cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electromagnetic scattering from a PBG material excited by an electric line source

A general procedure Is presented to determine the fields scattered by a periodic structure due to a complex excitation in terms of the structure's plane-wave response. Specifically, the scattered field from an electric line source over a semiinfinite metallo-dielectric photonic bandgap (PBG) material is described. An effective description for the artificial crystal's plane-wave response is used, consisting of angularly parameterized response functions. A methodology for analyzing the electromagnetic response of such a material to a nonplane-wave excitation is provided, whereby a general complex excitation is spectrally decomposed into an integral over a continuous spectrum of homogeneous and inhomogeneous plane waves. An analytic solution for the scattering of each plane wave by the PBG material half-space is then utilized. The complete scattered field is given in a closed integral form, which is computed both numerically and in the asymptotic limit. The effect of the PBG crystal half-space on the scattered field due to an electric line source is presented for frequencies that correspond, for a normally incident plane wave, to a transmission bandgap, a transmission band edge, and an antireflecting plateau. The focusing effects and electric- and magnetic-wall behavior of the PBG crystal are demonstrated. The presented approach promotes both the physical understanding of PBG material systems and the efficiency of the numerical modeling of these systems at frequencies beyond the quasi-static limit of the traditional effective medium theories.
Ontology-based peer exchange network(OPEN)

Peer-to-peer systems represent a widely accepted approach to sharing massive data and services among large, diverse and varying sets of nodes in the network. In this paper, we introduce an overlay network which constructs the logical network topologies using a global ontology and peer ontological characteristics. Network construction and query model are defined to allow the efficient answer of complex queries based on concepts and relations. Simulation results are used to verify the predicted network properties.
Lifestyle and weight predictors of a healthy overweight profile over a 20-year follow-up

Objective To examine whether changes in modifiable risk factors [physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), body weight, and diet composition] are associated with the transition to metabolically healthy overweight/obese (MHOW) versus metabolically abnormal overweight/obese. Methods Analysis included 1,358 adults [aged 25.0 (3.5) years] from the CARDIA study who were healthy at baseline and had overweight/obesity at follow-up. Participants with zero or one of the following six risk factors were classified as MHOW: elevated triglycerides, LDL, blood pressure, fasting glucose, and HOMA-insulin resistance and low HDL. Results Over the 20-year follow-up, the sample gained weight (BMI 24.5 to 31.1 kg/m2), and the prevalence of MHOW was 47% at follow-up. After adjusting for changes in CRF, diet, and weight change, physical activity and macronutrient intake were not independently associated with MHOW (P > 0.05), while changes in CRF [fit–unfit: RR (95%) = 0.58, 0.52-0.66; unfit–unfit: RR = 0.67, 0.58-0.76, versus fit–fit] and weight [gain: RR (95%) = 0.54, 0.43-0.67; cycle: RR = 0.74, 0.57-0.94, versus stable] were independently associated with MHOW. Conclusions Focusing on high CRF and strategies to limit weight gain may be important for individuals with overweight and obesity in early to mid-adulthood to maintain a metabolically healthy profile.
Imported and Domestic Beef: Are They Substitutes or Complements?

ABSTRACT This paper uses a translog processing cost function to test whether imported beef and domestic beef are substitutes or complements. Findings suggest that imported beef and domestic beef are substitutes, thus giving grounds to the claim by U.S. cattle producers that beef imports decrease the use of domestic beef. The effect of a price decline of beef imports has more pronounced effect on the use of cull cow beef than carcass beef, with the latter dropping by more than three times the former during the sample period.
Price Guides: An Assessment

This review article surveys what price guides are available for rare book, manuscript, and special collection libraries. The guides will be reviewed indicating their strengths and weaknesses. Guides to the value of books are useful for librarians, who should be mindful of the observation in the recently published Standards for Ethical Conduct for Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Librarians with Guidelines for Institutional Practice in Support of the Standards , 2nd ed. (see bibliography below): “In the course of working with donors, special collections librarians are often required to advise on market value of books and manuscripts. Although it is . . .
Feature detection and tracking on geometric mesh data using a combined global and local shape model for face analysis

Automatic geometric feature localization is the first step towards the 3D based face analysis. In this paper we propose a shape model with a local and global constraint for feature detection. Such a so-called shape-index based statistical shape model (SI-SSM) makes use of the global shape of the facial data as well as local patches, consisting of shape index values, around landmark features. The fitting process and the performance of our proposed method are evaluated in terms of various imaging conditions and data qualities. The efficacy of the detected landmarks is validated through applications for geometric based face identification.
Trial and Error in International Judicialization

The “standard narrative of international judicialization” is a largely linear story of successes from nineteenth-century arbitration to the current constellation of adjudicative bodies. The stars of the standard narrative are the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the dispute settlement system of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the European Court of Justice (ECJ) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Criminal Court (ICC). These are the protagonists of most of scholarly literature on international adjudication. However, there are other possible narratives, equally true and instructive. One could tell, for instance, the story of the many international courts that never opened their doors and exist only on paper. Or, one could tell the story of the lesser known and less successful siblings of the heroes of the standard narrative of international judicialization. The addition of this alternative narrative yields a more credible and precise picture of the rise of international courts and its dynamics. Indeed, if one considers that for every contemporary thriving body, there are at least twice as many that failed to set sail, or got caught in the doldrums, or even sunk after launch, the most plausible account of the rise of international adjudication is one of progress through trial and error.This chapter presents some of the less-known, but hard-won lessons of international adjudication. First, it tells the stories of some of the courts that failed to come into existence or that were never activated, such as the International Prize Court, several Arab and Islamic international courts (e.g. the Arab Court of Justice and the International Islamic Court of Justice), and the Court of Conciliation and Arbitration of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Second, it looks at the difficulties experienced by some contemporary international adjudicative bodies, such as the Southern African Development Community Tribunal, the Court of Justice of the West African Economic and Monetary Union and the Court of Justice of the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa, the Mercosur Permanent Review Tribunal, and several Central American international courts.
Combined exposure to big endothelin-1 and mechanical loading in bovine sternal cores promotes osteogenesis.

Increased bone formation resulting from mechanical loading is well documented; however, the interactions of the mechanotransduction pathways are less well understood. Endothelin-1, a ubiquitous autocrine/paracrine signaling molecule promotes osteogenesis in metastatic disease. In the present study, it was hypothesized that exposure to big endothelin-1 (big ET1) and/or mechanical loading would promote osteogenesis in ex vivo trabecular bone cores. In a 2×2 factorial trial of daily mechanical loading (-2000μe, 120cycles daily, "jump" waveform) and big ET1 (25ng/mL), 48 bovine sternal trabecular bone cores were maintained in bioreactor chambers for 23days. The bone cores' response to the treatment stimuli was assessed with percent change in core apparent elastic modulus (ΔEapp), static and dynamic histomorphometry, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) secretion. Two-way ANOVA with a post hoc Fisher's LSD test found no significant treatment effects on ΔEapp (p=0.25 and 0.51 for load and big ET1, respectively). The ΔEapp in the "no load + big ET1" (CE, 13±12.2%, p=0.56), "load + no big ET1" (LC, 17±3.9%, p=0.14) and "load + big ET1" (LE, 19±4.2%, p=0.13) treatment groups were not statistically different than the control group (CC, 3.3%±8.6%). Mineralizing surface (MS/BS), mineral apposition (MAR) and bone formation rates (BFR/BS) were significantly greater in LE than CC (p=0.037, 0.0040 and 0.019, respectively). While the histological bone formation markers in LC trended to be greater than CC (p=0.055, 0.11 and 0.074, respectively) there was no difference between CE and CC (p=0.61, 0.50 and 0.72, respectively). Cores in LE and LC had more than 50% greater MS/BS (p=0.037, p=0.055 respectively) and MAR (p=0.0040, p=0.11 respectively) than CC. The BFR/BS was more than two times greater in LE (p=0.019) and LC (p=0.074) than CC. The PGE2 levels were elevated at 8days post-osteotomy in all groups and the treatment groups remained elevated compared to the CC group on days 15, 19 and 23. The data suggest that combined exposure to big ET1 and mechanical loading results in increased osteogenesis as measured in biomechanical, histomorphometric and biochemical responses.
Opting Out of Shareholder Primacy: Is the Public Benefit Corporation Trivial?

The central command of corporate governance law is that directors must serve the shareholder interest. Directors may not sacrifice shareholder value in favor of other stakeholders or values. In this Article, I examine whether this rule is mandatory, or merely a default rule which can be altered through private ordering. I argue that Delaware’s corporate law, the most important corporate law in the United States, should be understood to have long-permitted deviation from shareholder primacy by charter specification. This conclusion, however, is at least complicated by the recent legislative creation of the Public Benefit Corporation (PBC). The PBC is a new form of business organization that explicitly charges directors with balancing the interests of shareholders and non-shareholders in corporate operations. The PBC innovation may lead judges to conclude that if corporate promoters want to deviate from shareholder primacy, they must do so by using the Public Benefit Corporation. The organizational and governance requirements of the PBC are highly particular, and most of its important features are mandatory. Thus, the Public Benefit Corporation may inadvertently have narrowed flexibility in the creation of corporations that alter the shareholder primacy norm, rather than expanded it, as the PBC’s proponents and many commentators have presumed.A more desirable interpretation, however, is that private-ordering of corporate beneficiary is still permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law, and that the PBC is merely one alternative structure – a non-exclusive “menu option” – which promoters seeking alternatives to shareholder wealth maximization may find convenient to use. I urge judges to adopt this second interpretation, and I urge Delaware lawmakers to clarify their intentions to avoid jurists adopting the view that the PBC is the exclusive path to multi-stakeholder governance.
A Methodology for Work Chair Assessment

A large segment of the office work force in the United States spends a majority of their work day seated in stationary chairs. Problems with postural fatigue and related maladies are commonly associated with the neck, arms, shoulders, as well as with different portions of the back.This study was conducted in an effort to determine whether several metrics for general posture and comfort evaluation were viable specifically for work chair evaluation. These techniques were a modification of a posture measurement technique developed by Corlett, Madeley and Manenica (1979) known as Posture Targeting. In addition, three subjective rating scales were used.MANOVAs were performed on the data. Both task-type and chair-type were found to significantly influence the posture and subjective responses of the subjects in the study.
Restriction fragment length polymorphism of the human T cell receptor alpha gene. I. Two polymorphic restriction sites localized to different regions of the gene.

Previous studies have demonstrated restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) in the vicinity of the alpha and beta genes of the human T-cell receptor. In the course of experiments designed to discover additional polymorphic restriction sites, we found a new RFLP of the T-cell alpha gene recognized by the restriction enzyme Taq I. The site was localized to the interval between the most 3′ joining (J) exon and the most 5′ constant (C) region exon, about 7 kb distant from the previously described Bgl II polymorphic site which mapped to the vicinity of the 3′ untranslated exon. With the use of these two polymorphic markers, four Ti-alpha alleles could be identified, allowing unambiguous assignment of all Ti-alpha genes in some families. These markers may be useful in identifying possible immune response genes or disease predisposition genes associated with the genes of the T-cell receptor for antigen.
Synergies between Geological Sequestration and Microalgae Biofixation for Greenhouse Gas Abatement: Life Cycle Design of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage Supply Chains

We address the integration of two greenhouse gas (GHG) abatement options, namely, geological sequestration and microalgae biofixation, using a supply chain optimization approach. A multiscale, multiperiod, mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) model is proposed, which accounts for CO2 transportation pipeline network design, algae processing route, and product selection, as well as the seasonality in CO2 source availability and algal biomass productivity. The model allows for pipeline transportation of both supercritical CO2 and feed gas. By using the Life Cycle Optimization framework, we simultaneously optimize the economic and environmental performances. We employ an improved branch-and-refine algorithm for efficient global optimization of the resulting nonconvex MINLP problems. We consider a case study on the optimal design of potential CO2 capture, utilization, and storage infrastructures in the state of Texas. By taking advantage of the synergies between these two GHG abatement options, the CO2 ...
76 A FRESH LOOK AT EARLY MOTHER-INFANT CONTACT

Mothers who have early infant contact later behave differently with their infants than mothers with routine separation. Are these differences the result of the state of mother and infant? To determine the effects of maternal wakefulness during early contact 14 mothers who had their undressed babies in their beds for one hour within the first 3 hours after birth were compared to 14 mothers with routine contact. Early contact mothers were divided into 2 subgroups:those who fell asleep within 30 minutes of the beginning of their contact(n=6)and those who stayed awake (n=8).Using time-lapse photography,comparisons of maternal behavior were made:1)while early contact mothers were awake during the first 10 minutes of contact and 2)during feeding at one month. In the first 10 minutes mothers who later fell asleep touched(p<.005) and looked at their babies significantly less (p<.005). Also the more mothers looked at their babies during the first 10 minutes, the less likely the mothers were to fall asleep by 30 minutes(r=.65,p<.01).During a feeding at 1 month,mothers who remained awake showed significantly more en face(p<.01) and fondling(p<.01)than those who had fallen asleep and were similar to the 14 mothers with later contact(suggesting that maternal wakefulness during early contact is associated with later behavior).Mothers who stayed awake had received larger doses of analgesic drugs closer to the time of delivery.It is not known whether it is maternal state,motivation,intrapartum medication or infant state that mediate these differences at 1 month.
Environmental Pollution Problems and its Countermeasures on Synthetic Leather Industry by Shuige Industrial Zone in Lishui

The environmental pollution problems on synthetic leather industry has been analyzed,and its possible environmental impact and risk also have been assessed for Shuige industrial zone in Lishui.According to practical demands,the comprehensive treatment approach on the synthetic leather industry has been put up as following: the ecological planning in advance,doing both at the same time scientific development;the introduction of clean production,development of eco-leather;strengthening technological innovation,accelerate technology promotion;improve pollution control facilities,to enhance online regulation;thorough investigation of illegal activities,strengthening environmental management.
Immunoreactivity of umbilical cord blood and post-partum maternal peripheral blood with regard to HLA-haploidentical transplantation

Recent clinical reports have demonstrated that umbilical cord blood (CB) may be utilized as a source of transplantable hematopoietic stem cells when bone marrow is not available. However, it is not apparent that CB can be used to transplant partially HLA-matched siblings or matched, non-familial recipients. In this study the immunoreactivity of CB has been investigated within familial confines; 14 families were analyzed at the time of birth of their child and six of these families were reassessed at 6 months post-partum. In mixed lymphocyte reactions, CB was unable to significantly respond to stimulation with cells from either the mother or father. Furthermore, unlike adult peripheral blood, CB displayed depressed immune responses to alloantigen and T cell mitogen. At 6 months, the immune responses of the infant demonstrated normal development in terms of alloantigen and mitogen responses. However, at 6 months both the mother and the infant demonstrated a continued immune tolerance to one another. The data suggest that CB could be used in familial transplant situations when siblings are HLA-haploidentical if the donor/recipients are chosen based on the paternal haplotype. Furthermore, maternal bone marrow harvested during the 6 months immediately following delivery of a child also should be suitable as a stem cell graft in haploidentical situations.
Revised distribution of an Alaskan endemic, the Alaska Hare (Lepus othus), with implications for taxonomy, biogeography, and climate change

The Alaska Hare (Lepus othus Merriam 1900) is the largest lagomorph in North America but remains one of the most poorly studied terrestrial mammals on the continent. Its current distribution is restricted to western Alaska south of the Brooks Range, but historical accounts from north of the Brooks Range (the North Slope) have led to confusion over its past, present, and predicted future distributions. To determine if L. othus occurs or historically occurred on the North Slope, we surveyed museum collections, vetted observational accounts, and produced a spatial distribution model based on the resulting georeferenced records. We located a historic specimen long presumed lost that suggests the occurrence of L. othus on the North Slope as recently as the late 1800s. We also uncovered evidence of L. othus and (or) Mountain Hare (Lepus timidus Linnaeus 1758) on several islands in the Bering Sea, raising the possibility of recurring gene flow between these closely related species across seasonal ice connecting ...
Malignant Sex Cord-Stromal Tumor of Testis

Abstract We report a case of sex cord-stromal tumor in the testis, which metastasized to the retroperitoneal space, resulting in death 13 months after orchiectomy. The primary lesion consisted of granulose cells, theca cells, Sertoli cells and undifferentiated gonadal stroma. Biopsy of the retroperitoneal metastasis showed predominance of the Sertoli cell component
The Effects of an Experiential Service-Learning Project on Residential Interior Design Students’ Attitudes toward Design and Community

This mixed research methods study explores whether project-based service-learning projects promote greater learning than standard project-based projects and whether introduced earlier into the curriculum promotes a greater student understanding of the world issues affecting their community. The present study focused on comparing sophomore and junior residential interior design courses that had project-based service-learning assignments. Both undergraduate sophomore and junior courses developed standard design project assignments in the first half of the academic semester and a project-based service-learning assignment in the second half of the academic semester. Collection of research participants’ perceptions was through pre and post surveys and course-required reflection journals. The research findings indicated that the opportunity to work with an actual non-for-profit client and actual building were the most important influence on student learning outcomes. Yet, findings also indicate that on a more personal level students reported experiencing deeper emotional growth due to their knowledge that their design solutions would ultimately improve the lives of others in the community. Furthermore, evidence shows that the service component of the project had no significant influence in student learning, regardless of academic level. Consequently, suggesting that project based service assignments may occur at any point in the curriculum.
Teratozoospermia and asthenozoospermia are associated with specific epigenetic signatures

Semen analysis is commonly used as a tool to assess the fertility potential of a male, despite its relatively low predictive power. In this study, we have assessed associations between semen analysis findings (low count, low motility, low viability, poor sperm penetration assay results, poor morphology, and increased DNA damage) and DNA methylation patterns in mature spermatozoa. DNA methylation patterns in the mature spermatozoa are thought to be indicative of patterns in the adult germline stem cells and may offer insight into potential perturbations to cellular pathways involved in spermatogenesis. In this study, sperm DNA methylation at >480,000 CpGs was assessed in 94 men using the Illumina 450k HumanMethylation Array and compared to standard measures of sperm quality. We did not identify any global changes to methylation profiles that were associated with reduced semen parameters. Similarly, we found no significant difference in methylation variability that was associated with any abnormal semen analysis parameter, although sperm displaying abnormal parameters tended to have an increased coefficient of variability, suggesting that, in some samples, this may be a contributing factor. Analysis of methylation at single CpGs and genomic regions did identify associations for low viability and low motility, and to a smaller extent, low count. Interestingly, based on GO Term analysis, differentially methylated regions associated with low viability were over-represented in regions important in meiosis, spermatogenesis, and genomic imprinting. These results suggest that while there are not global alterations to the sperm methylome associated with semen abnormalites, some viability associated regional alterations do exist that may be indicative of perturbed cellular pathways during spermatogenesis.
Modeling the Formation of Debossed Features on a Pharmaceutical Tablet

The objective of this work was to develop, validate, and implement a modeling methodology for predicting the shape and relative density fields in the vicinity of debossed features on a tablet surface. The resulting model was used to investigate the influence of debossed feature stroke angle and degree of pre-pick, which is expressed as a percentage of the stroke depth, as well as the influence of formulation lubricant on the aforementioned debossed feature parameters. An experimental procedure for measuring formulation (modified) Drucker–Prager Cap parameters is described. These parameters are used in a finite element method simulation that models the formation of a debossed surface feature on a tablet. Techniques for validating the simulation and post-processing the results are also described. The stroke angle and degree of pre-pick significantly influence the debossed feature dimensions, with larger degrees of pre-pick and stroke angles giving debossed features that more closely match the target (embossment) values. Lubrication plays a much weaker role, but did improve the fidelity of the debossed feature slightly. The differences between the debossed and target feature dimensions are due to elastic spring back of the material. The tablet relative density is smallest at the shoulders of the debossed feature and largest at the base of the valley. Although the relative density fields show no obvious trends with stroke angle, the fields are clearly more uniform as the degree of pre-pick increases. The addition of lubricant to the formulation also improves the relative density field uniformity for larger degrees of pre-pick. To improve feature fidelity and decrease the likelihood of damage, larger pre-picks, larger stroke angles, and the addition of a formulation lubricant should be used.
Lead-Acid Batteries

Over many years, the most common use of the word “battery” was in connection with the rechargeable energy source that was used to start automobiles. These were almost always what are generally called Pb-acid batteries, and were often a source of aggravation. A considerable amount of progress has been made in recent years, so that the SLI (starting-lighting-ignition) batteries now used in autos are actually quite reliable, assuming that they are not abused. Different types of Pb-acid batteries are used for a number of other applications, both mobile and stationary, ranging from quite small to very large, and the greatest fraction of the total battery market world-wide is now based upon this technology.
Evaluation of communication requirements for voltage regulation control with advanced inverters

A central control algorithm was developed to utilize photovoltaic system advanced inverter functions, specifically fixed power factor and constant reactive power, to provide distribution system voltage regulation and to mitigate voltage regulator tap operations by using voltage measurements at the regulator. As with any centralized control strategy, the capabilities of the control require a reliable and fast communication infrastructure. These communication requirements were evaluated by varying the interval at which the controller sends dispatch commands and evaluating the effectiveness to mitigate tap operations. The control strategy was demonstrated to perform well for communication intervals faster than the delay on the voltage regulator (30 seconds). The communication reliability, latency, and bandwidth requirements were also evaluated.
Pulmonary aspiration during procedural sedation: a comprehensive systematic review.

Abstract Background Although pulmonary aspiration complicating operative general anaesthesia has been extensively studied, little is known regarding aspiration during procedural sedation. Methods We performed a comprehensive, systematic review to identify and catalogue published instances of aspiration involving procedural sedation in patients of all ages. We sought to report descriptively the circumstances, nature, and outcomes of these events. Results Of 1249 records identified by our search, we found 35 articles describing one or more occurrences of pulmonary aspiration during procedural sedation. Of the 292 occurrences during gastrointestinal endoscopy, there were eight deaths. Of the 34 unique occurrences for procedures other than endoscopy, there was a single death in a moribund patient, full recovery in 31, and unknown recovery status in two. We found no occurrences of aspiration in non-fasted patients receiving procedures other than endoscopy. Conclusions This first systematic review of pulmonary aspiration during procedural sedation identified few occurrences outside of gastrointestinal endoscopy, with full recovery typical. Although diligent caution remains warranted, our data indicate that aspiration during procedural sedation appears rare, idiosyncratic, and typically benign.
Determination of the Disulfide Structure of Murine Meteorin, a Neurotrophic Factor, by LC–MS and Electron Transfer Dissociation-High-Energy Collisional Dissociation Analysis of Proteolytic Fragments

Meteorin and Cometin (Meteorin-like) are secreted proteins belonging to a newly discovered growth factor family. Both proteins play important roles in neural development and may have potential as therapeutic targets or agents. Meteorin and Cometin are homologues and contain ten evolutionarily conserved Cys residues across a wide variety of species. However, the status of the Cys residues has remained unknown. Here, we have successfully determined the disulfide structure for murine Meteorin by LC–MS analysis of fragments generated by trypsin plus endoprotease-Asp-N. For proteolytic fragments linked by more than one disulfide bond, we used electron transfer dissociation (ETD) to partially dissociate disulfide bonds followed by high-energy collisional dissociation (HCD) to determine disulfide linkages. Our analysis revealed that the ten Cys residues in murine Meteorin form five disulfide bonds with Cys7 (C1) linked to Cys28 (C2), Cys59 (C3) to Cys95 (C4), Cys148 (C5) to Cys219 (C8), Cys151 (C6) to Cys243 (C9...
Relative scotomata in the "normal" eye of functionally amblyopic patients. A scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) micreperimetric study.

Purpose To evaluate amblyopic patients with scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) microperimetry to determine whether SLO assessment and data might provide useful information in our understanding of amblyopia and determine its utility in the evaluation of amblyopic patients. Methods In this retrospective case series, selected for SLO testing case series, clinical data of forty-six patients with amblyopia were reviewed after completion of treatment for anisometropic or strabismic amblyopia. Ten ophthalmologically age-matched, normal patients served as controls. All patients were tested with the SLO, evaluating for the presence of macular scotomata. SLO findings were assessed within each group and between groups. Results A macular scotoma was found in the amblyopic eye of 25 of 26 anisometropic amblyopic patients and all 20 strabismic amblyopia patients. Twenty of 26 patients with anisometropic amblyopia had a relative scotoma in the non-amblyopic "normal" eye. All 20 patients with strabismic amblyopia also had a non-amblyopic "normal" contralateral eye scotoma. None of the normal control patients had a scotoma in either eye. Several ocular and binocular clinical features were correlated to scotoma findings within and between groups. Conclusion The SLO proved useful for the assessment of some features of amblyopia. A scotoma was identified not only in the amblyopic eye of all but one amblyopic patient, as expected, but also in almost all of the fellow non- amblyopic, presumed "normal" contralateral eyes, and in spite of treatment normalization of visual acuity and stereoacuity in several cases. Thus, the ocular and binocular pathological effects of unilaterally functional amblyopia are not limited to the amblyopic eye but may also be seen, to a sub-clinical degree, by SLO microperimetry in the supposedly normal contralateral eye as well as in the apparently successfully treated previously amblyopic eye.
Abstract LB-271: SplashRNA, a sequential classification algorithm for ultra-potent RNAi

We present SplashRNA, a sequential classifier - analogous to face detection algorithms - to predict ultra-potent microRNA-based short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) for virtually any gene. Trained on existing and novel large-scale datasets, SplashRNA outperforms previous algorithms and reliably predicts the most efficient shRNAs for a given gene. Combined with the optimized miR-E backbone, >90% of high-scoring SplashRNA predictions trigger >85% protein knockdown when expressed from a single genomic integration. SplashRNA can significantly improve the accuracy of loss-of-function genetics studies and facilitates the generation of compact shRNA libraries. The open source SplashRNA platform completes the RNAi toolkit to harness microRNA-based shRNAs for robust single-gene and multiplexed inducible and reversible target inhibition. Citation Format: Raphael Pelossof, Lauren Fairchild, Christina S. Leslie, Christof Fellmann. SplashRNA, a sequential classification algorithm for ultra-potent RNAi [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-271. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-LB-271
A Review of Cyber-Physical System Research Relevant to the Emerging IT Trends: Industry 4.0, IoT, Big Data, and Cloud Computing

Recently, there has been an explosive growth in the development and implementation of various Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS). Accordingly, CPS-related research and advancements in CPS technologies have increasingly been part of the emerging trends in IT areas such as Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, cloud computing, and Industry 4.0. However, there are only a few research efforts that identify the comprehensive CPS research trends relevant to the emerging IT trends. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to explore what CPS research topics are related to the emerging IT trends and to investigate how industries have implemented CPS technologies.
The bright side of linking science and management in large river ecosystems: The Hudson River case study

Large river ecosystems (LRE) are important components of global cycles, influence large parts of the earth's surface, and provide many services in support of human civilization. However, understanding their condition, functioning, and trajectory of change is difficult in part due to their scale and diversity of forcing factors but also due to multiple and potentially conflicting human uses. Although these challenges are generally applicable and probably true to some degree for any large river ecosystem, there are also attributes of LRE that foster scientific understanding, can lead to knowledge‐based management, and may catalyse their interaction. The absolute size of LRE means they will be complex, unique and the water quality, physical character, or habitat availability at any particular point may be the result of drivers acting further up the basin or legacies from previous times. On the bright side however, their absolute size also means there will be existing information on many important features, not least land cover and hydrology. Moreover, it is highly likely there will be a sizeable human population in the basin that derives some benefits from the river even if just in a narrow anthropocentric fashion and so there will be some motivation for understanding characteristics and potential change. Large size also suggests that the LRE will be viewed (perhaps with some basis in law) as a national or regional resource making it (at least nominally) worthy of study and management. I provide some examples of how science and management of the Hudson River in New York, USA, have benefitted from some of these perceived difficulties perhaps offering optimism for application in other systems.
Rheological characterization of dynamic remodeling of the pericellular region by human mesenchymal stem cell-secreted enzymes in well-defined synthetic hydrogel scaffolds.

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) dynamically remodel their microenvironment during basic processes, such as migration and differentiation. Migration requires extracellular matrix invasion, necessitating dynamic cell–material interactions. Understanding these interactions is critical to advancing materials designs that harness and manipulate these processes for applications including wound healing and tissue regeneration. In this work, we encapsulate hMSCs in a cell-degradable poly(ethylene glycol)–peptide hydrogel to determine how cell-secreted enzymes, specifically matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), create unique pericellular microenvironments. Using multiple particle tracking microrheology (MPT), we characterize spatio-temporal rheological properties in the pericellular region during cell-mediated remodeling. In MPT, the thermal motion of probes embedded in the network is measured. A newly designed sample chamber that limits probe drift during degradation and minimizes high value antibody volumes required for cell treatments enables MPT characterization. Previous MPT measurements around hMSCs show that directly around the cell the scaffold remains intact with the cross-link density decreasing as distance from the cell increases. This degradation profile suggests that hMSCs are simultaneously secreting TIMPs, which are inactivating MMPs through MMP–TIMP complexes. By neutralizing TIMPs using antibodies, we characterize the changes in matrix degradation. TIMP inhibited hMSCs create a reaction-diffusion type degradation profile where MMPs are actively degrading the matrix immediately after secretion. In this profile, the cross-link density increases with increasing distance from the cell. This change in material properties also increases the speed of migration. This simple treatment could increase delivery of hMSCs to injuries to aid wound healing and tissue regeneration.
Chapter 1 Lacustrine Carbonates

Abstract Lacustrine carbonates accumulate in all climates and in any tectonic situation. Their depositional patterns are assessed through a database involving literature representing over 250 lakes and lake basins worldwide. Carbonates and calcium-rich rocks (i.e., basalt or carbonatite) need to be available for weathering in the catchment and subsurface in order to produce carbonate sediments in lakes in the first place. Tectonics and climate control the distribution of carbonates through (1) the input and output of ions and minerals through surface water, groundwater, rainfall, and wind; (2) the morphometry of the lake; and (3) the temperature ranges and seasonality of the catchment location. Carbonate deposition proceeds through (1) biogenic mediation, including high productivity of micro- and picoplankton, macrofauna shell formation, and encrustations on any substrate, (2) concentration through evaporation, (3) eolian input, and (4) water-borne clastic input. Five general facies types are recognized for lacustrine carbonates: (1) laminated carbonates, (2) massive carbonates, (3) microbial carbonates, (4) marginal carbonates, and (5) open-water carbonates. Important fauna and flora associated with carbonates include diatoms, charophytes, insects, bivalves, gastropods, and ostracodes. Facies distribution is dependent on the input mode of calcium-rich waters and carbonate clasts in addition to lake circulation patterns and stratification. The use of stable isotopes of oxygen, carbon, and strontium as well as the recognition of diagenetic alternation in lacustrine carbonates aids in the reconstruction of climate, hydrology, and lake evolution. Dominantly carbonate lakes contain carbonate sediments from the littoral to profundal zone; the source areas for these lakes are composed of a significant percentage of carbonate rocks (more than 60–70% of provenance). Partially carbonate lakes contain carbonate sediments in some areas of the lakes with 40–60% of carbonate-rich provenance. Sparsely carbonate lakes show less significant carbonate accumulation within lakes because of minor carbonate-source rocks (
Online Learning for Long-Query Reduction in Interactive Search for Experienced Workers

For domain specific document searches like job matching, long queries are often given as a detailed information of targets. Previous studies found that higher quality results can be obtained by searching with an optimal subset of words excerpted from a long query. To excerpt the optimal subset of words, query reduction using machine learning techniques has been studied. Supervised learning requires training data with annotation, which is especially difficult for in-domain data because of its specific terminology. In this study, we propose a model that integrates machine learning techniques and manual processing for long-query reduction. We integrated our model into a job matching system that collects manual “interactions” and used them as training data to learn query reduction. Furthermore, we evaluated our model with actual job offerings and expert profile data obtained from a recruitment agency. We found that our proposed model outperformed the baseline in precision, recall, and F-measure. The result suggests that our model could be used for query reduction of interactive search systems of specific domain data.
Quantifying chromatin-associated interactions: The HI-FI system

Chromatin plays a vital role in regulating cellular processes that occur on the DNA. Modulation of chromatin structure is conducted through interactions with binding factors that direct critical actions such as posttranslational modifications, nucleosome remodeling, and incorporation of histone variants. Specific factors recognize and act upon the various physical states of chromatin to modulate DNA accessibility. The ability to quantitatively characterize these interactions in vitro can provide valuable insight into the mechanisms that dictate chromatin architecture. Here, we describe in detail fluorescence methodologies for quantifying the thermodynamic principles that guide interactions between nucleosomal arrays, mononucleosomes, or nucleosome components and chromatin-associated factors through application of the HI-FI (High-throughput Interactions by Fluorescence Intensity) system. These measurements utilize fluorescence (de)quenching and FRET assays performed in 384-well microplates, making the assays suitable for high-throughput characterization of interactions at low concentrations. Further, this system can be used to determine the stoichiometric composition of complexes and specific sites of interaction. After quantification on a plate reader or similar instrument, the solution-based assays can be directly transferred to native gels for visualization of interaction(s). We also highlight procedural details on the efficient attachment of fluorescent dyes to histones and DNA. In all, the HI-FI system of assays can be used to elucidate mechanistic details of how specific chromatin-associated factors function at the molecular level.
Trellises Old and New

The concept of a trellis and the proof of the optimality of the Viterbi algorithm grew out of early work at Codex Corporation, here published for the first time. A recently observed flaw in this proof is noted. Trellises for block codes and lattices are of current interest. An absolutely minimal trellis is exhibited for the E8 lattice. This trellis gives a succinct summary of the algebraic, geometrical, and dynamical structure of E8 and its sublattices.
What's in a Name? The Matrix as an Introduction to Mathematics

dence and how it shapes the reality we perceive (or think we perceive). As a mathematician, I usually field questions relat ed to the movie whenever the subject of linear algebra arises, since this field is the study of matrices and their properties. So it is natural to ask, why does the movie title reference a math ematical object? Of course, there are many possible explanations for this, each of which probably contributed a little to the naming deci sion. First off, it sounds cool and mysterious. That much is clear, and it may be that this reason is the most heavily weight ed of them all. A quick look at the definitions of the word reveals deeper meaning for the movie's title. Consider the fol lowing definitions taken from Wikipedia:
In Vitro Assay for the Detection of Network Connectivity in Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Cultures

Stem cell transplantation holds great promise as a repair strategy following spinal cord injury. Embryonic stem cell (ESC) transplantation therapies have elicited encouraging though limited improvement in motor and sensory function with the use of heterogeneous mixtures of spinal cord neural progenitors and ESCs. Recently, transgenic lines of ESCs have been developed to allow for purification of specific candidate populations prior to transplantation, but the functional network connectivity of these populations and its relationship to recovery is difficult to examine with current technological limitations. In this study, we combine an ESC differentiation protocol, multi-electrode arrays (MEAs), and previously developed neuronal connectivity detection algorithms to develop an in vitro high-throughput assay of network connectivity in ESC-derived populations of neurons. Neuronal aggregation results in more consistent detection of individual neuronal activity than dissociated cultures. Both aggregated and dissociated culture types exhibited synchronized bursting behaviors at days 17 and 18 on MEAs, and thousands of statistically significance functional connections were detected in both culture types. Aggregate cultures, however, demonstrate a tight linear relationship between the inter-neuron distance of neuronal pairs and the time delay of the neuronal pair functional connections, whereas dissociated cultures do not. These results suggest that ESC-derived aggregated cultures may reflect some of the spatiotemporal connectivity characteristics of in vivo tissue and prove to be useful models of investigating potentially therapeutic populations of ESC-derived neurons in vitro.
Fiber-Based Nonlocal Formulation for Simulating Softening in Reinforced Concrete Beam-Columns

AbstractA nonlocal formulation framework is presented to address mesh-dependent strain localization in displacement-based frame element models in the presence of constitutive softening. The framewo...