cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Closing the Circle: Use of Students’ Responses for Peer-Assessment Rubric Improvement

Educational peer assessment has proven to be a useful approach for providing students timely feedback and allowing them to help and learn from each other. Reviewers are often expected both to provide formative feedback─textual feedback telling the authors where and how to improve the artifact─and peer grading at the same time. Formative feedback is important for the authors because timely and insightful feedback can help them improve their artifacts, and peer grading is important to the teaching staff, as it provides more input to help determine final grades. In a large class or MOOC when the help from teaching staff is limited, formative feedback from their peers is the best help that the authors may receive. To guarantee the quality of the formative feedback and reliability of peer grading, instructors should keep on improving peer-assessment rubrics. In this study we used students’ feedback from the last 3 years in the Expertiza peer-assessment system to analyze the quality of 15 existing rubrics on 61 assignments. A set of patterns on peer-grading reliability and comment length were found and a set of guidelines are given accordingly.
Information cartography

“Raise your hand if you don’t quite understand this whole financial crisis,” said David Leonhardt’s New York Times article, March 2008. The credit crisis had been going on for seven months and extensively and continuously covered by every major media outlet in the world. Despite that coverage, many readers felt they did not understand what it was about.
Critical period for foveal fine structure in children with regressed retinopathy of prematurity.

Purpose Midgestation is a critical period in the formation of the foveal avascular zone. The authors evaluated the effects of preterm birth on foveal structure in children with regressed retinopathy of prematurity. Methods Children with regressed retinopathy of prematurity with normal-appearing posterior poles (n = 26) and full-term control children (n = 56) were investigated. Frequency-domain optical coherence tomography 9-mm line scans across the fovea were obtained from right eyes. Using a customized segmentation program in MATLAB, total retinal thickness and the thickness of individual retinal layer regions were measured at the fovea (0°) and throughout ± 8°. Results Total thickness of the fovea in the retinopathy of prematurity group (287.7 ± 47.6 μm) was greater than that in the control group (230.1 ± 18.2 μm). Bilinear fitting was performed to examine the relationship between total thickness and gestational age. Before 28 weeks, foveal thickness decreased with gestational age (14.3 μm/week); after 28 weeks, foveal thickness decreased only slightly (2.73 μm/week). Inner retinal layers contributed to the difference in thickness between groups more than outer layers. Foveal thickness was correlated with gestational age at birth but not with visual acuity or refractive error. Conclusion Preterm birth before 28 weeks of gestational age was associated with a failure of the inner retinal layers to migrate away from the fovea, resulting in increased foveal thickness.
Preliminary report on coated charcoal immunoassay of human chorionic "growth hormone-prolactin" and growth hormone.

SummaryCharcoal premixed with dextran of average molecular weight 250,000 almost instantly adsorbs free human growth hormone or human chorionic “growth hormone-prolactin,” but rejects antibody-bound hormone. The use of such dextran-coated charcoal makes simpler and more rapid the immunoassay of these hormones in biologic fluids, using radioisotope dilution with I131-hormone and “biopsy” of the hormone pool by antibody to the hormone. The procedure yields a straight line graph when hormone added is plotted against hormone recovered.Addendum: M. S. Wool and H. A. Se-lenkow recently published an abstract on the use of charcoal coated with Dextran 150 for assay of human growth hormone (Proc. 48th Meeting, Endocrine Society, Chicago, June 20-22, 1966, p. 123).S. Reichlin and his associates at University of Rochester School of Medicine found excellent similarities of separation in comparison of the coated charcoal with the double antibody method for growth hormone assay. E. Knobil and his associates at Universi...
Not the internet, but this internet: how othernets illuminate our feudal internet

What is the Internet like, and how do we know? Less tendentiously, how can we make general statements about the Internet without reference to alternatives that help us to understand what the space of network design possibilities might be? This paper presents a series of cases of network alternatives which provide a vantage point from which to reflect upon the ways that the Internet does or does not uphold both its own design goals and our collective imaginings of what it does and how. The goal is to provide a framework for understanding how technologies embody promises, and how these both come to evolve.
NONRANDOM GENOTYPIC ASSOCIATIONS IN A LEGUME-BRADYRHIZOBIUM MUTUALISM.

Genetically divergent lineages often coexist within populations of the annual legume Amphicarpaea brac- teata. At one site dominated by two such lineages (termed biotypes "C" and "S"), isolates of root-nodule bacteria (Bradyrhizobium sp.) were sampled from both hosts and analyzed by enzyme electrophoresis. Symbiont populations on the two plant biotypes were highly distinct. Out of 15 bacterial multilocus genotypes detected (among 51 isolates analyzed), only one was shared in common by the two plant biotypes. Cluster analysis revealed three bacterial lineages (designated I, II, and III), with lineage I found exclusively on biotype C plants, and the two other lineages almost completely restricted to biotype S hosts. Laboratory inoculation tests indicated that lineage I bacteria were strictly specialized on biotype C hosts, forming few or no nodules on plants of the other host biotype. Bacterial lineages II and III were capable of forming nodules on both kinds of plants, but nodule numbers were often significantly higher on biotype S hosts. The nonrandom association between plant and bacterial lineages at this site implies that genetic diversity of hosts is an important factor in the maintenance of polymorphism within the symbiont population.
Inducing an incipient terahertz finite plasmonic crystal in coupled two dimensional plasmonic cavities.

We measured a change in the current transport of an antenna-coupled, multigate, $\mathrm{GaAs}/\mathrm{AlGaAs}$ field-effect transistor when terahertz electromagnetic waves irradiated the transistor and attribute the change to bolometric heating of the electrons in the two dimensional electron channel. The observed terahertz absorption spectrum indicates coherence between plasmons excited under adjacent biased device gates. The experimental results agree quantitatively with a theoretical model we developed that is based on a generalized plasmonic transmission line formalism and describes an evolution of the plasmonic spectrum with increasing electron density modulation from homogeneous to the crystal limit. These results demonstrate an electronically induced and dynamically tunable plasmonic band structure.
Photopatternable epoxy ridge waveguides

Optical waveguides fabricated from polymers have been receiving increasing attention because the materials and patterning techniques can be compatible with those found in microelectronic chip and package processing.1 Furthermore, polymers are readily formed into films, can form planar structures, can fill gaps, can be made photosensitive, can have their properties engineered, and exhibit nonlinear optical properties. This paper reports progress made in this laboratory on epoxy-based photosensitive polymers for potential use as optical waveguides in a high-performance computer packaging environment.2
Dispersive Micro Solid Phase Extraction Combined with Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry for Determination of Morpholine Residue in Fruit Juices Beverages

A rapid analytical method was established for the determination of morpholine residue in fruit juice beverages by using dispersive micro solid phase extraction( DMSPE) based on a strong cation exchange adsorbent( PCX) by UPLC / Q Orbitrap. For DMSPE pretreatment method,the parameters that affected the extraction efficiency of morpholine,such as the amount of PCX,the adsorption time,the concentration of ammonium hydroxide and the volume of eluent were studied. The analyte was separated on a BEH HILIC column( 100 mm × 2. 1 mm,1. 7 μm) using a gradient elution program. The accurate mass measurements( precursor ion and fragment ion) of morpholine were obtained using t MSMS scan mode by Q Exactive. In the fruit juices beverages samples, morpholine was screened qualitatively and subjected to the quantitative analysis. The method showed a good linearity( R2 0. 999) in the ranges of 1- 100 μg / L for morpholine with average recoveries of 85. 9%- 103. 8%,and intra- and inter-day precision of 3. 7%- 5. 2% and 3. 5%-9. 4%,respectively. The limits of detection( LOD) and quantification( LOQ) for the method were 1 μg / L and 2 μg / L respectively. The method was simple,sensitive and accurate,and suitable for the rapid screening and confirmation of morpholine residue in fruit juice beverages.
An investigation on knowledge,attitude and practice about prevention and control of infectious diseases among school health-care workers in Beijing

Objective To study the awareness of knowledge,attitude and practice of prevention and control for infectious diseases among school health-care workers in Beijing.Methods Totally,310 health-care workers at primary and secondary schools in four districts of Beijing participated in the survey during May 2006 and questionnaire was used to collect related information.Results Awareness of knowledge related to prevention and control for infectious diseases was limited among health-care workers of the schools,only about a half of them knew the definition of fever.They all could know the routes of transmission for several common infectious diseases,but only 67.42% of them could know the transmission route of hepatitis B.They,in general,thought that prevention and control for infectious diseases play an important role in maintaining a normal order for teaching work in the schools.More than 80 percent of them could keep the records of morning and noon examinations for disease and school absenteeism of students.Conclusion It is necessary to improve the disease prevention and control system in schools by training health-care workers and perfecting their work condition.
Severe Hypoxia with Status Epilepticus as a Possible Etiology of Sudden Death in Lesch Nyhan Syndrome: A Case Report and Review of the Literature (P3.252)

OBJECTIVE: The etiology of sudden death in Lesch-Nyhan syndrome (LNS) is unknown. We propose that respiratory failure secondary to subclinical seizure may lead to sudden death in these patients. BACKGROUND: LNS is an X-linked disorder of purine metabolism, associated with self-mutilation and choreoathetoid dyskinesia. The absence of the enzyme HPRT causes overproduction of uric acid. While not classically associated with LNS, seizures have been described in 2[percnt] of cases. Patients with LNS are at risk for sudden and unexpected death, and serious respiratory events during life. Sudden death appears to occur from a respiratory process. It is thought that brainstem abnormalities cause laryngospasm or aspiration. DESIGN/METHODS: We report a case of an 11-year-old boy with LNS who had two episodes of nocturnal gasping. After the first, he was evaluated and discharged. The second event occurred four hours later, immediately followed by a 10 minute generalized seizure. After the seizure he became apneic and was intubated with rocuronium and propofol. Following intubation, he received 1 mg of lorazepam and a bolus of fosphenytoin. Upon arrival at the hospital, an arterial gas revealed a severe hypercarbic acidosis with a pH of 6.93 and a pCO2 greater than 110. RESULTS: EEG monitoring revealed subclinical status epilepticus, with bilateral frontotemporal electrographic seizures. MRI demonstrated diffusion-restriction in the bilateral hippocampi, thought to be secondary to prolonged seizures. CSF was unremarkable with no signs of infection. The patient started oxcarbazepine and discharged home with rectal diazepam. No further seizures have been noted. CONCLUSIONS: Severe hypoxia secondary to unrecognized nocturnal seizures may be an etiology of sudden death in Lesch Nyhan syndrome. Neurotransmitter abnormalities have been described in LNS, including alterations in adenosine, a neurotransmitter associated with death from seizure in animal models. This could be responsible for increased incidence of sudden death from seizures in LNS. Disclosure: Dr. Christy has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wilson has nothing to disclose.
Mediumship and Human Survival

My subject this evening is the phenomena of mediumship, and I am going to confine myself to what is called mental mediumship (as opposed to physical).
March of the Bipeds: The Early Years

It is, however, very difficult to establish the precise lines of descent, termed phylogenies , for most organisms. – Ayala FJ and Valentine JW Evolving: The Theory and Process of Organic Evolution (7) As understood today, human evolutionary history involves some twenty species of fossil hominins, give or take a few depending on the taxonomic scheme to which one subscribes. In the field of paleoanthropology, taxonomic questions – how to classify fossil species – are famously contentious. As Richard Dawkins comments in the Ancestor's Tale (8), there is more than one paleontology book in print entitled “ Bones of Contention .” Names given to species carry implications for how species are related to one another. A species placed in the genus Homo for example, is recognized as sharing a more recent common ancestor with modern humans than a species placed in the genus Australopithecus . Resolving species relationships is no straightforward task. That is one reason (among others) why there are so many different points of view about evolutionary relationships among hominin species. Such relationships are summarized in diagrams called phylogenies or phylogenetic trees . All methods of constructing phylogenies rely on comparing the characteristics of species, from their DNA sequences to their dental features to any aspect of their anatomy and even behavior. The most direct means of genetic comparison is through DNA, but, only in more recent hominins has it thus far been possible to extract adequately preserved DNA (see Chapter 5). For earlier species, the characteristics of teeth and bones must suffice for assessing evolutionary relationships. As noted, teeth figure prominently in such assessments: they are extremely well-preserved in the fossil record and much of the variation in their morphology is due to genes (rather than environment). There are different ways to assess evolutionary relationships among species. According to the method of phenetics , all available traits should be used to construct phylogenies. Species with greater similarity are considered more closely related. This method does not take into account two big problems. The first is the problem of homoplasy , when two species have similar traits but not because they inherited them from a common ancestor. One way that homoplasy can occur is when species independently evolve similar solutions to similar problems. The wings of dragonflies and seagulls were not inherited from their common ancestor but evolved independently as adaptations for flight in their separately evolving lineages.
A Physics Inspired Finite State Machine Controller for Mobile Acoustic Arrays

Applying coherent array processing to sound source localization when individual sensors are attached to heterogeneous platforms is a multi-faceted challenge for both perception and mobility. Recent technical advances in robot localization have made such mobile acoustic arrays possible, but the multi-robot coordination problem remains incomplete. How can a team of robots coordinate in cluttered environments, both with each other and static mounted sensors to effectively localize sound sources? This work proposes and implements a physicomimetics based robot control system with solid, liquid, and gas phase finite states. Applying these different phases appropriately enables efficient navigation through clutter and localization of both exposed and buried or hidden sound sources by teams of mobile robots.
Managing small natural features: A synthesis of economic issues and emergent opportunities

Abstract Small natural features (SNFs), landscape elements that influence species persistence and ecological functioning on a much larger scale than one would expect from their size, can also offer a greater rate of return on conservation investment compared to that of larger natural features or more broad-based conservation. However, their size and perceived lack of significance also makes them more vulnerable to threats and destruction. We examine the management of SNFs and conservation of the associated ecosystem services they generate from an economics perspective. Using the economic concept of market failure, we identify three key themes that explain prevailing threats to SNFs and characterize impediments to and opportunities for SNF management: (1) the degree to which benefits derived from the feature spillover, beyond the feature itself (spatially and temporally); (2) the availability and quality of information about the feature and those who most directly influence its management; and (3) the existence and enforcement of property rights and legal standing of the feature. We argue that the efficacy of alternative SNF management approaches is highly case dependent and relies on four key components: (1) the specific ecosystem services of interest; (2) the amount of redundancy of the SNF on the landscape and the level of connectivity required by the SNF in order to provide ecosystem services; (3) the particular market failures that need correcting and their scope and extent; and (4) the magnitude and distribution of management costs.
Yeast Sub1 and human PC4 are G-quadruplex binding proteins that suppress genome instability at co-transcriptionally formed G4 DNA

G-quadruplex or G4 DNA is a non-B secondary DNA structure consisting of a stacked array of guanine-quartets that can disrupt critical cellular functions such as replication and transcription. When sequences that can adopt Non-B structures including G4 DNA are located within actively transcribed genes, the reshaping of DNA topology necessary for transcription process stimulates secondary structure-formation thereby amplifying the potential for genome instability. Using a reporter assay designed to study G4-induced recombination in the context of an actively transcribed locus in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we tested whether co-transcriptional activator Sub1, recently identified as a G4-binding factor, contributes to genome maintenance at G4-forming sequences. Our data indicate that, upon Sub1-disruption, genome instability linked to co-transcriptionally formed G4 DNA in Top1-deficient cells is significantly augmented and that its highly conserved DNA binding domain or the human homolog PC4 is sufficient to suppress G4-associated genome instability. We also show that Sub1 interacts specifically with co-transcriptionally formed G4 DNA in vivo and that yeast cells become highly sensitivity to G4-stabilizing chemical ligands by the loss of Sub1. Finally, we demonstrate the physical and genetic interaction of Sub1 with the G4-resolving helicase Pif1, suggesting a possible mechanism by which Sub1 suppresses instability at G4 DNA.
Visual Detection of Denatured Glutathione Peptides: A Facile Method to Visibly Detect Heat Stressed Biomolecules

Every year pharmaceutical companies use significant resources to mitigate aggregation of pharmaceutical drug products. Specifically, peptides and proteins that have been denatured or degraded can lead to adverse patient reactions such as undesired immune responses. Current methods to detect aggregation of biological molecules are limited to costly and time consuming processes such as high pressure liquid chromatography, ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography and SDS-PAGE gels. Aggregation of pharmaceutical drug products can occur during manufacturing, processing, packaging, shipment and storage. Therefore, a facile in solution detection method was evaluated to visually detect denatured glutathione peptides, utilizing gold nanoparticle aggregation via 3-Aminopropyltreithoxysilane. Glutathione was denatured using a 70 °C water bath to create an accelerated heat stressed environment. The peptide, gold nanoparticle and aminosilane solution was then characterized via, UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering and scanning electron microscopy. Captured images and resulting absorbance spectra of the gold nanoparticle, glutathione, and aminosilane complex demonstrated visual color changes detectable with the human eye as a function of the denaturation time. This work serves as an extended proof of concept for fast in solution detection methods for glutathione peptides that have experienced heat stress.
Crystal structure of triphenylphosphonium-meth-yl-enetrifluoroborate.

The title compound, C19H17BF3P {alternative name: triphen­yl[(tri­fluoro­boran­yl)meth­yl]phosphanium}, was formed by the reaction of tri­phenyl­phosphine with potassium iodo­methyl­tri­fluoro­borate. The mol­ecule features a nearly staggered conformation along the P—C bond and a less than staggered conformation along the C—B bond. In the crystal, weak C—H⋯F hydrogen bonds between the meta-phenyl C—H groups and the tri­fluoro­borate B—F groups form chains of R22(16) rings along [100]. These chains are are further stabilized by weak C—H⋯π inter­actions. A weak intra­molecular C—H⋯F hydrogen bond is also observed.
P 33 Does the performance of mean arterial pressure for the screening of preeclampsia differ between women with chronic hypertension and women with a history of gestational hypertension

Question Recent studies have demonstrated that different parameters of blood pressure may hold valuable information not only in the diagnosis of preeclampsia (PE) but also in identifying women in their first and second trimester at risk of developing PE later in the pregnancy. One such promising component is mean arterial blood pressure (MAP). This study aims to examine the prediction of MAP for PE, renal dysfunction, liver dysfunction and fetal growth restriction (FGR) in two groups of high-risk pregnant women: with chronic hypertension or a history of gestational hypertension. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on women with chronic hypertension ( N = 478) and normotensive women with a history of gestational hypertension ( N = 511) who booked with the Antenatal Hypertension Clinic, Kings College Hospital, London, between 2009–2016. Blood pressure was measured repeatedly antenatally using an automated device validated for use in pregnancy and PE. The updated International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy (ISSHP)-2014 definition of PE was used. We constructed probit models to determine the predictive capacity of MAP by comparing the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curves (ROC) in the two groups. Wald tests of the null hypothesis that the two ROC curves are equal at different false-positive rates were performed. Age and medication use were taken into account in the comparisons. STATA 14.0 was used for the analysis. Results The area under the curves (AUC) for the prediction of PE ( p = p = 0.079) was 0.66 (95% CI: 0.62–0.71) and 0.79 (95% CI: 0.74–0.85) for women with chronic hypertension and history of gestational hypertension, respectively (Fig. 1). There were no differences found between the AUC for the prediction of FGR and liver dysfunction. Estimates were adjusted for age and medication use, with the latter being strongly associated with hypertension status. Conclusion The ability of MAP to predict PE and renal dysfunction is significantly affected by the woman’s hypertensive status, with improved performance in women with a history of gestational hypertension.
Organotypic models of type III interferon-mediated protection from Zika virus infections at the maternal–fetal interface

Protecting the fetus from the hematogenous spread of viruses requires multifaceted layers of protection and relies heavily on trophoblasts, the fetal-derived cells that comprise the placental barrier. We showed previously that trophoblasts isolated from full-term placentas resist infection by diverse viruses, including Zika virus (ZIKV), and transfer this resistance to nonplacental cells through the activity of paracrine effectors, including the constitutive release of type III interferons (IFNs). Here, we developed 3D cell-line-based models of human syncytiotrophoblasts, cells that lie in direct contact with maternal blood, and show that these cells recapitulate the antiviral properties of primary trophoblasts through the constitutive release of type III IFNs (IFNλ1 and IFNλ2) and become resistant to ZIKV infection. In addition, using organotypic human midgestation chorionic villous explants, we show that syncytiotrophoblasts isolated from the second trimester of pregnancy also constitutively release type III IFNs and use these IFNs in autocrine and paracrine manners to restrict ZIKV infection. Collectively, these data provide important insights into the defense mechanisms used by syncytiotrophoblasts at various stages of human gestation to resist ZIKV infection and new human models to study the role of type III IFNs in the vertical transmission of ZIKV and other viruses associated with congenital disease.
Analytical Model for Evaluating Dual Co-Axial Repetitive Pulsed and CW Lasers in Drilling and Machining of Materials

The direction of this paper is to describe an analytical model that provides for the precision drilling and machining of materials using dual wavelength co-axial lasers. The model describes how the radial vector of the diffusion is removed when using a CO2 CW field laser to heat up the local area close to melt and the injection of the repetitive pulse doubled Nd:YAG laser to force the material to evaporation. By using the two lasers in concert, the Gaussian temperature distribution is taken away from the working area of the Nd:YAG and allows for the evaporation of the material to provide a clean straight hole. The model will describe the time-temperature history of the material using the Reverse Thermal Wave Transform[1, 2, 3]. The time-temperature history, of course, is dependent upon the various materials thermal transport properties. Illustrations are provided by contrast to show the required levels of flux density and fluence for three different materials. This technique was first discussed by V. N. Anisimov et al. and gave rise to this present concept [4].
Examining Veterans' Interest Groups: Understanding Success through Interest Group Ratings

While many legislative scholars have consistently concerned themselves with the motivations behind congressional votes, very little has been done to examine the specific motivations behind votes on veterans’ legislation. By using the congressional ratings compiled by veterans’ interest groups as well as a variety of variables that may affect those ratings, this paper seeks to gain a deeper understanding of what factors contribute to the successes of individual veterans’ organizations. It is concluded that, while some constituency characteristics did play a small role in explaining legislative successes, the majority of success is explained by both legislator party affiliation and ideology. This article is available in Res Publica Journal of Undergraduate Research: http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/respublica/vol13/iss1/ 11
Discourse in Development: A Post-Colonial Theory 'Agenda' for the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

This article uses post-colonial theory to examine the cluster of international human rights known as economic, social and cultural rights. The article surveys the jurisprudence of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, making it relevant for scholars of international human rights as well as post-colonial theory. Traditionally, international human rights divide into two branches: 1) civil and political rights, and 2) economic, social and cultural rights (ESCRs). ESCRs were virtually ignored during the cold war era, but they now receive expanded attention at the international and regional levels. The creation of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the mid-1980s began this process. The Committee has been highly influential in ESCR norm development. Post-colonialism is a branch of critical theory aimed at exposing the exploitative and paternalistic legacy of the international community's relationship to former colonies in the developing world. There is a small body of post-colonial theory literature examining international human rights, but it focuses on civil and political rights. The author, a specialist in ESCRs, seeks to engage theorists with another branch of human rights. ESCRs should be of interest to post-colonial theorists because these rights implicate economic national sovereignty, most importantly social spending. Developing country social spending has been uniquely politicized in post-colonial north-south relations through controversies over structural adjustment and trade liberalization. Post-colonial theorists should acknowledge that emerging ESCR jurisprudence and Committee procedures are responsive to north-south concerns on many levels. For example, the Committee's Concluding Observations concentrate on recommendations rather than on "violations." This modality permits sensitivity to differential southern budgetary realities while facilitating critique of wealthy egalitarian countries. A second example is that the Committee is progressive, within its limited means, about facilitating participation by "subaltern" southern groups. An important challenge post-colonial theory presents to the emerging ESCR regime is the Committee's record on encouraging southern governments to protect social welfare spending from external pressure. What does it mean for a country to cut social spending by IMF mandate, incur external debt for large-scale development projects through World Bank, and lower trade barriers pursuant to the WTO, only to be condemned by a UN human rights body for any resulting intensification of hunger, ill health and population displacement? The Committee could adjust its processes to better address this conundrum by routinely pursuing and analyzing information about the status of international negotiations.
Sialyltransferases in Young Rat Brain

Brain sialyltransferases catalize the transfer of sialic acid (NeuNAc) from CMP-NeuNAc to glycoprotein and glycolipid acceptors. In this study sialyltransferase activities were simultaneously examined utilizing both endogenous and exogenous glycoprotein and glycolipid acceptors. The assumptions were made that the activities obtained with exogenously added substrates are a measure of the amount of sialyltransferases present and that the endogenous activities give additional information on the identity of the endogenous glycoprotein and glycolipid acceptors. Unless otherwise indicated, experiments were performed with a total particulate preparation obtained by centrifuging the homogenate of 11–15 day rat cerebra at 105,000 x g for 1 hr. Four types of sialyltransferase reactions were investigated (A, B, C and D below). Each were assayed by measuring the incorporation (14C)NeuNAc from (14C)-CMP-NeuNAc into a glycolipid or glycoprotein acceptor (NG & DAIN, 1977a,b). The abbreviations for individual gangliosides are those proposed by SVENNERHOLM (1964).
An Integer Programming Approach to Optimal Derivative Accumulation

In automatic differentiation, vertex elimination is one of the many methods for Jacobian accumulation and in general it can be much more efficient than the forward mode or reverse mode (Forth et al. ACM Trans Math Softw 30(3):266–299, 2004; Griewank and Walther, Evaluating derivatives: principles and techniques of algorithmic differentiation, SIAM, Philadelphia, 2008). However, finding the optimal vertex elimination sequence of a computational graph is a hard combinatorial optimization problem. In this paper, we propose to tackle this problem with an integer programming (IP) technique, and we develop an IP formulation for it. This enables us to use a standard integer optimization solver to find an optimal vertex elimination strategy. In addition, we have developed several bound-tightening and symmetry-breaking constraints to strengthen the basic IP formulation. We demonstrate the effectiveness of these enhancements through computational experiments.
Control issues in classificatory diagnosis

A good part of medical diagnosis can be modeled as classification problem solver producing a "differential", working in conjunction with an abductive component that performs differential diagnosis by synthesising a "best" composite hypothesis out of the hypotheses in the differential list. Classification problem solving itself can be viewed as having a control component which selects hypotheses to consider, and a decision component associated with each selected hypothesis. In this paper we study the family of control regimes that are useful in classificatory problem solving. We start with MDX, a classification system organized as a hierarchical collection of hypothesis specialists, critique its control behavior, and by considering a set of situations involving multiple diseases, show how elements can be added to the control regime in a modular way to handle a large variety of situations.
KLF4, A Gene Regulating Prostate Stem Cell Homeostasis, Is a Barrier to Malignant Progression and Predictor of Good Prognosis in Prostate Cancer

There is a considerable need to identify those individuals with prostate cancer who have indolent disease. We propose that genes that control adult stem cell homeostasis in organs with slow turnover, such as the prostate, control cancer fate. One such gene, KLF4, overexpressed in murine prostate stem cells, regulates their homeostasis, blocks malignant transformation, and controls the self-renewal of tumor-initiating cells. KLF4 loss induces the molecular features of aggressive cancer and converts PIN lesions to invasive sarcomatoid carcinomas; its re-expression in vivo reverses this process. Bioinformatic analysis links these changes to human cancer. KLF4 and its downstream targets make up a gene signature that identifies indolent tumors and predicts recurrence-free survival. This approach may improve prognosis and identify therapeutic targets for advanced cancer.
Aggregation of poly(p -phenylene terephthalamide) chains: Emergence of fiber defects

Few polymers are as well-known as PPTA, the main constituent of Kevlar\textregistered{} fibers. To achieve high mechanical strength, PPTA chains must be treated with sulfuric acid, which is removed after fibers are formed. However, simulations show that tiny clusters of sulfuric acid remain embedded deeply within the fibers. Their presence is likely to go undetected, but can severely affect the material's strength under the high-strain conditions of its intended use. If the process behind the strength of PPTA fibers is also directly responsible for their main weakness, a solvent-free process is a promising route toward stronger materials
POD24 in MZL: a means to an end or an end point in itself?

In this issue of Blood, Luminari et al demonstrate that patients with marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) who experience early progression (progression of disease at 24 months [POD24]) have poor survival.1 Overall survival after POD24 was 53% at 3 years, a stark contrast to the 95% 5-year survival rate from diagnosis in patients without early progression. These results extend the seminal study in follicular lymphoma (FL) from the National LymphoCare Study by Casulo et al2 to include indolent nonfollicular B-cell lymphomas (INFLs).
Helios: still behind the clouds

Regulatory T (Treg) cells are a subset of CD4+ T cells that are critical for the maintenance of self-tolerance. The forkhead box transcription factor Foxp3 is a master regulator for the Treg phenotype and function and its expression is essential in Treg cells, as the loss of Foxp3 results in lethal autoimmunity. Two major subsets of Treg cells have been described in vivo; thymus-derived Treg (tTreg) cells that develop in the thymus and peripherally induced Treg (pTreg) cells that are derived from conventional CD4+ Foxp3- T cells and are converted in peripheral tissues to cells that express Foxp3 and acquire suppressive ability. The transcription factor Helios, a member of the Ikaros transcription factor family, is expressed in 60-70% of Treg cells in both mouse and man, and is believed to be a marker of tTreg cells. In this review, we discuss the role and function of Helios in Treg cells, the controversy surrounding the use of Helios as a marker of tTreg cells, and how Helios controls specific aspects of the Treg cell program.
Increasing Cardiovascular Data Sampling Frequency and Referencing It to Baseline Improve Hemorrhage Detection.

We hypothesize that knowledge of a stable personalized baseline state and increased data sampling frequency would markedly improve the ability to detect progressive hypovolemia during hemorrhage earlier and with a lower false positive rate than when using less granular data. Design Prospective temporal challenge. Setting Large animal research laboratory, University Medical Center. Subjects Fifty-one anesthetized Yorkshire pigs. Interventions Pigs were instrumented with arterial, pulmonary arterial, and central venous catheters and allowed to stabilize for 30 minutes then bled at a constant rate of either 5 mL·min-1 (n = 13) or 20 (n = 38) until mean arterial pressure decreased to 40 or 30 mm Hg in the 5 and 20 mL·min-1 pigs, respectively. Measurements and main results Data during the stabilization period served as baseline. Hemodynamic variables collected at 250 Hz were used to create predictive models of "bleeding" using featurized beat-to-beat and waveform data and compared with models using mean unfeaturized hemodynamic variables averaged over 1-minute as simple hemodynamic metrics using random forest classifiers to identify bleeding with or without baseline data. The robustness of the prediction was evaluated in a leave-one-pig-out cross-validation. Predictive performance of models was compared by their activity monitoring operating characteristic and receiver operating characteristic profiles. Primary hemodynamic threshold data poorly identified bleed onset unless very stable initial baseline reference data were available. When referenced to baseline, bleed detection at a false positive rates of 10-2 with time to detect 80% of pigs bleeding was similar for simple hemodynamic metrics, beat-to-beat, and waveform at about 3-4 minutes. Whereas when universally baselined, increasing sampling frequency reduced latency of bleed detection from 10 to 8 to 6 minutes, for simple hemodynamic metrics, beat-to-beat, and waveform, respectively. Some informative features differed between simple hemodynamic metrics, beat-to-beat, and waveform models. Conclusions Knowledge of personal stable baseline data allows for early detection of new-onset bleeding, whereas if no personal baseline exists increasing sampling frequency of hemodynamic monitoring data improves bleeding detection earlier and with lower false positive rate.
Artificial Intelligence in the Aviation Manufacturing Process for Complex Assemblies and Components

Aviation manufacturing is at the leading edge of technology with materials, designs and processes where automation is not only integral; but complex systems require more advanced systems to produce and verify processes. Critical Infrastructure theory is now used to protect systems and equipment from external software infections and cybersecurity techniques add an extra layer of protection. In this research, it is argued that Artificial Intelligence can reduce these risks and allow complex processes to be less exposed to the threat of external problems, internal errors or mistakes in operation.
Deep CNN for Extraction of Sidelobes from SAR Imagery in Spectrally Restricted Environment

This paper explores the critical problem of spectral estimation and recovery via deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs). This problem often arises in ultra-wideband (UWB) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) applications where the wide available bandwidth dictates the final SAR image resolution and quality. Our simple robust solution here also complements well the recently developed stepped-frequency radars built by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, allowing the system to bypass prohibited frequency bands specified by local frequency management agencies and congested frequency bands that are deemed to contain too much interference. Extensive experimental results confirm the validity as well as the promising prospect of the proposed approach – our CNN-based generative network can still robustly recover SAR images when up to 90% of the operating spectrum is missing.
One drop on the move: historical legal context, racial classification, and migration

We examine the relationship between historical anti-miscegenation laws and contemporary racial classification within Black–White households in the United States using a multi-layered approach to co...
Failure of testosterone replacement therapy to improve symptoms correlates with burden of systemic conditions

Background The symptoms of hypogonadism are non-specific and restoring testosterone (T) to physiologic levels may not lead to clinical improvement. In men with a high burden of systemic illness, it is difficult to assess whether hypogonadism is a primary contributing factor of their symptoms. Given that testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is not without risk, it is important to understand which patients will benefit from treatment. Therefore, we hypothesize that men with a higher burden of systemic illness would be less likely to continue with TRT. Methods We performed a retrospective review of our men's health registry for men who started TRT and adhered to follow up labs and visits within the first year. We restricted treatment to Testopel pellets due to reliable early T levels. Men were classified as yes/no for continued TRT based on whether they felt their presenting symptoms improved on therapy and they chose to continue TRT. The previously validated ACTIONS men's health phenotype was calculated as a composite systemic disease score grading severity [0-2] for each of anxiety, cardiovascular disease, low testosterone, diabetes, obesity, neurologic disease and obstructive sleep apnea (total score 0-14). Results Sixty men were identified with a mean age of 59.5 (range, 33-81) years and mean starting total testosterone of 215 [48-332] ng/dL. Thirty-nine men (65%) felt symptomatic benefit and continued therapy for a median of 40.4 (20.5-76.4) months vs. 21 men without benefit treated for a median of 4.1 months (2.9-10.7, P<0.0001). Those who stopped TRT had a higher ACTIONS score than those who continued (8±2.5 vs. 4.1±1.6, P<0.0001). Age weakly correlated with total ACTIONS score (r=0.28, P=0.03) but age had no impact on continuing TRT and the relationship between continuing TRT and ACTIONS score held true regardless of age. Conclusions Patients with a greater burden of systemic disease were less likely to have symptomatic improvement with TRT and more likely to stop therapy within a year. As several hypogonadal symptoms are non-specific, it is imperative that patients be counseled on the likelihood of success with TRT, particularly if they have multiple comorbidities. Ideal outcomes may come from multimodal therapy that includes lifestyle modification, and optimization of conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and sleep apnea.
Social Insurance in General Equilibrium

This paper extends the dynamic Mirrlees model to general equilibrium and derives the optimal social insurance policies against persistent idiosyncratic risk over the life cycle. Agents are heterogeneous in their work ability, which is private information and evolves stochastically over time, and produce intermediate goods that are imperfect substitutes in the production of the final good for consumption. I provide a parsimonious characterization of the new general equilibrium forces influencing the optimal labor distortions using sufficient statistics related to endogenous wages.
Vasectomy Reversal Online Marketing Practices: What Are We Putting Out There?

Abstract Objective To determine characteristics of providers marketing vasectomy reversal (VR) online, degree of information available online, the ease with which patients can compare providers, and the differences in VR practice patterns between academic and private practices. Materials and Methods We identified VR practices operating within the top 50 most populous metropolitan areas in the US. Practice websites were reviewed to obtain information such as provider educational background, level of magnification, ability to perform vasoepididymostomy, surgical volume, and cost. Based on information available, providers were assigned a novel REVERSAL score created by the authors. Descriptive statistics were used to compare results. Results Of the 107 providers identified (29 academic, 78 private), the majority were male urologists with a Doctor of Medicine degree. Academic providers were more likely to have fellowship training than private practice providers, 96.6 vs 43.6%, respectively (P = 0.00001). Compared to non-urologists, urologists were less likely to purchase online ads or disclose cost. Non-urologists charged significantly less than urologists, $3,584 ± 1,554 and $6,591 ± 1,518, respectively (P = 0.00001). Only one provider provided complete information as defined by REVERSAL score of 12, with the majority (61.7%) of providers achieving score ≤6. Conclusion There is significant lack of transparency in publicly available information from VR practices. Practices should implement measures to improve dissemination of information to the public, so that patients can more easily compare providers and make informed decisions regarding VR.
The First-Order Approach to Merger Analysis

Using only information local to the pre-merger equilibrium, we derive approximations of the expected changes in prices and welfare generated by a merger. We extend the pricing pressure approach of recent work to allow for non-Bertrand conduct, adjusting the diversion ratio and incorporating the change in anticipated accommodation. To convert pricing pressures into quantitative estimates of price changes, we multiply them by the merger pass-through matrix, which is close under conditions we specify to the pre-merger rate at which cost increases are passed through to prices. Weighting the price changes by quantities gives the change in consumer surplus. How should we predict the unilateral impact of a merger on prices and welfare? The United States and United Kingdom horizontal merger guidelines released last year incorporate an approach based on the work of Werden (1996), Farrell and Shapiro (2010a) and others that uses information local to pre-merger prices to indicate the directional impacts of the mergers. This \rst-order" approach to merger analysis (FOAM) is admirable for adopting both the simplicity and transparency of approaches based on market denition and the rm grounding in formal economics of market simulations. This paper takes this strategy a step further, attempting to incorporate the remaining strengths of alternative approaches: the quantitative precision of merger simulation and the agnosticism about market conduct and cost structures embodied in market denition. We show that FOAM, thus modied, provides