illnesses.
2,4-Dimethylphenol

The dimethylphenols are used in the manufacture of coal tar disinfectants and artificial resins.
Assessment of Soluble ST2 and BNP in Pediatric Patients with Left Ventricular Dysfunction

Objective We sought to determine whether soluble suppression of tumorigenicity (ST2) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) are elevated in children with left ventricular dysfunction (LVD). Background Novel biomarkers could be of prognostic value in the management of LVD. METHODS: Data were analyzed from non-hospitalized patients diagnosed with chronic LVD (ejection fraction [EF] 3 months since diagnosis) at Cincinnati Children's Hospital between 2013 and 2016. We excluded neuromuscular disorders, chronic kidney and lung disease, and patients with LVD with malignancy involved. Measurement of biomarkers, heart failure functional status assessment, and non-invasive imaging assessment of ventricular function was performed. Results A total of 92 patients were included, with median age 17 years [IQR 9.5 - 20 years], 43.5% female, and 76.1% Caucasian. Soluble ST2 was elevated in children with LVD compared with controls (median 25.7 ng/mL [IQR 18.8 - 35 ng/mL] versus median 21 ng/mL [IQR 16 to 29 ng/mL]; P 100 ng/mL compared to those below that threshold (P Conclusion Soluble ST2 and BNP are higher in pediatric patients with LVD indicating hemodynamic stress. While there was no relationship between functional status and the biomarkers studied, those patients with elevated BNP did have a lower median EF. Future study of these biomarkers over time, and in relationship to treatment strategies, may provide prognostic information for pediatric patients with heart failure.
UNIT 4A.2 Genetic Manipulation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae

The sexually transmitted pathogen, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, undergoes natural transformation at high frequency. This property has led to the rapid dissemination of antibiotic resistance markers and to the panmictic structure of the gonococcal population. However, high-frequency transformation also makes N. gonorrhoeae one of the easiest bacterial species to manipulate genetically in the laboratory. Techniques have been developed that result in transformation frequencies >50%, allowing the identification of mutants by screening and without selection. Constructs have been created to take advantage of this high-frequency transformation, facilitating genetic mutation, complementation, and heterologous gene expression. Techniques are described for genetic manipulation of N. gonorrhoeae, as well as for growth of this fastidious organism. Curr. Protoc. Microbiol. 23:4A.2.1-4A.2.24. © 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: Neisseria gonorrhoeae; natural transformation; electroporation; complementation; genetic transformation; heterologous gene expression
A Novel Global Localization Approach Based on Structural Unit Encoding and Multiple Hypothesis Tracking

In this paper, we present a novel 2-D laser-based global localization approach for mobile robots, which is composed of geometrical relationship construction, a new structural unit encoding scheme (SUES), and an extended multiple hypothesis tracking (MHT) algorithm. Different from existing methods, we construct a 3-D “directional endpoint” feature encapsulating both the endpoint and the direction of a line segment; on this basis, a novel and efficient online structural unit encoding scheme (SUES) is proposed to describe the geometric relationship between the two directional endpoint features with some robustness to dynamic disturbances. Note that SUES presented in this paper is different from the bag-of-words scheme in two aspects: 1) SUES quantizes the geometrical relationship without offline training for vocabulary and 2) SUES is independent of the quality of the vocabulary. By factoring the global localization problem into a discrete pose estimation problem, the MHT is extended on the basis of SUES and odometry information to gradually restore the global robot pose. Different from the classical MHT framework, the extended MHT takes the independent observation results as the a priori , while the likelihood term is composed of consecutive candidate poses and the odometry information. Evaluations are carried out by using both publicly available data sets and self-recorded data sets. Comparative experimental results with respect to the adaptive Monte Carlo localization are presented to show the superior performance of the proposed approach in terms of success ratio and efficiency.
One More Hurricane, One More Lesson Not Learned

Considering the trauma that our health system suffered related to Hurricane Ike in September 2008, administrators, employees, and students were hoping to avoid future emergency occurrences. The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) caught a break until August 2017 when Hurricane Harvey washed in. Handling Hurricane Harvey demonstrated yet again the University's strength and resilience in meeting the challenges that hammer facilities and humans during naturally occurring emergencies. Leaders and staff managed the many facets of providing “best care,” the health system's commitment to offer right care, at the right time, in the right way, for the right person. Continuous patient care delivery …
APPENDIX 4F Agarose Gel Electrophoresis

This appendix presents a protocol for separating and purifying DNA fragments between 0.5 and 25 kb. A Support Protocol describes the use of midigels and minigels.
PREMSim: A Resilience Framework for Modeling Traditional and Emerging Memory Reliability

Scaling limitations of conventional and emerging memories has provided the impetus for the increased focus on reliability techniques to overcome associated physical limitations of non-perfect devices. However, despite these reliability advances, critical challenges remain to be solved as new memory types and memory vulnerabilities arise. There continues to be no simulator with extended reliability models for easy comparison of existing and newly developed techniques nor simple integration of innovative new reliability concepts and failure modes. The mission of our simulator, PremSim, is to provide a framework which solves these fundamental limitations. While PremSim can function using memory traces, it was also designed from the ground-up to be fully integrated with several external simulators including the Structural Simulation Toolkit (SST) as a memory backend. It can connect to other detailed memory backends such as DRAMSim2 for detailed energy and timing. Further, it provides modes which give estimated lifetime for endurance-limited memories, as well as the provable correction capability per row for a given fault distribution. To perform these calculations in a reasonable time window and to remain compatible with abstract full-system simulators, we also provide and verify novel abstractions. Additionally, we show case studies of how different fault mitigation strategies can be modeled effectively in PremSim including solutions at the page, row, word, and bit-level granularity of next-generation traditional and emerging faulty memories.
A Discrete-Continuous Hybrid Approach to Periodic Routing of Waste Collection Vehicles With Recycling Operations

Waste management agencies need to plan their waste collection activities in an efficient way such that they not only provide high-quality and timely service to customers but also maximize their net profit from recyclable waste, i.e., the total recycling revenue minus total operating costs. This paper proposes a mixed-integer linear program model for the waste collection problem in urban areas while considering the recycling operation at the sorting facility. A hybrid solution approach with both discrete and continuous optimization components is developed to solve the problem. The continuous component builds upon asymptotic routing cost formulas from the continuous approximation literature, while it is integrated into the discrete optimization component via an iterative stochastic approximation procedure. A series of numerical experiments are conducted, and results show that the proposed model and hybrid solution approach significantly outperform state of the art benchmarks from the literature.
Stochasticity in Neuromorphic Computing: Evaluating Randomness for Improved Performance

Several researchers have proposed that random noise in highly non-linear biological systems helps with learning and information processing. Neuromorphic systems could potentially harness the computational power of such biological systems by utilizing stochasticity to imitate random biological noise. Systems implementing this kind of probabilistic behavior would open up an entirely new realm of potential algorithms and applications to neuromorphic developers. This paper proposes an efficient and reliable stochastic spiking neuromorphic topology that utilizes variations of the membrane capacitance to realize stochastic behavior. We also present analyses of network-level effects of this stochastic spiking neuron behavior, showing the performance impact on classification and other neuromorphic applications. This network-level analysis shows that stochastic noise does in fact provide powerful generalization properties that improve performance in emerging neuromorphic systems.
Conductive Adhesives for Metallization of Interdigitated Back Contact Solar Cells

The metallization and interconnection of Si solar cells to form a module is usually a multi-step process: cells are metallized individually, soldered into strings, and subsequently assembled into a module. Furthermore, the metallization process for individual cells must be compatible with the doped surfaces being contacted, which creates additional challenges when moving from diffused junctions to heterojunctions and/or passivated contact structures. To mitigate these problems and streamline module manufacturing for the case of interdigitated back contact (IBC) cell modules, we developed an approach wherein unmetallized IBC cells are bonded directly to a circuitized backsheet using a conductive adhesive (CA) that only conducts out-of-plane. The metal/CA/silicon stack is bonded by hot-pressing at 100-200°C.For a CA consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) filled with Ag-coated spheres or indium powder we find that contact resistivities in the range of 1-10 Wcm2 are obtained, regardless of which conductive filler and which hot pressing parameters are used. XPS revealed that about 1-2 nm EVA residue bonds to the Si in these samples, suggesting the formation of an insulating barrier that is responsible for the high contact resistance. Using indium powder alone, improved contact resistivities DC , are possible through CA-based IBC module manufacturing.